Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Green Hill

“I missed you, lil' bro.”

Those words felt slightly out of place to Tails. Especially considering that, at most, only half an hour had passed since they regrouped at the Loop-de-Loop and Sonic finally showed up on the battlefield to fight alongside them.

But he wasn't complaining. Sonic rarely initiated displays of affection, and Tails wasn't about to reject these moments, which he could easily count on his fingers. So he didn't say anything and happily accepted the side hug Sonic offered him after they'd cleaned up the aftermath of the battle, walking calmly toward the workshop. Tails also put his arm around Sonic's back, settling more comfortably against his side so he could continue walking without getting stuck.

Evening was drawing in, and the sky was softly painted in shades of orange and pink. A few Flickies fluttered nearby, and nothing but their sounds and the rustling of palm leaves could be heard. It was a peaceful afternoon, much appreciated after preventing one of Eggman's disasters, so Tails allowed himself to enjoy the quiet moment with no one but Sonic.

A perfect moment.

Tails chuckled softly. "I'm glad nothing bad happened with the Prism. For a second there, I thought you were going to crash straight into it.”

Sonic's grip tightened for less than a second. Anyone unfamiliar with the hedgehog's speed would have missed it. But not Tails. He had grown up reading Sonic better than anyone, and movements that subtle never escaped him. He noticed that tiny disturbance, and it was an odd reaction, to say the least.

Though maybe, for once, Sonic did consider the consequences that a wrong move could cause. After all, Sonic approached the fight with great care and without being impulsive this time.

Oh, well.

Either way, Tails let it slide in favor of the pleasant atmosphere.

Sonic rubbed the back of his nose. "Good thing I listened to your warnings, then. It could’ve been a disaster.”

“No doubt about that.” Tails nudged him playfully. "Although I'm still surprised Shadow decided to help us. I didn't even know he was nearby."

"Yeah. Who would've thought?" Sonic looked away. Weird. "Welp. Race you to the workshop?”

Tails blinked. Was Sonic trying to… change the subject? “Uh. A race now…?”

“Last one there makes the chili dogs!”

Sonic vanished.

“Wha-?! Hey! That’s cheating!” Tails shouted, spinning his twin tails to lift off and accelerate.

Ahead of him, Sonic left a blue streak as he pulled further away. Tails knew he couldn't match Sonic's top speed, but he was more than capable of catching him when the hedgehog ran at a moderate pace. Which, this time, didn't seem to be the case. Tails pushed himself harder with his tails spinning faster despite the fatigue, boosting his speed. But even that wasn't closing the distance.

Sonic was definitely running away from something, or he wouldn't have made the effort to get there first.

Tails continued flying until the image of his workshop finally appeared before him. He slowed down, since Sonic had already won and there was no point in continuing at full speed. His feet hit the ground, allowing his namesakes to fall limply. Tails panted, exhausted from the effort. A race like this didn't usually tire him out so much, but considering it was right after a fight with Eggman, and after they'd cleaned up the mess, well… Tails was worn out.

The worst part is that now he owed Sonic chili dogs. Fantastic.

Once his breathing steadied, Tails finally entered the living area of ​​his workshop. Inside, Sonic was lounging in the living room, his feet propped up on the bench Tails had placed there precisely to keep him from soiling the sofa. It was nice to see Sonic respecting the boundaries Tails had set in his home.

Sonic's hands were holding a magazine, reading it as if he'd been waiting there for ages. Tails snorted in amusement at the sight.

Sonic twitched an ear. "Too slow, little buddy."

Tails rolled his eyes. "You cheated. You took off first.”

The magazine dropped onto Sonic’s feet as he grinned mischievously.  "Only a sore loser would use that as an excuse."

Tails bit his tongue, resisting the urge to point out that even if he started later than Sonic, the hedgehog never slowed down. Something inside him insisted that Sonic had run away. From what? Tails didn't know. But for now, he'd let it go. If Sonic continued to show signs that something in particular was bothering him after the fight on the mountain, then Tails would ask. But for now, he chalked it up to exhaustion.

Or maybe to the fact that Shadow had stolen the victory and not them, now that he thought about it.

Sonic hated losing. Especially to Shadow. So maybe that's what was bothering the blue hedgehog, and why he left right when Tails mentioned his rival's appearance. So, better not bring it up again.

Tails sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I guess I'll be in the kitchen."

“I want my chili dogs extra spicy, buddy!”

"Sure…!" Tails dragged out the last vowel pessimistically, walking listlessly towards his small kitchen.

He wasn't exactly in the mood to cook at that moment, but a bet, even if he hadn't fully accepted it, was a bet, so he figured he'd better get to work. Tails took out all the ingredients he needed, turned on the stove, and started preparing the chili.

Usually, the TV would be on since Sonic liked watching something or playing a game while he waited for Tails to cook. But this time it seemed like silence was going to reign in the house. Again, it was unusual, but Sonic was probably just tired from the long day. Even his friend needed a break sometimes.

After a while, the sky finally darkened, and Tails placed the last chili dog on Sonic's plate. He smiled contentedly, picking up the small tray with both plates, a couple of cans of soda, and, of course, some mints for himself. Tails adjusted his grip and set about carrying everything into the living room. They'd probably end the night with a movie, so it was best to get all the snacks in one go.

Watching his steps so he wouldn’t trip, Tails stopped beside the couch. "Hey, Sonic-"

His voice died when he saw the strange sight of Sonic staring, with something difficult to discern in his eyes, at a photograph on the bookshelf Tails kept in the living room. He wasn't looking at it with nostalgia, as usually happened whenever they both reminisced about the moments captured in the photos. Nor was it the usual warmth and fondness that shone in his eyes when they talked about their younger years.

Sonic almost looked… helpless. Even frustrated. Tails didn't even know how to take that scene.

The same unease that had plagued him after Sonic's escape under the guise of a race resurfaced. Was something else bothering the hedgehog? But what could it be? Tails couldn't recall anything unusual all day, except for Eggman's attack. Unless… could it be that Sonic was still upset about the way Eggman had insulted Tails during the fight? Though Tails figured that was all water under the bridge. And anyway, Tails didn't take anything the scientist said about him personally anymore. He simply ignored him.

Tails shook his head, hoping that movie night would cheer Sonic up.

"Hey, Sonic!" he tried again, this time getting his friend's attention.

The hedgehog startled, quickly dropping the photo before flashing a playful smile. "Hey, Tails. You brought my order."

Tails nodded, returning the smile, though it felt a bit forced. “Hope you’ve got the energy for the sequel to that movie we watched last weekend.”

Sonic crossed his arms. "Absolutely. I’m ready to keep criticizing the protagonist’s terrible acting.”

"Let's do it!" Tails laughed, setting the tray on the table.

Sonic zipped off to grab the remote and the blanket Tails always left in the living room for movie nights. Meanwhile, the kit gathered the pillows from all the chairs, taking advantage of the proximity of the sofa to discreetly look at the photo Sonic had been staring at moments before.

It was one of the first photos they’d taken after they met. Sonic had introduced Amy to him, and later that day she wanted to take several pictures of them all, using the excuse that she wanted to remember the day their friendship began. It was sweet, and although Sonic was reluctant to have his picture taken, he happily agreed to pose for the one that was framed and hung on the shelf.

That's why they looked so small there. Especially Tails, who barely remembered much of the first days he met Sonic, or even before that, since most of his memories were bad. However, despite how significant that photograph was because of the better times to come, it still gave Tails no clue as to why Sonic had been looking at it with almost a frustrated longing in his eyes.

That felt a little strange, not like Sonic's usual outburst whenever Tails was insulted during an encounter with Eggman. It would be best to talk it out, but Tails decided to save the conversation for the next day. For now, he didn't want to bother Sonic any more. It was better to end the night peacefully.

