A New World
Chapter 4: A Message
It was early the next morning, when Tails was finally beginning to regain consciousness. The moment his eyes open, he immediately takes a defensive position, thinking he was still in the hands of his captors. When he realizes he isn't being held by a robot, and isn't in a jail cell either, he does look around confused. Tails was sitting in another trash pile, right on the edge of the city this time. From where he was sitting, he could see some buildings, but at the same time, could also see the country side next to the city, despite how run down it looks.
Tails does look very confused when he notices that he isn't in the hands of anyone and pushes himself to his feet to begin wiping the dirt off of himself once again. It was obvious to him already that he was no longer captured, but to why they would let him go was strange to him for sure. Either way, this was a blessing in disguise most likely. Tails was free now and able to get away from this city now, without being chased by Swatbots it seemed.
"Whatever is going on here, I'm not about to wait around and find out. I'm getting out of here." says Tails as he starts to scramble through the garbage pile and gets down to his feet quickly.
"Wait young one. You must not run in fear. You must stay and listen to what I have to say." says a female voice from behind Tails suddenly.
Tails immediately flips around defensively when he hears someone talking behind him. The fox had already had some not too pleasant feelings with this city, and having someone suddenly appearing out of nowhere to talk to him, wasn't something he wanted to deal with now. When Tails turns around to look at who was talking to him, he didn't see anyone around him, no matter where he looked.
"Who's there? Show yourself?" asks Tails looking around still at the voice, which did sound slightly familiar to him for some reason.
"I'm up here young one. I'm sorry that I can't really show myself all the way, but it is important that you hear this now." she says to Tails.
Tails looks up when he hears the female voice tell him this, and up on the balcony above him, was someone with a large purple cloak covering them completely. With the way they were angled as well, Tails couldn't see the face of the person that was talking to him either.
"Well, what is it that you want to tell me? Also, why does your voice sound so familiar? I shouldn't recognize anyone from this world." says Tails making that point right away to this mysterious Mobian.
"My voice sounds familiar, because I was the one that talked to you before you came to this world young fox. I was the voice you heard coming from your portal when it opened on its own." she says being honest right away with Tails.
"So that was you I heard in my workshop, but how did you turn my portal generators without me allowing access to them?" asks Tails wanting to know that, since it had been on his mind for a little while now.
"Why magic of course. Just like in your universe, a lot of people in this and your universe are so used to technology, that magic is often forgotten about in the process. Magic can be used to make your portal work, even without the power it needs." she tells him sounding very casual about everything she is saying.
"Magic? That's how it was done? I would have never thought of magic being used to work the portals. However, that is likely why they eventually started to overpower and get ready to blow afterwards." says Tails scratching his chin slightly as he begins to try and put things into prospective now.
"Yes, I'm sorry to have done that, but it was a risk either way to bring you here. The prophecy of how to save this world, mentioned bringing someone from another world here to help, and when you were found, we didn't waste any time in getting you here." she says to him.
"Well, can you please explain then, why it is that you brought me here in the first place? What in the world is this prophecy you are talking about as well?" asks Tails crossing his arms wanting to know now, since being brought here, wasn't exactly his idea of an ideal day.
"In time young one, but, I can tell you what all this is about at least. I owe that much to you for bringing you here so suddenly and most likely making others worry about you in the process." she says nodding.
"Oh, and it's Tails by the way, and I'm not young. I am a strong fox and a member of the Freedom Fighters of my world. I'm not some defenseless little kid." says Tails wanting to make that point right away to her, since she was calling him young one over and over again.
"Very well Tails. There is a prophecy in this world about how, myself and my children will one day bring about the destruction of the evil tyrant Dr. Robotnik. In this prophecy, I am not allowed to interact with my children and I had to give them up at a young age, so that they could learn to grow up and be strong to fulfill the prophecy." she says beginning to explain things to Tails now.
"Yes, and how in the world do I fit into all this with you and your kids?" asks Tails right away.
"Well, my children are getting very close to being ready to take down Robotnik, but they still need more help. There are people in the prophecy that are said to go along with them and help them on their journey to victory. They have already found the first of those people, and in the prophecy, the second person mentioned, was said to be a fox of twin tails from a far away land." she says to Tails.
"And you think this fox was supposed to be me? Sure, it sounds just like me in a way, but how do you know there isn't another fox in your universe that is just like me? I don't even know anything about this planet Mobius." says Tails stating some obvious facts now.
"We have looked. You are the only fox that ever matched the prophecy, so we had to try and get you here, by any means necessary." she tells him.
"Well, I'm flattered that you want me here to help you guys out, but I don't know anyone in this universe. Also, I'm pretty sure taking people to other universes like this, is against zone jumping rules." says Tails remembering a few of the universe rules he has learned over time.
"If we suffer negative consequences, then that is a risk we have to take. Also, I know you don't know anyone, but if you are a member of the Freedom Fighters in your world, you will make friends quickly here. You just won't see most of them out in the open in our world. Most of the Resistance is hidden and to find them, you will have to make yourself known, or find my children." she tells Tails.
