Sonic ShinSekai

After days of wandering at sea, Sonic finally landed on the beach of a small island.

"Solid ground," he said, making a sand angel. "Thank you, gods of this world."

He took a moment to catch his breath. The sunlight was gradually disappearing behind a wall of clouds. A powerful wind whipped up the sand, sending it flying in every direction.

"Great… just when I was starting to relax." He sat up, raising a hand to shield his face from the sand.

Far in the distance, a massive pillar of water shot into the sky so large it looked like it could swallow half the island.

"What the hell is that?" he muttered, eyes wide. The pillar soon collapsed back into the ocean with a thunderous crash.

The wind died down. The sky began to clear. Sunlight finally broke through.

Still staring at the sea, Sonic shook his head in awe. Then his stomach growled.

"Man, I haven't eaten in days… I hope I can find some chili dogs here." He looked up. "Please, gods of this world… bless me again with some chili dogs."

His stomach growled again. "Guess that's a no. Well, let's hope there's something edible on this island."

He headed into the deep forest.

His legs cramped. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier. He hadn't slept in three days. His stomach growled again.

"Hang in there, buddy. Just a little longer. I'll find food soon."

Then he noticed a strange-looking bird sitting on a branch. It was purple, with a green belly and a head shaped like a fish. The bird stared at him without moving its head.

"Jiyooo," it called in a deep tone.

"Don't worry, I won't eat you. Can you maybe tell me where to find some food?"

"Jiyooooo…"

Sonic sighed. "What was I expecting, talking to a dumb bird like you?"

The bird frowned.

"Jiyoooo!" it cried again.

Footsteps approached. Giant insects began to surround him.

"Called some friends, huh? You could've at least brought some tasty ones," he said with a grin.

"Jiyooooo…"

They prepared to attack.

"Whoa, calm down. I was only joking." He backed away slowly. "No need to get violent. I'm too tired to fight anyone right now."

"Jiyooooo!"

The insects charged. Sonic flipped backward, used tree branches as platforms, and rolled into a ball to dodge them. His legs ached. He was dehydrated and starving. He zigzagged at high speed, dodging attacks and using the environment to fight back. The bird kept singing, summoning even more insects.

Sonic curled into a ball and gathered the last of his energy. A blue aura danced around him.

"All or nothing," he muttered.

He boosted forward, blasting through the horde and tearing through trees. A trail of smoke and fallen trunks followed him.

It worked. He'd made it out of the woods.

But around him nothing. Just grass, and a small house within a large wooden fence.

His legs gave out. He stumbled toward the house, barely keeping his eyes open. Two steps away… he collapsed. Arm outstretched toward the house.

"Please… help…"

He didn't move again.

His back felt soft. Not sand this time something better. More comfortable. He smiled. The smell of food reached his nose.

He shot upright, excited. A muscular middle-aged man looked at him. The man had short blond hair, a long rectangular chin, and a large chestnut on his head.

Sonic blinked several times, wondering if he was dreaming. The room was small and circular. On the table sat grilled fish and fruit.

He looked at the man. "Can I… please, sir?" he asked, desperate.

The man nodded. Before he could even finish the motion, Sonic was already eating.

The man lit a cigarette and watched silently.

"Thank you, sir," Sonic said, still chewing. "I owe you one."

The man exhaled smoke. "Never seen a mink like you before. Where are you from?"

Sonic sighed. "I'm not a mink, sir. I'm a hedgehog."

"I can see that," the man replied, puffing smoke.

"It might sound weird, but… what's a mink? Everyone keeps calling me that."

The man raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?" Sonic shook his head. "Interesting. Minks are animals with humanoid features."

"Guess I get the confusion," Sonic said, then burped. "Sorry."

"So what are you?" the man asked, more curious than ever.

"In my world, we're called Mobians." He emptied his glass. "Can I have more, please?"

The man pointed to a pitcher across the table. "Help yourself."

