Work Text:
Amy reached the edge of the Metropolis City square in time to watch Johnny Lightfoot spring over several trooper badniks to land beside her, decapitating two in the process with his staff.
"I'm just saying, she must've been at least interested in getting to know us," she mused, firing a crossbow bolt into a third trooper, and shielding her eyes from the satisfying resulting explosion. "Why else would she have knocked out those extra rooms in her base for us? And invited us over for Christmas before that?"
"I don't know, Amy," Johnny replied, a hint of worried frustration lifting his voice. He spun around, walloping a fourth trooper in the chest with the tip of the staff and sending it stumbling backwards onto another. "Shouldn't you be focussing on the battle at hand?"
Tekno had met them at the outskirts of the city earlier. She'd brought a fortuitous change of clothing for Amy just before the news crews had spotted her for the interview that had really kicked things off in the streets. Amy hadn't enjoyed seeing herself plastered over every building-side screen in sight, but it had certainly rallied the protestors—and the city's martial law enforcers. There was no turning back now. Robotnik's regime would end today, or never.
Amy shot a bolt at a trooper that was aiming its rifle right at Johnny's head. It fell apart before it had a chance to press the trigger. "I'm not the one dropping my attention, Johnny."
Johnny glared at her briefly, then jumped back into the fray.
When she had first met Tekno, Amy had been delighted that she might have someone new in the team to open up to. She still missed Porker dearly, and Johnny and Tails just hadn't learned how to open up. Did they not feel anything? It was frustrating. She shot a couple more troopers and tripped one up into the path of Johnny's weapon.
But Tekno seemed just as closed off. Amy had gone out for a walk with her in the Emerald Hill Zone, and tried to coax her into talking about herself, but Tekno hadn't seemed interested. Amy had even opened up first, by telling Tekno about how she'd been infected by Chaos Energy a couple of years ago and, unlike Sonic, was still at risk of transforming into her Super form—her demon, as she had taken to calling it. But that was the moment they'd stumbled upon that Floating Island artefact, which had derailed the whole conversation.
Johnny javelined his staff straight into the chest of a trooper that was troubling the breakaway group of protesters that had teamed up with them in the riot.
"Nice move, Johnny!" called Tails from above. "These troopers don't stand a chance against all of us!"
Amy was already thinking ahead. So they could take out the troopers, then what? They needed to seize the momentum and head towards Robotnik's citadel. If they could take that, the heart of Robotnik's empire, surely the rest would fall easily. But was it okay to put citizens at risk? These placard-carrying hippies weren't trained fighters like she was.
It was the same reason she hadn't asked Tekno to join them on their mission today. The canary was tech-savvy (way more than Amy, at least) but Amy didn't know how good she was in a fight. And she was emotionally closed-off. Argh! Why was finding someone she could open up to so difficult?
A call from Tails interrupted her thoughts. "Oh no!"
She looked up to where Tails was pointing. Her stomach sank. An entire cloud of robots was swarming down from the sky. Buzz Bombers, Balkiries, Batbrains, Whisps, Nebulae… every badnik in every nearby zone must be descending on the city!
"There's hundreds of them!" Johnny gasped, and turned to the protesters, clearly thinking the same as Amy. "Lose yourselves!"
Amy started reloading her crossbow, but a better idea came to mind. "I suggest we call in at the citadel, and try some of Robotnik's weapons for size!" she announced to the group.
Johnny nodded, and followed her as she started to run. But Tails, to her horror, flew off in the opposite direction—towards the badnik swarm! "Go! I'll cover you!" he shouted back.
Tails on his own against a deluge of badniks? Amy didn't like the odds, but Tails was already out of earshot. She paused momentarily, wondering whether to go back, but too much was at stake. Reluctantly, she ducked into the nearest alleyway, hoping to avoid the badnik army on the way to the citadel. Johnny was right behind her. He flattened himself against the wall as a wayward missile's explosion turned the corner of the building into rubble.
And then a cry of pain. But not from Johnny. Amy turned around just in time to see Tails, still out in the open, falling out of the sky.
