Heya everyone! I'm back! Here's my next update. Sorry it took so long to update. Hope you enjoy this update. It's pretty long compared to previous chapters. Also…some parts may seem a bit…spiritual. If you don't like it, then I'm sorry. Enjoy folks!


Chapter 4: Recovery

Darkness…it surrounded me for what felt like hours. I couldn't see or do anything. I tried yelling, but…I couldn't even hear my own voice travel any further than a few feet. Where am I? What am I doing here?

As if my thoughts could be heard, a light in the distance appeared. It pierced the darkness with such power…yet leaving a path. I looked at the path with some fear…should I stay or go? Even with the fear of what could happen, I followed the light…considering it a better option than sitting here in the dark. It looked so strange. It was just a source of light…I couldn't tell what it was coming from or where it came from.

Finally as I came closer, I slowed my pace. I tried examining the light in detail, but I couldn't for the brightness caused immense pain to my eyes. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and walked into the light. Such a weird feeling…it felt warm and strangely enough soothing.

Once the light completely consumed my body, I opened my eyes and I realized that I was back at my house. Something wasn't right. It seemed as if my home was deserted. A thick layer of dust coated everything…all the windows had a film on them allowing a small amount of light into the home. I walked towards my bedroom and noticed the door was closed.

I grabbed a hold of the dust-covered knob, turning it and slowly entering the room. 'What the hell?' My room was spotless, and everything in its usual place. I glanced towards my bed and saw the one person that always brought happiness to my life…but she was crying?! "Amy!" She couldn't hear me. I walked right next to her and said her name again, "Amy." She looked up…her eyes displaying an obscene amount of despair. Yet, she still acted as if I wasn't there.

I sat next to her and put my arm around her. She leaped off of the bed for dear life, crouching in the corner of the room shaking as if she'd seen a ghost. Wait. Ghost? Am I? No… My thoughts were interrupted by her speaking, "Who's there?" I responded, "It's me, Tails." She couldn't hear me and she asked again, her voice quivering with fear, "WHO'S THERE?!" This time I yelled, "IT'S ME, TAILS!" Now I know she heard me, her eyes opened widely in response to my voice. She got up and walked towards the bed again, kneeling next to it. She put her hands on the bed, buried her face in the comforter and just began balling. I put my arm on her back and caressed it, "Amy, why are you crying?" Once again, she jumped away from my touch. "Tails?" I nodded, "Yeah?" She looked right at me and stood up, but she still couldn't see me. "Tails? Where are you? I can hear your voice." I waved hoping she could see me somehow, "Right in front of you." She fell to her knees and began crying again. "Tails…if you're really here, please show yourself…." I shook my head, "I don't know how to." Again, as if someone could hear me, she took a look at me and grabbed me.

I somehow became visible. "Oh my god! I can't believe you're back. Tails, I missed you so much." I held her close, "It's okay. Everything's gonna be alright." She pulled away and looked at me strangely. "Tails…don't you know?" I shrugged, "Know what?" She frowned, "Tails…you're no longer with us." I raised a brow, "No longer with us? What do you me-" I stopped mid-sentence. "You mean…I'm.." I couldn't finish the sentence. She nodded, and began crying hysterically. I held her close and caressed her back. "What happened?"

She looked at me and sniffled before she began speaking, "You weren't feeling good when we went out, so I brought you home. The second you walked in your home, you passed out. I put you in bed and Sonic and I took care of you for several hours. You were extremely feverish, and I tried to keep you cool…but nothing happened. Sonic was so confident that you'd pull through. Then I went in your room for the millionth time that night, and noticed that you weren't as warm. I called Sonic in and he looked at you and then he immediately noticed that you weren't breathing. He tried giving you CPR…but you had already passed too long before we noticed it." She buried her face into her hands and began crying again.

I just sat there like a statue, blankly staring at her. I can't believe it…I dunno how I got sick or how it somehow killed me…but the worst part about it all…I never told Amy that I loved her… The tears began to well up in my eyes and they began to flow down my cheeks within a matter if seconds. I curled up against the wall and just cried. Amy noticed my reaction and came over to comfort me. "Oh, Tails, I'm so sorry. I wish that this didn't have to happen. It's not fair to you. Not in the least. You still had a life ahead of you." I couldn't help but nod at her statement.

