Sonic quickly reached the cave. He went inside and curled into a big fluffy ball, "I k...killed it... " He couldn't even look at this hand. "How could I do that?"
It was a mistake, a horrible mistake he couldn't take back. As much as he pushed off the thought, it came back anyway. First the innocent rabbit, then he could see his friends just like that. Tails, Chris, Amy, everyone...
Sonic whimpers and he curled up tighter. "No ... I can't ... I didn't mean to kill it..."
But he still had done it, there was now blood on his hands. Something he had sworn never to make happen.
He felt sick to his stomach, which threatened to bring back up the parts of the hare that had just been devoured. Sonic clamped a hand over his mouth trying to keep as calm as he could.
"Dead ... it's dead ... because of me ... and I actually was eating it ... it's all my fault."
Eggman smiled watching the hedgehog, he was also watching a replay of the hunt on a separate screen. That had gone better then he had thought it would.
"So I was right. It's affecting his personalty more and more. Soon ... very soon ... it will surely take over, but next time I want you bots to take the cage out with you."
"Yes sir. So what are we doing next?"
"We need to stimulate the beast side. That way it will take over faster. Even more then his physical changes."
"Yes Sir."
"Now listen very closely..."
Sonic had still yet to emerge from the cave, he was sleeping now. But it was a nightmare.
The flash of his friends grew to a scene where the werehog was chasing them like the rabbit before. But it was thrilling, filled with excitement for the predator. He was enjoying this, loving the scent of fear and sweat thick in the air and from his friends.
The trees and undergrowth flew by in a blurr as the hunter ran on. Then the huge mass of teeth and claws leaped though the air, tackling one of them to the ground.
"P-Please, don't hurt me!"
Sonic seems to smile and lick his chops. His long white fangs flashing in the moonlight, ready for the kill.
"Gaaah!" The werehog woke up with a jolt. "Just a dream! It was just a dream. Oh, thank chaos!"
"Alright. I'm almost though Eggman's security systems. We're going to find out where Sonic is ... hopefully soon."
Tails typed away on the keys of the keyboard. He was trying to get inside Eggman's mainframe in hopes of learning where their friend, Sonic, was.
There had to be something somewhere, some tiny bit of data that Eggman missed. That would help them.
"Hmm ... what's this?
Energy Signature Files? Like the Chaos Emeralds or the Power Rings? Well, Tails knew that wasn't what he was looking for, but he might as well look at it since this file may not be able to be found again.
~CLICK~
Well, sure enough there was a stored record on the energy signatures of the emeralds. Must be so he can detect them easier. The fox scanned over other file names, most were ignorable or they already had their own files up.
"Well, let's check his most recent files ... 'DEBF' what does that mean?"
(When I went back to write at this point I forgot what I had DEBF mean XD)
"Hey! It's Sonic's beast form's energy signal."
What got the fox most stumped was that below there was a smaller file icon that was a label comparison signature. Did that mean Eggman figured out where the negative energy came from?
"I have to see if that's true."
He took one look at it and froze for a whole five minutes. He shakes his head to get out of his shock and quickly copies the files. He didn't delete the files as I am sure he wanted to, but that would draw attention, so he laid a virus in them as a back up.
Quickly after that was done, Tails bolted out of his workshop calling the others at the top of his lungs.
After telling the others the news, they quickly worked on a plan. Not only did Tails learn more about Sonic's condition, he was also able to trace back to Eggman's location.
Tails quickly enlisted the help of the Chaotix as well as Shadow and Rouge.
"Alright, remember. Espio goes first and once he gives the thumbs up we head inside. Then Vector, Knuckles and Shadow keep Eggman's robots distracted. While the rest of us find Sonic. We don't know how Sonic is so we need to be careful. Is everyone clear on the plan?"
"Yes!"
Sonic refused to come out of his cave. Which really aggravated the Doctor. Since there was a lack of cameras down there, even though it wasn't much of an issue. (He had forgotten to put some in the cave)
"Oh well, I will still wear the hedgehog down and control him soon enough."
"Sir, we have a red alert!" Decoe and Bocoe called out. "It's Sonic's friends!"
(Assuming Espio went in already.)
"What? How? They shouldn't have been able to find me!" The man growled as he quickly pressed the button to summons his robots.
Well, the plan was going well for the heroes, Eggman was well distracted and Tails and his group quickly made their way to Sonic's 'room'.
"Anyone coming?" He asked as he started to hotwire the door. Rouge looked around the corner and Shadow looked down the other.
"Coast is clear ... for now."
"Good. Alright, Shadow is going to follow me in case of any robot or security systems that might be inside. Rouge, I need you to stay here and warn us if someone comes."
