Spike had found where Sonic and his roommates were, and now it was time to take on his first villains. Zavok stood on a hornet-like robot, Zazz stood on a bear-like robot, and Zik stood on a sandworm-like robot. "Oh, great. Giant...animal...monstrous….robots...controlled by...magnetic field manipulating...demons. Why do you do this to yourself, Spike?! Suck it up! You started this, so now you're gonna finish this!" Spike thought. "I can't wait to see how long you last against this, boy!" Zazz shouted. "Well, then, come and get me, Zeti. Leave your robots. Pick up your weapons and fight." They didn't do so. They must have known he was scared silly right now. Either that or they were underestimating him. Which several people did. All the time. Even his sisters.
Zavok summoned several Egg Pawns to attack Spike, but he, with an annoyed look on his face, just pulled the Rhythm Wispon from his backpack and fired a powerful sonic blast that destroyed all the Egg Pawns in 9 seconds flat. His singing voice sounded like Doug Walker holding one note for a really long time. "Are you kidding me? Egg Pawns? That's practically just cannon fodder!" Spike thought. The Zeti went in for an all out attack, but Spike got out of the way before they could so much as land a shot on him, and Zazz wasn't able to know where he went. "Wha-WHERE'D THE PUNK GO?!" "Uh, Zazz…" Zavok and Zik pointed to the ceiling. Of course, that's where Spike was, shivering in fear. "Sonic, he looks a bit...cowardly to be here to rescue us." Gemerl said. "He does, now. He's just getting started." Sonic replied. He could tell, as he was like that before he became a hero.
Spike, seeing an opening, shot his wire at the back of the sandworm, ran behind him, grabbed his cane and whacked Zik in the back as you would a golf ball, sending him flying into the wall. "I hit Zik in the back...and it felt good! What is this sensation? Because I want more of it!" "Hey, come on! You forgot to yell "FORE!" Relic complained. "I'm gonna mess you up!" Zazz shouted, as he lunged out at Spike, leaving his robot in the process, but again, he got out of the way, and shot right at Zazz. He then struck Zazz in the leg with Zik's cane, and then pulled out the Cube Wispon, and used it to knock Zazz unconscious. Zavok locked on for an attack, but Spike dodged away, and Sonic landed in front of him, and punched and kicked him until he could take no more. "No! How could I lose to the likes of you and your lackeys again?!" Zavok cried. "That was a blast. Bring some chili dogs next time!" Sonic said. Zavok tried to get up, but couldn't as he finally fell down. "Well, that took care of that." Relic said. Spike then took the Bomb Wispon, set several bombs to the jail cells entry areas and cried out, "Run, my fellow rookies! You are free! FLEE THIS CAULDRON OF PAIN, MISERY AND TORMENT!" And so they did, screaming all the way, as they ran for the shuttles and escape pods.
"Thanks for helping us out there, uhh….." Sonic said. "Spike. It's always a pleasure to help out another hero. Who are the other guys?" He was referring to the two he shared the cell with. "Oh. These are my roommates; Relic and Gemerl." Sonic said. "Relic, Commander Knuckles's old friend, and Gemerl, Cream's robotic butler?" "Well, I prefer caretaker rather than butler." "Can't tell you how much we appreciate it. Especially me. It's been awhile since I've seen a friendly face." "I can tell, what with you being Eggman Empire Public Enemy No. 1 and all." Spike said. "Hey, Spike, you still in one piece?" Knuckles asked on Spike's watch, which had a Skype-like camera. "Yeah. And look who I have with me." "Hey there, guys!" Sonic said while greeting the Resistance. "He's got Sonic!" Amy cried out from the shuttle. Since Spike ran out to find Sonic after escaping the ambush, the others had decided to guard the shuttle from any other attacking robots. Spike could hear the entire resistance cheering. Spike, Sonic, Relic and Gemerl ran for the shuttle, and once they were inside, they sped off back to Earth. "Listen up. It will take a while for re-entry, and the Doctor's heard we've taken a shuttle, and has sent fighter bots out to shoot us down. Luckily, your shuttle is fitted with fighter jets and defense systems, so use them to blast them out of the sky. Shadow out." With that in mind, Razor, the Turtles, and Hotaru got in the fighter jets and blasted the incoming fighter bots out of space. Imagine an epic fight in the Star Wars franchise. The Resistance shuttle landed on Angel Island and the returning warriors returned to the base, where everyone still there welcomed Sonic back, especially Sally, who gave him a big welcome back hug.