I had planned out my life... A life of happiness… A life that Amy was forever a part of. I had foreseen us happily married…with kids. Nothing would've made me happier…but now, that dream is crushed knowing that I'm just a ghost and my corpse lay six feet under somewhere in this cruel world. I looked at her, tears still flowing down my cheeks.

I held my hand against her cheek and smiled, "Amy…I know that this is hard for you…but in all honesty, this is harder for me than you think. Amy…there were so many things I wanted to tell you. So many things that could've opened up new doors in our lives…" I cried harder. The more I thought about my current situation, the more it hurt. I love her so much…she has to know…but will she be even more hurt if I do tell her? No…she's probably still with Sonic…but I still have to tell her, I'll be at peace getting it out, even if she rejects me…at least I'll know what her feelings are.

She looks at me with some curiosity, "Like what Tails?" I held her hand and made eye contact with her, "Like when I first met you, I thought you were the sweetest person in the world." She turned beet red at what I said but I kept going, there was no turning back, "And when I began to know you even better…I had realized what a great person you are and that you have a big heart. Then…I started to fall for you…Amy…I love you." She began crying and held me close, "Oh Tails…I love you too." I pulled her away gently to make eye contact with her. My eyes began to scan her face admiring her perfection…I leaned in closer, making eye contact with her again.

As our lips met, I closed my eyes and let my lips caress hers. The kiss was absolutely incredible…I brought my tongue to her lips begging for entrance…she accepted. I brushed my tongue across her teeth and then against her tongue. I felt her cheeks heat up and she further deepened the kiss. Our embrace of pure bliss felt as if it was going to last forever, but then something felt really weird.

My whole body felt extremely tingly and Amy pulled away. She started to cry, "Oh no…you're starting to disappear!" I panicked, "No...NO! This can't be happening!" Amy and I held each other closely. She became hysterical again, "Tails, please don't leave me!" I couldn't hold my tears back anymore, "I don't want to leave Amy. I don't know what's happening to me." The next thing I knew, my body became ghost-like once again. Amy's grasp completely went through me. I could no longer touch her again. Now I was becoming more and more transparent by the second.

As the last of my moments with Amy came near, I forced a smile upon my face, "Amy…I guess this is goodbye." She shook her head and continued to cry, "No Tails. Don't leave…I don't know what I would do without you in my life." I frowned, "Amy…don't worry. You're strong. You've always had a positive spirit. You WILL keep going. Please don't do anything stupid to yourself because of me. Please Amy…Please keep going, live a happy life. I promise I'll be back someday." She nodded and wiped her tears from her face, "Okay. I promise I'll keep going Tails. I love you." I smiled at this, "I love you too Amy. Goodbye." And that was it. I was gone. She couldn't see me anymore.

Amy ran over to where I continued to stand, and fell to her knees crying her eyes out, "No…no…" She looked out my window towards the sky, "Please…if anyone can hear me up there…please bring him back to me…please. I could never love anyone like I loved him…please…someone…anyone…" She buried her face into her hands. I couldn't help but cry myself…she really did love me back…and I couldn't do anything about it now…I'm dead.

Suddenly my vision began to blur…and as if some kind of storm had managed to enter my room, gutsy winds picked up, blowing everything in my room around me like I was in the middle of some vortex. I crouched onto my knees and held my hands in front of my face trying to protect myself somehow. The winds picked up, and my window blew out from the pressure. I tried grabbing onto something to keep me from being picked up from the wind, but to no avail, I couldn't because I was a damned ghost. I felt my body lift up off the ground and I spun round and round within this vortex. Faster and faster I went. I began to feel ill from all the spinning.

Then suddenly and bright flash of light blinded me temporarily and I felt myself fall to the ground. My head felt like an elephant had sat on it for 3 hours. I sat up slowly and noticed I was back in my room again. I looked around and everything was back in its place. Except for one specific thing. When I glanced over to my bed, someone was sleeping in it…but not just anyone…it was me! There I was, lying there, unconscious like Amy had said when I was last in my bedroom...err other world…whatever. I looked really ill…my whole face was flush and there was a towel on my forehead…probably to keep a fever down. Wait…if I'm here like Amy said…then she must be here with Sonic. I ran back into sitting area of my house, and there was Amy and Sonic. She was crying and Sonic was trying his best to comfort her. I slowly crept closer to them unsure if I was visible to them or not. Apparently I wasn't. Sonic would've noticed me in a heartbeat. I leaned closer to them trying to hear what they were saying.

"Oh Sonic…I'm so worried about Tails. Are you sure he's gonna be okay?"

