I do not own and characters from the SEGA Game Franchise Sonic the Hedgehog.

Chapter 8

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Sonic bolted awake. He began panting and breathing hard. Weird. That was a nightmare about what happened to him those years ago when he was younger before he ran from the island. He's never had nightmares for a long while. The fact he finally had one in a long while nerved him. He slowly stood up and shook himself.

The hero looked out over the ocean once more and sighed out. He then quickly grabbed his face and wiped the tears he just noticed were there. He violently waved his head to the side "Stupid dream. Now those memories come to haunt me?"

The hero jumped as the phone rang. He sighed and picked it up "Hello?"

"Sonic, it's me, Dr. Sheev."

"Hi doc. Sorry, just woke from a nightmare."

"Nightmare?"

"Yah, just about my 'lovely' time at that island I use to be on. Been a while since I've had a nightmare."

"When was the last time?"

"Few years ago. About a year after I left."

"About?"

"My mistreatment!" Sonic was now getting annoyed "Why are you asking?"

"I'm sorry, just wondering. I called wishing to know how everything was going with Tails."

Sonic felt a boiling sensation moving through his chest. A feeling that made him feel cold and hate. A feeling that should have sent chills down his spine, but the thought of that day the fox bit him. That was two days ago and he has not seen the fox since. He even went to the house to see Tails was not there. Sonic lifted the phone and glared "Well the fox bit me and then ran from me, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM SINCE! SO HOW DO YOU THINK ITS GOING?! I'M TRYING TO HELP HIM AND I'M TREATED LIKE GARBAGE! JUST LIKE WHEN I WAS AT THAT ISLAND! I'M ONLY A HATED HEDGEHOG THAT NOBODY LIKES! PEOPLE JUST USE ME TO GET WHAT THEY WANT! WHO CARES ABOUT MY FEALINGS NOW STOP ASKING AND LEAVE ME ALONE! I'M HANDELING IT, DOC!" Sonic hung up and blasted off in anger. He was so enraged he didn't even notice where he was going. He stopped and began to pant heavily.

It took a few minutes but his breath suddenly began to calm down and he sighed. His eyes suddenly opened wide and he grabbed his head "Oh man!" He immediately picked up the phone and dialed Sheev's number. He lifted it to his ear and began to panicly began tapping his feet "Come on- come on- come on."

"Doctor Sheev."

"Doc, jeeze." Sonic grabbed his head "I'm so sorry about what I said, I-I wasn't thinking. I don't know what came over me. Its just Eggman's invasion, me staying for Tails instead of fighting Eggman, and me feeling absolutly helpless in helping Tails… a lot of pressure… maybe I'm starting to crack." He began to walk forward.

"… I think it might be worst than that."

"What do you mean?"

"Have… you ever seen a psychiatrist before me?"

"Err… no. I didn't want to and I never had a reason to see a shrink."

"But you've been bullied away and have gone to a war."

"So? Nothing happened."

"Not even nightmares?"

Sonic froze "What?"

"You've had nightmares… anything else?"

The anger was returning "What does that mean?"

"Were you joking like you are known for when you first fought Eggman?"

Sonic was about to yell but stopped. Actually… Sonic blinked. The more he thought the more he remembered. He remembered the sadness, the hurt, the nightmares, the hate, and even pretending to harm those who hurt him. He quickly shook his head and looked angerly at the phone "Look here! I know what you are insinuating! I did NOT have PTSD! I mean… no I never have and never will!"

"Okay, you never had PTSD. I am only wondering why your nightmares from your past are resurfacing. This all started by meeting Tails. You started seeing yourself in him and do not want him to go down the way you did. Seeing Tails like this hurts you and there is nothing you can do. Is it a feeling of helplessness causing it?"

Sonic rubbed his head "…Yah?"

"Maybe your subconscious is associating this helplessness to when you were younger therefor bring back the nightmares?"

Sonic paused. He felt just as helpless then as he did now. Explains why he was feeling so anxious he was at the brink of collapse. "Makes sense."

"Sonic! You need to leave that island, now!"

Sonic whirled his head "What? No!... Why?"

