A/N: I genuinely wished I got this chapter done sooner, but work and outside factors had once again gotten in my way. Other than that, I had a fun time writing this, so I hope it's worth the wait.
Disclaimer: Sonic the Hedgehog belongs to SEGA. I don't own any rights to the franchise or characters.
Chapter 16: Fighting with Thyself (Part 1)
~Null Space
He couldn't handle it any further. The energy from the Phantom Ruby in the jackal's chest was radiating to the tight grip of his gloved hand, holding him firmly against the cold, hard ground. Because he was screaming in pain, he wanted it to subside before his entire body became numb, more so than his stabbed clone. As much as he worried about how Sonic and his friends were doing, he had to push his thoughts aside and look out for himself for a change.
The earsplitting screeches came to a halt as Tails grunted with a jab from his elbow, executing a punch in front of his heart. It rattled the jackal who was clutching the icosahedron due to his chest pain. Tails recovered momentarily, swiftly shifting his body around and pushing the bottom of his shoes against Infinite's torso. The dark figure groaned as he tumbled, tripping and falling on his back.
Tails snarled with sharp teeth. His window was bound to close soon if he didn't act quickly.
"Why, you little-"
Infinite never got to finish his statement. The next thing he knew, the enemy roared as he felt Tails dig his fingers roughly against his shoulders. Both of them began rolling like a ball until the fox stopped his momentum with him being on top. He raised a fist in the air, aiming directly at his mask. Infinite saw the movement ahead of time, stopping it fiercely with his own hand. They traded punches and blocks for a few moments before the jackal got the last laugh. Tails was unable to see his right hand sway from the side, smacking him loudly on his left cheek. The force knocked him off his body, allowing Infinite to spring onto the young kitsune.
However, Tails widened his eyes and dodged his ambush by rolling quickly to his left. He got back on his feet until Infinite charged at him once more. With another intense growl, Tails gritted his teeth and restrained his foe's wrists with his hands. He pushed with all of his might, refusing to be dragged or shoved away by the unstoppable beast. The fox could not afford to lose against himself. He had lost way too many battles with his inner mind before, and this one was hardly different aside from the physicality. Falling to his alternate self was something he would loathe to accept for the rest of his life – assuming it doesn't end prematurely or anytime soon.
"Give in! It's not worth your time or energy, foolish mortal!" Infinite barked, frustrated at Tails' perseverance.
The fox felt his wrists quaking and his fingers losing their grip. "I... will... not... yield!"
His stamina was decreasing in the everlasting fight, but the link quickly broke up as Tails screamed. He pushed Infinite and stretched his arms out to his side, creating a noticeable pop near his right scapula. Tails' eyes widened as he barely heard a crack as Infinite howled. He let go of the jackal's left wrist and used both hands to hold him by the opposite arm. In a quick motion, he hauled Infinite over his head, tossing him like a garbage bag going into the dumpster. The masked figure spasmed from the wipeout moves as more pain roamed all over his body.
Tails wheezed heavily, long huffs and pants coming from his mouth. With his hands placed on his bent knees, he wiped off a few beads of sweat near his three bangs of fur. He then briefly peered up at his counterpart whose aura turned into a darker shade of pink. Albeit concerning, it didn't intimidate the nine-year-old.
He took another deep exhale and ran forward at the single-tailed nemesis. Rather than landing another punch, Tails whirled his namesakes the second Infinite was about to counterattack. The fox lifted himself off the ground, causing him to miss his chance. With his spinning tails, Tails whipped them at Infinite's face. The jackal endured a multitude of smacks that nearly gave him a concussion. It didn't help considering his head was concealed inside a mask, so he became momentarily dazed as he began ambling around and losing balance. One more smack came from Tails, and Infinite was knocked over on his stomach.
"How do you like them apples?" taunted Tails as he grinned with narrowed eyes.
Infinite barely heard his gibe and scoffed at him once he was back to normal. "You may have won this time, but you're hardly putting up a battle – let alone a war. Hell, do you not remember that you started one because you were so sensitive to Eggman's demeanor?"
