𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑: 𝔽𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕤

— Mister!... Mister, are you alive?... Mister! — a semi-muffled female voice that Tails heard first before waking up. The fox opened his watery eyes, not yet accustomed to the light. When he opened his eyes and looked more closely, he saw the face of a yellow fox above him. — Glory to Chaos, you are alive. — Um... Hello. — Tails greeted, lightly waving his fingers on his right palm. — Good morning, mister. — she answered him, stood up first and extended her hand. — Give me your hand! - she asked and the fox accepted her help to get up. — Are you hurt? — No. Only my head hurts a little. — he scratched the back of his head. — Sorry, ma'am, but you haven't seen my friend here. He is such a... — A big half snake, half hedgehog, black and with red stripes? — she asked him, having guessed. — Have you seen him? — He woke up first. I asked him to crawl to the spring for water while I got you cleaned up. — the fox explained. — Oh, sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Tailsco, who are you? — Me?... — Of course, Tails, judging by the fact that that she-fox noticeably resembles him, and even the name is similar to his, he immediately guessed that this must be one of the alternative worlds. Apparently all the residents here are of the opposite sex. Without hesitation, Tails decided to introduce himself with his real name so as not to cause a coincidence. — Miles... Miles Fionovich Prower. — Nice to meet you. — Tailsco shook Tails' hand. — Tailsko, did you happen to see how exactly my friend and I ended up here? — Yes. You fell straight from the sky, screamed heart-rendingly and fell, fortunately, right on those two trees that softened your fall. Then you fell and lost consciousness. I cleaned up your friend first. By the way, your friend looks suspiciously like my friend. Is your nag by any chance a distant relative of my Shadina? — No. — Tails excused himself. — Maybe it’s just a coincidence that we look alike. — Maybe. At that moment, Shadow himself returned and brought a full vase of drinking water. — And here is the water. How are you, Tails? — he asked, and the fox began to show him through his teeth and silently with his hands so that he would not blurt out his middle name. — I’m fine, but your friend Miles has a little headache from the fall. At first, Shadow didn't understand why this fox responded to the name Tails, but called the real Tails Miles. However, putting everything together in his thoughts, he also realized that they were in another world. Apparently all the characters here are of the opposite sex, and Miles introduced himself by his middle name. — By the way, how did you know my name? — He just guessed right, Tailsco. — Tails answered for Shadow. — A! Then at least tell me what your name is? — Tailsko asked for the name Shadow, and he, in order not to burn his coincidence with a possible version of Shadow from this world, came up with another name for himself. — My name is... Uh... Terios. — Terios? What kind of strange name is this? — the fox asked. Tails and Shadow looked around and saw that the forest around as a whole looked almost exactly the same as the forest from their home world.

Parallel universe "Fear or Friendship", where everyone is of the opposite sex.

