[Sonic's POV]

I struggled in the arms of the one holding me. I didn’t know who it was, but I knew they were strong. “Hey, what’s the deal!?”

“Let me out! I’ll tear ‘em to bits!” Dark growled out.

“Dark, we don’t even know what’s going on. Calm down.” Exe replied.

“Calm down!? If they think they can take my son without a fight-”

‘Guys, stop!’ I thought, struggling more.

“Vector, why do we have to capture him like this?” A high pitched voice asked.

“He will not come by his own means.” A calm voice responded.

“But why, Espio?” The high pitched voice asked.

“Come on, Charmy, you’ve seen the news.” A rough voice replied, and I knew I recognized all of them.

“Wait, isn’t that Team Chaotix?” Exe asked. “Aren’t they your friends?”

“Some friends they are!” Dark hissed.

‘They have to have their reasons, guys.’ I replied, mind reeling. ‘None of them are the types to do something like this without a good enough reason.’

“Vector!? Espio!? Charmy!? What’s goin’ on!?” I called out.

“Tails and Amy have been trying to find you. Just thought we’d help ‘em out.” Vector replied, re-adjusting his grip on me.

“Ya could’ve just asked! Jeez, I thought I was gonna die or something!” and then I added in my mind, ‘And you could’ve been ripped apart by Dark or Exe.’

“I’m still not opposed to that.” Dark stated.

Soon enough I was put down on what felt like a wooden floor and the bag was removed. I sent a glare towards Vector as I stood, dusting myself off.

And then I was immediately tackled by Amy.

“Oh, Sonic! We were so worried!”

“Come on, Amy, I’m fine.” I groaned, pushing her off me.

Standing up, I felt Tails hugging me tightly. I frowned as I hugged him back.

“Why did you just leave, Sonic?” He questioned me as I looked into his baby blue eyes. “You’ve been acting so strange since you brought Shadow to the hospital….”

I sighed, backing away from him. “Listen, buddy, I can’t talk about it…. Just know that Shadow, Knuckles, and I are okay.”

He frowned, and I knew that those words didn’t help him. “Come on, Tails. Everything’s fine, I promise.”

“Sonic….” The group was staring at me, all looking like they’ve lost someone.

“Stop looking at me like that, guys. It’s really freaking me out.” I looked away uncomfortably.

“You took Shadow and Knuckles to Eggman, didn’t you?” Tails asked.

I felt my ears go flat against my head as I closed my eyes. “Tails, you don’t understand-”

“No, no, I get it.” His voice was cold and dark, and I felt a shiver go up my spine. I’ve never heard Tails be like this. I looked to him, but he refused to look back at me. “You trust him more than me.”

“What!? No, I would never!” He backed away from me as I tried to grab his arm. “Tails, I’m just trying to help Shad-”

“Is he all you care about anymore!?” Tails shouted, finally looking to me with tears in his eyes. “That’s all you ever seem to talk about anymore! Does it even matter that you’re going to your ENEMY’S lair!? Does it even matter that you have friends who are worried about you!?” He was breathing heavily as I felt my body shaking. His next question was quiet, his voice wavering. “Does it even matter that you left me without even a single word?”

Tears started falling down my muzzle as Tails finished his outburst. I didn’t realize how blind I was with all the recent events going on. Tails was there for me, even though he didn’t understand what was going on, and I just… ignored him….

I looked down to the floor, trying to form a sentence that I could say to make everything better. Nothing came up.

“I don’t think there is anything you can say here to make things better.” Exe sighed, and I couldn’t help but to agree with him.

I looked back to him, he was crying, with Amy comforting him. My next words were shaky. “I’m… I’m sorry, Tails….”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran out. I don’t know why I did; maybe it’s just instinct? Either way, I knew it was a bad idea.

Amy followed me. I guess I didn’t run as fast as I thought. “Sonic, Tails needs you! You shouldn’t just leave!”

I didn’t turn around to face her, but I did stop. “I don’t know what else to do….”

“Talk to him!”

“I-I can’t….”

“You’re Sonic the Hedgehog! You’re world renowned for cheering people up and brightening their days! That’s why I fell in love with you….”

I finally turned to Amy. She was looking down, but I could still see the tears in her eyes. Sighing, I turned away again. “Amy, there are things going on that are difficult to explain. I can’t tell them to Tails…. H-He’d probably just hate me even more now…. So would you….”

“I would never hate you, Sonic!” Amy was quick to her reply. “And Tails wouldn’t either! We just… Sonic, we need an explanation….”

“I can’t….”

“Sonic, I love you, and if you love me too, then you’d tell me what’s wrong!” I bit my lip, trying to stop what was going to come out. “Sonic!? Why are you acting so weird!?”

“I don’t love you, Amy!” I finally shout it out, and regretted it immediately. “I mean, n-not in the same way you love me. I-”

“I know.” Her voice was quiet, but it still stopped my sentence.

“Wh-What?” I turned around to face her, eyes wide.

“I know you don’t love me….” Amy sighed. “When I said that, I meant it in the way you really love me… as a sister, right?” I nodded. “I just want to know what’s wrong, Sonic. I’m… I’m sorry by how I've been acting…. I just thought that if I showed you how much I love you, you'd give me a chance…. Seeing how you've been acting around Shadow really opened my eyes….” She looked down. “That is love. This… isn't love….”

My eyes widened as I felt heat rising to my cheeks. “Y-You know!?”

She looked to me with a small smile, but tears were still in her eyes. “Sonic, I've been around you for years; I know you.”

I couldn't say anything even if I wanted to. Dark was the exact opposite of me though. “Jeez, who would've thought, huh?”

‘Do you always have something to say at the worse times?’

“Eh, it runs in the family.”

Amy disrupted my thoughts, hugging me tightly. “I'm not going to force you to stay…. But please don't disappear again…. Tails worries a lot…. I worry a lot…. But I understand what you're doing…. I would do the same if it were me and you.”

I felt tears well up yet again as I hugged her back. “Thank you, Amy….”

“Just go on….” She sniffled, letting me go. “Tell Knuckles that I said hi…. I hope Shadow gets better soon….”

And with that, she walked back in.

I stared for a while at the door, just trapped in my thoughts. ‘I feel really bad for leaving Tails on these terms, but I've kept Knuckles waiting long enough. The sun is already down….’

“We can always come back later, Sonic.” Exe replied. “Let's go back for now and give Tails some time to calm down.”

I simply nodded as I turned and ran back to Eggman’s lair.