Episode 4 Icecream and Emeralds
Not wanting to talk about it any further, Ame left money for the pizzas, told Loki to order and went out onto the balcony. Luc tried to follow him, but was unable to open the door, although it wasn't locked.

"I can't get out," he told the others.

"He does that when he wants to be alone, leave him," Tikal told him, softly.

"But why would his grandmothers death affect him like that?"

"He has a... strange family, leave it for a while!" this from Tails.

"Well, I gotta get back to work then, tell him to call me when he's more himself."

"Will do, bye." Loki shut the door as Luc left.They called for the pizza and took it to Amy's apartment, leaving Ame to himself.

"We really should do something to help." Amy said when they explained the situation.

"Last time you tried that, he started to shut himself out on his balcony [wouldn't you if Amy was trying to help?]. He has good coping skills, lets give him till tomorrow." Tikal was full of sound advice as normal.

"Ok, tomorrow."

That night when Tails went back again, he saw that Ame was still outside. He stood in the moonlight. The full moon shone down on him. Looking at his calender, Tails saw it was much to late in the month for this to be possible. He looked out again and saw it realy was full. Pressing himself to the window he heard Ame saying,

"Goddess Selene, lift me, guide my mind that I may speak with one who has passed." He stood on the rail, then was lifted from it. He hung motionless, and unsupported, for a few seconds before falling backwards onto the ledge. Looking exhausted, Ame rose to his feet, and went into his room via the window. Tails was highly unsettled by the look on his friends face, but still managed to get to sleep after a little tossing and turning.


The next few days passed uneventfully. Tails, Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Rouge and Klonoa went to school, Loki and Tikal spent them together, occasionally looking in on Ame, who had gone from depressed, in shock and wanting to be alone, to super happy, overly caring, and obssesed with every little detail.

On the thursday, Loki went into the opposing apartment to see if everything was alright. He was wearing his Sailor Moon t-shirt, and a pair of blue jeans. He found the main dining table covered with cakes.

"Er... Ame, you in here?" he called out

"I'm doing a little baking. I'm just in the kitchen kneading bread dough." he shouted back, "help youreslf to anything out there." Loki called Tikal across to show her the scene. Today she wore a long sky blue skirt and matching vest top, topped off with a green bandana.

"Displacement activity," she whispered, "He isn't dealing with it, so is doing this to distract himself and us, from the issue." Ame came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of biscuits. He had on a faded pair of purple jogging bottom, and an old purple sweat shirt, both coverd in flour. Putting the plate down he smiled at the pair.

"Ame, I think you need to talk about it" Tikal wanted to help.

"Can't, I need icing sugar, I'm out, I'll be right back."

"Don't make me have to knock you down, cus I will!" Loki was only half joking.

"I'm not ready to talk about it just yet, when I am, I will. Now let me cope, and try some cakes, otherwise I'll just give them to the neighbours. Now I really do need icing sugar. I'll be rigt back." With that Ame left. With nothing else to do [well, maybe something...], Tikal and Loki tried his baking.


The S.L.A. were getting used to their new arrangement. If they wanted anything, they just needed to call for it, and Super Sonic was calling for everything he could think of. He picked up the phone for the tenth time that hour and said,

"Bring me food, I want food, something sweet, yeah, sweet, I want icecream," [think, all one word] then hung up. Metalix was downlaoding all of the Kintobor database, including alll classified files, and Shadow was reading the last of the Chaos Emerald related information given to them by Robotnik.

So far their new sponsor had left them alone, but this wasn't to last. A knock sounded at the door, and a man in a buisness suit walked in, flanked by two security guards.

"Good afternoon, sirs," he began, "I am Mr. Blank [i couldn't think of a name for him]. Dr. Robotnik wishes me to accompany you to his research department."

"I have icecream coming, I want my icecream, I'm not going till I get it." Super Sonic was rambling.

"This is where we find out where the Chaos Emeralds are, forget your dessert," Metalix instructed.

"Emeralds, icecream, Emeralds, icecream," Super Sonic muttered as they left for the elevator.

When they reached it, the doors opened and a black catboy wearing the standard employee suit [it is a place of buisnees] stepped out. Seeing the security, he stepped to one side, and seeing the three that followed them, he was quite shocked. Ignoring him, the S.L.A. and their mindes got in and went down to the sub-basement.


