Chapter 1: The start of a journey
Act Three: The Farwell
The day had finally come, the anniversary of the defeat of the Metarex. Although in many worlds this day was a holiday since they got rid of the threat that overwhelmed them, in Mobius Sonic and the others hoped to do something for one of their own.
Meanwhile Tails had decided to go to the only place he knew he would not be disturbed: an island in the east coast where his workshop was built. In that place no one would approach not even Sonic, due he cannot swim and only Tails knew the location of the island. Leaving R.A.M.P at the care of his home.
Tails landed the X-Tornado on a small island in a half moon shape and sat under a palm tree and began to think about his last dream while he warped himself in his tails…
"I wonder, what is doing RAMP?" - Tails thought as he closed his eyes; Back into town. Sonic, Amy, Cream and Cheese were heading to Tails´ house, when they arrived they noticed that the house was closed everywhere.
"I cannot believe he locked himself again" - Amy said in disbelief, but then they heard a gloomy voice behind them - "HEEEE ISSS NOOOT HEEERE" - By hearing that they were invaded by chills while a shadow with two huge bright eyes grew behind them. When they turned around to see with fear, they just saw Tails´ strange robot butler. "The Master is not at home." - R.A.M.P affirmed calmly.
"WHY ALWAYS YOU SHOW UP UNANNOUNCED!?" - Amy screamed scared and angry - "Because it's funny" - R.A.M.P answered - "And since when you have sense of humor?" - Amy asked inquisitively .
"Do you know where Tails is?" - Cream asked worriedly - "He just went out and he will not come back in a while" - RAMP said to the little rabbit
"Are you sure you're not lying us?" - Amy asked not trusting in R.A.M.P words - "what I say is true" - RAMP said calmly
"Okay? We´ll come back another time" - Sonic declared before leave with the others.
"I wonder where Tails is ?" - Amy wondered - "I hope he is right" - Cream affirmed.
"I hope so as well" - thought Sonic.
At the island Tails was lost in his thoughts, reviewing their memories as if they were a book trying to find a meaning to what the voice said.
"What does it mean by the damage of the conflict and what is that place where the scars still have not healed?" - Tails said trying to fins sense in the words he heard from the voice; And then as if it were introduced into a trance, the mind of Tails began showing a stream of images of his memories.
"What the hell is going on?" - Tails quickly said a little freaked out. While the stream of images passed quickly before him, a particular image stood before him and by watch it he get out of the trance and opened his eyes - "That was weird, but the picture I saw. I recognize, I recognize that place" - Tails said
"But ... of all the worlds that exist in this galaxy ..." - Tails began to say, before scream with all his strength to the sky... - "Why it have to be that planeeeeeeeeeet!"
"I must return home and soon" - Tails said as he returned to the X-Tornado and lifted flight back home. The sun was setting on the horizon and still no sign of Tails
"Tails, where are you?, Why are you hiding?" - Sonic thought under the shadow of a tree near a cliff . Suddenly he saw something that flies over him at high speed - "That was the X-Tornado!" - Then Sonic went to follow the plane.
RAMP was on the balcony, sitting inert as if he was disconnected, his eyes seemed like a huge TV screen turned off, when he heard the sound of a turbine in the distance, his eyes lighted up and jump from where he was and look around to know where the noise comes when he see the X-Tornado - "The Master is back" - R.A.M.P said as he headed to the beach to meet his creator.
While Sonic was approaching the first thing he saw was Tails going out the X- Tornado - "Hey buddy, over here!" - Sonic shouted - "Sonic! Whoa, Whoa, Waaaa!" - Tails said as he fell to the ground.
"Are you all right Master?" - R.A.M.P asked to his master -"Yes, I only have sand in my ears" - Tails said Coughing.
"Tails, where have you been?" - Sonic questioned more calmed - "I just went for a walk to clear my head and told me" - Tails said as he get up with R.A.M.P ´s help
"Do you feel better now?" - Sonic asked - "Yes better!" - Tails said with a big smile - "Good to see you're back to being the same" - Sonic affirmed happily
"Just tell me, where did you go?" - Sonic asked curiously - "It's a secret" - Tails said with a grin.
That night Tails was on the balcony of his house, watching the moon.
"Were you able to find something in your meditation sir?" - R.A.M.P asked to Tails - "Not only that, I know what I must do" - Tails affirmed seriously.
"What is?" - asked the butler - "I'll travel into space" -Tails said very determined.
