The sequel to "That's how a winner feels, right?" ! Many surprises lie ahead ...
Prologue
"It's no use ... But why can't I defeat you?",asked Metal Sonic as he transformed back powerlessly. His biggest plan yet had gone wrong. His betrayal of the Master and the transformation into Metal Overlord had been useless, because Super Sonic, Tails and Knuckles had defeated him.
"Why? Because we're Sonic Heroes!"
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These memories wandered the mechanical head of metal. It was a foggy autumn night. The fog appeared for metal like a mockery of Nature itself. Like a prison around him that he couldn't escape. Just like the fight against Sonic, which he couldn't win. Like the life in which he was trapped. No matter how much running training he did out here, Sonic was always faster and stronger. He had just failed even in his Neo Metal form (see my other fanfiction "Sonic Action!"), beaten by a ridiculous water pistol! But he's the real Sonic! Suddenly, as if in a fateful twist, a gust of wind blew away the fog. Metal, who had long since lost his bearings, suddenly stood in front of a brightly lit house. "The Wonder World of Doctor Feder" A shop? here? How could Metal have never noticed this? Driven by curiosity, he entered the shop, which was open despite the late hour. Inside there was a mess of everything that there is in terms of junk and clutter. But there was something else. In front of a wall laid a skirt on a chair, which looked not unlike the one he had worn as Neo Metal Sonic. In fact, it even looked exactly the same! "Welcome, sir!
May I introduce myself? I'm Doctor Feder, even if I'm not a real doctor. And that's my realm, even if I'm not a real ruler. What can I serve you with?"
Metal rejected: "Nothing at all! I just happened to come in by chance and just wanted to go again ..."
"No one comes in by chance ... and nobody goes out empty-handed. You admired the costume? You have a similar one, don't you?"
Metal was briefly confused : "How did you come up with that?"
"Let's say, I just know, good man! And I also know that this costume is different from yours. It will make you do wonders and great deeds! Loyal like a sniffer dog, it will follow you everywhere"
Metal thought to have recognized the situation : "Let's play with open cards, My friend. I'm sure I'm not entirely unknown in the world. So you recognized me. And now you want to make fun of me by pretending to be a kind of seer"
"Neither a doctor nor a seer! I'm just a dealer who has something special to offer. I'll leave you the costume for one euro, but the most important thing is the gift of the house.
Voilà ... an envelope!
Don't be fooled by it's inconspicuous appearance. It's even more unusual than the skirt.
But you can only send it to a single address and only use it once.
Write the name right next to the feather and if you want the effect to go away, burn the envelope.
Therefore, only use it in an emergency and with a lot of caution. Until then, keep it safe and secure.
Can't wait to know what he's for, can't you? I see it in your eyes.
All right, listen to me carefully because I won't repeat myself! But first a question :
Have you ever dreamed of being someone else?"
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At the end,Metal gave way to the chatter of the weird old guy and bought the skirt. It only costed one euro,after all. In the period that followed, Metal kept trying to find the store again, but in vain. It was as if it had disappeared forever. He never heard from Doctor Feder again either, but he had kept the costume and the strange envelope to this day.
And today is the day he will use them!
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1 January
The Koralleninsel lies about 2 miles south of South Island. The island owes its name to the red coral sand of volcanic origin, which covers the island's coast. In the 18th century it was dominated by Count Dolf van Dölpelen's castle until the island was conquered in a war. But the count disappeared without a trace that day. How, that was the theme of numerous fairy tales in this area. Almost 100 years ago, a building with a completely different purpose was built on the castle ruins. The safest prison in the world.
Since its inception, no one has ever successfully escaped.
Since 91 years.
Of course, only the worst of the worst come there. The latest "guest" : prisoner 176 - 593, also known as Metal Sonic. Not all Mobians were successfully cured of robotization and henceforth lived on as robots. The obedience protocol of Dr. Eggman no longer worked, and that's how the group of Robians came into being. After some back and forth, Sonic was as Prince of Christmas Island of course involved into the discussion - the government decided to equate Robians and Mobians. And who counts now as who? Sonic had a lot of fun (not) finding politically correct criteria for this in lengthy discussions. Did that help him with his depression? Certainly not. But finally everything was settled and Metal Sonic was convicted in court like any other non-robot. He wore a black skirt and didn't look up when the judge proclaimed the greatest possible punishment: lifelong imprisonment on the Koralleninsel. And lifelong meant here forever. "Does the accused have anything to add?"
"Only one thing: Please call me Kai. I'm not Sonic ... not yet"
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Yet. A single word that led to speculation. Accordingly, Sonic is a bit nervous now. Vector had called him directly at the police station for "something very important". "It's about tha thing here" Vector holds an inconspicuous envelope in the hands. "It was found in Kai's personal things. More precisely, he had sewn it into his robe. But it is meant for you and Kai wanted me to hand it to you" Sonic accepts the letter and takes a close look at it. The only special thing is a printed gold feather on the front of the tab. Instead of an address, there are only four words written next to the feather : "For the real Sonic" "Of course it has already been opened and thoroughly examined in the forensic laboratory. When it comes to this villain, you can't be too careful. But the letter is clean - too clean for my taste" Sonic opens the envelope. Inside is a sheet of paper. On it,there's
nothing. Sonic is confused: "What does that mean?" Vector can only shrug his shoulders : "I don't know. I called Kai in prison and asked, but he hung up right away. No matter what, don't worry! Nobody can escape from the Koralleninsel!"
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Nobody? Really nobody?,cogitates Sonic, while he's waiting for dinner. Today Amy cooked for him. Even though the two are a couple now, the two are still living in separate houses. Amy can't just leave her work and friends in Green Hill and anyway - a civilian in the Castle? That just doesn't feel right. Even if Amy would love to move into the royal family with a wedding, but Sonic can't change completely overnight either. And so he's quiet again and eats his food quietly while Amy is talking. The lock is at her back door is broken. Tails needs to repair it the next time he comes to visit. Should she introduce Sonic to her parents? Weddings in May are especially beautiful. When the two finally want to have children. Where should the two celebrate their anniversary? "How about the never lake? That's where we first met" "Yeah, never, I see", Sonic murmurs absently. "You're not listening. What's going on?" Before Sonic can say anything, she is already next to him and lovingly hugs him. "Whatever it is, calm down, my beloved Sonic. I'm here for you. Nothing will break us apart. And if someone tries it", she took the chaos Emeralds out of Sonic's bag during the hug and is now transforming into Super Amy. "Then I'll fight back! With everything I'm made of!" She screams and goes even further beyond. Her body becomes even more muscular, her golden fur gets a red aura, her spines pointing up are getting even longer and pointing even higher, and when she opens her eyes, they are blue. "Do you see what I mean?" Sonic smiles at the sight of Super Amy 2. "I was a good role model, right? But you're right. What should WE be afraid of?!"
