Chapter 32

Sonic sniffs, his finger rubbing the underside of his nose in indignation. They came to the fox village as it was the most sensible place to go, and that whole time Terra had been a nuisance trying to encourage Sonic giver her Tails as it was 'her responsibility as his wife.' He still hadn't heard the story yet and there was no way he was trusting her of all people with his best friend. Especially not in such a critically sensitive time.

The village itself was rather impressively built, some of the massive trees had been converted into homes, huts made of mud and bushes actually looked like houses, and there is a large pit with log benches surrounding a massive circular base, most likely used as a massive fire pit. They were in the largest tree of the forest, the chief's home and office. The room they currently sat around in is neatly carved and smoothed in an oval fashion. The size and roundness made if feel less restricted and entrapping, the large table in the center was probably made from the same wood as the tree it resides in, the chairs around it too.

Shadow is laying on top of one of the ends of the table with two foxes hovering over him. They were doing something to his face, but the rest of the room couldn't see what. Probably to hide their 'secrets.' Sonic is leaning on the chair Amy sat on, the pink hedgehog nestling as close as she could to him. She still looks timid and scared, had not even spoken a word since leaving that base in the forest. Knuckles was at the wall, leaning against it as he eyed the foxes with Shadow and then Terra herself. Vector sat across from them, eying Terra and the foxes skeptically. Silver sat next to the croc, his seat pushed back and legs propped on the table impatiently tapping the air. Before they arrived in the village Terra requested Rouge take Omega away as they didn't accept technology at the village. The two tried arguing at first, but relented after Sonic assured them he would keep an eye on Shadow for them.

Terra was at the other end of the table placing a cool, damp cloth of Tails' head. The twin-tailed fox had been placed on a pile of blankets piled on the table for him to rest on, Sonic's insistence as he wasn't going to let her just plop him on some bed out of sight of him. Terra was annoyed with him just as he was with her, arguing that he needed a more comfortable rest. Being outvoted she just accepted it. Sonic counts as three votes, his insistence.

Knuckles eyes the group of foxes and looks over at the vixen in charge of everything, "Why is it taking them so long to fix Shadow when you barely spent time with Amy?"

Terra ignores him but the female fox working with Shadow answered for her, "Amy is conscious. It's easier that way. Shadow has been affected for longer and is unconscious so it's going to take longer."

Sighing Silver pushed away from the table and stood, "This is taking too long for me. I'm not really in dire need to know about what happened anyway. Not sure I want to know. You guys just fill me in."

"Where you going?" Knuckles looks him over suspiciously.

"Dust settling. That massive cloud is going to kill a lot of animals and plants if I leave it alone." He glances at Sonic. "Some people just can't seem to spare the environment."

The blue hedgehog gasps, clutching his chest. "Why I never. It's just a light dust storm, you don't need to exaggerate."

"It's over fifty miles wide!"

"Semantics!" Sonic smiles cheekily, scratching his head to ease the nerves. "Hunter did most of that anyways." He waved away at Silver.

Rolling his eyes Silver turned and walked toward the door, "Sure. Catch you all later."

One of the foxes stepped away from Shadow and opened the door for him, bowing slightly as the grey hedgehog passes. Silver nods to him, quietly thanking him and stepping out.

Terra took the rag off Tails, watching everything unfold skeptically as she dipped the cloth into a bucket. She brought it back out and wring the excess water from it. She then places it on her 'husband's' forehead before stepping up to the blue hero. "There, he should more comfortable."

"That's presumptuous. He's asleep, it's not like you're psychic."

A tick formed on the vixens head. "I've done what I can with what I have. You've only sat there comforting this girl." She pointed at Amy.

Amy sways away from the finger and looks at Sonic, her eyes brimming with fear. Was she being a nuisance? Sonic shook his head at her and looks at Terra with narrowed eyes. "I would have taken Tails to a hospital, or even to his home. He needs to recover from psychological issues, not physiological. Since Amy is awake I can help her first then when he awakes I can help him. You're just going to tell him he needs to get over it."

