Sometime later, our heroes finally reached the Crystal Bay. They turned outside to see what was on the surface (they didn't keep Sonic because he couldn't swim). In front of them was a huge wall that blocked the way to Crystal Bay.

- So, how do we get there? Sonic asked about himself.

"I don't know," Tails replied, "but we have to find a way to get through this wall.

Aqua was looking at the wall with sad eyes. She wanted to hope that nothing had happened to her home.

The blue hedgehog looked around and saw a stone nearby. - Aqua, Tails, - he turned to his friends - we need to swim to this stone. - Sonic pointed his finger at the stone.

- OK, - Aqua and Tails, holding Sonic by the arms, swam up to the stone. Sonic climbed up on it, shook himself and began to exercise.

- Sonic, do we have any plan? Aqua asked him.

- So, - the blue hedgehog began, having finished the exercise- step one-I will make my way to this wall. Step two-as soon as I destroy the badniks, I will give you a sign. Tails, do you mind if you take Aqua when you fly to the top of the wall?

- And step three-he sat down like an athlete at the start before running - after you get to the top, we'll go visit Eggie... - he looked at the wall- Gotta go fast…

And he, having gained great speed, began to run on the water, and then running along the wall, the blue hedgehog reached the top. The guards noticed him and prepared to attack him. But Sonic quickly interrupted them before they could take a single step. After that, he walked to the edge of the wall and gave them a thumbs up, which meant that everything was clear. Tails realized this, took Aqua by the hands and with the help of his tails, flew up to the top of the wall. As soon as they reached the top, Tails descended to a solid surface, while releasing the Aqua. Sonic approached them:

- Well, guys, our first stage of the plan has been completed, now... - suddenly they both noticed that Aqua was facing the bay.

- Aqua what's the matter? -Tails asked.

But Aqua was silent. Sonic and Tails approached her to find out what was going on. But when they came up, they saw this picture… Instead of the beautiful shining bay in which she was full of life, there was a lifeless wasteland. There was literally nothing on it but decomposing rocks and puddles of chemicals. All vegetation around the bay has also disappeared due to chemicals.

Aqua looked at it with horror and sadness. Her eyes were wet. Sonic and Tails also looked with horror at this lifeless landscape. Sonic clenched his fists from inner anger at Dr. Eggman.

- How dare he turn a once wonderful place into a God-forsaken wasteland!?- his eyes glittered with an angry gleam. Then he restrained all the anger in himself and put his hand on Aqua's shoulder.

-Aqua... - Sonic began to speak - I'm very sorry what happened to your house because of him ... - he looked at the factory, - but it's not the time to despair! Go ahead!

Sonic jumped off the wall and ran to the factory. Tails took the Aqua and flew after Sonic. Aqua looked sadly at the dried-up bay and began to remember the past.

9 years ago, a small blue figure of a 6-year-old dolphin climbed onto a rock that was next to the passage to the bay. She was wearing a seaweed dress. As soon as she climbed onto the rock, she looked around in fright. This area was unknown to her. There was no one around her except water, rocks and rocks. She didn't remember anything. The only thing the dolphin remembered was that during a thunderstorm she was with her pack, when suddenly something huge began to approach them. After that, she woke up in the middle of the sea, lying on the water. The dolphin didn't understand what it was at first. But suddenly she realized one thing… She was alone, none of her pack members were in sight. Out of panic and fear, the blue dolphin began to swim back and forth, calling them:

-Mom! Dad! Somebody! Please respond! - she screamed.

But no one responded to her screams. Being confused and scared, she continued her search. As a result, she stumbled upon this stone.

She didn't know what to do... suddenly an idea came into her head. And what if members of her pack are in this place. The dolphin jumped off the rock and swam towards the bay. She looked for them everywhere, but she didn't see or hear anyone.

Evening came. A sad dolphin sat down on the sand and watched the sunset. She was reminded of how she and her mother and father also watched the sun go out of the sky somewhere. Suddenly she heard someone's voice.

She looked around and saw a fish that was looking at her like a stranger.

- Who are you? - the fish asked, - I haven't seen you here.

- Are you talking to me? dolphin asked

- Yes, to you, and who else? - she asked in surprise, - Better tell me who you are and where did you come from?

Aqua thought for a minute and said:

"My name is Aqua and I come from the sea..." she replied.

- Are you from the sea? - asked the fish-Then what are you doing in Crystal Bay?

