#immortal escape

[shadofiredragon]

Legends Never Die

{ Big shout out and thank you to my dear friend @000marie198 for beta reading and taking part in editing! Grammar mistakes are real guys }

Part 1 ~ Immortal Escape

Chapter 2 - Undercover Immortal

The fox felt something pull at his attention, a sensation that felt both familiar and foreign. His ear twitched towards where the strange energy seemed to be coming from and was about to turn around out of curiosity when Kant, the timber wolf, clapped him on the shoulder.

“You're a hoot, Kit! Are you this funny in sparring?" The wolf gave a crooked grin.

Kit's ears corrected themselves and he shook off the warm pull that had caught his attention, chiding himself for being so easily distracted.

He cracked a smile, forcing himself, with some level of disgust, to match the haughty expression of his comrade.

"Well, why don't we spar sometime and you can find out?"

"Oh-ho! That sounds like a challenge!"

The other two mobians, a rusty brown squirrel and a black and white raccoon, clapped his shoulders with their hands.

"Rookie wants a fight, eh?" the raccoon laughed, the squirrel joining in with some amused chuckles.

"Hey, I might be new here but I've had plenty of experience elsewhere," Kit warned them playfully.

"Alright, then how about a sparring match tomorrow?" Kant grinned.

Kit's smile disappeared for a second, his feet shuffling nervously.

"Well, I'm not sure about that... I might be relocated again tomorrow."

Kant scoffed and the other two mobians groaned.

"C'mon, Kit, do you really move around that much? You only got here a couple weeks ago!"

"Hey, it's not my fault our superiors find my skills adaptable to all our locations," Kit said, smirking.

"Oh you're so full of yourself, Kit," the raccoon mumbled, rolling his eyes.

The squirrel looked at him curiously, "What kind of person do they move around so much? What kind of skills could possibly have you being relocated so much?"

Kit shrugged his shoulders with a sigh, "Sorry guys, top secret information there. And I'm pretty sure you don't have the clearance."

"Hardy har har," Kant replied sarcastically while the raccoon snorted his amusement.

Kant continued, "Fine. You're busy. How about tonight instead?"

This also caused Kit to pause, considering. He would have preferred to complete his mission in the evening and leave before lights out. He'd already been there for so long, he was looking forward to finally going back home...

I guess I could use another night to properly prepare... If I get too hasty, I might miss something, and that would only make things more dangerous for us down the road. He thought.

Trying not to show his reluctance he shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

Kant grinned, his shining white canines flashing in the light as he slugged Kit in the shoulder.

"That's what I'm talking about! Let's hear it for Kit, finally stepping up and taking on an actual challenge!"

The two other Mobians hooted and cheered, turning some civilian eyes to them.

Kit laughed at their antics, joining in with the rowdy whooping as they continued back to base. But inside, the unruly antics only made him feel bitter.

~•~•~•~

Kit rotated his arm, stretching the sore limb as he walked through the long hallway that led to the living quarters. Sweat still coated his ruddy orange-brown fur, and he probably would have had some bruises if his body wasn't used to years of close combat.

He'd just finished his sparring match with Kant. The wolf had been declared the winner after Kit had submitted mid-fight, and the two canines had shaken hands afterwards in respect for one another.

Of course, Kit had to let him win. He had previously decided against sending the wolf yelping with his tail between his legs, though, in all fairness, he very well could have. Even though it felt weird not being able to use the full extent of his skill and experience, he really didn't want to draw more attention to himself than was necessary. He wanted to be present, but not memorable. And from what he could gather, beating the wolf in combat would've been a very memorable moment.

The crowd of over fifty other soldiers gathering for the fight was a testament to that fact.

In any case, he was ready for bed. It wasn't lights out yet, but if he was going to complete his initiative in the morning he needed some good rest tonight. He also needed to let the others know he was going to be a little later than planned.

Quickening his steps he reached a corridor lined by doors, each with a numbered plaque nailed to the front. Upon reaching door number 207 he pulled a card from his uniform vest pocket and pressed its face to the black scanner next to the door handle. It beeped twice before a green light blinked, followed by a large click as the door unlocked.

Tucking the card back into his pocket he twisted the handle and stepped into the room.

An overhead light instantly blinked on at his entering, illuminating one bed on the farthest wall, a sink and mirror to his right and a desk with drawers to his left.

It was a humble living quarters, but he didn't complain. Most facilities only had such accommodations ready since he would arrive without any warning, giving the agency little time to prepare.

And soon I'll be leaving again.

He tried to find comfort in that fact, letting his mind muse over what he'd possibly come home too as he stripped himself of his uniform.

‘He's probably torn the whole lair apart by now.’

He chuckled to himself, sliding off all but his gloves and socks and folding them over the back of his desk chair. He glanced in the mirror, baring his fangs to make sure he hadn't gotten any food stuck in them. He nodded in satisfaction when he found none.

He resisted the urge to look more closely at the rest of his appearance and his light blue eyes.

Striding over to his cot he plopped down onto the covers and reached into his pillowcase, pulling out a small black device that he carefully lodged into his ear. He tapped the device until it beeped once, signaling that it had activated and had made connection.

"Kit to base," he whispered, looking up at the wall as his tail swished behind him, "Anyone there?"

There was a long silence before a robotic voice replied.

"Affirmative. My systems are picking up your message with complete clarity."

The fox felt a smile pull at his muzzle.

"Hey, 'Mega."

"Have you completed your initiative?"

The smile left. "No. Not yet."

"Is there reason for the delay?"

"Not really. I just needed time to get some of the others off my back." Kit hesitated, before lowering his voice, "Is, he there..?"

A moment of silence.

"He grew impatient, again, and has taken to resting in his quarters until further notice."

Kit couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"Would you like me to awaken him?"

Kit sighed. "No, let him rest. I won't be doing anything tonight, so might as well leave him be."

"I do have one inquiry..."

Kit turned over onto his back, one hand tucking under his head as he stared up at the ceiling.

"Inquire away."

"If you do not plan on completing the mission tonight, when exactly are you going to go through with it?"

"Tomorrow morning," Kit replied frankly, reaching up with one hand and twisting his fingers in an attempt to amuse himself, "I'm getting up earlier, so less of the base will be active. It'll also give me some time to set everything in place."

There was another pause, and Kit could practically hear Omega's whirring processor.

"Hey, 'Mega? Could you make sure that I wake up in time? 3:30 please. I'll keep the ear piece in while I sleep so I can hear you."

"Do you not trust yourself to wake at the desired time?"

Kit felt his muzzle begin to twitch up to a smile. "Organic creatures aren't as efficient at timekeeping as machines."

"Very well. I will have him wake you when it is time for you to arise."

A warm grin came across his muzzle. How a machine was able to read his mind was beyond him, but he was grateful for it.

"Thank you."

"Your gratitude is unnecessary, but accepted."

Kit chuckled, a comforting, happy feeling that was so different from the laughter he shared with the brutes who called themselves guardians.

There was a long pause in which Kit could tell the A.I. across the comm was thinking.

"Something wrong?"

"Negative. I was simply wondering..."

Kit tilted his head. "Yes?"

"Do you think... You will be able to locate him this time..?" The robotic voice quieted as it spoke, as if nervous to really be asking.

Kit's expression grew solemn.

"I don't know... I hope so.”

"Do you think a machine, such as I, can feel hope as well..?"

This question took Kit aback a bit, but he softened at the A.I.'s uncharacteristic timidness.

"Yes, I think so."

The robot took a second to process this before responding.

"Good. Because if not I would have asked you to run diagnostics on me and check for viruses upon your return."

Kit snorted in amusement at the A.I.'s brash logic.

"I don't think that's necessary."

"No. I suppose not. This hope... I enjoy the feeling it evokes in my programming."

"Then why would you want me to erase it in the first place?"

"Because any threat must be eliminated. And if it would cause me to turn on you then it should be removed with haste."

