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*kisses my man’s knuckles like he is the whole world* what’s up bro

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sonic manga panel redraw!!

pretzlforpresident actually did this first, i js happened to like it so much i wanted to try it myself- go check theirs out, it's definitely better1! :))

for anyone wondering, the reason sonic has a heart in his speech bubble is because he's apparently saying "i love you" in sign language?!?! like that was the main reason i had to draw this <333

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This little fanart, and particularly the Continue screen it's based on inspired this

In the sprite, it shows Sonic being all grumpy there due to losing and Tails cheerfully talking to him and pointing ahead.

Classic Sonic can get grumpy a little more easily than Modern, something that seems to be learned over the years. Younger Sonic didn't have anyone first, he made friends gradually through each adventure as he grew and the IDW specials featuring classic era show his character development being there due to his friends. Learning to depend on othersz learning to trust, all of that.

But there's another thing, not giving up is a part of Sonic, it's one of his core traits, he never gives up. But if you think about, Modern Sonic gets optimistic about things even after a loss, most of the time being cheerful and hopeful and encouraging instead of grumpy if something goes South.

He never gives up but there's a difference between optimism combined with that and the former notion being by itself.

I think that Tails is the reason. Here it shows how grumpy Sonic is being, he won't stop trying but he's grumpy about losing, a lot more than he otherwise is as his older self. And Tails is the one cheerfully pointing ahead, filled with hope and optimism.

Raising a kid who would drive away your negativity would definitely affect Sonic in the long run. I believe Tails' optimistic attitude played a part in that aspect of Sonic's character development too. Whenever they would face an obstacle and it would annoy the older, the younger would be there to provide solution and support and keep him on track. Over the years, it would manifest itself into the hopefulness and optimism Sonic has.

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Wouldn’t it be funny if Tails was scolded or put in a situation where Sonic would call him by his full name, but instead of saying “Miles ‘Tails’ Prower,” he’d call him “Tails (Prower) The Hedgehog” lol

Whether he’d do it unintentionally or not, they both would need a moment to think about what was just said

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Anyone who has followed me for any length of time knows that my favorite animated Sonic show is easily Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. This is not only because of nostalgia (though that does play a part), or because of the heavy focus on Sonic & Tails and the delightful goon squad they face (though those two things also play a part), but because I think that there are very interesting concepts in the show if you choose to dig deeper than it asks (or even expects) you to, and I love crunching on them.

Now, there are multiple concepts like this that I could talk about. One which I've brought up before is how AoStH is one of the few adaptations to really point out the realities of Sonic and Tails being homeless children, such as an episode where Sonic mentions that they've missed meals over the past few days. Another is how the healthy brotherly relationship of Sonic & Tails is directly foiled against the toxic brotherly relationship of Scratch, Grounder, & occasionally Coconuts (along with Robotnik being the latter three's abusive father). Digging into the foils and parallels between them all says interesting things about their characters.

But the reason I decided to open up this window and make this post is because I was just thinking about my favorite episode of the show, "High Stakes Sonic." I'm sure there are many who would think that my favorite episode would be "Tails' New Home" or one similarly focused more strongly on Sonic & Tails as brothers, but nope, it's "High Stakes Sonic." And this is my favorite episode because of the fascinating thing it says about Sonic's character, at least in this adaptation.

So, for those who don't know, "High Stakes Sonic" is how AoStH adapted the Casino Night Zone level into the show. The basic summary is that Robotnik owns Casino Night Zone, and is using it to drive mobian citizens into gambling-debt induced slavery so they build a monument to him (that looks like a sphinx, albeit of his face). Sonic and Tails find out about this, and decide to save the mobians from their fate by beating the rigged casino. As a result, Robotnik has the operator of his casino (a literal shark, representing either a card or loan shark) kidnap Tails in order to force Sonic to participate in a rigged bet: he has to race Grounder, with the mobians voting on who they think will win. When they obviously vote for Sonic, he'll throw the race and lose on purpose, selling them into slavery. And if he doesn't do this, then Tails -- being held in a location unknown to Sonic -- will be killed. (They don't outright use the word "killed," but that's the implication.)

