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"submission_left_submission_id": "3672233", "submission_left_file_name": "5655796_MidnightMuser_manegg_3.doc", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/5655/5655796_MidnightMuser_manegg_3.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/5655/5655796_MidnightMuser_manegg_3.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/5655/5655796_MidnightMuser_manegg_3.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "300", "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "300", "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "200", "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "200", "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "120" } ], "description": "[i]After the citizens of Mobotropolis return to the world from a four-year evacuation to Mobodoon, Prince Manic Hedgehog is sent to find out what the War for the Planet was all about, and locate this 'Hero of Mobius' people are speaking of.\n\nHe doesn't expect to discover that a lot has happened in the last fifteen years while Mobotropolis was closed off. Dr. Robotnik is still alive, and goes by Dr. Eggman? He has a daughter? There was a Metal Virus? He's caring for the hero, who has memory problems? And why can't he meet him? And... why is this strangely caring version of the doc so... intriguing?\n\nAs Manic searches for answers, he finds himself questioning more about himself and what he truly wants out of life.[/i]\n\n\nChapter 4: Doctor's Orders is here! Manic recalls the situation Dr. Eggman informed him about, and decides that if he can't see the sick hero, he might as well take some time to learn about the city itself. And he realizes he has a lot of questions. Contains brief mentions of non-sexual nudity in this chapter!\n", "description_bbcode_parsed": "After the citizens of Mobotropolis return to the world from a four-year evacuation to Mobodoon, Prince Manic Hedgehog is sent to find out what the War for the Planet was all about, and locate this 'Hero of Mobius' people are speaking of.

He doesn't expect to discover that a lot has happened in the last fifteen years while Mobotropolis was closed off. Dr. Robotnik is still alive, and goes by Dr. Eggman? He has a daughter? There was a Metal Virus? He's caring for the hero, who has memory problems? And why can't he meet him? And... why is this strangely caring version of the doc so... intriguing?

As Manic searches for answers, he finds himself questioning more about himself and what he truly wants out of life.


