"Well, now, ah can't believe ma ears!" Bunnie's shocked words were somewhat muffled by the lusciously sweet smelling shampoo which she was massaging into Sally's locks. "How could sweet lil' Tails say such things t'ya?"
The chipmunk had no idea herself. Every time she thought she was sure she knew what was troubling Tails, her theories were shot down. All she knew for sure was that he was acting strangely since his nightmare. What had happened last night had unnerved the princess. Her boy seemed to have changed over the course of a day. He was trying to push her away…
…But at least she had her best friend and maid of honor to confide in and receive comfort from.
"It's…not like that, Bunnie," she replied hesitantly. "He had a bad dream, and something about it changed him. Whatever's going on, it isn't his fault…"
"Yeah, well, that don't justify the way he spoke to ya, Sally-Girl," the hare retorted. "Ah love the kit like he was ma baby bro, but ah also love you. Ah won't stand for anyone puttin' you down, even if they are family!"
She gently moved Sally's head back into the wash basin. Sally closed her eyes and basked in the comforting warmth provided by the combination of the gently flowing water and the rabbit's organic paw running its fingers through her hair, making sure every sud got into every root.
"It just don't add up, ah tell yuh!" Bunnie went on. "One moment, he's dancin' with me at the party, then Sonic snaps at him an' he runs away…now he's gettin' all moody an' sayin' you ain't his momma! What's it all about? How could he…after all we've been through…" she seemed to be struggling to find her words. "You were always his mom. He's made that crystal clear for years!"
Her subject, the pensive princess, closed her eyes, hoping that the tear which emerged would be mistaken for some spray from the flowing water.
It was true, Tails had been very open about how much he loved her; but she was now thinking of one particular memory. A particular memory of when he'd been there for her during a very vulnerable time.
Sally had kept herself to herself following their escape from the Void. She'd spent most of her time alone in her hut or at the Ring Pool. Sonic had comforted her the best he could, and he was the self-proclaimed best of the best. Not only that, but at least she knew her father was still alive. There was always that…
…And because he'd been trapped in that awful dimension for so long, returning to Mobius would be impossible without him dying.
"Daddy…" she wept like a lost child. "I…miss…you…"
A knock at the door almost stopped her heart. Looking down at the sun creeping through the gaps in her front door, she noticed the twin shadow of a pair of feet. Sally took a deep breath in through her nose, held it, and exhaled. She was still the leader of the Freedom Fighters. Her responsibilities didn't go on hold just because she was weepy.
"Come in!" she called, looking away. Hopefully, she could make it look like she'd not just been crying her eyes out.
The door creaked open, and she assumed whoever was about to enter her domicile was either Sonic, Bunnie, Rotor or maybe Antoine. Hopefully not a villager who would see just how vulnerable she was and questioned her leadership as a result.
"Aunt Sally?"
The chipmunk was thankful her back was to the owner of that innocently concerned voice. On the one hand, it was a relief that it was one of her friends. On the other hand, did it have to be little Tails? She didn't want him to see her in such a state.
"Y-Yes, honey?"
The floorboards creaked, telling her that he was crossing to her side. In a manner almost childish, with the benefit of hindsight, she turned away as he reached her. She sniffed and wiped away a tear.
"Tails, I'm sorry I didn't tell you a story last night. I've…I've been upset…"
"Awww, that don't matter, Aunt Sally!" She could practically see the kit's disarming smile. "That's not why I'm here, anyway. I came to see if you were okay…"
"I'm fine, honey. Just fine"
"You don't look fine, Aunt Sally"
Sally wiped her eyes. And then felt someone holding her shoulders. Taking her hands away, she saw the cub looking at her all over.
"T-Tails, what're you doing?"
"Hold still…"
"Wh-Why?"
"Well, every time I fall down or hurt myself, you or Bunnie checks me like this. I'm seeing if you're hurt"
Sally gave a sad, mirthless laugh. "You're right, Cloud. I AM hurt. But on the inside…"
"Maybe you should ask NICOLE what's wrong"
"She knows, honey. She knows…"
"Is it about your dad?"
Sally froze. "How'd you know?"
"Sonic told me about the weird crab-rhino-wizard man"
Sally knew that she couldn't hide the truth from the boy in front of her. He could smell it out just as well as Antoine's perfume.
