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Wave Coast was a scenic location outside of Soleanna. With white grains of sand meeting clusters of sea-green grass and an ocean as blue and dazzling as sapphires, it was a place adored by countless tourists. Wooden bridges were raised over the shore, connecting to the outskirts of the city. People gathered there for panoramic pictures, or they found the perfect fishing spot, casting their lures into the water below, waiting for the time to reel in the fish unique to the area.
But for Sonic, none of that mattered. All he could smell was the salt in the breeze. Colors blurred around him as he dashed across the shore. Sand shot up behind him when he swerved around children making sandcastles and couples sunbathing, their towels and umbrellas threatening to fly off the ground from his speed.
If he glanced over his shoulder, then he would have seen a black and red blur threatening to dart ahead. Shadow was hot on his heels. If Sonic blinked or slowed down for a millisecond, then Shadow would have overtaken him, which he refused to allow. With so many miles to go until they reached their destination, the race was still anyone’s victory, but Sonic wanted to maintain his lead.
They hadn’t had a competitive race since they defeated the Black Arms. Shadow had busied himself working for G.U.N while Sonic and Tails adventured around the world and outer space. Various endeavors impeded them, but when Rouge had insisted Shadow use his sick days and Sonic and Tails happened to be visiting Soleanna at the same time as Shadow, the race was inevitable.
They had Tails waiting on the farthest corner of the beach, and whoever reached him first was the winner. No rules had been implemented either, except for avoiding pedestrians as their safety came first. If Shadow wanted to fire a Chaos Spear, then Sonic allowed it. After all, it would have given Sonic a chance to try out a new blocking technique with his spin dash.
But when he looked ahead, he sputtered. On his other side, a dark flash hurried along the coast, beating the waves before they could crash down. Sonic yelped, skipping away before the waves could topple on him, and he nearly slipped on loose, wet sand, hopping in place to regain his traction.
Sighing, he scratched his head. Shadow was already a blip in the distance. As a few young children asked if he was okay, he thanked them for their concern and dashed onward. Although it hadn’t been more than ten seconds, the stretch was already a significant advantage for Shadow. Sonic ran at full speed, and so did Shadow, the sounds of their footsteps and whirring rocket shoes filling the ears. The wind urged them forward, the sand flinging in the gusts and waves crashing on the shore mere backdrops to them.
In a way, as he chased behind Shadow, it reminded Sonic of their time on the ARK. Manipulating Chaos Control, dashing out in front of each other, it felt nostalgic. Chasing and racing, their prowess on full display, nothing exhilarated Sonic more. And when Shadow glanced over his shoulder, a familiar smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, Sonic knew Shadow empathized with the unspoken sentiment.
He swerved into the water, cutting through it. The ocean waves arched, and the colors of the rainbow shined in the liquid. Sonic peeled out like a blue bullet before the water could drag him down. And as the waves smashed onto the shore, and Shadow’s eyes widened as he caught up to him, Sonic jerked his body to the side, sand jutting into the air again as he and Shadow came to abrupt stops, breathing through their mouths, their narrowed gazes locked on one another.
Tails looked up from his lounge chair. He tugged down his rectangular sunglasses, dropping his novel into his lap. “Oh, you guys finished the race already?” he asked, tilting his head.
“And you can lay it on Shadow that the number one speedster still remains victorious,” Sonic said, hitching his thumb at his chest.
“I assure you that you didn’t pass me at all. You merely kept toe-to-toe with me,” Shadow said, brushing through his quills.
They peered at their referee, but Tails returned to his novel. He flipped the page, smiling and saying, “It looked like a tie to me.”
Sonic threw his arms up as Shadow snorted. “Aw, Tails! You were supposed to be watching. Wasn’t it obvious at the end that I won?”
“I would’ve been able to call it, but the sand flying at me when you two skidded made it very difficult for me to see who was in first,” Tails countered, shrugging.
“Oh.” Sonic itched behind his ear. “That makes sense. Sorry, buddy.”
“We should set up a finish line that doesn’t involve racing up to Tails,” Shadow suggested, and he pointed at Tails’ bookbag. When the fox nodded, he grabbed it and tossed the bag to the shore, where the dry and wet sand meshed together. “Whoever reaches it first is considered the winner.”
Eagerness coursed through Sonic. The chance to race Shadow again thrilled him. He wanted to cherish the seconds it took to run with him for as long as he could, and Sonic nodded, gladly accepting Shadow’s terms.
As Tails returned to his book, Sonic cracked his neck and stretched his legs. “Ready to get your butt kicked again, Shadow? I won’t go so easy on you this time,” he jeered, tapping his sneakers into the sand.
“Please. The victory will be mine,” Shadow sneered, gesturing at Tails to begin the race.
Tails held his hand high above his head and placed his middle finger against his thumb. Sonic and Shadow crouched, pushing one leg back and pressing their knuckles into the ground. They focused on the distance, brimming with confidence. When Tails snapped his fingers, they sprinted to the start, parallel black and blue streaks blitzing across the shore in tandem.