{Sonic's P.O.V.}
I woke up the next morning, Mary wasn't there to wake me up as usual.

It's almost 10 o'clock.

Usually she woke me up at 8...

Weird but I'll let it slide.

I yawned softly and stood up then made sure my quills weren't like I was fighting with a raccoon and walked outside to eat breakfast. I raised a brow when I still didn't spot Mary but I shrugged it off once more and continued walking down the aisle, guessing that she had some other patient to take care of.

But the place has so many helpers already...

I'm thinking too much about it. 

I was close to the main hall, minding my business and looking straight ahead when I heard someone call my name. I stopped walking and turned my head slightly then looked at the corner off my eye behind me, to see if I recognized the person who called out for me.

"Sonic!" A male green hedgehog walked towards me, that was being followed by a dark pink female hedgehog. 

"How's it going, Bro?" The green one smiled at me, making me pin my ears down and look back in front of me.

"Sonic?" The pink one asked softly in worry. "What's wrong...?"

I can't face them. 

I look pathetic. 

"Come on, Bro. We came here to see our little brother smile. Why that face?" Manic smiled and walked to me then tapped my shoulder. "Look at me."

I looked at my brother as I was trying to show as few emotions as I could. "I'm... Not little and you know it." I mumbled.

"You were born last so you are." He chuckled and hugged me tightly. "We missed you, dude..."

My ears perked up when he hugged me. I've missed this warm feeling, the feeling that you have someone that cares for you. I slowly hugged back and rested my head on Manic's shoulder with a small smile. "I missed you too. what are you doing here...?" I asked calmly as I pulled away and looked at my sister. 

Sonia smiled and gently held my hand. "We're here to take you back." She answered softly.

I tensed up at that and quickly pulled my hand away. "W-what...?! Why?" I dropped my ears and took a step back. I didn't want to leave this place, I was felt like...- No...- I was sure that something bad will happen if I leave. 

"Because you're calmer now." Mary suddenly said from behind. "You're ready to leave and start your life." She smiled. 

I looked at them and pinned my ears down. 

I did want to leave! 

"B-but...-"

"No 'but's, Bro. You're ready!" Manic grabbed my hand. "Besides, your house needs some cleaning." He chuckled. 

"And we need our brother." Sonia smiled. "And the Hero of Mobius." 

I looked down and slowly shook my head. "I'm not... A hero anymore... Everyone knows what I've done... No one will trust me anymore..." I mumbled.

"That's not true." Sonia shook his head. "Egghead is gone, but more villains are trying to take his place, your friends miss you and the city needs you. Everyone wants you to come back, Sonic. They still have faith in you." 

I looked at Mary then my siblings. They all care so much for me. 

"Don't go." Dark spoke up. "You're safer here, without any chores, or Eggman, or Shadow~" I could hear that he was smirking, his dark energy and his name breaking my heart. 

"N-no... I-"

"Don't listen to the voices in your head, Sonic." Mary cut me off. "They won't help you." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "I know you're scared, but we both know that everything happens for a reason."

Her smile... I've seen that smile before...

"Come on, Sonic. We all need you back..." Sonia lowered her ears and looked at me with a worried and hurt expression. "You're the only one who can save us... All of us..."

I didn't know what to do or say. 

All I could think was how everyone would react if they saw me. 

Will they accept me...? 

Will they hate me...? 

Will they kick me out...?

This doesn't feel right...

"Sonic." Mary snapped e out of my thoughts. "Please forgive me for what I'm about to say... But what do you think Shadow would do?"

This caught me off guard. 

I've never thought about that. 

Because I didn't want to think about him.

"Don't you want to avenge him?" Manic got in the conversation with an even harder question. 

"Show to him that you'll keep the city save for him?"

I clenched my fists as I thought of that awful day, the day I lost everything, along with my sanity. 

"You won't be safe out there."

But now I have it back...

"You'll disappoint everyone."

I'll become stronger...

"Your friends hate you!"

For him!

"You won't survive!"

I'll show everyone how much I can do~