Chapter 47: The Void:

Sonic's POV:

I'm in the Great Unknown at night. "Man! Something about this sure looks...whoa," I said as I was getting sucked into this portal thing. "Outta here!" I then ran. "Nice try Ro-butt-nik, but you lose!" I then found something on the ground. "Whoa. Seriously weird." I then picked it up. "Eh. Maybe Sal can figure it out. Pedal to the metal time!"

Stranger's POV:

"Such superb speed..." I then took a look at the other one. "...and such a fine mind. Interesting."

Sonic's POV:

I found Sally and Bunnie. "Hey, guys," I said.

"Heya, Sugar-Hog," says Bunnie.

"Hi, Sonic," says Sally.

"Sally, I was kickin' across the Great Unknown and this mondo crack opens up in the ground; tries to suck me in. I found this," I said.

"Oh my gosh. Sonic, your timing is amazing. This ring is from the Mandaras," says Sally.

"Say what," I asked.

"The Mandaras. A legendary race of giants I've been researching. This is the first proof that they actually exist," says Sally. She then kisses me on the cheek. "Thank you, Sonic!"

"Aw, no prob, Sal," I said.

Then Dove came with another message from Uncle Chuck. Bunnie reads. "It says Robotnik's plannin' somethin' big 'n he wants we'uns to send ya, Sonic," says Bunnie.

"Out of here!" I then ran off.

. . .

"So, what's up, Unc," I asked.

"Sonic, you remember how Charlie has his Ancient Mech Suit," asks Uncle Chuck.

"Who could forget," I asked.

"And I learned about an Ancient Mech Suit you found," says Uncle Chuck, "that could be useful..."

"Yeah... we all agreed to only use it for emergencies," I said, "don't ask."

"Anyway, Robotnik's become intrigued," says Uncle Chuck, "he figures that if two mech suits have been found..."

"He wants one of his own," I said.

"When Robotnik assembled some of your other enemies, he was secretly studying Charlie's mech suit," says Uncle Chuck, "while Charlie was telling his story."

"Great, my trick gave Robuttnik an excuse to work on another secret plan," I said.

"I'll see if I can learn more, but I have to get back to my job before I'm missed," says Uncle Chuck. He then checks. "It's clear. Be careful, Sonic."

"You too, Unc," I then high fived my uncle, "out of here!" I then ran.

Dr. Robotnik's POV:

"Satellite photos show Void activity in the Great Unknown, Sir," says Snively.

"The Void?! Impossible," I said.

"Right there, Sir," says Snively.

"It can't be! Naugus..."

Dr. Robotnik's POV - Flashback:

"Recall me from the Void in one hour, Robotnik. And should you have any thoughts of betrayal..." Naugus magically gives me a crow's head as Snively laughs.

"Very, very good, Naugus," says Snively.

"Trust me, Naugus; I carry no such thoughts," I said.

"I should hope not," says Naugus. He then turns my head back. "Have I made my point... Doctor?"

"A safe journey, Naugus. Activating Void," I said. The door opens and Naugus is sucked into the Void. "Snively, disable all retrieval programs."

"But-but Sir, didn't you just...?"

"Now!"

"Yes, Sir."

"Rule number one, Naugus, never trust anyone. Heh. Especially me," I said.

Dr. Robotnik's POV - Present:

"Sir, if Naugus escapes he's going to be very angry," says Snively.

"He can open the Void, but he can't get out," I said.

"But Sir, if he learned how to open the Void, perhaps he..."

"You're right! Alert Air Command. We'll... we'll keep a close eye on the Void," I said.

Sonic's POV:

I'm searching Angel Island, and everyone seems to be missing. I then checked Sally's hut. "Where is everybody," I asked. I then found NICOLE. "NICOLE? What are you doing here?" I then picked her up. "Sal never goes anywhere without you."

Sally's POV:

That ring turned out to be a trap and now me and Bunnie are in the Void!

Sonic's POV:

"Where is she, NICOLE," I asked.

