A/N: It's funny, I've been dying to write this chapter ALL week, but now that I am sitting down to type it…I'm at a loss. I've thought of almost infinite ways for typing the outcome of this chapter. Hm. Hopefully this will be the best one of all the scenarios.

OH!!! And, all the stuff in bold are lyrics from the song 'Out of Control' by… (Drum roll please) Hoobastank!

Chapter 17: Memory

Dust shot from the earth behind the blue hedgehog. Sonic sprinted as fast as he could in the direction which Knuckles declared. Knowing Dice's speed, she could be anywhere by now. However, whatever she was going to do, Sonic was determined to stop her.

He continued running… running, running….

Until he heard an ear shattering scream. In surprise, he halted to a stop, sliding several feet forward. Sonic turned his head left and right, attempting to pinpoint the sound's source, but to no avail.

"Dice?" he whispered. Was he too late? The hedgehog merely stood still, despite his current state of mentality, waiting to here the noise again. However, all that could be heard was his beating heart.

"This can't be happening."

He, the blue hero, had never been at a loss before. After all, he was the hero. Right? The one who saves everyone, the one who destroys evil… the one who prevents apocalypses. Suddenly he remembered an earlier conversation with Knuckles.

"This… this is ALL YOU FAULT!!!"

Now standing in the middle of nowhere, basically lost and incapable of finding Dice, Sonic could literally here the words echo. It was his fault… wasn't it? If he never jumped in front of that gun, he never would have disappeared, and this world would have remained the way it used to be.

Sonic took another look around him. This is what the world looks like when he is gone. When there are no heroes left.

"This is my fault," he sighed. The hedgehog sighed again as he gazed deep into the red sky.

The servers are the seven chaos. Chaos is power: power that is enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the chaos…

"Huh?"

Sonic twisted around, looking in the direction of the voice. It was the same voice from which he heard Knuckles' comment. Immediately he sped in that direction, almost completely forgetting about Dice.

The environment appeared to be a desert with elevated plateaus, slabs of rock jutting out of the earth. The sky reflected crimson red across the plains with an eerie glow.

"Aaah!" came another outcry from nearby. The blue hedgehog ran to a plateau and then cautiously gazed around it, to see Dice.

She was punching at a slab of rock until it was nothing but pulp. Clenching her teeth, her lips began to bleed. Her strikes were hard and short, with inconsistent twitching of her fists.

"Aaaaaah!"

Soon, she began to pant from infuriation and the blood which rushed to her head. Kicking the pieces of rock which she previously pounded, Dice slumped her body over. For several moments, she stood still, allowing the air to escape through her gritted teeth.

However, Sonic remained where he hid.

Her face was red with hatred and wet with tears. Suddenly she threw her arms around herself and fell on the ground. Small outbursts of pain came from her. Snarling, she attempted to grab her sword, but stopped herself.

The servers are the seven chaos. Chaos is power: power that is enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the chaos…

Sonic was still standing motionless, but with mouth agape. He heard the incantation, and Dice must have as well, for she stopped reaching for her sword after its echo.

I've done everything as you say
I've followed your rules without question

She yelled again in retaliation but did nothing. Choking with sobs, Dice slammed both her fists into the ground, forcing the dust to fly from underneath them. Erratically, she jabbed her fist into the sky, standing up. There, her body froze, stuck in that position.


I thought it would help me see things clearly
But instead of helping me to see
I look around and it's like I'm blinded

Moving frantically back and forth, she clutched her head, punching with no intended target. Whimpers escaped her lips, and each movement was erratic and panicked. Dice began to walk in tight circles, her hands at her sides. Suddenly, she twisted in an odd fashion, beginning to scream. Loud, long yelps of pain. Her voice was low, shaky, and… strident.


