Title: Missing

Summary: Sonic is missing and it's up to his friends to find him.

Chapter 1: Prologue

Disclaimer: Don't own anything, 'cept "Sand". He's mine!! *sticks tongue out*

[Editors note: just one thing, when Sonic calls his mission "a bugger," it's not that he doesn't like doing missions, he just doesn't like doing them alone.]

"You did tell Shadow and Knux, right, Tails?" Sonic asked me.

"Yes, but we're going to have to make sure that Eggman doesn't sneak up on us," I replied.

"No problem! It'll just take a sonic second!" and with that my cobalt friend dashed off. I sighed.

Later ...

"Man, we never get a break do we?" my blue friend complained.

"Come on, Sonic, you always said that everything was an adventure in it's own way," I reassured Sonic, then added, "or was that Shadow?"

"Guess you're right, lil' bro," Sonic laughed. He suddenly grinned. "What, still can't tell me an' Shadow apart?"

"Sure I can," I lied. To tell ya the truth, I still have a little problem telling them apart. Weird, huh? "I just forgot who said it."

All of a sudden, a red echidna burst into the ring in which we were standing. "Hey! Sorry I'm late. You two wanted to see me 'bout somethin'?" he asked, his words punctuated by small gasping breaths.

Oh, did I forget to mention that we were by the waterfall at Mystic Ruins? Silly me. "Yah, well, there's still one more hedgehog to wait for," I told the Guardian.

I still find it hard to believe that after all those times Knuckles nearly killed us, Sonic would trust him with his life. I mean, I trust him too but not nearly that much.

Now where could Shadow be?

Something black skidded to a halt in front of us. It took us completely by surprise. After all, I only jumped about just three feet in the air.

"Got lost. Sorry about that, Sonic," the ultimate apologized.

I look up to these guys. Knuckles and Shadow are so cool. They never seem to lose their cool in tough situations. And Sonic. Well ... he's almost like a brother to me. I owe so much to Sonic.

"See, Tails and I were thinking of taking a vaca or—"

"Vaca?" Shadow asked incredulously.

"Yeah, cool talk for—vacation." Sonic's face wrinkled with the un-coolness of the word. "So like I was saying, we were thinking of taking a vaca or somethin' and were wondering if—" Sonic was suddenly cut short again as a young fox slipped past him and landed in the water.

"Ahhh!" The kit seemed horrified. "I'm sorry. B-but I was j-j-j-just l-looking for s-s-somebody," he stuttered.

"Well, what's your name and who are you looking for?" Sonic asked. Perfect example of not losing cool.

"I'm ... well, they call me Sand," he replied, "and I'm looking for Sonic the Hedgehog. I have something to give him."

"Speaking," Sonic announced as if on the telephone. "What did you want to give me?"

I didn't like that fox one bit, but I could see why "they" called him Sand. His fur was a sandy colour, and he was more likely than not a desert fox.

"Here," Sand handed my best buddy a letter. "Umm, I guess I'd better get going." The relieved fox ran like there was no tomorrow.

"A mission. Great ..." Sonic's emerald eyes went through the letter quickly. "Looks like I'm gonna have to do this bugger alone."

The rest of us nodded. At least, I was a little reluctant, but I nodded anyway. Fatal mistake: number one.

Fatal mistake: number two; trusting that Sand guy. "Here, Sonic, take this communicator," I advised.

"Thanks, lil' bro." He turned to Knuckles and Shadow, "Ciao. Hey! You still owe me a race, Black."

Fatal & unbelievably stupid mistake: number three; letting him go alone. Stupid, stupid, stupid ...

That Evening

"Everything going according to plan," Sonic's voice came over the radio. "Hey! What the—oh crap! Sonic Wind!" There was a large thud, and then static.

"Sonic! SONIC! Big bro, say something! PLEEASE!" I practically screamed into the communicator. Scratch that, I screamed.

"Tails! TAILS!" Shadow yelled. "Listen, we need to tell the others." He stopped. "Maybe you should tell Sally and Amy."

I don't blame him. I have known them the longest. Only guy who knew them better than me was Sonic. Argh. "Fine. They're not going to be happy about this," I warned. And with that said, I flew off to look for Aunt Sally and Amy.

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