— Some Forest —

  Deep in the forest, a narrow, winding road passes through the protected land. The portal opens on the side of the road, where cars pass by sporadically. Some are aware of the portal, and some aren’t.

  Though they all share the same mindset: to leave it alone and never investigate further.

  As the portal remains open, a figure was forcefully thrown out of it, sliding their way across the dirt before hitting the tree. “Ouch…” Sonic responds while dizzy from the chase. His blue fur is filled with bits of leaves and soil all around him before he eventually shakes it all off. “What kind of place… does Eggman think he’s got here… a forest?” He looks around the forest, seemingly lost wherever he is.

  “Guys…?”

  Yet, no answer from anyone.

  “Guys!?”

  Shouting at the wilderness, where his voice echoes, yet the same results occur.

  No response.

  “Oh, come on! Egghead set this portal up just for us to separate!?” He questions all by himself, still all alone, deep in the forest, wondering where the others are. “Well… It’s going to be a pain to find them…”

  Sonic’s legs are already exhausted after chasing Eggman, so his ability to run has to wait for some time. After examining the forest, he spots the narrow road, a hint that civilization exists in this new world. Then, a car appears from a distance, coming directly towards him. “A car…? Shoot, this could be my chance!” The blue blur waves his arms erratically, signaling the car to slow down.

  To his credit, the car does respond; it slows down and parks on the shoulder, with the driver opening their window. “Do you need anything?” The anteater questions him while the sound of the engine takes up most of the noise around them.

  “Uhh… yeah.” Sonic clears his throat, nervously looks around, and looks back at the driver. “I’m wondering where I am… because I’m lost in this wilderness.” His voice carried a hint of both desperation and nervousness. “May I… hitchhike… and find out where you can… take me?” Anxiously smiling, hoping for the anteater’s response to be accepting of him.

  The anteater calmly shrugs and signals to get inside, “You’re lucky, kid, because I’m in a good mood for today.” Pointing to themself while having a reassuring smile is an answer that Sonic needs. “Of course, you can ride in my car. I’m just relaxing my way back home after a month's vacation.” He presses the button to unlock the car. “Hop in, friend. Just don’t make a mess, please.”

  “Let’s go!” Sonic briefly cheers until he gets inside the car, “Thank you… umm…”

  “Ant Bozeman. Your typical Anteater who loves to hate on ants.” Ant leans back on the driver’s seat before looking at Sonic. “What’s your name, hedgehog?”

  Sonic points to himself while in a smug expression, “I’m Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog. The blue blur. The master of running.” His usual expression is still retained while he adjusts the seat. “But my legs are tired and worn out… plus I’m dizzy.” Groaning in frustration, he puts a hand on his head for some support.

  “Not to worry.” Ant opens the compartment and grabs some pills, “I have multiple pills to cure your dizziness, but not your legs. Those legs will have to relax for now.” He also grabs a water bottle from the rear seat. “We’ll get to our destination asap. But it’s a far ride, so bear with me.” Shifting his car to drive, but before he goes off, he reminds Sonic, “Make sure to put on your seatbelt.”

  “You bet!” Sonic drinks his medicine before putting on his seatbelt. He’s gonna have a fun time talking to his new friend from a different world.

  A few hours went by in the car with Ant. Sonic’s dizziness slowly starts to dissipate, and he’s thankful that he has a driver who’s in a good mood. They’re having a fun time in their conversation; Ant believes that Sonic’s stories are unrealistic. Sonic understands that this world is different from the unique world of Mobius, sliding away from Ant’s responses through his mind, unbothered.

  Outside of their conversation, the astonishing views of this world and experiencing the landscape put Sonic’s mind at rest and ease. The unique landscape of the mountains, rivers, or forests prompts him to run and have fun. However, the thought of Eggman surfaces deep within him, the concern that his progress with the Master Emerald is already too late to be dealt with, especially when none of his friends have yet been seen or reunited. Rest assured, however- “We’ll defeat Eggman. I don’t care about whether the Master Emerald is a factor to him; once we reunite, we’ll defeat him.”

  With the sun almost setting, Sonic has taken a nap, resting his head on the headrest with his arms resting behind his back. The air conditioning inside the car is a perfect vibe and comfort for the road trip. It didn’t matter how long the ride took; he was grateful to have a friend from another world who helped Sonic. Sure, it’s important to be concerned about the Master Emerald, especially at this rate. Despite all the issues, one must find a way to relax and enjoy life.

