Hello reader and welcome to my 1st ever Sonic fan fic! This story will be an original retelling of how Sonic the hedgehog became the legendary hero that he is. Now take in mind I will be changing a lot of the original elements from the classic story. I am very knowledgeable when it comes to the original story of sonic, weather it be the comic, or the games. So if it bothers you I'm changing some key parts of the Sonic universe, then you might have a problem reading this. If that doesn't concern you however, I'm sure you will enjoy the story I'm about to tell. Trust me though, I will keep all the characters true, and locations recognizable so the diehards (such as myself) out there can still enjoy it if you choose to read on!

Thanks For your time, and let me know what you think!

Prologue

They say in life, you are given many choices. You are presented with many opportunities that will "shape your destiny" I guess you could say.

Deep within a dark battle-torn factory, a young, battered, blue hedgehog laid unconscious, on the verge of death, amongst a fallen army of mangled robot warriors. Nothing but blaring emergency sirens could be heard as the ground shook from constant eruptions of overloaded machinery.

I remember my father telling me that anything was possible, whatever I wanted from life, it was mine for the taking.

A blaze of fire began to spread throughout the industrial complex, slowly engulfing everything in its path. Black smoke filled the air as the outbreak of the fire continued. The heat was tremendous, turning the factory into an oven of sorts. The building started to shake violently; debris falling from the ceiling above.

He told me to never back down, never let anything get in my way. He told me to, "Blaze my own trail."

He made it sound like it would be so easy.

The eyes of the fallen hedgehog slid open as he coughed and sputtered back to life. He choked on the thick smoke-filled air, causing his eyes to water and turn blood red. He couldn't make sense of any of it. He didn't know where he was or what had happened. His head was pounding harder than he had ever felt. The sheer intensity of the pain made him want to vomit. As the building around him continued to crumble, the hedgehog rolled on his stomach and struggled to his feet.

It's really amazing how fast life can turn from perfect, to absolute hell. All the things you take for granted - your friends, your family, your home - can all be taken from you in the blink of an eye, without warning.

The hedgehog got to his feet and looked all around him in a panic, trying to figure out what was going on; he just couldn't remember. He was bloody and bruised; cuts and lacerations covered his body, and he felt like his head would explode at any moment from the jarring pain. A large piece of debris from above slammed into the ground nearby. One thing was for certain: this building was coming down, and he had to get out of there, fast.

I never wanted this. I never had the desire to be what I have become. They all called me a freak. They said I didn't belong. And still, I sacrificed everything for them.

Clear on the other end of the factory, daylight was shining in from a large doorway, acting as the light at the end of the tunnel. The blue rodent stumbled towards it, and as the fire spread, many assorted machines began to explode all around him. Ignited scraps of twisted metal flew through the air with every thunderous blast. The hedgehog noticed the remains of destroyed robots scattered all over the concrete floor, at which point a vision of battle flashed in his head. He was the one that laid waste to these machines.

My father would always say he saw something in me. He said I would do great things, no matter what path I chose to go down. This makes me wonder if he always knew. Maybe he did know about this "gift" I possess.

The hedgehog continued to stumble through the flaming wreckage. He had barely enough energy to walk, let alone stand.

A familiar, yet sinister voice suddenly filled the entire building. "Hedgehog, mark my words. You will regret this event for the rest of your days. You have made a powerful enemy. You will not get away with this atrocity you have committed. If you leave this place, I will not rest until I hunt you down and claim your life. I will find you. Yes, even if it means watching everyone you care for die, one by one, in order for me to find you, so be it. Why don't you just give up already? This is just the beginning. You can't possibly envision yourself defeating me do you?"

They say I'm a hero, they have told me I have done things no one would ever have the courage to do. I don't see it that way. I'm no hero. I only did what anyone else would do when your back is against the wall; when you have nothing left. I did this for me. When there's nothing more that can be taken from you, you don't need courage, because the fear is gone. I did what I did, because I had a death wish.

"Do what you must hedgehog, but we will meet again, mark my words rodent."

This time a robotic voice blared loud over what had to be the intercom, "Lock down sequence initiated."

