Well, it has been quite a long time. I apologize for my absence and I want to thank everyone for sticking around. I have met some new watchers who have enjoyed the story and I am able to pick it back up. There was never an intention of leaving this story unfinished but between everything that has happened in my own life as well as the source material I used for research of this fanfiction. It has made things most difficult. Still, I want to say thank you again for sticking around and here we go again!

For weeks, Sonic had taken some personal time for himself. He finished the pairing scenes he was in and declined any new ones. He knew that his fanbase would take a hit, but he had to take some time to understand the fanbase as well as himself. He barely kept in contact with his friends, usually sending a postcard from where ever it was that he visited at the time. Being the fastest creature on the planet came in handy for traveling. It's not that he wanted to distance himself from his friends, it's he just wanted to figure things out. To bad his vacation time had ended.

Sonic enters his workplace after some time. The first thing he notices is that it feels oddly empty. He looks around the interior as he walks towards the Director's office. The staff is still around, but usually, there were actors and actresses, relaxing, rehearsing or even arguing. The usual hustle and bustle place seems subdued. As he walks around the corner he notices a familiar pair of appendages.

"Hey, Tails. How's it going?"

The tails snap up in surprise and the fox whirls around to see his "brother" and best friend. "Sonic! You finally came back!" Tackling the hero and giving the blue blur a tight hug. "I got your postcards but why didn't you call? Text? Anything? Is everything alright!?"

Sonic just grins. "I missed you too Tail, but... well yeah everything is alright, but I am still trying to figure some things out. I do feel a lot better though. Seems I just needed to get away for a while from all the fuss." "Speaking of fuss, where is it? This place is usually so noisy, where is everyone?"

Tails trademark features lower and he lets out a sigh. "There have been some changes since you left."

"Changes?" The hedgehog asks. "What kind of changes?"

"It's better to talk to the director."

Sonics brow furrows, there is something different of course, but now that it's brought to his attention he takes another look at the fox. "Tails, you seem off. You been sprucing up?"

Tails grimaces. "As I said, go talk to the director. I gotta get going. But really it's great to see you back!"

"Ah, you too." Watching as his best friend starts walking off. Weird, but I guess I should get going He thinks to himself. He resumes his walk to the Director's office and knocks on the door.

"Come in" A voice responds.

He walks into the office and looks around, everything here even seems a little different. "So... Did I walk into the twilight zone? Because things are feeling a bit different."

The director looks up and smiles. "Sonic, it's good to see you back, did you enjoy your vacation?"

"Of course! I feel better and looking to get back to work!"

The Director nods. "That's good, I'm sure we can get things going after you have been brought up to speed."

The hedgehog chuckles. "Come on, me? Brought up to speed? I've haven't been gone THAT long."

"Many of the actors that you previously worked with have been let go..."

That gets Sonics attention. "Wait! what!? Let go? Who? Why?" Suddenly worried about exactly what happened while he was gone.

Leaning back in his chair the Director pulls up a file. "The Acorns and many of the Freedom fighters..."

"WHAT!? But!"

"Let me finish. There were some changes done by the parent company of this theater. And they felt that it was time to downgrade and make a few changes. The fanbase has also changed and with that, we must change if we want to keep going. As I mentioned, The Acorns and Freedom Fighters, The Egg Bosses, and others that were about. There are a few favorites that have stayed Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and a few others. Any new people have not been disclosed at this time."

Sonics jaw just hangs open. He leaves for a bit and everything is turned up on its head! "What about the plays that were already going? What about the actors who had contracts!?"

Sighing the Director leans forwards and looks at the hedgehog in the eye. "They can be called back for short skits. But unfortunately, there will be no renewal of their contracts for long-term or multiple plays. Now, I know this is a lot to take in but you need to brush up on what you know and get back into acting. Now I have work to do. And again. It's good to see you back"

To say he is baffled is an understatement. He turns and leaves the office with scattered thoughts. Who is gone? Who stayed? What the hell happened while he was gone?! Here he thought he was relaxed and could focus on his work only to find that the world inverted itself and smacked him in the face. Okay, Tails is still here, that is a relief, but who else? Popular? Eh... That could mean Amy is still here. Knuckles perhaps? Ah! it's too hard! He has to think which of his friends didn't get the can while he was gone! He just shuffles to his room and opens the door.

"So, I heard you came back and here you are."

Sonic blinks and looks at the person in his room. The stance, dark fur, piercing red eyes. "SHADOW! Hey! you are still here!" Moving quickly to greet the other, only to have a cold stare to greet him in return.

"I hope you enjoyed your little break. I don't have time to deal with you if you can't keep the pace you did before."

The blue blur stands there stunned. Sure he is used to the cold shoulder but from this? He went from lukewarm to frigid in the span he was gone. "Ah... Um alright? Well, maybe you can catch me up?" He speaks uncertainly.

Shadow closes his eyes and starts to move. "I don't have time. I have work to do. I suggest you stop dragging your feet and do the same. See you Faker" Walking out of the room and shutting the door.

Sonic just stares speechlessly. Everything is different, people he knew are gone, people still here are acting weird. He looks at the stack of scripts laying on his table and sits down to go through them. He needs to figure out things and fast. But, perhaps he should call someone for some help.

I realize this might be a weird place to pick up. Unfortunately while writing some of the previous attempts for this chapter. Many characters in which I needed some more information on were removed from the Sonic Comics. Perhaps they are going to be reintroduced or perhaps not. I have been getting the new comics and doing what I can to keep things flowing smoothly.