I woke the next morning, cold and stiff, shaking off the early morning dew that had gathered on my windbreaker. My stomach growled and I sighed. I couldn't ignore it anymore. I had gone for about two days-three?- without food, something my body couldn't take.

I slowly rose to my feet, my muscles aching in protest, and began to walk down the alley. The sun was beginning to peak up over the horizon and it cast shades of pink and orange across the sky. I drifted away into my thoughts, remembering a time when Sonic and I would watch the sun rise…and race one another to see who could beat it to the horizon. Of course, we could never really reach the horizon but, boy, did we have a time trying…

As I walked through the practically deserted streets I saw my reflection in a shop window. I would have started cracking up if I even thought I was capable of doing that anymore. I was a mess, my quills in disarray, my turquoise tank top and blue jeans torn and muddy, my windbreaker covered in sweat and tears. But to be honest, I really didn't care. I didn't care about too much at this point in time.

I finally found a McDonalds and walked in, my hands in my pockets, my head hanging low. I could feel people staring at me but ignored them. Dark growled inside of my head. Stupid creatures, she muttered.

I ordered a breakfast burrito and sat down alone at a table, staring out the window. I tried to keep my mind blank, so as to bore Dark and keep her out of my head, but failed miserably. I kept thinking of memories. They were the only things I had now. Sonic and I as toddlers, playing in the sand. My mother reading us bedtime stories. My father racing us in the park. Sonic's crush on the little bird who had lived next door. The day Sonic and I discovered how fast we could run… Dark was suddenly alert now, paying attention. I pushed her back, annoyed. I hated having her in my head. It just made it all worse, intensified the pain and the sadness and the anger.

I don't like being in here any more than you do, she grumbled. It's all rainbows and butterflies…

I sighed angrily, exasperated. Why couldn't she leave me ALONE?!!

I felt her smile smugly. She enjoyed making me angry.

Suddenly, the TV above me switched on. I lifted my eyes and began to watch the news, for lack of something better to do. I was beginning to look away, bored, when I heard the reporter.

"Once again our town was saved by a certain blue hedgehog, who…"

Blue hedgehog…?

I jerked my eyes back up to the screen and my heart skipped several beats.

Sonic?!

"Hi, everyone!" The blue hedgehog smiled and winked at the screen. His eyes were emerald green.

SONIC!

But…but how? I was standing up now, my chair having been thrust away and thrown to the ground. The other customers looked at me strangely but some watched the program too.

"Way to go for him! I swear there's been a decrease in crime since that little guy came here." A man said as he ate his breakfast.

Others knew about Sonic? I gazed around, bewildered. No one seemed exactly surprised about the program than me. I quickly looked back at the TV.

"We are reporting to you live from Station Square—"

I was gone in a blink of an eye.

How is that little bitch still alive?! Dark exclaimed as we ran.

I hardly recognized she had even said anything. I couldn't stop thinking about him. Sonic, sonic, sonic, SONIC! He's ALIVE! His name replayed over and over in my head.

I was running faster than I ever had before. Sonic was close! So close! I followed the street signs, drifting from sign to sign and finally skidded to a halt…and my legs gave out from under me.

Just feet away from me stood my brother. He was waving and smiling, enjoying the attention that the crowd that had gathered gave him. I couldn't help but let out a soft, short chuckle. Some things never changed.

Suddenly he noticed that there was someone lying on the ground in the corner of his vision. He whirled around. "Hey , are you-?" He never finished his sentence. Because he had laid eyes on me and had frozen in place. Just like me. Except everything inside of me felt like it was melting, warm and wonderful. For the first time in a long, long time tears of joy fell down my cheeks.

"…S-Star?" he stammered, utter disbelief on his face.

Tears flowed from my eyes like rivers and I nodded. I felt Dark's disgust at my maternal behavior but ignored it.

His face suddenly lit up, a picture of pure joy. "STAR!"

And suddenly he was in my arms and we were both practically shouting at one another. "I never thought I would see you again! What are you doing here? Why are you here? How did you get here? Oh, I can't believe it's really you!" all at the same time.

He broke away, laughing, and said "Alright. You first."

"Soni," I called him by his pet name. I remembered how he had always despised it but I couldn't help it. "Soni, how did you get here? What are you doing? And why didn't you come back?"

He laughed again and I bathed in the glorious sound of hearing it. "Alright, I'll tell you, but it's a long story. Why don't you come down to my place?"

