PART 4: Changed heart

He was born in the heart of the city
He grew up in the jungle of the city streets
If you ask around, there are many that know him
But the man that will call him a friend you will never meet

If you see him coming, you better run and hide
Cause nobody's safe from the one with a Criminal Mind
He doesn't think much about right or wrong
He doesn't care if you live or die
He sees what he wants and he takes it away

It doesn't matter to him cause it's all like a dream
He doesn't feel their pain and he can't hear their cries
We can't imagine the world that he sees with his evil eyes

You're still here, aren't you? You still want to know what's happening to me? Okay, fine, I'll tell. Let me first say that it's best for me not to go into details of my criminal life. It's way too violent, and now I regret it. Yeah, I actually feel regret for all the things I had done. That is something a criminal cannot feel. Now after Sonic pulled me away from death, I woke up in the morning to be alive again. I thought for sure I was dead, and maybe I was, but I somehow came back. I don't know why I would ever come back to live, but here I am. I woke up from sleep in his bed, and I saw him missing from the sofa. I guess he was already awake with the others. Blasted, my head hurts, my arm is sore like something terrible, and the bandage is red again. I looked at the new gloves Sonic gave to me. They were clean and white, and I left the old, blood soaked red ones. My whole body felt heavy as I struggled to sit up. I failed, and I flopped down again like a newborn fawn trying to walk for the first time. I feel stiff, tired, dizzy, and then I remembered what happened last night. I was shot. So that's what hurt me so much.

What did Sonic say I could do? Change? Sounds like a major turn, but how can a criminal change? I can't just turn away from my criminal life. But then if I did, what would I be?

"You can change, Scott. You don't always have to be the same. Think about it."

Yeah, Sonic told me that last night, but I don't know if I can change. I have come a long way to reach this, but now, I'm wounded. I closed my eyes to rest a little longer. I felt another pain run down my left arm, and I moaned quietly. I began to think of crime in ways I never did before. Nations were mourning; shadows keep attacking with little children crying, confusion, fear, anger, pain, loss, wrong, cold, and no hope. Was this crime? Many images were pictured in my mind, and they showed themselves like a slideshow. There was life, death, blessings, and curses, but I didn't want to realize that. I didn't even want to listen to myself, but the thoughts overcame my pride, my doubts, and I began to wonder. Crime was the shadows, causing sorrow and loss.

I shook my head, opening my eyes. I don't want that. I know what pain is, and I'm sure this is nothing compared to what crime has done to others. The guilt smote me like a wind, and I let it. Then again, I tried to sit up, and I made it this time. Whoa, I felt dizzy. I could hardly sit up, but I did it. I sighed heavily, and then I heard voices coming from outside the bedroom. It was Sonic, talking to his friends in the living room nearby. I had a strange urge to want to see him again. Why? Don't ask. I gotta get up. I climbed up, out of bed, and I was so unsteady, I collapsed to the bedroom floor. Dough, I'm such a weakling! I can't even stand or walk right. I'll try again, harder this time. I used the bed to help me climb to my feet, and I made it. Great, I was standing. Now to find Sonic, wherever he may be. I came into a hallway, and I saw the living room.

"You better be careful, Sonic. He may kill you or something…" Sally warned him.

They must be talking about me. They think I'm a coldhearted killer, but I never killed anyone. I stepped into the living room, and I used my right hand to rest against the wall for support.

"I am a thief, but am no murderer." I said weakly, and everyone turned to see me.

"Scott? Are you any better?" Sonic asked, and the others were silent.

I stepped toward him, shakily. "It still hurts, Sonic. But it's better than before." I replied.

I had to sit down, and Sonic helped me. Oh, my arm hurts again, and I'm dizzy. When will it stop? I sighed, opening my eyes, and then I saw a young hedgehog, about five years old, dark blue in color, brown eyes, and I wondered why he wasn't afraid of me. I think I like him.

"Hello. I'm Simon." He told me his name, and he greeted me.

"Hello. My name is Scotty Staff. I come from New York City." I said.

Simon smiled, but then Sally took him away. "Simon, stay away from him!" She said.

I sighed when I saw that. I didn't want to be feared like this…not anymore.

"I know some of you are afraid of me for what I have done," I said quietly. "But let me say that I'm now a new hedgehog. I will never steal even a penny from anyone ever again."

Not even Sonic could believe his ears. I saw everyone with their mouths open, and I felt mine doing the same. I was completely shocked. Did that come out of me? What did I say? How did I say it? Why? I was very different, my eyes, my voice, everything was different. I felt my heart beating; it was flesh. Sonic told me everyone's names there, and I bowed my head to them.

"I'm glad to meet all of you," I said, looking up at them. "I'm Scotty Silas Staff, and I hope we can be friends."

Then Sonic asked, "Scott, where is your family?"

I looked down at the floor, sadly. "My parents…are…" I stopped, remembering they were taken away from me, and that's when I became a criminal. I was only ten years old.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Scott--"

"It's okay, Sonic…" I gently interrupted. "Since then, my sister and I had a hard time living. I became a master thief in New York City. I learned much in a short time…" I stopped when I felt tears in my eyes. Oh no, don't cry now, anything but that. Why am I so weak today?

"But Scotty, where's your sister now?" Simon asked.

