#foaf

Though, the man did frown thinking about the sight he ended up coming across. When he learned Miles had escaped, he assumed the other was running away. It had been infuriating at first, with how much time he had spent trying to keep the child placid and agreeable, yet the more he looked over the camera footage. The more he realized the other wasn’t really, sneaking out, he just followed the path he had used before, there was even the voice clip about how he would be back.

Orbot had told him the other probably wanted to go outside and play, as most children did. Eggman thought back and supposed he had just left the child in his room with nothing to do for multiple days, so it made sense.

Still, he couldn’t just let the kit wander around the island getting into trouble. So he activated the tracker he had put on the foxes goggles and headed out to find him. Finding him in one of the prisons he made hadn’t been surprising, what was surprising was finding him cowering and beaten by the people who were already inside it. Had Miles already told them he was working for Eggman? No, even if he did, those mobians wouldn’t be daft enough to harm him if that was the case. So they had just attacked him for showing up? Miles had admitted that the islanders didn’t care for him before, but he hadn’t realized the disdain ran so deep.

He knew the villagers would regret ever laying a hand on Miles. Especially with how Miles himself had been ready to get back at them for all the times they had hurt him, but Eggman would check- on those villagers again later. Just to make sure the point stuck.

But that would come later, right now he had to get some medical help for Miles.

Glancing down at the fox kit one last time, he noticed the other had fallen asleep in his arms.

‘All of this must have exhausted him. I’ll let Orbot patch him up as he rests, then we’ll talk.’ And with that thought, the duo re-entered the base as Eggman walked back to his main lab. Orbot waiting for him at the doorway.

“Doctor, you've returned! Did you manage to locate Miles?” The robot spoke as he looked over to the duo, an expression of surprise appearing on his face. “Oh my! What happened to him?”

Miles himself was a sight, absolutely covered in dirt and his fur was sticking out in random directions as well. It looked as if you had thrown the child down a mountain, which wasn’t completely wrong either.

“He encountered some less than friendly villagers. I suppose their anger of being trapped finally had some kind of outlet in him.” Eggman spoke walking over as he moved to put Miles into Orbot’s arms. Or, that was the plan, except that Miles had been gripping the others sleeve and whined in his sleep trying to be pawned off onto someone else. His own grip tightening as both awake parties watched him. The two were silent for a few moments, before Eggman just sighed and stood up fixing his hold on Miles “Come now Orbot, we need to get him to his room. Though you go get some bandages and pain meds.”

The robot was obviously taken aback by this. Expecting Eggman to tell him to take the fox himself, but instead just nodded and hurried off.

“Right away Sir.”

Eggman carried Miles back to his room himself, looking around at the mess the boy had left it in distaste. It wasn’t that hard to make your bed every morning. Moving over to the bed, he grabbed one of the blankets and threw it over before sitting down on top of it.

“Now Miles, it’s time to let go.” He muttered trying to pull the kit away again. Once again he was answered with a whine from the sleeping kit, but he didn’t stop this time. “You need rest, and I need to work.” Why were children so difficult? Eggman kept grumbling to himself, but never ripped the kit out of his arms. Finally getting him to let go after a bit of fumbling and placing him back down on the bed as Miles just curled up into a small ball again.

When Orbot entered, Eggman took the bandages from him, much to the other's surprise.

“Ah- Doctor, I can take care of this if you want. You don’t need to.”

“I’m aware Orbot.”

Yet he didn’t stop, and instead just started to check over and gently bandage Miles up. Orbot watched silently, offering things that the doctor would need while he patched up the child.

Orbot kept quiet, but his mind was racing as he pieced together what he had been seeing. The doctor was never a kind person, he knew that since the moment he was built, understanding why he existed and what his purpose was. It was supposed to be simple and straightforward. Yet, after Miles got involved in everything, things changed, a lot. When Orbot had gone offline, he had assumed that was that, but when Miles found him and they came back to the base. Orbot got new programming, nanny programming as Doctor Eggman had called it.

His new directive wasn’t to overwatch construction, or to even truly help Doctor Eggman. It was to take care of this child, it was strange, from an outsider's perspective of course. Orbot could never feel how strange it truly was, just be aware about how different this was than his last job. Not that he complained, watching a child was far better than being used for scrap. Miles was an enjoyable little child to be around regardless, so happy to work on robots, even offering to repair on the occasion the other seemed damaged to the boy. In a way, Orbot could easily say he had grown to care for the boy, somewhere that wasn’t too obvious in his coding.

But that was where things became all the more confusing to the bot. While he understood why he might begin to care for the kit- why would the doctor? Sure he wasn’t with them all the time, still having errands and chores to do, but even then- Doctor Eggman wasn’t the fondest of children, and this was just a means to an end wasn’t it? Wouldn’t the doctor just get all the help he could before throwing the poor kit back out into the unknown?

He didn’t have to care for his wounds, comfort him while he slept. So why? Why was he doing this? It just didn’t make sense to Orbot’s code.

Orbot continued to watch Eggman patch up the kit’s wounds. Helping when asked, but mostly staying on the sidelines. After a few minutes, everything had been bandaged up and all that was left to rest. As Eggman walked away, Orbot couldn’t help but follow, wanting- needing to know why.

“Doctor..”

“Yes Orbot?”

“May I permit myself to ask you a question?” He followed after the other as he moved into the main lab. The doctor sat down in his chair as he simply looked out the window to oversee the island.

“Speak Orbot.”

“What happens next with the kit?” Orbot had his hands together, side glancing Eggman to try to gauge his reaction to the question. When he got no reaction, or no answer, he pushed on, testing his luck. “He ran off and got- rather injured, and you have the battery for the death egg sir. If I may be so bold, what else do we need him for?”

