A Monarch's Corruption

Chapter 7: A Reunion?

Tails couldn't help but have a huge smile on his face as he sat on the couch in his parent's new home. It had been a wonderful reunion and Tails was just as happy to see his parents as Tails' parents had been to see him on their doorstep. Tails hadn't been so happy in the longest time, not since his own children had come into this world.

Tails now sat there on the couch sipping a cup of tea as his mother Rosemary walks into the room with a tray of cookies she had just freshly baked. She walks over to the coffee table in front of Tails and sits them onto the table in front of him. "Here you go dear, try some of these." she says then sitting down next to Tails and giving his head a small pet. Tails immediately gives a small purr to the rubbing and nods reaching forward to take one of the cookies she had made just for him. Tails might be an adult now, but he still loves the attention he gets from his parents, mainly because they had not been in his life for so much of his life.

As Tails started to bite into the cookie, his father Amadeus makes his way back into the room and takes a seat into his usual recliner. Amadeus turns the chair to face Tails and his wife and can't help but give a smile. "It's still great to see you son, and I'm still impressed that you managed to find us after being gone for so long." says Amadeus giving a rather proud smile after he made that statement.

Tails couldn't help but smile and nod to his father as he took another bite of the cookies his mother made for him. "You wouldn't believe all the things I have been through this morning, this is definitely the highlight of my day." says Tails leaning back against the soft cushions of the couch looking so happy and relaxed to be in a comfortable home, rather than back in New Mobotropolis where things looked so horrible.

Amadeus does look to his son curiously when he mentions he wouldn't believe what he has been through today. This does however spark the old general's curiosity, "And what have you been through this morning son? I hope you didn't do something too reckless?" asks Amadeus hoping he was wrong, but knowing Tails and how he was practically raised by Sonic and his friends, he wouldn't put it past his son in the least.

Tails does look a bit worried when his father asks him to tell him what he had been through this morning. Tails was rather worried his parents would scold him for doing what he did, but Tails figured he had to do it. "Well, I uh, went to New Mobotropolis thinking you both were still there. I did have to fake who I was to get in, but it was only to see you two. That's when I found your really old letter that told me you two had managed to move out of the city and move here with the others." says Tails quietly leaving out the part about his little raid into the castle.

Amadeus hearing this part just smiles and even chuckles a bit hearing the short story his son gave to him, he actually finding it rather amusing. "Well, I see some of the skills I taught you in the little time we had together before this fiasco happened came in handy then if you were able to get in and out of the hell hole so easily. It figures that Shadow's soldiers are not that bright around there. Shadow barely gives them any guidance, other than to collect taxes and make sure people follow the most obvious of laws" says Amadeus obviously getting quite a bit of amusement from what his son just said.

Tails chuckles as well and nods to his father glad that he seemed to not mind him sneaking into the old city to try and find them. Tails definitely was going to leave out the part about sneaking into the castle, at least for now, because he didn't want his parents to overly worry about him. But Tails did have other things on his mind right now. "Um, dad, could you explain what's going on here on the island? Things look to have changed big time since I was last here." asks Tails looking as casual as he possibly could now.

Amadeus nods as he leans forward in his chair to adjust his position to be able to look at Tails easier now. "Yes, things have definitely changed a lot around here. You have been away for so long, so of course this would be quite the site for you. Shadow gave this island a bit more dependency than he does with other places mainly because of the good tax revenue he gets from this island. He even has his own secondary palace here on the island as well. Knuckles however still has a strong presence on the island, so Shadow just lets him go about his business as long as the taxes and Shadow's law is upheld here." says Amadeus reaching forward now onto the table and picking up a small pipe that was resting in front of him.

"I see, so that is what is going on here. I was wondering why the legion here was so much more lenient than the ones back in New Mobotropolis. The soldiers here look more like a police force than a soldier occupation like they back in the capital." says Tails stating the observation he had made upon his arrival here on the Floating Island. Even a kid would most likely say the soldiers in the city weren't as scary as the ones back in the capital. Tails had even seen one or two even giving directions to some of the citizens when he was making his way to the city square.

"Yes, most of the soldiers here are under Knuckles' command and thus they are not as harsh as the ones down on the mainland. That is why the city here is so nice and well maintained, because Knuckles actually keeps a good bit of his funds in the city, so it can function properly. He is the guardian, so he protects his people as best he can. But with Shadow's constantly visits, or sending one of his henchmen to come do checkups on Knuckles, it seems Shadow might have been planning something." says Amadeus starting to light the pipe now between his speech to his son.

