Equal Footing
Chapter 14: Righting the Wrongs
Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic and co. are owned by Sega.
He didn't know what this feeling was. It didn't feel like sadness, more like overwhelming despair mixed with anger, rage even. A rage that had enough power to destroy the world several times over. All Sonic wanted was Tails back but no, they had torn them apart and forced them to say the eternal goodbye.
No, he couldn't be gone, he refused to believe it. There had to be something he could do, he was Sonic the Hedgehog for Chaos' sake. He had brought down an army of robots singlehandedly, he had defeat a legendary God of War, he had stopped the Arc from crashing into earth, he had rewritten history if those dreams he had were an alternate timeline, he had fixed the world when it had been broken, he had destroyed an interstellar amusement park, he had gave two books happy endings. So where was his happy ending, why couldn't he fix his world. He could run at the speed of sound, Chaos energy was his to use, he was considered hero so why couldn't he save the person who mattered the most to him.
This feeling, he had once felt it all of the time. This is what Shadow must have felt after Maria had... gone to where Tails is now. This was hatred and it was consuming him, he could understand why he had wanted revenge. He wanted it to but unlike the Ultimate life form he didn't want to make Mobius pay, just the doctor and his greatest creation that was current on either side of him.
They were arguing over who gets to finish him off before he had interrupted but a part of him was tempted to let them. "No way" shot through his head. "There's no way that I'll do that, not before I make them pay. I know it isn't what Tails would've wanted but what else can I do? He wouldn't have wanted me to break down and do nothing! That's not what I do!"
Metal Sonic crossed his arms and started taping his foot against the ground; a pose the hedgehog knew had been copied from him. "You are in no position to make threats like that." He then pointed at Eggman. "And you shouldn't break a deal with me."
"I don't know which one of you is sprouting more of hot air" Eggman sighed. "The defective robot or the broken hero. You are no condition to even consider defying me Metal, you may have caught be off guard twice in the past but even if I did give you the opportunity to finish off Sonic I don't think you are capable of pulling it off in your current state."
"That was our arrangement."
The doctor brushed his moustache with his hand. "You of all people should know that I'm a bad man who lies from time to time. Now then, I created you so don't make me un-create you." He paused to make room for smart-mouth remark from the speedster but it didn't come, he just reminded there, unmoving and silent. "Have you finally nothing to say?"
"I always knew you were evil, but not like this. Do you even know what you've done?" he said in an eerily calm voice with a deadly undertone.
"Of course, I've finally got rid of Tails and in honour of his memory I'm going to send his best friend to him."
"You don't even care that he's gone" he shouted, glaring right at the human. It wasn't the usual glare he had gotten from the hedgehog in the past, this one was different, it lacked any form of mercy. He would never admit it but it scared him a little, this silent Sonic who seemed a very different person from the care-free foe he was used to.
"I told him that if he had reconsidered and been part of my empire then none of this would've happened. This is more on your head than mine Sonic."
"Regardless, you still breathe" the robot doppelganger interjected, stepping forward as he did. "That I must change."
"Wait your turn Metal, he's mine" Eggman countered, swinging the spear back in a dramatic fashion.
"You took the most the most precious thing in my life away from me" the speedster said in a quiet voice with his eyes closed. "He was always there when I needed him, but thanks to you my last memory of him is going to be that fight we had." As he was talking the lightening coming from the emerald and shards was once again shooting into Tails, causing his heart to beat once again.
Blue eyes opened again. "What happened? Last thing I remember I passed Sonic the fake ring then before I could do anything else Eggman hit me with his shield. What happened after that? Did I pass out?"
"Now you're not even celebrating or anything but treat him like he was nothing" Sonic voice roared around the area, causing the fox to tilt his head to see his brother standing over him, his eyes closed but streaming with tears. Tails had seen Sonic upset before but never like this, he was his rock and seeing him like this was a little distressing for him. He was about to see anything else the hedgehog shouted again.
"He was my world and you ruined it, so now I'm going to end both of you!" Next thing anything knew the speedster had disappeared and a blue wind was rapidly hitting both machines. Everyone present knew better though, Sonic had curled up and using both the spin dash and the Sonic Boost at the same time in order to repeatedly attack Metal Sonic and the Egg Emperor by dashing between the two at unbelievable speeds.
The mechanical hedgehog tried to activate his Black Shield but it failed to form due to their previous battle where he had tried to repel the Sonic Boom, causing to try and block as many strikes as he could with his arms but the holes that were already in on his body became bigger. If he had a heart it would have sunk as he admitted that if this fight kept up there was chance that he would be truly destroyed.
Eggman put the shield out in front of the robot to take the hedgehog's blows but was flabbergasted when it started to get dented and parts started breaking of it. "Impossible" he gasped as the shield eventually broke apart giving Sonic the chance to attack the rest of it. The head and 'wings' where damaged beyond repair and there were a few dents in the spear. The cockpit however was unscathed which was either luck, or judging by the death glare the speedster was sending his way, was intentional.
