My Caring Evil Twin

Chapter Nine

"The reason I kept Fleetway a secret is because..." Sonic had trouble finding the right words to explain this. Never in his life would he ever think about what to say if anyone found out about Fleetway, but that was because he didn't think anyone would find out. Now that Shadow had known about him Sonic had no words. He scraped his shoe into the dirt and tried to figure out his real reason.
"Sonic?" Shadow had interrupted Sonic's thoughts.
"I'm sorry! G-give me a minute," He turned around and started rubbing his temples with one hand. Then something turned up in his mind and he turned back around to Shadow. "It's because...everyone thinks I'm perfect."
-Shadow narrowed his eyes and snorted. "I don't."
"Well I didn't ask!" Sonic snapped. He shook his head and continued. "You know how everyone looks up to me. They think 'Oh my gosh! It's our great hero!'" He sighed and put his left hand on the side of his head. "They never once questioned me, and think about what would happen if I told them that I had an invisible twin that no one can see, hear, or touch. Do you think they would believe me?"
-Shadow shook his head. "They would think you're crazy."
"Exactly, and that's why I can't tell them. They would think I needed mental help or something. Even if I were to prove it with the facts you have, they would never look at me the same way again."
-Shadow was silent. Fleetway stood up and set his hand back down on his side, his gaze was emotionless. He sighed and walked over to Sonic. "You just assume that would be the turn of events?" He sneered. "Both Knuckles and Tails know what I look like even if they've never really seen me. They should be able to believe you!"
"It's not like that," Sonic spoke as calmly as he could in Fleetway's angry expression. "You heard Tails before, he thinks you're just a form I have."
"But his thoughts can change!" Fleetway yelled. He tightened his fists and closed his eyes. "No...you don't even care!"
"Fleetway," Sonic grabbed Fleetway's hand. "Of course I do."
-Fleetway pulled his hand away from him. "You only started caring after the stupid mistake you made! How do I know you won't go back to treating me like shit once my back has healed!?"
"I'm not going to do that!" Sonic reassured but Fleetway's expression didn't change.
"Of course you will!" He retorted. "You still haven't explained the real reason for hating me and you don't plan to, do you!?"
-Sonic shook his head and crossed his arms. "Are you still holding on to this!? I already told you!"
"No, you haven't! You can't even fess up and tell me, your own brother the truth!" He turned around and flew away from Sonic.
"Fleetway, wait!" Sonic started running and then stopped as he watched Fleetway disappear into the horizon. Sonic ears drooped as he put his hands on his face. I'm sorry, Fleetway! Please come back! He pleaded, but he heard no sign of him coming back. He fell onto his knees and dug his fingers into the dirt. Please... He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Shadow.
"I'll help you find him," He offered. "This is my fault anyway."
-Sonic stood back up and hugged his chest. "No, it's not your fault. I made him suffer for years since we were born. I don't know what he means when he saying I didn't tell him the truth, but I guess I need to dig deep down and find it," He looked at Shadow and grined. "Thank you, though. It would make me feel better to have someone with me for Fleetway."
-Shadow nodded and started walking. "I'll start looking while you go talk to Tails."
-Sonic perked his ears. "What? But I need to find Fleetway. I don't have time to talk to him about Eggman."
"Not about Eggman," Was all Shadow said before he vanished out of thin air, leaving blue particles to slowly disintegrate.
-Sonic stood there in silence, thinking about what Shadow had just said. He told himself he didn't know what he meant, but he did. 'But would Tails believe Sonic?' was the real question. Not wanting to waste anymore time he activated his super speed and ran towards Tails' house.

