Chapter Text
We see Tails sitting on a dock, writing in a notebook.
Tails: “And then Captain Super Fox Man kicked the Smiley Bomber all the way to jail.” Ah, no, that won’t work! Man, who knew writing could be so difficult?
Suddenly, Tails notices a message floating in a bottle in the ocean. He grabs it, opens the bottle, and reads the letter.
Tails: “Dear Miles. I know that you’ve been curious about the fate and location of your true parents for quite some time now. While I can’t give you all the answers you seek, I do know someone who can point you in the right direction. His name is Athair, an echidna living on Cocoa Islands. Seek him out, and he will tell you what you want to know. Signed, someone who wants to help.” Is this for real? I better go tell the others!
He turns, before stopping.
Tails: Actually… I could probably handle this by myself. I mean, I’ve got loads of experience by now! I can handle whatever the world decides to throw at me! I don’t need the others anymore!
Tails pulls out a remote and presses a button on it, causing the submarine from the Tidal Plant to emerge.
Tails: I knew keeping this thing around would be a good idea! Alright, Sea Fox, time to set sail!
Tails jumps into the Sea Fox, before taking off.
Elsewhere, we see a massive blimp being primed for take off, with Robotnik and Stone standing outside it.
Stone: Alright, that should be everything! The supply blimp is ready to go, doctor!
Robotnik: Excellent! Now, get on board and set a course for Downunda!
Stone nods, before joining a crew of Swatbots aboard the blimp. The aircraft takes off as Robotnik chucks an oil can at it. Afterwards, he walks over to a terminal.
Robotnik: Engaging umbrella cloak!
Suddenly, the blimp turns invisible, though a bit of it can be seen from the bottom. The zeppelin begins its maiden voyage.
Later, we see Tails sailing in the Sea Fox, though he stops when a massive shadow crosses over the vessel.
Tails: That’s weird. There hasn’t been a cloud in the sky since I started my journey. I wonder…
Tails looks up, seeing the bottom of the blimp.
Tails: Woah, it's some kind of blimp! I should check it out.
Tails exits the Sea Fox and flies up, eventually seeing Stone sitting in the pilot seat of the blimp, flanked by two Swatbots. Tails looks closer through the window, seeing the terminal Stone is looking at.
Tails: Hmm, it looks like there heading to Downunda. I’d better-
Before he can continue, Stone spots him from the cockpit, before pulling out a walkie-talkie.
Stone: Security, we have a vermin problem on the outside of the cockpit. Please take care of it.
In response, Swatbots with jetpacks come flying out of the blimp and begin trying to shoot at Tails, who dodges and flies back down towards the sea with the bots in pursuit. Eventually, Tails is able to use his namesakes to create a whirlpool that sucks the bots into the water.
Tails: Phew, that was a close one… I better think of a plan.
Tails flies back to the Sea Fox, before he is suddenly grabbed by something inside of it. Suddenly, a blue machine resembling an octopus crawls out from the sub, still holding Tails.
Tails: W-what the heck are you!?
Octobot: The name’s Octobot, kid. Robotnik’s master of the sea! I saw your little toy floating around, so I decided to pay you a little visit! Oh, wait’ll Robotnik hears about how I managed to kill a Freedom Fighter! He’ll make me bot of the month! No, of the year! But first…
Octobot uses his tentacles to sink the Sea Fox, before dragging Tails beneath the waves.
Octobot: This is it, kid! Next stop, Davy Jones’ Locker!
Octobot drags Tails underwater, where he loses consciousness.
As this is happening, it is being recorded by the blimp and shown to Robotnik.
Stone: Well, doctor, it looks like Octobot took care of our pest problem.
Robotnik: Yes, yes, good for him. What I want to know is how Tails managed to find our blimp so easily.
Stone: Well, there might have been a slight bug with the stealth system that made it so that anyone directly underneath it could see the bottom?
Robotnik: What!? And you’re just telling me this NOW!?
Stone: Well, we were flying over the ocean, so I didn;t think we’d have to worry about it.
Robotnik: Oh, you stupid… You know what? Forget about it. Just stay the course and drop off the supplies. We’ll talk about your failure when you get back.