Tailsco took a closer look at Miles and noticed that he had two tails. — Come on, Miles! You have two tails, just like me. I thought that I was the only one like that. — Yes, this is nonsense! Can you fly with their help? — asked Miles. — No. How's that? — Tailsko asked, and Tails got down on all fours and launched his tails like a propeller, flying a little into the air. Tailsko was shocked by what he saw. - Wow! This is great. I want that too. — She also got on all fours and tried to fly up. But nothing worked for her. She couldn't take off. The fox strained through her teeth, also trying to fly, but nothing worked. She just sat on the ground and sat. Then she pushed herself so hard that she was about to do something disgusting. — Stop, stop, stop! Do not do that! Otherwise... You know what. — the striped naga stopped her and the fox stopped trying to take off, since she apparently couldn’t do it. — You can't fly? asked Miles. — No, alas. — Tailsco answers honestly, lowering his head. — TAILSKO!!! — the three heard a woman’s voice. — COMING, SHADINA!!! — Tailsco shouted. — Sorry, I have to go back to my girlfriend. — Wait! — Shadow stopped her. — Can you and I go? We are simply in your forest for the first time and are almost unfamiliar with this place. — Okay, let's go. I’m sure you and Shadina will also get along, just like I once did. — How did you meet her? — Miles asked. — The incident was quite funny. — Funny? — Tails didn’t understand. — Yes. We were given homework, to go into the forest and pick mushrooms, but I got lost. That's when I met her. At first, when I first saw her, I thought that she wanted to eat me. In part this was true. — But I hope she left you in a safe stomach that didn’t digest anything? — asked Shadow. — Yes. She had no intention of eating me, not in all seriousness. She just wanted to meet me, and then she introduced me to her best and closest friend. — Come on? Does your friend also have a friend? — Shadow couldn’t believe his ears. — By the way, Miles, Terios! How did you meet each other? — Tailsco asked. — And we... We met in the swamp. — Tails lied so that her story of meeting with Shadina would not coincide with their meeting with Shadow. — I walked around quietly, didn’t touch anyone, didn’t even look at my feet. Then I got stuck in the swamp, but Shadow crawled past and saved me. That's how we met him. — he winked at Shadow so that he would confirm this, although in reality it was not so. — Yes. That's how it was. — Shadow also lied. — I can’t believe it. Terios, didn't you even try Miles before you became friends? — I wanted to, of course, but I sometimes thought that this was probably stupid and that it’s probably better to try to make friends normally, like people do with Mobians. So I didn't eat it and just chatted. — well, here Shadow almost didn’t lie. — A! Well, of course. My Shadina, too, has recently considered these traditions of the nagas, in order to make friends with someone who is smaller than them, in this way, a stupid idea. Especially if they fall in love with them. After all, mostly they communicate adequately with other nagas and get along well. So why can’t they do the same with us, for example, instead of eating and storing them in safe stomachs? This may at least frighten someone who doesn't want to be eaten in the first place. — Agree. — Tails agreed with her. Arriving at exactly the same small hill on which there was a cave where Shadow lived, the latter, together with Tails, were now completely convinced that they were really in another world. And that everything is the other way around, or almost the other way around. When they got up, Shadow and Tails were a little confused about the cave. After all, Shadow’s own cave was not so beautiful and ordinary, but that one was very beautiful, decorated with a little wallpaper and even there were pictures with flags. — Shadina, I'm here. — Finally. Where are you going, the pies are already cold. — the nigina herself came out, whom Shadow saw. Having looked at her, Shadow opened his mouth and bulged his eyes. This nigina really looked exactly like himself. Although there were still a couple of small differences. For example, a small fringe of black needles with red ones at the tip of the fringe stuck out on the forehead. The eyelids were dark red, the red stripes on the tail became dark pink towards the tip, and the white fur on the chest was missing. When she saw the guests, Tails himself, as well as his naga hedgehog, who looked almost like herself, she also opened her mouth. — Hey, you didn't say we'd have guests. — Yes, I’m shocked myself. I didn’t even know that I would meet them by chance. You won't believe it, but they appeared straight from the sky and fell from there. — Tailsko explained. — They fell from the sky. But this is nonsense. — Shadina grinned. - What are their names? — Let me introduce myself, mademoiselle! Miles, this is my little... I mean, great friend. — Terios. — Shadow extended his hand, introducing himself under a non-existent name. — Very nice! — said the naginya and shook hands with her double from another