New world, same hero.

"No! I refuse to accept... being defeated by some ponies and a rat!"

Sonic approached, already annoyed from hearing him call him that at every moment they faced each other. At that exact moment, chains emerged from the portal, grabbing Tirek by each of his limbs, dragging him inside the portal to trap him in a cage, and then both saw each other one last time as the portal closed.

"That's enough! I'm not a rat! I'm a hedgehog! And my name is Sonic!" He said aloud while pointing at himself. And as the portal closed, Tirek could only watch him smile, with the punishment of remembering the name of the one who defeated him.

Shortly after Sonic reminded Tirek of his last moments of freedom before being imprisoned in Tartarus once again, the princesses and the other ponies who had lost their magic managed to recover it thanks to Twilight and her friends, who divided their efforts to help everyone regain their powers.

The princesses looked at their horns, feeling the magic flowing back into them. Cadance and Shining Armor embraced, celebrating Twilight’s victory, while the Crusaders and Spike bumped hooves and claws, jumping and cheering with joy at their triumph.

Rouge watched from the balcony with a smile before approaching the princesses. "Excuse me, I hate to interrupt this celebration, but we should meet with the heroes to have a long conversation."

"Can you take us?" Spike asked with a smile, standing beside Scootaloo, who was grinning brightly.

Rouge simply smiled and picked them up under her arms, leaping from the balcony and flying toward the place where everything had concluded. "Next stop: where the heroes won."

"We must go as well; we can’t miss this," Luna said with a smile, spreading her wings and taking flight, accompanied by Cadance and Celestia, who carried Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle on her back.

As the princesses left Canterlot Castle, on the outskirts of Ponyville, the Element Bearers, along with Discord, stood watching the gravely injured and barely conscious hedgehog, who remained there staring at them. His body screamed for rest, but he stayed upright, waiting for a moment of safety before allowing himself to collapse.

The ponies standing before him slowly lost their transformations, returning to their true forms. Twilight had recovered from the injury to her wing, which had healed almost instantly.

Sonic looked at the emerald in his hand and tucked it into his quills to keep it safe. "Heh..." His weak chuckle caught their attention, and they stared in surprise at how he managed to stay standing and even smiling despite his injuries.

"Um, excuse me, but... are you okay? If you don’t mind me asking, of course," Fluttershy asked softly, stepping forward.

The hedgehog’s eyes were barely open as he looked at the yellow pegasus and smiled faintly. "Yeah... nothing out of the ordinary." He grinned but felt the pain coursing through his body. He stayed strong, refusing to kneel. "That guy... heh, was way too easy," he said mockingly, even after facing Tirek and surviving his threats.

"I don’t think you’re in any condition to joke, partner," Applejack said, stepping forward without fear.

"Or to stand, for that matter," Discord added, snapping his fingers to conjure a poof behind Sonic. The hedgehog, seeing it, allowed himself to fall onto it.

"Tch, I don’t think the town is in any condition to celebrate this victory," Sonic said, glancing behind him at the nearly destroyed Ponyville and the surrounding area.

"I got it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, flying off to rally other pegasi to gather rain clouds.

"Discord, even after everything you’ve done, could you still help us?" Fluttershy asked, noticing how his ears perked up at the opportunity to regain her trust.

"That’s what friends are for, right? We’re still friends... aren’t we?"

The timid pegasus giggled softly at the chaos spirit’s insecurity about their friendship. "Of course we are. Now go show them you’re willing to fix your mistakes."

With that, Discord disappeared in a flash to help the town.

Twilight stepped closer to Sonic, stopping just a meter away from where he rested, and they locked eyes. He was smiling, while she looked at him with concern, worried he might try to run away despite his condition.

"Hey... I know you said you hoped our next meeting wouldn’t involve violence, but I just wanted to say how thankful I am that you came to save me and helped us against Tirek," the young princess said sincerely, smiling warmly at her savior.

Sonic stood up slowly, his body screaming for rest, but he moved closer in silence. “You’re Princess Twilight, as I’ve been told, right? Don’t thank me, Princess. The last thing I want is royalty bowing to me just for doing the right thing.”

“Yes, that’s me! And don’t worry about that. With my friends, I prefer not to be called ‘Princess,’ and you don’t have to either. But I just want to say, I don’t see you as someone bad, contrary to what you said last time. ‘Actions speak louder than a thousand words,’ right? Well, your actions now make me see you differently.” She felt confident they could now start off on the right foot.