The seriousness of Omega's robotic tone made Kit wince.

"Don't worry. That won't happen."

"The sentiment is foolish, but appreciated."

Kit chuckled, rubbing his eyes with a yawn before rolling onto his side.

"Okay, I need to get some rest now. Just thought I would update you both that I'll be heading back later than expected."

"Affirmative. Enjoy pleasant renditions of your imagination during your time of rest."

"You too, pal."

"I am unable to conjure dreams since I do not own a subconscious."

"Good night Omega."

A short pause before, "Good night."

Silence descended upon him and he clapped his hands once. The light overhead obediently flicked off, plunging him into darkness. Shifting his weight off the covers, he draped them over his slightly sore body and quickly drifted off to sleep.

~•~•~•~

Knuckles walked in through our front door. As usual, my brother and I greeted him with warm smiles, Sonic patting him on the shoulder while I gave a simple fist bump.

"What brings you down to the humble surface of Mobius, Knuckles?" Sonic teased the echidna. "Got tired of waking up on your magical island paradise every day?"

Knuckles huffed, crossing his arms indignantly. "No, I did not. And I've actually been 'down' for a while now, thank you very much."

This caught my attention and I tilted my head curiously at him. "Really? Then, who's guarding the Master Emerald?"

Knuckles waved his mittened hand dismissively. "No one. And for security reasons, I'm not telling you where I hid it."

Sonic and I exchanged glances, his green eyes looked at me with amusement and I shook my head, unable to keep the smile from my face.

"But I didn't come here to talk about my duties as the guardian," Knuckles said, his face growing serious, "There's, something I found out... That I need to tell you..."

His violet eyes flicked between me and Sonic, our expressions growing confused.

"It might be a bit crazy to hear- but as your friend, I feel it's my duty to tell you what I've found. And, Tails..?"

His eyes locked with mine, and the deep sadness I saw there made me feel frightened.

"I don't know if you'll like it."

I swallowed hard. Sonic took Knuckles by the arm and led him into the living room, prompting me to follow.

"Here, Knuckles, how about we sit down a sec?"

The Echidna didn't resist, solemnly taking a seat on the longer couch with Sonic taking a spot next to him. The hedgehog’s emerald eyes scanned the echidna with concern.

"Are you sick or somethin'?"

The echidna sighed, looking down at the floor between his shoes.

"No, I'm not sick."

His gaze came up to meet mine, and I'm sure he could see my confusion and worry.

"Tails, what do you know about your parents? Or any of your ancestors?"

I sucked in a breath and I saw Sonic stiffen at the question, no doubt for my sake more than his own.

"Nothing," I answered honestly, trying hard to ignore the ache in my heart and reminding myself that I'd found my true family. I didn't need my blood relatives. Not while I had my friends and, technically, brother by my side. "I don't remember anything about my parents and if I did have any other relatives, they didn't make themselves known."

Knuckles' expression darkened, only filling me with more worry.

"Tails... I know this is going to sound crazy, but about a month ago I was... conversing, with the Master Emerald."

"Talking to yourself," Sonic coughed under his breath, earning a glare from the echidna. But the joke did make me feel better, breaking the suffocating seriousness of it all with a chuckle.

"Anyway," Knuckles growled, ignoring Sonic's tease, "While I was tending to it, I had a vision. It was confusing at first, kinda like a dream where you can't clearly see what's going on, but you just have this feeling that thing's are happening..? But it showed me something... Something about you..."

Even Sonic had leaned forward in his seat, brow furrowed.

"And?" He questioned.

"Tails." Knuckles' expression was so serious, so pitying, I could hardly handle the suspense.

"I think you’re a... Kitsune."

It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. At first I was confused. But then all the retellings of legends and myths that Sonic collected from across the world came flooding back.

Kitsune. A mystical being rooted in eastern culture. Often possessing great power, and revered for their cleverness.

Most commonly identified as a multi-tailed fox.

I shot up from the chair, my confusion turning to cold blooded shock.

"No.” I shook my head, "No, you're wrong!"

On top of that, how dare Knuckles make jokes about me like that?! I felt my shock turn into anger. "And it's not funny to make jokes like that!"

Knuckles stood from his seated position, extending his hands apologetically.

"I'm not joking, Tails... I did some research, and it all matches with what the Master Emerald showed me."

My tails lashed behind me as I glared into the echidna's solemn violet eyes.

He was serious.

A sick feeling spread through my chest, poisoning my stomach with dread. It couldn't be true... It just couldn't...

I looked to Sonic for help, my angry blue eyes pleading for him to say something, to stand up and tell Knuckles that he was wrong. To tell the echidna to apologize for even thinking up such a cruel joke.

But Sonic wasn't looking at me. His emerald eyes were distant and I'd never seen his expression so thoughtful.

"Sonic?"

His emerald eyes looked up at me, but now they held the same heaviness that I had seen in Knuckles'.

Tears burned under my eyelids as I stared at him, begging for him to affirm the denial in my heart.

"Tell him he's wrong!"

Sonic opened his mouth and I felt my hope rise.

That's right. My brother was going to tell Knuckles that everything he was saying was false. I couldn't be a Kitsune! What a ridiculous idea!

But then the hedgehog's mouth closed again, and he looked away.

He looked away.

I staggered back, hitting the edge of the chair with my leg. But I didn't care.

My head swam, tears blurring my vision and I clenched my fists.

"No. No! I don't believe you! It's not true!" I shouted at them, "You're lying!"

Sonic stood up now, taking a step towards me.

"Tails-"

"Don't, Sonic!" I snapped, "How can you agree with this?! Kitsune aren't real! They're just legends!"

"Come on, buddy, just hear him out," Sonic pleaded.

I shook my head, taking another step back.

"No! I won't listen to lies! I don't want to listen to either of you until you tell me the truth!"

I spun around and ran upstairs, furiously taking the steps two at a time. Tears had begun to stream down my cheeks and even more fell when I heard Sonic's voice call out desperately behind me.

"Tails!"

But I ignored him. I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to hear any of it.

My heart thudded in my ears and my head felt dizzy. I ran to my room and slammed the door shut behind me, making sure it was loud enough for the both of them to hear.

Once in my room, I couldn't help it. I slid down the door, unable to hold back the tears. A sob choked me, the tears running hot down my muzzle.

I never felt so scared, confused, and angry all at once. I wanted to feel betrayed, Sonic was supposed to be my brother! Why didn't he stand up to Knuckles and talk him out of all this nonsense?!

But I couldn't. Because I didn't have to think too hard about it to know that what Knuckles had said was true.

I didn't want it too, I didn't want all the pieces to fit, and I hated that they did...

Another sob racked my body, as I pressed myself to the door.

"No, it can't be real. I have to be dreaming. This is a nightmare. It's not real. It's not real."

All the stories Sonic had told me came rushing back to my mind. It was customary for him to share bits of interesting folklore from different cultures with me and now everything he'd told me about Kitsune clouded my mind.

Many Kitsune possess a variety of powers, such as flight, shape shifting, and illusion.

A whimper tightened in my chest.

Kitsune are identified by their multiple tails, which showcase their power and ranking among other Kitsune.

I tucked my dual tails closer to my body, clutching them as I sobbed into their soft fur.

The most powerful of this creature is a nine-tailed Kitsune, which is rumored to be so powerful, that the whole world cannot provide enough energy necessary to satiate it.

I pushed my hands over my ears, as if doing that would be enough to stop the thoughts from continuing.

A Kitsune gains a new tail for every 100 years of its life, though some Kitsune have been known to be granted an extra tail as a reward for noble deeds.

I didn't want to hear it, I didn't want to think about it-!

Because of this, Kitsune are considered immortal. Reaching full power and maturity at 900 years.

I screamed against the thought, trying desperately to blot it out. I stood up from my sitting position, shaking my head and shouting denial.

"It's not true! It's not true! It's not-" a sob hiccuped from my throat, cutting me off.

