Disclaimer: Sonic and co. © Sega

Egglings © Blank the Nobody

Chapter Nineteen

Happy Homecoming

20 Days and 7 Hours before Black Egg Armageddon

When we had found Tails I was devastated, but when I heard that he had saved her life I was so happy.

Bright rays of sun light shone through clean windows as nurses and doctors walked around inside of the hospital. Luckily for the doctors, there wasn't as many people from the army because of the governments own medical stations around the city. This was one of the only operating hospitals where normal people could go for help, instead of the ones ruled by the government. Everything operated smoothly, doctors moved from patient to patient and nurses administered pain-killers to the ones in need. There were some cases Eggling related, but none too serious for the medical staff to handle.

As everyone continued to work, a happy golden fox walked through the linoleum hallways. Around him, the adults in white coats walked, talking to other nurses or reviewing a chart that had their patient's status. In the fox's hand was a small, glass vase with a single rose within it and it was obvious who he was going to visit. After passing through another hallway, the fox turned left to Room 165 and opened the door.

Behind the door was a room illuminated with rays of radiant sunshine. Against the wall on the left was a bed with white sheets and pillows and lying on the bed was a placid looking rabbit. Ms. Vanilla wasn't there that day because she had another date with Vector again and the croc seemed to be the only person who she could talk to during this tough time. Tails placed the vase on the windowsill, next to the other flowers and get well cards before sitting down. He released a sigh of relief and leaned back in his seat.

"So how are you today?" asked Tails, knowing that he wouldn't get a response.

He wasn't in denial, and he wasn't crazy, he just thought that talking to her would take some stress off instead of just sitting there silently with an unresponsive rabbit. Tails could hear the steady beep of the heartbeat monitor as he stared at Cream who looked beautiful to him in her everlasting sleep. No, he didn't want to call it 'everlasting sleep' because he knew that an everlasting sleep could only be death. Tails had to focus on as many positive thoughts as he could, but it was impossible with everything that was going on around him.

After a couple of minutes of sitting in the silence, Tails sunk in his seat, saddened by the thought of Eggman winning for once. At first it seemed impossible because of the doctor's ignorance and record of other failed plans, but this time the doctor looked like he was on a roll. Sonic was undergoing some tough mental beatings, Knuckles seemed to be sinking to Eggman's level of craziness, Amy was starting to feel weak without her hero and Shadow was losing his grip on his serious stance. Everything seemed to be falling apart around Tails and it was all planned by this new and deadlier Robotnik.

Tails sat there, his foot starting to tap rhythmically to music that wasn't there as he tried to find something that would take up the time. Before the day had started he thought that his visit to the hospital would be easy, but after seeing Cream again, thoughts started to buzz around in his head. He couldn't decide whether he should leave to go do something else or stay there with his love. His one last tail swiveled around behind him as he thought about his next move. After so long he was able to control his tail, but without the other his flying days were over.

The doorknob turned slowly, as if the person opening the door was nervous, or better yet afraid. Tails looked up to see the door slowly open up. Behind the door was a nervous pink hedgehog and Tails instantly recognized the girl.

"Amy?" called Tails as he stood up to make sure he was addressing the right person.

The hedgehog stopped in her tracks, surprised at that someone had called her name. She looked over at the fox and released a relieved sigh. "Tails, I didn't know you'd be here." she said.

A smile creased across the fox's lips as he began to walk toward the hedgehog. It had been so long since he had seen and he was happy to see her again. Tails embraced Amy in a hug and the two felt comfortable with each other, even though Amy was with Sonic. Amy released the fox from her hug and smiled at him.

"I haven't seen you in days!" she said happily, her eyes brimming with happiness.

"Me neither, you look fantastic!" commented Tails.

Even after so long, Amy was still able to uphold her beautiful body the same and it was awkward in a sense. Both of them were happy to see each other in a place where both of them expected to be sad. It was something out of nowhere, but both of them needed the drop of joy. The two left the room to go into another sitting room so they could talk without bothering Cream's slumber. The two talked about how Tails was coping with his remaining tail, how Knuckles' mental health seemed to be deteriorating, and how Shadow was still able to play the role of bad-ass while hiding his sensitive core. After a while, they started to get down the gritty subjects. Like how the army was taking over in a cruel way, and how Eggman was starting to win. Not before long, the two had run out of topics to chatter on about and a silence overcame them.

