Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Sonic the Hedgehog at all. The characters, franchise, and all rights belong to SEGA. Image cover is drawn by ZDibelle on Twitter.
Reminders
Leo. Sagittarius. Orion's Belt. Ursa Major to my left, Ursa Minor to my right.
Constellation after constellation, viewing the stars that shone above me was always a sight to behold. In my experience, it was one of the few things that distracted me from the dangers of the outside world. Obviously, inventing and making gadgets were some of my favorite hobbies, but it was always nice to kick back and enjoy the view of a beautiful sky at night. Sometimes, the stars aligned perfectly to where I can point them out instantly. Other times, I just preferred to see them twinkling as they have always been.
To reiterate, they were a perfect diversion for me whenever I wanted to get my mind off something. Typically, I liked to glance up at the sky, imagining that I was flying high with my tails to reach the outer limits of space. I've definitely been there before, however. One particular instance was when Sonic and I ventured up to Eggman's Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park. You'd think the doctor would come up with better names for his attractions, but he's pretty unoriginal if you ask me. Like seriously, he could've been more concise or innovative to think of a bona fide title without having me go through a series of tongue twisters.
Wait, where was I going again? Oh, how my mind drifts like the wheels on my Whirlwind Sport vehicle.
However, it goes to show that this was one of the few moments that reminded me of what I experienced in my young life. Out of all of the adventures I've been a part of, the main constant was hanging out with the person who changed my life forever.
Sonic the Hedgehog.
Every day, every passing second that ticked by, I always wanted to be around him. Heck, I wanted to be like him. Since we crossed paths, I admired his speed, confidence, and skills that shaped him into the hero everyone knew. With a sudden surge to imitate him, I followed in his path, and he surprisingly didn't mind. Trailing behind the Blue Blur made me feel alive and free, whisking through the wind as it blew in my face.
We became a strong team to stop the notorious doctor from kidnapping animals or taking over the world. All those fights and battles where I copied the hedgehog were all because he taught me how to defend myself. I tried my best to be smart yet cautious on the battlefield. Albeit he enjoyed embracing the feeling of danger, Sonic was reasonable enough to remind me that I'm still just a kid. While I may be younger and more vulnerable to Eggman's attacks, my friend always looked out for me in case I got myself into trouble. Occasionally, he reprimanded my carelessness if something goes awry. At the same time, I understood what he meant. As long as I learned my lesson, Sonic was happy that I showed my worth. In fact, he was the one who reminded me that I can be useful in many ways.
The first battle I underwent did not include Sonic at all. In fact, it occurred before I even met him. The Battle Kukku Empire wanted to find the mystical gems, famously known as the Chaos Emeralds, down on Cocoa Island. The urge to prevent a massive calamity lingered in my head at that time when I witnessed the evil birds invade the locale. With my technical prowess and my two tails, I was able to fly over to the armada's base to keep them at bay. Long story short, I was a hero to prevent the Battle Kukku from causing further destruction. However, it came with a major consequence. The citizens of Cocoa Island abused and bullied me for my actions. At the time, I couldn't understand why they would do those hurtful things to me. Sadly, this was a reminder of when my life was miserable before I met Sonic. Plus, it didn't get any better following the incident.
Moving to West Side Island was the equivalent of having a nightmare in my sleep. There were tons of kids and adults of all ages who thought my tails were an anomaly. A curse, to be specific. In their eyes, they believed I didn't belong in this world. Besides, no other living animal was born with multiple tails. Even worse were the teenage bullies who surrounded me for the sole purpose of beating up my body. Not only did they abhor my physical traits, but they also loathed my inventions. Those tools and gadgets were my only solace to push aside the bad influences. Yet they kept haunting me – in my dreams or any time of the day.
Even when I was fixing up stuff around our house, building new gadgets, or revamping the Tornado in the present day, I can't help but recall the disasters I endured when I was younger. Those people made me feel hopeless, terrified, and lonely. Unlike the scars and bruises I dealt with, the torture and trauma never left. Those kinds of reminders shook me to the core. It didn't help that I was also an orphan. After being born, I hardly, if not never, knew my parents. Being isolated from the eyeing public was intimidating when everyone called me the dreaded 'f' word: freak. Even to this moment, no matter who directed that word to me, my mind defaulted to the bullies. They made my life a living hell. With no one around to comfort me, the only things I had to keep me sane were my inventions and the stars in the sky.
What a way to circle back to the start, huh?
"Buddy? You up here?"
That voice. I always knew off the bat who it belonged to. I slightly lifted my head from the roof where I had been lying this entire time, pondering and stargazing. By then, I saw a shade of cobalt out of the corner of my eyes which was barely noticeable with how everything appeared dark around him.
"Ah, there you are, pal!" Sonic smiled as he jumped up and walked towards me.
