Sonic Runaways

Sonic and Sage trudged through the Rhea Range, snow splattering against their faces. "Sonic, are you sure this is the correct path to Elder Koco?" Sage asked, brushing snowflakes from her face only to be slammed to the ground by a large mound of snow falling from an ancient ruin. "Pah—!"

"No, we're not going there yet," Sonic sighed, digging away at the peak of the mound. "We'll freeze out here if we try to go to the coords the Hermit gave me."

"What?! But what about growing stronger? We must get you back up to speed," Sage argued, her head popping out of the side of the mound.

"Before I start 'consuming their final breaths', I want to find out what the deal is with these Koco. The Hermit made the whole process sound… even more wrong," Sonic muttered, breathing into his hands. His breath stung his raw palm through his torn glove. "I'm starting to piece it all together. Sage… is PEBBLE a Koco?" Sonic asked. Sage looked away.

"Sadly, that would seem to be the case," Sage answered, closing her eyes. "The Koco are very mysterious creatures, even I don't fully understand them yet." Pebble frowned. "However, they bear a striking resemblance to Chao in many ways."

"Chao?" Sonic asked.

"Chao are the most common pet in the world outside of the Starfall Islands, mostly because they never evolved into people like animals did," Sage explained. "Treat them badly, they'll eventually die. Treat them well, they'll live longer. They are deceptively simple creatures. The Koco are much more obviously complex, more… picky, if you will. They usually grow to have their own individual needs and dreams beyond basic love and care from their people. This growth happens remarkably quickly once they imprint on smarter or more powerful beings." The wind whistled in their ears, and the ground began to rumble. Only Sonic and Pebble seemed to notice the latter. "Should they accomplish these dreams they will die soon after. Should they be kept away from their dreams…" The entire range rumbled as the Titan under it yawned. Sonic and Pebble tripped and fell flat on their faces. "Well, Giganto is a good example of what happens there."

"So you're saying Giganto used to be a Koco?!" Sonic asked, helping Pebble up and walking along, slower this time. "How is that even possible?"

"Genetic mutation experiments enacted by a long lost race that used to live on these islands," Sage sighed, as the snow thinned and they returned to Kronos Field. "They are known scientifically as the Fallen Stars, but are more colloquially called the Ancients. Not much is known about them, most of their history has faded into obscurity and fairy tales. They died out within a generation after landing on Erius." Sage gritted her teeth. "The Fallen Stars were a terrible invasive species. Intergalactic squatters. Harbingers of destruction and death. They tarnished these islands, causing the extinction of flora and fauna alike well before it was their victims' time to go. The scars their takeover left on this land have just begun to heal, their rehabilitation beginning about ten years ago."

"Big oof," Sonic muttered, disconcerted. "Just spitballing here, but what if Giganto was created to serve as a trump card in one of their wars? That could be why he's so… y'know, huge and strong. He might only be attacking us because he sees us as invaders to the Fallen Stars' civilization."

"That is very likely the case," Sage replied. "He is but a machine following orders, well after the people and kingdom handing out orders have died… leaving him all alone." Sage looked back at the mountain range. She held her fist to her chest. "How peculiar." She followed after Sonic as night fell. "If we are not headed to the Elder, where are we going?" She asked, drifting across the grasslands under the clear starry sky. She would be aimless had it not been for Sonic.

"Well, I'm winded," Sonic yawned, his eyelids already trying to close on him. "I'm heading back to Big's Cabin. That guest room is fiiiine!" Sonic sang at the end with a big open smile. Sage floated behind him for a few seconds. "Aren't you coming with me?"

"I have other matters to attend to," Sage declined. Sonic blinked. When he opened his eyes, she was gone. "I shall be watching from afar." Her voice echoed through the plains. Sonic shrugged, proceeding to run off with Pebble tightly secured in his arms.

Sonic arrived at the front door of Big's cabin. For some reason, the shingles were decked out in origami frogs. "What's all this?" Sonic mumbled to himself. It must have taken a lot of care and precision to make them. Sonic swung the door open, and let himself in. "Yo, Big! We're… I'M back!" No response. Sonic walked into a different room, to see Big… praying. Sonic stepped back, watching silently.

"I humbly give thanks to the great Frogymandias, though we have grown distant, though we have grown apart over the years… I still yearn for the day we can reunite again," Big said, smiling in front of a cornucopia of grilled fish and roasted vegetables. "Tomorrow's feast has been gathered through my blood, sweat and tears in honor of all those lazy days I can no longer afford. The lifestyle my life has pulled me away from. In my hands I hold the ones I love, Amy of the Roses and Cream the Rabbit… I hope you are both safe, wherever you are. Frogymandias, please keep Froggy safe in the way I could not. Give him long, windy and sunny days so he may swim and hop once more in Paradise." Big stood up, and turned to Sonic. "You ever knock?"

"Sorry, Big. It slipped my mind," Sonic chuckled. Big grumbled.

