Chapter 5

Rivaling Skills

"Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats." - Voltaire

Tails woke to an extreme head ache, and something that pained him more than anything that had happened before in his life. His arm was broken, and it was lying across the bed in the normal style of a broken arm. He could not move it, and found out by lifting his shoulder that the arm had sticks going along his arm to keep it from moving. His memory then kicked in, and he remembered everything that happened the evening before. He sat up in a daze, looking around, and saw something that made his heart miss a beat. Someone was in his house. The early dawn light coming through the telescope window was enough to make out who it was. Tails focused in, and his heart almost forgot its job. It was not one but two people! Tails started panicking, but soon stopped as he realized who it was. It was Sonic and Amy. Sonic looked like he had been through a lot. Amy on the other hand, had a weapon that Tails had never seen before. But, the weapon made glad that Amy was an ally. It was a giant hammer, about as tall as three quarters of Amy, and about as wide as Amy too. Sonic yawned, and Tails froze, not wanting to wake him up. Amy stirred, sat up, yawned, and began to grope around to her right, away from Sonic. Feeling nothing, her eyes snapped open, and she began to look around as if her life depended on it. When she realized were she was, she glanced up Tails, and seeing that he was awake, she smiled at him, a warm and caring smile, and said, "Well, after all you had been through, I didn't think you would be up so early."

Tails nodded, and replied, "Yeah, I did not expect to be up either, but I guess I have pain to thank for that."

Amy stood up smoothing her dress, and said back to him, "Can you stand? If you can, we can go into the town and get you proper medical treatment."

Tails almost shrieked, but for Sonic's sake, maintained his normal tone. "I can't! Do you have any idea what will happen to me if I'm found there?"

Amy looked at him quizzically, and Tails realized Amy did not know who gave him his injuries. Tails asked, just to be sure, "Do you know how I got this?" Raising his arm which caused pain to shoot up it. Amy thought for a while, and shook her head. "No, but you fell right? That's what Sonic told me any way…" The last part was quieter, which Tails barely caught. Tails sighed, knowing he had a lot of telling to do. But first, he had to find out what happened to Sonic. He asked Amy, "What happened to Sonic? He was fine yesterday." Tails' eyes slowly made their way over to the hammer. Scanning for anything that might have made Sonic so beat up. As his gaze fell on the hammer, Amy saw what he was looking at and quickly whisked it away fast. In fact, too fast for Tails to see where she put it. She grinned at him and said, "Let's just say that he had some explaining to do." This confused Tails, as he had no idea what she was talking about.

It was getting later in the day, and Sonic was still snoring peacefully away. Amy grunted in disgust. Tails had sympathy for Sonic, but did not know what to sympathize. Amy led Tails out of the house, and towards the road. When Tails saw the place where he encountered his old friends the day before. He began to walk more briskly, hoping to get away from that spot. Amy noticed this and looked around for anything that might give away the reason why Tails was so nervous. She saw little specks of blood on the ground, and off to the side a small spit mark of the red liquid. She wondered what happened, and then she saw the three bodies, still knocked out, lying on the grass beside the road. Tails heard her scream, and turned around to see her running towards them. Fear coursed through Tails and a sensation of dread happened to float by him. Luckily his fast reflexes aided him as he sprinted towards her. His shout of warning told her something, but she could not quite place it. She slowed to a stop just as Tails was beside her. They were at the edge of the road, only a few feet away from Tails' would be killers. Tails drew a shaky breath, took Amy's arm in his hand and led her away from the side of the road. Amy continued staring at the three bodies like something was haunting her. She turned towards Tails, her face ashen.

"Are they dead?"

Tails almost thought she said something else she was so quiet. He shook his head. "No, just unconscious." Amy seemed to relax, and seemed less depressed. She looked at Tails, and said, "Come on, let's continue to the hospital."

. . .

At the hospital, Tails thought everything would be fine, until he saw the boards. There were boards in the doors ways, in the windows, and a sign on the door that read, "For treatment, go to the main city, New Mobotropolis."

