Prologue
One year has passed since the defeat of Infinite, and the world has finally managed to get back on its feet. City blocks that were decimated became new homes, skyscrapers now rose even higher than before, and ecosystems were brought back to their original states. The rebellion that stood firm at the hands of the enemy was now being dismantled. Much of the soldiers went on with their normal lives, others stayed in the military, and some seemingly went off grid. Either way, society was finally at peace.
But somewhere else, an evil genius was hard at work on a new plan for world domination.
"Yes, the mechanism is nearing perfection! I just need to apply a few more adjustments to it and all should go according to plan!"
It was unbelievable to think that Eggman would go back to his schemes just one year after his massive defeat. As Eggman continued to finalize his work, a pair of two iconic robots came into the room.
"Excuse me, Doctor, could you please explain to us as to why this machine will help improve your current situation?", Orbot asked.
Eggman turned his head towards the two of them.
"Ah, Orbot and Cubot, how timely of you two. In just a moment, you shall witness science on a scale you have never seen before!" he exclaimed.
Cubot though couldn't quite grasp the idea.
"So you built a small, indoor laser that is meant to take over the world?", Cubot plainly stated.
Eggman groaned in frustration.
"NO you imbecile!", Eggman yelled harshly at Cubot. "It was designed to be this exact size, and to further answer your question, this delicate piece of machinery was never meant to harm anyone at all!"
Orbot and Cubot looked at each other with visible confusion.
"Did the Doctor actually say it wasn't meant to harm anybody?", Orbot said.
"Yeah, and that would be a first!", Cubot added.
Eggman could hardly stand the two of them talking, so he continued to finish his work.
"Alright, now for the key installation…" Then Eggman reveals a somewhat shattered red shard of glass.
"Uh, Doc, how's that piece of glass gonna help ya?", Cubot asked.
Now Eggman was really losing patience with the incompetent robot, but he managed to keep calm and went on to answer.
"This is no ordinary shard of glass, my friends. What I have here is one of the last remaining shards of the Phantom Ruby!" Eggman chuckled slightly to himself.
Eggman turned towards his master computer and pulled up a file on the Phantom Ruby's properties.
"Now as you can see, the Phantom Ruby was never part of this dimension to begin with. Instead, this gem came from a much more distant realm than ours."
Orbot and Cubot were now on the edge of their seats with this theory, and they now understood what Eggman was trying to accomplish.
"So Doctor, this device isn't a weapon?", Orbot asked. "But perhaps is instead a key to opening another dimension?"
Eggman nodded in approval at Orbot's question. "Why yes Orbot, this machine will allow me to pinpoint the dimension of where the Phantom Ruby had to originate from, and should open a gateway to that same dimension."
Eggman then revealed a wicked smile that only evil geniuses would demonstrate. "If this experiment is a success and I manage to harness the power of the Phantom Ruby's dimension, then there will be no one who could possibly stop me! Nyah ha ha ha!"
The two robots looked at each other, wondering if the Doctor had gone mad from his last great failure.
"Now then, time for the moment of truth…" Eggman said to himself.
Eggman inserted the shard into the machine, and walked over to the main console. Eggman most likely knew the experiment could go either two ways: Either it would be a success or the whole lab is blown to pieces. (Eggman preferably wished for the success) With the press of just a few buttons, the machine began to whir to life. Sparks flew in all sorts of directions as energy was being built up within the core. Eggman and his two minions studied from a distance, aweing at the sight.
The machine grew louder, and from the front of the machine something was beginning to appear. A sort of red, glowing electricity was building. Eggman could only anticipate what would happen next. Then just like that, a powerful beam of energy shot out of the cannon at light speed. Literally. The sound was so loud that it frightened the two robots, forcing them to hide elsewhere. But Eggman stayed fixed right where he was. He just simply couldn't take his eyes off it.
At the point where the wall and beam of energy met, an amazing phenomenon was taking place. A gap began to open within the wall, and it only grew larger from there. Within seconds, the gap/portal was seemingly the size of your average human/Mobian. Eggman satisfied with the results, turned off the machine, and walked closer to the red portal within the room.
"My God… It worked. The machine was a success! Ha ha!", Eggman shouted with triumph.
Though the ones who were not so thrilled would be Orbot and Cubot, who were visibly shaking right in front of Eggman. Eggman frowned upon the two.
"Oh cut it out will you? It's not like the weapon would've vaporized you or anything."
But clearly Cubot couldn't handle the pressure, and quite literally, his head exploded. Eggman and Orbot were startled by it, but they both knew that this happens on occasion with Cubot.
"Orbot, please go fix Cubot, that's the third time this week that's happened!" Eggman ordered. Orbot simply nodded and carried his cube-shaped brother to the repair room.
Eggman turns to face towards his new creation. "Computer?"
His computer answered, "Yes, Doctor?"
"I want you to begin diagnostics on the portal, and please obtain as much information you possibly can." Eggman said.
With that analysis began on the portal, and slowly data was being collected. Eggman sat down in his chair, still observing the portal from a distance. For an entire year, he has been hiding from the world. But soon, he will emerge once again and this time no one will be able to stop him. Eggman gazed at a screen of that damned blue hedgehog.
"Soon Sonic, once I have gathered enough power, I will destroy everything that you care about. Not even your friends would even make it through my onslaught."
Eggman clenched his left hand.
"With the discovery of the Phantom Realm, I will have the power to conquer not only Mobius, but perhaps the entire universe itself! Nyah ha ha ha!"
As Eggman continued to laugh and chortle to himself, he failed to see something that could have dire consequences. He never even gave the thought of what could possibly be on the other side of the portal. If he had only looked closer at the surface, he would have noticed that there was a dark, gloomy shadow lurking on the other side.