Sonic was in the middle of a photo shoot with his newly found family and enemies. It felt like hundreds of endless photos were taken, he hated just standing there. He wanted to just get up and out of there to get back home to Scott and his friends, but he didn't know what would happen to them if he did. After what seemed like hours, Kevin finally finished his session and looked back at his photos he had just taken and laughed.

"It's like printing my own money!"

Just then, his phone rang and he grunted at the interruption. Who could be calling him at this time? He grabbed his cellphone and angrily answered,

"Yeah? What? Oh! Mr. Naka! Yes, I-I have the pictures right here!" He backed away and slowly turned around and headed for the door. "In fact, I'm just about to get in my car, right now. I'll be on my way to the office to fax them to you. I gotta go now, I don't want to get a ticket!"

He shut the door as he ended the call and all the animal figures came to life.

"Finally! It's over…" Sonic grunted.

"Great, now you can go. Leave us if you can't stand to be away from your precious owner." Sonia sassed.

Everyone went silent as the fuchsia hedgehog jumped off the table and went towards the window.

"Well, what a good idea!" Sonic mumbled.

He turned away and prepared to jump off and head towards the vent to freedom, but a hand grabbed his shoulder which made him stop. He turned his head and saw Manic with his eyes downward and a frown on his face.

"Sonic… Don't be mad at Sonia, she's been through a lot…"

"Maybe you should make amends before you leave?" Aleena added.

Sonic thought for a bit, he never got on the best of terms with them. But saying one final goodbye is all he could do without confirming what they think of him now. He sighed and said,

"Alright, but I don't know what good it will do…"

He walked off the table and jogged over to his upset younger sister. He jumped on the chair and climbed onto the arm rest so he could talk to her as she just sat on the window sill.

"Sonia, What are you doing up here?"

"Thought I'd get one last look at the sun, before I get packed away again…" She muttered.

Sonic cringed at the thought of storage, but he had to push that aside and get to the point.

"Look, Sonia, I know you hate me for leaving and I'm sorry, really… But I have to go back, I'm still Scott's toy. Maybe if you knew him, you'd understand-"

"Let me guess…" she interrupted. "He's a really special kid, you would do anything for him like he's your best friend. When you're being played with it's like… even though you're not moving, it's like you're alive. Because that's how they see you…"

He was stunned, she just summed up everything he was about to say without a second thought!

"H-How do you know that?"

"Because, Kathy was just the same… She was my whole world…"

"You've had an owner before?"

"I did too…" Manic spoke from the floor. "Mine was named Justin. He loved me when I came out of the box, but when he got older… He didn't like me anymore. I was given up to charity shortly after."

"The same happened to me and Sleet. We never got much time to be played with." Dingo added.

Sonic looked over at the two bounty hunters, then at Robotnik who was still in his box… Still in his box…

"Wait a minute… D-does that mean…" he trembled as he pointed at both Robotnik and Aleena.

Aleena gave a frown as she dropped her head and Robotnik only scoffed. Not an exact answer, but it got the point across. Sonic was devastated, never being played with is like a nightmare come true. With that, he jumped off the chair and slowly approached the vent. His feet were getting heavier and heavier with every step. Some of them had owners, but some didn't… If he leaves, what will happen to them? Will Kevin find another figure of himself in the future or will they be in storage forever? Once he reached the vent cover, he twisted the only screw holding it in place before opening it. He lifted the door above his head, but paused. He stared down the vent of freedom, just inches from escaping, but he didn't move…

"How long will it last, Hedgehog." Robotnik questioned. "Do you think Scott will love you forever? Bring you everywhere he goes like college or his honeymoon? He's growing up, there is nothing you can do about it."

Sonic looked down, so confused on what to do. Behind him, Manic joined in as he walked closer.

"It's your choice, bro. Even if some of us don't like it."

Silence was the only answer Sonic could give at the moment. He turned around, still holding the cover open as he looked at his green brother. Then, looked over at the dictator and his bounty hunters. Next, his own mother, still in her box with her hand on the plastic film. Finally, his sister. She didn't even move an inch as she held her head down. One final thought came over him and cracked a grin.

"Who am I to break up The Underground?"

Everyone looked at him for a second before he shut the vent. Manic immediately trapped him into a hug as he laughed and cheered. Aleena gave her biggest smile she could with her hands on her heart-shaped pendant. The villains didn't say a word, they are villains after all. Once Manic released Sonic from his grip, Sonia slowly lifted her head and risked a glance. Sonic looked at her with a smile on his face in which Sonia gave one back.

It was happening. He decided to stay.