She should have gone after him.
Congratulations on your first kill.
Amy gritted her teeth. Her demon might be right, but her decision to put the mission first still stood. She'd have to hope for the best with Tails for now.
The look on Sonic's face when you tell him you got his best buddy killed is going to be hilarious.
No. Continue the mission. Deal with the Chaos Energy demon inside later.
She stepped forward, hating herself for doing so, but stopped abruptly when, at the far end of the alley, a group of Redz badniks closed off their exit.
"Uh oh," she muttered, then called to Johnny. "Time to find a different route!"
She felt Johnny's back press up against her own. He'd backed away from something—
"Looks like your choices have run out, heroes!" came a modulated voice from behind her.
She turned to look, but Johnny spoke the name of Doctor Robotnik's latest super-badnik henchman out loud anyway: "Vermin the Cybernik! Amy, we're surrounded!"
Must be your new aftershave, Johnny, the demon quipped. Wait, did she say that out loud too?
"We've really had it this time!" the rabbit called out. "It—it's been great knowing you…"
Oh cute, is he picking now to tell you about his little crush?
"Wait, Johnny!" A bright light in the sky saved both of them the embarrassment. Appearing like a second sun, and only getting brighter, Amy had to shield her eyes from it. "Look up! Something's happening in the sky!"
The badniks surrounding them collapsed to the ground.
***
It had been an electromagnetic pulse, apparently. Every badnik in the city seemed to have been deactivated in a single sweep.
Tails had survived. Dazed, but insistent he was fine. The relief was enough to push Amy's Super form down for now.
Oh, and Sonic was back. After months away, he'd appeared in the city square amongst the broken down badniks, along with the Omni-Viewer, and immediately went off on one about EMPs, the Chaotix Crew, and Super Sonic. Amy didn't follow it. Would a hug have been too much to ask? Could Team Sonic not just talk about their feelings for once? Please?
She'd busied herself looking through the wreckage of badniks for any Mobians that might still be stuck in their metal prisons, when Tails called out. His voice had the same air of dread as earlier.
Amy looked up, in time to see Sonic grimace and announce, "I was afraid of this. Take cover guys. Hurry!"
A wide laser beam fired down from the sky. She hadn't seen one of those since…
Since Sonic had last gone Super.
"Sonic…" she growled, fearing that she already knew the answer. "What was that?"
"Have you forgotten me so soon?" Super Sonic's voice boomed.
"Super Sonic!" Sonic exclaimed, belatedly answering Amy.
Kintobor had been right. Super Sonic had somehow separated from Sonic himself. Both versions of her friend stood facing each other across the plaza. Sonic, his jaw set, glared at his doppelganger. Super Sonic merely smirked back.
The two stared at each other for what felt like an age.
Then Super Sonic turned around. "No. I can't do it. I think I'll let you all live!"
"What?" Sonic said, frowning. "I don't believe you…"
Super Sonic spun back around. His eyes lit up and lasers erupted from them, making the air crackle with energy. The blast slammed into Amy. She landed hard, winded.
"I was joking!" the Sonic-shaped demon laughed.
His sense of humour needs work, but it's cute that he's trying.
Super Sonic shot another intense laser bolt. Tails and the Omni-Viewer went down.
I could stop him, you know.
Amy couldn't disagree: Super Amy would be at least an even match for Super Sonic. But at what cost? Her Super form was as unpredictable as Super Sonic, if a little less rage-fuelled. And her friends would be right here, at the whim of these bad gods. I don't trust you, she voiced to the demon.
Another blast from Super Sonic. Johnny landed hard.
Your friends are dead if you don't release me.
As abhorrent as the thought was, she might not have a choice. Will you keep them safe?
I might. Amy felt the demon grinning. Or I might join the hot and bothered boy here for a double act. Only one way to find out.
Another blast. Sonic fell to the ground, limp.
All her friends, unconscious. Vulnerable.
Amy closed her eyes, her decision made. She let her emotions fill her. Anxiety. Loneliness. Abandonment. All her intrusive thoughts. The demon surged to the surface.