Tails walked to the headmaster's office wearing the standard school uniform. He had an appointment to see Dr. Robotnik about the tutor project. In the reception he saw Rouge, who was dresed much the same, but with her tie missing, shirt open, and showing quite a lot of cleveage, and with leather shorts, not trousers.

"Hey, Tails," she said.

"Hi, what are you doing here?" He sat next to her, as he still had a few minutes before he was due to see the principal.

"Difference of oppinion between me and a teacher, and misuse of a public area."

"Huh?"

"In my opinion he's a jerk, I told him this when he caught me smoking in the toilets. He disagreed, so I'm here," she laughed at her own joke, Tails smiled. "What about you?

"Got an appointment about tutoring, I mean, I'm gonna start to, not be," Tails explained.

"Good for you, extra cred, extra curicular, and it pays a little. A real goddy two shoes, aren't you?" Rouge turned to the receptionist, "He free yet? I gotta be anywhere but here."

"Mr. Prowler, please go in, he is waiting for yo."

"Well, see you, shall I put in a good word for you?" Tails asked.

"It'd take more than one, so don't bother." She shook her head, "You really are too much."

As soon as he entered, tails was subjected to Robotniks stare.

"Ah, Miles! How can I help you?" his voice boomed.

"I was interested in the tutoring, sir, I think it's a good way to help the school."

"Very good of you!" Robotnik went to a filing cabinet and puled out a form. "Fill this in, and bring it back to me tomorrow, no, thats the field trip, you'll need a form for that too, wont you?" he got a second form, and gave both to Tails.

"Thank you sir." he said and left. Rouge was sent in. Robotnik took one look at her sighed and said,

"I don't have time to deal with you now, you have detention tonight, get out of my sight."

"Always a pleasure." Rouge left, another day, another detention. She knew that she would have been expelled if she wasn't a cheerleader, and a good student in all areas, except respecting the teachers. Oh well, she didn't care.


When Ame got back to Chao Tower, he saw Luc's cab outside. Knowing his boyfriend wouldn't leave without some explanation, Ame was reluctant to enter, but he'd left the oven on, so had no choice. Reaching his door, he heard Loki and Tikal were inside with Luc.

"He'll talk when he's ready, that's what he told us, and I trust him." Tikal was trying to convince Luc.

"He should trust me more, we are together." Luc was quite upset.

"I do trust you," Ame whispered, "But this is family honour" He entered, smiled at everyone, said, "One sec," rushed to the kitchen, dumped the sugar, took the bread out of the oven, then returned to hug Luc, who was in yet another hawaiian shirt, and a pair of loud shorts.

"Glad to see you've returned to normal," he said, then they kissed.

"Or as close as you get anyway," Loki said, then he almost wished he hadn't.

"I cook for him, I clean, and all I get is insults, why do I bother?" said Ame in mock rage, before laughing. The best way to get things back to normal, Ame thought, is to act like things are normal.

Spending the rest of the day cleaning, Ame didn't notice how late it was getting, so was shocked when Tails walked in.

"You been having a cook-a-thon?" he asked when he saw the table.

"I got bored, help yourself."

"Great, can you sign this for me?" Tails handed Ame the consent form.

"Field trip? Sure. Oh! they need supervisors, shall I?"

"Why not?" Tails said with a mouthful of cake. Ame phoned to volunteer, and had a idea while on the phone. After finishing talking to the school, he phoned both Knuckles and Sonic asking them for spare uniform items. Between them they had enogh, and both aid they'd drop it off for him. With this out of the way, Ame began making sandwhiches for the next day.


Horatio's aide had been called to his boss. Rushing to see what he could need at such an hour, the catboy [yes, the one from the lift] reflected on the day. For most of it, Horatio had ben in meetings, with little need for his help. Arriving at the Horatio's door, he knocked twice, and waited to be called. This didn't take long.

"How can I help you sir?" he asked, his voice was shaking.

"Clear my schedule for the next two days." Horatio needed this for his Emerald hunt.

"Of course, sir, nothing that can't be rearranged is on the record."

"Good, thank you... I realise I don't know your name. Tell me."

"Fenrir, sir."

"Thank you, Fenrir, but don't call me sir. Now, tell me, have you seen anything strange in the building lately?"

"Today, I saw the head of security, Mr. Blank, and two of his heavies, escorting three strang looking individuals to the elevator."

"Strange looking? Describe them."

"Two of them were hedgehog boys, one black, one gold. Both were dressed in old leathers, th golden one was muttering something about emealds and icecream. The last was a robotic hedghog."

