1. Bridlewoodstock

A dark corridor extended to a really large distance.

Suddenly, from the metallic ceiling, a ventilation door fell to the ground, followed by Rouge coming out of it and landing in the floor. She was using the same clothes she used back when she first met Omega and free'd Shadow from Eggman's stasis capsule.

After that, she looked at her surroundings, and once she checked nobody was around, she brought out a small device that looked like a tube, before opening it up. The tube released a grey gas, and then, Rouge threw the gas so it could roll across the floor. As it did so, the gas revealed many red lasers across the corridor, which made the bat smirk, weirdly enough.

Then, she wrapped herself on her own wings and began to dodge all the lasers professionally, even sliding below some of them, until she managed to get to the other side without having touched a single laser.

Next, she took out a device that she placed over a panel control, and after that, she stepped back and flew to the ceiling, staying there before the device extended a black stick with a spike, which it used to cut a perfect circle on the whole wall around the panel control.

And then, when the circle was completed, the hole was open with a massive punch, and the piece of round metal ended on the other side of the room, while Rouge landed on the floor and looked at the hole with a smirk.

Right through the hole, Omega and Shadow entered, as the former started to scan the entire basement they were in, while Shadow looked at Rouge with a bored expression.

"What took you so long?" Shadow asked with a glare.

"Honey, being sneaky is my thing" Rouge replied with a mocking tone. "Just because I didn't do it as fast as you'll like does not mean my results are less effective~" she added with a wink.

"Dr. Eggman could be planning to escape from us this very second!" Shadow pointed out with anger. "If he hasn't escaped, that is..." he added with another glare.

Rouge rolled her eyes at Shadow's attitude, but before she could reply anything, Omega let out a 'beep' sound, indicating that his scanning was complete. "Eggman's basement scanned. The main lab is located at the end of this corridor" he informed, pointing at the left direction of the hole in the wall.

"Say no more!" Shadow replied, as he immediately boosted towards the lab.

Rouge rolled her eyes and groaned in annoyance, before following him by flight, while Omega did the same and rushed as fast as he could, until he decided to use his rockets to lift up from the ground.

Then, Shadow curled into a ball and Spin Dashed through the lab's door, taring it down and then looking around with a frown, which actually disappeared slowly as he saw that the lab was not only empty, but also rusty, dusty and messy, which was weird since Eggman was everything but messy with his labs.

Rouge and Omega arrived, and the former freaked out at the empty lab as well, while the latter scanned the room in search for any sign of Dr. Eggman.

"Scanning completed. No signs of Dr. Eggman detected" Omega reported, although his tone sounded bot disappointed and frustrated, as he shamelessly showed a hand and closed it on an angered fist.

"Eggman's not here either..." Shadow muttered, frowning in rage once again.

"This is the fifth installment we've found and infiltrate..." Rouge pointed out, then she approached to the big computer in the middle of the room and tapped on it, but the computer was totally empty. "And just like the previous ones, it's totally empty. There's... nothing here... No data, no pictures, not even a browser..." she explained with concern.

"Eggman must be trying to distract us" Rouge suggested. "I mean, five empty basements with no defense mechanisms, no data on his computer, and all dusty and messy? Are we sure this were created by the same Eggman we know?" she questioned.

"Dr. Eggman is a genius. He knows we're after him. Therefore, he has reasons to pull us off the path" Omega pointed out.

"And if he wants to avoid Opaline now that he betrayed her, it's only normal to think he wants to distract her as well" Shadow pointed out, as well. "Making empty bases to trick her and us is spot on for the doctor, but it does not changes the fact that we must find him" he stated with a frown.

"Well, considering that he pretty much disappeared after his plan backfired in the Starfall Islands 6 months ago, it's also safe to say he's planning to get revenge on Sonic somehow" Rouge added with a frown as well.

Yeah, Team Sonic and the Mane 5 made a deal to not talk about Sage, so Misty, Amy and Team Dark don't even know she exists... And they want to keep it like that.

Suddenly, Omega made another beep sound, calling Shadow's and Rouge's attention. "Incoming recorded video from: Pipp Petals" the robot informed, before projecting with his eyes an image of a video sent by Pipp, as he stated.

"Hey everypony!" Pipp spoke happily as she held her phone. "As you all know by now, we have spent the last 6 months away from each other... But I think it is finally time we all reunite again!" she explained.

"That's why, we want to invite you all to a little welcome party in the Brighthouse exclusively for us!" Sonic spoke as well with a smirk, getting into the video as he hugged Pipp from her back, while Pipp giggled a bit. "We're making this on Friday, ya'll. Don't be late!" he added with a wink, as the video finished playing.

"It was fun to tease him off camera about having a girlfriend... now the fun is over..." Shadow said with a bored expression.

"I think we should go back and chill with them for a while" Rouge suggested. "As important as it is to find Dr. Eggman, perhaps we could take a brake from it for a couple of weeks? Maybe a month, even?" she added with a little smile.

Shadow inhaled and exhaled, before smirking at Rouge. "You know? I actually do not mind taking a break for once..." he confessed. "Besides, I'll be lying if I said I don't want to check on Sunny after 6 months without seeing her" he added.

Rouge looked at Shadow with wide eyes, and even if Omega could not show emotions with his face, he still looked at Shadow confused.

"... That wasn't expected... Not even for me..." Omega said.

"I second that..." Rouge admitted.

With this, Rouge and Omega turned and head towards the exit, a.k.a. the hole that they made in the wall, but Shadow stood behind and looked at a camera over the ceiling that neither Omega nor Rouge seemed to notice before.

"Doctor..." Shadow spoke with a frown. "I do not care where you are hiding. We will find you, and whatever you might have in store, we will stop you. As we always do!" he stated, before launching a Chaos Spare to the camera and then boost away from the lab as well...

Eggman stared at his computer with a frown.

After all the stuff he has done to the Mane 5 and Team Sonic for the past months, he never expected to see that Team Dark would be the one chasing him instead of the blue blur.

Still, seeing Shadow threat him and warn him about finding his actual new hidden lab... He did felt chills on his spine.

But that wasn't going to stop him. He's been threatened to be stoped before, and he never did, so why start now, when his newest and diabolical plan was already in the works, anyways?

"Father" Sage's voice spoke. "Should I initiate protocols to recon and destroy for this 'Team Dark'?" she asked.

"No need to do that, dear" Eggman replied. "Is not the first time Shadow has threatened me, and it won't be the last. Of course, it does not mean I'm gonna stop!" he pointed out with a grin. "Creating fake basements to get those fools of the track has worked so far, both for Opaline and Team Dark. Hopefully, it'll stay that way..." he said with a frown.

"I can always create more basements for you, father" Sage suggested.

"That'll be wonderful, but we cannot waste more resources" Eggman pointed out. "Now that I have no Chaos Emeralds with me, I gotta be careful with where I sent my creations from now on" he explained. "If Team Dark is really taking a break for the next month, then we better get to work!" he stated.

"Yes, father" Sage replied, as she changed the image in the computer from Shadow's video to a bunch of images that showed the silver/metallic liquid sample moving around its bottle. "I've already studied this sample and ran around 3 million simulations, but... I still cannot tell why it's alive..." Sage explained with concern.

"And it has gotten bigger, too..." Eggman pointed out with a frown. "It used to be just 1/4 the size of the bottle... now it's 3/4 size of it, and it scares me... Just as much as it fascinates me!" he stated with a grin.

"It expands at fast paste, that's for sure..." Sage pointed out. "But its properties are a mystery, even for myself, and it grows with each passing minute... You are right, father. This is fascinating" she confessed.

"And it's exactly that the reason why we must investigate further on this specimen!" Eggman stated, still grinning sinisterly. "Dear, put the sample data on my database. We must find out more about this metallic goo... or whatever it is. Guess we'll have to give it a name..." he pointed out.

"Right away, father!" Sage replied cheerfully.

As the currently AI started to work, Eggman looked back at the 3/4 full bottle and the substance inside, still grinning. "I cannot wait to explode your hidden power!" he stated, as he laughed like a maniac.

Sonic, Pipp, Hitch, Amy and Misty were preparing everything for the 'Welcome Party' in the Brighthouse.

Hitch, Pipp and Amy were placing down some snacks in the kitchen's table, while Sonic and Misty were placing all the decorations across the living room.

"I can't believe we're finally seeing everyone again after 6 months!" Pipp said excited, before squealing like a filly.

"Well, considering all the crazy stuff we lived on those Islands months ago, I'm really glad we all got some time for ourselves!" Hitch said with a smile.

"I still cannot believe that your ancestors are really from this world, Sonic..." Amy told the blue hedgehog with a smile. "I thought that Longclaw was saying gibberish in her message!" she confessed.

"Honestly? I still find it surreal myself" Sonic replied with a smirk.

"There's also that weird thing that looked like a red moon..." Misty pointed out. "What was that?" she asked confused.

"Satan himself..." Sonic replied with a bored expression. "Jokes aside, it was a weirdo that got control over my body, and then turned into the most hated animal by any normal female: A giant snake!" he added with a frown.

After saying this, Misty, Pipp and Amy all collectively felt a chill running down their spines at the mention of the giant snake.

"I will normally say snakes are cool, but considering that one almost destroyed our entire planet... Yeah... That's everything but cool..." Hitch said with a sheepish smile.

Suddenly, the doorbell ringed, and before anyone could attend the door, it was suddenly opened, and then, both Izzy and Knuckles boosted inside, each carrying around 3 or 4 bags full of stuff they both collected on their treasure hunt. Also, Knuckles was wearing his treasure hunter outfit.

"Hallo, hallo und guten Tag!" Knuckles greeted with a huge smile, as he placed two of the bags in the floor and even made a bow while taking off his hat.

"Hello!" Izzy greeted cheerfully.

"Izzy!" Pipp and Misty said happily, as they immediately rushed towards the unicorn mare and wrapped her in a big hug, with Izzy giggling and hugging them back.

"Knux!" Amy said, as she also wrapped Knuckles in a big bear hug, and Knuckles chuckled a bit before hugging her back as well.

"Yo, Knux! Long time no see!" Sonic cheered with a smile, as he and Knuckles fist bumped each other.

"Honestly? I kind of thought you two were gonna be last!" Hitch said with a smirk, as he extended his hoof and hoofbumped with Knuckles as well. "But I'm also glad that you proved me wrong!" he added.

"We also though we would be the last to arrive" Izzy said, as Pipp and Misty finally let her go. "We kind of let ourselves get too invested in the treasure hunting on our way here..." she added with a sheepish smile, also scratching her neck.

"But I'll say it was worth it! We got you souvenirs and everything!" Knuckles stated with a smirk, as he opened one of the bags. "Let's see... the Chaos Emeralds..." he started, as he threw both the Red and Purple Emeralds to Sonic, who caught them with his hands and smiled at them. "I found this neat pink crystal in the deeps of a cave with a weird silver lake..." he continued, now giving said crystal to Amy, who smiled brightly at the sight. "I got this aquamarine crystal in an abandoned farm, not so far from Fluttershy's old cottage..." he added, extending the crystal to Hitch, who grabbed it with a smile.

Next, Izzy used her magic to levitate the remaining bag off her back and started to look through it as well. "I think I had something for... AHA!" she exclaimed taking out a green emerald collar and giving it to Pipp, who gasped dramatically at the sight, as she took the collar on her hooves with a huge smile. "It reminded me of you when I saw it!" she said with a smile.

"Izzy, this is really gorgeous!" Pipp sang with a smile, as she hugged Izzy again. "Thank you so much for this!" she added.

"I knew you would like it!" Izzy said with a cheery smile, before digging into the bag again and then brought out a small topaz and show it to Misty. "And for you, I found this! I thought it would look nice on your bracelet!" she explained.

Misty gasped as well and grabbed the topaz with a smile, before place it over her bracelet on her left hoof. "Izzy, this is so beautiful! Thank you!' she said with a smile.

"Anything for my fellow unicorns!" Izzy replied happily, as the two mares shared another hug.

"I also found this sapphire..." Knuckles said, as he brought it out and threw it to Sonic, who once again caught the gem with a smirk. "It kind of reminds to you, so I thought... 'Eh, why not'?" he explained with a smirk.

"The Chaos Emeralds would've been enough for me, but this is pretty neat, too!" Sonic said with a smile. "Anything else you found, besides that weird metallic looking-like lake?" he asked Knuckles and Izzy.

"Nah. We had to deal with an Eggman badnik, but we crushed it like a fragile glass!" Knuckles replied with a smirk.

"You too?" Pipp asked with a bored expression. "Does that guy knows what 'vacations' stand for? He should try it sometime..." she pointed out.

"Yeah... Although, it wasn't Eggman actually. It was a weird toy with springs around..." Izzy pointed out confused.

"So a decoy as well..." Sonic said with a bored expression. "If I had a nickel for everytime Eggman has tried to kill any of us, I'll be rich at this point!" he pointed out with a frown.

And then, the doors opened again, this time to reveal Sunny, Tails and Zipp, also entering to the Brighthouse as they seemed to be talking between themselves happily.

However, any chance they had to say hi to everyone else went through the window when the three of them were either tackled to the floor or embraced in a big hug: Izzy tackled Sunny down as she also hugged her tightly, while Pipp went to wrap her hooves tightly around her sister with a smile.

As for Tails? Sonic grabbed him from his waist and started to twirl him around happily, as Tails giggled while being lifted in the air, before Sonic finally finished the hug with him properly holding Tails, even if the young fox could still not touch the ground, but he still hugged Sonic back.

"Oh, it's nice to see you again, little bro!" Sonic said with a huge grin, but once he put him down on the ground, he found himself amused when he noticed that Tails was... taller... Well, he was 4 feet tall before, now he's like 4.6 feet tall, but still... he has grown up.

He also seemed to be wearing some googles over his head, and his shoes were a blue variant instead of red as well!

"Whoa... When you said that I wouldn't recognize you, you weren't kidding!" Sonic said with an amused smile.

"Pretty cool, right?" Tails talked... but there was something different with him...

It was so amazing, so mind-blowing that it made Sonic stare at Tails with wide eyes. And what is it? Well... Tails sounds older now.

"... Y-Your voice... You sound... older..." Sonic pointed out, completely flabbergasted by this fact.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... Well, the thing is that my voice have might get a tiny, little bit low pitched... But it's still me!" Tails explained with a smile. "Whatcha think?" he asked with a smirk.

However, Sonic started to move at really fast past on his place, as his smile slowly grew, until it was a big enough, and then, Sonic curled into a ball and boosted back inside the Brighthouse, as he booted all over the place and booted through the living room like a pinball ball.

Then, he went back to the outside and wrapped his arms around Tails, hugging him tightly once again. "YOU ARE GROWING UP, AND I COULDN'T BE ANY MORE PROUD OF YOU, MAN!" Sonic shouted, as he violently shook Tails, while the fox weirdly enough chuckled a bit as he was shaken. "I know any other guy would freak out, or even cry, or be mad because you're getting older, but... MY GOSH, YOU ARE BECAME A MAN, BRO!" Sonic cheered, as he hugged him once again.

"You're taking this better than I expected!" Tails said with a smile.

"Why would I be mad? Because you sound older?! Man, I'm proud of you!" Sonic said cheerfully, now rubbing Tails head with a fist, while Tails chuckled again and fought to take him off him.

Meanwhile, Sunny was busy as Izzy and Hitch wrapped her in a tight hug, while Zipp was the same with her little sister.

"Aw! It's so good to see you all again after so long!" Sunny said with a warm smile, before being wrapped on one side by Sparky as well, who jumped from Hitch's back to her side.

"How did your mission went across Equestria?" Izzy asked her with a cheery smile.

"Oh, it was pretty good, actually!" Sunny replied with a smile. "Everypony around Bridlewood and Zephyr Heights were really welcoming at everything I told them about my dream of a world of love and harmony" she explained. "I don't know if telling them about what I saw with those Koco in the Starfall Islands had something to do, but... They actually seemed really happy and supportive with everything I said!" she pointed out.

"That's great to hear, Sunny!" Amy said with a smile, and Sunny smiled back at her.

"I also heard rumors about a certain Alicorn solving some friendship problems around Equestria!" Hitch said with a mocking smirk, as he slightly pushed Sunny on her shoulder, while Sunny giggled at the gesture. "Does that ring a bell to you?" Hitch added with a wink.

Sunny blushed a bit, but she still rolled her eyes and smirked mockingly back at the stallion. "Oh, I don't know. Are you talking about Opaline, hmm?" she mocked back.

That actually made the small group burst out laughing at how ridiculous it sounded the idea of Opaline helping out instead of being a threat.

"Seems like you had fun on your journey across Equestria!" Hitch said with a smile. "Things in Maretime Bay were really boring..." he confessed.

"Yup! It's weird you guys had been attacked by Eggman. The Brighthouse has been silent and peaceful ever since Eggman was defeated on his Death Egg Titan" Amy pointed out. "Not even Opaline has approached here, either!" she added.

"So Eggman attacked us, and Opaline stood on the sidelines... Weird..." Sunny muttered with concern.

On the other hand, as Sonic and Tails came in, the young fox was dragged into a side hug by Knuckles, as he also rubbed his head a bit, and Tails chuckled once again, trying to get the echidna off.

"How you doing, little man?" Knuckles asked him with a smirk. "I've heard that your voice has grown a bit!" he added.

"It has, actually. I'm not so 'little' anymore, am I?" Tails asked with a mocking smirk.

However, Knuckles' eyes widened, and he stared completely shocked at Tails. "... Huh... You were not joking about the voice change..." he realized.

"Of course it wouldn't be a joke! Or what, do you thought I was going to sound girl-ish forever?" Tails mocked up.

"Actually, yes. I did" Knuckles replied with absolutely no sign of shame.

To this, Tails stared at Knuckles with a bored expression. "For both of our sakes, I'm gonna pretend you're just kidding..." he replied.

Then, Tails was tapped in the shoulder by somepony, so he turned to see who it was, but he felt confused when he saw nopony there. Then, he was tapped on his other shoulder and looked again, but again, nopony was there, and that confused him even more.

But then, when he turned around, he was suddenly wrapped in a hug by Misty, and even if he felt kind of startled at her being more playful, he still smiled and hugged her back.

"Aw, Mist!" Tails said with a smile. "I'm glad to see you again, too!" he added cheerfully.

"Oh, it feels like an eternity since the last time we talked..." Misty said with a little smile. "By the way, you sound different..." she pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah! Now I'm a bit taller, a year older, I have a new look, and my voice is slightly low pitched!" Tails said with a proud smile. "But I'm the same old Tails, anyways!" he pointed out with a smile.

"It's noticeable!" Misty replied with a little grin, slightly pushing Tails on a shoulder. "So, anything interesting while you were out with Zipp?" she asked with a smile.

"Well, aside from finding the Yellow Chaos Emerald..." Tails started, as he tossed said Emerald to Sonic, who once again caught it with a hand. "We found this really weird ship that seemed to belong to some pirates before..." he added with a weirded expression.

"Pirates? Wait, you found a pirate ship?!" Misty asked in awe.

"Kinda? I mean, I can't tell if it was a ship, or a giant hot air balloon... I think it was a mix of both..." Tails said with a bored expression. "Oh, we also found this really neat town not so far from what I think it used to be Ponyville, but we didn't saw that much ponies there..." he pointed out. "Gosh, there's so much I wanna tell, and I don't know where should I keep going!" he exclaimed excited.

"Well, I can't wait to hear everything!" Misty exclaimed excited as well for a minute, before looking down to the floor with sadness. "Too bad I haven't discovered anything on how to get through Opaline's shield around her castle..." she said with disappointment.

"Hey, it's okay, Mist!" Tails told her with a smile. "We'll find a way to get through it!" he assured her with a confident smile.

As Sonic lay on a wall and chuckled at Tails and Misty talking, Sunny suddenly dragged him into a hug as well.

"Whoa, there!" Sonic said with a chuckle, as Sunny broke the hug and smiled at her. "I didn't knew you missed me that much, Sunny-Bunny!" he said with a mocking tone and a wink.

"Aw, please. I've missed all my friends!" Sunny pointed out with a smile. "In all seriousness, though. It is good to see you again, Sonic. I wanted to give you this!" she added, as she brought out the Light Blue Chaos Emerald from her saddlebag and gave it to him.

"Whoa, cool!" Sonic said with a smirk, as he grabbed the Emerald. "We have five with this one, considering Little Pipp and I found the Blue one on a place named Baltimare..." he pointed out with a smile.

On the other hand, we had the royal sisters, hugging each other tightly as well.

"Oh, Zipp! I seriously cannot start to describe how much I've missed you!" Pipp exclaimed with a smile.

"I've missed you too, sis!" Zipp confessed, as she hugged Pipp once again. "I got a lot to tell on everything Tails and I discovered! But most importantly, I think you're gonna like about this really cool place with abandoned clothes" she added with a smirk, wrapping a hoof around Pipp's neck.

"Why do you say that?" Pipp asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.

"An abandoned boutique that gives you a spooky feeling with lots of fancy, although also really dusty, clothes all over the place?" Zipp described smoothly.

"Oh, now you have my attention!" Pipp replied with a smirk.

"Ladies!" Sonic said suddenly, as he appeared at Pipp's other side with a smile. "Zippster, do you mind if I steal your sister just a sec?" he asked the older pegasus with a wink.

"All yours, champ! I gotta have a talk with Sunny, anyways" Zipp said as she flew away and towards Sunny.

"What's the matter, Blue Star?" Pipp asked her boyfriend with a smile.

"Sorry to bug you, Little Pipp, but do you know anything about Team Dark?" Sonic asked concerned. "I haven't heard any kind of answer from them..." he pointed out with a slight frown.

Pipp took out her phone and checked the group chat were all the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Team Dark shared, but there was now message from either Shadow, Rouge nor Omega. "No... there's nothing so far..." she replied with concern.

"That's odd... I haven't heard anything from them since last month..." Sonic pointed out with a frown. "Never thought I'll say this about Shadow, of all people, but... I hope those three are okay..." he confessed.

"You? Concerned about me?" Shadow's voice spoke, and Sonic deadpanned as he slowly turned around and looked at Shadow with a bored expression. "Seeing is believing, living is seeing!" he added with a mocking tone and smirk.

Team Dark was approaching to the Brighthouse as well, and once Sunny noticed this, she gasped happily and immediately went to wrap Shadow into a hug.

Of course, Shadow was still not used to Sunny being this affective with him, but he still allowed her to hug him, even though he didn't hugged back this time around, although it was just to protect his ego in front of Sonic, who was smirking mockingly at him, not because he didn't wanted to hug Sunny back.

"I haven't heard anything from you in the past month! I thought something happened!" Sunny said with concern, as she finally broke the hug.

Shadow did felt a bit guilty after Sunny explained this, and he even looked away from her, but his frown remained. "There was a situation as we looked for Eggman's new lab..." he replied.

"What kind of situation?" Knuckles asked with a frown, as he and everyone else approached Team Dark.

"We broke into five different basements" Rouge replied with her arms crossed.

"What?!" Zipp exclaimed with wide eyes, while everypony gasped in panic, and Team Sonic just frowned. "What do you mean you broke into five basements?!" Zipp added confused.

"Is what you hear" Shadow replied. "Eggman built different labs across Equestria, but every single one we broke was empty and dusty..." he pointed out.

"I can get behind the empty part, but dusty? Eggman might be a lot of things, but messy is not one of them..." Tails pointed out, crossing his arms and frowning.

However, after Tails opened his mouth, Shadow and Rouge stared at him with wide eyes.

"... His voice is different..." Rouge pointed out, a bit freaked out by this.

"Puberty reach him late. Ignore that fact and get to the point!" Amy said with annoyance.

However, it didn't took Tails late to understand what Amy said at first, so he looked at her with a frown. "Hey!" he complained.

"The point is that Eggman is still out of our radar, and we still can't find where he's hiding" Rouge replied, before she looked over at Misty. "Have you found a way to get through Opaline's barrier?" she asked her.

"No..." Misty replied with shame, as she looked down in disappointment. "All I can say is that the barrier is way too powerful. I don't think we can get through it, not even with all our Cutie Mark magic combined..." she added with concern, looking over at the rest of the Mane 6.

"So, in terms of defeating evil, we're not going anywhere yet, are we?" Knuckles asked with a bored expression.

"Pretty much..." Izzy replied with the same bored expression.

"Well, at least we did found the Green and Silver Chaos Emeralds in two of the basements we broke in" Shadow said, as he brought the mentioned Emeralds out and tossed them to Sonic.

The blue hedgehog caught them and looked down at them with a smile. "Would you believe me if I told you that we have all the Chaos Emeralds now with these two?!" he asked Shadow with a smirk.

"Do I have other choice?" Shadow asked with a bored expression.

"Nope" Sonic replied proudly.

"Then no" Shadow replied, as he headed towards inside the Brighthouse, with Rouge, Sunny and Omega following behind.

"Dude, you are seriously the edgiest man alive..." Sonic said with a bored expression, as he walked inside as well, while Pipp chuckled at his joke.

"Ooh, I just remembered! I hope you all are free tomorrow, because I wanna show you something amazing!" Izzy exclaimed happily.

"Is it related to gems?" Rouge asked.

"Nope, but it's just as beautiful!" Izzy replied cheerfully.

"Huh... It sounds interesting, actually. I'll... consider it" Rouge said with a smirk.

"What are you gonna show us exactly, Izz?" Knuckles asked his girlfriend with a smile.

"Oh, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, silly!" Izzy replied with a cheerful smile.

The next night, at a full moon, the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Team Dark are following Izzy through the Bridlewood forest, as some critters are wandering around.

"This is kinda spooky, isn't it?" Pipp asked her friends with an exciting smile.

Suddenly, an owl hooted and fluttered their wings loudly, which startled Hitch as he gasped in fright, while Pipp gave him a playful smirk.

"No. Not at all" Hitch said nervously, while Sparky is on his back was sleeping like the baby dragon he is, also sucking his thumb.

"Izzy, what are we doing in the middle of the Bridlewood forest… at night?" Sunny asked nervously.

Sonic, on his own, stretched out his arms and yawned a bit. "Yeah... What's the reason to private me from my beauty sleep?" he complained as well.

"Better stop sleeping, then. It's not working" Shadow said with a bored expression, even though his intention was to mock Sonic over.

And it worked, because Sonic turned to him and looked at him with a glare.

"It's a surprise!" Izzy answered cheerfully, as she turned to them. "If I told you, you wouldn't be surprised!" she pointed out.

"She does have a point there" Zipp admitted.

"Yeah, can't argue with that logic!" Misty agreed with a smile.

"It doesn't change the fact that is 2 a.m. in the morning..." Tails deadpanned.

"2:37 a.m. to be precise" Omega informed.

"You guys told him that he doesn't has to be this specific, right?" Knuckles asked Rouge with a bored expression.

"Oh, we did. The thing is that he listens" Rouge replied with the same bored expression.

"You're all gonna love it. Hoof to heart" Izzy said with a smile.

"I still don't get what that means..." Amy said with a raised eyebrow.

"Sunny's father used to tell her that all the time when she was little. Call it a 'family tradition' from hers that we're all following up" Sonic replied with a smile.

"Come on! It's just up here!" Izzy announced, as she took the lead again with hops.

"Oh yeah!" Pipp cheered, as she followed Izzy while Sunny and Zipp followed with a little laugh, and everyone else simply walked normally.

"Uh…" Hitch said nervously as he looked around, before he trotted after the rest as well.

The group kept following Izzy as they trotted through the forest, but then, Izzy gasped with a smile as she saw something that made her stop, which made her pony friends bump into her and into each other with a yelp, while Pipp fell to the floor

"Oof, ow" Hitch said from the bump, which made Sparky wake up, as the baby dragon yawned and rubbed his eyes.

As Sonic came by and helped Pipp to stand up, the rest looked over at Izzy with raised eyebrows, and Misty shook her head after the bump. "Izzy! Why did you stopped?" she asked confused.

"Because we're here! Ta-da!" Izzy announced cheerfully as she raised her hoof in front of her.

What was she pointing at? Just a clearing in the woods with crystals and un-sprouted flowers around.

Everyone else stood quiet for a moment until Zipp broke the silence. "Uh… Izzy? Is something supposed to happen?" she asked confused.

"Yeah, 'cause everything I see is a bunch of flowers that haven't sprouted yet..." Sonic pointed out with a bored expression.

Izzy just smiled and raised her hoof over her mouth. "Hush" she said. before walking up to an un-sprouted plant and lean closer to it. And just like that, the plant sprouted into a big flower that glowed bright.

One by one, all the flowers across the clearing sprouted and started to glowing as well, and even the crystals started to shine bright. Then, some glowing tiny flies came out of the plants and started to fly around, which made the rest of the Mane 6 and Team Sonic feel amazed at the sight.

"Wow!" Sunny said in awe.

"Holy Chili Dogs!" Sonic exclaimed with a smirk.

"Gorgeous!" Pipp cheered with a wide smile.

"No way..." Tails said with wide eyes.

"Awesome!" Zipp called out with a smile.

"Sweet grapes!" Knuckles said with wide eyes and a smile.

"Beautiful!" Misty said with a smile.

"I second that!" Amy agreed with Misty, as she looked around in awe.

"What?" Hitch asked in surprise and awe at the sight.

Suddenly, a glowing fly passed by Sparky, who gurgled at them and tried to reach it with a smile, until the fly flew away.

"Wow. I've never seen anything like this in my life!" Sunny cheered, while looking closely at the flowers with a smile. "This is amazing, Izzy!" she added, as she touched the flower, which glowed brighter by her touch.

"And here I thought this place couldn't impress me!" Rouge admitted, as she also approached a flower and touched it.

On the other hand, Omega was now covered on both his shoulders by many of the glowing flies, but he didn't seemed to mind, he just stared at the flies a bit confused.

Shadow also approached the same flower that Sunny touched and, weirdly enough, he smiled a bit at the sight.

"What is it?" Sunny asked in awe.

"It's called the 'Lumi-Bloom'!" Izzy replied with a smile, as she got next to Sunny and Shadow while waving her hoof. "Every moon season, for one week only, all of the plants and stuff in this part of Bridlewood go all wild and glowy!" she explained, while gesturing to the area.

"Yup! I second Rouge with what she said earlier!" Sonic said with a smile.

Then, a glowing fly flew to a flower, and Zipp came in front of the flower as she held up her magnifying glass to examine the flower and fly. "So it's not just some sort of Unicorn spell? Just a natural phenomenon?" she asked Izzy.

"Yup!" Izzy answered.

"Good. I'm not in the mood for another odyssey to find out about magical stuff with no real science behind..." Tails deadpanned again with his arms crossed.

"You're just not in the mood because it's too early to be awake" Knuckles pointed out with a bored expression.

"Do you like it?" Izzy asked her friends with a smile.

"Like it?! Do I like it?" Pipp asked excitedly, before turning to her friends. "I love it!" she cheered, as she twirled in the air before landing. "It makes me wanna sing!" she added, as she began to vocalize.

This made some glowing flies fly towards her from her singing, while Pipp flew into the air as the flies circled around her head.

The Mane 6 and Team Sonic watched Pipp with awed smiles, while Izzy got her jaw dropped from that, finding Pipp's scene amazing, and Sonic even had a slight blush as he smiled like an idiot, which made Shadow roll his eyes once he noticed.

Pipp realized the flies were circling around her and smiled. "Oh my glow. Did you guys just see that?" she asked her friends with a smile, as she landed back on the ground.

"Yup. And it was amazing!" Amy replied with a cheery smile.

"Yeah, huh, that was actually really cool" Zipp admitted with a smile.

"I have to do it again!" Pipp stated with excitement, as she flew next to Sonic. "Quick, get it on camera this time!" she added, as she gave her phone to her boyfriend.

Sonic nodded and held up Pipp's phone, starting to record Pipp as the pegasus landed on the ground.

"Ha, wait!" Pipp suddenly called out as she turned to the others, while Sonic lowered the phone and everyone looked at Pipp confused.

"What's wrong?" Hitch asked.

Pipp flew back with Sonic and took her phone back with a smile. "I just had an even better idea!" she said, as she flew off to the spot she took off again and landed. "We can share this beautiful sight with everypony if we bring them all here…" she explained, while she recorded the sight with her phone.

"Whoa" Misty said surprised. "How are we gonna do that?" she asked.

"By hosting the biggest and brightest musical festival that Equestria has ever seen… or heard" Pipp replied with a smile, as she hopped and twirled around excitedly.

"A festival? Not what I had in mind, but I'm honestly not complaining, either..." Rouge confessed with a smirk.

"That sounds so magical! I love it!" Sunny cheered in excitement.

"I'm not too found on festivals, but... Might as well give it a chance this time around..." Shadow said with a slight smile.

