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Swift knelt beside the tiny grave, not a single word coming out of his mouth for a moment. The frosty grass let out a crunching noise under his metallic leg. He placed a bouquet of dandelions and bluebells beside it. He sat there, the cold getting past his quills and biting harshly into his skin.
“I can’t believe it’s been nine years, kid.” he whispered finally, his voice hoarse from crying earlier. “Still feels like it was yesterday when you took your last breath.” trees and flowers had been planted all around the grave. All the things the child who had saved them hadn’t been able to see in their lifetime. It wasn’t a graveyard. It was a memorial. A grave that stood alone, a way to thank him.
Personally, Swift didn’t think it was fair. They had saved him from Eggman because they had been alone almost their whole life and they wanted a friend, but now, after death, they didn’t have a choice. They didn’t have a choice of not being alone where they died. Swift had requested to be buried there as well, once he died. He hoped it would happen.
“You would love this place, kid.” he smiled sadly. “You would’ve loved Green Hill.” he stared up at the sky and blinked hard a few times, trying to clear the tears from his eyes. “You would’ve loved apples and chili dogs and mint candy, too. This place is so much better than the world you died in.” a few tears streaked down his face.
“It’s not fair.” his voice broke, and he let out a little sob. “It’s not fair you died instead of me, Nine. It’s not fair how short your life was. It’s not fair you never got to see trees or flowers. It’s not fair you never got to taste apples, mint, or chili. It’s not fair. And I’m so sorry. If I had never been born, you would’ve never been put in that situation. Eggman would’ve never won. You would still be a happy little fox, doing happy little fox things. You wouldn’t have had any bullies, and nobody would’ve hurt you. You wouldn’t have had to hurt anyone. You would be happy. But now, you’re lost forever. And it’s all my fault”
“I wonder a lot what you would’ve made. What you would’ve done with your life if he hadn’t made me take it from you.” Swift spoke up after a while, when he regained the ability to speak. “You were always such a smart little fox.” a lump formed in his throat, and he glared up at the blue sky for a few minutes.
“...the sky’s blue now, you know. You got so excited when I told you about that. How when I was your age, the sky was blue, not red. I wish you could’ve seen it.” he smiled a little bit as he reminisced on his memories with Nine.
“You were only in my life for a few short months, Nine. I wish I had known you for longer. I wish I had known you for years, just so that you didn’t have to die with the majority of your life being lonely and frightening.” his chest ached.
“...you would’ve turned fourteen today, kid.” his voice broke. Tears streamed down his cheeks. “I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance to. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you in the end. Happy birthday, Nine.”