I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

Dice stopped where she stood, and leaned back, head cocked towards the sky. Her arms were limp, dangling due to gravity. Her back was so tilted backwards; it was a surprise she had not fallen already. At last, she let out a scream. Not like those of her earlier ones. It was long, loud, and made Dice turn purple from lack of air. Letting out her frustration, she continued her one extensive scream, hoping to continue until there was not one atom of oxygen left in her bones.

Where should I go?
What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me
'Cause I don't know
If I can trust you


In fact, her body lost so much air, Dice collapsed onto her knees, too weak to hold up her body. However, her shriek continued.

I don't understand what you want from me

It was low and quickly losing its intensity. Her head faced the sky relentlessly. At last, Dice gave up her cry and fell forward, barely saving herself from the ground with her trembling elbows.

I feel like I'm spinning out of control

Several moments passed, as she remained panting in that position.

Try to focus but everything's twisted

Sonic however, decided this tantrum had gone long enough. He walked behind her but was stopped by another outcry.

"SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADOOOOOOOOW!!!" She shrieked so loudly that Sonic pressed his gloves up against his ears to escape the noise.

And all along I thought you would be there

(Thought you would be there)

With arms in lap and back hunched over, she ceased only to release short sobs.

To let me know I'm not alone

Closing her eyes, she whimpered, "Why Shadow?"

But in fact that's exactly what I was

"Why didn't you let me die?"

"Dice?" Sonic asked, awakening her from her angst.

"Huh?!" The warrior panicked, seeing Sonic's countenance, and crawled backwards. "What do you want?" She panted.

"Just concerned. Very concerned," Sonic replied, extending his hand to her.

"W-why?" Her voice was weak and raspy from the constant outbursts of infuriation.

Sonic grabbed her wrist, lifting the distraught Dice up. "Well you were screaming like crazy…oh and you tried to kill yourself. Let's not forget that important detail."

The two of them now stood close to each other. In fact, Sonic never realized how short Dice actually was. Not to mention, her slouching added to the illusion.

"Leave me alone," she sniffed, tears streaming. Apparently Dice was unable to recollect herself. However, Sonic refused and put his hands on Dice's shoulders. She recoiled. "Get away from me!"

She weakly punched on Sonic's chest, trying to release her anxiety, but without success. "You just don't get it!"

"I would if you'd tell me."

"I killed all those people…destroyed all those worlds."

"But it was Eggman who was controlling you."

"N-no."

"It wasn't?!"

At this point, she was hysterical and not making sense with all the tears choking her ability to talk. "I… I, I, I…I can't… I didn't mean to…I… 's all my f-ffault! The emeralds… and I was…s-sss-s-so …I, I didn't mean to! And... Sonic, he was… 's my fault!…and I..I didn't mean to…'s all my fault! My fault, my fault, my fault!"

Soon Dice was a broken record, whimpering the words 'my fault' incessantly.

Sonic clutched her shoulders, pulling her closer. "What did you say?" He glared into her eyes. "About Sonic?!"

"I did it!"

"DID WHAT?!" Pinching her, Sonic's nervousness overwhelmed him.

"I killed him! I….I, I, I…didn't mean to," she choked out, unable to look the real Sonic in the face (of course she did not realize he was the real one).

"How?"

"I was.. s-ssss-so young and the f-four …em-emeralds were th-there! I, I, I , I , I ….didn't… I didn't have control of my p-pp-powers…I didn't mean to!" Now Dice was bawling relentlessly. "I didn't mean to! If I had never killed him, then none of this woulda h-hha-happened! And Robotnik woulda never g-gotten the, the…master emerald and…and, and…"

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

"And what?"

Where should I go?
What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me

However, the warrior was unable to hear his question, too focused on her crimes. "I killed him! 's all my fault, my fault, my fault!!!"

Sonic put his arms around the trembling warrior and pulled her close to him, close enough that he could rest his head on hers. Of course, her skull was shaking too much to rest on.

