Chapter 4: Miles of Self-Doubt

"Miles, do you copy?"

"Yes Tails, I'm here."

"Eggman's packing some heavy artillery. You sure you can dodge his attacks?"

"Absolutely!"

From the cockpit of the Tornado, Tails looked on as the Tsunami, the biplane built and operated by Miles, caught up to him, now flying in tandem around Dr. Eggman's latest iteration of the Egg Carrier, his signature flying fortress. Having just dodged an onslaught of missiles and other heavy artillery, however, the orange kitsune was starting to grow concerned.

"Miles, I've seen the way you handle that thing." There was a several second pause, the young fox choosing his words carefully. "You're a skilled pilot, but it's too risky to dive in when we don't fully know the enhancements Eggman made to his airship."

"Nah, I got this in the bag," Miles replied as he pushed his glasses up his snout, furrowed his brow, and grinned with a sense of determination. "Watch this, Tails! See if you can keep up!"

"Miles, wait!" Tails watched as his feline brother flew forward.

"Sometimes," Sonic observed from the wing of the Tornado, "I feel he takes more after me than you."

"You'd think so," Tails replied, shaking his head disapprovingly.

"You fools!"

Sonic and Tails watched as Eggman displayed a projection of himself from the Egg Carrier.

"You may have been able to take down my previous models of the Egg Carrier, but this new and improved version will certainly spell your doom! Wooahhooohoohooo!" Eggman's laugh bellowed through the loudspeakers affixed to the airship. "Orbot, Cubot: ready our ultimate attack!"

"Yes, sir!" Orbot replied, giving his master a salute.

"Ummm, what's the ultimate attack?" Cubot asked.

"It's the most powerful munition the Doctor wants us to use against Sonic and his friends," Orbot replied.

"Oh, oh yeah," Cubot scratched his cubicle head. "Ummm, so what does ultimate mean?"

Eggman face palmed.

"Go press the button before I disassemble you for parts!" Eggman commanded.

"Y-yes sir," Orbot replied, quickly floating to the dashboard and pressing the large, inconspicuous red button.

"Say goodnight, hedgehog!" Eggman cried as a burst of large missiles came raining on the two biplanes.

"This isn't good," Tails noted as he pulled back on the yoke of the Tornado, looping backward before performing a diving descent complete with aerial acrobatics to avoid the oncoming missiles. Several loop-de-loops and barrel rolls later, the orange kitsune had maneuvered completely out of harm's way, but…

Boom!

The Tsunami's wing had been hit, torn to shreds by the impact of one of the missiles.

"That fool!" Tails cried. "He should've pulled back."

"I'M HIT!" Miles cried into his headset.

"Hang in there," Tails reassured. "Try stabilizing the plane so you can make a landing in the ocean."

Miles tilted up his yoke, but the controls were locked up, malfunctioning after experiencing the fatal blow. The Tsunami tipped directly downward, spinning like a top as it fell closer and closer to the ocean waters below. The gray cat continuously tried pulling back on his yoke to stabilize the failing biplane, but it was no use.

"Miles, you have to jump!" Tails cried.

"No…I…can…still…save this…" Miles yelled as he clutched his teeth, pulling with as much strength as he could muster to level off his biplane.

"Miles, nooo!" Tails shouted.

Miles let go of the yoke and stared directly at the fast-approaching ocean.

All he could do was scream as the nose of the biplane pierced the cold, salty waters.

"TAILS!"

Miles fell out of his chair, landing on his behind on the concrete surface of Tails' workshop. The cat was confused and disoriented, the light emanating from the single lamp at the desk blinding his vision. Blocking the artificial light with his outstretched hand, the gray cat eventually stabilized himself, the world no longer spinning around him.

Miles peered around the dark workshop and took a deep breath.

He had been dreaming, but the vivid images that appeared before him during his slumber were memories of their last encounter with Dr. Eggman.

Shaking his head, the feline pulled himself up. He peered over at the Tsunami parked behind the Tornado, the former still destroyed from the evil doctor's missile.

Sighing to himself, the cat approached his desk and studied his new schematics. "If I make these upgrades to the basic structure of the Tsunami, the plane should be more versatile in combat and should stand a better chance against future threats." He peered over at the Tsunami once more. "I blacked out, but from what Sonic and Tails described when they rescued me, I don't even know if my plane is needed." He recalled the story of how Tails was able to dodge the missiles and ultimately get close enough for Sonic to launch a spindash that pierced the defensive metal layers of the evil genius' ship, allowing the blue hedgehog to sabotage the base from the inside.