Tails shuddered. This was odd; the hospital should have still been open. The town was not small enough to run out of funds for the hospital. Tails continued wondering why it was closed, when he saw the scorch marks. They were all around the windows, and Tails realized that the reason the hospital was closed was because it was burned. He looked around for anything that might give away as to why the place got burned. Then he saw it. The one weapon that the monkey's gang would only use. It was a Molotov cocktail, shattered, but it had the blackened towel still inside it. He sighed, and turned around and headed back to where Amy was waiting.

When he got back, she was just about to drift off to sleep, when Tails coughed. Her eyes shot open, and she looked in Tail's direction. She frowned, thinking that it should have taken longer. When she saw that he had no cast, she became plenty worried. She sat up and quickly made her way over to him. Once reaching him, she asked, "Why are you back? Did they not let you in?"

Tails scowled, "The hospital was closed when I got there. Vandalism was committed and the place was burned."

Amy knew that the place Tails could go was to the main city. Nobody knew about any other towns, so it was the only place he could go. Amy spoke, "come on Tails. Let's go back and tell Sonic."

Tails thought for a moment, and replied to her, "No, it's O.K, you go on ahead I'll catch up with you later."

As soon as Amy was out of sight, he looked around, and was satisfied that nobody was around. He thought back to the day when he got in the fight with his old friends. Then he thought back to the day when he was at the baseball game. He thought and finally came up with an explanation. He began to twirl his tails, slowly then more faster. He wasn't flying but found something else out. It felt as if a strong wind was pushing him forward. He began to take a step forward, when he moved forward ten feet instead. He began to run slowly at first then faster. The faster he ran, the faster he spun his tails. Soon he was soaring almost to the speed of sound, unable to run, but to only fly using his tails. He laughed as the wind whistled in his ears, objects speeding by with great intensity. He stopped, just on the edge of town. Beyond that, lands that he had never seen. It was late in the afternoon, and Tails decided that he needed to get back to Sonic and Amy. He grinned, and thought, "Well this will be easy, because all I have to do is fly." Tails reasoned that if he could propel himself forward, he could fly. He pointed his tails upward and began to spin them. As he made them go faster, he slowly lifted off the ground. He continued spinning them till he was above the forest tree line. This was somewhat hard to tell because he was at a considerable distance. He tried going forwards but then began to go towards the ground. He stopped and thought about how he could fly forwards. He was in the air again, at the top of the tree line, becoming very tired. Tails tilted forward, to see if he would move forward, and he did! Tails was glad he found a way to fly, and began to gradually make his way to the bush house. He found it, and landed outside ungracefully, on his face. He groaned and sat up, thinking that he needed more practice. Feeling exhausted, he moved away the vine concealing the door and opened it. What he found, was not for the faint of heart. And that is exactly what he did. Tails passed out dead away, wishing that the sight he saw wasn't real.

. . .

Tails woke inside the bush house, and tried to sit up, thinking he was in his bed. He had no success, for he found the he was bound by his wrists, and hanging by a rope around his stomach. He was at the right side of the room where the work bench was. As he looked down, he saw that some things had been disturbed on the work bench. Presumably where his captor had hung him up. Tails suddenly became light headed, and assumed this was because of lack of oxygen. His arm began to throb considerably, and Tails figured he knew why. He struggled to upwards to loosen the bonds on his stomach, and as he did so the bonds on his wrists gave way, causing him to flip over head over heels. Literally. He landed with a thump on the ground directly in front of the workbench. It sent even more pain scorching through his arm. He picked himself up, and looked around quickly, for he did not know if his captor was still in the bush room or not. Seeing nothing, he sat up and ran around the bush room checking to see if anything was stolen or broken. Seeing nothing was damaged, he wondered where Sonic and Amy were. He heard something behind him fall, and when he whirled around to meet who was there, he found only the hanging wire of a fallen headset. He walked over to it curious as to why it had fallen. As a rustling came from behind him, Tails spun around and still found nothing. Tails was becoming very nervous, as there was nothing there. He almost thought there was a ghost. Nothing scared him more than ghosts (or maybe lightning). He began to shake at the mere thought of a ghost in his house, and without really meaning to, he said, "W-W-Who are Y-You? C-C-Come out and show yourself." As Tails continued looking around, no more noise came from any were. He sighed in relief, and just as he let his guard down something hit him from behind. He was sent sprawling on the ground, and heard something from behind him. A voice, cold and steely that said, "Ha, foolish one. Now you see what Ninjitsu can do."

