The Feral Virus

Recovery

Tails was still in pain, even after a whole day, causing a big delay. Blaze got worried at the long wait, so she had a plan. She was going to carry him and carefully put him on a plank she found, allowing him to rest better.

When she placed him, his body got a huge sting from the tail's pain, causing him to curl and shake while covering his mouth so he doesn't yell again, releasing a tear. "Oh, I'm sorry... I'm trying to help, but-", Blaze said, hoping Tails would understand, and he quickly did. "I know-aah! It's just that *muffled cry* I don't know what to do. I've never been this hu- ah-hurt.", said Tails, trying to control his emotions. "Go... go without me... I'll re-ow-recover and get there... try to build a plane or a raft with these items...", he said while giving her his items, but she rejected.

"I am not abandoning you. No matter what, I do not leave someone behind.", Blaze said, slightly mad at his request. "But this is urgent...", said Tails, begging Blaze to leave the island. "Here, take this... this should help us communicate.", he said as he gave his second walkie-talkie to her. "As a princess from the Sol Dimension, I will not accept your idea.", she said, feeling frustrated, but Tails was persistent on the idea, and she knew he would be stubborn on that, so she agreed and left to try to build it. As she was building a raft (a plane was too complex), she had her head down in shame and anger for leaving him. "I can't believe I've abandoned someone over a stupid virus...", she said to herself while walking.

After about 2 hours, she finished a raft to ride it and leave, and was about to say goodbye, until she decided to not use the raft yet and go back to Tails. When she went back, she saw Tails stand up and use a hammock-like object he used for his tail that connected to his neck, like a scarf, letting it rest. "Tails, you doing better?", said Blaze, hoping he'll say yes. "Eh. Still hurts, but I should be fine now. Are you ready? I thought you left.", said Tails in confusion, only for her to say no.

Once she told him where the raft was, they jumped in and headed to the island.

"Say, why didn't you- let me guess, you were thinking about it and denied my idea, didn't you?", asked Tails, looking frustrated, only for Blaze to nod while looking at the sea, hoping to find the island.

"Blaze, why are you not looking at me?", he said, moving his hand in front of her face, and she had an angry expression. "Listen, you could've-!", Tails was starting to yell when Blaze exploded in anger, "I KNOW! I just came back because... *exhale* sorry.... I've been seeing you more as a friend than an acquaintance ever since the beginning of our little adventure. Honestly, I hope our friendship grows as time goes on, instead of seeing you as a random person that follows Sonic.", she sat down next to him and smiled while looking at him.

"Sorry I got angry. My emotions have been all over the place recently.", said Tails in shame, onlu for Blaze to lift his head. "It's OK, I get it. I bet it's all overwhelming for you, but now we are fixing this together, and we'll bring Silver along for the ride.", "But how are we supposed to team up? He is a hedgehog, and I can attack him. What do we do?", asked Tails, worried. "I have a little thing here...", Blaze said, as she showed it to Tails.

It looked like a badge. "It said something about identities. Maybe this can help.", she said, which Tails was surprised she even got it in the first place. "Did you sneak inside and steal my stuff? Are you Rouge or something?... just messing.", said Tails, first angry, but then closing one of his eyes and lightly hitting her in the arm with his elbow. "Anyways, that changes the look of someone by saying "Change to blank". Pretty cool, huh?", said Tails, glad that problem was fixed.

After a while of paddling, they got tired and sat to talk again. "So, how did you get infected in the first place, Blaze?", asked Tails in curiosity. "I got infected by someone going full animal and scraping my back. I still have a scar of that. What about you?", asked Blaze, wanting to know about his past. "*sigh* I was a guinea pig for Eggman to test it, but Sonic saved me before it was too late, only for it to partially affect me...", said Tails, hesitant on saying it, but trusting her.

"Oh look, Tails! Is that the island?", she asked, as she pointed to a rocky island with grass. Tails nodded with a smile, and they traveled to it, and climbed it to reach the surface. "Where could he be?", asked Tails. "Umm... maybe that giant floating Emerald structure?", said Blaze, knowing the answer was somewhat obvious, making Tails bend his body forward in slight shame. As they traveled, they saw nothing that could be dangerous. They rail grinded up, but Blaze was somewhat losing balance, since she lost some skill, but Tails held her hand to help her.

After finishing all the grinding, they reached the top, and they were correct as they saw Silver.