FicWad

The triplets and Aleena arrived at the Hanging Gardens.
“It’s beautiful, Mother.” Sonia said.
Manic looked over his shoulder. “Whoa, Swatbots are coming.”
The triplets tried to activate their medallions while Aleena ran back inside the van to get her laser gun.
The medallions fired faint electric sparks.
“Why aren’t they working?” Sonia asked.
Sonic shoved Manic out of the way, taking a laser blast for his little brother.
“Sonic, no!” Manic screamed.
Aleena blasted the Swatbots with her laser gun, taking out all of the Swatbots.
Sonia picked up Manic and Aleena picked up Sonic, then they got into the van.
Sonia drove the van toward Mobotropolis.
Manic held Sonic as he cried.
Aleena knelt down in front of Manic and Sonic. “Is he-?”
“He’s gone, Ma.” Manic sobbed. “He-”
“Manic, wake up.” Sonia cried.
*
Manic woke up to Sonia shaking him. He looked around. “Where’s Sonic?”
“I’m right here, bro.” Sonic said, walking over to Manic. He sat down on the foot of Manic’s bed. “Did you have another nightmare?”
Manic sat up and wiped his forehead. “It felt so real.” He said. “We were fighting Swatbots and you took a laser blast for me, bro. You died.”
Sonia gasped.
Sonic patted Manic on the back. “It was a dream, bro.” He said. “I’m faster than any laser blast. No need to worry.”
“I don’t know.” Manic replied. “The last time I had a dream like that was the mirror thing and the Castle Conquest thing.”
Aleena stepped out of the kitchen. “Kids, breakfast is ready.”
*
Sonic finished his coffee, then got up and started stretching.
“Where ya going, bro?” Manic asked.
“My morning run.” Sonic replied. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
“No, you’re not going out alone, Sonic.” Aleena said, picking up the dirty dishes. “It’s not safe.”
“I’m nineteen, Mom.” Sonic replied. “I’ve been doing missions for the resistance since I was five. I’ll be fine.”
“Can’t you wait on us?” Sonia asked.
“Yeah, bro.” Manic added. “It’s not safe in this section of Canyonopolis.”
Sonic scoffed. “Ah, Ro-butt-nik hasn’t made a trap that can catch me yet.”
“It doesn’t mean he won’t eventually succeed.” Sonia said.
“I’m the fastest thing alive.” Sonic replied.
“So what?” Manic asked. “He caught you before during the whole Sonic Tonic thing.”
“That’s right.” Sonia added. “Besides we agreed that we would always use the buddy system.”
“That system is just for you two slo-mos.” Sonic said, waving his hand dismissively. “I’ll be fine.”
“Bro, that’s not fair.” Manic protested. “You shouldn’t be above the rules if Sonia and I aren’t.”
“Oh, grow up, Manic.” Sonic said, rolling his eyes. “See you later.”
Sonic opened the door, then raced out of the camper.
Aleena stuck her head out the door. “Sonic!” She called. She sighed and shut the van door. “He’s as stubborn as his father.”

*
Sonic raced through the canyon. “I don’t need to use the buddy system.” He muttered under his breath. “I’m the fastest thing alive. Manic’s nineteen too; he ought to learn to think for himself and stop looking to others for an example by now. I can’t blame Mom for still seeing me as a kid.”
Sonic groaned as he felt something stick him in his back. He weakly tried to get whatever was stuck in his back as he fought overwhelming drowsiness.
“I… hate it….” Sonic mumbled as the corners of his vision grew fuzzy. “When… they’re… right.”
*
Sonic groaned as he sat up. He looked around and realized he was trapped in the roboticizer.
He got up as best as he could on shaky legs and tried to spin dash the machine to no avail.
The machine started whirring and the lights came on.
Sonic continued weakly trying to spin dash the machine even though he was still a little woozy from the tranquilizer dart. “Sonia! Manic!” He cried. “Mom!”
“I can’t find the controls, sis!” Manic yelled.
“They’re really here?” Sonic thought.
Laser blasts echoed through the chamber.
“It’s laser proof.” Sonia said. “Use your drums, I’ll look for the control panel.”
Sonic’s whole body started tingling. “Hurry up, I think-”
Sonic started screaming as the machine started taking effect. Pain surged through his entire body.
Manic started playing his drums.
The whole facility started shaking.
Finally, the roboticizer shut off and the capsule cracked open.
Sonic crawled out of the capsule. “Thanks, you two.”
Sonia and Manic froze. “No….”
“It’s okay, it’s me.” Sonic said. “I don’t think it-”
Sonic looked at his hands, then the rest of his body, which was completely metal. “No….” He said softly. He started panicking. “No, no. This can’t be happening.”
Sonia and Manic cautiously approached Sonic.
“Bro?” Manic asked.
“Maybe it’s just a shell.” Sonic said, trying to pull the metal off of his arm. “Yeah, that’s gotta be it. Come off, come off!”
Manic gently grabbed Sonic’s arm. “Bro.” He said. “We’ll find a way to reverse it. I promise.”
Sonia hugged Manic. “It’s gonna be okay, bro.”
“I’m sorry I broke the rules.” Sonic said. “I should’ve listened to you.”
Manic hugged Sonic.
“It’s alright.” Sonia said softly. “You’ve been through enough. We’ll reverse it.”
*
“Ma, we’re home!” Manic called as he and his siblings entered the van. “We found Sonic, but he’s… uh… different.”
Aleena stepped out of the bathroom. “What do-” She gasped.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Sonic said. “I should’ve listened to you.”
“He still has his free will.” Sonia said.
Aleena hugged Sonic. “It’s okay, baby.” She cried softly. “We’ll find a cure.”
“What if we don’t?” Sonic asked.
“Don’t talk like that, bro.” Manic replied. "We’re gonna find a cure or die trying.”
“I have a bad feeling about that last part.” Sonic said.
Manic bit his lip. “Hmm.”
“Boys, stop.” Sonia said. She walked Sonic to his bed. “Come on, you probably need to rest or… be alone with your thoughts.”