They both settled on the sofa, and Sonic pressed the button on the remote to play the movie. Tails adjusted the small blanket covering them both, finally feeling completely relaxed, one hand holding his chili dog and the other arm resting against Sonic. The movie started, and Tails immediately commented on the lack of narrative continuity.

Sonic also made his own comments. But only for the first few minutes.

To be honest, Tails knew Sonic could be inattentive sometimes, but this time he seemed completely lost. Like something was on his mind. It was even stranger because Sonic usually made a greater effort to focus when they had movie nights. And even though Sonic acted like he was really paying attention the whole time, Tails knew the hedgehog hadn't been mentally present for the entire hour and a half the movie lasted.

That was already picking up his concern.

And by the time the movie ended, Sonic had practically fled back to his room the moment he turned off the TV. Just a quick ‘Night, buddy,’ and he was gone. Tails stayed behind, his unease growing a little stronger. These were already several unusual actions from Sonic, enough to make them quite remarkable.

This time Tails decided that he would definitely have a talk with the hedgehog first thing the next day.

He had to be careful, though, because Sonic didn't like being emotionally overwhelmed out of nowhere. Luckily, Tails knew how to navigate the thin ice of the hedgehog's emotions. So it would be fine. For now, he'd go to sleep while he thought of ways to start the conversation.

Tails lay down on his bed, tossing and turning until he finally drifted off. He didn't know what time it was when he heard the front door downstairs close. He sat up restlessly, glancing at his bedside clock. It was almost two in the morning. Carefully, he got out of bed and went into the dark hallway on the second floor. He walked silently to Sonic's bedroom door and opened it to peek inside.

It was completely empty. There was no sign of the blue hedgehog.

Well. Now it was obvious who left their house.

There was no longer any doubt. Something was wrong with Sonic, but Tails wasn't sure what. And the worst part: that was only the first day Sonic was going to act this way.

Things took a turn for the worse when the hedgehog didn't show up the next day. Tails even called Amy, Knuckles, and even Rouge to see if they'd seen the speedy hedgehog, but no one had heard from him since they both returned to the workshop. Only the palpable absence of Sonic during that day.

And the next one.

And the next one.

And the next one.

It was almost six days after the mountain incident that Tails heard anything about Sonic late at night.

He was walking back to his workshop under the dark sky after helping Amy repair her microwave. Tails was passing near the Hedgehog’s Pass when he heard a couple of voices talking nearby.

Tails would have walked right past if it weren't for the sound of Sonic's voice echoing through the palm trees. His ears perked up when his friend's voice reached him after days of not hearing from Sonic, and Tails immediately turned his head. The kit instinctively approached the source of the noise, but stopped when Shadow's voice also filled the cool night air.

It was odd that the two hedgehogs were together without shouting, so Tails stood still for a moment, taking in the unusual scene.

Shadow sounded calmer than usual. "They promised to leave him alone, didn't they? And you had unwavering faith in all of them. Why are you doubting now?"

Sonic sighed, a mixture of exhaustion, sadness, and frustration so palpable that Tails had to suppress the urge to go closer and hug him. Instead, Tails moved more discreetly behind the clump of palm trees, unsure why he didn't dare show himself.

Sonic's voice came out very low and a little broken. "I still have faith in them, Shadow. I trust they'll keep their word, but... how do I even know they're still alive? What good is a promise if I don't know if they're okay?"

Tails frowned, completely lost as to who ‘they’ were. He didn't know if Sonic had saved any group of people in the past few days. Although, in fact, perhaps he had, considering the hedgehog had been missing for almost a week. However, what could have happened for Sonic to be unaware of the current situation of this unknown group of people? Did it have something to do with Eggman? But it was too soon for the scientist to act again.

Maybe Sonic fast-traveled to another zone recently, which is why he didn't know what happened to the people he helped. It made some sense.

Shadow's voice was heard again, still in that strange, soft tone. "Why don't you ask Tails about it? The kid surely knows something about this sort of thing, since I doubt you'd want us asking Robotnik."

The mention of his own name attracted his attention even more, because then the situation must involve some technological or scientific issue, considering that Shadow mentioned Eggman.

That was getting interesting.

The silence that followed lasted so long that even Tails began to think that both hedgehogs had left, or... or that they had discovered him spying on them.

His twin tails twitched at the thought, and he was about to look up at the sides of the palm tree trunks when Sonic spoke again, so quietly that it was lucky Tails had good hearing to be able to hear him.

“It’d be easier to go to Eggman than to try to explain everything that happened to Tails.

The fox froze.

What the heck did that mean?

Tails didn't even have time to properly identify how hurt he felt by those words when Shadow spoke again.

“Are you afraid of what he might think about what Ni-?”

“NO!”

Sonic suddenly yelled, startling Tails enough to make him jump slightly. He bit his tongue, praying to Gaia that he hadn't made any noise. It was thanks to the Flickies that flew away at the abrupt sound that it seemed none of them heard him. And since Sonic continued talking, Tails assumed he could still be hiding.

Sonic's voice sounded regretful. "You were right, Shadow. They’re not..." He sighed in frustration. "I messed it up, okay? And I hurt him enough to make him do what he did. I don't want Tails to know... how stupid I was with…" His voice broke.

That was wrong. Very wrong.

Tails no longer knew if he wanted to keep listening or if it was okay that he'd even been there in the first place.

He wanted to continue behind those palm trees and find out what Sonic was hiding, but at the same time, Tails didn't want to betray Sonic’s trust by eavesdropping on a private conversation. Guilt was already rising in his chest, which made him shift his legs backward. Tails didn't hear Shadow reply when Tails was at a safe distance, making sure they wouldn't hear his footsteps, and ran off.

His heart was pounding in his ears, his mind racing with everything he'd heard. Tails didn't know who Sonic had hurt, or who these people were whose fates he wasn't even sure of. He certainly didn't know what the hedgehog had gotten himself into that would require Tails or even Eggman to know the answers.

Nothing made any sense or connected, and Tails was deeply worried, as well as saddened, that Sonic was afraid to talk to the fox just because he'd hurt someone.

Tails would never judge his best friend. His brother. Tails knew Sonic always acted with the best intentions in his heart, so if he ever hurt someone, it would never be with genuine malice. Of course, unless it was Eggman or some other villain in turn. Outside of those exceptions, Sonic was incapable of knowingly hurting someone.

So something was really going on. Something Sonic didn't feel able to tell him, and although Tails was dying to know and help his brother, he would wait a little while to give Sonic time to open up on his own.

Otherwise, Tails would take matters into his own hands.

“... Tails, has Sonic been worried about something lately?”

The fox lifted his head from the small cake he was helping to decorate. He had agreed to spend the afternoon with Amy, and he had agreed to help decorate the desserts she’d prepared.

The question registered in his mind, immediately recalling the strange conversation Tails had overheard between Sonic and Shadow, and the odd attitude the blue hedgehog had displayed towards Tails when he finally decided to show himself again just two days after that late-night talk near the Hedgehog’s Pass.

There had been moments, over the past week and a half, when Sonic had been excessively affectionate with Tails. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was sudden and somewhat out of character for him.

Tails could be quietly working on something, and Sonic would suddenly appear, asking what he was doing. The strange part was that the hedgehog seemed to need physical contact, even if it was minimal. Whether it was resting his arm on the fox's head when he was sitting, or holding his shoulder, or simply placing his palm on Tails' head or back, Sonic always seemed to seek physical closeness between them. Tails noticed the faint shadow of anxiety that loomed in Sonic's eyes when the fox asked him to back off a little, worried that Sonic might get hurt by the dangerous processes involved in his more volatile inventions.

But that was only one extreme of his different attitude.

When Sonic wasn't acting needy for closeness, he seemed to be running away from Tails instead. And that only happened when Sonic woke up from his afternoon naps at home or even in the middle of the night. The hedgehog would jolt awake from what looked like a very restless dream, and when Tails approached to help him, Sonic would recoil from him as if he didn’t recognize him. It was when Tails froze in place from the rejection that Sonic would apologize and avoid his gaze. Then his friend would simply run away, avoiding Tails for the rest of the day or even until the next one.

