Chapter Text
This Island is too small for Sonic. Christmas Island, as it is called, has been the home of Sonic the Hedgehog for as long as he could remember. It’s a nice place, don’t get him wrong. With lots of flat land and jungle to run through, little nooks and crannies to explore. And really nice people, the best neighbors a hedgehog could have. The problem was, Sonic runs fast. Not fast for a hedgehog, normal or otherwise. Not fast for a human. Not even fast for those super cars he’d seen on TV. He was faster (or so he claimed) and that was cool. Except for the fact that it made the island seem so small. He’d been to every landmark, he’d been in every nook and cranny. He’d run through every square inch of this island. He’s ready for more, to stretch his legs as it were and see the world. At least, that is what the hedgehog is trying to convey to the human in front of him.
The human In question is Dr Kintobor. The self appointed caretaker to all of the “Beastmen” on the island (Kintobor doesn’t like to call them that but Sonic thinks it sounds cool). He too has been around for as long as Sonic can remember, taking in the hedgehog along with the rest of the animal humanoids. They all used to live in his laboratory, until the older ones started to move out. He was like a dad to everyone. He was like a dad to Sonic. An exasperated sigh brought Sonic back to the conversation he was in the middle of. “Ok Sonic,” Kintobor said with a hand on his brow. “I’ll let you go off on one condition” Sonic was bouncing on his legs at the first part of that sentence. “I just so happen to have a few biplanes in the garage. Prove to me you can fly one of them and I’ll let you explore the world to your heart’s content”. Sonic abruptly stopped his celebration jiggy to stare at Kintobor. “Huh! Are you crazy? You know I don’t know squat about those things!”. Kintobor gave a mischievous grin and stroked his mustache “Perhaps, then, you can wait until you’re older. The world isn’t going anywhere Sonic, it will still be there when you're ready”. Sonic was taken aback, eyes zipping to his feet. After a moment, his eyes darted back up to Kintobor, burning with determination. “No way! I’m not waiting a second longer. If I gotta learn how to fly one of those things to get going, then I will!”. Sonic turned around to storm off, “Besides, Sonic the hedgehog doesn't back down from a challenge!”.
Almost immediately after Dr Kintobor's challenge was issued, Sonic ran around, gathering any book he could about planes and piloting. He then studied every day like mad, whenever and wherever he could. On this particular day, about a week into his study, he was sitting on the beach. With a polar bear watching him read. The bear’s name was Bark and he usually stuck to himself, that was all Sonic knew about him. For some reason Sonic currently felt like prey, “Hello? Something you want?”. Bark looked Sonic in the eyes before staring back at his book. After a few tense moments he looked back up at Sonic, “you’re learning to fly. I want to learn too”. Sonic untensed a bit, “ok, why?”. Bark reached into a shoulder bag he was carrying around, pulling out an old beat up sports magazine. He flipped through the pages for a bit before turning it around and pointing at the page he stopped at. It depicted a human surfing down a snow covered hill, caught in mid jump. “I want to do this," Bark said, still pointing at the page. “Too warm here, No snow.” Sonic nodded in understanding, “You want to travel too”. Bark nodded and pointed at the book in Sonic’s hands “can I?”. Sonic hesitated “um, I’m reading this one right now. Give me a second” he turned around to rummage through his own bag. “I have other books with me, one of these ok?” He presented said books to Bark, who nodded, took one and sat down next to Sonic. The two of them studied together until sunset and agreed to do it again tomorrow.
In the following month, Bark had easily slotted into Sonic’s routine. They both studied together daily and even compared notes on the material. To Sonic, who had never paid close attention to Kintobor’s classes or been in a study group before, it was surprisingly fun. That being said, Sonic knew that this wasn’t enough. If he wanted to win this challenge, he would have to get some hands-on experience. So, to the surprise of both himself and Dr Kintobor, he swallowed his pride, walked up to the human and asked if he could fly with him. Kintobor was happy to oblige.
