One day, a year later…
"Hey, Sonic, can you pass me that wrench over there?"
"Sure thing, bud."
Sonic winced a bit as his scar pulled when he bent over. He placed a hand on it as he grabbed Tails' wrench.
He walked over and placed it next to the fox. "Here."
Tails smiled. "Thanks!" and he continued to work.
"So…what are you working on?" the hero dug a little hole in the ground with his heel as he leaned against the door.
"Oh, just making some modifications to the Tornado…nothing major. How are you feeling?"
Sonic shrugged. "Alright, I guess. The scar's still bothering me, though…" He traced up his chest with his index finger, right up the scar. "It still hurts to bend sometimes."
Tails wiped the sweat from his forehead and came from underneath his beloved plane, oil matted in his fur. "That's understandable. I mean, it hasn't been that long, has it?"
"Meh, about a year."
Tails' brow furrowed. "Really? It hasn't felt like it was that long…"
"Mm-hmm." Sonic turned towards the outdoors, and peered into the nearby forest, in the direction of Amy's old house.
Tails frowned. "You can't get over it, can you?"
"Do you expect me to? Somehow I feel like this is my fault."
"How is this your fault?"
"Sal and Amy are dead? Yeah, this is someone else's fault, for sure." He rolled his eyes.
"Sonic…" Tails sighed. "It's not your fault that Amy acted like she did. You had nothing to do with that!"
Sonic looked up into the sky. He said nothing.
"Either way, they're gone…"
"Sonic…"
"Don't worry about it."
"I'm not used to seeing you like this…it's not like you."
"Well, a lot of things have changed."
"I know…"
Sonic stared up into the clouds with a somber look. "I think I'll go for a run, Tails."
"Okay…"
And he was gone.
As his feet padded against the soft grass, Sonic watched ahead of him carefully, but his eyes were distant and lost in thought.
Sally's gone, what do I do now?
Amy is too…
Two people that meant a lot to me…does Tails not get that?
What is it that's so hard for him to understand?
Sure, Amy had her fair share of problems…but I can't be mad at her.
Should I be? I don't know.
I mean, Shadow said he saw the remorse in her eyes…
Maybe she realized what she was doing?
Did she care?
I'm so confused…
And Sal…
Tears began to bubble in his eyes. He shook them off.
No, don't…you're stronger than that…
His feet increased in pace, and he became a blur.
Sometimes I wish it was just me, by myself, and no one to weigh me down.
Don't most heroes do that?
I could really get into that.
But…I can't.
I care about these people.
That's why I protect them…and would give my life for them.
Tails…Knuckles…Blaze…
He smiled.
Little Cream and Cheese…
They need me.
I can't let this get to me.
I'll have to move on.
I'll keep running and fighting until I take my last breath…
He spun around, and headed back towards Tails' Workshop, with the sun shining behind him.
I'll be the very best I can be.