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Description
The third chapter! It had a exciting fight that I've always wanted to see play out. It's also consdierbly shorter then the other 2 chapters so far. The chapter pic though is really messed up. I drew it so long ago and my style has changed since then.X_X Please tell me what you think.

Twin Tails Of Vengeance

Chapter 3 Let Me Show You What I’m Made Of

Other chaps:
[link] Chapter 1

[link] Chapter 2

[link] Chapter 4

The sun began to rise over the Great Forest. Shadows slowly began to slip away though there was still a great deal of darkness around the trees because it was only just past dawn.

The thin figure of Tails was curled up with his tails wrapped around himself. He lay at the trunk of huge tree sleeping. Or at least trying to. He stayed so still one would’ve thought he was dead.

He opened his eyes halfway. This was the first time he’d had to think about things in silence since this whole thing with his vow and the cyborgs started about three days ago. It felt kind of strange. This happened to be the forest he and Sonic first met in. The memory was one he’d definitely never forget…

He had been so alone in and lost in these woods. No parents, no known family, and no where to go. And he thought his life was a sad story then. Just look at him now.

Tails recalled seeing a blue streak whisk through the trees and stop a few yards away. And there he had seen Sonic for the first time. Tails was so surprised but wanted to meet him. Sonic had wanted nothing to do with Tails at first but within a couple minutes of their encounter they had become friends and could never leave the other’s side. Tails had even told Sonic that his real name was “Miles Prower” but he hated it. That was when he gotten his nickname from the unusual trait of having two tails. (there is a rumor that Tails mutated a second tail from breathing Robotnik’s pollution)

But now everything was gone. The friendship they had worked so hard to make was nothing. Tails didn’t want to do anything. But he had promised Sonic’s vengeance and Tails was most certainly going to wreak it. Besides, he wasn’t a weakling like everyone thought him to be. And it was high time he proved it to them.

Tails sat up and stretched as he yawned. He stood up and shook his fur getting out all the dirt and leaves since he’d been sleeping on the forest floor. Tails looked around and it was still very early in the morning. But in order to kill the cyborgs he needed to know where they were. He needed information. But where could he find information on a bunch of killer cyborgs? Well a group like that couldn’t go unnoticed so someone had to know something. There was nothing left for him in Knothole or Mobiotropolis. Time to go off to the Casino Park. But not for gambling though……. For answers!

The fox spun his twin tails and took off soaring above the tree tops. As he flew towards the place he found himself feeling strangely paranoid and he ascended and dropped down into the trees. There it was again. He felt his fur stand on end. Tails felt for his guns under his jacket.

He proceeded through the trees looking left and right. Suddenly he heard a voice that made his fur on the back of his prickle, it was a menacing and mechanical voice…

“It’s has been a long time has it not Miles Prower? 5 years in fact.”
“Metal Sonic!” Tails gasped looking up at the blue android hedgehog standing on a tree branch above him. Tails recognized that android anywhere. Of course it was hard to forget the one who looked almost just like your best friend.

“Well well, what are you doing here all be yourself Miles? The boogy man might get you.”

“I could ask you the same thing Metal. Why aren’t you with Robotnik? And how do you know my real name?”

“I broke free of Robotnik’s programming long ago. And I know your real name because I was created just like Sonic and I know everything he did.” Metal Sonic paused still looking down at Tails. “So I must ask what are you doing out here. It’s a big, and dangerous forest you know.”

“Why are you suddenly so worried about me Metallix? I thought you hated us all. Besides I’m not helpless you know. I did help Sonic and Knuckles beat you back in the final battle back on the Final Fortress. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Ahhh yes, back where Sonic fell to his doom yes. Guess he should’ve watched where he stepped. If the hedgehog was supposed to die it was supposed to be by my hands.” Metal Sonic said looking at the sky.

“Tch, You could never beat Sonic. Sonic and I would never let you beat us.” Tails said.

“Oh I didn’t intend to ‘beat’ Sonic I intended to ‘kill’ Sonic.” Metal angrily replied.

“Why do you want to kill Sonic?! What has he ever done to you?!” Tails said feeling anger returning to his heart at talking to someone who looked so much like Sonic but was only a copy and an evil copy at that.

“Why do you ask Miles? Why. Do you have any idea how it feels to live from day to day knowing that you never really existed at all except as a mere incomplete reflection as some else who you hate? How would you feel Miles if you were in my place and looked at a complete version of yourself and you were always so insignificant. How would you feel? “ Metal said growing angrier by the minute. He was feeling the rage he always had when encountering Sonic. “Well how would you feel? You were always insignificant to me but Sonic was my only purpose for life! If I managed to kill Sonic it would mean that I was superior and I would take his place as the fastest hedgehog alive.” Even though through these years Metal had realized things didn’t quite work like that.

“Well if you think I’m so insignificant why don’t you come down here and fight me!” Tails said angrily whipping his guns out from their holsters.