"Why do I even bother?" He peered over at the Tornado, which was immaculate compared to the bent metal contorting from his own plane. "Maybe I wasn't destined to fly like my brother…" He then played back the words that Sonic told him long ago:

"Never give up the fight, lil' bro! It's okay to make mistakes, and if you fail, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again!"

The feline furrowed his brow, fueled with a renewed sense of determination. "All right, I've got this. I'm gonna fix up the Tsunami and make it better than ever! Then, I'll make sure to practice, practice, practice until I'm just as good as Tails in aerial combat." He yanked his schematics from his desk, unrolling the sheet of paper and placing it on the ground within several feet of his biplane. Peering up at his plane once more, he chuckled.

"I sure do have my work cut out for me…"

Ding!

"Oh boy, my pie is ready!" Tails exclaimed as he put down his phone and headed to the oven. Turning it off, the orange fox opened the door and pulled out the freshly made bakery treat. Slipping on some oven gloves, he pulled the dish out and set it on his cooling rack. Finally, closing the oven door, the hungry kitsune approached the pie and gave it a good sniff. He could hardly contain his drool.

"Hey Cosmo, the pie's ready!" Tails called.

"Coming, Tails!" Cosmo replied, poking her head through the kitchen window, startling her boyfriend. His shriek earned a chuckle from the Seedrian. Returning to the grass, she finished watering the plants surrounding the perimeter of the house before returning indoors to the delicious fragrance of the apple pie.

"Oh wow, Tails!" There were sparkles in her eyes as she stared at the pie. She had a hard time preventing herself from drooling as well. "You've really stepped up your baking game!"

"It's all thanks to Cream," Tails replied, scratching the back of his head as his namesakes fluttered from behind. "I've made several pies in practice, but she helped me emulate her mother's recipe almost flawlessly." The orange fox approached the kitchen table. He pulled out a chair, bowed his head slightly, and motioned the Seedrian to take a seat like a butler at a formal gathering. Giggling, she sat down, but not without a m'lady from the young gentleman, which made her giggle even more, a soft blush appearing across her face.

Tails proceeded to cut a slice of pie for the both of them, placing them on small plates before delivering the pieces to the table.

Just as Cosmo was about to take her first bite, she said, "Oh yeah, you should ask Miles if he'd like a slice."

"Oh yeah, I probably should," Tails replied before taking a bite. "Oh man, I don't like to brag, but this pie is heccin' good!"

Cosmo gave her boyfriend a look of disapproval until the young fox realized he should probably follow her suggestion before the pie gets cold.

"I'll be right back, sweetie," Tails said before giving her a small kiss on her forehead, a random romantic gesture that turned her frown upside down.

Cutting an extra slice, and transferring it to a fresh plate, the orange kitsune ventured through the house until he arrived at the door separating the main abode with his workshop. It was dark inside, and only the sounds of metal clanging could be heard within.

"Ummm…Miles?" Tails asked, walking around the Tornado to find his brother putting into place the metallic framework of the Tsunami's replacement wing. "I brought you some pie."

"No time," Miles replied. "Gotta finish this before the next Eggman attack."

"You know…" Tails studied the face of his feline brother, black rings surrounding his eyes. "You don't need to be a workaholic. There'll always be time to fix up your biplane, and besides…" The young fox gestured to the Tornado. "We could always use my ride if there's an emergency."

Miles scoffed before returning to work.

"Is…something wrong?"

"No, nothing…" Miles shook his head. "I figured out my aerial reaction times were a bit sluggish out in the field due to the weight imbalances between the wings. I decided to use a lighter titanium alloy to both equalize the weight and make the biplane overall lighter. That should help even the playing field next time."

"That's great!" Tails replied. "But…I just don't like seeing you work yourself this much."

"It's necessary," Miles said as he pushed his glasses up his snout. "If Eggman attacks while this plane's out of commission, I'd miss out on vital experience with the revamped Tsunami. And if something happens to your plane, we'd be screwed!"

"We've been able to handle things with one plane just fine," Tails said as he sat at Miles' desk. "I just think you need to take a step back and maybe get some shuteye, or at least go outside and breathe some fresh air."

