*Twenty minutes later, back at Eggman's hiding place*

"WORTHLESS, FOOLISH, USELESS, PATHETIC IMBESSILES!" The evil doctor roared as he stormed into the cave where Toxic sat.

The Plague had sunken into the wall of rock, since he was made of stone. His eyes and mouth moved across the cave walls, following Robotnik as he ranted and fumed.

"You had one job!" Eggman seethed. "Kill Sonic was all I asked! You're unbeatable! Unkillable; yet even YOU two fail me! Apparently, one does not simply kill a hedgehog!"

The Plague looked down at the floor while Toxic narrowed its eyes.

"You two are not finished with your task. I want you to track down that blue menace and kill him before he saves his girlfriend! That'll just leave the echidna and the fox for now, of which I have no concern for. Do I make myself clear?" The doctor hissed.

Toxic nodded while The Plague's body began to form out of the cavern walls. After its body was constructed, The Plague motioned to its slimy companion and the two ran out of the cave, heading towards the city.

*Fifteen minutes later, at the HQ of Sonic and his team*

After ordering Toxic to stay outside, concealed from the line of sight from any cameras, The Plague sunk into the ground, traveled underneath the foundation of the base and climbed up out of the floor, entering the kitchen undetected. Carefully maneuvering its way through the first floor, the beast managed to scale the wall in the main hall and hop onto the second floor indoor balcony. Slinking down a hallway and making a right, the golem overheard two voices nearby, neither of which matched his blue target.

I want you to track down that blue menace and kill him before he saves his girlfriend! That'll just leave the echidna and the fox for now, of which I have no concern for.

Its master's words rang through its mind as The Plague listened carefully to the conversation behind the door.

"…makes it," A gruff voice said, and then sighed. "Where does Sonic have to go for these ingredients again?"

A younger, slightly higher voice responded. "Arctic tundra first to get the first, and then it's off to the Spire Dimension to gather a rare and fine powder—supposedly guarded by…"

The monster pulled away from the door and hopped over the balcony, sliding down the wall and landing quietly on the first floor again. Moving back to where he had entered, being the kitchen, The Plague sunk back into the ground, pulling the ceramic tiles back into place with barely any cracks in them.

*With Sonic, in the Mobian Arctic Tundra*

"Shoulda brought a parka!" The Blue Blur groaned, moving through the snowy area with his hands across his chest and his teeth chattering. "Haven't felt this frozen since I was in the Frostbite Dimension!"

The Fastest Thing Alive looked around at the white out around him. Somewhere out there, the calls of penguins echoed.

"Another beautiful day, huh Jack?"

"Sure is! Boy! It's a hot one!"

"Lisa! Hey, how're the kids?"

Sonic shook his head and blew hot air into his palms. "Tails, what am I looking for again?"

"You need to find a cave. Gather some silk from some Locasilk worms. Rare in these parts, but there are a few caves around where you are that should have them," The fox crackled.

After ten minutes of searching, the hedgehog began to lose feeling in his legs. He dropped to his knees and began to breath heavily, feeling his vision blur slightly.

"I'm going dark out here, Tails!" Sonic called.

"You need to keep going if you're gonna find the cure for Amy!" Knuckles pushed.

The Fastest Thing Alive yelled out into the snowy abyss and slammed his fist into the ground in frustration. Cracks formed underneath him after the blow, and began to spread across the area he was in.

"Aw, chili DOOOOOOGGGGGSSSSSSS!" Sonic shouted as the ground beneath him gave way, sending the hero into a free fall downward.

The hero smacked into a stone edge and splashed down in a glowing pool of what seemed to be water. Coughing and sputtering, the hedgehog shot up from the depths and struggled to stay afloat. Using one arm to push water away from him, Sonic floated over to a small, rocky bank inside the snowy sinkhole that just swallowed him up and pulled himself out.

"Sonic! Sonic, come in!" Tails exclaimed.

"Yeah?" The Blue Blur grunted, cradling his right arm, which had been hit on his way down.

"Are you alright?"

"Just blasted my arm and almost drowned, but other than that, everything is going swell!" The Fastest Thing Alive seethed, looking around at the glowing strings of silk that covered the walls and ceiling. "I may have found the silk cave. By the way, how did that earpiece survive that fall?"

"I created it to be practically indestructible," Came the response.

"You found the cave?" Knuckles cut in. "Well, get some silk and get out!"

"Hard to do when I may have broken my arm!" Sonic spat, flinching as he moved it around with his good hand.

"Busted something, you say?" A tiny voice called out, echoing throughout the cavern.

The hero frowned and looked around the cave. "I'll get back to you guys. I think I'm hearing things."

After tapping his earpiece, the hedgehog looked around his surroundings once more, only to find nothing.

"Who said that?"

"I did!" The voice squeaked again, closer this time.

Sonic looked down at his knee where a small worm lay, looking up at him.

"Hurt something?" The worm asked.

"Uh…" Sonic sputtered. "Yeah?"

"Well, maybe we can help!"

"We?"

"We! Guys!"

Hundreds upon hundreds of worms crawled out from tiny holes in the walls and swarmed over Sonic's arm.

"You see," The tiny worm explained. "We're not like usual Locasilk worms. We're genetically different. Our silk glows, and we prefer to live underground. Not many visitors come by. None, actually. Anyway, our silk bonds things together extremely well and holds stuff in place, but still allowing movement!"

"Very educated for a worm," The hedgehog stated.

"What's that supposed to mean?" The tiny helper asked, his tone changing slightly.

"Nothing! Nothing! What, uh, what're your friends doing to my arm?" Sonic asked.

"Bonding it and wrapping it in silk! It'll be like a cast, but you can still move it…sorta," The worm squeaked. "And everyone in there is my friend, except for Tony. Tony!"

"What?" A voice squealed out.

"Your mother was a tape worm!" The bug spat, and then turned back to Sonic. "Quite a nasty spill ya took. No worries. We'll get ya patched up. You said you need some of our silk?"

"Pure form, yeah," The blue hero replied.

"I'll get that going right away! Won't take long at all!" The worm cheered.

*With Toxic and The Plague, in the Spire Dimension*

"What're we doing here? Sonic is in the tundra…" The slimy monster hissed.

"Next destination…here," The Plague grumbled, crouching down and gazing over the landscape.

The two beasts were perched on a mountain ledge that allowed them to see most of the outstretched fields. If something came through there, they'd be able to see it.

"And what if it isn't? What if you're wrong?" Toxic questioned. "Then—"

"Then wait for hero. Kill then," The rock monster stated, getting up and walking off.

There it is. Sorry for a not-so-exciting chapter after a long wait. It'll pick up again. Promise.

I know this chapter may have been a little hasty and a little thrown together, but I'll fix that when I go back and edit chapters.

Remember to leave a review!

More to come…