Chapter 2 – A New Face
Amy picked up Lavendar and smiled. Lavendar gurgled slightly and waved her arms around.
"You're such a sweetie." said Amy.
She walked into the kitchen and picked up a set of keys from a hook. She held Lavendar in one arm and picked up a suitcase in the other. She left the kitchen and made her way outside. She put her suitcase down in the drive and held her keys up.
"Wake up time girl!" she said and pressed a button on the key ring. A large garage door swung open and an engine started. A broad grin spreads across Amy's face. She picks up her suitcase and walks into the garage. Inside was a sleek looking blue hover car. The engine purred softly as she put her suitcase in the trunk. She put Lavender down in a small baby chair in the front seat and then got in herself. Amy sat for a moment before glancing over at Lavendar.
"You ready sweetie?" she asked.
Lavendar replied by letting out a happy cry.
"Ok then lets go."
Amy puts her foot down on the accelerator and the engine roared before the car started to move forwards. Amy pulled back on the steering wheel and the car rose slowly into the air. She reaches back over her shoulder and presses a button on the key ring. The garage door closes.
"Now to get to Mobotropolis." said Amy to herself.
She turned the car and pulled of the surface of Little Planet.
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An orange fox ran through the forest. He jumped over a fallen log and continued on.
"Almost there." he said to himself.
He continued to run on.
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"Patrick dear!" yelled Marian.
"Yes Marian? What is it?" her husband replied.
"Have you brought the last case in yet?"
"Not yet dear. I'm just having a break."
"Don't worry I'll get it."
Marian opened the door to there hut. Knothole had remained as it had been all those years ago. The village still consisted of several small huts and retained its relaxed atmosphere. The village was mostly used by holiday makers now but Marian and Patrick had bought a hut just under a year ago. This was there first time staying there.
Marian walked over to the car and took the last suitcase from the trunk. She was about to turn back when she heard a sound. She stopped and listened carefully. After a few second she heard it again. It sounded like someone groaning. She became curious and decided to investigate. She put the suitcase down and walked towards the sound. Evening was closing in now and most people where inside. She walked on a bit further and out of the village slightly. She was about to turn back when she heard the sound again. It was much closer and this time she could pinpoint it. It was coming from under a bush to the side of the path. She walked over and pushed the bush aside. Her face hit the floor and she cried out.
"PATRICK!!!!" she cried at the top of her voice.
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"So when is she getting here?" asked Bunnie.
"She should be here soon." replied Tails.
Tails and Bunnie stood in the central plaza in Mobotropolis. The sun was just dipping below the horizon and the night life of Mobotropolis was starting to come alive. Just then there was a steady purring sound and a small black object began to descend towards them. It got closer and Tails recognised it.
"There she is. I thought she'd bring the twister."
"Twister?" enquired Bunnie.
"Oh yeah. I haven't told anyone about her yet. I designed her for Amy. She's a hover car. Pretty nice."
Just then a blue car landed next to them and Amy looked over at them.
"Hi Tails. Am I late?" she asked.
"Not at all. Right on time. How's the Twister doing?"
"Like a house on fire! She is just so well made."
Tails blushed slightly.
"Thanks." he said.
"I managed to get her up to a hundred and twenty on the way over here."
"What? With Lavendar in the front?!"
Amy just gave a small giggle and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.
"You worry too much. She's fine. How you doing Bunnie?"
"Ah'm doing fine sugah. This is a nice little motor you've got here."
The Twister was a four seater blue sports car with a soft top. It also had Tails' trademark double tail logo painted on the side.
"She sure is Bunnie. So Tails what's this big surprise?" said Amy.
"Let me drive and I'll show you." he replied.
Amy got out of the driving seat and climbed into the back seat. Tails got in and started the engine again.
"If you don't mind. Could you give me a ride back to ma place? It's a fair walk and ah'm shattered." asked Bunnie.
"Sure Bunnie. Say why not come with us?" asked Amy, "That is if Tails doesn't mind."
She looked over at Tails. He groaned quietly and then seemed to brighten.
"Yeah why not." he said.
"Ah don't want to be a burden." said Bunnie.
"Don't sweat it Bunnie." said Amy, "Come on."
Bunnie slowly climbed into the back seat next to Amy.
"So Tails. What is this big surprise?"
"I'll show you."
He put his foot on the accelerator and the car slowly moved forwards.
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Sonic slumped into a large padded chair in his room. He yawned heavily and then groaned slightly. He had just come from seeing how the cleaning up was doing after Alicia's party. The answer was not good. The mess the children had created was breath taking at best.
