This is weird. I was just at home, minding my own business, when Tikal, of all people came and asked me for company with something, with my airplane. I thought, OK, it's Tikal. She didn't tell where we were going exactly but the last thing I expected was appearing in front of Twinkle park, of all places.

And, my mind races a bit. What is the meaning of this? Does she want something with me? I mean, Twinkle Park is basically the "Couples hangout" so, does this have a bigger meaning? I thought she had a thing for Shadow. Then again, this is Tikal, the one trapped on the Master Emerald for literal ages, so maybe she is clueless about it. We still have situations like that.

On the other hand, this makes me think of my own relationship or whatever it is with a certain birdwoman that returned to my life. All I can think about is the last couple of times we have hanged around. It was fun, and a hassle at the same time. And I can't help but think that, considering the type of person she is, all of this is nothing to her. She probably doesn't lose any sleep thinking about it. Whatever, I am at a place fun. I don't need to think about Wave.

And then I notice Tikal talking with Cream. And that puts me on guard for some reason. And then, I hear her. "Cream?" Oh for Chaos sake! I was actually trying to get her out of my mind and she pops up like the devil! And... is she upset about something? I can kinda get a feel of her emotions lately, if only a little.

"Umm, hey Wave." God dammit, where is my voice? Why do I feel again like that little kid that was facing off against the top extreme gear mechanic?!

"Geez. Put a little emotion behind that. It almost sounds like you don't want to see me." Again, I get that feeling, like she is angry at me, but at what of all possibilities? And the stink eye she is glaring at me isn't helping one bit. I actually have to look away, ashamed, as if I had been caught red handed.

"Not my intention. And I am happy to see you." Dammit voice. Where are you?

"Oh, so you are the famous Wave the Swallow." I can't help but shake the feeling that Tikal is laying her innocent voice a little too thick over there. Like she is exaggerating.

"And you are?" Wave asks again, always on guard.

"Tikal. My Pleasure." Seriously, what is with this? This seems a little too convenient. The fact that both Cream and Tikal are here is suspicious. Cream and Wave always had this sort of secret friendship, so it is not rare to see them both meeting around. It's the fact that Tikal is involved that rubs me the wrong way, not that I think that Tikal has anything too nefarious in store.

"Likewise. So you and Tails. Is this a date or what?" And there comes the Question of the million.

"No." I shot up, and I can't help but think it came up too quickly. "We are just hanging around." I add up. And someone doesn't believe me at all.

"Friends of the opposite sex don't just hang around in Twinkle Park!" Come on Wave, chill down. Can't you see they are messing with us? And you screaming isn't helping anyone.

I tried to say something, but. "Yeah, this place is well-known for their couple policies, like the cute couple free entry." Oh, Chaos Dammit. They are doing this again. It seems that the last couple of actions from Cream have finally shaken Wave enough to understand what they are doing. Not like she was being discreet. Her gestures screamed 'I am innocent, even if I don't believe it one bit'!

"Oh, what about that new attraction?" Tikal added. Yeah. They are matchmaking us again. And I can't help but facepalm.

"You mean the new love tunnel, right?" Cream added.

"Supposedly, any couple that rides it falls madly in love with one another. We should totally try it." Yeah, I am out of here. I started walking away at this point. I refuse to be part of their circus again.

"So Tails That's why you and Wave have to try it." I barely heard them, spinning my tails to move faster. I don't want to be there. But it seems my wishes are going to be utterly ignored today, because I get tackled to the floor.

"Dammit Tikal, what the hell!" I scream at her, but instead she just grab me by the collar of my shirt and drag me back to this joke. I even try to grab on to a bench around, but I still get dragged away like it is nothing. OK, these shipping antics are getting ridiculous!

Before long, I am back at the beginning. At this point, I can't help but sigh loudly, shake my hand to escape Tikal's grasp (more like she let me go, these freaking echidnas) and grab Wave's. Let's just get this done. Or apparently not, because I forgot the thick headed woman that Tikal and Cream are trying to ship me with, as Wave starts putting resistance.

"Hey, what's the deal?" Can't you just read the room and realize that we can't just escape these two? I mean, Cream is one thing, but Tikal, for as sweet as she is, is a Knuckle tribe member. You can't just escape that.

