Long Ago...
The heroes screamed as they were shot down by the doctor's armada. They had just escaped the Twilight Cage to find that Dr. Eggman had taken over the world in the many years they were trapped there. Time moved slower in the Twilight Cage, so what seemed like only a few weeks had turned out to be a few years in Earth time. With the absence of the pesky hedgehog and his friends, Eggman had been able to build a new empire. As the heroes' pod came out from the portal, Eggman knew he couldn't let them live. If they didn't die from the impact of the shot, surely he could just as easily trap them back in the Cage. Surely enough, the crash didn't even leave them with a scratch. Eggman resorted to plan B. Without Sonic disrupting his plans, he figured out how to travel across dimensions at will. At first it was a noble cause. He could help save Sonic and be well respected by the citizens of Earth. Perhaps if he turned over a new leaf he could finally achieve his dream of building his own theme park. Perhaps he could even save his future descendent; whom he had found out was trapped in another dimension after a lab accident. But then he realized all of the things he could do with dimensional travel. He could commit any evil deed and escape to another dimension without being caught. Of course, this never came to use as his pure power of intimidation and unstoppable force allowed to him to easily take over the highest powers of the world. He couldn't be stopped now, not by the nemesis he once thought to be trapped forever. As soon as the heroes left the pod, he sprung a portal which promptly began to suck them in. Unfortunately for him, only the blasted blue hedgehog was stuck in the pull. No matter, the rest would be foolish enough to try and help him and end up sucked in anyway. It took too much power to simply create another portal so soon.
"Dang, that was some journey." Sonic said, dusting himself off as he exited the ruined pod.
"Yea, for sure." Tails replied.
"No doubt." Amy chimed in.
"Now that my negotiations with the Nocturnus are done, I think I may enjoy this planet you call 'Earth.'" Shade said. Shadow simply grunted. Then, before anyone else could speak, a portal suddenly opened up behind them. Sonic was immediately dragged in by the pull. He tried to escape it by running, but even at his fastest speed, he couldn't escape the pull of the portal. Tails reached out his hand, trying to save his best friend.
"No, Tails, you'll just be dragged in too. I'll find a way out. Take care of yourselves." He said as the portal swallowed him.
"I'll go after him." Shade said. "I've lived in the Twilight Cage my entire life. I'll find him no matter where he's ended up." Then she jumped in the portal after him.
Tails' head drooped. He felt responsible for his friend getting sucked in. If only he had pushed him out of the way. He should've known since they were shot down that Eggman wasn't going to let them off that easily. He was about to jump through the portal, but it closed before he had the chance. Ignoring his friends' comforting, he ran back to the city. He was going to find a way to save his friend, even if it killed him.
Sonic groaned as he landed on his feet in the Twilight Cage. He was exactly where they were when he left. Before he could react, he felt his hand being magically shackled. Of course.
"You are not welcome here, hedgehog." A cold voice said behind him.
"Alright, who are you? One of Ix's soldiers?" Sonic asked.
"Close, but not quite. I am Imperator Di. Ix's successor." The voice said, then Sonic turned around.
"Oh great. Another evil overlord who wants to kill me. Just another day in the life of a hero." Sonic said.
"You better watch your tongue, hedgehog. I am aware Shade has come to rescue you, but she will be too late. You will be placed in a prison even she doesn't know of." Di replied.
"Welp. Not like I have anywhere better to go. Lock me up, Di. No prison can hold me!" Sonic said.
"As you wish."