"Why do you think he might be planning something?" asks Tails curiously. Tails new his father, being an old acorn kingdom general, probably had a keen eye for small things that Tails himself might even miss. Tails still had to ask, since his father had been on the island for a long time now, and this is the first time Tails has been here since it became like it currently is.

"Well, recently Shadow has raised the taxes for the more wealthy citizens and added just a bit more onto the consumer goods tax. Most people won't notice that one, since it wasn't much, but the tax on the rich was rather noticeable. Shadow seems to be gathering money as if he is in need of funding for something. Who knows with Shadow, he might have something planned, it might just be greed. This is all simply speculation on my part." says Amadeus taking a puff from his pipe, though makes sure to face away from the other two as he puffs the smoke out.

Tails scratches his head some as he starts to think that over. Shadow hadn't seemed like he was planning anything big back when he was inside the castle, but if Shadow was up to something, he obviously wouldn't keep it out in the open where someone could see it. Shadow was smarter than that. Tails shakes off the thoughts before taking another bite of a cookie, finishing that one off. "Well, whatever Shadow might be planning, it is not good. But I do have other news and now hearing what I heard from you dad, I think I should have a talk with Knuckles right away." says Tails looking a bit more serious than he had before.

"Oh? And what news have you that you need to go see Knuckles son?" asks Amadeus tilting his head some when his son says that. Amadeus didn't hear that much good news all that often, especially from his son like this, but because Tails seemed so eager about his news, Amadeus now really wanted to know what was on the other foxes' mind.

"Well um, when I was in New Mobotropolis, I heard from a source, I doubt I was supposed to know about, that Sonic has escaped custody not too long ago and is actually running free somewhere down on the mainland. I figured Knuckles might want to know about it and maybe help find Sonic if possible" says Tails smiling a bit as he says this. Amadeus and Rosemary both pause hearing that from their son and look up at each other shocked and then back over to Tails afterwards.

"Son are you sure about that? Sonic has been locked up for years, and you are saying just now he has finally escaped and is running loose somewhere now no longer under Shadow's custody?" asks Amadeus looking rather anxious to know the answer to that question. No one had heard news about Sonic in the longest time and many wondered if he was still alive after what they saw happen to him by Shadow on the day this all first occurred. If this was true and Sonic was still alive, it was pretty much a miracle that he had lasted as long as he has.

"I'm sure of it. The guards said that Shadow has been up in arms trying to find Sonic again, so that might be what Shadow is gathering money for here. Shadow might be putting money into finding Sonic, because he is worried what might happen, if he doesn't keep Sonic away from the rest of the public." says Tails grinning a bit looking like he is very confident in his answer, so as to convince his parents that he is telling the truth and is confident about his answer.

Amadeus and Rosemary do look to be considering what their son had been telling them for a moment before finally smiling and nodding to Tails. "I believe you son. If what you say is true, I'm sure Knuckles would like to know about it. Shadow may have already told him and Knuckles may be on Shadow's side, but I would say with your history with Knuckles I think he might want to know if he doesn't already know." says Amadeus now taking another puff of his pipe.

"I know coming and visiting you two was my primary reason for coming here, but I feel I have a responsibility to do what is needed to help Sonic. If Sonic is out there still alive and free, I want to do all I can to track Sonic down and find him. I might have a few ideas as to where he might go into hiding at, but I doubt anyone else would, unless they knew him as well as I do." says Tails not wanting to give away what he knew already. Tails already knew where Sonic most likely was hiding out, but Tails didn't want to tell his parents and have it used against him or something bad like that.

Amadeus had a clue as to where this conversation was going and finally smiles and waves his hand to his son. "Go ahead son, I'm glad that you came by here to visit with your parents first, but I can tell you have something else on your mind now after hearing that bit of information you overheard. I don't want to keep you here when there are other people that need you." says Amadeus puffing out another puff of smoke, but at the same time looking very serious in that he wanted his son to go get the job done that he needed to get done.

Rosemary nods as well and pats her son on the head once again making him purr the moment she does so to him. Tails finally grins and nods over to his father starting to get to his feet. "Alright, I guess I better get going to give this information then. Don't worry, I will be back as soon as possible. I came here for an extended visit with you guys and now that I know where you both are living at, I can make that possible as soon as I have the time." says Tails reaching next to him on the couch and starting to reattach his utility belt and his throw his satchel over his shoulder again.

