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Nicky looked into the mirror.
Her nose was bloody and she had a blue eye again.
Aw, shucks.
She sighed, put away her glasses and began treating her injuries.
The bullies really got her this time.
What was the big deal though?! Ok, she WAS a little neardy, always carrying her books around wherever she got, and those glasses really didn’t add to her image.
But beating her up because of it??!!
Not cool, bullies >:(
The young hedgehog put her pony up, trying to treat her bad eye with an ointment her mother got her after the tenth time she had gotten home with a swollen muzzle.
She actually liked her haircut a lot more this way, her quills just looked somewhat more natural with her pony being smoothed out and not in the middle of her face.
,But mom likes it THIS way…’ she told herself for the 100th time.
Her red sweater was (again) a gift from her mother, but way too hot for summer.
IT WAS SUMMER.
She sighed, grabbing her glasses, getting out of the bathroom.
At least it was her favorite color.
She got into her room, lazily tossing her bag away somewhere into the corner.
Her room was clean…
So clean…
TOO CLEAN.
All Nicky really wanted were some posters of soccer players or sports cars on her walls.
Even better a poster of that one video game with the boy in green and the fairy.
She really liked that one.
Even though she only got to play some short sequences in game shops, when her parents weren’t looking.
The little girl sighed, and got to work.
Homework.
Blegh. The nastiest work of all.
After what felt like an eternity Nicky finally closed her book and smiled happy because of her FINALLY done homework.
Her parents weren’t home yet.
Of course they weren’t.
They had to work….like always.
But if they weren’t there….
Nicky got out of her room, and sneaked into the living room.
She sat down on the sofa, reached for the remote……
She turned on the TV, and immediately saw the race cars of blue, red, black and yellow shoot across the screen.
The Hedgy’s eyes sparkled.
For some reason she loved speed.
Whenever she got to run in her schools sports class, she would always jump out of joy.
When Mobians are born, there’s a 2% chance, that they are born with special powers.
In the ancient times powers like these were considered holy and those who were blessed with them were looked up to.
But today, it was considered dangerous, and Mobians with abilitys were called cursed and banned from society.
Not that Nicky was one of them, though!
She got tested on different things by doctors, but she wasn’t very strong, or could turn invisible, nor did she have telecenesis.
The only thing the doctors told her and her parents was that Nicky apparently had a ,,mental illness” called ADHD.
The doctors told her that she was very hyperactive and had problems with concentration, to which her parents just said that it all wasn’t true, and that their daughter was just being lazy.
This was also the reason she didn’t get any pills, even though doctors promised her that they would keep her hyper activity in a sufferable state.
Her parents didn’t believe in stuff like that.
Snapping back into action, the Hedgy realized that she had zoned out again.
(aaas always…)
The race was already over, and the blue car had won.
She smiled and eagerly watched the rest of the sports program.
Nicky loved sports.But she wasn’t allowed to play any….Her parents said that it wasn’t for girls.
,Who determines gender roles anyways…?!’
The kid thought bitterly.
In that moment the door swung open.
Nicky froze and switched Programms immediately.
Now there was some kind of unicorn and fairy show playing.
Yuck.
,,Wheeeeeres my little princess?”
Asked the tall blue rabbit mobian with brown eyes who had just entered the room.
,,’M here” the little girl declared from the sofa she was sitting on.
,And back to putting on a show…….’
Her father hugged the little girl from behind, instantly regretting it, when her pointy quills poked him.
,,Ouch….well….” The dad said, after setting his stuff down.
He properly looked at his daughter…..
,,Ah……I see you have been beaten up agin?”
Nicky just nodded, looking away in embarrassment.
Her dad kneeled in front of her, looking at her injuries.
,,hah…..I am soo proud of you! You are the perfect little girl! Doing everything a man wants, without fighting back….you will be an amazing wife one day!”
The rabbit said, getting up and snatching the remote from the kids hand.
Nicky obeyed without saying anything.
It was no use. (Silver ref🌚)
,,Go get me a beer, would cha dear?” Nicky’s father asked, without looking at the kid in front of him.
,,Yes, dad….” She said, (slowly) walking into the kitchen.
She got a beer out of the fridge and popped it open.
She got back into the living room and handed her dad the beer, who immediately started drinking.
,,AAH, that’s the good stuff! My little girl getting me a refreshing little drink while I watch sports. That’s the life!”
Nicky didn’t move. She just looked straight forward without any emotion in her pitch black eyes.
,,Get to ya room, Nicky! I don’t want ya to watch sports with me, you’re a girl!”
