Within the Freedom Fighter HQ, Sonic is seen standing on a stool as Rotor fiddles with her left shoes, the hedgehog tapping her right shoes impatiently.

Sonic: "Okay, Rotor… Any time you're done. Standing in one spot isn't exactly my idea of a fun time."

Tails: "I'm not complaining."

Tails said, getting a nice breeze from the rapid tapping. Sonic just gives him a straight faced glare, which prompts him to back up sheepishly.

Rotor: "Just one more adjustment and… Got it!"

On the security monitor, a live feed of Rotor's eye is seen before he moves aside.

Sally: "It's coming up clearly, Rotor!"

Sonic: "What is? What'd you do, Rotor?"

Rotor: "I installed a miniature camera that I adjusted to your level of speed in your shoe. With it, we can see what you see."

Sally: "Do you mind demonstrating Sonic?"

Sonic: "Uh… Sure."

Sonic then begins to run in place, running so fast that her feet begin to turn into wheels of shere speed. On the live feed, the camera adjusts to the motion and reduces flashing, keeping a straight forward observation.

Sally: "Alright, we got what we need."

Sonic: "So what's with the camera anyway?"

Rotor: "Well, you tend to run recon in Robotropolis, so me and Sally figured building a camera into your shoe would help us get a better idea of what to find."

Sally: "In layman's terms, you are our eyes while running solo recon in Robotropolis."

Sonic: "Sweet! Sounds like a blast."

As the group spoke, the security monitor received a transmission from… none other than Robotnik himself. The evil doctor laughs as he announces his presence to the group.

Robotnik: "Greetings, Freedom Fighters. I, the great and humble ruler of Mobius, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, have come with a challenge for your champion, Sonic the Hedgehog."

Sonic walks into view of the monitor, glaring at the doctor.

Sonic: "Yeah, I'm listening, Robo-butt. Anything you throw at me, I'll smash any day of the week."

Robotnik: "Oh you'll find that what I have created is by far my most deadliest robot, Sonic. One that you will surely fall to!"

Sonic: "Can I just bring up that you throw around that 'deadliest robot' line way more than you should? And while you've had a couple of those that fit the bill, they were smashed apart just the same."

Robotnik: "Silence, fool! This time, I am serious! In fact, I even created a brand new zone, just for this special occasion. Oh yes, I'm pulling out all the stops. And just in case the idea of a challenge doesn't motivate you, allow me to show you… hehe… the prize."

Robotnik then moves aside as he shows a tied up pink hedgehog struggling in her rope.

Pink Hedgehog: "S-Sonic! Help!"

Sonic: "Amy Rose!? Robotnik, you snake!"

Robotnik: "Oh yes. I certainly am a venomous snake, aren't I? So allow me to make this very clear, hedgehog. If you choose not to accept my challenge, I will roboticize this girl right in front of you. Do you want to lose another loved one after losing your uncle, girl?"

Sally sees these taunts get to Sonic as the hedgehog clenches her fist.

Sonic: "Fine! I'll be there! And I'll win your challenge, smash your robot, and save Amy!"

Robotnik: "Hehehe… See you here then, rodent. Ta-ta."

The transmission ends as it cuts to a black screen. Sonic turns to walk out of the exit, only to get stopped by Sally.

Sally: "Hold on there, Speedy Gonzales. Before you rush headlong into a very obvious trap, we need to figure out a plan."

Sonic: "Here's a plan for ya then: I go in, beat Robotnik's robot, smashing it to pieces in the process, save Amy, and be back by dinner time."

Sally: "Sonic, that's barely a plan at all! And what if you get smashed instead!? You know Robotnik's machines have gotten progressively stronger."

Tails: "By the way… Who's Amy Rose?"

Sonic: "Amy's a friend… A pen pal of mine from Mercia."

Rotor: "Mercia? I'm not familiar with that name."

Sally: "The most I know about Mercia is that it's another kingdom like our's, but much smaller. But even so, Sonic, we need a plan if you're going to fight whatever Robotnik has in store."

Sonic: "SCREW PLANNING!"

