{"submission_id":"1395704","keywords":[{"keyword_id":"848","keyword_name":"airplane","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"512"},{"keyword_id":"9534","keyword_name":"amy rose","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"8629"},{"keyword_id":"2071","keyword_name":"anal sex","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"13894"},{"keyword_id":"1911","keyword_name":"badger","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"3243"},{"keyword_id":"390","keyword_name":"balls deep","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"358"},{"keyword_id":"636","keyword_name":"bareback","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"1007"},{"keyword_id":"5293","keyword_name":"bathtub","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"554"},{"keyword_id":"253","keyword_name":"blushing","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"18034"},{"keyword_id":"1990","keyword_name":"cocks","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2411"},{"keyword_id":"25857","keyword_name":"cock sucking","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"666"},{"keyword_id":"6080","keyword_name":"cock worship","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"912"},{"keyword_id":"4602","keyword_name":"crash","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"388"},{"keyword_id":"8539","keyword_name":"echidna","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"6946"},{"keyword_id":"11682","keyword_name":"eggman","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"494"},{"keyword_id":"33","keyword_name":"fox","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"135494"},{"keyword_id":"8665","keyword_name":"french kiss","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"371"},{"keyword_id":"236","keyword_name":"gay","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"77050"},{"keyword_id":"3582","keyword_name":"gay relationships","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"799"},{"keyword_id":"2096","keyword_name":"gay sex","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"5205"},{"keyword_id":"462","keyword_name":"handjob","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"5890"},{"keyword_id":"1008","keyword_name":"hedgehog","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"47837"},{"keyword_id":"1406","keyword_name":"injury","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"375"},{"keyword_id":"78","keyword_name":"kissing","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"9112"},{"keyword_id":"50","keyword_name":"kitsune","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"9209"},{"keyword_id":"10788","keyword_name":"knuckles the echidna","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2554"},{"keyword_id":"10308","keyword_name":"male/male","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"56670"},{"keyword_id":"5244","keyword_name":"males","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"28630"},{"keyword_id":"23842","keyword_name":"miles tails prower","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"6269"},{"keyword_id":"942","keyword_name":"m/m","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"26745"},{"keyword_id":"10792","keyword_name":"mobian","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"9118"},{"keyword_id":"3313","keyword_name":"monkey","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"4912"},{"keyword_id":"43862","keyword_name":"nipple play","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"588"},{"keyword_id":"27885","keyword_name":"nuzzling","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"323"},{"keyword_id":"4439","keyword_name":"oral sex","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"8301"},{"keyword_id":"44528","keyword_name":"recovery","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"78"},{"keyword_id":"461","keyword_name":"rimming","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"6188"},{"keyword_id":"20724","keyword_name":"shadow the hedgehog","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"8498"},{"keyword_id":"26306","keyword_name":"sonails","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"188"},{"keyword_id":"61518","keyword_name":"sonic adult","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2392"},{"keyword_id":"115764","keyword_name":"sonic boom","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"1642"},{"keyword_id":"7252","keyword_name":"sonic the hedgehog","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"29040"},{"keyword_id":"26944","keyword_name":"sontails","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"316"},{"keyword_id":"196592","keyword_name":"sticks the badger","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"840"},{"keyword_id":"42844","keyword_name":"tails the fox","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2738"},{"keyword_id":"338473","keyword_name":"valdis the bard","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"140"},{"keyword_id":"4511","keyword_name":"yaoi","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"8946"}],"hidden":"t","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"67","create_datetime":"2017-07-13 04:13:37.137544+02","create_datetime_usertime":"13 Jul 2017 04:13 CEST","last_file_update_datetime":"2017-07-13 03:23:29.308851+02","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"13 Jul 2017 03:23 CEST","username":"Valdis","user_id":"7322","user_icon_file_name":"151952_Valdis_vald_bard_by_r18_crop.png","user_icon_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/151/151952_Valdis_vald_bard_by_r18_crop.png","user_icon_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/151/151952_Valdis_vald_bard_by_r18_crop.png","user_icon_url_small":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/151/151952_Valdis_vald_bard_by_r18_crop.png","file_name":"1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","thumbnail_url_huge":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.jpg","thumbnail_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.jpg","thumbnail_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.jpg","thumb_huge_x":"300","thumb_huge_y":"288","thumb_large_x":"200","thumb_large_y":"192","thumb_medium_x":"120","thumb_medium_y":"115","files":[{"file_id":"1966983","file_name":"1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.doc","mimetype":"application/msword","submission_id":"1395704","user_id":"7322","submission_file_order":"0","full_size_x":null,"full_size_y":null,"screen_size_x":null,"screen_size_y":null,"preview_size_x":null,"preview_size_y":null,"initial_file_md5":"6913ccca9db67ecef996b74fa91fc766","full_file_md5":"6913ccca9db67ecef996b74fa91fc766","large_file_md5":"","small_file_md5":"","thumbnail_md5":"5c719ebff714f054feb84aace9579843","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2017-07-13 03:23:29.308851+02","create_datetime_usertime":"13 Jul 2017 03:23 CEST","thumbnail_url_huge":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.jpg","thumbnail_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.jpg","thumbnail_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1966/1966983_Valdis_rough_ridings.jpg","thumb_huge_x":"300","thumb_huge_y":"288","thumb_large_x":"200","thumb_large_y":"192","thumb_medium_x":"120","thumb_medium_y":"115"}],"pools":[{"pool_id":"38487","name":"Writing - Sonic","description":"Join Sonic, Tails and Friends for amorous (mis)adventures!","count":"12","submission_left_submission_id":"1195702","submission_left_file_name":"1704218_valdisfoxy_tms_chap_05_departures_and_arrivals.doc","submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1704/1704218_valdisfoxy_tms_chap_05_departures_and_arrivals.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1704/1704218_valdisfoxy_tms_chap_05_departures_and_arrivals.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1704/1704218_valdisfoxy_tms_chap_05_departures_and_arrivals.jpg","submission_left_thumb_huge_x":"300","submission_left_thumb_huge_y":"294","submission_left_thumb_large_x":"200","submission_left_thumb_large_y":"196","submission_left_thumb_medium_x":"120","submission_left_thumb_medium_y":"118"}],"description":"Good lord... it's been entirely too long since the last writing, but better late than never! A [i]lot [/i]has transpired since [i]Ten Miles of Shadow 7[/i], the majority of it good, bits of it terrifying, but onward goes the indelible march. Life, as I've often said, is much too short to be spent unhappily. Lost a sister, gained a daughter, returned home to Hawai'i a second time (Tails plush and all), dried myself mostly out, lost weight and made some [u]truly wonderful and amazing friends[/u] along the way (go squad!) whom I now consider family. Trying to write fiction with all [i]that [/i]going on feels a lot like taking a laptop or tablet on a roller coaster going [i]eighty fucking miles an hour.[/i] But happily, it slowed down just enough to let me finish our next little (mis)adventure.\n\nSo what's going on with the boys this time? We're in the [i]Sonic Boom[/i] universe (a funny, sassy little show that deserves a peek or a second chance if you haven't given one) with the the usual suspects taking center stage: a two-tailed fox, his blue blur beau and a supporting cast of assorted salty nuts. Will snark and naughtiness ensue? Bad puns? Dick jokes? Why even ASK--of course they will! So put on your best goggles and sports tape, ready your latest inventions, shake your fist at that dastardly Eggman, check your lube supply and then dive head first into slippery shenanigans in [i]Rough Ridings![/i]\n\nSonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Sticks, Shadow, Eggman & Co. ©TM SEGA / Sonic Team\nGuest OC Dmitri belongs to numbah one monkey son @lmonkey\nThumbnail from art I commissioned from the talented Team @ZoomSwish\n\t\n[i]Please note, Miles \"Tails\" Prower is aged up to consent in all my writing, thanks.[/i]","description_bbcode_parsed":"Good lord... it's been entirely too long since the last writing, but better late than never!  A lot has transpired since Ten Miles of Shadow 7, the majority of it good, bits of it terrifying, but onward goes the indelible march.  Life, as I've often said, is much too short to be spent unhappily.  Lost a sister, gained a daughter, returned home to Hawai'i a second time (Tails plush and all), dried myself mostly out, lost weight and made some truly wonderful and amazing friends along the way (go squad!) whom I now consider family.  Trying to write fiction with all that going on feels a lot like taking a laptop or tablet on a roller coaster going eighty fucking miles an hour.  But happily, it slowed down just enough to let me finish our next little (mis)adventure.

So what's going on with the boys this time?  We're in the Sonic Boom universe (a funny, sassy little show that deserves a peek or a second chance if you haven't given one) with the the usual suspects taking center stage:  a two-tailed fox, his blue blur beau and a supporting cast of assorted salty nuts.  Will snark and naughtiness ensue?  Bad puns?  Dick jokes?  Why even ASK--of course they will!  So put on your best goggles and sports tape, ready your latest inventions, shake your fist at that dastardly Eggman, check your lube supply and then dive head first into slippery shenanigans in Rough Ridings!

Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Sticks, Shadow, Eggman & Co. ©TM SEGA / Sonic Team
Guest OC Dmitri belongs to numbah one monkey son \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlmonkey\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlmonkey\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Thumbnail from art I commissioned from the talented Team \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tZoomSwish\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tZoomSwish\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\t
Please note, Miles "Tails" Prower is aged up to consent in all my writing, thanks.","writing":"[t]Rough Ridings[/t]\nby Valdis the Bard\n\n[b]Disclaimer and warning.[/b]  [i]This story is entirely fictional and for entertainment purposes only.  I do not own the SEGA / Sonic Team characters and no monetary gain was made or sought. Any original characters (OCs) belong to their respective creators. Story contains adult themes and explicit depictions of sex (e.g. gay, anthropomorphic, yaoi). Read no further if you are under the age of eighteen, live where such material is not legal or find such topics offensive. Author accepts no responsibility whatsoever to any who ignore this disclaimer.  This work is free to share, in whole or in part, unaltered and with proper credit.  Enjoy! --Valdis, July 2017[/i]\n\n “Seriously? Now? I thought we went over this,” sighed the pink hedgehog, fingers to headset as she sat squinting amongst the monitors in the workshop. “Okay, so he agreed to go on a date. [i]One[/i] date. That does not make you guys an ‘item’, Tails. And I still don’t see the thermal magnetic signature thingies you’re talking about. Your scanners are on, right?”\n\n “Scanners are go,” nodded Tails, the fox flying high in the Tornado many miles to the west, his bangs and goggle straps flapping in the chilly winds aloft. “I’ll lose some altitude, see if that helps.” Eyeing his gauges, the young pilot banked under fluffy clouds and approached the vast lava fields at the base of the volcanic peaks that crowned the island’s high, rugged interior. “The feed should be coming through on monitors five and six. But I should warn you Amy,” he smirked, jauntily adjusting his goggles, “any magnetism you see might just be coming from [i]me.”[/i] \n\n “Oh brother,” mumbled Amy, shaking her head as she slid her chair to the other monitors. “Okay, got it. Thermal on five, magnetic on six. Thermal… uh, I see some heat from your engine. And a bunch of hot spots out in the lava fields. Magnetic shows… ha! Nothing.” Leaning back, she examined her nails. “Kinda like your little crush.”\n\n “Rush? I can’t,” puzzled the fox, steadying his approach as steep, scrubby cinder cones passed on either side. “Flying is dicey up here and a decent scan is gonna take a while.”\n\n “You heard me,” huffed Amy, eyeing the receiver. “But you’re right. It’s been weeks and this is still the best lead we’ve got. Assuming Eggman’s even behind the quakes, that is.” \n\n “It’s has to be him,” nodded the fox, his brow furrowing. “I mean, the guy straight up vanishes, then earthquakes start rattling the island? At regular intervals, no less? However he’s doing it, we need to shut him down. For good!” The fox paused and smiled, fine tuning his flight path. “Besides, I got a date coming up. I’ll be jittery enough as it is.”\n\n “Well, since we have a little time,” offered Amy, adjusting her monitors, “maybe I can help set you straight. Er--no pun intended.” \n\n “None taken,” crackled the reply.\n\n “That’s not how that works. [i]Any[/i]way,” the pink hedgehog cleared her throat and gestured thoughtfully. “Let’s get past all this earthquake stuff and pretend Sonic wasn’t just playing around when he agreed to go on a date with you. Even though he totally was. You guys are probably just gonna grab a burger, hang out and play video games. Right?”\n\n “Well… maybe,” shrugged the fox, flipping switches and monitoring monitors. “What’s wrong with that?”\n\n “Because you do it [i]all the time,”[/i] asserted Amy. “There’s no effort, no panache. Where are the flowers? The nice outfits? The fancy restaurant? A date should be special. I bet you guys don’t even brush your teeth or change out of your sports tape. Assuming Sonic doesn’t just flat out forget. Now then--” \n\n “Forget!?” frowned the fox, cocking an eye. “He wouldn’t just blow me off like that, he’s still my best friend! I’m starting to think your assumptions are full of sh--”\n\n “NOW then,” interrupted Amy, twirling a finger, “you end up going steady yadda yadda yadda. What would you bring to the table relationship-wise?” The hedgehog pointed to her palm. “First off, Sonic’s not a geek. So forget about him sharing your interest in tech. Or math. Or electronics. Or engineering. Okay, ANYthing involving a book that doesn’t have pictures. Second, you’re a full head shorter and--what--five years younger? Six? The villagers aren’t stupid, you know.” Amy paused for a moment. “Okay, maybe they are. But they’re still going to notice when Sonic is suddenly dating a guy. A kid for that matter.” \n\n “I am NOT a kid!” growled the fox, checking the scanner feed. “I have a pilot’s license! Combat experience! Scuba certification! I can… I can fry an egg! Watch unrated movies! And I’m old enough to want someone special in my life.” The fox huffed and calmed himself. “We’ve made out, you know. Guys have needs.”\n\n “Oh, I did not need to picture that,” snickered Amy, shaking her head. “Okay, my bad. You’re not a kid. But everyone still sees you as the sidekick. Sonic’s little buddy. Player two if you will. But boyfriends? Like, all out and holding hands and kissing and stuff? People might freak.”\n\n “Oh, how awful for them,” waved the fox, shaking his head. “First off, it’s none of their damn business. But if they can’t hack seeing two guys or two gals or whatever, then that’s their problem. Not mine. Second, it’s not like Sonic and I have been hiding it. We’ve lived liked a couple for years. Live, work, eat, sleep, everything. Heck, people barely even notice anymore.”\n\n “I guess,” nodded Amy, checking her cuticles. “Times really have changed, haven’t they? Personally, I always thought you’d hook up with Zooey.”\n\n “Not my type,” chuckled Tails, noticing a slight blip on the screen and nudging the Tornado in its direction. “And I don’t mean the whole she’s-a-girl thing. I’m saying a box of rocks could outsmart her. And if it really is personality that counts, it helps to--you know--to HAVE one.”\n\n “Ouch,” laughed Amy. “Yeah, I gotta give you that one. We went out a few times, believe it or not. She’s pretty cute, takes good care of herself, but the conversations… wow. Mostly I was just like ‘meh’.”\n\n “Whoa!” blinked Tails, eyes going wide. “So you too, huh? Details, girl, details! Did you--” A sudden large flash on the screen caught his eye, snapping him back to the task at hand. “Hang on, I’m getting something on the magnetic. You see it yet? Look northwest of me.”\n\n “Checking,” nodded Amy, carefully scanning. Her eyes went wide too. “Whoa! I see it. It’s… it’s huge! Looks like big circular pipe under there or… a tunnel system, maybe? Was there an old base here at one time?”\n\n “My topo and aviation maps go back to settlement days, that’s not supposed to be there,” cautioned Tails. “It’s a couple hundred meters across at least. I’m gonna take a closer look.” As the fox dove, the vast, brooding, pockmarked expanse rose up, filled end to end with twisted lava, deep craters and cracks hissing with steam. “Weeeiiiird,” squinted the fox, his nose wrinkling at the warmer, sulfurous air. “I see some rock walls down here too. A bunch has been piled up, and some of these lava vents are new. It’s almost like someone diverted lava to cover the structure, but it only went so far and they had to improvise.”\n\n “That’s crazy,” whispered Amy, squinting at the screen. “And incredibly ambitious.” \n\n “Sounds like Eggman to me, wouldn’t you say?” The fox pulled up and prepared to circle back. “Getting anything in thermal?”\n\n “The structure itself is much cooler than the surrounding lava,” observed Amy. “Like it’s insulated. Or absorbing the heat. But when I switch over to magnetic--she clicked a switch for the fox--bam!” \n\n “Lights right up,” nodded Tails grimly, circling back with the peaks looming behind. “If I had to guess, I’d say we’re staring at a giant electromagnet.” As the Tornado banked closer still, the gauges began to fluctuate, erratically at first, then wildly. The surprised fox tapped at them. “What the--? Yeah, I’m getting major interference from it, too. Listen, I think we have our suspect. I’m gonna make one more pass with all scanners on max. We’ll capture some high resolution images to show the others. We’ve go* *et t* the bott** ** **is b*for* ***e’s *noth** e****quake!”\n\n “Uh, Tails?” puzzled Amy, tapping the earpiece. “Please repeat, you’re really breaking up. Bottom? Quake?” A long, staticy pause passed. “Tails, do you read me?”\n\n “It’s fine, just getting some chop. I’ll boost the feed.” Tails shook his head as the Tornado began to pitch and shudder harshly. Wrestling with the controls, he cut his thrust and leveled off. “Hey Ames, got any more dating tips?” The plane lurched violently. “WHOA! That was a good one, hehe.” \n\n “Just worry about staying airborne, fly-boy,” chuckled Amy. “Oh, Tails. You’re such a sweetheart. You really want my advice? Just do what your heart tells you is right. But remember, it’s [i]your[/i] heart. So don’t let him break it, okay?” she smiled. “Good luck, Tails. I mean it.”\n\n “Really??” perked the fox, holding onto his goggles as the turbulence intensified. “Oof-- Thanks, Amy! That means--nnnhh!--a lot to me. Ugh, come on baby, stay level. So, uh, tell me. What’s the--uhhh!--what’s the best way to a hedgehog’s heart?” \n\n “Stay focused,” offered Amy, patching in her tablet. “Mission now, girl talk later.”\n\n “Right,” nodded the fox, blushing and flipping more switches. “Okay, magnetic, thermal, infrared, x-ray, ultraviolet, all scanners are go. Commence full sweep!” Ignoring the spastic gauges and flying by sight, Tails managed to steady the Tornado enough as the suspect area pulled back into view. Multiple fresh images flashed brightly to life on his monitor, accompanied by several warning lights. Grinning, he cockily adjusted his goggles. “Ha! So much for your ‘hidden’ fortress, Eggbutt. No one outfoxes [i]this[/i] fox.”\n\n “It’s coming in!” Amy excitedly enlarged the images flooding her tablet. “I see pipes, cables, duct work, wiring, power sources, rooms, all kinds of stuff under that rock!” She frowned and squinted closer. “Uh, Tails? Something’s moving just now, too. About four or five objects, a meter or so across. They look to be metal.”\n\n “Bots,” squinted Tails grimly. “I see them now too. No obvious weapons though, they’re probably just maintenance droids. Do you see any heat signatures? Is Eggman down there?”\n\n “No, they’re all cold,” shook Amy, biting her nail. “But I’ve seen enough. I’m with you, Tails. This HAS to be it. Capturing it now, give me a few more seconds. Then it’s time we rendezvous with the others.”\n\n “Agreed,” nodded the fox, reaching for a small metal canister. “I’m just gonna leave a little calling card first, hehe.” Flicking a switch, he tossed the cylinder overboard, nodding with satisfaction as he watched it plummet, then clatter across the target. “Location pinger away! Bombing this thing’s gonna be a piece of cake. How’s the signal?”\n\n “Loud and clear!” nodded Amy, swiping her tablet a few times and stuffing it into a pack. “All images captured! We’d better hurry, that thing might be gearing up for another quake. See you at rendezvous!”\n\n “Ten four, see you there! Tornado out.” As he signed off, a coughing fit gripped the fox, an odd pulling sensation appearing in the pit of in his stomach. His nose burned and he felt a bit dizzy. “Ugh! Eggman or not, this place literally stinks. Can’t wait to climb out of these fumes.” Gripping the controls for a hard climb, he instead found them completely immobile. Puzzled pulls and pushes in other direction were also refused, the rudder, flaps and elevators frozen as if welded in place. “Hey! What gives!?” Tails grunted as he tried still harder. A few basic checks found nothing. He calmly reached for the cover protecting the master manual override. The tiny metal flap felt freakishly heavy and barely gave way, but he managed. A push of the switch did nothing. “Well [i]that’s[/i] not good. Amy? You still there?”\n\n No answer. A new go at the controls proving fruitless, he systematically began shutting down scanners, sensors, anything not essential for flight, but this too did nothing. Warning lights proliferated as the engine revved, then sputtered, then revved again, hastening the plane’s downturn and choking his lift. The altitude plummeted violently, sending butterflies to his stomach and rousing a strange voice. [i]Pull up! Pull up! Pull up! Pull up! Pull up! Pull--[/i]. He overrode the alarm, but the controls were unrepentant. As the ground rose closer, he thought it prudent to ready his ‘ejector seat’, which consisted of making sure the velocity was slow enough to safely jump from the plane and fire up his namesakes. Pressing the release button on his harness, he found it as immobile as the controls, with no amount of force coaxing it open. “Okay, this is bad.” Trying the radio, he was greeted by a cacophony of ear-splitting pops, cracks and feedback, hurriedly shutting it off in favor of his wrist communicator. “Sonic? Team B? Mayday, repeat, mayday! This is Captain Prower of the Tornado, declaring an emergency. Lost all flight controls. Mayday, mayday, mayday!”\n\n Untethering her pink hoverboard, a Amy froze as she heard the distress call. The quills over her neck stood on end. Raising her wrist, she saw the icon for Tails flashing urgent red; the ones for Sonic, Knuckles and Sticks were grayed out, the other team still maintaining radio silence on their mission. “Tails!? What’s happening?” yelled Amy, her face growing tingly and hot with adrenaline.\n\n “Amy, is that you?” panted the anxious fox in the tiny viewer, the clouds and peaks pitching nauseously behind his head. “I’ve lost all flight controls. Nothing metal will budge! Some kind of magnetic--” At that moment, the engine finally died with a loud bang, leaving only the sound of rushing wind and labored breathing as the seconds ticked by. Tails coughed and shook his head as smoke appeared in his wake. “Lost engine now, too. I’m gonna try for an emergency landing!”\n\n “Emergency landing? Out there!? Tails, no!” urged Amy. “Jump! Bail! Don’t try to save the plane, just ditch it! Fly yourself someplace safe, we’ll come find you!”\n\n “I can’t,” strained the fox, shaking his head and tensing as the ground loomed nearer. “Harness latch won’t budge! I tried cutting the straps but my knife, it… it just flew from my hand. I can’t even move!”\n\n “Tails? Listen to me,” ordered Amy, calming herself. “You’re going to be all right. Now I want you to--”\n\n “No time, gotta brace!” crackled the communicator, showing only the side of the smoke-filled cockpit. “Tell Sonic I--” \n\n Amy gasped, covering her mouth as the impact assaulted her ears. The dreadful thuds, crumpling metal and battered yelp were cut mercifully short, her screen darkening to a soft, crackling hiss. She hailed him again and again, then the others, but got no reply. Her entire face was hot, almost burning. Her ears rang. Her chest felt tight, her legs like jelly. Steeling herself, she took a deep breath and ran back inside, stuffing bottled water, a survival pack and a medical kit into her pack before grabbing her hammer on the way out. “Hang on little bro!” Leaping atop her hoverboard, she kicked its tether aside and rocketed away at top speed.\n\n[i]Meanwhile, outside Eggman’s main lair...[/i]\n\n “Well that sucked,” sighed Sonic, cheek on hand as he lay partially hidden behind a rocky ledge opposite Eggman’s fortress, where very next to nothing had happened since dawn. A muscular red echidna and be-skirted badger lay belly-down on sleeping bags to either side, clutching binoculars as they spied on the tall metal doors dominating the view. “I haven’t seen this little action since Casino Night Zone tried to ban gambling.”\n\n “The drinks were still free,” shrugged Knuckles, who stretched and yawned, wiping his eyes. “But I do see your point. This was like watching someone watch paint dry. Guys? We’ve rolled snake eyes. Eggman’s not here.”\n\n “That poor snake,” nodded Sticks, setting down her binoculars and waving dismissively at the silent fortress. “You’re right, though. No Eggy today.” \n\n “Usually no news is good news with that guy,” offered Sonic, sitting up and brushing off his chest. “But we gotta find him, and soon. Maybe Amy and Tails had better luck.” \n\n “Hope so,” nodded Knuckles, rolling up their sleeping bags. “But if I had to guess, the only thing they’ll find in the lava barrens is lava. And barrens, of course.” The echidna rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “What’s a barren?” \n\n “Your brains is barrens,” smirked Sticks. “[i]I[/i] still say if Eggy has an earthquake maker, he hid it all the way up there...” the badger’s eyes grew to conspiratorial moons as she pointed to the sky and whispered, “in space.”\n\n “You think anything weird has to do with space,” chuckled Sonic, slinging his pack over his shoulder. “Missing socks. Pickled eggs. People who hang toilet paper in the ‘under’ position. Lame. Are you sure you’re not from space?”\n\n “You can’t disprove it,” frowned Sticks, hands on hips. “That birth certificate you got me is a forgery!”\n\n “I’m telling you,” sighed Sonic, adjusting his gloves, “Tails already checked that angle. He patched in satellites and telescopes from all over the world. Scanned for days! Trust me, there’s nothing in orbit that doesn’t belong there. Which means the only places left to search are underground and...” Sonic shuddered, rubbing his arm apprehensively. “Underwater. Which [i]I[/i] sure as heck don’t want to tackle, thank you very much. We’ll leave that to Shadow and his crew. Who knows, maybe a nice long swim will wash off some of the emo.” \n\n “A good plan, but I have bad news,” frowned Knuckles, rummaging through the party’s knapsack. “The chips and candy bar supply is totally depleted. And there’s only one can of soda left.” The echidna peered in and slumped in defeat. “It’s diet.”\n\n “Eww!” winced Sonic, mirroring Sticks. “Must’ve grabbed it by mistake. Amy and Tails love that stuff. It’s about the only thing they agree on.”\n\n “They agreed on dating you,” grinned Sticks, tossing her binoculars in the bag before booping Sonic playfully on the nose. “Don’t think we haven’t noticed. I’m totally jelly of propeller-butt now.”\n\n “Oh, not this again,” groaned Sonic, patting the disappointed echidna’s broad shoulders. “I’m too busy for that stuff, Sticks. Eggman’s still at large. And who knows what other dangerous nincompoops might turn up? We’ve got butts to kick, ungrateful villagers to protect and reputations to uphold. The mush can wait.”\n\n\n “Nice speech dude!” smiled Knuckles, patting Sonic’s back before packing more gear. “But really, you guys don’t need to hide it. We love you just as you are, man. I mean, I just sorta assumed you and Tails were a thing, you know? You both seem like the type.” \n\n “Definitely both the type,” nodded Sticks to Knuckles. “And very well said.” The two bumped fists before continuing their work as Sonic blinked in disbelief. \n\n “Seem like the type!? What’s that supposed to me--” Stopping himself, Sonic closed his eyes, held up his hands and took a deep breath. “Not gonna go there. I’m team leader, and I say we’re gonna pack it in and head for the rendezvous. You guys can make up alllll the scandalous nonsense you want on your own time.”\n\n “Rats! I was hoping to use these,” mumbled the badger, glumly packing away a ceremonial dagger, a satchel of bones and a small Eggman voodoo doll. “Next time, Eggy. Next time.”\n\n Sonic smiled and stretched his hamstrings. “Well, at least we got some rest, right? Now we just need a better plan.” The hedgehog struck a conciliatory tone. “Tell you what. Let’s work on it tonight over some burgers and ice cream. My treat! You know, for making you lay out here on the rocks all day. Even though this whole reconnaissance thing was [i]technically[/i] Amy’s idea.”