  Although the nap remains peaceful, its end is expected. Ant nudges him, letting Sonic’s eyes slowly open before responding. “We’re almost there. Just through this tunnel, and you’ll see where I live.”

  Still taking in his tiredness, Sonic takes in a long yawn before finally surveying his surroundings. But he notices that the number of cars in traffic has increased. Not only that, but there is a mountain range ahead of them and a tunnel approaching at a distance. He has seen insane infrastructure and engineering designs accomplished back in Mobius, so it’s not too surprising to see a tunnel this big in use.

  Entering the tunnel, the sunlight around them disappears, with patterns of artificial lights passing by. Filled with cars traveling in the same or the opposite direction, with spray-paintings entirely covering the walls. Sonic has already adapted to the spray paintings, indicating that where Ant lives is in a city or a metropolis, based on the adventures he has been through. The tunnel takes them approximately 15 minutes to pass through; nothing much to think about, but he understands how much civilization has developed.

  After a series of winding turns, the tunnel ahead reveals some signs. “Now approaching… Haven City…” Sonic says, as he reads out the words of the sign, “Population (And still growing…) 100 mil- OH MY GOD!” The binding light accumulates in Sonic’s eyes, forcing him to close.

  “Hey.”

  “Sonic.”

  “Buddy.”

  “Open your eyes.”

  While the road is going downhill, when Sonic opens his eyes, this isn’t a metropolis.

  This is a megalopolis, but on another level.

  - - ACT 1: Stage 1 (Haven City) || START - -

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  — Haven City —

  Scattered, high-rise buildings are seen predominantly not only at the center, but everywhere. Multiple suburban areas surround the entire city; the outskirts are damn near impossible to make out, even via airplane. Waves of cars and pedestrians walk everywhere throughout the streets of Haven City. This city is far, far more immense than the cities that Sonic has experienced throughout his adventures.

  “Sonic.” Ant says before leading up to a follow-up question, “Where should I drop you off?”

  Sonic looks around, trying to see or think of where to be exact. “How about the center of this city? I mean, I know it’s crowded, but it’s better than starting nowhere.”

  “Heh. It’s not my first place of suggestion, but if that’s completely fine with you.” Ant rolls down the windows for Sonic to feel the breeze and smell the city’s air.

  Sure, the pollution is… something else, but he’s accumulated the smell of the urban and dense cities. All he wants to do is relax from all the worries of battle and missions. The hedgehog sticks his face out of the window, where the breeze blows through his quills. In the packed highway, multiple drivers watch the blue blur stick its head out of the window, but then again, it doesn’t matter. They go on with their day and their lives, letting him do what he needs to live.

  By the time Ant has driven to the center of Haven City, as expected, the area is crowded. He temporarily stops at the curb to talk to Sonic. “That was an amazing ride, kid. I enjoyed talking with you and your insane or unbelievable adventures that I think are still a fantasy.” He says before leaning in for a whisper. “Maybe one day, you’ll be popular here. Just saying.”

  Sonic makes a smug expression before hopping through the open window and looks back at Ant, “No problem, Ant. I enjoyed talking with you, too, and I hope you enjoy your life. Thank you very much.” He gives him a wink and a thumbs-up. “One day, we can go out and eat some Chili Dogs.”

  Ant chuckles and leans in for some interest. “Soon… Maybe one day, but make sure you don’t forget about me.” He blasts his music for everyone around them to hear. “You’re welcome, Sonic! And have fun here in this city!” Ant proudly says before he drives off that his contributions to Sonic make him proud of who he is.

  “This world always has its upsides. I’m glad that I live in a world where even if it has its problems, there’s always a way for everyone to create their good deeds.” Sonic looks at the crowded pedestrians and the surrounding buildings alongside multiple-screen billboards in this area. “It’s dense and crowded. Yet the atmosphere… is different from other cities I’ve visited before.”

  He takes his time exploring around this area, checking out some new sites and stores unfamiliar to those back in Mobius, yet showing similarity. This city isn’t that unique, it’s just… big. But different enough to astonish Sonic.