Crystal Bay…That's where I am-Aqua thought to herself, before she spoke - Well, I was with my family at sea during a thunderstorm, then we saw something big and scary. I woke up in the middle of the sea and swam to look for them. Later I came across your bay. I thought mine were in this place. I was looking for them, but I didn't find them.

There was sadness on her face. Then, when she looked at the fish, she saw that absolutely everyone in the bay was listening to her story. They had sympathy on their faces. Aqua was confused by this, when suddenly one of the fish spoke:

"Aqua, would you mind if we became your family?"

- Really...? -Aqua asked in disbelief.

- Of course! - everyone answered.

- Thank you all ... - she said with tears of happiness in her eyes.

Thus, Aqua began to live in the bay. Over the years, this place has become her home.

- We've arrived!

Aqua was brought back to reality when she, Sonic and Tails were standing near the entrance to the factory.

- Hmm… It seems Aggie has made a strong guard here ... - said Sonic, slapping his hand away from the huge metal door - But we can break through it, can't we? He turned to Tails and Aqua.

- Yes! -Tails replied.

Aqua was silent, but having gathered her courage, she said:

-Yes.

-Then Sonic said loudly-Get ready, one, two...-Sonic's eyes lit up and the skin-three…

Meanwhile…

Dr. Eggman, who was wearing a bathrobe, came out of the corridor into the main center of the factory. He went to the monitor and looked at the data on the zones.

- So... - he began, - I had three zones, there were two left... - he opened one file in the database, which was clearly classified.

- Well, finally, - he said with a smile, but suddenly the alarm went off, - What the!? I could swear it's..." he turned on the surveillance cameras. There he saw his sworn enemies, who gradually made their way inside the factory and destroyed the robots.

- I CAN'T BELIEVE I TOOK A SHOWER FOR THIS?! -He shouted irritably and angrily at the whole factory. He quickly left the room of the factory center.

Back to our heroes…

The bodies of the broken badniks lay on the cold metal floor. The dream book shook off the dust while Tel and Aqua looked at the clock of the Body, which had a diagram of the factory.

- Mm... - he said, - we are here (he pointed his finger at the red dot indicating that they are here.)- and here is the main center of the factory... (he again pointed his finger at the place of the diagram, where the center itself was clearly located). -If we get to this center, then we can open all the data of Dr. Eggman to find out everything about his plans, also with their help we will figure out how to restore the Crystal Bay!

- Restore the bay! How loudly said! Suddenly a loud voice rang out in the silence.

All the heroes turned to the source of the voice.

- Robotnik ... - growled Sonic.

Dr. Eggman appeared in front of him on his Eggmobile with buzz bombers.

- Oh hi, Sonic, long time no see! - he looked at the hedgehog with a cruel grin, - As I see you've got yourself a new girlfriend?

- Shut up, Eggman! - The blue hedgehog shouted - Better tell me, what are you doing here and what are you up to?

- And why should I tell you, my plans? -Dr. Eggman asked, "You'll find out soon enough. But before that... (he folded his fingers for a click).

- He asked for it ... -said Sonic and jumped on the Eggmobile, but suddenly a lightning jerk hit him right in the stomach. He flew towards the wall.

- Sonic! -Tails and Aqua ran over to help him up.

- Are you okay? -Aqua asked him.

I'm fine,"- he replied.

A minute later they heard heavy footsteps. Sonic and Tails knew what it was, but Aqua's face expressed fear of the unknown. Soon a robot appeared in front of them, looking similar to Sonic. But unlike the blue hedgehog, he has a yellow round depression in his chest with a black center, his head has metal fins resembling Sonic's needles and his muzzle, shoulder plates, shoulders, legs and fingers made of silver metal. His palms are black, and the backs of his hands are square yellow plates. His forearms and shins are blue metal, like his head and torso, and he has red legs with white stripes, also reminiscent of Sonic's shoes. And the most important difference is its optical sensors with black sclera and red irises.

- Metal Sonic!?- Tails was surprised in a whisper

- I think Eggie fixed it, - he thought, - As always…

He stood up and said:

-Hello, Metal, - the blue hedgehog greeted his metal double, - I see you've been patched up well. Yes?

Metal Sonic was silent. He looked at Sonic with predatory eyes. Suddenly his rocket engine started working, as if he was going to hit the hedgehog again.

- So, you want a fight? -Sonic asked him with a cheeky grin.