"Just be careful son. If things start to get too troubling for you, don't stick around and make things worse. Know when to push forward and when to pull back in what you are doing." says Amadeus as he begins to stand as well when Tails stands. Rosemary stands as well and reaches over to give Tails a hug. Tails gladly accepts the hug from her before turning to face his father again.

"Don't worry, I will." says Tails nodding as the two foxes reach out and shake each other's hands before Tails turns and bolts towards the door now. Tails does stop for a moment to give his parents a small salute to the both of them before rushing out the door quickly to be on his way.

"You sure he is going to be ok dear?" asks Rosemary looking over towards her husband with a bit of concern for what might be going to happen with Tails running around as he seems to be doing at the moment. Amadeus just grins as he sits back down into his chair to take another puff from his pipe.

"Don't worry, he has my blood in his veins. He knows how to take care of himself now. We just have to learn to trust him. Tails will get what needs to be done with flying colors. We just need to sit back and let him do what needs to be done." says Amadeus smiling over to his wife standing next to the couch. Rosemary couldn't help but worry, but trusted what her husband says and goes over to the window to watch Tails making his way in the direction of Knuckles' home command center.

……………………….

Tails made his way through the rest of the residential neighborhood before returning back to the business district from before. Tails knew exactly where he had to go now. Tails needed to make his way to Knuckles home and command center so that he could have a quick visit with the guardian while the information on Tails' mind is still fresh.

Tails this time didn't need to head for that stingy information machine again. Finding Knuckles' home was rather easy, seeing as just about every citizen in town new where it was. It was pretty hard to miss, it being one of the larger buildings on the island, next to the large church in the main square.

Tails makes his way up a road that is near the church and starts to walk down this road towards the large mansion looking place that is not that far from it. Up ahead was a very nice looking mansion that had several dark legion guards standing in front of it, but also there are several people taking pictures of the home as well, since this just happened to the time a tour group was driving by the home. Tails did have to wait a moment for the people to move along before he could start up the stairs and approach the guards that do notice Tails the moment he starts up the stairs.

The two dark legion guards immediately pull their hoods down, to show they are indeed more echidna and do hold out their hand to Tails when he approaches them. "I.D. sir, no one is allowed entrance into this complex unless they have permission to do so." says one of the guards who then holds out his hand waiting for Tails to produce an I.D.

If this had been some other place, Tails might have just turned and walked away, but figuring this was Knuckles place and can sort of understand while he would at least need some guards to stand out front of the house. Tails reaches into his fanny pack and quickly produces the I.D. he was given back at the airport when he arrived here. "Here you go. I wished to see Knuckles if possible. We are old friends and I wanted to have a visit with him." says Tails playing innocent yet again, though after the small talk with his parents, Tails didn't really need to play innocent with these guys it seemed.

The slightly purplish echidna takes Tails' I.D. and begins to pull out a radio that is at his waist, the other side of his waist band holding his blasting pistol that all legion guards carry with them. "Sir, this is Vince out front, we have a citizen here that says he is an old friend of yours and wishes entry into the residence." says the echidna over his portable radio.

It took a moment before a response finally came over the radio. "This had better be good. I was in the middle of my lunch. Who is it that is here." says the very familiar voice of Knuckles over the receiver now. Tails just smiles hearing Knuckles voice and the same old grouchiness of when he is disturbed when he is doing something.

"Uh yes, the I.D. he presented says that his name is Miles Prower?" says the guard over the radio once again as he waits for a response. The echidna do look up noticing that Tails just stood there smiling not seeming to be much a threat from how he looked, but they still wanted to make sure he was allowed access to the home, since access was greatly restricted for security purposes in these times.

There was quite a bit of silence and the guard was about to ask again to tell the name of the citizen I front of him. "Let him pass. He is a friend of mine. Open the front doors and let him inside." says Knuckles over the radio finally after a moment of silence. The guards are a little shocked since most people that claimed to be friends of Knuckles were false accusations, but this one was being granted access it seemed.

"Sorry sir, we didn't know. Here is your I.D. You may enter the home." says Vince handing Tails back his temporary I.D. and stands to the side to allow Tails to pass. Tails simply nods and smiles politely to the echidnas that stand guard, before walking over and starts to pull open the doors to enter into the large home that was supposed to be where Knuckles lived, and from the sound of it, he did live here.

