Had It Never Been
Prologue
Author's Note (Updated): It's been a year or so now, and I found this story one idle day. The writing in here is rich, but insanely long--the dialogue is entertaining, but somewhat repetitive. This is a long story, but I believe it's a somewhat interesting one, even to a former SatAM/Sonic fan. Read it, leave feedback, or just leave it in general. Thanks for your time.
Disclaimer: I've never owned any of these characters nor do I intend to in my life.
Waiting. There was nothing Miles Prower hated more than waiting. The stars shined above Knothole village as the little fox clung to his window; waiting, just waiting for his 'aunt' to knock on his door. There had been a mission earlier. He didn't know how it went or what it even was (though he wished he did) but just the mass anxiety of knowing its results made him restless. Pacing about his small little hut, sneakers scratching the floor, his ears perked, his eyes glittered, and his heart beat immensely.
C'mon, Aunt Sally! C'mon!
He didn't know what she was doing. Princess Sally Acorn, more or less the leader and brains of the group (though most of the time continuously upstaged by one of her comrades and his favorite 'neighbor') was always working. Work, work, work! He hated it more than he hated standing at his window, dashing across his room, and bouncing on his bed, just waiting. She had to work. It was part of her duty as princess.
Hopping on his bed, he begun to wonder…
Why aren't the princesses in my books like that?
She read to him nightly. It was his favorite time of the day, next to any minute spent with the coolest guy, neighbor, and self proclaimed 'big brother' around. She may have been second place on his list, but she was first in her own right. She was the only girl he'd ever allow to kiss him nightly; the only girl he'd ever allow to hug him as a greeting; the only girl he'd ever allow to tuck him in. Maybe not the only one; there was another, Bunnie Rabbot, but she came first.
She was his 'aunt'. She just HAD to!
She had a clear attachment to him. She loved him. She said it…a lot. It was the start and end of any conversation. He could see it in her eyes; those blue eyes that reminded him of the bright blue sky in the middle of the day; her little brilliant blue irises that glittered like the Ring Pool's water at night. They told a story of their own. He hadn't understood how anyone's eyes could speak out in prose until he saw hers. His eyes were like that too, so he had been told. Pretty, blue, maybe a little bigger; full of innocence. She loved them so he had grown to too.
She didn't really dress like a royal. The picture books he had made her look more like a peasant than an heir to the throne (whatever throne that may be, he wasn't quite sure what it was called and she didn't really like to boast it). She wore a blue vest, boots…that blue that brought out the blue in her eyes…
He liked staring into people's eyes. It showed real character. Why, just the other day he had looked into Sonic's (a.k.a. the coolest big bro ever!). Confessed, he couldn't say he saw much on the character part, but it was still cool. Those swirls of emerald green reminded him of the fields in that one story…or the fields outside. The tips of the trees; spring leaves…
Were eyes a lecture of nature? Well, brown would be mud then. Therefore, he felt bad for anyone with brown eyes (especially dark brown. Light brown could substitute for dirt). Well, what was purple then? And pink? And red? Was it possible to have purple, pink, or red eyes? Red, definitely, he had heard of something along the lines of albedo…no, no, that didn't seem right. He couldn't quite remember the word, but it meant something like lack of pigmentation.
Pigmentation…he had been told he was a bright young boy and he was rather proud of himself for knowing that one word. His 'aunt' and Rotor (he was a really cool walrus mechanic (his dream job too!)) had deemed him bright. Well, maybe only the former, but he was sure Rotor had agreed when she brought it up…
Falling back on his bed, he grabbed one of his books and flipped through it idly. There was a fountain on one page; a gorgeously dressed princess shimmering with jewelry sitting by it, bored of the castle life; a renegade (he just learned this word the other week, but the character was more of a thief) roaming the streets, stealing food to make end's meet; open markets, happy people. The princess and her father, the King lived in a castle…
But he didn't get it. How could she be disenchanted with something so wonderful?
She had the world in there. She had her parents; she had a beautiful house; she had a wonderful life. How could she be so unhappy when she had everything? He'd have to ask his 'aunt' the next time she read it to him, because he really didn't get it.
