This was originally going to be only one chapter, but I just kept adding to it. I wrote about twenty pages before I thought I should split it up. I hope you enjoy it!

The powerful engine of a striking red car growled as it flew over the hot tarmac. In the driver's seat was a female cat in a purple cloak and next to her sat a younger racoon girl who wore a blue tank top and jeans and had a camera hanging by a strap around her neck. They were travelling along a desert road for no other reason than to just go for a drive.

"Oi don't know 'ow many toimes oi've said this," said the seventeen year old racoon, "but this car is ripper!"f

"You've said it enough times for it to get tiresome," replied the twenty-four year old feline.

"Well, sorry, but it is. Thinkin' of gettin' one, myself."

"I doubt you'd be able to afford one."

"Yeah, oi know. 'Ow much are they, anyway?"

The feline glanced at her friend and said the price. The racoon gaped at the cat and then looked out the front windshield again with the same expression. She blinked a few times, "That's quoite a bit."

"Well, that's one way of putting it. But the thing is," the lilac feline glanced over again, "even if you could afford one, you wouldn't be able to drive it."

"Oi know, oi know. Oi'll get droivin' lessons tomorrow."

"Marine, you said that three days ago."

"Really? Three days? Wow, toime does pass quicker when you're older."

"You don't know the half of it," said Blaze, smiling slightly, "Before you know it, you'll be my age."

"Yeah. And by that toime, you'll be even wrinklier than you are now."

Blaze frowned over at the racoon, who just stared back, sweetly. The cat sighed and quickly fixed her attention on the road again. Marine continued to look at her.

"What?" asked Blaze, feeling Marine's eyes on her.

"Blaze, you know how to droive, roight?"

"Obviously."

"Well..."

The racoon tilted her head.

"No, Marine."

"What?" the racoon asked, smiling.

"I'm not going to teach you how to drive. I'm not qualified and I don't feel like doing it."

Blaze continued driving for a while, but could feel the racoon still looking in her direction. She sighed heavily, "Marine, would you stop looking at me, please?"

"No, oi'm not lookin' at you, mate. Oi'm lookin' at that."

The feline looked to her left briefly, where Marine was pointing, "What?"

"Storm clouds."

"And?"

"Well, wasn't the weather report sayin' it was gonna be a beautiful day? That sure don't look beautiful."

There was a flash of lighting, followed by thunder.

"Don't worry about it."

Marine shook her head, "No, seriously, Blaze. Pull over and look at 'em!"

Rolling her eyes, Blaze pulled the car to the side of the road and looked out the window. Her eyes widened when she saw the huge, ugly black clouds. It was almost like there was a large fire burning nearby and releasing thick smoke into the sky.

Marine got out and looked at it with awe, "Wow! Never seen anything loike it!"

There was another flash of lightning. Blaze tried to tell Marine to get back inside the car, but her words were drowned out by the loud rumble of thunder. Then, to Blaze's irritation, the seventeen year old started walking towards the storm.

"Marine, what the hell!" shouted Blaze at the racoon who was walking past the front of the car. Blaze got out and noticed the wind was picking up, "What are you doing?"

She then noticed a camera in her young friend's hands.

"Do you really have to take a photo of this?" asked Blaze incredulously.

"All aspoirin' photographers take pictures of anything they can, mate."

A huge gust of wind took Blaze's breath away and she had to turn her head.

"It's getting dangerous! Let's go!"

"Just a sec, mate."

"No! Now!"

Marine looked back with annoyed expression. Then her expression changed to shock and she felt herself being pushed back by the swirling wind. She tried to make her way towards Blaze, but she found herself slipping further away with every step.

"Blaze!"

The feline reached out her hand, trying to stop herself from losing her footing, the wind pushing on her back. Rain suddenly lashed down, forcing both of them to squint as it drummed on their faces.

Marine screamed as she was lifted off her feet. Blaze felt herself become weightless as she, too, was lifted into the air. She was frozen with fear and her breath came out in short gasps.

I'm going to fall. I know it. I'm a goner, this thought passed through her mind before she felt herself hit something and everything went black.

-

"Wake up! Wake up! Oh, come on, mate!"

Blaze felt herself being shaken repeatedly.

