Chapter XVII: The Showdown

Tails picked up his gear and headed out the door after kissing Kara good-bye, his trip would take about an hour, but he'd make it there before sun up. The scenery changed from the city, to the forest, finally to the desert. The spot he found was littered with large rocks and boulders, where the same cloaked figure was sitting on a large stone at a set of rocks that were put together like a table...

"You're early...why not have a seat?"

Tails sat down and lay Requiem on the larger stone in front of him...

"It's good to finally see you Miles..."

"Don't...don't you dare try to make this pleasant...you threatened Kara..." Tails said giving Nox a murderous look.

"I see my ploy worked too well...I could assure you, I had no intention of going though with it...it was just to get you here I know you have the same anger problem I have." Nox said.

"Why are you doing this Nox?"

Nox pulled the hood off of his head, "Which of us is the side effect Miles? One of us was never meant to be..."

"Nox...that's insane."

"Sticks and stones Miles...Sticks and stones..."

Tails sighed, "That's not the case...you're hurting innocent people."

"And this is unfair how?" Nox's disposition seemed to be growing more erratic by the moment, "Should I be the only to suffer? You have no idea what it's like to go though your entire life as nothing...no more than an enigmatic shell of what you should be...I already know the answer Miles...your strength was never meant to be, your entire existence is no more than a byproduct of what ill conceived freak show created me. You're the true nothing here..."

Miles laughed, he'd never heard anything so stupid in all his life...but Espio did explain to him that he was never meant to have the twin that was created by the experiment, "So this was your only point in bringing me out here?...to try and kill me so you can prove that you're stronger than me...I gotta hand it to ya that's...no less than the most absolutely moronic thing I have ever heard. Even if you could beat me in a fair fight, it won't prove a thing...all the end of the fight would prove is that you're dead and I'm not."

This time Nox laughed, "So cocky..." He said pulling a rather large revolver from beneath his cloak and laying it on the large stone before them.

Tails could already see it in Nox's eyes, in his mind the fight had already started, in an instant hundreds of scenarios rushed though Tails's mind. He could see the outcomes as well but...only one clung to the back of his mind...If I loose, what happens to Kara? However his thoughts were cut short, Nox had hoped to catch Tails unaware but, in unison the two kicked off the stone with their weapons in hand. As the two both landed from their jump Tails let off several rounds from Requiem, he decided that his best chances of beating Nox was to wear out whatever ability had blocked his shot back on the ship. All four rounds were stopped in place and fell to the sand, but as Nox lifted the cannon in his left paw Tails switched Requiem into single shot and fired. The bullet's course was as clean as any Tails had ever fired tearing through the barrel of his estranged brother's gun forcing it from his hands. Unfortunately Nox smiled as he dropped the cloak that hid his body from Tails's veiw, the black leather vest beneath housed six individual holsters each holding one of the large revolvers, not to mention the two pistols on his hips, and whatever other weapons he may have been hiding. With a lightning like motion two of the weapons left their holsters, their shots sounded off like explosions of a higher degree than Tails had ever heard come from any kind of handgun...though the shot from the right gun missed altogether but, the shot from the left seemed to sere the fur from the side of Tails's face...at the feeling of the bullet grazing his face Tails dove behind a nearby boulder...

Tails sat with his back against his massive stone shield listening for Nox...there was nothing, not a single footstep, the attack seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once; the sand beneath Tails's feet began to pick up and swirl about him blocking everything from his sight, suddenly something shot through the strange sandstorm slicing into Tails's arms and legs repeatedly, until he caught the sight of one of the supposed blades...they were tiny stones moving at incredible speeds, Tails finally dove though the sand wall the swirling particles of sand tore small cuts into the flesh beneath his fur...

As soon as Tails was free he looked to his brother's laughing figure, "You can't hide from me Miles...I'm nothing like those other fools you've fought."