Nicky just nodded and got to her room…like she always did.
One hour passed. Then two.
When the third hour had passed by, her mom finally came home from shopping.
(Like she did always….every day)
,,Ohh, Nickyyyy!!!Nicky, dear I have something for you!!”
The Hedgy just sighed and got up from her bed, where she was reading a fairy tale book.
She would much rather read a comic, but whatever….
,,Hello, Mother.” The girl said emotionless, while her mom went in on a hug.
She hated touch.
Her parents touch especially for some reason.
Nickys mom was a small female hedgehog with purple quills and eyes as blue as the ocean.
,,Oh, dear I have found the PRETTIEST little skirt for you, princess!!”
Nicky nodded.
,And again with clothes I don’t want to wear….great, MOTHER.’
Nickys Mother pulled out a pink skirt and a violet little dress, perfect for Nicky’s size.
FOR HER SIZE, NOT FOR HER STYLE, CHARACTER OR ANYTHING ELSE………But oh, whatever….who cares anyways.
,,Thank you, mother. I appreciate it.”
,,Go try them on!!” The lavender hedgehog declared thrilled.
Nicky froze.
,Try them on?’
Disobeying had no use.
,,Yes, Mother.”
As Nicky tried the dress and skirt on, she felt more and more uncomfortable in her skin.
,No.Nonononono…no, this isn’t right, this isn’t right, get me out, get me out, getmeoutgetmeoutgetmeout…
GET.ME.OUT.’
The Hedgy stepped in front of her parents.
Her mother clasped her hands together.
,,You.Look.Absolutely ADORABLE chicken!”
,But I am a hedgehog….’
,,Thank you, mother.” The little girl said, twirling her dress a little bit to show off.
It’s always this way.
Every.Fucking.Time.
Dinner was like always.
Going to bed was like always.
Waking up, dressing in uncomfortable clothes, going to school, getting beat up, and again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
It was only a matter of time until Nicky would break.
Until she would become just like her mother, without personality, or emotions.
Just a tool for men to use.
Something to cook, clean, get kids….
Nicky didn’t want that.
She didn’t want that at all.
She would catch herself sometimes looking out the window, hoping that something would change……..
It was until one day she was sitting on a bench during lunch break, eating her veggies, while watching the boys of her class playing soccer.
One of the boys fell on his knee and began crying. ,Crybaby.’ Nicky thought while watching the douchebags.
,,Nooooooo, now we need a new player…..but there is no one left.”
The boys gaze landed on Nicky. And an idea struck him.
,,Hey, you, weird girl! Yeah, you blue fur! Watcha say? Wanna play with us boys? Not like you have any other friends…”
Nicky looked shocked.
All she ever wanted.
All she had to do was say yes and she would have the chance to play sports!!
Then she thought about her parents.
They said it was ,,sinful” for a girl to play sports like these.
But for the first time in her life, Nicky ignored the voices in her head.
She got up……And joined the boys.
,,There you have your player! Y’all know Nicky, right?” The boys gaze landed asked, pulling the Hedgy into a side-hug.
The others looked at him.
,,Ugh….HER?!Out of all people you pick…Nicky the hedgehog…….??”
Nicky looked down in embarrassment.
They were right.She was good for nothing after all…..
,,Eh, aleast give her a chance, gee….”
Nicky looked up, hope in her eyes.
,,Oookay….do you know how to play, or do I need to explain?!”
One of the rude boys asked.
Nicky shook her head.
Ohh, she knew how to play soccer.She knew very well.
The girl removed her glasses, and stood in the middle of the field.
,,AAAND….GO!”
And Nicky played.
She played like she never played before.
And she felt free.
That afternoon she didn’t go home the same way she usually goes.
She got from the school bus and just….
Walked.
She enjoyed nature, greeting people along the way, and for the first time she didn’t care about her blue eye and swollen muzzle.
After about ten minutes she was home.
,Already?:(‘ the Hedgy thought sadly, as she got into the house.
Her dad returned from work.
Her mom handed her new ugly clothes, and they ate dinner.
But somehow….Nicky didn’t feel as empty as usual.
She felt alive.
That night she stood in front of her mirror.
everyone was asleep and the only light source in her room was the moon shining softly on her fur.
She looked at her reflection for a long time.
And then she did something she hadn’t even dreamed about two weeks before.
She gelled her pony back, took off her glasses and the ugly ass sweater her mom forced her to wear.
And looking back at her….was a confident young hedgehog.
Nicky gasped, looking at her reflection.
She had never felt better in her life.
She felt….right.
