My confidence in my storytelling hasn't actually risen at all as I reread my work. But so far, no one's complaining, so I don't feel a need to re-write anything. But I still want to do something, so I'm thinking of making a side-story or two that goes more in-depth with Samuel's past, and how Soreans work. I actually want that story to be the one to start my use of fan-characters, so I will be accepting applications for people Samuel might meet along the way, like people that are better than him (Because in this story, most of his feats are things he did with others, or some sort of outside help, so he's not actually that good at fighting, or much else) people who try to be nice to him, or people wouldn't get along with him. These people could be of any group.

Song: Past Story

In the woods, Shadow was staring at his Chaos Emerald. 'He's become a part of our group of friends. But will he stay? Or will he become our enemy?' The emerald began to glow. 'If he does, I won't hesitate. He'll get no sympathy. I must be strong, for my friends. For Maria.'

Shadow met up with Espio, Rouge, Jasmine, Cream, Silver, and Amy.

"What should we do?" Amy asked.

Jasmine sat in a corner, staring off into space.

"That depends." Espio said. "What does Samuel plan to do?"

Silver was a bit uneasy. "Do you really think Samuel could actually be Blyxil?"

"If he is, that brings up another question. How many of the crimes we've accused Blyxil of were actually committed by this group… Shadow, what were they called again?" Rouge asked.

"The Blue Thunder Clan. It's rumored that it's one of two clans of surviving Boterac. The leaders were apparently friends in the past, but they were divided on the path they believed they should take."

"So one of them is the good guys?" Cream asked.

"Not quite." Espio. "So… How do you think we should deal with Samuel, Princess?"

Jasmine turned her head towards the group. "He's our friend. There's nothing we have to do."

"I agree." Cream said.

Shadow sighed. "I wish I could think like that, but something about this entire situation bothers me."

Espio sat down with the Chaotix, waiting for Sonic to return.

"You're up late." Sonic said to them.

"Same to you." Espio replied.

"You guys can't handle sunlight, right? Maybe you should sit tomorrow out."

"No." Espio said. "Tomorrow may be an important day."

"If you say so." Tails said.

Song: No Way - Sword Art Online

Jasmine arrived at school with Rouge, Shadow, Silver, Cream, Espio, Marine, Blaze, and Amy. They all wore hoodies to keep the sun off of them (except for Blaze).

Jasmine and Cream looked across the courtyard to see Samuel and Ray near the door. "There they are."

Marine looked over, as did a few of the others. "I almost thought he wouldn't come." She looked as though she was unsure how to feel.

Espio stood next to them. "We'll see him closer today. Give him time."

"But if he is a Boterac…" Marine started.

"We'll have to wait and see." Shadow said.

Cream and Marine saw Ray enter their class and walked up to him. They stood their waiting for him to speak.

Ray sighed. "I don't know if Samuel's a Boterac, but I do know that he cares about all of you. He wouldn't hurt you, and neither would I." Ray said.

Marine looked Ray in the eyes for a second. Then she smiled. "That's just what we wanted to hear, mate."

Song: RED Love - Mirai Nikki

Jasmine, Amy, Cosmo, Ray, Cream, and Marine noticed the crowd at the other end of the hallway.

"What's going on over there?" Cosmo asked.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Ray said.

"Come on." Jasmine said.

They pushed through the crowd to see a fight in the middle. The students in the crowd seemed to be excited.

"This is entirely one-sided. That freak's no trouble."

Jasmine looked passed the people in the front to see who was fighting. "Samuel?" She saw him on the ground trying to block the blows.

Jasmine ran into the middle and threw herself over him. "Stop!"

The rooster laughed. "You think I won't hit a girl? Ha!" The rooster ran at her. Jasmine grabbed his arm and swung him into the opposite wall.

The human stood there, shocked. Jasmine scoffed. "I'm not as weak as you think I am."

Amy and Marine ran to either side of her. "And she's got us to back her up!" Amy summoned her hammer, and Marine held a kendo stick in hand.

Shadow, Silver, and Blaze were walking around the corner from History to the Math hallway.

They saw the crowd close by them. "What the hell?" Shadow said. He pushed through the crowd. He saw Jasmine and Amy locked in combat, with Samuel and Marine sprawled on the floor close by. Cosmo, Ray, and Cream stood a short ways away. "You three, get them to the nurses office."