"You're right, Tails. I was thinking about my father. I've been trying to find him ever since Robotnik took over. I finally did, and it's impossible for him to ever return to Mobius…"
"Impossible? No way!" Tails threw out his arms. "Aunt Sally, we're the Knothole Freedom Fighters! Nothing is impossible!"
Sally shook her head. If only she had his enthusiasm and optimism.
"Remember when it seemed like deroboticisation was impossible? But it wasn't!" the fox continued. "Remember when it seemed impossible for Uncle Chuck to be on our side? But it wasn't!"
"Remember when it was impossible for me to sing? LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LAAAAAAAAA!" the cub abruptly screeched.
This impromptu harmonising made Sally jump and she suddenly forgot to feel sad.
"Well, it wasn't!" Tails gave an extravagant bow.
"That's true," Sally laughed despite herself.
"So, there ya go! We'll get your dad back!"
Sally stared at the bright eyed boy. How was it possible? How could he make the best of any bad situation? How was he so good at taking her mind off such terrible things? Was she complaining, though? No.
"Come here, you!" She cried and pulled him into a tight hug, kissing both cheeks and finally his nose. Her heart sang as he tittered shyly and wiped his cheek.
"Feel better, Aunt Sally?"
"You know what? I do!"
They hugged once more.
"Hey, umm…" Tails suddenly seemed reluctant to continue speaking. "When you saw your dad…did, did you see my mom?"
Sally's blood turned to ice and she slowly came out of the embrace. This wasn't a new question. She'd often heard Tails talk about his parents, but she'd never been sure how to answer it.
"Well, Tails, we…we didn't see her, b-but," she hastily added, "we weren't in the Void for long, so…"
"Y'know, that's okay," Tails interrupted, but his tone wasn't sad or disappointed. Sally was most surprised. This wasn't the reaction she thought he'd have!
"It is? Why, honey?"
"Because I know my parents are out there. If they've been roboticised, we'll bring 'em back to normal! If they're lost, we'll find 'em, just like you found the Wolf Pack and all the other Freedom Fighters on Mobius!"
The chipmunk hated to play devil's advocate, but she felt she had to be realistic, so as not to get her charge's hopes up.
"And…what if…what if they're dead?" she faltered.
She prepared her comfort plan, absolutely certain that her surrogate nephew would not take this possibility well. "That won't matter," Tails responded after a short pause.
Sally was shocked at this practically indifferent response. "Won't matter?" she repeated tearfully, suddenly realising that she was projecting her feelings onto the kit. "Miles, when someone is dead, that means they're gone. You'll never see them again! How does that not matter?"
Tails looked into her soul. "It won't matter 'cause I've got you"
Aunt Sally felt a lump in her throat and the tears began anew. This time, however, they flowed from a healing heart. "Oh, Tails…"
"Would you be my mom, Aunt Sally?" Miles felt his tails wrap around himself and he looked down shyly.
"Would I?" Sally raised an eyebrow. "Well, come here and I'll tell you a secret…"
The young fox indeed ventured further and showed no resistance as she picked him up like a teddy bear and sat him on her knee. Leaning forward, she whispered into his ear.
"I already am…"
Tails drew back, eyes widened. "Really?" he gasped.
"On one condition," Sally felt her sorrow leave her and a smile grew across her features. Her little angel really was just that. "Never change"
With that, she kissed his cheeks and then his nose, reveling in that precious titter. After a moment, he shyly twiddled his thumbs. "Well, uh, Aunt Sally, I…also came to ask you if…if…"
"Ask me what, honey? You can tell me anything, you know that."
"Well…I came to ask you if you wanted to play with me. Sonic sent me to come get you, we're gonna play dirt hockey!"
Sally paused. Normally, she'd say no: she never understood the rules and was admittedly better at watching sports than playing it. But, this time, she wanted to do something different.
"Yes, Cloud," the chipmunk smiled. "I would love to play with you!"
"You will? Great!" the fox grinned, jumping down off her knee. "'Cause I told Sonic I'd ask you and I was a million percent sure you'd say yes!"
Sally chuckled. "Well, that settles it. I'd best prove you right!"
Taking his paw, she walked into the outside world, ready to face the day for the first time in a week.
