-Chapter 68-

Sylvanian Nights

Death Egg Mark II

The Death Egg Mark II made its way across the skies of Mobius, its massive shadow overtaking the land. Mobians and humans alike who saw it all fled in terror. From his throne room inside, Robotnik cackled.

"Look at all those little pests scurrying about," he gloated. "Quite a sight, don't you agree, my little fool?"

Sitting on the ground right by the throne was Antoine, dressed in a gaudy jester's outfit with thick shackles on his legs. He just grumbled indignantly to himself.

"Oh, lighten up," Robotnik urged. "You're a jester, not some sad clown in a circus."

Antoine snorted, not even reacting. Robotnik sighed, then got to his feet.

"Gofer!" he roared.

Johnny approached at that, dressed in a butler's outfit.

"You bellowed?" he asked.

"It's time for my daily inspection," Robotnik told him ."Come along."

He snapped his fingers like one would to a dog. Antoine gave Johnny a sympathetic wince and Johnny returned it with a small nod.

"Your will be done, Your Royal Heinie," Johnny said, totally deadpan.

Robotnik just smirked as he and Johnny went along. They began walking down the massive halls, where they came across Mina. She was in one of Robotnik's prison uniforms, scrubbing the floors with a scrub brush. As he walked past, Robotnik kicked the bucket over, the contents spilling all over Mina and the floor.

"You missed a spot!" he cackled.

Mina glared daggers at Robotnik, shaking water off herself as she resumed scrubbing. He then approached a room that was marked "Agatha's", knocking on the door.

"Agatha, my dear," he said, "any progress on your latest project?"

After a minute, Eggatha opened the door. Johnny leaned in, seeing Bunnie strapped to a work table in the lab. Thankfully, she appeared unhurt.

"Partial robotization is absolutely mindblowing," she explained. "I'm checking to make sure there's no effects to organic tissue still connected. This may be the next step in robotic evolution."

"Good to hear," Robotnik remarked.

She nodded, then closed the door, Robotnik and Johnny continuing their way. They came across Tails, Rotor, Porker, Chris, Keith, Hope, and Tekno on the Badnik assembly lines. All of them were shackled to their work stations, wearing the same prison suits as Mina, and were under the watchful eyes of several Swatbots.

"Attention, workers!" he declared. "Your quota has been doubled! Rest will not be permitted until it is met!"

"Goody," Tails said flatly. "We'd jump for joy, but... well, you know."

He moved his shackled leg for emphasis, and that got him a jab in the back from a stun baton.

"Talking is forbidden!" the Swatbot declared. "Back to work!"

Tails shook off the shock, pulling himself up and getting back to his slave labor. Robotnik smirked as he went on.

"Such a well oiled machine," he mused. "Don't you think so, Gofer?"

"Oh, most certainly, sir," Johnny declared in faux cheer. "You know what you're doing."

Robotnik just chuckled. He then made for the engine room, where Knuckles, Amy, and Kat were busy shoveling coal for a massive furnace. All three of them were caked in soot and sweat, shackled together at the ankles. Knuckles and Kat had neutral expressions, but Amy was whistling cheerfully.

"I didn't know my workload had you so happy," Robotnik mused.

"Oh, it's not that," Amy admitted. "I'm just imagining it's all gonna be worth it when Sonic catches up to us and kicks your ass."

"He's gonna have to find a way out of the Special Zone first, my dear," Robotnik said simply.

"He will," Amy insisted. "And when he does, I am shoving this shovel where the sun doesn't shine."

Johnny snorted at the image. Robotnik shot him a dirty look, and Johnny quickly put on a casual smile at that. The vile doctor stalked off, making his way to another lab. In this one, Snively and Grimer were working on Shortfuse, who like Bunnie, was strapped to a work table.

"Any luck figuring out how to get our rogue Cybernik under control?" he asked.

"He's quite stubborn, sir," Snively replied.

"You're not gonna make me crack!" Shortfuse swore. "My will's as unbreakable as this shell! I'm never gonna be one of your Badniks, Eggman! You better pray these restraints keep holding me, 'cause if and when I get loose... you don't wanna be you."

"And if you don't want any of your little friends to suffer an unfortunate accident, you'll stay right there like a good little Badnik," Robotnik warned. "Got it?"

Realizing he was backed into a corner, Shortfuse looked back up at the ceiling. Robotnik gave a small nod of satisfaction, then turned away. His next stop was the prison area, where Sticks was pacing around in a cell, eyes darting all over.

"Hello, my little nutcase," he greeted. "Are you ready to behave yet?"

"Never!" Sticks declared dramatically. "You can't tame this badger! And you're gonna break something trying, Eggman!"

She launched herself at the bars, trying to claw at Robotnik. He just stepped back so he was out of range.

"Why Sonic kept someone as unstable as you around, I will never understand," he remarked.

"And we don't really expect you to, sir," Johnny said casually. "Trying to explain such things to someone with a heart of steel like yours is an exercise in futility."