\n\n “You’re on!” Sticks high-fived Sonic as the group started walking down the trail. “My charm bracelet says there’s a double cheese and a triple scoop in my near future.” \n\n “Count me in,” grinned Knuckles, hoisting the last of the gear. “Oh, wait. Weren’t you and Tails gonna have like, a guys’ night out or something? Like a date?”\n\n Sonic blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh that,” he chuckled. “Yeah, I-- I guess I forgot. It’s just a thank-you dinner, really. You know, for all the work he did on the house. We’ll grab a burger, hang out for a bit, no big whoop. I’ll just invite everybody so we can all work on the plan.” \n\n “Aww, you’re inviting us to go along on your date? That’s so sweet!” smiled Sticks, hugging her pack and grinning ear to ear.\n\n “Thank-you dinner,” said Sonic flatly. “Though now it’s officially a group planning dinner, I guess.”\n\n “Yeah, dates are fun,” nodded the badger, smiling as she poked her finger on the perturbed hedgehog’s chest. “’Cos that’s what it is, you know. You boys can call it what you like, hiding behind straw mans and protecting fragile man-egos like Amy says. But badger noses don’t lie. And I smells romance!”\n\n “Or maybe it’s bromance,” offered Knuckles, patting the nonplussed hedgehog’s shoulders. “The internet says that’s a thing nowadays. I’m no romaticologist, but you guys have always been pretty cute together.”\n\n “Are we even in the same conversation!?” snapped Sonic, slapping the top of his head. “This is Tails we’re talking about. Right? My best friend? Hero to most? All around good guy?” Cheeks reddening, the hedgehog sighed and looked to the sky, twirling his hand as he searched for the right words. “Okay, so we’re tight. But we always have been! That doesn’t mean we-- The thing is-- Look, I’ll tell you guys all about it when I know for sure myself. For now though, Tails and I have a lot we still need to talk about. And we kinda want to keep things private. Not just for our sakes, but the team’s as well.” \n\n “Amy’s still getting over him,” whispered Sticks to Knuckles, the pair nodding knowingly. “You think they’ve made out yet?”\n\n “What? No!” huffed Sonic, looking away and adjusting the tape on his wrists. “We’re trying to keep this professional, unlike [i]some[/i] people.” \n\n “That’s funny, my seeing stones tell me you’re fibbing,” pondered Sticks, raising her amulet towards the hedgehog. “Oh man, it’s a whopper, too.”\n\n “Foolish nonsense,” groused Sonic, folding his arms and marching silently down the trail.\n\n “That’s a great Shadow impression,” offered Sticks, the smiling badger taking the echidna’s hand and playfully swinging it as they followed. “So how does it work when it’s two boys, Knuckles? Do they flip a coin to see who gets to be the girl?”\n\n “Hmm… I think you have to call it, like riding shotgun,” pondered Knuckles, rubbing his chin. “Or maybe rock paper scissors?”\n\n “More like cock paper scissors,” tittered the badger, the echidna roaring with laughter as they slapped paws. \n\n “Does the… the loser have to swallow his pride?” snickered Knuckles, wiping a tear as the stumbling, giggling duo fell further behind.\n\n “Hey! Less jabber, more walky, you two!” called Sonic as he turned on his wrist communicator. “We better check in with Amy and Tails before we rendezvous. Just in case they need--”\n\n “Help!” The startled group froze on the trail as a worried, wind-whipped Amy appeared on Sonic’s screen from atop her hoverboard. “Team B, PLEASE come in! This is an emergency!”\n\n[i]Meanwhile, at the lava barrens...[/i]\n\n All was still where the crumpled, smoldering fuselage lay creaking on its side, its wings and propeller shorn away. The dark, sparsely vegetated lava flows fanning in all directions made for a dire canvas, painted with skid marks, wreckage, a pair of smashed goggles and small patches of burning fuel. And yet, the Tornado’s carcass had largely preserved its helpless pilot, knocked out during the carnage. Bashed but breathing, the grimy fox hung limply on his side in the harness, his bangs blowing about in the sulfur-tinged breeze as he groaned his way back to consciousness.\n\n “Uhhhggghhh.... what happened? Amy?” Groping for the radio, he felt only frayed wires where it once was. The reek of burning fuel and melting insulation alerted his nose, snapping him further awake as flames licked along the wires and cables spilled like entrails throughout the cockpit. With eyes and lungs already burning, he did not relish the idea of being roasted and pawed anxiously at the harness. The mysterious force now gone, the release readily gave, plopping him atop the glassy, unforgiving rock. Ignoring the fresh cuts, he wobbled to his feet, but one of his legs seared with pain below the knee. The opposite wrist and forearm were almost as angry and swollen to distressing proportions. Neither limb wanted anything to do with physical exertion and the pain nearly pushed him back to all fours. “Ah! Worse than I thought,” he hissed, cradling his arm and lurching forward. “But I need distance.” Spinning his tails to life, he was relieved his namesakes had been spared, though the effort sent pain ricocheting everywhere else. He was scarcely airborne when the fire found the fuel tank.\n\n Wincing as the fireball bellowed behind him, the injured flier spied a lone island of vegetation. It wasn’t especially big, but it was within easy reach and a veritable oasis compared to the surroundings. Lush folds of soft ferns, damp moss and green grass cushioned his ailing body as he gingerly touched down and crawled to the shady center. Propping himself against one of the small trees, he raised his bad arm for inspection and found his communicator smashed to bits. “Well, at least the band is still good,” he chuckled tiredly. Some quick work on the band, his glove, a dried stick and some sports tape produced a passable sling as the plane burned down in the distance. Proud of his handiwork, he rewarded himself with a piece of mint candy from his belt and water squeezed from handfuls of spongy moss. “Now, what to do about that leg?” He wasn’t immobilized, but moving his leg brought intense pain. Even if he could make headway on foot, there was no clear path out of the barrens, an unfriendly, deceptive hellscape known to swallow up careless hikers. He decided to rest for a bit. \n\n As darkness fell, the fox’s body grew stiff, cold and unhelpful. Still no one came. “There’s just nothing for it,” he sighed, tapping his head against the tree. “They could pass right over me and not see anything. There’s no point building a fire, there’s hundreds of glowing, smoky pits out here. If I’m going to escape, it’ll have to be by my own two tails.” With the help of the moonrise and a few stars, the fox oriented himself and checked the prevailing winds. “Ha! Good, wind’s out of the north, no storms around. Point in my favor, [i]Eggman.[/i] You may have ruined my plane. AND my date. Jerk. But I’m still in the game. And so are my friends!” \n\n The moon reflected in his bright blue eyes as he shivered and watched his breath hang in the air. “Man, for a lava field it sure gets cold at night. Sure wish Sonic was here. His arms feel so good around me. Mmmmm… and those sweet hedgehog kisses, hehe.” Taking a deep breath, he psyched himself up for the ordeal at hand and formed a plan. “Okay. My best shot is a series of short hops. East to Red Hill. There might be hikers there. If not, south to Fern Forest, there’s farms up there. In any case, find help and drinkable water ASAP.” Gritting his teeth through the pain, he hoisted himself up on his good foot and and revved his tails. Dizzy just from standing, he struggled for lift, the vibrations to his leg especially painful. They quickly brought nausea and ringing ears. “Ooooohhh,” he grunted, clutching his stomach and trying harder. “Not now, body. J--just get me out of here. We’ll negotiate the rest later… there, that’s it!” Gaining a few inches, he suddenly faltered, coming down on his bad leg and yelping as he paid the price and lost tail thrust.\n\n As his namesakes came to a rest, the tearful, panting fox teetered on his foot, his voice low and weak. He groped for the tree, but it wasn’t in the same spot as before. “Uhhhgghh… I-- I don’t think-- I don’t feel so goooUUUHHH…” Eyes rolling back, the fox passed out into an overgrown crevice, the mass of moss and ferns swallowing him whole.\n\n\n[i]Some Weeks Later...[/i]\n\n Sitting up in bed and leaning back against Sonic, Tails tensed as the doctor peeled the freshly cut cast from the his arm. The lab coat-clad monkey casually tossed the empty shell atop the leg cast he’d removed just minutes earlier. “See?” grinned the dapper doc. “Just like cracking crab legs. Nice and easy. Now let’s see how things have healed.”\n\n “Ugh, they’re so stiff. And itchy!” complained the fox, rubbing his freed forearm and flexing his toes. “Are they okay, Dr. Mitri? It all feels so weird and weak.”\n\n “Also it stinks!” squinted Sticks, plugging her nose as Amy gently shushed her.\n\n “It’s going to be a tender for a little while, yes,” nodded the suave simian, who palped, prodded and flexed the recovering limbs. Tails’ blue hedgehog backrest held the fox’s hips as all watched the procedure with equal concern. “But x-rays don’t lie and I’m satisfied everything has healed properly.”\n\n “Oh man, what a relief!” smiled Sonic, pecking the top of Tails’ head. “Awesome work, doc!”\n\n “Thank you,” smiled the monkey, sanitizing his hands and packing away instruments. “And yes, hard casts [i]do[/i] get a little funky, but that’s nothing a nice hot bath won’t cure.” Catching a whiff, the monkey winked at Tails. “In fact, I’d do that first, it’ll help your muscles too. Doctor’s orders. Now then Tails, I want you to ease yourself back into regular activities. Short walks, light chores, yoga, that sort of thing. Let your strength return gradually. No tossing anvils.” The doctor patted Tails’ thigh and smiled as he rose to his feet and took his bag. “All right, I’m off. Give me a call if you have any problems and I’ll check up you in a couple of weeks.”\n\n “Thanks for all your help, Dr. Mitri,” smiled Tails, wiggling his freed digits. “Oh! Before you go, is it safe for me to fly?”\n\n “Your plane crashed and burned, remember kiddo?” winked Knuckles, patting Tails’ thigh. “Are you sure you didn’t get a touch of amnesia?”\n\n “Nah, he probably just forgot,” added Sticks.\n\n “I meant fly with my tails,” sighed the fox as Sonic chuckled and rubbed his sides. “I know my plane is toast, trust me. I was there when it happened.”\n\n “Hmmmm…” Dr. Mitri pulled a banana from his lab coat and thoughtfully scratched his chin with the tip before peeling it. “I won’t say no. In fact, the exercise should do you good. But I want you to go easy, same as the other stuff: no cargo, no passengers, no high altitudes.”\n\n “Aww. Yes, doctor,” nodded the fox, a bit downcast.\n\n “And absolutely NONE of that combat stuff you hero types are into. Not for a few weeks anyway. Doctor’s orders.” He punctuated his advice with a stern chomp of banana.\n\n “With all due respect, [i]Doctor,”[/i] offered Amy, “Our foes don’t factor in our health when they attack. Eggman’s still at large, we need Tails at the ready. He’s our air support and most of our field tech. He’s not a kid, he can handle himself.” Amy turned and winked at Tails, who smiled wide and winked back.\n\n “You just don’t like working with Shadow, Ames,” chuckled Sonic, rubbing Tails’ shoulders. “You guys were [i]still[/i] arguing when we all hit the earthquake machine. Knuckles had to pull you two out of the way mid-explosion, hehe. It was really kind of awesome, now that I think about it.”\n\n “That guy’s such a primo Madonna,” sniffed Sticks.\n\n “Shadow and I get along just [i]fine,[/i]” smiled Amy through gritted teeth. “For an egotistical, middle-aged emo with separation anxiety disorder, he’s decent enough in a fight.” \n\n “He’s actually really nice if you give him a chance,” smiled Tails. “He’s taught me and Sonic all kinds of stuff. Martial arts, surveillance, high explosives, baking cupcakes… great kisser, too.” \n\n “Yeah!” nodded Knuckles. “Wait, what?”\n\n “Uh, he captured some really valuable technical specs too!” offered Sonic hastily. \n\n “I just wish I could’ve been there to see Eggman’s machine get blown sky high,” shrugged Tails, wiggling his toes. “At least the Tornado got avenged, hehe.”\n\n “The manhunt is still on dude,” offered Knuckles. “There’s a bounty and everything! Since you can’t fight for now, you could ride on my shoulders and help me search. I’ve got a fistful of fist for that guy. We can go all Master Blaster on his ass!”\n\n “I’m up for it!” nodded Tails, slapping the smiling echidna’s offered hand. “We can take him alive with my new cruelty-free anti-fugitive invention, the Super Stick E-9000 HyperSpurt Goo Bazooka!”\n\n “So gay,” whispered Sticks into Amy’s ear, the pink hedgehog slapping her hand over her mouth and convulsing with trapped laughter.\n\n “AHEM,” coughed the monkey. “As I said, no combat. For now.” Polishing off the banana and pocketing the peel, he pulled out a piece of paper and offered it to Amy. “I even wrote a note. Sorry about the stains.”\n\n “To all concerned,” squinted Amy. “My patient, Miles ‘Tails’ Prower, is hereby excused from heavy lifting, Olympic sports, combat duty or similar exertion for three weeks. Bring this note in for ten percent off your next appointment. Easy terms, no monkey business! Free saltwater taffy if paying in cash. Call 1-800-DR-MITRI today.” Amy rolled her eyes and sighed as she handed the note to Tails, who motioned for the doctor to lean in and whispered in his ear.\n\n “Oh! I see,” nodded the doctor, listening intently. “Sure, that should be fine. It’s not exactly combat, not for most couples anyway,” he chuckled, standing back up. “Just don’t stress your limbs. I recommend side-by-side or the cowgirl position. I’m assuming this handsome blue fellow is the lucky partner, yes? Blue, make sure you use plenty of lubricant. Bit of a size difference going on here and you seem like the athletic type. All right?”\n\n “Doctor!” Tails’ eyes went wide as Sonic blushed and laughed with the others. “Yes or no would’ve been fine!” His cheeks flushing bright red, the fox turned and hid his face against Sonic’s chest. \n\n “Thanks for all your help doc,” winked Sonic, petting Tails’ head. “And for the uh, you know. Free advice.”\n\n “Oh, it’s not free,” chuckled the monkey, zipping his bag shut and heading to the door. “Not by any stretch of the imagination. But that’s your insurer’s problem. See you in a couple weeks, Mr. Prower. Ciao!” Still snickering and wiping their eyes, the others watched as the monkey waved from the walkway and straddled his luxury unicycle.\n\n “You know what I hate?” chuckled Knuckles, waving to the departing doc. “Not having enough lube, amirite? Oh, and that really awkward bit when you’re waiting for everyone else to leave so you and your main squeeze can have shenaniga--”\n\n “OKAY GUYS I THINK TAILS NEEDS TO REST NOW,” stammered Sonic, shooing the others to follow in the doctor’s footsteps. “Yeah, he’s had a long day. I’ll help him get ready for bed.”\n\n “But it’s only four,” smirked Amy, eyeing Sonic suspiciously. “Early risers, huh?”\n\n “Fine, it’s time for a bath then,” huffed Sonic, holding the door open. “Come on, you heard the doctor, monkey’s orders. Er-- doctor’s orders. Take care guys, we’ll see you tomorrow at breakfast!” Walking gingerly to Sonic’s side with newly freed limbs, Tails waved cheerfully while giving Sonic’s rump an unseen squeeze. “On second thought, let’s make it brunch.”\n\n “Bah!” frowned Sticks, waving dismissively at the shutting door. “You were right Knuckles, that IS awkward. Well, screw those guys! They can play butt pirates all they like, I don’t plan my life around them.”\n\n “I do,” slumped Knuckles sadly.\n\n “Ugh. Maybe Mark the Tapir wants to get drunk tonight,” sighed Amy, checking her phone. “It’s better than nothing.”\n\n Bag in hand and balancing perfectly on his unicycle, Dr. Mitri cocked an eye at the downcast trio. “Hey there third wheels,” he smiled. “Don’t mind your friends there. They’re clearly in love and doubtless want to act on it. Let ’em! Speaking of which, my lovely bat is out of town visiting his parents, anyone want to grab a smoothie with me down at the new arcade bar? I recommend the strawberry double banana. My treat.”\n\n “Really?” asked the trio in hopeful unison.\n\n “Doctor’s orders,” winked the monkey.\n\n[i]Some wet, naked minutes later...[/i]\n\n “Wow, that was kind of awkward back there,” observed Tails, adding hot water to the oversize tub where he and Sonic had finished scrubbing one another. “I don’t know why the guys keep teasing us for being… you know. Boyfriends. It’s like some terrible fan fiction, hehe.” \n\n “But I like this chapter,” smiled Sonic gently, the hedgehog sinking and splaying in the steamy water as he admired the fox’s soft shoulders and back. “I’ll never forget your face at the clinic when you saw all the flowers.” \n\n “If there’s one thing you can make, it’s a statement,” smiled Tails, shutting off the water and sliding face-to-face into the hedgehog’s open arms. “‘Get well badass boyfriend’ almost didn’t fit on the banner, hehe. And I thought Dave’s Bakery didn’t do rainbow cakes?”\n\n “Amy twisted a few arms,” chuckled Sonic, embracing the fox’s slender frame and squeezing him close. “Actually, she twisted one arm. Hard. Quite hard, really. I should probably send a card at some point. Anyway, I was just happy YOU recovered, foxy-butt. I was really worried you might say no. Or think I was just joking and laugh me out of the room.”\n\n Taking the hedgehog’s hands, Tails looked into Sonic’s face with a tender blush. “You’re silly, yes. But never a joke, Sonic. Not to me.”\n\n The hedgehog replied with long, deep, loving kiss. “Mmmff… my dashing pilot paramour,” he nuzzled. “Fantastic fox. Sexy sidekick. Vivacious vulpine! Umm...” Sonic thoughtfully caressed the fox’s slender hips as the pair giggled. “Oh! I know! How about Smiles Prower?” he winked.\n\n “Smiles Prower!?” guffawed Tails, his face contorting as if he had chugged castor oil. “Don’t you dare!” he snickered, reaching between their bodies to gave Sonic’s package a firm squeeze. “Not if you want me to touch [i]this[/i] again.” \n\n “Let’s just stick with ‘Tails’ then,” nodded Sonic, slowly hardening in the fox’s exploring hands as he kneaded the pert, rounded fox buns. “It’s a beautiful name,” he kissed the fox on the nose and whispered, “and I really, really want you to keep touching me.”\n\n “Mmm… good answer,” smiled Tails softly, eyes drawing to relaxed slits as their bodies mingled, the fox’s smaller curved member rousing and pressing wetly into the hedgehog’s. The pair slowly frotted as the fox nibbled under the hedgehog’s jawline. “Wasn’t much I could do for you in those casts. But now I’m free...” The fox rubbed Sonic’s chest, circling his digits over the hedgehog’s wet, erect nipples as they kissed again, deeply, lips and cocks pressing together needfully. “And alllll yours.”\n\n Sonic’s large, fit hands ran up and down Tails’ sides before one slipped in to fondle and cup the fox’s cute curved erection, the head of Sonic’s own sizable shaft poking up between the fox’s legs. “Hehe, someone’s eager. That makes two of us. Mmmff...” Sonic planted a series of tender kisses all over the moaning fox’s tender neck and sweet face. “You wanna do it?”\n\n “More than anything,” grinned Tails, tightly squeezing Sonic’s shaft between his thighs. Reaching up, he rubbed the velvety base of Sonic’s ear between thumb and forefingers, bringing a deep, pleasured moan. The small but powerful caress worked like a tranquilizer dart, the hedgehog’s face drooping in relaxation as he swooned appreciatively. “But first, I want to get you alllll worked up. So when the time [i]comes[/i],” Tails’ ocean blue eyes twinkled with Sonic’s emerald ones. “You’ll shoot as long and hard as can be, deep inside me. Hedgie like?”\n\n “Hedgie like!” huffed Sonic, face flushed and longing as he caressed Tails’ feather-soft cheek and firmly squeezed the fox’s buns.