It was Monday evening, around five o'clock. Sonic and Tails, having enjoyed an eventful weekend in the Big Apple, were packing up their belongings, getting ready to head back to LA. The TV was turned on to the local news. They were about to head out the door when suddenly a breaking news alert appeared on the TV.

"This just in," the female anchor said, "Authorities claim that the Federal Reserve Building in Lower Manhattan has been invaded and robbed of an undisclosed amount of money and tangible assets. Right now the primary suspect is none other than the world-famous Sonic the Hedgehog. Remember him? Witnesses claimed to have seen him entering and leaving the building. We will keep you updated…"

The shot transitioned from the female anchor to footage of the Federal Reserve Building with cop cars outside of it. The building looked familiar to our furry duo. The headline across the bottom of the screen read "SONIC SUSPECTED OF ROBBING FEDERAL RESERVE BUILDING."

"Why…" said Tails, "Isn't that just down the street from here?"

All of a sudden, they heard a banging on the door.

"We know you're in there, Sonic! We got the place surrounded!" shouted a man from behind the door, "Come out with your hands up! And no funny business!"

"How am I going to open the door if my hands are up?" sheepishly replied Sonic.

"A wise guy, eh?" said the man.

Shadow's plan (or rather, Dr. Robotnik's plan) to frame Sonic went perfectly. The two had no idea Sonic was even in town, let alone staying at a hotel less than a mile from the Federal Reserve Building. Indeed, it was nothing more than a lucky coincidence, as opposed to the result of a meticulous plan based upon any insider information either of them had access to.

Sonic walked toward the window of their seventh-story hotel room and peeked outside. The Mariott was completely surrounded by SWAT officers with their guns raised toward the hotel room. He was silently panicking but remained firm so that Tails wouldn't notice.

Who could have done this? Why him? Was this karma for having committed so many minor robberies? While he was not the most morally sound individual, he would never have committed a crime of this magnitude.

But, after some thought, it was obvious. This was Shadow's doing. Who else could have disguised themself as him so believably? But why?

So he had two options. Either A: Open up the door and turn himself into the authorities or B: Make a run for it.

As for option A, he wasn't so sure he would be able to convince the courts that he was framed. Tails, in effect, was his alibi. They had spent the entire day together. But he knew that, as the world's fastest living being, having an alibi didn't mean shit. For example, if Sonic had left Tails' side to use the bathroom, in the amount of time it would take to do so, he could have robbed the bank. So it would be no use trying to fight his case.

"Tails," said Sonic, lightly patting Tails on the back, smiling, "We probably won't see each other for a long time. I had fun this weekend. Thanks for being my pal."

"But Sonic," said Tails, "You're innocent! I know you are!"

"Yeah, well," said Sonic, "Good luck convincing people of that. Especially when we just happen to be staying at a hotel so close to the bank. I would scram if I were you as well. You don't want to get in trouble as my accomplice now, do you? Maybe try and hide in the air ducts until they leave to chase me. It usually works in the movies. And then use your tails to quietly helicopter yourself out of here when nobody's looking. Move to a different country. Change your name. Maybe paint yourself a different color. You'll be okay."

"Yeah, I guess…" said Tails, an overwhelmed look taking hold of his face, "But what are you going to do?"

"Escape to somewhere where I can train while I wait for this all to blow over," said Sonic, "So I can beat this Shadow asshole in a race once and for all. Fair and square!"

"Open up or I'm knocking down the door!" said the man behind the door, interrupting the conversation, "You can't hide!"

"I think I'll run, then," said Sonic snarkily as he opened up the window.

"Target is on the move, headed out the window of his hotel room," said the man on the other side of the door into his walkie-talkie, "I repeat, target is on the move!"

"Wait!" said Tails, pointing toward Sonic's packed suitcase, "Won't you bring your stuff?"

"I can't, it will slow me down," said Sonic, as he started heading out the window.

"Take care of yourself, Sonic," said Tails in a melancholy tone.

"Will do," said Sonic, winking at him, "You as well. I'll see you when I see you."

And with that, he started running down the side of the building.

The SWAT team on the ground opened fire. Sonic was left to dodge a hailstorm of bullets. No big deal. He could move faster than the bullets, anyway. Although he did get one of his quills knicked. It was enough to draw blood, but not enough to slow him down. The SWAT officers' delayed aim was no match for his super speed. And, just as quickly as he left the hotel room, in the bat of an eye, Sonic was gone, leaving only a small blood splatter on a window of a fourth-story hotel room behind.

Tails watched out the window as the blue blur disappeared into the depths of the concrete jungle, the SWAT officers in hopeless pursuit behind him. He turned around, walked toward the door, opened it, and put his hands up. The man on the other side of the door immediately grabbed Tails and placed him in handcuffs.

"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may be used against you in a court of law," said the man, "Yellow mutant fox freak!"

"I've got nothing to hide," he said, allowing himself to be carried away into police custody, "I'm innocent, and so is Sonic!"