Immediately, Tails' smile vanished in the blink of Infinite's only visible eye.
"Heh, you absolute weakling. How selfish could you be to value Sonic's life before you utterly demolished him in Red Gate City? How careless were you to not only attempt to keep him alive but nearly kill him numerous times with your special weapon?"
Sitting up slowly, Infinite emphasized that last word by caressing the rough edges of the ruby. With Tails somewhat entranced by the ominous glow, Infinite had him right where he wanted him.
Rather than going back to the head-on-head battles, Infinite was getting under his skin in the most indirect way possible.
Bringing him back to square one.
And it worked. Tails' guilt skyrocketed like the temperature in a scorching desert in the middle of a summer day.
"Come on now. You know what you've done to deserve all that ridicule. Not just from Eggman or the public eye, but from your friends, too."
Clenching his teeth and balling his fists angrily, Tails refused to let his other personality drag him down again. Despite this, all of the horrific memories were replaying in his head.
Sonic was getting brutalized by Shadow, Chaos, Metal, and Zavok before he wiped him out on the cobblestone. He was forced to run without free will or range of his arms and legs. He gagged for air every time his head was dunked upside-down in the water. He cringed and nearly bawled at Tails' supposed demise.
The pain didn't stop from there.
Knuckles and his friends fought for their lives as they survived. On the other hand, the thousands of Mobians couldn't handle the uprising of Eggman's army, increasing the death toll.
Blaze and Silver fell as victims to the Virtual Reality, earning a taste of what Sonic and those poor soldiers had to face. Rouge and Omega were also heavily affected by the attacks, long after Shadow was detained as well.
Savage was separated from his little brother. Raff got kidnapped in the process. Not only did the older wolf spend a lifetime of guilt with irreversible damage, but he also became a casualty from Infinite's constant bombardments.
Yet somehow, the Revengeful Resistance kept their heads above water. They reconquered the zones, got him back, and won the war at the last minute. Tails remembered that while he was ashamed of his actions, Sonic and the others didn't view it the same way like he did. Everybody reminded him how he was simply under Eggman's influence which put him in a terrible position to be thrown under the bus and forced to obey his commands.
In no way did they ever blame the fox for what he had done. It was only the illusions from his nightmares who turned against him. His real friends never antagonized him in the first place.
All of this nonsense and guilt was generated by the object that took control of his life and turned him into a cruel, relentless beast.
That damn Phantom Ruby.
"I can see you tensing up, can't say I'm surprised though. Come on, there's no need to dwell on it anymore. Not until you're officially gone from this world," Infinite cackled softly before he rose up from his spot.
Tails copied his actions, whirling his bushy appendages as he lifted his feet off the ground. "I am not going to submit to a monster like you. If anything, you're just as fake as the other copies you made to maltreat the soldiers and my friends by trying to differentiate between reality versus Virtual Reality! I reiterate, there is no way I am going back down that road thinking that I was the catalyst who caused the fall of Mobius!"
Infinite stayed silent for a few seconds until he smirked within his mask. "So, you're saying that you are the reason for the war? That you're too weak and subservient to follow Eggman's commands no matter what? And how you can't even look out for yourself when you're busy torturing your fellow colleagues? You know what they say, freak. Denial is just a river in-"
"URRAGGGGHHHHH!"
The jackal went wide-eyed as Tails came back soaring at his face with a mighty punch to the eyehole. Infinite was launched like a football being punted until gravity pulled him down. As he felt judders from his elbows, legs, and back, Infinite groaned as he lifted his head off the cold floor. But the next thing he knew, he saw his mirror image in orange fly directly at him. Tails was prepared for another tackle, but Infinite reacted in time to restrain his wrists. The fox's fist barely missed his mask as it was within reach, but it wasn't far enough to place an additional punch.
"AHHH!" Tails screamed out loud when he felt his left wrist wrench agonizingly.
