This first little bit I'm typing is as an explanation as to what I'm doing. Basically, this is a short story set in one of my favorite sources of entertainment Sonic the Hedgehog. Going into more detail, it is an alternate version to how Sonic met Tails. Please bear with me since this is the first time I've ever done anything like this, and constructive criticism is appreciated. So, without further adieu, enjoy my story Cry Out.
Cry Out
It is a rare day on West Island when rain doesn't fall; rarer still when residents are able to view the stars fully on such a clear night. When the usually dull spots in the sky become pin pricks of light shining in full glory and the moon stands like a stone sentinel bathing the island in it's silver glow; a rare and beautiful site, but still, for most all residents of West Island, not worthy of their time or attention. Which is why, on this calm and supposedly peaceful night, people, too busy to even look up, did not notice the figure standing on top of Bill's Convenience Store, staring out at the old presumed abandoned church, and having come to disturb their peace.
He/it stands so still if anyone even bothered to look up they probably assume what they were seeing was a statue, but, of course, they would wrong in assuming so. He/it was there for a reason and he/it saw only one possible obstacle standing in the way. Staring into the church with powerful 'eyes' through a busted in window, and watching as another figure stood looking out the same window at the night sky.
A few days later.
For as long as people can remember the ancient church in the east district has always been and will probably always be where it's always been. A proud monument of the past that has survived both nature's fury and the ravages of time, and, like so many other such places, it has become of folklore on its small island; a place of mysteries and myths, most of which were not pleasant. This is why no one dared to enter into its confines, and why no one seemed to know of the occupant living within.
'I'm cold, but that's not new, I'm almost always cold. Especially when it rains this hard,' he thought; as he tightly wraps the few rags he has around him trying to conserve his body heat. He has lived here for as long as he can remember, leaving only when absolutely necessary. This was his safe place, never mind its many leaks, where those who tease and hurt him can't reach him.
He didn't bother trying to fool himself into not knowing why people called him a freak. Like everyone else he was an anthromorph, a fox to be precise, but unlike everyone else he sported a twin pair of tails. This resulted in mock and ridicule every time he left his sanctuary; the worst of which was them saying that his parents abandoned him because of it. He refused to believe that; he didn't know why he was alone, but he was sure they had care, why would they give him a name if they didn't. Granted, he didn't much like his name (which by the way was Miles Prower, don't get it? Try saying it five times fast), but it was still a name.
'These kinds of thoughts won't help me get warm,' he thinks shaking his head fiercely. Getting up, he heads to where he hopes the rain won't get through, and, settling down, looks up at the largest stain glass window in the church, depicting the nativity scene and prays. Now, it might surprise as to what this little child prays for; for, you see, he doesn't pray for food, riches, or even a home, no what he prays for with all his heart is for a friend. So there he lies, praying to the Lord, not realizing the wheels that are already in motion as an answer to his prayer.
Outside the church a feminine form looks over the building, wearing a water-proof full body suit. "So this is the place, huh. Well, it's not much to look at, but if my resources are right, and they better hope they are, then a gem worthy of myself is inside this stuffy, old place. If that's the case let's not keep us beauties apart any longer," so says the self-proclaimed greatest thief Rouge the Bat; slipping silently inside.
'There is no doubt as to her intention,' he/it thinks 'she is going for the Chaos Emerald.' Now, he/it decides is the time to act, and if either of the two inside become a problem then he/it will just solve that problem, permanently. As he/it heads for the edifice, he/it decides now would be the perfect time regardless of the appearance of this third party, 'It would be illogical for any inhabitants to be outside in this class of storm,' he thinks as he steps inside.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the island.
"Man, I really, no I mean really, hate the rain!" he said out loud, climbing out of the scrap of metal that used to be his plane; finally getting out, he jumps to the ground, but accidentally slips, falling into a puddle face first. "Actually, scratch that," he mumbles, picking himself up, while spitting the mud out of his mouth, "it's not just rain, I way past hate all water in general." Reaching back into the piece of scrap that was once his beloved plane the Tornado, he takes out a flashlight and a folded map. "Okay Sonic," he says, turning on the flashlight and unfolding the map, "where are you this time?" But, no sooner had he finishes unfolding the map then a strong gust of wind wrenches it from his grasp and throws it into the air.
