Chapter 22: A Fond Farewell

The fox reappeared back outside, on the ground, holding the lamp in his hands, looking a bit dazed. He looked at it and then sighed, shaking his head. He was going to leave soon, and needed to remember Sonic. Then an idea came to him and he made a wish.

"Sonic, are you there?" Tails asked the lamp as he rubbed it.

I am, the scorpion genie said telepathically. What is your command, my Master?

Tails but his bottom lip when Sonic called him that. "Sonic, you don't have to call me that."

But I do; you are my Master. Anyways, what is it you want? I assume you want to make a wish?

Tails sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I wish..." He bit his bottom lip before continuing. "...that there was a replica of your lamp at our workshop, so...it could always remind me of you."

Your wish is my command.

A few minutes later, a lamp like the one Tails was holding appeared on the ground. Tails smiled. He didn't need any more wishes. But it was always best to keep them...just in case he needed to use any of them. Tails sighed since he was going to be leaving this world, he needed someone to take care of Sonic, and he knew just the person. But first, he had to make two more wishes, and he knew which ones to make. He rubbed the lamp and heard Sonic's voice.

What is your bidding, Master? The scorpion genie asked.

Tails took in a deep shuddering breath, not wanting to let his big brother go and spoke, "I wish...for your lamp to be a gateway between here and Earth, that way when I'm on Earth you can visit me from the replica lamp."

Your wish is granted. Anything else?

Tails paused and thought before speaking again, but he had tears in his eyes as he spoke, "I wish for you to be...h...happy here with your new l...life as a genie."

A few minutes passed, and Sonic spoke. Your wish is my command. Since you have used up all three wishes, you are no longer my Master.

The fox nodded. Then he walked towards the Evil Foundry Once he got there, he saw the Ifrit Golem and walked up to it.

"Tails," it said. "What are you doing here?"

He handed it the lamp. "Here Sh...Shadow. You be Sonic's new Master." He held the lamp out to Ifrit; who stared at the lamp in bewilderment and then at the young fox. "I...I thought you'd be a great Master for Sonic as you don't like revenge anymore and your good. Also I know you'd treat him better than Mephiles did."

The Ifrit nodded and took the lamp. It rubbed the object and looked at Tails. "Thank you," it said. "I promise I'll be a good Master to him. Now...you and Knuckles need a way home?" Tails nodded, and the Ifrit turned back into Shadow, still a ghost, and brought out the World Rings. "I can get you two home using these."

Tails nodded his head, solemnly and silently. A few minutes later, Knuckles came in. He had been following Tails to the Foundry. "Finally, we're going home! I can't take it any longer in this crazy world!" Knuckles exclaimed as he panted beside the fox.

Tails silently rolled his eyes at the echidna, "You just wanna get back to the Master Emerald, that's why."

Shadow smiled. The ghost closed his eyes and the World Rings circled around him A bright light shone and Tails clutched the replica lamp tightly. The last thing he saw before he vanished was Shadow transforming back into the Ifrit Golem. It focused its optics on them and held Sonic's lamp in one hand as it raised the other in farewell.

Tails lifted his own to wave as well and whispered, silently as they were being transported back to Earth. "Bye...Sonic..." His tears fell from his eyes after he said that.

Once they were gone, the Ifrit sighed. It looked at the lamp and a smile formed on its face.

"Don't worry, Sonic," it said. "I'll be a great Master."

Then it turned away and walked deeper into the Evil Foundry, followed by Mephiles.

Tails and Knuckles appeared just outside of Tails and Sonic's house or Tails' house. Tails looked opened his eyes and looked at the house and sighed. "We're back."

Knuckles stretched, making a few joints pop. "Yep, which means I better leave and make sure that bat hasn't gone after my emerald." Knuckles ran off toward the direction of Mystic Ruins, leaving Tails alone with his replica lamp.

He looked down at it and sighed, walking into his house and put it onto a table. He looked at the lamp with tears in his eyes. " I already miss you..."

He stared at the lamp for a few moments and then sighed. Tails carried it up to his room and set it on the desk. Smiling, he knew that Sonic would have a good life in the World of the Arabian Nights, and in the end, that was all that mattered. Even though he would miss the hedgehog he knew Sonic would want Tails to go on with his life; to be happy. Because that's the kind of big brother Sonic was, and Tails would always remember him for that.