Chapter 2: The worst Birthday

Tails woke up early the next morning; he had his back to the window and his covers over his head. His eyes were only just open, and the house was strangely quiet. Tails remembered that it was his 15th birthday and that the others must be downstairs, he decided not to get too hopeful. Last year, Amy had forgotten all about it and he hadn’t forgotten his 9th birthday, which had happened about a week after Cosmo’s death. He had been so depressed that he’d forgotten it, and Sonic tried to throw a big party, but it had been a disaster. Cheese the Chao, (Creams mad pet) had fallen into the punch and made everyone very sticky indeed and they had been outside, and the wasps
saw to it that no one didn’t get stung at least one hundred times. Then Knuckles (a wild red dread-locked echidna) tried to do a comedy to cheer Tails up, but he wasn’t funny at all, and then Shadow (A black evil hedgehog whom resembles Sonic) came in with a machine gun and… well, Tails would rather not look back at that. But other than all that, Tails couldn’t stop his tears leaking for Cosmo. Tails had the feeling that Amy would have told everyone that Tails had gone mad and that this birthday was going to be yet again, another disaster.

Tails still didn’t move from his bed for at least another fifteen minutes until he decided to get up. His bedroom was dark, so he made his way to the window and pulled the blue curtains apart to let a burst of white sunlight flood his room and Tails felt the warm light wash over him as if had sunk into a hot bath. The scene from his window was rather spectacular. The great forest around the house spread across the landscape like a green road. And the huge flock’s birds were flying unchecked over the treetops. The neat fields had been docked with horses. Tails began to think that this was strange for October day. “Must be a funny climate change…” Tails thought, wondering about the bright weather.
Tails looked around at his room, his desk was littered with paper and the box of pens had fallen over and pens and their ink leaked over the paper. There was an open cupboard filled up with clothes, but Tails sometimes felt that they were unnecessary, since animals didn’t bother with clothes. So Tails just walked over to the cupboard and took out his usual pair of white gloves and fastened them with a black ringlet (They were a bit big for him) took out a pair of baggy white socks and put of a pair of duel-tone sneakers where the back half was red and the frontal half was white, with grey soles. He leaned against the completely bare bedroom wall looking at the spot were Cosmo had appeared, he was thinking about her, and what Sonic had said the night before “The word of a fourteen year old fox will convince few others” this line was getting Tails annoyed now. So he walked out of his bedroom picking up his watch on the way out. Tails made his way down the staircase that was next to his bedroom door looking down glumly to the end, and jumped the last step (because it made a very loud noise if you stepped on it) and walked to the silver kitchen.