Now, obviously, the episode ends with Sonic figuring out partway through the race where Tails is being held, rescuing him, and then rushing back to win the race to save the mobians. (Who Robotnik captures into slavery anyway, because obviously, so Sonic then has to go and save them for real.) But the happy ending of the episode isn't what has held my fascination for over a decade now. No, Sonic's reaction to the bet is what has held my fascination.

Because here's the thing: he agrees to the terms.

He's not happy about it, obviously. He's downright furious when he learns that Robotnik's henchman has kidnapped Tails and is holding him in some secondary location, and he gives a thinly veiled death threat of his own to said henchman if even a hair is harmed on Tails' head. But he still agrees to it. He agrees to purposely throw a race, knowing that doing so will consign hundreds of people into slavery, all so that he can save Tails. And again, he's not happy about it -- he's furious when he first learns, and he has slumped shoulders and a despaired look when the mobians ask him why he's not even trying to win the race when it kicks off and he has to walk the track. But he still agrees with it. He still goes along with it.

And I think this is fascinating, because it's a level of selfishness that often isn't shown in heroes like Sonic. Sure, we know that Sonic has a "my own way no matter what" attitude, and this is a demonstration of that, in that he's doing what he wants even if it wouldn't be seen as the morally right thing to do (given that he's sacrificing hundreds for the sake of one, even if that one is a child even younger than he is). But in most cases (in the games or other adaptations), Sonic deciding to do his own thing is usually for the benefit of others, and doesn't really harm people who aren't villains, at least not directly and certainly not in large groups. For instance, in the recent Riders arc in the IDW Comics, Sonic agreed to align with Eggman and become the Phantom Rider to disrupt the races so that he could figure out what was going on with Clean Sweep Inc. and how he and his friends had their gear sabotaged. But he didn't attack anyone, he risked his cover to save those he could when they did fall into danger, and he was trying to stop the villains. He did what he wanted regardless of what others would think of him, but his actions were still, overall, altruistic.

But in "High Stakes Sonic," that really isn't the case. Yes, he is doing this to save Tails' life; but not only is he sacrificing a hundred people to do so, but he's doing it not for Tails' sake, really, but for his own. Yes, Tails would die, and in the moment of death that would suck for Tails. But Sonic is the one who would be left behind. Sonic is the one who would lose the only family he has, his little brother and best friend, all in one fell swoop. And Sonic would rather sacrifice a hundred people to slavery than experience that.

One could argue that Sonic planned to rescue them later, when Tails was safe. And you know, he probably would. But he was still wracked with guilt in the moment. Because even if he rescued them later, he's still selling them into slavery and misery now. This is still a choice that he is making, to put his own needs and wants (having his little brother back) over the needs of these innocent people. (And they are innocent, because gambling is an addiction and they are being exploited.) And it's not like he makes this choice impulsively; he makes it over and over again as he goes through with throwing the race, even as they ask him why he's doing it with fear and despair in their own voices. He makes his decision and sticks to it, and only changes course when Grounder lets slip where Tails is being held.

And what does that tell us? That tells us that he would make the same choice again. Because even when he is faced with the direct consequences of making this choice (the mobians asking him why he's doing this to them), unable to distance himself from them at all, he sticks to it. It tears him apart, wracks him with guilt, but he does it anyway. And if he does it anyway, even when he is unable to avoid or pretend those consequences don't exist, that makes he would do it again, and again, and again.

There is a game known as Tales of Xillia 2 that had the tagline (paraphrased), "Will you sacrifice the world for the sake of a girl?" And setting aside the fact that Tails is a boy (except in -- I think it was the Latin America dub of AoStH that made him a girl), that's the question that is asked of Sonic in "High Stakes Sonic." And the answer is yes. Yes, Sonic -- in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, at least -- would sacrifice the world to save Tails. It would leave him guilt-ridden, but he would still do it, because to him the alternative is still worse.

