Chapter 45: It Takes a Village to Defeat a Hedgehog:

Dave's POV:

Me and the rest of the Lightning Bolt Society have gotten Dr. Robotnik's invitation, so we arrived at his lair.

"What do you think this is about," I asked.

"We'll know when we get there," says Willy.

"Ah, a few more late arrivals," says Dr. Robotnik, "the Lightning Bolt Society, meet T.W. Barker, ringmaster, businessman, and master of cons! Charlie, proud owner of an ancient mech suit! And I believe you know the rest of the riffraff." Some ordinary crooks. "Let's begin, shall we? It's come to my attention that despite my power, it's still not enough! I am offering to share it if you agree to my evil alliance! All of us working together for the common evil! Imagine the possibilities of such a venture!" No one seemed thrilled. "I detect little enthusiasm for my idea."

"There's just one little problem," says Charlie.

"Awe yes, Sonic and the Freedom Fighters," says Dr. Robotnik, "they have you all running scared, don't they?"

"I'm not scared," I said, "it's just that they've always beaten us! It's depressing."

"That's why I called Dr. Sorders," says Dr. Robotnik. A female stork enters.

"I'm a psychiatrist," says Dr. Sorders, "you're all harboring what I call Sonic-aphobia! Fear of a certain blue hedgehog. My latest book, available in fine bookstores everywhere, deals with just such a phenomenon. What I like you all to do is to share your experiences with the Freedom Fighters to speak through the pain in order to break through the shackles of beliefs." No one understood.

"She wants you to talk about your run-ins with the Freedom Fighters," says Dr. Robotnik.

"Oh, now I get it," I said.

Everyone mumbled.

"Now, who'd like to go first," asks Dr. Sorders, "how'bout you?" She was pointing to me.

"Me," I asked, "well... alright..."

Dave's POV - Flashback:

We stole pets from three members of the Freedom Fighters, hoping Dr. Robotnik could make them into robots and reward us with a part of the empire.

"Once we present Dr. Robotnik with these creatures," says Willy, "he might make us a part of his empire!"

"Yeah, we might even each get our own army," I said.

. . .

There were these three strange members.

"Sure, is fun being bad!"

"I'm mean!"

"I'm not Big the Cat in disguise!"

I then found them out. "Wait a minute," I said, "these are fakes!"

Everyone gasps. I then removed our cloaks. "But how did you know," asks Amy.

"The cat could've had us fooled," I said, "but I know for a fact that there are no girls in the Lightning Bolt Society!"

"What," says Amy, "how can you guys be so sexist?"

"Oh no, girls are invited to join," says Willy, "it's just that none of them would want anything to do with us."

"Oh... I am so sorry," says Amy, "but we want our pets back!"

We fought the three, but Big was beating us all down! "But... you're the nice one," says Weasel Bandit.

"Yeah, but I'm also really strong and powerful," says Big, "and you took my frog and are attempting to hurt my friends, so, you do the math. Math hurts my head."

T.W. Barker's POV - Present:

"And then they pushed our hideout off of Angel Island," says Dave. He then started crying.

"There, doesn't that make you feel better," asks Dr. Sorders.

"Yeah... it does," says Dave.

"Now, who would like to go next," asks Dr. Sorders.

"Allow me," I said, "I have a story for you!"

T.W. Barker's POV - Flashback:

I have stolen a pearl from this swan named Odette. I believe it was her family heirloom or something. I didn't care. Anyway, my security caught Team Chaotix snooping around.

"I'm guessing you three are with the Freedom Fighters," I said.

"How did you catch Espio," asks Vector.

"I'm a dog," I said, "I have a good sense of smell!"

"What are you going to do with us," asks Charmy.

"This is really more of a side business," I said, "my real business is T.W. Barker's Circus of Wonders!"

"You run a circus," asks Vector, "well, that explains the goofy hat."

"Here's my offer," I said, "I won't give you to Dr. Robotnik, if you boys agree to work in my circus! I think Ninja Boy would especially make a good addition!"

"We aint' circus people," says Vector, "Espio, now!"

Espio then lets out his tongue and his Barker's face with it. "Gross," I said.

They then grabbed the pearl, and they ran!

. . .

My goons chased after them, but Team Chaotix ran out the window and got away!

Charlie's POV - Present:

We all looked at him. "What," asks Barker.

"So, you're upset because they got away with a pearl," asks Weasel Bandit.

"It's the principal of the thing," says Barker.

Then there was a party crasher.

"Calm yourselves, it's just a late arrival," says Dr. Robotnik, "the leader of the Froglodytes!"

"Sorry I'm late," says the Froglodyte Leader, "it's hard to find the place when you're trapped underground!"

"Dr. Sorders, I'd like to tell my story," I said.

"Of course, Charlie," says Dr. Sorders.

Charlie's POV - Flashback:

I was rampaging on Angel Island in my new mech suit!

