3 months to this very day, the war against Robotnik had ended. Everyone was already in the process of getting their lives back on track, and doing their best to right everything that was wrong.

You would think the war's end would be a happy ending, right? This wasn't the case, especially for a certain blue hedgehog, his partner Princess Sally and his best friend Miles "Tails" Prower.

Robotnik went out with a bang. Sonic had sliced his way through the robot, it should have been just like any other attack, however this time, despite the blast killing Robotnik, it cost them lives, and, his own life forever ruined.
Bunnie Rabbot, Rotor, Antoine D'Coolette and Amy Rose were all caught in the blast, only Sonic, Sally and Tails surviving. Although it didn't come without its problems. Sally ended up with concussion and severely wounded, Tails suffered a broken arm with bruises and Sonic... he ended up the most unfortunate. Landing heavily on his back, the force of the fall shattered his spine, he was now paralysed from the waist down, and was going to be wheelchair ridden for the rest of his life. He underwent a long 12 hour surgery to correct his spine, the operation was a success however, the pain is still present in the affected area and Sonic has to take a daily dose of strong medication to ease the pain.

Sonic now attends a weekly physiotherapy group and, a weekly hospital visit to check up on his condition. Sonic is always reluctant to go, feeling as though it's a waste of time, however Sally makes him go, at force.

"I hate this not being able to run business, I'm bored outta my mind!" Sonic moaned.

He was sat eating his lunch, naturally chilli dogs. Sally was on the opposite side of the table, her lunch being the much healthier option- ham sandwiches. Sonic remained seated in his wheelchair, the transfer to a chair being too much effort for him to handle.

"I know it's hard Sonic, but you will adjust eventually. We will pull through this together." She gave him a smile.

Sonic sighed. He had been on anti-depressants since it happened, although his mood was never really stable. I mean who could blame him really.

"I will adjust to it? I will never get used to being this way! My life is ruined!"

"Sonic, you have undergone an horrific accident, just 3 months ago. It takes people months, if not years to get used to seeing life in a different way once they've had an accident. What you're going through is normal."

"We'll see..." Sonic groaned.

Sonic wasn't in the best of moods today, he had had a lot to deal with since the accident, both getting used to his newly found disability and the loss of his closest friends. He decided to change the subject. Talking about it upset him, and whilst Sonic tend to show his emotions a lot recently, he didn't like to bring it on if he could help it.

"So Sal, what are your plans for the rest of today?"

"Well, I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk, get some fresh air for a while."

"We do that every day. What's the point when you can't run!" Sonic responded in a slum tone.

"Fresh air is good for you, you know. You can't stay pent up in here forever. Besides, some fresh air is better than none. You know what the physiotherapist told you."

"Yeah yeah, they think they know everything" Sonic rolled his eyes, tears were also evident in them. He had a lot on his mind.

Sally could tell something was bothering him, he looked frustrated, almost as if he was trying to hold back tears.

Both Sonic and Sally had finished their lunch, Sally took both plates from the table and dropped them into the washing up. She made a start on doing the washing up whilst she was there.

"Anything else you would like whilst I'm here?"

"Not right now..."

Sonic began wheeling out from underneath the table, and propelled his chair over to the window ledge, where there was a table. He would often sit there, glancing out at the open world reminiscing of how things used to be, back when he had no worries, and the world was his home.

His wheelchair was custom made for him. Sally paid out a fair amount to have a chair that was 'cool' enough for Sonic to accept. The seat and back were a sapphire blue, with a flame logo on the back and the metal of the wheels were red. It was a lightweight chair, ideal to get around in quickly. Sonic had certainly gotten to grips with manoeuvring at a fast pace, although nothing to match his former speed.

Ever since his accident, Sonic had heard next to nothing from his adopted brother Tails. He would often come round to see Sally about stuff and Sonic tried his very hardest to grab his attention, however every time he did so, Tails would come out with an excuse saying he had to go. This hurt Sonic deeply. He would think about it every day, his best friend leaving him just because of his disability... he couldn't understand why Tails could be so cruel. After everything they'd been through together.

All this pent up emotion was starting to get to him, he thought about it more and more... until finally he flipped. Tears started to spill down his face. He covered his head in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Sally noticed. Running over, she wrapped her arms around the hedgehog.

"Sonic, sweetheart, what's wrong?" She questioned, holding Sonic tightly.
Sonic was pouring his heart out.

