Chapter 8: Taking Flight

It was a peaceful morning. Sapphire was getting herself breakfast. Tails was tinkering in the workshop downstairs. Sonic was out for a run.

Many mornings were like this. They were nice, and Sapphire enjoyed them. Sonic wished there would be a little more action, always looking for the next adventure, but he was happy that his friends and family were enjoying the peace. And Sapphire, not much one for adventure, liked the quiet days. Well, as quiet as you can get with two mechanics consistently working each day. She was thinking she'd have to invest in some earplugs.

As Sapphire was finishing up her waffles, she heard the door open. Looking over, she saw Sonic coming back in from his run.

"Hey there, sis," he said, walking in through the balcony door. Hey, if you're as fast and agile as Sonic was, you could easily make it to a balcony from the ground with ease. At this point, Sapphire has gotten used to it.

"Oh, hi," Sapphire replied, taking a moment to look up and acknowledge him. "Enjoy your run?"

"Yep. From here to Green Hill."

"Wow, that's pretty far. And you ran there in only a few hours? Just how fast are you?"

"Hm, never really thought about it. I know Tails occasionally tracks me and tries to record my abilities. Maybe he could tell you."

"It must be fun, to be able to run so fast," Sapphire said, as she put her waffles on a plate, and began buttering them.

"So, are there any waffles for me?" Sonic asked.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't think that you'd-"

"Don't worry about it, I'm just teasing you," Sonic cut in. "You know, it isn't just about the rush of speed."

"Oh, yeah, it's… about the adventure, right?"

"Yep," Sonic said as he grabbed the orange juice, "Now, I do love running, but it's easy to miss the small things. Sometimes, you've got to stop and take it all in. And then, of course, there is overcoming the challenge of getting there, where ever that may be. Sometimes, you don't know until you get there."

"Must be nice. And whenever Eggman attacks…"

"He's a good excuse for adventure, I'll give him that. But he wants to destroy everything that there is to experience, not to mention taking away everyone's freedom. That's why he needs to be stopped every time."

Sapphire hung her head low. "Still, it's nice to see that you can still have fun with it."

"Yeah, Tails told me that you didn't think it was for you. But you know, I think you haven't given it a change."

"Well, I... I'm not..."

"He said you didn't think that you were fast or brave," Sonic replied. "Though it isn't about speed. And as for being brave... Well, to overcome fear, you need to face it."

"...Thanks, Sonic, but I don't think I can."

Sonic shook his head. "Nah, nothing as big as helping me stop Eggman. Maybe something smaller, but exciting."

"I'm more comfortable with my machines," Sapphire responded.

Sonic thought for a moment, then smiled. "Then I know just the thing. Meet me in the hanger after you finish your breakfast."

"You mean the workshop?"

"Same thing here, really."

"Sonic, are you sure about this?" Tails asked his blue friend.

"Come on, buddy, what's the harm?" Sonic replied.

"Look, she learns quickly, but this is expecting a lot, even for her."

"Don't worry, I'll go up with her. Just like you and I do all the time."

At that moment, Sapphire came into the workshop. "Sonic, I don't know what you have planned, but I..."

"Hey, sis. Ready to get started?" Sonic asked her.

Tails rolled his eyes. "Alright, fine. Let me see if I can't connect to the remote control and autopilot, just in case." And he went grab his computer device.

"Sonic... really... I..." Sapphire tried to say.

"Come on, Saph, give it a try," Sonic replied.

"...What do you have in mind?"

"You're… going to fly… my plane!"

"W-w-w-wait, WHAT!?" Sapphire exclaimed. "But I've never-"

"Oh come on, you said that you're more comfortable with machines, right? Well, I think this is the best of both worlds."

"This isn't exactly the same thing…"

"Listen, I'll fly up with you. Tails said he'll get the remote control running for the plane, just in case something goes wrong. And come on, don't you want to try it?"

Sapphire had to admit, she wanted to get a chance to fly in one of the Tornado planes. Or at least, get a closer look at them. She saw them every day, and really wanted to open them up to see how they worked. But neither of those did she want to do without permission, or without a lot more taught to her about mechanics. And never did she think about flying the planes herself.

...But now that the offer was being given to her, she was tempted.

After giving it some thought, she made up her mind. "...Okay, just give me some time to familiarize myself with the controls, and maybe I'll... give it a try."

Sonic smiled, and then turned to Tails. "Hear that, she's said she going to do it. Now backing down!"

"W-wait- Now hang on! I didn't mean it-"

"Don't worry," Tails replied, "Sonic knows what he's doing, and so do I. We'll keep you from crashing. And Sonic, signal me on your communicator if you think she needs help." He input some commands on his device. "Now, let's get you familiarized with those controls."

Past noon-day, Sonic's red and yellow Tornado biplane was rolled out onto the runway. That alone was impressive, because Tails had it hidden under this long strip of road outside of his workshop, with palm trees planted along the edges. How it worked was that the potted trees would be leaned away from the runway, while the runway rose from the ground, starting from the workshop's garage.

Sapphire was sitting in the cockpit, examining the controls, as the engine powered up. She now sported a pair of spare aviator goggles that Tails gave her, and had zipped up her jacket.

Tails was right about one thing. She had already memorized what controls there were, and what they did. But trying to working them was another thing. Sapphire was beginning to rethink taking flight.

Before she could fully consider that, though, Sonic jumped up onto the top wings of the biplane.

"That doesn't seem safe," Sapphire quickly noted.

"For me, it's fine. I always do this," Sonic replied.

Well, if you're the fastest thing alive, and far more agile and perhaps more durable than the average mobian, Sapphire thought. Still, doesn't make it seem any less dangerous.

