-----------------------------------------------
Distant Future
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Within the grim and menacing tower that loamed over the city of Robotropolis, there was little movement. Many years ago, when the war was still active swarms of SWAT-Bots and other mechanical devices kept a constant buzz of activity inside the fortress but now, many years into this so called peace, only the odd maintenance droid was kept on alert with all SWAT-Bots kept locked up to save wasted energy. All that now moved in the tower on this particular date was one round, hideous, devastating figure resting upon his black egg shaped throne, with a bottle on one side to him and a control panel on his other. All he needed now to run a world in luxury.
Robotnick held the glass in the air, ceremoniously.
"I wonder what I should make this toast to?" He said in his deep dreading voice.
He smiled, before taking another sip of champagne. He laughed to himself.
To be honest… I have so many things I should toast to… Conquering the world seems a good star" He thought, taking another sip. Despite the starting fuss over the matter, how many beings in history, man or beast could say they had achieved as much as I have?
Robotnick smiled to himself as he finished off the glass. He rarely touched alcohol in general. In his position he could hardly risk getting drunk with so many important tasks to do. But today was different. Today was special.
He poured himself another drink as he round egg-like body adjusted itself in his chair.
"How many in history have come close to making a single global empire… none. Even the Mobians, under the pathetic rule of the Acorns couldn't manage it with the Overlanders after the same thing." He said laughing. "Such an empire doesn't… didn't deserve the power it had. Just an empire which it took only one man to infiltrate and completely take over from the inside… pathetic"
He spoke out, to the empty darkness that surrounded him. He was effectively the last living intelligent organism on the planet. Another thing he toasted to. He had AIs running many parts of his empire of course, since it had grown far too big for just himself to manage, but they were low grade artificial intelligence. Just mass produced think tanks. He alone held the title of truly being "Alive".
Robotnick slowly got out of his chair and walked over to the main windows displaying his never ending kingdom. At first, when he set about making this empire, he didn't mind the idea of there being others around, Mobian or otherwise, to worship and serve him. But as time went on, as he lived with the Mobians when he was Minister of War, his loath for them even surpassed his hatred for his Overlander brethren.
Most would say it was slow grasping madness that compelled him to do what he did but he didn't care. They deserved to be burned for the constant troubles they had coursed him. All of them. Every Freedom Fighter that had the audacity to deny him the prize he had already won deserved his retribution.
And now… he was all that was left on this baron planet. Nothing could live out their. Within a few years, the air all around the planet, even in the most remote regions would become too polluted to breath. And for anything to survive out their, they would need clean water and food. Both of which had, again been denied by him.
Robotnick took another greedy sip staring down at his kingdom. It would be gone eventually. Not anytime soon but fuel would eventually be used up, and solar power was impossible with the sky completely covered with his black chemical gases. At some point though, his kingdom, along with him would be gone. And eventually, many, many thousands of years later maybe new life would sprout and spread throughout the planet once again…. We can't have that now, can we, Robotnick thought.
So, in the later years of his rule, he had decided to kill his last rival and companion… the planet.
He had completely covered the sky, from every corner of the earth with various gases, those which would just stay up there for all time. From space infact, Mobius looked almost invisible, blending with the blackness of space perfectly.
As for the air, it would soon become too toxic for any living being, plant or mammal to survive in. In approximately 10 years the seas and oceans would become giant cesspools, not just for his waste but again with specifically designed chemicals to purposely poison them.
And then finally came the ground which he stood on. Though it would be past his life time, his empire would continue to operate and within 1 full century, the planet itself would be a contaminated lifeless ball of rock.
"Anything able to survive on this rock when I'm done won't be worth calling a living creature. Just some vile organisms able to feed off my pollutants." Robotnick bellowed.
"Sounds like you would go well together" came a voice
Robotnick shot around instantly, eyes wide in panic. It's impossible. It couldn't have been the computer, and there was no one else around, literarily.
Robotnick started to calm, noticing the room was empty. It must have been his imagination.
"Just the wind maybe" He said out loud, returning to his few.
"Maybe" came the voice again.
This time Robotnick knew it wasn't his imagination. There was someone else here, if that was possible.
"Computer, active lights and scan area for intruders" He demanded.
Silence.
"Computer?!" He roared
"Computer, activate lights" came the voice.
The room light up, revealing the intruder. He sat on Robotnick's chair, one hand supporting his head and the other holding a rather long sword. The intruder was a male fox, in his early twenties it looked. In Robotnick's shock, he stood back, mainly at the fact there was still one Mobian still alive somehow.
