The sound of welding filled Sonic's ears. He opened his eyes to the swaying grass of Green Hill zone. Over out of the shade, Tails was busy adding a new gadget to his plane the Tornado. Unable to get his peace and quiet, sonic decided to enlighten himself.

"Watcha doin' now?" he asked to the busy fox. Tails lifted his head from under the plane, thumping it along the way.

"Trying to enhance the radar with another one…ow." Tails started whilst rubbing his forehead, "It's been picking up on a lot of fake energy lately."

"Fake energy? I thought we took care of that a while ago." Sonic queried and stood to his 'thinking pose'. Tails shrugged at this and began to worry a bit.

"Well, we've already learned that a fake Chaos Emerald means trouble."
"But we also know that trouble means another adventure!" Sonic exclaimed. He then examined the clear sky; the day was late and he couldn't shake the tingly feeling he had on his back. Like someone was watching them just an arm's reach away. He had been uneasy for a while too. Ever since Tails had flown them by Eggman's base just yesterday. He contemplated their next move for a minute, then headed north back towards Tails' lab. Tails postponed his improvements on the Tornado and followed suit.

The evil man in red circled his creation that stood before him.

"Now, what have you learned?" He questioned.

"Sonic the Hedgehog is the enemy." Tails Doll replied back blatantly.

"And what is your task?" Eggman eyed the little zombie-like thing.

"I must enforce my own will upon him, and bring him to you for your revenge."

"Very good. We start in the dead of night." Eggman turned and stalked over to the door.

"Wait!" The fox thing called, "Will you love me if I do this?" it asked quietly.

"All in good time, my pet…" The scientist sneered and left the room.

"Pet?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tails and Sonic had their hands full, literally. They were busy absentmindedly spooning ice cream into their mouths in front of the television. Anything to get their minds off of that uneasy tingly feeling that followed them everywhere. It was nothing like the haunting they'd been through, but like something was on the verge of happening.

"Listen I-" They both spoke out at the same time.

"I think I'm gonna go to bed." Tails said and rose from the couch.

"'Night bud." Sonic said in Tails' direction. He was 'busy' watching an old movie. He had no idea what it was or when it was made, but it kept his mind off of the rest of his troubles. It was late though, and maybe, he thought, that some sleep would do him good. Especially since the moon was shining brightly in the sky.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The quiet hover-craft whizzed through the sky. It had carried it's passengers in a bee line to their small destination.

"Bring to me when you get him. I'll be waiting patiently at base." Eggman instructed quietly to Tails Doll. He dropped his little creation near the door of the house, and flew off.

It I'll have at least one person to love me, then so be it. Tails Doll thought. The jewel on his head glowed brightly, and he fazed through the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sonic crawled under the covers of the bed in the extra room. Unfortunately, his hopes of having moonlight brighten up the room didn't go in his favor. The room was black, pitch black. The hedgehog forced himself to relax. Besides the unsettling darkness things were alright. Sonic tried to get comfortable, tossing and turning and fiddling with the sheets. Once he settled down, he noticed the sound of the door opening.

"What's going on Tails?" Sonic asked not moving. Tails made no noise however. There was a long silence before anything happened. Sonic sat up. In the pitch dark he saw nothing, not even his nose. He turned to his right. A red light was pulsating and undulating beside him. It grew brighter and brighter. The jewel lit up its eyes and the rest of its face. It grinned a deadly grin. Sonic froze; his eyes grew wide, his pupils small.

"Can you feel the sunshine?"