Chapter 4
Family
"Wait… Sonic, you have a family?" Miles asked.
"Uh… yeah, doesn't everyone?" Sonic asked back.
"Not in my timeline you don't! I've known you for years, and I never met a single member of your family!" Miles explained.
"Well, I guess that is just something that makes this timeline different from yours." Tails said. "We did agree that both timelines are almost completely different, right?"
"Right… right, I guess I should expect this sort of thing…" Miles sighed out.
"Right… so would you boys mind explaining to me what is going on?" Chuck asked.
"I tried to make a time machine, something went wrong, and now Eggman has my wife, so we are going to rescue her tomorrow." Miles explained rather quickly.
"A time machine… wow, you must be really brilliant in the future!" Chuck said in amazement.
"Well, I do try." Miles said, slightly embarrassed from the compliment. "Still need to work out some issues with it though. For starters, the fact that we went to the wrong timeline all together…"
"Still, you achieved time travel! I bet no-one ever does that by accident!" Chuck said.
"Yeaaaaah… about that…" Miles said grimly as he looked at Sonic.
"…What happened to me?"
As Chuck went to make some chili dogs for the four boys, Miles explained what had happened to the Sonic in his timeline.
"So, I basically don't exist anymore in your world…" Sonic said. "At least Eggman isn't around there though."
"Still, not having you there for most of my life… it was rough…" Miles said.
"Yeah, I can imagine… I don't want to think about what my life would be like without Sonic…" Tails said.
"Well you won't have to. I ain't going anywhere buddy!" Sonic said as he rubbed the fox's head.
"So… your wife…" Tails said.
"Again, I can't tell you who she is." Miles explained.
"I know, I was just wondering how you met her." Tails said. "I mean, it is obvious that it is probably going to be really different here, so I am curious."
"Well, I guess you can say we met through Sonic." Miles explained. "He met her in her home town, which was under attack by Eggman's robots, and she showed promising stuff at the time, so he had her come along in a battle to save Angel Island from Metal Sonic."
"Well, we know that THAT isn't how we are meeting her." Sonic said. "Not after the last time Eggman tried to steal the Master Emerald…"
Miles noticed a tense air suddenly fill the room.
"What happened?" Miles asked.
"We… don't like talking about it. Knuckles is still pretty bitter about the whole thing to be honest." Sonic said. "Point is, Eggman was almost killed because he tried to take the Master Emerald, so we doubt he is trying that, at least, not any time soon."
"…Ok… if you say so." Miles said, upset that there was tension between two of his closest friends in this timeline.
At that point, Chuck returned with the Chili dogs.
"So… What's the plan for you right now?" Chuck asked.
"Rescue my wife in the morning, then go home." Miles explained. "For now though… I guess there is something I want to do."
"An that is…?" Sonic asked.
Miles just smiled and looked towards Skye.
"I want Skye to meet his Grandparents of course!"
—
"Mom! Dad! I'm home! And I brought guests!" Tails said as he entered his house.
"Tails sweetie! You're home early! Not much to do?" Rosemary Prower said as she hugged her son.
"Well, there was this one thing… you will not believe what happened if I told you." Tails said.
"Humor us." Amadeus Prower said.
"Well…"
"GRANDMA! GRANDPA!" Skye shouted as he ran up to his grandparents and began to hug them.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Skye, this is not how we planned this!" Tails said, feeling very worried.
"Miles Prower… is there something you're not telling us?" Rosemary asked.
"H-Hold on! Let me explain!" Tails said.
"Please, enlighten us." Amadeus said.
"Well… you see… funny thing…"
"I think it would be better if I explained this." Miles said as he entered the room. "Hello… Mom… Dad…"
"… What in the world?"
"Mom, Dad… meet a future me and his son, Skye." Tails introduced.
"… Oh…" Rosemary said.
"Well then… this was unexpected." Amadeus added.
"Yeah… I can imagine this is really weird for you two…" Miles said.
"No, it's fine. Compared the things that our son has told us about, this is nothing." Rosemary said.
"Really? Your son from the future just walks through the door and it is NOT the weirdest thing you have seen?!" Miles asked.
"There's a giant panda god that has control over the chaos emeralds." Tails answered.
...
"Ok yeah, I guess after that, there really shouldn't be anything that surprises you." Miles said.
"Right. So, you mind explaining what exactly is going on?" Amadeus asked.
"To put thing simply, I tried making a time machine, and it sent me and my family here during a test… and my wife got caught by Eggman." Miles explained.
"So, you decided to bring your son along for a test run of a time machine?" Rosemary asked.