“Heh, glad you remembered... but how about we start with introductions?” Sonic suggested. Twilight smiled and turned to her friends.

“Of course! Just give us a moment, okay?” she said nervously, gathering her friends for a quick private meeting.

“Alright, girls... we should be able to talk to him without any issues now, but let’s be mindful of the questions we ask,” Twilight said. All her friends, except Rainbow Dash, who was helping put out fires in Ponyville, had gathered.

“Can I ask him about parties?” Pinkie Pie chirped. The others nodded, knowing such an innocent question wouldn’t cause any trouble.

“I have so many questions about what he really is! He said he’s a hedgehog? I want to know more about his species,” Fluttershy added, glancing at Sonic, who was resting with his hands behind his head on the poof.

“I’d like to know how he’s connected to the fillies, how they met him and his story about coming here would be helpful,” Rarity suggested.

“I’m curious about that beautiful gem Tirek had. It seems important to him,” Applejack added.

While the mares talked, Sonic’s attention was drawn by the sound of wings. Turning, he saw Rouge approaching with the three princesses, the fillies, and Spike in tow. He smiled at the sight of his friend and her new companions.

“Hey, Rouge! Kids! Haha! How are ya?” Sonic greeted them warmly as the princesses and the bat landed, letting the younger ones off.

His shout caught the ponies’ attention as Spike and the fillies tackled Sonic into a group hug, knocking him back onto the poof.

“Ugh! Kids... Haha... ouch…” Sonic chuckled, even as the others laughed at the scene. The princesses and Rouge watched with amusement, recognizing the blue hedgehog as the hero they now admired.

“You did it! You beat Tirek!” Spike exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

“I said I would, and I did! But I didn’t do it alone—the little princess and her friends delivered the final blow and sent him where he belongs,” Sonic explained, nodding toward the Element Bearers.

As the group let him go and reunited with their families, Sonic asked, “By the way, where’s Rainbow Dash?”

“She’s helping Discord and the weather team gather clouds to put out the fires in Ponyville,” Fluttershy explained as Spike hugged Twilight, Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity, and Apple Bloom embraced Applejack.

Sonic stood, forcing himself to ignore his body’s protests. Rouge approached, helping him stay steady. “You’re lucky Amy isn’t here, or she’d lecture you for being in this state.”

“Can I trust you not to mention this when we get back? But anyway, I guess we’ll need to talk for several hours,” Sonic said, glancing at the three princesses.

“Unless you’ve already given them an explanation.”

“Oops, my bad,” Rouge admitted. “Everyone was so focused on your performance that I didn’t get the chance to tell them much about us.”

As Rainbow Dash returned, she was greeted by her number-one fan, who hugged her and celebrated her success.

“We won! You know what that means!?” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“Uh... knowing you, it means par-” Spike started, but Pinkie interrupted.

“A VICTORY PARTY!!!” she shouted, leaping into the air and firing confetti from a random cannon.

While the group laughed at Pinkie’s enthusiasm, Sonic and Rouge exchanged amused glances before turning to the princesses. They looked at each other, silently agreeing how to proceed.

“How about we move the celebration to Canterlot? A small victory gathering and a chance to get to know each other better,” Celestia suggested.

“Really!? YEEHAW!!!” Pinkie Pie cheered, nearly exploding with excitement.

“In the meantime, I’ll send the best builders to clean and repair Ponyville to prevent any accidents. You two are also invited,” Celestia said, addressing Sonic and Rouge.

“Well, we’d love to, but…” Rouge hesitated, glancing at Sonic, who nodded with a smile. “But yes, we’d be happy to come.”

“Fantastic! We’ll see you there tonight, and we’ll have a place for you to rest,” Celestia confirmed.

“Will it be formal or just a casual gathering?” Luna asked.

“Nothing too grand, just a chance to catch up,” Celestia replied. She then turned to Sonic, her horn glowing with golden magic. His wounds healed, the dirt vanished, and his pain disappeared, leaving him feeling refreshed. “I hope this is enough to thank you for your bravery. Do you feel better?”

“Heh, better than ever. Thanks, Princess... Celestia!” Sonic said, glancing at Spike, who gave him a thumbs-up for getting her name right.