"Hey, come back here!" he yells, getting ready to chase after it, but promptly trips and falls into the same puddle he had before. Quickly, getting back on his feet he races after it a short way before losing it in the dark. Muttering something about hedgehogs and luck he starts running through the foliage, hoping to find signs of civilization.
Back at the church.
'I'm pretty sure I was just asleep, but if I was, then why am I now awake,' he wonders. Before he can come up with a conclusion, however, he hears the floor squeak at the entrance of the room. Looking over he gasps seeing a white, female, antromorph bat, wearing a suit that covered everything but her head and wings, muttering irritably about old, squeaking buildings. Suddenly, she turns towards him apparently hearing his gasp, puts on a fake smile, and says, "Hello, there honey, I'm…", but is interrupted when he blurts out, "Please, don't hurt me."
Things hadn't turned out as smoothly as Rouge had thought they would be: first, this had proven to be a much larger building than she expected, plus this old building practically screeched every timed she took a step, at least that's how it sounds to her ears, and just when she's convinced her informant was wrong (promising revenge, to herself, on said informant) she comes across what appeared to be a young fox boy, now cowering in a corner and begging her not to hurt him. 'Yep,' she thought, 'not smoothly at all.' Inwardly sighing she tries to explain to him that she's not here to hurt him, when something catches her eye. There in a painted window, or more precisely the star in the nativity scene, is the white Chaos Emerald. Forgetting the kid for the moment, she flies up to the star/Chaos Emerald and removes it from it fixture. Flying back down, she examines her prize eagerly and with great delight, but just as she's about to congratulate herself when something (moving impossibly fast) rams into her.
He/it had decided to wait and watch; that was, after all, something he/it excelled at. He/it would simply allow the bat creature find the Chaos Emerald, and then take it at a time of opportunity. That time was now, the bat creature was distracted by the Emerald and the fox was just sitting in a corner. Starting up his built in rocket, he rams the bat, knocking the Emerald out of her hand; noting where the Emerald landed, the being known as Metal Sonic resumes his attack on the bat.
He just can't seem to process the events that have happen already tonight. First, the bat lady shows up, taking, for whatever reason, the window's star. Then some skeletal, blue, metal thing rams into the woman; at which point an all out fight begins between the two. 'Is this all over a piece of glass?' he wonders, but then he sees what the woman dropped a few feet to his right. 'No, definitely not a piece of glass,' he thinks, looking at the perfectly shaped stone. Before he has time that doing so would be a bad idea he scrambles over and grabs it. Looking like, how he thinks, a child who has been caught stealing a cookie he looks back at the other two also in the room. Comforted by the fact that they seemed too distracted by each other to notice him; he quickly slips into the dark stormy night, not knowing where he thought he was but knowing he just had to go.
'Something isn't right,' Metal Sonic concluded, doing a quick scan of the room. Something was missing, two things actually. The first being the fox, which in and of itself wasn't nearly as important as the second. The Chaos Emerald was gone. There was only one probable conclusion; the fox took the Emerald and left. He decided he needed to end this now. He exited the building in a sonic boom leaving holes in the wall, shattered glass, and an unconscious bat in his wake.
He now knew where he was, but somehow that didn't make him feel any better consider where here was. He had run into the cemetery. Quickly, with the rain still pouring, he hid behind a tombstone and waited; hoping he would not be found and still clutching the stone. He waited for what seemed like hours, but just when he felt that he was safe he saw something blue in the night turned away from him. His vice once again betrayed him as he let out an audible gasp; the figure turn towards him and he closes his eyes waiting for the end. But instead he hears a voice saying, "Hey kid, are you alright? What are you doing out in the rain, bud?"
Sonic had finally found a town, but unfortunately it looked he was going to have to go through a cemetery to get to it. Normally, he would have ran right through it, but considering the fact that it was still raining, so the ground was likely to be muddy and slippery he instead, defying tradition, walked through. He is halfway through when he hears something behind him, and, being the curious guy he is, he turns around to investigate. To his surprise he finds a fox kid hiding behind a tombstone, with his eyes firmly shut. He asks if he is alright, and upon hearing his voice the kid's eyes shoot open and he stares at Sonic with his crystal blue eyes. It was only then that he noticed that the kid was holding something in his hands. "Hey," Sonic asks, "whacha got there?"