// WISH-NET // U#48616c6c6f7765656e // VidCHNL-Ascendant-C // ENCRYPTION: Status=Uncomplete
// WATCHERMIND ARCHIVE PARALLAX-A // ANNOTATED // CLASSIFIED
Execute Subroutine: PARACAUSALl ENCRYPTION
In the distant river of time, a tale of eternal renown quietly spread.
Tails lounged lazily on the weathered wooden bench, his voice like a gentle breeze caressing everyone's ears on this fantastical night. The children around him held their breath, as if spellbound, sitting silently at his side. Their bizarre costumes cast colorful shadows in the flickering pumpkin lantern light, while the candy baskets they clutched tightly exuded a sweet, cloying aroma.
"Long, long ago," Tails began, his voice rhythmic as if chanting an ancient poem, "there was a princess as beautiful as the heavens, and a brave, fearless knight."
The children's eyes sparkled with excitement. Even those who had heard the story many times before listened intently, afraid to miss a single detail.
"They fell in love," Tails continued, his voice tinged with tenderness, "a love that transcended life and death. To protect his beloved princess, this valiant knight always charged to the front, wielding Athena's sacred shield like an insurmountable mountain, standing before the Demon King's army."
Admiration and worship appeared on the children's faces, as if they too could see the brave knight.
"That sacred shield," Tails' voice deepened, taking on a mysterious tone, "was forged by the princess herself with her holy Light. Even on the Blackest Night, it could shine brighter than high noon, like a White Lantern of life."
"With this holy shield and his fearless courage, our hero repelled the Demon King's army time and time again, protecting his beloved princess and their country," Tails' voice filled with pride. "Wherever he appeared, the Demon King's army trembled in fear. They even gave this knight in blue armor a nickname, calling him the 'Blue Demon'."
At this, the children couldn't help but laugh. Their laughter was crisp and melodious, especially enchanting on this mysterious night. In their innocent hearts, it was the funniest thing in the world that the evil Demon King's army would call the righteous knight a demon.
"However, fate always plays tricks on the heart." Tails' voice suddenly lowered, as if the whole world dimmed with it. "One day, the knight was defeated. The Demon King's army had countless chances, but the knight had only this one."
The children held their breath, the air seeming to freeze.
"The knight fell," Tails whispered, as if speaking of a pain too raw to touch. "His body was laid in a coffin filled with lilies, the shining Light shield resting silently on his chest, and brought before the princess."
The children let out soft gasps, some even beginning to sob.
"The princess was devastated," Tails continued, his voice full of sorrow. "She refused to let go. She remembered the Light's creed: Devotion inspires bravery, bravery inspires sacrifice, sacrifice... leads to death. In her desperation, she tried to resurrect her beloved knight with Light. However, the Light remained silent, as if it had abandoned her."
Tails closed his eyes, his tail swaying gently, the orange glow on his wings flickering as if revealing an untold secret.
"So, the princess turned her back on the Light and embraced the Darkness. She was no longer the pure Light princess, but a witch stained by shadows."
"She used Darkness Paracausal Force as forbidden as black magic. Through the Unbreakable Bond between her and the knight, a connection that even death couldn't sever, this former princess, now a witch, forcibly pulled the knight back from Death's domain."
The children stared at Tails, holding their breath as they waited for the story to continue.
"However," Tails' voice carried a note of warning, "the principles of alchemy were never about equivalent exchange. The wisher must pay a price more costly than the wish itself. But Death played a cruel joke. This price wasn't paid by the witch, but fell upon the knight."
"The knight who crossed death's boundary and returned could no longer receive the Light's favor, just like the witch. Though his soul was forcibly preserved, his body became a blood-thirsty monster. He needed fresh human blood to maintain his body's normal functions, or else the pain of decay would drive this once-noble knight into madness."
A child involuntarily swallowed, fear and curiosity intertwining in their eyes.
"The knight could no longer wield the once-sacred shield of Athena," Tails' voice grew deep and mysterious. "So the witch resolutely shattered the shield, fusing its fragments with Darkness force to forge a black-blue lance for the knight."
"Although the witch stayed by the knight's side day and night, this was far from the ending the knight had hoped for. While the knight wouldn't blame the witch for her deep love, the pain of being an undead monster increasingly tormented him. Finally, one day, the knight, overwhelmed and in despair, chose an extreme path. He severed his own head, vainly attempting to find eternal peace."
The children gasped, exchanging horrified glances.
"The moment the knight's head was cut off, it turned to ash, freed from the soul's constraint," Tails continued, his voice tinged with melancholy. "However, more terrifying still, the Death Goddess refused to accept the knight's soul. Thus, the knight's soul was forever trapped in that headless body. In the end, the witch had to carve mysterious magical runes on a pumpkin and place it on the knight's neck as his new head."
The children looked fearfully at the surrounding jack-o'-lanterns with their evil grins, as if they might come to life at any moment.