"I don't have time to have you brutalize my face repeatedly. I'm ending this show once and for all."
He rotated the kit's arms to a larger degree. Tails' bones were on the verge of being broken if Infinite kept this up. With his hands contained, he resorted to his other trusty attributes. Sonic didn't call him Tails just for his physical appearance. Tails put his namesakes to use again as he pushed himself away from Infinite. He never felt more relieved despite the excruciating pain roaming from his wrists to his forearms.
Although he was out of Infinite's grasp, he had to find a way out of Null Space. If he can't, his body in the real world may never wake up again.
Unfortunately, he had to think of something later. He resumed his death match against his spiteful duplicate.
~Angel Island
Out of all the countless instances when Sonic let his feet flee, he never moved faster in his entire life until now. Even from all the chases and fights he endured, the blue hedgehog zipped through the trees and shrubs as they whooshed from the strong wind he left behind. He was too far ahead of the others that he nearly forgot about them. The only thing on his mind was finding the last Chaos Emerald ASAP.
"Come on, where is it?!" Sonic scowled, looking down at his communicator for any kind of signal.
"Sonic, wait for us!"
The distant call caused Sonic to skid his shoes across the dirt, clouds of brown dust floating in the air. Not wanting to wait for his friends, he retraced his steps until they met up in the middle.
"Geez, Sonic, I know you're fast and everything, but you couldn't have let us catch up to you?" Savage wheezed and coughed. Right beside him were Raff, Amy, and Knuckles.
"Look, buddy, I understand where you're coming from, but it'd be much easier if I can get a head start to scour the whole island," he huffed back, placing his hands on his hips.
"Sonic, we want to revitalize Tails as much as you do. But if you think you're gonna do it by yourself, you're wrong," Amy articulated.
"Ames, I don't need to-"
"I'm very serious, Sonic," she interrupted with a firm glare. "When we were staying in Knuckles' room to watch over him, we patiently waited for our friends to search across Mobius to get the Chaos Emeralds. When we had soldiers injured or affected by Virtual Reality, yourself included, we relied on them to continue battling Eggman's army and keeping the planet integral. Having to rely on you when you've been pushing away your emotions or brushing off your pain adds too much stress and responsibility to your hands. Although you're a catalyst to help save the world, these kinds of things are too much for a single person. We don't want you to tire yourself out from everything. That's why we're all here to assist you."
"Exactly," Knuckles defended her reasoning. "When I stepped up to be the Commander, I didn't do it just to act like I was the lone hero. I needed everybody in conjunction so we could stop the doctor and get our home back to normal. I faced a lot of hardships, yet despite all the trouble, we had everyone step up as team players. Even you were a major contributor, Sonic. Now, we're trying to do the same thing to save Tails... again. Together, need I remind you."
"Don't try to take it in a bad way, Sonic. Trust us, we're all here for you," Raff softly added.
Sonic's ears slightly folded. He was somewhat annoyed that his friends were ironically holding him back like he was being lectured by a teacher in a detention hall. On the other hand, he realized how selfish he was to handle the rest of the job alone while leaving Amy, Knuckles, and everyone else behind in the dust. His friends went beyond their breaking points. They did it during the war, so it didn't surprise Sonic that they were working hard – whether it was rebuilding Mobius or finding the Chaos Emeralds. After all, the team used up a lot of their energy to track the first six Emeralds, and they weren't going to stop from there. For them to take the extra time to reach Angel Island without taking any long breaks, he should've been more grateful.
"Hey, listen, I-"
"Save it, Sonic. Really. What matters right now is getting the final Emerald. Like Raff, Amy, and Knuckles said, we're hand in hand. We're not letting you or Tails down," declared Savage.
The hedgehog figured an apology was necessary, but given the dire situation, his friends couldn't care less about it. They were all right; they needed to work together and save Tails quickly.
"Alright, gang! Let's do it to it!"
