Prologue

When Sonic first looked into Tails' eyes, he saw nothing but vulnerability. His eyes looked empty with despair, as if something terrible had happened to him. Sonic would never forget the look in Tails' eyes as his two year old self stared up at him for the first time.

Sonic, at the time, seven years old, wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't just leave this baby on the side of the road like this. His orange fur was a mess with oil and suit. He was still wearing a diaper, even at this later age for his baby years. His shoes looked scraggly and scuffed, as if he had dragged his feet all his life.

What puzzled the blue hedgehog the most, though, was the fact that this cute little fox had two tails. It was really weird, but at the time it didn't seem to matter to Sonic. All he knew was that this little guy was in trouble, and he needed some help.

Picking him up, Sonic began walking down the street on the cold, rainy night. When he passed the local orphanage, he considered dropping him off there. But the hedgehog continued. He firmly believed that any kid raised in an orphanage got the short end of the stick. He decided finally to bring him to his little home with his mother, Bernadette. He knew that his Mom would clean him up well--as she would any baby she ever found lying on the street.

Chapter One

"No--! You can't do this to me…someone help me…" Tails tossed and turned in his sleep as an unsettling dream sent him into a cold sweat. In the nightmare, he stood in front of a huge robot that had captured his mother and fazed her. Dr. Eggman was going in for the kill.

Tails glared up in despair at the sight. He jerked his head around and expected Sonic to come flying in to the rescue. But he never came. Tails cried out in despair.

"No!! You can't do this…I won't let you…."

"Huh…!" Tails jerked awake and began taking deep breaths. He sighed. All that was only a dream. Stretching, he got out of bed and walked out of his room and greeted his mother.

"Hi Mom," he said. At the age of twelve, Tails' mother had finally come back to Sonic's house and found her son. It was a very joyful reunion. However, whenever Tails asked about his dad, Rosemary had said nothing about it. It seemed to make her upset, but she blinked away the tears and continued to take care of her beloved son.

Rosemary gazed at Tails with tired eyes. "Hello beloved," she said yawning. "I hope you slept better than I did." Tails shrugged.

"Sorry Mom," he said. "I had this crazy nightmare…..horrible." Rosemary nodded and turned to the stove, where she was cooking breakfast.

"That happens," she agreed. "Would you like some oatmeal for breakfast, Tails?" The two-tailed fox nodded and sat down at the kitchen table, where the oatmeal was poured into a bowl in front of him. Rosemary then sat across from his and gently blew on her oatmeal.

"I'm a little worried about Sonic," Tails said, scooping up a spoon full of breakfast.

"What ever for?"

"Well, he's been acting really distracted lately…it's as if he lost one of his most precious belongings, and he's waiting anxiously for someone to return it to him."

Rosemary took a sip from her glass of milk. "Maybe something's wrong in the family. I wouldn't worry about it. You know Sonic--always moving on." Tails agreed as he took another bite of oatmeal.

When breakfast was finished, Tails grabbed his bag and walked out the door.

"I'll be home around lunchtime," he called to his mom. Rosemary nodded and opened a hall closet.

"After I clean a little bit, I'm going to town to run some errands. I'll be home around that time too." Tails walked out the door and onto the streets of Mobotropolis.

At the age of 13, Tails knew Sonic like the back of his hand. He knew where he lived, what foods he liked, what his favorite color was…well, mainly it was because he lived with him for more than five years since he took him off the street. He liked his mother, Bernadette; she was nice enough. It was a little creepy sometimes being around Sonic's dad, Jules, as he was a robot, but Tails had grown used to it. So, with all his knowledge about his best friend, he couldn't figure out why he didn't understand Sonic's dilemma as of late. It puzzled him, like a sudoku problem, or a mechanical problem. But Tails vowed that today he would ask what was wrong with Sonic.

Ding-dong

Sonic's doorbell sounded as the hedgehog walked out, looking tired. "Yo Tails," he said weakly, wiping a trail of drool off his mouth. "Was up?" Tails looked alarmed.

"You look terrible!" he said, shoving the hedgehog into his house. "Go lay down somewhere. What's wrong with you?...!" Sonic chuckled as he staggered over to his couch.

"Geez bud, ya sound like my mom!" Tails removed his messenger bag and sat down next to his friend.

"What's the matter with you?" he said, concerned. "Are you sick?" Sonic shook his head and stretched.

"I think I'm just tired," he yawned. Tails got up from the couch.

"Well…OK. You get some rest, and I'll go home for a bit. Just call me if you need anything. The number is-"

"You worry too much!" Sonic scolded as he waved his hand at the fox. "Just…I'll get some rest for you, don't worry about it." Tails nodded as he walked out the door.

"See ya," he waved and quietly closed to door.

Tails sighed. Sonic was more sick than ever.