MikomiTheKitsune here! Chapter 2 is up :D (finally...)

I do not own the Sonic the Hedgehog series, (oh but how I wish I did) and this story has no relation to the Sonic the Hedgehog series whatsoever; this is just a fan-fiction from my weird fan girl imagination. But I will tell you what I do own. Luna the Echidna belongs to me, MikomiTheKitsune, and cannot be used without my permission. I didn't try to copy anyone's story, so if there are any character and/or plot similarities, it's complete coincidence (or you're copying me!).

Tails' Tale

By MikomiTheKitsune

Chapter 2 – Surprise!...?

All eyes were glued on Tails and Gemerl. Tails chuckled nervously.

"Eheh…surprise!"

"Hey, wait a minute…aren't we supposed to say that?" Sonic chuckled as he brought Gemerl over next to him. Tails was a bit confused. "What're you talking about, Sonic…?"

With that, everyone smiled. "SURPRISE!"

Tails almost fell over in astonishment. "W-what…?" Sonic patted his best buddy on the back as a huge sign popped out from the ground: Happy Birthday Tails! was printed in bright blue letters.

Tails was slightly embarrassed. "Aw, you guys shouldn't have…you guys remembered!" Amy smiled and cheered, "Of course we remembered Tails! Why wouldn't we? After all, it is your Lucky 13th birthday!"

Gemerl crossed his arms. "Yeah, even though you're always working in that workshop of yours, we still remembered," he said bluntly. Hearing this, Amy hit Gemerl upside the head. "OWW!"

"Gemerl, you have better manners than that, you know," Amy scolded. Not when he's been around Sonic…Tails chuckled as he saw Gemerl act exactly as Sonic would when he'd get hit.

"Can we just get to the part when he opens the gifts and everyone's all happy and stuff?" Shadow complained, crossing his arms in frustration. "Not until we give Tails his birthday cake! Cream, Rouge, Blaze and I baked it ourselves," Amy said as she brought out a huge cake. Everyone besides the chefs were astonished at the size of the thing; Sonic commented that it could be the size of Eggman, which earned him a smack in the head. "OK, time to sing!" Amy cheered as she grabbed a microphone from her karaoke machine. "HAPP--"

"…No way, I am not singing the 'happy birthday' song. Ever." Shadow interrupted as he turned away.

"Aw, c'mon Shadow! That's no fun," Amy cried. "Yeah, Shadow. You wouldn't even sing for me?" Rouge asked as she gazed lovingly into his eyes. He averted his gaze. "…Not even for you." Shadow declared. "Hmph." Rouge kicked Shadow as she said, "You're still built pretty tough…real or artificial, men are still men." Shadow winced. "…Fine. Just this once. You'd better appreciate this, kid," he said, looking at the little kitsune. He nodded, knowing Shadow hates to sing.

Tails couldn't help but chuckle when everyone started to sing the traditional 'Happy Birthday' song. Sonic, Knuckles, and Gemerl were completely off-key, Shadow sounded outright scary (no wonder he didn't want to sing), and Big was…well, Big. Tails almost broke down laughing when they were all done. But Sonic and Gemerl decided to add in the extra 'How old are you now?' bit, continuing in their off-key voices as everyone else stopped singing. They barely finished before being hit on the head by Amy and Blaze.

"Now, see Shadow? That wasn't so bad," Sonic commented after being hit by Amy yet again. "Says you, hedgehog," Shadow said, glaring at the blue hedgehog with a cold stare. "Well, I think you sounded just fine, Shadow," Rouge said, giving him a peck on the cheek. Shadow turned a little red and said, "Could we please get to the presents now…?"

"Y-yeah, I'd like to open my presents," Tails said immediately in Shadow's aid. Shadow mouthed the words 'Thank you,' as Knuckles barreled through holding a gift.

"Outta the way, outta the way! I'm first!" Knuckles yelled as he made his way to Tails. "This is from Luna an' me. Hope you like it," he mumbled, crossing his arms. It was a medium-sized box, which surprised Tails a bit. Knuckles was the 'bigger is better' type; last year, Tails got an Eggman punching bag. Tails was especially surprised when he saw the present was a pair of red gloves with an emerald embedded in each one and Knuckles' trademark spikes on them. "I sewed the gloves myself. Do you like them, Tails?" Luna called as she walked over. Tails nodded. "Yeah, they're really cool. Thanks, Luna."

"THE SPIKES WERE MY IDEA THOUGH!" Knuckles yelled so that the whole world could hear him. "Yes, yes, I think Tails knew that hon," Luna patted Knuckles on the back as she continued, "Those emeralds can generate a force field at any given time. Better safe than sorry, right?" Tails put them on. "Yeah, you never know."

"Oh yeah, the Chaotix wanted us to give this to you since they couldn't make it," Luna said as she handed him a card that looked like it was done by a little kid:

Hiya Tails,

Sorry we couldn't make it to your birthday party.

A big case came up and we needed some more dough. $$$$$$$$

So, we hope you have a happy birthday anyway!

The Chaotix Detective Agency

PS: We're low on dough, so we couldn't get you a present; sorry

"I figured as much," Tails sighed, "I thought they gave up on the whole 'detective' thing." "Nah, Vector found some of his old Sherlock Holmes books from when he was a kid and got a burst of inspiration," Luna said as she tried to keep a straight face. Tails chuckled, "No wonder. I feel bad for Espio and Charmy." "Me too."

He continued to open the stack of presents. Amy had knitted him a bright red scarf, which he was prompted to put on ASAP. Rouge and Shadow made him an Emerald radar in case his broke, Blaze got him the newest book on electrical engineering from her dimension, and Big…caught Tails a fish. Tails thanked Big for the fish nervously as Sonic came over with another gift.

"This is from me, buddy. Hope you like it," Sonic said as he handed the gift to Tails. Tails opened it to find brand-new sneakers. They looked a lot like Tails' old sneakers, but they had a golden band between the red and white, and it had a little blue 'Sonic' logo. "It's been a half a decade since we first met, remember? I figured I'd stay in tradition, y'know?" Tails nodded. He remembered, when they first met, Sonic had given him some new sneakers as a sign of friendship. "Here, Tails. From now on, we'll be best buddies through thick and thin!" "OK!"

Tails immediately put on the new sneakers and smiled. "Thanks Sonic." "Hey, that's what best friends are for, right?" Sonic grinned. "Yeah!"

"Hey Tails, y'know there's one present left," Gemerl nudged Tails. Tails looked to where the present stack was before. "Uh, I don't see any—"

Gemerl pointed to Cream, who was waiting by the beach for a certain someone. "She's waiting for you, kid."

"She wants to see you alone, Tails," Rouge said, winking at the embarrassed little kitsune.

"C'mon Tails! She's waiting!" Amy cheered.

"Go on, Tails," Luna and Blaze called.

"…Go already," Shadow said, crossing his arms.

"Duh…da bunny wants to see you, Tails," Big said, copying everyone else.

Knuckles punched Tails on the shoulder, then said, "You worried her sick, kid. Now go to her."

"Go ahead, little buddy. We won't spy on you two," Sonic said, patting Tails on the back. "P-promise…?" Tails whispered into his best friend's ear.

"Promise. Now go."

With that, Tails walked over nervously to the little rabbit that was waiting for him. "…Cream?"

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NYA! Chapter 3's next! -MikomiTheKitsune