Sonic…

I've never actually thought about this before, but you really have always been there for me… why you did this, I can't ever understand. All I can remember… is you, just standing there… were you Dark…? I haven't seen you like that before… didn't you have control over yourself…? But… that form… Were my eyes playing tricks on me?

I don't know now, and I didn't know then… really… but…

It's like you didn't even know me. Like you didn't recognize me. Like… like I was n-n-nothing to you. Like… L-like I wasn't y-your brother. Your pal. Your amigo…

Maybe it was all a bad dream… Maybe it didn't happen... Maybe you didn't try to hurt me... Maybe you… maybe you were actually trying to save me… but how on Earth would that work?

I…

I thought… for a second… it wasn't you… but those blue quills… those green eyes… for a split-second, I'd tore my own beliefs out of myself and thrown them out of the window.

It was you… my mind is sure of it. And it has evidence… that evidence, it… it's proof…

…But my heart… myself… the true me… is saying it wasn't you.

…

I don't know which one to believe in.

I don't know anymore, Sonic. I'm sorry… but I really, really don't.

I don't know whose side you're on. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know what to think of you…

…I… I don't know whether to forget about you, and move on… move on, leave you alone. Class you as the enemy… why would I do that? I don't want to do this…

Maybe I'll ask you about it when I wake up… maybe you'll tell me. Make me understand...

Make me understand that you're still my big brother.

*~S~*

Beep… Beep… Beep…

The sound rang a deathly time of the usual, 'get-up,' time, in the otherwise quaint room.

Miles "Tails" Prower heaved a blind hand on top of the annoyance, groggily yawning as he lifted his head. Whatever sleep could have been gained was already lost, hence the black bags beneath his azure eyes, on his furry, but rather messy, muzzle.

"Five more minutes…" the boy awkwardly mumbled to the clock, burying his face deeply into the plump pillow and muffling his speech.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

A groan escaped his mouth, as the fox numbly, but reluctantly pulled himself up, shortly flashing a look to the alarm clock thereafter.

He figured the mini time teller was merely being stubborn, like most days, thus, he hefted a finger to the snooze button.

Something was amiss.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

It still made that excruciating, irritable sound that ceased to so much as decrease its alarm rate.

"Hey."

With his head throbbing and painfully twanging, bright, cobalt orbs sifted through the daylight.

And, at that moment, everything changed.

His gaze was obstructed by a silhouette, which was thickly broadened by the thick, brightening sunrise, the background almost blinding him.

Those innocent, blue eyes squinted at the familiar shadow.

"Knuckles, what're you doing in my room?"

Said red creature stepped out of the blinding limelight, and stepped next to the fox's bed, grinning eagerly, his fists poised.

"I've been doing a little stalking, lately… so…" He took a step forward, his red, green and yellow shoes clanking on the floor.

Odd. Tails couldn't remember his floor being like that…

But still focusing with his naivety on his friend, Miles slunk back, pressing the back of his head against his immobile, fluffy pillow.

The crimson mammal took a step back, chuckling. "'Am kidding, Tails!"

In reply, the other stiffened, and then relaxed a bit.

Knuckles planted his behind on, what looked to be, to Tails, a rather sturdy, padded chair. He breathed in, placing latched elbows around the rear of his dreadlocks to add more comfort.

"You know, you took a pretty rough fall there."

Blur filled the fox's vision, as he tried to make out every single item around him.

Not an alarm clock; a heart monitor.

Not his soft, cream carpet; a cold, marble floor.

Not a large, paned window; a small square.

Not his inventions; chemistry stuff, and a tray with a bowl of porridge.

…

That was it. He was in a hospital.

Wait… hospital?

"For a second, we thought you weren't gonna' make it," the echidna started. "But then, you sure showed Hell a thing or two, right, kid?" Eyes closed as the teen smiled.

A meek grin was his reply, then a confused frown. "Knuckles… What happened?"

The red dude frowned a little, sheepishly. "You mean you don't remember?"

A silence.

"Well… You kinda crashed int—"

A sharp gust of wind cut him off.

"Gah! Can't I even finish a sentence without being interrupted, Sonic?"

The newcomer was an anthropomorphic, blue creature, possessing spiny quills, emerald eyes, and a trademark chilidog in its pearly, white, gloved hand. Red and white shoes were jogging on the spot, as if they were trying to burn off the owner's extra calories.

Tails' eyes widened in shock, seemingly holding sudden realization.

Blue boy grinned at the much-too-easily-angered echidna.

"I mean, come on! Ever had any decency to let a guy speak for once, hedgehog?"

"Man, I just did, Kn—"

"Shut it, smart alec. I don't think you've ever heard of manners, let alone know them…"

Sonic the Hedgehog rolled his eyes before stuffing his face with the last edible object, not keeping his mouth fully shut as he did so. Once he stopped jogging, his gaze shifted to the stiffened body on the bed, content, eating gob motioning into a warm smile. "Hey, buddy! How're you doing?"

Tails remained as frozen and silent as an ice statue, yet lifted his head to meet the mammal's view. His body was rigid as his hands shook; they were tightly gripping the clean bed sheets out of sheer fright.

"Bit of a bump on your head there," the fastest thing alive stated, still chewing his food, and gesturing towards the neat bandage around Miles' head, "but it'll take more than that to bring my lil' bro down. Am I right, Tails?"

When he took a step closer, the fox repeated slinking back into the cushion.

