Amy Rose had always been a romantic.
Even after everything she had been through—after fighting across different zones, after learning to stand on her own, after realizing that love wasn’t just about chasing after a hedgehog who was always on the move—she never lost that spark of idealism.
Even after what happened in Starfall Islands.
It was there, amidst the beauty of the ancient islands, that Amy had made herself a promise.
No more waiting around. No more standing still.
She had a whole world to see—a world that needed her compassion, her strength, her love.
And now, standing at the edge of a cliff overlooking the vast horizon of the ocean, Amy felt at peace. The wind tousled her quills gently as the sunset blurred the sky with streaks of orange and pink. Beside her stood Trip the Sungazer, the guardian of the Black Onyx.
Trip was quiet as always, her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed out over the sea. She hadn’t spoken much, but Amy had come to understand her silence. Trip didn’t need words to express what she felt. The gentle way she stood close to Amy, the way her hand would occasionally brush against hers, was enough.
Amy glanced sideways, a small smile tugging at her lips.
It had been a chance meeting.
After Sonic and Blaze’s relationship became clear, Amy had taken time to sort through her feelings. It hadn’t been easy. She’d spent so many years with her heart set on Sonic, chasing after him, dreaming of a life where he finally slowed down long enough to notice her the way she noticed him.
But that wasn’t how love worked.
Sonic had found someone who matched his wild, untamable freedom—a fire to complement his wind. And Amy…Amy had realized that her heart had been searching for something else all along.
When she had the thought to revisit the Northstar Islands, it wasn’t about the memories of the past. It was to explore, to see what she had missed, and to help wherever she could.
And that was where she, expectedly, had found Trip again.
The shy, timid guardian had been diligently watching over the Black Onyx. But now there was something different about her—something Amy had noticed right away.
Trip was stronger now. More confident, even if just a little. She was still soft-spoken, still fidgeted and stumbled over her words sometimes, still clumsy as she was years ago, but the fear that had once dominated her every movement had lessened greatly.
Amy had admired that.
They had spent more time together after their reunion, and Amy decided to stay longer with the excuse of having to take time to explore the islands thoroughly. In that duration, their bond had grown. She didn’t even realize when her feelings began to change—when her fondness for Trip had become something deeper, something softer.
And before Amy knew it, she had invited Trip to join her on her travels.
It had taken a lot of gentle encouragement—Trip wasn’t exactly the most adventurous soul and was so convinced that her place was limited to the Northstar Islands—but eventually, the sungazer had agreed.
And then, one day, Trip had done the unthinkable.
She asked Amy out.
Well…sort of.
“U-Um…I-I was wondering…” Trip had stammered, her tail curling anxiously as she avoided Amy’s gaze. “I-I mean, you d-don’t have to, but…um…w-would you like to…m-maybe…uuhhh…”
Amy had been so caught off guard that she almost missed it. But the moment she realized what Trip was trying to say, her heart skipped a beat.
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t some grand gesture like she had once dreamed of.
But Amy wouldn’t have traded that moment for anything.
Now, standing beside Trip, Amy couldn’t help but smile at how far they had both come.
“You okay?” she asked softly, her voice barely louder than the breeze.
Trip blinked, her onyx eyes darting to meet Amy’s. She nodded quickly, her face turning a slight shade of pink. “Y-Yes! I’m…I’m just…” She trailed off, glancing back at the horizon. “It’s…pretty.”
Amy’s smile softened. “Yeah. It is.”
They stood in comfortable silence for a while, watching as the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow over the water.
“So…” Amy broke the silence, her voice laced with excitement. “I’ve been thinking.”
Trip tilted her head slightly, curious.
“Our next stop…” Amy’s eyes sparkled. “How about Adabat?”
“Adabat?” Trip echoed, her tone unsure but intrigued.
“Sonic mentioned he never got to explore it properly,” Amy explained, her hands gesturing animatedly. “Said there were tons of ancient ruins and places he didn’t get to see because he was too busy running around, trying to put the planet back together with Chip. But we can take our time. See everything. What do you think?”
Trip’s eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Amy wondered if she had been too eager. But…
“Y-Yes…I-I’d like that,” Trip murmured softly.
Amy grinned. “Great!” She raised a hand. “To our next adventure!”
It took a second for Trip to catch on, but she eventually raised her own hand, mimicking Amy’s enthusiasm—albeit a little more meekly. “T-To…our next adventure,” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Amy chuckled softly, her heart swelling with warmth.
Amy Rose had always been a romantic.
And now…she was finally living out her own sweet little love story.