"Sorry, no time to breathe," Miles said as he aimed a blowtorch at the unfinished wing, fusing two metallic bars together to strengthen the durability of the biplane's appendage.

"No time…to breathe?" Tails tilted his head in confusion.

"Nope." Miles simply shook his head while working, a frown covering his muzzle as he continued working on the wing.

"Please Miles, you know this isn't healthy…" The orange fox approached the cat, the plate of pie still in his hands. "Why don't you take a break? Maybe enjoy some pie on the patio with me and Cosmo?"

"You just…don't get it…" Miles shook his head once more.

"What's there not to get?" Tails asked. "I used to have this same problem, too. Sonic would have to practically force me to stop working, but I grew out of it." The young fox was now standing behind his feline brother. "I think maybe…you should see someone about this."

"Excuse me?" Miles dropped his wrench and turned to face Tails. "What did you say?"

"I said," Tails replied, "you should see someone about your addiction to the grind. Maybe a therapist?"

"What, you think I have a problem?" Miles asked, furrowing his brow once more.

"Yes…yes I do…" Tails looked directly into Miles' eyes, his face reflecting off his thick lenses. "What you're doing here, Miles…it just…isn't healthy. If this keeps up, you're gonna drive yourself into the ground, and I don't want to see that…" Tails turned away, his eyes glistening at the morbid thought.

"That's easy for you to say," Miles replied, shaking his head once more.

"What do you mean?" Tails asked, tilting his head once more.

"Things always come sooo easy for you," Miles complained. "We both know you're the smarter one, and the most athletic. You fly planes better than me. You even hooked up with Cosmo, the perfect girlfriend! What do I have to show for…for anything?"

"Miles…" Tails approached the feline once more.

"Get away from me and leave…me…ALONE!"

Miles turned his back on Tails, using his springy tail to flick the pie plate out of his hands, spilling the slice and shattered ceramic across the floor.

Tails stared at the pie as tears started to form in his eyes.

"If you're gonna cry, do it somewhere else," Miles ordered. "I have work to do. Don't need my crybaby brother to bother me with empty lectures and emotional outbursts…"

Balling his fists, Tails took slow steps away from Miles, returning to the kitchen to slump in his chair.

"Tails, what happened?" Cosmo asked, noticing her boyfriend's downcast face. "I heard a shout. Is Miles alright?"

"No, he's not…" Tails brought his knees to his face and wrapped his arms around, entering a fetal position. He closed his eyes, trying to force himself to contain his emotions, but he was soon crying, tears dripping down his muzzle.

"There, there..." Cosmo scooted next to the young fox and rubbed his back with her palm. "It'll be okay."

"Will it?" Tails asked, opening a single eye, his vision obscured by his tears. "I don't know what to do about Miles. He's so preoccupied with fixing his plane, and I think I know why…" Cosmo didn't respond, waiting for the orange kitsune to gather his thoughts as she continued massaging his furry back. "He's so full of negative emotions, and his self-worth is at an all-time low, and he all but snapped when I suggested he should see a therapist."

"You're a good brother for trying to help him," Cosmo reassured, "but at the same time, there's only so much we can do. All we can do is be there when he calls upon us."

"I guess…" Tails reached for a facial tissue and blew his nose before returning to his fetal position. "I just hate seeing him like this, you know?" The fox sighed. "It's just…it hits too close to home."

"I know exactly how you feel," Cosmo replied. "When my entire race was wiped out, I didn't know what to do, and it was only due to your positive attitude that I was able to pull myself out of a dark place." The young Seedrian placed her palm on Tails' head, gently massaging his hair and running her fingers behind his triangular ears, helping him relax. "I know he'll be able to pull through this."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Tails replied. "T-thanks…"

"No problem, Tails," Cosmo replied with a bright smile. "Here…" She reached for a fresh tissue and dabbed the orange fox's face, drying the tears from his muzzle. "There, all better!"

"I don't deserve you, you know that?" Tails cracked a smile.

"I told myself the same about you during our space journey," Cosmo replied, pulling herself out of her chair and peering out the window, admiring the setting sun. "After the war, I came to realize we were meant for each other."

"Yeah, I suppose," Tails replied with a giggle, his spirits now fully rejuvenated. He wrapped his arm across Cosmo's shoulder. "I love you, Cosmo."