I remained in my supine position as I mirrored his grin. "Oh, hey, Sonic."
"Enjoying the stars, I see?" he began to sit down beside me.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Heh, I should've known. I was calling your name all around the house. When I couldn't find you in your room or the workshop, I was at a loss for where to search. I honestly thought you were gone! The roof was literally the last place I would've checked."
Giggling at my brother, I replied, "Sorry I made you worried."
"Worried? Pfft! Nah, I wasn't feeling that way," he waved his hand to the side. I gave him a quizzical glance. "Okay, maybe a little," he winked, pinching his thumb and index finger close together.
Oh, Sonic. I can never get tired of his antics. Sometimes, he pretentiously threw out jokes and puns that may be corny or a bit repetitive, but he usually found a way to make me crack a smile or a chuckle – yet another reminder of why I appreciated him. He wanted to make me happy. He wanted me to forget about the horrible things I suffered. The fact we stayed close as friends for a long time was unimaginable to me. But I'm blessed to be with someone like him.
"Thinking about something, pal?"
"Mmm, kind of," I shrugged, overlapping my hands on top of my chest.
"What's on your mind?" Sonic turned over, supporting his head with his elbow planted on the tiled roof.
As I caught a glimpse of his shiny, emerald eyes, it brought me back to all those moments when he was willing to listen to me. Whether I vented about something that was bothering me or showed him one of my newest creations, Sonic was authentic. Even if he may not comprehend my sophisticated diction, he was always there for me if I had anything to say.
To dumb it down, I gazed back at the stars and responded, "Genuinely, I really don't know. It's sort of difficult to explain or put it into words."
"Hmm, difficult, you say? I mean, if you're not too comfortable about it, I'm not gonna force your hand or whatever. But like always, I'm happy to lend an ear."
The shy grin resurfaced on my face. "Thanks, Sonic."
"No problem, little buddy," he gave me a thumbs-up.
I returned to my state of solitude, which was contradictory now that I have company. However, I was alright with it. Aside from the chirping noises of the crickets or the echoing hoots of the nocturnal owls, the night remained peaceful as I kept searching for more constellations.
"The stars sure look beautiful up there, huh, Tails?" Sonic asked me.
"Yeah, they definitely are."
"Ah, yep. This is the life. Nothing like spending a peaceful night without robots, destruction, or Baldy McNosehair ruining our relaxation," Sonic smirked, closing his eyes and placing his hands behind his quills.
My muffled snort didn't go unnoticed by him. It escaped my nostrils as I failed to hold it in. We ended up guffawing out loud together just because of how stupid we are when it comes to jokes like that.
Time and time again, I looked up to Sonic for guidance or encouragement. Whenever I'm alone, afraid, or stuck in a tough scenario, my brother figured out what's the best plan to get me out of the funk. All the little things he did, whether he would pat my shoulders or embrace me tightly, were comforting enough for me to ease my worries. Our private conversations never fail to make me feel relaxed either. Even if I'm harboring a secret from him, there was a time when I couldn't hold it to myself forever. As bad as it may sound for the hedgehog to hear, I put my trust in him to grasp my thoughts. Regardless if he was disappointed, upset, or neutral about it, the first step Sonic always executed was to look at it on a lighthearted note. He tended to turn a negative into a positive with his exhortative speech. I don't know how he does it to this day, yet it reminded me how I shouldn't be so apprehensive over everything.
On the other hand, if I had to be rescued by him, I always counted on Sonic. He could literally do anything. Despite all the tough battles he underwent, the hedgehog always found a way to save the day. I worried about his well-being though. He tended to shove his injuries or mental state away while keeping a positive attitude. Although it kinda concerned me every time this occurred, it was the sheer confidence he possessed that kept me from losing faith. I knew I could depend on him.
To be fair, I cannot help the typical behavioral patterns that have stuck with me since I was introduced to the cruel world. But whenever I'm with Sonic, he acted like my security blanket. What I meant was that he provided me with assurance that I can do anything and open my heart without building a wall made of guilt and burdens. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have lived this long. Hell, I knew that was the truth.
Again, it was a wonderful moment to reminisce. The day I met Sonic and tagged along with him was easily the best day of my entire life.
As life slowly elapses, your mind may randomly think of something that brings back memories. Whether they're major or minor, good or bad, you can't help but think about the past. I always wondered what it would be like if things were different, except the person laying right next to me was the main reason why I wouldn't give up the world for such a belief.
On the other hand, my brain was stubborn to let it go.
"Hey, Sonic?"
He turned his head to the left to reface me. "Yeah, Tails?"
"Um..." I subconsciously twiddled my thumbs. "I kinda lied. I was deep in thought earlier today."
A quick blink of the eyes went by before Sonic curved his lips up again. "Well, I'm all ears. What's up, buddy?"