Metal Sonic looked down at the fox who he had always viewed as weak and Sonic as the real threat. But now the small ‘weak’ kit was facing him all by himself and wielding firearms at that.

“Very well Miles, Let me show you… JUST WHAT I’M MADE OF!” Metal Sonic said clenching his steel claws into a fist and his red eyes flashed and he jumped off the tree and curled into a spindash just like Sonic did.

“And I’ll show you the same Metal! I’m not a kid anymore!!!” Tails said cocking Dark Angel and Rage Drive.

Metal Sonic came spinning at Tails and the fox just barely had time to dodge the blue spinning buzz saw like android. Tails rolled as he hit the ground and sprang back to his feet whirled around firing Dark Angel at Metal. The android raised his hand and the bullets ricocheted off his palm in a flurry of yellow sparks.

Tails ground his teeth. He hadn’t expected them to work. After all Metal Sonic was Tails had to admit Robotnik’s greatest creation. Unfortunately Dark Angel was Tails’ most lethal weapon and if it didn’t work Rage Drive was sure to have the same effect.

Metal came at Tail’s with a swipe from his six inch claws. Tails flipped backwards firing again Metal. This time Metal dodged the bullets gaining speed. He spin dashed again and Tails turned running in the opposite direction. Tails realized obviously Metal Sonic was bullet-proof but he didn’t remember him always being that way. Well his claws were at least.

He continued to try to increase the distance between himself and the realizing he’d just foolishly challenged the Metal Overlord all alone. He hoped the put as much space as possible between him and the killer android behind him. Unfortunately Metal Sonic suddenly burst in speed and barreled right into Tails sending him sprawling across the forest floor. Tails really needed a plan.

“Running are we? I thought you said you had something to prove to me.” Metal Sonic taunted as he continued to spin at Tails.

“Not just you.” Tails shot back. “Something to everybody!!”

Tails around and up a tree and Metal followed cutting the tree into circular sections while he spun after Tails who was now running down it’s trunk. Metal suddenly realized it was a trap and the cut sections of the tree feel out. He smashed them away. But then a shadow fell over him and he suddenly realized it was only a distraction from the real trap.
Metal Sonic turned around and saw an entire other tree topple over on top of him. Tails had somehow weakened a tree’s base and crashed it in Metal’s direction. Tails heaved a sigh as the dust settled. He had won. Or so he hoped for he knew Metal Sonic would never go down so easily.

The tree shook and then as Metal heaved it off himself and flung it high into the air and made a loud crash as it landed far off.

“Clever, very clever. But not enough.” He stood facing Tails and spin dashed lightening fast around a grove of trees and shot back around hitting Tails from behind. He them landed and there was a high pitched whirring sound as Metallix activated his turbo engine that enabled him to move almost as fast as Sonic but still at speeds so fast it was beyond mortally wounding. Right now Metal Sonic was only warming up.

Tails took a few steps back. He knew he couldn’t hope to avoid Metal Sonic moving at that high a speed. Metal would effortlessly shred him like chicken. But that was not the way Tails was going to die!

The fox gritted his teeth as he tried to think of his next move. His firearms only carried tranquilizers and lethal ammo. Lethal wasn’t powerful enough, and no doubt tranquilizer wouldn’t even be enough to tickle Metal Sonic. Plus the fact he wasn’t even organic. But an idea came. He switched his ammo types and ran sideways away from Metal but kept his eyes on him.

Metal stopped charging his engine and let it go with a insane burst of speed. Tails fired desperately twice at Metal’s faceplate. The android never saw it coming and the green tranquilizing fluid splashed all over his electronic eyes and he could no longer see Tails and went blindly crashing into everything at a nearly impossible speed and even worse out of control.

Tails leaped behind a huge rock hoping he wouldn’t get mowed down. He heard trees crunching and toppling and explosions among other sounds. He covered his head with his hands and when all was silent he gathered his courage and looked over the rock.

He saw a shape rise from the dust and smoke and glaring red eyes glowed in frown at Tails through the haze. Metal Sonic was now dented some and was beginning to take serious damage.

“Now you’ve got me angry fox.” Metal Sonic said as his face crackled a bit with electricity. He shot into spindash again and hit Tails hard in the chest.

Tails gagged and stumbled backwards. He fell forward on his knees. As he gasped for air he gathered that he’d only really been able to use his surroundings for his only means of attack. Unfortunately he was running out of ideas fast. Tails found a little encouragement in damaging Metal with his last maneuver. He hoped his next plan would work as well as the last. He hoped.

Tails ran forwards and took off landing on a tree branch atop one of the few trees still left standing.

“Hey Metal, think you can reach me up here?” Tails said in low angry tone.

