Chapter 104; Bravery
A loud roar echoed throughout the fields of Johto as the legendary Raikou, with Tails on its back, raced through the fields towards Ecutreak city, overjoyed to be back in its homeland.
Tails was overjoyed to be back in Johto too. The region had shaped him in so many ways. Plus the girl he loved lived here.
As they raced across the edge of Ilex forest, heading for Azalea town, the two were joined by Entei. It and Raikou exchanged a roar and, with Tails' permission, began racing each other.
In the end Raikou prevailed as they arrived at Cosmo's place, both tired from the race.
Cosmo immediately rushed outside to greet Tails with a kiss.
"How'd today go?"
"The usual. Got some poachers locked up, enjoyed the region and met up with Looker" Tails said before asking Cosmo about her day.
"Oh you know, mundane stuff at the shop".
The two then proceeded to have a fun evening by attempting to cook something together only to get carried away and having fun in the kitchen. Despite that they managed to make a great dinner for a movie night.
The movie was very entertaining though Tails just found it a bit quirky thay Cosmo liked apocalyptic-themed movies and series, her favorite being a series about humanity riding an eternally moving train to survive an ice age.
She had tried to get Tails to watch it and just stopped after Tails couldn't hold himself from pointing out all the scientific inaccuracies, especially when the train broke the laws of physics by travelling down a huge spiral section of the tracks and wasn't getting derailed due the centripetal force despite pulling 1034 cars.
Even the sheer number of cars, Tails just couldn't wrap his mind around kept waiting for the scientific in-universe explanation but it never came.
Despite their argument over the series, the couple decided to just let it go, though Tails promised he would give it another chance in the future as he quite liked how it explored the faint lines of morality in the name of survival that the series was dancing with. Maybe it was a result of his and his friend's war with team rocket or maybe it was just who Tails was.
During a break in the movie, Tails went out to check on his and Sonic's pokemon. Since he was back in Johto, he and Looker had struck up a deal so that Tails would be paid for his services in capturing poachers with Raikou. That made the whole moving in with Cosmo, which included bringing some of his gear from Green Hills, and taking care of all 12 pokemon in the household all the easier.
Having a quick interaction with each pokemon while serving them dinner, he took a deep breath as he approached Entei and Raikou.
The two legendary beasts stood a little further away from the rest of the two parties, simply staring into the dark starry sky. Or more accurately, Entei did that and Raikou kept it company.
After Sonic's departure and subsequent revelation that he was on a redemption journey to make right of his wrongs, Tails had informed Sonic's Johto team of it and that he would take care of them until their trainer returned and would also make sure they didn't slack on their training.
For that reason he enlisted the help of Lance and Claire. Since the league season had ended, Lance had met up with Tails to ask about Sonic and had subsequently agreed to help his pokemon train. Claire also quickly agreed.
Because of all these changes, Entei had grown very distant from all the pokemon and trainers, except for Raikou and Suicune, whenever it happened to come by. It and Knuckles were keeping very busy.
As Tails served Raikou the food, the beast of thunder dug in, very hungry.
Tails also pushed a plate in front of Entei. The beast of fire looked away.
Tails sympathized and was saddened. Entei, despite its hostility towards Sonic, clearly didn't like how things were right now.
Tails stroked Entei's fur.
"I miss him too" he said as tersely as he could "but I believe in our friend. He will return to us soon".
Entei's blazing red eyes met Tails' blue eyes and Tails thought he saw a tear stream on the fur but couldn't be sure. The fur was very thick and it could've been a trick on the eyes.
Entei let out a bark to assure Tails it would persevere before also joining Raikou in eating.
Tails returned inside and joined Cosmo who was about to continue the movie but refrained.
"Everything ok?"
Not realizing it, Tails had shed a tear. Seeing such a stoic and powerful pokemon like Entei vulnerable had moved him.
"Yeah" he said wiping it "Entei misses Sonic. And so do I".
Cosmo pulled him in a hug.
"It's alright. He'll be back eventually".
"I know. It's just hard".
