Chapter 34

Sonja turned to Sonic, noticing his hand on his forehead. "Sonic? What's wrong?" She asked.

Sonic looked at Sonja, his eyes sad and his lip quivering. He collapsed to the ground on his hands and knees, and closed his eyes tight. "Sonic!" Sonja cried.

"All of them... they... I heard things I didn't want to hear, I said things I didn't want to say..." Sonic said, his voice a mix of ups and lows as he tried to keep his composure.

"Whoa, whoa, what are you talking about?" Sonja assured him.

"I-I don't know!" Sonic shouted. He gasped as he looked at Sonja's face. He didn't mean to say it so loud. She seemed saddened. Sonic needed to be more careful. He now could tell she was quite the sensitive person. Seeing her hero on his hands and knees like this must be agonizing to watch on its own. But he couldn't find the strength to get up. "My friends... people I know... they were all down there!"

Sonic fought for his friends. They're the reason he's here today. The thought that they might hate him now... it was too much for him to handle...

"You heard them too?" Sonja asked. Her expression became dead serious. "The voices..."

"Well, yeah..." Sonic said, looking up at Sonja. "Tails, Knuckles... Eggman..."

"Tails, Knuckles and Eggman?" Sonja asked. "No, no. At least... that's not what I imagined them sounding like." Sonja looked back on the times when she read about Sonic labeling characters in The Arabian Nights story incorrectly as his friends, Tails, Knuckles, and Eggman. "But I did hear a few people."

Sonic became puzzled, how could Sonja have heard different people? Were the voices not real at all? He had so many questions and no answers. Finding renewed strength with sadness still lingering on a little, knowing that maybe it was all just some trick, that maybe, by some chance, his friends didn't hate him, he got up to his feet. "How could we be in the same place but hear different things?" He asked.

A new horrible feeling made its way into Sonic's chest. It was more manageable than the other, but... still horrible. Could this be Infinite like he suspected before? No. It had to be something else. Nobody could survive a head-on Double Boost. Not even with the power of the Phantom Ruby. Infinite was gone. At least, he hoped.

"I don't know..." Sonja murmured. "But one of the voices was similar to the one that we heard in the room with the spikes."

"Maybe he has answers," Sonic stated. "You should unlock the door. We don't want a repeat of... whatever that was."

"Yep..." Sonja mumbled.

Sonic tried to hold back a sneeze as Sonja placed the key into the door. "So, since you phase through things, why don't you just phase through these doors and unlock them from the other side?" Sonic asked. It was something he had been meaning to ask since the first door they had to unlock. Sonja paused, looking up from the key.

"I... never thought about that..." Sonja muttered. "Let's try that..." She put the key on the floor, away from all the holes, and tried phasing through the door. But... it felt like there was something stopping her. Something she couldn't phase through. "Urgh..." She groaned as she was forced out of the door. She had only gotten her hand through. Not far enough to unlock the door.

"What gives?" Sonic asked, he seemed a little irritated. "I thought you phased through stuff easily."

"I'm sorry... I just..." Sonja gasped for air, she was genuinely out of breath. "Something's blocking me from entering... I don't know what..."

"Hmm..." Sonic replied. "Well, whatever. We have the key anyways."

"R-right!" Sonja agreed, as she picked up the key. "Let's use that." She unlocked the door, and opened it. Sonic went in first. There was a dark room. Completely dark. It felt like there was something keeping even the light filtering in from the storm out. There really wasn't much else to say about it. There were no defining features that Sonic could make out.

The room was cold, but much warmer than the room with the stormroof. So although it wouldn't be comfortable under normal circumstances, Sonic felt it to be nice. He walked further in. Sonja was peeking out from behind the door, but when she found she had lost sight of Sonic in the darkness, she flew in without so much as a sound.

Splish, splosh went Sonic's feet with every step he took. The floor was wet. There was a moist smell to the room, like old yogurt and water mixed together. The air grew thicker, and the puddles on the floor felt slightly deeper the further he walked.

