#implied sontails

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

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

[yellow-speedster]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Sonic Prime (Cartoon 2022), Sonic the Hedgehog - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Knuckles the Echidna & Miles "Tails" Prower Characters: Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna Additional Tags: Angst, wrote this based on Vibes its probably gonna be very inaccurate when Prime comes out, Arguing, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Implied Relationships, Soft Knuckles, Angry Tails, Eavesdropping, implied knuckles/tails, Lightly though, slightly older tails, bad future!tails and knuckles, out of place sonic, Teen rating is for language Summary:

Out wandering the halls of his temporary new home, Sonic listens in on an argument between the Knuckles and Tails of this dimension.

And maybe learns something about these versions of his friends that he shouldn't know.

~

I never shared this fic on here, but I’m working on a follow up right now and I thought I should post it!

[4filen0tfound4]

Btw it’s implied that team sonic is like a family now including Knuckles so umm blocking ppl who ship movie sonknux and definitely sontails ^^

[greenyvertekins]

Not sure if this falls under your rules of SFW, but what to you is some of the most problematic ships/couples in Sonic, in either licensed media or fandom? I don't mean a ship you dislike but one that is really upsetting. I found it pretty gross that Archie tried to imply Tails and Barby being a thing and was glad Flynn stated he killed that off, fanon wise I used to lots of fanarts of Chris and some older character from Boom.

SonTails and....ugh....SonEgg. The former is strictly a brotherly relationship, arguably father and son-ly if you consider Sonic akin to a father figure to Tails. And there's also the 7 year age difference. No....just no. SonEgg is immensely creepy to me because it's pedophilic - Dr Eggman is implied to be in his 50's at least. SONIC IS 15. I don't support adult x minor ships. That includes Rouge x Sonic/Amy/Anyone else canonically under 18.

Locke x Lara Le is a fucking awful coupling simply because Locke is a slimeball who used Lara simply to give him the next guardian. Sickening how Penders in one 25YL story had him proclaim how he always loved her on his deathbed when she was married to a guy who treated her a thousand times better than he ever did.

[multishipper-baby]

The ghost and the werehog

So... This is based in my AU, where Sonic was born a werehog and Tails is a ghost. I probably continue it, adding more characters and stuff ------ It was a normal night for Sonic. The forest was silent and covered in white, with all the preys hiding between the trees. He caught the smell of a small reindeer, and slowly approached it hiding behind some bushes. The creature was drinking water from a lake, not noticing the predator that was just a few meters away. Carefully, the werehog came closer, doing his best to not make a sound. Some seconds later, he finally decided to attack. The young animal tried to flee, but the hedgehog already had him trapped and, before it could do anything else, he bit its neck, killing him instantaneously. He sat down and started to eat. He had already eated half his meal when the wind became stronger, and he heard a strange voice. He looked around, searching for whoever had talked, slightly worried. After all, there was a town nearby, and he didn't want to get in trouble with hunters. As silently as possible, Sonic started to search for someone else, always hiding behind the trees. He couldn't smell anyone, but the sounds of lightfootsteps was enough to guide him. Carefully, the werehog moved from his hiding place to see who he was following. His eyes widened in suprise Right in front of him there was a young fox, but he was obviously not a normal mobian. He was nearly transparent, and there was a blue light coming from his body. The only part of him that was opaque was his tail (Well, one of his tails. Sonic took notice that he had two) That had a golden tint. And, after staring at him for a few seconds, he also noted that the snow didn't affect him. This boy was, apparently, a ghost. For a minute or two, the werehog decided to follow him. It may had been dangerous, but his curiosity got the best of him. Finally, they both found a lake, and the fox sat next to it with a sigh. Sonic decided to get a closer look and started to approach, but stepped on a branch, causing the ghost to look at his direction. For a long minute, they only stared at each other awkwardly, thinking about what to do next. -Hi- The young spirit spoke first, and the werehog mentally thanked him for it. His voice echoed in the forest, making it sound extraterrestrial- My name is Miles Prower. -Sonic- He quickly answered, getting closer to the boy and sitting next to him in silence. He probably looked scary, especially because he had just ate and there still was blood in him, but the fox didn't seem intimidated. Actually, he was smiling. They passed the next minutes staring at the night sky, and occasionally stealing glances at the other. They were both curious, but neither had the courage needed to ask any questions. After all, both were unused to having someone else's company. -So, what are you doing in the forest?- Sonic said in an attempt to start a conversation. Miles looked at him with a serious expression, and he immediately regretted asking something like that- Sorry for asking. -... It's okay- The ghost answered quietly, breaking eye contact with the werehog and now staring at the night sky. Up close, it was easy to notice that the fox was pretty attractive and he couldn't help but blush. At least his fur was covering it- You're curious, and I can understand why. This is were I died. The hedgehog opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again when he noticed there wasn't anything he could think of. He had no idea what to do in his current situation, except from running. But he really felt bad for making the other sad, so he stayed, hoping he could make it better. The rest of the night was spent between awkward silences and small conversations that didn't go anywhere, but Sonic knew there was something he liked about the fox. He really hoped to see him again

