The towering figure of the Cater-Killer stood before Sonic, casting a colossal shadow over him. Its robotic caterpillar form emitted an eerie sound, sending shivers down one's spine. However, Sonic's face sported a confident, cocky smile.
Without hesitation, Sonic charged at the massive Cater-Killer, maintaining his smile as the robot lunged its mouth to devour him. In a swift move, Sonic skidded and leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp teeth.
The nimble hedgehog spun around the Cater-Killer, delivering a powerful strike to its head. Undeterred, the Cater-Killer retaliated, attempting to capture Sonic within its jaws. Sonic darted around the Super Badnik, effortlessly outpacing its every move.
Sonic slyly approached the Cater-Killer's face and taunted, "Hey, tin-brain! You can't catch me!"
In a flash, Sonic vanished, leaving the Cater-Killer bewildered as it searched for the elusive hedgehog. Unbeknownst to the robot, Sonic had positioned himself directly behind it, eyeing the metal containment unit.
"Alright, time to see what's inside this thing," Sonic pondered before leaping up to press the switch on the capsule.
As the capsule door forcefully shattered, a swarm of nearly ten animals burst out, scattering in all directions and reveling in their newfound freedom.
"What the...?" Sonic exclaimed as his gaze landed on the source of chirps and yips.
Sonic had successfully freed woodland creatures held captive by the Badniks. The Cater-Killer, noticing the broken capsule, turned to assess its captives and identify the culprit.
Suddenly, Sonic's voice echoed from behind, "Hey, chrome dome. I'm right behind you."
The Cater-Killer twisted around, only to be met with Sonic's mischievous grin. Fed up with the relentless blue speedster, the Super Badnik became determined to end Sonic's mockery. Sonic swiftly leaped and landed on the Cater-Killer's head, still beaming at the colossal robot, planning his next move.
Sonic playfully pulled down his lower eyelid and stuck out his tongue, teasingly saying, "Nyaah!"
Enraged by this action, the Super Badnik lost focus and attempted to grab Sonic, but the agile hedgehog evaded the attack, darting away from its grasp. The Cater-Killer's left eyeball accidentally got struck, detaching and crashing to the ground.
"See ya!" Sonic yelled to the Cater-Killer as he dashed away.
Having endured enough humiliation from Sonic, the Super Badnik was determined to make him pay. It gathered itself and pursued Sonic across the vast open area. With a mechanical roar, the Super Badnik leaped through the sky, aiming down to strike where Sonic was supposed to be.
The ground shook upon impact, creating a smokescreen that made the Super Badnik believe it had successfully defeated Sonic the Hedgehog. However, to its surprise, Sonic emerged from the smoke in a spinning attack, hurtling straight toward the Cater-Killer. Chuckling to himself, Sonic drew closer to the Super Badnik.
"You know, now that I think about it..." Sonic trailed off, effortlessly bouncing over the Cater-Killer and onto its side. "...aren't you guys supposed to evolve into more majestic and peaceful insects eventually?"
The Cater-Killer glared at Sonic with its lone red eye, its purple spray paint faded and dented. It hissed slowly, its body jerking beneath Sonic and lifting him into the air.
"Guess not," Sonic thought with a deadpan expression before twirling around. "Oh well, it's a tough fate for you, Super Badnik! Let's end this!"
The Cater-Killer attempted to strike Sonic, but a blue bolt tore through its head, creating a gaping hole in its body. It sparked and began to explode.
From above, a blue ball shot out of the Cater-Killer's remains. The Super Badnik disintegrated into countless pieces, engulfed in an impenetrable cloud of smoke. Once again, several woodland critters emerged from their confinement, scurrying away to safety.
Curiously, a shadowy figure descended from the shattered peak of the Cater-Killer.
As the smoke gradually cleared, all that remained of the Cater-Killer was a heap of smoldering metal and scattered parts. Sonic emerged from the dissipating haze, his gaze shifting from the wreckage to the other critters, wearing a serious yet confident expression.
"Heh, too easy as a piece of cake," Sonic said to himself until he crossed his arms with a sigh of dissatisfaction. "Though, that went faster than I wanted it to. And I'm already bored now-!"
"UGH!"
A feminine voice urged out of nowhere as Sonic's face features perked up in confusion, turning his head to the side as his eyes scoped over to see another mobian.
"Ugh...ow...!" the female mobian groaned, who struggled on one knee while rubbing her head in a slight headache.
Sonic blinked before reflecting in his thoughts, "Hey, she's not a critter, she's mobian. I would give that drop a solid five, but maybe she shouldn't try landing on her face next time. Better go see if she's okay."
