The fogs of war were far away from this place. 
Waiting outside the door of a small cabin in a secluded forest area, the Guardian of the Master Emerald stood with his arms crossed and a grimace expression written across his face as he reviewed the chain of events that had ocurred in the last 24 hours. 
His hopes of finding Sonic and putting a swift end to the conflict were cut down by the unexpected state of the world's greatest hero. As much as he blamed Eggman and Infinite for his condition, he blamed himself even more for buying into their propaganda of his friend's demise. He failed on so many levels and now he was faced with the tough decisions of how to move forward.

Then, the creaking of the door caught his attention.

"How is he?" he asked Shadow as the hedgehog exited. 

"Finally asleep", he stated in a somber tone while he closed the door behind him, "I think it's best that we stick to our plan."

"You mean YOUR plan of not telling the others that he's back?" Knuckles questioned with assertion.

"That's just it, he's not back", Shadow retorted, "Not 100% at least."  

Knuckles followed him in a huff as they walked a short distance from the cabin, establishing his position on the situation, "We're in the middle of a war, Shadow. Many of the soldiers think 'What would Sonic do?' when facing against overwhelming odds. He's been a symbol of inspiration for the Resistance since day one. At least knowing that he's alive would increase their fighting spirit." 

Shadow scoffed at his mindset, "And if they discover that he was broken by the enemy, what would happen to their morale then?" 

Knuckles cracked his fists in frustration. He wanted to argue, to prove that his priorities were sound, but in the end he conceded to rationality, "You're right. This has to be handled delicately We don't have to make a public announcement, but I still feel that his friends deserve to know." The echidna sighed at the thought of their dear friends, "Amy has clinged to shreds of hope that he was alive since the beginning, while Tails has been lost in mourning on the belief that he wasn't. It's cruel to keep this a secret, especially from them."

Shadow was clearly flustered by his insistence and stood his ground, "No one will know until he's ready for them to know. Understood?!"

"Even if they could help speed up his recovery?" Knuckles persisted.

The Ultimate Life Form shook his head in fervent disapproval. Though there was no denying the strong bonds Sonic shared with his friends, Shadow felt that certain that they wouldn't understand what he had suffered and that their presence, at least at this interval, would only complicate the stages of healing. In the end, he wouldn't budge. "This discussion is over, Knuckles. Go back to your headquarters and see to the war efforts."

Shadow stormed back inside the cabin, leaving the echidna alone. Knuckles was torn. He wanted what was best for Sonic, but he also knew how their friends have been agonizing over his absence. And as selfish as it was, he still considered the impact the news of the blue blur's return would have in turning the tide of the battle. In weighing all the options and potential consequences of moving too hastily, Knuckles begrudgingly forced himself to accept Shadow's terms, at least for now.

Meanwhile, Shadow was determined to care for Sonic himself since he had experience in dealing with mental trauma; however, as he sat on the rugged sofa in the small living room of the old cabin, he contemplated the valid points Knuckles had made. 
Could Tails and Amy help Sonic heal some of the emotional scarring? They had known him since childhood and shared a lifetime of adventures, some good, some bad, yet they made it through it all together. He had to admit to himself that they knew him better, whereas his own association with him has been a complicated assortment of opposition and alliances with little socializing in between. Retrospectively, they could be essential in making the process easier for him. 

While he pondered, he was alarmed by a shriek coming from Sonic's bedroom. 
He quickly lept from the sofa and dashed through the door to find the hedgehog tangled in the blanket, tossing and turning violently on the bed, struggling through his nightmares.
"YAAHHHH!!! N-NO!!! NO M-MORE!!! PLEASE!!!!" 

"Sonic! Sonic, Wake Up!" he exclaimed as he tried to contain the blue hedgehog's outburst. 

"GAAAHHHHH!!!! S-STOP!!!! PLEASE!!!" 

Shadow held Sonic's face gently, taking the punches of flailing arms while still maintaining his composure, "Sonic! You have to wake up!!!" 

After a few brief moments of writhing, the fallen hero's eyes shot open, unleashing the tears that instantly streamed down his cheeks while he fought to breathe. 
"Sh-Shadow?" he stuttered as he hyperventilated.

"Slow down. Ttake slow deep breaths," the red and black hedgehog said as he gently pressed on Sonic's chest to help control his respiration, "You're safe. It was just a dream."

Sonic groaned as he covered his face with his hands, clenching his fists as he couldn't stop crying, "Grrr! When did I get so pathetic?!" 
He was angry with himself, caught in a deep pit of self-loathing for the fact that not only did he submit to the cruelty of his captors, but that he let what happen get to him. 
He was free now, and yet, he was still trapped. 

"Don't be an idiot," Shadow stated as he pulled his hands from his face, "you can't expect to rebound in a day from 6 months in Hell."

Sonic glanced at him and then stared at the slow-spinning fan on the timber ceiling, "I still can't believe it was 6 months," he said in a whispy voice, his breath slowly returning to him, "it felt like it was so much longer....I've been having a hard time piecing some things together, it's like my brain doesn't know which way is up anymore."

