PoC: Presenting chapter fourteen!

Metal: Now I have to take turns with that copy of a copy? Humiliating!

PoC: Pretty bold coming from…well a copy. PenFullfoChaos819 has no connections with Sega or the Sonic Team.

Metal: Me? ME? I'm more real than the real Sonic! Because I am the real Sonic! Does a copy machine's copy, copy the copy machine? I think not!

PoC: Erm…Okay?

Metal: Good. Now bigger question: Do I play the main villain or at least a larger-than-Sonic role in this story?

PoC: Willing to undergo some…personal modifications?

Metal: You make everything difficult, don't you?

-l-

The Good Doctor

-l-

It was nice to feel the soft earth again. The deadly hike had left the two eager to get some rest. Holding that thought, Sonic knew it couldn't be for long if they wanted to save Rouge in time. He didn't want to wait until she was…

"Sonic do you hear that?" Tails jumbled his thoughts "Sounds like an…engine." the pair strained their ears for the noise. The hedgehog was certain that, unless Tails had the keenest hearing, he was imagining things. His blue ears could only detect the faint chirp of crickets in the otherwise still night air.

"Uh…I don't hear a thing." the hero said truthfully, but the fox insisted with a 'Shh' that something was out there. Reaching back as gently as he could, Sonic saw him brandish a weapon of sorts.

"Listen, you keep walking straight ahead." the fox ordered. Sonic was about to ask why; however the vulpine was somehow already out of sight. Wondering how he could've vanished that quickly, the hedgehog turned to face front. Whether it was nerves or something else, the air had become very chill, causing him to shake ever so slightly. Proceeding with caution, Sonic moved onward. His eyes darted over every shadow, expecting an attack any moment. But the only thing he noticed was the sudden lack of chirping. Stopping to listen, Sonic still couldn't hear the sound Tails heard. Opting to wait caused the crawling chills to worsen.

Tapping his foot in mock impatience, the hero said to himself "You know if a big-time baddie or some gruesome beast wanted to make its entrance, wouldn't the best time be coming up right…" a deep humming finally reached his ears. Whirling around, Sonic was face to face with a terrifying crab-like robot.

"…now?" he finished awkwardly. Loss of common sense had given the badnik time snap its pincers around Sonic. Having been lifted off the ground, the speed demon couldn't get loose. Matter were complicated when the beastly bot clamped it's other 'arm' around his chest. Feeling intense pressure, but little pain, the blur knew he had to think of something fast, before the ugly stalker made halfsies out of him. During the struggle, Sonic caught something strange on the robot's head; a red light of sorts. A noiseless second later, the hero felt the pincers lose their grip. A firm shove was all it took to send the arms to the ground. Stumped, but thankful, he checked his would-be foe. Its cranial region had a sizable hole carved into one side and out the other.

"My precious pet!" a high-pitched voice yelled "How could you?" catching his attention, the blue-hog searched for the speaker. What met his eyes was…quite a shock. He saw an innocent human girl no older than fourteen, with blond hair and a simple blue dress that made her look rather angelic. She gave the broken robot a sympathetic look, and Sonic a death glare.

"How could you be so mean?" she chastised "Crab-watcher was only trying to say hi!"

Trying to find the right words, Sonic said "Listen girl, your 'pet' was trying to kill me. Besides, I didn't do anything to it, honest!"

Her now-misty eyes stared him down "He was just being a little rough, but he wasn't going to hurt you! And you're lying! No one else would've attacked him!"

Annoyed but worried about the confused girl, Sonic attempted to calm her. This failed miserably as she started to cry. Hoping and wishing Tails would show up did no good, even though he was the one who got Sonic into this crazy mess. Regardless, the hero knew he couldn't sit with the sobbing teen all night.

"Listen miss, it's getting really late. Where are your parents?" this must've been a bad question as the girl burst into another fit of tears "Okay, forget that! Uhh…Did you come here with anyone?"

"J-Just my cousin." she sniffled "But what do you care you-you big meanie!"

"Arrgh…I DO care! I can't leave you out here alone. How about we look for your cousin and then we-AHHH!" the hero cried out in pain as his body was encased in a yellowish field "W-Who?"

"Julian!" the girl exclaimed with glee. A harsh light kept Sonic from seeing his face; still he could recognize that voice anywhere. The speaker wasn't half as interesting as his words.

"Are you alright, Maria dear?" the infamous Robotnik asked the girl, who nodded happily. Sonic barely noticed the pain now. Instead he gave the girl his full and undivided attention.

"Maria…?" Sonic thought "I knew this world was backwards, but this is ridiculous." if he considered it carefully, it wasn't that bizarre, if one took this world's nature into account. To Sonic though, it still felt like seeing the living dead.

