I'm back again! Sorry for the lateness, everyone. I have been a lazy son-of-a-gun. But now, I plan to get back on track! Now, this one has the smart two-tailed fox, Tails! So expect working machines, flying, and once more, bringing old egghead down. Now, on with the show!

Chapter 11: Tails

After the incident with drowning and Amy saving my life, she helped me up and we made our way back to her house. I was still recovering from getting almost drowned and killed. She helped me lay on the couch. She told me I would have to stay for the night, since it was already late and I was still not in a good condition. I refused and told her that I am alright, but she declined and gave me those puppy eyes look. I resisted it at first, seeing as I was not going to give in to that so easily again. As I was getting up and heading toward the door, Amy grabbed my shoulders, holding me. "Please stay, Austin! Just for tonight! I'm just worried about you! I thought I lost you back there when you downed! Please, I'm begging you, please stay!"

I bowed my head down in shame. I didn't want to leave Amy crying again after what we been through all day. She was right about one thing; she DID almost lose me when I drowned. Also, I was still trying to recover from what happened, seeing as I swallowed a lot of sea water, there's no telling what would happen to me.

"Alright. I'll stay." I said. "REALLY?" Amy squealed happily. I turn around and smiled and nodded. Amy threw her arms around me. "Oooh, Austin!" she said. I just stood there, still smiling. At least she is happy again. I thought.

She helped me back on the couch and put some blankets over me. She said good night and went upstairs. I stared at the ceiling for a long time, replaying over and over the events of today. Amy is happy again. I'm glad she had a great time. I did too. Still, does Eggman have to show his ugly face every time I am with someone? Why doesn't he just give up? Heh, like that's ever going to happen anytime soon. I sneezed. I rubbed my nose. Man, I gotta be more careful when I am in the water. I felled asleep with a smile, my left arm hanging down from the couch and on my hand wrist was the remains of the seashell bracelet Amy made. This was a gift of a powerful friendship between us. Amy worked hard on this bracelet and I won't lose it, no matter what.

The next morning came quickly. After a great breakfast and saying goodbye to Amy, I headed out the door. I ran through station square, thinking about what to do next. I wonder if Tails is doing anything. I thought. I headed towards Tails garage. I stopped at a very huge garage door. I knocked on it three times. After a few minutes, the garage door open and there stood Tails.

"Hey Tails." I said.

"Hey, Austin. You seem to be doing alright." Said Tails.

"Yeah. You could say that. Mind if I come in?"

"Sure." I walked inside. I saw the X-tornado, looking better than ever. I then saw a second plane that was smaller than the X-tornado, with blue colored on it with white stripes on the wings.

"Tails, what's this?" I said, pointing at the new plane.

"That's the new tornado I have been working on. It's called the hyper tornado. It's faster and more maneuverable than the X-tornado. So far, I only got the engine and the steering done. I just need to install some weapons into it."

I looked at him. "Mind if I help? I may not be as smart as you, but I can still help you out with the installation."

Tails smiled and said "Sure! I could use an extra hand with this. C'mon, let's get to work."

I smiled and we clasped our hands together. Tails gave me some gloves and protective goggles. We first of all discuss what kinds of weapons we could install on it. I came up with a few ideas and Tails agreed to some of them. After the final decisions were made, we got to work. It was pretty difficult for me, given the fact that I had no experience with machines. Tails show me step by step where to properly install what in the hyper tornado.

It took us almost the whole day to get the hyper tornado done. Tails double-checked my work to see if everything was working properly. After Tails was done checking, we both stood beside the hyper tornado, sweat drops and grease were on us but we didn't care.

"Whew. We did it, Tails! That took a lot of work." I said, rubbing my head.

"Yep, we sure did! All I need to do now is give it a test run." He looked outside and saw that night had already fallen. "Is it dark already? Man, Time sure knows how to fly by."

"No kidding. Still, we can test run it tomorrow. Since we work on it all day, I don't think either of us is in good condition to fly it." I rubbed my head in embarrassment. "Eh, I wasn't trying to….. You know."

Tails looked up at me. "No problem. We can do it tomorrow. We better get ourselves cleaned up and get some rest." He yawned loudly. So did I.

I laughed a little. Then, my stomach started to growl. Tails did too. I scratched my head in embarrassment. "Guess we better eat something too." I laughed again.

Tails laughed too. "Yeah, I guess we been so busy we didn't realize how hungry we were."

Tails had enough money to order some pizza for us both. We ordered pepperoni, my favorite kind! As we ate, something crosses my mind. "Hey Tails, who's going to test the hyper tornado?"

"Well, I was going to do it myself, but I was thinking that maybe you can do it."

