Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, Sally and Rosie make an attempt to save the city, first by freeing the soldiers and then the citizens. While their attempts have been very fruitful, Rosie got injured by one of their attackers, leading to gradually losing blood. As a result, she and Sally are separated, leaving Sally on her own. But what of Rosie…?

As the dust settled, shortly after Sally had retreated from the mob of robots, two Egg Robos stopped pursuit to check on the damage. As one starts to clear debris, an arrow is jabbed into its head, Rosie lunging out of the rubble like some zombie waiting in its grave for its next meal. The other Egg Robo attempts to fire at Rosie, but the robot she stabbed was used as a shield, allowing her to get close and punch her fist through the metal of the other bot. With the Mobinis freed and the action dying down, Rosie feels her adrenaline lower, the pain of her arm surging through her body as she saw cuts and scratches from her punching the robot.

Rosie: "Gh… Heh… Not a very smart move… That's gonna make using a bow a task…"

With a pained chuckle, she looks for her bow, only to find it smashed to pieces due to the rubble. With an annoyed sigh, she opts to use the robots' own weapons to defend herself with. But then, she started feeling dizzy, forcing her to lean against a wall.

Rosie: "Damn it… M-My wound… That worm thing might have done more to me than I thought…"

Holding her side, Rosie gets off the wall and slowly makes her way through the alleyways. She needed to avoid combat as much and rescue as many people as she could. It was the least she could do for her princess…

Meanwhile, in Robotnik's Wing Fortress, Sage's hologram is busy 'sweeping' the floors while her creator was away before seeing the doors open and an irate Snively walks in.

Snively: "Sage! Where is Robotnik!? I want to speak with him about going after those twerps! And preferably with a better Egg Mobile than the one I was given!"

Sage: "You upgraded the Egg Mobile to your specifications… Without Lord Robotnik's permission, I might add. So if the fault for your defeat lies on anything, it is your own incompetence, lord of useless boasts."

Snively: "How DARE you! You are nothing but a computer program! Simple data! You wouldn't understand complex things like craftsmanship and pride!"

Sage: "I may be data… But do run this entire fortress. Including its defense systems."

Two turrets then come from the floor and aim at Snively, causing him to raise his hands in a vain attempt to defend himself, while sweating enough to drench his outfit.

Snively: "O-Okay, p-point taken… B-But where is Rob- … I mean, Lord Robotnik? I'd still like to have my revenge against those two."

Sage: "Your orders are to sit and wait. Once we are done here, we are returning to base to begin preparations for Operation Clean Slate. If you really want to make yourself useful, prepare the royals for transport and make sure they don't cause a fuss."

Snively: "Tch. Why not just kill them then? Sounds like they'll be a hassle."

Sage: "Lord Robotnik explains that they are needed as a bargaining chip in the event something goes wrong. Force the various nations of Mobius to surrender while their leaders are dangled over death itself."

Snively wanted to comment on how stupid that sounded, but the turrets still aimed at him made him reconsider any back talk. Sage then receives a transmission from the Scrap Brain base; it was Omelette.

Sage: "Omelette? Have you found the Chaos Emerald yet?"

Omelette: "Oh I found it. And I got your orders. I'm just gonna ignore them though."

Sage: "...Why?"

Omelette: "Because, my dear computer sister, why rush to the next objective? Why not cause a little mayhem? I'm bored and frustrated at just jumping from place to place collecting glowing rocks. I want to have fun!"

Sage: "Your logic does not compute."

Omelette: "And you are way too stiff, Sage! Like, get a load off already! Anyway, see ya at the big party! Buh-BYE!~"

Communication is cut off and Sage, though still stoic, was dumbstruck by the idiocy of her own sister. It was to a point that even she had to face palm.

Sage: "Between you and Omelette, me and Lord Robotnik really are the only ones who actually get things done…"

Snively: "I could use a little less rude jabbings, you miserable pile of code!"

Sage: "Not sorry. It is recommended you go do your job now. Or wait for Lord Robotnik's punishment. Up to you."

Snively grumbled angrily as he stormed out of the room. Sage lowers the turrets as she just sighs and awaits for Lord Robotnik to return.

Somewhere else, Sally is seen cutting away at robots, saving more citizens, though not staying to chat as she simply moves to the next spot to avoid detection. As she does so her mind begins to wander.

Sally: 'Was I pushing Rosie too hard? She was starting to get tired… But we needed to save the city! We could've worried about other things later!'

Sally stops, gripping her sword tightly as the guilt starts to set in. Ever since she saw her home become a flaming battlefield and just how many lives were lost, she grew desperate to find her father. She wanted to rush to save people, all to save her father afterwards. In that case, did she really care about her people? Or did she care about only herself and her family? The realization hit her.

