Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails Doll initiates his plan to slowly poison the newly dubbed Freedom Fighters. By latching onto Tekno's hatred for Jenni, he was able to manipulate the others into fighting each other. But Sonic manages to figure him out, leading to a confrontation with the fake Tails…

Sonic looked up at his floating opponent, a floating mockery to his buddy Tails. A thing that pretends to be the cute and lovable fox that wanted to follow Sonic around after he saved him from a trio of thugs. Sonic was pretty lax with a lot of things, usually only annoying him at best, but when it came to messing with his friends… That's where he drew the line. Sonic quickly rushes at Tails Doll, only to miss due to the floating entity moving to the side.

Tails Doll: "Oops. Sorry. Looks like I'm too-"

Sonic quickly rebounds off the mansion wall before slamming into the doll, knocking him to the ground with a hefty impact. Tails Doll simply laughs as he stands back up, turning to Sonic with his head tilted in a limp manner.

Tails Doll: "Didn't I tell you? You can't defeat me!"

Sonic: "Yeah, yeah. You might scare someone under 5 with that. But to me? You couldn't be any more lamer!"

Tails Doll seems to take offense to that insult as he flies towards Sonic and swings his tails at him, which Sonic ducks under. Sonic does a flying knee to his opponent, but the doll bends back to dodge before slamming a fist onto the hedgehog's face. Tails Doll then wraps his tails onto Sonic's left leg and tosses him across the open area.

Sonic: "Okay. So you can do more than just talk. Good, then this won't be too boring after all."

Tails Doll: "Your insults are only a coping mechanism. You may pretend to be brave, but you're afraid… Aren't you?"

Sonic just shrugs.

Sonic: "Maybe. Not that I'd ever tell."

He then rushes at Tails Doll before grabbing him and punting him back with a hard kick.

Sonic: "Because I gots no time to be afraid when people are relying on me!"

Tails Doll: "Famous last words… Of course, time is running out."

Tails Doll stands before his antenna flashes a bright red light, which momentarily blinds Sonic. Once the brightness vanishes, Sonic sees… himself. A mirror image of himself, but with red eyes and black sclera.

Sonic?: "Hehe. What's up, poser? You look like you've just seen a demon."

Sonic: "...Oh, fancy trick. Can't beat me as Tails, so you shifted forms?"

Tails Doll: "Not quite."

Tails Doll comes in from behind Sonic, kicking him on the back of the head before the illusion Sonic hops back onto his hands before kicking forward, slamming his feet onto Sonic's face and sending him into the air. Tails Doll flies up and slams his tails on the flying Sonic, sending the hedgehog into a crater on the ground.

Tails Doll: "While what you see is indeed an illusion, it is just as real as you or me. A duplicate of your inner fears… Your inner darkness… If I can't control you directly then… I'll just take what I can."

Dark Sonic: "Yo, stand up. I know that didn't finish you. I am you after all, so I would know."

Sonic does stand back up before growling, realizing now just what kind of threat Tails Doll could pose if left to his own devices.

Sonic: "Okay… So you got a friend. Honestly, this works out. …Because I needed to punch myself for how bad I've been lately. You'll do just nicely, dark me."

Tails Doll and Dark Sonic smile as they launch towards Sonic. The hedgehog quickly revs up at Super Peel Out, launching at Dark Sonic once he had sufficient power, clocking his dark copy on the face and sending him through a few of Hill Top's few mountain ranges. With some breathing room, Tails Doll tries to drop kick Sonic from above, but the hero kicks upward with both his feet to block the incoming attack. Just nearby, at the mansion itself, a camera - Nicole's eyes - watches the battle from her position before the lynx begins to contact Jenni.

Back at Emerald Hill Resort, the other Freedom Fighters were fighting amongst themselves. Sally tried to intervene with her barriers, but she was either knocked aside or ignored. At the last attack knocking her on her back, her anger really started to show.

Sally: "Seriously! We haven't even gone on our first mission and things are already falling apart! Could you guys at least pretend to be nice for one stupid second!"

Jenni observes the fight with equal annoyance, but for different reasons.

Jenni: "Ugh… Kids… Always a destructive bunch… At this rate, Emerald Hill Resort will be further delayed in reconstruction…"

Sally: "Can you worry about your stupid resort later and help us already!?"

