Chapter 14.
Don't Say Goodbye.
Tails kept on falling down the chasm, yelling for help. He knew that the ground would eventually shut itself back up and crush him between it. Just as he thought he would keep on falling down for eternity, the fox child suddenly hit something hard. As he did, he felt something crack in his back. Tails suddenly gasped sharply, the breath escaping his chest. The kid felt a very sharp pain shoot up his back, then he felt nothing at all. Nothing at all…
Black; that's all he saw. There was no escape from the black void that surrounded him. He wanted out of it, so he tried to get out of it, but to no avail. He wanted out of the darkness holding him back, he just wanted out of whatever predicament he was in. Tails soon regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes halfway, only to realize that he was laying down on his back. That was when he remembered, he remembered his falling down the chasm. He remembered something about an earthquake, or the ground shaking, or something else in the likes. Tails couldn't really remember all of it; his mind was rumbled. He felt unusually cold. Tails tried to get up, but couldn't. Then the fox cub remembered, he remembered that as soon as he hit the ground earlier, something had cracked in his back, then he felt a sharp pain, then he felt nothing. Tails tried to move his legs. Nothing. He tried moving his arms around, he was successful in doing that. Tails cocked his head slightly to the right, all discombobulated as if to why he couldn't move his legs, but he could move his arms. Tails then tried to get his arms around his upper body, he was also successful in doing that. He then felt a slight bruise on his chest, then it all came back to his mind. The reason why he was stuck down here. Tails tried to put his hands on both of his legs, and succeeded. He knew his hands were on his legs, at least on his thighs. He felt nothing, suddenly it hit him square in his mind.
"No…." Tails choked.
Tails came to the awful realization that… that he was paralyzed from his hips down to his feet. Tails closed his eyes, hoping that all this was just a bad dream, then the fox cub opened his eyes halfway again, realizing that this was really happening to him. Tails wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He wanted to get up and walk out of here. But he just couldn't. Tails opened his eyes the rest of the way. He looked up at where he had fallen from. Tails then realized that he had fallen a long way down the chasm. He was surprised that the ground hadn't closed in on him, crushing and killing him. At least he was happy that he wasn't dead, or was he? Now that he was paralyzed. Tails let a tear escape down one cheek as he thought it through. He would no longer be able to keep up with his friends. He would no longer be able to fly his beloved plane. He would no longer be able to run around with his friends, nor with Sonic. He wouldn't be able to do anything that required physically using his legs. Tails then thought of something, see if he could use his twin tails. He squeezed his eyes shut as he tried getting his tails to work. Nothing. Tails opened his eyes halfway again. He couldn't even use his twin tails. Out of all things, his tails. Tails silently cried, tears streaming down his face. Tails hoped that his paralysis was only temporary. Shoot, Tails just couldn't even live with himself if his being paralyzed was permanent. He just wanted to scream. He tried moving his legs again, but to no avail. He kept on trying, then he stopped trying. The kid then closed his eyes and screamed, more tears trickling down his face. After a while, Tails finally stopped screaming and opened his eyes halfway again. He looked all around him and realized he was in a underground cave of some sort. Tails soon felt weak, really weak. Maybe it was from his screaming, or was it his condition. He tried getting his eyes open the rest of the way, but couldn't. He felt extremely cold. His breathing was labored. He thought he heard the voices of his friends from up above, but then again, was his mind being derlious or something. Tails closed his eyes and hoped that help was on the way for him. He was cold. He was tired. All he wanted was to go home.
