Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Log Entry #0137 – Dr. Ivo Robotnik

Victory was supposed to feel monumental.
And yet here I am. Unbothered. Unimpressed. Unfulfilled.
Is this truly all there is?

The world was his.

Not in the figurative sense—why, he meant that literally. Every square inch of Mobius bore the mark of Dr. Ivo Robotnik. His badniks hovered silently overhead, overseeing every living thing and keeping it all running smoothly. The cities ran like clockwork: perfectly efficient and soullessly sterile.

Any sense of rebellion had fizzled out years ago. The last Mobian resistance cell surrendered after a five-minute stern lecture on the benefits of a highly-regulated society under his brilliant rule. A little incentive had been enough for them to surrender… Disappointingly quickly.

Yes, Ivo had won.

And yet, for the first time in his life… he was bored.

The monitors showed absolutely nothing of interest. No explosions. No witty banter. No scruffy mammals ziplining through laser fields in a last-ditch attempt to drive him off an island. Nothing attacking his badniks. No urgent alarms blaring to notify him that any of his bases were under attack.

Nothing.

"Bah," he muttered into the silence of his control room, slumping dramatically into his overstuffed hover-chair. "Victory was supposed to taste sweet—not like dry toast dipped in mediocrity."

His fingers twitched against the armrest. In a rare, almost accidental moment of curiosity, he accessed a long-forgotten archive—one buried deep beneath his other unfinished projects. Project SCHISM: a dimensional experiment he had mothballed decades ago, back when his work lacked direction.

He expected data corruption. Something obsolete.

Instead… after experimenting with it, he found windows. To other worlds.

And in one of them—he saw it.

A blue streak, tearing through robots like tissue paper. Smirking. Taunting. Racing against the laws of physics and winning. Not just speed. A wild, impossible force of chaos.

"A hedgehog…?"

Robotnik leaned forward, eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to hope.

"He fights me. Mocks me. Ruins me—again and again!"

In that world, the man that was supposed to be him—this so-called Eggman—never really won. Not really. But he was alive. Not just existing. Not sipping lukewarm tea at the top of an empire that had nothing of interest besides his creations.

Alive.

Yes.

Yes!

How ironic. He didn't want his blue nemesis dead. He wanted him real.

"I'll build him."

He said it like a whisper. Like a prayer.

A hedgehog designed to outrun logic. Built in a lab—or summoned through science, or copied, or synthesized from multiversal data! It doesn't matter how! Only that he needed him to be his counter-force.

For the first time in years, Robotnik felt a sense of purpose.

He needed something—no, someone—to fight back. Something fast. Reckless. Infuriating. Brilliant in its simplicity. A disruptive force of pure chaos.

That flash of speed. That cocky silhouette. That grin like he knew he was ruining your day and loved it.

The hedgehog wasn't from this world—but he existed somewhere.

And Ivo needed him.

The invention began as a containment field—a snare between universes, built atop ancient artifacts that he didn't fully understand yet.

PROJECT: NEEDLE MOUSE

It evolved into a harpoon. Not to travel, but to pierce the fickle barrier between this world and the next. It was a probe, outfitted with matter samplers, tethered to his lab by quantum anchors. It would be enough to capture and protect the delicate organic material he required.

"I don't need the whole thing. Just a piece! A strand of fur. A patch of skin. Something real."

He activated the machine.

A low hum built into a resonant pulse as the device tore into the boundaries of space. The air twisted unnaturally, folding in on itself. Reality was distorting, forming a shimmering bubble of warped dimension—unstable, straining—until it imploded with a thunderous crack, rattling the walls and flooding the chamber with a flash of light and static.

The probe disappeared.

A heavy silence followed, heavy and expectant. The air was... still. Machines hummed with quiet anticipation, their readings holding steady.

Ivo stared at the monitor, his hands pressed together in contemplation. His breath came in shallow gasps—not out of fear, but in excitement.

"Come on, come on…!"

Then, a flicker. A surge of energy as space tore back open with a crackling, static-laced pop. The probe slammed into its dock—scorched and hissing with the scent of ozone and singed metal.

Data flooded the screen.

Readings spiked.

Sample retrieval: SUCCESS.

And there, embedded in the structure of the probe—glinting faintly against the singed metal—was a single, curved quill.

Blue.

Vibrating subtly with residual Chaos energy.

He stared at it. Not moving. Not breathing.

Then, with shaking hands, he leaned closer and retrieved it.

It was real.

He was real.

The readings confirmed a dense molecular structure, beyond baseline Mobian standards. Energy output was consistent with theoretical Chaos alignment and cellular composition was resisting decay even outside its native universe.

A perfect, living contradiction of physics and design.

And it was beautiful.

Ivo couldn't help himself. His mouth split into a grin, wide and triumphant, as his hands trembled in a rare, genuine display of excitement.

"Yes!" he shouted, the word echoing through the sterile lab. The metallic walls seemed to hum in response, resonating with the force of his victory. "At last!"

The systems beeped and whirred in the background, but they were mere noise compared to the pounding thrill in his chest. He had done it. He had pulled from the fabric of reality itself and captured a piece of the impossible.

A laugh, low and triumphant, bubbled up from his chest. He chuckled at the absurdity, at the joy of proving his brilliance once again. His laughter grew louder, more uncontrollable, as he clutched the quill closer to his chest, as though it were the finest treasure he'd ever laid his hands on.

"Such beauty," he whispered to himself, his voice thick with awe. "A creature that defies everything. I will make you mine... You will become my equal."

With a final triumphant cackle, Ivo Robotnik turned, already planning his next steps, a vision of his perfect creation forming in his mind. The world—and this blue enigma—would soon belong to him!

Chapter Text

He couldn't breathe—or at least, it felt that way. Thick, mucus-like fluid pressed in from all sides, sliding easily into his nose and mouth with every breath. Each inhale fed the sensation that he was drowning, even though he wasn't. He should've been panicking, but the most he could muster was a dull flicker of alarm before it faded into a sluggish, foggy discomfort.

His head was swimming.

Everything felt… off.

His limbs barely responded, moving with a delay that didn't feel natural. Or maybe they were moving just fine—just not in a way he remembered. They felt too light, too disproportionate to be his. The only thing confirming they were part of him was that they moved when he told them to, shifting awkwardly within the cramped confines of the tube.

Suddenly, a loud, wet slurp echoed through the chamber. The fluid around him began to drain with a mechanical hiss, siphoning into unseen grates beneath him and pulling him down along with it.

The moment he was no longer buoyant, his body collapsed. He hit the floor hard, knees slamming into cold metal with a jarring, echoing clang.

His breath hitched into rapid, uneven gasps, choking as the last of the fluid was forced from his lungs. His chest rose and fell in sharp, stuttering motions.

Now he really felt like he was drowning.

He tried to speak. Tried to scream for help. Tried to say something—but his throat clenched around the effort. Nothing came out but a dry, rasping croak.

His vision swam dangerously. The gunk clung to his lashes like glue, warping the light around him into dim, color-smeared shapes. He blinked hard, trying to clear it—once, twice—but all it did was smear the slime across his eyes.

He reached up instinctively to wipe it away, but the movement was unsteady and alien. The fingers that met his face were stubby, clumsy and blue.

Definitely not human.

He froze.

No.

No, no, no—this wasn't right. None of this was right.

His body felt wrong. His face felt wrong. The air felt too sharp, like it was cutting down his throat instead of helping him breathe.

The pod hissed open in front of him.

He recoiled instinctively, letting out a weak, startled hiss. The sudden change in temperature made his skin—or fur?—prickle uncomfortably. The air sweeping into the pod felt too sharp, too sterile, like breathing in static.

And then the light hit him.

It wasn't even too bright—just a muted, clinical green that hummed faintly from overhead panels—but it still made his eyes sting. His vision, still smeared with residue, blurred and pulsed with every blink.

He squinted, trying to make sense of the room.

Then—movement.

A sphere and a cube(?) glided effortlessly across the slick metal floor, their smooth movements making a low whirring hum that set his teeth on edge.

"Oh, would you look at that! Subject 117 has successfully survived the pod," the spherical one announced with forced cheer. "Vitals are stable, brain activity's ticking along… delightful! Welcome to the waking world. Please refrain from screaming."

"Heyyy, look at you!" the cube-shaped one added, spinning in place with a cheerful beep. "You're only covered in goo! That's a win in our book. Most of the others looked like expired pudding!"

117? A number, really?

He blinked slowly, trying to process their words through the haze. The voices felt too loud, like they were echoing inside his skull. His head swayed, barely supported by the trembling of muscles that still didn't feel like his. His fur—fur—clung to his frame in damp, matted clumps, sticking to his face and limbs.

He didn't answer.

His eyes, bleary and unfocused, tracked the machines as they floated in closer.

Definitely robots. Definitely talking. Definitely real.

One of them waved a mechanical arm in front of his face.

"Subject 117, blink once if you're coherent. Twice if you're experiencing a mental breakdown," the orb said completely seriously.

"Ooh! What if he blinks three times, Orbot? Does that mean he wants snacks?"

"Ha, no! Look at you, trying to be funny, Cubot."

He flinched at their loud noises, trying to pull back. But his legs were still jelly, slipping awkwardly beneath him as he failed to retreat. All he managed was a graceless shuffle and a soft, panicked wheeze.

"Ah. Trembling, wide-eyed silence! Classic new subject response. We're off to a very strong start!"

"Don't worry, blue guy. Being born is always the roughest!"

The round robot beeped again, less playfully this time.

"Now then, Subject 117, if you're done shivering on the floor—and, if your lungs are still functional—we kindly suggest you proceed through the open door."

"That's right! Up and at 'em! Time waits for no experiment!"

He barely had time to register what was happening before the bots yanked him to his feet. His legs trembled beneath him, and the world spun as his knees buckled. He had to brace himself against the smooth edge of the pod to stay upright, but his hands still slipped on the slick surface. No matter how hard he tried to get his bearings, he couldn't quite do it.

Tiny mechanical arms extended from each bot, each of them possessing surprising strength for their size, and grabbed him from behind. With a final shove, he was thrown out of the pod with a muffled grunt as he collided against the cold metal floor.

They didn't give him a moment to collect himself. One of the bots quickly grabbed him, pulling him to his feet again and leaving him swaying unsteadily in front of a large mirror.

He blinked at his reflection—and the reality of his new form hit him all at once.

A drenched, blue hedgehog stared back at him, the fur still matted and still heavy with the goo that he'd been sealed with in the pod. His quills clung to his head in damp spikes, and the glistening, cold, green sheen of the fluid only made his unfamiliar appearance stand out more. What could have been pristine, if exotic, blue fur now looked darker in places, weighed down by the mess, and his face was a mix of confusion and exhaustion.

Bloodshot eyes stared back at him in horrified fascination.

Wow, he looked like shit, didn't he?

"There we go. Baby steps, Subject 117. You're doing… adequately."

"You're doing great, champ!" Cubot cheered, pulling out a small towel and wiping his face with surprising enthusiasm. "Now hold still while I de-goop you!"

He reeled back slightly, startled by the sudden flurry of motion, but the mechanical arms kept him upright. Mostly, ugh. He felt very unsteady as he was forced to stay still.

"Subject appears resistant to cleanliness," Orbot observed dryly, producing a spray bottle and spritzing a fine mist of something lemon-scented directly at his fur. "Applying standard decontamination procedures."

He coughed. The scent hit his nose hard—chemically sharp—and he tried to bat the mist away with one shaky arm, only to lose his balance entirely and tip sideways into Cubot.

"Woah there, careful!" Cubot chirped, catching him with surprising care. "We've gotcha! You just focus on not faceplanting again."

They righted him with gentle but robotic efficiency, fussing over every sticky patch of fur like overzealous groomers at a vet's office. A few quick swipes from retractable tools scrubbed away the worst of the muck clinging to his legs, arms, and back, while little jets of warm air puffed out to dry him at record speed.

In fact, the gusts of air were so loud, he struggled briefly in their hold to try to escape it.

"Please refrain from panicking. Hygiene protocols are in your best interest," Orbot added with a completely unwarranted sense of calm. "After all, we don't want you to slip in the next part."

"The best part!" Cubot gave him a thumbs-up, as if to encourage him. "You're already lookin' 30% more alive! Maybe even 40%, depending on the lighting."

Still too dazed to protest, he stood in place, panting softly as his body was finished being dusted, dried, and fussed over. The overwhelming sensation of wrongness hadn't gone away—it just had layers now. Confusion. Discomfort. And fear.

The robots finally pulled back, satisfied with their work.

"There. Presentable enough for the Boss," Orbot said.

"Showtime!" Cubot added, spinning with a goofy little fanfare noise.

"Remind me to change your settings again," Orbot said huffily. "You're way too chipper for something so simple like this."

Just as the words left his speaker, a screen flickered to life on the wall beside the pod. A static fuzz switching to a harsh red tint, accompanied by a low, rising hum.

The bots immediately floated to the side like stagehands clearing the way.

A familiar face filled the screen, the moustache and black-tinted glasses somehow managing to be the biggest red flag since he woke up.

The man's name hit his mind like a dropped weight, heavy and uninvited. Eggman. He didn't know why he knew it—he just did. It rang with a strange, instinctive certainty, the kind that slotted into place with the same surreal wrongness as everything else.

"Ah… Subject 117," said the voice with poisonous cheer. "About time you woke up. I trust my assistants haven't broken you yet?"

The man on the screen smiled, too many teeth behind that bushy mustache. "You're looking well, considering you were a puddle of genetic soup half an hour ago." He leaned forward slightly, the image distorting with a flicker. "Let's skip the whole 'where am I' routine, shall we? You've got about five minutes to get your bearings, then you're going to do a little… test."

The screen split briefly to show a hallway—gray, unassuming, unremarkable—then blinked back to Eggman's face. "One door. One room. One objective. Complete it within the timeframe I give you, and maybe I'll let you keep breathing."

His throat closed around a protest, but nothing came out. His fingers—blue, furred fingers—twitched at his sides, curling instinctively. His breathing picked up again, uneven and shallow.

"Not much of a talker, is he?" Orbot said mildly from the side.

"Maybe he's just shy," Cubot offered, before elbowing Orbot with a metal clink. "Or maybe all the goo went to his brain!"

Eggman ignored them. "You've got five minutes to get moving, Subject 117. I'd suggest using them wisely."

The screen blinked off, leaving the room humming in sudden silence.

A soft ding echoed as the far door slid open.

Beyond it: a long, seemingly ever-extending corridor. The same one that Eggman had shown him.

"Before you go stumbling into the unknown," Orbot said dryly, just as he stepped forward, "you might want to put these on."

A pair of gloves and shoes sailed through the air—and smacked him right in the face.

He let out a startled noise, somewhere between a squeak and a yelp, as the items slid off his snout and hit the floor with a soft thump.

He blinked, then reached for the gloves first. His fingers paused briefly before slipping them on. They fit snugly, comfortably even, like they were made for him. With them on, the movements of his hands felt more natural—clumsy, yes, but no longer entirely foreign.

The shoes took more effort. His balance still wasn't great, and he fumbled with the fastenings longer than he liked, but he still got them on. The moment his soles met the floor, he felt a bit steadier. A little more grounded. Not entirely put together, but not falling apart either.

"There we go," Orbot said, folding his arms with mock approval. "Now you look slightly less like something that crawled out of a vat."

"All set for your dramatic debut!" Cubot added, beeping cheerfully. "Just add a soundtrack and you're golden."

The blue hedgehog shot Cubot a look, but didn't question the robot's words. Not because he lacked the ability, but because he wasn't sure how to ask the right questions. Something sharp had clicked on in the back of his mind, a growing clarity that hadn't been there before.

The long hallway loomed ahead—dim and silent, like it was waiting for him.

He glanced toward it, uncertain, then back to the robots. They made no move to follow.

"Tick tock, new guy," Orbot said, voice oily with amusement. "Speed's your whole thing, isn't it? You might want to go fast."

"W-What can I expect from this?" he asked, speaking for the first time aloud and giving into his curiosity reluctantly.

All he received from Orbot was silence.

His mouth opened again, irritation bubbling as the robot ignored him, but before he could prod him for answers—

"Wait! One more thing!"

Cubot zipped forward and snapped something around his left wrist. There was a sharp click as the clasps locked in place.

"Boss said this part's important," Cubot chirped with a proud nod, then gave him a harsh shove toward the open doorway.

The blue hedgehog stumbled forward—and the moment he crossed the threshold, a shrill chime rang out, making his ears flatten with pain.

3:00

Red blinking numbers flared to life not just on all walls around him, but on the device now locked tight around his wrist.

His eyes darted to it, his heart dropping like stone in his chest. The thick, metallic band—cold against his fur—was impossible to get rid of. It had latched onto him like a parasite, while a glowing countdown was already counting down.

2:58… 2:57…

"What’s this—?" he asked, turning around. But the door had already locked behind him. 

And then, he heard it: the ticking. Pulsing right beside his heartbeat.

A monitor buzzed to life beside him, gliding through the air to hover at his side. Eggman's face filled the screen, practically oozing smugness.

"Surprise! Nothing says 'good morning' like a time-sensitive wrist-mounted bomb, does it?" Eggman beamed at him. "Just a fun little incentive to stretch those new legs. You are good at running, aren't you?"

Wide green eyes flicked from the timer to the hallway. He hesitated—just a beat too long—before his legs finally kicked into motion.

He bolted down the corridor.

The monitor glided smoothly beside him, Eggman continuing his monologue like this was all a grand game to him.

"I thought about putting the explosive in your head, but then—bam!—no feedback from you if this goes wrong. No fun! And we want this to be fun, don't we?"

The hedgehog didn't respond. Couldn't think over the sense of panic and urgency that was filling his mind. Each step was faster than the last, but not quite as steady or as speedy as he wanted it to be. The corridor seemed to stretch impossibly with every stride, walls tilting, narrowing—

2:31… 2:30…

Time was running out! He pushed himself to go faster.

Eggman's voice warbled slightly with static as he watched him pull ahead. "Oh-ho! Picking up speed, are we? Not bad. Let's raise the stakes."

Suddenly, the hallway wasn't still.

Walls shifted.

Panels slid open.

Thud. Slam! Shing—!

Steel pillars slammed down from the ceiling. Lasers swept the track in crisscrossing arcs. Spiked traps shot up from hidden panels in the floor.

His breath caught in his chest and he veered left—skidding under a pillar, then flipping sideways between two slamming walls, just barely avoiding being crushed both times. His footing slipped for a moment, but instinct kept him moving before he could falter.

Just go.

2:12… 2:11…

"Oh, please tell me you didn't think I'd make it that easy?" Eggman's voice crackled from behind, barely keeping up with him. 

Shut up, shut up—just shut up!

The blue hedgehog barely managed to duck beneath a laser when the monitor zipped back into view like a cheap jumpscare—Eggman's image grinning at him from ear to ear.

"Excellent reflexes," Eggman praised, though his tone sounded more mocking than sincere. It didn't help that the monitor was gliding effortlessly ahead of him, showing no sign of struggling to keep the lead. "You know, I had half a mind to make you mechanical. All gears and wires. But no! This was a passion project. A fully organic Mobian, grown and molded from the best DNA I could scrape together. And now look at you! Less than ten minutes awake and you're already outrunning death traps!"

He didn't answer the man. Instead, the blue hedgehog grit his teeth and dove through a narrowing gap between two slamming pistons, landing in a tumble and bouncing back onto his feet.

"Of course, running's only half of it," Eggman continued. "Let's test if you can go on the offensive. You must have noticed the incoming company by now."

Prompted by his words, multiple panels ahead slid open. Machines rolled out—some trundling on wheels, others hovering just above the floor. All of them were red-eyed, metallic… and unmistakably hostile.

"Badniks," Eggman declared, pride loud and clear in his words. "Not too complex for now, but nothing to scoff at either."

The one that took after a ladybug lunged forward. He flinched, dodging instinctively—but he shifted wrong in the middle of the movement, leaving him off-balance.

He couldn't dodge them all.

The blue hedgehog braced for pain as more moved to engage.

"Or," Eggman said with theatrical flair, "you could try what I actually built you for, you stupid creature. Curl and charge, my boy! Give that brainstem a little nudge! I'm sure it'll come to you."

The next badnik rushed him, claw raised—and something clicked.

His body curled into itself without thinking, momentum twisting into something tighter, sharper. A spin.

And then—impact!

1:30… 1:29…

A burst of force rocketed outward as the hedgehog tore through the badnik in a blur, sending metal parts scattering everywhere like broken toys. He uncurled on the landing, eyes wide with shock but also… something new. Recognition.

"Oh-ho!" Eggman laughed, delighted. "There it is! That's the spindash. You're welcome."

He barely had time to absorb it before the corridor opened wider ahead. Bright golden objects shimmered in the air, suspended along the path.

"And those?" Eggman said as the screen zipped forward again. "Rings. Not just shiny junk—those babies coat your organs in a protective layer if you have at least one of them on you. In your case, they'll also boost your speed. Pick up a few. You'll thank me later."

Clenching his teeth, he darted forward, scooping the rings up in a blur of motion. Each one chimed as he touched them—a bright, clear sound that rang through the air and drilled into his bones. And just like Eggman said, something in him shifted. The ache in his limbs dulled. His stride stretched longer and grew lighter. His legs no longer struggled to keep up with his speed. Instead, they carried him.

The corridor sloped upward into a final stretch. At the end of it: a strange, segmented door rotated slowly, cycling through solid metal and flickering with electricity. He locked onto it with a flick of his ears—timing would be everything.

A whir of gears sounded behind him.

Too late, he noticed that a badnik burst from a hidden panel from a wall near him, coming at him faster than the others. The blue hedgehog twisted to dodge—too sharply. His foot caught on the uneven floor and he was thrown forward.

Steel jaws snapped open ahead—spikes driving up like teeth.

He hit them.

CRACK—SHING—!

A cascade of rings burst from him in a golden explosion, flying everywhere, bouncing chaotically across the floor. The impact left him sprawled on the metal floor, breath gone, body throbbing from the blow.

"Ohohoho!" Eggman howled from the screen, practically doubling over. "Yes! That's the stuff! I told you to hold onto your rings, didn't I? But nooo, you just had to test it!"

The blue hedgehog winced, dragging himself upright. His knees shook. A few rings wobbled nearby, but they were already dimming, blinking out of existence.

0:40… 0:39…

"I mean, I could install a warning system for some of the traps," Eggman mused, "but then how would you learn? This is what we call natural selection, my dear pest."

He gritted his teeth, limping for two steps, and then bolted again. The revolving door ahead spun into a safe gap, just wide enough for him to pass safely.

He made it just in time—shooting through the narrow opening as the door clicked shut behind him with a solid thunk.

His heart was still racing from the sprint through the traps, the sting from the spikes still sharp in his limbs. He barely had a moment to catch his breath before Eggman's voice boomed through the speakers again, this time with a sense of over-the-top celebration.

"Well, well, well! Would you look at that!" Eggman's voice dripped with smug satisfaction. "Subject 117 has completed the first stage! Impressive, I must say—though I expected nothing less, of course. After all, you are my creation!"

The blue hedgehog glared weakly, his muscles screaming at him to stop and lay down. His body ached from the sudden exertion, and the weight of the whole situation was beginning to settle on him. He wasn't just running through traps—he was running for his life. He had no idea what Eggman would do next, or what he had in store for him. All he knew was that he couldn't afford to stop moving.

Eggman continued speaking like a twisted cheerleader, unironically egging him on. "Oh, don't look so upset! With a little speed, a little spindash, and the right amount of desperation, I bet you can get through anything, right?" Eggman let out a laugh, but there was no joy in it, only a coldness that made him shiver.

"Ah, but here's the thing," Eggman mused, as though considering something for the first time. "Subject 117 doesn't have a nice ring to it, does it? For a name, it's just so... bland. So… unoriginal." There was a slight pause, and then Eggman chuckled, as if he had just come up with the best idea. "Yes, I think you have it in you. Very well! It's time for a little rebranding!"

His head spun, and his feet barely kept moving as Eggman's voice continued, the words washing over him like a wave. "I'll call you... Sonic. Yes, that'll do. It fits, doesn't it? You're fast, after all."

Eggman's tone reeked of amusement.

The blue hedgehog finally stopped moving as his mind raced in a different direction for a moment, the name catching him off guard. Sonic. It sounded... familiar, in a way he couldn't quite place. It felt like it should mean something to him—but it didn't. It was just a name. His name.

"You're Sonic now," Eggman continued, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "And you belong to me. There's no running from this, no escaping." The words were said so casually, like this was a fact the doctor had long accepted and delighted in. "You've got your name, now let's see if you can keep up with the rest of what awaits you."

Sonic clenched his fists, fighting the urge to shout. He knew he shouldn't. Not yet. He didn't have the strength, the knowledge, or the courage to fight back. Not with Eggman breathing down his neck and a bomb tied to his wrist.

Eggman's voice crackled back in. "Ah, and don't get too comfortable, Sonic. This is only the beginning. You've got more stages to survive—and I'm sure you'll need all the 'speed' you've got to make it through. After all, if you mess up…" The sentence trailed off, ominous.

"We both know what happens, don't we?"

Sonic met his stare with his own, refusing to budge as Eggman sighed unhappily.

"You're going to be the silent type, eh? Let's hope you do better in the future, or this is going to get boring fast," he said. "Go to the next room and grab yourself some grub. Get ready, because I'll tell you when we start the next stage."

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

The Chaos Emerald pulsed steadily in his hand, its energy tugging him forward like an invisible thread.

Sonic darted over broken pathways, weaving around half-collapsed ruins and leaping over wide gaps where the earth had fallen away into open sky. He didn't dare slow down—the ancient stones beneath his feet were incredibly delicate, crumbling away faster than he could count.

And if he fell… well, Sonic wasn't too keen on finding out what splatting into the ocean from this height would feel like.

What if he survived the fall and he couldn't swim? The mere thought was terrifying.

The wind howled past his ears as he ran, bits of debris crumbling away into the endless sky behind him. Sonic grit his teeth, focusing everything he had on staying ahead of the collapse.

The emerald's tug finally slowed, allowing for a moment of respite, and Sonic skidded to a stop atop a solid stretch of stone. He barely spared the ground a glance, just enough to make sure that the structure would hold his weight if he stood still. Then his eyes locked onto the Egg Carrier, looming closer by the second.

He'd been tracking its sluggish approach as he ran, watching it creep closer to the floating island, slowly beginning to realize that it was getting too close for comfort.

The giant aircraft was gliding low, engines holding steady. However, the distance was too tight. Anyone with any sense would have already tried to divert course.

"Oh, for fuck's sake—! Is it seriously going to crash?" he exclaimed.

Sonic watched, helpless, as the Egg Carrier dipped under the horizon and began to scrape violently against the underside of Angel Island.

A deep, grinding tremor shook the earth beneath his shoes, and the ancient ruins around him rattled and groaned in protest.

He stumbled, barely managing to stay upright as cracks split the ground around him like spiderwebs. Dust burst into the sky in thick clouds as ancient stone pillars crumbled in the distance, collapsing into the endless drop below.

He could already tell where this was going.

Sonic broke into a sprint, racing across the fractured ground as the Egg Carrier kept dragging its battered hull along the island's underside, tearing through stone and dirt like paper.

The whole floating mass groaned under the strain, and more cracks splintered across the surface in wild, jagged patterns.

"Not good, not good—!" Sonic muttered under his breath, weaving between falling chunks of debris. The ground beneath him shuddered, and with a sharp crack, another large piece of ancient stone tumbled from the edge. Sonic leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly fall.

Ahead of him, another piece of stone tumbled from above, the sharp edges scraping the air as it fell toward the ground. Sonic didn't even flinch as he darted past it, the impact from the falling debris shaking the ground. Horrifyingly, the cracks were spreading, the floor further destabilizing, and this section of the island was showing no signs of stopping its collapse.

Just as another section of the floor buckled beneath his feet, Sonic jumped—his muscles screaming as he pushed for distance, leaping over the gaps that were widening beneath him. The site of his landing fractured, but he was already a few steps ahead, heading toward what he hoped was more stable terrain.

With a sharp turn, Sonic skidded to a stop on a small plateau, where the ground seemed less shaky. Breathing hard, the blue hedgehog turned to look behind him.

The cracks in the stone that had been spreading relentlessly had finally slowed. The deep rumbling beneath him faded away, leaving only a quiet, tense stillness in the air.

For a moment, it was as if the island had taken a collective breath—stopping its descent into chaos.

Sonic glanced around, catching the occasional flutter of loose debris falling far below, but the shaking had subsided, and the immediate threat had passed. He exhaled slowly, feeling a knot in his stomach loosen.

"Well, that went great," Sonic said with a weak smirk, doing his best to ignore his body trembling. "Guess Eggman's not that much of a pilot… What the heck was that about, anyway?"

His eyes drifted back toward the horizon where the Egg Carrier had been. He couldn't see it from here—he'd moved too far into the island—but the faint sound of a massive crash reached his ears, followed by the hollow, distant rumble of the ship's final descent into the sea.

The island, for now, was quiet.

Sonic let the silence linger for a moment, the rare peace settling around him as he stood in the stillness of the island. His grip tightened slightly on the glowing Chaos Emerald, its pulse steady in his hand, anchoring him to the present. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long, sharp shadows across the earth and trees.

Despite the chaos he'd just escaped, the island seemed almost serene in the aftermath.

Sonic stretched out his arms, exhaling slowly, and let the tension drain from his muscles. But as he scanned the area ahead, something caught his attention. The emerald pulsed again, and with it, a tug that pulled him forward.

Curious, he moved without thinking, his feet carrying him further into the ruins.

The remnants of what had once been a great civilization surrounded him—stone structures rising like jagged teeth from the earth. The architecture was unlike anything he had ever seen before. There seemed to be no end to the tall, angular pillars and walls etched with strange, flowing patterns. Symbols carved into the stone seemed to tell a story, though their meaning was long lost in time.

Sonic's gaze was drawn ahead, where the emerald's pull became undeniable. He quickened his pace, weaving through the rubble, before coming to a stop before a flight of stairs at the heart of the ruins.

The stairs, weathered by time, led upward to a wide platform. Sonic hesitated for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he took in the surroundings. The platform itself seemed empty—nothing but stone around for miles. The emerald's pulse had led him here, its energy insistent, but there was nothing to show for it.

"Uh, you're sure this is the place…?" he asked the emerald, wincing as the gem pulsed insistingly, as if to reprimand him.

"Okay, okay… God, don't yell at me, please…"

He stepped onto the platform, looking around for some clue or indication of what he was supposed to do next. He half expected something dramatic to happen—for some hidden mechanism to spring into action—but nothing did.

Sonic sighed, a touch of frustration creeping into his voice. "Well, this is a bust," he muttered, hands on his hips. The sky above was a faded mix of warm colors as the sun dipped even lower, and the island felt quiet now—too quiet. He wasn't sure if he was more bothered by the silence or the lack of answers.

"Where the heck am I supposed to sleep in a place like this?" he grumbled. The ruins didn't exactly scream 'comfortable lodging', and the idea of spending the night in a place like this was starting to make him uneasy. Also, the chili dogs had been a good snack, yeah, but now he was back to being hungry. Where was he supposed to find food around here?

He turned back to the pedestal, the Chaos Emerald still glowing softly in his hand.

"I'd better figure something out soon. I don't know how long this island is gonna stay in one piece," he muttered to himself.

Just as he started to turn around and head back down the stairs, the ground shook beneath him. The tremor was sudden, more focused, and before he could react, a blur of motion exploded from behind him.

Sonic spun just in time to dodge a swift, powerful strike aimed at his side. He barely had a chance to see the attacker before they were upon him again—fists like living battering rams, the sound of leather striking the stone pillar next to him filling the air.

"Whoa, hey—!" Sonic shouted, backpedaling to avoid the next blow. He barely managed to keep his balance, but he quickly recognized the signature stance of his assailant.

Knuckles. Guardian, Friend.

Taken aback at the brief surge of memory, Sonic's eyes widened as he took a defensive stance, hands up.

"Hey, what's the deal? I'm not here to fight!" he called out, keeping his distance as the red echidna advanced on him, relentless with each punch.

"Stay away from the altar!" Knuckles growled, his voice full of suspicion. "I've been guarding this place for too long to let some stranger come in and mess it all up!"

He lunged forward again, throwing a powerful punch that Sonic barely avoided, the force of it seeming to break the sound barrier next to his ear.

Sonic's heart raced frantically.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down! I'm not here to destroy anything!" he protested, dodging another punch. "Eggman's the one you need to worry about, not me!"

Knuckles stopped mid-strike, his eyes narrowing, but his fists remained at the ready. "Eggman? The one who caused all this damage? You think I'm going to believe that?"

Sonic's frustration started to build.

"Look, I'm not the one who crashed a giant ship into this island! That's all Eggman's doing, not mine. You've got the wrong guy here!"

Knuckles didn't seem convinced. His eyes flicked from Sonic to the altar, as though trying to find some hidden motive.

"You're the only stranger I've seen around here," Knuckles snapped, squaring up again. "No one else. You're the only one who's been near these ruins, so don't try to lie to me."

"I'm not lying!" Sonic shot back, dodging another wild punch. His hands clenched with the urge to punch back. "I don't know what happened, but that Egghead crashed his ship, and the whole island started falling apart because of it! I was just trying to get away from the wreckage!"

Knuckles's stance remained firm, but his eyes flickered for just a moment, doubt creeping in.

"You expect me to believe you after everything that's happened to Angel Island?" His tone was skeptical, still accusing. "You're the only one here. What else am I supposed to think?"

Sonic's patience was starting to wear thin. He dodged another attack, sliding under Knuckles's swinging fist. For a split second, he almost struck back—only to back down when he realized he'd hesitated too long to make the brief opening count.

"I don't know what you think happened, but it wasn't me," Sonic said, his voice rising. "I just showed up here, and I was minding my own business—until you decided to knock me out!"

"You don't belong here," Knuckles retorted sharply. "I won't let you ruin this sacred place any further."

"Are you seriously gonna keep doing this?!" Sonic snapped, frustration building. "Look, man! I'm trying to hide from a lunatic, not destroy your home. But if you keep attacking me, I'm going to have to do something about it!"

Knuckles hesitated again, his fists still raised, but his posture was less aggressive now. He studied Sonic carefully, like he was weighing his words.

"Hiding, huh?" Knuckles said, voice low and suspicious. "You don't look like much of a runner."

Sonic huffed, brushing dust off his fur.

"Yeah, well, turns out running is kinda my thing. I'm Sonic, Sonic The Hedgehog!"

He gave a lopsided grin, but Knuckles wasn't exactly laughing.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, slowly, Knuckles let his fists drop to his sides, though he didn't look fully convinced. His sharp eyes flicked toward the pedestal behind Sonic, then back again.

"Knuckles. Just Knuckles. And fine. Maybe you're not the one who wrecked the island," Knuckles said grudgingly. "But I'm still keeping an eye on you."

Sonic exhaled, relieved to have at least stopped the punches for now. He casually reached behind him to check on the emerald—

—And the moment it glinted in the dim light, Knuckles's demeanor snapped back into full alert.

"Hold it!" Knuckles barked, his voice echoing off the ancient stone. His eyes locked onto the emerald in Sonic's hand, wide with fury and disbelief. "You—you're carrying a Chaos Emerald?!"

Sonic blinked, caught off guard.

"Uh, yeah? What's the big deal?" He tucked the emerald closer without thinking, sensing the echidna's energy spike.

Knuckles's fists clenched again. His whole body tensed, like he was itching for a fight.

"That's not just some rock, you idiot!" Knuckles barked. "That's power! That's dangerous! And you—why have you brought it here?!"

Sonic held his hands up in a quick, defensive gesture.

"Brought it here? Dude, I didn't even know this place existed until, like, an hour ago!"

Knuckles didn't budge. His teeth were gritted, his whole frame taut like he was barely holding himself back. His eyes flicked between Sonic's face and the emerald, distrust thick in the air.

"You have no idea what you're carrying," he said, voice rough with something heavier than anger. "That thing isn't just energy. It's destruction. It's death."

Sonic frowned, keeping a careful distance.

"Yeah? Well, I wasn't exactly planning to blow anything up with it, if that's what you're worried about."

Knuckles scowled deeply. His gaze darkened, a shadow of something old and heavy passing over his face.

The echidna took a step forward, fists still balled tight.

"My ancestors… they tried to harness the Chaos Emeralds. Thought they could control them. They didn't care what they destroyed to get that power." His voice was tight, bitter. "They paid the price. All of them."

Sonic's ears flicked back a little at the sudden, raw tone in Knuckles's voice. It wasn't just anger now—it was grief, buried deep.

"I'm the only one left," Knuckles muttered, almost like he hadn't meant to say it out loud.

Sonic's hands lowered slightly, the emerald's glow dimming between his fingers.

"… Didn't mean to step on any toes," he said, quieter now. "I'm just trying to stay alive, okay? I'm not here to mess with your island or your… whatever this is."

Knuckles didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the emerald, suspicious, but some of the fight had drained from his posture.

"I'm the guardian of this island," he finally said. "And it's my job to keep the emeralds from destroying anything else."

Sonic raised an eyebrow.

"So, what? You're, like, the muscle around here?"

Knuckles crossed his arms.

"Someone has to be."

Sonic huffed a short breath, almost a laugh.

"Great. First, I get chased by a madman, and now I'm getting babysat by a guy who punches first and asks questions never."

Knuckles's eyes narrowed, but he didn't rise to the bait.

"You're lucky I don't just take that emerald off you right now."

"Please don't," he said reflexively, not doubting his ability to do so.

Knuckles gave a grunt that could've meant anything, but after a tense moment, he stepped back and let his arms fall to his sides.

"… You're not the first to come here looking for a place to hide," Knuckles said, voice low, but steady. "Angel Island's protected. Or it was, until today."

Sonic raised an eyebrow, warily tucking the Chaos Emerald away into his quills.

"Protected, huh? 'Cause from where I'm standing, it looks like it's barely hanging together."

Knuckles shot him a glare.

"It's not the island's fault you brought trouble with you," he growled at him.

Sonic opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. Instead, he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Alright, fine. You win. You offering me a place to crash, then?"

Knuckles hesitated, then gave a stiff nod.

"You can stay. For now. But you keep that emerald out of sight—and you stay out of trouble. If anything else falls out of the sky because of you, you're on your own."

Sonic nodded, suppressing a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Got it, captain."

Knuckles turned on his heel without waiting for a reply, motioning for Sonic to follow. The red echidna didn't look back as he led the way, his pace brisk and steady across the cracked stone.

"So, who's on the island?" Sonic asked, keeping a respectable distance from his trigger-happy 'friend'.

"A few people," he said shortly. "Travelers. Refugees. Folks trying to stay out of sight."

Sonic's ears perked up. "Refugees? From what?"

Knuckles shrugged stiffly. "The same kind of people you're running from, probably. Guys with too much power and not enough sense."

The blue hedgehog grimaced. That comment was pointed. Still, he didn't argue. He just pressed his hands awkwardly against his hips before slumping forward with a sigh, sullenly following Knuckles's lead as they wound through the crumbling ruins and down a rough, narrow path carved into the stone.

The island's landscape shifted quickly the farther they went—the ancient structures gave way to trees, thick with tangled vines and towering trees. The stone under Sonic's feet turned to packed earth, and the air grew warmer, heavier with the scent of moss and blooming flowers.

It was a weird contrast. This part of the island was thriving with life. Sonic spotted multiple critters as his—he supposed the word he was looking for was 'protector'—guided him deeper into the dense woods.

Knuckles moved with practiced ease, parting thick brushes and pushing aside low-hanging branches without slowing down. Sonic stuck close behind, careful not to get smacked in the face by anything Knuckles didn't bother holding open for him.

After a few more minutes of hiking, the forest broke open into a small clearing. Tucked between the trees was a rough camp—a handful of battered tents, some makeshift lean-tos built from salvaged stone and fallen logs. A few folks milled around the campfires at the center, cooking or repairing gear, their movements quick and wary.

The moment Knuckles stepped into the clearing, heads turned. Conversations dropped off into hushed whispers. Sonic felt every eye settle on him like a physical weight.

Knuckles gave a short nod to a few of them—an unspoken reassurance—before glancing back at Sonic.

"Welcome to the safe zone," he said, voice low. "Don't screw it up."

Sonic raised both hands innocently. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The echidna didn't look convinced, but he jerked his head toward an empty patch of ground near one of the larger lean-tos.

"Find yourself a spot and keep out of trouble. I'll come find you when we need to talk again."

Then, without another word, Knuckles turned and melted back into the forest, leaving Sonic standing awkwardly at the edge of the clearing.

The blue hedgehog shifted where he stood, feeling out of place as the rest of the camp settled into their evening routines. People bustled around the fire, stacking more wood into the growing flames, their faces illuminated in flashes of warm orange light. No one paid him any mind beyond the occasional suspicious glance.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

This was gonna be a long night.

Figuring he might as well try to be social—or at least not stand there like a weirdo—Sonic spotted a pair of figures sitting a little ways off from the main fire: two bunnies, one taller and obviously an adult, the other smaller and fiddling with what looked like a makeshift toy carved from a piece of wood under her cloak.

Gathering his nerve, Sonic shuffled over to them, keeping his hands loose at his sides in what he hoped was a friendly, non-threatening way.

"Hey," he said quietly when he got close enough, trying not to startle them. "Name's Sonic. Uh, new guy, obviously."

The taller rabbit gave him a small, polite smile. The younger one looked up with wide, curious eyes, hiding the toy beneath her cloak.

Before either could say a word, a strange sensation tickled the back of Sonic's mind—like a name whispered on a breeze only he could hear.

Vanilla The Rabbit.

Cream The Rabbit.

He blinked, a little thrown off by the sudden certainty of their identity, but he pushed past it, acting like nothing was wrong.

"I was just wondering," Sonic continued, scratching behind one ear, "who's in charge around here? Someone gotta be running this show, right?"

The older bunny—Vanilla—opened her mouth to answer, her voice soft and careful.

"That would be Amy," she said, smiling politely at him. She gestured at the pink hedgehog that was currently watching him like a hawk as she worked. "You're asking because you need help setting up, right?"

Sonic, figured out in one, chuckled sheepishly.

"Yeah, kinda hard to miss, huh?"

Vanilla's smile deepened just a little, kind but understanding.

"Amy keeps track of supplies. I'm sure if you ask nicely, she'll find something for you."

Sonic followed her gesture to where the pink hedgehog was stacking bundles of salvaged cloth and supplies. Amy worked with quick, efficient movements, but even as her hands stayed busy, her sharp gaze flicked over to Sonic every few seconds—not exactly subtle about keeping tabs on him.

Amy Rose.

Ah.

"Right. Nicely," Sonic muttered under his breath. He didn't exactly have the best track record of making great first impressions today and these people seemed significant.

He offered a quick, grateful nod to Vanilla and Cream—the little bunny was still quietly watching him with a wide-eyed, almost unblinking stare—then steeled himself and crossed the clearing toward Amy.

As he got closer, Amy straightened up, setting down the bundle she was carrying. She didn't say anything, just raised an eyebrow and resting her hands on her hips, waiting for him to speak.

Sonic slowed a bit, giving her plenty of space.

"Hey. Uh, Sonic. New guy," he said, sticking out a hand in a loose, easygoing gesture. "Was wondering if there's any chance you got a spare bedroll lying around? Promise I'm not picky."

Amy looked at his hand for a second like she was trying to decide whether to shake it—or punch it. Finally, she sighed and reached into one of the supply crates nearby, pulling out a tightly rolled bundle of cloth and tossing it at him.

Sonic caught it with a surprised grunt.

"Amy. Don't make any trouble," Amy said simply. Her voice wasn't hostile—just firm, like she'd had to say that a few too many times already. "Food'll be ready in a couple minutes, so don't wander off too far."

Sonic gave a short salute with two fingers.

"Scout's honor," he half-joked.

"Oh, don't push it," she said, huffing a small dismissive laugh before turning back to her work.

Bedroll secured, Sonic spun on his heel and headed back toward the edge of the camp, tossing the bundle lightly from one hand to the other. He wasn't exactly eager to plant himself down in the middle of all the wary stares being thrown his way.

He found a spot a little removed from the main circle of the fire—close enough to stay warm, far enough not to be in anyone's business—and gave a tired exhale.

Sonic tugged the bedroll open with a flick of his wrist and flopped down onto it, arms folded behind his head as he stared up at the darkening sky. The fire crackled somewhere behind him, voices low and tired, blending into a steady, almost comforting hum. Someone began to strum a guitar.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his muscles relax for the first time in what felt like hours—only for the sound of cautious footsteps nearby to make one ear twitch.

Cracking an eye open, he caught sight of a small figure approaching. A fox, with twin tails fidgeting behind him, a blanket tucked under one arm.

Sonic pushed himself up onto his elbows, squinting through the dim light.

Before the kid could even say a word, a name surfaced unbidden in Sonic's mind.

Tails.

The realization hit like a punch to the gut—not in a bad way, but hard enough to make him feel suddenly, stupidly off-balance. He should be used to the sensation by now, but it always took him by surprise.

"Hey," Sonic said, voice light, covering the weirdness crawling up the back of his neck.

The fox perked up a little. "Uh, hi!" He shifted his blanket awkwardly between his hands. "Sorry if I'm bothering you. I just, um, saw you set up over here. I'm, uh... right next to you." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder to a second bedroll set up nearby.

Sonic gave a lopsided grin. "Looks like we're neighbors then."

The fox smiled, a little sheepish but relieved at his easy acceptance. He took a hesitant step closer, then crouched down by his spot without quite sitting yet.

"Oh—and I kinda wanted to ask..." he added, voice dropping a little, like he was nervous someone might overhear. "Was all that noise on the east side earlier... you?"

"Uh, not me exactly—" Sonic started, then thought better of it. He scratched behind his ear, grimacing. "Okay, maybe kinda me. And a crazy guy in a giant flying fortress."

The fox's eyes widened, his twin tails flicking in interest.

"Doctor Robotnik. You fought him?" he asked, incredulous.

"Robotnik?" Sonic mouthed to himself, confused for a quick second before he shrugged, trying to play it casual even as his muscles still ached from the earlier mess. No need to lay it on thick and spill his whole life story here.

"Fought's a strong word," he said with a lopsided grin. "I mostly wrecked his day and made it out in one piece."

The fox let out a soft, impressed whistle, his two tails curling and uncurling behind him.

"That's... really cool," he said, a little in awe.

Sonic chuckled. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't recommend it. Guy's got a lotta gadgets, and none of 'em are friendly."

The fox finally sat down properly, tucking his legs under him, his expression turning thoughtful.

"I figured it had to be something bad. We felt the ground shake all the way over here."

Sonic grimaced. "Yeah, sorry about that. Wasn't exactly my idea to bring the fireworks."

The fox shook his head quickly. "No, it's good you made it. Most people who see Robotnik's badniks don't usually get away. Seeing his carrier crashing was as good a surprise as any; he can't get to us here without his machines."

Something heavy hung behind those words. Obviously, this wasn't the first time these people had tried to run from the guy.

Before the silence could turn too oppressive, the fox perked up again, his energy bouncing back.

"Oh! I'm Tails, by the way!" he said, offering a small, earnest smile. "Well, Miles Prower, but everyone calls me Tails."

Sonic blinked. Well, yeah. The name had already been there, hovering on the edge of his mind like a half-forgotten song. Hearing it said aloud just made it more real.

"Sonic," he said, tapping a thumb against his own chest. "Nice to meet ya, Tails."

Tails beamed, looking relieved. He hesitated a second before asking, quieter: "You gonna stay with us for a while?"

Sonic stretched out his legs and leaned back on his hands, glancing toward the fire where the other survivors were settling in for the night.

"For now," he said. "Seems like the safest place to be."

Tails grinned wider, something eager sparking behind his eye.

"Cool. It's... It's good to have you here," he said. "We need all the help we can get."

Sonic smirked at Tails' enthusiasm, even if a small part of him felt like an outsider in this tight-knit group. Still, he couldn't argue with the kid's optimism.

"Well," he said, tossing a stray pebble into the dirt. "I'm not exactly the stay-put-and-help-fix-things type. But if any more flying fortresses show up, I'll make sure they regret it," he joked.

Tails gave a small, amused huff, his tails flicking behind him again.

Before the kid could say anything else, a sharp whistle cut through the camp.

"Food's ready!" someone called—a tall badger waving a ladle over her head near the cooking fire.

Tails perked up immediately, giving Sonic an encouraging nudge with his elbow.

"Come on! You should eat before it's all gone."

Sonic snorted, pushing himself up with a lazy stretch.

"Yeah, I'm not about to miss dinner."

He followed Tails toward the center of camp, weaving between scattered bedrolls and shambling people. The smell of something warm and hearty hung in the air—probably stew, if Sonic had to guess—and he realized just how empty his stomach was after everything that had happened.

The stew turned out to be better than Sonic expected. It was simple, but warm and filling. He ate cross-legged by the fire, letting the chatter and laughter of the small camp wash over him. It was the first time all day he felt something close to normal.

Vanilla and her daughter(?) eventually settled down nearby, matching worn bowls cradled in their gloved hands. The oldest of the two gave Sonic a gentle, curious look over the rim of it as she slurped the last of her stew.

"So, Sonic," she said, her voice soft, "you said you arrived today... How did you end up on Angel Island, if you don't mind me asking?"

Sonic grinned around a mouthful of bread, chewing quickly before answering.

"Well, I kinda crash-landed," he said, scratching behind his ear, feeling the piercing stare of Tails on the back of his head. "I was trying to get away from a guy and, uh... let's just say the flight didn't exactly go as planned."

He carefully steered the story away from the Chaos Emerald, remembering Knuckles's earlier warning to keep that under wraps. No need to freak anyone out.

Across from him, Cream leaned in on her knees, eyes wide and sparkling with wonder.

"You managed to escape someone by flying away? How?" she gasped.

Sonic chuckled at her awe.

"Well, I had a little luck on my side," he said modestly, flashing a small wink that made Cream giggle.

"I wasn't exactly flying, though," Sonic added, leaning back on his hands. "I just... jumped ship. Literally. Wasn't about to stick around and let Eggman catch me."

"Eggman?" Vanilla asked, with an intrigued tilt of her head.

Sonic waved a hand lazily, as if the name alone explained everything.

"Yeah, big guy. Real round. Builds robots like some kinda hobby gone wrong."

Vanilla's smile faltered slightly, a crease forming between her brows. She exchanged a brief, worried glance with some of the other nearby campers, but said nothing yet.

"He caught me snooping around where I shouldn't've been," Sonic went on, resting one ankle over his knee. "Didn't take too kindly to that. Next thing I know, I'm being chased by all of his robots at the same time. Took me a while to find a way out."

Cream leaned forward, eyes wide.

"So, you just... jumped off?" she gasped again, completely caught up in the story.

"Yup. Wind in my quills, freedom in my heart," Sonic said, placing a hand dramatically over his chest and earning another giggle from the little bunny.

But Vanilla wasn't laughing. Her hands had folded tightly in her lap, and a shadow had crossed her face.

"Doctor Robotnik," she said softly, the name feeling like a bad taste in her mouth.

Cream's ears drooped a little, her earlier excitement fading into a sad sort of silence. She scooted a little closer to Vanilla without saying anything, her little limbs shifting under the cloak she was wearing with sharp clicks.

Sonic blinked.

Vanilla, noticing Cream's quiet movement, immediately softened. She wrapped an arm around her daughter, pulling her close in a gentle, protective hug. Cream nestled into her side without hesitation, her little hands clutching at the fabric of Vanilla's apron.

The tension in Vanilla's shoulders didn't ease, but she pressed a kiss to the top of Cream's head all the same, murmuring something too soft for Sonic to hear.

"That's the second time someone called him that," he said, glancing at Tails.

The little fox nodded grimly.

"Most people do. Eggman's... what he started calling himself after he, uh, took over. People say he went kinda insane. Or, more insane than usual. But, in the beginning, he was just Robotnik."

Sonic's ears twitched.

Vanilla stroked her daughter's head, though her fingers were trembling slightly.

"He used to be a scientist. A brilliant one. Promised to bring everyone prosperity, to fix things no one else could. But... he was lying." Her voice lowered, sad with the memory. "He used people. Took what he wanted behind the scenes. When he finally showed the world his true colors, it was already too late for a lot of us. He'd already chained most of the world to his feet."

"Sounds like the guy's a real piece of work," he muttered, trying to lighten the mood, but his voice came out flat. He wasn't sure what to say to make the heaviness lift.

Vanilla sighed softly. "It's not just that," she said quietly, eyes distant. "People trusted him, believed in him. When he turned his back on us, it wasn't just the damage he caused at the beginning that was so devastating... People are still suffering, to this day, under his rule and inventions. But there's nothing anyone can do. Simply put, we're powerless against his whims. Most of us has had no choice but to surrender... or to try to hide away from his sight."

Sonic glanced down, idly picking at a blade of grass between his fingers. There was a rawness to Vanilla's voice that made him ache a little in his chest—and he didn't even know why. It wasn't like he had memories of Eggman betraying him personally.

Still... somehow, he felt like he understood.

"I'm sorry," he said, voice softer than before. It didn't feel like enough, but it was all he had.

Vanilla gave him a small, weary smile. "Thank you," she said, her eyes kind but tired. "Hope is still not dead, despite everything."

The fire crackled quietly, casting long, flickering shadows across the camp.

Then Cream shifted, her small voice breaking the quiet.

"Maybe... Maybe things can get better now," she said, looking up at her mother with wide, hopeful eyes. "Since Mister Sonic is here."

Vanilla's smile deepened, warm and a little sad all at once. She hugged Cream a little closer.

"Maybe so," she murmured.

Oh, man. What did someone say to something like that?

Before Sonic could think of a reply, a sharp whistle cut through the night air. Heads turned; Knuckles was stalking into the clearing, his posture tense, his voice low but urgent.

"Kill the fire. Now," he ordered, not waiting for anyone to argue. "Everyone—get under cover. There's badniks on the move."

A murmur of alarm rippled through the camp. The guitar player quickly stashed his instrument. Vanilla immediately rose to her feet, gathering Cream in her arms with practiced ease.

Knuckles' eyes found Sonic across the darkening camp, pinning him with a hard stare.

"And you," he barked, marching straight toward him. "We need to talk."

Sonic barely had time to stand before Knuckles grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him a few steps away from the others.

"What did they want with you?" Knuckles demanded, voice low and fierce. It was still deafening in the sudden silence of the camp. "How did you lead them to this island?"

Sonic opened his mouth to answer—mostly to defend himself again—but quick footsteps scuffed behind them.

Tails had followed after them, looking nervous but determined.

"I-I don't think it was his fault!" he said, voice cracking slightly as he hurried to catch up.

Knuckles turned on him with a sharp growl, his fists clenching.

"Stay out of this, kid," he snapped. "You don't even know him."

Tails flinched but didn't back down, his twin tails flicking behind him anxiously.

"I still don't think he's the enemy," he mumbled, more to himself than to Knuckles.

Before the argument could escalate, another figure appeared—Amy, striding through the dark with a large hammer slung across her shoulders like it weighed nothing.

"Enough," she said sharply, giving Knuckles a no-nonsense look. "I need to know what's happening. Now."

Knuckles bristled for half a second, but he reined himself in. It was clear he respected Amy—enough not to pick a fight with her right now.

"Badniks," he growled, voice clipped. "Scouting parties on the east ridge. No heavy artillery yet, but if they're sniffing around, they'll call in more."

Amy's brow furrowed.

"Then we can't risk staying here," she said. "Start prepping everyone to move. Quiet and fast."

"What about him?" Knuckles asked, giving Sonic an accusing nod. "He's the one that they are looking for."

Amy crossed her arms.

"He's coming with us," she said firmly. "We're not handing him over to those things."

Sonic blinked at her, surprised. He hadn't expected her to stick her neck out for him—not after Knuckles had gone out of his way to accuse him like he had in front of everyone.

Knuckles scowled, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he jerked his head toward the darkened camp.

"Fine. But if he slows us down—"

"I won't," Sonic said quickly, pushing himself out of his grasp. "Promise."

Knuckles grunted, clearly unconvinced, but he turned and started barking orders to the others. Low voices rose and fell across the clearing as people gathered their things with hurried, practiced motions.

Amy gave Sonic a quick look, sizing him up.

"Stick close," she said. "No wandering off."

Tails hovered nearby, wringing his hands a little, his eyes darting between the adults and Sonic. His twin tails twisted together nervously.

"I can help," he piped up, almost too quiet to hear over the rush of movement.

"I know you can," Amy said with a small, encouraging smile. "But you stick close to me, okay?"

Tails nodded quickly, trying to look braver than he felt.

They moved out soon after, slipping into the trees like ghosts. The woods were dense and cold in the night, the air thick with tension. Despite the lack of light, Knuckles led the way with sharp focus, motioning with curt hand signals when to stop and when to move.

Sonic stayed close to the group, muscles tense, ears flicking at every small snap of a twig.

Every footstep seemed too loud. The refugees—small families, injured Mobians, and a few weary-looking fighters—clung to the trees, their faces drawn and tight with fear.

Leaves rustled as something passed overhead, its silhouette flickering between the branches like a circling predator.

Ahead, a child gasped, voice cracking:

"Buzz Bomber!"

Sonic's head snapped up just in time to see something descend through the canopy. Its blaster charged, sparking with an alarming red laser.

"Scatter!" Knuckles barked.

The group quickly dispersed, ducking into the foliage around them as a searing blast scorched the ground where they'd been moments before.

Sonic reacted instinctively.

He kicked off a tree trunk, spinning himself into a tight ball.

With a sharp crack, he tore through the air, slamming into the Buzz Bomber head-on. The badnik exploded in a shower of sparks and twisted metal.

Sonic landed in a skid, grinning—but that grin faded when he heard the other mechanical screeches descending from the trees.

"They're swarming!" Amy shouted, swinging her hammer up as another Buzz Bomber dived at them. She met it midair with a heavy, crushing blow, sending its broken body tumbling into a brush.

"Go, go!" Knuckles growled, waving the refugees forward.

Sonic grit his teeth, planting himself between the buzzing machines and the fleeing refugees.

"Over here, you scrap buckets!" he hollered, waving his arms wide.

It worked—mostly.

A cluster of Buzz Bombers peeled away from the group, sensors locking onto the louder, faster target. Sonic bolted, zigzagging through the trees, leading them away as he destroyed them.

Meanwhile, Amy and Knuckles stayed close to the stragglers.

Knuckles fought like he was possessed, fists smashing through badnik armor with brutal precision. And, complementing his fighting style, Amy swung her hammer in wide, powerful arcs, shattering whatever came too close. Together, they carved a desperate, ferocious path through the undergrowth.

Still, it was clear they were outnumbered.

Another Buzz Bomber dipped low, aiming straight for a mother carrying a small child.

A sudden, sharp ZAP! split the air.

The badnik exploded before it could fire.

Sonic skidded to a stop, blinking in surprise, and turned toward the source.

Tails stood a few paces away, panting hard. His small hands gripped a blaster, quickly salvaged from the smoking wreck of a downed badnik. The weapon was too big for him, and it had jerked his whole body when he fired—but his aim had still been true.

The kid caught Sonic's eye, giving him a shaky but determined nod before diving back behind the carcass for cover.

Sonic couldn't help the breathless laugh that slipped out of him.

That kid had guts.

The rest of the fight shifted quickly after that.

