บท 97: Chapter 97
Sonic looked to the black portal, then back at his new friends. He loved them all dearly, but he couldn't leave Mobius without its hero. And he had many more friends back home that he needed to get back to. He looked at Sonja in specific. Something about his facial expression told her... he was set in his choice. She nodded, a slight frown on her face and averting her eyes.
Sonic walked off towards the portal. He turned to Ivan. "Will they be able to see Mobius? At least for a little bit?" Sonic asked. Ivan nodded. Sonic smiled. "Come here, guys! You won't believe this!"
Everyone hopped into the portal at once, and instantly... they saw the universe. The stars, planets... Sonic could tell. He was going home.
And then, they were there. Like a dream, they all woke up on the green hills of... Green Hill! Right where the mansion was. But looking back, there was no such thing there. It had just disappeared without a trace. Not even an indent on the restored, grassy ground. The Motobug parts were nowhere to be found either.
"It's beautiful..." Sonja gasped, as she looked around.
The sounds of the ocean in the distance and the breezy wind was calming to Sonic, and let him know he was home. Pico sniffed the salty air, and recognized it instantly. He was home too! But it was... different. It was so beautiful and new to him. He trumpeted long and hard from joy. Everyone laughed.
"Wow... so this is where you come from, Sonic?" Buck asked as the laughter settled down, bewildered. "It's nice..."
"Yeah, it is..." Sonic replied. "Sorry you don't really have a chance to explore it."
"Oh, that's fine..." Buck responded. "This is all I really need." Sonic nodded. He respected that.
"Yeah, this place is pretty great..." Sonic sighed. Tails and Knuckles were just happy to be home, finally. It felt like an eternity that they were in that strange hourglass land. Just puppets on a string. But here, they were free. "Buck, I want to let you know that you've been a..." Sonic turned to Buck, who had a blue aura surrounding him. He looked transparent, slightly. Just like the other Sonic when it was time to go back to his own dimension. "Buck!"
"Sonic..." Buck whispered. "What's happening? NO! I don't want to go back home..."
"Hey, Buck..." Sonic said, putting his arms on Buck's shoulders. Buck looked like he was hyperventilating. "Don't you worry. Wherever you go, you'll make it. Just believe in yourself, stand up for yourself! Remember that!" Buck looked at Sonic, terrified to leave.
"Yeah..." Buck sighed. He looked back at Sonic, giving him a smile. Then, he disappeared into the blue light. "I love---"
Sonic wiped a tear from his eye and sniffled. Tails put an arm on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Sonic. He's home now." Sonic looked to Tails and nodded.
Sonic turned to Sonja, who had Pico in her arms still. But Pico... oh no... he was starting to disappear too! Pico looked at his arm enveloped in a blue light, then back to Sonic with fear in his eyes, like he had done something wrong. "PICO!" Sonic exclaimed, horrified.
Sonic ran up and hugged Pico close while still letting Sonja hold him. Sonic could hear Sonja silently crying into Pico's ear. Where would Pico go? Sonic figured back home to Green Hill Past. But then... who would take care of him? How would he survive? He was so worried about his little boy as he started to disappear before their very eyes. Going on to big and new things. It was terrifying. But Sonic had faith he'd make it. He had to make it.
"Pa... ma..." Pico whined, as he tried to wrap his stubby little arms around both Sonic and Sonja. He nuzzled Sonja's forehead like he did when he wanted to convey his love for them. It was a love that took up his whole heart. He just loved his parents so much. He lost his first parents, and now he was going to lose his new ones.
Pico broke out into a crying and trumpeting fit. He screamed and whined as he continued to disappear bit by bit. "Pico, don't cry..." Sonic said. Pico looked to him, breathing in and out rapidly. Tears in his wet huge eyes. "You'll make it..." Sonic whined. "You have to. You have us on your side, even if we're not there with you by your side. We'll always be with you in your heart. We love you, Pico... Don't ever forget that..." Sonic smiled, and gave a thumbs-up.
Pico looked at him and Sonja, then smiled. "Piho... love.... too!" He strung the words together almost perfectly. He trumpeted long and hard again as if to say goodbye as he disappeared fully. Sonic felt his heart break. His son was gone. Off to a scary, new world. One full of hardship. Loss. Above all else, trouble. But he would make it. That precious little woolly mammoth would do good and make him proud.
And then, it was Sonja's turn to go. She could tell as soon as she too started to disappear into a blue light. "Sonic..." She whispered. Sonic looked up, and nearly screamed. "It's time for me to go..." She smiled.
"No, you can't!" Sonic exclaimed. "You can't leave me alone!"
"But you're not alone..." Sonja reminded Sonic. She gestured towards Tails and Knuckles. "You have them, and so many more friends, Sonic. So many friends that will continue to be your friends no matter what." Sonja hugged Sonic as Sonic felt her very essence disappearing in his arms.
"But... you're special!" Sonic exclaimed. "Sonja... I really, really like you... I haven't liked anyone like this... ever!" Sonja smiled warmly, as tears streamed like a free river down both of their faces.
"I know, Sonic... and you know that I would stay if I could..." Sonja said, closing her eyes. "Thank you for this adventure. I loved being able to spend time with you."
Sonic's eyes had fear in them as they darted back and forth slightly. What was he going to do now? "Sonic... You can do this. I believe in you... be strong, be fast, be brave... You can make it through this life because you are you. You are special. You are Sonic the Hedgehog," Sonja whispered. "And I love you..."
Sonja disappeared. Sonic was left there, hugging thin air. Like it had never happened. But it had. And he wouldn't forget that. Sonic looked up at the blue sky, and saw a Resistance shuttle heading their way. "Sonic, are you okay?" Tails and Knuckles asked.
"Yeah..." Sonic said, flecking away his tears with a smile on his face. He looked back to Tails and Knuckles. He knew, throughout all the friends he had lost, these two would always be with him forever. "Because I'm---"
"Sonic! Sonic the Hedgehog!" Amy's voice screamed, as the Resistance shuttle landed on the ground. The doors slammed open on the ground and Amy hopped out. "Where in the world have you been? Everything's destroyed! Mobius is doomed!"
"What?!" Sonic asked, flailing back.
"I'm being sarcastic," Amy groaned. "We're starting cleanup procedures now. It would be nice if you would help."
"Well, I'll be there..." Sonic said, turning around and facing the mountainous region of Green Hill.
"Wait, really?" Amy asked. She looked surprised.
"Yeah..." Sonic said. He turned around and winked, giving a thumbs-up and a smile. "In the background. When you need me most." Sonic ran off.
"Sonic? Where are you going?!" Amy screamed. "Stop running and come back here right now! Sooooonic!" She called into the open Green Hill. But Sonic was already too far ahead to hear.
So, here we are. The day has been saved. Sonic races through the green fields. Tails and Knuckles fly off in the Tornado, Amy returns home in the shuttle, disgruntled. And the sun rises and sets. Dr. Eggman still hasn't been found, dead or alive. His reign of terror still looms over Mobius, as everyone prepares for a surprise attack. But will it ever come? Maybe, maybe not. Sonic doesn't have time to worry about that.
Because if you have time to worry, then run. Run fast. Run like Sonic the Hedgehog!
The end
Good ending reached: "Sonic's Hourglass"
Continue to Acknowledgements
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