This time, Sonic rushed forward but managed his speed so he wouldn't be very far ahead. With the echidna, hedgehog, and wolves sprinting behind, the five hastily searched across the jungle. Dodging under branches and passing through foliage, none of them were slowed down by the landscape until they reached the edge of a massive precipice. From their vantage point, they could see tons of trees, mountains, and flora scattered across the vast island. The most eye-catching part, however, was the large lake at the bottom of the cliffside. One accidental step forward, and Sonic could've plunged hundreds of yards into the water. Shallow or deep, he was relieved to slow his feet in time.
"It looks like we can descend to our right," acknowledged Knuckles. "The hills slope downward in a semi-circle fashion, so we can reach the bottom safely."
"Makes sense to me. That, and also you know your way around this place, I bet," Raff smiled.
"Frankly, I don't know much about this cliff. I may live on this entire floating isle, but I don't think about the overall scenery as much as the Master Emerald."
"We get it, Knux. We know how much you're in love with that thing," Sonic teased with a side smirk.
"Watch it, bucko, or I'm hurling you all the way down into the lake," Knuckles threatened.
"Heh, well in that case..." Sonic didn't hesitate to make his way to the bottom in a few seconds flat. He was barely able to perceive his friends from below. "Let's keep going! The Chaos Emerald has to be here somewhere!"
"Now I know what you two have to deal with on a consistent basis," Savage peered at Amy and Knuckles.
The pink hedgehog simply rolled her eyes. "He may be dreamy and all, but he's also a buffoon with half of a brain cell sometimes."
"Does that mean you're still pining for him?" Raff questioned innocently.
"Um... Well, you see... I, uh-"
"Forget about the lovebirds! Let's hurry up already!" Knuckles blustered, rushing down the peak.
With Amy huffing in annoyance, she trekked behind with the wolves following close by. Making it to the bottom, Raff pulled out the Miles Electric to get a better reading of his surroundings.
"You getting any sensation from the Chaos Emeralds in your hands, bro?"
Savage shook his head, gripping the yellow one in his left hand and the red in his right. "Unless they're reacting to one another, I'm afraid of. Wait, hold on."
"What's up?"
"I suddenly feel a burst of energy in my palms!"
"Can I see?" asked Knuckles. Savage tossed the red one to him, and he caught it with ease. Scrutinizing the object, he scrunched his eyes. "I feel it as well."
"We must be on the right track! Keep going, guys!" encouraged Raff.
It only took a few more minutes of running before the signal became stronger than ever. With Raff giving out directions, Sonic continued leading the charge until he saw a speckle of green that stood out from the vegetation.
Partially buried in the dirt was a bright glow of jade. Matching Sonic's wide, eager pupils, the hedgehog didn't spend a second celebrating as he spin-dashed a hole in the ground, nearly getting dust in his friends' eyes as they approached the spot.
Amy began hacking while shielding her eyes. "Hey, Sonic! Watch where you're doing! You're probably making my dress dirty!"
Knuckles coughed heavily as his spiked hands waved off the dirt clouds. "Your clothing's condition can matter later!"
"Hmph... Well, I prefer to stay polished and poised whenever we're in a high-speed chase like this."
"Guys! I found it!" Sonic yelled happily for the first time in a while. He was so excited that the hunt was finally over as he presented the green Chaos Emerald.
"Way to go, man!" Savage gave him a fist bump to which Sonic returned enthusiastically.
"I'll go ahead and inform the others!" Raff hurried and sent out a message through the Miles Electric.
"How are you doing, by the way?"
Sonic kept his chin up at Savage. "I mean, about everything right now? Or the stuff that we've been through since Eggman deployed his biggest plan yet? It's hard to wrap my head around it, you know? I never felt this tired or vulnerable in my life so far. But again, I want to move past that. It started with getting back on our feet after reclaiming the world again. It ends with getting my little buddy back to his old self. Not just from his Infinite state, but from his latest saga."
