(Modern) Tails' Backstory Revealed

As Sonic was running through the forest, he heard the sound of fighting. He changed course, heading for it. Sonic was planning to help out if he needed to, but then a familiar cry of pain rang out. Sonic sped up. It was Tails!

When Sonic reached the clearing the fight was at, he found Tails pinned to a tree by six foxes who all wore an armband made of fox pelt. A seventh, wearing an armband with two tails inked on it, was brandishing a knife of bone. All were around Tails' age.

"Escucha, Dos, dna listen cercanamente. No sitter iru woh you manejado ni evivrus to este nenrei, tub I'll fijar sore," the seventh (most likely the leader) threatened.

Tails' hands, tails and feet were all held down, and the bruises all over each warrior told why. The leader himself had a broken arm, begrudgingly showcasing Tails' handy work.

"Qué… nani did I hacer ni evresed this?" Tails asked, struggling against his captors.

Whatever Tails had said must have been the wrong thing to say, as the leader jerked back.

"Qué shita uoy do?!" he roared, "Mira nani uoy did!"

The leader motioned to his broken arm.

"Tu kōgeki sa reta em! Este atta fles-defence!" Tails insisted, borderline angry, but scared.

Sonic had managed to piece together what was happening. Or at least enough to know he needed to get Tails out of there, pronto!

These were obviously Lighting Skulk warriors, come to finish the job they'd started 6 years ago. That job was driving Tails to the brink, then killing him, calling him a devil. Sonic noticed the knife in the leader's hand was raised, about to fall. Without knowing what he was doing, he rushed forward, knocking the knife away.

Tails had only a few nanoseconds to comprehend what was happening before he was swept away by Sonic. As the knife fell, it made a clean cut at the base of Tails' tail, then hit Sonic's calf and made a small slit. Sonic stumbled, but kept going.

Shouts and the pounding of feet behind them let the duo know they were being followed.

"Thanks for saving me," Tails started, "but you know they'll be trying to kill you now too."

"That's nothing new," Sonic dismissed, glancing behind him.

Tails was not reassured, following Sonic's movement.

"At least take a roundabout to the Village?" he asked.

"I was planning on it," Sonic winced, "I'll see what I can do though."

Silence fell as they went. The warriors stayed close behind, and too soon, Sonic couldn't go on. Tails didn't argue the sudden change in direction, but was surprised it was not in the direction of the Village where they and their friends lived. Sonic stopped in a clearing, out of breath, and pulled out his Miles Electric.

Tails realised what Sonic was going to do. Pulling out his own Miles Electric, they pushed the SOS button together.

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An alarm blared from each Miles Electric in the Village. Those in possession of one were alarmed to find it was Sonic and Tails calling for help.

The fighters split into two groups. Shadow and Silver left immediately, while the others stayed to defend the village from whatever the threat was. But if Sonic and Tails couldn't handle it, what chance did they have?

_______________________________________

Knuckles was wolken by the alarm. He pulled out his Miles Electric and stared at the screen. Sonic and Tails, both in the same spot, were in trouble. He leaped up, and lifted a stone on the stairs of the shrine. Underneath was a passageway.

"Starlein!" Knuckles called.

The burgundy echidna was already there. Knuckles moved out of the way to let her out. Closing the opening, she commented,

"The boys must be in huge trouble to sound the alarm."

"That's why I'm worried," Knuckles said solemnly.

"You have to go, I understand," Starlein said reassuringly.

"You can't watch the kids and the Master Emerald," Knuckles protested.

"Your friends' lives are at stake here," Starlein instisted, then elbowed him playfully, "besides, I count them as my adopted kids."

Knuckles pecked Starlein on the cheek.

"I know," he said, "see you soon."

"Bye," Starlein said.

Knuckles left to see what was so serious Sonic and Tails had to call for help.

_______________________________________

Shadow and Silver arrived first. They found Sonic and Tails back to back, surrounded by angry foxes. Looking at them, it was obvious why they'd called for help. Both were tired, and looked in pain.

"Cu kimi wa, Dos, you've poner appu a good chase, da kedo ti ends aquí. Tu to ruoy friend son kansei shi ta," a fox walked up to Tails threateningly.

"Apártate, Marton," Tails said, confidently in a low voice.

"You know the name of the leader?" Sonic asked, surprised.

Before Tails could answer, Marton cut in.

"Silence!" he spoke in unaccented English, "I don't like speaking just English, but I will if I have too. Hedgehog, do you know who you are in the company of?"

"A bunch of murderous fox warriors?" Sonic asked.

Marton paused, confused, then growled in anger.

"I mean the dos you tried to save," he clarified.

"Who he actually is or what you think he is?" Sonic asked, "because those are two different things."

"Really?" Marton asked sarcastically, "what are we wrong about?"

"Well," Sonic started, but Tails grabbed his arm and shook his head.

He motioned with his head in the direction of Shadow. Tails had seen the reinforcements.