\n\n “Good boy,” grinned Tails, patting a tiled ledge meant for scrubbing. “Here. Sit.” He licked his lips as the hedgehog’s hard cock and handsome blue orbs rose steaming from the water. Splayed comfortably, Sonic watched intently as Tails cupped his loose, relaxed sack, squeezing as the other hand stroked the hero’s fat, spongy pole. Erect himself, the young fox focused entirely on the other male, admiring his silky foreskin as it slid over the flared glans and coaxed a large bead of pre from the tip. Slowly licking away the sugary pearl, he proceeded to rub the hedgehog’s veiny cock all over his soft face, nuzzling and kissing from head to shaft to hilt to balls, then back again. He savored its warmth and texture. The clean, masculine scent. How heavy it felt against his lips and cheeks. The spongy girth in his grip. Knowing [i]he[/i] was the reason it was so hard. He was salivating now, his throat drawing tight with anticipation. Meeting Sonic’s gaze, he licked up the underside of his prize and circled his tongue around its head. “I’ve been dreaming about this,” he exhaled hotly. \n\n “Mmmhmm,” nodded Sonic breathlessly, his heart thumping away as he throbbed and leaked more pre against the fox’s long, pink tongue. “So… what happened in foxy’s dream?”\n\n Tails answered by opening wide and taking the bulk of the hedgehog’s proud cock into his mouth, moaning loudly as his soft lips sealed around its girth. “Mmmmmfffff...” He held still for a moment, letting the size, shape and taste register with his senses as his tongue slid and curled against the spongy underside.\n\n Exhaling sharply, the open-mouthed hedgehog licked his lips and watched, ears flattening as he throbbed within the fox’s warm, wet mouth. Wasting no time, Tails began to suck with an enthusiasm that betrayed his tender years. “Ooooohhh… Tails! Y-yeah!” Gaining confidence, the fox fellated deeper until his nose tickled Sonic’s crotch, the hedgehog's fat, leaky tip tickling its way into the fox’s throat. The fox’s higher pitched moans of arousal and satisfaction vibrated Sonic’s flesh and mixed with the hedgehog’s grateful grunts. He could feel the hungry fox’s tongue lap the underside of his cock with each upward bob, especially the engorged, sensitive head. “Nnnggghhh... foxy!” he huffed, chest rising and falling, belly growing taut. He reached up and caressed the fox’s bulging, feather-soft cheek. “So good… where did you learn that?”\n\n “I had a naughty mentor,” panted Tails softly, slapping the hedgehog’s saliva-coated cock against his tongue. “Back when you were still dating Amy.”\n\n “Oh, is that so?” chuckled he hedgehog, humping softly against the fox’s face. “Anybody I know?”\n\n “Mmmaaayyybe,” winked the fox, licking all the way down Sonic’s pole. “He kinda keeps to the shadows.” The fox turned the hot water again.\n\n “I knew it!” grinned Sonic, biting his lower lip. “So, my fox knows how to be slutty, huh? Awesome. Did he show you any other little tri-- [i]oh sweet chaos yes, suck my balls fox, yes, YESSS!”[/i] gasped Sonic, caught off guard as his big blue orbs vanished, one after the other, into the fox’s mouth. Ears folded, cheeks red and bulging, the horny vulpine rolled and licked and sucked the hedgehog’s full, hefty jewels with gusto, losing himself in the act as the room filled entirely with steam. Resisting an urge to masturbate, he slid his hand over the hedgie’s taut belly and heaving chest, finding and rolling a hardened nipple between thumb and forefinger as he slowly stroked Sonic’s leaking pole. “Yeah! Oh, you [i]like[/i] those big ol’ hog nuts, don’t you?” hissed Sonic, licking his lips and bucking his hips towards the pleasure. “Getting me so worked up… I’m gonna guh-- [i]give[/i] it to you, but good!”\n\n Allowing the tightened orbs to slip from his mouth, Tails squeezed Sonic’s cock as he lapped and licked lower, over the hedgehog’s bluish-pink pucker and narrow, fit taint, the fox’s button nose bumping blue sack as the hedgehog squirmed and moaned wildly. The fox felt Sonic’s cock throb, spitting a semi-clear shot of fluid as he reached the very brink. “Mmm, someone’s really close,” he smiled, carefully grasping the loaded rod at its base. “Would you like to come in my mouth?”\n\n “Spoken like a true fox,” huffed Sonic happily, caressing Tails’ velvety ear as the fox blew soothing cold air against his loaded rod. “We’ll save that treat for round two. Right now, I want to that tight little foxhole of yours! Let’s hit the sack, though. We’re supposed to be careful.”\n\n “Doctor’s orders,” murred the fox, standing and rubbing his hard, curved tool against Sonic’s as they kissed again. A hurried rinse-and-dry later, the slightly damp duo bounded to bed, hand in hand with erections wagging. Flopping gratefully back into the cool piled pillows, Sonic pulled Tails atop himself, caressing and kissing his fox for all he was worth. His namesakes draped elegantly aside, the fox’s mouth hosted hedgehog tongue, slipping and twirling excitedly with its counterpart, while dexterous digits squeezed and probed the fox’s pert buns and warm, pink star. “Ohhhhh….” moaned the fox, a strand of saliva briefly connecting his lower lip to Sonic’s. “That’s naughty. Our cocks, rubbing together... while you touch my… my…” \n\n “Your [i]boy pussy?”[/i] rumbled Sonic, reaching up and gently flicking Tails’ nipple. The words hit their mark. He could feel the fox’s entire body tense as Tails closed his eyes, moaned and writhed against the hedgehog’s body. “This right here?” teased Sonic, firmly rubbing the fox’s anus in circles with two fingertips. “Such a tight little pussy. And I’m gonna stuff it full of nice, hard hedgehog cock.”\n\n “Y--yes!” cried Tails, hiding his hot, flushed face against the hedgehog’s shoulder and wiggling his rump. “You’re gonna [i]do[/i] me, aren’t you, Sonic? Nnnfff… I’m a slutty little vixen… please…”\n\n Nodding eagerly, Sonic grabbed a bottle of lubricant from the bedside table and gave it to Tails, who sat up and squeezed a generous portion on his fingers. \n\n[b][Sonic looks to the camera as he slowly strokes Tails’ cock] “This part’s important, guys. Always use plenty of high quality lube for anal, especially if you’re inexperienced. Make sure it’s water soluble and specifically formulated for sex with or without a condom. A good technique is to finger some inside yourself, or have your partner do it. Show ’em, Tails.”[/b]\n\n His namesakes swept elegantly aside, Tails fingered himself slick, adding more lube to his perineum before slathering the rest on the hedgehog pole prodding him from behind. Tossing the bottle aside, he guided Sonic’s tip to his prepared posterior. Slowly he sat, brow furrowing as the leaking, fat cockhead demanded entry, slowly prying open his hot, slick, pink ring. “Uhhhnnn! Oooooohhhh… you’re almost in, Sonic! Mmmmm…. just… just let me go at my own speed, okay? I’m still recovering and… well, you’re thick.”\n\n “No one ever said I was a genius,” winked the hedgehog, holding back the urge to thrust into the pinkness slowly slipping over his cock, licking his lips and gently prying the fox’s buns apart. “This’ll help. Take it niiiiice and slow.”\n\n “Ooo… AHH!” Tails gasped as Sonic throbbed inside him. “Ohhhhhhhhhh… [i]Sonic...”[/i] His eyes welled with tears of pleasure and long-pent release as he let go of Sonic’s shaft and leaned back, savoring the hot, spongy thickness snaking into his tunnel. The pleasures of penetration brought throb after throb to his own erection, leaking at it jutted cutely over Sonic’s belly. “Hnnnnggg… you feel so good inside me…” Blinking, Tails realized he could lower no further as beefy blue balls nestled snugly against his fuzzy, bi-colored buns.\n\n “Wow,” grinned Sonic, lacing fingers with the fox as the other hand slowly stroked and fondled his fox-cock. “It’s all in, hehe. Are you okay?”\n\n “More than okay,” moaned Tails, eyes drawn to dreamy slits. “I feel every part of you.” \n\n Sonic tenderly kissed his hand. “Here we go, beautiful.” The softly panting fox began to grind on Sonic’s impaling cock, slowly at first, acclimating to the intensely hot, stretchy sensation stuffing his insides. It wasn’t long before he was bouncing happily up and down most of Sonic’s length, the hedgehog huffing encouragements and tugging the fox’s curved cock. \n\n Without warning, Sonic flipped the surprised fox backwards into the bed and grabbed the giggling vulpine’s upturned ankles. “I can go deeper like this,” he panted, feeling up the fox’s cock, balls, taint and soft inner thighs. “Mmmff… it’s time.” Pulling out, he slapped his cock against Tails’ stretched foxhole and soft taint, rubbing his fat head against the fox’s tightening ball sack. “Foxy like, huh? Tell me. Who does this belong to?”\n\n Tails’ face felt fiery and hot. The act of being dominated sent waves of tingly anticipation flying through his compact frame. His cock strained, leaking anew just from the hedgehog’s voice. “You… it belongs to you, Sonic!” \n\n “Again,” grinned Sonic, plunging his cockhead into Tails’ flower, pulling out and idly stuffing it again, ending with a firm slap to the ass.\n\n “Yours!” Tails swallowed hard and squirmed with red-faced delight as he tugged himself. “I belong to you, Sonic! All of me… I’m yours!”\n\n “Good boy,” grinned Sonic, guiding his cock back to the presented pink foxhole. “There’s no me without you, player two.” With that, the hedgehog pushed himself back inside, the loudest moans yet wafting beyond the walls of the house. Blue buttocks blurring, the hedgehog’s prick pounded Tails balls-deep, hitting his prostate and fucking the fox towards hands-free orgasm. \n\n “Yeah! Guh--GO, Sonic!” huffed the fox, his hard, wagging cock starting to pulse and spray on its own. “You’re hitting my spot! You’re-- I’m-- Sonic! I’m gonna COME!!”\n\n “Yeah! Shoot, foxy! Come for me!” he cried, the hedgehog’s drum-tight nuts poised for release as they rapidly smacked the fox’s fuzzy upturned rump. He could feel Tails’ climax arrive as the fox’s ring rhythmically gripped his thrusting cock. [i]“Ohhhhh fffffoxy...”[/i] Red faced, flushed and sweaty, Sonic fucked feverishly as a powerful orgasm coiled inside and released--thunderously. “Uuuuaaahhhh!! Coming too!! HUUUAHH!! HUUUAHH!! HUUUAHH!! OH, TAILS!!” Buried to the very hilt, Sonic unleashed, copiously flooding the fox with powerful jets of thick, ropey seed. Forcibly filled, Tails shot too, his boyish, high-pitched moans mingling with the hedgehog’s athletic, growly grunts. Fox cum arced repeatedly, splashing his belly, chest, neck, face and further. Lacing fingers, the soaked, panting pair smiled and blinked at one another their shared orgasm gradually ebbed, bodies basking in the afterglow and the heady mix of sweat, saliva and semen. Keeping Sonic inside him for as long as he could, Tails curled his quivering legs around Sonic's waist, the hedgehog flopping atop him for a final deep, wet kiss. \n\n Whatever remained to be said that night, it was said through their eyes, by warm bodies entwined and dreaming through the night as the moon and stars silently kept watch.\n\n[i]Epilogue.[/i]\n\n Doubling as magistrate, the village mayor angrily waved his gavel before the packed courtroom. “Doctor Eggman, these charges are serious! The acts of which you stand accused are utterly immoral, belligerent and inexcusable! They’re also malicious, vile and depraved! Not to mention a teensy bit illegal.” The jury murmured as Sonic, Tails, Amy, Sticks and Knuckles glared at their longtime mustachioed foe from the witness stand. “To that end, the court is very grateful to Sonic and his friends for their heroic efforts in taking out Exhibit A, the so-called earthquake machine, and in apprehending the accused, Dr. Eggman. It’s my understanding he was apprehended without incident using…” The mayor squinted at a notecard on his bench. “Something called the Super Stick E-9000 HyperSpurt Goo Bazooka. Most ingenious.” Grinning wide, Tails and Knuckles high fived one another. “However,” cautioned the mayor, scratching his chin on the gavel’s head, “since no one actually [i]saw[/i] the accused install or operate the earthquake machine, and there being no physical evidence tying him to the crime scene, I regrettably have no choice but to drop all charges.” The riveted courtroom gasped and murmured angrily as the gavel banged. \n\n “Good to see justice served!” grinned Eggman, his feet kicked up on the banister as he smugly brushed his rust-colored mustache. His two robotic attorneys nodded eagerly and whispered amongst themselves. “I’ll be leaving now, unless this kangaroo court has any further inconvenience they wish to heap upon me.”\n\n “That’s racist!” said a lone kangaroo in the jury.\n\n “With no due respect your honor, are you totally brain dead!?” protested Sonic, standing and waving his arms. “Or just regular gullible and stupid? That I can totally see, to be quite honest. Seems pretty common around here. No offense.”\n\n “We’re offended!” hollered the kangaroo as the others nodded.\n\n “I’ve told you a dozen times today, Sonic,” snorted the mayor, waving his gavel. “No more outbursts! I understand your frustration, but I’ve also a good mind to throw your blue butt in jail for contempt of court.” \n\n “It’s not really contempt of court if the judge isn’t really a judge,” observed Amy to another collective gasp. The mayor turned and opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “And before you say it, judging pie eating and bikini contests totally does NOT count.” Closing his mouth, the mayor sat and frowned. “Look,” sighed Amy. “It’s VERY simple. The earthquake machine literally had Eggman’s nameplate on it. It even had a freaking model number!”\n\n “The EggSterminator Mark V Earthquake-O-Matic,” offered Eggman helpfully, the jury nodding and muttering agreement. “Platinum Edition. But you see, I didn’t actually build the thing. I just read about it in the newspaper.”\n\n “We have a whole hour of video footage of Eggman fighting Sonic for control of the machine,” sighed Tails, cheek in palm. “We just watched it this morning!” \n\n “He threatened to earthquake us. Right to the camera!” shouted Sticks, pointing at the accused. “Then he went all Scooby Doo said he would have gotten away with it if only it hadn’t been for us meddling mobians.” \n\n “Yeah, he said exact the same thing on lunch break today,” nodded Knuckles matter-of-factly, patting the badger’s shoulder. “I mean, I don’t like shaming people, but Eggman? Dude, I’m starting to think you really get off on all this evil guy stuff.”\n\n “I will confess,” pointed Eggman, pulling his feet off the banister as the entire courtroom gasped anew. “That spicy boiled egg potato salad today was devilishly good. Goes great with fried chicken! If anyone has the recipe, please email it to me.” The courtroom collectively slumped. \n\n “Enough! Hearsay and happenstance!” guffawed the Mayor, banging his gavel again. “I’ll have no more disruptions. This man is innocent until proven guilty and we have failed to do that. The fact of the matter is, the writer was lazy and forgot to add a prosecutor to this epilogue. We have to let Eggman go.”\n\n “Well said your honor,” nodded Tails, standing and taking a respectful tack. “And I’m certainly not the first fox to forget something obvious. But does justice really need to be led by the nose? Eggman confessed to the whole thing when he got caught. He posted highlights of his evil plan on social media. There’s even an unabridged audio transcript that you can download for ninety-nine cents!”\n\n “Bah! Clearly the work of hucksters, trying to cash in,” shrugged Eggman, lacing his fingers together. “People post fraudulent drivel on the internet all the time. Isn’t that what it’s for?” The gallery mumbled and nodded agreement, as did Sonic’s group. “For all you know, that machine was put there by ancient aliens.”\n\n “I [i]knew[/i] it!” thundered Sticks, the badger glowering at the enlarged picture of the destroyed base. “Those aliens are always messing with us! Eggy might be a jerk, but he’s not the guilty this time. Let’s catch those aliens and put THEM on trial instead!” The courtroom murmured again as the mayor and robot attorneys nodded agreement. Scattered clapping began. Grinning wide and twirling his mustache, Eggman slowly got up to leave. \n\n As the mayor raised his gavel, the courtroom doors banged loudly open. All eyes directed their gaze to a tall, dark figure silhouetted in the doorway. Imposing and angular, it proved to be a hedgehog, pausing before he strode confidently down the center aisle. The color of blood-streaked obsidian, he wore immaculate white gloves, shiny gold bracelets and angular hover shoes. A large, futuristic sidearm sat in a holster strapped to his muscular thigh.\n\n “Shadow? Whoa, great timing as always, man,” beamed Sonic, shooting a pair of ‘gun’ gestures at the dark hedgehog. “You look fantastic.” The courtroom at large, including Eggman and his attorneys, murmured and nodded agreement. \n\n The imposing hedgehog crossed his arms and smirked, his voice low, smooth and confident. “Thank you, Sonic. It is good to see you again. Though you would have known I was coming if you bothered to check your texts.” The room was riveted. He cleared his throat and faced the mayor. “I apologize for interrupting these… proceedings, such as they are. But my agency has unfinished business with the inventor of the so-called earthquake device. Or, to use the official trademark name, the EggSterminator Mark V Earthquake-O-Matic. Ah! There he is.” A sinister grin crept across Shadow’s face. “I’ll be taking you into custody now, Doctor.”\n\n “Protect me, you fools!” bellowed Eggman to his attorney bots, but as Shadow glared at them, both bots quivered, then compacted themselves into briefcases that clunked uselessly to the floor.\n\n “This is most irregular!” hollered the Mayor, waving his gavel about. “Shadow, you’ve no jurisdiction here. Let’s face it, you're barely IN this particular franchise! I have a good mind to--”\n\n “To silence yourself,” interrupted the hedgehog, his icy stare hushing the pudgy bureaucrat. “G.U.N. has jurisdiction over any matters concerning terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, espionage and other sufficiently egregious crimes. As a petty authority, you should be well acquainted with that fact. Now please be on your way. Unless you care to have me to measure the precise depth of your posterior with my shoe.”\n\n “He’s all yours, Shadow. Good luck!” grinned the mayor, scurrying from behind the bench and tossing his gavel into the trash before bolting out the door. The assembled throng sat and listened as the mayor slammed his car door, started the vehicle and peeled off.\n\n “Doctor?” Shadow thumbed behind himself and folded his arms again. “Kindly head to the shuttle. It’s outside the door, you can’t miss it. It’s the big black one that’s two stories tall filled with twenty well-armed G.U.N. agents awaiting my next command. They’ll be expecting you.” The onyx hedgehog walked over to Tails as the corpulent villain rose and plodded dejectedly to the door.\n\n Tails ran to Shadow and hugged him tight. “I knew you’d come! Thanks for answering my texts, we need to work together more often.”\n\n Shadow smiled and caressed the fox’s cheek. My pleasure, foxy. I’m still quite upset that you got hurt. But had it not been for you, bravely scouring the barrens at close range, Eggman would have continued to evade us all. Permit G.U.N. to replace the Tornado and your lost equipment. Farewell, brave fox. I [i]shall[/i] be in touch,” he smiled. “With the both of you, of course.” \n\n “Whoa! Thank you, Shadow!” waved Tails affectionately, the riveted courtroom sharing a dreamy sigh. \n\n “We’ll be waiting,” winked Sonic, taking Tails’ hand.\n\n “Keep things warm for me,” winked Shadow, smiling confidently over his shoulder as he turned away with a casual two-fingered salute.\n\n “Bah! This ending’s totally gay!” chided Eggman, arms crossed as he tapped his foot impatiently for Shadow at the door.\n\n “Why wouldn’t it be?” muttered Shadow, striding alongside to the shuttle. “Now shush. It’s pizza night at the G.U.N. detention center. And I know you’ll want to have seconds and thirds per usual.”\n\n “And those little roundy puddings, too?” asked Eggman hopefully.\n\n “And those little roundy puddings too,” nodded the hedgehog.\n\n Eggman placed his arm around Shadow’s shoulder as they boarded, the shuttle engines roaring to life. “I suppose an all expenses paid indoor vacation will do me some good. If nothing else, it'll get me away from those hero flakes for a while. You’re the best, Shadow.”\n\n \"Hmmph.\"\n\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Rough Ridings
by Valdis the Bard