She clenches her teeth and shakes her head. "I fail to see why I need to heed your words. You were rougher on him than I was."

"I was fighting the Hunter, not Tails. I fought that hard because I knew Tails was still inside, I knew because he came to my apartment. That wasn't Hunter, that was him. That is the only time I was fully encouraged, plead with whole heartedly. After I came back that part of him disappeared. As if Tails hoped I would stop Hunter, that he's tried and can't do it himself. He figured I could take him, stop Hunter before he forced Tails to hurt people. I was too late, so I didn't have time to wait. I couldn't wait to see if anyone else could beat him. That's why I had to win. That's why Hunter was wrong, desperation made me stronger."

Before Terra could reply one of the other foxes stood up, another vixen. "This one should be fine now." Shadow stirs, sitting up with a grunt.

Knuckles pushes off the wall and walks over to the black hedgehog. "You good?"

Shadow threw his legs off the table and let them dangle as he rests his head on his hands. "Fine."

The vixen taking care of him eyes him up and down. "I'm impressed with your resistance. The hypnotism was wearing off on you faster than normal."

"I'm the ultimate life form. That's no surprise."

Blinking at the statement the fox just turns to Terra and bows. "I'll be taking my leave."

"Thank you, Hara." Terra watches the two foxes go.

Vector looks over at Shadow. "How'd you figure Amy was the third Hunter."

"Derobotization. If Tails was the Hunter she wasn't 'healed.' So I figured Cream was endangered. Found Amy there doing something to her. I remember trying to stop her, but then everything goes blank. You?"

The detective rubs his knuckles against his chest. "The recording Tails showed us. I found it dubious. Amy sitting all night, not moving one inch, and just blankly staring at a screen? Why no shifting? And they were at the Mystic Ruins, there is no way she stayed up out of concern of what's happening at the city. Power there was out so there was no news coverage. The fact Cream just laid there sleeping. Why is she sleeping and not Amy? I wondered if it was doctored, but I couldn't question it as Cream said she was with Amy. After hearing about the hypnotism I figured that may be why she thought Amy was with her. I just hoped I was wrong."

Nodding, Shadow raises his head and looks around the room, eyes resting on Tails. "I'm guessing we won."

"Yah."

"Great. Fill me in later. Why's she hovering over Tails?"

Sonic shakes his head. "She's Tails' wife."

A moment of silence and Shadow rolls back onto the table, "I'm just going to go back to resting."

Sonic stifles a laugh while Terra glared at the hedgehog. "Is it so absurd I would be married to the strongest fox?!"

Shadow opens one eye to look at her. "I don't see him conceding."

"I was going to explain!"

"Go ahead." He closes his eye.

Annoyed at the lack of respect Terra took a deep breath. "You already know Duel disappeared into the forest." Everyone nodded. "I found him injured and crying. I noticed his second tail and became skeptical, so I tried getting rid of him." Sonic shook his head. "He noticed me and fought. Even when injured he fought me off. My father noticed and took an immediate liking to him.

"He brought him in and told me to fetch him some clothing so I did. We took a look at his injuries and no one could understand how he was still standing. Normally we wouldn't accept any freeloaders, but father insisted we make an exception as he was clearly strong. After about a week he was already functioning better than anyone else and began helping around the village. At first he questioned us about our lack of technology, I explained to him that we live natural lives, free of that lazy world view. We want to build a world where we do our own work. No relying on some vehicle to take you places, you get there yourself. No machine to grow your plants, we grow them ourselves. Be independent of some machine. We were not going to be lazy." Vector could only blink, his mouth agape.

Terra continues, ignoring the strange look on the croc, "He relented, saying he had some ideas to help us. He created those huts you saw outside, saying it was based on some adobe houses. After a month of his work our group began having more comfortable lives."