As the female mobian picks herself up and tries dusting off, Sonic walks right over to check on her. His eyes soon caught onto the sight of a quiver full of arrows strapped around her back. Seeing this now, Sonic finally recognizes where the bow from before had belonged earlier.
"Hey, uh, Red? Are you all right? I found this bow on the ground nearby in case it was yours." Sonic asked, still cautious about his actions and words around girls as he held out the ranged weapon.
"Yeah, I think so. Thank you for finding my bow." The girl said as she then turns around to face Sonic behind her. "That was amazing of what you did!"
"Oh, thanks a lot-!" Sonic trailed off before he went blank, witnessing a hormone charge on what the girl's appearance divulged.
She was a female chipmunk with dark red hair connecting a stripe down her back and ending on her fuzzy, bushy tail. The chipmunk girl's face had a lighter brown patch where her blue eyes settled and side tufts on her cheeks. Her attire was an open blue vest that matched the color of her knee-high boots, followed by a white top and black skintight pants with white trimming. And just like Sonic, she sported white gloves but with blue cuffs.
"Holy moly." Sonic pondered in his thoughts, feeling uneasy inside his heart for some reason.
The chipmunk girl emanated a radiant allure, standing out amidst the chaos like a brilliant diamond amidst rough stones. Sonic, captivated by her unparalleled beauty, couldn't help but be mesmerized. The sun's gentle caress danced playfully upon the graceful contours of her figure, causing her fur to glisten and shimmer in a breathtaking display. Her hair flowed freely with the wind, adding an ethereal touch to her enchanting presence.
Clad in an understated attire, the chipmunk girl exuded a natural elegance that transcended the need for elaborate adornments. Sonic could not divert his gaze away from her as if time had momentarily ceased to exist. Every feature, every nuance of her being, seemed to hold an irresistible magnetism that drew him closer.
The chipmunk girl appeared to be waiting for him, her gaze fixed on Sonic. "Um, are you going to return my bow?" she asked.
"Oh. Uh, sure!" Sonic mumbled slightly before speaking up, handing the bow back to the chipmunk girl, who finally took it.
"And just so you know, my name isn't Red," she said, smirking challengingly, placing a hand on her hip while holding her bow.
"Hehehe! My bad, miss," Sonic replied, nervously scratching the back of his head.
"Well, no worries," the chipmunk girl continued, "It's nice to meet you! And since I'm pretty certain you're not called Blue..."
She extended her hand toward the blue hedgehog, expecting a handshake. "...what's your name?" she asked.
Sonic subtly noticed the chipmunk girl's outstretched hand, prompting him to swiftly switch back to his smug default expression as he playfully grasped her hand. "Sonic's the name, speed's my game!" he proclaimed, accompanied by one of his trademark smiles.
"Oh? Haha! I can see that," she remarked, a smug smirk adorning her face as they shook hands.
"Hehe! Yeah, well, I take pride in doing what I do best," Sonic replied, warmly smiling. "Speaking of names, I never caught yours, miss."
Seizing the opportunity, the female chipmunk introduced herself, "I'm Sally, Princess of the Acornia Kingdom. But now, I serve as a field leader and archer for the Knothole Freedom Fighters."
As Sally revealed her royal status, a wave of unease washed over Sonic's mind, instantly reminding him of his recent confrontation with Dr. Robotnik. The memory resurfaced, replaying the moment when he had informed the blue hedgehog about King Acornia's unfortunate deception at the hands of the mad genius. Now standing face to face with the king's daughter, Sonic couldn't help but feel a lingering discomfort creeping within him.
"How do you tell someone that you are the reason for bringing a crazed egghead into existence and changing their kingdom as a complete nightmare?" Sonic puzzled this thoroughly until he became sore for a bit, his expression seemingly vague.
As Sonic's inner turmoil continued to plague his thoughts, he struggled to find the right words to address the princess standing before him. Nevertheless, he mustered up his resolve and nodded in acknowledgment. "An archer princess, huh? Can't say I'm surprised," Sonic remarked with a smirk, causing the tomboyish girl to avert her gaze, her cheeks tinted with a blush.
"Hehehe! It may not be the grandest title, but it helps keep the Badniks at bay. It took me a couple of years to master the necessary skills," Sally responded, her eyes wandering as she struggled to find other words to add about her abilities.
Despite the underlying tension, a mutual admiration glimmered between them, evident in their affectionate gazes. "So, Sonic, are you the infamous Blue Blur I've heard so much about? The one who can move at incredible speeds?" Sally inquired with a smile.