So yes. Sonic clearly had something bothering him, something that was haunting him, and he still hadn’t said a word about it. And if the rest of their friends were starting to notice too, then the situation was already getting out of Sonic’s control.

Tails dropped the piping bag, looking at Amy. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I know something’s going on, but he hasn’t told me anything.”

Amy stopped her movements as well, her lips twisting with concern. "He's being so stubborn this time that I’m honestly surprised he hasn’t even told you.”

That bothered Tails too. His patience was wearing thin, and he was considering a more direct confrontation with Sonic since he always ran away whenever Tails wanted to bring the topic up.

He wasn’t going to wait forever.

Tails sighed tiredly. "I don't know...  I think he still doesn’t feel ready to talk about whatever’s bothering him. But it’s been going on for too long.”

Amy pressed her lips together, staring at her own half-decorated cupcake. Then she looked at Tails, opening and closing her mouth as if debating whether to say what was on her mind.

Finally, she gave in and sighed. "Rouge told me that he and Shadow have been spending more time together than usual." Amy's expression dimmed slightly. "She's starting to get impatient too because Shadow isn't saying anything to her either. I don't know what they're hiding, but Rouge doesn't like how withdrawn Sonic seems when she finds him with Shadow."

Tails flattened his ears, fearing that Sonic had gotten into trouble with Shadow, or that Shadow was even hurting his brother somehow. If that was the case, he wasn't going to stand idly by. He’d go to the most remote Eggman base in existence if that’s what it took to make Shadow pay for hurting Sonic. Tails truly would go to the ends of the world for his brother.

Amy drew his attention back. “I know he thinks we haven’t noticed, because lately he’s been more attentive when we’re all together.” She smiled gently. “It’s nice, and I appreciate that he actually listens to me now when I want to talk to him about my little plants or when he wants to join me for a moment to admire the scenery.” Her shoulders drooped. “But I don’t know how much I like that attention if it means he’s hiding emotionally even more from us and thinking we won’t figure it out. It’s almost insulting.”

Tails withered away, understanding perfectly what Amy was talking about.

It didn't feel right to only see Sonic's best side when behind the scenes he was breaking down and locking his worries away. And while it was well known that Sonic was terrible with emotions, at least before he subtly let them know when he was feeling down and needed some support from his friends. Of course, they never failed to help him, so Sonic didn't feel suffocated or the center of attention, but still loved and understood.

Now it was as if he'd put on a mask of cheerfulness and camaraderie with them, making sure no negative feelings ever slipped through.

It felt wrong.

Tails tried to lighten his expression. “I understand how you feel, but… I promise I’ll talk to him.” He smiled with confidence. “Even if I have to lure him with chili dogs, I’ll at least make sure he knows he can count on us.”

Amy looked at him, still with some sadness in her eyes, but then she took a deep breath and composed herself with a radiant smile.

"I know you'll do it, Tails. He's really stubborn, but you’re not far behind." She nudged him with her elbow, and they both laughed. "Just remember, you can count on us too." She winked. "If you need us to help Sonic remember that he has us to help him carry everything, don't hesitate to contact us." She gently touched his hand. "You're a lot like him, and I don't want you trying to solve everything by yourself either.”

Tails felt his heart warm, grateful for his friend's support. He squeezed Amy’s hand back, knowing he wasn’t alone in this.

“Of course, Amy! Don't worry. I know I can count on you all. I'll let you know if anything comes up.”

She nodded satisfied, picking up her own piping bag again, the atmosphere more relaxed after they both agreed to help Sonic  however they could.

Tails returned to decorating as well, feeling renewed confidence settle in his chest. He could help his brother with whatever was troubling him, and then everything could return to normal. It would be a slow process, but Tails would take it one step at a time.

He was not alone.

He didn't have to do it alone.

Tails ended up doing it alone.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his friends. But Amy had been right about one thing: he was a lot like Sonic. And that similarity was what led Tails, first, to realize that the two lying hedgehogs weren’t angry at each other, nor was Shadow threatening Sonic in any way. So they weren't spending time together because of some unresolved agreement or grudge. They were spending time together by choice, because Sonic was confiding in Shadow. And not only that: the black hedgehog seemed fully aware of everything that had been weighing on Sonic’s mind, to the point that he had apparently been present for whatever that thing, Shatter something, had meant.

This realization led Tails to the second point he discovered: that he didn't take it well at all when he learned Sonic sought help from Shadow instead of him.

Come on. Even Tails would have felt better about himself if he'd known Sonic had gone to Amy first, or even Knuckles, because those two were the closest to both of them when Sonic felt he still couldn't talk to Tails.

But if Sonic had gone to Shadow before all of them, then Tails couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration, sadness, and anger rising in his chest. That's why he didn't say anything to Amy, because Tails didn't want his friend to feel as betrayed and hurt as he did. Especially because Amy was so kind and caring, and Tails wouldn’t have been able to stand seeing her cry over Sonic not trusting her either.

The tears Tails shed against his will a day ago were more than enough, when he followed Sonic and heard him thank Shadow for being there for him after the nightmares Sonic had been having, and for keeping him company when he was too stressed to become terribly anxious.

Tails had always assumed that was his role.

Sonic had never left him alone, not once since he could remember, when Tails had his own nightmares and fell apart at night. He remembered the guilt of feeling like he was bothering Sonic with his childish fears, but his brother made sure Tails knew he was never a burden. That it actually made Sonic feel better to know Tails came to him when he was most vulnerable, because they were brothers. And Sonic had been genuinely happy to earn that trust.

And the truth is, the fox hoped it would be mutual.

Tails didn't know if it was because of his age, or a lack of maturity, or because he didn't offer the security that Shadow perhaps did, but he truly wished Sonic would know that Tails wanted that same trust. That Sonic could come to him when he felt most vulnerable. Or at the very least, that Sonic would know Tails would never stop admiring him, no matter how ridiculous Sonic felt his fears were.

But whether Sonic’s ignorance of that desire had been Tails’ fault or not, he didn’t want to find out. He didn't have the energy, or even motivated enough, to try and plan a conversation with Sonic, or to keep turning the issue over in his mind.

Tails felt hurt enough not to want to move an inch from where he was, trying to remember the last time things had felt normal and not full of secrets like now.

He could say it started almost a month ago. That was around the time Sonic started acting strangely. Before that, everything felt the same as always. His unusual behavior came on suddenly, but…

But…

Tails gasped.

In hindsight, everything had started the day they fought over the Paradox Prism. On the mountain.

Tails sat up slightly on the blue beanbag in Sonic's room. His tails loosened from his grip as he recalled Sonic's strange behavior that very day. He'd almost forgotten because, although it had all started there, the hedgehog's worst actions came after he disappeared for several days, and Tails assumed something had happened wherever Sonic had gone that week. But it had actually started earlier.

The first strange incident, though hilarious at the time, was when Sonic hugged Eggman in the middle of the battle, saying he'd even missed him. Tails thought it was to annoy the scientist or to throw him off his guard and gain an advantage, but now he remembered that same day Sonic had also told Tails, and the others, that he’d missed them too.

This could be added to the unusual attitude Sonic displayed when they were collecting all the scrap metal Eggman had left behind. Throughout the entire time, the hedgehog was incredibly helpful, and he never stopped smiling cheerfully the whole time they were together. Even Knuckles seemed uncomfortable at times when Sonic didn't return the usual pranks they often played on each other and instead responded with soft smiles. It was almost as if he had truly been away from them all for years, savoring every moment, even the most mundane, as though they might be his last.

Tails had been too tired to think much of it back then. But maybe… it had been more important than he realized.

His legs carried him off the beanbag and out of Sonic’s room. He ran into his own room and grabbed a loose sheet of paper from his desk. Tails sat down in his chair and began sketching a timeline.