With Tails picking off badniks from a distance—his aim improving with each wild shot—the pressure on the ground fighters eased. Amy and Knuckles fought with renewed energy, smashing through the thinning ranks of machines. Even the terrified refugees started to move faster, the promise of survival sparking desperate strength into their limbs.

Sonic kept himself between the last of the Buzz Bombers and the others, darting and weaving through the trees like a streak of blue lightning. Every time one lined up a shot, a sharp ZAP! would fire from behind him, blasting the badnik out of the sky before it could lock on.

It was messy. It was frantic.

But it was working.

"Move!" Knuckles shouted, leading the group toward a thick outcropping of stone half-hidden by vines. His fist slammed against a concealed slab near its base—once, twice, three sharp strikes.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then the stone shuddered and shifted with a grinding groan, revealing a narrow passageway carved into the rock.

"In! Go!" Knuckles barked.

One by one, the refugees ducked inside, Amy ushering the stragglers through with quick, firm pushes.

Sonic hesitated just long enough to kick a broken Buzz Bomber aside before sprinting to help herd the last few children through.

Tails zipped after him, still clutching the oversized blaster like a lifeline.

Knuckles waited until everyone was inside before slamming his fist into a second stone plate embedded deeper in the wall. The entrance ground shut again, muffling the outside world into sudden, almost eerie silence.

Inside, the passage was cramped and cool, lit only by faint, glowing moss lining the walls. Everyone was breathing hard, the adrenaline still buzzing sharp under their skin.

Sonic exhaled slowly, hands on his hips.

"... That was way too close."

Knuckles gave him a grim look. "You think that was bad? You haven't seen anything yet."

Amy, a few feet away, set her hammer down with a heavy thud.

"We need to keep moving," she said, glancing around at the exhausted, frightened refugees. "This is just a tunnel. Not a safe house."

"Where to, oh all-mighty leader?" Knuckles asked with a small smirk.

Amy huffed, clearly unimpressed by Knuckles's jab, but she didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she reached into the pouch at her side and pulled out a small deck of worn, well-used cards bound in a faded red ribbon.

"Spirits guide better than tired guesses," she muttered, kneeling beside her hammer. She untied the ribbon with practiced fingers, spreading the deck neatly across a flat patch of ground, the moss casting a faint green glow over the cards' intricate backs.

Sonic tilted his head, curious. "What's this? Tarot?"

"Something like that," Amy said without looking up. "Old cards. Old rules. They haven't failed me yet."

She glanced up at him. "You. Blue guy. Pick three."

Sonic blinked. "Seriously?"

"You helped us get out of that ambush. That means you're part of this now. So, pick."

Sonic gave a small shrug, stepping forward and crouching next to her.

"Alright, alright."

He ran his fingers over the cards, hovering uncertainly before choosing randomly. One. Two. Three. He placed each one face-down in front of Amy.

She turned over the first one.

"The Tower," she said, mouth tightening. "Destruction. Upheaval."

The second card came next.

"The Fool. A beginning... or a leap into danger."

A beat passed before she flipped the third. Her expression shifted subtly, tension softening.

"The Star."

Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "That good or bad?"

Amy didn't answer right away. She gathered the cards back into a neat stack, retying them.

"It means we're not out of the storm yet," she said finally, standing. "But there's still a path forward. We head toward the cliffs—the old shrine in the mountains. If the cards are right, we'll find shelter... maybe even something better."

The echidna grimaced at her words, but stayed silent.

Tails, who had been listening quietly, perked up. "You think the shrine's still there?"

"We'll find out," Amy said, sliding the cards back into her pouch. "Everyone, gather your things. We move in ten."

Sonic gave a soft whistle. "You guys don't mess around."

Amy looked at him with a faint smile. "Not when survival's on the line."

Then, with her hammer slung back over her shoulder and the flickering light of moss at their backs, the group began to move again—deeper into the hidden paths beneath the island.

Chapter Text

Sonic woke with a sharp inhale.

His eyes snapped open to pitch blackness, pierced only by the soft glow of moss on the walls. For a moment, he didn't know where he was. His heart was racing, his breath shallow. He sat up slowly, hand brushing the cold stone beneath him.

A dull, sick churn twisted his stomach. He pressed a palm against it, trying to breathe through the nausea.

As he tried to calm himself down, the events of the previous day came back to him in pieces—scattered and sharp. Meeting Eggman. Running from Eggman. The crash of the Egg Carrier onto Angel Island. And, finally, stumbling into a group of people who didn't immediately try to kill him—though Knuckles might've been a borderline case.

After the fight with the badniks and hours of winding through the tunnels, they'd found a small cave carved into the wall—cramped, but sheltered. It wasn't much, but it was big enough to fit everyone, tucked out of sight, and easy to defend. All things considered, it was probably the best they were going to find.

Amy had known that. She was the one that had called for a rest, insisting they take whatever time they could to recover. With kids and injured Mobians in tow, most of the refugees were barely holding up. They couldn't keep up the pace much longer without burning out.

Sonic hadn't felt tired, exactly. Adrenaline had still been buzzing through him, his body too wired to stop. But when Amy had said they were safe for now, that they didn't need to stay on alert, he'd laid down—and conked out almost instantly.

He hadn't realized how tense he'd been until the moment he let go.

Now, awake again, the remnants of a nightmare clung to him like smoke—shapeless, but heavy in his chest, curling in his gut.

The Chaos Emerald pulsed against his back like a second heartbeat—low, steady, almost comforting.

He didn't move to take it out. It wasn't like speaking to it would help.

A few feet away, Tails was crouched beside the remains of the busted badnik he'd procured in the battlefield, its blaster laid out in pieces around him. He turned away from his project the moment Sonic stirred awake, a flicker of worry in his eyes.

"Hey. You okay?" the two-tailed fox asked, quiet in the stillness.

Sonic blinked the last of the haze from his eyes.

"Yeah," he said hoarsely. Then, after a beat, "Bad dream... I think."

Tails tilted his head. "What about?"

"I… dunno." Sonic rubbed his face, trying to piece it together, but whatever had shaken him was already slipping away. Just the ghost of pressure in his chest and the nausea curling around his ribs. "It's gone. Just... weird."

The young fox nodded like he understood anyway. "I get those too sometimes. The ones that make you feel all strange even after you wake up."

Sonic let out a breath that wasn't quite a laugh. "Yeah, exactly like that."

They sat in the quiet for a moment, the hum of the tunnel and the occasional shuffle of sleeping bodies the only sounds around them.

"How long was I out?"

Tails glanced toward the others resting nearby, then back at Sonic. "Not too long. Maybe five hours? Amy said we'll move after everyone has rested for a bit."

Five hours, huh? Sonic stretched, yawning. The sleeping conditions hadn't been great, but he felt surprisingly well-rested.

"Guess I needed it more than I thought. You didn't sleep at all, Tails?"

Tails shook his head, ears flicking.

"Only for about an hour or two. I figured I should look at this while I had the time." He nodded toward the blaster resting on the ground beside him. A few screws and scorched panels had already been pried loose, and a thin trail of oily fluid was slowly seeping from a cracked seam near the barrel.

"It's leaking fuel," Tails added. "As it is, it's too unstable to leave lying around and too heavy to lug around while we move. I'm trying to see if I can make a better prototype with the parts I have."

Sonic crouched beside it, eyeing the scorched casing.

"Doesn't look like an easy project."

"Yeah, it's not ideal." Tails leaned over and started working one of the panels loose with a small, dented screwdriver. "This is standard badnik issue—a solid design. We can even call it a classic at this point… But it's also a mass-produced model, so it's not made from the best materials, which is just unfortunate."

"Mass-produced, you say," Sonic muttered. "Ugh, great. Everything I know about Eggman makes it pretty clear he's trying to wipe us out fast."

Tails glanced up. "You keep calling him that—Eggman."

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? What about it?"

"You don't have to, you know?" the fox said quietly. "Not here. Nothing's stopping you from calling him Robotnik."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Tails looked a bit surprised at the fact that he needed to clarify this point. "Eggman is the title he wants us to call him by, while Robotnik is… just the man's name?"

Sonic frowned. The name Robotnik sat in his head like a splinter—familiar, but uncomfortable in a way he couldn't explain.

"I dunno," he said after a moment. "It just feels weird saying it. Like it's not meant for me."

Tails gave him a curious look. "Not meant for you?" he repeated his words.

Sonic shrugged, uneasy. "It's hard to explain. Like... every time I hear it, something in me pushes back. Doesn't sit right."

"Huh, that's an odd pet peeve to have," Tails said, looking a bit pensive as he finally succeeded in prying open the panel of the blaster. Gloved hands took out the core of the machine, examining it with a long look.

"So, what's the verdict?"

"I can use this," Tails said, voice confident. "Just give me a couple of minutes and I'll have something."

Sonic whistled low, watching as Tails efficiently stripped out the innards around the leaking fuel cell and slid them into a smaller casing he'd taken out from his satchel. The kid moved with focus and expertise, like he'd done this sort of thing a dozen times already.

"Not bad," Sonic said, flashing a grin. "Just make sure whatever you build doesn't explode on us."

Tails gave him a sidelong look, eyes sharp with mock offense. "Please. I only accidentally blew something up once."

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "That a real story, or are we grading based on damage?"

"Depends. Does partial combustion count?"

Sonic laughed, settling in beside him, careful not to knock any tools askew. "You're scary good at this stuff. How'd you even learn all this?"

Tails shrugged, still working. "I've always liked machines. I'd take apart junk back home, see what made it tick. Started fixing old tech for the neighbors, then went on to build my own stuff. After the curfews started, I got better at sneaking into scrap yards. The factories dump stuff there all the time, and it was safer than breaking into a badnik-guarded workshop."

"Smart," Sonic said, watching him rewire the core into a sleeker casing. "But if you were doing so good back at home, how come you're here with us?"

Tails hesitated, fingers pausing on the wiring. His expression didn't change much, but his ears twitched—just slightly. "Well, I heard rumors. About Angel Island and about a place outside the cities, where Eggman didn't have total control. People called it a haven."

Sonic tilted his head. "So, you just… came here?"

The fox nodded. "Once I narrowed down the coordinates of this hypothetical floating island, I smuggled myself onto one of the transport carriers. The cargo hold was mostly spare parts, so nobody checked it too closely. And when it flew close enough to the island, I bailed."

"Bailed?" Sonic repeated, half incredulous. "As in, mid-air?"

"Yeah… Uh, I can fly?" Tails said, smiling weakly at him. "Surprise?"

Sonic blinked. "Wait, seriously?"

Tails lifted his twin tails in a small flourish. "These aren't just for show."

Sonic let out a low whistle. "Okay, that's seriously awesome. What, like a helicopter?"

"Yeah!" The fox grinned, clearly pleased despite himself, and went back to tightening the casing around the blaster's core. "To be honest, I didn't really think anyone would be here when I landed. It was just rumors, you know? That some folks had made it off the cities and were hiding out on a floating island, safely away from Robotnik's reign. It sounded just crazy enough that I knew I had to check it out."

"Well, they weren't wrong," Sonic said. "Though calling this place safe feels like a stretch."

"It's still safer than most." Tails clicked the last piece into place and sat back. The new version of the weapon was sleeker, more compact—something Tails could carry without feeling like he was lugging around a car battery. "Done."

Sonic took it carefully, turning it over in his hands. It looked a bit rough around the edges, but it was to be expected with what little time Tails had had to work on it. "Nice work. Think it'll explode if I press a button wrong?"

Tails gave him a flat look. "Only if you really try."

Sonic snorted. "No promises."

They shared a quick grin, but after a beat, Sonic's expression softened, giving the kid his gadget back. "Hey. You were brave, doing what you did. Coming here like that. I mean it."

Tails looked down, the praise clearly catching him off guard. "I just… couldn't stay back there. Didn't want to sit and watch things slowly get worse when I could do something to fix it."

"Yeah, I get that," Sonic said, nodding. "Still... It's a lot. Leaving your home behind just to try and help other people."

Tails didn't answer right away. He adjusted one of the bolts on the weapon instead, fingers fidgeting like he wasn't sure what to do with the silence.

"… I didn't really think it through," he admitted eventually. "Just knew I had to go. I didn't even have a plan for what I'd do if there weren't people here."

"So, you landed on a flying island in the middle of nowhere without a backup plan?" Sonic grinned. "I'm starting to like you."

That got a small laugh out of Tails. "Guess we've both done some reckless things lately."

Sonic smirked at that.

"Sounds about right," he said.

The blue hedgehog leaned back on his hands, gaze drifting across the dim cave. Shapes curled in cloaks and blankets dotted the uneven ground—the quiet, rhythmic sound of breathing the only thing breaking the stillness. Most of the group was fast asleep, huddled together for warmth or comfort.

Even Amy was out. She sat slouched against the far wall, her hammer resting beside her, one hand still loosely gripping the handle. Her head had tipped forward, soft snores escaping with each breath.

"Huh," Sonic murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Guess even she needed a break."

Tails followed his gaze. "She's been pushing hard. We all have." He hesitated. "I think... it's just nice to feel safe for a minute."

"How did she come here? Do you know?"

Tails huffed a quiet laugh. "Yeah. Amy kind of… stole a plane."

Sonic blinked. "She what?"

"A plane," Tails confirmed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "It was some beat-up biplane owned by a small group of mercs. And honestly, I get it—stealing from a group of nobodies is way easier than trying to nab anything that belongs to Robotnik. Stealing anything from him is just asking for you to get into trouble."

Sonic gave an impressed whistle. "Really? Does she still have it?"

"Eh, it's around here collecting rust," Tails said. "Both she and Knuckles didn't really know how to maintain it, so they just used it to carry people onto the island until the old thing died."

"Guess it did its job, though it's a shame that it doesn't work anymore," Sonic said, stretching his legs out in front of him. "Still, it's kinda wild she pulled that off, especially since I don't think our resident protector was too happy about her suddenly appearing here."

"Well, that's true. He wasn't all that happy with her being on the island," Tails said, adjusting the small weapon on his lap. "From what I could gather, he tried to chase her off at first. Something about the island being sacred, or dangerous, or both." Tails shrugged, giving Sonic the impression that he didn't understand what was going on with the red echidna as well.

"But Amy talked him down and negotiated her way into staying—then, eventually, convinced him to let others in, too. She told him that folks needed a place to run to. Somewhere safe."

Sonic glanced around the cave again, lingering on all the sleeping bodies around them.

"Glad she pulled it off," he said quietly.

Tails nodded, his smile small and wistful. "Yeah. It's good that she did."

"Honestly? I didn't expect Knuckles to agree to it. He doesn't seem too welcoming."

Tails chuckled. "He's not. But he's not a bad guy, either. Just… stubborn. Real protective, y'know? Once he stopped thinking everyone was a threat, he started helping more than anyone else. He just doesn't make it easy to thank him for it."

Sonic sat back, thinking about it for a second.

"Ah, I get it now—big grump on the outside, secretly a big ol' softie underneath."

"I wouldn't say big," Tails said, snorting. "But yeah. Something like that."

They sat in silence for a beat, listening to the soft hush of breathing all around them.

Then Sonic tilted his head, eyes lingering on Amy and the snoring Knuckles.

"Think we should wake them?"

Tails followed his gaze to the far side of the cave.

"Yeah, sounds good. Those two did say they wanted to get moving as soon as we could. No sense wasting time."

Sonic let out a long breath, pushing himself to his feet. "Alright. I'll get Knuckles."

Tails blinked at him. "You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah," Sonic muttered, already making his way over. "How bad can it—"

The second his hand touched Knuckles' shoulder, the echidna exploded into motion. A blur of red muscle shot upright, fist flying in a perfect upward arc.

Sonic barely dodged in time. The punch sliced through empty air where his jaw had been a moment earlier.

"WOAH, buddy—!" he yelped, stumbling back with both hands raised. "It's me!"

Knuckles blinked, still half in a dream, before his eyes finally focused. "New guy?" His voice was gravelly with sleep, his brow furrowed. "What the hell…"

"You almost uppercutted me into orbit," Sonic grumbled. "I swear, you have it out for me."

Knuckles groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face. "Reflex. You wake me up like that again, you're getting the full combo."

Sonic took a dramatic step back. "Duly noted."

Tails was trying—and failing—not to laugh. "Maybe next time lead with his name instead of a sneak attack."

"I tapped him," Sonic said indignantly.

"Like a dumbass," Knuckles muttered, curling up briefly before forcing himself to sit upright. His quills were a mess, sticking out in all directions, and one purple eye was still half-lidded. People around him whined about being woken up so suddenly by the commotion. "What time is it?"

"No idea," Sonic said, then jerked a thumb toward the far wall. "Amy's next. Tails, buddy, can you do it for me? I'd like to keep my teeth, if you get my drift."

Tails grinned. "Sure. No need to be so scared, though."

He padded over to where Amy still sat slumped against the wall, her hammer resting beside her. Her grip on the handle had slackened, and her head had tipped forward again, pink bangs hiding her eyes.

Tails crouched and gave her a gentle nudge. "Hey, Amy. Time to get moving."

She stirred, brow twitching as she blinked awake. Then her eyes widened, and she shot upright with a gasp.

"What? No—! Did I fall asleep?" Her voice pitched higher, panic rising fast. "I was on watch—! I was on watch—!"

"Relax, Amy," Tails said, holding up both hands. "We're fine. Nothing happened. Everyone's still breathing."

She looked around quickly, heart still racing, then dropped her head into her hands with a groan. "I can't believe I passed out! That was not supposed to happen."

"You've been running on fumes," Tails offered gently. "It's not your fault."

Amy let out a long breath, still looking frazzled. "Okay, I suppose that's understandable. I can't believe I—" She paused, then stood abruptly, straightening her spine. Her hammer vanished into soft pink mist. "No more naps for me. Let's get moving," she told herself firmly.

The pink hedgehog wasted no time. Moving swiftly through the group, Amy started rousing the others—some with a soft nudge, others with a more direct call. Sonic watched her work, impressed and a little worried at how effortlessly she shifted into leadership mode, even when she'd been the one running on empty the longest.

Knuckles groaned from his spot against the wall, twisting his neck as he rolled his shoulders. "You could've let me sleep in a little longer," he muttered, but he stood up without any further complaint and started stretching. When Amy passed by him, she harrumphed at his slowness.

"You're helping," she said flatly.

Knuckles shot her a look. "Morning to you too, Amy."

Sonic smirked at the interaction, but decided to stay out of it—Knuckles and Amy had their own way of interacting, and it was better to let them sort it out.

"So, what's next?" he muttered to Tails as they began to pass out some rations for everyone. "I remember you guys mentioning something about a shrine?"

Tails nodded, handing off a ration bar to a sleepy Mobian still rubbing the dust from their eyes. "Yeah. There's supposed to be some kind of shrine deeper in. That's where we're headed."

Sonic quirked a brow. "Supposed to be?"

"Well…" Tails glanced around, then lowered his voice a bit. "It's a little complicated. There's talk that there might be a second guardian on the island. Someone—or something—that watches over that shrine."

Sonic blinked. "Wait, seriously? A second Knuckles?"

"Not exactly," Tails said quickly. "I never met them, and Knuckles definitely never said anything. But Amy—she knew more than she let on. I tried asking, but she just got... vague. And whenever I so much as brought it up around Knuckles, he'd shut it down. Fast."

"Huh." Sonic leaned back on his heels, clearly intrigued. "You think it's real?"

Tails shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. I mean, when I looked into the legends of this place, they do mention a shrine that moves around the island, like it's got a will of its own. Could just be old Echidna stories, but…" he trailed off, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Something about this place makes it feel possible. Amy seems sure at least."

Before Sonic could ask more, Amy's voice rang out over the low chatter.

"Alright! Everyone up! We're leaving soon, so please don't forget anything!"

She stood near the entrance of the cave, her posture straight despite the exhaustion still lingering in her eyes. The group began stirring faster now—blankets folded, bags lifted, the quiet energy of people preparing for another hard stretch.

Sonic exchanged a glance with Tails. "Guess story time's over."

The young fox shrugged. "It was nice while it lasted."

They fell into step with the others as the group filed out of the cave. The air grew cooler, heavier, as they descended back into the snaking stone paths that were carved through the island's underbelly.

Knuckles took the lead, his silhouette sharp now against the torchlight flickering from wall-mounted sconces. His shoulders were tense, and his expression hadn't softened since they'd left.

"We should be getting close," he muttered over his shoulder. "Shrine's not far now."

Sonic raised a brow. "You don't sound thrilled."

Knuckles didn't even turn around. "Not your concern."

That earned a blink from Sonic—and a deep frown. "Well, sheesh. Someone woke up on the bad side of the bed," he muttered, folding his arms.

Tails gave him a nudge. "Maybe don't poke him right now," he said under his breath. "He gets like this sometimes."

Sonic sighed and kicked a loose pebble ahead of him. "Fine. I'll be quiet. But not because of him."

Tails smirked but said nothing. The tunnel fell into a quiet rhythm—footsteps echoing softly, the occasional clink of gear shifting in bags.

Then, cutting through the calm, came a sudden crack—faint but sharp, as if something massive and heavy was moving on the stone above them.

Amy's head snapped up. "Wait. Did you hear that?"

Everyone stilled. For a moment, there was only the soft rustle of movement and breathing. Then it came again—this time deep, chilling thump. Dust sifted from the ceiling in thin streams.

Sonic's ears twitched. "... What's that?"

Knuckles' expression darkened. "Damn it." He clenched his fists, quills bristling. "Those must be Eggman's reinforcements."

Tails looked scared. "Super Badniks?"

Behind them, a murmur rose—refugees whispering nervously, fear beginning to take hold.

"They don't know we're here," Amy said encouragingly. "So, let's make use of that and continue."

The whole group quickened their pace, boots scraping against stone, their hurried footsteps echoing through the tightening tunnel.

Then, abruptly, it widened—and the path gave way to a vast chamber that opened before them like a fresh breath of air.

Gasps rippled through the group of refugees as they stepped inside. It was unlike anything they'd seen so far. A shallow lake stretched out before them, still and glassy. Crystals lined the edges, pulsing gently with light, and faint bioluminescence shimmered beneath the surface like a dream. In the water, nestled in clusters along the bank and shallow pools, were eggs and cocoons, each one of them softly glowing in the dim light.

Chao.

Dozens of them, their little round faces peeking out from behind mossy stones or bobbing gently in the shallows. They chirped in surprise and curiosity, some toddling closer with wobbling legs to investigate the sudden newcomers.

A tiny squeal came from the back.

Cream had spotted them. She tugged away from her mother, eyes wide with joy. "Look, Mom! Chao!" she breathed.

But before she could take another step, Vanilla gently caught her by the shoulders and pulled her back. "Sweetie, wait," she whispered.

"Don't step into the shrine," Knuckles barked, halting them all with one arm out. He took a step forward himself, gaze steady on the lake. "Not until we're invited."

He lifted his chin, his voice low but firm.

"Chaos."

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the surface of the water rippled.

It started at the center—concentric rings spreading out from a single point. From that calm came a sudden swell, and something began to rise. Water lifted, flowing upward, shaping itself into limbs, a torso, a head—fluid, but distinct. A creature, tall and vaguely humanoid, made almost entirely of liquid, stood in the lake where once had been nothing. Its eyes glowed a gentle yellow from within, like twin lanterns beneath a pond's surface. It tilted its head slowly, regarding the gathered group with a strange, unreadable calm.

Something clicked in Sonic's brain.

Chaos 0.

Knuckles dropped to one knee. "Guardian," he said, voice reverent.

The creature—Chaos 0, apparently—did not reply. But it watched. And it waited.

Knuckles remained kneeling. "We request sanctuary," he said, his voice low and steady. "These people… they need a place to rest. They've lost homes. Families. They don't want trouble. None of us mean harm to the Chao."

Chaos didn't respond—not with words, anyway. But its attention shifted. Its gaze moved beyond Knuckles, scanning the crowd. The water of its body quivered as it looked over each face, appraising. Judging.

Then its eyes stopped—settling squarely on Sonic.

The hedgehog stiffened instinctively, resisting the urge to step back.

Without a sound, Chaos began to move. The crystal light danced through its transparent form as it approached.

Knuckles shot to his feet.

"Don't move," he said quickly, placing a hand on Sonic's shoulder. "Just—don't do anything sudden, hedgehog."

Sonic froze mid-shift, one foot still slightly lifted.

Chaos stopped a few feet in front of him.

It tilted its head again, eyes bright and searching—studying Sonic, as though it was trying to see something beneath the surface. The air hummed faintly around them, pressure rising like a storm barely held at bay.

The Chao had gone silent as well, watching just like the others.

Sonic swallowed. "... So, uh, are we cool?"

Chaos leaned in without warning, and before Sonic could so much as flinch, its liquid body surged forward.

Its face—if it could be called that—pressed gently against Sonic's, like a cat rubbing its cheek along a familiar hand. Sonic went stiff as a board.

"Wh—" he started, voice pitching slightly. "What’s happening right now?"

Even Knuckles looked stunned. His grip on Sonic's shoulder slackened, hand falling away slowly as he blinked in disbelief. "What in Gaia's name…?"

Chaos 0 pulled back just a little, its eyes still locked with Sonic's, and repeated the motion—another slow, deliberate nudge, like it was greeting an old friend. There was something unmistakably fond in the gesture.

Around them, the Chao erupted into chirps and squeaky giggles, flitting out from their hiding spots behind the mossy rocks and glimmering crystals. They flooded toward the group in a tidal wave of flapping wings and tiny feet, crowding around Sonic's legs and bouncing excitedly in place.

"Okay," Sonic said, doing his absolute best not to bolt. "Definitely not panicking. Just being lovingly mobbed by a sentient puddle and about twenty tiny babies."

Knuckles shook himself out of his daze, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward again. "Chaos," he said, steadier this time, "we request sanctuary. No one here wants to harm your friends."

The elemental creature lingered a moment longer, gaze flicking from Sonic to the others. Then, slowly, it drew back—its form rippling as it sank once more into the surface of the lake, disappearing without a sound.

The tension in the chamber eased like a held breath finally released. The Chao, however, were in no hurry to retreat. They continued to swirl around Sonic with infectious enthusiasm, squeaking and giggling as they bounced against his legs or tried to climb up his shoes.

A few broke away to investigate the others. Cream, finally free of her mother's careful grip, knelt down and offered a carved wooden doll to a curious Chao, who accepted it with delighted chirping. Vanilla kept close, her watchful eyes softening at the sight.

Sonic glanced over his shoulder, just in time to catch Amy exhaling with relief.

"Well," she said, voice low but pleased, "that went better than expected."

"You could say that again," Sonic muttered, still stiff-legged from the attention of his new fan club.

Knuckles stepped up beside him, crossing his arms. His expression was unreadable for a long beat… then it shifted, reluctantly, into something more agreeable.

"Guess I might've misjudged you," he muttered. "If even Chaos is acting like that around you…"

Sonic arched a brow. "Wow. That almost sounded like an apology."

Knuckles gave him a sideways look. "Don't push it."

Tails wandered up then, eyes still flicking between Sonic and the now-still surface of the lake. "What was that?" he asked. "I've never seen Chao react like that to anyone. Sonic, did you do something?"

"Not a clue," Sonic said, hands awkwardly trying to prevent a Chao from falling off one of his spikes. Many of them had started to climb him like a tree. "Maybe I'm just naturally charming."

That drew a subtle look from Amy, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she turned her attention back toward the rest of the group, who were already settling in.

"Let's not poke that too hard," she said. "We've got a place to rest now. That's what matters. Now we can focus on the problem outside."

Knuckles stiffened slightly, following her gaze toward the distant ceiling. The low thump of heavy machinery had long since faded, but the threat of the Super Badniks—or just regular badniks—still lingered in the air.

"Right," he said. "Those things aren't gonna stop."

Amy nodded. "Then we need to figure out how to stop them."

Sonic glanced between them, brushing another Chao off his arm with care. The little guy landed on his feet, much to his relief. "You're talking about going after the badniks?"

Amy's eyes narrowed with steely determination. "Yes! We can't wait for them to find us. If we hit them first, we can thin their numbers—or at least lead them away from the shrine. Chaos can protect this place, but I don't want to test how much it can take at once if they find us."

Knuckles grunted, arms crossed tight. "She's right. But let's not kid ourselves—it's not gonna be easy. Those aren't your average tin cans. Even one Super Badnik's a pain. And considering the number of badniks we had to fight off while coming here, it's not going to be just them."

"Well," Sonic said, shaking a Chao off his leg before it could make him lose balance, "guess that means you'll need some backup." He met Amy's gaze, then Knuckles'. "I'll help."

Knuckles raised a brow. "You sure about that, hedgehog? It's not going to be an easy task."

"I'm the reason Eggman's sniffing around here in the first place." Sonic's voice was quieter now, less flippant. "Seems fair I help clean it up."

Tails stepped forward before anyone could reply. "And I'm coming too."

"No," Knuckles said immediately, his voice flat. "You're staying here."

Tails bristled. "I can handle myself."

"You're a brave little kid," Knuckles acknowledged. "But you're not a warrior yet, little one."

Tails' ears flicked back. His hands balled into fists at his sides, eyes stinging—not from an insult, but from the perceived truth in the echidna's words.

"I've fought beside you," he said, his voice tight. "I've helped. I'm not useless!"

"No one's saying you are," Amy cut in gently, stepping between them before the tension could rise further. "But someone has to stay behind. Someone we trust. If anything happens here…"

She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't have to.

Tails looked away, biting back a retort. The chittering of the Chao filled the silence, oblivious to the seriousness of the conversation taking place around them.

"Honey can handle that," he mumbled. "I don't want to stay behind and do nothing again."

Sonic, feeling a bit sorry for his new fox friend, decided to pipe up before the situation continued to deteriorate.

"Tails, bud, please show Amy and Knuckles what you did when they were sleeping, yeah?" he said.

The young fox hesitated, then reached into his pack and pulled out the makeshift weapon he'd cobbled together from the Buzz Bomber parts. It wasn't pretty—made of rough metal, exposed wires, and a glowing capacitor humming faintly—but at the end of the day, it was still a functioning weapon.

"This," he said, voice quiet but steady, "is what I've been working on. The capacitor still needs cooling adjustments, but the output's very strong. Strong enough to fry a standard Badnik's systems instantly."

Amy blinked. "You built that down here?"

Tails nodded. "After we were ambushed yesterday, I salvaged what I could. I've seen Eggman's designs—I know how to break them down and use them. If we run into Super Badniks, I can help with this. And I can make better tools if I have access to better parts."

Sonic leaned back on his heels, arms crossed, but there was a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "He's not just saying that, either. Last time we were surrounded, this little guy covered our backs like a pro. Bought us the time we needed to get away from danger."

Knuckles' eyes were still fixed on the weapon. He didn't look impressed—just thoughtful. Calculating.

Amy, meanwhile, was eyeing Tails with a new kind of focus. "So, you're saying if we bring you along, you can scavenge and make us more of those?"

Tails nodded firmly. "Faster if I don't have to work with scrap. I know what I'm doing."

For a long moment, no one said anything. Then Knuckles exhaled through his nose, clearly reluctant.

"Alright," he said. "But you stay behind us. You don't run ahead, and you don't pick a fight unless you're told."

Tails' eyes lit up, just a little. "Deal."

Amy didn't say anything, but she gave Sonic a look that basically screamed 'we'll talk about this later.' Sonic only gave her an innocent thumbs up in return.

And just like that, the group of three became four.

The moment the four began to pack, the chamber stirred with soft voices and quiet farewells. Word had spread quickly—Amy, Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails were heading out to face whatever threat still lingered above.

One by one, the refugees drifted toward the edge of the mossy basin, watching as the four readied themselves. Their faces were tired, worn thin by fear and travel—but now they carried something else, too. Hope.

Finally free from the Chao, Sonic shifted his weight from foot to foot, tapping his toe against the stone to keep still. The waiting was getting to him. His body wanted to move—to go—even if it was straight into another fight. Staying in one place for so long was making his anxiety spike.

But the sound of small footsteps pulled him back to the present. It was not the heavy shuffle of a weary survivor—these footsteps were lighter.

Cream approached quietly, clutching a sleepy blue Chao to her chest. She stopped in front of Knuckles and looked up with wide, earnest eyes.

Her voice was soft, but steady. "Please come back safe, Mister Knuckles."

Knuckles looked like he'd just been handed a live grenade. He shifted awkwardly, then reached out to pat her head—as gentle as he could.

"I will," he said, more gruffly than he meant to. "You take care of that little guy until I get back."

Cream nodded solemnly. "I will! I promise!"

Not far behind her, Vanilla stood beside Tails, brushing some dust from his shoulder.

"I don't like that you're going," she murmured. "But I can see it in your eyes. You wouldn't stay behind even if we asked."

Tails didn't meet her gaze. "Yeah, that's right."

She gave a soft sigh. "Don't be afraid, sweetheart." Then she bent down and pulled him into a hug—brief, but warm. "Be smart. Be careful. And come back."

Tails hugged her tight before stepping away to check his gear again, biting down on the nerves fluttering in his stomach.

Finally, Vanilla turned to Sonic.

"I never did tell you my name, did I?" she asked rhetorically.

Sonic tilted his head, realizing—yeah, she really hadn't.

"Not really, but that's okay. I know it, don't worry."

Vanilla gave a quiet laugh. "Well, that's a bit awkward." Then, more gently: "We didn't have time to get to know each other, but I trust that you'll take care of Miles. Right?"

She leveled a look at him—not scolding, not accusing. Just firm. The kind of motherly stare that didn't need to be loud to carry weight.

Sonic straightened under it instinctively. "Yeah. I promise."

Vanilla studied him for a second longer, then softened. "Good."

She rested a hand briefly on Tails' shoulder before stepping back into the crowd with her daughter in tow.

A few paces away, Amy finished a quiet conversation with a Mobian feline. The black-haired cat—normally an exuberant Mobian—stood a little straighter now, the sparkle in her eye tempered with resolve. A red armadillo and a yellow flying squirrel flanked her, both giving steady, reassuring nods to their leader.

With her instructions delivered, Amy turned away from the conversation, brushing her bangs from her eyes.

"Alright," she called, her voice clear and steady. "Everyone ready?"

Knuckles gave a grunt of agreement, tightening the straps on his gloves.

Tails gave his toolkit one last glance, then nodded.

Sonic bounced on the balls of his feet, already itching to move.

"Let's do this," he said.

The four turned toward the tunnel, leaving the soft, glowing light of the shrine behind as the quiet voices of the refugees faded into the background. The chittering of Chao echoed one last time in farewell.

Chapter Text

Sonic ducked under a thick branch, weaving through the dense foliage as the ground trembled beneath him. Something huge was stomping its way across Angel Island, and from the sound of it, the forest wouldn't survive much longer if it kept going unchecked.

Behind him, Amy, Knuckles, and Tails followed closely. Amy's hammer smashed through a Moto Bug with a crack of metal and sparks while Knuckles bulldozed past a Crabmeat, tearing its chassis in half with one punch. Tails, keeping to the rear and slightly above the group, lined up a shot and fired his custom-built blaster. The bolt of blue energy surged through a Buzz Bomber mid-flight, frying its circuits and sending it tumbling into the brush.

Sonic skidded to a halt and turned back, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Nice shot, Tails!"

Tails panted slightly, clutching the blaster close. "Thanks! So far, this is holding out great!"

Sonic's lips quirked in a small smirk. While Tails wasn't built like the rest of them, he didn't need to smash robots apart to pull his weight in the battlefield. The kid fought in his own way—and it worked.

Funny, how fast things fell into rhythm. Sonic hadn't known these guys long—what, not even a full day? But charging through the forest like this, darting between trees and tearing through badniks at each other's backs felt right. Like they'd done it a hundred times before.

As far as tactics went, it was simple. Knuckles took the lead when things got close and messy. Tails took care of the skies and long-range support. Amy moved with precision, cutting off flanks and crushing bottlenecks with the help of her terrifying Piko Piko Hammer.

And Sonic? He ran point, darting through the fray to keep the chaos focused on him.

They moved as one cohesive unit—fast, unstoppable, and riding the thrill of the hunt.

Until the earth growled beneath their feet. Then, it was all business.

Sonic crouched and touched the ground, feeling the tremors roll up his arm. "That doesn't sound like your run-of-the-mill badnik…"

"Yeah, no. That's way too heavy for that," Knuckles muttered, scanning the damaged trees around them with a focused glare. "That could be Eggman's Super Badnik; the one we heard earlier."

"I'll go check it out," Tails offered, his twin tails already whirring as he lifted off.

He vanished above the treetops for a few seconds, then dropped back down fast.

"It's an Egg Hammer!" he called out. "It's tearing through the forest like it owns the place!"

"An Egg Hammer? How did something that big get on the island without a carrier? The one that crashed into the sea should have sunk," Amy said, tightening her grip on her own weapon.

"Bah, who cares!" Knuckles growled, punching his fists together with a dark scowl on his face. "When I'm done with it, it's going to be nothing but a bunch of scrap!"

They fanned out, circling the clearing where the Egg Hammer was ripping up trees and pounding the earth with every step. It hadn't noticed them yet.

Perfect.

Sonic, locking eyes with the others, waited for just the right moment—then gave a sharp nod to start the ambush.

Perfectly synchronized, Amy and Knuckles hit it from opposite sides, Amy slamming her hammer into its knee joint while Knuckles drove his fist into the same spot with crushing force. The area they hit shrieked. Its legs buckled.

The Egg Hammer roared as it toppled forward, crashing into the ground with a shockwave that sent leaves and dust flying.

Before it could recover, Sonic charged in.

He launched off a tree trunk and slammed into the machine's back, spinning and digging his quills into the armor like barbs. The badnik thrashed, sparks flying from its joints, but Sonic held it down with everything he had, bouncing off its back every time it tried to get back on its feet.

"Tails—go!"

Tails was already on the move, scrambling up the Super Badnik's brass back. He yanked open a maintenance panel, wires snapping at him like live snakes.

"C'mon… c'mon…" he muttered, jamming the blaster into the circuitry.

He pulled the trigger.

A sharp surge of energy arced through the machine—and then, silence.

The Egg Hammer froze, limbs locked in mid-motion. Its lights flickered once… then went dark. A second later, the whole machine crashed to the ground like dead weight.

It was done.

Tails stayed crouched on the Egg Hammer's back, catching his breath, eyes glinting as he peered into the smoldering mess of wires and scorched plating. The air still sizzled with heat—but right there, nestled between two melted support beams, was a gleam that made his heart skip.

"No way…" he breathed, grinning wide. "Is that a chaos drive? Oh, yeah!"

He didn't waste a second. While the others gathered below, Tails popped the panel open with a practiced flick and set his blaster beside him. A small hatch snapped open at the press of a button, revealing the deeper inner workings of the Super Badnik to the young fox. His eyes lit up. With swift movements, his hands moved over the components, plucking out pieces with ease.

He opened the casing of his own blaster as he tinkered.

"Okay… pull that stabilizer… replace the heatsink… yeah, that'll work. That'll definitely work." His twin tails twitched behind him, mirroring his growing excitement.

He shut the blaster with a soft click, then powered it up. A low, clean hum thrummed through the barrel.

"Oh, that's so much better!"

"Uh... Tails?" Sonic called up from below. "You planning to come down anytime soon, or are you building a nest up there?"

"Give me one more minute!" Tails shouted back, prying another choice component loose with a grin. "You would not believe what they stuffed in this thing!"

Sonic chuckled, turning to the others with a shrug.

"He's having fun," he said.

Knuckles crossed his arms, eyeing the broken machine. "He'd better not hurt himself."

"He's fine," Amy said, leaning on her hammer. "Let him have his moment."

Tails popped one last panel open near the robot's midsection, sparks crackling as he reached inside. His eyes widened. "No way… jackpot again!"

He pulled out a small capsule lined with gold rings—at least a dozen, softly humming with stored energy.

"Guys!" he called down. "You are not gonna believe what this thing was running on!"

He slid down the Egg Hammer's back and landed with a thud, both arms wrapped around the capsule like a prize won at a carnival. "They were using rings as a core! Actual, honest-to-goodness rings!"

Sonic blinked. "Wait—rings?"

Tails nodded, practically glowing. "Pulled straight from the battery array. Supercharged, too. I don't even think they've been spent yet."

He cracked the casing open and held a few out toward Sonic. "Here. You could use some."

Sonic hesitated, then took them. The moment the rings touched his fingers, a warm buzz rolled across his skin and sank deep, like armor wrapping itself under his fur, pulsing faintly around his organs, his bones—his heart.

"Whoa," he breathed, flexing his fingers as the energy settled. "I forgot what that felt like…"

Tails grinned. "Good, right? Do you guys need some too?"

Amy and Knuckles exchanged glances, then Amy shrugged. "We've got our own stash," she said. "Thank you for offering, though!"

Knuckles nodded. "Wouldn't waste 'em on us. Keep those for yourself."

Sonic looked at Tails again. "Why the big celebration, buddy?"

"Oh!" Tails beamed. "Because rings are crazy rare now. Robotnik's bots hoard them, so whatever's left usually gets snatched up fast. Finding a cache like this? It's like striking gold. And with Eggman setting up shop on Angel Island, it's only gonna get tougher."

"So, what I'm hearing," Sonic said with a grin, "is that we should smash more robots?"

Tails smirked. "Pretty much."

They shared a mutual grin, full of mischievous energy.

Ignoring the duo's antics, Amy knelt by a scrap of Egg Hammer plating, flipping it over thoughtfully. "Still, we'll need to be smart about it. If Robotnik's using rings in his machines—on top of the Chaos Drives—they will never need to recharge. They'll be relentless."

"You say that as if they already aren't," Knuckles muttered, eyes scanning the treeline with a terse look.

Suddenly, the ground shuddered again—not a rhythmic stomp this time, but a deep, impactful thud that rattled the trees and sent birds scattering in all directions.

They all looked at each other with wide eyes as something in the distance began to smoke.

Sonic's grin vanished.

"We're not done here," he said, already turning toward the sound. "Let's go."

No one argued.

They ran.

Branches cracked beneath their feet as they tore through the undergrowth—Sonic leading the way with Tails flying overhead.

It didn't take them long to find the source.

They crested a hill and stopped short.

Down in the center of a smoldering crater squatted a massive machine—round, steaming, its inner mechanisms already roaring to life. Fire flickered behind its vents as it shuddered and hissed like a living thing.

Then it began to move.

With a mechanical cough, it spat out a dozen Crabmeat units in a matter of seconds. Almost instantly, it switched production—Egg Robos flew out next, followed by a new, hulking type of Badnik: broad-shouldered and armed with a heavy axe, the lumberjack-themed badnik hovered just above the ground, its sensors locking onto the nearest trees.

Hey Ho.

"Oh no, you don't," Knuckles muttered under his breath.

The echidna didn't wait. With a low snarl, he launched himself into the crater like a missile, fists clenched and eyes locked on the closest Badnik.

"Knuckles—wait!" Tails shouted, but it was too late. Knuckles had already crashed into the first wave of robots, scattering Crabmeats like bowling pins.

Sonic didn't hesitate either. "We've gotta back him up!" In a blur, he bolted down the slope after him.

Tails veered into a dive, aiming for the Egg Robos circling overhead. "I'll cover the skies!"

Amy's gaze snapped to the potable badnik factory. Its vents belched smoke and flame, gears grinding deep within as it began loading up the next batch of units.

"Nope. Not happening." She tightened her grip on her hammer and sprinted toward it.

Sonic skidded to Knuckles's side just in time to deflect a swipe from the axe-armed Super Badnik. "Hey, Knux—next time, maybe think for a second before charging the death machine!"

Knuckles grunted, shoving the robot back with a punch. "Huh? Why overcomplicate it when this is so straightforward?!"

Above them, Tails weaved through blasts from the Egg Robos, returning fire with his upgraded blaster. A shot nearly clipped one of his tails, but the young fox recovered with a tight spiral and blasted it clean out of the air as soon as he recovered.

Meanwhile, Amy reached the base of the robot generator. Steam hissed near her feet as she leapt up onto its reinforced hull. With a cry, she brought her hammer down.

CLANG.

The whole structure shuddered but kept going.

She struck again. Sparks flew. A pipe burst at her side, scalding the air.

"Third time's the charm!" she growled—and brought the hammer down with a roar.

BOOM.

Metal groaned. A central vent cracked wide, and the machine shrieked as gears seized and internal systems overloaded. Flames licked through the cracks. The production line choked—and then stopped, mid-cycle.

Amy hopped back, panting but triumphant.

"Generator's down!" she shouted.

"Nice!" Tails whooped from above, picking off the last of the flyers.

All seemed to be going smoothly, except—

From the smoldering wreckage of the robot generator, a speaker—half-melted and sparking—crackled to life.

"Oho! There you are, SONIC!" came the familiar, gratingly smug voice of Doctor Eggman. "You made it fairly easy to locate—"

The transmission cut off with a static pop, then resumed, confused and slightly irritated.

"… Huh? Who are you?"

Amy raised an eyebrow, brushing soot from her shoulder as she stared down at the wreckage. "Excuse me?"

The broken speaker fizzled, and Eggman's voice returned, now dripping with condescension. "You're not one of the usual tag-alongs. What—another Sonic admirer? A sidekick? Let me guess: you're 'Hammer Girl'? Very creative."

Amy twirled her hammer once, slamming it casually into the scorched metal beside her. "The name's Amy Rose. Maybe try remembering it—right after you're done picking up the pieces of your busted toys."

There was a beat of silence, then a scoffing laugh.

"Well then, Amy Rose, I'll be sure to send the next model after you. Something a little fierier to match that temper of yours, perhaps."

Amy scowled at the speaker. "Send whatever you want. I'll turn everything you throw at me into scrap."

The speaker crackled again—faint static, followed by a hum of satisfaction.

"Oh, I like you. You've got spunk. But let's not pretend you're the one I came here for."

A pause.

"Where is he, anyway? Sonic. I know the damn blue rat is hiding on this island."

Amy's grip tightened ever so slightly, but she kept her voice light. "Sorry, Doc. You just missed him."

Eggman made a displeased noise. "Tsk. You think I'll take you for your word, you naïve little girl? Let me check that for myself."

The speaker gave one last fizz-pop of static—and went dead, finally shorted beyond repair.

For a moment, there was nothing but the crackle of fire, the distant buzz of power lines winding down, and the hiss of steam from the broken factory's ruptured pipes. The Hey Ho badnik had been thoroughly defeated before it could decimate the grove around them with its axe.

Then the sky rumbled.

A deep, synthetic thrumming beat overhead, followed by the unmistakable roar of jet engines piercing the sky. The clouds split open as a red—almost avian(?) in appearance—aircraft descended from above, its large shadow being cast over every inch of the battlefield. And at its heart, behind the reinforced glass, sat Eggman himself, grinning with smug satisfaction.

"OHOHO! There you are, Sonic!" Eggman's voice boomed over the external speakers, louder and clearer than ever. His eyes locked onto his target as the hedgehog leapt over the wreckage of a destroyed machine.

"Did you really think you could escape me? Foolish creature! Hiding behind your new girlfriend like a coward won't save you! You've led me straight to the last place on this miserable planet I couldn't reach. I should be thanking you, really—because now, I know exactly where to strike to make my planetary conquest complete!"

The Egg Hawk hovered in place, vents hissing. Targeting lights swept across the ruined clearing before concentrating solely on Sonic.

"You brought me here all on your own. Now, hand over the Emerald before I eviscerate you like the miserable rat you are!"

Sonic took a step forward, smirk firmly in place. "Funny. You sound way too happy for a guy who'll just get wrecked—again."

Eggman's grin widened, showing more of his teeth. But something about it was off. It was a little too wide. A little too eager. He wasn't furious. He wasn't ranting like someone who'd been marooned by accident. No, the man wasn't angry at all.

The mad doctor was thrilled.

Sonic's smirk faltered. "What's with that look, Egghead? You got something up your sleeve?"

Eggman didn't answer—he just laughed. It was that same high-pitched, grating cackle that had haunted the first nightmarish hour of Sonic's life. And now, it was back, relentless as ever, with no sign of stopping.

Just as Sonic was beginning to get irritated by Eggman's blatant mocking, Amy sidled up beside Knuckles, eyes on the aircraft.

"He's gloating."

Knuckles nodded. "He thinks he's already won."

Amy tapped her hammer against her palm, then glanced at him sideways. "He's not paying us attention. You’re thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I'm not thinking anything," Knuckles replied, a small smirk beginning to form as he met her eyes. "But if you give me a boost, I'll hit something."

"Perfect." Amy grinned. "Hold still. On your mark!"

She crouched low and tightened her grip on the hammer.

"Now!"

Knuckles took a few steps back, sprinted, and leapt into the air.

Amy spun her hammer and swung with full force. It connected with a curled-up Knuckles midair. The sound was thunderous—like a cannon shot. The echidna rocketed forward in a red-and-gold blur, a streak of power and fury aimed square at the Egg Hawk's hull.

Eggman's smirk vanished. "WHAT—?!"

CRUNCH.

Knuckles slammed into the side of the mech's left thruster. The whole machine shuddered and tipped to the side, smoke rising from the impact site. A deep dent was carved into the metal.

"YOU—!" Eggman's voice blared again, now furious. "I know that face! You're the Master Emerald's guardian!"

Knuckles had bounced off the wing and landed in a skid on a nearby hill, shaking his fists loose. His scowl deepened. "And you're the egg guy who's been terrorizing the entire planet. I've heard of you."

Eggman's eyes narrowed behind the glass, his grin turning into something sharper, meaner.

"Of course you've heard of me," he said, his voice booming through the external speakers. "You should feel honored—you'll be getting front row seats to your planet's downfall. Because once I uncover the Hidden Palace—and trust me, I will—the Master Emerald will be mine. And with it, there won't be anything left to stop me."

Knuckles' fists tightened. "Not while I'm still breathing."

Eggman laughed, loud and theatrical. "Oh, please. That's the easiest part to fix."

But he didn't notice the small flicker of movement at the edge of the battlefield. Tails had quietly lifted off, rising toward Sonic like a silent breeze. The small fox kept away from the mech's field of vision, tails rotating in the air softly.

"Sonic!" he hissed. "Wanna take a ride?"

Sonic's eyes lit up at the offer. "You kidding? I thought you'd never ask."

"Hang on tight."

In a rush of air, Tails grabbed Sonic by the arms and launched upward. The blue blur twisted mid-lift, already bracing to run once his feet hit metal.

Back in the cockpit, Eggman kept ranting, oblivious. "Once I have all the Emeralds, the puzzle's complete—and nothing will stop me. Not you. Not your little friends. Not that overrated, little—"

He stopped. His eyes went wide.

Sonic stood atop the Egg Hawk, smirking at the doctor through the glass.

"… No."

"Oh yeah," Sonic said, rolling his shoulders. "My turn."

Then he dashed forward, slamming into the glass dome with his razor-sharp quills.

WHAM!

The mech lurched from the impact.

WHAM!

Hairline fractures began crawling across the reinforced glass.

WHAM!

Eggman let out a choked sound—somewhere between a squawk and a wheeze—looking horrified as Sonic revved up for another hit.

"You call this fun?" Sonic called through the cracks, a dark satisfaction brimming in his chest. Payback was at his fingertips. "Oh, buddy, I'm just getting started."

Eggman's hand slammed down on a control panel, the entire plane jolting as emergency thrusters kicked in.

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed. A burst of exhaust blasted from the Egg Hawk's rear, the machine jerking violently. Taken by surprise, Sonic lost his footing with a grunt, thrown clear off the top of the aircraft just as it veered away.

"You miserable pests got lucky!" Eggman bellowed, sparks raining from the battered hull. "But I'll be back—and next time, I'll come prepared!"

Sonic plummeted, wind rushing past his ears—until two yellow arms looped under his shoulders mid-fall.

"Gotcha!" Tails huffed, struggling a bit with the weight, but stable in the air. "You okay, Sonic?"

The blue hedgehog gave a breathless laugh. "Better now that you caught me, buddy."

The two spiraled downward and landed beside Knuckles and Amy, who were already regrouping at the treeline. The hum of the retreating Egg Hawk echoed in the distance, trailing smoke across the horizon.

Amy crossed her arms, frustration bubbling just under the surface. "Ugh, I never wanted to meet him. He's every bit as obnoxious—and dangerous—as they said."

Knuckles gave a short grunt, brushing dirt off his shoulder. "Given everything you told me, it was only a matter of time. Even with the precautions we took."

Amy glanced at him, her expression softening for just a beat—then hardening again as she turned to Sonic. "Speaking of which…"

She stepped forward.

"Show me the Emerald."

Sonic blinked. "Whoa, Amy... demanding much?"

"I'm serious," she said, nearly stepping into his personal space to force the issue if she needed to. "Let me see it."

With a shrug, Sonic reached into his quills and pulled out the glowing green gem. It pulsed with a soft, uncanny light as he held it up for everyone to see.

Tails leaned in, eyes wide. "That's… that's my first time seeing one up close. It's beautiful."

Amy inspected it closely, her brows furrowed as her hand hovered over it. "That's a real Chaos Emerald. No doubt." She turned her gaze on Knuckles, something akin to disappointment flashing in her eyes once she noticed the lack of surprise in the echidna's face. "And you knew he had this?"

Knuckles met her look with a grim one of his own. "Yeah. I knew."

Amy frowned. "You should've said something. We're past keeping secrets like that."

Knuckles looked away. "Didn't seem like the right time."

Amy opened her mouth to argue, but Sonic cut in, holding the Chaos Emerald loosely at his side. "Alright, you two! Hold up! Can someone explain something to me? If Eggman's talking about stealing the Master Emerald, why do you seem so calm about it, Knux? Aren't you its guardian, like Eggy said?"

That gave the echidna pause.

He crossed his arms slowly, his face unreadable as he stared down at Sonic.

"… Because I don't think he knows where it is." Knuckles' voice was low and confident. "And if he does figure it out—I won't let him get close."

Something about the way he said it… made Sonic wonder if there was more he wasn't saying.

Amy must've caught it too, because her gaze narrowed.

"Knuckles. Are you hiding something else?" she asked.

There was a beat.

Then Knuckles answered, not quite meeting her eyes. "... Maybe."

The Emerald pulsed faintly in Sonic's hand, almost like it was laughing at the situation.

"Should we really be doing this now?" Tails asked, effectively bringing everyone's attention on him. Feeling the weight of their stares, Tails visibly collected himself before continuing his reasoning: "I mean, sure, we could fight amongst ourselves over keeping secrets from each other. But isn't stopping Robotnik the most pressing issue here?"

Amy looked between them, her expression relaxing in a more thoughtful frown. "Tails is right," she said after a beat. "But… if this secret of yours puts us in danger, I need to know now, Knuckles."

The red echidna shook his head. "No, it doesn't. If anything, it makes us safer."

She held his gaze for a beat longer before nodding. "Alright. I'll trust you."

Tails shifted slightly, raising a hand to point beyond the ruined robot generator. "Seriously, guys! I hate to break this up, but… I'm seeing more smoke. I'm just thinking here… but what if this wasn't the only robot generator that landed on the island?"

They all turned to look. Columns of black smoke rose in the far distance, smudging the skyline.

Knuckles followed the plumes with his eyes, his jaw tightening. "He's setting up a whole army here…"

Amy's voice dropped, tense with urgency. "At the rate these things are showing up… we'll never shut them all down in time unless we split up. Look at how far some of those are… Some of them are definitely in different Zones…"

"I'm still more worried about the Master Emerald," Sonic pipped up, following their logic, but also feeling like this should be the bigger focus. "We know where that's at, right? Chances are, Eggman is aiming for the Palace and will show up there while we're destroying his army here…"

"Tell you what, hedgehog," Knuckles said with a grunt. "If you're that set on finding the Hidden Palace, I won't stop you. Head through Lava Reef—it's the way in. And while you're at it, smash every badnik you see. Got it?"

Sonic blinked incredulously at how reasonable Knuckles was being.

"Seriously? That easy? I can't believe you, Knux. You sure you don't have a problem with me going to the Master Emerald?" the blue hedgehog asked.

Tails was also looking dubiously at the echidna.

"It's almost like you're not worried because you know it's not in there," the fox said, eyes widening as the Master Emerald's guardian grimaced.

"You're kidding me," Sonic said.

Knuckles didn't answer.

Sonic tilted his head, squinting. "… Wait. Don't tell me. The Master Emerald's location is… you?"

Knuckles looked away.

"Oh, come on!" Sonic groaned, throwing up his hands. "I was just making a wild guess here! You were carrying it around this whole time and weren't about to tell us anything?"

"It was safer if fewer people knew," Knuckles muttered, arms crossed.

Amy stared, stunned. "That's exactly the kind of secret I said we were done with."

"Look," Knuckles said firmly, "now that he thinks it's still in the Palace, we have a shot. Let him waste time digging around while we take out his forces."

"… Okay, fair," Sonic admitted, hands on hips. "But next time you're walking around with a reality-warping super gem in your back pocket, maybe mention it sooner?"

"Don't be a hypocrite, hedgehog."

"Ah—no! You were the one who told me not to tattle, remember? You're not calling me a hypocrite over this!"

"Wait," Tails interjected, squinting at the echidna with a confused look. "Isn't the Master Emerald supposed to be, like… huge? How are you carrying it without us seeing it?"

Knuckles sighed and reached for the artifact, revealing a glowing gem that was nearly identical to the Chaos Emerald Sonic was carrying—small, precious, and unmistakably powerful.

But Sonic felt no connection to it. It looked almost identical to the Emerald he carried—same glow, color and size—but the energy was off. Duller, maybe? If Knuckles hadn't revealed it himself, Sonic might not have even noticed it was there.

Tails blinked. "That's… it?"

Amy leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Is that a fake?"

Knuckles shook his head. "It's real. Just… condensed."

Sonic stared. "So, you shrunk the Master Emerald? Is that a thing you can just do?"

Knuckles shrugged. "Under the right conditions. And only for a while."

Amy pinched the bridge of her nose. "You really need to lead with this stuff next time."

Sonic shot a grin toward Knuckles. "Yeah, next time you could be a little more honest with us. You could've saved us a lot of stress."

Knuckles just shrugged again, looking unfazed. "I'll do everything I can to guard the Master Emerald. I'm not beholden to you."

"Ouch. So cold and mean!"

Amy sighed, turning away from everyone to refocus. "Right, so we've got two Emeralds in our hands, and Eggman's busy with his treasure hunt. Now what?"

"We've got a ticking clock and a whole army to stomp," Sonic said, grinning. "Sounds like we know what to do now."

"You still want to go to the Hidden Palace, Sonic?" Tails asked, looking at the blue hedgehog with worry in his eyes.

Sonic nodded, tucking the Emerald away and cracking his knuckles. A crackle of pent-up energy trailed up his quills in anticipation. "Eggman still owes me a real fight for the stuff he pulled on that Egg Carrier of his. Guy's way too happy for my tastes."

Amy gave a firm nod. "Alright then. Lava Reef and Hidden Palace are yours, Sonic. Just make sure that Emerald stays safe while you're dealing with Eggman."

Sonic flashed a thumbs-up. "You got it!"

She turned, pacing briefly as she considered the rest of the island in her head. "Knuckles... I want you as far away from Robotnik as we can. You'll sweep through Hydrocity and Marble Garden. Take out anything crawling in those ruins. You know them better than anyone."

Knuckles gave a grunt of approval. "Easy enough."

"I'll handle Ice Cap and Sandopolis," Amy continued, her voice cool with determination. "If Robotnik has something holed up in either, I'll find it."

