Disclaimer: I own not, so you sue not.

- Prologue -

Doctor Eggman Robotnik smiled wickedly to himself as he walked among the desert land where his new base had once been located. It was now practically obliterated, but that did not seem to matter; for there was something much more pleasing to him that has happened among it.

He had finally succeded in defeating the Sonic Heroes.

The ultimate weapon he had preserved to perfect for years was finally unleashed and they all fell at its merciless clutches. He had dubbed it the Zenith Terror. Eggman smiled even wider, recalling when he had thought of this plan and put it into action. His only regret is that he should have done it sooner! Even Shadow the Hedgehog, the so-called "ultimate life-form", could not have caused as much damage and despair to his archenemies. The manipulation was quick and the result was more than satisfying.

As he trotted through the sand, Eggman scoffed when stumbling upon one of the victims. Young innocent Miles Prower lay at the madman's feet, one of his legs twisted into a sickly position. Both his tails were no better-- bleeding excessively, most of their beautiful golden fur callously yanked from them. The child was still very much alive, but terribly helpless. Only the rapid rise and fall of his chest, his soft whimpering and hisses of pain showed signs of his consciousness. The evil doctor shrugged and passed over the little fox, knowing that he was in no condition to be able to walk or fly away. He would let him suffer a bit more before his extermination.

He looked up at the sky, trying to calculate how many hours had passed. The Egg Carrier -his only matter of escape left- hovered close to the ground. The sun has recently set, giving the heavens a peaceful, pastel color. A rare moment in the day when it was neither day nor night. It was soothing and lovely. Hard to believe so much slaughter had happened right under it.

Knuckles also lay prostrate on the ground, two deep, infected wounds at his side growing worse as the desert sand blew into them. Completely unmoving, the echidna appeared to have lost consciousness some time ago; his usually tighened fists limp. Eggman also passed him by (but not before smirking at his direction), not really caring to see in what condition he was. There was only one victim that was on his mind right now...

---

Sonic the Hedgehog groaned miserably. He got up on his left knee, slow and steady. His body covered in small, open cuts... large bruises that were a horrendous black color against his cobalt blue fur... his right foot was suffering from a few broken bones... but it definitely wasn't something the big hero couldn't handle. Eventually, Sonic stood as upright as he possibly could, tightening the grip around his waist with his uninjured right arm. His stomach lurched in protest, having suffered enough punches and kicks in the gut to suddenly go back into a battle stance so soon. With tired half-lidded eyes, he searched the horizon for any ally that still stood; but he found none. He found himself worrying about Tails... he had gone off alone to stop that horrible menace that was unleashed within--

All of a sudden, a chill runs down our hero's quilled back and he instantly forgets what he was worried about. His ears twitch lightly as a long dark shadow loomed over him, despite the lack of sunshine or moonlight. Slowly turning around with a hateful scowl, he faces Eggman. Sonic seethes when seeing the madman's insane but gleeful expression. He bared his teeth in anger and wiped his bloody lower lip, initiating a glaring standoff. This went on for about ten seconds before the silence was broken by a loud wail. Both Eggman and Sonic lifted their heads, startled at the cry. The latter immediately recognized who the voice belonged to and started to limp past the doctor and towards it.

"Hold on, Tails," Sonic cried out, though not loud enough to reach the kit's ears. "I'm coming for you!" For the first time in the midst of a critical situation, Eggman was no longer his first priority. At this moment, all the blue hedgehog could think of was how his 'little bro' was in danger. His own injuries were forgotten up until he was shoved to the ground and the sting in his foot was reawakened. He let out a sharp hiss when falling flat on his stomach over a piece of rubble.

Eggman chortled to himself, obviously enjoying this. He shoved him again with the end of his foot, flipping the hero over on his back. A desert breeze blew sand right into Sonic's eyes and mouth, causing him to blink and cough furiously. This makes Eggman laugh even harder. "Well, well," he began, his malevolent grin still intact. "Look who's eating dust now!" he mocked, recalling all the similar taunts Sonic had thrown his way countless times before. "Don't mind that little rat, hedgehog. This is between you and me and if you try to do otherwise, he'll suffer the same fate as your little pink friend."

Sonic propped his elbows against the ground and sat up the best he could. His usually confident face was twisted into one of pure hatred, tears mechanically rolling down his face because of the sand in his eyes. "Do whatever you want or say whatever empty threats you've got!" he spat. "No matter what you do, I'll always returnuntil Imake you regret it. I'm not afraid of you!"

"That may be..." the evil doctor began lowly. Sonic's face remained in a scowl, but his heart palpitated in a wave of worry. Eggman's tone was oddly calm and his eyes read deep anticipation. "But there is someone who may take that position."

As if on cue, a menacing silhouette loomed into the scene, approaching Eggman from behind and clearly in the sights of Sonic. The silhouette of the Zenith Terror. Without even realizing what he was doing, the blue hedgehog began to crabwalk away backwards, his face beholding pure horror. No, he couldn't face that again. That terrible, inhuman power that thrashed his friends. That inhuman strengh that somehow defeated the Ulitmate Lifeform before his very eyes. Inhuman carelessness he thought he would never see in someone like her.

The Zenith Terror... was Amy Rose.

Eggman chuckled at Sonic's pathetic reaction and walked back a few steps, knowing this might get very messy. A soulless Amy approached what used to be her hero and knight in shining armor and grabbed him by the throat, lifting his head above her with barely any effort. Sonic tried to escape the grip or fight back, but that dark, empty look in her once emerald eyes was enough to paralyze anyone that had once known her old sweet, innocent self. With his left foot, he kicked hard at her stomach and she barely flinched, just gripping his neck even tighter until the hero changed into a paler shade of blue. He tried to plead her to snap out of it, but what came out of his dried lips was just a puny wheeze. Amy began to cackle lightly, joined by Eggman seconds later.

"Well, my assistant," Eggman referred to Amy. "If you'd do the honors?"

Without letting her eyes stray away from Sonic's, she nodded in response and with her unoccupied hand, she pulled out a large handgun-- probably a .44 caliber, by its size.Without even having the slightest hint of hesitation, she buried the barrel into his forehead and smirked. Sonic, however, did not show any further sign of fear and closed his eyes, silently forgiving her for the mistake she was about to make and apologizing for not rescuing her soon enough. She was under Eggman's control now. And it was all his fault.

"So long, hedgehead," Eggman couldn't help but say as he watched the pink hedgehog reach for the trigger.

BANG.