ARAAT2: Eclipse - Part 2

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A Rose And A Thorn 2: Eclipse

Co-Written by Harley Quinn hyenaholic and Froggy22651


Harley: A chapter for those who always wanted to know a little more about Amy’s past. Since Sega is hardly likely to elaborate on it, you might as well take my word for it. Heh heh…

Froggy: Oh, and to the people who wanted Sonic to suffer more, here’s some advice - read chapters 6 to 9, replacing the word ‘Shadow’ with the word ‘Sonic’. You’ll get the same effect. THAT is why we didn’t give Sonic elongated suffering. And also because his friends, now knowing what GUN is capable of, would not allow him to suffer.

Harley: And Heous, about that itch… what you do it, you apply a special soothing cream to your genitalia twice daily. It’ll go away soon enough.

~~~

Chapter Fourteen: Reopening Old Wounds

Espio paced the corridors of the hospital thoughtfully. Sonic was fine; the chameleon was convinced that his body would heal with no trouble. It was the hedgehog's mind that concerned him. The scars on Sonic's arms told him that despite outward appearances, the hedgehog was deeply troubled. Sonic wanted it to be kept a secret, but could the chameleon do so with a clear conscience? He wasn't so sure. As he contemplated possible courses of action, he noticed a familiar pink hedgehog also walking the corridors, "Amy,” he said, walking towards her.

Amy turned to face him quickly. She smiled, but there was now a deep worry line in between her eyebrows. After a few seconds she sighed and walked towards him, "Hey, Espio," she forced another smile.

"Hey, how are you?" the chameleon asked her, noting how exhausted she looked.

"Tired," Amy admitted, "And I've got a headache. And stomach cramps from the hospital food. But compared to Shadow and Sonic..."

"Sonic seems to be fine. Physically, at least... How's Shadow doing?" he asked Amy.

"He's finally got to sleep without sedation," Amy sighed, tears welling up in her eyes, "I think he's having bad dreams. I wish I could take them away..."

"There's no telling what kind of poisons the GUN scientists pumped into him,” the ninja said with a disgusted shake of his head, "Unfortunately, the only thing we can do is wait for it to run its course and hope he turns out alright. This is a job for the healers now."

Amy's face creased up again, "I'm just so... scared," she whispered, "What if he doesn't make it? What if he's scarred for life or something horrible like that?"

Espio sighed and placed one hand on the pink hedgehog's shoulder. "Be strong, Amy, for his sake. Its alright to be afraid, but this is now out of our hands. If anyone can recover from this, its Shadow."

"I know I must be strong for him," Amy pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbed at her eyes, "I just... I feel like an extra leg or something... all useless. I'm not a doctor, I'm not a nurse, I just... feel useless."

"Amy..." Espio whispered, "Just being here is an enormous help to him, believe me. After the hell he's been through..." He shook his head and stepped back. "He'll be fine, with you by his side. It’s Sonic I'm more concerned about."

"Why Sonic?" Amy asked, "He was only in there for a few hours!"

Espio nodded slowly. "That's true. But judging from the scars on his arms, I'd say he's been deliberately cutting himself for months."

"What - cutting?" it was as if Amy was looking at Espio for the first time, "He's been cutting himself? Why? When?"

"I'm not sure when, but he's done a good job of hiding it this long." The chameleon leaned against the nearest wall with his eyes closed and his arms crossed. "As for why,” he added, "I'm guessing it has to do with… um, the flower shop incident." He didn't like to even mention it in front of her.

Amy shuddered visibly, "I... I shall go and talk to him," she said finally.

"Maybe you can save him from himself,” the chameleon said quietly, "Someone needs to."

Amy rubbed her forehead and nodded, heading for Sonic's room. When she finally reached the hospital room where Sonic was staying, she found him sitting up in bed smiling, obviously glad to see her again. The room was cheerful, with a pot of flowers here and Get Well Soon cards there – not too different from Shadow’s room, "Hey there, Ames,” he said cheerfully.

