JJ: Phew, glad that's over.

Josh: That was... Horrible. Why would you write that?

JJ: Because I needed to show something about My Brother's Keeper that (hopefully) sets it apart. Most stories out there that are self-insertion only focus on the good parts of what happens when the human goes to (Insert World Here), or at most nothing too horrible happens and everyone leaves happy when it's all over. I wanted to show that it's not all good. The other world is like our world, and some really bad things happen!

Josh: Makes sense I guess...

JJ: Not to mention I kinda wanted to incorporate the Smiler into this somehow, I've had a serious fetish for it for a while, to the point where it's obsessive. Kinda glad it's over now, and I'm back in control. Oh yeah, The Smiler, it's logo, music, everything belongs to Alton Towers theme park in the UK. (Shout out to my UK readers out there! Thanks for reading a sappy Yank's story!)

Josh: So, now what?

JJ: Now we patch things up with everyone, bring back some of the feel goods... And try to get The Smiler out of our heads. There's still one day left before the hover board race finals, so, this final chapter in The Smiler Saga is mainly going to be fluff.

Josh: Between me and Sonic?

JJ: And Tails and Knuckles and Scourge and Amy and Shadow-

Josh: Fluff with everyone...?

JJ: Kinda sorta... You're gonna get some answers this chapter, so I guess there's a bit of substance to it...

Josh: Okay...

JJ: You don't seem like your usual self Josh...

Josh: ...I don't feel like my usual self...

JJ: ...I think you need this chapter more than anyone else... Head in, ok? I promise... I'll fix this...

Josh: Okay...

...

JJ: I'll fix this...

...

Josh sat on the bed in his hotel room, everyone gathered around in a circle, sitting on chairs, the couch, or the same bed. He checked his tape recorder to make sure it was ready to record.

"Good to go..." Josh mumbled. He looked up at the faces of his friends, Amy, Tails, Knuckles, and Sonic.

His friends...

But he felt that they were now so much more...

"So, ah..." Josh cleared his throat, "Just jump in where you feel it's appropriate. I don't really know what happened outside the facility, so if you three could fill in the gaps..." Knuckles, Amy, and Tails all silently nodded. Josh looked from one face to the next again. They all had the same grim look. No one was excited to relive the memories of what happened... But Josh wanted to get it on tape. Josh was nowhere near thrilled either, and he couldn't even imagine how Sonic felt... But Josh felt like the people who may end up hearing his audio journal had the right to know.

He took a deep breath and hit record.

...

This is entry... Um... I don't remember to be quite honest... Seven maybe... But, um... Yeah, this has been interesting for all of us... We got Sonic back, safe and... Well, we're safe. Um...

...

Josh bit his lip. He paused for a while before pressing stop on the tape recorder.

"No." Josh said quietly, his voice cracking. "I don't want to relive this..." He looked up at the faces of his dear friends. Even without words, he knew they all agreed.

Josh hit record again.

...

I'm grateful... Every day I'm here. I'm surrounded by good friends, people who love me, and that I love back. ...I'm surrounded by family.

...

Amy smiled as Josh hit stop again. He set the tape recorder down, before leaning forward and burying his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry guys.." Josh muttered. "This is my fault."

"What's your fault?" Tails asked confusedly.

"If I hadn't fought with Sonic, he wouldn't have gone on his own, none of this would have happened."

Everyone immediately objected, surprising Josh a bit.

"You fought with Sonic, that's it." Knuckles said, leaning forward.

"You had no control over what happened after!" Amy added. Sonic placed a hand on Josh's shoulder.

"There are bad people out there..." He looked at Josh grimly. "We can't control what they do... We can only control how we react."

Josh looked back when he felt two fuzzy things wrap around him. Tails had curled his namesakes around Josh's torso in a warm sort of hug.

"Don't blame yourself for what others do." Tails said quietly, a small, reassuring smile on his face. "We're together again, that's all that matters."

Josh's eyes misted over. He leaned over and wrapped his arms around Tails.