I chocked on my pizza. Me, flying the hyper tornado? Panic struck through me. I didn't like flying on planes, much less pilot one. I have a fear of heights and planes fly high and well….. It's a long way down. "Are you sure, Tails?" I asked nervously.

Tails looked at me and said "yeah, I'm sure. Is there something wrong with that?"

"Uh, well… you see Tails; I have a fear of heights. Falling from a very high place is very scary to me. I'm afraid that if I fly the hyper tornado and there is a malfunction and it goes down, I'm going to panic and go crazy!" I shivered at that thought.

Tails laughed a little and said "I understand how that feels, Austin. But it's not that bad. I mean, look at Sonic. He enjoys falling and running around all the time. Besides, go got to face your fears one way or another. You can't run away forever."

I sighed. Tails was right, I have to face my fear sooner or later and flying the hyper tornado was the only way to do so. I looked at Tails and said slowly. "Your right. I can't run away forever. I will do it."

Tails smiled and said "alright then, it's settled and don't worry, I will be flying right beside you on the X-tornado. So, nothing to worry about, right?"

I nodded and gave Tails a high-five. We then went to get some rest for tomorrow. Tails slept on the X-tornado while I slept on the couch in another part of the garage. It was a little while before my eyes finally closed and sleep took over me.

The next morning came early than what I expected. I woke up and stretched my arms as the sun was shining through the garage door. I walked to see if Tails was up. I found him under the X-tornado, working on some adjustments to it.

Tails slide out from under the X-tornado and looked up at me. "Hey Austin. Ready to test out the hyper tornado?"

I nodded with a smile. We headed for the hyper tornado. Tails gave me an ear piece so we could communicate with each other. I climbed into the cockpit and made preparations for takeoff! I placed the ear piece on my right ear. I looked to my right to see Tails inside the X-tornado, getting ready for launch.

"Austin, do you read me?" asked Tails through the ear piece.

"Loud and clear, Tails." I replied.

"All right. Everything is good to go on the X-tornado. Everything ready on the hyper tornado?"

"All systems checked. Condition normal. We are good to go, Tails."

"Okay. I'm opening up the garage door now!"

The garage door opened slowly and revealed a strip that Tails made for letting the X-tornado take off. I grabbed the steering controls or joysticks as I like to call them and was ready to do this.

Tails looked at me from his cockpit and said "are you ready?"

I gave him thumbs up. Tails did the same. Tails went first as the X-tornado started to move along the strip. It started slowly, and then it increased its speed until it was up in the air.

I was next, I pushed the joysticks forward and the hyper tornado or the H-tornado for short, started moving at a slow speed. Then, I started to increase its speed. I felt my whole body being pushed back by this. Just as I was reaching the end of the strip, I pulled the H-tornado up and it was that, I was flying!

I breathe a sign of relief as the X-tornado was riding beside me. "Nice work, Austin! You have gotten to a good start. Now, it's time we test it out." I nodded in agreement and the testing began!

Over the course of the next few hours, Tails showed me the basic controls, which involve steering, stopping, boosting, and so on. Then, we tried a few maneuverable tricks to see if the H-tornado was fast enough for this. I made a few mistakes, one that almost involve crashing in a nearby building, but managed to get out of the way before hitting it. Finally, Tails wanted to test out the H-tornado weaponry. It included rapid fire lasers that can be charged to fire two straight but powerful laser beams, missiles that can lock-on targets, and the plasma blast, which fires a fiery blast that incinerates even the hardest of metals.

After all that, Tails was proud of his new creation. So was I. it was flying very smoothly and I can move it at the slightest touch. It felt incredible. I never felt like this before in my whole life and suddenly, I wasn't afraid to heights anymore. In fact, it was breathtaking seeing station square from a Birdseye view. I smiled.

Tails flew in beside me saying "well, Austin, how does it feel flying around in the hyper tornado?"

"It feels…..breathtaking, Tails." I replied.

Tails smiled. "See? I told you so!"

"Yeah you did. Thanks a lot, Tails, for helping me face my fears."

He gave a thumbs up. "No problem, Austin. Now, let's head back to-"

Before he could finish, a missile came out of nowhere and exploded between us. Tails and I lost control a little, but we managed to regain control of the tornados. We turned our planes around to see a huge battleship flying in front of us. It was no doubt Eggmans ship. (Think of the battleship from the beginning of sonic unleashed. That should do it for this chapter.) There were other ships, robots fighters from the way they look; they were small, but no doubt, fast and maneuverable.