"But Izzy said the bloom only lasts a week!" Pipp recalled with worry. "Which means… we're already running out of time!" she panicked, as she flew in front of her friends. "We have to get started right now!" she stated, as she flew ahead of them, while the others followed Pipp.

However, only Izzy and Sonic stayed behind, with Izzy stopping as they heard a maniacal laughter.

"Huh?" Izzy asked confused, as she looked behind her, while the maniacal laughter continued in the distance as it echoed through the forest.

From behind some bushes and trees, the mysterious voice creature is looking at the unicorn mare.

"Yes. Sing for us, ponies" the mysterious voice said to her, followed by another maniacal laugh that echoed through the woods.

Izzy looked around one last time before trotting away in fear, while Sonic had his sight lost in certain direction, as he gasped in panic with wide eyes.

And why was this? Well... Cyber Sonic, once again, was there, looking at him through his soul, in the middle of the forest, which only gave Sonic terrible flashbacks on when The End took control over hid body.

He shook his head and closed his eyes, also looking away, and once he opened them, the figure was gone.

Sonic sighed in relief, but he couldn't help but feel worried about the living nightmare that is Cyber Sonic, since he couldn't forget him yet...

With a sigh, Sonic boosted away, hoping that he wouldn't see Cyber Sonic ever again, or not that often at least...

That same morning, in the Crystal Brighthouse, Pipp was at her desk.

She was wearing red glasses and preparing for the festival, as she hummed happily to herself, while her bed section of the room is covered in piles of papers and books from some ideas she scrapped for the festival.

Then, Pipp stopped for a second to think about something, before getting another idea and write it down on her notes.

Izzy woke up from her bed with a yawn, stretching a bit and rubbing her eyes, until she saw Pipp working and humming happily to herself.

Knuckles woke up as well, since he had the off today, so he stayed on the Brighthouse and stretched a bit with a loud groan, rubbing his belly a bit before waking up and put his gloves and shoes on.

Then, both Izzy and Knuckles approached Pipp to her desk. "Whatcha doing?" Izzy asked Pipp with a smile.

"Making my dreams come true!" Pipp cheered, as she waved her hooves up and some flowers around her flew up, while she took off her glasses. "Because if you can dream it, you can do it, Izzy!" she added with a smile.

Izzy gasped with a wide smile and came next to Pipp. "I just dreamed that I crafted an entire sailboat out of tortilla chips!" she said cheerfully, and even if Pipp cringed a bit, she still smiled at her.

"Looking back at your record of stuff you have build, I'd say it's totally possible" Knuckles said with a smile, as Izzy blushed a bit but smiled, and so, the two of them shared a quick kiss before looking back at Pipp.

"See? I love that for you, Izzy!" Pipp said with a smile, as she pushed Izzy back a bit. "And I love this for me!" she added, as she held out her notebook to them before hugging it. "But if I want to make the Bridlewoodstock Music Festival happen, I can't waste a single minute" she stated, as she flew off from her desk, while Izzy and Knuckles followed her. "Everypony has to see the Lumi-Bloom before it's over!" she added.

"No offense, but even if this only lasts a week, Izzy mentioned it come out every full moon... If you don't have time to plan this now, why not wait 'till the next full moon? That is in, like, a month or even less" Knuckles pointed out.

"The sooner everypony finds out about this, the better!" pipp replied with a smile.

"It is pretty special, huh?" Izzy asked with a smile.

"Which is why I'm going to need help today!" Pipp said, as she flew around them before flying towards the board she made about her festival idea. "We'll have to bring in everything and fast" she stated.

"Uh…" Izzy started uncertainty after what she heard last night.

But before either of them could speak, Pipp continued. "Tents, stages, sound equipment, decorations and of course… musicians!" she listed quickly, singing the 'musicians' part and then cheering with a laugh. "Wait. Why does your face look like that, Izzy?" she asked her confused.

When Pipp pointed this out, Knuckles looked at her girlfriend as well, and he also noticed it. "Izz? You good, honey?" he asked her with concern, since one of her eyes was twitching.

"Well… Uh, I don't want to burst your excitement bubbles, Pipp, but… there is a little teensy weensy problem with that particular spot..." Izzy explained nervously. "Um. Maybe we should have the festival somewhere else!" she suggested with a nervous smile.

"A problem?" Pipp asked, as she landed in the ground, next to Knuckles.

"Sweetie, what the heck are you talking about?" Knuckles asked confused.

"Umm… it's just that we…" Izzy started uneasy, not knowing how to explain it to them, especially to Pipp. "We Unicorns think it's kinda Jinxie to sing or make any loud noises during the Lumi-Bloom because of the... the Troggles..." she explained nervously.

"Troggles?" Knuckles asked with a raised eyebrow. "I think I've read about something like that back in my island... If I recall correctly, they're a race of humanoid creatures with pig-like characteristics... I thought those were just silly old legends from my people..." he confessed with a concerned frown.

"Is that it?" Pipp asked, laughing with disbelief like it was a joke. "An old 'Jinxie' rumor? Psst! Ha!" she exclaimed.

"No, it's not a rumor! There's even a poem!" Izzy insisted. "It goes like this..." she stated, clearing her throat. "Eyes of the Monster, form of the pig. Sing, laugh or yell, step hoof on a twig!" she recited, followed by monster pig noises made by her before Pipp cut her off.

"Izz! Izz! Izz! Izz! It's going to be fine!" Pipp reassured, almost like she ignored the whole warning. "Once the unicorns hear the amazing music with the glowy sights, they won't even remember that silly poem!" she stated, flying up behind the chart board she made.

"Right..." Knuckles said with a frown. "So, you're gonna ignore a whole ass warning from your friend just because you find hard to believe in what she says?" he asked Pipp with his arms crossed.

"Oh, come on, Knux" Pipp said with an eye roll and a smirk, as she landed in front of Knuckles and Izzy. "You can't seriously believe in a silly story of humanoids with pig faces, do you?" she asked in disbelief.

"Just as much as I didn't believed in five islands full of way too advanced tech" Knuckles replied madly, and Pipp's smug expression fade away, since she immediately got what he meant. "Legends have some truth behind, and if Izzy believes that there's something to worry about with this 'Troggles', then I choose to believe her" he stated confidently, and Izzy smiled lovely at him, feeling touched by his words.

Pipp, however, looked down nervously before frowning. "No offense to Izzy nor the unicorns, but many of the things they believe that are 'Jinxies' end up being silly things that are not even real" she pointed out. "Why would this be different?" she asked with a frown.

"Have you forgot what happened in the Starfall Islands?!" Knuckles asked with anger. "We all thought that the idea of a bunch of islands with advanced tech and a lost civilization was stupid, and yet we almost got trapped forever in Cyber Space!" he pointed out. "Worse of all, Sonic hasn't been the same, and you know it, Pipp" he added.

"What do you mean? He's been fine all the time he's been with me!" Pipp lied, because she knew Knuckles was right, but she didn't wanted to think about it.

"Oh really?" Knuckles asked sarcastically with a fake smile. "Because suddenly turning to a random direction and freak out when he sees something does not seem like 'nothing' to me!" he pointed out. "Sonic isn't fine, Pipp. But hey! Let's ignore how your boyfriend is feeling, as well as your friend's warning, and instead prepare a silly show they're warning you shouldn't be made because YOLO!" he added, once again in anger.

"Think whatever you want to think, Knuckles. I'm making this festival, and that's final!" Pipp stated with a frown.

"Ugh! No wonder Sonic is in love with you. You're just as stubborn as him!" Knuckles declared, as he walked out of the room, even slamming the door behind him.

Izzy gave a nervous chuckle, looking at Pipp a bit ashamed. "Forgive Knuckles, Pipp. Personally, I guess you could be right. I've never actually seen a Troggle" she confessed.

"See?" Pipp beamed, then she flew in front of Izzy and held out a small flower petal in her hoof.

"Okay, let's do it!" Izzy smiled, taking the petal in her magic. "Bridlewoodstock, here we come!" she stated.

Both Pipp and Izzy turned their attention back to the board and got to work, but very, very, very deep inside, Pipp was concerned for everything Knuckles said, about the troggles, and about Sonic's attitude.

Still, she wasn't going to let those things get in her way, and she was still gonna make this festival happen.

Later on, Sunny, Zipp, Tails and Misty were in the kitchen having breakfast.

Sunny placed some pancakes down, while Zipp sipped her drink and Tails and Misty chatted between them.

Then, Sunny turned and saw Izzy and Pipp coming into the kitchen, while Pipp was looking at her phone. "Good morning! Breakfast?" Sunny asked her friends.

Izzy gasped happily after hearing the question. "Yes, please" she answered, as she levitated a piece of pancake from Sunny's stack and held it in her hoof.

"Thanks, Sunny, but I've gotta fly. Too much to do!" Pipp said as she flew away. "Emergency music festival planning meeting at Mane Melody later! Be there!" she quickly added before leaving the Brighthouse.

"At least take a smoothie to-go!" Sunny called out while holding out a smoothie, but Pipp was already gone. "Wow. Who doesn't have time for a smoothie?" she asked playfully, while Izzy took a bite out of her pancake.

Just as she said this, Sonic and Amy arrived, sitting down on the table as well. "So, Pipp hasn't been paying attention to me, apparently, because she just rushed out of the Brighthouse like if someone was chasing her!" he pointed out. "She didn't stopped to say hi to me!" he added confused.

"Yeah, she seemed in a rush. Anyone knows what's gotten into her? Like, who ever ignores a 'good morning' from their couple?" Amy asked confused.

"A pony on a mission, that's who" Zipp replied, while the others looked at her, as she sipped her smoothie and then sighed. "Here we go. Everyone, brace yourselves for a wild week" she told them with a smirk, also tilting her head.

"Why you say that?" Misty asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Pegasi love music festivals" Zipp started explaining. "They're kind of a big deal in Zephyr Heights. Pipp has always wanted to plan one of her own" she pointed out, while Sunny and Izzy looked at each other, while Amy looked at Sonic for context, but he shrugged and denied with his head, so she looked over at Tails and Misty, but they shook their heads in denial as well. "So she must be feeling the pressure to make it perfect" Zipp finished.

"What do you mean?" Sunny asked.

"She did stay up all night working!" Izzy pointed out to them.

"Yeah, and she was way too excited to be stopped..." Sonic pointed out as well. "Which is gonna lead her to get sick again if she keeps overworking herself like this... Again..." he deadpanned.

"Then we have to help her out" Sunny suggested, while Zipp nodded her head in agreement.

"Well, Pipp is definitely the kind of girl that gets something in her head and nobody can get her out of it, so I say we should help out as well" Tails said with smile.

"I could barely do anything before... You know... My whole deal with Opaline and Eggman..." Misty said with a nervous chuckle. "But I'll be happy to help if I can, too!" she added with a smile.

"I'll try to get Rouge and Omega in as well!" Amy said with a smile. "Shadow's probably gonna deny it, but I'm still telling him anyways..." she added with a bored expression.

"Oh, don't worry, Amy. I can help you out with convincing Shadow!" Sunny stated with a confident smirk.

"Then eat like if this was your last meal ever, everyone! We have a festival to plan out!" Sonic stated with a smirk, as everyone cheered in agreement.

Izzy, however, felt unsure, but still nodded her head slowly. "Uh-huh..." she said, as she took another bite of her pancake with an anxious look.

At Mane Melody, the meeting was getting started.

Pipp was using the same board from before to explain front of the rest of the Mane 6, Team Sonic sins Knuckles, Jazz and Rocky, and even Team Dark.

Yes, Sunny convinced Shadow to participate, even if he acted a bit annoyed about it.

"I want to lean into the theme of the Lumi-Bloom and go full Flower Fest." Pipp started to explain, before stepped in front of the magic mirror, which reflected her with a yellow flower crown on her head. "Flower Crowns! Snack tents featuring edible flowers!" she stated.

However, Jazz looked at her a bit concerned. "Where does the music part come in?" she asked.

"I am glad you asked Jazz." Pipp said with a smile, as she walked in front of her board and flipped it, showing a drawing of the stage she wanted to build. "The Mane Stage!" she revealed.

Rocky, Jazz and Hitch gasped after seeing this. "What bands are gonna play?!" Rocky asked with a smile.

"That's where you ponies come in!" Pipp answered, which confused everyone else.

"How? We're not a band" Zipp pointed out.

"Yet!" Izzy inquired with a smirk.

"Oh, no! This isn't what I signed for!" Shadow said with a frown.

"I mean, technically we are a band since we know how to play instruments..." Amy pointed out, gesturing at herself, Sonic and Tails. "But Knuckles is being an idiot, so I don't know if we can get him in to participate..." she added with a frown.

"No, no, no, no, no. I need you ponies to help me secure some amazing bands while I work on... everything else!" Pipp clarified, gesturing to the board behind her. "I think we can get Electric Blue."

"The super epic Pegasus rock band?" Hitch asked with a huge smile.

"Wow Hitch, I didn't know you were such a musical expert!" Pipp commented with a mocking smirk.

"I know things!" Hitch replied with pride, and Sunny chuckled.

"And I am dying to have the incredible pop artist, Ruby Jubilee perform" Pipp added, while Jazz brought out a picture of the pony.

Ruby Jubilee was a hot pink pegasus pony with a mane design similar to Misty's but having purple with hot pink shading on the edges and, from what Sonic could get from the photo, her wing feathers were deep purple and white.

"I love her!" Jazz stated.

"Me too! Everypony does. Her vocals are unreal!" Pipp added with a squeal, while Rocky looked at the picture with a gaping smile. "Which is why she's going to be hard to lock down on such short notice..." she pointed out with concern.

"But we have to try, right?" Izzy asked with a cheerful grin.

"Right. But we still need an incredible Earth Pony or Unicorn band to round off the lineup." Pipp pointed out, before turning to Jazz and Rocky. "Any ideas?" she asked them, as they thought on something.

But then, Sunny spoke suddenly with excitement. "I know! I know! we could get... The Dreamlands!" she stated.

"No way!" Jazz breathed.

"The who now?" Tails asked confused.

"They're this really famous Earth Pony trio that I loved when I was younger. They practically invented the genre of 'girl group' music" Sunny quipped.

"In Equestria, that is..." Sonic muttered, while Amy pushed him slightly on the shoulder with a frown.

"But they haven't performed in moons" Jazz pointed out. "How can we find them?" she questioned.

"I have a connection. I know ponies." Hitch replied happily. "Actually, my Grandma Figgy does. She used to bake for the lead singer, Minty!" he added with a smile.

"That's convenient, but is the good kind of convenient!" Tails said with a little smile and his arms crossed.

Pipp squealed and twirled in the air happily, before landing again. "This is all coming together like perfection! Rocky and Jazz, you're on style duty! Zipp, Tails and Misty, you get Electric Blue!"

"You got it!" Zipp nodded.

"Leave it to us!" Tails stated with a thumbs up and a wink, and Misty nodded in agreement.

"Sunny, Hitch and Shadow, find those Dreamlands!" Pipp added, looking at Sunny and Hitch before turning to the Mobian girls. "Amy, Rouge and Omega, try to get Knuckles into participating! I would love to have a band of Mobians as well. And Izzy, Sonic and I will convince Ruby Jubilee to dazzle us!" she finished.

"Yeah!" Izzy said with a smile

"Let's do it!" Sonic stated with a smirk.

"Okay!" Sunny agreed as well.

"We've got this!" Amy stated too.

"On it!" Hitch said with a smile.

"Yeah!" Jazz and Rocky exclaimed.

"Do whatever you have to do, just get those bands to come to Bridlewoodstock!" Pipp instructed with a smirk, as everyone left.

"And make sure to smack Knuckles for me if he gets too stupid, Ames!" Sonic said as well.

"Sonic!" Izzy scolded with a frown.

"What? After what he did this morning, you gotta admit he was an idiot!" Sonic pointed out with a frown as well.

"I'm sure Amy and Rouge can get him to understand. And if that doesn't work, well... There's a reason why I sent Omega as well!" Pipp said with a mischievous smirk.

"And that's why I love you, babe!" Sonic said with a proud smile.

Izzy, however, still felt concerned about Knuckles' attitude towards Pipp, and she recognized that Sunny was right about him deserving at least a smack, but she still didn't wanted to think about it, so she decided to focus on her task along Pipp and Sonic, and hope that Amy and Rouge would put some sense into him.

Sometime later, in Zephyr Heights, Zipp, Tails and Misty were hiding behind a trash can.

Zipp was wearing her Z-Googles, while Tails putted on the ones he already had on his forehead, and Misty simply brought out a pair of binoculars, as they saw a group of ponies, who were facing a store with their phones out.

A pony sipping through a cup was walking by, but then, they tossed the cup and hit Zipp's head.

"Oh…" Zipp groaned, as she picked up the cup and tossed it into the trash can.

"I'm gonna pull a Hitch one of these days and scold anypony that does that again..." Tails muttered with a bored expression.

"Guys, look!" Misty called out, as she pointed at the store.

From it, Electric Blue came out with smiles. The leader was a pegasus stallion with electric sunglasses, blue fur, deep bluish purple wings, light blue and electric blue feathers underneath. His name is Fretlock.

The drummer of the band was a plum purple stallion with light blue and dark blue shading on his legs and sparkly aquamarine eye shade. His mane was a slick mix of blue and purple. On his chest was a vivid pale blue lighting bolt mark. His name is Jam Donut.

Finally, the third member was a mare with more of a neon blue with a purple mane and tail that slicked back. Both members' wings feathers were the same colors as the leaders. Her name is Arpgreggia.

"Is that them?" Misty asked Zipp, as she looked down at her, since Misty was looking through her binoculars over Zipp's back.

"Yup!" Zipp answered, as she lowered her Z-Goggles and stood up. "Alright, how hard can this be?" she asked with a smirk, as she walked up to them.

"Great, she just jinxed us..." Tails said with a bored expression, and Misty giggled a bit at his comment.

Then, Tails and Misty followed Zipp from behind, while the pegasus princess walked to the leader of Electric Blue, standing in front of the stallion while the ponies around them kept taking pictures.

"Hey! Electric Blue?" Zipp asked with a small smile.

"Huh?" Fretlock asked confused.

"Zipp" she greeted herself.

"Uh... Who?" Fretlock asked again, still confused.

"Seriously?" Misty said confused, as she looked at Zipp and her Z-Googles. "Those things don't really make a difference, right?" she muttered to Tails.

"No, this guy probably barely checks out TV or something..." Tails replied with a bored expression.

"Uh…" Zipp said uncertainly, so she took off her Z-Googles and put on her sunglasses quickly. "Princess Zipp?" she asked again with a small smile.

"Oh, hey, Princess" Fretlock greeted, now recognizing her. "How's your sister?" he asked, while pictures were still being taken.

"She's great!" Zipp answered. “Actually, that's why we wanted to talk to you" she added.

"We?" Fretlock asked confused again.

"Yeah, we!" Tails remarked, as he stepped in while dragging Misty, with the unicorn mare smiling sheepishly and waving her hoof slowly.

"Say... Aren't you the fella that's always following Pipp's boyfriend?" Fretlock asked, while he looked at Tails closely.

Tails deadpanned and rolled his eyes after he said that. "Yeah, and it's Tails. Well, Miles Prower, actually, but everyone calls me Tails. Let's keep it that way" he requested.

"I, uh... I'm just a friend coming along!" Misty said with a nervous chuckle.

"I'll explain you later" Zipp said quickly, while ponies around them took notice of Zipp and Tails, so they took more pictures of them. "But it's top-secret. Can we... Can…" she tried to say, as she tried to cover herself with her hoof, while more ponies were taking more pictures of her, which made her uncomfortable. "Can we get out of here?" she requested.

"Yeah, this is a little too crowded..." Tails cringed in agreement.

"Too much for my linking, even..." Misty agreed as well, as she tried to hid behind Tails.

"Yeah. I'm down with that" Fretlock said in agreement, before he turned to his band. "Hey, guys, let's go!" he called out as the four pegasi spread their wings and took off, while Tails grabbed Misty in bridal style and flew away as well.

Their fans chased after them, either flying or trotting off to them. However, they were blind enough to pass by Electric Blue, who were posing as statue ponies on a fountain.

"Phew..." Fretlock said in relief, while he and his two band mates stopped the poses and sighed in relief as well.

Suddenly, they heard a whistle and a call out. "Hey! Up here!" Zipp's voice called out, as the band looked up and saw Zipp, Tails and Misty on top of a tall tower of the castle. tails was the one who whistled, apparently.

Electric Blue flew up and landed on a balcony of the castle, while the lead of the band walked up to Zipp, Tails and Misty.

Zipp decided to speak first as she took off her sunglasses. "Pipp sent us to find you guys because she wants to invite you…" she tried to say, but as Tails pushed her slightly on her shoulder, she stopped and then chuckled nervously. "… we want to invite you to play at Bridlewoodstock!" she announced, as she spread her wings.

"Uh, what's that?" Fretlock asked curiously.

"It's a festival that Pipp came up with herself!" Tails simply explained.

"And it's the very first music festival in Bridlewood, and it's gonna be so… uh… so… rockin'? Yeah!" Zipp said uncertainly, which made Tails force a smile and twitch an eye.

"And we figured we could invite you three to play on it!" Misty added with a small smile.

"Hmm…" Fretlock hummed, as he turned to his two bandmates and they huddled together, whispering to each other while discussing it.

Zipp waited a bit desperately for the answer, while Tails and Misty looked at each other a bit confused.

"Hmm…" Zipp hummed a bit desperate. "So, uh…" she tried to ask as she chuckled nervously. "What do you think?" she asked them.

Fretlock walked up to her with doubt. "We're not sure..." he said.

"Maybe I didn't explain right!" Zipp said to him nervously. "So there's a thing called the Lumi-Bloom, right? And all the plants and flowers and crystals glow!" she added, as she flew around. "And it looks awesome! Imagine those visuals with one of your sets. I mean, really cool and uh…" she tried to explain further, but she was feeling really nervous right now.

Tails chuckled awkwardly and spun his tails to fly at Zipp's height. "Zipp! What are you doing?!" he asked her with a forced smile and a glare.

Finally, since neither Tails nor Zipp seemed to get to a conclusion, Misty quickly said the first thing she could think of. "You'll be the headliners!" she called out to them with a nervous smile and a twitchy eye.

Tails and ZIpp looked at Misty surprised, then at each other confused, and then they looked back at Electric Blue with smiles, landing at Misty's sides and nodding in agreement.

"Well, why didn't you guys lead with that?" Fretlock asked with a smile, while bandmates walked next to him. "Of course we'll play" he answered, while his bandmates smiled in agreement.

"Great!" Zipp said with a smile. "Phew..." she sighed with relief.

"Good save, Mist!" Tails told her with a smile.

"Pipp said we had to do anything we could to get them in, so I just did that!" Misty replied with a little smirk.

Tails just nodded at that, but then he looked down at the ground and sighed a bit disappointed, since he didn't expected to be referred as 'the guy that's always following Sonic' by anyone.

Meanwhile, in Zephyr Heights, Sonic, Izzy and Pipp were in the throne room waiting for news from Ruby Jubilee.

Pipp was buzzing with excitement, as she was pacing back and forth, before going in front of Izzy and Sonic, fluttering her wings in excitement.

"I can't believe we're about to meet Ruby Jubilee! This is our big chance to work with the newest, most talented, chart-topper!" Pipp exclaimed excited, and then took a large gasp. "Do I look okay?!" she asked in panic.

"Pipp, honey, chill! Relax! ¡Todo está bien! Shinpai suru hitsuyō wa arimasen!" Sonic stated, saying 'No need to worry! in Japanese, as he grabbed Pipp's hooves and rubbed them with his hands, while Izzy gasped.

"Your sparkle is shining bright!" Izzy said cheerfully.

Pipp squealed excited once again, before Zoom came in and handed Pipp a letter with Ruby's Cutie Mark on it. It was a heart ruby with a microphone over it.

"It's got her cutie mark on it!" Pipp squealed, then she opened the letter and read it. "Your Majesty Princess Petals..." she started, before turning to Izzy and Sonic for a moment. "That's me!" she said happily, and then continued. "... Miss Ruby Jubilee sends her deepest regrets. She cannot join you today due to a case of... creative block!" she finished reading.

Pipp and Izzy gasped dramatically, while Sonic raised an eyebrow. "We're 15 minutes into the first episode, and we're already recycling a plot from Season 1? Huh..." he muttered.

"Maybe we can help her!" Izzy suggested.

"My thoughts exactly!" Pipp agreed instantly, and the trio immediately went off to Ruby's suite.

In the suite, the three of them were waiting for Ruby while sitting on chairs.

Meanwhile, Izzy was applying some makeup from Ruby's supplies on herself, something that Sonic noticed, so he deadpanned. "Izz? I'm pretty sure you need permission to use stuff that isn't yours..." he pointed out.

Suddenly, the suite's door opened, and Ruby Jubilee herself entered the place. "Princess Pipp?!" she called out surprised.

"Sorry to surprise you like this, but my friend Izzy, my boyfriend Sonic and I got your note and we had to help" Pipp explained, as she and Izzy leaped from theirs sits and went over to Ruby, while Sonic stood behind.

"We've had creative block, too" Izzy stated. "We get it" she whispered with a wink.

"Oh Princess, it's just... Ugh, awful!" Ruby grunted in frustration and disappointment, as she sat in the floor.

"Well, then! Better tell us what's going on!" Sonic stated, as he slid and stroke a pose in the floor. "You can trust and talk about it! We son't say a word out of here!" he assured her with a smile and a wink.

"After the success of my debut single, I've just been putting so much pressure on myself to top it with a new hit!" Ruby explained her problem before she sighed. "How do you top a chart-topper?" she asked with concern.

"Ruby, you have no idea how much I understand what you're going through" Pipp said with a smile.

"Yeah, creative blocks can be a pain in the ass. I know 'cause I've been there as well" Sonic said with a playful smirk.

"Me too! But Luckily, we have some tricks up our hooves to help!" Izzy added.

"You do?" Ruby asked.

"Yes!" Pipp replied confidently.

"Let's start with the basics: You gotta find inspiration!" Sonic stated. "Find something unique, special, awesome, gorgeous, something so mind-blowing that it's impossible to ignore all the inspiring ideas popping in your mind!" he explained confidently.

"Exactly!" Pipp agreed with a smile. "Now, try not to be inspired when you watch this!" she stated, as she whipped out her phone and showed Ruby the Lumi-Bloom video on her phone.

Ruby gasped at the beautiful natural event in Bridlewood. "My Stars! That is the most magical sight I've ever seen! It makes me think of..." she started, before gasping with a smile, as she flew to her desk and opened a notepad. "Quick! I need to write this idea down before I forget!" she stated, as she wrote down her idea on her notepad, while Izzy, Pipp and Sonic watched her with smiles.

"You've already inspired!" Izzy beamed.

"And it's even better in real life!" Pipp added, before she flew over to Ruby's right, who was still writing her idea. "You have to see it. At the Bridlewoodstock festival! Onstage!" she stated once again.

"Will you perform for us?" Izzy asked, as she came to Ruby's left.

"I-I don't know..." Ruby replied with doubt.

"I've heard wild rubies are in season back on Bridlewood!" Sonic pointed out, as he looked at Ruby upside down, since his feet were hanging from the mirror on the desk. "And, a Ruby performing over rubies sounds logical to me! Also, you love rubies, right?" he asked with a smirk.

"I really do..." Ruby sighed happily at the thought of rubies - a part of her name.

"And....you'll be the headliner!" Pipp pointed out with a smile.

"Wow. Okay! Now I'm really inspired!" Ruby grinned, before the pop star flew up and landed on the ground happily, spreading her wings. "I'll do it!" she said, and then happily trotted off with her wings spread to get ready.

Pipp chuckled, and Izzy giggled, while the two mares hooftapped each other with smiles.

"Well, we have our headliner! Now we only wait for everyone else to get down the rest!" Sonic said with a smile.

In Maretime Bay, Sunny, Hitch, Sparky and Shadow were waiting along Figgy.

Sunny, Hitch, Figgy and Sparky were sitting on a table, while Shadow lay on a wall near by, and Sunny looked closely at a cover of the Dreamlands on her hooves.

"You sure we'll find her here, Figgy?" Sunny asked after looking at the cover.

"Oh yes" Figgy answered with a smile. "This is where Minty comes to do her weekly shop!" she gestured to the block they were in. "I run into her all the time" she added.

"You're so cool, Granny!" Hitch said happily to his grandmother, and Figgy laughed a bit, placing a hoof on her grandson's cheeks, while Sparky sipped some smoothie.

"So are you, Hitchie" Figgy replied with a smile.

Shadow had to resist the urge to cringe or straight up pull out his tongue and say 'Yuck!', all because he wanted to be as polite as possible.

And then, he felt his right ear twitching, so he turned to the right and saw a green coated with silver mane and tale earth pony wearing, who was also wearing a purple headband and blue highlights on her eyelids.

"I think our guest is here" Shadow commented loudly so the ponies and baby dragon in the table could hear him.

Sunny was the first to see in the same direction than him, and when she sa that Mare, she gasped with a smile. "Look, over there!" she pointed her hoof in a direction, before placing it on her chest.

Figgy gasped once she noticed her as well. "That's her all right" she confirmed, while she turned to Sunny, Hitch and Sparky. "Well, don't dawdle now. Scoot!" she encouraged playfully, as the two ponies stood up and walked up to Minty.

Shadow let out a sigh and decided to walk over to them as well. "Let's get this over with..." he said with a bored expression.

As the two ponies, baby dragon and hedgehog approached Minty, Sunny cleared her throat. "Um, excuse me. Are you Minty?" she asked politely, while Minty stopped and looked at the four of them with a surprised look.

"Yes. Why?" Minty asked a bit confused.

"I'm Sunny, this is Hitch, and the grumpy hedgehog over there is Shadow" Sunny started, as Hitch smiled wide, while Shadow only nodded at Minty. "Hitch and I are big fans of yours and we wanted to know if maybe you would consider getting the group back together to play at our music festival this weekend?" she asked quickly, as she hold the Dreamlands cover on her hoof, while Hitch and her smiled nervously, Shadow looked at them with a raised eyebrow and Minty felt surprised by everything Sunny said. "After all, coincidentally, it's the anniversary of your very first hit single!" she added.

"Yeah!" both Hitch and Sparky agreed at the same time.

"Anniversaries should be celebrated, don't you think?! Heh..." Sunny said nervously, while Minty looked at her with wide and surprised eyes. "Sorry. Sometimes when I get nervous, I talk really fast..." she apologized sheepishly.

"It's true. She does" Hitch confirmed with a knowing smile.

"I third that" Shadow said with a tiny, little smile.

"So what do you think, Minty?" Sunny asked with a little smile, while Minty grabbed the music cover.

Minty looked at the cover with an uncertain look. "I don't know..." she said as she shook her head. "The Dreamlands broke up moons and moons ago. Even if I could convince Snuzzle and Blue Belle, we're so out of practice..." she pointed out.

"Oh, I know the perfect place you can practice!" Sunny called out. "It's called Mane Melody, and it's got a stage and everything!" she added.

Still, Misty doubted about this and sighed. "It's not just that..." she said, as she gave the music cover back to Sunny.

Sunny and Hitch look at each other in concern, and Shadow raised an eyebrow at Minty. "Then what is it?" he asked.

"Does anypony even care about our little girl group anymore?" Minty questioned.

"Of course they do!" Sunny answered, as she put the music cover on her saddlebag. "You're the originals! You're what started it all!" she added.

Then, Figgy came up to them, holding a basket and placing it down.

Minty saw Figgy and smiled at the elder mare. "Figgy!" she said happily.

"I hope my grandson and his friends aren't bothering you too much" Figgy said with a smile, while Sunny and Hitch smiled sheepishly, and Shadow let out a small chuckle. "But I told them I'd help convince you to give it a try. It'd be so wonderful to see you girls singing together again" Figgy said to Minty.

Minty smiled at Figgy, while the elder mare opened up the basket slightly. "Is there a key lime pie in the deal?" she asked with a smirk.

"Already baked it!" Figgy answered, as she took out said pie from the basket, while the four ponies laughed, and Shadow rolled his eyes with a playful smirk.

After the laugh, Minty nodded her head to them. "Okay then… I guess we'll do it. As long as we're not pushed aside at some little stage for 'old timers' while the flashy new acts play the mane stage" she pointed out while waving her hoof around. "We have to make a splash if we're making a comeback!" she added.

Shadow thought about that for a second and, for once, he decided ton smile. "Say, wanna make the deal better?" he called out, surprising Hitch and Sunny since he was smiling. "Let's make the Dreamlands the headliners!" he stated.