One could argue that Sonic wasn't presented with the choice of Tails vs. the whole entire world. But I think that a hundred or so innocent lives is enough to get the point across. AoStH!Sonic, if faced with the trolley problem where Tails is on one track and five innocent mobians are on the other -- if he was faced with that, and there was no possible way for him to save all six, would choose to put the trolley on the track with the five mobians. He wouldn't be happy about it, it would eat him alive for the rest of his life, but he would do it. He would still do it.

And I think that this is just a fascinating trait for a heroic main character to have, especially in media for children. What does it tell us about Sonic's past, that he's this desperate to keep his one family and best friend alive and safe at all costs? (Literally, all costs.) What does it tell us about him, as a person, that yes he devotes his life to fighting Robotnik and yes he wants to save as many people as possible (and usually that's everyone), but he's willing to let them all burn if the cost is Tails? And what does it say that we're never shown if Tails ever learns of this, if Tails was ever made aware of the fact that Sonic was purposefully throwing the race to sacrifice the other mobians, all so that Tails himself would be safe? If we're never given any indication that Sonic told Tails about any of it? (Possibly because that would mean admitting it out loud, and Sonic can't deal with that part of himself, and would rather just leave it in the past where he feels it belongs?)

It's so crunchy, especially for a show that leans so heavily on the slapstick comedy, that doesn't ask nor expect you to take it seriously and dig deeper into it. Generally, it isn't that deep, but sometimes it is, or it can be. And this episode, and what it said about Sonic's character, is one that I've always come back to for that reason.

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Little comic I don’t think I’ll ever finish

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Insane again thinking about Sonic and Tails

Everyone always talks about the ways in which Tails is dependent on or revolves around Sonic. We talk about the ways in which he's depended on Sonic to save him, the way he likes tagging along on journeys, the way Sonic has inspired him, the way he always maintains Sonic's plane, leaves his door open for him with place to rest and good food to eat

But we rarely talk about the ways in which Sonic is secretly dependent or reliant on Tails

In a large portion of the games, if Tails isn't straight up on the journey alongside him, Sonic has the security that Tails can communicate with him from afar, and Tails usually appears to help out at some point during one of Sonic’s solo journeys. He doesn't have to be without Tails for long

And we see what happens (especially in Sonic Frontiers and Sonic Prime) when Tails is inaccessible. In Frontiers, he wonders where Tails aloud is unprompted, wanting to find him. Sonic's other friends even convince him to bother with the secrets of the starfall islands because doing so may lead him to Tails. He wants to find Tails so Tails can make sense of what's happening. And in Prime, Sonic ends up scrambling without Tails around. Especially in Prime S1 while things make the least sense, he seeks out Tails first (and then later hopes variants other than Nine can fill Tails' role) because he trusts him. He trusts that if Tails is here, then he can just tell Sonic what to do (come up with a plan for him to execute). With Tails around, Sonic doesn’t have to worry about not understanding the situation because Tails can figure it out. Without Tails, Prime!Sonic often shifts between trying to handle things himself to the best of his knowledge while rolling with the punches, and deferring to someone he can trust as a smarter strategizer to tell him what to do (a role Nine fills most notably, but other characters such as Rebel and Shadow fill on the occasion).

Of course there's also the earlier mentioned way in which Tails takes care of Sonic as well. I'm sure Tails isn't Sonic's only friend that he could crash with, but it's Tails who goes to such lengths to open his arms for him. If Sonic wants to crash in an actual house, if he wants to eat his favorite food, if he just wants to hang out, or if he needs help, Tails's home is open to him, accommodating his every need.

