"What do you mean he escaped?!" The fox questioned again.
Both Sonic and Amy were shocked to see Tails in his current state. Bandages all over his head and body. Some were even stained with blood…
"Tails!" Amy yelped as she moved closer to him.
"What happened?"
He pushed her hands away and walked further inside, closer to Sonic.
"Don't worry about me, how did Eggman escape? I thought he was under every security precaution so that he couldn't!"
Sonic looked away in shame which caused the little fox to tilt his head with his ears leaning down with it.
"Sonic?"
"…"
"It was my fault… I got distracted for a single second and he got the jump on me! I should've kept my focus on him instead of talking to that dumb voice!"
"Voice? What voice? Sonic, are you alright?" Amy questioned.
The blue hedgehog froze as he just revealed what he tried to keep hidden. He backpedaled and tried to come up with an excuse.
"Uh- my voice! I was thinking of something else or I was hearing myself think. Heh…"
Amy squinted her eyes knowing well that was a lie. She crossed her arms and began tapping the floor with her foot, waiting for an honest answer.
Sonic caved in and let out a long sigh.
"Ok, ok… Look, I didn't want any of you to know because I knew you would be worried and think I wouldn't be able to handle it."
Amy shook her head in disbelief,
"Sonic! Keeping it a secret won't help you any more than telling us! You shouldn't be hiding this. We all want to help you, especially at a time like this!"
"How long have you been hearing this voice?" Tails interrupted her rant.
Sonic was hesitant at first, but another look from Amy made him spit it out.
"Not long after you all found out about my family and real past?"
"That was days ago! Sonic!" Amy scolded.
"I'm sorry, Ames!"
Sonic moved back and grabbed his arm in a way that a child would when being told off.
"Everyone was stressed out so I didn't want to put more pressure on them."
He let go and looked back at Tails still with worry about the bandages on his head.
"But Tails, what happened to you?"
"Yeah," Amy joined in, "What did happen to you? I thought you were going to the hospital to see what Cream was freaking out about."
"Cream? What was she doing at the hospital? Did she get hurt?" Sonic questioned.
Tails looked up at Amy. Then, slowly to Sonic. His expression almost showed horror as now he had to reveal what he witnessed.
At first, he began reaching for something. Then, he paused before taking a deep breath and pulled it out. His fist was tight as he reached out but when he opened his hand, both hedgehogs froze in fear. A gasp escaped Amy's mouth as she covered it with both her hands. She looked over to Sonic who didn't dare move or take his eyes off what was in Tails' hand.
A bright crystal medallion in the shape of a keyboard with a long loose thread.
Sonia's Medallion…
His heart raced as fear and horror conquered his mind and body. Blood pressure rising, mind soaring, but his eyes were the only thing keeping steady. He slowly reached out and carefully touched the medallion with his fingers.
Upon contact, it illuminated a bright pink hue around itself and Sonic's hand. Instantly, Sonic's mind began to play memories in front of his eyes.
The first memory was looking around in a small room. He was in a small bed with wires hooked up from him to a machine. A window was to his right and an empty room to his left. Well, not empty anymore as two figures walked in. It was too blurry to see who exactly they were, but one was tall and green. The other was small and cream colored.
Then, a bright flash of light changed the scene. The two figures were now closer but a third one appeared. A tall black figure looked to be prepared to fight the green one. There were some audible sounds from the two but it was incoherent.
Another flash blinded him and a whole new area was shown. It was dark with the only lighting coming from a few lights hanging above him. Three figures appeared above him as well. They were all the same color and size. One of them reached out and placed something over his face and everything faded to white.
A shock to his system pulled himself back to reality. He blinked rapidly, breathing erratic, and looked around like he was teleported. It only took a few moments when his mind finally put everything together. Those memories were not his own. They were Sonia's…
He spun his head back to the other two who had worried looks on their faces.
Tails moved closer a bit trying to see if what just occurred affected him.
"Uh- S-Sonic? Are you ok?"
His breathing unchanged, his movement a bit spasming, even his voice began to crack a little. He was going to speak, but a sense of someone watching them filled his entire body. The reaction caused an aura to flare a bit and it fled just as quick. He held still and stared down the fox with authority and fear.
"What. Happened. To. Sonia."
His voice echoed throughout the house that no one would have not heard it.
Including an eavesdropper nearby…
Both hedgehog and fox were silent with fear from his reaction. But even with their fear combined, it cannot compare to the fear they both see in Sonic's eyes. Underneath all the power and rage was the sensitive side of him. It felt as if he was crying inside of his soul.
