(AAAAAHHHHH CHAOS HELP ME! I'M ON A FANGIRL FRENZY! Information about the new Sonic game, Sonic Lost World, came out today and SEGA gave us (meaning Sonic fans) the entire (surprising) story plot, some of Sonic's new moves, and box art! I'm not spoiling, so check out the SEGAbits or SEGA website if you want information! I'm stoked!

Last time on In the Dark, Sonic, now calm, headed off to a party celebrating the capture of Dr. Eggman. While he was there, he was asked to recount the events of that evening to the audience and over the radio. Sonic found it difficult to talk about Tails's death and, strangely, about his dark form. He found himself getting pounding headaches at random intervals of the night. Towards the end of the party, several unexplained explosions went off, injuring several Mobians. During these explosions, a record message from Eggman played, warning everyone that there would be more attacks despite his being locked up, as well as a strange message to Sonic, telling him he would know how lethal the doctor could be even when he wasn't around. Could this be a warning? What has the evil madman planned now? Look back at Chapter 3 – Keeping Calm for more details, or read on to find out more about what could be going on!)

I didn't sleep that night.

My dreams were haunted by images of Tails collapsing on the floor of the warehouse, the blood pooling around him on the ground. Even though I had washed my blood-stained gloves, I still felt like I had his blood on my hands. The irregular pounding in my head was getting obnoxious as well, and continued well throughout the night.

Luckily, I was used to being an insomniac. I spend many restless nights thinking about recent battles, but this time it seemed I wouldn't be sleeping for a long time. I was up before first light and took off to try and clear my head. While I was running, I had another breakdown; I couldn't fight the tears. Luckily I was going too fast for any of the lingering people on the streets to notice.

I ran along Emerald Coast as far as the beach and coastline would take me. Despite my fear of water, sometimes being near it was calming; just seeing the sunrise over the horizon was enough to stop the pounding in my head. Remembering Tails's funeral took place early in the morning, I headed in the direction of the Green Hill Memorial Cemetery to help set up.

When I got there, people were already setting up chairs. Without a word, I started to help, unfolding chairs and putting them in neat rows. No one questioned me. No one talked to me. They just let me do my thing, as everyone so often does.

An hour or so later, when over five hundred chairs had been set up and large ceramic pots of flowers had been laid out around the perimeter of the cemetery, Tails's body was brought out in a marble coffin. His face was uncovered, eyes closed, hands folded over his wound, looking peaceful now. When I looked at him, I couldn't help but see his dead, frightened face from that night and remember all the good times we had that were now just a memory. The pounding in my head began again, though dull, it hurt my head, and I put my head in my hand, grimacing slightly.

"Are you okay, sir?" one of the directors for the funeral asked.

"I'm fine," I said, a little too sharply. I cleared my throat. "I'm fine, thanks," I tried again, calmer this time.

The woman nodded and turned back to reorganizing one of the flowerpots.

While we were working, a dark grey van pulled up. Two cops stepped out of the front and opened the back of the van, two more cops stepping out, leading a handcuffed Dr. Eggman.

Suddenly, my mind went hazy. All that I knew was anger, and that I wanted to kill the one who murdered my best friend. I want him dead.

The world was muffled to me as I started toward him. I only saw him, and my goal. Before anyone could stop me, I was behind him. I grabbed his shoulder with a firm grip and wrenched him around to face me, my hand closing on his throat. Behind his reflective sunglasses, his eyes were fearful, and in his glasses an enraged Sonic stared back at me.

"Why did you do it, huh?" I hissed in his face. I spoke through clenched teeth. "Why did you kill him?" Hands clamped around my arms and pulled me back. I struggled against them, though not using my full strength. I have one goal, and it doesn't include hurting anyone else. It doesn't include anyone else, period.

"Let me go!" I yelled, thrashing. "He killed him! He killed Tails! He killed my best friend!"

"Take it easy, Sonic," one of the cops holding me said, tightening his grip on my arm. "Justice will be served in due time."

