"Who knew ruling a kingdom alone could leave you so empty? I know the feeling all too well, even four years after meeting Sonic and friends. Due to shirking my royal duties with Marine, I've come across an island I'd never seen before. It's also guarded by some mangy wolf who had the gall to attack me! In terms of emptiness, however, it appears even I have met my match."
Chapter One: Trapped Within The Sol
Hard to believe it had already been four years...
'Three and a half years, to be exact.' A timid smile creeped onto the feline's alabaster muzzle. 'Three years, five months, and 11 days to be precise, but who- well, other than me- is counting...' Even then, it was a smile she only found comfort in sharing with those she had grown to know in the timeframe her mind fussed with.
Nearly four years since she had hit the troubled age of fourteen, shared with the same night a pompous, power hungry, robot crazy, egg-shaped man took advantage of her absence while away at her unwanted, nerve-rackingly enormous birthday party thrown by the citizens of her kingdom. It had left him enough time to make haste with the gems she'd sworn to protect with her life, the Sol Emeralds, and into another dimension no less...
Nearly four years since being summoned to a different dimension entirely by the Sol Emeralds' will, mear hours after a defeated breakdown. Her eyes had been dry of tears ever since.
Nearly four years since dragged along (rather "guided") by a young, perplexingly naive rabbit who would, unforeseen by the feline, become among her first- and best friends.
Nearly four years since having slammed her frustrations (and her boot) into a certain echidna's dreadlocked cranium.
Nearly four years since going toe-to-toe with the world's fastest hedgehog, defeated by the hairs of her chinny-chi- er, lavender fur. A rematch may still be in order, however...
Nearly four years since harnessing the true power of the Sol Emeralds for the first time in her life and taking down the egg-shaped genius and his counterpart. With a little help, of course.
And most important of all- to her even more so than reclaiming her sacred emeralds and returning to her world, a group of heroes had broken her from distant exterior, her once lonely existence left far behind her, along with those nearly four years.
Well, nearly...
As much as she would have scoffed at the thought those years ago, she had been eternally indebted to the few of this world who had revealed to her the joys and wonders of friendship, and her visits had been frequent enough to stave off those feelings of loneliness in her life of isolation. Those visits had been noticeably become less often, unfortunately. Even her guide of this world, who had just recently hit her preteens, could figure that much out.
"Are you sure you have to leave so soon, Ms. Blaze?"
The cat had been snapped back from her reminiscing, locking her golden orbs with the quivering cinnamon pair belonging to the younger rabbit close. The puppy eyes she received from the chao on girl's head didn't help matters either. Three visits a year was the minimum, usually staying under the household of selfless Vanilla for a solid month. Hardly half that could be spared this year around.
"Now now, Cream, asking five times isn't going to change someone's answer." The older rabbit, who Blaze could now stand at eye level with, gave a warm smile to both her kin and Blaze. "Though if I could be selfish, dear, it will won't be the same without your trips over here. You've grown on me as you were a second daughter after all."
Vanilla's words triggered one of the handful of moments these few years Blaze had to fight herself, lest the dam finally crumble. "I d-deeply apologize... t-to all of you." the feline muttered shakily as she hung her head, her vision darting every corner of the dual-tailed fox's lab to avoid any and all eye contact. "Usually, one would think getting older would have it's benefits. For one my age, it often would; keeping a kingdom on it's feet, and… a-and all of this responsibility may have fallen onto the wrong shoulders, b-but-"
"But nothin', Blaze!" The cat nearly jumped out of her heels when gloved hand rested on her shoulder. Blaze traced the arm back to the source, catching the blue hedgehog in the act of forming his trademark smirk. If there was one thing impervious to the changes these four years, it was Sonic. "You've got nothing to apologize for, y'know. Anyone in this room can vouch that I couldn't juggle all of these duties even half as well as you can. Now actual juggling and you've got yourself a match!"
The room filled with small laughter, leaving even Blaze unable to crack a smile. It was a wonder how the hedgehog could brighten even the most dreary moods.