"You know, when Knuckles visited, he mentioned something about visiting the region soon" Cosmo said, meaning Hoenn "maybe you could join him, meet up with Sonic".
Tails shook his head.
"No. I can't leave Sonic's pokemon here all alone. And I don't think Entei is ready to meet him".
Cosmo however probed deeper.
"Does that happen to include you too?"
Tails sighed. He loved that Cosmo could read him like a book but not in that moment.
"I'm scared of what I will find. Sonic had another run in with Shadow a few days ago. They trashed an entire museum. Frankly they were not alone in it but… i'm afraid my friend is losing himself again".
Cosmo took his hand.
"We need to put our faith in Sonic. We need to trust he is beyond Shadow. Otherwise his entire Kanto journey has been for nothing".
Tails nodded. It was indeed all up to Sonic.
Cosmo gave him another kiss.
"What were we talking about the other day, my Tailsy?"
Tails smiled.
"Let go of what I can't control".
"Exactly. So let's relax and enjoy our night. Whatever the next day brings we'll face it when it comes".
Although the next day would include a particularly nasty battle for Tails, it would hold an even more impactful surprise for Sonic and Wally who were already on their way to Mauville city.
Sonic was a bit on edge about their destination. He had heard that Socexp's headquarters were in Mauville. It smelled like trouble.
Along the way they were challenged by several passing trainers, with Sonic taking the brunt of the challenges.
While they were walking across the coastline, the tall buildings of Mauville city as well as the tall tower of Socexp corporation, Sonic was getting a weird vibe.
As if someone was observing them from that tower.
Forcing the thought out of his mind and staying in the moment, just in case Shadow was to try anything on them, his gaze turned to Wally.
The kid had beaten the last challenge, taking on a marill with Ralts. Ralts' training had made it a great combatant, with confusion causing great damage to their opponents, either forcing them to fire back with ranged attacks or attempt close quarter combat.
In the first case, Ralts dodged the attack with teleport, with Sonic being impressed at Wally's quick thinking of how to use the ability effectively, something he hadn't thought of himself.
In the latter case however, was where Ralts weirdly but truly shined.
Because their opponents didn't anticipate a pokemon like Ralts knowing a physical attack, much less one like thunder punch, the hit almost always resulted in a critical hit as no one could process it fast enough to dodge, block or simply take the attack normally.
Wally and Ralts seemed like a match made in heaven. Sonic had seen very few trainers battling so smoothly together.
And Wally seemed truly happy in the moment. His face always gleamed with excitement.
Maybe it was for the best that he ran away from home. He was not allowed to blossom there.
Despite all Sonic had heard about Wally's parents from him, he was surprised that they had never tried to contact him.
"Hey, how come your folks have not tried to contact you yet?"
"What makes you think they can?" Wally smugly asked him while smiling.
Sonic looked at his friend in question.
"They don't know I have the pokenav you have me in Rustboro".
"Wait, you hid it from them?"
"Of course I did. They would have confiscated it, the moment they saw it".
Sonic nodded. After all he had heard that wasn't far fetched at all.
"Did you send them any texts after leaving? You know after we were on Dewford island where they wouldn't be able to find you?"
"No. They dug that hole for themselves. I was never allowed anything that could remotely put me in danger. It's time they get taught a lesson".
Sonic was worried hearing his cheerful friend speak like this.
"Do you resent them?"
Wally frowned.
"When we started on this journey, no. But now… now I feel like I do, a little bit at least. All we have experienced so far, you, Ralts and I. And all we will experience… if I had not taken a leap of faith and stow away with you and Mr Briney that day I would never have experienced any of it. All because of my parents".
It was now Sonic's turn to frown.
"What?"
"I do understand your frustration with your parents. Bottling you up like that wasn't cool. But… just resenting them won't solve the issue".
Wally contemplated Sonic's words.
"Maybe… but what else can I do? They never listen to me, to what I want. And they never will".
"I believe you. But maybe it's worth trying?"
Wally thought it over for a few seconds.
