Brilliant sunshine flowed gracefully across a land rich with life. The sky was a tapestry of light entwined with a magical element not often seen by man. The gentle rustling of trees in the wind and the distant sound of running water were the only sounds that permeated this haven. It was the time between day and night when all creatures went quiet: some resting, some rising. But the anxious silence of the coming change was broken as the weary trotting of sneakers approached.

A bedraggled blue figure came to a gradual stop at an abrupt ledge. The amber fire standing on the horizon illuminated the tired glaze on his eyes, though he showed no signs of fatigue. For a moment he absorbed the lush forest scene, no visible emotion in his stance. As his senses returned to him, he cocked his head slightly and asked himself in an oblivious voice, "Is that sun rising or setting?"

Sonic's confusion was not without good reason. Just moments ago he had been running, but not running like a normal being. He had been running for three days straight. But it wasn't the lack of food or sleep that made him groggy. Sonic had more than enough energy to function for at least another day before he felt the effects of those basic needs.

When the world wasn't under attack, Sonic got bored. When Sonic got bored, he ran. Sometimes, however, usually when he ran for a long time without stopping, he would enter some sort of trance. He found his senses weakening, his mind growing quiet. It was as though his body itself was just a distant echo in the back of his perception. He could still see where he was and control his movements, but somehow he felt he didn't have to. In this state, he could race aimlessly for days through all manner of terrain, fully unaware of his surroundings, until this dream-like state gradually faded.

Whether it was his supersonic version of meditation or just the blood rushing to the back of his head, Sonic was never sure. He didn't really hate when it happened. What he hated was waking up from it.

Sonic literally shook off his daze along with some of the other thing that had gathered in his pelt. Pulling a few twigs from his quills and brushing the dust off his arms, he wandered leisurely down the cliff side toward a trickling noise.

"Man," he thought, eyes to the ground, "this is gettin' old."

Life hadn't exactly been thrilling as of late. Robotnik hadn't shown his face in what felt like ages; Tails was holed up in his workshop making some little gadgets. "Sometimes I think he idolizes Robotnik more than me," Sonic thought. Even Amy was too busy to hang out.

"I'm wishing for Amy? I must be getting REALLY desperate."

Sonic let these concerns slip away as he arrived at the river's edge. The amber light reflected on the glistening blue surface played on the surroundings. It was soothing, but the tranquil scene hardly suited the anxious hedgehog's current mood.

Ever the glutton for style, Sonic dashed up the side of a nearby oak and kick-flipped off the top.

"Cannonball!"

The river's boundaries were expanded as the splash from a spinning ball of fur lapped up on the shore. A small whirlpool appeared before the water even had a chance to settle. Once satisfied that his washing machine impression had done its trick, the spiky haired hero jumped back on land and shook himself dry.

"Ah! That was refreshing. Now…"

Sonic's monologue stopped as he turned his eyes to the sun. He examined it closely for a few seconds. He was pretty sure now that it was setting. He considered finding somewhere to rest for the night, but he wasn't the least bit tired. In fact, he felt like he'd just woken up. What he really wanted now was some adventure.

As he prepared to dart of into the sunset again, Sonic did something he rarely ever did. He stopped moving. Tilting his ear to the forest behind him, he listened intently. There wasn't a sound for miles, but the animal senses of the hedgehog could feel something. It felt like a deep base running through the ground. It became steadily stronger, growing into a tremor. Sonic could hear the distant shrubbery blowing wildly in its wake. Something was coming, and it was probably big.

Rushing to the source, the furry adventurer found the trees themselves parting, forced down by the output of the massive engines overhead. He glanced skyward and beheld a gargantuan airship. Its metal frame shone glaringly bright in the falling sunlight, masking its details. While Sonic couldn't make out an egg-like insignia anywhere on it from his current position, he had a pretty good idea who it belonged to. It had to be at least 100 times bigger than anything with a commercial use. A confident grin leapt to the hedgehog's face as he watched it cruising into the western sunset.

"Well it's about time," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "Wonder what Eggman has up his sleeve this time." He took his running stance. "Well, I'm sure he'll be expecting me. Wouldn't want to disappoint him."

Instantly, the blue blur was gone, darting through the forest paths in pursuit of the flying fortress.