"Amy…I told you, Tails will be okay. Trust me."

Okay?! Sonic! I'm unconscious in there! Do something about it!

"I dunno…maybe we should call a doctor. He's been out for several hours now…and he hasn't had anything to eat or drink. I'm afraid he'll starve or dehydrate."

Thank you Amy. At least someone cares about me.

Sonic sighed, "Yeah…I suppose you're right. Although, he just seems like he's not really sick…you know what I mean?"

What the..? Not really sick, what is that supposed to mean Sonic, that I'm faking it?!

Amy raised her brow, "No…I don't know what you mean. Are you saying that he's faking all this right now?"

Sonic shook his head vigorously, "God no! I mean…it's like when I was talking to him earlier…he seemed like…something was missing from him…I know it sounds stupid, but it's like he was missing his spirit or something."

Amy nodded, "Oh. I get it… I can see how that would make sense."

Wait…missing my spirit…holy crap, I'm the spirit! I wonder if I separated from my body when I passed out. But…how the hell do I get back into my body? I walked back to my room, and kneeled next to myself. I put my spiritual hand into my living hand…and it began to spring to life. Holy crap! I know what to do. I proceeded to slowly lay on top of my body…and I sank in hoping this would work… Darkness….once again…consumed by darkness. Oh no…I hope I'm not repeating this all over again. BZZT! Ow! What was that? BZZZZZT! Ouch! Stop shocking me!…….

"And CLEAR!" The paddles placed on Tails' chest emitted a large amount of voltage. His body jumped from the shock.

"Oh, god! Sonic, please don't tell me he's dead…!!" Amy buried her face into Sonic's chest crying hysterically.

As if a prayer was answered…a large gasp of air was heard from Tails. Amy ran over and the doctor nodded that he would live. A huge grin appeared on Amy's face and without thinking she went to grab Tails in a bear hug, but the doctor held her back, "Now now. I know you're happy to see that he'll be okay…but he needs his rest. You know, this is quite amazing. Your friend here sure has quite some willpower. If he were anyone else, he would've been good as gone." Amy's eyes opened widely at the thought.

After a few minutes, the doctor left and Amy and Sonic remained in Tails' room to make sure he'd recover okay. Suddenly Tails abruptly sat up in bed and screamed. Amy and Sonic ran over to him to calm him down, "Tails? Buddy, you gotta rest. Please lay down."

He lay down and took a deep breath, "Sonic? What happened? And why does my head hurt so much?"

Sonic looked at Amy and back at Tails, "Well, Amy was bringing you home and when you walked in, I guess you passed out. Amy took care of you from a while and then called me over here to check on you. Later we had the doctor over here since you weren't getting any better. When the doctor had arrived, he had noticed that you had no pulse. He brought out those electric paddles and for a while nothing was happening. He was ready to quit and declare you as dead…but Amy had him do it one more time. Sure enough, you sprung back to life…and here you are now."

Tails smiled, "Thank you guys. Thank you so much for caring about me."

Sonic gave a thumbs up, "Hey, anything for my little bro."

Amy smiled, "You mean a lot to us Tails. We wouldn't have it any other way."

Tails shed a few tears, "Thanks." His mind wandered to the "dream" that he had. "I tell ya…I had the weirdest dream. So weird…yet it felt so real…it scared the hell out of me…" His eyes showed his fear and sadness.

Amy kneeled next to him, "What happened in it?"

Tails shook his head, "I really don't want to talk about it…sorry."

Amy shook her head in response, "No, no. That's okay." She held her hand on his cheek, caressing it, "Just lay here and relax. Sonic and I are going to stay here until you get better."

Tails felt his heart come back to life, "Aww, you don't have to do that. I ca-"

Amy put her finger to his lips, "Nonsense. We're here to stay. There will be no ifs ands or buts about it, understand?"

Tails nodded, "Okay."

She looked into his eyes and smiled, "I take it that you're pretty hungry at the moment?"

Tails was about to say yes, until his stomach grumbled loud enough for the whole Mystic Ruins to hear, "Eh heh…yeah."

Amy nodded, "Okay then. I'll whip something up for ya. You have food in your fridge right?"

Tails thought about it for a second, "Actually…I don't. Oops."

Amy giggled, "No worries. I'll have Sonic get you something from Station Square. Do you have a taste for anything in particular?"