"Witnessing everything Tails is going through gives you flashbacks to what happened to you, which is causing you to go into a relapse of whatever you went through to you when you were bullied! A relapse can be worse than the first experience! As your psychiatrist I am pleading you to get off that island!"

"Doc, I am not abandoning Tails just because I might go through a mental breakdown again."

"You went through a mental breakdown?"

Sonic realized his loose lips were now causing a problem. He began to panic as he hastily changed the subject "Look, nothing bad has happened to me. The worst has been Tails biting my hand."

"I remember you saying that. Why?"

Sonic slapped himself in the head "Well, in his defense I was grabbing him to check for wounds. Bullies were hitting him with bats."

"And after going through that you thought he wanted more physical contact?"

The hero snapped "Well look here, I only wanted to make sure he was okay!"

"I'm sorry its just… that just surprises me. I thought he would never hurt you. Do you think he's okay?"

"No, he's more sensitive than me he'd be…" Off in the distance he had spotted something and it made his heart skip a beat and his eyes widen "Doc, I need to go now!" He dashed off in that direction, toward some tall cliffs. He skidded to a halt and stood tall, took a deep breath and spoke nicely "What cha doin' buddy?"

Tails fumbled before turning around to look at the hero in shock. "Wh-what? What are you doing here?"

Sonic took a step and stopped. He should not advance any further "Tails… Please tell me you're not thinking about doing something involving that cliff."

Tails gasped and turned to look at the cliff then Sonic "Wh-hat. N-no?"

"Tails, please." Sonic 's voice began to fall "Tell me the truth."

Tails froze "Truth? You-eck-wha? What happens to me shouldn't bother you… S… Mr. Sonic."

Sonic sagged his shoulders "Tails, you can call me Sonic, and what you said… that's not true. I care so much."

"Wh-… no…. I… you shouldn't… Why would you?... I bit you!" Tails sharply said tears swelling in his eyes.

"That doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is your wellbeing."

Tails took a step back tears streaming down his face "You don't know what it's like." He turned to look down at the bottom of the cliff "The torture, the yelling, the nonstop pain. I just want it to stop. All I do is bother people and harm them. Why can't I just do this for myself? This option is the best option." He looked at Sonic full of hurt and pain. Sonic wanted to start crying himself "You're asking me to stay here… harm more people, then die anyways… die a more painful death. This way…" Looking down at the bottom Tails face fell "I choose a path that is harmless… I will die either way… why not the way I want? Why not the way that will hurt others less? Why can't I have what I want for a change? You're only asking me to suffer."

"No. Never. I would never ask you to suffer." Sonic said with such a soft voice Tails slowly looked at him. "You feel yourself going down, deeper than hell itself. Darkness is everywhere, no light visible, almost like your head has been submerged under the darkest water and you can't break the surface. You're suffocating in the constant current of misery that continues to drag you further down where all the pressure presses against your chest, mind, heart, and even your soul." Tails blinked, tears easing as he stared on stunned at the words of the hero "People's insults and hate feel like anchors chained to your feet. Death feels like mercy to what you're going through, and it makes sense. The only light out of all that darkness. But I'm telling you it's not true. You hear death telling you to end it, but it's a lie. It wants you to end it all so you have no way of coming out of the depths of despair. No coming up for air. No peace."

Tails stands there unsure now as he stares at Sonic. "No peace?"

"No peace. Only death. The death that does not want you to come out of this anguish, the death that wants you to be in this pain when you die. I know it's hard, I know it's seemingly impossible, but you have what's worth living. You have so much potential, Tails. More potential than I ever had. When everyone bullied me I was pushed to a cliff edge. I was tormented with such oppression.

