When Sonic plunged from the large, newly created hole of Amy's apartment, the hedgehog admittedly didn't take much time to think before he made his impulsive decision. Something that becomes apparent when his metal twin simply ascends out of the way, leaving the war hero with nothing to grab hold of or attack as gravity decides to do its job.
Oh, crud. Is the only thing Sonic can think before he begins his rapid descent four stories down.
In a brief moment of fast thinking, Sonic curls into his ball form to minimize the damage. If he can rotate enough before he hits the ground, the momentum he builds up should be enough for a quick drop dash-
A sharp pain shoots through the hedgehog's ribs. He can feel the cold metal of the blow inflicted on him before the impact leaves him shooting through the air and landing on the green transparent road hovering three meters over the blue one on the ground below. If Sonic had just hesitated for a moment after landing on the busy road, he would be an unrecognizable roadhog. Instead, he immediately boosts forward once his feet land on the solid street and manages to run, just slightly sandwiched between two incredibly fast vehicles.
As soon as he hears the jets of his metal opponent, Sonic finds himself just dodging another punch by the fur on his ear. Never has he seen someone- or something this quick. In fact, it might even be as quick as him. Still sandwiched with no room to run, Sonic can only look behind him and watch as a purple aura surrounds Metal Sonic. Then, in a mere millisecond, the doppelganger shoots forward with the speed of a missile, with Sonic barely managing to jump over it. The car in front isn't so lucky. It blasts off the road after the devastating impact and flies in the direction of a HEXAeco energy building.
Sonic dashes off of the road and grabs hold of the hood of the vehicle with an uncertain grip. He then swings his body around and launches himself through the driver-side window, grabs the middle-aged crawdad at the wheel, and kicks the passenger-side door off its hinges. The two fall out of the hovering car and make it to the ground as the giant explosion above nearly deafens them.
That sound-! Sonic hears before he pushes the confused, deathly scared Mobian back as far as he can and gets moving right as a purple beam lands where the two previously stood, exploding the ground and sending chunks of concrete flying in all directions.
Pedestrians standing near what they can only perceive as two blue trails of light and ensuing explosions begin screaming and hurriedly moving away from the battle. Sonic knows it's just a matter of time before Eggman's death machine actually hurts someone- other than him. He changes direction right as a rocket blows up the sidewalk in front of a large department store. Sonic runs up the store in an attempt to get the metal monster as far away from nearby citizens as he possibly can, but as he makes it to the very top, his feet are no longer touching the building. Instead, it gets further away as the hedgehog feels an excruciatingly painful, tightening metal palm around his neck.
"First- you saved that meaningless citizen earlier when you should've been focusing on me," Metal Sonic recalls to its captured prey as they keep ascending into the air. "Then, instead of utilizing the chaotic traffic and crowds of Grand Metropolis to your advantage, you ran up that building in a pathetic attempt to lead me away, giving me a ginormous window to make my move and catch you. Are you noticing a pattern here? Because I am, and let me tell you, this is just sad. Your pointless need to save and care for the people around you gives you a significant disadvantage in combat. Calling it exploitive would be an understatement- it's downright destructive. Not to mention your severely lacking means of attack and downright impulsive decision-making. It's no question- I am the definitive Sonic. I was always meant to be the ONLY Sonic. That is why I have won this battle."
Sonic can barely manage to breathe as the metal hand around his throat only tightens further. However, after a certain thought crosses his mind, he simply smiles at his twin.
"What?" Metal Sonic asks, annoyed, as its grip on Sonic softens, allowing him to explain.
"What you said just now," Sonic answers with a smirk. "You haven't won squat you bag of bolts. Right now, Tails has probably already made it to local authorities to establish a line with GUN and secure his and the emerald's protection. Whatever your boss was scheming- it's done. He'll never get his hands on that gem."
"Huh," Metal Sonic says. "Well... this is awkward. You do realize this was always the plan right? While you were busy playing hero and fighting me, your 'Tails' friend has certainly been intercepted by my other two allies. He's probably been turned into mincemeat at this point given their power and zero tolerance for failure."
