Note: I... am SO... SORRY... this took so long. Since I got a lot of reviews, I SHALL CONTINUE! (Fangirls (and guys) cheer)

Chapter 3: When worlds collide

Mr. Resetti popped up next to Tortimer and whispered in his ear. Tortimer's eyes shot open. "Oh!" He shouted. He walked to his microphone. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I've just been informed that Sonic has now arrived!" Both Chip & Mr. Resetti were embarrassed for their mayor. Sonic walked to the microphone next to Tortimer. "Umm, I'll take it from here, Mr. Mayor." Tortimer looked confused. "Who are you?" Tails and Knuckles led him off the stage as Sonic took the mic.

"Hello, residents of Campbell." his voice echoed through the speakers. "My name is Sonic the Hedgehog." He gestured towards Tails and Knuckles, still trying to explain to the mayor what was happening. "And these are my friends, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy." he turned back to the rest of the cook-off participants and pondered why the population was so little. "We appreciate your hospitality, really, but what we'd really like is to just be treated normally, like the rest of you, during our stay. Thank you, and..." he turned back to the mayor, still confused. "I believe Mr. Tortimer was going to finish with the results of the cook-off."

Sonic left the stage as Tortimer took his place. "Thank you, Sonia, for visiting. We hope you enjoy your stay. Now... where was I...? Oh, right, the cook-off. The winner goes to... CHIP!" Cries of shock and anger rose from the audience. Chip was surprised and confused. "...for the most food consumption in our contest today! Chip gets our 1st place award for the 37th annual eating competition!"

Meanwhile, back at Acre 3-C...

"I can't believe it!" Patrick was pacing his room, decorated in modern-style checkers. "Sonic has actually moved here! In Campbell! I am, like his number-one fan!" Eddie the coelacanth, Patrick's pet fish, scoffed at him. "Mmmokay, maybe number-two hundred, I guess." Patrick shrugged. "Either way, I'm gonna go introduce myself. It's not very often a celebrity (besides Gracie) comes here!"

He picked up his backpack from a nearby table, causing cockroaches that lived under it to scatter. Patrick stepped on them. "I'll be back by dinner, Eddie." Eddie replied by blowing a couple bubbles in his tank. Patrick through the door open (which squished a couple more cockroaches) and left for Acre 2-D.

Meanwhile, over by Town Hall, Crazy Redd sat huddled up in his tent reading the Crossing Weekly, the town's local newspaper, ran by Bob. Redd flipped through the pages up the raspberry filled paper. Crazy headlines popped up with "Stalk market rise +23 bells, pttttpth!" and "Golden shovel trees galore, pttttpth!"

Redd folded back up the newspaper and tossed it onto the floor of his odd, green tent. "Argh, I haven't had either a customer or gullible person in here all day!" he shouted, as he kicked the side of a "rare painting" he was selling for 6,572 bells. "It's that cook-off, I'll wager. If I leave the tent, that sniveling raccoon, Nook, will ransack this place! All I need is some money..."

Redd's ears perked as a commotion started outside the door of his tent. He ran to the door and puller the flap down shut. "Hey, what do you think you're doing? You can't come into Redd's without knowing the password!" he put his ear to the tent flap. "You DO know the password, right? So what do you say when I say... 'When the cat's away...'"

"Open up, already, Redd!" said a too-familiar voice outside the tent. "It's me, Phyllis! (Geez, does he always have to ask everyone that?)" Redd slid his head under the tent and saw Phyllis, with a glazed look that could penetrate his skin. "Fine, fine, come in." He pulled the tent flap open and let Phyllis in.

Redd spun around. "So, are you here to buy something from crazy Redd, Cousin Phyllis?"

Phyllis shook her head. "What? No! I'm here to deliver information to you! (Like I'd want your stuff anyway!)"

Redd was surprised. "Really? Well, it's been so long since you've come here for that. Man, that's CRAAAAAAZY!" Phyllis stepped back from Redd. "Sorry," Redd scratched his ears. "Hard habit to break. It's kinda part of the business."

Phyllis shook her head. "Whatever, but listen, this information is top secret. It could get me what I want, and get you want you want. (So listen up!)"

Phyllis whispered in Redd's fox ear the information she mentioned. Redd nodded occasionally with intrigue. Finally, Redd shot up. "Here! But why!" Phyllis shushed him, then continued whispering in his ear. "I see," Redd nodded again. "But what do you suggest I do? There're too many potential witnesses around!"

Phyllis stepped back. "You make the call to 'you-know-who.' Tell him the situation. Then you and I will get our just rewards... (Cha-CHING!)"

Redd stared. "And let's say I don't know this 'you-know-who' person..."

Phyllis groaned. "Who do you think I mean! I'm referring to the man who knows what to do in this kind of 'situation.'" Redd gave another blank stare. Phyllis growled and whispered in his ear again.

"Oh!" he shouted. "Brilliant! But I, uh, don't have a phone..."

Phyllis tossed Redd a purple and black cell phone. "Borrow mine. I have his number on speed dial. Number 5. (Are you really that poor to not afford a phone!)"

Redd punched in multiple numbers and combinations and but the phone to his ear. Phyllis listened in. In no more than 2 dial tones, the phone on the other end was picked up. "Hello," said the man. His voice was coarse, and gave a slight hint to his age. He sounded in a hurry. "What is it? What do you want?"

Redd spoke up first. "This is Redd. Crazy Redd, of Campbell." He turned to Phyllis, who was examining the front cover of Redd's newspaper. "I'm here with Phyllis. We have some information here that may or may not have some interest to you."

"Redd... ah, yes, I remember you two," spoke the man on the other end. "What'd you want to tell me? I'm busy here building thi-"

"This'll definitely be worth your time." Redd continued. Phyllis turned to Redd, holding the newspaper in her right hand and pointing out the article on the front page with her left. The headline read "Sonic the Hedgehog to visit Campbell in 3 days, pttttpth!" Redd quickly read the headline. "It's about a certain blue hedgehog you seem to hate."

"What!" screamed the voice on the other end. "Where is he!"

"That's the thing..." Redd Snickered. "He's right here, in Campbell, along with his three friends."

The man on the other end laughed with evil intention. "Excellent! You've done well, Crazy Redd! Both you and Phyllis will get your reward, as promised but for now, I've a certain blue hedgehog to dispose of!"

"You haven't changed one bit, Dr. Robotnik."

"Please," the man insisted. "Call me Eggman."