Kintobor took Sonic to the garage one clear morning. He chose a red plane at random and told Sonic to hop into the passenger seat. “Ok Sonic, the first thing I’ll show you is the controls proper”. Sonic had to stand on the seat in order to see, Kintobor pointing at various parts of the cockpit while he spoke. While Sonic’s books had covered what Kintobor was explaining, seeing it himself was a different experience. After the explanation, Kintobor drove them outside to where the airstrip was. From what Sonic was told, the lab used to be a military base. It used to get supplies offshore by plane, science-y tech stuff Sonic never bothered to understand. Thus, they had a handy dandy airstrip to take off from. Over the propeller starting up, Sonic could faintly hear Kintobor yelling “Sonic, I want you to pay attention. Watch how I fly the plane closely”. Sonic gave a nod as the plane sped down the runway. Feeling the plane tilt upwards and the ground disappearing, it was a weird experience. As much as he tried, he couldn’t stop his gaze from moving to the side of the plane. It was breathtaking and terrifying. The beautiful view from above and the specks of people you knew below. If Sonic was feeling any fear of how high was, it was overshadowed by how utterly free he felt. Freedom was the wind through his quills and the places his legs could take him. It was a joy like no other, the reason why he ran so fast. This plane was giving him that same joy. “Sonic! Pay attention!” Sonic was jolted out of his stupor. “Right doc,” He has to work hard. If he can master this plane, then this form of freedom will be his.
It had been about half a year since Kintobor’s challenge was issued. During that time, Sonic had continued his study and his flight lessons. Bark started taking flight lessons too, catching up to Sonic at a surprising rate. It was now that the Hedgehog had decided to prove that he had what it takes, to leave the island and fly this plane. They were at the airstrip, Kintobor getting him into a life jacket before he took off. Bark was there too, being supportive in his own way “Don’t crash, Would be bad”. Sonic gave him a cheeky grin and a thumbs up “I don’t plan to buddy”. As Sonic was getting into the cockpit, Kintobor gave a last explanation. “Fly over the ocean, don’t go near the island until you’re ready to land. It’s safer to crash in the sea than on land, so remember to aim for that if you go down”. Sonic just smirked and said “Don’t worry so much Doc, I got this”. Kintobor shook his head, “well even if you do crash, just know that I am proud of you. For all the effort you’ve put into this”. With that the Doctor and Bark backed away from the plane. Sonic started down the runway, speeding through till he took flight.
The flight itself was relatively easy. Sonic considered doing a few loop-de-loops but decided to keep the things simple. Wouldn’t want to give the people on the ground a heart attack now would he? So he circled the island a few times before coming in for a landing. Landing the plane was the only worry he had coming into this flight but that too turned out to be easy. As he skidded down the runway, he could see a pair of figures running towards him. “Sonic that was great!” Kintobor exclaimed while Bark gave a curt but sincere “good job”. “Was there ever any doubt?” Sonic cheered as he hopped out of the plane. “Yes, actually” Kintobor exclaimed with a hand on his hip, “people tend to spend years learning how to fly. So imagine my shock When you told me you were ready to fly today ”. Sonic smiled wide “I guess that means I’m just that cool!”. Kintobor gave him a side eye glance “Sure Sonic. Well you passed, I officially give you permission to leave Christmas Island. What will you do now?”. Sonic didn’t miss a beat “I’ll be going later today. I’m thinking of going to the mainland first”. Kintobor nodded with a hand on his chin, “Australia, you’ll need some money. How about you wait until the afternoon before you head off. It'll take us both some time to prepare”. “Ok Doc, see ya then” with that Sonic went to pack, with Bark tagging along.
It was the afternoon on the airfield, Sonic and Bark were waiting by the plane. Surprisingly, all of the Beastmen on the island were there and a few of the human residents too. “What’s going on?” Sonic asked as Kintobor approached them. “I may have made a few calls about your departure. Everyone was very enthused to see you off”. Kintobor then handed Sonic a backpack, “Some money and essentials. Please know that you always have a place here to come back to. If you need more money though, I expect you to work for it. I might even have some jobs around the lab.” Kintobor said that last part with a cheeky grin. Sonic took the Back pack and put it with the rest of his belongings “I’ll, ah… keep that in mind”. He turned to Bark “Well this is it, see ya buddy”. Bark gave a nod, “I’ll be right behind you”. “I’ll keep you to that Bark, I’m rooting for you”. he then turned to Kintobor, “Bye Doc and thanks, for everything.” Kintobor gave a sincere smile “be safe out there Sonic”. Sonic gave a bright, laugh at that “Safe? Now Doc, where’s the fun in that?”
At fourteen years old, Sonic the hedgehog takes off from Christmas Island, leaving it for the first time in his life. He flies forward, to find adventure and to see all the unique things the world has to offer.