"I love you too, Tails…"

Tails and Cosmo stared at the setting sun, forgetting about their slices of pie that were getting cold on the kitchen table.

Hunkered inside Tails' private study, the young fox, his seedrian girlfriend, and the blue hedgehog were deliberating on Miles' state, trying to come to a consensus on how best to help their feline brother.

"He clearly doesn't want to hear it up front," Tails said, sitting at his desk with his chair turned to face the others, his arms crossed and one leg over the other.

"Perhaps the way you said it was too blunt?" Sonic suggested.

"Maybe," Tails pondered, scratching his chin in thought. "I was getting a little agitated if I'm being totally honest, but I should've been more mindful. After all, one cannot simply tell him he has a problem and should seek help without expecting him to take at least a little offense."

"We need a softer strategy," Cosmo suggested. "One that will more delicately help Miles realize he's on a negative trajectory."

"Maybe we can make him some chili dogs?" Sonic suggested.

"No, Sonic, this is one problem that can't be solved with chili dogs," Tails replied with a chuckle.

"Hey, you never know 'till you try," Sonic replied with a nod, earning a giggle from the young seedrian and orange fox alike. "I know this is a bad idea, but I kinda wish it were as simple as those Yakuza games Miles likes to play."

"What do you mean?" Cosmo asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"In those games," Sonic replied, "the hero would beat the crap out of someone to help them realize the error of their ways. It's like the plotline to the entire franchise." The blue hedgehog sighed. "I obviously don't want to do that to Miles, but it makes me wish life were as simple as a videogame."

"A videogame based on our lives…" Tails scratched his chin once more. "Now that's a game I'd play!"

"I think we're getting a little off track," Cosmo interrupted, trying to bring the conversation back to the primary subject at hand. "I do think I have an idea, though."

"You do?" Sonic and Tails asked simultaneously.

"Yes," she nodded. "I think we're probably overthinking this." The green seedrian stood between the two brothers. "Maybe we should just ask him how he's doing and let the conversation sorta organically work itself out from there? If we approach him as if we had a well-rehearsed script, he may question our authenticity."

"Yeah, that's right," Tails replied. "This way here, we'd at least be speaking from our hearts."

"Good thinking, Cosmo!" Sonic gave the alien girl a thumbs up, which was soon followed up by the orange fox. This praise made her blush.

"Oh, it was nothing, really," she replied with a chuckle, rubbing the back of her head with her palm.

"Well, it's already getting pretty late," Tails said, looking at his watch. "It's 11 PM, and he's been out there for hours." He pulled himself out of his chair. "It's now or never."

"Right," Cosmo and Sonic replied, nodding their heads in tandem before following the orange kitsune out of his study, through the house, and into the adjoining workshop.

The party of three slowly made their way around the Tornado and other obstacles in the poorly lit garage.

"Miles?" Tails called. "Are you there?"

The three were unable to find the gray feline around the Tsunami.

"I wonder where he went?" Sonic asked himself, scratching his chin in thought.

"Oh no!"

Cosmo and Sonic peered over at a set of packages full of special-order parts for the cat's biplane. Tails was hunched over between the large boxes.

"What's going on, lil' buddy?" Sonic asked, arriving by his side seconds later, soon joined by the green seedrian.

"It's…Miles…" Tails peered down between the boxes to find him on the ground unconscious, bags around his eye sockets. The fox dropped to his knees and crawled toward his feline brother. He placed his triangular ear on his chest. Nodding, he took his pulse with Miles' wrist. "His breathing is labored, and his heartrate is slow."

"Do you think he collapsed from exhaustion?" Cosmo asked.

"He's suffering from major exhaustion, yes," Tails replied, "and likely dehydration, too. The important thing is that we get him off the floor and into bed."

"On it." Sonic rapidly moved the large boxes, clearing a bath for the trio to carry the unconscious cat out of the garage. Tails then grabbed Miles' shoulders while Sonic grabbed his legs.

"One, two, and three!" Tails and Sonic lifted simultaneously, gently carrying Miles through the garage. Cosmo, meanwhile, stationed herself at the door separating the workshop from the house, opening it in time for the two to enter through. They then made their way to Miles' bedroom, gently placing him in bed and covering his shivering body with his blanket.

