Interwoven Vines

“Amy….Amy……Amy….”

‘No….no no no not again!’

“Please! Leave me be!”

“Amy…..soon you will see all that has been revealed. Despair, Pain, Hopelessness they will all take over the former kingdom once again.”

“No! I won’t let that happen!”

“You will fail, for you are the key to this destiny. You cannot escape your fate as much as they cannot escape theirs!” A flash of blue, red and black silhouettes and then the clear prominent vision of the Master Chaos Emerald.

“No!" Bolted upright reaching out, breathing stammered whilst gasping for air. Sweat nearly doused her. Blinking a few times and taking a look at her surroundings, breathed in deeply, trying to remain calm. Eyes shut tight and forced herself to avoid the nightmarish imagery.

Hands that gripped the rough blanket, hearing the soft crackling flames in the fireplace, and soon opening her eyes to the world around her. A bed, the desk, a fireplace with the flora and fauna scents around her. The Lavender, prominent and always welcoming. Sighing she laid back down on her sheets, glancing out the small window. Where the morning sun had risen, but was hidden behind deep clouds of gray.

Taking a moment to just be still in this brief moment of calm, began by cleaning up herself and prepping for the day. Creating tonics, powders and lotions to help aid in healing any injury or ailment. At one point a soft knock echoed from the door. Amy wiped her hands on the apron, quickly as to see who this was.

“Why, Hello Creme”

“Miss Amy!” The small rabbit jumped as Amy immediately caught her in arms. Just an average greeting between the two. Cheese, Creme’s Chao best friend, also gave her cheek a bit of a nudge hello.

“It’s wonderful to see you too Cheese. What do I owe the pleasure today?”

“We came to get more of that tea for Mama’s headaches.” The sweet voice grew a bit somber at the mention, but smiled all the same as Amy gently set her down.

“I’ve got just the thing. It’ll take me a few minutes to prepare. Would you like to help me? I’ve got an empty basket and freshly baked scones that would pair great with this.” Creme softly smiled with a nod before walking inside. Grabbing the stool, washing her hands and then prepping the basket whilst Amy put together the tea herb concation.

“Miss Amy? How do you know so much about plants?”

“Long ago I first heard about herbalism from my grandfather. He taught me a thing or two whenever he dabbled and I was visiting. From there I learned all I could.”

“What did he first teach you?”

“The first lesson was about appreciating the beauty of nature. Understanding what each individual plant, flora, fauna, etc. do before combining anything together. The basics are needed in order to get the best results.” Amy paused before giving a bit of mischievous laughter.

“That and how to make rain water look like perfume.” Both giggled as Cheese fluttered happily in agreement.

“He seems so fun!”

“Yeah…he was.” She breathed as her mind wandered from the more fonder memories. “In fact, he was the one that told me the story of ‘The Black Knight’.” A small gasp came from behind her.

“You mean the one that saved Mobius!? He told you that story???”

“Yes” Amy turned with a wink. “I’m glad to have gotten to share that story with you. Now” tying the bag of the tea mix and a small soothing powder to mix in. “Shall we go take these back to your home? I’m sure your mother wouldn’t like you out in the rain, especially all alone.”

With warm cloaks, treats, healing tonics and an umbrella, they set off back to Creme’s home. Vanilla welcomed her inside with a glance of gratitude. Amy smiled in returning. Knowing that while Creme was honestly set out to get more head soothing tea, it was also true for her to get out of the house for a bit and socialize.

“How are you sleeping these days?” Vanilla asked as she was presented with the tea after a very warm meal. Amy sat down with a sigh.

“It’s….happening.”

“Amy” The tone shifting to a more stern yet caring maternal figure. It made Amy smile a bit nervously before sipping her regular green tea.

“I’m alright Vanilla. These nightmares are nuisances I wish would stop. But until then I can manage. It’s not like I get no sleep at all.”

“Physically you might be alright, but a proper rest of the mind is also important.”

“Even if I could….I just-....” Setting the tea down on the saucer, glanced out the window that conveyed a bit more darker view. “I don’t understand why I feel so…targeted in these tormented visions.”

“Would finding out the reason help put you at ease?”

“Ideally, yes. In practice…I wouldn’t know where to begin.” A small roar of thunder rumbled throughout the house, shaking everything slightly.

“It’s getting late, I should go before it gets too rough. Thank you for the meal- it was more than enough.” Adding that last bit quickly as she saw Vanilla reach for her coin purse. She needed every penny and for this, Amy didn’t mind helping out a friend in need.

“Amy, you say this every time.” Vanilla said with a head tilt and a small smile.

“I shall continue to do so because it is true. I must be heading out.” Amy bowed her head before leaving out the door.

“Be careful going home!” Vanilla called out as the door just closed shut.

The moonlight could barely light the way home between the dark clouds filled with thunder and rain. The lantern she had did its job fine, but soon she would need to replace the oil as it flickered dim every once and awhile. Shuttering from the cold, gripped her cloak tighter and adjusted so that it laid firmly against her. Especially with all the wind blowing. Her long quills flowing with the current.

