Tails wasn't sure what was going on, but the assumption that it was something of dire importance lingered on his mind. He watched as his older brother Sonic The Hedgehog and Knuckles The Echidna were discussing something behind the slightly closed door that lead into Sonic's room.

"Are you sure it's gone?" spoke Sonic.

"Positive! It just disappeared!" cried Knuckles.

"I bet its Eggman again!"

"Nope. He wouldn't be able to take it without making a scene. This time, there was no scene. No anything! Just –poof!- gone."

"What's wrong?" asked Tails as he poked his head through the door ever so slightly.

"The Master Emerald. It's gone. And I'm gonna kill whoever did took it-"

"Knux, please calm down. He's only 12!" cried the blue hedgehog.

"Sorry, it's just so weird. Just like that. Gone!" It was very appearent to the young fox that Knuckles was extremely stressed over the matter.

"I don't know what to say, bud." muttered Sonic. "I can't go out and help you find it."

"You just stay home and rest. Make sure that broken leg heals fast." said Knuckles, nodding to his friends wounded leg.

"What if I go out and help?" piped Tails, eager and ready to help.

"Sorry, buddy. But you're too young. God knows what could be out there." stated the Echidna.

Tails' eyes found their way to the ground and he walked out of the room, head hung low.

"Hey, Tails." said Sonic, swiveling his wheelchair around to face his brethren, who looked back at him with disappointed eyes.

"Your time will come. Don't worry about it." he spoke while wearing a grin.

Tails' expression lightened slightly and he smiled, then made his way back to his room.

…Later That Night…

"Whaddya mean 'not old enough?'" Tails asked himself, the events playing back in his young, adolescent mind. He slightly took offense to the remark, given that he had followed Sonic on some of his craziest adventures, and had successfully walked away with only a few minor bruises.

The fox looked out the window. He was brave, intelligent, a master navigator/inventor. He knew that he was invaluable on any team. However, according to Knuckles, he wasn't 'old enough.' It angered him, filling the younger brother of Sonic with a sense of determination. Tails knew he could find the Master Emerald just as well as that treasure hunter.

His thoughts went on and on, rambling on the subject, when suddenly, he made a most fateful decision:

He, Miles 'Tails' Prower, would go out on his own and find the Master Emerald, completely on his own.

No help.

Just him.

Tails began packing up a backpack full of supplies. Food, water, a first aid kit, and a few little nicknacks.

He then walked down the stairs, making sure not to make any sounds to alert Sonic of his departure (Knuckles had left a little bit earlier).

In fact, Tails' older brother was fast asleep in his wheelchair. He had fallen into a deep slumber in front of the television, which projected on to the hedgehog's eyelids

The fox took a final look at his brethren one last time.

"Bye, Sonic. I'll be back soon." He whispered.

And then Tails, alone and armed with only his intelligence and twin tails, began his journey into the world beyond the Green Hill Zone…

…The Next Day…

"Whew, made it!" Tails said to himself as he flew to the top of an incredibly high hill. It was an oddly sunny day, and the young adventurer had made his way into the Mystic Ruins. He stopped and took a swig from his water bottle, that unfortunately was almost depleted of its liquid contents.

He inspected his surroundings. Tails noticed the temple, saw the outline of Station Square in the distance-

[What are you doing here, lifeform?]

Tails spun around and found himself looking up directly into the eyes of none other than-

"Metal Sonic!" he shrieked, obviously scared.

[Repeat: What are you doing here, lifeform?] spoke the Sonic-lookalike.

"I… uh… I was…er… damn, uh…" Tails sputtered a few odd sounds, unable to speak in the presence of his brother's greatest rival.

Metal Sonic simply looked down upon him, awaiting the answer that might never come.

Then, Tails regained himself, took a deep breath, and quietly said "I'm off to find the Master Emerald, for it has disappeared from its rightful place on Angel Island."

He then flinched, putting his arms and shielding his eyes, hoping that the answer he'd presented to Metal Sonic wouldn't cause the robot to end his life.

Metal Sonic said and did nothing for a few seconds.

Then, it spoke:

[Good luck.]

Then, in an amount of time that would make the original jealous, Metal Sonic flew off to one undisclosed location or another.

Tails slowly moved out of his admittedly lame defensive pose, and watched the robot zoom away in to the forest.

"Odd…" he muttered to himself. It was weird that Metal Sonic would exchange such words. Tails continued to ponder this as he made his way to the temple of the Master Emerald on Angel Island.

…That Night…

The stars shone brightly. They seemed to calm Tails, still thinking about his adventure earlier with Metal Sonic. He watched as satellites made their way across the sky. He even was able to point out the abandoned Space Colony ARK. He fondly remember the madness that took place aboard that particular vessel…

"HEY!"

Tails fell backwards from the log he was sitting on, then looked up.

It was only Big and his sidekick Froggy.

"Tails! Nice to see you again!" said the purple cat, waddling over to him while trying not to touch the fire Tails had spent an hour trying to make.

"Hey, Big. Nice to see you as well." Tails said nonchalantly.

"So," Big said as he sat down next to the fox. "What are you doin' out here in the Mystic Ruins?"

"Well, I'm trying to find the Master Emerald." He said quietly. "It disappeared without a trace from Angel Island. Knuckles has no idea what happened to it."

"Well, if it helps, I saw a green glowing a while ago."

Tails perked up and the sound of these words.

"WHAT? YOU DID?" cried the fox.

"Yup! It was moving along at a fast pace just a while ago. I couldn't see who or what was carrying it."

"Which direction was it heading?"

"Uh…" the obese cat thought for a second. "That-a way." He said finally, pointing North.

"Thankthankyouthankyou!" screamed Tails, packing up his things and flew up into the sky, heading in the direction Big showed him.

"Hey, you forgot to put out your fire!" cried Big.

"You enjoy it! From me to you!" replied the fox.

Finally, the Emerald is mine, thought Tails as he flew off into the night in pursuit of the Master Emerald.

A Note From The Author

Mkay, so, this was a story I write up ages ago, but forgot about. I did write a second chapter, however, something on my computer went screwy on me, so I ended up losing it. I remember how it went so I'll write that up ASAP.

PLEASE REVIEW!

-Fifteen Himself