[arealscrog]

Oh, Boom...

Well, the writers of Sonic Boom have basically come out and all but directly tweeted the words “Sonic and Amy are a couple” in Sonic Boom. I kind of had my worries about this for a while as the hints pretty much started popping up in every other episode this season. Now with the most recent episode it sounds like it’s pretty much confirmed, both from the in-episode dialogue and tweets by the writers after it aired.

I... can’t help but feel kind, I dunno... crestfallen. As someone who ships Sontails, I’ve always known my ship would NEVER be made canon. That’s a given. I was cool with the occasional ambiguous Sonamy hints and I hold absolutely no ill will for people who ship other things, Sonamy absolutely included. I love the creativity of shippers in fandom and the fun we all have making up our own headcanons and sharing it with others.

Here’s the thing that bothers me about this, I think. It’s been pretty much mandated by SEGA that Sonic can’t officially date anyone. It can’t be spelled out, only hinted at. So in a way, it’s made it so that Sonic can be close to all of his friends without ever officially being paired off to anyone. That kind of puts Sonic shippers in a cool place. It equalizes us.

But what Sonic Boom has done over the course of this season I feel is kinda unfair to everyone, including Sonamy shippers, because they’re trying to imply Sonic and Amy have a “secret relationship”.  Or that hey, yeah, Sonic likes you Amy! He’s just SO emotionally constipated that he ignores you one third of the time, actively insults or disparages your interests and hobbies the second third, and treats you like the rest of his friends the last third. Bottom line: the kind of comedy that makes Sonic Boom isn’t exactly suited to a meaningful romantic subplot, so why push it so hard?

I dunno. I’m sure most Sonamy shippers are over the moon about this and that’s great. I guess I just had my hopes that they would continue to leave it open ended in some way. Because it’s always going to be super easy to pair the main guy and main girl together, overt hints or not. What’s not so easy is trying to see past it now that it’s basically been confirmed in the hubub surrounding this Bee episode. And honestly? That’s kind of a buzzkill.

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

My favorite funny thing on occasion is to imagine sugar baby/daddy dynamics with Tails ships

Something so comical about the fact that Sonic the hedgehog (hedgehog without a home) would be sugar baby to Tails (fox who has so many labs. Like who needs to worry about money when your little buddy pays for stuff heroing doesn't and keeps his bases fully stocked with ingredients for your favorite food

Or like, Tails, who basically ended up being Sonic's sugar daddy, accidentally gaining more sugar babies by virtue of making sure certain characters don't inconvenience people (basically playing damage control)

While I think it's Rouge mainly who would probably suppliment the money for Omega and Shadow (if need be) and play this sort of role for them, it's still funny to imagine Tails insisting on setting them up in hotel rooms because Shadow was just about to sleep outside and saw no problem with that (and because Tails can't very well just let Shadow do that)

A friend of mine also moved that, under this framework, after the idw issues where the Chaotix took a job helping Knuckles get an artifact back, Tails would just silently patch them rent money as an apology for the whole thing.

