"I'm bored" is a useless thing to say. I mean, you live in a great, big, vast world that you've seen none percent of. Even the inside of your own mind is endless; it goes on forever, inwardly, do you understand? The fact that you're alive is amazing, so you don't get to say "I'm bored."

-Louis CK 

Sometimes I wish was 29 with my life figured out & sometimes I wish I was 5 with my whole life ahead of me and not a care in the world.

-Reyna Biddy 

Freedom

This shouldn't have had to happen.

No one should have died,

no one should have shot rounds,

no one should have to grieve,

for a nation, and the world, to become united.

But alas, it has happened,

and it is a reminder to all

of the fragile freedoms

we enjoy and take for granted.

Today shines as a dark day,

as it so dims to a bright night,

on the strength of us all,

wavering but never extinguishing.

It has happened, and now,

we must ensure,

that it never happens again,

not here, not anywhere.

R.I.P. Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. We thank you for your generous sacrifice. I hope you're both having poutines with God right about now.

Good Riddance

If I died right now, 
say, by being run over 
or poisoned or stabbed 
or something, 
would you mourn for me 
if and when you eventually found out? 

Or would you mentally scream 
"good riddance" like everyone else would?

You gotta love livin' baby, 'cause dyin' is a pain in the ass.

-Frank Sinatra 

Letters To A Certain No One #7

Dear Certain No One,

Three years is both a very long time and a tiny portion of history.

Maybe I'm being a little bit dramatic about this, but I have mixed feelings about how close you've suddenly gotten physically.

Maybe I'm excited about how we live under the same snow-prone sky and in such close proximity, while at the same time, you could be everywhere I am nowhere.

Maybe I'm scared that you'll grow to hate what I've become after all this time. Or worse, you couldn't care less about my existence.

Maybe, just maybe.

But I really want to see you again.

And if I am to put my mind at ease, I'll HAVE to see you again.

Sincerely,

A Certain Other No One

Never Let Her Go-Chapter 1: Prologue Part I

Run, run, run!

That single mantra was the one thing at the forefront of the young hedgehog's mind.

Running through vast valleys, up steep mountains, and past open fields, the hedgehog couldn't help but let his thoughts wander. Out here, at this speed, he felt free. The next moment, however, the blue hedgehog snapped his attention back to his destination: Never Lake.

It would seem that the ruthless Robotnik was once again threatening to destroy and dominate Little Planet-at the very least, before he moved on to conquer the world-which was chained to a mountain with a hideously carved bust of him, located on the shoreline of Never Lake, with the intent of stripping away the freedoms and demolishing the natural habitats of the satellite's residents. And of course, who better to stop him than the one and only Blue Blur, Sonic the Hedgehog?

Run, run run!

---

Turn over the first card. The Fool. The starting point. Interpreted as the self. Starting with the self, and questioning what is to become of it.

Turn over the second card. The King of Cups. A man I could potentially meet. Interpreted as a possible romantic partner. Is romance the future for the self?

Turn over the third card. The Queen of Swords. A strong, noblewoman I could meet in the future. Interpreted as a voice of reason, stability and strength. Will she be significant enough to keep the self sturdy?

Turn over the fourth card. The sixth trump card, The Lovers. Interpreted as what it is about: love and relationships. Will the self have to rely on romance to have a purpose in life?

Turn over the fifth card. The Three of Swords. Interpreted as a heart pierced in three. Will the heart of the self be split by three?

Turn over the sixth card. The third trump card, the High Priestess. Interpreted as knowingness and love. Will the self be wiser due to its romantic encounters?

Turn over the seventh card. The seventh trump card, The Chariot. Interpreted as a strong, resilient force. Will wisdom from romance come from such a strong and unwavering source?

A young Amy Rose sat back and pondered over her latest tarot card reading, which was eerily similar to most of her recent readings about her own future.

Each reading would yield a similar result: Amy Rose, looking for a sense of purpose in her often empty and miserable life, will find it in her own princely chariot.

She had heard the stories, and watched the news reports. How both South Island and the Floating Island were briefly taken over by some mad human scientist, and how he had seemingly swooped in to save the day, time after glorious time. She was certain he was the princely chariot she so desperately needed.

And now, as she ran off towards Never Lake, she was hoping Sonic the Hedgehog would carry her away as soon as possible.