It all started on the day of the fight over the Paradox Prism.

First, there was the strange hug with Eggman. Then, Sonic’s unusual behavior during the mountain cleanup. After that, everyone heard how much Sonic had missed them, followed by fleeing to the workshop.

Then there was the… peculiar look at the photo in his living room, and finally escaping in the middle of the night.

He disappeared for six days and Tails discovered him talking to Shadow.

That was just the beginning.

Tails frowned, trying to remember exactly what he had discovered that night.

Sonic had talked about a group of people. People whose fate he wasn’t sure about, and he'd even mentioned hurting one of them. Or at least, that was what Tails remembered.

Then, when Sonic reappeared, he was acting strangely, swinging between being overly affectionate with everyone or actively avoiding them. And to top it off, he was seeking refuge with Shadow, the one mobian who seemed fully aware of what was going on.

Tails was already going to ignore that last part related to the black hedgehog, but he couldn't find an exact correlation between all the points.

He could form a hypothetical scenario, but one point or another didn't fit. The people of uncertain fate didn’t align with Sonic’s actions, and those actions didn’t quite match the way he hugged Eggman or seemed distracted that night.

Something was missing, but Tails didn't know what it could be.

He bit down on the eraser of his pencil, forcing himself to find the common factor or the important part he couldn't see. His eyes scanned the messy notes on the page one by one, pausing on a specific pair.

Tails narrowed his eyes, looking at the sentence Paradox Prism as if they’d personally insulted him.

Tails didn’t know the Prism’s power at all. Not a bit, to be honest. And although the powerful gemstone had caught his attention, Tails didn't have a moment to recapture the curiosity he'd felt when he first saw it.

He did remember the Prism’s readings being off the charts, and the energy it emanated, almost like electricity in the air, spoke volumes about its power. But he didn't even know what Eggman wanted it for, and Rouge had only said the bare minimum about it. Its true power or abilities were completely unknown to Tails, so perhaps…

His hands reached for another sheet, sketching the vague shape of the Prism that his brain managed to recall.

Rouge said its power was vast, and Eggman doesn't chase old rocks for no reason. If he’d set aside the Chaos Emeralds to focus on the Paradox Prism, it couldn't have been just any powerful gem. And if they were near the Prism, they might have received some mild effect from it.

Although… could it be that Sonic was more affected, having been much closer to the Prism than any of them? In that case, Eggman should have been affected as well, but Tails couldn't test his hypothesis since the scientist had been silent all those weeks. The other option was…

Shadow.

He’d taken the Prism directly and carried it away.

If the energy emanating from the Paradox Prism truly had an effect simply by being near it, then Shadow could possibly also be affected by direct contact. And it just so happens that Shadow was the only one who's been helping Sonic and who also seemed to understand what Sonic was talking about. So his hypothesis could be correct, and the proximity affected them both. Maybe even Eggman.

Now the question was: how did it affected them?

Once again, Tails had to admit he knew almost nothing about the Prism or the nature of its power. But considering Sonic's attitude since that day, Tails could hypothesize, as first option and considering the factors involved, that the Prism had caused some kind of hallucination or distorted vision in his brother. That would explain why he spoke of people whose fate he didn't know and why he looked at his friends as if he hadn’t seen them in years.

And that, honestly, terrified and fascinated Tails in equal measure.

If his assumption was even partially correct, it would be both astounding and horrifying to think how powerful the Prism must be to induce a prolonged hallucination after such brief exposure. And not only that, but it could also be a collective hallucination if the part where Shadow also knew who Sonic was talking about played a role.

To that, Tails could add that the effects were likely to linger, given that Sonic still looked stressed, tired, and nervous. This only increased Tails' curiosity and anger toward the Prism. It was a fascinating object, but also the reason Sonic was in such a bad state. So, he was equally interested in it and disliked it.

Of course. Assuming Tails was right. But most of it fit, and all he needed to do to prove his theory was to study the Prism.

It was a shame Shadow had hidden it, and since Tails was somewhat resentful towards him, he wasn't going to consider consulting the black hedgehog. So, if approaching the Prism wasn't an option, studying Sonic was the other.

If the Prism’s energy had truly clung to him like a sickness, Tails could find a solution and undo any side effects Sonic was experiencing, helping him return to normal. It made sense!

Tails finished writing his theory, taking the papers with him. A new determination surged within him, knowing he was no longer as lost as before.

He was going to help Sonic.

"Stamina tests?" Sonic raised an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Tails nodded vigorously, smiling wide. "It's been a while since I've had a record of your progress, and I thought it would be good to update my files. I'd just need you to run to our usual starting point and back. I'll time you, and we'll see how much you've improved."

“And how I can improve even more, right?” Sonic nudged him with a knowing grin.

Tails laughed. “Yeah. Especially that.”

“Alright. I’m in, buddy.”

"Perfect!" Tails perked up his ears.“I just need to scan you first so I can register your vitals before and after the run.”

Sonic hesitated for less than a second. "Yeah, sure!"

Tails swallowed his unease at that slight doubt because he was one step closer to discovering what was wrong with Sonic. There was no need to worry anymore. He was going to help Sonic.

Using the Miles Electric, Tails performed a quick scan on Sonic. He felt a little guilty because he was actually registering Sonic's Chaos energy and was only going to use the data from Sonic's communicator regarding his vital signs. But it would be worth it once he could test his theory and use it as a starting point to improve his brother's mental and emotional  health.

The device beeped, signaling that all the necessary data had been collected.

Tails wagged his namesakes, leaving the Miles Electric on his workbench and taking a stopwatch from the same spot.

“Alright, Sonic. It's a mile from here to our point at the edge of the island. Let’s see how long it takes you.”

"Let's do this." Sonic rubbed his nose, hopping onto his toes. He took his starting position at the threshold between the workshop and the open ground outside.

Tails held the stopwatch, his finger poised over the start button. He stood beside Sonic and waited a moment.

"Ready, and... Now!" Tails pressed the button just as Sonic shot forward in a cloud of dust.

The second hand raced across the dial, approaching the seven mark. Just after it passed eight seconds by a fraction, Sonic returned. Tails stopped the stopwatch immediately.

“Eight seconds and four milliseconds! You beat your previous record of nine seconds and two milliseconds by a lot.”

Sonic smirked, his gaze fixed on the ground. "That was a piece of cake."

Tails nodded in agreement, picking up the Miles Electric again. The final scan. "Okay, Sonic. Just this and that'll be everything I need."

His friend nodded, standing up straight again to be analyzed. Tails took the readings once more and let his device begin its comparison while he dismissed Sonic so he could start working in his workshop.

“That’s all, Sonic. You’re free to go.”

The hedgehog hesitated, as if he wanted to stay a little longer, but after a couple of seconds he waved goodbye. “See ya, Tails. Let me know when you’ve gone over the results.”

"Of course!" Tails waved back, inwardly wishing Sonic would stay a little longer too, but now he had a lot of work on his hands and couldn't let Sonic know what he was up to.

Tails had a kind of feeling that led him to keep his research a secret. And maybe, just a little, a small act of revenge for everything Sonic had been hiding from him.

Either way, once he found a solution, there would be no more secrets between them.

Sonic vanished again in a cloud of dust, so Tails activated the workshop’s main door seal. Once he was certain he had privacy, Tails connected the Miles Electric to his main computer, transmitting the scan data to the monitor. The analysis was taking a while, but when the graph of Sonic's Chaos energy levels appeared as the usual yellow line, Tails was surprised, and even pleased, to see another line—a red one—indicating unrecognized energy.

It wasn't as strong as the Chaos energy, which reached almost to the top of the graph. The red line was nearly at the zero point. Nevertheless, it was there.

Tails was right.

With renewed excitement, the fox pulled up the post-run graph. Tails perked up his ears when he noticed that the red line on this graph had risen slightly, almost reaching parameter two.