In my eyes, Sonic is the one who is surprisingly codependent here, who flounders a bit when everything goes to shit, Tails is nowhere to be found and can't be contacted, and there's no one else that can help him make sense of things. He takes Tails with him on so many journeys, even in games like Colors, where Tails largely follows behind Sonic while Sonic does a lot of the physical work. Tails doesn't need to be "useful" to tag along. He likes having Tails around, he wants Tails around. When Tails can't go with him or it's something Sonic should go alone for, he can always communicate with him and hear his voice from afar. And I'd argue there are more examples than Sonic Prime that may demonstrate Sonic trying to find someone to fill Tails' role the first chance he can get when Tails isn't around and can't be contacted.

The conclusion here is that a lot of people talk about Tails being dependent on Sonic or revolving around him, but they truly are partners. Sonic wants to be around Tails at this point perhaps as much as Tails always wants to be around Sonic. The two are strong together, they fill each other's gaps in ability. They both feel more secure when the other is around, and they rely on each other's presence. They are each a comforting existence to the other in similar and different ways.

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Sonic has always loved the golden color, that specific yellow was such a beautiful, lively color.

Red is his obvious answer to the “what is your favorite color?” question, but if they told him that he had to choose only one color he could see for the rest of his life, he knows golden yellow and baby blue would be the ones fighting for the throne.

How could they not? Those were his little bro’s colors.

Every time he looked at Tails it was like the sun had embraced the sky into a tiny fluffy ball, making both of them brighter and brighter, shining against each other, the softest shade of sky blue being evolved into a heart warming sun.

Tails was the infinite answer to the happiness question. His unstoppable potential to achieve anything he wanted, the endless possibilities of a wide happy future for him, the one who always accompanied him in his worldwide runs, just like the sky.

His brother was a soft light that warmed his heart everyday, a bright path to follow when he fell to deep in the dark, a reason to keep fighting for.

Yeah, Tails felt like the sky. But he was Sonic’s sun. And if he had to fight all his life to make sure that those bright baby blue eyes keep shining and that golden yellow fur keeps glowing, then he’ll fight till the world itself ended.

His world was ending. Slowly.

It was so sudden, so uncanny, and so, so unfair. They were happy, they were running together, they were laughing and racing each other until Tails abruptly fell from the sky, Sonic almost too late to catch him. “Just a headache” he said while being cradled in Sonic’s arms. Headaches were not supposed to make you faint, but Tails was fine, so it had to be okay.

It stated slowly. Tails kept fainting for some time, they worried, they went to the hospital and all the doctors said it was nothing. He started to vomit every time he ate, they returned to the doctors and the same answer was given.

He couldn’t sleep, they no longer believed the doctors.

His tails went limp, he couldn’t fly anymore, and his bright yellow fur was fading its color, he took matters into his own hands and after lots of analysis and test they got an answer for his predicament.

Tails was sick.

His fur was no longer shining, his eyes were no longer sparkling. Bright golden being rebalanced by an ashy sad yellow, and baby blue being covered by an infinite gray shadow.

Leaving a dark cloudy sky with a sun no longer shining.

His body was getting thinner by the day, Sonic could always carry Tails easily, he was a big brother, it came in the job’s description, so if he had to help Tails stand and walk for some time it didn’t matter, he’ll be by his side until he recovered. Until he no longer had to apologize for not finishing Amy’s cooking, until they’d stop bringing him to Angel Island trying to get the Master Emerald to heal him.

It didn’t matter how long would it take, he’ll be with him until he shines brighter than the sun once again.

Why

That was his only question

Why him? Why did it have to be him? Why wasn’t there any existing cure yet? Why didn’t even Tails had an answer? Why couldn’t Sonic do anything about it?

Tails was eight years old, eight, he hadn’t reached double digits yet, his birthday still too many months away. It could’ve been anyone, anyone but him. He had so much yet to live, and he told Sonic he knew he was dying.

A non believer would pray to a god to save their child. A believer would fight their god to save their child.

Sonic has already killed so many gods, and he’s already prayed to the ones that were left. So why wasn’t his sun shining again?