"Listen to me. You didn't kill him. I should have…" He paused, closing his eyes. "I should have told you this from the start. I am the real Sonic. I am alive. The last thing I can remember was… that battle oh so many years ago. It makes sense now." He opened his eyes, to see that Dice was not listening, merely crying. "You were that baby, and you sent me to the future with the chaos blade."

"Y-you lie. He's dead." She mumbled into Sonic's chest.

"What do I have to do to prove it?"

"You're wrong!! He's dead! Dead, I tell you!"

Cause I don't know
If I can trust you
All of the things you've said to me

"I am standing right here. I am sorry I lied before, ok?"

Still crying but not as hysterical, Dice retorted, "No. You LIE!!!! You're wrong, you're wrong, you're WRONG! It's all my fault. If I hadn't killed him, Eggman would have never captured m-….and, and would have never…"

I may never know the answer
To this endless mystery

"Never what?! What did he do to you?"

"It's my fault."

"That doesn't matter anymore. It's done and over with. I am stuck here, and believe it or not I am the real Sonic. This world is a wasteland and people are dead, yes it's terrible, but that can't be helped. …But saying it's your fault or anyone else's is idiotic. Eggman is planning something, is he not? Well you have to help Shadow, Knux, and I!"Dice inhaled a deep breath, and when she exhaled, another fleet of tears appeared.

Sonic held her tighter, "I am sorry I lied to you. I betrayed your trust and that is something I should never have done… but whether it is your fault or not, it doesn't matter. It just doesn't anymore. So stop it. Neither I nor Shadow can help you…you have to help yourself. So what's it gonna be?"

Sighing, Dice released herself from Sonic's grasp and looked at him. Her panic was gone, but not her sorrow. She reached at her sheath to reveal the chaos emerald found in her room earlier.

"Wha--?"

"You're wrong. It's my fault and I cannot fix it." She shoved the emerald into Sonic's chest. "Just take it. You are going to need its power. And Eggman will come to you."

She turned around, grudgingly walking away.

Where should I go?
What should I do?

"Wait a second!" The blue hedgehog cut her off. "You can't give this to me."

"It's what you came for isn't it? Just take it and let me die already."

I don't understand what you want from me

"What I came for? I came for you. Shadow and I are worried about you, and we need your help."

"If you were the real Sonic you would be smart enough to know that I can't help you."

"Ok, don't give me that bull," He snarled shoving the emerald into her hands.

"No, you take it!"

Soon both of them had their hands on the emerald, and it started to glow.

"Huh?" Sonic let go, and the shimmering green aura ceased. In curiosity, he placed his hands back on the emerald. Suddenly the scenery around both of them disappeared and they were in a metal room. "What the--?!" Again he let go, to find himself back in the desert.

Dice merely sighed. "If you were Sonic then you would know better."

Is it a mystery?
Is it a mystery?

"What?"

She held out the jewel, and Sonic placed his hands on it, yet again. The two of them were back in the room but this time to find, Shadow and Robotnik discussing something.

"What is this?" He asked, looking at Dice, now closing her eyes.

Suddenly Shadow spat on the ground and left the room. Soon after a little girl came into through a sliing doorway. This was the same vast central room which Knuckles and Sonic found the transparent creatures in.

Suddenly Sonic knew. This was Dice's past. Somehow the chaos emeralds were reawakening it. Did Dice want him to know, but was unable to say the words out loud? Or was this forgotten to her?

The blue hedgehog continued watching the scene in front of him……


"Daddy? What you workin' on? Who's that?" Baby Dice asked, tugging on Robotnik's leg.

The scientist grimaced at the nickname. "I am Robotnik! GET OFF... Have you finished your training?!"

"But I don' wanna…"

Eggman sighed, slapping his forehead. "You want to know what I'm working on?"

"Uh, huh!" She shook her head violently.

"Well, I am almost done with my experiments; you want to see first hand?"

Dice was too young to know what her 'daddy' meant by 'experiments' or 'first-hand' so she merely nodded.

"Ok, you'll be the first to know what it does when I am finished. Now go play or train or something!"