Tails opens the door and makes his way into the mansion to get his first look around the place before getting a rather big shock at how nice this place looked. It was pretty much spotless and showed plenty of signs of wealth all around the place. Tails hadn't been in a place this nice in a long time. He lived in a simply large apartment with his family, and Knuckles here is living in a glorious mansion, that also sounded like it doubled as his headquarters as well.

Tails looks around the main foyer of the mansion seeing so many doors around this place and not having a clue as to where to go, just waits now for someone to come and find him here. Tails didn't have to wait long before a door opened up at the top of the stairway in the middle of the room and at the top of the stairs, stood the red echidna, wearing a black body suit that covered his whole body, a cowboy hat, and also the bionic right eye that were staring right at Tails. Tails couldn't help but stair back at the echidna with a strong silence in the room. Knuckles finally smiles and starts to walk down the stairs towards Tails. "Well, I hoping this time a person who said he was an old friend was legit, and this time I see that it actually is an old friend. You would be surprised at the people that try and sneak into this house." says Knuckles chuckling as he makes his way down the stairs towards the fox.

"Hey, I can understand man. I'm just glad to see that my friends are still around during all this mess. I'm lucky I even got here. It was such a long plane ride up here." says Tails walking forward and begins to shake Knuckles' hand when the two of them get next to each other. Knuckles then pats Tails on the shoulder and then starts to usher Tails to follow him on back up the stairs.

"Come on, we can go back up to the living chambers upstairs and catch up." says Knuckles starting to head up the stairs ahead of Tails. Tails does quickly nod and walk up the steps just behind Knuckles as the two of them head on up towards the door Knuckles originally came out of. Yet at the same time as Knuckles and Tails are heading threw the door, neither notice that someone nearby on another rail upstairs was watching the two of them enter the room.

Knuckles and Tails enter the door into a rather lovely living room area that still has Tails marveling at what all Knuckles seems to have gained from being Guardian and living in the city now. "My goodness Knuckles, you apparently haven't been doing all that bad if you get to live in a place like this." says Tails as he goes over and sits on a nearby couch, while Knuckles sits on the couch across from the one Tails sits on. There was a coffee table between them, so it wasn't like the two of them are right next to each other.

Knuckle simply chuckles as he hears Tails comment about his home. He could believe that Tails would be impressed with a house like this, when comparing it to what Knuckles figured Tails was accustomed to. "Yeah, well being the Guardian on this island pretty much makes you royalty here. When Shadow took over and I moved here to keep this island in check, I pretty much got treated like the islands' king for all the thing I do to keep the peace around here." says Knuckles kicking a leg up and crossing it across his other leg. Yet, at the same time this is happening, the door they had entered into was cracked slightly still as someone was peeking in at them both.

"Ah so that's what's with this place. I was starting to wonder how you could afford all of this when you used to live out in the countryside when we first met way back then." says Tails chuckling when he says this, kidding with Knuckles trying to show he still considers him a friend. Knuckles might have in old times not thought that very funny but at the moment he seemed to be in a good mood and chuckles some back to Tails comment. Tails is very glad to see Knuckles apparently was in a good mood at the moment.

"Yeah well, I had to protect my people. If I had not, this island would be in the same amount of despair as the rest of the planet seems to be. My race has been making a great comeback in numbers, so I think I have been doing a good job." says Knuckles smiling and leaning back into his couch looking rather proud of himself for helping his island survive the chaos that has been befalling the rest of the planet under Shadow's rule. Knuckles of course didn't like going by Shadow's laws, but he figured it was better than having his people suffer anymore than they already had in the past with Robotnik.

"You have certainly done a good job around here, that's for sure. Back in Downunda, things aren't as good as they are here, but the Echidna's that are there are actually very nice too. The ones I met this morning in the capital, not so much." says Tails looking down a little bit when he gets to that part. The moment Tails mentions the capital and this morning, this did get Knuckles' attention to hear that Tails had been near where Shadow operates. Knuckles hadn't even been to the capital in a long time, since he had no need to go there and see the people suffer under Shadow's rule.

Knuckles had a natural curiosity for things of this matter and had to know why Tails had gone there. "You were in the capital? I'm surprised you made it in and out of that place without being shot or thrown in Shadow's dungeons. What in the world were you doing there?" asks Knuckles now looking very eager to hear what Tails had to say, but also wondering if this was why Tails was visiting him now.

