Chapter 26: Sandy Night

Stars shone brightly in the night as Shadow walked onward. He felt as if he could walk the world until he found Breeze, but from the looks of things Tails obviously couldn't. The little fox was tired and worn. His tails drug through the sand and his head drooped down on his chest as though he were walking in his sleep. He was lagging behind and Shadow decided that he might as well stop and let the little guy rest. After all, if he left Tails and went on ahead the fox may get into trouble and then there would be two foxes that needed rescuing. Shadow paused on a mound of sand and waited for Tails to reach him.

"Why'd you stop, Shadow?" Tails panted when he finally stood next to the black hedgehog again.

"You look tired. I think we can afford to rest awhile."

"Thanks, but no thanks. We've got to keep looking for Breeze," the two tailed fox said determinedly and started to make his way down the hill.

"Don't be stupid, you won't last much longer if you keep this pace up. Don't try and out do me, Tails, I am the ultimate life form you know," Shadow replied not moving from his place.

"I know, but we just can't stop. Breeze is out there somewhere all alone and we can't give up on her!" Tails said and then fell to his knees in exhaustion.

Shadow tilted his head at the fallen fox and then sighed. He walked over and knelt down beside Tails when he saw that the fox was crying. Lines of wet tears trickled down Tails' face, cleaning away the caked dirt and grime that was stuck in his fur from the hours of walking. It made him look as if there were lines on his face except for the fact that they were wet and smeared.

"Why can't I be strong enough to keep going like you? I feel so weak and useless," he sobbed.

"The answer to that is simple, you're not me." Shadow stood up and looked around. "Morning will be here soon and you haven't slept at all. Breeze probably stopped to rest too, that is assuming she's out here. We can stop for awhile."

"Why don't you just go on without me? I'm slowing you down."

"Because then you'd be in trouble. You mean a lot to Breeze and I don't want to abandon you."

Tails sniffed and nodded, "Alright, I'll rest for a little, then we're going to keep looking." Shadow nodded, satisfied and crossed his arms, gazing into space. He was prepared to wait for at least an hour, though the fox would most likely need more than that as well as food before he got back to normal. Why didn't I keep hold of those chaos emeralds? It would have been so much easier to find Breeze if I had them and I could have dropped Tails off at his house before I went looking.

"Shadow? Why did you turn from Eggman's side to ours?" Shadow heard Tails asking from his place in the sand.

"Because of Breeze."

"Oh…so why did Eggman want to capture Breeze in the first place?"

Shadow considered telling the fox about Breeze's special ability. It's not like it would hurt to tell him, but for some reason he preferred to keep that secret to himself. He was just being selfish. "Breeze has a special ability and Eggman wanted her so he could use it to his advantage. It's really obvious what it is, it surprises me that know one else has figured it out."

"Her ability to always hit her target with her bow?"

"No, it's another one."

"Well I certainly don't know what you're talking about. She never told me anything."

"She doesn't know it herself."

Tails looked at him in confusion and then set his quick brain to thinking about what it may be. Finally something hit him! In the story of how her family died she had said she found them in Eggman's ship real easy, she found Cream and Cheese in seconds flat when they played hide and seek, she had told him stories about when she had found various things around the house for her family when everyone had searched for days with no luck, she had found Cosmo in ten minutes when he had looked for hours, and she had found out why he was so scared that night of the thunderstorm! Breeze was good at finding things!

"Shadow! I got it! Breeze finds things on an emotional and physical level," Tails exclaimed.

"Very good, you're smarter than I thought."

"So Eggman wants to use her to find something? What?"

"Seriously, what do you think? What is Eggman always trying to get his hands on?"

"Chaos emeralds," Tails realized. "That means he'll be after her again! Come on, Shadow, we have to go after her!" Tails said and stood up again.

"You haven't even rested for thirty minutes. We'll leave soon."

"No, we'll leave now. I'm not afraid of you, Shadow. I'll go myself; you can stay here if you're tired."

Shadow's eyes seemed to light with a fire and he turned ferociously on the small fox, "Don't test my limits."

Tails shrunk back a little at the anger in the black hedgehog's voice, but then Shadow turned from him and started off down the hill again. Tails cautiously followed him into the night and so fox and hedgehog continued their search. Tails kept a wary eye on Shadow, hoping he hadn't pushed him too far, but Shadow seemed to pay him no mind, probably trying to control his temper and keep himself from hurting the fox.

After a few more miles of walking, Tails, to his dismay, started to feel weak again. Shadow wouldn't be happy about this and he probably wouldn't stop to let the fox rest this time either. Tails would have to keep going or lose the mysterious hedgehog and his chance to find Breeze no matter how much it hurt or how tired and beaten he became. He kept walking even though his muscles were burning and his head was swimming with dizziness. His eye sight became blurry, but he kept his legs moving almost automatically, not thinking but simply moving as if by instinct. Each minute he thought he couldn't take another step, but somehow did. He soon lost sight of everything, including Shadow, as sweat poured down his face and dirt and grime collected all over his body. He blindly walked forward with the only thought in his mind being to catch up to Shadow so he could rescue Breeze.