Meanwhile…
After carefully examining the chasm, Esmer declared it safe for Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Sticks, and himself to start climbing down it. They are had returned to the cave after the rest of the group had been captured by the Regency. Esmer had been shot, but luckily, the mongoose had a laserproof vest underneath his clothing when Andross shot him. The team had to be careful with how they put their footing. Knuckles was actually doing quite well with the rock climbing down. And ironically, so was Sticks. Amy about lost her balance twice, but Esmer caught ahold of her both times. Sonic just so wanted to get down there to see if Tails had made it. He couldn't even wait for the little guy to tell them that he was alright; that was, if the kid was still even alive. Sonic sneered at the thought. If Tails survived a plane crash, getting shot down by Cubot prototypes, and later on, Andross. And if he even survived having the virus twice, then he most definitely survived this. All the while, Esmer really hoped that this chasm was no bottomless abyss that they were climbing down. Just as they were getting used to the rock climbing, Sticks lost her balance and fell down the chasm, everyone else had watched the badger fall into the chasm. Esmer tried catching her without falling down the chasm himself. But it was too late. Just as Amy thought that Sticks was good as dead, she heard the badger fall into water. Everyone else heard it too. Soon enough, they heard Sticks' voice. Esmer looked beneath him and saw the water. They were just several inches away from the underground pond. Esmer gave the go. Soon, everyone found themselves diving into the water. Amy immediately helped Sonic when they hit the pond. They all swam up to the surface and swam themselves to shore. After resting a moment, they looked for Sticks. At first they couldn't find her, then Knuckles spotted the jungle badger. She was on her knees, and her eyes were closed. Sonic and Amy wondered why Sticks was on her knees. As they got closer, they all saw why. And it was a sight that made Sonic's heart beat fast. As soon as Amy saw what everyone else was looking at, she immediately put a hand over her mouth. They all rushed up to Sticks and knelt down too. What they all saw was something, or someone. And that someone was none other than Tails. Esmer immediately grabbed ahold of the kid's wrist and felt for a pulse, he immediately sighed when he felt one. Tails' chest rose and fell rather erratic. And his breathing was labored. Sonic went to hug his friend, but immediately yanked his hands away. Tails felt unusually cold. Esmer began to feel around the kid's body for any signs of injury. Amy took a hold of one of Tails' hands and rubbed it gently.
"Tails? Are you okay?" Sonic asked as he put a hand on the fox's chest.
Tails didn't respond.
"Tails?"
Esmer called out his real name.
"Miles?"
At that very moment, Tails stirred. He tried moving his legs, but nothing happened. Sonic grew very concerned right away when he saw his buddy try to move his legs. So did Amy, Knuckles, Sticks and Esmer. Suddenly, Tails barely opened his eyes halfway. The first thing he saw was his friends surrounding him. The kid closed his eyes and smiled.
"Tails, you fine?" Amy asked.
Tails let a tear escape down one eye. "N-no… I-I'm… hurt… badly…"
Everyone else breathed in slowly, then exhaled slowly.
Tails contiuned on.
"I'm… I'm… not… g-g-gonna make… it…"
Sonic frowned immediately. "Tails! Don't talk like that!"
Tails barely lifted his eyelids up. "You… d-don't… understand.."
Esmer began feeling around his legs. "Can you feel that?"
Tails closed his eyes. "N-no…"
Esmer placed one hand on his left foot. "What about now?"
"N-n-no…"
Sonic gulped immediately. The hedgehog wanted to scream and run away from it all as fast as he could, but he knew that Tails needed him, especially if the kid was in what seemed to be the final moments of his life. Amy, Knuckles and Sticks placed their hands on Tails' shoulders.
"Do you remember anything before?" Esmer asked.
Tails barely opened his eyes. "I-I… fell… d-d-down-"
Amy put a finger to the fox's lips. "It's ok, just rest."
Tails then closed his eyes again.
"F-Fara…?"
"It's gonna be ok bud." Sonic assured the dying kid.
Tails smiled. "S-so… g-glad… you… a-all… made… it…"
Sonic gently laid Tails' head down onto the ground. Amy and Sticks were in tears by the time they each felt Tails place each of his hands in theirs.
"Y-you… all… w-w-will… be… o-okay… r-ri-righ-right…?"
Sonic took his hand off of Tails' chest and placed it on the fox's face. Tails' breathing was getting even worse. There was absolutely nothing they could do. Tails suddenly quietly giggled.
"Zooey…"
"It's ok bud." Sonic whispered.
Tails' eyes suddenly flickered. The fox cub smiled, then closed his eyes.
"I-I'm not afraid…"
"What?" Sonic, Amy, Knuckles and Sticks whispered in unison.
Tails barely opened his eyes again and smiled at his friends.
"I-I'm not afraid… to die…"
The four, plus Esmer, were not expecting that from Tails at all.
The fox cub closed his eyes.
"Do you all hear it?"
"Hear what Tails?" Amy asked.
Tails didn't answer. Rather instead, he opened his eyes.
"I-I'm… sorry… b-but… I… have to… leave… now…"
Sonic gulped again. "No… Tails, stay with us… you're gonna be just fine, ok?"
Tails barely looked at his best friend.
"S-sorry… Sonic… no… can do…"
Sonic took his hand off Tails' face as the kid closed his eyes. It was rather getting more difficult for Tails to breathe. He let go of Amy and Sticks' hands. For a few brief minutes, everyone just kept their eyes on their seemingly dying young fox friend as tears spilled down each of their faces. Sonic then placed a hand in Tails'. The kid's face immediately beamed, color returning to his face.