Sunny gasped after he said this, and she nodded quickly in agreement. "Yes! I love that! The Dreamlands will be the headliners!" she declared as well.

"Let's do it!" Minty said to them with a smile.

Sunny and Hitch cheered, while Sparky gurgled and Figgy just smiled.

"Yes!/Yeah!" Both Sunny and Hitch cheered.

"Welcome aboard, Minty!" Shadow said with a smirk.

Knuckles was on the Sheriff Station, placing down some papers in the cabinets.

Despite this being his free day, he still went to distract his mind from his previous outburst with Pipp. He was still mad, sure, but he also recognized that he wasn't as polite as he should be. Still, he refused to help Pipp just for the sake to ignore Izzy's warnings.

And yet, Amy, Rouge and Omega were right there, in the middle of the station, trying to convince him on joining the little celebration as well.

"Let me get this straight..." Knuckles started to talk with a frown "You not only support Pipp's nonsensical festival that's gonna backfire her anyways if Izzy's right about the Troggles, but you also want me to be with you..." he pointed at Amy. "Sonic and Tails as a band and be part of the concert?!" he asked in anger.

"And also stop acting like an idiot in the way, if you don't mind that..." Amy replied with a frown and her arms crossed.

"I have good reason to be mad, or as you call it, 'to act like an idiot'. What Pipp is doing is not only reckless, is also stupid and a waste of time!" Knuckles said, as he closed the cabinet he opened to place the papers in.

"Look, I get that you're mad because she made fun out of your girl's shenanigans..." Rouge said with a frown as well. "But I also know that you're not the kind of guy that turns on whoever needs a hand, regardless of what you think about them!" she pointed out.

"I'm not mad because she made fun of Izzy's word on the Troggles. I still find it hard to believe, if I'm being honest..." Knuckles confessed.

"Then why are you being such an idiot right now?!" Rouge shouted in rage.

"Because the last time I ignored a warning, I dragged three of the closest people I care for with myself, to and island were we almost stood trapped as digital ghosts forever!" Knuckles snapped back with anger, as he accidentally smashed the desk with a hand and his electrical powers came alive. "Sonic almost freaking died, Amy! Controlled by a guy that, either if we like it or not, will return one day to finish the job!" he added with a glare.

Amy and Rouge's ayes widened, but they didn't stepped back from him, although they were surprised to see Knuckles this angry and... vulnerable...

"I just... Pipp is my friend too... And if those Troggles are real and show up during the festival, I..." Knuckles tried to say, as his powers went away, but now he looked down at the floor in sadness, and he even sighed. "I just don't want to loose anyone... Not after we almost did that with Sonic 6 months ago..." he said with concern. "But I know Pipp enough to understand that no matter what I do or say, she won't listen..." he pointed out with a worried frown, as he kneeled and sighed defeated.

After Knuckles finished explaining himself, Amy and Rouge looked at each other with concern, specially because they never expected to see Knuckles so... afraid of something.

"... Knux... I... I didn't knew you were struggling this much after what happened in those islands..." Amy said with concern. "I honestly thought that it was just another adventure for all of you!" she confessed.

"Well... Red here isn't the only one feeling bad, you know?" Rouge pointed out with worry. "Blue seems to be seeing things lately, if what Pipp told is true, and Yellow seems a bit conflicted as well despite the noticeable changes" she explained.

"I think Sonic is afraid of falling for any form of mind control after The End took his body over..." Knuckles pointed out. "As for Tails... I can't tell... I've been too busy trying to not participate on Pipp's festival that I haven't payed attention to anything else..." he confessed.

"Listen, Knux... I understand that you don't wanna loose anyone... But ignoring Pipp isn't going to make her Music Festival turn into dust and not happen. It just doesn't work like that, and you know it!" Amy pointed out.

"Also, if those Troggles are real and you're not there to help, I don't think your current situation is gonna be any better..." Rouge pointed out as well.

Knuckles' eyes widened after hearing this, and he stared at Amy and Rouge with disbelief.

Just then, Omega decided to approach Knuckles and looked down at him, while the echidna stared at the robot with a raised eyebrow.

"I suggest to attend to the festival and make the most out of it. If these Troggle creatures my database can't found are real, you might get a chance to rub it on Princess Petals' face for the rest of our stay in Equestria" Omega suggested.

Now that, that made Knuckles looked surprised at the robot... And yet, it also made him smirk mischievously.

"Omega!" Rouge scolded with a frown. "That's not helping!" she pointed out with a frown.

"We want him to join for a good cause, not to cause more unnecessary fight between Pipp and Him!" Amy added with a frown as well.

"Hold up, let him cook!" Knuckles said, as he raised an arm and stood up, while he smirked at the trio. "Omega has a point. I may still believe that this is all stupid, and that we shouldn't ignore Izzy's warning. But, I can still enjoy myself with this crap and show off my drummer skills on-stage!" he stated.

Amy and Rouge blinked a pair of times, before looking at each other, and then back at Knuckles.

"Wait... So this means that you're gonna help us?" Rouge asked a bit confused.

"Oh, hell yeah I am!" Knuckles replied with a smirk. "In fact, I'm gonna enjoy myself... quite a lot!" he added, with another mischievous smirk.

"Well, that's great!" Amy said with a smile. "I really hope you're doing this out of your heart, though!" she warned.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anything for a friend..." Knuckles replied with a smirk, as he walked out of the station, while Omega decided to follow behind.

Amy and Rouge looked at each other again after they left. "At least he accepted" Rouge pointed out.

"Yeah, well... Let's just hope everything goes as smoothly from here on..." Amy said with concern.

At the Brighthouse, Pipp was writing stuff down on the living room, when the door opened suddenly.

"Hey!" Zipp called out.

Pipp, who was wearing glasses, got a bit startled, and she turned to the entrance. "Huh?" she exclaimed.

"Tails, Misty and I talked to Electric Blue! They're gonna do it!" Zipp said with a smile.

"We convinced Minty to get the Dreamlands to play!" Sunny added with a grin.

"And we got Ruby Jubilee!" Izzy mentioned, as she happily trotted through the door towards Pipp. "Which you and Sonic knew already" she added with a smile.

"And Knuckles is down to be part of it as well!" Amy informed, while Knuckles entered the place and walked with a confident smirk towards the group.

"Wait, what?" Sonic said in disbelief. "You are seriously gonna do it?!" he asked him surprised.

"Yup!" Knuckles replied with a smirk. "I get to show off my drumming skills and look fabulous in the process" he said, before turning to Pipp and approach her with a mischievous look. "Best of all, if you're wrong, I can rub it in your face... forever!" he muttered the last part sinisterly, and Pipp cringed at his attitude.

Still, Knuckles moved away, and Pipp sighed on relief before smiling. "Great work, everyone! I knew I could count on you" she stated, as they all sat down, with Zipp hovering in the air, and Pipp turned to them. "Now we just have to set up an entire festival! Easy peasy!" she let out a slight nervous laugh.

"Good. This should be a piece of cake! Right, Tails?" Sonic called out... but Tails didn't answered, which freaked Sonic out. "Uh... Tails?" he called out again, but now looking around.

"Uh, Sonic?" Misty called out, and Sonic turned to the mare. "I saw him heading upstairs... He wasn't looking good all the way here..." she confessed with concern.

"Yeah... He didn't looked that happy after we talked with Electric Blue..." Zipp pointed out as well.

Sonic frowned at this, and then he looked up to the bedroom's door with concern. Why did Tails went to the room and told nobody? Something was wrong, and he could feel it...

"Maybe I could check on him and see what's––" Sunny tried to say.

However, Sonic already boosted towards the bedroom before she could finish her sentence. Still, she frowned and made her etherial wings and horn appear, as she flew towards the bedroom as well.

In the bedroom, Tails was feeling down.

He was playing at 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' on the original SEGA Genesis as himself on a TV on his are of the bedroom, racing as fast as he could through the second act of Emerald Hill Zone, but his expression was a tired and hurt one.

And then, he not only crashed with a badnik and lost all his rings, but he also couldn't catch them in time and even got hit by another badnik that killed him. Of course that this was disappointing, but as the screen showed the 'game over' screen, it instead showed a message that said 'You're too slow', which only frustrated Tails even more.

So, he picked up the TV remote and switched from the HDMI to the regular TV, as it showed a video of Sky Dazzle informing about important stuff.

Just then, Sonic arrived and looked at Tails with a worried smile. "Hey there, big 'little' bro!" he greeted cheerfully, as he then sat at Tails' side and looked at him with concern. "Misty told me that you ran in here after arriving. What's the matter, dude?" he asked with worry.

Tails let out a sigh and shook his head. "I'm just... Concerned on how everyone looks at me..." he replied.

"Concerned?" Sunny asked, as she approached as well, this time as a regular earth pony, as she sat at Tails' other side and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "What are you concerned about?" she asked him with worry.

Tails sighed again before replying. "Everyone around me looks at me and says 'Hey, that's Sonic's pal' or 'Hey, aren't you Sonic's sidekick?' or even 'Don't you follow Pipp's boyfriend around?' and..." he stopped and sighed again, as he looked at the ground with sadness. "I'm just tired to feel like a burden... This past months I grew physically, sure, but has anything changed at all?" he pointed out with concern. "Everyone looks up to me like if I was a kid, but.. I'm tired of that too!" he exclaimed with a frown, as he stood up and looked at Sonic and Sunny "Can't everyone understand that I ain't a kid anymore?!" he asked with anger.

"Tails, you should know already that you are not my sidekick. You never had, and you never will" Sonic started with a frown, before smiling. "You're a smart fella that can fly with his butt, and you have shown before that you can do fine by yourself!" he pointed out. "Sure, you had moments of weakness, like when Infinite attacked me, but you should already know that it didn't made you a fool or useless" he added.

"People on internet disagrees" Tails replied coldly.

"And?" Sunny asked with a mocking smile. "A bunch of random strangers can't be right about what they think about you! They don't know the real Tails, but we do!" she added confidently.

"It doesn't change the fact that everyone still look at me as Sonic's sidekick..." Tails replied with a frown.

"Hey, dude, look at me!" Sonic called out, as he walked up to Tails and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are on your right to doubt and feel like you need to be better. We all have been there at some point in life" he pointed out. "But you also have to know when to be afraid, and when not" he stated.

"Sonic is right!" Sunny agreed, as she approached Tails and placed a hoof on his shoulder again. "You are more than just a sidekick. We've seen it, like when you fought Dr. Eggman inside his Death Egg Titan as a distraction!" she pointed out with a smile. "Or when you managed to give Sonic all the information from Cyber Space he couldn't process because of his memory loss and corruption!" she added.

Mentioning the corruption made Sonic had a slight flashback of Cyber Sonic again, abut he quickly shook his head and focused back on what mattered right now.

"You just got to find the courage to put your fears and doubts aside!" Sonic added with a smile. "But the moment to show the world who you are won't arrive that easily" he pointed out.

"Why not?" Tails asked confused.

"Because you won't choose that moment, Tails" Sunny pointed out with a smile as well. "That moment will choose you" she added.

"Really? How did the moment choose you, guys?" Tails asked curiously.

"Oh, it happened long time ago already!" Sonic said with a confident smirk. "I wanted to be able to go beyond Green Hills one day, and thanks to Dr. 'I killed your parents' Eggman, I did it!" Sonic replied with a smile.

"And I always wanted to bring ponykind together, and I thought that getting the Crystals together was going to to that..." Sunny spoke next. "But it wasn't until my lighthouse fell down that I understood we had to unite, not the Crystals. My moment came when everypony decided to unite and let the fear away!" she added with a smile.

"And your moment to show everyone in Equestria that you are your own hero without me will come as well!" Sonic assured him. "You just gotta wait for it!" he stated confidently.

After hearing all of this, Tails couldn't help but smile at Sonic and Sunny, and so, he dragged both of them into a tight hug, which startled them both, but they still hugged him back.

"Thanks, guys!" Tails said happily. "I mean it..." he added.

"Anytime, man" Sonic said with a smile.

"Now cheer up, young man!" Sunny said with a determinate look. "We have a festival to set up!" she declared.

Sometime later, the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Team dark walked through the Bridlewood forest.

The entire group carried all the necessary supplies on a rolling cart Sunny got and on Izzy's Unicycling Cart, while Tails, Omega and Knuckles carried some stuff with their own hands.

Sparky was playing around with a rock, until he sees a bunnycorn hopping by, so the baby dragon gurgled and chased after the bunnycorn as it squeaked, while Hitch followed after them with a chuckle.

"Everypony get ready!" Pipp called out to the unicorns in Bridlewood, as they all turned to their direction. "The music is coming-to-town! The music festival that is" she commented, as she trotted ahead. "It's called 'Bridlewoodstock'!" she called out in front of two unicorn stallions. "You're gonna love it!" she finished.

Yeah, no, they aren't.

Just then, a trembling voice was heard, so they turned and saw three unicorns coming towards them with a scared look.

"Loud music?! During the Lumi-Bloom?" the blue unicorn mare asked frightfully.

"Of course!" Pipp confirmed, not noticing the tremble in her voice. "Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever witnessed?" she asked them with a smile. "Now it will have a soundtrack!" she added.

"This is a very bad idea!" the pink unicorn stallion cried out as he shook his head.

And then, the yellow unicorn stallion screamed in fright. "Count me out!" he cried out, as he and the other two unicorns ran away in fear.

Pipp and the others were surprised by this, so they decided to keep walking, while more unicorns began to hide.

"Um… Is it just me or do these unicorns seem kind of…" Sunny started.

"Not into the idea?" Zipp guessed.

"Spooked out?" Amy added.

"Scared as if they saw a ghost?" Shadow added with a raised brow.

"Yeah..." Sunny nodded.

"They are definitely freaked out about something" Zipp said, while the group saw a couple of unicorns, a foal and an elderly mare, trotting off in fright.

"It feels like we were warned about it or something..." Knuckles added with a frown, as she looked directly at Pipp.

Pipp herself felt nervous about the fact that the unicorns were against the idea of the festival, but she still gave a smile. It was sheepish, but a smile all the same.

"So… Are there any amazing local Bridlewood musicians who would love to perform at the show?" Pipp asked, but the Unicorns around Bridlewood either hid or screamed and went into hiding, until she saw Onyx and Dapple nearby. "Oh! Onyx! Dapple!" Pipp called out, as she got close to them. "You two would be perfect additions to the lineup, heh. What do you say?" she asked the two ponies.

Dapple looked at Onyx, waiting for her to answer, while Onyx gave a neutral expression to Pipp. "No" she answered slowly.

"Oh, well that's okay, heh..." Pipp said with a small smile. "You still have time to mull it over" she suggested.

"Uh, we don't need time" Dapple interrupted.

Pipp gasped happily after hearing that. "You don't?" she asked hopefully.

"Because we Unicorns know better" Dapple answered, while gesturing to the other unicorns hiding behind their tree homes. "You should never sing during a Lumi-Bloom because of the…" he said firmly, before getting scared. "…Troggles!" he finished.

The unicorns gasped before they hid again, while Dapple played with his bongos and made soft percussive music.

"Ah crap, here we go again..." Sonic deadpanned.

"Eyes of the monster, form of the pig. Sing, laugh or yell, step hoof on a twig" Onyx recited, as she stepped a hoof on a twig to prove her point. "Troggles appear, steal what's to be. No cure to be found, past the red ruby" she said, then held up a red ruby before wiping her other hoof around it and vanish it, finishing her poem, while Dapple stopped playing.

The Mane 6 looked at the two ponies in surprise by the poem, while Team Sonic deadpanned and Team Dark had no idea of what they just heard.

"What the––" Shadow tried to say, before remembering he couldn't swear in this story, so he brought out a computer and looked 'soft curse words' on Google, before closing the computer and put it aside. "... frick was that?" he finished confused.

"Okay, I… I give up" Pipp said, as she shook her head. "What are these Troggle thingies?" she asked confused.

"A race of humanoid creatures with pig-like characteristics–– Have you even payed attention to me the whole day?!" Knuckles asked her in rage. "Probably not considering we're here..." he added with a frown.

"Legend says… that the Troggles are mystical spirit monsters!" Dapple explained with a serious tone.

"Th-th-they only come out during the bloom!" the blue unicorn mare from earlier cried out frightfully.

"And they steal things from you if you make any noise!" the pink unicorn stallion from earlier added.

"But they can only work their spirit magic at night…" Dabble explained as he got close to Sunset and Pipp, who got startled looks. "... so beware of singing! Or you'll be cursed!" he finished, as he turned back to the other two Unicorns. "Bing bong! Bing bong!" he cried out, while making that stupid dance again.

The other two unicorns followed and made the same dance as well. "Bing bong! Bing bong! Bing bong! Bing bong!" all three unicorns called out.

The Mane 6, Team Sonic and Team Dark stared at the unicorns with cringed expressions.

"... I have no idea what my eyeballs just witnessed..." Omega informed.

"Yeah... I'm with the robot on this one... What the hell was that?!" Misty asked, completely confused at what she just saw.

"Unicorns tent to do that whenever they feel something is 'bad luck'..." Sonic replied with a bored expression.

"Guess one of the ups of not being from Bridlewood is that you're never gonna do that" Tails told her with a slight chuckle.

"That does not makes this less weird..." Misty pointed out with a weirded out expression.

"I'm with the kid on this one... That was beyond weird..." Rouge agreed with Misty.

"Oh. Is that all?" Pipp asked the unicorns, not bothered by everything they told her, while her friends chuckled nervously.

"She's gonna ignore the signs again..." Knuckles deadpanned.

"Reminder: You can rub she was wrong on her face if the Troggles are real" Omega told Knuckles.

This actually made Knuckles smile a bit and nod, as he and the rest resumed their walk towards the place of the Lumi-Bloom.

Soon, Pipp was present at CBZ Studios to announce Bridlewoodstock to everypony in Equestria.

"Come to the Bridlewoodstock Music Festival and I, Princess Pipp, guarantee you the greatest sights your eyes have ever seen and sounds your ears will ever hear!" Pipp laughed before she continued. "Yes, that is correct. It's called the 'Lumi-Bloom'. And we'll have the hottest musical acts in the industry; the Dreamlands, Electric Blue, Team Sonic and... Ruby Jubilee! That's Bridlewoodstock Music Festival, okay! In Bridlewood! Be there or um..." she tried to add, but then, she flew behind Skye Silver and Dazzle Feather. "You know what? Just be there everypony!" she requested with a smile.

In Bridlewood, in the Lumi-Bloom field, ponies were busy setting up for the festival, building tents, the stage, etc.

"Looking great everypony! Take five!" Pipp beamed as she walked by.

Then, Pipp walked up the Marestream that was parked nearby, as Izzy popped her head from the door.

"Hello!" Izzy called out, and then began to hum happily, while the Marestream table popped up and Izzy brought out some cloth, pillows, a book, a plant and Sunny's lantern, lowing the wings to get the tarp open and bringing out some speakers as Izzy hopped out of the Marestream happily and sat next to a fireplace.

Pipp smiled, and she flew towards Izzy, sitting next to her while Izzy brought out some marshmallows and placed one on a stick, roasting it over the fire.

Then, Pipp sighed relaxed. "Home sweet Marestream!" she said with a smile before turning to Izzy. "Thanks for setting it up! Isn't luxury glamping the best?" she asked with her wings spread.

Izzy levitated the marshmallow off the stick and ate it happily. "I love to glamp!" she cheered, as she placed another marshmallow on the stick before getting nervous. "It helps me forget about all my worries" she said nervously.

"Aw. What do you have to worry about?" Pipp asked concerned.

"Uh…" Izzy trailed off to come up with an excuse, so she held up the stick. "Want a toasted marshmallow?" she asked innocently.

Izzy gave Pipp the marshmallow, who accepted it and ate the whole thing, before sighing. "You're right. My worries have melted away!” She said with a smile.

"Yes! Yeah!" Izzy said, as she laughed nervously. "Me too, me too!" she added, sticking another marshmallow into her stick and roasting it over the fire.

Suddenly, behind the bushes behind the Marestream, some creature was watching them, as the rest of the Mane 6 came out of the Marestream,

"Hey, Pipp!" Sunny called out.

The creature started to breath a bit raspy, rustling in the bushes.

"Huh? Uh" Zipp muttered, since she heard the noise.

"What was that?" Misty questioned, since she heard that as well.

"Oh no..." Pipp's voice, so the rest turned to her, and Pipp began to worry. "What's wrong? Did one of the bands back out?! Did Knuckles made something stupid again?!" she cried out in panic, as she hopped in front of her friends.

"No, nothing like that!" Zipp answered as she landed in the ground. "It's just…" she tried to add, but didn't knew how.

"Um, Pipp?" Misty called out this time. "Are you absolutely sure we should be having the festival here?" she asked, while she and the others smiled sheepishly.

"Ah, why wouldn't we?" Pipp asked them with a smile. "It's literally gorgeous" she pointed out.

"Um, but you heard what Onyx said earlier about the legend, right?" Hitch asked next nervously.

Izzy gasped at this and stopped using her magic, dropping her stick in the process. "With the Troggles? Um…" she started nervously, before going next to Pipp with a nervous look. "Why? Have you seen anything… Troggle-y?" she asked.

"Um... No... Even with that weird description Knuckles gave, I still don't get what they look like..." Misty pointed out, and the rest nodded in agreement.

"Trust me, there's nothing to worry about!" Pipp assured, not worried one bit as she flew up and gestured to the festival as she twirled around. "Besides, look at this place already. Everything is coming together like the harmonies on my last single!" she said, singing the 'harmonies' word.

And then, Knuckles passed by laughing loudly, while he and Shadow were carrying a bunch of wooden planks. "I'm so gonna enjoy when you get proved wrong, Petals!" he stated, laughing about it again.

Pipp rolled her eyes in annoyance, before she suddenly gasped. "Izzy! Is that what I think it is?" she asked, as she came to Izzy excitedly.

"If you think it's my flower crown booth, then yes!" Izzy sang happily, as she smiled at Pipp. "Want a sneaky peak?" she asked with sparkling eyes.

"Yeah, I do!” Pipp said excitedly, as she turned to the others. "And I want all of you to stay here in our amazing Marestream and relax! Toast some marshmallows!" she said, then she flew off while Izzy followed her.

Sparky waddled around, as the rest of Mane 6 and looked in concern.

"Should we do something to stop all this?" Zipp asked the others confused.

"I don't know... All of this looks way too advanced to be stopped now..." Misty pointed out, as she gestured at all the boots being builded up.

Then, Sparky picked up a marshmallow, but then he sneezed out one of his dragon fires and turned the marshmallow into a butterfly, as it flew away while Sparky gurgled with a smile.

"Misty has a point..." Hitch pointed out with a concerned look. "And, things do look fine so far..." he added.

"And we worked so hard to get the bands to agree to play" Sunny added with a smile. "Which reminds me, I have to go!" she called out, as she raced back into the Marestream, going through some stuff and the came back, wearing her roller skates and her helmet. "Minty invited me to watch the Dreamlands dress rehearsal back home and I'm pretty excited about it!" she said eagerly. "See you ponies later!" she called out, as she rolled out of sight.

"I don't really want to ruin Pipp's festival…" Zipp said to Hitch and Misty, while they turned to her. "... but are you guys still feeling uneasy about those strange unicorn warnings, too?" she asked.

"Actually, yes" Hitch said in agreement. "In fact, I started to worry ever since the day we planned this!" he confessed.

"Since that day?" Misty asked confused. "Why?" she added.

"Before I went to Mane Melody for Pipp's emergency reunion, Knuckles came to the office on his day off..." Hitch started to explain. "That was weird already, but... He was mad as well. Madder than usual, I'll say!" he added with concern.

"Knuckles went to the station on his free day and mad?" Zipp questioned with a frown.

"Two bad things in a row aren't usually good news, right?" Misty asked nervously and gulped.

"I don't recall too well everything he said, but he did mentioned something about Pipp being reckless and stupid for ignoring Izzy's warnings about something" Hitch kept narrating. "He also begged me to stay in the office and fill the paper work since he 'refused to participate on something that's gonna explode in our faces'..." he finished with concern. "I think Knuckles believes that the Troggles are real, and Izzy tried to warn Pipp about it, but like you've seen so far, she ignored all warnings..." he pointed out with worry.

"Wow... Whatever Amy, Rouge and that robot told Knuckles must've been very convincing if he's here now..." Misty pointed out, as she saw Knuckles passing by while carrying a giant rock with no effort at all.

"Pipp ignores all the unicorns warnings about the Troggles, Izzy's included; Knuckles is mad with her because she refuses to listen; we heard voices coming from some bushes; and we all feel uneasy about this place..." Zipp listed down, before smirking confidently. "You guys know what I think this calls for?" she asked them in a knowing tone.

"An investigation?" Hitch guessed nervously.

"Boom. You got it" Zipp confirmed, as she lowered her Z-Googles.

"Of curse..." Misty said with a bored expression, before sighing. "Well, if we're gonna find out about the veracity behind the Troggles, better get started, right?" she asked Zipp with a smile.

"That's the spirit, Misty!" Zipp declared with a smile. "Come on!" she stated confidently.

At Mane Melody, microphone feedback was heard along with a pony's frustrated grunt.

That pony was Snuzzle, a silver earth pony mare with short, curly, ruby red mane and tail with blue and pink make up over her eyes. She wore a small blue necklace and a pink and blue hair comb in her mane.

"This isn't working, Minty!" Snuzzle said with concern.

"Snuzzle is right" Blue Belle agreed. She was a blue earth pony mare with violet purple mane, with a purple bow in the back and mane, with a light blue bandana on her head and wearing pink and hot pink bracelets on her forelegs. "Ugh, why did we agree to do this, anyway? We're washed up!" she added with a frown.

"No we're not!" Minty dismissed.

"They're going to laugh at us..." Snuzzle frowned with concern.

"We just need to run it a few more times!" Minty encouraged, before she grabbed her microphone. "Come on, let's just try it again from the top" she stated, while Snuzzle and Blue Belle got ready, even thought the latter rolled her eyes. "And a one, two... a one, two, three!" Minty counted down

That's when Sunny came in just when the music started. "Ha! Sorry I'm late! I came straight from Bridlewood!" she said to Jazz and Rocky.

"Sunny! So glad you're here" Jazz grinned.

"This is not going well..." Rocky stated, before Sunny saw Blue Belle nudged Snuzzle a bit too hard.

"Hey watch where you're going!" Snuzzle frowned.

"You're in my way!" Blue Belle insisted.

"Stop it, you two!" Minty soothed.

"Has it been like this the whole time?" Sunny asked Rocky and Jazz.

"As soon as they walked in the door..." Rocky answered.

"They can't agree on anything!" Jazz informed.

"And they haven't even made it through their whole song once..." Rocky added.

Sunny frowned worriedly at this. She knew broken up bands do have a hard time getting back in sync with everything, but this was a bit beyond of what she imagined.

"Maybe I can fix this" Sunny stated.

The music stopped before Sunny approached the three mares, with Blue Belle frowning. "That's it! I'm done!" she declared, as she walked off stage.

"Fine!" Snuzzle gripped, while Blue Belle leaped into a chair and Sunny approached with her skates and helmet off.

"Ah... Minty! Looking fresh!" Sunny greeted, pretending she didn't saw what just happened. "How is everything going?" she asked.

"Oh Sunny. Don't act like you didn't just see that. It's a disaster!" Misty griped. "The dance moves are off, our looks are dated and..." she tried to keep going.

"We can't agree on what song to perform" Snuzzle added with concern.

"Blue Belle thinks we should try and update our sound to appeal to a younger audience, but that's not so easy" Minty frowned, seeing so many problems with the band trying to make a comeback. "I think this might be a no-go for The Dreamlands. Sorry Sunny..." she apologized.

Sunny looked down in disappointment, but then she looked back at Minty. "Hey, wait! Don't give up! And don't try to change yourselves" she said, while Blue Belle turned in her chair to look at her. "Your classic sounds are what everypony loves about you! You just have to do what you do best and you're gonna rock that stage!" she declared, as her Cutie Mark started to sparkle and glow.

The Dreamlands' Cutie Marks were glowing as well after this, and they gasped when they looked at them. So, Minty, Blue Belle and Snuzzle looked at Sunny and nodded. "Yeah!" they all declared with smiles.

Back in Bridlewood, Zipp, Hitch and Misty walked through the town to find more information on the Troggles.

They came across one grayish brown unicorn that was polishing a crystal, so they approached him. "What can you tell us about Troggles?" Hitch asked him with a smirk, while Zipp held her phone out to record their findings.

"Troggles? Where?" the unicorn yelped, before running away while screaming, earning deadpanned looks from Zipp and Hitch, while Sparky and Misty looked rather confused about the matter.

Next, they came across three fillies in the playground, playing a board game, so they approached them as well.

"Hey! Uh, do you ponies know that Jinxie poem? About the Tro––" Zipp tried to ask, but one filly suddenly closed her mouth with her hoof.

"Shh! Yeah, but I don't wanna say it!" The filly said in fear, before the three ran away frightened.

"What?!" Hitch asked confused.

Them, they asked a green unicorn with a sleek mulberry purple mane and tail wearing mulberry glasses about the Troggles.

"Yeah, I mean... like what is a Troggle anyway, you know?" he asked with a watering can for his flowers in his magical aura.

His response just earned groans and eye rolls from the group, with Misty even facehoofing herself.

"Like when you think about it, what is anything?" the unicorn added

"And... we're moving on. Thanks anyway..." Misty frowned, while the trio moved on.

"Uh, well I think I've come to a conclusion..." Zipp griped.

"Well?" Hitch asked.

"The results are inconclusive..." Zipp frowned, as she grunted and walked in front of Hitch and Misty before moving to their left side. "I can't tell if these monster spirit things are real or just another piece of spooky Unicorn lore!" she added, while two unicorns behind them suddenly stepped to the side, wanting to avoid the group and the Troggles topic.

"On the bright side, I'm kind of glad I never grew in Bridlewood..." Misty said with a bored expression. "I mean, why be scared of something I never seen before? I don't get what they're so paranoid about..." she added with concern.

"Me neither. But I think we need to talk to Pipp again. Before it's too late" Hitch suggested, while Zipp and Misty nodded in agreement.

After returning to the construction of the festival, they saw Pipp working on the giant butterflies stack.

She was now covered in some makeup, with a flower crown on her head, her wings ware rainbow colored, she had a flower necklace on, her mane and tail had blue and pink stripes on them, and her legs and eyelids were in yellow highlights.

Pipp turned and saw Hitch, Zipp and Misty walking towards her. "Hey, ponies!" she called out to them with a smile.

"We wanna talk to you about something" Zipp started.

However, Pipp raised her hoof at them. "Wait, wait! Have you seen the mane stage yet?" she asked excitedly, as she hopped around. "Come look first!" she told them, turning around and flying off.

The three ponies just followed her, while Pipp showed them the unfinished mane stage for Bridlewoodstock. It was purple and light pink flower based stage, with three tower stands where the tall one was in the middle.

The four ponies made it to the front of it with boxes of gems around it, and Pipp landed on the stage with a smile.

"Wow, Pipp. That looks really cool!" Hitch said with a smile, while Sparky climbed down his back.

"Don't you love the rubies?" Pipp asked, as she gestured to the rubies and crystals on the floor.

Sparky gurgled happily, as he picked up one of the rubies and licked his lips. He's a dragon, of course he likes gems... Why did it took him 3 seasons to finally show interest on them?!

"I had them locally harvested from Bridlewood in honor of Ruby Jubilee's big performance!" Pipp explained, chuckling excitedly as she turned to the stage. "I'm just so thrilled with how everything is coming together with no snags at all!" she excitedly said.

This made Zipp, Hitch and Misty looked at each other with cringed expressions.

"Well, about that…" Zipp said, as she scratched her cheek a bit. "There's kind of a snag that we wanted to discuss" she said.

But before Zipp or the others could explain further, an earth pony stallion came up to Pipp. "Uh, Princess Pipp! We need you at artist tent setup!” he informed her, followed by a crashing sound coming from said tent. "Please!" he begged.

"Be right there!" Pipp called out, as she turned to the others. "Thanks for stopping by!" she said to her friends with a smile, before flapping her wings and flying off.

"Am I the only one who is worried about all this Troggle stuff?" Zipp asked her friends with concern, before she turned to the stage. "Look! There are even unicorns on board with the festival now" she pointed to the unicorns setting up the stage.

And then, a unicorn mare rolled the crates of crystals and rubies with some wood on it, but it tripped a bit, which made some wood and a ruby fell off, while the mare and unicorn stallion gasped in fright and looked around nervously.

"Eh... I'll say they're half in board, actually..." Misty said with a raised eyebrow.

