Fanfic based on "Mobius 25 Years Later" and "Mobius 30 Years Later" from Archie comics. Skye and Melody Prower, Manik the Hedgehog and Mina Mongoose belong to Archie Comics, while other characters originally belong to SEGA

Story is (C) to me.

Part 1

"Haha, come on Skye! You gotta be better than that if you want to keep up with the son of Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Boasted a young pre-teen with chrome colored blue fur, a wild smirk, and colorful emerald eyes. Tearing through the thin path of the woods like it was child's play, the young boy glanced back now and then; though he was ultimately sure his victory would be absolute at this point. Unlike Sonic, Manik took winning more seriously.

In the fading distance, but not completely out of sight, was another young mobian boy. He had bright orange fur, light blue colored boots, and a nervous and slightly annoyed look. Panting harshly, his lungs feeling as if they were lit on fire, he continued to sprint as fast as he could through the forest after the blue hedgehog that was his best friend.

"Come on!...Why is it so hard? Manik's not even as fast as Sonic…and I've been training for so long!" The boy thought to himself, his eyes glancing at the ground he passed over every second. He shook his head forcefully and growled, though it was light and more cute than threatening. "No!...Come on! I can do it!"

As if shot out of a cannon, Skye Prower gained a second wind. Adrenaline warmed his insides, he regained his initial momentum, and his lungs caught their breathe. His light blue eyes never left Manik, and by the time he could make out features on the boy, he smirked to himself and began to think-with the mind of his great father.

"He's faster than me. But speed doesn't win a race. Sure he can beat me if we're going straight, but if I can do better than him around corners, I can slowly catch up. Good thing I can at least keep from falling behind."

And as he watched, upcoming was the perfect chance to beat Manik at his own game. The narrow path led straight to a boulder outcropping, in short, a ten foot wall. If he could just stay close, when Manik took time to go around it, since he was cocky and didn't feel he needed to be careful, Skye could use the rest of his energy to clear the rock, tackle down Manik, and therefore win their game of "ultimate race-tag." Skye smirked, pumping his leg muscles as far as they would go, and watched Manik like a hawk.

Manik chuckled to himself and looked back once more at his foxy friend. The boy was actually a little closer than last time. The hedgehog raised an eyebrow, and although some of his cockiness fell, he was still proud for him a little. But, he wasn't about to let Skye see that. Turning back around and seeing the large rock approaching him faster and faster, he nodded to himself and chuckled.

"So, that's how he wants to do it huh?"

"…?"

Skye blinked in confusion. Manik was slowing down! He didn't stop, but only went faster, even as he got more and more confused, watching the blue hedgehog lean back against the rock, facing the approaching fox.

"What are you doing!" Skye panted and yelled at the same time, only about one hundred yards away.

"*whistling*" Manik paid no attention, rubbing his hand on his chest to remove imaginary dirt.

Skye wasn't sure, but he had a bad feeling about this. His desire to beat his speed demon-friend drove him forward, faster and faster though. His heart was pounding, his eyes were cold from the rushing air, and his lungs were exhausted again. Fifty yards…twenty yards…ten yards…and then, Manik jumped.

SMACK

With a loud whack, the fox boy went from almost twenty miles an hour to flat zero miles an hour. He fell flat on his back, groaning slightly and blinking as he stared up at the blue hedgehog-who at the last second, had jumped up onto the top of the boulder. Manik shook his head and chuckled.

"Come on Skye, you're smarter than that, dude! If ya see me doin something like that, hehe, ya gotta know it's gotta be a trick!"

"Manik!" Came a loud, shrewd voice. Manik made a violent jump in the air, and then his heart sank the moment he realized who it was. His heart sank as he watched a tall, long red haired squirrel emerge from the trees. She wore a long purple robe and a small golden crown on her head, keeping her long hair from going in front of her eyes.

"M-Mom! W-What are you doing here?"

Sally Acorn, mother of Manik, wife of Sonic the hedgehog, and current Queen of the entire Knothole Kingdom, walked over majestically to the fallen Prower boy. She paid no attention to Manik for a moment, and fussed over Skye. Her voice turned sweet and caring; like that Skye's own mother often gave him.

"Honey, are you okay?" She asked, putting a hand behind his head and gingerly picking him up. Thankfully, Sally knew a few things about injuries, and the only thing she could see wrong with him was a slight nosebleed. She picked up and held the boy, and then her eyes turned back to her son. An absolutely livid stare met up with Manik's nervous face, and he began sweating from every pore.

"Manik! How many times have your father and I gone over this!" She said forcefully, not quite yelling, but this was worse. Manik's ears drooped and he rubbed his arm.

"Umm…a lot? Hehe…" He rubbed the back of his head, and Sally growled slightly to herself. Looking down to Skye, she cleaned up his nose.

"Come on hon, let's go find your mom and dad."

"M-mom's at her concert, but dad's home, I think." Skye said softly, his head still ringing from the impact. Sally nodded, and then gave one more look at Manik.

