Sonic kept calm while Dr. Robotnik emerged into the speedy hero's view. The Egg-O-Matic's features show hazard stripes on the sides, a circular black hemispheric base, impulse rocket engines on the back, and a small circular front lamp. The bloated human sat before the control system of the cockpit, together with a windshield, preventing any wind from blowing.
Inside the hovercraft, the mad scientist saw the damage this entity had caused. A mere blue hedgehog destroyed his entire horde of Badniks. "It seems your little quarrel against my Badniks has reached an impasse. I must say, I would appreciate it more if you'd leave them unbroken next time." Dr. Robotnik said to Sonic, who most likely tapped his foot.
"And you are?" Sonic inquired, his expression conveying a hint of disinterest.
"Allow me to introduce myself: I am Dr. Ivo Robotnik, and I have come here to retrieve one of my capsules," Dr. Robotnik replied, grinning like it was no big deal.
"Pfft, Robotnik? Oh, please, spare me the laughter! With a name like that, I think 'Eggman' suits you much better!" Sonic smirked, casually placing his hands behind his back.
The rotund human's smile quickly transformed into a scowl. "What are you babbling about? I am Dr. Robot-"
Sonic interrupted once again, bestowing another nickname. "Or perhaps 'Ro-Butt-Nik' works too! Are you done with the yackety-yak? Good! Because I'm off to find out where this bow belongs to...!"
"ENOUGH!" Dr. Robotnik growled with a nefarious grumble in his tone. "Listen here, you annoying little rodent! You have been dismantling my Badnik Horde all over the island! I tried to play nice with the likes of you, but it seems you have nothing but hostile mannerisms toward your ruler! You miserable Freedom Fighters never learn when to stop fighting against my control!"
Sonic raised two fingers, displaying a gesture of curiosity. "Two questions! First, what the heck is a Freedom Fighter? And second, who in their right mind made you the ruler of this planet? It seems like a club of amateurs if you ask me."
Dr. Robotnik crossed his arms. "So, you're not affiliated with Knothole Village?"
Sonic groaned, waving his arms in frustration. "Like I said, Egghead, I have no idea what you're talking about! Geez, can't you get your facts straight and do the real math for once?"
"IT'S DR. ROBOTNIK!"
Sonic maintained a calm yet bored expression, rolling his eyes as Dr. Robotnik continued his tirade against the blue hedgehog. However, amidst their exchange, Sonic couldn't shake off a sense of familiarity, as if this encounter had happened years ago. As the swift hedgehog scrutinized the rotund human's appearance more closely, his eyes widened in a sudden realization.
It was the same human who had saved him from the wrath of angry citizens in Mobotropolis, the one who became his first friend.
"Who does this runt think he is? Coming out here and knocking over my stall! I swear the king will hear about this!"
"Hey! Get back here!"
"Where are this kid's parents?"
"Quick! Corner him!"
A horde of enraged townspeople finally caught up with a younger Sonic after a series of chases. He stood before them, visibly exhausted from all the running, his worn-out shoes serving as a testament to his relentless speed. His footwear was a mismatched pair, a left greenish-gray sneaker, and a right white trainer held together with tape. Although Sonic was the nephew of Mobotropolis' esteemed inventor, the citizens showed no concern for his lineage.
"Alright, brat! You've got ten seconds to explain yourself!"
Overwhelmed with emotions, the young hedgehog found himself on the verge of tears. Sonic curled into a protective ball, his face hidden within his gloved hands. His brown neckerchief, already stained with splatters of mushy fruit hurled in his direction, bore witness to the relentless barrage he had endured.
There was nowhere left to seek refuge. The realization that he was alone and vulnerable resonated within him, and it became evident that everyone around him was aware of it. The crowd's frustration grew as he remained silent, further fueling their anger and irritation.
"Fine then. Let this troublemaker have it!"
As the citizens were preparing to gang up and attack Sonic with anything in their hands, he cringed and became ready to embrace their pummeling.
But it never came.
Sonic cautiously lifted his head, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes as he witnessed an unexpected turn of events. Blocking the angry mob from reaching him was an overweight human adorned in a lab coat with a red dress shirt underneath. He wore black pants and shoes, and his mustache was so grand in size that it captured Sonic's attention like nothing he had ever seen.
"Leave the boy alone. He is young, so he may not know right from wrong. Have some pity on him."
As the rotund human attempted to reason with the enraged mob, the young hedgehog took a moment to assess himself. He discovered a few scratches and bruises marring his body, but nothing compared to the mess of rotten fruit sticking in his fur. When Sonic raised his gaze once more, he noticed that the mob had finally dispersed, their anger dissipating into the air. Turning his attention back to the round human, Sonic couldn't help but catch the extended gloved hand emanating an aura of kindness and compassion. The young hedgehog stared at it, a mixture of hesitation and confusion clouding his expression. It was rare for anyone to stand up for someone like him.
