Sonic, his pet rock, and Sage traveled far across the plains of Kronos Island. Night turned to daybreak by the time they reached the halfway point, Rhea Range. Sonic then had energy to run again, and so he did with Sage and his pet rock. "So, where exactly are we going?" Sonic asked, the tundral wind blowing in his ears. Sage turned to him midair, reclining on nothing.
"In my databases, there exists a myth otherwise lost to time of a hermit that lives in a cave located at the base of Meteor Mountain," Sage typed away at thin air, her eyes rapidly moving all over the place. "The details are faded, but it appears that he can grant power to those who are willing to consume the final breaths of creatures known as the Koco."
"That's MONDO disgusting. Also, 'the Koco'? Are those guys evil or something?" Sonic asked.
"Potentially," Sage muttered. She eyed Sonic's pet rock as it danced along by his side.
They arrived at the frigid foot of a giant mountain. Sonic and Sage looked up as snow fell onto their faces. Sonic felt a sense of intimidation set in. "Here we are," Sage sighed. "This is where the Hermit resides." Sonic shivered, stepping forward along the path to a steeper incline.
"Brr… don't you think it's a bit cold?" Sonic asked through his teeth clattering together.
"Define 'cold'," Sage requested. Sonic looked at her like she was dumb.
"Wow, okay. You're going to be like that," Sonic crossed his arms. "Never mind then."
"Okay, be a hardass about it. Running simulation…" Sage's eyes widened, and she shivered. For the first time, Sonic saw her breathe. He saw her foggy breath slide through her teeth and dissipate into the air. She then started to float up the mountain. Sonic followed, climbing up slowly despite his efforts to go faster.
"Geez… mind giving me a lift?" Sonic grunted, clutching on tightly to an outlying root on the side of the mountain. He dared not look down. Sage ignored him. "So what's with these 'simulations' you're running? I'm afraid I don't understand."
"I am a learning AI, but the real world can only yield so much information to learn in the case of someone with limited digital senses like mine," Sage stated. "Many beings in my reach, including but not limited to yourself, are too stubborn or unimaginative to teach me certain things. So I must run simulations in my head to experience a lot of 'feelings', 'emotions', and even 'colors'. Even then, I am but an outsider looking in. I cannot really experience these things myself." Sonic glanced over to Sage, as the snowfall became too dense to see her clearly.
The two finally arrived at an opening at the top of the mountain. Sonic spun up onto the solid floor inside the cavern entrance, and Sage floated down next to him. "There's nobody here…" Sonic mumbled, looking all around at the cave. There were ordinary household items strewn about that were carved and crafted out of the same ruins covering the rest of Kronos Island. "Did we come at a bad time, Mr. Hermit?!" Sonic called, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
"He's called a hermit for a reason. If he doesn't want to appear, he won't appear," Sage grunted. "Perhaps we should return later."
Sonic's pet rock appeared next to him with a POP sound. As soon as its foot landed on the cold floor, it let out a peculiar digital sound like an electronic xylophone. His pet rock skipped over to the table and bonked its face into it, leaving a dent. "Hey! Bad Pebble. We don't want to leave this place a mess!" Sonic scolded it. His pet rock looked his way with a guilty expression. It skipped back over to Sonic. Sonic picked it up.
"'Pebble'?" Sage asked.
"Yeah, like it? I thought I would name him that because… y'know, rocks? Pebbles?" Sonic chuckled. Sage stared at him, blankly.
"I do not see the purpose of naming him," Sage said, silently judging Sonic. "... It."
"I need to call him something," Sonic retorted. "Besides, it helps form love, doesn't it, Pebble?" Sonic picked Pebble up like a bowling ball.
"Love… an emotional status too vague and varied in its definition," Sage muttered. "My 'name' stands for Supremely Administrative Gambit of…" Sage trailed off. "Well, I suppose the last part doesn't matter. Point is, I have a label. A designation. Because my creator saw no need to love me." Sage stared at Sonic. "And why should/would he? He cast me away onto this island to find you. That is the sole reason for my existence." Pebble wobbled over to an inconspicuous tall mossy stone amidst the timeworn but still futuristic furniture. Pebble bounced right off and looked up as the stone began to turn around.
"That's heavy," Sonic mumbled. Sage glanced over with a sharpness in her eyes as the stone turned around completely. "But hey, it doesn't have to be like that, y'know?"
"Quiet. We mustn't discuss such frivolous matters in the Hermit's presence," Sage mumbled.
"HRRRMMMnNNG," a high-pitched raspy voice moaned, as Sonic too looked to the oblong stone. It was… alive? Pebble seemed okay with it, though. "T'was a good sleep. The Digital Dream was rather kind this time around."
"Digital Dream?" Sonic asked, confused.
"Do not interrupt," Sage curtsied. "Hello, are you the Hermit of Legend? It is an honor to be in your presence."
"It's an honor to be in your house!" Sonic chuckled.
"Weeheehee! It's all okay, young lady," the Hermit laughed. "After all, you are guests to this world. And I am your host. I trust you've come in search of greater power?" Sonic and Sage glanced at each other.
"Why yes," Sage answered. "My pet hasn't been feeling himself, due to a prolonged stay in Cyberspace."
"The Digital Dream!" The Hermit said along with Sage as soon as she brought up Cyberspace. "Yes, yes. The Digital Dream has also left me a little bit fatigued at times. And it has also left me with a good case of morning stone every once in a while–WEEHEEHEE! Anywho, I do have just the thing for that. I can enhance your strength and pain tolerance— for a price."
"A price?" Sonic and Sage asked in unison.
"You see, there is very little to eat around here for a decrepit old clod like me," the Hermit muttered. "I am too scared to venture out into the wilderness to gather up a good meal. While I'm in the Digital Dream, the very real hunger pangs do seem to disappear. But once I return to this realm, it all comes back. I do ask you to bring me my favorites, the Red Seed of Power, and the Blue Seed of Defense."
"We don't have any of those," Sage said. "The legends in my database told me you grant power to those who devour the dying breath of the Koco."
"Well then, too bad for you!" The Hermit furrowed his moss monobrow, now seeming upset. "I would never assist you in such an abhorrent deed. I AM a Koco, and I see it as inhumane to sacrifice my own rock and roll just so some outsiders can get stronger." The Hermit turned his back to Sonic and Sage, kneeling down and nuzzling Pebble. "Although… if by chance you want to grow faster, there is one way to accomplish this sick desire." Sonic and Sage's eyes sparkled. "My brother, the ELDER Koco, is the one that overlooks this operation. It is for that reason I left the tribe to live here. I just could not agree with my brother's philosophy, and it saddens me that myth and legend has lumped us together into one. Go to the Elder Koco, he will explain the steps. I want nothing to do with this." The Hermit turned to Sonic and Sage as Pebble danced back over to them. "Although, if you do find any seeds during your travels, bring them to me. And I WILL make you stronger." Sonic suddenly felt something sink into his brain. "I have sent you the coordinates of the Elder Koco, it's a direct brain download. Now go. Don't return unless you can bring me food." Sonic and Sage looked to each other, nodded, and hopped out with Pebble following.