"It could be. But I'm not ready for that. Not yet. I want to experience more first".
"Ok. But why don't you feel ready?"
"I don't know. I just don't. I am mad at them but I also don't want to sadden them. It's complicated. But all I want is for them to listen to me. Maybe I'm not ready to fight them again over this… and maybe they're not ready to listen".
Sonic had a hard time countering this logic.
"Well in any case if… when the time comes to face them… let it all out. Open the floodgates. Tell them everything. If they really won't listen then your best bet is to just be honest with them and give them a piece of your mind. And if possible, have your uncle be there. Maybe he will be a big help in convincing your parents".
Wally imagined this scenario. He imagine himself returning home as an experienced trainer with a powerful team and asking – no, demanding – that his parents sit down and listen to him.
He imagined himself showing off his accomplishments to them and proving to them and once and for all that he could take care of himself and that they didn't need to protect him from anything anymore.
On the inside the idea filled him with excitement. But when he returned to the present he realized he was sweating.
He quickly wiped it off his forehead. He didn't want to seem scared in front of Sonic.
Only problem was, Sonic had already seen through that. Having faced fear in the face of Giovanni, he could tell if someone was infected with fear.
"Hey" he calmly said putting his hand on Wally's shoulder "don't sweat it. Fear is natural. But when the time comes it's up to you to face it and prevail. It is up to you to be brave".
Wally smiled gratefully. Though admittedly he wished that when the time to face his parents came, Sonic would be there by his side.
Afterwards the two then continued chatting about what awaited them in Mauville city. One such thing was the third gym battle.
Wally was excited for it. In more ways than one.
Finally arriving at the massive city, they were instantly hit by the breathtaking buildings and very high livelihood of Hoenn's capital city.
Everywhere they looked, corporate buildings were swarming the blocks like mushrooms in a forest. Wally explained to Sonic that Mauville city was more of a huge compilation of companies of all sizes than a residential area and that many people commuted from all across the land half of Hoenn, even the faraway Fallarbor town.
The people were also very welcoming though, as anticipated by Wally's description of the city, a lot of them seemed to be in a constant rush, always having somewhere to be.
Deciding to get it over with gym battle first so they could do whatever they wanted afterwards, the duo got instructions from a disguised team rocket that Sonic didn't even bother confronting. Those 3 idiots were obviously looking for Ash and Sonic wanted no part in this.
A small part of him wondered where these 3 stood in terms of his and Ash's conflict. He couldn't imagine them taking a side as they were after Ash for his Pikachu but Sonic had destroyed all they had cared about.
The duo explored a little on the way to the gym, even discovering a game center like the one in Celadon city in Kanto, resulting in Sonic narrating his raid of team rocket's hideout there as well as his first and crucial encounter with his archnemesis.
Eventually the duo arrived outside the gym. This time Sonic didn't even need to walk in to guess the type.
The whole gym was decorated in thunderbolts and painted in a yellow color.
"Well that's not a spoiler in the least" Sonic commented.
"An electric type gym? You mean you could potentially battle another Raichu?"
"That would actually be interesting. Raichu has not battled another Raichu in a very long time, so that would be a welcome matchup".
Just as he was about to walk in, Wally grabbed his shoulder.
"Hey… i've been thinking and… could you let me challenge the gym first?"
"Huh?" Sonic thought he misheard "challenge the gym?"
"Yes. I've been training for so long and I've been learning tons from you. So I think it's only natural that I challenge the gym and see how much better I've become".
Sonic was taken aback. Wally was indeed taking his advice to be brave to heart but to challenge the third gym right off the bat?
But before he couke voice his opinion, all hell broke loose.
"Wally!"
Wally's eyes widened.
"Oh no, I forgot uncle lives close by!" he whispered as he turned.
Wally's parents, Wanda and a man who greatly resembled her, presumably her father were all standing there. Wally's parents looked livid. Wanda was trying to keep them grounded and her father looked like he was biding his time, waiting for the right time to speak.
"Mom? Dad?"