"You are probably the only person I have ever known or ever would have known, to speak of such genocide and suffering with such… pride" the fox said, jumping off the chair.
Robotnick quickly recovered. He had no reason to fear just one last pathetic ball of fur. "Well, I didn't think I would ever have guests in my home. Welcome" Robotnick raised a gun, one he had allows kept on him, mainly out of habit. "Well, may I ask your name before I send you on your way?"
"I doubt you need it. I hope you know me, if only through "that blue rodent"" the fox said, stepping forward, leaning the sword on his shoulder.
Robotnick wondered on this until he focused on one specific detail he had no noticed whilst he was sitting down.
"Aw, yes. I think I remember you… give me a moment… Tails wasn't it?" He said, eyeing the two tails waving behind the fox.
"I haven't heard that name in quite a while… mainly since no one has been around to call me it…" Tails said sourly, taking another step forward.
"Now, now" Robotnick said, levelling his gun. "No point being a hero with nothing left to protect. Anyway, you're no Sonic." He said, grinning
"No, you're right" Tails said, and as Robotnick blinked, disappeared into thin air.
Robotnick looked around in shock as the image of who he guessed to be Tails simply disappeared from few.
"No, I'm not Sonic" Came Tails' voice from behind him. Suddenly, in one swift and merciless thrust, the sword plunged into the back of his arm and went straight through to the hand, also destroying the gun. "Sonic wouldn't have done that"
Robotnick screamed. He held with one organic arm with his metal one, wailing at the pain the wound caused. He felt and saw his blood running from the palm of his hand and from the back of his arm. He wailed and swore as he tried to nurse the internal and external wound in some way to try and block or reduce the pain.
Tails though casually walked around him, sweeping his sword in long arcs, slice through parts of the ceiling, mostly Robotnick believed, to scare him. Before Robotnick could get up Tails sliced at the tendon at the back of his heel, making Robotnick tumble over, his screams turned to echoed whimpers.
"STOP, STOP!!! I'LL DO ANYTHING!" He screamed, trying to drag his way across the floor.
Tails though just ignored him and went over to the chair and picked up the champagne.
"You are doing well. I figured you would be celebrating. That's why I choose today. You're security is appalling" He said, whilst taking a swig from the bottle.
"Hmm, very nice" he commented.
"I'll… I'll give you anything you want. Just please, let me go" Robotnick begged, trying desperately to move his enormous body with just one working arm.
"20 years…." Tails said quietly. "20 years, since your take over. 20 years since the remainder of the Mobian forces were forced into Knothole and other parts of Mobius. 20 years… since I was born into the world you created"
Tails turned to Robotnick, smiling weakly. "So let's move on.10 years…" This time his voice wasn't quiet but icy with hate. "10 years, since everything I had ever cared for… everything I ever loved… burnt. All of it" Tails advanced on the whimpering Robotnick.
"And whilst you enjoyed the comfort in knowing your final enemy was gone, I spent everyday, every hour fighting with all I had… just to survive. Avoiding SWAT-Bot patrols, finding and rationing food… training" He said, holding his sword out. It was only then that Robotnick noticed 2 other things that he hadn't before. One was that the sword was hardly a sword. Just a piece of scrap metal with two blocks of wood nailed together to form a handle.
The other thing he noticed though was on Tails himself. He didn't look like a normal fox or Mobian for that matter. His fur was much longer then it once was. His hands showed long sharp claws, not nails. And his eyes… no longer the pale blue orbs they used to be. Though still blue they revealed a wild creature in him that only 10 years of hell could have made. He wasn't a Mobian anymore … he was a wild animal… a beast.
"You don't have the power to give me what I want." Tails said. Walking away, Tails kept his back to Robotnick. "I would kill you where you lie… I would so love to. But she would never forgive me. 'Everything should have a chance to live'. So I will give you the chance that we didn't have"
Robotnick mostly ignored what Tails said, trying desperately to find some way of getting the upper hand. Even if the fox did leave, he was losing blood quite fast. He needed medical attention. Suddenly he remembered. A sinister grin appeared on his face. He held up his robotic arm, aiming it a Tails.
There was the click of a gun being cocked.
"Guess you didn't know, but I installed a gun in my Roboticized arm just in such an occasion. Now… you will activate my computer system" he said, pleased at the turning of the tables.
