The place was a mess. There were nuts and bolts scattered all around the floor. Not to mention all the tools everywhere. On the table, the couch, some had even gotten in the beds somehow! Luckily there were enough tools gathered in one place for a certain two-tailed fox to work on his plane, the Tornado.

Of course the plane wasn't actually his. He was only eight, he couldn't buy a plane on his own. No, the red and white plane belonged to his best friend, who was sitting next to the young fox, handing him tools as he asked for them.

"Screwdriver, please."

"Here ya go."

Next to the red bi-plane was the blue and yellow plane the fox had built himself. He called it the Tornado ll. (He was pretty young when he made and named it) He had already done a check on that one. There were other devices around the workshop too he had either been building it or taking it apart.

The kid was simply a prodigy. He has an IQ of about 147. He was often bullied until his friend and role model came along and changed everything. Now he had tons of friends and a lot more self-confidence because of him.

"Wrench."

"Wrench."

Finally he screwed in the last bolt. He was done!

As he started to sit up he forgot that he was still partly under the plane and banged his head into the hard metal structure. "Ow!"

"You okay Tails?"

The bruised fox looked at his friend, "Fine Sonic. Just a bruise."

Said hedgehog smiled and looked closely at the now purple spot on the fox's head. "Yeah, your right. I've had worse."

Tails got devilish smile on his face. "From Amy, right?"

Sonic gave an exhausted sigh and smiled right back at the fox. "Yes, from Amy."

This caused the two to have a giggling fit before they heard the door open and footsteps running toward them. Sonic peeked around the corner to find the exact person they were talking about. A pink hedgehog in a red dress and boots with white lining sprinting toward the hangar.

"I think we jinxed it," he whispered as his friend came to see their guest as well.

This got a quiet giggle out of the fox before he went up to the pink hedgehog, "Hey, Amy. What's goin' on?"

"Oh! Tails! Thereyouguysare! EveryoneswaitingforyouguysatGreenHillZone! We'rehavingapicnicyouguyshavetocome,"she started to take a breath which is where Sonic decided to cut in.

"Amy, calm down! We can't understand you when you talk like that!"

"I think I heard picnic and Green Hill."

The over excited hedgehog nodded. "Yeah. I was saying that everyone is at Green Hill Zone having a picnic. They're all waiting for you guys."

"Now that I can understand." Sonic rushed out of the door, then peeped back in, "You guys coming?"

"Ha ha ha! Wait for us Sonic!" Tails started spinning his namesakes and flew of after the high speed hedgehog.

"Wait for me guys!"


In Robotropilis two figures lurk in the dark, watching, waiting. It had been almost half an hour since they had taken their positions. By now they should have been getting very impatient sitting their in the dark, cold corner. A seris of the city, but they were too anxious for that. They were watching closely, looking for their sign to strike.

After what felt like an eternity they finally heard it. A series of explosions from all around the city.

Manic looked to his sister, "Ready?"

Sonia gave a determined grin, "Ready. Let's do it to it!"

The two snuck over to an air vent and tore of the metal vents keeping them from accessing the building. They were soon crawling over one of the many hallways in the maze of Robotnik's fortress.

Manic stuck his head out of safety to check for any bots making their patrols, but they were all out, busy with their little distraction.

Manic helped his sister out as he looked up and down the corridor to double check, "I can't believe they actually fell for it."

"Yeah, well, their main brain disappeared with that blast back then." Sonia stated as she smoothed out her dress.

It was true Robotnik had disappeared along with their brother that day. That was the only upside to that explosion, and in their opinion it wasn't worth losing him. Of course his lackeys had taken his job as ruler, although they hadn't really changed anything. In fact all of the Robotnik Rules had stayed. Knowing Sleet he would have changed everything to honor him. They had just thought he was being lazy, but maybe… 'No. now is not the time to think about that.' Sonia thought as she ran though the fortress toward the control room.

After several minutes and no robots to get in their way they finally reached their goal. They slowly walked up to the door, looked to each other and nodded.

But as they were about to open the door voices came through making them jump back. After a moment Manic came up to the door and cautiously cracked it open to hear the voices of Sleet, Dingo, and some man on the screen above them. "Are you sure about this?" Sleet asked.

"Of course" boomed the man on the monitor. "Don't worry about it one bit."

Manic could see Sleet cross his arms over his chest, "No offence Eggman, but how many of your plans have worked so far?"

The figure now identified as Eggman huffed at the wolf, "It's all that hedgehog's fault!"

The two eavesdroppers snapped their heads toward each other in surprise.

"Hedgehog?" Manic mouthed

Sonia pointed to the communicator around his wrist and mouthed back "call".

He look down at the wrist watch that Cyrus had given him. If he called, the whole of Freedom HQ would hear what they heard. Right now that was exactly what he needed to do.

He turned on the mute and messaged back to Cyrus. When he say the lion on the screen he held his finger to his lips to indicate that they couldn't say anything as he saw Cyrus move his lips as he talked. Cyrus soon silenced and Manic pointed the small screen of the watch toward the villains.

"The hedgehog?"

"Yes. Sonic can be quite the annoyance."

Sonia and Manic instantly perked up. Did they hear that correctly? Did he really just say 'Sonic'?

"Sonic? That little pest?"

Yes! They had heard correctly! Sonic the hedgehog was alive!

"Yes. He is very persistent. Quite childish as well."

Definitely their Sonic.

"Perhaps if you told me more about your current predicament, I could be of service." Sleet suggested with a sly smile on his face.

"Oh please." The reply came almost instantly, "You believe I actually trust you with that information? Ha! Goodbye Sleet." With that the screen went black, leaving a frustrated Sleet to stare.

The two spies outside decided to head home. They had all the information they needed now. This was the best birthday present they could ever ask for.

Back at Freedom HQ the room was filled with cheers as the listened to the news. Sonic the Hedgehog was alive and kickiin'!