Notes: Hey guys! I know I usually update at the end of the month (and I'll continue to do that!) but I wrote this really short little thing and I just wanted to share it. So consider this a mini-chapter! This month's actual chapter will still update near the end of the month, so don't worry. This was just something quick I did for fun :)

This takes place a few days after the end of Time Warp.

Sonic groaned miserably as he laid on the ground, about ten feet away from the workshop's front door. This was his punishment for not listening to Tails. His legs were still severely weakened, even after resting for a week. The hedgehog, impatient as ever, had decided to try walking around outside on the shaky limbs, determined to get moving again. He did this against Tails's wishes, while Tails wasn't even home, and without taking so much as a crutch outside with him. When he inevitably fell down and found himself unable to stand back up, he had only himself to blame. His legs had suddenly and completely given out, and he was unable to even get on his knees and crawl. So he flipped himself onto his back and laid down in the soft grass, moaning in pain and annoyance.

He supposed he could drag himself back into the workshop, just using his arms, but he was feeling both lazy and dramatic that day, so he decided to stay put until Tails came home to see the sorry mess his older brother had become.

He sighed, his charcoal black eyes blinking away the harsh summer sunlight. "Oh, woe is me," he complained to himself quietly. He did actually hate this situation. Because of the time energy that had infected his system, running had gotten harder and harder until he just couldn't do it anymore. He had assumed that the time energy leaving his body would leave him back in his normal, healthy state, but alas, it was not meant to be. He'd used up too much of his strength when he went Hyper to fight the Time Eater and save the multiverse, and now his body had to take its sweet time recharging.

He hadn't been able to run in about two weeks, and it was really starting to get to him.

He needed to get out of the workshop, out of the Mystic Ruins. As much as he loved Tails, and as much as he loved spending time with his newfound dimensional pals, he needed to run. To move, to feel the wind whipping through his quills and his feet pounding against the earth. He needed to go somewhere without being checked up on and supervised. That was probably why he decided to pull this stunt while Tails wasn't around. Sheer stubbornness. "They always said my stubbornness would be the death of me," Sonic sighed, feigning sadness. "It looks like they were right. Oh, now I shall meet my untimely end out here… in the wilderness, miles, nay, maybe even feet from home…!"

"What are you doing?" Tails said from behind him. He had just climbed to the top of the plateau, bag of groceries in one hand, and the other hand on his hip. "I thought I told you not to try and walk yet, you dingus."

"Tails! My savior hath returned!" the hedgehog dramatically gasped. Tails gently kicked him. "Zounds! You would even kick thine own brother whilst he lies prone on the cold, hard ground?"

"I was going to help you up," the fox said, heavily resisting the urge to face-palm, "but then you said 'zounds.' Now you can stay down there." He shifted the bag of groceries so he held it with both hands, before stepping right over Sonic and walking towards the front door.

"You can't do this! You can't just leave me to die out here!" Sonic yelled, feebly reaching an arm out towards him.

"Really? I can't? That's weird, because… here I go… leaving you…" Tails said, opening the front door and pushing inside. "Wow, I can't believe it…"

"TAILS! GET BACK HERE, I NEED YOU!" Sonic screeched, his voice cracking as Tails closed the door behind him. "Mister, if you don't get your fluffy butt back out here right now, I'll… I'll ground you! I'll do it!" His shouts fell on deaf ears, as he got no response from his little bro. "...Tails?" he asked again. No answer. He sighed, his outstretched arm flopping back down on the grass. He knew Tails would come and help him up eventually, but for the time being… "You suck!"

Notes: Hope you all liked this short little chapter! Since most of the chapters in this story will focus on Zonic or Scourge, I really wanted to do something that focused on Sonic and Tails... and you all know how much I love sassy Tails. Anyway, please remember to leave a review if you enjoyed it! They all mean a lot to me, even if I'm too busy to respond sometimes x_x I'll see you all again at the end of the month!