Disclaimer: Sonic and co. © Sega

Now I turn back the hands of time by an hour before Chapter Six began.

Chapter Six

The Target

1 Month, 24 and 11 Hours before Black Egg Armageddon

Eggman's smart, everyone knows that. His big ego usually gets in the way of his big plans though which make him look really stupid. Not anymore, now we're playing his mind games.

An hour before the very explosion that would trigger a cataclysmic fight between Sonic and the new Eggman, everything was peaceful. Somewhere on an empty freeway however, a black Lamborghini with a purple stripe running up the middle of it raced through. Rules of the road were all forgotten as the driver drove through at speeds that might even catch up to Sonic if he was running at a luxury pace. Rays of sunlight blanketed Station Square as the car slowed down once it hit civilian filled streets, making a relaxed Rouge the bat exhale deeply.

Two days before, Rouge received a call from Knuckles, telling her that they had found Tails. So she came over from one of her treasure hunting expedition to go see the young fox. The red stoplight hindered her car from advancing any further, but Rouge could use the little moment of relaxation after plowing through traffic. She let her head rest against the back of her leather seats, as a gentle breeze blew through the window and chilled her white fur. Her large bat ears could hear people yelling out prices for hot dogs and teenage girls chatting about the latest gossip outside her car, which reminded her of herself when she was young. The light turned green and she advanced forward once again.

Somewhere within the placid city, a large man strode about, minding his own business. Huge, heavily muscled arms, as thick as Christmas hams remained uncovered, for the man wore only a sleeveless red coat that was unbuttoned so the public could see his well toned abs underneath. A large belt held the man's tight pants on that covered his black army-like boots as the man took another large stride. He was so tall that Vector the crocodile would probably come to about his chest. His legs were skinny though, but in time they would become as strong as his arms. Huge beefy arms were hidden within the man's pockets as he walked and the sun glinted off of his round glasses. Sure he still had the long orange-brown mustache, but his huge change in appearance masked his true identity.

He was whistling a carefree tune as he walked past hotdog stands and people, but no one really minded. As he passed by some places he secretly stuck small disk–like control detonated bombs in places where people don't normally look. The doctor didn't turn his back on technology, only the robotic parts that used to help him in battle. Now he would just use a machine only if it exploded or destroyed, but never a massive army of robotic warriors. He may have gained brute strength, but he still had his mad scientist IQ.

Yet another stoplight stopped Rouge and the bat gave out a frustrated sigh. To take up some time, she forgot what hospital she was heading to and grabbed her phone. She dialed her friend's number and waited as the phone rang.

"If you're selling something, I don't want it." said the voice on the other line directly.

Rouge gave out another frustrated sigh before answering. "Knuckles, it's me, Rouge." she said in a nonchalant tone.

"Oh, Rouge, what's up?" replied Knuckles, at first the echidna sounded embarrassed, but came back with a normal question.

A while back, before the whole Eggman turning insane thing, Tails was able to give Knuckles a regular cell phone that even Knuckles could understand. It was hard at first, since Knuckles wasn't really into technology because he lived out most of his life on Angel Island, but Tails was able to dumb it down a bit so he could use it. Now Knuckles just carries a normal red cell phone, no futuristic internet connection, no application to take a picture, or gizmo that would allow him to text, just a basic 'push the numbers and call people' phone.

"What hospital is Tails staying at? I kinda forgot." asked Rouge in an embarrassed tone.

"The one of Fourth Street, can't miss it. I'll be there in like ten minutes." replied Knuckles easily.

"Kay, thanks." Thanks Rouge before hanging up.

So far, Rouge only knew that Tails was kidnapped by Eggman and now he's back, she doesn't know what condition he's in or even the fact that he's missing a tail. She just wants t go see the kid after such a tough time. The light turned green and she lightly pushed on the cars acceleration pedal, making it go forward, but before she got any further a large brute smashed into the car in front of her, killing both the driver and passenger that was within it. Rouge was shocked at the attack and looked at the assailant's face. She instantly recognized the man's face, and Rouge's mouth dropped open in shock after seeing the man's buff body.

It was definitely Eggman, but at the same time, it wasn't. Eggman looked up and met eyes with Rouge, the screaming of people all around filling the air, as a single bead of sweat formed on the bat's head. "Hi Rouge." He said simply, a smile creasing on his face.

Fear was the only thing lingering within Rouge's mind as she looked at the reformed Eggman. Her face then hardened into a serious one, as if she knew she was going to live. Instead of coming up with some witty little quip to taunt Eggman with, she smashed her foot onto another pedal which sent her car in reverse. Her heart was beating like the bass sound of a fast flowing techno song and fear was eating away at her. She couldn't believe Eggman's drastic change, but after looking through the man's glasses and into his eyes she could tell that this wasn't a dream. Eggman stood straight up, his massive figure still being held by the destroyed car. His odd actions made Rouge stop driving in reverse and look at the man.

"He's still smiling." whispered Rouge to herself before leaning over the steering wheel to see Eggman's pearly whites glistening in the sun. Rouge then realized something and smashed her foot into the acceleration pedal. It was a trap.

Back to the Present

BOOOOOOOOMMM!!!

