Chapter Four

Sally gasped. Fiona stared down at Tails with surprise. Tails lowered his head and spoke to his friend.

"Sally, I've always wanted to be a Freedom Fighter. I dreamed of the day I would be able to go one missions like you and Sonic. But, I guess if you can't accept me…" Sally was at loss for words. She searched Tails face for some kind of answer, but there was none.

"Tails, you can't just leave," she said. "I, I mean, I guess you could, but…" Suddenly, the doors to Castle Acorn swung open once more, and Sonic the Hedgehog entered with pride on his face. He smiled at the sight of Sally.

"Hey Sal. Why so surprised? You look like you've just been given a cursed crown or something." Sally looked up to face the hedgehog.

"Well, it's just that Tails announced that he would be…resigning from the Freedom Fighters." Shock flooded Sonic's face.

"What?!" he swung his head over to face Tails. "Dude!" Tails faced Sonic with defiance.

"I'm a young adult," he said. "I can do what I want, when I want." Sonic lifted his gaze to Fiona.

"This is about you, isn't it?" he asked. Fiona didn't answer. "Answer me!"

"Why should I?!" she asked sharply. "I don't wanna be here! I've met the man I want to spend my life with, and I don't think that some little bratty kid can change any of that!" Fiona smiled dreamily. "Scourge stole my heart."

"He also stole the power from the Master Emerald," Tails pointed out weakly. "He could hurt you at any time." Fiona spun around to face Tails.

"You've just quit the Freedom Fighters. They're your home. What exactly do you plan to do?" Tails puffed out his chest and grabbed Fiona's hand.

"Follow me," he said. Fiona looked puzzled, but followed the fox in silence. Tails paused and looked back at Sonic and Sally.

"Goodbye," he said. "You've taunted me, treated me like a baby, but I guess that counts for building self-esteem. Thanks--thanks for nothing."

Sonic and Sally stared flabbergasted as the two foxes strode out of Castle Acorn, their backs turned.

"Why?" Fiona demanded as the doors swung shut. "Why did you just do that? Being a Freedom Fighter was, like your whole reason for existence. Why did you quit?"

Tails sighed at the question and looked Fiona in the eye. "I did it because I love you." He said firmly. "What I just said was probably the hardest thing to say in my life, but I wanted to prove to you that I would do anything for you, Fiona." The fox nodded, touched by his words.

"Well, thank you, I guess. I…we better go wake up Scourge, huh?" Tails waved his hand.

"Nah, we better just leave him. Security can take care of him later. Why don't we just go?" Fiona was Tails' puppet.

"OK."

"Tails wait!" Sonic's voice sounded behind the two. Tails glanced at Fiona.

"Let's get outta here," he muttered. "Pretend you don't hear him." The foxes dashed off, passing a dazed Scourge, and disappeared into the forest.

"Tails!" Sonic screamed again. "Tails…no!" Sonic paused at the forest's edge and wiped away the ever flowing tears. He had lost his best friend…forever.

The End