"I probably should have brought something to light my way," Sonic stated. Sonja's tail glowed a little, but only enough to stick out from the darkness. Not enough to even light up the space around her.

Sonic felt his toe knock into a solid object. He felt the solid part of the room for a doorknob, but there was no luck. "Uh, Sonja?" Sonic called. "It's a dead end."

The door shut behind them gently, with a creak as it closed. Sonic jumped and yelled. Sonja looked in the direction he was in. Sonic felt his face grow red with embarrassment. He couldn't see it. Only feel it. This was bad. Not only because they were probably now trapped in here, but because he could feel himself going into another panic attack. Can't let anyone know, can't let anyone know... He thought over and over again, trying to keep his cool.

Two white lights shone from right in front of the door at the other end of the hallway, immediately catching Sonic and Sonja's attention. Spinning around to face it, they looked straight into the light. It wasn't blinding, as it was from the other side of the hall. But they could swear, it was growing closer. There were a few soft shuffling sounds as it approached. Sonic got into a fighting stance, Sonja, now able to see him, noticed this. "Oh," She said, as she put her fists up.

"Ssssssssssssooooonnnn----" A raspy voice hissed, it sounded like it was being played through a tunnel. Sonic gripped his fists harder. Was it coming for him? "jaaaaaaaaa..." Sonja lowered her stance. Sonic's stance weakened, but didn't disappear. The shuffling continued.

"Hey... that voice..." Sonja mumbled. Her eyes widened. She couldn't believe it. This was someone from long ago. Someone she knew!

Memories flooded back to her. Sonic felt the hourglass shake in his bag. Then, he and Sonja's vision were covered in purple and red static. Sonic felt that sensation of rocketing upwards again. Towards a blinding light.

This time, Sonic did not wake up. As he was already awake. As he looked down at his hands, he saw they were see-through. Then, he found he couldn't really move forward, backward, or sideways. He could move his limbs, but he couldn't walk. He was stuck in place.

Looking to his side, he saw Sonja there. She too, was transparent. He looked at his surroundings. Everything appeared sepia-colored but Sonic and Sonja, who were their normal palettes. They were in a small living room, in a small house. Sonic didn't have anything to back up this claim that it was a small house, but just the energy it gave off suggested it was. It wasn't cramped, it was in fact pretty spacious. But it wasn't anything like the mansion.

A soft light blasted in from the windows, obscuring anything that Sonic may have seen outside otherwise. The smell was clean, fresh, with a hint of roasted apple off from another room. Sonic wanted to pursue the smell, but, as said before, he was stuck. Looking at the floor, there were neatly wrapped boxes lined across the floor in front of a fancy looking sofa.

Sonic looked back to Sonja. She had this feeling of serenity emanating from her. Just by the way her face looked. It was of bliss and, for some reason, longing. Sonic heard giggling and little running footsteps.

"Sonic, do you remember this place?" Sonja asked.

"No, why?" Sonic asked. Confused. "I've never been here in my life."

Sonja almost seemed saddened. She looked to the ground with a smile. "Ah... of course... it was so long ago..." She mumbled, a squeak in her voice. She wiped a tear from her eye. But more came soon after.

Sonic watched as a little girl ran into the room, paying no mind to them. She had similar features to Sonja, but shorter hair with no pigtails. She seemed to be about 7 or 8. She wore a t-shirt and shorts, with small pointed shoes. But it couldn't be Sonja... she had no ghost tail, and in its place were legs. She seemed joyous and carefree as she ran up to a present and knelt down to start unwrapping it. She acted much like Sonja when she had a burst of energy after learning Sonic was the same Sonic from her storybooks.

"See her?" Sonja asked, pointing towards the girl. Her face was calm as tears fell from her eyes, dropping onto the floor with ripples like one would see if they threw a rock into a lake. "That was me. A long, long time ago." She paused. The girl, who was apparently a younger Sonja, reached into the now torn up box and pulled out a book. She also pulled out some kind of card, but instantly discarded it onto the floor without giving it a second thought. It had a picture of a black and white cat on it that read Happy Birthday in glittery golden cursive on the outside. It was hand-made, and looked like it had a lot of care and time put into it.