Stop it... she thought, hazily.

"Are you with me?"

Go away...

Whoever was shaking her stopped. Then, she felt her nose being pinched and her mouth pulled wide. There was an intake of breath. Blaze's eyes snapped open just as Marine's face was coming towards her, mouth open. She turned her head away and put up a hand to stop the racoon who gave out a small yelp.

"Mate, you're alroight!" Marine gave her a concerned look as the cat sat up, "You... are alroight, aren't ya?"

"Mmm... think so," said Blaze, moving her arms and legs and squinting against the bright sunlight, "Nothing's broken, it looks like."

She peered at Marine, "Just what were you about to do?"

"Oh, oi didn't think you were breathin', so oi was gonna give ya the 'Kiss of Loife'."

"Did you even check if I was breathing, at all?"

"Um... not exactly."

Blaze covered her face with her hand and sighed, "I'm so glad I woke up when I did."

"What? You sayin' there's somethin' wrong with kissin' me?"

The feline's eyes had adjusted to the light and she could see Marine smirking at her. Blaze opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came to mind, so instead she sighed and shook her head in disbelief.

"Where are we, anyway?" she asked, looking around. They were sitting in the middle of a grassy field. Behind her, two tall rocks created looming shadows on the ground.

"Dunno. That was some pretty strong wind, though. We coulda been blown anywhere," said Marine.

Blaze shivered at the thought of being carried on the wind alone, high above the ground. She pushed the image out of her mind and looked around again, "I don't recognise this place at all."

"Well, why dan't we try an' foind some locals ta ask?"

Their ears pricked up when they heard the sound of an aircraft engine getting louder. Blaze looked in the direction it was coming from. A white aircraft could be seen, flying low and seemed it was going to land near them from the way it was slowing down.

"Looks like the locals are coming to us. Hide."

"Why?"

"We don't know who they are or what they're like. Just get behind those rocks and keep quiet."

The two took cover behind the rocks and peeked out at the white ship approaching. Soon enough, it landed. The sound of two pairs of feet hitting the ground could be heard. Then, the strangers spoke.

"Well, it doesn't look like anything's here," said a female voice.

"The reader doesn't give out false energy signatures," replied a male voice that somehow seemed familiar, "There's something here. I mean, look. I'm getting a faint reading behind those rocks."

Blaze's eyes widened. Nudging Marine, the two moved around the rocks as the footsteps approached.

"Huh? Now it's over there," that frustratingly familiar voice again.

Blaze kept moving until she was almost back to where she was, before.

"I don't understand. There was something..."

The feline peered around the rocks to see the backs of a pink hedgehog with a red t-shirt and jeans and an orange, two-tailed fox holding a small device.

Unable to believe her eyes, Blaze stood stock still, mouth slightly agape. Then, she stepped forward.

"Tails?"

The fox and hedgehog cried out and turned to face the cat and racoon. The two-tailed vulpine's eyes widened and he dropped the device in amazement. Blaze and Marine instantly noticed the fox had a light scar on his face, going diagonally across his left eye.

For long moments, the four just stared at each other in silence.

"Blaze?" the fox whispered at last, "Marine?"

"Tails? Mate? It's really you, innit?"

"What... what are you guys doing here?" his voice had changed; it was deeper.

"What are we doing here?" asked Blaze, "What are you doing here?"

"Huh? This is our dimension, Blaze..."

The two other-dimensional girls looked at each other, then back at Tails.

"I'm in your dimension, again?" the feline asked.

"Looks like it, yeah..."

There was another silence. The pink hedgehog took this as a chance to ask, "Okay, what the hell is going on?"

"Oh, uh, Amy... this is Blaze," said Tails, gesturing to the cat, "You've met her before, 'though you probably don't remember."

"Hmmm... she seems familiar," said Amy, shaking the cat's hand, "Maybe I have. Who's the other one?"

"Uh... Marine. You haven't met her, if you're wondering."

Amy and Marine also shook hands.

"Uh-huh. And what's this about dimensions?"

"Well... they're from another dimension," explained Tails, rubbing his scarred left eye and then blinked rapidly, "Blaze has visited ours before and we've done the same; visited hers. That was about ten years ago."