"Then maybe you are just trying to dig up trouble where there isn't any, Zipp" Hitch said with a smile, as he placed a hoof around Zipp.

Zipp smiled back after hearing this. "You're right. Maybe sometimes…" she sighed before continue. "... there just isn't any mystery to solve" she admitted.

"And that's okay" Hitch stated.

"I don't know..." Misty said with concern. "I know that all the other unicorns tend to believe in all that weird Jinxie stuff, but they insist a lot about these troggles..." she pointed out. "Maybe this time it isn't just unicorn talkery?" she added with concern.

"If it isn't––" Knuckles spoke suddenly, as he popped in between Hitch and Misty and wrapped his arms around them. "Then I'm gonna make sure your sister remembers it for the rest of her life!" he told Zipp with a smirk.

"Why are you you dedicate to torment Pipp if she's wrong about the Troggles?" Zipp asked, more confused than mad for some reason.

"Because if your sister isn't going to listen warnings about not doing something the easy way, she'll have to learn it the hard way" Knuckles replied with a frown. "Also, she kind of hates me because we clash on idea constantly, so being able to rub in her face that she was wrong is gonna be a sweet revenge to me!" he stated confidently.

"Knuckles!" Sonic's voice called out, and the echidna turned to see Sonic in front of the Tornado IV, which Tails turned into a tent so Team Sonic could get ready for the concert. "Amy's gonna help us with the makeup! Get over here!" Sonic continued.

"Well, that's my sign!" Knuckles said, as he let go of Hitch and Misty and walked towards the tent. "Enjoy around, guys! And if you see a Troggle, tell me so I can rub it in Pipp's face!" he added with a loud laugh.

After this, the three ponies blinked a few times confused. "Okay, I'll take it back... Perhaps it is just unicorn talkery..." Misty deadpanned.

"You know what? I'm gonna try and have fun tomorrow" Zipp said with a smile. "Lean into the whole music festival experience. For my sister" she added with a smirk.

"Me too" Hitch replied with a smile.

"Yeah. This whole Troggle thing starts to sound ridiculous!" Misty said with a chuckle.

Then, the three ponies turned and saw Sparky gurgling, as he picked up a ruby and jumped up, but he accidentally breathed his dragon fire on it, and the ruby turned into a beach ball. Sparky gasped and gurgled in frustration, while he looked down in sadness.

The next day, as the sun was setting, ponies were walking into the Bridlewoodstock Music Festival.

From the main entrance to the tents, everything was done, and Pipp was at the entrance, showing the ponies in while they cheered at the festival.

"Welcome to Bridlewoodstock, everypony!" Pipp announced to the crowd with a smile.

As Pipp did this, Hitch, Zipp and Misty were watching the ponies enter the festival with worried expressions.

"This is all gonna be okay, right? Even after all the stuff those unicorns said?" Hitch asked his friends with worry.

"I really hope so..." Zipp said in the same tone.

"Hopefully, everything's gonna be okay..." Misty said nervously

The three ponies decided to enter the festival already and enjoy themselves, or as much as they could, anyway.

Rocky and Jazz were walking by while wearing glowing glasses, and Jazz was wearing a glowing headset on her head. The two ponies were chatting and laughing together.

The rides of the festival were working just fine. For example: The merry go round with pegasi seats on it circled around.

Near a place were they served french fries, Alphabittle was pouring some tea, levitating the pot and pouring the tea in a cup that he gave to a pegasus.

However, as the pegasus walked away, Alphabittle noticed in the distance that Misty was walking along Hitch and Zipp, and just like in the Manesquerade Ball, he narrowed his eyes to try and look at her closely, just for a couple of earth ponies to arrive asking for tea.

This made him lost sight of Misty, but he decided to shrug it for now and focus on pour more tea, even though he wanted to see Misty closely, since he still couldn't recognize her from anywhere, not even Bridlewood itself.

On another zone of the festival, two earth pony fillies were watching a unicorn mare levitating a flower crown, as she put it on the orange earth pony filly’s head, who then twirled around in joy.

"Pipp really pulled things together fast, huh?" Hitch commented, as they looked around how the ponies were enjoying the festival.

Zipp chuckled with a smile. "That's my little sister for ya" she said with a small smile. "When she wants something, she will make it happen!" she added.

"Well, I'm impressed" Hitch commented. "This place looks awesome!" he commented, gesturing to the festival the ponies are enjoying.

"Very floral!" Misty added with a smile.

"Yeah, it does" Zipp agreed, as she turned to Hitch. "Alright, I'll admit it. I am a little excited" she said with a smile. "And I can't wait to see Electric Blue headline the show!" she added, then walked off.

"Me too! This should be exciting!" Misty agreed, as she followed Zipp.

"Huh. I thought The Dreamlands were headlining the show?" Hitch said confused, as he followed Zipp.

"Guys, look! Izzy's booth is over there!" Misty called out, as she pointed at the tent Izzy is in, so they walked up to it.

Izzy now had rainbow stripes in her mane, wearing flower glasses and a flower crown, also wearing some necklaces, while her horn had a glowing string on it. She was placing flower crowns over some crystals and humming happily, while her three friends came by.

"Hey, Iz. What's all this?" Zipp asked with a smile.

Izzy gasped in surprise before, she turned to her friends with a smile. "The Flower-fication Station! Station! Station!" she announced, while making an echo sound with a whisper. "It's so much fun, it's almost making me forget about how super Jinxie this all this" she said, taking off her glasses and giving an anxious look, before smiling cheerfully. "Take a seat!" she said to them.

"Okay!" Hitch said with a smile, while Zipp and Misty looked at her with wide eyes.

"Wait, what did you just say, Izzy?" Zipp asked.

"That was kinda creepy..." Misty pointed out with concern.

But Izzy either didn't hear the question, or she did, but decided to ignore it, since she was humming happily to herself as Hitch took a seat. Seeing that Izzy wasn't going to reply, Zipp groaned and took a seat on a pillow as well, followed by Misty, who did it hesitantly.

Izzy kept humming, as she turned to her friends for a second, before turning back around and make four flower crowns, tossing them onto their heads with a smile, but one of them did not land properly on Zipp's head, so she held her flower crown with a bored expression.

"How did you just––" Zipp tried to ask, but she was cut off when Izzy went behind them with wide eyes.

"Wait! There's more!" Izzy said with a smile, as she whistled and laughed, getting out of sight.

Then, Jazz and Rocky appeared in front of them, with Jazz holding her makeup kit, while the two ponies smirked to the three ponies and baby dragon.

After that, they started putting some makeup on their faces, polishing their hooves, and claws in Sparky's case, with glitter, putted some glitter dust on their faces, which made them cough, then they did a little face paint on their faces, a little face brush on them, sprayed their manes and tails with some sparkling glitter colors, and then added some few accessories on them.

A few minutes later, they opened their eyes and saw their look and wear for the festival.

"Yeah!" Hitch cheered with a smile at his new look, while Sparky gurgled excited.

Hitch had his hooves painted in purple with light blue waves, neon bracelets on his left foreleg and a green bracelet with purple triangles on his left hind leg, a golden collar with flowers around his neck and with a golden horseshoe, glasses with pink glasses, some flowers and neon tubes on his mane, and his right foreleg was painted with purple glitter.

Sparky had his left eye painted with pink makeup, big purple headphones over his head, a purple band on his forehead with some flowers, his claws on both legs and arms were fully painted on pink, and he had some neon bracelets on his left wrist and on his horns.

"Awesome!" Misty cheered, loving the new look.

She had a flower crown, some purple makeup on her right eye, a neon necklace with a butterfly, some neon rings on her hooves, neon tubes on her mane, and butterfly glasses with purple glass.

As for Zipp, she had a large green necklace with neon lights and a neon lightning, a flower on the necklace, a spike bracelet on her right foreleg and a pink one on the left one, her mane had a yellow stripe now, she had some flowers behind her left ear as well as some neon tubes, a golden earring on her left ear, and neon glasses.

"Wow!" Izzy cheered with a smile, while Jazz and Rocky appeared on both sides of her. "Now you're really festival ready!" she stated.

Jazz then held up a mirror to Zipp, as she looked at her reflection, which made Zipp laugh at her look.

"Yeah we are!" Hitch said excitedly, as Sparky got on his back and gurgled excitedly, while Hitch walked off.

"Thanks, Izzy!" Zipp thanked with a smile, as she followed Hitch and trotted away.

"You're welcome!" Izzy cheered as she waved her hooves. "Have fun and don't let the Troggles bite!" she called out with a nervous laugh, but Zipp and Hitch stopped and stared on in shock.

"What was that?" Zipp asked, as she and Hitch turned around, while Misty looked at her with concern.

"Umm… just some silly old Jinxie saying!" Izzy said with a nervous smile, as she tapped her hooves nervously. "Nothing to worry about! Probably..." she muttered nervously.

"Okay..." Misty said nervously. "Anyways. Troggles aside, is it fine if I hang with you and help with the tent?" she asked her with a smile.

"Of course you can, Misty!" Izzy said with a smile. "Get in here and I'll guide you on what to do!" she stated.

Misty squealed excited, as she got in the tent and approached Jazz and Rocky, while Izzy turned to see Zipp and Hitch with a smile.

"Okay, catch ya later!" Izzy said, raising her hoof.

With this, Hitch looked at Zipp with a smile. "Who's hungry? I'm starving" he said, as he walked off like nothing happened.

"Huh?" Zipp said confused.

And once again, the spooky voice from before stared at Zipp, still watching her from behind some bushes. "Hungry..." they said in a spooky voice, while Zipp looked around for a bit before following Hitch. "Hungry!" they said again.

Zipp stopped once she heard the maniacal laughter in the distance. "Hmm-hmm…" she hummed, as she looked around with concern. "Did you just hear that?" she asked Hitch.

"Come on, let's get some snacks. Woo!" Hitch cheered, not hearing Zipp's question as he kept walking, and Zipp decided to follow anyways.

At a snack stand, a pony was selling french fries stand, while Hitch and Zipp were in line for it.

Of course, Zipp being the action pony she was, easily got bored. "Ugh, this is taking forever! What are we in line for, again?" she asked Hitch.

"Fries! With dipping sauces!" Hitch replied, and Sparky cooed and gently licked his lips.

"Oh yeah. Huh. That does sound pretty delicious" Zipp agreed, while Hitch spotted one pony dipping fries into a small cup of ketchup.

"Mmm. Dipping Sauces" Hitch said with a huge smile.

The two ponies waited about an hour for their turn.

Of course, Zipp groaned all the way towards the stand's counter, since this was taking a lot for her, and Sparky even fell asleep on Hitch's back for all that waiting.

"Yay! Zipp! We're almost there!" Hitch cheered with a smile

However, Pipp suddenly appeared, spooking the two ponies. "There you two are!" she said, and her startle woke Sparky up. "Ugh, thank hoofness! I've been looking everywhere! You look amazing, by the way" she commented happily, before she literally pushed the two ponies off line, showing her surprising strength.

"What the hay, Pipp?!" Zipp snapped with a frown.

"I'm sorry, but this is a festival emergency!" Pipp exclaimed. "Come with me!" she declared, as she flew away.

Zipp followed immediately, while Hitch lingered for a bit, watching a unicorn come by with fries and dipping sauce.

"But... But... dipping sauces!" Hitch whined before Pipp grabbed him and dragged him over near the Marestream.

The three ponies made it to the Marestream, as Pipp landed in front of them with a worried look.

"I don't want to alarm you, but this is bad..." Pipp said as she began to panic. "Like epically bad" she added with a panicked look.

"Does this have to do with the Unicorn legend?" Zipp asked with a frown. "We've been worried about that, too" she added.

"Mmm-hmm" Hitch nodded in agreement.

"And so has Izzy, even if she won't admit it" Zipp added with concern.

"As well as Knuckles, who's really open up about it, actually..." Hitch pointed out with a bored expression.

"Huh?" Pipp asked in confused, not getting what are they talking about.

"We didn't want to upset you" Hitch said a bit concerned. "But, you can be sure that Zipp and I will do whatever we can to minimize damage and help shut things down before it's too late" he assured, while Zipp nodded in agreement with a smile.

"What? Why would you do that?!" Pipp called out in panic.

"Because of the Troggles?" Zipp asked confused.

Pipp tilted her head a bit before speaking. "Okay, I have no idea what you two are talking about, but we actually do have a serious problem on our hooves here" she said desperately.

"More serious than ancient ghost monsters?" Zipp questioned with a bored expression.

"I don't think so!" Knuckles voice was heard from somewhere, and Zipp and Hitch looked at each other confused.

"Yes!" Pipp replied instead. "So two of our major musical acts, Electric Blue and Ruby Jubilee, are here!" she pointed out in panic.

"That's a good thing though… right?" Hitch asked confused.

"Uh, it would be, if they didn't both think they're the headliner!" Pipp stated in panic. "I just don't understand how this mixup happened" she said with worry.

Just then, Shadow was walking by, loudly sipping a smoothie. He was wearing some neon lights on his wrists, his chest was painted with orange and pink colors, and the red lines on his quills were painted all in yellow, while he wore neon glasses.

But then, he heard the conversation going on, so he approached. "What mixup happened?" Shadow asked confused.

"Electric Blue and Ruby Jubilee both thing they're the headliners of the show!" Pipp replied in panic.

At this, Shadow looked away from her and spilled his smoothie with wide eyes, before looking back at her with genuine panic, and Pipp looked at him with wide eyes as well.

"... I think my smoothie had something..." Shadow replied, before boosting away in panic.

As he did that, Zipp and Hitch looked at the ultimate life form confused, but as soon as Zipp processed Pipp's problem again, her eyes widened as well. "Oh..." she said with panic. "Tails, Misty and I may have had something to do with that, sis..." she said slowly with a nervous tone. "Whoopsies?"

"Zephyrina!" Pipp snapped with a frown, before gasping loudly for air and then: "MILES! MISTY!" she yelled out loudly in rage.

This actually made both Tails and Misty flinch on their respective places, with Misty slowly turning to see Pipp near the Marestream and gulp, while Tails popped his head from inside the tent he was with Team Sonic, before gulping as well and fly towards the Marestream.

Tails was wearing a black jacket that had graffiti over it of white and blue flower drawings and a 'T' painted in yellow on the back, as well as a neon collar with a two tail ornament, neon bracelets on his wrists, and his hair was painted with pink, white and light blue stripes that reminded of a certain princess. Also, his cheeks were painted on the colors blue, red and pink respectively.

As Tails and Misty approached to Pipp with sheepish smiles, they both gulped nervously again.

"What did you three do?!" Pipp questioned, as she leaned forward to them, while Zipp, Misty and Tails flinched.

"Uh, what's going on?" Tails asked confused.

"Electric Blue and Ruby Jubilee both think that they're the headliners of the concert" Hitch replied.

When he said this, Tails and Misty's eyes widened, and they finally understood what was wrong. "Ooooh...." both of them said.

"Hey, we were just trying to help you out!" Zipp said in defense.

"We told them about the festival and how much you wanted them to perform!" Tails explained.

"But they were on the fence about performing, so I uh…" Misty continued, as she gave a nervous look. "... sweetened the deal by promising some stuff?" she added nervously.

"Like I said, this is epically bad" Pipp cried out, looking really nervous and worried. "What are we gonna do?!" she asked them on the verge of tears.

"We'll just have to tell them the truth about what happened" Hitch suggested, and the rest but Pipp agreed with smiles. "I'm sure they'll understand."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Pipp said with a frown. "You don't tell a musician that they've been demoted from headliner! You just don't" she pointed out, then started flying around in panic while looking at her friends. "Maybe they can double-headline! Is that a thing? That's not a thing, is it?! But it could be! If we make it one! Yeah! Yeah! That could work" she said frantically, while the rest watched her flying around with concern. "And then, and then we'll still have plenty of other bands to go on first and open for them. Like The Dreamlands!" she said with a smile, as she landed in front of the others. "Are they here yet? Where's Sunny?" she asked them with panic.

"Right here!" Sunny's voice called out, as the rest turned and saw Sunny and The Dreamlands approaching.

Sunny had her legs painted with light blue colors, while she wore neon bracelets on her right foreleg, other two bracelets on her neck, round glasses, a flower crown and some neon tubes behind her right ear.

"And your headliners have arrived! Here they are!" Sunny continued, as she gestured to The Dreamlands.

"Hey, everypony!" Minty greeted with a smile.

"We are really excited to be headlining a show after all this time!" Blue Belle said excited.

"Thank you so much for this! We feel so special!” Snuzzle said next.

This made everyone else but Sunny cringe as they looked at each other with concern, before looking over at Pipp, who's right eye was twitching, and she looked like she was about to explode in panic, chuckling and smiling nervously.

A little bit later, laughter was heard in The Dreamlands tent.

"On behalf of the royal family of Zephyr Heights, and the um, uh..." Pipp said, before tapping her hooves together nervously. "... friendship fellowship of the Unity Crystals, we are so honored that you have graced us with your talents this fine evening at this celebration of music" she stated, while Hitch looked away while and Zipp deadpanned at her sister, with Sunny and Izzy simply smiling and Misty smiling sheepishly.

"So are we!" Minty replied, even though both her and Blue Belle looked at Pipp a bit confused.

"We weren't even sure we could perform together anymore, let alone headline a festival!" Snuzzle added with a smile.

"Yes, yes..." Pipp said, as she tapped her hooves nervously. "Well, please get comfortable as you warm your vocal chords and prepare for your grand performance! And do let us know if you require anything else, heh... We shall check in on you later, hmm?" she added, trying to keep her cool and composure before she and the group left.

"Why was she talking like that?" Minty asked confused.

"Uh, Royals are fancy?" Blue Belle replied and shrugged.

Once the Mane 6 were out of the tent, Pipp started to groan, while the rest just looked at her.

"Before you say anything, I know that I was just acting totally weird in there!" Pipp said nervously.

"As long as you know" Zipp said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"I just panicked!" Pipp cried out, as she lifted her head up to look at Zipp. "But it's okay. We will come up with a plan and fast. But for now, all we have to do is keep the bands separated until the show, heh" she said frantically. "We have time to figure it out!" she finished, still feeling nervous.

"Actually you don't" Shadow spoke, as he approached to the Mane 6 along Rouge and Omega, while he pointed to the sun setting in the sky.

Rouge was wearing neon bracelets on her left hand, a golden necklace similar to Hitch's but with a golden heart, pink shadows instead of the regular blue, a variant of her usual dress but with red and green neon graffiti flowers over it, and some neon tubes behind her left ear, as well as a golden earring on her right one.

As for Omega, the robot had his chest painted with pink, purple and green graffiti, while his right shoulder had a flower drawing, his yellow wrists were painted with neon green graffiti, his eyes were covered with flower glasses, and he also had a flower crown over his head.

"It is almost dusk" Sunny pointed out, as they all saw the sun setting and hear owls hooting.

"If you want the full effect of the Lumi-Bloom, Pipp, we gotta get started!" Izzy stated with a smile.

"And the sooner we start the show, the less chance of any uh… unwanted visitors showing up!" Misty added nervously, as both Izzy and her tapped their hooves nervously.

Yeah, Izzy told too many stories about the Troggles to Misty, and now the poor mare is convinced they're real as well.

"Okay. I'm not going to let anything ruin this" Pipp said with a determinate look. "Not 'Troggies', diva musicians, or… the sun setting!" she stated, as she pointed a hoof to the sky with a frown.

"You're sounding pretty weird again, sis" Zipp teased with a smirk.

"I know!" Pipp called out as she turned to her sister with her wings spread, which made Zipp flinch from that. "What's even weirder is triple headliners..." she pointed out with concern.

"Oh, you didn't heard the news?" Rouge asked with a frown, and Omega weirdly extended an arm, while Shadow panicked and tried to run away, but he crashed with Omega's arm and fell to the ground with a loud groan. "This idiot told The Dreamlands they would be the headliners."

Pipp's eyes twitched in rage, while Sunny covered her hooves after Shadow crashed with Omega, and she immediately rushed to help the hedgehog to get up.

Still, Pipp sighed and putted on a determinate look again. "We gotta fix this and convince one of the groups to open!"

First of all, Zipp, Tails Sunny and Pipp went to talk with Electric Blue about opening the show.

"So in conclusion, when you really think about it, opening the show is actually way better than going last because you'll be the first band in history to rock out to the visuals of the bloom!" Zipp declared at fast paste, breathing heavily once she finished.

"Feeling better?" Tails teased with a smirk.

Fetlock looked at Jam Donut and Arpgreggia for a moment, before Jam smiled at him, while Arpgreggia twisted her drum stick on her hooves and nodded.

"Alright, you got it" Fretlock replied with a smirk.

"Hey, that was a great speech!" Sunny praised, while Zipp sighed in relief.

At Izzy's tent, The Dreamlands were getting ready for the show.

Izzy, along with Misty, Jazz and Rocky, were giving the Dreamlands some makeover, while Hitch was looking at them.

"So you know what I was thinking?" Hitch spoke up, while the Dreamlands and the others listened. "Who wants to go last when everypony is too tired to sing and dance along? Really, being first up is the perfect place to be is what I always say!" he stated with a nervous chuckle.

"Hmm… You know..." Minty started, while Hitch kept chuckling nervously, at least until Minty smiled. "You have a really good point, Hitch."

"I think so too" Snuzzle agreed.

"Let's do it! Let's go on first!" Blue Belle declared with a smile.

Izzy and Misty smiled at this outcome, while Hitch sighed in relief.

Finally, Pipp entered Ruby's tent, as she saw her approach and turned in her chair a bit.

"Princess Pipp! I wanted to talk to you––" Ruby tried to say, but Pipp cut her off.

"Okay Ruby, it's all set. You are the star of the whole night!" Pipp announced. "Our magnificent headliner on our stunning 'Ruby Stage'!"

"Actually..." Ruby said, playing nervously with a part of her mane. "I was kinda hoping you wouldn't mind if I go on first instead?" she requested.

Pipp blinked after hearing this. "What?" she questioned confused and with panic.

"I love to sing during sunset" Ruby explained. "And it matches the exact vibe of the song you, your boyfriend and Izzy inspired me to write!" she grinned, before turning back in her chair.

"Oh, so you wanna go first now?" Pipp squeaked, beginning to panic again, as he right eye twitched a bit.

In Team Sonic's tent, Amy already dressed Sonic and herself up.

Amy was wearing now the same red dress, but it was covered on yellow, blue and pink graffiti of flower drawings, as well as a green letter 'A' on her back, as she had flower bracelets, a neon collar with a small hammer, a flower crown, and neon tubes behind both of her ears. She also had her quills painted in blue, yellow and red respectively.

Sonic wore a black jacket, similar to Tails', but with yellow and pink flowers painted with graffiti, as well as a big S painted on the back and some lightnings made with his powers, while he had Pipp's Cutie Mark painted on his left eye, his gloves were one red and one yellow, both fingerless, and his shoes were one green and one purple. Also, his belly had painted the letters 'TS' with white graffiti. He also had yellow, red and pink painted quills, in that order.

Finally, Amy was finishing dressing up Knuckles. The echidna has Izzy's Cutie Mark painted on his left eye, and his gloves were regular ones and fingerless as well, with one being purple and the other one being yellow. He had a black jacket as well with purple and light blue flower drawings made with graffiti, as well as having a 'K' painted in red on the back, while his chest also had 'TS' painted with white graffiti.

Amy was finishing with his quills, which she painted in blue, yellow and pink respectively. Yes, the four members died their hairs (or cheeks in Tails' case) to represent each other's presence in the band.

As Amy finished to dress Knuckles, the Mane 6 gathered inside, with Pipp panicking a lot.

"So now we have three openers and nopony who wants to be a headliner?!" Pipp exclaimed in panic.

"Yup. That's the situation. Mm-hmm" Hitch nodded.

"This just keeps on getting worse!" Pipp groaned.

"Not to point out the obvious or anything, but uh..." Zipp decided to spoke, as she cleared her throat. "Aren't you a major pop star? A frequent headliner? A singer who loves attent––" she pointed out, but got cut off.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, Zippster" Sonic said with a smirk, as he got at his girlfriend's side and smiled down at her. "She does have a point, though. You are a pretty popular singer" he pointed out as well.

"Oh. Right. Yes. I am!" Pipp said quickly, getting where Sonic and Zipp were going with their words. "I suppose I can perform, if everypony insists" she added with a smirk.

The rest of the Mane 6 agreed on the idea, as everyone cheered at her.

"Okay then, I'll do it" Pipp stated with a smile.

"Woo-hoo! The show is saved!" Izzy cheered with a smile, before looking around with suspicion. "Maybe" she added with a frown, that soon transformed into a worried expression.

"Hmm..." Knuckles muttered with a frown, as he looked around in suspicion as well, while Amy finished dying his quills.

"What's wrong?" Amy asked him confused.

"... My toes are tingling..." Knuckles replied, still looking around. "I have a bad feeling with these concert thing... But I'm still willing to go to the end, Troggles or not" he stated.

"Alright" Pipp said, as she and the Mane 6 left the tent. "Let's get this show started right now" she declared to her friends, while they nodded in agreement.

"So, just to be clear... If Ruby's gonna be the opener, and you're gonna be the headliner... Where are we gonna enter?" Sonic asked his girlfriend from the tent, feeling a bit confused.

"Oh, you'll go before Ruby. Instead of being the openers, you'll be more like... The special guests!" Pip replied with a smile.

"Then we better get ourselves finished!" Sonic said with a smirk, as he got back inside the tent.

"Hey, Pipp?" Izzy called out.

"What's wrong now?" Pipp asked nervously.

"My tummy feels like it's full of butterflies! And it definitely has nothing to do with Knuckles!" Izzy said nervously. "I'm still kinda nervous that the Troggles might show up..." she added.

"No, no. That's just pre-show jitters!" Pipp assured.

"It is?" Izzy asked hopefully.

"Don't worry, everypony gets them" Pipp assured with a smile. "Even me! Just go trot it off!" she suggested.

"Okay" Izzy said with a smile, as she walked off while humming to herself.

"Phew" Pipp sighed in relief.

But then guess what? Knuckles and the unicorns were right: The Troggles are real, because two of them appeared behind Pipp and laughed maniacally at her.

Pipp turned her head when she heard the laugh, but the Troggles disappeared before she saw them, so she saw nothing. "Huh..." she said, before walking off.

Nighttime finally reached Equestria.

With this, the Lumi-Bloom began to glow and shine, as ponies around it started walking towards the stage, seeing the Lumi-Bloom on their ways and feeling amazed at the sight. The plants around kept glowing brightly, while ponies came up the stage and cheered in excitement.

Pipp came up to the stage and gasped in joy, while the rest of the Mane 6, Shadow and Rouge walked up to the front of the stage, with Shadow standing at Sunny's side to feel a bit more comfortable, and Rouge standing at his side.

Omega had to stay in the back because he could simply make zoom with his eyes to the stage, and he didn't wanted to obscure the vision for everypony else because of how tall he is.

So, Pipp brought out her microphone and spread her wings. "Welcome, everypony, to Bridlewoodstock!" she announced, while the lights of the stage turned on and the crowd but Team Dark started cheering, with the rest of the Mane 6 cheering loudly. of course, no one noticed a Troggle spying behind them. "Before we get started with our first artist, please let's welcome our special guests! They might be more the kind of 'saving the world' type of people, but they do Know hot to put a show! Everypony, please welcome to the stage to the brave heroes that fought Dr. Eggman on Maretime Bay: Team Sonic!" she announced.

With this, the crowd cheered loudly once again, and Pipp moved aside, while the reflectors turned on behind to show Knuckles on the drums, Tails with the bass, Amy with a keytar, and Sonic jumping on-stage with his guitar and standing in front of a microphone.

"What up, what up everyone and Shadow?!" Sonic greeted with a playful smirk, and even thought Shadow crossed his arms and groaned loudly with and eye roll, he still smirked playfully as well. "We're all really glad to be here with you tonight! Now, I hope you're ready, 'cause we're just the beginning of one amazing night!" he stated, and the crowd cheered loudly again.

But before he could keep going, he witnessed Cyber Sonic's figure among the crowd, as he made a gesture with his hand and passed a thumb over his own throat, basically telling Sonic that he was going to kill him.

This did made Sonic panic, but he breathed deeply and closed his eyes to calm himself down. Once he opened them, Cyber Sonic was gone, and he smiled once again. "The song we're gonna perform is quite emotional, actually... I heard it all the time when I was little, and I think sharing it with you all is gonna make it even more memorable!" he stated confidently.

After saying this, he looked over at Amy and nodded, while the pink hedgehog smiled and nodded back, as she started to play her keytar.

https://youtu.be/Mpp9TfNoGrM

At first it was a soft melody, but once Sonic, Tails and Knuckles started to play along, Pipp gasped, because she knew which song Team Sonic was going to perform... The lullaby that his biological mother sang to him when he was a baby, a few days before Eggman... well... You guys already know.

Sonic:
Take off, at the speed of sound
Bright lights, colors all around

Team Sonic:
I'm running wild, living fast, and free

Sonic
Got no regrets inside of me

The crowd, specially the Mane 6 and Team Dark, felt surprised at Sonic singing his heart out, specially considering this song was a lullaby made by Bernie before she died.

Not looking back (Not looking back)
Not giving up (Not giving up)
Not letting go

Team Sonic:
I'll keep on running

I'm gonna reach for the stars
Although they look pretty far
I'm gonna find my own way
And take a chance on today

As Team Sonic sang their hearts out, the crowd was cheering loudly at them. Omega, despite not saying a word, took out a small blue pennant with Sonic's face on it and wave it, pretty much as a sign of support towards Team Sonic's performance.

At some point, rouge decided to stop 'playing thought' and started to cheer loudly at them as well, while Shadow felt a bit surprised by this. Still, he looked at Team Sonic and smiled, moving his head the music's rhythm and even tapping his foot now and then.

The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
I never felt like this
I'll keep on running

The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
Just take my hand
We're gonna reach for the stars
Tonight

Tonight

Tails:
Wake up living day by day
Do what I want, and I'll do it my way
The world is flying right below my feet

Team Sonic:
Got no regrets inside of me

Sonic:
Not looking back (Not looking back)
Not giving up (Not giving up)
Not letting go

Team Sonic:
I'll keep on running

Since the rest of the song was going to be almost the same, everyone in the crowd started to sing along the lyrics of the song, which surprised mainly Sonic, but he also smiled brightly at this outcome.

I'm gonna reach for the stars

With this line, Sonic grabbed the microphone and looked down at the crowd with a smirk. "You know it!" he cheered, now removing the microphone from its stand and pointing it to the audience.

Although they look pretty far

"Sing it!" Sonic instructed, once again pointed the mic at the crowd.

I'm gonna find my own way

"I like where this is going!" Sonic said cheerfully, before placing the mic on the stand again and continue singing, as well as continue playing his guitar.

And take a chance on today

The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
I never felt like this
I'll keep on running

The sky with stars so bright
The colors feel so right
Just take my hand
We're gonna reach for the stars
Tonight

Tonight

Then, Sonic started to make the guitar solo of the song, clearly focusing on make it sound impressive, and it worked, because the crowd cheered loudly at him, while the Mane 6 called out to him with smiles, Pipp's gaze was completely lost on Sonic, and Shadow had no idea on how Sonic could be doing such movements with the guitar.

I've got it in my sight
The colors feels so right

Sonic:
Got my feet off the ground

Team Sonic:
I'll keep on running!

Oh, I can feel it now
The colors all around
Just take my hand
We're gonna reach for the stars

Just take the chance
We'll do it all again

Amy:
(We're gonna reach for the stars)

Team Sonic:
Just take my hand (Just take my hand)
Just take the chance tonight
Reach for the stars

Sonic:
Tonight!

Tonight

Sonic finished singing the song, with Amy finishing off the melody with her keytar, while the crowd cheered loudly at them, including her friends.

"You go, guys!" Sunny cheered.

"That was awesome!" Zipp cheered as well.

"It was beautiful!" Hitch said with a smile.

"Amazing!" Misty said, smiling as well.

"Your sparkles are as bright as the stars!" Izzy cheered loudly.

The entire Team Sonic stood in front of the crowd and hold hands together, followed by a reverence from all of them.

Just then, Pipp came back to the stage with her microphone. "Wow, Blue Star! I knew you guys could sing, but... That was incredible!" she said with a wide smile.

"Oh, it was nothing. Just a little song we wanted to share with everypony, that's all!" Sonic said with a smile, as he looked at the crowd and winked.

"Well you did great, guys. Thank you so much for coming!" Pipp said, while Team Sonic nodded and waved their hands at the crowd, before they left the stage and joined the Mane 6, Shadow and Rouge in the crowd. "Team Sonic did an amazing note, ponies! And now, for real this time, please give a glowy, warm welcome to our first artist! The one… the only… Ruby Jubilee!" Pipp announced, before she flew off.

