It was over. Finally. The prototype of the ultimate life form was defeated. ARK had halted it's headlong descent towards Earth…and…Eggman had actually worked on their side. An interesting change of events, Tails mused as he leaned back onto the grass, enjoying the sun. But Shadow…

No one knew what came of the black hedgehog. All they had seen was him careening towards Earth at breakneck speeds…and then nothing. Tails presumed him dead, of course…nothing could survive that…could it?

Sonic thought differently, of course. A few days after the event Tails noticed his sapphire-furred friend looking a bit more thoughtful then usual. Curious, he approached his friend.

"Sonic?" he said, cocking his head slightly to the side. "What's wrong?" Sonic jumped a bit and looked up, suddenly smiling at the arrival of his friend.

"Oh, hey little buddy!" he said, sitting down on the grass. "What've you been up to?" Tails shrugged.

"Nothin' much…just hangin' around," he said indifferently. "I was wondering about you, though…you seem really out there lately…" Sonic sighed a bit and looked up into the sky.

"You know something, Tails," he started, his eyes watching the clouds. "Sometimes, I get this feeling inside me…kind of like a…prediction. You know, where you feel like you know something it going to happen…but you're not sure if it will?" Tails nodded.

"I think I know what you're talking about," he said, a slightly confused look passing through his eyes. "But…what's that have to deal with anything?" Sonic smiled slightly and shook his head.

"Ah, don't worry about it Tails…it's nothing, really," he said. Tails looked over at him and Sonic looked back. Tails didn't know, but there was something there in his eyes…something far away…

"Well…all right then, Sonic…if you're sure…" Tails said, not sure himself if he should go. Sonic nodded, and his grin was more real this time—sincere.

"I'm sure, Tails," he said, patting his head. "It's no big deal." Tails nodded.

"Okay then…" he said and walked back off to where he had been sunbathing before, his twin tails whipping behind him in the light breeze. Sonic watched him leave and shook his head slightly, a small smile on his face.

"Poor Tails…he doesn't understand," he said to himself. "He'll find out soon enough though…I have a bad feeling about all this…"

"A bad feeling about what?" a female voice asked, startling him. He turned around and was met with the beautiful face of Rouge the Bat. He smirked a bit.

"Practicing your spying skills I see?" he asked, relaxing a bit. Rouge grinned.

"You can't help doing what you've been born to do," she replied, sitting next to him on the grass. Sonic looked over at her curiously.

"I thought you were going back to the President," he stated, wondering why she was still here. She shrugged.

"Not just yet. I'm a girl, and I'm fragile…and besides, I need a vacation!" she exclaimed. Sonic grinned.

"You won't get much of a vacation with us," he said wryly. "We've always got some adventure on our hands!" This time it was Rouge's turn to smile.

"I'd rather be here then back on Earth," she replied. "It's a lot nicer on Mobius." She sniffed the air around them. "Cleaner, too." She looked right into his eyes then.

"You didn't answer my question, though," she stated matter-of-factly, crossing her arms. Sonic sighed, suddenly becoming somber.

"A bad feeling about what happened. With Shadow," he said finally. "I think he could still be out there…and if…something happened to him when he was falling…or the power of the Chaos Emerald got to him…he might not be the same guy…" Rogue raised an eyebrow.

"Supposing he's still alive, you mean," she mused. After a few minutes, she sighed.

"I supposed it's possible," she said finally. "I mean, from what we know, he is the so called 'Ultimate Life form'…" Sonic nodded.

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of," he replied. "If he is the ultimate life form, then he might be able to survive things unfathomable to you or I…" Rouge sighed.

"Best not worry about it now," she said, and then flashed him a smile. "Besides, this is vacation, right?" Sonic grinned back.

"Yeah…vacation!" he cried, but the lowered his voice. "…Thanks for hearing me out, Rouge…you're not as bad a gal as I thought."

"Ahh, don't worry about it," she said. "Besides…what are friends for?"

"For playing games with!" he cried, grabbing her hand. "Come on! Let's go get Tails and go skateboarding!"

"You go and get it all ready," Rouge replied, smiling. "I'll go get Tails." Sonic nodded.

"Catch ya later, gator!" he said, speeding off into the distance. Rogue watched him until he was a twinkle in the distance, and then shook her head.

"He's going to trip over something someday…" she said to herself, walking over to Tails. He was lying on his back, his twin tails wrapped around his stomach, dozing. Rouge smiled a bit. He looked so peaceful there…

"Mmm…" he sighed, rolling over onto his side. He was facing Rouge now, his baby blue eyes fluttering open.

"…Rouge?" Tails yawned, stretching. He blinked sleepily, getting to his feet. "What are you doin' here?" Rouge smiled.

"Sonic wants us to come and skateboard," she replied, shrugging a bit. "I'm not sure I'm very good at it though…"

"Aw, it's not so hard!" Tails said, wiping the last bit of sleep out of his eyes. "It's actually fun!" Rouge looked a little concerned.

"You…think you could show me how?" she asked, her eyes meeting his. Tails blushed self conciously.

"Well…I-I'm not that good…Sonic's better…" he replied, looking at the ground. Rogue chuckled at the fox's bashfulness.

"Listen," she said, taking his chin and lifting his face so that their eyes met again. "Considering from what I've seen you do with that Cyclone…I bet you're fine." Tails smiled a little bit.

"T-thanks…" he whispered, still staring at her. Those magnificent, jade green eyes…

"Hey! What's takin' so long?" Sonic exclaimed, whizzing back. "I've got it all set up and everything!." Tails smiled a little, nervously.

"Oh, I was just really…tired…and Rouge couldn't wake me up, that's all…" Sonic grinned and ruffled his friend's fur.

"Well, hurry on up, sleepyhead! Knuckle found a brand new course and I'm dying to try it out—"

"He did?!" Tails exclaimed, temporarily forgetting what had been going on with Rouge. "What's it like?!"

"The only way for us to find out is if we get going!" Sonic replied, stretching his legs. "Come on, guys! I'll lead the way!"

The blue hedgehog sped off again, quickly becoming just a cloud of dust in the distance. Tails and Rouge looked at one another, and then suddenly, on a whim, Tails offered her his hands.

"Wanna lift?" he asked. Rouge looked surprised, but grabbed hold of both of them tightly.

"Only if you promise you won't let go…" she said, looking a little worried. Tails grinned and started whipping his tails about, raising them off the ground.

"I promise!" he cried, and they flew off after their friend, towards the city in the distance…