Chapter 3
To begin my plan, I spun my tails and took flight, flying to the ceiling where I wasn't visible to robots such as these guards. I gave Cream a thumb up and she nodded back to me and began her part.
"Excuse me," Cream called to a guard robot, "but I can't find my friend, will you help me find him."
The robots seemed to communicate for a moment and then one of them stomped down to our cell in its clanking metal feet. It opened the jail cell with a key card and stepped in, blocking the way out.
"Prisoner missing." The robot said when it noticed I was gone.
I jumped from the ceiling, stopping my flight and landed on the back of the robot. I opened its back to reveal its inside, full of wires and circuits. I pulled a wire out and the robot froze, paralyzed. Using the wires as controls, I turned the robot around and faced the other guards which were heading for us. I pulled the wires and the robot's gun aimed and fired forward. Doing my best with the controls, I blasted the other two guards and they blew into pieces. Finally, I pulled a last wire out and the robot I was riding fell to the ground with a big thud.
"Yay!" Cream cheered, seeing we were clear of escaping and skipped out of the cell.
"Yep." I followed her.
"But now what?" Cream asked me as we saw our way to the end of the detention area.
I frowned. I didn't think of what we would do once we got out of the cell. "Um… we'll need to sneak out…" I guessed the obvious.
"But there are so many robots." Cream complained.
"I know, but we're better than them." I winked at her with a grin.
Cream smiled. "Of course we are."
I paused for a moment when a thought of how cute the smile was hit me. I had to get rid of it to make myself continue with our escape.
Cream and I made our way out of the detention area and into the open base. I tried to remember the way we got in. Cream let me lead us. I took us left from the detention area and turned a corner at the end of that corridor.
"Intruders!" Cream and I squealed as a group of robots noticed us and began to fire.
"Grab my hand!" I exclaimed. Cream took it quickly. I spun my tails again and flew into the air. Cream caught on and used her ears as I use my tails to float by flapping them. She floated with me and we flew over the robots, landing on the others side safely. We immediately ran ahead to escape their fire. We both froze when suddenly a stray laser hit the ceiling and metal plates fell down, almost hitting us. My mind began to work.
"Quick, I have an idea!" I yelled at Cream and grabbed a metal plate that seemed big enough for both of us. I grabbed a second one and used it as a shield to block the lasers from the robots. "Get on!" I told her as I showed her the plate.
Cream nodded and sat on the front of it eagerly. While trying my best to block lasers, I sat down on the back, put my back to the robots and spun my tails as hard as I could. The metal plate, like a sled, flew forward from the wind and zoomed down the long hallway. Cream squealed, holding on tight, yet seeming to be having fun.
I slowed the sled to a stop as we came to the end of the hallway which led to the exit I remember coming in from. I helped Cream off of the metal and we ran again towards the exit. The huge door, much bigger than any door I had seen before, was open and we were free to make a run to the outdoors. I held Cream's hand, determined to make it there.
Unfortunately, we were not fast enough. With what looked like freedom, we almost made it. Cream cheered. "We're almost there!"
But feet from the exit, the large metal door fell down and shut, blocking the sun from our faces. The loud thud from the door rang through us.
"Shoot!" I exclaimed. "It's a trap!"
"Indeed it is." Eggman's mocking tone laughed at us. Cream and I turned around to see him, floating in his mobile in the large hanger. I just noticed now that it had planes and machinery in it. Around us, robots had us surrounded, their guns pointed at us. "You think you can escape from me?" Eggman chuckled. "Never! Now… it seems like a waste just holding you… I think I'll finish you while I have the chance."
I frowned, not sure what he meant. I felt Cream's hand quaver in mine. To the help of our fears, the bottom of Eggman's mobile opened and a cannon came out of it. We both froze. "Say good bye!" Eggman laughed at us evilly.
I stood strong for a moment, hoping I could pull off some fancy maneuver to get us out of there, but when I couldn't think of anything I felt my bravery sink away. It was useless; I couldn't fight off all those robots and Eggman. I wasn't Sonic. I was just a little kid, hardly a threat to Eggman without any gadgets.