"No..." Sonic mutters, grabbing hold of Metal Sonic's arm. "You're wrong!!"
"Aw, getting emotional?" the robot teases. "If only I had a small violin on hand. You were so caught up in being Mobius's war hero, you completely left your friends defenseless and at the mercy of Team Dark. Their sacrifices will be for nothing- they will DIE for nothing- and you'll suffocate here in my arm and finally serve a suitable purpose. Breakfast for the vultures."
A tiny piece of metal flies off of the robot's nose as its face is struck with an unsuspecting punch from Sonic. Metal Sonic's grip doesn't release, but its face does swing back due to the brute force of the attack.
"I'll be honest, I see no utility in continuing to compare our strength," Metal Sonic states as it turns to face Sonic again. "But since you insist..."
No amount of preparation could have prepared the blue blur for the blow he receives from the robot that has him still wrapped in its clutches. Sonic's head swings back with enough force to nearly break his neck. He immediately feels dazed and fades in and out of consciousness, much to the metal doppelganger's satisfaction.
...
Everything was ready. When the group all met up outside of the complex- the plan seemed simple enough. A quick breach on the inside to initiate a surprise attack, and afterward, Metal Sonic would keep the war hero busy as Team Dark went for the emerald and decimated any remaining allies. All of it sounded perfect and so far, all of it was playing out without error as far as the Jackal could tell. There is just one problem. The fact that he- HIM of all people- was left out of the action. He was instructed by the blue, metal nuisance to wait on top of one of the surrounding HexAeco buildings and provide cover with his plasma rifle. However, much to Zero's anger, there is simply no one to shoot. No way to prove his criminally overlooked worth.
His vantage point doesn't cover the front side of the apartment building so there's no telling where the two-tailed fox and pink hedgehog went, from the looks of it, Shadow made quick work of the echidna who looks to be in critical condition, and the battle between the two Sonics was nearly unseeable, and Zero has since lost track of them. Infuriated he gets up from his prone position and yells.
WHY!!! He thinks to himself. Why must everyone doubt my capabilities? Eggman questions my worth! That echidna humiliated me! And I see the way that bat looks at me... SHE THINKS I'M BENEATH HER! A JEWEL THIEF!
Zero grabs his rifle and nearly tosses it over the building he stands on. That's when he sees it. Way in the distance- it's unmistakable. However, the Jackal uses the scope on his rifle to confirm the sight. Metal Sonic is suspended in mid-air, with the real one caught in its metal fingers. Just the sight disgusts him. Having met both Sonics, Zero can't decide which one he hates more. However, the opportunity this presents is undeniable. Grinning wildly, the Jackal positions his sight to hone in on the organic Sonic. The one Eggman wants disposed of. It won't be Metal who claims the life of Eggman's arch enemy. It'll be HIM- the once proud leader of the Jackal Squad. All he needs to do is squeeze the trigger and reap the profits.
...
"That was fun," Metal Sonic says. "But now I'm bored with you. So, without further adieu, rest in pieces you cheap inmita-"
Metal Sonic lets out a cry of pain as he's blasted away by the full force of a plasma beam, sending the metal clone hurling through the sky at an immeasurable rate. Sonic, still dazed, begins descending fifty feet from the sky, now no longer being held in the air. At first, he just fell, too tired and too exhausted to attempt a drop dash. Then, as the hedgehog opens his eyes- he sees something that lights something deep within him. Grand Metropolis- except this time, he really SEES it. A bustling, happy city filled with Mobians who have the freedom to make their own choices, the freedom to go home to their families, the freedom to share fond memories with the people they love.
All of that will be gone if he stops running now. This was never a fun outing for him like he secretly wished it to be. Like his mind tricked him to be. This is life and death. He's known it all along, but now is a better time than ever to start acting like it. Using as much energy as he can possibly muster, Sonic curls up and rotates as fast as the air will allow him. Once he hits the ground, he blasts off in the direction of Amy's apartment, careful to avoid potentially being spotted by what is easily one of his deadliest enemies yet.
...