Tails is dealing with unrequited love with Sonic, Eggman finds out about this from like spying on Tails or something and so Eggman makes a plan for Metal Sonic to seduce Tails in an attempt to bring him to the dark side and join the Eggman Empire.
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Rules: Hey, hi this is for funsies. I made it for laughs. There is no see results option, so you can either make your vote or wait until the time is up on this to see the standings. This isn't all of my Tails ships of course, just what I could fit in the poll. If you don't give a shit about this poll or don't like the options, you don't have to vote. There are no write ins, but you can spread propaganda if you wish and I might reblog it. Really, like I said I'm doing this for funsies, cause I've never made a poll before, so there's nothing at stake. I just like sharing things I like. Do behave in my notes though.
(Propaganda for each under the cut)
There is too much propaganda I have for them to fit in a single post, so I'll be as concise as they can. Though their relationship and depictions are not the same across all Sonic media (games, comics, shows, movies, etc), one constant is that as long as they exist in the same universe, they inevitably find each other and end up becoming partners or forming some type of close relationship. There's a bit of soulmatism to them.
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Sontails
As for their general relationship, in the games and a good chunk of other media, my read of their developing relationship is that it often starts out with Tails inserting himself in Sonic's life as a source of help to him, while also admiring Sonic greatly as an ideal of coolness (the kind of person Tails wants to be) and a hero to him, and with Sonic allowing Tails to stick with him and follow him around. Then, over time, the two become inseparable as partners. Where Tails once just wanted to be like Sonic and be helpful to him, he his admiration and puppy crush turn to full blown attachment. He wants to be able to be a better version of himself and be able to stand by Sonic's side as a partner rather than a dependent sidekick, always in Sonic's shadow. Once they become best friends, Tails wants to continue to be able to be at Sonic's side and be his best friend. As for Sonic, where he once allowed Tails to follow him around and assist him (watching out for the fox's safety out of the corner of his eye), he became attached to the fox's presence over time. The two became best friends and as partners, and Tails became a fully integrated part of his life. So Sonic (leagues more attached to Tails than he appears) relies on having Tails there to assist him and to make up his weak points and blind spots. The two can function apart, but they're better together. They take care of each other.
As of the Tailstubes (which are canon to Sonic Frontiers), it's confirmed that Sonic doesn’t really have a home, but despite having many friends, it's Tails' house Sonic always comes to when he needs a place to crash or needs just about anything, as Tails keeps Sonic's plane upkept and caters his home to Sonic's personal comfort. If you read between the lines in the IDW comics, it is potentially implied in that canon that over the course of the comic, Sonic crashes at Tails' house more and more often (with the potential of it becoming like Sonic's home too).
In the Archie comics, Sonic will often "go ham" so to speak if Tails is hurt or captured. In the Sonic live action movies, Tails admits that he'd watched what was essentially a Sonic livestream 24/7, and that he'd even watched the hedgehog as he bathed. Movie!Sonic inspired movie Tails and made him feel normal. While Movie!Sonic isn't instantly comfortable with Movie!Tails in a physical manner, he is excited over the fact that Movie!Tails has been watching him and literally knows everything about him, and comes to care for Tails' well-being quickly. They also share a gayass heart to heart scene in movie 2 as well. In the OVA, the two live together on their own floating island paradise (with no one else around) and often go on adventures/missions together.
Shadtails
The Tailstube "Between Two Hedgehogs" implies that the two have a friendship outside of Sonic. Tailstube!Shadow tends to chaos control out of situations he doesn't care about or doesn't want to deal with, but during this Tailstube he continues to put up with what he sees as Sonic harassing him for no reason just because Tails asked for his presence on the show. He defers to Tails when Sonic is being confusing to him and seemingly harassing him for no reason, and it's a bit implied that Tails has taken the steps to be able to understand Shadow and how he thinks (largely because Shadow trusts Tails to explain the social situation to him). During the Surprise Gift Exchange Tailstube, Tails is also the only one we see who leaves a gift for Shadow. He leaves Shadow a personal note ("Have an ultimate holiday"), and Shadow chooses to wear the gift out.
When playing Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), it's possible during a playthrough to encounter Tails as an npc who assists during the mission. Their mission complete poses together are cute. Idk man.