"Now where is the cowardly pest that made you cry? Ah-ha! So I did catch you…" the doctor lowered his ship to see his quarry. Visual contact caused the large man to gasp "Sonic? YOU were antagonizing my Maria?" he fell deep into though as he said "I'll say…I didn't think you were the type." he paused as if he'd remembered something "Hmm…So Tails isn't around? That certainly makes things easier, for me that is."

Sonic grunted as the trap coiled tightly around him. The second Eggman reached into his cockpit "No need to resist, I merely want to show you something. You will not be harmed."

"JULIAN! LOOK OUT!" Maria yelled frantically. Robotnik reacted too late as the cold metal of a barrel pressed firmly against his spine.

"Release him." a young, but sharp voice demanded. Without a word, the scientist deactivated the electric prison around Sonic.

Every hair on his skin was tingling; the energy had left the hedgehog very itchy and sore. It didn't take long for him to grasp what had just happened. The pitch darkness cast a vivid silhouette of two tails swishing atop the grey ship.

"Mind showing me what you had in store for Sonic, or will I have to force it out of you?" Tails asked, refusing to stop holding the obese man at gunpoint.

"Please Miles, give me a chance to explain!" Robotnik begged "I have something you may find useful, but I can only offer it if you let me go."

The fox didn't answer or move for a couple of minutes. He didn't trust the doctor any farther than he could throw him (which by example was very, very little, if at all). Only after calm contemplation did he lower his weapon "Make it fast, a person's life is at risk."

"I know Miles, I know." the doctor nodded "Rouge has been captured by that underground ruffian Knuckles, yes?" having met the vulpine's questioning glare he elaborated "I keep up on current events for my safety and the safety of my dear cousin. Don't be so suspicious."

"Whatever, I'll judge for myself thank you." Tails replied coldly.

"I suppose I can't change that." the egg-doctor settled "But here's what I can do: You and Sonic are looking for the Chaos Emeralds, are you not?" he raised his arms in the air as the cold barrel was once again pushed against his back.

"You've been spying on us?"

"It was my best guess that's all! I'm well aware that this Maasawd fellow is seeking the emeralds. Furthermore, I know he was the one who employed Knuckles for Rouge's capture. Putting two and two together, I presumed the emeralds would be his demand!" Tails felt the explanation to be far-fetched at best, however he did respond.

"You still haven't answered my first question." the fox reminded "What were you planning to show Sonic, and only Sonic?"

"It wasn't only for Sonic. I knew you wouldn't trust or accept my help, so I thought I could give it to him, then he could show you later." Robotnik reasoned "I shuddered to think what would happen if either Maasawd or Knuckles laid hands on the emeralds, so…" as he spoke he pulled forth "I took preemptive action." the purple Chaos Emerald.

"Great…" the sapphire hedgehog didn't know what this Robotnik had in mind. Needless to say he had the leverage in his favor, and no doubt wanted to strike a deal "Maybe it's a fake." he hoped.

"Test it if you like, but I can assure you, this is the real McCoy." he placed the emerald out of his reach, as if to display sincerity. The conversation was going down a very distressing path. Why was Robotnik offering a Chaos Emerald freely? Even if there were strings attached, giving up one of the legendary stones was an insane move. Tails had accepted his offer to scan the emerald and, much to his grief, revealed it to be as real as the one they possessed.

"Okay, what's your game tubby? I'll never forgive you for what you did, so why bother?" the yellow mobian kept that point clear "Unless you want something for the gem?"

"In fact, I do." the scientist turned to the fox and bowed "I would like to help you on your quest to save Rouge. Allow me to collect the emeralds from the other Islands, while you take care of the local ones."

"I do NOT want your help!" Tails thundered in response.

"Cousin Julian feels horrible for what happened, Tails! He regrets his mistake every single day and night!" Maria defended "Please, can you find it in your heart to forgive him, just this once?"

Baring his sharp canines, Tails said "Anyone would protect a family member, that's only natural. But I'm not about to trust anyone with the name Robotnik!"

"Tails bud, listen." Sonic stepped in "I don't like Egghead in my world at all, but even then, we sometimes had to work together. You and I could use the help, right? Can't you just put whatever he did behind you this one time?" his vouching for the doctor only served to agitate Tails further.

"You don't know what you're asking for, Sonic." the vulpine said bitterly "You don't know because you weren't there!" that struck a sore spot. Tails sighed at his cruel words and added "What I mean is you don't recall what he's done before. Not just Chaos Control, but all the other times we…I, have been double-crossed by this disgusting sack of lipids. You…wouldn't understand that."