Chapter 4: Doctor's Orders is here! Manic recalls the situation Dr. Eggman informed him about, and decides that if he can't see the sick hero, he might as well take some time to learn about the city itself. And he realizes he has a lot of questions. Contains brief mentions of non-sexual nudity in this chapter!
", "writing": "Manic's lips were pinched into a very grim line as he walked back to his hotel, greeting his assistant with a firm look. There wasn't time for idle chat now. The old dog stood at attention, following him back to his room with twitching ears. But not a word was said until they were in the safety of his room, and Manic practically deflated into the chair. ``Fuuuuuuck me dude... Tha' was a rollercoaster...''\n\nHe felt so tired now, every ounce of energy leaving his body. The crown slid down his forehead, prompting the assistant to take it and set it aside, sitting in one of the other chairs with a pensive silence. He opened his mouth, but closed it again, as for once he wasn't sure what to ask or say. Thankfully Manic noticed his gaze and managed to lift his head a bit.\n\n``Robotnik... he's changed. He... hugged me...'' Chaos, that was going to stay with him forever... why couldn't he just... have a big man to hug him like that when he felt like shit? He didn't even realize he was blushing at the idea, as there was more to say. ``He... he told me what happened. He jus'... forgot `bout us. He found those Chaos Emeralds n' had six of `em. Tha's what made `is factory blow up...'' [i]That was what had killed Sonic,[/i] his brain painfully interjected, and he closed his eyes to fight off the tears. ``But `is pod saved `im, an' he took off when they flew into th' sky, trackin' em down.''\n\n``Wait. You mean, he could have attacked us again at [i]any[/i] time but didn't...? Why?''\n\n``He said... he said that fer a while, he was too focused on th' Chaos Emeralds n' what he could do wit' `em... But after he thought about... us... he said he regrets what he did too much. Guess he decided roboticizin' was too far. He said tha' even though he's still a bad guy he...'' He took a breath, ``...he says he's never attackin' Mobotropolis again.'' Clearly, there was some disbelief, and Manic couldn't blame him. But what he had to say next was even crazier. ``He also knows who th' Hero o' Mobius is... But... there's a problem.'' And at this, Manic drug his hands over his face, as man, he suddenly felt twice his age. ``...Eggman can't tell me `is name, but we might not be able t' interview `im... he's losin' `is memories.''\n\nIf the old dog's eyes could get any wider, Manic would almost fear they'd fall out of his head, not that he could blame him. The story sounded completely nuts!\n\n``Losing... his memories...? How?!''\n\n``This is what Eggman told me...''\n\n---\n\nHe should have known something was wrong months ago.\n\nWhen he'd stopped at the farmer's market towards the end of the season, he noticed Sonic looked... uncomfortable. But it clearly wasn't directed his way: they had a routine by now. Much as he loathed to admit it, his drive to do much during the cold wintry months was abysmal. Like a hibernating bear, he preferred to rest and then spring up when the weather warmed back up, ready to devote time to his newest scheme.\n\nOf course, he only assumed maybe it was seasonal allergies at best. He was still cracking jokes, talking to all the sellers as he grabbed a few things, namely some late vegetables... They bantered with each other as well, with the little blue punk still radiating confidence. He almost wished he'd let Sage accompany him that day, or she'd have picked up on it right then and there... As it was, when he asked, Sonic waved it off.\n\n``Yeah, just been getting some odd headaches here and there... had a migraine last week, but can't keep me down, heh!'' he'd said. ``Still good enough to kick your ass on any given day~''\n\nThat had gotten his usual retort of a better challenge for the next time, but as he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling something wasn't right. Still, he knew - or so he thought - if Sonic really did need help, he'd call his friends or something.\n\nThree months later, though, things had changed, and in a far worse way than he would ever imagine.\n\nWith the fall season moving into winter, Eggman could feel himself starting to slow down. It wouldn't be long before he'd have to resort to vitamin supplements and a lot more bedrest as he was more sequestered inside. He'd already tried flying to the southern hemisphere during the winter, but even the extra sunlight and tropical mood didn't seem to help like it normally would. Perhaps it was just his own body clock being fussy.\n\nSo he did what any self-confident man would do - he decided to take a naked walk. He could do this at any time, but he had to get in his steps before his body decided moving was no longer fun.\n\nIt was an impromptu decision that he still thanked whatever force that guided him that day for doing so... It had been late, in fact just a few hours before sunrise. The wind was brisk, easily warranting a nice sweater for less... physically resilient people. But not for him. It was almost as if his body had a shield, keeping the chill from seeping into his skin. It was the perfect time to do this, as most people would be asleep or indoors. The chance of finding anyone out here, let alone someone who'd take issue with his nudity, was as bad as Knuckles' chance of getting a date.\n\nWhy he chose this location, he wasn't sure. Call it nostalgia, since South Island - and Green Hill especially - was a sort of... turning point, in his life. It was where he was facing Sonic solo for the first time. No medallion, no triplets, no prophecy. No SWATBots, no roboticizer, no tyranny. Just the insane speed his greatest enemy could really pour on, and his creative genius expanding into new diverse machines for conquest.\n\nThe wind felt so good on his skin, the dirt cool on his feet. It was refreshing, a little pick me up to prepare for the long winter ahead. Right outside the town was a large lake, big enough that it had its own beach of sorts. It seemed like a rather nice destination, and at his leisurely pace through the winding forest trail, he could enjoy the solitude of night.\n\nLuckily, this place couldn't freeze, as it was surrounded by oceanic winds. Snow was minimal here, an inch at best, and the cold would come and go. It was amazing that it was never part of any postcards, as it was even nicer than Green Hill itself, in his opinion.\n\nHe idly wondered as well, what his next scheme could be. Between the Metal Virus he'd unleashed some years back, and then being dragged into Cyber Space, he honestly wasn't sure if he'd do anything major for a while... Maybe he could just bother Sonic with a nice squad of bots on their birthday. He had to pause at that, as for some reason he found himself thinking back to the older days. To think, he shared a birthday with not one but [i]three[/i] annoying hero hedgehogs. From what he'd understood, Manic and Sonia were quickly becoming proper royals, and he half-wondered how things would change when they officially took rule. Aleena was still a spitfire, of course, so he doubted she'd step back that easily...\n\nIn his musing of the past, he ended up finding the lake after some time, walking towards the gentle waters. The wind lightly brushed its `tide' back and forth, but it was nothing like a true beach, even if there was plenty of silt to make one.\n\n``Hmm... perhaps I could take a swim while I'm here,'' he mused out loud, already stepping up to his ankles. The water was definitely `cold' as far as anyone else would say, so it wasn't as if he'd get company...\n\n``Mmgnh...''\n\nOr... so he thought. With a grunt, he turned around, ready to either tease or tell off the pervert probably ogling him, only to realize it was his mortal enemy sitting up against a tree. And he was definitely not ogling, his bare body seeming limp.\n\n``What the hell...'' He made his way towards the hero with a light scowl, which turned into a more concerned frown as the hedgehog only twitched. ``Sonic...?'' He placed a hand on the young man's shoulder as if to try and shake, only to feel a disturbing lack of vibration. He [i]wasn't shivering[/i]. And Sonic definitely did not have thermal resistance. ``Shit.'' He didn't even have anything to wrap around him, only his own body heat... he hadn't thought to bring anything on this walk!\n\nAt the least, he did know where Sonic lived, and it wasn't far from this place. Pressing the smaller one to his chest and belly, he booked it toward the two-story house as fast as his gangly legs could take him. In the meanwhile, he used his free hand to tap a communication switch on his glasses. ``Sage! Metal Sonic! Report to my location immediately! I need assistance!''\n\nTo say there had been some commotion was an understatement, as the supersonic drone nearly flew past him and had to skid to a stop, only to stare when he pressed the barely-conscious Sonic against him. ``Take him to his house, now! Get him a blanket and make sure the house heat is on. His body temperature is far too low!'' Metal's body language clearly showed disbelief, but Eggman didn't bother reprimanding him. He kept running, knowing that his best drone would be forced to comply, and luckily he did... ``Damn you, Sonic, I'm the only one who gets to take you down!'' he hissed to himself.