Penny stood in a long line with Sonic and the others. They were going to meet the famous movie star, Tommy Thunder. Knuckles grinned at the group. "I can't believe we're about to meet Tommy Thunder! He's my favorite movie star! He's got it all: Strength, muscles, ability to LIFT stuff!"

"Not to mention eyes you could get lost in for days!" Amy sighed happily.

Tails grinned. "Hey, remember when Tommy was being chased by ninja pirates while skiing down Haunted Mountain?"

Knuckles looked confused. "What movie was that again?"

"Ninja Ski Pirates on Haunted Mountain?" Penny asked helpfully.

Knuckles shook his head at her. "I don't think that was it."

"Tommy's movies are great, but his heroics can sometimes seem unrealistic," Sonic muttered, crossing his arms.

Sticks glared at him. "Oh come ON! It doesn't get any MORE realistic than the underwater bear fight in "Mutant Commando 3"!"

"Guys, it's starting!" Penny hissed at her friends, gaining their attention to the front. Dave walked up to the table, looking bored as usual as he began his speech. "Ladies and gentlemen, here to promote his new movie with some cheaply made Meh Meal toys... which by the way are guaranteed to have 12% fewer jagged edges!..." He touched the toy and ended up hurting his finger. "Oww!" He dropped the toy and it landed on the ground with a squeak.

Dave turned his attention back to the crowd with a smile. "Anyway, here he is, the star of Tommy Thunder presents Tommy Thunder in "Rise of the Thunder King"... Tommy... uh..." He frowned, picking up a piece of paper. "Thunder."

Tommy Thunder zoomed up, pushing Dave aside and doing a pose in his chair. Tommy grinned at the crowd. " Tommy is happy to be here." And Penny could've sworn she heard him whisper, "Ugh, this place is a dump."

Stratford grinned excitedly at Tommy. "Tommy, you're our hero!"

"That's great. Maybe you can be a hero someday too!" Tommy said. He handed Stratford a photo and Stratford walked off with a silly grin of excitement on his face. Tommy turned to the rest of the crowd, and soon it was Sonic's group's turn. Sonic grinned at Tommy, clearing his throat. "Hi Mr. Thunder, we're all big fans of your work-"

"That's great, maybe you can be a hero someday too!" Tommy interrupted.

Tails grinned at Sonic. "Did you hear that, Sonic? He said I could be a hero someday!"

Sonic frowned at Tails. " You ARE a hero, Tails."

"Thanks. Though it means a lot less coming from you." The kitsune pointed out.

Soar and his cameramen pushed their way through the crowd. "Excuse me, coming through... stand aside...We're here with Tommy Thunder." The eagle said. He cleared his throat, standing next to Tommy and grinning at the crowd. "Movie star, humanitarian, patron saint of kick-buttery!"

Knuckles hummed. "Mmm... buttery."

Penny let out a snort of laughter.

"Yes, sir, Tommy Thunder's a hero!" Soar continued. Sonic frowned in annoyance. "He's not a hero, he's an actor! He doesn't actually save lives."

Mrs. Vandersnout walked up, smiling at Tommy Thunder. "You've saved my life, Tommy Thunder! When I was ill, your movies were the one bright spot in my otherwise bleak existence. You're a true hero."

"AWWW!" The audience cooed.

"Oh, fine, he helped some old lady..." Sonic muttered under his breath, but Penny heard him. The human girl frowned and elbowed Sonic. "OW!" He yelped, glaring at her. "Hey! What gives?!"

Penny glared back and was about to argue back when the sound of a police whistle caught her attention, and an officer ran up, his face wide with fear. "I'm not to alarm everyone, but... EGGMAN'S ATTACKING! EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD FOR HIM, HER AND/OR ITSELF! But for me first." He ran off, screaming, soon followed by everyone else.

At a bakery, Eggman snarled as he fired his laser at the baker. "I ordered a BAKER's dozen! That's supposed to be 13 rugelach, not twelve!"

Hearing screeching, Eggman turned around and growled at Sonic and the rest of his team. "This doesn't concern you, hedgehog." He grumbled, pressing a few buttons and summoning a group of bee bots that started shooting at Sonic. Sonic grinned at Knuckles, having an idea. "Knuckles, toss me one of those day-old baguettes."