Tails, still with his back turned, just sighed. He raised his sword in a flash and slice across the ceiling like he did before. Before Robotnick could fire at Tails, he noticed from the slight grinding sound why Tails had struck the ceiling.
Robotnick looked up in horror at the series of slices running side by side, in a full circle around him. And that last slice seemed to be all that was needed to finish off the job. Slowly, like a snail the edges of where the blade had struck started to part as the ceiling slowly started to come loose.
Robotnick desperately struggled, trying with all his might to move his one remaining arm but the time he wasted with his threat seemed to have doomed him. The section came loose with one quick movement and the scream that Robotnick released was instantly silenced, replaced with the thunderous sound of the rock crashing down on the floor. Blood floored heavily across the floor, running between Tails bare feet. He would have been disgusted by it but he really didn't care. He didn't feel pleased, happy, justified… just felt like he always felt. Empty. Only now just a bit more empty then he had before.
Tails poured some of the champagne over the pile of rubble, not out of ceremonious reasons. Just as a farewell… to the last human being.
Tails slowly made his way to the throne and fell in the fast egg like seat. He had spent so many days dreaming of this moment. So many times he came close to just killing himself to release himself of this nightmarish word, with only this moment to keep him going. He had dreamed of so many ways in which end the fat mans life or even keep him alive in perpetual torture. As he sat there, staring at the stain that was once Doctor Robotnick he somehow thought it would have been more…important to him. But he just didn't care anymore. For what it had taken to get here, he knew it wasn't worth it. And as Robotnick said, in the end, it didn't matter.
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Present
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Wolfs, unlike most Mobians were not so distant to their ancestral roots. Most Mobians lived peaceful serene lives, in civilised societies. If you were born a rabbit, fox, weasel… then they had freedom to go by whatever rules they wanted to, to an extent. Wolfs on the other hand had much stricter social structures in which cubs would be brought up in. Some wolfs could manage jobs which normal Mobians would do; plumbers, waitresses, tailors, ECT… Some wolfs where able to travel and enjoy the wonders that Mobius had to offer. But other wolfs had neither option. Some wolfs where bred, from birth to be fighters, leaders or survivors. Some wolfs where bred to be 'real' wolfs. It was for this reason that wolfs in general by Mobian rumour were said to be much more feral then other races. To be much more in touch with their primal instincts.
Most Mobians, long ago, were brought up like that infact. Some brought up only to fight, but as time went on and civilisations came and went, so did the standards and traditions that most Mobians went by. The Wolfs however chose not to take the next step into the next generations. With the constant wave of wars that seemed to go against the Mobians, either civil or national, there was always a need for good fighters and people who could live off the land. It was for this reason alone that the wolfs never chose to change their ways.
Obviously though disputes arose within the clans, some wanting to embrace another way of life and others whose blood stained paws couldn't live without the smell of battle. It was for this reason that the elders of the wolf clans choose to allow a certain number of clans to take a step forward but a few of the larger clans to hold onto the old ways. The future of any wolf entering the world was sealed only by which clan you were born in and what role your parents served, and unfortunately for Lupe, she was not only born into one of these clans, but was also the daughter of the chief of the clan. Because of these uncontrollable circumstances, she was raised to be the best… whether of not she wanted it or not.
"Lupe!" Came a cry.
Lupe, sitting crossed legged leaning close to the fire, turned to hear who had shouted. She recognised the gruff and gravely voice of her Godfather, Cilen. After her father's death in the Great War, it was left to him to raise her into the person she was today. She had once almost resented both him and her father, forcing her on such a strict life but now, knowing she would probably not be here along with her clan members if not thanks to her training, now saw Cilen as her father. So many of the wolf clans, since Robotnick's take over had been hunted down, one by one, leaving only the core clans, the ones which held to the old ways and could live in areas like the Great Unknown. Having that in mind, she really was grateful for what her father and Cilen did for her.
"Yes, Cilen?" She cried back into the gloom of the forest which even the camp fire could not pierce.
The other clan members, both sitting round the camp fire with Lupe or leaning against the trees, turned to see what the giant wolf had found.
Within a few seconds of Lupe's call, Cilen came into view, with someone draped other his shoulder, which he carried effortlessly. He came within the campfire light and carefully lowered the body onto the grass. It was the body of a fox, orange in fur with one large bushy tail, with much of his coat stained with blood.
Members of the clan gathered round at the body of the victim, some gasping at the extent of his wounds.
