Twenty five years ago, Sonic and his friends formed a team in the hopes of defeating Dr. Eggman and ending his tyranny. During most stories, this would lead to a near endless back and forth between the forces of good and the empire of evil. But in this tale, this evil was stopped before it could truly flourish, bringing an end to a story as its wheels only began to turn. Though this would lead to peace and prosperity for Sonic and his friends, what did this peace cost them in the end?

Twenty five years ago, just as Sonic's adventures in Meropis had concluded, Tails pilots the Tornado to head to Angel Island in order to discuss something with Knuckles. As the team leave, an urgent message catches Sonic's attention. It was Nicole!

Nicole: "This is Nicole of Team Freedom contacting Team Fighters, do you read!? Team Fighters, do you copy!?"

Tails: "We copy, Nicole! What's wrong? You sound panicked."

Nicole: "I am panicked! We just found some files detailing Eggman's latest plans! Sonic… The Kingdom of Snow is under attack!"

Sonic: "What!? Tails! We're taking a detour! Hit the gas, quick!"

Tails: "R-Right!"

Tails turns the plane around to fly it towards the Kingdom of Snow. However, upon arrival, they find themselves face to face with not only the evil doctor himself, but a formidable foe that tested their every ability to their limit. However, though the attack was real, it was a feint for Eggman's real plan… An attack on West Island, at its weakest moment. Despite Agatha and Beta's best efforts to save their home, it was unfortunately not enough to stand up to the might that the dictator had… Sonic rushed to their side, but even he, with Team Freedom assisting in the battle and evacuation, could not stand up to the terror that was the evil doctor's greatest mech.

A tired, battered, bruised, and barely conscious Sonic could seen in the midst of a fiery hellscape that was once West Island, bleeding out the mouth and various other places as the foot of Eggman's mightiest mech towered over the hedgehog. Nearby, Sonic's friends laid in defeat, Sally trying her hardest to stand as she watched Sonic's resistance.

Eggman: "How unfortunate, boy. To think I expected better from someone who dared to defy me. To defy my goals of a utopia befitting a noble leader such as myself. You could have been a fine addition to my army - a worthy general in my universal conquest. But you chose death instead."

Sonic: "Keep… talking… You can break me down… Break my body… But you'll never break my spirit… I'll keep fighting till my last breath…"

Sonic then spotted the Chaos Emeralds nearby, still in a box that Jenni had them in. A thought came to him; he could turn the tide of the battle using the gems. Destroy the mech and doctor inside… But then a fear stopped him. If he did use the Emeralds, there was a chance his power could explode again; his friends would die from and… No… He couldn't risk it. No matter what… He charged up a Spin Dash and flung himself forward as a mighty fist came down to try and kill him. He bounced off the foot of the mech and climbed it before landing a solid kick to the chin. But he bounced off, doing no damage to the robot; instead, eye beams fired from the mech, sweeping the general around Sonic, creating explosions that sent him flying back.

Sally: "S-Sonic!"

Jenni was nearby, using the remade Warp Ring technology she found buried beneath the island to evacuate the citizens to a safe place, saving two notable Pronghorns - one who had cybernetics replacing most of her face - from some Egg Pawns that tried to attack them. As they jump through the portal opened for them, Jenni hears Sally call out for Sonic, causing her to look back to the battle.

Jenni: "Sonic…?"

Sonic was seen coughing up blood as he was on his hands and knees, trying to force his body to move. But it was no use… He was at his limit. Eggman… had won…

Eggman: "Such a sad fate for you, rodent. For someone who destroyed my Death Egg, I knew it was all a fluke. In the end… You were… too slow."

Eggman charged up eye lasers to max, aiming directly at Sonic - namely, his heart. Sonic closed his eyes, coming to terms with his failure. He tried his best… but it wasn't enough…

Sonic's Thoughts: "Sally… Tails… Lam… Mom… Jen… I'm sorry… I… I gave it my all…"

As the robot fires its laser eyes, Sonic feels a sudden push. Then some liquid splashed onto his face. He opens his eyes, before they go wide. He sees… Jenni push him out of the way, her stomach exploding outwards as the beams go right through her from her back to her front. Sonic felt tears well up in his eyes as he saw Jen sacrifice her life, just for him. Sonic lands on his back before he scrambles and rushes to Jenni's side, hoping by some miracle she could be saved.

