Who loves a Tyrant?
A/N: Update soon, you say. Sorry if this isn't "soon" but man, with all sorts of forces working against you, its not easy to do this. But one thing's certain, I will finish this story.
Zoran silently lead the company through the trail. Of them all, only he fully believed Tails was alive. The others were uncertain or too afraid to believe it in fear of shattered hope, the latter in Cosmo's case.
But technically, he had never died, but something far worse… Zoran remembered with a grimace. It was Knuckles stupidity that had caused him to destroy the Soul Diamond a second too soon, and to make Tails stuck in the heavenly world. There must be very few worse things than to be alive in a world of dead, if that is worse than death.
Knuckles did not believe a word of his "theory" but the evidence was all over the place. Even now, Zoran was following their trail, but Knuckles would have none of it.
"There was no way for him to come back, Zoran." Knuckles argued. "Stop placing hope in places where there should be none."
Of course, Cosmo was joyous of Zoran's "theory" and a bit angry about Knuckles disbelief, but his disbelief was enough for her to look at Zoran uncertainly.
Amy and Cream both seemed far more eager to accept the happier idea than the gloomier one.
When Zoran pointed this out, Knuckles shook his head, crossed his arms, and did not speak with anyone for the remainder of the day.
The sky was getting darker and Zoran was still following the trail, and he already knew where it led
It led to home.
But why? Zoran could not yet come up with the answer. It could be any number of things, he knew. But Sonic most certainly must have realized something, or Tails could have persuaded him to go back. But the second guess was only true if his "theory" was correct.
Zoran doubted himself now, despite his own certainty. Zoran's guesses were nearly always right; whatever he did not guess had an even greater accuracy. Yet the doubt was still there.
They were near civilization, but Zoran always preferred resting in the outdoors. "Let's stop and rest here." He told the other four, and they happily agreed, especially Amy, who was wearing her typical clothing that was not exactly meant for ultra long nature walks.
Knuckles yawned, but still angry at the others for their supposed "foolishness," he rested behind a tree, so he could not see them. "He's just being stubborn." Amy told a worried Cream.
Cosmo was resting somewhere among the plants. It was difficult to locate her in the day when she was walking through green vegetation, but at night, while she was sleeping in it, it was nearly impossible.
Cream did not yet slumber, she was muttering happily to herself. Zoran wished he could find something to be happy about.
His life? Not at all. There was nothing happy about his life. The fact that his cousin had managed to leave the heavenly realm? Perhaps, but Zoran knew that he had some part in him getting there in the first place. Could he find happiness in that? Was their happiness when one felt miserable because of memories dark and more terrible than a black hole?
Cream turned to him sadly, giving him a sad look. "You look terrible, Zoran." She noticed. "Is something wrong?"
Zoran gave her a small smile. "No, but thanks to your concern," He answered her. "It is usual for me to not fall asleep easily."
"Why is that so?" She asked curiously. Zoran sighed sadly, looking up at the night sky.
"Perhaps it is because I am not used to such a safe world." Zoran answered her slowly. "My home world was once safe, but that was until my father came in play. He betrayed my uncle; he attacked him and tried to slay Miles, but my sister and I managed to get him through a warp gate. We then stayed behind after we got him through, to try to get my father to see some sense, but my father wouldn't listen. He captured my sister, even tried to kill me."
"But why?" Cream asked.
Zoran laughed. "Because he was jealous, and he always had the heart of a dark person. He hated me because I was like my uncle, who he loathed because of his fame, of his power, of his benevolence, and because of his nine tails. My father only had one. The fact that my uncle had nine was glorious, because it meant that every fox of his line would always have more than one tail. He hated him for that because it gave him so much honor."
Zoran turned away for a moment, staring at a tree, before turning to look at Cream again. "He managed to kill my uncle. I was there, and I could not stop him from doing so."
Zoran looked sad, but he did not cry. He had lost all of his tears long ago… "I was furious. I loved my uncle, and when I saw my father kill him, I charged right at my father and avenged my uncle, defeating him in battle. I watched him die with little regret. I hated him so much for killing my uncle, who I loved as a guardian, being there for my failure of a father." Zoran said his words with so much hatred it scared Cream.
"I ran away after that, because I could not stand that place. But it was worse out there, away from home, where there was no tolerance for my people. I was hardly treated any better in these places. But for years, I have done every good and evil deed one could name, all to stay alive, and to make my pathetic home world a better place."
Zoran turned to her. "But then I remembered Miles. He was, after all, the last surviving kitsune. Once I got entangled with my Dark Ranger duties, I figured the time would come soon to find him. And when the Oracle sent me on the seemingly impossible task of searching for the Answer, I knew it was something or someone in this world. But in all things, I do not know why it was you who is my Answer. Worse yet, I do not know what you answer."
Zoran grew silent, and a warm smile formed on his face. "Your story is a sad one, Zoran." Cream said to him.
Zoran nodded. "Hardly any more sorrowful than the thought of death really," He half-joked. Then his features grew more serious. "I thank you for listening to my dark tale. I did not think I'd ever share it with anyone."
"Well, then you should be happy you shared it with me, then." Cream replied, and Zoran gave her one of his rare, happy smiles.
And for the first time, Zoran slept peacefully.
Sonic was alarmed at the news that Tails had brought him. Well, the second half of it, though Tails thought the first half far more important. "So it seems as if the other nations dislike the fact that I have taken the title emperor." Sonic smiled rather ruthlessly. "Well, they'll just have to get used to it. And if they threaten me, they'll certainly be sorry."
"Sonic, we don't have much of a standing army." Tails informed him. "Nor do we have much in technological weapons. Have you seen how terrible the weapons are? Most are hardly usable."
Sonic smiled at his friend's brilliance. Already, with his genius in machinery, and with Sonic's urging to do more than he had ever thought himself able, Tails had already finished half of Sonic's new palace, and already was working on state-of-the-art security. Better yet, he was working on a super fast plane, one that would go half of the speed of light. All of this he had begun and/or accomplished in a single day. Because of all the work he was focused on, he spent less and less time thinking about Cosmo, which the Dread Lord had advised him to do. "Diminish the love in his heart slowly." He advised him. "Your fox friend is vulnerable to it too much, but there is not much you can do about it. Keep him busy with a love of anything besides a person, and he shall be most useful to you, for he shall forget all else but his work."
He seemed to be right. Tails had not once mentioned Cosmo, until now, when he had presented the news.
"And Sonic, what about our friends?" Tails asked him. That was his first piece of news. Sonic was not surprised they had tried to look for him, but he was more surprised that they hadn't given up looking for him.
"When they come, I shall present them with a choice…" Sonic began. "I only hope they make the right one."
"Sonic, what choice is that?" He asked them.
He smiled at his loyal friend. "You'll see. You'll see."
Tails smiled, and Sonic knew that it was time to act on the second part of his plan. "A leader lies even to his most trustable subjects. Lie to your fox friend, and free him from love's grasp. Then, he shall serve you fully, and with his aid, your power and influence, and my wisdom, the three of us will be invincible." The Dread Lord gave him a smile when he said this. "All you have to do is crush his heart and break it to smithereens. You'll be surprised what words can do…"
Break his heart… "Tails, there is something I'd like to share with you…" Sonic said cunningly. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?"
A/N: Sonic has fallen too far down, and Tails is about to go with him? But wait, what about Sonic's friends? What will happen to him? R and R to find out.