Sonic blinked momentarily before settling back into his smug demeanor, striking a heroic pose. "The one and only. When I'm the blue streak that speeds by or too fast for the naked eye, there's no doubt about what I can do. Am I right, or am I RIGHT, princess?"
"Well, that's quite on the nose, I must say," Sally replied, amusement lacing her voice as she playfully extended a finger to tap Sonic's nose.
The gesture elicited a bashful grin from Sonic as he scratched the back of his spiky quills, letting out a lighthearted laugh. "Hahaha! Yeah, well, I kinda figured you already knew that."
Sally assumed a contemplative posture before beaming a grateful smile at Sonic. "Well, thanks again for saving me, Sonic! I-"
Suddenly, a realization struck her, causing her to gasp, "W-Wait, oh no!"
Sonic looked puzzled, his expression reflecting his confusion. "What's wrong?" he inquired as Sally averted her gaze.
"I completely forgot about the others!" Sally exclaimed, her worry escalating. Sonic observed the distress in her eyes.
"Others? You mean there were more peeps with you?" Sonic asked, tilting his head in confusion, but his curiosity turned into concern as he noticed the sadness in Sally's eyes.
"The other Freedom Fighters! They got captured and probably imprisoned inside one of those Super Badniks, just like me!" Sally explained, meeting Sonic's gaze once again.
As Sonic processed this information, he realized the significance of his decision to help the princess. Being a hero meant extending a helping hand to others in need. "Well, I may not know much about these Freedom Fighters, but if you need my help, I've learned a thing or two about taking down Badniks," Sonic shrugged, his hand rubbing his nose reflexively.
Sally blinked in disbelief, feeling a stroke of luck before a slow smile formed. "W-Would you? Because they could be held captive in one of Robotnik's strongholds!"
Sonic waved his hand dismissively, brushing off Sally's apprehension. "No worries, Sally. I'll help you get your gang back together. And we'll make sure Ro-Butt-Nik bothers nobody about it either. It's what heroes do, right?" Sonic's casual demeanor belied his determination.
A moment of stunned silence came, followed by Sally breaking into a radiant smile. Overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events, Sonic suddenly found himself enveloped in a warm embrace from the princess. Sonic let out a small squeak of surprise but kept his arms in place.
"Aw, thank you so much, Sonic!" Sally expressed her gratitude to Sonic for wanting to help her on this mission. "You have no idea how much this means to me!"
Sonic became taken aback by a sudden surge of emotions he hadn't felt in a long time; tenderness, admiration, and affection. As the speedster had gone without a hug for years, he couldn't help but smile in response. Sally's intoxicating scent and the softness of her delicate body felt captivating. Sonic knew how much he wasn't a romantic type of guy, but this was his first time seeing somebody so beautiful up close.
After feeling enchanted by the princess's beauty, Sonic looks at her for a bit. "Aw, it's no big deal, Sal." He uttered that nickname suddenly before he stopped talking for a bit.
But it was too late, as Sally gave away from the hug along with a raised eyebrow. "Sal? That's a new one for someone you've just met." she teased.
Sonic laughed a bit, rotating both his hands in a circular motion, "Hehe! Come on! Everybody has got to have a nickname once in a while, right?"
"Right," Sally giggled slightly before clearing her throat to get serious about this, "Okay, we should better get going if we're heading to Scrap Brain. It's one of Dr. Robotnik's metallic laboratories."
Sonic rolled his eyes toward Sally. "Yeah, I suppose you've got a plan of some sorts to where we're heading, Sal?"
"Yep, I can have Nicole scout our destination toward Marble Bridge," said Sally.
"Nicole?" asked Sonic, tilting his head in puzzlement.
Not before long, Sally takes out an upgraded handheld device from her left pocket. "This here is Nicole."
"Scan Complete. Unknown Subject Detected. Confirm Identity." Nicole announced in a monotonous voice.
"Fancy toy you got here," asked Sonic, blinking a bit by the time Nicole crackled to life from Sally's gloved hand.
"For your information, Nicole's not a toy. She is a highly advanced artificial intelligence whose database of knowledge, hacking systems, and several included sensors make her helpful in our fight against Robotnik." Sally retorted, rolling her eyes away from Sonic. "Nicole, disable security protocols and update Sonic's identification as a new ally."
"Sonic the Hedgehog." The blue hedgehog smirked with pride.
"Registration for Ally 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Complete."
Sally then closes Nicole and puts her away, "Then it's settled. You are now a part of my allies, Sonic."
Sonic crosses his arms. "I'm not letting anything else try and slow me down, you know."