And there it was, the golden question that had plagued all of their minds. Now that they had what they wanted… Why did they continue to keep Miles around? By all means Doctor Eggman should have just left him in that prison. Right?

The doctor was not a man of emotions, which is why it confused him when he hesitated on this answer. He knew just as well as Orbot that- by all means he had no reason to step in on what happened. He had no reason, no justification to save him when everything had already been done. He wanted to just tell Orbot he felt like it, but that wasn’t a satisfying answer even to him.

“...I don’t think we’ve worn out the use of that fox just yet.” The doctor decided on that answer after a few minutes of tense silence. “He’s smart, and useful, to just throw him out and lose such an ace would be. Foolish.” The doctor looked down for a moment, pressing his fingertips together as he debated in his own mind. Orbot laced his own fingers together, hesitating to continue.

“Is.. that all there is to it Doctor?”

“Are you trying to imply something Orbot?”

“No not imply, it’s just. Forgive my bluntness, but you seem to care for him. Miles.” Might as well just rip the bandaid off, Orbot looked down, letting himself speak when the other didn’t snap at him. “You could have left him alone, could have pushed the bandaging off on to me. Doctor you don’t need to do anything for Miles. That’s why you gave me this programming.” He noticed the doctor frown, but pushed on. “If I may be so bold, Doctor, I'd say you care for Miles, more than expected.”

“Enough Orbot.” The other's voice was sharp, silencing the bot within a moment as he looked forward at the island, glaring at it. “I may let you speak freely, but you best start remembering when to hold your tongue.”

“Yes Doctor..”

Eggman waved the other away, not looking at him.

“Go and make yourself useful. I wish to be alone.”

“Of course Doctor.” Orbot moved away towards the door, pausing for a moment to look back at the doctor, before shaking his head and heading out of the door.

Eggman didn’t take a breath until he heard it close behind the robot, and soon after it turned into a deep sigh as he covered his face.

His robot had a point, what was he doing? Why was he so unsure about all of this? He didn’t need help! He didn’t need some random kit running around and getting hurt on his watch!

…

His watch.

Was this why it felt like something was eating him up inside? How had he let Miles wander away and get hurt? He couldn’t be asked to watch the kid constantly! He wasn’t his parent!

Eggman sighed, rubbing his face as he leaned back in his chair. Thinking about the day once again. Why did this upset him so much? He shouldn’t care, he had no reason to care about that little rat-

“Doctor..?”

“Orbot I told you to-” Eggman looked behind him annoyed before his eyes widened at seeing Miles instead. Leaning against the door looking exhausted as he held himself up. “Miles-! What on earth are you doing out of bed?!” He stood up from his chair and hurried over, kneeling down to hold the kit before he collapsed. “You’re far too injured you need to be resting!”

“No it’s… it’s okay. I’ve been through worse. I-I needed to say-” Whatever Miles attempted to say was lost on Eggman, the other blinking and watching this kit- this child spoke without really hearing what he had to say.

He had been through worse? He knew West Side wasn’t as a nice of a place as it looked but had those people actually?

“Miles.” Eggman interrupted the rambling fox, not that he had been paying attention anyways. Causing the other to look up. “What do you mean you’ve been through worse? Have those- villagers done this before?”

Miles froze when Eggman spoke up, his ears falling down and his tails hiding between his legs. Eggman felt… upset at this, he wasn’t a good man but he had morals, no one would just willingly hurt a child like this so much. At least that’s what he thought.

“W-well uh- I mean sometimes- it was just kinda..?” Miles swallowed at the other watching him, curling up on himself in worry and fear.

Something twisted in Eggman’s chest, and he made up his mind watching Miles look so afraid. He reached out for the kit, pausing for a moment as the other flinched, before continuing and gently picking him back up. Miles made a confused noise but Eggman just walked off with him.

“D-doctor-? Where are we-?”

“My room.”

He said nothing else, much to Miles’ confusion, but he stayed quiet until they reached a new area of the base he had never been inside. He was looking around curiously, but as they entered a new room the fox’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The room was- gigantic, putting it lightly. It was made as if there was a king living inside such a room, a ginormous bed with curtains that could cover it. A rug that Miles was pretty sure he could get lost in with how fluffy it seemed, and just- a lot of other things that looked so fancy.

Everything was a royal red, with outlines of gold, not to mention Eggman’s insignia right in the middle of it all on the rug. Eggman himself, though, walked through it all without a second thought. He had lived in this room every day while Miles had only read descriptions of such fancy rooms in books. Honestly Miles was quickly getting lost in his own thoughts as he watched everything until Eggman put him down on the bed, the fox quickly sinking into the softest thing he had ever felt in his life.

“Miles.” Eggman was watching him, and it made him remember just what had happened before this, causing the kit to swallow.

“D-doctor…”

“Miles I won’t ask you for everything. I won’t even ask you for the truth, but I need to ask. Why do those villagers hate you so much?”

It was the golden question, Eggman was looking at Miles, and Miles felt like he was under a spotlight he wanted to run away from. If he told the doctor- would he hate him too? Would Miles have to be completely alone again? He’d rather not say anything at all but…

But didn’t he owe the doctor that? To at least tell him why? The other had done so much for him, and here he was trying to keep secrets…

Miles looked down, his ears falling as he felt the mattress sink next to him. Eggman having joined him on the bed.

“Just know Miles, I won’t think any less of you for the truth. I know who you are now, a genius who I am happy to have around.”

Eggman’s voice was quiet, in a way Miles felt like… he was repeating something that had been told to him. But it still meant, far more than one would expect. Miles looked down at his knees, everything slowly turning into colored blobs as he grit his teeth, trying not to cry in the moment.