"Are you sure of this Master?, What will you do if your friends try to follow you or to stop you?" (RAMP)
"They will not know, by the time they realize it will be too late" (Tails)
"Then I'll go with you" - R.A.M.P said before being cutted by Tails -"NO" - he said sternly.
"Why?" - R.A.M.P asked - "Because this is something I must do alone" - Tails said Seriously.
"No way Master, you cannot go alone!" - R.A.M.P said trying to his creator reconsider his decision - "Is my last word!" - Tails said very angry.
"I cannot allow you this Master!" - R.A.M.P said in a very protective tone - "R.A.M.P, YOU DARE TO REVEAL AGAINST YOUR CREATOR?!" - Tails screamed.
"Master with due respect no one should travel alone and less to the outer space, so I´ll go with you, you like it or not!" -RAMP said standing firm in its decision.
The scene was very tense Tails watched RAMP very seriously because it was the 1st time that RAMP opposed him…
"RAMP, I created you with the sole purpose of being my assistant, but you have become more than that, you've become a faithful servant and a loyal friend. ... Okay, you're coming with me, BUT!, You must help me to hide everything. No one must know what I am planning, they will think I'm crazy or ... they will think I seek "someone" who is no longer in this world "- Tails said quietly
"As you wish Master" -R.A.M.P said with a reverence, but asked - "I have only one question, where will we get the money?"
"Follow Me" - Tails said, Then with a grin Tails guided to RAMP towards the underground dock. When they arrive at the dock, RAMP asked confusedly - "Master you still have not told me where we get the money?"
"From here" - Tails just opened a door in one wall of the dock and they entered into a long dark tunnel and out the other side they arrived to a chamber where there were hundreds and hundreds of diamonds.
"What's all this?" - R.A.M.P asked in surprise - "It is my storage room. Here I keep all the diamonds extracted from the mine" -Tails answered back.
"Mine? What Mine?" - R.A.M.P asked,Tails then opens a door into the storage room and said - "This mine"
Inside the door was a huge cave lit with lights extended to the bottom and the droids workers were in the walls getting diamonds.
"Why I had never seen this place before?" - R.A.M.P asked a little confused.
"Because I never let you, actually I found this little mine after start building the dock and decided to start extracting and storing the diamonds. I've used them in many of my experiments; in fact part of your power core is made from a mineral extracted from diamond dust "- Tails answered him.
"But you know if sold them we would have more resources?" - R.A.M.P said - "True, but if I did that, there would have problems" - Tails clarified.
"Problems?" - that was all R.A.M.P could say.
"Don´t you think if they saw me coming and going to my house constantly they could begin to suspect? , if they find out what's here I never would take them off me. The mine is below the forest is near to home if they find out that, the trees would be destroyed by seeking the diamonds and I don´t want that happen due my negligence "(Tails)
"Now take the small bag and take it to my room, in the morning we will change it to get what we need for the journey" - Tails ended
With that said RAMP took a bag and both came out of the mine. The next morning Sonic accompanied Cream to Tails' house to bring him some homemade chocolates that Cream's mother made, since Tails has a great weakness for chocolates. After entering the shop they found Tails and RAMP talking while he was writing something in a small notebook and Tails holding a bag…
"Hi Tails" (Cream)
"Hello Friends" - Tails said as he placed the bag in a drawer. Apparently neither Sonic nor Cream noticed that - "What are you doing here?"
"I came to bring you this, I thought ..." - Cream began ,and when she pause turned his eyes to the table near the window and saw a beautiful rose bush, her eyes lighted at the sight - "Look at that Sonic, it should be the rose bush from which Amy speak us" - Cream said coming to see the plant.
"That is it, no doubt" - Sonic thought while also came to see the rose - "Where'd you get it?, It´s beautiful!" - Cream said happily
"I planted it ..." - Tails said scratching his head modestly - "The flowers are beautiful, where did you get the seed?" - Cream asked.
"Uh ... a friend gave it to me" - said turning to see Tails Sonic - "By the way, where are going you two?" - Sonic asked
"We're going to find spare parts for the project of the Master" - RAMP answered to the hedgehog.
"Tails!, Tails!, Do you give me one of your flowers, please?" - Cream asked bouncing over and over in front of Tails - "Well I ... uh Cream" - Tails babbled, but in that instant Cream stopped jumping and put his arms around Tails´ neck and looked him in the eyes, VEEEERYYY closely.
"Pleeeeeaaasee?" - Cream said while her forehead and nose touched with Tails´ who was blushed in embarrassment - "OK, OK, I agree, but let me go" - Tails babbled.