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Sonic sits on his bed and looks contemptuously at the letter in his hand. "You won't ruin my life again, Kai!",he shouts angrily and throws the letter next to the bed on the floor. After that he feels much better. When he's half asleep, he remembers Super Amy 2 again. The most beautiful and strongest woman in the world, he thinks. Together they can do anything. Defeat every opponent. And even ... He falls asleep before he can finish his thoughts.
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"Sonic the Hedgehog!"
The voice comes out of nowhere in the middle of the night.
"I'm here, Sonic ..."
Sonic gets up. Wait a minute, wasn't the letter closed earlier? Now it is open and countless feathers are on the ground. As if they are forming a trail.
"Behind you, Sonic ..."
The voice sounds distorted and metallic.
"Behind you in the mirror!"
Sonic turns around. In the mirror he sees a metallic copy instead of himself.
"No, no, no ..." "But yes!"
With widened eyes from fear, Sonic watches Kai, contrary to all the rules of logic, coming out of the mirror.
"That can't be true!",Sonic screams in a panicked attempt to regain control.
"And it isn't! The truth is much worse! Welcome!
WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE!!!"
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2
Sonic wakes up screaming. Phew, luckily that was just a nightmare and Sonic is now back in his small and hard bed ... wait a minute, this is not his bedroom! This is a prison cell! Sonic looks through the barred window and is startled again. The cell is on the ground floor and he can't even see the sky. Sonic is in panic and only wants one thing : answer to the question in his head.
HOW?
A human, a man in uniform, has noticed Sonic's restlessness and is getting closer. "What's the matter, you scoundrel? Don't you like the view?" Sonic tries with diplomacy: "Sir, why am I here?" "No stupid questions! I'm in a bad mood today!" The man with the mustache picks up his bunch of keys and unlocks the door. "Out with you! It's feeding time!" Sonic is becoming increasingly restless. "You have no right to imprison me!" "Oh yes,'cause you were convicted!",answers a second security guard. "But ..." "Silence, no talking in the hallway!", the man with the 'stache roars.
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In the prison cafeteria, Sonic is completely beside him. The occupants take food boards and get them filled up by the appropriate staff. Sonic can't concentrate and just takes something.
"Coffee, coffee with water or just water?"
Sonic takes too long to think and gets a paper cup with water.
"If you don't say anything, you just get water!"
Sonic doesn't even have the strength to fight back. He sits down at a table and tries to calm down. This can't be true, right? A bear whose brown fur has grown long and overflows under and over his prison shirt, sits right next to Sonic. "Do you still eat, or can I have?" Sonic hasn't noticed it in the excitement so far, but he himself also wears prison clothes. "What's the matter, Kai?", the bear hypocrites attention while clearly craving after the leftovers. "What did you just call me?!" "That's your name, isn't it?" Sonic looks at his shirt. He's prisoner 176 - 593.
No, no, NO!!!
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On the prison yard is a small bookcase with advertising for the prison library. Some inmates read books, others play with cards or primitive handheld consoles that they have earned through good behavior. And some just sit around. Just like a very specific blue hedgehog. The sky is completely gray, so many clouds are covering the sun. Despite the moderate island climate, it is just 10°C. No problem for most Mobians with their fur and a heater is set up for those who are sensitive to cold. Nobody avoids a yard walk! Sonic has enough and turns to a security guard: "Hey, you there! I have to make a call!" "Again? But you just were on the phone yesterday?" "It's important!" "Yes, well, you can babble after the yard walk!" "But ..." "No but! I'm in a bad mood today!" Unfortunately, Sonic chose the man with the mustache. The time until the end of the yard walk goes incredibly slow for Sonic.
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Finally, Sonic can make a call. The two guards from this morning are about 2 meters away and listen to every word. With trembling hands, Sonic dials Vector's work number and prays that he's answering. Since last year, the Chaotix have split: Vector now works as a police officer in the presidium, Espio has left for the East to realize his ninja dreams, and Charmy is starting his own family. He even has a fiancé, he of all people! But the Chaotix detective agency still exists. Now with your favorite investigators Mighty, Ray, Heavy & Bomb. "Yes?" Luckily, Vector is on the phone! "Vector, you have to help me! I think someone plays a devilish joke with me! I'm on the Koralleninsel and everyone pretends I'm Kai! Maybe that has something to do with the letter? You have to get me out of here!” Sonic is begging. Vector is not thrilled: "What's that, Kai? I clearly recognize your voice! And besides, I just visited the real Sonic today! I wish you many happy years on your island! And your ridiculous tricks won't help you!" Vector has already hung up and the phone is tooting away. Shocked across all borders, Sonic turns to the two humans.
"How can you believe I'm Kai?"
"We don't believe it"
"We know it with absolute certainty! Now put the phone down"
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"Good night, you villains!",shouts the man with the beard. Apparently he's something like the senior guard here. Sonic lies in this uncomfortable foldable bed and tries to calm down. It's just a nightmare, he tells himself. If I manage to fall asleep, I'll wake up tomorrow and then have breakfast with my siblings in the huge dining room. I just have to fall asleep. The patroller's steps are as even as the tick of the clock next to him. It takes hours before Sonic can finally fall asleep.
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3
Waste of time, thinks Jakob "Jak" Prower. He is sitting in a chair in the doctor's waiting room. His company now wants to improve their reputation. Work-life balance, and something like that. A regular health check is also part of it. Jak would have preferred a day off instead, but what do you want to do. Finally Jak is called in. The doctor has already taken blood from him and will now tell him the test results. The doctor looks down and is visibly sad. "It's always difficult to deliver such a message" Jak is surprised. Sure, lately he had some dizziness or coughing from time to time. But these only lasted briefly and came up rarely. That can't be a bad sickness,
right?
The doctor sighs and needs a moment to say it.
"You have MIDS"
MIDS is a mysterious, rare, incurable disease on Mobius. The most famous affected was Maria Robotnik. The worst thing about the disease is the deadly course and its unpredictability. Some died after 6 days, others live on for another 16 years. "We can try to treat the symptoms. If you want, we can today ..." "No, I don't want to. I won't watch myself dying. Have a nice day",says Jak firmly and leaves the doctor's office.
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So that's it, Jak thinks, while he's walking there thoughtfully. The house of him and his wife is on the outskirts of Fuchshausen, but Jak walks past it and into the remains of a former large forest. At the other end is a village of Green Hill where his son Miles "Tails" Prower lives. Or rather lived. Tails has taken the big step since last year. He now lives with his girlfriend Marine in her homeland,at the parallel planet Solbium in the Sol Dimension. Tails visits his old home at irregular intervals, but not today. Amy lives next to Tails and Jak can see Sonic through the window. The two are eating lunch and Sonic is unusually clumsy. He spills everywhere. Amy laughs. He probably makes a fool of himself for her to laugh, thinks Jak and goes on. Young love. He doesn't know it, he never had it.
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At home, his wife Miraval greets him in the same way as always: not at all. But he is so desperate for comfort and attention today. Desperately, he enters his attic. In the middle is his greatest material treasure: an old typewriter. Jak sits next to him. Maybe he should write a farewell letter? He is shocked to find out that he has forgotten how to read. That's what happens when you only drag crates from A to B for decades. That old thing,though. A memory of times that feel so distant. When the future seemed so golden back then.