"Thank you..." Josh almost whispered. Tails chuckled.

"Of course. You're my brother now too y'know." Tails remarked. Josh smiled.

"Then thanks... Bro." Josh hugged Tails tighter, before letting go. Tails beamed at Josh before removing his tails. "Thank you all..." Josh said. "You've been nothing but good to me ever since I got here."

"Well it's not like we're gonna leave someone who's been kidnapped to fend for himself!" Amy replied. Josh walked over and hugged her.

"But you could've." Josh said. Amy gently pushed him away and held up a finger.

"Never." She said firmly. A tear fell out of the corner of Josh's eye, which he quickly wiped away. She smiled at him before hugging him one last time.

Tails quietly yawned as the events of the day caught up to him.

"Time for bed buddy." Sonic told the kitsune, patting his back. Tails nodded before somewhat embarrassedly whispering something in his brother's ear. Sonic smiled tenderly and nodded, standing Tails up with him and guiding him out the door.

"I'll be back." Sonic told the rest quietly. He closed the door behind him.

"I better get to bed too." Amy yawned. "See you two in the morning." After another hug from Josh and a "good night" from Knuckles, Amy exited the room.

Knuckles shut his eyes and sighed. He too felt the strain of the day as he stood up and stretched his body to stay awake. He had to let Sonic in... The hedgehog forgot his room key again.

"Quite a day, huh kid?" Knuckles asked. He was surprised when, instead of an answer, he felt two arms wrap around him. Knuckles looked down to see Josh hugging him.

"Thank you Knuckles..." Josh said quietly.

"For what?"

"For worrying about me... Amy said that, the whole time, you were more focused on saving me rather than Sonic." Josh smiled a bit. "So thank you."

Knuckles was a bit shocked, but soon returned the hug.

"You're a special kid... Sonic could take care of himself."

"But I couldn't?" Josh chuckled. Knuckles laughed and knelt down.

"Not yet. But once I'm done teaching ya to fight," Knuckles threw a few soft punches into Josh's gut and shoulder, making the teen laugh even more. "You'll be able to take down ol' Egghead himself."

"And Sonic?"

"Definitely Sonic!"

"And you?"

"One step at a time kid." Knuckles grinned and messed up Josh's hair.

"So that's a maybe?"

"Maybe. Just maybe."

...

While Amy wanted to share a room with Tails, for safety's sake, the fox insisted on having his own room. He didn't want Amy to feel that her "privacy was being invaded by a guy." Amy decided to inwardly roll her eyes and agree. As she passed by his room, she noticed the door was slightly ajar, and a soft humming was coming from it. She gently pressed on the door and peeked inside. Sonic looked up from his seat beside Tails' bed, where the kitsune was sleeping peacefully. Sonic was soothingly running a hand through the fox's bangs, humming a tune Amy had heard only a few times before.

"He asked me to tuck him in..." Sonic whispered as Amy got closer. "He hasn't asked me to do that since... Since he was eight."

"He was pretty shaken." Amy whispered back. "He tried to hide it by burying himself in a project, like researching chemicals or looking at schematics..." Amy smiled down at her fox friend. "He was a real trooper today." Sonic chuckled silently and looked down at Tails. He leaned over and kissed the kitsune's forehead.

"Goodnight buddy." The hedgehog whispered as he stood up. He walked a few steps, meeting up with Amy. He looked at her worriedly. "...Are you okay Ames?"

Amy frowned a bit before closing the distance and leaning her head on Sonic's shoulder.

"You're here." She replied somewhat shakily. "That's all I care about." Sonic closed his eyes and hugged Amy, for once wanting it. Amy calmed herself, regaining her composure. "I've never felt so scared for you..."

Sonic grit his teeth, forbidding his own tears from surfacing. He didn't want to cry now, not in front of Amy.

After a few moments of silence, Amy stepped back. She leaned forward and kissed Sonic's cheek.

"Good night Sonic."

"Good night Ames..."

