I am really, REALLY sorry I took so long! But I've got a working computer now so I should be OK for uploads now... I hope. So anyways I've tried to make this one better then the others to make up for it a bit, enjoy!

The strengths of love and friendship

Chapter Eleven, Friendship knows no boundaries

Sonic jumped forward, itching for his turn. He starched his legs and but on one of his trademark cocky smiles, looking to all the world as if he were about to run a race, not fight a creature to the death.

"Right!" He cried impatiently "Ready when you are! Who am I up against?" he ran on the spot for a moment, unaware of the looks the rest of the group were giving him.

"Tails" Cosmo said slightly quizzically "Is Sonic ALWAYS this mad?" She giggled "It's funny how someone who enjoys fights this much can be such a good person. It's… well it's inspiring"

"Yeah" Tails confirmed "He's amazing. Without him I'd never have got anywhere. I used to get bullied a lot for my tails and inventions before I met him… and he's saved everybody's lives more times then I can remember"

"You said it Tails buddy!" Sonic called over his shoulder and winked at the pair "And I'm about to do it again!" He turned back to face the Tester, who had been watching patiently, waiting for silence before he spoke.

"You" he paused briefly and collected his thoughts. "You, Sonic the Hedgehog, shall face off against your android counterpart created by Dr Robotnik. Metal Sonic" The Tester quietly expected some sign of fear or shock to come from Sonic, what he got however secretly surmised even him. The hedgehog smiled. It wasn't just a normal smile either, it was a board, cocky, exited smile. Sonic had seen this coming.

"Hehehe, right! Bring it on!" he pointed a finger at the Tester. "Where is he?"

The Tester laughed softly "All in good time, but first, the location". The Tester raised his palm to the sky for a second time, this time Sonic thought he made out some of the words he used. "Scraa'letza escra qi utano…" the rest was lost on him. Again the marks on the cat's hands glowed brightly and the group were for a second time the party of animals were thrown into a spinning blackness, materialising in what at first glance appeared to be a mobian desert.

Once their heads had stopped spinning, Tails and the others realised that this was no ordinary desert. They were standing on a sixty metre finger of dust-covered rock, suspended over a river of cascading, fast flowing molten magma. Scattered around the arena were boulders of all shapes and sizes, from smallish stones to gigantic jagged rocks.

Sonic whistled "Nice! Like the scenery, though it could use some trees" He grinned again.

The Tester was clearly growing tired of Sonic's antics. "Will you please take this more seriously hedgehog?" he said calmly "remember the souls of you and Shadow both rest on you winning this battle. Now…" He snapped his fingers and a ball of light appeared out of nowhere to his right "Begin!"

The ball of light simmered out and in it's place stood Metal Sonic. The robot's cold, heartless eyes drilled into Sonic's emerald green ones. For a split second the two stared at each other before the android launched itself at Sonic pinning him to the rock floor.

Sonic cried out and kicked hard, knocking the robot back. The pair rolled onto their feet and ran headlong at each other. They met with a clash and for a short time they were at a stalemate, neither moving. Sonic took the opportunity and threw himself back, pushing hard with his feet whilst letting go with his hands. The move took Metal Sonic by surprise and it was sent flying, rolling around on the floorbefore crashing into a rock.

Sonic lunged and the pair battled in a flurry of fists and feet, each landing glancing blows but neither gaining an advantage until the android landed a punishing punch to the side of Sonic's head, sending him flying with a cry of pain. Metal Sonic kicked his living counterpart, who rolled to the edge of the arena and lay still and silent.

If it could show demolition Metal Sonic's face would have been a picture of the most cruel, menacing joy. As he looked on Tails couldn't, no wouldn't believe his eyes.. Sonic didn't just loose, Sonic never lost! This wasn't happening! Tails felt a chill cascade down his back and he closed his eyes as Metal Sonic looked down at the real Sonic, and for the first time he could see genuine fear in the hedgehog's eyes, he raised a metal foot over his head, slowly and deliberately preparing to crush his skull.

Just as the foot was about to end Sonic's existence, the robot caught something out of the corner of it's eye and before there was time to react Tails had thrown his whole weight into the Steel body. Under normal circumstances an attack like this would not even have phased the machine but Tails had rammed it while there was one foot in the air, causing the robot to topple to one side… off the edge of the arena and into the magma below. The resulting explosion wouldn't have looked out of place in a Hollywood film, with huge flames being thrown into the sky. Metal Sonic was no more.

Tails helped Sonic up. "Thanks Tails" he said gratefully "looks like you saved me this time then!".

"Yeah" Tails laughed weakly "Looks that way doesn't it?"

While they had been talking neither of them had noticed the Tester walk angrily up to them. He raised a hand and the mark on his hand glowed again and Tails was lifted into the air as if by Silver the Hedgehog, albeit a much more powerful version of him. "YOU!" spat the Tester "were warned not to interfere You were warned to do so would result in your death!". Anger filled the cat's eyes. Sonic charged at him but was thrown backwards by a wave from the Tester's spare hand.

"You were told that you would die and you WILL die!!". The Tester drew the fox up towards him until their noses practicly touched. "Goodbye, Miles Prower. Know that you die in honour defending your friend".

Tails was flung backwards and held struggling and yelling in the air. The cat's hand lit up again and a thin beam of bright blue energy erupted from it, piercing Tails' chest right where his heart was and Miles "Tails" Prower, sank, lifeless and cold onto the ground.

Tails… was dead.

Gasps Tails dead?! Can it be true? Only way to find out... keep reading! Reveiws please lads and lasses. See ya!