"Sooooo, have you seen Sonic in the past couple of days?" asked Amy, trying to scrape up another topic for the two to talk about.

"Not really, the last time I saw him was when Cream got back. I think he's been helping the army get rid of those Eggdomes." answered the fox, remembering all of the military personnel marching into town and setting up stations. Tails was asked to help the military and he took up the offer whole heartedly. Now the fox was helping the governments greatest minds find a way to combat the Eggling threat, while doing the thing they do best, lie.

The military was selling lies to the public like always. Instead of telling everyone the truth, they sugarcoated it and made it seem like they were winning. The Eggdomes weren't going away, they were increasing in number faster then the army could take them down. But that was how the government could keep control. They would rather lie and keep peace, instead of tell the truth and live in utter chaos. Amy sighed, she wanted to see Sonic again and for a second she thought about joining the army just for that reason.

"Man! We were so close to finally dating to!" she complained.

"What? Were you going to ask him again, or is he finally giving in?" asked Tails in a curious tone.

For some reason, the news was surprising and yet at the same time, not a surprise. Everyday Amy would conjure up some fantasy of Sonic asking her out on a date, but seeing how Sonic was going through some tough times, Tails wouldn't be surprised if the hedgehog was leaning on Amy's shoulder for comfort.

Amy giggled at the question. "Actually, I think he's gonna ask me for once." she said, still giggling.

Tails joined in Amy's laughter. Things were starting to change. Whether it was on the battlefield or behind the curtain, and Tails was beginning to like the change. After changing to the topic of Sonic, they both started to share even more stories. Like how Sonic had saved Amy so many times and how Tails would have to build some new weapon to tackle another one of Eggman's weapons. There was a whole archive about Sonic that the two could explore together and they were intent on doing so. Minutes passed as the talked and before the two could jump onto the subject of Sonic and his inability to swim, a commotion started up in the next room that startled them both.

"Yo! Crash Cart Room 165!" yelled a female voice from another room.

Both Tails and Amy looked at each other with shocked looks. "That's Cream's room!" they said in unison. Both of them sprung out of their seats and ran toward the rabbit's room, both of their hearts racing.

Once there, both of them were greeted with horror. A female black panther charged up the defibrillator while nurses looked at the monitors that showed no sign of a heart beat. The black panther doctor wore army fatigues telling both Amy and Tails that she was working at the hospital voluntarily and the doctor's eyes were focused on the matter at hand. The loud buzz of the medical instruments from the paddles whined as the defibrillator charged up energy.

"Clear!" she yelled before placing them on Cream's chest and releasing the energy.

Tails watched as Cream's body twitched upwards from the shock, but the reading still showed a straight green line, still no heartbeat. The panther was determined though and she charged up again as one of the nurses checked the readings over and over again, making sure there were no errors.

"Come on damn it! Clear!" yelled the panther before pressing the paddles against Cream's body again.

Instead of the thump of the paddles releasing energy, the sound of electrical whizzing and crackling came from the box that powered the instruments, before a loud pop came from the metal instrument. Tails watched as the box started to smoke profusely as one of the nurses tried to get the thing to work again.

"Son of a-! I need another defibrillator over here stat!" yelled the female panther, her green eyes showing impatience and frustration.

"No keep going!" yelled a familiar voice.

The panther looked over at the crash cart, as goldish-yellow fox started to unfasten the top of the defibrillator's box. Tails looked at the inside of the machine, instantly finding the problem like a yellow spot and a white wall. Amy watched as Tails tinkered with the machine rapidly and she wished she could help in some way. Sadly she had no experience in medicine or with technology and she felt useless as she watched the fox work. Tails gently removed and reattached some faulty wiring quickly, sweat starting to form on his brow before reattaching another wire. Anyone could tell that he didn't want to lose Cream.