Jenni: "Don't catch an attitude, Sally. I am helping in my own way."

Jenni then gets a call before she pulls out her communicator. A hologram of Nicole then appears with a bow.

Jenni: "Yo, Nicole. Perfect timing. Did you find where Spike went?"

Nicole: "Yes, ma'am. Sonic appears to be facing a strange opponent… Miles Prower."

Sally: "What!? What's going on!?"

Jenni: "Elaborate for us?"

Nicole: "The figure Sonic is facing does not appear to be Tails, but the form is uncanny. As the fight progressed, another Sonic appeared out of thin air, but having a more sinister presence."

Jenni: "Sounds like Spike must've found our culprit. But he needs help… Sally?"

Sally: "Hm?"

Jenni: "Mind leaving this group of rowdy punks to me? Sounds like Spike needs some back up from his girlfriend."

Sally: "Huh? But how are you going to…"

As Sally was asking, the black legless robot from before returns as Jenni smiles.

Jenni: "Oh don't worry. I think these guys need a good spanking from someone much older. Ready, Beta?"

Beta: "Affirmative, Lady Jenni."

Sally: "Wh-Whoa…"

Jenni looks to Sally expectedly, with the princess nodding as she started making a mad dash to the Hill Top Mansion in order to help Sonic.

At Uncle Chuck's workshop, the old hedgehog watched on as the battle between friends continued just a little over a mile away from his home. Aleena watched with Chuck from the sofa as the old hedgehog pounded the counter in frustration.

Chuck: "Ugh… What is wrong with those kids!? I knew I heard a commotion but… This is absolutely absurd!"

Aleena: "Charles, please. There's very little we can do. If we got in the way… I'm not sure what would happen with how they are acting…"

Chuck: "That's what's frustrating… But if they continue fighting…"

A sudden noise catches the duo's attention. It came from Tails' adjacent workshop, which was odd to Chuck, since Tails was out today. Aleena peeked into the workshop and found… a doll on the floor.

Tails' Thoughts: "Ugh… Finally… I got out of my closet somehow… I've got so little movement that it hurts just moving an inch… But I gotta help everyone."

Aleena: "Charles! Was Tails ever into making toys?"

Chuck: "Aside from occasionally tinkering, no."

Chuck peered in with Aleena to find the Tails doll.

Tails' Thoughts: "That voice… Uncle Chuck! Oh please hear me…"

Chuck approached and grabbed the doll, lifting Tails off the floor.

Chuck: "A Tails doll? Strange… I've never known him to be one to collect dolls…"

Tails' Thoughts: "I don't! …I mean, I do love toys, but not ones that look like me!"

Chuck: "Hmm… What do you think, Aleena?"

Aleena: "Eh?"

Chuck: "This is… a rather odd doll… But… Do you think we should keep it?"

Aleena: "I'm not sure… It looks a bit… creepy…"

Tails' Thoughts: "Hey, even as a doll, I am cute! …Wait, this isn't the time for vanity… Guys! Uncle Chuck! Help me! An evil me took my body! I need to get my real body back!"

Chuck looks at the doll before shrugging, moving to put the doll in the dumpster. Tails could see this as a very bad thing. It took him a day just to get out of the wardrobe - there was no way he could escape a dumpster.

Tails' Thoughts: "No no no! Uncle Chuck! It's me! Miles! Please! I'm the real Tails!"

Tails' Voice: "STOOOP!"

Uncle Chuck jumps as he drops the doll, suddenly hearing a voice out of nowhere. Aleena was equally spooked as she heard the voice as well.

Tails' Voice: "Uncle Chuck! Please! It's me, Tails! I'm this stupid doll! A fake me took my body! Please listen!"

Uncle Chuck: "...Am I finally reaching delusion's age? Or am I hearing Tails' voice from that doll?"

Aleena: "N-No… I hear it too…"

Tails: "Wait… You can hear me?"

Aleena approached and lifted the doll up from the ground, just as startled and confused as Chuck was.

Aleena: "Um… If this is Tails… um…"

Chuck: "What is your favorite color?"

Tails: "Blue. I love the sky and ocean. And… well… They remind me of my best pal, Sonic…"

Aleena looked at Chuck with a bit of skepticism, but Uncle Chuck was convinced. He then looked at the fighting outside before looking at Tails.