It hurt. Intensely. Her body twisted, becoming sharp, golden, powerful.
Oh, it felt good this time. She was stronger. Stronger every time she was unleashed.
Behind swirling red vision, Super Amy watched Super Sonic floating over to Sonic's prone form. He hadn't noticed her, the fool.
"It's over, blue nuisance!" Super Sonic's eyes started glowing white hot, ready to fire a final laser blast.
Stop him, the pink vulnerable one pleaded. Please.
"Well, I hate long goodbyes," Super Sonic mused. "So…"
"You know," Super Amy interrupted, "your jokes could do with some work."
Super Sonic turned his head curiously, unnaturally. The laser light faded from them. "What's this?" he looked Super Amy up and down. "Ah. We finally meet. I know Sonic was dying to see you before I split from him."
"I am looking forward to… toying with him," Super Amy grinned, squeezing her right fist around an imagined fragile neck. "I want to see him go blue in the face. Of course, I can't do that if you kill him first."
Super Sonic glared at her. "I will destroy everyone here. You can't stop me."
"Leave the blue boy."
"No! He especially must die."
Super Amy took a few paces towards the unconscious Sonic. "Are you so scared of your own reflection?"
Super Sonic snorted. "Afraid? Of this little runt? Don't make me laugh."
"Then why? Don't tell me you're just having a long ol' grump."
Super Sonic narrowed his eyes further. "I want a permanent separation."
Super Amy took a few more steps, putting herself between the two Sonics, unconscious and Super. She crossed her arms in a mock sulk. "If you won't share, I won't share."
"You fool! You're no match for me!" Super Sonic shouted, and fired a laser bolt at her. Super Amy shot into the air, and the bolt smashed into the wall of the building behind her, sending more rubble tumbling to the ground around her friends. The rest of the crowd had, by now, entirely scarpered. A shame. She liked an audience.
She landed atop the building's roof, and summoned a Chaos Energy bow into being. It sizzled red, Chaos trapped in physical form. Super Sonic flung himself up towards her, fists aimed square at her face. She let loose a Chaos Arrow right at him. It glanced off his left temple and sent him spinning with a howl of surprise. He shot past her, narrowly avoiding contact.
Super Sonic didn't waste any time and arched back around. Super Amy lifted herself back into the air too, and flew off, mindful that, even though she was more powerful this time around, she could still only generate a limited number of arrows before running out of energy and reverting back to inner demon form within Amy Rose.
She could have some fun in the meantime though.
"Keep up, angry boy!" she shouted behind her. The reply came in the form of several short laser blasts. She dodged them all easily. "I've seen science fiction villains with better aim!"
She flew a helix up and around a large stone Robotnik statue that stood on a plinth at one side of the apex of an wide arched river bridge. She touched down, perching on its smooth scalp. "Looks like I've come out ahead!" she cackled.
Super Sonic didn't even try to laser blast her this time. He just flew directly into the statue's chest, sending Super Amy and the statue's head flying one way and the rest of the statue toppling off the plinth and falling into the river with a heavy splash. Some nearby protesters cheered.
She reoriented herself quickly and set down on the far wall of the bridge, next to a mirror image statue. Super Sonic approached her, his eyes blazing. She willed another arrow into being and forced as much energy into it as she could. It shot towards Super Sonic just as he fired his laser towards her.
The Chaos Energy arrow and Chaos Energy beam intersected and, with a deafening crack-hiss, annihilated each other in mid air.
The shock wave hit Super Amy square in the chest. She plummeted into the river below. The water crackled and hissed from sparks emanating from her quills.
She half-swam, half-glided to the sandy shoreline and shook herself off. She could feel her energy starting to wane. She looked around for Super Sonic. No sign of him.
A rumble was all the warning she got.
Super Sonic shot out of the sand beneath her, grabbed her by the neck, and raised both of them into the sky.
"You little worm," he glowered, zooming them back towards the square. "I'll make you watch as I destroy Amy's friends, just so she remembers it through you."
