Sonic sighed, the copper-coloured medal in his hands light as he swung it around slightly.
He hadn't stood a chance in the end, he knew that. He knew it, he was going up against Tails (His amazing and awesome little brother) and Knuckles (His best friend, the first person he cared about that he didn't have to protect) but...
It didn't mean the feeling of losing so hard didn't sting. I mean, he hadn't just lost, he had completely flubbed it! Compared to those two, it was a wonder he was even included in the fight at all.
Suddenly, the medal was snatched from his hands.
"Wha- Hey!" His shout was filled with indignation as he looked at who stole it, "That's mine, go win your own-"
Something being shoved onto his head made him shut his mouth, and he confusedly reached up to see what it was.
Sitting in his hands was none other than the crown that had been given to-
"You know I don't like wearing things like that," Sonic's head snapped up to the familiar voice, "And besides, I know you aren't a fan of things that dangle off of you."
Knuckles' smile was warm and genuine, and warmth bloomed in Sonic's chest as he saw it.
"Y'know, what with your whole 'fastest thing alive' schtick."
A laugh bubbled out of him at that, and he playfully punched his friend in the arm, his bad mood and sour feelings long gone now.
"Pffft, yeah, thanks a lot, meathead. I guess the real winner should get the first-place prize, huh?"
Knuckles responded by punching him back, and right at that moment a familiar call sounded out and the sound of fast-paced whooping arose.
"Sonic! Knuckles! Look, the prize they gave me is so cool!"
He hissed under his breath as Tails showed off the trophy he got for second place, rubbing his arm slowly. Yeah, that was definitely going to bruise. Yeouch.
He didn't mind too much, though. The weight of the crown on his head, Knuckles' arm around his shoulder, and Tails rambling on about the texture and material of their prizes were worth all of the bruises he'd ever get in his entire lifetime.
...Yeah. He might've lost hard in the competition, but he'd definitely won a lot harder at life.
