Equal Footing

Chapter 12: Dynamic Duo

Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic and co. are owned by Sega.

While Sonic was racing towards the workshop with his robotic rival trying his best to keep the pair apart, Tails was still mentally torn as what to do. One part of him didn't want to be lonely again and at the moment his only choice of company was the mad scientist Dr. Eggman, but he was a scientist.

On the other hand there was a part of him who knew better than to trust Eggman with anything, especially with himself or the remains of Time Eater's core. If he could harness that energy he could erase the world again or reduce anyone who opposed him to an age where they could not. But if he did that then he would be alone, just like he was in Emerald Hill all those years ago.

And then there was the small part of him which he didn't want to admit he had, the part that wanted Sonic, the one who had dashed into his life, turned it upside down and had ended his loneliness in one fell swoop. The part of him who was considering being eight again just so he had his friends and his brother, the only family he had ever known. The part that was convinced that with just a smile and a wag of a finger that the hedgehog would end all of his problems, especially the mental struggle he was currently having.

He was so busy trying to decide which path he should take that he hadn't notice the human re-enter the room while finishing off the sandwich that he had made. "Have made up your mind?" he asked, his voice filled with fake niceness.

"I... need a little more time" the fox replied with hesitance.

Eggman's face hardened and his expression became a stern one. "Unfortunately I am a rather busy man and I can't afford to spend a lot more time here."

"But..." Tails' rebuttal was interrupted by the doctor.

"In the rare occasion that logic fails, it may be best to follow your first thought." He grinned. "Answer me this Tails, would you want to stay here in this workshop full of memories all by yourself or would you want to be in my exemplary presence were you can get back all those who have hurt you in the past with access to the greatest technologies?"

"What do I want?" he thought. "I guess I don't really want to be by myself, especially in a place that that reminds me of him. But... what about the world? What about the innocent people? Would I be condemning them? And I know I shouldn't care but what would the others think? Knuckles, Amy, Cream... Sonic..."

"What will it be, fox boy?" Eggman asked in a tone that made the Mobian think that he already knew the answer. Unfortunately it seemed like he was right. The human extended his hand while Tails found himself on his feet but nervously rubbing his arm.

"What should I do? I really hate to admit it but I need help. Please, anyone..." Seeing no other choice to avoid loneliness the fox stretched his hand out towards the human's.

"Should I assume this is a yes?" he asked, stretching his arm further.

The fox's hand stretched further, but it was now trembling. He opened his mouth but nothing seemed to be coming out of it. "This is it I guess..." Just before the two hands touched the door flew open and a very familiar voice snapped Tails out of his unsure trance.

"Tails, don't do it!"

Standing in the doorway was the person that he had secretly hoped to see, his best friend, his big brother, Sonic. Upon seeing him Tails retracted his hand instantly and his eyes lit up. "Sonic!" he cried out in a mixture of surprise and relief.

"You!" Eggman fumed.

"Can it Eggman" he shot back before he shot between the human and fox. Tails found a little smile on his face, which relieved the hedgehog before the orange Mobian's expression hardened and his arms crossed.

"What are you doing here Sonic?" he asked sternly.

"What sort of question is that? I'm here to make you don't make the biggest mistake ever."

The fox spun around so that his back was so the hedgehog. "I don't need you to tell me what to do" he half shouted while secretly feeling his heart sink as he lied.

"Tails..." he said quietly before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

This caused the orange Mobian to turn and face him in surprise. "What?" While he wouldn't admit it Sonic could be quite stubborn so if he thinks he's right it was hard to get an apology out of him on that topic. The fact that he was either meant this was some sort of trick or he had changed his mind. The former seemed the most likely.

"I'm sorry Tails. I know that you really needed me to be there for you and I just bailed. And to make things worse I got so wrapped up with keeping things the same that my worst nightmare almost came true."

He was wary but the speedster looked so sincere, and having lived with him for so long Tails had learned that if he looked closely enough then he could tell in those green eyes if he was lying. It was something that annoyed him as according to the hedgehog his blue eyes gave him away in the rare event he was being dishonest. However, he was curious about what Sonic's worst nightmare could be. "And what would that be?"

