"The village turned on me fast, huh?" Sonic dug the toe of his shoe into the earth from where he sat on a log beside a roaring campfire. He pulled a few unlucky strands of grass from beside him and looked down at what was once his egg-shell white gloves, now tainted with dirt.
It had been almost two weeks since the 'radical speedster' showed up in their village and took the spotlight right off Sonic. He challenged him to a race with the deal that the loser would be exiled from the Hedgehog Village forever.
Everything worked itself out in the end. That wasn't what Sonic was worried about. But seeing everyone in the village except his close friend's side with a stranger, rather than a hero, who has saved their butts over and over again throughout the years, bothered him.
And now they are here, camping in the jungle with a dozen bags of marshmallows and gram crackers scattered around them. The other three had already turned in. The girls are in their tent to their right. Knuckles calling in ships to their docks with his snoring to the left.
Eggman had gone on a 'mustache retreat' for a few days, so they were free for the next few days.
"Sonic- " Tails started, putting another marshmallow on his stick.
"I mean, I know that guy pretended to be all swag and- "
"-Sonic..."
"Heroic, but deep down-" Tails covered his mouth with his paw. "Sonic. Listen to me. Our village is full of morons. Stop caring what they think and focus on your friends."
Knuckles yawned, stretching his arm out and almost knocking down his tent again. Tails and Sonic froze for a few minutes, willing him silently not to wake up.
When the coast was clear, Tails looked back to Sonic. "No one is going to replace you. Ever. I promise."
"...I know I just-" Sonic started before he felt a soft furry head lean down to lay onto his shoulder. "You're the best. Irreplaceable. Please, don't forget that."
—————
Replaced. Replaced. Replaced. Replaced. R e p l a c e d. Replaced. Replaced. Replaced.Replaced.
—————
Strolling over to his o' friend Shadow's prison carrying a paper bag from Meh Burger, Sonic whistled, opening the locked Dropbox in the bunker and sticking the bag inside.
Tossed around as much as it was, it was still food. Starvation would not kill the immortal hedgehog, but it would still hurt. It would hurt just as much as any starving person hurt. And Sonic didn't consider himself a monster, so he fed him.
Shadow better get used to chili dogs, though. Because that's all Sonic was going to feed him, and all Sonic's descendants were going to feed him for the upcoming centuries.
For his sake, Sonic hoped he was eating his food. The closest thing the prison bunker had to a garbage compartment was the high-powered toilet, which could only take so much.
He poked his eye in the peephole. It was hard to see the guy because of his naturally dark quill color. But what Sonic could always count on were his eyes. His deep crimson irises would glare right through his soul once a day.
No bright red in sight.
Huh.
No, the outline of his grumpy red and black rival.
Huh.
Sonic looked around as much as he could in his peripheral vision.
No one.
Huh.
Hot air brushed against his back quills. Sonic slowly sat up and turned around.
Shadow was in front of him, dangerous crimson eyes glowing in rage.
Huh.
Blick.
The next few seconds happened in a blur. All Sonic could register was that he was on the ground, hitting and kicking and trying so hard to get those paws off his neck.
They pushed harder at his esophagus the more he tried to get away.
He couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe.
Help. Help. Help. Please. Help. Help. Help. Please. Help. Help. Help.
"You think your little bunker can contain me hedgehog?" Sonic could barely register Shadow yelling at him from the blood rushing to his ears.
"Nothing could contain me! I'm the-" A loud crackling sound interrupted him. And suddenly, the paws were off him. The weight holding him down was gone. He could breathe.
He could breathe. He could breathe. He could breathe. He could breathe.
"-Ultimate Lifeform. Yeah, yeah. We get it." A small voice stated, kicking Shadow's body further away from the both of them.
Sonic pressed his paws against the earth, shakily standing back up.
"I swear that guy's more egotistical than Egg- " Sonic looks over from where the voice came from.
And there was Tails.
Lup-dup.
Lup-dup.
Lup-dup.
Sonic put a paw over his chest. Why did the world feel so tight all of a sudden? Every atom of his moving was shifting.
He could hear it. He could hear it. He could hear it. He-
Why can't he breathe? Again.