Disclaimer and warning.  This story is entirely fictional and for entertainment purposes only.  I do not own the SEGA / Sonic Team characters and no monetary gain was made or sought.  Any original characters (OCs) belong to their respective creators.  Story contains adult themes and explicit depictions of sex (e.g. gay, anthropomorphic, yaoi).  Read no further if you are under the age of eighteen, live where such material is not legal or find such topics offensive.  Author accepts no responsibility whatsoever to any who ignore this disclaimer.  This work is free to share, in whole or in part, unaltered and with proper credit.  Enjoy!  --Valdis, July 2017

       “Seriously?  Now?  I thought we went over this,” sighed the pink hedgehog, fingers to headset as she sat squinting amongst the monitors in the workshop.  “Okay, so he agreed to go on a date.  One date.  That does not make you guys an ‘item’, Tails.  And I still don’t see the thermal magnetic signature thingies you’re talking about.  Your scanners are on, right?”

       “Scanners are go,” nodded Tails, the fox flying high in the Tornado many miles to the west, his bangs and goggle straps flapping in the chilly winds aloft.  “I’ll lose some altitude, see if that helps.”  Eyeing his gauges, the young pilot banked under fluffy clouds and approached the vast lava fields at the base of the volcanic peaks that crowned the island’s high, rugged interior.  “The feed should be coming through on monitors five and six.  But I should warn you Amy,” he smirked, jauntily adjusting his goggles, “any magnetism you see might just be coming from me.”  

       “Oh brother,” mumbled Amy, shaking her head as she slid her chair to the other monitors.  “Okay, got it.  Thermal on five, magnetic on six.  Thermal… uh, I see some heat from your engine.  And a bunch of hot spots out in the lava fields.  Magnetic shows… ha!  Nothing.”  Leaning back, she examined her nails.  “Kinda like your little crush.”

       “Rush?  I can’t,” puzzled the fox, steadying his approach as steep, scrubby cinder cones passed on either side.  “Flying is dicey up here and a decent scan is gonna take a while.”

       “You heard me,” huffed Amy, eyeing the receiver.  “But you’re right.  It’s been weeks and this is still the best lead we’ve got.  Assuming Eggman’s even behind the quakes, that is.”

       “It’s has to be him,” nodded the fox, his brow furrowing.  “I mean, the guy straight up vanishes, then earthquakes start rattling the island?   At regular intervals, no less?  However he’s doing it, we need to shut him down.  For good!”  The fox paused and smiled, fine tuning his flight path.  “Besides, I got a date coming up.  I’ll be jittery enough as it is.”

       “Well, since we have a little time,” offered Amy, adjusting her monitors, “maybe I can help set you straight.  Er--no pun intended.”  

       “None taken,” crackled the reply.

       “That’s not how that works.  Anyway,” the pink hedgehog cleared her throat and gestured thoughtfully.  “Let’s get past all this earthquake stuff and pretend Sonic wasn’t just playing around when he agreed to go on a date with you.  Even though he totally was.  You guys are probably just gonna grab a burger, hang out and play video games.  Right?”

       “Well… maybe,” shrugged the fox, flipping switches and monitoring monitors.  “What’s wrong with that?”

       “Because you do it all the time,” asserted Amy.  “There’s no effort, no panache.  Where are the flowers?  The nice outfits?  The fancy restaurant?  A date should be special.  I bet you guys don’t even brush your teeth or change out of your sports tape.  Assuming Sonic doesn’t just flat out forget.  Now then--”  

       “Forget!?” frowned the fox, cocking an eye.  “He wouldn’t just blow me off like that, he’s still my best friend!  I’m starting to think your assumptions are full of sh--”

       “NOW then,” interrupted Amy, twirling a finger, “you end up going steady yadda yadda yadda.  What would you bring to the table relationship-wise?”  The hedgehog pointed to her palm.  “First off, Sonic’s not a geek.  So forget about him sharing your interest in tech.  Or math.  Or electronics.  Or engineering.  Okay, ANYthing involving a book that doesn’t have pictures.  Second, you’re a full head shorter and--what--five years younger?  Six?  The villagers aren’t stupid, you know.”  Amy paused for a moment.  “Okay, maybe they are.  But they’re still going to notice when Sonic is suddenly dating a guy.  A kid for that matter.”  

       “I am NOT a kid!” growled the fox, checking the scanner feed.  “I have a pilot’s license!  Combat experience!  Scuba certification!  I can…  I can fry an egg!  Watch unrated movies!  And I’m old enough to want someone special in my life.”  The fox huffed and calmed himself.  “We’ve made out, you know.  Guys have needs.”

       “Oh, I did not need to picture that,” snickered Amy, shaking her head.  “Okay, my bad.  You’re not a kid.  But everyone still sees you as the sidekick.  Sonic’s little buddy.  Player two if you will.  But boyfriends?  Like, all out and holding hands and kissing and stuff?  People might freak.”

       “Oh, how awful for them,” waved the fox, shaking his head.  “First off, it’s none of their damn business.  But if they can’t hack seeing two guys or two gals or whatever, then that’s their problem.  Not mine.  Second, it’s not like Sonic and I have been hiding it.  We’ve lived liked a couple for years.  Live, work, eat, sleep, everything.  Heck, people barely even notice anymore.”

       “I guess,” nodded Amy, checking her cuticles.  “Times really have changed, haven’t they?  Personally, I always thought you’d hook up with Zooey.”

       “Not my type,” chuckled Tails, noticing a slight blip on the screen and nudging the Tornado in its direction.  “And I don’t mean the whole she’s-a-girl thing.  I’m saying a box of rocks could outsmart her.  And if it really is personality that counts, it helps to--you know--to HAVE one.”

       “Ouch,” laughed Amy.  “Yeah, I gotta give you that one.  We went out a few times, believe it or not.  She’s pretty cute, takes good care of herself, but the conversations… wow.  Mostly I was just like ‘meh’.”

       “Whoa!” blinked Tails, eyes going wide.  “So you too, huh?  Details, girl, details!  Did you--”  A sudden large flash on the screen caught his eye, snapping him back to the task at hand.  “Hang on, I’m getting something on the magnetic.  You see it yet?  Look northwest of me.”

       “Checking,” nodded Amy, carefully scanning.  Her eyes went wide too.  “Whoa!  I see it.  It’s…  it’s huge!  Looks like big circular pipe under there or… a tunnel system, maybe?  Was there an old base here at one time?”

       “My topo and aviation maps go back to settlement days, that’s not supposed to be there,” cautioned Tails. “It’s a couple hundred meters across at least.  I’m gonna take a closer look.”   As the fox dove, the vast, brooding, pockmarked expanse rose up, filled end to end with twisted lava, deep craters and cracks hissing with steam.  “Weeeiiiird,” squinted the fox, his nose wrinkling at the warmer, sulfurous air.  “I see some rock walls down here too.  A bunch has been piled up, and some of these lava vents are new.  It’s almost like someone diverted lava to cover the structure, but it only went so far and they had to improvise.”

       “That’s crazy,” whispered Amy, squinting at the screen.  “And incredibly ambitious.”  

       “Sounds like Eggman to me, wouldn’t you say?”  The fox pulled up and prepared to circle back.  “Getting anything in thermal?”

       “The structure itself is much cooler than the surrounding lava,” observed Amy.  “Like it’s insulated.  Or absorbing the heat.  But when I switch over to magnetic--she clicked a switch for the fox--bam!”

       “Lights right up,” nodded Tails grimly, circling back with the peaks looming behind.  “If I had to guess, I’d say we’re staring at a giant electromagnet.”  As the Tornado banked closer still, the gauges began to fluctuate, erratically at first, then wildly.  The surprised fox tapped at them.  “What the--?  Yeah, I’m getting major interference from it, too.  Listen, I think we have our suspect.  I’m gonna make one more pass with all scanners on max.  We’ll capture some high resolution images to show the others.  We’ve go* *et t* the bott** ** **is b*for* ***e’s *noth** e****quake!”

       “Uh, Tails?” puzzled Amy, tapping the earpiece.  “Please repeat, you’re really breaking up.  Bottom?  Quake?”  A long, staticy pause passed.  “Tails, do you read me?”

       “It’s fine, just getting some chop.  I’ll boost the feed.”  Tails shook his head as the Tornado began to pitch and shudder harshly.  Wrestling with the controls, he cut his thrust and leveled off.  “Hey Ames, got any more dating tips?”  The plane lurched violently.  “WHOA!  That was a good one, hehe.”

       “Just worry about staying airborne, fly-boy,” chuckled Amy.  “Oh, Tails.  You’re such a sweetheart.  You really want my advice?  Just do what your heart tells you is right.  But remember, it’s your heart.  So don’t let him break it, okay?” she smiled.  “Good luck, Tails.  I mean it.”

       “Really??” perked the fox, holding onto his goggles as the turbulence intensified. “Oof--  Thanks, Amy!  That means--nnnhh!--a lot to me.  Ugh, come on baby, stay level.  So, uh, tell me.  What’s the--uhhh!--what’s the best way to a hedgehog’s heart?”

       “Stay focused,” offered Amy, patching in her tablet.  “Mission now, girl talk later.”

       “Right,” nodded the fox, blushing and flipping more switches.  “Okay, magnetic, thermal, infrared, x-ray, ultraviolet, all scanners are go.  Commence full sweep!”  Ignoring the spastic gauges and flying by sight, Tails managed to steady the Tornado enough as the suspect area pulled back into view.  Multiple fresh images flashed brightly to life on his monitor, accompanied by several warning lights.  Grinning, he cockily adjusted his goggles.  “Ha!  So much for your ‘hidden’ fortress, Eggbutt.  No one outfoxes this fox.”

       “It’s coming in!”  Amy excitedly enlarged the images flooding her tablet.  “I see pipes, cables, duct work, wiring, power sources, rooms, all kinds of stuff under that rock!”  She frowned and squinted closer.  “Uh, Tails?  Something’s moving just now, too.  About four or five objects, a meter or so across.  They look to be metal.”

       “Bots,” squinted Tails grimly.  “I see them now too.  No obvious weapons though, they’re probably just maintenance droids.  Do you see any heat signatures?  Is Eggman down there?”

       “No, they’re all cold,” shook Amy, biting her nail.  “But I’ve seen enough.  I’m with you, Tails.  This HAS to be it.  Capturing it now, give me a few more seconds.  Then it’s time we rendezvous with the others.”

       “Agreed,” nodded the fox, reaching for a small metal canister.  “I’m just gonna leave a little calling card first, hehe.”  Flicking a switch, he tossed the cylinder overboard, nodding with satisfaction as he watched it plummet, then clatter across the target.  “Location pinger away!  Bombing this thing’s gonna be a piece of cake.  How’s the signal?”

       “Loud and clear!” nodded Amy, swiping her tablet a few times and stuffing it into a pack.  “All images captured!  We’d better hurry, that thing might be gearing up for another quake.  See you at rendezvous!”

       “Ten four, see you there!  Tornado out.”  As he signed off, a coughing fit gripped the fox, an odd pulling sensation appearing in the pit of in his stomach.  His nose burned and he felt a bit dizzy.  “Ugh!  Eggman or not, this place literally stinks.  Can’t wait to climb out of these fumes.”  Gripping the controls for a hard climb, he instead found them completely immobile.  Puzzled pulls and pushes in other direction were also refused, the rudder, flaps and elevators frozen as if welded in place.  “Hey!  What gives!?”  Tails grunted as he tried still harder.  A few basic checks found nothing.  He calmly reached for the cover protecting the master manual override.  The tiny metal flap felt freakishly heavy and barely gave way, but he managed.  A push of the switch did nothing.  “Well that’s not good.  Amy?  You still there?”

