SU Remake Omake 9

A/N: Takes place after SU Remake OAV 25.

Sonic Underground Remake Omake 9: Grief

In Sanctuary, outside of the main building, Sleet only sat down on the porch while inside, Vanilla looked seriously to Dingo while Nic, Cream, Cheese, Team Chaotix, and Mina listened.

Vanilla: So you know my husband, right?

Dingo: Yeah. Besides Sleet, he was one of my best mates that ever worked for us.

Espio: They've been friends since before we were dragged into Donatello's services.

Cream looked down a bit.

Cream: When you all first told me about my daddy dying back at Spooky, I thought it was one of those mean jokes and even Bunnie thought it was a trick...(sadly) That's why I kept being optimistic and Bunnie, as she went grieving a moment ago, didn't believe it until Sleet confirmed it fully.

Mina: And I bet Mr. Rabbit got TOO involved in his work.

Vanilla: You know...come to think of it, (ponders) Whenever we DO mention about his work or anything related to it, he seemed reluctant to tell us.

Mina: I think I know a good reason why: He probably thought he'd get you and your family kicked out of Knothole if they knew the truth on him being a bounty hunter.

Vector: Yeah. At least he should've talked about me, Espio, and Charmy at least. We're not too bad.

Charmy: Isn't that because we screw up on our job a lot?

He quickly covered the bee child's mouth.

Vector: (sweatdrops) He-he-he. Talkative, isn't he?

Mina: Anyway, I may forgive Sleet for failing to save Cinnamon, but I still won't forgive him for what he did to my mom and dad.

Espio: For not being able to save a family on time?

Mina: What? No. I meant him killing my mom and dad.

Charmy: (moves Vector) What do you mean? What are you talking about?

Mina: Mom and dad...their names were Isabella and Alexandos. When I came home from my school, I saw a shadow figure and blood on the ground. Then, as I cried, everything was on fire. When I looked up, though I was still in tears...I saw Sleet standing where the bodies were before he left.

She clenched her fists in anger.

Mina: It was awful.

Dingo: But that wasn't Sleet who shot them.

Mina: What do you mean?

Dingo: (sighs) It was suppose to be that criminal we was suppose to bloody snatch for the bounty. Unfortunately, the brown elephant got away, leaving a family dead. It terrorized Sleet a bit. But he was still not use to seeing death at that young age.

Mina: Wait, "young"? Are you telling me he's not in his 30s?!

Dingo: Um as long as I'm speaking honestly, he's only a couple of years older than Nack and Nic was.

Mina: (dryly) Riiiiight. And Charmy is actually a retarded 17 year old.

Charmy: I'm six!

Vanilla: Oh my...a brown elephant?

Dingo: (nods) Yeah...he got huge tusks, was fat in a suit, had brown fur all over himself and ordered some weird troll like it was a sidekick or something.

Cream: Um...(worried) Isn't that Mr. Mammoth Mogul's description?

Nic: Aw crud, don't tell us!

Mina: (worried) Dingo, what if you're just lying just to save his face? I know what I saw and-

Dingo: I saw it too. We thought all three were dead at the time as the fire consumed the entire place.

She shook her head, clenching her cup.

Mina: No. I was rescued by Farrell and Manic after you and Sleet were gone. And for a while, I did what I had to in order to survive. Later, the Oracle showed up, telling me to find the place the Sonic Underground and I trained and then, after a while...I met you, Sonic, and the others, Cream. And I've been with you since.

Cream: Oh...

Nic sighed before looking at Sleet.

Nic: Anyway, how long has Sleet been grieving?

Dingo: Since before Robotnik took us in forcefully as his personal henchmen.

He rubbed his arm a bit.

Dingo: Sleet wasn't always that anger and snapping toward me. In fact, we and Tex was buddies together. No matter the situation, we looked up to one another. At least before Fiona betrayed us and Tex got killed.

Nic: I see...um, Fiona, did she-

Dingo: I like to be honest: I don't think Fiona EVER saw Sleet as her boyfriend. Though come to think of it, she did act like she wanted to get to know Sleet before that one night stand with Don.

Vector: I think I get the picture.

Vanilla: Still, I'm surprised Sleet never fully cried or fully grieved.

Dingo: Well first off, we didn't have time to go grieving. Secondly, I don't think Sleet ever cried emotionally. Not when he probably lost his parents, not when he lost Nack, and not when Tex got shot. I guess in his own way, he was still in the anger stage of grief.

Nic: So he hasn't gotten through the last stages.

Dingo: Not really. He already went through five of them. There's just the stage of despair and acceptance left on his grieving stages.

Espio: That explains a lot.

Dingo: Oh he sheds tears, but um...between you guys and me, he's not too good at holding it all in.

Charmy: Yeesh.

Nic finally looked at Sleet outside at the porch before sighing.

Nic: Maybe he should go to the final stages.

Cream nodded sadly before the female weasel got up, walking over to Sleet. After a moment, she sat next to him, looking at him.

Nic: Hey. Um...about what happened to you?

Sleet: Nic, not now. Please...

Nic: I want you to know that it wasn't your fault.

Sleet: (turns away) I know that.

Nic: It's not your fault.

Sleet: Nic, please...(starts shivering) I'm fine. Really I-

Nic: It's not your fault.

He clenched his fists, a few tears escaping his eyes.

Sleet: I...first my partner, now my father...

Nic: It's not your fault.

Finally, the wolf groaned before he howled in despair, tears finally escaping his eyes. Cream shedded a small few drips of tears before jumping, hugging the howling sorrowful wolf.

Cream: Sleet...it's okay. I'm here for you...your friends are.

Sleet: Cream?

Cream: You were hurting ever since daddy passed away and took it out on us and I understand if...if you don't even-

Sleet: Cream, listen...about what I did and what I've done to you...

Cream: But know this...I AM your friend and friends are like family. And that's the truth about our friendship.

The chao flew near him, looking at him.

Cheese: (pats him) Chao.

The wolf then noticed a hand before looking up, noticing Vanilla, Dingo, and Team Chaotix reaching for him.

Charmy: The kid's right.

Vanilla: And if you want to, let's help one another...if you wish.

Dingo: Yeah, Sleet. You can be a pain in the bloomin' neck sometimes, but we are friends, ya know.

The wolf looked a bit reluctant before being lifted up by the five.

Cheese: Chao...

The chao hugged him a bit.

Sleet: I'll be honest...Cheese does remind me of a chao I use to own once before its passing...

Mina looked a bit reluctant before the mongoose sighed a bit.

Mina: Was it true...Sleet, tell me the truth now and look me in the eyes...tell me that it wasn't you who murdered my parents.

He glanced at the mongoose, both pausing as they looked directly at their eyes.

Sleet: No, Mina. It wasn't.

Mina: If that's the case...(smiles sadly) I guess I'll have to forgive you then...

He looked at each of them before finally turning to Nic.

Sleet: You mean after all this time, after so many attacks and hurting and such, you're STILL forgiving?

Nic: Well like it or not. We and they are Freedom Fighters and friends respectively...

She hugged the wolf with a small grin.

Nic: Now come on...let's get going.

Vanilla: I have some cake and ice cream if you want.

They pulled the reluctant wolf as Sleet looked at the others smiling, then at Nic and Cream before finally starting to warmly smile himself.

In memory of my great aunt. She will be missed.

(End of Omake)