Christmas only occurs once a year. Many people take it upon themselves to celebrate, free themselves from worry, and enjoy the comfort of their families. It rarely happens throughout the year for some people, especially if they constantly at war to keep the world at peace from maniacs like Dr. Eggman.

Amy’s jade green eyes scanned the store’s jewellery, on search for anything Rouge might fancy. Christmas shopping had to be the worst thing about Christmas, as it cost heaps. Nevertheless, Amy enjoyed getting out of the house.

Eventually, she looked toward the nearest ruby necklace, which was studded with gems. Amy was fixated with it, the beauty that emerged out of it. But that would suit Rouge more than it would suit her.

“May I help you?” the clerk asked, snapping Amy out of her thoughts.

“Yes, I’ll have this one,” Amy stated, pointing at a topaz, coloured magenta pink. It was certainly different, and would help remind Rouge of the good and bad times she shared with that friend of hers from Earth.

The clerk gently sorted it out for Amy, as Amy quickly pointed out she wanted it gift-wrapped. Soon enough, Amy left the jewellery store, with one more bag on her shoulder. She only had one more present to buy and it would be a tough one to think about.

Snowflakes danced around Amy as she gazed into the greying sky, “What to get for Sonic…?”

XXX

Sonic kicked back, his feet resting gently on the couch. Christmas was a great time of year. Sure, there was the cold weather, but the party with his friends on Christmas Eve couldn’t be beaten by anything. Booze, partying, music… it’s all in good fun.

He gazed at the small selection of presents he had in the corner, each gift-wrapped to a decent degree and settled in the corner, out of view by Sonic’s Christmas tree. But something kept bugging Sonic. One Christmas present he hadn’t got and that was for Amy.

Honestly, he didn’t know what to get her. Ever since he had started dating her after everyone had returned to Mobius from the space journey, he had constantly questioned what things would appeal to her, and if she truly would be happy with what she got from him. Amy acted happy, but was it all a front?

Sonic sighed, his thoughts now on his lovely girlfriend. What could he give her to say how much he cared, how he was a fool for ignoring her for so long?

The blue hedgehog knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere just sitting and dwelling on it, so he jumped to his feet, a new resolution in mind: find Amy a present!

XXX

A party was always good to have on Christmas Eve, and Tails was swayed toward the decision to have it at his place. The two-tailed fox didn’t mind though, it’s not like he would be getting drunk. It was a good opportunity he would take on board. The opportunity to meet all his old friends again.

Tails sighed, collapsing onto his sofa, worn out from having spent the entire morning decorating the entire place ready for the party. He laid his head back on the soft warmth of fluffy pillows behind him, and gazed at the delicate potted plant in front of him.

A look of sadness crossed the fox’s face as he remembered the events that followed in space. It hurt, thinking about that sweet smile on her face, and precious sparkle in her sapphire eyes. The knowledge that she may never return hurt terribly.

Tails shook his furry head, he had to move on! He couldn’t keep living in the past; it wouldn’t do him any good. But he didn’t want to forget Cosmo either. Tails rolled over, feeling tears swell up in his eyes, wishing more than ever that things could have been different. If she had survived, she would still be here, celebrating with them.

“Cosmo…” Tails whispered, the image of the girl he loved fading from his mind with every passing day.

One thing was for certain, he didn’t want to forget her. She was his first and only love. It would be wrong to forget her.

“Better get some supplies for the party…” Tails muttered dully, shifting his weight out of his house, heading towards the train station.

XXX

“And don’t forget to mingle,” Cream finished what she was saying, as she skipped to keep up with her new friend Blaze the Cat, who had been catapulted into Sonic’s dimension not long ago, unable to return to her own. The reason was unknown, at the present, and Blaze wasn’t willing to discuss it with anyone.

The female cat was a lilac colour, with fairly fluffy fur, strange clothes which bore royalty and sharp yellow eyes which seemed to watch you every step you took. A red gem was settled on her head, gleaming ever so slightly in the daylight. Cream smiled cutely up at her new friend, as Blaze walked faster.

“Who said I was going to this stupid party?” she said, an edge to her voice suggesting she was in a bad mood. Cream, however, wasn’t phased and continued to skip up alongside her.

“Aw, c’mon! It’ll be really good fun! Everyone is gonna be there!” the six year old pleaded. Her chao Cheese followed her, joining in with Cream in begging Blaze to go to the ‘party of the year’.

Blaze’s temper was reaching boiling point, yet she didn’t want to explode on a kid. If it weren’t for her, she’d never have found the importance of friendship. Blaze merely sustained a moody silence, giving herself time to think about it. Would it really be so terrible?

The cat honestly didn’t know why she was flipping out over a party. It was one night of her life; it wasn’t going to cause a big impact. Blaze honestly for the life of her couldn’t figure out why she didn’t want to go. The Sol Emeralds were safely protected under the protection unit Tails has installed, along with the Chaos Emeralds.

The feline gave in with a loud sigh, “Fine.”

For the rest of the day, Blaze endured Cream’s excited and cheerful attitude.

XXX

Grumbles and sulky attitudes were what shaped Angel Island. Knuckles the Echidna circled the altar of the Master Emerald, a look of grumpiness settled on his facial features. He honestly didn’t want to be forced to leave Angel Island, leaving the Master Emerald unguarded. Images of what happened before when Eggman appeared, stealing it before his eyes. No matter how much he strived to hold on, he got electrocuted and thrown off.