“No need to thank me. It’s just a small gesture of gratitude for risking yourself for our kingdom, even though this matter was never your responsibility.”

“So, you’re the ruler of these lands, right?” Sonic asked the tall white alicorn, who spread her wings to reveal her resemblance to Twilight. She nodded with a smile.

“Well, where are my manners before royalty?” Sonic approached, took one of her hooves, and kissed it gently in a respectful gesture, taking her by surprise.

Everyone present was shocked by the unexpected action. Celestia folded her wings, feeling a slight blush at the hedgehog’s chivalrous act.

Sonic stood tall, his left hand behind his back and the other still holding her hoof. “Sonic the Hedgehog, at your service, Your Highness, hero of Mobius and the fastest thing alive.”

Quickly recovering herself, she looked at him with a calm smile, but there was a playful glint in her gaze directed toward her sister.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Sonic the Hedgehog. Here at my right is my sister, Princess of the Night, Luna. She is also the co-ruler of these lands.” She smiled and gestured toward her sister with her wing, catching Luna by surprise.

What are you thinking, Sister? Luna blushed, realizing he would greet her in the same manner. Though it was an unfamiliar gesture, she restrained herself from reacting negatively or making a scene in front of others, not wanting to seem ungrateful for his display of respect toward her royal position.

Sonic gently released the hoof of the Princess of the Sun and approached the Princess of the Night. He greeted her in the same manner, bowing respectfully as he introduced himself.

“It’s an honor, Princess Luna. I am Sonic the Hedgehog, a lover of adventures and admirer of the night sky.” He grinned mischievously, winking knowingly, as if in on Celestia's playful teasing of her sister.

“Y-yes, it’s an honor as well, Sir Sonic… Thank you for helping us.” Luna smiled appreciatively at his chivalrous gesture, but internally she knew her sister was teasing her by catching her off guard, much like Sonic had.

Cadance stifled a laugh behind one of her hooves as she watched Sonic approach her next, knowing he intended to greet her similarly. She simply smiled and extended her hoof in acknowledgment.

“Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Princess Cadance.”

“It’s an absolute pleasure, Princess Cadance. Sonic the Hedgehog, at your service, to help, save, and protect.”

The group of ponies looked on in disbelief at his boldness, casually addressing the princesses in such a manner. Rouge simply observed, unfazed, as Sonic remained himself even in the presence of royalty.

After greeting the three elder princesses, Celestia looked to her student. Using her magic, she brought Twilight forward, despite the young alicorn’s attempt to resist being drawn into the spotlight where the hedgehog was greeting every member of royalty.

“And this is my former student and Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. From what I understand, you’ve already had a few encounters.”

“You could say that, Your Highness, but now that everything’s peaceful…” Sonic approached the young alicorn, took her hoof gently, and gave it a tender kiss, this time showing respect for her position as a princess.

“I’m Sonic. I hope to make a better impression this time than during our first meeting,” he said with a warm smile. His words sounded more like a sincere apology than a boastful introduction. His gaze softened, exuding kindness and confidence.

Twilight, for her part, was unsure how to react. Her nerves threatened to overwhelm her as she looked at him, blushing and fidgeting nervously. She turned to her friends for support. Rarity nodded encouragingly, Applejack nudged Rainbow Dash, who made a gagging motion, gesturing toward her mouth, Pinkie bounced excitedly, and Fluttershy shyly averted her gaze.

“Now then, Princess, I’m all ears for whatever you need,” Sonic said, his words calming her. Now reassured that he was ready to listen and wouldn’t run off, Twilight felt she finally had a chance to build mutual understanding.

While Sonic introduced himself, Rouge took the initiative to present herself in her own unique way.

“A pleasure to meet you, Your Highnesses. I’m Rouge the Bat, special agent of G.U.N, professional thief, and lover of jewels. But don’t worry, the thief part is strictly for the greater good and against the bad guys.”

“You’re like a spy gathering intel on enemies?” Luna asked, intrigued and finding it pleasant that Rouge was a nocturnal creature like herself.

“The night is when I do my best work, but the day isn’t bad either,” Rouge replied with a sly smile.

Cadance joined Rouge and Luna, eager to be part of the conversation. “I think you and I have something to discuss regarding the Crystal Empire and your late-night arrival.”

“As long as a cell isn’t part of the plan, I think we can come to a good understanding,” Rouge quipped.