\n\nBy the time he arrived some minutes later, Sage was floating around the house, looking at everything amidst the hero's home, surprised to see mostly bowls and a lot of cereal stacked in the cupboards. Things like bread and meats had been left untouched, only adding to the confusion. Something was amiss here, very much so.\n\n``The house's condition seems better than Sonic himself,'' she noted with a small frown, her usually flat expression marred with concern. Eggman couldn't hide the worry from his face either, but it settled once he saw movement. Finally, a sign... Sonic was shivering now, which meant his body had gotten back to the point of regaining heat. And with that...\n\n``Nnngh... aah... c... cold...'' with a gasp, Sonic shot up, his body swiveling before he finally noticed him. ``...R... Robotnik...?''\n\nIt was that moment Eggman [i]knew[/i] something was wrong. Sonic hadn't called him that in... gods, ten years almost! ``...Did I piss you off or something at the farmer's market? You haven't called me that in [i]years[/i], Sonic.'' He pointed out, while managing to take a seat. There was a beat of silence, and something about Sonic's expression just looked... off.\n\n``...You're naked...''\n\n``And? It's not the first time you've seen me naked. You know I have thermal resistance. But what about you? You're not one to fall asleep outside this time of year, hedgehog.'' He could see Sonic's eyes shift down, a very pensive expression on his face, and he elaborated. ``You were out by the lake, on its `beach' as you call it. You weren't even shivering, which means you'd been out there for a few hours at least.''\n\n``...I...'' Sonic bit his lip before suddenly grabbing at his head with a pained yelp, and almost immediately Eggman was at his side. ``Fuck!!'' Unsure of what exactly the situation was, he made sure to gently grasp one of the hedgehog's hands, giving it a squeeze.\n\n``Easy, Sonic. Breathe. In, out...'' Chaos, what in the hell was going on here?! He'd never seen Sonic act like this, never seen him react to pain so... violently. He'd smacked the hedgehog through buildings before, and he brushed it off like nothing. But this... the pained wheezing and whimpering was definitely unusual. Worryingly so... This couldn't be normal. But he had to get answers before anything. Patiently, he let Sonic squeeze his hand to try and buffer the pain, relaxing when it seemed to pass after five minutes, but there was still a grimace on his face. ``Is that... happening more often?''\n\n``E-Eggman... I... Something's wrong with me...!''\n\nWhat.\n\n``Whoa, whoa, Sonic. Take it from the top, okay? Here...'' Well, it was a damn good thing he was naked... if there was one thing he knew about Sonic that most didn't, it was his fondness for bare feet. Once they'd moved past their whole `mortal enemy' phase, they were able to find some common ground on days they just felt... they could be a bit more open with each other and indulge a bit. He scooted back to gently plop his feet into Sonic's lap, watching as a slightly shaky hand threaded through his toes, the fingers gently squeezing against the ball of his foot. A warm, familiar gesture. ``Now, explain as much as you can, as slowly as you need...''\n\nWith something to ground him, Sonic looked at Eggman with a look the doctor had never seen. Fear, shame, uncertainty... emotions he was not used to seeing at all in the man who beat him so many times.\n\n``...It... it all started... I think a few months ago... Not long after we got back from the Starfall Islands... I started feeling random headaches. Some days were better than others... But they never happened at the same time, so I couldn't figure out what was causing it.''\n\n``...I remember you mentioned that at the farmer's market. You said it was probably allergies, right?''\n\nA pause, and then a shaky nod followed. ``Yeah, I think. But... they didn't go away. They just got worse... Some days I can't even leave my bed, and I get sick. I've tried all kinds of pain meds, nothing helps...''\n\n``...What about getting a cat scan?'' Surely, if he was having that much trouble, he'd go to the hospital... But to his surprise, Sonic only shrugged.\n\n``I didn't think about it... My head is so foggy, it's hard to focus sometimes... But then, a week ago, I was trying to make dinner, and I couldn't get my microwave to work... It's like my brain isn't clicking on how to do stuff.'' Eggman's face fell into a deep frown, especially as he soon saw actual tears budding in Sonic's eyes. If there was one thing he knew about Sonic, was that he never, EVER cried. But seeing it now, it did mean he was right. Sonic was repressing a lot... He definitely would have to encourage the rascal to get a therapist at this rate.\n\n``...Trouble concentrating and intense headaches...'' he scratched at his chin, keeping his voice neutral. He didn't need Sonic to know he was genuinely worried. ``But what about just now? Are you experiencing narcolepsy?'' That was a worrying sign if so, since Sonic didn't need to be doing things if he could pass out randomly.\n\n``No, I... I had a nightmare... Something with Soleanna, I think? I went to the lake to just... clear my head. I do it a lot... But...'' This time, Sonic shuddered, tucking his chin. He felt... scared? Embarrassed? It was hard to put an emotion, as Sonic was trying to mask even still. ``...I forgot what direction my house was in... Ugh, I feel so - ''\n\n[i]``Sage, scan now.''[/i]\n\nEggman didn't mean for his voice to drop so low, it was enough that even Sonic momentarily tensed. But Sage was equally as horrified by the statement of memory loss, and their combined knowledge of recent events pointed to one culprit. Moments later, Sage's next sentence confirmed it.\n\n``Cyber Corruption... it's still there, in his head. There are localized spots around his brain,'' her voice actually trembled, as if even her own programming didn't want to believe it. ``He must not have expunged it all when his enhanced Super Form was released!''\n\nSonic then looked up at Sage, his face showing fear but also... hope? Relief? Maybe it was just the fact he had an answer. ``Damn... I knew the pain felt familiar but I...'' He took a breath, shuddering. ``If that's true, am I... am I being pulled between dimensions again...?''\n\nSage shook her head, but her answer was not comforting. ``No, but your memories definitely are. Cyber Space is a place the Ancients stored all of their memories. It only makes sense that it is acting the same on you... Father, we must get the Chaos Emeralds and fix him!''\n\n``Wait, what? What are you insinuating, Sage!'' He wasn't here to be some sort of errand boy! He was prepared to be satisfied with the fact they just needed the emeralds and leave. Sonic was still his enemy, why would he [i]help[/i]?! ``He has his friends, why should I be involved?!''\n\n``At this point in time, I feel trying to pull his friends out of the routines they have settled into will cause more harm than good, especially as we do not know the timeframe of the corruption. Amy Rose and Miles Prower are currently in time-sensitive ventures of their own, and Knuckles the Echidna is elusive as ever. Your technology is the best at tracking the emeralds regardless of where they are in the world,'' Sage reasoned, causing Sonic to stiffen. ``As it is, now that we are aware, we are the only ones who can keep Sonic out of danger. The more memories he loses, the less capable he will be of defending himself or recognizing particular dangers. It would not be honorable to allow Sonic to become a victim of Cyber Space. You just said so yourself, you wish to defeat Sonic by your own hands. Would you truly win if he were to perish, as an example: because he forgot he cannot swim?''\n\nSonic's face looked pained, but determined. As if somehow knowing what was wrong was at least giving him a sense of... closure? But still, knowing [i]Sonic[/i] was [i]nervous[/i] gave him a feeling he didn't like. ``...Alright, alright, fine! Fine, you win. Luckily for you, I have a couple emeralds on me,'' he grumbled. ``If we can push the corruption back, I'd highly suggest making a log of everything you remember. I'm not going to be your memory guide. Understand, Sonic?''\n\n``Heh... yeah, that's probably a good idea, doc...'' At least now Sonic seemed a bit normal, even if his shaky voice betrayed him. ``You sure you want to go through that effort, though? I mean... I know how you get in the winter...'' As touching as it was that Sonic knew about his seasonal slump, this was a bit more important. Not that he'd say so.\n\n``Yes. If only because I want to fight you at your best,'' Eggman sighed. ``Well, if I'm going to be in this area for a while, at least it'll give me a reason to wear that new suit I bought...'' He sighed, gently extracting himself from Sonic's hold. ``You'll like it, at least. It ends in stirrups.'' He gave a bit of a smirk as Sonic's face turned a bit pink. ``...Glad you still remember that.''