Amy took a deep breath, "Hey, Sonic," she said calmly, "I came to see how you're shaping up. I hope those GUN jerks didn't do too big a number on you."

"Nah,” he said with a reassuring gesture, "Those GUN jerks can't keep me down for long."

"Hmmm..." Amy took hold of his arm gently but firmly, and unrolled one of the bandages, revealing the many light scars on his arms, "You seem to be doing quite a bang-up job all by yourself," she scolded him, "You're cutting yourself, Sonic!"

The blue hedgehog gave her a puzzled look which quickly gave way to embarrassment. Yanking his arm away from her, he turned his face away. "Yeah, I am. So what?"

"So what?" Amy's eyes widened, "So you're putting your own life in danger! On purpose! That's what!"

"I'm not stupid, Amy! I'm not going to kill myself while giving myself a few scratches,” he replied, frustrated by her response to the truth, "Eggman is more dangerous than this."

"Why do you do it, Sonic?" Amy frowned, "Is it the rush you get when the spots of blood spring out? Or maybe you just hate yourself and think you deserve to die but can't bear to push the knife in the whole way?"

"That's enough!" he snapped, whirling back to face her, "Why do you care, anyway? I'd think you'd like me to do that! A fitting way for me to go out!"

"I don't want you to kill yourself, Sonic!" Amy replied, "Do you know how selfish... how utterly selfish self-harm is? It's nothing less than a cry for help, and I don't want to see my friends in pain!"

"Friend? Friend?! You can still look me in the eye and say that after what I've done to you?" he asked, shaking his head in disgust, "I'm not crying out for help, and I don't need help, or want it!"

"Yes, it's easy to push aside help when you don't want it," Amy replied, "But I want to help you, Sonic. I don't want someone to go into your house one day and find you bleeding to death on the floor!"

"I said I'm not going to fucking kill myself!" he shouted, "You honestly think that I'd do that?!"

"I honestly think you'd lose control, yes!" Amy replied, "Does that make you angry, Sonic? Being taken as suicidal? Well, that's what will happen if you don't stop!"

"No! You're wrong!" he insisted, although it sounded more like blind denial, "I don't want to die! That's not why I do it!"

"You know what I think?" Amy retorted, "I think you enjoy hurting yourself!"

"Of course I do!" Sonic growled, "Why the hell else would I be doing it?"

"Well only you know for sure," Amy pointed out, the worry line on her forehead deepening.

Sonic gestured to the scars on his arm. "This isn't wrong,” he told the pink hedgehog, "What's wrong is that everyone acts as if I didn't... hurt you! Like I'm still the perfect hero! I just want one person to call me scum for once, because that's the truth!"

"Oh, okay, Sonic, I think you're scum!" Amy told him, "Are you going to stop cutting yourself now?"

"And why should I?" he asked her, glaring at the pink hedgehog, “Just because somebody agrees with me?”

Amy gaped at him, "Because you'll end up killing yourself if you don't stop!" she told him, as if the answer was obvious.

"Yeah, because you're the expert on self-mutilation, right?" Sonic retorted.

"And what if I am?" Amy suggested, furious with him.

Exaggerating his actions, Sonic leaned over and looked over both of her arms carefully, "Doesn't look like it from where I'm sitting."

"That's because I'm not a cutter!" Amy shouted. There was a long pause, and her next words were a whisper, "My... my mother was..."

Sonic blinked, quieted by this little revelation. The anger left him as he asked, "Your mother? What happened to her?

"She died, okay?" Amy turned away, "She... she cut herself too much, too often, and she died from blood loss..."

Sonic frowned sadly, suddenly understanding her fear of what he was doing, even if he didn't know why she cared about him anymore, "Amy... I'm sorry. I didn't know..."

"Of course you didn't know... nobody ever asked..." Amy wiped her eyes, "Anyway, that was... that was years ago, and I don't want history to repeat itself!"

"It won't; I promise,” Sonic told her, calmer this time.

"But she didn't start out wanting to kill herself," Amy protested, "She was just... punishing herself. Like you are."