Metal Sonic looked up at Tails and made a low metallic growl. He spin dashed upwards at Tails who quickly jumped onto another branch and as he did he used his two guns and shot up the base where the branch connected to the tree blasting it off and sending Metal falling back to the ground But before he hit he reached his claws out and caught himself from taking serious damage. Tails leaped off the branch landing on his feet and strafed (running sideways while facing something) as he vainly fired at the android. Metal mimicked his movement and they both leaped sideways as Tails fired and ended up hitting the ground sending up small explosions of dirt. Tails jumped and tackled Metal to the ground. Being the android he was Metallix pulled up his legs and kicked Tails off him. The android then leaped to his feet shot up and spin dashed into the fox pummeling Tails before he even hit the ground. Metal continued spinning along in that form, circled back around in a flash and hit Tails from below shooting Tails into the air, and then caught up putting his claws together and smashed them back into Tails who fell like a rock and hit the ground with a thud. Metal landed and walked over to the motionless Tails and stood over him.

“It is over, you have lost Miles.” he said opening and closing his clawed fists.

Tails rolled over so his dirty face was looking up at Metal.

“I’ll never give up!” Tails glared up at the android with burning defiant blue eyes.

“You have already lost. Your current status shows you have taken 87% damage to your person. Further conflict will result in incapacitation and possibly death.”

Tails staggered as he tried to get up. “Well I guess I’m just stupid then.” Tails replied. Blood trickled out of the side of his mouth as he said this and got back to his feet. “I’ll die before I give in to you, Metal.”

“…The I guess I have no choice but to oblige you.” Metal Sonic said in a low tone holding up a clenched fist.

The fox and android rushed at each other. Tails dropped to the ground and tripped Metal Sonic.

Tails rolled and the sprang up, as Metal Sonic shot back at him and made two swipes with his claws the fox somersaulted underneath the assault and leaped up behind Metallix and firing madly at him from behind.

This time he felt his spirits rise as the bullets found their marks and the engine in Metal Sonic’s chest cavity somehow took damage. Now he couldn’t move as fast. Knowing a vast amount of technological information made Metal Sonic a little more of an vulnerable opponent to Tails. And he seemed to have lasted this long against Metal.

Metal Sonic yelled as his engine crackled and lost function. But even with the amount of damage he was taking he was still operational. But of course he was designed to destroy Sonic. He cursed as without his sonic turbo engine he now had a lower threat capacity.

“You seem to be a very smart little fox. I shall tear you apart starting with that intellectual little head of yours.” he spat in sinister tone.

“Bring it on.” Tails seethed sounding very much like an enraged Sonic. Though Tails knew very well Metal Sonic wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

They rushed at each other in flurry of orange and blue the Tails made an attempt to strike Metal with his elbow. There was a resonating clang as he hit with all his might and yelped as he had guessed it was a bad idea. Metal Sonic secretly wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry but he went in for kill and slashed Tails across the face drawing blood and then grabbed him by the head and slammed him against another still standing tree.

“I must admit fox, you held out pretty well.” He said squeezing Tails’ head. “But unfortunately it would appear that even Sonic’s copy is sufficient enough to dispatch you. You along with Sonic and the echidna may have managed to vanquish me on the Final Fortress. But this time… you‘re mine.”

Tails’ heart was sinking, he had never expected for a fight against the metal menace alone with out Sonic. But though he’d desperately fought his hardest. He just couldn’t seem to win. And now he was going to die just as Metal Sonic had said he would. No! He couldn’t allow that to happen! He had to avenge Sonic! But how could he do that when he was being held against a tree? He wasn’t weak! He knew he wasn’t! But he had to prove it now! He couldn’t and wouldn’t let himself be underestimated anymore.

“Any last words Miles?”

“Just two: Sonic!! Help!!!”

Metal Sonic instinctively snapped his head around looking behind him. Tails seized his chance and grabbed Dark Angel and fired it right for Metal Sonic’s damaged chest cavity. Metal cried out as the resulting electrical and critical damage to his main body. He dropped Tails and staggered backwards against the tree.

He quickly checked his own status and found he was at 83% damage and in the red. Tails was at 94% and rapidly nearing incapacitation. He finally decided upon a final decision. He stood up and looked Tails in the eye. It would be a draw for now.

“Clearly you are not as pathetic as I thought. I now acknowledge that I underestimated your strength. Not that you are superior for I shall finish you like I would have with Sonic. Even though we seem to share a certain problem. But someday Miles, I’ll show you just who I am and what I have in store.” Metal Sonic turned away and looked over his shoulder at Tails and then he was gone.

Tails stared after him silently. He knew he had just hurt himself emotionally by calling out to Sonic. It had been only a trick. But for a mere moment he had made himself think Sonic was actually going to save him. Plus he showed his dependency on someone who couldn’t help him anymore. But as he looked after where Metal Sonic had gone he felt a since of satisfaction knowing… he had just held his own against Metal Sonic and actually survived! Even seriously damaged him to the point that he had left. And Metal Sonic said he had also acknowledged Tails wasn’t as weak as he had thought and that they even both had that problem. But was it just Tails or did he and Metal Sonic seem to have some kind of… emotional tie. Tails shook his head disregarding the thought.

Tails was still in the forest and was nearing the Casino Park. There he was sure to find some information of the cyborgs. Find their whereabouts and wipe them out. Suddenly he heard voices up ahead. He realized they were the voices of young children.