world, without even knowing it. — Haven’t we met before? It feels like you and I are alike, like twins. — No, it seemed to you. Maybe it's just a coincidence. All people, Mobians and Nagas are sometimes different, sometimes the same in appearance. And some, in rare cases, are almost like two peas in a pod, but they are not relatives. — Miles explained. — Hey, I was just about to say that. — Tailsko said not out of offense, but rather out of surprise. — Ah! Apparently you and I thought about the same thing at the same time. Maybe we are still connected to each other and the same thoughts come to our heads? — Nonsense. Maybe it's just a coincidence. — Tails excused himself. — Even our parents are probably different. By the way, do you have a mother? — No, I only have a father, a red fox. His name is Flubber. —Tailsko explained. — And I... I have parents. Mom and Dad. — Tails lied. — Is it true? And I don’t have a mother at all. — the she-fox lowered her head. — Really? — the fox pretended to be surprised. — I see you get along well with each other? — Shadina asked, bringing her large muzzle closer to both foxes. — Well, since we have guests, I’ll go and put some more pancakes. — No, Shadina, I’m tired of eating only pancakes every day. How about blueberry pie for a change? — Tailsco asked. At this point, Miles also wanted to answer positively about the pie, which he agreed, but he restrained himself in time. — Okay then. Will you have blueberry pie? — the nun turned to the guests. — Well, of course. You are so kind and hospitable. — Come on, I just really love guests. Especially those not invited. And also help others. — Baby, are you home? — They immediately heard another female voice. Shadow was the first to turn around and saw another nigina in front of him, who was healthier than himself. He widened his eyes, realizing that it was probably Luz himself who had tracked them down. But when he looked up at the muzzle, he realized that it was not him, but she. More precisely, its female version. Moreover, she was not as evil as their Luz, but on the contrary, calm, polite and cultured. She had painted eyelashes, her lips and nose were pink. What surprised Shadow most was not the appearance of the local, or rather the local Luz Bucket. And the man who sat on that nigina’s shoulder. — Luzata, welcome back. I'm just waiting for you too. Will you have blueberry pie? — I won’t refuse. — she answers and crawls into the cave house. — Hello. — she greeted Shadow, crawling past him and not even surprised that he looked like Shadina. Luzeta sat down on the huge bed, transferred the man from her shoulder to her palm and sat him down next to her. — Thank you, Luzata. — Don't thank me, Misha! At this time, Tailsko ran into the pantry and took out a can of pink paint and a large brush. — So! Who should paint their claws? — To me! — smiling. Luzata answered and extended her fingers forward. Tailsco tried to climb up the bed, but it was difficult to do with a can of paint, much less a brush. At one moment she fell, but Miles himself managed to catch her on his two tails. — Thank you, Miles. I wish I could learn to fly on my own, just like you. — Don't worry. I'm sure you'll learn. — Tails reassured her as she began to paint the first claw of the scorpion nagina with pink paint. — Who are you by the way? We haven't met you in our forest before. — she said. — This is Miles Fionovich Prower and his faithful friend Terios. — Tailsko introduced her new friends. — I see you have good friendly relations with Shadina, miss... — Bucket. Luzata Bucket. Yes, we have been friends with her since childhood. Especially when she saved me from those people in the forest and almost died herself. I took care of her for a long time and treated her until she got better. Because of that, since then I have realized that people and Mobians themselves are afraid of us, which means that if you want to make friends with them, then you need to be able to do it wisely and in such a way that the person believes that you are not scary. — Has it always been like this for you? — Miles asked. — Not always. When I became a teenager, I again met that king from the carriage with whom I wanted to make friends, and he recognized me and was no longer afraid. He was the first person I made contact with. I told him a lot about myself and about our entire race, then he announced throughout the kingdom that nagas exist, but there is no need to be afraid of them. Now we live almost in peace and harmony. We can even occasionally come to villages, but some people no longer pay attention to us and are not afraid of us. — Really? — Shadow was surprised. — Well. We are happy for you. It’s just that we are from distant lands, and there we have a slightly different story of how we resolved the conflict between races. — It’s clear why you’re friends with that little fox. — said the scorpion, and by that time Tailsko had already painted the last claw. Now the nigina admired the varnish-paint on her claws. — Beautiful! Now in the evening I can go on a date with Flubber. I mean, Tailsco's father. — Fell in love