"I'm sorry you had to endure that, dear boy," said the round human, his tone filled with genuine concern that didn't feel unkind to Sonic. "Are you alright?"
Sonic nodded timidly, accepting the extended hand as he stood up with a sniffle. "Y-Yeah. Thanks," he replied softly. Curiosity tugged at him as he mustered the courage to ask, "Who are you?"
"My name is Dr. Ovi Kintobor. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the rotund human introduced himself graciously. "I am the king's new royal advisor and a guest within the kingdom alongside my nephew Julian." Kneeling to Sonic's height, Dr. Kintobor smiled warmly. "And what's your name...?"
"S-Sonic," the child whispered in response, his confusion evident as to why this human was taking the time to talk to him.
"I see. Well, I believe you and your incredible speed are quite a gift. Your parents must be proud of you, yes?" Dr. Kintobor inquired, his words carrying a sense of understanding and empathy.
Something sparked in Sonic as he looked away to hide his depressed face. "M-My parents are gone. All I have is Uncle Chuck. He's a scientist and makes super cool things to help others. But I don't get to see him much. I still wish he'd be here to help me too."
Dr. Kintobor appeared taken aback by Sonic's response before speaking again, and his voice filled with sincerity. "I'm truly sorry for your loss, Sonic. But I believe your uncle is looking for you."
"Why are you here?" Sonic asked, his head tilting inquisitively.
"To be honest, I have been searching for someone like you to assist me," Dr. Kintobor replied.
"Me? Help you?" Sonic scoffed, his disbelief evident. "Yeah, right! Nobody ever wants my help."
"Well, that's about to change! You see, I am a scientist myself, much like your uncle. However, I have been struggling to acquire the necessary materials on time. But with your assistance, I believe we can accomplish great things together, my friend."
Sonic was genuinely surprised by the offer. "Am I your friend?" he questioned, with a hint of skepticism.
"Absolutely. If you're interested, you can come to my laboratory," Dr. Kintobor responded.
Sonic's excitement bubbled over. "When can I start?" he asked eagerly, his tail wagging like a playful puppy.
"Ohoho! Very well!" Dr. Kintobor chuckled, rising to his feet and extending his hand toward Sonic. "But first, let's get you back to your uncle safely. You can start tomorrow, so get plenty of rest!"
The boy hesitated for a moment, unsure if he could trust the sincerity in Dr. Kintobor's expression. However, a genuine smile graced Sonic's face as he welcomed this opportunity. He reached out and held Dr. Kintobor's hand, nodding in affirmation. And just like that, the two friends departed down the street, venturing toward a future filled with newfound harmony. Little did they know, a storm loomed on the horizon, a challenge they couldn't foresee. But together, they were ready to face whatever came their way.
"W-Wait a sec," responded a very puzzled Sonic before raising an eyebrow. "Dr. Kintobor? Is that you?"
Dr. Robotnik eventually looked at the spiky hedgehog with confusion, "What?! We do not know each other...! Oh," he began to laugh, realizing what Sonic meant, "I get it now...you're Charles's nephew! My, how you've grown, Sonic. I haven't seen you for years."
"Cutaway from memory lane, doc!" Sonic shouted aloud, pointing at the bloated human, "You're the one who's been putting critters into those robots and destroyed Mobotropolis, aren't you?"
"Indeed I have, boy." Dr. Robotnik answered with a smirk, jabbing a thumb at himself. "Besides, you should be grateful that I've rebuilt what was once Mobotropolis into my image of the future."
"WHAT?! Why are you doing this?! I thought we were friends!" Sonic's tone turned from indignant anger to a heavier one, thick with emotion, grinding his teeth and gripping his fists.
"Friends, you say?" Dr. Robotnik asked. "You misunderstood yourself, dear boy. All of my succession, my supreme authority to this planet, the most excellent materials and technology I've obtained. It was all thanks to you, Sonic."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Sonic refused to listen. "I had nothing to do with this, Eggman!" he argued.
"Incorrect. All of it is still true. Don't you remember those times I let you come and watch my experiments? Especially the one where I included amounts of your incredible speed to power what was once Mobotropolis?" replied Dr. Robotnik nonchalantly.
Just the truth behind those words made Sonic's blood decline a bit. The disgruntled hedgehog wouldn't believe it until a memory rose before Sonic's eyes. At this rate, Sonic's confusion gradually picked up to what he was talking about, understanding that fateful day years ago.
The Grey Emerald Project.
Dr. Kintobor began his search for this grey gemstone, containing a varied amount of pure, chaotic energy. The doctor believed the goal was to power Mobotropolis and maybe even push the boundaries of obtainable energy. Dr. Kintobor and Sonic gathered materials whenever the human machinist needed them.
