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Sophocles the Owl shuddered. It wasn’t cold- in fact, it was a perfectly lovely day in the Green Hill Zone, as it quite often was. This was more of a shudder of anticipation, as if something very unusual was about to happen. Sophocles’ wife, Longclaw, looked at him and smiled.

“Something wrong, my love?” she spoke in her reassuring voice.

Sophocles cleared his throat and untensed, “Nothing, my dear. Just sort of shivered for no reason!”

“Someone must be walking over your grave,” Longclaw chuckled at the old expression.

Sophocles turned his head suddenly. He saw something far away, coming over a hill shrouded in forest. Nobody else would have been able to see it without the use of binoculars or similar device, but Sophocles was renowned for being keen-eyed. He could make out a shape walking towards the two owls.

“There- do you see that?” Sophocles motioned in the direction of the shape.

“Sophocles, you know full well I can’t. Remember, I have sharp talons and you have sharp eyes. That’s why we make such a good team”

“It almost looks like…” the shape came into focus a little and Sophocles squinted, “Like a boy”

“A boy?” Longclaw followed Sophocles’ gaze but she still couldn’t see anything.

“Yes… a hedgehog boy to be precise. Not a face I recognise from Hedgehog Village”

“Perhaps he’s new to the Zone,” Longclaw offered.

“He does look a little lost,” Sophocles admitted, “Why don’t we greet the lad and see if we can help him?”

Without another word, the two owls flew off in the direction of the wanderer. Sophocles’ eyes had been as good as ever as Longclaw saw before too long the form of a young hedgehog boy. He had some old, beaten trainers on his feet with untied laces dangling at the side. Longclaw couldn’t help but be impressed by the lad’s quills- quite evidently, this was a hedgehog that took pride in his appearance. His back was absolutely covered with immaculately kept brown spines, all perfectly combed and pointed. All the same, despite the obvious effort, the footwear was undermining his look somewhat and swung the needle firmly towards scruffy.

“Ahoy there!” called Sophocles, “Hope you don’t think us intrusive, we just wanted to see if you’re alright”

The hedgehog looked up at the two owls, “If I’m… sorry, what did you say?” he seemed out of sorts, as if something was distracting him.

Now that she was able to get a good look at him, Longclaw could see the boy was obviously on the younger end of things. He looked like he was carrying a great sadness.

“Are you alright?” Longclaw ventured, sympathetically, “You look lost”

“I’m fine,” the hedgehog replied, despite clearly not being fine.

“Are you from around here?” Longclaw asked

“Actually, I’m not sure where ‘around here’ is,” the lad admitted.

“Well, I suppose that answers that question,” Longclaw smiled at the boy.

“You’re in the Green Hill Zone, sonny,” Sophocles obliged.

“Hm. Well it’s easy to see how it got its name,” the hedgehog admitted. It certainly was, as the Green Hill Zone was not just mountainous but also beautifully verdant.

As the most famous Zone on all of South Island, the Green Hill Zone was famed for its natural beauty. Tall, rocky mountains surrounded lush, green slopes and inclines. Much of the Zone was surrounded by glistening water which rushed in seemingly endless supply in blue waterfalls pouring down the cliff faces of the mountains. Totem poles erected by ancient peoples were maintained by the modern day inhabitants of the Zone. The flowers were always in full bloom, including huge sunflowers with heads larger than most people’s-- well, head. Palm trees filled the zone and ancient cliff formations quite often held underground secrets. It was an idyllic Zone that any Mobian would have been proud to call their home.

“Where did you come from?” Sophocles asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” the boy replied, clearly straining to hold something back, “Please, don’t make me talk about it”

“Okay, it’s okay,” Longclaw landed next to the boy and put a comforting wing around his shoulder, “We won’t make you talk about it, we promise. Don’t we, husband?”

Sophocles nodded, “Of course, my lad”

The young hedgehog shuddered gently as he fought to maintain his composure. Longclaw tried not to wince as his many brown points prodded her.

“My name’s Longclaw,” she introduced herself, “and this is my husband Sophocles”

“Delighted to meet you, my boy,” Sophocles nodded as he landed.

“So,” Longclaw continued, “what should we call you?”

The boy peered up at Longclaw, looking right into her eyes.

“I’m Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog”

***

Sonic felt as if all eyes were on him as he and the owls entered Green Hill Village, the most populated settlement in the Zone. Green Hill Zone was one of the largest Zones on South Island and a number of communities had been founded there long ago. It wasn’t clear if Green Hill Village was named after the Zone or the other way around- so much time had passed since the village was founded, nobody could be sure. The hedgehog community mostly lived in the nearby Hedgehog Village, which similarly suffered from an unimaginative name. In a strange twist, however, Hedgehog Village had actually been founded by a badger.

Green Hill Village itself was a multi-species community which, legend had it, originally formed when various animal tribes came together to repel a ruthless king. Such tales seemed fanciful in the present day, however, as Green Hill Zone- and, indeed South Island- was an untouched beauty not blemished by war or conflict for centuries.

Sonic nervously kept his head down as Longclaw and Sophocles brought him to the village. The two owls could sense the boy was holding onto something that was bothering him but he’d already made it clear he didn’t want to talk about it and they didn’t want to make the situation any more complicated than it already was.

Suddenly, beautiful birdsong filled the air. The villagers turned their heads skyward to see the source of the singing- a bluebird fluttered down from above to greet the owls and hedgehog.

“Hi, Longclaw, hi, Sophocles,” the bluebird chirped, “Who’s your friend?”