The hedgehog moved forward and placed his hands on Tails' shoulders, the fox was going to move them off but the blue Mobian's words stopped him. "Losing you of course."

"What?" he asked again, trying to see any indication that this was all a ruse but failing. "That can't be... but you left me..." he stammered.

"That's right, he did. What's stopping him from doing it again" Eggman interrupted, earning him a split-second glare from the hedgehog. He hated opening his heart in front of his enemy but if it fixed things between him and Tails he was willing to look past the embarrassment.

"I only did that because I thought I'd already lost you" he said with a sad sigh.

"Lost me how?"

"Because you became older so quickly, I was afraid that you wouldn't need me anymore. I mean, you're a genius and responsible... you're a better teenager than I am. And then you could keep up with me... I started to panic. That's why I was in my head so much, as you put it, the other day."

"That's what you couldn't tell me?" he asked in disbelief. "The thing that he was keeping from me was that he was afraid that he was losing me? That's what caused me to..." Events from the previous day came back into his head, causing his eyes to water a little.

He nodded. "I thought since we're so different that when we got older you wouldn't need me around as much and then we would drift away. And I couldn't bear the thought of that, I know that now."

"Even after everything that happened?" He nodded. "But why? I've seen you fight Knuckles, Shadow, Silver and Blaze for a lot less. Now I really know I'm not worth it. I'm an awful person..."

"Don't think that!" Sonic said a little too sharply, realising it in the shock in the fox's eyes. "Sorry, but I know that wasn't really you. Everybody does really, it just came as a shock to us all. And you're not the worst, I am for being a bad example. I thought that if I kept away then maybe the friendly fox I saved from that burning orphanage would come back."

It hadn't struck Tails that the stubbornness and temper could have been him hanging around the hedgehog for too long. "But I should be smart enough to know which of your traits I want, not all of them are bad. I mean, when I think about it I guess I'm not that little kid scared of the world believing that no one would ever like me. You gave me hope, and confidence." His expression, ears and tails drooped as recent events forced themselves back into his mind. "Maybe at this age I have too much confidence..."

"Nah, that's a good thing. It's the temper you need to watch for." He looked away, not really comfortable with being so open. "As for why you're worth it..."

"Because I'm your best friend?" Tails asked, hoping that by doing so he may be able to salvage his friendship.

The speedster shook his head and smiled. "I was going to say that you're my little bro, I mean bro. Sorry, force of habit."

Tails' eyes lit up instantly. "You mean, we can be brothers again?"

"I don't remember stopping. Fact is I see you as the only family I know, I can't live without you."

"Right back at you" he said before pulling Sonic into a hug which he quickly returned. "I'm sorry" he added.

"I know Tails, I know."

"Hey..." the twin tailed Mobian started before he trailed off. His cheeks started to heat up.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"You don't think that you could promise to not leave me alone, could you?" He felt so childish asking it that, but was unaware that it caused Sonic's grin to become even bigger.

"I can't promise anything but I can say that you won't be lonely again. Is that what you meant?" He nodded. "I may have lots of friend but only one brother. Being your brother the longest, but best adventure I've ever had."

"Yeah well, being your brother is harder than maintaining the Tornado but it is more rewarding" he retorted. "Thanks for coming."

"Nothing could keep me away."

"Obviously, or else I wouldn't be seeing this sickening scene " another voice said, causing the pair to glare at the speaker. Eggman looked annoyed by these turn of events.

"You're ruining the mood" they both shot back at the same time while separating and tensing their bodies.

"Come now Tails, how can you believe a word he says? That was just a display of his true colours, the ones I've know ever since day one."

"What are you trying to get at?" Sonic barked at his nemesis.

"Your childish delusion is gone. If you think was bad, what about when you actually get to that age? You two would be at each other's throats more than we are. Wouldn't it be best to cut your losses and break away now before the wound becomes too deep?"

