"The life of a Freedom Fighter is hard, and the sacrifices are many. In these dark days, only an elite few live normal lives, all because of one evil presence." Aleena said.

"Have all the preparations been made?" Robotic asked.

"Oh yes, Doctor Robotnik, I've taken care of everything! And may I say sir, speaking for all the nobility? I want to thank you for allowing us to use the Royal Palace for this year's Debutante Ball." Bartleby said.

"Of course, Bartleby. Oh, and the... invitations?"

"They've all been sent, sir."

"Excellent." Robotic said and Bartleby walked off. "The trap... is set!" He said and sniggered.

"Presenting her Royal Highness, Princess Sonia!" the announcer said.

"Hey, sis! Yo?" Sonic said.

"Oh, sorry! What?" Sonia said.

"Cyrus wants to see us pronto." Sonic said and saw the invitation. "What's that?"

"Oh, nothing. Let's go!"

"Yo, need a scan here!" Manic said.

"Hey, sis!" Sonic said.

"What?" Sonia said.

"You wanna scan for uglies?"

"Oh, sorry." Sonia said, pressed a button and performed a scan. "No Swatbots are being detected. We're clear."

"Hey, man! What's buggin' her?" Manic asked.

"I'm guessin' it's got somethin' to do with that paper in her pocket." Sonic said.

"Hmmm..." he said and grabbed the letter from Sonia's pocket. "Whoa, sorry sis!"

"What's a "dee-but-on-tee"?"

"Topped me. But it sure looks fancy!"

"Yuck! Look who's in charge. Bartleby!"

"Guys! Look at this!" Sonia said and Sonic and Manic gasped.

"Take a look at Robotnik's new toy. He calls it the "Predator"." Cyrus said.

"Looks like it's gonna be one mondo huge ship!" Sonic said.

"Fortunately for us, some assembly is still required, and this is the key component. An organically grown brain! Twelve hours from now, it'll be mature."

"He's puttin' a brain in a plane? Why?"

"To hunt Freedom Fighters."

"Then maybe we should hunt the brain."

"It's not that easy, Sonic. That brain is genetically interwoven with a diamond-titanium composite, so it's virtually indestructible. Once the brain is mounted, it'll transform the ship into a living creature with an impenetrable skin!"

"So, how does this thing hunt?" Sonia asked.

"Here's the simulation. It's equipped with a carbon seek unit which detects unroboticized people. There'll be no place to hide! It will travel the world, capturing and bringing back Freedom Fighters to Robotropolis!"

"Where he'll roboticize them! We gotta stop-" Sonic started but was cut off.

"That's where this comes in."

"Oh, goody. A metal bar!"

"It's a biomechanical electronic override. It's called a "sleeper"."

"I knew that!"

"What's it doin'?" Sonia asked.

"Assimilating and altering the molecular structure. Plant this on the ship before they install the brain," Cyrus said and pulled a lever which rotated their ship. "and we control the Predator! You've got twelve hours. Think you can do it?"

"Are chili dogs a basic food group?" Sonic asked.

Meanwhile a robot guard dog growled.

"This is the night when the Resistance will be crushed forever!" Robotnik said.

"We've taken every precaution, sir." Sleet said.

"If anything prevents the brain from assimilating with the Predator, I'll have you both roboticized!"

"I don't wanna be roboticized!" Dingo said.

"Why? It could be an improvement." Sleet said.

"Oh! Yeah."

"Okay. Let's do it!" Sonic said.

"Wait a minute, Sonic. Let's recap. Now I set the explosives to make them think we're goin' after the brain." Sonia said.

"Then, when the bots go after you, I tunnel under here, then slap the thingamajiggy on the ship!"

"Then I can distract 'em, so you two can escape!" Manic said.

"So can we get to it?"

"Remember: when the light flashes, it's time to spin!"

"Outta here!"

"Good luck, sis."

"May I have the pleasure of this dance, my dear?" Bartleby asked.

"Of course, Bartleby." Sonia said and they danced around in circles until Bartleby shoved her. "Ow!" she said and he clutched her hand. "Bartleby, what are you doing? Stop!"

"Priority one: Hedgehog." he said in a robotic voice.

"No!" she said, backed into a Swatbot and gasped as Swatbots lift her by the arms into the sky. "Sonic!"

"Come on, guys!" Sonic said.

"Sonic, Manic!" Sonia said and Sonic gasped.

"Bummer majores!"

"Sonic!" Sonia said. "Ahh!"

"I'm comin', sis!" Sonic said and ran to Manic. "I'm goin' in. When you see the first explosion, do your stuff."

"Luck, man!" Manic said.

"Well, well, Sophie. Looks like you belong to us." Sleet said.

"Don't worry, Slick. I'll be out of here in a Sonic second." Sonia said.