The crowd cheered loudly again, while Ruby appeared from behind the stage with a pose, before she spread her wings and walked slowly, as she opened her eyes and smiled at the crowd, bringing out her own microphone.

"Are you ready to get this pony party started?!" Ruby asked excited, while the crowd cheered. "Don't be afraid to sing along!" she added, as she then did a dance while music started to play.

https://youtu.be/IGdd60M6XBE

Oh, tell me, can you hear that rockin' sound?
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)
If you listen, you can hear it comin' 'round
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)

Ruby made a twirl and flew into the air, while the crowd either cheered or sang along, and Pipp landed beside her sister and her friends with a smile.

Yeah, we're movin' to a brand new beat, oh-ohhhh
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)
And you can see us dancin' in the street
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)

Then, Ruby flew into the air and twirled around, giving a wink to the crowd and then flying around them.

So call your favorite bestie and bring 'em along
'Cause we're movin' and we're shakin' to our favorite song
Oh-ohhhh
Yeah, it's always in style
(Always in style!)

Ruby started to fly and dance around as she kept singing, but nopony realized that the Troggles were appearing from the woods, waiting for the exact moment to attack, while everypony singed or danced along Ruby's song.

Iconic, ooh, yeah, you know it's magic
Iconic, ooh, yeah, you know it's classic
Iconic, when we are together
Iconic, yeah, we are forever
Iconic, yeah, we are forever

The ponies, the Mane 6, Team Sonic and even Team Dark bobbed their heads or bodies to the music.

Then, two pegasi hold out their phones and tried to record Ruby's performance as she sang and danced, but then an error showed that there's no signal as their phones buzzed.

"Oh, don't bother!" Pipp said with a smile, as she approached the stallions. "The service out here is nonexistent. In Bridlewood, it's more about forest streams than streaming, you know?" she joked. "Be in the now, ponies! Forget those phonies!" she declared, while the two pegasi smiled in agreement, and Pipp went back to her friends.

Yeah, you can see them movin', young and old, oh-ohhhh
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)
Dancin' together, yeah, they feel it in their soul
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)

As Ruby kept singing, Glory, Seashell and Peach Fizz were moving to the music, while Ruby spread her wings, and Peach Fizz climbed on top of her two friends as she cheered for Ruby. Not that her friends minded, anyways.

We're with all of our friends, yeah, we're singin along
To the sparkle and the magic of our favorite song
Oh-ohhhh
'Cause they're always in style (sty-y-yle)
(Oh, yeah!)

Ruby kept singing, while ponies waved their hooves to her and cheered, as Ruby gave them a wink and then started dancing again, twirling around.

Iconic, ooh, yeah, you know it's magic
Iconic, ooh, yeah, you know it's classic
Iconic, when we are together
Iconic, yeah, we are forever
Iconic, yeah, we are forever

Pipp kept moving to the music, but neither she nor anypony else noticed that more Troggles appeared from the bushes.

Sparky was dancing along, until he felt that something was wrong, so he looked around and noticed the Troggles moving around, but nobody was noticing because of the music.

At this, Sparky tried to get Hitch's attention, tapping him on the head as hard as he could, but Hitch didn't felt nor noticed, while the Troggles drew closer to Ruby.

(It's magic... It's magic... It's magic...)
(Iconic... Iconic... Iconic...)

"Icon––" Ruby tried to sing, but suddenly, her voice began cutting out, which made the ponies gasp.

"What's happening?" Sunny asked concerned.

"Technical Difficulties?" Hitch asked.

"Oh no, her mic cut out!" Pipp breathed in shock.

However, Knuckles narrowed his eyes and saw Ruby's throat glowing in a yellow sphere.

"Wait a minute..." Knuckles muttered.

Zipp looked the same thing as him and gasped. "Oh no..." she said with concern and panic.

Ruby gasped as she tried to speak, just for a Troggle to appear behind her. When Ruby noticed this, she turned around and stared both confused and freaked out by the Troggle's presence.

But of course, it turned all in fear when the yellow sphere on Ruby's throat came out of her mouth and stoled her voice.

One of the unicorns watching dropped a fry from his mouth and widened her eyes. "TROGGLES!" the unicorn yelled in fear.

Suddenly, more Troggles came out from the bushes and began attacking the ponies, who screamed in fright and ran away, but some of them fell victims and had their voices taken.

One unicorn was cornered near a tree. "No way dude! Don't take my voi––" he tried to say, but the Troggle took his voice and made him a mute.

As this happened, the Mane 5, Team Sonic and Team Dark watched over many ponies loosing their voices because of the Troggles, and Knuckles was beyond furious, because even if he ended up being proved right, it also made him mad since it meant that Pipp should have listened to Izzy, to the unicorns, and to him as well.

"But... but... The show!" Pipp gawked in panic.

"THE SHOW?!" Knuckles yelled in rage, as he boosted in front of Pipp and looked at her beyond furious, with his eyes glowing red and his body letting go of red electrical sparkles. "You ignored the warnings of the unicorns, ignored my warnings about this being a terrible idea, laughed at Izzy for trying to tell you about the Troggles, and all you care about IS YOUR STUPID SHOW?!" he shouted with anger.

Pipp flinched with wide eyes after Knuckles snapped at her, and she even stepped back a bit.

Of course, Sonic immediately went in-between them to try and calm Knuckles down. "Hey, Knux! Chill for a second, dude. I get that you're mad, but we have more important stuff to––" he tried to add.

However, all Knuckles did was push him aside hard enough for him to fell to the ground on his back, while he approached Pipp, while the pegasus stepped back, until her back hit the stage, so she looked in fright at the echidna.

"My only comfort in all of this is that I can rub this in your face for the rest of your life" Knuckles stated, but his frown never changed. "But get this, Pipp: Everypony loosing their voice today is on you, and only on you. You don't ignore warnings about ancient creatures, you don't laugh at what others believe, and you don't do whatever the hell you want without consequences. You simply don't!" he added, before turning around and walk away.

Pipp looked down in shame after Knuckles was done with her, and she couldn't help but whimper a bit while her ears lowered.

Zipp and Hitch, on the other hand, looked at each other and nodded, before stepping in front of their friends. "Come on, guys. We've gotta stop this!" Zipp urged.

"Yes! But first, we need a plan!" Sunny stated.

Izzy thought of something and re-told the poem about the Troggles. "Eyes of the monster, form of the pig! Sing, laugh or yell, step hoof on a twig!" she recited, while her friends stared at her confused. "Troggles appear, steal what's to be! No cure to be found, past the red ruby!" she said, while doing a silly dance.

Zipp held up her hoof to Izzy and stopped her. "Izzy, we don't have time for poems right now!" she snapped.

"Zipp, she literally just said how to defeat those things..." Tails pointed out with a bored expression.

"Yeah. She said that rubies can defeat the Troggles." Misty agreed, also with a bored expression.

Pipp and Sunny looked at the young unicorn in shock. "Huh... I guess I did!" Izzy beamed with a smile.

Then, they all turned and saw Ruby trying to scare the Troggles away as she waved her hooves. In the process, she dropped her microphone, which let go a ruby onto the floor.

A Troggle picked it up and absorbed it with a smile, which made him vanish.

"What?" Zipp said in amazed, while she had an idea. "Everypony, grab those rubies!" she ordered, pointing to the rubies on the stage.

The rest of Mane 6, Team Sonic and Team Dark went and grabbed the rubies, but they were glued tightly onto the stage.

"They're really stuck on there!" Hitch grunted.

"That's because we used extra strength super-duper-Ruby glue!" Izzy explained, trying to pull one off with her magic.

"Why did we do that?" Pipp grunted in despair.

"I've been wondering the same the whole special!" Knuckles groaned, as he tried to pull off one of the rubies with his strength, failing miserably.

Sonic tried to use his Spin Dash over the rubies, but it didn't worked. Then, he used Wild Rush to try and quit them, but that didn't worked either. Finally, he went with a Homing Shot, but none of the spheres he launched moved any Ruby away.

"Yeah, I'm with Pipp on this one... Why did you do that?!" Sonic complained with a frown.

Sparky babbled at one and let out a puff of smoke, but it turned a ruby into a balloon, and that made the baby dragon look at the floor in disappointment.

Then, Sunny looked around at the chaos the Troggles were causing, and knew that she had to do something before the Troggles took every voice away, including their own.

"Come on. My friends need my help..." Sunny concentrated and brought out her Alicorn form. It was difficult at first, but she managed to do it, even though her whole outfit disappeared because the budget is limited. "Yeah!" she cheered, as she flew up into the air. "Everypony away from the stage!" she called out, and her friends backed away with cheers.

With her friends out of the way, Sunny used her Alicorn power to strike the rubies, forcing them to fall off and around the area.

"Everybody, grab a ruby!" Zipp called out, and everyone grabbed a ruby each, as they held them up and made them glow, which called the Troggles' attention.

They floated over and absorbed the rubies, vanishing and returning the voices to the ponies.

"Hello?" an earth pony mare asked, as she then gasped in joy. "Hello! Uh, my voice is back!" she said happily.

Two pegasi saw this, then they looked at each other and nodded, before throwing rubies at the Troggles, who grabbed the rubies and vanished, returning their voices to two fillies who gasped, and then said fillies threw rubies as well to help the other ponies.

Soon enough, everypony was throwing rubies at the Troggles, as they all grabbed went for them and vanished. Ruby held up one ruby a bit scared, and the one that took her voice grabbed the ruby and vanished as well.

"Iconic! Woah oh!" Ruby sang with a laugh, happy that her voice was back.

"It worked!" Hitch beamed, while Sunny landed on the floor and her Alicorn form vanished.

"Nice job, Sunny!" Tails said with a smile, as he side hugged the mare, while Izzy came by and joined the hug.

"That was the dumbest way to defeat a ghost I've ever witnessed..." Shadow deadpanned.

"Dumber than a plumber swallowing them with a vacuum?" Rouge teased with a smirk.

Shadow looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "... It's a 50/50..." he said.

Pipp sighed in relief after seeing that the Troggles were gone. "Ah, thank hoofness!" she said relieved, before flying to the stage and pick up Ruby's microphone, that gave some feedback. "Uh, is this thing on?" she asked, chuckling nervously. "Wow… So I just wanna say… that I'm sorry. To everypony" she said with a guilty expression. "But especially to the residents of Bridlewood... and to you, Knuckles..." she added, while the unicorns began to come out of hiding from the bushes, while Alphabittle and a unicorn mare walked closely, and Knuckles' eyes widened after hearing her. "This forest is your home and you know it best. You tried to warn me, but I didn't wanna listen to you... Or to my friends" she added, and even though she was looking at Zipp, Hitch and Misty, her gaze stopped on Knuckles. "Who only wanted to help make my dream of this festival come true... But Knuckles is right. I was warned about this, and I refused to listen..." she added with shame on herself.

Knuckles stared at Pipp with wide eyes. Was this real? Was he dreaming? Was Pipp actually apologizing to him and not trying to make it all look like a misunderstanding? He knew that they constantly clash on ideas, but Pipp accepting she was wrong and apologizing to him in public... It made him a bit happy for some reason, because he was smiling.

"I guess I just got so focused on planning the perfect Bridlewoodstock festival, that I forgot to consider Bridlewood. And all of the history that comes along with it..." Pipp said, while she turned to Izzy with a smile. "Even the Jinxie stuff" she added, and Izzy smiled back at Pipp, while the pegasus continued with a broken tone. "But I know better now. And I wanna thank you all for coming to the first and last Bridlewoodstock. The festival is over!" she cried out as she tossed the microphone away as she began to walk out stage with her head down.

"Are you kidding me now?!" Knuckles spoke suddenly, not only surprising Pipp as she stopped and looked at him confused, but also startling everyone among the crowd, even his friends.

Then, Knuckles jumped from his seat and into the stage, approaching Pipp and kneeling in front of her with a frown.

"You pulled out everything you got, you putted your heart and soul on this festival, you persisted to the very end to make this festival happening, and you're gonna give up because of ghosts and me being an idiot?" Knuckles asked with disbelief.

"What?!" Pipp asked confused. "B-But I thought that you––" she tried to say.

"I wasn't mad because you wanted to make the festival. I was mad because you ignored warnings!" Knuckles pointed out. "You laughed at Izzy for the Troggle thing, and you treated the unicorns warnings like gibberish! Worse of all, I told you that every legend hides truth behind, and you still ignored me" he added with a frown, but then he smiled. "You recognized that, and you apologized. That's all I needed to hear" he stated.

"Huh?" Pipp said confused.

"Look around you, Princess!" Knuckles said with a smile, gesturing at the festival. "The festival is up, the Troggles are gone, and the unicorns here are ready to party! Am I right?!" he asked, now looking at the unicorns in the crowd.

All the unicorns among the crowd cheered loudly at his words, which made Pipp smile warmly.

"Yeah!" a unicorn stallion with glasses called out. "Don't stop it now!" he stated.

"This is the most fun we've ever had during the Lumi-Bloom!" another unicorn stallion agreed.

"Now that the Troggles are gone, we're not scared anymore!" a unicorn stallion with a deep voice added.

"And I thought Knuckles' voice was deep..." Misty said with an amused expression.

"We want more music!" a young unicorn stallion called out as well.

"Yeah! Let's go!" a mare in the crowd cheered in agreement.

"We want more! We want more!" a unicorn mare called out, while the other ponies began chanting along.

Pipp was surprised by this, but she still smiled with joy.

"You see? This is beyond over!" Knuckles declared, as she started to walk backwards. "I'm still gonna rub that I was right for eternity, though. But in the meantime? You have a show to host!" he stated, before getting down of the stage and going back with the rest among the crowd.

Pipp smiled at him, then she turned to Ruby, who was surprised by everything that just happened as well. "What do you think, Ruby?" she asked her with a smirk.

Ruby laughed at this. "I think the fans have spoken!" she said in agreement.

"Then the show must go on!" Pipp declared with a smirk, as she came next to Ruby, then she picked up her microphone again. "What are we waiting for? Start the music!" she announced.

The crowd cheered loudly after she said this, and the music started to play once again.

"We have more incredible acts coming up!" Pipp announced with a smile.

"Please welcome... Electric Blue!" Ruby Jubilee added, while Fretlock and his bandmates were shown in the spotlight, as the crowd screamed wildly.

"How's everypony doin' tonight?!" Fretlock announced. "I'm Fretlock. There's Jam Donut on the bass, and there's Arpeggia on drums! And we are Electric Blue! Woo!" he called out, while the crowd cheered excitedly.

"And here to join us are our very special guests..." Pipp continued with a smile.

"The original girl group..." Ruby spoke next.

"The ones who started it all" Pipp continued.

"The Dreamlands!" both Pipp and Ruby announced in unison.

Minty, Blue Belle and Snuzzle were in the spotlight together posing, while the crowd cheered loudly, with Sunny and Hitch being the most boisterous as they hugged each other and cheered.

"The Dreamlands!" Sunny cheered, while she and Hitch screamed as the true fans they are.

https://youtu.be/FHf0aQhbI_8

The Dreamlands:
Ooooh, hey!
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
Put your hooves up, put your hooves up
Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
Put your hooves up, put your hooves up

Pipp:
Generations comin' together
Celebrations, dancing, and laughter
This is a call to you from all walks of life
Lift up your hooves now under the starlights
There's magic rainbows for hundreds of miles

The Dreamlands:
Me and my ponies never go out of style

Pipp and Ruby started to twirl in the air, while Ruby laughed happily and raised her hooves along Pipp.

All:
We don't hang our heads
When things get too hard
We put our hooves together
'Cause we're forever friends
Making our mark
And putting hooves together

As Pipp and the Dreamlands sang, Omega noticed that the Pippsqueaks, Seashell, Glory and Peach Fizz, were having trouble watching the show. So, he ducked down so the fillies could climb over his shoulder and head. Once the fillies did so, Omega raised again, and the Pippsqueaks could see the stage perfectly, as they cheered at Pipp and Ruby with their hooves raised, while the two pegasi on stage danced together.

Minty:
All new places, the lengths that we've gone to
Newfound faces, the friendships that grew

Blue Belle:
This is a call to you from all walks of life

Snuzzle:
Lift up your hooves now under the starlight

Pipp:
There's magic rainbows for hundreds of miles

The Dreamlands:
Me and my ponies never go out of style

All:
We don't hang our heads
When things get too hard
We put our hooves together
'Cause we're forever friends
Making our mark
And putting hooves together

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
We put our hooves together
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Put our hooves together

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Pipp and Ruby started to move in sync again, as they took to the sky while doing some moves and twirls in the air, before landing back down to dance and touch each other's hooves. Meanwhile, the rest of the Mane 6 and Team Sonic kept dancing and cheering at their friend's performance, while Electric Blue played their instruments and Ruby laughed a bit before doing a pose.

Minty:
If it ever feels like there's something out to get ya

Snuzzle:
Or if it ever feels like you're wasting time

Blue Belle:
Yeah, we come galloping from across Equestria

Pipp:
You just reach out and touch your hooves to miiiiiiiiiine!

Pipp moved back from the Dreamlands and twirled in the air, before landing next to Ruby again, as the two ponies touched hooves again. And then, a firework was launched to the sky, which impressed the entire crowd. Soon enough, more fireworks started to explode, which made everyone cheer loudly.

All:
We don't hang our heads
When things get too hard
We put our hooves together
'Cause we're forever friends
Making our mark
And putting hooves together

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
We put our hooves together
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Put our hooves together

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Pipp:
Putting hooves together!

Pipp finished the last note, while she and Ruby moved in circles in the air and touched each other's hooves, and the crowd cheered loudly, as fireworks went off once the music ended.

Truly, Bridlewoodstock was a musical experience nobody was ever going to forget.

At Opaline's Dark Castle, Opaline herself was looking at her reflection in her mirror.

Her hoof was lightened up with flames, and she was grinning sinisterly at herself. "Mmm-hmm. Power looks so good in you, Opaline!" she said to herself, followed by an evil laugh. "Those ponies and Mobians don't stand a chance!" she added, while she looked at her reflection again with a bigger grin. "Now, I must find my way to not only get more Dragon Fire... But also finish the job that I started. I gave those fools enough time to rest after what Ivo did months ago. Besides, getting all the Dragon Fire from their Baby will be the perfect lesson... TO NOT MESS WITH OPALINE!!!" she declared.

After this, she started to laugh maniacally, because now that her magic's back to full strength, she won't stop until she drains every drop of Dragon Fire from every single dragon in the world, Sparky included...

Eggman and Sage spent the whole week studying the silver-metallic liquid sample.

While our heroes were busy preparing the festival, Eggman decided to leave them alone for the time being and be absolutely sure that his next plan is gonna work, which is why he's planning to stay hidden on his new lab and simply study and experiment the liquid sample he found.

Speaking of the sample, it has grown even more in the past week. It went from being half on the bottle it was before, to be big enough to cover half of a container in the lab. If it kept growing, Eggman was already considering the idea of preparing a bigger container for it, if he had any, that is.

"Sage! Status report!" Eggman requested with a frown.

"The sample has grown at least 20 times it's original size in the span of one week..." Sage started to inform. "The analysis we have made to it show that the liquid is alive and contains mysterious magical properties, as well as an alarming, although fascinating, speed of reproduction" she added.

"Such a fascinating substance, yet we still know so little about it..." Eggman pointed out, even though he was grinning from ear to ear. "Have you found anything else?" he asked Sage.

"Just that it might be capable to infect someone, but i's just a theory" Sage replied. "We require an alive subject to test the theory" she pointed out.

"I see..." Eggman said, before grinning once again. "Well, I have no problem with that. After all, the idea is to make a massive army of powerful ponies, and maybe some Mobians, out of this liquid. With such an army, not even Opaline's Magic could be a match to me!" he stated confidently.

"Father, I know you hate when I do this, but should I suggest a little warning before you proceed with your plan?" Sage asked with a shy tone.

Eggman deadpanned, and even his mustache flattened a bit, so he turned away from the container with the sample and faced his computer. "... Go on..." he said with a bored tone.

"The sample is somewhat fragile and weak to proceed with a proper test. We can still use it if you desire it, but..." Sage tried to explain.

"Let me guess: The subject is going to die..." Eggman said, but now frowning with concern.

"... Yes... That is correct..." Sage replied. "... Should... Should we proceed with the experiment?" she asked.

"... If they die... They die..." Eggman said, before turning once again to face the liquid inside the container. "Let's find us some subjects, alright?" he stated with a grin.

"Understood" Sage replied.

"Look through all the animal kingdom for a proper subject to our next massive project, dear!" Eggman instructed with glee. "Code name: Metal Virus!" he added, as he let out a maniac laugh, while his glasses fell a bit and showed his dark eyes with red pupils.

The liquid inside the container seemed to react at the way Eggman named it, probably indicating that it liked it...

Author's Notes:

A new season begins!

Honestly? I thought that adding Misty to this episode was going to be difficult... But it wasn't! And I'm so glad about that, in all honesty.

All Team Sonic is gonna have a major role in this Season: With Sonic suffering from a PTSD after The End turned him into Cyber Sonic on the last story; Tails wanting to prove that he has changed after 6 months, and that he can take care of his own problems; Knuckles being a bit overprotective with everyone, and Amy trying to solve their problems.

Expect a bit more of romance with Knuckzzy (Knuckles x Izzy) and Sonipp (Sonic x Pipp) as well, since I want them to behave like proper couples because... Well... They aren't perfect, believe or not.

Now, why did I made Tails wear new clothes and have a slightly older voice? Well, he's gonna be a lot more relevant this Season than ever, and I wanted him to sound more mature after spending 6 months away from Sonic. And yes, the voice he has on this comic dub is what he sounds like on my mind now.

Also, perhaps Misty finally understands her feelings for Tails, and perhaps it might cause trouble, but I do not promise anything!

Finally, yes, I'm kind of making my own take with the Metal Virus arc from IDW comics. Do NOT expect it to be as consistent or loyal, because this arc is going to be building up, and that also means that we're not gonna see that much of Eggman this season.

As for Opaline? Yeah, she has her thing with the Dragon Fire. Let's see how that develops.

Anyways, I hope you guys liked this first episode for Season 3! And get ready, 'cause we're getting started!

2. The Jinxie Games

View Online

In Maretime Bay, Sunny, Zipp, Pipp, Sonic and Shadow were at the smoothie stand.

Sunny was making smoothies for the rest, Sonic and Shadow were staring confused at Pipp, the mentioned pegasus was pacing back and forth with loud groans, and Zipp was sitting on the ground while looking at her phone.

Pipp decided to take out her phone to see if she got any message, but there was none so far, so she putted it away and groaned with worry.

"Is she always like this?" Shadow asked to Sonic with a raised eyebrow.

"Eh, only when she's stressed" Sonic replied with the same expression.

"Okay!" Sunny called out, as she borrowed the respective smoothies to her friends. "A Protein Power Punch for Zipp, a Fruity-colada for Pipp. Banana Delight for Sonic, Magic Mango and Coconut for Shadow..." she stated, as she placed these four smoothies in her stand's counter, but only Sonic, Shadow and Zipp grabbed theirs, because Pipp was still panicking over her phone. "And for her 'Royal Flyness', the usual: a Green Monster with extra greens. Hold the monster!" she added with a chuckle, while Zipp, Sonic and Shadow started sipping their smoothies.

"Where's your mom, anyway?" Sonic asked, as he sipped a bit more from his smoothie.

"I thought you said she was the punctual kind of... eh... pony..." Shadow pointed out, still struggling to not say 'person' since there's no humans in this world.

Before any of the sisters could answer, Pipp's phone chimed, which made Pipp smile and held out her phone. "Oh, she sent a text!" she cheered, now looking at her phone. "She says… Huh. Dog emoji?" she asked confused, since she got an emoji of Cloudpuff's face winking.

"... And I thought my messages were too cryptical..." Shadow deadpanned.

"What does that mean?" Sunny asked confused.

"Mom's terrible at texting" Zipp explained with a smile. "Last week, she sent me a text that just said, 'Don't'" she added.

"At least you send what you think with emojis, even though you can text" Sonic told Shadow with a bored expression.

"Oh, I know. I just choose not to" Shadow teased with a smirk, sipping from his smoothie, while Sonic rolled his eyes.

"But Mom never misses mother-daughter brunch!" Pipp pointed out with concern, now looking at her phone. "And now, she's sending us cryptic messages?!" she questioned, showing her phone to Sunny and Zipp, while the latter kept sipping on her smoothie. "It can only mean one thing… She's been ponynapped!" she called out with panic.

With that, Sunny, Zipp and Sonic bursted out laughing, while Shadow smiled and chuckled a bit at such a thing.

"Ponynapped? Little Pipp, you gotta chill!" Sonic said with a smile, as he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's neck. "Your Mom is a busy mare, you know? Maybe she's a bit late because of her business!" he pointed out with a smile.

Pipp chuckled nervously after realizing what she said, and nodded to her boyfriend's words. "You're right, Blue Star. That sounded less silly in my head..." she admitted.

"Ponynapped?!" Hitch's voice called out suddenly.

"Huh?" Pipp asked surprised, as she and the others turned and saw Hitch and Sparky coming up.

Hitch was wearing some hoove straps ,while balancing himself on his hind legs and also balancing a crystal on his muzzle.

"Never fear, Hitch is here!" Hitch announced, keeping his balance by hopping, while Sparky came behind him, wearing a headband.

"Slow your roll! Or uh… slow your hop, buddy" Zipp said confused. "It's no big deal. Mom just didn't show up for our monthly brunch" she assured with a smile, taking another sip of her smoothie.

"But she did send us this dog emoji!" Pipp called out, while she showed her phone with the Cloudpuff emoji to Hitch.

However, Hitch didn't saw it, because he was focusing on balancing his crystal. "Sorry! Can't see… while… bouncing!" he managed to say.

Sonic groaned annoyed and rolled his eyes, while Sunny came out of her smoothie stand. "Hitch, get to the point and give us the context, 'cause bouncing around isn't telling us anything of what is this..." Sonic requested with a bored expression, gesturing at his bouncing.

"Is this some kind of pony training I'm not aware of?" Shadow asked with a raised brow.

"Not really!" Hitch answered, panting a bit as he kept hopping and balancing his crystal, before catching it with his hoof. "I'm training for Forest Critter Field Day!" he explained with a smile.

"What's that?" Sunny asked confused.

And then, a whistle blew loudly, so everyone looked up and saw Izzy on top of the smoothie stand, wearing sunglasses and blowing a whistle.

"That's a hop-stoppage penalty! You're out!" Izzy called out with a smile, while she waved her hoof.

"What?!" Hitch asked surprised. "That's not in the rules!" he pointed out.

"Actually, it is" Knuckles spoke, as he suddenly boosted at Hitch's side, while wearing sunglasses too, a yellow hat, and holding out a big purple book, which he opened it in front of Hitch. "Here, in the Forest Critter Field Day manual. Page 403" he showed, and Hitch looked down with concern after verifying that it was actually a penalty.

"So 'Forest Critter Field Day', huh? That's so far the shortest name to an event I've heard in this world..." Sonic said with an amused expression.

"I'm sorry, 'shortest'?" Shadow asked, and Sonic nodded. "What the hell is wrong with you ponies naming everything so long?" he questioned Sunny with a confused look.

"What's Forest Critter Field Day?" Sunny asked again.

Izzy gasped in shock, so she turned to her friends with a smile. "It's only the greatest ancient Unicorn tradition there is!" she explained. "Every fourth purple moon, all the ponies in Bridlewood gather for a day of thrilling events and games!" she announced, while she raised her hooves in the air, before getting closer to Sunny, Hitch and Zipp. "Games… games… games!" she repeated cheerfully.

"What game is this? 'Bounce around'?" Zipp asked confused, while Hitch balanced his crystal and hopped again on his hind legs.

"Nope, that's later!" Knuckles replied instead, which surprised Zipp that she actually named an actual game. "The Sheriff here is training for the Bunny Hop Relay" he explained.

"You bunny hop through an obstacle course while balancing a crystal, then pass the crystal to your critter, who has to hop over hurdles to the finish line!" Hitch explained, as he tossed his crystal around to demonstrate. "I'm teaming up with Sparky!" he added, as he looked down at the baby dragon, who growled excitedly while raising his claws up. "Sparky, catch!" Hitch called out, as he tossed the crystal in the air to Sparky.

However, the crystal landed on Sparky's mouth, and Sparky spit it out, also blowing his dragon fire on it, which turned the crystal into a banana peel that landed on Izzy's horn.

"Gross..." Shadow muttered with a bored expression.

"Mmm. That's a crystal droppage penalty!" Izzy called out. "You're out!" she added, before blew her whistle again.

"Wait, who's out? Me or Sparky?" Hitch asked confused.

"Both of you!" Knuckles intervened. "You dropped your crystal, and Sparky is not a critter... He's a baby!" he pointed out, while Sparky himself was eating on his headband.

"But, but…" Hitch tried to say, since he couldn't believe he was disqualified for two reasons.

"Look!" Izzy said, as she brought out the rule book again. "'Every pony contestant must compete with a critter! No baby dragons'" she read with a smile.

"There's no way it says that" Hitch said with a frown, but then Izzy showed him the page, and his eyes widened. "Oh. Wow, it does say that..." He said surprised.

"Let me check!" Sonic said, as he snatched the rule book from Izzy's hooves and read the same rule. "Huh. Well, that's weird... Didn't Sunny said that dragons haven't been seen in generations? Why is there a rule about 'no dragons allowed'?" he questioned confused.

"Just because they weren't there does not mean they never believed in them" Knuckles said with his arms crossed and a bored expression, while Izzy nodded in agreement with a smile. "Beside, this rules were probably made before dragons went away from Equestria, if everything Sunny's dad researched is feasible" he pointed out.

"Well, now I need a new partner!" Hitch said in disappointment. "What kind of critter should I compete with?" he asked.

Then, Sunny looked up, and her eyes widened. "Oh! A dog!" she called, as she pointed her hoof in the air, which Zipp and Shadow followed.

"I know! But why did she text a dog?" Pipp asked confused, since she was still only paying attention to her phone.

"I think she means the flying dog that's heading to us" Shadow pointed out.

"Hmm…" Zipp hummed. as she rubbed her chin while looking up.

"Ah-ha!" Hitch called out after seeing it as well.

In the sky, Cloudpuff was flying towards them, while holding a note in his paws and barking.

"Oh!" Pipp exclaimed, realizing what they meant.

"Mom sent Cloudpuff? With a note?!" Zipp asked confused. "Mom. Just learn how to text! Ugh!" she groaned, then tried to grab the note from him, but Cloudpuff flew back and barked at her, before flying away.

"Cloudy, wait!" Pipp called out, as she flew after him.

"Look at that dog go! He's so fast!" Hitch said with a smile, and then he gasped in realization. "Which is perfect!" he stated with a smirk.

But then, Hitch turned around and gasped in surprise, since the rest trotted/ran/skated off after Pipp and Cloudpuff ahead of him, leaving him and Sparky behind. So, Hitch groaned and picked up Sparky, then putted him on his back and trotted after his friends.

In the Brighthouse, Tails was creating a fourth watch similar to his, but this time in pink.

But then, the royal sisters and the rest bursted through the doors, with everyone but Sonic and Shadow panting exhausted after chasing down Cloudpuff, which startled him a lot.

"Cloudpuff?" Zipp called out.

Soon enough, they saw Cloudpuff, and Zipp tried to catch him, but Cloudpuff dodged her, so Pipp tried to do the same but missed as well, and Cloudpuff hovered in the air with the note and barked twice.

"He says 'Dearest Princess, I bring a message from your dear mother, her Royal Majesty, Queen Haven of Zephyr Heights'..." Hitch began talking in a royal tone and bowing slightly, which made Sparky fell from his back.

"Get to it, Puff" Pipp quipped with a bored expression, while Zipp frowned and raised an eyebrow.

Cloudpuff barked twice again. "Cloudpuff says that before he delivers his message, he first requires a meal of the finest––" Hitch tried to say, once again in a royal tone.

"Oh, for hoofness sakes!" Zipp groaned, before she went and grabbed a treat that she held in front of Cloudpuff, who barked and grabbed it, while dropping the note that Zipp caught and unrolled. "My darlings, it is with deepest regret that I must postpone today's mother-daughter brunch. Some very important state business has come up and couldn't wait" Zipp read, while Pipp hovered to her side and gasped. "Let's reschedule for a time that is more inconvenient for you both, With love. Mother" Zipp finished to read, rolling the letter again.

"Inconvenient?" Sonic questioned confused.

"Did she mean to say 'more convenient'?" Sunny pointed out.