"This has gone on far enough Wally! What were you thinking running away from home?!" his mom screamed in his face.
"Mom, I…"
"Wally we have tried being understanding but you went and crossed all the lines" his father backed her up.
"But…"
"You didn't take any of our concerns ibti consideration! Alone, away from home, helpless if your asthma triggered!"
"I wasn't helpless, I…"
"Let's all take a deep breath and relax. Surely we can resolve this without shouting at each other" Wanda's father tried to intervene.
Wanda then, unwilling to let her father stop their momentum, unexpectedly, tore into Sonic.
"I told you to stay away from my cousin! Now you've left me no choice but to report you for kidnapping!"
"Excuse me?!" Sonic was flabbergasted "Wally followed me by his own choice".
Wanda then grabbed Sonic by the wrist.
"Wally doesn't need you dragging him into danger".
Her wrist was then grabbed.
Wanda turned and witnessed her cousin staring daggers at her.
"Wanda enough!"
"Wally let go of me!"
Wally instead dragged her hand off of Sonic's wrist and shoved her back towards her parents.
He looked back at Sonic for a moment.
"Time to be brave" he thought as he took a deep breath.
"I have kept quiet long enough! I'm not going to listen to you all anymore! I'm sick and tired of your suffocating behavior! I'm no longer a toddler! I can take care of myself! My asthma isn't holding me down! You are!"
Wally's parents looked like they had been smacked in the head. Wanda couldn't believe her ears and Wally's uncle was looking at his nephew with a hint of pride.
"What nonsense have you filled my cousin's head with?!" Wanda screamed at Sonic.
Wally got into her field of view, blocking Sonic.
"Leave him alone Wanda! He is innocent! These are my thoughts! This is how I feel! You have been restricting me from living long enough and I won't stand for it any longer!"
"Wally please listen to us!" his mother pleaded, switching to a victim tone "The world is dangerous! You are not ready to venture out on your own away from home!"
"Who knows ready mom?! You?! You who would bottle me up to make sure I never got hurt?!"
"All I want is for you to be safe!" she kept pleading.
"Enough!" Wally's uncle suddenly shouted, getting everyone's attention "it's clear we all have our own opinions and at the same time we all want the same thing; Wally's well-being".
"What are you getting at brother?" Wally's mom asked him.
"You believe Wally's not ready and Wally believes he is. He claims he has trained with his Ralts a lot. I say we allow him to demonstrate his growth to us".
"How exactly?" Wally's dad asked him.
Wally's uncle turned to Sonic.
"By having Wally challenge his mentor".
Wally was now the one taken aback.
Challenge Sonic?
Sonic, who had been strong enough to land a good hit on champion Steven's almighty metagross? A two time league tournament victor?
Sonic noticed Wally's hesitation. He interjected, offering a compromise.
"I am in favor of this. But it will be a one vs one battle. And I get to choose which Pokemon I use against Wally".
Wally looked at Sonic, again worriedly but Sonic gave him an assuring nod. The battle wouldn't be one-sided.
"Sounds fair. Any objections?" Wally's uncle asked his parents and Wanda.
They contemplated insisting Wally give up but the compromise was fair indeed. Fighting it would pass them off as unreasonable.
"Alright then. Make it quick" his mother relented, certain Wally stood no chance against Sonic's legendary Raichu.
Wally took a deep breath and stood facing Sonic.
The two took out a pokeball each.
"Sonic" Wally said just as they were about to call out their pokemon "promise me you will give it your all".
Sonic stated at Wally, then at his family, then back at Wally.
"I promise. I will go all out… within reason".
Wally was confused by the statement.
"On three".
Sonic nodded.
"One, two, three".
"Go Ralts!"
"Come out Combusken!"
Ralts and Combusken hit the field.
"Combusken?" Wally exclaimed "not Raichu?"
"Combusken is more than a match for Ralts. Come at us!"
Wally blinked twice before nodding in determination.
"Ralts confusion!"
"Combusken quick attack!"
Combusken moved extremely fast, the confusion not landing as Ralts was smacked head on, breaking the concentration.
