Back to Chapter 10

“Okay, keep your head down”

“Right”

“But not too far down, you still need to see where you’re going”

“Obviously”

“And reposition your arms a bit”

“Like this?”

“More like… this. Consider the wind resistance as you move, think of the air as if it’s water- what’s the best way to move through it without running into it? Let it flow over you. You’ll move faster. I know I keep going on about it but your head spines really aren’t very aerodynamic at all, we’ve got to figure something out”

Johnny had been giving Sonic his first training session for most of the morning and so far things were going smoothly. Porker had been operating the stopwatch though it was completely impossible to measure Sonic’s higher speeds with such a rudimentary device. Porker made a note to invent a speed gun. As a result, Sonic kept his running to a more manageable level. The boys decided that if Sonic could master improving his speed at what would be fast for most normal individuals, it stood to reason he’d put it to use at top speeds.

“Alright, Porker ready for another one?” Johnny asked.

“Ready when you two are,” Porker responded cheerily.

“Okay, Sonic, on Porker’s go”

Sonic took his mark, positioning himself just as Johnny had instructed him. He was rather enjoying learning to methods to get even faster.

Porker readied the stopwatch, “Three… two… one… go!”

Sonic burst forward at a run, sprinting towards a tree the boys had been using as a marker for the training session. Within instants he’d reached it, run round it and returned to his starting point. Porker pressed a button on the stopwatch.

“How was that?” Sonic asked.

“Five-point-three seconds,” Porker said, impressed.

“A little sluggish,” Sonic pondered.

“Sluggish?!” Porker exclaimed, “Sonic, that’s you holding back! And you’ve already shaved seven seconds off your starting figure!”

“Yeah, but it could be lower, right?” the hedgehog grinned.

“There’s no denying you’re getting it, Sonic,” Johnny said, rubbing his chin, “And to think, that’s not even as fast as you can go. I reckon with a bit of training, you could—”

With a blur of motion, Sonic whizzed to the tree and back in a fraction of a second.

“How was that?”

“Show off,” Johnny raised an eyebrow.

“That’s me!” Sonic grinned.

“Alright, Mr. Speedy-Pants, I think we’ve made good progress today,” Johnny put his hands on his hips, “There’s still work to be done but you’re putting the basics into action”

“Done already? I’ve got loads of energy left in me!” Sonic jogged on the spot for a second as if to show he was brimming with energy.

“Well I’m glad to hear that,” Johnny gave a wry smile, “Because we’re going to turn this into a relay. The next leg of your training starts at the river. Joe and Tux are there already. Don’t keep them waiting too long, will you?”

“I’ll do my best,” Sonic rolled his eyes cheekily and shot off in the direction of the river.

“Johnny,” Porker asked, “Do you think this is a good idea?”

“Listen, if I can make an athlete of him, I think between us we can make a triathlete of him yet. Besides, if he’s going to live in the Green Hill Zone, it’ll do him well to round off his skills so he isn’t just stuck in the village all the time”

“Yeah, but you saw what happened the other day,” Porker replied, with some concern in his voice.

“Joe and Tux both know what they’re doing. They won’t let Sonic come to any harm. Trust me, he’ll be fine”

“Well, just in case,” Porker added, “I gave the two of them something special to help him out”

***

Sonic screeched to a halt at the river and, sure enough, Tux and Joe were waiting for him.

“Good morning, Sonic,” Tux greeted the hedgehog.

“Mornin’,” Joe nodded.

“Hey, guys,” Sonic waved, “So, I hear you’re in on Johnny’s training plan”

“Indeed,” Tux replied, “Though perhaps not in the way you expected”

“Sonic, Tux and I got to thinking,” Joe crossed his arms, “See, walruses and penguins, we’re good in the water. So to see you get all hot and bothered when you fell in the other day, well, we weren’t so fond of that”

“What Joe is trying to say, Sonic, is Johnny has organised us giving you swimming lessons”

“Swimming?” Sonic balked at the idea, “Not for me, thanks, I’m alright being a strictly land-based hedgehog”

“Now, Sonic,” Joe looked at him and tried to sound as gentle as he could, “just you think. The other day, we were all here to help you. And that’s fine and good and all, but there’s a lot of water in the Green Hill Zone. And we won’t always be around if you slip and fall in”

“My dear boy, what Joe is getting at is learning to swim is one of the most vital things a fellow can learn. We aren’t asking you to become a professional swimmer by any means- we simply want you to be able to get by if the worst should happen. Knowing the basics is sometimes the difference between life and death”

Sonic was still unsure. Logically, deep within his brain, he knew Tux and Joe were right. The Green Hill Zone was practically ringed with water and there were plenty of pools, rivers and ponds throughout the Zone. He couldn’t rely on someone always being there to pull him out if he were to accidentally fall in- and he knew his natural curiosity and explorative nature meant he’d almost certainly be off and about in all manner of secluded places.

