"W-WHOA!"
Sonic yelped as he faceplanted into the ground, groaning slightly from the impact. It wasn't the worst feeling in the world, but that didn't mean he felt good about it.
He got up, shaking the dirt off of himself, then turned to see Bygone Island in the distance. "Dang, I really got blown far..."
He thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. I bet I could fling myself back there if I had enough space to get into a run.
He started running the other way, but suddenly felt his leg get caught on something, finding himself hanging upside-down.
Ugh, if this is another one of Sticks' traps... He paused. But wait, this is another island, so who...?
"Aha!" a voice said. "Thought you could just waltz right in, did you? Well think again, giant!"
Giant...?
Sonic looked around, trying find the source of the voice. "Hey, what's the big idea?"
"I dunno, you tell me!" the voice responded.
The speaker sounded close by, almost as if he was...below Sonic?
"Eh?" Sonic looked down - or, well, up, from his point of view - to see a small red echidna, probably no bigger than his hand, standing there.
"Ugh, look, can you just let me down?" Sonic asked. "The blood's rushing to my brain..."
"Ha, nice try!" the echidna huffed. "You can't fool me, giant; I know what you're up to! But I won't let you do anything to my island!"
"Your island?" Sonic asked. He frowned, then gave out a huff, starting to swing himself back and forth. He'd been in this trap before, so he'd mentally thank Sticks, this time.
He curled up into a spindash, snapping the rope off as he fell to the ground. He quickly snatched up the small echidna, holding him up to his face, but far enough away that he couldn't do anything.
"Look, I didn't come here to do anything. I got flung here by accident."
"Likely story!"
The echidna began to kick and punch frantically, but was only succeeding in attacking the air.
"Argh, put me down! I-I'll fight you!"
"Calm down, bud," Sonic soothed, lightly patting the echidna's head with a finger. "I just wanna get back to my place as soon as possible, honest. Besides, what would I want with an island like this?" he asked, not realizing how insensitive he sounded.
The echidna growled angrily. "I-I won't calm down! I am an eternal flame, baby!"
Sonic snorted, managing a smirk. "Look, I don't want to fight, okay?" He set the echidna down to prove a point. "I'm just here because I was fighting a bad guy back home and got flung all the way out here."
The echidna panted for breath, clearly having worn himself out.
"A-and how...do...I know...you're telling...ugh..."
Sonic frowned, bending down a bit. "Hey, easy..." He picked the echidna up again, but held him in his palm rather than by his fingers. "Sit down, relax. I don't even know what this island's for." He glanced around, seeing its wilted state. "Did some people try to wreck this place or something? Is that why you're so pent up on protecting it?"
The echidna nodded, a sad look crossing his face as he averted his gaze.
"I-it's dying...a-and I'm the only one around to protect it..."
Tears started welling up in his eyes. He was embarrassed to be seen like this by the large stranger, but he suddenly found that he couldn't control his emotions. Maybe he wasn't that strong after all...
"I-it's been my home my whole life...I-I can't just let it die!"
Sonic's ears perked up in surprise, seeing the echidna in this state. He frowned, unable to help petting him slightly.
"Sorry, bud... but I think it might be too late for this place." He gestured to the trees up above them. "I've got trees back on my own island, and they're green and tough. The branch of this tree was practically breaking under my weight, and these leaves are turning brown and fragile..."
The echidna sighed heavily. "I-I know...b-but...i-it's my home..."
"M-mm, yeah, I know..." Sonic was still a little upset for being trapped, but he felt bad for the little guy. "...Hey! How about you come home with me?" he offered.
The echidna looked up in surprise. "H-huh?"
"Yeah, why not?" Sonic asked, grinning a bit more genuinely. He turned back to look around the island, his frown returning. "I mean, it doesn't look like there'd be enough food for ya here, even the way that you are." He stared back at him, his smile returning. "But there's plenty back on my island, so you could just come with me!"
The echidna thought about it. "I-I dunno..." he hesitated. "I-I mean...it sounds nice, but..." He gazed off into the distance, at the only place he'd known his entire life. "...I-I just don't know if I can say...goodbye..."
"Hmm... yeah, I guess it's hard to leave to your home..." Sonic paused, trying to think of someway to convince him, but thought of nothing. He set the echidna down and shrugged. "Ah, well... sorry I can't help ya..."
"...th-thanks, though..." The echidna managed a small, sad smile. "Y-you're the nicest giant I've ever met..."
There's that word again... Sonic thought. Doesn't he...?
"A-ah, anyway, mm..." He hesitated, not wanting to leave the echidna by himself. "I've gotta head back to my island now; guess the rest of the gang's already cleaned Egghead's clock." He smiled down at him. "Offer's still open if y'ever need it... erm..." He paused, realizing he never got the echidna's name.
"O-oh, yeah." The echidna cleared his throat. "My name's Nakkuru. What's yours?"
"N-Nak-ah-ru?" Sonic blushed at his inability to pronounce his name. "H-heh, mine's Sonic." He got on one knee, extending his hand down for a handshake. He paused, realizing the implausibility, then just extended his pinkie finger out for the echidna to shake.
Nakkuru shook it, smiling softly.
"Well Sonic, I hope we meet again soon!"
Sonic nodded in reply, then waved and suddenly took off in a burst of speed. He circled the island a few times, then jumped, making the long impressive leap back to the island.
Nakkuru could only stand there, jaw hanging open. He'd never seen someone run that fast before-or be able to actually jump off the island without hurting themself! He wasn't impressed-that just wasn't a strong enough word.