"Hmmm, looks like father has been making some friends."

"Horatio, if I may ask, why do you need the time free?"

"You may not ask." Horatio was blunt. "I knew another catboy once, most singular person. Yo can go now."

"Of course, I'll re-do your meetings for you." Fenrir bowed and left his boss to his thoughts. A smile crossed his face. Horatio had taken an interest in him, if only briefly. He could always hope, but this was a start [not quite angsty, yet].


Up bright and early as normal, Ame did his exercises,finished the lunches for the group, packed them, and dressed in a custom purple shirt, one sleeve had been cut off above the elbow, but had the cuff not attched, but sill below the other was cut off mid-fore-arm, it had no collar, and was cut away at the front to navel heigt, and a pair of horizontal striped purple jeans. Putting on a ribbon as a choker for a final touch [this outfit combo does exist] he decided to put his plan into action. Letting himself into Amy's apartment, he carried a small bundle.

Seing Loki asleep on the couch as normal [him having just got out of Tikal's bed], Ame kicked him once, softly, but enough to make stir him.

"Good morning! Get up, put these on, you have a field trip to go on!" Ame chimed.

"Wha...? Fuck off, I'm sleeping." Loki didn't want to get up.

"You've got another ten, max. WAke up everyone!" he shouted to rouse Amy and Tikal [and maybe most of the floor], then left to wake Tails and make breakfast. Loki rolled over and tried to sleep again, until something clicked in his head.

"Field trip?"

"Amy and Tikal were up when Loki's ten minutes had passed, and Ame returned in an even more cheerful state [no loki, Luc hasn't just left, thats not till, ep 5]

"Come on guys, breakfast, then come back and get changed, we can't be late."Still half asleep the three followed him. After he had eaten and woken up more, Loki asked,

"How come I get to go on this trip?" [we need you in the plot somehow loki].

"I phoned the school and said I had a probable new student, when I vounteerd, and they said if I got you a uniform, you could go. Great huh?"

"This is just a plot of yours to get me out of the house, isn't it?" Loki asked.

"You've seen right through me," Ame said with a laugh.

"Just come along, it'll help him get out too, do it for me?" Tikal whispered.

"Fine, I'll go, but I'm not gonna start going to school here you know."

"Well it's a start. Luc's coming for us soon, go get ready."

In Amy's apartment, Loki changed in the bathroom, and came out in the ill fitting shirt, and a pair of his own black trousers. He was doing his tie as he asked,

"Well, how do I look?"

"Little schoolboy, how fast they grow up," Amy joked, then went into the bathroom to get ready herself, Tikal kissed Loki, then went to get ready herself. Amy was finished first, and was wearing a black mini-skirt, frilled white blouse and her tie. She wlaked into the living room, and called,

"You ready Tikal?"

"One sec, need my tie, got it!" she walked in tie in hand dresed in a long skirt, plain white blouse and said, "I knew it'd be in the last place I checked, so I looked there first!" [yes! the line has been said!].

Luc arrived early, for breakfast, and a kiss, then drove them all to the station. Tails was in his normal uniform.

"You sure I can't help too?" he asked as the got out.

"Any excuse to be with me." Ame answered, "Sorry, it's parents, teachers and gaurdians only. I'll see you later though, we have a date, remember?"

"Sure, 9:00, can't wait.! They kissed and Luc drove off. The school group was easy to find [they were in uniforms], and registering everyone took only a minute. The group found Sonic, Kunx, Rouge and Klonoa, all dressed in smart school attire.

"How'd you get roped onto this?" Rouge asked Loki.

"I've been asking myself the same question all morning," he joked.

"No time for that, we gotta get on, sit by me Tails?" Klonoa was excited.

"Sure, but I want the window seat!" They raced onto the train.

"C'mon Rouge, this'll be sooo much fun!" Amy dragged the batgirl into another group of seats, to sit with the rest of the cheerleaders.

"Women!" Sonic commented, as he and Knux sat. Ame found a seat with the rest of the supevisors, mostly teachers, but some parents, who were shocked as much by his outfit, as the fact that he quailified to be there.


"We are now arriving at the Mystic Ruins. Thank you for travelling with Station Rail." An elecronic voice announced.

"Everyone get off, and line up in class order," said an art teacher, "We'll be lead around as one gruop, behave, all of you." He shot a look at Rouge. "our guide should be here soon." Sure enough, a white Rabbit girl dresed in classic archeologist clothing walked up and said,

"You must be the school group." her right hand went to her nose, to brush off some dirt ['k, d?] "Well, I'm Ganymede, I'll be showing you around today. This way to the main site area." She lead the to an excavation site.