"You're father's hearing about this."

Manik groaned, then jumped down from the boulder and followed his mother and Skye out of the woods, pleading to her to not tell him about the incident.

-

"Manik, you know speed isn't something to always brag off about."

"Yeah dad, I know, but-"

"Skye simply isn't anywhere as fast as you-you can't pull things like that. You got him hurt, and I'm pretty sure you knew there was a high possibility that he would get hurt in the first place."

Manik stood defeated and pathetic before his father, the King of Mobius, Sonic the Hedgehog. His emerald eyes were calm but authoritive, and he wore a long flowing red cape along with a shimmering gold crown. His arms were crossed, and for once, his mouth was not in a grin, smirk or smile.

"…"

"Sonic, there's no harm done, and it's clear he's sorry. Don't you think we can all move on? While I'm slightly upset my son got hurt, they are boys after all. The same as we once were, if I'm not mistaken."

Another deeper voice stated. Sonic turned and blinked a few times at his old friend. His first friend. The boy genius who had helped the Freedom Fighters and all of Mobius more than they ever dreamed. Miles "Tails" Prower stood indifferently a few ten feet away from the royal hedgehog family, one arm around his son, who had his head in his father's side.

Sonic's eyes stayed wide and he stared at Tails silently for a long time, before he closed them and uncrossed his arms.

"You're way of parenting may be different than mine Tails, but Manik needs to hear this. This isn't the first time he's caused Skye an "accident", and I'd like to make sure this time, is also the last time."

Tails said nothing, nodded, and looked down to his kit. Patting his head, he smiled and lifted the fox onto his shoulders.

"Thank you for your time, Your Majesty."

Not another word, and Tails' footsteps were the only sound to echo through the main hall as the large oak doors shut behind them, leaving Sonic, Sally and Manik to themselves. Sally was the only one who watched the door after it closed.

"Dad…"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm okay, really…"

Tails let out a sigh, and went over how to phrase the situation to his eight year-old son in the easiest and most direct way possible in his mind. As the two walked down the brightly lit dirt road that lead to the fox's house, he firmly held on to Skye's legs and looked up into the cloudless sky.

"I know you are, and I think Sonic knows it too. But coming from our perspective bud, this isn't the first time you've been hurt while playing with Manik and Sonic doesn't see it as to having an end unless he does something to stop it."

Another silence as Skye looked down past his father to the ground beneath their feet. Skye sighed and held on to his father's neck for support; more than just physical support.

"I don't want Manik to think he can't play with me because he's afraid I'll get hurt, and that then Sonic will get mad at him."

Tails just smiled to himself, and as they reached the front door, he placed the boy down next to him and unlocked it with his key. Not saying anything, the two entered the main entry way.

Before them lay a massive living room that the entry way lead into. It had three stair steps that lead down further into the TV area, where the couch, two chairs, and coffee table were. Beyond that, on the direct opposite side was the large kitchen. As Tails liked to call it, "Mina's domain." To the left was a hallway leading to the bathroom, and the upstairs that lead to another bathroom, and both the kids' bedrooms. And to the right of the living room was a shorter hallway that had Tails' and Mina's bedroom, and a guestroom.

"Yo! Hey dad! Skye!"

Both fox's smiled as the powerhouse of the family jumped up into view from on the couch. Melody Prower was the elder female child, and unlike Skye, was outgoing, loud, and completely self-confident. She often saw herself as Skye's protector, since he was often timid and shy, and not able to fully protect himself. Like her mother, she had her looks, and super speed.

"Hey there, you!" Tails grinned, running over and tackling her onto the couch and tickling her. She laughed, but easily attacked him back, eventually being able to push him off completely. He laughed as he was pushed to the other side of the couch.

"Heh, got some power to that speed and personality too, I see."

Skye turned his attention to his boots, and took them off and then silently joined his father and sister on the couch. He was looking at his bare pawed feet when Tails moved next to him, but continued talking to Melody.

"Mel, Skye's a bit upset. He got hurt again while playing with Manik, and Sonic got more or less irritated with him."

Melody blinked and looked past her father, seeing Skye and examining him for herself. She smiled wide and jumped past Tails and fly-tackled the orange kit into the side of the couch. Smiling wide, she held him and swung him back and forth in her arms as if he were some plushy she had wanted for a month.

"Come on Skye! Cheer up! You've seen Manik; he's more energetic than Sonic these days. He can survive anything his old man throws at him!"

Skye couldn't help but giggle a little, his ears flattening as he was man-handled by his big sister.

"Umm, well, I know but, I don't think he-hehhehe! Hey! Stop! That tickles!" He giggled, as her fingers began irritating his sides. The mongoose smirked wider and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" And another moment later, Tails got the benefit of saving his electric bill some money. Watching his kids wrestling and playing around with each other was just as fun as watching any new episode of "Nova", or the Science Channel; not too mention it was always ten times more heartwarming.