In those days : 31 . 12 . 1899 (or 12/31/1899 for Americans)
"Thank you for the invitation!" Carl Prower is delighted. His friend and business partner Winston Robotnik invited him to his private island with the huge, castle-like Villa Robotnik. Together they sit in the gentleman's room, drink wine and talk about the past year. "How is the dear wife?",Carl asks. "According to the circumstances. She is in good hope" in modern English : She is pregnant. Carl and Winston together dared the impossible: fully investing in cars. The risk was worth it, because the newfangled vehicles proved to become very popular under mobians. "If it becomes a son, one day he will become my successor. I even have a name for him : Gerald, like my father" "Excellent choice," agrees Carl. "Anyway, the 20th century will definitely be the best of all!" "I agree. And on this occasion I would like to give you something very special!" Winston leaves the room for a moment and comes back with a typewriter. "Please!" Carl picks up the machine and is emotionally touched. On the back is a name engraved in large letters: Prowatonik. "Can you please keep it in a safe room of your villa?" "Why that?" "It's the safest place. I don't want our bond to be destroyed - even if only symbolically",answers Carl, solemnly stretching out his hand to Winston. "On the eternal friendship between the Robotniks and the Prowers!" Fox and human shake hands.
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4
"Get up, your predators!" The guard with the mustache knocks loudly against the bars with his baton. Today Sonic is less apathetic. He wants to end this nightmare as soon as possible. He manages to get a coffee today, and he requests another phone call when he goes to the yard. "Again?!", the man with the 'stache roars, who seems to be everywhere. While Sonic is waiting, he looks around today. So far he has largely ignored the other prisoners. Koralleninsel is a male prison. But there is an interesting variety of species. Strong gorillas, wild boars, bears and even an old, bald eagle, who is literally bald. There is a jackal at the bench where he sat frozen in shock on the first day. He looks unusually familiar to Sonic. When he recognizes him, Sonic's mood rises and he finds his way back to his usual cheeky mood for the first time in days. "Hello, good man! What are we doing today? Don't being weak anymore?" "What?!!!", the jackal, who was once Infinite, yells back angrily. "How nice that you woke up from your slumber! Didn't think we would ever see each other again, Infini!" "My name is Kazran! Kazran! K-A-Z-R-A-N!", he adds again, emphasizing every letter. His eyes flash angrily. He has pretty weird eyes, one is yellow and the other blue. Sonic recognized Kazran from his eyes. "Why are you actually interested in me, you, you, ... copy?" Sonic would love to make an ironic remark like "Haha, you can't even curse!" But he keeps his tongue in check and instead tells the truth: "I'm not Kai, I'm Sonic. Somehow this one, this one (who can't curse here now?), this tin bucket, I don't know how, made it and our bodies were exchanged. But It's me, Sonic and maybe you can help me. And maybe I can help you" "Yes, probably",Kazran replies mockingly and crosses his arms. It looks like he wants to say something else, but he shuts his mouth again. Sonic is confused, but quickly recognizes the reason: the guards became aware through the roar and are staring at the two. The man with the mustache in particular doesn't look happy. Sonic fears for his phone call and is also silent. But as strange as it sounds, he feels strangely liberated. It felt good to finally meet someone he knew. Sonic looks up. The clouds have disappeared and the sun is shining. Infinite, thinks Sonic. Actually, the man who changed Sonic's life the most when he thought about it. Poor Tails was sick from lovesickness at the time and after the war had built a teleporter to the Sol Dimension, hoping for comfort. (What he found there, you can read in my previous fanfiction "That's how a winner feels, right?") Tails ... Amy ... Sonic closes his eyes and thinks of his beloved friends, in the sure expectation to see them again soon.
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He takes the phone optimistically. Maybe it was a mistake to call Vector yesterday. They're not that close friends anyways. It's time to turn to the one person who always loved him and was there for him in good times and bad times. "Amy, it's me, Sonic. I ... " " ... am where you should be!" answers his own voice, metallicly distorted and cold-hearted. "You!" Sonic calls out angrily. "Ah-ah-ah, why so serious? Can't you laugh at my little joke? Now I am you and you are me. My biggest dream!" "I'll turn your dream into a nightmare!",Sonic threatens, not knowing remotely how to do that. "How funny. I'll keep quiet for a while. But just imagine ,what then? You know the beautiful, colorful gems. What do you think will I do with them?" Kai speaks slowly and savors every single moment of his triumph. Sonic has terrible images in his mind at the thought of what Kai could do. His voice sounds like a pleading when he replies : "You can't do that! You just mustn't!" "Who are you that you want to give me orders? I have to hang up, Amy needs me. The real Sonic" and Kai hangs up with this last comment. Sonic sits frozen in fright and doesn't react even when the security guard with the mustache yells at him. He must be carried away by force.
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Kai is very happy with himself when he sits at the table. When upgrading to the Kai model, he got a mouth and was able to camouflage himself so much better if necessary. However, these functions are still unfamiliar to him. At least he did better today when it came to eating than yesterday. He had been worried for a moment when the old fox guy had been watching him through the window for a long time yesterday. But in the end,he moved on. Definitely convinced that he saw the real Sonic.
And why not?
This is the new reality now!
In those days : Determination
"No!" Infinite lies defeated on the ground. Sonic and the rookie defeated him with the power of teamwork. "It's not over yet! I can still fight!",Infinite roars and wants to use the powers of the Phantom Ruby. All of a sudden it is being torn away from him. Namely by Eggman, who uses a kind of energy beam from his Egg Mobile. "You failed, Infinite! From now on I'll take things in my own hands!" Infinite notices the horrible consequences. "How should I defend myself without the Phantom Ruby?" "Oops, hard luck!", Eggman laughs and flies away. Without the ability to fly and manipulate reality, Infinite can only powerlessly watch Sonic charge a spindash. With millimeter-accurate precision, Sonic hits Infinite's head and cuts his mask with his sharp hedgehog spines. Sonic looks directly into his two differently colored eyes. "Give up! You have no choice!" Infinite gives up. And even more than Sonic intended. He throws himself in a nearby abyss. "No!",Sonic shouts and runs to the edge of the abyss, but he's too late. The suicide attempt failed, Infinite's fall ended on a small ledge about 6 meters below Sonic. He is seriously injured, but still alive. "Tails, get him out of there. Me and the rookie will stop Eggman",says Sonic and tries not to think about Infinite anymore. Now he has to concentrate. The real fight starts any second now.