By this time Tails was hidden behind another boulder, but the small sandstorm followed forcing him to seek shelter elsewhere; finally fed up with all of this Tails leaped from his cover swinging Requiem towards Nox's location. As soon as Tails aimed his weapon his gaze was met with that of his brother standing in the distance. He lost control of his own arms, he tried to fight it but, Requiem's barrel found it's way shakily under his chin...he could feel his muscles and tried everything to force the weapon away from his chin...just as his finger pulled the trigger Tails managed to pull his head to the side breaking his gaze with Nox's. He instantly snapped his weapon back towards Nox only to realize that the fox was no longer standing there. Black clouds began to form overhead casting an almost chilling shadow over the land as it's mass blocked out the sun...there were no sounds until the rain began to fall, but no matter what, even though the sound of the rain drumming against the sand and stone he couldn't find Nox anywhere...Did he run? Suddenly a set of footsteps rushed on him forcing him to turn his weapon on whoever it was, he nearly collapsed when he saw the vixen that rushed onto him...

"Kara what the fuck are you doing here?!"He shouted in a harsh tone.

"I couldn't let you come out here and get yourself hurt again or killed. I love you Miles...let's just go home." She pleaded hugging him.

She was real, he could feel...but something wasn't right,"GET AWAY FROM ME!!" Tails yelled pushing her away, "You are not Kara...PRETTY FUCKING CHEAP TRICK NOX!! ARE YOU THAT AFRAID OF ME?!"

Kara stood up with an insidious smile on her face as the rain seemed to wash her clothing away like wet paint, "What's the matter Miles? Don't you love me anymore?...don't you want me?"

"You are NOT kARA!!"

The vixen before him quickly melted away into the body of Nox who wore the same insane smirk, "How do you like your graveyard Miles?" He asked stepping forward with his arms outstretched.

Tails lifted Requiem to take aim only to realize he wasn't holding anything, which ushered Nox into a maniacle laugh, "What's so funny?" Tails demanded.

"You...You're so pathetically slow. You thing you're still standing there, holding a weapon...brother we never left that rock, we're still sitting there...what you see now is what I wish you to see. Our minds are merged right now...leveled playing field you might say."

Tails wasn't sure weather or not to believe Nox or not, but, there had to be a reason that Nox was able pull off the little show he just did. As Tails watched Nox, his brother rose his arms toward the sky; the ground began to shake furiously causing Tails to loose his balance, all around the two a massive construct of stone rose from beneath the sand, it was some sort of ancient battle arena, and as he looked on further two swords seemed to fall from the sky landing before the two...

Nox pulled his weapon from the sand and stone, "Nothing special...just you and me, no powers, no guns..."

"Right..." Tails said pulling his sword and studying it, "...fair fight? Then why are we fighting inside our heads?"

"Incentive you could say..." Nox said shrugging his shoulders, "...you see in a few hours it'll be noon...120 plus degrees in the desert...by noon that'll give you what, 10 maybe 20 minutes before we both die?"

"Good then lets get this over with..." Tails replied readying himself.

"I couldn't agree more."

(000)

The two clashed time and time again somehow managing to steer clear of the lethal blade the other held. Several times they managed a nick here or there but, so far no attack seemed to turn the tides and Nox had so far not gone back on his word of keeping powers out of this. Unfortunately Tails had earlier realized that there was more depth to this fight than he had at first thought...his cuts were truly bleeding and he could feel himself getting weaker the more he swung his weapon. As the time passed the two broke away from one another neither of them could tell how long they had been fighting but they could feel the strain of the desert heat on their bodies...after another clash of arms Tails stood studying his opponent; he was winded, his muscles screamed for the mercy of him releasing the weapon, and the heat was nearly unbearable. It wasn't long before Tails's sight began to blur, he was never very accustomed to the heat. Nox seemed to have little trouble adjusting to the heat however...his attacks came just as swift and fierce as before. A long series of attacks toppled Tails to the ground. Tails managed to get to his shaky knees the only things holding him upright at the moment his sword and his own willpower. His gaze was locked on the golden sand that was below him, it was wet with blood that still pooled from a wound he dared not take the time to inspect. He tried his hardest to block the next shot but, his strength was spent, and as his guard fell Nox's knee was driven with a tooth-shattering force into Tails's chin...the defenseless vulpine slid, bounced, and rolled across the sand finally stopping several feet away...

