Heaven on Earth

Chapter 7: Trespass Sweetly Urged

It was like lightning had struck him. He'd never expected these words to come from the lips of the sweet girl he currently hung out with.

Emerald eyes darted up to meet her purple hue. "What?"

"I know what you mean. About not being good enough." Twilight tugged at her hair. "When....when I read about your heroics, I felt that way. I mean, some of your battles are pretty awesome, like fighting the water monster or trashing two time-space deities or that one time you flew through an earth god's brain."

Sonic snickered. "Don't forget about the multiple occasions of time travel, blowing up multiple Death Eggs, trashing at least a bazillion robots, the time my friends and I took on an evil alien race, trashed a metal copy of myself at least three times, and saved the world a bajillon times."

"Exactly," Twilight agreed. "But that means you've got a shadow that's about as legendary as your speed. And I just....I don't know if I can keep up with someone like that."

"But you've saved the day multiple times too, right?" Sonic urged. "Like that time against Gaia Everfree?"

"Well, yeah. But most of my battles are magic battles. You know, ones that can be knocked out in one punch and the whole friendship-is-power deal. Big whoop." Twilight shrugged. "But your battles, yours are the stuff of legends. I don't know if I can be good enough for fights like that."

"Just because I've been fighting epic levels of evil for most of my life doesn't mean that all of my fights are the stuff of legends." Sonic scratched his quills. "I mean, you know how often I wish the only issues I dealt with were math tests and school projects? Punching Badniks is fine, but sometimes I wish I could be somewhat normal."

"You're anything but normal, but that's okay," Twilight teased. "Sonic, I'm going to be honest with you." She took his hand shyly. "Sonic, I've seen how you fight in videos online. I've seen you move. You charge into battle with a grin a mile wide and every move you make has purpose and power. You clearly have enough confidence to be yourself around everyone. And if what I believe is correct, then you have enough confidence for the both of us to believe that we're good enough for the other."

Sonic's emerald eyes glimmered in surprise. "Wow. Gosh, I-I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything. Yet." Twilight released his hand. "I once heard my brother talking about you. He thinks you're dangerous and considering the literal rollercoaster I went through with you to get here, I'm not surprised."

"And what do you think?" Sonic asked.

"Well," Twilight said, "I think you're the fresh start I've waited for."

Sonic boldly laid his hand over hers. "I promise you, it'll be a fresh start you'll want to remember for a long time. And don't worry about not being perfect for me. I don't care about that. Flaws are what make us real and relatable." He let his eyes lock with hers, noting the rosy glow in her cheeks. "When I first met you and we talked, I knew you were different. I knew you were something special. It was only a matter of finding out more about you. And through our conversations and our interactions, I knew there was something about you that I liked, besides your ability to silence me." He scooped up her hand, squeezing it between his own. "You liked me for me. You didn't want to see just the hero or the crown or even the guy you danced with. You just wanted to see me. Just me. No cameras, no paparazzi, no crown, not even a magical charm. You just wanted the real me. And I...." He took a deep breath. "I'm honored that you asked to see who I really was -- not what you wanted to see. You know that's how I love someone -- I see what's underneath the hoopla and the sparkle to see the real person underneath."

Twilight's eyes were wide with wonder. "Do you really mean that?"

"Every word." Sonic squeezed their hands again.