Sonic smiled, "Sounds like he was slowly exposing you guys to advanced technology. He was trying to get you guys to realize it's not some 'lazy lifestyle.'"

Terra glares at the hero. "Do not interrupt me!" Sonic shrugs, saying nothing further. "Father found his mind admirable and his strength superior. He demanded I challenge him to a proper fight this time. We gave him a sword and gear. Not the hooded version you're all aware of. That belongs only to the family of the chief. We gave him lighter versions, they're not as strong and are heavier but are better than nothing. We set him in the arena where he fought as many of the people as possible. He practically fought everyone in the village and still could fight. Finally, my father told me to enter. We fought and…" Terra looks away, the crease in her brow growing. "He beat me in no time at all. Still, he complimented me and said I was better than the others.

"Father than announced that due to his undefeated streak he was to be dubbed Duel. Then father declared that in accordance with our tribes rules I was to wed Duel. Duel immediately tried arguing saying that his culture didn't accept that kind of way and he wanted to get to know me more before making any form of commitment. Father wasn't pleased, but he accepted his way of thinking. Duel then offered I become his trainer, where he would learn what he can from me so he could fight without need for his power. Father took that offer immediately. So, we gave him the hooded gear and I began training him in our martial arts and survival techniques.

At first I started with the basics, I wasn't going to go easy on him. No matter what I did, though, he adapted and learned readily. Every new technique he would understand in minutes and several minutes more to ingrain it in his mind. He tried pretending to still be learning it, but I could tell he already figured it out. I'm guessing his experience with fighting Eggman helped him understand how to fight and adapt so quickly. Regardless, he used that time 'practicing' to ask me questions about myself and my history. He wanted to know my name, where my mother was, and other irrelevant ideas."

"Where's you're mother?" Sonic spoke up.

A low growl escaped her throat. "Dead. After giving birth to me. No more questions!" Sonic reels his head in surprise, but chose to remain silent. "I tried informing father of this pointless talk, but he told me to answer every question. We needed him as the next chief and since I was to be his wife I was obligated to fulfill his every want. So I began to… answer his questions. He then began to try and bring up several topics we could discuss, like how I view the environment and what defines beauty. I still don't understand why he brought it up and I had my fill of the nonsense so I told him he understood the basics and the advanced methods he needs to figure out himself.

"About a week later he confronts me. He found my stash I used to be Hunter Assassin. He demanded to know why I was using technology and why I was using it to kill. I told him my father used it as training for me, that he wanted to begin learning about the lazy world and how we could fight them if need be. I was a way to find weaknesses. He told me I needed to stop immediately, that killing is and has been wrong. I disagreed and we fought. He beat me and told me that he can't just ignore the fact that I am a wanted assassin. Losing my temper I called him a hypocrite for killing that child. That shut him up and he just left without saying another word. That's when Eggman captured us. He was first than I was second. I tricked his machines into thinking I was killed and he dropped us off.

"I was injured from the drop so I couldn't move. I asked Duel to help. He came to me, but… he was made of metal. I didn't know what to do so I told him to take me to the village. He did so without any hesitation. I called for my father and explained the situation. That's when Duel asked me why I was speaking to father like that. I explained he was the chief, that's when he suddenly stated… something about altering the command structure."

Vector nodded. "He was probably talking about you. He regarded you as his master and learned you had a master, so he regarded your father as his new master."

The vixen paused at the idea, thinking carefully about the possibility. "That would make sense. It was weird seeing him going with whatever my father said without question. Sensing this new control my father immediately had me married to him. I was then thrown out of the village as a hindrance due to my injuries. I healed faster than normal, Eggman's chemicals at work. I returned about a weak later and everyone told me a stranger had been captured and Duel used the sacred technique to control them. No one knew who it was though. Only that father ordered him to invade the lazy world and take it over. When I tried confronting Duel he overpowered me and forced me into his home. He tied me up and ordered me to stay there. He then left the village.