"No no it's nothing Sal really, I'm just having one of those days where this being disabled business is getting to me." Sonic lied.

"Sonic, I have known you since you were 5 years old. I know this isn't the real reason. You've never been a good liar."

He slightly chuckled at that comment, still sobbing heavily. It was true, he was terrible at covering up his emotions, and Sally could read him like a book.
Silence filled the room for what seemed like forever.

"You can tell me anything Sonic, please, I need to know what's bothering you. You haven't been yourself in ages and I feel it's more than just your disability bugging you." Sally still had her arms wrapped around the hedgehog.

"Sal... why does Tails hate me so much? What have I done that was so wrong, huh?" Sonic admitted, his voice all choked up.

"Don't be silly! Tails doesn't hate you. He's been really busy with his inventions recently. He's finding this just as hard as you are. He's really hurting over losing so many of his close friends, we all are."

"Tails would always find time for me, no matter how busy he was. Besides, he still comes to see you. Now, whenever he sees me he looks at me with disgust and pity! Am I really that much of an embarrassment to be around?!"

"You're NOT an embarrassment Sonic, don't ever tell yourself that. He would never just give up on you, even if you lost every limb on your body, he would still care."

"So where is he now then, 'caring' huh? where?! Just because I can't walk anymore, doesn't mean I'm a different person! Everything's always fine until something changes you, and then they don't wanna know!"

A long moment of silence followed, Sonic was still crying.

"I miss him Sal, I really do... you and Tails are the only family I have left, and right now, I feel I've lost him..." His voice completely broke at this statement.

"Sweetheart, you haven't lost him. Tell you what- would you like me to have a word with him? Or maybe invite him over for tea tomorrow so the two of you can talk."

"NO!" Sonic yelled. "Don't do that. This is up to Tails. I don't want to force him into facing me. I will see if he's in in a few days maybe, although he never does answer his door when he sees me coming."

"Ok, if you say so then. However if you change your mind, you know I will help you out."

"I know. Thanks Sal." He gave Sally a smile, his tears finally letting up.
"Anytime. And I will tell you again, Tails does not hate you ok? Don't ever tell yourself that, putting yourself down because it's not true." She kissed Sonic lightly on the cheek. Releasing her hold on him.

Sally began to walk away when she suddenly felt a pair of warm arms surround her waist. Sonic had wheeled himself over to Sally and embraced her from behind, he lent forward in his chair, hugging her tightly.

Sally turned around and hugged Sonic back, bending down slightly to reach him. The two of them silently hugged each other, no words exchanged.
Sonic had become very clingy to Sally since his accident. She was practically his lifeline, the only thing he had left. These hugs (which he would so often do in his now paralysed state) made Sally realise just how vulnerable and scared he was now, and how much she means to him. Without Sally, Sonic would be helpless, and have nothing left to live for.

"I love you Sal." Sonic said, whilst releasing the hug.

"And I love you too." Sally smiled. "Let's go and watch some TV." And with that, their afternoon was sorted.
...

It had been several hours since Sonic's breakdown, the time now being 5:30pm. Sonic was still sat watching TV whilst Sally was sat down, not paying any attention to the programme. They decided not to go for a walk today, after Sonic's big outburst.

She hated seeing her partner like this. He had lost so much in his life already, this whole being crippled business was absolutely tearing him apart. And knowing that there was nothing she could do for him and he would be this way the rest of his life, was almost too much to bare. Sally knew really that Tails was purposely ignoring him, for reasons she didn't know. However she would never admit this to Sonic. She had to go against his wishes and confront Tails, before he breaks down completely. It wasn't fair, after everything Sonic had done for Tails over the years, he needed him right now more than ever.

"Sonic, we're out of milk. I'm just going to pop down to the shop and get a pint. Will you be ok until I get back?"

"Sure Sal, go ahead." The sadness within him was still so evident in his face, he also gave a look of suspicion, as if he knew what she was about to do.

"See you later." Sally motioned, as she walked towards the door.

"Remember what I said today, DON'T tell Tails about what I told you if you bump into him. Okay?"

"I won't." And with that, she closed the door behind her.

Sally felt so guilty, especially lying to him and going against his word. She felt terrible. But still, she approached Tails' doorway and knocked 3 times. She hoped Sonic wasn't watching...

The door opened.

"Hi Aunt Sally. What are you doing here?" Asked a curious Tails.

"Tails. We need to talk." Sally's tone was serious, yet showed no anger.

