Well, since I have nothing else better to do, I decided to cook up something new.

I know I still have "Sonic and he Lords of Pandemonium" up and running, but I just couldn't help myself. I'm already done with that story's draft and all I need to do is some editing, then it's really complete (about 15+ chapters until the end). That's why I came up with this one to while away the time (about 2 hours really). It's a little short, only 3 or 4 chapters in total. However, I did do my best, even if I was just fooling around, but I'll let you be my critics.

Here it is, my latest story, with two chapters at the same time as a bonus for everyone who liked my stories. Enjoy and don't forget to review. :)

P/S: This story is different from the ones I usually do, so if it's bad, please be blunt and say so. Thank you.


Welcome to the dark side…

It was a peaceful day after Sonic and Tails had successfully saved the entire planet, yet again, from certain destruction from the hands of the Deadly Six and Eggman. After their little adventures and misadventures on the Lost Hex, the two brothers managed to reconcile and fix their friendship. Everything seemed to have returned to normal with everyone minding their own business until something came up again.

For relaxation after another mission accomplished, Sonic treated himself to another around-the-world-in-80-minutes marathon, visiting new places and landscapes to satisfy his lust for speed and also his desire for natural beauty. Needless to say, it was the best feeling in the world for the blue blur to be free. He could feel the wind brushing against his quills as he ran, smell the collective scents of various flowers blooming in the numerous places he passed, and enjoy the clear, unpolluted air under the bright sun. Nothing could be more perfect than that.

"Man, this is LIVING!" he shouted at the top of his lungs as he picked up the pace even more and practically turned invisible in the eyes of the beholders. Everywhere he ran past, the hedgehog left a trail of wind behind, which could easily blow people away if they stood too close.

In short, it was a holy holiday for the world-renowned hero after all the troubles he and his best friend Tails had gone through, to run as far and as fast as he desired, with no Eggman and his robots or super-powered gods or monsters or ancient race or extraterrestrial invaders to hinder him. Sonic was living his dream after a long, long time.

Sadly, good times were not meant to last, and Sonic's excursion came to an abrupt end sixty minutes later when he received a distress signal from his buddy Tails from the Mystic Ruins.

"What in the…Tails?" he muttered in concern as he skidded to a complete stop.

Immediately opening his wristwatch communicator, Sonic's eyes widened to the size of saucers when he saw the image of his genius best friend sitting at his favorite chair in the lab, all tied up and gagged. His sapphire eyes were moist as he stared helplessly at the screen and directly at Sonic, silently pleading for the hedgehog's help. The sight of his friend in danger alone was more than enough to make Sonic scared. As he was about to say something, a voice stopped him.

"Like what you see, Sonic?"

Sonic's fear was greatly intensified when a red and stocky individual walked toward Tails and stood next to the captured fox. The hedgehog's eyes widened in horror as a very familiar being he thought he had defeated already now came into full view.

"ZAVOK?" he shouted in surprise and terror as the leader of the Zeti shot him with a malicious smirk from the other side. "H-how…" was all the usually chatty hero could manage.

"Hello there, Sonic. It's a pleasure to see you as well," Zavok said as he put his giant hands on Tails' shoulders, making him tense up and struggle against his bindings, but his efforts were all for naught.

"Don't you dare touch a single hair on his head, you monster," Sonic yelled into his screen helplessly, fearing for Tails' safety. That Zeti had almost turned Tails into a robot once, who knew what he would do to him this time.

"Now, now, there is no need for you to yell, Sonic, I can hear you, or should I say we can hear you…loud and clear" Zavok said calmly as he stroke Tails' head, playing with the three bangs teasingly and causing the fox to let out muffled whimpers in protest. Those actions only made Sonic angrier.

"Stop that at once, or else…"

"Big talk for a little hedgehog who can't even be there for his all so precious little friend" the Zeti taunted as he cupped his hands around Tails' cheek, forcing him to look directly at the screen. The fox's moist and pleading eyes tore away at Sonic's heart, making him wince like he had been physically stabbed by a broad sword. The pain of seeing his best friend helpless at the mercy of a genocidal maniac and unable to do anything only helped to fuel the normally cool-headed hero's anger.

"Just get away from him and spit out what it is that you want from me" Sonic deadpanned, glaring intensely at the being on the screen with the flames of hate burning in his eyes.

"Oh nothing too grand, Sonic. If you wish for your friend's safety, then come here and face me. This time, I will take extra care to have you slain and have my ultimate revenge."

"Your grudge is for me and me alone, leave Tails out of this. He doesn't deserve this treatment."

"Oh, I think that with the safety of your little friend hanging on the balance, you will be more…properly motivated to go all out in battle. Ah yes, I forgot to mention that I've managed to successfully develop a microchip, which I will implant in Tails' brain shortly afterward. After that really painful process, and I mean excruciatingly painful indeed, he will be completely vulnerable to my manipulation of electromagnetic field and under my complete control, just like all the electronics and machines out there" the Zeti then began to laugh maniacally.

On the other hand, Tails looked like he was about to cry from fear, shaking and jerking around in hope of loosening his bindings. However, he only struggled in vain. Sonic watched his bound brother with helplessness in his eyes, fearing for his life and safety. He always feared this day, the day when one of his personal enemies would take advantage of his friends to get to him, but he never thought that Tails would be the first to be made example.

That fear, however didn't last long, for it was later replaced by anger and hate for Zavok. Once again, the blue blur shot him a stern glare.