The two royal sisters sighed. "No.." they both said.

"Mom takes royal meetings all the time, but our special brunch is special! And she loves brunch!" Pipp explained, as she and Zipp landed back on the ground and Pipp gasped again. "I think maybe she has been ponynapped" she whispered to Zipp.

"Honey, you're overreacting again..." Sonic deadpanned.

"Come on" Zipp agreed.

"Look at the bottom!" Pipp gestured back to the note, that had a red heart at the bottom. "A cute little heart? When has she ever drawn a cute little heart on a note before?" she pointed out with concern.

"Hmm, you know what? That is suspicious..." Zipp replied, before taking out her phone and taking a picture of it and make zoom on the heart drawing. "What do you make of all of this, Sheriff?" she asked him.

However, Hitch was examining Cloudpuff to see if he was the perfect replacement for Sparky. "Make of what?" he asked.

"What else?!" Pipp snapped, before she paced a bit. "Cryptic Messages and cute little hearts! Something sinister is ahoof" she declared with a frown.

"I'm never gonna get used to all this pony talkery..." Shadow deadpanned, and Sunny at his side giggled a bit.

"Um... guys?" Tails called out, as he stood right at Sunny's side. "How about a little context, please?" he requested.

"Queen Haven is just late for brunch with Zipp and Pipp" Sunny explained him with a smile.

"And guess who's overreacting?" Shadow said with an eye roll and his arms crossed.

"Maybe Mom's being held hostage somewhere, all alone... with no brunch to eat!" Pipp exclaimed in panic.

"Aaaaand we lost her..." Knuckles deadpanned.

"We lost who?" Amy questioned, as she, Misty, Rouge and Omega arrived from the bedroom.

"The sisters' Mom is late for their monthly brunch. Pipp thinks her Mom's kidnapped just because of that" Shadow replied with a bored expression.

"Pipp, you are overthinking this more than usual." Sonic reasoned with a bored expression. "If she was ponynapped, everypony in Zephyr Heights would be in chaos because of it ,and Thunder and Zoom would be here at this moment to tell you themselves. Do you see them anywhere?" he questioned with a raised brow and a bored expression.

"Yup, Sonic's right. I think somepony's being overdramatic" Zipp added, putting a hoof on Pipp's back. "But, something is definitely up with her. Hmm..." she muttered with concern.

"Wow, they're concerned because their Mom has a life..." Knuckles deadpanned, and Amy hit him on the shoulder with a frown. "Like if I was wrong!" he added with a frown as well, and Amy rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Zipp turned and went over to Hitch, whom was still looking over Cloudpuff, whom at the moment was having his tongue held out by Hitch. "Could you help us figure it out?" Zipp asked him with a smile, while Cloudpuff licked Hitch happily.

"I will help you" Hitch replied. "And I know just where we should look for her first!" he stated confidently.

"Well, as much as I would like to join you, I have my own business to deal with" Tails said, as he moved aside and walked towards his desk.

"Wait, so you're not going to watch the Forest Critter Field Day?" Knuckles asked.

"I have no idea what that is, but no. I'm finding out about where Eggman could be hiding and how to not only infiltrate his base, but also infiltrate Opaline's Castle" Tails explained.

This made Misty gasp, so she turned to him. "Wait, you're investigating about Opaline and her lair?!" she asked in panic.

"We gotta find a way to defeat her for good, and so, we have to traverse that stupid barrier already!" Tails declared, before he remembered something, so he quickly boosted to Amy. "Before I forget!" he said.

Then, he brought out the pink watch he was making earlier and putted it on Amy's right wrist, then he sync it with his own.

"Huh... What is this?" Amy asked, not bothered by the fact that Tails putted the watch on her.

"A special watch Sonic, Knuckles and I have as well!" Tails replied with a smile. "Now that you're back with the Team, I found logical to give you one as well!" he pointed out with a smile.

"Oh, well... Thanks!" Amy replied with a smile.

"So I guess you'll catch up with us later?" Sonic asked, while the Mane 6 but Misty, Knuckles and Shadow left the Brighthouse.

"Yup!" Tails replied with a smile, while Amy and Sonic nodded at him and then walked out. "Have fun!" he said with a wave of a hand.

"Um, Tails?" Misty called out, and the young fox turned to see her. "Do you mind if I stay with you and help you out to figure out how to find Eggman and infiltrate Opaline's lair?" she asked with a sheepish smile.

"Of course! Any help is welcome!" Tails replied with a smile and a wink, while Misty blushed slightly and chuckled nervously.

"Mind if we help as well?" Rouge asked with a smirk, gesturing at herself and Omega, while she sat on the robot's shoulder with her legs crossed.

"Anything that requires locate and defeat Dr. Eggman is top priority in my database" Omega stated, as he slowly and robotically closed his hand on a fist.

"And I can infiltrate anything without being noticed" Rouge added confidently.

"Well, you know what they say: The more, the merrier!" Tails stated with a smirk.

The rest of the group made it to Bridlewood, were ponies were preparing for the games.

"Oh yeah!" Hitch said with a smile.

"Hitch!" Pipp called out, as she flew to him. "The Queen of Zephyr Heights is not being held captive at the Bridlewood Forest Critter Field!" she pointed out with anger.

"But you never know!" Hitch replied with a smile. "It's as good a place to start our search as any" he added. "Come on, Puffy, let's go register!" he stated, as he and Cloudpuff walked up to register in the games.

Pipp gave Hitch a dull look, while the rest but Shadow just smiled.

"Let him be, Princess" Knuckles told Pipp with a smirk.

Hitch walked up to the register stand and he signed in.

"Now don’t lose this" the unicorn stallion making the registration told Hitch, while placing on his right side a sign that had the number 5 on it.

"Yeah!' Hitch cheered, while he came up to the unicorn, who was trying to put a helmet on Cloudpuff, but the dog flew away with a bark. "Hey, uh… You haven't seen any Pegasus queens around here, have you?" Hitch asked in a slight whispering tone.

At this, the unicorn didn't respond and just walked off, making Hitch shrug in response.

The rest of the group were at a bench, with the two sisters sitting on, while Sunny and Izzy were chatting to each other, Sonic and Knuckles were making a bet, and Shadow and Amy just talked.

"Well, guess you two were right!" Hitch called out to the sisters, while everyone turned to him. "She's not here. But I'm sure your mom is just fine. She's probably somewhere enjoying brunch right now" he assured them.

Pipp groaned at Hitch and flew in front of him. "Without me? Ugh! She could never!" she retorted as she crossed her hooves.

"Pipp, sweetheart, I love you, but the world doesn't revolve around you" Sonic said, as he boosted in front of her with a frown, also tapping his foot. "Your Mom is fine, and you know why? Because nopony but you is panicking about her! Do you really think the forest will be this cheerful and lacking pegasi if she was lost or ponynapped?" he questioned.

Pipp blinked a few times after her boyfriend scolded her. "I... I guess not..." she recognized.

"Also, I see that Knuckles had a point back in the Brighthouse. Your Mom also has a life without you, why make a drama for something that doesn't requires it?" Amy questioned as well.

"They're right, Pipp" Hitch said in agreement. "But hey, now that we're here, now you can cheer me and Cloudpuff on in the first event!" he cheered, which made Pipp look down with sadness.

"Come on Pipp, let's go watch some weird sports" Zipp said, as she dragged Pipp away and then led her back to the bench, as they, with Sparky being the middle of them, while Sonic rushed and sat at Pipp's side.

And yet, Pipp groaned in anger and frowned, while cutely tapping her hooves to the bench and breathing heavily, which made Sonic gasp and cover his mouth, since he found that too adorable.

"Or you could help me give out the trophies?" Izzy suggested cheerfully, as she hopped in front of them.

"I'll help, Izzy!" Sunny called out with a smile. "All these new unicorn traditions are so fascinating" she stated, as she looked around at the game's setup. "I'd love to get an inside look" she added.

"Ooh!" Izzy squealed, as she hopped down. "Wait until you ponies see it. The Field Day games are so elegant!" she said in a fancy tone. "Beautiful! Majestic!" she added as she walked off.

And then, a ball came bouncing and passed them, while a unicorn chasing it left a trail of dust in front of them.

Pipp coughed from the dust, while some leaves ended on her mane. "Majestic..." she said in a bull tone.

"Well, hopefully we won't have any kind of inconvenience this time around..." Sonic muttered.

"What do you mean?" Amy asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Maretime Bay Day? A storm screwed things up. Winter Wishday? Eggman tried to destroy a Wishing Star after not being able to steal it. Bridlewoodstock? Ghosts with pig faces stoled voices..." Sonic replied with a bored expression. "It'll be nice for an event to go as right as possible without any inconvenience coming out of nowhere" he pointed out.

"Is just a bunch of silly - and questionable - games" Shadow pointed out. "What's the worse that can happen?" he asked with a deadpanned look.

In the Brighthouse, Tails brought out everything he had to start the research.

He moved a big yellow screen he has on his room to the living room, making it float in the air and work as a half-TV, half-computer and half-board so he could also write down some stuff.

As Tails prepared himself, Omega lowered himself down, Rouge sat over the robot's shoulder with her legs crossed, and Misty sat on one of the couched, looking at Tails with curiosity on what was he doing.

Finally, Tails turned on the screen, showing up the full map of Equestria, which included Opaline's Castle exact location, Canterlot's abandoned city and Fluttershy's Cottage. The map also had red 'X' marks in numerous areas, which where all the spots that Team Dark already visited and destroyed the empty Eggman basements.

"Since we already know that Eggman has a secret base hidden in somewhere, yet we don't know where yet, I'll say we should leave him for later on and focus on something we do know" Tails started to explain.

"Which is?" Rouge asked with a raised eyebrow.

Then, Tails made zoom on the image to focus on Opaline's Castle. "The barrier surrounding the Dark Castle!" he stated. "We gotta find a way to sneak inside and take a glance on what is Opaline going to do now!" he stated.

"Um... I think the Dragonstone still had some Dragon Fire that the Unity Crystals didn't contained when Eggman got his hands over them..." Misty commented. "And knowing Opaline, I think she'll look for more..." she pointed out with concern.

"Then that's a bigger reason to find a way to traverse that barrier!" Tails pointed out with a smile.

"I hate to brake your bubble, Yellow, but if this 'Opaline' character is an Alicorn with fire powers, how are you expecting us to traverse a barrier that could be made of fire?" Rouge questioned.

"Not to mention, find a weakness on her powers is required for victory" Omega added.

"The barrier is not made of fire" Misty explained. "All the times I approached it and used my magic to try and make it brake a bit, it never hurt nor burdened me" she pointed out. "But it doesn't changes the fact that regular unicorn magic does nothing to traverse that thing..." she added with dissapointment.

Yet, both Tails' and Rouge's eyes widened, as they looked at each other for a second, before they both close to Misty.

"Mist, repeat that!" Tails requested.

"Uh, um..." Misty said with a slight blush, since Tails was too close to her face. "T-The barrier is not made of fire?" she replied with a nervous smile.

"No, no! The last thing you said about your magic not working on the barrier!" Rouge pointed out, and Tails nodded in agreement.

Misty let out a small "Ooh!" and chuckled awkwardly. "Um, regular unicorn magic does nothing to traverse that thing?" she said this time around.

"Unicorn magic doesn't affects the barrier... Because it was made with Alicorn magic!" Tails realized. "Gosh, I sometimes feel too stupid to realize the simplest things!" he pointed out, before moving back to the screen.

"So, if someone like Sunny could use her magic on the barrier, could it open up?" Rouge theorized.

"It's the main idea!" Tails replied with a smirk, as he placed a picture of Sunny on her Alicorn form over Opaline's Castle in the map, while he also wrote down 'Alicorn magic' below Sunny's picture. "Now, we have to find a way to test our theory without Opaline either realizing what we want to do, or at least, distract with something else" he pointed out with concern.

"How about I do it?" Misty suggested. "Opaline would sure believe I want to go back with her!" she pointed out with a smile.

"Absolutely NOT!" Tails said with a frown. "You already had enough crap with her, and I'm not risking your safety because you wanna help!" he stated.

"But I know I can persuade her!" Misty replied.

"Mist, I'm not gonna risk you against Opaline!" Tails stated once again. "She not only manipulated you and lied you your whole life, but she also tried to paint herself as the heroine of a story where she is the bad guy!" he pointed out.

"Tails, I know you're worried for me, but I'm no damsel in distress!" Misty countered, now frowning as well. "I can distract Opaline long enough for you to get whatever you need to test!" she added.

"I don't want you to be manipulated by Opaline again, Misty!" Tails countered as well.

"Are you saying I'm gullible?!" Misty asked with anger, while some sparks came out of her horn.

"I'M SAYING I DON'T WANT TO LOOSE YOU!" Tails snapped, while his eyes turned yellow and his breath accelerated.

Misty's frown dissipated, and instead, she stared at Tails with wide and surprised eyes after he yelled that. "... You... don't want to loose me?" she asked confused.

Tails calmed himself down and let out a sigh, before looking at Misty again, but this time a bit guilty. "Misty... I trust you a lot more than you or anyone can imagine..." he started to explain himself. "But I don't trust Opaline. If experience taught me something over the years, is that you can never expect a dishonest person to be honest. Opaline is rotten to the core, and I... I don't want you to fall for her tricks, either if it's by manipulation or by mental control... I don't want to loose another friend the way I almost lost Sonic months ago..." he finished, while his ears lowered.

Misty's ears lowered as well after hearing all of this, and now, she felt a bit guilty after snapping at Tails liked that. He was just trying to protect her, and she still got mad with him.

"I... Tails, I'm sorry... I didn't knew you just wanted to––" Misty tried to apologize, but Tails raised a hand and stopped her.

"Don't. You're trying to help, and all I'm doing is feel paranoid about it..." Tails said with a groan. "But I'm serious when I say I don't want you to distract Opaline. We'll find another way!" he stated.

Misty chuckled slightly and looked at Tails with a smile. "Right!" she nodded.

"Well, if you two are done with your little apology show, I suggest we go over our next Issue: Dr. Eggman" Rouge suggested with a frown.

"Agreed. His defeat must be accomplished!" Omega agreed.

"Good, because I still need to hit him for making Sunny pay a month of therapy!" Tails said with a frown, looking back at the board, this time resuming the map to the normal one. "Eggman knows when to not make Sonic mad, but I doubt he'll like to see what happens when I am mad..." he stated with anger.

Months ago, when Tails' voice was high pitched, Rouge would had chuckle at the idea of Tails being so mad with Eggman, but now that his voice has matured... She actually felt a bit concerned for him.

Misty, on the other hand, gulped nervously, since she has seen enough to know that making Tails mad was never a good sign...

Back at the Bridlewood Field Critter Games, Sunny, Izzy and Knuckles were watching Hitch.

He was practicing with an elderly unicorn stallion, who wa asleep, while a camera stallion was aiming a camera at them.

"So, the point of the game is you push somepony over?" Sunny asked confused.

"Right!" Izzy replied with a smile.

"Or instead they push you over!" Knuckles added after looking at the book.

"You just push?" Hitch asked confused. "Is there a starting bell? Or a score? Do we flip a bit to see who goes first?!" he asked frankly. "Or do I just…" he then slightly pushed the elderly unicorn stallion, as he fell to the floor, which made him wake up.

"Right! Winner!" Izzy cheered, as she held out a trophy and gave it to the elderly unicorn stallion, who chuckled as he grabbed the trophy.

"Wait! Him?!" Hitch asked in shock. "That makes no sense!" he argued.

Then, the bunnycorn that was paired with the unicorn stallion pushed Cloudpuff down, and the dog laid on his side.

"Another winner!" Knuckles cheered this time, giving a small trophy to the bunnycorn, who squeaked happily, while Cloudpuff barked at them.

"What?!" Hitch asked again as he rubbed his head in confusion.

Shadow was at Sunny's side, reading the rule book and raising an eyebrow. "This are the most confusing rules I've ever read in my life..." he said with a deadpan.

Meanwhile, Zipp, Pipp, Sonic and Amy were walking through Bridlewood together.

"Ugh, it's hard to focus on these games when all I can think about is Mom" Pipp frowned with concern.

"I'm sure she's fine" Zipp assured.

"Yeah, but I'm not sure!" Pipp whined.

"Your mother is the Queen! She apologized because of important business, she literally sent you a letter about it!" Sonic pointed out with a bored expression.

"And she's busy as well. I don't get why you are being so dramatic over this" Amy added with a bored expression as well.

"That does not makes me any less worried!" Pipp exclaimed with a groan. "You're a detective, Zipp. Can't you do an investigation or something?" she told her elder sister, while making sad puppy dog eyes, which made Zipp sigh before taking out her phone.

"New Entry: the case of the missing mother" Zipp said with a small smile.

"Yes!" Pipp sang with her wings spread. "We should question that grumpy old Alphabittle at the Tea Room. He knows all the Bridlewood gossip" she suggested.

"I know you girls are still not over the fact that Alphabittle is dating your Mom, but that's no excuse to call him 'old' nor 'grumpy', you know?" Amy scolded with a frown.

Suddenly, the four of them heard a maniacal laughter coming from the Team Room. "That laugh! That's Mom's laugh!" Pipp said with a gasp.

"Uh, no it's not. Flypad, play Queen Haven laughing" Zipp told her phone, which played back a nicer sounding laugh. "That's Mom's laugh" she pointed out

"Actually, Pipp's right. That's just the phony laugh she does in public" Sonic dismissed, before the maniacal laugh was heard again. "That's your mom's real laugh!" he pointed out.

The two sisters immediately trotted to the tea shop, while Sonic and Amy stood behind, so they looked at each other and shrugged, before following Zipp and Pipp.

The sisters bursted through the door, and they saw their mother with Alphabittle, not noticing that Queen Haven and Alphabittle were looking at each other lovingly, with their two hooves touching each other while they smiled with loving gazes.

"Ah-ha!" Pipp called out, while pointing a hoof at them.

"Okay! We are clearly interrupting something!" Amy said with a sheepish smile, as she and Sonic walked backwards, with Sonic imitating MJ's moon dance.

"Yup! Time to get out of here! Sayōnara! Yoru o o tanoshimi kudasai!" Sonic said, while saying 'Goodbye! Enjoy your evening!' in Japanese, leaving the Tea Room along Amy.

"Mom?!" Zipp asked surprised, which startled Haven as she gasped in surprise, not expecting her daughters at all. "What are you doing here?" Zipp questioned.

Haven looked nervous on how to explain this to her daughters, while Alphabittle just gave a small smile at the two sisters, whom looked back and forth to the adult ponies.

"Blink twice if you're being held hostage!" Pipp whispered a bit to their mother.

Haven was just surprised that her young daughter would think that, before looking nervous again and give a nervous smile. "Girls! This is Alphabittle! And uh, this is his Tea Room! Alphabittle, these are my daughters, the princesses Pipp and Zipp" she introduced quickly, even though they had already met before.

"We know him!" Zipp pointed out. "But why are you guys hanging out together?!" she questioned.

"And why didn't you show up for brunch?!" Pipp questioned as well.

"If you two are hungry, we got a great brunch here, right, Haven?" Alphabittle asked Haven with a smile.

"Mm-hmm" Haven agreed with a smile, while the two adult ponies looked at each other lovingly.

Yeah, Zipp and Pipp forgot that Haven and Alphabittle have been dating for a couple of months already. They haven't made their Big Relationship Announcement like Pipp has done, true, but like Pipp herself said, it had to be made, no matter how recent or old the relationship is. So be patient, these two can still do theirs.

Pipp gasped in shock after she remembered this. "Hitch was right! You brunched without us!" she said with shock, as she landed on the ground next to her sister.

"Didn't you get my message?" Haven asked her daughters with a smile, while the two sisters each took a seat. "Didn't Cloudpuff look so sweet with his little scroll?" she added with a cute face. "Sure it was a little cryptic, but you girls do love decoding things!" she pointed out.

Then, Alphabittle came up while levitating a tea kettle with a smile. "Would you two like some tea?" he asked politely.

Zipp was about to snap at Alphabittle, but just then, Sonic interfered by coming back into the Tea Room and sitting behind his sister-in-law. "Make it four, Alpha B!" he interrupted with a smirk, making sure that Zipp wouldn't be rude with Alphabittle, while Amy came in with a sheepish smile and sat behind Sonic.

Alphabittle smiled and nodded, as he turned around and went to grab four cups to pour tea on them.

"Mom, why did you bailed us on a brunch date?" Zipp asked to Haven with a frown, while Sonic and Amy deadpanned behind her.

Haven sighed and gave a small smile to her daughters. "Darlings, I told you that something important came up" she reminded them.

At this, Pipp held out her phone to show Haven a video that's livestreaming Hitch's push game from earlier. "This is important?!" Pipp questioned, pointing a hoof at her phone.

"Winner!" Knuckles cheered through the video, as he gave the trophy to the bunnycorn that pushed Cloudpuff.

Haven scoffed and lowered Pipp's phone. "Ugh, this Field Day is a special occasion for the Unicorns, and now that Pegasus and Unicorns are…" she trailed off after looking at Alphabittle, who was smiling at her, and Haven blushed a bit with a small smile before recomposing herself, tapping her hooves nervously. "… reuniting, well, it's, it's important that we have, um… ambassadors to… when they…" she trailed off again, now waving her hoof at them while following Alphabittle with her eyes, since she can't take her eyes off him.

"Yeah, we were definitely interrupting..." Sonic said, then Alphabittle used his magic to place the four cups with tea in front of Sonic, Amy, Zipp and Pipp, with Sonic and Amy taking the whole tea in one sip, despite it being completely hot.

"What are you saying?" Pipp asked their mother confused, while Zipp seemed to be as confused as her sister, and Sonic and Amy behind had to rush out for water because of sipping the hot tea so fast and in just one go.

Meanwhile, Haven turned to her daughters and got up, so the two sisters followed a bit and got in front of their mom, while Haven took a deep breath. "I am here in an official capacity!" she snapped, which made Zipp and Pipp flinch as they looked at each other, before turning their gaze back to their mother. "Now, if you don't mind, Alphie and I were discussing official… negotiations?" she suggested, as she sat back to her seat while looking at Alphabittle with a loving gaze.

Zipp and Pipp cringed at their mother, and they backed away a bit with a nervous smile. "Uh…" Pipp said uncertainly.

"Yeah..." Zipp said next. "We're gonna… go outside now..." she said, as she trotted to the door.

"Hm" Pipp said with a frown, before Zipp grabbed her sister and dragged her to the exit.

Once outside, the two sisters groaned in disgust and felt disturbed, with Pipp gagging in disgust and Zipp looking out a bit traumatized, still not fully accepting that Alphabittle was dating their mom.

"Is it wrong that I can't stand her calling him 'Alphie'?" Pipp asked her sister, while Zipp nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, they heard something weird, and they turned to see Amy desperately drinking down a full water bottle, while Sonic brought a whole gallon of water and drank it as well.

"Uh... what's the matter with you two?" Zipp asked confused.

Amy stopped drinking from her bottle and gasped with wide eyes, before wiping out some water from her chin and look over at the sisters. "We drank... a way to hot tea..." she replied.

Then, Sonic let go of the gallon, which spilled some water over him, as he spitted some that was still on his mouth, and then he also gasped with wide eyes. "Mental note: Never drink hot tea ever again!" he stated with panic.

However, as he stood up and tried to dry himself, that panic intensified when he saw Cyber Sonic from behind some bushes, and he fell to the ground with a yelp.

"Ow..." Sonic complained.

Back in the Brighthouse, Tails made some adjustments to the map on the screen.

He removed Opaline's castle and every single place that Team Dark visited on the past 6 months to have a clear idea on where to go and look after Eggman and his new basement or lab.

"Okay... Since pretty much all the areas near by Zephyr Heights, Fluttershy's Cottage and Canterlot have empty basements, and we know for sure that Eggman wants to stay as far from Opaline as he can..." Tails started. "That narrows it down to just two locations... Maretime Bay and Bridlewood!" he pointed out.

"Dr. Eggman is clearly hiding in one of these two zones... But where?" Rouge asked.

Omega then started to process all the data that Tails' screen presented, as he came to a conclusion himself. "... I suggest we start to think like the enemy to find the enemy" he suggested.

The other three turned to him confused.

"Uh, what?" Misty asked confused.

"Instead of narrowing down all the places we've not checked before, we should instead think like the mind that refuses to be found" Omega stated. "In other words: Which would be the last place an evil genius like Eggman would expect us to look for him?" he questioned.

After Omega said this, Tails' eyes widened. "... Eggman would never hid in a place lacking tech..." he realized.

Rouge's eyes widened as well. "Of course! Eggman is a genius that needs to recharge resources in order to power his machines. That's why we thought he was hiding in Zephyr Heights!" she pointed out.

"But if he wants to be as far from Opaline as possible, he would choose a place that's far from her Castle" Misty added as well.

"That narrows it down to just one location" Omega added, as he slowly walked to the board and pointed at one of the two remaining towns in the map: Bridlewood.

Tails made Maretime Bay disappear, and the four of them stared at the Bridlewood forest.

"Bridlewood is not only the farthest from Opaline's Castle. It lacks technology, despite counting with TV's and phones. And, it's the last kind of place Eggman would dare to hide!" Tails stated with a smirk.

"So, that narrows it... Eggman must be hiding in Bridlewood!" Rouge stated with a frown.

"Then we should go and look around! Knowing him, he could be hearing us..." Misty pointed out with concern, while looking around her with suspicion. "And even if Amy destroyed that robot-bird he had, he could still make another one and still spy on us!" she added.

"There's still one problem besides the chance of Eggman knowing our plan..." Omega spoke, as he slowly and carefully moved the floating screen aside and grabbed the TV remote, before pointing it at the TV.

As he did so, Sky Silver and Dazzle appeared, narrating all the events of the Forest Critter Field Day going on, with Hitch looking at the camera with an extremely confused expression.

"The Field Day is still in process" Omega explained, then he looked back at the rest. "We cannot approach the unicorn forest without looking suspicious, nor without the rest of the crew noticing we're not there for the event" he pointed out.

"Ugh... I hate to admit it, but he's right..." Rouge said with a frown. "If we're gonna look through Bridlewood for any possible basement, hopefully the right one this time, we'll need a good excuse" she pointed out.

"Oh, we need an excuse? I have the perfect one!" Misty declared with a smile.

"Really?" Tails asked curiously, and Misty nodded eagerly. "What is it?" he questioned.

"The Forest Critter Field Day is a unicorn tradition, right? And we promised to go there once we were done here!" Misty started to explain. "So, all we have to do..." she continued, but now gesturing with a hoof to the rest so they can continue.

It took them a while, but they immediately got it. "Is say we are done here, then watch the rest of the Day, and then stay after everything's done!" Tails realized first with a smile.

"Then we could go through Bridlewood and look after the basement!" Rouge continued as well.

"Our perfect excuse in case of questions would be using Misty's lack of knowledge in Bridlewood's culture as a facade to our true purpose" Omega added.

"The what are we waiting for?" Tails said with a smile, shutting down the TV and his screen. "Let's get to Bridlewood ASAP!" he declared.

With this, the four of them bursted out of the door, heading towards Bridlewood to put their plan in action.

Back at Bridlewood, a white bird with blue wings, similar to Kenneth, was flying by peacefully.

Soon enough, the bird stopped flying right over a tree branch, and it didn't took so long for another bird to come by and stand on the same branch...

However, this bird wasn't acting like one, and the first bird that arrived noticed it. The new bird was more... metallic looking like, and their eyes were fully red, which only startled the first bird even more.

Then, the second bird slowly turned their head to the first one, startling them a lot, and then, the second bird opened it's beak and released a green gas that the other bird inhaled.

After doing so, the bird started to caught a lot, before they felt really dizzy, and then, the bird fell unconscious over the branch, while the other bird, who was actually another robot made by Eggman, flew in the air and grabbed the unconscious bird with their legs, before flying away.

Meanwhile, near the Tea Room, Zipp and Pipp were peeking behind a tree.

Soon enough, they came over and pocked their heads to look at Alphabittle and their mother getting out of the building.

"This is even worse than I feared" Pipp said with concern.

Soon, enough, they heard Alphabittle laughing and snorted a little, something that Haven didn't minded, before they both looked at her phone. "Aww, look at that cute little face" Alphabittle said.

"Now she's showing him embarrassing photos of me as a filly!" Pipp said with concern, before frowning along Zipp.

Then, the two sisters sneaked away and popped their heads from behind a bush, discovering that Haven was actually showing Alphabittle photos of Cloudpuff.

"And here he is as a little pirate" Haven said with a smile, then she swapped to the next picture. "Oh and here, he's a ballerina!" she reminisced, before showing a video of Cloudpuff on his birthday as he ate a puppy treat cupcake. "Watch this, he eats his whole puppy cupcake in one bite!" she cooed.

"Now that's a hungry Pup!" Alphabittle grinned with a chuckle, while Haven sighed.

"Thank hoofness I have Cloudy..." Haven said with sadness, while her ears lowered and she putted her phone away. "With the girls away now, I feel so... alone sometimes..." she frowned, making a little circle on the grass with her hoof.

With Zipp and Pipp living in Maretime Bay, Haven has the palace all to herself, which wasn't as exciting compared to her daughters being with her.

Seeing this, Alphabittle placed a hoof under her chin, which made her turn to him. "Hey. You're not alone" he replied, as he got close to her and smiled, which she returned it.

That made Zipp and Pipp gag before they turned around, almost like they were about to vomit at the romance.

Sonic and Amy, who just followed them to make sure they wouldn't mess with Haven and Alphabittle, also popped their heads from behind the bush, and unlike the sisters, they smiled and found the exchange adorable.

"Aw!" Amy exclaimed, as she was being carried by Sonic, who simply smiled at the two adult ponies being so lovey-dobey with each other.

"If this isn't adorable, I definitely need glasses!" Sonic said cheerfully.

Suddenly, Hitch came trotting towards the sisters with Sparky on his back with Cloudpuff behind them as he skidded to a stop as he faced the two sisters.

"Hey! Can you two Sparky-sit for a sec?" Hitch asked them with a smile. "We've got to get across this balance beam before those birds drop stewed cabbage balls on us!" he quickly explained, as he pointed his hoof behind him.

Kenneth and a flock of birds were flying towards him, holding said stew cabbage balls. He didn't need an answer as he gave Sparky to Zipp, who giggled in response.

"Thanks! I think I've finally figured out the rules! Ha-ha!" Hitch yelled out as he trotted off with a laugh, but then he tripped and fell to the floor, so Kenneth and the birds dropped the cabbages on him. "Ow. Ow..." he complained, while the cabbages fell on him.

Just then, Izzy came by with Sunny and Shadow, as she blew her whistle while holding another trophy. "Winner!" she called out, as she gave the trophy to Sunny.

"Uh..." Sunny said in surprise, as she held the trophy.

Hitch sighed after seeing this. "Spoke too soon" he said, as he flopped to the floor.

Shadow deadpanned after seeing this. "This is the dumbest thing I've ever witnessed..." he said with annoyance.

A little bit later, Hitch was hopping on some hoops while balancing his crystal on his muzzle, before tossing it to Cloudpuff.

Cloudpuff than hopped through three wooden hoops and made it to the finish line, as he dropped the crystal.

"Yeah!" Hitch cheered.

Then, Knuckles blew a whistle and landed on a bench with other ponies. "Winner!" he stated, as he gave the green unicorn a trophy, while the other ponies cheered.

"Huh?" Hitch asked completely confused.

In the next game, Hitch and a few other ponies were hopping in sacks.

Their critter companions were in sacks of their own, as they either hopped or flew around. Suddenly, Cloudpuff's sack covered his eyes, and he started to bark, before hitting a tree face first, which make him bark a bit furiously.

Just then, Sunny and Shadow came by, while Sunny held a trophy. "Uh… winner?" she guessed, as she placed down the trophy at the tree's side.

Soon enough, Izzy slid down the tree with a smile. "Mm-hmm" she nodded.

Hitch sighed at this, and Shadow facepalmed himself in annoyance. "This is getting ridiculous..." he groaned.

In the next game, a group of unicorns were digging on the ground.

Soon enough, Hitch lifted up a soft football and threw it to Cloudpuff, who caught the ball with a bark, but then, the unicorn group used their magic to levitate it off from his grip, while they did a magical tug-a-war, before the ball ripped apart with confetti coming out.

With this, Knuckles blew the whistle again and placed the trophy in the center of the ripped up ball. "Winner!" he called out, while the ponies started to cheer again.

Hitch sighed frustrated because of this, since the rules were getting more and more ridiculous.

A light turned on suddenly over the bird from earlier.

This bird woke up while feeling dizzy and shook their head. Then, the bird looked confused around them, not understanding how they got there in the first place.

