Chapter 3

Paparazzi

"After our encounter with Metal Shadow, Tails, Sonic, and Knuckles Shadow Tikal Knuckles and I went back home disappointed but mostly Sonic because his fights with Eggman he always won and got the chaos emerald before him or maybe its because he always used robots to do the fighting and the machines he used for himself since he wasn't a fighter but now it was different its with people that actually fought with unimaginable power I've never seen" Tails said to himself. Tails comforted Sonic telling him "don't worry about it, its just one of the five remaining chaos emeralds we'll be ready for the next one" luckily it cheered him up and thanked Tails that he needed that. After cheering up Sonic Tails drove the X-Tornado to his house thinking about what he just saw Metal Shadow punching Sonic without flinching or moving an inch like he exactly knew what Sonic was going to do and the others that didn't even join in to help but Tails told himself "don't worry about it tomorrow's a new day and a fresh start". When they got home Amy wouldn't stop telling Sonic how much he worried her. Everyone started going to bed except for Tails and Tikal.

Tails: "what's wrong?"

Tikal: "oh its nothing… we'll actually its just that the way you take care of each other and protect each other reminds me of my mother and farther"

Tails: "what happen to them?"

Tikal: "they were killed by malpercio, you see it all started when I go to bed every night I get these dreams I cant quite explain what they mean but all I know is there connected to me some how, I try not to think about out them and think about something else but they always come back in my head no matter what I do"

Tails though for a second what she just said and though maybe the dream he had in his lab in his sleep is connected somehow "then what happened?" Tails asked after he finishes with his thoughts.

Tikal: "I went to malpercios palace hoping to find some answers, I manage to get inside but when I got there I over heard them talking of sending an army leaded by Metal Shadow to destroy where we hide in secret. I tried to make it back in time to warn them but was followed by his demons. I manage to escape by jumping on one of there backs and landed on the ground but when I got there I saw it was already too late. I went to see if there were any survivors and manage to find my farther for the last time before he risk his life to save mine…I never got another chance to see my mother or my friends"

Tails: "I'm sorry"

Tikal: "don't be its not your fault. What happen to your mother and farther?"

Tails: "I never got a chance to see my mother and farther. I was only an infant when they died. I was raised in an orphanage. I stayed there until I thought I was ready and old enough to run away and start living my own life. While I was in the orphanage, I found out I liked inventing new things and surpass the other kids at age 4. After I ran away I was capture by Eggman, he wanted to use me in his experiments. That's when I met Sonic who fought with Eggman to stop his plans and rescued me and we became friends ever since. We worked together and build my house the one you're standing on right now. He was surprise to see how smart I was I didn't like being smart because at the orphanage the kids called me names like nerd and geek but Sonic wasn't like the rest of them he told me I was unique and for the first time I felt proud to be this smart. We finish building the house in three months and ever since after that incident we fought against Eggman and met Amy, Shadow, Knuckles, Rouge and everyone else.

Tikal: "you two must have been friends for a long time."

Tails: "yep four years"

Tikal: "and you still have the energy to stop Eggman and continue on with your lives?"

Tails: "it was hard at first but we got use to it and kicking Eggman but. One time when Eggman took the president as hostage he send at us a giant robot snake and when we defeated it, it blew up in Eggmans face making him loose his mustache.

Tails and Tikal laugh and talked about there lives until it was past midnight. Tails looked at the time and saw it was almost two in the morning.

Tails: "well I think is time to go to bed"

Tails started walking toward his room but saw that Tikal was getting herself ready to sleep on the sofa

Tails: "Tikal what are you doing?"

Tikal: "oh I just though since there were no rooms left for me to sleep I thought I'll sleep on the sofa"

Tails: "hey I know you could sleep in my room"

Tikal: "no thank you that's all right"

Tails: "no I insist you to sleep in my bed and I'll sleep on the floor if that'll change your mind"

Tikal: "thank you I'll like that"

They walk into Tails room and Tikal gets in Tails bed covering herself getting ready to go to bed while Tails set up a mattress to sleep on the floor. After he finishes setting up his bed he sees a tear coming down on the side of Tikal cheek. Tails look at Tikal with a concern expression and Tikal tells him his room reminds of her home but tells him it's not important right now. Tails turn off the light and lies on the hard mattress and starts thinking of a way to make her feel at home and thought of an idea. Tails gets up from the floor and started making Tikal a living room making a second garage to make her room. When he finish he saw that it was five o'clock am, he went head first on mattress and fell asleep. The next morning it was ten o'clock am Tails was asleep and felt something soft running through his fingers he open his eyes flinching them only to see another pair of eyes flinching at him as well. He saw Tikal and jumped off the mattress and landed on the floor. He got up and started rubbing his but.