But, still… water.

He’d had enough of a fright in the wet stuff the other day and that had only compounded his phobia of anything deeper than a bath.

“I sense some trepidation,” Tux noted.

“Yeah,” Joe agreed, “I think he’s nervous too”

Sonic avoided making eye contact as best he could, “Sorry, guys, I just… I don’t know about this”

“Well, fret not,” Tux said, reaching behind a rock for something, “Our good friend Porker Lewis feared this may happen and so took the liberty of inventing a little gadget for you”

Tux revealed Porker’s invention. It looked like a scuba mask and snorkel.

“Lovely shade of yellow,” Sonic noted, somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

“Ah, you’ll like this one, Sonic,” Joe smiled, “It’s not just an ordinary scuba mask”

“Oh?” Sonic was intrigued.

Joe crossed his arms assuredly, “Go ahead, put it on. You’ll see what I mean. I reckon it’ll be a good first step to making you feel at ease in the water”

Sonic took the mask from Tux and felt the weight of it in his hands. It didn’t seem like more than a regular scuba mask. Well, what could be the harm of putting it on on dry land? Sonic pulled the mask over his eyes and nose.

“What’s the special trick?” Sonic asked.

“Okay,” Joe was looking forward to seeing how this one panned out, “without putting the snorkel in your mouth, keep your lips together and take a deep breath”

Sonic did as he was told. He took a deep breath of air in, then out.

Hold on a minute.

“Wait,” Sonic said, a touch confused.

“By George, he’s got it,” Tux glanced at Joe.

“I dunno who George is but I reckon Sonic’s got it”

“How am I able to breathe through my nose in this thing?” Sonic asked.

“It’s not a mere scuba mask,” Tux answered, “Porker fitted it with a rebreather. There’s a tiny canister of compressed oxygen in the front of the mask. It’s a limited supply, mind you, and it’ll need refilling, but there’s certainly enough to get you through an hour or so of training”

Sonic reasoned that rebreathers probably weren’t unheard of, but to have one installed in what looked like a regular, off-the-shelf scuba mask was impressive, especially as just one pig was behind it. Sonic knew he’d have to thank Porker later.

“Alright, alright,” Sonic raised his hands, “You’ve got me. I’m still not keen on getting wet, but if I’m at least able to breathe, I might get in for a paddle”

“That’s the spirit!” Joe gave a hearty thumbs up, “Class is now in session! Messrs Sushi and Penguin are your official swim captains for the day!”

“Messrs Penguin and Sushi, Joe,” Tux corrected, “The rules of grammar insist you introduce your fellow before yourself”

“Well, anyway- get your pointy butt in here, Sonic!” Joe laughed as he and Tux dove into the river.

Sonic duly obliged and waded in after his friends.

***

It took Joe and Tux a while but they did manage to get Sonic to calm down somewhat in the end. The rebreather was definitely helping the situation and eventually Sonic was relaxed enough to pick up on the basics. Treading water was an easy enough one as it relied on Sonic’s legs and he was perfectly happy to use those. He did have to adjust a bit for water resistance and to take into account rhythmic movement of his legs, rather than trying to use anything approaching his running speed. If Sonic was to go into water, he’d certainly be moving at a reduced pace.

A doggy paddle- or, perhaps, a hoggy paddle- was another technique relatively easily mastered. Joe didn’t want to overwhelm Sonic with too much for his first session and reasoned he could teach Sonic how to move more nimbly through water in time. For now, he was reasonably confident that if Sonic were to slip into water, he’d be able to splash his way to shore.

“Alright, Sonic, the next bit is kind of a big step, but it’s super important,” Joe told his new pupil, “We’re gonna show you how to dive and resurface”

Even with the rebreather on, Sonic wasn’t entirely comfortable with this idea.

Tux spotted Sonic’s awkwardness, “I’ll tell you what, Sonic. We’ll make this a multi-purpose lesson. As a penguin, diving comes rather naturally to me so if you hold onto Joe as we go beneath the surface, just focus on my form and how I move. We’ll not over-face you for your first lesson”

Sonic was nervous but generally agreeable, “Alright… it’s just… you know, going all the way under the water… that’s the scary part”

“My good chap, if we can train you half as well as we intend, it shall become second nature to you,” Tux assured his friend. Tux pondered for a moment and rubbed his forehead, “Actually, I do have another lesson to impart upon you. Joe is rather good at teaching the swimming and diving side of things- walruses, after all, are as skilled as penguins in such matters- but I do have somewhat of a knack for other areas in the water. I wonder if it may be pertinent to share these techniques”

“What techniques exactly?” Sonic enquired.

