After 24 hours of gameplay (the first time lol), I finished Sonic Frontiers and it's without a doubt my favourite Sonic game to date. Already keen on the updates they are set to release! I have a few ideas for shorts surrounding this game, but this one really stuck with me. I envision this story with 'I'm Here' from the game playing.

I don't want to spoil any of the game for anyone who hasn't played and is wanting to, so just know that this is a bit of a made up version of how things could have played out in my head.

Also, banger soundtrack.

The wind blew through his quills as he stood on the cliff face, the last rays of sunlight sinking below the horizon. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice it was starting to get cold. It hadn't noticed him yet, and he gladly welcomed the short reprieve of running and battling, if even for just a few moments. The giant mecha swung around, seemingly aimless, in the valley below. He knew he had to destroy it if he wanted to keep moving, and he wouldn't dare admit this out loud, but he was tired. Not that that has ever stopped him before.

'We'll find them, y'know.' A voice came from behind him, causing him to turn slightly and see Amy walking up to meet him on the cliff's edge.

'I know.' He said simply.

'You found me. Got me out safe and sound, as usual.' She reminded him, her no longer transparent figure standing by his side.

'Hmm.' He smiled through a weak laugh.

Only days ago was the first time he'd openly admitted to being worried about her, or anyone really. She knew how stoic he could be, but the fact he'd said it showed her just how concerned he really was. Here she was though, back to normal, and she had to remind him of that. Remind him that she won't be the last. She watched his dark, solid figure slowly swirl the chaos emerald around above his hand, all of them floating in the air. She watched them for a moment, before turning to watch his face, the glow of all the colours reflecting in his deep, emerald eyes.

'What are you doing?' He said forcefully, more with worry than with anger when she had placed her hand on top of his that was controlling the emeralds.

'Let me help.' Amy looked him square in the eyes. She wasn't asking, she was telling.

'What are you-' He cut himself off when he realised what she was saying. 'No. Absolutely not.'

'I'm not just going to stand here and do nothing while you-'

'I won't risk losing you again.'

He used his other hand to grab wrist, that hand still hovered around the emeralds, looking her dead in the eye. The tension in their silence could be sliced with a knife, but she didn't let up, didn't back down. They still had their friends to find, and be damned if she wasn't going to help now that she could. She'd only ever seen Sonic and Shadow turn super, she wasn't even really sure if anyone else could, but was willing to risk it. She slowly moved her arm so his hand would fall into hers, giving him a reassuring smile.

'You won't. And when it comes to giant machines, I can hold my own.' She gave him a wink.

He shook his head a little, hesitantly letting her take her other hand and reach towards the emeralds. She wasn't really sure what to do, or if what she was doing would even work, but she had to try. She reached forward and willed the hovering emeralds to circle them both. They obliged, slowly circling them both before speeding up, lifting them both slightly off the ground. She held his hand and looked him in the eyes, willing her blue hero to give the command. He lowered his gaze for moment, unsure if this was the right thing to do. He wanted to find the others, though. If this helped, then it was a start.

'Chaos control.' He commanded lowly.

With that, lights shot out from the emeralds and enveloped them both, Sonic's midnight fur turning a vibrant gold, his quills standing up on end. Amy's fur glowed gold, her dress flaring out and lighting up, her quills lengthened a little and blew out as if the wind hit them. She closed her eyes as she allowed this new feeling to envelope her, blood red orbs appearing as she lifted her eyelids, matching his. She let go of his hand and commanded her hammer to appear at her side. No longer her average Piko Hammer, a new bigger, sharper, more powerful hammer stood by her side. This rush of energy, she felt like she could take on the world, and he could see it in her eyes. It startled him at first, but when she gave him that smile, he returned it genuinely.

The beaming glow had caught the mecha's attention, it's gaze focusing in on them before letting out an almighty roar. The pair looked at each other and nodded before charging forth towards the beast. They circled it many times, confusing it and catching it off guard. Sonic flew in back and forth, landing blows that would throw it off kilter before it regained it's balance, growing angrier and angrier.

I'm here, reaching far across these new frontiers...

He would jump out of the way momentarily so Amy could boomerang her hammer towards the giant, the Piko landing square in it's back, bouncing off and returning to her before she moved around to hit it at a different angle. This rush was unlike anything she'd ever felt before. Is this what Sonic felt like when he turned? How could he ever come down from this?

With my life I fight this fear...

She really was holding her own, he thought to himself briefly. Not that she couldn't, but this was uncharted territory. He willed himself to focus on the task at hand and not worry about Amy. They dealt blow after blow, causing more and more damage. It was almost down, he could feel it, but it just wouldn't seem to give up. He flew up so he could look down on it from above, Amy flying to his side, hammer hung below her.

'It's not enough.' She panted.

'It's not enough one on one,' he began before looking at her, 'we'll have to do it together.'

The thought of her moving anywhere near it genuinely scared him, but they'd come this far. She smiled at him, nervous but invigorated, wanting so badly to finish this. With him. He nervously outstretched his hand towards her, causing her to take a slow breath and place her fingertips in his palm. He gripped her tight, a rush of warmth suddenly coursing through her body.

In my hands I hold the ones I love...

In a flash, they shot straight down and right through they mecha, causing it to let out an almighty screech...

Walk forward through the cold dawn...

Within seconds, they parted and flew back upwards on opposite sides of the beast, high in the sky so they look down from afar. Tiny beams of light began to spill out from the hunk of metal before a huge explosion of light grew and grew, temporarily blinding the two hedgehogs above it. Sonic instinctually pulled Amy into him by her waist as if to protect her, using his arm to shield them both from the light.

As it died down, he slowly lowered his arm so they could both see the chunks of scrap metal spread out around the valley, and even further to the edges of the island. Little embers that flew up were softly setting back towards the ground, looking like little shooting stars. The both breathed heavily, turning to each other for a second before they both let out a chuckle. They stayed this way for a minute, Sonic's grip on her not faltering for a second, but neither of them seemed to notice.

Always to new horizons...

'Let's go find the others.' He told her, squeezing her hip.