"Another day, another fight...Boy, am I bored," Amy commented as she stretched.

Tails the Fox looked over his shoulder at her and shrugged, saying, "Well, it's not like we can skip patrol. It's the only thing preventing Dr. Eggman from attacking Knothole and Station Square."

"Yeah..." Amy couldn't argue.

Eggman, who was caught and locked away by the government, has remained quiet. Many were nervous as to his next plan. Sonic and his friends, as a result, agreed to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. The job of flying around the city and walking through every nook and cranny was tedious but necessary.

Amy leaned back into the seat in Tails' plane. She peeked at her cat-themed watch. Five o'clock glowed on the screen. At least the long ride was nearly over.

Tails' plane, the X-Tornado landed. As Amy climbed out, Tails pulled out a device and studied its readings. He tapped its side, still focusing on the flickering screen.

His pink friend, who stood on the ground next to the plane, asked, "What is it, Tails?"

"I-I don't know. It's never acted this way before. I always use this to detect emeralds in case one was nearby. But I can't seem to make it work."

"Maybe it broke."

"Possibly. Sigh, guess I'll have to take a closer look at it. It worked fine before we took off so I don't see why it won't show anything."

"Hmm...maybe it's one of Eggman's tricks."

"You might be right. I'd better tell Sonic."

With that, the Fox leapt from his seat and flew to a desk. There he pulled on a headset and muttered, "Come on, Sonic. Please pick up, this is really important."

A nearby buzzing caught Amy's attention, and her emerald eyes detected another headset. She gingerly picked it up and noticed Tails' voice from its speakers. Sighing to herself, she cleared her voice. The boy Fox looked at what she held and ran his fingers through his ginger hair.

"Well, so much for asking Sonic to carry his communicator..."

The kid pulled off his headphones and shook his head. A gust of wind howled through the lab, and there stood Sonic brushing his hands. Along with his cocky grin and the dirt he brushed off his legs, Sonic tossed each of them a chilli dog.

As he munched on his food, Sonic said, "Well, that wraps it up for tonight."

"Wait, Sonic," Tails called as Sonic zipped to the door.

The speedy Hedgehog came to a screeching halt and zipped back to his friend.

"You called?"

"Ah, yeah. You see, my emerald tracker has been acting weird."

"So?"

"So, it might mean that one of Eggman's robots is interfering with its signal."

The blue Hedgehog rapidly tapped his foot. "I smell a rotten egg. Where'd this happen?"

"It was over the mountain near Station Square's outskirts."

"Hang tight while I check it out, up over and gone!" In a flash, only a dust cloud remained. Five seconds afterwards, he returned. With a sweaty forehead, he held out a hand, saying, "Which mountain?"

Tails blinked. "The tallest one behind the city's gates. It's the only one with snow."

His taller friend snapped his fingers. "Got it!" Sonic zipped outside and returned in less time. "Talk about weird."

Amy raised her eyebrows in wonder, asking, "Did you see something?"

"Let's just say I have a knack for finding trouble."

"So, it was Eggman?" she asked.

At that, her friend shook his head. "Nah, but I wouldn't put it past him. He's always trying dumb stuff. It was this big glowing portal about this big. A giant, purple glow oozed from it and almost sucked me in it. But being as fast as I am, nothing can bring down this Hedgehog. In Sonic style, I showed that portal who's boss and outran its pull."

A portal glowing purple? Why does that feel so...familiar? Amy thought.

While she remained quiet, Tails rubbed his chin and pulled out his device.

He looked at Sonic and said, "If that's the case, I'd better get a good look at what's happening just in case it is Eggman."

"You got it, little Bro. But we'll keep a safe distance. Hate to have my bud get sucked in by that thing."

At that, the Fox chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind. Come on, Amy. We'd better take a look."

"Coming," Amy called.

Why is my fur sticking up so much?

In the far-off distance, a robotic camera shifted its zoom. A chuckle came from the other side. Eggman sat in what appeared to be a jail cell chair. He smiled as the light reflected off his glasses. With a chuckle, he thought if Sonic and his pals get stuck on the other side of that portal, I'll be rid of them once and for all. All of Earth will be mine!

He turned and lowered his head. Pressing a device sitting in his ear, he whispered, "Move in position. Follow Sonic and his friends. See to it that they don't come back."

At Eggman's secret base below the forest, a robot sat in the bunker.

Its red eyes flashed as it received the command and replied, "Yes, Doctor."

The rockets installed in its feet roared as wings extended from its sides. In that instant, the large, bulk upper body, lowered to the feet. Wheels popped out of its feet as it rushed through the opening. It rocketed into the sky with great speed. In all the while, Eggman checked his satellite images and noticed the unusual portal Sonic described.

Hmm, I wonder what sort of secrets lie in wait? But if Sonic is gone, who cares! Egg-Destroyer had better not fail.