Tails struggled up, still dizzy from the blow to the back of his head. He spun around with a strong right hook. But Tails only met empty air. He focused on one spot and looked for anything unusual. Tails focused too long and was given a reward for his stupidity with a good solid hit to both of his legs. He was on his back before he even knew what was happening. A groan escaped his lips and before he knew it he was hoisted to his former prison of hanging above the workbench. He struggled and got an idea. He went limp and let his tails do the work. He spun them very fast, and made holding him very difficult for his captor. The captor was actually not expecting this at all, and let go. As Tails felt the pressure lift from his body he sprang and swung a strong punch towards were he thought were the captor was. It was only then, when his fist met empty air, that he realized the person was invisible. He stumbled backwards realization hitting him like the blow that came, once again, from behind. His face hit the ground, and as he struggled to get up he heard his captor laughing. He pin pointed the laugh and struck out with his leg. The sweeping motion was all Tails needed. With a shout of surprise his captor fell, and revealed himself. Seeing his captor for the first time, Tails finally got to use the advantage of sight. His captor was a purple chameleon, and Tails had the impression that this guy meant business. His captor sat up and Tails prepared himself for a fight. But the chameleon simply stood and spoke.

"So, you have proven yourself to be a tricky foe. But I dare say… it is better to make allies than enemies."

Tails narrowed his eyes and responded with a question. "So, are you saying you want to be allies?"

The chameleon grunted and spoke, "Yes, and do you know how to start? First tell me your name."

Tails kept calm and tried to reason with the chameleon. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you my name. If you knew who i am, then that would be terrible."

The chameleon cursed under his breath and muttered something about being beaten and taken charge over by a guy with a broken arm. Then, keeping his cool also, the chameleon argued, "Well, if you haven't noticed by what's happening, and other things, then I would clearly remember you. It's not every day you come across a guy that lives in a bush."

Now it was Tails turn to argue back but something made him stop, think about what the chameleon had said, and respond in a way the surprised even himself. "I can tell from the way you talk about me that I don't know you or you don't know me. So, this proven I take your advice and I really think you would make a good ally. But I have to warn you-"

Just before Tails finished his warning, the door to the bush room burst open and Tails heard the sound of shattering wood. A part of the door broke off upon swinging in. as Tails was looking at the door he quickly traversed his gaze from the door to the chameleon, then back to the door. The chameleon turned invisible just as Tails thought he would, and as Tails turned his gaze toward the door, Sonic burst in. he looked franticly around and then saw Tails. He let a sigh of relief, and said, "Tails, are you all right? The door to this place was locked up tight! There was even a chain!"

Judging from Sonic's hysterics, Tails responded, "Sonic I'm fine. What's wrong anyway?"

Sonic was about to respond, but was intercepted by the chameleon. He was knocked over, and giving a shout of surprise, went to the ground.

The chameleon materialized above Sonic pinning him to the ground. He spoke, saying, "Is this an enemy? I will take care of him if he is."

Sonic tried telling him that he was an ally, but the chameleon told him to shut up. Tails responded to the chameleon saying that he was an ally, and he won't hurt them. The chameleon stood, and helped Sonic up. He apologized, saying, "sorry for that, but you never know who's out to get you."