"No, but I would…"

Three of the four present jumped at the fifth speaker. Tails simply reached for his phone "Amethyst…"

"I would know, Tails. I was there for every scheme and apology he had. And I want you to trust him this time." she asked in all seriousness.

"You want me to forgive him and act like nothing happened?" Tails said, appalled.

"Not forgive, but maybe give him a chance. We can't afford to lose Rouge over burnt bridges and old wounds. We need each other." the vixen said firmly "If he betrays us, you can blame me, as I'm the one asking on his behalf, but I want you to work with him."

Tails' cheeks puffed up with a large, malcontent exhale. It was everyone's vote against his, and he knew it. Turning to the cobalt hero he thought "Sonic, you tried to save me when I fell, and you trusted me when we split up. I should be reasonable by trusting you." looking down at his phone he continued his musing "Amethyst, you've never led me astray. I know I can believe in you." Internal warfare aside, Tails gave his final answer aloud "Robotnik…I don't believe a single word you say, but…I trust my friend, ahem, I mean…friends, so I'll give you a fair trial; one last time."

A wide smile spread across the bushy bearded man's face "Thank you Miles, I won't disappoint you." while handing over the emerald, he also clasped the fox's hand in a handshake. Tails withdrew quickly and hopped off the mobile.

Sonic meanwhile, had trotted up to Maria rather timidly "M-Maria? I…uh…I'm sorry about your pet."

Thankfully she laughed it off sweetly "It's okay, I need to make him a little nicer anyway. It was great meeting you Sonic." with that she climbed aboard the mobile, which had gathered up the now non-functional Crab-watcher.

Sonic grinned sentimentally "So that's why Shadow liked her so much. I bet she'd make an awesome sibling."

Relaxing in his…girth-accommodating seat, the doctor said "I will keep you updated on my search, and I hope you do the same. Good luck to us both." Robotnik ended and hovered away, with Maria waving at them.

The two heroes saw them speed off into the gentle blue night sky. Seeing the need to make up for lost time, Sonic and Tails accelerated to running speed.

"Sonic…did I do the right thing?" Tails wondered. The blue-hero was touched to have Tails asking for his advice again. It made it feel like old times. Recalling the first time his Tails asked him the same question.

"Trust in what you do, and never look back." he replied "You made a choice, now run with it. Worrying won't do much good now, right?"

"Yeah…"

"And besides," Sonic winked in his cocky manner "If things go wrong, you've got friends to back you up." his cockiness faded a little as he shyly threw in "I mean, assuming we're friends and all."

Tails closed his eyes and, in a rare moment, gave a completely cheerful smile "Of course we are. Thank you…Sonic."

-l-

End of Chapter Fourteen

-l-

Late by a whole day, and late in the afternoon. I'm very sorry about this, but this is one of the four days I had classes till three (this is why I don't update on Wednesdays). Still, no excuses, I screwed up big time.

Dancedream: I had no way of telling you about the delay, so I'm especially sorry to you (and Ghostkid33, Serenity, etc.). My moping aside, yeah I want Amethyst to play a significant role, without getting too in the way. Guess all you like, you won't look foolish for wondering about Sonic's new…power? Maasawd is not the soft type to be sure, but then again his personality tends to contradict itself (wonder why that is?). P.S. Great! I can't wait to see your new account and stories! :D.

Ghostkid33: Tails is smart, but maybe not in every way (perhaps Sonic can fix that). I love it when Sonic gets his deserved heroic spotlight (he's more than just a popular celebrity). And, as with all the other people I couldn't reach, sorry for my belated chapter.

Serenity: More than this delay, I also botched the next chapter in your requested fic. I'll have you know that it is written up, but still requires editing. I hope later on tonight won't be too long a wait. I regret the absurd delay deeply.

Infamousplot: The detail may not be perfect, but this chapter is one of the few planned from the story's beginning. I couldn't decide where I wanted this alliance to take place (and Maria's introduction). No matter, I hope you like it. We talk enough in pm's so I never have much to say these days (not that I mind at all : ) ).

KoTwz10z: Nickname it is then! Yes with the inclusion of Maria, it's safe to assume Shadow is here (somewhere). Yeah I like Ame, but I don't want her to overshadow (no correlation with previous statement XD) S and T's friendship. Oh don't you worry, Tails is too important to die…so far (just kidding…right?).

jakeroo123: I don't follow continuity unless I absolutely must. Ages and eye color, for example, are low on my check list. That being said, I do use continuity for familiarity, but otherwise I play by my rules : )

Kindra Mckleen: Sonic got Chaos Sense! He can now use his extra sensitive spider powers to-oh wait, wrong hero! XD. Sonic will just have to get used to it, as it won't be last time he and Tails have to, ahem, "hold hands" O.o

Until next time.