The Curse of the Tails Doll

[Sonic5993]

Well, I'm not changing it, because I think it works. I didn't base him on Professor Layton. You're likely only thinking that because you saw Layton before you saw this, so that type of personality automatically springs up. In any case, this is Tails, not Layton, despite my love for the latter's franchise. Moving on.

....says the person with Layton in their signature?

[Theadvisor1234]

....says the person with Layton in their signature?

Yep. Says the person with Layton in their signature. Strange, isn't it?

EDIT: To be fair, if anything is taken from Layton, it's my love for a good mystery.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a chapter to type.

[Ramchopz]

Even if he did, it doesn't really matter much to me. The biggest thing that irks me about Tails in latter incarnations is that he lacks distinguishable qualities to his character outside traits that would make him 'that cute little kid' next to Sonic. He needs more going for him than that.

[Theadvisor1234]

Try not to argue the point too much while I'm writing, guys. I don't like too many arguments cluttering up my fan fic threads.

[Ramchopz]

Ever thought of making a table of contents for where the actual chapters to your stories are? Actually, you should probably link to some of your stories on your profile. That way people wouldn't have to amongst pages to read them.

[Sonic5993]

Hmm this is a mystery right? I know its mainly Tails` story, but why do I fee like Charmy was underutilized? I know hes still in-training but hes still a detective so I'd figure he'd play a bigger role to be honest.

[Ramchopz]

I think Charmy's always had an issue with being the most underutilized member of the Chaotix Team. Most of the time, Vector and Espio are the one's getting the work done, while Charmy's often serving as a plot device to help them discover things about the plot they might not have figured out on their own. Still. I think Charm prides himself in being a detective. Not having as much experience as the others or being able to contribute as much because of that's really got to get to him sometimes. Its not surprising that he'd be very upset at Tails for pushing him to the backburner so that he could work with Marine. That was his one chance to really prove himself, and once again, he probably feels as though he's not being seen as reliable enough. It would make for interesting development.

[Theadvisor1234]

It is a foggy morning. Tails is surprised to find himself standing on a dirt path, unable to see more than a few inches in front of his face.

Tails: How did I end up here? I don't remember walking here.

The fox strains to see through the seemingly endless obstruction.

Tails: Where did this fog come from? Oh, this is so confusing!

As he walks a little ways, he can hear the strange noise of....

Tails: An engine? Sounds like... a car? What's going on?

As if to answer that question, a familiar voice blasts through the fog.

Eggman: AH HA HA HA! You think you can win this one, my spiny enemy? I'd like to see you try!

Sonic: Save it for later, Robotnik! We'll see who's laughing then!

Eggman: I suppose we will. I will prove to you that technology triumphs over all! Hey! Isn't that your little mascot over there?

Tails: Sonic? Is that you? Where are you?

Sonic: What are you talking about, man? I'm right here! Hey! What are you doing with that?

Tails looks around, but doesn't see himself holding anything.

Tails: What are you talking about?

Sonic: Whoa, man! Not cool! Put it down! NOW!

Tails: Put down WHAT? I'm not holding anything!

Eggman: Hm, it seems your friend is more interested in my handiwork than you, hedgehog!

Sonic: Knock it off, Egghead! Tails! Put it down!

The fox, confused to no end, begins to panic.

Tails: Put what down? What do you mean?

Sonic: Tails! I mean it! Put it down NOW!

Tails: I don't know.....

Sonic: TAILS! DO IT!

Tails: S-stop y-yelling....

Sonic: TAILS!

As the fox is hit with more verbal bombardment, he sinks to the ground, covering his ears.

Tails: STOP! Please, just stop!

Sonic: Tails! Tails! Tails!
---------
Marine tries to wake Tails again.

Marine: Tails! Wake up! Oh, for pity's sake! GET UP!

Suddenly, the fox snaps awake!

Tails: PLEASE STOP! STOP YELLIN-

The fox suddenly notices that he's in a sleeping bag in Timothy's living room.

Marine: It's about time you got up! I've been trying to wake ya for ten minutes!

Cream: Tails? Are you okay? You look frightened.

Charmy: Yeah, you look real freaked out.

Tails: Wha- uh, it must have been a nightmare.

Marine: Whatever it was, you were out bloomin' cold! Does this happen to you every time you have a bad dream!

At this point, Timothy enters the room.

Timothy: Now go easy on Tails, Marine. He's been doing a lot of work over the past couple of days.

Marine: Okay, okay. I guess I should be a little bit more patient with my partner.

Tails: Partner....oh! The hermit!

Marine: Now you're comin' around! We wanted to get started an hour ago.

At this, Tails looks out the window, only to find the sun has already begun its ascent into the sky.

