TheShamanMaster presents...

Tail's Predicament

Story & Script by TheShamanMaster

Sonic & Friends © SEGA & Sonic Team

Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic...

Chapter 8: Tails vs. Joker, Round 2

Sparks flew as the katanas came into contact. Tails forced all his grip on his blade, and with a bit of luck managed to push Joker back a few feet. Swifting the blade along the floor, he raised it above his head, and took a fighting stance.

"What are you!?" Tails demanded angrily. "Why are you doing this!?"

Joker grinned a smile so menacing and evil, even Tails himself was afraid at this point.

"I've already told you who I am. Don't even begin with that 'Shadow' crap. I told you, he's long gone. I've been born into this world. The people here are pathetic misreable creatures. Going about their everyday lives living in their own harmony. Thinking they'll be free of fear and panic for the rest of their lives. I'm here to show and demonstrate how you can use it..."

"What are you talking about?" said Tails. "You're not making sense."

"As I was saying." Joker continued, slowly moving the blade around. "Using fear, you can manipulate people, change them. Make them submit to their inner demons, take away their desires. Most people don't understand this."

"Rubbish." Tails replied. "As long as people are willing to believe in themselves, as long as they have friends, loved ones; nothing can ever bring them down."

Joker laughed. "Is that what you really think? Hope? Love? Friends? Don't make me sick! That crap doesn't mean anything! People who think others are their friends always end up the lonely ones! Fear of hatred. Fear of betrayal. Fears that slowly build up and turn into emotions of anger, rage, sorrow. It's a beautiful thing watching people tear themselves apart from society and from the inside. The thought it just so exciting and-"

"Shut up!" Tails shouted as raced towards Joker and lunged a horizontal slash across him. He dodged it, just cutting his suit apart. Looking down, he was not pleased.

"Man. Look at what you did! Now I have nothing to wear for the party!"

"The party's over for you and your goons. Now, let Amy go now!"

"Don't you listen, fox?" Joker said smugly. "Beat me, then the girl goes free!" Racing towards the kitsune, he performed multiple slashes in all directions, with Tails blocking each one swiftly and quickly. Going for a sneak attack, the hedgehog disappeared and re-appeared behind the young fox in an attempt to stab him in the back. Barely moving, the blade cut some of the fur of his left tail and impacted it on the returning sword. He jumped up, and swung directly down on Joker's face, cutting into the flesh. Tails was then kicked in the stomach as the Joker screamed in pain.

"AAAAAARRRRGGHHHHH! YOU BASTARD!" The clowned hedghog screamed with rage. "I'll SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL! I'LL KILL YOU!" Blood ran down his face, as Tails noticed he had cut across all the way down the right side of his face, now producing a long, narrow scar. Breathing heavily, both raised their swords once more and swung to impact one another.

"Seems I've got it now..." Tails smirked.

"Don't get so cocky, bastard-fox!" Forcing all the pressure on his left hand, he reached into his backpocket, and pulled out a switchblade and slashed Tails across the arm, causing his grip to fall afterward sending his shin into the fox's chest sending him flying back, smashing into a crate. Looking at him, Tails' right arm was bleeding rapidly, and the rest of his body felt heavy. Joker snarled loudly and it evolved into dark laughter. Walking over to the beaten fox, he tossed the switch blade aside, raising his katana close to his face once again.

"You were saying?" Coming closer, Tails clutched his wound with one hand, and picked up his blade ready to defend himself.

"Face it. You've lost this. You've scared my face, but what I've done to a limb is a lot more..."

"I can still fight. I still have life in me. As long as I have breath in my body, I won't...pant... give...pant... up no...pant.. matter what!" Tails panted uncontrollably.

"I admire your determination, but look at the situation here! I have the upper hand. With no allies to back you up, you've lost. Shame, if only Sonic were here, I'd get the kick out of fighting him also..."

Tails looked him dead the eye. "I can do this without Sonic! I can do this! Face it Shadow you scumbag! You'll never win. NEVER." He shouted the last word, spitting in the hedgehog's face.

Joker brought the blade close to his neck and whispered. "Don't. EVER. Call me that...Say goodnight!" Taking a step back, he lifted the sword up high ready to bring it down. Tails was out of action. He body weak, his wound seeping what energy he had left, his vision blurring out.

So this is it huh? I've tried everything. What a rotten day this has been. Still, I've done everything I can. Sorry, Amy. I really am. Goodbye everyone...I'll miss you all..." The fox closed his eyes, seeing nothing but darkness...

"Hahahahahahaha!" As the blade was brought down, there was a sound of flesh being pierced and metal being clashed. What happened next, well, what quite unexpected...

In the stadium, DragonForce had just finished playing an act for the hardcore fans, and now Herman Li had the honor of being the announcer for the rest of the evening.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" He announced proudly. "Our next act, and who look to be the next future kings of rock, are The PsyChaotix! Give them a hand people!"

The audience began cheering and clapping as Sonic and the Chaotix entered the stage ready to begin. Vector sorted out his drums, while Sonic and Espio were tuning their guitars slightly. The crowd looked astonished as Sonic approached the microphone.

"Are you crazy mother-bleep-ers ready to rock? Let's get to this now! Espio!" Sonic called out as Espio began playing the intro riff to Inside The Fire by Disturbed. The cheers went even higher as Sonic began the demonic laugh of the song, before moving onto the verses:

"Oooh. Devon. Won't go to heaven. She's just another lost soul about to be mine again..."

