This Scratch project is a part of a story series. You can read the story down below in the "Notes and Credits".
{Setting: Crisis City} Silver: *his eyes widen with a look of understanding, then he lowers his head again* …then…what should I do? Should I keep trying to stop Iblis— but how? I…I don’t think I can do it… Florence: All I want you to do…is to d-do…what you th-think is best. Silver: Huh? But…but you and Father… Florence: *gives his head a gentle kiss* It is your l-life to live. You d-do not have to…finish our fight. It is n-not your responsibility t-to carry…if you don’t want to. Silver squishes closer to Florence as he tries to think, but stares off in a conflicted manner, his gaze meeting the cracked wall. Florence: No matter wh-what you do…what you choose…I will always love you, Silver. Silver: … *softly* …I love you too, Mother. Florence: *nuzzles his head, as she recalls holding Venice’s hands long ago…* Soon…comforted by his Mother’s warmth and the beat of her heart, the little hedgehog unknowingly gives into his weariness…and falls asleep. The glow of his aura fades. Meanwhile… Kaylee tosses and turns in an old desk chair. As her body shimmies in it, dust is stirred up from the cushion, causing her nose to twitch. She lets out a sneeze, then sniffles and yawns. When her eyes flutter open, she’s met with an unfamiliar room. Kaylee: Hm? *peers around curiously* In the dark room, multiple other chairs rest near large desks, with computer monitors and keyboards sitting atop them. Behind the desks are servers, taking up the entire bottom halves of two walls. On one end of the room the wall is made up of giant metal doors, shut tight, with six warning signs that Kaylee can’t read. The other end of the space has a humongous monitor, with a control panel at its base. Unlike the other monitors, the screen is on, and it has a grid scrolling down it. The screen bathes the room in a low blue light. Kaylee: Woah… *curiously eyes the screen, then looks around again* Papa? *goes to roll out of the chair, but tips it over and she falls to the ground with it* THUD! Kaylee: *has an embarrassed grimace as she lies with the chair* Oooh…hmph! *shakes off the fall, then sits up* Papa? Where are you? Hello? *gazes towards the doors, then back towards the screen— and she’s met with a pair of legs by her that weren’t there previously* ! *jerks her head up* Mephiles: *staring down at her* … Kaylee: EEP! *scrambles away to hide under a desk, nervously looking back at Mephiles as she shakes* Mephiles: … *lowers his hand to reveal a familiar plushie, dangling from between his fingers by its ankle* Kaylee: ! *gasps excitedly and crawls out from hiding* YOU FOUND HIM! *hurries to Mephiles and takes the plush from him to give it a big hug* Thank you!! I missed him SO MUCH— and Papa was so sad I lost him— my Mama gave him to me and I… *her voice trails off as she makes eye contact with Mephiles* Mephiles: *quietly still staring at her with his discomforting eyes* Kaylee: …um… *tucks her tail down* …do…uh…do you know where my Papa is? Mephiles: Yes. Kaylee: Where is he? He’ll be happy I’m feeling better! Now we can go looking for Mama! Mephiles: Your Father is dead, child. Kaylee: . . . The pup has confuzzled expression as she processes what the hedgehog has said. His monotone and forward response has thrown her off. Kaylee: …my Papa says it’s not nice to joke about people dying. Mephiles: I do not make jokes. Unlike your Father, I am telling you the truth. Your Father is dead, and so is your Mother. He lied to you to give you false hope that you would see her again. Kaylee: *brows furrow* …you…you’re not nice— I don’t like you! *starts to back away towards the metal doors* I’ll find my Pa by myself!! *attempts to pry the doors open on her own, but to no avail* Mephiles: You are not going anywhere…unless I allow it. *begins to approach her* Your Father left you in my care before he passed. I am now your guardian. Kaylee: YOU’RE LYING! *backs up against the door, then hears a small clink!* Huh? *touches her chest, where the two rings hang down from their chains. She takes them and holds both of the rings out.* …P-Papa’s…? But he…why would he…? *lip quivers* …why would he leave? Mephiles: To help you, child. Just as your Mother did. You are healed because of him. Both of your parents sacrificed themselves so that you may live. Kaylee: … *shakes her head in disbelief as she hugs the plush tightly* Mephiles: …quite admirable of them…though, such a shame how avoidable it was. If only their little girl had not run off, and caused all of this trouble. Kaylee: ! *tears pool in her eyes* But I…I didn’t mean to…! I was…! Mephiles: *approaches her* That is true. You did not mean to do any harm. *slowly leans his head down* You meant to help your family, but your good intentions do not change the fact that…because of you…your parents are dead. Kaylee: *gazing up at his sharp pupils, as tears run down her face*
