Epilogue
Nothing is perfect. Ignorance is bliss. My life is full of understanding I can only wish I remained unaware. I can see the appeal, not accepting reality that poisons the roots I've always grown. Flowers I wished to flourish and admire nothing more than shriveled stems, petalless sticks. Nothing more than droopy weeds singing my praise.
Miles 'Tails' Prower. A name I once had pride in having, now words on an empty grave. I want to feel angry, I want to feel something. Not the hollow earth, not this void in my chest. I can't ask for more though. Not after so much I've taken. I may not have been in control, but to me that's no excuse. I was a hero, why couldn't I stay a hero? I wanted a hero, but I couldn't have a hero. I hate monsters, but I could only be a monster.
If only I hadn't needed to kill a kid, some child. Maybe I could have done something else, but it's too late. After that I couldn't help but feel so dethatched from the heroing I once did. I became deluded, thinking that maybe I could go back in time. Figured that if I ran like when I first met Sonic, just running and stopping Eggman, everything could go back to normal. So I left to go into the forest, but I was still injured and just ended up wearing myself out more. That's when I met Terra. I wasn't at my best, but I could handle her at my worst. That seemed to impress everyone watching. That's when the chief offered to train me and help me grow stronger. In hindsight, it was obviously shady. I knew something was wrong, but blinded by grief I couldn't think clearly. I accepted, hoping to gain insight and clarity in my pain.
Seeing there village I could figure why Terra fought me, I was rather close to finding them. She was protecting them from an unknown individual. Based on their run down houses and desperate constructs they were in bad shape. I offered to refurbish their environment, at first they refused saying they wanted nothing to do with 'lazy society,' so I back pedaled and offered more convenient methods of remodeling. Nothing too advanced, basically I would use more advanced methods of what they were already using. A way to jumpstart their technological lifestyle. If they were to see how little change can improve so much their views may alter. It worked splendidly and they adapted to it quickly. I hoped to further this, though such technology has made people appear lazier it still saves lives and allows them to live more while dying less. However, my fantasy of being their hero died after I recovered.
I was put in a tournament to find the strongest warrior and I ended up winning. So Terra challenged me, to the surprise of everyone. I figured she was the strongest of them all and I assumed it was apart of the tournament. Makes sense only when you dismiss the challenge part. In a tournament there is no 'challenging,' there's only 'here's your next opponent.' I beat her and the whole village went haywire. It turns out in a challenge against the chief's daughter is very important. If one beats her they are expected to marry. I argued my case and I was able to push that back, telling them that my society doesn't work that way and if I had known I would have rejected the challenge or intentionally lost all together. I made a compromise, I would willingly get to know her better and then I would consider it. The chief only agreed because he could tell I would run away if they tried to force it.
I made the suggestion she personally train me so it would be a convenient excuse to spend time with her. I'll admit, she was rather attractive and I couldn't help but admire her dedication to protecting her people. Being the future fiancée I was given a hood to commemorate my newly found status. She seemed rather reciprocal at the time, answering my questions and seemingly interested in my person. I couldn't help but begin feeling attached and attracted. That was probably my emotions latching on to someone, but I truly felt chemistry. I thought, maybe it will turn out okay. I should have known better than presume such caring environment in a backwards society.
I found a stash in the woods during a morning run and I was stunned to see a satellite phone of some kind. It wasn't hard for me to crack and I found it to belong to an assassin. More so is when I saw it was a hooded cloak. Only the top elite of the tribe were aloud to wear it and due to their small size only the chief had it. Except the chief always wore his hood and for some reason I remained in doubt to the reality. I decided to wait and watch, not sure why but I felt I should. Terra came and began pulling out the stash, in blind confusion I confronted her. Then we argued. She was adamant about the necessity of her killings. Claiming that it was best to understand the lazy society so as to be prepared if they tried to subjugate them. No mater what I said she rejected it and when she had enough she exploded. She told me about what her father wanted, how he told her to play along with my questions and to pretend to care about me. How she found my humility and care nothing more than a weakness clouting my judgment. I felt heartbroken and the reality finally kicked me in the gut. I put the pieces together and concluded what was obvious from the start. There is nothing for me here, not as a hero and most certainly not as a chief.
I destroyed her phone and threw the coat into the river telling her if she wanted it so badly she could go fish for it. I feel bad about it now, she wasn't wearing anything so she was probably trying to put it on and now she had to race the rapids. She screamed at me some more and left to catch it. I left in the opposite direction fighting back tears. Then suddenly everything went dark and cold. I felt malice and anger and I couldn't tell why. I could feel something prying at my mind, trying to pry ideas out of my head. I then realized I wasn't in control anymore and became scared.
Something kept demanding a plan, a way to control everyone but I refused. I couldn't let it win so I fought it and regained some control. I tried visiting Sonic trying to get him out, but my tongue wasn't completely there and I was helpless trying to have him help me. Then the unthinkable happened. I lost my temper with Sonic. I lost control. I was so scared, I wanted him back and I wanted him to see how much trouble I was in, but he was blind by his grief and I lost my patience. Then the monster inside realized my vulnerability and attachment to Sonic. It brought me back in and began talking to my friend. The dark voice in my head told me to cooperate, then hugged Sonic close. It's hands reaching up to his neck. Scared, I agreed and then I couldn't help but give it ideas. The bow to remain primal, the hypnotism to gather a militia, and vigilantism to gain favor to the public and get rid of crime. I knew it was mindless and it accepted my ideas quickly. Then became a game of trying to find small plans to force windows of opportunity out so he could be taken out.
When Sonic caught me and strapped me to the chair I felt relieved, I knew he figured something was wrong. Then everything fell apart and I lost more control and my plans became more vile. Then when I found out about the Roboticizer the real plan kicked in and the monster liked it. I no longer could stop it. Any idea that came to mind was it's. Then I woke up, all the darkness faded and I was in my room in the Mystic Ruins. It took so long just to adjust to what happened. To accept what has happened. To be in control again. Sonic was with me most of the time, but I still felt isolated. Still felt the monster inside.
Then Sonic had an idea, the idea I sought in the first place. We would run like old times. So we did. We ran. We fought Eggman. We continued as if the old days had returned. It may be childish, but it was all that it took to make me cry. I felt like a hero again. Felt like the monster was taken away and I was free. The guilt remains, but the chains in my brain were broken. The destruction left behind could be remade. The stride in my steps grow larger and the strength in my veins returned. I won't ever be the same again, but I know I can come back from this. That was Sonic's plan wasn't it. To show me I can come back and be a hero. It's all I can do to atone for my past. I can strive to fill in the void.
At least everyone is recovering from the damage Hunter caused. That's why Sonic and I returned to the city. To see it renewed. Cream is smiling again with her Mother and Cheese. The Chaotix are back and solving all sorts of crime. Amy is in fashion design and has begun reigniting that spark in her eyes. Shadow has rejoined the police to continue his fight against crime while keeping an eye on our friends. Rouge and Omega returned to GUN and being their agents for the time being. Knuckles is back on Angle Island guarding the Master Emerald. It feels as if the world is slowly swaying back into normal rhythm.
Returning to the Workshop isn't hard anymore. I can live here without the pain. Only the memories remain. Though I would prefer to forget it, I at least have Sonic back and that makes it tolerable. At least I don't feel like the monster inside, I can say I'm a hero again.
The End