with Tailsko's father? asked Miles. — Well, yes. I just thought that red fox was cute, especially with his stern character. — Well, yes. He was always like this with everyone around him, and he always treated me with love and care. — the fox confirmed. — Won’t you even be against this? — asked Tails. — No, why should I be embarrassed? I wouldn’t even mind having a mother like Luzeta. — Ou. I even envy you. In my family, everything is not so smooth in this regard. But let's not talk about sad things. - said the fox and put the fox back on the floor. Shadow was more attracted to humans. His appearance and clothes are a little similar to his first friend, who was once upon a time before Tails. — What’s your name, little one? — I'm not a toddler. I'm Mikhail Robotnik. — a man with yellow hair introduced himself. — Why are you looking at me... So sad? — Sorry! It’s just that, no matter how it seems like another coincidence... You reminded me of one of my old friends, who was even before Te... Miles. Your hair, eyes and clothes color are almost the same as his. — here Shadow almost didn’t lie and told the truth. — A! Well. Let's get to know each other. — Misha extended his hand, and Shadow fearfully and slowly extended his finger so that the little man would shake it like a hand. — Excuse me, Terios and I will go away for a couple of minutes for a personal conversation. — said the fox and he and the striped naga crawled out into the street. He became curious. — Shadow, you didn’t tell me that you already had a friend before me. — This is not just a friend, but a girlfriend. I didn’t tell anyone about her because it hurt my soul. — Why? Did she die? — Tails didn’t understand, and the naked hedgehog sighed heavily, lowering his head. The fox flew closer to his muzzle and ran his hand over his cheek. — Shadow, I’m your best and most faithful friend. You can trust me. I promise that I won’t tell anyone, I just ask you, explain who this friend of yours was? Looking first at the fox, then lowering his head again, thinking, he answers: — Okay, Tails! I met her a couple of years later, after Luz Bakcheta’s father died. And in this world, as I understand it, only my female version stood up for him, but fortunately survived, which is why Luzeta did not become as evil as our evil one. So here it is. Her name was Maria Robotnik. She had long yellow hair, beautiful blue eyes and a luxurious blue dress. Especially the facial features of that person almost resembled her face. I loved her, played with her, met her every night near the forest... — But what happened to her then? — She... Killed... Her people... I had almost the same fate as Luz... They almost killed me by throwing a spear at me, and Maria herself put herself under it, trying to save me and giving me the opportunity to escape... Even when I was hiding, I saw that those people were grieving and ashamed of what they had done, hugging their dead girl... And after that I did not sleep at night and blamed only myself for her death. If we hadn’t met her then, she might have lived longer... At least I didn’t get angry with people, just like Luz... Therefore, when you, being a naga hunter, returned to me, I didn’t just so I decided to eat you. I realized that I shouldn’t have done this, but there was no other choice then. I had to do this so that no one else would suffer not only from you, but also because of me. I was afraid that our relationship with you would repeat the same pattern that my relationship with Maria had. Now that I saw him, and recognized that Mary in him, my mental pain returned. — Don't despair, Shadow. In this world, perhaps, unlike our world, everything went much better and the local Luz did not get angry with people, but on the contrary. Yes, and friendship between nagas and people also happened, as I wanted, but a little differently and much earlier than in our world. At least when we return home to our world, you can be calm and believe that somewhere out there, among the worlds, there is a world similar to ours, in which everything went differently and became much better than ours and without bad consequences. — You’re probably right, Tails. Thank you. — Nag lightly pressed the fox to his chest with his palm, and he hugged his chest. Afterwards they let each other go, and the hedgehog himself even wiped away his tears. — There’s just one thing I don’t understand. — What? — It seems that Luz and I jumped into the portal at the same time. Where did Luz himself go in this case? If Tailsko only saw you and me, and he didn’t. — Shadow was just now thinking. At the same time Luz Bucket himself, namely the male version, wandered through the forest and looked around. He saw how in this world all the nagas and people, as well as the Mobians, feel calm with each other. Some even play. Luz didn't like this world. — Stupid world. It will be necessary to include him in the list. First I’ll fix my world, and then this one. — he said to himself, opened a new portal with the ring and moved on. The portal closed behind him. Luz didn’t even suspect that someone had already noticed him and the portal.