Chapter 24

"So, umm..." Sonic said, realizing he had no clue what this woman's name was. "What's your name?"

"Well, I don't exactly... know..." The woman replied, that perplexed expression coming back.

"What?" Sonic exclaimed, taken aback. This felt like déjà vu all over again. This had to be the third person he'd met who had some kind of amnesia! (Excluding himself.) Sonic softened his voice, as he saw he may have startled the poor girl again. "Are you saying you don't know your own name?"

"Well, sort of..." The woman explained. "I may have an inkling of what my name is, but I don't know for sure. You see... I've been lost in here for as long as I can remember, and... these books have been my only company until you showed up. And you know those little 'this book belongs to' pages in some books where you're supposed to write your name?"

"Yeah?" Sonic asked, knowing exactly what she meant. She picked a random book off the shelf. It was titled... Sonic and the Black Knight.

"Eh?" The woman asked herself, looking at the book closer. "Strange. I could swear this book was titled something else." She stated, confusedly. "Oh well, I'm clearly going insane," she had a formally blank expression. She had said the words so fast they almost blurred together in what sounded like oelli'mclearlygoinsane. It almost sounded like she was trying to get them out of the way as soon as possible, as if it didn't matter at all.

She opened the book to the first page. There was a section that read; "This book belongs to... Sonja" Sonja was written in messy green crayon with a heart where the dot should be on the j. This book seemed to be the oldest of them all. It had grown weary at the edges and dull in color.

"Sonja?" Sonic asked, looking up from the book as the woman, Sonja, shut it tight. No dust came out. She must have read this one often, or at least taken good care of it. "That's a beau--- great name!"

"Thank you," Sonja said. She giggled.

"Well, Sonja... you've got new company now!" Sonic assured her, genuinity in his slight smile. He reached out his hand, which she took. They shook hands. "And his name's Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"Sonic..." Sonja murmured. She looked at the book she was holding in her hands, she was taking a double take. "Sonic?"

"Uh yeah?" Sonic asked.

"I knew it! I knew it had to be true!" Sonja exclaimed, joyously. She flipped to one specific page. The exact one she meant to turn to. How familiar was she with this book? Then, she pointed at a picture in the book. It depicted something Sonic remembered all too well. When he was pronounced the true King Arthur. "You mean THIS Sonic? The one true King Arthur and the Knight of the Wind?!" Sonja asked, beaming.

"I can't exactly say no to that..." Sonic said, not knowing how or when they added his adventure in the Arthurian legend to the collection book. "Umm..."

Sonja picked another book off the shelf, this one was One Thousand and One Nights. She flipped to the page where Sonic had wished for Shahra, his friend he encountered in the world of the Arabian Nights, to be revived. "THIS Sonic? The legendary blue hedgehog?" She asked, more enthusiastically, her eyes nearly lighting up the dark library like a lantern.

"Yep!" Sonic said, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. This was a bit too much. It was like a far cry from her adorable initial timidness. He tried to stay cool. But was this what all of his fans were like?! "Guilty as charged." He mumbled.

"Oh... my... God..." Sonja said, mouth agape. "It's you!" She dashed forward surprisingly fast and hugged Sonic tightly, making sure not to touch his sharp quills. "Oh my God I can't believe it! Sonic the Hedgehog is here!"

"Yep, yep..." Sonic muttered, growing impatient by the second. He resisted the urge to tap his foot. "Sonic the Hedgehog."

"And just like in the stories, adventure follows soon behind him!" Sonja announced. As she said this, she let go of Sonic. "And with yet another female human companion by his side, he's ready to take on any challenge the world throws at him!" She put a hand to her chest and put her other fist into the air. She looked back down to Sonic. "Sonic the Hedgehog, I would be happy to be your assistant in saving the world." She had a nearly hysterical look on her face as she looked at him, growing closer by the second until he had to start leaning back to avoid her bumping her head on his. "I'm strong, capable, fast, and most importantly, one hundred percent expendable for your grand, heroic cause!" She smiled, revealing pearly white teeth.

"Um... yeah, that would be nice..." Sonic replied, actually scared at this point. However, he kept in mind that, she had been stuck in this labyrinth for a long time. Probably alone and friendless. Maybe she wasn't the best socializer. He was an idol to her, after all. And he knew the way out of this place. It was the least he could do to help her out as he looked for Knuckles. Drat. Knuckles! He had been completely distracted by this girl! "Anyways, we gotta get moving!" Sonic exclaimed, putting on a smile and winking. It looked like Sonja was the one ready to melt this time. "Alright, let's break through this crazy maze! And who knows? Maybe we'll even find something that can help you remember more about who you are!"

You have gained four friendship points with Sonja! Just for existing! Go you!

Sonic sped off. "Waaait!" Sonja called out as she dashed off after him. Sonic didn't look back as he led the way out of the library. Past the branching paths and dead ends, soon, they were back at the entrance to the library.

"Ohh, so that's the way I should have gone," Sonja said, nodding. In a jerky motion, she grabbed a pillow off of a reading chair and screamed into it.

"You okay, Sonja?" Sonic asked.

Sonja lifted her face from the pillow. "I'm fine!" She exclaimed happily. She had a toothy grin on her face.

"Riiight," Sonic replied. "Just making sure."

Sonic opened the door, his back turned and looking at Sonja disapprovingly.

He was immediately tackled to the ground by a creature he couldn't even see.

Continue to Chapter 25