Kids in these parts? Not good at all. Tails ran as fast as he could and saw a mixed creature and a fennec both under the age of ten walking about talking to each other. Tails wasn’t sure what was going on here but with Metal Sonic on the prowl this was no place for kids. Time for him to intervene.

“Hey, what are you two kids doing here?” Tails said walking up to them. “It’s not safe. I’ll take you home to your parents okay?” boy he felt like he was his old happy self. For a second.

The two younger kids looked at each other and then at Tails.

“My mom and dad told me never to talk to strangers.” The fennec said holding up her hand. And then took a good look at Tails. Her mouth gaped for a second as she stared. Her eyes wide. But not with fear. “Oh my gosh, you’re the Hero from that message! I’m Mori! It’s so cool to meet you Hero!” Mori said as she grabbed Tails by the hand and looked into his eyes. “We have the same eye color even…” She trailed off.

Tails felt Mori’s embrace strangely soothing. He didn’t even know her. He looked back into her eyes…

“You have the same eye color that She did before she died… before I…” Tails snapped back to reality and roughly pried Mori off his midsection in a swift motion. “Get down now!! Tails pushed Mori and Ragnarok to the ground as gunfire sounded and yellow flashes streaked at them from behind the trees.

Tails looked upwards as the shapes of the cyborgs could be seen from among the shapes of the trees. He pulled out Dark Angel and Rage Drive.

“This is pay back time you swine holes.” Tails quietly gritted. He jumped up and started strafing as he quickly fired at the cyborgs. He stayed in a obvious spot and they began to show themselves and came out into the open. Tails smirked, they had fallen for it. Now they were as good as dead.

Tails let of a vengeful cry and spun around in 360 spin with his guns blazing and yellow flashes lit up his face. He stopped and crossed his guns across his chest. One by one the cyborgs fell and Mori and Ragnarok got up and looked up around them.

Tails walked over to one of the bodies of the group. An orange fox, just like him. He noticed a transparent syringe stuck in it’s chest. Tails let out a small chuckle, not a happy one though. He’d forgotten to switch his ammunition to lethal and had ended up tranquilizing the cyborgs instead of fatally shooting them all. He wouldn’t be making that mistake again. He scoffed and switched Dark Angel back to lethal mode and pointed the weapon at the unconscious fox’s head.

“What happened to them all?” Mori said nudging one of them with her foot.

Tails looked over his shoulder and realized there were younger kids with him. This would have to wait. They shouldn’t lose their innocence the way he had.

“They’re only asleep. They’ll obviously go back to wherever they cam from when they wake up.” Tails said as he holstered his guns. “So who are you two and what are you doing here?”

“Well we don’t have homes or families.” Ragnarok said finally speaking but in quiet voice.

“He’s right,” Mori said walking over to Ragnarok’s side. “None of us have anywhere to go. Plus… I wanted to meet you Hero.” She added looking at Tails with a sad look that destroyed all Tails’ defenses.

“My name isn’t ‘Hero‘. Please call me Mi- …I mean Tails. Call me Tails.” the teen fox said. He had almost revealed his real name being called it by Metal so much.

An uncomfortable silence followed for several seconds until Ragnarok spoke up again.

“Can we come with you Mister Tails?”

Come with him? Tails didn’t have time to play babysitter! Besides they’d only get in the way. Anything could happen in Casino Park. He turned it over in his mind but then looked back at the two. They both seemed to have suffered from something. Just like him… He couldn’t just leave them here either.

“Fine, you can come with me… but I want you guys to do EVERYTHING I tell you to, okay? Where I’m going is very dangerous and you’ll need to listen to me then. And when I say you’re being dropped off someplace I mean it. Do you agree to these terms?” Tails sternly asked them like a parent.

“We agree.” Mori and Ragnarok agreed together.

“Good, then we’re off for the Casino Park.” Tails turned and left. Great, now not only was he trying to stop an evil army of cyberneticelly altered animals but now he was playing daddy for some little kids he couldn’t help but feel emotionally attached to. But now he was responsible for these two and he’d get them to safety. Maybe he wasn’t as bitter as he had thought himself to be after all…

Black Raptor and Feral walked down the ravaged streets of Mobiotropolis after completing their mission. They never spoke or even stared at the other. They had obtained another Chaos Emerald and were now returning. But after Raptor had refused to slay the guards holding it they had ended up arguing and the third Emerald had escaped. Now Black Raptor and Feral were on even worse terms. Raptor found the urge to use the Emerald and Chaos Control back to base and strand Feral here. Exasperated of his partner, Raptor took a right returning to base a different route.

As he walked he saw a black hedgehog walking down the same street towards him. The two walked right past each other. But even though the encounter was only a moment it seemed for the fox and hedgehog that there was some kind of enmity between the two that just like for Raptor and Feral it could not be broken. The two passed each other and continued on their ways both with their own reasons for doing the acts that they would be doing to determine the future of this planet.

To Be Continued….

