Storm vs Knuckles today. Tails is excited to prove her worth. She hasn't stopped. Upgrading wherever she can. To make sure they win. They will beat that other team faster than they even can think. After all of this, they will win and Tails will make sure that they never go close to losing again. Team Sonic won't know what hit them in their stupid faces. Tails is ready to prove herself. Like always. But this time is different, she got no sleep, now she has to be successful! So many improvements, they can't lose. They won't. Tails is happy enough to go outside and watch and see the fruits of her labor.
Wave still has tricks up her sleeve. While she doesn't know about Tails' successes, she still did a couple upgrades herself. She's confident that this time they'll come ahead if not, blow their socks off completely. Wave is ready and confident. Even if it'll probably go worse than she thinks. But she doesn't know that, so she is still happily looking forward to the race. She only hopes that Knuckles' extra weight doesn't hinder him that much and that he actually knows how to operate one of these things… maybe she should've checked with him on that, and Sonic too.
Off to the races. Knuckles vs Storm. All bets on. Everyone is ready. The racers go up onto the track. Prepare themselves and hope for the best. Knuckles and Storm exchange glances. While everyone cheers in the background. A mic rings into the stadium. Causing some to cover their ears. Tails has to and she doesn't like it. But it stops after a second and Eggman comes on to make an announcement.
"Welcome contestants and a thank you to the audience for joining us today for this race! Of course, as usual I will count down from the three and when I say 'go' everyone will go, all good? Just making sure, absolutely no questions? …Alright…" Eggman says.
"3." everyone gears up.
"2." people start preparing to start.
"1." the anticipation stings in the air.
"Go!" The racers speed off. With Storm in the lead and Knuckles right behind.
The two go neck and neck for the first part of the first lap, before Storm leads ahead. Knuckles attempts to catch up. Leaving everyone else in the dust to get to Storm. Who still goes and goes. Faster and Faster. They finish the first lap the same as they started Storm in front, but with Knuckles right behind him. Still, neck and neck, so close, way too close for comfort Knuckles almost passing him sometimes. He doesn't but it's enough to get Storm spooked.
While Tails wishes they had more of a lead, If Storm keeps going, they'll win. Which at this point, is the only thing that matters. If they win, they're good. All they have to do is always come in first and win. That's all, that's it and Storm is doing that. Tails considers that to be a success in her book. As long as he can keep ahead with no mistakes she will be happy. He seems to be doing it, so she'll be happy.
Until Storm goes too fast on the second lap and crashes. He gets up fast enough but Knuckles passes him and stays in the lead past the second lap, they again go neck and neck till the final lap. Which Storm barley comes ahead in. They finish. The refs have to take a look on the cameras. Thankfully for Storm and Tails, Storm wins, by a hair. Only barley. But he won, that should be good enough, right? Storm prays that it is enough. But of course it won't be. It's never enough. But he feels like it might be.
Tails yells at Storm. Tails hates failures. They show weakness. She yells a lot and she yells loudly. Like usual to Storm. But she can only do that for so long. She goes back to her workshop to hopefully do even better than last time. Outdo herself so that they can't touch them. That there will be no possible way for them to beat her. She has to do it. Tails knows she has to do it. To win. To make sure they win. She needs to do this. Make sure that they don't win. Make sure that Her, Jet and Storm come on top. No mistakes. Prove that they're the best, untouchable even. Tails has to do that, without her, they might not even be close. But thanks to her, they're closer to that. More than anyone else.
Tails stays up all night trying to improve and through trial and error she makes it and gets it through. Making it better and better. But in all the races, she fails to get any farther than before. They come closer and closer to winning. Defeating them. Again and again and again and again. Then come close. Tails hates that. Trial and error. So she keeps working. She needs to make sure they don't get close. Tails keeps working and working and working and working. Sure Jet is worried about her but she doesn't care, she'll be fine. Tails knows how to handle herself. Tails appreciates Jet's concern however.
She starts falling asleep randomly, feeling tired then sleeping. She does this more and more often. When it's time for her third race, she is tired. But she knows she can do it. This is her last race after all. She can make it. That's what she plans to do. Like she always does. Whatever she plans has to come true. That's it. That's all. Everything will be fine.
Tails knows it. It has to come true now. She'll be fine. It doesn't matter much anyways. Tails can be a bit sleep deprived. Tails has done that before. She can do it. She can absolutely do that, no problems. Then after this she won't have to worry anymore. One more race. Then it will be fine. It will end and they will be fine. Better even. Everything will be absolutely fine.
Everything has to be fine.