a/n: Maybe not what I once was. But enough to give you something of meaning.
"You can't go back down there. The laser is about to fire."
He stood at the edge of the long, hollow shaft.
"Are you listening? You can't go."
"There's time."
"You can't go. You'll die along with her."
"She's not dead. I know it."
Shadow reached forward to grab Sonic's arm. He shook his companion off.
"Shadow, come on. We've gotta leave," Rouge said. "Sonic, you too."
"What is your problem? Did you even-"
"Don't."
"What?"
"Don't ask if I care."
"Why not?"
"Because you know the answer."
"We've got less than a minute," Rouge called out. The walls began to flash red, on and off, on and off. Wires pulsed with energy. "You guys. Please."
Her breaths were heavy and sorrowful.
"Even if you could go down, Sonic...even then..."
"I'll find a way."
"Don't be a fool," Shadow said.
"I'll find a way."
"Thirty seconds," Rouge called out hoarsely. "Please, both of you."
Sonic took off. He ran down the long tube and to the bottom. She was there, barely breathing.
"Why...?"
"Because I care."
"No...leave me. Please...you have to live. You have...to live..."
"I'll find a way." He looked into her eyes. "Do you believe?"
"..."
There were only twenty seconds left. The long tube began to glow with energy.
"Do you believe?" he asked again.
"Yes. I always have. From the moment we met."
"I still fear death."
"Does it stop you?"
"No." He picked her up, gently handling her broken leg. The blood seeped down and between his fingers.
"Don't let it happen. Don't die."
"I won't let you."
Ten seconds.
"What about you? What...about you?" she asked, trembling.
"..."
She paused. Blinked. Breathed in. "Oh. I remember now. Didn't we...a long time ago...?"
"Yes. We did."
"Sonic?"
"Yes."
She gripped him as tightly as she could. Felt her soul crumbling.
Took a falling shard.
Wished on it.
"I believe."
The laser fired and consumed them both.
He grabbed her hand before she fell down the long shaft.
She looked up at him with her bright green eyes and smiled. The fear drained into the abyss.
"I'm sorry."
He pulled her up and into his arms.
"I forgave you before time began."
"We've got one minute," Rouge said with a cough.
"Right behind you," Sonic said.
Shadow moved ahead, Rouge following.
Sonic carried the girl with the tired smile.
"Did you know? I died a thousand times once. He spoke, and I remembered how to live."