"Insufficient information, Sonic," says NICOLE.

"Say what," I asked.

"Name required for cognitive answer," says NICOLE.

"Sally. Where's Sally," I asked.

"Sally is no longer present," says NICOLE.

"I can see that. Where'd she go," I asked.

"Sally did not input destination," says NICOLE.

"What happened before she left," I asked while shaking NICOLE.

"Warning. Improper manipulation of this unit may cause extensive circuitry damage," says NICOLE.

"Talk in English," I said.

"Sonic! Do not shake me! I can display what happened before Sally departed," says NICOLE.

"Okay, cool. So, display," I said.

NICOLE then shows me a playback. "...then 'nalia' and 'bronsha'," says Sally.

"What happened? What's all that red stuff," I asked.

"The radiated energies were similar to those associated..."

"You're doing it again," I said.

"It's probably from... the Void," says NICOLE.

"That's probably where I found that stupid ring," I said, "I'm kicking!"

"Let us get loose and juice. Let us pack it..."

"I get the picture, NICOLE," I said.

Sally's POV:

"Who th' hoo-hah are ya," asks Bunnie.

"And where are we," I asked.

"I will ask the questions. Where is the hedgehog?"

"The hedgehog," I asked.

"Tell me about the hedgehog."

Then... I suddenly... "Sonic. Leader of the Knothole Freedom Fighters."

"Technically, we live own Angel Island now, Knothole was destroyed," says Bunnie.

"I know that. How did he escape my spell?"

"He went to Robotropolis," I said. We were then released by whatever that was. "Wait. Who are you?"

"I am Naugus, a sorcerer. This place is... Sanctuary. You know it as the Void. I discovered its existence. The lowlife you know as... Robotnik designed the means to enter. Though there is much I do not understand about this place, within Sanctuary my magic can do anything... except enable me to escape! For that, I need the hedgehog's speed. He will be here soon." He then started freezing us in crystal. "After all, he must rescue... his Princess."

Sonic's POV:

NICOLE and I are in the Great Unknown. "This is the place. Where'd it go," I asked. I then got out NICOLE. "NICOLE, find the Void."

"Ambient energy radiating from target source south-southwest," says NICOLE.

"You want another shaking," I asked.

"Hang a left," says NICOLE.

"Cool," I said.

"Hedgehog, priority one. Hedgehog, priority one."

Dr. Robotnik's POV:

"Sir, we're inside the search grid," says Snively.

"Then release the Surveillance Orbs," I said.

Sonic's POV:

"Whoa! Not cool. What's up, NICOLE," I asked.

"Receiving multiple radiant forces," says NICOLE.

"In English," I said.

"Correction, I'm getting signals from all over and they're... messing... me... up," says NICOLE.

"Now that's English. Now, where's this stuff coming from," I asked.

"The 'stuff' is from portable sensors, like the kind Robotnik uses," says NICOLE.

Dr. Robotnik's POV:

"What is the hedgehog doing so far from home?" I then had a thought. Could he be working with... "All units, pursue the hedgehog!"

Sonic's POV:

"Hover Units detected, Sonic," says NICOLE.

I then saw them. "Any ideas," I asked.

"Perhaps a spin dash," says NICOLE.

"Starting to like you, NICOLE! Spin and win time!"

Dr. Robotnik's POV:

Sonic was destroying my bots, but then I had an idea... "We'll drive him into the Void. Snively! Prepare to close it," I said.

Sonic's POV:

I was then getting sucked into the void.

. . .

Now I'm in the Void. "Way cool," I said. I then saw this creepy guy.

"Welcome, Sonic Hedgehog," says the guy, who then laughs.

I saw Sally and Bunnie were in a crystal. "Did you do this, pal," I asked.

"I assure you, they're fine." He then releases them.

"You guys alright," I asked.

"I require your services, Sonic Hedgehog. I wish to leave here."

"Be my guest, pal. That portal is shut down," I said.

