Author's Note: There's some mentions to IDW here but beyond the Blaze cameos and a few scarce issues, I am not very familiar with the stories told there like I am the video game universe. This chapter also references a cover.

I am also open to ideas for prompts if people have anything specific they'd like to see, however keep it family friendly is all I ask.

Theme 2: Balloon

Blaze had felt a suspicious tingle ripple down her spine at the look in his eye when Sonic glanced eagerly between her and the hot air balloon. He wasn't being inconspicuous at all. She knew him too well, his mind was always running just as his feet.

And many of those thoughts admittedly weren't always the wisest, Sonic's entire motto and life was built upon the risk and reward adventure gave him. He was fearless and like the wind, going anywhere he wanted to.

Perhaps she wasn't the wisest of people either, considering more than likely, Blaze would more than happily go along with whatever fool hardy thing he wanted to do. She trusted him and Blaze knew Sonic wouldn't abuse that.

She squinted at him and the smile on Sonic's face widened at her expression.

"You've piqued my curiosity so do not hold me in suspense any longer. What are you thinking, Sonic?" Blaze asked him at last, arms crossed over her chest. She arched an elegant brow.

"Something fun," Sonic replied mysteriously, approaching the basket of the balloon to investigate closer.

She scoffed with a knowing look on her face. "That sounds dangerous knowing your taste in…" Blaze paused for dramatic effect as she found the most fitting words and smirked playfully. " recreational activities!"

He chortled, his back was to her now as he climbed into the basket. She could picture the smile on his face and the mischief filled twinkle of his eyes easily. "At least you can't say that hanging out with me is ever boring, Blaze."

"Perhaps too exciting is a better phrasing for my experiences with you," Blaze retorted, recalling their last experience when Sonic offered to take her down the scenic route.

"You are allowed to say no," he pointed out, turning back to her as he leaned his weight against the basket casually. "Like now, actually."

"And what pertains to now , Sonic?"

"Feel like taking a spin on this balloon? With your flames, we could get this baby to fly!" His smile was wide. "The view will be worth it, I promise." Blaze watched him lift a gloved hand as if to solemnly swear.

Sonic knew that heights weren't her favorite thing so she appreciated that he always made it a habit to ask first. He was gentle about her fears. Blaze scrunched her brows, looking from Sonic and the hot air balloon and towards the big expense of sunset skies. Other balloons were floating about in groups.

That's… a lot higher than the clock tower, Blaze thought in dismay.

Her eyes glanced back and forth in rapid succession and each time she saw Sonic, the heroic hedgehog looked more and more sympathetic.

"Yanno, we don't have to go up there if you don't want to," Sonic assured her with a placating tone, having picked up the inner conflict she was under. "I know you and heights aren't exactly good friends."

Blaze remembered a time when it wasn't possible for anyone to read her emotions, her face full of hard lines and betraying nothing. Sonic changed that though, his understanding of her far deeper than anyone she knew.

She was an open book for Sonic, one he liked to read over and over again to find all the lines he missed the first time. The trust and gratitude she felt towards him made her find the resolve she needed.

"I do want to go up there," Blaze told him with a nod of her head. "You've always had a keen eye for beautiful vistas. I would love to see it for myself."

Sonic stared at her for a long moment, as if to scrutinize that she was being honest and not trying to please him. When he at last seemed satisfied with what he scrounged up, his concerned visage morphed into a slow smile that lit up his eyes. "Well, what are we waiting for then? Hop in!"

"Yes, let's go," she replied, smiling back at him.

He seemed to grin wider at that and something about it made her feel giddy.

She prepared herself with a steady and deep breath before following Sonic into the balloon. He reached a hand out and Blaze rested her fingers in his grip. The grasp of his palm in hers gave her a sense of calm that washed over her in waves, the warmth radiating through his glove a familiar presence she knew all too well. Blaze hardly needed assistance to get into the basket but she knew from Sonic it was a reminder he was here for her.

Letting go of her hand after giving it a friendly squeeze, Sonic started work on getting the balloon ready for lift off. Blaze took her position under the skirt, lifting her hands in preparation to blast flames.

"Alright, we're all set! Are you good to go, Blaze?"

He was giving her one last way out but she didn't take it. "I'm ready," Blaze told him.

"Let's rock and roll then," Sonic replied eagerly.

The balloon shook itself to life when Blaze called upon her pyrokinesis. She flexed her fingers and immediately intense heat burned at the tips before enveloping her palms. Her hands ignited in a swath of powerful fire and she heard Sonic's impressed whistle at the sight.

She tried to hide the proud tingle she felt fluttering in her stomach, not looking at him.

Their ascent happened quickly, the ground growing smaller and smaller below as the basket flew up. She felt the wind ruffle her fur and when she glanced over at Sonic his iconic quills were flopping about in its gales.

Sonic leaned over the edge of the basket excitedly supported by his elbows with his back now to her as he admired the scenic vista. She watched him suddenly hoist himself over and honestly, she wasn't surprised by the recklessness. Blaze smiled to herself and rolled her eyes at the display.

That's Sonic for you…

His voice cut through her thoughts in a lively shout. "This view is amazing, Blaze! You gotta come see it!"

Well… here goes nothing , Blaze resigned to her fate. Sonic gave her all the chances in the world and still she willingly followed his lead into the sky.

She pushed past the nervousness her fear of heights brought best she could. The balloon, properly heated enough to allow Blaze to walk away, remained floating. She gingerly approached the edge of the basket, fingers gripping it for support.

Blaze counted to three in her head before rapidly looking in the direction of Sonic's voice as he called out to her again in encouragement.

"Cmon, Blaze! You're missing out!"

When she'd at last looked down to see the world under their balloon, she saw Sonic was holding casually onto the ropes billowing in the wind and used them as a support. Clouds blew lazily beneath them, rolling like hills across a meadow. In-between the patches of nimbus she could see the landscapes ranging from plateaus, to forests and mountains. Everything was bathed in a gorgeous orange glow.

Her gaze found Sonic and the sunset made his smiling face look even warmer. Sonic merrily faced her in his usual confident and easy going way, very pleased with himself. He was clinging with one hand now, the other playfully saluting her once he caught her eye.

"Totally worth coming up here, wouldn't you say? The view is sweet!" He beamed at her, the wind ruffled his fur wildly and gave him a roguish appearance. It was a perfect representation of him, as he was untamed and free.

The view was indeed amazing.

But it wasn't the vistas she was looking at.