Mobius: The Final Stand Ch. 2
1:05 pm
Currently, Tails and Raymond were impassively sitting at the oaken kitchen table inside Tails' home, the deafening thunderstorm still ongoing outside. So far, Tails had deduced from Raymond's quick synopsis about his background that Raymond happened to be his long-lost cousin. However, eight years ago when Tails was born, Eggman came and maliciously killed his and Raymond's parents. Eggman had previously found out that Raymond was gifted with the special ability to control fire, and was planning to use it somehow in his many schemes to defeat Sonic once and for all.
He then captured Raymond in his brand new spaceship, and seized him away, intending to bring Raymond to his base. However in space, some other hostile spaceships interfered and attacked Eggman, destroying his craft. Eggman managed to flee in his Egg-carrier, but Raymond plummeted to the planet below. He miraculously managed to survive, and has lived there ever since, until now when the last events of his life forced him to escape to Mobius and find Sonic and his friends, including Tails...
"Huh?" Tails sharply glanced up, looking very surprised at Raymond's last comment…
"What do you mean you're going to help bring back Cosmo?" Tails asked questioningly, eyebrows arched in skepticism. Raymond on the other hand simply leaned back in his chair and heaved a sigh.
"Exactly what I said: that I'm going to bring her back to life!" He exclaimed, a smile etching itself onto his face as he casually grinned. "I would have thought you would be a BIT more excited…" He added in slight confusion.
Tails blinked, then shrugged. "Well yeah…" he replied doubtingly."But how? And how do you even know Cosmo?"
Raymond gave another long sigh as his grin slowly disappeared. "Well... I know you're really confused now, but all will be explained in time..."
"Huh?" Tails asked and blinked again, puzzled. "Okay…" Then, Tails started to gradually nod, as if taking in everything Raymond had told him so far. "So you're really going to help bring back Cosmo?" Tails asked again, his eyes lighting up in joy.
Raymond smiled and nodded. "Yep!"
Tails, overcome with emotion, suddenly ran over to Raymond and hugged him tightly. "YES! Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me!" A few tears trickled out of the corners of his eyes as soon as he realized he would be reunited with his love again.
Raymond smiled warmly. "Actually, I do... more than you know..." He muttered under his breath so that Tails couldn't hear.
Tails broke away, smiling happily. "So… I mean what do we need to do?" Tails said cheerfully, rejuvenated with energy and excitement. Despite the bleak weather outside, he couldn't contain his overflowing happiness.
Raymond put one hand on his chin and thought for a moment. "Well, all we need is the Master Emerald..." He slowly pondered in deep thought, staring across the surface of the oaken table.
Tails grinned from ear to ear. "Great! I know Knuckles would let us use it for this purpose!" Tails stood up in obvious anxiety and anticipation. "Let's go!"
Raymond smiled. "Alright...I guess no better time than now…" He stood up as well, and started down the carpeted hallway to head out the door, but then stopped and turned around.
"Aren't you coming Tails?" Raymond asked curiously, baffled when he didn't see Tails rush out the door ahead of him.
Instead, Tails was at the bottom of the stairs, about to head up. He turned around and smiled. "Yeah, of course! I just need to do something first... It'll only take a moment!"
Tails bounded up the stairs and into his room while Raymond shrugged and headed outside into the pouring rain, shutting the door closed behind him. There, Tails ran over to Cosmo's plant, which had already sprouted a lovely green stem and two small leaves. Tails stroked one of the leaves delicately with his index finger, resting his head on the other hand and smiling caringly.
"Hey Cosmo! I don't know if you can hear me or not, but guess what? My cousin Raymond and I can bring you back to life! Isn't that great?" Tails laughed cheerfully, but then turned his expression to look thoughtful…
"Well... there IS something I need to tell you though... you see, ever since you crashed in that field when we first met you, I've been starting to have these strange feelings towards you. And they've grown ever since through all the adventures we've been through..." Tails started to think about all the good times they had together when fighting the Meterex. The flowers seemed to shake a little bit as if they were listening intently to Tails' confession.
"I think... no I KNOW that I loved you while we were on our quest to defeat the Meterex. But you see, I was too shy to admit that to you. I didn't think that you would love me back.. But now I know that the feelings were mutual! I know because you sacrificed your life to save mine! And... I also saw you trying to kiss me before you passed away..." Tails stopped, a few tears falling onto the soil of the plant as they glistened in the dim light of the room.
"But now, since you're coming back, I promise that I won't be shy with my feelings anymore. I'll spend every moment with you, showing you how much I love you! It won't be long until we're reunited again! See ya Cosmo!" Tails bent over and lightly kissed the top of the flower. Then, he left the room, still crying slightly, but with a happy and determined expression on his face.
Angel Island
Tails and Raymond were in the X-tornade, navigating through the dangerous storm that was violently brewing. Lighting flashes and the pouring rain made it hard to steer, but being the expert pilot that Tails was, it wasn't much of a big deal…
"Besides..." Tails thought. "Didn't Cosmo give up her life to protect us all without thinking twice about her own safety?"