\n\n``Eh... eheh... um... yeah...''\n\n---\n\n``...So, Eggman gave th' hero th' two emeralds he had on `im, an' I guess they spent like, hours writin' shit down, an'en he went off t' find th' rest of `em... I guess he found three, so they got five outta seven. But he said that th' fifth emerald didn't hold fer more `an a week or two.''\n\n``But what happens if the hero completely loses his memories before they get all seven? Will he...''\n\nManic frowned, looking off to the side as he tried to think. ``I... don't know... He nevah said tha' was a risk so I [i]think[/i] he can still be cured? I mean, he's gotta have a backup plan, he's no dumbass. But he said right now, even tho he's still got [i]some[/i] memories, it's not a good idea t' visit. Wit' `im forgettin' so much, he's gettin' frustrated n' moody. Cuz he can't do anythin' t' help.'' Inwardly, Manic was still pissed that he couldn't even manage to get the doc to slip up once and drop a name. It seemed Eggman really intended to keep the hero's situation as private as possible, and had deliberately left out specifics.\n\n``...This is most frustrating...'' the assistant muttered. ``The poor lad, I do hope they are able to remove this corruptive energy. But what shall we do in the meanwhile? We have a location, yet no way to use it.''\n\n``Well, guess I'll just keep explorin'. I don't gotta bug peeps fer info now, so might as well make a good impression until th' interview, y'know?''\n\nReally, that was the only thing they could do. They were here for two weeks, so he might as well make the most of it. He could get to know Lightning's crew, maybe learn a bit about the Restoration efforts... And really, he had to learn more about Eggman. He'd changed a lot, and honestly... it excited him in a weird way. The way he'd actually [i]kneeled[/i] to him, it felt so different compared to any other situation. It was almost like Eggman was... showing him respect. But talking about Eggman...\n\n``But honestly, after this mornin'... I'm tired as fuck,'' he relented. That emotional outburst really did a number on him, even though it felt damn good to get it out of his system. ``I was usin' `is belly like a punchin' bag fer a hot minute, an' he [i]let[/i] me.''\n\nThere was silence from the assistant, but after a while, he simply sighed. ``Well, it is out of our hands until the hero regains his memories... Do as you feel is best, my prince.'' With that, Manic was soon left alone, and he slipped out of all of his heavy royal gear to crawl into bed. At the least, a little nap wouldn't hurt.\n\n---\n\nFor once, Manic didn't dream of the past. Strangely enough, he felt... different. Taller, stronger, more confident. Even his clothes felt different. Soft, free, a bit risque perhaps, as he felt it on his chest but not his belly. But he couldn't see himself at all, as his eyes were locked on what looked like a stage. And this wasn't some dive bar stage like he and his siblings had performed at as kids - it was a good size too. Like a mini theater, and the lights were all on him as he stepped up. The sounds of squealing were like music to his ears, but as much as he wanted to question why he didn't have a drumset, it didn't feel out of place...\n\nThere were others in front of him, two on each side. They looked dressed in sleek clothes, like a boy band, but of what he couldn't be sure. The backing music started to play, but while his dancers strutted their stuff, he found himself moving in totally different positions. A flick of the wrist, a step of the foot - which he realized only then he was still barefoot, which he'd never done on a stage... But this felt right. Especially as a solid thrum like he'd hit a drum seemed to reverberate around the stage. Like the drums were there, just invisible.\n\nHe barely even noticed the way the crowd seemed to light up with odd pink lights, his body falling into a groove...\n\n---\n\nThis time, he awoke only to the sound of his alarm he'd set, rather than the usual panic or pang of sadness that made his chest ache. Rather than pain, he felt... really weird. ``Was that some sort o' fuckin' timeline shit?'' He'd been in a parallel world before, and then there was that time he saw three other versions of his brother... One that had glasses and leather, one that had green eyes, and then the one in armor... Zonic, if he remembered right. Gods, how many worlds were out there with their own Sonics, still fighting their own battles against their own Robotniks? And then there was that parallel world... he remembered that Manic was a pretty greedy fuck, but they seemed to come around after getting involved in the struggle from their dimension.\n\nMaybe that line about `strife building character' had some truth to it... But damn if he didn't wish some days, he had it easy. He gave a half-hearted laugh before finally moving out of the bed. \n\nStepping outside onto his balcony, he gave a little shiver, which brought him back to the conversation he'd had earlier. What did it mean to be Chaos Touched? What did it mean to get powers from the Chaos Emeralds? And what made things like his medallion so different?\n\nHe looked at the jewelry hanging from his neck, pressing it between two fingers. It was still just as dead as it was all these years. It'd never transform into a drumset again. The moment his brother died, it was like the power was gone... No matter how much he tried, the thing remained a piece of crystal. Indestructible, untarnished, but just dead, useless rock. He really didn't have any reason to wear it anymore, at least practically.\n\nNo, it was a memorial piece now. The last remaining thing of his brother he could think of. The conjoined powers of their magic medallions that allowed them to fight. It allowed them to find each other whenever they were lost... Even now, sometimes, he could swear he feel out his sister if he really tried. But that was probably just more instinct now. They lived together now. It was never hard to find her in the castle.\n\nWhich talking about finding things... With a hum, he pulled out the map of the city. ``Okay. So lessee... There ain't no point in sneakin' around fer th' hero's house...'' Like really, what was he gonna get? Some dude who could barely remember what he did a few weeks ago, let alone be an informant. It was likely then he'd forgotten the interview to begin with! Fat lot of help that would be...\n\nWell, for now, he could at least circle all the areas he'd been to. The music store, the general store, Lightning's street corner, their hideout... and of course, the overlook. Which really was beautiful, even if it was a cold walk. Maybe on the solstice he'd get a ride there just to really see the view. Even if it was gonna be more crowded that day...\n\n``Hrm... I wonder what Eggman's up t' now... Tha' whole thing `bout th' robot double bothers me,'' he muttered. Apparently, this drone was specifically designed to copy the hero in every way, to the point the drone actually thought [i]he[/i] was the real deal and the hero was an impostor that needed destroyed. So having to [i]take care[/i] of the hero was being met with a lot of resistance... Apparently, though, like Eggman, the robot dude didn't want to take the hero out in an unfair way, so it was very begrudging. ``Heh, two villains playin' doctor cuz their enemy's too sick t' fight. Fuckin' hilarious, honestly...''\n\nEspecially considering that, if this had happened fifteen years ago to him, or his sister, or his brother... He shuddered. Robotnik would not have been so merciful.\n\nWell, maybe he'd try to get more answers out of him if they crossed paths. For now, he wanted to maybe meet up with Lightning. Surely the guy knew some good places he hadn't visited. Restaurants, shops, any other places that he'd probably want to check... It was just too bad that he had no `normal clothes' money. He hated the way he stuck out like a sore thumb! But he was only given a chunk for snacks, since the hotel covered their meals. Hell, at this point he was willing to give Lightning his coat just to exchange it for a nice zip-up jacket and some soft pants...\n\n``Nah, keep yer promises, Manic. Don't get desperate.'' After all, technically, Lightning could still make good on the deal. Eggman never told him who the hero was, but if Lightning could figure that out... Yeah, there was still that.\n\nWell, he might not have money for clothes, but maybe he could at least walk around and window shop. Or heck, maybe some things were cheap enough he could probably find a little something that wouldn't dent his snack budget... No harm in looking around and checking, right?\n\nWith that in mind, he decided to make a second trip back out, this time plotting a new course.", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Manic's lips were pinched into a very grim line as he walked back to his hotel, greeting his assistant with a firm look. There wasn't time for idle chat now. The old dog stood at attention, following him back to his room with twitching ears. But not a word was said until they were in the safety of his room, and Manic practically deflated into the chair. ``Fuuuuuuck me dude... Tha' was a rollercoaster...''