  Eventually, he makes his way to the huge crosswalk, where a dense crowd of pedestrians crosses the busy street at once, with him being part of them. He’s too busy navigating where he’s going, with the problem being that he doesn’t know which direction he’s going in. He notices a major difficulty walking around the streets due to the condensed nature. By the time all the pedestrians have cleared, he’s in the middle of the crosswalk, where cars are already passing by. Panicking, he storms off to one side of the sidewalk, where he accidentally bumps into a pedestrian.

  “Damn it… I need to get better at recognizing these roads!” Sonic rubs his head before eyeing the pedestrian he accidentally bumped into, “Are you alright…” He says to the pedestrian… but they look at him… with some sort of familiar face to his eyes.

  Little does he know… It’s actually-

  “... T-Tails!” Emotions are set high for both friends. Both were initially lost in this city, and they miraculously reunited after accidentally bumping into each other. Coincidentally exploring the dense area at its finest.

  “Sonic!” Tails gradually hugs Sonic, reunited once again. “I’m glad we bumped into each other.” Slowly letting go of him, he sighs in relief, “You don’t understand how painful it was searching for one of you guys…” He looks around the area, “This city is huge… I believe it’s called-”

  “Haven City. Yeah, yeah. You’re in it right now!” Sonic raises his arms, admiring the view of buildings and billboard displays while he guides Tails to a secluded alleyway. “A person named Ant helped me drive to this city. My legs were exhausted… and don’t worry about my dizziness, it’s all gone thanks to him.” Giving him a wink and a reassuring smile. “However…” He pauses momentarily before following up, “Any clues on where the others might be?”

  Tails sighs in defeat, looking down at the ground and shaking his head. “Unfortunately, not. Nothing when locating where they were. Seems like this city is just too big... Big enough for me to get lost easily in a matter of seconds!” He complains while leaning against the wall, looking up at the skylines above him.

  Sonic thinks for a moment, strategizing what to do here. “In the meantime, let’s try to explore this area. I’m not sure how MASSIVE it is, but from what I can tell, we need to get used to this city.” Eventually, they walk back to the sidewalk, where they explore the area once again. “And to do so, we need a map.”

  They eventually enter a popular tourist store filled with a vast array of merchandise. Even when it becomes nighttime, the store is still busy as ever. “Welcome in.” Greeted by one of the staff members.

  Tails politely waves at them before following Sonic, watching him navigate the aisles in desperation to find a singular map. The blue blur spots a multitude of curled maps, wrapped around and onto a stand. Approaching one of the maps, he grabs it and opens it up, revealing the entire map of Haven City. “Oh my goodness…” The map is huge and probably not designed for tourists to use. It’s so large that certain parts of the map touch the ground. He carefully wraps the map and returns it to the stand. “Tails, you know what you can do. Use one of your devices to hack one of the city’s systems. That way, you can have the whole city’s entire layout without much hassle.”

  “I mean… I guess…” Tails puts down his backpack and scavenges through, finding some random things before grabbing the perfect device for this. “Ha-ha! I always bring items at the right time.” With a smirk, he pulls a device, which automatically turns on, revealing a hologram. This hologram reveals the entire layout of his workshop. “I was recently testing this device right before you called for an urgent meeting. It’s currently still beta, so there may be inaccuracies, or it might not replicate the entire city layout. However, I do hope that this does manage to give the entire layout of this city.” After some time configuring and manipulating through the system. “I just need to hack into one final system… and…” He quickly presses the button before the device finally displays the hologram. “Boom!”

  The hologram displays Haven City at its finest… Each building, street, and point of interest is presented within the hologram. Although it doesn’t display the entire map initially, it can be zoomed out to show the city in one go, thus showing the layout of the whole. “Look how massive that is…” Sonic whistles in astonishment at the layout. “I don’t think that’s beta. It’s a perfect final product you got there.”

  Whatever the device is called… It’s a perfect device that they’ll use throughout this journey-

  “Excuse me, guys. What is that?” A random deer questions them while the hologram is still displayed in front of them. The hologram isn’t that big, more so just visible to the one random deer, but it’s enough to cause a distraction.

  Actually…

  Take that back.