Tails turned to look at Raymond, who was slouching down in his chair. He seemed to be deep in thought, toying with the necklace while muttering under his breath, lost in a trance it seemed. Tails waited a few seconds before he cleared his throat politely to catch Raymond's attention.
"Um… what exactly are you doing, Raymond?" Tails asked him inquisitively. Startled, Raymond suddenly sat up straight, and rubbed his eyes, yawning.
"Sorry, just thinking about stuff…" Raymond explained foggily.
"Oh…" Tails muttered He paused to bank the X-Tornado to the left, swerving through the dark clouds and falling rain. "Care to enlighten me?" He wondered, turning to Raymond inquiringly once he was satisfied they were heading the right way.
"Yeah, don't worry like I said I'd explain everything soon…" Raymond grinned in response, nonchalantly peering out the window.
"Oh…" Tails replied thoughtfully. "Sorry if I'm intruding or anything on anything personal…"
"Nah, it's okay…" Raymond smiled and assured Tails. Meanwhile, Angel Island loomed up in the distance through the fog.
Noticing it, Tails again turned to talk to Raymond. "We're here, Raymond," Tails stated, informing Raymond. "Angel Island is up ahead…"
Raymond leaned over in his seat, peering out of the window again. "Well, I can't see through this fog, but if you say so..."
Tails guided the plane down to the ground of Angel Island. As the fog of the storm cleared, Tails could see the Master Emerald and Knuckles sleeping out in the open. He managed to land the plane on the edge of the surrounding forest, and shut off the engine, spluttering to a stop. Tails then slid open the cockpit, and he and Raymond jumped out into the pouring rain, immediately drenched by huge globes of water falling from the sky.
While the two of them began their trek to the Master Emerald through the muddy ground, Raymond was the first to speak. "So, I'm guessing that's Knuckles, right?" He pointed at the red echidna on the top of the Master Emerald alter.
"Yep," Tails answered, and ran over to Knuckles and shook him gently. "Hey Knuckles, wake up..."
"Huh?" Knuckles groggily opened his eyes and slowly got up. Then he shook his head and yawned. "Oh it's you… Hey Tails... who's your friend?" Knuckles pointed, indicating towards Raymond.
"Oh..." Tails introduced Raymond. "This is my cousin, Raymond."
Knuckles and Raymond shook hands. "I didn't know you had a cousin Tails..." Knuckles noticed.
"Well…" Tails scratched the back of his head. "Neither did I until today... he kinda just came out of nowhere this afternoon… but...hey wait a second! How do you sleep out in this storm?" Tails asked in bewilderment, already soaked to the bone and freezing cold.
"Huh?" Knuckles looked up into the dark sky, pouring rain dousing his face and dreadlocks. "Oh this?" Knuckles laughed. "Come on, it's only a light shower, don't be such a sissy!"
KABOOM! Thunder sounded throughout the valley.
Tails rolled his eyes and Raymond snickered.
"Someone might have slipped and hit their head a bit too hard coming down the steps of the alter…" Raymond casually muttered, smirking. Fortunately, Knuckles or Tails didn't hear, so Raymond sighed and used his jacket to shield his head from the torrential rain.
"So what brings you guys here?" Knuckles asked the two foxes. Tails was about to reply when Raymond started to head to the Master Emerald, diamond in hand.
"You guys coming? Tails?" Raymond asked the two nonchalantly.
"Oh yeah!" Tails ran over to where Raymond was standing. "Of course! So how are we going to do this?"
Meanwhile, Knuckles stood off to the side, looking confused. "Umm, guys? What exactly are we trying to do?" He asked in utter confusion.
Tails turned to Knuckles and grinned. "Raymond says that he's going to bring back Cosmo! Isn't that great?"
Knuckles looked doubtful. "Wait, but isn't she dead?..."
"Not with your help she won't be..." Raymond cut in. "Here Tails, hold this!" Raymond tossed the diamond over to Tails, who deftly caught it with one hand.
"Got it!' Tails brought the diamond close to his face so that he could inspect it a bit closer. It didn't seem out of the ordinary by looks, but somehow, it seemed to drain a bit of energy out of him...
Raymond motioned for Tails to stand on top of the Master Emerald, while Knuckles was still looking very skeptical, arms crossed.
"I don't think this is going to work..." Knuckles began.
Tails stood in the center of the Emerald, and held the diamond above his head. "Of course it's going to work Knuckles! It has to!"
Knuckles just laughed. "You really believe this guy? Cosmo is DEAD Tails, face it!"
Angrily, Tails lashed out. "Yeah? Well that's a lot coming from you, 'Mr. Gullible'!"
"Hey!" Knuckles clenched his fists and growled. "I'd like to see you come down here and say that again, kiddo!"
Nearby, Raymond rolled his eyes and sighed. "Shut up guys, none of you are helping." He turned to face Knuckles head on. "If you don't believe me, then fine. Go back to sleep or something and stop bothering us…"
Knuckles, now enraged, yelled out. "How about YOU shut up!" He swung one fist at Raymond, who leaned backwards, Knuckles' fist passing by harmlessly.