"Okay, everyone should know that we're heading back to the altar. I also gave Delilah and Greg the heads-up. We'll unite all the Emeralds over there while the nurses safely transport Tails. This is our chance to resuscitate our big-brained companion!"
"You said it, pal! Time to backtrack!"
Sonic was too determined that he once again left his friends behind. Although he had a feeling they were going to be irritated at him again, it didn't matter whatsoever. He maintained the grin on his muzzle as he secured the green gem in his rippling, cobalt quills. Tails was going to get out of Null Space. Sonic stayed fully confident his goal will be achieved, one way or another.
"Hang on, little buddy. We're almost there."
After getting into another surge of punches, kicks, and dodges, Tails felt his shoulder being slightly dislocated. He tried everything to shake off the discomfort, yet it became progressively worse as the fight prolonged. Infinite's Virtual Reality cubes spewed out from his hands, aiming at the twin-tailed adversary. Tails sputtered as he ducked and rolled across the barren field, rushing away like Sonic evading all of Eggman's missiles in a mass attack.
He wasn't so lucky to avoid every cloud of cubes as the final one scathed the tips of his namesakes. The slight burn caused him to seethe before he felt an insurmountable wave of pain coursing up to his heart. Tails' eyes widened before they squeezed shut instantaneously. His knees crumbled and shook, forcing him to the purple floor.
Infinite cackled from midair. "Too slow to circumvent your inevitable doom. It's quite sad, really."
Tails was not having it with his faker. But he couldn't get a word in edgewise as his mind drowned in a sea of deception.
The moment he opened his eyes, the kitsune was met with a horrible scene. Red Gate City was on fire again. The entire town was covered in flames, ranging from broken apartments to the iron bridge that was being renovated.
Even worse were the entities surrounding him.
"No..."
Tails couldn't breathe or think straight as he gazed down at a myriad of bodies on the cobblestone road. He instantly recognized Silver lying on his right side, limp as a dead fish. Beside the white hedgehog was Blaze, also immobilized with her purple tailcoat torn and scorched.
More familiar faces laid in front of him. Shadow was flat on his stomach with his eyes closed. Rouge was on her back with bent arms and legs yet no signs of movement. Omega was shut down, his circuit board completely destroyed. The entirety of the Chaotix – Espio, Charmy, and Vector – didn't bat an eye or speak a single word, for the trio was scattered on the ground with dull expressions.
Going down the line, Tails was aghast to see poor Cream and Cheese suffer the same fate. The sight was too scarring for him, considering the bunny was just a few years younger than him. It didn't get any better when he spotted Amy and Knuckles, completely stationary from their positions. Even the Wolf brothers of Savage and Raff suffered the same fate as everyone else.
He saw everyone in his close friend group. Everyone except...
"Tails..."
His heart stopped for a split second. "S-Sonic?"
He tried to detect where his friend was. As Tails jogged forward, he kept hearing the hedgehog's croaking voice. His sense of hearing allowed him to find him shortly, but he immediately froze in utter shock.
Tails was in a familiar setting. He found himself in the heart of the city surrounded by broken buildings and infrastructure. The exact same place he duped Sonic... and proceeded to beat him up.
"T-Tails..."
He gulped. Down on the ground was his best friend, lying squarely on his stomach. Disheveled quills and spotty fur were on display as the Blue Blur heaved heavily. Tails hurried over to the hedgehog, completely frightened to see his friend in bad shape.
"Sonic-"
"Why?" the cobalt hero interrupted.
"Huh? Why, what?" Tails reiterated.
"W-Why? Why did you do this, Tails?"
The fox didn't know what he was trying to say. Yet at the same time, it was like he knew what was coming.
"Why did you destroy the city?"
There was the gut punch.
"Why did you attack the animals?"
Another major blow to the stomach.
"Why did you nearly kill me?"
Tails nearly fell back.