It was empty, and from the look of it, it had been used recently. Tails felt a shiver go down his spine. It was so oddly quiet. Was there anyone here? “Hello?” Tails called. No answer. He realised that no one was in the house with him! No wonder the place was deserted. To add to this, you could even taste the deadly silence. But what was strange to Tails was that there had been so sign of any struggle, anything horrific or any evidence were Sonic or any of the others were. Tails was beginning to get worried, and then, something made the fur on the back of neck stand up. Someone, or something, was moaning very close to him. Tails wheeled around, the moaning was getting louder and louder and trying not to panic or yell, Tails slowly walked to the doorway of the kitchen and looked out. He didn’t know weather to yell out Sonic’s name or run to the noise, so he stood rooted to the spot, wondering what to do. The moaning continued to grow steadily louder, and before Tails could make his mind up, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAILS!!!!!!” Tails jumped about a foot into the air and turned away to see Sonic and Amy with happy laughing faces. “Gotcha Tails!” Sonic yelled, his quills a lot tidier now. “Come to the garden Tails! Your party is out back!” Amy said brightly, she was wearing her red dress and large boots with a white stripes going down the front. The two lead Tails out into the garden and a burst of noise nearly blew Tails back into the house! The garden was full up with Tails’ friends. Knuckles, a 25 year old dread-locked red hot Echidna, decided to have his hair tied back for the occasion. Rouge, a sexy white bat was smiling and winked at Tails as he came in, she was wearing her purple heroes outfit today, and her favourite jewellery. A 13 year old Cream the Rabbit was playing with her pet Chao Cheese. Cream was wearing her orange party dress and Cheese, his usual red bowtie. Tails was surprised to see Shadow there, a tall jet black hedgehog with ruby red eyes and markings. He was frowning, as if he was dying to say that he really didn’t want to be here. Everyone was sitting around a wooden table with drinks and food in front them.
“Hello hun” Rouge smiled as Tails sat down next to her. “Wow, fifteen years old now huh? How time flies” Knuckles grinned at him as he tucked into some tasty looking chocolate cake. “You slept in for a long time Tails, it’s nearly midday!” Cream said to Tails. “Ur, really?” Tails asked looking at the sun. “Certainly looks that way”
“OK Tails! Do you want to open your presents?” Amy yelled out loud, making Tails jump. “Um… sure” Tails mumbled, even though he was miserable, he’d might as well make the most of today. Tails saw a small pile of carefully wrapped presents on the table. First off, he picked up Creams present and opened it to find a homemade fruitcake that Cream made. “Man that looks tasty…” Tails smacked his lips hungrily. Then picked up a tiny package that had a large label that said “Tails, Happy 15th Birthday, I hope you like my gift! Love from Rouge the Bat” Tails ripped the parcel to find a small handsome red velvet box and opened it up. A beautiful black jewel was inside it, attached to a golden chain. The large black jewel was in the shape of a heart. “Rouge…. I don’t know what to say! It’s lovely” Tails put it around his neck and Rouge smiled. “It was a real steal honey!”
Tails smiled, knowing Rouge and her lust for jewellery was slightly surprised that she had given this to him. He then picked up a large package from Knuckles and something rattled inside it. He opened it to find an ancient sort of artefact, it was a stone echidna, it was chipped in places and a bit dirty” “Wow… um… what is this Knuckles?”
“I think it’s some sort of idol from one of my temples. Dunno why it was on the mountain side so far away”
Knuckles was widely known for being a treasure hunter and found many interesting things like this. Amy had got Tails some mechanical tools for his aircraft the Tornado, and Shadow had gotten Tails a pair of shotguns. But Sonic hadn’t given Tails anything yet, he couldn’t have forgotten! “Tails, it’s time for my present” Sonic stood up and looked at Tails as if he was his son. Tails looked up at Sonic. “Tails, I’m giving you permission to have solo-missions, so you may look for Cosmo” Tails couldn’t believe what he was hearing! Sonic was going to let him go into the universe for Cosmo! Tails had never felt so grateful for Sonic in his life. Shadow looked up sharply, “What? Cosmo!? ALIVE?” Shadow looked horrified, “That evil plant? Sonic, are you crazy?” Shadow’s deep growling voice was so loud, that a few birds in the trees had taken off in alarm. “She’s dead! Everyone knows that!” Tails frowned at Shadow, “She’s NOT dead! I saw her last night!” Shadow stood up angrily “IF SHE WAS THERE SHE WOULD OF TRIED TO HARM YOU TAILS!” Shadow spat across the table. Tails stood up, “How dare you insult Cosmo!”
“THAT PLANT WAS EVIL TAILS! SHE TOOK ALL OF THE INFORMATION FROM US AND GAVE IT TO THE ENEMY, THE METAREX!” Shadow’s teeth were bearing, and Cream backfired into Amy. “Shadow! Tails! Stop fighting, it is pointless to fight, Shadow, please don’t insult Cosmo’s memory, and Tails, don’t lose your temper” Knuckles tried to make himself heard, but Tails ignored him, a hot, angry feeling swept everything out of him, Tails had found a hatred to Shadow ever since he’d tried to attack Cosmo seven years ago, “IT WASN’T HER FAULT SHADOW! THE METAREX ATTACKED HER!” Tails yelled. everyone except Tails and Shadow were very quiet, Sonic looked at the two howling boys, and he was frowning at the both of them, especially Tails. He placed a fatherly arm on Tails’ shoulder and said “Tails!” Tails whipped around, Sonics hand slipped off Tails’ shoulder, and before Tails could stop himself, he’d rounded on Sonic, “SHUT UP SONIC! I’VE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOU ALL! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF PAIN I HAVE BEEN IN FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS! THAT DOES IT! I’M LEAVING THIS PLACE! I’M GOING TO LOOK FOR COSMO, AND NOTHING ANY OF YOU WILL SAY IS GOING TO STOP ME!” Tails took a deep few breaths and then said “Thanks for the gifts and for the party, I had fun…” He took his gifts, and ran into the house everyone staring after him.

