Welcome to the first Subchapter! These chapters will be quick stories all about certain events that are mentioned in the main story, but I didn't quite want to elaborate on a lot in those chapters. I waited till now to post the first one because I wanted these to be in chronological order. And since this event takes place 3 days after Sonic disappeared, and it was just mentioned in the Tails chapter, I waited till now to do this. There isn't really a set layout for how the main and sub chapters are going to happen, but I hope to do one ever other chapter. Also, in case you guys wanted me to get to the next main chapter, don't worry, I will have it out tomorrow morning. I did kinda leave you at a cliffhanger after all. So, enjoy!

Subchapter 1: The Accident

Three Days After Sonic's Disappearance

Tails, Knuckles, Tangle, Whisper, and The Chaotix had all gathered to search an old Eggman base that The Restoration had recently discovered. Since Sonic had disappeared, everyone threw around theories as to where he exactly and Eggman went. One of those theories was that Eggman managed to capture Sonic, and was holding him in one of his bases. As such, a team was made to search various Eggman bases for the two of them, while the others traveled the world and searched various cities and zones.

"So, this is the place. Let's hope we find some clues." Tails said as he led the group inside.

Tails' injuries from the fight on Angel Island weren't that severe, so he had already recovered for the most part, with the only real sign of any damage being a bandage on his head.

When they got inside, they saw two paths, as such, they decided to split up, with Knuckles going with the Chaotix down one path, and Tails going with Tangle and Whisper down the other.

A little ways into the base, Tails' group came across what appeared to be some sort of lab. While Tangle and Whisper took a look around, Tails did some digging on a nearby computer.

"Let's see here… oh…" Tails said.

"What's up?" Tangle called over.

"From the looks of things, this place is where Eggman was experimenting with the Phantom Ruby!" Tails revealed.

"The Phantom Ruby?… OH! That thing that Infinite guy used, right?" Tangle said. While she didn't exactly fight in the war, she did hear all about it.

"Yeah, this is probably where Eggman created him." Tails said. "Now, let's see if we… can… find…" Tails stopped talking as he glanced to his right.

Tangle, confused by Tails' action, followed his gaze. And what she saw caught her off guard.

Inside one of the machines was Sonic, just floating there.

"SONIC!" Tails yelled out before rushing over to his friend.

Tangle on the other hand, pulled out a communicator to contact the others. "Good news guys! We found Sonic!"

"Really?! That's great! We will meet you over there right away!" Knuckles said through the communicator.

Tangle then put the communicator away, and just watched as Tails excitingly typed away at the computer, trying to free Sonic.

'He was really worried, huh?'

Whisper then approached Tangle from behind. "You found him… that's good."

"Yeah, Tails seems really happy too, so I say mission accomplished!" Tangle said.

Then, something caught her eye. Behind Whisper, in another machine, was Sonic…

Another Sonic.

And inside a multitude of other machines, were more. Many, many more.

"Wh-what the…?"

Then it hit her, this place was where Eggman was experimenting on the Phantom Ruby. The Ruby was used to trick his enemies minds, make them think something is there, when they weren't.

That meant…

"Oh no…!" Tangle said. "TAILS! GET AWAY FROM-"

"Huh?" Tails said as he turned around, but not before pushing one last key on the keyboard.

And the machine suddenly exploded.

—

Knuckles and The Chaotix all felt the ground shake shortly after they received word from Tangle. Growing worried, Knuckles pulled his communicator back out and called Tangle.

"Tangle? Are you guys ok?!" Knuckles said.

"NO WE ARE NOT!" Tangle yelled through the communicator! "WE WERE TRICKED! TAILS IS…"

"I couldn't hear that last part, what happened to Tails?!" Knuckles said.

"He's… he's not moving! He's hurt really bad! We need you here! NOW!" Tangle said before the communicator cut out.

"What do we do?!" Charmy asked.

"Isn't it obvious?! We get over there!" Vector said before running off.

After a while, the group met up with Whisper and Tangle, the latter of which was currently kneeling on the ground next to Tails.

Tails himself was in terrible shape. There were burn marks all over his fur, and his head was bleeding terribly. There was a bit of cloth wrapped around Tails' head, presumably from Whisper's cloak.

"What happened?!" Knuckles asked as he approached Whisper, making her jump.

"Phantom Ruby energy, made us think that Sonic was here." Whisper explained. "Tried to get him out, machine exploded."

"Ok, got it. Let's focus on getting Tails out of here and get him some medical attention." Knuckles said before scooping Tails up. "Let's go!"

And with that, they were off.

Four Days later

Word of Tails' accident spread like wildfire, and along with it, the fact that Sonic had disappeared.

Tails' condition had been stabilized, to everyone's relief, but he had yet to regain consciousness.

Right now, Tangle and Jewel were in Tails' room for a visit, with Amy having just left to get some food for the three.

"I know that you're blaming yourself." Jewel suddenly said.

"And how would you know that?" Tangle asked.

"I know that because I know you." Jewel said.

"But…" Tangle started, but the look on Jewel's face told her that her friend wasn't going to back down. "… Ok fine, maybe I am."

"You know it isn't your fault that this happened." Jewel said.

"I know that… I just can't help but feel like I could of done more… maybe figured out what was happening quicker, getting him away from the machine before it exploded… something."

This statement was met with a laugh coming from the door. "You know, you and Sonic really are alike."

Tangle and Jewel looked towards the source of the voice, and saw Amy standing there with a tray of food.

"Sonic would be feeling the exact same way as you are right now. He would probably be saying something like 'I was… too slow…' right about now." Amy said. "Then, when Tails wakes up, he would probably say something like…"

"Don't focus on what you couldn't do, and focus on what you can."

"Yeah! Exactly that! Thanks Tails."

…

"TAILS?!"

"Hey guys, how's it going?" Said Tails, who was very much awake.

"Oh thank goodness!" Amy said before rushing to Tails' side. "We were all so worried about you!"

"How…?" Tails said.

"The machine that you were working with exploded… you were in really bad shape." Tangle explained.

"You've been here for about four days now." Jewel added.

"No… how's Sonic?"

The room fell silent.

"Tails… that wasn't Sonic." Tangle explained.

"…Huh?"

"We think that was energy from the Phantom Ruby in those machines, or at least, the prototypes of the Phantom Ruby." Amy explained. "They… they might of just been showing you what you wanted to see, to lure you into a trap."

"So… Sonic's…"

"Still missing, yeah."

Tails laid there silent, until finally, all of his anger and frustration came out in the form of tears, and the three girls in the room quickly went and comforted their friend.

End of Subchapter 1

Poor Tails, gets hurt thinking that he was freeing his best friend, only to find out that his best friend was never there. Must suck.

Yeah, not EVERYTHING in these stories is going to be super happy, positive vibes. There's going to be some angst, and that is going to be continuing into the next Subchapter. Heck, a lot of the angst is gonna be in the Subchapters.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed, and see you in the morning for Tangle's chapter!