Rich inventor Tails accidentally gaining bfs out of the main cast as his sugar babies because he's assumed responsibility for their antics and cares about them too much to just let them live life the way they have been. Do you see my vision?

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

So like, mini disclaimer before the post. I was not and am not a believer in the "Sonic is going to be forced to choose between his original friends and the shatterspace variants" theory, nor the companion to it "all the variants are just gonna essentially live with their memories inside the og friends' hearts"

However, I do have brainrot over the idea of Nine meeting Tails in his dreams, and some of these ideas require a prerequisite of "in which Nine exists within Tails' heart but does not currently have a body.

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Imagine, if you will, a setting post canon in which the variants exist within the hearts of the original and (kingdom hearts style) they would just need a body/vessel of their own to exist again. Tails is sleeping, and after dreams upon dreams of meeting the variants, experiencing their fleeting memories and their hurt (their feelings about everything), he comes across Nine.

Nine... Tails has had a hard time remembering much of his dreams while awake, but when he's dreaming, he remembers that Nine has been perhaps the angriest and most conflicted of all the variants. All of them want to be alive, of course. Tails wouldn't be surprised if *all* of them have been parsing through his own memories in exchange for sharing theirs.

But none have been so volatile as Nine, harder to reason with. The others at least face him more often than not, but Nine has directly done so few times.

But...Tails can't blame him for that, especially not after what he knows. He understands how Nine likely feels (abandoned, lonely, forgotten). Perhaps he wouldn't be so agreeable either if he fought tooth and nail for a better future, and the universe denied him that (nay, punished him to watch but to never have).

But tonight...

Nine is standing under a palm tree, facing the vast ocean past the beaches of Green Hill. Tails takes a few steps down the hill he's on, and soon enough he's standing off to the side (dream logic, he understands)—where he can see Nine from the front, but isn't standing directly in front of him or obstructing his view.

It's at this moment that Tails realizes he's never seen Nine so clearly before. The tips of his ears, to his permafrown, to his 7 mechanical tails, and down to his shoes. He's fought the fox before in his dreams, seen glimpses of him, but this is the first time he's had a chance to really see him.

Nine turns his head away from the sea, and suddenly Tails is beside him, mere feet away.

Tails opens his mouth, a dozen questions and sentence starters flying through his head. What eventually comes out is just a simple, "Nine?"

Nine smiles at that, and yet...Tails can tell almost instantly that it's not because he's happy or excited to see him. No, the smile is almost...accepting, if not a little bit sad.

Then, Nine sighs. "This could have been the other way around, but...it has to be you."

Tails hesitates for a moment before pointing at himself. "...Me? Why?"

"There are so many people connected to you—all of you, if my hypothesis is correct. It often is. You're me, so...you can feel what I felt. You could...feel how I feel."

And maybe it's true that Tails can feel what Mangey, Sails, and Nine are feeling, but all that proves is that one is affected by the presence of others residing within their own consciousness.

Tails shakes his head. "No. You're you, not me."

There's a moment of silence before Nine chuckles, and Tails continues, "I want you to know that you deserve to live as your own person, just as much as I do."

"Every time we've fought—here—I've asked you the same question. Do you remember it?"

Well, of course, Tails finds multiple questions as he tries to think back, but by keeping the terms of Nine's question in mind and employing process of elimination–

Nine turns back to the sea, squeezing both gloved hands into fists at his sides. "I was angry—among other things. I just couldn't understand why I was here. After everything I'd fought for, everything we'd been through together, I couldn't understand why he chose you. And every time I asked, you never gave me an answer."

Nine's right. Tails has never given him an answer to that question.

But to Tails...that question was never his to answer, at least in his opinion. Unless Sonic told him, Tails would never know why he put in for him, Amy, Knuckles, and Rouge over worlds of new friends. All he does know (straight from Sonic's own testimony) is that Sonic would have never made the choice he did had he known it would lead to all this. Sonic had wanted home, Tails, and all his friends back, but he never meant to erase the other worlds. Even as he tries to pretend otherwise, Tails knows Sonic has been beating himself up for the choice he made ever since.