Then Eggman spoke over a microphone from the bridge saying "oh ho ho ho ho ho ho! Well, look who I run across, Tails and the rodent. I should have known that weird planes flying about had something to do with you. No matter, I came here to exterminate you both once and for all! This time, you will not escape me! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! All fighters and cannons, FIRE!"

The ships and fighters started firing at us. Tails and I were quick to avoid the lasers, the fighters were another problem. They were faster than what I had thought. It was difficult shooting them down one by one. The fighters were quick, but the tornados were quicker.

We worked together to take them out. One by one, they were either falling or blasted into scrap metal. At one point, Tails was having some problems. Fighters were on his Tail and his some of his wings were damaged. If he took another hit, it would be the end of him. I flew over there and took them out quickly with the laser guns. Tails thanked before a whole fleet of fighters were right in front of us!

"Tails! Get out of here! We can't take them all out! If you take one more hit, your done for!" I shouted.

"But what about you? I can't just abandon you like this! You'll get blown to pieces!"

"Don't worry about me. I've got a trick that I hope works. Just leave them to me."

"All right. Be careful, Austin!" he shouted and flew out of the way. The fleet of fighters was heading right at me, firing in all directions. I steady myself. I hope this works. I thought. I went straight for them and spinning the H-tornado around, firing missiles as I was spinning. The fighters were destroyed quickly by this maneuver. I flew out of the smoke, grinning. I always wanted to do that. I then headed straight towards Eggmans ship. "Time to put baldly mc-nosehair in his place again." I chucked. "I am totally calling him mc-nosehair from now on."

Eggman saw me coming and shouted "all cannons, fire! FIRE! Do not let that hedgehog near this ship!" the cannons started firing at me. I dodged them with ease. I then started firing more missiles at the cannons, destroying them and leaving the ship vulnerable.

Eggman was angry. He was slamming down on his control console saying "blast that hedgehog! This is not over yet!" he then ran to the hanger to get off his ship. When he got there, he found the H-tornado already there. Eggman stood there, wide eyed in shock. He chuckled weakly. "Uhhhhh, hey Austin, nice day huh?"

I just shook my head. "Sorry, baldly mc-nosehair. I ain't buying that! So ta-ta!" I stuck my tongue and eye out and fried the plasma blast inside the hanger. The moment it hit, the blast cause a chain reaction inside the ship, blowing up everything inside. I flew out of there just before the hanger exploded. I flew a great distance before a massive explosion destroyed the ship and it hit me as well.

Tails saw the explosion hit me and was shocked about this. He then shouted in the ear piece. "Austin, are you okay? I just saw a massive explosion from where I am at! Austin?" there was nothing but silence. Tails tried again. "Austin? Please say something!" Still, nothing was heard. Tails just sat there, his face now sad for what happened to his new friend. Some tears started to come down his face. He tried to speak over the ear piece again. "Austin! Please don't be dead! Say something! Anything!" he said between tears. Nothing but silence filled the air. Tails started crying a bit in the X-tornado. He didn't know Austin very well, but after what they have both been through today, he knew he could count on him. But now, he was gone. He cried even harder.

Suddenly, the ear piece started to beep. Tails looked at it in surprise. He picked it up and placed it back into his left ear. "Hello?" he said.

"Tails? You there? Can you read me?" it was Austin's voice!

Tails smiled and said "loud and clear, Austin! Are you all right?

"I'm fine, Tails. That explosion sent me out of control and commutations were cut off for a bit, but I managed to regain control again and set back up commutations. Sorry if I worried you."

"It's okay. Anyway, let's head back to my place."

We flew back at Tails garage. After we landed both tornados, we got out of the cockpits and walked toward each other. "It sure was a great day, Tails. The hyper tornado flew really well and I am sure it will come in handy in the future."

Tails nodded and suddenly, he hugged me, crying his eyes out. I stood there, bewildered. "Tails? Why are you crying?"

"Because, I thought I you were gone after the explosion and even though I barely knew you, I could rely on you both as a helper and a friend. I was so sad that you were gone forever." He said, tears falling down his face.

I hugged him back, trying to calm him down. I too was sad by this. "It's alright, Tails. I am here, still alive and that's all that matters. Nothing to worry about, right?"

After a while, Tails calmed down and looked at me. "Your right. Thanks, Austin."

I winked at him. "No problem, Tails. Now, how about we get some lunch? We haven't had anything to eat since we flew off."

Tails laughed at this. So did I. "your right about that. Come on, let's get something!" and with his two tails, flew out of the garage with me behind him.

Well, there goes another one! Well, what do you think? Leave a review please and tell me how it was. Again, sorry for the lateness. I will try to keep up more with the story. So, until next time, catch you all on the flipside!