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Trigger warning! Topic : Violence against children
5
Sonic sits in the yard next to Kazran and thinks. "What actually happened after your, uh, fall?" Sonic finally asks to break the silence. "I was in a coma for years. After that I got up and as soon as I felt better, I came here" Kazran's voice sounds indifferent. The voice of a man who has already given up. Sonic clenches his fist. No, he doesn't want to be like that! Don't be a loser again (see "That's how a winner feels, doesn't it?") He wants to fight! First of all against boredom. Sonic gets up and gets a book. Without a word, he holds it out to Kazran. "I can't" "Why?",Sonic asks. "Because I can't!", repeats Kazran. "Since I've woken up from a coma, I've seen everything mirrored." Sonic is a bit subdued after this statement. "That's why your prisoner number is mirrored," he says and tries to read Kazran's number anyway. 167 - 000 . Definitely an intentional pun on Infinite. Sonic looks at the book in his hand. He has read a few books lately. By "read" was meant: read out by his faithful servant Howl. "Maybe you could use a mirror?",Sonic asks. "Oh yes. A mirror. Great idea. Possible sharp broken glass is very welcome here!", Kazran replies cynically and cannot hide his own grief. Sonic wants to help, but how? He looks at the book again. Maybe that will help. He starts reading aloud. The book is "The Gourmet. From the Life of a Foodie" by the Chinese star author Lu Wenfu. A book about the injustice in life, about the Chinese revolution and the lives of two men who couldn't be more different and are still brought together again and again by fate. Kazran, initially disinterested, listens intently when the first-person narrator describes his disgust on the eponymous gourmet. A rich, fat man. In it, Kazran projects his own hatred of a fat, rich eggy man who had left him to die. Sonic reads, and Kazran listens. Both are sitting here and yet they are in a very own world. so far away. Sonic forgets all his problems and worries. He loses himself in the world of letters. He doesn't even notice how the guards around him drive the inmates together. He only stops when the man with the mustache rips the book out of his hand by force.
"Fairy tale hour is over, girls. Off to the cell!"
In those days : Education
Jakob is 16 and the best in school. Despite his cool nickname, which he made up himself, he doesn't have a single friend and is sometimes even a victim of bullying. He gets along remarkably well with it. While the other guys in his class have fun, Jak knows his whole school book by heart. If the teacher asks a question, no matter in which subject, Jak always stretches his finger and the day he didn't know the right answer has never come before. Of course, Jak is correspondingly popular with the teachers. Actually, he could just as well stand up in front of the class and teach them himself. Jak learns diligently for his big goal: to become an inventor, somewhere far away. It is not without reason that school is his favorite place in this world.
The rest of his life is less beautiful.
His father Wilhelm is always well dressed. A subtle suit, chic, but nothing unusual. The only thing that bothers the overall picture is his belt with the unusually large metal buckle. You might think that it doesn't match his pants at all and you would be right.
This is not a piece of clothing.
It's a punishment tool.
Since the death of his mother, life has not become easier for Jak. She had an accident, was Wilhelm's only comment. Since then he has repeatedly come home drunk. How he then behaves is unpredictable for Jak. Sometimes Wilhelm then forgets to punish Jak. Other times, this leads to the greatest pains. Just like last month, when Wilhelm suddenly brought a television home with him,while intoxicated. "Do you like that, son? But you have to be careful with it" All of a sudden ,Wilhelm threw the TV on the floor with great force. "You clumsy bastard! I told you, be careful!", Wilhelm roars as if Jak was to blame. Jak could only tremble for mercy when his father was already loosening his belt, ready to whip him. But that wasn't the end of the punishment, oh no! Of course, Jak had to clean up the mess he caused. On all fours he crawled like a wild animal on the floor. His battered back made more than one acquaintance with his father's shoe soles. "Be tidy! Every part I find = 1 extra punch for you!" Of course that's a lie. Jak cannot escape punishment, no matter how hard he tries. His father beats him up as much as he wants.
And on that day,he wanted a lot.
After that, Jak was absent from school for two weeks.
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Today, Jak left the house with his satchel on time early in the morning. Like every normal school day, but today is a little different. Today is a holiday and there is no class. Wilhelm doesn't care about his son's schooling and that allows Jak to have a loophole. If the school is partially or completely canceled, Jak has a few hours or even a whole day for himself. He prefers to explore nature. Everything is so chaotic and yet ordered there, such a beautiful little world right next to us! Or he enters a nearby library and reads about the big wide world there. His fantasy goes wild as he reads the books about famous scientists. Just like that, he wants to be giving the whole world a gift that he never had. In his dreams he is rich and famous and Wilhelm, this sadistic tyrant in the real world, holds him on his shoulders and calls out loud: "Yes, that's my son!"
Today Jak has a very special destination. During his alcohol intoxication, his father suddenly started talking about family history for a long time yesterday. In the end, Carl and Winston had split up in an argument. Gerald, in which Winston had so many hopes, never wanted to take over the company and became a scientist instead. Winston died lonely and alone in his villa. Jak wants to visit this villa today. In order to escape Wilhelm's anger, one must be very clever. Once Jak is out of sight, he takes off his clothes and packs them in his backpack. The clothes are a chicane from his father. If he spots dirt on it, Jak is punished. Especially bad on rainy days.
Villa Robotnik is feared. Many horror stories entwine around this place where Winston Robotnik had been found at the advanced stage of decomposition. Some think his spirit is haunting. Jak is not afraid. Ghosts don't hit you with belts and are therefore automatically less dangerous than his father. But the place is also dangerous in other ways, with numerous warning signs. "Attention! Risk of collapse! Don't enter! Caution!" The door is missing, and only police barrier tape blocks the way inside. This obstacle is easily overcome, and now? Jak gets a little queasy. He decides to leave soon. Just a quick look ... The first room is a hit. Probably an old manor room, with an open fireplace and two armchairs that look mouse-grey of the dust. The highlight of the room are the bookshelves. Meters high they stretch up to the ceiling and dozens, no, hundreds of books are just waiting to get read by Jak. Jak takes a book from the lowest level. While he bends down, it almost looks like he's paying homage to the books. Jak stumps. The book he is holding is strangely short. Half of the book is missing. Jak takes the books on the right and left of the shelf, which have been edited in the same way. From the outside only a few books among many more books, but in reality a brilliant hiding place for a valuable item. Jak takes it cautiously. A typewriter, still in good condition after so many years. Jak's heart jumps as he reads the unusual name on the back. PROWATONIK. It feels like a gift from a higher power. Carefully, Jak packs the old device in his backpack, puts the books at their old places again and leaves the villa. At the entrance he turns around again. For the first time in his life, Jak is not crying in pain.
It is pure anticipation of all the wonderful adventures he will experience in his new favorite place in this world.
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Jak goes to the library. In the toilet he washes the dust off his shoes, his fur and his tail. With this,he is hopefully prepared for a close body inspection by his father. Jak's eyesight has deteriorated significantly from this much reading, and of course his father doesn't buy him glasses. After all, it's his own fault!
Jak is lucky. His favorite place is free. Somewhat hidden in a corner. A table right next to a wall clock and the shelf with the books that have just been returned. All sorts of books are wildly mixed there before being sorted back into the respective categories. You never know what to expect and that's the nice thing about it.