At last he felt like he couldn't go on and he could push his body no further. Shadow was no where to be seen and Tails had no more hope of moving forward even though his whole being screamed at him to never give up. He wasn't as strong as Sonic, Knuckles, or Shadow. His body couldn't take that much pain and pressure. He just hoped his heart would be strong enough when the time came when he needed it the most.

The two tailed fox finally stumbled and felt himself fall forward. He expected to feel the hard grit of cold sand, but the impact never came. Instead of hitting the ground he felt himself hitting soft but strong arms as they prevented his fall. He could barely open his eyes, but caught a flash of black and red before they closed shut. He felt himself lifted off the ground and cradled in the arms as they began to move forward again. Tails relaxed and fell asleep, knowing he was safe with someone that, for now, he could trust; someone who felt just like he did about Breeze.

Shadow trudged on into the night, carrying the beaten and tired Tails in his arms. As the fox fell asleep, Shadow tried to figure out what was happening to him. Why was he helping the fox? Especially when he was in sort of a competition for Breeze's attention with Tails. It must be because Maria would want it that way; because Breeze would want it that way.

Two metal robots walked in the desert under the bright and shinning moon. They could be heard miles away grumbling and complaining about their lot in life. Their joints were creaking and groaning as well as their over active big mouths.

"This is pointless," said Decoe.

"I agree," Bocoe replied.

"Why do we always have to do everything? Why can't Bokkun look for her? He can fly after all can't he?"

"Yes, but he is a big baby and the Doctor's favorite. We never get good treatment."

"My joints are about to fall off and I'm full of sand. It will take hours to suck it all out."

"I feel like I'm made of sand. The Doctor will be sorry when he finds us in pieces out here in the desolate desert."

"Yeah, that will show him."

"Actually, that will show us!" Bocoe pointed out and both robots groaned.

"Hey, what is that," Decoe said excitedly and pointed at something on the horizon. They both looked to see a small figure sitting all alone on a rock and gazing at the stars.

"Let us go find out," Bocoe said determinedly and they both picked up the pace to go see who was sitting all alone in the desert. Upon reaching the person they saw it was a small light blue vixen in a blue skirt and top. She had her chin in her hands and she was watching the stars as if waiting to make a wish. She looked up when she heard them coming and then jumped in alarm when she realized who they were. She pulled out her bow and arrow set, getting ready to defend herself.

"Hold on, we are not going to hurt you," Decoe said quickly and held out his hands.

"That is right, we only want to ask you a question," Bocoe added.

She lowered her bow and looked at them cautiously, "Ok, what?"

"Are you Breeze?"

"Yes," she replied and raised her bow again.

"Oh, good, now we can go home," Bocoe said happily.

"Yes, let's, but first, just to get back at Dr. Eggman, I think we should tell her what he is up to."

Breeze looked at the two robots, completely bewildered. They weren't going to try and capture her? "Excuse me, but didn't Eggman send you to catch me?"

"No, he just said to find you," Bocoe said smugly.

"He should have been more specific if he wanted to treat us that badly," Decoe added.

"So what's he up to then?" Breeze asked.

"Oh, he is sending out a new robot made especially to capture you so be on the look out, ok?" Bocoe said.

"Ok, thanks."

"No problem, now we are going back so I suggest you get out of here fast. We have to tell Dr. Eggman were we saw you so if you leave now he won't catch you."

"You should get your Shadow friend to take you away," Decoe said.

"I wish I could find him, but I don't know where he is," Breeze said sadly.

"Oh…well we hope you find him. You really are nice," Bocoe comforted.

The two robots waved and walked off, heading towards Eggman's base. Breeze watched them go and then realized that she would soon be alone again once they left. She suddenly got a sinking feeling inside that if she didn't follow them she would never be found, even if they were the enemy! She stood in indecision, and then ran after them yelling, "Wait, stop! I'm coming with you!"

"Why? We are going to Dr. Eggman and he wants to capture you."

"Because if I follow you I will eventually get back to somewhere familiar, then I'll leave you once I know where I am."

"That is fine with us. Just hope that the Doctor does not see you with us or he will order us to bring you to him."

"That's a chance I'll take," Breeze said decidedly and the three of them started walking towards the forest and Eggman's base, the robots happy for the nice company and Breeze just happy that she wasn't alone anymore.

Hey eveyone, hope you are all doing well. Thanks for reading, you guys are my inspiration! Next chapter will come soon!