Author's note: Here it is, the second chapter. I'm getting a little lazy about this, though.
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Segment 1: A Whole New World
Chapter 2: Population: I Don't Know
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(Leo)
I don't know how long we were asleep, and I don't remember what our dreams were. That information was unimportant compared to what happened when we woke up, so I don't remember it.
A major case of deja vu went through me as I woke. Instead of the hard, wooden bench we had been lying on earlier, we were on a bed of sand. How we had relocated, neither of us knew. We didn't even know where we were, though I had a hunch.
Kim had already woken up, and she looked around. "Toto," she finally said, "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." (Kim is a fan of classic movies.)
Joining Kim's side, I surveyed the landscape, and quickly recognized the familiar-looking town that lay before us. "Kim," I began, "welcome to Emerald Town. Population: I don't know." I laughed a little.
It just wouldn't be Kim if she didn't join in laughing. "This looks like a pretty nice place. I must admit, I always imagined it a little differently. Tails' lab must be that big building over there, and- OH, HOW CUTE!"
Looking over at what Kim had spotted, I saw a lone fox wandering out of the bushes. I've been living with Kim for a while, so I knew that Kim was going to rush over and try to pet it.
In a flash, I remembered what Tails had said about people who had just arrived here. If Kim were to touch that fox, her body would change!
I got up. "Kim! Wait! I need to tell you something!"
Kim didn't listen to me, so I ran after her. I tried to push her hand away as she reached down to pet the fox, but she pushed me back. As a result, I lost my balance, and happened to make contact with the fox's body at the exact same time that she did.
The two of us were knocked down by the resulting reaction. For a moment, we were lying on our backs, not moving at all. Kim and I sat up at roughly the same time, and glanced at each other.
"Whoa!" I yelped as I noticed Kim's new look. I was only able to look at her from the neck up, but that was sufficient. Kim now had a sleek fox body, complete with fur of a deep purple color and large fox ears.
Before I could point this out to Kim, she pointed out that I had a fox body, too. Mine, though, was red, the same color as when I'd last been to Emerald Town. That bit Tails had told me about "personality colors" was true, apparently.
Kim looked down, and promptly shrieked. "Aiyeee! I've- I've got no clothes! I've gotta find a tailor! Wait here, Leo- I've gotta go!"
I didn't even have a chance to speak before Kim got up and ran into town. The trip would've been more successful, but suddenly I was yanked from my spot by apparently nothing, and slammed into Kim with a CRASH!
For a few seconds more, Kim and I lay on the ground in a heap. Hearing the telltale sound of giggling, I picked myself up for the third time in a row and found its source. Tails had been watching the whole thing.
I reached out and slapped Tails. "Tails! This is a personal matter!"
Tails stopped giggling immediately while Kim hid behind me. "Oh, sorry. You don't see this often. Who's the girl fox?"
Kim peeked over my shoulder. "I'm- I'm Kim. My older brother, Leo, told me about this place."
"Yes," I concurred. "And I'm Leo. The same Leo who was here the other day. I'm glad to be back again, though Kim seems a little nervous. I think she needs some clothes."
"It's not as much that," Kim interjected, "as- well, you're Tails, right? Just looking at you makes me feel dizzy. I mean, what's stranger than a single fox with a double tail?"
"A married fox with a double tail?" I suggested.
"Actually," Tails interrupted, "how about a double fox with a single tail?"
I laughed out loud. "Good joke, Tails."
"Who's joking?" Tails shot back. "Look down."
Well, I looked down, and ran my hand over my own fox tail. It was red as it widened, then it turned white as it neared its widest point. After that, it began to narrow, went from white to purple, and affixed with Kim's behind. Our new fox bodies had a common tail!
Kim and I were speechless. "Of course," I figured. "Since we both touched that fox at the same time, not only did we both get fox bodies, but they wound up with a 'glitch'. Amazing! A little inconvenient, though."
"Eh, don't worry about it," Tails assured us. "Kim, I know a good tailor's shop where you can get some clothes. Don't worry, I'll pay for everything."
"Oh, thank you!" Kim cheered. "Leo, maybe you'd better come along."
It wasn't like I had any choice in the matter, so the three of us left together.
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Yeah, eh, you can see where this is going, right?