It wasn't until Nox approached his battered other that the blood from a wound on his forehead dripped into his eye half blinding him, he laughed out loud as he wiped the blood away, "I'll have too admit that was a good shot...I never even saw the strike. Looked like your guard had failed. You were just luring me in weren't you?"

Tails almost made it back to his feet before collapsing to the hot sand beneath him, "...but then again you really should have put up a better fight..." Nox said stabbing his sword into the ground so he could better clean the blood from his eye.

Tails struggled to his feet, but his knees gave in and he fell to the ground again...

"You're persistence however is really piSSING ME OFF!!" His voice escellated into a scream as he dashed forward driving his foot into Tails's ribs, leaving both swords where they sat.

Nox slicked back the fur between his ears as he approached Tails who coughed up a large splotch of blood, "You know...I think I've changed my mind about something..."He said picking tails up by the collar of his shirt, "Now that you have really pissed me off...after I'm done with you..." He smiled, "Me and your little bitch...are gonna have one hell of a time." He said slamming a fist into Tails's gut causing blood to fly from his mouth covering Nox's face, "Then I'm gonna make that bitch watch me teat the heart from her chest."

As he heard these words Tails could feel something building up inside of him, to end his life was one thing but to bring in the life of the one he loved was going far over the line. A tear rolled down Tails's face and his breathing began to grow more and more rapid until his body went entirely limp. Nox studied him for a moment...

"Humph...heat finally got to him."

The attack came so fast that he didn't even see it coming, as Tails's foot struck him in the chin with a force he'd never imagined, the impact instantly broke his jaw as he was sent spiraling away bounding across the scoarching sand in the same manner Tails had. Nox stood with a shocked look on his face, his obviously dislocated jawbone dangling open lifelessly. Nox worked the jaw back and forth forcing it to snap into place...

"Miles Miles Miles..." He laughed as he looked to the enraged vulpine, "...I had never guessed you were capable of this."

Tails didn't answer, his eyes were the deep red of blood, the snarl on his face was the bitter glare of death. Something had snapped. Tails waited for nothing darting toward Nox with renewed strength and vigor, Nox was amazed every punch felt as if they were shattering bone and tearing flesh, and every kick seemed to dig into his spirit like a thousand daggers. After a rather rough exchange of attacks Nox was forced to back away to buy himself time to recover; his left eye was swollen shut, his nose was doubtlessly broken, there was a massive amount of blood gushing from a wound atop his head from a rather powerful axe kick, and he wasn't sure but could have sworn his right hand's knuckles were broken. The battered vulpine looked onto his so called brother with a new respect, or was it fear? He somehow managed to stand up after the brutality he'd undergone. Tails rushed in again but, this time his chest was met by a brutally powerful spinning back kick that sent him flying through the air, coming to a rest several feet away on his back. To Nox's surprise the vulpine kicked back up and onto his feet...Tails rushed his brother again, but to Nox's unfortunate luck Tails leaped into the air and upon his decent drove his feet into Nox's knees how let out a horrible scream as his knees inverted in their sockets. As Nox fell forward Tails rocked back onto his shoulder to kick back onto his feet, this time however instead of the ground his feet slammed into Nox's face forcing his body to retreat in the opposite direction and as he landed on his back the crushing blow of Tails's weight landed on his chest...

Nox soon found his neck in an unusually powerful grip as Tails hoisted him into the air, "You should have left her out of this..." Tails's voice finally came. Nox hadn't noticed until now but, Tails had been crying the whole time after he'd threatened Kara.