"But... what was she punishing herself for?" Sonic asked. He didn't know much about Amy's past; as she said, he never asked about it. He’d always considered the present as being a lot more important, and anyway, taking too much of an interest in her life would only encourage her infatuation. He found himself now regretting not taking an interest in her history.

"Having me..." Amy whispered.

Sonic winced, his stomach churning at the thought of a mother punishing herself for having a child, and at the effect it could have on that child, "That's terrible..." he spoke quietly.

"My father left her before I was born. She blamed it on me, but she blamed herself more for having me and not having an abortion. She was cutting herself as far back as I can remember. I'd go to nursery school and come home and she'd be on the couch, cutting and cutting and blaming it on me. And then... then Robotnik had me kidnapped and taken to the Miracle Planet. Remember, Sonic? That was when we first met..."

"How could I forget?" he said with a faint smile, "I had to rescue you from Metal Sonic not long after that. Good times."

Amy smiled a little, "Anyway, we were trapped on the Little Planet for a whole month together. You were always complaining about it. And when we got home... my mother was dead. Dead on the couch. I didn't have any other family. I had to go into foster care. And the worst thing is that I can't remember... really remember... what she was like. I only remember the cutting."

Sonic sighed, distressed by this disturbing tale. He never figured that someone with such a cheery disposition could have a past like that. Now that he knew, he felt guilty about all the times he had picked up a razor, "I'm sorry, Amy..." he said. He didn't know what else to say, but reached over and placed a comforting hand on Amy's shoulder. He didn't even think about it.

Amy sagged, "It's not your fault, Sonic," she told him, "But... but... please, please understand why I don't want you to cut yourself! Please!"

Sonic looked down at the bed with a sad smile. "I don't deserve your kindness, Amy. Alright. I... I promise I'll stop cutting myself."

"You promise?" Amy turned to face him, "If you promise, you have to stop."

He looked up into her eyes and forced another smile. "As soon as I get home, I'm throwing away all the razor blades, I promise."

Amy sat down, her face in her hands. An immense sigh left her body, "Thank you, Sonic..." she whispered.

Sonic leaned towards her and carefully pulled her into a hug. "It was the least I could do,” he told her.

Amy flinched. It hurt Sonic, to know that his touch still made her flinch, and to know the exact reason why, "I'm just... so scared of losing the people who matter to me," she admitted quietly.

Sonic sighed and closed his eyes as he held Amy in his embrace. "Of all people, I'm surprised that I'm one that matters anymore."

"I can't explain," Amy pulled away, "It's not like it was... I have nightmares... it's not you, it’s not anybody, it’s just a blank face… if that makes you feel any better."

"It does,” he admitted, nodding and giving her a slight smile. The tiniest glimmer of hope came alive within him. Maybe Amy really could forgive him.

Amy looked back at him. He didn't honestly think there was hope for them, did he? "I just wish it had never happened," she said quietly.

Sonic swallowed and looked down at his hands, "Yeah. Me too,” he said quietly. It felt like a bad dream to him now, surreal and impossible. It couldn't have been him in that room; it couldn't have been him doing such a horrible thing to Amy.

Amy turned to leave, "Well... see ya," she said awkwardly, "I just came to get you to stop hurting yourself. It's... wrong."

"Wait! Don't go,” he said suddenly, slipping out of bed and getting to his feet. "I... thank you, Amy. You're right, and I'm very sorry. I just..." He took a step towards her again and rested a hand on the pink hedgehog's arm, "Please stay..."

Amy hesitated, "Why do you want me to stay?" she asked him, pulling her arm away carefully.

Sonic gave her a truly pitiful look as he tried to find the right answer to that. "I just want you to stay, Amy. I'm so tired of being uncomfortable around you. I hurt you bad, I know, and I'll never be able to say sorry enough, but I don't want that standing between us forever."

Amy sighed and sat down, "Okay," she said quietly, "I'll stay for a while, if it makes you feel better."

Sonic gave a relieved sigh and sat down beside her. "Thank you,” he said gratefully.

