Miles Prower couldn't sleep.
It wasn't the disturbing events of two weeks before that were keeping him awake; he was long past that. There had been but a single casualty, though a sad one that was. Randall was learning to accept his new robotic limbs well, and seemed not to be two discontented with his abnormality. He wasn't even being teased by his peers; all Knothole hailed him as a hero. Miles was almost envious, though he was a hero himself numerous times, he had never quite gotten over all of the mockery he received in his youth over his two-tailed deformity.
However, terrible memories wouldn't help him get any sleep either. Miles closed his eyes and tried with sheer willpower for him to sink into oblivion. It was so easy to get knocked out in a fight; why couldn't he put himself to sleep on his own?
Fiona's easy breathing beside him helped sooth him slightly. She was fast asleep, and she had had just as traumatic experiences as him a fortnight ago. What force could possibly be keeping him awake?
Miles thought about going for a midnight fly, but decided that it wouldn't help, nor was it very feasible. Slamming headfirst into a tree would get him some sleep alright, but somehow Miles was looking for a more peaceful mode of unconsciousness.
A sudden scream shattered the peaceful silence. In a flash, Miles was out of bed and racing to answer the distress call. Someone could be in trouble; someone could be getting mugged. Even Knothole had a few criminals lurking around, and recently the Royal Guard had had more on its mind than petty thieves.
Miles quickly got control of himself. It was only little Tails's voice. He wouldn't have to play hero, just helpful and loving father. Miles walked across the hall and opened his son's bedroom door.
Tails was sitting straight up in bed, panting hard, with all three tails sticking straight up. Seeing Miles, he looked bashful and embarrassed. "Sorry, Dad… I'm really sorry… I had a bad dream… I didn't mean to wake you up…"
"First things first, son. Are you okay?"
"I think so… I'm okay now. It was just so real…"
Miles sighed. He knew how it was. Nightmares were all too common in Knothole these days; and it wasn't only those who had fought against Robotnik who had them either.
"Can you get back to sleep? Is there anything that I could do?"
"Could… could you tell me a story?"
"A story?" Miles thought about it for a second, and decided that he wasn't getting any sleep anyhow. "Well, okay, but what sort of story would you like?"
"A story of the old days, when you were still fighting Ro – Robot –"
"Robotnik. Are you sure, Tails? Those were scary times; they might not be right for now. I really don't want you to have another nightmare. Is there another story that would be better?
Tails thought about it for a moment. "No, I'd really like that. What about the time that you saved the world from Robotnik and his big flying Killer Egg thingy?"
"The Death Egg?" Miles chuckled. "Son, Sonic and I brought that big flying chunk of metal down so many times that I can't even count them. You'll need to be far more specific."
Again, Tails thought. "The last time. The one where you finally won forever. I wanna hear about that time. You were the hero, weren't you? Dad?"
But Miles was already deep in thought. Slowly, it all began to come back to him. He could almost feel himself back in his twelve-year old body, vivacious and energetic once more. As Miles began to narrate, the events of fifteen years ago began to play through his mind once again.