Tails scheduled an appointment with the highest-rated psychologist in the area - a human doctor named Samuel Harris. The conscious side of his brain reminded him that if he wanted to make progress, he had to put aside his biases. Under oath, those in Samuel's profession were required to maintain a strict code of confidentiality. Anything they discussed would be between them and them alone. If Tails wanted to establish a relationship with Samuel, he had to reveal the deepest yearnings of his heart...
In the waiting room of Samuel's office, Tails looked around. There weren't many patients, meaning he would be up soon. Until then, he took some time to read over the magazines provided for accommodation purposes. He felt surprisingly at home in the cozy environment, which he supposed was intentional. The lack of windows cemented an air of secrecy, and for that, he was grateful.
"Mr. Prower?" Samuel called. His voice was deeper than Tails expected, but in a weird way, it helped his empathy sound more genuine. It was calm, but authoritative, commanding respect in a way that felt earned.
"I'm here." the fox acknowledged.
"Please, come in."
Tails obliged, following Samuel into the counseling area. He closed the door behind them.
"Would you rather sit or stand?"
"I'll sit. Thanks."
"It's interesting. I don't see many people like you here. It's mostly hominoids like myself."
"I figured. There aren't many of our kind."
"May I ask how you came to be here?"
"I was born here, just like everyone else. We just evolved faster than humans. Animals tend to adapt more quickly to change. Unfortunately, the process is continuous, so there will always be drawbacks."
"What would you say are the drawbacks in your predicament?"
"Where do I even begin?"
"Anywhere you like."
"Well, for starters, my parents abandoned me because I was born with two tails. If it hadn't been for my ability to digest plants, I would've died fresh from the womb. I try every day to let that anger go, but it always comes back in one way or another. It never stops. It never goes away. It's always there, trying to get in and clawing at my will to live. It makes me feel so tired..."
"And that's completely understandable. Any child would feel resentful if their caretakers left them like that. Most people in general would consider such behavior an unforgivable sin. We judge a civilization based on how we treat our most vulnerable, and it's likely for that reason you view us so harshly as well."
"A large part of my childhood was spent beating up a bald old guy with glasses and a knockoff Pringles mustache. I used to think we were all so different, but now I'm not so sure, and that thought scares me..."
"You're referring to Robotnik I presume?"
"That's the one - the old egghead himself."
"May I offer an alternative point of view?"
"That's what I'm here for."
"Your personal experiences and those of the people outside you have varied wildly. Everyone's capable of good and evil, and sometimes things aren't as they appear. Wouldn't it make more sense to judge them based on their individual actions rather than as a collective?"
"That's what I thought, too. Abandoning your offspring is a pretty low blow for any species, and I know it's not exclusive to me. I just wish I could see the good in people again. These days, it's hard - really hard."
"And every small act of kindness seems to be cancelled out by a great act of evil, but let me offer you this. If we were as bad as you've come to believe, would we still exist?"
A switch triggered in Tails' brain. Despite humanity's flaws, they'd persisted in the face of overwhelming desperation, just the same way he had.
"We have weapons powerful enough to destroy the world multiple times over, and yet we've only used them twice. Why do you think that is?"
"Because no sane person enjoys destroying life..."
On the other side of town, a stranger faced the depths of the city, his face covered by a mask and cloak. He could sense it. Eggman...He was close by...
"It's time to finish this once and for all..."
He cast off the garment, revealing a structure very similar to Sonic's, yet completely different cosmetically. He trudged forward, ready to end Ivo's evil deeds at a moment's notice...
"We still have some time left," Samuel continued, "Is there anything else you wish to discuss?"
"Actually," Tails replied, "There is."
"Thought so."
"I've been having dreams lately about a girl I've never met - a tiger with long black hair and yellow eyes. She looks like a fighter like you'd expect from our team. I have no idea who she is or why I keep seeing her, but it feels like we've known each other for ages. Any ideas?"
"Interesting. So you say you've never met before, which implies one of three possibilities. The first two are fairly standard evaluations, but the third best suits your profile."
"Can you lay them out for me?"
"The first is the most rational - a repressed memory of some kind from early childhood. Maybe you knew this person a long time ago and something happened to make you forget: that or you didn't want to."
"That's not it. There aren't any gaps in my memory. I can still remember bits and pieces of my early youth. Her face isn't in any of them."
"That leads us to option two. She's a symbol of subconscious emotion to help you work through change. Perhaps you aren't getting the support you need from your friends, so your mind created her to make you feel less lonely."
"Could be. I feel awful for saying it, but hanging out with Sonic doesn't fill me with the same sense of joy it used to. He's my brother, and I love him to the ends of the earth, but growing up made me realize he's got his own issues to work out. No one's perfect, and that's okay. What matters is how we treat each other and the people around us. Everything else is second fiddle."
"My final assessment is the one I believe to be the most accurate. She's one of your creations. You just haven't realized it yet."
"You mean...I engineered her...!?"
"More accurately, you could if you wanted to. Are you familiar with the concept of the dream lover?"
"Not really."
"It's a thought exercise implemented in certain forms of meditation. Most often, it's used in conjunction with lucid dreaming to create a vivid experience. I won't go into too much detail, but the experience is often considered romantic, and in some cases...Erotic...In nature. As you pointed out, you're getting older now, and with that comes changes in your perception of the opposite sex. Maybe you're pining for a romantic partner to fill a void you can't sate any other way. Personally and professionally, I believe the second and third possibilities to be interlinked."
"So you think I'm in love with my own future creation?"
"Do you disagree?"
"No. That's the crazy part. It sounds far-fetched to the untrained mind, but the scenario's completely plausible."
"You're a special breed of individual, Tails. You're awake and aware of the world around you, and at such a young age. It's almost unheard of. People like you only come along once in a lifetime. If anyone alters the course of history, it'll be you."
"And you think she can help?"
"I can't say for sure, but I feel it in my gut. Something special's just been born. I'm eager to see where it goes, but it can only happen if you take my words to heart."
"You're the doctor. I see no reason to argue."
"Well, Mr. Prower, I can safely say we've both learned a great deal this day. Consider this session on the house."
"We'll have to talk about the cost of medical care sometime. I think both of us have a lot to reflect on."
"I concur."
The pair shook hands, releasing their grip only when an explosion shook the building's foundation.
"Eggman!?" Tails questioned.
"Looks like that old fool's at it again. Could you do me a favor and revoke his license?"
Tails smirked, pulling a wrench from his hoodie pocket. He always kept one on hand for emergencies.
"With pleasure, doc."