~~~

Shadow opened his eyes and gasped. There was only darkness to be seen. But with the gasp, he only took in more of the horrific liquid that he was drowning in, that was all around him, that covered him and filled him.

He was drowning… in blood.

Another gasp, and it filled his lungs. As he choked on it, each cough took in more of the vile stuff. He clawed blindly at it, and felt hands grab his wrists, pulling him out of the endless depths. He surfaced, trying to fight off the liquid even as his rescuer dragged him up.

His rescuer picked him up easily by his quills, looking into his eyes. It was the creature Mirage, and she, like him, was coated in blood, “Shadow,” she smiled, “Why do you fight your destiny?”

“This blood,” Shadow tried to wipe it off him, “This blood is not my destiny!”

“Blood is your past and your future,” Mirage replied, “Even if you do not go searching for it, it will come looking for you - and woe betide you if you are unprepared for the fight. You’re not coming home. Home is coming to you.”

“No… I’m free of it…” Shadow vomited, trying to get the taste of blood out of his mouth, even if what replaced it didn’t taste any better, “I’m free, and you can’t make me go back…”

The feline just pushed him backwards into the never-ending ocean of death. As he fell, screaming, he saw her jump in after him, just before the sea of blood engulfed him once again…

~~~

Amy could feel the tension in the air – only this time it was her who was uncomfortable. Now she knew how Sonic must have felt, all those times she’d chased him. But it didn’t make her feel any better to know that. She just squirmed a bit, trying to keep a safe distance between them.

Unfortunately for her, the small bed provided little space for her to work with, and Sonic wasn't interested in being distanced from her. Glancing over into her emerald eyes, he spoke quietly, "Is Shadow going to be alright?"

"I... I honestly don't know," Amy stared at her feet, "He... he proposed to me, he had the strength to do that... but I'm so scared for him..." She wiped her eyes.

"He'll be fine,” the blue hedgehog assured her, "Shadow is too tough to let GUN be the end of him." Sonic looked down at the floor uncomfortably. "I said some nasty things about him before, but I wasn't being honest. With you or myself."

"Oh?" Amy looked up again, "What did you mean to say then?"

"I was jealous of him, Amy,” Sonic said, slowly shaking his head, "Another hedgehog with my speed and skills shows up. He becomes a hero, and then you fall in love with him. I thought that he was replacing me, taking away everything that made me special, and gods, I hated him for that."

Amy shrugged. She wasn't sure of what to say to this. Experience had taught her that if you didn't know what sort of answer Sonic was looking for, it was probably easier to just say nothing at all.

"I was wrong about him, about you, and about myself,” he continued, turning to face Amy. Looking into her eyes, he asked, "Can you ever forgive me?"

Amy swallowed. Why hadn't she forgiven Sonic? It wasn't as if he hadn't asked. It wasn't as if he wasn't sorry. It was more like... she didn't want to forgive him, didn't feel she should forgive him. She couldn't forget. Not if she couldn't forgive, first. She couldn't let it eat her up inside forever, "Yes..." she whispered, and as Sonic's eyes widened, she repeated, louder, "Yes Sonic, I forgive you."

Sonic stared at her, a smile slowly appearing on his features, and the hedgehog moved to pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face against her neck. "Thank you, Amy. Thank you..." he mumbled, "I'll never hurt you again."

Amy wasn't sure what to say to that either, but somehow, deep inside, she didn't feel hollow, or scared when she looked at Sonic. She had forgiven him, and now she could forget, eventually, "I never thought I'd forgive you," she managed, "Never..."

Sonic continued to hold her close, gently nuzzling her face, feeling as if a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders, like the lights had all been turned back on. He was forgiven. He could be Sonic again, and not some tragically fallen ex-hero. And more importantly, the barrier that had been constructed between him and Amy could finally be torn down.

Amy pulled away from Sonic, "Well, I should be getting back to Shadow now," she said, "If he wakes up and I'm not there, he might worry."

Sonic quickly stood up and took Amy's hand, keeping her from leaving. "Wait a moment,” he asked of her, moving closer, "Don't leave me yet. I still... there's something I need to do. Just one time." The blue hedgehog reached up and gently caressed her cheek, looking into her eyes. He knew he was crazy for even thinking it, and even crazier for thinking that she'd ever go along with it, but he couldn't stop the thought. There was something he had to know.

"What?" Amy asked him quietly, "What do you want to do?"

