Chapter 8: Scourge's Tragic Past

As Nightime came, Pinkamena sees a pony coming to them as she smiles. Bugs didn't notice her so that's good news so far, right?

"Flutterbat, longtime no see." Pinkamena said with a greeting.

"Hello, sorry I could not greet you in the daytime." Flutterbat apologizes to her friend who chuckles lightly while patting her own back.

"Flutterbat, we're not real, we're toys remember?"

"O-oh right I forgot."

"So have you found anyway for us to escape?" Golden Heart ask hopefully if Flutterbat has found a way for her friends to escape.

She lightly shakes her head as Flutterbat explains, "Unless you get broken or torn, not sure there is any real way out."

The ones in hiding watch on. Autumn Gem is scared as Sombra hugs her and Pinkamena gives a firm look. She spoke, "We will be freed; we will escape; all of us, not even Big Fat Baby, can put me down, not even their guards together the next time; we all will be freed." That makes the group cheer to this. "Ok everypony, let's act normal until the time to strike happens ok?"

Everyone nod and she, Golden Heart and Gold Wing resumes their imprisonment. Jack Zen, Omega, Autumn Gem, Sombra, Golden Moon and Flutterbat heads off quickly, still dodging Bugs's detection.

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Back at Xion's house, the toys there are in the kitchen, using Tifa's computer. The internet could show directions on how to get home.

"Okay now, I need you to put in the directions..." Emerl announces as he works on the directions.

"Good, now let's find home. All right..." Minnie said as the group brought up 'Google', a site to find places easily. "Now '1125 Syncamore'.

Emerl nods as he got to work on putting the street in. But suddenly an IM window appears on the screen. Phobos spoke, "Hey, someone's calling!"

"Um, who's BlazBlue Reaper and The King of Knights?" Mickey asked as the mouse looked at the user names.

He then yelped as Wing moved in his way and started to type something.

"Sorry, sorry, those are my friends Ragna and Saber. Forgot to log out of our game." Wing said sheepishly.

She then finished typing and clicked out of the game. Wing moved out of the way when she noticed the looks on their faces.

"What?" Wing asked.

"OK, we need to have a talk later." Hooded said.

"Correction; that chat friend of Wing is a friend she plays online games with when Tifa and Xion aren't home or are asleep." Emerl stated to explain to the mice toys and cat.

"Emerl! You didn't have to tell them!" Wing said a bit annoyed.

"Just being honest; after all, honesty leads to a long lasting and perfect friendship 85% of probability at least." Emerl said to her.

"Either way how goes the Google map search?" Hooded asked wanting to move the subject on.

"Right, Syncamore and good." Minnie explains to Emerl who finishes putting in the address before pushing 'Enter'. Everyone waits as a map assembles that should show directions.

"Don't let it be far, don't let it be far." Mickey said hopefully. Soon the map resolves, showing a route to Tommy's house...a short 'Z' and two blocks away. "It's right around the corner? It's right around the corner!"

"It appears Tommy Pickles's room isn't far off, my friends." Celestia explains, smiling as the mice laughs, hugging Xion's toys and Figaro.

"It will take a while for you two to get there but if you leave now, you should get home by morning." Luna said in observation as the two mice dance with each other as if having a hoedown. This is great! They and Figaro will be back in no time!

"Right, come on! Let's go, Figaro!" Minnie exclaims with a smile. Figaro meows as the three toys leaps across the desk and are on their way to the kitchen door.

"Oh yes, we're going to college, yes, check us out, Minnie, big toys on campus!" Mickey giggles while Minnie laughs a bit.

"Well, we hope you all got home safety, my friends." Furrball said with a smile, making the other toys of Xion's smile a bit. It's sad to see their new friends go, but at least they have fun with the two while it lasted.

"And have a good college life too!" Ben exclaims with a smirk.

"Oh, we will." Minnie said with a giggle as she, Mickey and Figaro are about to go through the net door.

"Oh, and if any of you were to go to Sunnyside like Hooded did, give our friends our regards and tell them that we made it home!" Mickey suggests happily.

The toys gasps in shock and surprise upon hearing the word 'Sunnyside'. Nyx gasps, "Wait, 'Sunnyside'? As in the daycare that Hooded goes to?"

"You three came from Sunnyside?" Namine ask in surprise yet shock at the same time.

"Well, that is where Xion found us and where we met Hooded." Minnie explains with a slight chuckle.