Amy smiled a bit and walked out. She wiped her eyes as she walked to her room. She pulled her key out of her dress pocket and swiped it through the door. A small beep chirped from the mechanism, and the door unlocked itself. The pink hedgehog stepped into her room and closed the door behind her. After a moment of thought, she locked the door and slid the deadbolt into place. She slowly crossed to the window and gazed out worriedly before locking the window and drawing the curtains. She walked to her bed in the dark and sat down on it, drawing her knees to her chest.

She still felt nervous of the people who took Sonic...

She had never felt such an evil feeling before... Those people took evil to a whole new level, making Eggman seem child's play.

And she feared that this wasn't the last they would see of the Ministry of Joy, or The Smiler.

...

Sonic quietly locked Tails' window, gave the kit one last "good night," then walked back put into the hallway, the door locking behind him. He headed back to his own room...

And immediately started knocking.

"Forget your key?"

"Shut up Knuckles!" Sonic whined in reply. The door opened to a rather smug looking echidna and a giggling human. Sonic jokingly shoved past the two before collapsing on one of the beds. He moaned. "I still have to wash out the brown fur dye." He said into the sheets. Josh sat next to him and sympathetically patted his shoulder. Sonic turned his head to look at Josh and smiled tiredly.

"Oh, your gloves..." Josh held up his hands. "You want these back, right?"

"Yes please." Sonic replied sweetly. Josh smiled and nodded.

"I'll leave them in the bathroom for you." He said as he stood up. He crossed into the bathroom and flicked on the light and the fan. The bathroom hummed to life as Josh worked the gloves off his hands.

His red hands.

Josh stared down at his hands, still stained with blood... And thought back to what had happened.

"I just lost control..." He thought to himself. He knew the lion had died... But he couldn't help it. He was so mad at what this... Creature had done to his brother, he couldn't think of anything but continuously stabbing the lion through the chest.

Before his thoughts could cascade any further, two brown, furry hand reached from behind him and grabbed his wrists. He felt Sonic's warmth behind him as his hands were guided to the sink. Sonic turned the water on and quietly started to wash off one of Josh's hands. Josh watched as red water ran down the drain, as his hand started to turn peach again. Sonic was about to start with the other hand until Josh started to scrub it off himself.

"It's past..." Josh muttered to himself. It didn't seem like he was washing anything off... He scrubbed harder.

"It's past."

He picked up his efforts, trying to wash away his sin. Water was splashing everywhere as he started to rub his skin raw, in a combination of anger and fear.

"It's past!"

"Josh!"

Sonic whirled Josh around and grabbed both of Josh's wrists. Josh stared up at Sonic fearfully before tears started to stream down his face.

"...I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of what I'm becoming... I'm a monster..."

"No..." Sonic hugged Josh. "No, you're not a monster. You didn't do anything wrong... You were scared and trying to save yourself and Scourge."

"But I just kept-"

"It doesn't matter." Sonic cut him off, gently pulling Josh to him. He guided the teen's head to his chest, and gently ran a hand through Josh's blonde hair. Josh closed his eyes. "You haven't changed. You're not a monster. You're still the same person I adopted."

Josh's tears slowed to a stop, and finally smiled a bit as the two stood in silence for a few minutes more. Sonic finally cleared his throat.

"Mind if I get in the shower now?"

...

You belong to the Smiler

There is no escape

Smile always

Obey

We love you Josh

Josh quickly sat up in a cold sweat. His breathing was quick and shallow as he looked around the room in a panic.

No shadowy figures. No deranged smiles. Just a slightly dusty hotel room and two sleeping Mobians. Josh let out a shuddering sigh. He looked down at his brother, still sleeping peacefully. The sight of Sonic's blue fur made Josh smile a bit. The hedgehog went through at least four bottles of shampoo, so his fur was quite a bit fluffier than usual.

