Disclaimer- I don't own the games or the show.

Hello, and welcome back! Are all of you ready for a good Bro-Down Showdown?

Tails had a bad feeling when the sauces and lone pepper remained on the table, not disappearing like he thought they would. "Uh…is anyone else a little worried that they haven't gone away yet?"

More than a little, but Sonic didn't let that show. "I'm pretty sure that they'll go in a bit! If not-" He casted Shadow a teasing look. "-then I think they're here as incentives to not accidentally doze off."

Luckily for Shadow, his body's adventures with edible lava, hiccups, and brain freezes had jolted it awake. At least temporarily. But even so, "Faker, if you come near me with any of those, I will make sure you never run again."

Sonic waved him off. "Pfft! As if you'll catch me!"

"You'll have to sleep eventually."

Those words rung true, and Sonic thought maybe that he should skip out on that prank for now.

Knuckles saw the subtle dread on his face. "Good choice." He eyed the spicy condiments as well. "As long as no one messes with them, I'm sure the thing will take them away."

Tails bit his lip. "Or it could use its powers to attack us with them…"

Everyone stiffened. Amy gave him a wild look. "Why would you even give it that idea! I will literally die, Tails, if I eat any of that!"

Tails felt nauseous at the thought of it. "I was just saying-"

"Refrain from doing so next time," Metal nearly hissed. He refused to go through that again, and they were all out of dairy products. He doubted the being would be kind enough to hand them more.

Eggman would rather lose another battle than be brutally tortured with the heat of that pepper. "How about we stop talking about it and get to the next-" The words died in his throat when one of the bottles rattled on the table. "I call the bathroom." Hopefully locks worked against the thing.

Sonic watched wide-eyed as the bottle settled back down. Nothing happened afterwards. His voice was an octave higher than usual. "How about we just start the show? Speed this along, you know?"

Amy agreed with him wholeheartedly. Keeping her imminent death in her periphery, she read the title of the next episode. "'Bro-Down Showdown'? What does that even mean?"

"Sounds like a competition between bros!" Sonic sat forward in interest, ready to dodge if one of those condiments suddenly was hurled toward him. "It's gotta be a Sonic and Tails episode!"

Normally, Knuckles would be all for that, but considering what happened last episode… "As long as the topic of romance is avoided at all costs, then this shouldn't be too bad."

Amy agreed, sorta. "I want to see Tails with Zooey, though! They're so cute together!"

"I'd rather they keep that off-screen…" Tails muttered. He didn't have anything against seeing them together – his twin deserved it after what he and Zooey was put through – but he really wanted the second-hand embarrassment to be minimal here.

Amy tisked at him. Sonic was a terrible influence, and she hoped that the kit would embrace love soon enough. Or at least crush on someone so hard that he would become friends with them, tearing down their walls one miniscule brick at a time.

She would get Sonic eventually.

The scene started off at Amy's house. The hedgehog was inside sitting on her couch, cleaning her hammer. When there was a knock on her door, she placed down her weapon to open it, only to reveal Leroy the turtle.

Eggman already hated this episode. "Can someone get rid of that nuisance?" That turtle made him sympathize with his twin last episode; he would rather not ever do it again.

"Amy should slam the door in his face," Knuckles grumbled. He knew that there was a slim chance of that happening, but still.

"Telegram for Amy Rose," he said, glancing down at the paper in his hands. "You've won the 'Most Selfless' award."

Nevermind how the turtle had miraculously delivered mail, Knuckles rose a curious brow. "The 'Most Selfless' award? I feel like that shouldn't go to her."

Amy had to agree. "Yeah, my twin has had some…hiccups in the past. It should go to someone like Zooey! She gave the other Tails a chance even after all of those questionable things he did. I know that I would have to at least think about it first."

Knuckles scoffed. "So if Sonic asked you out poorly reciting an opera with peacock feathers in his flailing hands, you wouldn't say yes on the spot?"

"Sonic's different, and you know it."

"Mine!" Amy snatched the certificate away with enough force to send Leroy to the ground on his back.

Metal didn't mind her blatant selfish behavior. "That is what the doctor should've done in the first place last episode."

"Amy?" Sonic and Knuckles then walked up, ignoring Leroy completely. The speedster went on to ask, "What is it?"

Normally, Eggman wouldn't agree with the actions of the heroes – especially not the ones on-screen – but this resonated within him deeply. "Hopefully they don't ever acknowledge his existence."

Tails understood that Leroy hadn't been the most…cooperative character, but he personally wouldn't leave him there. "I wonder why they're ignoring him, though? Did they have bad experiences with him too?"

"Probably!" Amy has had few issues with her mail in the past, and a simple delay would ruin her whole day. She couldn't imagine going through what the other Eggman had on a constant basis. She would've ensured a change in staff one way or another. "But I would help him up anyway just so the next people wouldn't have to deal with late deliveries."

She smiled at them. "A few weeks ago, I submitted myself for this year's most selfless award." Amy waved the paper. "And I just found out that I won!"

Knuckles furrowed his brow. "Uh, you submitted yourself? Can you do that?"

"Now, when my twin is questioning what you did, you know you messed up."

Sonic agreed with Knuckles. "Yeah! Submitting yourself is kinda cheating, isn't it? And wouldn't that make you selfish in the first place by not submitting someone else?"

The echidna thought of something, and he grinned. "I guess she had to considering none of her friends probably did it."

Sonic snickered. "Makes me wonder how in the world she won it, then?"

"She specializes in physical persuasion."

"Yeah, that's definitely how she did it."

Amy's smile faded, voice growing harsh. "In this life, you gotta look out for number one!" She turned around and walked deeper into her home.

Silence, then-

"I'm having trouble categorizing her as crazy or not."

"She's not crazy!" Amy glared at Shadow, and he wasn't affected whatsoever. "She's just…really passionate sometimes!" Amy knew that she was sugar-coating it, but she had to protect her twin somehow, right?

"There is a thin line between passionate and insane," Metal defended him. "And she is suspiciously very acquainted with it."

Leroy accepted his fate. "I deserve this."

"I'm glad that he realized," Eggman said, Metal and Knuckles sharing the same thought.

Amy started to pack when Sonic and Knuckles stepped inside. "So, um, while you're gone, you're gonna need a house-sitter, huh?" Sonic suggested.

Tails frowned in confusion. "They want to house-sit? How long is she going to be gone?"

"Better question is where is she going," Knuckles uttered. "She already got the award."

The pinkette deadpanned at him. "The last time I left you two here, I came back to find a family of skunks living in the crawlspace."

Amy cringed at that. She could just imagine the stench if one of them had sprayed. She'd be hesitant to let them back in too.

"You should be flattered!" Knuckles retorted. "Skunks are very picky."

Amy gave an unimpressed hum.

Sonic took a shot next. "Come on, Amy. Let us stay here! I need a change in scenery-" He slouched. "-and it gets boring watching a majestic sunset of an endless tranquil sea of blue outside my beachfront paradise every day."

Sonic chuckled even though he could kinda understand where his twin was coming from. The same setting could get boring after a while, but when Sonic got away, he got away. Moving from a beachfront shack to another one a little bit more inland wasn't going to cut it. "Picky, isn't he?"

