Mobotropolis
Sonic and Sheridan stand opposite each other in the now abandoned street. Sheridan smirks as he begins to move forward slowly towards Sonic.
SHERIDAN: It's like looking in a mirror. Well, not quite.
He gestures his hand towards his scarred face. Sonic looks at his duplicate in disgust and then scoffs.
SONIC: Y'know, I thought I'd be much more handsome in the future.
SHERIDAN: Heh, don't get smart with me.
SONIC: So what are you? I mean, I know you're me from the future.
SHERIDAN: In a way, yes.
SONIC: What's that supposed to mean?
SHERIDAN: A few years from now, you disappear, never to be seen again. Everyone mourned, but they eventually moved on. Except for one. Miles "Tails" Prower. He couldn't let go of the fact that his only family was gone forever. So, using your DNA, he created a clone to take your place. He created me. I was exactly like you, a perfect copy. Except for one flaw.
Sonic then realised what he meant.
SONIC: You didn't have my connection to the Speed Force.
SHERIDAN: I didn't have that luxury. I mean, I was fast. But nowhere near as fast as you. And with that fact. I would always be nothing but a pale imitation of the "one and only Sonic the Hedgehog". And I always hated you for that. But, I soon found the solution to my problem. I was raiding one of Eggheads old bases. While I was looking for anything useful, I stumbled upon Eggman's secret. His "masterpiece". It was a core, surrounded in a red aura. Eggman was developing something under the name, Surge. It was meant to make his machines as fast as you, they would all be connected to one force. Essentially, he was creating his own Speed Force. But it was unstable, he labeled it the Surge Virus. It would destroy any machinery within contact. But I felt it calling to me. Wanting to be a part of me. I touched the core, and absorbed its contents. And after that moment. I was finally as fast as you, maybe faster. Not only that, but it showed me the truth. The others thought I was mad. I realised how to deal with the weaknesses of emotion and pain. I realised the truth, Maurice. God feels no pain. All I had to do was become one. And I only need two more things. To find the Forever Crystal, so that I may have control of all of time, and achieve my ascension.
Sonic thought for a moment. He didn't know what this "Forever Crystal" was, but he shook it off and then asked the obvious question.
SONIC: And the other?
Sheridan chuckles.
SHERIDAN: It may sound ironic given who I'm talking to. But I'll keep that one to myself.
Sonic scolds his future clone. Sheridan then gives Sonic a hateful glare.
SHERIDAN: My ascendancy is nearing. And when I have control of all of time, you will be abandoned and forgotten!
Sheridan turned his back to Sonic and began walking away. Sonic took this opportunity to spin dash Sheridan right in the back. He landed harshly on the floor and turned to Sonic.
SONIC: This ends right here.
SHERIDAN: Have you already forgotten?
Red electricity begins to surround his body.
SHERIDAN: I'm faster than you.
Sheridan ran off and Sonic followed directly behind him. Sonic chased his future clone throughout the entire city. Sheridan runs down the streets of Mobotropolis with Sonic trailing behind him. Sheridan turns left and runs up a building, Sonic follows suit. They run all the way up to the roof and they both jump from one roof to another. They jump to another roof, as Sonic lands, Sheridan runs up to him and clotheslines him to the ground. As he tries to get up, Sheridan grabs him by the neck and raises him in the air.
SHERIDAN: How boring. I expected more from my predecessor.
Sheridan begins to squeeze Sonic's neck. Sonic gasps as he is starting to lose air.
SHERIDAN: I want so badly to kill you. And I will. But you have to live a little while longer. Long enough for my goals to become a reality.
Sheridan then punches Sonic in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. Sonic coughs and rubs his neck as Sheridan runs off. Sonic looks and sees that his duplicate is gone. Sonic scowls and runs back to his friends.
South Park
Back in South Park, Kyle is watching TV in his living room. His skin is noticeably paler and his eyes are looking greener than usual. The program on the television is a talk show and the person being interviewed on the show is none other than the one he has been harassing, Freja Ollengaurd.
TALK SHOW HOST: We are back again with the brave Olympic gold medalist from Denmark, Freja Ollengaurd. Freja, you've talked about being trolled on the Internet and its consequences.
FREJA: Yes, Heidi. I believe trolling has a tragic effect on innocent people.
TALK SHOW HOST: You have been the victim of horrific, degrading attacks spearheaded by a troll called Skankhunt42.
THE VOICE: Nice.
FREJA: I've tried to just ignore the trolls, but that only seems to make them attack me more.
TALK SHOW HOST: It must be so awful for you to create a website for women like yourself who are breast cancer survivors, and these monsters get on and somehow make light of it, even going as far as ridiculing mastectomies.
FREJA: Yes, it's very disgusting, but I still try very hard to believe in the goodness of humanity.
TALK SHOW HOST: Well, I can tell you that the support for you on our website has been overwhelming. We'd like to share some comments we've received, many from doctors who believe your website is saving lives. The first is a comment from a physician in Spain. "You go girl. You're doing great things. Don't let trolling stop you." And that is from Dr. Juerdo Titsgo in Spain.