Shouldn't Nine know that—that Sonic didn't mean to hurt him, that Sonic feels regret, that Sonic wasn't intending to choose between one or the other?

"Nine–"

"Save it," Nine says, cutting him off. "It doesn't matter anymore. Sonic made his choice, but you still have that chance."

Nine turns back to Tails and holds out a hand.

Tails looks down, then back up at Nine. He hesitates for a second, but ultimately takes Nine's hand.

Tails is an observer, a spectator without form, as memories begin to play out before him in quick succession. Despite the lack of form, somehow his head begins to ache in pain that only grows over the moments.

And then, he begins to notice a pattern in the memories shown to him. Despite the pain, he recognizes the clear shift since a certain blue hedgehog—Sonic, of course—saves Nine from being hit by a train.

Each and every memory, if Sonic wasn't centered or mentioned in it, then his palpable absense was the focal point. Nine fought him, he worked with him, he almost lost him, he thought he lost him, and then he fought him again.

Nine had spent most of his life lonely, though he hadn't realized that until his life was almost over.

A waterfall of emotions hit him then, just before the highlight reel crackles into black.

And then, Tails is standing beside Nine again, head pulsing and heart pounding. He can hardly remember what he's just seen, and that waterfall of emotions seeps through his fingers as he tries to catch them, to study them.

All he knows is that he understands. Somehow, he understands why Nine feels the way he does. Now, more than before, he understands why Nine is hung up on Sonic the way he is.

Perhaps, Tails thinks, he understands how it feels for Nine to be with Sonic (and without him) far more than anyone else.

Tails musters up a look of determination as he stares into Nine's eyes, and he squeezes his hand. "I'll figure it out. No matter how long it takes, I'll make sure you—you, and Sails, and Mangey, and the rest—can walk along the beach. You don't deserve to sit here and watch like this. None of you deserved to have your lives taken."

And Nine... Nine smiles, like he just can't help it. "Don't you see? That's why it has to be you."

There's a feeling, an almost indescribable feeling, that strikes Tails' heart at that.

"I promise," Tails says.

And then, he’s sitting up in his bed, breathing deeply.

As he makes himself get up, get ready, and rush into his lab, there's little he remembers from his dream as always.

But he knows what he has to do.

I'll make sure of it, Nine.

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

Sonine Prime ... Part 4

Hi, everyone and welcome back to Sonine Prime! The part of the show when I come out and talk about Sonine (and a bit of Sontails) in Sonic Prime!

Last time we managed to just start Episode 3 of Sonic Prime, so let's get to rollin!

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(Essay/thoughts/analysis under the cut)

<< Part 3 | Part 5 >>

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Okay, so because I can't leave the small stuff alone for the life of me, I bid you all to watch the scene in Episode 3 after Nine saves Sonic from Rusty Rose. For your viewing pleasure, I have slowed this clip down so you all can see Nine's sneaky smile that slips through as he shows off to Sonic.

Couldda just saved Sonic and been done with it OR gone straight to the grumpy "I saved your butt. Your welcome", but instead he just had to show off and do a lil smile in front of the hedgehog you barely know. Okay.

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Next, introductions!

Or so Sonic attempts.

So far, since their battle, Sonic has been really good at calling Nine by his name. He's still hung up on the theory that Robotnik messed up Green Hill and all his friends lost memory of him, so his wish to fall back into "the norm" as quickly as possible comes to head again after the group hug he forces Rebel, Renegade, Nine, and Rusty Rose into.

In this case, Sonic (again, believing everyone just doesn't remember who they are), introduces Nine as the "trusty but benign Tails", which (understandably so) leads to Nine uh...reminding him otherwise

"Nine! It's Nine. The emphasis is on the Nine!"

Of course, combined with the group hug, the crew is none too happy with Sonic after "introductions", but I didn't so much bring this scene up for that so much as...well. Way to add another moment to the roster that Nine will be referencing in the future when he believes you don't care about him as Nine, Sonic! (sarcastic)

(And yes, I'm aware that Sonic couldn't have forseen this. Just logging the moment for the breakup for later)

Sidenote: It’s almost hilarious/embarrassing how Nine's still going to attach to Sonic as hard as he does later, even with all the points he keeps losing referring to him/others by the wrong names or as "messed up you guys"

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Okay, moving on.