"I found him crawling just a few hundred metres of when I was doing my rounds. I don't know what happened to him though. He lost consciousness just after I found him." Cilen said.
Lupe stared at the wounds. They appeared to have been done by a sharp weapon, a sword she guessed. They didn't seem fatal but that depended on how much blood he had lost.
"Someone get me some clean water and the medical supply case from my bag" Lupe said, kneeling down and pressing he fingers against the foxes neck. His pulse was still going fine.
"Well, what have we here?" Came the ancient and friendly voice of the clan Elder. The wolfs around him knelt and backed away, as if he was royalty. He ignored this however and looked down at the fox lying on the floor.
"Cilen found him barely alive. He should live if he gets medical attention right away" Lupe said quickly.
"Well, if he's safe to move I suggest you place him in my hut. Don't want his wounds getting infected" The elder said cheerfully.
Some of the wolfs gasped. It was traditional that if travelling with an elder, then he/she would be the only one to have accessing to a tent, with all others camping under the nights sky. To have an outsider gain access, even under such circumstances was very rare.
"Elder?" Came the feint cry of one of the wolfs nearby, appalled almost at such a suggestion.
"He's not getting any better lying in the dirt. Cilen, if you would" The ancestor said, his friendly carefree smile sill dawned on his face.
"Of course, Elder" Cilen said, not even questioning his request.
Carefully Cilen scooped up the fox in his arms and followed Lupe and the Elder to the single tent just past the light of the campfire. As they did, two other wolfs attended to Lupe's previous requests and appeared close behind them soon after with both the water and med pack.
Cilen respectfully entered the rather large tent, easily the size to fit 5 sleeping people inside comfortably, and placed the fox in the centre. Both he and the wolfs took their leave whilst Lupe attended to the fox. The Elder, who's name was Cobol simply sat down in a corner and watched happily.
Lupe took to work, carefully sowing the deep cuts and washing the wounds with medical alcohol. The process didn't take long and the major few wounds were taken care of. Whilst Lupe was washing the blood that had tainted the foxes fur, the fox slowly opened his eyes, moaning slightly.
"Ughhh…..ARGH!" He shot up like a bullet, almost head-butting Lupe. He stared around the room widely, and then his eyes focus on Lupe's.
"You're still not well. It's best not to move." She said, gently leaning the fox back.
"W-where am I… are… "they" here?" He said, still looking around frantically.
"They?" Lupe questioned.
"The gang that attacked me. Some weirdoes in the forest that just attacked me, just out of the blue. They tried to… EAT me." He said, still in shock
"Sounds like the Nasty Hyenas" Cobol said
"Just what we need" Lupe replied "I'll set up extra patrols whilst we're in this area"
"Good. In the mean time I would like to have a chat with this fox, if you don't mind" Cobol said, still keeping his ever so friendly grin.
"But… Elder-" Lupe replied
"Please, Lupy. You can call me Cobol whilst we're in private" Cobol replied happily
"But…(Sigh) he could be a spy. I could easily see this as one of Robotnick's tricks. No offence" She said turning to the fox
"No offence taken" He said, not all that comfortable being in the middle of such an argument.
"Now I think I can handle myself. You sound out the others to be on extra guard" Cobol replied softly
Lupe reluctantly stood up and left the tent, leaving both the fox and Cobol alone. Once he was sure her foot steps had grown faint, Cobol turned to the fox, now sitting up.
"Well…. I must say that was some fine acting" Cobol said, laughing to himself. "Very convincing."
"Thanks" The fox replied, no longer with the terror in his voice but a relaxed tone as he spoke to the elderly wolf.
"Well… anything? I know it can't be either Lupe or Cobol, I hope you don't suspect either of them" Cobol said, though still dawning his smile, his tone turning to a more serious one.
"I suspect everyone. I can't let anyone be overlooked. You know what's riding on this" The Fox said, equally serious over the issue they discussed.
"Yes, of course. And the mission starts the next day… think you will have enough time?" Cobol replied
"If not…." The fox said, distantly.