"From this one area we have discovered remains of an anceint civilisation, that is millenia old!" In the back, Tikal turned to Knuckles and said,

"This is so wierd."

"Yeah, total de ja-vu" he replied.

"Shhhh! I don't wanna miss this." Tails was really interested.

"Sorry," they both said, but neither could shake the feeling that both had.


Horatio was in his private chopper, giving directions to the robotic pilot. So far his scanner had been leading him away from the city.

"Hmmm, looks like father was looking in the wrong places." he checked the map again, and guessed at his destination. "Should have known, where else do you look for ancient treasures? At an equally ancient place. Pilot, take me to the Mystic Ruins dig site." Smiling to himself, Horatio thought that at least one of the Chaos Emeralds were in his grasp.


The tour was half over, and a lunch break had been declared. Sitting down in their group, Ame had handed out sealed bowls of noodles, sandwhiches and his cakes. The tour guige walked u to them, and said,

"I thought so! Klonoa, hi, why didn't you tell me you were coming today?" Klonoa stood up and hugged her.

"Wanted to surprise you. Everyone, this is my cousin. You wanna join us?"

"Is there enough? I kinda forget to pack myself anything." She looked a little embarrassed, and her hand dusted her nose again. Klonoa looke at Ame smiling.

"Sure, sit, I always make to much. Ganymede wasn't it? As in the moon?" She nodded, her mouth full of food. "Well, I'm Amethyst, call me Ame, this is Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Loki, Tikal and Rouge," he indicated each as he saud their name, and each said hi.

"Sorry to ask this," Tails said, "But aren't you a little young to be working here?"

"It's a course I'm on, this is the practical side."

The conversation was kept going throughout the meal. When they had almost finished, a loud explosion went off.

"What was that?" asked Sonic of no-one.

"It came from the heavy area!" Ganymede was on her feet and running, everyone followed her. At the heavy area two exo-suits had started smashing the rest.

"Whats going on?" Tikal asked a bystander.

"A digger suit and a hauler suit have gone haywire, the pilots are still inside."

"Tikal, Amy, get everyone out of here." Sonic instructed.

"But I can help!" cried Amy.

"Without your mallet, the best you can do is clear the area with Tikal." Nodding, the two of them got people to safety.

"We gotta do is get the pilots out, that should stop them." Knux said, "Rouge and me'll take the left one, sonic, you Klonoa and Tails get the right. Ame, Loki, distract them." They had a plan.

Rouge and Knux climbed a wall behind the machine while Loki kept its attention by throwing anything he could get his hands on, with great accuracy. Gliding over to its shoulders, Rouge and Knux smashed the locks, and draged out the plot, removing the mind ring, then flying him to te ground. Using much the same technique, Ame threw energy bolts at his target, while Tails lifted Sonic and Klonoa onto the suit. Before they could land, Ganymede had seen their intent, and shouted,

"Klonoa, Be careful!" Seeing a new target, the suit filled its shovel arm with rubble and threw it at her. At full spped, Ame reached her, but he didn't have time to clear the target area, an both were coverd in debris. Finishing his job, Tails rushed down to the ile and began to dig, he was shortly joined by Knux, Rouge and Loki. After releasing the second pilot, Sonic and Klonoa began to shift rubble too. All thought that nothng could survive under that weight, but they ht something purple and imovable. This parted sligtly and Ganymede shouted out,

"Um.. help, I don't think he can hold it much longer." They pulled her out, and Ame followed, floating out, the collapsing at the same time as the dome he created.

"Took... your.... time..... didn't you?" Ame was extremly drained.

"How did he do that?" Ganymede asked.


"How did he do that?" Horatio's vantage point had allowed him to see most of the action. "They should have been crushed." His scanner had shown massive Chaos energy during the fight. It had gone down now. Jumping to a conclusion that was only half right, he said, "That must be where I got the readings from. The wolf guy must be connected to the Emeralds somehow. Well, I geuss I can always take him home for questioning. He was about to go down when he saw the whole group for the first time. Unable to believe what he saw, he ran for his binoculars. With his improved focus, he saw the truth.

"Loki....." he dropped the binoculars. All other thoughts left his mind. Not able to face the love of his life, and not wanting to reveal himself, Horatio left quickly, getting back into his copter and ordering it home. If he had stayed for a few minutes more, he would have seen Tikal, revealing yet another mystery from his life, but such was his rush to get away, he left his scane, binocluars, and what felt like his heart [yuk, fluff!].