THE VOICE: He shoots!
KYLE: He scores!
TALK SHOW HOST: And there's this one - "Believe in yourself and don't listen to the haters. You're an inspiration." That's from Hungarian physician Dr. Courtsier Boobsoff.
KYLE: From the three-point line!
TALK SHOW HOST: I'm sorry. Am I missing something?
Kyle is still laughing but he stops when he hears someone knocking at the door. He walks to the door and opens it, Stan is standing there with a sad expression on his face.
STAN: Wendy broke up with me.
Kyle raises an eyebrow.
KYLE: So?
Stan looks pissed off now.
STAN: What do you mean by that?!
KYLE: I mean, so what? This isn't new. The amount of times you two idiots have broken up is hilarious.
Stan was about to retort but then he took notice of Kyle. He saw the differences in his skin tone and his eyes. His face then turns to a worried expression.
STAN: Kyle? Are you okay?
KYLE: I'm fine. Why?
STAN: It's just. You've been acting differently lately.
Kyle then looked annoyed.
KYLE: How so?
STAN: You've been acting like….Cartman.
Kyle then punches Stan in the face and he falls to the ground. Stan looks up and sees the expression on his best friend's face. He looks like he wants to kill Stan.
KYLE: Don't. Ever compare me. To Eric Cartman. EVER! You need to just mind your own damn business, Stan. You won't like what you find.
Kyle then closes the door on him and Stan is left stunned. His best friend just punched him in the face. If Stan wasn't convinced before, he sure is now. Something is definitely wrong with Kyle.
Mobotropolis
Back in the night club, Sonic just finished explaining to everyone the identity of Sheridan. To say that everyone was shocked, would be an understatement.
SONIA: That's impossible.
KNUCKLES: I don't understand, how can Sheridan be you?
Sonic then looks to the floor.
SONIC: He's not me. Not really.
BATMAN: He's the worst parts of you. Your jealousy, your spitefulness, your anger.
MANIC: Sorry, let's run it back here. I'm still confused as to how this wackjob is you. How is that possible?
SONIC: *Sigh* He's a clone of me from the future who went crazy because he felt that in everyone's eyes, he was nothing more than a replacement for me. He felt broken and alone. That drove him mad.
SALLY: Okay, so if Tails decides not to create a clone of you, then that should erase him from existence.
TAILS: That's not how time works.
IRON MAN: Not necessarily.
SONIC: What do you mean?
IRON MAN: A lot of things changed after Crisis. People were brought back from the dead, the rules of different earths were altered. It is possible that the rules of time could have been affected as well.
TAILS: What makes you so sure?
IRON MAN: I talked to Strange about it. After Crisis, he felt that the timeline had been altered somehow. Strange did a little digging and it is possible that the rules of time had been altered after Crisis.
SONIA: If that's the case, then all Tails has to do is not create Sheridan.
BATMAN: It's not that easy.
KNUCKLES: How isn't it easy. All Tails has to do is not create some crazy clone.
BATMAN: Think about it like this. Sonic goes missing in the future. Everyone mourns and eventually comes to terms with his supposed death. Except for Tails, he can't come to terms that he is gone. He may decide now not to make a clone of his best friend, but we all know how it feels to lose someone. That feeling of guilt and self blame. It eventually gets to us, and we do something to cope. And that's what Tails is gonna do. He may do it a few days after Sonic's supposed death. He may do it years later. He may do it a decade later. What's certain is that Tails will do it, eventually.
IRON MAN: So what you're saying is….
TAILS: Sheridan's a paradox. He's an inescapable outcome in the timeline. And it's my fault.
SONIC: Tails…
TAILS: It's my fault. Don't try to deny it.
Tails then walks to the door.
TAILS: I need some air.
He walks out of the room. Sonic turns to his friends and family.
SONIC: I'll go talk to him.
Sonic leaves the room. Tony then breaks the uncomfortable silence.
IRON MAN: Alright, while he's doing that, we should at least know about what Sheridan wants. Sonic said he mentioned a "Forever Crystal"?
He turned to Sonic's family.
IRON MAN: Any of you heard of it?
The twins shake their heads but Aleena sighs. They all took notice of this.
MANIC: Ma? Do you know something?
ALEENA: I know of the artefact Robotnik and Sheridan seek. Long ago, when the Multiverse was first created, the remaining multiversal energy left over from the birth of the multiverse was forged into a crystal. As time went on, the energy within the crystal was becoming too much for it to handle, it eventually exploded. It was split into four pieces, not only that, but not all of its energy was sealed in the four pieces. Its split energy was scattered around the multiverse and formed into various creations. The energy that went to Earth 1 formed into the Anti-Life Equation. The energy that went to Earth 616 formed into the Infinity Stones. The energy that went to Earth 1991 formed into the Chaos Emeralds. And the strongest energy went to Foundation Prime and was formed into the Foundation of all Dimensions.
This revelation shocked everyone in the room.
IRON MAN: How do you know all of this?