Sonic: "J-Jen…? P-Please be okay…"

Sonic's heart started to beat fast as he hoped for something. He called out for Tekno and Rosie. Maybe a helper bot. But nobody came… A soft voice then caught his attention. It was Jenni… in her dying breath…

Jenni: "S… Sonic…"

Sonic: "Jen! P-Please hang on! I can get you some help! W-We can save you!"

Jenni: "I… It's okay… I… don't feel anything… anymore… I doubt… I'll make it…"

Sonic: "Jen… Please… Don't say that… C-Come on… We just… We only just got back together… You, me, Mom… Even Sally… I… I wanted you to still be here… A little longer…"

Jenni let out a pained chuckle at that, coughing up blood in the process.

Jenni: "You know… That was a losing battle… My… My NIDS would've killed me eventually… But…"

She softly places a hand on Sonic's cheek, rubbing a bit of blood on him, but he didn't care. His breathing got heavier as his tears came flooding out.

Jenni: "The day I… saw you… As a child… I didn't… think much of you… Part of me thought… you were spoiled… A brat… But you… showed me just how… genuine of a hero… you were… That brat… became a hedgehog… I could be proud of… You…"

She starts coughing up more blood, her life fading from her eyes as she kept them on the one she considered her own child. A smile crept itself on her face.

Jenni: "My only regret… is I won't ever see you… as a fine… adult… A loving husband… A doting father… But… I have faith in you… I'll… always… have faith in… you… Spike…"

The calling of her nickname for Sonic brought him over the edge. Her hand fell limp as she closed her eyes. Her breathing ceased as Sonic started to cry. Loudly, his emotions got to him as everyone heard him. Sally watched on, slamming a fist on the ground as she let her own tar flow. She cursed herself for her lack of strength. Though Eggman, who had been relaxing in his seat as this scene played out like some soap opera he was watching on TV, simply scoffed at his sister's own sacrifice.

Eggman: "Hmph. What a truly foolish decision. She only prolonged your suffering, boy. What did she hope to obtain by saving you?"

Sonic's ears twitched as his crying ceased. There were a few hiccups before he stood up. The Chaos Emeralds then started to react to his emotions, starting to float over to him, as if he was calling them over.

Eggman: "Oh? No witty commentary? Just some last minute defiance? How truly pathetic. But fine. One more shot. Then… I'll kill you in spectacular fashion."

But Sonic didn't say anything. No witty comebacks. No insults. His mind was blank; he had watched one of his closest friends- no… One of his closest family members die saving his life. Jen traded her life for his… And her own brother had the gall to call her a fool. He nearly lost his kingdom… He lost one of the few people who truly understood him… His emotions got the better of him as he finally let out a roar - a primal roar. Energy suddenly exploded from Sonic as the Chaos Emeralds turned into a sickening black, losing their defining glow as negative energy fed into the hedgehog. His blue fur and tan skin turned a dark shade of black, his irises disappearing as his eyes glowed a sinister white. Sonic… was momentarily gone, being replaced… by a being who radiated negative energy. Eggman's sensors couldn't register what was going on with Sonic as he transformed.

Eggman: "Wh-What is that!? What sort of trick is- GAH!"

Within a split second, Eggman saw his mech's right arm just come clean off, dropping to the ground harmlessly. The doctor had no time to dodge… No, it's more he couldn't even register Sonic had moved. It was so fast! He looked around for the rodent before finding him floating behind him.

Eggman: "Grr… Fine! Enough of the theatrics! Time for maximum spread! I'll reduce you to dust - down to the last atom!"

Eggman charged up his eye lasers once more before firing them, going for an incredible spread that completely engulfed Sonic. The doctor smiled, thinking he destroyed him. But as the light show disappeared, he saw… Sonic still whole. The laser did absolutely nothing to him.

