A Matter Of Life And Death Part 2 By Teddy The Fox AKA Lindsay Escoffery ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lets start of with the legal stuff: Sonic and others are copyright Archie Comics and SEGA. I created Teddy the Fox and Razor the red hog. This story may have some violence in it and some gore, but for the most of it, is safe to read. *lol* This story is in the right tradition of Sonic, but you will notice as it goes on, it has its own story. It does not follow the comic the show the anime or the game. This story was edited by Alex Entrekin entrekin@wolfenet.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Characters-Tails Prower *Teddy the Fox *Razor the little red hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog Robotnik And the rest of the freedom fighters (who ever I decide to put in) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OK. In case you did not read the first part, let me fill you in on what happened. 10 years ago, Sonic went to avenge Sally's death. Tails suddenly flew in and tried to tell him something. Sonic Looked up and Robotnik stabbed him in the stomach and he fell 8 stories down into the ocean. It is now 10 years later. Tails who is now 16 rides around looking for parts of the planet not harmed by Dark Lord. Yep, ol' Robobutt changed his name again to Dark Lord ruler of Dark land. One night Tails and his friends Teddy and Razor get into a little trouble. With the help of a stranger, they escape only to find out it was Rotor and he leads them back to Tails' old home. Tails, in fear of something, decides to leave, but Razor and Teddy want to stay. So they go their different ways for now. It seems the freedom fighters are not going to let Dark Lord harm anyone any more, but their plan is fouled and they all get caught. Teddy manages to make it back to get Tails, but is Tails so eager to go back. Find out why and more in.......... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PART 2 Sometimes it's hard to go back "Oh my god!" Teddy cried. "Tails what happened?" "Dark Lord's what happened," Tails winced at the sight he saw in the mirror. Tails back was covered with big scars in the form of slash marks. Teddy reached over to feel them. Tears fell from his eyes as he saw his friend's horrible pain. "10 years ago, right after Sonic fell out the window, I ran to it, but he was gone. I turned around and lunged at Dark lord, trying to kill him, but he was too strong and he snapped my arm. I fainted from the pain and later woke up in a cell with a cast on my arm. For 3 years I was his slave, he beat me constantly. I never said a word when I saw my best friends roboticized. I was the cause of all there pain. Before they went they cursed me hated me." "Why?" Teddy asked looking confused. "Because I was the one who caught them, that's why!" Tails said. There was a long silence. "Why?" Teddy asked again. Tails did not answer he walked out of his house, and towards the beach. Looking out at the sea with a distant expression. Teddy limped out after him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Why?" "I don't know. I grew this hatred for everyone, not only Dark lord." Tails answered looking down. "I didn't care who I hurt, it's like Sonic was my good side and now that he was gone, all I had left was evil. I needed to make everyone hurt like I was hurting. Please don't hate me." "Tails, I won't ever hate you." Teddy replied "You were just a kid, besides your good now." "Am I? Am I really?!" Tails screamed suddenly jumping back from Teddy's grasp "I left you all to die! And guess what! I didn't care!!!" Tails ran back towards his house leaving Teddy alone. "Stop lying to yourself!" Teddy called "You have to go back you have to face him! Don't be such a coward." Tails stopped running suddenly and turned around "What did you call me?" "I said coward you yellow bellied chicken," Teddy replied. "Ha! A chicken maybe but I am no coward." Tails laughed "Now Teddy, take it back." "Never! Give me one good reason," Teddy called back to Tails as he started to limp up the hill. "Because I am going back, and I am going to save everyone," Tails replied, as he ran back to help Teddy up the small hill. The two friends walked up the hill together but somehow Teddy felt Tails still would have to overcome his fear, even though it wouldn't be easy." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dark Lords fortress "Come on Rotah-sugah. You can get through the bars." Bunnie whispered "I don't know Bunnie... These bars are made out of a weird metal I have never seen before." Rotor explained trying to cut it with a mini metal cutter he had in his hat. Suddenly a electric charge flew through the bars and Rotor flew back across the cell, hitting the wall with a loud thump. "So thought you could escape," Laughed the evil voice of Dark Lord "I have my eyes on you, if you try that again your get more than a little shock." "Damn you! Why are ya' doing this? Just roboticize us get it over with!" Bunnie cried looking up at the speakers in the wall. "Calm down my furry friend. The fun will begin soon, I promise," Dark Lord replied. Bunnie ran over to comfort Rotor who was now sitting up. He was fine, but a little shook up. "Don't mind me, go see how Antoine is doing. He doesn't look to well," Rotor said as he picked him self up and went to work again at the bars, this time more quietly. "I am