"Try it again!" he said suddenly, thinking that he had solved the problem.

Without hesitation, the panther charged the paddles again, the high pitched whine sounding off from the machine. Tails watched the internal workings of the machine, checking for any other faults in the medical instrument. She placed the paddles on Cream again, ready to press the button that would release the button.

"Clear!"

Seconds before the electricity could be released, Tails spotted a loose piece of wiring. The fox snatched the piece of wiring and connected it to another before the energy could be released. All of the power shot out of the paddles again and into Cream. Even after the shock, the low beep of Cream's heart monitor still sounded, no response. The panther threw the paddles to the ground angrily and cursed silently. Amy was on the verge of crying, but Tails wasn't going to give up. Tears were slowly starting to cascade out of Tails' eyes before grabbing the paddles and shoving the panther away.

"Charge it up!" he commanded nervously, the panther looking at him as if he were crazy.

She wasn't going to bring his hopes down and instead she charged up the machine. If Tails wasn't going to give up, then neither would she.

"Clear!" yelled Tails as he placed the paddles yet again against Cream's fragile body.

Amy watched as Cream's body bounced from the shock, but still no hear beat. Tails clenched his teeth and ordered the panther to charge it again. After two more tries, there was still nothing. No heart beat and neither of them had no more hope. Cream was dead, and deep inside Tails knew that sooner or later he would have to accept the fact. He wouldn't though, he didn't want to accept the fact and he wanted to keep on trying. He ordered the panther to charge it up one last time, tears streaming down the fox's face as he did. One last thump of electricity was shot out of the paddles.

No response.

"God damn it." cursed the panther silently as she put her hands behind her head in frustration.

Tails looked at the heart monitor, his eyes looking at the straight green line that symbolized Cream's still heart. Tears fell off of his face as he looked at the line. Amy looked at Tails and she tried to find the words that would comfort him. She couldn't find anything to say at all, which didn't make things any better.

The panther began to walk out the door, "Time of death . . ." she released a sad sigh "5:37." she said before leaving the room. "I've never lost one." whispered the panther to herself as she walked out the door.

"NO!" yelled a young voice suddenly.

Everyone set their eyes onto Tails as he charged the paddles on his own. He was determined to save his love and if he had the choice, he would sacrifice his own life for her. Another thud of electricity, no response, another try, still the same thing. Tails cast aside the paddles and slumped onto Cream's body, hot tears sliding off of his face and onto the rabbit. Amy looked at the floor sadly, her tears hitting the white linoleum as she cried with Tails.

"Don't go Cream, I don't want you to." sobbed Tails as he burrowed his face into Cream's stomach.

He could feel his heart slowly being torn apart as he cried. Pictures and memories of himself and Cream flashed in his head as he reminisced about better days. This was something he hadn't expected in a long time. In his mind he thought that he'd find the technology that would bring her to life or some magical spell that would bring her back. Cream was close to his heart and once she was taken away, a part of his heart was taken away as well.

"Please don't leave." he sobbed.

Over the sobbing and crying, a single beep sounded over the crying. Then another beep, then another. Before seconds the heart rate monitor was beeping rhythmically.

"Where am I going?" asked a familiar voice that made Tails' hopes soar up higher then the heavens.

Amy raised her head at the voice and found that hope was not lost yet. Cream's eyes were open and the rabbit stared at the sobbing fox on her chest. The pink hedgehog looked at the heart monitor to find a steady heartbeat. For a split second Amy thought she was dreaming, but after seeing Cream place her hand on top of Tails' head, she didn't care. Tails looked at Cream a shocked yet happy look on his face. Neither of the two exchanged words and instead the two hugged each other and cried happily.

Tails was so happy that the only thing he could say was "Welcome home."

I turned the sights off of Sonic for this chapter and focused it on Tails just in time for a touching moment. Read and review please!

Things might get a bit slow when uploading new chapters. Instead I'll see if I can revise any of the old chapters. Probably fix spelling mistakes, add some more meat to them and from time to time some juicy new extras, but I'm not guaranteeing anything.