"After he had left I broke the binds and confronted my father. He then ordered my execution. I wasn't going to go down like this and I gathered over half the village, explaining how my father was breaking our codes and traditions to further his own goals. We had a civil war and I was able to kill my father about a weak later. It took a month more just to rebuild the village. I then left to find Duel. I used my conections as the assassin to rest at Hans place and I left a note to be sent to the future so Silver could read what's about to happen. That's when he came back and I enlisted him.

"He began working as an 'officer from the future' to search for possible help. He enlisted the lawyer Kelly and they began working on getting Sonic's hero licesnse back."

"Wait. What?" Sonic stood up fully. "That had to have been moths before the actual trial. I got it relatively fast."

"The legal process isn't that fast Sonic. We needed to get it ready as soon as possible since I didn't know what Duel was doing. I couldn't confront him and I had to stay hidden so he didn't realize I was on the loose yet. It wasn't till after you came out of hiding that Duel suddenly became active. I figured it was time for me to come out too. The only relevant thing I could find was the connections with Domious Crimson and his contract to go after the Hunter of Crime. He figured the Hunter would be a bigger threat later on. I accepted the contract and got limited resources. They didn't really help. So I asked Silver and Kelly to help. They brought in the second Kelly, the officer, who was looking into the kidnapping of her child. I used the evidence she found and contacted a few of my agents in other countries to put the pieces together. I found Domious to be Eggman and confronted him. He then provided me with more information.

"I took his technology and began looking into his roboticizer and convinced him that the most effective way to defeat him is to create a deroboticizer. He created the blueprints but decided it was best to scrape that plan and do things himself. I had to break into his base and force him to give me the plans. I then contacted Rouge and had her find the base Duel was using in the forest. I then gave her the plans for the deroboticizer and asked her to set it up without being caught. She was almost done when the attack on the city occurred. I decided we needed to act now while Rouge left to steal the Chaos Emeralds. She apparently decided to call Omega and used him to reprogram the computer so it could read Eggman's software. Then with everything installed we were able to revert everyone back into their normal form. I didn't know it would also heal us though. Lucky."

The room fell silent as everyone processes this information. It explains most of what happened. Vector isn't as satisfied though, "What about the ISDJ? You told us they were being controlled. I'm guessing those humans we fought were them."

"Yes. I got most of them. When I found out Duel was using the hypnotism to control them I hunted them down and reversed the effects. The same technique used on Shadow before my people left."

Shadow remained stoic and silent on the table, as if he was asleep the whole time. Knowing him though, Sonic figures he was just silently listening trying to act as if this didn't bother him. This bothered Sonic after all. The hero strolls over to Terra then passes her to Tails. "I'm taking him."

"WHAT!" Terra rushes around him and blocks his path. "I can't let you do that! He's my husband! He's the future of this tribe! I'm not going to stand around and let you-!"

She stopped as Sonic rounded on her. "What are you going to do? Stop me? Think you can fight me?" His eyes flashes green and a blue glow began to emanate from his body. "Where we come from marriage is about loving your partner. Here, you regard it as nothing more than obligation. Forced to become one to further the tribe. Know Tails he'll agree, but only because he'll think he has no other choice. I'm not going to let him stay here and be mentally tortured just because you want to use him."

"He…" Terra looks away, but stares daggers back at him. "He's the chief. We need him. You can't argue that he's been married into this-."

"The way I see it, he's not married at all. You said he obeyed your father without question. As a robot he didn't have a choice in the matter. So he didn't make the vows. Are you saying your rules state you can force someone to marry you if you use that hypnotism on your partner?"

Terra froze, the gears turning in her head. Their rules defiantly talk about how both parties need to be clear of mind when they take the vow of marriage. Realizing the reality of this Terra's face flushes. "W-well… We need him. I need him. He has the best genes. He'll be the future generation. Our children can raise our tribe out of-."

