Hi! Welcome to my short story about how Sonic and Tails meet. Get curled up on your couch and read this heart warming tale. This story will be a two part one-shot when it is finished. Enjoy!

The rain and dark clouds covered the night sky. What would have otherwise been a breathtaking sight of stars and a glowing moon, was replaced with a storm. It cared not who was awake from its bright flashing and loud crackles. It cared not for those who were in the cold getting wet. It was a storm. As simple as that.

A small fox cub hugged his knees closer to his body in need of warmth. The ally would not have been comfortable in the first place, but the weather did nothing to fix that. He should have moved and looked for shelter, but the five year old was in too much pain. His whole bruised body throbbed from the last beating the village children had given him. It would not have been so bad if he was not so hungry. He had not eaten a thing for a few days. He was usually use to this feeling. Perhaps it was actually the beating that was making his hunger worse? Either way, moving was not an option for the child.

He restrained himself from coughing knowing once he started he would not stop, and focused on wrapping his tails tighter to himself.

His tails… Oh how he hated them! Or at least one. He had been born with two tails while others were only born with one. It was the main reason people would bully him. Both children and adults. It was not uncommon for him to be called a freak, a mutant, or an abomination. He never heard any one use his real name. He had run away from the children's home. To often he was abused and beaten there. The Fox's mother and father would never of treated him that way.

He had to find someplace better; but his hopes had all been for nothing when he ran away. Now he was alone on the streets with no food, no warmth, and no one to even care. How many months had it been? Eight? Doesn't matter. Better to sleep here and not wake up than to go back. He told himself this to be of comfort. Even his young child's mind knew he could not hold out much longer. What would take him first? The cold? His hunger? His sickness?

A fit of coughing escaped his lungs causing his chest to burn. Tears ran down his face mixed with the rain. It was from more than just the pain. He coughed more and did not notice someone come near him until he spoke.

"Hey kid, what are you doing out here?"

The young fox sneezed and then looked up at the person who had spoken. The alley was dark, so his vision was not at best, but the stranger appeared to be a blue hedgehog that was somewhere in his preteens.

The fox's eyes widened in fear. He had been fine with the idea of falling asleep and not waking up again; but he did not want to leave Mobius by being finished off by some bully. No! Not like this!

"You shouldn't be out here!" said the hedgehog. He took a few steps closer but stopped as the fox cried out in fear. He could see the terror in the younger one's eyes.

He tried to keep his voice as soft as possible but still be heard in the ill weather. "It's okay bud. I'm not going to hurt you."

He once again advanced closer. The fox backed up as close to the wall as he could. His heart and breath were accelerating from fear. The hedgehog stopped and knelt before the yellow bundle. "Hey kid, what's your name?" he asked softly.

The fox opened his eyes questioningly to see his inquisitor. "Miles," came the horse reply.

The hedgehog tried to give a reassuring smile. "I'm Sonic. Could you tell me what you're doing out here?"

Sonic winced as Miles let out a deep cough. It sounded like it would hurt. "I was tryin' tuh sleep," was the week reply.

"Why are you trying to sleep out here?" asked the hedgehog. Was this kid lost? "Where are your parents?"

"Dunno. The'b been gone fur long time."

"Well," tried Sonic again. "Where do you live?" Who ever had been taking care of this kid must surely be worried by now. The fox cub did not answer his question. The only response the blue hedgehog received was a sneeze.

He crept closer to the child. "Kid, you need-"

The fox yelped as Sonic tried to lay a hand on his shoulder. "D-d-don't hurt-t me!" He tried desperately squirm away.

Sonic held onto both his shoulders in fear of the child hurting himself in his panic. "Miles, I'm not going to hurt you. Miles. Miles look at me!"

The owner of that name frightfully looked up with a tear stain face. Sonic continued, "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

"Why?"

"Well….Why would I want to hurt you?" asked the preteen.

Miles face was full of confusion. "Why wouldn't you want to hurt me?"