I desperately wanted comfort, for something or someone to reassure me that it wasn't real, that it was all just a sick joke, and that everything would go back to normal. But I couldn't face either of the two who could do that. So I ran for the next best thing.

Crashing onto my bed I curled onto my side, snatching up my pillow and hugging it to my chest as I sobbed, desperately willing the thoughts to go away with little success.

Eventually my tears ran out and my cries subsided, leaving a dull emptiness in my chest. I curled tighter around the pillow, wrapping my tails around myself and pressing my eyes closed.

I don't know how long I laid there, feeling lost and hopeless. And I didn't know how it had happened, but I had somehow accepted what Knuckles had said.

Sometimes it's a curse to be clever...

I heard the door handle click followed by a small creak, but I remained unmoving, not even twitching an ear towards the sound.

"Tails..?"

The sound of my brother's voice sent a jolt of grief through my body and I clutched the pillow tighter, more tears threatening to unleash themselves.

He didn't move for a moment, allowing a moment of silence to settle between us, before I heard his gentle steps enter the room and approach my bed. I didn't turn to him, pinning my ears tighter to my head and pushing my muzzle farther into my pillow, making myself as small as possible.

I felt his weight bend the mattress behind me, but I couldn't face him. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. Not because of how betrayed I had felt earlier, but because of how ashamed and lonely I felt now.

A gentle hand rested on my arm.

"Hey, bud. I know you're upset... but-"

"I don't want to talk right now..." I managed to squeak out.

Sonic paused, before I felt the mattress move beneath me once again.

"Okay. We don't have to talk."

His shifting stopped and I could feel his presence sitting on the bed behind me, most likely hunched against the headboard.

"Let's just sit here a bit..." He whispered, his hand remaining on my arm.

My breaths shuddered in and out as I struggled not to cry. Just having him there made me feel a bit more comforted. And yet, at the same time, Sonic's presence only deepened the gaping hole in my heart.

I couldn't help it when I turned around to finally face him. Releasing my pillow, I propped myself up on the bed and looked up at my brother, who returned my gaze with a small smile.

"Hey."

"Hey," I croaked back.

His bright emerald eyes held nothing but kindness and understanding as they stared into mine.

Suddenly the tears rushed back and I couldn't stop myself from breaking down again. Only this time, I curled against Sonic's side, crying into his peachy fur.

He wrapped his arms around me, hushing me and stroking my back in slow, soothing movements.

"Hey, hey don't cry. It's okay. I know that was a bit of a shock down there..."

Understatement of the century...

"And I already talked to Knuckles, about how discretion can be a virtue..."

I nuzzled closer to my brother, feeling his ever present aura of warmth and safety steady my shaky breaths and slow my tears.

Sonic tilted his head to look down at me, a gesture I wasn't quite willing to return yet. He didn't seem to care though.

"But really, being Kitsune isn't something to cry over."

I could hear the smile in his voice, trying to help me feel better.

"I mean, it's not like they're something hideous, like a golem or a troll," he mused, and I felt a weak smile pull up the corner of my muzzle.

He continued, "I mean, come on, a Kitsune? They have all sorts of cool powers! No clue what they all could be- but shape shifting is one right? How cool would that be! Think of all the pranks you could get away with!" His voice grew more excited, and I could tell that he was trying to get me excited about it too.

It was almost working.

Sonic whistled to himself in wonder, "And to think. I get to say that my brother is a Kitsune of legend! Forget hero of Mobius- I get the title of, 'Bro to Ultra Awesome Fox Boy'!"

I laughed weakly at his joke, and he seemed to like that. His positive energy emanating from him in stronger waves.

My smile disappeared. Was that how I could feel Sonic's energy..? Because I was Kitsune..?

"Yeah, that'll be a neat headline," Sonic grinned, unaware of my troubling thoughts.

There was a comfortable silence that settled between us before I finally worked up the courage to say what was eating me away on the inside.

"Sonic..?" I rasped.

He looked down at me.

"Yeah, bud?"

I fisted my hand against his chest, feeling it rise and fall with every breath he took.

I hesitated to say it. The idea too horrible.

"Will..." My eyes were transfixed on his rising and falling chest, tears blurring my vision once again, "Will I have to watch you die..?"

A sharp inhale filled his lungs, raising his chest under my fist abnormally quick. The feeling made my heart hurt and more tears rushed to the edges of my eyes.

"Will I outlive all our friends..?" My voice cracked, and a tear broke loose, trailing down the side of my muzzle.

Peachy arms wrapped around me, pulling me tighter to their owner as Sonic rested his chin on my head. I allowed his radiant energy to wash over me, snuggling closer to him with a sniff. My ear was pressed against his chest and I couldn't help but listen to the strong, speedy beat of his heart, treasuring its liveliness.

"I don't know, buddy," Sonic whispered.

I couldn't ever remember hearing him sound so sad.

"I don't want to..." I whimpered, pressing myself as close to him and his warmth as I could.

Sonic didn't answer for a while. And that was okay. I just wanted him to hold me. To be there.

"Tails," he finally whispered, his tone sounding serious, but I could detect the pain behind it, "Maybe... Maybe you, or I, should talk to Shadow."

I jolted, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"What? Why?"

Sonic averted his gaze.

"Because, maybe he can give you some advice... If you're really..."

I could hardly believe my ears.

Sonic sucked in a breath, tilting his head up towards the ceiling and smiling weakly.

"He'll be able to take care of you. After I'm..."

I shook my head vigorously.

"No, don't say that. No one could ever replace you!"

Sonic looked back down at me and I couldn't help but marvel at the spark retained in his emerald eyes. How could he still be so hopeful? So himself?

"He wouldn't be replacing me, Tails. You'll always be my main man and little brother!But," a somber smile came across his muzzle, "You'll need someone to keep you company. It'll be good for him too, I think." Sonic mused over the idea.

But my stomach only churned with bitterness and a resurgence of denial.

"Knuckles could be wrong," I said, holding onto the rebellion that reared up inside my chest, "He could've misinterpreted what the Master Emerald was trying to say, or maybe's he's just jumping to conclusions again-"

"I think we both know he's not," Sonic said, squashing my hopes as quickly as they'd dared return, "I always sensed there was something different about you. And as you've gotten older, that feeling has only grown stronger."

I ducked my head in defeat. I knew what he was saying was true. Deep down, it felt right. It made sense.

Sonic continued, his smile still on his muzzle,  "It's not a bad thing, Tails, and I don't want you to be mad about it. If you're Kitsune, then that's what you are. Sure it's gonna be different from what you expected, but you can use that to make a difference. Even after I'm gone, you can keep making a difference! You can change things and help people, you can continue living life and using that clever head of yours to make this world a better place for everyone!"

My tails twisted behind me, uncertain.

"But... What about you..?"

Sonic's smile faltered. Only for a moment.

"Don't worry about me, little bro. I'll keep living my life to the fullest, right alongside you, for as long as I can."

"Maybe, maybe I can figure out a way to-"

He cut me off, "Tails, no. We can't interfere with nature. As much as we'd like too. I promise, that as long as there's some fight in me, I'll always keep on running. But as much as I hate to say it... Even I can't live forever."

Tears were filling my eyes again, my chest aching with an oncoming sob.

"Hey, Tails..."

The deep voice startled me, both Sonic and I sharply turned our heads towards the voice. Knuckles was standing in the doorway, an awkward expression on his face as he rubbed the back of his neck.

He opened his mouth, but his voice sounded hazy.

"Tails..?"

I tried to listen closer, but it felt as though all the sound had been sucked out of the room. I looked to Sonic and I watched his mouth open as if to speak.

"You awake?"

The voices weren't making sense. What was going on?

"Tails??"

I looked around, everything was beginning to fade as the voice grew more clear.

"Hey! It's time to wake up!"

