New Beginnings

Chapter 21 - Paradox

"Aw, man..."

With a deep sigh Sonic tapped his foot, alternating between pacing around and staring into the distance as Tails hummed sympathetically next to him. The speedster had had good hope when everyone began scouring their own specific part of the village and surrounding areas, but when he and the fox cub plus all of their friends came back empty-handed and with not a Chao in sight he felt himself grow increasingly desolate as well. Cream was inconsolable, desperately sobbing into Vanilla's skirts as she and Amy tried to comfort the little rabbit, and the others were worriedly talking among themselves or pacing around also. The only one who hadn't come back were Silver and Espio, and next to his concern about Cheese and Chocola Sonic felt worry for the two swirl around in his chest as well. The disappeared Chao were one problem, if they had to look for the hedgehog who'd ran away and the chameleon who'd blindly followed on top of the crisis they'd found themselves in already, they'd be in a whole lotta more trouble.

"Espio and Silver are taking long," Tails noted worriedly as he tapped away on his Miles Electric still, eyes drifting over to the wayward piece of forest just as often as Sonic's had. "I... Should we go look for them?"

Though he himself had considered that proposition more often than once in the time they had been waiting the speedster slowly shook his head. "...Let's give it another minute. If Espio hadn't found Silver by now he'd have come back here already... I think." With a deep frown Sonic realised he actually wasn't all that sure of his statement; Espio seemed to adore the hedgehog far too much to even dare consider leaving him on his own somewhere, especially if that place was potentially unsafe or Silver was at risk of getting lost.

"Then we will wait some more, if you think they'll get back here on their own," the fox cub agreed quietly, and Sonic shot him a comforting smile as the other merely sighed. "I- We need to come up with another plan to find the Chao anyway, since this was a dud."

"Well, you don't know what Espio and Silver might come back with-"

"If they come back."

Rolling his eyes at the grumpy blue gaze staring up at him Sonic sighed deeply, crossing his arms. "Dude, they will. Don't be so negative."

Based on how Tails' eyes narrowed just the tiniest bit the blue hedgehog could conclude that the other did not agree, but his little brother did not pursue the topic further. "Let's hope so," Tails murmured instead, namesakes flicking. "But... Silver."

"Yes, Silver," Sonic repeated, curiously regarding him and ignoring the slight twinge of pain in the leg that said hedgehog had planted his boot into by accident as he attempted to attack Knuckles. The speedster knew the young genius did not like the wary psychic much, like most of his other friends... Their clumsy and aggression-filled interactions with each other during their adventure had ensured of that, so what would the fox wish to discuss about him?

With a huff Tails flicked his ruffled namesakes. "You said you'd explain just what's up with him, and we've got some time now. Let's hear it."

His ear perking up as he sensed an opportunity for mischief the hedgehog smiled brightly, wriggling his fingers through the air for extra dramatic effect. "Okay, well, Silver came from the future to stop the world from getting destrOOOoooOOOyed-" With a laugh at the very incredulous look that formed on Tails' face immediately following his statement Sonic reached out to ruffle the other's bangs. "Hey, you're the one who asked, little bro! And it is true!"

"I was expecting a bit more of an epic tale with lots of silly irrelevant details for coolness, like you usually have no problem with telling," the fox retorted, quickly escaping Sonic's touch and smoothing out his fur indignantly. "So, a time traveller? Are you sure?"