What has been done to this kid? He replied, "I like to help people. I can't help you if I'm hurting you."

The fox was no longer fighting him, but his mistrust was still evident. Yet, within his gaze if mistrust, there was also confusion. "But people does dat all da time."

"Does what all the time?"

"Dey say dat um bad luck and dat it be for good to get wrid of me." He coughed twice. Not so deep, but still pain piercing.

Now it was Sonic's turn to be confused. What was the kid talking about? "Why do they think you're bad luck? Maybe you just misheard something."

The little fox hid his face. What was so strange about this blue hedgehog? Had he not seen his two tails? Were they hidden? Yah. That was it. He was sitting on them. It would not be so noticeable at the moment. Well, if that was the case, there was no way he was pointing them out! Perhaps the blue hedgehog would leave soon…..

Sonic saw he was not going to get an answer. He was unsure what to do. He could not leave the kid there. That was for sure; but he did not believe Miles would come with him. He could pick the fox up and force him to come, sure; but was that really the best thing? He looked down at the wet bundle of fur in front of him. The child was scared. He looked as if there was no one in the whole world he could trust. No. He could not do that. He would have to gain Miles' trust somehow. He pondered what to do.

As if on cue, the little foxes stomachs let out a loud growl. He pulled his legs tighter to his chest.

Sonic had an idea. "Are you hungry?" The kid did not move. He did not even acknowledge the question. "I'll be right back," said blue hedgehog. "Don't go anywhere."

He rushed off. It was twenty minutes by the time he got back. It was a relief to Sonic when he saw that the child had not moved. Then again….. He had not moved an inch. Filled with worry he crouched down by the cub and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Miles. Miles, wake up. I'm back."

The fox let out a groan then slowly opened his eyes. The blue hedgehog held up a chili dog. "Look what I got for you bud."

The fox looked back questioningly. Sonic tried to urge him to eat it. "It's a chili dog. I know you don't feel good, but you need to eat something."

"You mean….. You're giving it to me?" asked a small raspy voice.

Sonic kept himself from visibly wincing. This kid was obviously getting sicker. "Yah. I have another one for you too when this one is gone."

"Why?" asked the younger one.

Sonic sat down next to the fox cub on the alley floor and wrapped a blanket around him. The ground was wet and cold, but he easily dismissed that from his mind. "Because you are hungry and need food. Now eat. We'll talk when you're done."

After cautiously receiving the warm dog, Miles looked at the blue stranger for the last time to make sure he had it right. Apon no discouragement, he scoffed down the meal as fast as he could. He Finished it in just a moment.

"Woe! Slow down bud. You'll make yourself sick! Er...a different sick." He handed the cub a bottle of soda. "Take a drink of this."

He drank half of the bubbly brown liquid and received the other chili dog that was handed to him. "Eat this one slower, okay?" A smile crept on his lips as Miles nodded his head yes. This kid was cute. He very much hoped he could find his folks. With Eggman's attacks…...He probably would not. When Miles was done with the second dog, Sonic felt a bit of regret. The kid could probably of done with a third.

"Thank you," half whispered the little fox.

With a grin and wink, Sonic answered, "My pleasure! Glad you liked it. Now, I am going to ask you some questions now. Okay?"

He received a nervous and reluctant nod. He was still very scared, but at least he carried a bit more clarity in his eyes. "Okay. Good. So Miles, do you know where you live?" A head shake no. "Do you…. know your parent's name?"

Head shake yes. "Mamma and Papa."

Of course. What else would there names be? "Do you know where your mamma and papa are?" Head shake no. "Do you live with your Mamma and Papa?" No. "Who do you live with?"

Miles turned his eye gaze to the ground. "I dunno…."

Sonic saw he did know, but did not want to tell. He lifted the Fox's chin back up to meet his eyes. "Miles, I have to get you back home. I cannot unless you tell me where that is."

"No. I not goin' beck." For once, something other than fear entered the cub's eyes. There was defiance and determination. What was Sonic to do?

