Prompt: "Trouble keeps you running faster." –Sonic CD US Opening (Both Versions)

Sonic couldn't help but think that this whole situation was highly ironic. Back on Chris's world, the kid had once said that there was no enemy that could match up to Sonic's speed. Sonic had sighed and said that just once he wished for someone or something to prove him wrong. After all, he loved a good challenge. Everything was too… easy. It was boring.

But now his words had come back to bite him.

He poured on the speed, pushing himself nearly to his limits, but still the new-and-improved metal version of him kept up. This wasn't good. Thinking fast, he tried dodging side to side in a series of rapid movements, hoping to lose it, or at least confuse it. That had worked on the last one… right? He risked a glance over his shoulder, an annoyed sound escaping him. It was still keeping up. That was just great. Now what to do, what to do?

Much to his relief, he saw a large patch of trees coming up on the horizon. A forest, huh? He smirked, his confidence returning, along with his usual attitude. He looked back over his shoulder again and smirked at the metal him.

"Hey metal-butt! Try and keep up now!"

Maybe if he was lucky, he could beat this thing with his agility, even when his speed didn't help. After all, it had worked on the last version. He just hoped it held true for this one. Unless Eggman had been smart enough to fix that.

Sonic really hoped he wasn't.

He dashed into the trees, swinging off of branches, doing flips, dodging and weaving between trunks, doing everything he could to shake the robot off his tail. Leaping over a particularly large rock, he glanced over his shoulder for what felt like the hundredth time. It wasn't working. And, oddly enough, he was tiring. For once, he wished that he could slow down, even for just a minute. His communicator beeped suddenly, startling him out of his thoughts. He jumped over a stream that was in his way, darting around a dense patch of wood, lifting his wrist to his mouth.

"Yeah?"

"Sonic!" Tails exclaimed. "How are doing down there?"

"Just… peachy," he muttered, panting between words.

"Hang in there, Sonic. We're on our way on the Tornado. We should be there soon."

"Who exactly… is 'we'?"

"Amy and I. Knuckles is on his way too, if I'm not mistaken. He should get there before us."

"Right."

For once, he was actually glad to hear that that walking temper tantrum was heading his way. Maybe his rival's brute strength would be enough to win this fight. As much as he hated to admit it, his speed wasn't going to be enough for once. It was more than enough to put him in a sour mood. The metal him lunged forward suddenly, catching Sonic by surprise. He barely had time to suck in a breath before sharp claws tore at his back. He gritted his teeth tightly, focusing on solely breathing, and pushed himself to go even faster. If nothing else, he had to keep far enough ahead that Metal Sonic couldn't attack him again.

"Woah!" he cried suddenly, leaping to the side as a fist flew out of nowhere, narrowly missing both him and the bot.

He growled inwardly.

'Or not.'

Of course Knuckles missed. Of course. What good was so much raw strength if Knuckles couldn't even hit the guy? Or, more appropriately, the thing.

"Damn!" he heard knuckled curse, now several miles behind him.

Over the communicator, he heard Knuckles reporting to Tails.

"I missed him by this much!" The echidna exclaimed furiously. "I would've had him, but they were moving too fast!"

"Okay, we'll try to catch up in the Tornado, then! Keep doing what you can from down there!"

"Right."

"Sonic, can you hear me still?"

"Yeah."

"I never thought I'd say this, but you've gotta slow down! None of us will be able to catch you at the speed you're going!"

Oh, how he wished he could. He was exhausted, as weird as that was. He was rarely ever tired, let alone this tired, so it was a relatively unusual feeling for him. And, thanks to those stupid claws, he was in a great deal of pain, too.

"I can't, Tails! The moment I do, it'll slice and dice me!"

He thought back to its razor sharp claws and nearly shuddered at the thought of being cut up by them again. Not a pleasant thought.

"Sonic please!"

Amy. He prayed she wouldn't make him do something he might regret. Like doing exactly what they were asking and actually slow down, thus putting himself at greater risk.

"You have to trust us!"

"But Amy, I-"

"Don't you trust us?"

'Ouch.'

That one stung. The hidden accusation in her tone, the questioning. It hurt. Another feeling he wasn't used to. Of course he trusted them! They were his friends! There was literally no one else in the world he trusted besides them.

"Don't you trust me?"

Sonic slowly closed his eyes.

'Yes.'

Slowly, he allowed himself to come to a stop, no longer having the energy to run anymore, anyway. His vision was blurry, fading in and out. That wound was deeper that he thought. He'd lost a lot of blood. How much exactly he wasn't sure, but either way, it was bad. Suddenly, a loud explosion, sounding oddly dull to his ears, shook the earth. He turned in time to see the head fly off of Metal Sonic, landing near his feet. Vaguely, he heard Tails's voice again.

"Yes! We did it!" he cheered as the Tornado flew overhead.

He hadn't realized the plane had been that close.

"Thank goodness," Amy sighed. "I was hoping he'd done enough damage to it already for that missile to work, but I wasn't sure…"

Sonic smirked, despite his exhaustion.

"Aw, Amy. Dontcha trust me?"

"Of course I do, Sonic! I'll always trust you! You're my hero!"

He smiled again, feeling his legs go weak, as the world went black.