Vanilla had arrived at the party with her daughter Cream and their pet chao Cheese in tow. After placing their presents on the table with the other gifts, they started to greet the other guest, as well as keeping a eye out for the birthday girl herself.


There was so many new faces, it was easy to get distracted with meeting everyone. After awhile, they started to notice the absence of a certain pink hedgehog. They asked around only to discover that Amy had been missing for quite some time.


Upon speaking to Espio, the chameleon revealed that she had been progressively drinking throughout the party. Vector butting in with “Yeah, she was hammering them back pretty good.” Afterwards elbowing Espio and winking. The purple lizard immediately put a hand over his smile, normally he could resist Vector’s terrible puns but the wine in the chameleons system made the croc funnier than what he really was.


The dry look on Vanilla’s face spoke a different opinion. At once, the green reptile started to sweat. “Ah, don't worry Creamy, I'm sure she's just sleeping it off somewhere.” Espio started to snicker, not being able to hold his laughter anymore at his friends backpedaling.


Vanilla made a small worried hum. She knew Amy was an adult but that wouldn't stop her nurturing side from wanting to make sure that the pinkette was all right. The mother bun had become so close to the hedgie that she often thought of her as family.


Thanking Espio and somewhat Vector for their information, they decided to search around, just to make sure she was indeed sleeping somewhere safe. Deciding to split up, Cream along with Cheese searched the surrounding forest, as well as under all the tables. Her mother went to search the tents.


Walking into the first tent proved no results. She exited, moving on to the next and so on and so forth. Each time coming up empty handed. 


As she approached the second to last tent she heard a small cry. The poor dear, I hope she's not been sick. Vanilla told herself. She pulled the curtain back as she walked through. Allowing the sunlight to spill around her, brightening the interior.


What she found inside made her drop the fabric, both hands flying to her mouth in horror. A cold feeling of dread settled in her stomach.


The scene that Vanilla had walked into was something she never would have imagined. She had found Amy Rose but not how she would have liked. The girl she had felt was almost a daughter to her was being pinned to the ground, held by the back of her neck. Looming over her from behind was a large dark canine. Vanilla couldn't tell what kind,the shadows covered him as well as being partly hidden by cases of wine.


The horrified rabbit couldn't see everything,but it was clear that she had interrupted something that the pinkette was not a willing partner to. Her sudden presence had startled the unknown male enough to allow Amy to slip from his hold, crawling away. The movement caught Vanilla’s attention for a moment. When she glanced back to the attacker, he was already gone!


Where did he go? Vanilla inwardly screamed, even as she ran towards Amy, who by this time had collapsed into a ball of quiet sobs.


The older female fell beside the younger, softly speaking what reassurance she could think of, “Your safe now.”, “I got you.” and “He's gone.” All while gentle hands examined the poor girl, praying to Chaos that she had gotten there in time. She took noticed of the state of the red dress. Then saw the blood around the pink throat, immediately tearing a strip from her own long skirt to wrap around the wounded area.


As she carefully held the traumatized hedgie, she called Nicole. A tiny version of the A.I. materialized above her wrist communicator.


“Hello Vanilla, how may I assist you?” Nicole's smiling face asked before noticing the pink quills resting on the rabbits shoulder.


“Amy's been attacked and injured. I need Dr. Quack and Princess Sally here.” Vanilla quietly said.


“Yes, immediately.” The lynx answered and phased out while a small red light started to flash, signaling her GPS had been activated, showing her location. 


As they waited the doe tried to sooth the other in her arms. Wiping the tears that continued to fall, soaking onto Vanilla’s blouse. Glancing nervously at the pink thighs, she breathed in heavily feeling a small amount of relief at the sight of no blood. Thank Chaos for small favors. Was her bitter thought.


That's when the others made their appearance. First Dr. Quack followed by Sally then Sonic who happened to be with the Princess when Nicole notified her. All wearing different levels of concern on their faces. 


Vanilla immediately tried to cover Amy's exposed body. The action wasn't missed by the others. “I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone else.” explained the rabbit.


The doctor, not wanting to waste valuable time told Sonic to wait outside. The blue hedgehog understood but it still irked him. He was quite protective of the pinkette. For now though, he would put his feelings aside and do what needed to be done. He was heading out until he heard Sally's question.