"You have a…place?" I asked him, disbelieving.

"Uh…yeah." He said in a um, duh sort of manner. "I live here now, Star."

"You do?"

"I told you, come with me and I'll explain everything."

So I followed him home. It was so funny to see him. He was just like he had always been, casually strolling, care-free.

Dark was aggravated, but quiet, paying attention. I felt her trying to sort out how in the world he was still alive. I was the smug one this time. We're stronger than you would think, I told her. She snarled at me.

Eventually we arrived at his modest apartment. I raised an eyebrow. Modest? That wasn't like Sonic. Sonic caught my look and laughed as he turned the key in the lock. "Just wait." He reassured me.

When he opened the door I almost laughed. Of course, the walls were covered in racing posters and nearly everything was cobalt blue. Now, THAT was the Sonic I knew.

Sonic looked at me as I surveyed the room. "Oh you haven't seen anything yet, sis," he teased and showed me down to the garage. "You have a car?" I asked as he began to open the door.

I gasped. He had a car all right. A shiny, brand new, blue Ferrari.

"You like her? She's a beauty, ain't she?" Sonic said, proudly, as if he was a new father.

I let out a long whistle. "I'd say so. But how did you ever-?"

"It's so easy to make money in this town. Catch a criminal here, win a race there. No problem. I was able to buy this little baby easy." He interrupted.

I felt a twinge of jealousy. Not only was Sonic alive and well, but he was RICH. He was doing better than I ever could have imagined, and all of it he had accomplished without me…

I told you that you were wasting your time bawling over him. Love's a game. You think someone needs you and then BAM they don't give a shit. He doesn't need you, Star, and we don't need him. Dark said simply.

But I do need him… I hated how weak my voice sounded. It felt as though the pain of loss had ripped away all of the confidence and strength I had once had.

Apparently Sonic had noticed. "Come on, smile will ya? Geez, Star, you look like you've been through hell and back again." He said, lifting my face to look at him.

You have no idea.

***************

Soon, Sonic and I were sitting on his couch together, sharing stories. He explained that when the Metarex had captured him, he had escaped the holding cell with ease ("Heck, all it took was a single spin dash! Who do they think I am?") and had sneaked down to their main power center. He had found a way to shut down the power system and when the ship began to crash to the ground, had taken the last escape pod and landed here.

"At first, I searched everywhere for you, Mom, and Dad. But I couldn't find you anywhere near where our home was. I forced myself to accept the fact that the Metarex had probably killed you. It was hard at first and I didn't know where to go. So I came back here. I made friends, found my place here, and eventually regained my confidence. I knew that was what you would have wanted me to do." He smiled at me, winking.

I nodded, telling him of how we had relocated after his disappearance.

"Now, what about you?" Sonic asked, crossing his legs and grabbing a chili dog from the plate on the table in front of us. It reminded me of our childhood. We would have competitions to see who could eat the most chili dogs. Sonic had always won, of course.

"I, uh, well…" What could I say?

Tell him the truth, Dark urged. Oh, and don't forget that it was all…YOUR...fault. She smiled, knowing how those words pierced me.

I choked on the water I was sipping on. No! It wasn't my fault…I had never meant…

And yet you weren't there to help them, were you? No, you were off, caring only about yourself.

As if you were any help getting me back to them, I snapped at her.

"Something wrong?" Sonic asked me, through a mouthful of chili dog.

"No, no. Just…tired. That's all." I answered quickly.

Suddenly the phone rang. Sonic answered it in a second.

"Hello?" A series of buzzing from the other line proceeded. "Yeah? Uh-huh? Cool! Oh, Tails, I've got something I gotta show you guys! You'll never believe it!" More buzzing. "Yeah, yeah. No It's a surprise! You'll just have to wait and see!" Sonic rolled his eyes. "No, Tails, I'm not going to get myself in any trouble. You sound like my mom!" He turned and winked at me. I winced.

He hung up the phone and smiled at me. "You wanna meet my friends? I mean I know you're tired but…"

"Of course I do! I'm fine. Besides, this is your sister you're talking about! When am I ever not up for some fun?" I tried to add some of the laughter into my voice that I used to have but once again, failed.

"Alright, then! We'll just head on down to Green Hill Zone. The guys want me to play some soccer with them. You can play too if you want."

I nodded, forcing a smile. Soccer would help me keep my mind off things.

You just keep telling yourself that. Dark said drily.