Responsabilities
An AU followup story to Sonic Prime.
A cloudy day in green hill, Tails looks nervous. He heard that Sonic was going to leave any minute now to deal with Eggman near Station Square… on his own.
Tails: „Are you sure you want to deal with him by yourself."
Sonic: „That question is unnecessary and you know it. I dealt with him more times than I gave you fist bumps, Tails."
Tails: „I know… It's just… We are all still dealing with that shatterverse stuff. I found out something you might want to know."
Sonic: Visibly concerned „What is it?"
Tails: „These different versions you encountered. These weren't actually different. They were us. We retained their memories. I can recall everything that Sails or nine did or say."
Sonic: „Why didn't you tell me that before?"
Tails: „These memories didn't just appear. They seemed to fade in slowly. Amy was the first to notice. Knuckles hasn't even seen his pirate version yet."
Sonic: „This is bad timing, buddy. I need to take care of Eggman and I need you guys to protect that crystal until we seal it off for good. Do you think these memories will become a problem?"
Tails: „No. Atleast… I don't think so. I think it'll be fine."
Sonic: „Alright. Keep me updated, ok. If anything happens just let me know."
Tails: „Will do!"
Sonic: „Thank you. Good Luck." He steps into the Tornado and flies off.
A bit further away Shadow is standing on a cliff overlooking that conversation the two just had. His usual grumpy frown on his face.
Shadow: „I guess I will need to keep my eye on you, fox."
Tails goes back to his workshop. The sun is going down. Not that you would notice with all of that overcast. It's getting dark fast. On his way back Tails pays a quick visit to Amy and Knuckles to check on their memories for a bit. Nothing too concerning but they are learning more and more of what happened by the hour.
When he reaches his workshop he feels restless, as if someone is watching him. He turns around and-
Rouge: „Hey there, foxboy. How's it going?"
Tails: „How much do I need to pay you to atleast announce yourself for once. You scared me!"
Rouge: „Cool it. We need to talk. Can I come in?"
Tails: „Ok."
They go inside, close the door and sit down.
Rouge: „It's about Shadow. That stubborn prick has been watching you guys. He doesn't trust Sonic to keep this place safe aslong as the Paradox Prism is still open in that cave."
Tails: „Can't blame him. Sonic was unreliable during all of that. We will probably fill the cave with molten rock to encase it for the forseeable future."
Rouge: „Yea that sounds like a- wait… Did you just say Sonic was unreliable?"
Tails: „Wouldn't be the first time I doubted my best friend. Nothing too unusual."
Rouige: „But how would you know about that? You weren't around for any of this. Unless…"
Tails: „We kept the memories of our different versions. They were split personalities of us. Some part of them is always with us. Infact I can even remember all the inventions Nine has made."
Rouge: „Did anything else stick with you?"
Tails: „…Some feelings sometimes. But I'm not stupid enough to let that scew my vision. I have no grudge against Sonic or anything. He learned from his mistakes."
Rouge: „Be careful what you say. That is exactly what Shadow is after. He doesn't think Nine is dead. He thinks you're not yourself. If I was you I'd keep myself low until Sonic comes back. There's alot of tension going around."
Tails: „Thank you, Rouge. I apprechiate it. Anything else?"
Rouge: „That would be all. Stay safe, boy genius."
She leaves the workshop and slams the door behind her before flying high up to look for her Teammates. She sees Shadow and Omega standing about 30 meters away from the workshop. She flies down to them.
Rouge: „Shadow, this isn't worth it. He's fine. I talked to all of them now. They have no returning feelings or grudges of those other versions."
Of course she knew she was lying.
Shadow: „I'll look for myself, thank you."
He runs off. Rouge can barely turn around and he's gone.
Later that night Shadow stands ontop of Tails' workshop. He silently breaks in despite the safety precausions. Tails isn't there. He recons he must sleep at amy's and Knuckles' place for safety. He looks around for any clues. Looking over the workbench he finds some scematics. Tornado 3, Armcannons, Defensive Turrets…
He Looks over to a locked shelf. He breaks it open and takes the blueprints out.
Robots, Badniks, Machine guns, Energy syphons and… An extra set of robotic Tails.
Shadow: „All of these blueprints are dated to just a week ago. Heh. Found you already."
He puts the scematics back into the shelf and leaves the workshop.
Determined to end this as quick as possible he goes to Amy's house. To his suprise only Tails was there. He wouldn't know it but Knuckles was already back on Angel Island and Amy was secretly meeting with Rouge to discuss exactly what Shadow was about to do.
He busts open the door, Tails lets out one short scream before being grabbed and thrown out the door.