Tikal: "are you hurt"

Tails: "no just my pride"

Tails looked at the time and saw it was 10:05am. He started rubbing his back and drank some Advil to relief his back from the mattress he slept on. He was going to go and eat breakfast but Tikal stopped him and asked him where was the shower he replied by telling her it was the second door to your right towel, soap and shampoo are there. Tails went to the kitchen and saw Amy cooking, eggs, pancakes, bacon and sausages.

Amy: "we'll its about time you woke up I was about to give your food to Knuckles"

Tails sat down and saw everyone enjoying there food as Amy was serving his food and putting Tikal's plate next to his.

"Where's Tikal?" Amy asked as Tails was about to start eating

"Taking a shower she'll be out in five minutes" Tails replied

Tikal was almost finishing washing herself as she washed the soap of her body. When she was finish she put her clothes on and met everyone at the table. She said hi to everyone they replied by waving there hands while food was in there mouths but Tails said hi and told her to sit down as he pulled up a chair for her to eat. When everyone finish Amy grabbed seven straws and cuts each one shorter and shorter.

Amy: "alright whoever grabs the shortest straw washes the dishes"

Everyone joined including Tikal

Rouge: 'hey no fair she got the biggest straw."

Amy: "alright who has the shortest straw?"

Amyl looked at everyone hands Tikal had the biggest straw, Knuckles had the second shortest, Sonic had the second largest, Shadow had the third shortest. Amy looks at Tails but he doesn't show his hands. "Tails let me see" she demanded. Tails showed her his straw which was the shortest out of all of them. "We'll looks like you wash and remember scrub hard" "hey

What about you" Tails replied "I cooked remember" Amy answer back "no fair" Tails said as he went and started washing dishes. Tails starts washing the dishes while Amy reads the newspaper to see if anything was on sale. She notices an article and tells everyone as Tails was finishing the last dish to wash.

Amy: "hey look at this archeologist Michelangelo is going to get a medal and give a speech giving by the mayor for finding one of the newest and rarest emeralds at the Angel Museum."

"Hey that the chaos emerald" Tails said as he looked at the picture

Amy: "unfortunenaly he calls it the apocalypse emeralds since he thinks it stands for power and was created by ancient gods"

Shadow: "hmph apocalypse emeralds"

Sonic: "where is the promotion going to be held?

Amy: "it's going to be held at square garden at three o'clock pm and he will stay there for two hours after the promotion for autographs"

Sonic: "Tails you finish?"

Tails: "yep all set"

Sonic: "okay we'll"

"Wait" Amy interrupted "I'm not going out in public without my hair done and changing my outfit"

Sonic: "fine we'll go ahead Tails we'll meet you and Tikal at the museum"

They agreed and left. Tails sat down on the couch watching T.V. with Tikal looking at what ever he was watching waiting for Amy. It took half an hour to decide what Amy wanted to put on and fix her hair.

Amy: "alright ready to go"

Tails: "I though you were going to change"

Amy: "yea but I decided to keep what I usually wear"

Tails slapped his head saying to himself "I can't believe I waited half an hour just for her to decide to keep her regular clothes and to leave her hair the way it is." "You're sure everything done?" he asked "yes I'm sure" she replied.

They went to the train station and got in, inside they saw people dressed up anxious to see the chaos emerald or apocalypse emerald which they call, photographers and news reporter. When the train made it to its destination Tails was next to the door but as soon as the door open and was about to exit paparazzis pushed him to the ground and trampled over him. Tikal helped him get up as he cracked his back from the trampled he just had and rubs his back from the foot prints they left with there shoes. They saw Knuckles and Sonic waiting for them but Shadow was nowhere to be seen.

Tails: "where's Shadow?"