---

As far as the eye could see were palm trees lining the forest-or, what was left of it, at least. Sonic could not help but notice and cringe at the fact that a significant amount of the surrounding greenery was robotized and made metal.

To the hedgehog, the doctor's evil knew no bounds.

He set off quickly, in an effort to reach the mad genius' fortress, and hopefully restore at least some of the satellite's former natural beauty.

---

Amy Rose panted as she flopped onto the ground, exhausted from her climb up the chain that bound Little Planet to the mountain where Doctor Robotnik's hideous face was carved onto. She then winced as she felt cold metal make contact with her back.

After getting up and brushing herself off, the pink hedgehog gasped as she noticed how most of the landscape she was on was made of metal. Amy Rose had heard of the evil scientist's methods and ideologies but she had never imagined him to ever take it to the extent that he would robotize every living thing in sight. Momentarily forgetting why she had laboriously trudged towards Little Planet in the first place, she stalked off, seeking Sonic in the hope that he would let her help him defeat 

Robotnik.

She didn't travel very far to find what she sought after.

---

Sonic couldn't believe his eyes. Before him was an actual, live, sentient, non-metallic being who was not robotized to begin with.

The blue hedgehog slowed his pace down to a very light jog; he didn't want to frighten the poor thing. Now that he came to think of it, Sonic realized that it was not a thing, it was a hedgehog, and it was a girl. Sonic saw her ear twitch as she heard his footsteps approaching. But before the cobalt hedgehog had time to even call out the other, the girl turned around and squealed.

"Sonikku!" she cried out, making poor Sonic nearly jump out of his own skin. Funny, he was the one making the effort to not startle her, yet she was the one who scared him.

---

Amy could not believe how attractive Sonic looked. Sure, she had seen pictures from the news and stuff, but it was nothing compared to seeing him in person. As expected, he was cute and adorable, but he was also beginning to look quite handsome. That, combined with his unwavering heroism, was enough for Amy to go head over heels the moment she laid eyes on him. Impulse essentially quelling all rational thought, she lunged at Sonic, fully intending to at least hug him, if not, kiss him.

---

Sonic yelped as the hedgehog girl dove straight for him. Expecting an attack, he shut his eyes and braced for the worst, only to find that he was being hugged, and quite tightly too. His face then flushed to a deep crimson as he became half-embarassed and half-asphyxiated within the girl's embrace.

She would be cute if she wasn't so clingy, Sonic thought. He blushed even harder as he realized the sentence he had just formulated in his mind.

---

A/N: I could only wish I owned Sonic and co. I would be so rich and so able to pay off my tuition fees and student loans. But I don't. SEGA and/or Archie Comics do.

Also, sincere apologies if my understanding and description of tarot card reading is completely wrong. I only read Wikipedia articles on it because I'm not exactly sure I know anyone who knows even the slightest bit about it. I only included it because it was kinda essential to this whole story idea shindig thang.

The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it.

-Eckhart Tolle 

The Prince of Denmark-Chapter 7: Tenders and Vows

Polonius waited until Laertes' carriage had fully departed, which left only him and Ophelia standing in the front courtyard of the castle grounds.

Being a preternaturally curious man-some would even go so far as to describe him as being "nosy"-Polonius turned to his daughter, wanting to ask what his children were discussing beforehand.

"What is it Ophelia, that your brother had said to you that was important enough for him to ask for you to swear it be locked away in your heart?" he asked the pink hedgehog.

Again, Ophelia groaned inwardly, for however much she despised discussing the matter of Prince Hamlet and his advances on her with Laertes, she absolutely loathed discussing it with her oft-overbearing father that much more. Swallowing her trepidation, she replied evenly and bluntly, "If it so please you, it was the subject of Lord Hamlet."

"And thank Heavens he did," Polonius barked out sharply, which made the rose-colored hedgehog flinch, though the cobalt blue hedgehog took no notice and spun on his heel, walking back towards Elsinore, "I have heard of rumors that speak of Lord Hamlet seeking to spend an awful lot of private time with you as of late, and that you've made yourself quiteavailable to him," Ophelia turned her head to hide her growing blush, but Polonius either ignored it or was completely oblivious to it, for he continued, "If it be so-and my sources only inform me of this out of caution-then I must say, you are not conducting enough self-restraint that any daughter of mine should show."