Knuckles tossed Sonic the bread, and Sonic used the bread as a bat. "Batter up!" He smirked, and soon he turned the whole battle into a baseball game. The last bee Sonic batted knocked into Eggman, and Eggman flew off, screaming, "WHY DO ALL OF MY SOCIAL INTERACTIONS END LIKE THISSSSS?"

Tommy grinned at Sonic. "Tommy's gotta admit, Tommy's impressed!"

Sonic smirked at Tommy. "Maybe even YOU can be a hero someday!"

Tommy hummed, straightening his jacket. "Touche. But you're right you know, Tommy Thunder's not a hero. Just a devilishly good looking actor." He straightened his jacket even more. "Number one box office draw and rich beyond your wildest dreams. Buuut, not a hero like you guys."

Penny frowned at Sonic, who grinned, "Well, I'm glad to hear-"

"Speaking of segways, could Tommy follow you around for a few days?" Tommy interrupted with hope in his eyes. "As a method actor, it'll really help in getting into his next acting role."

"Really?!" Tails asked.

"Awesome!" Knuckles added with a grin.

"SWEET!" Amy said.

Sticks frowned. "People always follow me."

Sonic then glanced down at Penny. She nodded. "Sonic, give him a chance. Maybe it won't be so bad after all."

Sonic frowned at Tommy. "Uhh... I dunno. You're kind of-"

"An egomaniac?" Tommy asked.

"Right." Sonic grinned, pridefully pumping his fist with his chest. "And there's no room for ego on Team Sonic!"

"AHEM!" Amy snapped at him. Sonic winced and turned to his friends, who were frowning at them. "...and friends! I was gonna include you guys!" And he added with a whisper: "albeit not individually..." He yelped as Penny elbowed him again, and he rubbed it, giving her a glare. How in the world was she hearing him?! He sighed and turned to Tommy. "Anyway, I just don't think it'll be a good fit, okay?"

At Sonic's shack...

"Knock Knock!" Tommy grinned, showing up at Sonic's front porch. "I have to say that because you don't have a door. It's..kinda pathetic actually."

"Tommy?" Penny grinned, walking up. "What are you doing here?"

"Just paying your blue friend a visit. my dear," Tommy grinned.

"What do you want, Tommy?" Sonic groaned from his hammock.

"You're right. Being a hero isn't about ego. It's about..." Tommy left the room for a few minutes and popped up again, pushing a cart full of food. "...elaborate gifts!"

The cart was really just a tray of food that was shaped just like Sonic. Penny felt a tiny bit awkward about this. "Uh...thanks, Tommy."

"No prob, missy," Tommy smirked flirtingly at her.

Now Sonic had a reason to frown at that. He walked up to Penny, giving Tommy a small glare. Tommy, who seemed unfazed by Sonic's glare, "It's your visage in melon form. So, now can I follow you on your action-packed adventures?"

"Slam," Sonic grumbled in annoyance. "I have to say it because I don't actually have a door."

Later, Penny tried to talk to Sonic about Tommy. "Give Tommy another chance!" She told the blue hedgehog. "Let him follow you for a few days."

"But he's such a phony!" Sonic whined, pretty irritated that Penny was telling him what to do. It was usually the other way around, and he didn't like it. "Only a slackjawed rube would be charmed by that guy."

Penny let out a nervous chuckle and glanced at Sonic again. "But weren't you just saying how unrealistic his movies are? This is your chance to fix that! He can finally make a film that expresses what it's really like to be a hero!"

Sonic finally sighed, sitting up in his hammock. "Alright, I'll give him another shot. Just for you, though." He stood up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to dispose of a rotten half-eaten fruit sculpture of my head."

Penny sighed as she watched Sonic walk off. This wasn't going to end well...

...

Sonic walked into Tails' workshop the next day, followed by Tommy. Penny glanced up from the project she was working on with Tails. "How'd it go?"

Sonic scowled, clutching his head. "Agh, it's frustrating to be followed around by someone so annoying." Penny winced as Sonic slammed his fist angrily on the table.