It was a very curious and interesting reaction, which made Tails consider the possibility that this energy was synchronized with Sonic's physical activity. And if it really was Prism-related energy, Tails wondered what kind of effects it would have if Sonic possessed even more power than he already did. Assuming, of course, that it was Prism energy at all.

The road to confirming whether they were indeed traces of having been in contact with the Prism was going to be long, but Tails wasn't going to give up.

He’d already made solid progress with these results.

Now all that remained was turning them into undeniable proof of his theory.

An entire week had passed, and Tails felt like his progress had barely reached five percent.

He hadn't expected filtering out energy sources similar, or identical, to the one Sonic was emitting to be this difficult. Using one of the quills the speedster shed had significantly accelerated the process, but even so, Tails still felt like he was searching for a needle in a haystack.

He knew that his theory indicated that this energy could come from the Paradox Prism, but since he had no immediate access to the gem, Tails had to continue with the rudimentary mode and keep comparing the types of energy until there were fewer and fewer of them and none interfered with the energy that Sonic emanated.

In any case, even if it wasn't the Prism, Tails was still going to look for the source of the anomaly to start working on a solution. Although that task might not begin for another week, given that many times there were no physical sources at all, and it seemed that the Miles Electric was only detecting a patch of empty air with traces of some energy that, according to his assumption, might be coming from underground.

That was what was taking up most of his time. A total nuisance.

Tails sighed heavily, stretching his back as much as he could, tired from the long journey he had made to determine the similarity of an energy source south of Green Hill Island. Again, there was nothing, so it must be buried underground, but at least he'd been close enough to find it because it was ninety-six percent before the percentage dropped.

It was a failure, but he was getting closer to eliminating half the signals registered on his Miles Electric. Tails suspected that perhaps the weakness of the energy attached to Sonic was precisely what made it so easy to confuse with nearly identical traces from other sources.

In any case, for today, he was done theorizing.

Tails walked to the workshop, though he stopped abruptly when he saw the half-open door in the distance.

He didn't remember leaving it like that. Or had he forgotten? No. That couldn't be. Tails never left without making sure his house was properly secured. Only Sonic had the key to get in if Tails wasn't home, so it was possible the hedgehog had stopped by. He just seemed to have forgotten to lock the door. Well, it wouldn't be the first time.

The thought of Sonic being home lifted his spirits a little, so he quickened his pace and entered the house attached to the workshop. This time, Tails made sure to close the door and left his small backpack off to the side of the hallway.

“...Sonic?! I’m home!”

He received no response.

Tails peeked into the living room, expecting to see the hedgehog, but no one was there. If Sonic wasn't there and didn't come when he called, then he might be sleeping in his own room. With calm steps, Tails went upstairs and approached the door of the room Sonic used whenever he stayed over. When he cracked the door open, Tails found the hedgehog sleeping peacefully on the cushioned beanbag on the floor, his hands folded behind his head and the window open beside him.

Tails smiled fondly, carefully closing the door again to let him rest. Then he retraced his steps and went back downstairs, passing through the kitchen for an apple before entering his workshop in the back.

The lights illuminated the room, and almost instantly Tails felt that something was out of place. Not as if something was missing, but more as if something wasn't where it was supposed to be.

Tails' first thought was that maybe Sonic had taken something from there, since it wouldn't be the first time the hedgehog had taken, for example, his blowtorch without permission just to toast a chili dog sausage better. Or any other number of things where Sonic used Tails’s tools for purposes they definitely weren’t designed for.

It was annoying, but as long as he didn't break anything, it wasn't such a big deal.

Tails tried rearranging his things, hoping the feeling that something was off would fade. He adjusted his desk lamp, his laptop, and the small toolboxes on the shelf, feeling that these were the things that seemed most out of place. Then he sat back down at his desk, connecting the Miles Electric to his computer to continue fine-tuning the tracking of the power source that was invading Sonic.

He configured the discarded energy signatures so that they would no longer be identified and wouldn’t reappear on his digital map, bringing him closer to the true origin of that power attached to Sonic.

Tails spent almost the entire afternoon on it until he heard familiar footsteps behind him. One of his ears twitched in recognition of the new visitor in his workshop.

“Hey, little buddy. What are you up to?”

Tails finished configuring the tracking code before answering. "I'm improving the Chaos Emerald tracker." A lie, but it was for a good cause.

"Oh, wow." Sonic stood behind him, resting his arm on top of Tails’s head.

For the first time, the fox was grateful that Sonic didn't understand anything on his screen, or he might have figured out what he was really doing. Lucky.

“You work too hard, y’know, Tails?”

Tails shrugged. "You always have to be prepared. We never know when Eggman might attack again. And it never hurts to know exactly where the Chaos Emeralds are.”

Sonic laughed. "At least we know Shadow has one."

“The green one. As always,” Tails smiled too. “He seems pretty attached to it.”

Sonic pulled his arm away and shrugged. "The red one suits him better, but who am I to judge his bad taste in colors?"

Tails laughed, enjoying the quiet moment. It had been a while since they'd been able to talk like this, and Tails was starting to miss conversations without Sonic's sudden outbursts of stress or those unusual, lost looks in his brother's green eyes.

That's why Tails didn't know if it would be wise to dare to ask Sonic if things were okay.

That is to say, yes, he was already working on finding the source of the energy that Sonic had attached to him, but… if Tails could get the answer directly from Sonic, maybe they could both work on helping him, and Tails wouldn't even need to continue his search for the origin of that energy. It had been a little over a month since their encounter with the Paradox Prism. Tails felt that enough time had passed to be able to bring up the subject.

With a bit of luck…

Tails turned in his chair, setting aside his half-finished work with the tracker. He focused on his brother, who looked rested and calm. This could be his chance.

His thumbs bounced against each other, revealing the slight nervousness Tails felt. He mentally motivated himself, eager to get answers. He just had to be careful.

“Hey, Sonic. You look relaxed today.”

The hedgehog looked at him, still smiling. “Had a good nap, buddy. You should try it sometime.”

Tails snorted with a laugh as Sonic ruffled his bangs, pushing his hand away without real annoyance. "I'm glad you were able to rest. You seemed a little stressed lately."

That was a cautious approach, but Sonic was already tensing the wrinkles on his face, trying to maintain his calm expression. Tails needed to tread lightly.

Sonic pulled his hand back. “What are you talking about, little buddy? Me, stressed? Nobody’s more laid-back than me.”

Tails forced himself not to look unconvinced and continued gently. "Obviously." He smiled faintly. "But these past weeks, you’ve seemed a little… lost." He shrugged. "And, well… I just want you to know you can count on me for anything. You know that, right?"

Sonic casually took a step back, crossing his arms. "Of course, Tails. You're the one I trust most in the world."

Oh. If only he would truly back up those words with actions.

Tails didn’t erase his calm smile, softening it to show the sincerity of his intentions. “Then… there really isn’t anything that’s been bothering you these past few weeks?”

The question settled between them, deciding whether the truth would finally come out or if Sonic would run away again.

Tails waited patiently, watching as his brother seemed to internally debate his next words behind those tired green eyes. For a second, a tiny second, Tails saw resignation in Sonic's gaze, making his own heart race.

He truly thought he was about to get answers after a long month of uncertainty. He even started thinking about what he would say to make Sonic feel supported and understood. But Sonic only opened his mouth for a moment before that resolve in his eyes vanished and a condescending smile returned.

And just like that, Tails’s hope disappeared.

Sonic playfully patted him on the head. “Nothing your genius brain needs to worry about, buddy. I’m perfectly fine.”

Tails maybe felt his heart break a little, for he hadn't believed Sonic would reject his help again now that he had offered it so openly. He hadn't even anticipated how much the direct rejection would hurt.

His ears drooped as he turned back toward the computer. “Oh… okay, then…”

He forced his voice to stay calm, refusing to let the sadness caused by Sonic’s actions slip through.

