Sonic the Hedgehog:  Tails' Tale
by Bookshire Draftwood
The author of this work will accept questions and comments via E-mail at any 
of the following addresses:
bookshire@draftwood.com 

	based on characters created by Service and Games (SEGA) and
	on characters created by Archie Comic Publications

	This work is protected under various copyright laws.  The author of 
	this work grants his permission for free distribution of this work 
	in its original, unaltered form only.  No other use of this work is 
	permitted.

	Night had fallen over the Great Forest.  All throughout Knothole, 
freedom fighters were retiring for the night.  Summer had just started, but 
the nights remained a little chilly in the Forest, considering it's somewhat 
high altitude.
	Tails lay in bed trying to go to sleep.  It was that time between 
getting in bed and actually going to sleep when one's mind wanders to all 
sorts of different thoughts and ideas.  Tails thought about lots of things 
during this time.  He turned his head slightly and looked out the window to 
the stars above.  It's a beautiful night out, he thought to himself.  
Whenever he looked at the stars, he always paid attention to one specific 
constellation.  It was one that he remembered seeing all the time over his 
old home. 
	Home, he thought.  A day had never passed that he didn't think of 
it.  The peace, the tranquility, his parents.  He missed his parents a good 
deal.  Missing them wasn't so bad, the problem was he didn't know if they 
were alive or dead, and, if they were alive, if they were robotizized or 
not.  It hadn't been that long ago when they were separated, only three 
years.  That had been when he was seven, but the memories were still fresh 
in his mind as if they had happened yesterday...

	The village of Bluebrook was a quiet little place populated by 
people living normal lives.  It was quite a distance away from Robotropolis.  
So far in fact that, combined with the concealment by the natural landscape, 
most thought that Robotnik would never find them.  All they had to do was 
keep a low profile.  It had been Tails' home for a long as he could 
remember.  His parents, Elrond and Sarah Prower, were kind, loving parents 
that tried to make their son's life as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.  
The one part of his life, however, that he had never agreed with was their 
choice of names.  When he was born, they had named him Miles.  It was a name 
that he had never liked, and, when he was four, started calling himself 
Tails because he thought that it suited him far better.  The young fox had, 
in fact, been born with two tails.  Not actually a birth defect, it was 
simply the result of a normally suppressed gene that had become dominant in 
his case.  Other than that, Tails' life was uneventful, but all that was 
about to change.

	Cmdr. Packbell sat at his desk in his secret room looking over 
information on his computer terminal.  He had been getting reports recently 
of freedom fighter activity from various locations around the planet, and it 
was up to him to eliminate them if he could.  It wasn't something that he 
was particularly concerned about given his perfect track record, except 
that he was always having to convince Robotnik of his ability.  He really 
hated Robotnik.  He found it hard sometimes to have the patience to wait for 
that one day when he would crush Robotnik and take his place as ruler of 
Mobius.
	Oh well, he thought.  He looked down the list of possible freedom 
fighter locations.  The list had ten names on it.
	No problem, thought Packbell, I'll just lay out a flight plan that 
takes me through all ten of them and nail whichever ones I can. 
	He smiled to himself as he began to lay out his strategy.

	Meanwhile, back in Bluebrook, life went about it's business.  Elrond 
Prower was talking with the leader of the village, one Riff Underwood, a 
swift, smart rabbit with natural leadership abilities.
	"I think we might have a problem," Riff was saying "Recent reports 
indicate that there's been a good deal of activity in Robotropolis as of 
late."
	"Do you think it poses any type of threat to us?" asked Elrond.
	"Not at the moment, but it might," Riff replied "I'm going to order 
that this village keep as low a profile as possible.  If we draw any 
attention to ourselves in anyway the results would be disastrous."
	"Then it's to be hoped that we don't draw any attention," responded 
Elrond.
	He checked his chronometer.
	"Well, it's getting late," he said "I need to get home."
	"Good night, Elrond," said Riff.
	"Good night."
	