"Yes, they were on their way out when Xion was heading home." Hooded explains to his friends, though for some reason, there's a hint of seriousness and concern in his tone of voice.

"But how did any of you escape?" Wing ask the three newcomers in concern.

"Well, not easy, we..." Mickey suddenly stops as he, Minnie and Figaro are shocked and surprised upon hearing what Wing just said. "Wait, 'escape'? What do you mean?"

"Oh, you three are very lucky." Celestia said with a serious look on her face. "If you had spent too long there, you may never get out again."

"Yes, be glad you never have to set foot in that wicked place again." Luna said with a sigh. Hearing that made the mice and cat toys concerned.

"But Sunnyside was a daycare that is a toy paradise...to her friends anyway." Minnie said in concern. She, Mickey and Figaro saw the other toys looking at each other. The CMC held onto each other in fright while Tweety, Henry and Speedy are terrified.

Sylvester then gave a serious look on his face as he steps up, saying, "Sunnyside isn't a toy paradise that you and your friends were led to believe. It used to be a wonderful place where toys can lived in happiness."

"But one day, it fell to darkness and ruin when it became ruled by a green hedgehog who smells...of chili dogs." Furrball adds grimly.

"Wait, Scourge?!" Mickey and Minnie gasps in shock while Figaro meows in worry. Are Sylvester and Furrball talking about the same Scourge who greeted the new toys like a friend when they first arrived at Sunnyside?

"Oh, don't let his appearance fool you. Scourge may be plush and huggable on the outside, but on the inside? He's a monster." Ben10magician said with a grim and scared look on his face.

"Yeah, I don't want to go anywhere near him." Nyx said with fright. "Daddy, don't make me go there!"

"I won't honey, I won't let that monster get you." Ben said to his daughter calmly as he hugs her in concern.

"Are you sure about Scourge?" Minnie ask her friends in concern.

"If you have any doubts, go speak to Stingmon." Luna said seriously then motions to across the room. "There he is now..."

The toys turn to see another toy on a window sill, looking outside grimly while overhearing the conversation. He is a green bug creature with black arms, a green helmet with a yellow v and red bug eyes, green feelers on his head with red stripes, a red mane under the bug's helmet, two pairs of wings on his back, green armor torso with spike braces on the shoulders, black/green leggings, and black metal boots with claws at the end. His name is Stingmon.

As Mickey, Minnie and Figaro approaches him, Stingmon frowns as he spoke, "Yes, as shocking as it seems, I knew Scourge. He was once a good toy...and a good friend of mine, back when he was known as Sonic. Both of us used to have the same owner, a little girl named Marron..."

Flashback

In a flashback, Scourge was smiling, doing a heroic pose in a living room as a girl named Marron was unwrapping a Christmas present. She gave a happy smile as she took out a fresh, smiling blue hedgehog who looks like Scourge, her new present and new friend.

Stingmon narrates, "I was there on the day that Scourge, when he was known as Sonic, was unwrapped."

Marron hugs Sonic, she is never letting him go, ever. In another part, Big Fat Baby, who is wearing clothes and a bonnet as well as having an eye that is still well back then, was having a tea party with Stingmon, Scourge and Marron. The girl with a happy smile, hugs the blue hedgehog happily.

"Yes, Marron loved both Big Fat Baby and me...but Sonic? He was special."

Sonic was taken by Marron all over the place. Places like through a lawn sprinkler, being pushed on a swing and in bed with the girl reading to him. Unknown to Marron, Sonic is secretly smiling happily to her. He never wanted to leave her side again.

"Those two did everything together, even when it came to taking baths. You haven't seen a kid and a toy more in love in friendship more than anyone else."

Minnie's voice is heard, "Gawrsh. What happened? Why did Sonic changed?"

Marron is seen in the back of the family car, holding Sonic in her lap while Big Fat Baby and Stingmon are buckled nearby. Not one of them knew that this day will change them all forever.

Stingmon continues, "One day, we all went for a drive..."

The family stops at a rest stop to have lunch. Marron used this time to play with her toys happily.

"We stopped at a rest stop to have a little playtime."

Marron's mother waves a sandwich, calling for her daughter for lunch. She put her toys down while heading off to eat. The trio sat there, waiting for their owner to come back. But when lunch was over, it happened: Marron fell asleep. Her father picks the sleeping girl up and carries her to the car. Unfortunately, Marron didn't tell mom and dad where her toys are.