"I know!" Amy couldn't fathom why he would complain. "Anyone would love to have that beautiful view every time they woke up!" She pursed her lips in thought. "And he's acting like he can't take a mini vacation somewhere."

Shadow crossed his arms, grunting. "He can't because apparently without him, the doctor would take over despite having three other questionably capable friends to rely on."

Amy listed the friends on her fingers, noticing one missing. She had a good feeling about who it was. "You're forgetting St-"

"I didn't miscount."

Knuckles shrugged. "At least he called Mittens questionably capable. More than what I would say."

"And I want to watch cable!" Knuckles desperately added.

Sonic smirked. "He's got his priorities straight." He sent Knuckles a taunting look. "Do you miss cable on that isolated island of yours, Knux?"

"Nope," Knuckles easily replied. "No one gets as bored as quickly as you do, Sonic."

"Ain't that the truth…" Tails muttered under his breath.

Amy gave them a level look, not swayed at all.

The boys clasped their hands together, pleading, "Please please please please!"

"Can we stay?" Sonic asked.

Knuckles encouragingly grinned. "Be a guy!"

"Where does Knuckles live, anyway?" Amy asked, thinking about how desperate he was for a TV. "We've never seen his house, have we?"

"We have not seen my double either, but I supposedly do have one," Metal answered, reminding himself that he had yet seen the reason he'd been stuck here. However, obtaining a living body made the wait somewhat bearable for him – disregarding having a combustible mouth and a mutinous stomach. "He most likely lives in a cave elsewhere, similar to the badger."

"Like Sticks?"

"Yes, but cleaner."

Knuckles snorted. "Again, you're giving him a lot of credit here. He allowed skunks to live in Amy's house."

"So did my copy's copy," Metal retorted. "And look where he lives. Granted, his house is lacking doors, but it is habitable nonetheless."

Sonic gasped. "Is that…a compliment, Mets? Did I hear that right?"

The former robot narrowed his eyes. "No, it was a blatant fact. Also, I had not been complimenting you."

"Well, I have doors to my place, so if you're complimenting him, you're complimenting me."

"No."

"Just admit it!"

"No."

"Come onnnnn-"

"Copy, if you do not shut up, I will get the pepper," Metal said, and he instantly regretted doing so when said torture device began floating menacingly in the air. Then, it turned until the pointed end aimed at him instead of Sonic. Metal froze and hastily rushed out, "I was not serious. It had been an empty threat."

Amy's gaze snapped between the spice and Metal, whispering, "I've never been this terrified of a food before."

"Even Meh Burger's?" Tails asked just as quietly, refusing to take his eyes off the pepper.

Amy had to think about it. "…No, this is worse. Definitely worse."

Metal's mind was whirling, unable to figure out a way to halt his incoming doom, but Sonic seemingly found a solution. "Hey, Metal…you sure that you weren't technically complimenting me?"

"I was not-" Metal paused in his automatic reaction when it clicked. Painfully swallowing his pride, he forced, "I was not not complimenting you. Yes, you having doors does make your living spaces more…habitable."

With that, the pepper plopped back down on its plate.

The room collectively sighed.

Amy held a hand up to her chest. "My heart's pounding!"

Knuckles never thought of how oppressive peppers could be until now. "Why did it target Metal anyway? Does just mentioning its name cause it to move?"

"Dunno…" Tails wasn't going to be the one to test that theory out. "Maybe it did it in response to Metal's blatant lie?"

Metal resisted the urge to argue that so he wouldn't have a pepper shoved down his throat.

"It doesn't matter." Shadow snapped. He did not feel like going through that ordeal again. He'd rather babysit Froggy for a month. "Don't mention it in any shape or form, and we should be fine."

Eggman thought that his stay here was looking up because of the video he managed to record. Turned out that he was wrong. "When did my life turn into a B-grade horror movie?"

"The first time you looked in the mirror with that 'stache."

Eggman counted the minutes until he got his vacation away from that smiling blue menace.

Relenting, Amy groaned. "Ugh, fine! But only because I am extremely selfless." Her green eyes glared. "But if you two do anything foolish, I promise you will face my wrath!"

"Selflessness and wrath, huh?" Sonic nodded. "Makes sense."

The smile came back when she genially waved. "Ta-ta!" Amy grabbed her suitcase and rolled it out of the door, leaving Sonic and Knuckles alone.

"She is insane."

"No, Metal!" Amy opposed. "Didn't you say that she was on the line?"

"Yes. Now, she had obliterated it completely."

The boys high-fived when she left. "Yeah!"

Sonic smirked. "Wanna do somethin' foolish?"

Knuckles matched his expression. "Do you even hafta ask?"

Knuckles was starting to have a bad feeling about this. Normally, the other Sonic's appearance didn't bother him, but currently, the hedgehog and Mittens seemed to be sharing the same wavelength. They needed a character to balance this out. "Weird how Tails hasn't shown up yet. This one has to be about him and Sonic, right?"

Both eager to see what his double would do and feeling sorry about the future condition of Amy's shack, Sonic grinned over at Knuckles. "We thought that beforehand, but it could be about those two! They got that bro synergy goin' on!"

"Don't ever say that again."

Sonic chuckled. "It's true! And we got it, too!" Knuckles was going to refute it. Sonic didn't let him. "Tails and I are bros, but me and you are bros. Got each other's back, you know? Through the thick and thin! You and I might disagree a bit sometimes, but we always help each other in the end! We're totally bros!"

Knuckles grumbled and looked away.

Sonic cheekily smiled. "Admit it, Knux. You can do it. Come on."

Knuckles remained silent.

Sonic continued, "Speed and strength. Red and blue. Grapes and chili dogs."

Knuckles winced at that combination. "You're barely making sense."

"And I'll make even less if you don't say we're bros."

Knuckles sighed, trying to ignore Sonic's expectant expression. He recalled all of their adventures and admitted, "Fine, yeah, we are."

Sonic leaned forward. "We're what…?"

The echidna shook his head because this was so stupid, but that didn't keep the small smile off his face. "We're bros. Happy now?"

Laughing, Sonic sped over to him and gave him a noogie. "Aw, I'm touched, Knux!"

"Soak it in all you want…" Knuckles struggled a bit before smirking, easily breaking Sonic's grasp and putting him in a headlock, messing up his quills. "Because that's the last time I'm saying it!"

Amy shook her head good-naturedly. "Boys will be boys."

Tails watched in amusement as Sonic attempted to escape the trap, only succeeding when Knuckles eventually let him go. As Sonic returned to his seat, straightening mussed quills, Tails said to Knuckles, "You know that he's never going to let you forget this, right?"

Knuckles rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

"And he's probably going to carve it on the Master Emerald alter at some point."

"Don't let him do that."

The next shot showed Sonic standing on top of a stone slab that Knuckles was holding over his head. Knuckles hurled it with a grunt, and Sonic rode the slab around the home like a surfboard, twisting and turning and nearly breaking fragile décor.

Amy couldn't believe what she was seeing. "While that looks fun in all, why do they have to do that inside? There's gotta be fun hills and cliffs they could do that on without destroying their selfness yet wrathful friend's house!"

Tails could only imagine what the other Amy would do if she found out. "I'm a little scared for them."