"Soon after, the witch and the knight seemed to vanish from this world. No one knows where they went, but rumors say that on Halloween Eve, people see a pumpkin-headed knight riding a magically crafted mechanical steed, lance in hand, silently watching from afar all the beauty that once belonged to him. And beside him, the witch, driven mad by her obsessive love, smiles..."
Tails suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a chilling smile, and let out an eerie laugh. The children panicked and scattered, but not before grabbing the candy Tails had prepared. Their screams and laughter echoed in the night sky, adding a mix of joy and terror to this mysterious Halloween night.
As night deepened, a small child timidly stayed behind, gently tugging at Tails' skirt. "M-Mr. Tails? Is... is the story you told... r-real?"
Tails chuckled, gently patting the child's head. "Silly child, how could it be real? It's just a story people made up to celebrate Halloween. There's no such thing as a pumpkin-headed knight."
The child sighed in relief, their tense face relaxing. They grinned mischievously, holding out a candy-filled basket. "Then, trick or treat!"
"Didn't you already get some?" Tails scratched his head, but still smiled and pulled out more candy. "Oh well, it doesn't matter. Happy Halloween!"
The child bowed politely in thanks and ran happily towards their friends. Tails watched them go, feeling a touch of nostalgia.
"Hey, telling stories again? It's your annual Halloween tradition, huh?" A blue figure quietly sat down beside Tails, offering a green drink. "Here. Your mint chocolate milk tea."
"Thanks." Tails happily accepted, taking a sip through the straw. Despite the late autumn chill, the iced mint tea was still delightful.
A black mechanical horse crouched obediently beside them, its red snake-like eyes quietly observing the flirting couple.
"Sonic—" Tails looked up, meeting Sonic's red eye. "Ah, you need a refill."
Tails activated a device on his left wrist guard. A vial of strange purple blood was drawn from his hand into a small glass bottle inside the guard. The bottle popped out, caught smoothly by Sonic.
Sonic quickly poured the blood into his fruit tea, then returned the empty bottle to Tails, who reinserted it into the device. Sonic gulped down the mixed drink, his red pupils gradually fading back to emerald green.
"It's actually more effective to drink it directly," Tails reminded him.
"No way, good things should be savored slowly," Sonic said with a smile, his fangs glinting faintly in the moonlight.
"You were super resistant to drinking my blood at first, Mr. Knight," Tails teased, pinching Sonic's waist.
Sonic admitted frankly, "Of course, who'd want to drink something fishy and sticky? But now I like it. Doesn't that prove your blood modification was successful, Your Highness?"
"Naturally. I'm a genius, turning blood into food-grade was a piece of cake." Tails' ear tips perked up proudly at Sonic's praise. "But it's quite something to reflect on. By now, I'm no longer a princess, and you're no longer a knight."
"So, what's the meme with the pumpkin-headed knight?" Sonic asked curiously.
"Well," Tails' tail drew a circle in the air, "when you took your head off, I really considered just sticking a pumpkin on you and calling it a day. You know, if it works, it works."
"You're joking, right? Tell me you're joking." Sonic instinctively protected his head, making Tails burst into laughter.
As the laughter faded, Tails' expression gradually became somber. "Hey... Sonic, seriously, do you hate me? Hate me for turning you, turning us, into this?" His hand gently rested on Sonic's thigh, his gaze anxiously avoiding Sonic's, fixating on the mechanical brace on his left elbow - the multi-functional blood-drawing device specially made for Sonic's blood replenishment.
"Of course not! How could you think that?" Sonic pulled Tails into his arms. "You've sacrificed so much for me, how could I possibly hate you? I've never hated you. I admit, those early days... were tough. But thanks to you being by my side, I got through those hard times. Look, aren't we happy now?"
"Yeah... as long as I'm with you, I'm happy..." Tails murmured, unconsciously snuggling closer into Sonic's embrace.
"Don't burden yourself so much. We've lived this long, it's time to grow up," Sonic playfully messed up Tails' ahoge, causing him to struggle. "You jerk! How many times have I told you not to do that— Hey! Are you even listening?"
"Tails. Nothing is free. I know that, and I'm sure you know it too. But what I want you to know is... If our places were swapped, I would do the same."
Sonic gently kissed Tails' forehead. "So, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I love you, Tails."
Tails stopped struggling and after a long pause, said in a slightly sulky voice, "You're such an idiot..."
The two maintained this intimate posture, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility in the chaotic Halloween night. The loyal mechanical horse continued to watch them, faithfully recording this tender scene of their embrace and kiss.
Perhaps there are no more princesses and knights in this world. But the fox and the hedgehog will continue to walk side by side, witnessing this world with their own eyes and creating their own Destiny.
Perhaps even broken things can be reformed, becoming better than it was before.
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TRANSCRIPTION ENDS
