HELLO! I apologize for the long delay. But I did tell you it was gonna happen! Right? Anyway, time to continue! So enjoy everybody!

At the stroke of 8:00, a certain hedgehog couple began to exit the local movie theater, looking very satisfied with the show.

"See Amy? Now THAT was comedy!" Sonic said while laughing.

Amy laughed too. "That sure was! Good choice, Sonic!"

Sonic looked around the next corner.

"Now how about to top this day off, we get some ice cream!"

Amy's eyes widened with delight. "Oooooooh…You just said the secret words!"

"Don't I always?" Sonic joked.

And with no disagreement, the two set off for their dessert. After all, who in their right mind would turn down a chance to get some ice cream?

When suddenly…

'RIIIIING!' 'RIIIIING!'

Amy looked in her purse as her cell phone rang. As soon as she answered…

"Yes? Hello?"

"Amy? Is Sonic there with you?" a voice asked.

"Rotor? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me!"

"Well, long time no see, or talk for that matter!"

"It's good to hear you too, Amy. But I must know. Is Sonic there with you?"

Amy quickly noticed the urgency in Rotor's voice. "Uh, yeah he is. You wanna speak to him?"

"No. I just needed to know you two were together."

"Yo, Amy!" Sonic called from the street corner. "What's the hold up?"

"In a second, Sonic!" Amy picked up her phone once more. "You were saying, Rotor?"

"Listen. I know this sounds really sudden, and might be very bad timing, but I need you two to meet me in Knothole City immediately!"

Amy began to seem worried. "W-Why? What's the matter?"

"I'm afraid I can only explain once you guys arrive. Is that ok?"

"Yeah Rotor, I understand. I'll tell Sonic right away…"

Amy hung up, and caught up with her date.

Sonic turned around. "There you are! So what flavor do ya want?"

"Um, you're gonna have to get them to go, Sonic. Rotor wants to see us."

Sonic looked a little surprised. "Right now? What for?" He then noticed the worried look in Amy's eyes. "Oh, I see. It's urgent, right? Ok, let's go."

In a little while, Sonic and Amy had finally arrived at Knothole City and found themselves standing outside a large corporate-type building. Not too many lights were seen from the windows; most likely because almost everyone was done working for the day.

Sonic reached for the front door, until it opened right before he reached the knob.

"WHOA!"

Rotor stood on the inside. "Oh, at last. You're here!"

"Don't scare me like that, pal!" Sonic said stepping back.

"Huh?" Rotor suddenly noticed. "Oh, sorry. My bad."

Sonic gathered himself and faced his friend. "So, where's the fire, Rote? What's with the sudden ring?"

Rotor just turned around and began to walk into the first hallway to the left of the entrance. "Come with me, guys. You have to see it for yourselves."

The couple looked at each other with wonder, and soon followed behind.

A door opened before the three of them as Rotor led Sonic and Amy into a small room filled with monitors and screens on almost every inch of a large control panel. Rotor sat down and began to punch in a command.

"You gonna tell us what's up, Rote?" Sonic asked curiously.

"I really wish I could, but I think you guys would know better than me."

Amy looked confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rotor began to try and explain.

"This equipment and monitor system was specially designed by me to keep a watchful eye on Mobius Z ever since the incident you two and the others went through one year ago."

"Oh, I see. Good thinkin'!" Sonic admitted.

Rotor continued. "Since Mobius Z is supposed to remain uninhabited, me and my research team agree that if no activity is detected anywhere on the planet, then all is fine and dandy. Then just a little while ago, something happened."

"What sort of something?" Amy asked.

"One of my satellites actually did detect unknown activity somewhere on the planet. And it looks serious."

"Can you tell us what 'it' is, Rotor?" Sonic asked anxiously.

He answered. "The monitor said…that a new Zone was forming on it!"

Sonic and Amy's mouths hung open in shock.

"But…but that's impossible! I thought every Zone on Mobius was formed into Mobius Z."

Rotor turned to face Sonic. "We all did, pal. You, me, and everyone else in the world! But my equipment is designed to be 100 percent correct. As hard to believe as it seems, it's true."

Amy looked pretty convinced. "I must admit I've never been one to argue with you or you knowledge, Rotor."

"Yeah. And I'm beginning to wish that I can! If a new Zone has actually formed on the planet's surface, the consequences could be catastrophic!"

Sonic's eyes widened once more. "Is this really that serious Rotor? And if it is, then why?"

"I don't think I have the time to explain right now, Sonic. We have a lot to do first!"

Sonic and Amy listened carefully.

"First, we'll need to inform the others as to what we've discovered so far. They'll be the ones who'll want to know first. Then I'll be able to explain what may await us in the not so distant future."

Sonic's old-fashioned look of determination formed on his face.

"We'll go get 'em for you, Rote! And we'll be back in a flash! Ready, Amy?"

She got out her phone and began to punch in a few familiar phone numbers.

"You bet! Let's get to the bottom of this. The sooner the better!"

And for the first time since they met with him tonight, Rotor smiled.

"I'm glad I can always count on you, guys! Now go get everyone, and meet me at Castle Acorn ASAP!"

"You got it! Let's move out!"

And in a second, the three branched off to summon their friends.

Meanwhile, on planet Mobius Z itself, a quiet, deserted landscape laid in silence. Not one living soul was in sight for miles, like it always was. Or at least, it should've been. A faint, unfamiliar sound suddenly broke the death-like silence inside of a small, pitch black opening within a tall structure that seemed to appear from out of nowhere. Maybe it was an illusion, or trick of sight. But within the darkness, two sinister red eyes opened…

Good news! I'll be getting a big break from college soon. Therefore, you won't have to wait as long for the next chap to be updated! See ya next time, folks! There's a lot more in store! You'll see……R&R!