"Sonic, finding you alive has been the best news we've had in months." Vanilla said. "And here's the bad news. GUN has gained intel that the Doctor's got a munitions factory in Green Hill, pumping out weapons for his war efforts." Shadow said. "A factory? But we can't take out Eggman and his followers' home base in Metropolis if they have a factory supplying them!" Pearly cried. "No fooling, Pearly, but Spike's come up with a plan. Spike, if you would be so kind." Sally said. "As Sally just said, I have a idea. I've noticed that Coral possesses the ability to cast magic spells and Blaze and Hotaru have the capability to conjure fire at will. A GUN operative took a few pictures inside the factory. Eggman's also producing bombs. If we can set one of them to just the right temperature, it will explode and set off an organized chain reaction of explosions so powerful, they'll take the factory with them." Sonic was looked a little sad after hearing Spike's plan. "Sonic, is something wrong? Did I say something to upset you?" "No, it's not that. It's just...you...really, really remind me of Tails." "I know. Out of all of us, Tails was the one missed you the most. I'm sorry for reminding you of him." "It's cool." "Listen, Sonic, I know you just got back here, but we're fresh out of other ideas. Can you escort me, Coral, Blaze, and Hotaru to this factory so we can destroy it?" "You sure about getting in on this, bro? I don't mean to be rude, but you were shaking like a leaf the whole time you were at the Death Egg." Leeta commented. "I was? Oh, I mean, I was, because it's really cold in space, and the factory is nice and warm, at least it will be when it's burnt to the ground!" Spike said. "That's the spirit, bro!" Lyco said. "Right, we're calling it...Operation Pyramid Smash (with Extra Hot Sauce)." Shadow said. "Why the hot sauce bit?" Silver asked. "Because four people are blowing up a factory with fire." Charmy said. "Well then, that Pepperoni Pizza with extra hot chili peppers we Turtles like would be really good right now!" Michelangelo said, while slurping his tongue with delight. "Mikey, this is no time to think about eating pizza, and besides, only you and Raph like that pizza topping! It's….uhh...a little too spicy for me and Donnie." Leonardo sheepishly said. "Either way, Sonic, you take the lead. Coral, Blaze, do your best. Spike, Hotaru, just make sure you take good notes." Knuckles said. "Already one step ahead of you, Knuckles." said Hotaru, who was doing just that.
With that, Sonic, Blaze, Spike, Coral and Hotaru set off for the Arsenal Pyramid in Green Hill. "Sonic, you seem more excited than ever ever since you got back. Why's that?" Blaze said. "I've got six months of payback I'm just dying to spend! And this seems like a pretty good start." Sonic replied. In a few minutes, the five made it to the Pyramid. "There it is!" Coral shouted. "The Doctor's factory is within the Pyramid. I can send some reinforcements in if you don't think you can handle it." Shadow said. "No need for reinforcements, Commander Shadow!" Spike said. "Yeah, the four of them are more than enough!" Sonic said. "Cool your jets, Shadow. We'll blitz this joint and open up a path for the resistance, right, guys?" Hotaru said. "Right!" They said. They reached a bridge-like path upwards. "If we walk up there, it will take forever to take this factory down! We're finished!" Spike said. Sonic just slapped him. "Spike, don't stress it. We'll find a way. Heroes always find a way." He said. Spike thought about that for a second, then came up with a plan. "Maybe you could use your powers?" "Good idea." Blaze said. She and Hotaru engulfed themselves in fire and bursted all the way up the bridge, Coral cast a spell on herself, turning her into a ball of light that bounced up and Sonic and Spike, well…. "What about us?" "Take my hand." Spike did so, as he wouldn't doubt the word of someone like Sonic. "Spike, hold on tight!" With that, Sonic ran up the bridge, faster than he had ever run before. Spike took a while to get on his feet. The bridge led to the very top of the Pyramid. "Sonic! The entrance's in here." Blaze shouted, as she pointed downwards in the little hole at the top. "Bingo!" Sonic said, as Spike contacted the Commanders. "Commander Shadow, we found a way in." Spike said. Shadow smiled at that news. "Perfect! You should be able to get into the factory through there. Continue to stay alert. Shadow out!" "This gonna be fun!" Hotaru said, enthusiastically. The five skydived downward, avoiding all the lasers along the way. Once they landed, they set off for the bomb bay in the factory. "So they're building weapons here, huh? Making everybody work like robots? It'll be Eggman's turn to get pushed around when I get a hold of him!" Sonic announced. "Uh, I think you mean, when we get a hold of him." Spike said. "Oh, right, yeah, we. That's what I meant." With that, Sonic and the others took off to the bomb bay, and after hopping around and taking out Egg Pawns along the way, they finally made it to the bay.
