“Well, someone’s in a very happy mood tonight,” said a voice.

Amy turned around and saw Dr. Eggman approaching her in his Egg Walker.

“Hello, Dr. Eggman. Kinda late walking around here, isn’t it?”

“I’m only out here to ask you a favor.”

“What kind of a favor?”

“Oh, it’s nothing much, just a little something for me.”

“Sure. Anything to help you, Dr. Eggman.”

“Excellent.” Eggman pressed the button that made the claw, in the Egg Walker, grab Amy.

“Wh-What are you doing!?”

“Silence! You pink pest!”

“Let me go! Why are you doing this!?”

“Bwahahahaha! Did you actually believe that I’ve changed? And I thought the echidna was the only one that was gullible. It was all a part of my plan to build my Eggman Empire.”

“You won’t get away with this! Sonic will stop you!”

“Bah! That hedgehog won’t lay a finger on me since I have you. Besides, it’s only a matter of time before he gives me what I want. Now, keep quiet! You’re starting to annoy me!”

-----------------------------

“What happened here?” Tails asked as he and Sonic looked at his workshop.

Tails’ workshop was a complete wreak. Machine parts, books, designing papers, and tools were scattered all over the place. The only thing that was left untouched was the Tornado.

“This is impossible,” said Sonic. “I made sure all the windows and doors were locked before we left.” Then he noticed a note attached to the Tornado. “Hey, what’s this?”

Sonic took the note off the Tornado and began to read it as Tails started to clean up the mess.

“Who’s that note from, Sonic?” Tails asked, placing another book in the bookshelf.

“It’s from Eggman,” Sonic replied.

“Eggman? What’s he want now?”

“He wants us to meet him at the constructed bridge as soon as possible. Not only that but he wants us to bring the Chaos Emeralds over there.”

“Bring the Chaos Emeralds? You don’t think that he’s gone back to being the mad scientist we all know, do you?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. And if that’s the case, he’ll have me to answer to. I bet he sent Metal Sonic over here to get the Chaos Emeralds.”

“Too bad he didn’t try to move the bookshelf.”

Tails walked over to the bookshelf and moved it. Right at the back of the bookshelf stood a door of a safe. Tails turned the dial a few times and opened the safe to reveal the three Chaos Emeralds.

“Hey Sonic!” a voice called out.

Sonic turned around to see Knuckles, Rouge and Shadow running toward him. “Hey guys. I thought you would already be at your homes by now.”

“We were about to when we spotted Dr. Eggman walking by us,” said Knuckles.

“And I believe that I heard someone screaming inside of his Egg Walker,” added Rouge.

“It looks like the doctor is heading toward the constructed bridge over at the highway,” said Shadow.

“I know,” said Sonic. “I got this note from Eggman, telling me to meet him over there and to bring the Chaos Emeralds.”

“Sounds like the old Eggman that we all know about,” said Knuckles.

“Well, I got the Chaos Emeralds loaded into the Tornado, Sonic,” Tails told him.

Sonic looked at the note again and an idea popped into his mind. “Say Tails. Do you remember how you made that fake emerald?”

“Sure I do. Why?”

“Could you do it again?”

------------------------------

“They should be here any minute,” said Eggman.

“Are you sure about this, master?” asked Metal Sonic. “What if they don’t come?”

“They’ll be here. Just watch.” Finally, Eggman spotted a blue plane heading in his direction. “Ah. They’re here. Quickly Metal, hide yourself until I need you.”

Metal Sonic hid himself as the Tornado was approaching Eggman. Tails’ Tornado made a soft landing on the bridge with Sonic and Shadow standing on each wing, and Knuckles and Rouge gliding beside the plane.

“This must be the place that Dr. Eggman was talking about,” said Tails.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” said Knuckles.

“Then we better stay alert,” said Sonic.

“Greetings, hedgehog and his friends,” said a voice.