Out of all the nightmares he suffered from, whether it was from Virtual Reality or his sleep (rather a lack thereof), the fox could argue this was more horrific than anything he imagined. To see all his friends constantly reprimand and think of him as a monster was one thing. To find most of them dead, save for his longtime partner, was far more traumatic. On top of everything, a weakened Sonic was bringing him down with guilt, replaying the memory of him and the Virtual Reality clones outdueling the hero of Mobius to the point where he nearly lost his life.
"S-Sonic..." Tails' eyes began to water. "I-I... I'm sorry..."
"You're better than that, Miles... I thought you were... my best... buddy..." The hedgehog began to lose focus.
Tails crouched down, getting close to him. "Sonic! I didn't mean to! I never... I never wanted this to happen!"
"Then why did it happen?"
He couldn't believe what Sonic was saying. Tails begged for forgiveness as tears dribbled down his muzzle. "Sonic, I'm sorry!"
Sonic, however, didn't find it in his slowly beating heart to accept the apology. Instead, his eyelids became heavy, and his head eventually dropped near his crumpled hands.
"N-NO! SONIC!"
Tails became lost. He just watched his best friend die... in Virtual Reality. Even he knew it was fake... But what if it truly occurred?
He remembered how he did almost nothing when Eggman forced him to be his latest weapon – to ultimately rule the world and destroy Sonic for good. All of those attempts to eradicate the hedgehog were barely out of reach. Yet every time, he couldn't stop dreaming of the 'what if' scenarios where he and Eggman officially ended his life. On the other hand, since Sonic was still alive, running away and avoiding him only led the former jackal to perpetual isolation and anxiety. There were too many incidents where he couldn't dare to show his face around his best friend without being reminded of his role in the Phantom Ruby War. The everlasting blame he had harbored was consuming him whole once again.
It was by then he felt a harsh sensation on his face. He was brought back to Null Space as his body flew across the dark dimension, landing badly on his left hip.
"Ugh... Nngh... AHHH!"
More pain began to swell up after Infinite struck him with a mighty punch. He didn't have time to recover as the jackal pinned him down once again. As Tails heard his counterpart boast with laughter, he couldn't help but bask in the misery and humiliation.
This time, he was too weak to break free.
Too weak to retaliate.
Too weak to stand a chance.
Too weak to regain his friends' trust.
And lastly, too weak to forgive himself.
It was a mad dash to the altar. Even Greg and Delilah received word of the final Chaos Emerald that they carefully brought the motionless fox to the intended venue. Cautiously going up the steps was one thing, but they were able to carry Tails safely to the Master Emerald despite the long, steep incline. They didn't wait too long for the Resistance members to appear as well. Sonic's group came last, yet the Blue Blur was already quick to reunite with his friends. Eventually, Knuckles, Amy, Raff, and Savage rushed up to the shrine with everyone else waiting for the ultimate moment. Even Spot and Collar rejoined the Resistance after hearing about the encouraging news.
"Let's try not to waste much time, but we better be safe than sorry. Do we have all seven Chaos Emeralds with us?" Knuckles asked, still holding the red gem in his hand. He received a collection of nods and 'yes' responses.
"So, what do we do next?" asked Sonic, desperate to get this said and done.
"Delilah, Greg, put him right here," the Commander directed, pointing at the ground in front of the Master Emerald with his knuckle.
The nurses nodded and slowly conveyed the fox to the desired spot. Once his body was in a supine position, Knuckles was ready for the next step.
"Alright then. For anyone who is holding onto a Chaos Emerald, step forward near me."
Following his word, the team gathered around in a circle with their Chaos Emeralds. Going clockwise with Knuckles at the twelve o'clock position, Savage stood beside him with the yellow Emerald in his hands. To the wolf's left was Silver, clutching the white gem. Next to him was Blaze holding cyan. Rouge secured the violet, Shadow took out the blue, and finally Sonic brought out the green from his quills. The blue hedgehog glanced down at his buddy in the center. He lowered his eyelids and thought deeply to himself in a state of pure silence.