"Nothing's quicker than a direct route, so try not to be so impatient, Sonic," Sally informed with a smile, though she still was exasperated.
Sonic grinned, bowing down like some pretend butler while pointing toward her direction, "Well, then by all means," he jeers. "Lead the way."
Sally couldn't help but chuckle at Sonic's silliness, walking ahead with a tomboyish swagger. Sonic trailed alongside her, his hands resting behind his quilled head.
His previous thoughts lingered on how his curiosity had gotten the best of him. With his gaze fixed on the ground, he pondered Dr. Robotnik's past actions and how they intertwined with his existence. The mad genius had stripped away so much from the mobian population, particularly Sally, whom Sonic had now met due to the current circumstances.
How would Sonic explain his experiences with the man formerly known as Dr. Kintobor to Sally? Would she react with anger or sympathy?
The speedy hero knew he would find out when the time was right.
"I've been meaning to ask if you have any information about the whereabouts of my father, King Nigel Acornia. My mother and brother, Alicia and Elias, are also missing. Since the invasion, I don't know what happened to them or where they are. I thought your travels around Mobius might have provided some insight. Have you heard anything?" Sally inquired.
Sonic's eyes darted in response to the chipmunk girl's question, and he exhaled before scratching his ear. "Well, um, I haven't personally encountered the king or anyone fitting that description around here. Like, I don't remember coming across anybody wearing crowns. Not even queens or princes. But if I happen to come across them, I promise I'll bring them back to you."
Observing Sonic's nonchalant shrug, Sally sighed and nodded, understanding his response. "Thank you for letting me know, Sonic."
"Eh, no problem!" Sonic winked at her with a smile, looking the other way during the walk. "So, what's this freedom movement you got going on here? I don't think I ever heard of you guys before."
"Yes, well, my friends and I are trying to get to the source of the problem this world is in, thanks to Dr. Robotnik," Sally responded, continuing as she pulled out the handheld computer again. "Nicole, please bring up the World Map."
"Uploading, Sally," Nicole beeped, surprising Sonic with a holographic view of the planet. Everything seemed divided into various regions, each holding a portion of the places that determined their respective layouts.
"As you can see, following Dr. Robotnik's takeover of Mobius years ago, his robot invasions have scoured numerous plains, ravaged islands, and terrorized other communities. Which is why we, as a resistance, make it our mission to stop this madman's reign of tyranny and fight for our freedom."
"Wow, that's a lot of ground for a rotten egg," The blue speedster shifted his curious gaze toward Sally. "Is that why you and your posse are here on South Island in the first place?"
"Well, that's only part of it." the princess answered. "I've been studying a strange energy signal for the past few days. Despite this, Nicole still could not pinpoint its exact location. So, my friends and I came here to try and check it out."
Tugging out from behind her, Sally eventually pulls out what seems to be a red Emerald. "That's when I found this gemstone called a Chaos Emerald. The next thing I knew, Robotnik appeared out of nowhere and placed my friends and me into various Super Badniks. I was lucky enough to hide the Emerald from Robotnik's radar, with Nicole blocking the sensors."
Sonic paused, eyebrow raised while scratching his ear, remembering what Dr. Robotnik mentioned. "A Chaos Emerald? I've been hearing some weird mumbo-jumbo recently from that old fart. What the heck are they anyway?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"One sec," Sally answered, pressing keys on her handheld computer. "Nicole, please describe the Chaos Emeralds and exhibit any of their properties."
"Affirmative, Sally..." For a few seconds, Nicole beeps, activating, with many buttons lighting up. "The Chaos Emeralds are seven mystical relics. Those that maintain them utilize their capabilities, such as powering machines and controlling nearly infinite power. Further research has yet to become uncovered."
Sonic gazed with awe when his eyes rested upon Nicole, astonished by such mysterious power existing anywhere on the planet. Furthermore, Nicole emits a spherical holographic display, showing each Chaos Emerald. On the other hand, Sonic couldn't help but remember when Dr. Kintobor had obtained the grey Emerald for its use that could've brought enough energy for Mobius. Though, it had only changed for the worse.
"Each Chaos Emerald comes in different colors, such as the following: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and grey. They were believably inactive within misconceptions created on the South Island." Nicole droned, finishing her explanation.
Sally puts a hand on her chin, "It must be why Robotnik wanted the one I had."
Sonic remained convinced that Dr. Robotnik won't stop, despite that even that won't stop the spiky hedgehog. Moreover, Sally might discover more about him back then throughout this new adventure of theirs. That's just the feeling that he's willing to pull off.