The piercing sound of metal on metal ripped through the smoke filled factory. A large behemoth of a door slowly began to drop from above the illuminated exit on the far end. The hedgehog was still a several hundred feet from being out of the collapsing building. A huge steel beam fell from above, obliterating the concrete floor only but ten feet ahead of him. The impact of the beam caused the hedgehog to stumble to his knees. He looked up from his fall. The door was about halfway closed. Hope of escape was inevitably slipping from his grasp.

They say in life, you're given many choices. You get to shape your own destiny. I don't believe that anymore. I believe we are all destined for something that we have no control over. I was never given a choice over what I have become. I was never given a choice whether or not to accept this overbearing responsibility that has been placed upon my shoulders.

He couldn't find the strength to go on. He just didn't have the energy. At this point, hope was just a memory, as he had lost all of it. Debris was falling like rain all around him now. This building was about to give out and collapse right on top of him. There was no way he could get enough speed to make it out in time. Maybe this was his time to die; maybe he wasn't meant to make it out alive.

There was one bit of advice my father gave me that rang true. One of the most important gems of wisdom he passed on to me was this: "Never forget who you are."

"SONIC!!" A distant voice cried out.

The hedgehog looked up from his defeated state and saw a small, orange, two-tailed fox standing at the door, hundreds of feet away. The terrified fox looked on as the inside of the large factory was slowly collapsing all around the fallen hedgehog. The fox quickly glanced up towards the descending door, now half way closed, looked back down towards his injured friend, and then back up at the door. It was about 50 feet from sealing the hedgehog's fate. He was too frightened to help, but he didn't know what to do, and he wasn't prepared to watch this particular life be claimed right before his eyes.

"SONIC PLEASE! GET UP! YOU CAN MAKE IT! YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE UP LIKE THIS!" The little orange fox screamed his plea as loud as he possibly could.

Sonic… that's what they call me. It's like I'm some superhero you read about in comic books… but like I said before, I'm no hero. I'm just unlucky.

"Ugh! Dammit Sonic!" The fox threw aside his fear and decided to help his friend.

Using his two tails, he spun them about like a propeller, allowing him to take flight, safely passing over the flames and burning wreckage. Several steel ceiling support beams began to sporadically fall from above, destined to crush the flying fox in midair. Utilizing his innate agility, the fox was able to maneuver safely over to the hedgehog, who still laid dormant on the ground.

He landed next to the hedgehog and grabbed hold of his arm, desperately attempting to pull him to his feet. His efforts proved futile. The blue hedgehog came to for a moment and looked up at the panicked kit who was pulling on his arm while giving words of encouragement.

"Sonic, please! We have about a minute before that door closes! Come on! Please! Get up! I can't lose you like this!" He cried out, tears welling up in his eyes.

The hedgehog jerked his arm from the fox's grasp. "Tails, get outta here. Just go! I can't make it, just save yourself."

"You're just gonna give up like this? After everything you have taught me? You've always told me to never give up! Sonic, don't you know how much Mobius needs you? Robotnik has destroyed so many of its cities, taken so many lives, and no one has ever had the courage to try too stop him. You're a hero, Sonic! If you don't choose to get up right now, we won't have any heroes left! We need you Sonic....You are the only hope for us!

Like I said before, life isn't about choices. We all have a meaning, a set purpose, and no matter how much you think you have a say in the matter, you don't.

"Remember what you told me Sonic?"

Exhausted, he looked up at Tails with defeated eyes.

Tails continued," You told me no matter what happens, don't forget who you are, and I haven't forgotten… but it looks like you have."

A array of deafening explosions went off, sending plums of smoke into the air, causing the entire factory to shake more violently than ever. The entire building started to collapse now, and the front entrance was about to be sealed off in a matter of seconds.

"COME ON, SONIC!" Tails flew off towards the exit with every ounce of effort in his body, but he was too late. He wasn't nearly fast enough to make it.

The hedgehog climbed to his feet as more of the building's debris fell all around him. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth as the flames of the surrounding fires rose; steel crashing to the ground all around him. It was now or never.

Then it happened. The roof gave out, and it all came crashing down. Sonic saw Tails scream for his life as a 3-ton mass of steel fell towards him from above in slow motion.

You want to know why they call me Sonic?

SONIC BEGINS

And that's the prologue! (duh)

Chapter one is all finished up and should be edited and posted by no later than this coming Sunday night! (4-12-09)

Thanks for reading! Reviews are most welcome!