After his last battle with Sonic, Dr. Eggman has gone quiet. His Badnik forces are still causing trouble, but without the bad doctor’s usual fanfare. What’s Eggman been doing all this time? And what will happen to Sonic when he finds out?

In a mountainous area with evergreens and intertwined corkscrew loops made of stone, Sonic and Espio the Chameleon are busy fighting a swarm of Badniks.

"Careful, on your right!"

"Left. Right. Everywhere! They have surrounded!" Espio exclaimed.

"Meh, we've handled more than this before. Just gotta get into the swing of things!"

"Roger!"

Espio throws a kunai with a rope tied to it into the corkscrew road and grabs Sonic's hand, causing them to swing around the corkscrew road at high speed and take out the Badniks that have them surrounded.

"Have you and the Chaotix tracked down yet?" Sonic asked.

"We... Incoming!"

The two heroes quickly destroy the Badniks and watch happily as the Flickies that were trapped inside the Badniks fly away.

"Thanks for the help with the Badniks, they are getting more organized lately. I guess Eggman is getting ready for another one of his big plans of his."

"I don't think the doctor is behind this."

"Oh? So, you guys have a lead?"

"Better... We began our search in the ruins of Imperial City... and found nothing but wreckage. Our helpers, The Student Six went Eggman's last known lab. Both Orbot and Cubot were cooperative but knew nothing. His computer system showed no escape plans or personal traffic. He seemed certain he'd win our last encounter. Searching the other bases turned up nothing but trouble."

"Well nuts. You guys are the best detectives I know."

"We're only decetives you know."

"Semantics. So why call me out if you haven't found him?"

"We did, sort of."

"You did?!"

"We received an anonymous tip that led us to the village I'm taking you now. So technical terms... we didn't find him."

"You could say I'm taking you Eggman."

"I wanted you understand how hard we worked..."

"Noted. Now let's get moving!"

Sonic heads towards the village with Espio.

"What gives? Everything looks fine here."

"Sonic! You made it!" He gets greeted by Charmy and Ocellus.

"Charmy! Ocellus! Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, this place is awesome! There are kids my age! And tons of mountain flowers! And they have the best honey tarts ever!"

"That's cool, but what about y'know, the big guy?"

"Oh, right you haven't met him yet, hold on I get him," Ocellus went to grab him as Vector and Smolder gave a stare.

"All right! No need to get excited! How do you do? They called me Mr. Tinker," He held out his hand for Sonic but he swipes it away.

"Do you really think I buy the act, Doc?"

"Doc? I don't think I've earned a doctorate... but then again I don't remember anything."

"Except how to build stuff! He's the best!"

"Well, I certainly try."

"Uh-huh. So, you don't remember any of our fights over the Chaos Emeralds?"

"I'm not familer with that cut.

"Lost Hex?"

"Somebody lost a magic spell?"

"The ARK?"

"Has a parabola?"

"The Death Egg?"

"Are you throwing random words together? I don't understand."

"Don't sweat it, Mr. Tinker. This is all a case of mistaken identity," Vector assured him.

"Are you sure? If I can help, I'd love to, but..."

"Don't bother. You just get back to what you were working on."

Mr. Tinker went to do his own thing as Espio, Vector, Sonic, and Smolder talked amongst themselves.

"This is what I meant when I said we sort of found Eggman," Espio told him.

"And you're sure it's not an act? This isn't the first time he pulled the new leaf shtick," Sonic reminded him.

"Believe me, I wanted it to be an act, but we kept a close eye on him for a number of day but it's legit, he remembers nothing," Vector said.

"Yeah, but he can be extremely dangerous. Never minds the close calls I've had while fighting him. He can threaten whole planets at a time..." Sonic flashbacks to all the time he had fought him. "But seeing him like this..."

"That's why we call you... We have no clue what to do! Sure, he's done some nasty stuff in the past, but can you really punish someone a guy who doesn't remember any of it?" He asked Sonic.

"The crimes have been committed and justice must be served. Eggman must be pushined," Espio retorted.

"I agree with the lizard, I personally want to claw his eyes," Smolder snarled.

"Right, but would you say it's Eggman?" Sonic asked her.

"Not really, agree to disagree," Smolder shrugged.

"Excuse me, I'm the head on the village, may l weigh on the subject?"

"Sure. Your town, your rules, right?"

"Yes... but in this case defer to the judgment of a famous hero. Before you make you decision, please consider this... that man appeared in our village one day without warning, we're still not sure how he arrived. We locked him quickly. But the next day we found out he broke out to only reinforce it. Just as the Chaotix, we questioned and tested him for days, never once did he show signs of his old villainous ways. Once we realized he wasn't himself. we nursed his wounds and took him in. In return he repaid our kindness tenfold. He repairs anything we brought from broken watch to our windmill. I know Dr. Eggman is a terrible man. I've heard many stories, but Mr. Tinker had been a blessing to our village. I know that he cannot undo the evil he's done... but I'd rather he remains free to do some good than rot in a cell."

"Ugh, this would be a lot easier when it was 'I hate the hedgehog.' Sonic groaned.

"We could stick around and keep an eye on him," Vector suggested.

"Nah. We would only delay things. It's better we figure it out before..."

"Badniks! Coming from the south! They're coming up the mountain! Run!" A villager screamed.

"For the love..." Sonic cocked an eyebrow. "You guys head'em off! I'll handle Eggman!"

"You got it! Charmy, Ocellus! We got work to do!"

"We're coming!" Both shouted.

When Sonic gets to the house that Eggman is in, however, he finds a scared Eggman trying to build a barricade for the village's children, whom he gently tries to keep calm and assured. He then begs Sonic (whose name he has not heard yet) to help defend the village, admitting in a ashamed manner that he is too afraid to fight himself. Upon seeing this, Sonic tells "Mr. Tinker" that he just has to worry about keeping the children safe while he helps the Chaotix smash the Badniks.

Smolder did her dragon fire on a Badnik, then ripping machinery on another then spots an Egg Flapper who watching the whole fight.

"That's how they got here," Smolder said then created a fire ball a kick at Egg Flapper which explolded on contact.

Back at the Eggman Empire theme base, the figure who controlling the Badink was furious of the development.

Why were Sonic and the Chaotix there? Did my forces stumble upon a settlement, or have they figure me out...?

Back at the battlefield, Sonic and the Chaotix clear up the remaining Badniks.

"Talk about a puny rescue force," Vector said.

"It wasn't a recuse force. Eggman was afraid of his own robots," Sonic told him.

"He's right, I smashed an Egg Flapper that must've tailed you and Espio we either of you knowing it was there," Smolder said.

"Which loved only one question what do with now?" Ocellus asked.

"Oh, I know what to do."

Moments later...

"I'm sorry Mr. Tinker. You got mixed with somebody else. I like us to start over, so.. Hi, I'm Sonic the Hedgehog."

"The pleasure is mine, Sonic! I hope you do manage to find who you're looking for. He sounds worrisome."

"I wouldn't worry about it. I think he's gone for good."

"Welp, it looks I got some tables to rebuild. I cannot thank you for helping the people."

"Don't sweat it. It what's I do."

"I hope you'll comeback to visit! I'd love to show you Eggman Land once it's completed." With Mr. Tinker said the last part which struck a nerve in Sonic.

” Eggman Land?! His terrifying theme park?! Did he meant to say that or... “

"You'll never menace the world with Eggman Land again!"

Everyone looks up to see Shadow, Rouge, Sunset Shimmer and Tempest Shadow with Shadow having angry look on his face.

"I'll destroy you first!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Next time it’s Hedgehog vs Hedgehog in The Fate of Eggman Part 2!