Tails Adventure CD

Chapter 1

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update. My editor's internet died for a few days, so she was unable to edit it. We should be good now, though.

It feels like it's been quite a while since Tails set out to explore Little Planet. Three, four hours maybe? Yet, she hasn't found anything. The Time Stones must be hidden away really well if it's taking her this long to find them! She'd understand if they were the Chaos Emeralds, they usually get sent all over the world; but here, it's not as big as Mobius. Yet here she is, exploring some cave system she found.

To say she felt nervous would be an understatement. She felt really anxious here. All she had was a lantern she brought with her and her tablet to try and see if the stones provided any feedback with their power alone. She really wasn't one to try and explore ruins or the like, unless they had some pretty neat tech, like during her trip to Scrapnik Island. While she did wish it was under better circumstances, along with wishing there wasn't conflict between Sonic and Mecha, she really did enjoy her time there, exploring what the bots there used as a home. It was nice.

Unlike here, where there wasn't much in terms of technological advances from past civilizations. It was just dark and kind of eerie, like something might jump out at her if she takes a wrong turn. Yet, she proceeded forward, determined to find anything that may prove useful to her. If not the Time Stones, surely SOMETHING is here, since the cave seemed a lot deeper than she realized. Hopefully she'd be able to find her way back. Then, she heard a sound. A strangely familiar sound, but one that still made her uneasy. A sort of humming sound, kind of like the sound of a lightbulb. Curiosity overtook her as she came closer to the sound, trying to remain hidden.

Turning a corner, but staying behind it, she saw...fireflies? No, not just any fireflies, badniks! What were these ones called again? Oh, right. Hotaru. What were badniks doing down here in this cave? Last she saw these badniks was back when Robotnik was messing with the Phantom Ruby for the first time. Perhaps she should destroy them? They could be a threat if kept around, like every other badnik that exists. She continues to watch them, however, thinking back to Scrapnik Island. The badniks there were able to find some peace of mind, hanging out on the Death Egg and they seemed very happy. Perhaps it's the same here?

She continues to watch them, there being no more than maybe ten of them here. They don't even seem to be harming anything. Does she confront them? Maybe leave them be? She ponders a bit more...screw it. She cautiously comes out from hiding, slowly walking up to the badniks in question. Almost immediately as she makes a sound, they all turn to look at her. They ready themselves to fight, charging up their bulbs to fire. She holds her hands up.

"H-hey, it's okay, I'm not here to harm anyone...!" Things go quiet, except for the humming of their charging bulbs. After a moment of no one saying anything and no one moving, they stop charging, seeming to go back to flying around a certain area.

She sighs in relief. Maybe badniks CAN change for the better. Hell, she even noticed it here. They didn't seem to want to attack because they recognized her, it seemed more... a sort of defense? Least that's what she thought. Still with a cautious mindset, she slowly goes up to them, trying to see what they are flying around. When she gets close enough, she sees another Hotaru. How did she not notice this one? It seems almost broken down. Its bulb was shattered, and it was lying on the ground, seemingly distressed. Did it fall and hurt itself? Curious, she gets a bit closer, the other badniks watching her with interest. "Is... this why you guys are on the defense? You don't want this one getting more damaged...?" She chuckles a little. Guess her theory was right. Badniks can have a change of heart.

She carefully picks it up, inspecting the shattered bulb and glass around it. "Here, I'll help you guys. It should be an easy fix." She sighs, knowing that if she fixes it, she likely will have to find her way back in the dark. Which wouldn't be too bad, since she can see well in the dark. She just prefers to stick to the light. That doesn't matter, though, since she feels that she has to help these badniks out. 

With careful tinkering, she begins deconstruction on her lantern, knowing it'll be a pain to try and match the other bulbs. So hopefully the one she's fixing won't mind a little change, as long as it works. She takes the bulb out of the lantern and removes the bulb from the broken Hotaru. After more careful tinkering, the new bulb is set in place.

And just like that, the new bulb turns on, a bit brighter than the rest, but it still works! The Hotaru flies out of her hands, excited with its new light, and seems to nuzzle into Tails' cheek, as do the other badniks as they surround the one Hotaru, the feeling of satisfaction on all of them. "H... haha... I'm glad you like it, buddy!" She did it. She was able to help someone else by herself! And not once did Sonic even cross her mind! It was all on her own.

Satisfied with herself, she gets up. "Well, it was nice meeting you all. You better be careful, okay?" She politely waves goodbye as she begins making her journey out of the cave. She may not have been able to find a Time Stone this time, but she smiles anyway, knowing she helped someone in need.

Though, it seems the one she helped doesn't feel satisfied, as it lightly rams into her back. She turns around, confused. Maybe it doesn't actually like the bulb? What else could it need? It lightly bumps into her again, turning around and flying to the others. The badniks then form an arrow shape, pointing further down the cave. "You... want me to go down there?" The one she fixed seems happy with that as it begins flying down the cave, the others staying behind.

"Oh, w-wait up!" She chased after the badnik. Is this maybe some sort of trick? They aren't going to ambush her, or get her lost, right? Anxiety fills her thoughts as she follows anyways, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Then, her tablet begins to beep. A signal?? Is the Hotaru...trying to help her find a Time Stone? Picking up the pace, she begins to catch up. The device begins to beep more quickly as she gets further in. 

Then, suddenly, she enters an opening, light shining through the roof of this part of the cavern. She could only look on in amazement. It was a giant opening in the cavern coming down into an equally massive space, and in the middle was a body of water as big as a small lake. Her awe for this area didn't last long, as she noticed the Hotaru floating above a portion of the water, her device beeping as fast as it could go.

She flies over to the Hotaru, looking down, something shining in the clear water. Taking a deep breath, she dives into the water, swimming all the way down. The water, being as deep as it apparently is, still felt refreshing, even if she did have to worry about air. Eventually, she makes it to the bottom, grabbing the shining stone before quickly swimming back up. Once she makes it to the surface she gasps for air, immediately swimming back to the rocky land.

She gets out and lies on the surface for a bit before pulling her tablet out and silencing its beeps. After catching her breath fully, she sits up, looking at the stone. There it is. A Time Stone. She actually found one. She smiles, filled with glee. She actually freakin' did it! "Thank you, buddy. I really appreciate your help!" She joyfully says to the Hotaru, which makes a happy sounding chime before nuzzling her cheek and making its way back to its friends.

Well, it may have taken forever, and her trip to this cave could've been made shorter if she found this hole in the ceiling first, but she doesn't regret it. She found a Time Stone, and found some friendly badniks. She doesn't regret it at all. Well, that's a lie. She's soaked. She grumbles to herself, "I guess I better get back to my plane to dry off." With that, she shakes her fur out, gathers her belongings and the Time Stone, and flies out through the hole. Today is still a good start in her book.