Completely unaware Clara's been captured, Sonic and Tails reach the highest peak in Hill Top, Sonic winning the race by just a few seconds.
"Darn it!" Tails exclaims as he screeches to a halt beside his best friend. "Thought I had you that time!"
"Me too, bud," Sonic replies, gazing at the impressive and beautiful view of the entire Zone. "I keep forgetting just how pretty this place is, especially with no badniks fouling up the air."
"Yeah," Tails sighs contentedly, joining Sonic in admiring the beauty before him. "Clara and her friends did a fine job clearing up after us."
"They did indeed," Sonic agrees.
For the next few minutes, the two friends simply stand in silence, drinking in the vista all around. However, eventually an issue gnawing at Tails' consciousness becomes too intrusive to ignore. "Sonic, does this place seem a little… quiet?"
"Now you mention it, I've noticed a lack of critters running and flying around," Sonic replies. "I noticed it in Emerald Hill too."
"Last time that happened, Eggman was looking for the grey Chaos Emerald," Tails recalls.
"And we beat him to it," Sonic adds, smiling at the memory.
"You don't think he's up to his old tricks again, do you?"
"Nah: he never uses the same plan twice."
"Then where did all the Mobini go?"
Sonic thinks a moment. "Where did Clara say she was going again?"
"The Hidden Palace under Mystic Cave. You want to ask her about the missing Mobini?"
"She said she patrols these Zones, so she's more likely than most to know if anything's going on."
"Then let's go."
With synchronised Spin Dashes, Sonic and Tails speed off towards Mystic Cave Zone.
A few minutes later, Carrotia and Bearenger arrive where Wendy is waiting for them.
"Here she is boss," Bearenger greets, dumping Clara on the ground.
"Very good, my dearies," Wendy replies. "You may return to your positions."
"Aye‑aye, boss," Carrotia acknowledges before she and Bearenger depart.
Once her minions have left, Wendy turns her attention to Clara. "If you're here to stop me, it's too late: I've already completed what I came here to do," she informs.
"That's great, but I haven't got a clue who you are or what you're up to," Clara replies as she struggles and eventually gets on her knees.
Wendy blinks in surprise. "You're not one of those pesky Freedom Fighters, then?"
"No, I just clean up the messes they leave behind," Clara confirms. "On Westside Island, anyway," she adds, anticipating a follow‑up question. "Except for Metropolis; not interested in getting captured."
"Yet you were captured anyway."
"Yeah… Honestly didn't see that one coming."
"Indeed. Why are you down here?"
"It's today's patrol route."
"Oh. In that case, introductions are in order. I'm Egg Boss Wendy Naugus."
"Clara Fitch."
"Curious what I'm doing?" Wendy asks.
"Well, I'm not going anywhere fast," Clara quips. "Unless you untie me, that is."
"And have you running off to tell those accursed Freedom Fighters what I'm doing? No chance," Wendy replies. "Last thing I need is for them to try and stop me helping my dear Eggy take over the world."
"Doesn't matter; they'll stop you anyway," Clara states.
"They can try," Wendy replies. "Still, no harm in tipping the odds in our favour," she adds, pointing her claw at Clara and unleashing a burst of crystal magic that completely encases her, leaving just her eyes and nose free.
Clara tries to demand Wendy free her, but the words are rendered almost mute and complete unintelligible, the crystal casing muffling her voice and locking her jaw shut.
"If only all my enemies could be defeated so easily," Wendy sighs to herself before climbing into her Eggmobile and flying away.
Clara tries to move and break the crystal trapping her, but it's too strong and holding her in place too well. No‑one comes down here but me… I'm going to die here, and no‑one will know… I definitely should have asked Sonic and Tails to come with me.
A few minutes later, Sonic and Tails arrive at the entrance to Mystic Cave Zone and find Jenna parked outside. However, just as they're about to enter the cave, an Eggmobile and three Extreme Gear fly out of the cave at high speed, their riders seemingly not noticing the duo.
Tails recognises them immediately. "What are the Witchcarters doing here?"
"Fetch the Tornado and tell Nicole what's going on," Sonic instructs. "I'm going to find Clara."
"I'll meet you back here," Tails replies before Spin Dashing towards Emerald Hill Zone, Sonic charging a Peel Out and speeding into Mystic Cave Zone an instant later.
Five minutes later, as panic is starting to set in, Clara sees a blue blur slide to a halt right in front of her. Sonic!
"Stay calm Clara, I'll free you," Sonic assures. "Apologies in advance if I hurt you."
Clara wants to ask what Sonic means, but even if she could speak, she has no time to ask before Sonic leaps into the air and Homing Attacks the crystal trapping her, shattering it with a single impact.
"Thank Gaia!" Clara gasps in relief, relaxing now she knows she'll be fine.
"You mean 'thank me'," Sonic quips cheekily as he unties Clara. "Are you hurt?"
"A little bruised, that's all," Clara replies, taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves now she's able to once again. "Thanks for coming; I would've… y'know."
"Always happy to help those in need," Sonic replies, helping Clara to her feet. "We saw Wendy and her Witchcarters leaving Mystic Cave. Any idea what they were doing down here?"
"All I know is Wendy did something that would help Eggman conquer the world," Clara answers.
"What did she do?"
"She didn't tell me."
"Hm… Better report in anyway." Sonic activates his wrist communicator. "Yo Nicole, you in?"