Tails: Oh man, we're late! Did you get-

Charmy: The spring water? Yep! Got it at daybreak, just like the hermit said!

Cream: And Mr. Timothy was more than willing to give us a lock of his fur!

The old bear points to a bald spot next to his ear.

Timothy: Anything to help my son, heh heh.

Marine: And we've been waitin' for you for about an hour. Now, are ya ready to go?

Tails: Yeah, I think I am.

Timothy: Now wait a minute! Don't you want breakfast?

Tails: I'll just have some granola on my way there. We've lost enough time as it is.

Marine: It seems we're agreein' more n' more, Tails. Now, let's find that hermit and squeeze the truth out of 'im!

Marine runs out the door.

Tails: I think she means that literally. We'll be back before dark, hopefully.

Tails begins to run out the door. However, before he exits, he turns back towards the group.

Tails: Charmy, I'm sorry you can't come with me.

Charmy: It's okay. I know that it could be dangerous.

Tails: Listen, can you do me a favor?

Charmy: Yes?

Tails: If we don't get back before sundown, or if anything happens, I need you to take charge.

Charmy: ME?

Tails: You've proven yourself. I think you and Cream could take care of yourselves if you needed to. Can you do it?

The bee salutes.

Charmy: Yes sir!

Tails: Good. And thank you. All right, Marine, I'm ready.

Marine: Finally. Off we go!

The fox then picks Marine up, and the two fly off into the distance.
--------
It is about two hours since Tails and Marine have left the cabin. As they approach the mountain where the hermit resides, they look for a place to land.

Tails: See the path yet?

Marine: Not yet. Blimey! We should have done this sooner! We could've saved a lot of time!

Tails: Well, what can you do with two flyers inexperienced with crosswinds? Oh, there's the path!

The two alight gracefully on the dirt road just beside the entrance to the cave.

Marine: Okay, this is it. We can make it or break it with this one. How are we gonna do this?

Tails: I'll keep the hermit distracted as he pretends to "cure" the doll. Cream did give it to you, right?

Marine: Yep!

The raccoon pulls it out of her dress pocket.

Marine: She's grown mighty attached to the thing. Made me promise to take care of it.

Tails: Well, if everything's in place, then it's time we confront our suspect.

The two face the cave.

Marine: OI, MR. HERMIT GUY! WE GOT THE JUNK YOU WANTED!

Tails:*whispering* Way to be subtle, Marine.

Marine:*whispering* Well, what did ya want me to say? Button your lip! He's coming!

Just as promised, the Hermit arrives at the mouth of the cave.

Hermit: Okay, I'm here! You don't have to shout, sister.

Tails: Sorry about that. Anyway, we got the items you requested.

A smile crosses the hermit's face.

Hermit: Excellent, man! Come inside!

The three walk inside to the shabby living area.

Hermit: I'll get started right away! The items, please.

The kids hand over their items.

Hermit: The doll, please.

Marine passes the doll over to the hermit.

Hermit: Ah! Now we can begin the revitalizing process!

The hermit pulls out a bowl, places the hair in the middle, and begins grinding it with a rock.

Tails: What are you doing?

Hermit: It's the start of the process, man. The hairs have got the bad energy of the beast in them. I gotta grind it out to make it neutral.

The coyote opens the jar of berries, pours them in the bowl, and begins to grind them into pulp.

Hermit: The berries contain the sweetness of life, just like your friend's mom. This will bring out that part of her personality back to our reality.

Tails: Oh, I see.

As this goes on, the Hermit does not notice Marine looking through his bookcase.

Marine: *thinking* Come on! Secret messages, weapons, anything proving this guy's got somethin' rotton about him other than that smell. Doesn't that hairy dingo ever bathe in a mountain spring or somethin'?

Tails: So, have you been a hermit all you life?

Hermit: Not all of it. Only when I saw the light, man.

Tails: The light?

Hermit: Yeah man. It happens to everyone. You can't ignore it, man. You just gotta embrace.

Tails: So, you ended up way out here?

Hermit: Yeah, I've lived out here, dedicated to helping the weary and troubled. Gotta be one with nature. No violence.

The hermit opens the sack of flower pedals, adds them to the mix, and begins to grind them in.

Hermit: The flower pedals represent the lady's beauty. However, it has two meanings, man. While her outward beauty is apparant, the rarity of these blue flowers among the masses represents the rarity of her inner beauty. You've got a good person in her.

Just then, the coyote turns to Marine.

Hermit: What are you doin'?

The raccoon is looking at one of the books.

Marine: Oh, just readin' while I wait. Do ya mind?

Hermit: Nah, knock yourself out, sister. This'll be awhile.

As the hermit resumes his work, Marine resumes her investigation.

Tails: So, how long would you say you've been here in the mountains?