  Everyone in the store can see it because of the hologram's immense size. Sonic instantly grabs the device and shoves it back inside Tails’s backpack. “N-Nothing ma’am…” He nervously looks around, watching everyone stealing glances at them, and curiously thinks of what that hologram was. “Tails…” He whispers to him. “Just follow me…” He grabs his hand and quickly rushes out to exit, where nothing ever happened.

  Back in the secluded alleyways, they both manage to find a spot that’s safe to rest. Yet, they’re both embarrassed by their accidental attention, not the kind of attention they both want from their first day in this new world. “Okay... That was just a mistake. I didn’t realize how big the hologram would be...” Tails awkwardly says.

  Sonic checks around for any figures or presence; however, nothing to their relief. “It’s alright, Tails. Mistakes do happen, and it’s alright if you make one.” He sits down on the ground and leans on the wall. “Let’s try it one more time now without any interference.”

  Tails gradually pulls out his device and opens up the hologram of Haven City, which they left off with. “Okay. Since we know that the hologram can produce a megacity like this… let us dive into this city’s information.” Through some thorough research, the device combines all available information about the city and what it showcases. “Haven City… population… 100 million!?” His jaw drops at this outstanding fascination, almost not believing this fact until reminding himself that he was nearly lost in the streets.

  Sonic bursts into laughter, slowly slides down against the wall, and lies on the ground. “Same reaction as me!” His laugh consumes his whole body, pure humor as Tails’s cheeks flush in embarrassment. “When I saw that population revealed, I was stunned like you! But the way that your jaw drops…!” He continues laughing before it eventually dies down in exhaustion. “... Just continue…”

  Composing back to normal, Tails reads more of this city’s general facts. “This city is divided into 8 districts…” He starts to locate each one. “The district we’re in is called ‘Downtown District’, and that’s very self-explanatory for us. The streets are overwhelming and cramped with stuff.” He continues researching some more districts, where he finally makes out each district’s name. “So the other districts I'll order alphabetically…” Clearing his throat before naming the entirety of districts in this city, “‘Capitol District’; ‘Mountain District’; ‘Northern District’; ‘Plains District’; ‘Playa District’; and ‘University District’.” With that, there’s a total of 7 districts in Haven City. Despite the limited number of districts, all of them combined do make it to 100 million, making it-

  “Wait, err- oh… There’s also ‘Nature District’. I forgot about that. My bad, Sonic.”

  With that, there’s a total of 8 districts in Haven City.

  Seeing that the ‘Downtown District’ is already well known to Sonic’s eyes. “How about…” He pauses and closely inspects the map along with the other districts before making a choice. “... we explore the ‘Nature District’. It’s close to us.”

  “Whatever you choose. I’m fine with your decision.” Tails says before putting away the device. He slowly sits down beside Sonic, gazing at the night sky and the bright full moon. “Huh… It’s been hours since we chased Eggman. It almost felt like seconds ago.” His soft voice marks out the beauty of this world. It’s just like home… home in Mobius.

  The mention of Eggman causes Sonic to frown momentarily. “Oh, right, Egghead…” At this point, he doesn’t want to think about the mission. He’s already dealt with a lot of stuff in his life, and for him to put his mind back into the mission pulls him out of his comfort zone. “I still wonder if we’re able to find the others and track him down. But… I don’t want to right now.” He eventually sits up beside Tails and looks at the moon. The peaceful scenery… even with multiple high-rise buildings surrounding them, the moonlight still shines brightly. “I want to explore this city, see what it offers here.”

  “... In the end… we still have something to do. Even if we don’t know when we can get the Master Emerald back… It’s all or nothing before something bad happens with it.” Tails looks back up at the sky, counting out the stars or the planes flying over.

  Sonic lets out a sly grin, honestly feeling amused by his life. “It’s our mission. We just go out there… and save every part of the world when it matters.” He relaxes his arms behind his back, contemplating his past success.

  “Let’s just rest here… and tomorrow, we’ll explore Nature District.” Tails quietly says before closing his eyes, “Good night… Sonic.”

  In response to his tiredness, Sonic slowly closes his eyes, too. “Good night, Tails.” He says before they both drift off to sleep.

  As they rest, they await their next day in this new world and a megalopolis to explore. It’s a journey of exploration so far, but this journey is mainly about…

  To find the others.

  To stop Eggman.

  To retrieve the Master Emerald.

  But most importantly…

  To save this world.