"I'm here, if that's what you mean," Nicole answers with a friendly smile, her voice and image of her brown fur with black hair and markings a little distorted thanks to interference from the crystals all around. "Tails just told me you saw the Witchcarters."
"Wendy was down here but we don't know what she was doing or why," Sonic informs. "They also captured a local, Clara Fitch, and trapped her in crystal."
"Wendy thought I was one of your group," Clara adds, Sonic angling his communicator to include Clara in the camera's view. "Thankfully, they didn't hurt me."
"That's good to hear," Nicole replies, bowing her head a little in respectful greeting. "May I ask why you were in Hidden Palace?"
"Patrolling for badniks, as I've done every day after Sonic and Tails left a mess behind after they chased Eggman away when he was looking for the grey Chaos Emerald," Clara explains.
"That's not something that should be done alone," Nicole advises. "Nevertheless, I commend you on behalf of the Kingdom of Acorn for your services."
"You commend who on what now?" a new voice asks Nicole.
"Hey Sal," Nicole replies. "Good timing: Sonic was just updating me on the Witchcarters and rescuing Clara Fitch, a polecat who regularly patrols Westside Island to ensure it's free from badniks."
The face of Princess Sally Acorn appears alongside Nicole. "A commendation is indeed in order," she greets with a friendly smile. "I hope you stay out of Metropolis Zone though."
"Of course, Your Royal Highness," Clara assures, bowing deeply with respect.
"Please, just call me Sally," the red‑headed tan chipmunk requests kindly. "Really not keen on all that protocol nonsense."
"Oh… Noted," Clara nods in acknowledgement, a little surprised a princess would prefer casual informality.
"Returning to the Witchcarters, what were they looking for?" Nicole asks.
"They didn't say," Clara answers.
"Sonic, you and Tails follow the Witchcarters and try to find out what Eggman's latest plan is," Sally orders.
"We'll set off as soon as Tails returns with the Tornado," Sonic acknowledges.
"Good luck and keep us updated," Sally replies.
"Will do." Sonic ends the communication. "How fast are you?"
"Above average, but nothing special," Clara answers.
"In that case, wanna go for a ride?"
Before Clara can answer, Sonic scoops her up in his arms, charges a Peel Out, and speeds off towards the exit.
Tails lands outside the entrance to Mystic Cave just as Sonic emerges with Clara, the latter wide‑eyed after her high‑speed trip through the Zone.
"Hey bud, just in time!" Sonic greets as Tails coasts to a halt in front of him and Clara. "We gotta follow the Witchcarters."
"Thought as much," Tails replies. "Is Clara OK? She looks a little scared."
Hearing her name snaps Clara back to attention. "Huh? Oh, uh, I'm just not used to going through caves that fast… Kept thinking we were gonna hit something."
"Sorry for scaring you," Sonic apologises as he returns Clara to her feet.
"Don't worry about it," Clara assures. "Just give me a warning next time, OK?"
"Will do," Sonic agrees. "Oh, almost forgot to ask: have you noticed the lack of Mobini in these parts?"
Clara is about to say she hasn't but stops herself when she realises something. "Now you mention it, I didn't hear the usual birdsong from the Flickies this morning."
"They were around yesterday though?"
"Loads of them, yeah. Do you think Eggman's captured them again?"
"If so, it'd be the first time he's returned to an old plan," Tails comments. "I think it's just a cover for something worse."
"I get the feeling whatever Wendy was up to has something to do with it," Sonic concludes. "We'd better get moving. Stay safe, Clara."
"I'll try my best," Clara replies. "Good luck against Eggman."
"Who needs luck when you have me?" Sonic smirks, then leaps onto the Tornado's top wing. "Let's do it to it!"
Clara watches the Tornado take off, then returns to Jenna, stows her backpack, climbs aboard, lowers her aviation visor, and manoeuvres into position. However, as she's about to take off, a thought occurs to her. Judging by what happened before, they'll free the Mobini, defeat Eggman, then fly off to their next adventure, leaving the Mobini to find their own way home. Clara sighs to herself. I'm going to regret this, but someone needs to help the Mobini get back home, and it looks like it'll have to be me.
Clara takes off and follows the Tornado, hoping she's made the right decision.
Their headstart allows Wendy and the Witchcarters to arrive at South Island first, landing at the edge of Scrap Brain Zone where Dr Eggman is waiting for them with his robot lackeys Orbot and Cubot.
"About time," Eggman greets as Wendy lands in front of him.
"The process took a little longer than I anticipated," Wendy informs. "The way to the Lost Hex is now open."
"Excellent," Eggman smiles menacingly… then spots something in the distance. "Did anyone follow you?"
"An amethyst polecat found us, but she's trapped in crystal deep in the Hidden Palace," Wendy assures. "There's no way she's freeing herself, and by the time anyone finds her, she won't be in any condition to talk."
"If no‑one followed you and the polecat has been left to die, why can I see the Tornado coming this way?" Eggman asks, looking towards the aircraft in question.
Wendy looks where Eggman is looking and spots the biplane almost immediately. "I swear I didn't know they were in the area. Want us to take them down?"
"That won't be necessary," Eggman replies. "I anticipated their involvement, and I intend to lure them to the Lost Hex, where they shall finally taste defeat. Return to your duties."
"But‑"
"I gave you a direct order."
Wendy again knows she's not winning this argument. "As you wish, Eggy. Witchcarters, let's go."
Eggman watches Wendy and the Witchcarters depart, then turns his attention back to the Tornado. "Orbot, Cubot, it's time to visit the Lost Hex."