Description
The third chapter! It had a exciting fight that I've always wanted to see play out. It's also consdierbly shorter then the other 2 chapters so far. The chapter pic though is really messed up. I drew it so long ago and my style has changed since then.X_X Please tell me what you think.

Twin Tails Of Vengeance

Chapter 3 Let Me Show You What I’m Made Of

Other chaps:
[link] Chapter 1

[link] Chapter 2

[link] Chapter 4

The sun began to rise over the Great Forest. Shadows slowly began to slip away though there was still a great deal of darkness around the trees because it was only just past dawn.

The thin figure of Tails was curled up with his tails wrapped around himself. He lay at the trunk of huge tree sleeping. Or at least trying to. He stayed so still one would’ve thought he was dead.

He opened his eyes halfway. This was the first time he’d had to think about things in silence since this whole thing with his vow and the cyborgs started about three days ago. It felt kind of strange. This happened to be the forest he and Sonic first met in. The memory was one he’d definitely never forget…

He had been so alone in and lost in these woods. No parents, no known family, and no where to go. And he thought his life was a sad story then. Just look at him now.

Tails recalled seeing a blue streak whisk through the trees and stop a few yards away. And there he had seen Sonic for the first time. Tails was so surprised but wanted to meet him. Sonic had wanted nothing to do with Tails at first but within a couple minutes of their encounter they had become friends and could never leave the other’s side. Tails had even told Sonic that his real name was “Miles Prower” but he hated it. That was when he gotten his nickname from the unusual trait of having two tails. (there is a rumor that Tails mutated a second tail from breathing Robotnik’s pollution)

But now everything was gone. The friendship they had worked so hard to make was nothing. Tails didn’t want to do anything. But he had promised Sonic’s vengeance and Tails was most certainly going to wreak it. Besides, he wasn’t a weakling like everyone thought him to be. And it was high time he proved it to them.

Tails sat up and stretched as he yawned. He stood up and shook his fur getting out all the dirt and leaves since he’d been sleeping on the forest floor. Tails looked around and it was still very early in the morning. But in order to kill the cyborgs he needed to know where they were. He needed information. But where could he find information on a bunch of killer cyborgs? Well a group like that couldn’t go unnoticed so someone had to know something. There was nothing left for him in Knothole or Mobiotropolis. Time to go off to the Casino Park. But not for gambling though……. For answers!

The fox spun his twin tails and took off soaring above the tree tops. As he flew towards the place he found himself feeling strangely paranoid and he ascended and dropped down into the trees. There it was again. He felt his fur stand on end. Tails felt for his guns under his jacket.

He proceeded through the trees looking left and right. Suddenly he heard a voice that made his fur on the back of his prickle, it was a menacing and mechanical voice…

“It’s has been a long time has it not Miles Prower? 5 years in fact.”
“Metal Sonic!” Tails gasped looking up at the blue android hedgehog standing on a tree branch above him. Tails recognized that android anywhere. Of course it was hard to forget the one who looked almost just like your best friend.

“Well well, what are you doing here all be yourself Miles? The boogy man might get you.”

“I could ask you the same thing Metal. Why aren’t you with Robotnik? And how do you know my real name?”

“I broke free of Robotnik’s programming long ago. And I know your real name because I was created just like Sonic and I know everything he did.” Metal Sonic paused still looking down at Tails. “So I must ask what are you doing out here. It’s a big, and dangerous forest you know.”

“Why are you suddenly so worried about me Metallix? I thought you hated us all. Besides I’m not helpless you know. I did help Sonic and Knuckles beat you back in the final battle back on the Final Fortress. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Ahhh yes, back where Sonic fell to his doom yes. Guess he should’ve watched where he stepped. If the hedgehog was supposed to die it was supposed to be by my hands.” Metal Sonic said looking at the sky.

“Tch, You could never beat Sonic. Sonic and I would never let you beat us.” Tails said.

“Oh I didn’t intend to ‘beat’ Sonic I intended to ‘kill’ Sonic.” Metal angrily replied.

“Why do you want to kill Sonic?! What has he ever done to you?!” Tails said feeling anger returning to his heart at talking to someone who looked so much like Sonic but was only a copy and an evil copy at that.

“Why do you ask Miles? Why. Do you have any idea how it feels to live from day to day knowing that you never really existed at all except as a mere incomplete reflection as some else who you hate? How would you feel Miles if you were in my place and looked at a complete version of yourself and you were always so insignificant. How would you feel? “ Metal said growing angrier by the minute. He was feeling the rage he always had when encountering Sonic. “Well how would you feel? You were always insignificant to me but Sonic was my only purpose for life! If I managed to kill Sonic it would mean that I was superior and I would take his place as the fastest hedgehog alive.” Even though through these years Metal had realized things didn’t quite work like that.

“Well if you think I’m so insignificant why don’t you come down here and fight me!” Tails said angrily whipping his guns out from their holsters.

