Hello everybody! I'm sorry for making you all wait so long for another chapter of this story, with Christmas and family things coming up, I haven't had much time to write recently! I'm back now however so let's get started!
Hjue44: The foreboding feeling is certain to be present, especially after what's happened recently…
TheGameNguyener: While he's alive, everything's not quite dealt with yet...
Obliviblur: With Tails' memories back, and the worse behind them, it's certainly going to get better from here! Hopefully both of them are going to be able to fully recover and get back at it again! Alright everybody, let's get started!
Waves
Eve of Injury
Later that night, Sonic found himself unable to sleep… He tossed and turned in his infirmary bed, trying to get himself to relax. Every time he tried to doze off however, he would see that… Thing… Despite his knowledge that Tails forgave him for what had happened, and the soft purring of the kit in the bed across from him; he was unable to stop thinking about it.
He tried to close his heavy eyelids, and was almost instantly met with the familiar haunting voice. "Back again? You know you can't get rid of me."
Sonic sighed and turned around to face the apparition. Somehow, his injuries had only gotten worse from the last time he saw him. Dried and fresh blood caked into his fur and his leg torn down to the bone in some places, strips of flesh severed from his body.
"Can you just leave me alone!?" The hedgehog exclaimed.
"Why would I? Your fear is delicious…"
"If you want me to get you something that tastes like mint, you could gave just asked!"
The kitsune rolled his eyes, "You understand what I'm saying. I have no reason to leave, remember, I just take the form of your greatest fear… So long as you let me stay like this, I will. But know regardless of what form I take, I will always be here…" The bloodstained fur around his mouth twisted into a smile, "On that note, let's get started…"
The kitsune lunged at the hedgehog and right before he was about to make contact and plow the speedster into the dirt, Sonic woke up, gasping for breath again.
He figured that since he wasn't going to get any sleep anyways, he'd go at least find something to do. He stood up from his bed and silently crept out of the infirmary, being careful not to wake Tails as he did. As soon as the door shut behind him, he was startled by a familiar voice.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The hedgehog turned and found Sally, with a seemingly disappointed look on her face. The hedgehog quickly began to explain, "I couldn't sleep so I figured I'd just find something to do."
"Not going to happen, you're going back in that room."
"Come on Sal, it's not that big of a deal."
"Not that big of a deal? Not that big of a deal!?"
"Shouldn't have said that…" Sonic muttered before the chipmunk started onto a ramble as she released the emotions she'd been having over the past days.
"You have no idea what you've put all of us through! What you put Tails and ne through! You almost killed yourself, and if I hadn't found you when I did!? You think that's not a big deal!? You're our friend, more than that, you're our family Sonic! For Chaos' sake you think none of us are going to care when you pull a stunt like that!? Are you insane!?"
"Calm down S-"
"I need to calm down!? I thought you were dead! We all thought you were… Were…"
The princess's normally stoic emotions started to fail her as she broke into tears, Sonic immediately pulled her into a hug, "I know Sal, and, I think it's about time I told you what happened…"
Sonic proceeded to tell her everything that had been happening to him over the past couple days. About the nightmares, his guilt for what had happened, and the fear he'd experienced when Tails' memory had been wiped. The princess listened on.
"I'm just not sure what to do Sal… I mean, with that, thing in my head. And with Tails still being hurt… Maybe not even able to walk, I'm just not sure what to do with myself, I've never felt this useless before… You probably feel the same way, or at least do a little…"
"I do but, it's mainly that you tried to…"
"I know I did Sal, and I shouldn't have… I didn't mean to put you guys through this… I was just so overwhelmed and I know I should have talked to you sooner…"
"At least you're telling me now, I think we've all been going through a lot and with Tails finally getting completely fixed up tomorrow we can maybe get this all behind us and get back to normal."
"I hope so…"
"Now get back to bed. You need your sleep."
"Alright, night Sal."
The hedgehog returned to his bed and relaxed, gently allowing himself to drift off to sleep. As soon as he did, the familiar apparition appeared in his thoughts. "Interesting…"
"I'm not scared of you, now leave me alone."
The spirit simply laughed, "I guess I've done enough for tonight, how about we continued this tomorrow?"
Before Sonic could even respond, the being was gone. He figured he might as well use this opportunity while he could and he allowed the embrace of sleep to take him.
-X-
Tails groaned as he woke up, stretching himself out on the bed as he sat upright. Wiping the sleep out of his eyes, he remembered that today was the day his surgery had been scheduled for. While he was happy to finally get this whole thing over with and to maybe start working on a new prosthetic limb for himself, he was also very nervous about it. This kind of stuff scared him and he was terrified of what could happen.