Breathe Sonic. Breathe. Breathe. Come on, breathe.
He jumped as something landed on his shoulder. He moved his paws from where they had a death grip between his eyes and his surroundings to see Tails, looking very concerned, offering him a paw.
He took it.
Standing up, this was the closest he had gotten to Tails in weeks, allowing him to really see it.
His eyes glazed over the deep, ugly mulberry mark around the kit's neck.
Sonic reached out to touch it.
Who did this? Who did this? Who did this?
He did this.
—————
"Sonic," Tails had called to him, nestled under a bunch of blankets as they watched cartoons together, eating a ten-pound bag of chocolates they'd bought for this evening. It was nice. It had been a while since the brothers hung out with only each other. "Do you and Amy…like each other?"
"Of course we do, bud. We're good friends."
"No, I mean like like. Romantically.
"What? Huh? Why would you ask that all of a sudden?" He got up, flustered. "Want popcorn? I want popcorn." He went to the kitchen as Tails gave him a knowing look.
"You do!"
"Do not!"
"Do so!"
"Shut it or you're grounded!" He was half joking. But usually, the threat would be enough to get Tails to lay off.
Tails threw a pillow at him.
"Oh, that's how you want to do it, huh?" He forgot the popcorn and walked back over to his brother.
"Sonic! No! No! Anything but- "He cut off as he started giggling, trying to cover his body as Sonic had tickled him.
After a few seconds, things calmed down, and Sonic took back his seat next to Tails, pulling him close and resting his head on top of Tails'. "I'll tell you when you're older."
"That's what you always say!"
—————
Sonic didn't realize he was holding Tails until the kit started clawing at him. Still, he didn't want to let go. He hadn't been able to hug anyone in such a long time.
Anyone.
But when Tails started making distressed sounds, that was when he let go. Because as much as Sonic wanted to protect and hold his brother, he knew he was a person, not an object to use to make himself feel better.
Sonic wiped the tears forming around his eyes, (eye?) and started to say something. But Tails beat him to it.
"Don't ever touch me again." The tone was low, dangerous even. A tone Tails only used when referring to something he hated with a passion, like toe socks or soap operas. And now it was directed to him.
"Tails I- "
The kit's ears fell flat to his head as he turned away. "Go. I only have a few hours to reinforce this bunker before he wakes up. And I don't feel like seeing your face in the meantime."
"Okay..." He took a few steps away from his brother. "I'm sorry, Tails." Then he sped off.
A few days passed, and Sonic somehow found himself dodging another swipe from a possessed giant vacuum cleaner.
This mess had escalated quickly.
But at least he was back with his team, fighting Eggman like the good old days.
And Tails was talking to him again.
He didn't think much of it when Knuckles claimed to be just as much an inventor as Tails was. The echidna, who had never been the sharpest tool in the shed, was getting on Tails' nerves by claiming to invent stuff already in existence.
Sonic guessed it was his fault. He had been the one to tease Tails by saying Knuckles was an up-and-coming inventor, seeing the guy use his newest invention as a backscratcher.
Knuckles had run to the team later that day with a poster of Robot Battle Royal, teasing Tails until he agreed to join it with him. He could tell Knuckles was trying to prove himself to be just as clever as the kit.
On the day of the contest, different people had come to enter their robots, Tails and Knuckles or course, but there was also Eggman and a few others he wasn't paying attention to because he just wanted to go home.
Eggface's robot was a smaller version of his Obliterator bot. He couldn't even be bothered to design a new one for this. Lame. Tails had this robot Hypnobot, who took control of other robots. And Knuckles made this cardboard box thingy with vacuum cleaner tubes coming out of it that he called Vacuu-Fan 2000.
The major had the key for all the robots to override codes' put in a cannonball, and shot into the ocean to prevent cheating. Though he admitted right after that key had nothing to do with the competition, they should campaign for better city council leaders.
Then the competition started, and Tails crushed it, obviously, and Knuckles didn't, obviously. Eggface and Tails advanced to the finals, and he was hyped to see his buddy put Baldy Mcnosehair in his place. But to everyone's surprise, Hypnobot started malfunctioning. That's when Eggman revealed that his company made the lock box that held the override codes. So, the guy had cheated. Surprise, surprise. Then Eggman generously warned them that he was going to Tails' workshop to take over his other robots, AKA inventions.
