WARNING: The fallowing chapter is a flashback of Sonic's defeat. Therefor, it's a little more gruesome than what I normally write. I you cannot stand blood in an shape or form, I suggest you skip this chapter.

Chapter 13:

"You remember everything?" the Professor asked.

"Yes even most of my time it that horrible base you found me in," Sonic confirmed.

"Do you want to tell us a bout it?" the Professor asked.

"Yes," Sonic replied after a pause.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Sam said.

"I think I need to," Sonic replied. "And I think after all you've done for me, you have a right to know."

Sonic paused and took a deep breath.

"As you told you before," Sonic began. "I have been on many adventures, most involving the Chaos Emeralds. I had spent most of my life fighting against the forces of evil, but mostly Eggman. I was often called the Hero of Mobius."

"So you are the legendary champion and former leader of the other freedom fighters," the Professor concluded. "And that's why there was a robot duplicate of you."

"Yes," Sonic said. "Metal Sonic was one of Eggman's many plans to defeat me, but he never succeed. Me and my friends always managed to beat him. Until that last time.."

(Flashback)

It had started out as a normal adventure, Sonic narrated. We had heard Eggman was after the Chaos Emeralds again and me and my friends went out to stop him. We were surprised by how serious he was this time. He easily got hold of five of them, but we managed to get the last two before him. Knuckles had smashed the Master Emerald to keep it of Eggman's hands, so we couldn't rely on it's power. Despite this we were confident we would win.

We had never been so wrong.

Even though it was missing two emeralds, Eggman's newest machine was much more powerful than anything we had faced. Even with all of us working together, we were no match for it. It wasn't long before it was just me and Shadow left...

The ground was black with scorch marks and ash. Any buildings that had been there had long since been blasted into rubble. Bodies of the brave heroes lay scattered throughout the ruins. They were all bloody and still, but by some miracle, they were all still alive. Only two remained on their feet, though barely. A black and red hedgehog, known as Shadow, was one of them. His normally well groomed quills were a mess, his gloves torn and bloody, missing their usual gold rings. His legs shook as he fought to remain standing strait.

The other, standing besides Shadow, was a blue hedgehog, known everywhere as Sonic, hero of Mobius. He was in even worse shape than Shadow. His quills were covered in dirt and blood. He was missing part of an ear and blood dripped from a gash in his closed left eye. There was a deep cut on his right arm. His left hand held the cut in an attempt to stem the blood, his white glove slowly becoming read. He stood mostly on his right leg, making it obvious that his left one was injured somehow.

The two stood quietly, watching the hulking shape of Eggman's robot approach.

"We cannot hope to win," Shadow commented, you using the same tone we would use to comment on the weather.

"I know," Sonic replied grimly.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Sonic removed his hand from his injury and dug through hid quills. He pulled out a blue emerald ans tossed it to Shadow. The black hedgehog caught it easily.

"Why give me this?" Shadow asked in confusion.

"Your going to need both emeralds to get everyone out of here," Sonic replied. "I'll distract Eggman to give you the time you need."

Shadow stared at Sonic, an understanding passing between them. Shadow's grip tightened on the emerald.

"Very well," Shadow said turning away. "Good bye... Sonic."

That was the first time I ever heard him saw my name with respect.

Sonic just nodded and Shadow took off, picking up their fallen friends. Sonic turned back to the robot approaching.

"Just you and me now Eggman," Sonic growled.

He curled up into a ball and took off at high speeds. Sonic bounced of the robot, but he just attacked again. Hitting multiple times in a few seconds. Sonic came to a stop on the ground again, panting heavily. His attacks hadn't left so much as a dent in the robot, but he hadn't expected it to. He had just down what he need to, draw Eggman's attention.

"Surrender!" Eggman's voice boomed from the robot. "This robot, my greatest creation, cannot be beaten by the likes of you! Even you must realize that by now."

"I may die, but I will never surrender." Sonic retorted. "And though I may have failed, someone, somewhere will find a way to defeat you. I will fight you to my last breath!"

"So be it, rodent."

The robot lifted it's arm, charging a powerful laser. Sonic tried to move out of the way, but his injuries were making him slower than normal. The shot managed to blast off part of his legs, causing Sonic to cry out in pain. The moment Sonic had caused to skid across the ground before finally coming to a stop. Sonic lay motionless in a growing puddle of his own blood, waiting for death to take him away from his pain.

Instead he felt something cold and metallic lift him up. Confused, Sonic tried looking around to figure out what was going on, but could only make out blurry shapes.

"Don't think I'm going to let you off that easily," He heard Eggman growl before he slipped into unconsciousness.

Sometime later, Sonic awoke. He could see much because of a bright light shining in his face, but he could feel a metal table beneath him. Eggman's shape soon came into view, the mad scientist wearing a menacing grin.

"Glad to see you awake rodent," Eggman said. "I can now began the operation."

"What operation?" Sonic asked, his voice cracking from fear and dehydration.

"I'm going to restore your body," Eggman replied.

"Why?"

"Because I want you to live. I want you to see your failure. I want you to suffer for all you done."

Eggman picked up a scalpel and began cutting into Sonic's arm, making him scream in pain.

"Stop! Please!" Sonic cried as Eggman continued working. "I beg you! Have mercy!"

Eggman simply laughed.

Eggman made sure I was awake for every second of the operation as he installed the cybernetics into my body, taking pleasure at my pain and my pleas for him to stop. When he was done, I was chained into a cell with my cybernetics hooked into a computer to make sure I stayed alive but preventing me from escaping. I couldn't tell how much timed passed in there, but Eggman visited me often.

He enjoyed telling me how his empire expanded and showing me videos of him catching, torturing, and eventually killing all my friends and anyone else who tried to stop his cruel reign. I was devastated by all that happened, but I was powerless to do anything.

Eventually, Eggman stopped coming. I assume that's when he died. And without him, the base slowly began to shut down. I was alone in the dark for a long time before I too eventually entered a state of suspended animation.

And that is my story. The story of how one of the world's greatest heroes failed to protect it.