What deity did he annoy this time? What could’ve offend the universe so much that it has to take it on his baby brother? Why couldn’t it just burn the whole world down? Why couldn’t every enemy he’s ever faced come back and fight him? Why couldn’t reality just rip both his legs out instead? Why did it have to be Tails?

Sonic was willing to fight, bleed and die for that kit, so why couldn’t they just taken Sonic instead?

When his fur no longer showed any yellow brightnes and started getting covered by his own blood anytime he tried to speak they knew it was too late. When not even an over analysis on Shadows blood gave any hint of a cure, when not even Eggman’s biology knowledge and failed antidotes could even slow it down.

Not any deity, not the Master Emerald, not Sonic. No one could save him.

There was no solution. This was a threat he couldn’t outrun with Tails in his arms. An unforgiving curse slowly taking away his pride and joy to never give it back. A mocking laughing unknown force killing the only thing he would chose over anything else, his sun and sky, his kid.

Amy showered his forehead with kisses every time she came over, reading him bedtime stories to try and help him sleep, spoon feeding him his favorite ice cream when he was too weak to do it himself and too embarrassed to ask his brother. Knuckles stayed near their home, ready to assist in case there was an emergency, always bringing handmade wood toys so the kit could still play with something even if his arms were weak enough not to hold a small wrench, it wasn’t tinkering, but it made him a little bit happier.

They both told Tails how much they loved him every single time they were with him.

And Sonic couldn’t.

He hadn’t tell him that he loved him, not enough times before all this, never enough.

He couldn’t tell him he loved him now, not with words. He couldn’t voice that well known fact. Because his little bro already knew. Because it was something that was supposed to be shown with actions, not words. Because it went unsaid.

Because telling him he loves him now would mean accepting he’ll be gone. Accepting he lost, accepting he will lose him.

Sonic refused to lose him.

He needed to run, he needed to go away, because if he stayed, he didn’t think he’ll be strong enough not to crumble if they take his light away, when they take his light away.

He didn’t run, because that’s his brother, because even if his own heart is threatening to stop every time he looks at the cub’s small trembling frame, his heart wasn’t the one stoping in real time. So he stayed.

He stayed when Vanilla came over to check on Tails, to gift him a knitted beanie and matching gloves so he wouldn’t be cold in his own bed, the bed he hadn’t left in weeks. He stayed when he couldn’t properly take a bath by himself, helping him cleaning and brushing his fur while memories of baby fox fangs and campfires invaded his mind. He stayed when Tails couldn’t do anything but cry at the aching in his bones, and Sonic couldn’t do anything but hold him close.

His heartbeat was slower than usual, and that was already too slow.

And he was so, so cold. He wasn’t supposed to be cold, no, his golden fluffy fur was supposed to keep him warm.

The memory of his little squeaky voice was still engraved in Sonic’s mind, even if it had been months without properly hearing, and yet…

“I’m sorry”

“What’s that buddy?”

“I’m sorry, for making you wait for me to go”

No.

Why was his eight year old brother apologizing? Why did his kid feel the need to apologize for not dying? No. He knew exactly way, the reason were his feet’s constant tapping on the ground whenever he had a medic visit. The reason was how his own smile fell whenever the kid wasn’t looking at him. The reason… was because the kid just wanted to go, and Sonic wouldn’t let him. Sonic wanted him to get better, Sonic wanted him to stay with him. Not to let him go.

How could he? When he hasn’t had him for enough time? When he still had so much to live? When he still needed to apologize for not giving him the life he deserved? When he still needed to tell him that he loved him without feeling he’ll lose him forever?

Ten seconds of silence. Two voices in unison. The same feeling behind them, different words.

“Forgive me”

“I love you”

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This is so sonic and tails coded

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Been thinking about Sonic and Tails and how after a few years the two of them finally feel comfortable enough to start treating each other in that mean way that only siblings can be.

