Chapter 5.
Going Home.
Fara kept pacing the floor of her father's Office, wondering when he would return from his meeting with the remaining loyal members of the Acadian Senate. Before that, she had went to the hospital by herself and visited some with Tails. While she was there, she noticed that her young cousin was a little bit bored. She probably guessed that he was sick and tired of being there. And for that, Fara could not blame Tails. But what she also noticed was that her cousin didn't really act like himself when she saw him. Fara noticed that Tails acted a little off; like as if he was extremely upset about something. And from what Sonic had told her about the youngster; whenever something bad had happened, and because of him, the little fox would harshly blame himself for the whole entire fiasco that came to be because of his actions. Fara thought that it was because of what had recently took place. After all, it was not the fox cub's fault that he got abducted, and later on suffered being shot by a sociopath. Fara eventually set down in a chair and thought things over. She wanted to tell Tails that she was pregnant. She knew that he would be happy about something at least. She really wanted to, but Chad told her to wait until after Tails got better. Fara suddenly heard someone turn the knob on the door. She immediately straightened herself up in the chair and anticipated the person who was to walk in to be her father like a little girl. The door swung and in walked none other than her father. He was immediately surprised to see his daughter waiting for him to return, then his face relaxed and he smiled slightly. Fara immediately could tell that something was wrong. She stood up and studied his face for a moment.
"Is something wrong?" The Prime Minister asked his daughter.
"No. But then again, you look like you just saw a ghost or something like that." Fara answered.
Jedidiah immediately lost his smile and his face grew serious, but he wasn't angry with his daughter.
"Chad, you and your friends need to leave this island as soon as possible."
Fara immediately gulped. "Okay… Dad, what's going on?"
Jedidiah stared her in the eye. "Like I told you… you all need to leave ASAP."
Fara immediately ran a hand through her hair.
"Seriously… father, what's really going on?"
Jedidiah only placed a hand over his face. "Listen, if I tell you what's really going on, you can't tell your brother that I told you… alright?"
Fara only nodded her head. Jedidiah cleared his throat then spoke.
"Listen, you know what's been going on with the Senate, right?"
Fara cleared her throat. "Copy."
Jedidiah continued on.
"Thing is… ever since we had the House and the Senate rounded up, there's been small talk of there being civil war on this very island. And if that were to happen, it would be because of the Regency encouraging the remaining rebels within the government to stage a coup on me and my Administration. And if that really happens, I don't want you, Chad, Sonic, Tails, and their friends here. All that would do is get you all killed if you all stayed here. As if already, your brother's taking care of Chrome was only the beginning of this. He supposedly disposed of someone who was a high ranking member of the Regency. And even more not so good news, the Regency has a new Adjudicator. And if it's who I think it is, I heard that once she puts one of her goals to the task, she will not stop until her wishes are fulfilled."
Fara gently placed a hand to her neck. "You mean, Andross' sister?"
Jedidiah only nodded his head, then he continued.
"You all need to leave, and leave now. I'll provide you all the journey home. This new Regency Adjudicator wants civil war to happen. And she would love it if I was no longer existing. If anything bad happens to me, I don't the same thing happening to you either. I want your things packed up and ready to go by tonight."
"But what about Tails?" Fara asked.
"I've already talked with Doctor Ram about it, and he said that your cousin will be checked out… about now. He's just to take things lightly for the next several days. Doctor's orders."
Fara only nodded her head. "Is Esmer coming home-"
"No." Jedidiah said. "He said that he's staying behind, alongside your brother."
Fara only nodded her head again. "Tell Cody that I said I love him, that is, if, I don't get to see him again."
"I will." Jedidiah reassured his daughter.
"Thanks. I'll round the troops and tell them to be ready to leave."
Jedidiah smiled again. He knew exactly what she meant by 'the troops.'
Fara walked over and gave her father a good, long hug.
"Will I ever see you again?"
Jedidiah's smile disappeared. "I'm positive you will. But I don't know when."
Fara was in tears. "Promise me you will write me often."
"I promise sweetie." Jedidiah assured her.
Later on…
Sonic helped Tails off the medical bed and onto his feet. For a moment, Tails swayed as he felt a wave of dizziness swarm over him, but soon enough the fox regained his balance and reopened his eyes. Tails then tried to walk, but the kid about lost his balance again as he almost fell to the floor, but Sonic helped him up.
"Whoa, easy buddy." Sonic said.
Tails wrapped an arm around Sonic's back and leaned on him until he stood straight again. Then the fox looked down at his right foot. Tails immediately understood why Sonic had caught him and told him to take it easy; his foot was put in a black colored foot cast. Then the fox remembered; he had twisted his ankle when he was crawling back when he got wounded. Tails started walking lightly on his one foot while with the other one, he found that he could walk on it normally. Sonic grabbed Tails' luggage and carried it for him while he watched his friend get used to walking around with a limp in his right foot. Sonic knew that Tails would be walking like that for a while. As soon as Tails was ready, Sonic left the room to get Kim. Tails looked down at himself again and smiled. He was glad to be wearing his tool belt again. It felt good to have the shoulder strap over his left shoulder again. But the thing that bothered him was him wearing a bandage around his chest. He understood why he had to have it on, but it bothered him, knowing that someone was bound to tease him about it sooner or later. Tails then thought about when he was abducted. A million thoughts flashed through his mind as he remembered what the awful experience was like. He remembered when Castro had abused him by kicking his chest. He remembered when he first got kidnapped. Then it happened. Him getting shot. Tails whimpered as he thought of the fiasco. His thoughts were interrupted as he heard Sonic return, and with Kim. The nurse gave something to the fox. A crutch. Tails reached out and took it from her politely. Placing the pad of it underneath his right arm, he hobbled on it; his injured foot barely lifted in the air. Holding on tightly to his crutch, Tails started walking towards the exit. Once they got to the waiting area, clapping was heard. Tails immediately had a surprised look on his face, Sonic took notice of it and reassured the young fox that it was okay. Tails then smiled as he saw his other friends standing there, clapping and cheering for him. He saw Fara and Chad there also. As soon as he starting walking towards the doorway, Sonic, Knuckles, Amy, Sticks, Fara and Chad followed the fox out the medical center. Fara and Tails thanked the medical staff, especially Doctor Ram and Kim for all they did while the kid was there. As soon as they were out of the building, they all got into Chad's vehicle and rode towards South Haven. Tails realized that they were finally going home. He smiled, but if they were going home, then were they supposed to say goodbye to his uncle and aunt? And where were Cody and Esmer? Tears escaped Tails' eyes as he realized that they weren't saying goodbye to the rest of his family. Fara saw the tears streaming down the fox's face. She immediately wrapped an arm around the kit, because she knew what Tails was thinking.