Sonic looked at Sonja with a blank, open-eyed expression, silently judging her. He instantly shook the thought when he saw her cringe away. He realized that this was just Sonja a long time ago. Sonic had an ever-lasting value that anyone could change. Why couldn't this apply to this little bratty kid who grew up to be such a nice woman?

Sonja pointed at the book. It read: One Thousand and One Nights. "And that... that will be you..." She gushed in adoration, a smile returning to her face. This concerned Sonic.

"Sonja... do you think I'm a...?" Sonic started. He needed to ask her something important, but felt it wouldn't be right to bring it up right now. Sonja looked as though her mind was at peace. He didn't want to ruin it for her. He silenced himself.

The younger Sonja tore through each and every present, leaving cards and wrapping paper on the ground. One present was some sort of gaming console with the words SAMURAI MINI on the box. It was familiar to Sonic, but at the same time, completely foreign and analog. Another was a set of cute clothing. She pulled out the clothes with such anticipation, a glint in her eye. It disappeared as she saw what it truly was. She threw it behind her with a roll of her eyes. Then, she was down to the last present. Sonic was looking down at the clothing she had just thrown away like trash, but Sonja put her hand on his chin and moved his gaze over to the box. "Look," She whispered.

The girl dug through the wrapping paper, and pulled out a doll of some kind. Not like a plastic human girl doll, but a hand-sewn, abstract, possibly colorful character like what someone could spot in a children's educational program of some kind. Now Sonic thought, with a smile... Aw, what a nice gift! I'm sure she'll love it! But instead of joy in her eyes like Sonic expected, the young Sonja eyed the doll confusedly.

It had a big nose, a round and bald head, a slight sewn smile, and a shirt that said "Smuggles". Sonic thought the young Sonja would throw it onto the ground like the new clothes, but, surprisingly, she shrugged and took it with her into another room along with the book and gaming console. Sonic heard her run up the stairs.

The next few years went by so fast. It was like watching Sonja grow up. As a child, she would feed the doll yogurt through a toy spoon as it sat in a small chair. She grew up into an adolescent in the blink of Sonic's eye. She was dancing around with the doll in her arms, hugging it close to her with the biggest, most heartwarming smile on her face. Sonic smiled. Looking over to Sonja though, she appeared saddened. Not by longing for the past, but... there was a kind of dread in her eyes. Like she didn't like what was going to happen next.

Soon, adolescent Sonja had faded away, and had grown into a teenager. She seemed seventeen or eighteen. She was sitting down on the couch looking at the tv with the doll next to her, the doll limping backwards and staring at the ceiling no matter how many times she repositioned it. There was a knock at the door. Which the teen Sonja went to answer with a spring in her step. But then, all stood still but Sonic and Sonja. Everything faded to purple and red. Then, when it faded out too, Sonic and Sonja found themselves back in that hallway. In the mansion. Everything was how it was before the hourglass started shaking. Except for one thing.

Sonja was holding onto a faded doll, its eyes glowing white. There were realistic, unstyled hairs growing from its head. It had a happy expression on its face.

"Soooonnnjjaaaaa...." It breathed, moving its mouth. Sonic jumped back. Dolls weren't supposed to do that, his mind panicked. Dolls WERE NOT supposed to do that!

"Mr. Smuggles!" Sonja cried, hugging the doll close to her. "I can't believe I've found you! Where have you been all my afterlife?!" She seemed to not mind that the doll was talking. Not out of a crusty electronic voice box, but with what seemed to be an actual voice. The toy had a mind of its own.

"IIIII've beeeeen riiiiight heeere..." The doll wheezed, stretching out every word it could. "Beeesssssssiiiide yooooouuu..."

"Oh, Mr. Smuggles! I missed you so much!" Sonja cried. "Please never leave again!"

