I'M BACK!

It's been close to two years since I've written anything, and I'm excited to slowly ease my way back into things. Here's the first chapter to what will be a short story, inspired by the musical number 'As Long As You're Mine' from Wicked the Musical. A somewhat strange inspo for a Sonic fanfic, I suppose, but it's exciting to crossover two loves of mine! Be sure to read and review

Ciao! x

tap, tap, tap, tap... tap, tap, tap, tap...

Amy absently drummed her fingers on the counter, staring into space while she waited. She was quickly snapped back into reality when the shop assistant re-joined her at the counter. They smiled at each other as the violet coloured hedgehog that seemed to own the place handed over a beautiful red dress. The bubble gum hedgehog widened her smiled and thanked the clerk before saying good bye and walking away.

She strolled slowly through the mall and admired her dress through it's plastic protector. It would cinch her waist tightly and flare out beautifully just past her knee, the off the shoulder small sleeves completing the classy outift, she was so in love with it. She looked up and picked up the pace as she made her way to the exit where she found Rouge and Blaze waiting for her.

'Did you get your dress back ok?' Blaze questioned as the three of them walked out of the shopping centre.

'Sure did, all ready to go!' Amy beamed as she held up the freshly pressed dress for them to see.

'It's a stunning pick. I'll admit, you've got such great taste.' Rouge complimented her, the three of them headed onto the station platform, 'getting excited for tonight?'

'Of course I am!' Amy laughed.

'Good, you should be. I know everyone else is really looking forward to celebrating with you!'

'Indeed. Twenty-one is an exciting birthday celebration, right?' Blaze said through a small smile, receiving one in return from the fuchsia heroine.

As they continued to walk, Amy started to drift into her own world again, slowly leaving the train platform behind, Blaze and Rouge's conversation becoming a blur. Rouge's words replayed in her head a few times, about everyone being excited to celebrate with her. She wasn't entirely sure about that, not after last week anyway. She drifted away to watching a setting sun on a cliff, leaning up against a tree and letting the wind whip through her quills...

'Well, I'm surprised to find you here on your own?' A familiar voice came from behind her, turning around to find a certain blue hedgehog walking up to her and she chuckled a little.

'Well, I would say I'm surprised you found my little spot, but when I think about it I doubt there's anywhere in the world you haven't found yet.'

'Well,' Sonic began as he took a seat next to her, 'you're probably right about that.'

'What a day...' Amy trailed off after a minutes silence, eyes still glued to the sunset.

'You'd think after all these years, Egghead would have hung up the control panel by now.'

'Nope, still as evil as ever.'

The two hedgehogs let a comfortable silence drift over them again, allowing themselves to take in the view. Gentle smiles spread across their faces, it was just so peaceful. Sonic went to put his hand out and lean back into the tree, but accidentally let his hand rest briefly on Amy's. They snapped out of their trances as they pulled their hands away, awkwardly - almost sadly - locking eyes before turning away and letting their hands fall into their laps.

'Do you think he, or Scourge or Lyric, any of them... Do you think they'll ever just let us be?' Amy asked, knowing the answer.

'Ames...' Sonic sighed, knowing where this was headed.

'I'm serious.' She said as she turned to face him.

'Come on, Amy, we've been over this already.' Sonic paused, waiting to be interrupted but continued when there was silence, 'I know it's awful, but you know as well as I do that we can't... we-we can't be together as long as we have enemies that would stop at nothing to hurt me, including hurting you.'

'What if I don't care?'

'I care. Please, Amy, don't make this harder than it has to be. I hate it as much as you do but-'

'No, you don't.' Amy cut him off.

'How can you say that?' Sonic questioned firmly after a few seconds of silence.

'Whatever, Sonic.' Amy sighed as she got up to leave, too exhausted to do this again.

'You brought it up!' Sonic snapped as he leapt up to meet her.

Amy locked eyes with him, wanting to say something back, wanted so desperately to leap into his arms and for him to tell her everything was going to be alright, but the lump in her throat told her that if she did, she would probably cry... again. She watched him for a few seconds longer, but as she felt the tears start to brim her eyes, she turned her back on him.

'Goodnight, Sonic.' Amy sighed as she walked away.

'Amy, please don't-'

'Goodnight.'

Reliving that night in her head made her want to cry, but she wouldn't let herself. She and Sonic hadn't spoken since then, and she wished they had sorted it out before her birthday party tonight. She tried to remind herself that tonight was about her and that she was going to have a good time, but it didn't help much. Suddenly, Rouge's voice got clearer and clearer...

'AMY! Come on, girl, we're getting off!' Rouge screeched as she dragged the pink hedgehog off the train.

'Are you alright, Amy?' Blaze asked, cocking her brow.

'Yeah, of course!' she lied, 'just thinking about tonight!'

She smiled a little too brightly and walked ahead of her friends towards home, Rouge and Blaze exchanging a confused look between them, decided to leave it for now. The three girls made their way from the station along the dirt paths towards Amy's cottage home, surrounded by lush green meadows and other Mobian houses. They walked over the last hill to find Cream, Cosmo and Tikal waiting for them on her front porch.

'Hello, girls!' Tikal waved them over.

'Did you get your dress?' Cosmo asked before Amy held up the dress as evidence.

'I can't wait to see you in it!' Cream gushed.

'I guess we should go in and start getting ready then?' Blaze asked the group.

'We should get a move on, surely the guys will have finished setting up soon!' Rouge said as she pushed everyone through the door.

.

The boys had spent the afternoon clearing and cleaning out Tails' garage for the party tonight, putting on the final touches of decorations. The garage looked like a totally different place! So clean and tidy, and a little less full of metallic devices. It was full of balloons filled with brightly coloured confetti, streamers around the walls and a big 'Happy 21st Birthday' banner hung on the wall.

'Do you reckon Sonic's alright?' Tails whispered to Silver as he watched the royal blue hedgehog finish hanging the banner.

'Yeah? Why?' Knuckles asked, cocking a brow.

'I don't know. Something just seems... off.'

Sonic could feel himself drifting in and out of focus, merely playing with the material banner now. He sighed, made sure it was secure and jumped down from the ladder. He couldn't stop thinking about how he and Amy hadn't spoken since last week, wishing he had set it straight before tonight. He was nervous, though he wouldn't admit it. He needed to let off some steam.

'I'm going to go for a quick run.' He announced, casual as ever.

'Ok, well, don't be too-' Silver cut himself off at the sound of the wind whooshing out of the garage.

'Rude.' Shadow grunted after him, finishing with some streamers.

'Something's up...' Tails thought to himself.