He felt so tired now, every ounce of energy leaving his body. The crown slid down his forehead, prompting the assistant to take it and set it aside, sitting in one of the other chairs with a pensive silence. He opened his mouth, but closed it again, as for once he wasn't sure what to ask or say. Thankfully Manic noticed his gaze and managed to lift his head a bit.

``Robotnik... he's changed. He... hugged me...'' Chaos, that was going to stay with him forever... why couldn't he just... have a big man to hug him like that when he felt like shit? He didn't even realize he was blushing at the idea, as there was more to say. ``He... he told me what happened. He jus'... forgot `bout us. He found those Chaos Emeralds n' had six of `em. Tha's what made `is factory blow up...'' That was what had killed Sonic, his brain painfully interjected, and he closed his eyes to fight off the tears. ``But `is pod saved `im, an' he took off when they flew into th' sky, trackin' em down.''

``Wait. You mean, he could have attacked us again at any time but didn't...? Why?''

``He said... he said that fer a while, he was too focused on th' Chaos Emeralds n' what he could do wit' `em... But after he thought about... us... he said he regrets what he did too much. Guess he decided roboticizin' was too far. He said tha' even though he's still a bad guy he...'' He took a breath, ``...he says he's never attackin' Mobotropolis again.'' Clearly, there was some disbelief, and Manic couldn't blame him. But what he had to say next was even crazier. ``He also knows who th' Hero o' Mobius is... But... there's a problem.'' And at this, Manic drug his hands over his face, as man, he suddenly felt twice his age. ``...Eggman can't tell me `is name, but we might not be able t' interview `im... he's losin' `is memories.''

If the old dog's eyes could get any wider, Manic would almost fear they'd fall out of his head, not that he could blame him. The story sounded completely nuts!

``Losing... his memories...? How?!''

``This is what Eggman told me...''

---

He should have known something was wrong months ago.

When he'd stopped at the farmer's market towards the end of the season, he noticed Sonic looked... uncomfortable. But it clearly wasn't directed his way: they had a routine by now. Much as he loathed to admit it, his drive to do much during the cold wintry months was abysmal. Like a hibernating bear, he preferred to rest and then spring up when the weather warmed back up, ready to devote time to his newest scheme.

Of course, he only assumed maybe it was seasonal allergies at best. He was still cracking jokes, talking to all the sellers as he grabbed a few things, namely some late vegetables... They bantered with each other as well, with the little blue punk still radiating confidence. He almost wished he'd let Sage accompany him that day, or she'd have picked up on it right then and there... As it was, when he asked, Sonic waved it off.

``Yeah, just been getting some odd headaches here and there... had a migraine last week, but can't keep me down, heh!'' he'd said. ``Still good enough to kick your ass on any given day~''

That had gotten his usual retort of a better challenge for the next time, but as he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling something wasn't right. Still, he knew - or so he thought - if Sonic really did need help, he'd call his friends or something.

Three months later, though, things had changed, and in a far worse way than he would ever imagine.

With the fall season moving into winter, Eggman could feel himself starting to slow down. It wouldn't be long before he'd have to resort to vitamin supplements and a lot more bedrest as he was more sequestered inside. He'd already tried flying to the southern hemisphere during the winter, but even the extra sunlight and tropical mood didn't seem to help like it normally would. Perhaps it was just his own body clock being fussy.

So he did what any self-confident man would do - he decided to take a naked walk. He could do this at any time, but he had to get in his steps before his body decided moving was no longer fun.

It was an impromptu decision that he still thanked whatever force that guided him that day for doing so... It had been late, in fact just a few hours before sunrise. The wind was brisk, easily warranting a nice sweater for less... physically resilient people. But not for him. It was almost as if his body had a shield, keeping the chill from seeping into his skin. It was the perfect time to do this, as most people would be asleep or indoors. The chance of finding anyone out here, let alone someone who'd take issue with his nudity, was as bad as Knuckles' chance of getting a date.

Why he chose this location, he wasn't sure. Call it nostalgia, since South Island - and Green Hill especially - was a sort of... turning point, in his life. It was where he was facing Sonic solo for the first time. No medallion, no triplets, no prophecy. No SWATBots, no roboticizer, no tyranny. Just the insane speed his greatest enemy could really pour on, and his creative genius expanding into new diverse machines for conquest.