The crew looked forward as Dr. Eggman appeared in his Egg Walker.

“All right, Eggman, we’ve brought the Chaos Emeralds with us,” said Sonic. “Now what do you want with them?”

“Haven’t you seen it by now,” said Eggman. “I want those Chaos Emeralds to take over the world and create my Eggman Empire. Besides, I already have four of the seven Chaos Emeralds.”

“Don’t you mean three?” asked Shadow.

“No, I mean four. They’re in my Egg Walker.” Eggman opened a small hatch where he carried the Chaos Emeralds in. “There’s one, two, three, fo…where’s the fourth Chaos Emerald!?”

“Looking for this?”

Eggman looked straight ahead to see Shadow holding the crimson Chaos Emerald.

“That’s impossible! How did you do that!?”

“I had a feeling that you would go back on your word, so I did a little stunt of my own and took one of the Chaos Emeralds while you went back to your lab.”

“Grrrr! You’ll pay for that, Shadow! If I can’t have the Chaos Emeralds peacefully, then I’ll take them by force.”

“Bring on your assault, egghead,” said Sonic. “We can take it.”

“It wouldn’t be much of a challenge, doctor. Your machine won’t stand a chance against my Chaos Spear,” said Shadow.

“That’s why I installed two new secret weapons inside my Egg Walker,” said Eggman. “Say hello to secret weapon number one.”

Eggman pressed a button, which caused the front end of his Egg Walker to open up and display a large mirror.

“That’s it?” said Rouge. “That’s your secret weapon?”

Eggman nodded and the crew began to laugh.

“That’s quite impressive, Eggman,” said Sonic. “I’m scared already.”

“Laugh all you want, you miserable pests,” said Eggman, “but I’ll be the one that will have the last laugh.”

“But it’s just an ordinary mirror,” said Tails.

“It’s more than just a mirror, fox boy. Go ahead, Shadow, use your Chaos Spear on me; unless you’re too chicken to do it.”

“Don’t you mock the Ultimate Life Form!” Shadow shouted. He clenched the crimson Chaos Emerald as it began to glow. “Chaos Spear!” Shadow fired a few golden arrows at Eggman’s Egg Walker. “It’s all over.”

“Guess again.”

The crew was completely shocked as the mirror absorbed Shadow’s Chaos Spear.

“No way!” Sonic shouted.

“How can an ordinary do that?” Tails asked.

“I told you before that it’s not just an ordinary mirror,” Eggman repeated. “My Reflector has the ability to absorb any type of energy attack you fools throw at me. Not only that but it also fires the attack right back at them. Go! Egg Spear!”

The Reflector fired the golden arrows right back at Shadow. He moved out of the way as the arrows made contact with the ground.

“Sonic! Rouge! Knuckles! Catch!” Tails shouted as he tossed the Chaos Emeralds to them.

“What’s the idea, Tails?” Sonic asked.

“If Eggman’s Reflector can absorb one energy attack, maybe a combination of all four would destroy it.”

“It’s worth a try.” Sonic, Knuckles, Rouge, and Shadow stood in front of the Egg Walker. “Sonic Wind!”

“Thunder Arrow!”

“Black Wave!”

“Chaos Spear!”

All four attacks were sent to the Reflector. The mirror absorbed them and moved the Egg Walker slightly backwards.

“Bwahahahaha! Your attacks are useless against my Reflector! Now it’s time to release a combination attack of my own. Energy Beam!” A bright beam of light was fired at the crew. They moved out of the beam’s way. “Give up, Sonic! There’s no way you can beat me this time.”

“I wouldn’t give up to you if my life depended on it,” said Sonic.

“Then, you leave me no choice. Time for secret weapon number two. This one will grant me victory as well as world domination.”

Eggman pressed another button, which caused the claw to appear. In its grasp was a familiar pink hedgehog.

“Amy?” Sonic said.

“Help me, Sonic!” Amy screamed.