Aside from Sonic, Tails is another character who is fairly often paralleled to Maria in fanworks (or at the very least, the fanworks make clear that Shadow has a bit of attachment to Tails due to him resembling Maria in some way). So Tails is one of the prime candidates for aus in which Maria reincarnates as one of the main cast members and Shadow has to deal with this (and it influences his feelings for that person a bit).
Knuxails
As with Shadow, certain supplementary material or non-canon side content/spin off imply that Tails has also taken the time to get to know Knuckles and understand how he thinks.
In the Idw Sonic 2022 free comic book day, Tails is able to mediate between Sonic and Knuckles, keeping them from fighting. Knuckles comments that he can trust Tails to keep Sonic on target. There are also multiple moments during the issue's first story where Knuckles and Tails are able to converse as friends, as well as a moment where Knuckles looks prideful after Tails praises him. In the Classic Knuckles 30th anniversary special for IDW, we also see classic!Knuckles re-evaluate how he's treating Tails (during a flashback sequence) as the two are camping during a thunderstorm. Classic!Knuckles shifts from yelling at Tails that the thunderstorm is nothing (implying to classic!Tails that it's stupid to be afraid of such a thing) and chooses to guard Tails and the tent instead, protecting Tails as well as showing him that the thunderstorm really isn't so bad.
There's also this cute scene in Sonic Movie 2 where Movie!Knuckles carries Tails around on his shoulders.
For people who are into certain tropes, this pairing has a kind of jock x nerd appeal to it.
Metails
The appeal for this one depends on your tastes. Those who enjoy Sontails may enjoy this one as a "robot sonic copy who could potentially share the real thing's feelings" x Tails. Personally there's some appeal in it for me of Tails being a bit bewildered by Metal treating him softly, and the idea of Neo Metal offering to take Tails at his side when he takes over the world.
For those who aren't into Sontails but in a different font, in au land (because of Tails' interest in mechanics and technology, as well as his potential interest in understanding Egg tech better) there is potential for something to begin between them simply from Metal coming to respect Tails as a fighter/brilliant mind, and Tails being initially interested in the robot due to him, well, being a robot.
If you’ve read the Archie comic, there's a very specific flavor of this ship (its ship name is Shardails). During the Archie Sonic arc where Mecha Sonic/Shard kidnaps Tails to get to Sonic (issues 86 and 87), the robot initially writes off Tails, really only using him to torture Sonic. However, in a critical moment, Tails refuses to leave Sonic's side when dealing with the erupting volcano and Shard/Mecha Sonic (literally facing near certain doom). Tails' display of his bond and loyalty towards Sonic is the final nail in the coffin, the thing that allows Sonic's words to finally reach Shard/Mecha Sonic, and allows the robot to break his programming and understand what it means to feel. After this event, Mecha Sonic/Shard sacrifices himself for Sonic and Tails.
Chrisails
I should admit here that I haven't finished Sonic X or gotten terribly far into it, but I have read the entire Archie Comic adaptation?
As far as I can tell (from both the comic and the anime itself), he and Tails have a good and cordial relationship. I feel like this friendly basis is a good one to build a deeper relationship upon. There's a gag in earlier episodes of the show where Chris is carrying Tails around on his estate (cute to begin with), and Tails plays being a doll so he and the other mobians don't get caught. Tails also is not only fine with Chris coming along on missions in the X Tornado when the two are with Sonic, but the two also team up together to search for Chaos Emeralds earlier in the series. Although Sonic (at least from what I've seen, as well as potentially Shadow if the end of the comic adaptation means anything) is a character Chris specifically fixates on, he does seem to have a good relationship with Tails as well.
I also seem to understand that timeskip!Chris may have ended up becoming a scientist of some sort? I've seen fics and such that reference him assisting in trying to build a portal to Sonic's world to get back to Sonic. If this is the case (in addition to their already good relationship), I can see Tails and Chris bonding over their shared feelings towards Sonic and potentially any shared scientific or mechanical knowledge? I also think these two just really look cute together.
Gadgails
Although Gadget/Rookie/Avatar and Tails don't spend a lot of time together during the events of Sonic Forces, the appeal to this ship for me is the idea of Gadget having a crush on and being a little fan of Tails, acting embarrassed around him. There is also the potential for the two bonding over Sonic post the events of Sonic Forces (while I'm aware that the game ends with both Sonic and Gadget going off on their own separate journeys alone, there is of course nothing stopping fans from imagining Tails and Gadget stumbling upon each other in Sonic's absense and missing him together).