The septet of Mobians had their Emeralds gleam brighter than the sun shining down on them. In the background, Cream gulped silently while Amy placed her hands on her shoulders, comforting the bunny. With Cheese in Cream's arms, he squeezed his eyes shut, praying for their miracle to come true. Raff, Vector, Espio, Charmy, Omega, Collar, Spot, Delilah, and Greg all gazed at the circle with a combination of patience and apprehension.
Suddenly, they spotted the Master Emerald glimmer slightly for a moment. By then, the red Commander began his chant, one that was all too familiar to a few standing members.
"The servers are the seven Chaos... Chaos is power, power is enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos."
All seven Emeralds plus the Master Emerald were shining immensely, all the positive thoughts being transferred with their energy.
"We need all the help we can get. Master Emerald, bring our friend out of limbo, give him the strength he so desperately needs, and cease the essence of the Phantom Ruby!"
The ring of Chaos Emeralds made the giant gem react profusely. Although Tails' body within the band remained static, he was somewhere out there in Null Space, unaware of the forthcoming lifeline.
Sonic squeezed his eyes closed, thinking about nothing but positive thoughts and trying to sway the Emeralds' powers to save his best friend. Although this would've been a moment where he, Shadow, and Silver could've turned Super, none of them were expected to glow with golden fur and a powerful burst of Chaos Energy.
Instead...
"Tails, we're gonna get you back. I swear on it. We need you, buddy."
"How does it feel, you unforgettable waste of space?! You're officially under my control!"
Tails grunted loudly, unable to speak coherently. If this was truly the end, he wished he had the opportunity to apologize to Sonic one last time. From what it seemed though, his last breath took place from getting shocked by the Master Emerald. Even with his conscience battling his literal, inner demon, part of him was ready to accept his fate.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Prepare for your eventual demise, Miles! It's time to recapture your true destiny!"
The other half of him pleaded for a savior.
"SONIC!"
"There's no use to call out his name! That rodent won't be a part of your life anymore, not when I have something to do with- Huh?"
Infinite paused from his speech when he noticed something illuminating near Tails' forehead. With how obscure the light shone, the jackal tried to peer down at the source. That is until he felt a massive blow to his mask.
"ARGH!"
Infinite once again got off of Tails' back, but he was in for a rude awakening. The light became brighter, encompassing Null Space before it died down. Then, to Infinite's surprise, he was flabbergasted at what stood – excuse me, floated – in front of him.
Not even using his famous, physical traits to use, Tails glared at his foe while pulsating a bright shade of gold, temporarily replacing the amber fur he had. The newfound energy and strength he received came from none other than the combination of the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald. Transformed into Super Tails, he radiated both confidence and hope – not just from himself but also from the one who had supported him this whole time.
"Tails, we're gonna get you back. I swear on it. We need you, buddy."
He managed to hear Sonic's voice echo in his head. Realizing that his other friends were also transferring their thoughts to him, Tails was ready for redemption. Similar to his starter fight against Eggman, the Super fox was determined to keep his head up. Only this time, he was sanguine that he wasn't going to lose.
"Well, Infinite, you may think I'm a weakling, but both you and I know that I'm much stronger than what I appear to be. And I'm going to prove my worth once and for all," Tails clenched his fists.
The jackal snarled. "If that's how you want to play, get ready for a game of cat and mouse. I'm definitely not going to yield to you."
"Neither am I," Tails gritted with pure ire.
This was more than just a rubber match. This was the ultimate test to show what he was capable of. With Tails fully prepared, he and Infinite leaped forward into action once again.
END OF CHAPTER
Before I close things off, I want to thank you all for 100 favorites (and almost 100 followers) on this... follow-up of Revengeful Resistance. Thankfully, I'm getting close to the end of it, and I still have the conclusion brainstormed. Once this is over, maybe then I'll get to finish my Mario and Sonic crossover that's old (and probably dead), but hey, I'll take it!
Will Super Tails finally overcome his own worst enemy? Will the real Tails finally emerge from his indefinite slumber? Until then, I'll see you all in the next one! This is TGN, signing off.