-Tails' front door was already opened so Sonic just walked in. He started looking around. "Tails? I need to talk to you!" He looked at the door that led into Tails' workshop and walked in. Tails was in there on his computer with the light blue Chaos Emerald in a capsule that was connected to the computer. Sonic walked to him and cleared his throat. "Tails?"
-Tails turned around immediately and smiled. "I knew you'd come, and just in time, too! I just figured out Eggman's plans!"
"That's nice, Tails, but I---"
-Tails had removed the Chaos Emerald from the capsule and started talking. "Eggman has been hiring other bad guys to find the seven Chaos Emeralds for him."
"Right, but Tails---"
"Sally, Nicole, and I have just hacked into Eggman's private files and figured out what he plans on doing!"
"But Tails, I---"
"And this is going to be bad but it's nothing we can't handle, right? So, what Eggman plans to do is---"
"Will you let me talk!?" Sonic yelled.
-Tails eyes widened as his ears flattened. He turned red and put the Chaos Emerald back. "I'm so sorry! I just got excited since we would be going on another adventure."
"It's quite all right," Sonic assured. "But that's not the reason I'm here."
-Tails' ears perked as he looked at Sonic confusingly. "Then why are you here?"
-Sonic inhaled and sighed deeply, figuring out how to tell him. "Have you ever done something so stupid that it hurts others including yourself?"
"I got Cosmo killed, remember?" Tails reminded.
"R-right," Sonic coughed and continued. "I haven't been...completely honest to you...or everyone else for years."
"What do you mean?"
-Sonic looked at Tails' shelf and he did the same. "You remember the floating paper?"
"Yeah?"
"Well...it wasn't a ghost."
-Tails looked at Sonic while his eyes narrowed. "Then what was it?"
-Sonic gulped as he looked down at his shoes. Will he even believe me? He asked himself. He sighed and hugged his chest again as he looked into Tails' eyes. "I...I have a brother."
"I know you have a brother," Tails reminded.
"No, not Manic. It's someone else."
"So, you're not a triplet...you're a quadruplet?"
"What? No!" Sonic scratched the side of his head. "Okay sooo...he was um...formed when I was born."
"Formed?" Tails questioned.
"Yeah it's complicated. But you know that sketch of my form you had?" Tails nodded. "Well...he's not just a form."
"I'm sorry Sonic but can you hurry this up?" Tails pleaded.
"Sure," Sonic shifted the weight of his feet and cuffed his hands in front of him. "Fleetway is not my form, he's my brother. My twin brother," He corrected.
"What?" Tails looked unconvinced. "But you would turn into him."
"That's because he takes over my body to save me from death."
-Tails narrowed one eye and crossed his arms. "Where was he when Mephiles killed you twelve years ago?"
"He didn't know!" Sonic retorted. "Mephiles came out of nowhere and Fleetway couldn't get to me in time. Just be glad I was brought back to life, and he was, too," He then sighed and shook his head. "Look, I'm the only one that can see, hear, and touch Fleetway. He can touch any solid object, but other living beings he just phases through them."
"If he was here this entire time then why didn't you tell anyone?" Tails pestered. "Or even me? I'm your best friend man."
-Sonic looked down in shame. "I didn't want any of you to think I was crazy. You don't even fully believe me, do you?"
-Tails shrugged his shoulders. "Do you have any more proof?"
-Sonic nodded. "Shadow can see and hear him as well, but he can't touch him."
"How does Shadow see him!?"
"He says Fleetway is made up of so much Chaos energy and Shadow can see that," Sonic explained. "All right, the real reason I'm here is because I need your help. I messed up so bad!" Sonic flattened his ears and closed his eyes while he bared his teeth. "I drove him off! I need him back. Shadow is already looking for him and I need more help finding him," He looked at Tails pleadingly. "Please, Tails you have to believe me! He's my brother and I've been making him suffer for years. I need him just as much as he needs me."
-Sonic waited as Tails went over and grabbed the emerald again. He closed his computer and removed the cord from the capsule. He then set his computer under his arm and walked up to Sonic. "I'll help. Even though I shouldn't be able to see him, right?"
"I'm desperate! Just find Shadow."
-Tails nodded and started walking towards the garage-like door. He pushed a side button and the door lifted up to make an opening. Tails looked back at Sonic one last time before he ran out.
-Sonic stood there for a few seconds before he ran out with his super speed in pursuit of Fleetway. He ran into the woods when in came in sight and dodged every branch that almost hit him. Once he was out he ran towards the city and continued to look. If you can hear me, Fleetway, I just want to know if you're okay and that I'm so sorry! I'm not going to stop until I find you, brother.