feeling better Bunnee." Antoine moaned "Well, ya' don't look all that good. Now move your hand so I can clean ya' up." Bunnie said sternly. "No, really miz. I will be zok, jus leave me alone." Antoine answered, wincing. Bunnie walked over and pulled his hand away from his stomach, which he was hiding. "Oh my lord, sugah!" Bunnie cried out in horror. Antoine's stomach was nothing but blood and guts. "How are you still alive?" "I am dying. I know zat. My only means of survival ees eef I am roboticized, so if you ever escape... you must leave me here. Understand?" "Ah....You know Ah can't do that!" Bunnie cried "You fight 'till the end! You will never give up do ya' hear me!" "No. You hear me: I am just going to suffair more if I stay like zees. You must let me stay here." begged Antoine. "Let him go Bunnie, it's the only way," Rotor said as he walked up to where they were. "Sonic would have tried to save him," Bunnie murmured "Shut up! You will not speak of his name around here." A tall dog stood up "Sonic killed himself in a fit of anger! He was not worthy to life if he would give it up so easily." "You take that back!" Bunnie stretched her arm out and grabbed the dog by the throat. "So kill me then! I don't care! It's better than being dumb and metal!" The dog said his eyes burned in to Bunnie's "That's enough, the both of you! No one is going to kill anyone!" Rotor called throwing himself between the two fuders. "We are all in this together! If we start to fight now we might as well be dead! That's what Dark Lord wants." The two stopped their fight and Bunnie went back to help Antoine. He was going fast they needed to get him back for help. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Tails' place "So Tails how did you escape from Dark Lord?" Teddy asked between bites on a bun. "For months I had been figuring a way out," Tails said, sighing, "He figured it out and caught me before I left. We got into a fight and I cut two of his fingers off. He stopped and I got away. He swore if I ever came back he would kill me." "Than why you don't..." Teddy stopped "Come on Teddy, it's late. Let's hit the hay," Tails yawned "I will leave first thing in the morning, and you stay here, ya' hear me. Your too weak, I can handle everyone myself." Teddy knew Tails could handle it, but could he handle facing Dark Lord again? Tails woke early in the morning and without making a sound, he packed some stuff in his nap sac and was on his way to uncertain fate. Who knows? Read on to find out. Tails jumped on his bike and speed off. Maybe it was courage, maybe it was suicide. What ever it was, Tails was driven towards Dark Land, and he thought he was ready. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Snively!" Dark Lord screamed "They're gone!!! Find them now!!!!" "Who-Who's gone sir?" Snively asked. "The freedom fighters you idiot!!!!" Dark Lord's voice boomed causing a wind that blew Snively back into a wall. "I will find them sir right away," Snively wined, running away towards his computer. He sat down and started to type in a camera code. "All camera's check heat sensors, and find those vermin!" "R..run guys they found out!" Bunnie cried once the alarms went off. "Grragh!!! Rotair, leave me and zave yourself!" Antoine cried in pain. "No, you still have a chance! If we can make it out we can get you help!" Rotor cried, dragging Antoine along over his shoulder. The six freedom fighters made there way across the hall to sector 5. "Sector 6 code," The door said "Rotor, what's the code?" A skunk piped up "It's obvious isn't it? D-a-r-k-n-e-s-s." Rotor called out to the skunk who punched the code. "Code verified. You may enter." The door stated. "I have a lock on them!" Snively called out. "Well go get them and hurry!" Dark Lord replied not very happy. "They have a lock on us Bunnie!" Rotor called back "Everybody up into the pipes! They will never find us. I have a map of 'em right here." Rotor helped everyone into the pipe at the end of the hall, looking back to make sure no one was there he shut the metal door and was gone. "There right around ..... "Snively stopped in his tracks "Here?" "Where did they go boss?" a bot called out "You seem to have lost them again." "Shut up!" Snively screamed hitting the bot over the head. "OW!" "Hehehe," The bot started to laugh. "Don't stand around you bolts for brains find them at once!" Snively screamed at the bots wildly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tails looked up at the dark castle fortress and sighed. "I can't believe I came back. What am I thinking?" Tails asked himself "No stupid. You have to save your friends." Giving one last look up at the dungeon he spent so long in, he walked back to where his bike was and hid it in the bush. "OK. Here goes nothing." Tails sighed as he pulled out his lazer and snuck through the bars in the fence. "Boy security is low tonight, I hope I'm not too late." Silently, Tails snuck by the first light beam shining down. The beam came his way and he dived into the bushes until it passed. "Can't let my guard down or I'll get caught and then we're all in hot water." Tails whispered. He picked himself up and tiptoed towards the steal door around the corner of the building. "Sector 1 code." the door rang out loudly "Oh man, be quiet will ya!" Tails wined looking around making sure no one heard he typed in the code. "Code verified. You may enter." The