"Well, it is the Lazy Day tomorrow," Big sighed. He smiled. "I suppose I can let you sleep in the guest room again."

"Thanks!" Sonic exclaimed. He began to walk off to the guest room, when suddenly, Big put a hand on his shoulder. Sonic froze.

"In return, I'd like you to come fishing with me tomorrow morning," Big requested. "It pains me to say it, but I'll need the help of the fastest thing alive to finish preparations for this sacred feast."

"I don't know how to fish, though," Sonic replied, not moving a muscle or turning to face Big.

"It's a good skill to have, don't worry. I'll help you figure it out," Big insisted, cracking a smile.

The next morning, the sun rose and bathed Kronos Island in a warm glow. Sonic suited up in cargo shorts paired with brown boots and gloves. Fastening his belt, he ran outside and through the glistening fields in Big's lead.

"Y'know, I had the craziest dream last night," Sonic said, tossing his line into the sea. "It was about Amy."

"Oh yeah?" Big asked, preparing the bait.

"Yeah, it was like she was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't understand what she was saying," Sonic replied, something biting.

"Hold that thought," Big sighed. "You gotta focus on the now, RIGHT now. Reel it in, Sonic!" Sonic stood his ground, kicking up sand as he ran backwards. He then launched himself backwards, dropping his pole. A huge barracuda was pulled out of the water and landed on Sonic. It flopped around until it died in his arms. "That's… one way to do it. Congrats, Sonic." Big said as Sonic shuddered.

They fished all morning, Sonic pulling up fish after fish with his sheer speed. With each successful catch, the inevitable fall turned less painful. Sonic couldn't tell if he was doing something right, subconsciously learning, or if he was just growing physically numb to the pain.

"Hey, Big… how fast can I screw things up?" Sonic asked, grinning with a tangled fishing line attached to the pole and sweat running down his face. Big growled deeply, clenching his fists. "Instantly! I'm the fastest thing alive!" Big's face softened, unscrunched. He laughed loudly, slamming his palm into the back of Sonic's head. Sonic felt whiplash.

…

"Please, help yourself," Big laughed, once they arrived back at the cabin with their haul. "It's more than I can eat anyways." Sonic looked to the table, and then cautiously walked over as Big swallowed a whole fish. Sonic began to gorge himself with the sushi and steamed carrots.

"How often do you do this?" Sonic asked with his mouth full.

"Once every year. It's part of my religion," Big answered. He snarfed down some seawater. "Colossalism. It's all about peace and going with the flow. But maybe don't worry about it, just eat. It's been a decade, you must be STARVING."

As the feast drew to a close, Sonic gazed at a hot dog with chili on it. Just looking at it made his tastebuds bloom in preemptive flavor. However, he was stuffed. He couldn't eat another bite. "Aye, no shame in saving food for tomorrow," Big belched. "Just means you won't go hungry the next day." Big blew out the candle. "Thanks for Lazy Day, Sonic. Goodnight." The room was now in complete darkness. Sonic tiredly trudged to the guest room, bumping into the wall.

…

"Amy, come back!" Sonic huffed and puffed, running across the outstretched arm of a huge mech suit, a long bridge over the inferno below. "I can't lose you!" Amy kept floating away towards a blurry world-ending threat barely beyond Sonic's field of vision. Sonic was just about to catch up, after running halfway around Erius' core to get to her. She then turned around. He stopped dead in his tracks. "You promised you'd love me forever! You promised to be with me forever! What did I do to deserve this?"

"It is simple. My time has come," Amy droned, hardly moving her lips. "Someday, yours will as well."

"But I'm nothing without you! I'm weak, I'm scared, I can't do it all by myself," Sonic cried.

"I used to think the same way," Amy replied. "But then I met you. You taught me to believe in myself, to be brave like you. It's because of you that I'm here. Saving the world like you always have!" Sonic's eyes widened.

"Then it's my fault," Sonic grunted, balling up his fists. "It's my fault you're leaving."

"Sonic, you have changed everyone around you for the better. I believe that is your real strength. Your REAL power," Amy told him, putting a hand on his cheek. "I will be with you always. A part… of th…e wor…l…d….y…" She disappeared, Sonic was left utterly alone. He let himself fall to his knees, fall to his side. Off of the stone arm. Into the core of the very planet.

Sonic awoke to a splitting headache. To a sore throat. To a burning stomach. He opened his mouth to scream, but could only let out a sorry choking sound. What was this? He couldn't move his limbs. He could hear heavy, frantic footsteps coming down the hall, and saw Big making a beeline into the guest room. He grabbed him by the arms, and the pain doubled.

"SONIC!" Big roared. "Snap out of it! They're coming for you, Sonic!"

"AAh… AAAAAH!" Sonic yelled at the top of his lungs, finally able to scream. "Where is she—? Where's Amy?" Big's pupils grew and shrunk like a pulsating heart, his eyes fogged over and cleared up repeatedly like his brain was breathing into them. He slapped Sonic. "Kuu—!"

