Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic traversed the Chemical Plant with Miles, now nicknamed Tails, close behind him. After saving the blue hedgehog from taking a dip in the chemicals that the factory gets its namesake from, Tails is offered to join Sonic on his journey to meet with Uncle Chuck's acquaintance, with their next leg of that venture coming in the form of a series of ruins…

Sonic and Tails make their way from the Chemical Plant, coming into a dense jungle covering what look to be ruins from an ancient civilization. Sonic looks around at the architecture before thinking to himself a bit.

Sonic: "More ruins, huh? Well, these ones look standard Mobian so they aren't like the ruins from South Island…"

Tails: "South Island? There's more ruins there?"

Sonic: "Heh. Sure is, though the ruins there were made with more alien-like material. Still stone, but different, if that makes sense. This is regular Mobian stone so whoever lived in these ruins wasn't an alien."

Tails: "Really? How do you know this stuff, Sonic? Are you some kind of genius?"

Sonic tried to hide his inflated ego at being called a 'genius', clearing his throat as he did.

Sonic: "No. I just read some books when I had time. That's all."

He then looks at the ruins, pushing away some of the flora to uncover some hieroglyphics on the pillars. They depicted something strange, but what he could recognize were seven jewels being brought together.

Tails: "Seven jewels being brought together…? Are those the Chaos Emeralds?"

Sonic: "Could be. But what do they do when they are brought together? This is very odd…"

The duo then run ahead, keeping through the top of the ruins, avoiding the flooded area below. Tails notices Sonic glaring at the water below, moving closer to ask Sonic what was up.

Tails: "Hey, Sonic. You're looking at the water below pretty intensely. Everything okay?"

Sonic: "Huh? Oh yeah. Just fine. Just… Uh… Gotta look out for any sharks… You know?"

Tails looked at Sonic, putting his hands on his hips as he raised an eyebrow at the hedgehog.

Sonic: "Don't give me that look! I'm just saying we don't want to fall in! It could be dangerous down there!"

Tails: "Well, you aren't wrong, but… I don't think sharks would be this far from the ocean… And I dunno if sharks would eat hedgehogs."

Sonic: "You never know! Like, come on, it isn't rocke-EEEET!"

Sonic's foot slips on the edge of the platform he and Tails were on, causing him to fall into the water below. He starts to flail about wildly, calling for help as he tries to keep his head above the water. Tails comes down and grabs him by the hand and pulls him to shore. As Sonic shakes the water off himself, he sees Tails tapping his foot, waiting for an explanation.

Sonic: "...Okay fine. I can't swim. Alright? Is that a crime? Am I going to be arrested?"

Tails: "No. But I don't tolerate fibs. Why act so embarrassed over not being able to swim?"

Sonic: "Well… Uh… I… uh…"

Tails looked at Sonic before just raising his hands to drop it. He then flew ahead, leaving Sonic to think about what he did.

Sonic: "Ugh… Tails! Wait up, will ya!?"

Sonic runs after the young fox, jumping over gaps as he did. He soon caught up to Tails as the kid got tired of flying.

Sonic: "Yo, Tails. Are you… uh…"

Tails: "Sorry, but I don't tolerate fibs. So tell me straight. Why act so embarrassed?"

Sonic sighs as he sits next to the edge of a platform, offering a seat next to him for Tails. After the kid sat, he began to speak.

Sonic: "So how should I put this? Because it's honestly been a long time since I last had to tell this. In fact, the last person I told it to was Sally, and we were both kids back then."

Tails: "Well, I'm listening."

Sonic: "Sigh… So I wasn't very well liked when I was younger - younger than you now actually. See… I didn't like those punks bullying you because… I got bullied a lot too. But for different reasons…"

Tails was shocked to hear this, since he thought Sonic was just born tough. Sonic noticed this and continued.

Sonic: "See… I'm the only son of a royal family, meaning I have a lot to represent. But when I showed my super speed, I caught the ire of a lot of people. Namely those who were jealous of my ability to run so fast. I'd get snowballs tossed at me and often get called names. I had times where I'd get threats of someone tearing my legs off so I'd never run again. It's… awful…"

Tails: "Oh my Gaia… I'm so sorry, Sonic… But… How does that relate to earlier?"

Sonic: "Well… I had to toughen myself up. I had to appear tough so bullies would stop messing with me. Eventually I did get enough skill to back up my toughness, but… In reality, I was always a scaredy cat. And worse yet, I started inspiring others. I don't mind that, but… I basically had a lot to live up to. So now if I ever falter, even to something as stupid as water… I'd be bringing everyone who looks up to me down…"

Tails looks at Sonic, who brings his legs closer to his face, almost wanting to hide his shame away. But then Tails places a hand on Sonic's shoulder.

Tails: "I get it."

Sonic: "Hm?"

Tails: "You keep a tough guy act because… You don't want to appear weak to anyone. Because that may bring them down for believing in someone weak… But the thing is… Admitting weakness isn't weak at all. If anything, it's the strongest a person can ever be. You're not weak because you are, Sonic… And… I believe in you because of that."

Tails stands up, offering a hand to Sonic as he smiles at him. Sonic looked up at Tails before starting to tear up. He smiles before rubbing away the tear and accepting the hand, standing up himself.

Sonic: "Thanks, Tails. I… I guess I needed to be yelled at just to realize how much of a dumbass I can be, huh?"

Tails: "I didn't yell… But you did need a hard lesson in humility. Glad I could help though."

Sonic smiles before seeing a little alcove. He and Tails investigate it, since they had some time to kill. Pushing aside some more greenery, they found more of the hieroglyphs from earlier, this time showing six figures bowing to a seventh in the middle, the seven gems circling around a larger eighth gem. Above that, some kind of calamity involving rain.

Tails: "Sonic… What does this all mean?"

Sonic: "No idea, Tails… But that giant Emerald in the center of the other seven is certainly the most standoutish part of this wall. What kind of civilization was around before they disappeared?"

As Sonic pondered this question, Tails sees the sky getting dark. It was getting late. Tails lands to tell Sonic as such.

Sonic: "Great… I'd rather not sleep next to… water… if I can help it."

Sonic and Tails get from under the alcove and see lights in the distance, beaming from somewhere. The duo hop up the ruins to get a better look and find a large flashy city in the distance. Sonic smiles as he folds his arms.

Sonic: "Alright! Wonder if we can book a hotel for the night?"

Tails: "Can we afford one?"

Sonic: "I'll just put it on my mother's tab. I'm sure she'll understand."

Sonic does regret it as he could practically feel her burning wrath behind him as his spine tingles in fear. But he was at least confident as he grabs Tails and rushed in the direction of the flashy city, Casino Night…

To be continued…