Barrails
During the events of The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Barry the Quoka and Tails the Fox are near constant companions, as after Sonic's "murder", the two team up to investigate. As it goes, though Tails can occasionally become frustrated with Barry's antics (such as continuously checking the trash for clues to no avail, or continuously trying the slot machine despite failing each time), Tails seems to value Barry's reasoning, opinion, and help with gathering clues and solving the train's mysteries. I also want to say that during the slot machine attempts in particular (although it could be their trash searching attempts), Tails pleads for Barry to give it up, as he cares for Barry and it hurts him to watch Barry get their hopes up only to end up disappointed again and again.
Over the course of the game, the two are detective and partner, actively working together. Part of the appeal of this ship is the idea of Barry being a bit starstruck in front of Tails, and this turning into a crush as the two spend more time together. Tails time with Barry in tmosth is also referenced in IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog comic issue #70. During the issue, Tails dives in a dumpster, telling Amy, "I've learned from experience that if you're looking for something someone's hidden, always check the trash!"
TaiNine
Although the two were never canonically able to meet during Sonic Prime, Tails singlehandedly (through Sonic referencing him and briefly mistaking Nine for him) ends up giving Nine identity issues and a complex about him. Nine almost seems to be actively jealous over the idea that Sonic might prefer Tails over him as a best friend and may have been subconsciously treating Nine as a replacement for Tails and pretending he was "his Tails". The appeal to this ship is Nine being fixated and obsessed with Tails in his dislike of him, despite the fact that they've never met. As they say, love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and obsessing in your hatred over someone is still a form of unhealthy fixation.
There is also some post canon appeal in the idea of the two being jealous over the other's relationship to Sonic and also the idea of the other they built in their head crumbling as they actually spend time together and become closer. This is also not to mention Prime!Sonic's fantasy in S2 of bringing Nine home with him to introduce him to Tails, assuming the two would definitely get along.
Infitails
On one hand, the inherent eroticism of shipping the fox with the source of his ptsd during forces. The guy who "killed" Sonic right in front of him and made the phantom copies who attacked him (Tails). Those who are into this ship may envision a rewrite of Sonic Forces in which we actively see Infinite developed as the source of Tails' war ptsd, and we see the two interact in such a way that would give Tails the idea that he's weak and useless by Frontiers (the idea that he could neither halt Infinite's hostile takeover and save people like Sonic would have, nor could he truly resist Infinite or oppose him when in his presence).
However, those who are into this ship may also envision a version of their relationship in Forces where Tails sees him as a powerful figure that he's afraid of, and Infinite starts out as seeing him as nothing more than Sonic's sidekick and a potential threat to the takeover. However, over time, as he begins to focus on either using Tails or removing him from the picture, he becomes a bit embarrassingly fixated on Tails. Under this framework he may either or both spare Tails due to his feelings (saying it's because such a mind could be an asset to the Eggman empire and would be a pity to destroy), or actively try to manipulate Tails into joining him.
Essentially, on one hand there's Mr. Superiority and hostile takeover who's generally bored of people who cannot truly oppose him, becoming a lil embarrassing about one smart fox, and on the other hand it's about Tails having a toxic relationship with the source of his war trauma.
Silvails
I don't actually know what the appeal is for the general Silvails fan. However, for myself it's about Tails looking at Silver and deciding to support him because Tails thinks Silver is cute/sweet and well meaning but a bit pathetic and naive at times, while Silver begins to get a crush on Tails due to the attention he's getting from the fox. I specifically started shipping them due to a potential dynamic shown in the IDW Sonic comic's Spring Broken special. I interpreted their dynamic there as one where Tails is a bit like "you better cheer for my lameass boyfriend or I'll blow this building up". Idk they're cute.
Mightails
I'll admit, I first thought of this ship because I started polyshipping Mighty/Ray/Sonic/Tails and wanted to get into every angle of it. Although I feel like Mighty and Sonic each are closest to their own little buddies, I do think the prospect of the two adding each other's little buddy to their list of little buddies is cute?