"Got it," Both of them nod.
Tails worked on the wiring and quickly succeeded in opening the door, "Let's go, Shadow!"
"I'm right behind you," The hedgehog followed the fox into the habitat. "It looks like Eggman made it to look like some sort of wooden forest."
"I'm guessing to make it comfortable for Sonic..."
"The doctor put a lot of work into this, though I am mad at him ... this is impressive."
"It just proves how serious he was about using Sonic," Tails frowns to himself, mad that the fact he agreed with Shadow. "I think I see a cave up ahead, Sonic might be in there."
"Best bet, be careful."
Sonic rubbed his arms, he had another nightmare about hunting and killing his friends.
"Just a dream..."
"Sonic, are you down there?"
He froze. Was that? Was that really? No, it couldn't be. He closed his eyes trying to block the voice out, "It's just the nightmare Tails. He's not real."
"Faker, if your in there ... come out."
Shadow? Sonic opens his eyes and blinks. But he wasn't the one in his dreams this time. Tails was, could that mean?
He lifted his nose, it quickly confirmed that there was someone outside. They had to be real!
The werehog scrambled to his feet and raced out, "Tails!" He tackled the fox to the ground. "Your not dead or a dream!"
"Sonic! Your alright!"
"You don't know how relieved I am to see you!"
"I hate to cut this reunion short but we have to get out of here," Shadow spoke, crossing his arms with a frown.
"Right," Tails pushed Sonic off and got to his feet. "Sonic, the others right now are keeping Eggman busy, we need to get out of here quickly before he realizes they are just a distraction."
"Oh, right," He nods to show his understanding.
Then the three of them race to the door where Rouge was waiting for them, "Great! You found him!"
"Yep! Rouge, quickly call the others to let them know."
"Sure."
It didn't take long for everyone to quickly make it out of there. And you can be sure Eggman was pretty steamed when he found out that Sonic was gone.
Everyone at Chris' house was thrilled to see their friend again.
"Sonic!"
"Your alright!"
"We missed you!"
"Chao chao!"
He hugs each of them in his big furry arms, excited to see them again and relieved to be away from Eggman.
Eggman... Sonic's thoughts went back to the man, wondering what would of happened if he had not been rescued. He never wanted to be used for any schemes. The attack on the president came back to mind and that was just when he had a control collar on and the hedgehog wasn't so far in his transformation.
What if it happens again?
It would be possible. He tore that rabbit apart without Eggman's control. Just him willingly letting his animal instincts take the lead. No, that couldn't happen again.
Sonic fakes a yawn to trick his friends into thinking he was tired, which works, because Ella quickly suggested that everyone head to bed. Shadow and Rouge bid them goodbye and head off themselves. Tails promised to tell his buddy about something later. Sonic takes the mattress they put in the living room for him the day they learned about his condition.
"I'm not sure what to do..." The rabbit flashed across his mind. "I can't let that happen again, my friends ... those nightmares can't come true..."
"Sonic, wake up!" Someone shook the hedgehog. "Geh ... huh?" His head slowly raised, eyes still half closed.
Amy shook him again, "Tails wants to talk to you..."
Sonic gets up and yawns and notices he was his blue self once more.
"He waited for you to change back, come on."
Amy led him over the the garage where Tails and Chris where working on the Tornado as they waited. Both were under the plane adjusting the landing gear, "Guys, I got Sonic."
"Oh!" Tails dropped his wrench in surprise, Chris bumped his head on the Tornado, "Ow! Thanks, Amy."
Sonic chuckled at that, boy, did he miss stuff like this, "So, what did you guys need me for?"
"We have alot to tell you," Tails said. "We found out the source of your transformation."
"That's great!"
"We don't know what it is. But with the information we might be able to find a temporary cure."
"Temporary? Why only temporary?" Sonic blinked in confusion with a little bit of annoyance.
"We still don't know enough to full understand it, but what we do know will help at least a bit. To put it simply, just like many times before ... we need the emeralds."
"We almost always seem to need them."
"We can use them to fill you with positive charge. It may balance the negative long enough to find a better solution."
"Do you think the one Shadow and the Tornado's have will be enough?" Amy asked.
Tails nods, "I just need a little time to set it up and call Shadow. So, Sonic should just relax until then."
Sonic got up on his feet, nodding. At least there was progress, but he wished it was a cure not just a chance at reliving the transformation a bit.
Sorry it took so long, I was really in a rut. I could not get myself to write very well. Then one of my grandmother died. Thank you for all the support on DA and the help/ideas for the story. Please send more in, it's useful or fun to listen.
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