So now we catch up to present occurrences, the time where Sonic is about to race off into the city to fight off yet another attack by Eggman and when Amy is sitting in horror after seeing Rouge's name on the soggy piece of paper that she had just picked up. So it turns out that Sonic wasn't fast enough to catch onto Eggman's plan this time, if only he hadn't let his accusation in the way, he might have been able to get to Rouge faster, but everyone makes a mistake. But this mistake has its cost.

A blue blur burst out of the hospital doors and straight for the explosion, passing a confused red echidna who obviously saw his speedy friend. Knuckles turned around and watched as a blue streak made its way to the cause of the explosion. Two seconds later, Knuckles began his run after Sonic, since the echidna could play hero as well.

While all of the commotion was happening, Tails sat peacefully atop his assigned hospital bed, looking out the window and at the smoke that was snaking its way into the sky. He hoped everything would be alright, but he remembered how strong Eggman had become. Things weren't going to be alright, so Tails ended up hoping for the best case scenario.

Fire was starting to burn the leather upholstery that was within Rouge's car as the bat coughed and spat blood and soot from her mouth. Moments before, both sides of the street exploded, swallowing her car in flames and killing many innocent people. The bat crawled out of her mangled car, to find that all of the wheels were blown and a metal rod stabbing in through the trunk, if the rod had gotten any further, it would have impaled her through chest. Fires burned the walls of apartments and smoke arose into the blue sky above, a perfect day gone to waste now.

None of that mattered now, what mattered was surviving Eggman's onslaught. Rouge pulled herself to her feet just in time to see Eggman walk off of the destroyed car he had landed on only minutes before, his lips whispering some sort word unheard by Rouge. The most disturbing fact about Eggman was that he was still smiling, no laughing, just a wide ear to ear smile that would make even the bravest of men shiver in fear. But Rouge wasn't scared, she remained the same back sassing Rouge and got into the thrill of the fight.

"So what? You finally found that weight loss formula?" taunted Rouge as she started to slowly step backwards and away from Eggman, a cocky smile on her face.

She couldn't fight Eggman on equal terms since his muscles held an unknown amount of power. So all Rouge could do was keep on taunting and backing away. A fight with Eggman alone would be her death sentence. Fear was finally starting to catch up to the bat now, and the realization made her heart rate increase even more, but she didn't show her fear and instead hid it behind a courageous façade. Was it the firing burning all around scaring her? Was it the screams of agonizing pain scaring her? No, it was the feeling of death that scared her. Before she could fight Eggman's robotic armies without a sweat, but now was different. Now she's fighting an Eggman that has the guts to fight, an Eggman that could actually kill her.

"Yes, Rouge. I found a system that actually works, and you know what?" asked Eggman, stopping his little walk.

Rouge chuckled, now she was having small talk with the person who was going to kill her, how quaint. "What?" asked Rouge, the same cocky smile on her white furred face.

"It has killer results." said Eggman, his smile growing even larger.

From a normal standing position, Eggman started to run toward Rouge at high speeds. In a matter of seconds, Eggman filled the gap that separated Rouge from himself and now he was in front of the bat. His increase in speed was unreal, but Rouge didn't have any time to marvel on the miracle, she was busy trying to survive. Eggman raised his foot high above Rouge's head, ready to smash her body into the ground like an empty soda can.

Before the power of the crushing foot could smash into the bat, a blue revolving ball smashed into Eggman's side causing the man to lose balance. After the blue spiraling ball bounced off of Eggman, a familiar red echidna punched the doctor in the gut, causing the doctor to fly sideways and bust right through a wall and into a building. Knuckles stood next to Rouge, while the blue ball uncurled itself before hitting the ground revealing Sonic the hedgehog. Knuckles had an exhausted look on his face from catching up with Sonic and punching that sack of muscle which was Eggman. Sonic however, had a shocked look on his face, telling Rouge that he's never seen Eggman like that.

"What the hell was that thing? It's freakin' huge!" said Knuckles as he marveled at the thing he had just punched.

"That's-"

"Eggman." said Sonic, finishing Rouge's sentence.

The doctor's new appearance definitely matched Tails' description. He had the huge muscles, beefy hands, same slim legs and a large psychotic smile. Sonic couldn't believe his eyes, it was like living some horrible dream at that moment.

The large doctor got out from beneath the rubble and rocks, and started wiping some dust off of his pants. No scratches were on him from any of the attacks that Sonic and Knuckles just unleashed on him.

"Yes, yes, it's Eggman. Now we can all celebrate and be happy." said a happy Eggman as he looked at the three. The same evil smile on his face.

Anger was starting to boil within Sonic. No scale could fathom how much rage engulfed the blue hedgehog. This monster, ripped off both of his friend's tails.

Everyone was confused, angry or calm at the predicament. Sonic being the angered Mobian, the want of killing Eggman burning within the hedgehog. Rouge being the calm one, she has no idea what has happened to Eggman or why he chose to attack her, but she didn't care. And Knuckles being the totally baffled one; Eggman's new form was as shocking like watching rocks being turned into gold before his very eyes. Normality was lost in the wind now, but the scent of battle now floating in the air.

"Come one, Come all! Feast your eyes on the destruction of Sonic the hedgehog, Knuckles the echidna and Rouge the bat!" yelled Eggman playfully as if he were a ringmaster at a circus.

We're nothing but playthings to that man now. Just his little dolls and his puppets that he either wants to break emotionally or dismember physically. This is only the beginning though. He's only taking his first steps on the road to insanity.

Dun dun dun!