Dr. Kintobor persuaded King Acornia that if this experiment succeeded, the kingdom could supply an efficient, clean energy source to power Mobotropolis for hundreds of years. The king finally approved of this method, but the citizens were skeptical about a human helping their city, along with that hedgehog.
However, what was surprising to them is that Sonic had changed for the greater good.
Sonic showed sheer kindness, joy, and confidence in his voice to replace his previous self-doubt and pain. The whispers of contempt slowly faded away, letting the young hedgehog earn back his reputation for the better. Under Dr. Kintobor's tutelage, Sonic developed his natural abilities to an extraordinary degree.
Using Dr. Kintobor's experimental supersonic treadmill, Sonic increased his speed partly for relaxation and the doctor's amusement. Sooner or later, Dr. Kintobor also invented unique friction-reducing sneakers for Sonic as a birthday gift, so he wouldn't ignite the treadmill on fire or burn his own feet.
Dr. Kintobor and Sonic enjoyed frequenting Bert Who's Diner for lunch, which quickly became Sonic's favorite. Despite facing hostility from many citizens of Mobotropolis, due to his status as a troublemaker, Sonic got treated with kindness and respect by Bert and his waitress staff, Roxy the Raccoon, and Tiara the Manx, who all value his loyalty. Sonic even won one of their chili dog contests.
As time flew by, things started to become odder.
Sonic hadn't thought much of it at the time. But there was something about the grey gemstone that made him uncomfortable. The way Dr. Kintobor looked when he held it scared Sonic. That shadowy, evil grin would make him shy away every time. Dr. Kintobor had grown too power-hungry over the grey gemstone for the experiment to be perfect, sometimes working nonstop for days afterward.
The doctor would tinker away at whatever contraption he had thought up, constantly making remarks like, "This will change the world!" These bore little to no meaning to Sonic, having no idea what Dr. Kintobor was building. One time, curiosity got the better of Sonic when he peeked through the laboratory only to be instantly shooed away. And so his knowledge of Dr. Kintobor's invention was limited to the materials he fetched.
Of course, Charles grew worried about this and advised his nephew to stay away. But Sonic refused to listen to his uncle. Sure, Dr. Kintobor was a strangely bizarre human, but Sonic still cared about him like a son would with his father.
Sonic could finally feel he had a place to call home, someone else to call family besides his uncle. Still, while it was plain to see a rift had grown between them, Sonic was fully capable of helping Dr. Kintobor in this experiment by transferring his speed into pure energy for the project. Dr. Kintobor had already explained to Sonic how much of a scientific breakthrough it would become.
No matter how many attempts, the machines couldn't handle harnessing the grey gemstone's power. The young hedgehog became tensed at the thought that maybe these experiments of Dr. Kintobor have been changing his mood, acting weird all of a sudden. Despite this, Sonic agreed to help Dr. Kintobor with this new hypothesis. And all Sonic had to do was the most uncomplicated thing he could do.
Run.
As Sonic was inside the oversized treadmill-type machine, Dr. Kintobor tweaked a small monitor connected to the mechanical contrivance. After making the final adjustments, the monitor flickered to life. On its display glowed green digits, accompanied by the miles per hour sign.
"Let's get started," Dr. Kintobor said, adjusting his spectacles. "Remember Sonic; if this machine is resistant to Chaos Energy, we could measure its exact potential and observe unattainable capabilities. If that's possible, we can be able to harness it."
"And your machine won't go crazy on us, right?" Sonic asked innocently.
"I'm hoping that too, Sonic. You have to trust me on this one better." Dr. Kintobor suddenly scowled, giving a scary look in his eyes. "Now, it is time to create perfection."
Sonic couldn't help but withdraw slightly from being told off like that by Dr. Kintobor. Impatience struggled within Sonic's mind almost instantly. The whole purpose of finding out what was wrong with Dr. Kintobor was the only reason he had gone along with this test in the first place. Sonic wanted to keep himself on Dr. Kintobor's side for as long as he could and find out what was making Robotnik act so strangely.
With a single nod, Sonic gave a thumbs-up and replied, "Yeah, let's do this thing, doc!"
As the human finished the final touches of preparation, he gave a small nod back over to Sonic. The young hedgehog glanced back forward, getting to a position as he began running within the contraption. The experiment was playing out flawlessly for Dr. Kintobor. All of the questions he had brewing within his mind were to get answers. Every attempt the doctor tried to discover over the course was coming to light.