At this point, he no longer understood why Sonic didn't want to trust Tails. And if he was honest, insecurity had been creeping in for a long time. Now more than ever, Tails began to feel his thoughts swirling with cruel ideas about how Sonic no longer needed him and how he had already found someone more reliable than him. A better partner than Tails.

It was clear that it wasn't true, but sometimes it was hard not to hear his own brain telling him he'd been replaced. It seemed his worst enemy was always himself. Or at least his damn brain that could never shut up.

Tails heard Sonic rub the cloth between his hands before speaking again after several seconds. He sounded guilty, but Tails wasn't looking at him anymore to confirm if he really was.

“Well, I… I think I’m gonna go for a run.”

After that, the gust of wind ruffled his fur, leaving Tails completely alone.

His motivation had vanished, and the desire to continue filtering energy signatures vanished with it.

Tails wanted to lock himself in his room again and not come out for a long time. But when he glanced at the energy tracking code on his computer, a spark of determination returned to his chest.

If he left now, his mind wouldn't rest until he passed out. But if Tails stayed and worked, he could keep his thoughts occupied and also be another step closer to helping Sonic, even if the hedgehog was unwilling to accept support.

The quickest option was to give up, but the best for his heart was to bury himself in his work. Besides, Tails was halfway to finding the true source of energy that was attached to Sonic. If there was ever a time to prove he wasn't a bad sidekick, this was it.

Tails had already used his last card to try and get the truth out of Sonic. Now, only the long but sure path remained.

That tracker was going to be completed, and Tails would make sure to use it to find the best solution to his brother's problem.

With that conclusion, Tails returned his fingers to the keyboard.

He was no longer going to stop until he finished his project.

The last one.

That was the last energy source Tails thought he'd have to track, because the closer he got, the faster the percentage of match with Sonic's energy increased. It had gone from seventy percent to almost ninety-eight percent the instant he landed near the small island.

It was relatively far from Green Hill, and although Tails was aware of the power of his own inventions, he was still surprised at how well his tracker was able to follow the power source from several miles away. So his Miles Electric was really powerful, or the source emanated more energy than he had initially assumed.

Perhaps a little of both options.

Tails continued walking through the dense forest, with the growing sensation that he was stepping into territory he had no business being in. His senses stayed sharp as he moved through the shadows, his feet expertly treading the ground to avoid making a sound. The display on his Miles Electric climbed to ninety-nine percent, pointing northward across the island.

Carefully, he made his way toward an elevated hill, keeping his small figure hidden among the bushes. Tails could hear voices and what he recognized as tires scraping against the dry branches and leaves of the forest. The sounds grew louder as he neared the edge of the small hill. His eyes fell on a rock jutting out from the edge, immediately recognizing it as a perfect hiding spot. The shadows of late afternoon, almost night, perfectly concealed the area.

No one would see him.

Tails slipped behind the rock, confirming that there were indeed people below and further ahead. The moment he carefully peeked over the edge, his Miles Electric vibrated. Tails glanced at it, silently gasping as the screen finally displayed a perfect one hundred percent match.

It was the first time it had happened. And Tails wasn't even really close to the power source. If coincidence filled the percentage while being so far away, then…

It could be the Paradox Prism.

His suspicions were further confirmed when he finally focused on the terrain below and spotted a dark building in the middle of an artificially cleared patch of land, surrounded by a very high wire fence. The voices belonged to men in uniforms bearing the G.U.N. logo, carrying weapons as they watched over the surroundings. Armored black trucks, also bearing the same white logo, were entering and leaving the area.

Tails pulled back behind the rock, hiding his presence behind the rock.

There was no longer any doubt. The clues were easy to piece together even without entering the building to see the power source directly. What they had there had to be the Prism. Shadow had taken it, and it was obvious that if he didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands, as Eggman had intended, Shadow wasn't going to leave it in just any old hiding place.

It would be very ridiculous if he did that.

So it was obvious that Shadow left it in the best hands, in the opinion of the dark hedgehog: G.U.N.

They had the proper means to secure an ancient artifact with that kind of power, as he could see now. This left Tails with the sad realization that he wouldn't be able to study the Prism directly, but also with the glorious feeling of accomplishment of knowing that his theory was correct, and that Sonic did possess Prismatic energy within him.

Now he had to decide which path to take. Without the Prism, studying its properties would be difficult, but not impossible. Tails just needed to conduct a couple more investigations. For now, he would return to Green Hill, keeping this furtive visit a secret.

Luckily, he listened to his instinct to activate the Tornado's anti-tracking system before reaching the island.

Tails carefully retraced his steps, returning to the shore where he had hidden the red biplane. His mind raced, considering all possible ways to properly analyze the Prism's dwindling energy, when a sudden warning stopped him mid-step before he could board the Tornado. His eyes flicked to his Miles Electric, knowing that even though he used it to search for the Chaos Emeralds, it could now also guide him, and anyone else, without error straight to the Prism. Wherever it might be.

Well. Maybe he hadn’t intended to create a Prism tracker, but the work was done, so Tails had to find preventative measures to ensure no one ever found out about it. He might even delete the code and files from the power source later to be extra careful, but until then, and considering the two weeks of work and travel it took, he'd keep it for a little while longer.

Tails finally climbed into the Tornado and returned to Green Hill without incident. He quickly went back into his back garage and turned on his computers. He set the Miles Electric aside, smiling with the feeling of victory and exhilaration that he had been right and had managed to find some of the answers on his own.

His tails swayed with renewed energy as he began thinking out loud. "The source is the Prism. Now I just need to erase the evidence from here. Good job to me" Tails whispered as he hurriedly deleted all the data he had transferred to his computer. The information, the tracking code, the locations of the other energy sources—everything.

Then he picked up his Miles Electric. “This should be enough.” He pressed a button to save everything he had discovered to his device, since he didn't need to have so much important information scattered in multiple places.

Then he exited his database and moved his finger to press the power button. For a moment, Tails paused, weighing the idea of ​​deleting the Prism’s tracker altogether or keeping it active a little longer. Either way, Tails wasn't going to use it again, but… his scientific side felt it was a crime to throw away all the effort of the past few weeks.

Even if he never tracked the Prism again, his sentimental side wanted to preserve his creation for a little while longer.

His fingers hesitated before he decided. "Oh, whatever."

He reopened the tracking application, deliberately ignoring the ‘Delete’ option. In the end, no one else knew he had ever built the tracker. Although… just in case, he was going to block it properly.

Tails copied the security lock code from the Chaos Emerald tracker and applied it to the Prism tracker. He waited for it to load and then let the scanning light sweep across his retina, registering himself as the sole authorized user. Finally, Tails placed his bare thumb over the screen, and the lock was complete, protecting the tracker from curious eyes.

Of course! Just in case someone else found out. But, truly, in the privacy of his workshop, and without the notes he'd just erased, who else could possibly know what he'd done?

Eggman, somehow, knew what Tails had done.

It was almost ironic that every time Tails felt he had the contingencies under control and that things weren't going to take the worst possible turn, they ended up going that way. Just like when he thought he wouldn’t have to handle Sonic’s problem alone and yet he did. Only now, irony was laughing in his face, letting him know that even his most closely guarded secrets could reach Eggman's intrusive ears.

What, in Chaos, had he done wrong?

The worst part is that it happened just when Tails felt Sonic was finally about to open up not only to him, but to all his friends. That day Sonic seemed more relaxed and calm than on many previous days, organizing a sudden but much-needed picnic. His excitement made him seem as if Sonic had finally chosen to leave behind the burden he carried on his shoulders and knew that they all could help him take some of that weight.

Even his quills looked brighter, and his smile was the most genuine he'd offered them in a long time. Tails thought in that moment that he wouldn't have to continue studying the faint energy of the Prism emanating from all the blue quills he'd collected to study their effects, and that now they were going to find the solution together. Gaia, Tails even believed that if the truth came out, Shadow might let him use the Prism to find a remedy even faster, and the Prism's side effects would soon disappear from Sonic and even Shadow, since even the dark hedgehog had started to look more tired recently.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but suddenly Eggman arrives and punches him in the face.