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When Jak comes home, a large moving van is standing in front of his house. To his great surprise, his father greets him with : "Jakob, pack up your stuff. We're moving!"
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6
Kazran is a little embarrassed when Sonic sits next to him today. "Can you read for me again?" he asks hesitantly. Sonic looks around and makes sure not to be overheard by the security guards: "Can you tell me how to break out of here?"
Kazran takes a deep breath. "You can't flee from here. They all say that. And no one has ever made it. But actually, the cells aren't the problem. You even get easily out of them because the walls are old and brittle. You could dig a tunnel with a little tool and a lot of patience. The difficulties begin after that. The boundaries are too high and too well guarded. You don't get around unnoticed. And even if you succeed, it's still a long way to the sea, with every corner of this island being monitored by cameras. They see everything and they are equipped with sensors. If they detect movements of larger bodies,they immediately hit the alarm. Let's assume the unlikely event that you will pass the cameras unnoticed, then you have to go through a control ring of 52 watchtowers with guards on the lookout for 24 hours every day. 52 ... " Suddenly Kazran smiles. "As much as a year has weeks ... or as many years as poor Dobson's detention. Isn't it right, Dobson?" he waves to the old, bald eagle. Dobson still has 43 years of imprisonment ahead of him and will most likely not witness the end of it. Sonic gasps. Not only with the shocking thought of what Dobson has done to warrant such a punishment,the thought of himself spending years here or even dying here, upsets Sonic briefly. But only briefly. After that, he feels a determination, as strong as never before in his life. He won't let it get that far! No matter how unlikely, he will flee! He will end this nightmare! With this determination he urges Kazran to continue speaking: "You said the sea, what about it?" "Oh yes, the sea", Kazran murmurs in thought. "Up to the mainland it's 2 nautical miles through an ice-cold current of the sea ... and there are several police boats in the harbor ..." Kazran's voice can be clearly heard that he doesn't believe in a lucky escape. Nevertheless, Sonic tries again : "Is the port monitored too?", he asks and can already think of the answer : "Around the clock, pal" Sonic says increasingly desperately : "There must be a way! Is there an alternative to the beach?" "Hm, no, although ... in the past, some guys have tried to get through under the jail where the basement of the old castle is. They had hoped to find Count Dolf van Dölpelen's old secret passage, but it turned out to be a dead end. All the guards had to do was collect them and finish. Apparently the secret passage doesn't exist" Sonic doesn't give up : "Or it's somewhere else" Kazran shrugs his shoulders: "Maybe, but how do you want to find out? After all, it's a secret passage and not a public passage, you know?" But regardless, Sonic has still the feeling of being on the right track. "We'll keep talking tonight at dinner, Kazran" After that, Sonic finally opens the book.
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Sonic doesn't waste any time at dinner in the prison canteen. "How did they get into the secret passage back then?" Kazran is a little upset: "Forget about it, Sonic! It's just impossible!" "Impossible?" Sonic laughs. "Impossible? Just as impossible as defeating Infinite, huh? You forget who you are talking to here. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog! I've already made a lot of the impossible possible!" Kazran remembers his own past with Sonic and has to agree. "If that's the case ... then you're really lucky because your cell should be right above the storage room. So that the guards don't notice anything, you have to start digging under the bed. You have to silently push the bed away, dig silently and push the bed back silently. As usual,the security guard Norbert Niebel is assigned for the night shift, that's the human with the mustache. He was promoted to senior guardian years ago, but still does the tours himself. You must not take too much time under any circumstances, because sooner or later the cell will be surprisingly inspected and they will definitely not miss a hole in the floor. But when you are in the storage room, you have to take the ventilation system. Through the shaft that leads to the south, you crawl to the boiler room. Right next to the old boiler is the entrance to the secret passage hidden. The prison management at the time didn't seal it, because it leads to a dead end, as I had already said. It is said that the passage is very tight, but if you roll there, that shouldn't be a problem for you. Then you would be in the secret passage and would be screwed! Because in the meantime Niebel would have noticed that you were no longer in your cell and triggered the alarm. They would fish you out of the corridor like a fish from the net. That's the end of the dream of freedom!" "It really doesn't seem to be easy", admits Sonic. "You don't really want to go through with that, do you?" "Yes,I,even have to do it. And what do I have to lose?”
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They say a human sleeps an average of 8 hours a day. Senior guard Niebel seems to be the living proof of the opposite. Sonic is awake and watches him closely. Here he comes again, on time like a clockwork. He always needs exactly 7 minutes for a tour, no more or less, and he never stops.
Exactly 7 minutes.
7 minutes ,in which Sonic is unobserved.
7 minutes, which he has to use very well if he wants to escape this nightmare.
In those days : Please, Sir?
Jak gets shaken back and forth. Instead of on the passenger seat, he has to ride in the back of the moving van at his father's instructions. Reason : Jak stood crooked, while Wilhelm was talking. Pretty reasonable and normal punishment. With every braking Jak almost gets slain by a wardrobe. He still has his backpack on with the typewriter, which he now protects with his own life. In the stuffy, dark cargo space with his bad eyes really challenging. As if that weren't bad enough, Wilhelm drives like a madman and brakes and accelerates extra hard. Miraculously, the typewriter remains intact, which Jak cannot say from himself. But suddenly something unexpected happens. Wilhelm stops gently and Jak hears a stranger's voice : "Hello, general vehicle inspection, you drive such weird snake lines with a tendency to the midline, please let me see your vehicle documentats and your driver's license,Sir?" A police control? Jak's heart jumps with joy. That's it! The police officer will soon arrest Wilhelm for child abuse, and Jak will soon be released.
This nightmare will soon be coming to an end.
"So,that's all. Thank you very much for the cooperation. Have a nice day and a nice ride!"
When Wilhelm finally arrives, he opens the vehicle door and grins at Jak in a hateful manner. As if he wanted to say that there is no rescue for him. His teeth are unusually large and sharp even for a fox. "What did I tell you? You should take care of the furniture. Jakob, Jakob! You should be really lucky to have such a benevolent father! Isn't it a shame you can't see that and are forcing me to start our live in the new house with a punishment, right?"
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7
Sonic can't wait for the next day to start his plan. It begins at breakfast. Kazran stands wide in front of the prison employee and says: "Give me a double portion, I'm the most famous here after all!" Of course, the man disagrees. The other prisoners are already complaining behind Kazran. Never annoy a hungry prison inmate early in the morning! There is plenty of turmoil until the guards intervene and restore order. As a punishment, Kazran does not get any breakfast. Sonic leaves his food to Kazran in a camaraderie. "I can't tell you how grateful I am" Now it can begin!
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It's night,but Sonic is awake. The purpose of this morning's theater was that Sonic was able to steal a spoon in chaos. Niebel just walked past. Now or never! Sonic carefully pushes the bed aside and starts digging. It works, but Sonic manages just 1 centimeter in 5 minutes. Sonic has to put the bed back to it's original place and pretend to sleep so that Niebel doesn't get suspicious. "It will take forever, but I can do it. And after that I'll return to Amy, I swear!"