"Just come!" I could probably handle this better, but I am so done with this already.

"STOP!" Oh Great, now Amy is joining. What next? Rouge? Shadow? The Chaotix? And... I actually panic a bit when I notice Amy, so much so that I just run to the stall. I only stop to blurt out "Onefortwo QUICK!" And once I got the ticket I just went through the heart shaped entrance. The door behind us closes and I let go a held air.

Then, I just feel a burning sensation on my left cheek. "Put me down." At that moment, I finally feel a... weight on my arms, although barely. I swear, she weighs nothing. Wave is being carried by me, princess carry type, and she clearly isn't happy about it. I just put her down. For how long have I been carrying her like that? Why did I carry her like that?

"Welcome." We see a robot with a design as if it wore a smoking, a half circle head with only one tire and a long vertical piece instead of legs. "Please, this way."

"Where is the emergency exit?" And she is not wasting any time with this.

"Wait." I have finally eased up and ready to treat this a bit more maturely. It helps that I am not around any of my friends and only her. "We are going to take it."

"Hell no! At least ask me out yourself!" Honestly, that is a reasonable petition.

"Look I have three reasons for staying on the ride: One, if we leave, Cream and Tikal won't leave us alone and try something like this again." I hope this sounds reassuring enough.

"Do you really think they won't leave us alone, unless we get lovey-dovey?" She doesn't seem too convinced. And frankly, neither am I.

"... For a week. Seven days without that mad duo." At best. Chaos dammit, Cream. "Second, Amy is out there. And I don't want to get an earful." I add up.

"She will do more. She is a freaking psycho!" Please.

"Come on. You are exagge..." I try to roll my eyes, when a I hear a loud blow behind me. Just a slight movement lets me see that there is now a hammer mark on the metal door behind us, a familiar hammer that I know too well.

Seriously, I get that my past relationships have gone terribly wrong, but they shouldn't act crazy about it. They seem more invested in my happiness than me.

"What are we waiting for?!" Well, at least it seems that Wave is getting the idea.

"Ok, first stop, the changing room." The robot guides us, gives us some clothing and we each take a different booth. And, in matters of minutes, I put the scuba style suit and get out. All that is left is wait for the bird woman...

I don't have any clock around, but I know I have been waiting for a bunch of minutes for her. Seriously, it's just a scuba suit! I guess all women take their time changing any clothing. I go back and watch at her booth and... did the door close quickly?... Nah, probably just my imagination. And a moment later, she finally emerges.

"Took your time." I tell her, somewhat annoyed as she walks pass me.

"I am not up for your sass." She says, but I don't put to much mind as I just look at her walk further away. "And you better don't stare at my ass." I... that woke me up. I had not realized it, but I was staring right at her ass.

"Wha. I wasn't. I don't... Um..." Again, my voice is just gone. As well as most of my braincells.

I just follow her, watching my steps instead of watching her.

We pass through another heart shaped door and we come through a candy made land like, the road is made of cookie, the grass was pink and there was a pink gooey river that seemed tasty. Still, I am not too crazy about it and it seems my company here isn't all that impressed.

"Pretty." I just try to have a conversation.

"Maybe, but it is a bit too much."

"Not much into candy?"

"Do you think a body like this is kept by eating candy?" She runs her hands around her body and, I admit, that is a really well maintained body. She still has little to no... um, boobs, but she has gotten more butt and legs, although she will never hear it from me probably. This girl squats and has the body to show it off.

"Fair enough." I just said.

We just walk for a bit, and then, it seems like she suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, now that I think about it, you never told me which was your third reason."

I can't help but wince a bit. "I already paid. There was a sign that said 'no refunds'. And I didn't even wait for the change." Thank Cream, Tikal and Amy. Looking back, all my friends are kinda crazy. Guess that goes with the whole hero-ing we do.

Suddenly, we heard the roar of a thunder. Accompanied with it, came a blinding white color, overwhelming our sight for a moment. When it returned, the whole landscape had morphed into a horror movie dark forest, with skeletal dry trees on each side of the road.

Next, came this unsettling music, starting with some bell sounds then some technological sounds and finally, some deep 'woohoohoos', a weird, but uncomfortable combination.

"What the..." She screams, but I am more concerned about a branch about to hit us!