Okay. Rewinding.

The picnic was ruined in an instant, and everyone took up positions to attack the sudden arrival, seemingly out of nowhere, of that strangely battered aircraft—by Eggman's high standards. Tails swallowed his frustration, flying alongside his companions as a sudden line of Eggbots came between them and the damaged ship.

Tails halted midair, catching a glimpse of Sonic's surprised gasp as he too halted, staring in genuine disbelief at the aeroship hovering before them. There was something odd in Sonic's expression that Tails couldn't quite put his finger on, because at that moment, one of Eggman's best mechs—the one he always deployed on the front lines with his robots—landed aggressively in front of the hovering ship, behind all the Eggbots that had formed a barrier.

The mecha's speakers blasted Dr. Eggman's voice. “Always a pleasure to see you again, Sonic. Though judging by that look on your face, I assume you’re already well acquainted with my new associates.”

Everyone, including Tails, focused their attention on Sonic, who hesitated before sharpening his quills and taking several steps forward. “I’m surprised you managed to track down your long-lost relatives, Eggy. Though it was to be expected that you'd ask for their help, seeing as you're not capable of defeating me on your own."

The mech clanked as metal shifted against metal. One of the robotic legs stamped its foot on the ground. "Says the rodent who can never fight without his friends."

"Yeah, well." Sonic rolled one of his arms from his shoulder. “We call it teamwork. You? Probably just a power struggle over who’s in charge. Pretty on brand for your low standards.”

Tails tensed his namesakes, knowing the taunt was about to make Eggman explode. He also needed to bury the uncertainty the exchange was causing him and his friends, because he could see the same confused stare on their faces, the same blank look of not knowing what on earth they were talking about. This wasn't the time to dwell on it.

The mecha stomped again. "Not this time, Sonic!"

There was only a second of preparation after the scream when each robot launched into attack.

Tails immediately took higher to the air, deploying the Miles Electric and using the small integrated laser he'd installed. Beside him, Amy smashed through the first wave of robots with her Piko Piko Hammer, clearing the way for Tails to fire at those guarding Eggman inside the mech.

The fox shot down several Eggbots. Then he brought his legs back to the ground, gathering momentum for a ground-level spin dash. His body curled up, and Tails felt as if he sliced ​​through the air with his speed before crashing into three robots in sequence. The metal of the Eggbots' legs shattered, crashing down with a thud onto the grass.

Uncurling, Tails quickly assessed the distance he’d closed between himself and Eggman, who had retreated to the side. He raised the Miles Electric again to fire as the ship above them finally showed some movement. Tails’ ears snapped to attention as a side platform began to open.

His heart sank with uncertainty and awe as several yellow chairs floated out. Tails caught a glimpse of a couple of the occupants sitting in them. The two he saw looked eerily similar to Eggman, but the one in front actually had hair and seemed a bit younger. The one in the back, however, looked far older than Eggman, but his facial features definitely mirrored the scientist's.

Tails might have continued watching the parade intently from the platform had it not been for a robot falling inertly beside him, making him jump.

Perched atop the machine, Rouge looked at him tensely, but still maintaining a confident facade. "No distractions, sweetie."

Tails’ ears flattened, blushing with embarrassment at having been saved by her simply because he'd been distracted enough. "S-sorry." Tails composed himself, reactivating the Miles Electric and firing at another pair of Eggbots that were approaching them.

Rouge nodded, resuming her flight away from him. Tails, meanwhile, reassessed the situation, considering his initial plan to approach Eggman now that he seemed to have identical company. If Tails went alone, he wouldn't be able to handle them, but if he approached with Sonic's help, the two of them could capture the group of Eggheads.

Tails looked around for his brother as the aeroship behind him lurched a second time. His tails bristled, and the kit turned again, watching as a lower platform opened, allowing another group of Eggman's flying robots to pull out a multitude of machines of various sizes and colors.

That was not good news. The intruders had brought their own ammunition.

For a moment, Tails considered entering the ship and discovering what else they had hidden inside. The lower platform had already closed, but the one on the side… Tails looked around again, finding it open. His twin-tails twitched with anticipation, weighing the options of using the ship against them all and obtaining valuable information, but also the option of capturing the group Eggman had assembled if they wanted to have any success extracting information from them as well.

Although letting them go wasn't a good idea either, given there were so many of them. They had to stop at least one.

Tails quickly analyzed his options when he heard a familiar burst of Chaos nearby.

It was Shadow!

Perfect.

Tails smiled optimistically, considering dividing the tasks. His hands once again maneuvered the Miles Electric, flying swiftly toward the dark hedgehog and firing at the other two robots attempting to attack him from behind. Tails reached Shadow’s side, using a spin dash to dispatch the last robot. As he uncurled, Shadow positioned himself back-to-back with Tails, so that they covered each other's blind spots.

Tails kept a watchful eye on his chaotic surroundings, speaking quickly to the hedgehog. "Shadow, the ship. We need to search it. They might have more weapons on them or information about how they got here."

"And the Doctors?" The hedgehog spoke, launching a swift homing attack at an Eggbot flying above them before returning to his previous position.

“I’ll handle them with Sonic. You get whatever intel you can.”

“Understood.”

“Start from the lower section. That’s where they deployed the weapons.”

Shadow nodded, and with one last burst of Chaos Control, they split off.

Tails quickly searched for Sonic, finding him several meters away. The fox soared into the air, taking advantage of how quickly his friends were clearing the area, and managed to reach Sonic.

The hedgehog was being cornered from several directions, but even though Tails knew Sonic could get out of there unscathed, he hurried to pull Sonic out of the fire field so as not to waste any more time and go after the group of Eggheads. His tails propelled him through the metal barrier and Tails grabbed Sonic's hands, lifting him into the air.

“I’ve got you, Sonic!”

Sonic looked at him, smiling brightly. “Knew I could count on you, buddy!”

Tails laughed. “Let’s go after Eggman and his crew!”

Sonic opened his mouth to reply, but one of the most upgraded Eggbots rose up in front of them, its cannons ready to fire at them both.

The hedgehog snorted in amusement. “Then let’s scrap this junk fast.”

Tails tensed his muscles, readying a coordinated attack. His hands balanced Sonic's weight, sending the hedgehog flying. His brother took the perfect height around the curve to curl into a spin dash and slamming into the robot’s side. Tails immediately curled into a spin as well, attacking from the opposite side.

The two moved knowing where to go without interfering with each other, crossing their attacks at the robot's waist and then returning to cross paths again, each breaking one of the machine's legs.

They both uncurled simultaneously, one knee on the ground and at the same distance, listening to the Eggbot shatter into pieces behind them. Sonic smirked, not needing to check the useless wreckage to see if it still worked. Tails smiled too, because that machine wasn't going to get back up.

Sonic straightened up, trotting in place as he spotted the group Eggman had gathered. "Let's get those Eggmen, bro."

Tails also took up position, and the two of them took off across the terrain toward the motley group. They left the others to deal with the remaining machines, whose numbers were dwindling. Tails was about to internally celebrate their lead when other robots began to emerge from the sides of the seashore, increasing their numbers once again.

Sonic slowed down, looking at the machines. "Oh, come on! How many Eggbots can Eggman bring with him?"

Tails stopped, attacking a robot with another spin dash. “No idea! But they want to keep us entertained!"

The hedgehog curled up and began attacking several in quick succession. Tails also attacked with his own spin dash, taking advantage of the fact that he had cleared his immediate area to bring out Miles Electric again and unleash long-range firepower. However, as his fingers adjusted the laser and he raised his arm to aim, a cold blow struck him from behind, knocking him to the ground.

“Tails!”

