Sonic raced as fast as he could towards the power plant that Eggman flew into. The sun had already set as he arrived just outside of the factory. He turned around and waited about five minutes for Tails to catch up. The young fox was breathing heavily and looked as if he were about to collapse.
"What's the matter, Tails?" Sonic asked impatiently. "Can't you run any faster?"
"I'm not...," Tails panted heavily. "...as fast... as you are..."
"Anybody can be fast!" Sonic smirked. "Something has gotta be slowing you down, am I right?"
"No," Tails replied nervously. "If you want, I can wait here."
"No way!" Sonic shouted. "You've gotta do things yourself if you want them done right. Don't you want to save your friends?"
"Well," Tails sighed. Now that he thought about it, why should he save those guys?
Episode 9: Sonic and Tails: The Ultimate Duo!
"Well?" Sonic answered.
"I do...," Tails explained. "I mean, it's the right thing, but..."
"But what?" Sonic asked with an annoyed tone.
"Those guys pick on me all the time," Tails began to cry. "I try to fit in but they make fun of my tails, so I try to hide them."
Sonic then realized why Tails could hardly run.
"Well," Sonic replied. "You gotta stop putting all of your energy into making your tails move together. Sure, it gives off the illusion of having only one tail, but you waste energy that way, and slow down in the process."
"Really?" Tails asked.
"If anyone knows how to be fast, it's me," Sonic smirked. "You got it?"
Tails took what Sonic said to heart. He took Sonic's advice and was surprised at how fast he was!
"Told you it was easy!" Sonic chided. He grabbed Tails by the hand and the duo entered the plant.
Once inside, the two heroes saw a disturbing sight. Chemical waste was pouring everywhere and acid-filled water covered key portions of the base.
"This place gives me the creeps, Sonic," Tails shivered as took a step backward, but lost his footing and nearly fell to the acid-filled pit below. Luckily, Sonic grabbed his friend's hand and pulled him to safety.
"Be careful next time!" Sonic scolded as the two pressed on through the base.
Tails was amazed at how fast he was going. He was not nearly as fast as Sonic, but he was still faster than ever before. Maybe people would start respecting him more if he didn't try to hide his tails?
The two came across a bridge, but it began to collapse. They'd fall into the acid below, but they were able to escape their fate and press on.
When the two finally came across Eggman, what they saw was a shock to Sonic. He had already found one of the six Chaos Emeralds!
"Hello there," Eggman sneered. "I see you've brought a friend along. How are you, Tails?"
"Quit with the games, Eggman!" Tails cried. "I want my friends back!"
"Hohohoho!" the doctor cackled famously. "You call those guys friends after how badly they treated you? Hohoho!"
Tails took the doctor's words to heart. Eggman did have a point.
"Don't listen to him, Tails," Sonic replied, noticing the kit's hesitation. "We'll save those guys, I promise!
"Sonic...," Tails sighed in awe. Sonic was so brave and able to tackle troubles without a blink of an eye. Tails wanted to be like that.
"Enough chitchat, boys," Eggman cackled as he flew the Egg Copter into a strange machine. "I'll wipe you out with my latest bio weapon, the Egg Mutator!"
"The what?" Sonic and Tails asked simultaneously.
The heroes felt parts of the ground break beneath them, falling into the acid pit. That didn't matter, since they needed to take Eggman out.
"Not good," Sonic cried. "I can't even use my Spin Dash either!"
"Hohohoho!" Eggman cackled once more. "I hope you like the taste of waste!"
"Ewww," Tails gagged.
Eggman launched a cartridge of nuclear waste at the two animals, who were able to dodge.
"What is that stuff?" Sonic asked as it began to melt through the floor.
"I'll tell you," Eggman chided. "Not that you can do anything about it anyways. My weapon fires cartridges of chemical byproducts as weapons. They explode on contact, covering its target with the waste. The waste is highly acidic, and it will completely kill anything it touches!"
"Damn you," Sonic cried, unsure of how to stop the doctor. "Tails, you with me?"
Tails was confused, but instinctively understood Sonic's plan.
"Hey, Eggman!" Sonic cried as he made distance between himself and his friend. "You couldn't catch me even if I stood still!"
Sonic pulled down his eyelid and stuck out his tongue, taunting the doctor into focusing on the blue hedgehog.
"Hohoho!" Eggman sneered, obviously falling for the trap. "I guess you underestimate the immense power of the Egg Mutator!"
"Hey, Eggman," came a voice from behind.
Eggman turned around to see Tails grabbing onto the Egg Mutator.
"What happens if I do this?" Tails asked as he broke the Waste Launching bit from the Egg Mutator.
"You little bastard!" Eggman cried. "Now how will I shoot down that miserable hedgehog?"
"Hey, Eggman," came a voice from behind.
"What is it?" Eggman bellowed as he turned around, only to be smashed in the face with a Spin Attack.
"Listen when I'm talking to you!" Sonic cried as he spun at a high velocity, causing the Egg Mutator to explode.
"We did it, Sonic!" Tails shouted victoriously as he ran to his blue friend.
"No!" Eggman cried as he flew out of the rubble in the Egg Copter. "You've failed! For I have the Chaos Emerald! Sayonara, Sonic and Tails! Hohohohohohoho!"
Eggman flew out of the base and into the nearby ruins.
"If he laughs like that again," Sonic sighed. "I might just give the writers a good beating."
"What are you talking about, Sonic?" Tails asked. "Writers?"
"Don't mind me, Tails," Sonic winked. "Life's just one big sitcom, am I right?"
Next Time: When Sonic is trapped in Eggman's totem trap, Tails discovers his ability to use his tails as propellors and helps Sonic defeat Eggman. Don't miss In the Ruins: Tails to the Rescue!
C/C: Another chapter out of the way. You may be wondering why I am so quick to point out the fact that there are only six emeralds. It's for you to find out later. :)
Another important thing to note: You may be thinking. "I thought Tails was as fast as Sonic! He's not THAT slow!" Well, look closely at Tails' running animation in Sonic 2 and 3. When he reaches his top speed, he begins to lift off the ground and hover over it, increasing his speed dramatically. Therefore, Tails is only as fast as Sonic (or close to) whilst in the air. :) Why isn't he flying now? Read the Next Time description. ;)