"Oh boy. I'm just glad it was confined to one room." he said quietly to himself.
He allowed himself a slight chuckle before leaning back in the chair. He closed his eyes and started to drift into a light snooze. Just then his wrist communicator bleeped at him. He opened his eyes with a growl. He switched it on and barked into it.
"I thought I told you not to disturb me?! What is it?!" he growled.
"Sorry sire but we have an urgent message coming in from Patrick and Marian." came a nervous reply.
"Amy's parents? What do they want?" asked Sonic suddenly curiously.
"They won't say on an open channel. They request a private channel direct to you."
"Hmm….alright then. Put them through on scrambler code twelve."
"Yes sire."
Sonic got up slowly and walked over to a small room just off from his bedroom. Inside was a large screen and a small control console. He waited a few seconds and then Patrick's and Marian's faces appeared. They looked scared to death.
"Patrick. Marian. What is it?" asked Sonic.
"Sonic we have just had a terrible event here in Knothole." said Marian quickly.
"What is it?" said Sonic becoming slightly worried himself.
"No. It's best you see yourself. Come to Knothole. Now!" said Marian.
"What now?! But it's almost eight in the evening!" said Sonic.
"Sonic this is really important. You must come here, now." said Patrick.
"Well…….I…….ok then. I'll be there as quick as I can." said Sonic.
"Be quicker." said Marian as the screen went blank.
Sonic turned away and shook his head.
"It must be really bad if it's got them this worried. I better get going."
He turned and walked out of the room.
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About an hour later a small craft settled down just outside of Knothole. A small hatch swung open and Sonic got out. Marian and Patrick were already there waiting for him.
"Ah Sonic. You made it." said Patrick.
"As quick as I could." said Sonic.
The night had closed in now and Knothole was alight with lanterns.
"So what's the big problem?" he asked.
"This way we'll show you." said Marian.
They led Sonic into Knothole. There was a lot of commotion with people running around and a lot of shouting. Sonic didn't like it. Knothole was usually a quiet holiday village and now it was in total disarray. After a few minutes they entered a hut.
"This is our place. We insisted he was brought here to keep him out of the way." said Marian, "You might want to brace yourself."
"He?" said Sonic as he pushed open the door to the bedroom.
He glanced in and almost choked. Lying on the bed was an orange twin tailed fox.
"TAILS!" cried Sonic.
He ran to the fox's bedside and then looked back at Patrick and Marian.
"What happened? Tell me everything!" he said.
Marian slowly explained how she had found him lying like this just outside Knothole. Afterwards Sonic sat and thought.
"I gotta get everyone together." he said.
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A small beeping noise went off. Knuckles shot his head upwards and banged his head on a low out crop of rock.
"Ouch!" he cried rubbing his head, "Why am I always doing that?!"
He shook his head and looked around for his comm unit. He finally found it lying behind one of the Choas Emerald stands. Knuckles and Espio had made it back to the Floating Island without Knuckles' father noticing that they had gone. Knuckles was relieved. He didn't like being chewed out by his father. He activated the comm unit and spoke.
"One bruised echidna receiving. Who is it?" he said.
"Knuckles. Good. It's Sonic." came a reply.
"Oh hi Sonic. What up?"
"Not over the comm. Can you make it to Mobotropolis….err…now?"
"If it's important…..yes."
"It is. Find Espio and get over here quick."
"I'll be there in a couple of hours."
Knuckles switched the comm off and made for the exit.
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"So was it a good surprise?" asked Tails.
Amy just leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
"If I didn't love you so much, I'd slap you for asking such a dumb question!" replied Amy.
Tails, Amy, Bunnie and Lavender were sitting at a table in the Green Bay restaurant. They all had a huge plate of food in front of them apart from Lavender who was asleep. The restaurant was surprisingly quiet for this time of night but they didn't mind. Bunnie had been a great help with Lavender. It had allowed Tails and Amy to have a bit of time to talk over there meal while Bunnie had kept her quiet.
"I've just got to visit the gents." said Tails, "Be back in a mo."
"I'll be sure to take good care of your desert when it comes." smirked Amy as Tails got up.
"Thanks." said Tails with a raised eyebrow.
"He's such a sweetie isn't he?" said Bunnie as Tails disappeared.
"He sure is. Helpful too. You know……"
Just then there was a dual bleeping noise. Amy and Bunnie rolled there eyes. Amy reached into her handbag and took out a small grey box. Bunnie pulled out a similar unit from her trouser pocket.