"Everything!" Sonic jumped forward.

Marton instantly brought out a spear, which Sonic kicked out of his hand.

Shadow and Silver jumped into the clearing, and chaos broke loose. In the rukus, Tails grabbed the spear Marton had dropped. He turned to find Marton launch himself at him. A warrior Tails recognized as Miranda was weighing down on Sonic, keeping him out of the way. Tails ducked and rolled, taking the spear with him.

Marton came up with a sword of obsidian, laced with silver and gold. The sword of an Idaina-sha.

"You became an Idaina-sha because you bullied me, didn't you?" Tails asked in Fox, disgusted.

"Why, yes," Marton replied in the same language, "I must thank you for getting me and El Sukaruku fo Marton to where we are today."

He lunged at Tails, and waited for Tails to roll to swing his sword at Tails' neck. Tails brought up the spear. The sword split the spear in half, but slowed enough for Tails to dodge.

Silver glanced over and lifted the sword up and embedded it into a tree. Marton, unfazed, tackled Tails, and the two descended into wrestle-fighting.

Sonic knocked out the 5th warrior coming at him with the help of Shadow. The two looked up and greeted Knuckles, who had just arrived. Knuckles knocked out two more warriors, leaving the only two still fighting Marton and Tails.

"Silver, can't you pry the two apart?" Sonic asked, watching the flailing ball with worry.

Silver shook his head.

"I can't tell them apart," he fumed, his throat growing tight.

The ball of fur rolled up to the small group. It suddenly stopped, with Marton pinning Tails to the ground. His claws were on Tails' neck. Sonic knocked Marton off, and Silver smashed him head first into the ground.

Sonic was by Tails' side, helping him up.

"You okay buddy?" Sonic asked.

"Mainly," Tails answered.

His left hand was holding his neck, and Knuckles was shocked to see red starting to leak through Tails' fingers.

"Your vein is cut," he said.

Sonic gently removed Tails' hand from his neck. His eyes widened at the sight of blood.

"We need to get you to the village," Sonic stated.

Tails nodded, bringing his hand up to his neck again. Sonic picked Tails up and ran in the direction of the Village. Shadow, Silver and Knuckles followed.

_______________________________________

Amy glanced up as Sonic ran into the village, carrying Tails. She ran up to him as he stopped, along with Vanilla, Cream and the Chaotix.

"What happened?" Amy asked while Sonic put Tails down.

Shadow, Silver and Knuckles came up. Tails was standing, and everyone gasped when they saw the blood leaking through his fingers.

"Come here," Vanilla motioned to Tails.

He followed her into her house, and Amy, Cream, Shadow, Silver, Knuckles and Sonic were not far behind.

Vanilla sat Tails down on her couch, and reached for her medical bag she kept on hand.

"Why do you children always need to get into serious fights?" she fumed as she cleaned the cut on Tails' neck.

"Tails didn't start it, or go into it," Sonic said angrily, "he was either dragged into the fight, or ambushed."

"Ambushed," Tails clarified.

"By who?" Cream asked.

"Very good fighting, very angry foxes," Shadow said.

"The Lighting Skulk," Sonic said.

"You're both correct," Tails said, "but to be more specific, El Sukaruku fo Marton, my personal childhood bully gang."

Vanilla paused bandaging Tails' neck.

"You were bullied by a gang when you were younger?" Cream asked, agast.

"They came together for that express purpose," Tails said grimly.

"And no one stopped them?" Amy asked, shocked.

Tails gave a small laugh.

"Are you kidding? They were supported- encouraged, actually- by the skulk," he said, shrugging.

Amy was shocked and angry, and not the only one. Silver looked about ready to teach the whole skulk a lesson- whatever a "skulk" was.

"There's a belief in the fox culture that two-tailed foxes are evil and dangerous," Sonic explained, voice low, "so Tails is lucky he even survived five minutes. Eight years is incredibly lucky."

All turned to him.

"How long have you known about this?" Shadow asked.

"Since we ended our first adventure together," Sonic said, "Tails told us some things about his past. Of course, he hasn't told me everything, but I don't expect him to."

"I know too," Knuckles said, and the room turned to him, "after all, you stayed on my island for a couple months."

"They wouldn't kill babies, would they?" Cream asked, wide-eyed.

"They tried to kill an eight year old right now," Shadow pointed out, "I doubt they would have qualms about killing infants."

"That's right," Tails confirmed, "I was lucky my family was able to hide me until I was 2 and a half."

"What happened then?" Silver asked, not sure he wanted the answer.

"I was found out," Tails said, "and they smuggled me out of the Valley."

"Valley?" Amy asked.

"Where the foxes live," Tails explained, "I'm not sure why that's the only place, but it is. I've checked."

The room fell silent for a moment, everyone trying to figure out what to do with this information. Seizing the opportunity, Vanilla stood.

"Tails needs rest," she said, "so everyone out."

No one protested.