Hermit: There is no such thing as time. The past, present and future are all one. Once you embrace the light, things like time don't matter anymore.

Tails: Oh. Okay.

As Marine shuffles through the books...

Marine: *thinking* Streuth! If he isn't our guy, he's sure a few wrenches short of a-

Just then, just as she was reaching for something on the top shelf, the sun hits something on the top of the bookcase, causing a reflection on the cave wall behind it.

Marine: *thinking* Well, what have we here?

Meanwhile, the hermit adds the spring water to the paste.

Hermit: The water represents a cleansing of the spirit, the early morning sunlight being a new beginning.

Tails: But you can't catch sunlight.

Hermit: But you can! It's in there! I can feel it's energy!

Tails: Oh. If you say so.

Soon, the coyote is through mixing.

Hermit: And now, it's time for the most important part of the process!

He takes the doll and places it on the table.

Hermit: And now, for the healing to begin!

The hermit scoops the mixture from the bowl and begins applying it to the doll.

Hermit: This will reverse the power of the Mimic Doll by replacing the negative energy with positive energy.

Soon, the Vanilla Doll is covered in the mess.

Tails: Now what? Nothing is happening.

Hermit: No, the transformation process takes time. I'd give her twelve hours.

Tails: Twelve hours?! But the three days will be up by then!

Hermit: Really? Hm. Sorry, man. I guess you're out of luck.

Tails: What?

Hermit: Unless you're willing to sacrifice.

Tails: Huh?

Hermit: The money. I might be willing to speed up the process if you're willing to give up a little for your friend.

Tails: What? I thought a hermit had no use for money!

Hermit: I don't. I just need you to to display some trust and show off some of that good energy to help my progress. Let's face it, man. I get results. Just ask anyone who's done business with me before. They sacrifice their cash because my process works.

Tails: I don't see why-

Just then, the fox sees Marine moving a stool that was lying around to try to reach the top of the bookcase.

Tails: Fine. How much?

Hermit: It's hard to say offhand, man. How much have you got?

Tails: Let me see....

Tails pulls the money out of his backpack.

Tails: I've got 150 Mobian credits.

Hermit: Hm...let's see....I'd say 90 will do.

Tails: What?!

Hermit: Like I said, sacrifices must be made. We're so far along now, man. It would be a shame to have your friend's soul doomed forever just because you got stingy.

Tails sees Marine, unable to reach the top, grabs a broom that was laying about and attempts to locate the shiny object with it.

Tails: Fine. Here.

The fox begins to hand the money over to the hermit, but then draws back.

Tails: Are you sure it's 90 credits?

Hermit: If my math is correct, then yes. Is there a problem?

Tails: A problem? Not at all, my stereotypical friend.

Hermit: Then hand it over.

Tails: *sigh* Fine.

Meanwhile, Marine is trying desperately to knock the object off the top of the bookshelf with the broomstick.

Marine: *thinking* Come on, come on. Gently, easy.....

Suddenly, the object falls from the shelf. Marine attempts to grab it, but misses.

Marine: *thinking* Oh, crikey!

The raccoon dives, and manages to catch it before it hits the ground. The hermit doesn't notice her landing.

Marine: *thinking* Aw, that was a close- wait what are these?

Marine is shocked to find that the object is an open box of....

Marine: *thinking* BULLETS?!

In her shock, one of the bullets falls to the ground, making a loud tinging noice that echos through the cave. The hermit whips around.

Hermit: Hey! Not cool! What are you doing with those?!

Suddenly, Tails punches the coyote in the head.

Tails: The jigs up! So, you don't believe in violence, huh?

Marine rushes over.

Marine: Stay down, you crook! Tell us, where is the lady?!

Hermit: Take it easy, children! I don't know nothing about the lady!

Tails: Then how come you knew Miss Vanilla's personality so well? The only way you could've known that is if you had seen her before she disappeared!

Hermit: Don't have a cow, man! I haven't seen anyth-

Marine kicks the hermit in the head.

Marine: Quit lyin', you stupid dingo! Your little charade is over!

Hermit: Fine. Fine. You win.

Suddenly, the hermit pulls out a rifle and points it toward the two children.

Marine: Wha-?!

Tails: You-?!

The hermit reaches for his hair, which had be obscuring his face, and pulls it off. The head of Fang the Sniper pops out from beneath it.

Fang: Now, would you kids kindly put your hands in the air?

-----------End of Chapter---------

[Theadvisor1234]

Hmm this is a mystery right? I know its mainly Tails` story, but why do I fee like Charmy was underutilized? I know hes still in-training but hes still a detective so I'd figure he'd play a bigger role to be honest.

Don't worry, he'll have his time.

[Sonic5993]

*Sees ending*.....EEEEEEHHHHHHH?