Cream the Rabbit stood atop a hill picking wildflowers when her Chao, Cheese, gave a happy exclamation and gestured toward the road below. "What is it?" she asked curiously. When Cheese indicated the road again Cream looked past the flower-strewn field and smiled. "Oh, it's Sonic! He's back," she said to him, who voiced his agreement. Smiling again, she waved her arm overhead. "Sonic! Up here!"

The blue blur tearing down the path halted. Cream was hurrying down the hill when he turned, smiled and said, "Hi, Cream. It's been a while."

She returned his smile and nodded. "Amy said you were out on another adventure," she began. Worry clouded her features. "Was it Eggman again?"

"Yeah, but don't worry. I got 'im," Sonic assured her with a confident grin and thumbs-up.

Cream smiled, relieved. "Cheese and I were having a picnic before. Mom made so much food for us I have plenty leftover, if you're-" she paused, for Sonic no longer stood in front of her.

"Wow. This sandwich tastes great!" he called, and Cream spun around. At seeing him standing over the red-checkered blanket, his mouth full, she laughed. Cheese reacted with a gleeful sound. She ascended the hill to join him, taking a seat at the edge of the blanket. Cheese settled onto her lap and began toying with the flowers she had picked, generating laughter from the two.

"I wish I could have gone with you," Cream sighed. Sonic had eaten the remainder of the food and was now taking his ease in the shadow of a tree across from her. "I was so sick that Mom didn't want me to leave the house. Amy visited me all the time, so she told me about what was happening." She looked over at Sonic. "Was your adventure exciting?"

"Of course," he replied in his usual fashion. He cracked a grin. "Things are always exciting when Eggman starts trouble. I'm just glad Soleanna isn't of interest to him anymore."

"Soleanna?" Cream repeated before brightening. "Oh, that's the really pretty city by the water!"

"That's the one," Sonic confirmed. "I was there during their Festival of the Sun. You would have liked all the fireworks and the people dancing on the boat. Even the princess was there," he recounted with a smile. "Everyone started cheering as soon as they saw her. They really love her."

"It sounds wonderful," Cream sighed. Cheese appeared beside her, draping a wreath of flowers around her head. She giggled in delight, adjusted it before looking at Sonic again. "I've always wondered what it was like being a princess. Living in a castle, all the pretty clothes. It'd be like a fairytale."

"The way I hear it, it's not easy being a princess," Sonic replied. He glanced away, a distant look appearing in his eyes. A wisp of a smile was on his face, as if he were remembering something special. Cream watched him curiously. It was an expression entirely new in her experience of him. Overcome with the need to know what was on his mind, Cream prepared to speak but Sonic, being Sonic, quickly assumed his feet. He flashed her a smile, then said, "Thanks for the sandwiches. I'll see you around!" before running off.

Cream watched him go; a moment later she smiled in understanding. Cheese touched her shoulder, questioning her with a curious sound. She patted his head affectionately but said nothing. Though Sonic had been on many adventures, she felt that whatever transpired on his trip to Soleanna it would be a memory frequently visited, and with that same, wistful smile.

Of that she was sure of.