"We love you Tails." Sonic, Amy, Knuckles and Sticks all barely whispered.
"Love you…" Tails whispered.
That was the final straw for the seemingly dying fox cub. Tails' chest rose slowly, then it fell quietly down. For in that moment, Tails was seemingly gone.
"Tails? Tails buddy? Tails? Tails!" Sonic yelled.
"C'mon, wake up! Wake up!"
Esmer placed a hand on the hedgehog's shoulder.
"Sonic… Tails is… g-gone."
Sonic didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe that his sidekick… his best friend… and his… his little, baby brother… was… was… dead. Sonic placed one of the fox's limp hands to his face. Then the hedgehog started crying, begging for the fox cub to come back. He remembered all the moments that he and Tails had as best friends, and as brothers. How could anything like this happen to such a kind, good kid like Tails? Sonic slowly placed his forehead on Tails' forehead. Then, the Blue Blur wept. Amy, Knuckles, and Sticks all placed their hands on their leader to comfort him. All the while, Esmer just sat there on his knees, bewildered by the fact that he, and everyone else had just lost a very good friend. The snow white colored mongoose remembered that Tails was always happy. And now, Esmer knew that Tails was in a better place, free from being let down. Free from being insecure of himself. Free from any bullies calling him a two-tailed freak. And most important of all, Tails was finally free from his fear of Murdoc. Esmer immediately looked up when he heard Sonic say something in the midst of his weeping.
"Don't… say… goodbye…"
Amy, Knuckles, and Sticks wiped tears off their faces.
"Sonic?" Amy began. "You know that… that Tails isn't coming back…"
Suddenly Esmer gasped. Everyone, except Sonic, all looked at him, then realized that the mongoose was looking at something else. The three of them; Amy, Knuckles, and Sticks all looked at what Esmer was looking at. Then they saw it. Tails' hand was twitching. So were his fingers. And his legs were moving.
"Sonic, look!" Amy said excitingly.
Sonic took his forehead off of Tails' and looked at Amy.
"What?"
Amy motioned for him to look at the fox. Sonic looked back down and saw that Tails was breathing. Sonic no longer had tears of grief, but tears of joy, and tears of relief.
"Tails! Can you hear me?"
The fox cub immediately groaned slightly.
"B-Blue Leader..?"
Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Sticks were all smiles as tears of joy and relief spilled down each of their faces as they saw Tails open his eyes.
"Tails, you ok bud?" Sonic asked.
Tails barely lifted his head off the ground. "I-I… hey! I can move my legs!"
"Try to sit up." Esmer suggested.
"Maybe not, I think I cracked my…" Then Tails realized right away that he hadn't cracked his back. Tails sit up without any pain. Then he realized right away that it was something else that had cracked.
"Wait a minute. I'm perfectly fine!" Tails said as he reached for the strap across his back. Then he pulled something out from behind his back and showed it to everyone.
"Sorry Amy, I know how much you loved this Quill pen."
It was Amy's Quill pen that had cracked, not Tails' back. Amy gasped a moment, then she smiled.
"At least it wasn't your back. I have more at home. Remind me when we get back, and I'll give you one for keeps." Amy said.
Tails got himself off the ground and stood up, shaking himself. Suddenly, he swayed back and forth, dizzy.
"Tails? You're alright?" Sonic asked.
Tails came out of his dizzy trance and gave Sonic the thumbs up sign.
"Just do us a favor." Knuckles suddenly said.
"And what's that?" Tails asked.
"Don't ever scare us like that again." Knuckles replied, his voice was a little bit emotional. Tails realized it and gave the echidna a hug.
"I'm sorry." Tails whispered.
Esmer then got off the ground and looked up at where they had came from.
"It's no use for us to climb back up the way we came."
Amy, Sonic, and Tails scanned the underground cave for any signs of any way out of there. That was until Tails' communicator beeped. He looked at the screen.
"There's seems to be a way out of here, but we'll be underground for a few minutes."
"And?" Sonic asked.
"It will take us right underneath the Regency's biology base."
"Umm, who knew?" Knuckles said.
Tails suddenly looked rather disturbed.
"Hey, where's the rest of them?"
Sonic and Amy realized who Tails was talking about.
"Eh, you're meaning your aunt and cousins, and Chad and Tauren?" Sonic asked.
