You were tagging along with Sonic on one of his adventures, as usual. Sonic raced around the town, the small village having a sense of peace as mobians wandered through the streets, carrying on with their day. Sonic ran laps around the marketplace centred in town, burning off some of his energy while he waited for a chilli dog he ordered to cook. Meanwhile, you were focused on a small collection of books placed outside of a stall, displaying a variety of genres. You picked up a book, tracing a finger along the golden letters placed on the spine, titling ‘Advanced Engineering and Mechanics’.

You opened the book, excited to delve into the information awaiting you, until a figure caught your attention. You looked up, noticing two brown fox mobians, a few years older than you. As you studied their features more closely, the cold rush of fear and recognition flooded your heart, your fingers tightening your clutch on the book, fearing you would drop it in shock.

You hastily placed the book back on the shelf, crouching so you were out of sight, praying they didn’t see you. You sat on the cold concrete of the courtyard, leaning back against the bookshelf as your hands instinctively tugged at your ears, desperately trying to calm the panic rising in you.

Sonic bolted past, his lightning speed making him appear as a blue blur. However, he noticed you from the corner of his eye, the panic etched on your face making him slow, pulling himself to a stop.

Sonic walked over, careful to give you space as he knelt before you, his heart sinking as he studied your expression. “Bud?”

You hesitate, your gaze shakily rising to meet his. You didn’t respond, simply gesturing behind the bookshelf. Sonic nodded, confusion gleaming in his eyes as he moved to peer out from the bookshelf, his blood running cold as he spotted the two foxes. The same two foxes that bullied you for your twin tails, leaving your body with bruises and your mind with their hurtful words. At least, that was before Sonic came along.