ALEENA: The Oracle of Delphius was informed of this by a man in mutton chops.
BATMAN: The Monitor.
ALEENA: He handed a map of its various pieces to the Oracle and he entrusted the map into my care. I swore an oath to make sure that the map does not fall into the hands of those who would choose to do harm instead of good.
SALLY: We have to get that map back.
BATMAN: At all costs.
IRON MAN: Ugh, and just when I thought we could relax after the Metallix fiasco.
Sonic walked out to see Tails staring at the stars. Sonic places a hand on his little brother's shoulder. Tails looks at him with guilt written all over his face.
SONIC: It's not your fault.
TAILS: Then whose is it? Who else created a psychopathic clone of their best friend?
SONIC: No one blames you, bro. Can you name anyone who was in your situation who wouldn't do the exact same thing? I would do the exact same thing. You're only mobian, we all make mistakes. Now stop moping and give me a hug.
The two then embrace in a hug for a moment before heading back inside.
South Park
In South Park Elementary, PC Principal was interviewing Stan, Kyle, Butters and Kenny. PC Principal did not look happy at all.
PC PRINCIPAL: All right, boys. I've had just about enough of playing games. The four of you were good friends with Eric Cartman, and yet none of you seem to know why he left social media.
No one said anything.
PC PRINCIPAL: Nobody's got anything to say? Well, I have a theory. I think that Eric Cartman was somehow forced to leave social media as a retaliation for Heidi Turner quitting social media! Now, because of the actions of one sexist, bigoted, racist troll, we have a gender war on our hands. Make no mistake, gentlemen. Our community is under attack. And if we don't get to the bottom of it, there's gonna be more students like Eric Cartman wandering the hallways with no connection to the rest of the world.
Kyle simply scoffed at that, gaining looks from everyone in the room.
PC PRINCIPAL: Something you find amusing, Broflovski?
KYLE: Oh nothing. I'm just wondering why you've immediately questioned us when you haven't even considered the possibility of the girls.
PC PRINCIPAL: The girls?
KYLE: Yes, for all we know, they could've been the ones responsible for Cartman going offline. Yet, you didn't consider that, did you?
The room was silent.
KYLE: Didn't think so. You immediately went to us. Why? Because we're boys. And apparently, just because we're boys, we're meant to rough house and do this type of shit. That's a stereotype, PC Principal. And you have associated a stereotype to a specific gender. You are sexist and you are a bigot.
PC Principal was left stunned, the boys looked shocked and Kyle just chuckled to himself and got off of his chair and went for the door.
KYLE: I leave you to think about that.
Kyle then left the office, leaving everyone in the room stunned. Later on in the evening, Kyle was watching the news on his phone, when a news report regarding Freja Ollengaurd popped up. He turned the volume up on his phone and listened to the news.
NEWS ANCHOR: The athlete from Denmark has been the target of relentless online attacks that began with the troll Skankhunt42. Last night, the trolling took a vicious turn when Freja Ollengaurd finally succumbed to the pressure and committed suicide. Danish women's volleyball champion Freja Ollengaurd has been pronounced dead outside her apartment in Copenhagen. The four-time gold medal winner took her own life after jumping 17 floors from the balcony of her building. Freja Ollengaurd, dead at the age of 38.
Kyle then dropped the phone and had a panicked look on his face. He felt sick and rushed to the bathroom and emptied the contents of his stomach into the toilet. He flushed the toilet and looked in the mirror and saw The Voice staring back at him.
THE VOICE: Now, I know this looks bad.
KYLE: LOOKS BAD?! SHE KILLED HERSELF! SHE FUCKING KILLED HERSELF! AND IT'S OUR FAULT!
THE VOICE: How?
Kyle then looked puzzled.
THE VOICE: How is it our fault? We just voiced our opinion on the internet. It's not our fault the dumb bitch didn't like it and decided to kill herself.
Kyle would normally argue the point but this time, he closed his eyes and said nothing. He opened them again and his eyes looked greener than before.
KYLE: You're right. It isn't our fault.
THE VOICE: Exactly. Now just keep on listening to me and it will all pay off. After this is done, everyone will give you the respect you so rightfully deserve.
Kyle smiled and then began to laugh.
Denmark
Over in Denmark, a man by the name of Lennart Bedrager was speaking to the people who were attending the funeral of Freja Ollengaurd.
LENNART: Citizens of Denmark. We are under attack. Our ancestors did it in days long ago, we must rise to defend our families. A troll has come into our village and taken from us a beloved princess. He then returned to his secret hiding place, crawled back to his little cave, thinking the Danes would simply cry and run. No. What this troll doesn't realize is that we have been planning our own attack. I am announcing here and to the world that a plan to destroy the troll is underway. For in Denmark, there is one thing we have known for centuries, to get a troll to come out of hiding, you must say its name.
A/N: And I'll leave it there. We learned the origin of Sheridan and how he got his abilities. Eggman and Sheridan are after the Forever Crystal. Kyle is descending further into madness and the Danish have something planned to draw Kyle out. Anyway, see you next chapter.