Sonic was panting, having stopped in front of pile of debris he once called home. He didn't like letting loose like this as it kind of scared him, if he really tried he could do anything physically but he there were limits on what he wanted to do. If he really put his all to a task someone would get hurt and before this he wouldn't have wanted that, not even to Eggman. But now was a different story. His machine was on its last legs and Metal was the other side down for count, it was time.
"Eggman, you sent Tails... away, now I'm going to end this and do the same to you" he hiss, as he walked slowly towards the human.
He panicked. He may have pushed his nemesis too far this time; there was no mercy in his eyes or demeanour. There was a chance that he may not get out of this mess and be in any condition to tell anyone about it. "I'll stop, I'll be good, I'll turn over a new leaf, just don't" he pleaded.
"I've heard that before."
"I mean it this time."
The hedgehog shook his head. "Too little too late."
Realising that he good guy act wouldn't work, the mad man decided that the only tactic left was strength. "Fine, then. Have it your way as usual" he shouted as he swung his lance. Sonic jumped over it and dashed straight towards the doctor, hitting the cockpit straight on. Eggman was about to swung it again but to the surprise of both the human and Mobian, the limp body of Metal Sonic went straight through the spear mid-swing and crashed straight into the doctor.
"What?" Sonic got out. "How did... What did...?"
"Don't worry, I took care it before you did something stupid" a familiar voice said him. He turned around to see the sixteen year old fox he was mourning standing there as if nothing has happened.
"Eggman, you sent Tails... away, now I'm going to end this and do the same to you!"
"What's he talking about?" the mechanic wondered. "I didn't go anywhere, and what's wrong with Sonic? It's not like him to be like this, so why is going to do something which I know he'll regret. It almost as if he's about to..." His eyes widened as it clicked inside his head. "No, I couldn't have. But what if I didn't pass out but actually... Then how am I here now?" He then decided to get up and tell his brother to stop but it was then a fading blue glow caught his eye. "The Chaos Emerald Sonic had and the pieces of Time Eater's core, they were just active but I'm still sixteen and I doubt they did nothing. Could they have revived me? But why would they? They wouldn't have had any input at all, unless Sonic gave it some. He can control the chaos energy so could he have used that to set the reaction to bring me back without realising it."
The fox would have continued his trail of thought but he saw a heavily damage Metal Sonic get up and start heading towards his brother who was so focused on Eggman that he wouldn't have noticed, while the doctor was too busy fearing for his life to pay attention to anything except his attacker. He quickly got to his feet and dashed in front of the damaged robot, blocking his path.
"Impossible, does not compute" Metal said as he saw the fox move. "Your life signs were zero."
"You're a robot who thinks he's a hedgehog who runs at the speed of sound, yeah I'm the impossible one" he replied, clenching his fists as he did.
"A fox with two tails is boarder line impossible in its self." The fox grumbled to himself as he heard that, never liking mention of his second namesake. "Now, move aside fox" he demanded.
Instantly the Mobian shook his head. "No, I won't. You want Sonic, you'll have to get pass me."
Metal struck a fighting pose which look less imposing due to his damage. "According to him, to be the real Sonic I would have to go through you."
"What?" he asked but no answer came, instead the metallic doppelganger started running towards Tails preparing to slash him with his sharp fingers. However, the robot was designed to be able to counter Sonic so was surprised that his attack was blocked by one the fox's namesakes allowing him to strike a blow on the machine.
"I forgot to take into consideration your extra limbs. That will not happen again."
The mechanic glanced behind him to see his brother getting dangerously close to the doctor. "I don't really have for this" he panicked slightly not wanting Sonic to do something that he would regret just for his sake.
Metal Sonic charged again as Eggman swung the spear the first time. "Now what do I do? If keep fighting Metal Sonic then Sonic will... I'm not worth losing himself over. If only there was a way to do everything like he would." It was then that a light bulb went off inside his head. "That's it, I can do it but it's going to take some good timing." When Metal was about to strike Tails quickly grabbed both the robot's wrists and took off into the air before letting go of him and spin dashing him into the ground. He then quickly grabbed the machine's wrist again and threw him into the air before jumping after him.
He then saw Eggman swing his spear the second time. "Please let this work" he wished as the struck Metal Sonic with his tails with all of his might, sending the robot flying through the spear and straight into Eggman surprising both the hedgehog and human.
"What?" Sonic got out. "How did... What did...?"
"Don't worry, I took care it before you did something stupid" he said, getting the hedgehog's attention.
"Tails?" he choked. "I must be losing it already" he said clutching his head with his hands.
