A thousand voices rang out in Sonic's head. All of them were some various of Sonic's past. Yet, he could hear each one. Each voice resonating in the blue hedgehog's mind. They were loud, suffocating so.
"Freak."
"The Blue Freak."
"What kind of hedgehog has blue fur?"
Sonic was drowning in all the noise. Nothing but this darkening fear gripping onto his very soul. They were all correct. He was born into this thing, born different from everyone. That's who he was. The Blue Freak. They reminded him that he was different, that he was only in this world to be mocked and ridiculed. He hated them. He hated what they did to him.
"Heartless."
"All you care about are those Emeralds."
"Monster!"
Things intensified as the noise was spliced with memories. Fragments really. Each one playing again and again as he could see the disappointment, the fact that he was supposed to be something that he wasn't. He knew what he was but... Was playing the hero really doing anything? In the end, all he could do was fail. Fail in being a hero. Fail in doing the one thing he set out to do... Find the Chaos Emeralds and bring them back to the place.
The screams then mixed in with the already growing chaos in Sonic's mind. More images of the people he's hurt. Various humans and soldiers that were simply in his way. He did that. He DID all of that. Everything just continued to cripple him as he couldn't move. The fear, the hurt, the misery, all of it kept him frozen in place. He didn't even know what was going on in the outside world. All he could see was this growing darkness. The overwhelming voice and memories invading his mind. Why wouldn't it stop? He just wanted it to stop. The pain, was all too real for him. He wanted to run, but this... this wasn't something he could run from. He was the fastest thing alive but this... this was faster. The shadow's continued to grip onto Sonic. There wasn't anything he could do. Nothing... all that was left was this darkness.
Then, there was something. It was lost in the chaos just as Sonic himself was yet... there was something there. He wasn't sure what it was as he tried to wade through all the memories and sounds. Whatever it was... it was small. Ever so Small that it was hard to spot. There... the small spark of light flittered around in front of him as Sonic used all of his strength to reach forward and grab it. It was small, all the other chaos was drowning it out. So Sonic focused. Trying to clear the rest of the noise from his head to just focus on this little bit of light...
"When I first met the Blue Blur, I had an entirely different opinion of him."
That voice, he knew that voice. That's when Sonic found himself just on the edge of a large crowd. Behind him in the darkened alley was the overwhelming darkness, ready to pull Sonic back in at a moment's notice. But Sonic, he kept his focus on the raised platform where the two-tailed Fox continued her speech.
"But now, I think I see him for what he truly is."
Freak, selfish, heartless. The words echoed from behind Sonic and in his own being. Shadowy hands came out from the dark place and grabbed onto Sonic wanting to pull him back. Sonic had to fight it, he had to focus.
"I'll admit he can be frustrating at times."
Flashes of memories shifted into Sonic's mind. He remembered how often he just put himself over her. He was selfish then. More hands came out and grabbed Sonic. Slowly beginning to pull him back to the dark void.
"But what I see in him is a yearning to know where he belongs."
The darkness continued to try and pull Sonic in as Tails hit the nail on the head. Deep down, he just wanted to belong, he gave up on everyone, he knew that it was only a matter of time before they'd all turn on him... He wasn't a hero after all... and given the chance, they'd turn on him.
"So, what do I think about him now?"
Sonic knew that all too well. She would hate him. Call him more than just a freak... but a monster. How could she even forgive him for what he did? He was no longer able to fight the darkness any more as it continued to pull him back towards the chaos. He was nearly there now.
"I can say that he's a Mobian with a great heart."
A great heart... The words began to echo around in his head. The darkness tried to fight it. Tried to contradict the saying. He couldn't be that. He had given up on everyone. Yet, the sentiments wouldn't go away. Sonic looked up and straight at the Two-tailed fox as she looked over at him. She never gave up on you. Another thing that entered the chambers of Sonic's mind. Slowly starting to bounce around but gaining more and more power. No matter how bad things got, even if it was him who caused it. She was always right there.