       No answer.  A new go at the controls proving fruitless, he systematically began shutting down scanners, sensors, anything not essential for flight, but this too did nothing.  Warning lights proliferated as the engine revved, then sputtered, then revved again, hastening the plane’s downturn and choking his lift.  The altitude plummeted violently, sending butterflies to his stomach and rousing a strange voice.  Pull up!  Pull up!  Pull up!  Pull up!  Pull up!  Pull--.  He overrode the alarm, but the controls were unrepentant.  As the ground rose closer, he thought it prudent to ready his ‘ejector seat’, which consisted of making sure the velocity was slow enough to safely jump from the plane and fire up his namesakes.  Pressing the release button on his harness, he found it as immobile as the controls, with no amount of force coaxing it open.  “Okay, this is bad.”  Trying the radio, he was greeted by a cacophony of ear-splitting pops, cracks and feedback, hurriedly shutting it off in favor of his wrist communicator.  “Sonic?  Team B?  Mayday, repeat, mayday!  This is Captain Prower of the Tornado, declaring an emergency.  Lost all flight controls.  Mayday, mayday, mayday!”

       Untethering her pink hoverboard, a Amy froze as she heard the distress call.  The quills over her neck stood on end.  Raising her wrist, she saw the icon for Tails flashing urgent red; the ones for Sonic, Knuckles and Sticks were grayed out, the other team still maintaining radio silence on their mission.  “Tails!?  What’s happening?” yelled Amy, her face growing tingly and hot with adrenaline.

       “Amy, is that you?” panted the anxious fox in the tiny viewer, the clouds and peaks pitching nauseously behind his head.  “I’ve lost all flight controls.  Nothing metal will budge!  Some kind of magnetic--”  At that moment, the engine finally died with a loud bang, leaving only the sound of rushing wind and labored breathing as the seconds ticked by.  Tails coughed and shook his head as smoke appeared in his wake.  “Lost engine now, too.  I’m gonna try for an emergency landing!”

       “Emergency landing?  Out there!?  Tails, no!” urged Amy.  “Jump!  Bail!  Don’t try to save the plane, just ditch it!  Fly yourself someplace safe, we’ll come find you!”

       “I can’t,” strained the fox, shaking his head and tensing as the ground loomed nearer.  “Harness latch won’t budge!  I tried cutting the straps but my knife, it…  it just flew from my hand.  I can’t even move!”

       “Tails?  Listen to me,” ordered Amy, calming herself.  “You’re going to be all right.  Now I want you to--”

       “No time, gotta brace!” crackled the communicator, showing only the side of the smoke-filled cockpit.  “Tell Sonic I--”  

       Amy gasped, covering her mouth as the impact assaulted her ears.  The dreadful thuds, crumpling metal and battered yelp were cut mercifully short, her screen darkening to a soft, crackling hiss.  She hailed him again and again, then the others, but got no reply.  Her entire face was hot, almost burning.  Her ears rang.  Her chest felt tight, her legs like jelly.  Steeling herself, she took a deep breath and ran back inside, stuffing bottled water, a survival pack and a medical kit into her pack before grabbing her hammer on the way out.  “Hang on little bro!”  Leaping atop her hoverboard, she kicked its tether aside and rocketed away at top speed.

Meanwhile, outside Eggman’s main lair...

       “Well that sucked,” sighed Sonic, cheek on hand as he lay partially hidden behind a rocky ledge opposite Eggman’s fortress, where very next to nothing had happened since dawn.  A muscular red echidna and be-skirted badger lay belly-down on sleeping bags to either side, clutching binoculars as they spied on the tall metal doors dominating the view.  “I haven’t seen this little action since Casino Night Zone tried to ban gambling.”

       “The drinks were still free,” shrugged Knuckles, who stretched and yawned, wiping his eyes.  “But I do see your point.  This was like watching someone watch paint dry.  Guys?  We’ve rolled snake eyes.  Eggman’s not here.”

       “That poor snake,” nodded Sticks, setting down her binoculars and waving dismissively at the silent fortress.  “You’re right, though.  No Eggy today.”      

       “Usually no news is good news with that guy,” offered Sonic, sitting up and brushing off his chest.  “But we gotta find him, and soon.  Maybe Amy and Tails had better luck.”

       “Hope so,” nodded Knuckles, rolling up their sleeping bags.  “But if I had to guess, the only thing they’ll find in the lava barrens is lava.  And barrens, of course.”  The echidna rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  “What’s a barren?”

       “Your brains is barrens,” smirked Sticks.  “I still say if Eggy has an earthquake maker, he hid it all the way up there...”  the badger’s eyes grew to conspiratorial moons as she pointed to the sky and whispered, “in space.”

       “You think anything weird has to do with space,” chuckled Sonic, slinging his pack over his shoulder.  “Missing socks.  Pickled eggs.  People who hang toilet paper in the ‘under’ position.  Lame.  Are you sure you’re not from space?”

       “You can’t disprove it,” frowned Sticks, hands on hips.  “That birth certificate you got me is a forgery!”

       “I’m telling you,” sighed Sonic, adjusting his gloves, “Tails already checked that angle.  He patched in satellites and telescopes from all over the world.  Scanned for days!  Trust me, there’s nothing in orbit that doesn’t belong there.  Which means the only places left to search are underground and...” Sonic shuddered, rubbing his arm apprehensively.  “Underwater.  Which I sure as heck don’t want to tackle, thank you very much.  We’ll leave that to Shadow and his crew.  Who knows, maybe a nice long swim will wash off some of the emo.”  

       “A good plan, but I have bad news,” frowned Knuckles, rummaging through the party’s knapsack.  “The chips and candy bar supply is totally depleted.  And there’s only one can of soda left.”   The echidna peered in and slumped in defeat.  “It’s diet.”

       “Eww!” winced Sonic, mirroring Sticks.  “Must’ve grabbed it by mistake.  Amy and Tails love that stuff.  It’s about the only thing they agree on.”

       “They agreed on dating you,” grinned Sticks, tossing her binoculars in the bag before booping Sonic playfully on the nose.  “Don’t think we haven’t noticed.  I’m totally jelly of propeller-butt now.”

       “Oh, not this again,” groaned Sonic, patting the disappointed echidna’s broad shoulders.  “I’m too busy for that stuff, Sticks.  Eggman’s still at large.  And who knows what other dangerous nincompoops might turn up?  We’ve got butts to kick, ungrateful villagers to protect and reputations to uphold.  The mush can wait.”


       “Nice speech dude!” smiled Knuckles, patting Sonic’s back before packing more gear.  “But really, you guys don’t need to hide it.  We love you just as you are, man.  I mean, I just sorta assumed you and Tails were a thing, you know?  You both seem like the type.”  

       “Definitely both the type,” nodded Sticks to Knuckles.  “And very well said.”  The two bumped fists before continuing their work as Sonic blinked in disbelief.  

       “Seem like the type!?  What’s that supposed to me--”  Stopping himself, Sonic closed his eyes, held up his hands and took a deep breath.  “Not gonna go there.  I’m team leader, and I say we’re gonna pack it in and head for the rendezvous.  You guys can make up alllll the scandalous nonsense you want on your own time.”

       “Rats!  I was hoping to use these,” mumbled the badger, glumly packing away a ceremonial dagger, a satchel of bones and a small Eggman voodoo doll.  “Next time, Eggy.  Next time.”

       Sonic smiled and stretched his hamstrings.  “Well, at least we got some rest, right?  Now we just need a better plan.”  The hedgehog struck a conciliatory tone.  “Tell you what.  Let’s work on it tonight over some burgers and ice cream.  My treat!  You know, for making you lay out here on the rocks all day.  Even though this whole reconnaissance thing was technically Amy’s idea.”

       “You’re on!” Sticks high-fived Sonic as the group started walking down the trail.  “My charm bracelet says there’s a double cheese and a triple scoop in my near future.”

       “Count me in,” grinned Knuckles, hoisting the last of the gear.  “Oh, wait.  Weren’t you and Tails gonna have like, a guys’ night out or something?  Like a date?”

       Sonic blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.  “Oh that,” he chuckled.  “Yeah, I--  I guess I forgot.  It’s just a thank-you dinner, really.  You know, for all the work he did on the house.  We’ll grab a burger, hang out for a bit, no big whoop.  I’ll just invite everybody so we can all work on the plan.”  

       “Aww, you’re inviting us to go along on your date?  That’s so sweet!” smiled Sticks, hugging her pack and grinning ear to ear.

       “Thank-you dinner,” said Sonic flatly.  “Though now it’s officially a group planning dinner, I guess.”

        “Yeah, dates are fun,” nodded the badger, smiling as she poked her finger on the perturbed hedgehog’s chest.  “’Cos that’s what it is, you know.  You boys can call it what you like, hiding behind straw mans and protecting fragile man-egos like Amy says.  But badger noses don’t lie.  And I smells romance!”

       “Or maybe it’s bromance,” offered Knuckles, patting the nonplussed hedgehog’s shoulders.  “The internet says that’s a thing nowadays.  I’m no romaticologist, but you guys have always been pretty cute together.”

       “Are we even in the same conversation!?” snapped Sonic, slapping the top of his head.  “This is Tails we’re talking about.  Right?  My best friend?  Hero to most?  All around good guy?”  Cheeks reddening, the hedgehog sighed and looked to the sky, twirling his hand as he searched for the right words.  “Okay, so we’re tight.  But we always have been!  That doesn’t mean we--  The thing is--  Look, I’ll tell you guys all about it when I know for sure myself.  For now though, Tails and I have a lot we still need to talk about.  And we kinda want to keep things private.  Not just for our sakes, but the team’s as well.”

       “Amy’s still getting over him,” whispered Sticks to Knuckles, the pair nodding knowingly.  “You think they’ve made out yet?”

       “What?  No!” huffed Sonic, looking away and adjusting the tape on his wrists.  “We’re trying to keep this professional, unlike some people.”  

       “That’s funny, my seeing stones tell me you’re fibbing,” pondered Sticks, raising her amulet towards the hedgehog.  “Oh man, it’s a whopper, too.”

       “Foolish nonsense,” groused Sonic, folding his arms and marching silently down the trail.

       “That’s a great Shadow impression,” offered Sticks, the smiling badger taking the echidna’s hand and playfully swinging it as they followed.  “So how does it work when it’s two boys, Knuckles?  Do they flip a coin to see who gets to be the girl?”

       “Hmm… I think you have to call it, like riding shotgun,” pondered Knuckles, rubbing his chin.  “Or maybe rock paper scissors?”

       “More like cock paper scissors,” tittered the badger, the echidna roaring with laughter as they slapped paws.

       “Does the…  the loser have to swallow his pride?” snickered Knuckles, wiping a tear as the stumbling, giggling duo fell further behind.

       “Hey!  Less jabber, more walky, you two!” called Sonic as he turned on his wrist communicator.  “We better check in with Amy and Tails before we rendezvous.  Just in case they need--”

       “Help!” The startled group froze on the trail as a worried, wind-whipped Amy appeared on Sonic’s screen from atop her hoverboard.  “Team B, PLEASE come in!  This is an emergency!”

Meanwhile, at the lava barrens...

       All was still where the crumpled, smoldering fuselage lay creaking on its side, its wings and propeller shorn away.  The dark, sparsely vegetated lava flows fanning in all directions made for a dire canvas, painted with skid marks, wreckage, a pair of smashed goggles and small patches of burning fuel.  And yet, the Tornado’s carcass had largely preserved its helpless pilot, knocked out during the carnage.  Bashed but breathing, the grimy fox hung limply on his side in the harness, his bangs blowing about in the sulfur-tinged breeze as he groaned his way back to consciousness.

       “Uhhhggghhh....  what happened?  Amy?”  Groping for the radio, he felt only frayed wires where it once was.  The reek of burning fuel and melting insulation alerted his nose, snapping him further awake as flames licked along the wires and cables spilled like entrails throughout the cockpit.  With eyes and lungs already burning, he did not relish the idea of being roasted and pawed anxiously at the harness.  The mysterious force now gone, the release readily gave, plopping him atop the glassy, unforgiving rock.  Ignoring the fresh cuts, he wobbled to his feet, but one of his legs seared with pain below the knee.  The opposite wrist and forearm were almost as angry and swollen to distressing proportions.  Neither limb wanted anything to do with physical exertion and the pain nearly pushed him back to all fours.  “Ah!  Worse than I thought,” he hissed, cradling his arm and lurching forward.  “But I need distance.”  Spinning his tails to life, he was relieved his namesakes had been spared, though the effort sent pain ricocheting everywhere else.  He was scarcely airborne when the fire found the fuel tank.

       Wincing as the fireball bellowed behind him, the injured flier spied a lone island of vegetation.  It wasn’t especially big, but it was within easy reach and a veritable oasis compared to the surroundings.  Lush folds of soft ferns, damp moss and green grass cushioned his ailing body as he gingerly touched down and crawled to the shady center.  Propping himself against one of the small trees, he raised his bad arm for inspection and found his communicator smashed to bits.  “Well, at least the band is still good,” he chuckled tiredly.  Some quick work on the band, his glove, a dried stick and some sports tape produced a passable sling as the plane burned down in the distance.  Proud of his handiwork, he rewarded himself with a piece of mint candy from his belt and water squeezed from handfuls of spongy moss.  “Now, what to do about that leg?”  He wasn’t immobilized, but moving his leg brought intense pain.  Even if he could make headway on foot, there was no clear path out of the barrens, an unfriendly, deceptive hellscape known to swallow up careless hikers.  He decided to rest for a bit.  

      As darkness fell, the fox’s body grew stiff, cold and unhelpful.  Still no one came.  “There’s just nothing for it,” he sighed, tapping his head against the tree.  “They could pass right over me and not see anything.  There’s no point building a fire, there’s hundreds of glowing, smoky pits out here.  If I’m going to escape, it’ll have to be by my own two tails.”  With the help of the moonrise and a few stars, the fox oriented himself and checked the prevailing winds.  “Ha!  Good, wind’s out of the north, no storms around.  Point in my favor, Eggman.  You may have ruined my plane.  AND my date.  Jerk.  But I’m still in the game.  And so are my friends!”  

       The moon reflected in his bright blue eyes as he shivered and watched his breath hang in the air.  “Man, for a lava field it sure gets cold at night.  Sure wish Sonic was here.  His arms feel so good around me.  Mmmmm… and those sweet hedgehog kisses, hehe.”  Taking a deep breath, he psyched himself up for the ordeal at hand and formed a plan.  “Okay.  My best shot is a series of short hops.  East to Red Hill.  There might be hikers there.  If not, south to Fern Forest, there’s farms up there.  In any case, find help and drinkable water ASAP.”  Gritting his teeth through the pain, he hoisted himself up on his good foot and and revved his tails.  Dizzy just from standing, he struggled for lift, the vibrations to his leg especially painful.  They quickly brought nausea and ringing ears.  “Ooooohhh,” he grunted, clutching his stomach and trying harder.  “Not now, body.  J--just get me out of here.  We’ll negotiate the rest later… there, that’s it!”  Gaining a few inches, he suddenly faltered, coming down on his bad leg and yelping as he paid the price and lost tail thrust.

       As his namesakes came to a rest, the tearful, panting fox teetered on his foot, his voice low and weak.  He groped for the tree, but it wasn’t in the same spot as before.  “Uhhhgghh… I--  I don’t think--  I don’t feel so goooUUUHHH…” Eyes rolling back, the fox passed out into an overgrown crevice, the mass of moss and ferns swallowing him whole.


Some Weeks Later...

       Sitting up in bed and leaning back against Sonic, Tails tensed as the doctor peeled the freshly cut cast from the his arm.  The lab coat-clad monkey casually tossed the empty shell atop the leg cast he’d removed just minutes earlier.  “See?” grinned the dapper doc.  “Just like cracking crab legs.  Nice and easy.  Now let’s see how things have healed.”

       “Ugh, they’re so stiff.  And itchy!” complained the fox, rubbing his freed forearm and flexing his toes.  “Are they okay, Dr. Mitri?  It all feels so weird and weak.”

       “Also it stinks!” squinted Sticks, plugging her nose as Amy gently shushed her.