I'm...obsessed with the part of the Deep vs the crew fight scene where Nine attempts to save Sonic, ends up functioning as a diversion leading Deep away from Sonic (after shooting an eggforcer) and snatched, then Sonic quickly jumps to punch the eggforcers that have Nine to save him, and then finally, after getting some good hits in on Dr. Dreep Sonic says "thanks for the save!" with a wink.

"High five!"

"High...five?"

Again, a small thing I know, I know

It's just another one of those things that gives me second hand embarrassment. He just learned what a high five is, and is casually touched by this hedgehog he still barely knows, and he looks, what? Touched? After it throws him off he like, files it away in his brain for later.

What? You wanna high five him again, fox boy?

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Ajnansj I didn't really mention this last part, but I don't think we talk enough about how excited Nine got when he thought Sonic implied that the two of them used to kick the Chaos Council's butts on the regular (back in Episode 1). Why am I bringing this up? Because if you watch the part of this scene where Sonic tells Renegade Knucks that he needs to learn how to spin dash, you can see Nine's little excited face as Sonic launches.

It's the little things, guys🥺

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Bit hard to get a good shot of, but Nine's smile when Sonic comes back after fighting Dr. Babble.

"Sonic! We didn't think you'd make it back!"

"...Are you okay?"

He's so glad that Sonic came back, but then quickly notices that Sonic isn't doing so hot (after his very real ptsd induced flashbacks) and is the only one to ask about it.

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Ahshsjsj so uh I'm not really sure whether to label this as sad or hilarious. This is mostly because from Sonic's end, he's trying not to break down. He's just had flashbacks to how he felt when he thought his friends were in danger within the mountain and is feeling like things are repeating again (and, for the record, he doesn't yet remember what happened to his friends), and now Mr. Dr. Eggman has taken Rebel, Renegade, and Rusty Rose right in front of him (while Sonic believes these are his original friends) and told Sonic "step away from the core or your friends are toast". He throws himself at the door to immediately try to pry it open.

And Nine just cuts in between Sonic and the door, puts his hands on Sonic's chest (😂), and tries to convince him to give up on his friends and go for the shard.

But that's not all.

While it's a very very small version of a specific phenomenon (which I may elaborate on at a later part), this moment is one where they each sort of project an idea of how the other should be and become confused/disappointed/sad when the other's actions don't line up.

I'll put it into perspective.

For Sonic, he projects this idea onto Nine of a person who would prioritize saving people, caring for others, even though he also considers Nine as "a little rough around the edges". So, in this case, when Nine runs to the prism shard after trying to convince him to leave his friends, Sonic looks almost...sad, and then looks to the door, silent in making his choice.

And then as for Nine, I think he was at least partly drawn to Sonic due to his care for the innocent and his willingness to put himself in danger for others. He'd once said "No one has friends here" and yet he was surprised by the existence of a hedgehog who'd care for and save people, even if he had to put his life on the line to do so (the kind of person he'd never met as a kid, but who may have protected him if he had met him). He likes that Sonic cares about him and his well-being, but he also finds himself disappointed or annoyed if Sonic displays these traits towards others. He came to like him because of his caring nature, and yet as Sonic must live up to it, Sonic must also be focused on Nine's goals.

This is all to say, that Sonic likes Nine as he thinks he is, and yet has a hard time handling when Nine places goals/missions over the well-being of others, and Nine likes Sonic as he thinks he is, yet has a hard time handling when Sonic places others over the goals/missions he thinks they share.

But as I said, I'll likely elaborate more at a later point. After all, this phenomenon will come back when the audience is introduced to the Grim.

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And so, our duo finally reaches the red shard!

But, as Sonic witnesses it, flashbacks/clips of the events leading up to the shattering play out onscreen. Strangely enough, only one other voice aside from Sonic's can be heard in the background.

Tails'

"We don't know what the prism is capable of."

...

"Be careful!"