This time the Metal responded only by strengthening its engine.

- Got it, -Sonic sat down like an athlete before the start. Metal Sonic and blue hedgehog looked at each other in anticipation of the fight. They sped up and crashed into each other a second later. They flew off to the sides, but continued to fight. They turned into two lightning lines that tirelessly collided with each other and they flew up.

Tails and Aqua were on the ground and watching what was happening. Aqua was confused and asked Tails:

- Tails, this is Metal Sonic, right? I heard about him on television in the local city.

-Yes. -Tails answered, but after comprehending the sentence said by Aqua, he turned to her with a question-Stop, that is, did you know about us and about our adventures all this time?

Aqua was silent for a while, then shyly said:

- Yes…

- It turns out you've also heard about me in the media, - Eggman's voice sounded, - Well, if you two stayed, then I won't let you get bored.

He turned on one button of the Eggmobile. Suddenly, behind Tails and Aqua, a huge badnik appeared, outwardly similar to a sea snake. She had a thick mechanical body, metal ear crests on her head, a tip on her tail, very similar to a dagger, green evil eyes and sharp teeth. It is all covered with gray and green shades.

- Meet my snake, - said Eggman with a diminutive tone - And it's time for me to go, so ... Goodbye!

He flew up with a loud laugh. The snake looked at them viciously, and then it crawled towards them with lightning speed, opening its mouth at the same time.

Tails picked up Aqua and they flew up. The snake noticed this and, unbuttoning the body, chased after them.

- T...Tails, -Aqua asked, -What are you going to do?

- I haven't come up with a plan yet... - Tails replied.

The little fox began to think what to do until he had an idea.

- Aqua, you know how to turn into a ball, don't you? -He asked Aqua.

-Yes... -Aqua replied.

- Okay, you won't mind if I throw you into the mouth of this snake, and you use the spin dash to break it from the inside, okay?

-Um... -Aqua said. The blue dolphin, looking at the snake, gradually lost confidence in herself.

Tails, seeing Aqua's experience, continued to say:

-Aqua, it was the same with me when I was with Sonic for the first time in the first battle with Dr. Eggman. I was afraid too, but over time, as I was with him, I grew braver and stronger. My self-belief helped in this. You can do it, I know! He looked at her with a pleasant smile.

Aqua felt this warmth and bravery in the fox cub's smile.

-Believe in yourself...- she thought to herself.

After a short silence, she finally said:

"I'm ready, Tails.

- Good! - Said Tails - Then hold on. On the count of three... (he grabbed Aqua's hands tightly) One... two…(Tails started spinning in the air, preparing to throw the Aqua towards the snake) Three!

He released the Aqua from his hands. She turned into a ball and got into the snake's mouth. The snake closed its mouth, it looked pleased with the result. But suddenly something started moving inside her. At first, the mechanical snake didn't understand what was going on, but then it realized what was going on…But it was too late… Unable to withstand this

, Tails flew up to make sure that Aqua was fine.

- Aqua! - Tails called her, hoping that she would respond.

-I'm here, Tails! - suddenly a voice spoke, which came from a pile of junk. Tails landed and ran to the place where he heard her voice. As soon as he arrived, he saw Aqua. Despite the fact that she was bruised, she was healthy and alive. Tails ran over to help her.

-Aqua, are you okay? -The fox cub asked her.

-Yes, - she replied, -despite my bruises, and so thank you.

She got up and began to shake off the dust.

- You know, you helped me not only in the battle - she suddenly said.

-What do you mean? - asked the fox cub.

- A year ago, I visited a local town, - Aqua began to tell - at that time, stories about you and your adventures were spread around this city. When I was walking around the city, I came across one electrics store. The TV showed you and Sonic when you fought with Dr. Eggman. I've heard of him, and to be honest, it makes my blood run cold. But when I saw everything on the screen, I was inspired by you. You were brave and were not afraid of him and even risked your lives. I also saw Sonic's signature Spin Dash trick! So, I remembered how it was done and every time I trained. Admittedly, I was bad at it, but then I learned it.

I continued to follow you on the media. And then I met you. The main reason why I asked you for help is because I know I can trust you.

- Thank you for your words, Aqua, - said Tails, - But it's better not to trust these guys from the media.

- And why is that? she asked with a smile.

-Because they're such liars,- Tails joked, -as soon as we show up, they pounce on us with questions, pencils and papers, and then they write their own in the newspapers. And by the way… If you followed us in the news, then you knew about our Rolling Combo?