Sonic, gazing from afar, did not like where this conversation was heading. Suddenly the chaos emerald began to glow, and a different scene appeared before him, but in the same room.
Young Dice, now probably by the age of twelve, entered the room with Robotnik. Her voice was still rather high and nasally, but mature. Her clothes were apparently too big for her, and sagged over her shoes. Not to mention, at this time, her sheath was already pried in between her spikes.

"What is it father?"

"Stop calling me that!" He screeched, but then recollected himself. "Stand over here please."

"Um, ok." She did as told, standing on a slightly elevated platform.

Robotnik, meanwhile, typed several things into the main computer nearby.

"What…is this?!" She nervously cried out. Suddenly, beams of light were encasing her legs and arms.

"Well the experiment may be painful, so I need to hold you down somehow."

Her voice suddenly grew shrill, and her face: pallid, "W-what?"

Robotnik pressed several buttons on the control panel, to reveal the master emerald in a metal box under the computer. "You are not as loyal as I thought you'd be. You're too… good. Well I can change that," he sneered.

"W-what are you gonna---?" Her voice trailed off with fear.

"Hehe, see those tubes filled with water? I was testing my new chemical on them to see what effect it would have, and now I am ready to officially put it to work."

"What?!" Dice suddenly began to struggle, attempting to escape her incarceration, but to no avail. Panic pulsated through her mind. No thought or words came to her, only pure, unadulterated fear.

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

Robotnik typed something unknown to Dice, and suddenly a table appeared from the ground. He calmly, and slowly, placed the master emerald upon it. Obviously, the man was torturing Dice by taking his dear time. At last, he placed an oozing black liquid on top of the emerald.

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She writhed in pain. Spark flew from her chains as she flailed, attempting to escape. Darkness consumed her, and her eyes grew red. The pain from the master emerald was her own.

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
I'm spinning out of control...

A maniacal laugh ensued from Robotnik. The pure torture gave the wicked man an indescribable ecstasy, and thus, he continued to pour more and more liquid onto the emerald.

Where should I go?
What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me

"AAAAH, AAAAH!!!!!!!" Her vision grew fuzzy from the insurmountable pain. Needles stung at her body with an electrifying force. She desperately tried, but failed to catch any air in her bloody lungs. But more painful than anything else, was inside her head. It throbbed, pulsating, as if her brain would expand to the point of snapping her skull from the inside.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! S-STOP IT!!!!!!!" She shrieked and squealed in the most shrill, high pitched voice imaginable. "I T-TRUSTED YO---AH, AAAAH AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

'Cause I don't know
If I can trust you
All the things you've said to me

"It's not about trust. You are supposed to be a mindless puppet, and I will assure that is so!" Robotnik smirked. "Also…" He grabbed some pliers and snapped a shard off the master emerald. "This will ensure that no matter how far you are from me, you will always follow orders."

He did the unthinkable. He embedded the tainted shard deep into Dice's neck. A black aura with green sparks flew out of the shard, throwing the evil genius back onto the floor.

The whiteness of her eyes transformed black, and her pupils glowed blood red. Blood poured out of her eyes instead of tears as she screamed so loudly that the computer screen in front of her began to crack and split apart. She was blind to her surroundings as sparks of light emanated through her body.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!! STOP I-AAHH-T, Y-YOU BASTA-AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

And I may never know the answer
To this endless mystery

Where should I go?
What should I do?
I don't understand what you want from me

Everything was turning into a blaring red and soon into a deathly black. Fading, fading…….

I'm spinning out of control
Out of control
I'm spinning out of control
Out of control

A/N: Ooooh, the angst! Anyway, I want to make a shout out to Shadow Stalkr. I am so sorry I misspelled your name in the other chapter! I'll never do it again. I hate it when people misspell mine (well, my real name).

Anyway yeah, you all know the drill, please review. Oh, and happy late thanksgiving!!!