The elder hedgehog suddenly grasped his daughter's hands in his own, and turned her so that they were forced to make eye contact. Ophelia yelped at her father's movements and quivered in trepidation as she now could not hide the dark blush that had shaded her muzzle almost beyond the pink of her fur.

Taking note of her almost color-blended face, Polonius asked, with as little tension as he could, "What is between you two? Tell me the truth."

Ophelia decided to answer simply, "He has, as of late, made many tenders of his affection to me."

"Affection!" Polonius barked and, throwing Ophelia's hands away, resumed walking, again making the maiden yelp before following in his stead, though a few paces behind, "Pooh! You speak like a green girl, unaware and ignorant to the ways of the world. Don't tell me you believe in these 'tenders,' as you call them."

Deciding to answer honestly, the pink hedgehog replied, "I know not what I should believe, father."

"Marry, I'll tell you," the elder hedgehog snapped over his shoulder, "Think of yourself as a foolish little infant, should you take these 'tenders' as true pay, for they are far from sterling.Tender and respect yourself more dearly, or-not to beat the poor word to death-you'll tender me a laughing-stock."

"Father, he has always spoken of love in an honorable fashion-" Ophelia began, but stopped as she was interrupted by her father.

"Ay, 'fashion' you may call it-a passing whim," Polonius remarked sarcastically. Seeing he had halted his daughter mid-sentence, he then urged her, "Go on."

"He gives countenance to his word, with the holiest of vows," Ophelia continued, now with a slight hint of vehemence laced into her response.

Though slightly taken aback by his daughter's retort, Polonius unwaveringly shot back, "Ay, these 'vows' are but springes to ensnare stupid birds. When blood burns, how a man's soul succumbs to enough prodigality to lend his tongue ridiculous vows. When the heart itself burns, giving more light than heat, the fire shall be extinct long before his promises are even made. You must not mistake it for the fires of true love.

"From this moment onward, make your maiden presence scant to him, and treat him not to your tongue. Make yourself out to be the precious commodity you should be," the cobalt hedgehog ordered, rounding on his daughter once more, "Remember that young Lord Hamlet walks with a larger tether than may be given to you."

Ophelia, still slightly flushed, looked about ready to argue with her father, but Polonius raised a hand and spoke again, neutering her ability to do so, "In few, Ophelia, believe not his vows, for they are akin to mere pimps; donning suits and acting like pious bawds, the better to beguile women into a fling of indecency.

"Simply put, waste not any more time with the Lord Hamlet. Look to see it be done. Now, come," he commanded, turning on his heel one final time and marching into the halls of Elsinore.

"I shall obey, father," Ophelia replied, though Polonius was already well out of earshot.

But Ophelia already knew that he knew she wouldn't disobey him, not before, and certainly not now.

---

A/N: I guess I should put a disclaimer here so I don't get shot at or kidnapped by The Copyright SWAT team or something. I own not a single cell of any of the Sonic characters used in this story, SEGA and/or Archie Comics do. Also, the story of Hamlet is not owned by me either, although no one really knows who owns it and therefore can take credit for being the original author because Shakespeare's scripts of it are but his own stage adaptation of an ancient story/stories whose origins and credibility are still being debated today.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

-Pablo Picasso 

Letters To A Certain No One #6

Dear Certain No One,

Apart from those few fleeting moments in middle school of what could be considered "kindness," you've been nothing but a completely cold jackass to me.

First of all, the one class we had together in sophomore year was a hellhole because of you. Now, you acknowledge me in much the same way you would acknowledge still air. It's like I'm dead to you.

Not that I'm complaining, because guess what? I don't care, for you've long been dead in my eyes.

Sincerely,

A Certain Other No One

They can't hurt you unless you let them.

-John O'Callaghan 

Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself.

-Edmund Lee 

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing, but if you're not careful, you risk getting stuck in your own personal mythology.

-Hugo Pierre Leclercq 

Letters To A Certain No One #5

Dear Certain No One,

I have steeled myself against crying in public to the point that I cannot shed tears unless I'm by myself. And even then I struggle to choke them back and force them to evaporate, rather than stain my cheeks and sting my eyes.

I'm not blaming you specifically, because the whole world shares the blame.

Sincerely,

A Certain Other No One

People say "There are other fish in the sea." I say, "Fuck you, she was my sea."

-Jen Faulkner 

The act of reading is a partnership. The author builds the house, but the reader makes it a home.

-Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer, Between The Lines (2012)