Miles wolfed down his breakfast, like a ravenous predator feasting upon a carcass. He absolutely adored Ms Vanilla's pancakes, they had to be one of the most delicious foods that had ever been created in the history of the world.
Turning to the right of him, he could see Cream gobbling down her meal at a similar speed, she was just as fond of Vanilla's cooking as he was…Within only 2 minutes both plates had been completely cleared, not even a crumb of food remaining. Vanilla turned to the two, a wide grin plastered on her face,
"Well done kiddos, you've done well…Now Miles, Sonic will meet you at around 11pm, since you're a sleepy head along with Cream, that leaves you with…Half an hour to get truly ready. Go on little fox, the clock's ticking. Go on, go. NOW!"
Upon receiving such news he rushed upstairs, crashing through his bedroom door with a noise like a thunderclap, he rushed over to the small table where he had been sat before…And took a personal photo, stuffing it gently into his jacket's pocket.
Then, rushing back downstairs, he hugged Vanilla and Cream goodbye before rushing out of the front door. However the little fox didn't seem to notice where he was going for his sprint was quite easily cut short when he collided with somebody with enough force to send the two tumbling to the floor.
"Ow…What the- Oh my god! I'm so sorry S-Sonic?" the fox asked in shock.
"Yep…Heh heh…You certainly are growing kid…You'll be sending me flying when you're at my age…" the famed hedgehog groaned, but allowing himself to let out a small chuckle, the dull throbbing pain in his ribs slowly subsiding.
"Oh crap…I'm really sorry Sonic, I didn't hurt you at all did I? Please be honest if I did…" the little fox whimpered, his blue eyes shimmering like a calm tropical sea in mid summer, twinkling and sparkling with worry.
The hedgehog slowly rose to his feet with a small groan of dull pain that throbbed from the newly formed bruises on his chest.
"Yeah…You got me good there kid, but don't worry about a thing. If anything, it means you'll soon be able to learn a special trick of mine."
"Your spin-dash?" the fox asked, the twinkle that emerged in his eyes suggesting how excitement, joy and curiosity was bubbling within his heart, like the magma inside an active volcano.
Sonic could notice this, one of his gifts aside from his utterly jaw dropping speed, was his ability to read other's emotions like a book, and what he could read from Miles, was an upcoming fit of excitement that would plaster a smile on his face so joyous and merry, it would be as if he had won a million pounds.
"Yeeees…Maybe…If I think your read-"
"WAHOO!" Miles bellowed, with a shout that sounded like a cannon in terms of the cacophony of sound it had created.
"Shhhhhh…Miles, I understand your enthusiasm I really do, but lets try and keep it down for a little bit, now. Grab my hand…We're going somewhere I want you to see."
Miles didn't hesitate and grabbed his hand as curiosity began to allow the cogs of his mind to turn. Where would Sonic be taking him next? Would he be taking him to some gorgeous Mediterranean coastal town like Apotos? Where the sands where crystal white and the ocean as blue as sapphire? Or perhaps a mystical land with tall, snow-covered peaks shrouded in constantly rotating mists, like Chun-Nan? Or maybe a vast desert of baking hot, golden sands, with ancient ruins buried underneath the great dunes like those in Shamar?
The boy winced as he felt himself fly into the air as Sonic took off at full speed, only holding on by one hand, his small frame waving like a flag behind the blue blur.
Miles saw entire forests, deserts, tundra's and other natural landmarks and biomes pass him by in the minutes it took to move to their desired location, entire areas filled to the brim with beautiful flora, fauna and geography just breezing past him…It was saddening in a way, knowing just how insignificant these places must be to Sonic if he could just move past say…A gorgeous mountain in a few seconds of running. No time to take in the beauty and reflect on life…Just the blood pumping thrill of super-sonic speeds.
They were going over an ocean now…Miles could tell as bellow the blurred feet of the hedgehog he could see coral reefs, kelp forests and pods of whales shift below him.
It was a beautiful sight however there was one thing that Sonic would do on these little journeys they would take…And that was the sudden stop.