"Tails' eyes widened as he thought about it. "He's right, if I do stay sixteen this could happen over and over again only slowly getting worse and worse until eventually we reach the part of no return. Then what would happen? Would I end up like Eggman, trying to change everything to match my view? Or would I follow Shadow and shut myself off from the world. Even if I go back to being my own age this would still happen one day. Is there no way that this could work between us without all of this pain?"

Sonic started to get concerned. He almost had his brother back, everything was almost back to how it should be. But of course Eggman had opened his mouth and things seemed to be falling apart again. "Tails?"

"I don't want that to happen!" the fox burst out, his eyes starting to fill up.

"Don't want what to happen?"

He looked away from the two other people in the room, ashamed that even though he was now a teenager he was still on the verge of bawling like a baby. "What if Eggman's right?"

"Then that would be a first and the world would implode on itself" he said with a chuckle in an attempt to lighten the mood. When the orange Mobian looked at him again, the hedgehog knew it hadn't worked.

"This is serious. What if being together only ends up bringing us apart? What if we start to hate each other, really hate each other to the point that there is no way to fix it? I don't want that, I don't want that pain or that loneliness." Sonic opened his mouth to speak but Tails cut him off, knowing what the speedster was going to say. "Even if I do go back to being eight, it's going to happen someday."

"I don't want to feel that pain or loneliness again either, but ending things now would only make things worse. Besides, what have I said about listening to Eggman?"

"That I shouldn't or else I lose my sanity."

"Hey, I only standing right here!" the human fumed.

The blue Mobian gave him and icy look over his shoulder. "And that's a problem in itself doc." He then turned back to the fox. "Look, I just promised that you would never be lonely, right? And you have to remember I've felt like the world hated me too."

The mechanic had turned his eyes towards the floor. "The difference is that you don't act like it, and you wouldn't be lonely anyway. You would still have everybody else."

"There you're friends too you know, just because they backed me up this time doesn't mean that they would that every time. And I will I may have lots of friends, I only have one best friend and one bro."

"But you could easily get another..." Tails felt the speedsters hand clamp his should again, causing him to look at his brother shake his head.

"Remember how we fell out about whether we needed each other?" He nodded. "Well it doesn't matter how much I need you to be with me if I want you to" he said with a smile. "Don't you want to be brothers again?"

"Of course I do, but..."

Whatever the fox was going to say no one would ever know as the hedgehog cut him off. "But nothing Tails, it's decided. Me and you, together forever again. Like two peas in a pod."

"Making his mind up for him?" Eggman asked. Sonic didn't bother turning around this time.

"I'm helping him make up his mind."

"Helping him or helping yourself?"

"Eggman" Tails interjected, ending their argument. "I've made my decision about your offer."

"And?" both the human and Mobian asked with baited breath.

"I've decided thanks but no thanks." While Sonic's expression lifted in a heartbeat, Eggman's fell.

"Are you sure? You must know how being with this buffoon will end."

"Well, that's one way it can or it can never end. You know what they say, you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family."

"You do remember than you two are not related."

"Like that matters" the speedster countered. "If Tails goes back to being eight, then by the time he's sixteen again then I'll be twenty three. I worked it out, boy that's a scary thought..." he said with a shudder.

"Yes, you would be twenty three but forgot to make your point" the genius pointed out.

"Sorry, but I would be so old..."

"Sonic!" he shouted at him.

"Okay, okay. The point I was trying to make is that I should have grown up at least a little by then and we wouldn't be the same so it wouldn't be like this. But if he wants to stay the same age as me that's fine too."

This surprised him. "Really?"

He turned to face his friend, allowing Tails to see that he was serious. "Of course. I was thinking that I wouldn't like it if someone was always telling me what to do and it's your life, I shouldn't be running it for you."

"Are you sure? Are you okay with that?"

"You want to be your own person and I don't want to stop you, because you're a great guy Tails and think that you can only get better."

"You're just saying that" he said, looking away to hide the fact that he didn't believe him.

"Nah, everybody does."

"But they all went with you."

A smirk appeared on his face. "Well to be fair, if you hadn't shouted at her I know a rabbit who would have picked you over me."

"Ahem" Eggman interrupted, causing the Mobians' attention to turn back to him. "I'm still here, you know."