Robotnik raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to be funny?"

"Nope," Johnny replied. "Just stating facts."

Robotnik sneered at that.

"If you have time for jokes, then you have time to organize my wardrobe and polish all my shoes," he declared. "You have an hour."

"Of course, Doctor," Johnny said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and contempt. "I exist to serve, I live to please."

He departed at that. Robotnik rolled his eyes, then made his way to the end of the prison. He input a code into a keypad, unlocking a private elevator. He rode it down, the doors opening to an empty room, save for a single capsule. Inside the capsule was Sally, who was curled up and hugging her legs. When the lights clicked on, she winced, shielding her eyes and turning to the elevator.

"Hello, Princess," Robotnik greeted as he strolled out. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Screw you, Eggman," Sally sneered. "You and I both know this is a temporary victory."

"Believe that if it comforts you, but we both know the truth. So, let's stop playing around. Tell me where Knothole Village is."

Sally snorted.

"Sure I will. When you get a life!"

Robotnik sighed, shaking his head.

"Oh, Princess. Haven't you realized yet that your pithy resistance has no real toe-hold on my empire? At any moment, I could have carpet-bombed you all and been done with it. But then I'd have nothing to do. I let your little band of Freedom Fighters exist so I could entertain myself. I will concede that you all have won my war game more times than not, but so what? The reality is: I surpassed everything you and your friends are ever going to do...before I was a toddler. I was spitting out formulas while you were spitting up formula."

"Joke's on you. I was breastfed."

Robotnik crossed his arms.

"Nice. Way to rub that in my orphan face."

Sally just rolled her eyes, turning herself so she was facing Robotnik.

"Look Eggman, it doesn't matter how smart you think you are, you're not going to win. Sonic will get out of the Special Zone. He will find us, and he will stop you. You made a fatal mistake leaving him alive. Stranded or not, he won't give up while he still breathes."

"We'll see, Princess," Robotnik said flippantly as he walked out of the room, the lights turning off as he did. "We'll just see."

Planet Meridian

Sonic was darting around New Tek City, looking for the one person who could help him.

"Where are you, Omni?" he pondered aloud.

He looked everywhere, barely taking time to breathe as he searched.

"Omni! Come on!" he shouted. "I really need you!"

As he rounded a corner, the massive screen came into view.

"Sonic, it's been a long time," Omni greeted. "Perhaps if you held still long enough for me to catch you, you wouldn't have wasted a full day searching for me."

"Right, sorry," Sonic replied. "Listen, you've gotta send me back to Mobius. My friends are in trouble."

"Believe me, I am well aware," Omni said. "I am still unsure how Robotnik managed to return to the Special Zone after I banished him, but now he has truly gone too far."

"On that, we agree," Sonic nodded. "I'm gonna kick every square inch of his flabby behind when I catch up to him."

"That will take a very long time," Omni deadpanned.

"Doesn't matter," Sonic insisted. "I know you probably can't spit me out right on the thing, but get me as close as you can. He has my friends, so I'm not stopping until all of them are safe."

"I'm on it."

Omni's screen flickered for a minute, producing the image of an ancient castle surrounded by a dense forest.

"He's over Sylvania Castle, eh?" Sonic pondered.

"Indeed," Omni confirmed. "I can drop you at the gates. The rest is up to you."

"Thanks, Omni," Sonic nodded before jumping into the screen, which rippled like water as he vanished.

Death Egg Mark II

In the throne room, Antoine was being forced to entertain Robotnik.

"Did you hear the one about the teacher who wore an eyepatch?" he asked. "They had to let him go. Turns out he only had one pupil."

Robotnik sighed.

"You are by far the worst fool ever," he remarked. "Since your jokes don't fly, let's see you dance!"

He removed his left glove, firing lasers from his index finger at Antoine's feet. The coyote began jumping to avoid the lasers, yelping the entire time. Robotnik cackled, enjoying the show as Grimer entered.

"Sir, something just showed up on radar," he informed him.

"Just when it was getting good…" Robotnik grumbled.

He turned on the monitors in the throne room, which showed Sonic appearing on the edge of the castle territory.

"SONIC?!" he shrieked.

"Yes!" Antoine went wide-eyed and began jumping for joy. "We're saved! I knew he'd come! Your days are numbered, Eggman!"

"How did he-?!" Robotnik scowled as he realized what happened. "Of course. That Omni-Viewer fellow. How could I have forgotten about him?"

"Your orders?" Grimer asked.

"This information does not leave this room," Robotnik insisted. "And you!"

He pointed to Antoine. "Unless you want to become a permanent mime, you'll keep your trap shut."

Antoine just sat down, still smirking.

"Sonic may have escaped the Special Zone, but Sylvania Castle will be his tomb," Robotnik went on. "Deploy the Egg Serpentleaf."