Sonic was also naturally very scared, he had almost lost the kit the last time they tried to before a surgery on him, and the hedgehog was nervous it would happen again. He did have faith in Rotor's skills, but he was terrified of losing his family.
Sally noticed the hedgehog's distress and nervous behavior and tried her best to keep him calm as they prepared to start. Deep down however, she was also nervous, just doing a better job ag hiding it. Tails had become something of a son to her, and she hoped he'd make it out of this alright…
Eventually however, hours later, the scheduled time came and Bunnie and Rotor made their way into the infirmary, where Tails was busy trying to calm himself. "H- Hey guys…" He spoke, trying his best to calm his nerves.
Rotor began to prepare his tools as Bunnie came over to him. "Hey, hopefully we'll be quick alright?"
"Bunnie, will this hurt like- like last time?"
The rabbit looked to Rotor for an answer, which he quickly gave. "It's going to hurt, but it's not going to be as bad as when we took off your leg. Plus, this is your last one, so you'll be good after this."
The kit nervously nodded as Bunnie began to fasten the straps securing the kit to the bed. The fox's eyes widened and his breathing and heart rate noticeably sped up.
"I'm sorry for this," Bunnie told him. "We just can't have you moving around for this, I'm really sorry we've got to do this to you again."
With enough comforting, the fox eventually calmed down, his breathing returning to normal. Rotor made his way over with the thread and needle that was going to be used to repair the chest cavity. The kit's bandages were removed and Bunnie extended her hand out to the fox. "You can hold it if you want, if it makes you feel any better."
"T- Thanks…" The kit responded, shakily taking her hand.
"Alright," Rotor began. "I'll try and make this quick, hopefully we can just get this over with. You ready?"
Tails nervously nodded and Rotor moved the needle down to the edge of his skin and began to thread it through.
The kitsune screamed in pain, as without proper amounts of anesthesia, it hurt like crazy. While it was nowhere near as unimaginably painful as it had been when his leg was removed, it still sent flares of white hot pain through his system as the needle moved through each side of his skin.
He could feel each individual pinprick and puncture as Rotor worked, a grimace spread across the kit's face. Bunnies wished there was more she could do, but she had to refrain because they didn't want him getting hurt again.
After what felt like an hour to the fox, but was actually only a few minutes, the pain stopped and kitsune relaxed himself, panting to catch his breath.
"Well," Rotor spoke. "That should hopefully be everything patched up!"
"S- So you're saying I can get out of here?"
"I think so, I mean, you'll probably still have to have Sonic carry you for the time being, at least, until you can make a replacement."
As if he had been summoned, the hedgehog burst through the door and instantly pulled Tails into a tight hug, "Thank Chaos you're alright!"
"Yeah, just a bit lightheaded, but I'm fine."
"How long until the stitches are out?"
"I'd give it two or three weeks," Rotor responded. "They should really just fall out on their own."
Sally made her way into the room as Sonic was busy picking up the kitsune and throwing him onto his back, his singular remaining leg and both his namesakes dangling downward as he was held. "So, what do you want to do bud!?" The hedgehog asked.
"I don't know…" The kit responded, thinking over his answer for a minute. "I guess we could go on a run, like we always do!"
Sonic gave him and nod and before any of the other Freedom Fighters could intervene, he had sped off and was quickly out of the compound. As the made their way out into the fresh air, Tails took in a couple deep breaths, accustoming himself to the fresh air. Sonic continued on their little outing, allowing the wind to rub through the smiling fox's face and bangs.
After a moment, the hedgehog began to decelerate, eventually coming to a stop at the top of a familiar cliff.
"Why here?" Tails asked, knowing full well where the duo was.
"I just figured we could sit for a minute; watch the sunset you know!"
"You? Sit for a minute? I've got to be dreaming…"
The hedgehog burst out laughing at the comment. "Sometimes, I just like spending time with you. You know?"
The two sat at the base of the singular tree on the cliff, the kitsune leaned over and rested his head on the hedgehog's shoulder. Slowly closing his eyes in relaxation. Eventually, the speedster heard soft purring next to him and found that the kitsune had fallen asleep, more than likely exhausted from the recent surgery.
He couldn't help but smile, the worse was behind them, and it was about time he started to get his brother back.
Alright everybody, that's it for today! I hope you all liked it! Leave me your thoughts! Until next time!