“The-” He choked for a moment and took a deep breath, rubbing the tears away from his eyes. No. Tears came later. “The villagers. They think I'm a curse of bad luck.” He said softly “I wasn’t born on this island, I came here just a year or so ago. Maybe two at this point, sometimes it’s hard to keep track of the seasons… My two tails already made me… undesirable to have around, but I kept to the forest and tried to stay out of trouble so they usually just ignored me. Sometimes the other kids would bully me but it was just- what happened.” Miles looked down for a few moments, looking at his hands.

“But… then somehow, someone found out I was from Cocoa Island.”

Now that got Eggman’s attention. He had known about that island, a good chunk of people actually did. It was infamous, but not in the best way.

Everyone knew the island after it had been attacked by an armada, a horrible moment in history putting it bluntly. The birds had burned down the forests and all but laid waste to the poor place. No one knew why they had done such a thing, it had been documented that hardly any mobians lived there, and if they had they were practically closed off from the mainland. Some assume it was simply a display of power, others think there was more to it, but after the attack no one was around to say for sure.

Well, that was what had been assumed. If Miles was telling the truth, then those answers were going to be from him. As much as Eggman wanted to ask, he supposed there would have to be one question at a time. Now wasn’t a time to go off topic.

“They knew about what happened, and thought if I stayed around the same thing would happen to West Side. They wanted me gone and were very… upfront about it. Anything and everything that went wrong was blamed on me. No matter what I tried to do to make things better. They just hated me for something I couldn’t control, and at one point they started to turn physical…” Miles closed his eyes, trying to keep the memories away so he could continue talking. “It was mostly the teenagers… sometimes the children. The adults never touched me, but they’d never help either. Just pretend not to see and continue with whatever they were doing. It just encouraged the teens even more. Eventually everyone just… said I was a curse that needed to leave, but I had nowhere to go so I just- hid away in the forest. Me and T-pup..”

Miles’ voice died out after that, not being able to continue with the trip down memory road anymore. Eggman for once, felt speechless, he wasn’t sure what to say or what to do. He wasn’t one to comfort children and help them through hard times. He could only simply watch Miles struggle with this, and he felt… bad.

Eggman prided himself on being a villain, being evil, but that didn’t mean he was a man with no morals. He wanted to make a world of his own vision, one that would be perfect, he just had… less than ethical ways to go about this world.

And yet, even to him, the idea of what Miles had got through was sickening, to isolate a single child and cause them so much pain. For running away from his home that was destroyed, how could he- how could anyone, find a way to blame him for such? Watching this kit cry, it simply just reinforced how Eggman felt about the world needing to change. And he had plans to take total control to force that change.

Another sniffle from Miles pulled Eggman away from his thoughts of world conquest. The man hesitated again before reaching out and putting an arm around the kit. He wasn’t good at comforting, but he knew the basics at least.

“No one will ever treat you like that as long as you’re here Miles. You will be equal to anyone else, and you won’t be blamed for things obviously out of your control. I promise you that.” Eggman wasn’t sure if his words would mean anything to him, but it was the only thing that truly came to mind in the moment.

Miles just looked over to him, silent for a few moments before he pulled his legs closer and leaned against the doctor. Hiding against his side with a weak and shaky breath, Eggman looked down at him, feeling awkward, but didn’t push him away. Not yet anyways…

Eggman said nothing for a while, simply letting Miles hide against him as he kept an arm around the kit. The base fell into an almost comfortable lull of silence…

At least until the alarms suddenly started blaring. Snapping the duo after their peaceful moment. Eggman stood up from the bed as Miles sat straight up looking panicked.

“What’s happening?!”

“I don’t know, but I plan to find out!” Eggman was glaring before he hurried out of the room. Miles watching in fear before jumping off the bed and running after the man, being alone right now seemed like the worst action to take right now. Miles fell behind the doctor, still sore from the injuries he had, but he had a good feeling on where to go anyways.

When Miles arrived and opened the door to the main lab, he was terrified to see that it was full of destroyed badniks and the doctor’s computer had been smashed as well. Miles felt his ears fall flat as he looked around, the fear of finding the doctor somewhere in the room as well. Though the man was nowhere to be seen, it didn’t help quell Miles’ growing anxiety.

It was only when he thought he heard something through the alarms did Miles snap back to attention. Raising his ears up, he picked up the sound of… something coming from the hallway to his right.

‘But is that where-?!’

Miles raced off towards the hallway without a second thought.

As the door opened, Miles had to cover his face from how violently the wind inside had gotten. He felt his bandages getting pulled loose and hanging off his body as he attempted to crack an eye open.  

All the windows had appeared to be shattered, which was probably causing the wind. Miles just hissed and looked forward the best he could, moving out of the doorway to escape the harsh airflow best he could. In front of him he saw the doctor in- what looked to be the carrier he had brought him back in just hours earlier. He seemed furious, staring at-

The blue hedgehog from earlier?!

The other- ugh what had that hedgehog said his name was? Sanic?? Miles didn’t remember and at the moment he didn’t really care! Had the other been fighting the doctor?! He had to-

Stepping forward sent a jolt through his leg as Miles flinched. He was in no condition to get involved in anything like this…!

“Well Egghead! It’s been fun but you’re as bad as usual! I’ll be taking those emeralds back now.” Sanic- whatever his name was, sounded cocky, it made Miles feel annoyed as he could do nothing but watch.

“Sonic you useless rodent! You don’t think you’ve won have you?! This isn’t even the start!”

Sonic- that was his name, close enough. Miles watched them argue, his eyes widening when Sonic curled up into a ball and suddenly launched forward and slammed into the Egg carrier, sending the doctor into the wall.

“Doctor!”