"Look out." I make a sudden movement and manage to help her duck before the branch hit us. Or at least tried, but it seems like the branch, just like everything else, is just a hologram.

We stand up again and exchange looks. Then she does something that I never expected. "Oh. My white knight. What art thou going to do?" ... What the actual...

Suddenly, Wave breaks from her over dramatic acting and just looks annoyed at me. And I just now realize she is just messing around.

"Oh, worry not, my lady." I... don't know what the heck I am doing. "Because I will protect thou with my life, until my last breath."

It doesn't take long until both of us break character and burst into laughter. This... is nice. I kinda get reminded of the times when I would just joke around and do dumb stuff with Sonic. And suddenly I get reminded of all the people that ships me with Sonic. UGH.

Still, we continue with our trip. I guess this is supposed to be a horror attraction, probably to have that cliché of the girl grabbing into the male's arm, looking for protection, but Wave is completely calm about it. And I am not too panicked about it either. I mean, we have been through so much crazy stuff over the years, this is nothing. I even closed my eyes for a moment.

'Bam' That... that sound. That sound really shakes me to the core. And suddenly, I am no longer in these horror land, but I am at a place that is so much worse. A certain metal spaceship deck that I haven't been in so many years. And, in front of me, Wave has disappeared and was replaced by.

"Cosmo." I grab her. It... It's her. Cosmo. I... I get pushed to the floor. What? I look at Cosmo. She is... looking at me with... Anger, disdain? I am not sure.

"But." Is all I can say, before another gun shot interrupts me. I get paralyzed for a moment, everything is hazy for a moment, but I am back again on the deck. Except, this time... Cosmo... Dear God... Cosmo is all plastered with blood, her skin looking even more pale than I remember her.

"Tails, it's all right." What... "I... went the way that I wanted. The way I chose to go. If I regret something, is making you..."

"It is not so simple!" Why? I killed you. Be angry. Please. Be angry at me. Not understanding! It... It would be so much easier to take...

'Bam' If only I have been stronger... More capable. If only I could have done something else. 'Bam' If... Maybe I should have looked for another angle. I was one of the smartest people on that room. I should found a better way. 'Bam' Maybe that was the problem. I bet Chris or even Eggman could have made something out of that. Because I am never enough.

"Tails!" I hear a scream, although it kind of sounds as if I was hearing it under water. What was more tangible, were the hands holding my face and lifting it up a little. Cosmo is my first thought, thinking it is her. And I kinda see her, but it is flickering. Changing between the plant girl... and the purple bird woman.

"Follow my breathing." I notice that she is breathing fast. And I notice that my breathing is fast and shallow. I do as she says. Soon, my breathing normalizes a bit and... Why am I on four? When did it happen?

Eventually, I get better, somewhat. I no longer see the space ship from such a painful time and the changing image of the woman has normalized into the image of Wave the Swallow. And I am so thankful for it.

"I-it is alright." Wave just jumped on her place. And I am not entirely sure why that happened. "Come..." 'Bam' Oh, for Fuck Sakes! This shit again! My vision is clouding again... except, I feel something hold my hand.

"Relax. I won't be far." It's all she tells me. It's all she needed to tell me. Me, being aware of her, being sure she is there, it's enough to ground me. And, before long, the gun shots stop.

Now, we reach to a river. On the water, there is a single canoe, with a robot on it, to row us. So, romantic boating next?

"Do you think the water is real?" Wave asks.

"Who knows." It's all I can say. We have been walking for a while, always holding hands. Has she not noticed? I... don't want to let go. I am afraid. It is funny, this hands that is much smaller than mine, feels a lot more delicate, also feels like an anchor, as if I let her go, I will just drift away and lose myself. Still, it is better for her to choose. "Hey, Wave." I call her. I second guess myself, but go for it. "I am not complaining... but can I have my hand back?"

She blinks a bit, before looking at her hand, followed by a jump, as if my hand was suddenly made of fire. And she just retreats, but not before I notice a red overpowering her purple plumage on her face. Huh, that was interesting. I can't help but smile at the thought a bit.

"Why are you afraid of firearms?" She was half screaming for that moment, and the next one she just put a hand on her beak, like she never wanted to say it. I am not better myself, feeling like a bucket of ice fell on me, followed by the wish to puke... But the only thing I let out is a few words.