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During the daily reading lesson, Kazran whispers unnoticed : "Throw away the rubble, no one is seeing it right now" Sonic obeys and throws away the little stones he had hidden in his pocket to cover the traces of his escape. "Now that you've started it, there's no going back. You're aware of that, aren't you?" "What gives? There is no better incentive to continue!" And we're talking about real backbreaking work here. Day after day, night after night, week after week. Until finally ...
"Bad news. It looks like a cell inspection will take place on Saturday. That's in 3 days. It would be better if you hurry up, Sonic"
Sonic can't take it anymore. Not much is missing, but he has no more strength. But then a terrible thought comes to him. "At that very moment, Kai is in my house ... with my friends, my family ... and Amy!" This terrible thought is unbearable. Sonic gathers all his strength and digs harder than ever before. And then it just happens. Sonic did it. All he has to do is enlarge the hole and slide the bed over it. Then everything is ready.
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"Tonight I'll go", announces Sonic at Kazran. "And end just like the others ... Like a mouse in the mousetrap" "Always optimistic, right?",Sonic mocks. Kazran doesn't let himself be provoked : "I've been imprisoned here for too long to know what optimistic means" Sonic knows that Kazran speaks the truth. "Have you never thought of escape?" "No, not seriously. I've failed out and I'm experiencing my fair punishment here. Besides, I don't miss anything here. Except maybe a mirror to be able to read books myself. Oh, that would be nice! But you're completely different, not? Probably because out there, You have someone who cares about you" "Yes, and soon everything will be back to normal! But you, Kazran, I will never forget. You have proven yourself to be a true friend in my darkest hour. I am infinitely grateful to you"
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Tonight is finally the time. Sonic climbs down through the tunnel into the storage room. There is a mess of various stuff and knickknacks. The private things of the inmates are mainly stored here. Sonic looks around quickly and discovers a clothes rack, books, a flashlight and even an oxygen bottle for diving. He acts quickly and climbs into the ventilation system.
If he had taken a closer look at the clothes rack, he might have noticed a strange black skirt. The same that Kai had worn during the trial and in which he had hidden the letter.
But there is no time for that now. Sonic follows Kazran's instructions closely. He climbs south in the ventilation shaft and finds the boiler room. Luckily, he really fits into the tunnel when he's rolled up. He gets up at the bottom and runs at top speed - into a dead end. Everything is exactly as described by Kazran - with one exception. Sonic discovers some unusually decorated stones on the wall. Sonic tries to remember as many of them as possible. sword, eye, tower, hand, ship, moon, anchor - what does that mean? For now, the escape failed and Sonic has to return to his cell. He runs back as fast as possible, meticulously making sure to leave everything exactly as he found it. If he gets caught now, everything was in vain! But when Niebel controls his cell, it looks like he's never been anywhere else. Niebel goes on and Sonic takes a deep breath. That was close.
In those days : A real man
On Monday, Jak packs his satchel like on any other school day. He doesn't dare to leave the typewriter at home and hides it in his backpack again. Unfortunately, his school books no longer fit in. It doesn't matter, he knows them by heart anyway. Jak goes downstairs. His father is already waiting there to take him to the new school today.
At least that's what Jak thinks.
Instead of a school, Wilhelm brings Jak to the famous Press Garden Zone, which is located here. But not to read a few newspapers here. Instead, he leaves his son at the entrance. "Have fun at work!" Jak was registered for work here, and only now is he finding out. The foreman welcomes Jak and gives him a locker for his things. There, Jak puts his backpack down. "See you later", he says goodbye to it, like a friend, and puts on the clothes that the foreman brings him. Safety shoes with metal caps, brown work gloves, rough pants and red shirt. Smiling, the foreman gives him a red cap. "Welcome to your new life!" The work consists of sorting boxes in the warehouse. A backbreaking work! Jak quickly hurts every bone in his body. But not only his body hurts, his heart is also burning. All the fantasies about his future life, the anticipation of lots of adventures in Villa Robotnik - all gone.
After work, Jak is more exhausted than ever in his life. He is so tired that he forgets his satchel and keeps his work clothes on. The way home seems infinitely long for Jak. Even from afar, he sees smoke coming out of the chimney. For a moment, Jak has the crazy idea that his father would have died in a house fire.
A thought that makes him much happier than it should.
Inside, Wilhelm sits in front of the fireplace. Jak, horrified, notices that his books are being burned here instead of wood. "Hello Jakob! Since you're a real man now, you don't need this garbage anymore. You should be grateful to me for taking care of it"
Jak can't answer. He sincerely wishes that it would all be just a nightmare. Then he could at least wake up.
From now on, the days are exhausting and monotonous, filled with work, day after day, week after week.
Until one day ,Wilhelm has an announcement : "A real man of course also needs a woman at his side. And I already know someone ... " Jak doesn't even contradict. He knows exactly that his father is the stronger.
2 weeks later he is married.
And of course, Wilhelm has one more concern. "For the real family happiness, only a child is missing now!"
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8
"Close? That was a miracle that you made it in time! And tomorrow is the cell inspection. What now?" Kazran is right, but Sonic can't let him get down. "Now I use the most powerful power of all!
The power of the books!"
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"Better hurry, scoundrel! I have a dust allergy!", Niebel yells, in a bad mood as always when he accompanies Sonic to the prison library. Sonic chooses a book about the family history of Count Dolf van Dölpelen and laughs as Niebel starts to sneeze loudly.
"When the island was attacked, the castle was empty. In the salon, the dinner was prepared, but there was no trace of the count ... "
In the appendix of the book, Sonic finds the coats of arms of the Van Dölpelens. Over the centuries, 3 different symbols appeared on the coat of arms of the Van Dölpelens. First a sword, then a tower and finally the anchor.
Sword, Tower, Anchor.
Now everything is clear for Sonic.
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Sonic gets ready at night. Again he climbs into the secret passage. Now everything has to go very quickly. In the storage room, he grabs the oxygen bottle and the flashlight.
He only has less than 6 minutes left.
Sonic crawls through the ventilation system and climbs into the secret passage.
Less than 5 minutes.
Sonic reaches the supposed dead end and looks at the symbols. The sword, the tower, the anchor, they are all there. Sonic pushes against the sword stone and the stone moves backwards and triggers a mechanism. Now the tower - click! Two thirds are done.
Less than 4 minutes.
Now all that's missing is the anchor, but it's stuck! Sonic presses with all his might, but it doesn't help! He can't fail because of that! Sonic takes the oxygen bottles and hits the stone with the metal with all his might. Finally it works and a secret staircase opens down at his feet. The real secret passage through which the Count once fled. Sonic takes the path into the unknown.
Less than 3 minutes.
"That's your end, Kai!",calls Sonic as he follows the seemingly endless walk. He is now under prison, in a natural cave. There are rocks and stones everywhere that force Sonic to run slower.
Less than 1 minute.