"Kid, if you won't tell me where your from, will you at least come with me for the night? I have a camp set up just outside the village. You could stay there with me for the night."

Miles thought this over. Was it safe? So far the blue hedgehog had not lain a single finger of roughness on him. Would that change? This stranger has so far been so kind to him. The fox suddenly found an ache in his chest at the thought of Sonic leaving; but then knew he couldn't come even if he wanted to. "I can't walk. I'm too tired." The food had given a boost on energy, but he was still in deep pain.

"Will you let me carry you?" asked the hedgehog. When the fox made neither consent or protest, he carefully picked him up. A wince spread across the younger boy's face, but he could not tell if it was from pain or fear.

In this new position, Sonic was able to notice something he had not before. This kid had two tails! He about dropped the kid in his shock, but was able to manage a tight grip in time. Is this why Miles was treated so poorly? Did people hate him for his double tails?

The younger child's grip tightened on the older boy's. A warm feeling flowed throughout Sonic's body. Miles was so light and small. His weight was not difficult to carry in the slightest. The yellow fox was trembling again. The hedgehog decided it would be best to get a move on. His campsite was not too far.

The storm was starting to ever so slightly calm down. The rain was only a drizzle and the lightning no longer streaked the sky. It did not take long to track his small campsite.

It was on the edge of a large cave. There was a bit of wood surrounded by stones for a fire, a sleeping bag on the ground, and various articles of different kind lying around. The great surprise though, was the big red, two seater airplane.

"What's that?" asked Miles in aw. His voice was hoarse and wheezy.

Sonic set him down and then placed him inside the sleeping bag. "That is my plane. I call it the Tornado. It is how I got to your island."

He rummaged around in the vehicle and found another blanket for himself. After spreading it on the ground, he lied down on it. The ground was hard and he had no other blanket to cover himself, but with the fire rebuilt, he would not get cold.

"You get some rest now. Okay kid?"

No answer. The blue hedgehog turned around to see that the fox cub was already out cold. "Good night kid. We'll find you a place in the morning." Heavy eyelids slowly closed; and the world went into a deep darkness.

Sonic stirred. He had been sleeping soundly when something had woken him up. Is that coughing? He sat up and looked over at the little fox. Miles was coughing and wheezing with hardly a pause.

He rushed over. "Miles! Miles! You okay?" He pulled the boy into an embrace. Worry shot through him as he was able to catch a glimpse of the boy's misted eyes. He placed one hand on his forehead. It was as hot as an oven.

Sonic may not have been a doctor, and was completely ignorant to the arts of medicine, but he knew this: Miles was deathly sick and needed help fast.

With fox cub in arms, the hedgehog raced towards the village. He stopped just one foot in front of the first door of a house he came to. He knocked loudly and urgently.

"Who is it?!" called out a deep rough voice. The villagers had become untrusting of strangers since Robotnik's attack. Or at least that was what Sonic believed.

"Please, where is the nearest doctor? My friend is very sick."

The door did not open, but the hedgehog could hear the voice just on the other side. "Just keep going down the street. When you get to the end, go right, left, then left again. It will be in the middle of Maple Drive on the right side."

He heaved a sigh. That was a relief. So the this island had a doctor after all. "Thank you," he said full of gratitude. No words were said back.

The blue blur passed through the given directions and stopped in front of a small worn down building. A signe by the door read "Doctor Oak." He banged on the door urgently.

This time, the door creaked open allowing the yellow light to show the outline of an old squirrel. "Yes?"

"Please, my friend is very sick. Can you help him?" How many times have those exact words been asked through the ages? The answer will never be known. Neither did Sonic think nor care of this question. He only cared that this little fox could be save.

The squirrel opened the door wider. He ushered for the two to come in. "Lie him down on the table."

After doing as bidden, he turned to get a good look at the doctor. He was an old gray furred squirrel. His face showed little to no emotion besides that of being tired. Anyone would be at three in the morning.