“Breathing techniques,” Tux answered, “Specifically how to control one’s breathing, how to hold one’s breath. In fact, the rebreather offers a perfect learning opportunity as even if you end up having to breath out, you can’t drown while your oxygen supply is so great”

Sonic pre-emptively popped the snorkel in his mouth, “In through the nose, out through the mouth,” he managed to get out as he popped the rubbery hose between his teeth.

“Precisely!” Tux responded delightedly, “Now, take some good deep breaths to get into the habit as I talk you through my next lesson”

“And don’t worry, Sonic,” Joe continued, “I’m going nowhere- I’ll be right here holding on tight”

“Now, should you find yourself in a situation without your rebreather, you’ll obviously want to get to the surface as quickly as possible. Sometimes, depending on where you are, this may not be possible. One expects it goes without saying that without a rebreather one shouldn’t simply breathe in underwater- unless, that is, you’re about to inform me you also have gills?”

Sonic shook his head. No gills, all quills.

“Then allow me to instruct you on locating air underwater,” Tux continued, “Don’t forget of course, that, scientifically, water contains oxygen molecules as well. Ergo, one simply has to find pockets of air rushing to the surface. Most commonly, this will be in the form of bubbles. They may not be the freshest of air, but in an emergency situation, these bubbles may mean the difference between life and death”

Sonic gave a puzzled look.

“Allow me to demonstrate”

Tux took a deep breath and dived beneath the surface of the water. Joe and Sonic looked at one another.

“Ready?” Joe asked.

Sonic shook his head. He paused. He gave a less-than-certain nod.

“Alright. And don’t forget I’m right here”

The two dove beneath the water, Joe holding on to Sonic. Joe kicked his legs to take them down and Sonic focused on his breathing. The rebreather did its job, keeping Sonic’s anxiety to a manageable level. After a moment, Sonic spotted Tux on the floor of the river. Some rocks were piled up and Tux motioned towards them. After a short wait, Sonic noticed some small bubbles pushing their way through the cracks. Moments thereafter, a much larger bubble- larger than Tux’s head- formed and Tux swam to it before gulping it down. The penguin turned to the others and gave an underwater bow before swimming back up. Joe carried Sonic up towards the surface as well.

Sonic popped the snorkel out of his mouth, “That was amazing! You managed to find something to breathe underwater, I can barely wrap my head around it!”

“Oh, quite simple when you know how, my dear boy. Whenever you’re near the water, consider your environment. Look around for where there may be cracks, particularly in areas that aren’t naturally occurring. You know, buildings and the like”

“Guys, I still don’t like water,” Sonic admitted, “but I think I could learn to handle it with your help”

“You did very well, Sonic,” a female voice noted.

Sonic turned to see Sally stood at the riverbank, “How long have you been watching?”

“Long enough,” Sally smiled, “I think it’s time to begin the third leg of Sonic’s training, wouldn’t you say, boys?”

***

Sally led Sonic into a densely wooded area of the Green Hill Zone. Sonic was amazed at the natural beauty and greenery of the forest.

“Alright, Sonic, this isn’t a sight-seeing trip,” Sally told him, “You’re here to learn”

“So what’s on the agenda, Sal?” Sonic asked.

“The other day when you climbed the tree before your fall,” Sally began, “I couldn’t help but notice your had really poor climbing form”

“That’s getting to be a recurring theme today,” Sonic quipped.

“I want to show you how to improve that. The Green Hill Zone has lots of trees and mountains that are great fun to explore- but not if you tire yourself out”

“Yeah, I headed into the mountains a couple of days ago, actually”

“Porker told me,” Sally smirked, “We’ll try not to drop any dragons into his smalls today”

Sally brought Sonic to a huge and beautiful tree with vast branches. It stretched high into the sky.

“This is my favourite tree in the forest,” Sally informed Sonic, “It’s perfect for climbing. And, wouldn’t you know it, it’s an acorn tree”

“It was meant to be, Sally,” N.I.C.O.L.E spoke up, a smile on her digital face.

“Don’t suppose you know anything about climbing, N.I.C.O.L.E.?” Sonic asked.

“I lack a physical presence, meaning I have no arms or legs, Sonic,” N.I.C.O.L.E. reminded him cheerily, “So no”

“True”, Sonic replied, “Didn’t think of that”

“Well I hope yours aren’t feeling too wobbly after all the running and swimming,” Sally interjected, because we’re climbing to the top of this thing.

Sonic looked up, squinting to focus on the top of the tree. He felt like he should be intimidated by this challenge but, somehow, he wasn’t. Sally had a somewhat soothing presence that calmed any nerves he may have had. Technically, the rebreather and Joe had made the swimming perfectly safe, whereas if Sonic fell from this tree it was definitely doing to hurt- yet Sonic wasn’t as worried as he was in the water at all, just oddly relaxed.