Tails only nodded his head.
"Well, eh, Tails… how do we tell you this-"
"Wait, don't tell me. Let me guess. They got captured, didn't they?" Tails asked.
It was the truth or not. Tails needed to know.
"Well, yes." Esmer confessed.
"Dang it!" Tails squealed. "Andross' probably having away with them!"
Sonic placed a comforting hand on the kid's shoulder.
"Not for long bud. We've got a plan on how to infiltrate the base. And I believe you got just the perfect strategy for the occasion."
"Yeah Tails, we have confidence in you." Amy piped in.
"Does it involve using Cluster bombs!?" Tails chimed in excitingly. Sonic only nodded his head.
Tails stretched his hands out. "With a little touch of that, this is getting exciting! I'm in."
"But the question is… how are you all going to get in there without being noticed?"
Everyone immediately looked surprised, as if they just got caught doing something they were not supposed to be doing. And the look on Tails' face was one of fear, and shock. Everyone turned themselves around and saw that they were just feet away from the one person that they hoped they would never have to cross paths with again. Especially Tails. The person was none other than Murdoc. And he was just standing there, sipping out of a water thermos. Tails was shaking so much that he eventually passed out unconscious back onto the ground. Soon enough, everyone else got ready to fight back, but before they could even do so, Murdoc placed a hand in the air.
"If you all are wondering, I'm not here to kill your young friend, who's obliviously scared so much that he fainted." Murdoc said.
"He has every right to be Murdoc!" Amy shouted. "Especially after all the grief you put him through!"
"Yes I know. And now, I regret doing such evil to him." Murdoc calmly said.
"Why should we even trust you!?" Sonic growled.
Murdoc only put a hand on his forehead.
"If you ever want to save your friends from my ridiculous, former employer, then you all will need my help."
"And what makes you think that we can trust you after all the pain you put our little friend through!?" Knuckles asked angrily.
"Yeah, you son of a gun!" Sticks yelled.
"Something about there being too many Regency soldiers in there." Murdoc said.
"And like I said before, I regret doing such evil to Miles Prower."
Just as Esmer got ready to pull the trigger on his laser gun, everyone heard a squealy war cry. Soon enough, they were shocked to see that Tails had leaped off the ground and penned Murdoc to the ground, along with him. Tails immediately placed his arms around the bounty hunter's neck, choking the life out of the wolf.
"Ya like that!? Huh!? How'd ya feel now!? Huh big boy!?" Tails shouted as he kicked Murdoc with his little feet, and with all his might. Murdoc only choked more, trying to escape the little fox's grasp. As much as everyone was wanting Tails to keep on, Sonic ran over to his friend and tried to pry him off of Murdoc. Tails just wouldn't budge.
"Tails! Stop! You're killing him! Stop!" Sonic yelled as he kept on trying to pry Tails off the wolf. "TAILS!"
"At this point… I don't give a DAMN!" Tails shouted. However, suddenly, the little fox yelped as he felt a electro rod poke him in the side. Tails immediately flew off of Murdoc and skidded on the ground. Knuckles and Sonic immediately grabbed a hold of the little fox. Tails was now in tears, but they were tears of anger, and hatred for the bounty hunter.
"LET ME GO! SONIC! KNUX! LET ME AT HIM! LET. ME. GOOOOOOOOOO!" Tails shouted at the top of his lungs as he struggled to break free from their grasps.
"Tails! No!" Knuckles shouted. Tails kept on trying to break free from Knuckles' grasp, after a few minutes, the little fox just simply gave up and broke down crying. Murdoc had only gotten off the ground and had caught his breath. And now, he was finally seeing what an emotional mess he had made of Tails within the last year. He now truly regreted everything evil he had put the poor fox through. Murdoc tried to put a hand on the fox's back, but Tails saw it, and just like a young little rabid pup, Tails bit the bounty hunter's hand. Murdoc immediately yelled, yanking his hand away from the angry fox. Sonic frowned as he thought of doing something that he would regret ever doing to his best friend… and his little brother.
Sonic slapped Tails right in the face.
Tails immediately looked up at the hedgehog, his lips quivering like he was going to cry, which is exactly what the little fox did. Sonic immediately regreted doing what he just did, but he needed Tails to know that it was going to be okay. Sonic held the fox's face in his hands.
"Tails… look at me."
Tails looked up at him, tears streaming down his face.