The doctor, assuming Doctor Oak, walked over to the child prostrate on the examination table. On actually seeing his patient he clicked his teeth and shook his head. "Get it out of here," he hissed.

Sonic was confused. "Sir?"

"Get that mutant mut out of my office!" came the harsh reply.

Sonic reared back in shock. He had not expected those words. "But he needs medical attention. He could die!"

The old Mobian walked back to the door and opened it. "Then maybe our town will finally be ridden of its hard times. A mutant like that is undoubtedly cursed. Now leave!"

With care and speed, Miles was once again lifted by the twelve year old. Sonic left the office as told. Even if he could convince the doctor to give the fox something for his fever, he would not be able to trust that the medicine was harmless.

He went from house to house. Each one refused to take in the mutant, the freak, the abomination. No matter how hard he begged, no one would give him as much as a Tylenol pill. They were truly convinced that this child was a curse to their island.

Sonic's heart dropped like a rock in a bucket when he realized how feint Miles' breathing became. Hold on kid. I'm going to have to bring you home.

The streets and hillside only saw a blue streak of light as he whizzed by. The hedgehog ran all the way back to his cave. With a leap, he jumped up into his plain and set the ill child in the back passenger seat. With few movements, Sonic was able to swipe up all his belongings and put it in the compartment under his tan seat cushion. After one last check on the old engine, he started the plane. "Please make it home Tornado. Please make it."

The engine roared and sputtered to life. The red Tornado gave a jolt then shot forward. It was not long before Sonic was able to pull it up into the air.

The wind rushed pass his spikes and to the emptiness beyond. The cold night sky was inked blank without a trace of a star or moon. Behind him the island, above him the sky, bellow him a large vastness of empty deep deep ocean, and the thread of hope before. He had to make it home. He just had to.

It was not until the sun was directly above, marking midday, that Sonic spotted his homeland, Mobotropolis.

His house was not in the city itself, no; but rather by itself near the forest. This was a good thing. Now there would be less complications landing his plane.

Engine purred as the Tornado lowered in the field for a landing. This was the hardest part of flying a plane. Making it safely on solid ground without crashing was not learned over night. (Sonic knew that by first hand.)

The moment the engine was off, he lifted the cub from the passenger seat and ran speedily to his home. It was a small one story building made of wood. The windows were round and so was the top of the door. The roof may of been a thatched roof, but it hardly ever leaked.

Sonic banged on the door. "Uncle Chuck! Uncle Chuck! Are you home?!"

The door opened just a moment later to reveal a hedgehog that was not unlike Sonic. He was much older having a gray mustache and wore a red vest. "Oh Sonic, you're back early son." His gleaming eyes turned to worry when he saw what his nephew was holding. "Who's this? What happened?"

The older hedgehog took the boy from the younger's grasp as he explained. "I found him on Westside Island. He was alone starving in an alley. He told me his name was Miles but would not tell me where he was from. I got him some food and let him sleep with me for the night. He got really sick, and I tried to get him help on the Island, but no one would take him in."

"An entire island and not one person would help him?" He placed Miles on the bed in Sonic's room.

His ears drooped. "Two tails. No one would help him because of his two tails. They thought he was bad luck or a curse. Well, something like that."

"I'm going to call the doctor." Sonic's uncle left the room.

The blue hedgehog sat on the end of the bed. He knew that their doctor would have no problem with the child. The citizens of Mobotropolis were very diverse. No. That was not what worried him. It was not that Miles would not get better either. (Now that he was home there was no doubt in his mind that help would arrive in time.) The thing that did worry him was the young fox's past.

"What ever happened to you, who ever was hurting you, I promise will never harm you again. I'll protect you."

So how did I do? This is my first story ever to publish. Drew the cober too. If you wouldn't mind giving a review on how I did, that would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am currently working on an entire Sonic the Hedgehog series. If there are any characters you are dying for me to put in there, please let ne know.

Thank you for reading my fanfiction. Have a nice day!