Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, after battling it out with the trio of bullies from Emerald Hill Resort, Sonic and Tails were arrested by security in Casino Night. Thankfully, Sonic and the creator of said security, Jenni, knew each other, allowing him and Tails to get released. Of course, Sonic was eager to catch up, he asked the important questions and got a few answers. But as he tried to get more info out of her, he was met by a shocking sight - Sally Acorn alive and well…

In the lab depths of the Hill Top Mansion, Sonic and Sally stand some distance away, looking each other in the eyes as silence befell them. Jenni and Tails stood to the side, the former having her hands in her pockets before she decided to check on the other Acorn Kingdom guest, Rosie. Sonic finally broke the silence as he cleared his throat.

Sonic: "U-Um… Sally… It's… uh… good to see you… You're… looking well…"

Sally: "'Well'? 'WELL'!? You jackass! Have you not looked at what I'm wrapped in!? Nor heard what's happened to my kingdom!? Where the hell were you when I needed you the most!?"

Sonic: "C-Calm down! I-I didn't know any of this would happen… How could I know?"

Jenni: "Spike's got a point. No one could've predicted what happened."

Sally: "Stay out of this!"

Jenni just shrugs as she looks at her clipboard. Sally gets off the bed, stumbling a bit, before she walks over to Sonic, glaring at him hard.

Sonic: "O-Okay! So I screwed up by jumping out of the plane! I get it, okay!?"

Sally: "...Did you have a good reason to jump out? Were you just not interested in us hanging out?"

Sonic: "What? No! You know you mean all of Mobius to me. If I knew you were in danger, I'd have ran my butt there to save you. I'd swim across the entire Mobius Ocean to get to you!"

Sally looks at Sonic, her look softening up a bit as she sighs. She then grabs him and pulls him into a hug.

Sally: "Next time, actually be there so we'll be better off, won't you?"

Sonic: "...Right. I'm sorry, Sal…"

The two share a loving look at each other, almost forgetting the area around them.

Tails: "So is this the part where you two kiss?"

And the moment is gone. Sonic and Sally glare at Tails, who's sweat starts dropping rapidly as he steps back in fear.

Sally: "Ugh… Anyway, what's the situation right now? Who's your new friend?"

Sonic: "Ah right. Well, I wasn't doing nothing while I was away. Let's just say South Island wasn't a picnic."

Sally: "Alright. Let's start catching up."

Jenni: "...So I guess this one here doesn't matter that much, huh?"

Jenni says, referring to Rosie, who was still recovering from her own injuries. Sally goes blue in the face as she quickly ran up to check on her.

Jenni: "I wouldn't worry. Her condition was severe, but I got there in time to stabilize her. I'll have to check her mental state once she wakes up, since there could be some major brain dysfunction from how she was when I got there."

Sally: "I see… Rosie, I'm so sorry I put you through all of that… I really, really am…"

Sonic: "Jen… She will be okay though, right?"

Jenni gives a thumbs up to ensure that Rosie will make a full recovery. Sonic and Sally sigh before they both lean on something to relax.

Sally: "Well… Thank you, Doctor…"

Jenni: "Please, princess. Call me 'Jenni'. Though you did have an unfortunate encounter with my brother."

Sally: "Brother…? You mean that mad doctor, Robotnik!?"

Jenni adjusts her glasses as she nods. Sally almost wanted to lunge at Jenni, but Sonic quickly grabbed her arm.

Sonic: "Sally, stop. I know you're very stressed right now, but she's cool."

Sally: "But she's related to that monster! My people! My kingdom! Are all gone because of him! And she's 'cool'!?"

Jenni: "Sonic. Go ahead and let her go. If she wants to repay my kindness in crimson liquid, she can go ahead. In fact… I dare her."

Jenni gives an unflinching glare at Sally, waiting for how the princess responds. But Sally could only stare in absolute disbelief. Was she serious just now? She was seriously considering putting the first sharp object she could grab through the doctor in front of her, but she calmed down, almost like all her senses convinced her to stop. Jenni continues to stare before returning to her notes. Sonic lets go of Sally while staring at his ex-babysitter with wide eyes. The coldness in her voice was so… sharp, it could practically stab a man through verbal assault alone. After a moment to calm down, Sally and Sonic sat down on Sally's bed, with Tails sitting on a chair next to them.

Sally: "S-Sorry about that, Sonic… I guess I… was really stressed out… But how can you say that she's 'cool'?"

Sonic: "Well… She was my old babysitter when my parents called for one. And… She really is a cool lady when you get to know her. …Of course, I thought I knew her."

Sonic stares over to Jenni, who was browsing her files on her computer, looking to be ordering some supplies to her lab. With a sigh, Sonic decides to explain what's been happening since he didn't make it to the Kingdom of Acorn.

Sonic: "So… To get back on track… South Island was also attacked. A lone village on the island was kidnapped, save for a goat girl who I teamed up with in order to liberate the island. In fact, that's how I scored this."