"They should know the risk involved." Metal pointed out. "Either they do not care, or they already have their wills written out."

Eventually flipping off the stone, Sonic landed on the couch while Knuckles caught the slab before it crashed into anything. The hedgehog picked up a vase that had been knocked down and proudly exclaimed, "Stuck it!"

Knuckles ran over to him with a grin. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

They both leaned forward in excitement. "Nacho break!"

Knuckles knew that this wasn't going to end well, somehow.

Metal tilted his head at the screen. He shouldn't be thinking about food right now, but he couldn't help it. He pictured the cheese and the chips and asked, "Are nachos as good as cookies?"

Sonic shrugged. "Depending on what you're in the mood for: sweet or savory! They are pretty delicious, though, especially if you add some salsa-"

"Shhh!" Amy briskly cut him off, and when his astonished gaze landed on her, she motioned to the pepper.

Sonic's breath caught in his throat. Hopefully the word salsa hadn't triggered it. There had to be salsa somewhere in the world that didn't have peppers, right? Right.

After a few seconds, the pepper still hadn't moved. The hot sauces were stationary also.

Wiping his forehead, Sonic faced Metal, who had blanched at the mention of spice. The speedster gave an apologetic smile. "The perfect combination is tortilla chips and cheese. Nothing else. No other ingredients."

Metal curtly nodded, wisely leaving it at that.

The duo was then eating cheesy nachos on Amy's couch, watching TV. Enjoying his snack, Knuckles didn't notice some cheese dripping onto the purple cushion until it was too late.

Amy sighed. "And it begins…"

They both look at each other in panic before Sonic wobbly smiled. "It's okay! It's just…a small stain!" He held up a cloth. "We can fix this!" Sonic leaned over Knuckles to wipe the cheese, but he only smeared it more.

Tails and Amy simultaneously shook their heads in disappointment.

"Uh…" Knuckles hurried to think of a solution. "I heard seltzer can get out stains!"

Knuckles was marginally impressed. It was better than nothing.

Sonic sped off and quickly returned with a bottle of soda. "No seltzer, but there's grape soda!" Taking the top off, he said, "It has bubbles, so it should work!" He poured the drink onto the yellow stain, creating a worse and bigger one.

"Why did he…" Horribly confused, Sonic ran a hand down his face. "Even I know that grape soda is the number one cause of stains! It's the worst flavor to spill!" He'd had plenty of experience with that.

"Did they find another body-switching meteorite?" That was the only conclusion Metal could come up with. "He could not have possibly believed that the purple would magically disappear."

Knuckles snorted. "I bet the couch is going to be completely unrecognizable by the end of this."

Knuckles glared. "Aw, you soaked it! Better take it outside to dry in the sun."

Amy winced. Watching this was painful. "Right, because that's how stains work. Cheese doesn't even evaporate!"

With effort, they picked up the sofa and tried to take it outside, Knuckles in the lead. They were grunting with strain when the couch refused to fit through the door. Eventually, it began to rip.

"The thought of angling it never crossed their minds?" Knuckles deadpanned.

"Of course not," Metal said. "They are sharing one brain cell at the moment."

"Whoa!" Sonic stared at the tear with wide eyes. "You're ripping it!"

"You're ripping it!" Knuckles heatedly countered.

After trying with all their might for another moment, they look at each other in defeat before sliding the couch back to its proper place.

Tails sighed in relief. "At least they won't have to deal with a destroyed door frame."

Knuckles sat down on it and sighed. "Amy's gonna kill us! What do we do?!"

"Do you think you and your bro have what it takes to throw down on 'Bro-Down Showdown'?" Comedy Chimp's voice filtered through the television, catching their attention.

Amy had never been happier to see that chimp in his regular clothes. That black dress had not been flattering at all.

"The show where bros compete to show how well they know their bro? 'Bro-Down Showdown' will be taping at the village center this weekend!"

"That's the plot of this one? Winning a game show to probably replace Amy's couch?" Sonic would've preferred something with more action, but this could be fun to watch. "Sounds easy!"

"Too easy," Knuckles muttered. "Eggman is definitely getting involved in this somehow."

Eggman wished that wasn't the case, but it was inevitable at this point. "All I ask is that he just shows up at the very end to quickly be defeated."

"You know that's not gonna happen, Eggy."

"Can I not have a chance to hope, pincushion?"

Knuckles frowned. "How's that gonna help us? Stupid TV."

"Don't miss your chance to win a brand new couch!"

"Still don't get it."

"Yes, you heard right! A brand new couch!"

Knuckles stared for a few seconds. "Nope. Nothing."

Shadow should've gotten a good punch in when Mittens had been here, for insurance.

Then, it was revealed that one of Eggman's fly-bots was hovering over the duo.

Eggman inwardly groaned. "Speak of the devil."

"That's so creepy!" Amy glared over at the doctor. "Don't tell me that you spy on us all day every day!"

He glared back, appalled. "Of course I don't! I'm not as desperate for a win as he is!"

Dubious eyes landed on him.

Eggman's mustache bristled. "I'm not!"

Knuckles rose a brow. "So, controlling a monster that can basically eat time for breakfast wasn't an act of desperation?"

"No!"

Metal hummed. "I guess that the definition of desperation has changed from the last time I checked."

Eggman took a deep breath because this wasn't worth the aneurysm.

Off in the evil lair, the doctor was in his office, watching them on a large screen. "Do I need to express how that spying on Sonic has given me an idea for a plan to destroy him?" he asked Cubot standing to the side. "Or is that obvious?"

Cubot tilted his head. "Is what obvious?"

Tails tried to figure out what he was planning, but he was drawing blanks. "What can he do, exactly? Attack while Sonic and Knuckles are doing the gameshow? What's the difference of doing that and doing it normally?"

"It's flashier," Sonic quipped. "And we all know that all Eggmen love showing off."

Later, a long line was standing in front of the set for 'Bro-Down Showdown'.

Sonic gazed around, surprised. "Can't believe how many people showed up to this audition!"

"Out of the way! Move it or lose it!" Hearing a commotion from behind, the heroes turned to find Eggman pushing through the line. "Total bros coming through!"

Tails was completely lost now. "Wait, he's going to play too?"

"And is that Orbot?" Amy frowned. "That'll be cheating! He knows everything about that robot, and vice versa!"

Incredulous, Sonic asked, "Eggman? What are you doing here?"

The doctor put his hands on his hips. "Oh nothing," he said too innocently. "Just auditioning with my bro-bot!" He looked at the red robot beside him. "Isn't that right, Orbie?"

Eggman wanted to disappear. Would it kill him to speak like a normal person? "Why is he there? Unless this unfolds into some elaborate and ingenious scheme to get rid of that rodent and his posse for good, then this will be completely idiotic."

Shadow grunted. "You say that like it already hasn't been."

Orbot wasn't too enthused. "Yes, sir. It would seem I'm your…bro."

"Alright!" An off-screen voice called. "Who's next?" A ferret with a red checkered hat walked up, eyeing the ones in line.

"Hold on!" Sonic recognized that guy. "Didn't he work with that Justin Beaver dude a couple episodes ago?"

Amy couldn't believe that he was here. "Why isn't he in jail or something? He hypnotized all the girls in the village for money and fame!"