"Ooh… you missed!" Raymond taunted as Knuckles growled again.
"Wise guy, huh? Think you're tough, don't you!" Knuckles swung again, only to meet air. Raymond expertly leapt out of the way, snickering.
"Can't touch this!" Raymond leered. He dodged and weaved around and Knuckles ran all over the place in the rain, punching and swinging his fists wildly. Meanwhile, Tails was still standing on top of the Master Emerald.
"Please guys! Just stop fighting already!" Tails pleaded with them as they continued their battle. Raymond, in the middle of ducking another punch, turned up to look at him.
"Hey don't look at me! I'm not doing anything!" Raymond said innocently as Knuckles swung again.
Tails sighed. "Come on guys… seriously, stop…" He turned in circles, trying to follow the battle as it was going on around the Master Emerald Alter.
Raymond nodded. "You wanna stop wasting your energy now Knuckles?"
"Rrrrr…" Knuckles growled. "Fine! But just because I have better things to do than mess with someone like you…"
"Eh..." Raymond shrugged. "Have it your way…" Knuckles sauntered off, arms crossed, in a dark mood, while Raymond ran over to the Master Emerald. Tails looked down at him questioningly.
"What am I supposed to do? I mean how is this going to work?" Tails asked Raymond curiously. In return, Raymond shrugged.
"Well, honestly I KNOW it's supposed to work, but how to exactly do it, I'm not so sure…" Raymond trailed off in thought. Tails sighed.
"You mean you really don't know if it's going to work?" Tails asked sadly.
"No no I didn't say that!" Raymond grinned. "I KNOW it's SUPPOSED to work, but I just need to figure out how I'm going to make it happen…"
"You sure put a lot of thought into this…" Knuckles called out from across the field. Tails and Raymond rolled their eyes.
"Want to come try, oh smart one?" Raymond asked challengingly. Knuckles in response shook his head, arms still crossed.
"I TOLD you guys it's not going to work!" Knuckles answered defiantly.
Raymond sighed, then turned back up to look at Tails. "Here, maybe if you hold it, and wave it above your head, then something will happen…"
Knuckles snickered bad-naturedly. "Yeah, and then jump up and down and spin around ten times while closing your eyes and patting the top of your head… not to mention clucking like a chicken…"
"Haha, you're hilarious Knuckles…" Raymond retorted sarcastically. Tails on the other hand scratched his head. "Didn't you do something like that back in Marmolin or whatever…?"
Knuckles growled. "Hey the guy told me I was going to do something stupid! I HAD to do that, okay?"
Tails sighed. "Sure… whatever floats your boat, Knux…"
Raymond appeared to be taken aback. "I didn't know you were a sarcastic fellow…"
"Sorry," Tails apologized and sighed out loud, his breath escaping into the air as a translucent vapor. "I've just been having a rough past few days…"
Raymond nodded. "You don't have to be sorry. I understand…" He looked over his shoulder back at Knuckles who was still standing a ways off, arms STILL crossed. "Well…" Raymond sighed. "I hate to admit it, but it looks like we're going to need your help, Knuckles…"
"Really? Did I just hear you say that?" Knuckles wondered out loud, feigning surprise. Raymond meanwhile just sighed.
"Alright, I'm sorry for doing whatever the hell I did, I'm not doing it for myself anymore, it's for Tails…" Raymond sincerely apologized.
"Hmm…" Knuckles nodded, then slowly walked back over to Raymond and grinned. "We're good now?" Knuckles held out a hand to shake.
Raymond grinned back. "Yeah, we're good." The two of them shook hands and patted each other on the shoulder.
"Nice fighting skills by the way," Raymond complemented. "I was lucky to have barely dodged all of them…"
"Hey thanks, you're not too bad yourself, bro…" Knuckles replied in return. Tails watched over the two, satisfied.
"Well, let's do this then!" Tails cheered enthusiastically, happy that all three of them could work together and maybe solve the mystery of how to get the thing to work…
KABOOM!
Raymond winced. "I hate thunder… just putting that out there…" He turned to Knuckles. Tails told me you have this chant or whatever, mind if you try using it?
Knuckles shrugged. "Well, I'll give it a try. Here goes nothing…"
He raised both of his hands, and recited his ritual chant. Overhead, lightning flashed through the sky and thunder boomed across the plains. Tails suddenly felt vulnerable, as he was standing on top of the Master Emerald which was placed on top of an alter, easily the tallest thing around for quiet some distance. He was about to ask Raymond if he could get off, when right at that moment, Knuckles finished his chant, and the Master Emerald suddenly glowed and pulsated.
Raymond half-grinned cautiously. "Well, that's a good sign… I think…" Beside him, Knuckles shrugged again. "Well, what do we do n-"
He was suddenly cut off by a bright light, and it enveloped the entire area, covering Tails, Raymond, and Knuckles…
Overhead, the storm still raged on, as if foreshadowing the beginning of a bloody and inevitable conflict…