Trix P.O.V

"Well, I think it's safe to say, after that adventure, you've proven your worth and you're now officially part of the team!" Sonic told me. I jumped up in excitement and delight.

"We should celebrate! How 'bout we go to town? You've never been there before even though you've stayed with us so long!" Tails said.

"I think that's a great idea! I finally have someone I can go shopping with!" Amy said.

"Whatever you say, Amy." I giggled.

"Wait, so she's a potato?" Knuckles asked.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"I'm confused right now." Knuckles said.

"You and me both, buddy." I said. We all laughed.

"Come on! There's a new clothing store and there's an opening sale!" Amy said, grabbing me and Sticks's hands and rushing towards town.

"You guys coming?" I asked the boys.

"We'll catch up with you later!" Sonic said.

"Have fun!" Tails called.

We arrived at a small clothing store run by a shrew. I was looking at some skinny jeans when Amy grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the back of the store. My jaw-dropped. The room was filled with elegant dresses. Sticks was already there, admiring the shiniest dress.

"I like shiny things..." she murmured.

"I just discovered the back room!" Amy said.

"I didn't think it was big enough for this." I said.

"Oh, it's a lot bigger on the inside. And it has basement levels." said a store clerk who had just joined us.

"Really?!" Amy squeezed before spotting a flight of stairs and charging down them.

"This actually works out well since there's an upcoming ball next weekend and all members of team Sonic are invited. Heck, every celebrity in town is going to be there!" Sticks said.

"Wait... So I have to go to a ball?!" I cried.

"Wait a minute! You guys are from team Sonic?" the store clerk said.

"Uh, yeah?" I said.

"Wow! Huge fan! It's an honor to meet you!" she cried, shaking me and Sticks' hands.

"Well, I only got admitted today, but-" I started.

"Really?! Team Sonic has a new member? I have got to post this on the Sonic Blog!" she squealed, taking out her phone.

"So, team Sonic is a big thing in town?" I asked, a bit displeased. I thought team Sonic was modest and humble.

"Yeah. I don't like it either. But it's just natural. As Eggman attacks neighboring villages too, a lot of people come to Hedgehog Village for safety. It's not even a village anymore. Since we save people and all, we just naturally become celebrities. We used to be ordinary folk eight years ago." Sticks said.

"And I can imagine how some team mates' egos didn't help much." I said.

"You bet." she said.

"Hey, I think this sparkly black ball gown will look good on you!" I said, pointing to one of the dresses on the mannequins.

"Well, it's the least objectable option..." she said.

"I'll put that in a box for you!" the store clerk said, rushing off to get a box.

"At least the service is better when you're famous." Sticks said.

"I still have no idea what to wear and I don't even know how to dance." I said.

"Really? You seem like the type of person who would know how to dance." Sticks said.

"Well, when you were born in a test tube and raised in a cage, you don't really get the opportunity to learn how to dance." I said.

"True." Sticks said.

"Girls! You have got to come down here!" we heard Amy shout from the bottom floor. We went down the stairs to the lowest level.

"What was it that was so amazing you had to-" I stopped mid-sentence when I saw what she was talking about. We were in the VIP section (don't ask me why there was a VIP section in a clothing store). Amy was trying on a a long silk dress that was very flattering.

"Wow, Amy! That dress looks great are on you! But, isn't this the VIP section?" I asked.

"We are VIPs! All members of team Sonic are VIPs. That includes you now!" she said.

"Right, I almost forgot." I said.

"I think I'm going to wear this at the ball next weekend!" Amy said.

"Do I have to go?" I complained.

"Of course you do! It's a great honor and it would be rude to decline!" Amy said.

"Fine. Then, at least help me find a dress and teach me how to dance." I said.

"Okay. Ooh! This is perfect!" Amy squeaked pointing to an ice blue lace dress.

"Well, why not?" I said.

"I'll put that in a box for you!" said the store clerk who ran down to us with three boxes. She handed Sticks one of them, which must have contained her dress, and put the two dresses that me and Amy bought in the other two. Amy insisted that she paid for everything.

"Wow, you're too kind!" I said.

"No, it was nothing. You don't have to pay me back." she said.

"Thanks a lot." I said.

"Oh, and I forgot to mention that you need to bring a male escort and dance partner." Sticks added.

"This just keeps on getting better..." I said sarcastically.

"Why the long face?" Amy asked.

"I have no idea who to bring and I will suffer public humiliation." I said.

"Come on. I'll help you find a dance partner." Amy said.

"Thanks a lot Amy. You're like a big sister to me." I said.

"What about me?" Sticks asked.

"Sorry. Both of you are my big sisters." I said, laughing.

"The boys are going to join us in a minute." Amy said, receiving a message on her communicator.

"Great. I wanted to discuss plans on how to beat Chimera." I said.

"Come on, lighten up! We won a battle against those robots already! We can't always think about defeating our enemies. Otherwise, we are given no reason to fight. Without anything to fight for, we can't win. That's why we need to enjoy our lives and live everyday to the fullest." Amy said. I smiled.

"That was really sentimental." I said.

"Yeah." Sticks said.

"Well, the guys are waiting for us at Meh Burger. We better hurry up." Amy said, dragging us out of the store.

On our way there, I kept looking around in wonder.

"It's like you've never seen a town before!" Amy said, giggling.

"Actually, you're right." I said.

"Really? You've never seen a town before?" Sticks asked.

"Nope. Only in pictures. I learned everything I know in Chimera's library." I said.

"Sounds boring." Sticks said.

"Well, it really makes you love books." I said.

"So you lived your whole life in a cage while reading books?" Sticks asked.

"No, we were intensely physically trained everyday too." I said.

"We?" Amy asked.

"Yeah, there were three other subjects that were released too." I said.

"Do you have any idea of what happened to them?" Amy asked.

"What were they like?" Sticks asked.

"Well, I decided to just assume they were dead. I was Subject R. Subject T was the first one. He was an antelope and one of the most optimistic of all of us. He wasn't big on books or training. He mostly liked talking. He talked a lot. It was kind of annoying. But he was still one of my only friends. Subject I was a girl. She was a stork. She was weak and sickly, though. I doubt she survived." I said glumly.

"I'm sorry." Amy said.

"Didn't you say there were three others" Sticks asked.

"Yeah, but I none of us ever met him. Apparently he was the most powerful of us all. T claimed he was a dragon but I and I didn't believe him. He's probably some some of crocodile or alligator." I said.

"It's kind of hard to follow when you only use the letters." Sticks said.

"Sorry. It's just that is was weird calling each other 'subject' something." I explained.

"Guys! You're finally here!" Sonic said.

"Sorry if we kept you waiting." Amy said.

As the group launched into a conversation, I peered at all the customers eating there.

And my heart stopped when I saw an antelope with one broken horn.