She felt like she could do anything she wanted, like she could become anything she wanted, like she could make a change in this world.
The little Hedgy got into bed, thinking about everything.
About her stupid bullies, about her stupid parents, about how she never really fit in…
She closed her eyes, trying to FEEL what was missing….What was wrong….She tried to imagine how her life would be better.
-Dream, lol-
Nicky was standing in the middle of a field.
Not any field, the football field she had played not even seven hours ago.
,,Yo, Sonic! Pass us that ball!”
,…..Sonic? Who…….who is Sonic….?”
Nicky thought, before she realized that the ball was laying right in front of her.
She kicked it…softly at first, but grew more confident with every pass, every praise every time a teammate would give her a high-five.
,,Yo, Sonic, dude, me and the guys are hanging out at the palm trees later, boys only!Wanna come?”
.
.
.
Boys only?
Why invite her, then??
.
.
.
Nicky looked at her reflection in a puddle filled with rain-water.
Back was looking a confident hedgehog.
Quills gelled back, No shirt, No skirt or dress, no injuries.
,That is me….!’
The Hedgy suddenly realized.
,That’s….who I WANNA BE.’
.
.
.
,I WANNA BE A BOY!’
[Editors tip: listen to ,suitcase’ by Sia, or ,Anthems for a seventeen year old girl’ by yeule]
Nicky shot out of bed.
It was still dark outside.
A look at the alarm clock told the Hedgy that it was 3 am.
,,I….finally know……what was missing this whole time….”
Nicky stood up, opening her window.
A nice night-breeze greeted her, and she took a deep breath.
It smelled like freedom.
What Nicky was about to do now, could either be considered brave or stupid.
She jumped out of her window, and began walking.
And then faster.
And faster.
And faster.
And faster.
Faster.
Faster.
Faster.
FASTER!!!
Nicky was running now.
She had never ran like this before.
Not this fast.
Not this freely.
Never did she feel the wind bristle through her quills like this before.
Never did her paws move like on their own.
Never before did she feel like she could do anything and everything.
She hadn’t bothered to put on shoes.
Her paws were exposed to the night, not only her hands but also her feet.
She didn’t put on the sweater her mom had gotten her last week.
And she would never again.
She felt the grass between her toes, the wind against her skin and everything around her was nothing but a colorful mess.
And Nicky screamed.
Not out of fear, but out of sheer joy.
She laughed, going faster and faster.
She loved this.
She loved being fast.
She loved nature.
She ran and ran, until she got to a cliff.
But her feet wouldn’t stop.
So the girl jumped.
For what felt like an eternity, she was just in the air, flying freely.
But everything has to come to an end, and so did this magical moment.
Nicky landed in the bushes, and got scratched badly.
But she didn’t care.
Out of breath, Nicky looked into the night-sky.
The stars were beautiful.
Nickys eyes sparkled.
,,Sonic…”
The name left her lips almost like a little prayer.
,,Sonic…Sonic.SONIC!!”
She smiled.
,,My name….is Sonic! And I am NOT a girl. I am a boy. A BOY!!!!”
Sonic felt like jumping high into the air.
He finally found the missing puzzle piece.
The piece that decider about his fate. If he was allowed to be happy, or if he would end up like his parents.
Sonic lay there for maybe two more hours.
He only returned back ,,home” when the sun had risen.
He climbed back through his window, just in time as his mom opened the door to his room, to wake her daughter son.
,,Nicky!What in Gaias name happened to you, young lady???!!”
All the confidence Sonic felt not even an hour ago was gone, replaced by a deep and unsettling fear.
,,I….I got pushed into a bush in school, and uh…..yeaaah.”
The Hedgy looked at his mom.
She just shrugged.
,,Oh, whatever. You’ll be late for school, hurry!”
With these words she left, and Sonic was once again left alone.
He looked through his wardrobe.
Ugly.
All of it.
Finally the boy picked a red sweatshirt, and a black skirt paired with red and white sneakers.
Still way too girly, but whatever.
It was how he always dressed.
How he was forced to dress.
Sitting on the breakfast table, Sonic’s father glanced at him and scrunched his face.
,,What are those scratches on your face??”
He asked.
Sonic looked up.
,,Got pushed into a bush at school.”
He said emotionless, while shoving cereal into his mouth.
,,Ah….I see.”
The next weeks were exciting.
Sonic would go to school, be perfect little Nicky, get beat up, and return home.
But from now on, every night he would jump out of his window and go running.
He wanted to test just how fast he could be.
Sonic ran and ran, seeing new places every day.