Jasmine was kicked in the head by the rooster. She already had a few scrapes and bruises on her body. Amy had the Rooster on the ropes, but his three pals wouldn't let it stay that way.

Shadow, Silver, and Blaze each went to an opponent. Shadow roundhouse kicked his in the head, Silver grabbed one with his powers and punched him in the stomach, and Blaze simply ran into hers.

Shadow's opponent, a human dropped the blue Chaos Emerald. He picked him up by the collar. "Where did you get that?"

"We stole it from the freak! Don't hurt me!"

"Freak?"

"Him!" He pointed at Samuel. "He's a Boterac!"

Shadow saw Samuel get up from the corner of his eye, and he picked up the Emerald. He was bleeding. Shadow found himself staring at that blood. It was dripping from his head, his chin, his arms, everywhere.

Samuel glanced at Shadow. "G… Maria… Ring…" and he fell over.

Song: Conquest - Sonic Adventure 2

The group was joined by the Chaotix, the Robotniks(and Thorndyke), and whoever else was unaccounted for, in the nurses office.

Jasmine sat in her assigned bed, looking at the ring on her finger. "Why would Samuel let me wear the ring when he's in that condition." Out of everyone who was injured, he was the only one who was unconscious.

Tails held a device in his hands. "Maybe this will tell us why? Espio asked me to make something that would help us understand him, so I made this."

Jasmine eyed the device. "You're going to view his dreams?" Tails nodded. "But that's a violation of his privacy!"

"But Jasmine…" Rouge began. "Surely you're curious to find out what makes him tick?"

Jasmine didn't respond.

Ray spoke up. "I'm not sure if it's such a good idea either. But he needs our support. How will we know how to support him if we don't know what he really needs said support with?"

"You mean you don't know?" Cream asked.

Ray shook his head.

The room was silent. Then Jennifer walked in. "I say go for it."

"Jennifer?" Jasmine said. "What are you doing here?"

"Aw. You don't want me here? I heard you got hurt."

"Thank you for worrying."

The room was silent once again. Jasmine took the ring off and gave it to Tails. "Put this on his fingers first."

They all looked at the screen, and the first thing they saw were 4 different Samuels, each appeared to be sleeping.

Song: Blood Teller - Mirai Nikki

Samuel was punched in the lip. He swung at his opponent, who dodged his punch and put him in a headlock. Samuel struggled to get his arms off of him. "Air… ai…"

Samuel woke up in a bed he'd grown too familiar with.

"You know… you're here pretty often." An anthropomorphic girl who was around his age of 6 said to him.

"Shut up, Lucy." Samuel replied.

"How will you ever hope to kill a vampire with your miniscule power?"

"I don't want to hear this from you. I'm gonna get this rant from father anyway."

Lucy giggled. "Your father's pretty hard on you, isn't he?"

"Stop making fun of me. Go back to your palace."

"Have it your way."

"You show no progress!" Samuel's father yelled at him for the 7th time that day alone. He looked like he was a red wolf.

"I don't want to take those classes anymore." Samuel complained. "Those kids are mean to me."

"You need to learn to fend for yourself!"

Samuel started to cry. "I can't!"

"You're supposed to be stronger than your siblings! Your brothers potential is lower than yours, and your sisters is even less! But they don't complain! They have no reason too! They're at the top of their class!"

"I'm not them!" Samuel insisted.

"That's what I said! You're not them! You're better than them! Act like it! Or I'll put you in classes with the mobians and humans!"

"No!" Samuel yelled. "They're even worse!"

"Then get better!" He proceeded to kick Samuel until his mother came home with his brother and sister.

Samuel sat by a river one evening, pawing at the fish. He managed to get everyone that caught his eye. That's one thing his father didn't yell at him for. He had great eyes. He could find anything in front of any color, even if it's the same color.

"I finally found a place where I can just be myself. No Dad to yell at me for not being good enough. No Lucy to make fun of me. No one to hurt me."

Sam heard a voice behind him. "I wouldn't be too sure of that." Samuel turned around to see a yellow bat looking down at him. "There'll always be someone who can find you. Nice or mean, it doesn't matter. You'll be found."

Samuel was scared. 'Who is this guy? What does he want with me?' He got up and started to run, but the bat grabbed him by his shirt collar.

"I want your blood!"

Samuel was paralyzed. "Blood!? You're… a Sorean?"

