Knotlake was still alive the next morning. The story of Lavender's rescue had been circulated around the entire village. Miles and Alicia had been slightly put out that they hadn't been allowed to go but understood why. Lavender had been told all about Links and Tails. She had been slightly confused at first but got it in the end. The sun was starting to rise higher as Tails and Lavender sat next to the lake. Neither of them where speaking. They just stared at the lake smiling. Finally Lavender looked away from the lake and looked at Tails. His metal body glinted in the morning light.
"Dad?" she said softly.
"Yes Lavender?" said Tails looking over at her.
"Will you stay like that forever?"
Tails shook his head.
"No. One day I'll be changed back." he said.
"But why not now?"
"Lavender. You know I love you. You're the light of my life."
"Yes."
"Well I love Amy too. She's still out there. She's still dead inside and encased in metal. It happened when we were together. I just don't feel right changing back when I know that Amy is still out there."
The expression on Lavender's face slowly changed. Tails had seen this happen before. The small child melted away and the twenty year old came out. She looked at Tails and then placed her hand in Tails'.
"I understand father." she said.
Tails smiled at her.
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Elsewhere in the village Links was pacing over a small area of dirt. He had found a small isolated spot near the edge of the village where he could be alone to think. He shook his head.
"Why did I do it?" he said to himself slowly, "I've never done that since I left Pholon."
He resumed his pacing and then spun and swung his staff round. The staff made contact with a large rock and shattered it into pieces. Links rose his head and gave a few dry sobs. He collapsed to his knees.
"Why do I have this power?! WHY?! Oh Alindel I wish you were still here! God I miss you!"
He collapsed over sideways, resting on the shattered boulder, and gave a few more dry sobs.
"I know it's something they did to me before they cast me out! I know it! Dammit Alindel! Why did you have to leave me? You kept me focussed! Now I have nothing!"
Links fell into silence and started to sob slowly.
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Sally held out her arm to steady Chalk. She looked at her with concern.
"Chalk, you really should rest. You're still not fully healed you know." said Sally.
"Oh I'm fine Sally." replied Chalk fairly gruffly, "I've heard that too much."
"Well it's true. That shot you took was pretty bad."
Chalk suddenly pulled her arm away and walked firmly over to a seat. She sat down and looked at Sally with an annoyed expression.
"There! I'm sitting down. You happy?!" she said.
"Yes." said Sally sitting down next to her.
They sat in silence for a few seconds.
"It must have been a bit exciting when Links did his bit." said Sally.
"Yeah. It certainly surprised me. You should have been there. Thunder, lightning, ice……I mean it was like he was possessed!" replied Chalk.
"Hmm….." said Sally.
"Sally?" enquired Chalk.
"Oh it's nothing. I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"It all seems a bit strange. Links just shows up out of nowhere and rescues Tails. It's too convenient."
"I suppose so Sally. Mind you he has proved he can be trusted. If he was working for Robotnik then……"
"It's not Robotnik that worries me." interrupted Sally.
"Really?"
"No. It's this whole Pholon thing coming up again. I don't like it."
"Well let's see how it goes shall we?"
"That's all we can do Chalk. That's all we can do."