"... Not today." She seems somewhat surprised by it. "I am not ready to talk about it. But someday, I promise."

I am thankful she doesn't press on. That boat suddenly seems infinitely more attractive to ride and forget. And it only has one seat. "You better not let me fall." She threatens.

"I will try." I thought to crack a joke or something, but I just don't feel like it.

But then, the robot drops the paddle and picks both of us up. "What?!" Before I know it, Wave is thrown to the seat and he throws me next, on top of her. What the hell?! Our first instincts kick in and we just try to escape. It's hard. we are anything but coordinated. Wave is the first get of the boat, but the second she hits the water, a metal arm comes for my torso. I try my hardest to resist the thing grabbing me again, with both my hands against the metal claw, but I get distracted by Wave being fished by the other hand, so I lose grip and get picked up just like her. Then, we get thrown back to our original positions.

"What the hell was that?!" Wave can't help but express her discomfort and my ear suddenly rings from the volume.

"Let's try something else." I jab my ear for a moment. The ringing isn't quite gone. I have an idea. I try to get below Wave, but not ever leaving the boat at all. The idea is that the machine should not think that it has to move us again. We get in position, and for a second, it seems to be fine, but the next one we get picked up again and shoved harshly into position.

"Good idea." Seriously, I could do without your sass right now.

"This thing gotta be malfunctioning." I try to focus on solving the issue instead of getting angry.

"That, or it thinks our genders are inverted." There was a bit of a pause before her voice turned to actual panic. "Holy shit, does this thing believes our genders are inverted?"

"Pretty sure it is not that." I say, noting that she sounded rather self-conscious about that. She still tries to get off the boat. I tried to stop her, but the hand already caught her. And me too. I don't even bother to resist this time, just cross my arms and look annoyed at her. Seriously, fighting this is clearly not the solution. And we are back were we started. And she is still trying to get out!

"Let's not. I am not that heavy either way." Somehow, I don't snap at her, just growl I guess.

"Um, yes. Yes, you are Stilts!"

"Whatever. The sooner we end this ride, the better." I can't even bother with this right now.

Soon, the robot picks up the paddle, pushes the boat further into the water, and only rows once. We wait for a good moment, and I actually think the thing glitched or something when it suddenly rows once more. Oh, this is going to be a hell of a ride.

"What the hell? Is this supposed to be this slow?" She asks.

"I doubt it." This got to be a malfunction. Death seems really attractive right now.

I know this, slow but romantic type of rides are preferred by girls, but I know Wave hates this, made worse by the fact that she is under me.

She shifts a little under me and now, the arms came to grab us and reposition us. I am not even that angry at this anymore.

"Oh for fucks sake." Wave curses

"Wanna talk about something? It might kill some time." It seems like that is the only thing we can do without making this worst.

I actually thought I had angered her for a moment, she was silent for a good minute. but then. "About the gun shots..."

"Don't bring that up. Period." I am growling, more frustrated at that than I would like to admit.

"No no no. What I wanted to ask, is that why all your weapons look like toys?" She is thinking of a work around... It still bothers me... But yeah. I think I can answer that.

"... Yeah. Realistic guns...make me feel uncomfortable... Sometimes just seeing them..." Out of everytime I had issues talking today, that was the hardest so far.

Wave, who had kept her arms to herself so far, actually wrapped them around my torso, before placing her head against my back. And it's so soothing.

"I am sorry. It was really hard, wasn't it?" I should be pissed. She doesn't know what happened. She wasn't there. This should be a manipulation, another one from a liar and a thief.

Instead? I just want to cry, not out of fury or anger, but because I feel safe, feel understood. Just like other occasions when I have cried with the others. Even so, I do my damnest to make sure she doesn't notice me crying.

"Stilts?" I still don't reply, I still can't. But when I think I have it under enough control.

"How was living with Jet and Storm?" There is a short silence after that.

"Fine, I guess? Like, I got adopted when I was twelve, with another idiotic twelve year old and a seven year old that was already making sex jokes. Pretty sure that is not standard family stuff." Nope, that doesn't sound to weird if you ask me, though I say nothing about this.

