Review Replies! Woo, we have broken 4 reviews on a chapter; the record is now 6!

Raphaelplusmikey: lol yeah, you're not.

LoneWolf999: STOP BEING LAZY TO LOG IN! You know you want a horizon downloaded house :D

BleeKitten: Eh heh, the author's notes were just to bring up the mood. Thanks, the idea of this story has been tackling me head on for months on end, I'm quite glad I'm doing it now.

Manicpanicgirl: Does this fix the problem of having just three chapters? *wink**wink*

Guest: Considering I may never bring Tikal up in the story ever again, think about her past in Sonic Adventure, and then you'll understand what happens to her xD

SonicChristianHedgie: There are some obsessions that even a hero has to keep! Yes, Tikal died since I won't bring her up again (though only in flashbacks) just think about Sonic Adventure. That's how it happened.

Chapter 4

It was already near closing time, and Sonic was sitting on one of the tables just working on his homework like usual. An old owl came out from the kitchen; he wore a white apron and a white chef hat. He was covered with brown feathers though a section of light brown feathers surrounded his eyeballs. He had black, long eyebrows that stretched out from his face. "Son, why don't you just take a break once in a while? I can hire my son to fill in as the server boy, you know," the owl said as he grabbed the broomstick in the cleaning closet.

Sonic looked up, "No, it's alright Al, I don't really mind working here on school nights. It's better than being at home with my dad..."

The old owl looked at his employee. "I thought your dad comes home at midnight?"

"Not anymore, he's been able to get home at 7:30 pm nowadays since his buddy is like the head-owner now…"

"Ah, I see… Is he still a drinker?"

Sonic stayed silent for a few seconds until he responded to his boss. "Yeah, I guess he's gotten better, but he still wakes up screaming his anger out and throwing glass bottles around the house. Sometimes, I just wish he was just like one of those normal fathers; though, I'd be asking for a miracle aren't I?"

Al sighed as he took a seat down with the blue teen. At this time, Sonic has put his pencil down as he let his mind race. He might've not gone through the same thing his employee went through, but he did have his own son whose relationship with him has been one hell of a roller coaster. "I believe you would be asking for a miracle there, son. I mean, people just don't wake up and change like the snap of two fingers. Why, it takes time for them to notice what they've been doing all this time," the old owl said, placing his white chef hat on the table.

"Like I don't know that now?" Sonic asked, crossing his arms.

"Well no, through your experience, you should know your whether your dad has the will to change or not, but that doesn't mean you should give up all hope on a happy ending."

The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes. "Happy ending? What happy ending? Last I checked, happy endings exist only movies and fairy tales; they never happen in real life…" Sonic replied frowning. Sure, he used to think that happy endings were real, and one day he'd find his own, but as the blue hedgehog matured, he found it hard to believe that such a thing still existed.

Al just stared back at Sonic with a tiny smile. "Maybe, if you stopped being so pessimistic about the topic, your happy ending will come. Besides, as a wise young man once said, 'One day, you'll be old enough to start reading fairy tales again'." The owl said as he got up and continued to clean the restaurant.

Sonic just scoffed at the thought. Happy endings…happy endings his blue tail. He knew for a fact that there was no happy ending in store for him. For all he knew, his father was planning on killing him before he even got the chance to leave that hell hole of a house. If that were the case, his old man should hurry up with the damn plotting and just do it. It's not like Sonic would think the idea wasn't bad, well, to some it was an unspeakable abomination, but the blue hedgehog wouldn't care. It's not like his life was going to get any better than what it was now.

"Al…I think I better head home now, the beast will be wondering where I am…" Sonic said as he packed up his stuff and headed out the door.

The old owl waved goodbye as he still continued sweeping the floor.

On the way home, Sonic couldn't help but let old memories flash through his head. Just remembering them…how could a happy ending be predicted? He was haunted by anger, fear, and betrayal all his life; he had completely forgotten what made fairy tales so sweet and happy. "I wonder…what mom would say to me if she ever saw me so down like this… Gah, why do I fucking care!? She left; she chose to stay out my life," tears flowed down Sonic's cheek as he said those words.

Thinking about his mother, was never such an easy thing for the young hedgehog. All Sonic ever wanted was to meet her and finally rekindle a bond that never was. Of course, holding onto a childhood dream was…quite silly. As the hedgehog grew older, he learned things were just better off this way.

Though, the thought that if he just heard her say those three little words to him…it would've made his life seem a little brighter than it usually was.

"For crying out loud, STOP THINKING ABOUT HER!" Sonic yelled at himself. More tears escaped his eye sockets as he dropped to his knees.

"A locket?" Sonic asked as the young eight year old hedgehog picked up the circle shaped object.

He was currently in his father's room. The older hedgehog was currently running an errand, so Sonic took the time to explore for a little while.

Sonic clenched his eyelids together as more tears ran down his muzzle.

Opening the locket, the blue hedgehog saw a picture of a female hedgehog. She was very beautiful in his eyes. She had her hair in a ponytail as her bangs flowed from the side. Her eyelids were half open in the picture. Sonic couldn't help but feel a bell ringing in his head. "She seems so familiar…I don't know why though," the young hedgehog whispered to himself.

"I thought I told you to never come in here…" a gruff voice said from behind.