“Let her go, Eggman. She had nothing to do with this.”

“On the contrary, hedgehog, she’s just the person I need to get what I want. And I’ll gladly let her go if you give me the Chaos Emeralds.” Then he noticed Rouge was about to take flight. “I wouldn’t do that if I was you, bat girl.” He moved the claw over the edge of the bridge. “If you try anything, I will release the girl to the deep waters below. So, what’s it gonna be, Sonic?”

“Alright, Eggman, you win. Hand me the Chaos Emeralds, guys.”

“You can’t be serious, Sonic!” Knuckles shouted.

“What choice do I have? If we do anything, Amy will be gone.”

“Grrrr! Fine!” Knuckles shoved the Chaos Emerald to Sonic.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” said Rouge.

“Just trust me on this.” Rouge handed the Chaos Emerald to Sonic.

“Here, take it,” said Shadow. Shadow gave the Chaos Emerald to Sonic.

“Alright, Eggman, I have the Chaos Emeralds.”

“Excellent. Now, put them right there,” Eggman commanded. Sonic placed the four Chaos Emeralds in front of the Egg Walker. “Now, back away!” Sonic did so. “You made a very wise decision, hedgehog.” Then he looked at Amy. “Your assistance is no longer acquired, Miss Rose. I hope you had a happy life.” With that, he released Amy to the waters below.

“Sonic!” Amy screamed as she plummeted toward the water.

“No! Amy!” Sonic shouted. He jumped over the bridge after Amy.

“Sonic!” The crew shouted.

“Bwahahahahaha! Who would’ve thought Sonic would actually do the job for me. Now to claim my prize and conquer the world.” Eggman used the claw to scoop up the four Chaos Emeralds. “You four would make perfect robot slaves for my empire.”

“Eggman! You won’t get away with this!” Tails shouted.

“That’s where you’re wrong, fox boy. Metal, distract them while I make my escape.”

“At once, master,” said Metal Sonic.

Metal Sonic stood in front of the crew as Dr. Eggman made his getaway. Then a shield was forming around Metal Sonic.

“Try to break through my barrier if you can,” said Metal Sonic.

----------------------

“This looks like the end for me,” Amy said to herself.

“Hold on, Amy,” said a voice.

Amy was surprised to see Sonic right beside her. She reached out and hugged Sonic.

“Sonic, I’m sorry that I got you into this.”

“Hey, we were all duped by Eggman, so don’t feel bad about it.”

Amy looked ahead as she saw the water coming closer. “Oh Sonic, I wish there was some way to get outta this.”

“There is. By using this.” Sonic took out a blue Chaos Emerald.

“A Chaos Emerald? I thought Dr. Eggman had them all.”

“I’ll explain later. Hang on tight. Ack! Not that tight, Amy!” Then the Chaos Emerald started to glow. “Chaos Control!”

The two hedgehogs disappeared just as they were about to hit the water.

-----------------------

The rest of the crew was still fighting Metal Sonic. No matter how much they tried, they couldn’t break through his shield.

“Dr. Eggman has really improved Metal’s shield,” said Tails.

Then Metal’s shield was deactivated. “It looks like I stalled long enough. Time to head back to my master’s base.”

As soon as Metal left, a bright light appeared before the crew as Sonic and Amy showed up.

“Phew. I didn’t know if that Chaos Control was strong enough to carry two people with one Chaos Emerald,” said Sonic. “Good thing that this is a real one.”

“Sonic! Amy! You’re alive!” Knuckles shouted.

“Of course we are. We wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for this Chaos Emerald.”

“But how? I thought the doctor had all the Chaos Emeralds,” Shadow said. “Unless it was…”

“That’s right, Shad. That emerald was a complete fake. I had Tails make another one for me.” Then Sonic looked around. “I take it that Eggman went back to his base.”

“That’s right,” said Tails.

“Then we have to hurry before egghead finds out that it’s a fake.”

To be continued…