This was his third time being summoned to another universe to defeat some ancient prophesied evil, encountering strange alternate versions of his friends and family along the way, and things were starting to get a bit ridiculous.

Well, to be fair, this was the first one he'd met in this world. But if his adoptive younger brother being "Hephaestus, God of Fire, the Smith of Olympus" was any indication, this was going to be an interesting adventure.

He looked oddly similar to the last alternate incarnation of Tails that Sonic had met, the blacksmith in that medieval world; same thick leather gloves, sturdy boots, and heavy-looking black apron. But these clothes looked as if they had been formed from ash, and patches of the apron glowed like embers. He wore a thick bronze headband covered in intricately carved patterns that could have been a protective helmet and could have been a crown, and held a long-handled smith's hammer, around which long ribbons of flame twisted, looking almost alive.

This, of course, didn't faze Sonic. In fact, looking at the fox, he felt an odd sense of pride. What did faze him, however, was the pattern of thick scars streaked across the right side of his face, clearly visible even through the fur, and the way he leaned on his hammer for support when he walked. He knew that this was a very different world, that this wasn't really his brother, that the person sitting in front of him was a god, who was hundreds of years older than him and had probably seen things that Sonic couldn't even comprehend. But he still looked like a child, the child Sonic had sworn to protect, and so he struggled to hide his discomfort as he waited for Hephaestus to process the story he had just finished telling.

Speaking of which, the look that the fox was giving him now was very familiar. It was the exact same look that Tails always gave him when his accounts of his adventures got too unbelievable. It was a time-honoured tradition by now; he would finish describing his battle with the giant robot/new rival/eldritch abomination, and for a few seconds Tails would just tilt his head slightly and stare at him in a sort of concerned disbelief, before chuckling slightly nervously and asking him to elaborate, or coming up with some kind of witty retort, sometimes both.

At last, the moment broke, and the god sighed. "Alright. What do you need?"

Sonic was taken aback. "What?"

"What do you need? Weapons, armour, a means of transportation, maybe something to pierce a foe's only weakness?"

"I, uh... hadn't really thought about it."

Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah, I usually don't need any of that stuff. Long as I've got these...", Sonic gestured towards his shoes, "...I'm pretty much okay."

Hephaestus seemed to relax a little at that. "Hm. In my experience, heroes usually bring lists." His voice took on a slightly frustrated tone. "Often with notes from the other Olympians, telling me to get it done as soon as possible."

"Well, uh... not this time. You think I'll need anything?"

The god noticeably brightened, looking for a moment like Tails always did when someone asked him to explain how a new gadget worked. "With your preferred fighting style, I'd recommend some light armour – spolas, or perhaps linothorax. Helmetless, I think, if those quills are anything to go by. As for weaponry, you can take your pick."

He gestured around the forge. Sonic glanced up at the racks upon racks of weapons of all shapes and sizes hanging from the volcanic crater's scorched walls. Swords, spears, javelins, bows, warhammers, axes, even what looked like a few siege engines piled up in the corner. All of it was impeccably crafted, and gleamed dangerously.

"Just don't try to use those." Hephaestus indicated a small display of swords next to a pool of lava. The blades somehow seemed to simultaneously glow ethereally and suck in light from their surroundings. "You may melt."

Sonic turned back to the god, not quite sure how to react to an eminently Tails-like expression of enthusiasm directed towards a bunch of murder equipment. "You've made a lot of stuff here, huh."

Hephaestus' expression suddenly fell, shoulders slumping fractionally. "What else am I supposed to do?", he said tetchily. "Zeus left me here, in the biggest volcano in the known world, with a pile of enchanted metal, and told me to 'prepare an armoury worthy of Mount Olympus'. Nobody can defy the will of the king of the Olympian gods, even if said king previously threw you off said mountain."

Clearly, the hedgehog had touched a nerve. "You okay?"

The god paused suddenly, as if surprised at his own words. "I – yes, I'm fine. It's not all bad – I enjoy the work, and Typhon's honestly better company than my family. You're just the first one to ask."

Also very Tails-like, thought Sonic, unfortunately. He then dug his fingers into his knees, to stop himself from instinctively hugging him.

"But we've strayed from the point. What equipment would you prefer?"

Sonic looked around again, then back to Hephaestus. "No offence but... I don't think any of it would fit me."

Hephaestus paused. "Fair point. I did make most of this with celestial warriors in mind." Sonic could reasonably assume that celestial warriors were taller and/or less pointy. "Perhaps I should just give you this."

He walked over to a small workbench and picked up a bronze disc, handing it to Sonic. The disc was a strange little device, looking like a cross between a compass and an old-timey watch. "I got the idea after Perseus had all that trouble finding the gorgons. If you tell it where you want to go, it should be able to guide you."

"Alright!" Sonic jumped to his feet. "This should be a great help! Thanks, T-Hephaestus!" He caught himself at the last moment, hiding his slight embarrassment.

Hephaestus didn't seem to notice, but he was a little surprised at the sudden praise. "You're welcome. Good luck on your travels."

Sonic grinned. "Well, see ya, then. Thanks again!" He waved goodbye and turned to leave.

"Oh, one more thing!"

Sonic stopped, looking back. For a moment, Hephaestus' expression faltered, and he looked like an ordinary, nervous kid. "Yeah?"

The god hesitated for a moment. "If you see Zeus on your journey, can you tell him something?"

"Sure thing. What is it?"

"Tell him... that I would very much like a break."

...just how much trouble could I get in for hugging him, anyway?

A/N Here it is everyone, my first ever fic! Thanks to AndTails for proofreading. I stayed up until 6:15 AM for this, so I hope you like it.