I want to thank everyone for all their support during the coarse of this story. It makes me feel great that so many people enjoy what I'm writing so much. Here's the next chapter! Read and Review please!
Chapter 34: Surpass the Surudoi Assault
"Me? A crybaby? Oh dear! I think someone's a little confused!" Hang Nail taunted.
Tails, his moment of hyped up anger swelling up and down, let his body relax as Hang Nail spoke.
"Just like ol' times… ain't it two tail." Hang Nail stood there with a friendly grin on his face. Despite how friendly it looked Tails could easily see it for the façade that it was. That's what literally being bullied by this kid half your life would do to you.
Usually Tails would've answered Hang Nail with a hint of obvious fear in his voice. Knowing full well that the fear would still be there if he spoke Tails decided to stay quiet. However, a small bead of sweat did make its way down his face as he held his comment in.
"Something wrong… you came all this way with no one to talk too so I assumed you'd have something to say…" Hang Nail said while crossing his arms.
"…I…" Tails quickly shut his mouth. Responding to him just seemed weak to him for some reason. He didn't want to seem weak at all.
"That's right. No matter how many times we met back on the island you always had someth'n to say. Whether it be someth'n wimpish like 'Pwease stop be'n mean to me' or the ever popular 'What did I do this time?' HAHAH! As if we needed a reason to wail on you kid."
Tails was getting uncomfortable just standing there and taking all these insults. Tails had seen people insult Sonic before and the hedgehog was easily able to say something ego-piercing in retaliation. Why couldn't he be like his big brother?
Hang Nail noticed Tails' uncomfortable face. It amused him to know end seeing the fox try an act brave and witty. He knew full well about how smart Tails was. However, becoming apart of Eggman's crew had allowed him to learn more about the fox then he thought he'd ever have to know.
Just like all of Eggman's other commander's Hang Nail was given a little device to help with his fight against the demon inside the fox.
Right now though Hang Nail was more focused on getting the fox to submit to his taunts.
"It was fun back on the island wasn't it? You, Slips, Silt, and me would all just hang out and have fun. Remember all the pranks we pulled on you?" Hang Nail said while putting his hands on his hips and grinning with a friendly look on his face.
Tails cringed when he heard the word 'prank'. The amount of pranks Hang Nail pulled on the fox was just ridiculous. Tails didn't want to think of them but Hang Nail kept pouring them out of his mouth, which forced him to relive every incident in his mind.
"There was that time we held you down on this table, brought you to the park where there were a whole bunch of other kids, and just paddled your little rump until you cried like a little baby. We then got all the other kids to pay us five dollars each if they wanted to paddle you too."
Tails winced and unconsciously rubbed his bottom.
"There was also the time when we offered you a milkshake that was really just a bunch of mushed worms and sour cream."
Tails almost felt like throwing up all over again.
"Oh! Then there was that priceless joke we played when we put you in a diaper while you slept, strapped you in a stroller, and rolled you around town. HAHA! And when you woke up you were so surprised you freakin wet yourself! HAHAHAH!"
Tails was blushing so much right now. He never thought his hate for Hang Nail would reach this point but he wanted to kill him so much! He really wanted to kill him and then not feel guilty afterwards. However, Tails knew there was no way he could kill a person and not feel guilty afterwards.
However, Tails was dangerously reaching the point where he didn't care how he felt after this fight.
He was getting angrier and angrier at each word the jaguar spoke. He had humiliated him so many times in the past and he was trying to take his new happy life away so he could do it again! It was maddening!
"HAHAHAH! You really were such a big baby! And you still are! Look at you standing there taking everything I say! I have to admit I was surprised that you actually punched me but considering how it didn't hurt that much it told me that not much happened while you we away."
"Y-your wrong!" Tails said finally speaking up. The guy needed to be set straight!
"I'm wrong? Really? Yeah right! Nothing's changed! I'm still the superior and you're the wimpy baby who got lucky. The only difference is that I'm half metal and you've got something important inside of you! I still see you for who you really are! You should've killed yourself back when I told you to. Now it's too late and you're gonna face my metal claws!"
Tails clenched his fists and let a few tears roll down his face. He desperately wanted Hang Nail to be quiet.
"…No… it's not true… I'm not taking anymore of this from you!" Tails was letting what Hang Nail said get to him. He thought he wasn't but he was and he didn't even notice.
It should've come to Tails that he was doing something wrong when he charged at Hang Nail in blind rage and the jaguar didn't flinch or move from where he was standing. However, Tails was just too angered to care. To him Hang Nail wasn't his bully, or a jaguar, or one of Eggman's commander's. To him in his fit of rage Hang Nail was just a huge TARGET!
Tails realized he was close enough to Hang Nail to land another punch. He wasn't about to miss any opportunity to hurt Hang Nail at this point.
Tails brought his fist forward but it stopped short as the jaguar's knee impaled him in his stomach. Tails was stunned and he simply looked out into space as the pain caught up with him and blood dripped out of his mouth. Hang Nail pulled back his fist and then slammed it against Tails' cheek, which sent him spiraling to the ground.
Hang Nail didn't waste anytime laughing at the fox as he saw him in his familiar position as a smoking heap of pain lying in the dirt. Tails lifted his head slowly with a look of regret on his face. He had gotten punched by Hang Nail before but this punch was different… in a negative sort of way.
Usually after Tails was hit by Hang Nail he'd always want to curl up in a nice warm ball and never come out. Even now that feeling stay.
"It's fun messing with your head. The way you just charged at me like that was so funny and stupid. I thought you were smarter then that two-tail."
Tails stood up as quick as he could. He made sure his vision refocused on Hang Nail even quicker.
"You jerk! I won't let you win!"
"You don't have much of a choice two-tail! See, while you may be fast and have a freaky alter-ego inside of you I've got a device to suck up your kitsune energy and use it myself."
"Wh-what? J-just like Karst?"
"And as for your speed… well thanks too my robotic feet that ain't much of a problem. Is it?"
"I'm still fast enough to keep up with you!" Tails said trying to reassure Hang Nail that he wasn't as weak as he was making him out to be.
"Yeah or run away from me!"
"I'm not running from you anymore!"
"Oh really!" Hang Nail said letting his metal feet glow bright red. Tails wondered what that meant but got his answer when Hang Nail shot forward like a rocket literally leaving two trails of smoke in his wake. He landed right in front of Tails so fast that the fox was caught off guard and stumbled backwards.
"Oh no you don't! It's too late to run away!"
"I wasn't-" Tails began before Hang Nail grabbed the fox's head and slammed it against the ground. The fox was struggling to get away from his grasp but Hang Nail kept pushing his face in the dirt.
"Why are you struggling? Ain't this your favorite food? I've seen you eat it so much back on the island!"
Tails kept struggling until he eventually brought his leg around and kicked Hang Nail's hand away.
"You've become too feisty two-tail. I might have to kill you quicker then I thought!" Hang Nail grabbed Tails by the neck and lifted him up. "What should I do first?"
Without warning Tails spit out a mouth full of both dry and wet dirt straight into Hang Nail's confident eyes. The jaguar quickly let Tails go and started to rub his eyes vigorously.
"ARRGH! DAMNIT! You'll pay for that!"
Tails jumped back a few and tried to get into his best battle stance. Hang Nail continued rubbing for a few more seconds, which Tails quickly took to his advantage.
When Hang Nail stopped rubbing he was almost immediately met with more eye pain as Tails kicked him where he was sure the jaguar's pupils were. He stumbled backward with his hands over his eyes and shouting in pain. Tails jumped toward Hang Nail to land another blow but the bully grabbed him before he could connect with another kick.
He tossed Tails hard against the ground and wiped his eyes as fast as he could before turning back to him. His eyes were slightly red and they complimented how angry Hang Nail looked.
"Stop trying to switch roles two-tail. I'm the bully and you're the wimp! You damn well better remember that!"
Tails just stood up and looked at Hang Nail in his watery red eyes with a look that showed that he was serious.
"It's kinda sad when a four-year-old kid proves he's more grown up then someone 9 years older then him!"
"What did you say to me? You're just a crybaby and I'm gonna prove it! I'll kill you!" Hang Nail held out his claws and they lit up with heat. Tails saw his metal claws heat up but didn't expect then to shoot out at him, which is exactly what happened.
The radiated claws shot out so fast that Tails couldn't see them coming. Five heated claws burned through his fur and pierced his skin. Tails shouted out in agony as he fell to the ground and hesitated to reach for the burning claws.
Hang Nail let his metal claws come back out of Tails' body and they came back into his finger sockets. Tails was shaking with pain as the scorching holes in his body started to bleed agonizingly slow.
"Let's go for another round shall we? Let's raise the temp a little bit okay?" Hang Nail said while firing his heated claws at Tails again. He didn't care where they hit as long as he hit two-tail.
The claws shot into Tails body a second time and Tails didn't even try to hold back his tears and cries of pain as the burning sensation continued to take affect. The way they shot in and then slid out was so horrifyingly awful that Tails didn't think he'd stand it.
Tails was in pain that was for sure. He was in even more pain when Hang Nail retracted them yet again. However at the same time he felt that Hang Nail was just toying with him. This, for some reason, angered Tails more then being hurt. Hang Nail stood there laughing at Tails for covering up the smoking holes in his body while Tails was submitting to one of Hang Nail's pathetic torture techniques.
"HAHAHAH! That's what I like to see. The wittle baby falling in front of me in fear and pain like he used ta! HAHAHAH!"
That was enough.
"You're the wimp, not me." The remark came from Tails' previously silent self.
"Huh? What was that?"
"I'm tired of you playing with me like this. I came here to fight you so we could end this bad relationship forever! I never want to see your face again after this! But I wanted to end this the way I saw those people do it on T.V when I snuck into other people's houses. You know, HONORABLY!"
"H-Honorably?"
"Yeah, and if you're just gonna play with me like a pin holder until I'm dead then I don't care about this stupid fight anymore. Just kill me already! Stop wasting my time!" Tails shouted not really sure of how much of his words he actually meant.
"Oh, I see! Not a fan of my slow and painful method eh? Fine! We'll do it the quick way… and painful!"
Without warning Hang Nail charged forward with three of his metal claws extended. They seemed to grow as he neared the fox. Tails saw this head on assault coming and dodged to the side as Hang Nail drew closer. He ended up missing his target but quickly brought his leg around and kicked Tails in the back.
Tails flew back as Hang Nail jumped forward and tried slashing the fox apart again. Tails grabbed Hang Nail's arm and tried to stop it. However, he wasn't strong enough and Hang Nail's claws struck his chest.
He bled even more then before but tried extremely hard to not let it get to him. Instead Tails took the claws out of his chest and tossed Hang Nail's hand aside. Tails then successfully punched Hang Nail across his face making him fall back into the dirt.
"HA! I got you ya bully!"
"So what? Celebrate when it actually means something!"
"I know what it means! It means that you're still playing with me! Stop it already! Fight like you mean it!"
"Why should I? I'm doing this so I can kill you in the most brutal and painful way imaginable. I made a promise after Slips and Silt were killed."
"You promised them? And now you're working for the guy who killed them!"
"Because of you!"
"You're just a mean stupid bully whose blaming me for everything you don't like! It's not my fault that they died! It was the eggy man guy's fault!"
"I don't care. It's you I want to kill. Why should someone as messed up as you live anyway? You're a freak! You've got two-tails! You're a nerd! And you've got a dorky name. Miles was it? HAHAHAH!"
This comment angered Tails which caused him to really let Hang Nail have it. He gulped before doing this but felt like he was ready for the consequences.
"My name… Miles… it's… it proves my parents respected what happened to me more than you as I grew up… because…"
"Because what?" Hang Nail asked still chuckling.
"Because… at least… at least my real name… is better than yours! Prissy!"
"…"
Tails knew what his silence meant. He recalled his first fight with Hang Nail back on the island. After Tails had gotten too cocky and called Hang Nail by his really humiliating first name the jaguar flipped out and unleashed his full power. This time Tails had said it to get him to fight seriously. He knew it had worked when he saw the throbbing vein on Hang Nail head almost burst.
"… I would've thought… you'd of learned from last time two-tail… what it means… TO CALL ME THAT!!"
"… Y-Yeah… I-I did it to get you to fight me seriously…"
"I guess you were serious then…! FINE! YOU WANTED IT? YOU'VE GOT IT!" Hang Nail flung his claws to the side and blasted himself at Tails.
Tails was sweating really hard and he was contemplating whether or not he had gone insane. Why should he care whether or not Hang Nail took the fight seriously? All that mattered was that he lived right?
'No! That isn't true! I want Hang Nail to fight me at his best so I can finally prove him wrong!'
"NO MORE MERCY!" Hang Nail said as he charged.
'I want to prove that he was wrong about what he said…"
Hang Nail jumped toward Tails.
'I want to prove that I'm NOT worthless.'
As the jaguar's claws got closer Tails' curled his hands into a fist and brought it forward too. However it didn't connect as Hang Nail suddenly disappeared.
Tails stood there wondering for a second before his senses told him where he'd gone. It was too late though and Hang Nail slashed at Tails from behind. Three gashes appeared on Tails back as he fell forward in pain.
Hang Nail chuckled as Tails cried in pain and blood dripped down his back. Hang Nail quickly made clear that he wasn't done when he took another swipe at Tails. The fox saw this one coming and jumped in time to dodge it. Hang Nail jumped as well and kicked Tails across his face.
Tails twirled to the ground where Hang Nail quickly made his way too. He ended up behind Tails and caught him with his arm around the fox's neck before he connected with the ground.
"Now I'll slice your head off while you can't move!" He said satisfied. Tails struggled to get free with his arms for a while until he finally decided what to do. He bit Hang Nail's non-mechanical arm so hard that it bleed. Hang Nail reacted as expected and let go. Much to Tails' dismay Hang Nail punched the fox across the face for what he did immediately after.
Tails hit the ground in pain. He wasn't exactly sure how much he was bleeding but he knew it had to be a lot. What's worse is that Hang Nail recovered quicker then he would have hoped and charged with his claws.
Tails would've turned to run except he knew Hang Nail was fast and if he turned around he'd get another slash across his back. Hang Nail got closer to Tails and slashed at him. Tails was quick enough to be able to jump backward.
Hang Nail kept slashing while Tails kept jumping back. Eventually Hang Nail's metal feet gave him an extra boost and allowed him to slice Tails' cheek. Tails winced but knew he couldn't do anything about it. Hang Nail's slices kept connecting more and more. Eventually the jaguar landed a huge slash across Tails' stomach.
He screamed in tremendous pain, which gave Hang Nail time to slash him again. This time it was across his face. The gash on his cheek became bigger and he flew backward until his already injured back collided with one of the rundown buildings surrounding the area.
As soon as his back hit the wall Tails let out a blood curtailing scream and let himself drop to the ground.
Hang Nail landed on his feet and stood up straight. He stared at the bloody heap that was Tails and spat at the ground. He was expecting spit but it turned out to be blood, which made him mad.
"See! DO YA SEE NOW! HUH?!" He shouted to the unresponsive fox.
"See what happens when you screw with your superiors! You were better off acting like the homeless two-tailed loser you always were! This brave and warrior type attitude don't suit ya! I told you that and you wouldn't listen! Now your dead!"
Tails still didn't respond.
Hang Nail clenched his fists looking disappointed. He wanted a much better rematch. Hang Nail expected that Tails would die fast but he still hoped it would've lasted a bit longer.
The jaguar looked at the bloodstained wall Tails' back had hit then smiled.
"At least I kept my word on the fact that his death would be gruesome!" Hang Nail chuckled then licked the blood off his metal claws. "Now there's only one more promise to keep. Time to carve the fox's heart out!"
Hang Nail briskly approached Tails' body with a grin on his face. Seeing Tails lying there like that reminded him of his past life on Westside Island. It sure was fun. Too bad Tails had to screw it up!
Hang Nail reached down to touch the fox but then stopped when he felt something odd. It was a huge pulsating feeling. Soon purple lightning pulsed around the fox's body. It shocked his hand so hard he pulled back.
"Wh-what? Y-you're…"
Tails' body fluctuated and his fur turned a light shade of black. The dirt was blown around Hang Nail's feet as a purple aurora formed around the fox's body. His cuts and bruises started to heal and he himself began to stand up.
Hang Nail knew about this. Eggman told him that this would happen. He was told it would be strong but… DAMN! There was so much freakin' power coming from him! He was blowing the buildings surrounding them apart just by standing there. It was unsettling! No! More then that! It was freakin scary!
Tails got to his feet and stared at Hang Nail. The first thing the jaguar saw were his now blood red eyes. They were serious and angry.
"I'm dead? Really? I don't know about that. How about you come at me and make sure just for the hell of it." Kitsune Tails spoke with obvious malice in his voice.
Hang Nail was still in too much awe to say anything.
"Aren't you gonna say something? Like how much cooler or stronger you are then me. Surely you're not afraid of me… right Prissy?!"
Ice Region near the ending point
Espio had stopped a while ago. His feet refused to carry on in this cold snow. It was too hard for someone his young age anyway. He never once considered giving up however. He sat down by a huge boulder with Shimon sleeping on his shoulder and Charmy was lying on his lap still awake.
"Espo?"
"Yeah?"
"It's cold."
"I know."
"I miss Vector."
"Me too."
They sat in silence for a long while until Espio spoke up again.
"Someone's coming." He said not moving from his spot. Charmy sat up and looked across from Espio in fear. The chameleon put a reassuring hand on Charmy's head.
"Espo? Is…?"
"Don't worry. Whoever's heading toward us isn't evil. I can feel it."
"…Ya can?"
"Yup."
Something was indeed heading their way and Espio was right, they weren't evil. About a minute after Espio spoke up two figures came, ran up to them and stopped at what looked like an incredible passé. Charmy dodged the snow that flew up when they stopped and anxiously turned back to see who they were. Who he saw made his face light up.
"Vector!" The little bee bounced off of Espio's lap and landed on the crocodile's chest for a big, long, and overdue huge.
"Hey kid. I take it ya missed me." Vector said as he hugged the tiny bee back.
"Missed you. Me missed you so much!"
"So did I squirt."
As the two hugged the person accompanying him bent down to Espio's level.
"You okay chameleon?" Asked the hedgehog.
"Sonic? So I guess our mission was a success. Well at least half of it was anyway." Espio responded while positioning himself in a more comfortable position in the snow.
Sonic and Vector had both made it to insure that the rest of the Chaotix were safe, Even so Sonic still had someone to find. He was very grateful to the Chaotix for coming this far out just to safe Tails. They deserved a rest. Sonic, however couldn't stop until he had found Tails and made sure he was safe.
"Vector. Fire! Warm fire!" Charmy urged. The crocodile nodded understanding what he meant and blew a warm fire into the air. It floated in front of the five of them and supplied suitable warmth that satisfied them all. Shimon even woke up upon being introduced to the comfy warmth.
"Wow… that feels nice… hey… there's more people here…" The kid looked up tiredly and saw a green crocodile and a blue hedgehog. This was indeed strange.
"Hey whose this kid?" Vector asked bending down to his eye level.
"Um, I'm Shimon. Who are you?" He looked straight at Vector with confusion in his eyes.
"Who? Me? Oh I'm Vector and the guy next to me is Sonic!" Vector said gladly pointing to the blue hedgehog who whole-heartedly waved back.
"Sonic? Are you… that fox kid's friend?" Shimon asked sitting up and getting Sonic's attention.
"Fox kid? Wait! You mean Tails!"
"Is that his name?"
"Where is he?"
"He headed toward Coordinates 000 a while ago… I think it was a while ago…"
"Thanks! I think I know where I need to go!" With that the hedgehog sped off going faster then the speed he came in at.
"Should we go too?" Espio asked with a slightly noticeable worried tone. Vector simply shook his head.
"Naw! Sonic will handle it. Trust me!" Vector said the statement with such confidence that Espio didn't dare question him again. They simply sat around the fire and rejoiced that their mission had actually been successful.
Two times in a row too! The hedgehog must be a lucky charm!
Coordinates 000 Starting Point
It was silent once again. This time the atmosphere seemed a lot colder then usual. It was extremely unsettling.
Hang Nail simply stared in amazement at the power that was erupting from his former punching back. He knew this was coming but this was still incredibly weird. It took him a while but the jaguar finally settled down and began chuckling to himself. Tails immediately noticed it and quickly grew annoyed.
"What's funny? Something you want to share with the massive and destructive powerhouse in front of you?"
"Heh Heh. No not really. I rather like taking people by surprise."
"If it's about that device I'm already familiar with it. Karst used it on me during our fight. I'm not stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice. I'll carve you to pieces before you can use it."
"Oh really… You know I thought you might say somethin' like dat and I'm assurin' ya I'm drawin' up a plan at the moment dat should be enough ta take your confidence out."
"Don't be stupid! We may have had about equal speed before…but I'm much faster then you are now! I'll kill you!" With that Tails charged forward which ultimately caught Hang Nail off guard. What surprised him even more was when he saw Tails disappear right before his hit connected.
"Wh-what is he…?"
Tails appeared beside Hang Nail and took no time in punching him across the face so hard that it created a spiraling shockwave as it connected. It sent Hang Nail through a couple of the buildings before Tails reappeared underneath Hang Nail's body while he was still flying across the land. Tails used both feet to kick him high into the air.
Hang Nail flew just below the clouds before he was hit again. He was sent toward the ground but before he could hit the dirt he was hit to the side again and then sent back upward. A person watching the fight would only be able to make out the black shockwaves going across the sky and the battered and bruised jaguar bouncing off of the shockwaves like they were trampolines.
"How does it feel to have your disappearing act used against you? Huh?!" The kitsune shouted as he continued to blast the jaguar across the sky.
Eventually blood started to rain from the areas where Hang Nail was being hit. He didn't notice it but there were now holes literally imbedded into his body now. The blood would've poured out of his body if it weren't for the fact that Tails was sending it flying across the sky.
Hang Nail was just sent back into the air again with an extremely painful and shocked look on his face. Tails had just reappeared over him again.
'…No one should be able to move like this… impossible to defend myself!'
At that moment Tails grabbed Hang Nail's legs and flung him around in a violent circular motion. About a minute later he let go and let Hang Nail plummet to the planet. However, he made sure to grab at one of the ribbons around Hang Nail's fists in order to pull him back up. When he did he delivered one huge punch to the gut that sent him rocketing into the dry soil.
The impact obliterated almost everything near the surrounding area. Tails didn't care how many of these buildings or skulls were destroyed though. The only thing he was concerned with was Hang Nail's defeat.
Tails was ready to float down and see how much damage was done but for some reason before he could come down gracefully he found himself rocketing toward the planet in exhaustion. He hit the ground hard and rolled a bit before stopping in a tired heap.
It didn't take him long to get back up on his feet but when he did he realized that he was dizzy and for some reason he felt completely drained. He was still in his kitsune form from what he could make out. He looked at the huge crater in front of him and decided to check it out. He walked over to the edge of it and slide down inside.
Looking at the center of the crater he saw nothing. Nothing was there. He couldn't tell whether that was good or bad. Had Hang Nail been obliterated by his last deadly punch or…
WHAM!!
Tails was kicked into the air by a foot from the dirt connecting with his chin. He flew up and over which caused him to land outside of the crater. He lied there for a while before getting back up and looking his attacker straight in his satisfied eyes.
"It's impossible. How are you alive? HANG NAIL!" Tails shouted his dark aurora fluctuating as he did.
The jaguar smirked then out right laughed at the fox, which got him even more frustrated with the bully.
"Oh man! I didn't think you'd fall for it so easily. For a minute there I was scared! I actually thought I was gonna die! HAHAHA! Can you believe that? Me? Afraid to be killed by you! Can you say 'once in a lifetime miracle'! HAHAHAHAH!"
"You SHOULD be dead! Why aren't you?!" Tails said getting up. He was immediately shocked to see all the holes in Hang Nail's half-metal body healing themselves.
"Why can your body do that? What exactly did Eggman do to you?"
"HAHAHAH! Nothin'! All he did was make half my body metal and increase my stamina, speed, power, and all that jazz. He didn't give me the power to regenerate. That I got from you!"
"Wh-what? But then… that means…" Tails stammered. He looked down at his body. He saw that his fur was no longer black. It had changed back to orange. His aurora was still there and his eyes were still red which meant that Hang Nail hadn't taken all of his kitsune power.
"Looks like my lame device worked after all eh?" Hang Nail's featured were slightly altered as well. He had a small but noticeable aurora but for some reason it was only around his arms and legs. Not only that but the aurora was red instead of black.
"I don't… but how… when did…"
"I took the easy way out when it was my turn to receive the power sucking device. Since Karst was turned to a half-robot before me he got a less advanced model of the device but I got the upgraded one. It worked on my whole body! Every punch that you landed gave me a small portion of your power! Too bad! Guess you ace in the hole just wasn't good enough!"
"… When Karst was made into a half-robot… how long ago was this? How could he have thought to make a device to suck up my kitsune power if I was just given it a while ago?"
"He prepared for it long before you were even born. Some kind of alliance he had with Darkness, Bear Mayor, and that Smoke commander guy. Whatever! I don't care about that! I'm just happy the fight is in my favor now!" Hang Nail said while gloating to a huge extent. Tails angrily shouted back at him.
"It is not in your favor! I'm still half kitsune powered you know!"
"HAHAHAH! So what! There isn't anything you can do with that power except give it to me!"
"…Err…"
"Whenever you lay a finger on me a portion of your power becomes mine! All your punches will be doing is making me stronger while you get weaker. Soon you'll have no choice but to change back into the wimpy four-year-old twerp you originally were."
"…"
"I gotta say. When you're a legendary kitsune it's kinda weird beating on ya. You curse a lot more then you originally do and you growl more too. Oh well! I still know it's you so wiping you tail… err… tails will be satisfying all the same. Should I keep going or do ya wanna fight some more.
"Shut Up! Just shut up! I'll kill you!" Tails shouted, the angered kitsune part of him taking over, and charged at Hang Nail with incredible speed. He lashed out an even faster punch but Hang Nail easily caught it. The force of Tails punch was sent out in a shockwave that was sent outward instead of at Hang Nail. He repelled the force so easily.
"Thanks for that power!" Hang Nail lifted Tails up and punched him in his stomach. It was a much bigger force then any punch he delivered from before. Tails would have flown a great distance had Hang Nail not been holding on to his arm.
The jaguar pulled him back and delivered punch after punch to the poor kids gut until in looked like he was about ready to cough his gut up!
"Had enough? Too bad! I might consider easing up if you cry for me. Begging would also be acceptable." Hang Nail said as he continued to pound the blood out of Tails mouth and on to his face. Hang Nail would've licked it off if his teeth weren't closed together in his huge evil grin.
Hang Nail kept punching until he got bored with the same routine and let go of his arm on last punch. Tails wasn't punched as far as Hang Nail thought he would be but that in truth was a good thing. That way he could continue the torture quicker.
Tails slowly got up. A considerable amount of power had been drained from him because of all those punches. He gritted his teeth in pain and mentally cursed himself for flying off the handle and mindlessly attacking Hang Nail like that. It was too late now though.
Soon his power would be gone and Hang Nail will win again. He can't win! Not again! It just couldn't end like that! It just couldn't!"
Coordinates 000: Beginning of the middle point – War Zone area
Shoui, Buru, and all of their soldiers had walked a long distance and the more they walked the closer they got to Bocoe and Decoe's army. They were sure they were but a few more steps from a suitable ambush point. It wouldn't be long now.
"I can't wait to get this play started. Once all the actors are in place we'll be able to reach that castle and destroy the source of the enemies power. Isn't it wonderful!" Shoui almost shouted with excitement as they continued further.
Buru kept walking while feeling a sense of uneasiness approaching. Whatever was about to happen next would decide the fate of the world. Was that something to be so excited about? Maybe Shoui was just feeling adventurous.
"The climax is almost here. Once everyone who needs to be here arrives and we begin our war to decide who reigns supreme." Buru said.
"No need to be so dramatic, Buru. Just think of it as a play that will decide the fate of your acting career!" Shoui said as she sped up slightly.
"… I'd rather not… thank you…"
Ice Region ending point
Smokestack was more than confused. He knew Darkness should've caught on to him by now. He knew that Darkness had something that would be considered higher then a sixth sense so why hadn't he caught up to the guy yet? It didn't make any kind of sense what's so ever.
The only explanation Smoke could think of was… that maybe… Darkness had turned back and went back into the Ice Region. But why would he do such a thing? His target was already in Coordinates 000. It didn't make sense for him to do that unless…
"I see… like those punks from Assassination Unit 7 more people who originally weren't supposed to be part of the prophecy are here… but who? I know it isn't the hedgehog. Who else was with the fox…?"
Ice Region near ending point
"I think I see someone!" Shouted Knuckles as he and Amy made their way to a nearby boulder that had come into view a while ago.
"Is it Sonic? SONIC!" Amy's speed increased as she ran toward the boulder. She was sure there were at least four people there. "Hey! You guys! YOO WHOOOO!!" Amy shouted.
A kunai knife stopped by her feet before she was able to get any closer to the people. Amy shrieked, stepped back, and then grew angry.
"Who threw that?" Amy shouted getting angry almost immediately.
"I did." Said a purple chameleon. He didn't look familiar to Amy, which made her wonder why he would attack a stranger like that.
"Well why?! I didn't do anything wrong!"
"I sensed hostility coming from you." Espio merely stated.
"… WHO'S HOSTILE! I'LL SHOW YOU HOSTILE!!" Amy was able to charge when Knuckles grabbed her and held her back.
"Amy! Calm down! This guy was just being cautious! Let it go!" Knuckles wasn't in the mood for this. He was so tired it wasn't even funny.
"ERRR! Fine. I'll let him off. This time." Amy walked closer to Espio a bit more cautious this time and sat beside him. Espio let her sit seeing as she wasn't an enemy… apparently.
Knuckles walked up to the others and sat in front of them as well. He sighed in exhaustion knowing this was something he'd rather have avoided. He had a weak spot for helping out noble people in danger though so he couldn't just let Tails get killed.
"So, who are you two?" Vector asked as he, Charmy, and Shimon cradled around the fire the crocodile had created.
"I'm Knuckles and the scary looking one is Amy." Knuckles explained prompting Amy's vein to throb. Why were people talking about her like this? It wasn't fair. She just wanted to meet up with Sonic. So what if she wanted to bash a few heads to clear the boredom along the way.
"Nice to meet you. Name's Vector! The bee is Charmy and this boy beside him is Shimon."
"HI!" Charmy said enthusiastically.
"Hello." Shimon said kind of shy like.
"Aren't you wearing inappropriate clothes for this kind of weather?" Amy asked leaning over to see the boy.
"Well… yeah… I was living in the Green Hill Zone at the time… but I was kidnapped and brought here by a mean jaguar. These guys saved me from trekking in the snow until I died though. Plus this fire is warm enough to keep the cold off of me." Shimon said silently. Amy was moved.
"Aww! You poor thing!" Amy got up and walked around so she could sit by Shimon. "You must've been scared out of your mind."
"Y-yeah. It was scary. But everything is fine now."
"Oh! You're such a cute boy! And a brave one at that! I've always liked people who strive to fight for things they believe in. You believe in living and I believe in the love between Sonic and me." Amy said as she pulled Shimon in close to her.
Upon touching her warm body Shimon blushed and looked away from her. Amy noticed and chuckled at his behavior.
"So why are you guys here?" Knuckles asked starting to feel relaxed for the first time since coming to 3-way-villa.
"We came to help out a friend. We usually don't risk our lives unless it's for a job since we're detectives but these two really left an impression on us." Vector explained.
"Yeah… I know how that feels… I left an important job to help out someone important to me too."
The echidna and crocodile both sighed, looked up at the sky and both talked in unison.
"Oh Tails, I hope you're okay."
As soon as that was uttered everyone turned too look at their new companions. Vector looked straight at Knuckles and Knuckles did like wise.
"W-wait so you're…" Started Vector.
"The person you came to protect was…" Started Knuckles.
"Tails." Finished Espio.
"Fox fwend!" Shouted Charmy.
"The one I gave the message too." Said Shimon.
"Tails…" Amy simply said with a worried look on her face. It was silent for a while until Vector spoke up again.
"Yeah… him and Sonic sort of helped us out back in Future City when the Mortal Slicer had attacked us." Explained Vector.
"They helped me recover my emerald from that douche Igneous Rock…" Admitted Knuckles.
"So we're all looking for the same person! This is great!" Amy shouted.
"But we already found them." Espio said quickly getting Amy's attention.
"Eh?" Amy turned to the chameleon.
"Yeah. Sonic was here not but a while ago." Espio pointed out which got Amy excited.
"WHAT! REALLY! Why didn't you say this before!? Come on! We've got to go!" Amy shouted.
"We can't." Espio simply said back.
"Huh? Why not?" Amy was confused. Vector tried his best to explain.
"It's because up ahead is Coordinates 000. It's a place that not many people can stand being in for long. Especially when you're close to its castle." The crocodile explained.
"Castle?" Amy asked.
"Hold up! You know about what's in Coordinates 000! You did remember to warn Sonic right?" Knuckles asked in a hopeful voice.
Vector, Charmy, and Espio's sweat-dropped in unison.
"Well… we would have if he didn't take off so fast… but there isn't much to worry about." Espio said butting in. "Sonic can take care of himself. Besides, he's on a much more noble mission then we are at the moment. He can't afford to die."
"I've still got to follow him there though. I need to warn Tails about the castle that's there." Knuckles added clearly shaken up. "If I don't tell Tails the research I found he could be in grave danger."
"Him? In grave danger? But Tails is the kitsune right?" Espio asked which shocked Knuckles.
"You know about the kitsune legend?"
"Yeah. We researched it before coming here as well. It was hard to believe but when we put two and two together we eventually found out about what was inside Tails." Espio explained.
"Then we save Taily from meanie icebot!" Charmy shouted with glee.
"We understand that Tails is suppose to be the one to gain all this power if he goes to the castle in Coordinates 000 so we figured Tails would be the last person in danger." Vector said as he started to worry.
"No! There's more to it then that! Tails is in more danger then anyone else here. While it's true he gains power when he becomes a kitsune the legend says that when the next creation of a kitsune is to happen at coordinates 000 the one who started it all will be there to repeat the act of treason he committed in the past." Knuckles explained.
"This is the first time I've heard this? What does it mean?" Espio asked his facial expression showing concern.
"There are four coordinates on this planet. All of which have had a kitsune born there throughout time. Each one is more dangerous then the last. Coordinates 000 is where the first kitsune in existence was born. Coordinates 025A, 050, 025B is where the other three were born as life went on. Eventually the cycle was to end at Coordinates 000. The place where it all started." Knuckles spilled out his research too them.
"I don't get it. Why is Tails in trouble then?" Amy asked.
"Well… the legend says that when the kitsune was born it didn't possess the power to live throughout time like it has now. When it was created the person who was responsible for it's creation had been sentenced to death a while ago for treason against the kingdom that resides in Coordinates 000. Since this person wanted revenge on everyone who had convicted him he supposedly used the kitsune to destroy the kingdom and everyone there. He then used a spell to make it so a kitsune would show up at different coordinates throughout time as to let the world know of it's power."
"Sounds a little farfetched to me." Vector said.
"I know… and you know what… it's not true!" Knuckles said with a very serious look on his face.
"What? But the libraries said…" Amy began
"The libraries pass this stuff of as junk. They consider it fiction and so did the people researching it. That's why they half-assed the story and let the person behind this and his real intention go unheard of." Knuckles said completely sure of himself.
"So what do you think really happened?" Vector asked.
"Well… I think… the reason the man who created the kitsune was sentenced to death… was because he was accused of outright treason against their king… that much I believe from the library but… I don't think the fox he made into a kitsune was any random fox… I think… it was the king himself who was made into a kitsune."
"…" Everyone was silent.
"He probably used the king to destroy his own kingdom and when that was done he tried to get the power for himself like he intended in the first place. Something must've gone wrong and he couldn't reclaim the power he had meant to give to himself. So when he realized he should've made himself a kitsune in the first place instead of giving the power to the king and controlling him he created this coordinates system."
"I still don't get it. What would be the point of creating this system?" Espio asked.
"I think… he did it so that when a kitsune emerged that was powerful enough to not even have control over it's own power this person could use that to his advantage and take it for himself like he intended to do when he created it." Knuckles explained.
"Wow, Knuckles! I didn't know you could be so smart." Amy said.
"Oh really? Is that a fact? Well I'm familiar with ancient stories so I'm pretty good with this stuff." Knuckles said with a small smirk.
"I think I see a flaw though. If this person who turned his king into a kitsune and then made the coordinates system wanted to eventually take the power, did he even consider how long that would take? This must've taken place thousands of years ago. The dude can't still be alive." Vector stated.
"He must've been smart enough to know that he had to keep some power to himself if he had any hope of taking the kitsune's power. I'm sure it was enough to keep him alive." Knuckles said.
"Really? Sounds scary." Said Shimon.
"It is… but it's true… not only that but I bet we just figured out the whole situation too. It would be a shame if someone were here who didn't like the fact that his whole plan was just discovered right." Knuckles said in an angry tone, which confused everyone there.
Amy was about to ask him why he was suddenly so angry when Knuckles spoke his reason.
"I know you're there. You can come out now." Knuckles said looking behind him. Everyone was shocked. Someone was listening in on their conversation?
"Hmph! I guess I've been found out." A huge aurora of power erupted in front of them and the cloaked schemer approached from the depths of it.
There stood Darkness. His hands were by his side and his posture was perfect.
"This must've been the hostile power I was sensing earlier!" Espio said remembering his kunai to Amy.
"Naw, I'm pretty sure that was Amy." Knuckles joked. Amy wasn't amused.
"Seems you figured out what the scientists could not. I congratulate you on that echidna. However, all this does is give more of a reason to kill you all now." Darkness said stepping closer.
"You sick bastard. I was right wasn't I? You betrayed your king and his people and turned him into a monster that you dubbed kitsune. Then when you used him to destroy the kingdom you tried to take the power for yourself but didn't have enough power to take it back did you. Guess that was your first mistake huh?" Knuckles said getting up to face the deity.
"I make very few mistakes. However, that was a miscalculation on my part. I had a way around it though. I created the Coordinates system. Since I couldn't take the power I had to find a way to get the one in charge of it to become unable to control it himself. It was relatively simple. Since the power of the kitsune increases with time it becomes harder and harder for one to control it's own power. As time went on its power grew more and more unstable until finally I find myself with little Miles Prower."
"Tails." Vector snarled.
"My apologizes. Tails then. His power was so strong it was about ready to burst! I knew this was my chance! Once he loses control of his power it will drift and I will claim it. After thousands of years of waiting the power of the kitsune will finally become mine."
"You think so don't you." Knuckles said getting in his fighting position. "And what makes you think you can control it if Tails can't?"
"I know I can control it because unlike him I'm not a child." Darkness stated factually. Amy grew mad and summoned up her hammer.
"Oh yeah! And what are you planning on doing with Tails when he releases all this power!" She shouted.
"The same thing I did to the fox king when he passed his power on to the next generation of foxes… kill him."
With that Darkness started laughing like a mad man. It angered Amy so much that she launched at Darkness in blind rage.
"AMY! STOP! HE'S TOO POWERFUL!" Knuckles shouted too late.
Darkness grabbed her hammer just as it was about to connect and sent a huge black jolt of electricity through her body by using it. The blast shot Amy backward and had her crash into the snow in front of everyone.
Espio and Vector were taken a back. Charmy and Shimon were scared out of their wits. Knuckles ran to her and bent down to see her unconscious.
"You bastard! She's a girl!" Knuckles shouted.
"… So I noticed." Darkness said with his tone unchanged. Knuckles then ran toward Darkness but stopped when Darkness held out his hand. A dark energy circled around everyone except Knuckles.
"Hey you! Let them go!" Knuckles shouted getting even angrier.
"… No I don't think so… for you see they all know my plan… as do you…"
"…Err… you…"
"However, I will allow you a privilege that I haven't granted anyone I've killed before. I usually like to see them die wondering who it was that killed them. However, since you were the first to figure out my plan I'll allow you to see my face." Darkness said as he took the hand he wasn't holding up and removed his hood.
Knuckles almost had a heart attack when he saw his purple face. It was unreal. It couldn't be!
"N-no! It can't be! You… you look just like…!" Knuckles started.
"Times up!" Darkness clenched his fists and his power erupted.
An explosion could be heard in the distance.
Coordinates 000 War Zone
"Bocoe! Decoe! Are you ready! You must prepare for war!" Came an incoming signal from Bokkun.
"Prepare for… but why? I don't see anyone." Decoe remarked.
"Their upon you! The G.U.N! They're here!" He shouted.
"Where?" Bocoe asked.
Suddenly an explosion took place behind them. The huge building in their way was gone. In front of them was a huge platoon of G.U.N soldiers. There were millions of them just like there were millions of robots behind Bocoe and Decoe. It was then that Bocoe and Decoe realized they were in a huge battlefield with skulls everywhere.
"Oh crap." Bocoe said surprised.
"Were we… they… right behind us this entire time?" Decoe asked.
"It's called an ambush! And it looks like there is enough space here for a battle." Shoui remarked.