"No Sonic, it's really me. I'm fine thanks to the Chaos Emeralds and what remains of Time Eater's core" he explained. Before he knew it the speedster had ran up to him and had him in a tight embrace.
"It really is you little bro. I thought you were... that I would never see you again." The fox's shoulder started to feel damp.
"Sonic, I'm sorry. I got careless and ended up..." he didn't really want to think about it. "I'm sorry I made you worry and almost do... that."
"No, I'm sorry. It was my fault you got hurt, you were helping me but I couldn't save you. What sort of big brother am I?"
"Sonic, you're not my big brother remember. It was my mistake but to be fair it was one I made bro." He then noticed Eggman starting to recover from having his own creation crash into him. "Sonic, Eggman's up."
This only caused to hug to tighten. "I don't really want to let you go, I don't want to lose you ever again." More tears of joy ran down his face.
"Sonic, please stop crying. You're making me start and I'm not too sure as to why you're doing it." This caused the hedgehog to loosen his grip and look at the orange Mobian's face, finding that his eyes were also being to water.
"I'm not too sure either" he replied. "Hey, you're not a zombie who wants to eat my brain are you?"
Tails sighed and shuddered a little of that thought. "No, why would you even think that? Besides even if I was I don't think your brain would satisfy me."
The hedgehog's eyes half closed. "What are trying to say?"
"I think you know."
After a second of silence they both spoke at the same time. "I missed this."
"No, it can't be!" Eggman exclaimed, getting the pair's attention to focus on him. "You were... it doesn't make sense!"
"Now you're not making any sense" the speedster shot back. "I think it's time you call it a day doc."
"I'm not done yet, I can..." he looked at the remains of his once glorious machine, "I can still jab you with this" he declared as he started swinging the broken spear.
"Tails, you can have the honour" Sonic said but the fox shook his head.
"Nah, I think we should both do it together. It'll be like old times."
"Except you'll be joining in more. How'd you want to do it?"
The genius put his hand on his chin. "We only have three tag moves and both Thunder Shoot and Blue Bomber are just me throwing you."
He caught onto what he was saying in heartbeat. "Rolling Attack it is then."
"I'm still here!" the doctor shouted.
"We know, and we're about to change that" Sonic shouted in his usual confident tone, his trademark smirk on his face.
"Yeah, we're busy people" Tails added. "You could have saved us some times by giving up."
Being quoted only made the human fume. "Why you little..."
"Save it for someone who cares" the hedgehog interjected as he started spinning on the spot.
"Good luck find someone who does" the fox said as he jumped into the spin and grabbed the speedster's ankles while his brother did the same to him.
Before he could blink, let alone activate the controls of the Egg Emperor the two Mobian shot and struck the robot causing it to explode as they did. As they uncurled all that was left of their foes was a slightly charred mad man and a beaten machine inside a now wobbly floating chair.
"Curse you" Eggman shouted at the now high fiving duo.
"It's a good thing Tails is okay in the end Eggman, or this would have ended very differently" Sonic said a very serious voice that sent shivers up both genius's spines.
"You should go before I decide that I'm mad at you for trying to end things between me and my family" Tails shouted with a stare.
Realising that this plan had utterly failed, the doctor decided it was time for a retreat. "I won't forget this. I hate that hedgehog and that fox" he shouted as his chair ascended into the sky and out of their sights.
"Thank goodness that's over" the fox said with a sigh of relieve before the hedgehog hugged him again. "Sonic, seriously I'm fine. You're starting to scare me a little."
"Sorry, but have no idea how bad it was to think that you were..." he trailed off, still not liking the thought.
"No, I don't but you shouldn't have risked your views just for me. You taught me that revenge is never right, and even if the worst did happen I wouldn't be happy knowing that I ended changing the most important person in my world."
He sighed. "I know, but I couldn't help myself. I felt... so alone. It was at least a thousand times stronger than what it was back in Green Hill. I felt like I could destroy the world and it still wouldn't be enough to show how I felt."
Tails now returned the hug. "I kinda know how you felt. Remember when Eggman trapped you in that capsule on the ARK which exploded. I thought I'd lost you forever. Or that dream me and the others had when you died."
"Yeah, the one were that human girl kissed me. You were so upset afterwards that you refused to leave me alone the day after." The hedgehog ended the embrace but still kept a hand on his brother's shoulder. "But I promise that nothing will ever come between us again."
"Hey, I was about promise the same thing" he replied with a little bit of a laugh before his face became a neutral one. "There's something I don't understand though. Why did Metal Sonic say that to become the real Sonic he would have to go through me as well?"
"That's easy. You're my bro, of course you're going to be more like me than some robot fake even if he does look like me. So even he did catch me on a bad day and beat me he still wouldn't be Sonic because you'd still be here. And if the worst happened to me I know you'd still keep Mobius safe for me right?"
He nodded slightly. "Yeah, but you would have that much faith in me?"