This outburst startled everyone in the room, causing Sally to step back as she saw Sonic give a truly serious expression, looking to be holding back tears.

Sonic: "Would I like to remind you of the last time I was too slow to save someone? And just who that was? My. Uncle. Chuck. My. Dog. Muttski."

Sally's eyes widened at that before it shifted to a look of guilt. She was there when she saw Uncle Chuck already roboticized.

Sonic: "Answer truthfully, Sally. If it was me, Tails, or anyone in our friend circle… Would you just sit here and twiddle your thumbs while we get roboticized?"

Sally: "...I-I… No…"

Sonic: "Then… Stand aside and let me do this my way… While I still have time to…"

Sally says nothing as she nods, moving out of Sonic's way as the hedgehog passed. But then Sonic stopped, turning her head but not fully towards Sally.

Sonic: "...Sorry for yelling… I'm… not over losing Uncle Chuck, Sal… Understand that if it were your father as a mindless machine…"

Sally: "...I get it. Just be careful, Sonic… And both of you come home safe…"

Sonic nods as she rushes out of the stump and runs her way towards Robotropolis. Sally stands frozen for a moment before sighing.

Sally: "Rotor? Get the camera rolling. We'll support Sonic from our end."

Rotor: "R-Right…"

Sonic enters the portal into the created zone where she was told to meet Robotnik for the challenge. Sally wasn't wrong though, given how treacherous Robotnik could be on a good day, the hedgehog was ready for whatever trap Robotnik may have laid out. She does take a minute to admire the zone itself though - a massive city with spotlights shining from below, a huge road with all kinds of turns and loops.

Sonic: "Huh. Robotnik really did pull out all the stops."

Metallic Voice: "Indeed. All preparation was for this exact moment, Sonic the Hedgehog."

Sonic's ears flick in reaction to the voice before she turns to see… quite a surprise to her. Floating down from the sky, landing on the floor, was a robotic copy of Sonic herself, from size, shape, to even the details such as paint in places where her clothes were. The visor used in place of eyes - housing the glowing, red, piercing eyes - even had synthetic eyelashes to indicate gender. Even the voice sounded feminine, which for Robotnik standards is quite impressive. The robot smiled, noticing the mildly shocked expression of the real Sonic.

Sonic: "Huh… So a robotic copy of me. I was only really told of Pseudo-Sonic, but that was a nothing problem. You though… You might be actually tough. So who are you?"

Metal Sonic: "I'm designated Metal Sonic. I am you, but far better in every aspect. I am faster than you, stronger than you, more beautiful than you. You stand no chance against me, spiny."

Sonic: "Wanna put your money where your mouth is, volts for brains?"

Metal Sonic: "Oh I am more than ready for you, chili dog breath."

Sonic: "First things first. How do I know Amy is still herself and isn't some robot by the time I beat your metal tuckus?"

Metal Sonic: "Lord Robotnik figured you would want confirmation of the brat's condition."

Metal Sonic pointed to a large billboard monitor, which staticed for a moment before changing into live footage of Amy crying for help as two Swatbots are stationed next to her, holding her hostage.

Sonic: "Amy!"

Metal Sonic: "So… Are you satisfied? After all, I am very tired of waiting to kick your butt."

Sonic: "The only butt being kicked is yours as it becomes one with the pavement."

Both hedgehogs glare at each other, practically firing off their glares. They then turned and walked up to the starting line. They got down, seeing the lights blink from red to yellow… Metal Sonic built up a boost in the jet on her back; at the green light, Metal Sonic blasted off, with Sonic running off with her. Floating nearby, on his Egg Mobile, Robotnik starts to chuckle to himself.

Robotnik: "That foolish hedgehog. While I do have confidence in Metal Sonic winning this race, I'm always one for contingency plans. At the end of this race, I have set up a very… hehe… crushing finish line, which will only activate for Sonic's specific DNA signature. So even if she wins, in the end, I will stand as the only victor! And just to ensure she doesn't get any bright ideas…"

Robotnik activates a beam from his Egg Mobile, starting to drive it forward to follow Sonic and Metal Sonic, corralling them both towards the finish line.