Sonic was open mouthed at what he’d heard Tails say to him. Then he turned to look at Shadow, “Oh well done Shad.” Shadow turned to Sonic Sharply, “Don’t give me that look Sonic! Cosmo was working for the enemy, she was evil and I don’t know why Tails even liked her!” Amy started to shout angrily, “GOD! You’re so stupid Shadow! Didn’t you know that Tails and Cosmo were in love?” Shadow stared, “What?” he said, “Why else do you think Tails protected her? Helped her stop Dark Oak? Stayed with each other at all times? WHY DID YOU THINK TAILS CRIED WHEN SHE SACRIFICED HERSELF TO DEATH?” Amy looked over extreme anger. “Tails didn’t want to shoot Cosmo, Cosmo had to die, if it wasn’t for her, we’d all be dead anyway!” Shadow was utterly speechless. “Now go and apologise to Tails!” She yelled at him. “Me? Why do I have to apologise to a flea bitten Fox? What’s the point?” Amy gave him such a look that made Shadow stand up, “Fine then, I’m going!” He stomped into the house, cursing under his breath. Tails meanwhile, had ran all the way up to his room and slammed the door so hard, that the house shook, and then kicked his wardrobe, and now had a throbbing pain in his foot. He sat on his bed, running his fingers in his fur. He’d never said shut up to Sonic before. He was feeling defiantly sick now. There was a knock on his door, and Shadow’s deep growling voice was heard, “Tails? Are you in there?” Tails didn’t answer; he didn’t want Shadow to come in. He looked at the window, and decided to leave that way. “Tails! Don’t make me break this door; I know you’re in there!” then, a lot of loud banging on the door told Tails that he’d better move quickly. He opened the window, and jumped out, and started to twist his two tails around like helicopter blades, and flew to his workshop, which was in a mountain not to far away. Wind rushed past in pained face as he heard Shadow knock his bedroom door down, and he heard him yell his name out, but Tails ignored it, he carried on flying, he wanted to carry on and never look back, but he knew that he’d have to land soon. He rushed through the clouds until a small mountain could be seen, and on the side of it was what looked like a small warehouse; it was brilliantly white, almost blinding Tails. He landed in front of large doors and opened it using the pass code and the door lifted. A huge space shuttle was there, it hadn’t been used for years. The large dusty ship looked unoccupied and very lonely. Tails hadn’t been on it because the many memory of Cosmo still lingered there. But, he needed to get ready to leave as soon as possible. So, very quickly, he packed food, water, oxygen and tools to keep him going whilst in space. “Tails?” Tails jumped at sudden voice, it was Sonic, emerging from the darkness. “Go away Sonic…” Tails mumbled, “Shadow told me that you’d flown away, and that I think….”
”Yeah Sonic? You think I was being rude didn’t you? You agree with Shadow don’t you” Tails snapped at Sonic, he didn’t care about being rude to him. “I wasn’t goin to say that” Sonic said calmly, “I was going to say that you need a crew for the ship, you can’t venture into space alone.” Tails was taken by this remark, but he still was burning with hatred towards Sonic. Though Sonic did have a point, in all of his rage, he’d completely forgotten about a crew. “Who do you have in mind?” Tails asked, “I’ve got the Team Chaotix, Mighty and Ray to help you out.” Sonic said, Tails made a funny noise, like a surprised cat. Team Chaotix were a group of detectives lead by Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon and Charmy Bee. Mighty the Armadillo had been a part of the group, until he’d decided to leave for travel, and he’d met Ray the Flying Squirrel on the way. It didn’t take long for Tails to say “OK” to this, Sonic smiled, “There out the back, you keep packing, and I’ll go have a word with them.” Sonic walked away from Tails to the door at the back. Tails kept on packing, and a few minutes later Sonic poked his head around the door, “Tails, you have to take off tomorrow morning, is that OK?” Tails got annoyed at this, but he nodded, “Great,” Sonic turned his head around again, “He said yes, be here tomorrow at 10 AM sharp, OK boys?”  
There was suddenly a lot of pairs of feet shuffling away from Sonic. “Well Tails, have you nearly finished packing?”
“Yes” Tails lied,
“OK, do you want to come back to the house?”
“No way, Shadow’s still there” Tails growled, looking out of the window.
“OK, I’ll tell the others that you’ll be up here.”
“You do that”

Tails spent the rest of the day packing up, and he eat a small sandwich and decided to go to bed, he came to his room on the top floor, it was better than his other room in Sonic’s house. The walls were yellow with a soft blue carpet and pictures of his young self and his friends stood up against the wall and shelves, and a small bed laid in the left corner, and on his bed side table, was a flowerpot that held a beautiful rose, this was the seed that Cosmo had left behind seven years ago. Tails had planted it in hope that Cosmo might grow up to him again. He sighed as he watered it, He then decided to get some sleep, and he took off his shoes and gloves, turned off the light and got into the soft bed. He very quickly dropped off to sleep.