"Lunch as over...Marron fell asleep and they all decided to head on home."

Once Marron is buckled up in the car, the family then drove off in their vehicle...leaving Sonic, Big Fat Baby and Stingmon behind! The trio came to life, looking shocked and disbelief. Their family has forgotten or doesn't even know that they're still there!

While Big Fat Baby and Stingmon looks on in sadness, Sonic just looks down the road hopefully. The hedgehog believes that Marron will eventually find out that her toys are left behind and would beg her parents to turn around to go get them. So the three friends stay where they are...yet days passed as rain fell.

The trio of toys stays there still, hoping that the family would come back...right?

"But...she never came back..."

Reality hit the three in a bad way: the family will never come back. Either the toys were forgotten or the family doesn't know which rest stop that Sonic's group was at. Still, the hedgehog glance at a pendant on a necklace that is hanging around Big Fat Baby's neck. The words 'My heart belongs to...' are there with Marron's name and address is written on it.

Sonic nods in determination. If Marron and her family can't come back, then the toys will go to them. So the hedgehog sets off on a journey with his friends following him.

"Sonic...he never gave up. During the journey, Sonic has a few accidents involving chemicals that turned his skin color green, his eyes blue, and a slash ending up on his chest. Big Fat Baby and I were able to get him some clothes as per his suggestion. It took forever but we got back to Marron's place."

By the time night hits again, the toys arrived outside the home of Marron. They head over to the bushes that are outside her window, all of them are muddy a bit worn out. Sonic is now green with blue eyes, due to his change, and is wearing the clothes that he's wearing today, with a slash across his chest.

Sonic is excited, he can't wait to see Marron again and how happy she will to see him again. The hedgehog orders Big Fat Baby to boost himself and Stingmon to the window still. As they got there, the two toys peeks through the window. There's Marron, reading a book and not realizing that they're there.

"But by the time we did get there...it was too late."

Sonic looks shocked as something familiar is tucked besides Marron once she put her book down to hug him. It's another Sonic, one like him! The hedgehog looks shocked and hurt. His owner has replaced him? Stingmon looks at his friend in sadness as Sonic looks down, dropping from the window.

Sonic's world is shattered, the girl that he thought loved him...now loves another. For all the hedgehog toy knows, she has forgotten about him by now! It begins to rain during this time.

"Something inside Sonic changed that night...something in him snapped..."

Scourge now looks furious and outraged, staring uncomprehending. He then exclaims in fury, "She replaced, forgotten us! Come on, it's time we ditch this dump!"

Stingmon prepares to storm off, wanting to leave forever. As his friends stay where they are, a shocked Stingmon protest, "Wait, that isn't true, Sonic! She only repla..." The Digimon toy knew that only his friend was replaced, not the others. But then Sonic turns and cuts him off angrily.

"She replaced us, right?! Right?!"

Stingmon shrinks back in fear. Sonic has shown an emotion...one that proves that he isn't himself anymore! The hedgehog is heartbroken, betrayed by his owner getting a new toy, and one that looks like him! It could likely that her parents can't find Marron's toys and got her a new Sonic to make her feel better.

Big Fat Baby looks at the pendant. Then as he tries to climb up to the window, the baby mumbles, "Mama..."

However Sonic furiously pulls Big Fat Baby down, not wanting him to see the truth or more. The hedgehog yells out angrily, "Forget her! She doesn't love you anymore! Now come on!!!"

Sonic then rips his friend's necklace off him, throwing it away before stalking off, dragging a sobbing Big Fat Baby with him. As far as the hedgehog is concerned, if he can't have Marron, then no one else will! Stingmon is stunned and heartbroken as he picks up the pendant.

The hedgehog that used to be Sonic is gone forever, only something of anger and hatred remains: a Scourge. Stingmon never smiled again since that night.

The toys, saddened and forgotten, are not sitting on the bumper of a familiar pizza delivery truck which drove throughout the train. What future awaits the forgotten ones? They are outcast, lost and forgotten. Scourge doesn't care that his friends are sad. He is too busy being angry and stubborn, crossing his arms in the same way.

"We were lost, cast off and unloved in a cruel world..."

Without warning, the truck hits a pothole in the road, knocking the trio off the bumper and landing right into a puddle in the pavement. As Scourge and his pals got back up, recovering, they saw where they are as a flash of lighting appears, showing the road entrance to a familiar daycare center...one of happiness and hope which is now a place of evil and torture.