Sonic grunted in response, clearly unhappy about what just happened. He then spoke towards the door, which lay on the floor torn off his hinges. "Amy, you can come in now, Tails is fine." Amy rushed in almost as fast as Sonic. She ran over to Tails and said, "Are you O.K.? I heard rustling and thudding! What were you thinking, taking him on with a broken arm?" she pointed to the chameleon when she said the last sentence. When she really saw his arm, she shrieked. Tails was confused and took a look at his arm. Well, this explains why he felt no pain after he was knocked over, his arm was twisted at the completely wrong angle, and he could not move it. He looked at Amy and asked if she could move it back into place. Amy said she'd try, but when she did put it back into place, he blacked out from the pain.

As Tails fell, the chameleon was immediately there to catch him. He placed Tails on the bed with his arm facing out wards. Amy just looked at Tails with a sad look on her face and began to work at Tails' work bench to fix together a sturdy, but makeshift cast for his arm. Sonic began talking to the chameleon, asking him things that anyone would ask someone they would not know.

"So," Sonic asked. "What is your name? If you would tell us it would help be easier allies."

The chameleon responded with what looked like a smirk on his face. "My name is Espio. And if your girlfriend needs any help with making the cast, you could tell me. I was quite the healer back when I was in the ranks…" having just realized what he just said Espio hoped he had not said too much. He did not want them to know he was a ninja. Not yet.

Having heard what Espio said, Amy looked back and smiled at him "well I do need some help, and thanks for thinking I'm his girlfriend. Most people do. But that doesn't mean I'm not, I'm just saying…" Amy trailed off hoping Espio wouldn't put two and two together. Espio looked at Sonic for conformation, but Sonic shook his head no. Having found out, Espio made his way over to the workbench and sat down next to Amy preparing for the long night ahead.

. . .

It was morning and Tails was still out of it. Espio was already up and about, cooking breakfast on a small fire he made outside of the bush house. He used a pan that he had stowed away in a small rucksack he always toted around with him. This included the bandolier strap that he used for his weapons. Tails (later of course), Sonic, and Amy all could not help but notice but what weapon was on the strap. They were little small star shaped things, and when Sonic asked what they were, Espio replied, "Throwing stars. Quite nasty if you're on the receiving end of one. They hurt a lot when you pull them out too." This encouraged Sonic and Amy to do the best they could to keep Espio an ally. As the mid dawn light began to fade into early afternoon brightness, Tails woke up. He sat up groggy, as the pain endured from the night before left him tired. He lifted his arm to see if anything happened. Well, if anything classifies as getting a new cast and the subduing, then O.K. The new cast was awesome according to Tails. To Espio it was a standard cast from his Ninjitsu clan. The cast was made from metal, and was heavily padded inside to keep the person's broken limb from moving. As Tails' eyes adjusted to the bright light streaming in from the area were the telescope was. He was beginning to get up when a hand was placed on his shoulder. It was Espio, warning Tails. Tails knew the warning, because he felt the same way. The warning was not to exert himself. Tails knew he was still in the bush room, but something was different. Tails noticed chairs were off to the side close to the door. Despite Sonic's breaking of the door, it was back on its hinges, fixed by none other than Espio. Tails looked around for Sonic and Amy, but did not find them. He was about to ask Espio when the response was already coming.

"They've gone in search of transport, and I believe I have not told you my name yet. My name is Espio, and since everyone is used to one another, we're allies right?" Tails thought about it, smiled and held out his hand. Espio, seeing this, grinned in return and shook his hand.

"Well," Tails thought. "This is the best I've felt in months, and now they're taking care of me." As Tails was sitting content, Espio went outside to look for Sonic and Amy. Seeing nothing, he began to worry, as nothing should have been keeping them. As Espio stood outside in the afternoon light, a smell came over him, and in turn, caused him to turn in the direction it was coming from. What he saw in the distance was enough to make him get Tails out of the protection of the bed.

sorry for the delay, i had no time to post the next chapter. but i did write it on time. thank you for reading!