"You awake Sonic?" Josh whispered. The only reply was Sonic's heavy breathing. Josh closed his eyes and rubbed them. He wiped away the gunk before pressing a hand to his mouth. He thought back to his nightmare. The Smiler seemed to be everywhere, even plastered onto the faces of the two monster "parents" at the end. He felt tears start to come, but forbade them. "Not here... Not yet..."

Josh quietly slipped out of bed and crossed over to the sliding window dividing their room from the balcony. The door slid open easily as he stepped out into the cool night air. The buildings were all dark, presumably for the hoverboard race. Their silhouettes stretched into the night like hulking monoliths. Josh closed his eyes as he let the gentle breeze play with his hair.

The first tears slipped from his eyes and silently rolled down his cheeks, dripping off his chin.

...

"Josh...?" Sonic mumbled, half-asleep. He felt over onto the other side of the bed, checking to see if his younger brother was awake.

He felt nothing but sheets.

Wide awake and panicked, Sonic bolted upright, looking around frantically until he saw Josh outside. He took a few calming breaths as he looked at the clock.

2:30 am

Sonic rubbed his eyes a bit as he walked out onto the balcony, forgetting to put on his shoes. Josh was seated on the floor, his legs dangling off the edge of the wood panels, over the street below, between the iron guard rails.

"Hey, it's 2:00 in the morning buddy." Sonic said quietly. "You need to be in bed."

"I'm not tired..." Josh mumbled, not looking back. A small smile crept onto Sonic's face.

"I have a hard time believing that." He replied bemusedly. He walked forward. "At least come in... And..." Sonic faded off as he came to Josh's side, now able to see his face. The teen still had wet cheeks and red, puffy eyes. Sonic frowned and knelt next to Josh. "Another nightmare?" Josh slowly nodded.

"Worse than last time." Josh said, his voice shaky. Sonic sat down next to his brother, sliding his legs off the balcony. He leaned back on his hands.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Sonic asked, looking over at Josh.

"You need rest."

"So do you."

Josh's lips pulled into a thin line. "I don't get much of that anymore."

Sonic started rubbing his hand through Josh's hair. Josh closed his eyes as a few more tears leaked their way down his face.

"...Sonic?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you adopt me?"

Sonic smiled. "'Cause I want to watch out for you!"

"I know, but... Why?" Josh looked at Sonic, the question burning in his eyes. Sonic's smile faltered. He momentarily stopped rubbing Josh's head.

"Because I know how it feels to be alone." The hedgehog finally said. "My parents died when I was even younger than you were. Me and my siblings had no one to take care of us." Sonic put a hand on Josh's shoulder. "No one should have to know what that feels like. That's why I want to take care of you." Sonic smiled. "Same goes with Tails. He's your little brother now too." Josh gave Sonic what could barely be described as a smile.

"A human, a hedgehog, and a fox..." Josh mused.

"All walk into a bar." Sonic quipped, eliciting a giggle from Josh.

"Why didn't you adopt Tails?"

"We were pretty busy with the Freedom Fighters at the time. Once that died down, I asked Tails, but, he said he didn't need a certificate to know what we had." Sonic sighed happily. "He's a good kid."

"You guys are cute together." Josh chuckled. Sonic gave Josh a sideways look.

"Guys don't really say cute."

"This guy does." Josh looked up at Sonic and smirked. "You have a lot to get used to."

"Now there's that smile." Sonic said cheerfully. "I thought you'd be sick of those by now!"

"...As long as I'm with you... I'll always be happy." Josh said quietly. "When I first heard your voice after I got off the ride... I couldn't keep it all in. That's how happy I was."

Sonic leaned over and kissed Josh's forehead.

"We'll never go through anything like that again." Sonic reassured Josh. "I'll make sure of it."

Josh nodded before looking back out at the horizon, his mind drifting.

"Josh... When you said you were afraid of being alone... Did that come from your parent's... Y'know, death?"

Josh nodded ever so slightly.

"Didn't you have other family to take care of you?"

"No..." Josh sadly chuckled. "My parents were only children. No aunts and uncles, no cousins."