"If'n y'all ask me," Bunnie's voice brought the reminiscing princess back to reality, "someone oughta talk to that scamp an' find out jus' what the hoo-hah's the matter with 'um!"
"You're probably right," Sally hastily agreed as if she'd been paying attention the whole time. "I'd have told Sonic, but…"
"…As well meanin' as Sugah-Hog is, he'd put his foot in it," Bunnie finished. "B'sides, the groom don't need stressin' out none, does he? Tell y'what, Sally-Girl. As yer maid 'o' honor, an' the little nipper's big sis, ah'll go have a word with him!
"You know where he is?" Sally asked skeptically. "He didn't show up to breakfast this morning and you won't find him unless it's on his own terms"
"Ah, it's easy!" Bunnie pointed up at the skylight. "He's in that tree!"
Sally looked, and to her surprise, Bunnie was right! There he was, his tails dangling from the highest branch.
"If y'all excuse me," the cyborg continued complacently, "ah'll go give him the ol' talk. Ah won't namedrop"
"Right now!" Sally was suddenly conscious of her wet hair. "Can't you just…?"
"Ro-Becca!" Bunnie called, crossing to the door. As if on cue, the door to the adjoining room crashed open and a robot cat came zooming out. "Ro-Becca, hon, ah'm just steppin' out t'see a bro about a mom. You look after the royal bride, won't ya?"
"Ooohhhh, why certainly!" Ro-Becca cooed. "I'd be honored to play a role in the Royal Wedding! Why, if I'm lucky, that handsome cavalier, Antoine might come in! He's due for his toenails being painted!"
All of a sudden, Sally wished that she'd told Bunnie about Tails when she wasn't having her hair done. The robot feline went on and on about how Antoine kept dyeing his toupee and how strawberry blonde suited him better than mustard yellow.
Bunnie exited her house-turned-hair boutique, her emerald eyes fixed on the tree her little brother was sulking in. He certainly was clever. The conifer was not only rather tall, but a majority of the branches were located several feet off the ground. This rendered it impossible to climb. Anyone who could fly, however, would reach the top without mishap. "Hmmm," she cheerfully mused, "when all this is over, ah'm gonna put a sign on this here pine called 'Moping Corner'!"
A faint hydraulic whir heralded her ladder legs extending upwards. With an inward grin, Bunnie reached for the lowest branch, which was as high as the rooves, watching it move closer and closer.
A despondent Tails looked down at Knothole spread out below him. This was, at this point, a perfectly normal occurrence for him ever since he'd discovered his gift of flight. Today, though? He wasn't in the mood. He didn't know what to think. He felt fearful for his future and sick with guilt for deeply upsetting Sally. What he'd said the night before felt like the right thing to say.
"Well, hi, there, Sugah-Fox!" a friendly southern lady's voice greeted. "What're y'all doin' up here? Practicin' yer yodellin'?"
"No, Bunnie, I…" the cub began.
"OH-DE-OH-LAY-HEE-HOOOOO!"
"Please don't do that…" Tails winced at the grating trill.
"And why not, may ah ask?" Bunnie's tone was still as jovial as ever, but there was a warning sting to it. "Wasn't it YOU who wanted me to teach yuh?"
Tails grew uncomfortable. The sinking feeling wasn't just from the branch he was sat on while Bunnie joined him. "That was a month ago, I'm grown up now"
"Y'said the same thing t'yer poor momma, too, so I heard" the hare observed, looking nonchalantly at her nails.
Tails felt as though he'd been shoved into freezing water: this was why Bunnie wanted to talk to him. Sally had told her everything. "She's not my mom" he murmured in a barely audible voice: one which didn't go unheard to the sensitive ears of the bionic lagomorph next to him.
"An' ah suppose ah ain't yer sister?" Bunnie's tone was now cold and stern.
Tails continued to look away. It was the utter shame of what he'd told his mom… "Your fake mom!" the nasty voice reminded him. "Don't you dare roll over and show your belly. Stand by what you said! Don't give them the satisfaction!"
"Gone quiet now, haven't ya?"
"I'm bein' realistic, Bunnie," there it was again: he was talking without knowing it. "Us being a family was only while we were Freedom Fighters. We were all playing house to take our minds off of Robotnik. We were all gonna go our separate ways once he was dealt with. Sally's not my mom, Sonic's not my big brother and you're not my…"
"Now ah'll jus' stop you right there, Miles," Bunnie suddenly clamped her paw over his lips to shut him up. "Sally ain't yer momma, huh? For a kid who's smart as a whip, that's a mighty dumb thing to say!"
