Chapter 4: Stepping Up

"It's time for round 2!" the announcer boomed from the middle of the arena.

Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails grouped away from the other teams. Discussing their plans, not yet ready for the second round.

Knuckles was still upset about his loss, but was now more focused the up coming fight. They had to choose between Sonic and Tails. And for him at least, it was quite obvious who they were to send in.

"Let's send in Tails," Sonic suggested.

Both Tails and Knuckles nearly fell off their feet. It seemed that they both had the same idea.

"Are you crazy Sonic? We have one more loss, if Tails screws this up, we'd be in trouble." Knuckles scolded. He couldn't believe his ears.

Tails agreed, "Sonic, are you sure you want to run this risk?"

Sonic was irritated with his question, "Hey, if no one was faith in you, you'll never want to fight Tails. Both Knuckles and I know that I can very well defeat at least one of those guys in the arena with me. And I know you can, you just have to prove that to Knuckles."

He wasn't sure, something in his gut told him to step up, but Sonic was willing to take the risk. He was willing to put everything on the shoulders of Tails.

Knuckles was hesitant, and tried challenging Sonic, "Or maybe, Sonic, you want Tails to be the one who loses it for us. Maybe you're afraid to step in and be defeated before getting a victory."

Sonic grinned, "Knuckles, it's not going to work."

He smiled back, and ceased his trickery. He reluctantly agreed into letting Tails take round 2. Both Sonic and Knuckles voted on Tails to step up, and there was nothing the tiny fox could do. He would have to manage a win, or for ever be in shame.

"Teams, send in your teammates for battle, because ROUND 2 OF THE PRELIMINARY ROUNDS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!"

Tails closed his eyes, and marched closer to the arena.

Behind him, Knuckles and Sonic stood staring at their young teammate. They could tell his expression was depressed, but they knew he had to step up. They knew he had to be just as important to the team as Sonic and Knuckles.

Knuckles ran next to him and place a hand on his shoulder, and choked the words out, "Good luck, Tails."

Tails looked at him, with the eyes of a hurt newborn, and thanked him. Knuckles could feel his heart sinking, because deep down inside, Tails was some what of a little brother to him. The last thing he wanted to see was Tails go in and get pummeled, he was hoping for the best.

Brutis floated next to Sonic, "Are you sure," he paused, "he can win?"

Sonic sighed, "If he doesn't, we're going home empty handed."

The announcer was still in the ring holding his microphone, "OK! The teams have CHOSEN! For Team Cuff: Moki, for Team Sonic: Tails, for Team Coral: Borge, Team Pain: Ganger, Team Harmony: Duploon! READY! SET! BEGIN!"

Tails scouted his surroundings. The two closests opponents to him were, Moki and Ganger. They were both facing each other, not aware of his presence. Perhaps he could surprise attack one of them and end this quickly. He looked further ahead, and spotted a large botany monster known as Borge battling Duploon the badger.

His view came back to Ganger the ghoul and Moki the lizard. He faintly heard Ganger threat, "Don't think you're getting off so easily!"

A cry of battle rung in his ear, and it took him a few minutes to realize that the sound grew louder with every second. Ganger was indeed charging at him. Behind him, he could see Moki barging forward aiming at Tails as well.

It was two against one, and he was on the receiving end. He had no choice, he quickly spun his tails around and took himself up in the air.

"Sorry guys, but I can't let you do that." He tried to make it sound casual, and not a taunt.

Ganger jumped up and down, throwing a fit, "You stupid fur ball! Get down her so I can stomp you!"

Moki quickly took him by surprise and slashed Ganger towards the edge. Tails saw his opportunity, he swooped down and cheap shot Moki from behind with a solid punch to the back of the head. Moki went sliding across the arena.

From the ring side, he could hear Moki's teammates howling in anger. He couldn't hear Clash, however.

Tails had landed after attacking, and was using his feet to stop himself. Ganger came running at him and landed a few blows to Tails. He stumbled backwards, but Ganger was surpsingly weak.

The ghoul in front of him began opening his mouth, wider and wider. Tails was too dazed to do anything, all he could do was hope that he was fully in control before his attack.

It was too late, a large ray of purple energy shot from his mouth, slamming into Tails' chest, and swaying him away. Before gravity could take its toll and bring Tails down, he felt a tentacle rap around his wait. It was no doubt Borge, who relentlessly slammed his catch on to the floor. Tails was lying on the ground, with an aching chest and now with an injured back. He staggered to his feet, which was a mistake, because the tentacle lashed at his head, not only stinging him, but sending him stumbling forward.

He could hear Team Cuff yelling in frustration, and when he opened his eyes he came to realize that Ganger had eliminated Moki with the death ray he used on Tails. At least he was still in the fight.

He saw Ganger run right past him towards Borge, then being grabbed and thrown right back towards where he came from.

It was his one and only chance to catch his breath and prepare himself. He only needed to get Ganger or Borge out. Ganger was the obvious choice, since Borge had no problem eliminating Duploon.

He kept watching as Ganger constantly tried to get in close enough for an attack, but was denied access due to Borge's large tentacles. Ganger was beat down and nearly knocked out, but he some of his remaining energy to unleash another death ray. The attack was dangerously close to Tails, and in paranoia, rolled away.

The blast had significantly damaged Borge, which puzzled Tails as to why Ganger hadn't use that attack sooner. He was obviously on the roped, and one more of those would cause him to faint, Borge had the win secured.

Tails' could feel his energy coming back to his body, and his bruises sewthing. He slowly got to his feet, not wanting to alert either fighter. When he was up, he hopped up into the air, coiling into a sphere, and shot directly towards Ganger.

Ganger soared into the air, with nothing to stop him, he fell straight out of the arena and crashed on to the grass.

Tails landed on his feet, but was quickly tripped by Borge. Borge began trudging towards Tails, and was towering over the small fox.

Tails hopped to his feet, and began sprinting away, looking behind his shoulder. He saw Borge's tentacle coming, and began rotating his tails, slapping Borge's attack away. Tails made a fast turn, and came rushing towards Borge.

Not expecting it, Borge took in a barage of tail slaps. He was stumbling backwards and dazed from the pain. It was time Tails' finished it, he flew up into the air, then came dashing down and smashed directly on to Borge's head making him scream in agony. Tails tackled him off the edge of the arena, and winning the entire fight.

He had secured Team Sonic's spot in the tournament. When all was done, Tails looked over at Sonic and Tails. Sonic looked please, where as Knuckles was completely astonished. Even though his expression didn't show it, Tails was even more so surprised than Knuckles.

To think, that this whole time, Tails was worried that he would lose. Not only had he gotten them a spot in the tournament, but now he had won the entire round, in addition to impressing Knuckles. Maybe it was time for a change, maybe now Knuckles would stop treating Tails like a kid and treat him like an eqaul team member.

Next Time: The first round is beginning soon! And the first team that faces off against Team Sonic will be revealed. And what does Knuckles have to say about Tails' extrorindary performance? Find out in the next heated chapter!

To fans of Chris: Don't worry, he'll be shown in a little bit. P