Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well, staying safe and positive as we enter level 6 of this fuckery of a year. Honestly I am so over 2020 as I'm sure the rest of the world is too. We've all gotta stop saying "It can't possibly get any worse" cause we're just inviting more chaos at this point.
Anyways, this is a request from DepressoExpresso (Great name btw) who wished for a part 2 of 'Does the Caged Bird Sing' where Sonic's friends come to rescue him and their reaction to his mental and physical state. Had fun writing this up so I hope you all enjoy it.
The song I used to go along with this one is "It's Alright" by Mother Mother which is such a banger. Feel free to listen to it as you read. But enough of me chattering on, enjoy the chapter!
Oh, hey
I had a night I had a day
I did one million stupid things
I said one billion foolish things
I'm not okay
I got a baseball bat beside my bed
The fight I fought inside my head
The fight I fought behind my meds
I'm lonely, lost in pain
For six months they believed him dead, had grieved and moved on because it was all they could do in such trying times. They had no option to wallow and stay frozen in misery as the world around them descended into war and ruin. But then news arrived that all was not lost, that all this time their friend, hero and brother lay hidden in their enemy's clutches. Originally, Knuckles opted to send the rookie, Gadget in to retrieve Sonic but the others had revolted and rallied, banding together as they had done so thousands of times before to save their friend. Thus, it was that Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Silver and Gadget found themselves aboard the Death-Egg, cutting down illusions and robots that dared to stand in their way. Shadow, in particular, took great pleasure in ripping into any illusions that resembled himself.
With their combined efforts the group slowly fought their way towards the centre of the Death-Egg, the dungeon, where Sonic lay waiting for them. Amy was vicious as she slammed her hammer down on anything that tried to stop them. She had grown in the last six months mentally, no longer filled with childish fantasies of marrying Sonic. Now, she only cared about rescuing her dear friend who had saved her so many times. Knuckles was swimming in guilt, beating himself up for not having found his rival and friend sooner, for so easily giving him up for dead when Sonic would have moved heaven and earth for all of them before doing such a thing. Rouge and Silver were pensive, feeling no guilt but a bubbling sense of fear for just what they may find at the end of the tunnel. Shadow gave off the impression of not caring but inside he too was worried. The ebony male knew just how vicious the doctor could be which didn't bode well for his rival.
They are thundering down dark metal hallways, Gadget looking down at the small device that is leading them to their destination. The red wolf guides them down a side corridor, down a flight of stairs and another hallway until they reach a large open space. Around the sides of the massive room are cells, the bars glowing with electric energy. The rookie nods once, signalling to all that they are in the right place.
They fan out, looking into every cell, in every shadowed corner, behind every wall for a sign of their friend. In the end, it is the silent Gadget that finds him, hands waving wildly to signal the others of his discovery.
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not a monster, just a human
That you made of your mistakes
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not grouse, I'm just human
That you made of your mistakes
It's alright, oh
It's okay, oh
"Sonic?" Knuckles is first to call out, heart thundering with both excitement and fear. They all peer into the cell, eyes widening in horror while their stomaches curl with revolution and anger. Their friend and hero sits huddled in the far corner of his cell, fur dull, matted and even missing in some places. Even from a distance, they can count every rib poking menacingly through his skin that is littered in a morbid artwork of yellow, purple, blue and black bruises. Along the thin trembling arms are cut marks from scalpels and track marks from needles. The gloves are nowhere to be seen, most likely destroyed in one of the many medical/torture sessions while the once signature red shoes are only just hanging on by a thread. Even the once long deadly quills are limp, balding and broken, leaving their owner looking smaller than ever. But what breaks the group, what makes them all want to cry is the haunted fearful look in once vibrant green eyes.
Dull green eyes gaze back at the group, jumping back and forth between all of them frantically. A horrid rattling sounds fills the air as Sonic takes quick sharp breaths into his battered lungs, panic slowly consuming his body and mind. Despite already huddling in the corner of the cell the hedgehog seemed to press himself further into the walls, away from the gathered group.