"I thought Boterac referred to my kind as Vampires." He grabbed Samuel by the neck and bit him.

Samuel could feel the blood slowly being drained out of him.

When he was done, the bat left Samuel with less than half of his blood. "I'll let you die a slow and agonizing death." He turned to leave, but then he looked back. "If you survive, look for a Vincent Alucard."

"Blyxil… no… Ronnie… before you go, tell me who did this." Samuel felt his tears dripping down his cheeks.

His brother, Ronnie, looked back up at him. He was nearing death. Before he spoke a word, he brought out a cloak. A blue one. "Father… cough… left this… cough… I want you… gasp… to have it."

"Who did this to us!?" Samuel screamed.

"A bat… named… Vincent."

"Did no one else survive? Am I the only one?"

"Our family… was the only casualty… The only Boterac… in a human village…"

"I don't care about them. I meant out of us?"

Samuel held on to Ronnie's hand. Not wanting to let go.

"Father…" Ronnie's hand went limp. It felt cold.

Samuel froze. Ronnie's hand slipped out of his.

Samuel didn't want to see his father. He'd sooner go find Lucy. But he found no traces of either of them anywhere. He was filled with guilt and confusion. How did he survive where his brother died? Why did he survive?

He found himself screaming at the moon every night. He'd scream especially loud at full moons.

Everywhere he went in Mazuri, there were people who knew he was a Boterac. He was immediately chased out of the village. He hadn't had a good nights sleep since Vincent showed up.

His hatred for Vincent… for Vampires consumed him. He began to forget everything else. His family, his friends(If he had any), his hopes and dreams, everything. He was nothing but an empty shell.

And he liked it. He felt free. He felt alive.

Song: Date a Live Opening 1 (English)

The group stared at the screen in shock. "What?" Tails asked.

Samuel awoke suddenly, and put a hand to his heart.

'How long was I out?' Samuels thoughts were projected through the screen. He turned around to and looked at it. "What… is this?"

Tails gulped. "It's a window to a person's mind." Tails's voice echoed through it as well. "What you see, hear, think, and dream. They're all shown through it."

Samuel turned to Tails, then everyone else. Most of the Soreans, were a little nervous. "How much…" Samuel began. '... did you see?' The rest was thought through the device.

"You were…" Sonic began. "Losing a fight. In a class, for Boterac."

Samuel turned towards a window, then back to everyone. Jasmine could've sworn he stared at her for a few seconds. "Does this change anything?" He asked. "Between us?" He added. He lowered his head and stared at his sheets.

Everyone was exchanging looks. Then Jasmine and Cream walked up to his bed. "Not at all." They said in unison.

Mighty went up to him as well. "Nope."

Sonic and Tails were next. "We're still buds."

Then Silver and Blaze. "You're still you, right?"

Marine and Rouge stood by him as well. "We've got your back."

Everyone else crowded around him too. Ray sat on his bed. "I didn't hear anything from you buddy."

He looked up at Samuel. "I thought that was a given." He laughed, and Sam chuckled as well.

Song: Ancient Magic - Fairy Tail

Then he noticed Shadow and Espio hanging back. "What about you two?"

Shadow huffed. "Does anyone else notice the plot hole?"

"It's not really a plot hole." Espio said.

Samuel thought about it, and the screen must've shown it.

"The cloak!" Rouge exclaimed.

"And Blyxil." Shadow said.

Samuel gazed out the window again. "When my memory began to fade, I started wearing the cloak in the hopes it would stop the process. But it didn't work. It kept going, until I was hanging onto a select few of memories. One was Vincent…" Jasmine flinched. 'Did Vincent really do something like that?' . "... And one other was my brothers nickname. I held onto hatred and despair."

Jasmine forced him to turn his head towards them. "Then we'll show you joy." She said.

Samuel smiled a bit. "I suspect my father's been up to something. He said I had the most potential out of my brother and sister, but I was a failure at utilizing it." He stared at Cream. "I think he's been trying to get someone better." 'Better… better… batter…' Was being projected through the screen. Shadow felt like face-palming, but Rouge stopped him. "Cream… could you go get me a cookie?" He took out a few Gold Rings and gave her some. "The machine's just down the hall, if I remember correctly. Marine, Ray, could two you go with her?"

Ray looked confused. "Um… sure."

