[ * Sonally: The Land of The Forgotten * ]

The Guilt Inside Me

Time: 4 days, 11 hours, and 28 minutes.

There he was again, trying to sort his [own] mind out. He didn't mean to tell her all the pain he had been through, especially during the End Game and the days when Sally was a Robian. It was understandable since, in the End Game, he was framed by Hershey, who was deceived into doing it. Poor Hershey, she was killed in action. He sighed, trying not to overthink it.

"Are you ready to tell me why you keep this a secret? I'm a princess, and even I was forced to suppress them for the Republic of Acorn's sake." Sally asked him.

Four hours since he let all the pain rain on her when he didn't mean to do it. Her expression just brought so many bad memories. Terrible memories he didn't want to remember.

He took a deep breath and said, "I kept it because I didn't want you to worry about me. I should be the one worried about all of you. Yet, everything is always the opposite. It would be best if you were concerned about yourselves because I, even though the pain is killing me, will be fine. It would be best if you did not worry about me but yourselves. And trust me, I have been through thick and thin and always got out fine, almost. Even when alone, I know I should tell someone, but how could I when I don't want my pride to get hurt... It's [really] complicated that I don't know how to solve the puzzle I created. I try to solve it, yet I find more and more missing pieces. And I admit that jealousy, anger, and many bad feelings make more puzzle pieces. I often ask myself, 'Are you a true hero? Are you an honest and loyal friend? When will you admit that you aren't perfect?' But that part of me always replies, 'Yes, I am a fuckin' true hero! Of course, I'm honest and loyal! I am perfect because I'm the fastest Mobian alive!' That by itself is not one bit true. I'm not a hero. I didn't sa my girlfriend. I'm not a loyal and honest friend. I still hate myself for being forced to fight my brother just because you locked his father up. I'm not perfect. I never was. If I were, I wouldn't be crying myself to sleep, screaming about how awful I am, etc."

Sally hugged him. He hugged her back.

"You are not alone, Sonic. I'm always here for you..." Sally replied.

He sighed and stood up, going to the terrace. He just had many things on his mind. His negativity-manifested mind always kept him wide awake.

"You need to give up! It's worthless; she will die because of your selfishness!" The voices inside his mind yelled.

"Shut up! I don't need you to make me feel any worse now!" He thought to himself.

"But you will never make yourself feel better because she will die!" The voices yelled back.

"Why do they always come back with more and more insults? Why not at least try to make me feel a little bit... BETTER?!" He thought.

"Because you are useless!" They replied.

He sat down, crying himself once again. Was he going to make it out alive? He did not know...

Meanwhile, Sally was processing everything inside the apartment until she noticed Sonic's watch. She walked over to the table and looked at it.

"He always carried it with himself... but it seems like he forgot to pick it up..." She thought, picking it up. She looked closely at the words written on it, "Father Time's particular clock. Anyone can use it for any time-related issues. Use it with caution."

She sighed and opened it.

"Tell me, why is Sonic so... upset?" She asked it, and within a second, it teleported her to where they spent their anniversaries. A sign from magical dust appeared, "Even gone, the Source of All is contained in me... and so, I shall answer your answer, princess Sally Alicia Acorn."

"Understood..." She replied.

"Everyone has long forgotten you after you were forgotten. Only Sonic managed to keep you in his heart, and his ten years of grief are what brought him here. He has faced many foes, but your brother, unfortunately, managed to break his spirit. Now, he is trying to be strong and not vulnerable like never before, but it seems to be doing the opposite effect. His outburst was one side-effect of this opposite effect. You may be the only one able to comfort him as your brother's tempting offers do not easily sway you," the pointer changed and read.

"What do you mean by this?" She asked it.

It quickly teleported her to the chess room where Mighty and Elias' last meeting was. The same conversation ensued, with Mighty calling this a game of chess.

"Your brother considers Sonic a pawn, but Mighty thinks otherwise, considering him the white king fighting to save the black queen; in his case, this is you. You all are like chess pieces, moving every time you go anywhere. Look at it with Mighty's eyes and make his every move. Eventually, you can win the game, defeating the black king's army of the most potent pawns, bishops, etc." The Source of All explained.

She nodded and poofed back into the apartment. She walked to the terrace and looked at the crying hedgehog.

"No, no, no! I don't believe that it's my fault... It's not... my fault..." He said, sniffing and crying.

She walked over to him and looked at him.

"You don't say? It's both of our faults that we didn't see it coming..." She replied.

"But I failed everyone..."

"Both of us did... as heroes and normal Mobians..."

She hugged him, and all of the voices perished quickly.

"Thank you, Sally, thank you for everything..."

Sonic got up, and they walked inside. Sonic's thoughts were clouded by negativity, and he couldn't escape the thoughts shrouding him. He sighed, contemplating life. Everything was so confusing, and he couldn't understand it.

"How did I manage to screw myself so badly..." He thought to himself.

Sally returned from the kitchen, bringing two cups of hot cocoa and handing one to Sonic.

"All that matters to me is that you are here with me. Screw my brother and the others! We can both handle this!" She said to him.

He looked at her, smiling.

"What would I do without you, Sally? I missed you so much!" He replied.

"I should be asking myself this... as the day you kissed me in the throne room made me so much happier..." She replied, hugging him and crying with joy.

It was such an emotional moment that he hugged her back and cried joyfully. The two called together, and soon, time passed as they kept talking about different stuff. It indeed was a magical day at such a miserable place.

To be continued...

[Note from the author: I'm SO sorry for delaying everything. I need to focus on finishing this and some other stories... Well, at least I finished this! I plan on making a Shardicole one!]