I've read the Reddit leaks and one of the bits of info that got my attention was Tails being raised by Longclaw and that the reason he is the one looking for Sonic is because she is too old and frail. Now I'm just thinking how Tails' relationship was with Longclaw. After losing Sonic (and possibly thinking he's dead), was she super overprotective of Tails or was she like Shifu from the first Kung-fu Panda movie after Tai-lung's descent to darkness, where she holds Tails at arms length and often reminisces of Sonic, regretting not being stronger enough to protect the hedgehog. Imagine Tails using his intelligence to build amazing creations and presents them to Longclaw, hoping to make her happy but she just focuses on the negative (criticizing the invention) and never says anything positive.
What if the gadget that Tails had to trace Sonic after coming to Earth was something he built as a last resort to get on Longclaw's better graces.
'She misses Sonic, so why don't I try to see if I can find him and give her a peace of mind.'
Once he finds Sonic's signal and sees he's alive, he tells Longclaw, whose eyes for the very first time brightened. Tails volunteers to go find Sonic as Longclaw is too old and frail and makes it his mission to reunite the hedgehog with her.
So what happens after his mission is accomplished? Sonic and Longclaw reunite and have a heartfelt reunion and Tails stands to the side watching the scene.
He's happy for both Sonic and Longclaw. The hedgehog was back and their family was whole again.
And yet, Tails' heart can't help but give a painful tug seeing the two together. Why didn't Longclaw ever treat him like that? Where was the warmth and love she now had for Sonic?
Was he just a tool? A temporary replacement for the real deal?
Did Longclaw ever hold a shred of affection towards him?
Sonic reminisces of his younger days, him and Longclaw both laughing and smiling at the bright memories.
Ah.
When Sonic was around, it was a time of happiness and peace. When Longclaw took Tails in, it was after losing Sonic: a time of grief and depression.
Tails was a representative of that dark period of Longclaw's life. It makes sense on why she never could love him like Sonic.
There's a strained smile on Tails' lips, twitching between happy and sad. He knew what he had to do.
He looks back at Sonic and Longclaw one last time before bidding them a silent goodbye.
Mission accomplished.
--
In the middle of laughing, Sonic looks up and notices Tails isn't around.
"Tails?" He calls out.
He was so engrossed with his reminiscing that he didn't even see Tails leaving.
Longclaw looks up as well, looking around for the orange fox.
"Where's Miles?"
Sonic shrugs. "I swore he was right with us. Little guy's pretty quiet at leaving huh?" He jokes lightly.
A small bit of worry appears in the pit of Longclaw's stomach.
No, please not again. Not another.
Sonic is oblivious to Longclaw's worry, still confused on Tails' disappearance.