Both heads snapped over at his voice, varying expressions on each of them. Miles wasn’t exactly a pretty sight at the moment. His bandages had been all but ripped off by the wind and he hadn’t exactly had a moment to clean off the dirt either. Eggman looked surprised for a moment, frustrated for another. While Sonic on the other hand, looked surprised, before shocked and then angry.

“So that’s where you went! We kidnapping children now Egghead?! That’s a low even for you!” The hedgehog pointed at the man, who looked over in surprise along with Miles.

“What-!?”

“I’m putting an end to this now!” Sonic dropped back into a ball and revved up once again, but instead of aiming at the doctor. The blue blurs focus was on the large machine in front of them. The one holding the chaos emeralds.

Eggman and Miles realized what he was doing at the last second as Eggman stood up in his carrier.

“Don’t you fool!” Eggman reached out, as if to stop the other, but it was too late.

Sonic threw himself at the machine housing the chaos emeralds, metal and glass shattering under the force of his attack. He was pushed back at this, the emeralds all beginning to grow brighter and brighter until they started to turn white. Miles and Eggman watched in horror at what the other had just done. Sonic himself blinking as more alarms started to ring out from the machine he had just attacked.

“DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE JUST DONE?!” Eggman sounded very upset, to put it lightly. Sonic paused for a moment before just grinning and giving the doctor a two fingered salute.

“Ruined your plans that’s for sure! Now me and the kit are outta here! Later Egghead!”

Sonic himself quickly rushed forward- right towards Miles. The kit blinked in surprise before he was suddenly picked up and thrown over the others shoulder- and subsequently thrown out a window as Sonic himself jumped through one of the shattered ones. Miles heard the doctor call out his name, but was too shocked to respond.

Instead all the fox could do was screech as they both fell towards the floor.

Behind them, the building finally exploded from the strain the chaos emeralds had put on the death egg.

Miles was holding onto Doctor Eggman’s sleeve, his tails wrapped around the man’s arm that was holding him up like a child. He was sitting in the crook of the Doctor’s elbow, not weighing much to the human, probably to the point that he forgot Miles was even there. Neither seemed to realize their position at first, one could almost joke it was like how a father would hold up their son while they still could.

“This is it. Finally, my plans will become reality!” Eggman’s voice snapped Miles out of his thoughts, making him look over to the Doctor in surprise. He could see the other’s face clearly from this height, the sheer joy displayed in the others expression was infectious, making Miles smile as well. His grip loosening just slightly, “Just you wait, world! Soon everyone will know the name Doctor Ivo Robotnik!” The other threw his hands out, forgetting he was even holding the fox, and accidentally sent Miles flying.

The fox squealed as his grip slipped and he flailed for a moment, before twisting over and landing on all fours, fluffed out from the surprise.

“Oh-! Miles are you alright?” Eggman looked over in shock, having forgotten he had been holding the fox up.

“I-I’m fine! Just- just startled.” Miles' voice was shaking as much as he was, the other standing up and balancing himself before shaking out his fur to get it to lie flat again. “I know you didn’t mean it.” He looked over, only to flinch back in surprise to see Eggman right in front of him “I-it’s okay! Haha I’m not-” He was cut off by the other reaching out to him, making Miles’ eyes close as he braced for anything.

What he didn’t expect was a hand petting the fur between his ears. His eyes snapped open, yet he failed to move and just looked at the floor in disbelief. The only thing in his sight being the Doctor’s shoes.

“D-doctor..?”

“Shhh, it’s fine Miles. You have no need to be scared, I was the one that threw you after all.”

It was silent between the duo, neither really having any idea what was happening right now.

‘Why is the Doctor petting me-’

‘Why on earth did I start petting this fur ball.’

Miles was silent for a few moments, before he perhaps started to enjoy the petting and pushed his head into the others’ hand. Eggman watched in disbelief as Miles more or less started to actually enjoy this. It had mostly been a knee jerk reaction, the doctor being reminded of a startled cat when Miles had landed on all fours, fur fluffed up in surprise. He had meant to pull his hand away but now the kit seemed to be enjoying the petting and-

Okay no this was weird enough of this. Eggman pulled away from Miles, putting his hands behind him with a cough. Miles himself seemed to be disappointed the other pulled away, before pulling himself together and doing the same, holding one of his tails in embarrassment.

Eggman turned away from Miles, he was spending too much time around this fox and it was getting to his head “I will be continuing on with the plans. Miles you are free to do as you please for the rest of the day.” Before he had even finished speaking Eggman had started to walk away from the fox, grumbling to himself about everything that had just happened.

Miles blinked in surprise, his tails and ears falling as the other left without him getting a chance to say anything. Oh he had messed up somehow hadn’t he? The other mobians always called him weird- did he just show how weird he was to the doctor? Maybe humans didn’t mean to give him affection like that. His thoughts raced through his mind, only pausing as he glanced backwards at the machine, the emeralds shining brightly as they kept the machine on.

He knew that those emeralds were powerful, after all he had kept the purple emerald close for a while now. Yet all seven together… That burst of energy was nothing like he had ever felt before. He wondered if anyone else had felt that as well.

It ended up being all that Miles could think about for the rest of the day. The doctor never called on him for help, Orbot was busy with other duties, and he had finished repairing the last robot he had been given. So he ended up just- lying down on the floor with the thought of that power surge he had felt. The chaos emeralds… he could always tell that the purple one was powerful, it had kept his energy rather high when he was on Cocoa island always running from things. It made sense that when all seven were together it would be… incredible.

Still- that feeling, it was as if he had been- invincible for those few moments. It was hard to push from his mind.

It stayed that way for the rest of the day, and the next… and two days later Miles had nothing to do and was going absolutely stir crazy inside his room. He was lying on his mess of a bed, the blanket on the floor and the sheets about to go join it. Miles was lying down, an arm over his head, watching the wall counting the screws in the metal plates for… the millionth time.