Cobol grunted, knowing Lupe would probably return soon. "Well, the others trust your abilities. Though I don't see why you had to hurt yourself so much"
The fox smiled. "I can take more then you think. I'm still able and ready to go" He said confidently
Cobol grinned. "I see you still share a few traits with Sonic. You even have his overconfidence, don't you Tails"
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Near Future
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As the crowd cheered, Tails stared at the badge just handed to him. It was a bronze medal with wings coming off on the sides with the picture of an acorn in the centre. Deep down, he knew this was all to humour him, the crowd, the medal, the endless tests and initiation ceremonies that he had to go through. All he knew no other Freedom Fighter had to go through but now there were no more excuses. He wouldn't be stuck on lookout during missions, not if he could help it, and he knew Aunt Sally would see his worth eventually.
As the crowd part, the main Freedom Fighters returned to Tails hut for the present opening. Aunt Sally gave him a small computer. Nothing like Nichole, only for puzzles and so forth to keep his mind busy. Sonic gave him a new pair of shoes, roughly the same design of his only this pair had blues steaks running across them. Bunny gave him a series of books that they had acquired from an old library in Robotropolis, which both Sally and Bunny thought he was ready for, above his usual bedtime stories he was used to.
It was Antoine gift that really surprised him, and everyone else aswell. As he ripped away the wrapping and opened the box, he along with everyone else saw the beautiful crossbow inside. It was made of oak with a holster inside aswell. The two sides forming the bow on it seemed to be retractable and it was accompanied with 10 dummy bolts with hard rubber ends, 10 normal bows and even one bulky bow which had some sort of electrical device on the end.
"It 'tis an EMP bolt, from what I 'eard. It's particularly effective against bots" Antoine said as Tails raised the bolt from the box.
Tails beamed at Antoine. "Thanks Antoine, this is great. I'll practise with it everyday"
"Oui, I am glad you like it" Antoine replied. As Tails moved onto his next gift and Sonic examined the bow Sally yanked Antoine back and whispered into his ear
"Why would you give him such a dangerous gift, Antoine?" Sally demanded
Antoine, still keeping his smiling face as if he hadn't been asked anything leaned back further.
"With Tails actually coming on missions now and having to defend himself against SWAT-Bots, how would you prefer him to fight? At a safe distance, trained to keep cover and avoid fire at long distances… or just running straight at them in a charge… like ze hedgehog" He whispered.
"Hmmm" Sally hummed as she thought about what Antoine had just said. Tails did take all that Sonic did and said to heart. So if he did think of trying to fight the SWAT-Bots "Up Close and Personal" as Sonic would constantly say, then it's better to get him used to using ranged weapons now and get that out his system…. Did Antoine just make that sensible a suggestion?
What's Mobius coming to, Sally thought as she gazed at the next gift Tails opened. Soon I'll be chugging down Chilidogs and Sonic will be coming up with the plans.
Soon the gifts where out the way and the party started to dissolve. Sonic of course stayed, bigging him up as much as possible.
"Man Tails, you really got the mother load this year" Sonic said grinning as he helped get rid of some of the wrapping paper. It was then, upon turning to Tails that he saw the smug look on his face.
"What is it?" Sonic asked slyly.
Tails had been waiting for Sally to leave to bring this up. "When are you going to do it?"
Sonic looked at Tails curiously. "What you talking about big guy?" he said placing a hand on Tails shoulder.
Tails sighed, enjoying one of the few moments where he had one over on Sonic. He reached his hand up and in one quick and unexpected movement reached into the glove of Sonic's hand and came back with a thin black box.
Tails smiled triumphantly, holding the box up. As soon as Sonic noticed what Tails had done and what he had taken from him his eyes became mere dots and his mouth trembled slightly. This only happened for a second before Sonic launched himself at Tails, trying to get his property back. Tails laughed whilst Sonic remained speechless through the rather short struggle.
Within seconds Sonic had the box in his hands and looked relieved but still slightly shaken. He had been so sure that no one knew.
"Come on, when are you gonna ask her?" Tails said
"Her?" Sonic replied innocently, "What do you mean?"
"Ow…" Tails said, nodding slowly. "So the ring is for Antoine I guess".
Sonic's hand instantly clasped over Tails mouth as he mimed him to be quite. Tails though, already tired to playing the cool act, was laughing within Sonic's grip. Sonic sighed after releasing Tails and sat next to him on his bed.
"How'd you find out? Snooping around him room?" Sonic asked, trying to guilt Tails into not speaking of the ring.
"Nah, you left it in my hut a few days ago. The inscription gave it away in-case you want to say it isn't yours" Tails said, laughing quietly as he spoke.
"Can't put anything past you" Sonic replied, ruffling up Tails hair.
"Well?! Come on Sonic, when will you?" Tails said, practically bouncing on and off his bed.