But then Sonic reaches his destination. An underground grotto, with connection to the sea. And on the blood-red coral sand ,there is a small wooden sloop. Sonic only thinks about it for a moment and gets in. The anchor is shown on the boat, so the boat has to be centuries old. Hopefully the rotten wood will last until the saving shore. But Sonic doesn't have the luxury of a choice anyway. He rows and there is already the exit at the front.
Less than 30 seconds.
From now on,things will get complicated. Out here there are watchtowers with searchlights. "But maybe there aren't that many watchtowers on this part of the island",hopes Sonic and experience a shock in the next moment. Just in front of the exit, a searchlight shines down and Sonic is forced to wait. "Ok, that could be difficult"
Only 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.
WEOWEOWEOWEOWEOWEO!
The time is over! The hunt is on!
The guards on the watchtower are briefly distracted by the alarm. Now or never! Sonic rows directly through the light circle to the open sea. "I'm coming, Amy! Soon we will see each other again!"
Niebel is furious: "Search every millimeter of the building! And let the sniffer dogs search the entire outdoor area! And then inspect the beach! This scoundrel must not escape us!"
The escape goes well for Sonic until he realizes his feet get wet. Holes form in the ground and the boat begins to sink. Sonic is trapped. Police boats run out from both sides with huge searchlights.
Is this the end?
Sonic closes his eyes in despair, and suddenly sees his friends in his head.
"A captain is never afraid of water!",Marine calls.
"Sonic, I know you can do it!",Tails gives him courage.
"You defeated Infinite, but it only takes a bit of water before you're giving up?",Kazran scoffs.
"Sonic! I'm waiting for you!",Amy says in her sweet voice.
No! Sonic will not allow this to be the end! Determined, Sonic opens his eyes and attaches the oxygen bottle to his body. Then he plunges into the ice-cold water and swims for his life.
In the meantime, Niebel is also on a police boat and gives orders: "Search the water surface! And then the coast of South Island with the searchlights!" Sonic swims from below on Niebel's boat and holds on to a pole attached to it. So he can't be discovered. After the guards didn't find anyone on the South Island Beach, Niebel roars in frustration : "He couldn't have possibly gotten that far. Let's split! One boat to the East, one to the west and the others are looking here! We will find him!" Sonic lets go of the pole and starts swimming. When the police boats finally disappear, Sonic appears and sits exhausted on the beach. After calming down his pounding heart, he doesn't know what to do. It's a long way home and Sonic can hardly walk, let alone run. But help comes from an unexpected side. Big the Cat docks with a small fishing boat and Bark the Polar Bear helps him load the catch onto a small van. "Why is it so loud today?",Big asks. In his unbearably high, squeaky voice, Bark replies : "Someone wants to break out. But don't worry, the police will catch him and that's it. Like always!" While the two are talking, Sonic climbs into the hold. The two drive to Spoon Sharp. Sonic is lucky again. Johannes is already waiting there for the delivery, who is completely overwhelmed. "Did you hear it?! Kai broke out of jail!" Nobody sees Sonic in the distraction. But where to go now? Christmas Island is way too far away. But Green Hill is relatively close. Sonic has been able to rest a little and reach Green Hill in a few minutes. Amy ...
Amy is still awake and very worried. The news of Kai's escape has spread like a wildfire.
"Hopefully Sonic is doing well. He hasn't reported at all lately"
Sonic appears behind her out of nowhere. "Amy! I'm here like I promised to you!"
"But you are ... Kai! Go away!"
"Please Amy, before you call the police ... or pull out your hammer, please listen to me!"
"Why? What do you want from me? How did you get in here?"
"The back door! The lock is broken and Tails has to fix it one day. It is me! Sonic! Please trust me! Kai stole my identity and everyone thinks I am him. I have no idea how he did it and I wouldn't believe it myself either, but it is the truth"
Sonic approaches Amy, but she backs away: "Don't touch me!"
"Amy, do you remember? Some time ago we sat here at the kitchen table and you talked about so many things. Whether you should introduce me to your parents. How beautiful weddings are in May. When we finally want to have children. Where to celebrate our anniversary. You wanted to the Never Lake, because that's were we first met,remember?"
"How do you know that?"
"I listened to you. I always listen to you! Because I love you! That day you said that we don't have to be afraid, do you remember? If that all ends well, I'll do my best to make you happy. I'll fulfill your greatest wish, but for that You have to trust me now.
Otherwise I'll be lost forever"
Amy doesn't know how to react. But before she can answer, a voice from outside shouts : "I saw him! Kai! He's hiding in Amy Rose's house! Catch him!" Sonic sits down exhausted. "I'm slowly running out of energy to run away" "The back door! Go through the back door. I'll cover you. Go ahead, before I change my mind ..."
Sonic won't let him say that twice. With his last powers he runs as fast as possible. But soon his powers are going down. He lies down under a bridge. Only now does he realize how cold he is. With great effort, he builds a campfire and Spin Dashes at high speed to light the branches with the friction heat. At least that works.
No, that's not the end.
But maybe a new beginning. The beginning of a new life. A life on the run and only the distant memory of a better life.
These are Sonic's last thoughts before immersing himself into a nightmare-filled sleep.
And the fire crackles in front of him.
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In another place, there also crackles a fire in front of someone. A fire in the fireplace of a gentleman's room in a wonderful castle. Kai watches the news intently, next to him the completely normal looking and yet completely abnormal letter. When it becomes clear that Sonic escaped successfully, he smiles a distorted grin. "Thank you, Sonic. I knew you could do it!" He throws the letter into the fire. Everything goes exactly according to plan.
"And if you want the effect to go away, burn the envelope"
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Sonic wakes up in a big, beautiful bed. It takes a moment for him to notice where he is. It's his bedroom.
The nightmare is over.
But after the joy comes the realization. The Chaos Emeralds are missing. Kai has won. Somewhere in the world, he is out there,with the most powerful weapon imaginable.
Sonic has lost.
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"I came to visit at just the right time. If Kai is walking around freely, you better have working doors!",Tails says while he works at Amy's back door. Sonic is overjoyed to see his best friend again and is determined to keep his promise to Amy. He talks to Tails private, and Tails agrees. The two of them have "a secret mission" for the rest of the morning, but before that, Sonic has to do something important. He leads Vector and a few police officers to the place he had sleeped. "Kai was here yesterday! Search for traces everywhere!" Vector asks : "How do you know that?" "Because I was there yesterday. How it came to this such an unbelievable story that I'd rather keep it to myself. And it doesn't matter either, because eventually Kai will strike again and I will defeat him once and for all,as true as my name is Sonic the Hedgehog!"