He’d never joke if it was something serious- but whenever Tails gets a wound like a scratch or a bruise Sonic will give it a long, hard look while clicking his tongue and say, “I’m sorry bud, but we’re gonna have to amputate :(“ and Tails will magically pull out a hacksaw saying ‘bet’ and Sonic has to wrestle it away from him.

It’s hot outside and Sonic is too lazy to get his own drink so he stands there begging Tails to let him have a quick sip of his:

Sonic: pls just one sip and I’ll give it back

Tails: …5 seconds and that’s it

So Tails gives him the drink and Sonic is being dramatic like “thank you so much bro this means a lot to me”. And Tails stands there watching as Sonic slurps down the rest of his drink until theres nothing left and his brother hands him the empty cup back like “that hit the spot thanks dude :)”. Tails looks down at the empty cup in his hand then back at Sonic and he just full force smashes the cup to the side of his head, water and ice just splashing everywhere.

Tails is working in his lab and every time Sonic goes to visit him and catch up he will always ALWAYS leave the door open when he leaves. Tails will yell at him to leave it closed and Sonic never listens, he’ll just stand there in the door and go 🤷‍♂️ until Tails chases him around the house. Sometimes Tails will legitimately just lock the door and Sonic will scratch outside like a dog kicked out of its home.

Tails is throwing a tantrum and just being particularly snarky and Sonic will always say stupid stuff like:

Sonic: “I literally gave birth to you???”

Tails: “Mf no you did not ☠️”

They make a bet about who can embarrass the other the most in front of strangers. They’re out getting ice cream or something and Sonic is letting Tails choose a flavor at the front, and the worker is talking to them like “how nice that your brother is taking you out for ice cream”. Tails look up at her with a big smile and says, “It sure is. It’s the first time this month since he’s let me out of the house. I’ll have to enjoy this while I can!! 🥹”. The lady looks horrified and Sonic grabs Tails by the scruff of his neck and tries to de-escalate the situation.

Sonic: ahahaaa wowie!!! Kids sure do say the funniest things am I right?? 😁

Tails: 🦊🍦

They’re out shopping and it’s kinda busy and so Tails slips away while his brother is preoccupied and leaves to go do his own thing. An hour passes by and Sonic has already left when Tails sends him a message saying “You forgot me in the store :(“ Sonic goes through the 100 stages of grief before sprinting back and freaking out thinking he’s the worst brother ever and Tails has already been at home waiting for him to get back just to laugh in his face.

Sonic is hyping up Tails to their fans and he playfully ruffles his head and goes, “Yep! He just learned how to tie his own shoes, I’m hoping that he’ll learn his alphabets soon enough. ☺️” and Tails dies on the inside bc now all these people think he’s a second grader.

Mean sibling bonding at its prime.

Part 2: https://www.tumblr.com/jinxed-lemon/743795378027184128/miles-tails-prower-enthusiast

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FUNNY: baby tails canonically calling sonic his mom

HEARTBREAKING: his reasoning -- "a mother is someone who cares about you, therefore sonic is my mother" -- implies that either he didn't have a mother, or she was neglectful/abusive enough that tails concluded she doesn't meet the requirements of what a "mother" is supposed to be. in that case its implied that NO one has cared for him before sonic

FUNNY AGAIN: despite tails calling sonic "mother" to his FACE, sonic didn't refute it whatsoever. boymom the hedgehog

HEARTBREAKING AGAIN: implying that sonic doesn't seem to know what a mother is either

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Typing at the speed of sound

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Enough of "this character is my son" this character is my nephew, not my responsibility but I'm taking him out for lunch and buying him hot wheels

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Silly Game Time: WRONG ANSWERS ONLY! Why do dogs wag their tails?

They wag their tails to reach the sky, like tails from sonic

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Silly Game Time: WRONG ANSWERS ONLY! Why do dogs wag their tails?

They wag their tails to reach the sky, like tails from sonic

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Hello! Can you draw Nikki and his sis just being silly siblings?

:D!!!