Sonic the Hedgehog

Stranded

"SONIC!"

The voice is mostly carried by the wind but it reaches the hedgehog's ears nonetheless. He looks up and through the darkness, Sonic sees Tails flying down to him with Amy dangling from his arms. Sonic stands up and waits for the two to land. As he does so he can't help but rub his arms in a futile effort to warm up. The weather is freezing. Goosebumps pop up under the Mobian's fur and his teeth clatter rapidly. From the looks of it, Tails and Amy aren't faring much better, with both of them shivering as they start to land.

How a place as desolate and barren as Ice Cap can exist right next to a bustling, grand city like Metropolis is a wonder to Sonic who starts running in place to keep his body moving. Amy lets go of Tails once it's safe enough and falls to the ground. Right as her shoes touch the snow, she lunges at the blue hedgehog in front of her in a tightening embrace, catching him off guard.

"Thank goodness you're okay, Sonic!!" She cries. "We saw the plane go down and we didn't know if you'd be alright!"

"I'm fine, Amy," Sonic says.

He almost lets go of Amy by instinct but doesn't once he feels the warmth of another Mobian's body. He hangs on a little longer before finally letting go, hoping Amy doesn't get any wrong ideas, which judging from her obvious blushing and wide smile, appears to be the case.

"Well, so much for the Tornado..." Tails mutters as he lands and sees the ball of fire three meters to his right. "So what now, Sonic?"

"First, we find Knuckles," Sonic says. "A guy as tough as he is had to have survived a fall like that. After, we head North after Robuttnik and his band of misfits. I can only carry one person at a time for long runs and I'm not leaving anyone alone again. Especially with that metal clone probably lurking around. So we stick together and find a vehicle. Once you guys are all somewhere... not stranded, I'm chasing after those emeralds."

"Without the Tornado?" Tails asks.

"Don't worry about me, little buddy, I got my legs," Sonic says as he stretches.

"But how will I keep up with you?"

Sonic stops stretching. He looks at Tails and realizes he didn't fully get what he meant.

"Tails, I've put you in danger long enough," Sonic says. "I'm getting you and the others to someplace safe and I'm fixing this mess. I can still catch up and maybe get at least one emerald before Robotnik collects all seven."

Tails looks at Sonic, his distraught eyes wide-open in shock.

"But... I thought..."

"Look!" Amy interrupts, pointing to a red figure in the sky.

Everyone looks up and sees Knuckles, with all of his limbs stretched out, gliding to their location. Sonic grins.

This guy is just full of surprises. He thinks to himself.

After a few moments, Knuckles lands in front of the other three.

"Hey," Sonic greets. "Glad you-"

"Where is it!" Knuckles demands, catching everyone by surprise.

"Where is what?" Sonic asks.

"What else- the emerald!!" Knuckles barks. "Tell me you have it with you!"

"Look, just calm-"

"Calm?! CALM?! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BE CALM?! YOU JUST LET THAT EGGMAN CREEP MAKE OFF WITH OUR EMERALD AND NOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!"

"That's not fair, Knuckles," Sonic says, his brow furrowing.

"Is it?" Knuckles argues. "If we would have just taken the emerald like I suggested then none of this would have happened! Eggman would be stopped and I'd be back on my island! This is your fault!"

"Oh yeah?" Sonic says. "Which one of us got tricked by Robotnik back at Angel Island again? If you had a brain up there in that thick skull of yours, you would have seen through his plot and we would have won right there!"

Knuckles turns to Sonic with eyes of bloodlust. He starts approaching the hedgehog who stands his ground- both of his fists clenched.

"STOP FIGHTING!" Amy screams, making everyone pause. "This is not the time guys!"

Sonic sighs.

"Look, she's right, Knuckles," Sonic admits. "Let's just-"

"No, I'm done here," Knuckles interrupts as he storms off in another direction. "I'll never listen to you again, Sonic the Hedgehog."

"Fine," Sonic says, crossing his arms. "Tails, Amy, let's go."

Before either of the two can interject, Sonic has already turned around and is heading in the opposite direction of Knuckles.

...