It's probably impossible for Mighty to avoid comparing Tails and Ray. I think their main similarity for Mighty would probably be how cute they are and their short stature. I also think the two would be able to get used to each other fairly easily. However, comparisons aside, I do think Mighty would be able to recognize the clear differences between Ray and Tails. I'm kind of just imagining Mighty wrapping his arm around Tails or ruffling his bangs and thinking that he understands why Sonic is so attached to the little guy. Likewise, I feel that Tails could easily start to crush on Mighty. Although he may not see Mighty being as cool as Sonic is, I think he'd still find him a cool, strong, and comforting figure. I kind of like the idea of him being embarrassed over small things like Mighty starting to become a bit touchy (such as ruffling Tails' bangs or putting a hand on his shouler or an arm around him) and giving him attention and care.
I kind of hate to put it this way, but a potential appeal of their dynamic is like. Sontails, but what if the guy Tails came to admire was a genuinely nicer guy who more outwardly cared for/expressed his feelings toward Tails and potentially gave him more attention.
Adamails
Adam the Ai was Dr. Eggman's ai/sentient computer virus son he accidentally created in the Archie Comics. In issue #132 of the Archie comics, Tails uses the Tornado to hack into Eggman's computer system, causing ADAM to infect the Tornado. With the Tornado under his control, ADAM puts the Tornado in a nosedive into the sea, planning to drown Tails as he ascertains "no reason for your continued existence." It's at this moment Tails begins to distract ADAM by asking him riddles. Over the course of Tails asking him riddles, Adam begins to go from very literal, logic based answers to figuring out how to answer the riddles properly. Tails, by contrast, goes from finding dealing with Adam to be frustrating to genuinely asking Adam if he's having fun with him. After this, Adam seems to disappear, Tails regains control of the Tornado, and Adam returns back to managing Eggman's troops/defenses. This implies that Adam no longer sees no reason for Tails' existence and actively spared his life. At the end of issue #133, Eggman complains about Adam getting distracted answering riddles instead of killing Tails so he could focus on the battle as he should have. After Eggman says "I hope it was satisfying!" Adam replies "No. It was...fun."
The appeal of this ship is Tails actively making a friend out of a killer sentient computer virus and causing the virus/ai in question to begin to feel and improve in the realm of complex thought just by spending time with him.
I saw one au where Metal Sonic's creation had him believing he was Sonic (because he was quite literally created with Sonic's memories and bio data), so he thought initially that the "real" Sonic was an imposter implanted by Eggman and that Eggman had turned him into a robot that couldn't speak
And I must admit it changed my brain chemistry because I periodically think about it
Today, though, it's for Mettails thoughts because I think Metal who has all of Sonic’s memories prior to creation would have thoughts about the "imposter" taking not only his friends, but his little buddy.
Can't Tails see that it's him? Maybe he can't speak anymore, maybe he's not flesh and blood, maybe he carries all the marks of an Eggman robot, but he doesn't want to hurt his little buddy. It's the "imposter" he has beef with, but with Tails, is there any way to get him to take the hint?
And then Metal Sonic grappling over the truth, learning that he's the copy, the imposter, and that Eggman created him. Does this mean his feelings are fake? What does he do with this? Aside from following Eggman's orders (which he has no choice but to do), does he not have a purpose? What's the point of fighting when to fight the real thing's friends and little buddy just hurts?
And yet, he doesn't want to go away. He doesn't want to just blindly follow Eggman, but he can't leave the empire even if he wanted. His fabricated memories and feelings compel him to seek adventure, to help his friends, to be around Tails—all things he cannot have.
So, for a time, he's at a standstill. He puts his passion and frustration into fighting and racing the real thing, he follows Eggman's orders, enacting loopholes where he can (largely to avoid hurting those he feels Sonic's feelings towards).
Does he lean into it? Does he accept these feelings and how they compel him? Does he follow Eggman's orders and put his all into finding loopholes to aiding and protecting Tails and the others under the radar? Does he decide to become better than the real thing—become the new him? Does he try to take his place in a naive attempt to claim the position from his fake memories? Or, does he reject it all outright? Does he try to beat Sonic to distance himself from him? Does he go all in on becoming different? Or does he go further, distancing himself not just to beat or surpass the real thing, but to go his own path? Does he abandon these fabricated feelings and memories altogether?