“Vanilla, who did this?” The shocked Princess asked. Now understanding why the lop-eared bunny asked for her personally, this wasn't a random attack, this was a personal assault.


“I didn't see him clearly, but he was a large canine, dark in color.” answered the kneeling rabbit.


None of them were surprised by the gust of wind, singling the Blue Blurs departure. Sally inwardly sighed, “Nicole, open a secure line on code red for Antoine, Bunnie, Rotor and Sonic.” the chipmunk waited the few moments needed for everyone to find a quiet location, away from prying ears to answer her call. Once everyone was online, she told them what to look for and she stressed this mostly to the Speed Demon, it needed to be done in the most discreet way possible.


After Sonic had left, Vanilla laid Amy down and removed the makeshift bandage from her neck, revealing several puncture wounds across her throat. Amy weakly  tried to get back up but Vanilla calmly spoke “Its alright Amy, it's Dr. Quack, he's going to help you.” but the pinkette was having none of it.


A very course “No” came from the semi conscious hedgie. She wanted nothing more than to disappear at that moment. Sally after hanging up, was the next to try “Please Amy, let us help you.”


This just made the emotionally drained female turn onto her side facing Vanilla and bury her face in her hands. Soft weeping could be heard.


“That's it.” The duck had been expecting this and had been preparing a sedative from the small medical satchel he always carried. While the older females tried to reason with the distraught girl. Holding up the syringe he gave the chipmunk and rabbit a pointed look. They both nodded their heads in understanding. “Ms. Rose, I'm going to give you something to help with the pain. You're going to feel a pinch in your arm. I need you to try to hold still, ok?” 


There was no response from Amy. Not even the ear twitch.


As the doctor approached with the needle, Vanilla lightly put her hand over the still crying sow's head, right next to one of the pinkette ears. Sally waited by just in case she was needed. The needle pierced the skin, with a whine following.


“Shhh, it's over. Rest now, sweetie.” Vanilla’s softly said as she rubbed the hedgehogs ear. 


Dr. Quack was examining the puncture wounds, as well as a nasty looking bump that was just starting to bruise on the side of Amy's head. 


The princess had removed her vest to wrap across her teammate chest. It wasn't because of the nudity but more out of respect. Mobians covered up for a reason. It could be a thinning of fur in certain areas or a lack of confidence. In Amy's case it was because she was so light-complected that you could see things you shouldn't be able to.


Now that Amy was sleeping and covered, Sally had the opportunity to asked Vanilla what had happened. None of them knew Sonic had returned from his search around the winery and was now at the back of the tent looking for any clues. He paused flicking a ear, he wanted to know the answer as well.


The rabbit could sadly only tell them what she had witnessed, not beforehand. After explaining what she had seen, the telling quite difficult for her, Dr. Quack announced that he wanted to get Amy into a proper bed where he could do a thorough examination. 


Sally immediately went into her leadership role, she wanted to keep this quiet for a number of different reasons. Some political, some personal. The last thing they needed was to start a panic or a mob. Everyone at this party was an ally to the Kingdom of Acorn. The guests would have to be interviewed in a way that didn't question their loyalty. Or let slip true nature of the attack, for Amy's privacy. 


Then there was the matter of contacting Amy's only living relative, King Rob O’ Hedge. The Princess didn't know how the King of Mercia would take this kind of news. Amy was a Knothole Freedom Fighter because she choose to be. Her cousin Rob allowed it because they were all fighting for the same thing. But this was something completely different.


While Sally, Vanilla and the Doc was working out where Amy should be moved and how to do it, Sonic was having a hard time trying to wrap his head around it.


The hedgehog was going through a internal war of emotions. Shock, disbelief and worry were the first to play across his mind followed by a brief thought of denial and guilt. In the end, anger won.


To him Amy was still a child. He failed to notice how much she had grown. She had stopped chasing him years ago. Which he was greatly appreciative of and it showed in their friendship. She was one of his best friends.


Whoever did this to Amy, better hope Sonic wasn't the first one to find him. He couldn't make any promises on what kind of condition he would leave him in.