Tails: „What the hell is wrong with you? Is this about Nine?"
Shadow: „I know who you are. I saw your blueprints. You are rebuilding the chaos councils' weapons. And even your Tails."
Tails: „I am NOT him, Shadow. I finished those to understand them better not to use them. I was curious, nothing more!"
Shadow: „And I am supposed to belive you. If I learned anything in that Tragedy your friend calls Adventure then that trust is meaningless."
He jumps forward to give Tails a beating but he dodges effortlessly. He takes out a device and plants it right above his Tails. 7 extra robotic Tials jump out.
Tails: „I know this won't convince you anyways but I guess I will have to defend myself now."
Shadow looks at him with pure anger seeing nothing but Nine infront of him. Maybe using those extra Tails was a mistake.
The battle goes on for an hour. Jumping, punching, spinning all over Green hill. Tails is holding out longer than Shadow anticipated. Tails learned alot from Sonic's fighting style and used that against Shadow. He even countered direct spindashes. He can't help but be slightly impressed.
Shadow: „Sonic tought you well, didn't he? But you can't hold out forever!"
Tails: „I don't need to. As soon as Amy comes back it's 2 versus 1 and don't even get me started what will happen when Rouge sees you… or Sonic."
Shadow: Smiling „Holding out for Mom and Dad, huh? You really still are a pathetic child. All that talk about growing up and yet your only choice of winning a honest battle is stalling. How weak."
Tails knows he just wants to get him angry. But that doesn't take away how much those words hurt him. He needs to collect himself and hold out but there is a voice inside his head.
Nine: „Take him out. Do it."
Tails is startled for a second at what he just heard. Shadow wastes no more time and goes in for another attack, hitting Tails off guard. He is slammed backwards into a wall. Half his Tails broken. He tries to get up and run away but Shadow was always faster.
He doesn't even get time to turn around to look at his attacker as he gets a hold of his natural Tails and let out 2 words.
Shadow: „CHAOS BLAST!"
A gigantic explosion surrounds the two. Shadow standing in it unphased while Tails can feel how his Fur almost catches fire. He is thrown another 50 meters ahead. He lands on a rock. Dead.
Far, far away a rising smoke cloud can be seen in a human city. Sonic is standing over the defeated eggman. His plans are nothing but ashes. As the doctor is being carried away by G.U.N authorities Sonic is being questioned by Journalists. He only gives short answers. He wants to leave as quickly as possible. A small breeze can be heard. Sonic snaps back and Boosts off almost knocking the humans onto the ground.
He runs over mountains, oceans, through valleys and thunderstorms. He hasn't ran this fast since he heard of the Zetis back when they attacked Restoration HQ. He sees Green Hill approaching, running past a retreating Shadow. They exchange short glances. Sonic doesn't know what happened yet but Shadow shows something new in his eyes. If Sonic didn't know it any better he would have called it fear.
Sonic sees his Friend on the ground. Amy standing over him, crying. He kneels down next to him, trying to feel his pulse but there is none. He picks Tails up into his arms almost as if he's trying to comfort him. He sheds nothing more than 2 tears before his eyes shoot wide open as he realises who did this. Anything Amy says is just mumbles to him. Even Knuckles is hear now telling him something. He can't hear it.
Rouge returns pulling Shadow with her. Clearly against his will. Amy screams at him things she never had to say.
Shadow: „I did what I had to do. He wasn't himself anymore. He would have destroyed everything we worked to hard to keep."
Rouge slaps him in the face.
Amy: „BUT KILLING A BOY!? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND YOU COLDBLOODED KILLER?"
Sonic let's tails down and stands up. Dashes of blue lightling go all around him. On the ground, on his friends, in the grass, everywhere. His eyes open to show them glowing bright blue.
Knuckles: „Is this he part where we tell him to hold back?"
Amy: „No. Sonic. Make him pay."
Rouge: „Good job, idiot. You're about to die." She flies off way into the distance.
Shadow: „I did what you couldn't. You will never know your true potential like this. Everyone around you is just holding you back. I did you a favor."
He barely finishes that sentence as sonic spindashes straight forward, catching Shadow and running him all through green hill. Into rocks, trees, smashing him into the ground and almost digging trenches with him while moving at insane speeds. He throws him against a wall and let's him fall down.
Shadow can barely breathe let alone get any word out.
Sonic: „You always say I'm supposed to take responsabilitie for my actions. How about you start doing the same."
