Ideas

"I like a change of scenery." Was Sonic's shrugged response to Blaze's question as to why he was here.

"But you never stay in one place long." Blaze pointed out. She had to admit, she was kind of jealous. "Your scenery's always changing."

"True, but I haven't been here in a while." Sonic gestured from the balcony to her kingdom. "How ya been, princess? Or are you finally Queen?"

Blaze shook her head, eyes unfocused into her teacup. She might as well be, considering she shoulders both kingly and queenly duties. "I'm Princess Regent until I'm eighteen. I've told you this many times."

"Right, right." Sonic lapped at his tea with his tongue, testing the temperature. He eyed it for a moment, then looked up at Blaze. "Hard work?"

"No less than its always been."

Finally, Sonic set down his tea. Blaze hadn't even touched hers. "Wanna race?"

Blaze furrowed her brow at him, flatly. "Is that the only thing you like to do?"

"It's what I'm good at!" Sonic stood up and stretched his legs. "You were too, last time I checked! Unless you're skipping leg day."

Blaze shook her head with a huff and a little smile.

.

Blaze was fast. But a lot of her speed came from the boost she got with her flames. As she attempted to catch up to Sonic in the fields of grass they chose for the race, she suddenly found herself sputtering as her fire popped and crackled. A quick, dying blast of fire had her biffing it, sending her tumbling— slamming to the ground on her knees, streaking dirt and grass across her white pantsuit. Oh, for Sol's sake!

She pushed herself to her feet and slapped the dirt off in frustration, looking ahead for where Sonic was. The grass was parted, still waving in the wind. No doubt he was miles away by now. No point getting upset about what she couldn't help— and what he didn't know.

She turned to head back to the castle— only to see Sonic standing right behind her, chin in his hand and tapping his foot. She sprang back about three feet, fur puffed up.

"Something's off." He murmured, and closed the distance between them again. His eyes zeroed in on her gloves, the faint, sooty scorch marks on her fingertips. He picked up her hand and inspected it, gently rolling her fingers in his. "Your fire's not looking too hot."

"My fire is fine." Blaze yanked her hand back, ears flattening. "I just tripped. Something you've done plenty of times at the speed of sound, I'm sure."

"I noticed on the balcony earlier. The tea was cold."

Blaze felt her face heat up— about the highest heat she could manage. "I was..." She shrugged, stiffly. "...distracted." That was about half-true.

"You know what I think?" Sonic snapped his fingers. "You, my friend, have a bad case of burnout."

Blaze puffed up again, indignantly. "What?!"

"Literally, in your case." Sonic shook his head, hands on his hips. "Ironic, innit?"

"I don't— I don't burn out!! I am an eternal flame!!" Blaze sputtered, and called upon her fire to set herself ablaze, like some terrifying fire demon.

All she could manage was some smoke, sizzling out of her purple overcoat and the top of her head. Her shoulders fell with her rough sigh.

"Tell you what." Sonic straightened and pointed up. "I carry you out to the coastline, and you get some sun. Make a sand castle. Eat a crab off the ground, or whatever cats do on the beach. I'll make you a nice fish dinner, and you rant about how rough the Queen life's been treating you for the next three hours."

Blaze's ears flattened again. Just the mere thought of it sent a spike of anxiety through her— but not because she didn't like the idea.

"I can't leave my duties for that long!!" She hissed. "There's so much to do!!"

"Gardon can handle an evening being a royal stand-in." Sonic waved her off. He winked. "He told me himself."

Oh, oh course he did. Blaze thought, feeling a rush of gratefulness like a tidal wave. Finally, she relaxed. A shiver brushed over her skin, even though it was sunny out. Her internal fire was dwindling. It needed tending and care.