"Amy, what are you doing?" Cream asked, holding tight to Cheese.

The two prisoners were now standing up, and Amy was near the bars with her Piko-Piko Hammer, making slow practice swings like a golfer would often do before striking the ball.

"I am going to bust us out of here. There is no way that Egghead is going to destroy some of my friends behind my back!" Amy pulled her hammer back for the final blow.

"Oh…okay…" Cream braced herself for the big bang.

Amy gave a cry, and with all of her strength, brought the hammer onto the bars. To Cream's surprise, all she heard was a small squeak.

"Well?" she asked.

No answer.

"…Amy?" Cream called again. She could see her friend still standing there, but she had her back to her.

"Cream…" Amy turned around slowly, a smile on her face. "We're free."

…….

Eggman laughed. "Giving up?" he asked.

"Not in your life!" Shadow exclaimed, kicking down another robot.

The crew didn't know how long they had been fighting, but it had been pretty long. All of them were getting tired.

A sudden thought struck Tails. Instantly, the fox twirled his tails like a propeller, and flew into the air, above all the action. He looked ahead.

"Sonic!" he cried, grabbing the blue hedgehog's attention. "Only a few more rows to go!"

"All right!" Sonic cheered.

With that information, the team was filled with a new strength and a stronger will to defeat the robots.

Rouge took a glance at the hovering Tails, and got an idea. Instantly, she flew up as well, and grabbed her compact. Using its small mirror, when the robots fired at her, she used it to make the lasers backfire.

"Great idea, Rouge! Got any extras?" Tails inquired.

"Nope, sorry fox-boy," was the reply.

Tails rolled his eyes. It seemed like Rouge had a nick-name for everybody. He looked below him, and an idea struck him as well. Instantly, he let himself down on top of a robot's head, damaging it enough for it to shut down. Using his momentum, Tails jumped from robot to robot, shutting down each one as he went.

Eggman gritted his teeth. How come they always came up with ways to destroy his creations! The mad scientist soon found himself grinning. But they had no idea what lay ahead of them after they defeated these robots.

Finally, Knuckles destroyed the last one, and the team narrowed down upon Eggman.

"Play time is over, Eggman," Shadow informed.

"Release Amy and Cream NOW!" Sonic demanded.

Eggman laughed. "You think I am going to let them go that easily?" He smiled, and looked at them. "Look…you're all tired…too bad I saved my strongest creation for last!"

The team exchanged glances.

"Behold my newest and greatest version of Metal Sonic!" as if on cue, the robot flew up to the team.

For a second, the whole team just stared at it.

"And he's different from the others because…?" Sonic asked.

Eggman grinned. "You'll see."

At that moment, Metal Sonic lunged out at the team.

"Scatter!" Tails yelled.

Everyone did as told. Metal Sonic hovered for a bit, and then fired a laser off at Rouge, who deflected it with her mirror. The robot ducked, making the laser fly straight at Knuckles.

"HEY!" the red echidna cried as he barely missed it. "Watch where you point that mirror!"

Rouge winced. "Sorry!"

Eggman could only smile at their attempts to strike Metal Sonic. Little did he notice that there was a hammer right above his head, and a hand ready to grab his collar.

Metal Sonic held his laser gun up, ready to make a final blow to the ebony hedgehog below him…when suddenly, Eggman yelled, "Metal Sonic, stop! Don't hurt him!"

Metal Sonic's head snapped around, and using the opportunity, Shadow rolled away from harm's path.

"But master said to eliminate—"

"I know what I said! Stop fighting!" Eggman interrupted.

Metal Sonic paused, checking to see if it was a trick. Then, he saw it. His master's collar was pulled tight, and a hammer was above his head. Someone was threatening his master. Filled with anger, the robot fired a laser at the hand that held the hammer, and heard a cry of pain. A female cry.

To everyone's surprise, Amy Rose fell to the floor, holding her hand.

"Thank you, Metal Sonic! And now, you little pest!" Eggman directed his robot to raise its foot above the kneeling pink hedgehog.

Just as the foot was brought down, a streak of blue ran under it, right before the foot came down on nothing.

"GAH!" Eggman turned his head to see Amy hugging Sonic and crying.

"Oh, Sonic! You saved me!" she exclaimed.

Sonic desperately tried to not to blush.