Sylvania Castle

Sonic went up to the castle gates, looking them over. Sylvania Castle had a long and storied past, being a remnant of Mobius' bloody history of greed and hatred. Ghost stories and rumors were abound about the area, and most beings gave it a wide berth.

"Sylvania Castle," Sonic mused. "Under normal circumstances, I'd steer clear of this creepy dump. But right now… it's just another obstacle."

Getting into a jogger's position, he launched himself forward, bashing right through the gates. He looked around, seeing a particularly tall tower in the distance.

"That tower seems like my best bet," he noted. "With any luck, I can launch myself from there to the Death Egg."

Sonic got to running, hopping up whatever footholds he could find as he made his way to the tower. As he attempted to climb, everything began to shake. Bricks began falling away as a loud roar ripped through the sky.

"Oh, great…" Sonic sighed.

Massive mechanical tentacles snaked around two pillars as from the ground emerged a massive mech, resembling a cross between a snake and a flower.

"Now that's one hell of a snakeweed," Sonic quipped.

The petals opened up to reveal the Egg Mobile, in which sat Robotnik.

"Eggman…" Sonic growled.

"Stubborn little pincushion…" Robotnik growled. "I should've known you'd find a way out of the Special Zone!"

"I'll give you one chance to let my friends go," Sonic warned.

"Now why would I do that?" Robotnik asked. "They're mine now, Sonic."

Sonic scowled angrily, before cracking a dangerous smile. "I was so hoping you'd say that."

Sparking with dark lightning, he launched himself at the massive weed. The Serpentleaf swiped down with its tentacles, trying to squash Sonic, but he dodged nimbly before running up one of them, landing a double drop kick to the Egg Mobile itself. The Egg Mobile took a sharp drop down, Robotnik firing a laser from his finger.

"Get off, you damn rodent!" he shouted.

"I'm getting my friends back, Robuttnik!" Sonic screamed. "Nothing can protect you from me! Not Badniks! Not weapons! Not armor!"

Robotnik managed to strike Sonic in the stomach, sending him flying into the Egg Serpentleaf's grasp.

"I'll squeeze you like a tick!" the doctor shouted.

The Serpentleaf began to constrict Sonic, who screamed in pain and rage as he squirmed to get loose.

"You… won't win," Sonic wheezed.

"So I've heard," Robotnik retorted. "I swear if I had a Mobium for every time you or your friends said that…"

Sonic focused with all his might, the blue lightning beginning to spark across him. It traveled along the vile tentacles, causing the Serpentleaf to writhe in pain and release Sonic. Sonic dropped into a Homing Attack, aiming right at Serpentleaf's power core. He blasted through it, the Serpentleaf collapsing and dropping the Egg Mobile. Before it could take flight, Sonic jumped on top of it, grabbing Robotnik by the collar.

"Let. My friends. Go," he demanded.

"Are you a broken record or some-?"

Robotnik didn't get a chance to finish before Sonic, in a rage, punched him in the face with all his might... and was shocked when the blow knocked his head clean off. He looked between the head and the body, seeing sparking metal in both.

"Another stupid Eggbot…" he growled.

"Of course," the Eggbot's head declared. "You think I'm foolish enough to leave my Death Egg? Face it, Sonic. You've lost. It won't be long now before I bring Mobius to its knees!"

The head laughed, and was cut off when Sonic stomped on it with all his might, crushing it into scrap.

"We'll see about that."

With that, Sonic looked back up at the tower, searching the sky for the Death Egg. Sadly, there was no sign of it.

"Damn! He got away!" Sonic cursed. "But not for long…"

He was about to run off when he felt something vibrate in his pocket. Perking, he pulled out the Miles Electric, seeing the Emerald Radar going off.

"A Chaos Emerald," he realized. "Perfect!"

He followed the signal deep into the bowels of the castle, finding it to be deep in an underwater canal. Shockingly, he didn't even hesitate to jump in, swimming for it. Within seconds, he emerged, clutching the cyan Chaos Emerald.

"This makes three," he mused. "Four more to go."

He shook himself free of water, pocketing the gem.

"Now, where'd the Death Egg go?"

Getting back out of the castle, Sonic held up the Miles Electric, scanning for any sign of the Death Egg or any more Chaos Emeralds. He eventually found a Chaos Emerald signal, somewhere up north.

"Okay, the Emeralds are the current plan," he decided. "If I can go Super, I can just fly up to the Death Egg and save everyone."

He took off at that. As he ran off, a strange laughter filled the air. Several small apparitions with wild eyes began to appear, giving wide, serrated toothy smiles. Deep within the castle's catacombs, a gateway to some bizarre world appeared, two big multicolored eyes and a fanged blue maw appearing and laughing diabolically…

Author's Note:

Well, it seems Sonic is on the attack. But what bizarre ghouls have he and Robotnik stirred up in Sylvania Castle?

We'll find that out later. Next chapter, Sonic arrives at the abandoned White Park Zone, where he and Metal have their long awaited rematch.

Please R&R. Until next time!