"I... see..." replied Amy, not seeing.

Marine stepped forward, "Ten years. Wow... mate, it's great seein' ya again!" she looked closely at Tails, "'Ow did ya get that scar?"

"This? Oh, got it a few years back fighting one of Eggman's robots. I was lucky I didn't lose my eye. There are problems with it, though. Sometimes it waters uncontrollably, so if you think I'm tired or something because I'm rubbing my eye... well, I'm probably not. That, and the vision isn't too great from it."

"Whaddya mean?"

"Well, I can see with it, but images are real blurry. Like, if I close my right eye, I can see you, but you're just a fuzzy outline."

"Can't it be corrected?" asked Blaze.

"Unfortunately, no. Even though it seems like the worst that happened was my eyelid getting scarred, the truth is, the cut was deep enough to damage my eye in such a way that it's impossible to fix. Glasses, contact lenses, laser corrective surgery... wouldn't work," Tails chuckled, "I had headaches for the first couple of weeks, because my brain was constantly trying to focus my left eye's sight, but obviously couldn't. I've gotten used to it now, though."

"Oi koinda loike your scar. It's pretty cool," said Marine.

"You like it?" frowned Tails, running his fingers over the old wound.

"Yeah. Makes ya look... dangerous," she said with a smirk.

Tails blushed and looked away. He cleared his throat, "So... how did you two get here?"

"We're not sure. The last thing I remember before we arrived was an unusual storm," said Blaze.

"Yeah. We were sucked inta the sky. Koinda scary."

Blaze took a deep breath, and let it out, "Not something I'd want to go through again."

Tails thought for a few moments, "Wait... when me and Sonic came to your world, there was a nasty storm then. It could be the same sort of thing."

"Hmmm... maybe."

"We'll figure it out," smiled Tails, shrugging. He looked at the two standing before him, "Well you two are, um... older."

"'E always was smart..." Marine said to Blaze, sarcastically. She turned back to him, "You're right, though. I mean, Blaze has gotten really old. Look at all those wrinkles on 'er."

Blaze frowned at the racoon.

"See? Look at those deep loines on 'er 'ead."

Blaze just rolled her eyes and sighed.

Tails laughed, "You haven't changed at all, Marine."

"Actually, oi 'ave. Didn't oi say when you an' Sonic saw me next oi'd be all grown up?"

"It's true. She's definitely matured," nodded Blaze, "Although sometimes, it doesn't seem like it."

The eighteen year old fox's eyes briefly flicked over Marine's chest, "She sure has..."

"Keep your eyes to yourself, mate," said the racoon, crossing her arms, "Anyway, speakin' of Sonic, where is your cobber?"

Tails' face fell and he looked over at Amy. She looked back at him with the same solemn expression.

"What? What's wrong?" asked Marine.

"Sonic? He's, uh..." the vulpine put his hand on the back of his neck.

"What? 'E's hurt? Sick?"

Tails averted his gaze, "I'll... I'll take you to see him," the fox picked up the device he had dropped, turned and walked towards his ship.

Blaze and Marine gave each other worried glances and followed him.

"You two get in the rear cockpit," said Tails as he and Amy climbed into the cockpit closer to the front of the ship, "Oh, by the way, I built this. It's called the X-Tornado II."

"Cool!" exclaimed Marine, "Er... what 'appened to the first one?"

"It was getting old and we needed a new one, basically."

The racoon nodded. Marine and Blaze climbed into the cockpit behind Tails and Amy's.

"So where are we headed?" asked Blaze, clipping on her seat's harness.

"To Sonic's favourite place," replied Tails, "Green Hill. It's in the Zone Archipelago. It should only take us about ten minutes."

The canopies over both cockpits closed and the engines fired up. The X-Tornado II lifted into the air, rotating to the face in the direction of Green Hill Zone as it did so. Blaze moaned, tightened her harness, and gripped the edge of her seat.

-

"Blaze. Marine. We're flying over Green Hill, now," Tails said over the intercom.