Eggman: "Wh-What!? There's no way! That laser was made using the Death Egg's own laser systems. Nothing on Mobius should survive that!"

Sonic still remained stoic, glaring at the robot. Then in a split second, the robot fell apart, its limbs sliced off as the doctor started screaming as the main body fell to the ground. The cockpit opens up as Eggman rolls out, landing on his front.

Eggman: "Urg… Cursed hedgehog…"

He then sees said cursed hedgehog beside him, walking up to him slowly. Eggman stumbles away, fearing for his life as he starts to sweat.

Eggman: "S-Stay back! I-If you don't do as I command, I-I'll have the Egg Carrier destroy this entire island with your fr-"

Eggman then hears an explosion from above. He slowly moves his head to see his Egg Carrier… was completely destroyed. Sonic didn't even seem to move from his casual - yet terrifying - walk towards the doctor. Eggman growled as he stood back up.

Eggman: "F-Fine! You win this battle. But I can just recreate my body! This victory will be meaningless! I can recreate myself as many times as necessary to destroy you!"

Sonic tilts his head at that. This seemed to catch his attention a bit. Then Eggman got a call… from Sage. He answered while keeping an eye on the hedgehog, as much good as that would do him.

Eggman: "Yes, Sage? Is my new body ready?"

Sage: "Sir. …I'm not sure how… But the production of your body has… ceased… I checked for any intrusion by that lynx, but… Nothing came of it."

Eggman's mind just froze. His shaky, but calm demeanor turned to genuine fear as he stared at the darkness covered hedgehog. There was no way this… thing… was fast enough to go to his base and utterly destroy production of his body. Sonic then finally spoke, a deep voice behind his normal one.

Sonic: "What's wrong, Eggman? Where's all your bravado? All that talk about having a new body ready? Did it just vanish in an instant?"

Eggman: "...H-How…? How did you… do it…?"

Sonic: "Easy. I just thought about it."

Eggman: "Th-Thought about it…? You… You're joking… right? Th-There is no way you got so strong you destroyed my work by just a thought!"

Sonic looked at Eggman before… the doctor's right arm suddenly snapped off, causing him to scream in pain. Fear overtook his mind, Eggman tried to run away. To hell with creating a utopia - he wanted to live! But then, both his legs were torn off, causing him to fall flat on his stomach as he, still in a panic, tried to crawl away now. But then, Sonic appeared in front of him.

Eggman: "P-Please! Spare me! I-I'll change! I-I'll make the world into a better place! I'll build theme parks for fun! For all the children of the world! I'll abandon my plans for a utopia! Please! MERCY!"

Sonic tilts his head.

Sonic: "Mercy…? Did you give mercy to the girl who was sick? Did you give mercy to the kingdom you invaded? Did you give mercy to the people you roboticized? …Did you give mercy to your own sister, who was already dying…?"

Eggman couldn't answer as Sonic got closer… and closer… Fear stricken, the doctor could only stare at the hedgehog as Sonic saw his reflection in the doctor's cracked specs.

Sonic: "No… Doctor Robotnik… There is no mercy for you. You… deserve the darkest pits of Hell for all that you've done. And you won't ever come back."

Sonic glares at Ivo before… Eggman shut down. His body fell limp as all signs of life had… ceased to be. By some… force of thought… Eggman had just been erased. Eggman's body was then blasted by Sonic, completely destroying him on the spot. Sally watched on from a distance, completely afraid of what Sonic did. She was too scared to even move or talk, as if this Sonic would just cut her down if she even so much as breathed. But Sonic simply walked over to the lifeless body of Jenni, and lifted her up in his arms. The negative energy vanishes from his body as his rejuvenated, blue furred form becomes visible again. He spoke without turning to Sally, his voice back to normal, though clearly pained.

Sonic: "Sally. Alert any available fighters. We storm Robotropolis as soon as we're ready…"

Sally was… still scared. But she nodded slowly, standing back up slowly before leaving. Sonic walked off towards the destroyed remains of Jenni's home, carrying her body to give her a proper burial. On that day… The war with Eggman… had concluded. Not with a bang. Not with cheers. But with sorrow and anger…

To be continued…