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This island… It sure is a mystery. For it's coastal location... so close to the sea and pretty much isolated from the rest of the world, would you expect the summers on South Island to be so suffocatingly hot?
The sun stands tall, the humidity in the air hangs heavy on the armadillo’s body as he rambles. He's tough, he can handle a little heat, especially since his shell provides enough shade, but it does wear on his body after a while.
"Phew.. I'm beat."
If he continues with his little hike, he's bound to pass out eventually. It’s too hot to continue for now, the armadillo thinks. He looks intently around Green Hill for a place to rest and quickly spies a perfect spot to shield from the clingy heat. A somber little corner obscured by an abundance of palm trees and…
Some kind of creature…?
“I think I see something…” Mighty mumbles to himself.
Mighty squints his eyes. Was the spot already occupied by someone else? Had someone already beaten him to it?
The creature's as blue as the sky above him, he notes as he inches closer.
And spiky. Like a blue hedgehog.
One he hadn’t seen for far longer than he’d like to admit.
Mighty approaches his friend quietly, shielding his eyes from the blinding rays before he stops and stands before the guy, his head resting on his arms, lazing comfortably in the shade without a care in the world. (No surprise there.)
It wasn’t long before the hedgehog’s eyes flickered awake, immediately sensing something's gaze on him. The hedgehog stares for a moment at the familiar armadillo before he decides to speak.
“Long time no see. Watching people sleep’ a new hobby of yours, Mighty?” A smirk full of mischief appears on the hedgehog's face.
“Not really... Well only when they’re in my spot.” Mighty replies with a similar cheeky smile, though not nearly as mischevious
Your spot, huh..? The hedgehog shrugs before he speaks in his normal aloof tone. “Seems occupied to me. Sorry~ You snooze, you lose.” Sonic giggles then kicks his legs back, lazily leaning against the tree as he once was.
Weren't you the one that was napping before I got here...?
“Perhaps… a certain hedgehog around here would be nice enough to make room for one more. Teases the armadillo. "I'm not very confident about that 'nice' part though."
Sonic thinks for a bit.
“I'm plenty nice.” He says begrudgingly.
Sonic shuffles to the side and pats the empty space of grass beside him, letting out a sigh of relief, the armadillo happily joins him beneath the shade. Immediately he feels a cool breeze hit him. It doesn't feel like he's dying anymore. Thank Chaos.
The two relaxed into the comfortable silence for a few minutes. That was something he enjoyed when he was with Sonic. Sure their banter was fun but the silent moments never felt so silent. Peaceful more like.
“Been some time, hasn’t it?” Mighty speaks up.
Sonic nods his head. “I outta follow you one of these days.”
“That doesn't sound creepy, follow me where?” Mighty hums curiously.
“The adventures that keep you gone all these months.” The blue hedgehog asks. “Sounds like fun~”
“The-“ Mighty sounds surprised. “You notice when I’m gone?” He asks.
That's new. In the year or so he's known Sonic he's never thought of him as the nosy type. Sonic never really cared for much of anything and he definitely didn't think Sonic would notice... let alone care if he was here or not. Then again, as much as Sonic isn’t nosy, he really is observant. Still. For him to mention it...
"Ohh I see..." Mighty says now grinning with amusement. “Didn’t expect you of all people to miss me that much but I guess I am pretty likeable.” Teases the armadillo.
Instantly Sonic responds with a playful scoff. Can't a hedgehog ask a question without all these assumptions?
"Tails worries when you’re gone for half a year and I can't really blame him." Sonic says, rubbing his nose and innocuously avoiding Mighty's comment.
“You’re no stranger to going off solo yourself.” Mighty huffs “Poor Tails. You’d always leave that poor kiddo worried sick.”
Of course, Mighty couldn’t forget Tails’ first few months on South Island, how he’d come to him and Ray in a flurry, that Sonic had vanished into thin air and hadn’t been seen for days . It took a lot to convince him that everything was fine and Sonic was just well.. like that sometimes.
“I’m always back before long! He knows that.” Sonic retorts.
"I guess that's true..." Tails did get used to it not long after. Spending any amount of time with a hedgehog that refuses to settle, you quickly learn that’s just how Sonic is.
“The point still stands. You and I aren’t much different.” Insists the armadillo.