A flash of Tails back in the black comet. Seeing her reaction to reach him. She refused to give up on him. She seen him as being a hero, no matter how things looked. The thoughts continued to break over him. This, this is what was the real truth. Sure, he was hurt, he was scared of trying to open up to anyone. But, that fox, she was worth opening up too. That's when things began more around him. A growing surge of light was going through him, pushing past every negative thought tried to attach to him. Sure, he knew that it would take time. He didn't need to continue to let his past dictate how his future was. And he would do it. For it was worth it, for her.
With a final nod towards Tails on the podium there was a final flash of light and Sonic could now feel himself back in the black comet. He was sore, yet he was filled with so much energy. That spark intensified into a raging inferno.
"It's... not possible."
Sonic slowly got to his feet as he looks up looking at the Black Arm's leader. There was a fire inside of him. A fire of hope and light. He wasn't down yet.
"How did you..."
Black Doom was in shock. He had never experienced anyone who was able to defy the darkness. Then again, he was a blue hedgehog.
"This ends, Black Doom," Sonic said finally getting his breath back. He could see the 7 Chaos Emeralds floating around Black Doom. What was once shock suddenly turned into a cunning look as the shadowy figure slowly began to clap his hands.
"Very good Sonic," Black Doom said, "Not just anyone could break free of Gaia. That only further cements what I thought before. I know WHO you are Sonic. I know WHY you were born the way you are."
The statement froze Sonic slightly. He knew? No, it was a trick.
"Like I would trust you again," Sonic said.
"No?" Black Doom asked, "Are you sure Sonic? I can tell you of your destiny Sonic. All you have to do, blue hedgehog, is walk away. Leave me this planet as I drain it dry of all that negative energy."
That's when Sonic glanced over to where he seen Tails. The petrified look on her face as he knew that what had happened to him, was happening to her right then. That only further his resolve.
"You're just a parasite," Sonic said, "and I won't let you have this planet."
Black Doom's eyes narrowed slightly as dark energy began to flow around him.
"You're not a hero Sonic, Remember?" Black Doom said as the energy continued to swirl around him. It seemed to be coming from the entire comet's energy, "So why are you still trying to be?"
Sonic just shakes his head.
"You're right, I'm not a hero," Sonic said shifting ready to strike, "I'm just the one who's going to take you down!"
With that Sonic dashed forward using his blinding speed to close the distance between them. But Black Doom quickly swatted him away with a stronger darkness than before.
"No Sonic," Black Doom said as Sonic once again landed on the ground, "You are going to be shown once again that you, don't get a happy ending!"
That's when the dark energy finished swirling around Black Doom as he used the 7 Chaos Emerald to absorb its power. He began to change in form as the Emeralds dropped down to the ground rolling slightly before about where Sonic was now. Black Doom bellowed as the Doom's eye came over and merged with him, he continued to grow larger and larger as it seemed he would burst right out.
Sonic quickly looked to Tails then to Diablon where he knew the GUN Commander would still be. He had to get them out fast. Sonic raised his hands as the 7 chaos emeralds came to him. Slowly they began to circle around him before suddenly he absorbed them as he transformed into Super Sonic. He had one goal as he quickly dashed over to Tails, who still hadn't awakened from her petrified state. Sonic quickly scooped her up as he dashed to the GUN commander to save him before he was crushed as Black Doom began to grow large enough to smash through the top of the Black Comet. Once he was over there, he placed a hand on the Commander.
"Chaos CONTROL!"
In a flash, Sonic teleported the group to the outskirts of the City, to a tall hill overlooking it. Sonic sat them both down as The GUN Commander began to stir. He was sore and angry yet he looked at Sonic almost ready to strike him. But Sonic just looked at him. Not with a glare but a look that shown how wrong he was.
"I'm going to set this right," Sonic said as the GUN Commander looked at him, "Make sure Tails is alright."
The GUN commander looked down at Tails before looking back up to Sonic. All he could do was nod. Sonic returned the nod as he headed back to face Black Doom.