"No doubt about it, Sal," Sonic added, tapping his foot sternly. "If Butt-Nik's searching for these Chaos Emeralds, that must be why he's on South Island here..."
Suddenly, Sally got lifted off her feet, her eyes widening as she saw Sonic carrying her in a bridal-style hold.
"Sonic!" Sally gasped in surprise.
"...and if my hunch is correct, another Chaos Emerald must be up at Marble Bridge. So, who needs to walk when we can take the Hedgehog Speed Station? Consider yourself my first customer!" Sonic grinned mischievously, holding Sally securely as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ever wondered what it feels like to be a speeding bullet, Sal?"
"Well... n-no? What does thaaaaaAAAAHHHH!" Sally's sentence got cut short as she let out a shriek.
Sally didn't get a chance to finish her sentence as Sonic tapped into his incredible speed and zoomed along the path, causing Sally to scream at high velocity.
"Yeah, that's pretty much everyone's response," Sonic pondered with a cocky smirk, racing down the trail and leaving Green Hill behind.
Back in Robotropolis, the battle had been witnessed by Snively in front of the computer terminal. He couldn't believe it was a mere hedgehog destroying all of his uncle's work. Although not to say that it was mere, the hedgehog had superhuman speed and agility on his side.
"Sir. The hedgehog has destroyed the Super Badnik Cater-Killer and freed the princess." The short man reported.
Dr. Robotnik was already on the line with Snively, receiving the video playback from the Cater-Killer through the Egg-O-Matic's monitor when the image suddenly ended in violent static, signaling the Super Badnik's destruction. And especially Princess Sally's freedom. Snively knew that Dr. Robotnik wouldn't be pleased and dreaded telling him the horrible results.
A dark frown wrinkled the supreme dictator's face onscreen, "Give me the report on those other Freedom Fighters, Snively. And I want to know which Super Badniks they are stored in."
Snively keypunched in a few instructions into the network and reviewed the green document with texts on the monitor.
"We only have three other mobians in use for our Super Badnik Horde, sir." the small human answered.
"I'm listening, Snively." Dr. Robotnik said, his dark voice echoing onscreen in the quiet control center.
"You see, they are currently in their positions within each variant that have gotten selected. One Super Badnik shall be patrolling our small Badnik forces in the Marble Bridge; a Newtron to be precise." Snively said, uploading an image on Dr. Robotnik's hover-pod as he purred with slight interest.
The picture on the Egg-O-Matic's monitor revealed an enormous Newtron Super Badnik enrolling itself throughout the Marble Bridge's area. The Newtron was a chameleon-based Badnik that is useful to camouflage themselves. Other demonstrated abilities can include spitting balls of energy from their mouth and granting them flight.
"Then, another Super Badnik will be upholding the Spring Yard; a Crab-Meat as per se," Snively repeated as he uploads yet another image for Dr. Robotnik to inspect.
Thankfully to the mad scientist, Crab-Meats could shoot projectile balls or homing missiles from their claws. They are all built up and stored inside their pincers, which can also get replaced with rocket launchers if needed.
"The final one should already get initiated at the Labyrinth Jungle, a full-sized Jaws to give that hedgehog swimming lessons." finished Snively, who closed his eyes and smirked with pride.
Dr. Robotnik had also heard about these submersible shark-based Badniks. They became specialized in underwater patrols, and they are excellent swimmers, thanks to their fin propellers. On the plus side, the Jaws can use lethal bites from their sharp teeth.
During that talk, Dr. Robotnik crossed his arms with a smile. "Oh, this is good. Very, very good indeed," he whispered.
Dr. Robotnik's thoughts took another turn as he conceived a new plan. With a devious gleam in his eyes, he began typing rapidly on the keyboard within his cockpit. His fingers danced across the keys, inputting a secret combination code that initiated a series of actions at an alarming pace. Perceiving that Sonic and Princess Sally will get dealt with sooner or later, Dr. Robotnik decides that Snively would have something else to do until needed.
Dr. Robotnik's smile widened at the next thought before he stated, "Snively, I have a new assignment for you."
Both eyes became bug-eyed as the small human faced the mad scientist. "A-A new assignment, sir?" he questioned, hinting at a surprised tone in his voice.
Dr. Robotnik hummed with satisfaction and sent a carefully composed file to Snively's monitor. "This is a preview of my upcoming project, scheduled in the future. Your task, Snively, is to gather as much information as possible about the object depicted. I want details on its location, history, and anything else that could prove valuable to me," he commanded, observing Snively as he began perusing the file on the screen.