"He's right y'know, kitty-cat! Keep tryin' ta lift the world on your scales and loosen up, Vanilla and I will always be waiting right here if ya need to relax." Blaze was sure the crocodile had only come to see her off as an excuse to get closer to the older rabbit. It seemed that whenever Vanilla was near, Vector was only a few feet away watching her from in the bushes.
Or at least that was the case the first year she had come to visit this world. One day, Vanilla must've done something to give the stalking croc enough confidence to watch his "prey" closer. The two had grown closer, even Blaze could see that. Vector seemed much too gentle to wish to hurt her, and both parties looked to be genuinely happy, so who was she to impede with her surrogate mother's life?
Blaze simply ignored the demeaning nickname and nodded, feeling much more at ease than compared to just a few minutes ago. That was, until the two-tailed fox called out from the corner of the room.
"Alright, Blaze, the portal's a go."
It was as if the weight Sonic has managed to distract her from landing on her shoulders once more, but far be it Blaze couldn't ruin her friends' mood. "Thank you, Tails. I'm sure everyone back home will be delighted to, um…"
Sensing the awkwardness in the air, Tails gave a sincere, albeit sympathetic smile. "Aw, it's nothing. Be sure to say high to Marine for me, 'kay? I'm curious about the ship blueprints she's made for me this time, and they seem to be improving every year."
A playful smile hinted over Blaze's muzzle. "I'm sure she would be more than happy to hand you them herself. With how much can run from her mouth, it is rather amusing to hear what she might slip up about you…"
Amused enough with the now red hue of Tails' muzzle, Blaze stood before the rather intimidating portal. A light that would once result in a twitch from the feline had begin to spark, soon enveloping the steel frames with a vortex as orange as the Sun itself. It was as if the warm embrace of Sol herself were welcoming Blaze home, not unlike a mother greeting her kin at the door while holding a fresh batch of-
"Blaze?"
Being summoned away from her thoughts with a hint of embarrassment, the flame princess caught eyes with her floppy-eared tour guide once again. Just one look was enough to tighten the chains coiled around her heart. "Do not fret, Cream, I shall perform all within my power to ensure that our next visit to be-"
Instead, the unexpected had hit her not unlike a castle of bricks.
The small rabbit wiped at her forming tears, clearing her throat with a cough before flashing her first sincere smile of the day. "Take as much time as you need, Ms. Blaze. I'll be looking forward to our next encounter!"
Tears did not flow from down Blaze's cheeks like anticipated, a hearty chuckle taking their place, one she had not anticipated this coming day, but strangely welcomed. This girl was undoubtedly Vanilla's daughter. "Such a polite young woman you are blossoming into. I look forward to our next meetup as well."
Casting a nod and smile to the rest of her audience, Blaze stood her ground against the portal's illuminessence before finally taking her first step forward. Not before one last heavy thought before parting ways with this foreign dimension, however.
'Loneliness can only welcome weakness. And as the Princess of Sol, I shall have none of that.'
Author's Note: So, a few things before we get started!
This takes place within the game's canon. Obviously there's a lot about the Sol Dimension I made up, but I would say Blaze and Silver are likely only acquaintances at best. Sorry, folks. I have nothing against Silver or the ship, I swear. :c
This will mostly center around Blaze and the OC. Yes, I'm shipping a canon character with an original character of mine. Don't worry, viewers rolling their eyes, the OC isn't (too) overpowered, and his flaws are clear as day. No, he is not a self insert, and like any character, he can lose. I'm also going to try to take their relationship as slow and realistically as possible, especially considering their rough start (was that even a spoiler?).
And a few more things I must also point out. This story takes place a couple years later, and every Sonic character has grown within those years. As Vanilla is older and among the tallest Sonic females at 4'2, I'd say that's around the above average height for adult female mobians (a term from the comic, but works well enough). As for males, Sonic is a good 4'3 here, so that's around the average as well. Maybe pointless to point out, but...
Anyway, would appreciate any readers to let me know what I'm doing right, as well as what I'm doing wrong (respectfully, please). I sincerely hope you find this read an entertaining one in the least!