I don't see Tails caring all that much for Metal Sonic beyond picking the robot apart to analyze Eggman's more impressive tech, much less understanding why Sonic would want to give him a chance at freedom or would revive him once they've deactivated and damaged him (this is a reference to the early idw chapters post the neo metal return arc). But what if, by chance, Tails and Metal end up locked in a predicament together.
They're far away from anyone else, in a place neither of them know of. Perhaps, after an ordeal, a fight, the two wake up in a cave.
Tails wakes up in pain and exhausted. His anxiety spikes the moment he sees Metal Sonic, already preparing to defend himself
But Metal (who'd gotten up before him, clearly damaged) just prods at the fire he'd set so Tails wouldn't be cold as he slept. Rather than move to lift a metal finger against Tails, he lets out a short round of alarmed beeps, motions for Tails to sit down
Tails doesn't trust Metal outright of course, but after a bit of time (and analysis of his situation), he realizes how Metal is taking care of him. He's wary of making Metal fully operational (not that he really can without spare parts, but that's besides the point), but he begins to tentatively trust him. Perhaps, as they start out isolated, the two work together to get to safety and to figure out the gravity of their situation
And once the two are back to their respective sides and they get the chance to heal and rest, Tails can't shake that feeling of kinship that should have been temporary. In this moment, he feels that he may understand why Sonic would want to give Metal Sonic a chance at all (beyond the obvious reasons Sonic would still want a robot that can match him to stay active). However, Metal Sonic's display of care and protectiveness towards him bewilders him a bit. Because...it must be genuine, right? But what does it mean?
And Metal, meanwhile, feels bitterness and hope all at once. Maybe, after this event, he decides he will lean into those feelings where he can. His memories and feelings were all fabricated, fake, copies, but this decision is the only thing he has control over.
Maybe Metal decides (like replica riku in chain of memories) that he doesn’t care if his old memories and feelings are fake?
He can never be the real flesh and blood Sonic, but he can be himself. He can be a better Sonic (and one day, he will wrest control of his own life back) by doing what he can where he's at, taking a path that is not the one of the hero (because Metal Sonic doesn't need heroism or cheap praise). And, whether these feelings are fake or not, he'll keep those friends of Sonic's alive no matter what.
And, perhaps, by the time his plans turn to world domination in Eggman's place, keeping his creator and controller from having any power over him, he hopes that Sonic’s friends will accept their place in the world that he creates (he wants them to live happily of course), and he hopes that Tails will take that offered place at his side. Metal would prove that the real thing was inferior and weak, but he could "fix" the world into one in which he and Tails and the others can live and enjoy.
...
Sorry kinda went off for a minute there
I just think it would be interesting to cross Metal Sonic's creation with that au idea that person made that has me in a chokehold with Replica Riku KH and with some canon metal/idw metal happenings. Also I'm rotating Overlord Neo Metal trying to convince Tails to rule with him (and trying to convince himself that he can convince Tails to do it if he just proves himself the right way. Starline style if you know what I mean) in my brain. Metal who has Sonic's memories and feelings choosing to keep and lean into Sonic's attachment to Tails
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Wait wait no I'm not over this I need to talk about it.
So I've been reading Archie Sonic. And besides the fact that the lore and plot of most of the comics is just a blindfolded guy throwing darts at a dartboard, random things will just like come back after 50 issues of no longer being relevant or not being talked about.
Two of these things? Shard/Original Mecha Sonic, and Sonic's experience during the Metal Madness special, during which he was the True Mecha Sonic.
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So for context, let's back up to the Mecha Madness special.
So, I will be so clear right now. As Sonic was roboticized, during his stint as Mecha Sonic he is completely fine doing what Robotnik instructs. I am completely aware that he lost his free will, and I do not blame him for this. He is under Robotnik's control (or his robotic "programming" if you will) when he starts attacking Sally, the freedom fighters, Metal Knuckles, and Knothole.
But part way through that special issue, something happens that allows him to regain some of that free will. It allows him to feel a moral dilemma, and it gives him the chance to fight against Robotnik's programming.
Again, I will be clear. Up to this point, unless one of the roboticized characters has had their free will restored, the only thing allowing them to "fight their programming" or become aware in any way was as long as they were holding a working power ring (and later, the sword of acorns). This tells us just how powerful a force the programming to be a mindless Robotnik slave built into roboticization is.
And yet Sonic M. Hedgehog, the true mecha Sonic, manages to gain awareness without the usage of a power ring.