Silence came across Snively's mind when he paused, before asking, "D-Doctor, where and how is this possible?"
Dr. Robotnik had already ended the call.
Snively groaned from the annoyance of his uncle's rapid foolishness, soon to ignore the thought as the small human went over the file briefly. The addled expression on Snively's face while his eyes scanned a section within the file's expository texts. One part, in particular, included a dwarf planet, appearing every so often above Mobius.
Just before Snively's mild curiosity could progress onward, a yap comes from the other side, letting a silhouetted figure show up out of nowhere and in front of Snively, startling him. A small, canine-like robot, bearing a resemblance to a goofy-looking Chihuahua, sprung up onto the counter that began to pester the long-nosed man.
The dog was yellow-orange and grey. The head is unevenly the same size as its body and has large eyes, a metal muzzle, a thin tail with a metal sphere at the end, and a pink tongue.
The robotic dog gracefully jumps over to Snively, who groaned to himself in such discomfort. "Oh, must that brat's creation always annoy my precious time!"
Swinging his office chair around to the side, Snively yanked the scared canine-like robot off the counter and shouted, "Have I taught you nothing? I said, KEEP. Your STUPID mongrel. On a LEASH!"
Soon, somebody stepped out of the shadows, revealing a youthful male fox. If anybody looked closely enough, he mysteriously appears to have a unique mutation of two tails instead of one. Mostly having yellowish-orange fur, there was also snowy fur around the boy's muzzle, chest, and the tip of his twin tails, finalizing with blue eyes. For attire, he had a pair of rust-colored goggles over the three strands of hair on his head, a navy blue hoodie with short sleeves, white gloves with a gray band around each wrist, and red sneakers with white toes and cuffs.
He was none other than a boy genius with a heart of gold and a frown on his face.
Miles Prower.
"He has a name, Snively! His name is T-Pup! And he's not a stupid dog!" Miles crossed his arms, glaring at the small man who quickly tossed T-Pup right at him.
Miles gasped as he used his twin tails and spun faster than a helicopter to catch T-Pup in his hands, gently comforting the trembling robotic dog.
"You don't have to be so mean, Snively," Miles grumbles.
"Whatever, I have a task to begin." Snively turns his chair back to the counter, nastily commenting. "Go off and get your work dismantled as always, Miles Per-Hour!"
As Snively grew to laugh cruelly at that snide nickname, Miles scowled at the small man before blowing a raspberry at him, "A brooding midget, that's what you are."
"WHY YOU LITTLE-!"
Before Snively could retort to what Miles had just said, the young fox curiously pointed at one of the computer monitors. "What's going on there?"
Snively turns his head to point a thumb with a grumble, "Our Badnik numbers have been declining because of a mere blue hedgehog, one that can travel at supersonic speed. I told my uncle about the dangers there could be, but he whisked them off like it was no big deal! That miserable toad."
Miles soon zipped in front of the monitors, "You mean the Blue Blur!? I knew he had to be real!" The young fox said excitedly, putting his hands on his furred cheeks with sparkling eyes.
Snively raised a rigid eyebrow, "Why would you be so fascinated about something like this? That hedgehog is the reason we're losing progress worth of Badniks!"
Realizing his actions, Miles hesitantly looks away with his arms crossed. "No reason at all, Snively. I'm not used to seeing things moving so fast like that."
"Sure," Snively turned his head back into place with his files on the monitor. "The faster you can be on leaving me to finish my work in peace, you defect."
Miles did his best to ignore his second-in-command talking trash about his life. All he did was gawk up close to the monitors that exhibited Sonic himself spinning and springing all over the island, finishing off Badniks one by one with goofy faces and speedy badassery.
Besides, Miles never always enjoyed building such robots whenever Snively or Dr. Robotnik vaguely told him they were for the greater good. Unable to fret about their idea, he only focused more on Sonic's quickness. Miles' smile was wide and beaming, lighting up the space around him like an adorable sun.
"Whoa! He's so cool and so fast. Look at that spiky hair and those shiny buckles on his shoes! I want to be cool too, just like him!" The foxy youngster thinks with respect for his new secret all-time hero.
Much to Miles' disappointment, Snively attempts to shoo him away. "You'll hurt your eyes if you stand too close to the screen, pipsqueak."
"You get to do the same too!"
Snively crossed his arms with pride and a smirk, "Well, for your information, I'm Dr. Robotnik's second-in-command! We both may be working for him. But compared to me, you are a gnat."
Miles scoffed with a look of boredom, "Yeah, and you're his butt-monkey out of all best."