“UGH! I’m so BORED!” Eventually he broke the silence just to whine, rolling over and shoving his face into his pillow

“Ever since we powered up that machine with the emeralds, the Doctor hasn't needed me at all...” Miles whined thinking about it, once again, for the millionth time. He had the entire day free, but what did he do with it? Repair the robots? Maybe build an upgrade for T-pup? Honestly he had been doing those things for at least a month at this point! He honestly didn’t really feel like working on something like that anymore, he wanted… to do something different. He let his mind wander for a few minutes, and eventually it settled on when he was back outside with Orbot.

He… missed that, he missed being in the forest now that he had been out there again. He knew what he wanted to do today.

He wanted to go outside.

Miles nodded to himself as he decided on what to do, grabbing a small red and yellow jacket he had been given by Orbot. He hurried off out of the large corridor and back into the main base. Doctor Eggman’s lab was locked, and he was probably inside it, so Miles just hurried past back towards the hanger he remembered leaving from before. Coming to a fork in the path, Miles was trying to think what way he had gone earlier with Orbot before the sound of footsteps caught his ear. Turning around in confusion, he blinked at seeing T-pup up over to him and started barking.

“Ah- T-pup what are you doing here? I thought I left you to charge in my room.” Miles bent down and picked the small robot up, the small bot just barked again at him, causing Miles to smile and continue walking with him. “Well, there’s no problem with taking you along! We both know this island well enough don’t we?”

He grinned as T-pup barked again and they continued to the hangar. It was just as huge as last time, offline badniks lining the walls as he slowly moved past them. Still just as amazed as last time he had been here, he hoped one day he could create robots like these, they all were so unique in their own ways.

Moving along the walkway, he found himself at the exit and was staring at the keypad, thinking back to how he saw Orbot type in the code those few days ago. Raising his hand, he hesitated for a moment before quickly typing in the code, grinning when he saw the light turn green. The hangar door slowly opened in response, but Miles had already slid between the crack as soon as it was big enough and bolted off excitedly with T-pup following close behind.

“I’ll be back soon Doctor!” Miles called out as he vanished into the treeline, he just wanted to explore a little!

—

The forest seemed more empty than the last time he had been there, but Miles supposed that was expected. With all the robots that had shown up, the flickies had probably gotten startled and headed for the other side of the island for the time being. Not to mention the villagers never really liked going into the forest unless they were cutting down trees to expand the village.

Regardless, now wasn’t the time to be technical, now was the time to have fun! Miles felt his walk turn into a jog, and the jog eventually turning into a run, and before he knew it he was flying through the forest, his tails spinning and keeping his feet just off the ground as he pushed himself forward, the adrenaline rush helping him go even faster.

Miles wasn’t sure why he could do such strange things with his tails, honestly he didn’t use them often because everyone that ever found out considered him a freak for it. But now that he was alone- it was a chance to enjoy being completely himself for just a few hours.

Eventually, Miles' adrenaline rush faded, and he began to slow down, trying to catch his breath as he eventually came to a full stop and stretched out. His ear swiveled around as he heard T-pup’s own propeller move closer before the bot landed next to him, seeming just as content as he felt.

“Ahh I missed doing that! Is there really anything better than just running through the forest with the breeze rushing past you T-pup?” He grinned at the robot as he walked forward again, his arms rising up to cross behind his head. Hearing the robo dog bark, he laughed and closed his eyes feeling those tense emotions inside him slowly fade away from earlier. “I needed this way more than I realized.”

He kept walking, glancing up for a moment to see the sunlight still shining through the trees. Orbot usually came to give him dinner at sunset, so he’d have to be back before then. That gave him- plenty of time but maybe around six hours? He could make do with that. Glancing around again, he realized the trees were fading out making him blink.

“Oh- we’re close to the beach. I don’t think I’ve ever run so far before- I guess having extra energy from eating every day pays off huh T-pup?” He grinned and hurried off once again towards the beach “Maybe I can find some sea shells for the doctor! I bet he’s just as stressed out as I was!” Gifts made anyone feel better right? Then he’d just have to find the perfect gift for the doctor! He was sure the other would start letting him help out again if he managed to find something!

With that thought in mind, Miles rushed off the last bit of the way to the beach. He was just about to burst out of the treeline before he noticed something that made him dig his feet into the loose, sandy dirt. His arms swinging around as he nearly face planted from stopping so suddenly. Quickly righting himself, he ended up hiding behind a large bush as he looked out towards the beach in surprise. Was that-

“A plane…?” Miles muttered in confusion, it didn’t look like anything he had seen the doctor build. It was bright red, sure, but usually the doctor put his own insignia on it. The plane just had the word TORNADO painted on it. “I don’t think the doctor makes planes…”

It was suspicious, but also- Miles really wanted to get a closer look. He remembered reading a book about planes once. They could fly like he did! He had always wanted to see one up close- but he didn’t know who’s plane it was-

Still… it seemed empty…

Watching the plane for a few minutes in silence, Miles slowly stood up and made his way over to the plane. His ears swiveling all around him for any sign of noise, he had to be careful, getting in trouble was the last thing he wanted to do right now. Still, with no sign of anything or anyone being around, he moved up to the plane and started looking at it- from every angle he could get too.

The wings, the tires, propellers! It was a real plane! Oh he wanted to fly it around so badly! He was sure he could figure it out if he just had enough time to mess around with the controls! Miles found himself just placing his hands on the side of the plane as his eyes sparkled in wonder. Only glancing up to the cockpit after he had done a complete once over of the outside. Hesitating for a few moments, he jumped up with a grunt and managed to squirm his way into the seat. His eyes sparkling as he looked at all the gauges and levers he could touch.

