-Tails' P.O.V
I spent most of the day enjoying the lovely weather. I rarely went on such outings anymore, mainly because I got so caught up in my work. The sky was clear, and it was fairly warm out. I only wished I had someone to talk to. These ruins got a little lonely at times.
I stopped walking, a wierd feeling came over me. I felt like someone...or something, was following. I looked around, and clenched my fists.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" I yelled, half expecting an ambush.
"Right behind you Tails." came a voice that sounded calm and strong. It was a familiar one.
I turned around to see, well, nothing. I laughed a little, "Hey Espio. What are you doing here?"
A purple chameleon materialized from his camouflage and smiled a little, "Sorry, an old habit. I'm surprised you sensed me."
"Yeah, me too," I added, "What brings you here?" I inquired again.
"Meditation," he shrugged, "I go here once in a while."
"Oh, I didn't disturb you, did I?"
"No, I was done a while ago." Espio answered, waving a hand dismissively.
Truth was, I rarely conversed with Espio. He was good-natured, but he kept to himself. I respected that, so tried to give him his privacy.
"Tails, what drove you to learn Chaos control? I know you had more reasons than just to protect the planet." Espio asked me.
I was finding myself lost for responses. It was one thing to tell Sonic or Knuckles. It was another to tell Espio.
"I have my reasons...don't get me wrong, I'm not making up some elaborate scheme to gain control of the planet...I would just rather not discuss it." I replied.
I understand. I'm sorry if I seemed intrusive at all." Espio apologized.
"Oh, it's fine. I'm not offended." I said with a chuckle.
Espio and I strolled through the ruins. We talked about recent happenings, and whatever else came to mind.
"You know, Sonic and Amy are engaged now. Sonic proposed to her just last night." I said.
"Really? Hm, well, that's definitely something I didn't expect to see coming for a while." Espio commented with surprise.
"Yeah, I know. Amy's got it all planned out already. Down to the flowers she'll have in her boquet." I added.
"Oh boy...tell me we're wearing black tuxedoes." Espio said hopefully.
"He he...nope, white tuxedoes."
"Great..." he sighed.
"Yeah, well, at least you don't have to make some formal dinner speech." I pointed out with a groan.
"Why do you have to do that?" Espio asked.
Because I'm the best man." I answered.
"Well, that's great. I think Sonic made the right choice." Espio replied with a grin.
We ended up in front of my house after some time passed. The sun was starting to hover over the treeline. It was close to seven or so.
"Hey, Espio, can you not mention the wedding plans to anyone? I don't want to ruin the surprise for Sonic and Amy when they tell everyone." I asked him.
"Sure thing Tails. I won't tell anyone." he said with a curt bow.
"Promise?" I inquired, crossing my arms.
"On my honor, I promise." he replied.
"Thanks Espio."
"Well of course." he said with a pat on the shoulder.
I said goodbye to the chameleon and watched him run off into the horizon, heading back to the Chaotix headquarters. The sky was now a deep pink and gold.
I pulled the white Chaos emerald out from my tail fur. How it managed to stay in the fur amazes me, but I tried not to dwell on little things like that.
"Well, it's getting late...better head inside." I said to myself. The white Chaos emerald glowed in my hands, and I felt at peace like numerous times before. The wave of serenity made its way through every fiber of my being, and I felt rested and soothed of any fatigue.
I had a slice of pizza from a few days ago and warmed it up in the microwave, then went to bed. Strangely, I found sleep a little hard to get, despite the fact I had the Chaos emerald with me.
I had a wierd dream too. I was standing in a smoky, barren wasteland, it looked like a wild fire had just gone through the area.
On either side of me was a fox that looked just like me. One appeared to be me in my super form. The other looked like me, but what should have been a light orange was almost a murky brown, with a black smoky aura coming off the body. His eyes were blue, as mine would have normally looked. However, this form of me looked...evil.
I then saw a familiar figure of Sonic laying on the ground. He looked like he was on the virge of life and death, his breathing was labored and shallow, and his pupils were mere dots. He looked at me with fear.
"S-Sonic?" I spoke, scared of the situation before me.
He flinched at my voice, "No...please, Tails, don't! Please, just get away!" he was trembling with a fear I've never seen in him before.
"Tails...we can help him. He's your friend, despite what has happened, we can still help him." spoke my super form.
"Help him? Ha, what an idiotic suggestion! Kill him Tails! He killed Cosmo, not you! It was his idea to launch the cannon on her! he deserves the pain!" spoke the darker half of me.
"W-what...?" I spoke, looking at the two.
"You must choose Tails..." spoke my super form.
"Choose? Choose what?" I repeated.
"Your destiny, Miles Prower...either save the galaxy, or conquer it and destroy all who oppose you!" replied my darker form.
I turned to Sonic, then lifted my hands. Would I heal him? Would I blast him away?
I awoke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. My clock read two fifteen in the morning. I slumped into my pillow, and scratched my ears.
"What was that all about?" I asked myself.
I picked up the emerald on the side of my pillow and held it to my chest. I began to feel tears again.
"Cosmo, I need you right now...but I can't see you in this world. I can't take much more of this pain." I cried.
I sat there for quite awhile, crying to myself. I think I was losing it. I held the emerald, my fists trying to clench onto it as much as possible.
"What did I do to deserve this!" I screamed, and threw the emerald at my bedroom wall. A dent appeared where it hit, but the emerald remained perfectly intact.
"The emeralds caused me so much pain, yet they have also done so much good. Why did they have to aid in Cosmo's death though? Why? Why...?" I felt a cold bitterness run through me, "Why does everyone act like it couldn't have been stopped? Cosmo was just 'meant' to die in order to save the galaxy! She didn't deserve death...never...she never..." I trailed off, simmering with anger at life, and the cold reality of it all.
I don't know what happened at this point. Maybe it was a reaction to the Chaos emerald, or maybe it was just my imagination. I felt myself surging with a new power...one full of hate and contempt at nothing in particular.
"If I had the chance, I would have ripped that Dark Oak limb from limb," I growled, unsure where these words came from. I noticed a black, hazy aura on my body, "Then I would destroy every single on of those robotic scrap heaps called Metarex." I said, clenching my fists. Why was I so angry?
I went to a mirror and jumped back in surprise. I was staring at the same evil-looking fox from my dream.
"What the-?" I found myself suddenly consumed by some untamed fury; a need for revenge. On who though, those who tried to harm Cosmo? Then it struck me, that only one person was still alive that had tried to do her any harm. That one day when it was discovered that Cosmo had unwillingly and unknowingly been a spy for the Metarex. My eyes were full of fury, and I heard a canine-like growl escape my throat. I felt like a wild animal. Someone had tried to destroy her. Someone had got onto the ship and tried to permanantely eliminate her.
"Shadow..." I growled.
I felt a small voice trying to call me back to peace, but this anger couldn't be supressed. It felt like instinct to me. I had to avenge Cosmo. I bent down and picked up the white Chaos emerald.
"Be ready, Shadow...because now you'll know what it's like to be helpless...to be hunted down." I said, still unsure where this anger had come from. With that, I opened my bedroom window, and flew off in a burst of energy. I was focused on one thing...and only one thing.
Destroying Shadow the Hedgehog...
end of chap.12. Yeah, it's been awhile since I've updated. Anyone who saw the Sonic X metarex saga episode where Sonic went all black and dark looking can probably imagine that being similar in appearance to Tails. I've got more on the way, so thanks for continuing to read!