A/N: Sorry this chapter is like a Prologue ToT - just getting the background info out of the wayy! Dont worry, the story immediately gets to the point, so this is gonna be the only boring chapter I think :-)

They couldn't believe their eyes. Houses destroyed, streets on fire, civilians screaming and cowering away from the madness. This was all Eggman's doing, and all they could do was watch.

It first started with a simple prank. Eggman had hacked into all government systems and stole thousands of confidential files. Rouge after hearing this, immediately notified the Freedom Fighters to be aware of his doings.

The next was an actual attack. Eggman was seen, physically himself, on a ship out in the mediterranean stealing missiles and metal plates; for both obvious and unknown reasons. Sonic and the team were quick to arrive, but not quick enough for Eggman was already leaving; too fast and too far for them to reach. After this incident, the Freedom Fighters asked help from G.U.N in order to figure out what the mad genius was up to.

That leaves today.

Everyone is spread out across the city, keeping an eye out for Eggman and safely evacuating the civilians. The Freedom Fighters, the Chaotix, G.U.N, they all are in the city.

In their intercoms, Sonic speaks ,"This is definitely one of the worst things Eggman's pulled off- other than exploding the moon that is."

"I don't see why he would want to do this." Tails replies. Standing next to him is Amy. She's pretty banged up, but still standing strong with her mallet in hand. Just across the street, she watches yet another building explode, then gradually collapse to the ground, leaving a massive smoke cloud of debris and dirt. She clenches her fists.

"Me either." She says.

"AH-WOahh! Jeez, buildings just like falling on me today." They hear Knuckles screech. Squinting her eyes, Amy finally noticies Knuckles from afar, wiping his head. He looks up and spots her.

"Oh- Hey Ames! Tails! I'm coming over!" He calls, and they see him start to run.

"He really did a number this time." Sonic says through the intercom. By now, everyone knows he's pretty much talking to himself unless called on.

"I started with Eggman, but I never believed he'd really blow up a city." Shadow pitches in. He quickly adds, "Or the moon."

"I got eye on Eggman." They hear Rouge say. "City centrum, east from the entrance, please hurry up the Doctor's got back up not even I can handle."

Everyone's on alert. Sprinting towards the centrum as instructed; around every corner and from every street, all eyes are on Eggman.

He's standing near the entrance to a skyscraper, telling at his machines and drastically pointing in multiple areas. He's miniscule compared to his inventions, but even from a distance you can see the wicked in his eyes.

"How do we want to do this?" Someone asks.

"I say we confront him. Might as well get it over with-"

"There could be traps. I don't think he's that dumb to just stand out in the open-"

"Maybe some of us go out and the rest stay behind incase it backfires."

"Alright!" Sonic intervenes, "We're doing all of them. I'll go out and confront Eggman, and while i'm at it I can check for any traps. The rest of you keep cover, and listen in on what's happening."

Sonic bolts into the centrum in a dash of blue, not waiting for any responses. Stopping at the bottom of a staircase, Eggman stands at the top.

There were no traps... Either the guy was truely dumb enough, or there's something deeper.

"Sonic the Hedgehog." Eggman says, voice raspy. He turns his head and smiles maniacally. "I knew you'd show up!"

Sonic shakes his head and gestures outward, "You think? This city's a mess, and i'm here to stop it."

Eggman walks slowly in circles, one hand behind him, and the other resting under his chin in thought. "Of course this place is a dump- but its marvelous. Look at all the destruction! I got you this time Sonic! I'm ten steps ahead of you."

"How?" Sonic asks, crossing his arms. A chill runs up his spine in warning. Something was off.

"I'm not here just to destroy a city." He begins, his smile returning.

Sonic feels his fur crawling. "Then what else?"

"Ah-ah, Sonic the Hedgehog. I'm not going to reveal all my deepest secrets now am I? You have to stop me to find out!" Laughing, Eggman opens his arms.

Something is off, Sonic knows it. The itching sensation running throughout his body is an indication that none of this is right.

But he proceeds.

Running up to the Doctor, Sonic jumps up and kicks him.

But his foot only touches air.

Landing, Sonic's eyes grow wide when he sees what he thought was Dr. Eggman ripple and eventually spark to nothing. He was a fake. The Eggman everyone thought they saw was just an illusion; a projection.

"What was that?" Tails yells, baffled.

"I-I don't know! EggHead's not here!" Sonic yells back, pinching his temple. He can hear voices talking in concern over the coms, and looks around. "Guys-" Sonic begins, but no one hears him. He says it louder, "Guys!"

"What?" Knuckles grunts.

"Where did all of Eggman's robots go?" He asks. And sure enough, when everyone stopped and finally checked their surroundings, there was no trace of anything.

Only destruction.