"It's okay. They're waiting for us in South Haven." Fara whispered into his ear.
Tails looked up at her, tears in his eyes. "Huh?"
Fara smiled. "Yeah, they're waiting for us there. I promise. Your uncle and aunt are there, and so is Cody and Esmer."
Tails wiped a tear away from his eye. "You mean, Cody and Esmer aren't coming home with us?"
Fara stopped smiling and only shook her head. Then she told the young fox what her father had told her back in his office. Tails only nodded his head, saying that he understood. The kid pretty much suspected that civil war was about to erupt on Acadia Island. Tails immediately hugged Fara tighter than before and started crying into her shoulder, knowing what was to come when they made it to South Haven. Fara started rubbing the fox cub's back and placed a kiss on the top of his head. Fara then placed her head on his. Within an hour, Team Sonic, plus Fara and Chad made it to South Haven. Once they got into downtown, they headed for an small airport. As soon as they made it, they got out of Chad's vehicle and headed for a small building where they spotted a small group of people standing there. Team Sonic, plus Fara and Chad knew who they were right away. The five younger spotted out Tails' uncle and aunt, plus Cody, Esmer and Tauren. Soon enough, they all embraced each other and hugged each other. Fara suggested that her, plus her family take one last picture before heading home. Amy pulled out her camera and said that she would take it for them. Soon enough, Tails, Fara, Chad, and their extended family stood up and looked towards Amy and her camera, all smiles. Tails had Sticks hold his crutch while he had his picture taken. After getting a couple pictures, Fara had Sonic, Knuckles, Amy, and Sticks come up and join them in a couple more photos. Amy set her camera to automatic and quickly joined up with her friends. As soon as they got the photos taken, they talked some more. Then within the hour, it was finally time to say goodbye to each other. Tails immediately started tearing up as he realized what was happening. Tails limped over to Cody and hugged him tightly. Cody returned the hug and picked up the kit. Then he let Tails down, the young fox immediately limped over to his uncle and aunt. Jedidiah and Kari kneeled down and embraced their nephew and squeezed him tight as they hugged him. Fara hugged Cody and started crying. Cody hugged his sister and placed a kiss on her face.
"Promise me that you'll stay in touch with me often." Fara said.
Cody cleared his throat. "I will. Don't worry. I'll be home in no time."
Tails squeezed his uncle and aunt tight as he hugged them, tears falling down his face.
"I'm gonna miss you guys so much…" Tails wailed.
Jedidiah and Kari smiled as they looked at him.
"We'll see each other again one day." Kari reassured her nephew.
Jedidiah immediately placed Tails' face into his hands and looked him in the eye.
"You listen to me Miles; no matter what happens, we will see each other again one day. Even if it means we see each other again in the next life, I want you to know that this is not goodbye. This is just us ending one chapter of life and heading into another one. And don't you ever forget that. If this is really the final time we see each other, then I want you to move on in life, and don't look back, alright?"
Tails only nodded his head and buried it in his uncle's shoulder and wept again. Jedidiah rubbed his nephew's back. Soon, Cody, Fara, and Chad embraced the three kneeling foxes and hugged each other again one final time. Sonic, Knuckles, Amy, and Sticks all looked on with tears in their eyes. They knew for sure now that Tails would need all the support he could get from them. Then, one by one, the group of anthropomorphic foxes let go of each other, with Tails being the final one to let go. Fara looked at her mother with tears in her eyes.
"I love you… Mom." Fara whispered.
"Love you." Kari replied.
Tails slowly let go of his uncle's hand and slowly walked backwards, looking towards his uncle and aunt, his cousin and Esmer. Pretty soon, the group that was bound for Bygone Island went into a midsized plane. In within twenty minutes, the plane took off, with Tails looking back and waving at his uncle Jedidiah, aunt Kari, Cody and Esmer. Fara did the same thing. Both foxes waved at them until they were far out of their eyesight, then they completely broke down and embraced each other, weeping bitterly. They were finally going home, but their goodbye was bittersweet for everyone, not just them. Not being the one for hugs, Knuckles walked over to Tails and Fara and kneeling down, the echidna hugged them, but not too tightly. He just wanted to be there for them, he soon found himself crying alongside his young fox friend and his cousin...
So sorry about the long wait. Life kinda hit me really hard recently. I hope you all are loving this story. There's something I need you all to know beforehand, this story that you're currently reading, yes this story, well… it's going to be my final story on here . But, it ain't over yet. All Things New is still in the works, but after this one, I'm done for good. Just wanted to get that out there. Then again, thank you so much for your support and reviews. If you liked this chapter, please leave me a review, thank you so much.
God bless you.
JalcoFox.