"We're not even the same species!" Tails heard himself protest, slapping Bunnie's hand away. "I'm a fox, she's a chipmunk, Sonic's a hedgehog, you're a rabbit!"
"So when did it become a rule that t'be family, we all have ta be the same animal?"
"Look," Tails couldn't believe he was defending his behavior. "I'm sorry I upset Sally, I really am. I'm grateful for everything she did for me, but I have to grow up and accept that she's not my…"
"Yer right" Bunnie interrupted.
"…Really?"
"Sure thing. Sally-Girl ain't yer momma. Ah mean, all she did was find y'all in the Great Swamp, gave all her time t'lookin' after yuh, fed an' dressed yuh, read to yuh every night, took care of yuh when you were sick or injured…"
"Alright, I get the point!" Tails snapped, his guilt rendering him unable to continue listening to his stupid comments be debunked.
"But apart from that, she ain't yer momma" the cyborg hare finished with a triumphant grin. Before the teenage vulpine could retort, she quickly continued, her words calm and stern, her expression stony. "Listen t'me, Miles. All this talk about growin' up don't mean squat. You can outgrow bedtime stories. You can outgrow cuddles an' kisses. But you can't outgrow family"
Before he could reply, Bunnie's face softened and she took her brother's hands. "Now, Sugah-Fox, we love ya. All 'o' us. All we wanna do is help. Instead 'o' shutting yerself away, jus' do to yer momma what you'll do at the wedding"
"What, give her the rings back?" Tails raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"Nope. Come clean"
Tails looked away. The older doe, satisfied that she'd gotten through to the cub, smiled. "Can ah get a hug?" Opening her arms, she was relieved to see Tails return the gesture. She wrapped him in her embrace, and immediately noticed how he only seemed to put his arms around her. "C'mon, Sugah, y'know ah can judge a man by the way he hugs. Yer too soft 'n' cuddly to be half-hearted!"
Tails' hold of her intensified. Grinning to herself, Bunnie relinquished the embrace after a moment and ran her organic fingers through his head fur. "One more thing, Sugah," she smirked mischievously. "An' ah ain't goin' nowhere until y'do it. Gimme yer best yodel!"
"I…I'd rather not, thanks…" the fox looked at his sneakers.
Disappointed, but undeterred, Bunnie had an idea. "Alright…Knock, knock!"
"Who's there?" Tails asked cautiously.
"A Little Old Lady!"
"A little old lady who?"
"Hah! Got yuh, sugah! And yuh got over that howlin' problem, too!" Bunnie cackled, slapping her knee in triumph.
"Wh-Whadda you mean?" Tails asked. He hadn't yodelled, had she gone mad? But before he could make an inquiry, Bunnie was extending her legs and stood up off the branch. He had to hold on to avoid falling off as it wobbled.
"See y'all later, Tails!" she called, descending. "Go talk ta yer Momma!"
With that, Tails was alone, and completely unsure what to think.
"Okay, Rote, my main walrus, my best man!" Sonic appraised. "Let's see whatcha got for my bachelor party!"
"Oh-ho, boy!" Rotor grinned, unfurling a blueprint. "You're gonna love this, Sonic!"
The blue hedgehog just couldn't keep still with excitement. Just how had Rotor planned his last night of freedom?!
"At 8pm," Rotor began, pointing at the diagrams in white ink, "we all meet up at the workshop and dissect a SWAT Bot! See what makes it tick, y'know?"
"...Yeah?"
"Then at 8:10pm," the inventor continued, giddy with excitement, "we all look at the fuselage of the Freedom Stormer and, get this, we check for any damage! WOOO!"
"Woo…" Sonic repeated, his enthusiasm leaving him like water in a sieve.
"And at 8:15pm, we go on a panty raid!"
"Wha-?" Sonic did a double take. "Really?"
"Yeah! Then we…" the walrus trailed off. "Darn, most of us don't wear panties. Never mind…" and he crossed that off the blueprint.
"O…kay…" the blue blur wondered if it was too late to make Antoine the best man. "Whadda we do then?"