"I-I…I only made the ring in-case… in time… maybe… things went one way…." Sonic said, pausing for his obvious time stales.
"Come on Sonic. You don't have to hide it from me" Tails replied, slightly hurt that Sonic was still humouring him on the subject. Tails though had been thinking about this hard for the last couple days since he found and secretly returned the ring. It was only now he found he couldn't keep it in any longer.
"Tails. It's hard to explain." Sonic replied unsteadily.
Tails sighed. There was no denying by anyone that Tails was naive about some things but there was also no denying how serious both Sonic's and Sally's relationship had been going. It was obvious this would come and it was also obvious why Sonic wasn't taking the next step.
"Anyway Tails, we need to clear-"
"Chicken" Tails said softly and quietly. Sonic's ears instantly perked up.
"What?" Sonic asked in astonishment
"You heard" Tails said, quite obviously annoyed. "I didn't tell anyone about the ring because I thought you were saving it for something special but now… it's obvious you're just scared"
Sonic stared in disbelief. That was harsh, even by Antoine's terms.
"I thought you weren't afraid of anything. That's what you said to me" Tails said as if his hero had just turned out to be a fake.
"Yeah well, this is different" Sonic said, still surprised at Tails radical behaviour
"Pff, you're just scared" Tails said, head turned away from him
"Tails, I am not scared." Sonic replied calmly but appeared to be getting to his limit.
"Him, you're just scared, admit it" Tails said matter-a-factly
"I am not" Sonic repeated
"Yes you are"
"No I'm not"
"Yes you are"
"NO I'M… Tails stop it" Sonic said, obviously reaching his limit.
"Well then what is it?" Tails asked, still convinced it was down to fear
"Tails, this isn't something that you do, just like that. You can't be spontaneous about it. You have to pick the right time, the right place. Have the right mood about" Sonic listed
"Why?" Tails asked
"Well…."
"In-case she says no?" Tails asked again
"Well…"
"Urgh... that's it. Fine, I'll ask for you then" Tails said, getting ready to leave but Sonic already pinned him down.
"Don't you dare" Sonic said, now obviously scared.
"Well, she'll say yes so what does it matter who asks?" Tails replied
"Well… she might not do" Sonic said unevenly. This however was answered only by a frantic laugh from Tails.
"Well she might" Sonic said sterner
"Now I know you're scared" Tails said with a horrible mocking edge to his voice.
"Hey, don't start this again" Sonic growled
"Pff, prove it. I know you won't ask her. Even in your perfect setting." Tails retorted, still mocking Sonic ever further.
"GRR, FINE!" and with that Sonic stormed out, practically shacking the house with his foot steps. As he left, behind his back Tails smiled innocently
What was it that Aunt Bunny called it? Reverse Psychology?
As Tails got up, he gave a sly smile and turned to the window. He looked outside and saw Bunny hiding beneath the windowsill.
"Great plan, Aunt Bunny" Tails said happy at his result
"My word Tails, you dang near frightened me with that acting. Even convinced me." Bunny said, smiling proudly at Tails as she stood up and met him eye to eye.
Tails then drooped slightly, almost ashamed at what he did.
"Did I have to go that far Bunny?" Tails asked
Bunny wrapped both arms around Tails. "Shh, shh. It's fine." She said releasing him. "He had that lil old ring for a month and still hasn't popped the question. He just needed a nudge, that's all"
Tails nodded and then suddenly looked down at the time. "OW! Gotta go" Tails said, jumping out the window.
"What for?" Bunny asked as she saw him run off today's the forest.
"The next rings coming soon. I'm just off to go grab it" and before bunny could reply, Tails was already of into the forest.
Sonic wondered through the village, some villagers already up and about with training exercise and others just forming random crowds talking about the big day. Sonic though found he was only seeing a very small part of the village as he kept pacing back and forth, unable to make his mind up. He couldn't go back now. From the look Tails gave, it really did look like he was going to tell Sally if he really didn't go. How could he put him in this position? Didn't he know that this, of all things couldn't be rushed.
Sonic sighed, knowing now he was only arguing with himself. How long was he going to wait? Till the ring rusted? No, he had been putting this off… it was now or never…ok….GO.
Sonic still stood absolutely still. Now I know something's wrong with me if I can't move.
Come on, you can do this. Just go up to her… maybe I should wait till she's in private
Sonic was then thinking on how he would convince Tails he would ask Sally tonight but just as suddenly he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He turned idly, not in the mood to talk to anyone at this point until he met the eyes of Sally.