Sonic's eyes widened in fear as he looked at the source that was emitting the voice from behind. He bent his ears and whimpered in fear.

Punching a nearby brick wall, Sonic let out an angered scream. "Stop it, just fucking stop it right now!" he yelled punching the wall again. His knuckles bled, but he didn't care. He always figured that pain was the only thing that could relieve his sorrow just a little bit. Sonic smiled as he saw his blood lingered down his hands toward the ground.

"This is my happy ending right here, just using pain to distract my sorrow…"

x-x-x-x-x

"I'M SO DAMN HAPPY BITCH!"

"FUCK IT, MR. 1st PLACE! I'M GOING TO WIN THIS FREAKING RACE EVEN IF IT TAKES ME THREE GREEN SHELLS TO KICK YOUR SORRY ASS!"

"I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!"

"THAT'S IT! TAILS USE YOUR DAMN BLUE SHELL!"

"Uh…ok!"

With a click of the 'x' button, Tails sent out a flying blue shell through the large course of Wario Coliseum. Knuckles was now sweating as he tried to overcome the last boost leap from the finish line. The sound of the flying death shell was rearing up fast as Bowser Jr. and Diddy Kong (Knuckles) were just inches away from the finish line. Yoshi and Daisy (Rouge) was rearing from behind while Paratoopa and Mario (Amy) along with King Boo and Waluigi (Tails) lagged behind.

Knuckles was able to cross the finish line as the blue shell attack from behind. The echidna cheered with joy as Rouge just grumbled, taking 2nd place.

"Aw yeah! Whose your damn Double Dash Master now!?"

"Oh will you be quiet while I think of how to killechidna you?"

"I told you guys we should've been in teams…" Amy sighed, smiling nervously.

Tails laughed at the two's fighting while he agreed they should work in teams now. The bat just slapped the happy-go-lucky echidna's face as she nodded with a satisfied smile. "What do you say Knuckie? Let's be on a team together!" The albino bat smiled, clasping her hands together. The echidna just whimpered as he nodded, hoping that his answer wouldn't receive another fist to the face move.

"Dibs on freaking Paratroopa!"

"No fair Tails!"

"And you guys say that WE fight over the dumbest things—huh?" the echidna asked as he squinted his eyes out the window. There was something out in the streets…looking like it was dead. Stepping closer to the window, Knuckles still couldn't identify who it was.

"Hey guys, we might want to check that thing out over there…" Knuckles announced as he swore he already heard the dramatic creepy music of 'DUN DUN DUN' that were usually played in the movies.

x-x-x-x-x

Sonic stirred awake as he felt touched him. "What do you think Tails?" a voice asked, slightly pressing on something wet on his forehead. Another voice seemed to mutter words out before there was a slight pause.

"Judging his steady pulse, he'll be fine. I just want to know how he got his hands so bloody…"

Opening his blue eyelids, Sonic's vision was blurred as all he could see was a blotch of red and orange in front of him.

"Hey, Knuckles, he's awake!" the second voice cried.

The red echidna looked down to see the dizzy hedgehog awake, trying his best to focus his vision. "W-what's going on?" Sonic asked as he felt a massive headache over take him. Knuckles bent down to his knees in order to reach the younger one's height. "Don't move too much, you seem pretty weak from the blood lost from your hands. You're at Rouge's place, relax, we're not going to hur—" the red echidna felt a hand grab his collar and pulled him forward.

"Talk to me like I'm some weak kid again, and I'll make sure your white crescent isn't the only mark on your damn chest…GOT IT!?" Sonic hissed as Knuckles forced a nod along with some sweat of nervousness.

"Well, glad his personality hasn't been corrupted…" Tails muttered quietly enough for Sonic to not hear his comment.

Said hedgehog, then let go of the echidna by pushing him three feet from him. Sad to say, Knuckles wasn't quite light on his feet as he fell over onto the coffee table. "Well, why not throw me down a volcano pit to my torturous death…" Knuckles grumbled, getting up. Sonic smiled, letting out a tiny chuckle, "I'll keep the idea in mind."

"Why you little skunk!"

"I'm a hedgehog not a skunk dipshit," Sonic corrected, holding his head to stop the fuzziness in his emerald eyes.

"Alright, that's quite enough you two!" Rouge shouted in order to get their full attention, "Now, Amy and I are making dinner. Once we're finished, Sonic will explain to us what happened earlier."

Sonic raised his eyebrow, "What makes you think I'll do that?"

The bat just smiled "Now, what's the fun if I tell you?"

Sonic exchanged curious stares with Knuckles and Tails who signaled the hedgehog to just go with what the bat said…or else something would happen. Their faces held a mixture of fear. "Uh, okay, we can go with your plan…I guess," Sonic said as Rouge left the room and headed back to the kitchen.

To Be Continued

Sonic: *sleeping in bed with his toy crocodile*

Aw, doesn't he look so precious sleepi—KNUCKLES ARE YOU MAD!?

Knuckles: *chuckling while holding an air horn* YES MAN!

Uh…Alright guys, since I'm about to break up a fight in a few seconds here. I'd like to thank you all for reading and reviewing. Keep those two up, and there'll surely be a new chapter up soon. Bye!

Knuckles: *blows air horn* HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK!