AN: Here's a change of pace for the story. You'll know it when you read it. So why are you reading this?
Disclaimer: I own nothing that is not claimed by me; i.e. my and this plot.
January-1-3457
4:20 Mobius Time
The world as you knew it… is gone. How far would you try to go to bring it back? When life pushes and pulls you in directions in such a tedious manor, you begin to wonder how your life was before this point, or how you even got there in the first place.
That's what Sonic thought when he found himself in a black, weightless void. He floated around in the endless vacuum like a helium balloon. Feeling a sense of vertigo, he tried to pinpoint his direction.
Suddenly, he dropped. He fell only a short distance, but that was enough to cause him a bit of pain. After he regained his composure, the surrounding environment began to fizzle into reality. From where he lay, the environment pieced itself together, as if it were fragmented.
He walked around the foggy area, trying to determine where he was, but failing. He then spotted a mass of people. Most of them were praying while others were hoisting Holy objects in front of them.
They all seemed to be focused around a single point, for some reason. Sonic was going to squeeze through the crowd when he found that he could pass right through them, as if he were a ghost.
At the epicenter of the crowd was a nine-tailed fox, curled up into a ball and in tears. One he immediately recognized to be Tails. Though he couldn't hear the people, he could see that they were berating him with harsh words.
He managed to read one of the person's lips, noting that they called him a demon. One other Mobian ferret called him devil-spawn.
How could they be doing this to him? Sonic thought as he watched the kitsune stand. Suddenly, Tails' face contorted, showing his great displeasure.
The people noticed and they began to back off. Tails' then grinned in a creepy fashion, one that would make you think he should be in a mental facility.
What he was about to do mad him certifiably insane.
He unleashed a massive amount of energy, cackling all the while. The wave of energy caught the people off guard, as they were blown back by it. Tails kept his expression as his eyes turned blood-red. His fur turned a night black. This time, though, there was an added transformation. The tips of his tails each lit up. They each glowed with an indigo colored fire and the inside of his ears became a pale white. All this, added to the smirk he still wore, and you had a very unhappy fox.
One who looked like he should've been in an insane asylum.
Well, everyone there was definitely going to need a psychiatrist after this. If they lived, that is.
Tails was firing off massive waves of energy, tearing through the Mobians in his rage.
Sonic was scared of him. He'd never pick his little bro out as one capable of mass murder. Tails spotted him and began walking toward him. Sonic's obvious response was to back off. The enraged kitsune had charged up a black energy sphere and was heading straight for him. Sonic tried to cry out to him, but he seemed to have become mute.
Tails plunged the sphere into him and everything vanished.
He was now in a white void. He didn't feel the pain of the sphere and in front of him stood an orange echidna wearing tribal clothing.
She turned to face him and frowned. "You are Sonic, are you not?" She asked him, to which Sonic weakly nodded. "I am Tikal. I am a being that is sealed with Chaos inside the Master Emerald." The echidna introduced herself.
"I see you are troubled." She stated. Sonic, of course, nodded. How could one not be troubled by that horrifying scene?
Tikal then looked down at her feet. Sonic followed suit and saw the massacre continuing, minus himself.
"This is one of Miles' possible futures." She explained. "The people never understood him, and drove him to the point of insanity."
She then faced him. "In order to prevent this, you must convince others to believe him."
Sonic raised his eyebrows. "But, how, Tikal?" He almost screamed at her.
She smirked and winked. "That's for you to figure out."
The scene disappeared, being replaced by the void again…
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
…Syaoron the Fox presents…
…The Third in the Series…
The Mobius Code
Tribulations
Chapter 5
Sweet Dreams
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Sonic immediately sat up in his bed and swished his head around, attempting to get a better look at his surroundings. He was in Amy's house, particularly in their bedroom. He looked at the alarm clock that was on the night stand next to him, noting that it read 6:34.
Hooray… a brand new year. He thought unenthusiastically. Last night's dream had really bugged him. Was it real?
He'd have to ask himself that again after he had truly woken up. To his left was Amy, already sitting up and arching her back to stretch it out. She yawned loudly and looked towards her husband. "Good morning, Sonic. Did you have a good rest?"
He responded to his wife with the shaking of his head. "I had a really weird dream last night."
Amy nodded. "So did I. What was yours about?" She asked him.
He proceeded to describe his dream, down to every last detail. Amy clenched her stomach in nausea at the scene he described.
"… then, some orange echidna called Tikal tells me that it was one of Tails' possible futures." He finished. Amy gasped slightly at the mention of the orange echidna. Sonic then narrowed his eyes at her.