260…287…300…
Dr. Kintobor watched as the monitor's display advanced, flickering the digits as they surged to Sonic's speed getting measured. The young hedgehog's feet had only become a blur as a light blue streak aligned itself with the treadmill upon which they dashed. Dr. Kintobor shivered in anticipation, not wanting to let all of his hard work go to waste. He awaited his machine's completion, eyes burning back and forth at his subject and the monitor.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Dr. Kintobor said with growing excitement. "Keep running faster! Faster-!"
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK*
"What?" Dr. Kintobor said quietly, turning to where his closed entrance received a harsh knocking.
"Kintobor!" Charles's voice came from the other side, sounding angry. "What are you doing with MY nephew in there! Open the door this instant!"
While Dr. Kintobor heard Charles knocking again, his focus remained stubbornly upon the monitor. He didn't even attempt to look at Sonic, nor the machine that the young hedgehog ran within. He was more interested in the experiment and its results, peering as the digits went through a sudden surge.
321…380…439…
Meanwhile, Sonic's eyes glimmered with determination as he planted his entire focus ahead. Everything around him, even the machinery, seemed to whip out of existence. His legs were motoring away as if he were running on his own. The young hedgehog bowed his head further until his legs powered up again at an alarming speed. As a smirk emerged upon his face, Sonic was going to go as fast as he could, no matter what.
[DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!]
[SYSTEM OVERLOAD!]
[ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!]
A sudden flash of red caught Dr. Kintobor's eye. His focus slipped out of his rolling thoughts and back into the beeping monitor. While the digits were still increasing, he also spotted the source of red. The light was an alarm. The machine was beginning to strain itself from Sonic, regardless of the anticipations taken previously.
"No," Dr. Kintobor gritted his teeth in frustration but knew that now was not the time to lose his composure. "This can't happen again! I can't fail this now-!"
Suddenly, the human heard his entrance opening, and he recognizes Charles's means of hacking through certain technologies. He rushed right in alongside Rosie Woodchuck, who was a brown groundhog with white hair, round ears, and buck teeth. She wore a blue dress with yellow linings and white gloves.
Rosie gasps in horror, "What the...?"
...731…738...742...
As Charles recoiled in surprise at his nephew racing inside Dr. Kintobor's machine, he growled at the overweight human, "What are you doing to him!?"
Ignoring Charles, Dr. Kintobor's attention was drawn to the sudden response of the grey gemstone within the compartment. Within seconds, surprise washed over the duo as Dr. Kintobor's laughter erupted from deep within his lungs, reverberating through the air and bouncing off the walls.
"HAHAHAHAHA! It worked!" Dr. Kintobor exclaimed, throwing a punch into the air with a wide grin, his gaze fierce as he locked eyes with the astonished faces of Charles and Rosie. "I have mastered the utilization of Chaos Energy! Can't you see, Charles?! We now possess the knowledge to harness it for the greater good! It can serve as an immense power source for our city! I have surpassed what my grandfather couldn't accomplish! I have achieved the impossible-!"
Before the rotund human could further revel in his triumph, Charles attempted to push past him, urgently pleading, "I don't care about that! Just get the boy out of that machine-!"
Charles then took a vicious strike in the face, getting thrown back to crash into the cabinets nearby. The seemingly maniacal grin upon Dr. Kintobor's face appeared to deteriorate entirely after smacking the older hedgehog away.
"Away with your filth!" Dr. Kintobor snarled, the anger in his voice intensifying. "You do not have the authority to decide what this kingdom needs!"
"Charles!" Rosie exclaimed in horror, rushing to his side and witnessing the man she loved lying unconscious. She glared at the overweight human before her and declared, "Y-You're a monster!"
Dr. Kintobor's attention was captivated by the escalating rumble surrounding him, ignoring the female woodchuck's accusation. His eyes widened in awe as the grey gemstone within the machine responded with a dazzling burst of light, causing a series of digits to rapidly flicker on the monitor.
...761.
Dr. Kintobor could only mutter a few words, "Oh, my go-!"
All known limits of mammalogical acceleration have gotten crossed, as Sonic was the first to discover the speed of sound. A shockwave blasted outwards from the machinery, finally unable to sustain the unstable energy any longer. Charles was the first to wake up, almost droopy, and spent until becoming disturbed as to what he witnessed before him. Limbs heavy and resultant under his mental commands, Sonic sprawled on the floor carpeted in soot, lab fragments, and blocks of the building.
Computer circuits lay seared and crackling with loose electricity. The blue residue from the blast had faded and was becoming substituted by chugging black smoke that unfolded from the consoles and massive electrical fires. Dr. Kintobor was less fortunate, suffering the direct lash of the blast, as he lay crumpled on the floor where the grey gemstone had somehow sprung loose from its prison and disappeared.
The older hedgehog focused on Rosie, approaching her to gently shake her back to consciousness.
"Rosie?" Charles's voice sounded concerned. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," Rosie began to regain awareness, groaning as she rubbed a hand over her face. "Where is your nephew?"