"Hello Sonic." they both said together into the box.
"ARGH!" came a surprised reply, "I didn't expect that. Amy. Bunnie."
"You sure know how to interrupt a good evening sugah hog." said Bunnie.
"I'm sorry but this is urgent. I need you both up at the palace as soon as possible."
"What's wrong Sonic?" asked Amy.
"Not over the comm. Just get up here ASAP!"
Amy and Bunnie put there comm units away and stared at each other. Just then Tails comes out of the toilets and looked at them oddly.
"What are you two staring at?" he asked.
Amy looked at him.
"Didn't your comm buzz?" she asked.
"No it didn't." he replied.
"That's odd. Why would he buzz us and not him?" asked Bunnie.
"I don't know but we better get up to the palace." said Amy getting up.
"Woah. Woah. Woah! What is going on?!" said Tails.
"Ol' sugah hog wants us up at the palace right away." said Bunnie, "He wouldn't say why though."
Tails shook his head.
"If it's that secret it must be important. I wonder why he didn't buzz me."
"I'm sure you can ask him when you get there. Come on lets go." said Amy.
Soon afterwards they had settled the bill and were travelling towards the palace in the Twister.
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Sonic paced around in a circle in the throne room of the palace. Around him stood Sally, Charles, Patrick, Marian, Knuckles and Espio.
"Where are they?" said Sonic again.
"Sonic relax. What's the big rush for. More to the point what is the matter?" said Sally.
Sonic still hadn't told anyone about Tails. He shook his head and then looked at her.
"It can't wait any longer. I'll tell Amy and Bunnie when they arrive." said Sonic as he stopped pacing.
He turned to the group.
"I have some bad news. Something has happened to Tails."
The group looked a bit shocked and then worried and then curious.
"What do you mean something?" asked Sally.
"I don't know myself. Patrick and Marian found him unconscious in Knothole earlier tonight. He was lying unconscious under a bush. We don't know how he got there but…."
Suddenly the door at the far end of the room flew open as Tails, Amy and Bunnie walked in.
"Yo Sonic! You started without us." said Tails cheerfully.
He suddenly saw the looks on everyone's faces. He slowed to a stop and looked at them one by one.
"Ok. What I miss?" he said nervously.
"TAILS?! You're alright!" cried Sonic.
"Of course he's alright!" said Amy, "He's was at the restaurant when you bleeped us."
"That's a point why didn't you beep me?" asked Tails.
"But this isn't possible! Because if you're here…….then who is lying in a bed in the medical ward downstairs?!"
"WHAT?!" cried Tails as he spun and ran from the room.
Amy and Bunnie looked at each other and followed him. Sonic and everyone else soon followed as well. Tails leaped off the banister and twisted his tails landing on the next level. He turned and ran into the medical ward in the palace. He quickly surveyed each of the beds. Only one was filled. He couldn't believe it. There lying in the bed, unconscious, was himself. He just stood there staring as Amy and Bunnie ran into the room. They also stared.
Soon the whole group was standing there looking from Tails to Tails. Tails slowly approached the bed and looked at himself. He quickly spun back.
"What is going on here?!" he cried rather nervously.
"You got me bud." said Sonic slowly, "You got me."
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Tails slumped into a large chair in the palace reception room. With him were Sonic, Sally, Bunnie, Amy and Knuckles. The rest of the group had gone off to deal with other matters.
"I still don't get it." said Tails, "It can't be. Two of ME!"
"It's doing ma head in too sugah." replied Bunnie.
"Could it be another robot like the one Robotnik made of me?" asked Sally.
"No. The doctors have done a complete check on him. It's Tails. Right down to the DNA."
"This could get confusing." said Knuckles, "Two Tails! Where did that other one come from anyway?!"
"No idea?" said Sonic, "All we know is that Patrick and Marian found him like this just outside of Knothole. He didn't have anything with him either so we can't even tell where he came from. Tails, do you have any brothers?"
"Not that I know of. Mind you I never even knew my parents very well. I was abandoned at a young age. You should know. You found me." replied Tails.
"Yes. I wonder if your parents had any more children. It might explain things." said Sonic.
"Well I'm sure it'll come clear soon. We should get some sleep. It's almost two in the morning." said Sally.
"You're right Sal. We should sleep on it and work something out in the morning." agreed Sonic.
Slowly the small group dispersed and went off to their own rooms.
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In the medical ward the orange fox in the bed stirred. He opened one eye and glanced around. A small smile spread across his face and he closed his eye. Soon.