"She told me that in a dream, too." The pink hedgehog admitted. "However, my dream was less… gory." She then began to describe the vision that had visited her mind…
[FLASHBACK]
January-1-3457
4:19 Mobius Time
Looking around the endless white void, Amy walked onward. It was new to her, to dream of nothing.
She once heard that time has no meaning in a dream. I wonder if time is passing faster or slower on the outside, she thought as she continued to venture the vast fields of white.
Without a moment's notice, things began to piece together as if they were part of a jig-saw puzzle. When all was completed, she ended up on a small hill of grass. She could see far and wide on the hill, noting that she was in some kind of park in the middle of the wrecked Mobotropolis. Rain pattered against her face lightly as she took in her surroundings.
While looking around, she spotted an area full of head stones. She looked at the graveyard, wondering why this particular place stood out in her mind. Deciding to disregard it, she simply strode down the hill and over to the forebodingly appearing cemetery.
What she saw when she got there made her shudder for a moment. A nine-tailed yellow fox and a green plant-like alien were kneeling next to a large statue. The statue was made of marble and was carved to form an elegant looking, large stone box.
There was a plaque nailed to side of the stone and several names were inscribed in it.
Among the names, she immediately recognized her own and Sonic's. At the top of the list, she spotted Julie-Su. It was then that she realized what this was.
It was a memorial.
Cosmo laid a bouquet of carnations and roses next to the memorial and clasped his hands together. "Hey guys, we're back." She spoke softly, but loud enough to hear. "We got revenge, just like we promised."
Tails put down a set of golden rings, just wide enough to be wrist bands. He pounded his fist against the ground. "I'm sorry I couldn't have been there for you guys." He apologized. "I couldn't save you. I let you down Shadow, I'm so sorry."
He continued his apologies through his tears. Cosmo wrapped her arms around his waist and embraced him in a warm hug. Tails' ears then perked up and he turned quickly, as if by reaction. The direction he turned towards showed many people gather on the hill Amy had recently stood on.
They had formed a mob, chanting a single phrase. They all constantly chanted, "Vade te malignus spiritus!*"
Sally, who had been on the other side of the stone, came around and said, "At least you're free now."
Tails scoffed. "Free from what; the Law? What about the people's opinion? We'll never be free from that."
Tails then looked back at the angry mob and shook his head. "Let's go, Cosmo." He muttered just loud enough for Amy to hear before the kitsune and his girlfriend vanished in a blip of light.
Amy suddenly felt her environment slip away as everything turned white.
In front of her now stood an orange echidna. She wore an expression of sadness as she gazed at something down below her. "Hello, I'm Tikal." She introduced.
Amy was about to introduce herself when Tikal put up a hand. "Don't worry; I already know who you are, Amy." She assured her. She then returned to gazing at the floor. Amy followed along and saw Tails carrying Cosmo, flying at Mach 4 away from Mobotropolis.
"It's sad, isn't it?" Tikal suddenly said. "This is one of Miles' possible futures.
"If you want my advice, I suggest you all stay alive… at least until the war ends." She explained further.
Amy was confused by this. "Why would the people hate him for that?"
Tikal then gave her a serious. "They accuse him of leaving you all behind, which, of course, is not the truth."
Amy nodded and Tikal let out a bit of a chuckle. "Or is it?" The scene then vanished before her eyes.
[END FLASHBACK]
"… and that's all I can remember." Amy finished, leaving Sonic in a skeptical state of mind.
He looked up at the ceiling and asked, "What do you think she meant when she said it could be the truth?"
Amy shook her head and held her husband's hand. "I don't know, Sonic, but I don't think Tails would ever betray us."
The blue speed devil then sighed, returning to his aimless gazing. He wouldn't… would he?
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
January-1-3457
6:53 Mobius Time
What is this place? How did I get here? These are the things that swam through Tails' mind as he walked around in the seemingly endless white void. Having wandered around in the empty space for what seemed like hours, he finally found a being.
It was in the form of a levitating silver fox, who was positively sparkling. Tails wandered closer to the fox when she suddenly noticed his presence.
When Tails got closer to the fox, he realized her most amazing feature. While a large fox indeed, she possessed an incredible amount of tails! He guessed that maybe she possessed a thousand tails!
"Hello, little one. Welcome to my domain." The enormous kitsune bellowed. Tails sensed something about her, something that made her much more than a thousand-tailed kitsune. A deity perhaps?
Either way, he got down on one knee and bowed his head. She chuckled at this and said, "Fear not, Miles. I merely wish to talk."
With that being said, Tails stood and looked at her. "Um… might I ask who you are?" He wondered, to which she nodded.
"I am The Lady." She introduced herself. "And, by technicality, I am your mother."
Tails widened his eyes and took a step back keeping his gaze focused on her all the while. "Is this some kind of joke?" He questioned, thinking that it was impossible.