"We all go home and go to bed, rested up for when we wash the Tornado II!" The blubbery best man struck a pose like a rock star for added effect.
"Oooooookay…" Sonic wondered how to let his friend down gently. "That stinks!"
"Ah, nonono, wait, wait!" Rotor quickly interjected. "Did I mention we all get drunk off the finest Mobian alcohol?! Yeah, that's it! We'll all get drunk while we have the bachelor party…although not too drunk that one of us has a bad accident. We're handling machinery after all…and Tails is coming too!"
"Coming? We ain't goin' anywhere!" Sonic objected. "We're just hangin' in yer workshop! We're gonna be spending the rest of our time after the wedding rebuilding Mobotropolis. I don't wanna spend a party working! Rote, yer my pal, so I'm givin' ya a second chance. And a suggestion!"
"What's that then?"
"Instead of partyin' in Knothole, we go to…"
"Lower Mobius?" Sally asked in surprise. "It's a nice place, but…"
"But nothin', Sally-Girl!" Bunnie cut her off. "It's one 'o' the best places for a bachelorette party this side 'o' the planet since Robotnik went. An' that ain't all! Wherever we go, the staff won't let us pay for anythin'! Not only is royalty visitin', but a ROYAL BRIDE!"
Sally raised a disapproving eyebrow. "Bunnie, I'd expect the idea of abusing power from Sonic, but never from you!"
Bunnie went red. "Look at it this way, Sal," she continued. "After the weddin' bells an' the partyin' and the cake, it's straight t'work on Mobotropolis. Ah ain't sayin' married life is gonna be a drag, but you won't have as much time for fun! …Well, uh…well, y'might have some fun with Sonic, but…"
"Get to the point, please!" Sally felt hot all over.
"…It won't hurt t'have a little fun on yer last night 'o' freedom. Especially with yer gal pals!"
The chipmunk considered this. "Well…I'm iffy on that one, but it could be fun! As long as no-one knows…"
"There y'go!" Bunnie patted her sister's shoulder. "So stop worryin'! Yer maid 'o' honor did ya a good turn! Ah done organised yer bachelorette bash, 'n' you'll be doin' the Funny Kiss 'n' makeup with Tails!"
Upon hearing her son's name, Sally grew uncomfortable. "Bunnie, what did you say to him?"
"Now, Sally, don't panic," the rabbit pacified. "All ah did was give him a piece 'o' ma mind 'n' set the record straight. He kept talkin' a load 'a hoo-ha 'bout us not bein' his family 'cos he was growin' up! Well, like a weed in ma carrot garden, ah nipped that in the bud!"
Sally squirmed. Bunnie had good intentions, but she should have dealt with this problem herself. Even if Tails came to apologize, it wouldn't feel genuine: that was usually how people, who only did so because another party made them, act.
"Ah can see the lil' rascal now," her lapine friend continued. "He'll come knockin' at yer door, doin' that cute thing he does with his tails," as a substitute for said appendages, she put both organic and synthetic paws in front of her legs. "His eyes'll be all big, his cheeks'll be pink and he'll say 'Sowwy, Aunt Sawwy!'"
Sally chuckled. Yes, Tails was cute when he did that…but he hadn't acted that way for about eight years. Encouraged by her successful attempt at making the princess crack a smile, Bunnie continued her imitation. "I had a scary dream because I ate too much at the party and went to bed too late. That's why I'm all cranky!"
"That…actually sounds a lot like him," the chipmunk conceded. "He does take after Sonic after all"
"Well, he also takes after you, Sally-Girl," Bunnie reminded her. "That's why ah can't believe he'd say you weren't his momma! After all you did for him, it ain't right! Ah wouldn't stand for it, so ah laid down the law! Ah ain't havin' no-one wreck your big day, so he's gonna talk to ya 'bout what's goin' on in that head 'o' his an' we'll live happily ever after!"
This had clearly been intended to make her feel better, but Sally now felt something cold and hard: guilt. Maybe Bunnie had jumped to conclusions, or maybe she'd made Tails out to be an ungrateful brat. Whoever was to blame didn't matter. What she'd done was on par with trying to put a fire out with gas.