"My only guess is that he never got caught…" Tails mused, wary of the ferret. "He did run off once Justin had been freed from the mind control."

Amy remembered that, but, "Sonic, Tails, and Mittens saw him, though! They had to have reported him!"

"They probably did," Knuckles replied. "But the police force here is practically nonexistent, remember?"

"Okay, I understand him not being caught on the run." The pinkette gestured violently at the screen. "But he's directing a TV show!"

"…Maybe he's using mind control here too somehow?" Tails guessed.

Knuckles' gut dropped. "If he is, I hope he leaves the singing out of it. One episode was enough."

After looking at the first couple, he stated, "Too old." The next one, which included Barker, caused him to say, "Too ugly."

Sonic snickered. "He's probably been conned by Barker too."

The next, "Too out of touch with the common man."

A suited up beaver and his friend walked away sadly.

Knuckles was glad that they were gone. The beaver was the same one who inadvertently helped Mittens become the mayor of the city. He'd rather not have constant reminders of that disaster.

The ferret frowned at Sonic and Knuckles. "Eh, next!"

Sonic didn't like that. "Hey! You barely looked at us!"

"Sorry, kid." The director wasn't apologetic at all. "Just not getting enough of a bro vibe."

Amy was even more confused now. "They don't…know each other? But they – huh?" She looked around at the others in the room. "Anyone else thinks that's totally weird? It can't be just me."

"I would not be surprised if they had blocked their memory of the whole experience altogether," Metal responded. "It had been mostly horrendous."

Amy couldn't argue with him there. However, she hated that the ferret's presence didn't scream: something is wrong here.

Eggman laughed. "Sucks to be you!"

Sonic gritted his teeth. "Can it, Egghead! You think he's gonna prefer your unruly mustache and your dainty lame-bot?"

Orbot sighed.

Sonic didn't know whether to laugh or to feel bad for the guy. "He must've been through a lot to not be offended by that. He just looks…depressed."

"Of course he has." Like Sonic, Knuckles was somewhat conflicted. "Half of the words Eggman says to him are insults."

Eggman scoffed. "Half is generous."

"I'll show you unruly, you spiny haired rodent!" Eggman threatened.

The ferret interrupted their argument. "I'll have none of that bickering at my audition!" A smile grew on his face. "Save it for the show! You two are bros now!"

"Talk about your unwanted plot twist…" Tails muttered. "This guy has to be working with Eggman, right?"

Sonic had been looking forward to see how his twin and Mittens would do. His disappointment was immeasurable, and his day was ruined. "Has to be! Why else would he put two polar opposites together?"

"What?" Sonic adamantly shook his head. "No no! We're not bros, we're enemies!"

"That hedgehog is no bro of mine!" Eggman denied before gaining a pensive expression. "Then again, I'm not gonna complain if it gets us on the show. Come on, Sonic! Play ball!"

Amy hoped that things didn't get too bad. "They're definitely working together."

Eggman oh-so-wanted to completely agree, but there was this annoying little whisper in the back of his mind saying that no, they weren't working together. That his double was going to surprise his in the worst way possible.

He could do nothing but brace himself.

Sonic sighed and muttered, "I guess you're right." He faced Knuckles. "Sorry Knux, but if we wanna win that couch for Amy, I gotta do this."

"Just buy her another one!" Amy futilely suggested. They were heroes! They couldn't be broke!

"But it's free, Amy." Tails sighed, understanding why the other Sonic was doing this. "Nothing beats the power of free."

Knuckles slumped in disappointment. "But…I thought this was gonna be a Sonic and Knuckles episode…"

"A Sonic and Knuckles episode?" Sonic repeated incredulously. "Forget everything else! That doesn't make any sense! He shouldn't know about the 'episodes' yet." He furrowed his brow. "Right?"

Tails was flabbergasted as well, Mittens' statement coming out of left field. "Right! He can't know that we've been watching them at this point!" The kit frowned in thought. "Yeah…Mittens mentioned Shadow and Metal, but we haven't seen them yet."

"That technically doesn't mean anything," Eggman refuted. This was so unexpected that it caught his attention. He normally refused to question whatever that idiotic echidna said or did. "We don't see every second of those rodents' lives." Thank Chaos for that. "So, there could've been interactions that we missed."

Eggman had a point, but, "The episodes are in order, though!" Tails remembered Mittens' reactions to everything when he had been forced to watch. "And it seemed like the double Knuckles incident and the New Year's day party was a while ago!"

"Maybe it was just a coincidence…?" Amy provided.

Metal instantly shut that idea down. "The probability of that is very slim."

Knuckles jumped in. "What's the probability that he said it just to be stupidly empathetic?"

"Slightly higher."

"See?" Knuckles understood why the others were questioning it, but this was Mittens they were talking about. If the other Tails said it, then it would be a bigger issue. As it was, "There are very few times we can take whatever Mittens says seriously. This is not one of them."

"But it's not only him!" Tails prodded his memory, recalling when they had been confused by something like this before. "Remember the Mayor before Mittens took over his job?" Knuckles didn't want to. "Didn't he say something about getting this 'story' started?"

That did happen, but Knuckles refused to believe that this was anything but a random coincidence. "Yeah, but again, it had been the Mayor. The same person who gave Mittens that damn job."

"I know…" Tails scratched his head. "It's just so weird!"

"If you were right," Knuckles began hypothetically. "How in the world did Mittens know about it back then to spread the info around? Did he somehow find the Chaos emeralds-"

"That don't exist," Shadow curtly reminded him.

Knuckles had nearly forgotten about that. "-that are nonexistent there to travel back in time just to blab about us watching them?"

"That does sound convoluted, and basically impossible…" Tails admitted. His curiosity still refused to go away, however. "But that still doesn't explain why Mittens-"

"Mittens can't be explained, Tails. We've been over this."

Tails opened his mouth again before closing it, letting this occurrence go this time. It was almost too weird. But he was keenly looking out if it happened again in the future.

Eggman scoffed. "Yeah, well life's full of disappointments, Nurples."

Metal stifled a chuckle, clearly still enjoying that running gag, and Knuckles rolled his eyes.

"I always wanted to be a traffic cop." He motioned the echidna to the side like a trained officer. "Now move along! You're blocking the fire lane."

Sonic snickered. "A traffic cop? Egghead, if you ever tried to do that-"

"-he would be run over instantly," Shadow interrupted. "By me."

Eggman was glad that he had always dreamed of world domination.

Sonic slowly blinked. "Not exactly where I was going with that joke, Shads, but okay."

The next scene showed all of the contestants on set, sitting in small sofas on a stage. Along with Eggman and Sonic, there were Knuckles and Mike, two stunt bears, and Dave and Lady Walrus.

"Oh, hey! Mittens got on anyway!" Amy pointed out. It made sense that he and Mike would still be friends after the 'Just a Guy' incident, but the other contestants were…questionable. "Aren't those bears part of Barker's circus crew?"

"Yep. And Dave's back too," Knuckles mumbled. "Wonderful."

The pinkette counted the people on screen and frowned. "Literally half of the contestants here are villains. Five including that ferret guy. Eggman's definitelybehind this."