"We HAD intended on him staying behind… but someone had another idea." Miles said as he shot a pointed look at Skye.
"… Sorry…" Skye said, looking down.
"Hey, it's alright. You just wanted to see your Uncle again, that's all." Miles said.
"Speaking of the uncle, I'm here too!" Sonic said as he walked into the room.
"Oh! Hello there Sonic!" Rosemary said. "I am guessing you are all staying for dinner?"
"Yeah, and if you don't mind, me and Skye need a place to spend the night." Miles explained.
"Of course! We will get the guest room ready for you two." Rosemary said as she walked away.
"Right, thanks a lot." Miles said as Rosemary went to do just that.
The rest of the day was just everyone talking, getting to know each other, and enjoying a nice meal.
That night
After putting Skye to bed for the night, Miles, after being unsuccessful in his attempt at sleep, went outside to look at the stars.
"Figured you would be out here." Came a familiar voice.
Miles turned around to see Amadeus walking towards him.
"Can't sleep?"
"Not really… just really worried is all." Miles explained.
"You will be able to save her tomorrow, I'm sure of it." Amadeus explained.
"I know we will… it's just that I don't know what Eggman's doing to her is all…" Miles explained.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure she can handle it. If she is as tough as you said she was at least."
"Yeah, the toughest girl I have ever met… and that includes Amy and Rouge." Miles said with a laugh. "She's a lot stronger than I am, that's for sure. I'm just the brains between the two of us."
"I am sure she is quite the lady." Amadeus said.
Miles then pulled out a picture from his lab coat, he then pointed to the lemur in the picture.
"That's her?" Amadeus asked.
"Yeah, that's Tangle." Miles said.
"Quite the sporty one, isn't she?" Amadeus asked.
"She's always been big on adventure. You should of seen how excited she was when we had her come with us to fight Metal Sonic for the first time." Miles said.
"Well then, it's a good thing she found you. Those types always needs someone smart and cautious to keep them out of trouble." Amadeus said. "Just look at you and Sonic."
"Yeah… you're right." Miles said. "But I also need her, as someone to keep me going, keep me fighting."
"Of course… your family is really important to you, huh?"
"Yeah… probably because I never really had someone aside from Sonic before." Miles explained.
"Wait… what about us? Surely we exist in your world, don't we?" Amadeus, referring to himself and Rosemary.
"I'm sure you do… but…"
"… Touchy subject?" Amadeus asked.
"…Yeah…"
"Then I won't push any further." Amadeus proclaimed.
"No, it's fine… you're probably the best person I can talk to about this." Miles said.
"You see… as far back as I could remember, I have been alone. My last memory of my parents is them putting me to sleep one night." Miles explained. "Then, the next thing I know, I am waking up in some bush, all alone. I eventually found my way home, only to find everything gone, including my parents. Ever since, I have always assumed that… they abandoned me…"
Miles was starting to shed some tears now.
"I don't really know why… nor do I want to know… all I know is that I don't want to ever feel that alone ever again."
"… I see…" Amadeus said. "Do you want my opinion on all of this?"
"Sure."
"I don't think they abandoned you." Amadeus started, earning a look from Miles. "If your parents are anything like us, then I know that they would never leave you without good reason. I think that, when you go back, you should try and find them again, and try and get some closure on this. You may be surprised by what happens."
"… You really think so?"
"I do."
"… Alright, I think I'll do that." Miles said with a smile.
"Good, now, you should get some sleep. You have a wife to save tomorrow!" Amadeus said.
"Right." Miles said before the two went inside.
The sight that greeted them, was probably the most adorable thing they have ever seen.
"Guess he noticed that I left, huh?" Miles said with a laugh.
Sitting on the couch in the middle of the room was Skye, who was fast asleep, along with the younger Tails, who was using his namesakes to keep Skye warm.
"Yeah, I would say so." Amadeus said. "I'll get them a blanket, you go sleep."
"Right, good night." Miles said before heading back to bed.
The next day
Miles and the others were standing outside, ready to head out for the day.
"This will probably be the last time I see you… so good luck Miles." Amadeus said as he extended his hand.
"Take care, ok?" Rosemary added.
"I will, thank you both." Miles said as he took his father's hand.
"Don't forget what we talked about, ok?" Amadeus said.
"I won't." Miles responded.
"Good, now get going."
And with that, the four began to walk towards Freedom HQ.
End of Chapter 4
I thought having Miles and Skye meet Amadeus and Rosemary would be a nice little thing. :)
See you all for Chapter 5!