But then, they heard some steps, and when they turned around, they chirped in panic, because they saw Dr. Eggman at the other side of what seemed to be the capsule they were trapped in.

"Morning, little fella!" Eggman said with a grin. "I hope you had a good rest, because things are gonna get wild from here on!" he stated confidently.

Eggman started to walk around the capsule, while the bird inside shook in fear.

"Aww, are you scared in there, little fella? Do not worry! This is gonna be a quick, little test!" Eggman declared, while his grind grew and looked more sinister now.

Soon enough, Sage opened the upper zone of the capsule where the bird was held hostage, and she let go a tiny, little drop of the Metal Virus that Eggman was testing out, and unfortunately, this innocent bird was the first test subject.

The drop of the Metal Virus fell over the bird's head, which confused the critter more than it scared them...

And yet, the real scare started when the drop suddenly started to grow and extend at a very fast paste around the bird's body, which startled the bird a lot as they tried to fly away, and even rubbed their own body with their wings to take the metallic liquid off them.

However, once the entire liquid covered the bird completely, in the air, the bird stopped moving and fell facewards to the bottom of the capsule, staying there for around 10 seconds without moving, until they finally stood up and looked over at Eggman with a weird expression...

It seemed to be kind of a half-frown and half-lost gaze, because even if it seemed that the bird was looking at Eggman, it also seemed like they were staring at nothing specially. Their mouth was also hanging open and showing sharp teeth, and their eyes turned fully red.

"How are the vital signs so far, Sage?" Eggman asked curiously.

"The vital signs are stable for the time being, but I do warn: The chance to loose the subject with such a weak sample of the Metal Virus is still very high, father" Sage instructed.

Eggman just nodded and cleared his throat, while the small robot bird from before entered to the capsule and looked at the
real bird infected with the virus.

The bird slowly looked at their robotic counterpart, but as soon, as they started to move, the bird's body began to move and revolve, while the poor critter gagged a bit as well and grabbed their neck with their wings.

This seemed to make Eggman look down in disappointment, like if he already knew what was going to happen. So, he turned around from the capsule and walked to his computer, then pressed a button on the keyboard, and the windows from the capsule closed, followed by the last chirp of the infected bird.

After this, Eggman opened the capsule again, and the robotic bird came out of it alone, covered in remains of the Metal Virus, but not infected because of its lack of organic life.

"That's the seventh subject we loose, father..." Sage instructed with concern.

Eggman groaned, removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes with his hand. As Sage stated, this was their seventh try to perfect the Metal Virus, but so far, all the subjects had died.

"I don't understand... The first couple of seconds, the virus manages to infect them... But then they all freaking die!" Eggman complained with a frown. "What are we doing wrong?!" he asked confused, now grabbing his head with his hands.

Sage immediately started to analyze the previous tests they did with the previous animals, while the inside of the capsule cleaned itself and opened the windows again, showing that it was completely cleaned up from the rests of the subject that exploded.

"Father!" Sage called out suddenly, and Eggman turned to face his computer, putting his glasses back as well. "I think I have found what's wrong with the virus!" she revealed.

"So?" Eggman asked. "What are we doing wrong?" he requested an explanation, crossing his arms and frowning.

"I made a microscopic approach to the Metal Virus. Despite it being liquid and metallic-looking like, there are nano-bots in the sample that resemble bacteriophages" Sage explained. "These nano-bots main function is to destroy life, so whenever they touch a living being..." she tried to add, but Eggman already knew where she was going.

"They kill them as soon as the whole body is covered..." Eggman frowned. "So we didn't did anything wrong... The nature of the virus' sample simply did what it was supposed to do..." he realized, now rubbing his chin.

"I'm afraid that's the case..." Sage replied. "If I had a physical form, as well as the abilities I acquired thanks to Cyber Space, I could immediately put a stop to these bacteriophages so they wouldn't kill any living being, but..." she added with a concerned tone.

"Sorry to brake your bubble, dear, but I'm still looking for a way to bring you a physical form again" Eggman informed. "For the time being, we'll have to find a scientific, quick and non-lethal way to make this virus work... and make those bacteriophages stop working..." he stated with a frown.

Back in Bridlewood, the group was confused on what the heck was happening.

Apparently, the ponies seemed to be tossing a ball back and forth to each other, as well as going through an obstacle course.

Just then, Tails, Rouge, Omega and Misty arrived with everyone else. "Sorry for the delay!" Tails apologized with a sheepish smile. "Investigating all that stuff took us more than we wished..." he explained.

"Did we miss anything important?" Misty asked a bit worried.

"Nope!" Sonic replied. "Just a bunch of silly games with no sense at all" he added, while he brought out a Chili Dog from Chaos knows where and ate it.

As he did so, Tails and Misty sat near Zipp, while Rouge went to sit with Amy, and Omega decided to stand in the side so he wouldn't obstruct anyone's view.

"What in the hay is happening out there?" Zipp asked confused, while one pony tripped and his pig critter partner bumped into him.

"I've been wondering that since this crap started..." Shadow deadpanned with a sigh.

"Uh, I don't know. This is literally what every sport looks like to me" Pipp answered.

"I'm usually all in for a sports day, but everything going on so far makes little to absolutely no sense..." Amy pointed out.

Just then, some mic feedback was heard, and Onyx was on stage near a small podium. "This poem means a lot to me. It's called 'Visiting dignitary Queen Haven of Zephyr Heights is about to make public remarks on the Grand Marshal's Stage'" she stated, then she cleared her throat, while soft percussion was heard. "Pain. Metamorphosis" she started, while Zipp and Pipp tilted their heads to the side confused. "Long Division" Onyx continued.

Then, another unicorn stallion came over to Onyx and cut her off. "Alright. Sorry everypony" he gently ushered Onyx off of the stage. "Uh... Queen Haven on the Mane Stage, um... right now" he announced a bit nervous.

With this, Queen Haven took to the Mane Stage at the podium, while the ponies started to cheer.

"Um…/Huh?" Pipp and Zipp asked confused.

Sparky just sat there, feeling a bit bored with this, but then, he saw the same tree from Winter Wishday and smiled, as he quickly got downstairs and headed towards the tree, something that only Tails and Misty seemed to notice, because the rest had their attention on the podium.

So, Tails and Misty looked at each other, nodded, and immediately followed Sparky along.

Meanwhile, Haven made it to the Mane Stage. "Thank you! I'm very honored to be here on this very special day. Here we all are, Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Pegasi united and rebuilding the strong bond that once…" she trailed off when she saw her daughters and their friends sitting at the bench looking at her, with her daughter frowning at her. "... we didn't, uh…" she stuttered. "We didn't realize how much we needed each other" she said in sympathy, while Zipp and Pipp looked at each other for a moment before looking back at their mother. "How wonderful it can be when we're… all together" she said, then Alphabittle approached her with a small smile, and she smiled back at him before continue her speech. "Which is to say, I'm very excited to join in the judging of the day's final event, the 'Forest Critter Grand Prix'!" she announced, spreading her wings.

The crowd than cheered from Queen Haven's speech, but they didn't noticed that Sparky was running around behind them, as he made it to the tree and babbled amazed.

Soon enough, he touched the tree, which made his claws glow, and he smiled in awe.

But then, Tails and Misty arrived with the baby dragon. "Hey, Spark!" Tails said with a little smile, before noticing that his claws were glowing a bit because of the tree. "Huh... That's new..." he said a bit confused.

Misty then looked at the tree and saw that Sparky wanted to climb it, which was a bit dangerous considering he was a baby.

"You want to climb this up, don't you?" Misty asked Sparky with a smile, and Sparky giggled and let go of the tree to hug her muzzle, which made Misty giggle as well. "I'll take that as a yes!" she said with a smile. "Tails, you think you can take us up there? If we stay with Sparky up, we can prevent him from getting hurt" she pointed out.

"Sure thing!" Tails said with a wink, followed by him placing Sparky on his head and the grabbing Misty in bridal style, before spinning his tails and flew towards the top of the tree.

After around 15 tests later, Eggman smashed his keyboard in rage.

All the tests they did to try and cancel the bacteriophages effect of the virus were going terribly wrong, and now, they lost 15 more subjects because of it.

Eggman wasn't happy nor proud, because 1- He was using critters again, something he dared to never do again, but he had to if he wanted this plan to succeed. And 2 - He was killing the critters by mistake, when his intention was to infect them.

He was so frustrated that this was not going well... But he wasn't going to give up.

One of the main reasons Sonic's his nemesis is because they share one thing in common: It doesn't matter if they win or fail against the other, they will always come back for more. They're that stubborn, at the end of the day.

"Um... Father?" Sage called out suddenly.

Eggman shook his head after Sage's voice dragged him out of his own thoughts. "Yes?" he said.

"Um... I, uh... I have miscalculated something..." Sage confessed. "Well, it wasn't miscalculation, actually. I... It seems that I didn't realized something earlier..." she added.

"Huh?" Eggman said confused.

"The virus can affect living beings, correct?" Sage started to explain on a nervous tone. "W-Well, um... T-That includes animals and... plants..." she revealed.

After she said this, Eggman's eyes widened, and he immediately frowned with anger. "... You misread THAT?!" he yelled in rage. "You calculated all the freaking possibilities, found out about every single factor that could go wrong, and you still misread a vital piece of information that could have spared us from killing 22 critters?!" he added.

Sage didn't replied anything this time, and that was good, because it allowed Eggman to take a deep breath and calm himself down.

"Sorry, dear..." Eggman apologized.

"... No... I am sorry for this failure..." Sage said with an ashamed tone.

"It's okay... We all make mistakes. The important thing is that we learn from them, which is why I cannot let myself get carried away by anger and do something stupid" he pointed out.

"You mean, like attacking Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends?" Sage asked.

"Precisely" Eggman replied. "There's no point on planning on how to defeat them when the completion of the Metal Virus is the key to everything: Everypony in Equestria will be infected and controlled, obeying my every order! But that's why we need the virus to infect and not kill first" he explained.

"I'll try a new combination to remove the bacteriophages from the virus, then. Perhaps I'll find another critter that––" Sage tried to say.

"Slow down your horses, dear" Eggman instructed. "We are not using animals anymore. Now that we know animals and plants per equal can get infected, I say we should test the virus over plants first" he stated.

"So I should bring a plant instead?" Sage asked.

"Indeed!" Eggman replied with a grin. "We'll test out the virus on plants until we get a satisfying result!" he stated.

"I'll get to work, then" Sage replied.

Back at the Critter Field Day Prix, light drumming started to sound.

Hitch, with Cloudpuff on his back, got ready for the final event of the games, alongside three other ponies, including Windy and Elder Flower.

"On your marks... Get set..." Onyx began, while the ponies got ready in the start line, and then, Onyx blew a confetti horn, which was the sign for the racers to run.

Well, Elder Flower and her pig companion had to walk because of the mare being too old to run.

"And they're off!" Sky Silver said with a smile

"Oh! Wait until you see this one!" Izzy squealed with a smile. "You're not gonna believe how wild it is! The Grand Prix is the biggest event of the whole day! I'm so excited!" she cheered, but then, some ponies precariously came in front with signs and began cheering and shouting. "Wait! Ugh!" Izzy complained, as she tried to call the ponies attention. "Stop the games! We can't see!" she whined.

"Hold your hooves, Izz!" Zipp told her with a smile. "Pipp and I can fix this. Come on, sis!" she stated, as both Zipp and Pipp flew in the air. "Okay! They're pulling a boulder up a hill with like... some sort of giant rubber band?" Zipp quipped.

"You've gotta be kidding..." Shadow facepalmed again.

"Is this what you've been dealing with the whole day?" Rouge asked him confused.

"No... It's even worse..." Shadow deadpanned.

"Oh-oh! That's the rock trot!" Izzy called up.

"Whose in the lead?!" Knuckles asked.

"Hitch is!" Pipp grinned.

"Yes!" Izzy grinned as well.

"LET'S BUCKING GOOOOO!" Knuckles cheered loudly.

On the other hand, Tails carefully landed on a tree branch in the Unicorn Wishday Tree, carefully placing Misty down, while Sparky went to walk the branch on his own with smiles.

"Wowie!" Misty exclaimed with a smile. "This is a really nice view of the Race!" she pointed out with excitement.

"And we can have an eye over Sparky as the race goes on!" Tails pointed out as well, while Sparky seemed really happy with the tree.

Back in the bench, Zipp and Pipp were looking at the race with binoculars, and Omega decided to join as well by standing behind the bench because of how tall he is, using his sensors to narrate a bit about the race as well.

However, Pipp then turned to the Mane Stage. "Hmm..." she said to herself, while she saw her mother and Alphabittle with binoculars as well to see the race, but then they turned to each other as their binoculars bumped a bit, before they smiled and waved at each other. "Huh?" Pipp asked confused, before she groaned in disgust and lowered the binoculars.

"Now he and Cloudpuff are… are they on waterskis?!" Zipp asked surprised, since she was still focusing on the race.

"Affirmative" Omega confirmed. "Looks like they're being pulled by a gaggle of geese" he added. "Context required to understand the current situation" he requested.

"Oh, oh! The water fowl slalom!" Izzy explained. "The goose is loose!" she announced in excitement.

"Oh, did they jump through all six flaming hoops yet?!" Knuckles asked next, as he turned to Pipp. "Pipp? Princess! What's happening now!?" he asked.

However, Pipp was still aiming her binoculars at Haven and Alphabittle, with the older unicorn feeding her mother some cheese they got from the snacks, and Haven smiled sweetly at him.

"No!" Pipp cried out, lowering her binoculars. "He's feeding her cheeses, from a fancy platter!" she cried out.

"The what now?" Sonic asked confused.

"Who, Hitch?" Izzy asked confused. "Hm? They aren't supposed to eat the cheese until the Gouda Relay…" she stated.

"Uh-huh?" Sunny said, completely lost at this point.

"Would that count as cheating or..." Knuckles questioned, as he brought out the rule book and read it confused.

"Hmm..." Amy muttered, as she noticed that Pipp wasn't looking at the race, but instead at Alphabittle and Haven back in the Mane Stage. "Uh, Sonic? Your girl is still stalking her mom..." she pointed out.

"Huh?!" Sonic exclaimed with wide eyes, before pulling out his own binoculars and look at the Mane Stage, where Alphabittle and Haven were feeding cheese to each other with smiles. "Okay, Knuckles is on a two-episode streak of being right, and that scares me..." he said with a frown.

"Hey!" Knuckles complained.

"Pipp, maybe your mom hasn't made that big-ass revelation like you and I, but it's pretty obvious what's happening, no matter how much you want it to be fake: Haven and Alphabittle are in love" Sonic deadpanned.

"What?!" Pipp yelled in shock, before gagging and groaning while covering her eyes. "Oh, oh, it’s just so gross!" she cried out.

"Isn't it a bit hypocrite of you to be grossed out about your Mom having a relationship when you are in one?" Amy pointed out with a bored expression.

"Not only that: It's selfish, and it kind of offends me 'cause she's grossed out on love..." Sonic added with a bored expression as well. "You have a boyfriend, woman!" he pointed out with a frown.

Meanwhile, Tails and Misty sat happily over the tree branch as they watched the race, with Misty holding Sparky on her hooves with a smile, while the baby dragon was happy to see his dad racing over.

Suddenly, he let go on if his dragon fires, which hit a leave on the branch and turned it into a cookie, that was heading towards the ground, but then, a magic aura surrounded the cookie, and it floated towards Sparky, who grabbed the cookie and babbled happily.

It seems that Misty noticed when the cookie fell, so she used her magic to levitate it and give to Sparky, while the mare smiled down at the happy baby dragon.

Back with Hitch, he kept trotting through the field with Cloudpuff beside him, as the Sheriff grunted in effort while he made it to an infinity track obstacle course, as he hopped through hoops and got his eyes on the finish line.

"Come on, Cloudpuff! We've almost got this!" Hitch said to the pegasus dog with a smile, trotting ahead.

As Hitch kept racing through the circuit, Sparky started to clap and babble happily at him, pretty much cheering for him to win the Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, in the track, Windy jumped over a ramp, which caused her critter to be tossed into the air, while Hitch and Cloudpuff raced to the finish line, making it past Elder Flower and her pig, as they jumped through the hoops.

"Come on, we got this!" Hitch encouraged, as he and Cloudpuff finally crossed the finish line, with the streamline breaking. "Woo-hoo! Yeah!" he cheered.

The crowd then cheered to Hitch. "Awesome!" a unicorn mare among the crowd cheered.

"Woo-hoo!" Sunny cheered to Hitch.

"About time!" Shadow said with relieve.

However, Knuckles seemed to cringe for some reason, as he took off his hat and covered his face with it.

"Red?" Rouge called out confused. "Why are you hiding like that?" she asked.

"You're about to find out for yourself..." Knuckles replied with shame.

"Woo!" Hitch cheered at his achievement, before he and Cloudpuff were levitated by other unicorns at the finish line. "Oh yeah! Woo-hoo!" Hitch kept cheering, doing a victory dance in the air.

"Winner!" Izzy announced, while levitating a big trophy.

"Yes!" Hitch cheered, but just when he was about to grab it, it moved away from him. "What?!" he asked in shock.

Elder Flower and her critter made it to the finish line second, and Izzy gave her the trophy. "Yay!" she cheered.

"Huh?" Hitch said confused, while the ponies stopped using their magic on him. "Ah! Oh!" he yelled out, as he fell to the floor, while Cloudpuff fell next.

"Oh, happy day!" Elder Flower cheered.

"But I…" Hitch started, not expecting this outcome. "But we… We finished first!" he told Izzy.

"And Elder Flower finished second last year, so we promised her that no matter what, she could be the winner this year" Izzy explained with her usual smile, as she brought out the rule book again. "It's right here in the rules. Page 372" she explained.

Hitch saw the page with irritation. "This is ridiculous! Let me see that!" he yelled, as he took a closer look at the book, but once he verified that Izzy wasn't lying, he sighed frustrated, while the bunnycorn critter from the ramp landed on the trophy.

At the Mane Stage, Alphabittle approached to the mic. "Thank you all for––" he started. but was cut off when Hitch spoke.

"Hey, can we get an official Grand Marshal ruling on this?" Hitch asked the two elder ponies, tired of all the crap he went through the game.

Alphabittle and Queen Haven looked at him for a moment before they started whispering to each other, then they looked at Hitch and Cloudpuff, and then they smiled to each other.

"The Queen and I have discussed it and there has indeed been a grave oversight" Alphabittle announced, which made Hitch gasp with a smile. "The Bridlewood Forest Critter Field Day awards the team of Hitch and Cloudpuff…" he started.

"Uh-huh…" Hitch said with an eager nod.

"... the very prestigious cutest puppy award!" Alphabittle finished, while the crowd started cheering.

"The what?!" Hitch asked in shock, while Cloudpuff smiled. "That's not even a real category! He's the only puppy here!" he pointed out.

Then, Knuckles appeared with a small meddle. "Winner!" he said, as he placed a medal on Cloudpuff's helmet, while Cloudpuff twirled around with a smile, and Knuckles held out the book. "It says it right here, dude. Cutest puppy" he said, now turning the book to said page.

Hitch sighed frustrated, but then, both him, Izzy and Knuckles stepped back when a spear traversed the rule book and pined it to the floor.

The spear vanished away, but the book already had a massive hole on it, while Shadow glared daggers at the book and huffed, since he made a Chaos Spear to destroy the book.

"I officially hate sports" Shadow stated.

"Okay, Black blur. Let's just go away to a place where you can release your anger better, alright?" Rouge said, as she dragged Shadow away before he did anything else more dangerous, while Omega followed them.

"Wow, this games are pretty bad if it got on Shadow's nerves..." Sonic pointed out with an amused expression, while he lay on Amy's shoulder, who nodded in agreement.

"Hitch!" Zipp called out with worry, as she and Pipp arrived, looking at the Sheriff with panicked expressions. "We lost track of Sparky!" Zipp added with panic and concern.

"What?!" Hitch yelled back in panic as well.

However, before any of the three ponies could panic even more, they all heard a whistle, and soon enough, Tails and Misty were approaching them, with Tails walking backwards while he spun his tails slowly, which was launching Sparky in the air, as the baby dragon giggled happily, and Misty giggled a bit at the sight.

"Sorry for the scare!" Tails apologized, as he launched Sparky one last time and Misty caught him with her magic, as she cooed the baby dragon, who giggled at her. "Sparky went over the tree we saw on Wishday, and we had to follow him before he tried to climb on his own" he explained.

"Yeah! We didn't wanted anything bad to happen to him if he fell from the tree" Misty added with a smile, as she levitated Sparky back with Hitch, who grabbed him with his hooves.

"Oh, thank hoofness!" Hitch said with a smile, as he nuzzled his muzzled with Sparky's nose.

"We are so sorry we lost track of Sparky!" Zipp apologized to Hitch after Tails and Misty explained themselves.

"Seriously" Pipp agreed. "We let our own stuff get in the way and feel so bad!" she apologized.

"It's not your fault" Hitch assured with a smile. "I'm the one who let his own stuff get in the way of things. Sparky's my responsibility. I just got so wrapped up with these games and trying to figure out the rules. But the rules made no sense!" he snapped, before calming down. "That… Did that make any sense?" he asked.

"Eh... 50/50?" Knuckles pointed out.

"I'll say more like 25/100" Sonic said with a bored expression and his arms crossed.

"Guess we should apologize too, Hitch..." Izzy said, as she gestured to herself and Knuckles. "We should've told you about the rules before hoof instead of just saying them after each game!" she pointed out with concern.

"You would've won at least a game that way..." Knuckles added with a sheepish smile.

"It's okay, guys" Hitch assured with a smile. "I should've looked through the whole book before the game. Usually I'm more careful with this kind of stuff..." he added with concern.

"So… you"re not mad?" Pipp asked.

"Only at myself" Hitch answered.

Then, Izzy wrapped a hoof around Hitch with her cheerful smile. "Come on, champ! All the winners have to go answer questions for the Bridlewood Pony Press Association" she explained, as she dragged Hitch and Sparky away, while Cloudpuff followed along.

"And I get to make fun of it!" Knuckles said with a smirk, as he followed along.

Tails, Amy, Sunny and Misty followed the three of them immediately, and Pipp, Zipp and Sonic were going to do it as well.

But before they could catch up with their friends, Haven came up to her daughters with a proud smile. "That was very noble of you, girls" she told them proudly. "It's not always easy to apologize" she added.

"Yeah, well…" Zipp started. "Hitch is our friend, you know?" she stated, as she and Pipp smiled.

"I do know" Queen Haven said with a smirk, as she pointed her wing to Alphabittle behind her, who was smiling back at her.

However, Haven was only looking at Zipp, insinuating something going on between her and the Sheriff, which made Zipp cringe and even gag in complete and utter disgust.

"Oh yuck!" Zipp cringed in disgust, as she spread her wings. "Hitch is my friend! I play board games and mess up with him for fun!" she pointed out.

"Plus, she's had her eyes on my little bro ever since Wishentine. And even if she didn't, Hitch only has eyes for Sunny-Bunny!" Sonic interfered for a second with a chuckle, before simply moving away.

This made Zipp blush entirely in embarrassment at the confirmation, while Pipp at her side chuckled slightly at the situation, and Haven laughed about it as well.

"The point is... We are friends with Hitch in a normal way!" Pipp got back on track. "Not like… like whatever this is..." she explained, gesturing at Haven and Alphabittle.

Before Pipp could explain further, Haven frowned at them and yelled with her wings spread. "Pipp Petals! Zephyrina Storm! You will listen to me right now!" she lectured, stomping her hoof on the ground, while Alphabittle and Sonic, who were behind the Queen, cringed and looked at each other, before looking away awkwardly.

"Uh-oh" Pipp said in panic, while Zipp gasped with concern.

"Sorry" Haven apologized from her outburst and calmed down. "Ahem… It's just that… you two are growing up. You've flown the nest and started living your lives! But I still have a life too" she pointed out, while the two sisters looked down a bit guilty. "I love your new friends and I love the ponies you're all growing into" she said with a smile, while Zipp and Pipp smiled back at her, before Haven turned to Alphabittle with a smirk. "And I also love––" she tried to add.

"Okay! Okay! We get it" Pipp quickly said, as she closed her eyes, while Zipp covered her wings, clearly not wanting to hear what they know she's gonna say next.

"For the love of–– You are in a relationship too, Pipp!" Sonic complained from behind, before sighing and groan.

"We're sorry, Mom" Zipp apologized as she lowered her wings. "We do want you to be happy" she admitted.

"Yeah" Pipp agreed. "You deserve to have brunch, even when we’re not there" she added, as she began to tear up for saying those words and waved a hoof to her face.

"Oh. Thank hoofness for that!" Haven said with a smile. "I love you, girls" she added happily.

"We love you too" both Pipp and Zipp said at the same time.

Then, Haven flew up and spread her hooves with a wide smile. "Then hug mother!" she said to her daughters, as the royal family shared a hug with smiles.

After the hug, Alphabittle came to them, while he and Haven walked off together, and the two sisters smiled before moving over to catch up with their friends.

Sonic rolled his eyes after Pipp moved over without apologizing for what he believes was an attack to his feelings, but before he could follow them as well, his eyes stopped in a certain are of the forest.

Where some unicorns seemed to be chatting happily between them, Cyber Sonic stood behind them, staring straight at Sonic with a combination of a frown and a glare, which made Sonic flinch and widened eyes.

"Hey, Sonic!" Tails' voice called out, and Sonic shook his head to look over at the young fox, sitting near a bench where the rest were sitting as well, waiting for the Bridlewood Pony Press Association to start their questions. "You're gonna miss Hitch's interview if you don't come here!" he pointed out with a mocking smirk.

Sonic, however, chuckled sheepishly, and he glanced one last time to the unicorn group, just for Cyber Sonic's image to be gone. So, with a sigh, Sonic boosted towards the rest.

Why was this still happening? He didn't knew, and honestly? He wasn't sure if he wanted to know...

Once the games were over, Tails, Misty, Rouge and Omega putted their plan in action.

As expected, they were asked on why they wanted to stay a bit longer, and as Omega said earlier, Misty excised herself on wanting to learn more in unicorn culture.

Everyone believed this, although Shadow did raised an eyebrow at Rouge and Omega for wanting to tag along Tails and Misty, but he still shrugged it off and went back to Maretime Bay with everypony else.

So, with their plan working on so far, they decided to get deeper into the forest and start to investigate things out.

Tails brought out his Miles electric and turned on a 'Metal Detector' function, while Omegas used his scanner and Misty used an old unicorn spell she found on a book in the Brighthouse to look after metallic objects.

The three of them got deep inside Bridlewood's forest to look after a possible Eggman basement for at least three or four hours, but once the sun started to set in the horizon, they started to loose up all hope.

"Um, Yellow?" Rouge called out. "I hate to brake the morale here, but we've been looking for hours, and we still haven't found anything!" she pointed out with a frown.'

"I hate to admit it, but she's right, Tails!" Misty pointed out, sitting down on the floor and undoing her magic, as she also rubbed her horn a bit in pain, because she's tired after using her magic for hours.

"My sensors can't detect any basement, computer, machine, lab, nothing Eggman-related" Omega informed as well. "We're reaching a dead end" he pointed out.

Tails groaned and rubbed his eyes, and he was about to admit that the others were right, and that there was nothing related to Eggman here... but then, his Miles Electric made a beep sound, the first one ever since they started to search.

Tails looked at the screen with wide eyes, since it finally detected something metallic underground.

"... I think we found what we're looking for..." Tails said, as he putted his Miles Electric aside and kneeled, tapping the floor a few times with a hand.

And bingo! The floor made clanking sounds, which was the recognizable sound of metal. So, Tails stepped a few steps back with a smile and looked over at Omega.

"Hey, dude! Think you can help me with this?" Tails asked the robot with a smile.

Omega replied by approaching the same place that Tails tapped, raising an arm and then punching the ground, making a dent on the floor, confirming that this was a metallic structure, and not natural ground like the rest of the forest.

So, Omega used both of his fists this time, making a bigger dent. And finally, he raised the gunshots of his arm and shoot multiple times to the dent, until it broke and fell with a loud clank in the ground, which allowed them to go inside.

Once they entered this place, Misty lightened up the place with her horn, and Omega used the lights from his eyes, while Tails created a plasma gun with his powers that also had a small lantern and illuminated the path.

Just as they were expecting: It was a lab, but unfortunately, it was an empty one.

Tails went over the computer in the middle of the room, and with just clicking one button, the entire place's lights turned on. Of course, this also granted him access to Eggman's computer, which he quickly checked for any useful information... But it was empty, just like in every other basement Team Dark visited before.

"Dang it!" Rouge declared, also stomping a foot on the ground. "For once, I thought we finally found the right place!" she added with anger.

"Huh... does all the other labs, basements or however you call them looked like this, too?" Misty asked, both concerned and scared for how big the place was.

"Affirmative" Omega replied. "Yet Eggman is still not around here" he pointed out with anger, while robotically closing his hand on a fist.

"I guess we must keep looking... Unless..." Tails said, as he turned to the computer, then brought out a USB drive and connected it to the computer, then made sure that all the encrypted data was uploaded to the drive.

"What are you doing?" Rouge asked.

"Eggman might be an evil genius that knows how to trick us..." Tails replied, before finishing uploading all the encrypted archives on his USB drive. "But I know how to access his encrypted data without him ever knowing!" he stated confidently.

"You think we can get a glance on where he is?" Rouge asked curiously.

"Oh, I'm sure we will!" Tails stated.

"I'll say we should take this chance" Omega stated, decided to trust Tails on this plan if it meant they could find Eggman.

And so, Tails, Rouge and Omega left the place by flight, while Misty stood behind and looked around her.

She wasn't looking for anything special, but she did wanted to share something...

"Eggman... I know you can hear me. Don't know how, but I know you can..." Misty spoke to the air. "Wherever you are hiding, whatever you are planning, it doesn't matter... I'm stopping you with my friends... and that's a promise!" she assured with a frown.

Eggman watched the message from his lab and frowned.

Of course, now Misty was against him. Maybe not in all the sense of the word, but they clearly were not in the same team anymore, which only made things more complicated and worse for him, because he didn't minded fighting everyone else, but her? That was going to be a problem...

"I may not have a full understanding on feelings, but I suppose what's happening right now should be classified as a Dejà vu, right?" Sage asked.

"Yes..." Eggman replied with anger. "Shadow did the same a few weeks ago, and now Misty..." he pointed out.

"The offer to initiate protocols to recon and destroy is still up" Sage suggested.

Eggman rubbed his chin and considered for a second the idea, but he shook his head still. "No, no... But I think reconning every step from those fools wouldn't be bad..." he admitted with a smirk.

"Initiating reconning protocols" Sage instructed.

With this, a capsule came out of the ground, and it revealed a certain someone we haven't seen in a while: Metal Sonic, shut down and connected to a bunch of cables, being tied in arms and legs.

However, that didn't seemed to be a problem, because his red eyes turned on, and he looked straight at Eggman... Nodding with confidence, and ready to start his mission.

Author's Notes:

I want to make myself clear here and let you all know that I'm no scientist, so if there's anything scientifically wrong on all the scenes where Eggman's experimenting with the Metal Virus, I apologize, 'cause science is not one of my upper points.

As I said earlier, Tails is gonna be more relevant this time around, and Sonic's still gonna have more visions on Cyber Sonic. Why? Because if Flamewarrior02 can be the "I love to see Zipp suffering and braking into tears" number one stand, then I'm gonna be the "I love to make Sonic suffer and brake his mental state" number one stand!

Also, yes: Metal Sonic's back, baby! He's gonna be more of a silent guardian, though... But it does not mean he won't eventually cross paths with Sonic again.

Anyways. Hope you guys liked this episode! See ya!

3. Cutie Blossom Bash

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The Marestream flew across the sky at top speed, being piloted by Zipp.

Inside said vehicle, the entire thing suddenly rumbled, which made Misty loose her balance a bit, something Sunny at her side noticed.

"Are you okay, Misty?" Sunny asked her.

"Oh yeah! I'm just––" Misty tried to reply, but the vehicle rumbled again, and Misty had to fight to not fall. "... still finding my balance!"

"The Marestream can take some getting used to!" Sunny pointed out with a smile. "At least we're taking you on a secret surprise adventure! Are you excited?"

Misty flinched a bit after being asked this, and when she looked at her friends' smiles, she got even more nervous. Worse of all, she has no idea on why she was suddenly dragged to the Marestream, but a part of her felt it wasn't good news.

"Oh yeah! Definitely!" Misty lied all the same, since the last thing she wanted was to disappoint her friends. "Uh, so, um... What is it?"