"Now peck!"
Combusken started pecking the downed Ralts which cried out in pain.
Wally was overwhelmed for a moment. Sonic wasn't playing around.
"Ralts! Teleport!"
Ralts disappeared, causing the peck to land on the ground.
As combusken looked around, Ralts reappeared.
"Now confusion!"
The confusion landed this time, causing great damage to combusken which ended up becoming confused.
"Combusken listen to my voice! Ember!"
"Confusion again!"
Combusken was struck by the confusion while at the same time trying to fire ember only to have it backfire due to the confusion.
"Well look at that. Wally is holding his own" Wally's uncle complimented his nephew.
"Don't get your hopes up dad. Sonic the hedgehog is a champion. Wally stands no chance".
"All the better. Maybe then he'll drop this crazy idea and finally come home" his mother added.
Wally was visibly upset by their words but didn't let it deter him.
"Ralts thunder punch!"
Ralts charged the punch and landed. It landed square on Combusken's cheek.
Combusken did a midair flip to land on its feet, the thunder punch shock having shaken it out of the confusion.
"Now we're talking! Double kick!"
Combusken delivered two powerful kicks at Ralts. The psychic type persevered and fired another confusion.
Combusken cried out in pain but retaliated with another quick attack.
Ralts rolled on the ground. Combusken didn't let up.
"Ember!"
The ember landed, setting Ralts ablaze for a moment as it cried out in pain. By the time the ember stopped it didn't seem ready to continue.
Sonic was keeping a steady face through it all but inside he was hurting. He didn't want to hurt Ralts but he had made a promise to Wally. He had to keep it.
As Ralts struggled to get up, Wally was torn as to how to proceed. Ralts didn't look capable of continuing and he didn't want it to get hurt anymore.
"Well there you got it. It is proven beyond all doubt. Wally is not ready for this" his mother declared.
"Ralts has not fainted yet" Sonic countered.
"It may as well have. Look at it. Fragile and helpless like Wally. We tried to show him the nice way he is not like you. We're saying he is not ready for a reason" Wanda fired back.
"All we want is for Wally to be safe and happy" his mother added, sounding fakely concerned.
Wally shed a tear at the word happy. The contradiction of his feelings and the life his parents considered as a happy life was too big to handle.
Ralts however gasped. Combusken noticed its face getting irritated under the bangs.
"Raaa" it cried out the first half of its name as loudly as it could, surprising both Wally and Sonic.
"Raaa" it turned to Wally, its irritated face visible under its bangs.
"Ralts?" Wally managed to say.
Ralts quickly approached him and used its horns. This time however instead of sensing and adopting Wally's emotions, it passed its own to Wally.
Sonic witnessed the Petalburg city trainer's face slowly switch from sadness and doubt to determination and confidence. He even saw Wally's lips move as he whispered to himself, the phrase sounding like "time to be brave".
"Happy?! You want me to be happy living by your rules? Living how you see fit all my life?!"
"Wally it's for your own good!" his mother pleaded.
"ENOUGH MOTHER!" he screamed his lungs out, causing Sonic to stumble back.
"Wally?" his mom was taken aback at his outburst.
"Wally how dare you speak…" Wanda tried to reprimand him.
"Enough! All of you enough! I know what's good for me here, not you! I know what makes me happy, not you! What makes me happy is being with Ralts! What makes me happy is growing stronger with Ralts! What makes me happy is being a pokemon trainer!"
He turned to face Sonic again.
"I don't care what you think anymore! I am no Sonic and I don't have to be! I'm Wally! And I – no! Ralts and I – we will always pursue our dream! Together!"
"Raaaaa! Kiiiii!" the psychic type cried out as it started glowing.
"Ralts?!" Wally stepped back in disbelief.
"It's happening!" Sonic said in awe.
Ralts form changed and grew until eventually, a new pokemon emerged crying out loudly.
Sonic, still in awe, scanned it with his pokedex.