Miles felt himself grin as he prepared to all but take apart this plane before a sound made him freeze.

A loud bang- boom? Whatever it was it had been loud, Miles' ears shot towards the noise as his head followed soon after. Something else on the beach? He stood up from the seat and squinted his eyes, trying to look around for whatever had made the noise.

He found it pretty quickly, considering he saw a giant dust trail being caused by something moving-

Something moving right towards him-?!

His fur  exploded outwards as fear quickly  overtook all of his curiosity about the plane. Something else was here, on the beach! Heading towards him! He only had the thought for a moment before he threw himself out of the plane and sprinted back into the treeline. His panic only growing as he heard something call out when he vanished.

“Hey!”

Oh god oh god-

Miles forced himself to go faster, panicking as he looked around trying to find places to hide. The voice only got closer much to his dismay.

“Kid, wait!”

He would not be waiting for anything thank you very much! He forced down his voice, knowing if he yelled it’d just be another way to find him. He made a hard left, knowing that it’d take him further away from the doctor’s base, but the forest would be far thicker giving him a better chance of escaping- whoever this was. He used his tails to rush over the large roots and muddy areas, behind him he could hear the other person shouting in surprise- their voice getting further away. It was working!

“Don’t run off- it’s dangerous! KID!”

Like he would listen to that! So many people have never helped him when it was dangerous, only the doctor had! He didn’t know who that person was- but he had no plans on finding out! Now he just had to go a bit further and him and T-pup- “T-PUP!” Miles shoved his feet into the ground and slid to a stop, looking behind him in a panic. He had left him on the beach! He had to go back for him! “No no no no-” His ears shot straight up at the sound of footsteps, the other was still following after him too-!

He- what did he do?! Miles swallowed before sprinting off in a random direction away from the footsteps. No- he could figure this out! He just had to find an area that he could fly up in- then he’d be able to see the beach and could figure it out from there! Miles told himself that and kept running, unable to ignore the exhaustion that was getting worse the more he pushed himself, but he couldn’t stop now! That other person could still catch him!

Miles slid into one of the larger clearings and took the risk, jumping into the air, he attempted to start flying before something flew past him, and a sensation of burning hit the side of his cheek. The surprise knocked him back down as he slammed onto the floor with a pained yelp, holding his face as he pushed himself up to try to see what attacked him.

He blinked in surprise and disbelief when he saw it was- one of the doctor’s robots? He hadn’t known they could attack anything- but why would it be attacking him?! The buzz bomber lined up for another shot as Miles yelped and covered his face from any type of attack, before the sound of crunching metal met his ears.

“Ah geez, I told you not to run off! Did that badnik end up hitting you?” The voice was right in front of him, and Miles just whimpered and curled up further. “Ah- no no hey it’s okay! I- ah man… kid I’m not gonna hurt you or somethin! You’re the first person I saw that wasn’t…” The voice trailed off, unsure of how to continue their statement. Miles heard them shuffle in place before he risked taking a look at whoever was talking to him.

He saw someone crouching over him, looking- worried? It made him jump and throw himself back, his tails fluffed out in fear. The other person- mobian, putting their hands up in defense.

“Hey- It’s okay. I won’t do anything kid.” The other stepped back, Miles watching suspiciously and scared as he looked over the other mobian. A blue hedgehog, not- something he usually saw, there was no way the other was from the island. Did they own that plane…? Miles watched the other, his ears falling back. The other mobian sighed, rubbing the back of his head as they tried to offer a hand again. “Hey uh- the name is Sonic! I’m sorry for scaring you, I really didn’t mean to. You were just- running away from my plane so..” Sonic seemed to try to decide what else to say before the sound of rustling leaves stopped them both in their tracks.

Looking at the noise, both saw more badniks pouring out from the plants, all on the attack. Miles tensed up as Sonic just sighed and stood up.

“That Egghead never learns, hold on kid. I’ll smash all these robots in a second flat!” Sonic grinned before he threw himself at the badniks, crushing all of them with ease.

While it may have been cool, Miles found himself watching onward with horror. His and the doctor’s hard work getting destroyed in seconds! This guy-  he’d destroy robots so easily- what if he destroyed T-Pup?! Miles would never forgive him if he had!

Taking the distraction, Miles let Sonic’s attention focus solely on destroying robots before he ran off again. He just had to find T-Pup and get back to the base, then he’d be able to tell the doctor about what was happening! He just hoped Sonic would be distracted for long enough.. Why was he so fast?!

No. Miles didn’t have time to think about that, he just had to keep moving, lose him and find T-Pup! And- if he had been destroyed- Miles would find all his parts and rebuild him no matter what! The only problem was that he had gotten turned around in the forest because of that Sonic guy! But he knew most of it, it was pretty much flat save for the occasional-

Miles' thoughts were cut off as the floor vanished from beneath his feet. His eyes widening as he pitched forward and started to fall face first down a-

“VALLEY-!”

His shout turned into a yelp as he fell down the sudden hill, he felt the earth he hit become loose, absolutely covering him in soil as he rolled down and eventually smacked into the bottom of the hill. Whimpering at the pain as he held his shoulder hissing at the feeling.

“Owowowow!” Miles rolled over onto his stomach as his tails curled up. More dirt fell on top of him, making him look like a giant mess to add insult to injury. He had to wait for a few moments for the angry throbbing in his arm to calm down before he could open his eyes and start looking around.

Much to his confusion- as he looked around more he realized that this valley- had no grass or plants inside it. It was large- but all the walls were dirt, loose dirt that was. Climbing up would have been impossible since so much fell off from just a touch. Pushing himself to his feet, he turned away from the wall he fell from to gasp in disbelief at seeing a building a few feet from him. It seemed… simple,  but why was it down here? If someone fell in here there wasn’t a way to get out was there?