"Sonic…" Tails spoke, "Sonia, she… Um…"
The blue hedgehog looked down, breaking eye contact.
"She's dead… Isn't she…"
Tails and Amy were shocked at first but the fox immediately denied it.
"What?! No! She's not dead! I mean… sigh"
He moved closer and placed his hand on Sonic's shoulder. He looked up upon contact and Tails saw the complete reversal of his emotions. His face no longer showed fear or rage. It showed sadness and depression, something he never saw in all of his time with him since they were young. He had to choose his words very carefully.
"Sonic, Sonia is not dead. I went to check on her before I came back. She's hurt but still hanging on. Remember the weapon that shot her back at Eggman's base?"
How could he not? She was shot by his own mother! She wasn't in control of herself but it still happened. That memory is forever burned into his mind with the rage that ensued after that point. He lightly nodded.
"That energy weapon had a side effect. Not only does it blast out a burning ball of energy, it also has nanites that infect with whatever it comes into contact with. That's why she is still there. They are trying to figure out how to stop this from spreading."
"Spreading? What do you mean, spreading?" Sonic questioned.
Tails looked over to Amy who showed the same worry and confusion. He took a deep breath.
"When I tried to call Manic, Sonia started to have some kind of reaction. She began to move involuntarily and couldn't speak. But after that, He and Shadow started fighting in the same room with Cream. It got out of control and… His power showed itself again. I tried to separate the two and Manic flew out of a new hole in the wall and got away. But as for this…" He motions to his bandages on his head, "There was a blast of air when he left that pushed me against the wall."
Sonic looked away with an angered look. He was going to have a good talk with Shadow the next time he sees him.
"Are you sure this Shadow guy is your friend? Seems to me he just wants to cause problems. Problems that I can solve for you…"
"As for Sonia's condition…" He turned back to his buddy and ignored the voice, "She was immediately put into one of the operating rooms. They wouldn't tell me anything after they finished but what I do know is that she is in a secure room resting. I'm assuming they were trying to stop the nanites but I can't be sure."
Sonic moved away from Tails and Amy as walked towards the couch. They both stared as he sat down and used his finger to spawn a small energy ball. He flicked his finger and the ball landed into his fireplace, igniting a small cozy fire.
Moments pass as he stared into the fire. The flames reminded him of his home… how it was all destroyed, again…
His home, resistance buddies, new friends, and now family are all falling apart and this time… it could be permanent….
He dropped his face into his hands, almost scratching his eyes out from the building stress boiling up inside. Tails and Amy surrounded him on the couch and tried to comfort him by just being there.
"What am I gonna do?" He whispered.
"What you always do, Sonic." Amy answered.
She placed her hand in his and held it tight.
"You always run into trouble without thinking ahead and you always come out on top!" Tails cheered.
"Yeah! How is this any different?" Amy added.
Sonic shook his head, "You don't understand, my usual ways won't work this time. I've tried that before, all the way back to when he first invaded my home. Now it just happened to repeat even worse and I'm not even sure I can keep everything together! It's like reality hates me…"
Tails leaned against Sonic as he too looked at the fireplace. It's fire beginning to diminish just like their hopes of saving everyone. The fire would soon go out on its own if no one helps to keep it going.
On its own… Help keep it going… That's it!
Tails quickly gets up from the couch with a smile as a new idea comes to his mind.
"You shouldn't be handling this on your own. You need help from others!"
Amy realized what Tails was doing and joined him.
"He's right! Why do you need to handle everything yourself? You've helped us with our problems, it's time that we help with your problem."
Tails began to attempt to raise up their spirits.
"No matter how hard it hits us, we'll rise up and win with all the hope we can spare!"
"Together!" They both cheered.
Without noticing the medallions, they began to glow their respective colors. Sonic's light blue medallion around his neck along with Sonia's bright pink medallion in hand.
Sonic was going to speak to either object or continue the talk but he was stopped as Tails began to sing.
Tails
"No matter how reality may put you to the test,
Gods above you work to push you to your best!
All day,
(All day),
All night,
(All night),
Though it may be hard and could leave you broken and scarred!"
Amy joins in with her voice without even thinking,
Amy
"In my heart I know you won't give up the fight,
Because you showed me I could be the light!
Oh yeah!
(Oh yeah!)
All right!
(All right!)"
Tails and Amy
"Go fight til the break of dawn!"
In unison, they both grabbed each of Sonic's hands and forced him up to his feet as they moved about the house.