Sonic: "over there getting harassed by police officers saying that he's one of Eggmans experiments gone loose so they're still frisking him checking for any arsenal"

"It's bigger than I expected to be" Tikal said looking at thousands of people waiting to hear Michelangelo speech.

Tails: "five minutes till it starts"

Sonic: "hey Shadow how was harassment day"

Shadow: "shut it"

"look there he is" a person said as they see Michelangelo coming up the platform going to sit down followed by security and the mayor walking to the microphone giving an introduction.

"ladies and gentlemen children of all ages I know how anxious you must be being here so without further educe I present to you Michelangelo!" the mayor said as everyone cheered and clapped while Michelangelo got up to the microphone.

Michelangelo: "I know you may be wondering how I came about this apocalypse emerald"

"Its chaos emerald retard" Shadow said as two cops jumped him making him shut up.

Michelangelo: "anyway before the interruption like I was saying some of you may wonder how I found this artifact well it was hard and dangerous searching inside an ancient temple ignoring the traps, snakes even life threaten situations and I almost gave up after searching forever but I told myself don't give up Michelangelo you spent your lifes work for this day to come you cant give up. So I continue venturing deeper and deeper until I found the prize I was looking for at first sight I knew my dream had come true and now without further traduce ladies and gentlemen I give you the apocalypse emerald."

Everyone cheered and screamed as photographer took pictures.

Mayor: "Michelangelo will now be having some Q&A (questions and answers) at this time."

Reporter: "sir did you ever think that you might not had made it out alive and see your love ones again?"

Michelangelo: "no because I put faith into my work and promised myself I would return to see my love ones and if you trust and put faith in your work then what ever it is your looking for you will surely find it."

Reporter: "did you think your theories were false?"

Michelangelo: "not at all I knew it had to be real like the pharos archeologist found in ancient Egypt who some though were fake and never true so if they were able to prove pharos existed then I knew this emerald had to exist."

Reporter: "sir what if"

Michelangelo: "no more questions"

Mayor: "now archeologist Michelangelo will be inside the museum signing for autographs and everyone will be able to see and take pictures of the emerald at this time thank you."

Tails hurried to warn him of what he found and the danger he was in but he kept on getting pushed by people that wanted to see the chaos emerald and who wanted his autographs. When Tails made it to the entrance there were two cops guarding the entrance.

Police: "woo there little fellow aren't you young to be here by yourself, where's your mommy and daddy?"

Tails: "I'm by myself and I happen to be called Miles Tails Prower"

Police: "yea yea kid what ever look you got no parents then you can't come in those are the rules so scram."

Tails: "but I have to tell him something"

Police: "listen Miles or what ever your name is you're running my patience so get out of here or I'll arrest you for trespassing without a guarding"

Tails obeyed and got nudge by a guy wearing a dark coat and a hat and sun glasses. "Watch it kid!" the guy answer in an angry voice

Sonic: "what happen?"

Tails: "they won't let us through"

Sonic: "Shadow you and I will cause a diversion"

Shadow: "no you don't I'm not getting jumped by cops again"

Amy: "come on Shadow please."

Shadow: "no I won't"

Amy: "you will"

Shadow: "I won't"

Amy: "you will"

Shadow: "I won't"

Amy: "you won't"

Shadow: "I will"

Amy: "fine!"

Shadow: "fine! No wait arggh dam you fine I'll do it but I know I'm going to regret this"

Shadow: "out of my way stupid!"

Sonic: "what you called me!"

Shadow: "you heard me what you can't hear English let me put it into your own language you….are….stupid!"

Sonic: "you want a piece of me!"

Shadow: "bring it on!"

Shadow and Sonic start fighting, the two police guards guarding the museum see the fight from a distance. "This is officer Williams suspect is a red hedgehog mugging a blue hedgehog pedestrian requesting for backup" the police officer said to his walky talky as they acknowledge and went to stop the fighting leaving the entrance open. Tails and Tikal go inside knowing that was there chance to enter.

Shadow: "hey leave me alone"

Police: "you're under arrest"

"hell no I' not" Shadow said as he fought with the police men as more backup came to help stop the riot.

Knuckles: "yea hit him in the chin!"

Rouge: 'don't encourage him."

Knuckles: "sorry just playing my part."