Amy crossed her fingers and hoped that karaoke wasn't on the to-do list.

Knuckles glared at Sonic, who was close to him. "Look, Sonic." He jabbed a thumb at a waving Mike. "I've got a new partner! Jealous, much?"

"I would be bummed out too, honestly," Tails admitted. Getting replaced by Eggman of all people would be a hard hit. He'd be less insulted if he got replaced by a chili dog. "But at least he's still playing!"

Sonic smiled. "Great idea, Knux! Now we have double the chances of winning that couch for Amy!"

The echidna crossed his arms, grumbling, "Way to take the wind out of my sails…"

"Aw! He's kinda adorable when he pouts like that."

"Careful, Amy. You might get the blue hedgehog of this dimension jealous."

Sonic shrunk away from Amy's suddenly intense gaze, grousing, "I was enjoying myself, Knuckles, and you had to take that away from me."

"It's what bros do."

A voice coming from the speakers cut their interaction short. "Live, from village center! It's 'Bro-Down Showdown'! Today's bros, Sonic the hedgehog and Dr. Eggman!" Sonic waved while Eggman combed his 'stache. "Knuckles the echidna and Mike the ox!" Knux gave a thumbs up and Mike waved. "A pair of stunt bears!" They growled at each other. "And Dave the intern and Lady Walrus!"

Sonic rose a brow. "Seriously, Dave? She's your bro?"

Dave held his hands up. "We don't like to put labels on our bro-lationship."

Amy cringed at the wording. "What relationship?" She refused to use the same word he did. "The one where he poisons Lady Walrus with Meh Burger's food?"

Comedy Chimp walked on set, holding a mic. "Thank you! Welcome to 'Bro-Down Showdown'! The show where bros go toe-to-toe in hopes of winning a narratively convenient prize!" He motioned over to a couch that looked similar to Amy's.

Tails wildly gestured at the screen. "A narratively convenient prize! That can't just be another coincidence! Something strange is going on!"

Knuckles was still hesitant, but what CC said was out of place. He wasn't jumping on the cross-dimensional/time travel train yet, though. "Well, if Eggman did plan this whole thing out and told Comedy Chimp about the couch, then it makes sense why he said it."

Sonic didn't know what to believe. "How about we just let things play out? See if the rest of the heroes say anythin' about it?" Because that would answer the question for sure.

Tails and Knuckles nodded.

"So, let's get started!" Comedy Chimp focused on the first pair. "Dr. Eggman, what is Sonic's favorite movie?"

"Something jam-packed with action, explosions, and occasional near-death experiences that get your blood pumping!"

Knuckles whispered to Mike, "No way he'll know this. It's Crocto-Pottomus."

Sonic had never heard of that movie, but from that title alone, he doubted there would be enough explosions to suit his taste. And he had a good guess that water was involved. A definite no-go.

Eggman hummed, scratching his chin. "I believe one time while he was pummeling me with a severed arm of one of my robot drones, he mumbled something about space pigeons. So…I'm gonna go with Space Pigeons 2. Everyone knows it's the best of the trilogy."

The buzzer light above Sonic and Eggman shined green.

Space Pigeons 2 sounded a little better. Never could go wrong with a fast-paced space adventure, but nevermind that. Sonic scratched his cheek. "Pummeling Egghead with a robotic arm, huh? That's…interesting."

Knuckles pictured it happening. "I'm not surprised. Your double seems to be a little bit more impulsive. Imagine him having a really bad day, his chilidog had been burnt or something-" Sonic shuddered at that. "-and then Eggman comes along with some ridiculous plan. I can see him snapping."

Shadow and Metal wished that they had seen it. Would've made this experience much more entertaining.

Eggman made sure to stay away from burnt chilidogs.

"Correct!" Comedy Chimp confirmed. "Space Pigeons 2. Sonic and Eggman off to an early lead." He walked off. "Now, Dave and Lady Walrus."

Sonic shot Eggman an amused look. "I can't believe you knew that."

The doctor smiled. "Hey, you gotta know your enemy! Especially when he's your bro!"

Amy scrunched her nose in disgust. "Why is he so hung up on them being friends? Especially when he's trying to defeat them at every chance he gets?"

"He is lonely, surrounded by less-than-optimal robotic henchmen." Metal blatantly pointed out. "The isolation is deteriorating his mental state. Did he not also role-play, being my copy's copy at some point?"

"I'd rather not be reminded of that." Knuckles groaned. "But thank you."

He pulled Sonic close and gave him a noogie, to the hedgehog's discomfort. However, Eggman quickly pulled back when a quill cut his finger. "Ow!"

Sonic nodded. "Completely deserved."

A buzzer went off, and the camera cut to Comedy Chimp standing in front of Dave and Lady Walrus. "That's right for ten points!" He looked at the bears. "Now, Stunt Bear No. 2, how did Stunt Bear No. 1 say you first met?"

No. 2 growled an answer, and it was wrong, for the sign buzzed red. No. 1 snarled before they both were snarling at each other, fighting in anger.

"Well…they didn't last long," Tails said. "But I don't understand why they were on the show in the first place if we don't know what they're saying."

"Right? Makes no sense!" Amy would've been a much better director for the show. Apparently, that ferret was too busy trying to be evil to listen to common sense. "I would've put another pair there! Like…" She giggled at her idea. "Like Tails and Sticks! Now that would be a game show I'd watch."

Knuckles wouldn't wish that upon his worst enemy. "Tails would be tortured by Sticks screaming about aliens using mind control or something the whole time."

"Which…wouldn't be necessarily wrong if this was another Justin Beaver situation," Tails mused. Her crazy predictions had occasionally been right in the past. "But it would help if she and my double were around for this just in case things go sour."

"Oh, they definitely will with Eggman involved." Sonic waved him off. "My twin and Mittens are more than enough to take him on!" At least, he hoped.

"Ooo, that's a disqualification," CC stated, going closer to the squabbling bears. "The Bro code clearly dictates there must be no fighting between bros."

Sonic and Knuckles rolled their eyes because that rule did not exist.

The bears walked off dejectedly. "Now Knuckles, we asked Mike the following question: A bro would never do what, to another bro?"

"Hm…I'm gonna have to go with…" Knuckles aimed his next words at Sonic. "Totally ditch him to appear on a game show with his arch-nemesis!"

Amy felt for him somewhat. "That's true…but at the same time, I'm pretty sure the wrath of my twin outweighs the small betrayal." If she came home to a ruined apartment after leaving her friends to take care of it, someone was going to be real acquainted with her hammer.

Sonic guiltily sighed, and the sign buzzed red.

"I said a bro would never eat the last cheese ball without asking, but your answer was good too," Mike softly said.

"That's a pretty good answer! Do you hear that, Sonic?"

"That was one time, Tails! You were takin' forever to eat them and it was right there-"

"I was savoring them! Not everyone inhales their food like you do!"

"I had gotten you more afterwards!"

"But that one could've been the best one."

"…It had been pretty good."

There was a quick commercial break with the show's advertising poster, then Comedy Chimp was by the hero/villain duo again.

"Sonic, if your bro were a food, what kind of food would he be?" CC asked.

Knuckles felt that this answer was too obvious. "He probably answered something completely ridiculous."