And he would always come back at the perfect time, before his mom would walk in, to wake him.
The downside of Sonic’s nightly routine was that he -of course- didn’t get ANY sleep.
He realized pretty soon, that he could be awake a long time without sleeping, but after one week, his nightly trips had gotten the best of him, and he would fall asleep in class all the time.
By 6th time this had happened, Sonic’s confused and worried teacher took him aside, and asked if he had problems back at home.
,Oh, if she only knew…’ Sonic thought bitterly, but denied everything.
[Editors tip:listen to ,more than a woman’ by Aaliyah, or to ,Alien Blues’ by Vundabar]
Then came the day.
The day that would change everything.
Looking back at it…..Sonic would still do the same thing.
He walked down the alley way, deep circles under his eyes.
He really needed to get some sleep soon…
,,Ay, NICKY!!! Yeah, you, loser!!”
Sonic turned around, but in that moment a fist hit his face.
Sonic saw stars, stumbled backwards and fell to his butt.
He looked up at the mean kids that had pushed him.
,,Aww, what, you gonna CRY AGAIN??!!You little CRYBABY!!Youre not even gonna fight back, now are you?!Yeah, of course not GIRLS DONT FIGHT!”
And something in Sonic finally snapped.
He slowly got up, glaring at his bully.
,,I’m not a girl…” He said calmly, standing upright now.
The bullies looked at him, and started laughing.
,,HAHAHAHA, YEAH, YEAH GOOD ONE, NICKY!HAHAHA, NOT A GIRL!!I KNEW THAT YOU WERE STUPID NICKY, BUT THIS?!”
The bully attempted to shove Sonic again, but he stopped his fist.
Over these last few weeks he had gotten pretty strong.
And the boy had not only fast feet, but also fast reflexes.
The bully looked shocked.
,,The fuk-“
In that moment Sonic punched him in the face.Hard.
The boy tumbled backwards and began crying.
Sonic wasted no time.
Using his super speed, he got to the bully, sat on top of him, and began beating him up, like he did so many times with ,,Nicky”.
The bullies friends wanted to help him, but Sonic kicked them all away.
Finally a teacher arrived, who pulled Sonic away from the other boy.
,,NICKY.THE.HEDGEHOG!!!!YOU APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW!!”
But Sonic wasn’t done.
In his rage, he turned around and shot his teacher a death glare.
,,STOP CALLING ME NICKY FOR GAIAS SAKE!I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!ENOUGH OF HOW EVERYBODY SEEMS TO THINK THAT GIRLS CAN REACH NOTHING IN THIS WORLD, HOW SPECIAL PEOPLE WITH POWERS ARE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS, HOW EVERYBODY KEEPS CALLING ME A GIRL, I AM A BOY, AND MY NAME IS SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!!!!”
Sonic breathed heavily.
He hadn’t realized that he had started yelling.
All eyes were on him.
Sonic pulled away his glasses, and smeared them in his hand, as if it was nothing.
All eyes were on him, still.
He smoothed his pony back and polled the ugly ass sweater over his head.
The skirt got the same treatment, until he only wore the two tight sport bras that kept his chest hidden.
Everybody looked absolutely disgusted.
,Now we can’t have that.’
Sonic thought.
,,OH, PLEASE!!!!!WE HAVE NOTHING DOWN THERE!!THE ONLY REASON YOU PEOPLE WANT WOMEN TO DRESS IS BECAUSE YOU CANT KEEP YOUR EYES TO YOURSELF!!!!”
Sonic got up, and glared at his teacher, who looked absolutely terrified.
,,NICKY HEDGEHOG, YOU PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!”
Sonic scoffed.
,,Still not my name, princess!!Also, why are THEY allowed to wear nothing then?!”
He pointed to the bio-boys who used to bully him, but now just stood stunned on the side-lines.
,,YOUR PARENTS WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS!!”
Deep inside Sonic something like fear pinched at his heart.
He knew that if his parents found out, he would be COOKED.
The last time he rebelled against them, his father had slapped him.
,,Do as you Fucking please.”
Everybody was looking at him.
Some were shocked, some were angry, some were just straight up stunned.
,,DONT YOU SEE HOW THIS STUPID SYSTEMS BREAKS YOU ALL!!!”
Sonic yelled.
Some looked on the ground, some just left.
Sonic knew that it was no use.
He knew that he would have to pay for his actions.
But he didn’t care.
He really, and truly didn’t care.
That afternoon Sonic didn’t walk home, nor did he take the bus.
The hedgehog ran.
He ran like there was no tomorrow, and he knew that if his teacher informed his parents about his actions, there really wouldn’t be one.