The Lady shook her head. "Not at all. All will become clear in due time. But for now, I believe that it is only fair that I finally give you this." She then held her hand out.
Tails flew up to her hand to find a small white ball. It didn't appear special in any way, but he picked it up nonetheless. Upon touch, he realized that the ball had a warm feeling.
"You are just learning your true potential, Miles." The Lady explained. "Keep your friends close, because you are more than you realize."
The Lady then vanished and the surrounding white blacked out. Tails wondered what she meant before he felt a pulling feeling and blacked out.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Tails slowly opened his eye lids and looked around. He was still in his room at Knuckles' house. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and groggily looked around. Cosmo was already sitting up on the bed and looking at Tails with an awkward expression on her face.
"What's the problem, Cosmo?" Tails asked. She remained silent as she pointed at his hand.
He looked down to see the small white ball in his hand, still supplying the strange, yet comforting, warmth. He tossed it up and it fell down, just like any normal ball. Still, it seemed to draw his attention more than any other ball.
"What, this ball? I got it in a dream." He told her, to which she raised an eyebrow.
"You got it… from a dream?"
Tails palmed his face for trying to explain it like that. "Never mind." He dismissed and hopped off the bed. He stopped in his tracks for a moment, realizing that he had been unconsciously holding the ball. He secured it into his tail fur and stepped out, into the small living room.
While small, it was certainly large enough to fit three people comfortably with its sofa and TV. Knuckles was already in the kitchen, frying up some eggs and toasting toast. They greeted one another before Knuckles realized that breakfast was done.
He served everything up on plates and brought them to the table. "Here it is everybody!" He announced. "Fried huevos con toast."
Tails sported a mischievous grin and looked at Knuckles. "You can't say toast in Spanish?"
Knuckles grinned back and shook his head. "Nor can I say fried."
Spanish or no, they ate the breakfast without question. All the while, Tails felt this odd urge. Once he finished his breakfast, rather quickly at that, he stood up and tried to figure out what it was. He reached into his tail out of instinct and pulled out the white ball. Giving it a once over, he tossed it around and found it rather soothing.
He continued to toss around the ball until Cosmo flicked his ear. He instantly regained his awareness and stopped tossing the ball. "Yes, Cosmo?"
She sighed and looked at him again. "Tails, are you alright? You've been tossing that weird ball for a while now."
He shrugged and looked at the ball in his hand again. "The Lady gave it to me."
Cosmo looked at him again. "The who?"
Tails took his eyes off the ball and looked at her. "The Lady. She came to me in a dream and gave this to me."
Knuckles, having overheard the conversation, piped in. "You know, I heard a lot of lore in my childhood."
Having heard him, the two decided to hear him out. "The Lady is the supposed mother of all Kitsune. She is said to have many tails, normally referred to having ten or a thousand tails."
Tails nodded. "That would fit the bill. She gave me this ball, and it just seems to give off a feeling of security."
He then noticed the time and gasped. "Hey, Knuckles, does that clock work?"
Knuckles raised his eyebrows before looking at the clock beside him that said 1:09. "Oh, this? Nah, I never bothered to get it fixed."
Tails looked at him, eyes still widened. "And the brand is called "Joshua"?"
"Yeah; is that supposed to be of some significance?"
Tails immediately rushed off to his room and came back with a bible. He opened it to a specific page and read a passage. "Joshua, chapter one, verse nine. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Cosmo dropped her jaw slightly before regaining her composure. "Well, isn't that a coincidence?"
Tails shook his head. "I don't know Cosmo. Some things aren't coincidences in this world."
Knuckles nodded and looked off toward the pantry. "Well, looks like I've got to go to the nearest town and get some food. You guys want to come?"
Tails and Cosmo nodded, both wishing to escape the floating isle.
Knuckles cleared up the dishes and walked out the door, followed by the twosome. After some searching, he found a small alter with a glowing red orb on top. Walking up the steps, they all conjoined hands and Knuckles touched the orb, teleporting them off a distance.
They arrived at another alter; only the red orb there wasn't glowing. Once they all stepped off, the red orb regained its glow and they continued on.
While it took some walking, they finally spotted the town in the distance. "That's Silo City." Knuckles informed them. "It houses a military outpost that, as the name suggests, fires missiles at the Eggman's forces."
They walked through the city as Knuckles gave them a brief description of the small city. Citizens stared at them as they walked along. Well, them is a general term, as most of them were staring at a certain nine-tailed fox.
Tails was looking down, attempting to hide his face as they walked on.
"Do not fear, young one." A voice suddenly said. Tails swished his head around, trying to determine the source of the voice.
"Cosmo, did you hear that?"
She turned toward him. "Hear what?" She asked.