Cosmo fluffed Miles' pillow, Sonic closed the window, and Tails placed his ear on his feline brother's fluffy chest. He nodded before taking his blood pressure with his wrist once more. "Okay, good." Tails sighed in relief.

"Some good news?" Sonic asked.

"Yes," Tails nodded. "Miles' heartrate is back up, and his breathing is more relaxed." The orange kitsune turned to his sleeping brother. "He needed to get out of that work environment first and foremost. It was eating away at him, and getting a good night' sleep should help, at least a little."

"Right," Sonic replied with a nod.

Miles slept, seemingly peacefully as he subconsciously pulled his comforter tighter around his body and rolled to his side, his favorite sleeping position.

"Gahh!"

Miles gasped for air, and his head shot up. He was disoriented, plugging away in the workshop seemingly one second while finding himself in a totally different environment the next.

"Huh? Where…?" Miles pawed around for his glasses, which were resting on his end table. Putting them on, his vision was still out of focus, and the sleepy feline was still disoriented. With time, he made out the various features of his bedroom, including his cabinet, television, various posters, and his collection of plushies scattered about.

"Rise and shine."

"Huh?" Miles removed his glasses, fogging them with his breath and cleaning them with his scarf. Slipping them back on, he found the sight of Tails staring back at him. Peering around the room, he found Sonic sleeping in a bean bag chair while Cosmo was sleeping in a makeshift sleeping bag on the floor. "The gang's all here, huh?"

"Yep!" Tails replied. "We found you unconscious in the workshop, so when we brought you to bed, we didn't want to leave you, even for a second."

"Even after I was being such a jerk?" Miles turned away, his eyes wandering off as his vision started becoming obscured by the moisture forming in his eyes.

"You were just upset, no big deal," Tails replied, flicking away a single tear with his outstretched finger. "It happens."

All Miles could do was return the fox's forgiveness with a warm, gentle smile. After some silence, the gray feline finally gathered the will and courage to speak.

"…Sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"Sorry for…well…everything."

"What do you mean?"

"I've not only been a jerk, but I haven't been listening to your advice either," Miles replied. "Remember when I was first building the Tsunami, you suggested that I make the plane smaller for more aerodynamic finesse, but instead, I made it bigger. I had no good reason other than to show I could be just as good as you without trying to copy you." Miles sat up in bed. "And then there was the time during our last confrontation with Dr. Eggman. You warned me against engagement, and I paid the price by getting sunk in the ocean. If you and Sonic weren't there, I would've been a goner for sure."

"Miles, I…"

"No, Tails, please let me finish," Miles replied with a shake of his head. Tails simply nodded in response, allowing the feline to complete his story.

"I just…" Tears were starting to well up in his eyes once more. "I know you were trying to help…I really do." The cat sighed openly. "I should've just taken a break, but I let my ego consume me. In my quest to try proving myself, I was a real jerk." He peered up at his concerned brother. "How was that pie by the way?"

"It was good!" Tails replied with a thumbs up. "I wish you could've had it fresh, though."

"Yeah, me too," Miles replied with a chuckle. "Of course, I would have if I had listened to your advice and took a break, but instead, I let my work drive me mad."

"Miles, listen…" Tails placed a gloved palm on the feline's shoulder. "I want you to know that I've been in your same shoes. I said it last night, and I'll say it again: I've been there. I've lived it. The feelings that you were describing were exactly the type of feelings that plagued my childhood and negatively affected me even after having met you and Sonic." The fox pulled himself out of his chair and approached the closed window, staring at the rising sun crossing over the ocean, the perfect view from the edge of the Mystic Ruins mountainside where the orange kitsune maintained his residence. "Especially with Sonic playing the hero, I've always wanted to catch up and prove my worth. It took me a while, but I found my self-worth, and I learned I didn't have to rely on simply reaching or surpassing someone else to feel a sense of fulfillment."

Miles studied the orange fox as he approached the bed once more, sitting back down in his chair and sighing. "Sonic was always going to be the faster one. Sure, I learned to keep up…" Tails turned to Sonic, who was snoring on the bean bag chair with a snot bubble below his nose. "…but he'd always be faster than me. I thought that I needed to copy him, whether that be on the battlefield against Dr. Eggman or through my inventions. It nearly drove me into the ground. You remember, right?"

"Y-yeah…" Miles stared up at his brother. "I remember well."

"So of course you must remember how you helped me overcome those toxic feelings?"