"Kirlia, the Emotion Pokémon. Kirlia uses the horns on its head to amplify its psychic powers, and when this occurs, reality becomes warped, and future events can be seen".
True to its dex entry, Kirlia let out another cry and its horns began glowing.
"Ralts? I mean Kirlia?" Wally tried to make sense of the glowing.
Sonic had seen a variation of this move before. During his Kanto journey. It was used by Mike.
Just to be sure, he had his pokedex check.
"Last recorded move… calm mind".
"It learned calm mind?!" he exclaimed.
"This is amazing! Kirlia, confusion!"
Kirlia cried out and fired confusion. Combusken didn't anticipate the severity of the attack, resulting in the damage being all the more devastating.
"Impressive attack Wally but it's far from over! Combusken! Quick attack then peck!"
"Teleport then thunder punch!"
Kirlia disappeared in the blink of an eye, appearing behind Combusken and landing the thunder punch. Combusken however kept the momentum going and retaliated with peck.
The two pokemon looked each other after the attack both panting heavily from it.
"End this Kirlia! Thunder punch!"
"Quick attack!"
The two pokemon collided head-on. The attacks clashed for a while before eventually both pokemon moved to the side a bit, as the momentum carried them forward, each looking at the ground in front of the opposing trainer.
Silence spread through the air. No one spoke a word. Not even a single breath could be heard.
And then a thud.
Combusken had collapsed.
"YOU DID IT KIRLIA!" Wally rushed to hug his partner.
Kirlia also rushed to hug its trainer, as Wally picked it up and twitled around, unable to contain his excitement.
On the other side, Sonic took a few moments to process the image.
He had lost.
Wally had actually defeated him.
Looking at him, the image of Wally and Kirlia twirling together filled his heart with warmth. His defeat was worth it.
"Not bad kid" Sonic thought, filled to the brim with pride. Nothing could possibly ruin the moment.
"So what if Wally won?! You two proved nothing!" Wanda of course had to ruin the victorious mood.
"Wanda is right! You promised Wally you would go all out and yet you held back! This proves Wally isn't ready to be on his own!" Wally's mother tried to scold Sonic.
"The battle doesn't count! Wally is coming with us" Wanda tried to intimidate Sonic.
Sonic looked at her as his lip curled.
"I knew you were all suffocating to Wally but this behavior just takes the cake".
"What was that?" Wanda got into his face but this time Sonic wasn't intimidated.
"You all just confessed in essence that you wanted me to use my Raichu that has literally battled legendary pokemon and fought in an actual war, against Wally and his Kirlia who have literally been a team for like what? Two-three weeks now? All in hopes that you could use his defeat as an excuse to have him call it quits and give up on his dream to please you all".
"Oh please. Don't act like you care about my cousin. We're his family. You are nothing".
"Don't call him nothing!" Wally retorted but Sonic raised his hand to keep him from replying more.
Wally had proven himself through his actions. He needn't use his words to prove anything anymore.
"And yet this nothing listened to your cousin more than his own family ever did, encouraged him to be himself and follow his heart. And now look at Wally" he said pointing at Wally and Kirlia.
"Your son, nephew and cousin is no longer a kid. He worked hard to set a base upon which he wants to pave the road towards his dream and this battle is the ultimate proof of this. And yet, even after he battled so amazingly, even after his pokemon managed to evolve mid battle, something that can only happen when the bond with its trainer is deep and true, even after beating his mentor in this battle… you're still unwilling to listen to his desires and stop suffocating him. You should be ashamed" Sonic concluded his speech.
"This dream is madness! Wally is too fragile to…" Wally's mother screamed before her husband grabbed her hand.
"Honey… that's enough. He is right. It is about time we admitted we messed up".
"What? Honey what are you saying?"
"We have been turning a blind eye to Wally's misery for far too long. We didn't listen and that caused him to run away. We failed as parents and now we need to own up to it".
"I failed as a mother for wanting to protect my son?!"
"You failed cause you didn't listen to your son sister" Wally's uncle also spoke up "and I have failed too as a father".
