Last time on Sonic the Hedgehog, after dealing with the robotic invasion on the Emerald Hill Resort, Sonic and his uncles relaxed in Uncle Chuck's humble abode where he explains what he can about the invaders' possible leader and about the Chaos Emeralds. After this discussion, Sonic finds and helps out a young fox boy by the name of Miles after he was bullied by a trio of Mobians. Uncle Chuck then advises Sonic go to meet with an old acquaintance of his for further info on Ivo Robotnik at Hill Top Mansion. With this objective, Sonic heads off towards Chemical Plant, where the story resumes…

Sonic approaches Chemical Plant, looking at the tall factory and stopped for a moment to sniff the air. He had been around factories before from the human cities that his other mother Bernadetta took him on the occasion. If he could describe the air around those factories in one word, it would be sickening. He didn't hate the President of the United Nations or anything; he had the world's best interest at heart, but it was clear he didn't give too much consideration to nature. But the air around these factories was… oddly natural. Clean. There weren't any smoke stacks either from what he could tell. He then questioned what kind of chemicals were produced at such a factory. As he looked around, he hears a bush rustle, causing him to turn.

Sonic: "Yo! Who's there?"

Silence. Aside from the bird chirping, he was met with no reply. After a moment, he shrugs and continues on his way. After leaving, Miles pokes his head out of the brush that rustled, wiping some sweat as he sighed in relief.

Miles: "I… really should just be upfront about following him, but… What if he yells at me? Or that I'm annoying him? I… I have anxiety as is… I'd… rather just follow him…"

Miles then quickly darts off to catch up to Sonic, but sticks to just far enough away to not disturb him.

Sonic arrives to the front gates of Chemical Plant where he is stopped by a security robot, a round stubby fellow with no visible face but a pair of beady eyes. A star was on the chest of the robot to indicate he was security.

Security: "Tallyho, my dear fellow! How are you this fine day?"

Sonic: "Um… I'm doing okay. You… uh… don't have a tiny animal in you, do you?"

The security robot looks at Sonic with a confused expression before doing a self scan. He did in fact not have one.

Security: "No, I do not, sir. Why do you ask such a strange question?"

Sonic: "Um… Long story. I'm not used to just… talking to robots… who don't just attack me on sight…"

Security: "Ah, referring to the attack from earlier? Apologies for that; the invaders snuck by our greatest security and went to Emerald Hill Resort. We were about to assist when the red light in that area turned green again, meaning things were under repairs instead of attack. Jolly good that no casualties were taken!"

Sonic: "Y-Yeah… Anyway, I'd like to go past here to get to Hill Top."

Security: "Ah, very good. Just provide me with your pass card and I'll lend you the recommended path through."

Sonic pulls out his pass card Uncle Chuck gave him and shows it to the security robot. The robot scans it and nods.

Security: "Everything checks out, good sir. Any further questions before I let you pass?"

Sonic: "Well… Now that you offer, I do have one. What kind of chemicals does this factory make?"

Security: "An excellent question! Our creator and mistress owns this very factory and has made it so that it produces a fast acting formula for the various flora of this island. Trees, flowers, even cave minerals all grow from the chemicals of this location."

Sonic: "Huh. No kidding?"

Security: "Certainly not, sir. But do not ingest the chemicals; the last person who did that aged ten years. Had he ingested any more, we fear he would've turned into an old man… Or worse."

Sonic gulped, making a mental note not to confuse it with a fountain of water. He sees the gates open, allowing him entry. The security robot then points to a path to the left past the gates.

Security: "Right that way, sir, is the quickest route to Hill Top. You'll need to bypass some ruins once you leave the factory, but you'll end up at your destination in no time flat. Have a nice day, sir!"

The robot gives Sonic a salute, which Sonic only finds unnecessary. He shakes his head before dashing in, taking the recommended path the security robot pointed to. After Sonic entered the factory and the gates close, Miles comes up to the gates to greet the security robot.

Security: "Ah, young Miles. Is Charles looking for more materials for his projects today? A new shipment did come in today."

Likely referring to the recent attack, which did provide a lot of spare parts. But Miles shook his head as he looked at the robot.

Miles: "Not today, Mr. Security. I actually want to pass through. I'm heading to… uh… Hill Top."

Security: "Certainly, sir! Just provide a pass card and I'll open the gates."

Miles: "Oh right! Um…"

Miles looks around for his pass card until a realization hits him - he left his pass card on his dresser, thinking he wouldn't come through Chemical Plant today. The security robot looks at Miles expectedly but Miles only laughs nervously.

Miles: "I… forgot my pass…"

Security: "Ah. I see. I apologize, good sir. But no pass card, no entry. Sorry."

Miles: "I see… I'm sorry…"

Miles walks away and disappears from view, but shortly after returns back, hiding from the security robot in a tree.