So with a lot of pain Tails approached the rose bush and cut off a rose, while he cut it out, he felt like if a piece of his heart was torn out with it, then he looked as he gave the rose to Cream - "Here you have Cream, take care of it" - Tails said almost crying.
"Tails, you care a lot about that rose bush, right?" - Sonic asked to his friend - "Yes, and it hurt me a lot to do that" - Tails said as he wept.
"Come on, Tails. Don´t be like that, you have many other roses, and you've given all your devotion to that rose bush, right? " - Sonic said trying to make fell Tails better, then after hear that, Tails remembered what the voice said before - "Now everything is clear for me" - Tails thought while stopped crying.
"Well guys, we better go. Cream take cares of that rose and thanks for the chocolates " - Tails said while his friends leaved the workshop - "R.A.M.P Well, we better hurry. We have a busy day before us " -Tails said taking the bag from the drawer.
"But Master, why we not go out in the X-Tornado?" - R.A.M.P asked, not wanting to walk - "Because I don´t want to attract meddlers, now begin walking" - Tails replied and after leaving the house and locked on all, they went to the village.
Tails and RAMP were going through the center, they still were too far from the edge and it was only 10:30 am. They were walking in a green area and someone was hanging from one of the trees Rouge the bat - "That's Tails, but what is the thing with him?" - Rouge wondered
"How to far we are Master, we cannot stop for a minute?" - RAMP complained - "What are you complaining about? You're not tired, Oh yeah?. I mean you are Robot " - Tails declared - "True, but my processor is overheated by the climate" - R.A.M.P answered back.
But by say that Tails stumble with a rock and fell to the ground but a pair of diamonds jumped out from his bag. No one was around, fortunately, but they did not know they were being observed. Seeing the diamonds on the floor Rouge flew in to pick them up but RAMP sensors were faster and stretch his arms to take the diamonds before Rouge - "Damn, I missed!" - Rouge said before landing.
"Hey Tails, tell me where did you get those diamonds?" - Rouge asked in a sexy tone that made Tails blush a little - "Di, Di, Diamonds , which diamonds?" - Tails said ,while with a quick movement placed the bag in a compartment in the chest of RAMP.
Then Chaotix guys appeared from a corner behind Rouge - "I know you have Dia ...!" - Before Rouge could finish speaking Tails and RAMP noticed Charmy, Vector and Espio coming towards them and they pushed Rouge into the bushes - "Shut your mouth, or they will find us!" - Tails whispered as he and RAMP dragged Rouge behind a tree and waited for the coast is cleared.
"I could swear I saw the Bat girl talking to someone here " - Vector said - "I think they jumped into the bushes" - Espio commented
"I´ll look for it" - Charmy said while slowly approaches the tree behind which are hidden Tails, RAMP, and Rouge. When Charmy was at only inches of them ...
"Come on Charmy, we are wasting our time" - Vector called - "Ok Vector" - Charmy said as he returned.
Once Charmy and the others left, Tails and company stood up and then ... - "Rouge no one should know this, please" - Tails begged - "Why not?" - Rouge asked back
"I can´t tell you but please no one should know about this" - Tails said - "Okay ... I will not say anything if you give me the diamonds what fell from your bag" - Rouge demanded.
"Why?" - Tails asked but knowing the answer he will get - "I like jewels" - Rouge simply said
"What do I do?, If not shut up her, I will be in trouble, but if you do not give her what she wants she probably will haunt me relentlessly and I have no time for that" - Tails thought then touched his tails as if looking for something to save him, and in fact he found it: After returning from the island Tails give maintenance to his vehicle yesterday afternoon and placed the emerald on board in one of his tails, but forgot to put it back in place.
"I know I'll regret this later" - the fox whispered, then looked at Rouge´s eyes - "What if instead of diamonds I give you one of these?" -Tails said as he pulled out a chaos emerald one of his tails and showed it to Rouge.
"This is better" - Rouge said with a big smile as he stared wide-eyed at the emerald; But something strange happened when Rouge looked into the eyes of Tails...
"So Rouge. If you take it ... you will forget what you saw here? " -Tails said with shining eyes and an expression what in the eyes of Rouge changed from innocent to" Seductive "with all these effects: brightness, glare, etc.
But she said nothing, his eyes had a strange blue glow like Tails's eyes, she was shocked. Apparently Tails eyes acquire a kind of mesmeric effect when they were illuminated by the light of a chaos emerald, Rouge was captivated by the hypnotic blue glow of his eyes, but the effect was short lived.