“Now, first things first, watch me climb to that branch,” Sally reached for a hand hold in the tree and pulled herself up. Sonic took it all in as Sally shifted her weight as she pulled herself up. She made it look effortless.

Sally pulled herself over to a sturdy branch and stood up on it, “Alright- your turn. Meet me here on this branch”

Sonic tried to remember which bits of bark Sally had reached for before. Gingerly, he began to scale the tree. He was slow at first but still reasonably confident.

“Think about how you distribute your weight,” Sally called down to Sonic, “Lean into one side as you climb, then push upwards with it and lean into the other”

Sonic did as instructed and found he was scaling the tree with relative ease, “This isn’t too bad!”

“No, you’re doing well!” Sally complimented the hedgehog.

Sonic brought himself level with the branch Sally was standing on and pulled himself over.

“How’s that?” he grinned.

“A good start. Let’s go again, a little higher this time”

Sally began a new ascent and this time seemed more fluid and smoother in her movements. Sonic realised she’d been holding back before to help illustrate to him how to climb but, seeing he had a grasp of it, no longer needed to do so. Sally climbed three branches above Sonic before coming to a stop.

“Okay, get yourself up here!” she called down to Sonic.

Sonic began his climb anew. He somehow felt incredibly confident despite only being a comparative amateur climber. He couldn’t exactly place why Sally had brought this confidence out in him, but he knew he was keen to impress her.

Once Sonic got into a routine of finding the right footholds and shifting his weight, he found climbing the tree pretty straightforward. In no time at all, he was on the same branch as Sally.

“Not bad,” Sally smiled at her friend, “I think you’ve got a good understanding of this. But we’re still a way to go. What say we speed things up?”

Before Sonic could respond, Sally leapt upwards, grabbed onto a branch and swung herself up onto it acrobatically. Sonic was flabbergasted.

“What?” Sally asked, a cheeky grin on her face, “You didn’t think we’d be using the trunk the whole way, did you?”

“How did you do that so easily?” Sonic found himself asking.

“I am a squirrel you know, Sonic,” Sally smirked.

Sonic raised an eyebrow, “Is she always like this, N.I.C.O.L.E.?”

“It wouldn’t be proper for me to say, Sonic,” N.I.C.O.L.E. said, deftly avoiding the question.

“Come on,” Sally interrupted, “Enough talking, let’s move!”

Sally began bounding from branch to branch, leaping higher and higher. Sonic was amazed at her acrobatic moves but realised he’d have to follow soon or she’d be out of sight. He bent his knees and flung himself at the branch she’d previously been standing on, grabbing onto it and pulling himself up. He repeated this over and over, leaping up the tree towards the top where Sally awaited him.

Before long, Sonic realised the branches were getting smaller, narrower and fewer. More light was flooding in as the tree poked above the others around it. He looked up and could make out Sally’s tail through the foliage. Sonic leapt for the next branch and pulled himself up. Nearly there now. Sonic took a momentary breath, bent his knees down low and sprang upward. Sonic landed atop the next branch but misjudged the landing and slipped, his arms flailing out as he began what would promised to be a long and painful tumble downwards.

Sonic was instantly aware of a hand in his own, holding him in midair. Sally, holding onto the tree trunk, had caught Sonic.

The princess looked down at Sonic and couldn’t help herself, “What would you do without me, eh?”

Sally pulled Sonic up level with her and onto the highest branch of the tree. The two looked one another in the eye.

“Thanks, Sally,” Sonic said, “That’d have probably hurt”

“Don’t mention it,” Sally replied, “You want to know why this is my favourite tree?”

“Because it’s got the same name as you?”

“No, silly. Look,” She motioned outwards and Sonic turned to face the view, a beautiful, lush forest. His heart swelled as he took in the sight.

“Wow,” was all Sonic could manage.

“The Green Hill Zone is so beautiful. It reminds me of home. My family have had to return to West Side Island, that’s why I’m able to spend time with my friends again outside of my royal duties. But some of those duties are really important to me. For instance, one day, when I’m queen, it’ll be my duty to protect places like this and make sure they retain their natural splendour”

“Well,” Sonic started, unsure of where this sentence was going, but fully aware his brain had put a jumble of words in his mouth and he now had to give them voice, “I’d like to help you. You know… to keep Mobius as beautiful as…”

He trailed off.

Sally smiled.

“I’d like that a lot,” she replied.

“Sally…” Sonic began.

“Yes?”

“I have a question”

“Oh?”

“How the heck do we get back down?”

Sally grinned, “That’s the second half of the lesson”

Sally dove gracefully downwards, flipping and swinging off and around branches as she did so.

Sonic could tell he’d have his hands full spending time with the princess.

On to Chapter 12