Stone: Yes, doctor.
Stone disconnects. Robotnik begins to type in on the communicator.
Robotnik: Robotropolis to Downunda, come in! This is Robotnik! Crocbot, do you read me?
In Downunda, we see a robotic crocodile answering the call.
Crocbot: Loud and clear, mate.
Robotnik: Excellent! The supplies are on the way. There was a slight delay, but you should have it by the time you requested.
Crocbot: Glad to hear it. Over and out!
Crocbot disconnects from the communicator.
Crocbot: Hm, better send the pack out to meet the blimp. Here, Alpha!
Crocbot whistles, causing a pack of winged robots to enter the room.
Crocbot: Alright, dingoes! Go patrol the airstrip! See anything you shouldn’t, eat first and don’t ask questions!
In response, the dingoes fly off.
Crocbot: Alright, once them supplies get here, I’ll be stronger than ever! Strong enough to take down the fat man and take his empire for myself! After that, I’ll be on top of the food chain!
Crocbot laughs to himself.
Meanwhile, beneath the ocean, Octobot is holding Tails under the water.
Octobot: Come on, just a few more minutes…
Voice: Not so fast!
Octobot turns, seeing a manta ray, a dolphin, a clam, and a jellyfish glaring at him.
Dolphin: Looks like the P.I.A was right! There is a robot causing trouble around here!
Octobot: Yeah, and if you don’t mind, I’m kinda in the middle of something here, so…
Ray: Not on your life, creep! We’d never let anyone get hurt in our waters!
Octobot: Yeah? And just who are you guys anyway?
Clam: Well, since you asked, we’re… The Forty Fathoms Freedom Fighters!
Octobot stares at them for a moment, before he bursts out laughing.
Octobot: O-oh no! What are you gonna do to me? Make a pearl and chuck it?! HAHAHAHAHA!
Jellyfish: Think we’re funny, huh? Well then, you’re going to find this one shocking!
The jellyfish proceeds to zap one of Octobots tentacles, causing him to drop Tails.
Ray: That’s it, P.B! I’ll take the air breather back to land, you guys deal with Octobot!
P.B: Alright, good luck, Ray!
With this, Ray swims off as Octobot punches P.B away.
Octobot: Hey, come back with my air-breather!
As Octobot gives chase, he is knocked back by the dolphin.
Dolphin: Back off, creep!
In response, Octobot begins to quickly spin his tentacles around himself.
Clam: Woah, back off, Bottlenose!
Octobot: You’ll all be sushi by the time I’m done with you!
As Octobot get’s closer, a large shadow covers him, causing him to look up.
Octobot: Uh-oh…
Suddenly, he is crushed by something massive. When it lifts, Octobot is squished flat.
Bottlenose: Well, looks like that’s the last we’ll be seeing of Octobot, eh Bivalve?
Bivalve: I just hope that kid’s alright…
We then see Tails and Ray talking on a deserted island.
Tails: Wow. Thanks for saving my skin down there, Ray.
Ray: Aw, it was nothing, kid! It’s just what Freedom Fighters do.
Tails: Hey, what about my submarine? Did you find it?
Ray: Well, we did, but it was completely totaled.
Tails: You mean I’m stuck here!?
Ray: Well, not exactly!
Ray then begins swimming off.
Tails: Where you going?
Ray: Just making room…
Tails: Making room for wha-wha-whoa!
Suddenly, the island begins to shake and rise.
Ray: You’re not sitting on the ground, my friend.
Suddenly, the ground rises high enough to reveal it to actually be the blowhole of a whale.
Whale: But I was able to “ground” Octobot, right Ray?
Ray: Right, BIg Guy! Tails, say hello to Fluke, the Blue Whale!
Tails: Awesome! Hey, do you think you guys can take me to Downunda?
Ray: Sure! It’s on your annual migration route, right Fluke?
Fluke: You bet!
Tails: Sounds good! Let’s go!
With that, Fluke begins swimming towards Downunda.
Later, we see Tails working on his writing project.
Tails: Hm… I wonder if I should really make this public. It’s not really historically accurate.
Ray: Neither was Pocohantas, and people still love that movie! Don’t worry so much, kid.