Tails looked up, "Hmm…ooh, there's that new pizza place on Casino Street." Tails glanced over at Sonic, "You know the place I'm talking about?"

Sonic chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, I know the place. I go there quite often since they've opened. Whatcha want from there?"

"Hmm…how about a large Pepperoni Pizza and a large order of breadsticks."

Amy and Sonic eyes opened widely, "Well…um, okay then. You REALLY must be starved."

Tails nodded, "Yeah I am."

Sonic chuckled, "Heh. Alrighty, I'll be back in a flash." He took off instantly to get Tails' food.

Amy giggled at Sonic, "That hedgehog…no matter if it's for him or someone else…if it involves food, he's always in a hurry."

Tails laughed, "Haha, no kiddin. So…um…how long was I out for?"

Amy frowned, "Several hours. I was here by myself here for like three, maybe four hours before Sonic came over. I tried to keep you cool with a towel on your forehead, and I stayed here for the whole time.

Tails shook his head, "Geez. Did the doctor say exactly what was wrong with me?

Amy shrugged, "Well…I explained to him that you were sick at the restaurant, and then you came home and passed out….but…he was extremely confused with your body just failing the way it did…it didn't seem normal to him… But whatever caused it, I don't care…because I was so worried about you Tails."

Tails turned red, "Amy…that was so kind of you to care for me. You know…Sonic is a very lucky hedgehog."

Amy raised a brow, "What do you mean?"

Tails smiled, "Because he has the love of the sweetest, most caring pink hedgehog I know."

Amy put her hand on her heart, "Aww…Tails. That's so sweet of you to say. But…you know…I'm not in LOVE with Sonic. I'm just dating him."

Tails raised a brow, "Oh c'mon Amy. I remember years ago you were always asking Sonic to marry you, or telling him how much you love him."

Amy nodded, "Yeah well, that's when I was young and foolish. I didn't know what love was when I was younger. Now I do."

Tails nodded, "Hmm, I guess you have a point…but lemme ask you this, how do you exactly know what love is if Sonic is your first boyfriend?"

Amy had turned a shade of red and kind of stuttered her answer, "Well…I um…I…I just do."

Tails chuckled, "Uh-huh riiiight."

Amy pouted, "Hmpf. Don't be so analytical, I really do know."

Tails waved it off playfully, "Uh-huh, suure ya do."

Amy growled, "Don't test me…I could easily fight you."

Tails smirked, "Well duh! I'm bedridden now. Even a chao could fight me in this state."

Amy glared at Tails, "That's it you're going down!" She leaped on him and started to tickle him.

Tails' eyes opened widely, "OH NO! I don't think so Missy!" He managed to flip Amy over onto her back and he began tickling her back, "Ah HA! I can still beat you, even after recovering from death!"

Amy started to squirm and fidget like a little child, "Aaah…nononono…hehehehe…stop…hehe, you win! You win!!!!"

Tails stopped and smirked, "I thought so."

Amy nodded and sneakily flipped Tails back over onto his back straddling him, "You thought I'd let you off that easy?! HUH?!"

Tails grinned, "Actually, Yeah."

Amy grinned back, "Well you're dead wrong." She began to tickle him again. He tried his best to put up a fight this time, but his headache told him otherwise. She tried to tickle him under his chin, but he managed to grab her arm and made her fall on top of him, their faces only inches apart.

She grinned at him, breathing heavily from playing around, "You still think you've won, eh?"

He nodded, "Mm-hmm. Sure do."

She was about to make a smart remark…but she caught a glimpse of those aqua eyes. Something about them was different than before…they seemed more full of life…he seemed happier now than before. Tails too, couldn't help but stare into her emerald jewels as well. Amy began to lean in…closer, and closer…until their lips met for the second time that day. Tails felt his heart begin to race, the passion he felt this time was incredible…he couldn't stop. Something told him how right this felt…yet he could still hear his conscience saying, "Don't do it! She's with Sonic, remember?" He ignored it. He had almost died…and he definitely remembered that horrific dream. They lay there passionately kissing one another, feeling their souls connecting on a different level. Their moment this time couldn't be interrupted…no one was home…of course… they had forgotten about one little "blue" detail…

"WHAT THE HELL?!"


To be continued…

I know, I know, it's a nasty cliffhanger. I had to end this chapter though. It was getting too long. Anyhoo, please review but don't flame. Please excuse any typos, I proofread this twice, but school is burning me out. As always, I'll try to update this when I can. Peace.