"Well, sorrrrrrrrrrrry!" Tails said, glaring at Sonic.

"Not you two, HIM!" Sonic snapped, glaring at Tommy. " You know some people don't get that us hero types need time to brood," Tommy said, and Sonic scowled, and Tommy imitated Sonic's moves, and in the end, Sonic gave up, scowling.

A beeping sound showed up, and Tails checked his computer. "There's a robbery in the Village!"

Sonic immediately zoomed out, with Tommy, Penny, and Tails following close behind.

...

Penny frowned at the robbers in front of them...she hated those Weasle bandits. They were holding TVs and making a run for it. One of the bandits smirked through his scarf at his other thug partners. "Can you believe the price we got on these? Hah! What a steal!"

Sonic frowned at the sight of the group in front of them. "Oh crud, Weasel Bandits. And they're extra punny today." He turned to his teammates. "Gang, let's get to work!" He frowned at Tommy. "Tommy, -" Sonic began, and Tommy glanced at Sonic hopefully. Sonic closed his eyes and raised his hand. "Stay out of the way."

Tommy slumped, pouting. Penny patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Tommy, I'm on the sidelines like you!" She said, trying to cheer him up. But when she looked up at the tiger, he was gone. Penny's eyes widened, and the next thing she knew she heard, "CUT!"

She turned around to see Sonic standing by the Weasle bandits, who were all tied up. Tommy smirked at Sonic. "That was great. Hey, you mind if I step in for take 2, I have some ideas that I think would really improve the scene."

"You can't do a retake in a battle!" Sonic yelled, pretty fed up with Tommy Thunder.

"It's okay!" The weasel bandit said, sounding a little excited. "We can do a retake! Anything for Tommy Thunder!"

His partners nodded.

Tommy untied the bandits and gave them the rope. Tommy grinned. "Okay, so, you guys just stand in this clip here, like you've just been defeated and humiliated. And Tommy will just wrap you up with this rope!" And in a flash, the Weasle Bandits were tied up again.

Soar appeared, holding his microphone. "And there you have it, folks! Movie star Tommy Thunder single-handedly captured this pack of vicious Bandits."

Even though they were tied up, the Weasle bandits applauded.

Tommy grinned at his watching audience. "I didn't do it all myself, I had a lot of help! My manager, my agent, my stylist, that uh, little goober with the two tails." The movie actor motioned his hand, and Penny glanced at Knuckles and Tails, who were watching from afar. Knuckles looked like he was freaking out with excitement and whispered loudly, "I think he's talking about me!"

"And this pretty little lady..." Tommy gave Penny another flirty smirk, and she felt awkward. Sonic noticed and growled in annoyance at Tommy, grabbing Penny's hand and pulling her to his side.

Tommy continued, "And of course Sonic. He's the one who taught me how to be the realistic hero that I am today."

"Now he'll make everyone think he's so cool," Sonic muttered in pure annoyance.

Later...

"Knock knock!" Tommy grinned. "Still no door huh?"

"What do you want, Tommy?" Sonic grumbled.

Tommy grinned at Sonic. "I just wanted to thank you for teaching Tommy how to think, feel, and behave like a real hero. Now Tommy's got the whole thing done cold!"

Sonic frowned. "Wait a sec, Tommy doesn't..." He felt Penny jab him again, and he corrected his sentence. "I mean, you don't think you actually captured those Weasel Bandits do you?"

"Eh Tommy sees what's going on here, you're jealous! Tommy be jealous of Tommy too!"

"What?! I'm not jealous!"

"Tommy doesn't have time to argue, he's late for his appearance on the Comedy Chimp Show. Tommy Thunder, out!"

Tommy Thunder made a pose and walked out.

Soon, Tommy now found himself sitting in front of Comedy Chip. Comedy Chip smiled at him. "So Tommy, tell me about your harrowing battle with those n'er do well reprobates."

Tommy looked confused.

Comedy Chip frowned. "The uh criminals."

"Oh, uh yeah," Tommy said quickly. "Tommy looked at those thugs, there must've been about 50 of them, all with heat vision and wielding machetes. But Tommy said to them, "Not today."

At Eggman's layer...

