Disclaimer: All of the Sonicverse characters and places inserted into this story are owned by SEGA, and used without permission or knowledge. All other characters belong to me. The places used as backdrops, except for SS, mentioned in this story are real.

Sonic- 21 years

Amy (Paloma)- 19 years

Tails- 16 years

Knuckles- 23 years

Shadow- 22 years

Cream- 12 years

Rouge- 25 years

Chapter 15: Where am I? Am I real?

Sonic emerald green eyes fluttered wide open inside of a diamond glass capsule that appeared to be in some sort of very poorly lit laboratory. It took his eyes only a few minutes to focus in the dark and realize that he was floating in some kind of liquid. He panicked for a bit, waving his arms around voraciously but he was not drowning. For some reason he could breathe in this water like substance and that seemed to calm him down a bit to realize he had electrodes connected to his head. He wondered for a bit how long he had been here because the last thing he could remember was blacking out inside of a city dumpster. Had it been hours, days, weeks, months, or years? Time just seemed to stop for him, and he so desperately needed to go back to the hospital and see if Amy was okay after what he did to her. He wanted to know if she was awake yet or even alive. He knew he would have to admit to what he did to her, even if it meant losing her again forever.

He ran his hand over his head looking for any signs of a bump, but he found nothing nor did he feel any pain. This was certainly odd. How could anyone come out of what he has been through without even a mark? The blue hedgehog returned his gaze and then scanned the room. Every piece of technology did not seem like something Eggman would have, considering the fact her never messed with any of the bio-medical sciences. He could tell from the machines that his vitals were normal and that he was getting the proper intake of nutrients from what he could figure out. There was a door far off to the side of the room that was most likely locked and in another corner a massive computer was leaning against the wall recording and dispensing some sort of information. Then he noticed another room next to him. He turned his head and noticed another capsule like his with another poor creature inside. Sonic tried squinting his eyes trying his best to make out when species or even gender the creature was. At best he could tell the creature was female, but her room's light was in such a poorer condition than his that he could not make out what species she was or guess her age. He wondered if his female companion in the next room was ok, and if she had done anything wrong like he had done to Amy. Was this place some kind of super jail made by the government for creatures like him or was this all a dream caused by his fall? Sonic's ears perked up as he heard voices and loud footsteps approaching the room. He decided that it would be best at this point to play possum and keep his eyes closed so that his captives would not suspect anything out of the ordinary was going on with their blue specimen.

The doors opened with a loud swoosh as a large human male entered the room with what sounded like three robots, but only one entered the room from what Sonic could make out from listening very carefully. The other two robots stood guard at the door, fulfilling their intended programming. They walked about the room clicking away at the various QWERTY keyboards in the room. He heard printers going off and laughter from the only human in the group echo through his mind. It was a familiar laugh and sent chills up and down his spines. Sonic decided at this point to open his eyes just by a sliver so that he would be able to still keep up his game of possum and catch a glimpse of his captive. From what he could make, Sonic could see an egg shaped belly covered in a red suit. Never in all of Sonic's days had he ever thought of Eggman finally capturing him, let alone keeping him alive in this test tube like prison he was in. This surely must have been a result from his fall. It just did not seem logical to Sonic for Eggman to actually capture him. Sure there was that one time on ARK, but he had allowed himself to be captured in order to save Amy.

"How are the vitals on both of these vermin?" demanded Eggman as he starred at Sonic inside of his holding chamber, a wicked smile was curling along his face. "The blue hedgehog's vitals and nutrients levels are as you requested at 100. He has been given the proper scenario program as you had specified and created master. The pink hedgehog female's vitals are lowering drastically since you specified her nutrient intake was to be at 40. Her mental and emotional states are almost down to perfect zero, she will be dead within week most likely earlier then the predicted time." commented the robot as it stood there in perfect formation in front of its human master. "What of her scenario programming?" asked Eggman to a point where his Theodore Roosevelt-like mustache covered his ever growing smile. "The program is working as you have designed master. The programmed world which they both share and are living in is indeed the result of her coming demise that is thanks to your nemesis and his lovely actions that he has displayed within the program." dictated the robot in its cold monotone voice.

Eggman remained silent as he continued starring at Sonic inside of his tube. He could not believe that he was finally going to win. He always dreamed of this day but from his countless defeats it almost seemed unattainable. He had the perfect plan to destroy his nemesis and for most of it he had to give credit to Amy Rose whose feelings for Sonic was so great that it fit perfectly into his plan on destroying him. Eggman thought the best way to destroy his enemy was by mental and emotionally severing the bonds the blue hedgehog had formed throughout the years with his friends and by doing that, his spirit would be crushed and his confidence destroyed. Amy was the perfect catalyst. He knew how Sonic treated her somewhat coldly. He knew that Sonic would run away from her leaving his dust on his face. It happened to be the same vicious cycle that Eggman had witnessed while watching them grow up. Though throughout the years Amy remained true to her feelings for Sonic, it just placed her more into harms way…especially now. "I just cannot wait to see the blue rodent's face when he finds out that he is responsible for Miss Rose's demise. It almost makes my mouth water with delight" said Eggman as drool started to leak from his mouth. He wiped his mouth with his arm and then motioned for his robot companion to follow him out of the room. There was a lot to plan and time was definitely on their side.

It just did not seem possible. Sonic could not believe what he just heard. All he could do was mouth the words "It was all a scenario, a lie?" He felt sick to his stomach and wanted to cry but could not bring himself to. In all his life, he never dreamed of or planned on doing something so vile and cruel to Amy that it would cost her her life. It is true that she can be annoying, but that was about an eighth of how he truly felt about her. Amy loved him, but Eggman was right about how he treated Amy throughout their childhood up until now. He had been so very cruel to her, that he had even made her cry on more than one occasion. He never hated her, in fact he never verbally admitted to it…except in the computerized world, but even then he realized his feelings for her, but then he hurt her again. Right now he did not know what his feelings for Amy were. He did not know if whatever warm feelings he had were even real or created by Eggman. What kind of person was he anyway? He was supposed to be both friend and hero, but he was really in fact a despicable snake in disguise and now she was on the verge of death because of him and his stupid actions.

Sonic banged on the glass but to no success. Even with all his strength he could break free of his confinements. He then tried yelling out to Amy as loud as he could, but she did not respond. Did she truly hate him now that she did not even want to respond to him in any shape or form or was she so weak that she could not even break free from Eggman's hold? Sonic did not want to believe that was even the case. He knew Amy was a strong person even if she did not look like it physically. There was never a second where she would give up on him or on their friends. It was that part about Amy that he admired about her. Had he actually broke her? For the first time in his actual life, Sonic actually began to cry freely without any concern of what people might say. His tears wear like endless rivers filled with pain that came from his actual heart and soul. He felt so helpless and responsible for what was happening to Amy. Eggman had finally won, and it was a shame that he was not there to bask in Sonic's defeat.