PiT 008: Believe in Yourself
Dark, Dark, Dark, Hero, Normal, Hero
"Daddy!" cried Maria, running home and ripping the front door open.
"What is it?" Shadow said, dropping to one knee beside his daughter.
"Some b-boys at school p-p-p-picked on me-hee," Maria cried, her lavender eyes clouded by tears.
"What did they do?" Shadow asked, lifting the young hedgehog's head so he could look right into her eyes.
"They sniff called me a-a-a," Maria stopped talking and cried a little more before continuing, "They called me a hedge pig." The little hedgehog girl started sobbing into her father's chest, and Shadow stroked Maria's black-and-white head spikes gently.
"Shhh," Shadow whispered softly into his daughter's ear, trying to calm her down. After several moments, the little hedgehog's sobs ceased.
"Now," Shadow said, pulling Maria away so he could look her right in the eye, "People say things. Hurtful things. There've been mean things said about me, too, you know."
"Really?" Maria asked. She didn't think people could be mean to her dad. He could be scary sometimes.
"Yes. Do you know Uncle Sonic? He and I didn't start out very well. Did you know that?" Maria shook her head. "Well, just don't let what other people say effect you, okay, Maria?" The little hedgehog vigorously nodded her head, and Shadow smiled with pride.
When you care what others think of you, are you really being yourself, or what others want you to be?