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She couldn’t supress a laugh as she blasted through the lush greenery at full speed.
Blaze hadn’t reached these speeds in a long time, she amazed herself with how fast she was going. She ducked and weaved through branches as her flames propelled her forward, pirouetting over protruding rocks threatening to put a stop to her glee.
She spared a glance to her side to see a massive smile just for her. Normally she wouldn’t care for competition, but when Sonic came and challenged her, something wouldn’t let her say no. But looking at the toothy grin, she knew it was worth it.
“Have you gotten faster? I might actually have to put some effort in!” He called to her.
“Put in as much effort as you like, hedgehog! Just be warned, if you play with fire...”
At that moment she arched her body down and rocketed off, flames flying from her heels, surpassing the blue hedgehog in an instant.
“...you get burned!” she called out behind her, a smile matching her rival and a laugh just challenging him to step it up. Such behaviour wasn’t befitting for a princess, but she couldn’t help it.
Being with Sonic changed her, just a simple run turned her into such a different person. She felt as free as the flames she controlled, no shackles restraining her.
Sonic had always assumed his speed was his greatest power, but Blaze knew better. It was his ability to let people forget. No one had to worry about the end of the world if he was there, no one had to worry about who they were, and what their duty was. He was the living embodiment of carefree and he made sure people felt the same.
She wasn’t Blaze the Princess around him, she was his friend, and the moment you enter his slipstream, you are like him, free as the wind.
All that mattered right now was the race, and even then, she didn’t care. She didn’t care so much that she didn’t even see the rock that lay right before her.
Blaze yelped as she stumbled over it and became airborne for a slight moment, but she didn’t have time to curse herself, or even finish her embarrassing yelp as it quickly turned into uncontained laughter.
Sonic had sped up in front of her, hands outstretched grabbing her own. He spun them both around at high speeds in mid air. They became a blue firey tornado as they spun and neither of them ceased their laughter.
Blaze opened her eyes as she laughed more than she ever did before and time slowed down.
Sonic’s emerald eyes were shining with glee as he laughed, using his momentum to keep the slowly falling tornado going. Blaze didn’t want this moment to end, she wanted to stay in this dance forever.
The tornado was their dancefloor and their freedom was their music.
She didn’t even notice that Sonic was pulling her in closer until she could feel his gloved hand grasp her back, and even then the laughter never ceased.
The two tumbled down onto the grassy bank, rolling down the hill in each others embrace.
When they finally came to a stop, Blaze found herself atop the blue hero, the two still laughing with all their hearts. Normally she’d notice the situation and remove herself in an instant, but she wasn’t a princess right now, she could afford this brief moment of joy. Besides, Sonic still hadn’t let go yet. What was she to do?
The duet of laughter slowly died off and the two caught each others gaze.
“Y’know” Sonic began, still trying to catch his breath. “normally you’re supposed to look in front of you when you’re racing.”
Blaze felt Sonic’s breath on her as he spoke. She could feel how close they were, noses just barely touching. And yet, she still didn’t care. Not when she was with Sonic.
“please, hedgehog, last I checked you’re on the ground as well.”
The blue hedgehog chuckled.
“you said that I’d get burned if I played with fire, I just wanted to know what would happen if I caught fire instead.”
Blaze gave him a rye smile, her eyes half lidded.
“Normally when you catch it, you let go as soon as possible.”
Sonic’s arms wrapped around her reflexively held on tighter.
“Can’t have you falling again, it’s for your own good.” He closed his eyes, smiling.
Blaze could feel her own arms tighten around him.
She thought of what she wanted to say in response, and yet drew blank. She didn’t care about anything. When Sonic was here, she couldn’t care about anything.
But how long was he there for? It was never long. Never as long as she wanted. It was always some end of the world debacle, so she took a note from his book. She’d live in the now.
Blaze remained silent as she rested her head against his chest. And just stayed there. She didn’t care, not right now.
She felt Sonic relax his chin against her forehead. She felt his heartbeat, his chest rise and fall. This was all she needed.
“Your highness?”
That wasn’t Sonic’s voice. No that was...wait no.
She looked up at the blue hero and audibly yelped as she saw a worried looking Koala in a blue fez.
“Your highness, are you okay?”
Blaze found herself at her desk, paperwork strewn in front of her and some sullied by a slight drop of drool.
To her side she found her personal guard at the entrance to her office, worry evident in his eyes.
It was just a dream.
She cleared her throat, and her expression remain neutral.
“All is fine Gardon. Just taking an impromptu siesta...apparently. You may return to your post.”
“But...the emeralds, they are glowing. We require your assistance, we haven’t a clue what it could mean.”
She couldn’t supress a sigh.
“i shall have a look.”
The two walked down to the emerald hold in stilted silence. The princess held her standard stoic face and yet if you looked closely, you could see the fires of annoyance burn.
Being her guard for many years, Gardon saw this and remained silent.
And gulped when there was absolutely nothing wrong with the emeralds.
Nothing aglow, no threat of imminent destruction. They were still the same as ever before
.
“You were right to wake me Gardon.”
He glanced up at his princess, fear is his eyes, as she took a closer look at the emeralds.
“They are dull and horribly dusty. See to it that they are polished.”
Blaze was never one for pettiness, but her guard should know never to awaken a cat.
The koala gave a shaky but firm salute as Blaze turned to return to her office.
She was irritated to say the least. But at least it was a good dream. She had needed it.
XxxX
Across the multiverse, a certain blue hedgehog lay asleep on the highest branch of a tree, a content smile on his face and a glowing emerald in his hands.
It was nice to see her again.