Sally watched Sonic leave. She smiled, the darkness in her hollow eyes growing. But the smile was more of a grimace. Tearstains shone through her fine fur, down her cheeks.

She leaned her head back, and heaved her shoulders. Her lips parted and she squinted her eyes, staring up at the glimmer of sunlight over the edge of the mountain.

Sally gnashed her teeth, screaming in her throat. She clutched her sword with trembling hands.

She was alone. She'd driven Sonic away, like she knew she would, and he had gone.

He would never come back.

Like Daddy had never come back.

For a moment, terror mixed with determination flashed through her blue eye. She rocked on the balls of her feet. If she tipped back, she would fall. Fall down the cliff, sword in her hands.

But as she stared up at the blinding sunlight, it seared through her thoughts, paralyzing her.

The sword slipped from her hands.

Sally buckled over. She dropped to her knees and curled up on the rock cave floor, covering her face.

She lay in the shadows except for one hand. One hand stretched over the sunlit rock, towards the cliff and the kingdom of Planet Marto.