"What are you talking about dad?" Wanda looked at her father in disbelief.
"Wally needed our compassion and we didn't give it to him. As a father it was my responsibility to teach you to judge a situation. Had I done my job you wouldn't have been against your own cousin. So I have failed. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry to you too Wally".
"Dad why are you apologizing?! Wally almost died in his first training session!"
"Do you know how many asthma attacks I have had ever since leaving?" Wally suddenly got their attention.
His family turned in his direction.
"Seven. And yet here I am. Alive and well. What more do you need to finally understand I'm not a baby anymore mom? I don't need you to protect me from asthma. I can handle it now".
Wally's mom didn't know what to say. An absolute loss for words.
"As for your apology uncle… there is no need for it" Wally said seriously.
Sonic now looked at Wally in disbelief.
"Your methods were wrong… but I believe you all had my best interest at heart. I don't think we're going to be cool right away but… I forgive you all. And I want us all to start over".
Sonic couldn't believe what he was hearing. Wally was forgiving his family? Just like that? Denying even the need for apologies?
Overwhelmed, Wally's uncle rushed to hug him. Wanda followed suit. Afterwards, Wally's father.
His mother was last.
The tension between them was palpable as she was the most controlling one in the family.
But their embrace was probably the deepest.
"So… now what?" she asked her son.
Wally looked at the Mauville gym.
"When I arrived here, I decided I would challenge this gym. But now I see I am not ready yet. Not for this gym anyway".
He turned back to his family.
"I will come back to Petalburg for a day. To have a real, all cards on the table conversation with all of you. And then I will take the gym challenge myself, starting with the Rustboro gym. And when I am ready, truly ready, I will come here and take on this gym".
Sonic wasn't sure how to process this.
Wally was leaving.
Sonic was going to be on his own again.
He didn't realize it but he had grown attached to Wally in their shared journey.
The kid saw the good in Sonic and helped him remain balanced.
If he left…
Wally himself interrupted the train of thought, wanting a few moments with Sonic.
The two walked a bit further away.
"I know this is sudden so, sorry. But I need to do this. To have this conversation and start over".
"Don't worry. I understand" Sonic assured him even though he couldn't comprehend why Wally was so quick to forgive.
Knuckles himself had taken an entire month facing his past as well as a literal journey to the past to find the strength to forgive Sabre.
"Thank you" Wally then said "for everything. I promise you here and now we will meet again soon. And on that day I will be a lot stronger".
"No doubt about it" Sonic forced a smile.
He and Wally then exchanged a handshake and Wally turned to leave.
At that moment the question overtook Sonic.
"Wally wait".
Wally turned.
"There's something I don't understand".
"What is it?"
Sonic hesitated for a moment.
"How can you forgive your family so quickly? After all they did to you?"
Wally's lips curled. It was a mix of a joyful and bitter smile.
"I haven't forgiven them entirely yet. But I want to. As soon as possible".
"But why? Earlier you said…"
"I remember what I said. But I thought about it and… I don't want to hold on to resentment anymore. Resentment is a poison Sonic. A poison I don't want in my life. And the cure to that poison is forgiveness. As hard and impossible as it sounds, it is worth it. Don't get me wrong. I am willing to forgive because they are willing to listen. But the point is, forgiveness is not easy. But if you can manage to do it… it takes away so much that is holding you back. It can make your life so much better".
Seeing the perplexity on Sonic's face, Wally decided to add something.
"I know it may sound foolish and I wouldn't blame you if you thought me foolish right now. But… forgiveness is not as much of a gift to those who have wronged us… as it is to ourselves. A key to allow the peace back in. Your rival, Ash could benefit from hearing this. Maybe I'll tell him this next time I see him. See you around Sonic".
And with those words and one last smile and wave, Wally left.
Sonic watched him leave with his family, alone once again. Wally's words echoed in his mind over and over.
Wally had unknowingly struck closer to home than Sonic would like to admit.
Sonic turned and also left, deciding to postpone the gym battle. He had to get a grip on his thoughts first.