Robotnik: "This is the end of Sonic the Hedgehog… for sure this time!"

In the Freedom Fight HQ, Sonic's friends watch as she starts the race with her double…

Tails: "Another robotic Sonic?"

Sally: "I guess this is Sonic's first time seeing one; she wasn't around when Pseudo-Sonic tried to invade our base."

Rotor: "This one's even meaner though. Oop. Wait… I see something following them."

Rotor pauses the live feed and backs up frame by frame. It was upside down, but by flipping the image, the group sees Robotnik following Sonic and Metal Sonic with a laser shooting down to destroy the road behind them.

Rotor: "Gulp… You were right, princess! It was a trap!"

Sally: "Yeah, but that can't be all to the trap… There's more to it than that."

Tails: "What do we do, Aunt Sally?"

Sally: "...For now, we just hope for the best. If I were Sonic in this situation, I would try everything in my power to win…"

Both Tails and Rotor looked at her, wondering if Sonic's words stuck with her more than they realized.

Back in the race, Sonic and Metal Sonic were neck to neck with each other, neither giving the other an inch as they tried to outspeed each other. During each loop, Sonic would see Metal Sonic just fly through the ring, though for every sharp turn, Metal Sonic would have to come to a full stop, risking her any lead she would have as Sonic was able to clear the sharp corners easily.

Sonic: "What's wrong, chrome dome!? Already out of smoke!?"

Metal Sonic: "Hardly! You aren't equipped to handle me, Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Sonic: "You and what army?"

Metal Sonic: "A one metal hog army!"

Metal Sonic then pulls ahead enough before quickly turning and ramming Sonic full on the head, knocking her to the pavement before Metal Sonic quickly rushed ahead, leaving Sonic in a daze.

Sonic's Thoughts: "Crap… I got way too cocky…"

Sonic then sees Robotnik closing in behind her with his laser destroying the road.

Sonic's Thoughts: "And ol' Robo-butt is destroying the road behind us… Meaning he's leading me into a trap of some kind… But fine. No way to go but forward."

And forward is where Sonic goes as she starts to run as fast as she could.

Sonic's Thoughts: "After losing Uncle Chuck… I refuse to be too slow again… I refuse to ever lose someone again!"

Sonic: "Time to… PEEL-OUT!"

Sonic begins to move her legs faster, unknowingly starting to reconfigure her normal wheel shape running into a sort of eight shaped running style. Robotnik's sensors started to go crazy as he was measuring Sonic's speed throughout the race.

Robotnik: "Wait! What's going on!? Th… This can't be! Sonic… is getting faster!?"

At HQ, the camera's sensors were going absolutely nuts as it couldn't reconfigure fast enough for Sonic's accelerated speed. This eventually led to the security monitor to shatter.

Sally: "Rotor! What happened!?"

Rotor: "I-I don't know, Sally! We just lost visibility!"

Frustrated and at her wit's end, Sally clenches a fist before grabbing Tails.

Tails: "Yipe!"

Sally: "Screw this! We're going to help Sonic, whether she wants it or not!"

Sally then runs out of the base with Tails, leaving Rotor to question if he's the only sane one in the group.

As Metal Sonic closed in on the finish line, she smiled with confidence in her victor.

Metal Sonic: "I knew I was the better and stronger Sonic. I'm number one, bay-bee!"

Sonic: "Sorry, but I didn't hear no bell!"

Metal Sonic's eyes widened as she turned and saw Sonic running even faster to catch up. This caused Metal Sonic turn up the pressure of her jet as she went faster too, barely matching Sonic's new speed.

Metal Sonic: "I am still ahead, Sonic. You will not beat me!"

Sonic: "Yeah? Even if you're the first one to reach the finish line, I'll be the first to cross it!"

Metal Sonic was confused by that statement before she sees Sonic quickly slide under the metallic robot. In slow motion, Sonic slides under Metal Sonic just as they both reach the finish line. The crusher begins its descent to try and squish Sonic, but as it came down, Sonic used the remaining momentum within her slide to kick Metal Sonic on the stomach, the force of the kick not only stopping the crusher for a brief second, but also completely destroyed Metal Sonic, causing her pieces to scatter. Sonic finishes her slide through the finish line as the crusher slams hard enough to kick up dust.

