"Who did this to you?"
Sonic's heart beat a million times a minute. Telling Tails how all of this happened would be like fighting 10 Metal Sonics-extremely difficult to impossible. He swore that his heart was breaking the silence in the room. The window brought no courage to him that he was seeking. Only fresh air and sunlight.
"Please Sonic, remember." Tails pleaded as he grasped Sonic's hand. For the first time in days his brain worked to its full capacity when the memories came rolling back like thunder. His muscles were stretched taut on the bed, he was frozen. It was like scratching at the pictures in his mind, sharp and painful.
"Tails I…" Sonic weakly began.
"You can trust me Sonic." Tails squeezed Sonic's hand harder.
"It was Knuckles…" he said with a dead voice. Tails retracted from Sonic, breaking the bond of their hands. Was he hearing correctly? In his mind Knuckles was a gentle giant-unless provoked-and wouldn't hurt the ones he befriended.
"Knuckles?" The fox asked, his friend cringed at his remark. "Tell me more."
"I-I, well, h-he." Sonic sighed at his stuttering speech. Things were about to get a lot harder from here on. He felt the tight grasp of his friends hand again.
"Well all I know is I was hangin' around, and Knuckles showed up… and he was really mad." He trembled a little "And he just started a fight…I've never seen him so angry before." His eyes found their way back to the window for comfort. Like he was ever going to get any from there though. When things went silent again, the sound of soft sobs crawled into the hedgehog's ears.
"Why?" the small fox began with tears "I don't get it, Knuckles wouldn't do that!" His speech was garbled by his own sobs. The younger felt a hand on his shoulder and the grasp of Sonic's hand grow tight again.
"Don't cry about it. Please. This is a major bump in the road, but I'm still alive and well." His voice was soft and comforting.
"Sure. For now I guess." Tails retorted brusquely. This surprised Sonic.
"Don't say that buddy! Something like this? Nah it ain't gonna kill me. Don't cry." He stated rubbing under his nose. Tears weren't his favorite thing in the world. Especially when they soaked the face of his closest friend-his brother.
"Well I guess I have some things to take care of." Tails began standing up from his chair, only to be yanked back down.
"Don't intervene on this Tails! This is between me and Knuckles right now." His voice went from soft and comforting to stern in an instant.
"Well what do you expect me to do, wait here and do nothing?" Tails shouted in frustration.
"Yes!" Sonic raised his voice. He wasn't the one to yell, but when he did, his fox friend went silent.
"What?" The little fox asked in confusion.
"I want you to stay on the sidelines this time. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you got hurt too. It's best if I take care of this alone." Tails listened and sat back in his chair.
"I just think that now is the time I have to decide my own fate." Sonic rested his other hand on their grasp in reassurance.
"Sonic," Tails looked over to Sonic from his recent gaze at the floor, "I need to ask you something else."
"Sure buddy." Sonic said with a little chuckle
"Are you going to forgive him?" This question made him freeze up again.
"Well I…I don't know Tails." He stuttered out. One part of him greatly wanted to just move on from this and go back to living his life. But the other half kept reminding him of what was done, that he never would be able to live his life the same way again.
"I-Is there anything I could get you?" Tails quickly changed the subject. His bro shrugged.
"Not really, well you could get me a glass of water." He pointed to a cup that was placed by a sink across the room. The fox quickly complied and rushed over and filled the glass up to the brim. But he then slipped out the container of sedatives Dr. Polara had given him.
It's for your own good Sonic.
He thought as the pill fizzed and dissolved into the water. With quick steps the cup was brought over to Sonic who gulped down every last drop. For the next few minutes they both just spoke random nothings to each other until the hedgehog before him slipped back under the sheets into a deep slumber.
Deep in the caverns of a metallic laboratory. The large, very large doctor reclined in his chair with a glass of champagne. He could finally have some peace now that his blue rival was defeated. No more countless days planning his next ideas. He could finally just sit back and watch his plans finally unfold. Eggmanland could finally be built. Finally he could sit and discuss with his minions how he wanted his new world to go. For once, the bad guys were finishing first.
"Oh Ivo, you've outdone yourself this time!" He congratulated himself with a toast in the air. Orbot rolled over from the shadows where it was listening.
"Um, sir, you should realize that Sonic has friends that will surely be after you soon." He was startled when Eggman swung around in his chair.
"Don't ruin my moment!" The doctor yelled, but calmed himself into a progressing chuckle.
"A minor setback. But that won't stop my prowess dear Orbot, it won't stop my prowess." The chair that held Eggman swiveled back around slowly to face a large screen. The silhouette of his hand holding the tall bubbling glass growing off of the chair.