Tails: I’ll make sure to give your squad the credit you deserve for saving my skin.
Fluke: Aw, don’t worry about that, Tails. We just wanna help make sure your mission goes well!
Ray: And speaking of… land ho, guys!
We see the group approaching a land mass.
Tails: There it is! Downunda!
Fluke leans up, letting Tails fly onto the land.
Ray: So long, Tails!
Tails: Bye guys! Thanks a million!
The ocean dwellers take off, while Tails flies further into Downunda.
Tails: Alright, Robotnik’s goons won’t see me coming.
Elsewhere, we see Crocbot watching Tails on a monitor.
Crocbot: I see him coming!
Stone: An intruder?
Crocbot: Yeah, but don’t worry. He won’t get past me! I’m not gonna let some hot-shot hero wreck my supply run!
Stone: I’m glad to hear that, Crocbot.
Elsewhere, we see Tails flying through Downunda, tailed by a group of Crocbot’s dingoes. One of them tries to bite Tails from below, but he dodges it.
Tails: Get off me!
Tails delivers a kick to the dingo’s jaw, before two others come flying towards Tails on either side. Tails is able to fly above them, causing them to crash into each other.
Tails: Alright, come on! Is that all you’ve got?!
Suddenly, one of them manages to bite the end of one of his Tails, causing him to crash into the ground. He gets up, seeing the dingoes closing in on him.
Tails: He he, nice doggies…
Suddenly, a group of animals come charging out. They begin to battle the dingoes, with the exception of an emu dressed as a hippie, who is tending to Tails.
Emu: You alright, little dude?
Tails: Yeah, but… who are you guys?
Emu: I’m Guru Emu, and my friends are the Downunda Freedom Fighters. There’s Wombat Stu…
He points to a yellow wombat beating a dingo with another dingo.
Emu: …Duck “Bill” Platypus, Barby Koala
He points to a teal platypus and a white koala battling two dingos.
Emu; And our leader, Walt Wallabee.
He points to a red kangaroo, who kicks down another dingo. With that, the remaining dingoes all fly off. Afterwards, they check up on Tails and Emu.
Tails: Thanks for the help, guys. If it weren’t for you, I'd probably be dog food right now.
Walt: Tweren't nothing, mate. Never hurts to help!
Suddenly, one of the dingos grabs Stu and carries him off.
Walt: Stu!
Barby: Dang it! We’ve gotta do something!
Tails: Let me help you! If I hadn’t gotten hurt, you wouldn’t have had to help me out, and Stu wouldn’t have gotten captured!
Emu: It wasn’t your fault, little dude. We knew something like this might happen, but we decided to save you anyway! That’s what heroes do, man!
Tails: Well, still, I want to help. I’d probably be more useful if my tail wasn’t busted…
In response, Guru Emu pulls out a cup of liquid from his bag.
Emu: Here, drink these. It’s tea with healing herbs in it. Should help you out.
Tails: …Are you sure?
Bill: Don’t worry, kid. Emu saves the heavy stuff for back home.
Tails: Alright, if you say so.
Tails drinks the tea.
Tails: Well, my tail still doesn’t feel better.
Emu: Patience, little dude. Gotta give the herbs some time to work their magic, man.
Tails: Well, we don’t have time! We’ve gotta go after Stu now!
Walt: Alright, if you're sure. Let’s go, mates!
The group heads off after the dingos.
Back at his base, Crocbot is looking out the window.
Stone: Alright, the blimp is about to make landfall. Have you dealt with the problem yet?
Crocbot: You betcher beans I have! Matter of fact, here they come now! Well, some of them…
The beaten up dingoes land on Crocbot’s window.
Crocbot: What the!?
Stone: What, what is it?
Crocbot: Uh, technical difficulties!
Stone: What do you mean-
Crocbot slams his tail on the communicator, turning it off.
Crocbot: I mean, I’m off the air, coffee boy!
Crocbot then turns to the dingoes.
Crocbot: Alright boy, who did this to ya?
The whimpering, whining dingo shows Crocbot a picture of the Downunda Freedom Fighters on his monitor.
