Prologue
"Hey Cream, what's up?"
"Oh, hey Tails! I'm just hangin out at home."
"Heh, doesn't sound like you're having much fun."
"No, it's kinda boring here. So what's up with you?"
"Nothing special. Just working on the Tornado as usual."
"Again?'
"Well, there isn't much else for me to do since Eggman disappeared."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Still, this is better than the world always being in danger, right?"
"Can't argue there. Hey, listen, if you're not doing anything tomorrow, I was thinking maybe we could go hang out someplace? You know, just the two of us?"
Cream hadn't expected this. "Uh...sure."
"Great! How about we go see a movie?"
"OK. What time do you want to meet up?"
"How about seven?"
"Ok, seven it is."
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Ok Tails, see you later!"
There was a click and the line went dead. Tails sat in his workshop, his mind racing, feeling, for the first time in ages, truly happy.
He went to bed that night thinking about the day ahead and about Cream. As he slipped into a quiet sleep, he dreamed about him and Cream together. They were walking along a sunny forest, carrying a large yellow gem, Cheese flying happily beside Cream. Then there was a bright flash, and he could see Cream's face looking at him, tears in her eyes, her face scratched and bruised. Then there was another bright flash, and he heard someone screaming in anguish. As he bolted up in his bed, he realized the one who was screaming was him. He could still see the nightmare clearly, as if it had just happened. He ran to the bathroom and washed his face in icy cold water, trying to forget the horrible images he had just envisioned.
He tried to go back to sleep, but the nightmare kept jabbing at his mind, playing malicious tricks on him. Eventually, he fell into an uneasy, yet dreamless sleep.