Miles hesitated for a moment, he really shouldn’t stay, if anything the doctor probably built it which meant he wasn’t supposed to be messing with it. He had to go find T-pup anyway! Turning away from the building, he prepared to attempt to fly out of the area before the door of the building suddenly slammed open, making Miles jump with a screech. Spinning around in terror, Miles looked at who was in the doorway and felt his racing heart completely stop, before dropping into his stomach. His tails hid between his legs as he shrank down watching a large bear Mobian walk out of the building.

“M-Mayor Filbert…?” Miles' voice was tiny, shaky, the boy tried to become as small as possible as the large bear walked over to him. He didn’t look happy and that just made Miles even more scared. Miles ended up stumbling back into the wall, whimpering as he covered his head. “I-I’m sorry-! I’m sorry I didn’t know you were here! I’ll leave I promise!” “Quiet.” The other Mobian’s voice was harsh, making Miles go silent, he didn’t look at the other, knowing it would just make him more upset. “You’ve been missing this entire time.” The man didn’t sound happy “We thought you had finally died.”

Miles just swallowed, daring to look up to see the man glaring at him with disdain. “I-I hid…”

“You hid huh? Like a coward?” The others words were bitter, laced with a hatred that Miles didn’t miss. His shoulders rose up to hide him even more, Miles couldn’t find himself to say anything- he- he had been a coward when the doctor arrived on the island. Because he hadn’t known- how nice he was. “Let me guess.” The other started, stepping closer again “You hid away, and when things died down you came out. Came to our village when it was empty, and instead of trying to help you steal from us instead?” The accusation made Miles’ breath stop, looking up at the bear in disbelief

“W-what? No- I didn’t steal-!” He was cut off by the other snarling, making him curl up even more as tears started to collect in Miles’ eyes.

“LIAR! How else would you get a jacket and those goggles! Not to mention new gloves and shoes! How dare you take from us during such misfortune! We’ve been imprisoned and all you can do is steal from those who let you stay on our island?!” Mayor Filbert had started to yell, attracting more people from the inside of the prison. Adults, teenagers, even children coming out to see him yelling at Miles. The small kit having started to cry.

“I didn’t! I didn’t steal anything I was given these!”

“Who would give things to a monster like you?!” The mayor snarled at him, Miles in return just curling up and hiding him sobbing, repeating that he gave him these clothes.

Soon enough, Mayor Filbert had calmed down and just turned his back on Miles, looking disgusted.

“Lie all you want you freak, but we all know what you’ve chosen to do. You will get no mercy from us while you're here. Good Luck.” He snapped walking through the crowd back to the prison. Miles couldn’t find himself to look up, just hiding his head underneath his arms as people spat insults at him and headed back inside.

It had been so long since anyone had considered him a freak, Orbot nor Doctor Eggman ever said such hurtful things to him. They didn’t care about his tails, they didn’t accuse him of nasty things-

“D-doctor…” He whimpered as he heard the door slam shut one final time. He stayed where he was for a few moments before he realized he wasn’t alone.

“So.. you’ve been stealing stuff huh freak?” A female voice rang out as Miles just curled up tighter, shaking his head.

“N-no! No, I didn't steal anything Jinnie! I didn't-” Miles didn’t get to finish his sentence, instead his words turning into a yowl of pain as a foot suddenly slammed down on his arm.

“Don’t talk back, freak! You can lie all you want but we know the truth! No one would ever give things to a mistake like you!” Jinnie, a wolf mobian, pulled her foot back onto to kick him in his side. Causing Miles to roll over and hug himself from the pain, she just rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers “Chris. Ken. Grab him. Looks like someone needs a reminder about where he belongs.”  

The two other mobians approached Miles when told, a bird and monkey both grinning at him knowing very well what would happen. Just like Miles did. He panicked, and tried to back up, hitting the wall as he turned to climb up it- anything, something to get away from the trio.

Instead, he was grabbed by his arms and dragged away from the wall. Forced to turn back to a sneering Jinnie.

“Trying to run huh? You wouldn’t have gotten far anyways, no one can climb up those walls. They just collapse further every time.” The wolf reached out and grabbed Miles by the fur on the top of his head, gripping it as he whimpered. She looked him over for a few moments, glaring. “Oi, he look bigger to you?” Her head moved to the bird. Ken, who paused and glanced over him as well.

“He does! Not so much of a stick anymore!”

“Now I wonder how that happened?” The monkey, Chris spoke up this time, as Jinnie just glared before grinning.

“Well obviously he was stealing food too! With everyone gone it was an all you can eat buffet huh freakshow?”

“No- No please I’m not a thief!” Miles looked up at Jinnie desperately, she had to believe him- he didn’t steal anything!

“Yes you are! And a liar too!” Jinnie sneered, rearing her arm back before throwing a hard punch into Miles’ stomach. All Miles could do was gasp and cough at the sudden pain in his stomach.

“A thief, a liar, and a freak! Three strikes and you’re out! Come on guys, pin him down! Tails too!” At Jinnie’s words, Miles panicked and tried to pull himself free from the others, fighting them as their grips increased on his arms. His fighting only came to a stop when their feet slammed down on his tails making him cry out in pain again.

Tears quickly welled up as Jinnie pulled her arm back again.

‘Doctor- help me!’

The fist swung forward into his skull as white flashed, and all he could do was scream.

The other teens were ruthless, only stopping their assault after Miles had thrown up from all the hits to his stomach. After that they dropped him and finally let him collapse on the floor, curled up and coughing. He was a mess, and Miles knew that underneath his fur, his skin was going to be black and blue for days. He let out a broken sob as he curled up further as Jinnie rolled her eyes.