In a sudden realization, Charles's blood ran cold, and he hurriedly navigated through the debris in search of Sonny-Boy. "Sonny-Boy!? Where are you?"
Sonic caught Rosie's gaze and pointed in a specific direction. "Charles, over there!"
Turning his head, Charles was met with the sight of his awakened nephew struggling to get up a few feet away. Sonic shook off some dirt and saw his dear uncle. "Uncle Chuck!"
Rushing over, Sonic embraced Charles tightly, and the older hedgehog felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Sonny-Boy!"
"Uncle Chuck, I'm so, so sorry!" Sonic muttered, trying to gather the courage to meet his uncle's gentle gaze.
Charles warmly smiled as he hugged his nephew. "It's okay now, Sonic. Everything is going to be alright. I promise you that-"
"W-Wait," Sonic slowly released himself from the embrace, his expression growing serious. "Where's Dr. Kintobor?"
Rosie stepped forward, standing beside Charles. "Wait, youngling. I don't think that's a good idea!"
"But he has to be around here somewhere!" Sonic scanned the area before spotting the rotund human and heading to check on him. "Dr. Kintobor!"
"Wait, Sonic!" Charles exclaimed, his tone filled with fear. "Stop!"
"D-Doc?" Sonic didn't listen to his uncle's warning and reached out to Dr. Kintobor.
The human scientist moved beneath his white lab coat. As Sonic inched a little closer, ignoring his uncle while he shuffled forward on his knees. Questions started reeling crazily in his mind, but right now, they needed to leave. The fires were thickening, where one of the computer terminals mere feet away exploded like a hand grenade, making the mobians jump.
Just then, Dr. Kintobor's hand reached out from beneath the coat. He groped out like a clumsy claw and pressed flat against the floor. Then, the overweight human went to rise as Sonic trembled a bit in Dr. Kintobor's towering and sinister shadow.
"Kintobor?" Charles asked cautiously.
A dark, raging human peeled out from the shroud of the coat. Sonic's eyes grew wide as he glanced up at Dr. Kintobor's eyes, swallowing dryly while both Charles and Rosie's ears cocked slightly backward. It looked like the human had no eyes, just two black empty eye sockets with fiery-red dots storming out of an unfamiliar face. Teeth stretched outward behind tight, snarling lips.
"H-Hey, Doc," Sonic whispered, his weak smile fading.
"Get up."
Sonic couldn't comprehend what was happening, having his eyes fixed on the daunting figure emerging from the wreckage of computer terminals and tangled wires. "W-Wha-?"
"GET UP."
Without hesitation, Sonic obeyed, hastily scrambling to his feet while nervously blinking at the doctor's terrifying gaze.
"I'm going to give all three of you a compromise," Dr. Kintobor's voice was twisted and hoarse, like the opposite of his soft, soothing voice that came out in a gentle melody. "Leave as fast as you can away from my sight..."
Sonic felt a sinking sensation in his heart, a mix of fear and disbelief, as he stared at Dr. Kintobor with wide, shocked eyes. The sudden turn of events had caught him completely off guard, and he couldn't believe what he was witnessing. Charles and Rosie, concerned for Sonic's well-being, hurried over to intervene, attempting to move him away from Dr. Kintobor's presence. However, Sonic resisted their efforts as he vigorously shook his head and thrashed away from their grasp.
"Doc...I-I..." Sonic hardly uttered a complete sentence.
"... or, you three remain here and find yourselves blasted to oblivion."
"Why, Dr. Kintobor?" Sonic's voice croaked, barely recognizable. "I've always trusted you and believed you'd be okay!"
Dr. Kintobor responded with a snarl, sneering at the young hedgehog, "Because you've constantly tested my patience, you stupid little brat!"
Taking a threatening step closer to Sonic, the bloated human glared down at him, causing confusion and devastation in the shivering hedgehog's eyes. "But...!"
"SHUT UP!" Dr. Kintobor snapped at the poor child. "I've had enough of your disobedience, your snooping attitude, and how you waste ALL my valuable time with your idiocy!"
He pointed angrily at the collection of burnt-out machinery, which Sonic observed with horror. "Half of my inventions are now damaged beyond repair, all thanks to your ridiculous antics! And because of you, all that Chaos energy from the gem has been unleashed, making this city far less compelling than it used to be!"
"How dare you threaten my nephew!" Charles bellowed, stepping forward to shield Sonic from harm. "Do you believe you can waltz in here, pointing fingers at a mere child, and fancy yourself a hero?"
"You're not welcome in this city anymore!" Rosie chimed in, crossing her arms angrily.