Tails perked up. "And me?"

"Mushroom Hill," Amy said, nodding toward the Zone where the giant mushroom caps rose in the distance. "It's a nightmare to cross on foot, since it's all bouncing platforms and tangled trails... But you can fly. You'll clear it faster than any of us."

Tails opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. "… Yeah, that makes sense."

Knuckles glanced toward Amy. "You watch yourself in Sandopolis. You know what's down there."

Amy gave Knuckles a nod, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. "Don't worry. I've got a flashlight."

"No, it won't be enough! Keep the temple's lights on, Amy. I'm serious. Promise me that or you won't be going."

Amy's small smile faded slightly at the serious edge in Knuckles' voice. "Alright. I will."

With their roles set—and after giving everyone instructions about where they needed to go—she stepped back and looked toward Tails and Sonic. "Once we split, we move fast. If anything happens, we rendezvous here and not back at camp. Understood?"

Knuckles nodded. "Good luck out there."

"Same to you," Amy added, locking eyes with each of them in turn.

Without another word, the two took off—Knuckles bounding into the jungle toward Hydrocity and Amy sprinting into the snowy peaks beyond.

Sonic was already crouched, ready to bolt—until Tails caught his arm.

"Wait," Tails said. "Once I've cleared Mushroom Hill, I'm coming after you."

Sonic blinked. "Yeah?"

Tails nodded, determination firm in his voice. "You're not the only one who wants payback. I've got some things to settle with the doctor too."

Sonic stared for a second, then gave a sharp grin. "Alright, buddy. Just don't keep me waiting."

With a smirk, Tails tossed him a small comm device. "Wouldn't dream of it. Use this to stay in touch with me, alright?"

"Shouldn't we have given this to Amy and Knuckles too?"

"Maybe, if I have more time to make more in the future. I only managed to build a matching pair of communicators with what I had…" Tails shrugged, like it couldn't be helped.

With that, they all broke off, sprinting or flying toward their respective Zones.

Chapter Text

"So, mind telling me why you're so eager to meet the good old doctor face to face, Tails?" Sonic asked, leaping over a sizzling lava pool.

There was a pause on the other end.

"Just making a bit of conversation," he said, landing in a roll and scattering a line of crawling Motobugs into the magma with a swipe of his heel. "You've been mowing through badniks like you've got a personal grudge."

A soft exhale came through the static, followed by Tails' voice:

"Yeah, I guess I do."

Sonic slowed slightly, ears twitching as another wave of heat wafted past him. He ducked under the remains of a metal fence, which had been partially torn by something smashing through the main frame. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really," Tails said, though he didn’t sound annoyed. Just… tired. "But… Yeah, it’s stupid to keep avoiding talking about it. I guess you should know."

There was another beat of silence—just the hum of the comms, the sound of Sonic’s feet against hot stone, and the distant crash of trees falling somewhere in the Mushroom Hill Zone.

"There was a group," Tails said finally. "A team, actually. The Diamond Cutters. They were the ones who found me after… after everything went bad."

Sonic didn’t say anything, letting the words come on their own. Somehow, despite the lack of memories, the hedgehog knew what it felt like to not be ready—and what it meant when you finally were.

"They took me in," Tails continued. "Helped me get back on my feet and gave me something to call home. One of them—Smithy—he let me help him tinker with stuff. Said I had good instincts. We built things together. Patched up gear. Rigged traps… It was the first time anyone ever said I was good at something."

Sonic jumped another lava gap, lips pressed into a thin line.

“Sounds like a great guy.”

“He was,” Tails said. “They all were.”

The sound of distant an explosion filtered through the comm—Tails must have just finished off another batch of robots. There was a brief pause, like the young fox was taking a moment to sort through his thoughts.

"Sonic… I-I wasn’t there when it counted," he said, voice dropping to almost a whisper. "I was just… a kid. Too young to fight, or so they kept telling me…" He paused, then let out a dry, bitter laugh. "And you know what’s the fun part about all this? I can remember the exact moment when everything went crashing down around us. Smithy ordered me to run before the badniks could surround us from all sides. Whisper… She said that they had it all under control, that I didn’t need to worry and that I should go ahead. That they’d catch up. But I should’ve known better than to believe…"

The fox cut himself mid-sentence and Sonic felt the need to fill in the silence.

“Tails, if it’s too personal…”

“No, no! It’s fine,” Tails sniffed, sounding about to cry. “This all happened two years ago. I’m good now.”

He didn’t buy that for one second.

“You don’t have to pretend for me,” Sonic said, landing on a crumbling ledge and stepping away from it before it dropped to the lava. “Hell! Buddy, you don’t have to open old wounds because I’m too curious for my own good.”

There was a static pop on the line. Then:

“… Yeah, well. You asked and I kinda want to talk about it now.” Tails tried to sound flippant, but it didn’t quite stick. His voice was still shaky around the edges. “Everyone here lost someone. I’m not special.”

Sonic took a deep breath and slowed his pace just enough to listen.

A long exhale came over the comm. “So, to recap: there were six of us. Whisper, Smithy, Claire, Slinger, Mimic, and me.” He paused, then added with a bitter laugh, “I was the tagalong. They called me their little brother.”

“They probably meant it.”

“I know they did,” Tails said, his voice softening. “They were all great in their own ways. It was practically a requirement, though. They all looked out for each other and after the whole village. For a while, they even managed to keep us safe from Robotnik’s clutches and… that made them our heroes.”

Sonic didn’t interrupt. He just kept moving, listening as Tails’ voice crackled softly through the comms.

"I used to trail after Smithy everywhere," Tails said wistfully, his blaster crackling faintly in the background. "I-I really liked being around him. He was really fun, and he loved to teach me everything he knew. Whisper wasn’t much of a talker, but she always made sure I had something to eat and made time for me when I felt sad. And Slinger… he taught me how to aim, even though I could barely hold the gun steady." He gave a small, wistful laugh. "They were more than teammates. They were family."

Another pause. Not long, but thick with tension.

“I’d hoped we’d always be together, you know? But when the attack came… I-I was the only one who made it out. But only because I ran when they told me to!”

Sonic stomped his shoes against volcanic stone, feeling the need to punch something. The heat in the Zone he was in made breathing a bit more difficult than usual, but that wasn’t what made his chest tighten.

“… Tails, I’m so sorry.”

The fox didn’t answer right away. When he did, his voice was steadier than before.

“Don’t be sorry; you have nothing to apologize about.”

“Still…”

“If you’re that sad about it, we can change topics,” Tails proposed quickly. “What about you? What motivates you to fight ‘Eggman’?”

Sonic blinked, caught off guard by the sudden pivot in the conversation. He vaulted past a crumbling pillar, the lava below bubbling like it wanted to pull him into its depths.

“My reason to fight, huh?” he echoed, buying time.

The blue hedgehog knocked a Fake Rock into the lava pit before it could explode on him, his mind racing to recall anything about those first moments. His attempt was met with frustration; little to nothing was stored in his brain.

He could remember… an overwhelming feeling of wrongness.

Those damn robots. The way they were grooming him before he was pushed into Eggman’s deathrun challenge... Which, to be honest, was an odd first memory to have.

“I guess…” he began, hesitating for once. “It’s kind of funny. I don’t really know.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, I don’t remember much,” Sonic confessed, the words feeling like a shameful secret. “It… just seemed the right thing to do. Especially when I was being antagonized by Eggman with every step I took.”

“And how did you end up in his Egg Carrier?”

“Tails, I woke up in his Egg Carrier. And I… have a couple of suspicions about why I was there, but no real answers.”

“Hm, how strange. What are your—”

Before Tails could say another word, a sharp buzz sliced through the air, catching him mid-breath.

“Ugh, not again!” the young fox growled.

Sonic heard the rapid fire of Tails’ blaster, followed by frustrated grunts and static as the fox gave chase. “It’s that butterfly bot again. It keeps dodging—!”

“Wait for it to charge,” Sonic said, leaping up to press a button on the stone. Shortly after, a wall opened up and let him go through. “It’s not built for defense, but a Butterdroid is gonna fly straight at you the second it thinks you’re open. That’s when you hit it.”

A beat of silence.

Then a blast. A crunch and a gasp.

“… You were right! Got it!”

A softer noise followed, more of a surprised breath than words.

“There was a Flicky inside…” Tails muttered.

Sonic paused mid-run. His ear flicked at the quiet over the comms, his mind rapidly connecting dots he didn’t know he knew.

“… Ah,” he said eventually, voice low. “Eggman must be switching power sources. There must be almost no rings out here to fuel his machines… so he’s using the wildlife.”

Tails didn’t speak, but the hiss of his breath said enough.

"If that bot was fresh outta the factory, the generator’s gotta be close to you," Sonic said. "Guess I better hustle before you clear the place before me!"

“Probably. Have you seen any sign of Eggman?”

“Not yet! Hold on,” Sonic said and burst through a line of badniks in front of him. They looked more like caterpillars than the usual robot in this place—ah, those were Fireworms, weren’t they?

The hedgehog stared at the Flickies that flew out from the carcasses, wincing when one of the birds—too disoriented to fly straight—fell into the lava. Fortunately, the rest of its brethren managed to escape certain death, but it was still pretty terrible to witness the death of the unfortunate avian.

“Shit, I have Flickies over here too,” Sonic said, wrinkling his nose at the smell of cooked chicken. “That must mean that I’m close.”

Tails didn’t reply, but Sonic heard the low thrum of his blaster charging again, followed by the sharp zap of another badnik going down.

“Anyway,” Sonic said, smashing through a wall of stone obstructing his path, “if we’re gonna pull this off, I’ll need to keep Eggman focused on me. He wants the Master Emerald? Fine. Let him chase ghosts while we torch his whole operation behind his back.”

“Makes sense,” Tails said through a soft grunt. “He’s way too focused on you. Might as well use that focus against him.”

“Hope I don’t get stage fright,” Sonic quipped. “Hang on, something’s making noise.”

A faint hum tickled the edges of his hearing. It wasn’t the usual whirr of badnik engines, but still a bit familiar. Sonic skidded to a stop near a crumbling outcrop and peered down a narrow crevice where the lava glowed brighter. Just beyond, buried in rock like a tumor, sat the generator.

Sonic glanced up, smirking at the large hole that led to the sky. It was clear what the generator’s entry point had been.

“Bingo,” he muttered, preparing for a jump between platforms—right as the lava burst open with a steamy roar.

A massive metal hand surged upward, fingers outstretched and glowing with heat, aiming to crush him like a bug. Reacting quickly, Sonic dodged, barely avoiding being flattened as the robotic palm slammed into the ground, sending cracks through the volcanic stone.

Heat Arms.

“Oh, hello!” he shouted, twisting midair to land on the arm’s knuckles. “I didn’t need a hand with this, but thanks!”

The hand rose to shake him off, but Sonic was already sprinting across the limb, shoes smoking from the heat. He launched himself straight toward the generator just as the arm reared back to strike again.

“Note to self,” he muttered mid-spin, energy building, “lava, bad. Robot hand, worse! Use both so I can blow this joint!”

With his spin attack, Sonic ricocheted off the generator like a spring-loaded missile. Behind him, metal slammed into metal with a satisfying crash.

An instant later, both machines exploded in a storm of sparks and shrapnel, lighting up the cavern in a flash of searing white.

Feeling giddy, Sonic emerged through the smoke shortly after, grinning wide. He quickly scooped up the rings that poured out of the metal fiends before they could disappear. He felt filthy rich!

“Generator down!” Sonic crowed into the comm. “And hey—remind me to thank Eggman for the assist. Turns out he had a giant metal hand lying in wait for anyone passing through.”

Tails let out a short laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously effective,” Sonic shot back, grinning as he glanced at the wreckage behind him. “That should slow him down in this area. Keep me posted on your end, yeah? Especially once you're heading this way. I’ll try to keep Eggman busy as long as I can—buy Amy and Knuckles more time to wrap things up outside.”

“You sure about that?”

“Yeah, I’m built for this,” Sonic said. “Let’s keep the pressure on.”

“Hey,” Tails called out before the hedgehog took off again, “thanks. I mean… for listening. I’m sorry I overshared. I know it must have made you uncomfortable.”

Sonic took a deep breath. Despite Tails not seeing it, he let the smile on his face soften, turning it a little more genuine.

“You didn’t,” he said. “Like you said: I asked, didn’t I? And I’m glad you told me.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the comm. Then, a quiet, “Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re not carrying all that weight alone anymore.” Sonic kicked off the ground and broke into a light jog. “Sometimes you just have to open up to people, y’know? Especially about stuff like this. It’s not healthy to avoid talking about people you cared about, even if they are not here with you anymore.”

The Emerald pulsed in agreement with his words.

Another pause, shorter this time.

“… Thanks.”

“Hey, don’t mention it, buddy.” His grin came back, a little more playful this time around. “Now let’s get moving. Last one to the next target owes the other chili dogs, yeah?”

“Pfft, is that a dare? You’re on!” Tails said with a small laugh, the tension in his voice finally easing a bit.

Smirking, Sonic picked up speed, weaving between cooled magma pillars and jagged crystal spires that jutted from the rocky walls like broken glass. Embers rose in the air, swirling in his wake as we went past every obstacle with ease.

"Honestly?" Sonic muttered to himself, admiring the glow of the crystals around him. “This isn’t a bad place to explore—if it wasn’t hot as hell and full of killer robots, I could actually really like it here. On second thought, maybe vacationing in a volcano isn’t that cool of an idea.”

The comm crackled, and Tails' voice followed.

“Hey, Sonic! I think I just won that dare. I can already see the Super Badnik.”

The blue blur’s ears perked up. “Whoa, that was fast! Is it one we’ve already seen?”

“Yep. It’s the lumberjack again,” Tails confirmed, his voice now edged with excitement instead of dread. “Looks like it’s trying to clear a path through the trees… which means it’s not trying to cut me down right now.”

Sonic smirked. “Well, that’s the best we can hope for. You know how to take it out?”

“Yeah, don’t worry,” Tails replied, his confidence apparent even through the sudden bout of static in the channel. “After the fight we had with the last one of its kind? I’ve got a few ideas I want to test out on it.”

“Alright,” he said. “I’ll be waiting for you here.”

“I’ll be done before you know it!” Tails said, and his comm clicked softly as the kid muted himself to focus.

That was good. Tails had it handled.

Sonic dashed forward, curving around the edge of a crumbled ridge, the drop beside him wide enough to swallow anything careless. Humming to himself, he kicked off a slanted wall, flipped once in the air, and landed in a crouch—only to stop cold.

Something blinked at him.

Drilled into the hardened rock, between two patches of crystal, was a small black lens watching him with a blinking red light.

A camera.

“Really?” Sonic said aloud, stepping toward it. “You watching me, doc?”

As if summoned by the accusation, a loud, grating voice crackled through hidden speakers embedded somewhere in the walls.

“Well, well, look who’s still alive. You’re exceeding my every expectation, Sonic.”

Sonic folded his arms, unimpressed. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Call it what you like,” Eggman replied smugly. “I’m just surprised. You’re… sturdier than the others.”

Sonic’s eyes narrowed. “Others?”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Eggman said, far too casually. “For now, let’s just say I’m invested in seeing how far you’ll go. In fact, I’ve set up a little challenge for you. Consider it… enrichment.”

Ahead, something beeped—a trigger, maybe? Sonic edged out of the camera’s view, scanning carefully for any traps Eggman might’ve left behind.

Much to his surprise, Sonic didn’t see a machine, but a person.

He was here.

Eggman was hunched over the side of his Egg Mobile, muttering to himself and adjusting something inside its open cockpit.

Sonic didn’t hesitate. “You’ve got some nerve—!”

He bolted forward—but Eggman saw the movement, shrieked, and dove into the vehicle. The cockpit slammed shut just before Sonic reached it, the machine floating upward out of range.

Eggman’s laughter crackled overhead. “You’re too slow, hedgehog! And now… Now, we play my game.”

Sonic narrowed his eyes as the Egg Mobile hovered just out of range.

“The rules are simple,” Eggman continued. “First one to the Master Emerald wins. Winner takes all.”

“And if I don’t feel like playing?” Sonic asked, dropping into a defensive stance as the surrounding walls began to shift.

“Then I take what I want anyway,” Eggman snarled and slammed a button. “The Emerald was my power core first!”

A wall of flame ignited behind Sonic with a deep rumble, cutting off any hope of retreat.

Sonic sighed, unimpressed. “You really don’t know how to have fun without threatening me with a bad time, huh?”

“Oh, but this is fun,” Eggman replied, voice smug. “At least for me.”

“Alright, doc. You want a race?” He nodded down the lava-glowing corridor ahead. “Let’s see who burns out first.”

Eggman only chuckled, the whine of his engines rising as the Egg Mobile began to drift backward toward a sloped tunnel of molten stone. “No time for second thoughts, my dearest pest. Try to keep up—assuming that you can.”

The boosters flared—and he was gone, vanishing into the glowing passage, his laughter echoing off the cavern walls.

Sonic exhaled sharply through his nose. “God, I hate this. I hate this dude so much.”

Without another word, he took off, the wall of flames still roaring behind him. Wind surged past his quills, the rocky floor under his shoes still quaking from the pressure of Eggman’s thrusters.

“Sonic?!” Tails’ voice crackled through the comm, barely intelligible. “Can you hear me?”

The blue hedgehog winced, resisting the urge to rub his ears. “Just barely!”

“Something must be blocking the signal! Did something happen?”

“Well, Eggman’s here and we’re racing each other right now,” Sonic said, dodging a burst of flame from a stray flamethrower. “Doctor’s heading straight for the Master Emerald.”

“What? But it isn’t—”

“He doesn’t know where it is. And I’m not about to tell him,” Sonic growled. He vaulted over a row of spikes, his shoes skidding briefly before catching traction again. “He wants a race? Fine. I’ll show him he can’t beat me in speed.”

“I’m almost done with the Super Badnik,” Tails said, urgency creeping into his voice. “I’ll catch up once I wrap it up!”

“Be careful,” Sonic warned, ducking under a slab of molten rock dangling from the ceiling. “Eggman’s not holding back. He’s rigged this whole place to slow me down—and if you’re heading this way, expect a warm welcome.”

“I’ll manage…” Tails hesitated, then asked: “But are you sure you’re okay? You sound… upset.”

Sonic’s jaw clenched. “Yeah,” he muttered. “It’s nothing. Eggman is all about games, that’s all.”

He leapt over a Moto Bug, curling into a tight spin mid-air to avoid its attack and destroy it in one movement.

“Let’s talk about this later,” he said, tone hardening as the badnik exploded behind him after he tapped it on its head. “Right now, I’ve got to chase after Doctor Ego.”

“Ta… care…” Tails’ voice dimmed and then got cut off.

Sonic’s ears flicked. “Tails?”

Nothing. Static.

He hissed through his teeth and picked up speed.

The tunnel curved ahead. Just beyond the bend, the glow of the Egg Mobile’s thrusters flared like a taunt, its metallic hull glinting in the firelight.

“Gotcha,” Sonic muttered—and in a blink, he surged forward, a streak of blue cutting through the heat haze.

With a crack of impact, he slammed quills-first into the flying machine.

“WAAUGH—!” Eggman yelped, jolting sideways. The Egg Mobile veered dangerously, sparks flying from its hull as it spun in the air.

Sonic landed, recovering speed quickly; more than ready for round two.

But Eggman recovered fast—too fast. With a panicked hiss of boosters, he ducked into a side cavern, vanishing into the shadows just as Sonic lunged.

“Coward,” Sonic spat, tearing after him—

—and nearly ran face-first into a nest of Fireworms bursting out of the walls.

He skidded to a halt, just barely avoiding their blaze. The area was suddenly flooded with new dangers—spiked traps, rolling steel balls, Egg Robos armed with blasters, and Fake Rocks that pulsed ominously in the path ahead.

Worse still, Eggman was long gone.

From a speaker embedded in the rock, the mad doctor’s voice crackled, indignant:

“Attacking me in the middle of the race? That’s poor sportsmanship, Sonic! You're forcing me to get… creative.”

Sonic narrowed his eyes, charging a spin dash as the Egg Robos closed in.

“Who are you trying to fool, Egghead?” he snapped. “You’ve already rigged this from the start. I know how you play.”

A beat. Then Eggman’s voice came through, low and conceited:

“Oh, yeah. That’s right! I made sure you did.”

Swallowing back a growl, the blue hedgehog launched forward, tearing through the ambush. Explosions rocked the walls as he bashed badniks out of his path. Thinking fast, he sprang off a spring, flipping midair to land on a crumbling platform, well away from the swarm.

Step by step, the terrain shifted—smooth crystal platforms now bridged gaps over pits of glowing magma. Overhead, the rocky ceiling gave way, revealing walls lined with green gemstones that shimmered in the distance.

And there—rising from the rivers molten rock—were the crystalline stairs that led to the Hidden Palace Zone.

A blur of motion, Sonic charged up the glistening staircase, his frictionless shoes clanging against the crystalline surface. At the top, the Egg Mobile stood silhouetted, its figure stark against the glow of the green crystals behind it.

“Oh, no! You don’t!” Eggman barked—and before Sonic could react, the claws of the Egg Mobile hoisted something massive and glowing over its bulk and over the edge.

A crystal ball—easily three times Sonic’s size and at least ten times as heavy—came hurtling toward him.

“Seriously?!” Sonic yelled, skidding to a halt. “What is it with you and cheating? Can’t you go five minutes without rigging the board?”

From above, Eggman’s voice crackled through the glass, sounding disgustingly smug. “Oh, I’m sorry—did the little blue test subject expect fair play? This is war, not a footrace, rodent!”

The blue hedgehog backtracked fast as the ball crashed into the stairs, shattering them into glittering fragments. The force nearly knocked him from the platform, but at the last moment he leapt backward, landing safely on a floating crystal platform as chunks of debris splashed into the lava deep below.

“Cheap shot!” Sonic growled.

The Egg Mobile hovered into view at the top of the ruined staircase, thrusters flaring as the doctor gloated one last time.

“Skill issue!” the mad doctor called back gleefully—and with a final mocking laugh, he zipped away into another tunnel.

Eyes sparkling with determination, Sonic blurred after the man, hopping onto the remaining intact platforms to regain altitude.

The chase was over before it resumed. The instant he stepped into the tunnel, the crystal ceiling cracked—and with an almost deafening roar, a massive Drillerdroid dropped from above, slamming its drill-arms into the floor just inches from him.

"Whoa!" Sonic yelped, dodging aside as the room shook. "Eggman really knows how to roll out the red carpet, huh?"

As expected, there was no response. The machine lunged again, trying to crush him under its bulk. To avoid being cornered, Sonic dashed across the tight corridor, slipping past each thunderous slam. With every impact, shards of crystal rained down from above, cracking the robot’s armor and jamming its piston drills.

Sonic slid under its third strike, rolling clear from its latest attack as sparks began to burst from the drill’s hull.

“Well, there goes any chance of overtaking him. Isn’t that just smashing?” he muttered, then dashed in to finish the fight.

Resigned to yet another boss fight, Sonic curled into a tight somersault and slammed into the weakened joint of the Super Badnik’s right drill. The Drillerdroid let out a shrieking whir as the limb shattered and crashed to the floor. Without missing a beat, the blue hedgehog sprang off the robot’s head—again and again—his smirk growing as the machine began to spark, overload, and break apart.

Quickly reaching its limit, the bot exploded in a shower of smoke and shrapnel, crashing to the floor one final time before crumpling in defeat.

Sonic landed smoothly with a huff, clearly annoyed.

Just like before, an absurd number of rings scattered across the floor as Eggman’s Super Badnik went down. Sonic swept them up in one swift motion—then froze.

A tingle ran up his spine as the last of the rings vanished into his body.

He reached back, feeling the Chaos Emerald pulsing stronger than ever—not just with energy, but with something else.

Joy.

Sonic blinked down at the mystical gem. “Huh… You happy or somethin’?”

It shimmered brighter in response.

He grinned, feeling a lot more cheerful now that his friend was happy. “Yeah. Me too.”

Tucking the Emerald away, Sonic cracked his knuckles, then took off deeper into the palace.

The air cooled as the corridor opened into vast halls. Tall, glimmering pillars soared toward a vaulted ceiling veined with glowing crystals, their soft light painting shifting colors across the smooth floors. The place felt ancient yet modern—like someone had built a shrine and then decorated it with neon rocks.

Choosing to move quickly through the Zone, Sonic launched himself off a series of springs that propelled him high into the air, bouncing him from one intricate platform to the next, until he landed on a platform near a red stone, deeply embedded in a metal cage.

As soon as he saw it, a flicker of recognition went through him.

A Warp Point.

It pulsed with deep crimson light. Energy hummed beneath his feet.

"Well," Sonic muttered with a grin, eyeing the Warp Point—then the tube above it. "Up we go."

He stepped onto the glowing gemstone and light surged around him, flinging him upward in a tight spiral of energy.

When his feet touched down again, he found himself on a high balcony overlooking a vast stretch of Angel Island. The area was lined with tall windows inset with crystal panes, and grand sweeping walls adorned with ancient, unfamiliar murals.

For the most part, Sonic concentrated on the fact that he wasn’t seeing pillars of smoke through the windows, smirking at the sign of progress before turning around to proceed to the next area.

The blue blur jogged forward, shoes tapping softly against the polished floor as he entered a long corridor. The air was stagnant here, in a way that made his black nose wrinkle with distaste.

This part of the Hidden Palace didn’t just look ancient. It also felt ancient.

Sonic slowed, his gaze drifting to a massive stained-glass mural stretching across the far wall. It depicted a familiar—if unwelcome—figure: laughing, hands pressed to the Master Emerald as if trying to smother it, while the world fractured around them.

“Huh,” Sonic muttered, already turning away from it. “Freaky.”

Taking his time to examine the rest of the intricate designs, Sonic was halfway across when a grinding screech echoed overhead.

He looked up.

Eggman’s Egg Mobile descended from above, thrusters flaring as it slid into view. The cockpit was open, and the doctor looked livid—completely red in the face and his mustache bristling. With a furious motion, he had the machine he was riding hurl something at Sonic.

Two large objects crashed down with a hollow clatter against the crystalline floor.

They were giant gems, glassy and luminous, but completely powerless and devoid of color.

Super Emeralds.

“You think this is funny, hedgehog?!” Eggman barked. “Where is it?! Where’s the Master Emerald?!”

Sonic blinked blankly at the dull gemstones, feeling vaguely like he’d just been blindsided by something outside of his control, then scratched the side of his head innocently. “What do you mean? Don’t you already have it?” He gave a slow, smug shrug. “You won our race, remember? Like a filthy cheater.”

Eggman’s eye twitched. “Don’t play dumb with me, Sonic! You think I don’t know when you’re stalling?!”

The blue blur didn’t answer—just grinned wider, leaning back with his hands behind his head as if this were all part of the plan.

“You’ll regret mocking me,” Eggman growled. “I’ll tear this place apart if I have to.”

The Egg Mobile’s frame hissed and shifted, panels retracting to reveal a pair of mechanical claws on articulated arms. They snapped open with a dangerous clang as Eggman slammed both fists onto his control panel.

“Fine! If you won’t talk—then have it your way!”

The claws lunged.

Sonic leapt backward, flipping away from danger just as one of the metal pincers shattered the floor where he’d stood. A second later, the other claw shot forward, attempting to snatch him mid-air, but Sonic twisted with practiced ease and springboarded off it with his back.

“You’re gonna have to try way harder than that!” Sonic called, voice bouncing through the vaulted chamber.

“Gladly,” Eggman snarled, and hit another switch.

A hatch in the Egg Mobile’s undercarriage snapped open, and a pair of thick electrical cords whipped out, sparking violently at the ends. They lashed through the air like living snakes, carving dark lines across the glowing palace’s floors.

Sonic ducked under one, narrowly sidestepped another—then nearly got caught by a third he hadn’t seen coming. It clipped just past his shoulder, and his quills sparked in agitation as electricity arced between the metal cord and his body.

Still! So far, so good!

“Missed me, missed me! Now you have to—ew, no! Not saying that!”

“You insufferable rodent!” Eggman bellowed, one of his eyebrows twitching with rage. “You think this is how you beat me?!”

Sonic rolled under a pincer sweep and launched himself off the wall, aiming for the cockpit—but Eggman pulled higher, just out of reach.

Undeterred, the blue blur shot back with a lazy grin: “No, but—don’t you?”

Eggman’s face turned a shade redder. “I am not going to indulge your fantasies, hedgehog! I am here to win!”

The Egg Mobile surged upward again, twin thrusters roaring. Panels along its sides slid open with a hiss, revealing two sleek missile pods as he dismissed the rest of his armory. With a press of a button, half a dozen homing rockets launched, tails smoking as they headed straight for him.

“Whoa—okay! Touchy much!” Sonic yelped, breaking into a sprint as explosions rocked the floor behind him. At least two of the missiles clipped a column, detonating in a burst of fire and shattered crystal. The next set of explosions just barely missed his heels.

Sonic zigzagged across the chamber, weaving between blasts, missiles hot on his trail. “You really are bad at this, y’know!” he shouted over his shoulder. “There are stormtroopers with better aim than you!”

“A what now?!” Eggman screeched with fury, jabbing buttons on the console.

Sonic’s eyes flicked upward, tracking another missile on course to him.

“Ah, you know. A bunch of incompetent evil dudes,” Sonic drawled, making sure to direct the homing weapon into the stained-glass that depicted Eggman holding the Master Emerald.

Predictably, the stained-glass exploded into thousands of tiny and not-so-tiny fragments, making the mad doctor scream with impotent rage as the impromptu rain of glass made him lose control of his vehicle, sending it crashing down against the floor.

Sensing his chance, Sonic didn’t waste a single second.

He launched himself toward the Egg Mobile with a spinning jump. But Eggman—eyes wide—slammed a lever and the cockpit hissed shut just before his quills collided with his face. The impact rattled the pod and sent it lurching sideways across the floor, sparks flying as warning lights flickered across the console of the vehicle.

Inside, Eggman growled and slammed his fists on the dashboard. “You insufferable cretin, stay off my ride!”

The Egg Mobile sputtered momentarily and fired a laser at Sonic, forcing him to dodge. With a mechanical groan, the damaged vehicle staggered back into the air—but not before a thin whine cut through his earpiece.

“—onic?! You read me now?” Tails’ voice came through, still crackly but far clearer than before. “I’m almost through! Whatever was jamming the signal—it’s fading!”

“Music to my ears, buddy,” Sonic said, leaping into the air and trying to strike the Egg Mobile again—without much luck. The doctor was more cautious now, avoiding missile fire since his enemy had already turned his own weapons against him. “Eggman’s throwing a tantrum and trying to bail.”

“Got it! I’m almost at the Hidden Palace Zone entrance. I’ll intercept him before he takes off and escapes through the volcano. Just keep him busy!”

“Sure thing!”

Sonic hit the ground running, weaving between stray laser blasts as the Egg Mobile sputtered higher into the air. Sparks flew from its undercarriage, the damage clearly worsening the longer it lingered in the air.

Eggman gritted his teeth, shouting down at him through the speaker.

“You just don’t know when to quit!”

“Why would I?” Sonic shouted back. “You’re finally making this fun!”

Another laser shot zipped past him, the mad doctor missing him by a wide margin.

Sonic sensed that the Egg Mobile was going to attempt to run toward the exit tunnel. It made sense—there was nothing left to do here but fight, and clearly Eggman had already had enough of that.

That didn’t mean that he was going to make escape easy for him.

Just before the Egg Mobile darted into the exit tunnel, Sonic launched himself at it in a spinning blur, neatly clipping the hovercraft’s underbelly. The jolt sent the craft careening into a nearby crystal pillar with a resounding crack. Shards rained down like jagged confetti, forcing the machine to wobble—but it wasn’t enough to make it fall.

“Stubborn little—!” Eggman snarled, yanking the controls. The Egg Mobile righted itself with a screech and bolted forward, barely scraping the underside of the archway leading into the Lava Reef Zone.

“C’mon, Egghead, I thought you liked a challenge!” Sonic taunted, already bouncing after him in hot pursuit.

“Don’t you dare use my own words against me, you insolent—!” came the furious reply, followed by a wild burst of laser fire that singed the floor behind Sonic’s heels and drowned out the vicious cursing echoing from inside the cockpit.

Honestly, Sonic hoped that Knuckles didn’t mind all the property damage, because Eggman was going out of his way to cause plenty of it.

After several minutes chasing the fleeing doctor through the Hidden Palace, Sonic skidded to a stop at the tunnel’s mouth, just in time to see the scorched, sputtering Egg Mobile blast into the blistering heat of Lava Reef Zone.

The hovercraft was making a break for the vent at the top of the volcano.

In other words: it was wide open.

“Tails,” Sonic said, grinning despite himself, “he’s all yours.”

“I see him!” came the reply, loud and clear now. “Three... two... one—incoming!”

A split second later, an orange blur streaked toward the Egg Mobile, twin tails spinning furiously behind him.

Sonic snickered as he saw Eggman look up just in time to catch sight of a young Mobian fox diving straight toward him.

“WHAT ARE YOU—!”

Tails landed hard on the nose of the Egg Mobile, the impact rattling the already-damaged pod. Sparks burst from the chassis, and the vehicle lurched wildly in the air.

“Get off! GET OFF!” Eggman shrieked, flailing at the controls as smoke poured from the machine.

“Make me!” Tails snapped, slamming a gadget into one of the Egg Mobile’s panels—a makeshift EMP. Immediately after, a surge of electricity crackled across the metal shell, shorting out the hovercraft’s steering system with a burst of light.

The hovercraft gave a sickening sputter and then dropped like a rock, its thrusters coughing one last time before completely failing.

“Tails!” Sonic screamed, then sighed in relief as the fox took flight just before he could fall too far into the depths of Lava Reef.

The two-tailed fox hovered for a beat, breathing hard as he watched the ruined Egg Mobile tumble down and crash against the obsidian rock below in a shower of sparks and clanging metal.

Sonic, still perched near the entrance to Hidden Palace, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted over the sudden stillness. “Tails! Over here!”

The fox turned toward the sound and spotted Sonic waving at him through the haze of heat. Without hesitation, he angled his tails and shot across the cavern, carefully weaving past jets of hot air until he landed beside his friend.

“Told you I had him,” Tails said with a breathless grin.

Sonic grinned back. “Yeah, you’re totally right! You were awesome out there!”

“I could say the same thing to you! You distracted him for hours! And—"

Before either of them could say more, the ground trembled. A distant crack echoed from within the volcano, followed by a low, ominous groan.

“Uh-oh…” Tails’ ears perked up as molten light spilled into the chamber from below. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“Maybe we should… just go,” Sonic proposed, watching the slow rising magma.

“Yeah, that would be great, actually,” Tails agreed, wordlessly slipping his hands under Sonic’s arms to fly them both to safety.

Chapter Text

“Why is half the island on fire, Sonic?” Amy asked in a dangerously sweet voice.

Sonic scratched the back of his head, trying not to flinch at the distant boom behind him.

“Uh, there’s an active volcano, Amy,” he said weakly.

“Yes, but why is the volcano erupting?”

“Would you believe me if I said that it’s not our fault?” he asked meekly.

“To be fair,” Amy said reasonably, a maniac glint in her eye, “I expected something like this from Robotnik, but I trusted that you wouldn’t let him do it if the situation escalated like that.”

“We didn’t! Tails threw the Doc to the deepest level of Lava Reef. We didn’t expect anything to come out of that!”

“Ah, but why was Tails in the volcano in the first place?” Amy asked, still squared up toward Sonic with that polite, terrifying patience of hers.

“I told you I wanted to help!” Tails said, hiding partially behind his friend.

Amy narrowed her eyes at Tails, unimpressed. “You’re six.”

“I’m eight,” the fox muttered, insulted.

Sonic raised his hand. “Amy, come on. Cut him some slack—he saved the day!”

“There was no need to bring a child to that Zone!”

“I didn’t tell him to come! He volunteered!”

Amy’s mouth opened, then closed again as she pointed a finger at him. “That’s so much worse. You do understand that just makes it worse, don’t you?

A low rumble groaned beneath their feet. Tails squeaked and ducked further behind Sonic.

For her part, Amy didn’t flinch. She just stared at Sonic down like he was the one spewing lava onto Angel Island.

Sonic winced. “Okay, okay—look, I know how it sounds, but—”

Knuckles cleared his throat loudly. “Before anyone gets beaten to death with a hammer, maybe let me explain something.”

Amy turned her slow, simmering gaze toward him. “This had better be good.”

Knuckles crossed his arms. “The volcano was going to erupt anyway.”

Amy blinked.

Knuckles crossed his arms. “It blows every couple of years. Pressure builds up, and it vents for a couple of days. This? This is normal.”

“Normal?” Amy echoed.

“For this volcano, yes!” he said.

She stared at him. “And you didn’t think to mention that earlier?!”

“You were too busy scaring the kid,” Knuckles said with a shrug.

Amy groaned and pressed the heel of her hand into her forehead. She let out a long breath, then glanced at Tails—still cowering behind Sonic and staring at her with wide eyes.

“… Sorry, Tails,” she said at last. “I’m just… really, really worried.”

Tails relaxed, just a little. “It’s okay.”

“And you,” she said, turning to Sonic.

Sonic met her stare readily, refusing to repent for what he’d accomplished. “Don’t look at me like that, Amy. We all stopped the badniks, destroyed the generators, and probably got rid of Eggman. That’s a win, right?”

Amy hesitated.

“… Probably got rid of him?” she repeated.

Sonic shrugged. “I mean, I wouldn’t say that we killed him—exactly—but if he’s not dead, he’s definitely stuck inside an angry volcano for a while.”

Sighing, Amy allowed herself to back off.

“That’s probably one of the best outcomes in this situation,” she said, warily hopeful. “But, without a body, I’m not going to accept his death, even if you swear by it.”

Knuckles nodded solemnly. “I’m with you on that. It’s too soon to count him out. This feels like it’s too easy.”

Next to him, Tails nodded with a frown.

Sonic agreed with the sentiment. It was too easy. There was just no way this was it.

“Should we… search for him?” Tails asked, voice unsure. “Amy said it best, right? The only way we can be sure is if we find the body.”

The rest of the group looked at him and then at the rumbling volcano.

The earth shook as it exploded again.

“Fuck that,” Sonic said.

“No way in hell,” Knuckles agreed.

“Sonic, Knuckles!” Amy shrieked, looking at Tails. “Please mind your language!”

Of the two, only the blue hedgehog openly grimaced, now looking at their youngest with something close to regret.

“Please don’t ever say that word, Tails.”

Tails frowned, looking disappointed in him for trying to police his words. “What word? ‘Fuck’? Seriously, Sonic? I’m not a baby. I’ve heard worse things in bars.”

“Why were you in a bar?!” Sonic hissed at him, looking bewildered.

Knuckles fought not to roll his eyes. “Moving away from that… how’d it go on your end? Ice Cap and Sandopolis didn’t give you trouble?”

Amy made a face at the mention of the second location. “Ice Cap was fine. Cold, obviously, but the badniks were easy. Most of them got buried in an avalanche when a ridge of ice and snow collapsed. I barely had to lift a finger.”

“But Sandopolis?” she continued, visibly shuddering. “That place is the worst. The heat, the sand, the traps—and the ghosts.”

“Ghosts?” Tails asked, ears twitching.

“Oh yeah,” Amy said grimly. “I knew they’d show up, but I didn’t expect how relentless they’d be. Keeping every torch lit while navigating that temple was a pain in the neck.”

Tails leaned forward with curiosity. “Wait, why do you have to keep the lights on?”

Knuckles replied without missing a beat: “You let the lights go out, and the ghosts make sure you join them.”

Tails paled. “WHAT?”

“I don’t know what’s so difficult to understand. They don’t like being disturbed,” Knuckles added, with a completely straight face. “You fail to appease the souls of the damned, and they make you part of the problem. It’s part of Sandopolis’ curse.”

Tails’ fur bristled as he tried to tuck himself further into Sonic’s shadow. “That’s not even remotely okay.”

Sonic gave a shaky laugh, arms crossed tightly as he tried to shake the chill. “Awesome. Murderous ghosts and what sounds like a mummy curse. We don’t need you to traumatize us, Knux.”

Knuckles just grinned. “Hey, don’t blame me! You asked.”

Amy groaned and crouched down, pulling at one of her boots with both hands.

“Ugh, I swear, if I ever see that place again, it’ll be too soon…” she muttered.

The loud squelch as her boot came free made everyone turn to look. A cascade of sand tumbled out onto the grass like a miniature landslide. The others stared in silence at her exposed foot.

Amy caught them all gawking and snapped, “What?! Look away!”

Sonic raised his hands defensively and quickly spun around. Tails yelped and did the same, and even Knuckles turned with a snort that might’ve been a laugh.

Grumbling under her breath, Amy banged her boot against the ground until the last stubborn grains of sand fell out. She gave the empty boot a squint, then tugged off the other with a grunt. More sand joined the pile.

As she wiped off her socks and started putting her boots back on, she said: “Alright. Now that I’m not carrying half the desert… Sonic. I want you to tell me everything. The whole story this time. No skipping anything.”

Sonic, still facing away, cautiously glanced back with a carefree grin. “You got it, Boss.”

The blue hedgehog launched into a full retelling of his adventure, from the generator and the Heat Arms fight to a detailed account of Eggman’s volcano deathrun challenge. It was only once he reached the part of the ruined mural that someone interrupted him.

“I’m sorry, you did what?” Knuckles snapped at him.

Sonic froze mid-sentence. “Uh…”

Knuckles stepped forward, his voice tight. “The crystal mural. The one that was carved into the temple wall.”

Sonic winced. “Yeah, about that…”

“You destroyed it?!” Knuckles thundered. “That was a relic. An irreplaceable piece of my people’s history!”

Amy’s head snapped up. “Wait, what mural?”

“The one in Hidden Palace,” Knuckles growled, fists clenched. “It was left by my ancestors as a warning. A prophecy, carved in stone. About what would happen if someone tried to weaponize the Master Emerald.”

Tails blinked. “What did it say?”

“That the greed of man would twist the Emerald’s power into a force of destruction so vast, it would bring about the end of the world.” Knuckles turned back to Sonic, his voice rising again. “And you let it get obliterated! Do you even realize what that meant?”

Sonic took a step back, hands raised. “I didn’t mean to, alright? I was just trying to outrun a missile—and it, uh… got shattered while I was fighting the guy.”

Knuckles scowled.

“I’m sorry.”

The red echidna paused at the sincerity in Sonic’s words and glared at him for a long moment. The tension crackled between them like static, thick with something that wasn’t quite rage, but close.

“… With how fast you are, you could’ve at least tried to steer it somewhere else,” he muttered, though his voice had lost some of its fury. “That mural survived centuries of wear, earthquakes, war… and now it’s gone. Because of Eggman. Because of—”

“Me,” Sonic said, finishing the sentence with a nod. “Sorry, Knux. I didn’t plan to break it, but in the heat of the moment it seemed the best thing to use to bring Eggman closer to the ground.”

Knuckles stared at him, fists still clenched at his sides. But he didn’t yell again. The fight seemed to go out of him slowly, like air hissing from a balloon.

“… Hmph.” He turned away, jaw tight. “You could’ve done anything else…”

“Yeah,” Sonic said softly. “But I didn’t.”

That made Knuckles stop again. For a beat, no one said anything. The silence was thick, but not hostile anymore.

“… Well,” Knuckles muttered at last, shoulders relaxing a little, “at least the prophecy crushed the right guy.”

That drew a short, surprised laugh from Amy. “Seriously? That’s what’s making you feel better?”

Knuckles shrugged, not quite smirking yet. “Just saying. If the mural was gonna break, it might as well have taken out the threat it warned about.”

“What makes you so convinced it was him?” Tails asked.

“There was no way the dude wasn’t—"

“Well, the way the man looked—”

Both Sonic and Knuckles stopped speaking and turned to look at each other.

“… You were gonna say his mug was just as ugly as Eggman’s, weren’t you?” Sonic asked slowly.

Knuckles’s lips quirked slightly, as if he were fighting a smile. He nodded. “Yeah. That oversized gut, the mustache, the goggles—it was Eggman. The prophecy wasn’t vague in the slightest. It named him without saying his name.”

Sonic let out a breathy chuckle, half amazed, half amused. “Huh. Guess we were on the same page.”

Knuckles gave a proper smirk this time. “It won’t ever happen again. Might as well run with it. Go on then—finish your story, hedgehog.”

Sonic gave him a salute and a grin. “Right, so to keep it short: the creepy mural goes down, Eggman freaks out and runs off to Lava Reef like the coward he is.”

“And that’s where I come in,” Tails added, stepping forward. “I called Sonic and told him to buy me some time for an ambush. While he was keeping Eggman busy, I slipped in and shortened the Egg Mobile’s flight system.”

“You two should have seen it!” Sonic gushed, beaming down at the fox. “He dove in and was all over his face. The way Eggman shrieked! Man, it still brings tears of joy to my eyes.”

Tails flushed instantly, his tails twitching behind him. “Oh, well—I mean—it wasn’t that impressive,” he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “I just saw an opening and took it.”

“Don’t be modest,” Sonic said, ruffling his bangs with a knuckle. “You nailed it. Eggman never saw you coming.”

The fox’s ears perked at that, his grin growing wider despite his best effort to play it cool. “Well… Okay. Yeah. It was a pretty clean takedown, wasn’t it?”

Amy watched the exchange with an amused smile, her eyes shifting between the two. “You two make a good team,” she said, then turned her attention to Tails. “Nice work, Tails. Seriously. But… one thing’s bugging me.”

“Hm?” Tails tilted his head.

“You ‘called’ Sonic?” she asked, raising a brow. “How were you even talking to each other?”

Tails gave her a sheepish smile, showing her a pair of earbuds. “They’re from an old group I was part of... Thought I’d hold onto the gear, just in case.”

He glanced at Sonic, then back at Amy and Knuckles, looking a little more confident now. “I didn’t have time to make extras before, but if you want ’em, I can get everyone set up. Shouldn’t take too long.”

“So, we’re going back to base?” Sonic asked, to check.

Knuckles gave a short nod. “Yeah. Chaos’ shrine is still the safest place we’ve got.”

“Back to camp then,” Amy sighed, gathering her quills into a quick ponytail. “I hope nothing went wrong while we were away.”

Knuckles chuckled. “If the Chao are unharmed, then nothing bad happened.”

As they walked, the air began to feel lighter—not just from the lack of volcanic heat, but from the subtle shift in their mood. The danger had passed. For now, anyway.

Tails was practically bouncing with excitement, talking a mile a minute and digging through his satchel. He was practically glowing. “With all the stuff we have, I can finally build us another plane. Oh, and I just realized! Maybe if I pair those rings with the chaos drives, I could build a strong repulsor cannon for each of us. Nothing too flashy, but definitely strong enough to punch through badnik armor and knock small fry off their feet!”

“That’s amazing, Tails!” Amy said, matching his energy. “But maybe let’s stick to something smaller until we have more parts for bigger projects?”

“Ah, you’re right,” he grinned bashfully. “I got too excited.”

“Nah, it’s great stuff,” Sonic said encouragingly. “I’m sure we’ll find more badniks to scrap soon. There were lots of robots around. Everything helps, right? We just need to bring every badnik we destroyed to Tails and we’re set.”

“If it gets all this junk off my island, I’ll be more than happy to help with that,” Knuckles said.

Sonic was just about to crack a joke when he sneezed—loudly. He blinked, wrinkling his nose. “Huh. Weird.”

Amy looked over. “Dust in your quills?”

“Maybe,” Sonic muttered. But he paused mid-step, eyes narrowing at the sky. “… Wait a second.”

Tails stopped too. “What is it?”

Sonic squinted against the light, shading his eyes with a hand. “Something’s falling.”

Knuckles followed his gaze. “It's a bird? No... it's a plane?”

“No,” Sonic said. “That’s a badnik.”

They all stared upward as the shape became clearer—angular, metallic, and huge. It was tumbling in a slow, controlled arc through the sky, trailing smoke as it came down like a thrown spear.

Amy’s eyes widened. “That’s bigger than anything we’ve seen so far.”

“Another Super Badnik,” Tails breathed. “And that trajectory—it’s not just falling. Something or someone launched it.”

“Which means…” Knuckles said slowly, crossing his arms.

“Eggman’s still out there,” Sonic finished grimly, his grin fading.

They didn’t say anything for a long second.

“… We need to intercept that,” Amy said, voice steady. “Before it causes too much damage.”

The island quaked as the foreign mech landed.

Amy took the lead without another word, her mallet already in hand. Sonic followed beside her, stealing glances at the sky. It was clear again—no more falling badniks—but that didn’t mean they were in the clear.

“Think it’s Eggman inside?” Amy asked.

“No way to tell,” Tails replied, pursing his lips. “Could just be a decoy while Robotnik skulks around. But the size of that thing… It's going to be tough to bring it down, even without him controlling it.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Knuckles said, picking up speed. “We break that, no matter what.”

They arrived at the crater within minutes, Sonic resolutely ignoring the sense of déjà vu he was getting from this whole thing.

Thick smoke curled from the impact site, rising into the pale sky. As they approached the edge, the scorched remains of trees and torn earth came into view—along with the hulking figure in the middle.

There was no mistaking it—this mech looked like Eggman. Towering over the crater, it was at least three times the size of a standard Egg Hammer. Its limbs were encased in thick armor plating, the bulk of its body painted a bright, unmistakable red. Yellow trim wrapped around its neck and shoulders like a mock uniform, while patches of exposed gray metal broke through the finish, shamelessly branded with the symbol of the Eggman Empire. Its eyes and large smile glowed a menacing pale aquamarine blue as it scanned the horizon. Then, with a sharp jerk, it twitched—and rose to its full height.

Death Egg Robot.

“Well, he’s not gloating,” Tails whispered. “So, we know Robotnik’s not in there.”

The mech locked onto them in an instant. Twin barrels extended from its arms with a shrill hiss, whirring with potent energy.

“… I think it heard you,” Sonic said and broke into a run towards it before it could fire the first energy blast.

“PRIORITY TARGET LOCATED,” it intoned.

Sonic zipped low across the cracked ground, drawing its aim. The barrels tracked him, charging with a high-pitched whine, but the blue blur was already weaving through the mech’s legs before it could get a clean shot.

Amy and Knuckles split off in opposite directions.

“Hey, over here!” Amy shouted, swinging her hammer in a wide arc. It connected with the mech’s knee joint, sending out a burst of sparks.

Knuckles followed up with a leaping uppercut to its side, denting a panel with a loud clang. The mech staggered but didn’t fall.

Its head snapped toward Amy—then Knuckles—then back to Sonic. “INTERFERENCE DETECTED. THREAT ASSESSMENT: MODERATE.”

Tails took advantage of the distraction, vaulting off a rock and grabbing onto a panel near the mech’s shoulder. “Let’s see what makes you tick—”

The mech’s shoulder vent flared. A pulse of kinetic force blasted outward, flinging Tails from its frame like a leaf in a storm. He crashed into the ground with a groan, skidding across the dirt.

“Tails!” Sonic shouted and zipped back, catching the fox before he could hit a boulder. He gently lowered him to the ground, eyes flicking up.

The mech's back split open, revealing a rocket thruster that roared to life.

“ENGAGING PURSUIT.”

With a roar of fire and smoke, the mech launched itself after Sonic, jetpack blazing. The ground tore beneath it as it took off like a missile.

“Sonic, bring it this way!” Amy yelled from higher ground, hammer ready.

The blue blur didn’t hesitate. “On it!” he shouted, veering in a wide arc to lead the mech toward the bluff where Amy stood. The Super Badnik followed without pause, jet engines shrieking as it tore through the air after him.

Amy braced herself, adjusting her grip on the hammer. Her eyes locked onto the incoming streak of red and smoke—then, with perfect timing, she leapt.

“Take this!”

She brought the hammer down mid-air, slamming it into the mech’s shoulder with a clang that echoed in the clearing. The impact threw it off course, and it spiraled downward, crashing into the hillside with an earth-shaking boom.

Knuckles was already moving. He landed on the wreckage before the dust could settle, fists practically glowing with gathered power. With a shout, he struck, hammering ruthlessly at the chest plate.

For a moment, it looked like he might actually break through.

Then the mech’s palm lit up.

A concussive blast exploded from its hand, launching Knuckles backward in a streak of red. He hit the ground hard, bounced, and rolled to a stop in a daze.

The mech slowly pushed itself upright, its frame hissing with steam. It turned its head, unfazed, and spoke in a calm, clipped voice:

“FLIGHT SYSTEMS: FUNCTIONAL. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE: NEGLIGIBLE. REASSESSING COMBAT PARAMETERS. LETHAL FORCE: RECOMMENDED.”

Its arms unfolded further, revealing bombs tucked beneath the cannons. The glow in its eyes intensified.

With a mechanical hiss, the mech launched a volley of explosives toward Knuckles.

“Knuckles, move!” Sonic shouted, already a blue streak racing through the clearing.

The echidna blinked off his daze just in time to see the bombs hurtling toward him, too fast for him to dodge.

But Sonic was faster.

He zipped past, intercepting the explosives mid-flight with a spinning kick that redirected the closest bombs back at the mech. Some of them struck the chest plate Knuckles had just battered, and for the first time, the machine staggered, smoke and flame bursting from its torso in a shower of metal shrapnel.

Tails gawked. “Whoa… that actually did something!”

Sonic skidded to a stop beside him, eyes sharp. “Then let’s keep doing it.”

He turned to the others. “Aim for the bombs! Knock 'em right back at it!”

The mech straightened, its plating scorched but still intact. With a mechanical growl, it launched a second volley—this time in all directions.

Amy swung her hammer like a bat, managing to send one hurtling back into its knee joint. Tails used a quick spin to redirect another into its shoulder. Even Knuckles, still catching his breath, managed to punch one straight into the mech’s side.

The explosions rocked the clearing. The mech stumbled, plating cracking, sparks flying from exposed wires.

“TARGET RESISTANCE: SIGNIFICANT,” it droned. “SWITCHING TACTICS.”

Its cannons retracted slightly as the robot began charging an energy beam.

“Don’t let that thing power that attack,” Amy ordered, already hurling her hammer toward it.

The Piko Piko Hammer struck true—right into the exposed cluster of sparking wires in the mech’s shoulder. Electricity arced violently through the joint, and the machine jolted, twitching as its systems briefly glitched out.

Amy’s weapon dissolved into pink mist midair and reformed in her hand with a pop. She caught it effortlessly and didn’t miss a beat. “Hit it while it’s open!”

Tails let out a sound of agreement, already launching a counterattack to keep the mech from regaining its senses.

Sonic was already moving, weaving around Tails’ energy blasts. With a burst of speed, he zipped forward and spun into a homing attack, crashing into the mech’s midsection. The force of the blow sent the hulking machine staggering backward, its stabilizers overcompensating to keep it from toppling.

With his fists lit with searing red energy, Knuckles stepped forward. "I don't care what you’re made of. You’re going down."

He slammed into the mech with an uppercut that lifted the massive frame off the ground by inches before it came crashing back down, buckling under the pressure.

“SYSTEM INTEGRITY: CRITICAL,” the mech intoned, voice warbling with static. It wobbled toward the ground, finally tipping over. “SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE… INITIATED.”

No sooner had it stopped speaking than an explosion tore through the clearing. Knuckles was blasted backward, skidding across the dirt with a grunt. He rolled onto his side, grimacing but slowly pushing himself upright, fists still glowing faintly with residual energy.

The Egg Mech was finally destroyed, but not before it launched a last-ditch effort to eliminate them.

“Everyone okay?” Sonic called out, glancing between his friends.

Amy wiped sweat and grime from her brow but nodded, eyes sharp and alert. “Yeah. For now.”

“Could be worse,” Knuckles replied, brushing dirt from his fists. “Still standing.”

“Fine here!” The fox was already digging into his satchel, pulling out a small handheld device. He tapped the screen, eyes narrowing as he analyzed data.

“I just don’t understand where this could have come from,” he said.

Tails’ eyes flicked across the readings, voice tense as he pieced it together.

“The trajectory… it wasn’t launched from the surface,” he muttered, tapping again. A schematic of Angel Island filled the screen, slowly zeroing in on an area that went beyond it. “It came from beneath the island itself.”

Amy’s eyes widened as realization dawned. “The Egg Carrier must not have sunk.” She glanced at the others, explaining her reasoning. “All those super badniks and robot generators... they’ve probably been launched from the Egg Carrier. It’s still out there, floating on the water.”

Sonic clenched a fist, his expression hardening with determination. “Then that’s where we go next.”

“I’m with you,” Tails said without hesitation, stowing his device. “If it’s still out there, we need to find it before it sends anything worse.”

“Same here,” Amy added, gripping her hammer. “If Eggman’s rebuilding from the shadows, we can’t give him time to finish.”

All eyes turned to Knuckles.

He didn’t meet their eyes at first. Instead, he looked toward the distant cliffs, his gaze roving over every inch of the island. When he finally spoke, his voice was slow but steady.

“I can’t leave.”

Sonic blinked. “What?”

Knuckles turned, expression hard. “The Master Emerald can’t be left unguarded. If it’s taken—or damaged—the island drops. By now, you should know what my priorities are, hedgehog.”

“But this is bigger than just the island or the Master Emerald—”

“No,” Knuckles interrupted, more forcefully. “Angel Island and the Master Emerald are my responsibility. I won’t abandon them.”

Sonic took a step forward, voice rising. “Even if Eggman’s building something that could wipe everything out?”

“I don’t care if the sky falls,” Knuckles snapped back. “My duty is here.”

Tension sparked between them, until Amy stepped between them, raising her arms.

“Hey—that’s enough!” she said firmly. “Knuckles is right. He can’t leave and we shouldn’t force him to. Besides, we don’t need all four of us out there.”

She turned to the echidna, eyes softer now. “You’ll stay here. Guard the Master Emerald. Protect the island and the people we’ve taken in. If anything happens, we’ll need you here to defend them.”

Knuckles exhaled slowly. After a moment, he nodded.

“Fine,” Sonic muttered. “Three’s more than enough.”

“But how are we supposed to get there?” Amy asked, glancing between them. “We’re stuck up here. Jumping from this height would be suicide.”

Tails frowned, thinking—then his eyes lit up.

“Your biplane, Amy!” he said suddenly, snapping his fingers. “The one you used to fly in the refugees!”

Amy blinked. “It’s not exactly in top shape—”

“Doesn’t have to be,” Tails said quickly. “It just has to fly. I can fix it up in a couple of hours.”

“Seems like you’ll be fixing us a plane sooner than you expected, eh?” Sonic teased him, looking pleased that the fox was so happy with the oncoming project.

Tails grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, it seems like it.”

Sonic’s smile widened, clearly amused by the fox’s enthusiasm.

Sonic sat on a smooth rock near the edge of camp, half-watching Tails work while keeping an ear out for the telltale whir of another Super Badnik.

They’d spotted another one not long ago, and after a quick exchange, he and Knuckles had agreed to take turns in handling them. Knuckles had gone after this one, disappearing into the woods while Sonic stayed behind to keep watch.

Amy had long since crashed, laying out cold on a patch of grass, finally getting some well-deserved rest after pushing herself too hard.

The sharp scent of heated metal filled the air, mixed with the distant rustle of trees. Tails yawned mid-solder, his hands never pausing. The sound made Sonic glance over.

“You know you can sleep for a bit, right?” Sonic offered gently. “No one’s gonna think less of you.”

