So where did I get the third tail from? That's a good question, and good questions get long answers. Can you sit still for the whole thing? Okay, let's get started. Keep you hands and arms on your person at all times, no smoking, and we'll take breaks every two hours or so to go to the bathroom.

Okay, seriously. Where do I start? And don't just say "the beginning," 'cause I don't know where that is... okay, here we go.

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I guess you could say it all started with the last practice I had with Metropolis Underground. You should know that band; it's the one Sonic and his twin brother and sister Manic and Sonia started. I was gonna be the bass player. I'm not quite sure why Sonic wanted me to do that. Maybe he just thought I was being left out; maybe he heard the songs I made in that program I downloaded. They didn't sound too bad, actually, but the thing is, the program automatically puts everything in the correct tempo and pitch. That's important, and you'll see why in a second.

We were trying to play "Thief," a nice little song that let both Sonic and Sonia do some singing. The thing is, every time we went through the b-verse, there's a change in the chord progression. Every time I would mess up. Eventually Manic noticed I was making the same mistake every time.

"Is Tails in tune?" he asked Sonic.

Sonic looked at me, and I just shrugged. I couldn't tell. He played a quick thing on my bass and said, "Yeah, he's in tune."

"Alright," Manic said, "let's take it from the top."

So we started. Now, to the Hedgehogs, playing an instrument is fun. It's like painting on the fly, or writing a poem in unison. To me, it's more like typing. First an A, then a C, then a G, then a D. Until there's a progression change.

Manic stopped the music again and looked straight at me. Now, I'd like to think I'm pretty good at reading faces, but this was more than that. I could tell Manic was frustrated. Anyone could have told that. But... I could also tell he didn't want to outright tell me to leave. It wasn't like reading his mind--more like just hearing what he wasn't saying out loud.

I closed my eyes and nodded. "That's okay," I said. I leaned the bass up against the wall and walked out as quietly as I could.

It was a cloudy day outside, the kind where there's a mass of clouds just sitting over the city like a blanket. And there was a small breeze, too. It ran through my fur, across both my tails, and made me--well, a little cold. But for some reason, I liked it. I didn't have time to figure it out, though, since Sonic was running up to me.

"Hey," he said, tapping me on the shoulder.

"Hi," I said simply.

"You..." He was obviously trying to figure out what to say. "You done practicing?"

He was genuine. He wasn't trying to hurt me. But words can still hurt. "Please don't, Sonic."

"What? Tails, I mean-- do you not want to play?"

"No, Sonic, it's not a matter of _want_, it's a matter of _can_. I can't play. I can't tell a C from a G to save my life, and--" I knew he knew that, why was I saying it? "And I'm not having fun. Sonic... music is just not my thing. You and Manic and Sonia, you guys are having so much fun, and I know you want me to be a part of it because it's fun, but I just can't play." I was surprised how hard it was to say that. I'd been wanting to say it for a while, but... when he was standing in front of me like that, wanting me to be a part of what he was enjoying so much... I honestly did not expect what came next.

Sonic closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah," he said, "you're right. I-- I'm sorry I didn't..."

"There's nothing to apologize for," I said. I gave him a weak smile to try to show him it was okay. I guess he got the message, since he gave me a weak smile back and walked off.

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So what does that have to do with the story? Everything.