Crocbot: Argh! Bastards! I’ll get them for this, every last one of them!
Suddenly, the alpha dingo flies in with Stu.
Crocbot: And it looks like I’ll get a head start!
Stu: C-Crocbot!
On the blimp, Stone is trying to reestablish communications with Crocbot.
Stone: Come on, come on…
Suddenly, Crocbots face appears on the monitor.
Crocbot: Sorry about that, a bit of trouble with one of the locals!
Stone: And you dealt with the problem?
Crocbot: Heh heh heh, yeah!
As he says this, he looks at Stu, who is tied to a torture rack.
Stone: Good. The blimp is approaching your fortress. Ready?
Crocbot: Born ready!
Stone: Alright. Deactivating invisibility shield now. Alright, I’ll let you guide the blimp into the hangar. I’ll meet you on the ground.
Crocbot: See ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya!
Stone disconnects, and Crocbot turns back to Stu.
Crocbot: Alright, your friends are probably comin’ here to save your sorry hide, right Stuy?
Stu: What? No, no they're not!
In response, Crocbot turns on a camera, which shows the group approching his fortress.
Stu: Crap…
Crocbot: Haw! Alright, now things are really heating up! Oh, this is gonna be fun…
Outside, we see the group getting closer to the fortress.
Tails: Is that Crocbot’s base?
Bill: Yep, no doubt about it.
Suddenly, a shadow appears over the group.
Emu: Woah, who turned out the lights?
Tails: Oh no…
The group look up to see the zeppelin appear overhead.
Barby: Uh, Tails, is that the blimp you were telling us about earlier?
Tails: Yep…
Barby: The one with all the weapons equipment in it?
Tails: Yep…
Emu: Major heavy…
Walt: Then we’ve gotta stop that thing before it lands, otherwise Crocbots going to be stronger than ever before! Let’s go!
The group charges towards the base.
Inside said base, Crocbot and Stu are watching this.
Crocbot: Aw, look at them go! It’s adorable. And look, they’ve got a new friend with ‘em! They’ve replaced you already! Hahahaha!
Stu: You won’t get away with this, you bolthead!
Crocbot: Ha! If only you knew…
Stu: Knew what?
Crocbot: You see, I wasn’t always made of steel and circuitry. I used to be scales and blood, just like any other mobian! But when Robotnik came around, I could smell an opportunity to get further up the food chain. So I struck a deal with him, and became the boss of his Downunda faction! It also got me this fancy new makeover, so that’s nice. But I’m not stopping with Downunda, oh no. Once I get my hands on that supplies, I’ll reprogram the Swatbots on board to listen to me instead of ol’ no-chin. And after that, I’ll use my new power to take Robotnik down, and become the new top dog of Mobius!
Stu: W-why are you telling me this?
Crocbot: Well, to be honest, I’ve always wanted to give one of them villain monologues. Though they always looked fun. That was my first… and it’ll be your last.
Crocbot get’s closer to Stu.
Stu: No! Don’t!
Outside the base, a scream is heard.
Barby: That’s Stu!
Walt: We’ve gotta get in there!
Emu: Hold on. How’s your tail, little dude?
Tails moves his tail, before using it to start flying.
Tails: It’s all better! I can’t believe it!
Stu: Righteous! That’s the power of nature, man!
Bill: Alright, enough talk! We’ve got a friend to save!
The group charges towards the base.
Inside, Crocbot is watching the blimp approaching while communicating with Stone.
Stone: Crocbot, I’m not seeing the docking tether. What’s the holdup?
Crocbot: Err, technical glitch. Swing around again!
Suddenly, he notices the heroes approaching the base.
Crocbot: Gah! Looks like I’ve got a pest problem to take care of…
Crocbot puts on a hat and enters another room, leaving an unconscious Stu behind.
Crocbot: Keep an eye on your friends for me, will ya? If you ever wake up, that is!
Crocbot enters a room with a large mechanical ram in it.
Crocbot: Alright, time to test my newest weapon: The CD Ram! Let me just slip this in, and…
He puts a disk into a slot on the leg of the ram, causing it to activate.
Crocbot: Aw yeah! That’s the ticket! Go get ‘em, boy!
