>>536171619
>treated Tails like crap
No, it didn't. At least, not consistently.
>Colors
Tails is the one who initiates the plot by investigating Eggman. Tails is essential to Sonic's involvement and victory. Tails is the one who creates the translator device that allows them to communicate with the wisps.
>lost world
Tails saves the world. He sacrifices himself so Sonic won't get caught, foils the Deadly Six's scheme to roboticize Sonic and their back-up scheme of roboticizing him. He proceeds to then shut down the machine that would've drained the planet's life force. Tails is narratively the main protagonist of Lost World and was skeptical of Eggman from the beginning.