"So, no adults to tame them?" Alone with those two seems like a headache. Sonic was rather sensible for a guy and even he was a handful at times.

"No. Jet's parents were always around us. But not all that supportive. They had their own problems and that affected us." Fighting parents? I have no idea about that. I grew without any. The first parental relationship I met was Vanilla with Cream.

"But you had people taking care of you and giving you love." I add.

"Not so much love to begin with." I feel her tightening her grip on me a bit.

"Was it bad?" She seems to be thinking it a lot for a second.

"Kinda. Like, it could get difficult at times, but they adopted me. They gave me a purpose and somewhere to fit in." My smile widens

"It doesn't sound like it was bad. Quite the opposite. You sound happy about it."

"I mean, I would probably be way worse without them than I am now." She admits. Way worse... Despite everything, I have never thought of her as being all that bad.

There was a short silence, when we listen to the robot a loud *whiiiiiiirrr* sound. The robot inserts its hands on the water and pushes a great quantity of water, so much so that we start going at neck breaking speeds. The boat's tip even inclines upward, which makes me fall harder on Wave than before, I just grunt at the event.

"I... need... air." She tells me. But it goes ignored as I see us about to hit a wall.

I just grab the swallow and jump out of the boat, into the water. She breaks free rather quickly and goes to the surface. I try to follow her, but a powerful shockwave from the explosion pushes me and her further into the water

"Wave!" Somehow, I made it to the surface first, but she isn't here! Where is she?! I scream again. But nothing. I take a big gulp of air, before she finally emerges. Good I am so relieved by this. She is fine, she is...

"Hey, stop drooling." ... She is as frustrating as ever.

"I am not drooling!"

Then, an island materialized. Finally. We both get there and try to get dry.

"Attention, lovebirds. We apologize for the last malfunction. Please let us dry you up and then enjoy the rest of the ride." This was a simple malfunction?!

Then a massive turbine starts working and dry both of us up. Except, I hate that they had to dry me up like this, because a second later after finishing, my fur just goes and fluffs up like crazy. And the swallow is laughing her heart out at this.

"Yeah, real funny." She laughs for a whiiiile. Pretty sure at some point this is a fake laugh, but I let her. She finishes and next thing I know, her beak is touching my cheek, which rocks my world more than I would ever admit. Still, I play it as cool as I can

"N-no mouth?" And the stutter betrays me completely.

"You have to take it from me." She then pets under my muzzle with her finger. I really like how that feels. I had to resist the urge to start kicking the floor like a dog.

Finally, a new tunnel opens up and it's just wholesome. It's photos of everything that happened, tons of them, of the whole ride. It was quite a rollercoaster. But that has always being things with this girl. Tons of fun, and tons of pain, but not one that I would hate to relive if I had too. So, I arm myself with courage.

"Wave, the whole thing on the party... Was it something or just for fun?" He asks me.

"Way to bring down the mood." Don't let her scare you. "Guess what, little boy?" I am not letting this chance go, not this time. I put my hands on her shoulders and look at her dead on her eyes. I actually seems to have surprised her.

"Wave, these days were fun. You are incredible. But, is it all just temporal to you? Are you going to leave for years? Is it all a game? Am I just another one of the bunch to you?" I want to love you. But I... can't take another heartbreak. Not like before.

She... is speechless. I take this a small victory, even if what I want is something else.

"...I like you." Yes! I want to scream with everything I got, but I don't. Not yet. "It helps how much you have grown to make me take you seriously, but I really like that sweet heart that you have. That just seems to get bashful with anything. It is adorable."

"I noticed."

"I love the way you look at me, making me feel special. Unique." She sounds so happy for a second, before glooming, a lot actually. "I am not sure how much time we will be here. I don't know when I would be back. But I would love to enjoy this, no matter how short it is." Because she is a traveler, a treasure hunter for her past. She needs to be on the move.

But I don't care in the moment, because I am losing the composure I had, so much so that my hands are on my mouth just so I don't squeal like a little girl.

A whatever. I pick her up and smack my mouth into her beak. Over and over and over again.

We eventually calm down and she snuggles into my chest. This just feels perfect for a while. "So are we going to thank the girls for this?" Good question.

"...We should. But they don't need to know right away, do they?" I suggest.

"Sounds like a plan" She snuggles some more.