Admits the yells of someone poking someone else too hardly, or tickling too much, there was a sudden knock at the door. Tails' ears perked and he muttered something, before getting up and walking to it. Firmly opening it, he immediately lowered his head and back up again. Sally was there, still in her royal purple robe, a blank and unsure look on her face.

"And what do we owe this honor, Queen Sally?" Tails said grinning. But Sally only rolled her eyes and playfully punched her old surrogate son in the shoulder.

"Oh come on, it's always going to be Aunt Sally to you, boy."

Inviting her in, he closed the door behind her and the two made their way to the couch. Melody ceased torturing her brother, and they two sat back on the couch respectfully. Tails laid back and got comfortable as she sighed and looked at the coffee table for a moment before speaking.

"…I apologize for Sonic earlier. He's been quicker to the ruler on things involving misbehavior lately, especially in the family-"

"Hey, hey, no one is blaming Sonic for anything, Sally. I'm not mad, I'm only happy Skye is okay, and that no harm is done."

Sally nodded, but sighed again, leaning back into the soft brow couch as well and rubbing her temple.

"That's only half the problem. When it comes to Skye and Manik, he get's completely authoritative; I think it's because though he hasn't tried to retain his friendship with you, he still loves you as his best friend and brother. He see's your kids as something he shouldn't mess with, but to give the utmost respect. So when his son does these sorts of things, he-"

"Then I'll have a talk with Sonic at some point, okay?...You've got enough things to worry about besides me and my family. I can take care of things, Sal, I'm not a little boy anymore after all."

Sally finally looked up from her mid-trance and smiled. Hugging the fox before getting up, she smiled to the kids and made her exit, pausing at the door.

"Sonic has made it strictly clear to Manik that he isn't to use his speed advantage when playing with Skye. Manik threw a fit, but Sonic wouldn't have it." She stopped for a moment. "I look forward to you visiting us again, Miles."

As Tails returned the goodbye and the door closed, he reflected on his past childhood for a moment, and the blinked for a few moments, realizing something. He turned to Melody and gave her a confused look.

"Wait, where'd Skye go?"

"It's not his fault!" Skye growled, throwing a few of his pillows, blankets, and even his beanbag around his room before letting himself flop onto his bed where he bounced a few seconds before becoming still. His mind was full of irritation, and he almost had the courage to tell Sonic himself that it wasn't Manik's fault that Skye got injured at times, it was his.

"…Rrrrrr!..." He flipped over and store at his ceiling, sighing as he listened to the faint sound of footsteps, and a knock on his door. "Come in." He grumbled.

Tails peeked in, and then smiled a little at the boy, and the cute attempt to vent his anger of pillows strove around his room. He walked across the threshold, and sat down at Skye's feet. He looked the kit in the eyes, and he stared back.

"What's wrong?"

Skye scoffed and turned around onto his side, facing away from his father and now staring at the half-open door to his bedroom. Melody was standing just out of view, listening to every word.

"What's wrong is it's my fault I keep getting injured because of Manik, not his!"

For a moment, Tails raised an eyebrow, but he still smiled. His arms lay in his own lap, but he had a sneaky suspicion he would need them in a moment.

"Your fault? How's it your fault?" Skye remained silent, and Tails chuckled. "So, you think it's your fault that he did something. Alright, come here. I think I know what the problem is." He said gently, opening one arm and inviting the kit to snuggle with him. Often something Tails used to calm the boy down physically when he explained things to him when he became upset.

Skye turned over, and after a moment, leaned back up and moved over into the fox's body. He rested his head against the side of Tails' belly while Tails stroked his hair, and remained quiet.

"You're saying it's your fault, because you're comparing you and Manik to me and Sonic." Tails stated simply. Skye looked up and said nothing, and waited for him to continue, but Tails looked back down at him. "Am I right?"

"…Maybe." Skye said softly, making Tails chuckle and fully pull the fox into his lap.

"You see that Manik is the spitting image of Sonic, and has his speed and agility. You then look at yourself compared to me, and although you are smart like me, you don't have one thing yet that I do. Yet, anyway."

He gently rubbed the ends of Skye's twin tails, and the kit's eyes widened as he sniffed a little. His nose tingled, and a few moments later, he found his eyes starting to water. The fact that his father figured all of this out so quickly, something that had been bothering Skye for months made him feel both relieved and pathetic.

"Y-yeah…" The kit sniffed, as Tails smiled to himself and held Skye in his arms. "I just…I can't fly like you! I tried so hard and I couldn't even do it, I just spin my body and run into things every few seconds...and so I tried running faster, and it's still not enough to keep up with him!"

Now sobbing, Skye clenched his eyes and pulled himself into a ball in his dad's lap, sniffing and dripping tears onto the top of his knees. Tails remained silent for a moment, but then his ears perked. The faint sound of a door opening somewhere in the house. The older fox smiled, and so did Skye, as he jumped up from his father's lap and tore out the bedroom door, completely nullifying his sadness for the moment. All of this of course could only mean one thing.

Mom was home.