Sonic: Never Giving Up On You

Chapter 4

"Wake up, idiot."

Sonic's emerald-green eyes snapped open as soon as he heard the demonic voice. "You again, EXE!?" asked Sonic furiously. Sonic.EXE held out his arm, not to take Sonic's, but to torment him instead.

"AUGH!" cried Sonic as he collapsed, pain going through him like a freight train. He shook in fear as Sonic.EXE grinned, pleased with what he had done with his vessel's mental & physical health.

"The thing you tried to do with the fox still has me furious," revealed Sonic.EXE, looking down at the azure hero. "How could you have fought when they already gave up on you?"

"I don't know," whispered Sonic. Sonic.EXE awaited answer, but nothing came. Sonic.EXE growled furiously. "HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW?! GIVE ME A REASON!!!" demanded Sonic.EXE.

"I just don't," he answered. "I- I... I just don't know. I guess it's in my nature to always fight evil, even if no one else cares. Being a hero isn't about popularity, it's about saving lives and beating bad guys. Even I know this."

"Hogwash," scoffed Sonic.EXE. "It's always about popularity, you idiot."

"Maybe in villain-town. In hero-town, it's about fighting for what's right." corrected Sonic. Sonic.EXE growled and clenched his fists, and the pain increased as Sonic screamed louder in agony, refusing to get eye-contact with the demon.

Meanwhile...

The former Team Sonic went on a search for their leader, and they won't stop until they brung Sonic home. As they were searching, they found out Sonic.EXE was hiding in Green Hills, somewhere Sonic always liked to go.

They went there, and sure enough, they saw the corrupted Sonic, but it was zoned out. Even when Tails was right in from to him, he didn't attack. Tails looked at the team and proceeded to touch Sonic, when the EXE grabbed his arm.

"Sonic distracted me for way too long," realized EXE. "He distracted me, buying you the time to find me, and didn't even know it. That fool has a bad habit of accidentally stumbling into victory."

"Sonic, we're bringing you home." said Rouge, stepping up towards the former hero. EXE laughed, trying to strike fear in everyone's hearts. "You think you're a match for me? I'd like to see you try." mocked EXE.

By then, Knuckles had enough and ran at EXE to punch him. "Let him go!" yelled Knuckles, trying to punch the EXE. EXE smiled and dodged. All he did in response was scratch his nose, something that always angered Knuckles when Sonic did it.

"Are you making fun of me?!" asked Knuckles furiously, clenching his fists.

"Maybe,"

"Mr. Knuckles, stop! We aren't going to save Mr. Sonic by hurting him." warned Cream, grabbing the red echidna's attention. "I know, but he's wanting to hurt us!" said Knuckles as EXE grabbed his arm and tossed him into a nearby boulder.

"Ouch..." said Knuckles, rubbing his back. "Who's next?" asked EXE. "Mr. Sonic, you HAVE to fight it!" started Cream. She froze when EXE turned his attention to her. EXE also froze, which probably meant Sonic again.

"You. Cream the Rabbit. Sonic holds you dearly, and I don't think he'll shut up if I have you die. I don't feel like dealing with him right now, so I'll spare you after all." said EXE.

Sonic's in there, realized Cream. Tails was right.

"Sonic, I know you're in there," started Blaze. "I don't want to hurt you."

Blaze charged up her fire and proceeded to possibly burn Sonic, but EXE grabbed her by the throat and began taunting her.

"You've always been ashamed of your powers, Blaze," said EXE. "You hesitate to unleash your full power. You only do it when completely necessary for your survival. You're a failure."

"Don't listen to him, Blaze!" cried Silver as he threw a box at the demon, forcing him to let go of EXE. By now, Knuckles was pissed but he knew Sonic was in there.

"Measured breaths, Knux," whispered Knuckles, trying to calm himself down. "He's your friend. He needs help." EXE turned to Silver, who was readying his telekinesis. "Let's talk. I know you're in there, Sonic." said Silver calmly.

"There is only EXE!"

Silver ran at EXE, who merely scratched his nose again and stepped aside. Silver crashed into the dirt.

"You were the pitiful and naive one, yet you are one of Sonic's closest friends. I despise his choice in friends."

"Like you have any friends, EXE?" asked Tails. "You never understood friendship. Sonic cared about us- and I'm sure as heck he still does."

"Do you think I need something as petty as friendship and connection? I'm beyond such things." said EXE, rolling his eyes at the thought that someone like him would need any friends.

"Then you possessed the wrong hedgehog!" said Tails, trying to shoot EXE with a blaster. "Actually, incorrect," revealed EXE, blocking Tails's hand.

"Sonic always bottled up his negative emotions like anger, frustration, and rage, and I'm those emotions. Im the embodiment of Sonic's negative emotions that he always bottles up over the years when you knew him. That's why I was able to corrupt him like that. Because of Sonic himself."

Tails gasped as EXE threw him to the side unconscious. "Who's next?" asked EXE, looking at Amy, who backed away quickly. All Cream could do was cower and hide.

"Is that true, Sonic?" asked Amy. "You didn't tell us that you were feeling this way. You bottled your emotions up, and hid behind a smile. Is that true?"

EXE growled and punched Amy. Everything went black.