Before the police arrived, Sonic had managed to convince the workers and Ganymede not to say anything about their involvement. Klonoa made up a story, the machines had gone out of control, but it hadn't lasted long. The damage to te locks had occured afterwards, to get them out. Since they had saved the pilots lives, they agreed to this. The police accepted the story, and took some photos, then left. The rest of the tour was cancelled, and everyone allowed to go home.

Ganymede followed the group to the station, then asked again,

"How did you do that thing? Y'know, how did yo save us? And why did you risk your life for someone you barely know?"

"The why is easy, D, can I call you D? Ganymee is soo long, I'll fall asleep before I finish saying it." Ame was trying to buy himself time.

"Yeah, ok, so why?"

"I have a high respect for life, be it a friend, a strangers, or a future friends." he smiled, "Now i gott get this train."

"Me too, I'm moving into a new place today. I got to clock off early caus of all this. We can talk on board."

"You're getting this train? Yay! Sit by me!" Klonoa could see Ame trying to get out of it, so dragged his cousin away. Ame mouthed 'thanx' to him, the literally colapsed into a seat. Tikal sat next and Loki and Soinc across.

"So how did you manage it? Last time you could barely hold off that guy for four charges" Loki asked. Ame didn't mind explaining to his friends.

"I practice every morning and night to build up mental muscle, and when my Grandmother died, she willed me a portion of her power."

"Wow, you gonna be okay? you look awful." Tikal this.

"I just need a little rest." Ame slumped down in his seat, and closed his eyes.


Reaching Station Square, the guys got a couple of taxis back to Chao Tower. Strangley, D semed to be following them. Arriving outside, they waited to see if she got out there, or if it was a coincidence, but surely enough, she got out next to them [thats good, but don't call me shirley]

"Are you following us?" Rouge was a little annoyed.

"What? No! This is where I'm moving too.I do have better things to do with my time. Wait, you don't all live here do you?"

"Just me, Tikal, Loki, Ame and Tails." Amy answered. "What number you moving into?"

"310, my stuff wont be here for a few hours though."

"Ohmygod! That is so cool, I'm in 311, Ame's 312. Just wait till you see the place!" Amy dragged her inside.

In the reception, D collected her keys, then went up to her new place. Looking inside, it was boring and empty.

"We're going to Ame's you coming, you can wait for yor stuff there, and it beats waiting in an empty room alone." both Amy and Klonoa were full of energy, and D was shown into the next apartment.

"We're going to change, be right back." Loki, Tikal and Amy left. Tails went into his room too. Ame fixed some drinks [tea, coffee, lemonade no booze], and sat down. Finding a seat for herslef, D looked at him and said,

"This time you can't run off, you gonna tell me how you did it?"


Robotnik had spent the day researching his new employees, and had something about each. He would make this knowledge available to his research department as soon as he had had words with his son. Hearing the helicopter landing, he stromed up to the pad and began shouting as soon as Horatio was in view.

"Where were you today? You missed all of your meetings! We must have lost millions!"

"Ah, Fenrir, did you re-schedule everything?" Horatio ignored his father's outburst, and spoke to his catboy aide, who was also present.

"All but one tomorrow." Fenrir knew he was being used [and liked it] to make a point, "It's a major accountat 10:00"

"Very good. As you see father, you have nothing to worry about. The company is in my hands, and I am in the capable hands of Fenrir, now if you'll excuse us, I have a meeting i need to research." Horatio turned to his aide, "This way please, Fenrir."

Shocked beyond beleif, Robotnik was speachles for a second, but he had to have the last word in any arguement.

"You still should have cleard this day off with me. I'm cutting a weeks wage." Horatio ignored this, and carried on.

"Blowhard bastard," he said when he got back to his room. "Do you have the account info?" he asked Fenrir.

"Right here sir, but you seemed distracted, did your day not go as planned?"

"No, but it wasn't a complete wsshout. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I found something I thought I lost long ago."

"Horatio?" Fenrir was confused.

"You ever been in love?" Horatio asked openly.

"Not yet." Fenrir lied

"I have, and still am. I feel this story needs to be told, and you'll be the one to listen."


More soon, if i can think where to go from here [lolh]

Ame-chan
E-mail Ame.

p.s. two new charas in one ep, well kinda

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