He opened the door, and was greeted with the sight of his parents standing in the kitchen, looking at him.
,,We need to talk, Nicky.”
Sonic felt like a bucket full with ice had been dropped on his head.
The Hedgy took a deep breath and got to the kitchen, where he stood his ground.
His father and his mother looked at him, like he was something disgusting they couldn’t understand, like a snail of some kind.
,,WHERE are your clothes, young LADY!
Your mother got you all those dresses, and you still choose to walk around NAKED?!”
Sonic took a deep breath.
Oh, they were not ready for this.
,,Why though?” His voice shook a little, but he bravely stood his ground.
,,Why…?WHY?!YOU ARE ASKING WHY??!!
GIRLS CANT WALK AROUND NAKED!ITS DISGUSTING!!”
,,Im not a girl.”
The world stood still.
Sonics parents both just looked at him, completely shocked.
,,WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!”
Sonics father stepped forward and grabbed him by his ear.Hard.
Sonic winced in pain, but else wise didn’t move.
,,That I.Am.Not.A.Girl. Im a boy, and my name is Sonic!”
His father pulled his sensitive ear harder.
Sonic wanted to scream, but he didn’t want to give his dad the satisfaction.
Now his mother stepped into the scene, looking shocked and disappointed.
,,You.Get out of my house.”
Sonic looked shocked.
He looked to his mother with pleading eyes, but she just gave him a cold look.
And in that moment the last thread snapped.
Sonic forcefully pulled his head away, wich was a very bad idea.
His father’s grip was strong.
The next thing Sonic felt was a burning pain in his right ear, as he realized that he had teared off half of it.
He just looked shocked at his father, tears forming in his eyes.
,,WHAT YOU DESERVE!!WHAT DID YOU EXPECT US TO DO, WHEN OUR DAUGHTER HAS THE IDEA OF SUDDENLY BECOMING A TRANNY!!!”
Tears streamed down Sonic’s face now.
,,Maybe…Love me anyways….”
He got up, and looked at his father with more hatred then ever.
,,And now we’re back to crying! Pull yourself together!”
He got ready to slap his daughter SON again, but Sonic stopped his hand mid-air.
His father looked shocked, and his mother had started crying.
,,WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, GIRL?!”
Sonic took a deep breath, feeling a rush.
,,I am Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog.”
He lifted his arm, and without second thought slapped his father so hard, that he fell into the kitchens fridge.
,,MY NAME IS SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, AND I AM NOT A GIRL!I AM A BOY, AND I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD!!”
His father looked at him disgusted, while his mom just couldn’t stop crying.
,,YOU CANT THROW ME OUT, BECAUSE I AM LEAVING!!!”
Sonic got ready to leave, when his mother grabbed his wrist.
,,Nicky, baby girl, please don’t leave us! You are everything I was ever proud of!”
Sonic looked at her disgusted.
,,You made this decision yourself the moment you made me believe that I have to be your whole personality.”
He looked back a last time, at the home he hated so much, the parents that would never understand him.
,,Goodbye Petric. Goodbye Angela.”
With these words he sped out of the door and ran.
Where?
He didn’t know.
Far away from here.
Where nobody knew him, Where nobody knew that he wasn’t a real boy.
(He IS a real boy, he just doesn’t see that yet.)
Sonic ran until the suns had gone down, and he was still running when the birds slowly woke up.
The next months, the boy would live without a home, without real food, but he had never been happier.
He didn’t know where he was, but he didn’t care.
All he cared about was that his parents would never find out where he is.
On his travels he met some real interesting people.
For example his future best friend Miles Prower, who was kicked out of home, and bullied for having an extra Tail.
Sonic felt a sympathy for this little guy that was not possible to describe.
He reminded him of himself.
He never told him that though!
He never talked about his past ever again,
Because Nicky should stay dead.
Dead forever.
By the age of fourteen he got something called ,top-surgery’.
(Yes, Mobians can have top surgery at a very young age-dream frfr)
From this moment on, nobody could tell that he wasn’t born a boy.
Chaos, not even Miles -now Tails- knew!!
Of course it wasn’t always easy.
He had often cried himself to sleep, asking himself what was wrong with him, and why he couldn’t just be normal.
But with the help of new found friends and some Chaos, he also got out of this pit.
Sonic made more and more friends.
They accepted him how he was, and liked him for WHO he was.
But most importantly: He got to make a change in this world.
He changed it for the better, and he would not stop until everybody was accepted just the way they were.
-If you feel overlooked or invisible, make yourself heard-