The sun is shining over the horizon on a cool summer day in June, three full weeks before the infamous blue blur’s 27th birthday, who seemed very ecstatic about it. He decided to start the lovely Saturday morning on one of his usual morning runs, simply to stretch his legs and get some fresh air in his lungs. The smell of damp grass, the gentle winds brushing his quills, the blurred vision from running close to the sound barrier. It makes him feel more alive than ever before. Although he couldn’t help but to wonder what the others were up to, probably sleep around this time. Tails might be up still from pulling his usual all-nighters, tinkering on one of his many inventions. Amy could be awake, baking sweets to deliver to his house around 9. Knuckles is guarding the Master Emerald on Angel Island. Eggman is most likely trying to come up with another major plan to get rid of Sonic once and for all, since he hadn’t been attacking Station Square in the past month. So he figured he’ll check on them after his run. Where was this hedgehog going? To Silent Forest for a change of scenery; he was tired of Green Hill.

It didn’t take him long to reach his destination, about 10 minutes at most. He was now standing at the entrance of the zone, dusting of his red and white striped shoes before going on the nature trail. He walked along it, not wanting to disturb the peace. The trees there grew very large and long leaves, which provided an ample amount of shade for the forest wildlife and the visitors going through. The air was crisp and smelled of pollen and moist dirt. Occasionally there would be a few noises from the animals, trying to find food and.shelter. On visits like these, Sonic’ll toss over his scraps of leftover chili dogs to the side and watch the animals eat it while no one else is looking. He made a left turn, going of the trail, to what he calls his “sacred garden”, which can only be accessable through a small bush, only meant for the smallest of creatures. This didn’t stop the hedgehog though, as he curled in a ball and rolled through the shrub and ended up in a small cave tunnel, light from the sun pouring out from the other end making him squint as he uncurled. He strolled to the other side, hearing the sound of falling water.

The sight of the small garden never ceased to amaze him. The waterfall straight ahead was sparkling in the sunlight, as well as the water that pooled beneath it. The grass was covered from the small water drops that escaped from the group surrounding the pond. Pink and blue flowers bloomed everywhere in the garden. Small blue and yellow-tipped creatures called Chao lived here. Most were swimming in the pond, others were trying to grab the delicate orange Chao fruits dangling beneath the palmtree-like leaves on tall trees. One Chao in particular, who was very fond of the blue blur once he first discovered the Chao garden waddled it’s way over to him, holding a small flower crown filled with the full bloomed blue flowers. The chao tried it’s best to put it on his head, the crown always seemingly drooping over one ear. Sonic chuckled a little and let it hang like it was, and picked up the chao and set it in his lap, petting it’s head.

“It’s okay Chonic. It’s still very pretty.” He whispered to “Chonic”, a name he made up on the spot.

“Chao chao!” The mythical creature spoke, although the hedgehog didn’t understand a thing it said.

The two sat in silence, enjoying the soft grass beneath them. It wasn’t long before Chonic left to go play with its friends, Sonic watching from the far distance. He yawned, feeling very sleepy all of a sudden, most likely from the boredom that soon settled in his mind. So he climbed the nearest tree, and laid on one of the high branches in the comfort of the shade, the sounds of nature luring him to sleep.

[BC]***

Some force woke the blue blur, as he jolted upright, frantically looking in all directions. He couldn’t see where exactly he was. The room was very dimly lit with an old, almost burnt out yellow light bulb. From what he could make out, he definitely wasn’t outside anymore, the air was thick and cold. He backed up into a brick wall, then looked left and right, but went forwards instead. He met another brick wall a few feet later, darkness surounding him everywhere, the small light source flickering in the distance. He could’ve taken the light source with him, even though the light bulb would scorch his hands even through the thick white gloves of his. But to him, this was a reality, not a dream. And as all realistic dreams go, he figured he’d stay near the light for the comfort of saftey. The only sounds were his breath and his quickening heartbeat from a slight case of clasustraphobia. He wasn’t alone, as light feathered footsteps were heard behind him, although a shadowy figure slowly emerged from the dimness of the room, hiding between the soft yellow and the hard black.

“Hello…” The figure spoke in a raspy voice, piercing red eyes held their gaze on Sonic. “However did you wander up here?”

Sonic was too spooked for words at that exact moment, and took a few, almost stumbly steps away from the sudden red eyes.

“You don’t have to answer… And I have a way to ease your nerves. What about a little game… of Hide and Seek…? You hide… and I’ll seek.” The entity then stepped out of the darkness, showing himself to have a darker shade of blue fur, and black eyes with glowing redpupils staring deep into the azure hedgehog’s soul. Blood stained his fur as well, most was dripping from his eyes, onto the peach muzzle and down his cheeks. A too wide, yellowish white sharp-toothed grin emerged, devilish ears perked up. If this wasn’t Sonic’s inner demon showing, then what exactly IS it?

“Look, I don’t know what exactly who you are, or why you look exactly like me, but I don’t want anything to do with you, or this place. I did nothing to you to deserve this… whatever this is, so can you please leave me alone?” He asked politely as his body trembled a little out of fear of what would happen if this thing found him.

But his “twin” put his hands on his shoulders, still grinning way too wide. “Alright. Maybe we don’t have to play the game then. How about THIS?!” And without warning, the clawed fingers emerging out of his ripped glove came slashing down on his stomach.

He screamed very loud. But a cat had replaced the entity and stared at him intensely. He was back outside now, on the soft grass instead of on the tree branch, extremely confused.

“It was all just a dream?”

(Sorry for such the long wait. Chapter two will be out soon!)