Fallen Angel: Revival

Disclaimer: You know the drill. Sonic etc © SEGA/Sonic Team, Xion, Etheran, and winged Amy are mine.

Author’s note: Emotails ahoy:P The lyrics in this part are from DJ Sammy and Yano’s song, Heaven.

Tails screamed wordlessly and struggled against Knuckles’ restraining grip, crying loudly with his ears flattened back.

“Sonic!”

“Tails, please stop it! There’s nothin’ can be done!”

“I don’t believe you! Lemmego!”

“Tails!”

“Shut up! Sonic can’t be gone! He promised he’d never leave me!” the little cub burst into tears and sagged. “He promised…”

Knuckles lifted the fox cub up and turned him around so that he didn’t have to look at Sonic. He grimanced at the sight of the gaping wound in his friend’s chest, but he knew he couldn’t let his own dismay show in front of Tails. So he swallowed it back and took Tails away from the scene of Sonic’s defeat.

-+-+-+-

-“Baby you’re all that I want…”-

“Sonic…”

-“When you’re lying here in my arms…”-

“Get up Sonic.”

Sonic opened his eyes and looked up at the sky above.

-“I’m finding it hard to believe…”-

He smiled and sat up, before looking at the three hedgehogs surrounding him. He felt tears come to his eyes, not from sadness, but from the joy at seeing them again.

-“We’re in heaven…”-

“Sonic!”

He found himself crushed in a hug by the bright pink hedgehog, and smiled, pushing Amy away gently. He looked at the other two. One was an albino with many long, narrow quills down just past her shoulders, and was smiling back at him, and the other was black and red, and had a semi-blank smirk.

“Sonic, I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay.”

“I didn’t mean to- What do you mean ‘It’s okay’?! You’re dead damnit!” Shadow frowned.

“Yeah. I know.” Sonic shrugged. “But you’re okay now at least.” He grinned.

Shadow sighed “Why are you so damn happy?”

“Um… I don’t know. I just am.”

“What about Tails and Knuckles?” The black and red hedgehog seemed determined to try a guilt trip.

“They’ll be okay. They’re strong.” Sonic shook his head and looked over at Etheria. “Back in yourself huh?”

“Yes, thank you Sonic.” She smiled and leaned forward to embrace him. “I’m sorry it cost you your life, but I’m glad you were able to return Shadow to normal.”

“I… I have to go.” Shadow got to his feet and walked off, with his head hanging slightly.

“Where’s he going?” Sonic pointed after him.

“To take care of his own business…” Amy shook her head and smiled. “But don’t worry about him. Welcome to the Otherlife Sonic.”

Sonic rested his chin on Etheria’s shoulder and looked past her, taking in the view of the landscape. It reminded him of the Emerald Hill Zone, and he gently pushed Eth away so that he could stand up and look around properly. Amy raised an eyebrow at her, and she laughed back.

“Go explore Sonic. You’ve got eternity to talk to us, so don’t worry.” Eth laughed.

“Yay!”

Sonic rocketed off into the distance, and the girls smiled at each other. They knew Sonic was going to be occupied for a while. Maria had run off somewhere to hunt for her friend again when they’d returned, so Amy had got to know Etheria instead.

-“Love is all that I need…”-

“So you’re Sonic’s girlfriend huh?”

“Naa… I used to call myself his girlfriend, but turns out I fell in love with Shadow instead.”

“He loved you.”

“I knew that. But he’d never have admitted it, and I don’t think I could’ve been with someone who wouldn’t.” she smiled at Eth. “What do you think of him?”

“Huh?”

“Well you’re obviously close to him.”

“Well… I think we’re more like brother and sister.” Eth shrugged. “It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“Yeah… Of course not…” Amy grinned slyly.

-“And I found it there in your heart…”-

Eth was about to make a remark about Amy’s grin, when Sonic ran back and tackled her, laughing.

“Can’t catch me!” He got up and bolted off again.

-“It isn’t too hard to see…”-

“Go on, go get him!”

“You’re coming too!” Eth jumped to her feet and pulled Amy up too. They both ran after the blue hedgehog, laughing.

-“We’re in heaven”-

-+-+-+-

Tails sat in a miserable state, hiding in the darkest corner of his house he could find. Knuckles was sitting on the windowsill nearest to him, looking out of it, listening to the cub cry. He wanted to go and gather Sonic up so that he wasn’t left outside in the pitiful way he’d landed, but he knew that he shouldn’t leave Tails alone. The little fox had been the closest to Sonic, and who knew what the kid would do if left on his own.

“You okay mate?”

A whine answered him.

“Sonic’s…”

An annoyed growl this time.

Knuckles sighed and returned to watching out of the window. He didn’t know what exactly he was expecting to see, but he knew it was something. Like the flash of light… The familiar glow of Chaos Control. He fell off the ledge in surprise, before scrabbling back to his feet. Tails peered out of the corner, trying to see what had startled the echidna.

“Sh-”

“Hmm?” he flicked his ears.

“Shadow!”

Tails ran out of the corner and up to the window, opening it to let the hedgehog climb through. He looked almost exactly as he had when they’d first met him, apart from a couple of red markings down his cheeks and the fact that his back spikes were jagged and fringed with red like they’d been torn and had bled. He had no feathers, and no wings… He was simply Shadow the Hedgehog once more. He was carrying someone wrapped tightly in a blanket, and Tails backed away. There was no guessing as to who was inside. Shadow shook his head.

“I’m sorry guys… Really sorry.” Shadow looked at Knuckles, who nodded, then at Tails, who was glaring silently. “I wasn’t myself… I didn’t want to hurt him.”

“Where are your wings?” Knuckles frowned.

“I lost them. It is my punishment for far more than ki-” Shadow paused as Tails hissed at him. “I was forced to return to mortality to try and make up for what I had done.” He sighed. “I know you may never forgive me, but I can try to help whenever you need me. I’m really sorry.”

Tails snorted.

“Tails?”

“Hmph.” The fox turned to walk over to the table, sitting down at it.

“He’ll be okay… Eventually…” Shadow sighed. “You never get over a loss but it is possible to find things to replace them… To fill the hole in your heart.” He sighed. “At least you can bury your friend.”

“Tails, would you like to look after the Emerald for me for a while?” Knuckles looked at the fox, who blinked, then nodded. “Promise you’ll take good care of them. I’ll be back soon.” The Emeralds appeared in his hands, and he put them on the table in front of Tails.

“How did you get them back?” Shadow frowned.

“Etheran or Sonic or whoever put them in a part of an alternate dimension that I can access. I don’t know what happened, but I felt them appear there. Come on.” Knuckles took the bundle from Shadow.

“Be strong, Tails…” Shadow walked away.

Knuckles gave another glance at the fox, who didn’t say anything, and followed Shadow out of the door. Tails stared at the jewels Knuckles had left in his care. He rested hi chin on the table and watched the energy dance inside the rainbow of stones. Though he saw Knuckles believed in him, and that Shadow was really sorry for what had happened, seeing Sonic wrapped in that blanket had been the last straw.

So he stared silently into the Emeralds, wondering in his mind what more could be done. He knew nothing could help Sonic. But what was he to do now? He silently asked the Emeralds, and the dancing energy inside them silently replied. He could sense some of Sonic from them, and they were telling him to hold on.

A small smile crossed his face and he looked towards the door.

The energy smiled secretly in its own way…

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