Sonic thought for a moment. "Uh…I don't know, an egg?"

Eggman frowned. "Ohh, I said herb-crusted tilapia."

Despite all of the Why that echoed in everyone's thoughts, Metal pressed past the foolishness to ask, "I wonder what that tastes like?"

Amy gave him a pointed look. "Even after what you've been through, you're still thinking about stuffing your face with food?"

"It is a weakness I cannot control as of yet."

He then perked up. "But then I changed by answer to egg!" The sign buzzed green.

"At least he used his brain for once…" Eggman muttered, still unsure where this game was leading them.

Comedy Chimp moved on. "Knuckles, we asked Mike what color you are."

Knuckles smiled and looked at his partner. "That's easy! I'm red!"

Again, Knuckles shouldn't be impressed that his twin knew what color his fur was, but he had set the bar so low that anything was an improvement.

"Aww…" Mike put a hand on his forehead, disappointed in himself. "I said green. I'm colorblind." Their buzzer went red. Mike pointed to it. "Was that the green light?"

Tails furrowed his brow. "But…after all these years, wouldn't he be used to it by now? And know what the colors really are?"

"Remember that this is the same person who broke his leg after begging to sit in during an Eggman fight," Knuckles reminded him. "So, no. He wouldn't know."

"No," CC said unrepentantly before going to the third pair. "Now, Lady Walrus, what is Dave the intern's occupation?"

She was quick to answer. "He works in the fast food industry!"

Dave was even quicker to object. "I said evil villain bent on destroying the world."

"Judges?" Comedy Chimp listened to the earpiece he was wearing. After a second, he smiled. "We can accept that answer!" Their buzzer was green. The pair fist bumped.

Amy couldn't refute that call.

"Dropping from doomsday device to fast food is a major downgrade, though..."

The pinkette looked at Tails. "Did you forget that he turned the toilet paper in the bathroom the wrong way?"

"…Forget what I just said."

It was Sonic's and Eggman's turn once again. "Sonic, if you went out of town, what's the first thing your bro said he would do while you were gone?"

"Oh, I know this one!" Sonic exclaimed confidently. "It's gotta be 'destroy the village'."

"More than a tiny village," Eggman muttered, imagining what it would be like if Sonic and all of his irritating friends just disappeared for a week. The world would be his and his alone.

Sonic saw the wistful look on his face. "Keep dreamin', Eggy. Never gonna happen."

"There are no absolutes in the world of science, pincushion."

"But you're already an exception, though. How many wins do you have under your belt?"

Eggman ignored his infuriating grin, refusing to answer.

Eggman laughed. "He's right! I said I'd destroy the village." He suddenly became serious, glaring. "I'd reduce you all to a smoldering pile of ash."

Doubtful, the doctor thought. There was no profit to be made off of ash.

The sign buzzed green, and the audience cheered.

"I honestly would not take him seriously either," Metal commented. "He is barely a villain. I am sure any of us here could easily take over that village if given incentive to." He almost excluded Eggman, but even he with his incompetence would be able to dominate in that dimension.

Knuckles thought about it. Sonic, Shadow, Metal, and himself could do it without a problem. Well, Metal pre-transformation; they didn't know his full abilities now. Tails was a master strategist, so he wouldn't have an issue either. Amy…he's seen her anger on the worst days, and she'd have people running in terror in a heartbeat.

The echidna hummed. "That dimension would be doomed, honestly. Not a lot of stuff going for it."

"Especially if the rest of the team is actually useless if the other Sonic's gone like the other Eggman always alludes to," Tails provided. "There wouldn't be much defense, unless the other Metal and Shadow got involved for some reason."

Shadow had a gut feeling that they wouldn't. "That echidna is terrified of them. Chances are that they would be on our side."

"Yeah…those villagers wouldn't know what hit 'em." Sonic tapped his chin. "But what about the other Eggman? Would he help too, or get jealous and try to stop us?"

Amy glanced incredulously between all of them. "And why exactly are we thinking so deeply about this hypothetical situation?!"

Metal crossed his arms. "It's better than watching the nonsense happening on-screen."

"Don't take it so seriously, Ames!" Sonic placated with a smile. "It's all for fun! S'not like we'd do it for real!"

"Speak for yourself," Shadow and Metal chorused.

Amy warily eyed them. "We really need to keep those two apart after this."

Sonic agreed.

Eggman and Sonic happily hugged each other before realizing what they were doing, awkwardly putting space between them.

"That's gross."

"Couldn't have said it better myself, cactus."

"Well, that ends round one! Knuckles and Mike, you have the lowest score." CC faced the front of the stage. "Audience! What happens to them now?"

He held his microphone out as voices shouted, "You're bro-liminated!"

Knuckles and Mike sadly leave.

Amy shook her head, tisking. "Should've found Tails. Would've been a much better pick."

"I'm glad he managed to stay away from this insane plot," Knuckles countered.

Comedy Chimp went on with the show. "We're down to the final two teams. Which one will go home with that snazzy new couch?"

Sonic just had a hunch, but, "Probably not my twin, if I had to guess. It's a little too convenient and Eggman is right there."

The camera swiveled to the couch again before thudding stomps were heard in the distance. Everyone turned to see Eggman's Obliterator Bot, it ready to attack. The robot shot lasers at the villagers, causing them to run in panic.

No one was surprised at the mech's appearance, and Sonic felt validated.

Sonic hopped out of his seat in surprise. "An Eggman robot? Let's turn this bag of bolts into a scrap heap!"

"Hang on!" CC stopped his approach. "Did you say that's an Eggman robot? Judges?" He listened to his ear piece once more. "Yep, if you fight that robot, you're technically fighting with your bro."

"And?" Sonic was ready for some action. "Who cares about a couch when there's people in danger? He can knock its head off in like two seconds!"

"You gotta be kidding me!"

Eggman cackled. "I knew my plan would work! If you fight my robot, we'll be disqualified, and you'll never win that couch for that whiny little girlfriend of yours!"

Amy kept her demonic squeal contained this time in favor of questioning, "Wait wait wait. There's no mind control at all? Are Eggman and that ferret even working together? Eggman did all this just so Sonic couldn't win a couch?!"

"Thatis the definition of being unnecessary." Eggman would have simply bided his time, coming up with a better plan than being an annoyance for no reason. "What does he benefit from this?"

"He is a desperate desperate man who just reached the bottom of the barrel." Knuckles never thought that the other doctor would resort to this. "He literally gets nothing from this besides a shallow victory. Yeah, Sonic won't get the couch, so what?"

"He needed some kind of victory to help him sleep at night." Metal propped his chin in his palm. "And refusing my copy's copy that couch, getting his potential mate mad, somehow will do that."

In the corner of his eye, Sonic noticed all of Amy's frustration drain away at the former robot's words. There was a yearning look in her eyes now. He sighed. "You had to draw attention to that part, Mets."

"What?" There was a subtle smirk there that Sonic didn't appreciate. "I just said-"

"I know what you said."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Sonic hissed through clenched teeth.

Sonic perked up at that, gesturing to the screen and raising a brow at Amy. Maybe all of the hints she thought was there wasn't, and those two were just two great platonic friends who have done nothing romantic.