- I only knew about your Spin Dash, but not about the Rolling Combo, - Aqua replied.

- That is, back in the Coral Reef, you allegedly pretended that you didn't know these techniques yet, - Tails joked with a smile on his face - And then it turns out you know and showed us how cool you are at heart. And one more thing I forgot to mention…

He flew somewhere, and then came back with a fragment of a blue crystal.

- I forgot to tell you that I found a fragment? Tails said.

- Very good! – wanting to compliment Tails, Aqua said, but suddenly there was concern on her face.

-What's the matter, Aqua?

-It's just... - she began, -I remembered something.

- And what?

- We forgot about Sonic and Sonic's Metal, - she said, - Do you think he'll be all right?

- Don't worry, he'll be fine, - the fox replied, - He taught me that whatever happened to him, I should worry nothing to talk about. I believe in him.

- Yes ... - said Aqua: - So far, the Dream Book will be busy, what are we going to do?

- To make our way to the main center of the factory, - Tel replied, - So let's not waste time and go ahead!

- Yeah! - Aqua shouted in agreement.

And they both left in some direction.

Meanwhile…

Dr. Eggman was in the main center of the factory. He stood near the monitor and deleted all the files so that no one would know about his plans. After that, he went somewhere, and then came back in a diving suit.

- It's time to dive into the depths! - he said, before climbing into his Eggmobile.

Dr. Eggman opened the passage located at the top and flew out of the factory through it.

Back to our heroes…

Aqua and Tails were walking along one of the corridors of the factory.

-Right, this way,- Tails said, pointing to the right side. Aqua walked behind him and followed the directions.

As a result, they came to an empty place similar to where they first met Sonic Metal.

-According to my scheme, the main center is at the top,- Tails said

But suddenly they heard a noise. Tails and Aqua recognized the sounds, so they moved aside. Soon, two lightning beams pierced through the wall and continued to collide with each other. Then they collided again, and our blue hedgehog with a cheeky smile and the cold-blooded Metal Sonic appeared.

- Hey, Metal, - Sonic began to say, - Do you even know what I'm going to do? But I absolutely know what you're going to do. Strange, isn't it?

They flew up like lightning, punching a hole in the main center of the factory.

Aqua and Tails, who witnessed this scene, saw a hole at the top. Tails grabbed Aqua's arm and they flew up. As soon as they were in the main center, the fox cub released the blue dolphin from his hands. They went to the computers. Tails turned it on and logged in. As soon as he entered the files, he saw that there was nothing there.

- There are gone! - Tails said to Aqua, - Eggman erased them before running away somewhere.

-Nothing, Tails... -Aqua said sadly.

Tails looked at her with regret, and then turned to the computer. At that moment, he noticed something.

-Aqua, - Tails called to her, -I found something.

Aqua walked up to Tails and asked:

-What did you find, Tails?

-A classified file,- he replied, -Eggman probably forgot to delete it in a hurry.

- Hey guys, I'm back! -Suddenly a familiar voice rang out.

Aqua and Tails turned and saw Sonic. He was bruised, but overall, he looked alive and well.

- Sonic! - Aqua was delighted when she saw him.

- Tails, you're saying that Eggman forgot to delete this file in a hurry, right? - he asked.

- Of course! Tails replied.

- Um, Sonic, - asked Sonic Aqua: - And what happened to Metal Sonic? Did you beat him?

- Yes, - said Sonic: - Well, I'll tell you about it later, because it's a long story. (He had a smile on his face).

Then they both turned to the direction of Tails and the computer. The little fox opened the file.

- ,, The Legend of the Great Hydra" - Tails read the title of the text.

Next time-the Legend of the Great Hydra!

• The events of the Sonic Ocean Star story take place in the Sonic IDW universe. Sonic metal was broken in Sonic Heroes. If you follow the comics, then all this time of the story Metal Sonic was a phantom.

• In Chapter 4, I put a reference in Sonic's phrase while he was fighting Metal Sonic. Such a scene was in the Sonic OVA.

• The phrase,, I can't believe I took a shower for this!?" is a distorted version of the phrase ,,I can't believe I showed for this", uttered by Metal Sonic in Sonic the derphog by SMG4. Initially, I wanted to add it when Metal Sonic lost the fight and fell down, but then this phrase passed to Dr. Eggman as a reference.