The wind felt so good on his skin, the dirt cool on his feet. It was refreshing, a little pick me up to prepare for the long winter ahead. Right outside the town was a large lake, big enough that it had its own beach of sorts. It seemed like a rather nice destination, and at his leisurely pace through the winding forest trail, he could enjoy the solitude of night.

Luckily, this place couldn't freeze, as it was surrounded by oceanic winds. Snow was minimal here, an inch at best, and the cold would come and go. It was amazing that it was never part of any postcards, as it was even nicer than Green Hill itself, in his opinion.

He idly wondered as well, what his next scheme could be. Between the Metal Virus he'd unleashed some years back, and then being dragged into Cyber Space, he honestly wasn't sure if he'd do anything major for a while... Maybe he could just bother Sonic with a nice squad of bots on their birthday. He had to pause at that, as for some reason he found himself thinking back to the older days. To think, he shared a birthday with not one but three annoying hero hedgehogs. From what he'd understood, Manic and Sonia were quickly becoming proper royals, and he half-wondered how things would change when they officially took rule. Aleena was still a spitfire, of course, so he doubted she'd step back that easily...

In his musing of the past, he ended up finding the lake after some time, walking towards the gentle waters. The wind lightly brushed its `tide' back and forth, but it was nothing like a true beach, even if there was plenty of silt to make one.

``Hmm... perhaps I could take a swim while I'm here,'' he mused out loud, already stepping up to his ankles. The water was definitely `cold' as far as anyone else would say, so it wasn't as if he'd get company...

``Mmgnh...''

Or... so he thought. With a grunt, he turned around, ready to either tease or tell off the pervert probably ogling him, only to realize it was his mortal enemy sitting up against a tree. And he was definitely not ogling, his bare body seeming limp.

``What the hell...'' He made his way towards the hero with a light scowl, which turned into a more concerned frown as the hedgehog only twitched. ``Sonic...?'' He placed a hand on the young man's shoulder as if to try and shake, only to feel a disturbing lack of vibration. He wasn't shivering. And Sonic definitely did not have thermal resistance. ``Shit.'' He didn't even have anything to wrap around him, only his own body heat... he hadn't thought to bring anything on this walk!

At the least, he did know where Sonic lived, and it wasn't far from this place. Pressing the smaller one to his chest and belly, he booked it toward the two-story house as fast as his gangly legs could take him. In the meanwhile, he used his free hand to tap a communication switch on his glasses. ``Sage! Metal Sonic! Report to my location immediately! I need assistance!''

To say there had been some commotion was an understatement, as the supersonic drone nearly flew past him and had to skid to a stop, only to stare when he pressed the barely-conscious Sonic against him. ``Take him to his house, now! Get him a blanket and make sure the house heat is on. His body temperature is far too low!'' Metal's body language clearly showed disbelief, but Eggman didn't bother reprimanding him. He kept running, knowing that his best drone would be forced to comply, and luckily he did... ``Damn you, Sonic, I'm the only one who gets to take you down!'' he hissed to himself.

By the time he arrived some minutes later, Sage was floating around the house, looking at everything amidst the hero's home, surprised to see mostly bowls and a lot of cereal stacked in the cupboards. Things like bread and meats had been left untouched, only adding to the confusion. Something was amiss here, very much so.

``The house's condition seems better than Sonic himself,'' she noted with a small frown, her usually flat expression marred with concern. Eggman couldn't hide the worry from his face either, but it settled once he saw movement. Finally, a sign... Sonic was shivering now, which meant his body had gotten back to the point of regaining heat. And with that...

``Nnngh... aah... c... cold...'' with a gasp, Sonic shot up, his body swiveling before he finally noticed him. ``...R... Robotnik...?''

It was that moment Eggman knew something was wrong. Sonic hadn't called him that in... gods, ten years almost! ``...Did I piss you off or something at the farmer's market? You haven't called me that in years, Sonic.'' He pointed out, while managing to take a seat. There was a beat of silence, and something about Sonic's expression just looked... off.

``...You're naked...''

``And? It's not the first time you've seen me naked. You know I have thermal resistance. But what about you? You're not one to fall asleep outside this time of year, hedgehog.''  He could see Sonic's eyes shift down, a very pensive expression on his face, and he elaborated. ``You were out by the lake, on its `beach' as you call it. You weren't even shivering, which means you'd been out there for a few hours at least.''

``...I...'' Sonic bit his lip before suddenly grabbing at his head with a pained yelp, and almost immediately Eggman was at his side. ``Fuck!!'' Unsure of what exactly the situation was, he made sure to gently grasp one of the hedgehog's hands, giving it a squeeze.

``Easy, Sonic. Breathe. In, out...'' Chaos, what in the hell was going on here?! He'd never seen Sonic act like this, never seen him react to pain so... violently. He'd smacked the hedgehog through buildings before, and he brushed it off like nothing. But this... the pained wheezing and whimpering was definitely unusual. Worryingly so... This couldn't be normal. But he had to get answers before anything. Patiently, he let Sonic squeeze his hand to try and buffer the pain, relaxing when it seemed to pass after five minutes, but there was still a grimace on his face. ``Is that... happening more often?''

``E-Eggman... I... Something's wrong with me...!''

What.

``Whoa, whoa, Sonic. Take it from the top, okay? Here...'' Well, it was a damn good thing he was naked... if there was one thing he knew about Sonic that most didn't, it was his fondness for bare feet. Once they'd moved past their whole `mortal enemy' phase, they were able to find some common ground on days they just felt... they could be a bit more open with each other and indulge a bit. He scooted back to gently plop his feet into Sonic's lap, watching as a slightly shaky hand threaded through his toes, the fingers gently squeezing against the ball of his foot. A warm, familiar gesture. ``Now, explain as much as you can, as slowly as you need...''

With something to ground him, Sonic looked at Eggman with a look the doctor had never seen. Fear, shame, uncertainty... emotions he was not used to seeing at all in the man who beat him so many times.

``...It... it all started... I think a few months ago... Not long after we got back from the Starfall Islands... I started feeling random headaches. Some days were better than others... But they never happened at the same time, so I couldn't figure out what was causing it.''

