She came in tears. No, it wasn't his fault. Cream's friends had abandoned the little rabbit yet again, increasing pressure on her fragile heart. The tiny creature wanted to prove that she could be a part of their team. She didn't want to be an equal; that was too much to ask. Cream only wanted acceptance. That child couldn't stand rejection time and time again.

"It's too dangerous for you."

"Leave that to the real heroes"

"Wait where it's safe. We'll be right back!"

Even when woe had cast shadows over their eyes, the faces kept smiling at her. The young female knew they weren't telling the truth. Pupils never lie. People do. During battle, she'd hug Cheese in hope everything would end well and her hope would be credited with another victory. Her trusty Chao would always try to cheer her up, even when they weren't right back for three hours. Someone would eventually remember the girl still sitting in the mud, waiting faithfully, as every good bunny should.

It made her sigh. Her eyes had stopped drifting to the skies, where Tails' mighty machines would spar with hordes of robots. The female could no longer keep her friends in view on the ground. Tears just blotched everything in sight while they fought with courage and dignity…everything she could never have, but secretly dreamed of. By the time a battle was over, she'd somehow manage to pull the bits back inside and not think about being a pushover.

Time and time again she'd tie herself together, gluing parts into a whole. Cream had to be nice and happy! Good girls always are, and she had to be very good to talk to Tails or Mr. Sonic. But…while little Cream stayed on the ground, the true heroes excelled and became much better. They started taking her kindness for granted. She tried to be gentler, even more blissful.

Yes, she tried. Her tiny rabbit heart just wasn't big enough to suit their needs. She had begged it to stop crying and beat evenly, like a good girl's heart should, but it just wouldn't listen. No, the bad old heart kept singing its own sad song. Cream's friends should never hear the melody!

"I'm scared, mama," she uttered one night.

Mommy dearest said a lot of sweet things to tickle her heart into a giggle fit. Cream forgot most of them in less than five minutes, feeling safe in her mother's arms. Though, that small rabbit didn't take a word for granted.

"Fear has big eyes."

Cheese had large eyes, too! She laughed at the thought: her scare actually being Cheese's big sister. The rabbit yawned afterwards, letting mommy take her to bed. Sleep, however, was not what she had in mind that evening. As soon as lights died out at home, Cream slipped out of bed to dress up.

Tonight, she would face her fear!

It is why he found the rabbit sulking on his doorstep. A few scratch marks on the citadel's armoured door showed Cream wanted to break in. That insolent child came all the way to Robotropolis alone. Even whatsisname Chao didn't accompany her. Eggman had never found himself in such a disturbing situation before. Looking down at the squirming creature by his headquarters, the scientist coughed to get her attention.

"I'm sad, sir," she peeped out between sobs.

The obvious statement left him even more speechless. She tingled Eggman's abnormal curiosity. The tall man kneeled down to speak at a more appropriate level. Taking off the round glasses, he took a handkerchief to clean them, and get a better look of the awkward visitor. Robotnik's action seemed to have gotten her to settle down a bit.

"Your eyes…" the rabbit began. He felt it fitting to remain silent; a single word could blow her away now. "They're so small!" she exclaimed, unrolling to stare at them up close.

Baffled more than he believed possible, Eggman found himself at the mercy of a child's mysterious logic. She would be understood! Nothing in this world was too difficult for the greatest mind to comprehend!

The man motioned for her to enter his abode. Cream hesitated initially. A stranger was inviting her in, and mommy dearest always warned her about strangers. Though, could Eggman really count as a stranger? The silly red-nosed man was as familiar as Sonic and the others…only differently.

"I wouldn't want to be a burden, sir…"

Robotnik stood up and moved aside to give her a clear view of what awaited indoors. The cold boring darkness of the night contrasted greatly with the fuzzy man's large house. It was reasonable enough to affect her decision; she walked in.

Sonic's enemy was sure friendly. He offered the rabbit some crumpets and even found a few plush toys for her to play with. Aww, she didn't deserve such treatment, but when Eggman insisted nobody else would play with them, the rabbit decided to keep the toys company.

During conversation, she found out the doctor was a very busy genius. His inventions would eventually save the world from single-digit IQs, whatever that meant. Sadly, Eggman was constantly interrupted by those infernal (another word she didn't know) hedgehogs. From the rest of the man's words, Cream understood he was a very lonely senior citizen without any friends.

She couldn't understand why. Cream knocked on his door with her head at night, but the old man still accepted her…Tails would have just sent her home and told dear mommy what happened. Her mother shouldn't be upset over Cream's midnight walk. And she wouldn't, because Eggman promised not to tell! In fact, because the rabbit was so well-behaved, she could keep the toys, but first the little girl would have to help him conduct a fun experiment.

Cream loved fun!

The female skipped over a long hallway, holding the doctor's hand. Eggman was having a hard time keeping up with her at first, so Cream slowed down to be blissful together! Their walk ended in the roundest room she ever did see. Even the only two doors were rounded into the smooth shiny walls. The area was a lovely white colour that glowed in the dark. It assured her that the old man meant no harm. Once they reached the middle of the room, Cream was politely asked to stand in a circle that marked the lowest point in the floor. The rabbit was given specific instructions not to walk out of the circle until Eggman allowed her or the doctor would be very sad.

Cream had to surrender the stuffed giraffe she held for the science to unleash its power upon the world. The man sure had a way with long sentences! Willingly, the young female handed over the plushie and stood very still in the circle.

Eggman grinned as he left to the control room behind another curved reinforced door. Only the test subject had to be in the sealed room. Having reached his dashboard, the doctor turned on the intercom to announce the test's beginning.

"You have many fears, Cream," he said grimly. "But that's okay! I'm going to help you!"

It made her smile. "Thank you, doctor… I knew you'd be my friend."

"No."

Something crackled under the floor. Fizzing came from the ceiling. A blue streak swerved around the walls. Cream looked at the special effects in awe. Different colours began flashing around her, as if someone threw invisible fireworks into the air. Lightning sparks dashed from wall to wall, bouncing and playing with each other. She clapped excitedly in this one girl theme park. Cream always loved fairs, and this one was better than anything she'd ever seen!

Her eyes widened in wonder as a lightning bolt jumped straight into her arms. It felt fuzzy and warm like a kitten. The female connected her fingertips, squeezing the light, and it jumped off, connecting her palms to the floor with an electric arc. Had it not tickled so much, she'd have found it scary. More energy bolts pounced at her, and soon she was connected to the spherical room's outer layers from every direction. The rabbit stood still, trying not to scare away the happy lights that seemed to be whispering something.

Even the greenish air smelled like cotton candy. She pulled out her tongue to taste it, attracting another spark. Those vibrant creatures just got a bit too clingy. Now she was starting to feel uncomfortable. She looked at the intercom above her head, making the arc jump to her nose, and tried to speak, but no sound escaped her lips.

Cream attempted to blink, and yet her eyelids froze solid, two lightning beams digging straight into her irises. Her muscles turned loose, breathing stopped and the only thing the female could feel was weightlessness. Indeed, from how the perspective changed, she must have floated a few metres up, held in place by the electricity.

The whispering turned louder. Something kept telling her to relax, the room promised it would be over soon, and the doctor would give her chocolate for behaving so well. Cream wanted to say something to the voice, but her head felt like spinning. Surroundings flashed faster…and faster still. The rabbit became dizzy from all the commotion until tiredness overcame and put the girl to sleep.

Not even Eggman's laughter resonating in the room could wake her up.