The fox rolled over, hissing from the sharp pain that shot through his back. His head snapped up, and Tails caught a glimpse of his device lying a few feet away. He pulled himself up at once, ignoring the throbbing pain, to return to the fight, but not before grabbing the Miles Electric.

Almost the instant Tails stood, an Eggbot darted past him, knocking him back to the ground and snatching his device in its metallic hands before he could even take a step.

"HEY!" Tails sat up again, leaving his brother's call behind.

His legs propelled him forward, chasing the robot that was carrying off his device. He narrowly dodged the blows the other Eggbots were trying to land, trying to stop him from continuing his pursuit. Tails grew desperate, waiting for the perfect moment when one of the robots would slam its fist into the ground near him. Just as it did, Tails launched himself forward toward the machine's head, leaped onto it, and took flight.

From there, he quickly scanned the area, searching for the thieving Eggbot. He didn't know why it had suddenly taken his Miles Electric. I mean, yes, it was a crucial part of his fighting arsenal, but even without it, Tails could defend himself quite well. What could they possibly want…

Tails gasped, having located the robot again, but his head instinctively turned toward Eggman, who was in the opposite direction from where the Eggbot was fleeing. The scientist was aware of what he was doing, because he too caught Tails' gaze and smiled at him with an unwanted complicity, his face practically screaming that he knew they were both on the same page regarding his Miles Electric.

He knew.

And the worst part was that Eggman waved at him, knowing full well that Tails would have to choose between them or chasing the robot. And right now, he didn't know which was worse. For a moment, he wanted to punch the scientist, but he had to decide now, and fast.

Tails grimaced, growling at Eggman in the distance, then shot off toward the stray Eggbot.

He had faith that his friends, that Sonic, would manage to catch the bunch of eggheads, but if they took the Miles Electric… Tails didn't even want to consider the consequences. His stomach sank into a deep pit of worry. His tails spun as fast as he could before he heard a horrible metallic crunch. Tails stopped for a moment, glancing back to discover the ship was tilting too far to one side.

Tails opened his eyes wide; Shadow wasn't supposed to crash the damned ship. It is likely that everything that was inside will now be lost, but Tails didn't have time to dwell on it. He vaguely prayed that his friends were alright and none of them would be crushed or hurt by the crashing aircraft, and continued flying.

The stupid robot was faster than he thought, and since it already had a head start, Tails was having trouble catching up. He almost felt like he was going to lose it when he heard a familiar Chaos burst several yards away.

Tails turned his head mid-flight, discovering that Shadow was nearby, standing behind a rise of earth. He felt a wave of relief and joy at seeing the black hedgehog again, quickly changing direction to ask for his help in chasing the Eggbot. If anyone besides Sonic could catch it, it was Shadow.

He took a deep breath to shout his name, since the aeroship that had crashed on the shore had produced the sound of an explosion loud enough that Tails could barely hear his own tails spinning.

"Shad-!" Tails cut himself off abruptly, halting his flight as the hedgehog launched a horrible kick behind the mound.

He looked angry. Very angry.

Tails immediately assumed that Shadow had captured one of Eggman's new allies, as he couldn't think of anyone else the hedgehog would want to hit like that. Although Tails shuddered slightly at the thought of the brute force the new prisoner must have received from that kick. He felt a pang of sympathy for whoever had been hit by Shadow (because he knew how much it hurt), but given that they were Eggman's allies, that feeling quickly faded.

Tails tried to call Shadow again, but the hedgehog vanished with Chaos Control.

"No—Shadow!" Tails tried in vain, looking around for any sign of the dark hedgehog. But he discovered that he didn't even know where the Eggbot that stole his Miles Electric was anymore.

Tails felt panic rising in the pit of his stomach, forcing himself to calm down as the battle was still going on.

Okay. Think, Tails.

With the robot and Shadow gone, at least Tails could do something worthwhile: keep an eye on the prisoner the hedgehog had captured. He knew Shadow's blows were brutal, but even if he incapacitated whoever he'd captured, Tails was certain Eggman would try to win back his allies. So, if they had a slight advantage, he wasn't going to let it slip away.

Tails renewed his resolve, flying swiftly to the area where Shadow had been just moments before. He hovered a short distance away, landing again and cautiously approaching the hidden patch of land. If this ally of Eggman still carried a weapon, Tails wasn't going to let his guard down. He wasn't an exceptional fighter, but he knew how to defend himself well enough. Even without the Miles Electric.

His heart was beating fast, but he wasn't going to show it.

Just as he reached the edge of the mound, Tails felt his stomach churn so violently that he felt dizzy for several seconds. He had to hold onto the mound of earth to avoid falling, or his legs would have truly given way.

Oh.

Oh. Gaia. Sweet, sweet Gaia.

What the...

Tails blinked several times, trying to understand what he was seeing and make sure it wasn't just his imagination. But what was in front of him didn't change after all the times he opened and closed his eyes.

There on the ground lay a fox that looked terrifyingly like him. The fur was almost the same shade, only slightly paler. But the features, the height, the build—everything was eerily similar to Tails. And what disturbed him most was that this fox also had two twin tails, tucked away among metallic limbs.

The only differences were the other fox's use of clothing, the metal tails, and the dark, pointed tips on his ears. Aside from that, Tails would have thought he could easily pass for his twin. Including the two organic tails.

His mind flashed, amidst his fog and mental panic, the resemblance between Eggman's new allies and himself. And almost immediately, a torrent of ideas flooded his mind, from cloning to the very real possibility of alternate realities.

Perhaps this other fox could be…?

Tails jumped when the sudden sound of Eggman's robots fleeing through the air snapped him out of his daze. His legs pulled him back, unsure what to do. He was both confused and intrigued by this stranger who looked just like him.

His hands trembled as he quickly thought of what to do next. He glanced into the distance, at where the fight had taken place, and then back at the other fox. Only then, when he looked at him closely again, did Tails notice the red patch that stood out against the green of the grass.

Tails gasped, finally approaching the unconscious fox. He hesitated for a moment, but let his hands touch the stranger's clothing. He was injured, and judging by the stain on his clothes, it seemed he'd been bleeding for quite some time.

His stomach lurched with worry, still unsure how to act. He glanced back at the battle and then back at his workshop. Tails didn't know this fox at all, but… he had a faint feeling he might be a counterpart of his own. Perhaps from the same place Eggman's new allies came from.

It couldn't have been hard to guess. Those intruders looked like Eggman, and now this fox looked just like him. Tails would bet that each of them was the Miles Prower of their own world. But he could only find that out if he asked this stranger, though that wasn't going to happen if he bled to death.

Tails made his decision.

Very carefully, he turned the other fox over. Then he removed one of his own gloves and pressed it against the wound. Next, he tore a spiral-shaped piece from his other glove, being careful not to tear it so he could stretch the fabric as much as possible and tie it securely against the first glove. This way, it wouldn't move, stopping the bleeding.

Once Tails was sure the makeshift bandage wouldn't move until he reached the workshop, he prepared to carry the other fox. He was careful, though, because of the wound on his side.

Tails twirled his tails, adjusting his grip under the fox's thin knees and against his back, settling his head in. Even with the weight of the metal tails, Tails felt he wasn't even close to Sonic's weight. That was worrying.

He shook his head, knowing that now he had to help the wounded fox. The glove was already turning red, and if he didn't want the others to notice his absence, he'd better leave now.

Tails sighed one last time and dashed off to his workshop, considering what he would say to the others when they reunited. They might be angry with him for everything that had happened and for what happened with his… Miles Electric. But if this unknown surprise was added to the mix…

Tails glanced down briefly, and for a second considered asking Sonic if he knew this fox, given that Eggman had hinted that the hedgehog knew the other intruders. Although… maybe he didn't need to tell anyone about this interdimensional twin. Besides, if Sonic wanted to keep secrets, then Tails would too.

He could handle it on his own. What better way to learn about a variant of Miles Prower than Miles Prower himself?

Two geniuses could be better than one.

Except Sonic didn't need to know that yet.