Nox coughed up a large amount of blood that ran down his chest, "I-I...cough...get it...now. Fa-father...he was right...strength has...has nothing to...do with power."

Tails dropped Nox where he was, "Y-you've got...to end it..."

"No...just leave...leave me and Kara alone. Go home, to hell, anywhere...just go there and leave my life the way it is."

Nox coughed up another spot of blood, "A-after all I-I've done...W-w-why?"

"Despite the fact that you threatened the vixen I love...you are my brother like it or not...neither of us is superior in any way. I just have more to fight for than you do." Tails replied, "Now let me out of this place...or will you kill us both?"

"No...you can go...but you'll never make it out of the dester in time...you'll die before you ever make it home."

"If that's how it has to be..."

Before Tails could realize it he was sitting at the seat he'd started in; he'd never even drawn his weapons but, as he attempted to stand he could feel every injury he'd sustained during the fight. He limped to his gear...it was full of sand, useless...but his determination was still there, as he slowly began to work his way across the blistering desert. He could see Kara so clearly in the distance; she'd come after him. He tried his hardest to rush to her but his battered body wouldn't allow it. As he watched she smiled but, turned and began to run in the other direction, he tried to call her but the heat had robbed him of his voice as well as his sanity...he didn't even have the strength to realize that it had been a mirage. As he finally made it to the edge of the desert his body gave out and he collapsed to the ground. His life began to flash before his eyes as he could feel the cold darkness creep over him, had he realized that it was the icy embrace of death he would have fought it, but anything to get away from the heat, his world finally fell into a bitter chill of darkness...

(000)

Kara wasn't sure where he was but she knew she had to find Tails, she loved him far too much to let him go off and die. Her gear sped across the land, the rushing wind tearing the tears from her face...the sheer thought of finding her love dead made the tears burn the corners of her eyes. Dark clouds began to form overhead as she approached the edge of the forest, she knew he had headed toward the desert...and as she sped out of the woods something caught her eye. Something that stood out of the shadow from the clouds overhead, "MILES!!" She screamed as she saw the battered and bleeding vulpine face down in the sand, his arms sprawled out as if he'd been trying to crawl his way into the woods. She pulled her gear to a stop and rushed to his side, his body was horribly overheated and as far as she could tell he was no longer breathing...

"Miles...?" She called shaking the limp fox, "Miles...please...please wake up..."

Unable to handle the sight of his death, Kara broke down into deep sobs against the fox's chest...he swore he'd come back, that they'd get away from everything, get married...but...but now, there could be none of that. She'd be forced to go on knowing she'd never hear his voice or feel his touch again. The thoughts and memories of their times together only forced her cries to grow stronger as the heavens began to share the grief of her loss, the rains seemingly coming from nowhere. She closed her eyes tight against his chest, praying and hoping that somehow he'd wake up and tell her that everything was going to be okay, that he loved her, anything as long as it was his voice, she didn't care. For a moment she could have sworn he'd moved but, there was nothing, her mind was hysterical, he was dead. As she held him close she heard something...it was faint but, it grew...it was a heartbeat. She refused to open her eyes as she feared that it was all in her mind but, then she felt a hand on the side of her face...

"Hey...what's with...the tears?"

Kara looked away from his chest to see a bloody smile, she was still crying when she threw her arms around his neck knocking him into the muddy ground again. Her sobs left but the tears stayed; neither of them said a word they just held each other, having the comfort of knowing that they were both alive. With her help they two made their way toward their home never for a moment leaving each other's arms. As they walked home Tails smiled, he'd found his meaning in life...and he'd never leaver her side again...

(Now then if I do make a part two if would be along shortly...Tails is my favorite Sonic character if you haven't noticed so chances are pretty high that I'll write part 2. On a lighter note: "I thank all of the readers of this fic for your support to the end...keep reading." SkullFox...HA!!)