"IIIIII wooooonnn't..." Mr. Smuggles promised, (Sonic couldn't believe he had thought of the doll by the name Sonja had given it.) Then, Mr. Smuggles snapped his head over to Sonic, with an audible cracking sound. "Aaaaand whooo are youuuu, young maaaaannnn....?"

"Uh... Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!" Sonic greeted, awkwardly. A sweat made its way down his face. "I'm Sonja's friend." Sonja and Sonic smiled at each other.

"Sooooonjaaaa's... friiiieeeend?" Mr. Smuggles asked. His eyebrows furrowed. Then, he lunged for Sonic. Sonja held him back, making him go limp as he tried to jump out of her arms. He flailed his own arms as he tried to hold himself up, as well as try to threaten Sonic. Sonic jumped back.

"You tryna take my baby girl away huh?!" The doll yelled, raspily. It coughed and wheezed, then looked Sonic in the eyes and tried lunging again. "I'll smuggle you silly!"

"Mr. Smuggles!" Sonja shouted in disbelief, holding him away from Sonic. "Where are your manners?"

"Sonja, dearest, he's tryna tae you way from me!" Mr. Smuggles wheezed.

"What do you mean, way from you?" Sonja asked. Mr. Smuggles looked at her with a frown, his little googly eyes staring into her soul. "Aw, c'mon..." Sonja gushed. "I love you, Mr. Smuggles!" She said. "I love you too, Sonja!" She imitated Mr. Smuggles' voice. Mr. Smuggles was not happy with this. He angled his eyebrows downwards, putting on an angry face. His little googly eyes changed color like a chameleon Sonic knew, fading into red pupils and black outsides.

Sonja seemed irked by this. Then, he opened his mouth and spewed out a red, salty liquid from somewhere inside him. Blood. It covered Sonja's face and got in her eyes and mouth. "Augh!" She choked, throwing Mr. Smuggles on the floor. He started to convulse and shake violently, spewing out shots of blood.

"EGEGEGEGEGEEGEGEGEGEGEEG!" Mr. Smuggles sputtered as he shook.

"Whoa!" Sonic yelled. He ran over to Sonja and tried to help her from falling over by putting his arm behind her, while also helping rub off any of the blood on her face while she did the same, coughing some up.

"Don't you touch her!" Mr. Smuggles snapped. He extended an arm forward, a sharp metallic claw tearing through the fabric of his little nub hands. Sonic grabbed Sonja and tackled her to the ground to avoid the claw. Hitting the wall, leaving a crack in it, the claw retracted back to him and fell limp on the floor. Mr. Smuggles stopped convulsing and got up, stretching upwards. He stretched up to the ceiling, and metallic limbs shot out from his legs and other arm. A metallic mouth with plastic teeth erupted from his chin. He was now a towering metal monster. He extended his arms out to reach the walls. "If you take herrr awayyyy, I'll take your LIIIIIFE AWAAYYY!"

Sonic, letting go of Sonja, gestured for her to stay behind him. She floated back behind him. Then, Sonic revved up a Spindash. VREEEEE! A burst of dust and fire sparks exploded beneath him as he took off towards Mr. Smuggles. An after-image trailed behind Sonic as he spun. Jumping up, he knocked into Mr. Smuggles and bounced off. The sound of a metallic clang echoed throughout the hallway.

"Ha! How do you like that?" Sonic asked, holding his head. It hurt a little from the impact.

"I don't like it at allllll!!!" Mr. Smuggles cried. He slammed two metallic claws onto the floor, leaving scratch marks. Sonic dodged both of them, quick stepping side to side.

"Dude, it was a rhetorical question, you weren't supposed to answer it!" Sonic called out. He jumped on a metal arm as it retracted back to Mr. Smuggles. Once right in front of his face, Sonic blinked with one eye, pulled down his lower eyelid on the other and stuck out his tongue. An akanbe. Overcome with rage, Mr. Smuggles growled and slammed his other claw down onto Sonic. Who disappeared from sight while saying something about an ol' slap on thew wrist, running back to Sonja. The claw cut through Mr. Smuggles' wrist. He roared in pain, in a surprisingly deep voice. Open wire was exposed, which electrical sparks shot out of. Soon, they started blasting out like a rocket.