"Here it is. Remember, set it to just the right temperature, then it'll blow like popcorn!" Spike said. "You wanna get in on this, Spike?" Hotaru said. "I...uhh...don't know, I think I...uhh.." "Spike, look. I can tell you're scared." Sonic said. "Really?" "Yeah. We all can. We were scared starting off too." Coral said. "Really?" "Yeah. It comes with being a newbie." Hotaru said. "We all had experience with first hero job fright." "I used to fear Eggman, like all the people do now, but when I first beat him, I feared him less and less, until I became his archenemy, and became one of the greatest heroes who ever lived. "Yeah, when I started off as a priestess, I didn't know if I would be able to do it right. I began to doubt my abilities, and my worth, but then I met Razor and Pearly, and they helped me work my power. I became a mother-like figure in our little team, and with Amy's help, I became skilled in the rites, and I became one of the most powerful magic-users of all time!" Coral explained. "And I was born with my flames. I wasn't able to control them, so kids used to make fun of me for it, and I spent most of my life alone. I saw my powers as a burden, as a pain, as a curse, and I believed protecting the Sol Emeralds was my responsibility alone. Then I met Sonic and Cream, before she got her screaming powers, and they showed me the way, and they taught me that I couldn't hold the world on my shoulders. I started being more open to people, and I gained more respect, but even though I'm honored to be known as the Princess of the Kingdom, I prefer I would be better off known as a hero, just like Sonic." Blaze explained. "Well, what about me? Before I first went to Cyberspace, I used to hate the world around me and most of the people living in it, and for 12 years, I took care of my brothers and sisters, way better than our Trunchbull caretaker would. When my family went out, I used to stay in our house all the time, waiting for my parents to come home, but I feared that they forgot about us. But they didn't. Turns out they were just looking after one big, scary world just...praying for some heroes to help them break free from the controlled environment they live in. And me and my friends...we were those heroes they had been asking for. I wasn't ready, at first, but my friends, family and all the legendary heroes in Cyberspace, they put me on the right track. I used to think my friends would be just like all the really bad humans in the world, only to know they had hearts of gold." Hotaru explained, as he took out a picture of him with his friends, all of them smiling. "Are those...all your friends?" Spike asked. "Yep. And if most of the humans in this world can have hearts as golden as theirs...then maybe my world wasn't so bad after all."
"You see, Spike, fear comes with the starter pack of being a hero. But let me tell you one thing: you can't let your fear own you." Sonic said. "There's this poem I loved reading to my little sisters, and one line shows what we mean: "And if you can't see anything beautiful about yourself, get a better mirror, look a little closer, stare a little longer, because there's something inside you that made you keep trying despite everyone who told you to quit. You built a cast around your broken heart and signed it yourself. And you signed it…" Hotaru then pulled his tanktop up and showed a tattoo on his chest that looked like a heart with a cast on it that read; "They were wrong." Spike read the tattoo. Hotaru then put it down. Spike started to understand. Despite being some of the greatest heroes of all time, even they doubted themselves the first time. "I think I get it. Sonic, when I was fighting the Zeti on the Death Egg, I hit Zik with his own cane and I loved it!" "That's a little feeling we like to call "catharsis." It's the tingly feeling you get when you go for an emotional release; we heroes give bad guys what they have coming." Sonic said. Spike smiled. "Speaking of which, how about we blow this popsicle stand?" Blaze said. Spike picked up the Burst Wispon, Blaze set a fire in her hand, and so did Hotaru, and Coral cast a spell that gave her fire powers. "Alright, let's crack this Eggman factory!" The four set fire to one of the bombs and waited until it reached 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and looked red and was about to burst. "Okay, guys, looks like it's time to do one thing." Sonic said. "What is it?" Hotaru asked. "RUN!" They ran out before the bomb burst, as just like Spike predicted, bombs blew in a set chain reaction until the factory was reduced to rubble. "Operation Pyramid Smash (with Extra Hot Sauce); mission accomplished!" Shadow said.
"So why were you so scared on Eggman and his minions, anyway, Spike?" "It was right before the Commanders found me. Me and a fighter troop were taking on two of his new lackeys." He was talking about Infinite and Carrotia of the Witchcarters, who had recently developed a sort of...crush on him. And don't ask why. "There is no reason to resist. Your savior is no more." "Before we could make any progress, they eliminated all of my friends." Infinite charged a laser blast, and indeed, did just that. Carrotia used a psychic blast infused in a kiss, and it did just that too. Spike tried to leave, but Carrotia used her telekinesis to pick him up and have him face the two. "We can taste that you're scared, buddy. All that anxiety and doubt…" "It's delicious." Carrotia then dropped him on the floor. "Give into your fear. Flee, screaming, and we'll let you live." Spike did just that, and Infinite and Carrotia laughed.
"Spike, it's okay to feel scared. I'm actually a little scared of the new guy, too." Sonic said. Then the watch went off. "It's Commander Sally!" Spike answered the watch. "Yeah?" "The Hooligans are attacking inside the Mystic Jungle! And they have the masked one with them! Silver, Lilac and Jet are fighting them, and they need backup!" "I'm on it." Sonic said. With that, he ran off to the jungle, ready for a second round with Infinite. And the others took Spike back to base, with Spike now knowing he may be needing some courage, because one thing's for sure; he was in for the long haul against Eggman and his followers!