Tails and Tikal made it inside the museum and saw a hallway of ancient artifacts.

Tails: "let's go find Michelangelo"

Tikal: "wait Tails we have two hours before he leaves you think we could look around you know together."

Tails: "sure why not"

They walked around the museum as Tikal followed Tails guiding her around giving some information of each exhibit. They saw the dinosaurs, pharaohs, and the mummy exhibits. By the time they made half way it was four thirty pm.

Tails: "I think we seen enough let's get going"

Tikal: "wait Tails there's something I want to see'

Tikal enters a room where they all kinds of gems and necklaces, she looks around and finds a necklace that looks exactly the one she has around her neck. She see it and holds the one around her neck tightly.

Tikal: "this necklace is the one my farther gave me."

Tials: "uh..Tikal"

Tikal: "no its okay I'm fine let's go find him"

They head to the entrance, make a left and see Michelangelo signing an auto graph for a kid.

Tails: "um excuse Michelangelo"

Michelangelo: "yes may I help you?"

Tails: "yes I"

Michelangelo: "welcome! And what a lovely couple you are, how long you been dating I may ask?"

Tails: "dating!"

Michelangelo: "we'll since you're here what I'll be, would you like to buy T-shirts, water bottles, hats, gems. Drinking hats"

Tails: "wait you don't"

Michelangelo: "a video of my adventure no wait let me guess you wan t an autograph on your forehead"

Tails: "no wait let me explain"

Just as Tails tries talking to him he marks his name with a black marker on his forehead and Tikal stars laughing as he finishes.

"Listen just shut up for five seconds!" Tails said as he grabs him by the shirt and security comes to help but stops when they see his hand telling them back to your posts"

Tails: "all I want to tell you is you need us to give us the chaos emerald"

Michelangelo: "why should I give it to you?"

Tails: "because you're in great danger and some people will come and kill you to get there hands on it"

Michelangelo just looks at him in a odd way and starts laughing at Tails request.

Tails: "what so funny"

Michelangelo: "instead of lying and telling me this life treating story why didn't you just say you'll buy it. I'll sell it to you for a reasonable price that is"

Tails: "I don't want to buy it I'm trying to save your life"

Michelangelo: "oh really and what are you going to do if I don't"

Tails: "uh"

Michelangelo: "security!"

Officers came and grab Tails and Tikal by the arms and while there being pulled outside Tails sees the guy that nudge him earlier asking Michelangelo questions, his phone rings and before he sees anything else he gets thrown out hitting the floor and Tikal landing on his back. "And stay out" they said as they closed the doors.

Tails: "so much for that idea. What's so funny?"

Tikal: "your forehead"

Tails remembers what he put on his forehead, licks his hand and wipes it off. As they got up from the floor they see Shadow being dragged by cops trying to get him inside the police vehicle as he fights back.

Just as Tails was going to meet Sonic and explain what happen an explosion occurs inside the museum. The cops let go and forget about Shadow and goes inside the museum. Sonic tells Shadow to get up and they go inside to see what happen. When they get inside they see the officers that went in on the floor, some shot others stabbed to death. They reach the end and Tails notice four robbers wearing black masks holding machine guns and the guy that's pointing a gun at Michelangelo head who nudge him earlier must be the leader demanding him to tell him where the chaos emerald is, they hide behind the wall hearing the conversation.

"Tell me where the chaos emerald is!?"

"I don't know what you're talking about" the archeologist replies in tremble.

One of the robbers puts a knife to his throat make a thin cut as it slide to his chin.

"Now I'm going to ask you one last time where the chaos emerald is"

"Behind the picture frame it's inside the safe the combination is 2 2 1 3 6"

They open the safe and retrieve the chaos emerald. The leader goes up to Michelangelo and gives him a hug.

"You see that wasn't too hard wasn't it. What's wrong cant breathe" the leader says as the archeologist fall to the ground with a knife stabbed to his chest.

Tails: "how does he know the chaos emerald?"

Rouge: "you think there working with Metal Shadow."

Sonic: "I don't know but all I know is we cant let them escape"

Just as there discussing a plan a robber comes out of the food court with a hot dog, sees them and points his gun at Tails.

Tikal: "Tails look out!"