"Bunnie," she ventured cautiously, "I appreciate what you did, but it isn't fair to imply that Tails isn't thankful for what I've done. He's…he's confused. His mind and body's going through changes now he's a teenager"
"Horse feathers, Sal!" Bunnie scoffed. "Why, we were both teens only a few years ago an' y'never saw us act out that way! Maybe Sugah-Hog an' Ant, but never us!"
"It was different for us," Sally reasoned. "With Robotnik about, there was no time for us to go through the woes of being a teenager. In a sense, Tails forced me to get older before my time…"
"...That's true, ah'll give y'all that," the rabbit conceded. "But if anythin', it proves one thing!"
"And what might that be?" Sally was surprised as Bunnie wrapped her arms around her.
"That you ain't just the best leader an' soon t'be queen 'o' Mobius. Yer the best mommy: to Sugah-Fox and to yer future…"
"Thank you, Bunnie" Sally tearfully embraced her. "Thank you so much…"
"Awww, t'weren't nothin'," her maid of honor smirked. "Now, enough 'o' this mushy stuff! Who else we gonna invite for the party?!"
"...Oui, ah should love to go to Lowair Mobius!" Antoine glowed. "As long as we dine at ze finest restaurants. Ah do not want to spend ze evening weeth a bunch of slobs who stuff zeir faces weeth zose deplorable chilling dogs!"
"Then go by yerself, Ant," Sonic snapped. "It's MY wedding, not yours!"
The attendees of the Fastest Thing Alive's bachelor party had convened in the host's hut. An emergency meeting had been called. Rotor's original proposal hadn't been what the groom had imagined, so now Tails, Antoine and Uncle Chuck were sitting around the table with the hedgehog and the walrus.
"Sonny-Boy, Antoine has a point," the elderly hedgehog spoke up. "You can eat chili dogs any time, but this'll be your last night of freedom. You gotta splash out on this one!"
"As long as we wait un heure aftair eating," the coyote added. "Vous risk drowning othairwise!"
The others gave him a somewhat disparaging look before continuing.
"As I was saying," Uncle Chuck went on. "You're not only Mobius' greatest hero, but you're marryin' royalty! You won't have to worry about expenses because whoever's running wherever we go owes the fact that they're not destroyed to you!"
"Hey, yeah…" Sonic considered this, a smile broadening. "You're right, Unc!"
"Doesn't that apply to all of us, though?" Tails piped up. "Sonic's the best an' all, but we all saved Mobius…didn't we?"
An awkward silence briefly reigned. "You're right, little buddy, we did," Rotor reluctantly admitted. "But…"
"Zere eez no buttocks about eet!" Antoine interjected. "Young Tails eez right! Sonique deed not single-handedly stop Robotneek! Vat makes heem so special?!"
"None of you are marryin' a princess!" Sonic butted in, his tone implying that the matter was settled. "Now, when we get to…"
All of a sudden, Tails could only hear fragments of what was being said. He was lost in his own mind again, brought about by that simple yet flippant explanation. Sally, his mother, was the princess. If he was her son, and she became queen, he was technically a prince. He wasn't marrying Sally, Sonic was. He wasn't a prince. He was just a two-tailed fox she'd taken in. A temporary son. Sonic, his big brother, was going to marry Sally, become a prince, and live in Castle Acorn.
Although Bunnie had insisted that Sally was indeed his parental guardian, his "momma" and his "big bro" were going to leave him behind…
"Big Guy? Yo!"
Tails jumped. The other guys were looking at him, expressions mingled concern and bemusement. "You okay, T2?" Sonic asked. "Ya zoned out there!"
On the spot all of a sudden, the fox's mind raced. Then it fell on the one part of the conversation that had managed to hit his eardrums between his bitter musing. "I was thinking about drinking beer!"
"Wine eez bettair…" Antoine muttered.
"Beer?!" Uncle Chuck looked aghast. "Tails, you're definitely comin' with us, but you're too young for that stuff! Sally would go ballistic if she saw you drinking it!"
"Yeah, but not us!" Sonic chuckled, thinking about all the alcohol he'd never actually drank before, but being able to drink it meant he was grown up.
Tails tried not to blurt out that Sally wasn't his mother, for fear of Bunnie lecturing him again. In fact, Bunnie had been right about one thing. He wasn't going to avoid the issue and stress the princess out anymore. He was going to tell her the truth. At least she'd know what was troubling him afterwards.
"Sally," he thought quietly to himself, "we need to talk…"