Dr. Kintobor came toward the automatic steel door, which had already slid open thanks to Charles's hacking skills. "Then I am giving you three a chance to run now. And don't you DARE try coming back, unless you each prefer option B with a crushed neck?"
Rosie swallowed dryly, "We're leaving."
Charles took Sonic by the hand alongside him, who had his head dropped. He focused on the steel floor than Dr. Kintobor's final and reluctant gift. Sonic then released himself from his uncle's grasp and glanced at Dr. Kintobor's burning eyes. The doctor's experiment may have been a bit too much, but he wouldn't want to kill him for that, would he? It felt unnatural for Sonic to be despised and shunned by the first friend he ever made.
"Doc, please! I'm sorry!" Sonic pleaded, desperate to avoid running away. "There must be something I can do to make it right-!"
"THREE."
Sonic's frustration grew, and he felt the anger welling up within him. "Please, just tell me what I can do-!"
"TWO."
"Sonic, let's just leave the man alone and go-" Charles attempted to reason with his nephew.
But Sonic's foot forcefully stamped forward, interrupting Charles, as he glared at Dr. Kintobor. "WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO ME?! If you would just-!"
"ONE."
No protests nor words came out of Sonic's mouth as the air around grew thin, yet it streaked through his fur with ferocity. For several seconds, nothing seemed to happen, but then Sonic took a step back from seeing Dr. Kintobor's rage-filled scowl.
Sonic didn't know why it hurt so much. He had deflected the insults for years, and all cold stares met with a grin. So why now? Why, when Dr. Kintobor protected and accepted him, did he have to be hurt by the doctor too? Because underneath it all, it had to be lies.
Dr. Kintobor just had to wait, smile up front, and have a knife behind his back. Tears steadily dribbled down his muzzle until he was airborne, already zipping off past Charles and Rosie and away from where the laboratory dome stood firm. Their cries and shouts for Sonic's return began to shrink as the tears overflowed his face. He had no choice but to do the same uncomplicated thing he could do again.
Run.
After that moment of silence in the blue hedgehog, he soon realized that Dr. Kintobor had turned from a kind human of science with a finely-honed mind to a vile and mean-spirited soul. And will not hesitate to terminate or repress anything that stands in the way of his plans for world dominance. Sonic could only stare at the round doctor, seemingly like he was in the shock of his life.
This couldn't be happening.
Things couldn't be what they seemed.
Not after all those years.
"I-It can't be," Sonic's voice was trembling, a mixture of denial and rising anger.
"That's right, hedgehog!" Dr. Robotnik said, deliberately injecting a taunt in his words, "You've completed me, awakened me, and made me into the most powerful human this world has ever seen. Of course, if you'd listened to your sorrowful uncle, you wouldn't have had anything to do with creating me."
Sonic looked at Dr. Robotnik with shock while the mad doctor looked back at him eagerly. Sonic realized that he had put all of Mobius in danger by falling into a trap. He had naively followed into someone else's clutches, ending up working for Dr. Robotnik, who now had control over Mobius. Sonic felt responsible for the situation and wondered if it was his fault that Dr. Robotnik had taken over.
"After that awful accident, I fooled that miserable King Acornia into thinking the Great War was happening again. Then I finally got to outshine his mediocrity! It's quite an accomplishment, isn't it?" Dr. Robotnik expressed satisfaction in finally surpassing King Acornia's abilities, ignoring Sonic's disapproving glare.
"People were either captured or dead," Sonic hissed, backing away. "I almost died too!" He could see that the man hovering before him was no longer the same person who had helped him through his pain. He seemed like a stranger now.
"Well, yes." Dr. Robotnik said with feigned guilt. "I apologize for any issues that may have occurred after the project. I can assure you that once my master plan is completed, we will have control over any potential casualties."
"W-What are-? What are you talking about?"
"I want to be in control, Sonic. You made me realize that. Nature isn't enough. We need to dominate and shape it for our benefit. And to achieve this, I'll control and mechanize everything that comes my way. Imagine a world where we can control the forces of nature!" The mad doctor extended a gloved hand toward Sonic.
While blinking in mild confusion, Sonic's eyes moved to where Dr. Robotnik had his hand toward him. "W-What?"
"I am searching for the Chaos Emeralds, which are incredibly valuable, symmetrical, and powerful. Would you like to join me on this quest, my old friend? I guarantee that no one will be able to stop us, and we will become the rulers. No, the gods of this planet!"
Sonic felt sick to the very pit of his stomach. The human hovering before the blue speedster was nothing more than a madman. How could Sonic have been so blind? The confusion and tiredness made him brave to the point where he had to hold his guard. Because after hearing those exact words from an old friend, they were flames now.
"N-No," Sonic muttered his answer.
"You're welcome! I think-!" Dr. Robotnik then came out of his trance. "Wait, what did you say-?"