Eggman hummed to himself as he placed his muffins in the oven, listening to the Comedy Chip show.

"You don't monkey around!"

"...Happen to have the nuclear launch codes..."

"Wow, sounds like you're ready for anything, even that evil Doctor Eggman."

When he heard Comedy Chip say that, Eggman turned to the screen with a smirk.

Tommy continued, "I can take on a thousand Eggmen." He paused as the audience gasped. "You hear that doc? Tommy Thunder's calling you out!"

Eggman let out a scowl. "WHAT THE SNAP?! I suppose I'll have to retaliate. Well there goes my evening," He sighed as he turned off the oven and glanced down at what he was wearing. "and now I've gotta put on pants..."

...

"Hey, be honest with me, How'd Tommy look on camera?"

He paused as he listened to the answer. Tommy laughed. "Hehe yeah, those shoelifts really help."

Hearing something approaching, Tommy glanced around nervously to see Eggman and his giant robot marching towards him. Tommy paled.

Eggman laughed. "Well, well. If it isn't Tommy "Blunder". International superstar! And hurter of feelings."

Tommy glanced nervously at the phone, muttering, "Uh Malcolm, gotta call you back." He closed the phone and glared at Eggman. "Hey, biggie! Don't take any of that stuff Tommy said too seriously it's all part of the show!" He said, laughing nervously.

"Well you make an interesting point, but on the other hand, Obliterator Bot, OBLITERATE!"

Tommy yelled as he dodged a laser that Obliterator Bot shot at him. He let out a squeak as he dodged over to Sonic and Penny, hiding underneath Sonic. "I'm not really a hero I'm just an actor!" He glanced down and whispered, "an "A-list actor but still!" He grabbed onto Penny's legs, looking terrified as he squeezed his eyes shut. "My name's not really Tommy Thunder either. It's Irwin Fertelmeister!"

" Well Irwin, in that case..." Sonic said. Penny watched as he zoomed out to the scene of the battle, knocking away bee bots and other robots of Eggman's. Obliterator Bot turned to Penny and Tommy and readied his chainsaw. The two let out a nervous whimper and backed away. Sonic quickly darted over to their rescue, hopping onto its hand, and jumped away. Obliterator Bot sawed his hand in half and Sonic jumped out of the way, landing next to Penny and Tommy.

" Hey! What did Obliterator Bot ever do to you?!" Eggman yelled. He frowned. "Other than try to obliterate you..."

Sonic does the finishing touches by grabbing his blue Enerbeam and wrapping it around the legs, tying it up, and tripping it.

Eggman snarled. "Ah, you're lucky my muffins are ready!"

And he flew off.

Penny and Sonic shared a high five. Soar popped up again, holding his mic out to Tommy. "We've just arrived on the scene of what appears to have been an epic battle between Tommy Thunder, and Eggman. Let's ask these bystanders about Tommy's heroics in this latest bruhaha!"

He held the mic up to Penny and Sonic, who glanced at each other. Penny nodded. Sonic cleared his throat. "Uh, Tommy was great. A true hero!"

"Yup!" Penny said, making something up to make Tommy feel like himself again. "He rescued me from Obliterator Bot's lasers! Ain't that right, Tommy?"

Tommy glanced at the human girl in shock. "But I..." He noticed Soar holding his mic, and he cleared his throat. "Tommy did it all!" He said, taking the mic away. "And now that his hero research is finished, Tommy's ready to deliver a complicated nuanced performance in his most realistic film to date, "Attack of the Giant Hand People!... In space."

...

"Sonic, you showed a great deal of maturity in sharing credit with Tommy. Get ready for your reward!" Amy grinned as she and the rest of the team walked up to Meh Burger.

"You're gonna love the Oysters Rockafeller!" Tails added. He turned to Penny. "And you'll love their pizza!"

"PIZZA?!" Penny squealed in excitement. "All right, I'm..."

She paused. In front of her was plain old Meh Burger, with Dave looking bored as usual. Knuckles frowned. "We're here for the VIP room?" He asked.

Dave shook his head. "There is no VIP room. And there never was."

Penny and the others shared an annoyed look.

"I knew it!" Sticks hissed.

Next Chapter: The Biggest Fan