"Aargh! Why are you still here?!" Snively angrily stomped on the floor and pushed the young fox out of the room. "GET BACK TO WORK!"
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry-!" Miles struggled to keep his balance before Snively kicks him and T-Pup out of the door, slamming it closed behind them both.
"Ugh, that fool should've robotized and done away with the freak when he had the chance." Snively walks away as he angrily gets back to his recently scheduled work from Dr. Robotnik.
Back outside the door with Miles, who held T-Pup, he whimpered to his creator while he quietly comforts him. The teary-eyed fox sighed as he wiped his eyes after remembering the mean comment that Snively had told him to be true.
He was a freak of nature.
Those words stung firm within his heart because Snively was right about him. Though, the question as to "why" is something that most people would ask if they have never met the boy. Miles was unlike other mobians that are still around on Mobius.
Miles became a laughingstock by mobians for having two tails and often got bullied. He was also an orphan with no one to talk to or cry on their shoulder. Bullies thrash him around and take the food Miles eats, mostly from garbage cans, just for kicks and giggles. He didn't even understand why they did this to him.
They would also chase him off with sticks or rocks, which is a miracle that he wasn't dead, considering he is only a child. The harsh words Miles received day-to-day whirl around his mind violently like the spin cycle of a washing machine.
"Worthless waste of space!"
"We'd all be happier if you finally just died."
"Freaks like you don't deserve life."
"Ugly two-tailed freak! How do you stomach looking at yourself in the mirror?"
"How does it feel to have a constant reminder of how creepy you are? How humiliating!"
"I'm begging you, please just jump into a pit already!"
"Give up on your dreams and die!"
That is all it took to be in the "rejected" category.
It was too much to handle.
Miles wanted it all to stop, but how?
The name Miles was just as pathetic to him as it was to everyone else. If any person were to say the name slowly with an intuitive hearing, it would come out as Miles Per-Hour. And because of that, the fox cub's name was ridiculed and disowned. He was also somewhat of a genius, and he loved to invent things. But apparently, his love for gadgets and science also became considered irregular as kids started staying away from him.
That is until Dr. Robotnik came along.
Miles walked through the forest battered and bruised, eyes watery as he sadly looked at his broken invention. Nothing more than a useless, weak piece of garbage. Miles was just too weak. Was that all there was to it?
The endless tormenting, the abuse Miles suffered was so simple. Much of this happened every day, but today his wounds felt deeper. They hurt more than usual, and his face still stung from being mauled and melted.
"Why? Why was I born like this?"
The fox boy's thoughts were always relatively dark, but just at the back of his mind, buried in useless affirmations that he would be okay. That one day, everything would be better. But it would never be better. Not as long as Miles still had his two tails.
Miles didn't know when he would be accepted. He hoped it would be soon because he did not know how long this fruitless act would work. But then he looked up and caught sight of a blue blur he had never seen before, speeding to a stop nearby.
Sonic the Hedgehog.
He looked around, and Miles hid behind a bush, watching him as he sniffed around. Sonic took off into the forest, leaving Miles in amazement. "Wow, that guy's cool! I wonder where he is going," The young fox ran as fast as he could to catch up with the blue hedgehog.
Miles did not find him anywhere but came across a clear area and what seemed like a hovercraft parked there. As soon as the fox boy walks to the machine in admiration, he notices a crispy, giant tear. Miles examined this abandoned invention and then inside the cockpit. There was a tool kit for emergencies. The fox boy now knew what he should do.
Miles struggles to climb inside the cockpit. "Woah, this thing looks pretty busted! But I bet I can make it even better-!"
But before Miles could even begin to tinker with the hovercraft, fixing it as he said, the sound of a boot stepping onto the ground.
"You there! What do you think you are doing here!?"
Miles spun around to see an angry Dr. Robotnik, who likely returned from taking a leak and had his arms crossed. The fox boy nervously jumped down, rubbing the back of his neck. "S-Sorry, sir, but when I see a machine, I can't help myself. I hope you don't mind if I help fix it for you-!"
"Get lost," Dr. Robotnik cuts Miles off, making his way in front of the trembling young fox. "Don't you have somewhere to be? Where are your parents? Do I look like a babysitter to you? I'm not interested in playing tag with a, uh? A fox with two tails."
"G-Gah! I-I just didn't...!" Miles could only stutter uncontrollably, where his sobbing eyes darted back and forth but failed to hide the two things that made most adults and children chuck hurtful words at him. "I mean...!"
Flicking his wrist, Dr. Robotnik whips out his trusty ray gun. "Zip it! Run along and find someone else to play with, or I'll blast you to smithereens!"