Herman Li watched from the side line with the judges, when he got a call on his cell phone. "Hello?...Yes...This is being broadcasted on MTV you say? WHAT!? Worldwide? Do you know what this means?"

In Chicago in a recording studio, Dan Donegan, the guitarist of Disturbed was channel surfing before landing on MTV. His eyes grew wide as he witness what was being shown.

"Oi, David. You'd better come and have a look at this..." He said turning up the volume.

David Draiman, who was playing pool with Mike Wengren looked up from pocketing a ball. "What's up?"

"Best have a look." David placed his cue stick down and looked over on the screen. He saw what looked like a familiar hedghog and several characters playing one of his songs.

"Isn't that Sonic the Hedgehog?" Mike wondered

"Yeah, the guy from the video games. And he's playing Inside the Fire. David, should we sue 'em?" Dan asked. David listened to how cool Inside the Fire sounded. As the guitar solo began, he could an armadillo scratching over, distorting the sound, yet making it sound more powerful. He chuckled.

"No. That actually sounds good. Maybe we should get a DJ as well..."

"David, are you nuts? That goes against our music style, now what about suing these guys?"

"Let 'em continue..wait a sec.." David picked up his ringing cell. "Hello?...Oh, hey Herman long time no-...yes...I know they're playing our song...Yes, if they do anymore, tell 'em it's alright..." He hung up. "I'm not gonna miss a minute of this."

Dan just shook his head. Back at the stadium, the audience had gone crazy for The PsyChaotix, and now wanted an encore. Just then, Scourge and his gang bursted onto the stage right next to him.

"Scourge!" Sonic shouted into the mic. "What are you doing here?" Scourge was wearing an odd-looking jumpsuit and a mask.

Scourge just smiled. "I'm here to kick your butt once and for all! Take it away, Sleuth!" Sleuth Dawg began drumming rapidly. The stage went dark, as flames ignited around the back.

"OOOHHH YAARRRRGGGHHHHH!" Scourge roared loudly. Bangs and smashes echoed through the stage as Psychosocial began. Fiona started to shred on her guitar so quickly, Charmy was getting dizzy from watching her fingers move back and forth so quickly. The judges were all gobsmacked at how heavy the track sounded. However one of the judges was not pleased.

"Get those bitches off the stage right now! I want that arsehole dead!" It happened to be Corey Taylor, the lead singer of Slipknot. As he tried jumping onto the main floor, Herman Li and Joey Jordison held him back.

"Corey, just chill already!" Herman said trying to calm him down. "Let them play! Who cares about that guy?"

"No! I won't have that wannabe stealing MY look or better yet, doing MY vocals!" Struggling, Herman kicked him in the back of each leg, causing him to drop to his knees.

"Christ Herman! Even you must be pissed off!" Taylor limped back over to the judges chair.

"No, not really. If he tries anything, we'll kick him off the stage..."

Moments later the song ended. The audience were cheering louder and harder then ever before, they were left deciding on which act was better. Luckly, Herman jumped on stage and grabbed the mic.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, and fellow rockers! One of the judges has told me that it is a very tight choice between PsyChaotix and Destructix! So in order to decide, we're doing one final face off on one of the craziest things we've ever done! A run through of Through the Fire and Flames!"

"What!?" Scourge yelled. "Don't bullshit me! We've won this! No way we're doing your crappy song!"

The guitarist was not pleased. "Say that again, and I promise you won't live long enough to listen to anymore music! Now, do you people want a face-off or not?"

The people went raving mad with screams and yells of 'hell yeah!'. Sonic smiled at Vector and nodded at him.

"Let's do this!" Vector said with a proud figure.

As the instruments were tuned finely. the stage went dark completly. A single spotlight shone on Espio and Fiona. As they began the opening riff, the drums kicked in. The lights began a rhythmic pattern with the drums as the song began finally. Mighty was already using his soundboard to include more electronica then the original already had. The riffage sped up, as both hedgehog began singing at the same time.

"On a cold winter morning...in the time before light...In flames of death's eternal reign, We ride towards the fight!" Surprisingly, Scourge had growled the last line as Drago began the bass sound. What was yet to be the outcome of this, the entire Station Square was to find out...

Upon hearing the strike of the blade, Tails opened one eye. Seeing something fuzzy in front of him, he had no idea what it was.

"Am I dead?" He asked softly.

"...No...Be glad of that..." Came a rough voice. Joker fell to his knees.

"Damn you." He muttered.

Tails opened his other eye slowly to look at who had saved him. Out of the blue it's someone he wasn't expecting...

To Be Continued...

Ah yes! Cliffhanger! I know you must think I'm evil but I'll let you guess who saved Tails' life! Hope you enjoyed this! Oh and all the music lyrics and such belong to their own bands! Hope you enjoyed all the cameos. They were Herman Li from Dragonfoce, Corey Taylor & Joey Jordison from Slipknot and David Draiman & Dan Donegan from Disturbed. Please don't sue!

Next time, Tails is recovered by the stranger, but Shadow Joker refuses to give up, igniting one last trap of his. On stage, Espio and Fiona begin one of the longest guitar face offs. but who wins? Find out next time in Chapter 9: It's The End...