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Sonic took in the new environment he was surrounded in.
Well, actually, it wasn't that new to him. He’s seen many burnt-out towns like this one.
Sally, Tails, and Sonic came across this town during their travels and wanted to explore it. Sally had sent off into one of the houses while Tails scoured the ruins for anything educationally valuable. Sonic was left alone to his own devices.
As Sonic skimmed through the houses, keeping on the road, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity. It all seemed off… Like he was here before. But he couldn't place his finger on why. It didn't help that he had no memories of his childhood or family, so he had nothing to go off of.
That is until Sally approached him with a nervous expression on her face.
“Sonic, could you look at this for a moment?”
Sonic turned around to face Sally. She had an old, worn-down photo in her hand. She carefully placed it into the blue hedgehog’s hands.
Sonic looked down. It was a photo of 3 people. On the left, there was a lanky hedgehog with purple spines and hair, she was smiling at the hedgehog on the right. On the right side, there was a large hedgehog with grayed-out spines that resembled the color blue. He had a wide, bushy, gray mustache. He wore a great smile on his face, looking proud to be in this photo, proud of the one looking at the photo.
In the middle, there was a tiny female hedgehog. Their spines were the same color as Sonic’s and sported the same emerald green eyes just like his.
That was him
And his family.
Sonic stood as still as a statue, staring wide-eyed at the photo.
It was all coming back now.
He could see clearly now
How it all started…
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Sonic hid behind a chair in the living room, his father was trying desperately to keep the energetic and scared child still.
Solar
His father’s name was Solar…
There was clanking and thudding coming closer and closer to the door. Sonic and Solar held their breaths, not daring to make a sound.
Solar then stood up, heading for the door, for why? Sonic didn't know.
Then the door opened.
In the blink of an eye, Sonic could see blood. Lots of it. Solar’s heart was lying on the ground, squeezing and relaxing a few times before falling still. Blue fur and quills accompanied the puddle of blood. What was once Solar was now a cold, mechanical being. Sonic screamed and ran for his life.
He was running
But to where?
Now Sonic was underground, it looked like a basement? A bunker.
There were many people in the bunker. Some with families and friends. Others were by themselves. They had food and blankets. Sonic looked up at the families, he was crying. He wanted his mother, but he knew she was dead. She was screaming upstairs before he and Solar hid. And Solar? He was dead for sure. There was no life or personality left in him. Sonic was crying, curling up in his little corner. Then someone approached him.
There was a young woman crouching before him, holding a piece of bread. “Don’t cry, little one… It will be over soon, I promise.” She handed him the piece of bread and walked back to her own family. Sonic never ate the bread. He was too afraid to.
There was a rumble in the bunker, then silence fell. Sonic looked up. The robots found them. Sonic then used his gift once again, running faster than any other living creature could, only saving himself. He looked behind himself, watching the bunker as it exploded.
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“Sonic?”
“Sonic are you alright?”
“Sonic what happened?”
“Sally, is he ok?”
Sonic blinked, he was no longer running. He was standing, grounded, still, secure.
At least, he was secure physically.
He was shaking too. And there were tears in his eyes. Sally and Tails were watching patiently, Sally looked regretful. Only one thing came out of Sonic’s mouth:
“I remember…”
“Remember what, Sonic? Sally, what is he holding?” The young fox asked. Sally pointed at the photo, “I believe it’s a family photo… His family.”
The fox’s ears perked up, tilting his head, “Sonic, didn't you say you had no memory of your childhood?”
Sonic nodded.
“Do you remember now?” Sally cautiously asked.
Sonic nodded once more.
Sally looked down at the ground. Had she made a mistake? Would it have been better if she didn't show him the photo? It was clear whatever Sonic remembered was very tragic.
Tails thought for a moment, “Didn’t Amy say that it sounded like he had some sort of amnesia?”
“Dissociative amnesia, Tails,” Sally stated, opening her arms towards Sonic. He quickly fell into her arms, putting his full weight onto her, sobbing into her jacket. Sally simply patted his back and let him cry.
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Amy raised her brows.
“His past? All of it?”
“It seems so.” Sally nodded. Amy placed a finger on her chin.
“It only seems logical to find a therapist for him. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to handle all of that alone.
“You really think he’d sit still long enough to make any progress in an office?” Sally placed a hand on her hip.
“It’s worth the shot. He needs help, no matter how much he’ll deny it.”