He winked. "There's no one I would have more faith in." Their eyes then fell towards the ruins of their home. "I'm sorry for the Tornado."
"It's fine" he replied.
"You can build a new Tornado once we're back on our feet right?"
"I mean its fine as in its untouched. The lab has enough reinforcement to withstand a nuclear attack."
"Why didn't you do that for the rest of the house?"
"You were the one who wanted a simple living space. And I think we can fix all of this now" he declared, earning him a confused look from the blue Mobian.
"Really? How? Not that I'm complaining."
The fox dashed to the middle of the rumble where the Chaos Emerald and the shards of Time Eater's core were and brought them to the hedgehog. "We'll use these to fix the house like you fixed me."
"Yeah, but I did that by accident. I'm overjoyed it happened but I don't know if it can happen again."
"Sure you can. All you need to do is manipulate the Chaos energy in the emerald to tell the shards to rewind the workshop back to how it was before it was destroyed."
"Oh, that simple" he said with a roll of his eyes. "And how do you think I do that?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, I'm not the one who can use Chaos energy here. How do you use Chaos Control?"
"I just tap into the emerald's power and think about the place I want to be, the clearer the picture that closer I am." His eyes widened a little. "Oh, I think I know now. I wanted you back and you came back, so I have to think about the house like it was and it'll come back."
"Okay then. Good luck Sonic" his brother encouraged.
"Thanks, I may need it" he replied before his expression turned serious and he closed his eyes, focusing all the mental energy he had on the task at hand.
Tails waited on baited breath. He trust the hedgehog to the ends of the earth but thinking was not his strongest point, he valued instinct more than logical thought whereas he was exact opposite but he had some good instincts so by that logic Sonic must have some good thoughts. His logic seemed to pay off as the blue lightening reappeared and struck the ruins of their home which started to rebuild itself.
When Sonic opened his eyes he found himself standing in front of his home. "It worked."
"I knew you could do it" the fox congratulated him as they both went into the house to see if everything was there. From their inspection it seemed like it was. "Everything's back as if nothing ever happened. Even the food Eggman had is back in fridge."
"Eggman had some of our food? He'd eat us out of house and home. What were you doing with him anyway?"
The mechanic grabbed one of his namesakes and started playing with end of it, a sign that he was nervous. "I was having him look at my scheme" he said quickly and in one breath. He started to blush a little, it was a little embarrassing to talk about the plan he had to the person he had been planning to use it on.
He looked to find the hedgehog smirking. "Your scheme, huh? Well let's hear what master plan you came up with, it can't be worse that some of the ones Eggman has used over the years."
He hesitated for a second before answering. "Bear in mind that at the time I was mad at you for running my life for me." The hedgehog nodded. "I was going to make you eight to see how you like it."
"So if you were evil, your master plan would be to make me basically swap places with you?" He nodded bashfully. "Do you think that help us understand each other more if we did?"
"Well, probably but I'm better now. I can think clearly again." He then noticed Sonic strike the same pose as what he did when he repaired the house. "What're you doing?"
"I'm making myself eight."
"You were serious? Why would you do that?"
"Did you not hear the conversation we just had?" He just glared at the speedster. "Look, I don't want us to end so if there's any way we can stop that from happening then I'm doing it."
"But you like being a teen. You said you like the freedom that you never got as a child" he exclaimed.
"I know, but I'm doing it for us Tails."
The Chaos Emerald and the shards started to glow as Sonic closed his eyes. Just as the lightening was about to appear the hedgehog found himself swept off his feet and on the floor. "Ow, what the...?" As he opened his eyes he saw the blue lightening striking Tails, who now had the emerald and shards in his hands. "What are you doing bro?"
"I'm becoming your little bro again" he said with a smile on his face.
"Why? What about all that stuff about being your own person and not living under me? Don't you want that?"
"Of course I want that, but what's the point of independence if I have no one to be independent from?"
It would have made no sense to anybody else and it took a second to get what he was saying but the blue Mobian understood. "But you can have that now. If you apologise then everybody will forgive you."
"I know, but you were going to throw away your ideal life just to make me happy. But as your little brother I can't let you do that. You were doing anything you could to keep our friendship as strong as it was right? Well, I'm doing the same. You've had more experience at being a teenager and I've already been the big brother, you can keep that job." He started to lose consciousness. "It doesn't really matter what age we are as long we're together, right?" With that he passed out and started falling towards the floor, de-aging as he did.
The speedster quickly got to his feet and caught the now limb fox in a hug. He then looked down to see the eight year old kit he knew and loved asleep against him. He sighed. "What am I going to do with you, huh?" He then picked him up bridal style.
"Yeah, you're right. It really doesn't matter. But if you're younger then it's a lot easier to carry you to your room. A lot easier than last time" he said mostly to himself as he climbed up the stairs.