A/N: Hello, everyone! For those of you coming into this story from the Mario side, allow me to introduce myself: I'm BearfootTruck, and I've been writing fanfiction since 2012. I'm primarily known for my Sonic fics, but I've also done a few Naruto fics plus a smattering of fics for other fandoms, and this is my first Mario fic, too.

Anyways, about the fic itself: this is my first story about the Olympics. I realize they're going to be different this year because of...you know...but still, my fics stop for NOTHING. Besides, I've worked too hard on this one to let it go to waste. Also, I usually post and update fics every Friday (if I have anything to post, that is), but this one's going to be updated daily to be synchronous with the actual Tokyo Olympics. Just be aware that updates will be late on Thursdays and Saturdays because: 1. I work four 10-hour days each week, 2. I have a group that I run on Thursday evenings after work, and 3. I go out on Saturday evenings after work. Also, the update for this Wednesday, July 21 will be late because I'm going out then as well. Thank you for your understanding, and enjoy the fic!


Azure Lake Zone was in the warmth of late June, and Sonic the Hedgehog was enjoying it by running around the lake. After completing a lap around the lake, he pressed a button on his watch communicator, looked at the stopwatch result and smiled.

"Not bad, but let's see if I can do better!"

After resetting the stopwatch reading, he started it again and ran another lap. Again, he stopped the timer once he'd finished and smiled when he saw the result. Before he could ready himself for another run, however, his Hedgehog Sense tingled, so he turned in the direction of whatever – or whoever – was making it tingle.

"Hi sugar!"

Sonic smiled. "Oh, hey Rouge! What it is?"

"Oh, not much!" said Rouge the Bat. "I just wanted to see how one of my best hedgie friends was doing!"

"I'm just groovy, thank you!"

"Wonderful!" Rouge put a hand on her hip. "Say, while I'm here, I wanted to talk with you about something…"

"Go right ahead!"

"You do know that the Summer Olympics are coming to Emerald City in less than a month, right?"

"Sure do! Why?"

"Oh, I just figured that someone with your athletic prowess might be interested in competing!"

Sonic rubbed the bottom of his nose with his index finger. "Of course I am! Why else would I randomly be runnin' around Azure Lake?"

"So I take it you're hoping to sweep all the athletics events?"

Sonic's Hedgehog Sense tingled again. Rouge was being oddly specific, and though he usually liked her, he also knew she could be a tricky one. Nevertheless, he didn't let his confident little façade dissolve.

"Well yeah!" said Sonic. "I mean, that's what runnin's all about, right?"

Rouge stroked her chin. "Sure, but wouldn't you maybe wanna have a taste of everything else the Olympics has to offer?"

Sonic put a fist on his hip. "Listen, Mama, if I get even just one gold medal in these games, I'll be happy!"

"Gee, I figured a cool, confident hedgie like you would want to get the most gold medals possible!"

Sonic laughed. "Hey, if not me, then maybe Tails or Shadow will cop a few for Mobius!"

"Oh, so you're a team player now? OK, I see how it is! Thanks for your company anyways, Sonic!"

"You're welcome, Mama!"

Rouge flew away.

As for Sonic, he returned to his cabin at the southern portion of the lake, hoping to find his best friend Miles "Tails" Prower. However, Tails wasn't in the cabin, so he checked the nearby garage. Fortunately, Tails was in there, doing maintenance on the Tornado.

"Tails, ya got a moment?"

Tails put down his socket wrench. "What's up, Sonic?"

"I gotta talk to ya about somethin'…"

Tails hopped down from his stool. "Sure, what's on your mind?"

"OK, so I was mindin' my own business, runnin' around the lake, tryin' to be in my best shape for the Olympics, and guess who shows up?"

"Who?"

Sonic threw his hands out to the sides. "Freakin' Rouge, that's who!"

"But you're usually happy to see her. Why are you so concerned?"

"See, she decided to ask me about what events I was gonna compete in, and that set off my Hedgehog Sense somethin' fierce!"

"Is that what's bothering you?"

"Thing is, I suspect she was askin' me cause she wanted to give the buzz to Shadow so he'd one-up me in every single event I entered!"

Tails nodded. "OK, I can see why that would be upsetting. Why didn't you ask her about why she was probing you?"

Sonic put his hands in front of him and waved them side-to-side. "No way, man! If she knew I was tryin' to yank her legs like that, she woulda really laid into me until I sang like a canary!"

Tails stroked his chin. "If it's that much of an issue for you, I have a book on how to resist all types of interrogation techniques."

"Well, it better be the same one the Constabulary uses, 'cause remember, that mama works for G.U.N., and they don't play around, ya dig?"

Tails put a hand on Sonic's shoulder. "I'm sure it'll work! As for the Olympics…well, the Sonic the Hedgehog I know always succeeds at everything he tries if he puts his mind to it! You'll be fine!"

Tails smiled, while Sonic looked into those familiar blue eyes that could do no wrong. Deep down inside, he knew his best pal ever was right. He smiled.

"Ya know what?" said Sonic. "Screw what Shadow and Rouge think! I'm gonna go out there and give it my all, and if they don't like it, then they can suck my toes!"

Tails giggled. "That's the Sonic I know!"

Sonic and Tails hugged each other. In that moment, everything just felt like it was going to go their way. They kept holding on because they found each other to be really soft and cuddly. They did let go, but not before their brains had released a suitable amount of oxytocin.

"What now?" asked Tails.

"Right now, I think we oughta pay a visit to Uncle Chuck, see if he'll let us go out with Rocky."


Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.