Amy: "S-SONIC!"

As Amy starts to cry, think Sonic had just died, she hears the sound of footsteps. She looks up as she sees Sonic walk out of the dust cloud, looking at worst just a little sweaty.

Amy: "Sonic! You made it!"

Sonic: "Was there any doubt? First Swatbot to try anything will be scrap. Who's brave enough?"

The Swatbots turn to each other before they just run away, saying something about not being paid enough to be turned to scrap.

Robotnik: "NOOOOO!"

Sonic's ears flick as she turns back to see Robotnik practically crash his Egg Mobile in a vain attempt to land it as he scuttles out to pick up Metal Sonic's remains.

Robotnik: "Metal Sonic! Destroyed! And the crusher! Useless! Grrr… I'll get you yet, Sonic the Hedgehog!"

Sonic: "Oh yeah? I'm standing right here, Robotnik."

Sonic says, standing in front of the crusher. As Robotnik rushed to destroy Sonic with his bare hands, the smiling hedgehog just pokes a finger forward under the crusher, quickly retracting it as Robotnik is crushed by his own trap.

Robotnik (muffled): "I hate that hedgehog…"

Sonic: "I guess that's what I call a crushing defeat."

As Sonic punned, she unties Amy from her rope; once Amy was free, she immediately hugged Sonic, crying into her shoulder.

Amy: "Sonic! I knew you'd save me! Waaaaah!"

Sonic: "Easy there, Amy. Glad to see you safe."

Sally: "Sonic!"

Sonic and Amy pause in their embrace before looking up to see Sally parachute down, having just flown in with Tails as the pilot of the biplane.

Sally: "I came to help… you…?"

Sonic: "Little late, Sal. You missed most of the action."

Amy: "Yeah! It was awesome! It was so… fast! Action packed!"

Sally looked at Amy, then at Sonic, unsure of what to think.

Sonic: "Oh yeah. Sally? This is Amy Rose. And Amy? This is Sally Acorn, princess of the Kingdom of Acorn."

Amy does a polite curtsy, which causes Sally to awkwardly clear her throat as she recomposed herself.

Sally: "Ahem… Nice to meet you, Amy. And I'm happy to see you safe."

Amy: "Thanks to Sonic!"

Sally: "...Yes… Thanks to Sonic…"

Sonic: "Thanks for coming, Sal. And… sorry for earlier."

Sally: "Nah. Don't apologize. You're right. If I was in your position, I would have done the same thing. Although, maybe don't act so rash next time? We are a team, right?"

Sonic: "...Yeah. We're a team."

Sonic and Sally start to laugh before Amy tugs at Sonic's shorts.

Amy: "Can we go home? I don't like being near fatty mc fattingson."

Sonic looks over to the crushed Robotnik, then shrugs. She whistles for Tails to fly by, the fox picking them up as they fly out of the zone.

Robotnik (muffled): "Sonic!? Snively!? Anyone!? This thing is quite heavy! Hellooooo!?"

Amy Rose

Age: 9

Rank: Citizen of Knothole Village

A young hedgehog girl from the kingdom of Mercia, and no less the cousin to the area's local hero. Amy is a very polite, unassuming young girl with a heart as pure as the water in various lakes. She often speaks to Sonic through various letters they send to each other, as Amy looks up to the heroine as inspiration to what she wants to be one day. For now, she settles for being in Knothole Village as a local resident cute girl.

Metal Sonic

Rank: Metallic Robotic Sonic Copy

A robot built in the exact image of Sonic the Hedgehog, Metal Sonic stands as one of Robotnik's strongest robots to date. Though not the first Metal Sonic to be built, it is the first to rival Sonic on even footing before ultimately being defeated. A strange design quirk, either by intention or by accident, is that Metal Sonic has developed some of Sonic's mannerisms, down to even back talking and trash talking her foes. Perhaps there will be more to it…? Perhaps not…