And that's why he's here now, beating up Tails' prized deforestation machine as Tails and Knuckles hid behind some crates discussing a plan. He hoped they figured out something soon. He wanted to take a nap.
"Stupid? Or…murder?" He heard someone say over the thud of Amy's hammer and the beeps and boops of the inventions. It was probably Knuckles. He liked those murder mystery shows. And honesty, he can't ever see Tails saying that.
"Uh…-We've work to do!" He barely registered another voice as he bounced on a Motobug. It wasn't enough that Eggman took over his kid brother's inventions. He just had to bring his bots, too.
Before he knew it Vacuu-Fan 2000- Knuckles' robot was coming over. Huh, he didn't think that hunk of cardboard was smart enough to be taken over. Good for Knuckles, bad for their team, but good for Knuckles.
"What's that?" Dr. Eggman lifted an eyebrow, "Nurbles' robot is joining my army! Welcome, welcome!" The bald man cackled.
Amy finished with a Bee-Bot and ran over to it. "I got this!"
"Noooooo!" Knuckles screams, running over to protect his first invention. But a Motobug rolls over right ahead of him, tripping the echidna before he can tackle the girl.
The robot yelped, which was a weird noise for a robot to make. But whatever Knuckles had made it, who knows what kind of weirdness he did with it? And for good measure, she goes in for another swing, knocking it down.
It landed in the dirt as Amy watched unimpressed, starting to turn to crush another bot before her eyes snapped to something, and she let out a gasp, covering her mouth with her paws and looking at it in horror.
He can't see what she sees from where he's standing. She's at the rear view of the bot, and he's at its front side. Wait, what's that? -
"Knuckles, did you give your robot blood?"
A pool of crimson was leaking out of the cardboard.
He heard a scream as Amy fell to her knees.
The coroner told him Tails died a few minutes after the second blow to the head. 'Second Impact Syndrome' is what they called it. Most common with athletes, this condition happens when the brain swells from the impact of a second concussion before the first concussion has time to heal.
During the investigation by the police, Amy confessed every last detail of the interaction. When it went to trial, it was ruled an accident. No one suffered the consequences for what happened except Tails. Who paid for it with his life.
The team broke up after that. Dr. Eggman could take control of every bit of the island for all Sonic cared. There was nothing left to fight for anyway.
Knuckles left Bygone to find his ancestral home; Angel Island is what he called it. Sticks ran away, probably still wandering in the jungle somewhere.
And Sonic. Well, Sonic never left Tails' house after that.
Amy came to the door a few times a month after that, baskets of muffins or brownies in her arms as an apology. He never accepted them, never even turned the knob of the front door. He refused to give her any attention.
Sometimes, she would take them back home with her. Sometimes, she would leave them by the door. It would attract bugs until the village trash service finally came and took the moldy basket away.
Amy came to the door a few times a month after that, baskets of muffins or brownies in her arms as an apology. He never accepted them, never even turned the knob of the front door. He refused to give her any attention.
Sometimes, she would take them back home with her. Sometimes, she would leave them by the door. It would attract bugs until one of their other friends finally came and took the moldy basket away.
Today, though, he decided it was time for a change of pace. Hear the girl (murderer) out just this once.
Creak.
"You know what, Amy? You have a ton of nerve showing up here after what happened."
"Excuse me?" The pink hedgehog furrowed her brow. She wasn't carrying a basket of anything this time. And she didn't look like she'd been crying for weeks either.
"I said you have a lot of nerve showing up here after what you did to Tails."
"I didn't do anything to Tails, Sonic." She said matter of factly. "Now, move aside. He's asking for his emergency mint stash." She tried to slide past him from the doorway, never letting her eyes drift off him.
Why was she looking at him like that? It was as if he was a murderer.
Amy manages to get in the house while he's thinking. She goes into the kitchen and opens a cabinet, picking up a plastic container of mints and placing it under her arm.