"Sonic, you need to wake up! It's in your head, it's all in your head!" Big shouted, grabbing Sonic and carrying him on his shoulders. Big and Sonic looked up as the roof was lifted off its hinges. Something stared down at him. Sonic couldn't believe his eyes. Because he was getting mixed messages. He wasn't sure if he saw a hulking eldritch Amy, a red devil, or… Giganto. "Blast it all! They're here!" Big shouted, running out of the room. The wind blowing in Sonic's face slowly swept away the brain fog. Sonic looked up, and saw a row of teeth coming down to take a bite out of the island.

Giganto picked up the entire cabin in his mouth. It was the size of a small toothpick compared to him. He threw it down the hatch, Big jumping out of the cabin and landing on the middle layer of Giganto's teeth. The cabin fell into the abyss of Giganto's innards. He ran across and jumped from rows of the tower-like teeth, as they clamped shut behind him. He was almost at Giganto's lips when the teeth finally caught up. Hearing the metallic slams behind him, Big wound up a throw and launched Sonic through the city-sized oral cavern. Sonic shot through like a ballistic cannonball. Giganto bit down on Big, and Big shot his arms up to protect himself. Big caught the sharp fang by the sides, and grinned. All his muscles began to ache instantly, but he didn't give up. He lifted the fang. Shoved it deep into Giganto's gums. Big roared in laughter, as Sonic turned around midair just in time to escape Giganto's closing lips. The smell of rot and rust water mostly made way for the scent of fresh air.

"Go, Big!" Sonic laughed, grabbing onto the peak of a tower and watching Big shove Giganto's tooth far past the gums and into the Titan's skull. "KILL 'IM!" Big smiled, and using all his might, pushed the tooth in deeper. Both Sonic and Big laughed louder.

"Can you see me, Amy?!" Big shouted with a wide open smile. "If I'd known it would be this easy, I'd have killed this giant long ago!" Big was… winning!

And then Giganto started to actually try.

In an instant, Giganto chomped down on Big. A distant splatter overpowered by Big's laughter descending into agonized screams. Sonic watched in horror as Giganto chewed. And chewed. And chewed this mighty creature to little pieces of meat. Sonic sputtered, choked, and then called out…

"BIIIIIIIG!"

…

Sonic stood at the crater that used to be the yard of Big's cabin. He could hardly stop shaking, watching as Giganto stood adjacent from him, miles away. He didn't think it could see him. Sure enough, after Giganto expelled the waste that used to be Big and his home, the Titan soon lied down in his ravine, becoming one with the Rhea Range once more.

"Monster…" Sonic whispered through his hand. "You stupid… goddamn… monster." Sonic fell to his knees, punching the dirt. "Whyyyy?!?!" Sonic sniffled, glaring at the peak of Rhea Range with fury. He wiped his eyes of tears so hard that they became sore, and then looked down into the crater right in front of him. The chili dog was in the dirt, practically unscathed. In fact, most of the food could be salvaged. Sonic skated down through the dirt, and picked up as much of the leftover food as he could. The sun slowly rose, and Sonic felt his stomach growl. So he sat down by the crater wall with his chili dog.

He took a bite.

"Mm…" Sonic hummed. It was the best thing ever. "MMph.. guck–." He took another bite, tears streaming down his face as he chewed. The tingle from the spicy homemade chili forced a smile onto his face. "So good so good so good…" Sonic hadn't felt this in a long time. He hadn't felt anything good for a very long time. He sniffled, nearly snorted as he bit into the delicious food.

"Disgusting," Sage's voice mumbled. Sonic looked over to her. Sage eyed the ugly blubbering mess apathetically. "You have chili on your face." She sat down a good few feet away from him. "So Big is… gone?"

"Yeah, he's… Giganto killed him," Sonic answered, staring at nothing.

"Well, where is he now?" Sage asked. Sonic glanced to her, exhaustedly. "I never quite understood what happens to you organics when you die." Sonic watched as the clouds floated by.

"He's in a better place, Sage," Sonic muttered. Sage's mouth opened a little bit.

"A better place…" Sage mumbled. "I see. How beautiful." Sonic smiled a little bit. "I wonder if Big is happy in this 'better place'."

"Well, all I know is he'll be awful mad at us if we don't pick up where he left off," Sonic groaned, standing up and cracking his back.

"Slaying Giganto?" Sage asked. "It is impossible. He cannot be defeated. Big will inevitably be let down…" Sage shook her head in defeat. Sonic ventured forth through the crater. "You will surely perish as he did. It is rather unfortunate, in truth."

"I meant that we should pick up all the leftovers," Sonic said with a mouthful of chili dog. "He went through a lot of trouble, we shouldn't waste his food." Sage nodded in understanding, and began picking up the leftovers with Sonic.