"Sonic, I was wondering where you went. Mind helping me move some equipment for Rotor?" Sally asked.
Sonic was frozen on the spot.
"Sonic?" Sally asked
"Um, Sally…" Sonic then stared around. They were indeed alone… Ow come on, you can do this you numbskull
"Sally. I wanted to ask you something" Sonic said, jittering slightly.
"Sonic, are you OK?" Sally asked, slightly concerned
"Yeah. I'm fine…" Sonic tried to think of where to start "Sally, we've known each other for what, 12 years… since we were 4. Everyday, since then I've been…" Sonic trailed off.
"Sonic, maybe you should sit down" Sally said grinning at Sonic's behaviour.
Sonic lowered down on one knee and looked up at Sally.
"I said sit Sonic. Not kneel" she said, still grinning
"I know…. And I'm still kneeling, Sally" He said
Sally stared, dumbfound at first until it snapped. The grin on her face instantly disappeared as her eyes widened and she gasped as Sonic took out a slam thin black box.
"COME ON!!" Tails yelled as he waited on the edge of the ring pool. Usually he was quite patient with this, as he had done it many times before but he really didn't want to miss out on the big event.
Tails paced frantically, begging for the stupid ring to pop up any second.
"I'm waaaaaiiiiittttttinnnnnnnnggggggggg" Tails said and grinned.
So that's why Sonic says it. Kinda stress relieving.
Sally stared at Sonic, still in shock at such an important moment which she didn't even notice till just a few seconds ago.
"Sally. Everyday since we've known each other, even as kids you've made me feel…. Different. Before then, all I lived for was running. I didn't have time for friends or anyone. I didn't think they were worth my time if they couldn't even keep up… but when I met you, I think I stopped for the very first time. I mean really stopped" Sonic said, still desperately trying to find the right words.
"Urgh…. What I'm trying to say is… you're incredible. Smart, careful, knows when to just slow done and not rush into things… that's why I think… you complete me. You're everything that's missing from me and well…" and with that, Sonic opened the black box and revealed a beautiful gold ring with a small sparkling diamond on the top.
"Sally… will you… marry me" Sonic said, gulping between his breaths.
Sally just stood there, looking straight down at Sonic.
Sonic was afraid to look up, almost picturing one of the many faces his imagination was cooking up for Sally to wear. But as his gaze did go up, he saw the tears running down her face and the smile on her face.
She fell down and hugged Sonic almost to crushing point.
"Ow Sonic" Sally said tearfully. "I…" suddenly her tearful blissful expression turned to one of confusion. She looked around, as if trying to find something. Sonic stared to doing the same.
Both could make out, just at the edge of their hearing a slight whistling sound, but steadily getting louder.
Tails was now getting furious almost. He was sure that by now Sonic would have done it. If not then he would have clobbered him if not for this.
Tails sighed until he heard a faint whistle, just like Sonic and Sally. He looked around wondering what on Mobius was causing it. It was then that he looked up. If he squinted, he could just make out a small black spot in the sky. Infact there where many black spots above him, so tiny that they were barely noticeable if not for Tails good eyesight, only gained from hours and hours of lookout duty. Tails then noticed, that as the whistling noise started to increase and more whistling noises started to join it and layer ontop of each other.
Tails didn't know why he did it. He didn't feel in any major danger, but for some reason he dived head first into the pool, no longer thinking about the power ring or Sonic's big moment.
As he dived, lower and lower into the seemingly bottomless pool, he felt an odd form of panic rise in him. He had no clue what caused it but all his brain was telling him now was to hold your breath and keep swimming.
As soon as Tails reached the bottom and his hands wrapped themselves around some underwater weed to keep him from floating up, he turned round and looked straight up at the surface of the pool and the rippling sky above.
As he looked up, he felt his entire body rumble, along with the bottom of the pool. Soon after, the clear blue sky, distorted by the water was replaced with rushing flames, licking and pushing against the surface of the water. The flames didn't die away like a normal explosion. They continued to fill Tails vision for atleast 10 seconds before the roaring flames where replaced again by pure blackness. Tails waited their, at the bottom of the pool, staring up in horror as if he had just seen the gates of hell open for him. As he quickly rose, unable to hold his breath any longer and his face emerged from the heated water of the pool he released, looking around that his assumption was very close to the truth.