Then, just after Sonic says "I remember now", remembering what happened to his friends and that he shattered the prism:

"Sonic!"

Even though Sonic remembers that all his friends had tried to warn him before he'd shattered the prism, the group "Sonic nooo!" is absent in audio. It's only Tails' voice that ever joins Sonic's during these flashbacks.

Interesting, isn't it?

Anyways, as Sonic grapples with this new knowledge, Nine focuses on the fact that there are more shards out there. Frustrated, Nine tells Sonic that they need to grab the shard and go, then sort out everything else later.

"Right. I broke it, but we can fix this! If there's anyone who's got the brains to put it all back together, it's you."

"That's the first thing you've said that I agree with."

Agh the looks man the looks

Then, the two turn towards the prism shard, and after Sonic places his hand upon the prism, the two begin to panic as Sonic is sucked in.

Nine: Sonic? What's happening?

Sonic: Nine? Nine?!

Nine: Sonic! Sonic, where are you? Sonic! Sonic?

Nine: ...Sonic?

Sonic himself is fighting to stay, not understanding what's happening. Nine also panics. He looks like he's almost about to reach for him, but his hand falters before he turns around to look behind him (where Mr. Dr. Eggman is prying the doors open). Just as Nine turns back, Sonic is sucked into the prism and Nine reaches for him, calling his name, but his hand closes around nothing.

The end of Sonic Prime episode 3 is framed very interestingly. While later in the series we will see a sped up version of these events, with Nine taking the shard just after Sonic is sucked into it, the end of this episode is more prolongued. After Nine's hand closes around nothing and Sonic is gone, Nine continues to call his name. Then, as he pauses, the video shrinks until it fades into black. Nine says Sonic's name one last time, video gone, before the episode ends.

You'd almost say that this ending focuses on how alone Nine is, wouldn't you? He'd finally had someone, the one person who'd care for him, protect him in turn, believe in him, put his life on the line for him, and the one person he's grown to care for over this short amount of time. But then, he disappears.

And Nine is all alone again.

And how will Nine react when he's alone again? Go back to the way things were before? Forget about Sonic?

No, of course not. He does completely heterosexual things when he arrives in the perfect world to finally build his ideal home (sarcasm) by creating things for his new hedgehog friend whom he wants to spend his life with.

But in any case, the ending of this episode has always been a bit chilling to me. It's the only one I can remember that ends this way. And it, again, says so so much that Nine had reached so desperately for Sonic after Sonic got sucked into the prism, called for him, with the episode direction telling the audience that with Sonic gone, he's alone.

And so ends Episode 3 of Season 1, leading us to the beginning of Season 1 Episode 4: Unwelcome to the Jungle.

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As Sonic enters Boscage Maze for the first time, we receive an interesting parallel from Episode 1.

Episode 1: "Tails? Amy? ...Heck I'll even take Knuckles at this point."

Episdode 4: "Nine? Niiiine! Are ya out there buddy? Rebel? Heck, I'd even take Knucks at this point."

Also, I uh. It just kills the old man (me) a little thinking about how after Sonic got transported through the crystal, Sonic and Nine called for each other.

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As I've hit the photo limit once again, I'll see you all back in Part 5! There shouldn't be too many moments between now and episode 6, so I hope to move through most of the rest of s1 in the next part or two if I can. Thanks for reading!

[kisaki-yazmin-motou]

Como me ha encanto pero al mismo tiempo dolido.

Imaginar a Metal con todos esos conflictos, sobre todo aquellos que tienen que ver con Tails es doloroso. Me hace preguntarme si alguien se ha dado cuenta que Metal evita a toda costa lastiamar a Tails, bien puede ser Sonic que tambien lo encuentra extraño y bastante sospechoso pero no ha dicho nada porque nada malo ha pasado con eso.

Luego tenemos a Tails que despues de ese momento donde convivio con Metal, el tambien se da cuenta de ciertos detalles. No sabe que hacer con eso, no sabe porque sucede pero ahora entiende a su hermano de darle a Metal una oportunidad.

Pero ¿Y si Eggman contruye a Metal Tails? ¿Que pasaria?

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