When I stood over the cliff… I just wanted it all to end. The nightmares, the pain, the sneers. Then I heard a cry. A faint cry. I saw this bird. Trying to fight the wind and about to fall down to its death. Just as it fell I caught it. The bird suddenly chirped and huddled next to me. The next weeks the bird would never leave my side finally making me feel wanted. A time then came when it wanted me to follow it off the island. I trusted that bird more than anyone else. She was my first ever friend. I came to Green Hill where there were more animals and my friend told them what I did and they all flocked to me. I never felt so loved before. Then Eggman came and captured them. I was so angry at him I chased him to free my friends. I had no care for anyone else. I did not go to save the world. The first time I freed a town they applauded me. I felt mocked and left in anger without a word. Then I freed even more towns. The one that really changed me was the kid that walked up and said he wanted to be like me when he grew up. I was so shocked that… I thought about everything. Everyone liked me for being this hero… this hero that saved them. I moved on after Eggman with the same outcome. I then realized they loved me because I was a hero. When I finally had Eggman cornered I could have grabbed him… stopped him… ended this forever. I didn't… I let him go… If he ever came back I would fight him… and everyone will continue liking me… That's why I did it… not to be a hero… not to be selfless… but to be liked… to be famous… I was not a hero." Sonic looked down "I was only selfish. I was overjoyed learning that Eggman came back and instantly ran off to confront him on that small planet he had chained. Then I met Amy. She showed me how much I had influenced her, and how much she needed me to protect her. After letting her go and watched the planet disappear I understood. I no longer was the kid that needed attention, I was a hero to them and they needed me now. I was the only one that can stop Eggman and I was using them. Using them to be someone. I was being the hero… when I wasn't one." Sonic gestured to Tails "I heard of the fox who saved an island from an invading army… and I wanted to meet that fox… because I wanted to meet a true hero. A hero that was selfless. Fought for others. Not selfish." Sonic looked over the horizon tears in his eyes "You may think yourself worthless, but to me… you're the hero I can never be." He looked back at Tails and stretched an arm out "So please leave the edge."

Tails blinked at Sonic "You… Why does it matter so much to you that I live?"

Sonic still reached for the fox "Because I need you. I need to believe that there are such heroes like you in the world. The one that would even save those who persecute him. To give me hope that I might hope to become one like you someday." Sonic then looked down "But then… I would still be being selfish… but I don't care… I just need you Tails… Need you to prove that there are people better than me."

"Eggman?"

Sonic looked at Tails with a light smile "I was selfish… compared to you I'm the trash… I'm the freak of nature all those jerks said I was… I let the villain go… to attack another day… just so I could continue being famous. You saved the very people who scorn at you… I never went to my home island ever again… even to save them…" Sonic felt the flashbacks slapping him in the face. He quickly shook it off. "Please, buddy. Be the hero."

Tails suddenly took a step forward to Sonic but then paused "I do… see you… differently." The fox turned to look over the horizon "I thought you were this great hero."

Sonic closed his eyes "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I told you what I really am. But you deserve the truth. You need to know…" sonic looked up at him "That you are the better hero than me." Sonic extended his hand again "Please… come over to me."

Tails blinked, tears gone. He then took a step to Sonic, but then the cliff edge suddenly crumbled and the fox fell. He screamed out in fear as he tumbled down. Sonic yelled and jumped forward grabbing the fox's hand just in time. The fox opened his eyes and spotted the hedgehog there. "I've got you." The blue blur then pulled him up.

Tails abruptly clutched to Sonic sobbing. The hero only hugged him and patted his back "I've got you." He repeated. There they sat like that for a long time the little fox's tears never stopped. Sonic did not care though. Tails needed him now, and he was there for him.

Tails stopped and raised his head to look over at the trees behind Sonic. He then stiffened up and began to back up. Sonic stopped and looked at him. He turned only to see normal trees. He looked at the fox "What's wrong?"

Tails shook his head and ran off. Sonic stood and watched him go. There was no point in following. He was trembling head to foot anyways. The hero then fell to his knees and wept. He did not know what was wrong. He just wept. He then looked at his hands to see he still had the phone and it was still on. He lifted it "Doc?"

There was a pause but her voice was heard seconds latter "Yes?"

"Did you hear all that?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

Sonic suddenly dropped the phone and landed on his hands "I think…" The hedgehog took a deep breath fighting back tears "I think I'm ready to talk now."

Please review and tell me how this chapter went. I'm more unsure about this chapter than the rest.