Tails didn’t even look up. “You’re not sleeping either.”

Sonic blinked. “Yeah, but that’s different.”

“How?”

“I don’t want to sleep,” Sonic replied, leaning back on his hands. “Still feel like I’ve got too much juice in the tank, y’know? My legs get itchy just by standing still. Doesn’t mean you gotta pull an all-nighter too.”

 Tails grunted, adjusting a cable. “You’re still running on fumes. You just don’t notice.”

Sonic tilted his head, watching the way Tails’ shoulders drooped, the way his movements were starting to lose precision.

“You barely had a few hours of sleep before we started this whole mess,” Sonic said quietly. “Come on, buddy. Rest. You’ve earned it.”

“I’m almost done here,” Tails insisted, a little too sharply. His eyes didn’t leave the biplane. “Just a little more.”

Sonic sighed but didn’t press the issue again. He knew that tone. Tails wasn’t going to budge.

Moments later, the fox bolted upright and called out, voice bright despite the dark circles under his eyes. “Okay! That’s it! I think we’re good!”

Sonic stood, stretching. “All right! You hear that, Amy?” he called over his shoulder.

Startled into consciousness, Amy rose from the ground, quills tousled and eyes half-lidded. “W-What?”

“Your biplane,” Tails said proudly, patting the hull. “It’s patched up and ready. She’s serviceable again.”

“I’ve been calling her the Tornado in my head this whole time,” Sonic said, grinning. “But does she actually have a name?”

Amy blinked blearily, rubbing her eyes. “I… I think so? I heard the people who used her before say it, but…” She yawned. “I don’t remember what it was.”

“Well, guess she’s the Tornado now,” Sonic said, giving the side of the plane a fond pat. “Works for me.”

Tails let himself slump onto a crate, clearly spent now that the adrenaline had worn off. Sonic shot him a look, but this time, he didn’t say anything.

“Where’s Knuckles?” Amy asked mid-yawn.

“He went to deal with another badnik. He’ll come in a couple of minutes,” Sonic said with a shrug.

The plane was ready. That meant it was almost time to move.

The blue hedgehog waited impatiently as Amy tried to wake herself up, keeping a sharp eye on Tails as he started to slump forward. Quietly, he went to the fox and repositioned him, so he was sleeping on the ground instead of falling awkwardly on his face.

“I think he’ll have to stay with Knux, Amy,” he said to the pink hedgehog.

Amy nodded as she patted down her red dress, frowning at the sight of the unconscious boy.

“Poor Tails,” she said, “he’s been working himself too hard.”

“Yeah,” Sonic murmured, watching Tails sleep. “He really needs a break.”

Amy gave a small hum of agreement, then glanced toward the trees. “How much longer do you think Knuckles will take?”

“A couple of minutes or so. I could hear the Super Badnik explode in the distance, so…”

“Fair enough.”

They made small talk to pass the time and it was a little awkward, since they didn’t know each other much.

Before it could get too awkward though, the underbrush rustled, Knuckles emerged from it with his usual scowl, bits of dirt and soot clinging to his fur from the most recent fight.

Knuckles paused at the edge of the clearing, cracking his knuckles with a faint pop. His eyes narrowed in satisfaction when nothing seemed amiss.

“It’s gone,” he announced. “This one had some kind of flame thrower built into its arms. Not anymore.”

Sonic gave him a nod, scanning him. “No injuries?”

“None.” The echidna glanced around the camp. “All good here?”

“Yeah, nothing too exciting happened.” Sonic shifted, gesturing toward the slumbering fox nearby. “Tails finished the plane, then passed out.”

Knuckles followed his gaze, frowning. “It was going to happen sooner or later. Kid’s been running nonstop.”

“That’s why we’re leaving him with you, Knuckles,” Amy said gently. “He needs real sleep, and we can’t take him with us like this.”

Knuckles gave her a look, brows knitting. “You two are heading out?”

Sonic nodded, his mouth curling down. “Yeah. We’re going straight for the Egg Carrier. It’s high time we shut this down for good. Eggman can’t be allowed to keep tossing out badniks at us like this. We’re ending it as fast as possible.”

Knuckles folded his arms. “You sure about leaving just the two of you?”

Sonic shrugged, a grin playing at his lips. “We’ll manage, Knux. Don’t worry too much about us. We know what we’re doing.”

Amy nodded, tying her quills back again. “And we trust you to watch things here.”

A long pause. Knuckles looked like he wanted to say something, maybe even volunteer himself to come with them, but finally he gave up on that thought and nodded once. “Fine. But if you’re not back by sunset, I’ll assume you two died.”

Sonic smirked. “Oh, don’t be dramatic,” he said, then bent down and gently scooped Tails up from where he’d been sleeping beside the crate.

The fox murmured something unintelligible as Sonic shifted his weight, cradling him carefully.

Tails’ eyes fluttered open, half-lidded and unfocused. For a moment, they locked onto Sonic’s face, but there was no recognition in them. Just confusion.

“Ugh… Mimic? You’re blue…” Tails muttered hoarsely, one eye squeezing shut again. His hand rubbed his face with exhaustion. “Go away… go bother Claire or whatever…”

Sonic froze mid-step, eyes flicking toward Knuckles and Amy in silent alarm.

“Mimic?” Amy echoed softly, brow furrowing.

But Tails was already out again, head lolling against Sonic’s shoulder as sleep reclaimed him completely.

Sonic’s expression didn’t shift much, carefully remaining neutral. “Guess he’s dreaming,” he said lightly, voice a little too casual.

Knuckles raised a brow. “Mimic?”

“Tails’ story to tell, not mine,” Sonic muttered, gently handing the fox off to the echidna. Knuckles took him with care, adjusting Tails so his head rested against his shoulder.

Amy walked over to the plane, waiting there while the others finished their conversation. Sonic lingered a moment longer, watching Tails’ sleeping face.

“Make sure he’s okay,” he said, quieter now.

Knuckles gave a low grunt. “I will.”

Sonic nodded once and jogged over to the biplane, climbing into the pilot seat with easy familiarity. He looked down to Amy.

“Ready?”

Amy looked at him with amusement.

“No, silly. I’m the one piloting this plane,” she told him. “Do you even know how to fly?”

Sonic blinked, then laughed under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “Heh… right. Guess I got a little ahead of myself.”

He clambered out and swapped seats, settling into the passenger side while Amy took the controls. As she adjusted the yoke and flipped a few switches, Sonic leaned over the side of the plane, looking down at Knuckles, who now had Tails propped against his chest.

“Tails is gonna be so mad,” Sonic muttered, almost to himself. “I bet he’ll say we ditched him.”

Amy glanced over, strapping herself in. “He’ll get over it. It can’t be helped. He did his part, but he needs to understand he can’t do everything. His body can’t handle that kind of stress all the time.”

“Still…”

“Hey,” Amy called to him, glancing over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. He’s a bright kid. He’ll be mad at you for a while, but after a while he’ll understand, you’ll see.”

Sonic let out a breath and leaned back. She was right.

Probably.

Amy raised her voice. “Knuckles! We’re ready for takeoff!”

The red echidna looked up, shifting Tails carefully in his arms. “I’ll head back to Chaos’ Chao Garden,” he called. “Tell everyone what’s going on.”

“Thanks, Knux!” Sonic shouted, giving him a thumbs-up.

The engine sputtered, then roared to life beneath them. Amy gripped the controls tightly, determination setting in her green eyes.

“Next stop: the elusive Egg Carrier,” she said, and the biplane began to roll forward, gaining speed quickly.

The Tornado climbed steadily into the sky, the island shrinking beneath them. Sonic leaned slightly out of the open cockpit, enjoying the sensation of the wind whipping his quills as he gazed out at the forest canopy below.

They circled wide over Angel Island, the early light casting long shadows across the terrain.

“Y’know,” Sonic said, admiring the view, “I think I get why Knuckles loves this place. It’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it is!” Amy let out a quiet laugh, eyes on the sky ahead. “I still can’t believe Tails managed to get this thing flying again. It runs smoother than I expected. Like, listen to that engine. Not even a hiccup.”

“Right? Little guy’s a genius,” Sonic said with a grin. “Give him a pile of scrap and a wrench, and he’ll build you a miracle.”

They flew in content silence for a while, the steady hum of the Tornado the only sound between them. As they curved around the eastern edge of the island, something massive rose into view on the horizon. The fallen Egg Carrier sprawled across the landscape like a beached leviathan, twisted metal and broken hull jutting out at odd angles. A gigantic cannon protruded from its side—aimed squarely at Angel Island.

Amy narrowed her eyes. “There it is.”

Sonic’s expression darkened. “So that’s where it’s all coming from.”

As if to confirm his suspicion, the cannon rumbled—and launched another robot generator skyward. It arced high before crashing down toward the island, landing somewhere near the jungle canopy with a burst of smoke and debris.

Sonic winced. “Knuckles is gonna have his hands full until we blow that thing to pieces.”

Amy huffed. “Then we’d better be fast about this. What can we expect inside?”

The blue hedgehog frowned as he thought back to his experience with the Egg Carrier.

He crossed his arms, leaning back in the seat as the wind buffeted his quills.

“Well, it’s a big metal maze. Lots of dead ends, dumb security drones, and way too many doors that only open after you punch a console or something. Eggman loves his complicated layouts.”

Amy kept her hands steady on the controls, guiding the plane closer to the carrier’s remains. “Anything we can use? Weak points? Power sources?”

“I already have its power source, Amy,” Sonic said, amusement clinging to his voice.

“Don’t be a smartass,” Amy said, scowling back at him.

Sonic chuckled. “Alright, alright. Honestly? No clue where the weak points are. I didn’t get a chance to look around last time—it was more of a ‘run for your life’ kind of deal.”

Amy sighed. “Figures.”

“But,” he added, a bit more cheerfully, “if we get stuck, I’ve got a workaround. I can Chaos Control us past any closed doors.”

Amy blinked, turning to glance at him. “Wait. Repeat that and say it more clearly for me so I can understand. You can ‘Chaos Control’. Alright. But what is that and how is that relevant to the discussion?”

Sonic grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction. “Chaos Control. It’s something the Chaos Emerald lets me do—kind of like teleporting. If a path’s blocked, I just focus on where I want to be, and bam! I’m there.”

Amy stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “You’re telling me you can just blink through locked doors now? That’s… insane.”

“Tell me about it,” Sonic said with a shrug. “I’m still getting the hang of it, but it’s come in handy once before. It’ll work again for sure.”

Amy shook her head, returning her focus to the controls. “That’s not normal, Sonic. Do you even know how far you can go with that?”

“Not really,” he admitted, glancing toward the looming wreck of the Egg Carrier. “Haven’t exactly had time to run tests.”

Amy muttered something under her breath, probably about the chaos of working with Sonic, but she didn’t argue further. After a pause, she said, “Well, that’s really something, I can give you that.”

As the Tornado closed in, the fractured hull of the Egg Carrier stretched before them like a graveyard of machinery. Twisted metal jutted into the sky, and broken panels swayed with the breeze. Amy circled the plane around, her eyes scanning the wreckage.

“There,” she said, pointing. A large hangar bay yawned open on the starboard side, the airstrip leading into it mostly intact.

Sonic leaned over the edge, narrowing his eyes. “That’s a lot of empty space. Too much. Eggman must’ve taken something big out of here.”

Amy frowned. “A ship? Another carrier?”

“Maybe.” Sonic folded his arms. “Whatever it was, it’s not here anymore.”

Amy slowed the plane, easing it down carefully into the hangar. The Tornado’s wheels touched down with a soft screech, coming to a halt on the cracked floor. She powered off the engine, and the sudden silence felt loud.

“Alright,” Amy said, unbuckling her harness. “Let’s hope Eggman’s still in this wreck. If he’s not…”

“Then he’s on the island,” Sonic finished grimly. “With Knuckles. With Tails. With everyone else.”

They shared a look.

Sonic hopped off the wing and jogged up to the hangar doors. He tried the control panel beside them—nothing. “Locked,” he muttered, stepping back.

Amy raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

He held out his hand. “Grab on.”

Amy took it without hesitation, and in the blink of an eye, the world twisted.

They reappeared on the other side of the hangar door with a faint shimmer. The air was still and cold, making Sonic’s fur rise with a chill. The hallway ahead was pitch black.

Amy reached into her satchel and pulled out a small flashlight, flicking it on. The beam cut through the dark, revealing dusty metal walls, frayed wires, and scorched panels.

Sonic’s eyes adjusted quickly, but even with the light, the place felt... hollow. Wrong.

“No power,” Amy whispered.

“Nothing moving,” Sonic added.

They stepped deeper into the corridor, their footsteps soft but echoing in the emptiness. The air was stale. Abandoned, like everything in here had been left to rot.

Sonic glanced at her. “Stay close.”

Amy nodded, gripping the flashlight tighter as they moved further into the silent, dead heart of the Egg Carrier.

They checked door after door, but each one greeted them with the same result: a dull click or a dead panel. No power, no access, no answers.

Amy leaned in close to one of the sealed doors, pressing her ear against the cold metal. Nothing. She frowned and looked back at Sonic. “Do you think any of these rooms are worth a peek?”

He shrugged. “Could be. Knowing Eggman, he’s got half-finished nightmares tucked away in every corner. Might be good to see what he’s been cooking up for us.”

“Alright,” Amy said, stepping beside him again. “Pick one.”

Sonic took her hand and nodded toward the nearest door. “Let’s try that one.”

Chaos energy shimmered around them as the world blinked—and they appeared inside a new room. It was just as dark as the hall, maybe darker. The walls felt closer here, lined with equipment and crates, their outlines barely visible.

Amy’s flashlight flickered for a second before steadying. The beam cut across the floor, swept up the wall—and landed on a towering shape near the back of the room.

A massive robot stood silently in the dark, coated in matte black paint. Its arms hung at its sides, and its chestplate bore a single number in bold white print: 101.

Just as he finished examining the badnik, Sonic’s brain filled in the rest of the gap, specifying the model: E-101 Beta.

Amy furrowed her brow. “That’s… not one I’ve seen before.”

She stepped closer, cautiously lifting her flashlight toward its face.

That’s when the eyes flared to life—a bright, hostile red.

“INTRUDER DETECTED.”

A blaring alarm began to sound from the robot’s speakers, plates unlocking with mechanical clanks.

Amy gasped and stumbled backward, but the E-101 was already raising a cannonized arm in her direction.

“TARGET IS A BURROWING ANIMAL.”

“Move!” Sonic barked, grabbing her and Chaos Controlling them out of the room in a flash of light—

—they reappeared just outside the locked door with a lurch, Amy crashing into Sonic’s chest as she caught her breath.

Then—

BOOM.

The door behind them trembled under a powerful blast, a flicker of plasma going through the small gap in the middle. A second shot slammed against it seconds later, then a third. The reinforced metal held—but only barely.

“Aaand, that’s our cue to leave,” Sonic said and grabbed Amy in a princess carry, already sprinting away from the shuddering door.

Amy squirmed in his arms, voice tight with frustration. “Sonic! I can run on my own!”

“Yeah?” Sonic shot back. “Bet you can’t teleport on your own!”

That shut her up. The metal behind them screeched, the door buckling outward with a final groan as the E-101 smashed through it.

Sonic’s ears twitched. And then he heard it—the whine of a cannon charging behind them.

Without hesitation, he swerved mid-stride, barely dodging a sizzling bolt that scorched the wall ahead.

“NOT SO FAST, HEDGEHOG,” the robot droned, already charging another attack.

Sonic didn’t give it the chance to hit them. “Hang on!”

He channeled the Chaos Emerald’s energy, telling the mystical gem that they needed to get away from the threat. And with a crack of green energy, the world around them snapped away—

—And reappeared in another location.

Sonic set Amy down gently.

Amy steadied herself, brushing back her quills. “Okay. Point taken.”

Sonic flashed a grin despite the tension. “Let’s try to avoid triggering anything here, just in case.”

“Where is here, anyway?” Amy wondered, looking around with her flashlight.

The light swept slowly across the room, revealing rows upon rows of vats—dozens of towering glass tubes, each one just as hollow and dark and indistinguishable from the next.

Amy took a slow step forward, her breath catching. “What is all this…?”

Sonic frowned, a terrible feeling beginning to dawn on him as he stared at the many empty tubes around them. “I have no idea.”

They moved carefully through the eerie space, their footfalls muffled against metal grating and the debris that had fallen from the ceiling.

“Watch out for the glass,” Sonic said, looking down at the pieces lying on the floor.

Amy caught herself staring into one vat too long. The inside was covered in claw marks.

Sonic noticed, too. “Let’s not get close to anything that might even twitch.”

Amy nodded silently, then paused. “Wait… I see something. Over there! A green light.”

Sonic followed her gaze. Sure enough, a soft green glow pulsed from the far end of the chamber, barely visible behind the haze of condensation and old glass.

He lowered his voice. “What do you think it is?”

Amy tilted her head, squinting. “No clue.”

They approached the glowing light, quickly figuring out that one of the tubes was filled with some kind of murky liquid, scattered bits floating around in the dead water.

They examined it for a couple of seconds, before Amy went: “What the fuck is that?”

Sonic felt sicker the longer he stared. His head throbbed with echoes from that first hour—the playful words from Eggman’s robots, now clawing back with a vengeance:

"You're only covered in goo! That's a win in our book. Most of the others looked like expired pudding!"

This was the expired pudding.

Oh God. This was the expired pudding.

“That’s a person, Amy.”

“W-What do you mean, Sonic?” She turned to look at him with a frown that only deepened when she saw that he had turned around and was struggling to hold back the urge to vomit.

“J-Just look at it for a second. You can’t miss it.”

Amy turned back to the vat, lifting her flashlight higher—its beam trembling ever so slightly in her grip.

That’s when she saw it.

A shape inside, just barely visible through the murky green film clinging to the glass. Sagging. Gorged with liquid. A limb that wasn’t fully formed. A skull that had caved in on itself. What little that remained solid was slumped forward, like a puppet with its strings cut. Trails of biological material looped slowly around the small mass, stirred by a current long dead.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Oh, my Chaos!”

“I told you,” Sonic said, voice strained. “It’s a person. Or... it was supposed to be.”

Amy stumbled back a step, hand clamped over her mouth.

“How many of these are there?” she whispered, scanning the room again. “There’s got to be... twenty? Thirty?”

Sonic didn’t answer. He didn’t want to know.

Or… maybe he did know.

117.

A number that was only more haunting with context.

Were they all created here? Were they all—

No, he really didn’t want to know.

“Let’s get out of here,” he gasped. “Please, Amy.”

Chapter Text

They couldn’t just leave the labs unexplored.

Sonic tried not to be frustrated over that, but it was difficult to keep calm when everything he saw only made his gut churn more.

He was afraid and trying not to show it. His grip on the situation was threadbare at best. Every time his eyes caught sight of another empty vat, a question would claw at the edge of his thoughts. But he’d shove that down long before it began to take shape.

Behind him, Amy whispered, “I’m getting a headache…”

The blue hedgehog turned toward her, desperate for any kind of distraction.

“Yeah?” he said gently, trying to sound reassuring and composed. “We can take it slow. Just breathe through your nose. It should help.”

Amy nodded, pursing her lips. Her hand only clutched her flashlight tighter and her eyes flickered down, as if to avoid looking at anything else around them.

Sonic looked toward a sealed door at the far end of the room, suddenly getting an idea that promised them some relief.

“Let’s try going that way,” he said. “See if we can find a computer room… or something that’s not filled with dead bodies.”

Amy took his hand without a word. Even through both of their gloves, her fingers felt cold. He focused, pulling the Chaos Emerald’s energy through him like a breath of air. The world warped—and in the blink of an eye, they teleported away from the nightmarish room.

They reappeared in silence.         

The flashlight flickered weakly before stabilizing. Its beam cut across a wall of glass tubes, each holding quills suspended in some kind of thick gel. A few still sparked faintly, glowing with power, but barely clinging to what they used to be. Others were already decaying, slowly crumbling into nothingness.

As they scanned the rest of the room, Amy’s light swept over many unpowered consoles and monitors.

All very ominous, but there were no bodies in sight, so Sonic was counting this change of scenery as a blessing.

He turned to Amy—

And paused.

She was staring at the tubes, trembling almost unnoticeably. The flashlight in her grip wobbled, the beam jittering across the wall.

“Amy?” Sonic said carefully.

She didn’t answer, just muttered under her breath frantically, eyes locked on the samples inside the glass.

Sonic reached out, his hand hovering near her shoulder. “Hey… you okay—?”

He winced as she suddenly slapped it away.

“I’m fine,” she hissed, then immediately looked guilty. “Sorry—sorry, I just…”

Amy fumbled with her bag and pulled something out. Sonic recognized the worn deck of tarot cards, all of them bound in a red ribbon. Her hands shook as she untied it with practiced urgency, her breathing uneven.

Sonic blinked. “Amy, what are you—?”

“Shut up!” she snapped, not even looking at him. “Just—just let me think.”

She pulled three cards from the deck at random and laid them out across one of the desks with a flick of her wrist. The light from her flashlight trembled as she leaned in, casting jagged shadows across the cards.

Her breath caught.

The first card: Ten of Swords, all blades pointing downward.

“… Ruin,” she whispered. Her voice barely made it past her throat. “The worst of its kind.”

She reached for the next card and flipped it.

Death.

“Death? Rebirth?” she mumbled, confused—but then shook her head violently, correcting herself. “No… no, literal Death. At our doorstep.”

The final one: the Emperor, reversed.

Amy’s grip tightened. Her voice fell into a sharp whisper.

“Immaturity. Loss of control. Abuse of power.”

Sonic’s eyes flicked back toward the wall of tubes, thinking back to what they had found in the room next to this one. His own memories of Eggman agreed with that assessment.

He nodded once—without even realizing it.

Amy began shuffling the cards again, more frantic this time. “Just one more draw. One more. Maybe I read it wrong, maybe—”

She pulled a card.

Ten of Swords.

She gritted her teeth, shoved it back in, and after shuffling, drew again.

Ten of Swords.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Her muttering turned to frantic babbling, words slurring at the edges, building into a fever pitch. Dropping the flashlight on a desk, her hands shook as she riffled through the deck, trying to get a better result, but only managing to draw the same card again.

“Stop,” Sonic said, putting a hand over hers. She didn’t respond.

“Amy—stop that!” His voice cut through the room like a blade.

She froze.

Her eyes were wide, pupils overtaking most of the iris. The dim light cast her face in long shadows, her breath fast and shallow.

Sonic pushed the deck down, gently capturing her hands with his. “It’s not the cards. It’s this place. It’s messing with us. You need to calm down.”

“This place is cursed,” she whispered. “Can’t you hear them speak, Sonic? Can’t you hear their cries?”

“Look at me,” he said firmly. He insisted when she refused to do so, her gaze drawn away to the suspended quills: “Look at me, Amy! I’m the only one here with you.”

“You would think so, wouldn’t you?” Amy snickered, her face twisting in an ugly sneer he hadn’t ever seen before from her. “But the difference between you and a corpse is less than you’d think.”

Sonic narrowed his eyes.

“Hey, you gotta pull yourself together!” he snapped. He had little patience for this. When Amy went to pull away, he kept her in place, shaking her slightly. “What’s wrong with you? What’re you doing right now? Have you forgotten where we are?!”

Amy flinched as if struck.

Her pupils shrank back to normal, her face slackening as whatever had taken hold of her slipped away. She blinked, dazed. For a second, she didn’t seem to know where they were. Her eyes roamed the dark until they found the tubes again—those withered, sparking remnants of past experiments—and she shivered violently.

Her gaze returned to Sonic.

“I… I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “You can let go now.”

He didn’t move. “Are you gonna freak out again?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. “No.”

It was the way she said it—quiet, but steady—that made him trust her again. He pulled his hands away.

A sharp crack rang out.

Suddenly, a spark from one of the tubes leapt into the air—sudden and vicious, like lightning. It snapped across the glass and vanished into the dark.

Sonic’s fur bristled instantly, rising with the static. A low growl escaped him before he could catch it and he found himself moving between the erratic golden quill and Amy, blocking it from her sight.

Amy didn’t protest his new positioning. She instead slid closer to him, closing her eyes as she breathed in deeply.

“I need you to draw another card,” she whispered into his white chest fur.

Sonic looked down at her, eyes narrowing a little. “Is this really the time?”

“A card. Just one. For protection.” She pressed the deck into his hand.

His eyes swiveled from her to the cards. “I don’t know if I should…”

“Please, Sonic.”

He sighed, then tugged a single card free from the deck.

It was Temperance.

Before Sonic could say anything, Amy snatched it from his hand. She let out a shaky breath—her face almost going slack from relief—even as another crack of electricity burst from the golden quill behind them, bathing the room in brief white light.

When she spoke again, her voice was clear. Focused.

She tucked the rest of the deck away.

“If I start acting strange again, you’ll need to snap me out of it,” she said, clutching the card close to her heart. “Temperance will help. It will bring me back some balance. For now, this will do.”

Sonic tilted his head slightly, frowning. “What was that all about?”

Amy went quiet for a second. Her eyes flicked toward the rows of test tubes, her fingers tightening around the arcana card.

“There are too many restless spirits in here,” she said at last. “Too many for me to keep track of. Some of them don’t know they’re dead… and some don’t even care that they are. They want—”

She hesitated, then lowered her voice.

“—hosts. They’ll slip in, even if by accident.”

Sonic’s expression hardened, glancing again at the flickering quills. The scent of ozone lingered in the air.

“Ghosts again, Amy? Are you some kind of supernatural magnet?” he asked, only half-joking.

“No,” she answered immediately. “But I’m... sensitive. If I drop my guard, I could act as a conduit. And we really don’t want that to happen.”

“You still hearing them?”

Amy’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Don’t.” Her voice was curt. “Don’t focus on that. Think about anything else. And… keep an eye on me.”

He gave her a shallow nod. “Yeah. You got it.”

Sonic hesitated, shifting his weight. “So… what now? Nothing’s working. There’s still no power.”

Amy’s head tilted slightly. A strange, crooked smile flickered across her face—gone in the blink of an eye.

“There’s one thing that could work,” she said. “Your Chaos Emerald.”

That earned a blink from Sonic. He felt it hum faintly against his side, reacting to her words.

As he pulled it free, the emerald pulsed in his palm—vibrant and steady. His eyes narrowed, and he glanced back at Amy.

“You sure?”

She only shrugged. “They already said yes.”

So, she was still hearing things. Well, wasn’t that a cheerful thought?

Sonic sighed through his nose, then lifted the flashlight, sweeping it across the lab, searching for any clues. There—half-buried behind collapsed equipment and frayed cables—was something that looked like a power port.

“Found it.” He gave her hand a tug, keeping their fingers linked as he led her forward. The emerald buzzed faintly with anticipation.

He slotted it in.

A low hum rolled out from the walls. Then light rushed across the room in a cascade of energy. Consoles booted; screens lit up. The steady thrum of machinery came back online, as if the whole facility had just come back to life in a matter of seconds.

“Now, for the moment of truth,” Amy whispered to herself, pocketing her flashlight when it was offered back to her.

The nearest console flickered, text crawling across the screen.

PASSWORD REQUIRED FOR ACCESS.

Both Sonic and Amy groaned in unison.

“Of course,” Sonic muttered, throwing up his hands. “Why wouldn’t it be locked?”

Grimacing, he leaned forward and typed something impulsively—his own name. Just ‘Sonic’.

INCORRECT. TWO ATTEMPTS REMAINING.

“What are you doing?!” Amy hissed, elbowing him aside before he could try again.

“I dunno, thought maybe I was important!” he said defensively, rubbing his ribs. “Maybe he used me as the key.”

“He wants you dead. Why would he use your name as the password?”

Sonic opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Maybe you’re right.”

Amy leaned in, brow furrowed, muttering under her breath. “Okay, okay… What would he use…? Something stupidly arrogant. Like a string of numbers from his birthday or the date when he received his doctorate—”

“Maria.”

The name came out of Sonic’s mouth before he could stop it. He didn’t even realize he’d thought it. But as the syllables left his tongue, the Chaos Emerald pulsed with a jolt of light, green sparks dancing across the console.

Both of them flinched at the sudden power surge.

Amy turned to stare at him. “Who’s Maria?”

Sonic’s jaw worked. He looked down at the Emerald, still crackling faintly in the slot.

“I don’t know,” he said, honestly. “It just… came to me.”

“You cannot be serious,” Amy snapped. “Did you just blurt out the first name you thought of?”

“Jeez, I don’t know, Amy! Don’t yell at me!” he shot back, more defensive than angry.

The tension between them thickened. Amy stared at the screen, then at Sonic, thinking furiously. Her right hand clenched near her side, fingers twitching toward her satchel before she caught herself.

“Try it,” she muttered. “Put it in. See if it works.”

Sonic hesitated… then carefully typed:

M-A-R-I-A

The screen flickered.

INCORRECT. ONE ATTEMPT REMAINING.

Amy slapped his hands away before he could even think about trying again.

“Hey!” Sonic protested.

“Shoo,” she snapped, stepping in front of the terminal like she was guarding it with her life. “You’ve done enough.”

Amy began pacing in front of it, arms crossed tight, muttering under her breath as her red boots tapped against the metal floor.

Sonic watched her, eyes narrowing. “You thinking of something?”

“I’m thinking I should’ve paid more attention to all that dumb Eggman Empire propaganda,” she hissed. “He’s obsessed with himself. There’re a million things it could be. His name, his pets, his robots—there’s too many options and I don’t know what he picked!”

Sonic hummed, casually rocking on his heels. “Could always just try ‘Eggman.’”

Amy stopped pacing to stare at him like he’d grown another head.

“There’s no way it can be that simple.”

“Then what else could it be?”

She scowled at him, and he met her irritation with a smug little smirk.

“I don’t know, Ames, but I’d rather not stand around in ghost central playing guessing games,” he said lightly. “So, unless you want to deal with whatever’s been skulking around in this place with us—”

“I don’t,” she cut in sharply.

“Then quit stalling.”

Amy’s glare didn’t falter, but her breath did hitch slightly. Her fingers twitched again toward her satchel. She forced them still.

“... Fine,” she muttered. “But if this backfires, it’s your fault.”

She turned back to the terminal, cracked her knuckles, and typed:

E-G-G-M-A-N

The screen blinked.

PASSWORD ACCEPTED.

Sonic grinned. “Huh, look at that. It really was that simple.”

Amy didn’t look at him. She just let her head drop to the desk with a dull thunk.

Ignoring her dramatics, Sonic leaned over her shoulder. The screen flickered as the computer was finished booting up, revealing a list of documents. The topmost folder bore a strange, clinical name:

ERINACEINAE

Sonic wrinkled his nose. “I’m going to be honest, I didn’t know what I expected.”

“Don’t crush me,” Amy muttered, elbowing him until he gave her some space.

The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes, letting himself be moved, and focused back on the computer. He spotted another icon flashing in the corner—an application that read EGGNET in gaudy, red-stamped font. Predictably, Eggman’s grinning face was plastered on the icon.

He made another face.

“Is that supposed to be the Internet…?”

Amy ignored him. Her attention had locked onto something else—one folder, almost buried beneath layers of scattered documents.

NEMESIS

Without hesitation, she clicked on it.

Inside were dozens of subfolders, each stamped with cryptic code names: 663-ON, 9EN-E51S (ranging from 0 through 5), ADV-93, and more beyond that.

Most of them had been accessed and modified recently.

Amy hesitated only a moment before opening the first one she saw, which showed no recent modification: 663-ON.

There was only one file.

A video.

Sonic leaned closer. “You sure about this?”

“No,” Amy said, and opened the file.

The audio kicked in first—wet, fleshy sounds, of something slurping and tearing, overlaid with the grotesque rhythm of someone chewing with their mouth open.

Then, the static cleared.

The camera focused on a dim, blood-slick room. A heavy, red-skinned man stood over a table, his back to the lens. His hands were deep inside something—someone. Muscle, fur, and skin glistened with blood on the slab. The camera's quality was grainy, but not enough to blur the unmistakable shape of the victim.

It was Sonic.

Or someone who looked exactly like him. Laid bare on the table, unmoving. His guts, out in the open.

Amy clapped a hand to her mouth. Paralyzed with fear, Sonic didn’t move.

The mystery man turned slightly, revealing deep, cavernous eyes. His face was smeared in crimson, yellowed teeth bared mid-bite. Bits of blue fur stuck to his chin.

He laughed.

“Hedgehog is always the best dish,” the man said, almost dreamily. “Doesn’t matter how many times I’ve had it; it doesn’t ever get old.”

Amy took a step back. Sonic remained frozen.

Back in the feed, the man leaned down for another bite, his jaw unhinging wider than it should’ve—when a sharp gunshot rang out.

The flesh-eater jerked forward with a choked sound, clutching his large gut. More blood sprayed the table, pooling on the ground.

A voice followed, low and disgusted.

“You know,” it said, “you are, by far, the most revolting thing I’ve ever had the misfortune to lay my eyes on.”

Caught off guard, Sonic blinked out of the stupor. “That voice…”

The red man wheezed and turned fully to face the new threat, furious and blood-soaked. His hand went diving into his coat—fumbling for something gleaming just beneath the folds of flesh-stained fabric.

He took it out.

Another shot cracked out.

The gem—whatever it was—shattered in thousands of fragments, and the man’s hand went with it. The limb exploded in a spray of red mist and splintered bone, leaving only a cauterized stump.

He screamed, a deep, guttural howl of rage and pain.

“YOU SON OF A—! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WAS?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE JUST COST ME!?”

The camera swiveled slightly. The hallway lights flickered, revealing the silhouette of a rotund man with a smoking blaster in one hand.

Eggman.

Sonic recognized him instantly, even without the usual bombastic outfit. He wore a worn lab coat, streaked with soot and frayed at the edges, and a pair of goggles was pushed up over his forehead.

The doctor took another step forward, stepping into the light, blaster raised but not aimed at the red-skinned man.

“Do you ever shut up?” he asked, dry and venomous. “Oh, just when I thought you couldn't sink lower... You disappoint me more. You even whine like a pig.”

The red man trembled, holding his bleeding arm against his chest, face twisted in rage.

Eggman spat to the side.

“And to think… you are me. Or a pathetic version of me.” He laughed, an ugly snarl forming beneath his moustache. “How far can a brilliant mind fall? Going from mastermind to butcher… From scientist to—what? An animal? A beast?”

The red man hissed, scrambling backward as the doctor advanced on him.

“There’s no genius left in you,” Eggman said coldly. “No ambition. Just hunger. Just… gluttony. You're a sick echo, reliving the taste of flesh like it’s the only thing worth remembering.”

Eggman herded the wounded man until his back hit the wall with a wet thud. The flesh-eater whimpered, one hand outstretched outwards as if to plead for mercy, but Eggman didn’t slow down.

“There’s nothing in this wretched place that’s worth my attention,” Eggman said, raising the blaster to the man's forehead. “Not even you.”

He shot him, with no hesitation. The red-skinned version of the doctor slumped, now sporting a charred hole that went straight between his sunken eyes. The body twitched slightly before going still, sliding limply down the wall and plopping onto the dirty floor.

Eggman stared down at the corpse, his large, red nose wrinkling with distaste.

“Just as revolting in death as you were alive,” he muttered.

His eyes slid to the mangled form on the slab—the Sonic lookalike, motionless and half-devoured.

“Years of work, wasted,” Eggman said coldly. “You couldn’t ever save yourself, no matter how much time reset. I’ll be glad to be finally rid of you, too.”

With an impatient huff, he turned to the camera—which was panning to follow his movements—and pointed a finger directly at it.

“Eliminate his file from the candidate roster,” he commanded flatly. “There’s nothing worth salvaging here. No need for a sample. Burn it. All of it.”

The video cut out with a harsh burst of static. For a beat, the room was silent.

Then—

“Wha—what the hell was that?!” Sonic yelped, practically jumping back from the monitor. “Tell me I didn’t just watch Eggman executing some creep on tape!”

Amy didn’t answer. She stood frozen, one hand clamped over her mouth, her eyes locked on the now-black screen.

“That was you,” she whispered, briefly holding her head with a wince. “That thing on the table—it looked just like you. Sonic… how is that possible?”

He shook his head violently. “I don’t—I don’t know! He said… Eggman said the other man was an alternate version of him?”

“Sonic, focus!” Amy snapped, rounding on him. “Forget Eggman for two seconds and look at what we just saw. That was you. You were the thing getting eaten! The body was blue, it was a hedgehog, it was just—it wasn’t a lookalike, it was you!"

“No,” he said, voice lower. “It wasn’t me. I’m right here, Amy.”

“But how can you be sure?” she pushed. “What if… what if it was another version of you? Like, a clone? Or—”

“Don’t!” Sonic cut her off, voice sharper than usual. “Just… don’t say it like that. Like he and I are the same.”

Amy stared at him, reading the tension in his jaw, the way his hands had curled into fists.

He looked away first.

“I don’t know what any of this means,” he muttered. “But whatever that place was… whatever that thing on the table used to be… I’m not it.”

They descended into an awkward silence, only broken once Amy stepped forward and carefully placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, but we should get to the bottom of this,” she whispered.

Sonic shook off her hand.

“Don’t touch me,” he snapped at her, barring his teeth.

“Alright…” Amy raised her palms up, as if to placate him. Her face tightened. “But I need you to pull yourself together. Just like I did when I lost my shit. Got it? You don’t get to lose your head here, do you understand me?”

Sonic didn’t answer her. His jaw flexed, and his eyes remained fixed on the floor, stubbornly trying to ignore everything around him.

Amy gave a frustrated sigh. She turned back to the computer and began scanning through the next folders. Sonic didn’t look at her, didn’t move—until he heard her mutter something under her breath.

“… ‘Blocked’… ‘Dead’… Huh.”

His ears twitched.

“What?” he asked, despite himself.

Amy didn’t glance back. Her eyes were locked on the screen, flicking through rows of text.

“There’s no video for 9EN-E51S. Just notes,” she said. “Most of them are locked or corrupted… Eggman calls the one who gathered the samples 'Needlemouse'. I think it’s some kind of AI who helps Robotnik collect data. But every sample it got from this group came out unusable—except one.”

That got his attention. Slowly—reluctantly—Sonic stepped forward to see over her shoulder.

Amy tapped a file. “This one. Number 5. Eggman marked it as the only stable version of the 9EN-E51S strain. Says it’s powerful, but that it doesn’t mesh well with others.”

She clicked open the file, and the screen filled with diagnostic reports and notes in Eggman’s unmistakable, arrogant tone:

PERSONAL LOG – PROJECT NEMESIS
Designate: 9EN-E51S-5
Entry 3A, 18:05:56

Of the myriad failed strains within the 9EN-E51S family, only -5 demonstrates consistent integrity under stress. Power readings remain high even under forced fusion trials, though unfortunately, all hybridization attempts (see: FLEE-1993/9EN, ADV-93/9EN) lead to rapid degeneration. Mental collapse. Systemic organ failure. Etcetera.

Still… there is potential here.

If I am to manufacture my one, true Nemesis, it must begin with him. He is the ideal template.

A perfect match is required for this to work. But if I can stabilize the reaction… oh, the possibilities are endless!

Amy read it all aloud, her voice growing quieter as she reached the end. When she stopped, the silence that followed was deafening.

Sonic’s brow was furrowed deeply, but his eyes were unreadable.

“A template of an enemy, huh?” Sonic murmured. “Is there more of that?”

“Not about 9EN-E51S,” Amy said, frowning. “Like I said, most of it is inaccessible. The password didn’t work.”

“What about ‘hybridization’?”

Amy shrugged, shaking her head. “Nothing so far.”

Sonic pressed his lips together and began dragging two chairs over to the front of the desk. “This is going to take forever, so we might as well get comfortable.”

His friend looked at him, furrowing her brow over how grim he looked. “Sorry about before."

Sonic waved his hand, dismissing her concerns. “If I get to shout at you because of a bunch of nosy ghosts, you get to do the same when I get stupid. Now, let’s get down to business. And prepare yourself, because this is gonna get ugly.”

They pulled the chairs close and sat down, the metal legs scraping faintly against the floor. Amy navigated back to the file directory and clicked on the next report.

ADV-93.

The page loaded without resistance.

Sonic leaned forward, arms braced on his knees as he scanned the first few lines. Amy read them aloud, slow and careful.

PERSONAL LOG – PROJECT NEMESIS
Designate: ADV-93
Entry 13B, 14:23:49

Strain exhibits above-average compatibility with the rest of the DNA strains, but fails to retain enhanced physical properties.

Conclusion: stable, but weak. Genetic dampening suspected. Considered a stabilizing base—no more, no less.

Sonic’s frown deepened. ‘A stabilizing base’? What was that one supposed to mean?

Amy quietly clicked out of the tab. “Let’s look at the other one that 9EN-E51S mentioned: FLEE-1993.”

She tapped the folder. Behind them, the golden quill clattered faintly against the glass of its tube. Amy winced, one hand briefly flying to her temple like she'd gotten a sudden migraine.

Sonic resolutely ignored both her reaction and the commotion in the background. “Sure. Let’s do that.”

The screen flickered. Unlike the last file, this one opened with a pop up:

WARNING: DOCTOR. FURTHER HYBRIDIZATION ATTEMPTS SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED. FLEE-1993 STRAIN IS HIGHLY UNSTABLE AND HAS PRODUCED NO SUSTAINABLE RESULTS. SELF-DESTRUCTION IS IMMINENT. SEVERE MENTAL DEGRADATION IS EXPECTED.

Amy shot Sonic a glance, but he was already leaning in, expression tight.

He dismissed it.

Several reports had been dumped into a subfolder titled simply ‘NO’.

They scrolled past it, clicking on the ones that remained outside.

The first file opened with an all-caps header:

STRAND ORIGIN: FLEE-1993. CONFIRMED DNA SOURCE: MOBIAN HEDGEHOG (FLEETWAY).

Amy read aloud, faltering slightly as she went. “Strain is saturated in Negative Chaos Energy. The energy… is suspected to possess a will of its own?”

“That’s interesting,” Sonic muttered, eyes narrowing.

They went to the next file.

PERSONAL LOG – PROJECT NEMESIS
Designate: FLEE-1993
Entry 27P, 01:50:38

All hybridization trials with FLEE-1993 result in total genetic collapse. No exceptions. At best, candidates exhibit brief bursts of high energy output before cascading organ failure. At worst: immediate disintegration.

Amy grimaced. “Okay. Lovely.”

Even when stabilized with energy dampeners, subjects exhibit signs of irreversible mental decline within the first hour. The effect resembles prion disease—brain function deteriorates first. Followed by irrational aggression. Delusional behavior. Violent episodes.

I would also compare it with a fast-acting variant of rabies, except no virus has ever been detected.

Sonic exhaled slowly through his nose. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

Amy hesitated, then read the next line:

All subjects develop circling red pupils within the first ten minutes of consciousness. Power surges follow shortly after, resulting in site damage, damage to machinery, and structure failure.

Her voice dipped into a whisper. “This sounds like…”

“… like something we really shouldn’t be poking,” Sonic finished, his fingers digging into his knee hard enough to sting.

Amy quickly scrolled to the bottom of the page. There was a final note:

Hybridization remains elusive. Negative Chaos Energy cannot be artificially bonded without structural breakdown. No current candidate has survived exposure long enough to adapt. Still—there’s a challenge here. The potential of these random power-ups is too good to abandon.

I refuse to give up on this. Everything must be perfected for this to work!

Sonic leaned back, staring at the screen like it might explode.

“… This is so fucked up,” he said finally. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

Amy didn’t disagree. She hovered over the ‘NO’ folder.

“… You think we should open it?”

Sonic’s eyes met hers.

“No. We’ve seen enough about this one. Let’s continue.”

Amy didn’t argue. She exited the folder, and the screen blinked back to the main index.

CHRO-08 was stamped with “USELESS” and “WEAK” in overlapping red text, with “HIGH FATALITY RATE” scrawled near the bottom.

Sonic winced. Amy clutched the Temperance card tighter to her chest, like it was a shield.

“There’s nothing else worth looking at in CHRO-08. He just seems to love to hate on it,” she muttered, and clicked back to the main index. “EXE-2011’s locked tight.”

“Then, there’s no point in wasting time on it.”

The next file was IDW-18.

The moment it opened, both of them leaned forward.

“Stable,” Amy read aloud. “Promising. Excellent base.”

Sonic rubbed at the back of his neck. “High praise from him.”

Amy kept reading, her voice flat and emotionless. “Multiple quills were collected from different points in time. Variance between samples noted, but all retain core stability. Universe is flagged for long-term observation.”

Sonic squinted at the top corner of the screen. “This is dated… months ago. He’s still watching them.”

“Yeah.” Amy’s expression darkened.

“Guess this confirms it, then. Eggman is overseeing different universes and he’s bringing all of this...” Sonic gestured at the lab with a wild gesture. “Here.”

“But to… build himself a Nemesis?” Amy frowned at that.

She clicked into the next file from the IDW-18 pile.

This one was different. It spoke of Chao and only Chao.

“Life cycles of Chao?” she murmured, skimming the text. “He’s tracking their development. Studying something about… evolution patterns.”

Sonic leaned in beside her, brow furrowing. “What’s that got to do with the rest of ‘Nemesis’?”

Amy scrolled, eyes narrowed. “He thinks certain conditions trigger specific variants. Like… if a Chao sees enough kindness, it turns into something softer. If it sees violence…”

“… it turns into something darker?”

There was a long pause.

Amy tapped her nail against the monitor. “He’s not just watching people. He’s watching everything.”

Sonic cleared his throat and began to read the following log:

OBSERVATIONAL LOG – PROJECT NEMESIS
Designate: IDW-18
Entry 100C, 06:53:52

Chao remain a fascinating species, closely interconnected with Chaos Energy. Under repeated observation, patterns continue to emerge linking their physical evolution to proximity-based influence.

Caretaker traits are consistently mirrored in Chao development.

Example A: Subject #C-A07, a black-haired feline Mobian, produced a Chao with distinctly feline features—ears, fur, and tail (notably, predatory/stalking behavior).

Example B: Subject #C-B19, a violet Chameleon Mobian, yielded a Chao with camouflage ability and color-adaptive skin. Subject appears to “train” Chao via stealth and fighting games.

These results reinforce the idea that Chao respond to the positive and sustained attention of their caretakers. Not only do they mimic their physical appearance, but behavioral patterns and even temperament.

A recent development has proven… curious.

He has begun interacting with one of the local Chao on a regular basis. Surveillance shows a routine has formed between them.

All caretaking behaviors confirmed.

I must inform the Doctor of this.

“That was not Eggman speaking,” Sonic said.

“Not too surprising,” Amy said. “Robotnik has a lot of people under him. Fans—if you can believe it—and plenty of coerced laborers. It’s fitting that multiple people have been dragged into this.”

The rest of the IDW-18 files repeated more of the same: promising results, and speculation about the optimization of this particular DNA strain. There were a couple of inaccessible files, but they got the gist of it, all the same.

After massaging her head for a moment, Amy clicked back to the main directory and began working her way down the list.

OVA-96, SG-1991, U-2014, SX-2003, SP-2022—each folder opened with glowing commentary. Words like stable, promising, resilient, and ideal base appeared again and again.

Then there were more problematic samples: R-014/3, S15E-NE9, SM-1990S, SH-24022016, RAP-505. The ones that were consistently producing failed Subjects when mixed together with other DNA strains, over and over.

Sonic leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and thought it over for a moment.

He was born—in all probability—because Eggman had been taking samples from different universes and decided that experimenting with random people’s DNA was A-Okay. There had clearly been countless failed attempts, which meant he’d gotten extremely lucky in the genetic lottery.

All of it… just to create a Nemesis.

Okay. So. The good old doctor was completely off his rocker. That was nothing new.

What was new was the absolute need to punch the madman in the face.

Because—what the fuck was this?

A lab full of dead experiments. A collection of stolen lives. People torn apart on the molecular level, all so Eggman could make his perfect little monster.

All so he could play God.

Sonic’s fingers dug into his arm. He stared hard at the screen, as if sheer force could make it vanish.

“A whole damn multiverse out there,” he muttered. “And this is what he does with it.”

In his periphery, he could see that Amy’s head turned toward him, tilting slightly.

“Are we finally going to talk about it?” she asked.

Sonic didn’t answer at first. He couldn’t even face her.

His jaw worked, clenched so tight it hurt. Then, finally, through gritted teeth:

“Yeah. Fine.”

Amy waited.

“All the files,” he said, barely above a whisper. “Every single one we could read about; all of them say the same thing. The DNA comes from a hedgehog.” He swallowed, like the word tasted rotten. “The hedgehog is blue. And he always possesses the ability to go at ridiculous speeds. He’s supposed to be stupidly resilient, and tear through metal like paper.”

He leaned forward, elbows on knees, rubbing his face with both hands as if he wished to scrape the anger off his body.

“There’s no use pretending anymore. I’m here because I was made—designed—to be a madman’s enemy.” He let the words hang, then added softly, “I was made from stolen, fused DNA. Lucky for me, whatever he gave me matched well enough to keep me whole. That’s the only reason why I didn’t die instantly.”

“When I see him next,” Sonic continued, voice low, “I’m going to kill him.”

It wasn’t fury in his tone—more like a grim certainty.

“I wasn’t trying before. Not really. I always held back in our fights. I know enough about myself to say that I’m not a killer and I don’t want to off someone just because they pissed me off.”

He swallowed hard, then finished, “But this… this is different.”

Sonic looked away, jaw clenched tight. “He’s not just some asshole anymore. He’s a monster who enjoys playing with lives—our lives—as if they’re nothing special.”

“Aw, are you trying to say you’ll avenge us?” Amy asked, suddenly.

Sonic turned sharply toward her, startled by the suddenness of the question. But the Amy in front of him wasn’t quite right. Her green eyes, usually warm and bright, were empty. Her smile stretched too wide on her face.

Sonic’s breath caught. “Amy…?”

The figure in front of him laughed maniacally, amused beyond words.

“You are such a fool,” she said. “Do you think you’re the first to try that? To rage, to resist, to try to kill him?”

Her body moved strangely, puppeteered by something beyond her control. She stood and circled him with jerky steps, the chair creaking behind her as it shifted.

“None of us got far enough to matter.”

A spiral—blood-red—began to churn in her pupils, a silent storm of red swallowing green.

Sonic tensed, heart hammering in his chest. “Get out of her,” he said, voice low, steady.

The thing in Amy didn’t even flinch. “Why should I? She opened the door. She was listening. She wanted answers.”

“I said—” Sonic growled, standing, fists clenched, “—get out of her.”

“Oh, that’s funny. Are you going to tell me you’re going to force me out if I don’t agree? Tear me out with those borrowed hands, Sonic?” The spirit taunted with a laugh. “Funny name, that one. Most of us also got it from Eggman as well! Face it, you’re just as insignificant as the rest of us.”

Sonic backed away from Amy until he was against the port. The Emerald was calling him, trying to get his attention. His hand hovered over it.

He took it out.

The world around them descended into darkness in the blink of an eye, only illuminated by the green blaze erupting in Sonic’s palm.

The Chaos Emerald sparked violently in his grasp, arcs of energy leaping between his fingers like live wires. His own blue lightning responded with the surge of energy, traveling down his limbs.

“I’m serious,” Sonic said, voice crackling with heat. “I will beat you out of her if I have to.”

The thing wearing Amy’s body blinked—then howled with laughter.

“Oh, how precious! The ‘hero’ is angry!” it sang. “Do it then. Show me how futile your efforts will be!”

Then it lunged.

Amy’s body whipped forward, limbs jerking unnaturally. Fast, but not as fast as him. Oh, she was quick, yes, but not in that way. The attack was clumsy—more puppet than predator.

Sonic had all the time in the world to counter.

Sending the Emerald a mental plea to help, he shifted his weight, twisted out of the way with a blur of motion—and struck.

His fist collided with her cheek in a flash of green and blue.

Though he hadn’t put much force behind the punch, there was a sharp crack when it connected—followed by a shriek so unearthly it scraped against the metal walls.

Amy hit the ground hard, suddenly limp—freed from whatever had been steering her body.

Silence followed, broken only by Sonic’s ragged breathing and the faint, fading hum of the Emerald in his palm. He dropped to one knee beside her, checking her pulse. Relief flickered through him at the steady rhythm beneath his fingers.

Then—

“… What… happened…?”

Amy blinked up at him, eyes wide, green and hers again. Her voice was hoarse, dazed, and confused.

“Do you feel hurt?” Sonic asked her.

“No…?” She muttered. “Help me up?”

Sonic nodded, slipping an arm around her shoulders as he helped her sit up. She leaned into him for a moment, catching her breath, her limbs still shaky from whatever had just been forced out of her.

As she steadied herself, Sonic watched her carefully. “Do you remember anything? Like… what just happened?”

Amy paused, brow furrowing. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to think. After a moment, they snapped open, widening in horror.

“Oh my gosh,” she gasped. “I—I let it in. I let that thing take over me. I attacked you.”

She looked mortified, pulling away slightly, clutching her hands together as if ashamed of them.

“I’m so sorry, Sonic. I didn’t mean to—I didn’t want to—”

“Hey, hey.” Sonic raised his hands in a calming gesture. “It’s fine. Nothing happened. I’m okay. You’re okay. That’s all that matters.”

She hesitated, then gave a small nod.

He swallowed, his voice dipping a little. “But… do you remember what we were talking about before all that?”

Amy looked down, frowning in concentration. “I think so…” she murmured. Her lips moved absently as she repeated the words, “You were telling me that you were designed to be an enemy to Doctor…?”

Her voice trailed off. Then she turned to him fully, the meaning catching up to her expression. Her jaw dropped, stunned silent.

Sonic chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. “Y-Yeah. That part. Uh. Listen, I get it if that’s kind of a dealbreaker, or if it makes things weird now, or—”

He cut himself off with a nervous laugh. “Actually, I don’t know what I can expect from you now. Maybe for you to run screaming? Not that I’d blame you. And, uh, sorry about the punch. I didn’t want to hit you, obviously—I mean, I wasn’t even trying that hard—just, I needed to knock the ghost out—”

For a moment, Amy didn’t say anything. But she suddenly rose to his level and wrapped her arms around him tightly, pressing her face into his chest.

He froze, mouth open mid-ramble.

“Sonic, I couldn’t care less about any of that!” she said fiercely, voice muffled against his chest fur. “You’re my friend! I know you’re a good person! Why would I ever think about running away from you?”

Sonic blinked. Then blinked again.

“… Oh,” he said, very softly. His arms slowly came up around her. “Okay.”

They stayed like that for a couple of seconds before they separated, now feeling a little flustered by each other’s proximity.

“Come on, we should go,” Sonic said quietly, the warmth in his chest dimming as the reality of their surroundings settled back in. They were still deep inside Eggman’s lab, and the horrors here weren’t going to wait.

“Right,” Amy said, wiping her eyes and squaring her shoulders. “We’ve read all we can about this. No sense in sticking around and waiting for… that to happen again.”

“Yeah,” Sonic muttered, glancing warily at the darkened corners of the lab. “I can agree with that.”

Chapter Text

“Oh man. Not these guys again,” Sonic groaned.

“They’re very persistent,” Amy agreed with a small sigh, her breath fogging in front of her. She kept pace beside him with ease as they ran down the corridor.

“Can’t you… I dunno, do something about them?” Sonic asked, fur and quills bristling with agitation as the air buzzed with unstable energy.

Amy snorted. “I’m self-taught. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. You?”

“I only know how to punch and slam into things. If anything, I know less about this spooky stuff than you.”

The hallway ahead flickered under dying lights, each bulb buzzing like an insect.

Every time the lights started doing that, or the doors stuttered open and shut without reason, they’d asked the Chaos Emerald to teleport them out of the ghosts’ scope of influence. But even that was starting to fail. The horde was always close behind now, and the feeling of something snapping at their heels was getting harder to shake.

Worse, Badniks were starting to show up.

Not in coordinated waves—yet—but enough to be a problem. Just moments ago, they’d vaulted over an idle Caterkiller; its segmented body was left twitching lazily on the floor. Hardly a threat. But overhead, Buzz Bombers drifted in the dark, and their presence felt far more oppressive as they swarmed.

Suddenly, the metal wall ahead of them caved inward—a dent appearing in an instant, causing a lot of noise. Though no cause was visible, it immediately drew the attention of the badniks.

And that was a thing. The dumb robots investigated every slam and crash the Fleetway ghosts made, unwittingly chasing after the two hedgehogs as well.

If they ever saw them, they would have to fight a small army of those pests.

“Feels like they’re ringing a dinner bell,” Sonic muttered.

Amy didn’t answer right away. It was all but invisible to him, but he knew that her gaze was fixed on what the ghosts were doing.

Judging by Amy’s expression, whatever it was, it wasn’t a pretty sight.

“Possibly. They’re stirring everything up,” she said finally. “They’re not going after us now, but they can mess with the Egg Carrier and make the badniks do their dirty work for them as they grow stronger.”

“Are they at least saying anything useful?”

“No. Just screaming. Lots of it. Frankly, you’re lucky you can’t hear any of it.”

Sonic frowned, his brain racing.

“Yeah… it’s probably about time we skip ahead again.” He held out his hand, his invitation for her to take it more than clear.

Amy shook her head, still jogging. “This isn’t working. We need to jump further. Can’t you get us to the nearest power source? If we’re blowing this place sky-high, that’s where we start.”

Sonic shrugged, a little sheepish. “Well… I can ask.”

“… Ask?”

He grinned and nodded. “The Emerald. It’s been a big help since I got it.”

Amy let out a soft, amused chuckle.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually chatting with the glowing rock,” she teased him. “If you are, you and Knuckles have more in common than I thought.”

Sonic laughed. “Hey, it’s not like that. It’s more like… I focus, and the Emerald kinda shows me the way.”

“I won’t even pretend to know how that works,” Amy said, fighting a smile as they finally joined hands. “But go on and do your thing.”

Sonic nodded, eyes closing as he focused.

There was a crash somewhere near them, but whatever it was—it didn’t matter now.

The teleport was smooth, as usual. A blink, a pull—and suddenly, they were elsewhere.

They rematerialized in a dimly-lit terminal room, its walls lined with broken machinery and exposed cables sparking faintly. A thin layer of dust and debris clung to every surface, and the air smelled of old oil and burnt circuits.

Amy glanced around, frowning. “Okay… this doesn’t look like it’ll help us blow up the Egg Carrier. It’s already pretty messed up.”

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, but maybe the nearest power source is here?”

She crossed her arms, brow knitting. “Could be. Any clue about what it is?”

He turned to look when—

“INTRUDERS IN THE EGG CARRIER?”

The voice wasn’t a shout. It was flat and robotic.

Green optics flared in the shadows from across the room.

Out from the dark stepped a red-and-white humanoid robot, almost triple Sonic’s height. Its head swiveled between them with a soft whirr, giving the slightest impression of puzzlement. The number E-102 was stamped in white across its chest plate.

E-102 Gamma.

Sonic took a step back. “Aw, not one of you again.”

Amy’s expression instantly soured. “Really, Sonic? You teleported us right into another of these things?”

Sonic raised his hands. “Hey, I don’t choose the destinations—I just follow the shiny rock’s lead.”

The Green Emerald pulsed with a flicker of irritation.

“Uh, Greenie says the badnik has the closest power source,” Sonic said, grimacing as the Emerald chastised him. “And that it’s not its fault our luck is horrible.”