       “It’s going to be a tender for a little while, yes,” nodded the suave simian, who palped, prodded and flexed the recovering limbs.  Tails’ blue hedgehog backrest held the fox’s hips as all watched the procedure with equal concern.  “But x-rays don’t lie and I’m satisfied everything has healed properly.”

       “Oh man, what a relief!” smiled Sonic, pecking the top of Tails’ head.  “Awesome work, doc!”

       “Thank you,” smiled the monkey, sanitizing his hands and packing away instruments.  “And yes, hard casts do get a little funky, but that’s nothing a nice hot bath won’t cure.”  Catching a whiff, the monkey winked at Tails.  “In fact, I’d do that first, it’ll help your muscles too.  Doctor’s orders.  Now then Tails, I want you to ease yourself back into regular activities.  Short walks, light chores, yoga, that sort of thing.  Let your strength return gradually.  No tossing anvils.”  The doctor patted Tails’ thigh and smiled as he rose to his feet and took his bag.  “All right, I’m off.  Give me a call if you have any problems and I’ll check up you in a couple of weeks.”

       “Thanks for all your help, Dr. Mitri,” smiled Tails, wiggling his freed digits.  “Oh!  Before you go, is it safe for me to fly?”

       “Your plane crashed and burned, remember kiddo?” winked Knuckles, patting Tails’ thigh.  “Are you sure you didn’t get a touch of amnesia?”

       “Nah, he probably just forgot,” added Sticks.

       “I meant fly with my tails,” sighed the fox as Sonic chuckled and rubbed his sides.  “I know my plane is toast, trust me.  I was there when it happened.”

       “Hmmmm…”  Dr. Mitri pulled a banana from his lab coat and thoughtfully scratched his chin with the tip before peeling it.  “I won’t say no.  In fact, the exercise should do you good.  But I want you to go easy, same as the other stuff: no cargo, no passengers, no high altitudes.”

       “Aww.  Yes, doctor,” nodded the fox, a bit downcast.

       “And absolutely NONE of that combat stuff you hero types are into.  Not for a few weeks anyway.  Doctor’s orders.”  He punctuated his advice with a stern chomp of banana.

       “With all due respect, Doctor,” offered Amy, “Our foes don’t factor in our health when they attack.  Eggman’s still at large, we need Tails at the ready.  He’s our air support and most of our field tech.  He’s not a kid, he can handle himself.”  Amy turned and winked at Tails, who smiled wide and winked back.

       “You just don’t like working with Shadow, Ames,” chuckled Sonic, rubbing Tails’ shoulders.  “You guys were still arguing when we all hit the earthquake machine.  Knuckles had to pull you two out of the way mid-explosion, hehe.  It was really kind of awesome, now that I think about it.”

       “That guy’s such a primo Madonna,” sniffed Sticks.

       “Shadow and I get along just fine,” smiled Amy through gritted teeth.  “For an egotistical, middle-aged emo with separation anxiety disorder, he’s decent enough in a fight.”

       “He’s actually really nice if you give him a chance,” smiled Tails.  “He’s taught me and Sonic all kinds of stuff.  Martial arts, surveillance, high explosives, baking cupcakes…  great kisser, too.”

       “Yeah!” nodded Knuckles.  “Wait, what?”

       “Uh, he captured some really valuable technical specs too!” offered Sonic hastily.  

       “I just wish I could’ve been there to see Eggman’s machine get blown sky high,” shrugged Tails, wiggling his toes.  “At least the Tornado got avenged, hehe.”

       “The manhunt is still on dude,” offered Knuckles.  “There’s a bounty and everything!  Since you can’t fight for now, you could ride on my shoulders and help me search.  I’ve got a fistful of fist for that guy.  We can go all Master Blaster on his ass!”

       “I’m up for it!” nodded Tails, slapping the smiling echidna’s offered hand.  “We can take him alive with my new cruelty-free anti-fugitive invention, the Super Stick E-9000 HyperSpurt Goo Bazooka!”

       “So gay,” whispered Sticks into Amy’s ear, the pink hedgehog slapping her hand over her mouth and convulsing with trapped laughter.

       “AHEM,” coughed the monkey.  “As I said, no combat.  For now.”  Polishing off the banana and pocketing the peel, he pulled out a piece of paper and offered it to Amy. “I even wrote a note.  Sorry about the stains.”

       “To all concerned,” squinted Amy.  “My patient, Miles ‘Tails’ Prower, is hereby excused from heavy lifting, Olympic sports, combat duty or similar exertion for three weeks.  Bring this note in for ten percent off your next appointment.  Easy terms, no monkey business!  Free saltwater taffy if paying in cash.  Call 1-800-DR-MITRI today.”  Amy rolled her eyes and sighed as she handed the note to Tails, who motioned for the doctor to lean in and whispered in his ear.

       “Oh!  I see,” nodded the doctor, listening intently.  “Sure, that should be fine.  It’s not exactly combat, not for most couples anyway,” he chuckled, standing back up.  “Just don’t stress your limbs.  I recommend side-by-side or the cowgirl position.  I’m assuming this handsome blue fellow is the lucky partner, yes?  Blue, make sure you use plenty of lubricant.  Bit of a size difference going on here and you seem like the athletic type.  All right?”

       “Doctor!”  Tails’ eyes went wide as Sonic blushed and laughed with the others.  “Yes or no would’ve been fine!”  His cheeks flushing bright red, the fox turned and hid his face against Sonic’s chest.  

       “Thanks for all your help doc,” winked Sonic, petting Tails’ head.  “And for the uh, you know.  Free advice.”

       “Oh, it’s not free,” chuckled the monkey, zipping his bag shut and heading to the door.  “Not by any stretch of the imagination.  But that’s your insurer’s problem.  See you in a couple weeks, Mr. Prower.  Ciao!”  Still snickering and wiping their eyes, the others watched as the monkey waved from the walkway and straddled his luxury unicycle.

       “You know what I hate?” chuckled Knuckles, waving to the departing doc.  “Not having enough lube, amirite?  Oh, and that really awkward bit when you’re waiting for everyone else to leave so you and your main squeeze can have shenaniga--”

       “OKAY GUYS I THINK TAILS NEEDS TO REST NOW,” stammered Sonic, shooing the others to follow in the doctor’s footsteps.  “Yeah, he’s had a long day.  I’ll help him get ready for bed.”

       “But it’s only four,” smirked Amy, eyeing Sonic suspiciously.  “Early risers, huh?”

       “Fine, it’s time for a bath then,” huffed Sonic, holding the door open.  “Come on, you heard the doctor, monkey’s orders.  Er-- doctor’s orders.  Take care guys, we’ll see you tomorrow at breakfast!”  Walking gingerly to Sonic’s side with newly freed limbs, Tails waved cheerfully while giving Sonic’s rump an unseen squeeze.  “On second thought, let’s make it brunch.”

       “Bah!” frowned Sticks, waving dismissively at the shutting door.  “You were right Knuckles, that IS awkward.  Well, screw those guys!  They can play butt pirates all they like, I don’t plan my life around them.”

       “I do,” slumped Knuckles sadly.

       “Ugh.  Maybe Mark the Tapir wants to get drunk tonight,” sighed Amy, checking her phone.  “It’s better than nothing.”

       Bag in hand and balancing perfectly on his unicycle, Dr. Mitri cocked an eye at the downcast trio.  “Hey there third wheels,” he smiled.  “Don’t mind your friends there.  They’re clearly in love and doubtless want to act on it.  Let ’em!  Speaking of which, my lovely bat is out of town visiting his parents, anyone want to grab a smoothie with me down at the new arcade bar?  I recommend the strawberry double banana.  My treat.”

       “Really?” asked the trio in hopeful unison.

       “Doctor’s orders,” winked the monkey.

Some wet, naked minutes later...

       “Wow, that was kind of awkward back there,” observed Tails, adding hot water to the oversize tub where he and Sonic had finished scrubbing one another.  “I don’t know why the guys keep teasing us for being… you know.  Boyfriends.  It’s like some terrible fan fiction, hehe.”  

       “But I like this chapter,” smiled Sonic gently, the hedgehog sinking and splaying in the steamy water as he admired the fox’s soft shoulders and back.  “I’ll never forget your face at the clinic when you saw all the flowers.”  

       “If there’s one thing you can make, it’s a statement,” smiled Tails, shutting off the water and sliding face-to-face into the hedgehog’s open arms.  “‘Get well badass boyfriend’ almost didn’t fit on the banner, hehe.  And I thought Dave’s Bakery didn’t do rainbow cakes?”

       “Amy twisted a few arms,” chuckled Sonic, embracing the fox’s slender frame and squeezing him close.  “Actually, she twisted one arm.  Hard.  Quite hard, really.  I should probably send a card at some point.  Anyway, I was just happy YOU recovered, foxy-butt.  I was really worried you might say no.  Or think I was just joking and laugh me out of the room.”

       Taking the hedgehog’s hands, Tails looked into Sonic’s face with a tender blush.  “You’re silly, yes.  But never a joke, Sonic.  Not to me.”

       The hedgehog replied with long, deep, loving kiss.  “Mmmff…  my dashing pilot paramour,” he nuzzled.  “Fantastic fox.  Sexy sidekick.  Vivacious vulpine!   Umm...”  Sonic thoughtfully caressed the fox’s slender hips as the pair giggled.  “Oh!  I know!  How about Smiles Prower?” he winked.

       “Smiles Prower!?” guffawed Tails, his face contorting as if he had chugged castor oil.  “Don’t you dare!” he snickered, reaching between their bodies to gave Sonic’s package a firm squeeze.  “Not if you want me to touch this again.”

           “Let’s just stick with ‘Tails’ then,” nodded Sonic, slowly hardening in the fox’s exploring hands as he kneaded the pert, rounded fox buns.  “It’s a beautiful name,” he kissed the fox on the nose and whispered, “and I really, really want you to keep touching me.”

       “Mmm…  good answer,” smiled Tails softly, eyes drawing to relaxed slits as their bodies mingled, the fox’s smaller curved member rousing and pressing wetly into the hedgehog’s.  The pair slowly frotted as the fox nibbled under the hedgehog’s jawline.  “Wasn’t much I could do for you in those casts.  But now I’m free...”  The fox rubbed Sonic’s chest, circling his digits over the hedgehog’s wet, erect nipples as they kissed again, deeply, lips and cocks pressing together needfully.  “And alllll yours.”

       Sonic’s large, fit hands ran up and down Tails’ sides before one slipped in to fondle and cup the fox’s cute curved erection, the head of Sonic’s own sizable shaft poking up between the fox’s legs.  “Hehe, someone’s eager.  That makes two of us.  Mmmff...”  Sonic planted a series of tender kisses all over the moaning fox’s tender neck and sweet face.  “You wanna do it?”

       “More than anything,” grinned Tails, tightly squeezing Sonic’s shaft between his thighs.  Reaching up, he rubbed the velvety base of Sonic’s ear between thumb and forefingers, bringing a deep, pleasured moan.  The small but powerful caress worked like a tranquilizer dart, the hedgehog’s face drooping in relaxation as he swooned appreciatively.  “But first, I want to get you alllll worked up.  So when the time comes,” Tails’ ocean blue eyes twinkled with Sonic’s emerald ones.  “You’ll shoot as long and hard as can be, deep inside me.  Hedgie like?”

       “Hedgie like!” huffed Sonic, face flushed and longing as he caressed Tails’ feather-soft cheek and firmly squeezed the fox’s buns.

       “Good boy,” grinned Tails, patting a tiled ledge meant for scrubbing.  “Here.  Sit.”  He licked his lips as the hedgehog’s hard cock and handsome blue orbs rose steaming from the water.  Splayed comfortably, Sonic watched intently as Tails cupped his loose, relaxed sack, squeezing as the other hand stroked the hero’s fat, spongy pole.  Erect himself, the young fox focused entirely on the other male, admiring his silky foreskin as it slid over the flared glans and coaxed a large bead of pre from the tip.  Slowly licking away the sugary pearl, he proceeded to rub the hedgehog’s veiny cock all over his soft face, nuzzling and kissing from head to shaft to hilt to balls, then back again.  He savored its warmth and texture.  The clean, masculine scent.  How heavy it felt against his lips and cheeks.  The spongy girth in his grip.  Knowing he was the reason it was so hard.  He was salivating now, his throat drawing tight with anticipation.  Meeting Sonic’s gaze, he licked up the underside of his prize and circled his tongue around its head.  “I’ve been dreaming about this,” he exhaled hotly.  

       “Mmmhmm,” nodded Sonic breathlessly, his heart thumping away as he throbbed and leaked more pre against the fox’s long, pink tongue.  “So… what happened in foxy’s dream?”

       Tails answered by opening wide and taking the bulk of the hedgehog’s proud cock into his mouth, moaning loudly as his soft lips sealed around its girth.  “Mmmmmfffff...”  He held still for a moment, letting the size, shape and taste register with his senses as his tongue slid and curled against the spongy underside.

       Exhaling sharply, the open-mouthed hedgehog licked his lips and watched, ears flattening as he throbbed within the fox’s warm, wet mouth.  Wasting no time, Tails began to suck with an enthusiasm that betrayed his tender years.  “Ooooohhh…  Tails!  Y-yeah!”  Gaining confidence, the fox fellated deeper until his nose tickled Sonic’s crotch, the hedgehog's fat, leaky tip tickling its way into the fox’s throat.  The fox’s higher pitched moans of arousal and satisfaction vibrated Sonic’s flesh and mixed with the hedgehog’s grateful grunts.  He could feel the hungry fox’s tongue lap the underside of his cock with each upward bob, especially the engorged, sensitive head.  “Nnnggghhh...  foxy!” he huffed, chest rising and falling, belly growing taut.  He reached up and caressed the fox’s bulging, feather-soft cheek.  “So good…  where did you learn that?”

       “I had a naughty mentor,” panted Tails softly, slapping the hedgehog’s saliva-coated cock against his tongue.  “Back when you were still dating Amy.”

       “Oh, is that so?” chuckled he hedgehog, humping softly against the fox’s face.  “Anybody I know?”

       “Mmmaaayyybe,” winked the fox, licking all the way down Sonic’s pole.  “He kinda keeps to the shadows.”  The fox turned the hot water again.

       “I knew it!” grinned Sonic, biting his lower lip.  “So, my fox knows how to be slutty, huh?  Awesome.  Did he show you any other little tri-- oh sweet chaos yes, suck my balls fox, yes, YESSS!” gasped Sonic, caught off guard as his big blue orbs vanished, one after the other, into the fox’s mouth.  Ears folded, cheeks red and bulging, the horny vulpine rolled and licked and sucked the hedgehog’s full, hefty jewels with gusto, losing himself in the act as the room filled entirely with steam.  Resisting an urge to masturbate, he slid his hand over the hedgie’s taut belly and heaving chest, finding and rolling a hardened nipple between thumb and forefinger as he slowly stroked Sonic’s leaking pole.  “Yeah!  Oh, you like those big ol’ hog nuts, don’t you?” hissed Sonic, licking his lips and bucking his hips towards the pleasure.  “Getting me so worked up…  I’m gonna guh--  give it to you, but good!”

       Allowing the tightened orbs to slip from his mouth, Tails squeezed Sonic’s cock as he lapped and licked lower, over the hedgehog’s bluish-pink pucker and narrow, fit taint, the fox’s button nose bumping blue sack as the hedgehog squirmed and moaned wildly.  The fox felt Sonic’s cock throb, spitting a semi-clear shot of fluid as he reached the very brink.  “Mmm, someone’s really close,” he smiled, carefully grasping the loaded rod at its base.  “Would you like to come in my mouth?”

       “Spoken like a true fox,” huffed Sonic happily, caressing Tails’ velvety ear as the fox blew soothing cold air against his loaded rod.  “We’ll save that treat for round two.  Right now, I want to that tight little foxhole of yours!  Let’s hit the sack, though.  We’re supposed to be careful.”