Amy waved him off, the smile permanent on her face. "Yeah, he said it, but did you hear how he said it? There was panic like he didn't want the information getting out! They're totally together, but too shy to admit it!"

The buzzer flashed red.

Amy couldn't hold in her squeal this time while Sonic marginally slumped. "That proves it!" She pleasantly sighed. "I need them to hurry up and go for a date so you can see how great it is."

"Ames, I know what a date is-"

"Just wait."

Relaxing in his chair, the doctor smirked. "On the other hand, you could just stand back and watch the town get blown to smithereens. Either way, you lose! On live TV!"

Knuckles rolled his eyes. "Because losing a couch is such a massive blow." He almost wished that the ferret mind-control thing was the main issue here instead of this.

"Don't worry, bro. I got this." Knuckles strolled back on the stage, putting a hand on his chest. "Maybe combat will fill the Sonic-shaped void you've left in my heart."

"Awwww!" Amy cooed.

"Ugh." Knuckles groaned. "If you hear me saying that ever, I've officially gone insane."

"Don't act like that! It's sweet!"

"Yeah, and I'm getting cavities."

All of the hiding villagers gave an empathetic 'aww' before ducking back under cover.

Knuckles then ran up to confront Obliterator Bot, dodging a swinging arm.

Comedy Chimp was distracted by his ear piece. "The producers are telling me that I don't get paid if we don't finish the show. So, let's move on to round two."

Tails was slightly concerned about the chimp's priorities at this point. "He's in such a bind for money that he doesn't care that he's in danger? His comedy show can't be paying him enough…"

"Are you surprised?" Metal asked. "One, his comedy is terrible, and two, did you not watch the last episode?"

Comedy Chimp in a dress was a sight to see, alright. "Yeah, I guess you're right." Tails hoped that he got a raise so he could prioritize self-preservation a bit. Couldn't get paid if he was in a coma from blunt-force trauma.

He addressed the stressed blue hero, "Sonic! What does Dr. Eggman have in his pockets right now?"

Knuckles ran in between the robot's legs to avoid an attack, accidentally tripping and rolling into a table.

Knuckles would've punched a hole in the robot by now. "If Sonic is needed to take care of this thing, I swear…"

He picked up one of the wooden legs and used it as a bat to hit the missile coming straight for him. The missile was sent soaring through the sky.

That missile was going to come back down eventually, and Shadow wondered what – or who – it was going to hit.

He hoped it was the other Eggman for wasting all of their time with this.

Sonic sighed in relief, just now realizing that CC had asked a question. "Oh…his pockets! Right! I don't know, a uh…hippopotamus riding on a skateboard?"

Eggman pulled said item out of his back pocket and placed it on the floor.

Tails stared in awe. "There's no way he could've known that!"

Eggman wasn't as impressed. "My only question is why he has that in the first place." It looked like a cheap toy a child would receive from a fast food restaurant.

"He probably cuddles with it at night to help deal with every loss." Sonic grinned over at the doctor. "Do you have a toy like that, Eggy? You have to, right? With how many wins you give to us?"

Eggman was going to learn to stop talking someday.

After pulling the toy back, he let it go. The hippo rolled off the stage only to get stepped on by Obliterator Bot.

The sign buzzed green.

Sonic went back to his seat while Comedy Chimp regarded the other contestants, "Lady Walrus!"

Amy wanted to hop through the screen and knock common sense into that hedgehog with her hammer. "He's seriously not helping Mittens! The couch is not that important! I'm sure my twin would understand if they explained that they tried to get her another!"

Knuckles wasn't sure. "Would you? After trusting them to not destroy your house?"

"Honestly, I would. Especially because I'd partially blame myself for leaving them in charge again after what happened last time."

The echidna hadn't expected that. "Really?"

"Skunk stench is unforgettable, Knuckles."

Knuckles was still fighting the bot. He dodged yet another attack before jumping up and slamming his fists on top of the enemy's head.

When a correct ding was heard, it was Eggman's turn. "Now, Dr. Eggman," CC started. "Fill in the blanks! Whenever Sonic does 'blank', I 'blank' myself."

Sonic barked out a laugh. "There's only a few ways that answer can go!"

"And I don't want to hear any of them," Eggman grumbled.

The doctor grew pensive. "Hm…"

Knuckles punched the robot in the eye to no effect. He paused, shocked, when massive speakers rose from its back. Sound waves blasted, and Knuckles was launched away, crashing into props. He didn't get out of the way before Obliterator Bot stepped on him.

"Knuckles?!" Sonic shouted in worry.

Amy pushed her hands forward, pretending to shove him into the fight. "Just go! He obviously can't handle it himself!"

If Mittens ever came back to this dimension, Knuckles was going to offer a free lesson in self-defense because this was pitiful.

"Dr. Eggman, we need your answer," Comedy Chimp encouraged.

The doctor was deliberately dragging out the time. "Gotta think about this one for a minute, CC…"

Sonic gazed indecisively at the spotless couch and then sent the pinned Knuckles a concerned glance. Obliterator Bot began charging a laser.

"So, those cushions are poly-foam, right?" Sonic asked before shaking his head. "Aw, the heck with it!" He stood and yelled, "I'm comin', bro!"

"Finally!" Amy explosively sighed, forcefully ignoring how the speedster questioned the quality of the couch before doing so.

Sonic sped over and yanked Knuckles from underneath the robot's foot, narrowly avoiding the laser. Moving the echidna out of harm's way, Sonic zipped over and grabbed a sheet of metal.

He leaned against it, smirking at Knuckles. "You ready to do somethin' stupid, bro?"

The echidna instantly caught on. "Do you even have to ask?"

"Do you think he noticed how much Sonic hesitated in helping him?" Tails questioned.

"Nah." Sonic shook his head. "He was too busy getting crushed to notice."

Like with the stone slab earlier in Amy's house, Knuckles hurled Sonic into the air. The speedster rode the metal sheet until he got close enough to the robot. He spin dashed in place, hurling the metal right into Obliterator Bot's face, causing it to short circuit and fall backwards.

Eggman yelled in frustration.

Metal rolled his eyes. "I cannot believe that he thought his plan was going to work flawlessly."

Sonic smirked. "I've said that many times in the past."

They both sent Eggman jeering glances. "And I am sure you will be saying it more in the future," Metal replied.

"Sure am! Won't I, Egghead?"

Eggman couldn't wait until he could visit some secluded beach, rest under a shaded umbrella, enjoy a refreshing fruity drink, and forget the existence of every rodent he knew.

At least until he figured out a plan to crush them all, of course. Then, he'd imagine himself dancing on their graves, still sipping that same drink while his robots took over the world with fire and bloodshed.

Ah, the perfect life.

Comedy Chimp approached the last remaining contestants. "Well, that's a disqualification! Today's winners are Dave the intern and Lady Walrus!"

Elated, the pair jumped up and ran over to their new couch with Lady Walrus holding a bowl of nachos. When they plopped down on the sofa, she dropped the snack, and a cheese-covered chip stained the cushion underneath.

Sonic gaped. "Welp, there goes that."

"Where…" Tails must've blinked, thinking that he had missed something. "Where in the heck did she get those nachos?"