Sonic didn't bother with the glass. He drank straight from the pitcher, downing it all in seconds. He leaned back in his chair, relaxed.

"What do you mean, 'your world'?" the man asked after a pause.

"It's a long story. A weird machine sent me here. I'm trying to get back. My friends… they're stuck in this world too. I have to find them."

"How do you know they're here?"

"I… I just know."

He hadn't thought about it until now, but something inside him told him they were here. When the egg rift exploded, he was the only one near it. Maybe he really was alone. No impossible.

"There might be a way to find out," the man said, blowing more smoke.

Sonic jumped to his feet. "How?!"

"There's a bar in town. Pirates go there to drink, gossip, trade info. If anything weird is happening on nearby islands, they'll know."

"Thanks, but… I'm not the type to hang with criminals." He crossed his arms.

"Really?" The man pulled out a paper from the counter. "Then what's this?"

He slapped a wanted poster on the table. Sonic looked down. It was him. Smiling. Giving a thumbs-up.

500,000,000 berries.

"Wait… I thought the photograph was with a modeling agency!" Sonic shouted.

"Sonic the Hedgehog," the man said calmly.

"That's not what it looks like!" Sonic said, panicking.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Cricket Montblanc."

"You're… not worried?"

"Why would I be?" Cricket dropped a newspaper beside the poster. "I read the full article. I hate the Celestial Dragons. Bunch of pretentious assholes."

Sonic smiled. "Guess I don't have a choice if I want to find my friends quickly."

"Exactly."

Sonic stood. "Thanks for everything, Cricket. I'll repay you someday."

"No need, Sonic. I already got what I wanted two years ago."

Sonic smiled again. "Mind if I keep this?" he asked, grabbing the bounty poster.

"Go ahead," Cricket said with a grin.

Sonic nodded and sped out.

Cricket chuckled, tapping his forehead. "He's just as impulsive as him…"

A second later, Sonic zoomed back, scratching the back of his head.

"Uh… where exactly is the town?"

A blue streak shot across the island under the full moon. Already night? How long was I asleep? Sonic wondered.

Small animals fled as he zipped past. Within seconds, he arrived at Mock Town, the town where dreams end. The buildings looked like they'd been rebuilt several times. Most barely stood.

He asked around. People were afraid to talk. Some thought he was crazy. Eventually, someone gave him directions.

Music and singing came from inside the bar. He pushed open the doors. Everyone stared. Whispers spread.

"Who the hell are you? No one invited you here," said a bald, mean-looking pirate.

"Sorry to crash the party. I won't stay long."

"You won't stay at all!" a pirate shouted, throwing a bottle. Sonic caught it and spun it around his finger.

"I just have a few questions."

Another pirate rushed him with a sword. Before he could take a step, a beer bottle knocked him out.

A young pirate at the counter examined the bounty poster in his hand. "That's him," he whispered to a friend.

"Who?" asked a fat pirate with a headband.

"The one I told you about. The Marines call him the Blue Devil."

The big man took the poster, saw the bounty, and spat out his drink. "STOP!" he shouted, but when he turned everyone was already knocked out.

"Sorry about that," Sonic said, grinning.

"We… we don't want any trouble."

"Well… it's a little late for that."

"What do you want?" asked the big man, trembling.

"I'm looking for my friends. They'd stand out from the other minks." He grimaced at the word.

"I… I don't know anything," the man stammered as Sonic approached.

"Are you sure?" Sonic's grin turned sharp.

"I… I… am-"

"I heard a pink mink was sold at an auction in the Sabaody Archipelago!" a young pirate shouted.

"Pink hair, red dress, and a hammer?" Sonic said, panic rising.

"Yeah! You know her?"

In a flash, Sonic was in front of the boy. His eyes glowed blue.

"Where is she?!"

"Sa… Sabaody Archipelago," the pirate stuttered, his pants soaking.

"Show me how to get there!" Sonic's body erupted in blue aura.