With the pouring rain and harsh winds, it was hard seeing much. Feeling like the trip back home was taking too long, was coming to terms that she mistook a turn. Or was possibly going much slower than normal. Either way, she felt lost and a bit more nervous as it was a very harsh storm. Then she heard it, a low growl and a high pitched scream. A very familiar one at that.

“Creme!” She called out, running towards the sound of where she last heard it. Feet nearly slipping from under her in the mud. All she cared about was that a dear friend was in trouble. Pulling out a small cylinder object in hand, with one whoosh, a hammer appeared. Pushing the brush out of the way saw two creatures that appeared to be made out of branches and thorns, acting like wild beasts of the forest.

“Stay away from her!” She called out before slamming the hammer on the ground causing a rough vibration pulsing through. Right as the hammer hit below, she used that momentum to drag her to the other side between these beasts and Creme. Now normally that move would scare any creature. But they took her act as a challenge.

Keeping her safe, Amy tried to brush them away with her hammer, pound them just enough to leave but not harm fully, nothing seemed to be working. One of the creatures snuck up on her blind side and bit the handle of the weapon. The surprise attack caused her to let it slip from her grasp. Creme gasped but Amy only took this chance to push her behind her cloak.

“I won’t let you harm her.” She said lowly as if the creatures could understand. One leaped out, causing Amy to turn and shield Creme in her arms as the creature scratched her shoulder and both collapsed to the ground.

“I got you Creme” Giving what little reassurance she had. The sweet little rabbit was shaking and sobbing a bit in fright. Amy held back with all her strength cries of pain that even adrenalaine couldn’t mask. Another warning growl, made her peak at a small opening for her to rush through safely back home. At this point the rain let up just enough for her to see that. Prepping to push her through the small opening, lightning lit up the entire area.

“How about you take on a new challenger!”

A flash of blue appeared. The creatures took damage whilst trying to fight back. But this mysterious blue sphere showed hardly any signs of backing down. Within thirty seconds the creatures left, leaving Amy turning to see a familiar blue figure. The visions from before flashed and matched to what was in her line of sight now.

“Hey, are you two alright?” Amy blinked as the voice was also familiar and when he turned around, she felt her heart race.

Sonic the Hedgehog. A hero to most and one she admired from afar long ago.

“I-I’m fine-” She inhaled sharply, wincing at the pain of her shoulder and loosening her gentle grasp on Creme.

“Uncle Sonic!” Creme cried running towards him excitedly as if nothing had happened. But her smile faded within a second of glancing and running back towards her friend. “Miss Amy you’re hurt!”

“I-I’ll be okay.” Amy smiled faintly back before seeing Sonic right by her side, carefully helping her up.

“Shads! We’re over here!” He called out before taking a piece of cloth and applying pressure to her shoulder. Once again she winced at the pain but gave a glance of gratitude.

“Thank you”

“Glad to have found you both when I did. Name’s Sonic by the way.”

“I’m Amy, Amy Rose.”

“What in Gaia’s name happened here?” A fourth, more deeper voice appeared as Amy looked up to see the other figure from her visions. Black and Red and standing stoic and in that moment it also made her heart skip a bit. Just like it did the first time she saw them before tonight.

“Y-you’re highness.” She bowed a bit before stumbling and once again having Sonic help hold her up. Shadow briefly raised a brow before having his attention focused on a small rabbit.

“Uncle Shadow!” Creme called out before running up to his side. Shadow glanced down, giving a brief gentle head pat before turning back on the scene.

“Shadow this is Amy Rose. Amy, this is Shadow.”

“How do you know my title?” Amy gulped before softly gesturing with an open hand towards the crest that his cloak was attached too.

“I recognized the royal emblem anywhere.” Once again she winced and gripped her hand over Sonic’s where he was trying to stop the small trickle of blood.

“Pleasantries aside, you are in need of medical attention. Let’s get you out of this forest.”

“Thankfully my home is just past those trees. It’s got everything I need to patch up this scratch.” Amy gestured as the rain had briefly slowed to a light pitter patter.

“Oh was that-....um…” Sonic sputtered as her expression turned into more concerned empathy. Feeling a gut gnawing sensation the moment she saw his expression and tonal combination. It never led to anything good. 

“Sonic, I know that look. What did you see?” Shadow asked just as Sonic gulped before glancing at Amy with a sigh of empathy.

“I-I’m sorry….there’s nothing left.”

Amy felt everything come to a standstill. Shaking her head as tears brimmed her eyes. Her mouth was moving but barely a sound came out. Getting out of his grasp, rushed bashed the trees and brush, hand still over her shoulder but hardly felt that sting. What she saw made her fall to her knees.

The entire cottage was in pieces. Some of her belongings were destroyed and a small flame was doused from the rain. This was one of her first visions from her nightmares to come true. A home in complete dissolution to foreshadow things to come.

Now she was left injured, without a home and the fear of the horrid prophecies would come soon to light. “Amy!” a young voice called out as her last line of vision faded into the black void. For the first time, she could finally tell Vanilla her mind was at rest as well.