He makes a move to grab her arm as she starts going back outside, she slaps him. Hard. Right across the face. She hit so hard his children's children will be feeling it for years.
"Don't ever touch me again. Never." From the floor, Sonic couldn't help the tears forming in his eyes. He couldn't just blink them away like he usually would. There were too many. Way too many.
He wiped his eyes with his paw. "You killed him!"
"Sonic. Tails is alive. He is safe. Trust me."
"No, he's not. He's not safe. He- "
"You literally saw him earlier today, he's fi- No, actually, you're right. Tails isn't fine. He hasn't been for a while. And it's your fault, Sonic. His brother tried to kill him. His guardian tried to kill him!"
"No! It was an accident! I meant to save him from that ledge I- "
"-ledge? What? No. You tried to stran- "
"And I got him treated for his cancer as soon as possible, but it was already at stage four- "
"Cancer? Sonic, what the hell are you- "
"And then there was the choking. I researched it later, and putting your paw in to get the candy out made it worse. So that was also my fault- "
"What the fuck are you going on about Sonic? I swear I barely recognize you from who you were a few weeks ago. This isn't normal."
"You're right, it isn't. Bad things have been happening to Tails, Amy. And I don't know how to make it stop. I don't want to see it anymore. I hate it, Amy. I hate it- "
She held her paws up in a stance that told him to take deep breaths. She said something, but he couldn't hear her over the blood rushing into his ears. Spots started appearing in his vision. He leaned onto the doorframe as his legs started feeling wobbly.
"And then there's you, Amy. You hit him so hard with your hammer that he died. He died again, Amy. And you killed him."
The concerned look the pink hedgehog had a second before evaporated. Her brow lowered. Her paws clenched.
"Sonic, all I've done since this began was protect and care for that kid. How dare you accuse me of doing anything like that- "
"Amy- "
"-I'm not done. How dare you accuse me of that when you know that I've been doing your fucking job as a guardian for you. You know I have half a mind to call Kit Protective Services. But I won't. Do you know why? That kit still loves you. I can tell. So get your shit together before I do make that call." He looked at the hammer she held in her paw, the other grasping the opposite door frame. "But Sonic," She added. "In the meantime, you better not as much look in Tails' direction. Do I make myself clear?"
He shook his head.
No. No. No.
Tails was dead. He saw it. He can't be the bad guy here. It was her.
He saw it.
He's died over and over and over again in front of him.
He saw it.
Way too many times. So many.
He reached for the tool he'd been staring at.
It's time to make this all stop. It needs to stop.
He wasn't going to hurt her with it. No, of course not. He just wanted to hold it. Then break it in half. Then burn it. Then spread its ashes in the ocean so it would be gone forever.
Amy took her paw off the doorframe and offered it to him. "I can help you if you just- "
He reached for it.
In a blink, he found himself on the floor. The wind knocked out of him.
Cartoons make you think you see small blue flickies when you're smacked down like this, but all Sonic saw were spots.
Bright red, yellow, and orange spots that grew darker the longer he was conscious.
"You're scaring us, Sonic." A small voice stated before the black dots completely consumed his vision.
—————
It was so real. It had to be real. It had to be real. It was so real. Real. So real. It was so real. Real. So real. It had to be real. So real. Real. So real.
What is real? What isn't? Are we even real? Is it all real? Or is it all useless? Useless like my attempts to save him. I'll never be able to protect him. Never.
—————
"Why would you call Kit Protective Services?"
"Wha...?" Amy was in the doorway in her plush lavender nightgown and fuzzy puppy slippers, rubbing her tired eyes as she adjusted to the sun starting to come over the horizon. "Sonic, it's six in the morning." She groaned.
"Why would you call Kit Protective Services, Amy?" He repeated as if the cool morning air had froze his first sentence, and this attempt would be the one to reach her ears. "You said you thought about contacting them yesterday!"
"Sonic, do you hear yourself?" She looked him over before sighing, realizing he was being serious. "You strangled Tails. That's why."
What no. That was the clone. That was the clone, right? It had to be. Because if that was actually Tails then...
No, it was not Tails.
I could not be Tails.