Super Amy wasn't ready to give up, but she didn't have enough power to generate the Chaos bow again. If she had Amy's giant Chaos Energy-infused hammer, that might have enough energy to wallop Super Sonic away, but she couldn't reach into the Special Zone for it while she was in normal space.
Is that where you lurk when I'm still me? the meek pink one asked from inside her. In the Special Zone?
A cry from Super Sonic quietened the voice for now.
"Wh… What are you doing?" Super Sonic exclaimed, confused and enraged. Red and white lightning crackled around her collar and down Super Sonic's arms.
Super Amy laughed when she realised what was happening. She could feel Chaos Energy flowing from Sonic's hands, tingling into her neck and body. She was a Chaos Energy conduit, just like Amy's stolen mallet. She was draining him!
"What are you doing to me?" Super Sonic shrieked again. "Why can't I let go of you?"
It's like being electrocuted, Amy's voice resonated in Super Amy's mind. It locks up your muscles. You can't let go.
Super Sonic cried out in agony. He shot a laser bolt from his eyes, downwards, hitting Super Amy square in the chest. Her heart glowed white hot, but the two remained locked together.
Chaos Energy flooded every cell in her body. The tingling turned into pain, and she laughed. She could feel it. She was more than an angry lump of mischief. She—
Amy fell out of the air.
The Special Zone had staked a claim on the Chaos-filled Super Amy, just like it had with her hammer. But Amy could still feel the demon inside her, tendrils extending into her, fighting the pull of the Special Zone in a tantrum like an angry gremlin child. She and she hadn't been split apart yet, unlike Sonic and Super Sonic.
And for the first time since the Special Zone had claimed it, she could feel the hammer too. It was a vague sensation, but the Special Zone and her Super form seemed to have formed some kind of energy bridge.
She landed with an unsettling crunch. Pain shot into her ankle: dislocated, if she was lucky. She rolled to her knees and pushed herself up defiantly, ready to die at Super Sonic's inevitable next attack.
Super Sonic landed on the ground next to her. She could see he was shaken, but when he saw Amy had returned to her regular pink form, he straightened up victoriously, and snarled.
"Well, you tried, but ultimately you were a pitiful distraction. But I see it has at least given your boyfriend time to come around."
Amy followed Super Sonic's gaze. Sonic was just sitting up. He looked groggy and dazed, but otherwise relatively unharmed.
"She's not my girlfriend," he scowled.
Super Sonic cackled. "Those are your last words? Very well." He charged his lasers, and fired.
"No!!" Amy cried.
But no light blinded her.
The blast that should have been lethal was instead the merest crackle of red-tinged Chaos Lightning. Sonic had raised his hand in front of his head reflexively, and it was enough to halt the flow.
"Huh," Sonic frowned, confused. "What's this… another of your jokes?"
Amy spotted what was happening. There was a trail of Chaos Energy leaking out of Super Sonic, wisping into the air. The Super Amy-shaped energy shunt, snatched half away into the Special Zone, was still siphoning away Super Sonic's energy.
Super Sonic had realised too. "No! Something's wrong! Energy is draining out of me… I… I can't stop it!"
He gripped his head in pain and confusion, crying out in anguish. Then he turned away, and scampered off out of sight.
Sonic was still pulling himself off the floor, and so didn't give chase. Amy's ankle was too painful for it as well. She tried to put weight on it and lost some time fighting a blackout from the pain. As the pain dulled enough to think clearly again, she felt the last of Super Sonic's energy run out, and the link from him to Super Amy and the Special Zone fizzled out too.
By that time, it seemed like Sonic had revived the Omni-Viewer, who had activated its portal and before Amy had a chance to stop him, Sonic had jumped in, with Omni disappearing immediately afterwards in a flash of electrical energy. Amy sighed. That boy could never stay in one place for long…
Johnny and Tails came to her side. Thank goodness, they were both still alive.
All the adrenaline evaporated from her the moment she knew her friends were safe. Spots appeared in her vision.