"Oh, knock it off!" Sonic pushes her to the side and lifts Tails off the table. He turns around to glare at the helpless vixen. "Look at 'lazy society.' We have advanced medicine. We don't need to worry about survival. We don't need to force people to do things they don't want just to see another day. If your tribe is having so many issues without our help then go into city and get help! You can't complain about needing more help while refusing help! Our tech may have made us lazier, but it made us lazier because we don't need to needlessly worry about something as simple as starvation! Your argument is so stupid! You talk a big game about us being lazy and useless, but who is it that saved your village? Me! Who stopped the threat you couldn't? Me! You think you can fight me? Me?! The one who lives in a lazy society! Unless you can actually fight the threats I can, actually fight the likes of me, you have no right to say our society is weak! Tails is not your plaything and I'm not going to keep him here just because you want to rape him and take his genes!"

"I agree." Shadow hops off the table and storms over to Terra. "I am born from the technology of this lazy society. I've been genetically modified to perfection. I am the pinnacle of strong genes. Something not born in a rundown village with dilsusions of superiority. If your tribe went to war with us we wouldn't even need to be involved. You should know. You've used our tech. Think your 'non-lazy' world would stand a chance?" Terra could only look away. She knew her people would fall if they every fought them. "That's what I thought. Sonic, we're leaving."

"Good." Sonic stormed out of the room, Shadow stopping to help Amy to her feet and help her out of the room. Vector and Knuckles followed not bothering to look back at Terra. The vixen rushes forward. "But… Who will be the future chief?"

"You." Knuckles blocked her path.

"That's not how we work. That's a man's job not-."

"Says the lady who brought forward a revolution and took over the tribe. Ever since Tails came to your village everything's changed and you cannot say otherwise. You need to adapt. Stop trying to force us to take your group back to an era that's long gone. Move on or fall apart. Those are your choices. So choose!" The echidna spins around and marches out, leaving the vixen speechless.

XXXX

A weak has passed since the encounter with Terra and the fox tribe and everything seems to be settling. As much as chaos can settle anyway. The damage to the city was surprisingly superficial, not as grotesque as when some giant water monster completely flooded the city and wrecked every building. Though, those days had happier endings for Sonic and the crew. For starters Vanilla and Cheese needed immediate hospitalization, they were lucky they survived. Cream is having a very hard time right now trying to maintain her bakery and keep a cheerful face for everyone. Seeing her work so hard made it more difficult than anything.

The Chaotix are doing there best, putting everything on hold to support Cream. The same time, Vector is going around with the remaining ISDJ spreading rumors and stories that both the Hunter Assassin and Hunter of Crime had both perished in their fight together. So far the public has ate it up eagerly. No one can blame them, no one wants anything to do with either psycho anymore. Even the experts are willing to accept such an explanation regardless of any circumstantial evidence that dictates the opposite. Though that still is a cause for concern, Vector ensures the group that by the time the experts will care about such evidence it would be too late to officially launch a proper investigation. Most of the evidence will disappear and the only thing they will have is the evidence already collected. Nothing that will directly point at Tails or the others without some confession or testimony from someone.

As for the cleanup and rebuilding, there has been some significant improvements. Normally it would take months to develop some semblance of restructure, but thanks to help its already looking inhabitable. Han financed everything making sure that everything is paid by the assassin's money, Terra didn't argue or make any comment when asked. She just waved them away. Silver is helping with the major constructions and redistributions, his last act of kindness before heading back into the future. Hopefully they wouldn't see him again, if they do it's going to be about how the future is in danger again. Shadow has taken some time off and is with Rouge, Omega, and Amy trying to help with the more fine and tiny details. Cleaning away ruble, recovering the dead, and taking pictures of the damage for insurance and filing purposes. Though that's the official reason for their actions, the real purpose is for Amy and Shadow mostly. In their eyes they are responsible for some of the damage caused and this is their way of repenting, community service for their crimes. Shadow would never admit it, he would claim he's just here to support Amy while the pink hedgehog herself would not hesitate to admit her guilt.