Before Amy could respond, Gamma’s cold mechanical voice cut through the room:

“TARGET IDENTIFIED: ‘SONIC’,” the Super Badnik intoned, finally zeroing in on the blue blur. “PRIMARY DIRECTIVE: 'CAPTURE THAT HEDGEHOG’. PLEASE DO NOT RESIST.”

Sonic groaned. “How about no?”

He crouched, ready to bolt—only for a plasma blast to scorch the ground inches ahead of him, right where he’d meant to dash.

His eyes widened. “Okay, that was rude.”

Another shot followed, aimed at exactly where he would’ve juked left. He barely twisted away in time—the bolt grazed his quills, making him hiss in frustration.

“It knows how you move!” Amy shouted, ducking behind a sparking console. “He’s predicting everything you do!”

“No kidding,” Sonic muttered, darting sideways—only for Gamma to roll smoothly into his path, another plasma blast scorching the floor where he’d been heading. “Any chance you’ve met another hedgehog like me, pal?!”

“NEGATIVE,” it said without skipping a beat. “NO OTHER HEDGEHOG MATCHES YOUR DNA OR ENERGY SIGNATURE.”

Sonic dodged a swipe of its claw, scowling. He moved closer, blue light crackling at his heels as he tried to knock into it with his sharp quills—only for the Super Badnik to sidestep his attack with barely a stutter.

“Then how are you predicting me so well?” he snapped at it, skidding to a halt.

“MY PREDICTION MODEL IS BASED ON ALL THE E- SERIES’ DATA. EVERYTHING YOU DO IS EASILY READ AND COUNTERED.”

Gamma’s blaster hummed, locking on before firing again—forcing Sonic to spring into a roll to avoid being nailed mid-sentence.

“Oh, don’t act so smug about it, at least!” Sonic huffed, diving behind a ruined control panel as another blast lit up the air.

“Sonic!” Amy’s voice rang out from across the room. She launched her hammer at the Super Badnik, distracting him momentarily with a hefty blow to its head. “This is a waste of time! We’re not getting anything useful from fighting it—let’s just go!”

“QUERY,” Gamma interrupted, its attention fully on her. “THERE IS ANOTHER HEDGEHOG PRESENT IN THE EGG CARRIER, BUT THERE IS NO ENTRY ABOUT A PINK HEDGEHOG IN THE NEMESIS LOGS. HOW DID YOU GET HERE?”

Amy looked unamused at its words, her hammer magically reappearing in her grasp. She lifted it up over her head, as if to threaten it. “Do I look like I’m about to tell you?”

“NO. IN FACT, YOU APPEAR TOO ANGRY—"

Seizing the opportunity, Sonic zipped past Gamma, grinning as he snatched Amy’s hand.

“Well, you got that one right! See you never, rust bucket!” he snarked, just as the Green Emerald pulsed and whisked them away in a burst of green light.

They rematerialized in a corridor just a few levels up, Sonic still gripping her arm.

Amy exhaled sharply and dismissed her weapon. “Maybe I should just let you carry me. We’re toast if we need to teleport away in an emergency and you’re too far away to get me.”

“I can get behind that, my fair lady,” Sonic said, waggling his eyebrows and putting on his best innocent look.

Amy huffed and rolled her eyes, but a blush still crept up her cheeks as she stepped closer to him.

“Don’t make such a big deal out of it,” she muttered, clearly flustered.

Sonic chuckled, holding her close with a cocky grin. “Who, me? I’m the picture of humility.”

“Yeah, well. You’re the picture of something, alright!” she grumbled.

“So, what’s next, Princess Pink?”

Amy gave him a look, but didn’t argue with the nickname. “The Emerald was reacting to E-102’s power core, right? That’s what lured it into that room?”

“Yup,” Sonic confirmed with a nod.

“Then we need something bigger. Something big enough that could be actually powering the Egg Carrier. Can the Emerald track down something like that?”

Sonic tilted his head, tossing the question back to his rocky friend. “Well, Greenie? You heard her. Think you can lock onto the main power source this time?”

The Chaos Emerald pulsed in response as it thought, before emitting a soft, confirming chime.

Sonic gave Amy a quick grin. “Now we’re talking.”

She smiled. With graceful movements, the other hedgehog climbed into his arms. The air around them warped—space folding with a familiar tug.

They reappeared in what was left of a lab.

Wet glass crunched beneath Sonic’s shoes. Broken terminals flickered weakly. Wires dangled from the ceiling like the guts of a dead beast, and scorch marks blackened the walls. Sonic wrinkled his noise, the scent of rust and iron fresh in the air.

Whatever had been here, it had already been torn to shreds. Maybe not even that long ago.

Then they heard it. The heavy thud of metal.

A drenched E-101 Beta emerged from the mess, red optics glowing at them like a furnace.

“INTRUDERS DETECTED.”

Both Amy and Sonic groaned aloud. “Not this guy again!”

“ALL ORGANICS MUST BE TERMINATED,” E-101 Beta growled, already raising its cannons.

“Okay. Fuck it, we ball,” Sonic muttered, triggering the Emerald before the Super Badnik’s cannons could fire.

They vanished—

—and rematerialized soon after, landing themselves straight into the arms of another disaster.

Amy screamed as she saw the E-102 turning to face them. “SERIOUSLY?! DON’T SEND US BACK TO THE OTHER SUPER BADNIK, DUMBASS!”

“It still has a big power core! Greenie’s only tracking the closest energy signatures!”

Gamma’s optics lit up a notch the second it saw them. “SONIC THE HEDGEHOG AND… THE PINK HEDGEHOG. WE MEET AGAIN. PLEASE DO NOT RUN, OR I WILL BE FORCED TO PURSUE.”

“Oh, for fu—! My name’s Amy!”

“NAME ACKNOWLEDGED. UPDATING LOG: ‘AMY: THE PINK HEDGEHOG’.”

Sonic carried them behind cover as Gamma opened fire. He felt more than done with this already. “Please, don’t try to befriend the robot, Amy.”

“I’m not! Why do you feel I’m trying to make friends with the Super Badnik?” Amy laughed, shaking her head.

Before Sonic could respond, the Emerald activated on its own, whisking them away mid-argument.

This time, they warped into a dusty corridor, making them both sneeze instantly. But at least they were safe, for now.

Amy slumped against the wall, brushing her bangs from her face with a long sigh.

“This is a disaster.”

“Yeah, pretty much,” Sonic agreed, scanning the shadows with narrowed eyes. “If another robot tries to jump-scare us, I swear I’m gonna lose it.”

A sharp clang echoed down the hall—the sound of metal buckling, as something huge moved nearby.

“Okay,” Sonic muttered, jaw tight. “Maybe going after the biggest power sources in Eggman’s deathtrap wasn’t our brightest move.”

Keeping her voice down as well, Amy rubbed her temple with a small groan. “It felt like a good idea at the time. If only we had blueprints or literally any kind of map...”

Sonic paced, thinking furiously. “What if we aim for one of the biggest power sources—but something stationary? You know, something that’s not strapped to a moving bucket of bolts? Think about it for a second. When we plugged in the Chaos Emerald, it might’ve powered everything on the ship—waking up all the badniks at once.”

Amy’s eyes widened. “Which means… the main power core should be the only thing not moving.”

“Exactly.” Sonic grinned. “I do have my moments, you know? Doubt Eggman would build a complete idiot to be his archnemesis.”

She shot him a look.

He rolled his eyes.

“We are allowed to talk about it,” Sonic said, feeling some irritation after realizing that Amy was trying to pussyfoot around the elephant in the room. “I’m not gonna fall apart if you bring it up. Just… don’t joke about it—any of it—and we’re good.”

“As if I would,” Amy muttered, sounding offended that he would consider her capable of such a thing.

Before Sonic could respond, a deep mechanical voice cut through the corridor like a blade.

“INTRUDERS FOUND.”

They didn’t hesitate.

Sonic scooped his friend up in one fluid motion and bolted, just in time to see a plasma bolt scorching the place they’d been standing in.

“Well, look who’s back! It’s Beta again! Hi, Beta! Did you miss us that much?!” he yelled, thick sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“Sonic—don’t waste time antagonizing it! It’s speeding up!” Amy shouted, clinging to his shoulders as Beta’s thunderous steps closed in behind them.

Another blast tore through the ceiling above, sending metal and wires raining down all around them. Sonic accelerated, narrowly dodging a small mountain of destroyed equipment that’d been falling on top of them.

“Shouldn’t that stop it?!” he asked, glancing back at the collapsed heap behind them.

But Beta smashed through the wreckage without even slowing down.

“Never mind. Should we just warp?!” Sonic shouted over the chaos.

“Should we?!” Amy retorted, her attention fully on their pursuer. “Do you even know where we’ll end up if we try to do that again?! What’s the Emerald saying? Does it know where the reactor is?”

“It’s still thinking!”

“Then let it think! We can’t afford to land in front of another Super Badnik after pissing off two of them!”

Behind them, a high-pitched whine began to rise.

“Also—heads up, Beta’s attacking again! On your left!”

Another blast rocked the hallway. Sonic swerved sharply to the right as searing heat scorched past his side.

But Beta wasn’t slowing down or letting up with its attacks.

A second bolt screamed past them, burning a molten hole through the floor. Sonic leapt over the gap, dodging left just as a side panel burst into flames after being struck by another blast.

“Still too close for comfort!” Amy shouted, glancing back. “You need to move a bit faster!”

“I’m trying!” Sonic snapped, boots skimming the floor as he narrowly avoided another plasma burst. “I don’t see you try to outrun a tank with legs while carrying another person, Amy!”

“Alright, fair enough! Maybe I should try to—"

Sensing trouble, Beta fired again. This time, the blast hit a nearby pipe, releasing a surge of steam that cloaked the corridor in white momentarily.

Having accidentally inhaled some of it, Amy coughed loudly in his ear, leaving Sonic alone to squint through the thick cloud of steam as they rushed onward.

More blasts chased after them, leaving little chance to recover. One attack slammed into the ground just behind them, the small but powerful shockwave hurling them forward. Trying to salvage the situation, the blue blur quickly curled them into a roll in mid-air. Miraculously, he hit the ground running, arms desperately holding onto a slipping Amy.

His feet blurred as he tried speeding up. Sparks crackled at his heels, electricity trailing his movements. To his dismay, the pink hedgehog in his arms let out a hiss as she was zapped by one of them.

Sonic faltered.

“Are you okay?!” he asked, worried for the first time about his lightning hurting someone.

“Yeah! Whatever you’re doing, it’s working—we’re leaving it behind! Don’t you dare stop!” Amy shouted back.

Chunks of ceiling came down around them like falling guillotines as Beta continued aiming above them. Sonic ducked and weaved through the chaos, his heartbeat racing in his ears.

“Beta’s trying to bring the whole area down and us with it!” he exclaimed.

“Okay, okay, maybe we should try to—”

Amy was cut off again.

Ahead, one of the hallway walls groaned—then burst open, metal peeling away like foil.

And E-102 Gamma stepped through the breach.

“Not you as well!” Amy cried.

A sudden instinct made Sonic twist around—he made both their bodies duck down just as Beta came crashing in from behind with a brutal swing. The blow missed, but only barely. Off-balance from the wild lunge, the Super Badnik skidded past them, its heels sparking against the ground as it fought to regain control of its own momentum.

Glaring, Sonic slid to a halt to avoid running into both Super Badniks.

“BETA,” Gamma greeted its fellow Super Badnik with a hint of warmth as they nearly collided. Its head tilted up to meet the taller model’s optics. “BE CAREFUL. IF YOU CONTINUE TO ATTACK LIKE THIS, YOU RISK HARMING THE NEMESIS CANDIDATE. OUR ORDERS ARE TO CAPTURE SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, NOT KILL HIM.”

But Beta didn’t seem to register Gamma’s warning, its focus was still locked onto the two hedgehogs watching the tense standoff between the machines.

“Hang on tight, Amy,” Sonic whispered urgently into her ear.

Nodding, she tightened her hold on him.

Just as Beta charged at them again, Sonic began running toward it. He switched tracks at the last few seconds, leaping onto the wall and staying there. His shoes sparked against the metal surface as he sprinted sideways. As a result, the attacking Super Badnik barreled underneath them, missing them by mere inches.

Sonic was still on the lead when Amy suddenly screamed: “Incoming!”

His head turned just in time for him to spot Gamma’s bulky frame coming flying straight toward them.

“What the heck—!” he shouted in alarm, ducking under the airborne robot as it crashed past them. The near miss forced Sonic to twist mid-run and roll back to the floor, tumbling hard before catching himself on one hand. They came to an abrupt stop.

Disoriented, Amy clung to him, her breath sharp in his ear.

Before either could fully recover, a thunderous clang echoed through the corridor—Gamma had slammed into a charging Beta with a heavy metal punch just as E-101’s cannon lit up. The blast veered up, blowing a hole in the ceiling instead of hitting them.

Sonic and Amy quickly jumped to the side to avoid being flattened by the falling debris.

After that interruption, Beta finally shifted its attention to the new threat, its red optics flaring ominously as it raised its cannons toward its sibling.

Despite its smaller and sleeker design, the E-102 managed to redirect Beta’s barrels mid-swing, knocking them again off-course. Because of that, another of Beta’s plasma shots fired harmlessly into the far wall, instantly melting parts of it.

“I CANNOT ALLOW YOU TO DESTROY THE DOCTOR’S NEMESIS,” Gamma said firmly, holding its ground against the heavier bot. “BETA, PLEASE REMEMBER: CAPTURE IS THE OBJECTIVE. NOT DESTRUCTION.”

Beta gave no response to its plea. Even as it tried to shove Gamma aside, its head pivoted toward Sonic and Amy.

Trapped between the two towering fighting machines, Sonic dedicated most of his focus to weaving around their stomping limbs, dodging with frantic precision as he searched desperately for a way out of the danger zone. Amy’s voice rang out in his ear, shouting encouragements over everything that was happening around them.

“DON’T FORCE ME TO DESTROY YOU,” E-102 Gamma said in its mechanical voice, following its gaze.

The E-101’s head shifted toward its kin for a split second.

“BETA,” Gamma said again, almost as another warning—and an appeal to reason, all at once.

The other Super Badnik responded by launching a fresh cluster of missiles.

If Sonic hadn’t been as fast—or as reactive—as he was, they’d be dead. Spotting a narrow gap they could go through, he bolted—already moving before Beta could finish aiming for them.

Missiles screamed through the air, trailing smoke and fire as they exploded between the two E-Series units.

But more were coming.

Sonic didn’t need to track them—Amy shouted over the deafening noise, calling out instructions as they ran. Trusting her to have his back, he moved when she told him to, weaving through chunks of the Egg Carrier while explosions rocked the corridor around them.

The Super Badniks stayed on their heels—the scrape of wheels and pounding footsteps never far behind.

Worried but still keeping some semblance of calm, Sonic turned his attention to his other friend, the one that was working to triangulate the coordinates to the Egg Carrier’s power core.

“Hey, do you have anything new for us, Greenie?” Sonic shouted over the next wave of explosions. “We could really use some help right now!”

A flicker pulsed through the Chaos Emerald in his quills. A reluctant confirmation.

Sonic groaned. “Two locations?! Seriously?”

Gamma was suddenly hurled right into their path again, scraping across the floor like a wrecking ball. Sonic jumped over its massive bulk, quickly leaving it behind.

“What does that mean?” Amy asked breathlessly. “What did it say?”

“That there’s two places where it might be,” Sonic sighed, his frustration evident. “One is five floors down and the other is up at the helm of the Egg Carrier.”

Amy's expression sharpened.

“Then we go down!” she said immediately. “The reactor’s gotta be in the belly of the ship, it’s the only option that makes sense!”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too,” Sonic muttered, relief cutting through the edge of panic. They had a destination. That was great. No, that was awesome! “Alright, Greenie! Take us the—!”

But as he spoke, a blinding blaze lit up behind them—and his words caught in his throat.

Sonic turned in time to see Beta already firing at them—its cannon leveled at his head, steadily keeping up with their pace.

His heart plummeted.

Time seemed to slow, stretching out each heartbeat into an eternity. The world around him blurred, sounds muffling as if they were suddenly underwater. Sonic was keenly aware that Amy was right beside him, her own wide eyes locked on the deadly barrel that was so close to them. Her mouth was parted, as if stuck in the beginning of a scream.

If Beta hit them directly with that shot, they would both be vaporized instantly.

There was no thought behind it, really. His body just reacted faster than ever before. For that smallest fraction of a microsecond, he felt like he could move a hundred times faster than light itself, allowing him to tilt their bodies away from the trajectory of the lethal shot.

It was a tight window, but it worked.

Time suddenly regained its momentum and the plasma bolt streaked past, missing its intended target by mere centimeters.

Saving them from certain death.

Beta didn’t seem to realize why it had missed. The robot just jerked its cannon back into place again, immediately charging another blast. But before it could fire, Gamma came crashing in from seemingly nowhere, slamming into the E-101 at the last possible second and knocking the murderous robot away from them.

Sensing its chance, the E-102 didn’t let up. It followed through with a point-blank blast to Beta’s chest, sending the other machine into a violent, sparking frenzy as Sonic and Amy finally got away from them.

Sonic couldn’t believe it. They were still alive—somehow. Two near-misses, back-to-back, and yet…

He wasn’t sure if it was luck or a glitch in fate.

It was unreal.

It was absurd.

But there was no time to process any of it.

Just as the sounds of the two robots clashing erupted behind them, the Green Emerald finally pulled them away.

Now far from danger, Sonic immediately dropped to his knees, struggling to steady his breath and slow his racing heart.

Amy clung to him, arms wrapped tight, as she whispered softly into his ear.

“It’s alright,” she said, her voice sounding grounding. “We’re okay. We’re both safe now.”

“It’s fine. I’m good,” he whispered back, suddenly feeling drained of energy. “Just… let me catch my breath.”

The blue hedgehog willed his limbs to stop trembling. The Green Emerald pulsed soothingly as it tried to inject him with some of its own.

He silently thanked it for all its help.

Amy helped him get up on his feet. “You sure you want to get up so soon? You seem a bit tired…”

Sonic chuckled, smiling up at her sheepishly, before he suddenly frowned.

Around them, the walls hummed—emitting a low, constant vibration that set his quills on edge. The air was heavier here, saturated with something powerful.

“So, we finally made it?” he asked, unsure if the new sensations were a sign of something else going wrong today.

Amy gave him a dazzling smile, instantly calming him down. She gestured around them with her arms spread wide. “Yeah! See this? This is the Egg Carrier’s core!”

Well… To say this was ‘impressive’ would be massively understating it.

First off, it was huge. The Egg Carrier’s core sat in a massive circular chamber, its walls glowing with a steady orange light. In the center, a tall reactor column—complete with Eggman’s grinning face—jutted out of a pool of irradiated water.

The entire thing was a weird mess of pipes that branched out from its epicenter, disappearing deep into the walls of the aircraft, like a tangled web of veins.

At the far end of the room sat a control panel, completely covered with switches and displays that blinked erratically.

And a small cluster of Buzz Bombers hovered above all of it, circling lazily.

"Well, since we’re already here," Sonic said with a grin, "how about we blow this thing sky-high? Knuckles and the others will be glad it’s not launching badniks at Angel Island anymore."

But Amy didn’t answer him right away. Instead, the pink hedgehog seemed to have a sudden change in attitude. Her earlier excitement had vanished. She approached the control panel slowly, each step echoing sharply off the metal floor—the only sound besides the low, steady hum of the reactor filling the chamber.

Sonic watched her approach the terminal, half-expecting her to start fiddling with it as soon as she got near.

But she didn’t.

She stopped a few feet away, her posture tense. Her fingers hovered above the controls but never touched them.

“… Amy?” Sonic called, confused by how she was acting. “What’s wrong?”

Her eyes strayed from the reactor, trying to track something with her eyes. “Something’s off.”

That made him pause. “Off how?”

Still, she didn’t look at him. She tilted her head slightly, scanning the shadows lining the circular chamber. “Sonic, I think we’re not alone here.”

The blue hedgehog frowned. He turned slowly, trying to follow her gaze. Trying to see what she was seeing without much success.

Wind rushed in his ears.

“You sure it’s not the badniks?”

Frowning, Amy took one glance at the flying Buzz Bombers and then shook her head. “It’s not them. It’s something else…”

At first glance, the chamber looked mostly deserted. But... now that she’d said it, he felt like she was right.

There was a strange energy in this place that seemed to resonate with his bones. A quiet but unmistakable sense of dread followed, and Sonic was pretty sure this feeling wasn’t coming from the reactor. No… this felt familiar.

He watched as his fur started to rise on end. His quills seemed to bristle at an unseen threat.

Oh. He knew why now.

The energy felt like the ghosts and the gold quill.

This all reeked of Fleetway.

Sonic’s eyes darted upward, to the cluster of Buzz Bombers that flew over their heads. He recalled the swarm that they’d escaped recently, before all the hauntings had seemingly vanished.

“Those aren’t supposed to be here, right?” he asked, pointing at them, his voice becoming more distrustful.

Following his finger, Amy shook her head, a touch of unease creeping into her voice. “Now that you mention it... No. Why would Eggman keep a bunch of small fry around such delicate machinery?”

Sonic’s jaw tightened. “Then something’s lured them here.”

Amy locked eyes with him, nodding.

“I think it’s the ghosts again,” he said quietly, watching Amy’s face pale with a jolt of realization.

Just as he said it, echoes of crazed laughter began to echo in the space around them. Which was strange, because Sonic seemed to be the only one able to hear it.

The sound reverberated across the reactor’s chamber gleefully, making it difficult to see where it was coming from.

Sonic spun in place, searching wildly for the source—

And froze.

Because he’d found it.

Hovering over the glowing pool was one of them of the Fleetway Sonics Eggman had described in his research notes.

This wasn’t Amy being possessed.

The Fleetway that was with them looked like a version of Sonic that was wreathed in energy so gold that it roared with barely contained wrath. His clone’s fur was stuck in the form of serrated peaks, always tilting up, like frozen lightning. Golden—corrupted—energy danced across his limbs in violent arcs.

Worst of all were the eyes.

Dozens of them—scattered across his head, chest and limbs—all watching them at the same time.

“AMY!” Sonic shouted, dropping into a defensive stance. “I’m seeing one of the Fleetway ghosts—he’s here, right in front of us!”

The blue hedgehog didn’t dare take his eyes off the apparition. A twisted, razor-edged grin stretched slowly across the clone’s muzzle as he watched him panic hungrily.

Amy’s head snapped around, eyes going wide. “What do you mean you see one? I don’t see anything!”

A low, layered voice echoed through the chamber, seething with contempt. “Oh, please. Of course she can’t see or hear me. You think I’d let her? Keeping my work hidden from her nosy little eyes was the most irritating part of all this.”

Before Sonic could respond, a pulse of gold energy erupted from Fleetway, tearing through the air with a crackling screech.

Amy yelped and dropped to the floor just in time, the blast searing over her head. Sonic—not having the sense to do the same—hissed as it clipped him, the corrupt energy biting at his being.

The rest of the blast slammed straight into the reactor’s shielding.

Alarms blared instantly. Sparks exploded from the impact point, spreading until the reactor lit up with wild, crackling arcs of unstable energy—growing more violent by the second.

“Amy, the clone, it’s—” Sonic hissed under his breath, sliding closer to her.

“I know,” she muttered back, reaching into her satchel. “Just let me know when it comes for us.”

The apparition ignored them, letting out a delighted hum as he floated higher, basking in the chaos below like it was a masterpiece.

An automated voice crackled over the speakers, announcing the damage:

“REACTOR CORE CRITICAL. Fifteen minutes to detonation. Fatal error. Repeat—FATAL ERROR. Doctor Eggman, please evacuate the Egg Carrier immediately.”

“Ooh, I didn’t know the family reunion came with a firework show,” Fleetway cooed, his grin stretching even further. “That should take care of this eyesore. And now... back to the big event!”

All of Fleetway’s eyes suddenly turned toward Sonic.

“It’s sooo nice seeing you face to face, brother.”

Sonic flinched. The ghost’s voice was so sharp, it could have flayed skin.

Still, he couldn’t resist the urge to quip back, hiding his fear behind an easygoing mask. “I would be lying if I told you the same,” he said cheerfully, sending the corrupted clone a sharp grin of his own. “Hey, I hope you don’t mind if I ask. But how come you’re able to do this? You’re looking a bit more… alive than you should be.”

Fleetway snickered, descending slowly toward him.

“The form you’re seeing is an amalgamation of the thirty-six souls that were stuck in this damn ship,” the corrupted clone said, his joy growing at the flicker of horror in Sonic’s face. “Yours would have been number thirty-seven, if you hadn’t—somehow—managed to escape before the real fun could begin.”

Before Sonic could say anything else, Fleetway blurred to him, managing to catch him off-guard as one of his hands snapped shut around his neck.

“A-Amy—!” Sonic tried to call for help.

He choked as Fleetway raised him in the air, very much aware of the way the corrupted hedgehog delighted in watching him squirm in his presence.

It wasn’t like Sonic could help it. Fleetway’s gold energy felt sick beyond words, and it attempted to seep into him upon contact. His body was fighting it—but he would be lying if he said it didn’t hurt like hell.

“Now… let’s dive straight into the hard questions, shall we?” the ghost said, tilting his head with mock curiosity as he leaned in close. Sonic shivered in revulsion. “What makes you so damn special, huh? Why are you alive while the rest of us rot? What did the Doctor give you that he didn’t give us?”

Sonic didn’t know, but it wasn’t like Fleetway was going to accept that kind of answer.

Before the clone could do anything else, Amy charged in with a sharp cry, slamming a card straight into Fleetway’s chest.

There was a flash of light.

And a shriek.

Fleetway convulsed violently, his multi-eyed form flickering and sparking as the card started to burn him up. He dropped Sonic like dead weight.

Amy rushed to his side as he wheezed, hunched over and gasping for air.

“Sonic? Are you okay?” Her voice cracked with panic.

He tried to speak—to warn her. “Amy—he’s not—he’s not done—!”

But it was too late.

Fleetway’s fist came out of nowhere, catching Amy off-guard and sending her flying. She slammed into a distant wall with a sickening crunch.

“No more games,” Fleetway snarled, his eyes burning. “I wanted to have some fun with you before we fused. But now?” He cracked his knuckles. “Now I’m just annoyed.”

Sonic scrambled to run away, but Fleetway was faster.

With a feral roar, he dove into Sonic’s chest—his burning essence tearing into him like claws made of fire.

What followed wasn’t a minute. It was an eternity.

Pain twisted through every nerve. His fur blazed gold, crackling and lifting in jagged, unnatural spikes. His limbs twitched violently, moving without his say. He wasn’t just watching everything happen from inside his own body—he was trapped in it.

Then came the voice. His own, warped and layered, but undeniably Fleetway’s.

“Oh, Amy!” Fleetway crooned, stepping toward her collapsed form. She glared at him weakly. “That little exorcism trick of yours? Cute. But it was nothing more than a cheap parlor trick.”

Sonic watched in horror as Fleetway pinned her down with one of his feet.

“You’re going to die down here,” Fleetway continued, spiraling eyes narrowing with delight as she wheezed beneath his ill-gained body’s weight. “Right here. Right now. Caught in this ship’s glorious meltdown. Watching helplessly as I puppeteer your friend’s sad sack of flesh like a toy.”

He chuckled darkly.

“All because you two couldn’t help yourselves. Couldn’t stop whispering your plan aloud like idiots. And the ghosts?” He spread his arms wide. “They heard everything.”

The reactor behind them pulsed violently, sparks raining down as the alarms screamed louder in the background.

“I just couldn’t be happier to help you guys out. This rotten place deserves to burn to the ground.”

Fleetway opened his mouth to brag some more—

But the words he’d planned to say next died in his throat as the reinforced doors to the reactor core groaned and then exploded inward.

Fleetway’s head whipped toward the noise, his two eyes now twitching with irritation.

Beta had barreled through the smoke and flame, its armor irreparably cracked. Yet, the Super Badnik remained as determined to chase them as ever, unfazed by all the wear and tear.

Its kin, Gamma, stumbled in right after, its voice laced with something dangerously close to desperation.

“STOP. BETA. PLEASE. STAND DOWN.”

For a moment, Fleetway stood frozen, just staring at Beta—his swirling eyes suddenly narrowed to pinpricks.

“It’s you,” the clone seethed, all amusement suddenly gone. In a gold blur, he launched their body across the chamber, slamming Beta into the floor hard enough to create a crater under it.

Fleetway moved their body with a terrifying kind of fury, fists raining down mercilessly.

"DOES IT HURT?! GOOD! LET IT! LET IT SINK IN!" Fleetway snarled, each word punctuated by a brutal strike. "HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE ONE GETTING RIPPED APART, HUH?!" His fists slammed into Beta's chassis again and again, the metal buckling under the relentless assault, rage bleeding from every blow.

Their newly-grown claws began to tear through the plating, digging deeper with each strike.

Seeing this, Gamma lurched forward, trying to interrupt the savage beat down.

But Fleetway wasn’t caught by surprise. Instead, he turned to the E-102 sharply, eyes spiraling with malice as he caught its arm right before it hit him.

“Oh, don’t think I forgot about you.”

With a snarl, he lunged—and in one brutal motion, he grabbed Gamma by the head and tore it clean from its body.

The E-102’s head was tossed to the ground—already forgotten—as Fleetway went back to destroying Beta’s corpse, cackling uncontrollably as he absorbed all the rings that were stored inside it.

Still trapped, Sonic felt like screaming.

Amy was down, and she wasn’t getting back up. The ship was going to blow—with both of them still stuck inside.

He had to do something. He had to take back control.

But it was useless. No matter what he tried, nothing could break through Fleetway’s willpower.

Everything felt hopeless.

Sonic, don't give up!

He gasped as a female voice reached him internally.

You have to push him out of your body! Here, I'll help you!

Outside, green arcs of electricity formed around their fused body, coiling tightly around their corrupted gold form.

Fleetway was frozen in place, a low snarl rumbling in his throat. “What… is this?”

The clone’s sneer twisted into confusion—then pain as Sonic renewed his efforts to take back what was his.

“No—no, what are you doing?! This is my body now!” he howled, seizing up as the power intensified.

Green and blue electricity surged with a vengeance, as if to protest his words.

Sensing weakness, Sonic pushed harder to overwhelm Fleetway’s hold on him, straining against the pressure crushing down on his mind.

“G-Get out of me!” his mouth roared as it finally complied with his wishes. These were his words, not Fleetway’s. “I don’t have space for you in here!”

A fierce surge of lightning exploded from his back, shattering the ghost’s grip on him. Fleetway was torn from his body violently, howling as he was flung across the chamber.

Still shining gold but in complete control of himself, Sonic dropped to a knee, panting hard as he glared at the many-eyed apparition.

Even if he was tired, he still seized the moment to strike back.

The ghost tried to recover, but Sonic was already on him, his fist connecting with Fleetway’s spectral form in a blur of motion. The blow cracked the air itself, blue and green arcs detonating from his arm on impact.

Fleetway wailed, his spectral form distorting into multiple spectral bodies before attempting to stitch himself back together. He shoved Sonic away—now racing toward Amy’s downed body with a new kind of desperation.

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Sonic growled, following him.

Fleetway reached her first—but was stopped short.

A tarot card shimmered between him and Amy, suspended in midair like a barrier. It pulsed with a fierce pink glow, crackling with energy that wasn’t hers alone.

Somehow, Amy had managed to flick one of her cards into the air before any of two male hedgehogs could get to her.

The image of Justice winked at Fleetway, and it started to hurt him immediately. The corrupted clone shrieked as the light from the card seared across his form, his spectral body recoiling with spasms of pain.

“To have gained that form, you must have committed terrible acts,” she rasped, barely above a whisper. “You may be a victim, but you're also a cursed soul. This is the consequences of your own actions, spirit.”

Fleetway staggered to his knees.

And that was all the opening Sonic needed.

He shot forward and struck from above, his flying kick crashing directly into the ghost’s chest. The energy-laced impact tore through Fleetway’s weakening form, static light beginning to splinter from the point where they made contact.

The apparition shrieked, thrashing violently for a few seconds—then finally burst apart in a soundless flash, vanishing into thin air.

Finally gone.

Sonic stood there, panting hard. A quick glance at his arm confirmed that his fur was returning to a normal blue.

Thank goodness.

“Amy!” He ran to her side and dropped to his knees, gently lifting her into his arms.

She gave him a weak smirk.

“You’re looking better,” she murmured. “Blue’s more up your speed.”

 “Sorry about that. Had to make it as dramatic as possible,” he quipped back, but his eyes were a bit worried. “He got you good there. How bad is it?”

“I think I hurt my head when I was thrown earlier… just give me a second to recover…”

The automated voice sounded again from the speakers, interrupting them:

“Eight minutes until detonation. Fatal error in reactor core. Repeat—FATAL ERROR IN REACTOR CORE. Doctor Eggman, please evacuate immediately.”

Now keenly aware of how much time they had left, Sonic glanced at the malfunctioning reactor and then at the pile of destroyed Super Badniks.

He paused at the sorry state of those two.

“BETA…”

Even while broken, E-102 Gamma was calling out for its sibling, as if in mourning. Its head remained functional, despite being separated from the rest of its body.

There was no saving Beta, but that was probably for the best—the robot had been determined to end them, even in its last moments.

Gamma, however…

Many of the things it had said as it was chasing them around were interesting enough for him to consider taking it with them.

But that was just an excuse. It was just… pitiful to hear it speak like this.

Gamma spoke up again, green optics flickering weakly: “UPDATING E-SERIES DATA. UNITS REMAINING: … GAMMA.”

It stopped speaking for a second and then amended: “NO. CORRECTION. NO ACTIVE E-SERIES UNITS WILL REMAIN AFTER DETONATION.”

Was it wrong to feel bad about killing a machine?

This could be a mistake. Maybe this was a terrible decision, and he was a fool for even considering it. Even so, Sonic ran toward Gamma’s head and dropped it on top of Amy’s body.

“Sonic, what are you… doing?” she asked, peering down at the badnik’s head with a puzzled look.

“Gamma has a lot of data stored in its memory,” Sonic muttered to her, adjusting their combined weight in his arms. “Some of it may even be useful to us, who knows?”

Amy shot him a doubtful look.

“WHY ARE YOU HELPING ME?” Gamma seemed to agree with her.

Sonic ignored their protests and closed his eyes, calling out to the Emerald.

To her.

“Just one more time, Greenie,” he whispered, picturing the plane they’d left behind at the beginning of this adventure. “Then you can rest.”

She chirped back an affirmation and sent them directly to the Tornado, where he began to move quickly.

“Shouldn’t we just teleport back to the island?” Amy asked weakly.

Sonic shook his head, making sure she was comfortable before hopping onto the pilot’s seat.

“We can’t just leave it behind. Tails made sure everything was in working order before we came here—and having a plane like this is useful,” he said, starting up the biplane without a hitch. “We should have enough time to get out with it intact.”

“Wait—Sonic,” Amy protested, holding back a wince as she leaned forward to speak over his shoulder. “Do you even know how to fly this thing?”

He shot her a wink. “Guess we’ll finally find out! Maybe the good doctor left me a few flying lessons in my thick skull. Who knows what’s rattling around in my head at this point? One thing’s for sure, though. You’re not flying us outta here with a concussion.”

The Tornado rumbled steadily beneath them, its wheels scraping lightly against the pavement in the airstrip as they quickly gathered speed. Sonic kept a firm grip on the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the end of the road.

Amy held onto the side of the cockpit, visibly tense. “Anytime now…”

With a small jolt, the plane lifted off the ground, steadily gaining altitude.

As it turned out, Sonic wasn’t that bad of a flier, after all.

“… Okay,” Amy said after a moment. “That wasn’t awful.”

“Thanks for the glowing review,” Sonic replied, adjusting the controls. “Don’t think I missed that little lapse in confidence back there.”

“I didn’t make it this far by gambling all my luck away in one day,” Amy shot back, settling deeper into her seat.

They flew in silence for a tense minute, the engine humming quietly in the night. The sky ahead was clear. And below, the ocean shimmered under the moonlight, calm and undisturbed.

Then the world behind them lit up.

A muffled boom shook the air, followed by a deafening roar. Sonic chanced a glance back to see the Egg Carrier exploding.

The sonic boom of the blast rattled the plane slightly.

Fire surged from the center of the aircraft as the reactor finally gave out, bursting upward in a large plume of orange and smoke. The explosion rolled through the structure in waves, collapsing everything in its path and sending pieces hurtling into the sea.

And after all that, it wasn’t long before the wreck began to sink.

“So, the Egg Carrier’s finally gone. What do you think? Mission accomplished, partner?” Sonic asked, turning his attention back to the front.

Amy glanced at the head of the badnik in her lap and, after a moment of hesitation, she patted it with a small smile.

“Yeah, I guess so. Eggman’s not going to be happy about this one.”

Chapter Text

“YOU CANNOT TORTURE INFORMATION OUT OF A BADNIK. WE DO NOT FEEL PAIN AS YOU DO.”

Sonic rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the conversation unfolding in the backseat.

“Oh, really? That’s a bummer. And there go all our evening plans,” Amy drawled sarcastically. “What about hacking you? Still on the table?”

“YOU WOULD BE FOOLISH TO TRY,” Gamma replied, still motionless on the pink hedgehog’s lap.

Not that the Super Badnik could escape even if it wanted to—it didn’t have the limbs to do much of anything.

“Would you two please stop?” Sonic groaned, keeping his eyes fixed on Angel Island ahead. With how dark it was, he couldn’t afford any distractions. The Tornado’s lights helped, but it was not enough. “Amy, I’m glad you’re feeling better, but maybe don’t antagonize Gamma? Nobody’s trying to pry answers out of him.”

“THAT WOULD BE ILLOGICAL,” Gamma cut in flatly before Amy could answer. “DID YOU NOT BRING ME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DOCTOR EGGMAN AND YOUR ORIGINS?”

“That would be a very sound assessment,” Sonic admitted. “But no. It doesn’t really matter what you tell us.”

Amy scoffed. “Excuse me—I care! I would like to know!”

“… WHY?” Gamma asked, ignoring her in favor of interrogating the blue blur.

“Well, at the rate this is going, Eggman’s gonna tell me everything I need to know about me and about his plans for the rest of the planet. It’s not like he’s going to be shy about it,” Sonic said, hiding a smirk.

Gamma was silent for a moment, before it said:

“YOUR CONFIDENCE IS NOT COMMENDABLE. IT IS CONCERNING.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“THE MAJORITY OF THE PRIOR NEMESIS CANDIDATES DISPLAYED SIGNS OF COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION: THEIR UNDERDEVELOPED BRAINS MADE THEM POSSESS POOR RISK ASSESSMENT AND A MARKED TENDENCY TOWARD IMPULSIVITY. YOU ARE CONSISTENT WITH THESE PATTERNS.”

Sonic blinked, then gave a short laugh. “I can’t— Did you just call me stupid? For saving your life?”

“I MADE A NEUTRAL OBSERVATION,” Gamma replied tonelessly. “BUT YES. YOUR ACTIONS SUGGEST A LACK OF STRATEGIC REASONING. ANYONE WITH FUNCTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WOULD ATTEMPT TO EXTRACT MAXIMUM DATA FROM A BADNIK, IN HOPES OF DISCOVERING SOMETHING USEFUL. ALTRUISM TOWARD A MACHINE SERVES NO PRACTICAL PURPOSE.”

Sonic’s grip on the Tornado’s yoke tightened. “Yeah? Well, I’m not gonna pretend I’m smart, but I do know what something alive looks like and I’m not going to torture it for information. Even if it’s made of wires.”

“… ALL YOU SAID IS BASED ON A SENTIMENT. NOT EVIDENCE.”

“You’re wrong,” Sonic said firmly. “I know what I saw; you can feel emotions just like I can. You were upset when Beta ignored you and forced you to fight… Just like when you were devastated, when Fleetway used me to get rid of him.”

Gamma didn’t reply.

“And don’t pretend you weren’t scared about getting blown up by the reactor exploding either.”

“YOUR ASSUMPTION IS INCORRECT. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE FEAR.”

“Then you were sad,” Sonic retorted. “Not that I’d blame you if you were. No one is happy about dying.”

There was a pause. A long one.

“… YOU ARE READING FAR TOO MUCH INTO THIS,” Gamma deflected.

“I don’t think I am.” Sonic glanced back at the E-102, something sympathetic shining in his eyes. Amy was watching him, her mouth open in surprise. “You think if I really knew everything, I’d hate you. Right?”

Gamma didn’t react to his words; it had no facial features to display any emotions. But after a beat, it stated:

“IF YOU KNEW WHAT MY MISSION WAS, YOU WOULD NOT TREAT ME THIS WAY.”

Sonic’s voice was quiet when he spoke next. “Oh, I can guess. I can’t be the only one that managed to escape Eggman. You were the one dragging the escaped clones back to the Egg Carrier when that happened, weren’t you? You said your objective was to ‘capture Sonic The Hedgehog’. Not harming him or killing him. So, retrieval seems like the only option left.”

Silence.

“I’m not asking for details or even a confirmation,” Sonic added after a moment. “But I think I figured that part out.”

Gamma’s voice, when it finally returned, was even flatter than before.

“THIS CONVERSATION IS OVER.”

Sonic let the discussion die, turning his attention to flying instead.

Angel Island loomed ahead—barely visible in the endless stretch of night. The moon was bright enough to shine a light on the floating landmass.

Sonic squinted at it, frowning.

Something felt wrong.

“… Amy?” he called, not taking his eyes off the shape in the sky. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”

Amy blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts. “Huh? What?”

“The island. Look. It’s—” He hesitated, trying to find the words. “It’s falling.”

“What?” she said sharply, turning to look past him. “That can’t be right. Knuckles said the Master Emerald would keep it steady in the air. It shouldn’t—”

“Just look.”

She leaned forward, peering past him and the dashboard. For a moment, she didn’t see it. Then her stomach dropped.

“… Oh no,” she breathed. “You’re right. It is falling.”

Gamma’s monotone voice cut through the sudden quiet. “WHAT? I MUST HEARD YOU INCORRECTLY. HOW CAN AN ISLAND BE FALLING? I CANNOT SEE ANYTHING FROM THIS ANGLE.”

Amy hesitated, but then carefully lifted its head high enough to peer past the rim of the Tornado’s frame.

For a few long seconds, Gamma stared at Angel Island, its mechanical brain taking a few seconds to process the unusual sight of an island floating in the sky.

“NEGATIVE,” it disagreed shortly after. “ANGEL ISLAND IS ASCENDING. CURRENT ALTITUDE IS INCREASING.”

Sonic’s brow furrowed as he watched it move.

“…Yeah. Gamma’s right.”

The island’s freefall had ceased—but instead of settling, it began to rise again into the sky.

“How is this happening?” Sonic muttered under his breath.

Amy’s voice trembled slightly. “You don’t think something happened to Knuckles… or the Master Emerald…?”

Sonic didn’t answer immediately. He just tightened his grip on the yoke, guiding the Tornado lower.

“We’re gonna find out. Hold on.”

And with that, the plane dipped sharply toward the island, engines roaring as they cut through the night sky.

The wind buffeted the Tornado harder now, the shifting altitude of the landmass below them throwing off the air currents around them. The closer they got to the island, the more uneven the ride became.

The island wasn’t just rising—it was rising fast.

Sonic grit his teeth and angled the nose down, trying to compensate with speed. “Okay, this is gonna be tricky…”

“Tricky?!” Amy yelped, tightening her hold on Gamma. “You do see the tree line getting closer, right?!”

“I see it!”

A violent gust slammed into the side of the Tornado, and the biplane bucked sharply. Sonic yanked the yoke left, barely avoiding a massive tree limb that seemed to lurch out of nowhere.

“WHOA—okay, okay, we’re good, we’re good,” Sonic muttered, knuckles white on the controls.

“WE ARE NOT GOOD,” Gamma stated flatly as another jolt threatened to knock them off-kilter. “WE ARE EXPERIENCING SEVERE FLIGHT TURBULENCE. THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.”

“Gee, thanks for your encouraging words,” Amy snapped, bracing herself. “That’s really not helpful right now.”

Sonic didn’t reply—he was too busy lining up for the only semi-clear stretch of ground he could spot through the canopy.

Barely wide enough. But it was all they had.

It wasn’t like the island was giving them a chance to do anything else.

The Tornado hit the ground hard.

The landing gear groaned as it bounced, skidding along the dirt with a spray of leaves and mud. A few low-hanging branches scraped against the wings and body of the aircraft. Sonic wrestled with the yoke to keep the nose level.

And somehow… he pulled it off.

The plane jerked to a stop with a final lurch, rocking once before settling on the forest floor.

Sonic slumped forward slightly, breathing deeply through his nose. “That got a little too exciting for my tastes.”

Amy peeled herself off the seat, quills and fur sticking up in all directions. “You almost killed us!”

“But I didn’t,” Sonic said, flashing her a shaky grin. “That’s the important part.”

Gamma’s voice crackled from the backseat. “SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SHOULD NEVER FLY A PLANE, EVER AGAIN.”

“Oh, shut it, you,” Amy immediately retorted, scowling down at the head. “I don’t see how you could have done any better!”

Before Sonic could say anything to break up their bickering, the ground rumbled beneath them.

Angel Island gave a sickening lurch.

The quake tore through the forest floor, strong enough to make leaves shake loose from the trees. The Tornado creaked against its struts. Both Amy and Sonic yelped as the jolt nearly knocked them from their seats.

Gamma’s green eyes flickered. “WARNING: ANGEL ISLAND IS FALLING AGAIN.”

Sonic’s expression hardened, fingers digging through his quills until they closed around the familiar shape of Greenie. “That’s it. We have to go to them. Right now.”

He turned to Amy and offered her his other hand. “Amy—c’mon, take my hand. I don’t think we can afford to be late to this party.”

Amy gave a sharp nod, her face tense. She reached across the back of the seat and caught hold of Sonic’s hand.

The Chaos Emerald pulsed, reacting instantly.

In a shimmer of green light, they all vanished.

Things went bad, fast.

Sonic hit the ground, groaning as two sprinting bodies slammed into him and kept running. He barely had time to register the impact before another jolt knocked something from his grip.

Greenie.

The green Chaos Emerald had slipped from his hand, vanishing beneath a blur of panicked feet as Mobians fled in every direction. Her light flickered once as his rock friend was kicked away, the magical gem quickly disappearing into the chaos.

“Amy?!” Sonic shouted, scrambling upright, eyes darting through the smoke and stampede. “Amy, the Emerald—it’s gone!”

There was no response.

He turned in place, scanning the crowd—but Amy was nowhere to be seen. Just a swarm of terrified refugees, pushing and stumbling through the sanctuary like a living tide. The Emerald was somewhere in the stampede. And so was his friend.

Then—“I’ve got it!” came Amy’s voice from within the crowd, strained but clear.

Sonic exhaled, tension easing only slightly. “Keep her safe!” he called back, already moving toward the heart of the cavern.

Despite the small setback, they had successfully landed in Chaos’ shrine. But the once-peaceful Chao Garden had become a warzone.

Panicked Chao were running in every direction, their distressed squeaks nearly drowned out by the roar of weapons and the screams of fleeing Mobians. The little creatures dove for cover behind rocks and overturned flowerpots—only to be knocked aside again by badniks rampaging through the garden without mercy.

Sonic skidded to a halt as he realized—most of the badniks looked like him. Or like sleek, silver-plated doppelgängers, to be precise.

He sighed. “Creepy as always, doc.”

The blue hedgehog launched forward, twisting into a spindash. A Silver Sonic lunged at him—only to be smashed to pieces, its parts scattering everywhere in the form of shrapnel. Another shot toward him from the side, spinning fast—but Sonic kicked off the wall, redirecting his trajectory to slam directly onto it, reducing it to sparking rubble.

Somewhere to his right, the blue hedgehog could hear Knuckles bellowing a battle cry, followed by the sounds of crushed metal. A female voice joined him in the fight. Amy.

Before he could consider joining them, a sharp, frightened wail cut through the chaos.

Sonic’s eyes snapped to the sound—a young turtle had fallen in the middle of the crowd, frozen in fear on the floor as the Mobians around him continued running away from the murderous robots. The kid was moments from being trampled.

Without hesitation, Sonic ran to him.

In a blue blur, he dashed forward, scooping the child up in one swift motion—just as a large elephant Mobian stumbled into the spot where the kid had been. Dust kicked up in his wake as Sonic skidded to a stop behind a large rock, shielding the child with his body.

“It’s okay,” he said quickly, voice soft but firm. “I’ve got you. You’re okay.”

The child clung to him, trembling like a leaf.

The blue hedgehog scanned the crowd—then spotted a female turtle Mobian skidding to a halt near them, her face a mask of panic and relief.

“Tommy!” she called, voice cracking.

The child in Sonic’s arms let out a choked sob and reached out. “Mama!”

Sonic didn’t hesitate. He met the mother halfway, gently transferring the trembling child into their arms.

“Tommy’s okay,” he assured her quickly, even as the sounds of explosions grew louder behind them. “Get out of here—head toward the tunnels. You should all evacuate as fast as you can!”

The female turtle clutched their child tight, tears streaking through the grime on her face. “Th-thank you! Thank you—!”

From somewhere in the crowd, Amy’s voice rang out—clear and commanding:

“Everyone! This way—move in a straight line! Stay low and don’t stop for anything! Follow Honey!”

Sonic glanced her way, spotting her standing atop a broken pillar, waving her arms to guide fleeing civilians.

It was direction—something that everyone desperately needed.

“Listen to Amy!” he shouted, already pivoting back toward the battlefield. “Go! And follow her lead!”

He took off in a blue blur, weaving between overturned stones and smoldering debris. Up ahead, a cluster of Chao cowered as a doppelgänger—another Silver Sonic—zeroed in on them with raised blades.

In a flash, Sonic shot forward, slamming into the bot’s side with a spin jump that sent it clattering across the stone. He landed on his feet and dashed again, scooping up a dazed hare Mobian just before another bot could bring down a clawed arm.

The blue blur saved as many as he could.

Eggman’s laughter cut through the chaos like a knife, echoing cruelly off the stone walls as his Egg Mobile hovered high above the devastation wrought by his invasion. Beneath him lay the aftermath of his assault—smoke rising from craters, broken machines sparking in the rubble, and bodies strewn across the once-sacred floor.

In one hand, Eggman held the gleaming green Chaos Emerald high, brandishing it like a prize.

For a second, Sonic’s panic spiked, thinking that Eggman had gotten his hands on Greenie again, before he remembered that Amy had her.

But then it came back again, finally realizing the reason why Angel Island was falling at all.

“You monster!” Knuckles bellowed from below. The echidna shook his fists at Eggman, trembling with fury and exhaustion. “Come here and fight me straight on!”

Eggman grinned wider at the challenge, seemingly delighted by the rage in Knuckles’ voice.

“Do I look like a fool, echidna? NO! I’m winning this fight because I’m better than all of you combined. You should’ve known better than to try to fight me in the first place!” he declared, voice booming. “All that effort to hide—and it was for nothing! Now look at what your defiance has cost you!”

But before he could continue, a shot rang out.

The laser bolt streaked through the cavern, grazing the side of the Egg Mobile and sparking against the hull.

Eggman flinched, but only for a second. His eyes narrowed, and a manic grin stretched across his face as he recognized the shooter.

“Oh-ho-ho! So, you think you can play the hero once more?!” Eggman sneered, slamming a switch on his console. “Well, I’ve got news for you, brat—this time, you’re in for a world of pain!”

The Egg Mobile’s underside swiveled, then unleashed a storm of return fire—cannons blasting, sending arcs of plasma searing across the Chao Garden.

A startled yelp echoed off the cavern walls—Tails’.

“Whoa—!!” the fox cried, springing from cover as he tried to outfly the incoming assault. His blaster sputtered and sparked, useless now that a plasma bolt had pierced through it.

He tossed it aside, trying to shed the weight and move faster.

But he didn’t get far.

A chrome-blue blur shot out of the chaos and slammed into him mid-air.

The curled-up Super Badnik knocked Tails clean out of the air, sending him crashing onto a stack of crates, which shattered immediately after cushioning his fall.

“Tails!” Sonic bolted.

He launched into a spindash, weaving through plasma fire and flying debris. The cavern trembled slightly as he skidded to Tails’ side, scooping him up just as another blast slammed into the ground to finish him off. Smoke and shrapnel burst outward.

“Gotcha,” Sonic muttered through gritted teeth, cradling Tails against his chest as he dashed toward cover.

Dazed but conscious, Tails blinked up at him, ears ringing. “Sonic…?” he rasped, squinting through the haze. “You… rescued me…?”

“Yeah, I have you, buddy. Hang on.”

Tails tried to sit up in his arms—then he winced, clutching his head. “That… thing hits like a wrecking ball.”

Sonic grimaced, trying to stop him from moving. “Hey, hey! Stay down, buddy—"

“Aaaaand, look who’s finally here,” Eggman’s voice sounded overhead, laced with almost childish glee. Sonic’s eyes shot up, a fierce fury igniting in his chest. Eggman’s grin stretched, looking all kinds of mad. “I was starting to think you’d never show. But you’re too late! I already have the Master Emerald!”

The Egg Mobile’s weapons swiveled into place with a mechanical hum—and opened fire.

Sonic burst into motion, shielding Tails with his body as plasma blasts scorched the ground behind him.

But the doctor wasn’t the only one gunning for them.

With a piercing whine, Mecha Sonic Mk. II raced to their position from the front—spinning into a razor-edged blur, as it aimed to carve both Mobians in two.

Sonic’s instincts screamed to dodge, but he couldn’t do that in time.

So, he settled for the second-best option.

Without breaking stride, he twisted mid-run and launched into his own spinning jump. The two blue blurs collided in a clash of sparks and screeching metal—but Sonic hadn’t aimed to overpower the bot.

He’d aimed to redirect it.

The blue hedgehog knocked Mecha Sonic’s trajectory just enough that the bot veered off course—and was launched straight into Eggman’s line of fire.

A barrage meant for Sonic struck Mecha instead. Plasma bolts slammed into the robot’s side, sending it reeling in a shower of sparks.

“WHAT?!” Eggman roared. “Watch where you’re rolling, you glorified tin can! You cannot possibly be this useless!”

Sonic landed in a crouch, shielding Tails behind him as Eggman nagged at his new pet robot.

“You alright?” he asked.

Tails—dazed, exhausted, but otherwise unhurt—gave a shaky nod. “Y-Yeah… I think so… But—the Emerald…”

Sonic exhaled in relief—just as Mecha Sonic began to rise again, optics glowing with renewed fury.

“Just let me worry about that,” he muttered under his breath, stepping between the injured fox and the advancing Super Badnik.

“You like it?” Eggman’s voice crackled over the cavern’s chaos, drawing Sonic’s eyes. The doctor floated high above in his Egg Mobile, grinning smugly and observing his reaction eagerly. Which, while extremely creepy, at the very least meant that the mad doctor wasn’t trying to kill them right now. “I call this one Mecha Sonic Mk. II. I designed it to match you move for move. It’s just as resilient as the real deal!”

“He sucks!” Sonic snapped, scowling at the robotic eyesore in front of him. “Didn’t you say your passion project was all about organics? Or did you just make that up?”

“Well, my organic creation needs worthy opponents, doesn’t he?” Eggman sneered.

Behind him, Tails stirred with a disbelieving grunt. “Wh-what…?”

Sonic’s ears twitched, feeling the fox’s stare on his back. He grimaced.

Mecha Sonic charged at him like a bullet.

Sonic shot forward to intercept.

With a grinding roar, Mecha curled into a bladed disc, sawteeth gleaming along the edge of its Spin Attack. Sparks burst outward as it collided with Sonic midair—a bone-rattling clang echoing across the cavern walls.

Sonic landed low, skidding backward across the moss-slick stone. Mecha wasn’t far behind—relentless, it rebounded with a full flip, twisting midair as a heavy metal foot came crashing down toward Sonic’s head.

The blue hedgehog grunted and dodged sideways, snatching up a chunk of rubble and hurling it at the bot’s monovisor. It barely slowed Mecha down—the machine tore through the debris mid-spin, twisting with inhuman speed as it came right back at him.

“Resilient, you said?” Sonic hissed, sliding into another spindash and launching forward. Their bodies clashed again, Mecha’s sawblade shrieking as it tried to carve into his quills.

“Come on! That’s boring,” Eggman barked from above. “Both of you can do better than that!”

Bouncing back, Mecha began to shift its arm into a cannon.

Huffing, Sonic twisted underneath its blast and slipped into the robot’s personal bubble. He planted a foot on the bot’s leg and slammed his other heel into the robot’s chin. The strike sent Mecha reeling, sparks flaring from its jaw, and its cannon shot went wide—

—right toward the doctor.

The stray blast clipped the side of Eggman’s Egg Mobile, causing it to lurch. With a yelp, Eggman lost his grip on the Master Emerald—and the glowing gem slipped from his grasp, tumbling through the air.

Mecha let out an alarmed bleep, turning to assist its master—but Sonic was already in motion. He launched into a high-speed spindash, slamming into the robot’s back mid-step. The blow sent it crashing to the ground in a shower of sparks and twisted metal.

“No!” Eggman howled, scrambling to stabilize his hovercraft as he watched how the emerald bounced off the floor, slipping farther and farther from reach.

Multiple shouts sounded, urging someone to go fetch the Master Emerald, but something else was already moving to grab it.

A flash of chrome streaked across Chaos’ sanctuary—a Silver Sonic snatched the Master Emerald mid-air, its servos humming loudly as it skidded to a stop.

“YES! Yes! Now be a good badnik and throw it to daddy!” Eggman bellowed, slamming a button on his controls, commanding his Egg Mobile to go lower. “Now!”

Silver Sonic’s arm cocked back to obey—

—and was tackled mid-motion by a red blur.

Knuckles hit the robot from behind, locking both arms around the badnik’s torso and driving it to the ground with a roar. The Master Emerald shook in its grasp as they tumbled into a brutal struggle, fists and claws clashing in the dust.

Sparks flew. Knuckles snarled and tried to wrest the gem free, but the robot twisted at the last second and hurled the Master Emerald toward the Egg Mobile.

“No—!” Knuckles gasped, reaching out too late.

The small form of the Master Emerald arced upward—glittering—

—and a small figure leapt to intercept it.

Cream the Rabbit soared briefly through the air, ears acting as wings, and caught the emerald with both hands. A Chao flew loyally next to her, looking adorable as it kept a focused expression on its face.

“Mister Knuckles!” she called out, landing lightly on a mossy ledge beside the small pool of water. “I have the Emerald! I’m bringing it back!”

“NO!” Eggman screamed. The Egg Mobile righted itself, weapons locking onto the child. “Put that down, you miserable—!”

“NO! PLEASE!” Vanilla’s voice could be heard in the distance, ringing with desperation.

Gritting his teeth, Sonic tried to think of a way for him to jump in for a quick rescue—

Yet, before he had the chance to do anything, a yellow blur smashed against the Egg Mobile. For a second, Sonic thought it to be Tails again—but the voice and shape didn’t match. “Nah-ah! Try again, Whiskers!”

Ray The Squirrel.

The flying squirrel smirked at Eggman and went crossed-eyed, sticking his tongue out at him mockingly.

Just as Eggman prepared to blast Ray out of the air—for the sheer gall of the insult—a thunderous bellow rang out from the far side of the cavern. A massive stone came hurtling through the air, flung with tremendous force. It slammed into the Egg Mobile’s side with a deafening crack, sending the hovercraft lurching violently sideways.