"What about grandparents?"

"My mom's parents died when I was little, and my dad's are really sick... The doctor didn't think they had long..." Josh pulled his legs off the ledge and hugged them to his chest. "I wish I woulda visited them more..."

Sonic sighed as he watched Josh slowly retract in his shell.

"I'm sorry bud..." Was all he could say.

"...I can't even dream about them right Sonic." Josh said abruptly.

"Your grandparents?"

"No... My mom and dad..." Josh said quietly. "I can't dream about them... I only have that nightmare."

Sonic grimaced. Back to the nightmare again. The hedgehog put an arm around Josh and guided him back to rest on his furry body.

"I was the same way when my parents died bud." Sonic said. Josh looked up at Sonic's face. "But the nightmares go away... I promise. One night, you're going to fall asleep, and you'll have a wonderful dream about them." Josh leaned his head against Sonic's shoulder.

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Josh smiled again and closed his eyes. Sonic turned to whisper in Josh's ear.

"You will never be alone again."

Tears started to spill from Josh's eyes after Sonic had said those words. Sonic had said them before, but never had they meant so much before as they did to Josh in that moment.

"Thank you..."

Sonic smiled and kissed the side of Josh's head. The teen closed his eyes and yawned a bit, finally allowing sleep to slowly wash over him. Sonic chuckled and ruffled Josh's bangs.

"Sleep tight buddy... Things will be better in the morning."

"Sonic...?"

"Hm?"

"Will... Will you sing me to sleep?" Josh looked up at his brother, blushing out of embarrassment. Sonic cocked his head to the side, confused. "Music... Helps me sleep after I have a nightmare..." Josh explained sheepishly.

Sonic kissed Josh's forehead and rubbed his glove over it.

"I may give you more, but I'll try." Sonic said quietly, searching through his memory for a song. He cleared his throat...

Huna blentyn ar fy mynwes

Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon;

Breichiau mam sy'n dyn amdanat

Cariad mam sy'n dan fy mron

"What language is that?" Josh asked.

"Welsh. That's what you guys call it on Earth anyways." Sonic explained.

"And here?"

"I can't remember right now bud." Sonic admitted. "It's been a long time since I sang this."

"What does it mean?"

"Gimme a minute..." Sonic shut his eyes as he searched for a suitable translation.

To my lullaby surrender

Warm and tender is my breast

Mother's arms with love caressing

Lay their blessing on your rest

"Mother... Did... Did your mom sing this to you?" Josh timidly asked. Sonic nodded.

"Whenever me or my siblings couldn't sleep, she'd sing this." Sonic said quietly. "Suo Gan. That's what this song is called. It means lullaby." Josh nestled closer to Sonic.

Huna blentyn nid oes yma

Ddim i roddi iti fraw

Gwena'n dawel ar fy mynwes

Ar yr engyl gwynion draw

"I love you Sonic..." Josh said as his eyes closed. Sonic sat quietly as he heard and felt Josh's breathing become slower and deeper.

"I love you too Joshua..." Sonic carefully picked up the teen and crept to the bed, trying not to wake him. He turned to Josh's ear...

Sleep, my darling, none shall harm you

Nor alarm you, never cry

In my bosom sweetly smiling

And beguiling those on high...

JJ: I don't want to ruin the mood, so I'll be brief. I want to make it clear that The Smiler and the Ministry of Joy belong to Alton Towers, as do The Marmalizer and all the Components that go with it.

JJ: I also want to thank everyone who's been reading this for the past year or so. 30 chapters in is quite an accomplishment for me. Thank you for putting up with my slow updates, and I promise I will make it a goal to publish more. I will never give up on this story, these guy's are my family now. This started as a self-insertion fiction, but I've come to see Josh as a totally different person now. It's been so exciting for me to watch him grow and develop, and to also start showing you different sides to these characters you all know and love. I hope you guys have as much fun reading as I have writing it! We're so close to getting all the Emeralds guys, just stay strong!

I love you all!

-JJ