Knuckles shuddered, he didn’t want to relive that, nor cause it to happen again. He settled down at the altar, gazing at the darkening sky. That darn party at Tails’ place started soon, and he really didn’t want to go.

“What ya thinking about?” a sly voice sounded from behind the red echidna, causing shivers to be sent down his spine. Shivers of anger, that is.

“What are you doing here?” Knuckles growled, whipping around to see a milk white bat in an outfit which showed off some of her body, and was supposed to be appealing to men. Though it made Knuckles receive shivers down his spine, he maintained his grumpy composure.

“My, my, aren’t you happy to see me?” Rouge smirked slyly, her hands resting on her hips, her wings folded.

“Since when have I been happy to see you bat-girl?” Knuckles snarled, clearly not in the mood to be getting into a conversation with Rouge the Bat of all people.

“I heard about the party tonight. Are you going?” She asked, completely ignoring Knuckles’ question. Her wings flapped a little, almost as if she were ready to take off for flight at any second. Knuckles growled.

“No,” he said simply, gesturing towards the Master Emerald, “I don’t want to take the risk of any thieves taking away the Master Emerald.”

Rouge huffed, her hands curled into fists resting on her hips, “Just so you know, I happen to be going to that party too and-”

“You’re going to get completely wasted…” Knuckles finished dully, waving his large gloved hand with little effort, “Thanks but no thanks.”

“I’m not leaving until you agree to accompany me,” Rouge stubbornly claimed, “I’m not going alone.”

“What?” Knuckles jumped back in shock, “No way in hell!”

“C’mon, it isn’t gonna kill ya…” Rouge put on her sexiest voice, hoping that if anything, it would get Knuckles to change his mind. Knuckles’ veins were poking out of his skin, almost wanting to kill Rouge at any moment.

“Fine, if you will leave me alone!” Knuckles growled.

“That’s all I wanted,” Rouge smiled, not a dirty smirk, but a true smile, “Catch ya later Knuckie!”

At that point, Rouge took off, quickly waving to Knuckles, who ended up blushing furiously for a reason unknown to him.

XXX

“This stinks,” Shadow grumbled, being dragged along by an excited Amy Rose, who he had stumbled across Christmas shopping. The pink hedgehog had a bright smile on her young youthful face, and was obviously in a good mood.

“C’mon Shadow, cheer up, it’s Christmas!” Amy excitedly exclaimed, “And I really need help with picking out a present for Sonic!”

“What’s the point?” Shadow replied in a grumpy tone, “All we do is cook food we don’t like, get presents we don’t need, and spend the day getting bored of each other’s company.”

“Well, you’re coming to the party and that’s that,” Amy said firmly, her grip on his wrist tightening as she dragged him into a shop nearby.

Shadow said nothing, but merely remained silent. Amy ignored his silence, and moved on to look at possible gifts for her boyfriend. Her eyes scanned all over the shop, as well as occasionally calling over to a disgruntled Shadow for assistance, not that he ever responded with enthusiasm.

Finally, the pink hedgehog’s eyes landed on what she was looking for.

“Perfect.”

XXX

“How did I ever agree to this?” Blaze questioned herself, as she settled on the couch, listening to Sonic’s singing, which though he had a pretty good singing voice, wasn’t putting Blaze in any mood to celebrate.

“C’mon, Blaze! Join in!” Cream exclaimed excitedly, a cheerful happy grin set on her cute young face. Blaze’s yellow eyes shrunk to the size of pinheads, and she instantly shook her head at Cream’s request.

“I don’t think so…” Blaze responded coldly, her arms folded.

“Lighten up Blaze!” Sonic called over to her, winking, a smirk settled on his features. Blaze merely folded her arms and remained quiet. Out of all the people here, she only really knew Sonic and Cream. Blaze wasn’t a person that liked to interact, which was precisely why she didn’t want to be here.

“Stand clear! Team Chaotix is here!”

Blaze’s yellow eyes landed on three Mobians, their bodies overridden with snow. The tallest was a green scaly crocodile, with deep brown eyes, a large snout, and a golden chain hanging from his neck and black headphones settled on his head. The second was a purple chameleon, with a coiled tail, yellow eyes similar to Blaze’s own, and a golden horn where a nose would’ve been. The third bounced straight over to Cream and began talking to her enthusiastically. The bee looked like any ordinary six year old bee; stinger, antennae and yellow and black stripes. His eyes were a soft caramel colour, much like Cream’s, and he wore a cute little jacket.

Cute? Blaze mentally slapped herself. That wasn’t like her.

“We’re here!” A voice called out from the hallway. Blaze shrunk even further into her seat, recognizing the voice as Amy Rose’s. Though Sonic had chosen her, and dated her, it wasn’t long ago that Amy accused Blaze of moving onto Sonic, when really she was bidding him farewell. Blaze could feel Amy’s eyes watching her as soon as she entered the room.

The purple female cat forced herself to look up and saw that Amy was not alone. A black hedgehog, with gleaming fur, red stripes on his quills which flared upwards, a white patch of fluffy fur on his chest, and blood red eyes. Blaze felt her heart skip a few beats, as the black hedgehog’s eyes landed right on her.

‘I wonder who he is…’