Tails and Amy
"Be brave and gimme, gimme power, power, power, power!
Let the strength within you shine!
Tails
"Even if you fall, I know you'll rise up and you'll try it over again!"
They went about the house as they danced along with the lyrics. Amy showed her elegant movements while Tails just moved around happily.
Tails and Amy
"That's why you're running, running, running.
Running for the future!
Pushing on towards all your drеams!"
Tails began spinning his twin tails and grabbed Amy's hand. He lifted them both and sang even louder.
Amy
"We'll see you flying high just like a…"
Tails and Amy
"HERO!"
They both landed on the ground and continued to sing and dance. Sonic's mood beginning to change with each lyric.
Amy
"Although we all havе fears hidden deep inside our hearts,
Ones we cannot speak for fear they'll dim our spark!
Wishes,
(Wishes),
Come true,
(Come true),
Even if you can't see your strength like I do!"
Tails
"Your song lifted up my will to fight,
The strength of your melody won the night!
Softly,
(Softly),
Your song,
(Your song),"
Tails and Amy
"Echoes in the depths of my heart!
Be brave and gimme, gimme power, power, power, power.
Let the strength within you shine!"
Tails
"Even if you fall, I know you'll rise up and you'll try it over again!"
Tails and Amy
"That's why you're running, running, running.
Running for the future!
Pushing on towards all your dreams!"
Amy
"We'll see you flying high just like a..."
Tails and Amy
"HERO!"
The three stopped as they entered a hallway full of photos from all their adventures together. Each one holding impactful and cherished memories. The first one was when he met Tails for the first time. Another photo was during their adventure in Station Square. Then, another from their encounter with their past selves. After that, it was just random moments of their lives onward. Some were just them messing with each other, enjoying a celebration, or other memorable moments.
Tails
"This ever changing future,
Just waits for you to take hold."
Amy
"As it unfurls before us,
It's time to let our fear go."
Tails and Amy
"So long as you're by my side,
I know that we'll be alright."
Tails
"We will be the ones to come out on top... Tonight!"
Sonic's eyes began to tear as all the memories resurfaced. A smile slowly grew on his face. Amy saw this and huddled close to him, wrapping an arm around him in a hug.
Amy
"Let the light that's within you shine on,
Lighting up tomorrow.
Guiding the way through the dark.
Even if you fall, I know you'll rise up and you'll try it over again!"
Tails and Amy
"Be brave and gimme, gimme power, power, power, power.
Only you can beat the gods."
Amy
"We'll see you flying high just like a…"
Tails and Amy
"HERO!"
They all returned to the living room and sat on the same couch back when they started singing. The tempo started to lower as Tails sat next to Sonic on his left while Amy was on his right.
Tails
"Leave all the despair behind,"
Amy
"Feel your heartbeat thunder loud."
Tails
"With emotions flying high,"
Amy
"I hear your song ringing out!"
Tails
"Your light guides us through the night,"
Amy
"With a wish we'll win the fight."
Tails and Amy
"What's to come is still untold!"
Amy
"Leave all the despair behind,"
Tails
"Feel your heartbeat thunder loud."
Amy
"With emotions flying high,"
Tails
"I hear your song ringing out!"
Amy
"Your light guides us through the night,"
Tails
"With a wish we'll win the fight."
Tails and Amy
"Together we'll sing out the song of hope!"
As those last words were sung, the light from each medallion faded away, concluding the song. A few moments of silence passed, Amy and Tails were beginning to worry that their song may not have helped Sonic. Then, they both pulled closer to their friend in a tight hug. They definitely made an impact on his mood. They returned the hug and held it for several minutes as the fire now burned brighter in their fireplace.
Moments later, Sonic broke off the hug, stood up, and walked to the door. Confused, the other two got up themselves.
"Sonic? Where are you going?" Amy asked.
He stopped and turned around with his iconic smirk and wiped under his nose.
"To get help from other friends. I can't do this on my own." His response gave the two a wide smile. "After that, I'm gonna find Manic. He needs me more than I need him."
He ran out past the door without another word. Tails had to shut the door behind him. He yawned as he turned around and began walking to the hallway.
"Sounds like someone needs to go to bed." Amy teased.
She followed Tails towards his bedroom to make sure he went to bed. After that, she shut the door and fell back to the couch. She looked at the clock,
10:35 PM
She began to drift off once more. But what was that voice in her head the first time she tried to sleep? She just hopes she doesn't hear it again now. We all need sleep, they can privately ask about it later.