Marine pressed her face against the window and stared in awe at the sheer beauty of the zone. A hilly area, covered in green grass and palm trees. Blue crystal lakes sparkled in the sunlight and waterfalls cascaded down reddish-brown mountains. Marine had never seen anything so magnificent. Without hesitation, she took her camera, which had survived the trip to Tails' dimension, out and started snapping pictures.

"Croikey! This place is a beaut, innit, Blaze?"

Marine turned to the lilac feline sitting behind her and looked puzzled when she saw Blaze steadfastly keeping her yellow eyes down, cringing every time the craft bucked from turbulence. The twenty four year old princess raised her head and looked at the racoon who nodded towards the scenery outside.

Blaze shook her head 'no' and looked down again.

Does Tails have to fly so high? she thought to herself.

After a few minutes, to her great relief, Tails slowed the X-Tornado II, hovered, and then skilfully landed it, making only the smallest bump. The canopies opened and the four occupants climbed out.

Tails looked towards a hill a short distance away. He turned to Blaze and Marine, "He's at the top of that hill. Come on."

The girls followed the fox, who seemed a little downcast. The gently sloping hill made for an easy climb, but it seemed to take forever to get to the top. Blaze's heart beat faster the closer they got. In just a few moments, she would see Sonic again, but she wasn't sure how he would look. Was he sick or injured like Marine asked? Tails and Amy had already reached the top and stood waiting for them, facing away.

Marine, smiling widely, took in a breath as she joined the two, ready to shout "Surprise!" to the blue blur. But when she looked around, she saw nothing but a palm tree and a stone tablet in the ground with markings on it. Blaze was next to them a second later, and she looked in confusion at Tails.

"Where is he?" she asked.

The fox stepped to the side and gestured to the stone tablet. Blaze stepped forward and saw that the markings were words.

Here lies a legendary hero, friend and brother.

Taken from us too early,

He now rests in his own sky sanctuary.

"Live fast, think fast, act fast."

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

It was a gravestone. His gravestone.

Blaze staggered back a step, feeling numb. She faintly noticed Marine falling to her knees and staring at the grave. Her head buzzed. The world didn't seem real. Blaze tried to force herself to wake up, thinking it was a dream, a nightmare.

Hoping it was.

Tails' voice brought her back, "I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier, but... I don't know. I couldn't..."

The fox kneeled next to his idol's – his brother's – grave and gently laid a hand over the soil, smiling sadly.

"Sonic... you've got a couple of visitors. But this time, it's not me and Amy."

He stood up and looked over to the racoon and cat, "You guys want to say anything to him?" he asked gently.

Blaze shook her head, unable to think. Marine walked up to Sonic's gravesite and knelt down. As Tails had done, she placed a hand over where he lay. For a few moments, her mouth worked, but nothing came out. Then, she found her voice.

"Sonic? Mate? It's Marine. Remember me? Oi've got Blaze with me, too. We just got 'ere," she stopped and closed her eyes. Taking in a shivering breath and letting it out, she continued, "Remember what oi said about bein' all grown up next time we met? Well, oi 'ave."

A sob escaped her and she covered her mouth with her hand, "Oi just wish you were here to see..."

The tears came then. She knelt there sobbing for a few moments before she calmed herself down and took her place next to Blaze, sniffling. Amy went over to her and handed her a handkerchief.

"Blaze?" Tails looked at her, his own eyes wet.

The feline could think of nothing, but went to Sonic's resting place, regardless. Kneeling next to it, she slowly shook her head. Laying her hand over him, she sighed and closed her eyes tight, forcing herself not to cry.

He's gone. I can't believe he's gone. This can't be real. Couldn't I get to see him one more time?

She tried to speak, only to find herself speechless.

"Blaze," Tails said in a gentle voice, "You don't have to say anything. It's okay. Sonic would just be happy that you were here."

Blaze opened her eyes. She was still for a moment. Then, she managed to say something.

"...Goodbye, Sonic."

She stood up, silently, keeping her emotions in check. She blinked away the tears blurring her vision and looked over at Tails.

"When did it happen? How did it happen?" she asked.

Tails looked like he had been expecting those questions, "When? Uh... about nine years ago."

"That long?" breathed Blaze.

The fox nodded, "He was only sixteen when he died."

"It was very hard on everyone," added Amy. She looked at the fox she now thought of as a little brother, "More so for some of us than others."

