Bound by Music

Whispers in the Winds

Present

In a wide open field, miles away from any city, and surrounded by a large forest, a blue blur ran through its tall grass, waving it like a rapid breeze. The streak stopped in the center of the open plain and became recognizable as a strong, lean, azure hedgehog with emerald green eyes. Sonic stood proudly, looking up into the setting sun as the wind blew autumn leaves all around him. He snatched one out of the air and looked at it.

"It's been six years today," he told the breeze with a sad smile, "Crazy. It feels like it's been ages ago. I wonder how they're doing. Do they still miss me?"

His mind clouded with images of two hedgehogs, one green and the other fuschia. His brother and sister. He could remember their last day together all too clearly.

"Sonia, Manic,...I hope you two are okay, wherever you are,"he whispered. Ever since the explosion, or what he now knew as chaos control, he had been keeping Robotnik away from Robotropolis, even though it meant sacrificing his only chance to see his family ever again. It was a hard choice, but he knew it was for the best.

He had made a lot of friends in this new land. Tails, his adopted brother. Knuckles, but he wasn't a new friend; they had known each other for a long time. Amy. Cream and Cheese. The Chaotix. Rouge. Omega. Even Shadow, though he would never admit that he considered them friends. They had all grown to become a tight family, but it was nothing like his siblings he had left behind.

After his first victory against Robotnik, who now went by Dr. Eggman, Sonic had become a world renown hero. People cheered and greeted him whenever he passed by, and it was a personal game for him to lead the press away from him and his teammates. He loves the adrenaline in the heat of battle, and the freedom to run wherever he wanted. But there was a still a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that he wasn't where he was supposed to be. That the crowds cheers were empty. That he didn't belong where he was...

He sighed. Being one of the three magical triplets, he knew that he couldn't fight the song threatening to burst. And so he began to sing softly to the wind:

I have often dreamed of a far off place,

Where a great warm welcome will be waiting for me.

Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face,

And a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be!

He held the yellow leaf in his hand as he looked up. The wind blew faster, swirling the autumn debris around him and into the painted sky.

I will find my way!

I can go the distance!

I'll be there someday,

If I can be strong!

I know every mile

Will be worth my while.

I would go most anywhere to feel like I belong!

He released the leaf watched it twirl in the breeze and soar into the sky. That was freedom to him, going wherever the wind would take him. And he knew that someday, if he followed it, the wind would lead him home.

Far away, deep in a forgotten cave...

"The time has come," the Oracle said as he watched the now sixteen year old Sonic run through a sea of grass with a carefree smile.

"Their stars are drawing together. Soon the last shall be found and the Council of Four shall be made. We know where the three are, but the fourth is hidden from my sight. I fear that a grave danger follows him."

A cloaked figure watched the scene from the shadows of the room and said, "I haven't heard him sing in sixteen years. As one of the Four, he can't fight the song in his heart, not for much longer. I can't wait to see them again. I'm ready for all of this to be over."

"As am I," the elder replied, "and you are right. He will call out to us, whether he knows that he is doing so or not. We will hear his voice; afterall, his amulet symbolizes his gift, just as the others do."

"Yes...," the figure trailed off, "we will hear him very soon. I know it."