Sonic pulls out his Chaos Emerald, causing Sally's eyes to widen.

Sally: "Oh my gosh! Sonic, that's amazing! You actually kept one of them away from the enemy! Man… I regret getting angry earlier now…"

Sonic: "Eh. Not like I haven't found reasons to make you angry."

Sally: "Pfft. You tease…"

Sonic: "...So how bad was it? At the Kingdom of Acorn?"

Sally sighs before she puts her hands together, recalling what details she could.

Sally: "It was… very bad… Shortly after I met up with Rosie, she started telling me about some recent rumors going around about how someone was stealing the Treasures of the various major kingdoms of Mobius. Soleanna, the United Nations, the Wolf Pack Nation, Meropis… They all had their Treasures stolen, leaving your and my Chaos Emeralds unobtained. And of course the seventh hidden one, which you found on South Island… When we heard about that, me and Rosie went to our vault to try and protect the Chaos Emerald… But we were attacked by a small bald guy with a big nose riding a mech…"

Sonic: "Did he boast a lot? Yeah, I remember him…"

Jenni: "Colin Robotnik Jr., my older brother's son. He's kind of a twerp, gaining a sizable ego because of his intellect. While a great mind in his own right, he chooses to instead gloat about it. We in the family call him 'Snively' for his sniveling and conniving personality."

Sally: "Heh. I like that. Anyway, me and Rosie fought Snively, retrieving the Chaos Emerald from him. After that, me and Rosie worked about saving my people… But… I'm not sure what happened, but I started using abilities that I never had before… It was when I was separated from Rosie for a brief time… She was injured during a previous fight and, shortly after, a robot separated up with an explosive… I started to get desperate and angry, which… I'm sure how, nor can I say I understand it…"

Sonic and Jenni take note of this. Sonic in particular recalls the final fight on South Island and how super charged Lam was when she saved him. Almost like she gained the strength of a titan.

Sonic: "These Emeralds… Is it possible that they… can boost one's strength in some way?"

Jenni: "How so exactly, Spike? Have you seen another example?"

Sonic: "Yeah… That goat girl I mentioned, Lam… She had this Emerald with her at the time, but when I got shot through my leg and almost killed, she came back to save me, declaring that she'd never give up on me. Next thing I know, she's glowing red and was able to toss a mech three times her size across the room we were in like she was tossing a teddy bear to the wall."

Sally: "Wait… Do these Emeralds react to… emotions then?"

Jenni: "Seems like it. It might be based on the kind of emotion one is feeling. In Sally's case, she was feeling desperation and anger, so she gained ferocious abilities, while in Lam's case, her determination granted her super strength."

Tails: "Huh… I wonder what someone like me would gain if the Chaos Emerald reacted to my emotions…?"

Sonic: "Not sure…"

Jenni: "If I may propose a theory; it could be that the Emeralds' effects may be based on the type of emotion presented to it. In the case of Sally, she refused to give in to grief, thus granting her heightened speed and evasion."

Sally: "Wait. How do you know that?"

Jenni: "Oh I was watching from afar when I was in the area. Honestly, if not for your power running out, I'd say Ivo would be finished."

Sally: "Hold up. Why were you in the area?"

A pause in the conversation as all eyes turn to Jenni, which causes her to stare back.

Jenni: "...Why are all of you so interested in me so suddenly?"

Sonic: "I mean… I'm curious too. Seems a bit convenient that you were in the area just so suddenly."

Tails: "Oh! I know! Did you have business in the Kingdom of Acorn?"

Jenni: "Hmm… Now that you mention it…"

Everyone leans in, wondering what the reason was as Jenni thought hard.

Jenni: "I completely forgot."

…Silence. Absolute silence. Then everyone collectively just falls over in a very comedic way.

Jenni: "Sorry~ I had a reason but it completely slipped my mind~"

Sally: "Sonic… Can I punch her…?"

Sonic: "Let it go, Sally… I'll have a word with her about this some other time…"

After a moment to recover from Jenni's… "shocking revelation"... Sonic gets serious and turns to the doctor, crossing his arms.

Sonic: "Alright, Jen. I think we should hear about your relation with this Ivo guy. You clearly know a lot about him; way more than you're letting on. So I think it's time we heard some explanations."

Nicole's hologram appears beside Jenni, turning to her.

Nicole: "He's right, Miss Jenni… I think you should stop stalling and tell them…"

Jenni: "Alright, alright. You all have been patient enough…"

Jenni's eyes turned cold… Serious… The very air around her stood still very suddenly, like the air conditioner was set to full blast.

Jenni: "But if you expect a happy ending, then I'm afraid you are mistaken… Are you absolutely sure?"

Sonic turns to Sally and Tails, who both nod. Sonic then nods in response, looking at Jenni. The woman only puts her hands together before closing her eyes.

Jenni: "I see… Then… I guess I should start from the very beginning… Back when my descent in misery began…"

To be continued…