"Many years I struggled to uncover the secret of opening that portal. Now even Robotnik's devices can't stop me."

"Sonic, he needs your speed; it's our only way out of the Void," says Sally.

I then grabbed the girls, and I ran out with them.

"AAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhh, such superb speed."

. . .

Now we're in this weird crystally place. "It's beautiful," says Sally.

"A-yep. This is where Aah want mah wed-din," says Bunnie.

"Am I seeing things, or does this look like my father's castle," asks Sally.

"Let's check it out," I said.

. . .

Now we're in this crystal castle and you won't believe who we saw!

"Oh my gosh. Daddy," says Sally. It was the king, in bed, "are you alright?"

"Sally. I need your help," says the King.

"Yes, of course. What," asks Sally.

"Is Sonic here," asks the King.

"Yes, your Majesty," I asked.

"Please. Take me from this place. I can fix everything. I'll explain outside the Void," says the King.

"No prob, your Highness. But how do we get past Naugus," I asked.

"His magic created all this. It's just illusion; we can leave from anywhere. Use your speed," says the King.

We were all shocked from that. "I could, there's just one problem," I said, "I had to keep my speed a secret before Robotnik took over Mobius! There's no way the King couldn't known!"

"Very clever!" Naugus then revealed himself. "I suppose there were some things I should've looked into!"

Then the real King came and knocked Naugus down.

"Daddy," asks Sally.

"It's really me," says the King.

"Then let's go," I said, "wait, do you know any tricks I might have..."

"I did overhear your talk," says the King, "how fast do you go?"

. . .

The King had the biggest ride of his life as we were heading out of the Void, but Naugus was following us.

. . .

We got out. "Daddy, who is Naugus," asks Sally.

"He used to be the royal wizard," says the King, "but then he tried to take over, so I banished him! When Robotnik took over the kingdom, he and Naugus banished me to the void... but then Robotnik decided to betray Naugus!"

"And I will now get my revenge," says Naugus as he appeared, "bye!" Naugus then left.

"Well, at least he'll git rid of robotnik fo-wah we'uns," says Bunnie.

Dr. Robotnik's POV:

Naugus then came to my fortress. "It's payback time," says Naugus.

"It was an accident, Naugus. I didn't betray you. I swear it," I said.

"MMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm...I'm not sure it's the right look for you, Doctor," says Naugus. Now I have the head of a slug. "Nah... color doesn't match your eyes." Now I have the head of a gorilla, then a cow, and then a pig.

Then Naugus' feet started to turn to crystal. "NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO!"

I took this opportunity to leave. Very interesting.

Sonic's POV:

The King's feet started turning to crystal. Naugus enters. "Naugus! What's happening," asks the King.

"We've been too long in the Void. We cannot exist in this world. I misunderstood the Void's properties. It's drawing our life-force. The only place I can control it is there. We must go back, or we'll die," says Naugus.

"Daddy... just when..." Sally begins.

"SSSSSSSSShhhhhhhhh, child. Reach into my pocket. It lists all the Freedom Fighter groups. Find them," says the King.

"Somehow, we'll get you out, Daddy. I love you," says Sally.

"Good luck, your Majesty," I said.

"Take care of her, Sonic," says the King.

"I will return, Robotnik. I will be avenged," says Naugus as they were both returning to the Void.

"Goodbye, Sally," says the King.

. . .

"It's gonna be okay, Sal," I said.

"Sonic, I hardly got to see him," says Sally.

"Yeah, but you did see him. Naugus will think of a way out of there. Plus, we got the Freedom Fighters list," I said.

"I don't say this often Sonic, but you're right," says Sally.

"Hey, I'm always right," I said.

"Not always," says Sally.

"Ask NICOLE," I said.

"He's cool, Sal; way past," says NICOLE.

"Sonic, what have you done to her," asks Sally.

"Come on, Sal," I said.

"Yeah. Get a grip, Sal," says NICOLE.

"NICOLE," says Sally.

In the next chapter, Charlie's wife decides to make her move.