The Fight for South Island

Green Hill was beautiful in the summertime. The bright green grass, the sky-high trees, and the honey scent of flowers bombarded Sonic the Hedgehog's senses. He looked up into the sapphire sky as he lay down on a hilltop.

Sonic took in all the scenery then gave a heavy sigh. This was paradise. The hedgehog had had enough of the city life, so a retreat to South Island was quite the treat for him.

Sonic became so intoxicated with the island's beauty that he started to dose off. He made no attempt to resist as the sounds of nature lulled him to sleep.

For hours he slept. Then he slowly opened his eyes. The sound of cracking in the distance came to Sonic's ears. The sound grew closer. And louder.

Suddenly, a stampede of animals came rushing up the hill toward him. Goats, pigs, horses, and birds of all shapes and sizes fled from the great raucous approaching.

Sonic sprung to his feet. Evolution had treated his species well. He was a bi-pedal creature, with blue fur and a lean, athletic body. He was also considered quite the catch among hedgehogs, too. He had a sardonic grin, brilliant green eyes, and an air of confidence few could match. And for good reason. Sonic wasn't lean and athletic for nothing. It was said no human or animal on earth could outrun him. He had once traveled to Africa and outran an entire pack of cheetahs with time to spare.

He looked out into the wooded area where hundreds of splintered trees lie on the ground. Floating above them was a round, plane-like vehicle. Piloting it was an enormous man with spectacles and a thick, red moustache.

The man punched a button on the dashboard of his vehicle. "Yes, Doctor Robotnik," a mechanized voice said from the ship's speakers.

"Send a squad of lumberdroids to my location. This island looks to be suitable to my needs," the man called Robotnik replied.

"Hey!" a voice interrupted the man's conversation.

Robotnik looked and saw a blue hedgehog in his teenage years staring up at him. All the excitement of the moment had left him so occupied that he hadn't even noticed the creature.

"This island is a reserve. What you're doing here is illegal," Sonic said through slightly gritted teeth.

The fat man laughed. "My dear boy, I am merely a scientist. I've been stationed here by the USRA."

Sonic folded his arms. "Show me your permit." He honestly had no idea if USRA members carried licenses, but it was worth a try.

The man's brow furrowed with anger. "Do you know who I am, boy? I am Dr. Ivo Robotnik, one of the leading experts in robotics and energy!"

Robotnik. That name rang a bell. Ah, now he remembered. Sonic recalled a news broadcast back in Station Square that mentioned a scientist using animals as an alternate means of powering robots. Of course the United Scientists Research Association didn't take kindly to his "suggestions", so they attempted to arrest him. From the looks of it, South Island was his new base of operations.

"Now if you please," Robotnik said with false politeness, "I would like to carry on with my work."

Sonic shook his head. "No. I'm asking you to leave. You're wanted by the authorities. If you're smart you won't come back here again."

Robotnik was taken aback by the remark. "You have no authority here! You're just a punk kid looking for trouble."

The fat scientist touched a button on his dashboard. From the bottom of the spherical plane came a gigantic wreaking ball held by chains thicker than Sonic's waist. "Perhaps I need to resort to more forceful methods of persuasion," Robotnik said with a snicker.

Using a joist stick attached to the dashboard, Robotnik began moving the wrecking ball toward the blue hedgehog.

Sonic quickly dodged out of the way just as the deadly weapon struck a tree, shattering it into mere splinters. "Please," Sonic taunted. "Any slower and I might actually break a sweat walking away!"

Robotnik tried again. This time the ball flattened in the side of a hill. Sonic was nowhere to be seen. Robotnik frantically looked from side to side.

"Where are you, you blasted spine-back?" he bellowed.

"Right below you."

Robotnik looked down to find a fist launch into his face. Sonic quickly climbed up into the plane and randomly pushed buttons on the dashboard.

"What're you doing? You're going to kill us!" Robotnik shouted.

Sonic leapt out of the plane just before the scientist could swat at him.

The chain holding the wrecking ball had detached from the plane, continuously rolling until it reached the ocean.

Sonic stood triumphant. "I asked you to leave. Now I'm telling you. Trust me, Robotnik, you don't want to be on my bad side."

The enormous scientist grew nervous. His most effective weapon on hand had been destroyed. Retreat was the best option available.

The scientist took control of the stick and swerved the plane around. "Don't be so confident in your victory, hedgehog. Much of South Island is already in my hand."

Robotnik left those words in the air as he flew off.

Sonic pondered the fat man's declaration. Could it be true? It was far from impossible. There wasn't any army on the island and the police occupation was minimal. Which meant one thing: Robotnik had taken control over the island.

Or most of it, thought Sonic. The only hope now was to warn everyone to prepare for invasion.

The war for South Island had begun.