~•~•~•~

Kit awoke to a voice speaking directly into his ear. He groaned at the jarring sensation of being so awkwardly pulled from the dream world and into reality.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled, turning over onto his other side and pulling the rough covers further over his head.

An amused chuckle came from the device he'd left lodged in his ear over night.

"No can do! You wanted an alarm you got an alarm! Now- Up and at 'em!"

Kit let out another groan, this time to make his annoyance audible to the person on the receiver as he threw the blanket off of himself and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He blinked his eyes blearily, trying to get them to clear.

"Come on! Today's the day we'll finally find something! I can feel it."

"That's what you say every time," Kit, or rather Tails, muttered, rubbing his eyes and squinting ahead, trying to get his eyes to work.

"Well someone's a pessimist today. What happened, did you wake up on the left side of the bed?"

"I woke up with a very, very loud voice in my ear," he grumbled, standing up. His vision had begun to clear, and his keen eyes had already begun to adjust to their dark surroundings.

"If I'm really such a pain in the morning, why'd Omega tell me you wanted me to wake you up?"

Tails could hear the smirk across the comm.

"Maybe because, as obnoxious as it is, it's still better then an online audio recording of an air horn playing on repeat?" He answered, clapping once to turn the light on and recoiling as the sudden light burned his retina.

"Still better than the air horn. Can't be that bad then!" The voice joked.

Tails laughed weakly, still rubbing his stinging eyes.

"So! You awake yet?"

"Yes I'm awake," Tails answered, finally opening his now adjusted eyes.

"Good! You ready then?"

"Well give me time to get in uniform." Tails grunted, grabbing the uniform off the back of his chair and working to slip the shirt and pants on.

"Make sure you're still in character while you're at it," the voice nonchalantly reminded, "You sometimes lose it while you sleep."

Tails paused with pants halfway up and glanced at the mirror. Sky blue eyes stared back at him, clear and bright. His brown fur from last night was gone, replaced by fur with a vibrant, golden hue.

He let out a sharp sigh in frustration.

"You lost it didn't you?" The voice was unbearably smug.

"No, I didn't," Tails protested, quickly focusing on his appearance, watching in the mirror as his body changed back to the fox from the night before. In only a few moments, he was Kit again. His attention then went back to the pants. "I'm just having trouble with the pants."

"Ugh."

Tails could practically hear the shudder over the comm.

"Pants... See? This is just more proof that this organization is no good. Mobians wearing pants. Pure evil..."

Tails rolled his eyes, but couldn't help smiling at the voice's dramatic over-exaggerations.

"Oh sure, forget the fact that they've locked up an innocent Mobian and kept him prisoner against his will for over 150 years. No it's the pants that makes them evil."

"Hey- I'm not saying it's a worse crime, only that it adds to it."

Tails shook his head with a chuckle, slipping his boots on and tucking his newly donned pants into them in the uniform style for G.U.P.

"Is Omega ready to go?"

"Affirmative." the robotic voice of E-123 Omega responded, "I am fully operational and prepared to fulfill my role."

Tails finished buckling his boots, as well as the belt that housed his weapons. Looking over himself once in the mirror to make sure he was properly disguised, he turned back to the desk and opened one of the drawers.

Moving a stack of papers he spotted what he was looking for and snatched up a black device with two stylized tails marked on the top. It was about the size of a large USB drive, but didn't have any noticeable place to port it into a computer.

He tossed the device into the air, caught it mid fall and dropped it into one of his vest pockets. Inhaling sharply, he turned towards the door. He knew he could do this and yet, somehow, the knowledge did nothing to rid the butterflies  that fluttered in his stomach and made his heart skip.

"Ready?" The voice prompted into his ear.

Tails exhaled slowly, forcing the butterflies into submission as well as consciously making an effort to relax his tense muscles.

200 years and he was still acting like a scared kid.

Well, not today.

Confidence flooded his body and he nodded sharply. "Ready."

He stepped forward, putting his hand on the door handle and turning it.

"Let's go find our friend."

~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~

{ Story Facts! : What is G.U.P?

Guardian Units of the People, or G.U.P for short, is a military organization primarily focused on internal security. It's main goal is to keep peace within the nation and protect the citizens therein, acting almost as a more superior police force.

Though international security is in the minds of the officials, national problems are often handled by the parent organization, Guardian Units of the Nation, or G.U.N.

In accordance with their role, G.U.P is much more active in local communities, exercising judicial authority over their inferiors. As the child organization, G.U.P does have some ties and connections with G.U.N. However, these connections are mostly in the form of command chains in which officials of G.U.N will pass down instructions or alerts to G.U.P should the need arise. For the most part however, G.U.P acts on its own accord, and is fairly innocent to matters of international security.

G.U.P is very conscientious concerning its people groups. For this reason, it splits its troops into two segments, Sapiens and Bestia. This separation includes separate barracks, training facilities and tech support.

This separation of races was deemed beneficial since it would be easier to send like-species teams into certain environments or communities that might lean more towards Sapien or Bestia in population. Because of this, it is fairly normal to only ever see Mobian Guardians in more Mobian populated communities, and Human Guardians in the more Human populated communities.

Though experimentation has begun in establishing race specific bases, in which there is one base for only Bestia or Sapien respectively, it is still in the testing phase. With G.U.P still preferring to use larger multi-species bases with the separate accommodations made for each race. }

[Here it is! Chapter 2!! Thought I would post it for Wholesome Sonic and Tails Wednesday since I’ve been a little busy to do much else. There’s a heart-touching Sonic in Tails moment in here- so I’m counting it XD Hope you all enjoyed! Hopefully the third chapter will be up soon! As well as this story on AO3. So keep your eyes open!]

Chapter 1 | Chapter 3

[nelkcats]

Help is just a click away

Danny was bored, it's not something new, the Infinite Realms were not the epitome of fun and the portals had been closed after the fight he had with his parents. It was safer that way, no one could get hurt, humans or ghosts.

That didn't mean the halfa couldn't miss them: his family, his friends, or the life he had before. All he had left were the ghosts, which was fine, but it wasn't enough. He felt unbalanced, unwell.

Clockwork told him it was because of his obsession, his obsession to help and protect was being fulfilled but only halfway. He had enough ectoplasm to last a lifetime but Danny was a human too, he needed to see the stars, to help people. He needed it desperately.

Clockwork noticed this and seeing that the boy could not return to his original dimension, he gave him permission to travel to the DC universe as long as he was careful. It was unlikely that they would attack the halfa there, they were all "special" and Danny would go unnoticed. But the boy still wanted to help.

So he formed a small business. He created a simple app and granted help to anyone who made a request. From saving a kitten from the trees to transporting very heavy packages.

It worked wonders and lowered his stress levels greatly. Danny thought he could get used to it, until people started making stranger requests and before he knew it, the so-called "Justice League" was at his door. Of course, he escaped, although that probably didn't help sell his innocence.

[sunderwight]

Thinking about a bingqiu Dreamling AU where Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua are both bored deities, just sort of taking a brief sojourn through the mortal world to shoot the shit and see some interesting monster or other that Shen Yuan has heard about, when they come across a tea house and decide to take a break and do some people-watching instead.

Shen Yuan is well into something of a shut-in phase, which Shang Qinghua doesn't like, mostly because when Shen Yuan is in those phases he doesn't do particularly well either. Shen Yuan's a social butterfly, for however little he cares to actually acknowledge it about himself, and his critique of Shang Qinghua's literary masterpieces gets so much harsher when he's not getting enough enrichment.

So when they overhear one of the kitchen boys solemnly insisting that he is going to do everything in his power to never die, and Shen Yuan laments that the boy would probably regret such a wish if it came true, Shang Qinghua decides to bestow a rare bit of godly power onto this mortal and grant his wish.

He doesn't make him a god, of course, that wouldn't even be in his ability. At least, not without using up more time and effort than he's prepared to expend on this one random kid. But immortality on its own is not that difficult. The boy will still finish growing up, and will still be able to be harmed, to know hunger and pain and illness. It just won't ever kill him.