Shadow had originally deduced that the hazy memories were his subconscious attempting to deal with the unspeakable trauma he experienced, a common psychological recourse, but for Sonic's wellbeing, he shared his other theory, "It's most likely a side effect of the Phantom Ruby. It's best that you rest and try not to overexert yourself at this point, mentally or physically," Shadow advised as he straightened the sheets and covered him.

Tucked in the soft bed, Sonic was comfortable, but still disconcerted. He sighed and looked to his friend, seeking honesty from the one person he can rely on now, "Shadow...when do you think I'm going to be back to normal?" he asked.

Shadow sat in the chair next to the bed as the hedgehog looked on, waiting for an answer.
Knowing what he knows and uncertain of many things, Shadow avoided making eye contact with him as he responded, "Time heals all wounds," he lied. 


The cabin still stood as it did before. Although old, it had a sort of inviting atmosphere to it. A type of vintage homelyness that made one feel at ease. 
When Sonic disappeared from Shadow's apartment, the Ultimate Life Form began searching high and low at all his usual spots while keeping in mind that based on the hedgehog's current state, he would steer clear of populated areas and especially of those close to him for fear someone would witness him unraveling. He ventured far and wide, across the checkered patterns of Green Hill to the majestic coasts of the Emerald Isles; from Tails's currently vacant workshop (where he noticed the broken door) to his little shack outside of Hedgehog Village. Each place was a dead end, but then he remembered something from their final days at this cabin, the day before Sonic left here to return to his old life he said, "This place is great at shutting out the world, but I've been cooped up long enough. It's time to get back out there! You coming, Shadow?"

That smile, while seemingly genuine at the time, now appeared fake in Shadow's memory. Whether recent events painted it differently or he was blind from the beginning, he solemnly sighed while he approached the cabin's front door--it swinging back and forth in the gentle breeze. His metal soles creaked the floorboards as he walked through the dark home, passing each room, Shadow couldn't help but remember their times there. How he fixed Sonic meals while the blue hedgehog sat stoic at the kitchen table, afraid to eat unless given permission to do so; when he swaddled him in a blanket and craddled him during one of his many crying fits on the sofa in the living rooom; when he held him close as they sat in front of the fireplace, bathing in its warmth and letting the heat vaporize the chill of the haunting memories. This was a place of healing, where the blue blur reacquired his strength of body and mind in peace...at least, that's what Shadow thought had happened. He thought he had gotten better....clearly, he was wrong. 

Slowly, he pressed against the ajar entry to the bedroom, letting it sway open. Within the quietness, he could hear the wispy sounds of panting from the corner and proceeded to open the curtains to cast out the darkness by illuminating the room with the natural sun.

"Sonic..." he called kindly while approaching the blue hedgehog, whom was hugging the small space between the bed and the wall. "....are you alright?"

"Tch" he uttered. He was absolutely disgusted with himself, his behavior and how out of control he was with everything was completely irrational at this point. After a few sniffles, Sonic responded in a raspy voice, "The hell kind of question is that" before catching himself on a sob. 

Shadow could visibly see him shaking all over. It was a sight he had seen many times before. Leaning over the bed, he saw Sonic had gashes on his arms akin to the claw marks he; himself sustained at his apartment, indicating they were self-inflicted. 
*Did he have another hallucination? Is that why he ran away?* Shadow wondered grimly. *Was he in his right mind?* He tried to choose his words carefully as to not ignite his struggling friend's anger or exasperate his anxiety any further. 

"What can I do to help?" he finally asked. 

Sonic just sat there holding himself. Every now and then, he'd wipe his eyes, but he otherwise remained silent. He didn't know what to do or what he needed and he certainly didn't know how Shadow could help. He just kept seeing the jackal. Seeing him taunting him and making him relive that awful 'education' over and over whether he was awake or asleep. It was bad enough his body betrayed him during those times, now his mind was following suit even with the bastard gone. 
Suddenly, a frightening thought passed through Sonic's mind. He turned slightly to his concerned counterpart and questioned, "Is Infinite really dead?"

The red and black hedgehog was initially a little surprised that he was asked that, but at this point, it all wasn't that surprising for him to question that. Shadow stood tall and responded without hesitation, "I killed him, Sonic."

The fallen hero looked to the visage of unshakeable confidence while slowly getting to his feet. He continued to hold himself as he leaned against the wall, feeling like if he let go that he would fall apart. Grasping at straws he asked, "Are you sure?" 

It was clear that Sonic was desperate. He needed answers for what was happening to him other than a diagnosis of PTSD. He was hoping he wasn't losing himself and was looking to Shadow to give him that assurance. The black hedgehog paused. So much had occurred during the war. So much was a blur. It was an endless array of battles for him as he leapt from one fight to another while searching for the hero Eggman announced was no more. The string of clues he found and the intel Rouge provided directed him to the Death Egg and to the place where his anger had never been more terrifying. Shadow recalled that day vividly...the day he almost lost Sonic forever was the day he killed Infinite.