Tails looked away, "...As for 'how'... well... it's a long story. But, I guess you guys have got enough time to hear it. We'll head back to my house and I'll tell you there."

The four began walking back to the X-Tornado II. The two girls stopped and looked once more at the grave.

"Goodbye, mate..." murmured Marine, quietly.

"Farewell, my friend," whispered Blaze. She put her hand on Marine's back and the two followed Tails and Amy.

-

The setting sun streamed in through the windows. Orange rays lit up Tails' living room, but did little to brighten the spirits of the ones sitting there.

"He was gone," sighed Tails, "He didn't survive that explosion, even in the form he had taken. He knew it would... would kill him, but if he didn't go through with it, then... well, we wouldn't be sitting here, right now. Huh. Even in death, he had to make a show out of it."

"That was always him," agreed Amy, who sat beside the fox, "He treated life like a game."

She sighed, "Seeing him lying there, motionless, was... oh, it was horrible. I was always expecting him to suddenly open his eyes and say he was alright. It never happened."

"At the end of the funeral, after Sonic was put under the palm tree, there was only myself, Amy, Knuckles, Cream, Shadow and Rouge," said Tails, unconsciously rubbing his left eye, which had begun to water, "We all knew what happened and what he had done. And... that's it."

There was silence in the room as the cat and racoon absorbed the information.

"Wow..." whispered Marine.

"I never imagined..." said Blaze, slowly.

Marine turned to look at a picture of Sonic hanging on the wall behind her. It was the only one adorning that wall and had a golden frame around it.

"Oi've been meanin' ta ask ya, Tails," she said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder, "What's so special about that picture? You've got others of 'im, ain't ya?"

Tails looked at the picture and smiled, "Oh that one? That's the last picture ever taken of him. It was taken at a barbecue at Amy's just before... he appeared."

Sonic stood with a hand on his hip, looking into the distance, a smile on his face.

"I've always wondered what he was thinking at that moment."

"What a poser," smiled Marine.

"Oh, that wasn't a pose. Amy just decided to take a picture of him when he wasn't looking. Every other time she asked him, he always made funny faces before she clicked the shutter."

"I think it's one of his best pictures," said Amy, "He looks more... natural. And that smile. It's better than that cocky grin he always had."

They all looked at the picture for a while longer before Amy spoke again, "Well, I'd better be leaving. The sun's going down and I haven't switched on my house's lights."

"Are you sure you don't want me to set it up so that they turn on automatically?" asked Tails.

"No, it's fine. Besides, I'd find it spooky with the lights coming on by themselves."

"Well, if you say so," shrugged the fox.

Amy stood up, "Well, it was nice seeing you again, Blaze. And Marine, it's been a pleasure," she thought for a moment, "Oh! Who's gonna spend the night here?"

"What do you mean?" asked Blaze.

"Well, Tails has only got one spare room. One of you could stay here and one could stay at my place."

"Or they could both just sleep here tonight," said Tails, "One of you can have my bed. I'll just sleep on the couch."

"Won't 'ear of it, mate," Marine shook her head, "Oi'll sleep on the couch. Done it loads of toimes back 'ome when oi couldn't be bothered ta go ta bed."

"No, no, you're the guests. You get the beds."

"Mate..."

"Unless you two want to double up," said Tails. His eyes got a faraway look and a small smirk slowly formed on his face.

Marine frowned, "Mate, oi dan't loike that look on your face."

"What?" asked Tails, innocently.

"We ain't that close, ya know."

"Tails..." said Amy, disapprovingly, "What's wrong with you?"

"Sorry, mother," the fox said sarcastically, raising an eyebrow at her.

Blaze sighed, "Look, I'll take your bed, Tails. It doesn't really matter where we sleep, as long as we have a roof over our heads."

"Sure. Okay."

"Alright. Now we know what's happening," nodded Amy, "'See you all later. Bye!"

The three waved goodbye to the pink hedgehog and she left.

"I'll go put fresh sheets on the beds," said Tails, standing up, "Feel free to look around or make yourselves a snack."

"Thanks, mate. Oi think oi'll 'look around' the kitchen," said Marine.

