Hello everyone! I'm going to be starting a short story on the side of Mind Visions. This story isn't replacing it in any way and I'm mostly just writing this before I lose the idea for good. Anyways, enjoy the story!

"Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life.

Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it."

- Khaled Hosseini

Signs

Sonic awoke to the sound of his alarm clock going off at 10 am. Rather reluctantly, he rolled out of bed and began to get ready. A couple months ago, he would have been out of bed bright and early. But ever sense Egghead had kicked the bucket, he found there wasn't much world to save.

Downstairs, he caught the smell of cooking, Tails was probably already up. He still got up nice and early every day, despite being able to sleep in. As he descended the stairs, the fox in question turned around and waved to Sonic.

"Hey Tails, what are you cooking?"

Tails turned to face him before replying, "Pancakes, you want some?"

"Sure!"

Tails smiled before turning back to his pancakes.

After they were ready, they both started to eat their pancakes. Tails turned to Sonic, "What do you have planned to do today?" He asked.

"You know it's not polite to talk with your mouth full..." Sonic replied.

Tails grinned at the statement before continuing, "I think I get an exception."

They both chuckled at the joke, however before they could continue, they heard a knock at the door. Sonic walked over and answered it.

"Hey Sonic!" It was Amy at the door.

"Hey Amy!"

Tails leaned over in the back to wave to her.

"Hey Tails, what you guys up to?"

Tails answered her question and she turned to Sonic for the translation.

"He says, Nothing much." Sonic translated, "Just relaxing and keeping myself busy."

"That's great Tails!" Amy spoke back, "Would you guys like to go to the park with me and Knuckles later?"

"That'd be great Amy!" Sonic responded, then he looked to Tails, who nodded in response.

"I guess that means we're both in!" Sonic implied from Tails' nod.

"Awesome! Also, I love how you guys still learned how to communicate after... You know... How's Tails been doing?"

"He's been doing, as well as he could I guess, I mean, it didn't take that long for us to learn, we could teach you sometime."

"That'd be cool! Then you wouldn't have to translate every time for me!"

Sonic turned back to ask Tails. "Hey Tails, would you mind that?"

Tails responded, and Sonic translated. "He said, I'd be happy too!"

"Alright! I see you guys later at the park."

"See ya Amy!" Sonic yelled as she left.

Sonic turned back to speak with Tails, "You know, it would be really cool if me and Amy could understand you..."

Tails hands instantly started moving in front of him into distinct shapes and symbols. "Yeah, then you wouldn't have to translate as much!" It said.

"Alright, we'll talk about it at the park."

Tails went upstairs to fetch his shoes, he returned about a minute later.

"Ready?"

Tails nodded in response.

"Alright then, let's go!"

During the run to the park, with Tails closely behind, Sonic couldn't help thinking about what Amy had said, he would like for someone else to be able to understand Tails' speech, he had picked up on it quickly.

"I mean I guess Tails always has his whiteboard..." He thought, "I wish there was something more I could have done though..."

Tails whiteboard speaking attempts were, questionable at best, his handwriting was awful, and he knew it. Plus, it took forever to write and erase everything he wanted to say. Eventually, they had decided to learn sign language, so Tails could communicate efficiently. Sonic's mind flashed back to the memory of them both trying their hardest to have even a simple conversation with it, to think they that now they could both hold longer discussions easily.

He looked back at Tails while running, he should have been there for him. There must have been something he could have done. In all honesty though, he just wanted to hear Tails' voice again, it had been about a year now sense he had heard it, he just wanted his Tails back.

He wondered what Tails must have felt, he thought it was bad enough, imagine having to live through it, he didn't know what he would do. It was part of the Docs final act of revenge.

Tails had been mute for about a year now, and every second it haunted Sonic's thoughts.

-X-

After a little while longer, the duo arrived at the park. Amy and Knuckles were waiting for them.

"Hey guys!" Knuckles yelled.

Tails simply waved back at Knuckles.

"What you guys up to?" Sonic asked.

"We're just trying to find something to do to entertain ourselves and it looks like you guys are in the same boat." Amy responded. "We were wondering if you guys had any ideas?"

Tails grabbed Sonics attention and began to sign out a message.

"Tails suggests we could go see a movie."

"That's a great idea Tails!" Amy responded.

Tails grinned at the statement.

The group of them then began to walk to the movie theatre, although their life had been peaceful after Eggman, there were still somethings left to get used to...

What'd you guys think? In case it wasn't obvious, Tails is entirely mute in this story, he can't talk, but he can use sign language to communicate. Why is Tails mute? You'll have to stay tuned and see!