"My sister, Sonya, is living in a place in the woods I know, in New Jersey. She was angry with me when she knew I was wanted by the police. And I…I left her, and went out on my own."

"Scotty, let's find your sister, and let her know you are safe, and you're not a bad guy anymore." Simon said, and I opened my eyes, looking down at the small hedgehog.

"Thanks…" I whispered, but I knew it was not going to be that easy.

"Simon, I'm not sure if he is ready to go. He needs time to heal." Sonic said.

I knew that was true, but I had to go. "Sonic, I must go find her." I said quietly.

"Are you sure you're well enough?" He asked, looking at my arm.

"No…" I answered quietly. "But I want to."

Sonic shrugged his shoulders, and he said, "Okay, but I'll go with you to help."

"Thanks, Sonic." I said. I saw the kindness in the blue hedgehog.

"Can I go with you, Sonic?" Tails asked, looking up at him.

"Well, I'm not sure if Scott wants--"

"Sonic, I would be glad for him to come also." I said, standing up. I felt strong all the sudden.

And so, we left together, the three of us. We were on our way to New Jersey. I have not been there in years. I ran until my arm hurt too much. Tails took my right hand, and he flew while Sonic continued running. I never flew a fox airline before, but if you're afraid of flying, you better not try. I was nervous when it came to flying, but this was fun, I have to admit it. As we left New York City, I saw a newspaper headline, saying: 'The Master Thief scare is over.'

That was true, I realized. What I was died in Central Park under that tree. I also saw in the newspaper how a criminal gang was arrested, and Ivy was one of them. I guess I won't be seeing her again. Was I upset? Nope, but I actually felt better. My life was different, and I knew it.

= = = = =

Location: New Jersey…

When we arrived, I was afraid. Of course I wanted to find her, but what would she say? What would she think of me? So many questions roamed my mind as we traveled through the woods. We were near the old tree house, and then I froze when I heard a familiar voice.

"Scotty! Oh, Scotty, is that you?" A female voice was heard.

I looked, and then down from a tree, a purple hedgehog appeared on the ground with black banged hair, and pretty blue eyes. She wore a faded blue jumpsuit. I found her! She's alive! But then I felt shocked. The last time I saw her, she was a nine-year-old girl. Now she was a lovely young lady. She was…I can't say it. I cannot explain how she looked, but she was alive.

"Sony?" I said to be sure that it was so.

"Yes, Scotty." She said, looking at me in the eyes. "It's me."

Knowing the things I said and how I left her before, I could not look into her blue eyes. I was speechless, and it was difficult for me to breathe. I swallowed, and then forced my voice out.

"Sonya…I…" Then I stopped with shame in my eyes.

Sonya looked suspicious of me. "Scotty, what are you doing here?" She asked with slight anger in her voice. "What do you want?"

I was a stranger to her? I can't believe it. I can't let this go on any longer. She will forgive me, won't she? Well, it can't hurt to try, and I'll do my best to prove it, but how? For a start, I got on my knees and took her hand, and I spoke with tears in my eyes. I wish those tears would scram.

"Sonya, I'm sorry." I whispered, and it was true.

But Sonya looked like she didn't believe me. That was not a good sign.

"Sonya, I really am sorry." I said painfully and loud enough for Sonic and Tails to hear. "Will…will you ever forgive me?" There, I asked her the important question.

I wanted to know the answer for six years. I thought of her everyday, and now I was at her mercy. I looked down at the ground sadly, closed my eyes, and my heart broke. I waited for her to slap my face, just like she did when she knew I was a criminal. But no, she didn't do that. Instead, she smiled, knelt down in front of me, and I looked at her, trying to fight those annoying tears.

"Scotty, I forgive you. Please don't be sad." She whispered, and she hugged me.

What? She…what did she say? She forgives me even when I did what I did? And she's touching me, holding me close. She missed me as much as I missed her. I was wrong when I thought she hated me. I could not bring myself to return the embrace, but then I finally did. I held her tight in my arms, and I wanted to tell her how much I loved her, how I missed her, and how beautiful she was, but silly me, I wept on her instead. She smelled like a wild flower. Oh, she was so soft, and I never wanted this hug to end. I felt relief to be with her again, so happy and glad, so grateful. Even though it hurt my arm to hug her, I didn't care. This was good pain. It was meant to be.

"I'm…I'm so sorry I left you, Sony…" I whispered, crying softly.

Sonya heard the pain in my voice, and knew I was truly sorry.

Sonya whispered to me, "It's okay, Scotty. It's okay." She forgave me.

For a moment, we said nothing. We only held each other close.

Then Sonya asked, "Scott, are you still a thief?"

I stood up with her. "No," I said firmly. "And I never will be a thief again. I promise."

Wow, that was a real surprise for me to say that, and she smiled. I liked that. Then she saw my wounded arm, and also the two strangers, which were my new friends, Sonic and Tails.

"Oh, Scotty, what happened?" She asked, looking at me. "Did I miss something?"

I nodded my head. "I should say so…." I said, and she listened.

Well, you already know the story. I told her of my time in Central Park, and how Sonic helped me. It seems like an unbelievable story, but I was there. Now that I turned my life around, what will I become? I was a butterfly, a changed heart, and this was my turning point. How and why did I ever bring myself to change? I may never be able to answer that, but my choice will change my life forever. There are so many new possibilities for me now, and I will choose wisely.