"Well, if you are wanting me to help out, I guess until I find a way home, I have no choice but to help." says Tails shrugging now seeing really no way out of this now.
"Good, then as I said, if you are going to want the full story on what is going on around here, I'm not the one to be asking. You are going to have to get in with the Resistance then. It's not going to be easy, but that's going to be your best bet of keeping yourself in tact with people that can help you. It would also be the best way to defend yourself as well, if you want to take down Dr. Robotnik here as well." she tells him being sorta brutally honest about things.
Tails didn't look all that happy about the fact he was going to be stuck here for awhile, but he had little choice. It was really either he was going to have to help or risk being captured in this world and never getting home at all. Since Tails wasn't a fan of being captured, he was going to have to do as this lady says.
"Alright then, I guess I have no choice. What is it that you want me to do, and how do I get a connection in with the Resistance in your world." says Tails looking up at her for answers once again.
"Well, the easiest way to get in with them will be to find my children. They are some of the highest members of the Resistance. If you are in with them, you will be in with the rest of the Resistance right away. Friends of theirs are friends of everyone." she tells him, since that was what she wanted in the first place.
"Alright, where to I find your children then? If I must help them to help myself in the long run, then I'll do it then." says Tails looking much more serious, but also a lot calmer now that he at least has something to go by now.
"Well, they aren't here in Robotropolis right now. Yes, they are often here in the city working with the Resistance, but they are on the road right now. The information is right now, they are in the next city of Bodan, getting ready for a secret concert of theirs." she tells him.
Tails does immediately look sorta caught off guard the moment he hears secret concert. He was expecting something like they were on some sort of a secret mission, not about to be playing in a band from how it sounds. This was definitely different than back home, however, many things in this universe seem different, yet close to the same.
"A secret concert? Why would a group that is so high up in the Freedom Fighters, that are supposed to be hidden, be doing something so bold as holding a concert that could easily be found out by the enemy?' asks Tails questioningly.
"It might seem bold, but it is what my children love to do when they can. They don't get many opportunities to relax and playing music is what helps them to relax. Go to Bodan and confront them about all that you have heard, they are bound to believe you." she says as the wind flutters around the two of them now.
"And what makes you so sure that your children will believe me? How will they know I'm part of this prophecy and that you told me about all this? The chances of them believing me, someone that just shows up in front of them at their concert, is telling the truth about all this?" he asks making some good points to her.
"Here, take this. If you have this little piece of paper with my initials on it, they will believe anything you have to say. My handwriting is unique, they will believe you." she says as she waves her hand out and a piece of paper slowly comes floating down towards Tails.
Tails quickly reaches up and grabs the paper and immediately opens it up. When he looks inside, all he sees are the letters QA written on the piece of paper. Tails turns and looks back up at the figure above him questioningly.
"QA?" he asks her curiously wanting to know what this was all about now.
"Don't worry about it. When you show them this, they will believe you. Don't worry about it ok." she tells Tails to try and make sure he understood, that he should trust her.
Tails looks at the note for a moment more before he looks up at her and gives a small nod as he folds it back up. This wasn't something Tails was one hundred percent sure about yet, but at the moment he had no choice. This lady seemed like she knew what she was talking about, and the Resistance could be a great help to him in the long run.
"Alright alright, I'll go to this city of Bodan and find your children. Can you at least tell me how to get there and what your kids look like?" asks Tails wanting to know that at least.
"I might not be able to give you a picture of them at the moment, but believe me, you will know them when you see them. As for where the city is, just follow the path out of the city behind you. It will eventually bring right to the city. When you get there, there is likely going to be a lot of fuss of my children holding the concert. All you have to do, is at some point before they leave, confront them and you will be in." she tells him and points in the direction of the city.
"Alright then, is there anything else I should know?" asks Tails as he turns away from her and looks at the path that she just pointed out to him now.
"Just follow the path and all your questions will eventually be answered." she says as she watches Tails turn around to look where she just pointed.
"What does that mean?" asks Tails as he turns around, but notices right away, that she was already gone.
Tails go rather wide eyed at this and immediately flies up towards the balcony she was just standing out and starts to look around when he lands up right where she was standing. The door that was behind her was also boarded shut from the outside, so she couldn't have gone that way. There didn't appear to be any way that she could have gotten away, but somehow, she got away.
"She left. I just hope whatever is going on around here will at least be explained once I find her children. It was still strange that she wouldn't show me her face as well." he says shaking his head a bit now.
Tails didn't have much choice now, as he soon flies back down to the ground and starts to walk in the direction she told him to walk in now. If he was going to make it around here, he was going to have to trust her. If this was a trap, he was going to be walking right into it, but for some reason, he didn't see it being a trap. This lady went to all this trouble of bringing him here away from his universe just so that she could get him, a fox she had never met before, to help her children defeat Dr. Robotnik in this world. She was either nuts, or she knew something that he didn't now.
