Getting To Know You Again

Amy's Confession

"So, how do we go about this?" Sonic asked, unsure of how to start.

"I'll start and see how it goes," Amy replied.

"Alright, go ahead." 

As Sonic and Amy stood together, Amy cleared her throat and spoke. 

"It was obvious that I used to despise you, feeling sick just being in your presence. However, through our adventures together, I have come to see you in a new light. I now recognize your bravery, loyalty to your friends, and even your softer side. I feel safe with you and trust that you'll always be there for me." 

Sonic smiled, "I despised you at first as well. Hearing you speak was irking, and I enjoyed the silence when we walked for a while. Though, the moment you asked me to sleep inside your tent on that cold night, I learned right away that you're thoughtful and kind regardless of how you feel toward someone. You're also strong and resilient. Thank you for taking care of me." 

"Aw, oh my gosh, wait, that was cute," Amy said, trying to control her emotions. Sonic chuckled and rubbed the back of his head out of slight embarrassment.  As they exchanged compliments, they failed to notice the entrance opening and the fragment vanishing, indicating their success in solving the test. Amy expressed her excitement with a high-pitched squeal and embraced Sonic, causing him to feel surprised. However, she quickly released him from the hug when she recalled that he was still wounded.

"Don't be sorry!" Sonic said, beating her to the apology. 

"We should go," Amy remarked, placing his arm over her shoulder again. Sonic nodded and started walking with her into the cave. Upon entering the cave, they were pleasantly surprised by the peaceful and light atmosphere, which was the opposite of what they had anticipated.

"Okay, I did not expect that. Should we be worried?" Sonic asked, observing the cave. 

She shook her head, "I don't think so. The jewel isn't necessarily bad. I think."

The cave's interior was as anticipated - dark, rocky, and with shifting temperatures ranging from cold to warm in certain spots. Besides the sound of their footsteps, there was no other sound. As they searched for the jewel, Amy couldn't help but wonder about what was to come and what would happen once they found it. Initially, all she wanted was to complete the adventure and find the jewel. However, she never expected to get along so well with Sonic and develop feelings for him. Although he had never explicitly expressed his feelings, she had a hunch that he might feel the same way. 

Sonic remained uneasy about how easily they found the fragment and the cave. He believed that there was more to the jewel than what Rouge's book explained. Sonic felt that there was a lot at stake once it was found and couldn't figure out what needed to be done to reverse its effects. Despite not knowing what was to come, he was grateful for what he had learned and regained from their adventure. He couldn't believe that he had forgotten about his friendship with Amy. He was curious about what was lacking that made the jewel feel the need to have these events take place. Did it sense something beyond friendship that it wanted to intervene? 

He felt frustrated due to the numerous unanswered questions. Under usual circumstances, he would be eager to embark on an adventure, whether or not he had all the knowledge required. However, this time, because it involved his friends and there was so much at stake, the adventure was no longer enjoyable. It was particularly difficult for him as his memories had been wiped out, and their retrieval wasn't happening quickly enough to make him feel at ease.

Meanwhile, in Green Hill...

"They've been gone for days now. They are not answering their radios." Tails said, pacing back and forth in his living room.