So he told Amy as much. "That wasn't Tails, that was the clone Egghead made in his lab!"
Amy was pulling at her quills now. Her jaw tense as if she was either holding something in or ready to bite him. "Sonic you're scaring me. There is no clone. There never has been a clone."
"But...that bear guy he..." He didn't want to say it. He didn't want to think about it. Think about what would have happened if his team had not gotten there when they did. In some other universe, they hadn't. And that scared him.
"Sonic," Amy inhaled, "That bear encounter happened weeks ago. Tails is fine. He's in the living room resting. No, you can not see him. I know you're scared of what could have been, but you shouldn't be because we're all fine."
Then she took his paws into hers. The sleeve of her fleece nightgown grazed him. "I- We are worried about you." Her forest eyes met his sparkling emeralds. "Something bad is happening to you. Let us help. We're your friends." She squeezed his paws closer together in a ball. "And I'm sorry we didn't realize how bad it was for you until now. Let us help."
She's trying to change you. She thinks you're the villain. She wants to change you.
Change you. Change you. Change you. Change you. Change you.
He shoved her away and sped off.
—————
You realize what this means right? All this time searching for the bad guy…God is mean.
—————
Sonic's fist rapped on the bathroom door a couple of times. "Come on ked. Ya, still mad?" It had been a while since the two of them had gotten into a blowout about Sonic missing Tails' science fair. Sonic insisted he'd be at the next one, and Tails berated him for breaking his promise.
And now he was trying to coax a six-year-old Tails out of the bathroom where he was sulking.
Normally, while his tantrums were few and far between, they only lasted half an hour, but it had been a few hours now, and the door was still locked.
"Go away!" A high-pitched voice screamed at him from behind the door.
"Tails, come on you missed dinner. Come out and talk to me."
"Go!"
"No. Miles, come out of there this instant." God, he sounded like a parent now. He didn't want to be that, he was too young for that, he wanted to be a brother. Oh well, he'll be whatever the kid needs.
He tried turning the knob again, but it wouldn't budge. He made a note to take the locks off the bathroom. He took a few steps back and ran at the door, forgetting at the moment Tails had reinforced it when he moved in in case of a robbery, so he slammed face-first into it.
Sonic got up, rubbing his throbbing face and groaning. Then he pulled out one of his quills and put it in the lock, moving it up and down a few times until he heard a click. Ha! Why didn't he do that sooner? Bet Tails regrets teaching him that now!
W34"You know that's not what I meant. Her thing was just more pressing at the moment. You understand?"
"Yeah, I understand." Tails replied bitterly, "I understand that everyone and everything else comes before me now."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Sonic could not help but feel his voice rise at what Tails was insinuating.
The kit's face twisted, responding in the softest voice Sonic's ever heard. "Why can't it be how it used to be."
It was true that for two years it had just been the two of them. Running from Eggman and saving villages from bots side by side. But when the doctor had decided to settle on Bygone Island Sonic followed him, not wanting the scientist to succeed in any evil plans he had for the place. He brought Tails with him and later down the line, two other friends they had met on their adventures decided to come join them. Then they found Sticks alone, feral, in the jungle, and the rest is history. Their team was born, and Sonic made a point to get to know and hang out with each of them the best that he could. Except for Tails, who already knew the kit like the back of his paw.
He meant to make time for him, and he did. It was just that the kid was growing into someone who was so independent, so mature that if it wasn't for his height, he could swear he was fully grown. But he was still just a kid. A six-year-old who needed someone to look after him. To make sure he was safe and happy. And when they met Sonic swore he'd be the one to do that, but lately, he'd been lacking.
Sonic hadn't been doing that like he'd sworn he would when they met.
He lifted his little brother's curled-up body into his lap and set his chin on his head between his ears. "I'm sorry Tails. I've been a shitty guardian. Haven't I?
"Yeah." The kit agreed, not looking at him. Sonic snorted, nuzzling the top of his head.
"Hey, how about we have a movie night, just the two of us."
"Really."
"Really. And I swear I'll be at the next science fair."
"Promise."
"Yep. And if I break another promise, you have my permission to slap me as hard as you can." Tails looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. "No."