"Yes, I managed to make my way in, actually looking for my parents. I had no idea they had moved here, so when I got in, I headed to their old house and found an old letter telling me they had moved here. I came here looking for them as well and did find them. I just got back from their house, but that was only one of the reasons I came to the island to talk with you Knuckles. There is something else I must ask you about." says tails now starting to get to the point of his visit here with his old friend. Tails hadn't wanted to just come right out and tell Knuckles right away why he was here, but when this topic came up, this seemed like it might be the right time to do so.

"Oh? You have something else you wanted to speak to me about other than me gladly taking in your parents and many of the others as citizens of the island here?" asks Knuckles wondering what it was that Tails was so curious to ask of him. Knuckles had indeed sort of bribed Shadow to allow most of the old crew to move to the island for better lives, but it did cost Knuckles quite a bit to allow such a thing to happen. Knuckles figured it w as better for them to live here, rather than suffer back in the capital where they all used to live.

Tails nods and starts to look more serious once Knuckles became curious of his visit as well. The door opening just a bit more as well, for whoever was there to listen better and see what was going on in the room. "Yeah, I uh, was wondering if you knew anything about what has become of Sonic?" asks Tails now looking a bit nervous, because he didn't want to alert Knuckles by just saying he knows Sonic is free at the moment. He wanted to check to see if Knuckles knew or not, before blabbing what he knew, to who he figures is still his friend. It sure sounds like Knuckles is still a friend of Tails, but Tails just had to be sure.

"Oh, I should have known that's one of the reasons you might eventually show up, since you two were pretty much brothers to each other. I wish I could give you better news, but he is still in prison in the capital under Shadow's castle. Shadow rarely ever let's Sonic out of that place, since Sonic could easily get away if given the right opportunity, so I wouldn't hold high hopes of getting to see him while you are here on your visit." says Knuckles sighing a bit now. He really wished he could have given better news to Tails, but that was really the only news Knuckles could give to his old friend now.

Tails immediately grins upon hearing Knuckles say that Sonic was still in prison. Apparently, Shadow had kept his escape a secret from everyone, so as to not cause alarm, so that Shadow could catch Sonic himself most likely. Tails then holds up his hand to Knuckles right after he finishes speaking about Sonic being locked up. "Just as I thought, you believe Sonic is still in prison, when I recently learned upon my visit to the capital, that Sonic is very much no longer in lock up and out roaming free at the moment, on the run from Shadow's troops." says Tails now springing what he knew onto Knuckles to see how Knuckles would take this bit of news.

Knuckles didn't say a word and just stared right at Tails for a moment now as silent as he could be. He couldn't believe what Tails had just said, but this was now serious business if what Tails said was true. "Um, come again? You said Sonic is on the run and Shadow is currently trying to track him down? That is why you are here? But how could that be? Shadow would have told me if Sonic had escaped and most likely had me and my troops track down Sonic as well." says Knuckles trying to believe what Tails had just told him, but there were so many holes in what Tails just said at the moment that Knuckles had a hard time believing him. Knuckles now looked to be demanding from Tails how this could be possible from the looks on his face, that did worry Tails a little bit, but figures Knuckles is just eager to know how this could be.

"I was shocked myself at first, but I guess I better tell you how I found out this little bit of information if it will be safe with you. I just want to be sure is all." says Tails a little worried that Knuckles might arrest him for what he was going to tell him. Tails figures though he has to trust someone and Knuckles was the most likely one he could think of to tell this secret too. Knuckles was also the one that was most likely to help him he figured at least.

Knuckles does look at Tails a bit curious when he asks if this secret would be safe with him, before Knuckles finally just nods to Tails and lets him speak. "Go ahead, I won't do anything Tails. Just tell me how you know this information and how you came about it?" asks Knuckles wanting Tails to just get to the point instead of beating around the bush like he seemed to be at the moment. Knuckles always preferred people to get right to the point or he started to get very impatient if they won't just hurry up with what he wanted to know.

