I opened my eyes and the second I did, I had to shut them because of the bright white light I was currently surrounded by. Once they'd gotten adjusted, I look around. I was...in a bed. Not my bed. Must be a hospital bed...crap!

It didn't work. Why didn't it work? All I wanted was for everything to stop. All of the voices...the loneliness...everything. I try to wipe my face but the pull of the IV in my arm tells me that that's not a great idea. So I just lie there, wondering what the next step will be...

I don't have long to wonder as my parents walk into my hospital room, being ushered in by a doctor. They didn't notice I was awake yet, because no one really looked at me.

"You're sure these were self-inflicted wounds?" Daddy asked. "I mean, he's never been the type to...I've rarely seen him upset."

"Yeah, the little guy even cheers us up when we're angry or whatever. I can't tell you how many times he's played mediator between the two of us." Dad chuckled, wiping just under his cyber eye.

"Well, I can't say for certain why he felt the need to do this, but the angle of the stab wounds and their location point to them being self inflicted wounds. You got him here just in time, though. It's actually quite astonishing...he heals at such a magnificent rate. His wounds are already beginning to scar and you brought him in 15 hours ago!"

Suddenly I heard the doctor's voice, but this time his mouth wasn't moving. 'Astonishing, it's a shame that a kid with so much would want to take the coward's way out...'

The coward's way, huh? That sounds about right. Tears began to roll down my face and before I could stop it, a whimper escaped from my lips. That got everyone's attention and they rushed over immediately.

K.D. was over in a flash. He was wearing plain clothes, so I almost didn't recognize him. "Maddox, my boy. Are you all right? Oh I was so...we were so frightened."

"I-I..." I stuttered out, but couldn't get any further.

"Look, son. We need you to tell us what's going on. Please. We can help you!"

"No...you can't. It's...not something...I can't...I just wanted to stop the voices. I wanted to stop being so different, so...weird."

"Maddox, where is this coming from? You've never said anything before. How long have you felt this way?" Dad asked. He was getting louder and louder, meaning he was getting angrier.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you but...I can't..."

"Stop saying you can't and talk to us!" he barked.

"Wolf, cool it. Now!" Daddy warned.

"Don't tell me to cool it! Our son almost killed himself. Our happy, healthy little boy just tried to take himself out of this world, away from us. What could possibly justify this, Maddox?! We've always made ourselves available to talk, let you know that we'd be there for you, so what is it that you couldn't talk to us about it?!"

"I can hear you guys! I can always hear you..." I shouted back without meaning to. Everything was going so wrong so quickly. "I hear how hard it is to balance your work with me, how you have to do so much to accomadate for my freakish powers, how tired and frustrated you get when do something wrong."

"What do you mean? We've never said..." suddenly it clicked for Daddy. "Maddox, how long have you been able to read minds?" He was always one step ahead of everyone else and the looks the other two gave him said about as much.

"About six months now..." a softly replied. "At first, I thought I was just missing the part where your mouth was moving, but then it became more and more frequent. Before I knew it, I could hear everyone around me, whether I wanted to or not."

"So why not tell us?" K.D. chimed in. "we could have found some way to..."

"No, you already have to do so much because of me. I just thought that if I weren't here anymore...you could...K.D., you wouldn't be so distracted with me and you could rule with no problems. Dad and Daddy could go off a protect everyone like they used to, like I know they want to. I wouldn't be the 'spoiled little nuisance' or the 'lucky little brat' anymore."

"You wouldn't be anything, kid. You'd be dead. Do you really think that's what we would want? Because if you do, we've obviously failed as fathers." Dad said running a hand over his face.

"We don't do anything because we have to, Madz. We do it because we love you so much. You're the most important thing to us. I can't believe you doubted that." Daddy said as he kissed my forehead. "So you can read minds and you can do lots of other things other people can't. You have a very powerful and famous family and people are going to be jealous of those things. They'll say and do anything to make you feel bad about who you are to make themselves feel better. Don't let them. You are Prince Maddox James McCloud-O'Donnell, heir to the planet of Corneria and the StarFox Team. Most importantly, you're our son. We need you here if only for that reason. You're not a freak, you're unique, just like everyone else is. You're not a brat, you're the most level headed, mature and kind kid I know."

"Maddox, you're approaching an age where you'll be dealing with a lot of changes. Your body will change and evidently, more powers may emerge. We need you to be open with us and talk to us about anything and everything. Can you do that for us?" K.D. asked.

I just nodded unable to find my voice. My three dads then hugged me as tight as they could. I almost couldn't breathe, but I didn't care. I just hope I can be everything they want me to be...