Epilogue

The celebrations were still going on the next day all over Mobius. The news of Sarath's defeat had spread like wild fire. All across Mobius parties had been going on, fireworks had been going off and everyone was celebrating. In the Royal Palace, Sonic pushed open a set of doors. Inside Sally was sitting on a bed next to Miles and Alicia.

"Father!" cried the two children as he entered.

They ran to him and hugged him.

"Oh dad we missed you." said Alicia a tear in her eye.

"I missed you too kids. I missed you too." said Sonic as he gave them both a squeeze.

Sally smiled. The children had just arrived here that morning from Little Planet. She was so relieved they were ok and happy that they were all finally together. She looked at Sonic and the kids again. If it hadn't been for Tails, none of this would be happening now. A thought came to her just then. Where was Tails? She got up and left the room. Bunnie met her coming the other way.

"Have you seen Tails anywhere Bunnie?" she asked.

"No Sally girl I haven't seen him all morning. Come to think of it I didn't see him last night either." replied Bunnie.

"I wonder where he is?" said Sally, "Come on lets look for him."

The two of them set off around the palace in search of Tails.

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They found him sitting on a bench in the gardens next to Marian and Patrick. He was holding the Time Stones in his hands and looking mournfully at the sky.

"Ah Tails, there you are." said Sally as they approached.

Tails only glanced at them and hmmed before looking back at the Time Stones.

"Tails are you alright?" asked Sally.

Tails looked at her his eyes full of sadness. He shook his head and looked back at the Time Stones.

"Tails? What's wrong? Sarath is gone, you should be happy. You're a hero to many people on Mobius." said Sally.

Tails looked at her again.

"What's wrong?!" he cried, "You're asking me what's wrong?! What do you think?!"

He looked back at the Time Stones. Sally remembered, Amy. She suddenly felt guilty for bugging him.

"I'm sorry Tails." she said looking at her feet.

Tails looked at her again and softened again.

"It's ok Sally." he said, "I….I just wish she wasn't gone."

"Oh sugah." said Bunnie as she walked forward and gave him a hug, "If she hadn't done it we wouldn't be here like this."

"I know but it doesn't make it any easier." said Tails tears forming in his eyes.

He burst into tears on Bunnies shoulder.

"Oh Bunnie why does this have to be? Why is she gone?"

Bunnie didn't have response for him and remained silent. She released her hug slowly and Tails sat up again still crying. Just then there was a hissing sound. Tails looked down. One of his tears had fallen on the Time Stones he held in his hand. The tear was fizzing on the surface. He looked at it for a second and then the fizzing stopped. Tails was puzzled as was everyone around him. Just then the Time Stones glowed a bright blue and started floating. They floated out over a patch of grass and stopped. Everyone was now looking at them. The Time Stones continued to glow blue in colour and then a small pink ball of light emerged from them. It hovered above the Time Stones for a moment and then sunk to the ground. Everyone watched in awe as it slowly rose from the ground leaving a hazy image as it went. The image flashed and everyone gasped as Amy stood there. She looked around her in shock.

"What? What was that?" she said shakily not apparently noticing the group in front of her.

"AMY!" cried Tails.

Amy spun to look at the group as Tails leaped on her, hugging her.

"Amielle!" cried her mother.

Amy looked over Tails shoulder at her as she ran up and hugged her. Amy was having trouble breathing under the pressure of two hugs. Tails released and stared at her.

"Amy? Is it really you?!" he asked.

Amy looked at him for a second and then smiled.

"Yes Tails it's me." Amy replied

"How? What is going on here?" said Tails.

Amy looked at him. She somehow understood.

"I don't know how but I know. The only way to reverse the procedure is when the tear of a true love touches the Time Stones." said Amy.

Amy looked at Tails and smiled. She blinked and then threw herself at Tails.

"Oh god Tails. I missed you!"

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Above them, Knuckles watched the whole event from a window balcony. Next to him stood Espio. After Sarath's amulet had been smashed everyone under his control had returned to normal. Espio had spent the whole of yesterday crying over his actions. He still couldn't forgive himself for destroying the Floating Island even if it was while he was being controlled. He had finally calmed down and had come out that morning.

"Well well. Now that is something." said Knuckles, "Who would have thought it?"

"Yes it certainly was unexpected." replied Espio.

Espio turned to Knuckles.

"So what do we do now?" he said.

Knuckles looked sad for a moment.

"I have failed in my role of guardian. The island is destroyed and the Master Emerald is as good as gone. I don't know."

"The Chaos Emeralds still need guarding. They are more dangerous than ever now."

"Hmm…..what are you going to do?" asked Knuckles glumly.

"Well I don't know either. Sonic offered me a job as a Royal guard but I don't know." replied Espio.

Knuckles looked glumly out of the balcony. He didn't know what to do.

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Later that day Sonic, Tails and Amy walked out of the palace. They walked down the streets followed by a crowd of people. Amy was thinking. She had been told what had happened since she joined with the Time Stones and there was something she just didn't understand.

"Tails?" she asked, "How did you go super? You've never been able to do that in the past."

Tails thought for a moment.

"I don't know. I'm as puzzled as you are. Sonic, any ideas?"

"Hmm…….just one." he said, "I've been thinking about it for a while now. In the past when I first used the Chaos Emeralds to become super I was in my teens. You were still around about ten, right?"

"Yeah, that fits." agreed Tails.

"Well you tried back then but with no effect. However, since you entered your teens, you have never tried again."

Tails suddenly stopped and looked at Sonic.

"You mean to say that since I got more mature I can use them?"

"I don't know. Remember I'm as puzzled as you. It is just an idea but it does seem to fit."

"But I didn't have an Emerald when I fought you."

"Yes but then again the Master Emerald is no more. The Chaos Emeralds can use their full power. I only needed one to go super remember. I think the Emerald was putting out so much energy you picked some up as it irradiated from me."

"Weird." said Amy.

"Yeah." agreed Sonic.

"Well it fits and that's good enough for me." said Tails, "Now how about something to eat?"

"Yeah I'm starved." said Amy.

"I know just the place." said Sonic.