Miles: "Hmm… How am I going to catch up to Sonic now…? Think Miles… Think…"

As he starts to think of a bunch of ridiculous ideas, ranging from disguising as an employee to using ninja tactics, he looked to his tails, which he spun around like a propeller for a bit. An idea began to form in his head before his tails spun faster, lifting him out of the tree. With a silent cheer, he flew over the security robot, who scanned the area, not detecting Miles just fly right over him and land inside the factory. With a sigh, Tails quickly ran down a random path, hoping to catch up to Sonic, unaware that the path he took was the incorrect one.

Sonic ran through the factory, seeing the various robotic workers doing their business nonchalantly. None of them stopped him, actually greeted him like he was some friendly neighbor. Part of him was a bit freaked out over this, but he kept his cool.

Sonic: "Boy, if the robots back on South Island were half as nice as these guys, I'd feel bad smashing them. Though it is kind of weird seeing robots be so… emotive. Simulated or otherwise."

Sonic then sees a pipe entrance and jumps in, rolling into a ball as the pipe carries him to another section of the factory. Not far from his location, Miles was flying over pools of chemicals, trying not to fall in, but almost gets hit by bubbles being juggled from one set of pipes to another. He dodges this thankfully, but only barely.

Miles: "I need to be careful. This is no place for a kid…"

Sonic continues to run around the factory, bouncing from one area to another with Miles getting lost trying to find the blue blur. Sonic eventually finds himself at the final bridge leading out of the factory, which makes him smile as he sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sonic: "Nice! Just one solid dash across and I'm out of here!"

As he lifts a foot to get ready to go, the floor collapses underneath him, causing him to fall.

Sonic: "Woah! What happened!?"

Sonic tries to grab anything he could as he saw the chemicals below get really close. As he braced himself for impact, he suddenly feels something grab his hands, catching him before he reached the drink. He opened his eyes and found the fox kid from before flying him across the bridge and to solid land, though he saw the kid looked really tired.

Miles: "I… I got you… Mr. Sonic!"

Sonic: "It's you. Miles!"

Once the two landed, Miles collapsed, his tails drooping behind him as he let out very deep gasps, sweat pouring from his head. Sonic looked at him with a bit of concern.

Sonic: "Geez. Maybe I should cut down on the chili dogs if I weigh that much."

Miles: "No, no… I've been… flying for a while…"

Miles took a moment to control his breathing before realizing… He was right in front of the guy he was following the whole time. His panic button was effectively pushed as he breaks out into apologies.

Miles: "AH! I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO FOLLOW YOU! P-PLEASE DON'T YELL AT ME! I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I-I'LL LEAVE IF YOU DON'T WANT ME!"

Sonic looked at Miles with a look of… mixed emotions. None of them any form of anger. Once he could gather his thoughts, the first words out of his mouth completely put Miles on pause.

Sonic: "You could fly? Man! THAT'S WAY PAST COOL!"

Miles: "...Eh?"

Sonic: "Yeah, no joke! You're seriously amazing! The way you use those tails of yours to fly is really creative too! I'm not gonna lie, I'm really jealous, Tails!"

Miles just blinked as he stared at Sonic. His mind just blanked at the statements before they finally caught up again. Nobody ever commented so positively about his tails before. It felt… really good.

Miles: "U-Um… Th-Thank you… Mr. Sonic. Um… What did you call me though?"

Sonic: "Huh? Oh. I guess I let it slip, since I thought you using your tails the way you did was really cool. I figured I'd call you 'Tails', you know, as a sign of respect."

Miles began to think about the name before smiling. He liked it - no, he loved it. And it coming from Uncle Chuck's nephew made it extra special to Miles - now Tails.

Tails: "I… I like it! Thank you, Mr. Sonic."

Sonic: "Whoah. Hold it, buckaroo. I do need to address some things first…"

This made Tails shiver; this was where he gets yelled at he thought. But once again, Sonic surprises him.

Sonic: "First, if you wanted to join me, all you had to do is ask. I've got no problems letting you tag along!"

Sonic ruffled Tails' hair, showing some reassurance at that statement.

Sonic: "Second, just call me Sonic. No 'Mister'... Makes me feel old, and I know I'm not that old yet."

Tails: "O-Okay, Mis- I mean, Sonic. I'm sorry for stalking you… I just…"

Sonic: "Hey, I'm not mad. Just be upfront about it from now on, okay?"

Tails: "Alright."

Tails smiles at Sonic as the latter winks and points his thumb to the path ahead of them.

Sonic: "So how about we make like a couple of wheels and roll on out of here?"

Tails: "Yeah! Let's go!"

Sonic laughs at this answer before dashing ahead, seeing Tails keep up with him as they leave the factory behind them. But as they left, a camera watches them from the 'Now Leaving' sign, someone keeping a close eye on them as they make their way towards the ruins…

To be continued…