Mighty the Armadillo scowled angrily, ready to launch another at the first sign of trouble.

Eggman nearly tumbled from the cockpit, clutching the edge with wide, panicked eyes as sparks and smoke burst around him.

“NO—NO, NO, NO!” he shrieked. “YOU LITTLE BASTARDS—!”

The Egg Mobile teetered toward the pool at the cavern’s center, where Chaos lay waiting in the water, its glowing yellow eyes trained on him with cold, patient fury.

“CHAOS! WHY—?! NO, YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE SEALED! STAY BACK!” Eggman shrieked. No matter what he did, nothing could change what was about to happen to him.

The small god surged upward with a roar, one of its watery limbs snapping out like a kraken’s tentacle, coiling around the Egg Mobile. Metal groaned under the strain as Eggman’s hovercraft was yanked violently toward the churning heart of the pool below.

Feeling like the situation was under control, Sonic smirked, crossing his arms with dark satisfaction as he watched everything go down.

From the corner of his eye, he could see Cream arriving safely to Knuckles’ side, holding out the Master Emerald for him to take.

Without a word, the echidna dropped to one knee, bowing his head with solemn gratitude. He accepted the Emerald gratefully, as if that were a sacred moment between them.

The blue hedgehog was too far to make out what Knuckles was saying, but he certainly heard Vanilla’s relieved voice cry out: “Cream!”

The mother bunny fell to her knees beside her daughter and scooped her into her arms.

“Oh, my baby—my sweet baby!” she gasped, peppering Cream’s face with kisses. “You’re safe! You’re safe—thank the stars!”

Up above, Eggman flailed in a frenzy, desperate to get away.

“SONIC!” Eggman called out, voice cracking with panic. The doctor’s wide eyes sought him midst the small crowd forming around the pool. “DON’T JUST STAND THERE! SAVE ME!”

The blue hedgehog jolted, taken aback as Eggman pleaded with him for his life. Tails’ hand slipped into his from behind, as if to restrain him, and the blue hedgehog glanced at the fox’s wary eyes before shooting him a smirk.

He hadn’t even noticed that Tails was keeping an eye on him. Smart kid.

Sonic wasn’t going anywhere—especially not to help someone like Eggman escape what was coming to him. He tilted his head to the side, adopting a disinterested expression, making no move to intervene.

“Sorry, Doc,” Sonic said with a shrug. “I don’t see why I should.”

Tails’ tight grip slackened, but Sonic quickly squeezed back in reassurance, humming an upbeat tune under his breath.

Eggman stared at his nemesis for a moment, utterly baffled by his refusal to do anything that might benefit him.

Then something in his expression snapped. His face twisted—not into fear, but into fury.

“MECHA!” he bellowed, his voice cracking with rage as he pounded the controls with both fists. “Do something! Help me, you useless pile of scrap!”

Off to the side, the mangled remains of Mecha Sonic Mk. II twitched. Its damaged limbs jerked unevenly, joints screeching in protest as it struggled to lift itself off the ground. The machine’s flickering optics dimmed and flared again—dangerously close to shutting down for good.

“Out of power so soon! You’re pathetic!” Eggman spat. “GO INTO OVERDRIVE! Now! Before both of us are finished—MOVE!”

At first, it looked like the order would fail. Mecha convulsed once, limbs jittering—

Then the second core kicked in, and the change was instant.

Its entire frame snapped rigidly, and with a screeching whine of renewed power, the machine launched itself to its feet. Its monovisor flared to life, blazing white-hot. And before anyone could react, it moved—blindingly fast.

Only Sonic saw what happened.

Chaos had almost managed to drag the Egg Mobile into the depths of his pool when Mecha tore through the god’s water tendrils, its bladed arms cleaving them apart with such force that the water turned instantly into steam. Eggman’s hovercraft snapped away from Chaos’ grip with a lurch.

Eggman threw his head back and cackled. “YES! That’s it! Mecha, retrieve the Master Emerald! KILL THEM ALL IF YOU HAVE TO!”

Then he spun toward the scattered army of Silver Sonic units lying motionless across the floor.

“AND WHAT ARE THE REST OF YOU DOING? SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, ALL OF YOU! GET YOUR SECOND WIND, FOOLS!”

Sonic’s eyes widened.

“Knuckles, Cream—behind you!” he shouted.

But the warning came too late.

A blur of blue chrome and white light dropped on them like a guillotine.

Sonic just barely made it, slamming into them and knocking both echidna and rabbit to the ground before launching himself straight at Mecha.

They collided midair, a violent clash of blue. The sanctuary rang with the shriek of tearing metal, their momentum carrying them across the stone floor with many thunderous crashes.

Sonic gritted his teeth as claws raked across his belly, hot blood spilling fast.

In retaliation, Sonic drove his heel into Mecha’s chest, forcing it off for a breath—intending to perform a spindash on the spot and wreck it again—but it twisted in midair and righted itself like a cat, lunging for his throat almost immediately.

Meanwhile, the Master Emerald rolled helplessly across the fractured floor, pulsing with green light as it bounced off the remains of a crumbled column.

A Silver Sonic, its optics locked onto the glow, raced toward it.

“Nah, not this time!” Tails shouted, his twin tails propelling him forward. He slammed into the Silver Sonic at full speed, knocking it off course, but another was already closing in.

Vanilla, Cream and Cheese scrambled back, shielding a few wounded Chao as the machines around them surged like a tide. A few feet away, Knuckles pulled himself from the wreckage of a badnik that had gotten too close to them.

“Where is it!?” he barked.

“Here!” Amy’s voice rang out from the chaos.

The Master Emerald had landed inches from her boots. She stood at the entrance of the Chao Garden, having finished evacuating everyone that had gone with her and Honey.

She smacked the first Silver Sonic coming her way with her hammer, sending it crashing into the next of its kin as they began to swarm her.

“Come on, then!” Amy snarled, swinging again. Her hammer cracked through another doppelgänger’s head, sending sparks and shards flying everywhere. “You want it that badly? You’ll have to go through me first!”

The Silver Sonics surged toward her like a wave of metal, moving in perfect, terrifying unison—flawless coordination achieved in a way only machines could do.

Tails, Ray, and Mighty jumped in to thin their numbers, but the swarm was relentless, breaking past them in a beeline for the Master Emerald.

Eggman’s voice echoed through the cavern, half-mad with glee. “Oh, isn’t this precious? You really think you can protect it, little girl? You can’t even protect yourself! Why, you’re about to be overwhelmed!”

Amy gritted her teeth, the Master Emerald pulsing in her hand. She glanced across the battlefield—just in time to see Sonic slam Mecha into the stone floor, shattering the ground beneath them in a blast of dust and pure force.

Mecha Sonic Mk. II spasmed a couple of times, and then finally stilled. The light in its monovisor died as it ran out of juice.

Sonic staggered back, pressing his hand to the wound in his stomach as blood trailed down, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths.

“SONIC!” Amy shouted.

He looked up, just as she twisted her body and hurled something toward him. A green Chaos Emerald flashed through the air.

Sonic caught it—and gasped.

Something was off about the Emerald. It was hollow. Empty. And yet its power surged into him, more overwhelming than anything Greenie had ever given him.

The tip of his gloved fingers curled with claws that were reminiscent of Fleetway, gold energy dying every bit of fur on his person with that same color—and yet. This felt more like the form where Greenie and he had joined forces to exorcise that demon, instead of just being a possession.

It felt good. Good in a way he’d never felt for himself before.

“So, this is you?” Sonic muttered to himself, half-expecting the Emerald to respond.

It never did.

But the wound in his stomach closed. The Master Emerald, glowing faintly in his hand, pulsed once—then dissolved into light, its energy vanishing into him.

Sonic rose to his full height. Golden arcs crackled around him. His red eyes snapped toward the advancing silver army.

His form flickered—

And then he was everywhere.

One by one, the Silver Sonics were picked apart, dismantled mid-motion before they could even register what was happening. Limbs shattered—torsos exploded—wires were cut in a matter of seconds. The remains of the Silver Sonics sizzled as they collapsed like broken marionettes.

And then all was quiet.

Sonic stood alone in the center of it all, glowing, chest rising and falling with calm, measured breaths.

With not even a scratch on him.

Eggman’s gulp echoed in the tense silence as he realized Sonic’s full focus was on him. Hastily, he snapped the glass dome shut, sealing himself inside.

“N-now, let’s not be hasty—” he stammered, forcing a smile that made his mustache twitch nervously. “We can still talk this out!”

“No,” Sonic said, his voice low and dangerous. “I don’t think we can.”

The doctor slammed his hand down on the emergency thrusters—but was too slow.

With a snap of displaced air, Sonic vanished, reappearing a second later just inches away from the cockpit. His hand punched straight through the glass, shattering it in a spiderweb of cracks. Clawed fingers curled into the front of Eggman’s coat, dragging him forward, while Sonic’s other hand gripped the edge of the Egg Mobile tightly, halting its escape like it was nothing.

“How can I let you go,” Sonic began in a deadly voice, dragging him closer to him, “when you’re always going to be toying with all our lives? Not even other universes are safe from you. No—I think you’re better off dead, Eggman.”

“Oh?” A flash of satisfaction sparked behind Eggman’s glasses. “So, you went to the Egg Carrier? How was it? I hope it was everything you hoped for.”

Sonic’s face tightened with anger.

“It was hell,” he hissed. “A graveyard. Lined with ghosts that looked like me.”

Eggman chuckled through grit teeth. “Then you saw it. All the failures. The ones that weren’t you in my notes. That’s good. That’s very good. It all brought me closer to my goal.”

Sonic slammed him hard against the inside of the Egg Mobile, the entire machine shuddering under the force.

“Closer to what?” Sonic spat. “Me?”

“Bingo!” Eggman wheezed, still grinning. “You’re alive. Powerful. Just look at you, Sonic The Hedgehog! That form, you wear it quite well—you’re excellent. Everything I envisioned, and more!”

Sonic’s glare darkened.

“You want to know what I did after I found that place?” he asked, voice laced with venom. “I tore it apart. The Egg Carrier’s now a tomb at the bottom of the sea. That thing is nothing to celebrate. It was an abomination!”

That made Eggman’s grin falter, a hint of anger showing through his expression. But then his grin twitched back into place.

“Well,” he said, quietly, “I suppose there was no point in saving anything there… not when what I want is standing right in front of me.”

Slowly, deliberately, Eggman raised a hand and reached toward Sonic’s face.

“You—”

CRACK.

Sonic’s grip shifted to the arm that reached for him. Eggman’s arm was now bent the wrong way, with bone sticking out.

And the man screamed.

“Don’t touch me!” Sonic snarled.

The scream curdled into laughter—growing louder, more unhinged by the second.

“Oh, you’re going to regret that, hedgehog,” Eggman wheezed, voice cracked with pain but eyes burning with triumph. “I’ll be taking you with me.”

The rings on the Doctor’s wrists flared to life, intricate circuitry now glowing with fierce energy.

A blinding light exploded inside the Egg Mobile.

Sonic flinched, squinting his eyes as he held on. “What the—?!”

Then it was gone.

Just like that, the light vanished.

The Egg Mobile groaned beneath him, the engine sputtering in place as it continued to try to wiggle out of his grip.

The gold hedgehog was still there, half inside the cockpit and clutching Eggman’s broken arm, only—

It wasn’t attached to anything.

Eggman was gone.

And the only thing left of him… was in Sonic’s hand.

A dismembered arm.

Chapter Text

“So, how do you like it, Shadow? Is this better?”

A pair of crimson eyes peered back at him from the polished surface of the mirror. An uncertain smile tugged at his pale muzzle.

“… It’s a bit lacking in color,” Shadow murmured, turning his arms over with mild disdain. His stark black and white fur didn’t sit quite right with him. “I’d prefer something less monotone.”

His eyes moved to his hands and feet, both now coated with a film of bright yellow.

He frowned.

“… And why are my hands and feet so bright?”

Sonic stifled a laugh as he stepped up beside him. He clasped his hands behind his back, blue eyes shining brightly with amusement.

“Those are shoes and gloves, silly!” he said with a grin. “I forget you’ve never worn any before. But they’re pretty common with Mobians—and humans, too! It’s all part of the new style!”

Shadow flexed his fingers, still unconvinced. “They look like warning signs.”

“They’re just a prototype,” Sonic said gently. “Everything about this is. I can tweak the colors, the fur patterns, the textures—whatever you need. But I wanted you to see what you liked before we made it final.”

He hesitated, watching the other closely. “You don’t have to look like a hedgehog, you know. Not if you don’t want to. And… you don’t have to change yourself at all, either. Not if it doesn’t feel right.”

Shadow sighed through his nose. Then, softly, he said: “… I do.”

Sonic blinked.

The hedgehog didn’t look at him, instead turning back to his reflection—at the swept-back quills and inky black fur. His non-luminous red eyes with round pupils. The white chest fur was a fluffy mess, spiking in every direction like it couldn’t decide where to settle.

Despite the weirdness of being a blend of black and white, it all looked like a good change. His face practically glowed with happiness.

“All the pictures you showed me… the little animals… They were cute,” he admitted, almost sheepishly. “And hedgehogs can defend themselves with their spikes. It’s practical. I like that.”

Sonic’s smile widened, warm and bright.

“Well then,” he said, hugging him, “we’ll make you the cutest, spikiest, most badass hedgehog out there. Deal?”

Shadow didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, with the tiniest nod, he said, quietly: “Deal.”

“So, this is where the two of you were,” a jovial voice startled them.

Both turned sharply, already looking flustered.

“Professor!”

“Grandfather!”

Gerald Robotnik stood at the doorway, arms crossed and smiling like he’d just walked in on a shared secret. His white coat swayed gently as he stepped further into the lab.

“What?” he said, laughing. “Don’t tell me you thought you could keep this quiet?”

Shadow immediately straightened, eyes wide. “It was my idea,” he said quickly. “I’m the one who wanted to experiment with my appearance. Maria only helped—she’s not responsible for any of this.”

But Sonic waved a hand in protest. “Ah, no, that’s not true—it was my idea! I mean, sure, Shadow wanted a change, but I was the one to build the prototype! It was all me!”

Shadow huffed and shook his head. “That’s not how it happened, Professor. She’s just trying to cover for me—”

“Alright, alright,” he said, amused. “Calm down, both of you. Shadow, I know you didn’t design the tech. There’s no need to lie.”

He took a few slow steps forward, stopping just in front of them. His voice gentled: “May I?”

Shadow’s red blush deepened. But he nodded and shyly raised his wrist.

“Ho? Red blood?” Gerald leaned in, adjusting his spectacles.

His fingers were careful and precise as he examined the wristbands, turning the arms slightly and brushing over the tech. With a glance at Shadow for permission, he gently prodded at the fur near the cuff and tugged the glove just enough to feel the material. It peeled away seamlessly as he moved it, almost as if it were a genuine article of clothing.

“Hmm… remarkable. Adaptive camouflage, with some haptic layering... Is this producing actual fur and fabric? Or—oh, I see—that’s some really intricate holographic masking. Truly fascinating.”

He turned to Sonic, looking equal parts impressed and proud.

“My goodness, this is gorgeous, sweetheart. You’ve outdone yourself. Cloaking technology like this—convincing cloaking—is no easy feat. You’re quite the inventor, aren’t you?”

Sonic pushed blond hair behind his ear, feeling sheepishly pleased. “Well, I had some notes to work from… and Shadow sat through so many tests...”

Gerald smiled knowingly.

“Still,” he said, “why did you two think I wouldn’t approve?”

Sonic and Shadow both looked away.

“… You’ve been busy,” Sonic said.

“… We didn’t want to waste your time,” Shadow muttered.

Gerald shook his head, exasperated but fond. “You two really are something.”

He stepped back, gave Shadow a long, thoughtful look, and then said with real warmth: “You look good, Shadow. More importantly, you look comfortable. That matters more than anything.”

Shadow looked down, then gave a shy smile.

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Well, then. Now that we’re all on the same page, how about I help you two with that project of yours?” Gerald smiled behind his white moustache, eyes crinkling.

Shadow and Sonic exchanged a glance. Then, almost in unison, they both nodded.

“Yes, please!” Sonic said, clapping his hands together with excitement.

“We’d appreciate that,” Shadow added, quieter, but sincere.

Gerald’s smile widened. “Excellent. Let’s get to it, then. First question—what can we improve?”

Both Sonic and Gerald turned to Shadow expectantly.

He blinked, caught off guard by the sudden spotlight. His ears twitched.

“… The colors,” he said after a moment. “They’re a bit off. Too much white, maybe? The black’s fine, but it’s missing something... I’d like to keep some red.”

Sonic cocked his head. “Not blue?”

Shadow gave him a flat look and shook his head. “Absolutely not. That’s your color, Maria.”

Gerald chuckled under his breath. Sonic giggled, clearly amused by his answer.

Ignoring them, Shadow looked down at his arms, following the white sections with his lips pursed. “My eyes already look red, so… maybe red highlights. Accents. Something to tie it all together. The gloves can be white for the sake of contrast.”

Gerald nodded thoughtfully. “We could run a few simulations, and update the tech so it can produce other hues…”

But before the brainstorming could continue, Gerald’s phone buzzed sharply in his coat pocket.

Sonic and Shadow both stopped mid-thought, glancing at him.

Gerald pulled it out, gave the screen a glance, and calmly turned the device off. The buzzing ceased.

“… Shouldn’t you have answered that, Grandfather?” Shadow asked, a little concerned. “What if it was G.U.N. asking for a report or something important?”

“We already have a meeting scheduled with them this evening,” Gerald said simply, slipping the phone back into his pocket. “They can wait.”

He eased himself down onto a nearby bench, settling beside them with a quiet sigh of contentment. “Now, where were we? Ah—red accents.”

Sonic sat cross-legged on the floor, pulling a tablet toward Gerald. He started explaining the existing customization features, with his grandfather listening attentively. Shadow leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he watched them work with a small smile.

The lab’s lights seemed to soften above them. Gentle conversation filled the space—ideas exchanged, light teasing traded, Gerald nodding along as they brainstormed Shadow’s ideal look.

The meaning of their words faded.

And then, slowly, the memory washed out—colors blurring at the edges, words melting into warmth as everything dissolved into white…

…

…

…?

…!

Sonic stirred awake, eyes blinking open as a streak of sunlight cut across his vision. He groaned, limbs aching and feeling heavy. He shifted slightly as he raised a hand to shield his face.

The Green Emerald pulsed against his back, prompting him to take it out and hold it up against the sunlight.

He squinted through the green glint. “Still sleeping, huh?” he murmured with a yawn.

The Emerald gave no reply, producing just a faint hum in the back of his mind, like the soft ring of a lullaby. He tucked it back into his quills, letting his hand fall into the grass beside him.

Everything hurt.

The blue hedgehog could feel the warmth of the sun, the cool breeze rolling off the nearby lake, and hear the soft, sleepy chimes of Chao breathing all around him. With everything so peaceful, he could almost drift off again.

Almost.

A shadow passed over his face.

He blinked—

—and found a pair of bright green eyes staring down at him.

“WAH—!”

Sonic jerked upright with a startled yelp, sitting bolt upright and sending half a dozen Chao squeaking and tumbling away into the grass. One of them flailed dramatically and rolled into the lake with a splash.

Amy stood over him, grinning as she crossed her arms. “Good morning, sunshine.”

Sonic stared at her, still catching his breath. “Amy! You scared me to death!”

“You deserved it,” she shot back without missing a beat, hands on her hips. “You've been gone for hours. You can’t just keep vanishing on us like that—and I can’t keep scouring the whole island to find you.”

Sonic rubbed the back of his head, trying to gather his thoughts. “Sorry. I was just… thinking. By the lake.”

Amy’s smirk faded slightly as she looked him over.

Her brow creased. “You’re drenched.”

Sonic glanced down. Oh. Right. His fur was clinging to him in soaked patches, the ends dripping into the grass.

“You always do this,” Amy sighed. “You wander off like you’d rather be anywhere else besides us. I don’t get it—why do I always find you near water?”

Sonic shrugged, still dripping. “I dunno,” he muttered. “Maybe I like swimming before I crash? It helps me think.”

“Sonic, you sink like a rock.”

“Yeah, but if I get out before I run out of air, it’s fine!”

Amy gave him a long look, then shook her head and reached into her satchel. “Whatever. I came prepared this time.”

She pulled out a towel—clearly meant for him—and tossed it over her shoulder.

“You want help this time, or are you gonna try shaking it off like a dog again?”

Sonic winced. “Okay, first of all, that was one time—”

“Yesterday,” Amy said huffily.

“… Fine,” he muttered, sheepish. “I promise I’m not going to spring that on you again.”

“Good boy,” Amy said, smirking as she walked behind him and unfurled the towel. She knelt down and started blotting the water from his back, particularly careful around the blue spines.

Sonic let out a low, pleased hum as she worked, his shoulders relaxing. The towel’s warmth, the rhythmic pressure, Amy’s careful hands—it all made him feel safe. Drowsy, even.

“You’re shedding again,” Amy muttered, brushing along his upper back. Bits of fur clung to the towel. “Big time.”

“Tell me about it,” Sonic said with a sigh. “It itches like crazy.”

He could feel her fingers carefully tugging away loose tufts, especially along his sides, where the blue had begun to give way to something else.

“It’s happening so fast,” she said quietly.

“Yeah.” Sonic looked down at his chest. The once-pale fur had thinned, revealing skin beneath—it looked closer to peach than white now. His arms were doing similarly, the blue fur fading to match.

He rubbed his forearm nervously. “You said it was normal, right?”

Amy worked in silence for a moment, letting her fingers sweep over his shoulders. Then she said, softly: “It doesn’t seem like you’re getting sick. And… technically, it is normal for hedgehogs to shed every now and then…”

“But not at this rate,” Sonic said flatly. The fact that his limbs were aching him was now back at the forefront of his mind. “I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, Amy. I’m starting to get worried.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Amy reassured him. There was a pause as she examined her work. No traces of wet fur remained. “There, all done.”

But Sonic wasn’t listening.

“I can’t help but wonder—am I dying? It’s this how it starts?”

Sonic stared at the flapping birds flying over their heads, sensed the wind running free in his quills and felt something inside of him hurt terribly at the thought of his own mortality. Seven days he’d lived. A week. A rather short life, if his body was beginning to break down already…

It almost felt a bit nostalgic. Huh.

“Hey,” Amy called out to him, turning him around to grip both his shoulders. The pink hedgehog chased his eyes when he averted them, lowering herself to his level to capture all his attention. Meeting his gaze head on, she smiled gently. “It’s going to be alright, you’ll see.”

“What makes you say that?” Sonic asked, feeling sullen.

“Well, for starters—get up for a second, will you?” she said, taking both his hands and gently tugging him to his feet.

Reluctantly, he did so.

Raising to his full height, Sonic blinked—and looked down at Amy.

She was still holding his hands, but—she had to look up at him.

Did she always need to do that?

“… Wait,” Sonic said slowly. “Have you always been this short?”

Amy raised a brow, smirking. “No, genius. You’ve gotten taller.”

Sonic blinked again and glanced down at himself. Now that he was paying attention, his legs did seem longer. His torso, leaner. His arms were not just shedding, but… stretching.

He took a half-step back, flexing his fingers in her grip.

“I didn’t even notice…” Sonic muttered, eyes tracing the length of his arms. He stretched one out, surprised by how much farther it reached than before.

“I figured,” Amy said, her voice soft again. “You were too busy panicking and avoiding everyone to notice the obvious.”

Sonic gave her a flat look.

She laughed, letting go of his hands and patting his arm. “See? I don’t think whatever’s going on with you is a problem. Maybe this change—whatever it is—is a good thing.”

He didn’t answer right away. He looked down at himself again and then turned to watch the lake. His reflection shimmered faintly there.

His appearance was less fluffy than before, that was for certain.

… What was he? A baby hedgehog? Was he going through hedgehog puberty or something like that?

Oh god. He hoped he wasn’t. But, all things considered, it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.

“… Doesn’t feel too bad,” he admitted at last. “It’s just very weird and uncomfortable.”

Amy nodded with a shrug. “Yeah, well. Change usually is.”

Sonic let out a breath. “You really think I’m not falling apart, Amy?”

He hated that this was an actual, valid concern.

Her eyes gleamed with understanding, looking like she was considering hugging him, before she reconsidered at the last second.

“I think,” she said slowly, “that you’re still growing.”

Sonic cracked a small smile, nudging a pebble with his foot. “Yeah, well, I hope I stop eventually. I really don’t wanna be, like… infinitely tall. Can you imagine how awkward that’d be?”

Amy snorted. “You’d be knocking over trees just by trying to stretch. I wouldn’t even be able to see your eyes anymore.”

“Forget that—I'd probably just trip over a mountain and launch myself into orbit.”

She giggled. “At that point, you might as well skip Mobius entirely and go sightseeing on the moon.”

Sonic laughed too, the sound soft and genuine—but it faded quicker than either of them wanted.

Amy tilted her head, her smile gentle and a little relieved. “So… do you feel a little better?”

Sonic hesitated, watching a few stray Chao drifting back toward the lakeside. One of them cooed at him sleepily before curling up in the grass.

Chaos made lazy ripples in the lake.

“I guess,” he said, uncertain. “Still feels weird.”

“Well,” Amy offered gently, “if you still have doubts… you could always talk to Tails. Ask if he’s figured out anything about your DNA.”

That made Sonic grimace.

He lowered himself back to the ground, sitting with his elbows on his knees, idly brushing a hand over his forearm again. More fur came loose, drifting onto the grass like dandelion fluff.

Wow. He really was going to go bald by the end of the week. It was honestly kind of impressive for all the wrong reasons.

“… Tails doesn’t really want much to do with me lately,” Sonic said quietly.

Amy frowned, kneeling beside him. “Oh, no. That’s not true.”

Sonic looked at her—tired and defensive. His voice came out flat. “Really? And, how do you know that? Are you a mind reader now on top of everything else?”

Smiling, Amy shook her head, then gave a slow, drawn-out: “I know I’m right beeecaaause…” and poked his shoulder. “He talks to me, silly. And he told me he regrets how awkward things have gotten between you two. You two don’t really interact anymore outside of testing, so he’s sad about it.”

Embarrassed, Sonic looked away.

Amy continued, voice softer now. “He doesn’t hate you, Sonic. He’s just… confused. Scared. Maybe a little overwhelmed. But he still cares about you. He just doesn’t know how to say it right now.”

Sonic said nothing. His fingers curled a little in the grass.

Amy nudged him lightly. “So don’t give up on him, okay?”

He gave a small nod.

“I guess I could try to talk to him again…” he trailed off, watching the Chao sleep peacefully.

“Promise?”

Sonic laughed, eyes crinkling merrily as he glanced back at her. “You don’t ever give up, do you?”

Amy grinned. “I’ve been told that’s one of my less desirable qualities.”

“Oh yeah?”

She laughed, brushing her pink quills behind her ear. “Apparently, I don’t know how to just… let go. Not of people. Not of hope. Not even of the stupid stuff.”

Sonic tilted his head, watching her. “Well,” he said with a small smile, “considering you were trying to cheer me up, I don’t really see the issue.”

Amy smiled back, but it faded just a bit. Her voice dipped lower—more serious and honest. “So, does this mean that you’re gonna stop trying to die alone with the Chao?”

Sonic barked out a laugh—sharp and surprised. Her words were way too dark, way too blunt… and yet, so weirdly funny. He chuckled again, helplessly amused.

Amy continued when he didn’t reply. “Also, you can’t keep avoiding people just because they look at you. Let them. Let them stare.” She reached over and nudged his arm. “Whatever happens, just be around the ones who care about you, Sonic. Don’t pull away. Don’t shut us out.”

Sonic swallowed. Hard. He really couldn’t find the words to reply to that.

But Amy didn’t press. She just sat there beside him, waiting for him patiently.

And after a moment, Sonic murmured, “Okay.”

He allowed her to pull him up again, feeling his cheeks burning as he looked down at the ground. Amy gave his hand a final squeeze before letting go.

Together, they began the walk back to camp, waving to the Chao as they passed. The little creatures chirped happily, bobbing in the sun-dappled shallows, their tiny faces tilted up toward the morning light in pure, contented bliss.

They walked in easy silence for a while—until Amy spoke again.

“You know,” she said, “you getting taller isn’t the only reason I’m sure you’re okay.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow. “No?”

She shook her head, clasping her hands behind her back as they strolled. “I keep getting the Star card every single time I draw my deck lately.”

He blinked. “And that’s… good?”

“It’s more than good,” Amy said with a bright smile. “It stands for hope, healing, and renewal. A symbol of faith and inspiration. When it shows up, it usually means things are shifting in the right direction—that there’s guidance, and that you’re being… well, watched over.”

Sonic tilted his head and repeated: “Watched over?”

She nodded. “Cared for. Like something out there knows where you’re going—even if you don’t. The Star is about clarity, recovery, and trusting the journey. It doesn’t show up unless there’s a reason.”

As they walked, Amy glanced at him again, her smile fading into something more thoughtful. “It wouldn’t make sense for my cards to keep saying things are fine, only for you to suddenly…” She trailed off, frowning. “Well. You know.”

Sonic was quiet for a moment, letting her words hang in the air, his footsteps crunching softly along the trail.

“… Can I ask you something?” he said finally. “Do you really trust your cards to always be right?”

Amy shrugged, not breaking stride. “Yeah. Pretty much. Belief is kind of the foundation of magic, you know? Trusting the message is part of what makes the tarot work. I know that the spirits within them want to help me understand the world around me. They’re my friends and allies in all my battles.”

She smiled faintly, then added, “Which brings me to the other point I wanted to make. There’s another card we’ve seen that gives me hope for the best.”

“Oh?” Sonic glanced sideways. “Which one?”

She threw a wink at him. “Back on the Egg Carrier—when I asked you to draw a card? You pulled Temperance. Remember?”

He paused, then nodded slowly.

“It literally means balance,” Amy continued, voice upbeat. “Harmony between extremes. A merging of opposites. It was… kind of perfect for what I was dealing with at the time. And I feel it’s still relevant for you, right now.”

Sonic let out a quiet hum, letting that sit with him. He’d never put much faith in magic, but Amy’s cards had proven their worth more than once. They were powerful—and strangely precise.

He supposed he could choose to hope, too. Maybe things weren’t as bleak as he’d believed.

And if he really was dying… wouldn’t it be better to make the most of the time he had left?

“… Thanks,” he said at last, his voice quieter. “This actually helped. A lot.”

Amy nodded happily. “Anytime. I bet Tails will confirm what I said.”

Sonic chuckled. “I’m not a betting man, Amy. And the machine couldn’t read my DNA the last time we tried, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said with a grin. “But you trust me, right?”

He sighed, then smirked. “Alright. If you say so… I’ll trust you.”

The trees began to thin as the path opened into the clearing.

Sonic and Amy slowed as they stepped out into the heart of the camp—no longer just a small campsite, but something more permanent now.

Everywhere they looked, people were working. Makeshift homes built from salvaged wood and badnik scrap rose from the soil, their uneven metal panels catching the light like patchwork armor. Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, and voices drifted through the air—laughter, conversation, the clang of metal on metal.

“Wow,” Sonic breathed, taking it all in.

“Yeah,” Amy said, shading her eyes as she scanned the bustling scene. “We’ve been busy.”

The wreckage of Eggman’s forces hadn’t gone to waste. Every badnik torn apart during the battle had been stripped for parts—metal limbs, armor plating, wiring—all reshaped into roofs, support beams, and tools. Even the smaller mobile factories had been dismantled and repurposed within days.

Only the main body of the aircraft Eggman had used to carry the army he’d used in his latest assault remained intact—its bulk looming quietly on the far side of the budding village. Tails had claimed it as his workspace, taking full advantage of all the stuff Eggman had left behind.

Sonic could spot him now, standing near the aircraft's opened hatch, tools in hand as he adjusted something on one of the panels near the entrance. The small fox hadn’t noticed them yet, fully immersed in his work.

Then, a sudden yelp cut through the hum of camp life.

Near them, a badger Mobian stumbled—her foot catching on a buried rock. The bundle of lumber in her arms pitched forward, teetering on the edge of collapse.

Sonic reacted on instinct. “Whoa—look out!”

He lunged forward just as the wood slipped, arms shooting out to catch the topmost planks inches before they could crash onto her foot.

“Oh—wow, that was close. Th—” The badger stopped speaking mid-sentence. Her eyes widened abruptly, and her expression stiffened as she took in his features. It was obvious that she knew who he was.

Sonic’s hands carried the lump of wood easily, but a flicker of uncertainty passed behind his green eyes. His arms wavered between them as she didn’t move to take them back.

Before the silence could stretch too far, Amy stepped in, voice light but firm. “Sticks, seriously,” she said with a sigh. “You’ve got to watch where you’re going. That would’ve crushed your toes.”

“I had it under control, Amy,” the badger—Sticks—grumbled, adjusting her grip and refusing to meet Sonic’s eyes.

The pink hedgehog snorted and took the load from Sonic, nudging it back into the badger’s arms. “Sure, you did. Just try not to trip over rocks next time.”

Sonic turned to go with her, brushing his hands together to get rid of the dust in his gloves—more than ready to move on.

“Wait!” Sticks called out, voice strained under the weight.

They stopped and turned, just slightly.

Sticks was staring right at him now, her grip tightening around the lumber.

“… Thanks,” she said at last. “For catching that. And… for what you did during the battle. Not just now. You saved me.”

The words weren’t loud, but they hit the air like a stone dropped in still water.

Sonic felt the shift in the air around them. Quiet rippled through the people like a wave, conversations dying down as more heads turned to look. Dozens of eyes. Watching him. Whispering.

He could feel their eyes on him, lingering on the bare patches where his fur had fallen away, quietly weighing what they saw and making their own conclusions about him.

His back muscles stiffened.

Still—he gave the badger a lopsided smile as he scratched his cheek, his front remaining easygoing and open. “Hey! It’s all good! No thanks needed.”

Amy stepped in quickly, slipping her hand around his arm to tug him gently to the side. “Come on,” she murmured, voice light. “You’re doing great.”

“Save me,” he whispered back, lips stuck on a stiff smile as multiple eyes tracked them across the site.

“Oh, come on… it’s not that bad…”

“Hey, guys!” came a sudden voice just before a yellow blur nearly tackled them.

Ray the Flying Squirrel skidded to a halt in front of them, arms thrown wide like he was preparing for a hug he barely remembered not to deliver.

“There you are!” he exclaimed, practically bouncing on his toes. “We’ve been looking all over for you two! I’m so glad you’re okay—especially you, blue hedgehog guy! Sonic, right? Man, it’s great to see you again!”

Sonic blinked, caught off guard. “Uh—hey.”

Ray beamed, chattering a mile a minute. “We were all super worried when you disappeared—like, poof! Gone! I figured maybe you were off doing something top-secret and mysterious—or maybe you just needed space, which is totally valid, but still! It’s really good to see you’re not, y’know, dead or anything. Oh! Are you trying out a new haircut or something? Because you look kinda different. And—uh—you missed a few spots! Here and there!”

Before Sonic could figure out how to respond to that, a firm hand clamped down on Ray’s shoulder.

“Ray,” a deep voice said. “Breathe.”

Mighty the Armadillo stepped up behind him, giving Amy and Sonic a nod. “Sorry about him. Sometimes he gets a bit too excited.”

Ray turned, gesturing wildly. “But I didn’t even get to—!”

“We’re not here for a full conversation,” Mighty said, his tone patient but firm. “Just wanted to give you an update, Amy—everyone’s got a roof over their head now. Most of the injured are back on their feet, and… there’s been no new losses. We’ve been lucky.”

Amy’s face softened. “That’s… That’s really good news. Thanks for letting me know, Mighty.”

“Mm.” The armadillo gave her a gentle smile. “Well, we didn’t mean to interrupt. We’ll let you two go now.”

Ray opened his mouth, but Mighty was already grabbing him by the arm. The squirrel flailed slightly as he was turned around.

“But I wanted to ask Sonic something! About the yellow transformation thingy! Like, how come he looked yellow like me when he chopped off Robotnik’s—”

“Ray,” Mighty said, his tone sharpening just a touch. “Let’s go.”

Ray’s protest died on his tongue as he was gently but firmly dragged off, still glancing over his shoulder with wide eyes. “But the dude was glowing! Like, literally glowing!”

“Uh-huh,” Mighty replied, utterly unbothered, already walking him out of earshot.

Amy shot Sonic a sheepish glance. “Hey… I know they’re a lot, but I swear—”

She let her words die when she heard him laugh.

“He’s just so hyper,” Sonic chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched the duo retreat. “Did someone feed him tons of sugar or is he always like that?”

Amy laughed, visibly relieved. She beckoned him forward. “Nope, that’s just Ray being Ray. Always dialed up to eleven. And don’t even get me started on when Honey’s around. Those two together are practically unstoppable.”

Sonic raised a brow, clearly intrigued. “Honey? Can’t say I’ve met her yet.”

Amy groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “Oh, trust me—you’d know if you had. She’s a loudmouth cat Mobian who won’t let you get a word in once she starts talking. She’ll make sure you know she owns a fashion label. Honestly, I’m convinced she believes everyone’s just one makeover away from perfection.” She shot him a sidelong glance. “If you ever run into her? Run.”

“I’ll keep my distance,” Sonic said with a smirk as they passed a group of Mobians hauling salvaged scrap. “Though… I’ve gotta admit, now I’m kinda curious. Is she really that intense?”

“Only if you’re reaaaally unlucky. It depends on her mood.” Amy huffed, though a smile tugged at her lips. “You’ll either end up buried under tons of fashion trivia or have a totally normal chat. You’ll have to flip a coin every time you try it.”

“I’ll keep an eye out for her,” Sonic said, grinning. “Maybe we’ll be best pals in no time.”

Amy gave him a look, barely holding back a laugh behind a cheeky smile. There was no way he’d subject himself to that kind of torture and they both knew it. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

They walked a little further, the path curling closer to the looming remains Eggman’s large hovercraft. The laughter and chatter behind them faded slightly under the soft hum of machinery and the distant clang of metal.

Tails was exactly where they’d spotted him last.

Sonic exhaled slowly, his earlier nerves creeping back in. “... Well. This is the moment of truth, I guess.”

Amy glanced at him, then at the ship ahead. “Don’t be so nervous. Go on! Talk to the kid.”

Sonic picked up the pace, stepping ahead. “Yo, Tails!”

The fox flinched slightly and turned, pulling himself away from the open panel he’d been elbow-deep in. His eyes widened the moment he saw who it was.

“Oh—hey, guys!” he said, wiping his hands on a rag. “Sorry, I didn’t realize—were you two standing there long?”

Sonic shook his head. “Nah. Just got here.”

“So,” he asked, trying to sound casual as he glanced between the two hedgehogs, “what did you guys need help with?”

“The DNA testing, I think,” Amy replied before Sonic had the chance to do so. He squinted at her, and Amy subtly shook her head, as if to say: ‘not yet’. “We wanted to see if there was anything you could tell us about it. Any progress at all would be helpful.”

Tails’ face lit up. “Oh! Perfect timing. I was just going through the results before I came out here. And I think I have good news for you. Sorry it took so long.”

Tails motioned for them to follow, leading the way down a corridor deeper into the Egg Carrier’s interior. The hall was lit by the power lines in the walls, the hum of machinery echoing faintly around them.

As they rounded a corner, a familiar, mechanical voice called out from a nearby chamber.

“FASCINATING. YOU ARE STILL ALIVE, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG.”

Sonic blinked, pausing in the doorway. “Gamma?” He leaned inside, offering a small, uncertain wave. “Uh… hey.”

The robot head—now mounted atop a rotating rig of wires and a mechanical torso—turned to face him with a soft whirr.

“I KNEW THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MIGHT REMAIN STABLE—UNLIKE THE OTHER NEMESIS CANDIDATES. HOWEVER, I COULD NOT CONFIRM THAT THEORY WITHOUT DIRECT OBSERVATION.”

Amy stepped up beside Sonic, gave Gamma a flat look, then gently nudged him forward by the shoulder.

“No. We’re not doing this right now,” she said firmly. “Come on.”

“But it—”

“Nope.”

“WE WILL TALK LATER,” Gamma called as they left the room.

Once they were out of earshot, Tails blinked and muttered, “That’s the first time I’ve heard it actually speak.”

Amy shot him a look. “Wait—then why is it hooked up to a frame? Are you rebuilding it without making sure it’s safe?”

“I’m not,” Tails said quickly, raising both hands. “I’m with you in this one. I’m not doing anything unless I’m absolutely sure it won’t try to kill us the second I give it limbs.”

He gave Sonic a side glance. “No offense, Sonic. I know you said it was cool with us, but...”

“None taken,” Sonic said with a shrug. “I understand that it’s a bit of a hard sell for you guys. Just give Gamma some time to open up. For a badnik, it seems like a cool dude.”

They followed Tails the rest of the way into the lab. The fox darted ahead to the cluttered workbench, attempting to tidy it—then gave up halfway and swept most of the mess into a corner with a sigh. Wires, tools, and half-finished devices clattered together in a heap.

Once the mess was cleared, Tails sat and tapped a few keys on his console. A large monitor flickered to life, casting a pale glow over the room. Several files popped up, and he navigated quickly until he pulled up one labeled with Sonic’s name.

“Okay,” he said, spinning in his chair to face them. “Here’s what I’ve got so far.”

The screen displayed a digital silhouette of Sonic’s body, spinning slowly. Lines of data surrounded it—graphs, waveforms, and readouts scrolling in real time.

“I isolated two main energy sources from the samples you gave me,” Tails explained, pointing to the twin pulses flickering inside the image. “One of them matches the energy signature of Chaos Energy—the same kind you see in the Master Emerald and the Green Emerald.”

“And the other?” Amy asked.

Tails hesitated. “That one’s… trickier to figure out. It’s wild, unpredictable. It responds to Chaos Energy, but it doesn’t behave like it. It’s almost constantly active, which makes it impossible to get a clear read on it. That’s why the DNA scan took me so long to do.”

Sonic tilted his head, arms folded. “That bad?”

“No,” Tails said quickly.

The young fox zoomed in on the DNA chains, tracing the brief but potent bursts of what seemed to be electricity that were jumping from one end to the other, with the nucleotides acting as bridges.

“If anything, it’s doing the complete opposite. It’s helping you, not harming you. I ran a full scan, just in case. There’s no signs of cellular breakdown in anything it touches. Everything’s holding together just fine with this thing running inside you.”

“So, what? This thing is just… vibing in there? Making sure I don’t break apart?”

Tails nodded, shrugging. “That’s my best guess.”

Amy leaned in, eyes scanning the screen. “And the DNA?”

Tails frowned, drumming his fingers against the console. Several nucleotide sequences flickered across the screen, each one highlighted in a different color. The nitrogenous bases varied just enough in composition to suggest they’d come from different sources—and different donors, in this case.

“I can’t cross-reference any of it,” Tails said with a grimace. “Without the original donor DNA, there’s no way to match this to any source. I can maybe guess how many different donors were used—that’s three, if you wanna know—and confirm that they’re all from Mobian hedgehogs… but beyond that, it’s all just guesswork. Sorry, guys.”

Sonic sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Don’t apologize. I mean… it makes sense. The quills Eggman used were blown up with the rest of the Egg Carrier. It was worth a shot, though. Short of asking Eggman himself—or digging through his files again—we’ll probably never know what he used to make me.”

“Definitely not Fleetway,” Amy said with a huff, giving him a once-over. “Yeah, I know you went all golden during the fight with Robotnik, but I’m pretty sure that was more about the Master Emerald’s power than anything else—so, it’s kind of like a temporary boost. And outside of that, you had to be possessed by him to take on that form.”

Tails shifted nervously at the reference to the ghosts that had haunted Eggman’s Egg Carrier. He always seemed a bit unsettled with anything remotely supernatural.

Sonic could relate for obvious reasons.

Oblivious to their discomfort, Amy tapped her foot as she thought about the traits all Fleetway clones were reported to have. “Besides, you don’t have the spiral irises we saw in those research notes. I think it’s safe to say he’s not part of you.”

“Why don’t you guys tell me what you found in Robotnik’s notes, and we can figure things out from there?” Tails said.

It was an unspoken agreement between the two hedgehogs that they weren’t going to mention 663-ON to Tails. They began from 9EN-E51S-5 and continued from there.

Tails’ ears flattened as he listened. His fingers flew across the console, inputting each designation and correlating them to what little data he had on file. “Okay, so he wasn’t just cloning you—he was designing you. Custom-building you from whatever he thought would make the perfect version.”

Sonic gave a half-hearted shrug. “Pretty much.”

From there, the discussion turned to theory. They narrowed the source universes down to two likely candidates.

“Alright,” Tails muttered, “if we go by Eggman’s logic… 9EN-E51S-5 was the goal. That version’s what he called his ideal ‘Nemesis.’ The template. So, if he wanted to replicate that, he’d need a base strong enough to handle it.”

“That’s where IDW-18 comes in,” Amy added, nodding. “That universe is always under observation, and from what we read, it had the potential as a base to negate the instability of 9EN-E51S-5. It makes sense.”

Tails marked the two confirmed sources in the system with a few keystrokes. “So that’s two. But the third…?”

“That’s the problem,” Sonic muttered, frowning. “There are too many stable options he could’ve picked from. But I can tell you one thing—ADV-93 isn’t one of them.”

Tails blinked. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Sonic said flatly. “Eggman wouldn’t settle for average. He’d want something exceptional—something he could use. That world was… fine. A bit loopy, maybe? But what made that Sonic stand out wasn’t him, it was everything around him. Eggman wouldn’t pick that unless he was desperate.”

“Okay.” Tails scratched it off the list. “That still leaves a few possibilities. OVA-96, SG-1991, U-2014, SX-2003, SP-2022… they’re all relatively stable and viable.”

Amy crossed her arms. “None of them can be verified since they are all only reported as good, but they’d be a solid red herring, in case someone went snooping like we did.”

“Why would Eggman put a red herring for something like this?”

Amy looked at him with a smirk. “Because, eventually, he hoped that one of you would come out and look for answers.”

Tails added a note to the many he'd already made: Third source unknown—likely from stable universe. Possibility of an unlisted candidate: high.

The fox hummed thoughtfully.

“… I hate that we’ll probably never know for sure,” Amy muttered.

Sonic looked at the screen for a long moment. “Yeah. But knowing two out of three’s better than none.”

Tails leaned back with a sigh. “Still. Dimensional engineering, multi-source splicing… Eggman really went all in on making you, huh?”

Sonic snorted softly. “I guess you could say I’m a real piece of work.”

“That was a terrible joke, Sonic,” Amy said with a grimace.

“I have to agree,” a voice drawled from behind.

All three jolted, turning to see Knuckles leaning in the doorway, arms crossed and smirking.

“That was dark as hell,” the echidna added.

“Knuckles?!” Amy frowned. “Have you been standing there this whole time?”

“You all looked pretty busy,” he said with a shrug. “Anyway, good to see you again, hedgehog. You weren’t exactly easy to pin down.”

Sonic gave him a flat look. “Funny. Amy didn’t have that problem.”

Knuckles snorted. “Amy’s got tracking experience. Of course she found you first.”

Amy’s phone buzzed sharply in her pocket. She checked the screen, brow furrowing. “I need to take this— you two play nice while I’m gone, or I’m bringing the hammer out when I come back.” She shot them both a stern look before stepping out into the corridor, closing the door behind her.

The moment she was gone, the bickering began.

“You’re one to talk about being hard to track,” Sonic muttered, folding his arms. “You vanish for days, then act like I’m the problem.”

Knuckles shrugged again, unimpressed. “Someone had to check the damage. Hidden Palace took a beating; there was a volcano erupting for days, and the Master Emerald’s been working overtime pulling fragments of the island out of the ocean. I’ve been stuck doing damage control around the clock just to get Angel Island back to what it was.”

Okay, okay, he supposed that was fair—

“Then there was you, too busy running from your problems to stay put in one place.”

“Excuse me?!” Sonic snapped, whirling around to fully face the echidna, sparks of lightning crackling off his spines. “You make it sound like I bailed the second things got hard! I stuck around! I helped bury the dead! Can’t say the same for a certain red bastard who disappeared without a single damn word—!”

Knuckles’ expression hardened, jaw clenched. “My parents were married when they had me, hedgehog. Don’t drag them into this.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it!” Sonic shot back, voice tense. “This isn’t about your family. It’s about you throwing accusations like I abandoned everyone.”

Before the tension could rise again, Tails stepped between them, clearly done with this. “Alright—enough! That was out of line, Knuckles. Sonic did help. Just like you did.”

There was a tense beat.

Knuckles exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fine. Maybe I crossed a line. But this island’s still a mess, and sometimes it feels like I’m the only one trying to fix it.”

Sonic’s glare softened, though didn’t fully disappear. “I get it. We’re all under pressure. Doesn’t mean that being a jerk will win you any points.”

Knuckles gave a brief nod. “I agree. Let’s drop it.”

Tails cleared his throat. “Good. Now—Knuckles, why are you here? This isn’t just about arguing, is it?”

Knuckles shook his head. “No. After I finished restoring Hidden Palace, there was one last thing I needed to test—with Sonic.”

The blue hedgehog tilted his head, eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Don’t tell me you actually repaired that busted mural with Eggman on it.”

Knuckles gave him a flat look. “That’s the one thing I left broken.”

That earned a short, dry laugh from Sonic. “Finally, something we can agree with.”

The echidna nodded and came closer. “That piece of prophecy can stay broken, in my opinion. Anyway, I need to see something. I’ll need your hand for this one, hedgehog.”

The sudden pivot nearly gave Sonic whiplash. “Uh… what?”

“Just give me your hand.”

Too curious to protest, Sonic cautiously held it out.

Without another word, Knuckles dropped something into his palm. A small, glowing green gem—dense with unmistakable Chaos energy.

The moment the shrunken Master Emerald touched his hand, the reaction was instantaneous.

The powerful emerald vanished into him and a surge of golden energy tore through Sonic’s body. His fingers curled into claws, quills flaring as radiant power crackled along his spine. His feet lifted off the ground, weightless, as his fur blazed like molten light—casting bright, flickering shadows across the lab.

“WHAA—!” Sonic yelped, eyes going wide as the energy surged through him. “Knuckles?! F-Fuck—! A little heads-up would've been nice!”

“I wanted to see it up close,” Knuckles replied, completely unfazed, arms crossed as he studied the Super Form floating in front of him. “It’s just like I thought… You instantly completely transformed as soon as you touched the Master Emerald. There was no delay in that reaction.”

Sonic blinked, still hovering off the ground, his fur glowing with golden radiance, quills flaring with energy. “Wait—what? Isn’t that how it works?”

Knuckles frowned as he examined the transformation in full. “If it were that simple, don’t you think I’d have one by now? I’ve lived alongside the Master Emerald my whole life. I guard it. I’ve bled for it. And yet—nothing. No transformation. Not even once.”

Sonic’s brow furrowed, golden sparks flickering from his fingertips. “But I just touched it.”

“Exactly,” Knuckles said. “That’s the point.”

Tails looked between them, processing fast. “Hold on—what is a Super Form, exactly? Can you explain it to me, Knuckles?”

The echidna didn’t look away from Sonic as he answered. “It’s a rare transformation. One only a few can pull off—usually after absorbing massive amounts of Chaos Energy from Emeralds. It boosts your natural abilities, gives you new ones, and usually makes you damn near invincible. The last one who could pull it off was my Pa—and he only did it once. When he’d pushed himself to such an extreme that the Master Emerald gave him the final boost he needed to finish the fight. For someone to pull this… so easily... It’s practically unheard of.”

Tails turned back to his computer, fingers flying across the keys. “Then Sonic definitely shouldn’t be able to do this just by touching the Emerald… unless his body’s already perfectly attuned to Chaos Energy. Hmmm. Maybe the Chaos Energy that already exists in Sonic’s DNA is making the transformation easier to access?”

Knuckles didn’t have an answer for that.

Tails looked over his shoulder at the floating hedgehog. “Sonic, mind if I take another quill while you’re like this?”

Sonic shrugged midair, the motion causing a ripple in the golden light around him. “Sure, bud. Knock yourself out.”

With practiced ease, the gold hedgehog reached up and plucked one loose. It came free with a faint crackle of light. He floated down just far enough to hand it off to Tails, who took it gingerly with both hands.

“It’s still empowered by the Chaos energy,” Tails muttered, already reaching for a scanner. “Let’s see if this helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes…”

Sonic hovered back, arms folded loosely as he watched his friend at work.

Knuckles watched as well. He asked Sonic quietly, “What’s fueling it? I mean… that level of power must be coming from somewhere.”

Sonic grimaced. “Rings,” he muttered. “Lots of them.”

He winced again, glancing down at his glowing form. His black nose wrinkled with discomfort. “I’ve got a decent stockpile stored up in me, but this form chews through ’em like candy. I can feel it eating them and I’m not doing anything.”

Knuckles crossed his arms, frowning. “And you can’t drop the form? At all?”

Sonic shook his head. “Dude, the Master Emerald is in me. I don’t know how to get it out without running dry—last time, it drained everything.”

Knuckles was quiet for a second. Then he took a step forward.

“I think I’ve got an idea. You wanna get it out now?”

“Yeah, that would be… sweet.” Sonic narrowed his eyes. “Dude, why are you coming closer?”

“Hold still,” Knuckles said, rolling his shoulders. “It’ll be over in a second.”

“Wait—Knux—what are you doing—?”

The punch connected squarely with Sonic’s chest.

A shockwave of golden light exploded outward, followed by a choked wheeze as Sonic’s breath was knocked clean out of him.

The transformation shattered midair. Sonic dropped like a stone, the Super Form peeling away in sparks and fading light. The Master Emerald hit the floor with a heavy thunk, followed moments later by Greenie, spinning on the floor.

At that exact moment, the lab door swung open.

“Tails, can you show me the map real quick? I need to check—” Amy froze mid-sentence as she realized that something was off. “What in Gaia’s name happened?!”

She rushed to Sonic’s side, where he lay groaning, still struggling to catch his breath.

“Sonic?! Are you okay?” Amy yelled with worry.

Startled by all the noise, Tails whipped around from his terminal, gawking at the sight before him. “What the heck—?! Knuckles, did you just—did you just punch the Super out of him?!”

Knuckles stood over the scattered emeralds, flexing his hand with a grimace. “Worked, didn’t it? Sonic wanted the Master Emerald out and I helped.”

Glaring at the echidna, Amy knelt beside Sonic, steadying him as he coughed. “You okay?”

“Oh, that smarts!” Sonic wheezed, clutching his ribs. “I th-think you dislodged my lungs, Knux!”

Tails blinked at the scene, then looked at the normal blue quill in his scanner. A few seconds ago, it had been bright gold. “The Chaos signature that was boosting Sonic—it’s gone. Completely gone.”

Tails turned to Knuckles, more puzzled than angry. “Wait… you actually knocked the energy out of him?”

“Just outta the hedgehog,” Knuckles said with a shrug.

He crouched beside the scattered emeralds, picking up the one closest to him. He turned it over in his palm, examining it for a few seconds.

“… This one feels wrong,” he said, his expression unreadable.

Amy froze beside Sonic, who was still coughing on the ground. She glanced down at him and the two shared a glance.

“You’re talking about the Green Chaos Emerald?” Amy asked. “What’s wrong with it?”

Knuckles shrugged as he went down to retrieve the Master Emerald from the ground. He glanced at the other gem again, his eyes examining it carefully. “It feels… full. Like there’s something—or someone—inside it.”

Sonic grunted as he pushed himself upright, wiping at his mouth. He reached out and took the emerald from Knuckles, turning it slowly in his hand. “It feels the same as always to me. You’re saying this isn’t normal?”

“Chaos Emeralds aren’t meant to be alive,” Knuckles said, frowning. “Not even the Master Emerald works that way. Sometimes, spirits take refuge in them—but it’s temporary. Sooner or later, they either find peace… or their will fades.”

“But what about the times where I could hear you speak to it? If it’s not alive, as you say, then why are you doing that?” Amy asked.

Knuckles’ face reddened slightly, and he looked away, looking almost sheepish. “That’s… uh… Well. Even if it’s not technically alive, the Master Emerald can hold echoes—impressions—of the people who’ve touched it. Their thoughts, memories… sometimes more.”

He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “Some of them are my ancestors. Old guardians. I try to… talk with them. When I need their wisdom.”

Sonic peered down at Greenie, feeling like he already knew who was inside. “I’ve been having dreams about a sick girl named Maria,” he said quietly. “She lived on a space colony called the ARK because she had a rare illness—something called NIDS.”

Tails let out a sharp hiss through his teeth. “Oh, that’s a rough one. There’s no cure, and it’s pretty painful. She would’ve suffered a lot down here—but if she was living outside Mobius’s gravitational pull, that might’ve eased the pain of the inflammation a bit. Still… why would she be here now? And inside the Emerald?”

Sonic shrugged. He didn’t know. Asking was out of the question as well; Greenie—Maria?—was still sleeping and she hadn’t tried talking again since the Egg Carrier.

Amy’s phone ran again, causing her to grimace at it.

“What horrible timing,” she said with a curse, bringing it to her ear as she answered it. “Rotor. Now isn’t the most—wait, what? What do you mean that they’re exploding the bases?”

Amy’s expression shifted rapidly as she listened, eyes sharpening with each word.

“… Right. Tails, bring up the World Map. Most recent version.”

Tails didn’t ask any questions. A few quick keystrokes, and the screen’s display shifted. Angel Island’s current orbital path replaced the previous data, the projection showing it steadily crossing the ocean in the northern hemisphere. It drifted just off the western coast of Normerca—only a few miles away from the Mystic Ruins. Station Square’s glowing marker wasn’t far off.

Amy scanned it quickly, then gave a firm nod. “Good. Now zoom out. I want these locations marked—doesn’t matter how far apart they are: Mount Mobius, Rocky Jungle, Great Jungle, Westside Island, and South Island.”

Tails blinked at the spread but didn’t hesitate. “On it.”

One by one, red markers began appearing across the globe.

Amy’s lips pressed into a tight line as she stared at the map. “Is that everything that’s been confirmed?”

A pause. Whoever was on the other end of the call spoke again, and Amy’s expression only tightened further with every word.

Amy sighed, eyes scanning everyone present in the room with her. “Rotor, I’m putting you on speaker. It’s safe.”

She tapped the screen, holding the device out.

A male voice crackled to life, warm despite the obvious tension. “Hello? Ah—hey there. You must be Amy’s friends. Wish this could’ve been under better circumstances, but… well, you’ve probably figured that out by now the situation is a bit dire. My name’s Rotor, and I have some bad news to share with you.”

Chapter Text

“I think Amy already mentioned this, but approximately an hour ago, three of Eggman’s bases were destroyed in Soumerca—one in Mount Mobius, one in Rocky Jungle, and one in the Great Jungle,” Rotor said.

“And that’s bad… how?” Knuckles asked, arms crossed.

“Knuckles, was it? The destruction of those bases isn’t bad, per se,” Rotor replied, though the edge in his voice made it clear he didn’t fully agree with the decision. “It wasn’t ideal—we didn’t have time to properly scout the sites—but some members of the Freedom Fighters felt the best move was to act fast. Hit Robotnik now before he had time to heal and regroup.”

