Part of the first flashback scene in Chapter 2 of Awakening, "Tornado." I felt this scene made the flashback go on for a bit too long and lose its connection to the surrounding chapters, so I ultimately cut it, but still liked the interaction.


Seeing the World

(Bonus scene: Sonic's departure for adventure)

"Miracle stones?"

Sonic had been in the middle of breakfast when his uncle had dropped a small journal onto the table next to his bowl, already open to one particular spread. The young speedster had glanced over it while finishing his cereal, then looked up at his uncle in confusion.

Charles nodded. "I thought they sounded like a good first adventure."

Sonic glanced at the page again. "Supposed to grant wishes or something, it says."

His uncle shrugged. "I'm not sure I believe that. But I've heard South Island is lovely this time of year, and it should have more than enough room for you to run around."

Sonic dropped his spoon into his bowl and stood in a flash. "Sold," he said with a grin, and ran—but not too quickly—to get packed.

He'd been busy the past two months, helping his uncle tune up the Tornado and working diligently to learn how to fly it. He'd become fairly proficient, and had finally taken his first solo flight just the day before, careful to avoid the village's airspace. It wasn't quite as thrilling as running—far too much time to think about things—but at the same time it would be great to set out on his own.

Sonic jogged back out behind the shop, through his uncle's scrap yard to their makeshift airfield beyond. The older hedgehog had hired one of the village youths to come and trim the grass down for them in a strip, just long enough to act as a runway for the biplane. Charles waited by the biplane already, settling a canvas satchel into the storage compartment. He looked up and grinned as Sonic approached.

"Just packing you some food," he said, patting the side of the Tornado, where Sonic had stenciled his own name just a week ago. "Wouldn't do to have you run off and starve before you reach South Island."

"Thanks, Unc." Sonic tossed his small pack into the plane next to the food satchel, then turned to face his uncle, suddenly unsure.

Charles pulled him in for a hug. "You take care, Sonny," he said, rubbing between Sonic's ears with his knuckles.

"Ow, hey! Leggo!" Sonic struggled to push himself out of his uncle's grip, even as he laughed. The older hedgehog relented and let him go, and Sonic jumped up into the pilot's seat before grinning back down. He held out a fist; Charles knocked his knuckles against his nephew's. "Wish me luck, Unc."

"All the best, Sonic," Uncle Chuck replied. "All the best."

Sonic fired up the engine and checked his instruments. Then, waving one last time to his uncle, he set off down the runway, accompanied by the Tornado's steady drone.


Marked as "Complete" for now, but this will be updated in the future if I end up writing more deleted scenes.