Shen Yuan sighs that it's a cruel thing to do to a mortal, especially one with such low odds of ever cultivating other skills to mitigate the potential torment of it all. But Shang Qinghua just shrugs and they place bets, that this boy will ask for the immortality to be revoked in a hundred years, or two hundred, or so on, or else he won't. Shen Qingqiu approaches the kitchen boy and flusters and bewilders him by telling him to meet him back here again in a hundred years time.

A hundred years later, the tea house is larger. The boy has grown to be a striking young man, who looks at Shen Yuan with wariness and something else, something almost like awe, as he asks what manner of creature he's made this bargain with. Shen Yuan assures him that he has no nefarious intentions, and instead asks Luo Binghe how the past century of his life has gone.

Horribly, at least at first. Binghe's mother had already died by the time they met, but afterwards he managed to earn enough money to travel to a nearby sect. Working in the tea house's kitchen was just a minor stopover along the way. Shen Yuan was wrong, it seems, about his odds of becoming a cultivator -- Luo Binghe earned entry as a disciple.

Yet, he had no success. The master who took him on was unaccountably cruel and mercurial, and Luo Binghe's attempts to cultivate failed. Looking back he sees now that there were many times when he should have died but didn't, but when it was all happening he just thought himself lucky. At least until an enemy sect attacked a cultivation conference, and he suffered mortal wounds that absolutely should have killed him (or anyone) but still didn't die. (No demon race or abyss in this AU, but there are still demonic and fantastical creatures.)

His cruel master, upon witnessing this, accused him of heretical practices and tried to kill him as well by flinging him off the edge of a gorge. The fall was terrible. Binghe lay at the bottom in a horrifying state, injured beyond reason and yet, still, he didn't die. Eventually his body recovered enough for him to drag himself out, and once he did the only thing on his mind was getting revenge. For the next several decades he managed to ingratiate himself to all manner of potential allies, forging alliances, accumulating blackmail, and convincing people that he had to be some powerful cultivator through his supernatural resilience, lack of visible aging, and a lot of bluffing. He got revenge on his old teacher, drove his first sect into ruin, and rose to prominence as a feared and respected leader of the cultivation world.

Shen Yuan listens with clear interest, asking plenty of questions and seemingly quite taken up with the story. At the conclusion, Luo Binghe admits that his actual cultivation is still mostly a matter of smoke and mirrors, and wonders if -- now that the hundred years have passed -- Shen Yuan means to strip his immortality from him.

Shen Yuan asks if Luo Binghe wants that. When Luo Binghe says no, he accepts the answer, and tells him to meet him back here again in another hundred years. Luo Binghe calls after him, but before he can ask anything more, Shen Yuan has disappeared again.

A hundred years later, Binghe arrives back at the tea house with an entourage befitting of an emperor. The tea house has also expanded. Luo Binghe orders a lavish feast from them, which everyone hastens to provide. He's spent the past several decades consolidating his power, forging alliances with key political players via several marriages, producing heirs, and crushing his enemies. As he brags about the state of his massive harem to Shen Yuan, the deity's eyes begin to glaze over. He doesn't seem impressed. He also doesn't seem to care much for the food, and eventually his attention is stolen away by a conversation at another table. The diners are discussing the exploits of a promising new poet and novelist. Try as he might, Luo Binghe fails to regain Shen Yuan's attention before the evening is done. Shen Yuan doesn't think it's a big deal -- after all, if Binghe is still riding on top of the world, he's probably not going to want his immortality gift revoked just yet!

Another hundred years go by. The tea house has returned to a more modest situation, the next time Shen Yuan sets foot in it. He waits an unusually long while for his guest to arrive, and when he does, he's almost stopped at the door by the tea house's servers. It's only when Shen Yuan bids them let him through that Luo Binghe is able to come to the table, almost collapsing against it and desperately falling onto the arrangement of snacks with obvious hunger.

Shen Yuan wonders if this, now, will be when the boy (no longer a boy) asks for the immortality to be revoked. Surprisingly, he finds himself resistant to the idea, even though it's also clear that the game has run too long. Maybe hundred year check-ins were too short? He doesn't like the implications of what's gone on, even if he's not really surprised about it either.

Between desperate mouthfuls of food, Luo Binghe explains that without mastering inedia, going hungry but never dying is a deeply unpleasant experience. Shen Yuan orders more food. Once Binghe has finally eaten his fill, he begins, haltingly, to explain his situation. His clothes are ragged, he is painfully thin, and his gaze is haunted.

Apparently, several of his wives conspired to assassinate him, despite his reputation as unkillable. Realizing that most poisons and such didn't kill him, but that he could still be incapacitated, they hatched a scheme to dose his food with a powerful sleeping agent, and then walled him up in a famous ancestral tomb. They went to great length to ensure that it was impossible to escape from. It took Binghe decades to do it anyway, digging away at the floors, and when he got out he found that his power base had collapsed. In-fighting and the incursion of his enemies had led to the deaths of all of his children, and what wives had survived had either fled or remarried. Not that he particularly wanted them back at that point, since the ones actually most loyal to him had also been killed early on after his own "death". His face marked him, to the eyes of his enemy, as a surviving descendant of himself. He was hunted down, chased across the continent and back again, until he managed to fall into enough obscurity that his pursuers abandoned the chase. Except that he has nothing, and any time he tries to regain something, he runs the risk of being hounded again. Those who might see some potential in him still remember the collapse of his recent "dynasty" and slam doors in his face, or else try and turn him over to those now in power in pursuit of a reward. Those who don't know that much see only a dirty beggar, and usually run him off on that basis instead.

Shen Yuan, almost hesitant, asks if Luo Binghe would like to have his immortality revoked.

Luo Binghe declines. How will he be able to take revenge on those who wronged him if he is dead? He has a hit list a mile long by now.

Which is definitely not the most noble of reasons to persist, but Shen Yuan finds himself reluctant to ask twice. Instead he orders more food, and then even reserves one of the traveler's rooms above the tea house for several days. By then the sky is turning grey, and Luo Binghe is losing his apparent battle with exhaustion. Shen Yuan presses the key into his hand, thinking it's probably not enough, but there are limits to how much gods are supposed to interfere and Shang Qinghua already stretched them to the breaking point with this entire scenario.

He leaves, not seeing the hand that reaches after him just before he is out of the door and gone.

Another hundred years pass. This time, Shen Yuan arrives to find Luo Binghe already waiting for him. He isn't surprised to see that Binghe's situation has visibly improved -- maybe he was keeping closer tabs on him, just a little bit, for this past while. If only to be sure he wouldn't have to warn the tea house workers to expect an unorthodox visitor again! But no, Binghe has been doing well enough for himself. No more harems or thrones, though. He dresses more like a well-off merchant now, deliberately posing as his own mortal descendant rather than as a great immortal cultivator. The food at the table looks far more delicious than usual too (Binghe commandeered the tea house's kitchen himself this time). As they chat, Shen Yuan is regaled with the exploits of Luo Binghe's travels and adventures, how even though he initially set out to claim revenge on those who overthrew him, by the time he was in a position to actually do so they had already died of the usual causes (time, illness, their own schemes backfiring, etc). Subsequently, only their children and grandchildren were left with the scraps of power they had obtained, and when one of those children employed Luo Binghe as a bodyguard, his initial plan to assassinate them eventually fell by the wayside. After all, the wrongdoings weren't actually theirs. From that point, Binghe was able to restore himself to a more comfortable life, joining his new employer on their travels until he had set aside enough earnings to take his leave before his youthful good-looks earned him suspicion. He then began investing in travel and trade, specifically cargo ships, because never spending too long in the same place or around the same people helped disguise his immortality. He had found that, at least for now, this served him better than playing the part of a cultivator. It also gave him time to try and actually repair his ruined cultivation base somewhat, and fighting pirates proved very diverting.