Metal Sonic looked down at the fox who he had always viewed as weak and Sonic as the real threat. But now the small ‘weak’ kit was facing him all by himself and wielding firearms at that.

“Very well Miles, Let me show you… JUST WHAT I’M MADE OF!” Metal Sonic said clenching his steel claws into a fist and his red eyes flashed and he jumped off the tree and curled into a spindash just like Sonic did.

“And I’ll show you the same Metal! I’m not a kid anymore!!!” Tails said cocking Dark Angel and Rage Drive.

Metal Sonic came spinning at Tails and the fox just barely had time to dodge the blue spinning buzz saw like android. Tails rolled as he hit the ground and sprang back to his feet whirled around firing Dark Angel at Metal. The android raised his hand and the bullets ricocheted off his palm in a flurry of yellow sparks.

Tails ground his teeth. He hadn’t expected them to work. After all Metal Sonic was Tails had to admit Robotnik’s greatest creation. Unfortunately Dark Angel was Tails’ most lethal weapon and if it didn’t work Rage Drive was sure to have the same effect.

Metal came at Tail’s with a swipe from his six inch claws. Tails flipped backwards firing again Metal. This time Metal dodged the bullets gaining speed. He spin dashed again and Tails turned running in the opposite direction. Tails realized obviously Metal Sonic was bullet-proof but he didn’t remember him always being that way. Well his claws were at least.

He continued to try to increase the distance between himself and the realizing he’d just foolishly challenged the Metal Overlord all alone. He hoped the put as much space as possible between him and the killer android behind him. Unfortunately Metal Sonic suddenly burst in speed and barreled right into Tails sending him sprawling across the forest floor. Tails really needed a plan.

“Running are we? I thought you said you had something to prove to me.” Metal Sonic taunted as he continued to spin at Tails.

“Not just you.” Tails shot back. “Something to everybody!!”

Tails around and up a tree and Metal followed cutting the tree into circular sections while he spun after Tails who was now running down it’s trunk. Metal suddenly realized it was a trap and the cut sections of the tree feel out. He smashed them away. But then a shadow fell over him and he suddenly realized it was only a distraction from the real trap.
Metal Sonic turned around and saw an entire other tree topple over on top of him. Tails had somehow weakened a tree’s base and crashed it in Metal’s direction. Tails heaved a sigh as the dust settled. He had won. Or so he hoped for he knew Metal Sonic would never go down so easily.

The tree shook and then as Metal heaved it off himself and flung it high into the air and made a loud crash as it landed far off.

“Clever, very clever. But not enough.” He stood facing Tails and spin dashed lightening fast around a grove of trees and shot back around hitting Tails from behind. He them landed and there was a high pitched whirring sound as Metallix activated his turbo engine that enabled him to move almost as fast as Sonic but still at speeds so fast it was beyond mortally wounding. Right now Metal Sonic was only warming up.

Tails took a few steps back. He knew he couldn’t hope to avoid Metal Sonic moving at that high a speed. Metal would effortlessly shred him like chicken. But that was not the way Tails was going to die!

The fox gritted his teeth as he tried to think of his next move. His firearms only carried tranquilizers and lethal ammo. Lethal wasn’t powerful enough, and no doubt tranquilizer wouldn’t even be enough to tickle Metal Sonic. Plus the fact he wasn’t even organic. But an idea came. He switched his ammo types and ran sideways away from Metal but kept his eyes on him.

Metal stopped charging his engine and let it go with a insane burst of speed. Tails fired desperately twice at Metal’s faceplate. The android never saw it coming and the green tranquilizing fluid splashed all over his electronic eyes and he could no longer see Tails and went blindly crashing into everything at a nearly impossible speed and even worse out of control.

Tails leaped behind a huge rock hoping he wouldn’t get mowed down. He heard trees crunching and toppling and explosions among other sounds. He covered his head with his hands and when all was silent he gathered his courage and looked over the rock.

He saw a shape rise from the dust and smoke and glaring red eyes glowed in frown at Tails through the haze. Metal Sonic was now dented some and was beginning to take serious damage.

“Now you’ve got me angry fox.” Metal Sonic said as his face crackled a bit with electricity. He shot into spindash again and hit Tails hard in the chest.

Tails gagged and stumbled backwards. He fell forward on his knees. As he gasped for air he gathered that he’d only really been able to use his surroundings for his only means of attack. Unfortunately he was running out of ideas fast. Tails found a little encouragement in damaging Metal with his last maneuver. He hoped his next plan would work as well as the last. He hoped.

Tails ran forwards and took off landing on a tree branch atop one of the few trees still left standing.

“Hey Metal, think you can reach me up here?” Tails said in low angry tone.