"Oh Blue." It's Rouge who speaks up this time, teal eyes broken and sad. The bars flicker and die as Gadget hacks into the system, quickly standing back and allowing the others to approach their friend. The wolf stares for a moment longer before turning away, walking back to the entrance of the room to stand guard, not wanting to intrude on a moment and also not wanting to see the hero of Mobius in such a state.
Goddamn
I've thrown a brick right through the window
My life ignored the signals
I am high and drunk on ego
Can't see straight
So I just feel my way around man
I am touching, I am grabbing
Everything I can't be havin'
I am broken down in shame
Amy is the one to move closer, crouching down and reaching out with a gentle hand towards her friend, eyes glistening with tears. She pauses when Sonic jerks violently away from her, face drawn and pale as he gazes at her with haunted eyes. "Shhh, its alright Sonic. It's me, it's Amy, your safe."
The words are of little comfort as the blue hedgehog begins to shake his head frantically back and forth, hands flying up to cover torn and bloodied ears, eyes screwing shut in a vain attempt to block out the rest of the world. Amy is lost, knowing her touch would be unwelcomed but not know how else to comfort her friend. She sits, unmoving, waiting for Sonic to make the next move so as not to frighten him more.
"not real, not real, not real, not real, not real, not real For a moment, no one hears the words, whispered so softly as they are. But slowly, the words grow louder and as they do so does the feeling of dread in their hearts that screams of who wrong the whole situation is.
"We are real Blue, we're here to rescue you." Rouge chokes out desperately but Sonic only gives a keening cry, claws digging into his head as his chanting grows more hurried and louder.
"He thinks we're illusions created by Infinite." Shadow realizes, eyes filled with unease and pitty. This is not the cocky, happy-go-lucky rival that brings excitement and adventure into his life, this is not the boy Shadow has grown to know. This is a shell of what once was, an empty impression of the hero that once stood proud and strong.
"Buddy, it's really us. Come on you spiky pain in my arse." Knuckles can't help but growl out, frustrated, confused, angry and hurting for his friend. Sonic flinches at his voice, pressing tighter into his corner.
"No, no, no, no! You're not real! You can't trick me!" Sonic is screaming now, eyes open and staring right through them all. "I didn't kill you! You're not dead, not real! I didn't mean it, I'm sorry, please! Please don't hurt me, I didn't mean it! Not Real! Not Real! NOT REAL!" The words are hysteric, terrified and jumbled, speaking of the torture that the teen has suffered for the last six months and its enough to have them all crying, horrified by what their friend, hero and brother has become.
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not a demon, there's a reason
You're behaving that way
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
And I believe, yes I believe
That you will see a better day
It's alright, oh
It's okay, oh
It's alright, oh
He's screaming himself horse, mind over-come by pain and fear. The ghosts of his friends continue to stand before him, mocking and judging. They are closing in, he knows it. They are trying to trick him, make him feel safe and hopeful before they rip and tear him apart. They will punch, kick and slice at his skin, will hiss cruel words and spit acid on his heart. Then, then, the room will flood and water will fill his lungs and they will drown, him unable to help or save them. He will be rocked to sleep by their cries of betrayal and ripped awake by their dying screams. They will fade from view only to whisper in his ear how he failed them, will dance in the shadows to remind him of his sins.
"Not real, not real, not real, not real." Its all he has left, the chant, the mantra that holds what little sanity he has left intact. He clings to the words like a lifeline, holds them close to his heart as a shield. It's the only thing he has left to protect himself with.