“Last I checked.” Sonic starts, “There’s no missing posters with my handsome face on it.” Sonic snickers. “Speaks for itself, right?~”
Hook, Line and Sinker.
Mighty frowns, he has no choice but to admit defeat. He knew this was a leg he couldn’t stand on. It’s not like he asked anyone to put up missing posters while he was away. Maybe the first time was warranted but doing it every time he disappears for a while is a bit much.
"So."
“Tell me.” Sonic says, he looks much more eager to listen, sitting up from his laze and smiling patiently. “What do you get up to on your adventures?”
The armadillo closes his eyes for a moment and lets out a small exhale. How else could he recuperate from that smack down Sonic had just landed on him?
“The answer will probably disappoint you.” says the armadillo.
“Can’t know unless you tell me” Sonic replies, a friendly smile on his face.
“It's not much different from what we’re doing right now.” He says calmly.
Sonic stares blankly at him.
“Napping?”
"Not napping.” Mighty laughs, “Clearing your head... taking in the scenery. Y'know, just enjoying the moment.”
"That's a long way to say taking a nap.” Sonic smirks.
"I'm telling the truth!" Mighty snorts. There was just something about quiet places like this, under the clear sky, that made all stress and worry vanish. “There's a lot to see in the world, lots of peaceful places like this one. I find myself searching for them. Being there, surrounded by the sights, It helps clear my mind.”
“And you do it for months?” Sonic asks.
"I get a little carried away." Mighty laughs, scratching his head sheepishly.
"I see." Sonic mumbles, thinking to himself for a moment.
"Not my thing." The hedgehog says bluntly. "Seeing new sights, that's cool but with no action, life will get boring before long." If theres one thing he owes to that egghead, is that he always keeps him on his toes.
It didn’t surprise Mighty at all that Sonic would say that.
Though both were adventurers at heart, Mighty had always prioritized tranquility above much else. Stopping Eggman, protecting his friends, it's all important to him but when it comes to fighting... He doesn't think he's suited for that kind of life.
Don't get him wrong, as strong as he is, anyone would expect fighting to come naturally for him. His name is Mighty. Stopping Eggman with Might like his is a walk in the park. It's just, the aftermath isn't always pretty, and it never felt good either.
He hasn't told anyone but he can't help but feel that his strength wasn't meant for fighting entirely. There's nothing he wants more but to be free from that expectation.
Mighty is a wanderer, a nomad in every sense of the word. Sonic is… well… Sonic.
“Guess we aren’t alike after all.” Mighty laughs.
“I don’t know about that." Says the hedgehog. "When you're out doing what you want, it makes you feel free, right?”
“Sure does.” Mighty replies.
“Then we’re the same.” Sonic smiles. "I say, keep doing what you're doing, but only if you want to."
Mighty thinks on his words for a moment.
“Anyway. What's got you stressing so much? There something troubling you?” Sonic asks, there’s a hint of concern in his voice but Mighty brushes it off.
“Oh not really. Nothing you need to worry about.” Mighty replies calmly.
Sonic stares at him and makes a weird face. “We’re friends aren’t we?"
“Uh, I’d say so?” Mighty replies, caught off guard by the sudden question.
“Then why wouldn’t I worry?” Sonic crosses his arms, giving Mighty a pointed glare. “I know you don't like to get your hands dirty so if anyone tries to harsh your vibe, just leave it to me!" He pumps his fists up and snickers mischeviously.
Mighty nods thoughtfully. "But someone's gotta be there to defend you if something happens."
Sonic's smile widens as he gives Mighty a playful nudge. "That's what that big ol' shell of yours is for, duh." he says, his tone light and teasing. "We make a pretty good pair when you think about it."
Sonic and Mighty share a hearty laugh, as their giggles settle, Mighty feels a sense of clarity. He had always felt that he and Sonic were kindred spirits. Their shared desire for freedom. Sonic's need for action clashes with his own pacifism, but their approaches complement each other nicely.
Sonic yawns suddenly, interrupting Mighty's convoluted thoughts.
"Let's do all that... after my nap" mutters out the hedgehog. He gives a thumbs up as he starts to drift off.
Mighty observes him as he falls asleep. The dance of the wind through Sonic's quills, and his sleepy breaths rising and falling. A content sigh escapes him. He's glad he took the time to connect with a fellow free spirit.