Tails simply shakes his head and soon was walking down a dirt road leaving Robotropolis. Tails knew this wouldn't be the last time he was in this horrible city, but seeing as he had nothing else to do here now, he had to go out on his own now. There were people out there that needed him, but whoever they were, he was going to have to find them on his own for now.
Tails does see that the countryside outside the city, wasn't much better than being in the city. There was still some sign of nature around the area, but there were broken robot parts everywhere, muck and other trash just littering everywhere he was looking. This planet was already minding him of his childhood, when he was hiding out all the time. Things were just as bad around here, as they had been back then. The fact that there are still cities is strange to him, but he would get more answers later. If there were still cities of Mobians living around the planet, he was going to take advantage of this.
These kids of that lady had to be something special if they were some of the top dogs in the Resistance of this planet. If they were that important, this would be his chance. He had to get to that city as quick as possible and track them down before they leave. Trying to find someone that was going to be holding a concert shouldn't be all that difficult. If they were that popular, finding them shouldn't be a problem at all.
Tails was at least glad, that it didn't take him more than hour of walking, before he could see a small city coming into view. It wasn't anything impressive at all, many of the buildings looked still rather dirty, but it was nowhere as bad as back in Robotropolis in the area he was in at least. One of the main differences with this city, even from a distance, Tails could see other Mobians walking around the outskirts of the city.
Tails was very relieved to see other Mobians, instead of robots all the time. As he was approaching, many of the people walking the street did at least look moderately dressed and ok, but it was obvious that a lot of the people in town, didn't have a lot of money. Many people were just barely dressed and only looked moderately fed. People didn't appear to be too happy with their lives, and they were now just doing whatever it was they could do to stay alive and live on now.
Tails didn't really like seeing people in this condition, but this world was different than his own. He used to see people poor and upset all the time, but things were different at home now. People had homes and lived pretty happy lives back in the city. Here, people were just doing what they could to get by, while looking worried at all times about what may come to get them one day. With Dr. Robotnik out and about, it was no wonder they appeared to look this way.
Tails was about to walk deeper into the city, when he saw a large group of people, that all look excited and happy as they were running. This was definitely different than some of the people he saw just as he was entering the city, and he figured these were some people he had better get some information from. They looked like the people that might know how to find the ones he was looking for now.
Tails quickly runs and catches up to the crowd and starts to run alongside them to make sure he would be able to talk as they are running. They were getting sort of loud, so trying to speak over the excitement was rather difficult in a manner like this. Tails does eventually hear them dying down as they were soon coming to a stop in front of a wide building near the center of the city. This was Tails' chance to finally get some answers, before they started up again.
"Excuse me, can someone tell me what is going on here? Why is everyone running and looking so exited like this?" asks Tails to a nearby cat boy that was standing next to him.
"Hmm? You must be new in town to have not heard about this? It's the highlight of the city, anyone that wants to or can come is welcome to come." says the cat boy smiling as he and the others seemed to be waiting in line to get into the building they were standing in front of now.
"Um, yes I am new in town. Do you think you could give me a hint on what is going on here? Sorry, I just got into town, so I don't have a clue of what is going on here." says Tails being honest as he waits for a response from the cat boy.
"Oh, well that makes sense. We are all here for the concert kid." says the cat boy not thinking anything of calling Tails a kid, since the cat boy looked to be in his late teens, and Tails was only in his early teens.
Tails didn't look all that pleased about being called kid yet again, but he was going to have to get over that. If this was the place where that concert was being held, this was the right place. Tails was here now and able to get information out of a common Mobian citizen, he was going to at least want to hear more about this band. What he wanted to know most of all, what who in the world was in this band that would make everyone so happy to hear them. Also, he wanted to know why they were, according to the mysterious lady, such an importance to the freedom fighters of this universe.
"Well, could you at least tell me who the one is holding the concert then?" asks Tails, knowing he was likely going to get some looks for this question, but he wasn't worried about that. Tails wanted some information, and he was going to get that information.
Tails did get some looks by the cat boy and a few others when he asks this. They look at him for a moment, but then can honestly tell, he didn't know who it was that would be holding a concert now. They just figured Tails was from a part of Mobius, where he hasn't heard a concert before, so he honestly wouldn't know, which wasn't far from the truth.
"Why, the Sonic Underground silly fox. They are the biggest thing around. Everyone that can get a chance to hear them, wants to get a chance to hear them. Just follow us all inside, and you will get a chance to hear them as well." says the cat boy, who then turns around to just stand and wait in the line, which was moving rather fast.
Tails was immediately caught off guard when he heard that name. He couldn't believe it. There was no way that this could be who he was thinking of now. If it was, this would change everything, yet also opened many more questions about who in the world that lady was he was talking to, and what was going on here now.
"The Sonic Underground. This is going to be interesting." says Tails as he turns and gets in line with the rest of the crowd to get inside for the concert.
To Be Continued…..