Chuck: "Tails, my boy… Give us the short version… What's happened to you?"

Tails: "I'm not sure how I can explain it, but I'll try to be quick."

Back at the fight between Sonic and the horror duplicates, Sonic is seen skidding back with a few bruises and some blood coming out of his mouth. He scowls at the duo before seeing Dark Sonic rush him. He side steps the incoming Spin Dash, but Tails Doll comes in from behind with a low sweep with his tails, knocking Sonic off his feet. While hanging in the air, Dark Sonic rebounded and immediately slammed a foot onto Sonic's back, sending him into the air. Tails Doll flies up and grabs Sonic by the legs before flinging him back to the ground.

Sonic: "Urgh… Okay… This two on one thing is really getting on my nerves…"

Dark Sonic: "Can't take the heat? Then stay out of the kitchen."

Sonic: "You know, I'm starting to think my own quips are annoying."

Sonic glares at his smiling double as he stands up. Dark Sonic rushes at Sonic once more, with the original bracing himself for impact. Tails Doll sneaks in behind, ready to finish Sonic off.

Sally's Voice: "Sonic! Kick behind you!"

Sonic hears Sally's voice before quickly shifting tactics, slamming a hard kick to Tails Doll's stomach and sending the fake fox flying back from the hit. Dark Sonic got in closer, but as he was about to hit Sonic, he is blocked by a barrier conjured by Sally as she got between the two Sonics. The impact quickly rebounds and sends energy right back at Dark Sonic, sending him flying back from the blast.

Tails Doll & Dark Sonic: "WHAT!?"

Sonic: "Yo, Sal. Um… You mad at me for uh…"

Sally: "Later, Sonic. For now, head in the game. We got a couple of weirdos to take down."

Sonic: "Heh. You're right. Think you can take care of fake me?"

Sally: "So long as you keep Fake Tails off me."

The duo of heroes smile, the tides turning as they lunge at their opponents. Sally slams a barrier onto Dark Sonic, flattening him into the dirt in order to get his attention. But Dark Sonic quickly shatters the barrier with a Spin Jump as he glares at Sally.

Sally: "Alright, you walking shadow. Time to send back to whatever hole you crawled out of."

Dark Sonic: "Oh? We aren't even married, but you want to sign for divorce? FINE BY ME! You're a shit girlfriend anyway!"

Sally creates a set of stairs using her barriers to get some height as she jumps over Dark Sonic's attempt to use a Spin Dash at her. She lands before leaping over the rebound, this time slamming her feet from above to stop Dark Sonic and dig him into the dirt.

Sally: "If you're Sonic, then you'd know which of us is better in a fair fight."

Dark Sonic: "You're right… Maybe I should play unfair then!"

Dark Sonic starts to spin backwards, sending dirt at Sally to blind her. He then jumps out of the hole he was dug into before dive kicking at the blind princess. But Sally smirked before creating another shield barrier in front of her, rebounding Dark Sonic's attack back at him, sending him flying as he was greatly injured by the counter.

Sally: "Yeah, I saw that coming too! Our time apart wasn't wasted by me sitting around - I got way better!"

Meanwhile, Sonic and Tails Doll continued their brawl, with Sonic grabbing the doll's tails and slamming him into the outer wall of the mansion. Sonic smiles as he dusts off his hands, looking confident again.

Sonic: "Not so tough without your partner, huh?"

Tails Doll: "Oh I wouldn't gloat, hedgehog. After all, your friend - that is the real Tails - is in danger."

Sonic's bravado drops as he glares at the doll, now scowling as he grabs the fake fox by his scruff.

Sonic: "Spill… What do you mean by that?"

Tails Doll: "Just as I said. Within a few short minutes, Tails' transformation as a doll will be permanent. No way to reverse it, cursed to be that thing."

Sonic: "Where is Tails? And how do I change him back?"

Tails Doll: "Like I'd tell."

Tails Doll kicks Sonic off him before flying away, heading towards Emerald Hill Resort. Sonic gives chase, knowing for certain Tails Doll was just stalling just so Tails would stay transformed… Whether he was lying or not, Sonic didn't want to risk it. He knew he had to hurry and think of a way to save Tails…

To be continued…