A Note From The Author

I totally overhauled this bad boy. I changed up the story. Plus, this was originally meant to be the last chapter, but I thought that would ended the story too soon, so this is only the second chapter. Chapter 3 is in its infant stages as I write this, still being conceived in my mind. Please, review!

-Fifteen Himself

The day wore a bright sky, blue and clouldless. Flickies were singing their repetitive song, not giving a care. Indeed, it was a bright day. Tails smiled as he saw all this things before him. But, he could not stop to admire the beauty that was his surroundings, for the young fox was off on an important mission. One that earn him the respect of those who surrounded him in his life. Indeed, it was a daunting task-retrieving the Master Emerald from an unknown assailant-but Tails was determined to prove himself to Knuckles, Sonic, everyone. He often did worry about his older brother, the blue hedgehog who was stuck at home with a broken leg. It prevented from getting out of the house, which meant total immobility was the exact definition of 'personal hell' in his terms.

As Tails thought about this, he suddenly made a realization:

"Crap! I didn't leave a note for Sonic! Aw, man, he's gonna be so mad!"

The yellow twin-tailed child simply stopped in his tracks as he began to form a mental picture of his brethren's current state…

…Meanwhile, back at the Green Hill Zone…

"TAILS! TAAAAIIIIILLLLLSSSS! TAILS, WHERE ARE YOU!?" screamed Sonic, calling out in the cruel world.

He had awoken to find his little brother missing, along with a few of his things. There was no note to alert him of his possible whereabouts, no way of knowing if he was alone or not. Sonic had grown extremely worried, and as a result, he had alerted all of his closest allies, instructing them on his situation-nay, crisis- and to go forth and search for the young fox. Everyone answered the distress call: Shadow, Rouge, the Babylon Rouges, the Chaotix Agency, the Freedom Fighters, Silver and Blaze, every damn person-or droid, in Omega's case-Sonic could possibly think of had shown up to assist the distressed hedgehog in finding his brother.

As the azure one debriefed the massive search party, two figures appeared on the outskirts of the property in which Sonic and Tails had called 'home.'

The first of the two was a floating, dead lookalike of Sonic. The other, a morbidly obese purple cat.

Sonic noticed their presence then beckoned them closer to the front porch in which he sat while confined to his wheelchair.

[Greetings, rival.] spoke Metal Sonic in his haunting, metallic tone.

"Hiya!" boomed Big, his low voice slightly rumbling the ground on which everyone stood.

"What do you what?" growled Sonic, who had no time for these two and was trying to organize a search party.

[We have information pertaining to Miles Prower. I intercepted a distress call in regards to his disappearance.] the Sonic lookalike spat out his words like a typical Robotnik creation.

"We saw him yesterday! Didn't we, Froggy?" said Big, nodding to his sidekick frog who croaked in agreement.

(To the side, Shadow grumbled "Dumb frog." Rouge proceeded to elbow him.)

Sonic's eyes lit up. "Where?! Where did you see Tails?!" he demanded.

[I last saw Miles Prower at exactly 5:23 P.M. He stated he was searching for the 'Master Emerald.'] Metal Sonic said simply, not twitching, not moving, just floating, his arresting voice getting taken in by everyone present.

"Yeah, he had set up camp a few short moments away from my hideaway. But then I told him that I had seen a green glow moving fast through the woods, he took off in the same direction!"

Suddenly, Knuckles ran right up to Big.

"What?! A green glow!? WHERE?!" he cried, grabbing the cat by his collar and yanking the feline down to the point where the two of them were level with each other.

"Knuckles! Calm down!" said Sonic, putting a hand on the Echidna's shoulder. "Whereabouts were you when you saw him?" asked the blue hedgehog, leaning in on Metal Sonic.

The two were now inches away from each other, and given their intense rivalry, anything was possible.

Metal Sonic said nothing for a brief few moments when-

[Mystic Ruins.]

Sonic lengthened the distance between him and his rival, slowly nodding.

"You hear that?" he cried to the search party. "Mystic Ruins. That's where we'll start our search. I'd lead, but given my current state, that won't be happening. Shadow!"

The black hedgehog straightened up to the sound of his name.

"Take Metal, the Rouges and Fighters. Knuckles, take Big, Chaotix and and the rest. Shadow's team will sweep the western regions. Knuckles' the east. And NO ONE is taking a brake until we find Tails!" he growled.

Everyone just nodded in understanding and acceptance of the orders.

They split into their assigned groups and then mobilized immediately.

Sonic watched as the two teams moved out and disappear into the horizon.

All he could do now is pray… pray for Tails… pray something hasn't happened to him… pray that he was still alive…

…Meanwhile…

Tails struggled with the map. He wasn't too sure where he was. He had been following the alleged direction of the 'glowing green light' Big had described to him. "Wasn't that hill there… wait, where's this pond… what?"

Suddenly-THUD!

The young fox's vision slowed was consumed by an eerie, deathly blackness.

And with that, Tails fell to the ground.

Unconscious.

A dark looming figure smirked as he saw the helpless child he had subdued fall to the unforgiving ground.

"Silly Tails, this is no place for children." He growled

He then picked up the fox and took him away, carrying him under one arm…

While carrying the Master Emerald under the other.