He opened several other books, idly turning the pages. There were castles; princes; princesses; dragons; witches; kings and queens; 'peasants' who had parents; peasants who had family. There was color; beautiful color and as he continued to stare at the pages, he didn't hear the knock on his door, or even it opening. His eyes welled up and a tap on his shoulder made him stare up.
"Oh, hi Aunt Sally…" His voice started off melancholy but quickly regained its original cheerfulness. She looked worn out; a little dirty; she was frowning. "How was the mission?" There seemed to be some aggression in her eyes but looking further he found his answer.
Failure.
Shaking her head, she got up and pulled the sheets down. "We had some…difficulties, Tails. Everyone's fine though. We were able to get everyone out before any…real damage happened. We'll get him next time, Tails. We're close. There's a snapping point for everyone." She forced a gentle smile as the fox slid in. Her hand ran through his bangs as she bit her lip. The smile would've made him feel better; it would've, really, but he had heard the same talk so many times…
And after so many times, he couldn't help but doubt.
"Are we ever going to win the war, Aunt Sally?" The question came out simple as he set his books aside. He watched her stiffen. He had taken her off guard.
"…I know we will," she stated in half a lie (so he thought, her eyes didn't really match her response). She leaned down and kissed his forehead, stroking his cheek after.
He couldn't help but be curious though. "What was Mobotropolis like, Aunt Sally?"
"I…I don't know, Tails," she started honestly, but he cut her off.
"Didn't you and Sonic go back there though? Or was I dreaming? Don't you remember anything, Aunt Sally? I really wanna know!"
"…it was…it was colorful, Tails. So beautiful," Heaving another sigh, she pulled his covers up again, an obvious indicator she was feeling somewhat uneasy. "There was life at every turn. So many stands…so many children…so many families…" Her arms fell to her side as her eyes left him for a minute. "It was gorgeous, Tails…"
"Would my family have been one of them?"
"Of course, sweetie…" Her answer came so quickly but hearing it always made him feel better.
"Could you tell me the story about them again?" Turning his head, he smiled. "Can I please hear it again?"
"Aw Tails…I'm tired tonight…" Her hands returned to his bangs (sometimes he'd just like to stroke her bangs and see how much she liked it done constantly). Her excuse didn't sit too well though.
"Pleeeease?" he squeaked. "You can even give me the 'abridged' version if you like!" His 'aunt' had used that word before. He wasn't quite sure what abridged meant, but he noticed the story was tremendously shorter than the time prior. It had to mean shorter; just had to!
"Alright. Once upon a time," Her voice was so rhythmic; her voice was so soothing. It was like a lullaby; it was so serenading; it was so pretty when she used that tone. His eyes switched from shut to open like a light switch; off and on, off and on…
On; he kept his eyes open. Her eyes illustrated the story and he wanted to watch it. He wanted to see it. He wanted to be it.
"Once upon a time there lived a very handsome fox. He was an extremely bright man who after years of study wanted to try his luck in the city. He moved into a small home and worked very hard to make his living. He was a-"
"A mechanic, right, Aunt Sally?" He chirped in the words, just to help her. She seemed a little tired tonight.
"Yes, a mechanic. One day, he met a very beautiful, intelligent young woman while walking home from work. She was a fox just like him and eventually they-"
("Can we skip this part, Aunt Sally?")
"Eventually they fell in love and got married. It was a beautiful ceremony. All of their families attended-"
("I thought this was the abridged version!")
"The bride was dressed in pure white; the groom in black. She walked up the aisle with pride; her father holding her hand…"
("Aunt Sally, you're not-")
"She met her husband to be and they took hands. They exchanged vows of eternal, undying love...and sealed them with a brief, romantic kiss"
("EWWWW! Aunt SALLY!")
"A couple years later, the man rushed home from work early to see the birth of their first and only child. They had been so happy. They set up a new room for the child. They told all their neighbors. There was celebration before and after. There was something remarkable about this child though…"
"He had two tails, right, Aunt Sally?"
"Right! He was the most adorable little fox on all of Mobius and his parents couldn't be any prouder. They promised him they'd give him all the love in the world he'd ever need and they'd always care for him; even after the grave. Everyone congratulated them on the birth of him and at a glance, only a glance…"
Her face lowered towards him and he smiled. This was his favorite part.