"Alright, here is how it goes. When I was in the capital, not only did I find the letter about my parents, but I just had to go into the castle and see if Sonic was in fact still in there. I stole a legion outfit and managed to sneak into the palace. I don't know how I managed to do it, but I actually got away with it. I made my way through the castle and on down to the dungeon where I ran into Rotor. Rotor told me that Sonic had managed to sneak out not long ago, and has been in hiding ever since. I have a pretty good idea where Sonic might be hiding, but I'm not totally sure. I was hoping that you would help me in tracking down Sonic, so that he may help us all in dealing with the problems of the world. You know what those are yes. So Knuckles, can you please help me in finding Sonic? I want to fix things. I have been too accepting of how things are for too long now. Things need to change and I'm sure you would agree." says Tails looking as serious as he could possibly be. Tails just had to get his point across to Knuckles that he was serious and that they needed Sonic's help for there to ever be a change around here.

Knuckles sat there quiet during all this, but with how his mouth was slightly agape, it was obvious that Knuckles was stunned to hear what Tails had gone through to get this bit of information. Knuckles eventually sighs and gets up walking to a nearby window and looks outside. Knuckles appeared to be thinking about what Tails has said. Tails gets up as well hoping that Knuckles was going to help him, since Sonic was a friend of them both.

Knuckles eventually turns his head back to Tails and was about speak when suddenly the door opens up nearby and a pink female echidna comes into the room tugging a red female echidna with pink hair into the room so suddenly that is startled both Tails and Knuckles, who both look up immediately afterwards when the two come walking into the room. "Well, look here who I found out there being a little snoop again huh?" says Julie-Su walking over and sitting the other echidna down onto the couch where Tails had been sitting, and she immediately crossing her arms in disgust at being caught.

"Oh Julie, I'm glad to see your still around, though who is this?" asks Tails as Knuckles walks over right next to Tails and immediately crosses his arms as well, upon hearing what her just heard. The other female on the couch seeing Knuckles looking down at her like that immediately gives him a nervous smile and small wave up at him when she sees that look on his face.

"Well young lady? You've got some real explaining to do with you being caught snooping in on dad's private conversations yet again. You might be a future Guardian, but you should know better than to listen into things that are not your business." says Knuckles giving a small glare down towards his daughter Lara-Su. The younger female echidna looking very nervous still, since there was no telling what he might do for catching her doing this yet again, this not being the first time she has snooped and gotten caught.

Tails hearing this obviously figures this was Knuckles' daughter that he had read about long ago. He just had never met her, but now he gets to meet her apparently when she sounds like she is about to get in trouble. "Ummm, yeah I uh just wanted to see who was visiting us dad. I uh wasn't wanting to eaves drop." says Lara trying to act as innocently as she possibly could with her dad and mother both standing here staring her down.

Tails does smile a bit knowing these two must be going through a time having to deal with a teenager. Tails was just glad his kids were still young and not at this age yet. He doubted he was ready for teenagers, since he knows how he acted when he was a teen and that sort of scared him thinking of having to deal with that himself one day. He just hoped his kids were better behaved than he was. However, Tails just stays quiet not wanting to get in the middle of a family affair at the moment.

"Yeah, I'm sure. We have had this talk about you listening into my conversations with my associates. If we catch you doing this one more time, you won't like the consequences. Dear could take Lara here back to her room and make sure she stays there until our visitor leaves?" asks Knuckles to Julie. She nodding as she reaches down grabbing Lara by the arm and stands her back up and does start to drag her back over towards the door.

Julie was about to leave when she finally does notice who Knuckles is visiting with and can't leave without saying a word or two. "Glad to see you Tails, but I'm sorry this had to happen. Next time your around you should bring Mina by and we can all catch up. I'm sorry to rush out, but I have to deal with a snooping little girl." says Julie dragging Lara out of the room at a rather fast pace. Lara doesn't look too happy to be dragged out of the room in front of company in this manner.

Tails finally turns back as Knuckles sighs and puts his hand up to his head in embarrassment. "Sorry you had to see that. Lara is going to be the death of me one day with the trouble she is constantly getting into. She is a good girl, but her getting into mischief all the time drives me nuts. At least she is good at her school studies and Guardian studies." says Knuckles shaking his head as he goes and sits back onto the couch now.

Tails chuckles a bit before sitting down next to Knuckles and reaching into his pouch at the same time. "Don't worry about it man. I have kids too, so I know the feeling. Mine may not be her age yet, but I can understand how kids can run you ragged. To believe I used to run all over the place at their age is amazing still yes, but I couldn't imagine them doing the same as I did at their age. Tails then holds over what he had pulled out for Knuckles to see, he had pulled out a picture of his family for Knuckles to see. "The girl is little Melody and the new boy is Skye." says Tails showing the picture to Knuckles. Tails just couldn't resist the urge to show his own kids off to Knuckles after getting introduced to Knuckles' kid in that manner.