“God, you’re pathetic. Now, you gonna tell us who you stole the jacket and goggles from?” Miles barely heard the question whimpering as he tried to curl up into a tiny ball.

“I…I didn’t… steal.. It was a… a gift…”

“A gift?” Jinnie blinked before she started to laugh, Chris and Ken joining in soon after “A gift?! That was the worst lie you’ve told yet freak!” She snorted and crouched down, looking at him. “Why don’t you just be honest once in your life. Tell us who you stole it from or else we’ll beat you again.”

Miles looked up at Jinnie, shaking as tears still fell from his eyes. He took in a breath and grit his teeth.

“It- it was a gift. I got it from the doctor! Cause- CAUSE THE DOCTOR CARES ABOUT ME!” Miles snapped at them, his voice raising louder than any of them had heard before. All three took a step back in surprise as Jinnie sneered, before something else cut her off.

“Why yes, I suppose I do Miles.”

All four Mobians snapped over to the voice, one expression changing to hope and relief, while the other three morphed into pure terror.

“D-doctor Robotnik-!” Ken and Chris hid behind Jinnie, who looked rather scared herself. “Y-you’re here-?!”

There before all of them, in his Eggmobile, Doctor Eggman sat, watching them all with a blank expression. He didn’t say anything in response to Jinnie, instead pressing a button as alarms started to go off. The outside ring of the wall surrounding them becoming surrounded by badniks. The three mobians hugged each other tighter, all shaking in terror as the door opened and adults started to flood out of the building looking panicked.

“I’d stop if I were you.” Eggman said looking over to the adults, who froze at the man speaking “You’re all in quite a lot of trouble.”

The mayor hurried forward at this, already sweating as he put his hands together.

“D-doctor Robotnik! To- to what honor do we owe you visiting us? We’ve all been behaving just as promised!”

“Have you now.” Eggman hummed, looking back to the three teenagers “And what of this scene I stumbled across? Behaving is, beating a young child half to death?” His sight went down to Miles, who was watching him weakly before attempting to reach out for him.

“D…doctor….”

Jinnie snapped over to him when he spoke, a mixture of terror, realization and sheer rage.

“The person that gave you that stuff was Doctor Robotnik?!” Her voice was no louder than a hiss, but everyone hurt it. The adults went ashen at this, realizing what that could mean.

“I did! In fact give him those things. Why his goggles were my own pair when I was younger!” The eggmobile landed as Eggman stepped out of it, making all the mobians flinch back as he walked towards Miles watching him. “Though, I suppose giving him these things makes him a thief?”

The teens were silent, all watching in terror as Eggman knelt down and picked up the beaten fox kit. Miles himself hiding against the other shivering.

“I was going to do this grand reveal to you all, but I suppose this will just have to do.” He turned around, glaring at them all.

“Meet Miles, my new protege.”

The silence was deafening, as all of them realized what this meant. The one they hated, distrusted and hurt so much, had been picked up and taken in by the man who now held their lives in his hands.

“Doctor! We- The children had no idea! We would have never-!” Filbert tried to speak but Eggman simply cut him off, returning to his eggmobile

“No, I know you wouldn’t have. But also, you did, not to mention even if he wasn’t taken in by me. I simply despise those who let children be hurt.” He sneered at the other man, who just went quiet and looked down at his feet. Eggman watched him for a moment, before looking at Miles.

“Miles.” He started “You decide what we do with them.”

“Huh..?”

“WHAT?!”

The uproar of everyone around made Miles jump, and Eggman glare at all of them. But he took a deep breath and looked back to the child in his arms.

“You choose what happens to them, you can forgive them, or I can punish them all for hurting you.” Eggman looked down at the surprised fox, the other obviously taken aback by this.

Miles had never- been given such a choice. The right thing was to forgive them wasn’t it? That’s what he had always tried to do, forgive and forget and maybe one day they- they would come around. Even when they- they hurt him. “I…” Miles stuttered, taking a moment to glance at the villagers. They looked scared. Were they scared because of him? Because for once he had the power of what happened next?

“You know Miles.” Eggman started suddenly, having watched the others shifting expressions “You never have to forgive someone for hurting you. Even if they apologize, their actions are their own.”

Their actions… Miles was silent, watching the doctor for a few moments. The villagers' actions… they always either hurt or humiliate him. The teenagers and kids bullied him, and the adults never… never helped him.

No one in this place cared about him…

Why did he have to care about them?

His grip increased on Eggman’s jacket as he looked down, a shadow covering his eyes.

“They hurt me.”

“Yes, they did Miles.”

“...I want you to hurt them back.”

The villagers gasped in shock and horror at this, Eggman only grinning as he moved back to his eggmobile with Miles in tow. Starting up the machine, it took to the sky once again as Eggman pressed another button.

“Well, you heard Miles, my creations. Hurt. Them. Back.”

He laughed as the villagers started to scream, the eggmobile taking to the sky and out of the pit they were all trapped in. Miles was silent as he held onto Eggman, wondering when the other would yell at him as well.

“You’re such a smart child Miles.” Eggman said as they moved through the sky, making him glance over.

“Do you really think that doctor..?” Eggman glanced down at him and grinned

“Oh I know so, do you know why?”

“Why..?”

“Because you know that in this world? You either fight for what you want, or you let everyone beat you down.” Eggman motioned to the island. “This whole island, these people, what did they do to you? They beat you, literally. And now look at you, you’ve finally chosen to fight back. How does it feel?”

The man goaded Miles’ emotions forward, the fox having not truly thought about how he felt until now. Silently thinking before he looked forward at the main base that was coming into view.

He remembered how scared everyone looked, how they were shocked that he hadn’t chosen to forgive them like all those other times. It made him feel…