"Sure. Go ahead."

Tails made his way upstairs.

-

The sun had set and a crescent moon took its place in the sky.

"Tails, you got any pyjamas oi could wear?" asked Marine.

"You didn't bring any?"

"'Course not! It's not loike we planned this trip, ya know."

Tails blushed, feeling foolish, "Right," he cleared his throat, "Well, I've only got one pair of pyjamas for myself, but you could have a t-shirt and shorts. They might be a little big, but..." he shrugged.

"...Better than sleepin' in the nuddy," finished Marine. Then she realised what she'd said, "Dan't be gettin' anythin' in that 'ead of yours!" she said, pointing at Tails.

"I wasn't!" protested the fox, raising his hands.

"Uh-huh..."

Tails ignored her and turned to Blaze, "I'm guessing the situation's the same for you?"

She nodded.

"Well, I don't know if they'd fit you, but you—"

"No. It would be best if I just wore this," she gestured to her cloak, which looked to be almost exactly the same as the one she was wearing the last time Tails saw her.

"Why?"

"This cloak is made of a special material. It keeps my flames under control. If I didn't wear this, I'd probably burn your house down."

"Oh."

"Koinda scary, eh?" said Marine.

"Yeah..."

"At first, oi thought she only wore that cloak thing 'cause she had no sense of style," Blaze rolled her eyes at this, "Never thought it was 'cause she'd go up in flames without it."

"No sense of style? What's wrong with it?" asked Blaze.

"It looks alroight. Be nice if you wore somethin' else, though. Y'know, somethin' else that hoides yer flames, of course."

"Well, I don't have anything else. You'll just have to deal with it."

"Oi know, oi know," Marine said, then yawned, "Well, oi'm off to bed. Where's your spare room, Tails?"

"Go up the stairs and it's the second door on the left. Before you go, let me get those clothes for you."

He went into the kitchen and walked out again after a few moments holding a white t-shirt and sky-blue shorts.

"Here you go. Freshly washed."

"Thanks, mate."

"Goodnight."

"'Noight."

The racoon went up the stairs, leaving Blaze and Tails alone. The fox sat beside the lilac princess and looked at her.

"Hey, Blaze. How about I take you to see Cream tomorrow?"

"Really?" her yellow eyes lit up.

"Sure. I can phone her and ask to meet somewhere. I won't tell her you're coming, though. Let's make it a surprise!"

"That sounds like a great idea. Thank you, Tails."

"No problem."

"How is she doing, anyway?"

"Well, she's still living with her mother. She's recently found someone, though. Uh, Jack. He's also a rabbit. I haven't met him, yet, but Amy likes him."

"Jack the Rabbit, huh? I'm glad to hear that."

Blaze's smile faded and she looked at her feet.

"What's wrong?" asked Tails with a worried frown.

"Sorry. I was just thinking about Sonic."

Tails noticed she was breathing slowly and deeply.

"Blaze," he said, softly, "it's okay to let your emotions go."

"I can't. I'm not allowed."

"It's not healthy to keep things bottled up. Blaze... I know you want to grieve for him. Go ahead. It'll make you feel better."

The feline looked at him, then at her hands on her lap. She closed her eyes, and her body twitched as a sob hissed between her teeth. Tails put a hand on her back and was surprised when she turned and put her arms around him, crying into his shoulder. He embraced her, and found he was close to tears, himself. He had gotten over Sonic's death years ago, but there was still the dull ache of loss and Blaze's sorrow made it throb painfully once more.

"I miss him..." whispered Blaze.

"Me, too..."

He held her as she grieved, her warm tears dripping onto his chest.

After a few minutes, Blaze's sobs began to ease up and she eventually moved away from Tails. She wiped her eyes, breathing heavily and sniffling.

She smiled at the fox, eyes glistening, "Thank you, Tails. You're right, I do feel better."

He smiled back, "Like I said."

She raised her head to the ceiling, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "...I'm tired. I guess I should get to bed."

"Sounds like a good idea. My room's the first door on the left."

Blaze nodded, "Goodnight, Tails."

"G'night, Blaze."

I will be writing a prequel (or rather, prequels) to this, so don't worry – your questions will be answered. Eventually.