door rang out. The door opened and Tails walked in. "That was really easy. It's not like ol' robo lord to just let anyone walk in." Tails said. "Come on! They went this way through the pipes! Go in now!" Snively screamed. Tails jumped behind a door just as Snively and the bots ran by trying to find a way into the pipes. Once they were gone, Tails emerged and ran towards the main hall, he knew exactly where the escapees were heading. "Now's my chance, I gotta find them and get them out of here." Tails whispered He opened the metal door at the end of the hall and crawled into the pipes. It was dark and musty in there and he could not see very well. Tails reached into his nap sac and pulled out a flash light. "If I can remember this pipe system then I should go left." He crawled left and was on his way. The air was hard to get in but Tails kept on going. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "This way guys," Rotor called out "You sure you know where you are going Rotor?" The dog called back. "Yeah, I have the whole pipe system mapped out!" Rotor called back "Look there is a light up ahead. Everyone stop!" Bunnie called. "Who ees zare?" Antoine squeaked out "It's me, Tails! I'm here to save you," Tails called out "Follow me." There were no hello's. Only silence as they followed Tails out of the pipes. "On my word, run!" Rotor called to everyone. Rotor gave the word and everyone started to run towards the door. They ran out and made it safely to the fence. "Wait!" Tails stopped "Where's Razor?" "He...He's dead Tails." Bunnie said sadly looking down. "I won't believe that! I'm going back to get him!" Tails cried "No! Are you crazy?!" Rotor screamed "If you go back I have to go with you. Everyone back to Knothole I will be back soon!" "Me too Ah'm staying," Bunnie said smiling. The number slowly shrank to three lonely figures. "All right the Tails man is back in action!" Rotor yelled slapping Tails a high five. Tails did not respond, he only looked down at the ground. "Let's go. We have to find Razor." Tails said quietly. Bunnie and Rotor nodded and made their way towards the rubble. What they saw will forever change their lives. There were bodies scattered everywhere: arms, legs, and other parts. Tails frantically pulled away scrap metal and wood. "Tails over here! Ah found 'im and he's still alive!" Bunnie called. Tails ran over to his friend. "T..Tails you c...came," Razor stuttered out. He was in bad shape, much worse than Teddy. "Aww what a beautiful moment, it makes me sick." Tails and the others turned around. There was Dark Lord standing over them. "Go stuff yer fortress up yer..." Bunnie was cut off "As I was saying, you may have managed to rescue some but you won't leave here alive," Dark Lord said. "You heard the lady: Go shove it." Tails said stepping in front of Bunny. "My what a smart mouth you have there, Tails I always liked it. That's what made you my best solider. "Dark Lord laughed. "Shut up! You know nothing!!!" Tails screamed "Tails, what is he talkin' about?" Bunnie whispered in Tails' ear. Dark Lord heard. "Ahh so you haven't told them yet, eh?" He laughed, obviously enjoying this. "Told us what Tails?" Rotor looked over at him. "Go on and tell them tell them all the freedom fighters you captured and roboticized, all those poor civilians." Dark Lord laughed "Tails would never operate you're death machine!" Rotor yelled back. "No Rotor. Tails, did you?" Bunnie looked at Tails. "(no speech)" Tails looked down. "Come on Tails.Is it true or ain't it?" Bunnie called harshly. "Yes! Tell them!" Dark Lord cried with joy. "Yes it's all true happy!" Tails looked up, his eyes burning into Dark Lords. "(no speech)" Bunnie slapped Tails across the face. Tails grabbed his face and looked at Rotor who was holding Razor, and Bunnie who was backing up. "B..Bunny its not what you think," Tails stuttered. "No Tails! It's all what Ah think! Get away from me!" Bunnie said eyeing Tails with a cold stare. "Go! Go fight with your master! Just leave us out!" "Hehehe, this has been amusing. You three may go." Dark Lord pointed towards Bunnie, Rotor and Razor. "But I want Tails." Tails looked at his friends with pleading eyes. "Take him." Bunnie said. They turned around, leaving Tails behind. Suddenly a anger flared up in Tails heart and he went at Dark Lord Like a mad man. "You bastard!!! How could you?!" Tails screamed Dark Lord jumped to the side and Tails went flying past him, "You brought it upon yourself," Dark Lord reached out and punched Tails in the face,knocking him unconscious. "Welcome home. Hahahahahahahaha!!!" He started to laugh out loud as he dragged Tails towards the doors inside his fortress. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Bunnie... we have to stop... I can't carry Razor... any further." Rotor wheezed "No! We have to keep goin'. Ah don't trust Dark Lord. He may have bots on us any second." Bunnie called as she grabbed Razor and started to run harder. "Bunnie, stop this is madness. You and I both know were not running from 'bots.We're running from Tails." Rotor wheezed trying to keep up. "Don't say his name! Tails is a traitor!" Bunnie screamed suddenly stopping. Tears started to come from her eyes but she sniffed them back. "But maybe he had a good reason," Rotor said quietly. "No one has a reason to do that! Now let's keep going. Razor needs help," Bunnie said as she started to run again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Teddy woke up drenched with sweat, he sat up and wiped his face off. "Man what a dream..." Teddy whispered to himself. "Tails may need my help. I have to get to Knothole." Teddy Got up from his bed and limped towards the closet, where he proceeded to get dressed. He grabbed his stuff and limped outside and got on his bike. "I don't know why, but I know Tails needs my help." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Hey kid! You ready or what?" a soldier called out to Tails who was in his old room. "Yeah, I'll be out in a second," Tails looked up into the mirror, his blue and black suite gleaming in the dimly lit room. "I can't believe they left me here. They'll pay dearly." Tails put his hand in a fist. He walked out of his room and towards the meeting room where the other soldiers were. Tails knew some of them. He had fought with them before he left; they were as evil as they came. Tails walked in, acting tough and cool, trying to blend in. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Quickly, inside. Razor needs ta' rest." Bunnie said to Rotor. They walked in the doors and down to Knothole. Bunnie gave Razor up to a nurse who ran him to the infirmary. "I am going to check on Antoine," Rotor said to Bunnie, walking away. Bunnie's bad attitude was starting to get to Rotor. "Yeah, just go. Ah need to think anyways," Bunny answered "Damn you, Tails! How could you?" Bunnie walked into her room, she needed to rest. "Ah, Rotair, you made it back safe. What took you?" Antoine said a little weakly "We ran into a little diversion on the way," Rotor answered trying to stay away from the subject Tails. "Where are Bunnie and Tails? Zey made it back all right?" Antoine asked "Uhh, well, Bunnie is here." Rotor said, making a weird face. "Well, where ees Tails?" Antoine asked making a serious face. Rotor told Antoine the whole story calmly. Antoine however was enraged. "Why that little!" Antoine said out loud cursing Tails name. "Antoine, you need to rest! Please jump to conclusions later!" Rotor said motioning to the doctor to sedate Antoine before he became too upset. Rotor left and went towards Bunnie's room. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. Rotor took a peek inside. She was asleep. He closed the door slowly. "Tails can't be on their side; I know him. There must be more." Rotor said to himself. He decided to go check on Razor maybe he could provide an answer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Come on you bucket of bolts! Faster! I have to get to Knothole!" Teddy yelled at his bike. "Something bad is going to happen! I just know it." As Teddy races time to make it to Knothole, Tails is also in a fix. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Listen up men!" Snively called out to everyone "We are preparing for a surprise attack on Knothole tomorrow. We finally know the coordinates of it's whereabouts!" "How?" A young soldier asked. "Why, by Tails showing us." Snively laughed as all eyes fell on Tails. "And if he doesn't, he will die!" Tails had never felt so helpless in his life. Despite the fact he was still mad, he did not want to give up the location of Knothole. "Well will you do it?" Tails looked around. "Yeah, sure. I have an old score to settle with 'em anyways." Tails answered. "Very good, you're learning," Snively laughed and left, walking out the door and towards Dark Lords room, for he had something to show him. Tails sank in his chair how was he going to get out of this mess. He suddenly wiped all regretful thoughts out of his mind. Wait! They hate me! They gave me up with out a fight! Who needs them? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was a sad night in Knothole, they had the funeral services for the dead freedom fighters who did not make it back. "I bet you Tails told his lord that we would be attacking." A dog named Lance spoke up after "I mean, jeeze, he was waiting for us!" Everyone was agreeing. Rotor could not believe his ears: no one trusted Tails anymore! He still did, but even he was starting to doubt him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "HAHAHAHAHA!" Dark Lords laughter evil laughter rang out through the land. "Very good Snively! You have done well. I had given up on this project." "Well sir, I just found it and decided to fix a few bugs you may have missed, and now it works like a charm." Snively answered very proud of himself. "Raise the specimen." Dark Lord called to his computer. There were a series of weird noises and suddenly, and hole in the floor opened up and slowly a capsule started to emerge from the floor. Frost coated the capsule which was about as big as a person. "There we go, my precious specimen. I am ready now." Dark Lord said. He started to wipe away the frost to reveal what was inside. "Sir! Y...You can't be serious." Snively wined when he saw what was in the capsule. "Oh but I am. Hehe I am!" Dark Lord laughed "Soon. Very soon! THE HEDGEHOG WILL BE MINE!" TO BE CONTINUED............................................. Well that's it for the second part. I hope you liked it. I know its a little actionless, but I promise the next part, which is the last part, will be full of action. Please tell me what you think get the first part at (Tailsland) or (TSF) Hope to hear your comments so I know how to make the third part even better! -Teddy The fox