A/N: This is part three of my other fanfic titled "Esplouge." If you have not read "Esplouge" or "Return" (part two), you'll probably be confused if you jump straight into reading this. The other two aren't that hard to find - just typing the word "Esplouge" into the search engine on this site will yeild two, now three results. For newcomers, I welcome you, and for my older readers, welcome to part three.

Disclaimer: I own Esplouge and this plot. Sonic Team owns the rest.

--

Tails was asleep somewhere and felt as though he were floating. Where he was he did not know, but he did not care. It was somewhere dark and he couldn't see, and all he cared about was looking for Esplouge. Something inside him knew that Esplouge was lost somewhere in the darkness and he had to help Esplouge, Tails had to help the person he had come to know as a friend. He reached out blindly, trying to feel his way through the darkness and eventually, he felt something. He couldn't see it, but something inside him knew that he had found Esplouge and he was holding onto Esplouge's hand...

The light of the morning sun hit Tails' eyes in just the right way to startle him awake. Tails immediately went to shielding his face with his free hand, feeling something in the other. He looked to see what it was, expecting to see Esplouge, and was disappointed to see that it was a chaos emerald.

But Esplouge is inside the emerald...

Tails stared at the red gem a little longer before hugging it close to him, feeling the warmth inside as if feeling Esplouge's warmth. Esplouge was inside the emerald now, in a way. The emerald had taken Esplouge away from him, but it was also the only thing he had left of his fallen friend.

As far as he was concerned, it was the only thing he had left.

It had been two full months since Esplouge had gone, just past what would have been the darker fox's second birthday. Tails still hadn't fully recovered, and he had spent most of those two months alone in his house.

He no longer wanted company.

He no longer cared about being happy.

All he wanted was to get Esplouge back.

After a few minutes, Tails finally slung his legs over the side of his bed, stood up, and stretched. Today would be another awful, lonely day, just like all the rest. Although by now, the isolation was voluntary. Tails couldn't stand being around people anymore, as they all served as a reminder of how much he missed Esplouge.

Sonic had always hated Esplouge. So had Shadow, so had Knuckles. Cream and Amy were dead. With Eggman gone as well, there was no one threatening the well-being of the world, and thus, no reason to tag along on missions with Sonic. There was no reason to leave the house unless he needed food or other necessities.

Before Tails could get further into his thoughts, the phone rang for the first time in what felt like forever. For once, someone was actually willing to talk to him. Tails stared reluctantly at the phone for a moment before finally deciding to answer it.

"... Hello?" Tails asked flatly, no longer used to talking with people anymore.

"Tails?" Sonic's voice.

Tails was tempted to slam the phone down right then, as Sonic was one of the last people he wanted to be talking to, but he resisted the urge. After all, Sonic hadn't said anything to set him over the edge. Yet.

"Yeah?" Tails asked impatiently.

Sonic hesitated a moment.

"I was... Well, we haven't hung out in a while..."

"Get to the point."

"... Look, Tails, I didn't call you to start a fight, I just wanted to know if you wanted any company," Sonic said, starting to lose his patience. Dealing with Tails had become almost impossible since what had happened to Esplouge.

Tails didn't say anything, and after a moments pause, Sonic continued.

"I'm not asking you to leave your house, or even to talk to me, I just... I'm worried about you, Tails."

"I'm fine," Tails said flatly. "I don't need you to worry about me."

"Look, I can't help but worry," Sonic said, trying to keep his voice steady. "You're still my best friend. I still love you like a brother."

There was another pause.

"Fine," Tails said, defeated. "When will you be over?"