``...I remember you mentioned that at the farmer's market. You said it was probably allergies, right?''

A pause, and then a shaky nod followed. ``Yeah, I think. But... they didn't go away. They just got worse... Some days I can't even leave my bed, and I get sick. I've tried all kinds of pain meds, nothing helps...''

``...What about getting a cat scan?'' Surely, if he was having that much trouble, he'd go to the hospital... But to his surprise, Sonic only shrugged.

``I didn't think about it... My head is so foggy, it's hard to focus sometimes... But then, a week ago, I was trying to make dinner, and I couldn't get my microwave to work... It's like my brain isn't clicking on how to do stuff.'' Eggman's face fell into a deep frown, especially as he soon saw actual tears budding in Sonic's eyes. If there was one thing he knew about Sonic, was that he never, EVER cried. But seeing it now, it did mean he was right. Sonic was repressing a lot... He definitely would have to encourage the rascal to get a therapist at this rate.

``...Trouble concentrating and intense headaches...'' he scratched at his chin, keeping his voice neutral. He didn't need Sonic to know he was genuinely worried. ``But what about just now? Are you experiencing narcolepsy?'' That was a worrying sign if so, since Sonic didn't need to be doing things if he could pass out randomly.

``No, I... I had a nightmare... Something with Soleanna, I think? I went to the lake to just... clear my head. I do it a lot... But...'' This time, Sonic shuddered, tucking his chin. He felt... scared? Embarrassed? It was hard to put an emotion, as Sonic was trying to mask even still. ``...I forgot what direction my house was in... Ugh, I feel so - ''

``Sage, scan now.''

Eggman didn't mean for his voice to drop so low, it was enough that even Sonic momentarily tensed. But Sage was equally as horrified by the statement of memory loss, and their combined knowledge of recent events pointed to one culprit. Moments later, Sage's next sentence confirmed it.

``Cyber Corruption... it's still there, in his head. There are localized spots around his brain,'' her voice actually trembled, as if even her own programming didn't want to believe it. ``He must not have expunged it all when his enhanced Super Form was released!''

Sonic then looked up at Sage, his face showing fear but also... hope? Relief? Maybe it was just the fact he had an answer. ``Damn... I knew the pain felt familiar but I...'' He took a breath, shuddering. ``If that's true, am I... am I being pulled between dimensions again...?''

Sage shook her head, but her answer was not comforting. ``No, but your memories definitely are. Cyber Space is a place the Ancients stored all of their memories. It only makes sense that it is acting the same on you... Father, we must get the Chaos Emeralds and fix him!''

``Wait, what? What are you insinuating, Sage!'' He wasn't here to be some sort of errand boy! He was prepared to be satisfied with the fact they just needed the emeralds and leave. Sonic was still his enemy, why would he help?! ``He has his friends, why should I be involved?!''

``At this point in time, I feel trying to pull his friends out of the routines they have settled into will cause more harm than good, especially as we do not know the timeframe of the corruption. Amy Rose and Miles Prower are currently in time-sensitive ventures of their own, and Knuckles the Echidna is elusive as ever. Your technology is the best at tracking the emeralds regardless of where they are in the world,'' Sage reasoned, causing Sonic to stiffen. ``As it is, now that we are aware, we are the only ones who can keep Sonic out of danger. The more memories he loses, the less capable he will be of defending himself or recognizing particular dangers. It would not be honorable to allow Sonic to become a victim of Cyber Space. You just said so yourself, you wish to defeat Sonic by your own hands. Would you truly win if he were to perish, as an example: because he forgot he cannot swim?''

Sonic's face looked pained, but determined. As if somehow knowing what was wrong was at least giving him a sense of... closure? But still, knowing Sonic was nervous gave him a feeling he didn't like. ``...Alright, alright, fine! Fine, you win. Luckily for you, I have a couple emeralds on me,'' he grumbled. ``If we can push the corruption back, I'd highly suggest making a log of everything you remember. I'm not going to be your memory guide. Understand, Sonic?''

``Heh... yeah, that's probably a good idea, doc...'' At least now Sonic seemed a bit normal, even if his shaky voice betrayed him. ``You sure you want to go through that effort, though? I mean... I know how you get in the winter...'' As touching as it was that Sonic knew about his seasonal slump, this was a bit more important. Not that he'd say so.

``Yes. If only because I want to fight you at your best,'' Eggman sighed. ``Well, if I'm going to be in this area for a while, at least it'll give me a reason to wear that new suit I bought...'' He sighed, gently extracting himself from Sonic's hold. ``You'll like it, at least. It ends in stirrups.'' He gave a bit of a smirk as Sonic's face turned a bit pink. ``...Glad you still remember that.''

``Eh... eheh... um... yeah...''

---

``...So, Eggman gave th' hero th' two emeralds he had on `im, an' I guess they spent like, hours writin' shit down, an'en he went off t' find th' rest of `em... I guess he found three, so they got five outta seven. But he said that th' fifth emerald didn't hold fer more `an a week or two.''

``But what happens if the hero completely loses his memories before they get all seven? Will he...''

Manic frowned, looking off to the side as he tried to think. ``I... don't know... He nevah said tha' was a risk so I think he can still be cured? I mean, he's gotta have a backup plan, he's no dumbass. But he said right now, even tho he's still got some memories, it's not a good idea t' visit. Wit' `im forgettin' so much, he's gettin' frustrated n' moody. Cuz he can't do anythin' t' help.'' Inwardly, Manic was still pissed that he couldn't even manage to get the doc to slip up once and drop a name. It seemed Eggman really intended to keep the hero's situation as private as possible, and had deliberately left out specifics.

``...This is most frustrating...'' the assistant muttered. ``The poor lad, I do hope they are able to remove this corruptive energy. But what shall we do in the meanwhile? We have a location, yet no way to use it.''

``Well, guess I'll just keep explorin'. I don't gotta bug peeps fer info now, so might as well make a good impression until th' interview, y'know?''