"I said no! I could never be partners with you."
"But imagine the possibilities of what you and I could do! No one would dare to try and go against your kindness ever!" Dr. Robotnik said, gesturing all around Green Hill.
"You did just that, though," Sonic responded, his spiky hair shuddering sternly.
Dr. Robotnik's scrunchy curl slowly morphed into a frown as his expression turned dark. "You're going to do this? To try and play innocent? Right now? In my face? And here I thought you'd do anything to be accepted, hedgehog," he growled.
"Not anymore. You found me and became my best friend when I was alone, but now you'll pay the price. For destroying Mobotropolis and enslaving everyone." Sonic yelled before curling into a ball to attack the Egg-O-Matic. "It's payback time for taking away my Uncle Chuck, Eggman!"
However, the Egg-O-Matic zips sideways to dodge Sonic's spin attack. "It's Dr. Robotnik, you little walking pincushion!" the round doctor countered back.
After Sonic landed at his feet, he glared back. "You're not going to get away with this, doc!" Sonic yelled.
The only answer Sonic received was laughter from the bloated human, who had begun snickering to keep his amusement below. However, it soon failed just as Dr. Robotnik laughed aloud for most bystanders to hear him audibly.
"Ohohoho, but I am!" Robotnik laughed, making his hovercraft fly around. "Behold, my greatest invention to this date: The Egg-O-Matic!"
Not before long, Sonic smirked at him before scorning. "Aw jeez, Humpty-Dumpty! Never thought you'd have this strange obsession of eggs in your so-called big empire."
"Shut up, you! My name is Dr. Robotnik!" the bloated human yelled. "This machine of mine can adapt and suit almost any battle condition! Since you are here now..."
The bottom of the Egg-O-Matic opened and allowed a giant checker-colored ball, which included a chain until it dropped down. "...you shall be my first test-dummy for the Checker-Wrecker Ball!"
"Woah, I did not see that coming!" Sonic said before noticing the ball's shadow coming above to squash him but then sprints to the side to dodge. "Is that all you got, Ro-Butt-Nik?"
With an intense glare, Dr. Robotnik caused the ball to start rocking back and forth in a wide arc, his eyes shooting daggers at the blue speedster.
"You spiny swine! How dare you?! I'll gladly flatten you into a rodent pancake!" Dr. Robotnik growled, commencing to destroy the blue hedgehog.
Sonic skillfully dodged the wrecking ball but grew tired of constantly being on the defensive.
During his hasty manner, Sonic began thinking to himself, "Maybe if I lure Butt-Nik close enough, I can be able to reach his Egg-Mobile."
The speed demon dashed under the swinging wrecking ball and couldn't resist taunting, "Come on, Eggman! You can do better than that!"
Provoked by Sonic's taunts, Dr. Robotnik followed in hot pursuit. As Sonic reached a platform, he sprang atop it and waited for the perfect moment. When Dr. Robotnik came closer, Sonic unleashed a powerful spin attack on the Egg-O-Matic.
"Stay still so I can crush you, hedgehog!" Dr. Robotnik shouted, shaking his raised fist in frustration.
Sonic couldn't help but roll his eyes with a smirk. "Yeah, right, like that's ever going to happen. Besides, we all know that I'm fast..."
Repeatedly using his tactics, Sonic kept evading and attacking, causing Dr. Robotnik's hovercraft to take a severe beating. "...and you're furious!" Sonic exclaimed, pleased with his performance.
"Alright, that's it," Dr. Robotnik gritted his teeth. "Get a load of this!"
The Egg-O-Matic did a front flip, causing the wrecking ball and chain to flourish much more quickly. The mad scientist slammed the ball onto the floating platform where Sonic stood, sending it toppling to the ground.
The smoke cleared as Dr. Robotnik smiled evilly, thinking he finally got that blue rodent. "Hmph! So much for being fast," he said, twirling his mustache.
"I know, dude. He didn't see it coming," A smug voice said behind Dr. Robotnik in his flying machine.
"Indeed. I, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, am still undefeated-...! WHAT!? HOW DID YOU...!?" The round human shouted, surprised by Sonic sitting inside the Egg-O-Matic.
"Oh, I just jumped in, figured it was comfy. Though, it reeks like old geezer pants in here." Sonic insulted, pinching his nose cheekily.
"How dare you! I'm not that old!" Dr. Robotnik retorted before throwing a fist to punch Sonic but missed as he slammed it onto his console.
"Pretty slow for someone old enough to throw punches like that," Sonic said with a shrug before catapulting out as the Egg-O-Matic spun around, out of control.
"Grr! You egregious vermin!" Dr. Robotnik quickly pressed buttons, halting the machine back to normal.
"Who's Regis Vermin, Eggy?" Sonic smirked, to which Dr. Robotnik became unamused by the blue hedgehog's jokes.