"I will end you, Zavok," Sonic stated, his voice dangerously low. It was neither a meaningless threat nor a bluff, it was a statement, a promise, whose message was as clear as a sunny day, and meaning as dark as the moonless night. However, that statement only made Zavok laugh harder, his voice sounding through the lab and assaulting Tails' sensitive ears, making them fall flat on his head.

"I'm looking forward to it, Sonic the hedgehog. If you can manage that feat, I will give you back your friend, safe and sound without a single scratch on his body. On the contrary, should you lose…Well, let's just say that little Tails' fate will not be pretty," Zavok replied.

With that, the powerful Zeti turned around and dragged Tails, who was crying freely at this point, away. After that, the screen went black, only the sound of static remained.

Sonic stared at the static in silence, lost in his own thoughts, most of them dark and dangerous. He clenched his hands into fist so tightly that his blood stained his white gloves, but he paid it no mind. Looking up from the screen, his emerald eyes darkened, clouded by anger for the monster that dared to hurt his friend.

"Tails…I will make you pay dearly for this atrocity, Zavok. That I swear" Sonic mumbled as he immediately took off, making a beeline for Tails' house in the Mystic Ruins, more than ready to wholly annihilate the bulky Zeti in battle.

Due to the close distance, Sonic arrived at the Mystic Ruins a few minutes later. During his run, the hedgehog couldn't stop worrying about his friend's safety. It was understandable, for Tails was his first real friend, his most amazing, dedicated and loyal supporter, his trusty guide and mechanic, and most importantly, his family. Though they did not share the bond determined by bloodline, they shared a bond forged by time, hardships and trials, a bond that had more than once helped them defy all odds and prevail against their adversaries, and that sacred bond was more powerful and sturdy than anything in the universe.

When Sonic arrived at his and Tails' house, he was shocked by the place he had come to know as 'home'. It was no longer the familiar and funny shape similar to Tails' head; instead, it was a dark and red fortress. The mecha dragon that Zavok used in their battles was waiting for him at the front gate, much to his annoyance. Sonic, at first glance, knew that there was no way he could get past it without a fight.

"Alright then, if you want a dismantling job, come and get it, you oversized worm," Sonic shouted and charged at the mechanical beast at top speed.

The dragon, in return, let out a mighty roar and lunged at its prey. It slithered around Sonic and cornered him with his long, electrically-charged body. However, the speedy hedgehog managed to jump over it and escaped the creature's hold.

Without warning, the robot whipped its head around and released a spreadshot of fireballs from its mouth at Sonic. Luckily, the hedgehog managed to evade the projectiles without sustaining any damage. In one quick motion, Sonic ran behind the dragon's tail and hit it repeatedly with his Homing Attack, making the beast stun, temporarily powering down.

Seizing that chance, the blue blur used his Homing Attack on the various orbs on the dragon's form and reached its head. Upon arrival, the hedgehog unleashed an extraordinarily powerful Homing Attack on top of the beast's head, causing it to awaken and cry in pain. Thanks to his attack, Sonic was able to crack the robot's head, but it wasn't enough to take him down.

"Tch, pesky robot, I don't have time for this."

While the dragon was thrashing around, trying to shake Sonic off, the hedgehog simply tightened his hold and stay there, trying to come up a way to end this senseless battle. After a while of thrashing and jerking, the Mech Dragon attempted to use its tail to knock Sonic off, an act that would soon prove to be its undoing.

A split second before the tail reached him, Sonic leaped into the air, directly above the menace. In an instant, the hedgehog dived down and stomped on the robot's tail, causing the giant orb to slam onto its head with a mighty force, which was enough to split the dragon's head open, revealing its electronic brain.

In its suffering, the Mech Dragon failed to notice Sonic's subsequent strike, which was another Homing attack, only this time, the speedster aimed directly at its now exposed brain. Needless to say, the attack was spot-on, and Sonic dealt a critical damage on his enemy. Upon collision, the dragon was pushed back a few yards, its brain completely smashed. After a few seconds, the giant menace shut down completely and fell limply on the ground. Without its brain, the dragon was nothing more than a useless piece of scrap metal that could only serve as a big waste of space.

"Now that takes care of that," Sonic muttered as he turned around and headed toward the entrance to the newly constructed fortress. "Now to take down the one that dared to make my brother suffer," Sonic added, his eyes became slits before he practically tore down the sturdy-looking gate with his Spin Dash attack.

Not wasting another precious second of Tails' life, Sonic dashed forward at top speed. His run went without interruption, for there was nothing inside the fortress save for a few automatic guns, which he quickly disposed of without complication.

"Looks like Zavok wasn't able to gather the other Zetis and troops in time," Sonic thought to himself as he dodged a cannonball and went on to dismantling the cannon brutally. "Well, good for me."

With that, Sonic continued his run, until he spotted an elevator that seemed to lead all the way up to the top of the lair. Seeing no other way around, Sonic promptly walked inside the contraption and headed to the highest floor, expecting the menacing Zavok to be there.

"I will save you without fail, Tails. Just wait for me, little buddy. I promise I will save you, even if it costs me my own life…" Sonic mumbled and clenched his hands tightly, causing more blood to flow out from the open self-inflicted wound and further stained his gloves. Like last time, however, he didn't care. The only thought in his mind right now was the safety of his friend with whom he shared a brotherly bond, other than that, nothing else mattered.