Tikal pushes Tails out of the fire as everyone else hid behind tables. But Tails gets a gun in front of his face from the leader.

"well well it isn't Sonic the hedgehog hero of this city. I was scared at first knowing you come and stop us and Tails what a buffoon not thinking of a plan that wouldn't end up like this well it was all nice seeing you but I got business to attend to"

They point there guns at them and as the leader gives the command to fire Tikal turns off the light and they start shooting at random places. The leader turns on the light and notices they killed one of their comrades the guy holding the hot dog. The leader gets furious from loosing one of his men and blames Tails. He sees Tikal hiding and grabs her by the hair.

Tails: "Tikal!"

"Nobody move or the girl dies!" the leader says as his gun is pointed at her head.

Tails tries to think of a plan but before he could think of one a van comes from outside crashing through a window. Tails jumps to the side avoiding the van. The robbers get in the van holding Tikal hostage. They all get in the van leaving while tails stood behind hearing Tikals voice cries out "Tails" he stops thinking and starts acting.

Tails: "we got to save her Sonic"

Sonic: "I know but we can't just rush in and save"

Tails: "but there'll kill her if we don't"

Sonic: "I know Tails but"

Tails: "but nothing if you won't help me save her then I'll do it myself"

Tails flies where the van made its exit and went after it.

"Oh baby I'll cant wait to get my payment after this"

"Boss we got a flier, its that Tails"

Tikal: "Tails!"

"Shut up!" the leader said as he slapped her across the face "shoot him down" he demanded

The open the back door and two robbers start shooting at him. Tails doges some of them but one of them hits him in the arm and starts falling.

"So long Tails"

Tails started falling faster, faster as he saw the ground coming closer as he knew he was going to die he closed his of fear and then he opens his eyes only to see he being carried in Sonic arms. "Sonic!" Tails shouts in surprise

Sonic: "you didn't think I'll let you save her by yourself did you"

Tails: "where Amy and Rouge?"

Sonic: "there back at the house, can you still fly?"

Tails: "I'll manage"

Sonic: "aright let save Tikal"

Sonic, Shadow, knuckle and Tails go to save Tikal

"Boss he coming back with Sonic and some of his friends"

"that's it that Kitsune has pulled my last nerve" he says as he open the door and sets up a turret machine gun "say hello to my little friend!" he screams out as he fires.

They dodge the bullets back and forth; they dodge for a while until the turret machine gun runs out of ammo.

"Blast!"

"What now boss?"

"Make a left we'll loose them in the alley"

They make a left and as Sonic and the gang make a left they don't see the van. They looked around but couldn't find so they split up to make the searching easier. After the robber manage to loose Tails and Sonic and his friends they head into an alley where there'll find there hirer. The van stops and the leader goes out from the van, Tikal looks trying to see through the fog and sees Metal Shadow coming out from the fog.

Metal Shadow: "do you have it?"

"Yep in here, now where's our payment."

"Oh yes here's your reward" Metal Shadow says as he snaps his fingers and three demon dogs come out from the fog.

"What is this?"

Metal Shadow: "the end of your life!"

The demon dogs jumps the leader biting off his flesh as he squeals in pain. His comrades come leaving Tikal in the van Metal Shadow shoot an energy ball flipping the van around as flames start coming out. The robbers start shooting while the demon dogs dodge the bullets and pounce on them biting there faces taking their skin off revealing their muscles. The last robber drops his gun and runs in fear Metal Shadow picks up one of their knives and throws it at his head. He picks up the chaos emerald the leader had in his hand and walks away in the fog as the demon dogs finish their prey leaving their inner skeleton. Tails looks all over the place until he sees smoke coming from the west side of town he goes and sees the van in flames about to blow up. He pulls the door down only to see Tikal on the floor with one of the doors on her back. He lifts it up and sees Tikal looking at him with burn marks on her face and body as her eyes close shut. He lifts her up and carries her home just before the van blew up. When he got back Sonic and everyone else was waiting for him, as he walks in they look at him in shocked that he manage to find her. He puts her on his bed with a new blanket and washes some of the burn marks on her face and body; he goes into the living room removing the bullet he had in his arm with Amy's help of course. He gets ready for bed and thinks of waking Tikal up to tell her what he made but decided not to since what she lived through today.