[Sonic’s POV]

“You’re back!” Knuckles seemed relieved to see me.

“Of course I am. What, was Knux getting worried about little ole me?” I teased as I sat in the chair beside Shadow’s bed.

“No, of course not!” Knuckles was quick to defend himself. I laughed as I gently grabbed Shadow’s hand, soothly rubbing circles on the back of them. Knuckles walked up to us, speaking almost quietly. “How’d it go?”

I looked up to him with a smile. “It went great. I found him, and I got the answers I was looking for. He was so nice….”

“Glad to hear that.” Knuckles smiled to me. I looked back down to Shadow, hoping that my facade wouldn’t break.

The world doesn’t really like me anymore.

Tears ran down my muzzle as I stared at the bed. Unfortunately, Knuckles noticed this.

“Sonic? Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine….” That’s when I completely broke down. “Except Tails hates me!”

“What!?” I could hear the shock in his voice.

I couldn’t answer him because I was sobbing into the bed. I knew how uncomfortable Knuckles was in these types of situations, and I tried my best to hold it together, but it was just so hard. I don’t know how Shadow does it….

I felt a grip on my hand, and I noticed that it was Shadow’s hand. My eyes widened in shock, tears making my vision a bit blurry.

Knuckles noticed this too. “Sonic, he’s reacting to your emotions!”

I let go of Shadow, and he started to whimper a bit. “W-What?”

“Your-” Knuckles cut himself off as I looked to him, tears still in my eyes. He sighed. “Just calm down. We don’t want him to fall off the bed or something.”

I quickly started to wipe the tears away, slowly calming back down. I took deep breaths before looking to Knuckles.

“It’s fine.” He smiled to me, but I could tell it was uncomfortable. His smile quickly dropped once he realized I knew. “Now, why do you think Tails hates you?”

“I don’t think. I know.” I sighed. “When, I was heading back, I was captured by the Chaotix. Tails and Amy had asked them to get me, I guess. Anyways, Tails just kinda snapped…. He hates me, Knuckles….”

“I’m sure he doesn’t hate you.” Knuckles frowned. “He just might be a little mad right now.”

“A little mad?” I stood up. “I think that’s more than a little mad….”

Knuckles looked away uncomfortably. “I, uh…” He sighed. “Okay, you know I’m not good with these things….”

“Sorry, Knux!” I was quickly to reply.

“Uh, Sonic….”

“It’s fine, really. I just wanted to remind you that my advice might not be that good.”

“Sonic….”

“Hey, it can’t be any worse than that time when Dark told me that hoping a fence with barbed wire at the top was a good thing to do as a five year old.” I chuckled, recalling Uncle Chuck having to deal with my first ever scar. Knuckles laughed along with me.

“Sonic!”

I finally noticed Dark. ‘What?’

“I can’t find Exe!”

____________________________

[Silver’s POV]

I found myself back in the dark limbo with a new mission.

That was, until, I had found someone new.

We stared at each other, his red eyes glowing with blood falling down his pale muzzle. My puzzlement slowly grew into shock.

“It’s you!”

“What are you doing here?” The Sonic look alike tilted his head curiously, but his appearance made him look way more threatening.

“I should be asking you that!” I quickly retorted. “I come here every time I fall asleep, and I’ve never seen you!”

“Then I am truly not where I should be….” He mumbled, glancing around. “I knew it felt too smart….”

I sighed, anxiety suddenly filling me. I had to get some facts before I move on. “Alright who exactly are you?”

He paused, a nervously creepy grin settling on his muzzle. “While I’d rather let Sonic tell you when he feels right, I guess there’s no choice in the matter now….” He held out a clawed hand towards me. “My name is Exe. Sonic is a descendant of me.”

“But he… he turned into you when he died, didn’t he?” I blinked, much confusion entering my mind and swirling with the other confusing mess as I shook his hand.

“Yes, that is where things get a bit complicated.” Exe took his hand away, standing politely in front of me. “Our family line is a bit special. If you haven’t noticed by my appearance, I am a demon.”

I nodded. “Um, yes…. I’ve noticed….” I looked away awkwardly. “But… if you’re Sonic’s ancestor, then….”

“Yes, technically.” He nodded. “But it’s been many generations, it’s not as strong in him.” He looked around. “I’m sure Sonic will explain the rest when he feles right, but for now, do you know where we are?”

“Not exactly.” I rubbed the back of my head nervously. “All I know is that Shadow’s somewhere around here and he’s scared out of his mind.”

“Shadow is here?” Exe’s ears perked. He then looked away.

“Uh, yeah.” I nodded before remembering. “Oh right! We better find him before I wake up!”

And then I was off, searching for Shadow. It didn’t help that he blended into the dark area. Exe followed behind me as I shouted out Shadow’s name.

I was starting to run out of breath, but, luckily, I tripped over the hedgehog I was looking for. He was passed out, breathing quickly as his face was scrunched up. I shook him. “Shadow! Shadow, wake up!”

His eyes shot open as he stared at me, breathing heavily. “S-Silver? I thought I told you to leave!”

“There doesn’t seem to be a choice in the matter.” Shadow’s frightened eyes shot towards Exe.

“Sonic!?” He shook his head. “Wait, you?”

“Eh, hello.” Exe smiled nervously. “I am Exe.”

“Shadow, I need to know where we are and what that black smoke was last time I was here.” I grabbed his shoulders, staring into his eyes sternly.

He shook his head. “You should go. The smoke will be back, and I don’t want you caught in it.”

“No, I’m getting answers.” My grip tightened a bit.

Shadow bit his lip, glancing between Exe and me before sighing. “Alright… I think we’re in my subconscious. As for the smoke…. I don’t know…. All I know is that it’s bad. It hurts….”

“But why are we in your subconscious?” I looked confusedly at him, but Exe answered.

“He used most of his chaos energy to bring Sonic back to life; he’s been in a coma for over a month now.”

“Wait, so Sonic’s alive?” My eyes widened as I looked to him. He nodded in response.

“How is he?” I glanced to Shadow, who’s ears flattened against his head.

“He’s fine?” There was an unsureness about Exe’s answer that made me wonder if he was telling the truth.

Shadow seemed to notice too, but before he could say anything, his ear started twitching rapidly. His muzzle seemed to pale as he whispered out, “Smoke….”

“Wait, what!?” I looked around us and sure enough, smoke was heading towards us.

“Silver, go!” Exe’s quills rose , and I knew he sensed how bad it really was just by that gesture.

“But I want to help!”

“Go!” Both of them shouted, and, almost immediately, I woke up, adrenaline pumping through me.

I have to get back to the past.