"Metal Sonic! Get them!" Eggman commanded.

Metal Sonic nodded, and was about to fire off another laser when a familiar small voice yelled, "Cheese! Get him!"

Metal Sonic's head turned around only to be smacked in the face by a small blue creature.

"Yeah! Way to go, Cheese!" Cream cheered, landing on the ground.

"Chao, chao!" Cheese smiled.

"Cream!" Tails called. "You're okay!"

Cream nodded. "We successfully escaped Dr. Eggman's horrible prison, thanks to Amy."

Eggman growled. "ARGH! Metal Sonic, finish them off!"

"Yes, master!" Metal Sonic stated, then fired multiple lasers at all the whole team.

"EEEEEEEEEK!" Knuckles cried, finding himself having to jump and dodge at the same time.

"We…need…to get rid…of that…laser!" Tails informed.

Shadow nodded. "You got it! Chaos spear!"

Suddenly, a streak of yellow light struck the laser gun on Metal Sonic's arm, destroying it.

"Way to go, Shadow!" Sonic cheered.

"Whew….what a work-out…" Knuckles breathed.

"It isn't over yet, you fools!" with that, Metal Sonic lunged at them, clawing at them wildly.

"Cream!" Tails yelled, quickly pulling the rabbit to safety.

But when the robot headed for Amy, the hedgehog was prepared.

"Here, eat hammer!" Amy said, swinging her hammer so then it would hit the robot's face. But Metal Sonic was one step ahead. In one swift move, he grabbed the hammer, and used it to fling Amy over him and away.

"Stupid pink girl…" he muttered.

"I see what you mean, Eggman!" Sonic exclaimed. "This one IS different!"

Eggman smiled. "How so?"

"It's got an attitude problem!" with that, Sonic did a spin dash.

Eggman's smile turned into a frown.

"Metal Sonic! Quit fooling around—finish them!" he commanded.

"Very well," the robot replied. It turned to face Shadow.

Shadow got in a defensive position as Metal Sonic lunged at him, blocking his moves and kicking every once in a while.

Suddenly, Metal Sonic lashed out and cut Shadow's arm. Deeply.

Shadow gritted his teeth and sank to his knees, covering his wound with the other hand. Metal Sonic snickered.

"Pathetic," he commented.

Shadow's face darkened.

"That's my line!" he exclaimed, using his other hand to punch Metal Sonic's chin, sending him flying backwards.

Shadow walked towards the fallen robot. "Nobody uses MY lines!"

"We'll just see about that, black boy!" Metal Sonic retorted.

Shadow's eyes narrowed. The two engaged combat again.

"Man…is Shadow going to let us get a piece of him or not?" Knuckles asked.

Sonic shrugged. "Guess not."

Suddenly, Cream gasped.

"What is it, Cream?" Amy asked.

"Look! Metal Sonic's choking Mr. Shadow!" the rabbit pointed at the scene.

The rest turned to look, and sure enough, Cream was right. There was Metal Sonic, holding Shadow above the ground.

"I mean this in a good way, but, FINALLY I get to come in!" Knuckles exclaimed.

The red echidna charged at Metal Sonic, and struck him in the side. Because of the impact, Metal Sonic let Shadow go. The ebony hedgehog fell to the ground, coughing.

Rouge, Cream, and Amy ran over to him while Sonic, Tails and Knuckles battled Metal Sonic.

"Mr. Shadow, are you okay?" Cream asked.

"I'm…" –a cough- "…fine," Shadow looked behind him at the raging battle. So far, the team was winning.

"Where did THOSE marks come from?" Rouge pointed to the three scars on Shadow's arm.

"Metal Sonic," Shadow replied, and in a flash, he rejoined the battle.

"Is it just me, or did he sound really, really, angry when he said that?" Amy asked.

"He sounded really, really, angry," Rouge replied without even glancing at the pink hedgehog.

Back to the fight, Metal Sonic slapped Sonic away roughly, and turned to the others.

"Why you--!" Knuckles was about to hit the robot once more, but Metal Sonic slapped him away as well.

Next, he slapped Tails. The fox's first instinct was to get back up and fight, but then he saw something. He squinted his sky blue eyes. Was that a loose cord of Metal Sonic's that he saw? As it dangled from the robot, he realized his assumption was correct.