Really, that was the only thing they could do. They were here for two weeks, so he might as well make the most of it. He could get to know Lightning's crew, maybe learn a bit about the Restoration efforts... And really, he had to learn more about Eggman. He'd changed a lot, and honestly... it excited him in a weird way. The way he'd actually kneeled to him, it felt so different compared to any other situation. It was almost like Eggman was... showing him respect. But talking about Eggman...

``But honestly, after this mornin'... I'm tired as fuck,'' he relented. That emotional outburst really did a number on him, even though it felt damn good to get it out of his system. ``I was usin' `is belly like a punchin' bag fer a hot minute, an' he let me.''

There was silence from the assistant, but after a while, he simply sighed. ``Well, it is out of our hands until the hero regains his memories... Do as you feel is best, my prince.'' With that, Manic was soon left alone, and he slipped out of all of his heavy royal gear to crawl into bed. At the least, a little nap wouldn't hurt.

---

For once, Manic didn't dream of the past. Strangely enough, he felt... different. Taller, stronger, more confident. Even his clothes felt different. Soft, free, a bit risque perhaps, as he felt it on his chest but not his belly. But he couldn't see himself at all, as his eyes were locked on what looked like a stage. And this wasn't some dive bar stage like he and his siblings had performed at as kids - it was a good size too. Like a mini theater, and the lights were all on him as he stepped up. The sounds of squealing were like music to his ears, but as much as he wanted to question why he didn't have a drumset, it didn't feel out of place...

There were others in front of him, two on each side. They looked dressed in sleek clothes, like a boy band, but of what he couldn't be sure. The backing music started to play, but while his dancers strutted their stuff, he found himself moving in totally different positions. A flick of the wrist, a step of the foot - which he realized only then he was still barefoot, which he'd never done on a stage... But this felt right. Especially as a solid thrum like he'd hit a drum seemed to reverberate around the stage. Like the drums were there, just invisible.

He barely even noticed the way the crowd seemed to light up with odd pink lights, his body falling into a groove...

---

This time, he awoke only to the sound of his alarm he'd set, rather than the usual panic or pang of sadness that made his chest ache. Rather than pain, he felt... really weird. ``Was that some sort o' fuckin' timeline shit?'' He'd been in a parallel world before, and then there was that time he saw three other versions of his brother... One that had glasses and leather, one that had green eyes, and then the one in armor... Zonic, if he remembered right. Gods, how many worlds were out there with their own Sonics, still fighting their own battles against their own Robotniks? And then there was that parallel world... he remembered that Manic was a pretty greedy fuck, but they seemed to come around after getting involved in the struggle from their dimension.

Maybe that line about `strife building character' had some truth to it... But damn if he didn't wish some days, he had it easy. He gave a half-hearted laugh before finally moving out of the bed.

Stepping outside onto his balcony, he gave a little shiver, which brought him back to the conversation he'd had earlier. What did it mean to be Chaos Touched? What did it mean to get powers from the Chaos Emeralds? And what made things like his medallion so different?

He looked at the jewelry hanging from his neck, pressing it between two fingers. It was still just as dead as it was all these years. It'd never transform into a drumset again. The moment his brother died, it was like the power was gone... No matter how much he tried, the thing remained a piece of crystal. Indestructible, untarnished, but just dead, useless rock. He really didn't have any reason to wear it anymore, at least practically.

No, it was a memorial piece now. The last remaining thing of his brother he could think of. The conjoined powers of their magic medallions that allowed them to fight. It allowed them to find each other whenever they were lost... Even now, sometimes, he could swear he feel out his sister if he really tried. But that was probably just more instinct now. They lived together now. It was never hard to find her in the castle.

Which talking about finding things... With a hum, he pulled out the map of the city. ``Okay. So lessee... There ain't no point in sneakin' around fer th' hero's house...'' Like really, what was he gonna get? Some dude who could barely remember what he did a few weeks ago, let alone be an informant. It was likely then he'd forgotten the interview to begin with! Fat lot of help that would be...

Well, for now, he could at least circle all the areas he'd been to. The music store, the general store, Lightning's street corner, their hideout... and of course, the overlook. Which really was beautiful, even if it was a cold walk. Maybe on the solstice he'd get a ride there just to really see the view. Even if it was gonna be more crowded that day...

``Hrm... I wonder what Eggman's up t' now... Tha' whole thing `bout th' robot double bothers me,'' he muttered. Apparently, this drone was specifically designed to copy the hero in every way, to the point the drone actually thought he was the real deal and the hero was an impostor that needed destroyed. So having to take care of the hero was being met with a lot of resistance... Apparently, though, like Eggman, the robot dude didn't want to take the hero out in an unfair way, so it was very begrudging. ``Heh, two villains playin' doctor cuz their enemy's too sick t' fight. Fuckin' hilarious, honestly...''

Especially considering that, if this had happened fifteen years ago to him, or his sister, or his brother... He shuddered. Robotnik would not have been so merciful.

Well, maybe he'd try to get more answers out of him if they crossed paths. For now, he wanted to maybe meet up with Lightning. Surely the guy knew some good places he hadn't visited. Restaurants, shops, any other places that he'd probably want to check... It was just too bad that he had no `normal clothes' money. He hated the way he stuck out like a sore thumb! But he was only given a chunk for snacks, since the hotel covered their meals. Hell, at this point he was willing to give Lightning his coat just to exchange it for a nice zip-up jacket and some soft pants...

``Nah, keep yer promises, Manic. Don't get desperate.'' After all, technically, Lightning could still make good on the deal. Eggman never told him who the hero was, but if Lightning could figure that out... Yeah, there was still that.

Well, he might not have money for clothes, but maybe he could at least walk around and window shop. Or heck, maybe some things were cheap enough he could probably find a little something that wouldn't dent his snack budget... No harm in looking around and checking, right?

With that in mind, he decided to make a second trip back out, this time plotting a new course.", "pools_count": 1, "title": "For All I Missed Ch. 4", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "1", "rating_name": "Mature", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "2", "name": "Nudity", "description": "Nonsexual nudity exposing breasts or genitals (must not show arousal)", "rating_id": "1" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "t", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "0", "views": "20" }