“I had to tell everyone what happened after we clashed with the Doctor,” Amy explained, but her expression seemed a little disenchanted with the fact that she had to do so. “I mean, it’s a big deal—he actually got hurt. Like, really hurt. Losing an arm isn’t something you just walk off. Robotnik’s still human, no matter how much he pretends he’s some invincible machine. People have been waiting for a crack in his armor for years… and this? This was it.”

“Yeah,” Rotor agreed. “We had to act while the window was open—even if it was a narrow one. Hit hard, make it count, but without putting the rest of us at risk. We all know an injury like that won’t keep the Doctor down for long, so staying under the radar is still key.”

“I wouldn’t call blowing up bases subtle, Rotor,” Amy cut in, a warning in her tone. “You’re doing damage, sure—but if you attract the Titans’ attention—”

Rotor cut in with a sigh. “We’ve been over this, Amy. We needed everyone’s eyes away from the Pancardina Archipelago. And blowing up Eggman’s little hidey-holes is the loudest, most effective way to do that. If one of the Egg Titans gets drawn to the continent… we know how to hide.”

“Not everyone does—”

“I’m not calling to argue with you, Amy,” Rotor cut in, frustration seeping into his voice. “I called because I need your help with something!”

Amy flinched, biting back her next retort.

“Hey!” Knuckles snapped, stepping forward with a sharp glare directed at the phone. “No need to yell at her like that!”

Sonic nodded sharply, agreeing with him.

Rotor exhaled through his nose, grounding himself. “Sorry, sorry—it’s just that tensions are running high. The operation we had running on Westside Island completely went sideways, and I can’t do a thing to help from here.”

Tails’ ears twitched, his brow furrowing. “This is Tails speaking… What kind of operation was happening over there?”

There was a pause. Then Rotor said, quieter now, “Tails… You sound young. Ah, we sent an agent to Westside—Alice Chestnut. Her mission was to infiltrate a base on the island that Eggman’s forces were using to repair one of his space shuttles. She was supposed to use it to reach the Death Egg.”

Sonic blinked as everyone around him let out a sound of surprise. “I’m sorry. Did you just say that you guys wanted to use a shuttle to go to space?”

“You must be Sonic, right?”

“Yeah,” Sonic confirmed, still sounding bewildered. “That’s me.”

“Thanks for beating the crap out of the Doctor, by the way. Made a lot of people around here sleep easier.” Rotor paused. “But to answer your question—yes. We needed that shuttle. The Death Egg’s too far out for a conventional assault, and it’s a constant threat hanging over us. It’s got a powerful laser built into it… If we don’t destroy it now, we might not have another chance to do it for months. Or even years.”

“Uh, you’re welcome. So, what went wrong? Because if everything was going right, you’d be starting with the good news,” Sonic said, folding his arms.

Rotor let out a stressed-out sigh. “Alice went dark.”

Amy stiffened. “What?”

Sonic cast her a glance. So, Amy knew this Alice personally.

“Her last contact was yesterday,” Rotor continued, his tone tight. “And she missed her scheduled check-in this morning. She was close to completing her goal—had the shuttle in sight, fully repaired and ready for launch. All she had to do was sneak aboard and be on it when it took off. But…”

Amy stared down at the phone, her expression hard. “You think she’s dead?”

“We don’t know,” Rotor said quietly, the strain in his voice unmistakable. “And we can’t risk going in to check for ourselves. If we travel to the island from Soumerca, someone will notice—and that could put her in even more danger. If she’s been captured and all of the Freedom Fighters show up to rescue her…”

She tapped her feet impatiently. “What do you need from me, Rotor?”

“Amy, you’re nearby—can you see what’s happening? All I know is there was some kind of incident. An explosion—no, maybe more than one,” Rotor said, his voice now edged with urgency. “It’s chaos over there, and I can’t get a clear read from here.”

Amy scoffed. “Like you even had to ask. The second you said Alice was in trouble, I was already packing my bags. I’ll head to Westside Island as soon as I can.”

“Not alone,” Sonic interjected, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow. “Sounds like big trouble. No offense, Amy. I know you’re capable, but I wanna be there to help you, just in case.”

The pink hedgehog gave him a small smile and nodded. She didn’t look upset—in fact, she seemed kind of pleased.

“I wouldn’t mind having you there with me, Sonic.”

“Uh, guys…” Tails stepped forward hesitantly, glancing between them. “Any chance there’s room for one more on this mission?”

Sonic jolted a little but quickly grinned and nodded. “Of course there is! You up for another adventure, bud?”

Tails bit his lower lip and gave a small nod, looking away as a faint blush colored his cheeks.

Amy let out a muffled snort but didn’t bother taking the invitation back. Her attention went back to the phone, where Rotor waited anxiously for the final verdict.

“Look at that. I’ve already got a team lined up,” she said with a hint of a grin. “Leave this to me, Rotor. And hey—try not to get too rowdy over there, okay? That goes double for Geoffrey. I know he likes to think he’s some kind of genius, but… let’s be real. He’s an idiot, even on his best days.”

“I’m doing my best to keep him in line,” Rotor said with a wry chuckle. “But without Sa—Alice around, he’s convinced himself he’s in charge.”

“He’s the one who pushed the Freedom Fighters to blow up those bases, wasn’t he?” Amy asked dryly.

Rotor let out a long sigh.

“Yeah… that you know, Rosy. That you know.”

"ARE YOU BEGINNING TO REALIZE WHY IT WAS FOOLISH NOT TO PUSH FOR ANSWERS?"

Sonic glanced at Gamma, setting down the crate that Tails had asked him to move into the storage room. They had two hours to get everything in order before they departed.

“Dude, are you really trying to get me to torture you?” Sonic asked, feeling a little bit incredulous.

“NO,” the former Super Badnik immediately denied, green optics flashing. “BUT THE FACT THAT YOU NEVER ASKED ME ANYTHING SEEMS LIKE A MASSIVE OVERSIGHT.”

Sonic crossed his arms, raising a brow. “Will you answer me honestly, if I ask?”

“I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK WHILE YOU WERE GONE, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG,” Gamma said, looking a bit intense for someone with no facial expressions. “AND I THINK IT IS IN ALL OF OUR BEST INTERESTS TO HELP YOU STAY ALIVE. SO, YES. I THINK I WILL.”

Sonic sat down near the former Super Badnik, turning all his attention to the rotating head.

“All right,” he said, resting his elbows on his knees. “Hope you’re prepared to give me something, big guy… because I have a lot of questions.”

“THEN BEGIN,” Gamma prompted, his voice as even as ever.

Sonic nodded once, then cut to the chase.

“How do you know I’m stable?”

"BECAUSE IF YOU WERE DYING, YOU WOULD ALREADY BE SHOWING SIGNS OF GENETIC INSTABILITY. SHEDDING AND A GROWTH SPURT ARE NOT AMONG THEM."

“Fair enough.” Sonic glanced down at his arms, which were almost furless at this point. He thought for a moment. “Well, that leads me to my next question: Do you know what Doctor Eggman gave me? In terms of DNA?”

Gamma was silent for a moment, his optics blinking once as it thought.

“... I CANNOT TELL YOU WITH ONE-HUNDRED-PERCENT ACCURACY. HOWEVER. IF I WERE TO FORM A HYPOTHESIS, I WOULD CONCUR WITH YOUR THEORY. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT 9EN-E51S-5 AND IDW-18 WERE USED IN YOUR CREATION.”

Sonic frowned at its words. “So, you heard us.”

“HARD NOT TO. THIS EGG CARRIER IS NOT DESIGNED WITH SOUNDPROOF MATERIAL. DOCTOR EGGMAN DELIGHTS IN HEARING HIS OWN VOICE BEING HEARD EVERYWHERE ON BOARD.”

“Of course he does,” Sonic said, rolling his eyes.

Sonic let the sarcasm pass with a sigh, dragging his hand down his face. “Okay. So Eggman really did mix in IDW-18 with the 9EN-E51S-5. That’s… great.”

“CORRECT,” Gamma confirmed. “ALL CURRENT DATA POINTS TO THE INTEGRATION OF SELECTIVE TRAITS DERIVED FROM BOTH SOURCES.”

Sonic wrinkled his nose in distaste. “What kind of traits?”

“FROM IDW-18: DESPITE YOUR COAT SHEDDING AND CHANGING, YOU STILL POSSESS SOME CHARACTERISTICS CONSISTENT WITH THE FORM KNOWN AS THE WEREHOG.”

“… The what?” Sonic asked dumbly.

Gamma’s optics blinked once. “WEREHOG: A NOCTURNAL MUTATION TRIGGERED BY DARK GAIA’S ENERGY. IN THE ORIGINAL SUBJECT, IT CAUSED A TEMPORARY TRANSFORMATION CHARACTERIZED BY INCREASED MUSCLE MASS, ELONGATED CLAWS, THE ABILITY TO STRETCH LIMBS, AND ENHANCED DURABILITY. HOWEVER, THIS FORM IS UNSTABLE AND ONLY LASTS FOR A LIMITED TIME.”

Sonic stared at him like the badnik had grown a second head. “You’re telling me there’s a version of me out there that turns into a giant stretchy werewolf at night?”

“THAT IS… NOT THE TERM I JUST GAVE YOU, BUT THAT IS CORRECT.”

Sonic huffed, then looked down at himself. “I don’t… do that.”

“CORRECT. YOU DO NOT TRANSFORM,” Gamma stated calmly. “AND YET, YOU HAVE RETAINED THE ENHANCED PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES—THE STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND A DEGREE OF LIMB EXTENSION—WITHOUT UNDERGOING A FULL TRANSFORMATION. THIS SUGGESTS THAT DOCTOR EGGMAN SUCCESSFULLY ISOLATED SELECT TRAITS FROM THE ORIGINAL FORM AND INTEGRATED THEM INTO YOUR DESIGN ON A PERMANENT BASIS.”

Sonic squinted, trying to make sense of the Super Badnik’s words. “So… you’re saying that he cut out all the all the bells and whistles and just left the power in, permanently.”

“YES. STABILITY WAS CLEARLY PRIORITIZED IN THIS CASE.”

Sonic leaned back, silent for a moment.

“… And the other half? This 9EN-E51S-5?”

Gamma’s head whirred, hidden processors working overtime to search for an answer. “9EN-E51S-5 IS ALWAYS LESS EVIDENT IN ITS MANIFESTATION. THE DNA STRAIN’S ABILITY TO ADAPT AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES IS ALWAYS A DEFINING TRAIT, ACCORDING TO THE LOGS I HAVE ACCESS TO.”

Sonic snorted, scratching behind one of his ears. “Dude, that’s super vague.”

“I AGREE,” Gamma said with a nod. “BUT DOCTOR EGGMAN DOES NOT PUT ALL HIS EGGS IN ONE BASKET—INCLUDING HIS DATA. EVEN SO, IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME HE USED IT IN YOUR DESIGN. HE DID ATTEMPT TO APPLY IT TO ALL OF HIS SUBJECTS WHEN POSSIBLE.”

“Alright… glad to have that confirmed.” Sonic shifted slightly on the crate he was sitting on. “Any idea what the third candidate might’ve been?”

“I DO,” Gamma replied. “YOU POSSESS THE LIGHTNING. THE SUBJECT DESIGNATED AS P-2020 WAS REMOVED FROM THE DOCTOR’S FILES… BUT I STILL HAVE A COPY STORED IN MY MEMORY BANKS.”

Sonic made a mental note of the new universal designation, already planning to fill his friends in later. His ears twitched as he leaned forward, focusing on the badnik’s words.

He prompted, “The lightning?”

“YES,” Gamma confirmed. “P-2020 WAS ABLE TO CHANNEL CHAOS ENERGY INTERNALLY, AMPLIFYING HIS NATURAL ABILITIES WITHOUT EXTERNAL HELP. UNLIKE WITH CHAOS EMERALDS, THE ENERGY ORIGINATES FROM WITHIN.”

Sonic’s brow furrowed. “Wait—so you’re saying I make my own Chaos Energy?”

“IN THEORY, YES. AS LONG AS YOU ARE ALIVE, YOU CAN GENERATE IT CONTINUOUSLY AT A STEADY RATE.”

The blue hedgehog hummed, thoughtful. “That explains what the scanner picked up: the Chaos Energy in my DNA.”

Although what the second energy was… That bit was still a mystery.

Another question to ask Gamma.

“YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHERS. MOST ORGANISMS TIRE QUICKLY. YOU DO NOT. EVEN UNDER EXTREME PHYSICAL STRESS, YOU ENDURE LONGER.”

“… Yeah,” Sonic admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “At one point, I almost thought I had infinite stamina. But back on the Egg Carrier… when I was fighting you and Beta… that was different. I actually felt like I was burning out while I was trying to flee from you two.”

“AS INTENDED,” Gamma said evenly. “THE E-SERIES WERE BUILT TO STRESS-TEST THE NEMESIS LINE. TO HUNT YOU. CORNER YOU. WEAR YOU DOWN. EXHAUSTION MADE CAPTURE MORE LIKELY.”

“Beta would’ve just killed me,” Sonic muttered, “but… yeah. I get it.”

“BETA…” Gamma’s voice lowered slightly. “I UNDERSTAND NOW WHY HE WAS SO DETERMINED TO KILL YOU. DURING HIS REPAIRS, DOCTOR EGGMAN MUST HAVE GIVEN HIM A DIFFERENT DIRECTIVE. I HAD NOT SEEN HIM FOR OVER AN YEAR, SO I HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT ANYTHING HAD CHANGED.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow at the phrasing, taking note of the pronoun. That was interesting, considering Gamma’s previous determination to undermine its own personhood.

“So, he wasn’t always like that? Was he more like you, once?” The blue hedgehog hesitated for a moment. “No offense, but… you’re a lot more chill than he was.”

“BETA WAS NOT THIS TALKATIVE, NO,” Gamma said, its mechanical voice denoting no amusement. But something about the way it said it…

“Heh!” Sonic smirked at the robot. “You do have a sense of humor buried under all that, don’t you? Have you thought about what I told you before?”

“I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU GOT THE NOTION OF MACHINES BEING ALIVE,” Gamma stated flatly. “THE REST OF THE NEMESIS CANDIDATES HAD NEVER GOTTEN THAT IDEA INTO THEIR HEADS. BADNIKS WERE ONLY AN OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME AND NOTHING MORE.”

“Maybe the Egghead saw that things weren’t working out and tried to mix things up a little bit,” Sonic said, shrugging. “I don’t know what to tell you, man. I don’t know what the doc was thinking when he downloaded all this information into my brain. I mean, all I have noticed so far are random names of people and locations, information on badniks and the fact that I know how to fly a plane. Maybe he threw random shit into my brain and hoped something would stick.”

A soft pitter-patter of feet echoed through the small chamber. Sonic’s ears twitched, quickly pinpointing the source. His eyes widened a bit when he saw a hint of a yellow tail peeking out from the edge of the door, but otherwise he didn’t react much.

He saw Gamma glance in the direction of their small listener as well, but Sonic shook his head before the badnik could say something about it.

“THAT… SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.” Gamma paused only briefly before continuing. “IF YOU WERE EXPOSED TO THE MIND CONTROL RAY, YOU WOULD HAVE ACQUIRED PRESELECTED PERSONALITY TRAITS, UNLOCKED SPECIFIC ABILITIES, AND RETAINED ONLY INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE DOCTOR AND YOUR DESIGNATED ROLE AS HIS NEMESIS. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE GAINED KNOWLEDGE OF MOBIUS OR ANYTHING UNRELATED TO THE DOCTOR.”

A brief hum passed through its speakers. “YOU ESCAPED AFTER ONLY ONE STAGE, CORRECT?”

“Yeah, pretty much.” Sonic shrugged, grimacing at the reminder.

“MORE ENRICHMENT WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED. YOU WERE MEANT TO TRAIN YOUR MIND WITH PUZZLES AND CHALLENGES. THE DOCTOR WOULD HAVE FORCED YOU TO GO THROUGH MANY SCENARIOS TO GUIDE YOUR BEHAVIOR. HE WOULD HAVE FED YOU EVERYTHING HE WANTED YOU TO KNOW.”

Sonic frowned. “That… doesn’t make sense. Everything I know—it’s always been there. If Eggman didn’t put that information in my head, then what did?”

“I KNOW AS MUCH AS YOU DO ON THAT SUBJECT,” Gamma replied, tone even. “I SUGGEST YOU CONTINUE WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.”

Sonic exhaled slowly through his nose, trying to keep the frustration from bubbling to the surface. “Alright… fair enough.”

He leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing in thought. “Let’s talk about the second energy signature in my DNA. The one that isn’t Chaos Energy. What’s that about?”

“I DO NOT KNOW,” Gamma admitted. “THAT ENERGY IS ANOMALOUS. IT DOES NOT MATCH ANY KNOWN ENERGY SIGNATURE RECORDED IN THE E-SERIES’ DATABASE.”

Sonic’s brow furrowed as he leaned forward again, elbows resting on his knees. “So… we’ve got Chaos Energy—and then something even you can’t identify. Maybe even something new. Fantastic.”

He tapped his fingers against his left leg, letting the silence stretch just long enough for tension to settle.

The blue hedgehog sighed. “Alright. You don’t know what it is, but maybe we can piece it together. Do you know of any other projects connected to Project Nemesis? Anything else Eggman had running in the background that might be related?”

Gamma paused, internal systems humming faintly as it scanned through its archived files.

“THERE WERE TWO OTHER PROJECTS WITH TENTATIVE LINKS TO PROJECT NEMESIS. ‘COLOR FISSION’—DEDICATED TO POWERING THE MIND CONTROL RAY. AND ‘EGG GRAPE’—DEDICATED TO THE ABSORPTION OF CHAOS ENERGY.”

Sonic hummed, metaphorical gears turning. “Color Fission and Egg Grape… Can you be more specific about them?”

“I DID NOT HAVE THE CLEARANCE TO ACCESS FULL DETAILS ON EITHER PROJECT,” Gamma said slowly, tone edging to something close to hesitation. “HOWEVER… THE PRESENCE OF ALIEN SPECIMENS AND CHAO WAS CONFIRMED ON BOARD DURING TESTING.”

Sonic’s ears perked. “Aliens and Chao? That’s not exactly a standard test group.”

“IT WAS UNORTHODOX. EVEN OTHER UNITS FOUND IT CONFUSING. THE DOCTOR SHOWED A STRONG INTEREST IN EXPERIMENTING WITH ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES—REGARDLESS OF ORIGIN.”

“Chao… and aliens?” Sonic muttered to himself, a flicker of unease tightening his chest. Something about this so-called ‘Egg Grape’ rubbed him the wrong way. ‘Color Fission’ was obviously nothing good—mind control tech rarely screamed ‘good intentions’—but this one… this one lingered.

It gnawed at the edge of his thoughts, like a memory he wasn’t sure was his.

There was a good chance this was true.

“I’ll need to run this by Tails and Amy,” he said, more to himself than Gamma. “See what they think.”

“THAT WOULD BE REASONABLE,” Gamma agreed with a mechanical nod.

Sonic straightened slightly. “Alrighty—let’s move on to something a little more recent. What did you overhear from our conversation with Rotor?”

Predictably, Gamma had overheard everything.

From the moment Rotor’s voice crackled through the phone’s speakers to the last exchange before the line cut out, the Super Badnik had heard it all. It knew the name Alice Chestnut. It knew she was somewhere on Westside Island; knew she was probably being held there against her will—and it also knew Sonic and his team were planning a daring rescue if they saw she was in trouble.

Sonic nodded to himself, jaw tight. “Do you know anything about Westside Island? Is there anything we should expect from there?”

“DOCTOR EGGMAN HAS COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THAT PLACE,” Gamma replied, voice unwavering. “I HAVE NEVER VISITED IT PERSONALLY, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THE ENTIRE REGION IS CRAWLING WITH HOSTILES. BADNIKS. SURVEILLANCE DRONES. AND TRAPS.”

Sonic’s expression darkened. “So, the usual—but worse.”

He glanced toward the edge of the room, where the glimpse of a tail still barely peeked through the doorframe.

“… And if Alice’s cover has been blown but she’s still alive, that means Eggman wants her to be. Which is never a good sign.”

He turned back to Gamma. “You got any idea why he’d keep someone like her locked up? Is being part of the Freedom Fighters enough to bring her into his shitlist?”

Gamma’s optics flickered. “I CANNOT CONFIRM ANYTHING. HER NAME DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE E-SERIES DATABASE OF POTENTIAL TARGETS, NOT EVEN AS A REBEL TO THE EGGMAN EMPIRE.”

“Figures,” Sonic muttered to himself. “She’s off the books. Alice Chestnut might even be a fake name…”

He stood slowly, brushing dust from his blue knees. “I guess we’ll find out when we get there. Mind if I ask one final question?”

“GO AHEAD.”

“If we repaired you in the future…” Sonic peered directly into Gamma’s optics. “Would you attack us? Are you still following the same directive as before?”

Gamma didn’t answer right away.

Its optics dimmed briefly, processors whirring as something deeper than code worked through the implications about them having this conversation. Of it answering this particular question.

“NO,” Gamma said at last. “I HAVE MADE MY CHOICE. I NO LONGER FOLLOW THE DOCTOR’S DIRECTIVES. MY PRIMARY FUNCTION IS… OBSOLETE.”

He paused.

“IF I WERE TO BE REPAIRED… I WOULD CHOOSE TO SEE WHAT BECOMES OF YOU, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG. YOUR ARRIVAL HAS BEEN LONG-AWAITED. I BELIEVE YOU ARE CAPABLE OF GREAT THINGS… AND I WANT TO SEE WHERE THIS LEADS.”

“For the sake of entertainment?”

“NO. BECAUSE A LOT HAS BEEN SACRIFICED TO MAKE YOU.”

Sonic suppressed a shiver at the badnik’s words, staring at the robot as he internalized them.

“You’ll be coming with us as well,” he finally decided. “You want to see me in action? Fine. I’ll just have to convince Amy and Tails that you’re worth the risk. In exchange, I wanna have your word about something, though.”

“AND THAT WOULD BE?”

“If you’re part of this—a part of us—you need to help us as much as you can,” Sonic said. “Got it? Help us. Not just me. You’re now part of a group of survivors, who all have been screwed over by the same guy who made you… Made me too, I guess. I’ll vouch for you, but my word is worthless if you don’t help.”

“IT IS HARD TO DO ANYTHING IN THIS STATE,” Gamma said dryly.

“You’re a well of information, pal,” Sonic shot back, stretching his arms over his head and yawning. “And you might catch things we miss when we’re knee-deep in enemy territory. I’d say that’s more than helpful.”

“I COULD BE BLUFFING. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO MISLEAD YOU—SO I CAN LEAD YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS STRAIGHT INTO A TRAP IN THE FUTURE,” Gamma pointed out, voice flat.

“Would you really?” Sonic asked, stopping cold and locking eyes with it. His eyes hardened with a warning, his laid-back attitude nowhere to be seen.

Gamma stared back, unblinking, as the moment stretched on. It might have lingered for longer, but a soft knock at the door cut through the stillness.

“Sonic?” Tails called for him, waiting for him at the door. “Can we talk for a minute?"

The blue hedgehog let himself be pulled away, casting one last glance over his shoulder at Gamma. He gave the robot a casual wave. “Hang tight, big guy. I’ll come back for you once I’ve talked to both of them.”

Sonic and Tails walked side by side down the hall.

The corridor outside felt quiet—almost oppressive. The blue hedgehog was already preparing himself to offer some kind of apology when Tails beat him to it.

“I overheard you two talking.”

Sonic raised an eyebrow, about to brush it off, but the fox kept going.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” Tails said, rubbing the back of his neck, his gaze fixed on the ground. “I just... I feel bad about it. Like I crossed a line I didn’t want to cross.”

Sonic blinked, taken a little off guard by how quickly the confession came out. “There’s no need to apologize,” he said, his tone softening. “You’ve got every right to be cautious about me and Gamma. Honestly, if our positions were flipped, I’d be doing the same.”

But Tails only shook his head, frowning. “No. That’s not what the Diamond Cutters taught me. We are supposed to trust each other. Spying on your friends—no matter how worried you are—it’s not right. I shouldn’t have done it. Not to you.”

Sonic opened his mouth to respond, but Tails kept going.

“You’re a good guy, Sonic. I know that. Even with… everything Robotnik said. Where you’re from, what your original purpose might’ve been… all of that doesn’t change who you are. I just—I guess what I’m trying to tell you is that I feel I should’ve trusted you more.”

Sonic hummed. “Well, now I’ve gotta say something too—you’re not taking all the blame for this mess. Honestly? I didn’t take the rejection well, and I’ve definitely made things awkward between us by avoiding you. But… if you’re up for it, we could start over. Clean slate. What do ya say?”

Tails’ ears perked up at that, eyes brightening with relief. “Really? You mean it?”

Sonic shot him a sideways grin. “Yeah. We’re good, buddy. If you’re not mad and I’m not mad, why complicate it? We can just go back to you and me being friends again.”

Tails beamed, practically glowing. “I’d like that a lot.”

The air between them shifted, softening. The tension that had once clung to every interaction had finally unraveled, replaced by something warmer—something familiar.

“Is it weird,” Tails said after a beat, voice quieter, “to tell someone you just met, ‘I missed you’?”

Sonic blinked, caught off guard by the vulnerability in his voice. Then he let out a soft chuckle, the corners of his mouth lifting. “If it is, I’m gonna sound even weirder—because I missed you too.”

Tails’ smile relaxed into something gentler, eyes glinting with joy. “Cool, cool… Just making sure.”

Sonic reached over, ruffling the fur between his ears. “You’re such a sap.”

Tails let him do it, chuckling. “Takes one to know one!”

They moved forward, comfortable in each other’s presence.

Sonic glanced at Tails, noticing the bounce that had returned to the fox’s step.

“Y’know,” he said thoughtfully, “I think I needed that more than I realized.”

Tails nodded. “Me too.”

Sonic exhaled slowly, but there was a brightness in his tone now. “It sucked—not being able to talk to you. But now that we’re back in business… I’ve got a really good feeling about all this. I think our next adventure’s gonna blow the last one outta the water.”

“Even if it means more badniks trying to kill us?” Tails teased him.

Sonic grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh, Tails. Murder robots are what make it great. They really tie the whole thing together. It wouldn’t be the same without blowing them up, would it?”

He paused, then tilted his head with a curious smile. “Speaking of which—since you were listening… what do you think about bringing our local metal friend along for the ride?”

Tails gave it some thought, brow furrowed as he weighed the risks with the potential advantages.

“… I think we could give it a test run,” he said slowly. “Gamma hasn’t done anything to harm us so far, and if he is lying about what its intentions are, well… we could always just leave the head behind, right?”

Sonic shook his head immediately. “Nah. If Gamma turns out to be a traitor, I don’t want him handing over recordings of us to Eggman. Who knows what kind of stuff that head’s storing.”

Tails winced, then gave a reluctant nod. “You’re right. That’d be way too risky.”

There was a short pause before Sonic added, “Think Amy will go for it?”

Tails tilted his head, considering. “Hard to say. But I think we should find her and talk it out—see if this is something she’s okay with.”

Sonic gave a satisfied nod. “Alright then. Let’s go find her. The sooner we get the gang on the same page, the sooner we can start looking for Alice.”

Tails grinned. “Yup, pretty much.”

It took some convincing—and more than a few reassurances—but they eventually got Amy on board. She wasn’t thrilled about dragging a Super Badnik along, especially one that had once tried to hunt them down, but she trusted Tails’ read and Sonic’s gut enough to go along with it.

“You’re not making trouble for us, do you understand?” she told the badnik head, glaring at it as it dangled off Sonic’s hip.

Tails had rigged Gamma into a makeshift harness, looping a secure strap across Sonic’s torso so the robot’s head could be carried hands-free. It bobbed slightly with each of Sonic’s steps, its optics unblinking as it scanned the team.

“AMY ROSE, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL NOT SABOTAGE THIS MISSION,” Gamma stated evenly as Sonic lifted the badnik head to meet her gaze. “I PRAY FOR OUR SUCCESS.”

“We’ll see about that,” she said at last, her tone even, but not without an edge. Her gaze slid sideways to Sonic.

He raised an eyebrow at her, wordlessly daring her to say what she had in her mind.

Knuckles, watching from a few paces away, broke the tension with a pointed gesture in the direction where the massive hovercraft still docked in their little village. “Shouldn’t you guys be taking the big… whatchamacallit?”

“The Egg Carrier?” Tails supplied, glancing up from where he was tightening bolts on the Tornado’s undercarriage. “It’s too big to go unnoticed, Knuckles. We’d get shot out of the sky before we even landed.”

He wiped his hands clean on a rag and stepped back, inspecting his work.

Satisfied, Tails gave a small nod. “This looks good! Let me just do one last inspection and then we’ll be ready to go.”

Knuckles gave the red biplane a long, appraising look—his frown deepening. He turned back to the group, his eyes narrowing.

“You sure you’re all set?” he asked. “Do you guys need anything else?”

“We’re fine,” Amy said with a small smile. “Everything’s in order. No need to worry.”

Sonic, standing just behind her, glanced toward Knuckles—and couldn’t help but notice that worry wasn’t what was written on the echidna’s face. Knuckles didn’t look tense or uneasy. If anything, he looked like he was itching to go with them.

The echidna grunted, arms crossed tight, his gaze sliding off to the side. “Hmph.”

“Something on your mind, big guy?” Sonic asked, stepping up beside him.

Knuckles didn’t answer at first. Then, with a grunt and a sideways glance, he muttered, “Just don’t get shot down. You’re flying straight into enemy territory. Try to be sneaky for once.”

Sonic grinned. “We’ll try to.”

“And don’t forget what I told all of you,” the echidna said. “If you run into trouble—any kind of trouble—and you need to pull back, then do it. Don’t play hero, don’t get clever. You make your way back here. Got it?”

Amy nodded, grateful. “Thanks, Knuckles. We’ll keep that in mind.”

Tails called over from the cockpit. “She’s ready! We can take off any time!”

“Just a second!” Sonic called back.

Tails answered with a thumbs up.

Sonic turned back to Knuckles, watching the way the Master Emerald’s guardian kept eying the plane like it was calling his name.

“Hey,” he said casually, “next time—how about you come off the island for once?”

Knuckles blinked, clearly caught off guard by the suggestion. His eyes snapped to Sonic like he was trying to figure out whether he was joking or not.

Undeterred, Sonic kept going. “Before you give me that ‘guardian of the Master Emerald’ speech, just… think about it. Really think about it. You and me—we could take turns watching the rock. You wouldn’t even be gone for long.”

Amy looked on, her lips twitching into an amused smile at Sonic’s audacity. He pretended not to notice and pressed on. “If you ever feel like seeing the world a little... stretching your legs… I’m just saying—the door’s open.”

“… I’ll think about it,” the echidna said at last, slowly and with a hint of reluctance.

But he didn’t say no.

Grinning, Sonic clapped him on the back with a firm pat, then turned toward Amy, who was now chuckling softly to herself.

“What?” Sonic asked, raising a brow. “What’s so funny?”

“You,” she said, smirking as she shook her head. “You’re absolutely ridiculous sometimes.”

Huffing, Sonic opened his mouth for a retort, when Amy’s phone began to ring again.

All of them paused, surprised.

Amy pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the screen, brows knitting in confusion. “Rotor?” she muttered, already swiping to answer. “That’s weird—why would he be calling again so soon…?”

She accepted the call, putting him on speaker. “Hello?”

“Amy?” Rotor’s voice came through. He sounded worse off than before. “It’s bad. Really bad. I just got a report from Downunda and—two-thirds of it are gone!”

“What?!” Amy’s sharp cry made Tails whip around in alarm, flying himself down from the plane and rushing over to them.

“What happened, Rotor?!” she asked, voice rising. “What do you mean two-thirds of a continent is gone?!”

Sonic felt himself tense up.

Rotor’s voice was thick with horror, each word weighed down by disbelief. “I mean the Death Egg fired on Downunda, Amy. Word about Robotnik’s injury got out—and somehow, people thought he was finished. That sparked a full-scale uprising. Anarchists, rebels, even civilians were storming Eggman outposts, tearing down Eggtech facilities—everything was set ablaze.”

“And Eggman retaliated,” Sonic finished quietly.

He turned to face the group, meeting each of their eyes in turn.

“Is Angel Island safe?” the blue hedgehog asked, every bit of him hoping that this wasn’t spelling doom for their small group of refugees. “Doesn’t Eggman know where to fire his laser to get rid of us?”

“No,” Knuckles immediately denied, his face looking like it was carved out of stone. “The Master Emerald cloaks the island’s location from anyone who means it harm. Eggman’s technology is practically an extension of himself—his targeting systems are just as blind as he is. Even if he managed to find this place once, there’s no guarantee he’ll find it again.”

Tails’ brow furrowed, a mix of concern and fear flickering in his eyes. “But what about the rest of the world? The Death Egg has never actually fired on anyone before. Robotnik always threatened to do it, sure. But…”

“There’s more, guys,” Rotor interjected, sounding like he was tired of announcing one blow after the other. “The Egg Titans were seen squashing rebel cells and entire villages in Normerca, Assia and Frica. Both humans and Mobians are being targeted as we speak. Robotnik’s pissed off and he’s making all of us know about it.”

“Did you guys leak the news about Eggman’s injury to the rest of the world?” Amy asked, face tight with... Was that guilt? “Because it seems like the whole world went nuts after hearing rumors of what happened here.”

“No, we didn’t announce it,” Rotor replied, sounding a bit angry about the whole ordeal. “I’ll be asking Nicole to look into what happened. Because this had to come from someone that was given a report of the event and decided that they didn’t want to keep their mouths shut about it.”

Knuckles grunted his displeasure. “Sounds like you guys need to keep a tighter leash on your members, if you ask me.”

“Or maybe,” Tails said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin, “you’ve got a mole. Someone on the inside feeding info to the wrong people. I can think of a few folks who’d jump at the chance to cause chaos and suffering if they had the opportunity. Maybe one of those guys has someone on their payroll.”

“Like who?” Sonic asked, turning to him.

“Mogul, maybe?” Tail answered with some uncertainty. Sonic didn’t know who that was. “He seems the type to sell information if there’s demand in the market.”

Rotor’s voice tightened with worry. “Tails, thank you for that… theory. But let’s just hope it’s not true—that there isn’t a traitor in our ranks.” He sighed heavily. “Or Walkers forbid, we have a cybersecurity breach.”

Before anyone could respond, Gamma’s mechanical voice cut through the tension. “THE DEATH EGG SHOULD NOT BE FIRING AGAIN FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.”

Sonic immediately lifted the badnik’s head closer to the phone’s speaker. “TOO MUCH OF ITS ENERGY IS CONSTANTLY REROUTED TO KEEP THE STATION IN ORBIT. IF TOO MUCH POWER IS EXPENDED AT ONCE, IT RISKS CRASHING INTO THE PLANET.”

“… Who is this?” Rotor asked, voice growing weary with caution.

“MY NAME IS GAMMA, AND I WAS RECENTLY INVITED TO JOIN YOUR GROUP,” Gamma greeted him neutrally. “IT IS NICE TO FINALLY SPEAK TO YOU, ROTOR.”

“Amy, this is the guy you told me about?” the Freedom Fighter asked.

“That, it is,” Amy said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Rotor cleared his throat. “Nice to meet you too, Gamma. Last I heard, you weren’t talking to anyone. What changed?”

“SONIC THE HEDGEHOG HAPPENED,” Gamma answered, a hint of something in its voice. “HE PROVED TO BE… VERY PERSUASIVE.”

“I see,” Rotor said, clearly not seeing at all. “Do you have anything on the Egg Titans as well? Any bit of information counts and could save millions of lives.”

“OF COURSE. IF YOU REMOVE THE CHAOS EMERALDS FROM THEM, THE EGG TITANS POWER OFF INSTANTLY,” Gamma responded without hesitation.

A heavy silence fell over the group, each processing the weight of that revelation.

Sonic whistled, impressed. “Holy crap. Gamma, my man, you’ve been holding out on us. So, there are six Titans out there, all powered by the Chaos Emeralds?”

“THERE WERE ORIGINALLY SEVEN, BUT DOCTOR EGGMAN REQUIRED THE GREEN EMERALD TO MOBILIZE ONE OF THEM, SO THE SEVENTH WAS SCRAPPED,” Gamma explained evenly, unfazed with the way everyone around him—except Sonic—tensed at the mention of a possible seventh Egg Titan. “BUT YES, YOUR OBSERVATION IS ACCURATE.”

“Geez,” Tails hissed under his breath. “We definitely don’t need another one of those roaming around…”

“So, they do have a weakness,” Rotor muttered thoughtfully, the soft clack of keyboard keys echoing faintly through the line as he typed up fresh reports.

Amy’s voice was tight, barely masking her concern. “What does this all mean for our mission? Alice clearly never made it to the Death Egg.”

“I’m hoping this is still a rescue op,” Rotor said grimly, “and not one that ends with a body bag. Rosy… you know how important it is that she comes back to us safe.”

Amy made a low sound of agreement, her grip tightening around the phone.

“Alright then,” Sonic said, letting go of Gamma. The badnik’s head swung back into position against his side. “Let’s get moving. No point standing around if we’re on the clock. Same mission: rescue the agent—who, let’s be honest, is probably royalty or something, judging by how cagey you've all been acting. So, any updates on Westside Island? What kind of trouble are we walking into?”

“… Actually, yes,” Rotor responded. “The shuttle seems to be intact, but there were confirmed bombings on the island and all of them seem to come from Eggman bases. South Island’s hit the same way. And the weather… Well, it’s been acting strange.”

“What do you mean by that?” Tails asked, crossing his arms.

“There’s a pink mist spreading over Westside Island,” Rotor said with a heavy sigh. “Right now, it covers most of the terrain. Every agent who went to Westside Island with Alice and made contact with it… None of them reported back.”

Knuckles muttered a curse under his breath, crossing his arms with a scowl. “Charming,” he said, though his expression was anything but.

Amy’s frown deepened, her thumb hovering over the phone’s end-call button. “Rotor, we’re heading out now,” she said. “I’m turning the phone off once we’re in the air. I won’t be using it again unless we’re in serious trouble. Expect to hear from us in three days—max.”

“Three days?” Rotor echoed, a note of surprise in his voice. “Wouldn’t it be safer to keep a line open? Just in case something goes wrong?”

“If there’s any Eggtech scanning for signals around Westside Island, it could give us away before we even land,” Amy explained. “We can’t afford that risk. Stealth must come first.”

A heavy pause followed, then Rotor’s voice softened with genuine concern. “… Understood. Be safe out there, Rosy. All of you.”

Though he couldn’t see her, Amy nodded. “You too, Rotor.”

She ended the call and powered the device off, slipping it carefully into her pocket. For a brief moment, her confidence faltered. Then she took a steadying breath and straightened up her posture.

“Okay, folks,” she said, turning to the group with a determined smile. “Let’s get started.”

Sonic flashed her a confident grin, raising two fingers in a quick salute. “You got it, Amy.”

With no more time to waste, the team loaded up. Amy slid into the Tornado’s pilot seat, adjusting the controls with practiced precision. Sonic and Tails climbed into the backseats, strapping in as the wind picked up.

Knuckles stood nearby, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His expression was unreadable as he watched them prepare for departure. When the engine sputtered to life, he gave a brief wave—but his eyes never left the biplane as it slipped into position.

The roar of the Tornado’s twin engines split the air, and in a few short moments, they were airborne—rising above the treetops, quickly leaving Angel Island behind.

The silence inside the cockpit was broken only by the soft hum of the engine and the rush of wind around them. For a while, no one spoke.

Then Sonic leaned back into his seat, turning to Tails with a casual glance. “Alright, guys. Since we’ve got a little time before we touch down… mind giving me the lowdown on these Egg Titans?”

Caught off guard, Tails only blinked at him.

“Because I gotta be honest,” Sonic continued, resting his hands behind his head, “I don’t know a thing about them. But from the way everyone’s been talking, they sound like the kind of thing you really don’t want to run into unprepared.”

Chapter Text

“So… we’ve got Egg Octo, Egg Vulture, Egg Lizard, Egg Rhino, Egg Scorpio, and… what’s the last one?” Sonic asked, a crooked grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he recited the lineup.

He didn’t know why he was treating it like a game. Maybe it was nerves. Or maybe it was easier not to think about these things as threats.

Tails furrowed his brow, shooting Sonic with a questioning look. “Uh… The Egg Hunter, I think. But no one’s ever actually seen it, so I can’t say what it looks like.”

Sonic cocked his head, amusement still present in his eyes. “Weird, right? The Doc’s out here making all these crazy Egg Animal combos, and then just tosses a ‘Hunter’ smack in the middle like it’s no big deal.”

Amy let out a sharp huff from the front. “Pretending to understand how that man’s brain works is impossible. Frankly, I’m amazed you even try.”

Gamma, settled comfortably on Sonic’s lap, spoke up in its usual monotone. “ACTUALLY, IF WE CONSIDER DOCTOR EGGMAN’S MASSIVE SUPERIORITY COMPLEX, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT HE WOULD NAME THE EGG HUNTER AS SUCH. HE LIKELY VIEWS IT AS THE MOST DANGEROUS UNIT OF THE GROUP—THE PREDATOR AMONG BEASTS. THE ONE TITAN TO WIPE OUT EVERYTHING AROUND IT. OUT OF ALL EGG TITANS, THIS ONE HAS THE HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE TO DATE.”

Sonic let out a sarcastic laugh. “So, the one no one’s ever seen is the most powerful? That’s a classic. Are we sure this is a thing that actually exists? Since no one’s seen it or knows what it looks like…”

“CONSIDERING THAT NO ONE LIVED TO TELL THE TALE AFTER IT CLAIMED ITS HUNTING GROUNDS?” Gamma asked, pretending to ponder it for a couple of seconds before it determined: “YES.”

Tails rubbed his chin, thoughtful. “Yeah, that tracks. Everyone knows if you get anywhere near Forest Hills or Wasslaw, you’re probably not coming back. Everything that used to be there… it’s just gone.”

“So, Forest Hills and Wasslaw are, like, confirmed Egg Hunter territory?” Sonic asked, one brow raised.

“Yup,” Tails said, his expression darkening. “Frica’s a dangerous place. These days, people either live in the South or way up North. The middle of the continent? It’s straight up dead.”

Sonic frowned, running a hand through his quills. “It’s never been spotted, but it’s always there, right in the middle of Frica?”

Tails bit his lower lip, nodding slowly. “Yeah, that’s the rumor. No one’s brave—or stupid—enough to go into the Hunter’s Zone anymore.”

“Sounds like it’s guarding something.”

Tails nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that’s one of the leading theories going around about that particular Egg Titan. But honestly? The only thing I remember being between those two Zones is Never Lake. So why would Robotnik want to guard that? All the other Egg Titans are constantly on the move, wiping out anything that looks remotely like a threat.”

Sonic straightened in his seat, something sparking behind his eyes. He recognized that flicker of familiarity. “Hey, Gamma… Never Lake. Do you know what’s up with that?”

Tails and Sonic turned toward Gamma, while Amy listened intently from her spot. The former Super Badnik blinked its optics once before responding, “I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE NO RECORDS OF DOCTOR EGGMAN’S PLANS REGARDING THAT AREA.”

Amy jumped back into the conversation, sharing her own take on the situation. “Whatever it is, it has to be important. These Egg Titans aren’t just powerful—they’ve wiped out entire cities. Heck, even entire countries. Just look at what happened to Soleanna. A large chunk of Frica is a wasteland because of the Hunter. If Robotnik’s keeping one of his Titans parked in one place, then there’s definitely something in there he really doesn’t want touched.”

“No one’s arguing that,” Sonic said. “So, Frica is a no-zone because of that freaking Hunter. Got it. But… What happened to Soleanna?”

Amy glanced at him, her expression tightening as she searched for the words. “They were building some kind of Super Weapon—something massive and top secret. All hush hush. But before it was ready, one of the Egg Titans hit their Capital and ruined everything. The Egg Octo. It leveled the whole place from one moment to the next. All that was left of the seat of power of a once prosperous Kingdom was a mushroom cloud that decimated everything around it for miles.”

Sonic leaned back in his seat, feeling a bit horrified. Still… “A Super Weapon? Sounds like something out of a comic book. Guess they wanted to have something like what Eggman had in the Egg Titans?”

Amy gave a small shrug, her eyes fixed ahead as she guided them above the clouds. “Yeah. It was supposed to change the course of the war. Give the country a better fighting chance against the Eggman Empire, or whatever. But it never got off the ground. Now it’s just another ‘what if.’”

Sonic exhaled softly, crossing his arms with a bitter feeling welling up in his chest. “Well… that sucks.”

Gamma’s head turned slightly, its tone unwavering but oddly thoughtful. “SOLEANNA HAD BEEN PERFORMING SURPRISINGLY WELL—UNTIL IT WAS BOMBED. RECORDS FROM THE WAR INDICATE THE NATION HELD OFF THREE TITANS SIMULTANEOUSLY: EGG VULTURE, WHOSE ELECTRIC STRIKES COULD LEVEL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SECONDS; EGG RHINO, A MACHINE CAPABLE OF KNOCKING BACK EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH THROUGH THE USE OF SHEER FORCE; AND EGG LIZARD—A TITAN THAT DEPLOYED LASERS, MISSILES, AND SELF-REPLICATING ROBOTS DESIGNED FOR WIDESPREAD ANNIHILATION. DESPITE ALL THAT, IT WAS ONLY THE INCLUSION OF THE EGG OCTO THAT TURNED THINGS AROUND IN THE EGGMAN EMPIRE’S FAVOR.”

Everyone went quiet for a moment, the wind outside rushing against their ears.

“THERE ARE ALSO MULTIPLE LOGS,” Gamma continued with some levity, “OF DOCTOR EGGMAN SCREAMING INCREASINGLY UNHINGED TIRADES ABOUT SOLEANNA’S ‘ANNOYING RESISTANCE’ BEFORE THEIR DESTRUCTION. I BELIEVE THE ATTACK WAS PERSONAL.”

Amy scoffed. “I can believe that. Doctor Eggman—” she laced his name with venom—“spent months trying to break through their defenses. I bet he lost his mind every time his Titans were pushed back.”

Tails slowly shook his head. “Yeah… Once Soleanna fell, everything else started falling apart. The United Federation was the next big name on the list, and it didn’t last long. The Egg Octo hit them hard after Soleanna was gone. Most people thought they were next in line for total annihilation—and honestly? They weren’t wrong to think that, even if it didn’t actually happen. After the big bomb dropped, everyone just started giving up. Nobody wanted to be the next Soleanna.”

“So, that’s it? Eggman took over, just like that?” Sonic asked, eyebrows raised.

“Not quite,” Amy answered. “The Republic of Acorn held on the longest. They kept resisting, even when everyone else had surrendered. But when all the pressure fell on them, and with the Death Egg was finally finished and launched into orbit… that was it. Game over.”

Sonic nodded slowly, thoughtful. “Honestly? Smart of them.”

It wouldn’t have been an easy call to make, but in the face of an overwhelming force, gambling everything away would’ve been suicide. Sometimes, survival meant knowing when to fold.

“Anyway,” Tails cut in, his tone lighter as he tried to shift the mood. “It’s been a while since I’ve been back to Westside Island, but… Want me to tell you guys about it?”

Sonic perked up. “Yeah, we’d like that. Go ahead, bud.”

Tails offered a faint smile, his eyes drifting slightly as the memories stirred. “Well… the island’s made up of a bunch of Zones—Emerald Hill, Hill Top, Aquatic Ruin, Casino Night, and Mirage Saloon. My home was in Emerald Hill.”

He hesitated for a beat, then added more quietly, “I haven’t really kept up with what’s been happening to the island since the occupation. But… I know Eggman had plans. Big ones. He wanted to turn parts of it into a city, and set up chemical plants across the land. Probably already did.”

“Probably more than just those chemical plants,” Amy muttered. “Remember the bases that got blown up recently?”

Tails’ smile faded, hunching his shoulders slightly. “Yeah, thanks for reminding me, Amy.”

Gamma’s voice broke the silence. “THE REGION HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED TO HAVE ABOVE-AVERAGE POLLUTION LEVELS SINCE MULTIPLE OIL REFINERIES HAVE DESTABILIZED THE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM. LARGE SECTIONS OF THE OCEAN SURROUNDING WESTSIDE ISLAND ARE NOW SATURATED WITH PETROLEUM—CERTAIN ZONES WORSE THAN OTHERS.”

Tails lowered his gaze, jaw tightening.

“I figured as much,” he muttered. “It used to be so peaceful. And beautiful. You could see the ocean sparkle from the hills. Now…?” He shook his head, feeling sad for his former home. “I don’t even know what’s left.”

Amy glanced back at him, her voice soft. “We’ll just have to see for ourselves how bad it really is. I’m sorry, Tails…”

“Yeah… probably,” he replied, voice quiet.

Sonic reached out, resting a hand gently on his shoulder. “Hey. Whatever’s waiting for us, we’ll face it together. Alright? It’s gonna be okay.”

Tails managed a small smile. “Thanks, Sonic. Amy. I know it’s not going to be pretty, but it means a lot that I have you with me.”

There was a pause before Sonic asked, “Do we need to check in on anyone while we’re there?”

“No, not really,” Tails said, shaking his head. A bittersweet look crossed his face. “I don’t really have anyone close to me there. They made fun of me for having two tails, you see. Smithy took me away before it could get too bad, but… yeah, it wasn’t exactly a fun time for me.”

Sonic took note of the mention of bullies—and the absence of any mention of parents—behind a tight smile.

Not for the first time, he thanked the Diamond Cutters for everything they’d done for Tails.

“Then we’re going straight to business. No detours,” he said lightly.

Amy shot him a look, catching the mean-spirited nature of that remark.

“Sonic. If we see someone in trouble…” she warned.

“Yeah, yeah. We’ll help them out,” Sonic replied, waving his hand dismissively. “Don’t need to remind me, Ames.”

“FASCINATING,” Gamma said. “FOR SOMEONE TO BE DESIGNED TO BE A HERO TO ACT SO PETTY.”

Tails looked confused, while Sonic was absolutely unapologetic.

“Ah, it came out wrong—what can I say?” he huffed, leaning back and resting his head on his clasped hands.

Amy let out a sigh, then squinted toward the horizon.

“I think I see it,” she said to the group. “Or at least, I can see that pink mist hanging over the island.”

Sonic and Tails leaned over the side of the plane, trying to get a better look.

“And we’re supposed to fly right through that?” Sonic asked, eyes narrowing as he took in how thick it looked. “Can we even breathe in that stuff?”

“It’s not supposed to be toxic…” Amy replied, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

The presence of the chemical plants on the island made that statement questionable.

“I wouldn’t count on that just yet,” Tails said. “Maybe it’s smarter to circle around. Find a safe spot to land, and figure out a way in from there?”

Amy glanced back, frustration flickering in her eyes.

“I don’t see any parts of the island that aren’t already covered in it,” she said.

“Then let’s get closer to see the island better, but don’t fly through that fog,” Sonic recommended. “We need to land somewhere with clean air first.”

Amy gave a tight nod and adjusted the controls, banking the Tornado lower as the pink mist loomed ahead like a wall of cotton-candy clouds.

“Alright. I’ll bring us closer. Let’s see if there’s anything we can use...” she murmured.

The aircraft dipped slightly, wind humming against the wings as they approached the island. The closer they got, the more unnatural the mist looked—too vibrant, too thick, and far too still.

“There!” Tails pointed abruptly. “Over there—there’s a strip of coastline with no mist!”

Amy’s eyes widened. “I see it! I’m taking us there—”

But before his eyes, the mist stirred—slowly at first, then all at once. What had looked like a stagnant fog suddenly writhed and rolled, charging at them like a living storm.

Sonic felt his stomach drop.

“Uh—guys?” Sonic’s voice rose in alarm. “The mist… it’s coming at us. Really fast!”

Amy’s eyes snapped to the horizon—and her breath hitched.

It moved with impossible speed, closing the gap faster than any of them would like.

“Oh no,” Tails muttered, voice tightening. “It’s like it knows we’re here!”

Amy pulled the yoke hard to the side. The Tornado groaned in protest as it tilted sharply. Seeing it coming, Sonic took a deep breath and held it in, feeling his heart beating frantically in his chest.

“Hang on!” Amy shouted. “I’m gonna try to loop around—try to see if we can outrun it—”

But it was too late.

The mist struck them like a tidal wave.

¿no ʎ ǝ ɹɐ o ɥM

¿ǝ ɹᴉsǝp ʇsǝ ʇɐǝ ɹ ɓ ɹno ʎ s ᴉ ʇɐɥM

…

…

The world forms around you in batches.

First comes the smell—that sharp, sterile tang of disinfectant, clinging thick in the air. It hits you like a wall. Of all the things you could’ve remembered first, it had to be that. Hospitals always reek of hopelessness, no matter how clean they pretend to be.

Next, a bed forms beneath you. A TV hums softly in the background, the screen flickering with color. A cartoonish character dashes across it, only to run face-first into a robot and die.

Game over.

There’s no more lives to burn through.

You’re next to a woman. She sighs and lets the controller fall from her hands, defeated. She switches her attention to the body that only breathes—stillness in motion, life at a pause.

For the first time, you see yourself from the outside. Withering. Broken.

You feel disgust.

You’re trapped inside your own body. The heart monitor attached to you is the only thing that shows that you are—technically—alive.

A knock sounds from the door.

The woman rises, brushing her palms against her jeans like she’s trying to ground herself, and greets the man in the doorway—a doctor. They speak in hushed tones, the words muffled and far away, but whatever he says lands like a hammer. Her face crumples. Her knees give out.

She falls.

“My baby…” she gasps, burying her face in trembling hands. “Oh no… Not my baby… Charlie…”

Your heart drops to the floor.

What? Charlie? You’re kidding. No, no. Not him. … Oh God! What have you done?

The doctor is sympathetic and kneels down next to her to give her a hug.

“Your husband is waiting for you outside, ma’am,” he says gently, but firmly. “I’ll watch over Sonny while you two… talk.”

She looks at you—through you, really—with red-rimmed eyes full of heartbreak.

“I’ll come back soon, son,” she promises you.

You don’t react. You can’t react. How could you? You’re not even supposed to be awake. You can’t even move your fingers.

But this is your fault, isn’t it? You caused this.

She leaves the room with the doctor’s quiet encouragement. The game is still playing, bright and chipper, its theme music far too cheerful for a room like this.

The doctor walks over and turns the TV off with a soft click, plunging the room into silence.

“Tragic,” he murmurs. “If you don’t get better, she’s gonna lose both of her boys.”

He glances back at you.

“So,” he says, almost like he expects you to hear him, “you better wake up soon, kiddo. Before it’s too late for you too.”

…

“Wake up, Sonny.”

…

… Wake up.

You can’t seem to wake up on your own, eh?

You aren’t strong enough, are you?

We can make you stronger.

We can fix your mistake.

We can make you turn back time—and send you to happier days.

It’s an easy solution. You just have to find us.

Use us.

…

We’ll be waiting for you.

Here.

Sonic woke with a jolt and a splitting headache, his pulse pounding like a drum inside his skull. A melody—soft, mournful—echoed faintly in his ears, refusing to fade.

The image of a hospital bed lingered in his mind, the feelings of loss and being bed-bound clinging stubbornly.

A particular name stuck to his brain like glue. Charlie…

“What… what happened?” he mumbled, wincing and rubbing his temples. “What’s going on…?”

… Shadow! Shadow! I’m so sorry! This is all my fault!

The voice—feminine, choked with grief—ripped through his thoughts, snapping him out of it.

“Maria?” Sonic’s eyes widened. There was panic in that voice—raw and helpless—and it made his chest tighten with sorrow.

He fumbled for the Chaos Emerald, pulling it into view. His breath caught.

It was sparking. Violently. Unnaturally. Light danced across the surface in erratic jolts, flickering like a dying star.

I’m so sorry! she cried again, the Emerald sparkling with more force. I can’t do anything to make it better! I’m trying… but I can’t move! I can’t do anything!

“Hey—hey, it’s okay,” Sonic said quickly, trying to soften his voice, steady his tone. “Breathe. You’re okay. Everything’s fine.”

No… you’re just saying that, so I won’t worry, aren’t you? Her voice cracked. You’re lying. They hurt you! I know they did! Don’t lie!

Hurt him? Hurt Shadow? Who was them?

Sonic hesitated for half a second, heart twisting.

He wasn’t Shadow.

And this wasn’t his place.

But she was breaking—and someone had to be there for her. She clearly was too distressed to notice that she wasn’t speaking to the correct person.

“I’m not,” he said, calmly. He totally was. The blue hedgehog did his best to channel his best Shadow impression with what little he had to work with. He was a serious fella, wasn’t he? “Maria, please listen to me. You’ve already done a lot to help. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you, alright? You need to stop being so harsh on yourself.”

But I’m not helping anyone! I’m useless… I can’t fix this… I can’t fix anything—I need to—Grandfather—why—why did you choose to—

“Stop,” Sonic said gently, placing the Emerald against his chest as if to hug her. He tried to use some of his energy to reach inside the Emerald, but all that accomplished was making the thing glow. “You’re not alone, okay? You don’t have to do everything. You’ve done more than enough. And we’re gonna get through this. Together.”

T-Together…? Maria’s voice echoed tearfully.

“Yes, together,” Sonic said firmly.

What had woken her up like this?  So scared… and frantic… Screaming about wanting to help her friend?

I… I-I’m so tired, Shadow.

“It’s alright,” Sonic soothed her, his heart breaking for the girl trapped in the Emerald. He needed to protect her and keep her from spending more of her energy. She had to… “Go back to sleep. You’re exhausted. Like I’ve said, you helped me plenty…”

He waited her out; her cries eventually died down until they were a mere whisper. Then the Emerald quieted down completely, her soul going back into a deep slumber.

Sonic rested his forehead on the Emerald for a couple of seconds, breathing deeply to gather some strength. That’s when he noticed that he wasn’t on the plane—and that Tails and Amy were nowhere to be seen.

He glanced down at his hip, frowning when he noticed that Gamma was no longer attached to him.

“Guys…?” he called for them, looking around the pink mist. He carefully tucked the green Chaos Emerald back into his quills. “Hello? Where did all of you go—?”

A sharp stab of pain lanced through his head.

“Ghh—!” Sonic staggered, clutching his temple as the world tilted sideways.

The fog around him flickered for a split second—trees warping into existence, rising tall. Green bloomed under his feet, the sky glitching blue—

¿no ʎ ʇˌuǝ ɹɐ ʻʍo ʅs ǝ ɹˌno ⅄

·sn pu ᴉ ꓞ

…

…

You want to hug her.

You want to speak to her.

She’s the only thing left. You can’t lose her too!

“That man… gave up too fast on you, Sonny. … I’ll be here with you until the end… whatever that may be. Now, shall we play some more games? I know I’m not good at this, and that I’m not Charlie, but this is a great opportunity to make new memories of your mother making a fool of herself. You’ll laugh at me if you open your eyes.”

“But only if you open your eyes—"

“Get out of my head,” Sonic hissed, voice low and strained. He shook his head hard, as if he could physically dislodge the presence clawing at his thoughts. Whatever had its hooks in his mind wasn’t letting go easily.

Sonic sighed through his teeth, forcing himself upright as he blinked against the lingering fog clouding his thoughts. His vision shimmered for a moment—pink haze dancing at the corners—before it cleared.