Metal Sonic looked up at Tails and made a low metallic growl. He spin dashed upwards at Tails who quickly jumped onto another branch and as he did he used his two guns and shot up the base where the branch connected to the tree blasting it off and sending Metal falling back to the ground But before he hit he reached his claws out and caught himself from taking serious damage. Tails leaped off the branch landing on his feet and strafed (running sideways while facing something) as he vainly fired at the android. Metal mimicked his movement and they both leaped sideways as Tails fired and ended up hitting the ground sending up small explosions of dirt. Tails jumped and tackled Metal to the ground. Being the android he was Metallix pulled up his legs and kicked Tails off him. The android then leaped to his feet shot up and spin dashed into the fox pummeling Tails before he even hit the ground. Metal continued spinning along in that form, circled back around in a flash and hit Tails from below shooting Tails into the air, and then caught up putting his claws together and smashed them back into Tails who fell like a rock and hit the ground with a thud. Metal landed and walked over to the motionless Tails and stood over him.

“It is over, you have lost Miles.” he said opening and closing his clawed fists.

Tails rolled over so his dirty face was looking up at Metal.

“I’ll never give up!” Tails glared up at the android with burning defiant blue eyes.

“You have already lost. Your current status shows you have taken 87% damage to your person. Further conflict will result in incapacitation and possibly death.”

Tails staggered as he tried to get up. “Well I guess I’m just stupid then.” Tails replied. Blood trickled out of the side of his mouth as he said this and got back to his feet. “I’ll die before I give in to you, Metal.”

“…The I guess I have no choice but to oblige you.” Metal Sonic said in a low tone holding up a clenched fist.

The fox and android rushed at each other. Tails dropped to the ground and tripped Metal Sonic.

Tails rolled and the sprang up, as Metal Sonic shot back at him and made two swipes with his claws the fox somersaulted underneath the assault and leaped up behind Metallix and firing madly at him from behind.

This time he felt his spirits rise as the bullets found their marks and the engine in Metal Sonic’s chest cavity somehow took damage. Now he couldn’t move as fast. Knowing a vast amount of technological information made Metal Sonic a little more of an vulnerable opponent to Tails. And he seemed to have lasted this long against Metal.

Metal Sonic yelled as his engine crackled and lost function. But even with the amount of damage he was taking he was still operational. But of course he was designed to destroy Sonic. He cursed as without his sonic turbo engine he now had a lower threat capacity.

“You seem to be a very smart little fox. I shall tear you apart starting with that intellectual little head of yours.” he spat in sinister tone.

“Bring it on.” Tails seethed sounding very much like an enraged Sonic. Though Tails knew very well Metal Sonic wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

They rushed at each other in flurry of orange and blue the Tails made an attempt to strike Metal with his elbow. There was a resonating clang as he hit with all his might and yelped as he had guessed it was a bad idea. Metal Sonic secretly wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry but he went in for kill and slashed Tails across the face drawing blood and then grabbed him by the head and slammed him against another still standing tree.

“I must admit fox, you held out pretty well.” He said squeezing Tails’ head. “But unfortunately it would appear that even Sonic’s copy is sufficient enough to dispatch you. You along with Sonic and the echidna may have managed to vanquish me on the Final Fortress. But this time… you‘re mine.”

Tails’ heart was sinking, he had never expected for a fight against the metal menace alone with out Sonic. But though he’d desperately fought his hardest. He just couldn’t seem to win. And now he was going to die just as Metal Sonic had said he would. No! He couldn’t allow that to happen! He had to avenge Sonic! But how could he do that when he was being held against a tree? He wasn’t weak! He knew he wasn’t! But he had to prove it now! He couldn’t and wouldn’t let himself be underestimated anymore.

“Any last words Miles?”

“Just two: Sonic!! Help!!!”

Metal Sonic instinctively snapped his head around looking behind him. Tails seized his chance and grabbed Dark Angel and fired it right for Metal Sonic’s damaged chest cavity. Metal cried out as the resulting electrical and critical damage to his main body. He dropped Tails and staggered backwards against the tree.

He quickly checked his own status and found he was at 83% damage and in the red. Tails was at 94% and rapidly nearing incapacitation. He finally decided upon a final decision. He stood up and looked Tails in the eye. It would be a draw for now.

“Clearly you are not as pathetic as I thought. I now acknowledge that I underestimated your strength. Not that you are superior for I shall finish you like I would have with Sonic. Even though we seem to share a certain problem. But someday Miles, I’ll show you just who I am and what I have in store.” Metal Sonic turned away and looked over his shoulder at Tails and then he was gone.

Tails stared after him silently. He knew he had just hurt himself emotionally by calling out to Sonic. It had been only a trick. But for a mere moment he had made himself think Sonic was actually going to save him. Plus he showed his dependency on someone who couldn’t help him anymore. But as he looked after where Metal Sonic had gone he felt a since of satisfaction knowing… he had just held his own against Metal Sonic and actually survived! Even seriously damaged him to the point that he had left. And Metal Sonic said he had also acknowledged Tails wasn’t as weak as he had thought and that they even both had that problem. But was it just Tails or did he and Metal Sonic seem to have some kind of… emotional tie. Tails shook his head disregarding the thought.

Tails was still in the forest and was nearing the Casino Park. There he was sure to find some information of the cyborgs. Find their whereabouts and wipe them out. Suddenly he heard voices up ahead. He realized they were the voices of young children.