Knuckles does take a look at the picture and just smiles seeing Tails, Mina and the kids in the picture. They were still rather young, but they would grow quickly most likely. "Well, I'm glad you are happy with your family, but Tails there is something I must tell you. It is what I was going to say before we were interrupted back there by all that." says Knuckles starting to sigh again as Tails took the picture back to put into his wallet in his pouch.

Tails wonders what could possibly be up with Knuckles now, but just waits for what Knuckles had to say now. When Knuckles doesn't respond right away Tails tries to get Knuckles to tell him. "What is it Knuckles? What were you going to say to me?" asks Tails curious and eager to hear what it was he wanted to say.

Knuckles looks up once more before shaking his head to Tails, "I'm sorry Tails, as much as I would like to help you out in finding Sonic, I can't. I just can't go out looking for Sonic. Shadow would take it that I was a traitor and start to destroy all that I worked to build up here. I want to find Sonic yes, but Tails I can't. I have things I must deal with here. I would encourage you to go find him on your own. I know too much as is, and really should arrest you for what you just told me, but since are old friends I'm not going to." says Knuckles looking down now pretty much knowing what Tails' response to this was going to be.

Tails' jaw dropped when he hears Knuckles speaking like this. Tails couldn't believe it and immediately stood up to his feet in shock at hearing this. "Knuckles, you have to know that finding Sonic could very well help us end Shadow's reign and get things back to the way they used to be. We can't run in fear of Shadow anymore, or things are just going to get worst for the people of this planet." says Tails not very angry, more at what Shadow has done than at Knuckles. Tails does understand why Knuckles is doing what he doing, but he just couldn't believe Knuckles was actually not going to help him find Sonic.

"Tails, I know how you feel right now, but I have my own family to think about here as well. If I get arrested for treason, there is no telling what Shadow will do to my family, or better yet what Lien-Da will do if she has free will do with Julie what she might wish to do with her. Those two only get along at the moment because of Shadow. Shadow holds Lien-Da back from torturing her sister with everything she has. They nearly got into it the last time they were together. There is no telling what might have happened if I wasn't there to break them up. Now look, I'm sorry I can't help, but I wish you luck in finding Sonic. I want you to find him. But I have to warn you, if Shadow does catch you with Sonic, I can't defend you. If you are with Sonic, that is the highest treason in the land according to Shadow law." says Knuckles trying to make his point as clear as day to Tails why he couldn't help him now.

Tails shakes his head and does look angry for a moment before simply shaking his head and smiling just a tad over to Knuckles. "It's ok man, I understand. You don't have to worry. I know you are just doing this to help your family. I guess I really should be going and get to looking for Sonic if you don't mind?" says Tails starting to walk towards the door again now about to leave.

Knuckles was about to just let Tails leave before he stands up and walks up behind Tails and stops him from leaving. "Thank you for understanding. I'm still glad that you came by to see us. It's good to know that Sonic has escaped and I pray that you find him. Here, don't speak a word of this." says Knuckles reaching into his pocket and placing something into Tails' hand. Tails looks down and sees a small pin in his hand, which immediately confuses Tails upon seeing it.

"What's this Knuckles? A present or something?" asks tails looking back up at Knuckles who is looking around still to make sure no one was around, which no one was. He ushering Tails to come a bit closer so that no one would hear him.

"That pin will allow you instant access to the house or access to my security room here in the house if you ever choose to return. You will be able to get past the guards without my consent whenever you need to. I do wish you would rethink what you are doing, but if you ever wish to return, I'll let you in. Just remember if you ever get caught, I can do nothing for you." says Knuckles backing away from Tails now and having a small smile on his face.

Tails takes hold of the pin before placing it inside of his pouch along with his other items he is carry in there before grinning back up to Knuckles. "Don't worry, I will return Knuckles. You have my work. I better get going to where I think Sonic might be." says Tails turning and starting to head down the stairs to leave now.

Knuckles does take a step outside the door for a moment to watch Tails and give him a wave as he headed down the stairs, before turning back into the room and shutting the door as he sees Tails exit the front door to go about his business. However, Tails didn't know that as he left the residence and began his trek back into Town, someone was now following him in the shadows.

To Be Continued……