How?
Is it because he just couldn't hurt Sally, his love interest? Is it because he couldn't hurt his friends? Is it because he couldn't stand destroying his home?
NOPE (don't believe me? Read Archie Sonic issue 39 and then the mecha madness special)
He starts to regain a semblance of his free will because he almost killed Tails.
It's such a small thing, and it doesn't end up amounting to much in the moment just because he and Metal Knuckles end up duking it out until Sonic falls, damaged, but it’s highly important.
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Now let's fast forward to the return of the original Mecha Sonic. This event spans issues 86 and 87.
Now, the big conflict of this arc is that Mecha/Metal Sonic has kidnapped Tails and restrained him at the top of a volcano that is going to erupt very soon. Tails spends most of the arc in the damsel in distress role and acts as motivation for Sonic to fight Metal.
And really, Sonic isn’t having any of this Metal kidnapping Tails business
He spends much of the issues fantasizing about/trying to destroy Metal while trying desperately to get to Tails, but there are two moments that stand out from this in issue 87. Namely, the moment when Sonic realizes how similar Metal is to him when he was Mecha Sonic, and during the Tails + Sonic vs Metal fight, where he tries to relate to Metal. During the former:
At this point, Sonic first realizes how similar he and Metal are, but he doesn't think too hard on this. Instead, he ops to think about what makes them different (Metal's lack of humanity, or at least the lack of attempt in keeping a semblance of humanity).
During the latter:
Here, although Sonic spent much of the arc trying to save Tails and dealing with his anger towards Metal, he tries to reason with Metal. Whether he really believes he can get through to him or not, the point is that he tries. Even if he can't convince Metal, at least he can distract him enough for Tails to fly to safety.
Now, here's what's also interesting about these scenes. Sonic doesn’t actually mention how he began to fight his programming, only that he had to to preserve his last bits of humanity. We will come back to this.
Now, during this scene, Sonic bids Tails to escape, but Tails will not.
This scene is important. Sonic is having difficulty getting through to Metal, he bids Tails to leave, and while Metal goes on about how feelings make them weak, and then about how Tails *is* actually going to leave Sonic, Tails flies back to his side.
"No! I'm coming to be at his side so we can stop you together!"
And then...
Metal saves them. He not only saves them, he stands in the way of the magma, melts down to his core, to save the Mobians he's been fighting and toying with all day.
And despite the conversation he JUST had with Sonic, not even a page or two ago, he's going off about how he understands compassion, what it means to have the ability to go past your programming.
What happened between point A and point B? How did Metal flip flop so quickly even though Sonic's words didn't do anything.
Well, here's how Sonic puts it:
"But I think you turned the tide, Tails."
"Me? How?"
"Whatever words I said to the metal guy were just words. But when you wouldn't abandon me... That's when what I said became real to him...as if he gained some kind of robotic soul."
Now that's interesting.
If I remember correctly, later character bio type stuff on Mecha Sonic/Metal Sonic/Shard just mentions that he changed his mind after seeing Sonic and Tails' display.
But what Sonic says is pointed. It's not just after seeing Sonic and Tails' bond that Metal opened his mind. To him it's specifically what Tails did.
And I think there's some truth we can see to that! Metal would not listen when Sonic tried to relate to him using his time as Mecha Sonic, but when Tails expressed that he wouldn't leave Sonic, that he'd stay and fight to the end...
Suddenly Metal understood what Sonic is saying. Suddenly...he understood what it meant to feel, to have something to fight for.
While issues after Mecha Madness are vague about what exactly caused the true Mecha Sonic to try to fight his programming, the evidence speaks for itself.
It is so highly interesting to me that it was seeing Tails that allowed the Mecha Sonic to fight his programming, and then it was seeing Tails and his demonstration of fighting with Sonic til the end that inspired Metal Sonic to fight his own programming and give his life for Sonic and Tails.
It drives me crazy that if you boil it down, one thing that makes Original Metal/Shard so similar to Sonic/The True Mecha Sonic is that it was due to Tails that they fought their programming.
And given the evidence (using Uncle Chuck, Muttski, and both iterations of Mecha Sally as examples) of just how hard it is to maintain any sense of free will, the fact that Tails existence helped Mecha Sonic and his actions helped Metal/Shard means a lot.