"Oh? Why not?"
" 'Cause I love you. And you don't hurt the ones you love."
—————
You did that. You hurt the one you loved. You're still hurting the ones you love. Why are you doing this? Why can't you stop? Do you think they deserve this for loving you?
—————
"Blue Leader, this is Yellow Sky. I have eyes on Burnbot. He's on the move! Over." Tails called from where he was flying his blue plane high above him.
"Thanks, Tails. Initiate 'Speeding Swing Surprise'." They had been working on this move for weeks, finally getting the chance to use it.
Tails pulls his plane down into the canyon and activates his Enerbeam. Sonic and Eggman's robot Burnbot jump at each other as Tails flies by, throwing the beam to Sonic, who catches it, then swing kicks Burnbot into the canyon wall. Sonic jumps down on the ground in front of Burnbot as Eggman screams at him.
"Get up, get up, get up!"
Burnbot gets up and looks at Tails flying overhead. He fires one of his claws at the plane's wing, causing it to go into a spin.
"Bail, Tails, bail!" Sonic's heart is beating out of his chest at this point.
He watches as the kit pulls at the eject lever, only for it to come off in his paw. Burnbot attacks Sonic again before he can run over to help. He spins a large rock onto the robot and then leaps onto the canyon. Just in time to see Tails' plane crash into the ground in an explosion.
"Tails, no!" He wanted to speed over to his brother, but his feet were glued to the ground. He's frozen.
He hears a clang as Eggman uses an electromagnet to pick Burnbot up with his Eggmobile. "Oof, you are heavy. Seriously, Burnbot, you could stand to burn a few calories." Then he flies off, leaving Sonic to pick up the pieces.
Sonic snaps out of his trance and runs over to the crash site. Gingerly, he pulled Tails out of his restraints and onto the ground.
He pressed his ear to Tails' heart hoping to hear that familiar thump thump thump that told him everything would be alright. But there was nothing.
Inhaling into the once warm furry chest, he stifles a sob. Cradling his brother for what felt like a few seconds, but based on how the sun was dripping down the sky now was probably more like hours.
When he finally let go, he didn't run to get help. He didn't call his friends or even a coroner. He left him where he was and ran. He ran through the island until his legs felt like jelly underneath him, which he didn't know was possible for him.
He ran until he got to it. The place he and Tails always went to look at the stars from his telescope. High up on the mountainside.
—————
hOW COULD YOU LET IT HAPPEN? hE TRUSTED YOU! hE LOOKED UP TO YOU! aND YOU PUT HIM IN HARM'S WAY! yOUR FAULT! aLL YOURS! aLL OF IT! yOU JUST GOT HIM BACK. nOW HE'S LOST AGAIN!
—————
Sonic was hunched over on Tails' coffee table looking over this year's taxes. Who knew owning a home and having a job defeating Eggman would be so difficult for him at the end of the year? He rubbed his temples and groaned as Tails ran over with something in his paws.
"Not now Tails- "But as usual, the kit didn't listen and set what he was holding right in front of him on top of the tax forms. It was a card that said, 'Happy Big Brother's Day' on the top of it in big colorful letters. He opened it up, and there was a childish drawing of a blue and yellow figure holding hands.
"What's this for?"
His little brother was fiddling with his paws and rocking back and forth nervously. "It's Father's Day today…but I have no dad, but I do have you so- "Tails bit his lip, "Sorry! If you don't like it, just throw it away. Sorry, it was a bad idea. I- "Sonic pulled him into a hug, resting Tails' head on his chest.
"I love it, little buddy." He squeezed him tighter, "And I love you."
—————
The night wind bristled Sonic's quills, moisture clinging to the grass under him. He had a good view of the village from where he stood, the stars twinkling above him. It reminded him of the years he spent camping with his little buddy, staring up at the stars from where they lay next to the campfire.
This isn't going to stop. It isn't. He's going to watch it happen over and over again. But Sonic knew how he was going to make it stop. He was going to see Tails again.
He stepped forward, balancing his feet at the edge. Teeter tottering over it back and forth.
Finally, he took a deep breath and let himself go.