	Elrond arrived at his home to find his wife and son waiting for him.
	"So, what did you and Riff talk about all day?" asked Sarah as they 
sat down for dinner.
	"Not much," replied Elrond, glancing at Tails briefly "just the 
weather and the party next week."
	"That's good," remark Sarah.  She knew from his expression that he 
had more to say, but neither of them ever talked about such things in front 
of their son.
	"Oh, by the way," said Elrond "Riff and I are going to inspect some 
of the forest areas around the village tomorrow for possible look-out sites 
so I might be getting home a little late."
	"You always come home late, Dad," said Tails.
	"I know, Miles," said Elrond "but it's all for the good of the 
community.  You wouldn't want nasty old Robotnik to show up because we 
didn't take any precautions, would you?"
	"Bring him on!" said Tails excitedly "I'd run circles around him and 
beat him into the ground just like Sonic!"
	"You really believe in him don't you," remarked Sarah.
	"You bet.  Sonic's my hero," said Tails "Can I be excused."
	"Sure," said Elrond.
	Tails got up and left the room.  After he left, Sarah turned to her 
husband.
	"I think he listens to that travelling storyteller too much," Sarah 
said.
	"Well, it's good that he should have something to believe in," said 
Elrond "especially during times like these."
	"True enough I suppose," said Sarah "Now, what were you and Riff 
really talking about?"
	"There's been some concern lately that Robotnik's forces might 
locate this village," said Elrond quietly.
	"How much concern?" asked Sarah.
	"Well, it's not a real danger yet, but Riff feels we'll need to 
start taking more precautions from now on," said Elrond.
	"Well, I just hope that Robotnik never finds this place," remarked 
Sarah.
	"So do I," replied Elrond.
	The two foxes cleaned off the table as night fell into place.

	Later that night, Sarah entered Tails' bedroom and sat down beside 
him.
	"Would you like to hear a story before you go to bed Miles?" she 
asked, knowing what he'd say.
	"Yes!" he replied as he settled further into his bed.
	"What do you want to hear?" she asked.
	"Tell me more about what it was like before the war," he asked 
sleepily.
	Sarah smiled at her son.  Tails had been born one year after 
Robotnik had taken control of the planet.  For as long as he could remember, 
there was the war and nothing else.  Sarah sat back in her chair and started 
to speak.
	"Before the war, there was clean air and sunshine.  People were free 
and could go where ever they wished.  We were ruled by a good and wise King.  
He made sure that every citizen was provided with what they needed and that 
the balance between nature and technology was maintained.  There were pure 
white clouds in the sky.  There were large open fields where you could 
run and play and not feel yourself in any danger.  You didn't have to hide 
yourself away when certain people came by.  In Mobitropolis, there was once 
a beautiful fountain outside the royal palace.  In the diamond mountains 
there was a time where you could surround yourself in rainbows if the light 
from the rising sun struck them just right.  Mobius was a place of beauty, 
peace, joy, and freedom."
	Sarah looked down at her sleeping child.  Despite all the love she 
held for him, it hurt to see him sometimes.  He was growing up in a world 
that would not allow him to take advantage of the things she herself had 
once known.  The world of a peaceful Mobius was just a fantasy in his mind 
instead of the wonderful reality she had taken for granted.  These days she 
only held one true hope in her heart and that was that her son should have a 
chance to see a peaceful Mobius.  One that wasn't at war.  Neither she nor 
Elrond mattered now.  She wanted her son to know peace.  She wanted him to 
know, to feel, the wonderful feelings and experiences that she and Elrond 
held in their memories.  Standing quietly, she turned out the light and 
left the room.

	As the night passed, Pacbell's forces moved swiftly but silently 
through the skies.  Pacbell was feeling very pleased with himself.  He had 
managed to capture 245 freedom fighters so far and there were only two 
village names left on his list.  With any luck, he decided, he should have 
them taken care of by noon the next day.

	The next morning as promised, Elrond left to go meet Riff at the 
edge of the village.  They had only been exploring the area for twenty 
minutes when their sensors picked up something.
	"What is it," asked Riff.
	Elrond studied the reading a moment longer.
	"I think it's a robotropolis attack force," Elrond said nervously.
	"We've got to get back and warn the village!" exclaimed Riff.
	The two ran back to the village as fast as they could go.