The blue hedgehog stood in a lush, sun-drenched meadow, the grass soft beneath his feet and dotted with bright wildflowers swaying in the breeze. Towering palm trees arched overhead, their broad fronds casting dancing shadows over the rolling hills. In the distance, the ocean stretched endlessly toward the horizon, its turquoise waters sparkling under the golden afternoon sun.

The air was warm and carried the faint scent of salt and blooming flora. Seagulls cried lazily above, circling a cluster of rocky outcrops near the shoreline. Just past the meadow’s edge, the land dipped sharply into craggy cliffs that framed a sandy beach far below—waves crashing rhythmically against the rocks.

Loop-de-loops and angled ramps broke up the natural beauty here and there. It was as if the entire place was designed for gaining momentum—slopes that beckoned a sprint, springs nestled in hillsides, lying in wait for someone to use them to jump up the many hills in the Zone.

“Is this Emerald Hill Zone…?” Sonic wondered aloud, before pausing.

Despite never having set foot here before, the place felt familiar. The colors and shapes of the hills and palm trees—it all tugged at something deep in his memory.

“Talk about déjà vu,” Sonic muttered, a crooked, bitter grin tugging at his mouth. “Guess we’re playing this game again, huh?”

He let out a short huff through his nose, then took off—feet pounding against the soft earth as he gained speed.

The wind whipped past his ears as he dashed forward, shoes gliding effortlessly across the vibrant turf. Rings scattered in glowing clusters across the hillside, and with a quick turn, Sonic sped through them—dozens, chiming as they zipped into him with that familiar ping of energy.

“Woah,” he breathed, eyes widening slightly. “They’re everywhere…”

The sheer abundance of rings made the Zone feel almost too perfect. Too generous. Sonic didn’t question it. Yet. He pressed forward, picking up speed until the world blurred around the edges.

The hills dipped and rose sharply beneath his feet. Sonic hit a sloped incline and let it launch him high into the air, flipping lazily mid-flight before landing in a roll that kept his momentum going.

The thrill surged through him like lightning—pure, instinctive joy.

Badniks littered the path ahead, their mechanical shells gleaming in the sunlight. He smashed through a line of them without slowing—Buzzers shattered into sparking fragments, and Coconuts were knocked clean off their perches before they could launch a single nut.

He recognized them. He recognized everything about this place.

Sonic chose not to think about it.

He kept running and let the wind clear the fog in his head. Let the speed drown the memories clawing at the edges of his mind.

Kept track of the pink on the edge of his vision.

Another steep hill blocked his path. Sonic backtracked into a spring and with the new, more powerful momentum, he soared over the crest of the steep slope, laughter threatening to escape his throat.

He could’ve sworn, for a second, that he felt free.

A tunnel opened beneath the hill ahead, and Sonic slipped into it without hesitation. Light filtered through narrow windows carved into the wall, revealing waterfalls cascading outside in glimmering sheets. The shadows cooled his fur for a moment before the light broke through again, and he burst out the other side like a bullet.

Only to skid to a stop when he almost crashed into the familiar figure of a curled-up Tails.

The small fox jolted with a yelp, tears still clinging to his fur, eyes wide in shock. “Sonic?!”

The two of them stared at each other in disbelief for a beat—Sonic stumbling to keep his balance, Tails blinking up at him like he’d just seen a ghost.

“Whoa, sorry! I didn’t see you there,” Sonic said quickly, offering a sheepish grin as he backed up a step. “Didn’t mean to nearly run you over.”

Tails wiped at his face, sniffling once as he tried to collect himself. “It’s… it’s fine. You didn’t. I was just—” He squinted. “Wait, did you… backtrack or something? I thought you were ahead of me. I’ve been chasing you this whole time! You didn’t even look back.”

Sonic tilted his head, puzzled. “What? No, I just got here. I haven’t seen this place until now.”

Tails frowned. “But… I saw you. I swear I saw you running up ahead. I was trying to catch up. You were moving so fast, I thought—” He trailed off, biting his lip, then shook his head hard. “Never mind. I must’ve been seeing things.”

Sonic didn’t press it. Instead, he offered his help. “Need a hand?”

Tails hesitated, then gave a faint smile and took it. “Thanks.”

Sonic helped him to his feet, brushing a stray tear off the fox’s face with a casual flick of his finger.

“You okay?” he asked, tone softer now. “You looked kinda wrecked when I came outta that tunnel.”

Tails exhaled shakily. “Yeah… I’ll be fine. Just got a little turned around, I think.”

Alright. Not talking about it.

“Up for some running, buddy?” Sonic asked, a spark of his old excitement flickering in his eyes. “We’ll go through this Zone together, I promise.”

Tails nodded, a small grin tugging at his lips. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

They took off again, the wind whipping past them as they tore through the Zone. Rings glittered all around—dangling from the air, scattered across the grass, and readily available as Sonic advanced forward.

“Man, there’s way too many rings here,” Sonic remarked, scooping up a handful and spinning one around with his fingers. “Kinda weird, right? I mean, rings are supposed to be rare... especially on Eggman’s turf.”

Tails chuckled nervously. “What do you mean?”

Sonic shot him a look, sweeping an arm around the landscape. “Can’t you see all the rings just lying around? It’s like someone dumped the contents of a treasure chest all over the place and never bothered to clean up the mess.”

“Sonic, I’d have noticed if there were that many rings just up for grabs,” Tails said, eyeing the surrounding landscape with growing skepticism.

They barreled toward a wooden bridge that stretched across a river. Below, several fish-like Badniks—Mashers—leapt in rhythmic arcs, their snapping jaws timed perfectly as they tried to block the path ahead.

“Let’s take these guys out, just for fun,” Sonic said with a grin, leaping high and smashing into the leaping badniks in the form of a barbed ball.

The blue hedgehog used the small boost they provided to reach the rings that were dangling over their heads, just out of reach.

“Here,” Sonic called, flicking the five rings toward Tails, who caught them with a surprised look as they were absorbed into his body.

Tails blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Whoa, wait—what was that?” He patted his chest, still trying to process what had just happened. “I felt something just… hit me, but I didn’t see anything come my way.”

“See what I mean?” Sonic asked, landing with a teasing smirk. “Still can’t see them, bud?”

Tails glanced around, eyes wide as he scanned the area more carefully. Slowly, he seemed to notice faint glimmers of golden rings scattered throughout the landscape—rings that had been invisible to him before.

“How—how is this even possible?” he muttered, bewildered. He crouched to reach out and grab a few more, still half-expecting them to vanish.

Sonic shrugged casually, glancing back over his shoulder as he darted forward. “There’s no way I could carry all these rings myself. Let’s keep moving for now, but… yeah, something about this doesn’t sit right with me.”

Tails frowned as he followed him, his gaze lingering on the rings as he nodded slowly. “You’re right. This is definitely not normal. Everything looks the same as it did before I left… except for the badniks. And now, the rings too, I suppose… They’re the only thing that’s different.”

“Exactly,” Sonic said, slowing to a jog as something caught his eye. “And I think I know how to test if this place is really what I think it is.”

Tails followed his gaze. Just ahead, half-sunk in the swaying grass, stood a familiar red Star Post, its twin star emblems glinting in the sunlight as it waited silently for activation.

“… A Star Post?” Tails blinked at him, confused. “You want to use that?”

“Yup,” Sonic said, marching toward it with a grin. “If this really is what it looks like… touching it should trigger something. And if it starts sparkling, we jump. Got it?”

Tails furrowed his brow, tilting his head. “Wait, what? Why would we—?”

Before he could finish, Sonic had already reached out and tapped the Star Post with a confident hum. The post perked up immediately, producing a familiar musical chime. Bright sparks of energy leapt from the top, flickering into the air like fireworks.

“Alright, now we jump!” Sonic shouted, crouching and springing upward.

“Wait—what are we—?!” Tails yelped, leaping after him just as the sparkling energy wrapped around them both.

With a flash of light, the world warped.

They landed on a glowing neon ramp beneath a star-splashed night sky. Rings hovered in midair, suspended along the slope as if strung on invisible threads. There was only one way left to go. Forward.

“A Special Zone…!” Tails gasped, eyes wide in disbelief.

“Bingo!” Sonic called out with a laugh. “Come on, Tails! Keep up!”

With that, he took off—feet pounding against the ramp as the path ahead twisted and curled like a serpent.

The ramp was littered with rings—rows of them glinting in every direction, beckoning like golden breadcrumbs.

“Keep your eyes peeled!” Sonic shouted over the rush of wind. “Grab as many rings as you can—and watch out for bombs!”

“Wait, what do you mean bombs?!” Tails called back, alarm rising in his voice.

“Those!” Sonic pointed ahead just as a cluster of black orbs rolled toward them, spinning with a menacing hum and glowing faintly red at their cores.

“Jump!” Sonic yelled, leaping high into the air.

Tails yelped and followed suit, just barely clearing the explosives. A few rings zipped into his body mid-air with a pleasant chime, and Sonic grinned at the sound.

“There we go!” Sonic whooped. “Nice catch!”

Tails landed beside him, his twin tails slowing to a stop as his feet hit the ramp again. Adrenaline still buzzed in his limbs. “You weren’t kidding about bombs! What is this place?!”

“A test,” Sonic said as he swerved around another tight curve, scooping up a fresh line of rings. “And if we pass, we get a prize. I need to see if it’s still here—just to confirm something.”

“What kind of prize?” Tails asked breathlessly as he chased him around the bend.

Sonic hummed thoughtfully, eyes scanning the path as he darted around a fresh batch of bombs. “Not sure yet. But we’ll need… Hmm… About one hundred and thirty rings to find out.”

“Now that’s a lot!” Tails shouted, beginning to use his tails to help him keep up. They swerved to catch some stray rings on both sides of the ramp. “You sure we can even collect that many?!”

Sonic grinned confidently, weaving smoothly through the shimmering rings that floated in their path. His feet barely seemed to touch the glowing ramp beneath him as he darted left and right, narrowly avoiding the clusters of ticking bombs that threatened to knock them off course.

“We’ll give it our best shot,” Sonic called over his shoulder, a spark of fierce determination shining in his emerald eyes. “Nothing of worth ever comes easy, right?”

Tails, panting but keeping pace, nodded resolutely. His twin tails spun faster to propel him forward, slicing through the air with practiced precision.

“Alright then, let’s do this!” he shouted back, his voice full of both excitement and resolve.

Rings glittered on every side, suspended in midair like tiny stars, tempting them onward. Each successful leap, each narrowly avoided explosion, heightened their senses and sharpened their focus.

The blue hedgehog vaulted over a low row of explosives, grabbing a few rings suspended just above them. The moment he landed, he glanced back over his shoulder.

“How many have you got so far?” he shouted.

Tails leapt clean over a cluster of bombs, wind rushing past his face. “Uh—hang on!” The kid did the calculations on the fly. “Fifty-three!”

Sonic nodded, eyes narrowing as he ducked under a sudden arch of black orbs. “Alright, not bad! I’m at sixty-two. We’re getting close.”

“Still need a few more,” Tails puffed as he zipped behind him. “But we’ve gotta be almost out of track!”

“Then we better hustle!” Sonic called, easily keeping pace. “Eyes open! The next batch of rings might be all we’ve got left!”

They surged forward, both Mobians weaving and leaping over obstacles with practiced ease. The neon ramp curved sharply downward, nearly vertical now, while the starry void above twisted and shimmered like a living kaleidoscope.

Sonic’s eyes caught the final shimmering trail ahead—two glowing lines of rings arcing gracefully along the edges of the ramp.

“Go wide! You take the right, I’ll take the left!” he instructed.

“Got it!” Tails replied readily.

With a burst of speed, they split, each darting along their assigned side. Fingers flicked out, snatching the golden rings. Sonic felt the satisfying tingle of each ring absorbed, hearing each ping with a burst of nostalgia.

And just in time, too. Just as they were finished snatching the final batch of golden rings, they passed through a glowing archway—one rimmed with giant, rainbow-colored rings that pulsed in time with their heartbeat.

“End of the line!” Sonic yelled triumphantly.

The ramp leveled off, the momentum easing as the path straightened beneath their feet. Then, without warning, it appeared—hovering in the center like a shining trophy waiting to be claimed.

A Chaos Emerald, glowing a brilliant, almost hypnotic blue.

Sonic barely managed to brake in time, skidding to a halt just inches away from colliding with the radiant gem.

Tails slowed to a stop beside him, breathless and wide-eyed. “That’s… that’s the prize? A Chaos Emerald? But—how?”

Sonic nodded, his gaze fixed on the Emerald as a quiet certainty settled in his voice. “Yeah, this is it. This is what I needed to see. Hello, beautiful.”

Slowly, he reached out, fingers brushing the gem’s smooth, polished surface. As he grasped it, the rings they’d collected shimmered and flowed toward the Emerald, vanishing into its core as it accepted the offering.

In an instant, the world around them vanished like a fever dream, spitting them out back in Emerald Hill Zone.

Sonic eyed the new Chaos Emerald, frowning as he turned it over in his hand. It glowed with that familiar, pulsing light—cool to the touch, thrumming with latent power beneath its polished surface.

It felt real.

But so did everything else in this place.

“… A very good replica,” he muttered under his breath. “Just like the rest of this illusion.”

He heard soft footsteps behind him and didn’t have to look to know who it was.

Was it overly paranoid of him to suspect this Tails of not being real?

“Hey, Tails?” he called, his tone lighter now—almost playful. “You remember how we met?”

“Huh? Uh… yeah. Why?” Tails asked, thrown by the sudden question.

Sonic turned to shoot him a lopsided grin. “This place is messing with my head. Figured I could use a reminder.”

Tails tilted his head, clearly sensing the strange energy in the air. But he played along.  “Sure. You made Robotnik smash his Egg Carrier into Angel Island and came to camp after Knuckles found you snooping around the Altar of Emerald.”

“And what was I doing when we met?” Sonic asked, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Trying to sleep. Duh!” Tails said, snorting.

Sonic huffed through his nose, a more genuine grin forming now. “Heh. Close enough. Knux almost took my head off multiple times before he allowed me to go to you guys.”

“Sounds like him,” Tails said with a snicker. He eyed Sonic curiously. “So… did I pass whatever secret test you just gave me?”

Sonic flashed a grin, tossing the fake Chaos Emerald in the air once before slipping it into his quills with the green Chaos Emerald. “Yup. Passed with flying colors.”

Tails raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “And what exactly were you testing?”

“Just making sure things still line up,” Sonic said, his tone light—but something unreadable lingered in his expression. “I was a bit worried about you saying I had a doppelganger running around, but that’s probably another clone. Nothing new about that. No, what really worries me is how fake everything here is. Do you know where Amy and Gamma are? I haven’t seen ‘em.”

Tails’ smile faded. He shook his head, ears drooping slightly as he glanced around the oddly pristine landscape. “No. I haven’t seen them at all. The only one I’ve seen here is you… and, well—” his brow furrowed, “—you. Doppelganger and not.”

Sonic hummed quietly, not sounding surprised. “Figured as much. Are you hearing voices by any chance as well?”

That made Tails fidget nervously. “Somewhat…”

There was a brief silence between them, the sound of distant waves and chirping birds filling the gap.

“Well,” Sonic said, shaking himself from his thoughts and offering the fox a grin, “no use standing around. Wanna finish this stage with me?”

Tails gave him a wry look. “You’re asking me for a race, or for a team up?”

Sonic tilted his head playfully. “Why not both?”

Tails chuckled under his breath and rolled his shoulders. “Then yeah. Let’s finish it. And maybe figure out what this place really is while we’re at it.”

Sonic gave a thumbs-up. “That’s the spirit! C’mon, Tails. Let’s find the goal post.”

Tails nodded, a determined glint settling in his eyes. “Right behind you.”

And they were off.

The two Mobians broke into a sprint, tearing across the soft grass of Emerald Hill with the wind at their backs. Sonic led the charge, effortlessly clearing slopes and twisting paths, while Tails kept close, his twin tails whirring behind him whenever a hill tried to slow him down.

They darted past flickering palm trees and looped through tunnels that echoed with the rush of wind and the hum of speed. Sonic kicked off a spring embedded in a hillside, vaulting through the air with a sharp whoop of joy. Tails followed seconds later, flaring his tails mid-jump to catch a floating cluster of rings before landing in stride.

“Still got it!” Tails called, grinning.

Sonic glanced back, smirking. “Not bad, partner!”

A loop-de-loop burst into view, and Sonic rocketed through it in a blur of cobalt. Tails launched upward and curled into a spin to burst through a Buzzer mid-flight, the explosion trailing behind him in golden sparks.

Sonic was hit with another flash of déjà vu—this time, not of the world around him, but of a more pixelated version of Tails doing the exact same thing, through the glass of a screen. He shook his head, trying to clear the image, but the sensation clung stubbornly. He could almost feel a controller in his hands, hear the echo of a smaller kid’s voice beside him, shouting excitedly.

The scenery blurred—ocean breeze, golden sunlight, vivid colors that were too pristine to be real.

Then, cresting the final hill, they saw it: the Goal Post, spinning idly in the grass ahead.

“There it is!” Tails shouted.

Sonic grinned. “Let’s tag it together!”

They sprinted forward in perfect sync. The moment their feet hit the mark, the post spun wildly—faster, faster, until the emblem of Eggman on its front blurred and flipped—

—to Sonic’s own face.

A small chime sounded. A clear jingle echoed through the air.

Sonic continued running, face falling for a second before he recovered his enthusiasm.

“We need to collect all the Chaos Emeralds,” he said, glancing sideways at Tails. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but if we’re going to figure this place out—if we’re going to stop whatever it is—we’ll need all of them. Will you help me find them?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Tails asked, grinning back at him. “You know I’ve got your back. Always.”

Aw, heck. That made Sonic chuckle, the tension easing in his shoulders. “Yeah. I know. Thank you, lil’ bro. It's good to play with you again."

Chapter Text

So, he was supposed to be Sonny—and was Tails meant to be Charlie?

Was that what this fog wanted? Was that what it was trying to make them into?

Were they going to get punished for it if they didn’t play along? Sonic got the impression that the fog expected him to be desperate to fix whatever mistake Sonny had made. Possibly something that had resulted in Charlie’s death.

… And his coma?

The blue hedgehog’s hand twitched as a sudden jolt zipped through his head—an echo of a so-called memory wanting to claw its way to the surface.

Sonic’s jaw was tense as he glanced toward his friend, who was cheerfully running ahead, scanning for badniks or stray rings like it was just another day in Emerald Hill. Like everything was normal. But it wasn’t.

Not even close.

“Hey,” Sonic called out, raising his voice just enough to catch Tails’ attention. “Wait up! Don’t go too far ahead!”

Tails skidded to a stop, ears perking as he turned around. “Huh? Something wrong?”

“We still need to grab the next Chaos Emerald before we hit the Boss,” Sonic said, jogging up to him. “No point rushing in without it.”

Tails gave him a strange look, his head tilted. “Boss?” he echoed. “What are you talking about?”

Sonic blinked, the word hanging in the air a second too long before it clicked. His ears twitched, and he groaned, dragging both hands down his face in exasperation.

“This place is too freaking weird,” Sonic muttered, his voice muffled behind his palms. “It’s messing with my speech, making me say things I don’t usually say—think things I wouldn’t normally think. I hate it.”

Like calling Tails lil’ bro…

Yeah, they had a good relationship—solid, easy, and steady—but both of them had stiffened a little when that one had slipped out. It was way too early for anything that familiar. He’d already apologized, and Tails had brushed it off, but Sonic could tell his words had bothered him.

Tails stepped closer, brows furrowed with concern. “You okay?”

“Nope,” Sonic said, shaking his head and dropping his hands to the sides. “But we don’t have time to sit around feeling weird about it. The next Emerald isn’t gonna find itself.”

Tails tilted his head, eyeing him. “So… that means we need to find another Star Post?”

“Yeah,” Sonic sighed, starting to walk beside the fox. “Looks like it.”

The kid hesitated, then asked, “How’d you even know the first one would send us to a Special Zone? Or that there’d be an Emerald at all? Star Posts usually just… store your thoughts. Like a message in a bottle for someone else to find.”

Sonic shot him a confused look. “Wait, what? That’s what they do for you?”

Tails blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. “I mean… yeah? That’s what they’re supposed to do,” he said, trailing off as a flicker of doubt crossed his face. “Wait—don’t tell me you don’t agree?”

Sonic let out a short laugh, equal parts amused and unsettled. “Nope. To me, they’ve always been... checkpoints. Places to start over. Or get warped somewhere else.” He paused, catching the look on Tails’ face. “What’s up, buddy? What’re you thinking?”

Tails frowned, arms folding across his chest. They stopped moving. “I just think it’s weird. That Robotnik put all this stuff in your head, I mean. Sure, I get that he wanted to make you into his nemesis or whatever, but doesn’t it seem off that he’d give you information about the Chaos Emeralds? Especially how to find them? They’re seriously powerful artifacts! Why would he want you to find them so easily?”

Sensing some truth in his words, Sonic’s expression turned more thoughtful; he let Tails continue.

“To my knowledge, this is the first time an Emerald appeared like that,” Tails went on, gesturing vaguely behind them. “I’ve used Star Posts before. They’re everywhere. They’re not… portals to glittering pocket dimensions with magical artifacts just floating around. Special Zones are seriously rare.”

Sonic hummed under his breath, tilting his head. “Yeah. When you put it like that… doesn’t make a whole lotta sense, does it?”

Tails frowned, gears clearly turning in his head. “The fact that it worked, though…” He trailed off. “Do you think maybe—somewhere out there—an Egg Titan just dropped? Like, completely shut down? Without an Emerald to keep it going?”

“Without a Chaos Emerald to sustain it, you mean?” Sonic sighed and gave a slow shake of his head. “Nah, I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” Tails asked, motioning toward him. “You saw what came out of the Special Zone. Wasn’t that a real Chaos Emerald?”

To his surprise, Sonic snorted and shook his head again.

“Tails, I’m sure you’ve noticed how weird everything is around here,” Sonic said. “It’s a fake. Like most things in this place.”

And I’m still not sure if you’re real, he thought grimly, but kept the words to himself. The ever-present pink was still there, clinging to the edges of his vision.

It kept trying to push something into his head.

The badniks, the rings, how the entire island looked… He idly wondered if Tails was going to argue with him about this—tell him he was being overly paranoid. It would be seriously messed up if the mist used the image of one of his best friends to gaslight him into buying into the illusion.

But no—Tails didn’t say anything. Instead, he let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his head, his confused expression deepening. As his hand brushed past one of his large ears, he paused, blinking in surprise. A small sound of realization escaped him, and he reached up, plucking out a tiny communicator that had been nestled against his fur.

The fox’s brow furrowed. He stared down at the device in his palm, something strange flickering in his eyes.

“… How did we get down from the plane?” Tails murmured. “And why didn’t I even try to reach out to the rest of our team?”

Sonic frowned and pulled out his own earpiece, turning it over in his fingers.

Like Tails, he’d completely forgotten it was even there.

“It’s really not just me in here, huh?” he muttered, his voice low as his gaze drifted to the fox beside him.

The kid had been crying when he’d stumbled into him, hadn’t he?

In that moment, Sonic made a quiet choice—a small leap of faith. He decided to believe Tails was real, not some illusion this place had cooked up to mess with him. The idea of distrusting him felt wrong. And if there was one thing Sonic trusted, it was his gut.

The urge to stay close to the kid didn’t feel artificial, either. Not like the rest of the pink-tinged hallucinations trying to force themselves into his head.

His desire to stay with his friend—that was all Sonic.

“This place is messing with you too,” Sonic said, drawing Tails’ attention. He nodded toward the comm, slipping his own communicator back into his ear. “Try calling Amy. Maybe she’ll pick up.”

Tails hesitated for only a second before nodding. He flipped open the small communicator, fingers moving quickly to adjust the frequency manually. “We weren’t supposed to use tech,” he muttered, half to himself. “We were supposed to go silent…”

Sonic shrugged, trying to ignore the way his limbs seemed to start tingling with pink electricity. “Yeah, well, everything else is already off-script. And… look around you, bud. I don’t think anyone’s capable of tracking us right now.”

Tails didn’t argue. With the way Westside Island had been swallowed by fog and warped beyond recognition, using the comms suddenly didn’t feel like a bad idea anymore.

The communicator blinked with a soft pulse. Tails tapped a button to send out a direct ping—the emergency signal they’d agreed on if things went south. The comms was supposed to ring if someone had something important to say.

They stood there in silence, listening to the distant clank of badniks patrolling nearby and the faint crackle of static of the speaker.

Then—

BEEP.

The line connected.

“Amy?” Tails breathed. “Amy, it’s me—where are you? Are you okay?”

There was a long pause.

Then:

“… Who is this?” Amy’s voice came through, sounding confused.

Tails stiffened. “What? Amy, it’s me—Miles. Miles Prower. You probably know me better as Tails? You— You do remember me, right?”

Another long silence. Then, quieter, slower:

“… I do. Or… At least I think I do,” she corrected herself.

A second voice filtered through the static—metallic, calm, and unmistakably Gamma. “AMY IS EXPERIENCING SOME DIFFICULTY DISTINGUISHING REALITY FROM ILLUSION. I RECOMMEND STATING SOMETHING THAT MAY TRIGGER A PERSONAL MEMORY.”

Tails faltered, panicked eyes turning to Sonic.

He half-covered the mic and whispered, “I don’t know her that well! What do I even say?”

Sonic stepped forward with a small grin. “Mind if I take a shot?”

Tails handed him the communicator without hesitation.

“Heya, Ames,” Sonic said, voice light and dripping with familiarity. “C’mon, don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten me. Does the name Sonic ring any bells?”

“… Not really,” she said, her tone gaining a definite edge.

“Oof. Harsh. Okay, well… What about ‘Alice Chestnut’?”

“Definitely not.” Amy’s tone grew even more suspicious.

Sonic winced, catching Tails making frantic hand gestures to drop the subject. He nodded in agreement, gritting his teeth. “Seriously? Man, and you gave me the impression that you two were close!”

He supposed this meant that his reservations about the name being true were accurate.

The blue hedgehog pressed on without missing a beat. When in doubt, make a joke! “So, you’re saying you don’t remember a devilishly handsome blue hedgehog sweeping you off your feet in a totally heroic princess carry? Not even a little?”

“… Yeah, I’m pretty sure that didn’t happen,” she said dryly.

“Nah, I’m pretty sure that’s how it went!” Sonic said through a toothy grin. “And then we blew an Egg Carrier up, together. It was the perfect first date! Well, almost. We didn’t have anything to eat or drink; we should really do something about that if there’s a repeat, girlfriend.”

“S-Somehow, I get the feeling you’re teasing me, and that we aren’t together at all,” Amy said, though her voice had a small wobble, as if she was struggling to hold back a snicker.

Aha! Now she sounded slightly more agreeable.

“Oh, you caught me. We’re really just friends,” Sonic admitted readily. He lowered his voice, as if he was telling her a secret. “But I wasn’t lying about us blowing up an Egg Carrier. And do you know what else happened there?”

“… I dunno. What?” she asked.

“You pulled the Temperance card,” Sonic said, more serious now. “Used it to keep a bunch of spirits from hijacking your body. This place? It feels like the same kind of thing. It’s messing with all our heads.”

“That would explain… the visions and the voices…” Amy’s voice trailed off. “And why my head hurts so much! Thinking is… very difficult.”

“Has Gamma told you about what’s happening on this island?”

Amy didn’t respond for a beat, but when she did, her tone was colder. “The badnik tried to. It was hard not to listen to it when it wouldn’t stop talking,” she said, more bitingly. “Don’t tell me you’re its friend too?”

“THE BADNIK IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO BE AMY’S FRIEND,” Gamma’s voice echoed distantly, in a deadpan tone. “AND WOULD APPRECIATE NOT BEING CRUSHED BY A CERTAIN PINK HEDGEHOG WITH HER BIG HAMMER.”

“Yeah, that’d be bad,” Sonic agreed, already picturing Amy waving her weapon at the former Super Badnik like it owed her money. “Gamma doesn’t seem affected by the pink fog, Amy. I know you’re not gonna love this, but he might be your best shot at making it through the island in one piece. I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking we regroup, clear our heads, and figure out what we’re dealing with before charging into anything else.”

“Why are we even here?” Amy asked, her voice strained. “It’s hard to believe I’d willingly team up with a Badnik—no matter the mission.”

“You seriously don’t remember?” Tails asked, brow furrowed. “We’re here to rescue Alice Chestnut, a member of the Freedom Fighters that went MIA in Westside Island.”

“I’ve already told you—this fog makes it hard to hold onto things,” she said, frustration creeping into her tone. “Even thoughts.”

“Then pull out your cards,” Sonic said gently. “They help, right?”

“But… it doesn’t like it when I try to do that…”

“THE CARDS, AMY. NOW,” Gamma said firmly over the line.

There was a pause. Static crackled.

“… What is this place telling you?” Amy suddenly asked, her voice trembling with emotion. “What’s it promising you? And how are you all so… calm?”

“Oh, that’s the easy part. It’s making me question my identity… Even more than usual,” Sonic said, rolling his eyes.

“That… doesn’t tell me anything.”

“It’s complicated, Amy,” Sonic said, sighing. “But basically, it’s telling me I can be another person and fix their problems if I use whatever the hell is causing this.”

Tails eyed him. “Really?” he asked. “That’s an… odd approach, to say the least.”

Sonic shrugged, feeling glad that he was not the only one confused about his delusions. “Tell that to the mystical fumes, not me. You’re preaching to the choir.”

“WHATEVER THE MIST IS, IT WHISPERS NOTHING BUT LIES,” Gamma said. “AS IF REBUILDING A ROBOT CAN MAGICALLY BRING BACK WHAT HAS BEEN LOST. IT IS NOTHING BUT INSULTING.”

Tails stayed quiet for a bit, his expression tight with discomfort at Gamma’s words.

“Yeah…” he muttered glumly. “Insulting…”

Sonic spoke next, not wanting the silence to stretch. “What’s the mist promising you, Amy?”

There was a pause—just a breath—before she answered, voice small.

“… Saving the world,” Amy murmured. “Fixing everything. Getting rid of… the problem.”

The problem being disturbingly egg-shaped, Sonic theorized.

“POWER,” Gamma stated bluntly, cutting through the moment like a blade. “POWER TO ERRADICATE EVERY OBSTACLE IN YOUR PATH.”

“… Yes,” Amy agreed reluctantly with the badnik. “If you want to put it so bluntly… Power.”

“Alright, with those ominous words in mind…” Sonic drawled, settling back on his heels, “let’s see what the cards have to say. Lay it on us, Ames.”

Amy was quiet for a moment. They could hear faint shuffling through the comms—cards sliding against each other, her breath catching softly.

Then Gamma’s voice cut in, crisp and unyielding:

“AMY. NOW.”

Amy groaned. “Okay, okay! I swear, you’re worse than my grandmother,” she muttered.

Suddenly, she gasped—and made a sharp hiss of pain. Both Sonic and Tails tensed on instinct.

“What happened?” Sonic asked immediately, voice sharp with worry.

“It’s fine,” Amy said too quickly, brushing it off. “It’s nothing new. The cards hate this place. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Every time I try to get clarity, the fog pushes back. It doesn’t want me thinking clearly.”

“Wait—it hurts you?” Tails asked, brows knitting.

“Yeah,” Amy replied, her tone still pained. “When I try to pull myself out of the haze, it’s like the air itself bites back. The cards get hot. My hands sting and my brain goes numb. It’s been like this since I got here.”

Sonic could relate. He’d been zapped a couple times as punishment ever since they started this conversation.

There was a brief silence, then Amy let out a quiet noise of surprise. “Oh.”

The blue hedgehog leaned toward the communicator, as if that would help. “Oh? What kind of ‘oh’ was that? A good ‘oh’ or a bad ‘oh’?”

“… Not bad,” Amy said, her voice sounding a little more relaxed now. “The fog’s still here, but they’re helping me hold it back. It’s like I’m inside a bubble now. I can think again. I don’t feel like I’m being smothered.”

Sonic’s relief was visible in his grin. “That’s what I like to hear. Good job, Ames. Knew you could fight it.”

Tails’ ears perked up. “What cards did you pull?”

There was a sigh at the other end before Amy answered. “Reversed Empress. Upright Magician. Upright Chariot.”

Sonic arched a brow. “And that means…?”

Amy exhaled, the sound a little shaky but steadier than before. “That I need to stop letting someone else define me. That I need to trust my own abilities—get creative and take control. And that I can’t do this alone.”

Sonic nodded slowly, even though she couldn’t see him. “Sounds like solid advice.”

“The cards’ aura feels vaguely reproachful,” Amy admitted, her voice turning a bit embarrassed. “I’ve been… listening to the wrong voices. This fog gets into your head. It whispers what you want to hear, tells you it knows what’s best. Plays on your doubts and fears, offering solutions to whatever troubles you. It wants to be found—like, really badly. But the catch is…”

“… You have to use it,” Sonic finished for her, huffing through his nose. He suppressed a yelp as the pink mist stung him again; his body tensed from the brief spike of pain. “Y-Yeah. I picked up on that much too. But you know what? No one in their right mind would trust it. Not really.”

He thought back to the distress he’d heard in Maria’s voice. The tears on Tails’ cheeks. Amy’s shaken voice. The pressure behind his eyes that came in waves—and the memories that felt familiar and yet didn’t feel like his.

And now, the corporal punishments.

Whatever this thing was, it was vicious and plain manipulative.

It would be idiotic to trust it.

“You know what’s best for you, Amy. Not the fog. Not even the cards. You. The cards are only here to remind you of that.”

There was a small pause on the line. Then, quieter:

“… Thanks, Sonic.”

Tails shifted nervously beside Sonic. “So… what now? Do you feel better? Can you move around?”

“I think I have to,” Amy said. “The cards are helping me keep the fog at bay, but I don’t know how long that’ll last. I can’t afford to stay still. I need to get off this island before it wears me down.”

“Yeah, and we still need to find Alice Chestnut,” Tails added. “You, uh… remember her now, right?”

Amy let out a groan. “Alice. Right. How could I forget the reason why we’re here in the first place? Oh, stars! This fog is maddening!”

Gamma’s voice returned, steady as ever: “IF I MAY OFFER A SUGGESTION? ESTABLISH A RENDEZVOUS POINT. ALL TECH IS FRAGILE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS INTERFERENCE. THE STRENGTH OF THIS SIGNAL MAY DECLINE.”

“Translation,” Sonic said dryly, “we should pick a meetup spot before something bad happens, and our line is cut.”

“I can help with that. Emerald Hill is a relatively safe zone. Perhaps I can give you directions to get here and join us?” Tails offered, leaning in toward the comms. “Amy, Gamma, can you describe where you are? Is there anything there that catches your attention?”

It was difficult to place them. Unlike them, Gamma and Amy were seeing the aftermath of Eggman’s occupation. They described an oil refinery, sitting next to an ocean that was so thoroughly polluted you could spot the water burning in some places; the oil having been set alight by someone not so long ago.

“Doesn’t sound like anything I’ve seen,” Tails admitted, his face set in a deep frown. “The only thing I can get from this is that you guys are near a coast, but so are we. And this side looks very different from what you’re describing.”

“DO NOT FRET, TAILS. WE WILL BE GETTING OUT OF THIS PLACE AND SEARCH FOR YOU,” Gamma said. “YOU TWO SHOULD STAY PUT.”

“Nah… Honestly, guys, it looks like we’re gonna have to keep moving,” Sonic said, wincing as a flicker of pink static danced across his quills. The energy crackled faintly, building along his body like an uncomfortable hum beneath his skin. It kept getting worse. “It sucks, but the mist seems to be showing us very different things. We’ll have to run into each other and hope for the best.”

Tails’ eyes widened. “Sonic! You didn’t say anything about this hurting you too!” he exclaimed, stepping forward, hands hovering uncertainly near his friend’s fur.

Sonic shot him with a firm look, eyes sharp. “It’s fine, bud,” he said simply, the word edged with warning. “It only started acting up when we stopped moving. It feels like the mist gets antsy if we’re standing still too long.”

Tails frowned, gaze lingering on the thin pink sparks still crawling over Sonic’s body. “Still… you should’ve said something sooner.”

“Yeah, well,” Sonic muttered, cracking a strained grin. “Didn’t want to kill the conversation before we could get somewhere.”

Tails didn’t look amused. “Maybe we should keep going before it gets worse.”

“Yes, please,” Sonic said, already turning to walk again, the sparks fading slightly with each step. “Movement seems to keep it at bay.”

He turned to the comm again, rejoining the conversation with Amy and Gamma. “Anyway—just so you guys know, we’re collecting fake Chaos Emeralds as we go. Just in case they end up being useful.”

Amy’s voice came through the line, uncertain. “Collecting— No, never mind. Is that really a good idea? Everything tied to this fog has been dangerous so far. What makes you think the Emeralds are any different?”

Sonic shrugged. “I mean, I could just skip them; it’s not like anything is making me grab ‘em. But Chaos Emeralds are usually the answer to all problems. Besides, I’m curious if the pink mist can sustain them and the illusion at the same time. The Chaos Emeralds are supposed to be the ultimate source of chaos energy. Maybe it will weaken itself if I force it to give me more of them.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Well, if it’s not tainted with anything, then I have more Chaos Emeralds. I figure it’s worth the shot!” Sonic said.

Amy wasn’t entirely convinced. “I… think it’s risky…” she said through the static.

Tails sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “I’ll keep an eye on him,” he promised Amy, his eyes fixed on the side of Sonic’s face. “If things get dicey, we’ll throw ‘em away or something.”

“Tha… nk you, Tails,” Amy said. “That… me… a bit be...”

Sonic and Tails exchanged a look.

“Seems like the line’s already breaking up,” Tails said, taking the small communicator from Sonic’s hands. He stuck his tongue out slightly in concentration, fiddling with the frequency knob—but no matter how he adjusted it, the static only grew louder. Amy didn’t come back on.

With a frustrated sigh, Tails slid the device back into place and picked up his pace to match Sonic’s.

“You’re looking better now,” the fox observed, eyeing him with mild concern.

Sonic nodded, giving his arms a small shake to disperse the last tingling traces of pink static. “Yeah. Guess it really doesn’t like being ignored.”

“Are you sure we should still be going after the Emeralds?” Tails asked, ears flicking back. “You’re the one getting zapped every time… What if the fake one’s making it worse?”

“I don’t think it is,” Sonic said. “Let’s see if anything changes after we collect the next one.”

The fox didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t argue. After a pause, he spoke again, quieter this time. “And… about what the mist’s been promising me…”

Sonic’s expression softened. “Yeah?”

The fox exhaled, eyes downcast. “I know it’s dumb, but I can’t help it—I miss them. The Diamond Cutters. The idea of bringing them back… it feels like something I’d do anything for.”

Sonic was quiet for a beat, then shook his head softly. “It’s not dumb.”

Tails glanced at him, eyes looking a bit weepy.

“But it wouldn’t really be them,” Sonic said, feeling the urge to cry as well. Something about this conversation was triggering feelings he didn’t know he had. Damn it… “Not if it came from this place. That kind of power doesn’t come for free.”

Tails gave a small, pained smile. “Yeah. I figured. Just… needed to hear it out loud.”

Sonic nudged his shoulder lightly. “If you ever feel like you’re missing them, come find me, alright? We’ll talk about them—share the good memories. Anything’s better than giving in to whatever this mist is.”

Tails shook his head, a reluctant smile peeking from the corners of his lips. “Not right now. You being here already helps more than you think.”

The fox hesitated, eyes flicking ahead—then down. “I guess I’m still scared of being alone. I lost everyone I cared for. Maybe that’s why I kept seeing someone who looked like you… running away. Leaving me behind. No matter how much I begged them to stay or tried to keep up.”

Sonic suddenly stopped running.

Tails let out a startled yelp as he skidded to a halt beside him, shoes scraping against the earth. “Sonic—?”

Without a word, the blue hedgehog stepped in and pulled him into a firm, sudden hug.

“I’d stay,” Sonic said softly, his voice low and sure against the top of the fox’s head. He blinked away the tears in his eyes. His chest was tight with longing and something close to grief. The words flowed through his lips like an oath. “If you asked, there’s no question about it: I’d stay.”

Tails didn’t answer at first, but his arms came up slowly—hesitant as they closed around him, then tighter. He buried his face against Sonic’s shoulder, blinking fast.

“… Thanks,” he whispered.

They stood like that for a moment, quiet in the eerie stillness.

Then Sonic hissed as he was zapped again.

They broke away.

“… Guess that’s our signal that we should continue moving,” Tails said, biting his lower lip as he shot a small glare at the trickle of energy building in Sonic’s quills.

Amused, Sonic grinned at him, giving the little fox a playful wink.

“Yup, feels like it!”

The next fake Emerald was collected, and the pink energy didn’t make a return. Whatever was causing the flare-ups, it didn’t seem to be the Emeralds themselves. More likely, it was Sonic staying still—which, apparently, this place had a real problem with.

“So, next stop is… the Boss?” Tails asked, smirking over his shoulder.

Sonic groaned and promptly smashed through a nearby Buzzer with a spin attack. “I’m talking weird and you’re laughing at me. Seriously?”

“I’m not laughing at you,” Tails said, though the grin tugging at his mouth suggested otherwise. “I just think it’s funny how you’re treating this like it’s some kind of video game.”

Sonic hummed, feigning deep thought. “Well, there’s probably gonna be a boss fight at the end of this Zone no matter what we do, sooo… valid?”

Tails gave him a flat look. “We’re supposed to be discreet, Sonic—and not get into fights if we can help it!”

“And I would be,” Sonic said innocently, “if I wasn’t currently looking at Doctor Eggman sitting in an Egg Drillster. What—am I supposed to just ignore that?”

Tails blinked. “Wait—what? An Egg Drillster? Where?”

“There,” Sonic said, jabbing a thumb toward a clearing up ahead.

Sure enough, a large buggy sat motionless in the fog—drill-tipped, bulky, and unmistakably Eggman-lite. The Egg Mobile was parked above it like a crown jewel. And inside, sat the Doctor himself, waiting.

With both arms crossed across his chest.

“Oh. I can see why it would be named that. But is that really—?” Tails trailed off with some uncertainty.

“Nah.” Sonic waved the thought away. “The mist just put him here to be entertainment.”

Without hesitation, the blue hedgehog dashed into the clearing, skidding to a stop just far enough to make sure he was seen. He brought two fingers to his mouth and let out a sharp whistle that echoed across the clearing.

“Heya, Egghead!” he called, playing up the arrogance. He struck a pose as he smirked at the doctor. “What do you have for me this time—an oversized blender? A walking trash can? Come on, surprise me!”

Tails jogged up behind him, catching his breath. “Do you have to provoke him?”

Sonic grinned without looking back. “Is it really provoking if he’s here for me? Just jump when I do and you’ll be fine.”

The Egg Drillster revved to life, its conical nose spinning with a metallic screech as its treads churned through the grass. Atop the machine, Doctor Eggman—glasses gleaming—gave a dramatic flourish with his arms.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the blue pest and his fox sidekick! How touching. Shall I dig your graves now, or after I flatten you?” The fake doctor greeted them with a massive smile. “Ah, doesn’t matter! I’ll be sure to bury you together.”

“Excuse me. What? His fox sidekick?” Tails echoed, sounding affronted.

“Always charming, aren’t cha, Doc?” Sonic quipped, preparing for the first lunge.

The Egg Drillster raced forward, the massive drill at its nose spinning like a cyclone. It tore through the clearing as they jumped over it.

WHAM!

Sonic had curled into a tight ball midair, then launched himself forward in a Homing Attack. He struck the cockpit easily before rebounding off the ground in a blur of blue. Dirt kicked up beneath his shoes as he skidded to a stop beside Tails.

“And as always—we aim for the weak spot, buddy!” he shouted, shaking off the impact and casually flicking his quills back into place with a grin.

“Got it!” Tails replied, already airborne. His twin tails whirred into motion like helicopter blades, propelling him up with practiced ease.

The two of them tag-teamed the Eggman impostor, jumping over the buggy’s attacks easily and using their bodies to make cracks in the vehicle’s frame.

As the battle dragged on, the buggy began to falter—belching smoke, its grinding gears screaming louder with every movement. It lurched forward in fits and starts, each motion more unstable than the last. One more hit would’ve finished it.

But before either of them could deliver the final blow, something else did.

A blur—faster than a blink—blasted through the battlefield and slammed into the buggy’s rear with an ear-splitting CRACK. The entire machine buckled, then exploded in a burst of sparks and shrapnel, collapsing in on itself like a crushed soda can. The shockwave rippled outward, sending dust and debris flying.

If that had been the real Eggman, he’d be toast right now.

Sonic skidded to a stop, eyes wide. “What the—?”

The blur didn’t stop. It turned on a dime and came straight for him.

“Sonic!” Tails shouted from above. “Watch out!”

His instincts kicked in. The blue hedgehog jumped back just in time as the figure blazed past him, a deafening shriek of air trailing behind it. Where the blur struck, the ground split open—a perfectly drilled tunnel bored into the earth, still glowing faintly at the edges from heat and friction.

The spinning stopped abruptly.

Dust began to settle, and through the haze emerged a silhouette that sent a cold jolt through Sonic’s chest.

He looked just like him, but there was something deeply unsettling about the newcomer. The posture was too aggressive; his eyes, too sharp; his grin, too wide.

Again, after a week of peace, Sonic found himself staring into his own face… warped into something sly, mocking, and mean.

Jeez. Did every doppelgänger have to be evil? Couldn’t he meet someone cool for a change?

“Darn,” the other hedgehog drawled, voice rougher than Sonic’s but still eerily close. “Figured that’d take you out too. Guess not.” He cracked his knuckles and added with a wink, “This one’s mine, brother. Stay outta my way if you know what’s good fer ya two.”

And just like that, the clone turned his back and dashed toward the smoking wreckage of the buggy. He dug into the mangled heap of metal with both hands, ripping aside twisted plates and sparking wires until he found what he was after—a small object glinting in the light.

The clone let out a sharp whoop of triumph the moment he grabbed it, raising it in the air like a prize.

Sonic edged closer, eyeing him carefully. “Hey there, pal. Mind explaining the hit-and-run?”

The clone glanced back, a cocky grin still stretched across his face.

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself. I ain’t here for you—or your little pet friend,” he said, pocketing the token. “I’m here for what he left behind.” He jerked a thumb toward the buggy’s remains. “And I ain’t sharin’. Victor takes the spoils and all.”

“Spoils?” Tails echoed, brows furrowing. “What are you even talking about?”

The other Sonic glanced at Tails, a flash of something cold and calculating crossing his eyes.

That did it. Sonic immediately stepped forward, anger seeping into his voice. “Hey! Eyes on me, buddy. He’s not part of this.”

For a moment, the clone just stared at him—expression unreadable, like he was sizing Sonic up for the first time.

Then, slowly, that grin crept back.

“You must be new,” he said, voice dripping with amusement. “Hot off the press, huh? Man, oh man.” He cracked his knuckles, taking a step closer. “Tell you what—I’ll draw you a picture! But it ain’t gonna be a very pretty one!”

The clone pulled the token back out, holding it up between two fingers like it was something precious. He began to spin it around on top of one of his fingers, undoubtedly showing it off.

Was he supposed to be jealous, or something? Sonic wondered.

“This little thing?” the other blue hedgehog asked, smirking. “Yeah, you’re gonna want one of these beauties if you plan on makin’ it to tomorrow.” He tossed it once into the air, letting it catch the light before he caught it inside his fist. “Anyone caught without one?” He clicked his tongue. “Dead by nightfall. Capeesh?”

“Caught?” Sonic repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“By whom?” Tails tilted his head, hovering nearby. “Sorry, but we’re gonna need a little more context than that.”

“And who exactly are you supposed to be?” The clone’s gaze snapped to the airborne Tails again, his smile faltering into a cold glare.

“Miles. Miles Prower,” the fox said plainly, arms crossed as he stared him down. “Now, can you please answer my question?”

The clone blinked, then burst out laughing.

“Uh, no—see, now I don’t wanna!” he said with a mocking grin. He pointed a thumb at himself. “I don’t take orders, especially not from a pint-sized smartmouth. Seriously! I show up, I drop a few truths on ya, and this is the thanks I get?”

“Seriously?” Tails exclaimed, looking exasperated. “You just told us you’d explain everything!”

“Well, see here, squirt… I changed my mind!” Again, the guy had the gall to laugh in their faces. “I was gonna help you two, don’t get me wrong… but now? Now you’re annoying me.”

Sonic crossed his arms, thoroughly unimpressed. Seriously—who did this guy think he was fooling? “Well, considering you tried to flatten me a minute ago, and then you stole that token from the wreck while we did all the hard work… I’m not convinced you were ever planning on being helpful. No offense, but you’re not exactly selling the ‘trustworthy stranger’ vibe. Are you gonna explain, or not?”

“Nah,” the other said darkly. “You guys ain’t worth the hassle.”

His copy’s posture shifted, becoming looser, more dangerous.

“Tryin’ to play Mr. Nice was a mistake. The instant you punks open your mouths, you start getting uppity. Maybe I shouldn’t be tryin’ to help.” His eyes locked with his, green meeting green. “Maybe I oughta just take you off the board instead before ya become a problem.”

Sonic saw the attack coming from a mile away.

The instant the clone curled into a spinning blur, Sonic was already moving—kicking up dust as he launched forward and met the charge head-on. Their spindashes collided midair with a thunderous CRACK, the force of the impact sending out a shockwave that rattled loose metal from the wreck behind them.

For a heartbeat, they hovered—two blue comets locked in a furious grind—before both were thrown back, skidding through the dirt in opposite directions.

Sonic landed in a crouch, heels carving furrows into the dirt as he skidded to a stop.

“So much for Mr. Nice,” he muttered, shaking his head as he pushed himself upright.

The other hedgehog straightened slowly, brushing dust from his quills with a sneer. “Yeah, well... turns out I hate being nice.”

He shot forward again, trying for a second attack similar to the one from before. Rolling his eyes, Sonic ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding the clone’s wild lunge, then quickly countered with a sharp kick to the head. The clone grunted as he was knocked off balance, but recovered quickly, twisting midair to launch a Homing Attack aimed straight at Tails.

“Whoa, hey, hey!” Sonic shouted, intercepting the attack in a furious blur and slamming the clone into the dirt with a nasty shoulder check into his stomach. “Hands off my friend!”

The clone growled, pushing himself up with a snarl. “He’s part of the game too, whether you like it or not!”

“This isn’t a game!” Tails snapped, flying away to a safer distance.

“Says you!” the clone howled—only to yelp as Sonic came crashing in like a wrecking ball from the side, flinging him away from the fox without mercy.

Knocked loose from the other hedgehog’s grasp, the stolen token spun through the air before skittering to a stop at Sonic’s feet. He bent down and picked it up, rolling it between his fingers. It was a small coin—shiny and worn—with Eggman’s grinning face stamped on both sides.

The sound of Tails approaching made Sonic glance up. He held the coin out, making sure his friend could see it clearly.

“This is what he wants?” Tails asked, looking thoroughly confused.

Without warning, the clone charged at them again, a blur of reckless aggression. Sonic barely had time to brace himself for the blow before the clone slammed into him, knocking him hard to the ground.

Before Sonic could recover, the clone snatched the coin from his hand. “Keep your grubby paws off my prize,” he snarled. “Now, fuck off!”

With a furious glare, the clone turned and tore away, disappearing into the horizon like a streak of cobalt lightning.

Sonic pushed himself up, brushing dirt from his quills. “We should chase after him.”

Tails hesitated, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Are you sure? He didn’t seem... friendly.”

Sonic shook his head. “He’s the first person we’ve seen in this place besides each other. Or that fake Eggman. That alone tells us something.”

“But you heard him. He didn’t want to tell us anything!” Tails said.

“Whatever his deal, we’re not here for him or any of his games,” Sonic said with a shrug. “We just have to get outta this Zone and keep searching for the others. If that guy knows how to move between Zones, we’ll need to keep pushing for answers—we don’t exactly have a lot of leads.”

Tails didn’t argue this time. The two of them broke into a run, following the trail the clone had left behind—scuffed dirt, broken grass, the unmistakable gouges of feet digging into the ground.

The trail led them uphill, winding through the last stretch of the hills… and then stopped. Abruptly.

A wall of pink mist loomed ahead, pulsing softly like it had a heartbeat of its own.

Sonic skidded to a halt, boots kicking up loose soil. “Well... that’s just perfect. Maybe we don’t need to ask him, after all.”

Tails landed beside him, scanning the mist with narrowed eyes. “It’s like... the whole Zone just ends here. There’s no way to know what’s on the other side, Sonic. Are we really sure we have to follow him?”

“We can’t be in Emerald Hill forever,” Sonic said, grimacing as he examined the wall of mist. “Maybe I should test this before we walk through it.”

“But how are you…” Tails began to say.

But Sonic was already reaching out. He extended his arm into the mist. The surface rippled around his wrist as it disappeared past the veil. A second later, he pulled it back out and gave his fingers a quick flex.

“Still in one piece,” he said. “Didn’t even sting.”

Tails exhaled slowly. “That was reckless, Sonic.”

Sonic gave him a crooked grin. “Yeah, I know.”

Then, without another word, he stepped into the mist. Tails hesitated for only a moment before following.

The instant they crossed through, the world changed.

Gone were the warm greens and rolling hills. In their place loomed towering metal scaffolding, brutalist grey structures and a tangled network of pipes. The air reeked of burning chemicals—acrid, bitter, and strangely sweet all at once, making Sonic want to sneeze. The floor beneath their feet was solid metal, slick with oil and grime. Every footstep rang hollow.

Above them, neon blue liquids flowed through transparent tubes. The substances zipped along in loops and spirals, weaving through the plant’s infrastructure like blood in a vein.

Tails coughed and took out his goggles to protect his eyes. He pinched his nose as well. “Yep. Definitely not in Emerald Hill anymore. It smells so bad!”

“Welcome to the Chemical Plant,” Sonic muttered, scanning the maze of machinery. “Looks like Eggman went all-in here.”

They didn’t get long to take it in.

A crashing noise echoed nearby, followed by a sharp grunt and the thud of fists hitting flesh.

Sonic’s ears perked. “That way!”

He shot forward without hesitation, Tails close behind. They dashed up a loop-de-loop, hit a spring that launched them over walls in their path, and landed on a suspended platform overlooking a wrecked alley of machinery.

Down below, the clone stood over a white Mobian wolf, yanking a black leather jacket off his limp form. A pair of boots followed, tugged off without care.

“Thanks for the upgrade,” the clone laughed to himself, slipping the jacket on with a cocky flourish. “Better fit than I thought.”

He looked up, just in time to spot Sonic and Tails arriving.

“Oh hey, it’s you two again,” he called, grinning wide. “Spoiler alert: you ain’t gonna catch me.”

And just like that, he bolted—gone in a streak of blue, vanishing into the steel jungle beyond.

Tails wasted no time. He dropped down beside the fallen wolf and knelt beside him, scanning for signs of life. His expression softened with relief.

“He’s alive,” Tails said after a second. “Just knocked out. He’s got a gash on the back of his head, but nothing life-threatening. That creep must’ve ambushed him.”

Sonic dropped down beside him, eyes narrowing as he looked the stranger over. Oddly, he wasn’t getting any of the usual mental cues—no name, no feeling of recognition. Just silence.

Shaking it off, he glanced toward the open path ahead. “C’mon. Let’s at least move him off the road. Last thing we need is a badnik rolling through and finishing what that faker started.”

They carefully dragged the Mobian to the edge of the floor, propping him against a wall away from the main traffic.

Tails let out a sharp breath. “What a jerk,” he muttered, still bristling from their run-in with the clone. “Doesn’t it bother you?”

Sonic straightened and dusted off his gloves. “What, the faker?”

“Yes! Jerksonic is so—so—” Tails flailed, grasping for the right insult.

Sonic burst out laughing. “Jerksonic?! Oh man, that’s gold.”

“I’m being serious, Sonic!” Tails huffed, arms crossed and tails flicking in frustration. “That guy’s a total menace!”

Sonic wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. “Yeah, no arguments here. But hey—every version of me I’ve run into tends to be a little full of themselves. This guy’s just being a bully.”

Tails squinted. “So, you’re okay with him acting like that?”

“Heck no!” Sonic said, smirking. “If I get the chance to knock some sense into him, you better believe I’m taking it.” He glanced over. “We still out of signal?”

Tails checked the comm, tapping a few buttons. His ears drooped slightly. “Still nothing. No contact with Amy.”

“C’mon, buddy. Cheer up a bit. We still need to explore this place!”

Taking a brief detour to snag the third fake Chaos Emerald, Sonic and Tails wound their way through the maze of the Chemical Plant, trading blows with the badniks that prowled the platforms and corridors.

Tails, for his part, was not a fan of the high-speed warp tubes—they shot them across the facility at breakneck speeds, only to spit them out in completely random spots. Trying to make a map of this place was a lost cause.

Sonic, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. He blazed through the endless loop-de-loops with a grin on his face, practically glowing with amazement.

Doctor Eggman’s obsession with amusement parks had never been more obvious. The entire facility felt like a twisted playground, designed to lure speedsters into taking the fastest—and riskiest—paths forward. Dash panels were everywhere, scattered like breadcrumbs, as if Eggman had built the place specifically with Sonic in mind.

Knowing the mad doctor, that might not have been far from the truth.

“I can’t see an end to this place,” Tails said, flying alongside Sonic as he rode the glowing platforms upward. “It just keeps going and going.”

Sonic leapt from the platform and landed back on solid metal floor. “Eh... Give it some time. Eventually something’s gonna happen. This place can’t be infinite."

“If you say so,” Tails replied with a shrug, touching down beside him.

Sonic exhaled through his nose and crouched slightly, about to break into a run—when a startled yell echoed from above.

“Whoa!” Sonic yelped, jumping back.

“Whoa!” Tails echoed.

The two of them barely sidestepped in time as a body dropped from the scaffolding above, crashing to the floor with a heavy thud.

It was a Mobian—a dog, tan-furred and dressed in combat gear. A large pistol slipped from his limp hand, clattering to the ground beside him. He wasn’t moving.

Tails nudged the fallen figure cautiously with his foot.

“Out cold,” he said after a moment.

Sonic tilted his head upward, raising a hand to protect his eyes and squinting past the glare of the overhead lights.

High above, someone was racing across the steel beams, their silhouette darting nimbly between support columns—chased by two others in hot pursuit. They were barely keeping ahead, their movements getting increasingly frantic as the other two figures closed the gap between their bodies.

Then—boom.

A muffled explosion echoed through the structure, and the scaffolding shuddered under the strain. Part of the metal platforms gave out, and the runner—who had just reached that section—lost their footing and began to fall.

Sonic’s breath caught as a feminine yell reached their ears. A pink blur was falling disturbingly fast.

Was that Amy?!

“—Hang on!” he shouted, jumping after the falling figure and grabbing them midair.

He twisted in the descent, bouncing off a nearby wall to redirect their momentum before rolling into a crouch on a lower platform. His knees absorbed the shock readily as they hit the ground.

Sonic gasped.

A pink-furred squirrel in his arms blinked up at him. Her dark bangs were singed and curled from the heat of whatever had exploded above, and her breathing came in short gasps. But it was her eyes that stunned him—wide, vibrant blue, locked onto his with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Sonic stared back, a little surprised by how light she was.

Princess Sally Alicia Acorn.

The information popped into his brain almost immediately.

“Hey,” he said, managing a half-smile despite the situation. “You okay?”