       “Doctor’s orders,” murred the fox, standing and rubbing his hard, curved tool against Sonic’s as they kissed again.  A hurried rinse-and-dry later, the slightly damp duo bounded to bed, hand in hand with erections wagging.  Flopping gratefully back into the cool piled pillows, Sonic pulled Tails atop himself, caressing and kissing his fox for all he was worth.  His namesakes draped elegantly aside, the fox’s mouth hosted hedgehog tongue, slipping and twirling excitedly with its counterpart, while dexterous digits squeezed and probed the fox’s pert buns and warm, pink star.  “Ohhhhh….” moaned the fox, a strand of saliva briefly connecting his lower lip to Sonic’s.  “That’s naughty.  Our cocks, rubbing together... while you touch my… my…”  

       “Your boy pussy?” rumbled Sonic, reaching up and gently flicking Tails’ nipple.  The words hit their mark.  He could feel the fox’s entire body tense as Tails closed his eyes, moaned and writhed against the hedgehog’s body.  “This right here?” teased Sonic, firmly rubbing the fox’s anus in circles with two fingertips.  “Such a tight little pussy.  And I’m gonna stuff it full of nice, hard hedgehog cock.”

       “Y--yes!” cried Tails, hiding his hot, flushed face against the hedgehog’s shoulder and wiggling his rump.  “You’re gonna do me, aren’t you, Sonic?  Nnnfff… I’m a slutty little vixen…  please…”

       Nodding eagerly, Sonic grabbed a bottle of lubricant from the bedside table and gave it to Tails, who sat up and squeezed a generous portion on his fingers.

[Sonic looks to the camera as he slowly strokes Tails’ cock]  “This part’s important, guys.  Always use plenty of high quality lube for anal, especially if you’re inexperienced.  Make sure it’s water soluble and specifically formulated for sex with or without a condom.  A good technique is to finger some inside yourself, or have your partner do it.  Show ’em, Tails.”

       His namesakes swept elegantly aside, Tails fingered himself slick, adding more lube to his perineum before slathering the rest on the hedgehog pole prodding him from behind.  Tossing the bottle aside, he guided Sonic’s tip to his prepared posterior.  Slowly he sat, brow furrowing as the leaking, fat cockhead demanded entry, slowly prying open his hot, slick, pink ring.  “Uhhhnnn!  Oooooohhhh…  you’re almost in, Sonic!  Mmmmm….  just…  just let me go at my own speed, okay?  I’m still recovering and…  well, you’re thick.”

       “No one ever said I was a genius,” winked the hedgehog, holding back the urge to thrust into the pinkness slowly slipping over his cock, licking his lips and gently prying the fox’s buns apart.  “This’ll help.  Take it niiiiice and slow.”

       “Ooo…  AHH!” Tails gasped as Sonic throbbed inside him.  “Ohhhhhhhhhh…  Sonic...”  His eyes welled with tears of pleasure and long-pent release as he let go of Sonic’s shaft and leaned back, savoring the hot, spongy thickness snaking into his tunnel.  The pleasures of penetration brought throb after throb to his own erection, leaking at it jutted cutely over Sonic’s belly.  “Hnnnnggg…  you feel so good inside me…”  Blinking, Tails realized he could lower no further as beefy blue balls nestled snugly against his fuzzy, bi-colored buns.

       “Wow,” grinned Sonic, lacing fingers with the fox as the other hand slowly stroked and fondled his fox-cock.  “It’s all in, hehe.  Are you okay?”

       “More than okay,” moaned Tails, eyes drawn to dreamy slits.  “I feel every part of you.”  

       Sonic tenderly kissed his hand.  “Here we go, beautiful.”  The softly panting fox began to grind on Sonic’s impaling cock, slowly at first, acclimating to the intensely hot, stretchy sensation stuffing his insides.  It wasn’t long before he was bouncing happily up and down most of Sonic’s length, the hedgehog huffing encouragements and tugging the fox’s curved cock.  

       Without warning, Sonic flipped the surprised fox backwards into the bed and grabbed the giggling vulpine’s upturned ankles.  “I can go deeper like this,” he panted, feeling up the fox’s cock, balls, taint and soft inner thighs.  “Mmmff… it’s time.”  Pulling out, he slapped his cock against Tails’ stretched foxhole and soft taint, rubbing his fat head against the fox’s tightening ball sack.  “Foxy like, huh?  Tell me.  Who does this belong to?”

       Tails’ face felt fiery and hot.  The act of being dominated sent waves of tingly anticipation flying through his compact frame.  His cock strained, leaking anew just from the hedgehog’s voice.  “You… it belongs to you, Sonic!”

       “Again,” grinned Sonic, plunging his cockhead into Tails’ flower, pulling out and idly stuffing it again, ending with a firm slap to the ass.

       “Yours!”  Tails swallowed hard and squirmed with red-faced delight as he tugged himself.  “I belong to you, Sonic!  All of me… I’m yours!”

       “Good boy,” grinned Sonic, guiding his cock back to the presented pink foxhole.  “There’s no me without you, player two.”  With that, the hedgehog pushed himself back inside, the loudest moans yet wafting beyond the walls of the house.  Blue buttocks blurring, the hedgehog’s prick pounded Tails balls-deep, hitting his prostate and fucking the fox towards hands-free orgasm.  

       “Yeah!  Guh--GO, Sonic!” huffed the fox, his hard, wagging cock starting to pulse and spray on its own.  “You’re hitting my spot!  You’re--  I’m--  Sonic!  I’m gonna COME!!”

       “Yeah!  Shoot, foxy!  Come for me!” he cried, the hedgehog’s drum-tight nuts poised for release as they rapidly smacked the fox’s fuzzy upturned rump.  He could feel Tails’ climax arrive as the fox’s ring rhythmically gripped his thrusting cock.  “Ohhhhh fffffoxy...”  Red faced, flushed and sweaty, Sonic fucked feverishly as a powerful orgasm coiled inside and released--thunderously.   “Uuuuaaahhhh!!  Coming too!!  HUUUAHH!!  HUUUAHH!!  HUUUAHH!!  OH, TAILS!!”  Buried to the very hilt, Sonic unleashed, copiously flooding the fox with powerful jets of thick, ropey seed.  Forcibly filled, Tails shot too, his boyish, high-pitched moans mingling with the hedgehog’s athletic, growly grunts.  Fox cum arced repeatedly, splashing his belly, chest, neck, face and further.  Lacing fingers, the soaked, panting pair smiled and blinked at one another their shared orgasm gradually ebbed, bodies basking in the afterglow and the heady mix of sweat, saliva and semen.  Keeping Sonic inside him for as long as he could, Tails curled his quivering legs around Sonic's waist, the hedgehog flopping atop him for a final deep, wet kiss.  

       Whatever remained to be said that night, it was said through their eyes, by warm bodies entwined and dreaming through the night as the moon and stars silently kept watch.

Epilogue.

       Doubling as magistrate, the village mayor angrily waved his gavel before the packed courtroom.  “Doctor Eggman, these charges are serious!  The acts of which you stand accused are utterly immoral, belligerent and inexcusable!  They’re also malicious, vile and depraved!  Not to mention a teensy bit illegal.”  The jury murmured as Sonic, Tails, Amy, Sticks and Knuckles glared at their longtime mustachioed foe from the witness stand.  “To that end, the court is very grateful to Sonic and his friends for their heroic efforts in taking out Exhibit A, the so-called earthquake machine, and in apprehending the accused, Dr. Eggman.  It’s my understanding he was apprehended without incident using…”  The mayor squinted at a notecard on his bench.  “Something called the Super Stick E-9000 HyperSpurt Goo Bazooka.  Most ingenious.”  Grinning wide, Tails and Knuckles high fived one another.  “However,” cautioned the mayor, scratching his chin on the gavel’s head, “since no one actually saw the accused install or operate the earthquake machine, and there being no physical evidence tying him to the crime scene, I regrettably have no choice but to drop all charges.”  The riveted courtroom gasped and murmured angrily as the gavel banged.  

       “Good to see justice served!” grinned Eggman, his feet kicked up on the banister as he smugly brushed his rust-colored mustache.  His two robotic attorneys nodded eagerly and whispered amongst themselves.  “I’ll be leaving now, unless this kangaroo court has any further inconvenience they wish to heap upon me.”

       “That’s racist!” said a lone kangaroo in the jury.

       “With no due respect your honor, are you totally brain dead!?” protested Sonic, standing and waving his arms.  “Or just regular gullible and stupid?  That I can totally see, to be quite honest.  Seems pretty common around here.  No offense.”

       “We’re offended!” hollered the kangaroo as the others nodded.

       “I’ve told you a dozen times today, Sonic,” snorted the mayor, waving his gavel.  “No more outbursts!  I understand your frustration, but I’ve also a good mind to throw your blue butt in jail for contempt of court.”

       “It’s not really contempt of court if the judge isn’t really a judge,” observed Amy to another collective gasp.  The mayor turned and opened his mouth, but she cut him off.  “And before you say it, judging pie eating and bikini contests totally does NOT count.”  Closing his mouth, the mayor sat and frowned.  “Look,” sighed Amy.  “It’s VERY simple.  The earthquake machine literally had Eggman’s nameplate on it.  It even had a freaking model number!”

       “The EggSterminator Mark V Earthquake-O-Matic,” offered Eggman helpfully, the jury nodding and muttering agreement.  “Platinum Edition.  But you see, I didn’t actually build the thing.  I just read about it in the newspaper.”

       “We have a whole hour of video footage of Eggman fighting Sonic for control of the machine,” sighed Tails, cheek in palm.  “We just watched it this morning!”    

       “He threatened to earthquake us.  Right to the camera!” shouted Sticks, pointing at the accused.  “Then he went all Scooby Doo said he would have gotten away with it if only it hadn’t been for us meddling mobians.”

       “Yeah, he said exact the same thing on lunch break today,” nodded Knuckles matter-of-factly, patting the badger’s shoulder.  “I mean, I don’t like shaming people, but Eggman?  Dude, I’m starting to think you really get off on all this evil guy stuff.”

       “I will confess,” pointed Eggman, pulling his feet off the banister as the entire courtroom gasped anew.  “That spicy boiled egg potato salad today was devilishly good.  Goes great with fried chicken!  If anyone has the recipe, please email it to me.”  The courtroom collectively slumped.  

       “Enough!  Hearsay and happenstance!” guffawed the Mayor, banging his gavel again.  “I’ll have no more disruptions.  This man is innocent until proven guilty and we have failed to do that.  The fact of the matter is, the writer was lazy and forgot to add a prosecutor to this epilogue.  We have to let Eggman go.”

       “Well said your honor,” nodded Tails, standing and taking a respectful tack.  “And I’m certainly not the first fox to forget something obvious.  But does justice really need to be led by the nose?  Eggman confessed to the whole thing when he got caught.  He posted highlights of his evil plan on social media.  There’s even an unabridged audio transcript that you can download for ninety-nine cents!”

       “Bah!  Clearly the work of hucksters, trying to cash in,” shrugged Eggman, lacing his fingers together.  “People post fraudulent drivel on the internet all the time.  Isn’t that what it’s for?”  The gallery mumbled and nodded agreement, as did Sonic’s group.  “For all you know, that machine was put there by ancient aliens.”

       “I knew it!” thundered Sticks, the badger glowering at the enlarged picture of the destroyed base.  “Those aliens are always messing with us!  Eggy might be a jerk, but he’s not the guilty this time.  Let’s catch those aliens and put THEM on trial instead!”  The courtroom murmured again as the mayor and robot attorneys nodded agreement.  Scattered clapping began.  Grinning wide and twirling his mustache, Eggman slowly got up to leave.  

       As the mayor raised his gavel, the courtroom doors banged loudly open.  All eyes directed their gaze to a tall, dark figure silhouetted in the doorway.  Imposing and angular, it proved to be a hedgehog, pausing before he strode confidently down the center aisle.  The color of blood-streaked obsidian, he wore immaculate white gloves, shiny gold bracelets and angular hover shoes.  A large, futuristic sidearm sat in a holster strapped to his muscular thigh.

       “Shadow?  Whoa, great timing as always, man,” beamed Sonic, shooting a pair of ‘gun’ gestures at the dark hedgehog.  “You look fantastic.”  The courtroom at large, including Eggman and his attorneys, murmured and nodded agreement.  

       The imposing hedgehog crossed his arms and smirked, his voice low, smooth and confident.  “Thank you, Sonic.  It is good to see you again.  Though you would have known I was coming if you bothered to check your texts.”  The room was riveted.  He cleared his throat and faced the mayor.  “I apologize for interrupting these… proceedings, such as they are.  But my agency has unfinished business with the inventor of the so-called earthquake device.  Or, to use the official trademark name, the EggSterminator Mark V Earthquake-O-Matic.  Ah!  There he is.”  A sinister grin crept across Shadow’s face.  “I’ll be taking you into custody now, Doctor.”

       “Protect me, you fools!” bellowed Eggman to his attorney bots, but as Shadow glared at them, both bots quivered, then compacted themselves into briefcases that clunked uselessly to the floor.

       “This is most irregular!” hollered the Mayor, waving his gavel about.  “Shadow, you’ve no jurisdiction here.  Let’s face it, you're barely IN this particular franchise!  I have a good mind to--”

       “To silence yourself,” interrupted the hedgehog, his icy stare hushing the pudgy bureaucrat.  “G.U.N. has jurisdiction over any matters concerning terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, espionage and other sufficiently egregious crimes.  As a petty authority, you should be well acquainted with that fact.  Now please be on your way.  Unless you care to have me to measure the precise depth of your posterior with my shoe.”

       “He’s all yours, Shadow.  Good luck!” grinned the mayor, scurrying from behind the bench and tossing his gavel into the trash before bolting out the door.  The assembled throng sat and listened as the mayor slammed his car door, started the vehicle and peeled off.

       “Doctor?”  Shadow thumbed behind himself and folded his arms again.  “Kindly head to the shuttle.  It’s outside the door, you can’t miss it.  It’s the big black one that’s two stories tall filled with twenty well-armed G.U.N. agents awaiting my next command.  They’ll be expecting you.” The onyx hedgehog walked over to Tails as the corpulent villain rose and plodded dejectedly to the door.

       Tails ran to Shadow and hugged him tight.  “I knew you’d come!  Thanks for answering my texts, we need to work together more often.”

       Shadow smiled and caressed the fox’s cheek.  My pleasure, foxy.  I’m still quite upset that you got hurt.  But had it not been for you, bravely scouring the barrens at close range, Eggman would have continued to evade us all.  Permit G.U.N. to replace the Tornado and your lost equipment.  Farewell, brave fox.  I shall be in touch,” he smiled.  “With the both of you, of course.”

       “Whoa!  Thank you, Shadow!” waved Tails affectionately, the riveted courtroom sharing a dreamy sigh.  

       “We’ll be waiting,” winked Sonic, taking Tails’ hand.

       “Keep things warm for me,” winked Shadow, smiling confidently over his shoulder as he turned away with a casual two-fingered salute.

       “Bah!  This ending’s totally gay!” chided Eggman, arms crossed as he tapped his foot impatiently for Shadow at the door.

       “Why wouldn’t it be?” muttered Shadow, striding alongside to the shuttle.  “Now shush.  It’s pizza night at the G.U.N. detention center.  And I know you’ll want to have seconds and thirds per usual.”

       “And those little roundy puddings, too?” asked Eggman hopefully.

       “And those little roundy puddings too,” nodded the hedgehog.

       Eggman placed his arm around Shadow’s shoulder as they boarded, the shuttle engines roaring to life.  “I suppose an all expenses paid indoor vacation will do me some good.  If nothing else, it'll get me away from those hero flakes for a while. You’re the best, Shadow.”

       "Hmmph."

","pools_count":1,"title":"Rough Ridings","deleted":"f","public":"t","mimetype":"application/msword","pagecount":"1","rating_id":"2","rating_name":"Adult","ratings":[{"content_tag_id":"4","name":"Sexual Themes","description":"Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal","rating_id":"2"}],"submission_type_id":"12","type_name":"Writing - Document","guest_block":"t","friends_only":"f","comments_count":"16","views":"2653","sales_description":null,"forsale":"f","digitalsales":"f","printsales":"f","digital_price":""}