"No, it will never be served! You've seen all the terrible things he's done, execute him! Let me finish it now!" My voice no longer felt like my own. I glared at one of the cops and hissed through my teeth. "Why is he here? What use does he have at a funeral?"

"He is here to see all the pain and suffering he can cause by killing one," he said calmly.

Something inside me felt reassured. He needed to see what he has done wrong. He needed to see what damage he can inflict.

Then the officer added, "We hope he will show remorse."

I snapped again. I wrenched myself away from the two cops and glared at them, fists clenched. "You think he'll show remorse for all of this? What, are you planning on letting him go anytime soon? Do you think he will escape? The guy's an evil genius! Evil genius, people!He could escape, and he's not going to change! He craves destruction!" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a nasty smirk on Eggman's face. I whipped my head around and glared at him. "What are you laughing at?"

The second police officer grabbed me again and sat me down in a chair. "I think you need to calm down, Sonic," he said sternly. "His fate will be decided in court in three days time. Until then, you have to trust us."

I nodded and put my head in my hands, breathing hard, now acknowledging the pounding in my head that had returned, now more intense than ever. As I tried to calm down, I realized I had been on the very brink of turning dark over nothing. I realized I had almost been lost in another mind, one that only knows anger and hate and the death of my arch enemy, and I couldn't bring myself out of it. Something was happening to me, and I didn't know what.

While I calmed myself, the funeral procession began, but I hardly paid attention until people were asked to share something about Tails. When the manager asked if anyone had anything to say about him, my hand immediately shot up. The woman gestured to me and I took her place at the podium.

"Tails was…my brother," I began. "Maybe not biologically, but I loved him like one. He was my partner, my player two, my best bud…he was everything to me. And he had to be taken away." I had to grip the podium to keep my emotions – and specifically my anger – in check. "He was young, innocent, and didn't deserve all the fear and pain that was inflicted on him throughout his short life, but he was forced into the world of evil when he partnered with me. He joined me in my fight against you, Eggman, and he paid the ultimate price," I glared at the doctor, now shaking, my rage escalating, and I couldn't stop it. My voice shook. "I hope you're happy. You've finally found something that could break me, and you will pay for it!" My voice rose at the end to a ferocious yell that sounded neither human, animal, nor anthro. I clutched my head; the pounding was faster, harder, and more painful than ever, and I knew something was wrong. Vaguely, I heard the doctor laughing maniacally in the background, but I didn't act on it. Without really thinking about it, I took off towards my house in Mobotropolis at break-neck speed to prevent anyone from seeing me break down, but anyone watching couldn't miss the blue streak gradually turn dark blue, then navy, almost black.

When I got to my house, I slammed the door and dead-bolted it, then went down to my basement and piled all the furniture up against the door. I crouched in the middle of the room, hands clutching my head, and screamed a loud, enraged scream, my eyes blank, though closed tight, my fur dark blue, my aura flaring.

Inside me, a voice that was not my own spoke.

"It has begun."

The war with myself has begun.

(Wait, what just happened? Yes, Sonic just went Dark, and I capitalize "Dark" for a reason. Why did he go Dark? What happened? Is Sonic mental? This is where the real storyline begins. Come back tomorrow (or the next day, depending on how busy I am) as the answers start coming! And keep on reviewing! Any ideas? What would you like to see in the story? What do you think is up with Sonic? I'd love to hear what you have to offer! I consider all ideas given. :)

What's ironic is I'm roll-playing with a friend, and it's Sonic's birthday in it, so Sonic's fooling around with Tails right now, so it's odd to transition from writing Sonic's final words about Tails to dancing with his best buddy. For those who don't know, roll-playing, or RPing, is when you create a scenario and act it out through text messages or any type of writing, and you can be anyone or do anything you want, and it can go for as long as you want. Actions are set off in *s or –s. Example:

Sonic: Hey! *waves*

So that's something you can really get into. :) I've had a roll-play go for a year once. This one's been going for….about 5 months.

But I digress.

Check in soon for the next chapter! Until then, check out my other stories and leave reviews! Bye guys!)

~SonicTheHedgehog-Nerd