"EEP!" Miles raised his hands in defense, utterly begging. "B-But, sir! Truly, I only wish to offer you help by fixing your machine! Honest!"
"You're of no use to me, kid-! Huh? What is that there?" Dr. Robotnik points at the destroyed gadget Miles had dropped on the ground, depressing the poor fox boy.
"O-Oh! I-It's nothing!" Miles gulped, bending over to carefully gather the broken pieces until he saw the round doctor's unamused face. "W-Well, see, I like to build and repair stuff. But everyone makes fun of me. I figured I could fix your machine, and we could be friends! Um, if you want to...?"
"Well, what is your name?" Dr. Robotnik asked, finding Miles' words genuine for his benefit.
"Miles Prower," The young fox scratched his chin slightly.
"Hmm," The bloated dictator hummed, scratching his mustache in deep thought before smiling. "Fine then! My name is Dr. Robotnik. If you wish to offer me help, I would have to hire you as, well, in a word, my underling. You can prove your worth by repairing my invention in the next ten minutes."
"I can do it in five minutes!" Miles replied cheerily, rushing over to start tinkering with the hovercraft. Seeing Dr. Robotnik's smile gives Miles a confidence boost, and he continues faster. But what Miles didn't know was that the bloated doctor's default smile secretly became more crooked and sinister.
Miles could have sworn he had seen the look on the mad doctor's face by the time he helped fix up a broken hovercraft that was supposed to be a successful test run. The young fox secretly knew that the man wanted to see what he could do since it's not every day that a random fox comes up to someone and offers to help fix their brilliant invention.
Everybody should learn to never judge a book by its cover.
The foxy tinkerer was finished in no time, becoming seemingly impossible for Dr. Robotnik to see one of his inventions beyond repair so fixed and renovated. The mad scientist finally recruited Miles, ensuring he won't double-cross him under any circumstances. And as the weeks turned into months, all Miles could do to survive and keep Dr. Robotnik happy was build him robots.
But everything still felt wrong, being neglected by Dr. Robotnik and kicked around by Snively, rinse and repeat.
The young fox always contemplated whether or not he should leave the empire. But Miles knew he'd probably get yelled at or beaten up every time for doing stupid things. He should have known there was nothing good coming from this. Sighing to himself, Miles walked down the dark hallway while staring ahead with T-Pup in his hands with a gloomy expression. Miles wished the world would accept who he was, but it just couldn't, all because of a genetic mutation that was not his fault.
The fox boy smiled as he arrived at a hidden room to go inside. Once Miles closes the door behind him, the entire room were hundreds of blueprints and concept drawings littered all over the walls. In the corner was a small table as Miles placed the canine robot on said table and looked to observe a beautiful view of the sea on one of his dual computer monitors.
Every time Miles was bullied or needed some comfort, the picture of the sea with a sun setting was enough to soothe him from his misery. Miles also always tried to cheer himself up with things such as teaching himself everything he could muster as profound knowledge.
Math.
Science.
Swimming.
Reading.
Aviation.
Mechanics, of which came naturally to him.
Biology.
Anatomy.
Botany, from having to eat plants in the forest.
A kid like him learned to spin his twin tails rapidly enough to blast off at an impressive speed and chop up the air quickly enough to lift off like a helicopter into the skies. Miles looked over one of his broken inventions on the table with T-Pup and sighed.
Miles hated his life more than his name, which he desired to change to the nickname Tails. He thought every day about someone who wanted to be his friend. But he was proven wrong, seeing that the world hates him. When he was going to return to his daily tasks for Snively, Miles noticed a light that beeped an even softer noise from his dual computer monitors.
There seemed to be a notification coming from the Badnik security cameras. One of the robots must have found something unusual. Miles' curiosity couldn't help but tow himself forward to begin typing on his keyboard and checking it out. Tapping his mouse on a clickable area, Miles saw a page pull up from a tab, bringing his glum, weary face into a gentle, hopeful one.
Thanks to a tiny boost of confidence within him, the young fox scurries out of his dwelling, excitement on his face. Startled by this, T-Pup curiously followed behind his creator, who had an idea already popping into his brain. One that involved him going to this place displayed on the computer monitors.
Breezie Media Presents...!
Spring Yard's Obstacle Course!
A Chance to Stretch Your Legs!
Navigate the Hazards of the Wild!
Win a Colossal Trophy!
A Cash Prize!
And...!
A Legendary Chaos Emerald!
Come on Down to the South Island!
Hurry to Get in Line!
Sign Up!
Enter the Race Now!
TO BE CONTINUED...