Disclaimer: This is more of an anthology describing the post-Ultimate Chaos Arc, pre-"Next Arc". I felt that setting it as its own story would allow some wiggle room for more stories centered around Sonic. (What did you think I'd actually kill off the main character? : P) Consider this more of an in-between.
Sally Acorn is typically seen as a strong, righteous warrior, very willing to go above and beyond the line of duty in order to protect the very people she holds dear. But there are times where that very ideology is pushed. At what point is it too much? At what point can she ask "When will it stop"? What can be called her breaking point? After having to witness her lover and closest friend die, she has to come to terms with those exact questions… Join her as she faces the self-inflicted consequences of her actions…
Just moments after Sally had, by some miracle, created a construct that was sharp enough to pierce through Super Sonic, the young princess was seen with many of her friends leaving to parts unknown to escape from the ensuing explosion and to hide from Eggman's repeated assaults. Jenni turns to her, glancing in her direction… Even the doctor could tell that the weight of what they lost was starting to affect the usually steadfast princess. As the group exit the gateway, the Warp Ring that acted as the other side closed, deactivating as it lost connection to the other Warp Ring that Jenni had used as an evacuation. Looking at the area, two things were of note. The first was the location, a set of ruins that look to be an extension to the ruins from West Island, complete with echidna made structures intermixed; the next was the very thin amount of islanders left. Including Sonic and Agatha, who were lost in the fight, despite losing his best robotic body yet, Eggman had overall won the fight. Morale was… at an all time low. As the people tried to get an idea of their current location, a familiar echidna would soon appear to confirm their location… Kicks the Echidna, one of the two guardians of Angel Island… She lands in front of the large group of people, noticing the bruises, tattered clothing, and exhausted and scared dispositions; despite this, her tone was ever as stoic and to the point.
Kicks: "...I'll ask this only once. Why did so many people appear all at once onto Angel Island?"
Sally got ready to answer, perhaps in a very aggressive manner… But Jenni stops her.
Jenni: "...Leave this to me, Sally… We don't need… more violence…"
An exhausted Jenni says. Before Sally could say anything to retaliate, Jenni was already approaching Kicks, explaining what had happened. Kicks listened intently, bowing her head in understanding.
Jenni: "That gateway… It led us here… I'm sorry on behalf of what is left of West Island… But we were desperate…"
Kicks: "I get it. And I understand. …I'm sorry for your loss…"
Jenni: "Kicks… I know that we may be asking too much, but these people have just survived hell itself… They need time to recover…"
Kicks: "...'They'? Not 'we'?"
Jenni goes quiet before taking out a bottle of hard liquor, an emergency bottle it seems. She pops open the cork and just drinks it down, only stopping once half the bottle was empty.
Jenni: "Sonic's dead… I… I don't even think the best hospitals in the world can ever help me recover… This [bleep]ing cancer is evident of that…"
Kicks says nothing, simply letting Jenni sulk in her own self pity before jumping onto a pillar to get everyone's attention.
Kicks: "Everyone from West Island! Listen up! My name is Kicks the Echidna, this island's guardian! I will only say this once… You will be under my protection for as long as I can offer it! However, there are some ground rules that need to be addressed! Firstly, if you happen upon a green, glowing rock, do not touch it! Doing so means your life is forfeit!"
This warning immediately gets people agitated, but Kicks continues on.
Kicks: "Secondly, this island is sacred to me and my brother, so you will respect this island and not cause trouble! If you do, I will not hesitate to kick you off! And lastly, if you need help at any time, me and my brother are usually around! For now, it is just me, but rest assured, you are in good hands!"
This did nothing to calm the people, but then a voice just snaps at them.
Sally: "Would you all just shut up!"
The group of people quiet down, some even startled at the outburst. Sally looked stressed, angry, and overall emotional, which Kicks takes a special interest in.
Sally: "Look at our numbers! We have lost so many! So much of our lives have been taken away! West Island is gone! Eggman has won! So just… shut up do as Kicks says!"
Sally then just walks off, tossing her blue jacket to the ground as she goes into a full run. Concern and unease filled the air, but Kick's stoic expression remained as she grabbed the jacket.
In the dense mushroom jungle of Angel Island, Sally can be seen punching a tree. Her tears flowed out like rivers, her emotions getting the better of her. She stops when she hears someone approach; turning, she faces Kicks, who had her arms crossed.
Kicks: "...This is a very sad sight to behold. A princess who has greatly fallen from grace… Who has decreed a loss… even though she can't see the bigger picture."
Sally says nothing, simply turning back to the tree.
Kicks: "...So tell me… Would Sonic feel this way if he saw you?"
This causes Sally to snap as she immediately lunges at Kicks. She misses as Kicks jumps to the side, but the princess gets back up.
Sally: "Don't you dare mention Sonic's name! He's dead because of me! He's gone! So many of our people are gone!"
Sally kicks at the echidna, attacking in a blind rage now as she lets her emotions get the better of her. Kicks blocks the attack, bending back to dodge a punch. As she catches another punch, Sally headbutts her on the nose, causing her to back away as it bleeds. Dazed, Kicks gets a punch to her gut.
Sally: "Sonic was everything to me! While you… You only knew him for a grand total of what? An hour!? A day!? I've known him for [bleep]ing years!"
Sally tries to strike from above, but Kicks dodges under the princess. Yet she doesn't strike back. Sally continues her offensive, at first getting some hits in, but as the fight dragged on, frustration and fatigue caused her body to slow down. She kept throwing fists, though none connected…except one last fist, which had ceased having any force behind it. Sally slumped to her knees, Kicks catching her as she got down to Sally's level, hugging her tightly as the tired princess sobbed.
