It's cold and dark underneath this machine. It's dusty and claustrophobic, but I enjoy the
torment it puts me through. I deserve it, after all. I know I look pathetic, huddled underneath this
old machine. I don't care, though. There's no one here to see me, and if there were, it wouldn't
matter. I am pathetic. Why pretend to be anything else now? I stopped crying only moments ago.
When the pain from the knowledge I couldn't do it finally set in. I just want to stop it all, to stop
this deep pain inside my heart. To stop causing problems for them. I just want it all to stop. And I
couldn't do it. I sigh to myself and curse myself for being so stupid. I never was known for my
brains – just my speed… I close my eyes and draw my knees up to my chest to rest my head on,
thinking about how I've failed at everything these last few hours…

I came to this room after searching for a few moments. This room had what I wanted. I
stared at the door for a moment, wondering if this really was the room. They all looked the same
from the outside… I shook my head and pushed the button, watching as the doors slid open
quickly. I'd found the room I wanted. I felt eerily calm as I wandered around the room,
wondering where I needed to stand. I found it to be in the center of the room. I smiled to myself
knowing that I was so close to what I needed to do. I looked around the room once more, trying to
figure out how to get the capsule to drop down. All of the machines were covered in a thick layer
of dust and none of them looked like they've been touched since the colony shut down.

As I stared at all the useless pieces of metal, I remembered the last time I was here,
Eggman had used his walker-machine to input the codes. I sank down to the floor and looked
around me once more. I couldn't do it. I wasn't able to send myself into space. I wasn't able to
die. I remember staring up at the ceiling, body limp and beginning to scream. It was a wordless,
emotion filled scream that felt like it lasted for hours. I screamed until my voice was useless and
my tears were dry. No one came running, wondering what was wrong. Nothing changed. I was
still Sonic the Hedgehog. I was still alive. He was still dead. And they still hated me. I pounded
my fist into the floor, wanting nothing more than to die.

I can't take this. I'm not strong enough to use this gift he gave me. No one trusts me now.
I have nothing left to protect. Without them, it's all gone.

"You should be here… Not me…" My voice is hoarse and quiet, it hurts so much to
speak but I know that I deserve it and I try to push it further.

"Why did you let go? Why did you save me? Damn it, you bastard! Why did you do this!
Was it just to get back at me? Was this your mission? To destroy me? Why did you do any of
th—" My voice stops, unable to continue. My throat is raw and pulsating, but I only smile. I feel
a blackness calling from the edges of my mind and welcome it. I pray to whoever will listen to
me now that I can stay within it forever.

He stands before me, a smirk on his face. His arms are crossed over his chest and his feet
spread apart. His classic stance of power and defiance.

His name. It's the only word I can must as his ruby eyes watch my own emerald ones. His
expression doesn't change, but he tenses a little. I expect him to say something, anything, but only
silence greets me in the blackness which he blends in with so well.

"Why?" My voice is shaking as I feel my anger start to flow into me, replacing my
sorrow. I clench my hands into fists at my sides and stare defiantly into his eyes. He doesn't
move. I begin to tremble with this easy rage and he speaks.

"Because it's how it's supposed to be." My eyes widen slightly as my fists relax.

"How what's supposed to be…?"

He smirks at me, wider this time. I begin to hate that smirk. He unfolds his arms and
gestures to the blackness.

"It. Everything. It's how it all needs to be."

"No, it's not!" I'm screaming, my voice shrill as I close my eyes and focus only on this
painful anger that fills my very being. "The hero is supposed to live! The hero's supposed to go
back to his fans and be worshipped and thanked until the next crisis! The hero's supposed to fight
every battle that comes his way and win! You died! You didn't come back! You won't ever fight
again! The hero isn't here and only a handful know tha--"

"The hero is here. The hero did live. And the hero will fight again." His soft voice
interrupts me as he lowers his own eyes to the ground that neither of us can see. He has lost
himself in thought.

"I can't do this…"

"None of us can…" He doesn't look at me as he speaks, he only closes his eyes and
continues. "We all do, though. We fight when all we want to do is cry. We come home and then
go back to battle. We have to…" A tear falls from his eyes and I realize he's not talking to or
about me any more.

His eyes snap open quickly, as if he's only just remembered I was here.

"You will, too." His voice is quieter then usual.

"I hate you."

"That's OK, blue hedgehog. I expect it." His voice is calm as he speaks and I find my
anger slipping away.

"I'm sorry…" My voice is hushed, as if I'm afraid to speak too loud.

He smiles. Just like the last time he left. I begin to reach out to him, calling his name. All
I hear is a sound from far away. I watch as he leaves. Again. I feel a tear touch my muzzle.

"Sonikku? Sonikku? Sonikku!"

Her voice invades the darkness and I shudder at the sudden cold I feel. All I see for a
moment is pink and red. Amy. I try to say her name, but find my voice is useless. I blink, not
remembering why I can't talk. She stares down at me, tears in her eyes. A smile is carefully
pulled across her face as she watches me.

"Adios, Sonic the Hedgehog."

His voice rings through my mind and I shudder.

I remember why I'm here in a violently sudden way and bury my face into my knees. I
feel her gloved hands on my shoulder and flinch away as if burned.

"Sonic…" I think it's the first time I've ever heard her use my name. My actual name. I
forget it all for a moment and stare up at her in surprise. Her emerald eyes sparkle in the dim light
and she reaches out for me. I cannot move, spellbound by the fact that she is moving towards me.
I feel her arms embrace me and I begin to cry again.

She holds me tights and tells me it's OK. I feel like a small child again, hiding in mom's
arms from the world. I can feel a wetness on my back and realize she must be crying. I can't
move my arms to comfort her and only cry soundlessly. I don't question why she's here. Or
where everyone else is. I just stay limp in her arms, crying all my pain out with another being.
She doesn't ask me why I let it happen, she just cradles me and lets her own tears fall silently.

She holds me tight and sobs all the harder and I begin to believe that maybe she's crying
for other reasons besides his death…

Crap. I mean it. I've been so busy these last weeks, I completely forgot about this fic and
my comp crashed! Argh! Ok, if this next update takes a bit, I have good excuses. 1) I'm stuck.
2) School's kicking my butt. 3) I'm friggin' stuck! 4) I have a life outside of the 'net (not much of
one, though…)

One has to wonder, is Sonic losing it? Talking to a dead dude… I dunno, I always
thought that meant you were insane. Then again, I used to talk to my dead grandma in my
dreams… -.0 Hmm… I have such an image of Amy… Ooh, you'll so see in the next chapter. I
think I have a max of two chapters left. Enjoy.