Mr. Smuggles laughed evilly and maniacally as he tried pointing the blast of electricity at Sonic, narrowly missing Sonja. Sonic jumped up and out of the way, going into a Drop Dash and slicing through one of Mr. Smuggles' legs. Mr. Smuggles shrieked in pain as he fell to his side.

"Sonic!" Sonja cried. "Be careful!" Sonic gasped. Mr. Smuggles locked his eye onto Sonja and started scooting towards her, metal scratching against the floor. Sonic, knowing he was probably planning on killing Sonja, immediately ran towards Mr. Smuggles and jumped into the air.

"I think...!" Sonic said, kicking Mr. Smuggles across the face. "... You two...!" He stomped down onto his head at a diagonal angle, sending Mr. Smuggles faceplanting onto the floor. Sonic revved up another Spindash. "Need some space!!!" Sonic yelled. He then cut through Mr. Smuggles. Mr. Smuggles' top half fell to the ground, and off his lower half.

Sonic landed on the ground, and Sonja gasped. He had a bleeding scratch on his arm. He must have gotten scraped on the metal parts of Mr. Smuggles during a Spindash. But then, she looked at the doll on the floor. He was in critical condition. She gasped again weakly.

"Mr. Smuggles?" Sonja cried. She flew over and knelt down, picking him up.

"Sonja..." Mr. Smuggles wheezed. "I'm sorry..."

"What could you possibly be sorry for?" Sonja chuckled with a cry in her voice, looking down at her old friend as he looked up at her.

"I'm sorry I scared you..." Mr. Smuggles coughed and hacked. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you..."

"You're here now, right?" Sonja asked. She choked up. "You...you will always be here now, right?"

Mr. Smuggles stood silent. Then, he spoke. "Well, I'll always be in your heart. A toy's magic always lives on in its kid's heart..." He said. Sonja felt tears stream down her face.

"No, no, nonono..." Sonja sputtered, shaking her head side to side. "You... you have to stay here with me! You can come with me and Sonic, and we'll... we'll find a way to repair you!"

Mr. Smuggles looked at Sonic, as his eyes turned back to normal. "Hey, kid... Sonic..." Mr. Smuggles choked. "Take care of my little girl for me, ya hear?" Sonic nodded. Then, he saw a bright glint in Mr. Smuggles' hand. Sonja didn't seem to notice.

"Sonja, I promise... from the bottom of my heart..." Mr. Smuggles promised, starting to move his arm towards her. "Everything will be oka----"

"Teriyyyaaaaa!" Sonic cried, running towards Mr. Smuggles. Before Sonja could react, Sonic punted Mr. Smuggles' head, sending it flying across the hallway. He heard a metallic clatter on the other side of the hall.

"Sonic, what the---?!" Sonja barked.

"Sorry, Sonja! We have no time!" Sonic yelled, grabbing Sonja's arm. He ran forward and, letting go of Sonja's arm for a second, Spindashed into the wall, fully revealing a door. Sonic opened it quickly, and pulled Sonja in with him. He shut it tight behind them.

Meanwhile, from across the room, Mr. Smuggles watched as Sonic ran away from him, Sonja in tow. He smiled. "Worth a shot..." He chuckled, as one could see a card with faded silver glitter on it. The card lay open. It read... Dearest Sonja, you are reading this card because it is your birthday! We decided to give you the best gift of all for your special day. The gift of a friend in the form of this handmade doll. He represents our love for you, how much we cherish you. And he loves and cherishes you all the same. While you will surely forget us when you grow older, we ask one simple thing from you in return for him. Do not forget him. Do not hurt him. He exists to put a smile on your face, and a happy feeling in your heart. To hurt him would be to break him and his little heart. Take care of him, love him, play with him. Because he loves you so, so much.

With love, Mom and Dad.

END OF PART 1

Continue to Chapter 35