He didn't know where he was… He didn't even know who he was, or even what for that matter… All he knew was that he had a name… Tahu.

Tahu felt like he was drifting through a void of clouds. He was lost in a daze, gliding on soft winds, unaware of his surroundings. He couldn't even tell if this was a dream or possibly a strange but comfortable hallucination.

"What's happening..?" he quietly asked himself. "Where am I..? Who am I..? No… I am Tahu… but, that's all I know." Tahu tried to lift his head to observe the area. "What exactly am I supposed to be? Something…" He tried to think back, but everything was so hazy, as if he was in a deep dream, and he couldn't recollect anything. Like any dream, nothing made sense…

And that's when a bright light engulfed him. Tahu suddenly became more aware of what was around him now.

The dreamy sensation snapped away. Tahu woke up suddenly, as if waking up from a long dream. He was definitely awake and alert now. He glanced around his surroundings. He certainly did not recognize the place he was in, which looked to be some place underground, like a burrow created by a small animal. The only thing to look out of place was a strange looking cylinder pod, with glowing yellow lights on its sides.

As he regained his bearings more, he attempted to move his body around a bit. That's when he noticed he couldn't move. He shifted his head downwards more to see what was holding him down…

He had no body. It was just his head. However, there were metallic body parts scattered all around himself, which he assumed were his. He was literally in pieces.

And yet he wasn't dead, or even in pain for that matter.

Odd, he couldn't help but think to himself.

He pondered his situation more. Apparently, he had to have been some sort of robot of some type, which would explain these other body parts that were detached from his head, and yet his head was still functioning. Staring at his disassembled parts, he pondered how he was even going to move around. But as he kept wondering and concentrating on his parts, slowly, he started gaining a connection to these joints…

Wires began reaching from the ends of his joints and grabbing a hold of each other, pulling together to assemble. Once the arms and legs attached themselves to the torso, he simply willed his hand to reach out and grab his head, which he placed on top of his shoulders. As soon as it was attached, Tahu felt everything else seem to "activate" inside his entire body. Organs materialized within and more wires, or "muscles" reached out to attach and combine with one another. He spotted a few extra bolts on the ground, which he grabbed and reattached to his shoulder joints.

Tahu moved his joints around, flexing his hands out a bit as well. Seems like everything's in place. Good as new…

Almost…

Something is missing…

He glanced around the underground area, seeing if maybe he missed a body part or a lug nut. Finding nothing, he then examined the empty pod. At the very end laid a familiar silver mask. 'I guess my face is detachable as well,' he thought as he reached in and grabbed it.

As he placed it on, he was suddenly taken by the powerful surge of energy flowing through his body. The mask turned from silver to gold, as did his arms and some of his other joints. Other parts turned from a dull gray to a bright red.

Tahu finally felt whole.

He let out a long breath. "Now to find a way out of this place and figure out where I am."

He reached out his hand, and a fire sword materialized in his grip. He then made his way down the corridors of the underground burrow-like tunnels.

As he raced through, a dozen questions kept buzzing through his head. Most of them revolved around this strange and unfamiliar place, and how he got here to begin with. While walking on, he noticed how some of the tunnel pathways were narrowed and small. Occasionally, he had to duck his head down in order not to bump it on the ceiling. What kind of creatures lived here that they didn't need to expand the space around them?

Before he could fathom a possible answer, he turned another corner, coming face to face with a very strange creature, one he had never seen before.

The creature had mostly orange fur but with a white tummy and muzzle, and inside his ears. He also wore some clothing: white gloves with a black band, and red and white sneakers with white socks. Not that Tahu himself was aware what these types of clothing were anyway…

But what really stuck out on this creature was that he had not one tail, but TWO.

There was a brief moment of silence between the two, both stunned with shock seeing the other... until the orange-furred creature screamed out in fright. In response, Tahu punched him square in the face.

The creature fell unconscious, and Tahu quickly ran down the tunnels. He didn't mean to hurt the little guy… it was more of a reflex of fear, especially since he still couldn't quite get a full hold on what was happening around him.