The TV was on in the living room, and it appeared as though Tails had just finished his tea. Sally took a seat on the sofa, Tails joining her.

"Would you like me to make you tea or coffee?"

"No, thank you."

"So what is it you wanted to talk about?" Tails asked casually.

"Tails... what's wrong between you and Sonic? I had Sonic pour his heart out to me this afternoon. He is absolutely distraught. What ever has he done which is so wrong? He thought you were his little brother, he practically ADOPTED you, and yet ever since he came out of hospital you've been acting like he no longer exists!"

Tails' eyes immediately started to well up with tears. He was not expecting this. What was he going to say?

"Aunt Sally, you don't understand..."

"Don't I? Then exactly WHY is it that you've been completely blanking Sonic since his accident? Is he not cool enough to be seen with anymore?! He is absolutely distraught, Tails. He doesn't know what he's done that's so wrong. Every time you come to see me he does everything he can to get your attention, and you just shove him away!"

This all got too much for him. He couldn't hold his tears any longer. Tails sat and sobbed uncontrollably into his hands.

"I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt Sonic's feelings. I do want to talk to Sonic, really I do, but I don't know how to approach him now! and it upsets me every time I see him. I thought if I kept away I wouldn't have to face reality. I hate seeing him in a wheelchair!"

Tails was crying heavily now.

Sally got up, and made her way over to Tails, embracing him. She never thought about it this way, and it made her feel kind of bad that she jumped to conclusions. After all, he was only 8 years old.

"Tails honey, why didn't you say sooner?

"Because I was too scared. I thought you would be angry with me!"

"Sweetheart, I wouldn't of been angry. But, life is all about facing up to situations like these. Believe me it hurts me every day to look at Sonic in a chair, struggling with the simplest things, but I would never avoid him because of it because I know how much it would hurt him more than he's already hurting, besides the fact I love him dearly and would never do such a thing. He is still the same person, just uses a different mode of transportation now. Between you and I Sonic is very lonely at the moment and is desperate for some company. He clings to me like I'm his lifeline."

"I'm sorry, I never realised... I just thought he wanted to be left alone since his accident! I'll go over now and apologise to Sonic." Tails' tears were just starting to slow down, now the room was filled with sniffles of his nose.

"You can't. Not for a couple days. Sonic didn't want you to find out how he feels and I swore I wouldn't tell him, but I knew I had to go against his wishes. Give it a few more days and then it won't look as likely I've spoken to you."

"Ok, if you say so."

Sally and Tails were now sitting face to face on the sofa.

"I never meant to upset him, Aunt Sally, honest! He's my big bro and I wouldn't do such a thing, ever."

"Tails. Sonic has been struggling a lot since his accident, but underneath he is still the same person. Once you start spending time with him again you won't notice the difference. His life right now is a struggle yes, things will be different, however you will just need to do different things together."

"Hmm, how about fishing?! I bet Sonic would like that, and he wouldn't struggle with it because it doesn't involve walking!"

"That sounds like a brilliant idea. I'm sure he will love it. He won't mind what you decide to do, he just wants some company more than anything."

Tails got up from the sofa, and picked up a picture frame on the mantle piece. It was of him and Sonic, arms around each other both doing a cheesy grin to the camera. Tails took the photo and sat down back next to Sally.

Tails smiled at the photo, as did Sally, both looking at it together.

"I remember the day this was taken. Boy did I get into trouble that day, you scolded me." Tails remarked.

"Yes. Well it serves you right for ruining my vegetable plot racing with Sonic!" Sally snickered.

"I miss those days. Do you think everything will still be the same Aunt Sally? Sonic looks so happy here, and look at him now..."

Tails' mood started to drop again.

"Once you start chatting away with your bro again you won't know the difference! Honestly, everything will be fine, I promise. Any way Tails I've got to go, Sonic only thinks I've popped out to get a pint of milk, I'm going to need an excuse now!"

"I understand."

Sally got up from the sofa and made her way to the doorway. Tails ran up to her and engulfed her into an embrace.

"Thanks Aunt Sally for today. You've made me realise it was silly to hide away. I'm stronger than that underneath."

Sally returned the hug.

"I'm glad to hear it, and you're most welcome, I'm glad I could help. Remember, I expect to see you in several days, and that's an order!"

Releasing the hug, Tails opened the door.

"Bye, Aunt Sally!"

"Goodbye, Tails."

And with that, he closed the door. Both Mobians had a smile plastered onto their face.