The ram charges forward, beginning to attack Tails and the Downunda Freedom Fighters. It begins to knock around the team, injuring them.
Tails: Hang on, I’ve got an idea!
Tails flies in front of the ram’s face.
Tails: Hey, fluff-brain! I bet you couldn’t hit me if I was standing still!
In response, the ram begins to chase Tails around.
Walt: Alright, keep that up kid! And while you do…
Walt begins to dig into his pouch, before he pulls out a black boomerang with a fuse on it.
Walt: Alright, tin horns, let’s see how you like my bomberrang!
Walt chucks the bomberrang at the ram, causing it to explode, causing Crocbot to snarl in rage back in his base.
Stone: Something wrong, Crocbot?
Crocbot: Uh, no, no! Everything’s fine! Hurry up and dock!
Crocbot presses a button on his terminal, causing a docking tether to come out from the roof.
Stone: Alright, easy now…
Crocbot: High voltage hook primed for coupling. Contact in five, four, three, two…
Suddenly, Tails comes flying through the window carrying Barby, who kicks Crocbot into the terminal, which causes the tether to begin swinging wildly.
Stone: Careful, careful!
Suddenly, the tether, tears a hole in the balloon, causing a massive explosion to occur. Stone is able to escape the blast on his jetpack.
Stone: Oh, the doctor is not going to be happy when he learns about this…
Stone flies away as the rest of the Downunda Freedom Fighters watch on.
Walt: Oh the humanity…
Back in the base, Crocbot isn’t taking the loss well.
Crocbot: No! My supplies! My army! It’s gone! It’s all gone!
Tails: Save the crocodile tears, buddy! You’re done!
As this happens, Barby checks on Stu.
Barby: Stu, you alright?
Stu: That you, Barb?
Suddenly, Crocbot whacks Tails with his own.
Crocbot: I’m not beaten yet, you two tailed freak!
Stu: Crocbot’s escaping!
Barby: Drat!
Crocbot runs off, before jumping into a red vehicle.
Crocbot: Time for the ace in the hole: My nuclear powered mecha tank!
Crocbot drives through the wall, knocking the other heroes aside. He then begins driving off.
Crocbot: Eat my rust!
Bill: Come back and fight like… um… a machine!
Emu: Cool it, Bill, here comes the guys!
Tails lands with Stu and Barby.
Bill: Glad to see your okay!
Stu: Thanks! Too bad Crocbot got away…
Emu: Maybe not…
Emu pulls out a bottle filled with liquid.
Emu: I’ve been saving this one. It should help us deal with Crocbot. Wanna gimme a hand, little dude?
Tails: Of course!
Tails grabs the back of Emu’s shirt, and the two fly after Crocbot.
Tails: Hang on, I thought hippies were pacifists!
Emu: Even a peace train comes to a stop, little dude! Chew on this, Crocbot!
He chucks the bottle at the tank, causing an explosion that sends Crocbot off course.
Crocbot: Ah! No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!
Crocbot drives into a nearby crater, which causes the tank to explode. Tails and Emu return to the others.
Tails: That was awesome, Emu! Where’d you learn to make stuff like that?
Emu: Well, it was thanks to my teacher, Old Man Athair!
Tails: Athair! That’s right! The whole reason I started this journey was so that I could find him! I guess I got so busy chasing after the blimp that I forgot.
Walt: Well, where is he?
Tails: He’s supposed to be on a place called Cocoa Island, but I can;t get there without a ship!
Ray: Who says you don’t?
The group turns to see Ray and Bottlenose coming up from under the water.
Tails: Ray!
Ray: Hiya Tails! We’ve got a surprise for you!
Bottlenose dives under the water, before coming up with a repaired Sea Fox.
Tails: You fixed it!
Bottlenose: After what you did here, it was the least we could do.
Tails jumps into the Sea Fox and starts it up.
Tails: Well, so long, guys. Let’s do this again sometime!
The Downunda Freedom Fighters say their goodbyes as Tails sets off.
Tails: I’ll have to tell Sonic and the others about them. But first, I’ve gotta find Athair.
Tails sails off into the distance as his journey continues.