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Another Nine Analysis: Warped Senses And Tragedy

Yay, another Nine analysis! It's been a while, huh? But I have more thoughts about him I need to write out so here I am. So now let's begin.

Alright, so let's start with the fact that while the other variants are devoid of the things that represent them (empathy for Amy, and Honor for Knuckles), Nine's is actually not only enhanced but WARPED in a more twisted way.

Amy's lack of empathy is shown through Rusty (a robotized Amy) and Thorn (while she wanted to protect the Jungle she didn't try to understand or find common ground) and Knuckle's lack of honor is shown through Dread.

But Nine is rather different. Yes while he didn't stay and help the Rebels, and abandoned them, he choose to save Sonic instead. In fact earlier during the battle between the Rebels and Dr. Deep, I noticed that he only helps Sonic during the battle. He's the first one to notice Sonic's in danger and stops to help him, but only him, he doesn't do it for the others. Watch closely at how Nine contrasts against the others in the fight.

The others help out each other, but Nine only helps Sonic. I thought it was an interesting detail, and it also proves my theory. Not to mention he's surprised when Sonic saves him and pleased when he learns about a high five.

Another thing is how he chooses to abandon the rebels, choosing to save the shard, the shard that took Sonic. He once again chooses Sonic over everyone else.

The battle during the Rebellion, once again, Sonic.

I disagree that Nine isn't loyal, that he's a Tails that lacks loyalty, but a Tails whose sense of loyalty that's starting to become deluded and damaging towards others and possibly himself. A dedication and commitment that does more harm towards others and himself than it helps. A self-destructive and dangerous obsession.

He's only loyal towards Sonic, he's only dedicated to Sonic, he's only attached to Sonic, he only smiles with Sonic, and no one else.

If Nine wasn't loyal or committed to Sonic, then why did he wait weeks for Sonic, and why did he come back for Sonic?

It's understandable why too, to him Sonic is a person from another world who gave another version of him a life he always dreamed of. To him, Sonic is his only friend, the only person who accepts him for his Tails, the only person who gave him a reason to let his walls down. So it's understandable that he'd only care for Sonic.

Unlike the others, Sonic can bring him something he dreamed of, unlike the others Sonic was bright and bubbly and not yet damaged by the horrible world around him, and unlike the others, Sonic is the only one who can make his heart melt with that unrelenting optimism and blinding faith and allow another in.

Unlike the others, Sonic gave him something to live for, to fight with blood and sweat for.

A WORLD and LIFE to hope for.

It's no wonder the poor kid latched onto the first person who showed him kindness and affection. Before Sonic meet him, he probably hasn't made contact with anyone in YEARS after he fought back his bullies.

Just look at his face after he tries to ignore Sonic in the top left. His face softens, and with the slightest bit of hesitance asks what else they did in this wonderful dream world just out of reach of his gloved hands.

Which makes my next thought worse.

Guys, you'll hate this but...

I don't think Nine's going to get his happy ending. It'll most likely be very bittersweet at best.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, HE DESERVES THE WORLD! But the world he wants can't ever be achieved without Sonic. Sonic, just wants to get home no matter what. A home that isn't Nine's. A home Nine can't ever go to.

Nine wants Sonic to stay, being unable to be happy in a world without him. Sonic wants to go home, being unable to be happy without his FRIENDS. Like he said earlier in the pilot, his FRIENDS make Green Hills HOME. Which makes it clear he won't be happy living in the Grim.

Both of them have opposite goals, goals that can't be achieved at the same time. This is originally mentioned by @animatedjunkfood, but I agree that the Grim scene reflects this extremely well with its visuals.

Look at the sky, a strong blue, starting light but darkening as the sky gets further and further away from the sandy bottom, stars twinkling with lost dreams. The ground is deep orange with grey crystals shooting out of it, crystals a faded grey reflecting shimmering hope reaching to grasp the sky to come true, never making it.

On the distant horizon, there's a light gleaming from the distance, somewhat reminding me of a rising sun.

I think there are three things this represents.

It might be reflective of Sonic and Tails' relationship. Sonic, while better on the ground always lives carefree, running like the wind, sometimes resulting in being easily distracted. Tails, who can fly, ironically is the more grounded of the two using his tech and being more focused.

Sonic is the sky and Tails is the earth. That's how it's always been.

But this could also reflect Nine's dream. Notice how the sky is blue like his eyes and Sonic's fur, how the ground is orange like his fur, and how the grey crystals reflect Nine's tails. But what's missing?

Emerald green. The emerald green of Sonic's eyes. This isn't the world he wants, it's what NINE wants. Hence why green isn't anywhere present. It's not HIS ideal world.

Lastly, and my favorite, this could reflect their different goals and how they can never be achieved simultaneously. Nine wants this world to be home, hence why the ground is orange. Sonic however wants to go home, a place beyond Nine's reach, which is reflected wonderfully through the blue sky that twinkle with stars. Stars are often thought of as dreams and hope, which makes sense, as Sonic can bring Nine that.

Another thing I REALLY like is how the grey crystals could reflect Nine's mechanical Tails, reaching to try and grasp Sonic, to grasp that happy dream, the earth reaching out for that sky of sweet hope.

But the ground and the sky can never touch...

Ouch...