Tails shook his head and dismissed it. That is, until he heard it again. "It is I, The Lady." The voice explained. "Do not let the opinions of others disturb you. Unfurl your tails and let the world lay witness to your power."
He looked toward the sky, smiling, knowing that she was out there somewhere, watching over him like God. Following her advice, he flared out his tails, letting them wave about happily, but making sure not to hit anybody.
Rather than glare, some people would tend to gasp or gawk at his tails. It was like flipping a switch.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
January-1-3457
10:18 Mobius Time
Tikal gazed at a small screen, showing the multiple outcomes of Tails' life. She enjoyed watching this boy's life play out, as it was like watching a high school drama and an action film at the same time. So many thoughts swirled through the boy's head, and she knew most of them were deep.
Next to her, discussing his many outcomes, was Chaos, the fluid-like embodiment of chaos energy.
There were many possible outcomes, ranging from very tragic to immensely happy. At the rate things were going for him, some of those tragic incidents may occur.
Chaos made a couple of strange noises and Tikal nodded, as if understanding.
"Yes, Chaos, he does lead a very tragic life." She affirmed.
Looking back at the screens now, she noticed that some of the screens had disappeared, leaving only two. One displayed Tails and everyone finally having victory over Eggman and the other displayed nothing but fizzled grey.
Tikal widened her eyes slightly when she spotted a giant silver fox with a thousand tails walking toward her. The giant kitsune then shrunk so it was about Tikal's size. "I should've known you'd be interfering with your child's future, Lady."
The silver kitsune shrugged. "What can I say? Any alternative passage would leave him in an existence of anger, pain, or betrayal and I will not condemn my own child to such a fate."
Tikal shook her head. "Still, to advance him onto methods of Kitsune magic that he shouldn't learn until he's at least a hundred years of age… don't you think it's too soon?"
The Lady then strode toward the future-reading screen and gazed momentarily. "It may be too soon, as the second possibility describes…" She pointed at the fizzed out screen, "Still, I think that he will be able to defeat Eggman and return peace to Mobius… with or without his life."
Tikal sighed and tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to turn around. "Sometimes, your decisions are reckless, don't you think that?"
The Lady continued to smile as she was told this. "Maybe, but I believe this is for the best."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Vanilla and Cream's House
January-1-3457
10:57 Mobius Time
It was just an average morning for the Rabbit family as they wandered through house, wondering what to do. Of course, the house was a little overfilled with the extra people they had staying here.
Vanilla had taken it upon herself to play host for the time travelers and was currently completing her homely duties. Everyone else had decided to strike up a conversation.
"I don't understand why Tails doesn't want to come back to the Mystic Ruins." Cream said, continuing the conversation. "It would be much better than the dank forest."
Violet held up a finger to reason. "Well, due to his banishment, he's not even allowed in his own house, let alone the Mystic Ruins area."
"I don't see why he can't come here, though." Sapphire tried reasoning, until Durin shushed her.
"You see, sis, if they found out we were hiding him here, the law would be all over us; not something you want when you're trying to save the world." He said, putting an end to that thought.
Shane still held a face full of anger, but he tried his best to hide it. "Still, you'd think that after all he's done to help us, they'd unbanish him."
Gary stared at him for a moment before saying, "Is unbanish even a word?"
"That's not the point!"
Sam was groaning at their pointless bickering over grammar. "Look you two, settle down."
Andy was snickering at the comment. "You're one to talk about calm, Sam."
The energetic lion shrugged. "What can I say? I'm naturally perky."
Alexa sighed and shook her head. "Just shut-up!" She shouted, silencing them before she continued. "So, anyway, me and Sonic were…"
"Sonic and I!" Melodi corrected.
There was a momentary silence before Alexa smacked her on the back of the head lightly. "As I was saying, Sonic and I were wondering what Tails has been going through since he left, but he won't tell us."
"Maybe it's something personal." Coral suggested.
Ana then shrugged. "Well, I sure would be angry if my own city kicked me out, after I saved them from utter destruction."
Renna was smiling, for no apparent reason, so it seemed. "Well, last time I check his psyche…"
"Renna, have you been reading my dad's mind again?" Shane asked.
Renna rolled her eyes. "What. You think I can read his mind from here?" They both paused as Shane glared at her. "Okay, so maybe I did. Anyway, he seems to be getting along better than when I checked on him a couple days ago.
Shane continued to scold her for invading his dad's mind while the others laughed at Renna's hilarious comebacks.
Yes, it was just another fine morning…
… Or was it?
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
"Karen, prepare the Kinetic Orbital Strike."
"Sure thing, Eggman. They won't know what hit 'em."
*Vade te malignus spiritus is another Latin reference. It literally means: Begone with you, evil spirit.