	Meanwhile, deep in The Great Forest, at the top secret freedom 
fighter village of Knothole, life was proceeding normally.
	Princess Sally was sitting in front of her communications monitoring 
console fixing a few things when it suddenly picked up a faint transmission 
on a coded frequency.  Dropping what she was doing, Sally had NICOLE break 
the code and display the resulting message on the screen:

PRIORITY MESSAGE TO ROBOTROPOLIS CENTRAL COMMAND

FROM: CMDR. PACKBELL
SERVICE NO.:  546003-3F

REPORT:
	SEARCH AND CAPTURE MISSION IS A SUCCESS.  CURRENTLY FINISHING 
OPERATION ON BLUEBROOK VILLAGE.  NUMBER CAPTURED AS OF THIS TIME -- 304.  
ESTIMATED TIME TO FINISH -- 5:00 MINUTES. . .

--- PACKBELL

	Realizing the urgency of the situation, Sally jumped up and ran to 
get the others.

	Meanwhile, the village of Bluebrook was in utter chaos.  Creatures 
were fleeing in every direction to escape the Swat-bots marching through 
the village.  Some tried to fight them, but it was a hopeless battle.  
Through the panic, Packbell walked confidently, taking pot shots at 
everything that moved, not really caring what he hit.  As he walked through 
the village, he relished the screams of terror and the sight of panicked 
creatures fleeing for their lives.  To a twisted mind like his, this was 
paradise.
	When it was finally over, he totalled up the captures as the 
surviving prisoners were marched into the transports.
	"25 foxes, 43 ferrets, 12 rabbits, 13 raccoons, and 5 hedgehogs," he 
noted to himself "not a bad score at all."
	He smiled a little as he turned and went back to his private shuttle 
to return to Robotropolis with his latest catch.

	A short while later, a stolen shuttle landed in the middle of what 
was once a village of peace.  Sally, Bunnie, Rotor, and Bookshire emerged 
as Sonic raced up to meet them.
	"We're too late," Sonic said "the place is deserted."
	The five were silent for a moment before Sally spoke.
	"Very well," she said "It looks like all that left is to clean up.  
Bunnie and I will check for anything salvageable.  Sonic, you can patrol 
the perimeter for danger.  Bookshire and Rotor will count the casualties."
	The five went about the grim task that Robotnik's forces left for 
them.

	"Well done, indeed, commander," Robotnik was saying "I'd promote you 
if you weren't already in one of the highest positions in the central 
command."
	"Of course, sir," responded Packbell.
	"So, since I can't promote you, you can just keep doing what you've 
been doing and be happy with that," said Robotnik.
	"Thank you, sir," answered Packbell flatly.  He turned on his heel 
and left, kicking Snively roughly to one side as he passed.
	Packbell went down to the main robotization center where those whom 
he had captured were being put through the Robotizizer.  As they went, 
some shouted defiance and threats, others begged for mercy and their lives, 
others simply cried.  Some where still in shock and remained silent.
	As Packbell watched, he noted two foxes with calm, collected 
expressions. Two who had apparently resigned themselves to their fate.  
Either that or they what to be Martyrs sacrificing themselves for their 
cause, thought Pacbell.
	"Oh well," he said to himself "too bad there's no one around to make 
a note of it for the history books."
	Pacbell turned and left the machines to their work.

	At the site of the ruins of what was once the village of Bluebrook, 
the freedom fighters continued with their tasks.
	Bookshire was crouched by a fallen creature looking for 
identification when Rotor walked up.
	"There are two more back behind that building," he said.
	Bookshire sigh in response.  He located and ID card and silently 
read it.
	"Riff Underwood, village leader," he said quietly "what a loss."
	"This is a nightmare," grumbled Rotor.
	"I know," responded Bookshire as he stood "Well, that just about 
does it, let's find Sally."
	
