She Didn't Know Any Better...

In this Our World story, Hannah makes a new friend among the wreckage of Verdant Valley.

This is a transcript from Discord.

## Story

```
We now go back in time. Before GLACIA, before the war, before the world even knew the name Sonic the Hedgehog.
Within the hills of the South lies a town called Verdant Valley. Usually a peaceful place, but now it’s ravaged from a Robotnik attack two days prior. Hannah joins her father and others there for a relief effort. There are so many sights to take in, but what catches Hannah’s eye is the orange sheep escaping into solitude.

Flame:
*Flame is failing to hold back tears as he flees.*

Hannah:
(Oh… He needs a hug…) *Hannah follows.*

Flame:
*Flame sits on the other side of a tree and places his head in his hands.*

Hannah:
*Hannah places her hand on his shoulder.*

Flame:
*Flame jumps up, startled.*

Hannah:
“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?”

Flame:
*Flame stiffens.* “I-I’m fine. I ain’t scared of you.”

Hannah:
“You don’t sound fine.”

Flame:
*Flame whips around.* “What’s it to you?!”

Hannah:
“...”
(He looks mad… but he’s still crying.)

Flame:
*Flame steps closer.* “I know why you’re here. You wanna tell everyone how you saw me out here.” *Flame makes a fist.* “I’ll give you something to tell ‘em about!”

Hannah:
(I should leave…)
(But I can’t just leave him like this! He’s so sad…) *Hannah leans forward and hugs him.*

Flame:
!!
*Flame pulls her off him, holding her above the ground.* “Who do you think you are?!”

Hannah:
“Um, my name’s Hannah.”

Flame:
“...”
“Hold up… You’re just one of the volunteers who came to clean the town up, ain’t you?”

Hannah:
“Yeah.”

Flame:
*Flame sighs.* (Just had to screw up again…)
*Flame sets the girl down, then slams both fists into the tree.*

Hannah:
(What do I say? He’s acting so weird…)

Flame:
*Flame glances back to see her still standing there.*
“Why are you still here? What do you want from me?”

Hannah:
“I just thought maybe I can help you feel better.”

Flame:
“Psh. Nothing can make me feel better. Tulip’s dead. She’s gone, forever, and now I’m all alone!”

Hannah:
“I can be your friend.”

Flame:
*Flame shakes his head.* “You don’t wanna be my friend. There’s a reason I got no friends.”

Hannah:
“Why?”

Flame:
“...”
“‘Cause the folks ‘round here know better than to come close to me.”

Hannah:
“Why?”

Flame:
“Look. You’re gonna just leave me like the rest of ‘em. Heck, I scared away my own ma! Happens with everyone who gets close with me.”

Hannah:
*Hannah steps forward.* “Not everyone. You didn’t scare away Tulip, right?”

Flame:
“...”

Hannah:
“You don’t have to be alone.”

Flame:
“Y-you’re so much like ‘er…”

Hannah:
*Hannah hugs him again.*

Flame:
*Flame doesn’t protest this time, instead hugging her back.*

Hannah:
“It’s gonna be okay. You aren’t alone.”

Flame slowly calms as he embraces his new friend.

Flame:
“You said your name’s… Hannah?”

Hannah:
“Yeah. What’s yours?”

Flame:
“Call me Flame.” *Flame separates from Hannah.* “There’s still a lot of work to do. I’d better get back to it.”

Hannah:
*Hannah smiles.* “I’ll come with you.”

And so began the friendship between a little girl and the sheep who would become General Flame.

```

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Sonny Flame
* Hannah Dash