Now it's finally time. Sonic sneaks up from behind to Amy, a small box in his hand. "Amy, I promised to make you happy, so I ask you the question : Do you want me to fulfill your biggest dream for you? Do you want me to marry you?" He opens the box and reveals a beautiful wedding ring. Amy cries with joy: "Yes, Sonic, yes! A thousand times yes!" Sonic takes her in his arms. "Thank you, Amy for believing in me"
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A similar scene takes place a little away. Tails also asks the question of all questions. Jak stands by and is happy for the luck of his son. But at the same time, a nervousness spreads in him. Finally, after such a long time, he can finally tell the truth to his son. The last weeks were filled with foul memories and the thought that there will be no future. But it doesn't help anything. "Miles, can I talk to you in private?" "Sure. How about at home?" Tails doesn't mean Fuchshausen, no, he has long forgotten this disgusting town. He means the Sol dimension, through which you only get with his self-made teleporter. Because of Jak's bad eyes, Tails and Marine have to hold his hands and guide him slowly. Tails briefly tries to explain how to use the teleporter, but unfortunately his father is a real worker whose strength is in the muscles and not in the head. Arriving in Solbium, Marine immediately runs into town to tell all her friends about her soon-to-be marriage. Tails and Marine are now living in a house again. The last few months the two have gone on several adventures on the houseboat, now they are resting in the house and will leave again in the summer. Tails tells about the adventures, but Jak doesn't really listen. He is deep in thought and worried. How is he supposed to convey the message to his son? "Oh Miles, nice to see you again, by the way, I'm sick and maybe I'll die today. And how's your day?" Yes, hardly like that.
Arriving at the house, Tails leads Jak into the living room. "I have a little surprise for you. Wait a minute"
Jak looks around as much as his bad eyes allow. First he wonders about the colorful walls. After that he notices it.
There are bookshelves on every wall, up to the ceiling. The whole room seems to be made up of only books. Not unlike in Villa Robotnik.
Jak is overwhelmed by this sight and has to sit down. He relives his memories. But now he notices. It's like getting to know himself better. He has a goal in life, only one : to leave something to the world after he's gone. Now he realizes that he will not leave something behind, but someone.
Miles, his beloved son. Now a formidable young man with the heart in the right place, a real hero, blessed with intelligence and talent.
This thought gives Jak peace. Recently, the past had haunted him, and he had thought with aching hearts that his life hadn't resulted in anything meaningful. But now he knows that everything is fine. He feels relieved. The nervousness and tension in his heart dissolves.
Only now does he realize how tired he is.
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"So, dad, I'm back! Sorry it took so long. I forgot the book in the boat. Look! Dad? Dad!"
No matter how loud, you can't wake up the dead by screaming.
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"No!" Tails doesn't want to accept that and uses the Sol Emeralds. The powers of the Emeralds can cure all diseases, but also death? Tails transforms and lets the energy flow into his father's motionless body. It works! Jak opens his eyes. "Father! You live!" "Thank you for waking me up", Jak murmurs and steps on a window. He just stands there and looks. The power of the Emeralds has healed his eyes and Jak now sees everything better than ever before. He almost has to cry at the impressive view. The tropical beach and the sea look so beautiful. "How did you actually do that? And why am I blue? Is that Sonic's crass gold flying thingy in blue?" Tails has to make the greatest effort not to comment on this completely improper statement. "About that. But actually your body shouldn't have reacted with a transformation. You also have to have a talent for the Sol Emeralds. I guess I inherited that from you." Jak looks through the window again and has an idea. He jumps out and tries to fly. It looks pretty funny as he kicks in the air. Tails laughs: "Not like that, dad! Wait, I'll show you how it works!" And already he flies next to his father, takes him by the hand, and the two explore Solbium from above.
"I'm so proud of you, son. So the long way wasn't in vain after all"
"What do you mean, father?"
"Oh Miles, let's not look at the past! Let's fly into the future! What about your gift?"
"It's a book about old typewriters! I can finally get your beloved brick up and running!"
Jak laughs at this comparison.
Yes, now everything is really fine again.
In those days : little fox, big way
That's all father's fault, thinks Jak and stares at the blank cleaned floor. "I understand that this is difficult for you. But please think about it in the hallway, because I still have a lot to do!",says the heartless doctor and accompanies Jak out of his office. Jak feels like being kicked out.
Of course, Wilhelm got what he wanted. After a year, Miraval had finally become pregnant. Wilhelm had taken Jak and Miraval to the area's most modern hospital. At Wilhelm's urgency, Miraval and the unborn child were thoroughly examined. The doctor had invited Jak to his office to show him the results. Conclusion : It is a boy, organically healthy, but with a rare anomaly. "Two tails, imagine that! I can't dictate you anything, of course, but I would recommend an abortion. Look at it this way: the boy will be doing well physically, but his appearance will become a target for bullying! If I were you, I would abort and save him a miserable life. Sign these papers if you choose to do so."
That's why Jak is now in the hallway. He didn't understand a word of the medical terms. And why should he? Jak knows exactly what the problem is: "A child, made without love, that can't just be normal!" Out of an impulse,he rips the paper to shreds and throws the snippets into the trash can. Then he goes back to the hospital room, where his wife and father are waiting for him. Wilhelm immediately jumps up from his chair. "Come on, what did the doctor say?"
"It's a boy, physically healthy",Jak almost tells the truth.
"Luckily. I would never accept a miscarriage either!"
Jak looks hatefully at the man who is biologically his father and still abused him physically and mentally. "NO! I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THAT!",he thoughts in his head. No matter what he looks like, no matter what he does, no matter what the world thinks of him : Jak wants to do everything for his own son. Always be there for him when he needs him, always listen to him, when he has something to say, educate him gently, determined, but never by force. Jak smiles. His life now has meaning again. This little guy means the world to him.
He will go the extra mile for him.
Extra mile ...
"I want his name to be Miles"
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Epilogue
"Yes, you heard that right! A gift from Sonic the Hedgehog! Now open up, I have to inspect the content!",Niebel says to Kazran. Kazran opens the box - and almost cries for joy. It's full of - books. Big books, thick books, full of stories from the big wide world. And on top of that a nice hand mirror, and a note with "Thank you!",written mirrored, so Kazran can read it on first sight. Niebel is not pleased, but you can't just tee off a gift from THE Sonic The Hedgehog. He reluctantly leaves Kazran alone when another security guard calls for him. "Mr. Niebel! You have to see that!" "So? What is it about?" "Hard to say. A kind of mystery! Earlier the cleaning crew was supposed to clean the storage room and it was noticed that Kai's costume was gone!" The case is clear for Niebel: "He must have taken that with him when he came here when he escaped" "No! I did an inventory yesterday. It was still there by then" Niebel mocks : "Then the magical undergarment went away on its own? That's impossible!"
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Somewhere else
"And I also know that this costume is different from yours"
Somewhere at this moment, a mechanical hedgehog is running. Dressed with a black skirt that looks so normal and is yet so abnormal.
"It will make you do wonders and great deeds! Loyal like a sniffer dog, it will follow you everywhere"
His steps direct the doppelgänger to a large, white coffin. In his metallic hands,he holds the chaos Emeralds. Stones with unlimited power and even the ability to resurrect the dead.
"Time to wake up, master"
THE END
Your ItalienischerHansMaier says farewell.
ewell.