"I know that he put you through the wringer last year, but that's no excuse for the anger that you've built up inside of you all this time. You need to let it go. If you ever want to feel better, you have to forgive him. I know that you aren't liking this right now, but it's true buddy. Just… let it go. Trust me, you'll feel better when you do."
Tails closed his eyes and wept. All this time, he had indeed built up anger inside of him. Even after going to therapy, that didn't seem to have helped him in any way, shape or form. Tails just hated the guy for putting him through the fire last year. Then Tails realized that he was slowly becoming just like the one person he hated. He was slowly becoming just like Murdoc. Tails got off the ground and wiped the tears off his face. He knew that he had to let go of the hatred he had built up in the last year, and all that started with forgiving his enemy for the wrongs he had done to him. Tails looked Murdoc straight in the eye.
"I forgive you." Tails said.
And Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, Sticks, and Esmer smiled when they heard the words come out of the little fox's mouth. Murdoc only took a step back, then, he fell down to his knees and put his face in his hands. And for the first time in years, Tristan Rhoms cried. Soon enough, Tails joined him on his knees and hugged him, crying too. Sonic immediately thought of the lyrics to a song that Tails liked. It was the little fox's "go to" song whenever the youngster felt totally beat down emotionally. And Sonic knew that Tails could use the words to comfort him right now as he and Murdoc wept in each other's arms. Sonic and Amy walked up to them and placed a hand on Tails' back and rubbed it up and down. All the while Amy softly sang the song to the fox…
How long must I pray,
Must I pray to You?
How long must I wait,
Must I wait for You?
How long 'til I see Your face,
See You shining through?
I'm on my knees
Begging You to notice me.
I'm on my knees.
Father, will You turn to me?
One tear in the dropping rain.
One voice in a sea of pain.
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
One life: that's all I am.
Right now I can barely stand.
If You're everything You say You are,
Won't You come close and hold my heart?
I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes.
So much can slip away before I say goodbye.
But if there's no other way,
I'm done asking why.
'Cause I'm on my knees
Begging You to turn to me.
I'm on my knees.
Father, will You run to me, yeah?
One tear in the dropping rain.
One voice in a sea of pain.
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
One life: that's all I am.
Right now I can barely stand.
If You're everything You say You are,
Won't You come close and hold my heart?
So many questions without answers.
Your promises remain.
I can't see You,
but I'll take my chances
To hear You call my name.
To hear You call my name.
One tear in the dropping rain.
One voice in a sea of pain.
Could the Maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
One life: that's all I am.
Right now I can barely stand.
If You're everything You say You are,
Won't You come close and hold my heart?
You Hold my heart.
Could You hold my heart?
Hold my heart.
After a while, emotions were dealt with Tails and Murdoc. Sonic placed a hand on Tails' shoulder and told him how proud he was of him. Esmer and the formerly known bounty hunter came to terms with each other. And right in that moment, Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Sticks all forgive the scarred wolf. Esmer then brought up how they were going to infiltrate the base. Tristan -formerly known as Murdoc- get to that right away. Tails was actually quite impressed with how much his former enemy and him had in common. After carefully examining the plan, Esmer and Team Sonic approved it, of which Tails totally liked. Most of the stuff involved in Tristan's plan were things that the young fox would do also. Dang, both the fox and the wolf definitely had things in common. Both loved inventing. Both loved stargazing. And most ironically, they both had a love and passion of planes and being aerialists.
"Just one thing." Tristan said.
"And?" Esmer asked.
"Let me deal with Andross."
"And how ya gonna do that?" Esmer questioned.
"Don't want to scare the little guy here, especially after all the-"
Tristan was cut off.
"Yeah yeah, cut the chitchat. Enough holding regret and shame. I'm more than willing to be your 'prisoner.' " Tails said.
"How did you know?"
Tails coughed, then spoke up. "Trust me, ya don't wanna know."
Tristan only snickered.
"So with a little help from a former Regency mercenary, you all ready for the showdown?"
Team Sonic let out a whoop while Esmer only snickered. They were more than ready to get going… they were ready to bring the network of terrorists to their knees, and with justice. And with help from a redeemed former bounty hunter...
YES! So excited for the showdown. Who's ready for Andross to be brought to justice by Team Sonic? And Dr Eggman? Yes, I just really said Dr Eggman. He's gonna be in the next chapter. What the heck is going to happen now? Will the NIA-1 Virus go down? And if so, the Regency alongside it? Next chapter! The Lord bless you 'til then…
JalcoFox.