Espio sighed. He didn't know how to cheer them up. He'd given up on beating Eggman. In the past, even when the few among them summoned enough strength to defeat Painmonger, Eggman rebuilt him. Within a month, he was battling the Sonic Heroes with as much fervor as ever. The doctor had even managed to restore his memories somehow.

Big leaned his head through the doorway, and saw Samie crying. "I'll go get the others, they'll make you happy!"

{Not a bad idea, for once,} mused Espio.

Miles dried his niece's tears and looked to the chameleon once more. "How many are left?"

"Follow me."

-----------------------------------

Sensitive ears picked up the blasting tones. "Damnit..." she said, turning around. "It's a wonder you haven't gone deaf from listening to those headphones all these years!"

The green eyelids she stared at popped open suddenly. "Huh?"

Rouge pointed to her ears in exasperation. Vector took the hint and switched off his CD player. "I said it's a wonder you aren't deaf yet, Vector!"

"That's because I don't even *have* ears, ya dumb broad! Full blast on these things is the perfect volume setting for my hearing range."

"Couldn't you turn it down a bit? If it was any louder, you might as well be listening to that disc with a boom box!"

Vector folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "Not my fault you got ears that can hear ants walking from fifty feet away. Go hang upside down somewhere if it bothers you!" And with that, he switched the music back on.

Rouge turned her head away indignantly. "Hmph!"

"Rouge, Vector, please stop fighting!" A tall female hare in a long dress walked into the room. "We're all friends here, aren't we?"

"Friends with that lizard?" Rouge kept her head turned away from the crocodile in question. "Hardly."

"Lizard??"

Cream clapped her hands to her mouth. A small bow-tied chao beside her did likewise. "Rouge, what a horrible thing to say!"

"Chao!"

The lady bat whipped around. "Shut that annoying thing up!"

"Hey guys!" said Big the Cat, practically bounding into the room. "Look what Espio found!"

Vector fumbled for the off switch again. "Huh?"

Miles walked nervously through the door, accompanied by a flourish and a "Ta-da!" from the huge cat. Everyone's face seemed to light up.

"Mr. Tails!"

"Tails!"

"Fox-boy!"

Miles was so happy he didn't mind being called by his childhood names. "Guys! You're alright!"

Vector got up and hugged his vulpine friend in a death-grip of joy. "Haha! Tails, ol' buddy! I thought you were gone for sure!"

Miles' eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Can't – breathe – ribs – breaking...!"

Cream clasped her hands together and hopped with delight. "Mr. Tails! It really is you!"

"Chao! Chao!"

Rouge smiled from where she sat. "Well, well... you made it through okay, fox boy. I won't lie to you, I thought we'd seen the last of you fifteen years ago."

Miles squirmed out of the croc's huge arms. "Heh, you know me... never give up and all that stuff."

Everyone knew that was exactly what Sonic would say in the exact same situation, but no one would say it out loud. Instead, they all distracted themselves by asking how the others had been, all this time. They shared stories for a while, and for once in a long time, they were all happy.

Miles staggered out of the jabbering crowd for a second and sat down next to Rouge in a quiet corner. She had been the quietest by far. "Something wrong, Rouge?"

"Let's just say I'm not the touchy-feely type. It's good to have you back, Tails."

Espio showed his face, finally. "Attention, everyone. There's someone you all should meet. This is Samie."

"H-Hi," she stammered.

"She's Sonic's daughter. And if I've learned anything during this time of hardship, it's to recognize good luck when I see it." Samie looked up, confused, but the ninja continued. "Now that these two are with us, I believe we may be able to beat Robotnik."

The mood in the room drastically changed.

Vector's jaw dropped. "She's Sonic's what??"

Rouge raised an eyebrow. "Say that again?"

Cream's eyes widened. "Beat Eggman?"

"Chao?"

Miles stood up. "Care to explain this for us? How do the two of us make so much of a difference?"

Espio stepped towards them. "Don't you see? This is the best luck we've had in all this time, and if we don't take action now, we'll lose our chance forever. I've talked with Samie, and as far as I can tell, she's as fast as Sonic ever was, if a little inexperienced. As for Miles, he's just what we've needed: a leader."

"Leader? Me?"

Espio smirked. "Don't sound so surprised. I have faith in you Miles. With your brilliant mind, I know you can come up with a plan. We've become lost over the years. We've fought amongst each other. Even I was drifting away from the team, but you can bring us direction. Give us something to unite for again, and Eggman won't stand a chance."