Chapter Three

"I truly understand, Sonic." Scourge begins. "You were so terrified of facing of us again that you brought your little friend along to help."
"You shouldn't underestimate me." Shadow says in a cold tone.
"Oh, I will. I mean just look at you. Who wouldn't be underwhelmed?
"I need you to warn the other Freedom Fighters about those two." Sonic says to Amy.
"Why, Sonic are you asking me for help?" Amy asks with a smile on her face."I guess you could put it like that."
"I gotcha, Sonic! You can rely on me! I won't let you down!"

Amy waves goodbye to Sonic as she rushes off to find the Freedom Fighters.

"What do you think you're doing!" Mandy interrupts. This isn't social time! We're suppose to be fighting!" He yells at Sonic.
"I get it, alright? You don't have to yell." Sonic pulls out a glowing magic ring.
"Oh great. You're going to try to destroy us with that?" Mandy asks looking unimpressed.
"Not exactly. I'm not even sure if this will work." Sonic says still holding on to the ring.
"Will what work?" Shadow asks.
"This is the one billionth ring that I've collected long ago. It should be good for something right?"

Just then a bright light shines around Sonic. The light transforms him into his super self. He tosses the ring to Shadow. The ring transforms Shadow as well turning him into Hyper Shadow.

"That doesn't scare us." Scourge scoffs.
"We didn't ask you if it did!" Shadow replies while blasting at Scourge. Scourge throws a shield blocking Shadow's attack.
"Let me show you what real power feels like!" Scourge yells. He blasts at Shadow knocking him to the ground.

Meanwhile Mandy keeps blasting at Sonic but misses due to Sonic's quick reflexes. Sonic jumps up into the air curling himself into a ball and hits Mandy on the head. Enraged Mandy grabs Sonic and slams him into the ground. Before Sonic can react Mandy grabs him by his throat. He stores up his energy for a couple of seconds. Then he blasts at Sonic with full force. Sonic goes flying into the air before falling hard on the ground. He tries his best to shake the pain off forcing himself to stand up again.

"How can he be so powerful?" Sonic wonders.
"Shadow! We have to attack them together!"
"You actually sound worried." Shadow says.
"I just may be."

Shadow rushes over to Sonic's side.

"Are you ready?" Shadow asks Sonic.
"Yes, I am." Sonic answers.
"Chaos Blast!" They both yell releasing a powerful wave of energy. It is about to the two when suddenly Scourge yells out.
"Chaos Control!"

The blast stops hovering in midair.

"Fantasy Switch!" Mandy yells.

This causes the blasts to turn around and speed towards Sonic and Shadow hitting them instead!
The force of the blast knocks them both to the ground. They struggle to stand up but then Scourge and Mandy yell. "Full Blast!"

A powerful burst of energy flies down. It hits Sonic and Shadow. Then a hole opens up in the ground causing the two to fall into it. Mandy recites a spell, which closes up the ground trapping the two inside of it!

"Our job here is done." Scourge says with an evil grin on his face.
"Where now?" Mandy asks.
"To New Megaopolis." Scourge says he as teleports away.

Mandy follows teleporting himself away as well.
Amy with the other Freedom Fighters following rush out but they are too late.

"They were right here fighting with Scourge with Mandy." Amy explains while looking around.

The ground starts to rumble a bit. The dirt breaks away opening a hole in which Sonic climbs out of. He pulls Shadow out of the hole as well. They both look tired. Covered with wounds from their recent battle.

Sally looks at Sonic horrified. "Are you okay?"
"Do I really look that bad?" Sonic asks.
"Yes, you do. I must not be in any better shape either." Shadow replies looking wearily.

Sonic wobbles a bit as he stands.

"I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me." After speaking Sonic closes his eyes and passes out falling to the ground.
"Bunnie and Antoine! I want you two to escort Sonic and Shadow to the infirmary immediately!" Sally orders.
"We're on it!" Bunnie replies.
"Everyone else come with me!" Sally continues saying. We're going to find the two responsible for this!"

Meanwhile in New Megaopolis Eggman is sitting down in the monitoring room. He is observing the many monitors watching for any signs of peculiar activity.

"How odd. Usually by now Sonic and his pesky friends would be interfering in one way or the other." Eggman ponders to himself.

The door to the room slams open. Startled Eggman leaps out from his seat.

"Who's there?" He demands.

Scourge and Mandy step into the room.

"We are." Mandy answers.

"We're have to accomplish what Sonic never did. Which means we're going to defeat you once and for all!" Scourge says with determination.
"Swatbots! Get rid of these troublesome pests!" Eggman bellows.
"Yes, sir." A trio of swatbots say as they come into the room.

They aim their blasters at Scourge and Mandy while Eggman sneaks away quietly. Scourge and Mandy throw up their shields deflecting the attack from the swatbots. They blast at the Swatbots turning them into piles of scrap metal. They run out of the room and catch up to Eggman very easily.

"You're not getting away from us!" Mandy yells as he attacks Eggman. Scourge joins in and attacks also.
"Do you give up?" Scourge asks.
"Yes! Yes! Just stop attacking me! Your brutal powers are simply too much for me!"

Meanwhile Sonic and Shadow are at the infirmary. They are lying in bed covered in gauze.

Sonic sighs unhappily.

"I wish I could out there helping everyone."
"We did our part and that's all that can really be asked of us." Shadow says. He notices Sonic getting out his bed and sneaking over to the door.
"What are you doing?" Shadow asks in an annoyed tone.
"I'm getting out of here. You can join if you promise not to slow me down."
"You're only going to get yourself into trouble." Shadow scolds.
"You worry too much. I'll be okay." Sonic says as he starts to open the door slowly.

All of a sudden the door flies open knocking Sonic over. Knuckles rushes in. He picks Sonic off of the ground and starts shaking him rapidly.

"I heard you got into a fight with Mandy! Where is he! Tell me now!"

Knuckles looks into Sonic's face and notices how wounded he is. He let's go of Sonic's arms looking ashamed.

"Opps. Sorry. I didn't know you got beat up that badly."

Sonic laughs nervously back away from Knuckles slightly.

"That's alright. Just don't do it again."
"We have not seen Mandy or his friend Scourge in quite some time. The Freedom Fighters are currently looking for them." Shadow answers.

Tails comes running into the room.

"Everyone! I have the best news ever!" Tails says with excitement in his voice.
"What is it?" Sonic asks.
"Eggman has been defeated! For good this time!"

Sonic looks at Knuckles happily.

"So, that's why you were gone so long! I truly am impressed, Knuckles!"
"It wasn't me." Knuckles says.

"Oh? Then let's not waste anymore time talking! I'm going to see for myself, later!" Sonic zips out of the room. Everyone follows heading outside.

There they see a beat up Eggman wearing handcuffs. He is being escorted to jail by the Royal Acorn palace guards. Knuckles stands beside Sonic.

"I can't believe it's actually over." Knuckles says.
"Who did it? Who defeated Eggman?" Sonic asks.
"It's hard to tell with this huge crowd in front of us." Knuckles says. "We should try to find a spot where we can get a better view."

Sonic sees a nearby tree. He climbs up it and stands on a thick branch. He sees two people walking in front of Eggman waving to the crowd.

"Well? Who is it?" Knuckles asks.
"….It's Scourge and Mandy." Sonic answers in disbelief.
"That's impossible! Those two! They must in cahoots with Eggman."
"You're right. Sooner or later they'll help him escape and everything will go back to normal…." Sonic says his voice trailing off.

End of Chapter Three

Endnotes: If you read my fic then please review it. And if you want to see where Scourge came from just check out Sonic #160 & 161!