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The giant battle station orbited Mobius, a metal god of war floating in the icy grip of space. Star light loaned it a steely glint. Titanic and spherical, it contained power unimaginable, an evil egg whose silvered, armored shell threatened to hatch Armageddon. All it lacked was its master, to fire the massive factories and target the terrible weapons.
Nearing completion at the time of the Doomsday Project, it had been the ace up the sleeve of the tyrant Robotnik. He had intended to rule the planet from that highest and mightiest throne. Going to great lengths to ensure its existence remained a secret, progress had been slow.
Those who had fought the war against him had never known how close they came to defeat. The dictator had been cast down, but the tireless automatons aboard his ultimate weapon had labored on, the last shipment of materials already in place. Finished now, the machine awaited orders that never came.
Sonic and Sally held hands, gazing out over Mobotropolis from the highest balcony of the new palace. Dusk had fallen, transforming the city into a sea of lights. Laughter and song drifted up through the air from the festive crowds in the brightly lit streets, bringing smiles to their faces.
The capital of Mobius was slowly being restored to its former beauty and glory.
Sally wore white satin and a silver tiara, Sonic a jeweled coronet forged from a power ring. He had been crowned Prince of Mobotropolis by the people. The cavernous, torch-lit chamber behind the two rulers was furnished with white marble urns spilling over with ivy, plush burgundy carpets, a tapestry of Sally's father, King Acorn. Two thrones occupied the upraised dais.
A sweet, cool breeze blew over the city, the air finally purged of the dark and corrosive clouds of pollution that had once corrupted it. The tyrant's industrial complexes had been razed and his factories shut down. The smog was gone.
A city-wide celebration was about to begin. Finally freed from the oppressive rule of Robotnik, everyone was doing their best to make up for lost time. The fireworks would start soon. Fine food and strong drink would flow. They would all put the past to rest and look to a future that seemed very bright indeed.
"Still can't believe it, Sal." Sonic's voice was soft with wonder and disbelief. "He's finally gone." The wind stirred his spikes. He had never looked more like a hero.
She turned and kissed him. Her eyes sparkled with tears as she looked into his. "Believe it, Sonic. He's gone."
They sidled closer to one another as the first fireworks lit up the skies.
Robotnik ran for all he was worth, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his fat face. He tripped and hit the shining ground hard, crystal crackling and shattering under his bulk. He got up, cat quick despite his weight, sprinting again. He knew better than to look back.
With every breath he cursed the hedgehog and his band. He had ruled the whole world, had been so close to total victory. His crimson eyes burned with hatred and frustration.
The bolt of power sent him tumbling head over heels in a cloud of smoking, shimmering shards. This time his robotic arm broke his fall, grinding a glimmering outcrop of crystal to dust as he righted himself. The laughter of the wizard rang in his ears.
"Faster, you traitorous worm! If your scurrying ceases to amuse me we'll play another game…" Another blue bolt flashed in the wake of the words but Robotnik was running again. It missed him by a hair.
It seemed he had fled from his old master for an eternity, but just when he thought it safe to rest the monster would reappear, his grotesque, gloved claw blazing with energy and a hideous grin on his horrible face.
Time was against him, he knew. He remembered what happened to those who spent too long in the void. Once the essence of the strange place had infused him he would be trapped forever. Escape would only mean death then, in the outside world he would crystallize. He had a desperate plan, but if he did not find a vortex soon it would pointless to even try it. Oh how the hedgehog would love that, to find me frozen. He'd make me the centerpiece of a palace fountain, the laughingstock of Mobius. He could see the blue beast's gloating grin in his mind.
Angered at such thoughts, he almost made a fatal mistake. The chasm loomed large before him, its bottom lost to blackness. He turned just in time, sliding precariously on the slick surface of the crystal, dislodging loose bits that tumbled over the edge. He lost his balance yet again as another bolt from the wizard lanced at him. It sailed over his head with an inch to spare.
Suddenly a thunderclap rent the air and a shockwave buffeted his back, knocking him over on his face. Shards and knives and slivers of crystal flew past him with deadly speed. The wind seized his cape and threatened to rip it from his shoulders. The portal, it's behind me! But how far? Will I make it? The violet light of the vortex shone in all its brilliance around him, the crystal drinking it in and reflecting it, refracting it. Beautiful to behold but horrifying all the same, for this was his last chance.
He scrambled to his feet and turned. Naugus was floating beside him, leering down. "So close yet so far, eh traitor? I opened it for you, so you would know the despair I have known all these long years. You'll never make it through to the world, only Sonic's speed could do that. You're mine…forever!"
"Curse you Naugus!" Robotnik snarled. He ran towards the vortex, and at just the moment the force of the howling wind would have brought him to a stop and shoved him back he activated the jet boosters in his shoes.
The reek of burning rocket fuel filled the air as Robotnik mentally switched the shoes to full power. He didn't dare hope it was enough, but then he was moving forward again, gaining momentum. The wind was like a concrete wall, yet somehow he was pressing through it. The swirling violet energies of the portal engulfed him. The last thing he heard before being knocked unconscious by the battering punishment of the wind was the outraged scream of Naugus.
Robotnik awoke to the sound of singing revelers, on the night shrouded crown of a grassy hill that overlooked Mobotropolis. Panic and a burst of adrenaline brought him surging to his feet. He had made it out of the void, but if he was found out he would be dragged back to Sonic in chains. He dove into a nearby shrub just in time.
There were a dozen or so, foxes, a dog, a pig, a horse and a bear. Most held drinks, but the pig played a carved flute. The soft music mingled with the chirping of crickets in the warm summer night air. He gritted his teeth and held his breath.
When they were safely past he extricated himself from the shrub, but his cape caught on a branch and tore loudly. He froze, augmented ears straining.
They had failed to hear him.
He laughed, nervousness and triumph in the sound. Within moments he had vanished into the nearby woods, sparing only one hate laden glance at the shining lights of his former city, where his great enemy and all who dwelt there celebrated his supposed demise.