"Brave words from someone who will soon be..." he said and the ground shook. "r-ro-bo-bo-botici-i-i-zed! What is that?!"

"I bet you're wondering why I called this meeting." Sonic said.

"Priority one: Hedgehog!"

"Right here and at your service."

"Whoa..." he said and toppled into a pit. "Whoaaa! Oof!"

"Don'tcha hate when that happens?" she asked and a beam of light shine on her. "Huh?!"

"Nice shot." Sonia said.

"All right! Now you do the brain, I'll do the Predator!"

"Find them!" Sleet said.

"Got it. Where do I meet ya?" Sonia asked.

"Stay in there. I'll come back for ya." Sonic said.

"Huh?"

"Whoa! Mongo huge!" Sonic said and a shot nearly hit her. "Ah!" she said and escaped a group of Swatbots. "Time to juice!"

"Dee-dedede-day-dedede-day-dedededede…" Dingo said.

"That should do it." Sonia said and wires entangled her. "Ahh!"

"Sonia?!"

"Dingo? Oh, great!"

"Yuck!" Sonic said and attached the sleeper, which melted onto the Predator. "Way cool!"

"Halt. Intruder." a Swatbot said.

"That's my exit cue!"

"I like Sonia!" Dingo said.

"Yuck! So long, carthead." Sonia said.

"Alalalala! Dalalalala! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, arrrgh...!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, did you wanna stop too?" she asked and he crashed and she gasped. "Ooh, that had to hurt!"

"Hey, sis!" Sonic said.

"You ready to blow this popsicle stand?"

"Considering the popsicle stand is about to blow, the answer is yes!"

"Huh?"

"Blow?! I've gotta get outta here!" Dingo said and made for the exit. "Lucky, lucky, lucky." he said and sighed as the place exploded. "Arrrrrrrghh!"

"Mission accomplished! Let's beat feet!" Sonic said.

"I'm outta here." Manic said.

"Right behind you!" Sonia said.

"Report, Sleet." Robotnik said.

"They tried to destroy the brain, Doctor Robotnik, but they failed. The composite protected it." Sleet said.

"And the Predator?"

"Not a scratch. We're installing the brain now. Ready to launch in ten minutes."

"Excellent."

"I don't get it, Manic. She could've super-spinned out of there before any bot could lay a hand on her!" Sonic said.

"Well, let's ask her about it. But be cool! Don't get her... all crazed." Manic said.

"Cool? Hey, that's my middle name."

"Huh?" he asked and heard Sonia arriving. "Gotta remember cool!"

"No problemo!"

"Morning, guys!" Sonia said.

"Okay, what the heck happened to you last night?!"

"What?"

"How did those bots get their mitts on you?"

"I don't know, I guess I just let my mind wander, and-"

"Yeah! What's with that? Is this about that invite you got?"

"What?! Oh, I... uh, you wouldn't understand!" Sonia said and cried.

"Gee, I think that went well(!) Unfortunately, we still don't know what's goin' on!" Manic said.

"True, but I think I know how to find out." Sonic said.

"Oh, how simply yummy." Bartleby said and a leaf blower went off outside. "Ow! What the blazes?!" he said and went to the window. "Excuse me, my good man! Hey!" he said and Sonic aimed the blower into his house. "Huh? Stop and desist!"

"Whoa, Bartleby! Nice jammies!"

"How dare you!" he said and recognized her. "Sonic?"

"The one and only! Don't worry, I'm not here to prune your pansies. I need your help." she said. "Sonia's flipped out, and it has somethin' to do with a stupid... dee-but-on-tee ball thing."

"It's debutante, you barbarian."

"Debutante. Okay, whatever. What is it?"

"Why, it's every young girl's dream! The day she is officially introduced to society."

"Ah, okay. Well then you and me gotta figure out some way for her to go!"

"Sonic, I had no idea you possessed this level of sensitivity!"

"I don't. But she's wigged out so bad, I'm afraid she's gonna get caught."

"Oh?"

"All right, all right, all right. I want her to be happy. Don't you? Know any ideas?"

"As a matter of fact," he said and held a mask to his face. "I do!"

"Why, that's a wonderful idea, Bartleby!" Robotnik said.

"Then a masked ball it shall be, Doctor Robotnik." Bartleby said.

"So, Bartleby thinks he can hide Princess Sonia behind a mask. How amusing!" Robotnik said and laughed.

"We cracked the code and we're testing for pilots. You guys wanna try?" Cyrus said.

"Oh, we're on our way!" Manic said.

"On our way where?" Sonic said.

"Huh?" Sonia said.

"What the-?" Manic started.

"This is what all the best people are wearin' to the Debutante Ball." Sonic said.

"Sonic, what did you do?" Sonia asked.