"Yeah, why is that?" Sonic asked, folding his arms. "I believe my bro turned you down, Eggman. Do I have to show you the door?"

"I'm not going anywhere without my primary objective" he said with a tone that told the pair that he was serious.

"Tails said no."

It was then that the fox understood, remembering during the moments that he was paying attention while he was mentally debating with himself that the doctor had shown a keen interest in the shards of Time Eater's core. "You were never really after me, were you?

"You were more of an added bonus" he replied with a grin. "I am thankful for your research on the remains, as now I know that with them I can reduce them to infants who are powerless to stop me."

All eyes turned to the shards that were currently on the table. "Both you and me have examined this technology and we barely understand how it works."

"I've used it before and I can do it again."

"You'll have to get past both of us first" Sonic said with a smirk, while Tails clenched his fists.

The human grinned at this statement. "Of course, it wouldn't be any fun if I didn't." As he said that both Mobians heard an engine starting up outside.

"What's that?" the fox asked, a hint of worry in his voice. It didn't help when Sonic turned to face him with his eyes widened. "Sonic?"

The next thing he knew the hedgehog said "sorry" before pushing him to the side. Then a metallic blue blur burst through the wall, ploughed into the hedgehog and sent both of through the next wall and the one after that until they were both on the outside of the house. Although many people wouldn't have been able to see an object travelling that fast Tails could see it clearly.

"Metal Sonic? But why is he here?" he wondered out loud before he saw Eggman take off towards the shards. "No you don't." With that he got behind the doctor and swiped his tails at his feet, causing the human to fall towards the floor. He then quickly grabbed the shards and put them in the safest place he could think of, this namesakes.

"There, now you will have to get through me" he shouted defiantly.

Eggman sighed. "You were so close to picking the decision that would have saved your life, it's too bad that now I will have to cut it short." He after that he ran out of the hole and into his chair that quickly ascended into the air.

"What's he up too?" the fox thought as the chair now descended along the cliff face. Knowing Eggman, he would reappear in some machine. Although most of his threats eventually fall through, the human never made an empty threat. However, his heart sunk when he saw which machine he was in.

Coming up into his view was a gold, humanoid machine with two wings lined with rockets. He had a long spear in the robot's right hand and a large shield in the left. Unlike most machines with this shape, Eggman was not in the head by in the chest of the machine. Tails recognised this machine in a heartbeat. This was the Egg Emperor, the last machine that Metal Sonic used when he impersonated his creator and it was struggle to take down when he had Sonic and Knuckles next to him, what chance did he have by himself.

"So you've figured out that this encounter only has one ending" Eggman said from the cockpit, a devilish grin on his face. "Do the smart thing and surrender, it will save me some time and you some pain."

In his mind the Mobian was worrying. "I can't do this, not by myself. But right now Sonic is facing Metal Sonic, the strongest machine Eggman ever built, and now I'm his equal so I can't afford to do any less. I can't let him get these shards." His expression lifted. "Besides, I'm not that little kid who needs to be protected. I've done everything wrong since I became a teenager, it's time I finally did something right."

"If you would be so kind as to give me those shards and perhaps I will spare you" the doctor suggested.

"No" he replied quietly.

"Pardon?"

"I said no. I'm not giving you these shards and you are not having them" he shouted defiantly. "If you really want to save time then I suggest that you turn around and go back to your base Eggman!"

The human sighed and griped the controls in front of him. "It's such a shame. I really meant what I said about us conquering Mobius together even though you were just a secondary target. It's too bad the hedgehog has corrupted your intelligence." The robot then swung its spear and pointed it at the fox.

"I think your battered body will make a nice base for a robot. I've always considered creating a Metal Tails, but one step further would be to have the real thing. And don't count on Sonic to help; he will have his hands tied with Metal Sonic. And with all the modifications he'd receive, I have to say that he far surpasses any other robot I've ever built." The doctor started to brush his moustache with his hand. "In fact, if he wasn't working with me I'd be afraid of him dismantling my empire..."


On the other side of the house, Sonic was already breathing heavily heavy while on one knee before his robotic counterpart whose body was surging with a purple aura.