"Hey guys! Okay, this isn't just any story…this is an ultimate collab! Blue Mage Quartet, Azngirlchibi, and I are working on this story together, with much help from others. So, we all hope you enjoy it! Here's the first chapter; it's a little short, but it's a start all the same!" –Ciel the Hedgehog
"Hope you enjoy the story, and feel free to review and leave constructive criticism! Also, feel free to check out each author's individual profile(s) for more great reads!" –Blue Mage Quartet
"Please comment on the story, even if you hated it! We need the advice, and plus, it'd make us happy... and happymore updates! YAY!" –azngirlchibi
Disclaimer: Sonic the Hedgehog and all related characters belong to SEGA. Any other characters belong to the authors working on this story unless otherwise noted.
Also, much thanks to the founder of this collab, Playstation14. Thanks are also in order for Skitzoism, SexyShadowGirl, and Maverick87. Sorry if I forgot anyone there! Well, enjoy!
The dawn sky was as pink as worms smeared across the pavement.
Sonic couldn't help thinking this as he freefell, his skin flapping from the wind and the tears from his eyes falling upwards. In all his life, Sonic never thought that he would think something was happening too fast for him, but as the ground rushed up towards him, black and uninviting, he couldn't help thinking of himself splattered like a water balloon across the pavement.
Then again, thinking of water balloons made him think about water. He didn't really want to spend the last few seconds of his fifteen-year old life thinking about the one substance on Earth that he hated the most.
'And I say I have about… ten seconds to choose my final thoughts.'
Pulling out a mental checklist of things he would think about when freefalling to his death (Tails had blatantly threatened him with a spork-like screwdriver that he would kick him out of his workshop if he could not find something to do, which apparently, did not include looking for ways to have fun with a staple gun…), and began going through the list methodically. Until he remembered that he hadn't listened to Tails's advice and had spent the rest of the day stapled to a tree by his gloves.
'Okay then… improvising it is. I was always good at that…'
Sonic looked up for a moment. The sky was pulling away from him, going too fast for him to catch. For some reason, he couldn't quite remember how he was falling in the first place. It was like he had just woken up to find himself zooming towards the ground. Except this time, Tails wasn't going to miraculously appear with the Tornado to catch him – he was by himself this time.
And unfortunately, it seemed like he wasn't about to grow wings any time soon.
'… I'm not really good with this 'final thoughts' stuff, am I.' He furrowed his eyebrows (kind of. It was hard to do when the wind seemed oh-so-eager to give you an unwanted eyebrow-plucking treatment). 'At least think of something that will make you die happy. Or laughing.'
A picture of Knuckles foaming at the mouth as a fly landed on the Master Emerald immediately flashed through his head.
Sonic chuckled, though the sound was torn away from his lips.
He dared a quick peek at the ground again. Why hadn't he splat yet? Maybe the ground wasn't as close as he had thought it was. Which equaled an even more painful landing.
It also meant that he was going to have to think some more.
'Boy, I hate thinking.'
And as if the ground had heard him, it rushed up until it was mere inches from his face.
Sonic squeezed his eyes shut. 'Here it comes…'
Suddenly, something flashed by his eyes.
'Game Over. Continue?'
And everything turned white.
If there was anything to describe how Sonic was feeling right now, it took only one word: confused.
At first, the Blue Blur thought he had accidentally Chaos Controlled into the middle of rush hour traffic in Central City. Besides remembering the fact that he didn't have an emerald to pull off this stunt in the first place, a quick glance around (once he had gotten out of the street, of course) revealed something extremely strange: all humans. Sure, there were quite a few humans back home, and they often preferred to live in cities, but this many without a fellow hedgehog or something in sight? It was insane! Plus, they were all staring at him…usually, when people wanted his autograph, they swarmed first, and asked questions later.
"Look Momma!" One little human boy exclaimed. "That man in the funny suit looks like Sonic!"
"His outfit sucks," A second boy, probably a brother to the first, retorted. "His head's too small, and he looks all funny."
Before retorting that he was not dressed up as himself, Sonic heard a woman (presumably the kid's mother) shriek. In fact, quite a few people were shrieking. Definitely not a good reaction for autographs.
"Apparently, these people don't know how to handle their friendly neighborhood hedgehog," He thought with a smirk. "Not much choice than to hightail it out of here."
The Blue Blur quickly decided to head left, speeding off without another word. The whole city seemed unfamiliar to him, and why did people keep staring instead of getting out of his way? At least he was going fast enough to ignore their screaming. Though it was also strange, in the fact that there were no speed panels on the road, like usual. Or loop-de-loops. Was it just him, or were there no rings either?
Wait a minute…
Skidding to a halt, Sonic saw a familiar (and handsome, in his opinion) face plastered in one of the windows. It was a poster advertising for a new game by Sega, starring…
"Me?" The hedgehog stepped back. His own game? Sweet! When he got home, he'd have to make Tails check on it. Maybe he'd get it, just to see how well he could play as himself…
It was then that Sonic noticed his reflection in the window.
Compared to the poster, the face staring back at him was…different, to say the least. It looked like he had been stretched out a bit; his body was longer, his head and eyes smaller, and his fur was short and rugged. And what was up with his muzzle? He rubbed his face, thankful that at least his gloves and shoes stayed the same.
"What the heck happened to my face? I think I would remember if I dressed up for Halloween or something…no, this doesn't feel like a mask."
Were those sirens in the background? Whipping around, the Blue Blur came face to face with a pair of humans dressed in black, and a nearby car with flashing lights and a badge imprinted on the side. Policemen?
"Well, hiya' officers," Sonic said with a wave. "Say, think you could help a guy out? I seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere…what city is this? New Westopolis?"
The officers exchanged glances with each other, then at the poster in the shop window, and finally back at Sonic. Judging by the way their mouths were hanging out, they were surprised by the hedgehog in front of them being able to speak.
"You're in Los Angeles kid," One of them said. "Now, get out of the suit, and get ready for a trip to the court. We need to have a little chat."
"Again with the outfit?" Sonic asked, tapping his foot. "What makes you think I'm wearing an outfit? Though I admit, it does look sorta' funny…say, maybe Tails pulled a prank on me? I was pretty sure we already went through April Fools day, but then again…"
Clink. Something cold and metallic snapped onto his wrists. Did he just get handcuffed? Sonic the Hedgehog, handcuffed? What madness was this?