Sonic has been the busiest of them all. He's been running around, helping here and there, being the shoulder for Amy to cry on, clearing away rubble, making sure the streets were safe, and coming home to check up on Tails. Out of everyone, the young twin-tailed fox is taking it harder than anyone. He hasn't spoken since he woke up. At first Tails didn't remember anything, but gradually his memory began playing everything like it was some horror film he could never pause. Every night young fox cries in bed, trying to keep his tears at bay to not bother Sonic. Still, Sonic heard them and he was powerless to do anything. Though he stopped Hunter, the damage is permanent and has already settled in.

The only thing Sonic could do was take Tails to the abandoned base and have him dismantle everything Hunter built. It seemed to be mildly therapeutic for the fox and it took his mind off the issues while being productive. It also gave Sonic time to check up on everyone else, but he made sure he came back to give Tails more attention than others. Regardless, there hasn't been any noticeable improvement with the fox.

Sonic's eyes glaze as he stares out the window of the workshop, his hands mindlessly stirring the cocoa into the warm cup. He's been thinking about what to do for a while and there is only one thing he can do. Bring some semblance of past hope. The best thing he can do for Tails is rebuild what is lost. He just needs to get the fox to open up. Today is the best chance he has, when he woke the fox up Tails actually thanked him for his help. He's opening up and it could be now or never.

The blue hero sighs, moving on to walk down the hall and open the door to Tails' room. He stopped at the entrance, surprised at the sight. Tails is sitting up, his arms hugging his knees to his chest and both tails wrapped around his form in some form of hug. Swallowing Sonic strolls in and clears his throat. The fox flinches, ears perking toward his direction. "Here buddy." He hands the cup to him.

The fox abruptly turns to look, eyes studying the beverage. With shaking hands to accepts the gift and unsteadily takes a sip. He swallows only a tablespoon and rests the cup on the nightstand before staring back out the window in silent wonder. Understanding, Sonic slowly sits next to him. "Hey Tails. Can I make an agreement with you?"

The fox clenches, turning his teary eyes to him. Taking as the fox's full attention, Sonic continues, "You're going to say it's your fault since you couldn't take back control from the Hunter. I'm going to say it's my fault for not recognizing your need for help. So here's the agreement." Sonic turns and lifts his hand to his friend. "We're both at fault. Fifty-fifty. No sense arguing."

The fox just stared at him, completely surprised. He was expecting Sonic to try and convince him how it wasn't his fault not shoulder some of the blame. "But-."

"Tails. I knew something was wrong. I realized something was off. I didn't do anything till it was too late. I hesitated. Am I someone who has ever hesitates to help someone?" The fox pauses, looking away before shaking his head. Sonic is not someone who has ever hesitated. "I failed. As a hero and as a brother. Between the two of us I think I'm worse. A robot was controlling you, and it may be true that you could have fought back control, we both know that's not how it works. And I know you don't want me to blame myself so I'm going to compromise. Fifty-fifty. And we won't just sit around waiting for the blame to go away. We're going to work to make up for what we failed to stop, and we're going to do it together. As brothers."

Unable to look Sonic in the eye Tails spins around to look out the window, sobs escaping his throat. The hedgehog wraps an arm around him and shook him. No more words were needed, no words could help. The time for talk is over. It was only time to heal and recover. The hunt is over.

This is the end of the story. I will make a epilogue but this is the story in it's entirety. I hope this chapter explains the unknowns that I've kept hidden. Due to how long I've held off on this story I can't say for certain. If there is any uncertainties or confusion please let me know and I will see if I can fix it either in previous chapters, this chapter, or maybe I can reference it in the epilogue. I hope you all enjoyed this story and if this was a good mystery.