Back in his workshop Tails sat on the cot in the corner staring at the floor in front of him. He had not long been awake. After Cythraul had ran off in Sonics body Tails had passed out and Knuckles had carried him home.
His memory of what happened was finally retuning but as far as the little fox was concerned that wasn't a good thing. He could remember everything that had happened while Cythraul had been inside him and felt awful.
He looked towards his friends who all looked as dejected as he felt. Tails had been surprised to see Dylan there when he woke up. The young mole was stood awkwardly in the corner clutching what looked like the vase Cubot had smashed.
After a long and awkward silence Tails finally felt able to speak.
"I'm really sorry guys." He said. His voice cracked and with emotion as he held back angry tears. "I was weak and let everyone down."
Sticks shot him a sympathetic smile and Knuckles patted him on the head. Amy remained where she stood, staring out of the window with her back to him. He could see how tense she was by her shoulder muscles.
"Amy, I didn't mean it." He said softly. "I don't know why acted that way before when we argued. What I said. I would never normally say that. You know that right?"
"You must have thought it though." She replied quietly. "Deep down. That's what Cythraul does, he takes the thoughts you hide from your friends. From yourself and he tells you they're real."
Amy turned. Tails was expecting her to be angry but her expression was pained. Tears were welling in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry if we made you feel like that." She cried and rushed forwards pulling the fox into a tight hug.
Tails felt a rush of relief. Followed by the realization he couldn't breath.
"I'm sorry I reacted the way I did when I saw you two.. You know... That wasn't me. I'm glad you guys are finally together." He said honestly. sticks rolled her eyes.
"Lovely. Everyone's sorry." She said sarcastically. "Now can we save Sonic?"
To Tails immense relief Amy finally let him go. She pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You're right." Amy sniffed. "Before he was taken by Cythraul he said he trusted us to save him."
"How?" Tails inquired.
Amy filled him in on the original plan. How Sonic had intended to talk him around and Dylan's spell. As she spoken Tails began to feel another tug of guilt.
"I wasn't strong enough." He sighed.
Amy sat beside him on the cot. "We all struggled to fight Cythraul in the fog" she pointed out. "It could have been any of us Tails, but he wanted you."
"Because I'm weaker." Tails muttered.
"So he said." Amy mused. "But I think there was another reason. I think he planned this all along."
The others all stared at her.
"Sonics only got one weakness..." She began.
"Athletes foot?" Sticks guessed.
Amy pulled a disgusted face. "No. The people he loves." She continued.
"Then why didn't Cythraul go for you?" Tails said suspicious. He was certain she was just trying to make him feel better.
"Yeah." Knuckles agreed. "He luuurves you."
Amy blushed. "And we've been spending quite a bit of time together recently."
The others exchanged dopey grins which made Amy turn completely crimson.
"My point is I was safe and you weren't." She said quickly. "We left you exposed and I'm sorry."
"Urgh! We're back to being sorry." Sticks moaned.
But Tails couldn't help but feel uplifted by what Amy had said. It made sense after all. Nobody else had managed to resist Cythraul. Sticks, Dave and...
"Dash!" Tails suddenly remembered.
Knuckles looked guilty. "Sorry buddy." He muttered and kicked a waste paper basket by the desk. A blue tail poked out of the top and wobbled along with the basket.
Tails rushed forward to fish his robotic buddy out from amongst the banana peels and screwed up paper in the bin. As he assessed the damage Dylan finally voiced what was on everyone's minds.
"So once again the plan is to try and talk to Sonic and get him to resist the ghost?" He checked.
"Yup." Knuckles nodded.
"Sonic. The hedgehog." Dylan said slowly.
"Yup."
"Fastest thing alive?" The mole said pointedly.
"So he keeps telling everyone." Amy sighed.
Dylan looked at the others, face barely able to contain his exasperation.
"How the bloody hell are we going to catch him?" The mole exploded.
Tails had to admit, Dylan had a point. On the cot Amy placed a hand on Tails.
"He thought you might figure it out." She said kindly. "He trusts you with his life."
Tails sighed. He knew Amy intended her comment to be comforting but if anything it made him feel worse.
"I don't know how to catch Sonic." He moaned. "Remember that bet we had where I tried to capture him?"
Amy, Knuckles and Sticks shuddered at the memory of Tails karaoke session.
"You did better than Eggman." Amy pointed out.
"Now let's be fair." Knuckles said, wagging his finger. "Eggman has captured him once or twice. But lucky for Sonic I was there to save him."
"WE were there to save him." Sticks replied.
"That's it!" Tails gasped. "Knuckles you're a genius!"
The red echidna lifted his chin proudly, Although he had no idea why. The girls and Dylan looked incredulous.
"Eggman!" Tails reasoned. "He's the most experienced at capturing Sonic. Between us he and I can come up with a plan."
"What makes you think he'll help?" Amy demanded.
"If he doesn't Knuckles will punch him in the face." Tails said with an uncharacteristically wicked grin.
"I already like this plan." Knuckles smiled.
"Okay." Dylan argued. "Say you find a WAY to capture Sonic. We still don't know where he is!"
Tails thought for a moment.
"Before your ancestors sealed him in the vase Cythraul fleeced them for all their diamonds right?" Tails reasoned.
"Yea.. no.. I.. but. " Dylan sputtered.
"What gullible schmucks do we know that Cythraul can play for fools?" Tails demanded. The guys smiled.. although it took Knuckles a little longer than the others.