Sally: "Rosie… I… I was pushing you too hard… Why…? Why didn't you…?"

Just then, an Egg Robo spots her.

Egg Robo: "Princess detected. Lethal force enabled."

Other Egg Robos swarmed in, each pointing a laser at her. She turns to them, her blue eyes glaring at them something fierce as her normal broadsword starts to glow with blue energy.

Sally: "You screwed… with the wrong princess…"

Sally then lunges at the sizable squad of robots, stopping before letting out a battle cry, slamming her sword before sending a massive, splitting wave of energy that slices through the robots, decimating them. Miraculously, the Mobinis inside are still alive and frightfully run away. Sally growls out as she starts running the way she came, hoping she can still save Rosie.

Sally: "I'm coming, Rosie. No matter what, a princess must think of her people first! You were hurt… I should have sent you with the others as soon as you were feeling weak… For that, I'm sorry… We're leaving Mobotropolis together, Rosie!"

Back with Rosie, the weakened woodchuck hobbled through the alleyway, avoiding any Egg Robos that were scouting the area. She did have to be wary of the other more unique robots too, since they could alert the egg minions to her presence. As she rounded the corner, her eyes widened to a sight in the distance. Three kids, the same ones she read to at the library, were being held at gunpoint by a squad of Egg Robos. The chicken child, the bravest of the trio of kids, was talking back at the robots.

Chicken: "Leave our city alone, you tin cans!"

Egg Robo: "Return to your homes and await further instructions."

Chicken: "No way! We're not going anywhere! Princess Sally and King Acorn will save us!"

The little bear and lion kids were shaking, but stood with their brother in arms as they became defiant. Rosie was cursing under breath, thinking these kids were way in over their heads.

Egg Robo: "Acknowledged. Lethal force it is."

The Egg Robo pointed his gun at the chicken child, who only now started to realize just how serious these guys were. Rosie came from behind the corner and pointed her own gun at the robots, shooting at them.

Rosie: "Leave those kids alone!"

The children turn and smile as they see Rosie, happy to see her. The robots quickly retaliate, aiming to kill Rosie now, since she was the bigger threat.

Rosie: "Kids, run to safety now!"

Lion: "B-But Mrs. Rosie-"

Rosie: "Just do it!"

Rosie fired at the robots, keeping their attention as a few were shot down. The kids look at each other before escaping through another alley closest to them. Two Egg Robos go to pursue them, much to Rosie's horror. The woodchuck immediately started running at the remaining squad, not caring that a few shots hit her, and blasted the robots in closer range, slamming into the last one before executing it. She then ran down the alley where the kids and two Egg Robos ran down and made a hot pursuit.

Rosie: "Leave those kids alone, you heartless trash heaps!"

The kids ran as fast as they could, the Egg Robos in hot pursuit with their jetpacks, firing at the kids with their laser guns. One of the kids, the bear, was crying out at the chicken for getting them in this mess, but none of them wanted to hear it. As they ran, the lion child trips and falls, causing the other two to turn and try to help him up.

Chicken: "You alright?"

Lion: "I… I think I sprained my ankle…"

They then look up and see the robots hover them, their red glowing eyes sending shivers down their spines as they huddle together. One robot raises their gun, but then a laser shot hits its jetpack, causing it to crash into a wall, smashing itself to pieces. The other robot turns to see a weakened Rosie, panting and leaning against the wall.

Rosie: "Leave them… alone…"

The robot raised its gun at Rosie, she did the same. Within a split second, the two shot, with lasers going through them. The robot is pierced through and killed while Rosie willed some strength to have it avoid any vital organs. But she was already losing a lot of blood so that may have been in vain.

Bear: "Mrs. Rosie!"

The trio of kids hurry over to their storyteller, seeing her fall on her front.

Rosie: "Get… Get going, you three… Head… to the sewers… Escape…"

Chicken: "M-Mrs. Rosie! Please save your strength! We'll find you a doctor!"

Voice: "I'm a doctor."

The group hear a very unsettling voice behind the children; when they turn towards the voice, they are greeted by a tall man with a wide, devilish grin, and a pair of blue glasses. His face otherwise was obscured by shadows. Unaware to any of them, this was Robotnik, but Rosie could tell he was bad news.

Robotnik: "Though… I might be the last doctor you'd want to see."

Rosie: "Kids… Run…"

The kids try to protest, but Rosie stood on her feet, struggling hard with her injuries as she stared up at the figure. The kids, tears in their eyes, complied, carrying their lion friend as they ran away from Rosie and Robotnik. The two creatures stare for what seemed like an eternity. Rosie raised her gun, but the doctor looked unphased. …A laser shot is heard, and then silence…

To be continued…