	Sally and Bunnie were picking through the wreckage looking for 
anything they might be able to use.  As they picked through the rubble of 
one of the houses, they suddenly heard a noise that sounded as if it had 
come from one of the back rooms.  The two walked carefully through the 
debris and into what must have, at one time, been a bedroom. The room wasn't 
quite as messy as the rest of the house.  Apparently, the bots didn't search 
it.  As they enter the room, Sally and Bunnie heard something under the 
bed.  When they bent down to look, a surprising sight met their eyes.
	Crouched under the bed with his face buried in his arms and 
trembling uncontrollably was a small fox that couldn't be any more than 
seven or eight at the most.  The two tried getting his attention, but it 
soon became obvious that he had been terrified out of his senses.
	"Bunnie," said Sally "we need to get at him.  Can you move this bed?"
	"Sure thing," replied Bunnie.  She seized the bed with her robotic 
arm and moved it easily to one side.
	As they knelt down next to him, Bookshire and Rotor entered.  They 
were momentarily startled by the appearance of a survivor, but they continued 
with their report.
	"We're all finished," said Rotor "we counted thirty-five."
	"Thank you very much," said Sally "This disaster, as you can see, has 
taken a new twist."
	Bookshire knelt down beside the fox and examined him.
	"Looks like extreme shock," he concluded.
	"Yes, that was my guess too," said Sally "Needless to say, we'll 
take him back to Knothole with us when we leave."
	"Good idea," said Sonic as he raced up "there's a swat-bot patrol 
heading this way."
	Bunnie picked up the fox and they ran back to the shuttle where they 
took off and headed back to Knothole at top speed.

	When they arrived back at Knothole, the fox had been placed in a 
spare room just adjacent to Sally's room where he began his recovery from 
the terrible events he had witnessed.  It wasn't until three days later that 
he came around and was actually conscious of his surroundings.  When he first 
opened his eyes, Sally and Sonic were sitting beside the bed.
	"You don't need to be afraid," Sally assured him "you're with 
friends."
	"Who are you?" the fox asked a little shakily.
	"My name is Sally, and this is Sonic," replied Sally "and what's 
your name?"
	"My real name is Miles, but I like Tails," Tails replied "Are you 
really Sonic the Hedgehog?"
	"Indeed I am," said Sonic "You've heard of me?"
	"Are you kidding?" exclaimed Tails, brightening up considerably 
"You're my hero!  Every time the traveling storyteller came to my village, 
he did nothing but talk about you!  Are you really as fast as they say you 
are?"
	"Am I fast!? Am I fast!?. . .,"began Sonic.
	Sally rolled her eyes.  Here we go again, she thought.
	"Is the sky blue, is dirt dirty?  I'm the fastest thing on the face 
of the planet!" said Sonic, proudly.
	"Wow," remarked Tails.  He was completely awestruck.  After all of 
the stories he had heard, he had finally met his hero.
	Oh well, thought Sally, at least that should make his recovery 
easier.

	And, in fact, the recovery went very smoothly.  It did take some 
time for Tails to come to terms with the fact that he had been separated 
from his parents and that it wasn't likely he'd see them again for quite a 
while, but he accepted it eventually.  His parents had taught him well to 
accept whatever life gave him.  It didn't mean he liked his situation, but 
he had accepted that that's the way it was.  During one of the first nights 
he spent in Knothole, he promised himself that he'd find his parents again 
one day, and, until then, he had good friends that would look out for him 
and take care of him until he did.  One day, he'd find them again.
	One day . . .


	Tails drifted of to sleep quietly that chilly night at the beginning 
of Summer. Those last words and the images of the past were that last things 
in his mind before it collapsed into sleep.
	Night passed in The Great Forest.  Every freedom fighter slept 
peacefully.  Each one held the dream that one day they would find true 
happiness again with loved ones they had lost.  each one waited patiently 
for that one day when peace would once again reign over Mobius and they 
would be able to live normal lives again.  Deep in their hearts, they knew 
that day would come.  All these things would almost certainly come to 
pass. . . 

. . . one day.


THE END