Then she shook her head and after exiting the trance - "It's a deal" She said taking the emerald - "Goodbye Sweetheart" - Rouge said winking at Tails.
But before Rouge was out ... - "Just remember: this never happened" - Rouge nodded and flew away.
"Master, Why you gave her the emerald?!" - R.A.M.P asked.
"I know I should not give it to her, but if I had given the diamonds without hesitation she certainly would have followed me suspiciously and you know that I must keep my plans in secret. Also I feel We´ll recover the emerald another time " - Tails said as they watched Rouge flying away in the sky.
While with Rouge:
"What happened to me?, Why could not stop seeing the boy's eyes?, It was as if my mind was lost in the brightness of his eyes ... those beautiful, sexy and blue eyes" - Rouge blushed while she concluded with a smile as he remembered the sight of the face of Tails in that time.
Then recovering his composure and shaking her head...
"Wake up Rouge, you cannot fall in love with a guy who is younger than you!, I think I'm hallucinating. Something very weird is going on here, well at least I have this cutie to do me company "- Rouge end saying with a smile as he watched the emerald in her hands.
The rest of the day was a complete madness, after selling the diamonds they walked in almost every shop of the village buying supplies, parts, spare parts and other things that would be necessary for the journey . At afternoon they returned home, Tails collapsed on a chair in the shop while R.A.M.P and the droid workers get all the shopping down the transport who they had to rent.
"I cannot move!, I'll stay here. Preparations begin tomorrow RAMP "- Tails said with a look of weariness and boredom. And then fell asleep on the chair.
The next morning he was still asleep in the workshop when ... - " WAKE UP SLEEPING BEAUTY!" - ? - Then after hearing the scream Tails fell off his chair and saw from the floor Vector, Charmi and Espio in his workshop and behind him…
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY WORKSHOP AND WHY YOU WAKE ME THAT WAY?!" - Tails Screamed outraged.
"We came to ask you some questions" - Vector said while he pointed to Tails. - "Questions?, what questions?" - Tails said confused.
"Hey, that is a cute plant" - Charmy said trying to approach the rose bush, but before he could touch Charmy was grabbed by Tails. - "Get away from her, BUMBLEBEE!" - he roared while throwing Charmy to the other side.
"Calm down, just come to ask you some questions" - Espio said trying to calm down Tails - "What do you want?" - Tails asked with a tone and an expression of distrust.
"Where were you yesterday morning?" - Charmy asked inquisitively - "In my house" -Tails replied in an annoyed tone.
"Are you sure?, Could swear I saw yesterday in the park with the bat girl" - Vector teased - "Not true" - Tails said angrier.
"And then when we saw it coming you threw her to the bushes" - Charmy completed - "I tell you I've been in my house!" - the fox said even more angry
"Uh ... guys, I think we should stop ,let alone Tails" - Espio said to Vector and Charmy but not heard - "Come on, tell us. Do not be surprised if we're looking for someone for you now that you are alone, and certainly good choice, the bat is very sexy ..." - Vector said teasing Tails even more. But Vector unknowingly dug his own grave, what he said was the drop which spilled the glass…
"OK that's enough, RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMP!"- Tails screamed, his voice full of rage and anger. And out of nowhere R.A.M.P appears - "What the hell is that thing?" - Vector said.
"Show them the way out" - Tails said with a creepy smile -"Gladly, Master" - R.A.M.P answered knowing the drill.
At that time RAMP´s eyes became EVIL and red as his hands were transformed into giant claws. From outside the house, it could be heard the screams of Charmy and Vector. And they were catapulted out the workshop. Espio observed this, and scared, but still calm ... - "No, do not worry, I know the way out" - Espio retired quietly as RAMP closed the door
"Thanks for doing that" - Tails thanked - "You're welcome Master" - R.A.M.P replied.
Outside the workshop:
"I told you stop, but you had to touch a wound still open" - Espio said very disappointed - "But now we are covered for wounds" -Charmy said rising ground.
"Where did get Tails that robot?" - Vector said sitting on the floor - "That does not matter, probably he was tired of your questions and so he ordered cast you out" - Espio said.
"That was it, or he was in a bad mood" - Vector said rising - from the floor; After the three left ...
In the Workshop:
"RAMP close all doors and windows on the 1st floor and place the rose bush in the balcony. There should be no interruptions today " - Tails said to his butler - "Okay ... uh Master, I want to ask something"
"What?"