"Well we're just going to have to run and fight at the same time because we need to reach that castle. How about instead of the original boring war, we fight in a new sense. We fight while we're running through this maze of buildings. Whoever reaches the top of the castle first wins." Decoe suggested.
"Doing that would make all of Coordinates 000 a war zone and not just this area… I like that. Let's do it." Buru said the thought of massive explosions taking place around Coordinates 000 exciting him.
"Then it's agreed! And we're starting… rrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhht…. NOW!" Decoe shouted then took off toward the castle with Bocoe following. Shoui simply chuckled.
"Eggman's bots sure are strange. Attack! Follow them! Tear this place upside down if you have to! This is a war zone! No slacking off!" Shoui shouted. Immediately the soldiers began attacking the robots and the robots did likewise.
Buru headed for the rooftops and looked the area over. It had happened so fast! The robots and soldiers were starting to go all over the place. They were headed to the high rooftops and to the low cellars of the abandoned kingdom. It didn't take long for gunshots to be heard. It made Buru smile. It was exciting! What's even more amazing was that it was all a race! The first one to the castle is the winner. Such excitement! He had to make sure his participation in this was to it's fullest.
With that Buru jumped from rooftop to rooftop destroying every robot in his path. The battles were quickly spreading around all of coordinates 000. Buru had to give Eggman credit where it was due.
His robots sure knew how to throw a good party!
Coordinates 000 Starting point
Tails had been dodging Hang Nail's every attack as to not get touched by him. He was jumping back so much he didn't even realize he had entered the war zone. When he ran into one of Eggman's robots he immediately destroyed it and kept running.
Gunshots and explosions could be heard as he continued on. They didn't concern Tails at all. He had to think of a plan to beat Hang Nail without having his powers robbed.
The jaguar shot threw all of the robots in his way so that he could catch up to Tails. Tails had made his way across the maze of run down buildings so that he could finally find a place to settle down and think.
When he stopped he immediately regretted it when he heard Hang Nail awful voice coming from above. Tails looked up and saw the jaguar standing on a building's rooftop. An explosion took place behind him and it made Hang Nail look even more evil with the added effect.
"Thanks for stopping and giving me a chance to catch up two-tail! Now where were we!" He asked. Tails jumped up on another rooftop across from him and just stared at him until he shouted in anger.
"Hang Nail! I swear I'll win! I swear it!" Tails shouted. Before Hang Nail could answer a robot jumped out at him. He was about to slash it a part when something else shot threw it and destroyed it before he could.
A huge blur had passed threw it.
Tails saw what destroyed it and watched as it landed on the rooftop beside him. They both watched in awe as he stood up and faced them both with a serious look on his face.
"I finally found you… buddy." Said the blue hedgehog who had finally caught up to him little brother.
"S-Sonic?" Tails asked surprised.
"Well, well! If it ain't the has-been hero! Here to save his loser friend I guess!" Hang Nail laughed. "Look! Why don't you come back later! We're busy here!" Hang Nail said smugly.
"I don't care! That's my friend and I won't let you warm him!" Sonic shouted across to the jaguar.
"Get out of here Sonic! For once the bully is right! This is between him and me! I'll kill anyone who gets in our way!" Tails shouted which didn't surprise Sonic in the least.
"I see you're that freaky kitsune again aren't you. Well then, I guess this is still going to turn out to be a harder mission then I thought." Sonic sighed in frustration.
"Oh please! Stop playing hero you…!" Hang Nail was about to pounce on Sonic when a huge mass of smoke circled around his body and flung him against his building. "What the! Who did…?"
"Shut up before I tear your mouth off!" Came the shout of the G.U.N commander Smokestack. He floated down on to the building next to Hang Nail. "I think I've seen you before jaguar. Working for Eggman now are you?"
"What of it?" Hang Nail yelled back clearly flustered.
"Nothing… I just want the fox!" Smoke said as he pointed diagonally to Tails. Tails just growled at him.
"Hang on! Your not touching Tails!" Sonic assured Smokestack.
"Yeah! He's my pray! Both of you back off!" Hang Nail said getting even angrier.
"Sonic! Smokestack! I'm fighting Hang Nail right now! But if you two want me to kill you first I'll gladly do it!" Tails said clenching his fists which freaked Hang Nail out.
"WHAT! No! I'm your first priority! Me not them! ME DAMNIT! I'll kill them so that it can stay that way!" Hang Nail said getting even more annoyed.
"Hmph! You can't kill me! Your claws will go straight through my smoke! I'll gladly take you and the hedgehog out if it's to get the fox!" Smoke shouted.
"Hold it! No one's killing me either! I'll fight all of you, including that kitsune in Tails, to make sure my buddy stays safe." Sonic boasted.
"A four way battle sounds interesting. I'll gladly accept!" Tails shouted with a hyped grin on his face.
"Oh please! All of you can just GO TO HELL!!" Smoke shouted as he sent his blasts of smog out to the other three. They all dodged and began to go on the offence.
And just like that It had begun. The survival test to see who'd reach the castle first had finally begun.
However, someone was still missing...
Ice Region Unknown location
Metal Sonic stood in front of Karst Ice's body. It had been mutilated beyond repair. Just by looking it over he could tell who it was that did this.
"The fox... it would seem he's in Coordinates 000... already... really..." Metal said reaching into Karst's metal body and ripping something shinny out.
In his hand was a small compartment where Karst's chaos emerald was suppose to be. However, it wasn't there. It was then that Metal decide to use his emerald location signal which was given to him by Eggman, and upgraded by Darkness, to see where it had gone.
After about a minute he stopped looking and turned to face where he thought Coordinates 000 was.
"I see... Karst's light blue emerald is with a pink hedgehog... a bat has the purple one... an echidna has the green one... the blue hedgehog has both the yellow and the red one... Eggman has the white one... and I've got the dark blue emerald... that means... all the chaos emeralds are here..."
Metal began walking away from Karst's body.
"I guess this means... it's time to begin..."
That's all for now! Review please! Tell me how you liked this chapter!