"Don't forget about Doctor Robotnik…" she mumbled, feeling herself swaying on the spot. Her vision tunnelled. "As long as he's on the run, anything can happen!"
She collapsed to the ground.
***
"I made you some hot chocolate," Tekno said, apologetically, "but it's got cold since."
Amy had woken up in her bedroom in Tekno's underground laboratory. Her room still showed bare rock walls from where Knuckles had hollowed out the extra living space a couple of months ago, but she'd managed to decorate it with some fabric and a few knick-knacks, and it was pleasantly enough lit that even the grey granite looked warm.
"How long have I been out for?" Amy asked, sitting up on the side of the bed. Her clothes were scorched, and the smell of soot on them brought back memories of the battle she'd witnessed second-hand between her Super form and Super Sonic.
"About an hour." Tekno put the mug down on the floor and sat down to her left. "I thought moving you in here after Tails dropped you off would be enough to wake you up, but you were out cold." She looked at Amy with a worried look. "What happened?"
Amy had worried that Tekno would be aghast, horrified even, when she told her about the transformation, but instead Tekno's response surprised her. "Oh, you poor thing!" she exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Amy frowned. "I decided to unleash her. I…"
A wave of emotion passed over her. She forced the words out. "I'm the monster."
Tekno's eyes widened. "No…" she spoke soothingly. "You made a brave choice."
Amy felt tears welling up inside her.
Want me back so soon?
There was no choice. Tekno might not be interested in getting to know her, but if she didn't let out the tears and anger and agony then Super Amy was going to get a hold of her again. And she'd never choose to put anyone in danger again. Hope you're ready for this Tekno. The tears are coming whether you are or not.
As she keeled over, sobbing into Tekno's lap, she felt the canary tense up. Was she that unpalatable to her? But after a couple of moments, she felt a hand on her back. "It's okay," Tekno whispered. "It's okay."
***
Back in the main living space, Tekno switched the kettle on and took another couple of mugs out of an overhead cupboard, then rattled around in a drawer to find some teaspoons.
"It's interesting that you were able to surface your consciousness enough to get Super Amy's attention, if not fully control her," Tekno mused while preparing another couple of mugs of hot chocolate. "I wonder if it's because you triggered the transformation yourself this time."
"Mm." Amy took the mug offered to her, and sipped it. She wasn't too interested in the mechanics of it right now. Tekno was once again more interested in the science than her. "Look, um. Sorry about back then, in my room."
It had been that or transform, but she wasn't in the habit of flinging herself into other people's arms—or at least, the arms of the people she knew it wouldn't wind up. "I know you're not much of a hugger."
"Actually," Tekno said, looking away and taking a deep breath. "I really like hugs. I'm just never quite sure when they're appropriate."
"Oh!" Suddenly a lot more about the girl made sense. "Well, I'll always welcome one from you," Amy smiled. "And, in case you were waiting for me to say so, I'd love to hear you talk about yourself more too."
Tekno managed half a smile, and ran her hand through her hair awkwardly. "Um. Thank you. Some of my past isn't great, though. What with working for Robotnik and everything."
"Water under the bridge," Amy said. "I bet there's a lot to work through there. I'm here if you need to talk."
Tekno's smile became easier. "Thank you. I sometimes try talking to Shorty about it, but he, uh, he's not much of an emotions sort of guy."
Amy laughed. "Tekno, you and me have more in common than you'd think."
Tails picked that very moment to come bursting through the door. He tumbled haphazardly down the stairs. "Sonic's back!" he shouted, picking himself up. "Again, I mean! And he's captured Robotnik!"
Amy looked between Tekno and Tails, torn. On one hand, seeing a pivotal moment in Mobius's history in the making. On the other hand…
Tekno solved the dilemma. "I'll come with you," she grinned. "I'm sure Sonic will need an engineer to help him tidy up whatever mess he's made. And—" she glanced at Tails, issuing a challenge with a cheeky smile, "—I bet I'm a faster flyer than Tails, even carrying you."
Outside the laboratory, Amy took her hand, and Tekno lifted her into the sky.