"How you did that trick with the eyes yesterday in the city?" - R.A.M.P asked to Tails.
"What are you talking about?" (Tails)
"Yesterday in the city when we meet Rouge, your eyes shone strangely. Do not you remember? "(R.A.M.P)
"No, well we better go to the dock there is a lot of work to do" - Tails said before they both were to the underground dock.
All day Tails was getting everything ready for his journey. Completing the ship, preparing supplies and conditioning his droids. The plan was to go out at night when it was easier to leave unnoticed.
"Everything is ready Master. We await your orders "- R.A.M.P assured - "What about the vault and the mine?"
"Sealed and protected" - R.A.M.P answered back - "The Droids" - Tails asked
"In place and in the ship" - R.A.M.P said - "The mini greenhouse?" - Tails questioned
"Ready, and the rose-bush is already on the ship" - R.A.M.P told him - "The house?" - he asked
"Closed everywhere" - R.A.M.P ended - "The note is at the door. Well it seems that everything is in place, we will leave immediately " - Tails ended
Sonic was heading to Tails´ home, because he met Espio at night and he told him about what happened to Charmy and Vector at Tails´ home:
"When Vector talked about something awkward for Tails , Tails became very angry, so He threw his psychopath robot against them " (Espio).
When he got home from Tails found a note taped to the door and the note said:
"To whom it may concern:
For reasons that I cannot tell I will go in a travel to clear my thoughts. Do not follow me, do not look for me and do not worry about me. Sonic before I leave there is something for you hide in your house, please don´t ask how I put it inside, I hope you find it useful and good luck with Egg-Man
Atte: Miles "Tails" Prower. "
"Tails will go away?, Why?" - Sonic wondered; Then in the distance he heard a noise coming from a rocky ravine and went to investigate. When he arrived he hide and watched as the walls of the ravine opened and out came a huge ship and saw from a smaller door Tails and RAMP going out…
"Well Master, time to leave" - R.A.M.P said
On hearing this, Sonic immediately went to talk to Tails - "Tails, tell me what's happening?" - Sonic asked very seriously
"S, S, Sonic!" - Tails Babbled nervously
"OH CRAP" - R.A.M.P said in defeat.
"You said that ship was a project and tell me, Where are you going and why?" - Sonic questioned - Tails did not know what to say, prepared everything but an excuse ... - "Well, uh ... there's a place I want to know that´s why I am going to travel " - Tails said while laughing nervously.
"Tell me where you actually are going - Sonic said sternly ;And then with a sigh ... - "I cannot tell you everything, but I have to resolve personally issues" - Tails declared
"And you thought you leave without saying goodbye?" - Sonic said with a slight smile - "If I said to you or the others, you´ll try to go with me or stop me or believe that I'm chasing a memory ..." - Tails said with sad and melancholy as he looked at the sand.
"Tails, you still think on Cosmo?" - Sonic asked him - "Every night" - he said with a faint smile.
And before Sonic could speak Tails continues ...
"Sonic listens. I really miss Cosmo, I keep thinking on her. But I managed to carry the burden of those painful memories and although I was very hard to me accepting it ... I know I did the right thing "- Tails assured.
"Tails you have matured a lot in such a short time" - Sonic commented - "He ... thanks" - Tails said
"I can go with you, if you want" - Sonic offered - "No, you must stay to watch Egg-Man, and don´t worry R.A:M.P will make me company on the journey" - Tails said back.
"Then take this, could serve you" - Sonic said giving to Tails a Chaos Emerald. - "But ... I can´t Sonic" - Tails mumbled.
"Take it, it will help you on your journey, but keep it safe" - Sonic advised - "Do not worry, I'll bring it back intact" - Tails assured.
"Tails, I found Espio before coming here and he told me you threw RAMP against them, why?" - Sonic asked him holding the urgency of laugh - "Because those two BLOCKHEADS not only awoke me from my sleep, but also spoke about something they should not. So I asked RAMP to cast them out" - Tails said a little upset.
"If they talked about what I think they talked, they deserved it" - Sonic declared - "One more thing, what name you gave your ship this time?"
"White Lightning" - Tails said looking at the ship.
"Well, I won´t waste your time any longer. Good luck buddy " - Sonic said as he and Tails were shaking hands.
Sonic and Tails just watched RAMP boarded the ship and how it rose slowly
"Be careful Tails" - Sonic thought as he watched the White Lightning leave the planet
But Tails find the answers he wanted and more.