"So, ready to take flight?"

Sapphire looked down the runway. "Can't really start slow, can you?"

Sonic looked down the runway. "Sometimes you have to run before you can walk."

Sapphire wanted to say something, maybe consider something else, but she was here now...

With everything ready to go, Sapphire hit the acceleration.

As the engine roared to life, the Tornado shot down the runway.

"Pull up! Get us in the air!" Sonic said, sounding almost excited.

Sapphire pulled up, and Tornado flew into the air.

"Good job, now keep it level," Sonic said. But the plane kept climbing in altitude. "Sapphire?"

Looking down, he could see that she had clammed up. She wasn't moving, testing the controls, checking the gauges, anything. She was completely stiff and pale.

"Sapphire!" Sonic called out.

"YES!" She replied stiffly.

"Loosen up!"

"I... I can't-"

Sonic was thinking he might need to call Tails to remote control the plane, but he still wanted to give her a chance.

"Okay, Saph, listen to me. Close your eyes and listen."

"BUT WE'RE FLYING A PLANE!?" she cried in response.

"Just listen."

Sapphire closed her eyes, and listened to the wind. She was still freaked out, but it was... calming.

"Okay, pull down, just a bit..." Sonic said.

Sapphire did so.

"Alright, stop. Pull it back up. Keep it level. Okay... open your eyes."

Sapphire's eyes slowly unclenched. Now she was flying the plane level.

"Sapphire, look down. Not straight down, just take in the view. There's no need to be afraid."

She looked down below. Mountains, valleys, forests, the vast ocean. Seeing them up in the air, it was terrifying. ...And yet...

"It's... beautiful!" Sapphire exclaimed.

"See. It's not just about the danger and excitement. It's also about what you see on the other side. And there is always something to see," Sonic explained. "Something worth finding, something worth protecting."

"Wow... So this is why you do what you do."

Sonic smiled. "So, think you can try something more exciting?"

"Ah... Wh-what!?"

"Come on, Saph. 'An adventure is no fun if there is no challenge.'"

Sapphire wanted to argue, but Sonic was right. The longer she stayed up here, the more terrified she got, but still, she made it this far. Might as well go farther.

"Okay, what should I do?"

Sonic leaned down on the wings, looking down at the valley. "Try flying down there."

Sapphire nodded, and carefully lowered the plane until she was gliding above the tree line.

"Okay, what next?"

"Fly through there." Sonic pointed to break in cliffs, wide enough for the plane to fit through, though still not the safest place to fly through.

"Are you sure!?"

Sonic smiled and nodded.

Sapphire was scared, but she gripped he controls, and turned towards the crevice.

The moment they entered the rocky crevice, Sonic began rapid-firing commands, Sapphire quickly following and zipping through and around the rocky terrain. But as they flew, Sapphire began to calm herself and focus. Soon she was thinking before Sonic, maneuvering the plane near-perfectly before Sonic could tell her what she needed to do.

After a few minutes, they began to reach the end of the crevice, with an in climb leading out. Sapphire pulled up, almost touching the ground of the exit, and shot straight into the air, performing an aerial loop, and flying back down towards the ocean.

"Woo-hoo!" Sapphire screamed in excitement.

"Hey! Seems you're enjoying this!" Sonic replied. "You sure this your first time flying?"

"Yes. I've... I've never felt so... ALIVE!"

"Heh... this is the life," Sonic exclaimed.

Sapphire giggled, and then performed a proper barrel roll, spiraling upside down, and then flipping back down, letting the wings skim the top of the ocean as they flew over it.

"That was pretty good," Sonic said.

"Th-thanks..." Sapphire replied. She closed her eyes, and don't a deep breath. She may have felt scared at first, but now she felt confident in her skills. She felt like she could do anything. She-

"Uh, Sapphire?" Sonic said nervously.

Sapphire looked up at him. "Yeah."

"Pull up! We're about to-"

Sapphire looked forward, and she quickly saw the problem. She quickly pulled up, and barely scraped off the rock they almost hit.

"Okay. I think we should head back now," Sonic said after a few seconds of silence.

"Yes," Sapphire replied flatly.

As the plane landed back on Tails' runway, Sonic's foxy pal was there waiting, bringing them in.

"Geez, you guys are crazy," Tails said. "I was tracking your movements on my device. I saw all the crazy stuff you did. I was almost ready to take over, but Sonic sent a signal NOT to."

"I just felt like she had it. We agreed just in case-"

"You guys almost flew straight into a rock! In fact, I almost took control until Sapphire pulled up herself." Tails turned to Sapphire. "You could've pulled up higher, by the way."

"Sorry, I-" Sapphire stared to say.

"No need to apologize. I'm glad you're okay," Tails responded, "And... don't worry about the scraped bottom. Sonic will pay for that, right?"

"I guess I deserve that one," Sonic replied. "Yeah, I'll pay up."

"Were all those crazy stunts your idea?"

"Well partially. Saph took over after a bit. She's a natural, I've got to say."

"Well, I was... just freaked out," Sapphire replied, "but I figured it out how to do it. And I think I got overconfident."

She took a deep breath. "I think, for now, I should stay on the ground."

Sonic and Tails looked at each other, then turned back to Sapphire. "Yes."

After that, the three of them went about their business for the day. In the following days, Sonic began talking about other adventures he could take Sapphire on, hopefully not something as dangerous. While she considered it, she was happy to stay where she was, and just enjoy the quiet days.

Author's Note: Sorry if I can't say much about this. I just don't remember what I was thinking of working on this. It took a long time to finish, too. I guess I just wanted something with Sapphire trying out Sonic's plane.