All of a sudden, an idea began to form in the fox's head. He turned to Eggman's larger robot. The scientist's attention was on the fight. Good. Tails smiled. That mad man won't know what hit him! Silently, he crept towards one of the robot's feet. Once there, he tried to find a loose panel. Bingo. He found one. Opening it, he began to tinker with the little wires. Seeing a few sparks, the fox felt a spring of hope.

"Miss Rouge, what's Tails doing?" Cream asked.

"Hmm?" Rouge asked.

Cream pointed to the two tailed fox.

Rouge furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "I…I don't know."

"Well, whatever it is, it looks like he signaling for us to do something," Amy commented.

The two other females nodded. The fox was showing signals, but they couldn't figure it out. Tails slapped his forehead. How simpler could he get with his signals? Finally, he just pointed to Metal Sonic, and then where he was.

"Oh! I get it!" Rouge exclaimed.

"You do? What's he saying?" Amy informed.

Rouge smiled. "Just follow my lead."

Calmly, the bat waltzed up to the fight, and called, "Yo, metal head!"

That caught Metal Sonic's attention.

"Have I ever told you how ridiculous you look? You seriously need a make-over."

Metal Sonic shook in rage, and then lunged after Rouge, who flew up, dodging the robot's attack.

Sonic scratched his head. What was Rouge doing? It was Knuckles who noticed Tails wasn't with them. He looked all around himself, then behind him, and waved, but then froze. What was he... then, it struck him.

"What are you looking at, Knuckles?" Shadow asked.

Knuckles pointed behind him, and Shadow glanced that way. The ebony hedgehog narrowed his crimson eyes, trying to see what Tails was telling him. Then, as it had Knuckles and Rouge, it struck him.

Sonic furrowed his eyebrows. "What are guys doing?"

"Look," was all that Shadow said.

Sonic shrugged and turned around. "Hey! There's—"

Shadow and Knuckles put their hands on Sonic's mouth.

"SH!" they said in unison.

Sonic's 'what' came out muffled.

With the other hand, Shadow grabbed the top of Sonic's head and turned it so then he could see Tails. Sonic shrugged.

"Ya? So?" his muffled question came.

Shadow rolled his eyes. How none observant could Sonic be?

"If Eggman knows he's there, it would through his plan off," he explained.

Sonic thought a moment. "What mlan?"

Shadow shook his head, sighing. "Never mind."

Sonic watched Tails for a minute. "OH! MOW I GET IT!"

Shadow and Knuckles took their hands off his mouth.

"What did you say?" Knuckles asked.

"I said, now I get it!" the blue hedgehog explained.

Shadow threw his hands up in the air. "Well, FINALLY!"

Rouge flew with great accuracy, with Metal Sonic close behind. She kept her eyes on her destination, making sure Metal Sonic or Eggman didn't suspect anything.

Tails hid his smile. His plan was working!

Rouge took a quick glance behind her. Metal Sonic was right on her heels!

Sonic saw this. Instantly, he ran over to the two and waved his arms yelling, "HEY! YOU!"

Metal Sonic hovered in place, his lifeless red eyes staring at Sonic.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you, you heap of bolts!" the blue hedgehog shouted.

Metal Sonic then burst off, after him. Sonic took off running. After Sonic thought he'd had enough fun, he charged for where Tails stood. Metal Sonic followed.

Tails quickly pulled out two wires, and held them to the side, as far out as he could.

Sonic kept his eyes on his goal, and speed up a little bit, zooming past the wires, shouting, "NOW, TAILS!"

At that moment, as Metal Sonic came passing through, Tails held two wires from Eggman's robot to the one dangling one from Metal Sonic's together, causing the two to electrocute themselves.

Quickly, Sonic and Tails ran away from the scene, and rejoined their friends, watching the light show. After it died down, Metal Sonic just collapsed to the floor, and Eggman's robot toppled over.

Silence lasted between the team.

"Well…that was fun!" Sonic finally said.

Shadow rolled his eyes. "You think it was fun being scratched in the arm by that creep?"

"Well…it couldn't have been THAT bad, could it?" Sonic questioned.

Shadow didn't answer; Knuckles had interrupted.

"I say it's time we all go home…" the red echidna said.

Everyone agreed, and set out of Eggman's base.