Sonic punches shadow straight in the stomach as 2 chaos emeralds fly out of him. Sonic being basically at his peak power he uses it to gather the other 5 emeralds that all happen to be hidden nearby. He turns super, ready to finish Shadow off as he says…
Shadow: „I know how you can save him…"
Sonic slams his arm against his throat. Pinning him against the wall.
Sonic: „Tell me. NOW!"
Shadow: Chaos control can… heal people… You need all chaos emeralds and focus on positive energy… It only works with true love.
Sonic: „Guess that's why you never got to use it."
Sonic let's him down and dashes back to Tails. He removes his super form and places the chaos emeralds around him. He holds his hand on Tails' chest as if he wanted to reanimate him.
Sonic: „Come on lil buddy, we got this. CHAOS CONTROL!"
Nothing happens. Sonic focuses more on positive memories. From when he had to sing Tails to sleep during thunderstorms to every small conversation they had. Every fist bump, every hug, every laugh. Everything is flashing before him as he tries again.
Sonic: „CHAOS CONTROL!"
Several seconds pass. It feels like years. But then a single hearbeat can be heard. Then another. Then another. Tails jumps up and grasps for air. He imidietly start coughing and groaning in pain. Afterall he still has a dozen broken bones.
Sonic: „YOU'RE BACK!" He picks up his best friend and hugs him WAY too tight.
Tails: „OUCH! Sonic please."
Sonic: „I'm sorry I was too excited."
Tails: „How am I alive?"
Amy: „Sonic saved you with chaos control. He used all of his power to bring you back."
Tails: „Thank you, Sonic. I'm sorry I couldn't hold out a little longer."
Sonic: „Don't you dare apologise. You must've fought great regardless. My little brother holding out against Shadow at all shows how much you've grown. I'm so proud of you!"
Tails: „What… What about him?" He points at shadow being dragged back by rouge.
Sonic: „Take him to the nearest restoration prison. I never want to see his face again. Have I made myself clear?"
Rouge: „Yes. OMEGA. Get over here and carry him."
Omega: „Affirmative."
Sonic: „Alright, Tails. Let's get you fixed up. You're gonna be up and running in no time."
Tails is brought into his workshop that was quickly rebuilt as a nursery. Sonic ordered the best doctors mobious had to take care of him.
Sonic: „How long until he can walk again?"
Doctor: „Atleast 2 months. Both legs are broken aswell as his right arm. His Tails also took a beating. He won't be flying for atleast 3 months."
Sonic clenches his fists at the thought that someone managed to hurt his little brother like that. But he relaxes fast and walks over to Tails.
Sonic: „Here little buddy. I got something for you."
Tails: „What is it?"
Sonic: „It's a emergency button. You press that and I'm here in no time at all. Any slight inconvinience. Doesn't matter what. You call me and I'm there. I can even pre chew your chili dogs if you want!"
Tails: „Ewwww Sonic!"
Sonic: Laughs hysterically „But for real though. You can call me anytime. I'll be right outside at all times. I won't leave you here until you can walk again, ok?"
Tails: „Thank you, Sonic. Love you."
Sonic: „Love you too lil buddy. Now get some rest. It'll be a long couple months."
Outside Amy is waiting. Sonic sits down next to her.
Amy: „I think I have never seen you so determined and imidietly so tender before."
Sonic: „I basically raised that boy. I couldn't help myself. The thought of him getting hurt was always bad enough but seeing it? That really did it."
Amy: „You've grown alot too you know."
Sonic: „Yea, I guess you're right. I messed up hard with that Shatterverse stuff. I'm sorry."
Amy: „It's ok. You were there when it mattered and that's what counts."
She lays her head onto Sonic's shoulder and suprisingly enough Sonic doesn't move an inch. He just enjoys the company.
Far away in a prison…
Rouge: „That one will do just fine thank you." She puts shadow down in his cell.
Shadow: „I didn't think you would pull this through…"
Rouge: „You went too far. Never did I feel the need to end someone's life in NONE of my missions. You will be sitting here for a long time."
Shadow: „You really think so? This prison couldn't even hold a Zeti."
Rouge: „I will make sure…"
She couldn't even finish her sentence when a giant explosion hits the prision. Alarms ring out as inmates flee. Rouge is knocked out and Omega is in pieces again. A familiar laugh is heard…
Dr. Eggman: „Hohohoho. Look who we've got here. A weakened Shadow. I'll be taking you if you don't mind!"
Shadow: „…"
Dr. Eggman: „I take that as a yes. I still need you for something big. Hahahahahahh"
He puts Shadow into his eggmobile and flies off. He wouldn't be seen for years. The mobians would take it as a long lasting peace. Eggman would see it as his final masterplan.
To be continued…