"Oh, nothin' much. Me and my pal Bartleby just fixed it so a certain sister of mine can go."

"You did that for me?"

"Well, Manic helped. He stole the invite."

"Oh, you guys!"

"Hey, what do ya-" Sonic said and Sonia hugged her. "Oh, come on, sis, don't wrinkle the fur!"

"Imagine: me, going to the Debutante Ball!"

["Society Girl"]

"Er, I hate to break this up, but don't we have to be somewhere?" Manic said.

"To hijack the Predator and return the passengers safely, it'll take alertness, agility, and instinct." Cyrus said.

"No problemo!" Sonic said.

"Don't forget you've got passengers on board, so you've gotta maintain a safe angle and good flight attitude."

"I've got a way cool attitude! Watch this." she said and whirled her seat around. "Whoooo oooooh!"

"Easy, Sonic!"

"Hey, it was just startin' to get good."

"Not for all the passengers who are plastered to the ceiling, Sonic." Sonia said.

"Hey, that's what seatbelts are for!"

"All right, let's start your run." Cyrus said.

"Ready when you are!"

"And... go!"

"Bogus! Enough of this maneuvering stuff. Time to kick it!" she said and the cannons fired three shots. "There's too many of them!"

"Aborting mission. Passenger injuries: one hundred percent! How about you give it a go, Manic?"

"Do it to it, bro!"

"One hundred percent casualty rate." he said and she chuckled.

"Welcome to the club!"

"Ah, that cuts it. I'm ground-bound." Manic said.

"Check right, hold steady, then descend!" Sonia said.

"Ready, Sonia?" Cyrus asked.

"Go!" she said and guided the plane around the canyon. "Check right, then descend, hold steady, it's all right! Descend from mountain approach!"

"Perfect! I've never seen better! You're our pilot, Sonia!"

"Way to go, sis!" Manic said.

"Intelligence reports the Predator will return tomorrow night." Cyrus said.

"But... the Debutante Ball's tomorrow night!" Sonia said.

"Sorry, sis." Manic said.

"Hey, why don't we do both?" Sonic asked.

"Huh?!" Manic, Sonia and Manic asked.

"Can you say "secret passageway"?"

Later.

"Lord Ambrey and Lady Agitha. Lord Harrigan and Lady Dagney." Doorman said.

"Yo, is she comin'? Can you see her?" Manic asked.

"No, she's not. Wait! There she is. Third in line now." Sonic said.

"Wow, she looks great!"

"Well, who do we have here?" Robotnik asked.

"Oh, this is my cousin from out of town, er... Sarah!" Bartleby said.

"Charmed."

"Predator's inbound. It's within range! Two minutes before it reaches the roboticizer facility!" Cyrus said.

"Oh man, we're cuttin' it close." Sonic said.

"She's next!" Manic said.

"Announcing Sir Bartleby of Dresdin and his cousin…" Doorman said.

"Just a moment, please." Sonia said.

"Hmmm…" Robotnik said.

"Announcing Her Royal Highness... Princess Sonia!" Doorman said and there was a surprised commotion among the guests.

"Hello, Buttnik!" Sonia said.

"Seize her!" Robotnik said.

Then Sonia and Bartleby gasped.

"Mother?" Sonia said and Robotnik gasped.

"Queen Aleena! Get her! And grab this one!" he said.

"Gotta hand it to ya, sis. You got guts." Sonic said and grabbed Sonia's hand. "Time to juice!"

"Swatbots! Find the queen!"

"Fifteen seconds!" Cyrus said.

"Activating override." Sonic said and the guests panicked.

"There she is!" Sleet said.

"Oh, thank you so much for the lovely party favor." Manic said.

"Hostile takeover of Predator. Control disabled. Orders." a Swatbot said.

"What?! Shoot it down!" Robotnik said.

"You're almost there! Safe hangar at Zero-Two-Zero, bearing Niner-Four!" Cyrus said.

"Okay, turnin' around!" Sonia said.

"Sonia!" Dingo said.

"Hey, big boys. Care to take a little spin around the floor?" Sonic said.

"Spin?! AGAIN?! No thank you!" he said and she started to spin. "Ahhh!" he said and was whirled around and thrown into the air. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, argh! Whooaaa!"

"Huh?" Sleet said and saw Dingo. "Oh no!"

"Waaaarrgghhh!" Dingo said.

"Oof!" they said together.

"Oh, what are the chances we'd all wear the same dress to the same party?" Sonic said and everyone laughed.

Manic laughed.

"Yeah, dude…" he said.

Then they gasped.

"Oh, it's lovely!" Sonia said, picked up and read a letter. "I wore this at my debutante ball. I'm so proud of you. Love, Mother. Oh, thank you guys!"