"It's gotta be one of Robotnik's," says Sonic.

"Robotnik has nothing on me! Behold the wrath of Charlie!"

"You again," asks Knuckles, "where did you get that thing?"

"Centuries ago, our ancestors were way ahead of their time," I said, "they created machines beyond our modern understanding!"

"Wait, was Robotnik old school this whole time," asks Sonic.

"Who knew," asks Tails.

"This Ancient Mech Suit should be powerful enough to defeat you, Echidna," I said, "and then the Master Emerald will be mine!"

"Let's do it to it," says Sonic.

Team Sonic tried to fight me, but my mech suit was too much for them!

"The Ancients were good," says Tails.

"How do we beat this thing," asks Knuckles.

"By working together," says Sonic, "let's go Team Sonic!"

"Stop calling us that," says Knuckles.

As I was firing my lasers, Tails figured out a way to beat that. He used a mirror to deflect the beam back at me! Knuckles then broke the hamstrings. "No fair," I said.

Knuckles then grabbed me. "This is your final warning," says Knuckles. He then threw me off the island.

Froglodyte Leader's POV - Present:

"Really, I was the victim... up to that point," says Charlie, "before then, Knuckles kept threatening me!"

"If he didn't, would you have continued to try to take the Master Emerald," asks Dr. Sorders.

"Well... I was an archaeologist," says Charlie.

"Now, it is my turn," I said.

Froglodyte Leader's POV - Flashback:

That pink hedgehog took down the surfboard, which was the only thing keeping us trapped!

"My bad," says Amy.

"We ahre being eenvahded by zese deesgusteeng toad mahnsters," says Antoine.

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"'n they're real mature too," says Bunnie.

"Sonic, did someone move Stix's surfboard," asks Sally.

"Wait, you knew about that," asks Amy.

"Yeah, she told everyone," says Sally.

"What was I doing," asks Amy.

"Worry about that later," says Sonic, "we gotta take these guys down!"

"That's what you think," I said, "Og, prove yourself!"

"He's home, sick," says another froglodyte.

"Right, I forgot," I said, "just destroy them!"

We then fought the Freedom Fighters. Then the big rock you call the Master Emerald started to glow and it scared us, so we went back underground!

Dr. Robotnik's POV - Present:

"And then the Freedom Fighters locked the door again," says the Froglodyte Leader, "true, we did manage to escape, thanks to Dr. Robotnik destroying Knothole, thanks by the way."

"My pleasure," I said.

"Dr. Robotnik, why don't you tell us your story," Dr. Sorders suggested.

"Actually, I could tell you all about how I first lost to that hedgehog," I said.

Dr. Robotnik's POV - Flashback:

I was about to turn the Freedom Fighters into robots. "I think you'll be the first, Princess," I said.

"Hey, Ro-Butt-Nik," says Sonic.

"Who are... Sonic? My, you've grown!"

"I'm here to stop you," says Sonic.

"Really? Your uncle tried to stop me, but then I turned him to a robot. Your parents tried to stop me before, but I killed them! What hope do you have?"

"You killed my parents too," Sonic asks, "that's it!"

He then ran and I couldn't believe how fast he was. "What," I asked.

"That was our reaction when we saw him run all those years ago," says Sally.

"Grab him," I said.

My robots tried to grab Sonic, but he ran through them! Sonic then saved Sally and they had a moment.

"Very impressive," I said when I got out my armor. "But now you're going to have to dance with me!"

"Then let's dance," says Sonic.

It seems we were evenly matched, but that's when Sonic did his spin dash moved and destroyed my armor!

Dr. Robotnik's POV - Present:

"That was when I wanted the power he generated," I said, "but then I decided to turn my intentions towards the Master Emerald!" I then had a phone call and I answered. "Hello?"

"This is Dr. Sorders. I'm sorry but looks like I'm going to be running late!"

I then hung up and looked at Dr. Sorders. "We have to talk," I said.

"I guess I've been found out," says Dr. Sorders. She then removed her mask, and it was Sonic in disguise. "I just wanted to reminisce all the times we kicked your butts!"

"A pity you are surrounded," I said.

"Am I," asks Sonic.

The Freedom Fighters came. "Destroy them all," I said.

The Lightning Bolt Society came after Team Rose, but Team Rose defeated them. Barker and his stunt bears came after Team Chaotix, but Chaotix defeated them. The Froglodyte Leader came after Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine, but Sally and Bunnie defeated him while Antoine was hiding behind them. Charlie came after Team Sonic, but Team Sonic caused him to trip, and he landed on me.

"Later, Robuttnick," says Sonic.

They all left. "I hate that hedgehog," I said, "will you get off me?"

Yeah, I used the plot of The Mask episode "Convention of Evil". In the next chapter, Dulcy is summoned to a dragon mating ground as Robotnik seeks to Roboticized the remainder of her species.