Binghe is midway through recounting his adventures with a gigantic sea monster, while Shen Yuan hangs on every word, when they're interrupted by the arrival of a brash young mistress, clearly wealthy and trained in cultivation. The young lady declares that there is a rumor that a fallen god and a demon meet in this tea house once a century, that they wield strange powers, etc etc, and she intends to interrogate them both with the assistance of her hired muscle and her own spiritual weapon, and discover the truth of the matter. Then she whips out, well, a whip!

Before Shen Yuan can deal with the matter, Luo Binghe is already on his feet, disarming the goons and breaking a few arms in the process. Shen Yuan is so distracted that he almost misses the whip aimed right for him, but before Binghe can catch the barbed weapon with his bare hand (wtf, Binghe, no) Shen Yuan deflects it with a wave of his fan, and then efficiently knocks the troublesome young lady unconscious. The hired muscle flees, Shen Yuan arranges for their assailant to be placed in a room upstairs until she regains consciousness, and he and Binghe resume their meal and conversation in relative peace.

Even though it's clear that Luo Binghe has not yet reached the end of his tolerance for life, Shen Yuan nevertheless finds himself strangely reluctant to part ways at the end of the night. Still, he does, because that's what is expected of him, gently denying Luo Binghe's suggestions that they find some other establishment to continue their conversation at. He also has to investigate these "rumors" that the young lady mentioned. It's probably nothing (Shang Qinghua has a loose tongue when he's drunk, and a lot of imaginative storytellers have frequented this tea house over the years) but he doesn't like being caught unawares like that. Heavenly politics are... complicated, it's best not to court unwanted attention in any capacity.

Another hundred years go by. This time, when they meet at the tea house, Luo Binghe asks Shen Yuan why he keeps it up. Why did he pick Binghe? What is he really after? When Shen Yuan fails to give any kind of clear answer, Luo Binghe shoots his shot and makes a (very obvious) move on him.

Shen Yuan, flustered, gets up and flees. Ignoring Luo Binghe's calls after him. It just doesn't make any sense! Why would Binghe do that?! He's a man who once had a harem of wives in the triple digits! Clearly he's not gay, so what was that all about? Was he just messing with him?! How dare he! Etc, etc.

Another century passes. Luo Binghe waits at the tea house, which has fallen onto hard times again. With the construction of some new roadways, travelers no longer pass through as often. Binghe listens, worried, to the proprietor's laments that this old place will probably not be around in another hundred years. He listens because he has no one else to speak to, because Shen Yuan has not shown up. Not that morning, not during the day, not come evening, and not now that it is closing time. Binghe nevertheless charms and bribes the proprietor to let him stay even after the place has shuttered.

It seems damning, of course. He pressed too hard and now his mysterious benefactor wants nothing more to do with him. Except, no, he refuses to accept that. He's still immortal. And he has gleaned enough of Shen Yuan's character by now that he thinks that even if he was rejected, he would be let down more clearly and gently than this. The more he thinks about it, the less willing Luo Binghe is to believe that he has been deliberately stood up (also, since the tenor of his confession was different from Hob Gadling's, he never delivered an ultimatum about what it might imply when they met up again).

Over the centuries, Luo Binghe has built up a few contacts with similarly strange and supernatural stories. Cultivators, sure, but also others, fortune tellers and people of strange ancestry, questionable abilities, those who have interacted with powerful beings of mysterious provenance. He makes his way to a certain gambling den, frequented often by such people, and while he flashes around enough money to draw curiosity, he collects information. Shen Yuan wasn't the only person who started paying more attention to the kinds of rumors surrounding the two of them after their confrontation with the young cultivator a couple centuries ago. And in fact, Luo Binghe has been spending many, many years trying to find out more about his mystery man. Though, too many potential deities and immortals fit his description for him to have ever conclusively figured much out.

This is how Binghe gets wind of a rumor that an eccentric occultist has somehow captured a god in his basement...

[boxofoxberry]

found siblings, anyone?

[tswwwit]

I feel like if Dipper were ever reincarnated as a demon, he wouldn't fit in super well with the others. Yes, he's been raised to vie for power and step on everyone in his way using whatever means is necessary - it's the same toxic bizz as when he was a human, appealing to gender norms. He's tougher, scarier, more powerful (than ordinary humans, that is), but when it comes to asserting control - being Evil - he doesn't have it in him. Given enough time, I think he'd grow pretty vocal about leaving living things alone. NOT torturing organisms for the hell of it, or stealing people's souls, or conquering planets. Sure, he's a demon. That's no excuse to be a MONSTER.

It's a VERY unpopular opinion amongst neighboring demons, and rumor spreads fast about the Goody Two-Shoed Activist imp raining on everyone's blood-splattered parade, so much so that it makes it to Bill, who's immediately intrigued. Call it intuition, but only one soul's capable of overriding goddamn demon nature for some preachy bullshit about "Doing Good." Lucky for him, demons occupy the same plane of existence, so all it really takes to verify the guy is a snap of his fingers, and POOF! He's floating right next to him. Sure enough, Dipper's fashioned himself a new and improved demonic form, and it is lovely!

No one likes Dipper's kumbaya "Can't We All Just Get Along" ideology, but Bill's almost instantly smitten with the guy, whoever he is, so he's gotta be at least somewhat powerful. Demons take notice when the all-powerful Bill Cipher starts lending his time (and magic?) to some low-leveler like Dipper. Is he being blackmailed? Are they working together? No. Not possible. Bill doesn't "work" with anyone, save for whatever human catches his eye every few decades. Doesn't look to be doing him any benefit, either. The opposite, even. Lending power to a saint like Dipper only makes it harder to cause chaos, after all. Why would he actively go against his OWN best interest to cater some imp's? It's almost like he's. He's.

A henchmen.

(Bill's also 30% more affectionate the first month they reunite, because he still can't believe that his adorable little human husband came back as the same SPECIES as him! He'd never complain over having a sweet human to squeeze, but one with teeth and claws and cute pointy ears doesn't hurt).

[renthony]

Maybe I'll write today. I've had zero spoons lately, but today hasn't been too bad all things considered.

I want to actually share these homemade blorbos with y'all. I think you'll like them. I just have to get shit actually written.

[syn0vial]

why did no one tell me that the last unicorn is metal af.

like,

[jazzstarrlight]

Ok. Time to set a goal for myself!

This coming Saturday, release the "will be finished" first page of "My Immortal" chapter 3, on Patreon. Whether I like the working title or not.

[livelaughlovecassie]

From

To

To

[goshdangitpaul]

My first digital artwork! I just did it on my phone. Took me around six hours… (Edited but Tumblr got to him, click on for better quality?

[shadofiredragon]

Legends Never Die

{ Imagine my horror when I realized that I not only was behind in putting up chapter 7- but also chapter 6!! So, here’s two for you guys!! Shoot @000marie198 a thank you not only for being a great motivator and editor, but for keeping up with LND on AO3 and posting updates on here for you guys. Otherwise you’d have to wait for my sorry self to update late.

Anyway- please enjoy! }

( First | Previous | Next )

Part 1 ~ Immortal Escape

Chapter 6 - Where I Belong

Sonic helplessly watched as his little brother ran upstairs, angry footsteps pounding through the upstairs hallway. A loud slam from one of the bedroom doors made him flinch, a pang of guilt wringing his chest.

He didn't think he'd ever be able to forget the hurt and betrayal that had shattered Tails' wide blue eyes.

"I didn't mean to make him upset," Knuckles mumbled from next to him and Sonic had to resist the urge to bristle.

Knuckles was his friend too, as clueless as he could be sometimes. And Sonic knew that the knucklehead really meant well.

He's just really bad at pulling that off.

Sighing, Sonic turned towards the red echidna, crossing his arms expectantly.

"Well, it happened. Now, can you please explain what's going on? At least fill me in on why you thought coming in here and dropping that info-missile would be a good idea."

Knuckles tensed.