“Hello, Flicky,” Longclaw replied, “This is Sonic. He’s new around here. He could probably do with a friendly face to show him around”

“That’s me alright!” Flicky tweeted joyfully, “Nice to meet you, Sonic, I’m Flicky! I’m a bluebird!”

“Hi,” Sonic mumbled.

“It’s okay if you’re shy. Let me introduce you to my friends! Come on!”

Flicky flew off apace, surprising Sonic with his agility. Sonic looked up at Longclaw and Sophocles.

“Go on,” Longclaw smiled, “Flicky keeps good company, you’ll get on with them right away”

Sonic followed Flicky at a light jog.

Sophocles sighed, “Something very bad has happened to that boy”

“I fear you’re right,” Longclaw agreed, “But I don’t think we’ll find out what it is any time soon”

***

Sonic followed Flicky with some curiosity as the tiny bluebird darted towards a trio of small houses, little more than huts really, situated not too far apart from one another.

“Hey, guys! It’s me- Flicky! Come on out, I’ve met a new friend!”

The houses’ doors opened and a young animal came from each- a rabbit wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, a pig in an off-white shirt and jeans and a chicken. The animals each bounded over to Flicky.

“Hi, Flicky,” the rabbit waved, “Who’s this?”

“Hi, Johnny,” Flicky responded as he came to a rest and landed, “This is Sonic- he’s a hedgehog”

“Interesting,” the pig responded, “He can’t be from Hedgehog Village”

“What makes you say that, Porker?” asked the chicken.

“Look at his spines. They’re all… well, pointy”

“You’re right, I’m not from Hedgehog Village,” Sonic answered, “But if it’s all the same to you, I don’t want to talk about where I’m from”

“That’s okay,” the pig smiled, “I understand that perfectly- I’m not from around here either. My name’s Porker, Porker Lewis. I dabble in gadgets and stuff like that if you’re interested”

Porker extended a hand- or, rather, a trotter- to Sonic, who happily accepted it and shook it, “Nice to meet you, Porker. I’m Sonic the Hedgehog- um, although Flicky already told you that!”

“This is Johnny Lightfoot,” Flicky introduced the rabbit, “He’s the local sprint champion!”

“Oh, really?” Sonic’s eyes lit up as he shook paws with Johnny.

“Do I detect an athlete?” Johnny laughed.

“I’ve been known to apply myself on the running field, sure!” Sonic grinned, his worries slowly disappearing.

“Well I’d be happy to defend my crown if you want to put your speed to the test,” Johnny offered.

Sonic smirked, “I might just take you up on that offer, Johnny”

“I’m Chirps!” said the remaining animal, “Chirps the Chicken! Well, technically I’m a rooster but my family name is traditional”

Sonic gave Chirps his best approximation of a handshake, which was somewhat tricky given the latter had wings, “Hey, Chirps, how’s it going?”

“Before he gets going, I think it’s important to tell you he’s daft as a brush,” Flicky advised.

“Hey, that’s not fair!” Chirps sulked, “I’m only as daft as one of those really thin brushes they use to do the fiddly bits. A toothbrush at most!”

“See what I mean?”

Sonic laughed, “So he’s a little kooky. That’s alright by me! And what about you, Flicky, what’s your story?” the hedgehog gave Flicky a wing-shake of his own, “Porker’s a tech geek, Lightfoot is a sprinter, Chirps has a screw loose- what about you?”

“I,” Flicky paused for dramatic effect as he puffed out his chest in a theatrical and tongue-in-cheek display of pride, “am the best singer in the Green Hill Zone”

“Wooo,” Sonic gave an impressed noise as an equally tongue-in-cheek response, “I did catch a few notes from you earlier, actually, you’re good!”

“Thanks!” Flicky beamed then turned to his other friends, “So, guys, where are the others? Joe and Tux and Her Royal Highness?”

Johnny smirked, “Flicky you know Sally doesn’t get out of school until a little past now. I’m sure she’ll be on her way soon, it’s not as if she’s got far to travel to come and play”

“I think Joe and Tux are down by the river, actually,” Porker added.

“That sounds about right,” Flicky concurred, “Maybe we can take a trip there to meet them- what do you say, Sonic?”

“Sounds good- but count me out if swimming’s on the cards!”

Porker tilted his head, “I thought hedgehogs could swim just fine”

“Yeah, well, not this hedgehog!” Sonic responded.

“So, Sonic, if you’re new here, where are you gonna stay?” Chirps asked, “Aren’t your parents here too?”

“I…” All of a sudden, the worry returned to Sonic. Instantly uneasy, Sonic didn’t seem to know which way to turn, “I don’t…”

“Sonic, are you alright?” Johnny asked.

“Yes… no!” Sonic blurted, “I’m… I don’t wanna…” tears formed at the corners of his eyes.

The other animals exchanged uncertain glances as the young hedgehog began to cry. None of them seemed sure what to do.

Sonic was aware of a friendly hand on his shoulder, “There, there, sonny, it’ll be alright”

Sonic wiped his face and looked up to see the hand’s owner standing above him. He was an older gentleman with a moustache that gave him a distinguished look. He had large, friendly eyes underneath a pair of bushy eyebrows. Sonic had never been to Hedgehog Village before but he realised this gentleman must have been one of its villagers as he was a hedgehog, but his spines looked totally different to his own, in a somehow sleeker formation. More than that, however, the gentleman was blue.

“My name’s Charles,” the older hedgehog told Sonic, “But everyone calls me Uncle Chuck. You look hungry- how would you like a meal on me at my diner?”

On to Chapter 2