The world's savior frowned, swallowing the last of his food. "'Sup, buddy?"

The heart monitor steadily increased its rate, showing the kitsune's tiny heart was going a mile a minute.

The gullible one of the three watched, no longer mumbling rants that his rival never listened to.

A small, accusing, yet trembling, finger pointed at Sonic, who merely stood there in bafflement. "You…"

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Sonic gave a side-glance to the machine. 'Is… is that thing getting faster, or what?'

"You…" It seemed like Tails was trying to say words, but they got caught in his throat, thus, Sonic only heard a wavering whisper, (which was odd, since he was no threat nor was he threatening to the young one, and he wouldn't pose as one purposely, anyway,).

"Tails?" Sonic tilted his head, trying to seem as confused as possible to show his misunderstanding. "Tails, buddy, if ya' got a problem, just spit it out."

He saw his adopted brother try to sit up, and the way he did it… well, Sonic felt like giving him a hand, but had he done so, he would've received a threatening push away. All he did was watch his bro with a perplexed expression. After Tails nearly fell back, Sonic felt he should've done something, thus, he offered a hand, only to have his kind gesture turned down by a concentrated stare.

"Sonic…" The two-tailed individual gave a small, suspicious glance to the hedgehog, brow lowered in concentration.

The blue hero was likewise, though, instead holding concerned eye ridges.

Whatever was on Tails' mind, was seriously bugging him.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"That's me, bud," the blue blur replied, smiling a little to lighten the mood, and trying his best to ignore the heart monitor, else bring out more worry. "Now… tell me what's up."

"I… I… need to know something."

"Yeah?"

"Y-yeah… I remember something now… about why I'm here, but I need to know… Where were you…? The other day? The day when the Tornado crashed?"

The hedgehog paled a bit. "That day?"

"Yes…" the fox confirmed. "Where were you?"

"Uh… Well, Tails, I was with you…"

"Were you…? When?"

"When… the plane crashed."

"Sonic…" The kid seemed thoughtful for a moment, before giving a small whimper, "I can't believe… You… you did it."

"Tails… I… I…" The hedgehog gave a hurt expression, seeming guilty of bringing up the child's sudden whines. "I… did what?"

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"You… YOU DID IT!" the fox raised his voice, then lowered it towards the guardian's direction. "He… he did it, Knuckles..."

The Master Emerald's protector gave an awkward frown, unable to find anything to say; what should he say? 'I believe you'? 'I'm sorry to hear that'? 'You're completely bonkers'?

"Huh?" Sonic blinked, blatantly presenting that he had no idea what the brainiac was on about. "No, seriously, I mean… I did what?"

"I don't know why… But…" The fox swallowed. "You… you brought down the Tornado."

"What the…?" The line on the other's muzzle folded into a confused one. "I'd… I'd never do that to ya'… I know what I didn't do and what I did… And, I wouldn't hurt you… Don't forget, the Tornado's my baby, too! Why would I want to destroy you, and that, too? I have no idea what you're on about, little buddy, but you're seeming completely off your head…"

"Sonic... You were there… Don't play dumb. If you were there, you must've known what happened…" Miles mumbled, certainty and accusation filling his voice as his head tilted.

"What ARE you talkin' about, bro?" Sonic questioned, rubbing his ear awkwardly. "Tails… You're not making any sense, here, pal…"

"You're obviously no pal of mine, Sonic… Not after what you did…"

Knuckles became sympathetic, and finally decided to speak up, questioning the child's speeches, "You okay, Tails?"

Mr. Prower ignored him, continued glaring at the blue blur. "Tell him, Sonic," spoke the limp figure, treating the word, 'Sonic,' like it was trash in his mouth. "T-tell him what you did…"

The cynical expression was his answer, as his friend took a step forward. "I don't get what you're on about—!"

SMASH!

Shocked, Sonic witnessed the vase, once filled with flowers of hope, smashed to pieces on the floor before him.

His mouth was slightly agape, as he hadn't seen Tails do such a violent act against him before. "What the…? Tails?"

"STAY BACK!" the two-tailed fox ordered, backing away further, with his knees up.

"Now, look here; I didn't—!"

"SHUT UP!"

The pair held reluctance and a cringing sense as their gaze averted; they looked towards their shouting companion, eyes blinking at the echidna as he eyed them a moment.

Said guardian stood between them, eyes narrowing, and fists spread out. "Will you two quit it?"

"But, Knux—"

"Just shut it."

Finally, the faster creature retreated a step, sensibly yet hesitantly, glancing worriedly at his adopted brother for a second.

The Prower was glaring at him, with so much malice, that Sonic didn't want to look anymore, and as soon as the hedgehog looked away, his brother's expression shifted into that of worry, like…

Like Tails didn't know himself anymore.

'Tails… what's wrong with ya'?' Sonic asked himself, knitting his brow with unease.

Knuckles flashed looks between them, unable to decipher what was actually going on. "What the HELL is wrong with you guys?"

*~S~*

Tails may seem slightly more violent and OOC than usual, but this will be explained in a later chapter… If you know what head trauma can do to you… well, you know.

I know I've got like a crapton of other stories to finish, (MUST. GET. THEM. DONE. FIRST!) but this one is practically looking at me with puppy-dog eyes… you know what I mean. ¬.¬' And I've got Writer's Block right now for 'em… Urgh. Wish it would bug off and leave me alone.

Anyways… review if you wish. It would really help. =P

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. All characters go to their respective owners.