"I just thought you both would want to know. And- ya know- I've always been a 'rip the bandaid off' kind of guy."

"Yeah well- this is kinda a big bandaid, Knux." Sonic's foot began tapping. "You don't think for something this big you shoulda- I don't know- taken it slow?"

Knuckles snorted, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Funny to hear that coming from you of all people."

"Hey, just because I run fast on the track doesn't mean I blow past everything else in life."

"What, and I do?!"

Sonic's hands went up with a sigh of exasperation.

"You know that's not what I meant-!”

Knuckles didn't look up at him, allowing for Sonic to take a long breath.

"Look." The hedgehog stepped forward, laying a hand on the echidna's shoulder. His tone softened, "I know you meant well. But, man, you just turned our little buddy's world upside down."

Violet eyes emotionlessly studied the floor.

"He's still just a kid, Knuckles. And half of his life's been spent trying to fit in. Now suddenly you come in claiming that he's not even Mobian?" Sonic shrugged. "I don't know, but maybe this conversation could have used a little more planning? And discretion?"

The echidna ceded with a heavy sigh, stepping back and collapsing into the couch while rubbing his forehead.

"I get it. And you're right. It probably would've been better if it weren't so fast. But I have no idea how I would've been able to break that kind of news easily anyway."

Sonic relaxed.

"S'okay."

They waited in the beats of silence that followed, giving Sonic time to think.

And he didn't particularly like it.

His brow creased and Knuckles looked up at him curiously.

"What?"

Sonic didn't answer immediately. Instead he took a seat next to Knuckles on the sofa, expression still thoughtful.

"Are... Are you sure you're right?"

Knuckles raised a brow.

"About?"

Sonic rolled his eyes, waving a hand out.

"All this Kitsune business. You really think he's one of 'em?"

Knuckles shrugged, frowning.

"It's just what the Master Emerald told me. And it's not like it doesn't make sense..."

Sonic didn't answer.

Knuckles continued, "I mean, you've felt him too right? There's always been this... this-"

"A light." Sonic finished, exhaling. A small smile flickered across his muzzle as nostalgia deepened his gaze. "Like a little spark in a world of embers."

"Uh... Yeah..." Knuckles scratched his chin, watching the hedgehog with a calculating gaze, "Something like that."

Sonic shook his head. That distant look in his eyes disappeared as they veered up to the floor above the staircase.

"I need to go talk to him."

Knuckles' expression fell. "Yeah. And I think I do too..."

Sonic stood and turned his head to look down at Knuckles incredulously.

Knuckles waved a hand.

"No, not more of this. I need to- apologize. And- I'll ask him if he wants to know more first."

Sonic frowned.

"There's more?"

Knuckles shrugged, "Being Kitsune comes with a pretty hefty dose of powers."

"Okay... Just-" Sonic walked over to the staircase, ascending the steps with ease- "Let me talk to him alone first. And let's just avoid the whole topic as much as possible for a while. 'Kay?"

Knuckles leaned back into the couch cushions.

"Alright."

And with that, Sonic had disappeared up the stairs.

~•~•~•~

It took a good couple hours before Tails had finally come around. Knuckles once again apologized to the kit for his brashness, and the two older Mobians decided to comfort the fox by allowing him to pick a movie for the three to watch downstairs.

The rest of the evening went by arguably smoothly. Knuckles had popped popcorn and provided some mints from the secret stash in one of the kitchen cupboards, which Sonic had graciously revealed to him.

The hedgehog himself, however, never left the fox cub's side. Carrying him down the steps in his arms, like he used to do when they were younger and only slowed to pull out a blanket from the hall closet. With as much tender care as a mother for her newborn, Sonic settled them down onto the couch, wrapping both himself and the young fox in the soft blanket.

Though, admittedly, said fox probably had more of the blanket than the blue hedgehog.

Even so, Tails never deviated from the tight hold on his brother. Always leaning on him in some way or another.

Sonic allowed it. Absorbing the weight and warmth of Tails' small body pressing against him and his very best to fight against the waves of insecurity and distress with comfort.

Knuckles wordlessly took the open spot next to them, setting the snacks on the coffee table and starting the movie.

Believe it or not, Tails did begin to feel a bit better. The hole in his heart hadn't completely gone. But simply being with his brother and friend, watching this movie like everything was normal, did help ease the shock and pain of the day.

He even found himself smiling when Sonic commented on some outrageously unrealistic detail in the movie.

He nudged closer to the hedgehog, closing his eyes and drinking in the blue speedster's constantly radiating energy. He felt Sonic's arm drape over him and a profound sense of security filled his heart with peace.

Mystical being or not, he knew, with all of his heart, that this was where he'd always belong.

~•~•~•~

The hot afternoon sun beat down on the sand-blown turf, searingly hot as it peered down at the black speck racing through its domain.

Tails found himself sweating under the sun's burning glare, a sheen of sweat dampening the fur under his leather uniform. A thick cloud of dust billowed up behind him, the roar of his hover-cycle's engine breaking the otherwise deathly silence.

He'd long ago left the city limits, and now, miles of desert wasteland stretched before him. Scarlet boulders, which had once been beautiful natural formations, lay in rubbled heaps. Scattered between these boulders were the remnants of a metal army, their twisted limbs reaching from the depths of the wasteland like black claws reaching for the dull blue sky above, speckled and overgrown by dry, sparse shrubbery.

Years of wind-blown sand had covered most of these ancient relics, burying them deeper within the folds of time until even this last remnant was forgotten.

Did anyone remember what had happened in history anymore?

Tails' eyes scanned the horizons through his protective helmet, specialized with a net-screen displayed on the visor. He couldn't help but marvel at how much time had changed things. It felt like only a few years ago when seventy percent of Mobius was still green and alive.

Now though, it was nothing but ruin. The world crumbling and drying all on its own, with only a few remnants of fertile land where most fruits and plants were grown, shipped and sold worldwide.

It truly was a marvel. And, as he'd grown accustomed to his long life on the world, he'd come to accept that change was inevitable.

Change, he'd learned, was something that was best taken in stride and with little resistance. But the young kit inside him, the one who'd known and grown up with green hills, babbling streams, and lush magical islands, grieved for the past. For the rich and beautiful things that had been, and might never be again.

And it's all because of you.

He winced, shaking his head and the thought with it.

That was all conjecture and theory. There was no real evidence that his planet's struggle was because of him. And since he'd resolved to keep this troubling thought to himself, he never sought the opportunity to actually research a definite answer. Mostly because if the others ever found out they'd probably insist he stop and try to convince him as best they could that it wasn't his fault.

A twisted shard of metal stuck up from the ground and Tails had to swerve sharply in order to avoid it.

"Maybe I should just focus on getting back home in one piece," he muttered to himself.

It was a pretty far drive after all.

He'd left early morning, and already the sun had crossed halfway through her charted path.

He glanced at a map on the upper right portion of his net-screen, calculating how far he'd traveled. According to the map he was making good time and, if he kept up his pace, would make it home just before dark. Which was good.

Staying out in the wastelands after dark would be asking for trouble.

Focusing back on the 'road' he hugged his body closer to the hover-cycle's frame and twisted the throttle, shooting off in a could of dust and sand.

No harm in picking up the pace right?

~•~•~•~

The sun was just beginning to hide itself behind the horizon when Tails finally reached the first familiar landmark that would direct him home. Dead End Ravine.

It wasn't a creative name, but the long, black scar in the earth's surface was certainly deserving of it. At least- for anyone who didn't know it's little secret.

Tails let off the throttle, urging the engine's high octave whine to deepen into a growl. Slowing down by a few MPH and turning right, he sped directly alongside the ravine edge.

Looking down into the pitch dark abyss would most likely send him careening into the ravine's hungry clutches, so his eyes stayed locked ahead. Waiting for the next landmark.

There- the rock formation that looked oddly like a bird.