"From her back pocket, apparently." Knuckles grunted, seeing the couch get ruined not affecting him at all. "Doesn't it feel great to see that absolutely nothing was accomplished this episode?"

Shadow wouldn't necessarily say that. "That turtle being shoved was the highlight of this whole damn thing."

Eggman, Metal, and Knuckles shared his opinion.

Knuckles and Sonic looked on sadly.

"So…" the echidna began, "What are we gonna do about Amy's couch?"

Sonic shrugged.

"Glad to know that money never crosses their minds."

"Well, one barely has a mind to begin with, and the other's mind is not nearly as fast as his legs."

Amy stared at the former bot for a moment before saying, "Do you realize how rude you are sometimes?"

"I am fully aware."

Later on, Amy was walking back up to her home with a golden trophy in hand. She passed Leroy, who finally managed to get off his back.

"He's been there for days?!" Tails explained, shocked.

Shadow snorted. "Good."

"And it's even better that Amy still doesn't pay any attention to him," Knuckles said with a chuckle. "It's perfect."

"Amy! Nooo!" Sonic yelled as he and Knuckles rushed to catch her before she noticed anything.

Amy looked back in time to see Eggman's wayward missile from before speed into her house, blowing up upon impact. The explosion landed Leroy on his back again.

Shadow smirked. This was much better than the other Eggman.

Knuckles couldn't help but to laugh. "No, now it's perfect."

The pinkette gazed in shock at the mess when Sonic and Knuckles entered behind her. Her stained couch was nothing but ashes now.

Amy gaped like a fish before uttering, "The luck balance of the universe, huh?"

Tails slowly nodded, still in disbelief. "Yep…seems like it."

The boys' panic was gone now, replaced with giddy relief. Sonic tried and failed to hide his joy. "Oh man, Amy! Eggman totally destroyed your couch!"

Sonic should be disappointed that they didn't own up to their mistake, but at the same time, he would've said anything to avoid that deadly hammer also.

"And after we didn't spill nachos on it!" Knuckles slowly shook his head. "Oh, that's a shame."

"Yeah, real shame." Sonic nudged his bro, both wearing questionable smiles. "Come on, Knuckles. Let's get out of here."

Knuckles nodded, and they closed the door behind them when they left.

Amy groaned, grieving over the mess.

Amy puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms. "They could've at least helped her clean up!"

"And drown in that guilt?" Knuckles didn't blame them for leaving. "Taking off was the best option there. Less chance of them slipping up and telling on themselves." Which was inevitable with his twin around.

The boys walked past Leroy as he miserably muttered, "I hope someone's been feeding my cat."

"Oh no!" Amy gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "That poor kitty…!"

Sonic tried to calm her down. "I'm sure his pet is alright, Ames! Cats are escape artists! It probably got out and found its way to Meh Burger to eat or something."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Did I say Meh Burger? I really meant…anywhere else other than there."

Amy imagined the kitty being fed gourmet cat food at a respectable market, and some of her worry waned. It should be fine.

Knuckles ran a hand down his face. "You know, I'm relieved we found out that this wasn't our actual future. I don't know if I would've been able to handle it if it was."

Tails couldn't disagree. "It's an…interesting dimension."

"You can say absolutely crazy, it's okay."

Sonic leaned forward in his seat, smiling in excitement. "That's got me thinking…what is our future like?"

"I'm sure we'll be married and-"

"He is talking about reality." Metal cut Amy off. "Not your dreams." While she glared at him, he continued, "I am sure the doctor will be attempting to take over the world only to become more of a disappointment."

Eggman fought hard not to comment, taking steadying breaths.

Sonic snickered. "Yeah, I see that too! With all of us stopping him, as per usual!" He then eyed Metal, curiosity in his gaze. "Can you see yourself helpin' us out too, Mets? Or…"

Metal hummed, mulling the question over. He was done working for Eggman, that was for sure. But working along side his copy? He didn't know. He would have to experience the world from his new opened eyes, if he kept them, that is…

However, he didn't get the chance to respond, for there was a blinding light that caused everyone to hiss in pain. Those sounds were then swallowed up by a loud nearby crash and the pained groan that came after it.

Everyone was on high-alert when the white light faded, all of their eyes snapping to the figure laying on the floor by the wall, cradling their head.

Sonic was the first to regain his voice, stunned at the condition the other was in. Dirt spotted stained fur, splotchy purple bruises were visible on pale skin, and the Mobian was a bit on the skinnier side.

He gave the newcomer another once-over before tentatively calling out, "Silver?"

The white-quilled psychic instantly froze before whipping his head around, eyes widened to their fullest. Silver was apparently as surprised as they were, carefully sitting up, gaze snapping to everyone in the room. Those yellow eyes lingered longer on Eggman, Shadow, and Metal – a bit of confusion mixing in with the latter – before refocusing on Sonic.

"Uh…" Silver swallowed thickly, body rigid as he curtly waved. "Hi."

"Hi," Sonic, Tails, and Amy breathily repeated, unsure about what was going on.

Knuckles, seeing that everyone else had gone brain dead, decided to make some progress here. "What happened to you?" He would've asked 'How did you get in here?' first, but after seeing that bright light, he had a good clue.

"It's…kinda a long story." Silver's attention flickered back to Eggman for a moment, then the ruined room around him – burnt confetti and all – before glancing at his hands. "I'm in the past…" he said to himself mostly, puzzling the others who heard. "I didn't have a Chaos emerald, so how did I get here?"

Tails' stomach twisted as he looked Silver over. It would be an understatement to say that he wasn't in the best condition. "That's a long story too…" Explaining the thing was going to take a while.

"Wait." Silver's brow furrowed as he regarded the heroes. "You guys did it? How did you transport me here?"

Sonic shared a look with Tails, starting, "Well…"

"Hold on." Silver held up a hand, the other positioned on his grumbling stomach. "Before you explain, do you have any actual food? Been living off of limited rations lately, and if I have to so much as look at another dry protein bar, I will lose it." There were blank stares, and he nodded. "Seriously."

Before Sonic could tell him to help himself with the plentiful food they had in the kitchen, his mind still trying to process what he was looking at, a plate of food suddenly appeared in Silver's lap.

The white hedgehog startled, but the plate stayed balanced, the gooey nachos on it making Silver's mouth water. He saw the chips, the inviting cheese, and the salsa decorated on top for a little extra kick.

Under normal circumstances, he would question the source of these magical nachos, but to heck with it. Questions could wait.

As Silver lifted a chip into his mouth, Amy had a feeling that something wasn't right. It wasn't Silver even though his dirtied condition was a major concern. Alarms were blaring in her head, and she didn't know why.

She looked between Silver and the nachos, back to Silver, back to the nachos, and then it clicked.

The salsa.

Amy zeroed in on the table with the sauces and gasped when she realized that the pepper was gone. There was only one place it could be.

Oh…Oh no.

"Silver! Don't eat the-"

"Huh?" Silver peered over at her, mouth stuffed with multiple chips.

Well, at least Amy could say that she tried.

Oh look, a special guest from the future! Wonder how the others will react to the stories he'll tell about war, 'not' weak jackals, and the omnipresent Green Hill Zone. Probably not well.

Fire in a Crowded Workshop is next!

Reviews and constructive criticism are welcome!