I don't wanna know who I am
'Cause heaven only knows what I find
I don't wanna know I'm not capable of coming out alive
I don't wanna see what's inside
I think that I would rather be blind
I don't wanna know I'm not capable, I'm capable
Amy can feel her heart being wrenched from her chest, shattering into a million pieces as she listens to Sonic scream and cry, begging them to not hurt him while also trying to convince himself they aren't really there. It all leaves a bitter taste in her mouth and a festering rage deep in her soul. If she ever sees Infinite again she will be sure to give him hell. Thinking of the Jackle also brings her to the here and now, the fact that her best friend believes her to be an illusion made to hurt him. While the knowledge is heart-breaking it also has Amy forming a plan inside her head.
"Sonic, hey Blue-streak, can you please look at me for a moment. I promise I'm real and I'll prove it to you." She whispers softly, smiling when distrustful eyes turn to face her, the screaming dying down into gasping breaths. "That's it Sonic, just look at me."
"Your not real." He whimpers to her, almost seeming to be pleading with her to confirm his belief.
Amy shook her head, never losing her gentle smile. "I am real Sonic, I'm here. And do you know why I'm real? I'm real because I know things only the real Amy Rose would know."
He blinks, once, eyeing her up and down. He's still shaking in fright, still pressing himself into the corner away from her, still looking at her with suspicion, but there's a glimmer of something in his eyes and it has Amy swelling with hope.
I'm alright, I'm okay, I'm alright, I'm okay
I'm not a monster, I'm a human
And I made a few mistakes
I'm alright, I'm okay, I'm alright, I'm okay
I'm not grouse, I'm just human
And I made a few
"I met you on Little Planet after you rescued me from Metal. I went to Little Planet because my Tarot Cards told me I'd find someone special there, and I did. You didn't speak back then, but you made me feel safe anyway with your smile and little thumbs up. You started talking to me a month after that, Tails had been helping you with your speech for about three months by that point. Since then we've had lots of conversations. You told me your favourite season is winter, favourite colour is cyan and food is surprisingly not chill dogs but a nice homemade vegetable soup. You told me that you love Pink Carnations because they were your mothers favourite flower but that your favourite is the buttercup." With each word, Sonic uncurls, gazing at Amy no longer in fear but in wonder and awe. Slowly, she reaches out and takes his trembling hands in her own, lifting them to press against her upper chest to feel her heart-beat and breathing, the warmth of her body, the soft texture of her dress.
He stares down at their entwined hands, tears gathering in his eyes as he slowly returns to grip, barely able to bring himself to believe that she is truly sitting before him. "Amy?"
"I'm here." He collapses then into her arms, sobbing with relief as he wraps himself as tightly as he can around her, terrified that at any moment she will vanish and leave him to more torture. A presence draws near causing Sonic to flinch, looking up into the sad yet happy violet eyes of his rival and friend.
"We're all here now Blue, your safe. They will never hurt you again." Knuckles vows, crouching down to rest a paw on a bruised and bony shoulder. Sonic shudders under the touch, expecting pain but only feeling warmth and comfort. With a sigh the teen sinks into the soothing touches of his friends and family, mind finally falling silent from the screaming fear that had taken it hostage for so long. His family rallies around him, loving and safe, warm and inviting. With gentle hands they lead him from his prison, guide him through the halls that echoed with past horrors that will never happen again. Slowly, they lead him to the outside world, to salvation, finally free from his cage, finally free to sing with the wind once more.
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not a demon, there's a reason
You're behaving that way
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
And I believe, yes I believe
That you will see a better day
It's alright, oh
It's okay, oh
It's alright, oh
And I believe, yes I believe
That you will see a better day
(It's alright)
I decided to give writing a nice Amy for a change, one who is over he girlhood crush and has matured especially due to the war environment around her. It was actually a nice change of pace and I may write more of her like this in the future.
Hope it lived up to your expectation DepressoExpresso! And thank you all for all your reviews, request and support. I generally love that something I create brings others joy and happiness which is so important for the world to have right now. Stuff like fanfiction is a thing that everyone can enjoy, something that connects us all. Remember, we all share this earth, all share the same sky and breath the same air. More connects us than separates us.
Until next time everyone have a peaceful day, week, moth, year and life