"Of course," Miles replied, allowing the puzzle pieces to slowly fit back into place. "Yes, I helped you realize that everyone goes at their own pace and that you never need to prove your worth." He shook his head. "As long as you're with the people you love, what matters is that you're happy and that you try your best."

"Exactly," Tails replied, messing with the cat's hair with his gloved palm. "See, that was exactly what I was trying to convey to you last night, but well…" Tails put a hand behind his head. "I was kinda harsh about it."

"No, you weren't at all," Miles replied.

"I could've been more understanding and sympathetic," Tails said. "After all, I went through the same negative emotions you felt last night. If only I remembered the lessons you taught me all those years ago instead of letting my emotions get to me, maybe you wouldn't have felt the need to work yourself to the point of collapse."

"No, Tails," Miles replied, shaking his head. "It wasn't your fault at all. You were frustrated and emotionally drained yourself. I'll never fault you for trying."

"Thanks, brother…" Tails gave the feline a smile.

"No problem…brother." Miles gave off a toothy grin and raised his fist. Tails went in for a fist bump, which Miles happily reciprocated, their gloved knuckles clashing together to further their brotherly bond.

"Maybe later today, once you've gotten more rest and relaxation," Tails said, "you could show me what you're cooking up with the Tsunami?"

"You itchin' to steal my designs?" Miles asked, a smirk across his face.

"Maybe not steal, per say," Tails replied with a smirk of his own. "More like…borrow." Miles and Tails chuckled simultaneously. "But, seriously, I'm rather impressed with your workmanship."

"R-really?" Miles' eyes glistened in wonder as his springy tail fluttered from behind.

"Of course!" Tails replied, crashing his fist against the open palm of his other hand. "I've been meaning to upgrade the Tornado to make my piloting more efficient, but I couldn't think outside the box. You, on the other hand, came up with some ingenious design choices that I'll surely implement into the next version of the Tornado!"

"I'm…so flattered," Miles replied before chuckling under his breath. "Who would've thought, the master pilot and mechanic learning a thing or two from his brother?"

"Doesn't sound so farfetched to me," Tails replied, smirking once more. "After all, we're both pretty skilled in the workshop, and together, we can overcome all the odds."

"No matter how hard it seems," Miles added, as if he were finishing some sort of inspirational quote or song from a videogame produced by Sega. The two chuckled once more.

"Or perhaps," Tails suggested, "we take a break from the grind and get out in the water for some jet ski action!"

"Really?" Miles' excitement started to grow, his yearning for the waters outpacing his desire to develop a faster plane.

"Yep!" Tails replied with a smile, his namesakes fluttering from behind. "After all, you've always excelled at watersports. I can hardly keep up when we're in the water!"

"Well maybe I could show you some tricks," Miles replied, landing a playful, gentle punch to Tails' shoulder, the two sharing a brotherly laugh.

"Yaaawn."

Miles and Tails peered over at Sonic, who was just starting to open his eyes. He stretched his arms and legs in his bean bag chair, yawning once more as he pulled himself out of the comfortable seat, an imprint of his spiky back left on the malleable surface.

"Morning, bros," Sonic called.

"Heya, Sonic," Miles waved.

"Ah, I see you're in good spirits," Sonic replied as he scratched his back.

It was Cosmo's turn to awaken from her slumber, slowing sitting up from her sleeping bag.

"I take it the floor was comfy enough for ya?" Miles asked, a smirk across her muzzle.

"Oh, the floor is nothing compared to the accommodations Tails had for us back on the Blue Typhoon."

"Hey!" Tails protested in jest. "Those were premium beds I had installed."

Cosmo giggled, developing her abilities to troll her friends and loved ones in jest, as evidenced by the chorus of laughter coming from Sonic and Miles. Tails too joined in on the merriment.

"Say, I'm pretty hungry," Sonic observed as he clutched his belly. "Why don't we fry up some eggs!"

"Sounds good to me!" Miles replied.

And so the four filed out of Miles' bedroom and made their way to the kitchen for a delightful and relaxing breakfast with friends, reminding the feline that life ought not to be a race to see who's the best but, rather, a journey of self-improvement…a journey to help others…and a journey to be with those you cherish, a lesson that he once instilled into Tails. Even the wisest, however, need to be reminded of life's most important lessons, and with the help and support of his friends, Miles was at peace.