~A Potential Story CHAPTER 2~

CHAPTER 2
I have to find a way to talk to Derek, but I can't just leave Liam. I'll have to distract him long enough for me to--

"I hope you like blueberry, it was the only appealing flavor they had." Liam explained, handing me the drink.

"Oh, that's fine. Blueberry is my favorite anyway." I replied with a smile, gratefully taking the drink and took a sip. The taste made me feel a little better, but what I wouldn't give for some chocolate right about now.

"Thank you, Liam."

"It's no problem." He smiled at me. He's doing that a lot... "So what happened back there?" He added.

"Oh um, I guess I just spun around to many times is all." I lied.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention when we were dancing, I must've--"

"No Liam. You didn't do anything wrong, I just wasn't thinking about it. Don't blame yourself." I cut him off, putting my hand on his arm, which was resting on the table. He nodded in response.

Out of the corner of my eye I suddenly saw someone familiar. I smirked, and idea forming in my head. I turned to my right to see,

"David!" I called. He turned to the sound of my voice, smiled, and started walking towards us.

"Hey Miranda! Where have you been? I haven't seen you all night." he said.

"Oh I've just been hanging out with Liam here." I stood up and explained. Liam stood up and shook hands with David.

"Nice to meet you I'm Miranda's brother." David introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you too." Liam replied.

Now's my chance!

"Is that Jenny over there?" I chimed in.

"Where?" David asks.

"Right there!" I pointed in no particular direction.

"I don't see--"

"Well I do, I have to go say hi." Before either of them could reply I was already starting to walk off. Turning back to give David a look to tell him to give me some time.  David nodded, taking my hint, even if he doesn't exactly know what I was doing. But I'm sure he has an idea.

"So Liam... Ya like sports?" I heard David's voice fade as I walked off.

I felt bad for just leaving Liam like that... Although, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. However, I have to give credit to David, he's helped me out ever since I got here. Actually he's the one who found me in Mobius.

I still can't believe he was willing to search galaxies just to find me. A sister he only really had for 5 years.

I passed though the large doors, making sure Liam didn't see me leave. Once in the halls, I picked a path and started looking.

I wondered through the halls for I don't know how long... Good grief! How hard can it be to find a bunch of guys? I thought to myself. I can't give up this easily, he's been there for me in the past. Even if I was upset with him at times.

A while later I found myself at the grand entrance of the castle. I casually walked up to the guards at the doors, and they allowed me to pass. I've actually gotten to know just about the whole royal guard, considering there are literally hundreds of them guarding us at all times.

Alright, back to buiseness. Most everyone at the ball came from a few planets or galaxies away, so there has to be ships around here, right?

I kicked off my heels and walked around to the side of the castle to get my horse, Teo. I have faint memories of Teo from when I was very young. He is very loyal and close to me now, he was when I was little too. Even in Mobius I had dreams of a horse with a chestnut coat, a white mane and tail with beautiful sky blue eyes.

I opened the doors to see a dark stable full of sleeping horses. Teo was the first one on the left. I slowly walked up to him, making sure not to startle him. I took off my gloves and placed them on a table near by. I slowly stroked Teo's forehead to wake him up.

He slowly opened his eyes, immediately recognizing me. I opened the door to his pen, strapped a saddle to him, mounted and then we were off to the ship parking area. I rode as fast as Teo would allow.

"Please hurry Teo, this is important." I whispered softly in his ear. I knew he could understand, because he suddenly picked up his pace.

After a few minutes we arrived. Teo slowed down, and walked slowly instead. I could hear him breathing heavily from running so hard and long. I looked around me and all I saw were different space ships of shape, size, and color.

Hopefully Derek had come in the ship Tails had built some time ago. I placed my hand over my heart and clenched the fabric on my dress. It hurt to think about my close friends who were so far away. I held back tears yet again, I could cry later but now was not the time. I guessed I wouldn't find Derek's ship for a while. Considering there were about one hundred ships, maybe more.

While looking down each row suddenly something stuck out to me. I pulled on Teo's reins turning right he started galloping down a row. When we finally reached the spot, I noticed there was a ship missing. Looking closer I saw what looked like a liquidly goo spot on the gravel. I dismounted and walked forward to get a closer look. It glowed purple!

"That's not liquid, that's--"

~FLASHBACK~

"Hey Tails! What'cha you working on?" I asked with a smile.

"Oh hey Miranda! Just this new ship I designed a few months ago. It's suppost to be able to fly to other galaxies!" Tails replied.

"Wow! Really? How'd you make it do that?"

"It's powered by a Chaos Emerald, so that means it can run faster and longer. Allowing you to go to very distant places!"

I kneeled down beside where he was working under the ship.

"That's amazing Tails!" I then noticed a weird watery looking goo under the ship. Strangely in glowed a faint green color.

"Huh..? Hey Tails, what's that stuff?" I asked, pointing to the goo a little concerned.

"Oh that green stuff? That's just discharged chaos energy." He explained.

"Is it toxic or something?"

"It's completely harmless! You see when the chaos emerald is used to run a ship, like this one, it has to use a lot of energy. Once that energy is used, the disposed energy is disposed as that green goo. Just like a car leaking oil."

"Is it always green?" I asked, a little disgusted by its texture.

"No not always, it's according to what color the chaos emerald is that you're using."

~FLASHBACK OVER~

"...discharged chaos energy." I whispered in realization.

"This has to be where his ship was! But... Where is it?" I asked to no one in particular.

I quickly morphed into a bat, forgetting I'm in a dress and that the wings will--

*RIIIP*

I heard the back of my dress rip. My bat wings were so big, the seams couldn't hold them.

"Ugh, great." I mumbled to myself. Teo neighed, as if he was laughing at me.

"Oh shut it. I'd like to see you prance around in a dress!" The look he gave me told me we were even. I smirked a little.

I took the ribbon from my hair and tied it around my dress to keep it from falling off. Quickly morphing into an echidna instead, I flew high enough to see the whole parking lot. It appeared that Derek's ship was the only one that was gone...

I descended from the air and morphed back to my original form. Why couldn't I have spoke to him sooner? I'll never know when I'll see him again! Feeling defeated, I mounted Teo and rode back to the castle.

I put up Teo's saddle and kissed him goodnight. He has also been there for me since I got here. Things were a little shaky at first, but soon he warmed up to me.

I made sure to stay out of sight, people would think I was mobbed but the way I looked. I trudged down a long hallway until finally I came up to my room. My safe haven. The place where I can truly let go.

I closed the doors to my room, washed the make-up and tears from my face. Then got dressed in the most comfortable pajamas that I could find.

I sat on the side of my bed, looking down at the floor zoning out a little. Replaying today's events in my head.

"At least I got to see him..." I said in almost a whisper. I let silent tears fall. I can't keep taking this. I decided just to lay down, hoping to fall asleep soon.

As I laid down I heard something like paper crunch under me. I immediately sat up and grabbed a note from under me. I turned on the lamp on the nightstand and smoothed out the note. It read:

Dear Miranda,

I'm sorry I didn't make it a point to talk to you tonight. I wasn't sure how you felt right now. If you still meant the things you said, if I was still special to you. It hurts me to come and see you here, I really don't belong here. Maybe we'll talk again someday.

                                  Sincerely,
                                               Derek Bell

I read it over and over again, trying to absorb the carefully handwritten words. I held it close to my heart. He wanted to talk? He looked so hurt though... He thinks he's not special to me!? I cradled my head in my hands.

I can't believe I made him feel that way... I hurt him. Bad. More than bad really...

There's not much I can do about it right now though, so I  decided to try to go to bed again. I held his note close to my heart again as I dreamed.