The hover-bike's engine pitched at another hard right turn, Tails circled the rock formation to face back towards the ravine. Without batting an eye he shot straight towards the ravine's ledge. The hover bike obediently carried him over the edge, but luckily for the machine, Tails knew exactly what he was doing.

Yanking the handlebar hard to the left, Tails twisted himself around and the hover bike lurched to follow its new course. For half a second they were in free fall, then, with a rocky jolt, the hoverbike found ground and stabilized itself. It wobbled precariously but Tails was able to keep it balanced, as well as keep himself from actually plummeting into the depths of the ravine below.

Not that I couldn't just fly myself out.

His thumb flicked to a switch on the right handle and the hover bike's headlight flashed to life, illuminating the steep path carved into the ravine's side.

Tails' jaw clenched. This part was always his least favorite.

The path was narrow, with a jagged wall to his left, and a straight drop to destruction on his right. And then there were the turns.

He pumped the brakes, easing up even more on the throttle and letting gravity do its job. The engine slowed to a gentle purr, the sound was Tails' only comfort when he spotted the first turn. A 180 degree turn that stood steeper than the rest of the path, which would allow him to continue alongside the ravine's wall.

His grip tightened on the bike's handles, pumping the brakes to slow himself enough to not wipe out.

The turn drew closer, glaringly obvious in the hover bike's harsh light.

Closer... closer... now-!

Tails yanked the handle bars right, keeping his weight even and ignoring the stomach flip he got from the sharp drop to the next portion of pathway.

He didn't dare relax. This ravine was treacherous. And even though he, himself, would be able to traverse it easily, he didn't want to sacrifice his tech.

Seven sharp turns later and he finally reached the bottom of Dead End Ravine.

Here he could begin to relax, easing to a steady pace of 50 mph. Jagged rock formations jutted up from the bumpy crevice floor, looking like the broken pillars of a forgotten world. In some way, they were.

The air was wet and cold. A bitter breeze somehow made its way down to him, sharpening the wind already kicked up by his hover bike. As the light from the sun continued to fade, Tails found himself plunged further and further into darkness. Eventually, the only light in the cavern came from the glaring yellow headlight of his bike, and the only sign that the sun hadn't completely set yet was the gash of wispy blue stretched in the black sky above him.

But when even that last bit of daylight abandoned the sky, and distant stars flickered into existence, something extraordinary happened.

All along the ravine walls, shimmering fluorescent blue sprang to life, bathing the polished pathway in welcoming light. Tails watched as flowers and thick-leaved ivy opened as if it were growing right before his very eyes.

Rich green and blue light carved intricate lines into the leaves and stems of the ivy, while the centers of their flowers glowed brilliantly in violet, yellow, red and even turquoise. Some flowers shook off their bioluminescent particles, sending them floating eerily in the still ravine air.

Besides the enchanting fauna exploding to life all around Tails, there were also rich blue crystals embedded into the ravine walls. The crystals were scattered throughout the nooks and crannies of the rough canyon rock, casting pulsing blue light over the narrow pathway. They speckled the pitch black stone, trailing about thirty feet up, well above the fauna's reach, and and stretched back along the trail as far as the eyes could see. Glowing even where the plant life dwindled and grew scarce.

Tails admired his surroundings with fond familiarity. The origins of the plant life and glowing crystals was still unknown to him, though he had a couple running theories. The crystals had first begun to show themselves around 100 years ago, and where they went, the mystical plant life followed. The vines and flowers had grown astoundingly quick, but why they would only grow where the crystals would appear was yet another mystery to Tails.

As he sped by the enchanting light show, he marveled that such a fantastical place was unknown to the world above the ravine. Part of him felt sorrow for it, knowing how much joy and awe a sight like this would inspire in the stifled hearts of this broken world. But the rest of him thanked Chaos no one had ever thought to traverse into a treacherous ravine to see what they might find.

Treasure hunters, incapable scientists and big-shot organizations would make quick work of this natural phenomenon. Not to mention that it would be far from ideal for a bunch of humans and mobians to be poking their noses where the lair was supposed to stay hidden.

Then again, with an impressive drop of two and a half miles, it didn't surprise Tails at all that no one had yet discovered this natural phenomenon. At those daunting depths, it was safe to say that any passerby who happened to be daring or stupid enough to near the edge of the ravine would still see no sign of the rich glow below. Which was a great relief since the lair had literally ended up in the very center of the growing fauna and mysterious crystals.

Speaking of which...

The glowing crystals and multicolored fauna became tightly packed, almost completely blanketing the rough walls. Including the one in front of him. Thick-leaved vines draped down from an overpass, creating a thick, hanging wall of soft color.

He slowed the hover-bike to a crawl, the engine happy for a break, and ducked close to the body of the bike as he pushed through the thick foliage. Leaves brushed against his helmet and leather coat, flickering brightly at the contact as if they were happy to see him.

Past the foliage, nestled into a wall of rock, was a large bay door.

Tails relaxed.

Finally home.

His right thumb flicked over a small switch, and the bay door obediently crept open, sliding up into the stone above. As the door opened Tails took one last glance up at the now pitch black sky before pushing the hover-bike forward into the garage. Not a single light inside the cavernous space was on, leaving him in darkness, with only a light glow streaming in from outside and a harsh beam from the front of the hover bike.

Parking it in the center, he flipped the switch once more and the door groaned as it slid closer to the ground. Tails removed his helmet while he waited, golden-orange bangs instantly fell over his eyes and he blew at them to put them back in place. He watched the gap of gentle light grow thinner and thinner. At the last moment a playful breeze whistled through the gap, swirling around Tails' bangs, tossing them about.

A strange sort of melancholy overtook him at the breeze's playful touch. Once again his mind found itself wandering back to times of his youth. Back when his friends would gather round him, laughing and talking, and that same playful breeze would kick up. A telltale sign that a certain blue hedgehog had shown up for the party.

Things were so much simpler then.

The bay door hit the ground with a creaking rattle, cutting off any flowing air from outside.

Tails sighed, sorry to have the little breeze go.

But any melancholy and grief quickly passed, when bright yellow garage lights turned on and a cheery voice sounded from behind him.

"Hey, Tails! What took ya so long?"

( First | Previous | Next )

[nelkcats]

The Cat Statue

In the center of Gotham stood a cat statue, its eyes were emeralds and glowed toxic green. It always seemed to be looking at you.

No one in the city dared to do anything against the statue. There were rumors that the last time people tried to demolish it, all the construction equipment was damaged, and the workers were sick for weeks. There were people who tried to steal it eyes, but their skin burned without explanation after touching it.

Unlike most inhabitants in Gotham, Selina was not afraid of the statue. She adored it. She asked it questions from time to time, and though no one believed her, the statue always answered; a whisper in her ears, snowflakes in summer, the touch of a hand on her shoulder.

Selina knew the statue wasn't normal, she'd known it since she was a child. But instead of fearing it, it made her feel safe. That's why she used to keep the bats and other rogues out of the place, it was her place, no one else's.

Danny was trapped in the Infinite Realms so he'd been looking for ways to entertain himself. One of them: Statues. Statues hidden in every dimension, statues that brought comfort to those who leaned on them. Though the connection was tenuous, Danny could interfere with their lives if they asked.

Selina had become one of his favorite persons. It was for that reason that when he saw her injured and she asked him for shelter, a great dome of ice formed around her, the statue's eyes glowing brighter than ever.

The Joker backed up a few steps, frowning as he noticed the dome, he had chased Catwoman to the spot and thought he had her cornered. He was about to make another move when spikes of ice began to form on the dome as a warning. Honestly, Danny wouldn't mind killing the clown.

For his part, Batman watched the scene from the roof. An indescribable look on his face.

[hexagonsgalore]

an unlikely bunch

[honorhearted]

A rare hermitTM sighting...

[aq2003]

the line between ten's senses of selfishness and selflessness is very very thin because they both primarily stem from his sense of love (the thing he was born out of and the thing he lives and dies for). btw.