Back to Act Two Prologue

The Green Hill Zone was as sunny and bright as ever, but the mood among Sonic’s friends was panicked. Less than an hour ago, Sonic had taken a blast of chaos energy to the face as the six unstable Chaos Emeralds teleported away. Porker Lewis and Johnny Lightfoot had been at the ground zero for the amazing transformation that occurred next, with Sonic turning a golden yellow, his eyes a pair of sinister red spirals, before rocketing through the roof of what used to be Doctor Kintobor’s lab.

“I knew I should have ran more tests!” Porker bemoaned.

Flicky the Bluebird placed a comforting wing around the nervous pig’s shoulder, “Calm down, buddy, you couldn’t have foreseen this would happen”

“But I should have known something would happen! The readings were going up and up and up, clearly they were going to reach a critical point sooner or later!”

Chirps the Chicken rubbed his chin, “Sounds suspiciously like science to me”

“I don’t expect you all to understand how it works,” Porker admitted, “but I do expect better standards from myself. I should have called for assistance from Uncle Chuck or Rotor, they’d have a better scientific understanding”

“No offence,” Rotor Walrus interjected, “but I’m more of a mechanic than an energy expert. Plus, at the risk of sounding insensitive, would things be any better if it had been Uncle Chuck or myself that took the burst to the face?”

“I guess not…” Porker noted, solemly.

“Don’t worry about Sonic,” Johnny Lightfoot, the rabbit sprint champion comforted his friend, “You know he inevitably ends up fine when all’s said and done”

“Though,” Tux the Penguin added, “he does have somewhat of a knack for getting into trouble, does he not?”

“I reckon,” Joe Sushi the walrus of few words responded.

“Soneek is tres reckless sometimes,” agreed coyote Antoine D’Coolette in his thick accent, “but I have faith zat he will be fine in ze end”

“Antoine is right,” Sally Acorn, squirrel princess of West Side Island agreed, “There’s no sense in worrying until we know for sure that Sonic is in danger. We’re talking about someone that’s saved the world twice, I feel as though he can handle himself reasonably well. N.I.C.O.L.E., any update on that energy signature that might give us an idea of where Sonic is?”

“Just finishing the computations now, Sally,” a calm voice replied from Sally’s handheld terminal, with the artificial intelligence N.I.C.O.L.E. (Network Interfacing Computer Output Log E-device) communicating via a hologram of a lynx, “It would appear the signal faded to nothing in the Swampland Zone”

“Hoo-wee,” Bunnie Rabbot, half-mechanised rabbit whistled low, “Let’s hope Sonic didn’t touch down in the swamp or else he might not have been able to get free!”

“The Swampland Zone is about forty minutes’ walk on foot from here,” N.I.C.O.L.E. continued, “I estimate for someone of Sonic’s unique talent for speed it should take him no more than five minutes at a brisk pace”

“Well, it’s been a lot longer than five minutes,” Sally replied, “Of course, Sonic may have been rendered unconscious. Let’s not jump to conclusions. I say we mount a search party. Let’s pay a visit to Uncle Chuck and see how his latest project is coming along- that ought to cut down travel time significantly”

“Planning an expedition?” a familiar, cheeky voice asked. Everyone turned to see, with relief, a friend wearing a big grin.

“Sonic!” Porker exclaimed, “I’m so sorry, I had no idea that—”

“Don’t worry, Lewis,” Sonic dismissed Porker, “As you can see, I’m fine. So no worries!”

“Easy for you to say!” Porker’s eyes widened.

“Porker’s been worried sick, Sonic,” Johnny added, “It’s not every day your friend explodes through the roof”

“Is that what happened?” Sonic asked, genuinely a little surprised, “I guess I don’t really remember. Anyway, I’m fine now, I’m sure that’s the end of that!”

Sally cocked her head as she noted the fox cub hovering behind Sonic, suspended in the air- somehow? “Who’s your friend?” she enquired.

“This,” Sonic introduced his new pal, “is Miles Prower” The fox rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out in distaste, “But he prefers to be called Tails”

Tails landed next to Sonic and his twin namesakes ceased whirling, revealing their dual nature, “Hi, everyone. Nice to meet you”

“Woah!” Flicky exclaimed, “No wonder you like being called Tails! You’ve got two of them!”

Tails shrank in a little, “Yeah, I know it’s kind of weird…”

“Weird? Are you kidding? That’s so cool!”

Tails was a little taken aback, “You mean it?”

“Of course. Not everyone can fly, you know,” Flicky enthused, “Me, I’m quite fond of it. Loads of birds can fly, it’s not that unusual. But the number of flying foxes I’ve seen? Zero. Until today! You’re one of a kind, Tails!”

“Oh,” Tails smiled, “Well, thank you!”

“Anyway, what’s this about Uncle Chuck’s latest project?” Sonic asked, keen to get right to business. He smiled roguishly, “Has he been keeping secrets from me?”

“Actually, Sonic, I think you’re going to like this,” Sally answered, “Not even you can run over water- Uncle Chuck might just have something designed to help us explore more of Mobius to search for the grey Chaos Emerald”

“Sounds interesting. You up for it, Tails?”

“Sure!” Tails beamed, his fur bristling with excitement.

“Sounds good,” Sally replied, “He might just need the input of someone who can fly. How are you with technical stuff, Tails?”

On to Chapter 52