Kids in these parts? Not good at all. Tails ran as fast as he could and saw a mixed creature and a fennec both under the age of ten walking about talking to each other. Tails wasn’t sure what was going on here but with Metal Sonic on the prowl this was no place for kids. Time for him to intervene.

“Hey, what are you two kids doing here?” Tails said walking up to them. “It’s not safe. I’ll take you home to your parents okay?” boy he felt like he was his old happy self. For a second.

The two younger kids looked at each other and then at Tails.

“My mom and dad told me never to talk to strangers.” The fennec said holding up her hand. And then took a good look at Tails. Her mouth gaped for a second as she stared. Her eyes wide. But not with fear. “Oh my gosh, you’re the Hero from that message! I’m Mori! It’s so cool to meet you Hero!” Mori said as she grabbed Tails by the hand and looked into his eyes. “We have the same eye color even…” She trailed off.

Tails felt Mori’s embrace strangely soothing. He didn’t even know her. He looked back into her eyes…

“You have the same eye color that She did before she died… before I…” Tails snapped back to reality and roughly pried Mori off his midsection in a swift motion. “Get down now!! Tails pushed Mori and Ragnarok to the ground as gunfire sounded and yellow flashes streaked at them from behind the trees.

Tails looked upwards as the shapes of the cyborgs could be seen from among the shapes of the trees. He pulled out Dark Angel and Rage Drive.

“This is pay back time you swine holes.” Tails quietly gritted. He jumped up and started strafing as he quickly fired at the cyborgs. He stayed in a obvious spot and they began to show themselves and came out into the open. Tails smirked, they had fallen for it. Now they were as good as dead.

Tails let of a vengeful cry and spun around in 360 spin with his guns blazing and yellow flashes lit up his face. He stopped and crossed his guns across his chest. One by one the cyborgs fell and Mori and Ragnarok got up and looked up around them.

Tails walked over to one of the bodies of the group. An orange fox, just like him. He noticed a transparent syringe stuck in it’s chest. Tails let out a small chuckle, not a happy one though. He’d forgotten to switch his ammunition to lethal and had ended up tranquilizing the cyborgs instead of fatally shooting them all. He wouldn’t be making that mistake again. He scoffed and switched Dark Angel back to lethal mode and pointed the weapon at the unconscious fox’s head.

“What happened to them all?” Mori said nudging one of them with her foot.

Tails looked over his shoulder and realized there were younger kids with him. This would have to wait. They shouldn’t lose their innocence the way he had.

“They’re only asleep. They’ll obviously go back to wherever they cam from when they wake up.” Tails said as he holstered his guns. “So who are you two and what are you doing here?”

“Well we don’t have homes or families.” Ragnarok said finally speaking but in quiet voice.

“He’s right,” Mori said walking over to Ragnarok’s side. “None of us have anywhere to go. Plus… I wanted to meet you Hero.” She added looking at Tails with a sad look that destroyed all Tails’ defenses.

“My name isn’t ‘Hero‘. Please call me Mi- …I mean Tails. Call me Tails.” the teen fox said. He had almost revealed his real name being called it by Metal so much.

An uncomfortable silence followed for several seconds until Ragnarok spoke up again.

“Can we come with you Mister Tails?”

Come with him? Tails didn’t have time to play babysitter! Besides they’d only get in the way. Anything could happen in Casino Park. He turned it over in his mind but then looked back at the two. They both seemed to have suffered from something. Just like him… He couldn’t just leave them here either.

“Fine, you can come with me… but I want you guys to do EVERYTHING I tell you to, okay? Where I’m going is very dangerous and you’ll need to listen to me then. And when I say you’re being dropped off someplace I mean it. Do you agree to these terms?” Tails sternly asked them like a parent.

“We agree.” Mori and Ragnarok agreed together.

“Good, then we’re off for the Casino Park.” Tails turned and left. Great, now not only was he trying to stop an evil army of cyberneticelly altered animals but now he was playing daddy for some little kids he couldn’t help but feel emotionally attached to. But now he was responsible for these two and he’d get them to safety. Maybe he wasn’t as bitter as he had thought himself to be after all…

Black Raptor and Feral walked down the ravaged streets of Mobiotropolis after completing their mission. They never spoke or even stared at the other. They had obtained another Chaos Emerald and were now returning. But after Raptor had refused to slay the guards holding it they had ended up arguing and the third Emerald had escaped. Now Black Raptor and Feral were on even worse terms. Raptor found the urge to use the Emerald and Chaos Control back to base and strand Feral here. Exasperated of his partner, Raptor took a right returning to base a different route.

As he walked he saw a black hedgehog walking down the same street towards him. The two walked right past each other. But even though the encounter was only a moment it seemed for the fox and hedgehog that there was some kind of enmity between the two that just like for Raptor and Feral it could not be broken. The two passed each other and continued on their ways both with their own reasons for doing the acts that they would be doing to determine the future of this planet.

To Be Continued….