Dr. Robotnik then began to swing the ball at Sonic again before he jumped up and tried hitting the bloated human. But instead, Sonic was the one getting hit, as the ball impacted him, sending him flying into the air.
"Ha! Gotcha, you blue pest!" Dr. Robotnik smirked as he flew the hovercraft to find Sonic.
The spiky speedster landed on a bridge that was over a massive drop into a river. "Okay...ow, ow and more ow. It looks like Butt-Nik here isn't kidding about the whole test-dummy complex-YOUCH!"
Sonic shrieked pithily when he suddenly felt something harsh from his tail. He jumped up and saw that a Chopper was biting his tail.
"Hey, knock it off!" Sonic yelled, grabbing the Chopper's tail and lobbing it toward the ground, freeing a critter after getting smashed.
"Man, doesn't Eggman ever stop to find a better use for these guys?" Sonic asked himself.
"Yes, and that is destroying the likes of you, Sonic!" Dr. Robotnik shouted aloud for him to hear.
"Oh, crud!" Sonic looked up to see the Egg-O-Matic's ball and chain about to hit him.
Only for Sonic to sidestep out of the way and try to run off the bridge, but it was blocked by a group of Crab-Meats.
"Okay, this is just getting way too gnarly!" Sonic turned around to see Dr. Robotnik chasing him.
"Except for those little blue spines of yours!" Dr. Robotnik shouted.
After a moment, an idea popped into Sonic's head. "Hmm, the hedgehog's got a plan!" he thought.
Sonic quickly jumped toward the chain and grabbed onto it, standing on top of the wrecking ball. "Batter up, bucket-heads!"
He then managed to shift the weight of the ball around, so it would sharply swat out the Crab-Meats. Sonic then jumped off the ball and grabbed into the side of the Egg-O-Matic.
"Stop getting into my contraption, you nuisance!" Dr. Robotnik yelled, trying to slap or wallop the blue speedster away.
It remained useless to the round human as Sonic reached for the steering wheel of the machine, making it tumble down and head into a cliff. However, the Egg-O-Matic barely went over, but the wrecking ball didn't, causing the chain to break as the ball fell to its doom. The Egg-O-Matic skidded across the floor, making the two arch-enemies fall out. With the force of the hovercraft dragging backward, it landed right over the mad scientist.
His muffled screams got heard as Sonic couldn't help but laugh at this. "Game over, Butt-Nik! You've just got yourself in a tight situation!"
Within seconds, Dr. Robotnik was still trapped under the Egg-O-Matic as Sonic paused his laughter for a few seconds.
"Yo, doc? Are you still there? Or did I finally crack the egg?" Sonic called out, his knuckles rapping on the Egg-O-Matic with ease.
Finally, the round human triggered the Egg-O-Matic to flip the underside and hover back to its original point, with him tightly squished inside and struggling.
Dr. Robotnik brushed himself off and gained control of his Egg-O-Matic. "Believe me, this isn't the end, rodent," he growled.
Sonic shook his head with a frown, before his voice hardening with a smile curling up. "Maybe not, Eggy. But right now, the people of Mobius that you're hurting will trust me as their hero. And they'll be under my protection from you!"
The bloated man laughed, a sneer plastered on his face. "Surely enough, brat. You may think you'll save them, but truthfully..." He pulled out a small remote from his pocket. "...they will still loathe you after what you brought yourself into."
A tremendous rumble came from behind Sonic as something from the ground erupted, a gigantic caterpillar-based Super Badnik called a Cater-Killer.
Sonic's eyes looked up at the Cater-Killer with its huge eyes and sharp teeth. "What the heck?"
"Don't look so surprised," Dr. Robotnik said as he laughed again. "I'm an exceptional genius. What did you expect? Aside from that, I should've known from the beginning you were a threat. I was hoping you'd turn into an ally for me, but I knew I had to do something in case you decided to override my global plans."
Sonic gritted his teeth as he saw Dr. Robotnik fly away.
"Until then, I hope you enjoy lying to your people," said Dr. Robotnik before zipping off across the skies and disappearing, leaving Sonic to deal with the Super Badnik alone.
Immediately, Sonic was processing all this from the moment he recognized Dr. Kintobor after that fight beforehand. Back then, Sonic was only a kid when Mobotropolis was around, and it couldn't have been his fault. But still, the spiky hedgehog hadn't resolved much of it when he achieved alongside Dr. Kintobor and all of his wacky experimentations. Just hope to the world how people would react to Sonic if he had told them that he and Dr. Kintobor used to be best friends.
"Yep," Sonic crossed his arms before gazing back at the Cater-Killer, who charged at him, "Things are getting way too interesting."
TO BE CONTINUED...