"Tails, what are we going to do?" Cream asked me. She sounded desperate, scared off the outcome. I wanted to help her more than anything, but I just couldn't. I was going to let her down… before I told her how I felt for her…
I clenched my fists again. If I had to go out, it would be protecting her! The one I now knew I loved. I whipped around, grabbed Cream and held her into my chest, falling to my knees with her. I tried to look strong for her. "Don't worry Cream…" I said, looking into her eyes. They were surprised and scared. "I'll protect you… I promise…" I smiled as best I could. Cream stared at me for a moment in my arms, but then nodded and let me absorb her. I could feel and hear Eggman charging his cannon, we would soon be toasted.
Luckily, fate was on our side. To me, Cream's and Eggman's alert, a blue ball zoomed through the door of the hanger, making a hole in it. It flew at Eggman, hitting his mobile away so the cannon's aim was off and shot at nothing. The ball continued through the circle of robots, knocking most of them over or hitting through their weapons. The ball eventually came back to Cream and I, stopping in front of us.
"Sonic!" Both of us exclaimed in joy.
The blue, wave hedgehog smirked at us. "You two okay?" He asked.
"Just barely." I answered, smiling as well. "But how did you found us?"
"A little bird told me." Sonic shrugged.
Through the hole Sonic made flew in Cream's little friend Cheese. "Cheese!" Cream squealed with delight. "You got help!" She hugged the Chao.
I couldn't believe it. Cheese had actually gotten Sonic to come save them! A Chao, hardly bigger than my head, had saved us! I blinked in confusion.
"Now get out of here you two, I'll handle this!" Sonic ordered.
We both nodded. I jumped through the hole Sonic had made in the door and helped Cream through as well, as it wasn't far from the ground. It was almost unbelievable; we had lived and were free!
After walking away from the base a little bit, I collapsed on the ground in the forest to rest. I was utterly tired from that long escape attempt that had ended in my failure and the sun was already setting.
"That was something!" Cream commented, perky again.
"I guess so…" I sighed.
"What's the matter?" Cream sat next to me on the ground.
"I let you down…" I said, so very disappointed in myself. "I couldn't save you… Sonic had to…"
"You did your best and I'm happy for it." Cream tried to cheer me up. "Don't worry about it."
I tried to smile back. "Thanks…" My heart lifted my spirits. Her soothing words felt so great, even if they were a little simple. "But… that ruined our day… it's already late…"
"No it didn't!" Cream exclaimed. "We still have time for the beach!"
"We… do?" I frowned.
"Sure! Even if it's only a little."
"Okay." I smiled again. "Then let's make the most of it."
And indeed we did. Though it was almost dark when we got there, the beach was perfect! We grabbed a snack, since we were surely hungry, and ran around on the sand. I had tons of fun with her, just as I wanted. It was like a dream having a blast with her. As the sun disappeared, we sat on the beach and watched the moon and stars over the glittering ocean.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Cream asked me sweetly.
"Of course." I agreed as we sat together in the sand. She seemed to have enjoyed herself as much as I did. I felt so relaxed next to her, so in peace. She was such a perfect little girl, someone who could flatter any being. A glory indeed.
Cream yawned and sat her head on my shoulder. I blushed a little. "Tired?" I asked.
"A bit." She replied, yawning again.
I pulled in a big breath. As I wanted to earlier, I had to tell her my feelings for her. This was the perfect time. I gathered all the courage I had and began to speak. "C-Cream…" I began. "I have to… tell you something…"
I frowned when she didn't reply. I peeked at her and she had fallen asleep on my shoulder, her eyes sealed shut and her breathing relaxed. She was as pretty as a flower, the prettiest flower ever. Remembering what I was about to say, I decided not to give up on it. I bent close to her, almost into her ear and whispered through my heart. "I love you…"
It felt like candy to say it. My mouth tingled and I was very relieved of worry. It was such a great feeling, that I found myself with my lips on her cheek. When I noticed my heart had dragged me to kiss to her, I pulled myself back, blushing at nothing. Luckily, she did not awaken.
I wrapped my arms around her and picked her up as I stood and began carrying her to her house. The whole day was sewn in my heart and mind, a tattoo of love. I hoped some day soon she'd love me back, and then we could be together. Oh, together forever…
12