“Let’s leave further introductions for later while we prepare for our little celebration and meeting, shall we?” Celestia suggested, receiving nods from Luna and Cadance in agreement.

“Until later, my ponies, Sonic, Rouge. We’ll be waiting for you.” Sonic responded with a thumbs-up, signaling his agreement as the trio of princesses departed, leaving the heroes to settle in.

Now, it was time for the Mobians to introduce themselves to Twilight’s group.

Canterlot – Throne Room

Upon returning from the encounter with the group of heroes, the princesses found themselves back in the throne room, where Tirek had left them powerless. Inside, they encountered the same robotic bird through which Dr. Eggman had previously communicated with them.

As they approached, the robotic bird activated, its beak opening to emit the voice of its creator. “Good day, princesses. I see you’ve been charmed by the words of that little blue monstrosity.”

“And how would you know what we’ve done?” Celestia stepped forward, glaring at the metallic creature.

“Just like this invention of mine, I have many others scattered everywhere. That hulking bull dared to challenge him, what a colossal fool. Did he truly think he could stand a chance against that blue menace? Bah! He can steal magic, but against him? Nothing can stop him.” Eggman’s voice dripped with amusement, clearly relishing the idea of his archenemy’s victory.

Luna stepped beside her sister, exchanging a glance with her. “What do you mean? Are you saying Tirek never stood a chance against Sir Sonic?”

The robot turned toward the Princess of the Night, its reaction seemingly expressing surprise at her words.

“Sir Sonic, you say? I see his words have truly charmed you, now you can’t help but see him as a powerful ally. He helped you defeat that ‘Tirek,’ befriended you, and earned the favor of your subjects.” It raised one wing, projecting a hologram of Sonic greeting the three princesses and mingling with the Element Bearers as part of their group.

The three princesses exchanged uncertain glances, weighing Eggman’s words about the blue hero against Sonic’s seemingly genuine kindness and willingness to help.

Cadance stepped forward, using her magic to turn the robot to face her.

“Listen to me, Doctor! We might consider your words to protect our ponies, but we know nothing about you. We can’t decide who to trust until we know more about both sides. Why don’t you let us ensure your intentions are genuine before we deal with him?”

The room fell silent after Cadance’s fiery outburst, leaving Celestia and Luna taken aback. The robot remained silent for a few seconds before Cadance gently set it down with her magic.

“HO HO HO HO! Very well, princess! As you wish, but remember, if you’re ever desperate to stop him, I’ll be awaiting your call. I’ll take care of him myself.” The robot opened a compartment in its chest, releasing a remote with a button displaying a smiley face with a mustache. “Just press this button, and I’ll send a team to take him away, far from your subjects, never to bother you again.”

The robot ended the transmission and flew away, leaving the remote lying on the floor. It floated up in a golden aura toward Celestia.

“What do we do now? We don’t know who to trust,” Luna said, feeling the weight of the situation.

“Hmm… I have an idea. But for this, our guests must stay overnight. Then, using your dream magic, we can learn about both Sonic and Dr. Eggman.”

“Hmm, that sounds like an invasion of their privacy, Sister.” Luna already felt uneasy about the idea.

“I know, and I admit it’s unfair to him. I just hope he doesn’t hate us if we’re wrong about him. But we do this to protect our ponies and to understand who our enemy truly is. Just this once, and then you can continue to use your magic as you see fit.”

“Fine… but I won’t feel at ease doing this. Still, if it’s for understanding and trust, I’ll do it.”

Celestia nodded, relieved, and walked away, leaving Cadance and Luna alone.

[Sister, does the idea of someone so powerful truly frighten you this much? Are we going so far just because we’re unsure if he’s deceiving us or true to his words?] Luna asked silently, glancing at the remote in Celestia’s magic.

“Cadance, could you sense the feelings of our guests when you get the chance?”

“Of course, but right now, Celestia feels just as insecure as you.”

“It’s as if… she fears Sonic for what he’s capable of but still wants to believe in him. But then there’s Dr. Eggman, so suspicious, knowing so much about both us and Sonic. We don’t know if what he says is true or if he’s lying about Sonic. But I also want to hear Sonic’s side, what he knows about Dr. Eggman and how he sees him.”

The two shared a thoughtful silence before sighing and returning to their duties. The evening to celebrate their victory over Tirek and welcome their new allies was drawing near, but not everything could be so perfect.