Sally: "I… I just want Sonic back… That's all…"
Kicks says nothing as she just rubs Sally's back, trying to calm her down. After a while, Sally does calm down, sitting with her rival against the tree she was just punching.
Sally: "Sorry for lashing out… I was just so stressed and worn out that I… didn't feel like talking…"
Kicks: "I rarely feel like talking… Yet I do when it's necessary."
Sally gives a half hearted attempt at a chuckle, but Kicks simply raises a hand to stop her.
Sally: "...Kicks… What you said before…"
Kicks: "About your emotions?"
Sally: "Y-Yeah… I… Was that about our… 'rivalry' over Sonic? Or was that genuine advice to push me further?"
Kicks thinks on this question before waving her hand in a 'Ehhh…' motion.
Kicks: "About 20/80 of both…"
Sally: "20/80?"
Kicks: "20% over the rivalry, and 80% genuine advice. I like Sonic like that, but I'm not gonna just throw out shade and not treat it as advice. You do have skills; you just let emotions weigh you down. There's nothing wrong with having emotions, but if they get in the way… You need to learn to let go of them."
Sally: "...Kicks… Be honest with me… Did you… experience something like what I did?"
Kicks goes quiet, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath.
Kicks: "When I was just a child, I saw my mom and dad become corrupted by the Master Emerald. Like any child, I was quite expressive and naive… Playful even. But the day I saw them become corrupt… It changed me… At first, I was upset, much like you, but eventually, I grew to throw away my emotions. I became… stoic… It's not that I lost my ability to emote, I just lost any reason to… Knuckles, in a way, became my one saving grace…"
Sally: "Oh my gosh… I'm so sorry, Kicks…"
Kicks: "Don't be. I should be the one to apologize. If my advice killed your boyfriend… Then I take full responsibility…"
Sally thought back to their fight. For a moment, as she threw her punches at the echidna, she very much contemplated killing Kicks… In her mind, it was Kicks that killed Sonic… But no, Sally was the one who did the deed; Kicks simply gave her sound advice…
Kicks: "That being said… I don't believe you killed Sonic… To me, it seems like you saved him…"
Sally: "Saved him?"
Kicks: "You did what I couldn't… Save them from their own corruption. Your voice and power pulled Sonic from the depths of his own mind. Even if it didn't end well for him, he was himself in his final moments… My parents remained monsters when they passed… In a way, you ended up way stronger than me…"
Sally: "But that's not…"
Kicks: "And another thing… Enough of this 'Eggman has won' nonsense. You're still breathing, right? You, a Mobian who has equal, if not greater, power to that blue furball you call a hedgehog, calling it quits after one major fight will do nothing but cause harm to those around you. Your friends and people need a strong leader now more than ever."
Sally pauses, her eyes widening as she took in Kicks' words. She was right… Kicks was right… Everyone needed a strong leader… They needed her to be a strong leader and not just give up like that. Their morale is hurting, but they haven't lost yet.
Sally: "Kicks… You're right."
She stands up, the fire in her eyes on full display as gets reinvigorated.
Sally: "I need to get back to everyone. This is no time to feel sorry for myself. Thanks for the chat, Kicks!"
As Sally runs off, Kicks calls out to her, stopping her in her tracks.
Kicks: "A leader needs to dress properly… right?"
Kicks darts her eyes to the hidden blue jacket resting where she came from. Despite being on the ground, it was clean - in fact, cleaner than when Sally tossed it off. The princess grabs it and nods, slipping into it as gives a silent nod to her rival.
As the remaining members of West Island silently start to settle in their new environment, Sally stands on a wooden stump and whistles to everyone.
Sally: "Everyone of West Island! I know… things are rough… Rougher than they have been. We've lost a lot… Our friends… Our family… Our homes… But we still have one thing that Eggman will never take… Our spirit. The spirit to stand back after adversity… The spirit to rise back from the ashes, our heads held high… The spirit to keep on fighting, no matter what!"
A brief pause…
Sally: "I lashed out because I lost that spirit… I lost myself for a moment because of what I lost… It took me literally beating myself to realize that we've all lost something we cherished. And that's what binds us together… As long as we still breathe… As long as we still walk… As long as we still fight… We will defend our planet Mobius from that mad doctor! We will stand united! For Mobius!"
At first… It was quiet. Almost like Sally's cheer didn't reach anyone, like she hoped. But then, someone stands to give applause. Then another person… Then another… Soon, a wave of claps and cheers filled the air. What was a dour situation earlier quickly became much chipper… The mood changed into a far more cheerful one. Even Rei, despite her broken legs, stood to applaud Sally. Jenni, though, still drank her alcohol, but even she wasn't immune to Sally's speech. As she was about to take another swig, Jenni placed the cork in the bottle before giving it a hard toss into the sky.
Jenni: "Tch… Guess having a way with words runs in the family… Huh, Alicia…?"
In Mushroom Hill, Kicks stood on top of a mushroom, arms crossed as she saw the morning sun in the distance. She then turns to see Sally approach her.
Kicks: "Shouldn't you be sleeping? We have a long day later, what with building you all houses…"
Sally: "I'm aware… But I want to train… with you, Kicks. To learn to get a better handle on my emotions…"
Kicks was curious, raising an eyebrow.
Sally: "I want to be more of an asset to my friends. Relying on my friends for support is fine… But if I can't save my own kingdom, then… What kind of leader would I be? So… What do you say?"
Kicks takes a moment to think before smiling.
Kicks: "If you taste dirt… Don't start crying. I won't be holding anything back this time."
Sally nods and smiles back, looking determined. Kicks jumps down as she gets into a battle stance, with Sally getting ready herself. The two then run at each other, their friendship and rivalry only growing stronger…