Samuel waited for them to leave. "Vanilla thought Blyxil raped her, didn't she?"

Silver stared at him. "What are you saying?"

Samuel looked off to the side. "My father left me a cloak… one that resembles that of the Blue Thunder Clan… This isn't a coincidence. I'm sure it isn't."

"None of this really proves we can trust you, does it?" Shadow stated.

Samuel responded by throwing him the purple ring. "You can use it to read minds, and communicate with telepathy. There may be more uses, but that's all I know. Look deep inside of my mind, and look for any malicious intent."

Shadow slid the ring on his finger and did just that. There was nothing that seemed dangerous. Only sorrow, and a small glimmer of hope. Shadow passed the ring back to Samuel and simply stood there.

"I guess I pass." Samuel said.

"He could very easily have been hiding it within his depths." Jennifer said.

Samuel said nothing. He got off the bed, crouched down, and morphed. What stood in his place was a quadrupedal animal that seemed to have a wolf head, Lion body, and gorilla arms and tail.

Jennifer jumped back, and most Soreans took a more cautious stance. It would've been a terrifying sight on most occasions.

Samuel just sat there. He looked at everyone, as if he were saying "This is me, and I mean no harm." He howled to the ceiling.

Cream, Marine, and Ray walked in and saw him. They were all wide eyed.

Ray and Cream both walked up to him. "Is this… Samuel?" Cream asked.

Samuel nodded his head. He morphed back into his bipedal form. "I'm not sure why Boterac evolved to be able to do this… but I think it's pretty neat. I used to do this as a kid because it got me free food. I was too young at the time to realise that the people left there stands unattended because they feared me." He paused. "I forgot about this trait when I forgot my lineage but, subconsciously, I missed it. It made me feel free." He smiled a bit, but then he frowned. "Other Boterac don't like anyone who isn't a Boterac. That's why…"

Song: Highschool DxD opening 1

"No." Sonic interrupted. Jasmine shook her head as well, and Mighty gave him a thumbs up.

"But…" Samuel tried to continue.

"We're not staying here while you go back to Mazuri all by yourself." Jasmine said.

"But it's especially dangerous for Soreans! Mazuri has a population of zero Soreans, and there are multiple reasons for that! It's a Boterac hotspot, for one, and the sun is blazing! Soreans who do go there are either killed or they burn!"

"In terms of taking on a Boterac, I'm sure we've got that covered. Me and Espio can take of you separately." Shadow said.

"Were you even paying attention to my memories!? I'm a runt! A pushover!"

"Which is exactly why you need us to come with you." Mighty said.

Samuel felt tears come down his face. "I don't know if I'm happy you guys care about me enough to risk your lives, or sad that you're going to risk certain death."

Cream looked at Tails and noticed that he was thinking about something. He noticed and grinned. "I was planning a device to replace sunblock at the beach, but if I up the power, it could be perfect for this trip to Mazuri!"

Samuel was amazed. Then he smiled. "You know… if you ever need any help with your devices, just call me." He grinned, then wiped his eyes, then a flash went across his eyes. "I just remembered something."

"What is it?" Cosmo asked.

"I have the ability to see a persons affinity."

"Affinity?" Amy asked.

"Elemental prowess!" He grinned. "The element you use when using an object that supplies you with energy, like the Chaos Emeralds! My reading of Shadow and myself is spot on from what I've seen so far! Shadow's is Chaos, and mine is Electricity." He took out his blue emerald and tossed it to Sonic. "Yours is Wind. Before my memories left me, this ability only worked when it felt like it, so I don't expect to be able to do this whenever. I'll tell you if I catch what yours is."

"Thanks, pal!" Sonic said.

Jennifer walked up to Samuel. "I still don't trust you."

Samuel shrugged. "So be it."

Song: Soleanna Castle Town

Jasmine, Cream, and Jennifer were walking around town. Jennifer held up an umbrella for the three of them. "I'm telling you! He's up to something!" Jennifer pleaded.

Jasmine sighed. "We trust him. Why can't you?"

"Because I know he's up to no good!" Jennifer said.

"What makes you so sure?" Cream asked.

"I just am!" Jennifer said.

Suddenly, a figure in an orange cloak appeared.

Song: Erza's Theme

"Uh oh." Jennifer said. "It's a member of the Orange Fang clan." Stay behind me.

Jennifer held her scythe in her left hand, ready to strike.