"Then that is when we found Sunnyside."

Scourge narrows his eyes as he got up. If the hedgehog must suffer a life without a child's love, then he will make sure other toys will too! Scourge limps towards the daycare as his friends watch on in concern.

"But Scourge, as I now called him as did everyone else did, was no longer my friend."

The lightning flashes a bit, showing the beginning of evil...

End Flashback

As the sad story continues, the newcomers looked shocked. Stingmon sighs, "He wasn't anyone's friend but himself. Scourge took over Sunnyside with Big Fat Baby's help, caused the whole system to be rigged. Any toys he considered special were put into the Butterfly Room to get played with and/or end up being in Scourge's group, corrupted like him. The rest of the toys? They are beaten and abused in the Caterpillar Room."

"Gosh, how did you get out?" Mickey ask in concern. Stingmon gave a sad sigh as he shows a part of him which is broken but has been repaired in the past. The Digimon looks at a familiar necklace from long ago.

"I was...broken one day. I would've been thrown out but Xion found me, took me home, got me fixed up. The other toys? They aren't so lucky. They became trashed by kids who has no idea how to play with toys right! It's...it's not right what Scourge has done! New toys? They don't stand a chance."

"But how exactly did Scrouge achieve such power?" Mickey asked confused.

"Sunnyside used to be run by an Optimus Prime toy, since all there knew that they were toys, there was no conflict between toys that were in their shows enemies." Stingmon said.

"Scourge managed to gain trust with Optimus but a few days after, Optimus was found broken beyond repair; after that, Scourge took over, claiming the breakage was caused by kid playing too hard with him." Sylvester told them.

"And no one other than him can confirm this?" Minnie asked her and her boyfriend believing that Scourge told a lie.

"Indeed though I think Starscream may know the truth, but is too scared to speak out, especially since Scourge uses him as a whipping toy." Hooded said thinking. "I'm sure if he could work up the bravery to speak out, his story can help convince the other toys that Scourge is not a great leader but a monster."

Mickey shook his head, stunned as he said, "Gosh. I never thought I would meet a toy that could be even more evil than Pete."

"Right, except this hedgehog had a tragic history...but chose to turn to a path of evil instead of sadness and pity." Minnie said grimly and in agreement. "Minnie, we got to go back. Our friends are trapped there and who knows what Scourge would do to them?"

"Are you crazy?" Ben10magician ask in shock and horror. "The place is too dangerous."

"Right, if you go back, it will be like coming back to your death sentence!" Furrball exclaims in agreement with Calamity nodding frantically.

"Don't go!" Scootaloo exclaims in fright.

"But we got to go back, our friends are there." Mickey explains in sadness to his friends. "We made a mistake in leaving them to a mad hedgehog who turned insane when he was abandoned and replaced by a girl he won't go for."

"I dread thinking what would happen if that were to happen to us." Minnie said, shuddering at the though.

"Me too."

"But what about 'Tommy'?" Namine ask the mice toy in worry, reminding them that they and Figaro were planning on heading back to Tommy.

"Isn't he going to college tomorrow?" Wing ask in agreement. She's right, if her new friends go back to Sunnyside, it's likely they will never come out again!

Mickey, Minnie and Figaro gave each other concerned looks. Will they go home and leave their friends to their fate, or go back and try to save them, risking being trapped in Sunnyside for good?

"Mickey, Minnie, if you want to save your friends, I will gladly offer my aid if rescuing them." Hooded said bowing his head.

"Are you sure Hooded? We don't want to put you at risk." Mickey said to the hooded toy.

"I am, after all you are among my family which means I would risk everything to make sure them safe just like how you two would do the same but my friends raise good points that you do this, you will risk not being with Tommy when he goes to college." Hooded explained.

"Indeed, the probability of making it home in time if you do this rises with each passing minute so by doing this chances of getting home would be 85% possible." Emerl said calculating probability.

"You've been on your math program for a while Emerl, why not change it to astrology?" Luna asked Emerl.

"Because I am saving that for when I meet the right toy." Emerl said folding his arms.

Mickey, Minnie and Figaro got a decision o make: a big one.

Author's note
And there you go, the tragic history of Scourge. In the next chapter, as 'playtime' continues on at Sunnyside, Mickey, Minnie and Figaro returns to Sunnyside, taking Hooded and Emerl with them. Then with the help of Wile E. Coyote, the toys makes plans to help their friends escape. Read, review and suggest.