Sonic took a slow steady breath, his heart hammering in his chest as he moved even closer, feeling her breath on his face. He had to know if it could have worked between them, had he not done what he did in the flower shop, if he had drawn her into his arms rather than push her away. "...I want to kiss you."

"What?" Amy backed away slightly, then realised how silly it was, and stayed still, "Why?"

"I have to know what it would have been like. I have to know what I pushed away. Just once. Not through force. For real. Please, Amy..." he pleaded quietly, making no further move towards her, leaving the decision up to her.

Amy's eyes widened for a moment, then she sighed, "Okay, Sonic," she told him, "But this is because I feel sorry for you. Do you understand that? I'll think of Shadow, and I'll kiss you."

Sonic swallowed and nodded in understanding. He didn't want it to be a sympathy gesture, but then, he didn't want a lot of things to happen. Maybe he should have thought about that earlier. It was too late now. Pushing that thought back, Sonic slid his hand behind Amy's head, being careful with her quills, and leaned in slowly to press his lips against hers.

Amy closed her eyes and thought of Shadow, and her hands moved to his quills of their own accord. Her lips moved against his slowly, parting, and she leant back a little.

Sonic pressed in further, kissing her deeply, knowing full well that it was both their first and last real kiss. For a moment, he managed to forget the flower shop and imagined that he had accepted Amy after her ceaselessly chasing him. It felt good. It felt better than good. He didn't want it to end. But then he heard a sound to his side, a choking cry of shock. Regretfully ending the kiss, Sonic turned his eyes to see Shadow standing in the doorway, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open, his face horribly pale, his cracked mind trying desperately to find the words to express the nightmarish storm of confusing, conflicting emotions which had overtaken him. He looked nauseous.

Sonic’s brain registered a thought, Oh, fuck…

Amy pushed Sonic away quickly, "Shadow, I can explain-" she started, moving towards him, a desperate expression on her face.

The first emotion on him was shock and horror. As his mind began to grasp what his eyes were seeing, pain and betrayal was the response. But as she moved forward to explain her actions, another emotion surfaced; raw, fiery rage. But she had never seen it directed at her before, "It looks like you found your knight in shining armour after all, Amy,” he interrupted her, his voice a deep, animalistic growl. The physical weakness he had shown earlier was gone, his body fuelled by something beyond natural limitations, "I hope you two are very happy together,” he growled before slamming his fist into a nearby vase, shattering it into many pieces. The dark hedgehog spun on his heel and stormed out of the room, doctors and patients wisely getting out of the way as they saw his enraged, burning gaze.

"Shadow, please!" Amy chased after the limping hedgehog, "Please, wait! I can explain, really! Please, wait!"

"There's nothing to explain!" he snarled, not turning back, "Get the hell away from me. And tell your blue lover-boy that he better learn to sleep with his eyes wide open."

“It was just a kiss!” Amy cried out, instantly regretting the words.

Shadow whirled to face her briefly, “With tongues?!” he shouted. He turned away from her again and limped away decisively.

"I don't love him, Shadow!" Amy shouted, "I love you! I do! I swear it! I swear it on... on everything I hold dear!" He was no longer listening to her, shutting her out. He knew what he saw, and for him, that spoke far louder than mere words. He kept walking, "Shadow, please!" Amy managed to catch up with him; even at his slower pace he was still fast. She grabbed his arm, pulling him so that he had to look at her, "I love you!" she managed, her eyes filling with tears, “Please believe me!”

“Why should I believe you?!” he yelled at her, pulling his arm away from her, "He treated you like a dog - no, worse than a dog, he treated you like a WHORE and you still go running back to him! So what am I to you? A substitute?! A body double?!”

"If I'd known you were watching, I would never..." Amy started. The part of her brain that was still thinking, cursed her mouth for that sentence being spoken; in the circumstances it was quite possibly the worst thing she could have said, ever, "No, I didn't mean it that way-"

"If you had known..." Shadow glared hatred at her. "Maybe Sonic was smarter than I gave him credit for." Turning away, disgusted, hurt, and angry, he kicked on his jet shoes and blasted away from her.

“Shadow, please don’t leave!” Amy chased after him, “If not for me, then for your own sake! You’re not well, you could hurt yourself!”

“As if you care!” Shadow shouted back. Within seconds he had already left her far behind him, taking off into the city streets. Amy slumped to her knees, and continued to sob.

~~~

Harley: Oh, dear, to say the least.

Froggy: Read it? Review it!

Harley: Damn but Shadow's life sucks right now.