He suddenly heard voices behind him, possibly others that heard the commotion. Not long after that, there were footsteps that sounded like they were chasing him, Tahu tried to pour on more speed as panicked thoughts kept racing in his head. He had to- no, he NEEDED to find a way out of this place! NOW!

He frantically looked around himself, and his eyes came across a path that led upwards. Finally, an exit! He rushed over and climbed out like a bullet rapid-fired from a machine gun.

Once he was at the top, he climbed out, pushing over a faux tree-stump to escape. He took notice of his surroundings once more. He was outside, and as he suspected, he was in a forest.

But there was no time to stop and think about it as he remembered that he was being chased.

However, he couldn't even take another step before he saw the fake tree stump get knocked over and a blur blur rush out. It stopped right in front of him… it was as fast as a flash of lightning! How is that possible?!

This creature was much different from the first… He was taller, slender, and had blue fur and quills with a tan belly and muzzle. Like the orange one, he too was wearing gloves and red and white sneakers.

"Hold it, buddy!" the creature said, holding out its palms, "Take it easy! I ain't gonna hurt you…"

Tahu wasn't taking any chances, and turned to make a break for it. However, the blue spiny creature was suddenly right in front of him. "I said hold it!" he snapped.

Tahu again tried to run away in a different direction, but every time he tried it, Sonic would be right there, not allowing him to get by. "Come on, pal," the creature snapped, "This is getting old. Just give it up!"

Tahu himself had enough. He grabbed the hilt of his Fire Sword, and its blade ignited in a burst of flames. He swung it at the creature, who was quick to dodge before suffering a single singe. The sword instead hit a tree, slicing it in half like a hot knife through butter.

"YEOW!" the blue creature cried, "Now that's hot stuff!"

As the sliced-half tree slid to the ground, Tahu turned to face the blue creature, who in return tightened his fists and dropped to a stance. He must know now that Tahu was not someone to take lightly.

Tahu reared back, holding up his Flame Sword. Before he could bring down another swing…

"Wait! Stop! Please!"

Tahu glanced over. Just behind the blue animal came running up now a third creature. This one had brown fur with red hair, big blue eyes, and was wearing a blue vest with blue boots. She looked far more delicate and, dare he say, even beautiful. Though she was running to him, he felt a sense that she meant no harm.

"Please put your sword down," the brown creature said softly, holding up her hands in a calming matter. Somehow, her actions seemed to have a far better effect than the blue one's did. Tahu found himself lowering his sword, and his entire defense as well.

"I know you must be scared and don't know who we are," the brown animal continued, "I can only imagine being in such an unfamiliar place with creatures you probably don't recognize…"

Funny… It's like she could read his mind!

"I promise," she continued, placing a hand over her heart, "We won't hurt you. We want to help. You can trust us…"

"How can I if I don't even know you..?" Tahu spoke.

"Let's start from the beginning," the creature smiled, "My name is Sally. I was once princess of Mobotropolis and the Acorn Kingdom, but here in the forest, titles mean nothing to me." She then gestured over to the blue creature. "My hot-headed friend over there is Sonic. He's actually very brave and nice."

"And the kid you knocked out was Tails," Sonic replied, crossing his arms, "Since you're just nervous, I'll let your little attack slide…"

Tahu calmly placed away his Fire Sword. "I'm sorry," he responded, "I was still a little delirious and unnerved… I still am, a bit, actually…"

"Why not tell us who you are," said Sally.

"I'm…" Tahu trailed off. After everything that just happened, he completely forgot that he, well, had forgotten everything about himself. "I'm Tahu," he replied, "And… that's all I know about myself. I don't remember what exactly I am, where I'm from, or how I got here. And more importantly, where am I right now?"

Sally stepped forward and took his hand into hers. "I'm sorry," she replied, "We'll do everything we can to help you. Just tell us what you need."

"Right now I don't need anything," Tahu replied lowly, "What I want is answers…" He narrowed his eyes, "And one way or another, I'm going to get them!"