Scratching the side of my head, I had a hint of fear to even ask. So, I took a deep breath, let it all out, and looked him straight in the eyes. "Have you ever thought about how life would've been if we didn't meet each other?"
Knowing him, I expected him to sport a face full of confusion. He probably wasn't expecting a question like that whatsoever. Given how carefree and optimistic he was, Sonic was not the kind of guy to contemplate alternate timelines or contrasting scenarios. Basically speaking, the what-ifs in life.
"Hmm... How would I explain it? Actually, where do I even start?" he mused for a moment. "Given how I originally spent my time alone, maybe my life would've been the same old wash, rinse, and repeat. Fighting against Eggman and his Badniks would still be fun knowing that I can make the guy throw a tantrum the second I show my face around him," he slightly chuckled.
"And?" I let him continue.
"You know, saving the world is great and all, but it definitely wouldn't be as exhilarating without a companion. I didn't want to be friends with strangers whom I hardly know only because they want me to handle the evil business on my own. I may care about their well-being and such, yet to have them stick around me as 'fans' while playing the role of 'savior' would only make my life a whole lot... Uh, what's the word I'm looking for?"
"Draconian? Inexorable? Pestilent?" I randomly came up with those terms.
"Dude, can you give me words that a five-year-old would know?" he quirked an eyebrow, still smiling.
I couldn't help but laugh. "I mean, your life would have its benefits and disadvantages. Obviously, the main positive is that people admire your bravery and skills. Your utter determination to keep the animals safe from Eggman's Badniks was how it all started. If the population were to fall under his regime, the one person they can confidently count on is you."
Sonic slowly nodded his head as his eyes were glued to the twinkling stars. "I guess you're not wrong."
"However, if everyone keeps bugging you to stop Eggman, you really don't have an opportunity to be immersed with the public. In fact, it'd be very annoying if they were to surround you for autographs or beg you to head out there on a new adventure."
"I mean, I somewhat do that every day. It's not fun being all cooped up like a couch potato."
"True, but maybe any one of them could've been your friend if they got to know you better on a personal level. Hypothetically speaking, anyone could've been your best friend."
Sonic stayed silent for a while before shrugging carelessly. "I guess so. But I don't think we should be discussing this. After all, I do have a best friend, and I don't regret my decision one bit," he peered back at me with the widest grin on his face.
"Oh, Sonic, don't say that," I turned away, concealing the blush on my cheeks.
"I mean it, buddy. Throughout the early years of my life, I honestly wanted to make friends. I wasn't entirely focused on being the cool guy who fights robots and whips up eggs every now and then! Although it took me about eleven years to find someone capable of catching up to me, I got to realize something that no one else did. You're a special fox, Tails. I've been calling you that because I truly think they're so cool, even to this day. With two of them, you could use them to fly in the air like a helicopter! Or should I say, a butt-copter?"
There he goes with the jokes again. I placed a hand on my stomach as I uncontrollably giggled. "Sonic! Only you would come up with that!"
"Oh, you know me. But yeah, those idiots who made fun of you should be jealous to not be around a guy like you. You might say that you're lucky to be around me, but I would say I'm the luckiest hedgehog ever. I'm grateful to be with someone like you, bro. That's why I would never think about how life would've been different."
I should've known better. Of course he thought of me this way. Why would I let my doubts tell me otherwise? Sonic had never let me down since the beginning. Again, another reminder of why I appreciate him. Never will I ever take our bond for granted. We were going to stick around until our time was up. Sonic and I were gonna be friends and brothers forever, and I'll always remind myself that every day.
"Thank you, Sonic. You're the best," I offered him a clenched fist.
The Blue Blur warmly accepted my gesture as he punched it with his own. Together, we made a silly noise while withdrawing our hands and wiggling our fingers. Another round of laughs escaped our lips.
"No problem, bro. You wanna head back inside now?"
"Mmm, not right now. I still want to enjoy this view."
"Well then, I guess I'll stick around as well," he winked and scooched closer, squeezing me with his left arm. With my ear folded near his chest, I could hear his heart thumping at a fast pace. Even when he was not running, he was full of energy and life within.
I emitted a relaxing sigh. Part of me didn't want to get up and leave the roof. But I was sure my back would kill me if I don't lie on something soft by the time I go to sleep. For now, though, I stayed awake next to my best friend as we continued gazing at the sparkling stars above.
"Say, you think there's a constellation in the shape of a chili dog?" Sonic asked me.
Snorting, I responded, "You and your love for food never surprise me."
"But if there was a constellation, what should its name be?"
"I don't know... Canis Chili?"
"Hey, not a bad idea. If we discover one before anyone else, we should patent for that!"
Scoffing at him with feigned annoyance, I told him, "Shut up, Sonic." All he did was burst into laughter.
END OF STORY