Dirt catapulted up into the air as Sonic stopped, the speed at which Miles was travelling causing him to flip over the hedgehog's head and land roughly in a small bush.
Pain flared throughout Miles's senses temporarily, however the sensation swiftly ran off, he pulled his way out of the bush and allowed himself to asses the surroundings, take in the local area.
It was hot, sweltering hot, however this was no desert trip, far from it in fact, as he assessed his surroundings, he noticed that they were at the forest floor, of some lush tropical rainforest or jungle. The air was thick with the buzzing of insects, which danced around in the air above them, butterflies of every colour of the rainbow, dragonflies the size of Miles's forearm buzzing around their heads, while on the forest floor, Miles could see large marching columns of ants, the larger shapes of beetles, centipedes, millipedes, mantises and weevils poking out from leaves, low hanging branches or the trunks of the trees that towered above them.
The fox could already feel the atmosphere of the place begin to take effect, as Miles could feel his fur grow damp and wet as water vapour and droplets caressed and impacted his body like miniature, crystalline meteors.
The smell of the jungle wasn't particularly unique though unfortunately…It smelled…Well…Like wet vegetation. Certainly nothing abhorrent and offensive to the senses yet unremarkable at the same time. It was a small let down.
His ears pricked as he heard: the song of tropical birds letting out their morning cries, the low and heavy buzzing of insect wings as well as their chirping and cacophony of noises, as well as the sound of rushing water…They were near a waterfall.
"Uhhhh…Sonic? Why are we here? It's beautiful and all here but I know there's another reason." Miles asked, slightly wiping at his forehead to rid himself of some sweat trickling down his head.
"Yeah, there is. Follow me kid, you're going to love this." The hero of Mobius replied, jogging through the undergrowth, Miles following suite behind him.
They came upon a small stream, it's water crystal clear in some areas, yet covered in a thick layer of algae. Miles could see the shifting, black, brown and green shapes of leeches moving in the water.
"Come on Miles, hop in, it'll help cool you down in this heat."
"What?! No! You get in!"
"Oh don't be such a baby, I've never had any problems swimming in Jungle streams."
"That's because any parasites in there either die from the water becoming electrified when you jump in, or they get skewered on your quills!"
Sonic's face widened into a smirk, Miles was a stubborn little fox, however he was still a kid and as someone entering his early years of adulthood. He knew something that could work on any kid, let alone Miles. He opened his mouth and made his bargain.
"Miles, I'll buy you ice cream when we get back, Mint-choc chip. Your favourite, I'll even let you have two scoops."
Sonic's smirk widened still as he saw the excitement well up in Miles's eyes like a balloon swelling up.
"Alright, deal. But please tell me if there are any leeches on me when I get out." The little fox said, slowly wading into the stream.
The coolness of the water was a welcome relief from the oppressive humidity and heat of the jungle; It's cold water soaking his fur and skin underneath…The fox letting out a satisfied sigh as he submerged himself up to his calves in the water.
Sadly five minutes later he was pulling off thick, black, oozy, blood gorged leeches off of his legs, his expression akin to one of barely chained malevolence.
"I told you! I told you! What did I say?! I told you going in there was a bad idea!" he exclaimed, pulling a particularly large leech off of his left calve, blood oozing from where the leech had made contact.
"I swear if I get sick because of this Sonic, I am tackling you into a swimming pool."
"It's not Ark Survival Evolved Miles, you don't have to worry about catching swamp fever, all you need is to just wipe the blood off of your legs and make sure that you don't have any more on you alright?"
The fox nodded, visibly irritated at his idol…But then the question came across his mind again, just where In the hell were they…However…His question would be answered when he heard Sonic call out,
"Hey Miles! You may wanna take a look at this!"
Miles rushed to meet where his idol was stood…A small break in the treeline…He wondered over, curiosity filling his brain but the sight he saw astounded him…It was a gargantuan Ziggurat…Standing proudly surrounded by the tall jungle trees, it's monolithic stature surpassing even some of the high rise buildings in Empire city...And emblazoned on the sides of the Ziggurat were something very curious…Artistic depictions of Echidnas…And a giant gemstone…