"All the world would fall in love with him. The fox and his parents lived happily ever after…"
"The End!" He proclaimed, and she wrapped her arms around him.
"Right…the end."
She pulled herself back up moments later and the fox leaned back. A thought just striking him, his genuine smile switched to a frown.
"Hey, Aunt Sally," he begun again, watching her eyes as always; always watching. "Do you think all of that could've happened?"
"What do you mean, Tails?" Neatly returning his books to their proper locations, she stared back at him. He shook his head, sighing.
"I mean, if the war hadn't started, Aunt Sally…"
"If the war hadn't started…" Voice trailing she set the last book back and sat back on his bed. Dazed (she always looked like this when she was thinking, so he noticed), her arms leaned back, supporting her sitting position. "I-I wouldn't know, Tails."
"I know…but…do you think it was possible…you know, at all?"
"Anything's possible." She replied simply, a small smile returning. "You just remember that, honey…"
"But wouldn't it-you know, be cool, Aunt Sally? If the war hadn't happened we'd all be so happy! We could all spend time together in Mobotropolis…I could've really seen it! You'd be a princess and live in the castle and we'd be able to visit all the time! It'd be so cool!"
"Now Tails-"
She was cut off again. "Plus we'd have our parents, Aunt Sally! You'd have your dad! Sonic would have his dad and mom and uncle! Antoine would have his parents and Bunnie wouldn't be roboticized and would it be so great, Aunt Sally?"
"I-I guess…" There was some doubt in her voice.
"No, it'd be WAY PAST great! Just think about it, Aunt Sally! You could be just like the princesses from those storybooks!" Pointing to the stack of books that had just been neatly arranged (alphabetized tonight; it was color coordination the night before), he smiled.
Her eyes lost a little life at that statement. "M-maybe, Tails…" She was stuttering. He was too engulfed in his dream to notice.
"And Sonic could be just like that guy in that one story! The renegade!"
"I don't recall there ever being a-"
"Or maybe the knight! Yeah, he could be the knight!"
"…aw, Tails…" She was hesitant. He didn't notice.
"It'd be SO AWESOME, AUNT SALLY! And we could all still be best friends…only we'd have everything and you guys wouldn't have to fight anymore! You could spend all your time with me! And there wouldn't be a war!"
She was quiet. He finally took notice.
"Just…wouldn't it, Aunt Sally?" His voice lost volume. "Why are you frowning? Wouldn't it be great, Aunt Sally? It would've have to been!"
She forced a smile, hands returning to stroke his bangs a third time (only briefly this time. That was some relief. He didn't understand why everyone took such an immense fascination in them). "I'm sure it would've. But Tails, had the war never happened, we may have never-"
"Never what?"
Shaking her head, her hand left. "...nevermind, Tails. It's a nice thought, isn't it? I'm sure we all would've wished it had been like that but…had the war never happened, I'd never be able to do this every night, would I?"
"This?"
"Reading to you."
"But my mother would've…"
Her eyes dulled again and forcing a smile, she gave him her 'Funny Kiss'. "O-of course, Tails. I'm sure it would've been amazing."
"Yeah…she'd be just like you!"
"…just like me…" Shyly nodding, she gave him a last squeeze. "I'm sure she'd be. Good night, Tails…" Laying back, the fox watched her leave. He wasn't sure why she seemed a little faint on that last statement; why her eyes seemed to lose some of the infectious happiness that was in there whenever he saw her. He wasn't sure, but he was too tired to think about it. She'd be fine in the morning when the blue in them would sparkle and she'd smile again. Smile again…
He thought back to his mom and dad holding him; he thought back and tried really hard to see the smiles on their faces. He would've grown up to be somewhat normal; he would've gone to school with all the others. He would've been able to play in the same fields his aunt and Sonic had played in and see the same world they had and could've. He could've seen the color; every shade of violent to wild hue of red. It would've been so wonderful; so beautiful…
He fell asleep to a rainbow stretched before him; vision blurring to a new picture. It was only natural; he'd always wonder what could've been.