Authors Note: The usual disclaimers still apply. Sonic (C) Sega.
Thanks to Pepper Keibu for telling me to stay with it. Updates will be irregular and infrequent due to a great many things that I need not explain now. Enjoy!
The Calm Before the Storm
Orange bangs and matching whiskers bowed to the will of the wind. Innocent adolescent eyes strained to preview the green blur of foliage on either side as the scenery rocketed past. The backseat passenger tightened his grip on the straps of the green backpack that adorned Sonic's backside.
"Thanks Sonic!" Tails bellowed into the wind, his voice driven away as fast as it had left his mouth.
"For what?" His hero and current form of transportation, hollered back to his comrade.
"For convincing Sally to let me come along with you!" The fox strained to be heard over the currents of air, beating him softly in waves. "No problem-o lil' buddy." His partner-in-crime imitated a salute with a gloved hand while keeping his eyes on the destination ahead of them.
The duo continued on in silence, the hiss of the breaking wind the only sound to accompany the rhythmic pitter-patter of rapid footsteps. Tails had always enjoyed going on runs with Sonic, no matter the occasion. The sensation of freedom and the charge of adrenaline, in addition to the company of his true, blue friend was an indisputable recipe for fun.
Only minutes after leaving the starting line in Knothole, the hasty hedgehog dug his ankles into the dirt and skidded to a sudden halt.
"Are we there Sonic?"
There was a brief moment of silence as Sonic previewed the landscape with a watchful eye. Only after he had seen his fill of the horizon and saw no traces of Robotnik's deadbeat robots, did he turn to his companion and break his lips into a signature smile. "Just over this hill big-guy! We are going to take the rest by foot." Tails squirmed until he was out of Sonic's backpack with his feet planted firmly on the ground.
"I'll take the lead. Follow me, okay?" Sonic spoke softly with a wave of his hand. Tails nodded his head and took the position behind him, keeping enough distance between them to avoid the blue spikes protruding from Sonic's backside. The two walked in silence and watched as the landscape began to change. The grass slowly wilted and gave way to a barren landscape. Emerald trees and vivid flowers were replaced by mounds of abandoned junk and large portions of metal jutting out from the ground. Clouds of dust whisked about the travelers feet, like ethereal hands grasping at their ankles in a feign attempt to drag them further into the noxious terrain.
Tails began to feel a pin of doubt, as the foreboding environment continued to taunt and disgust him. Fur began to peak on his neck as each step of his red and white sneakers brought him closer to Robotnik and his unrelenting army of robotized Mobians. The heedful fox only need look forward and see the blue silhouette of his friend to find the strength to move on.
With every step, the horizon continued to distort. The valley on the other side of the hill slowly disclosed its contents to the eager colleagues as they continued up the hillside. The journey up was merely the calm before the storm as the duo reached the summit and waited for the dust to part. There in the distance, festering in the wide valley like mold in a bowel of Sonic's month-old chili, was the heart of Robotropolis. A large oval structure, constructed of metal and steel by the unwilling hands of the robot-o-sized citizens, stood as the tallest building in the valley.
"We won't be attacking Robuttnik directly today, Tails." The azure hedgehog's demeanor had changed as he was now staring cold-faced at the city built of steel and breathed to life by the enslavement of his people.
"We follow the underground trail, just as Sally showed us, until we find our way to the main generator. There we're gonna unplug Robuttniks operation and leave him in the dark for good!" Sonic's face split into a smile, knowing all to well that the simple gesture would surely put his companion at ease. "You ready Tails?"
"All right Sonic. Let's do it to it." Tails held his hand out and Sonic returned the motion with the Freedom Fighter's signature handshake. "Do it to it." The hero replied as they both turned and began the trek downward into the valley below.