"We are going... to Zephyr Heights for the annual Equestria Cutie Blossom Bash!" Sunny replied with a smile.

The rest of the ponies but Misty cheered after hearing this, and Pipp even said "You'll love it!", while Team Sonic stared at them confused.

"Cutie Blossom Bash?" Misty asked confused.

"What in the name of Chaos is that?" Knuckles asked extremely confused.

"It's only the cutest springtime celebration of all that is fresh and new." Pipp said with a smile. "I'm talking flowers, blossoms, bunnies, fashion." As she said this, she posed all around the Marestream's pilot cabin. "The looks you will see, Misty. The looks!"

"But more importantly, it's an official ceremony and celebration for all of the ponies that have gotten their new Cutie Marks that year." Hitch stated. "A day of honor."

"Yeah. And and it's kinda cool how we're finally combining the tradition we've all grown up with." Zipp added with a smile.

"You guys truly like to make anything a big party, huh?" Sonic said with a smile. "Guess is good Team Dark stayed in the Brighthouse to watch over the Unity Crystals. Except for Omega, they would hated this, anyway."

"Are you sure leaving them of all people to watch over the Unity Crystals was a good idea?" Amy questioned Sonic with half a glare and a raised eyebrow.

In the Crystal Brighthouse, Omega was at the top of the building.

He was right outside of the Crystal Room, walking back and forth to guard over the Unity Crystals from the top, also marching like a soldier ready to scold over his apprentices.

Meanwhile, Rouge and Shadow were making bets inside of the Room itself, right below the Unity Crystals and over the elevator, being careful to not activate anything that turns the elevator on.

"Alright... I bet that your deck of cards has a red ruby... 5!" Shadow said, since it was now his turn.

"Oooh, pretty close! But not at a 100% percent." Rouge said with a confident smirk. "Pay the bill!"

Shadow frowned, but still payed her the 10 bucks they bet.

"Now... I bet that you've got a leaf 7 on your deck of cards!" Rouge said.

Shadow's eyes widened, then he growled and immediately extended her 10 bucks. "Lucky guess."

"Uh-huh, sure, keep telling that to yourself, hun~" Rouge replied with a mocking smirk, which made Shadow cross his arms and groan, as he also looked away.

Back in the Marestream, Sonic smirked and snorted at Amy's question.

"Don't worry, Ames." Sonic assured her by pushing her in the shoulder slightly. "We left those Crystals in very good hands!" He stated with a wink.

Izzy squealed a little with glee. "I love the Blossom Bash! It's so springy!" She said happily, before taking out a small ring made with flowers from her mane. "See? I've already crafted seven flower corsages . I only need to make a few hundred more."

"A few hundred?!" Misty exclaimed in shock with wide eyes.

"Yeah! For all the ponies who are going to cheer you on!" Pipp grinned, as the others nodded and cheered on, but Team Sonic was not on board with this idea, and Misty wasn't either.

"Oh wow... Okay. It'll be okay." Misty whispered to herself anxiously. "I can just avoid all those other ponies, right?" She inhaled a bit sharply, "I'll just keep my head down and blend in. It will be smooth sailing. Yup."

"Tails, your other girlfriend is panicking." Sonic told him with a deadpan.

Tails deadpanned back and rolled his eyes. "You've been calling her like that these past few days, and I don't know how I haven't punched you for that yet."

"Come on, little buddy. I'm just messing with you!" Sonic said with a smirk. "Although, Misty does look at you the same way Zipp does, so I'm partially right."

Tails rolled his eyes again and groaned, then walked up to Misty with a smile, while Knuckles and Amy dragged Sonic to the passengers cabin to talk with him on private.

"What do you mean Misty looks at Tails the same way Zipp does, Hedgehog?!" Knuckles asked with a slight frown.

"Well, exactly that!" Sonic replied with a little smile. "Misty has a crush on Tails. And honestly? I kind of expected it with how he is with her."

"Well, I can get behind that logic, but... it doesn't changes the fact that Tails already has a crush on someone else!" Amy pointed out with concern.

"Which is why we must shut this between us!" Sonic said with a frown. "Tails is a genius, but if he hasn't realized that both Misty and Zipp have feelings for him, then maybe we should revoke that title from him."

"Ugh..." Knuckles rolled his eyes. "My lips are sealed regarding this subject... But this better not be a problem for our friends!"

"Hey, tell that to the mares looking for Tails' attention, not to me." Sonic deadpanned.

"He got you there!" Amy told Knuckles with a mocking smirk, while the echidna rolled his eyes annoyed.

On the other hand, Tails approached Misty and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Mist. How you doin'?"

"I've been better..." Misty replied with a nervous smile. "Is just... I don't like the idea of big crowds looking at me, you know? Is one thing to get a brand new Cutie Mark and a change of mane color, with my friends only. But show them off to so many ponies?! I-I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Well, if you don't want to be in here, why did you came along?" Tails questioned concerned.

"Because everypony seems to excited to be here!" Misty replied. "They're excited that I'm here. And I don't want to ruin them that."

"You don't have to be here if you don't want to." Knuckles said, as he arrived along Sonic and Amy and joined the conversation. "The only one getting hurt if you keep going is you. Is not the end of the world for saying 'no'."

"Knuckles is right. If you don't want to do this, just tell them! I'm sure they'll understand." Amy agreed with a smile.

"But what if they don't?!" Misty said with concern.

"Mist, the sooner you tell them you want out, the better. Or else, you'll deal with 5 years olds torturing you for being the only adult mare that got her Cutie Mark later than them." Sonic deadpanned. "Why do you think I never took those classes at the Community Pool even though Sunny inscribed me? Because they wanted to put me in the beginners class! I can't be seen swimming around a bunch of 5 year olds! Kids can be cruel when they smell weakness..."

"That's why in the first day, you gotta be the biggest one in the yard!" Knuckles stated with a smirk, also punching his fists together.

"Knuckles, that's prison..." Amy deadpanned at him.

"Only if you let it be." Knuckles replied confidently, making Amy groan and facepalm.

"Guys..." Tails glared at them, because Misty only had an anxious look, and one of her eyes was twitching. "You're not helping!"

"Well, I'm just telling you the truth." Sonic raised his hands defensively, then he turned to Misty with a smile. "I'm serious, Mist. You don't have to do this to satisfy anyone. We're not Opaline nor Eggman! We won't be mad if you say you want out."

Misty smiled after hearing that, feeling a lot better thanks to Sonic's words. However, before thanking him or open her mouth at all to say something, they all heard thunder striking, then they looked ahead and noticed that they were heading towards thunderstorm clouds.

"Quick turn!" Hitch yelped as he looked at Zipp.

"I got this!" Zipp said, as she flew under the thunderstorm cloud, then came out from the other side, with everyone sighing in relief.

"Oh no, I just jinxed the whole 'smooth sailing' thing, didn't I?" Misty fretted with a gulp.

"Nah. Zipp is just avoiding her mess up from Ponytropico..." Tails said with a mocking smirk.

"I heard that, Miles!" Zipp groaned with an eye roll and an embarrassed blush.

Everyone laughed loudly after that, but even thought Misty did laughed, she still looked down again with concern.

Later on, the Marestream was still flying, as Pipp began to sand and play music.

"So put your hooves up high. 'Cause we’re feeling alright. Everything is awesome in the Maretime Bay." Pipp sang.

While Zipp was looking ahead to drive and bobbing her head to the music, Hitch looked out of the window with concern, and Sonic was not even aware that Pipp was singing while staring at the Blue Chaos Emerald... Everyone else was dancing at Pipp's song.

"So put your hooves up. Put your hooves up. Everything is gonna be okay." Pipp finished.

Meanwhile, Hitch couldn't help but sigh as he looked out of the window, until Izzy approached him. "Thinkin' about Sparky again?" Izzy guessed with a small smile, while Hitch turned to her.

"Yeah..." Hitch confirmed. "Ever since his run-in with Opaline, he’s been so tired. Sure, he got energies back during the fight with the Death Egg Titan, but he's been more tired lately. I didn't wanna drag him all the way to Zephyr Heights, but I miss him."

"Is still for the best that he's not here, Sheriff." Knuckles spoke as he approached Hitch and placed a hoof around his neck. "Being here would probably make him feel very sick, considering he's not used to fly at all yet."

"And, at least he's resting with Grandma Figgy!" Izzy said cheerfully with a smile.

At Grandma Figgy's place, house, everything seemed to be peace and quiet.

Inside, Figgy was sitting on her chair with Sparky resting on her lap, as the baby dragon was wrapped on his blanket and had his pacifier on his mouth, while Figgy held her adoptive grandson with a warm smile, letting Sparky sleep peacefully.

"And honestly? I couldn't think of somepony better to look after him." Knuckles said with a smile.

Hitch smiled as well after thinking on what his friends told him. "You're right, guys. Grandma is the best at making anypony feel better."

"See? Sparky is in great hooves!" Izzy said happily. "You just gotta get your mind off things."

"I know how we can do that!" Sunny said with an excited smile. "Let's go around and share our Cutie Marks stories with Misty! I'll go first."

"Now that I think about it... You never told us that before, so it'll be cool to hear how it happened!" Tails said with a smile.

Sonic, who was still looking at the Chaos Emerald, heard the whole thing, so he smiled and looked up to hear the stories as well, as he also stood up since he was sitting in the ground with his legs crossed.

Years ago, before magic returned, a Filly Sunny was setting up a lemonade stand.

"Back when I was a little filly, I didn't have many friends. But, my dad always said… Sunny narrated.

Meanwhile, in the flashback, we see Argyle Starshine, her father, standing next to her and drinking a cup lemonade, while he also smiled at his daughter.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and sell it to raise money for the library." Argyle said to his daughter, while ponies around were coming up to Filly Sunny's stand.

"So I did! My lemonade was a hit!" Sunny continued, while ponies were buying her lemonade, with the cups getting sold very quick. Argyle smiled at his daughter with pride after seeing this. "I sold almost every cup right away. But two ponies wanted the last one."

Filly Sunny felt concerned, scared and sad when the two ponies began to argue, since she had no idea on what to do, while her father saw his daughter's expression with concern.

"They started arguing, but then I stepped in to help." Sunny continued, while her younger self grabbed another cup and poured half of the lemonade from one cup into the other, offering both to the two ponies with a smile. "They realized they were fighting for no reason!"

The two ponies walked off, as Argyle watched the two ponies go and then looked at his daughter proudly, while Filly Sunny looked at her flank with a smile.

"That's when my Cutie Mark appeared! My dad told me it's because I helped those ponies put aside their differences." Sunny explained, while Filly Sunny looked at her father, who smiled proudly at her, before they embraced each other in a hug. "He was so proud."

A scene later, Filly Sunny was walking over a stage.

She had a flag of her Cutie Mark strapped on her, smiling proudly, while Argyle looked at his daughter with a proud and heartfelt smile.

"That spring, I got to trot the stage in our Cutie Blossom Bash." Sunny said with a giggle at the memory. "Ah, it's one of my favorite memories."

Sunny smiled fondly at the memory, while Misty and Tails smiled at her.

"Changing the world since fillyhood, huh! Now that's my Sunny-bunny girl!" Sonic congratulated her with a smirk, placing and arm around her neck and rubbing her mane.

Sunny giggled at the gesture and then pushed him away slightly with a smile.

"Mmm, now I want lemonade." Hitch said with a huge and dorky smile.

"Me next!" Zipp called out, as she raised her hoof excitedly. "My story––"

"Well, technically our story." Pipp corrected her sister.

Zipp rolled her eyes annoyed. "... Starts back home in Z.H."

Back when Zipp was a filly, she was doing some calculations.

Having puppy Cloudpuff next to her, she looked at the statue of the Pegasi wing formations.

"Before we had magic, I was always crunching numbers trying to figure out exactly how Pegasi could fly again. But one day, I had this epic breakthrough moment!" Zipp started, while her younger self thought on something, before she smiled widely and started climbing onto the statues. "I could tell that I was so close to flying. It felt amazing. And sure, it was scare, but no other Pegasus had tried it before me."

Filly Zipp made it to the top of the statue, taking a deep breath before doing some stunts, hopping around the pillars, then jumped and flipping in the air, landing on the head of the statue again while gliding and doing a loop. The the crowd of Pegasi that watched her started to cheer and exclaiming in awe, while Filly Zipp landed on her hooves and the crowd kept cheering at her. Then, she looked at her flank and saw her Cutie Mark appearing.

"It was awesome! That's the day I got this lil' wonder-bolt!" Zipp finished as she looked at her Cutie Mark pridefully.

"You were making loops at 5?!" Sonic asked with an excited smile, before boosting at her side and lay on her shoulder with a smirk. "Are you sure we're not siblings from different mothers?"

Zipp chuckled at that comment, while Pipp cleared her throat to gain attention. "And don't leave out what happened next."

Same flashback, same context... Different point of view.

After Filly Zipp was doing her stunt, Filly Pipp saw her sister doing the tricks with awe. "Watching my sister soar, I'd never seen anything like it!" Pipp narrated, while her younger self looked at her sister with an amazed smile once she landed. "She was so courageous! And that gave me the confidence to perform, for the first time, ever."

Filly Pipp stomped her hoof and started to sing.

"Make your mark. It's your spark. Your Cutie Maaark. Oooh yeeaaahh!" Filly Pipp sang with her wings spread.

Filly Zipp then saw her sister as she looked in surprise. "Pipp?" She asked her sister in surprise.

"Pipp!" A Mare announced.

"Hurray!" The whole crowd except for Filly Zipp cheered, because the latter smiled at her sister.

"Hey, that's cute! I'm using it." Filly Pipp smile, before she looked at her flank and noticed how she got her Cutie Mark, which appeared as well.

In spring of that year, and just like with Sunny, it was time for the Cutie Blossom Bash.

The royal sisters walked on a stage with flags of their respective Cutie Marks strapped on them, while Queen Haven watched her daughters from above.

"Oh yay!" Haven cheered with tears of joy, then she grabbed suddenly Puppy Cloudpuff and blew her nose on him with joy, while the two sisters chuckled at each other.

Zipp gave an amusing smile at her sister. "Kinda stole the spotlight there, sis."

"It's not my fault!" Pipp called out with a smile. "You were the one who was so inspired!"

In this occasion, however, Sonic said nothing, he simply turned around and frowned. "Stole the spotlight, 'cause attention and approval is all she cares for."

He walked away from her, but even if none of the royal sisters heard Sonic, nor noticed his change in attitude, Tails, Sunny and Amy definitely did.

"... Did he just... Is he... mad with Pipp?" Sunny muttered with shock.

"Yeah..." Tails muttered. "He's been like that for the past week, now that I think about it..."

"Right?" Amy said with concern. "Sonic is usually attached to Pipp to the point it's kind of annoying, but today he's staying as far as he can from her! He didn't even sang along when she started to, and he loves to do that!"

"I'll ask what's the matter with him later." Sunny said, as the other two nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, and completely oblivious at the fact that this conversation even happened, Zipp looked at Hitch with an amusing smile. "You look like you’re about to burst, buddy." She noted, while Hitch gave a wide smile and tried to contain his excitement. "Wanna tell yours?"

Hitch then gasped excitedly. "Do I!"

"Oh boy, here we go..." Knuckles said with a smirk, also crossing his arms.

As a foal, Hitch was at the beach with Foal Sprout and a colt, playing beach ball with each other.

"I was playing hoofball on the beach with some colts when this filly asked to join us." Hitch narrated, as a filly came up to them, asking if she would join them to play, but Foal Sprout threw the ball to Foal Hitch, as the two colts shook their heads. "But they wouldn’t let her play! They just kept shouting…"

"No fillies allowed!" Foal Sprout shouted, with Hitch feeling a bit intimidated with what Sprout said, while the two colts walked up to Foal Hitch, leaving the filly tearing up and then running off crying.

Foal Hitch gave the filly a sympathetic look, before nodding determined. "So I did what any decent pony would do. I ditched the meanies and played with her!" Hitch explained, while his younger self abandoned Foal Sprout and the colt to start and play with the filly instead. "And then… I got my Mark!"

Foal Hitch then felt strange, so he looked at his flank and smiled when his Cutie Mark appeared.

That year, the Cutie Blossom Bash came again... You know the deal.

Foal Hitch walked on stage with a flag of his Cutie Mark strapped in, as posed and winked to the crowd. "Because the only peace of mind is to be kind."

Foal Sprout and their colt friend watched on, and Foal Sprout looked away jealously, while the colt at his side looked down in sadness.

"You stood up for those who needed it. For that, I salute you, Hitch!" Sonic said with a smirk.

He also made an actual salute and winked, while Hitch smirked and saluted back.

"Sprout was an asshole since a kid..." Knuckles muttered to himself with a bored expression. "I'm not surprised at all."

"My turn! Oh!" Izzy hopped excitedly. "So, it all begins back in Bridlewood, during the days of Yore, on the eves of the Translucent Moonstone Moon…" She echoed herself with the last word.

"Doodle-oodle-loodle-oodle-loo… Flashback!"

Thanks, Izz! You spared the explanation to me.

Filly Izzy was walking around Bridlewood, until she she saw a bunch of junk pile up. "There was this really sad-looking junk pile in the middle of our forest that just kept growing and growing. But I didn’t see it as 'junk'. I saw the stuff that just needed some love!"

The younger Izzy looked at the stuff in her hooves with a smile, and now she had an idea, one that she pulled in s really short noticed, because a little bit later, she putted all together in a teapot statue.

"I remade everything into a big teapot statue!" Izzy explained literally what I just said, while the teapot statue started flowing, and the ponies walking around stopped to see the statue with interest. "Then, everypony saw that maybe they'd judge the junk a little too harshly."

"Hey, thanks!" Filly Izzy said to the unicorns as she giggled cheerfully. "I'm just a Unicorn that loves recycling! Uni… cycling. Unicycling!"

"And then, bam!" Izzy cheered, as Filly Izzy looked at her flank and saw her Cutie Mark appearing. "I got my mark!"

Filly Izzy was now on stage with a flag strap on her back as she giggled. "Yay!"

"Ah, nothing like some good ol' childhood stories!" Sonic said with a smile.

"Well, thank Chaos I don't have to deal with having a Cutie Mark..." Tails said with a smile. "I like having my 5-minute fame like the next guy, but a day where everyone is focused on you? No thanks."

"Wow, great stories!" Misty said with a nervous smile, specially with that Tails just commented. "But, um, they all ended with a big event where you had to stand in front of a lot of ponies?"

"Yep!" Sunny replied with a smile. "Now it's your turn to do the same. And it's going got be the biggest, most-grand one yet!" She cheered and grabbed Misty, while the Unicorn gave a small smile before Sunny gasped. "Look!"

The ponies got out of the clouds, with Zephyr Heights coming into view, as they flew over the city and saw a bunch of ponies setting up the walkway outside the balance, which made Misty feel nervous.

"There's so many ponies here!" Misty muttered to herself. "Be brave, Misty." She declared to herself, then looked at her friends. "I don't want to ruin anything for them! I can do this."

"You can still quit, Mist. Remember: No one is gonna judge you if you want out." Sonic reminded her, placing a hand on her shoulder with a smile.

"Aren't you so thrilled?" Pipp exclaimed happily.

"Um, it's all so new!" Misty said nervously, chuckling in the same manner and looking down.

Sonic noticed this, and when Pipp turned around, Sonic looked at her with a frown and growled in anger, his electrical powers showing up entirely.

Tails and Amy noticed this, and they frowned slightly as well.

Once the Marestream landed on a balcony on top of the palace, the Mane 6 and Team Sonic exited the vehicle, while Queen Haven flew from the door with Cloudpuff, Zoom and Thunder behind her.

"My angels! You've arrived!" Haven cheered in joy, as she flew to her daughters and gave them a hug. "I was so worried, I nearly had to send Cloudpuff to track you down again!" She exclaimed, Cloudpuff flying behind her. "I'm thrilled to have you here, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm a teensy bit stressed."

Thunder roared in the sky, which made the Mane 6 and Team Sonic look up a bit concerned, and Tails even had the instinct to hid behind Sonic, since he was still scared of thunders, even as a young adult.

"A problem with the crystals again?!" Zipp asked in panic.

"Oh starts, no." Haven assured. "It's just spring showers. But if it rains, then everything will be ruined!"

At this, Hitch smiled with confidence. "I can most certainly help with that."

"Me too. We're problem solving pros!" Zipp added with pride.

"Me three!" Knuckles declared with a smirk, pulling Hitch and Zipp closer by placing his arms around their necks. "'Solving Problems' would be our second names if 'Trailblazer', 'the' and 'Storm' didn't stoled the spots already!"

Haven smiled after hearing this. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Of course." Hitch confirmed. "We promise to make sure this event runs seamlessly and that everything is as right as rain." He declared, as he hoofbumped with Zipp and Knuckles, before he realized what he said. "Uh… or not rain, in this case."

Knuckles facepalmed and groaned, while Zipp smiled sheepishly at Hitch's words.

"Ah, thank hoofness!" Haven said, then she gestured the to the palace. "Follow me."

Everyone proceed to enter the palace and follow Queen Haven... Everyone except Sonic, who stopped for a second as he heard a maniac laugh, one that has been haunting him for months.

He looked around in panic, and he saw nothing at first... But then, as he stared into a wall, he saw him with wide and panicked eyes... He saw Cyber Sonic, staring at him. The figure was laughing, then he pointed at Sonic with a finger, before passing a thumb over his neck.

This sign was saying he was willing to kill him, and that made Sonic feel even more panicked, so he rushed inside the castle to follow his friends and ignore what he saw, or at least try to.

Meanwhile, a figure was watching him from the sky... Metal Sonic, who had a mission from Doctor Eggman, one that actually didn't involved Sonic at all. With a frustrated sigh because of this last thing, Metal Sonic turned around and boosted away, heading Towards Maretime Bay.

Inside the castle, everyone walked down the corridors as they followed Queen Haven.

However, Sonic seemed to be too busy on his own thoughts with a concerned frown, something Tails and Amy noticed, as they approached him for a moment.

"Sonic?" Tails called out first, and Sonic looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

Sonic sighed and denied with his head, much to Tails and Amy's surprise. "I haven't been myself this past week... And I know you guys have noticed."

Seeing the sudden turn of events that the conversation took, literally right at the beginning, Tails and Amy looked at each other and shrugged, since none of them were expecting this answer, and now they had no idea on how to keep the chat going with him.

But Amy still decided to take the shot, anyways. "Well, yeah. It's been hard to ignore that you act like you at times, but then you suddenly become another person... Specially because you seem to be mad with Pipp."

That actually made Sonic stop walking, and as everyone else kept going, Sonic, Tails and Amy stood behind, because what Sonic wanted to say next, he wanted to tell it only to them.

Sonic sighed at first, before looking at his friends over his shoulder with concern. "... We're not in the best of terms right now... And she doesn't even noticed yet."

Of course, hearing this made Amy gasp, while Tails tilted his head a bit confused, like if Sonic literally spoke in other language, even though he understood every word of what he just said.

"Im sorry, did I heard that right?" Tails asked. "You... You and Pipp had a fight?!"

"I wouldn't call it a fight." Sonic rolled his eyes. "We're simply not in good terms. At least I ain't, but has she noticed?" He snorted and then scoffed. "Her phone is more of a boyfriend to her than I'll ever be, that's for sure."

This last line made them both stop walking when he started to, then Tails and Amy looked at each other with cringed expressions, because they knew why he said that: Pipp's been publishing more and more pictures with Sonic lately, and while that normally would be good, it isn't this time if Sonic's not happy to be around Pipp.

"I mean, that'll explain why he doesn't looks happy on many of the pictures..." Tails said, as he took out his phone and checked some of the photos that Pipp uploaded.

In the first few, he seemed genuinely happy, and even making funny faces to mock Pipp up... But as Tails kept scrolling, the pictures showed his smiles turning a bit sheepish, then uncomfortable, then forced...

And finally, no smile. Not even looking at the camera... Only a frown and an eye roll.

"Sonic must feel that he's being used as a like generator..." Amy said with concern, before frowning in anger. "Look at the views and likes of this posts! They're above the average Pipp gets with anything else! She's using him like an object and not even considering how he feels!"

"Now, now, Ames!" Tails stopped her. "We cannot say that this is the case! Maybe Pipp just published those to show off how much he loves Sonic, but Sonic noticed the pictures and how much Pipp was focusing on taking them instead of spending time with him... There's actually a lot of possibilities on what's going on here, but we need to know for sure! Ugh, but I can't help my two best friends at the same time! Misty also needs some cheering..."

"Then how about you let Sunny and me take care of Sonic?" Amy suggested with a smile. "You go and cheer Misty up!"

That actually made Tails smile, and he nodded in agreement, then they resumed their walk to catch up with the rest.

Speaking of them, Queen Haven was giving them a tour around.

"Here you'll find our giant springtime floral arrangements, as well as our baby duck nursery. Oh, and our Zephyr 'Bites' appetizers!" Haven listed, as she picked up a cookie from a table a stallion was strolling. "Clever, huh? I didn't come up with that one. Cloudpuff did!" She said, as she tossed the cookie to Cloudpuff. "What do you think, girls? I am devoted to making this the best Cutie Blossom Bash ever, especially for your darling new friend, Misty."

Misty smiled a bit after hearing that.

"Guards! Prepare for Misty's Cutie Mark debut." Haven announced, as Zoom and Thunder flew down, while she trotted ahead. "This is going to be one fun-packed, pony-filled social event!"

The Mane 6 cheered and went ahead, while Team Sonic, Izzy and Misty stood behind them.

"You’re gonna be so great! This is fun!" Izzy cheered as she hopped off to the others.

"Yay?" Misty said uncertainly, feeling really nervous about all of this.

"Hey, we can still tell them that you want out, you know?" Tails reminded her with a smile. "Remember what we told you: Don't do something you don't want to please others, and don't hold back on doing something you do for the same reason."

"Come on, Misty! Woo!" Sunny cheered, as she came up to Misty and grabbed her hoof to pull her away, which made the Unicorn mare scream startled.

"Or let everyone else screw it before she even has the chance to express herself..." Knuckles deadpanned, and the rest deadpanned at this as well.

The whole group was now waiting on a make up room.

There, Pipp and Izzy were applying some make up on Misty's faces, but Pipp could barely concentrate since she noticed that Sonic was too far away from her... Just like he has been the entire week.

She has noticed how much he has distanced, and how coldly he looks at her lately. It hurt that the one creature she loved the most now seemed to be drifting apart from her, and the worse of all is that she doesn't even understands why, because he doesn't even talk to her.

She was hoping that, whatever got into him, it'll go away soon, and he'll be clear with her for good.

Pipp decided to go back to the work after deciding to let Sonic be, while Amy and Sunny approached Sonic with the idea of talking about the same subject about his anger towards Pipp.

"Sonic." Sunny called out, and Sonic looked at her since he's laying on a wall with his arms crossed and a frown. "I think we need to talk about the elephant in the room."

"You mean why I'm mad with Pipp?" Sonic asked, still frowning, but his tone was more an annoyed one.

"Precisely!" Amy said. "What has she done to you so you refuse to look at her? Or even talk to her?!"

"I don't know. Maybe the fact that I'm an excellent like generator for her." Sonic replied rhetorically. "Because, if I make the more likes on her feed, why bother on uploading anything else?"

"What?" Sunny asked with wide eyes. "Come on, Sonic. That's not true. You're not the only thing that makes Pipp win lots of likes and attention––"

"You think so?" Sonic asked, and his look clearly said he was challenging Sunny, who frowned at him. "Then show me one picture Pipp has published with as much likes as any of the ones that have my face on it. Just one, and I'll drop this act."

Sunny accepted the challenge, because she didn't hesitated on taking out her phone and checking out Pipp's ponygram page, in search of the latest picture that Pipp has uploaded without Sonic.

However, and despite the fact that she did found variety in her pictures at first, the more she scrolled, the more she found only pictures that had Sonic in it... And worse of all? That all those pictures had an amount of likes that no other picture managed to reach.

Sunny felt concerned, and she realized that Sonic was right, something he noticed by her expression.

"That's what I thought." Sonic said with a snort. "I don't wanna talk to someone who only sees me as her like generator. Specially because she doesn't care enough to even notice I don't wanna talk to her."

Amy wanted to say something to correct him, to say that this was childish... But a part of her knew that, being as stubborn as he is, he wouldn't listen, no matter what she told him.

She sighed, then looked at Sunny who seemed as concerned as her. They had no idea on what to do or where to go from here on.

Meanwhile, Tails approached Misty, who seemed to feel down. "Hey. Is something bothering you?" he asked her with concern, which made Misty gasp and turn at him.

"Oh… uh… I'm just worried about what's going on back home." Misty replied, before she quickly stopped herself. "I mean, back at Opaline's!"

"Oh, we understand." Sunny said softly, while Izzy and Pipp came to them with smiles.

"Luckily, we have more Cutie Blossom activities that focus entirely on you!" Pipp announced, as she flew close to Misty. "That should get your mind off it! Help me with the baskets?" She asked her friends, as they walked off.

Tails, however, looked at her with a slight frown, while Cloudpuff flew to Misty and barked at her.

"You cannot lie to me, Mist." Tails said a bit mad. "I know you don't want to be here, but I also know that you're not only concerned for Opaline."

Misty smiled and chuckled after hearing this. "Nothing gets by you, does it, Tails?"

"I'm your best friend for a reason!" Tails said mockingly, before bringing out another chair and sit in front of Misty. "Come on, Mist. You can tell me anything. And I promise you that I won't be mad."

Misty took a deep breath and then sighed. "Okay, so I was lying a little about what's bothering me! But it's sort of true. Opaline knows I'm gone, she knows that I betrayed her, and she's probably already plotting her evil revenge against me!"

"Even if that's the case, her power has weakened a lot at this point." Tails pointed out. "Sure, she's powerful, an Alicorn, can make fire, yada, yada, yada... I've seen a literal God made of water destroying an entire city, and now it's sealed on the Master Emerald in Angel Island! Opaline will end up like him for sure!"

"Well, I guess that's a good thing, right?" Misty said with concern, also scratching her left hoof.

"But that's not everything that concerns you, is it?" Tails asked with worry.

"... I'm more concerned about... Eggman, too..." Misty said, before letting out a snort. "You know? Is funny. I called Eggman 'Dad' sometimes because he cared more about me than Opaline ever did... He was truly sweet, and unlike Opaline, he listened to what I had to say without labeling it as nonsense! He truly made me feel appreciated, even as much as you guys do... Until he broke the promise he made..."

Tails was smiling at first as he heard Misty, and even felt surprised to hear that Eggman showed a bit of his soft side, but when Misty's smile disappeared as she mentioned a broken promise, so did Tails' smile.

"He promised me that... That even if we were in different sides, he'll never hurt me..." Misty said, trying to hold back her tears. "But it was a lie... Because he did hurt me... When he attacked us with that giant robot with his face... The one that almost conquered Equestria."

"Oh, Misty..." Tails said with concern and sorrow for his friend.

"I... I don't know how I feel about him anymore..." Misty confessed. "A part of me desires to capture him and stop him for good, make him pay for all his crimes! But... There's a side of me that wants to have him back as a friend, as someone I could trust, and not... And enemy that I want to see encaged for all his crimes."

Tails had no idea what to tell Misty after hearing all of this. Sure, it is one thing that she is concerned for Opaline and her revenge, but caring for Eggman as a friend, or even as a father figure, like how he was such a thing for Sage... This was a lot to process.

Perhaps Eggman created Sage because of Misty, because he missed to have a daughter figure... Now he lost both: One was against him, and the other one is dead... or so he thinks, anyway.

"... I cannot tell you anything comforting regarding Eggman, Mist." Tails said honestly, before smiling and placing his hands on her shoulders. "But... I do know that if Eggman was open to you, to the point he saw a daughter in you... Then maybe, and just maybe, he regrets what he did to you. If that's the case... Then he may tell you that next time we encounter him."

This actually made Misty smile, and she nodded at Tails, since she was willing to take his words by heart.

Dr. Eggman was at his hidden lab under Bridlewood.

So far, he kept experimenting the Metal Virus over plants instead of animals, analyzing all the side effects and upgrading it every single time he found what went wrong in the last test to try again.

He didn't particularly enjoyed killing plants, specially from a place like Bridlewood, which had tons of rare species that the Unicorns surely were trying to preserve... But if he wanted the Metal Virus to be perfect and flawless, then he must keep going.

At least he's not killing animals anymore, which doesn't makes him a better person, but it is what it is.

However, as Sage ran a simulation over a plant that was getting slowly infected with the Metal Virus, Eggman couldn't help but frown concerned, as he thought on Metal Sonic's mission.

"Sage?" Eggman called out.

"Yes, father?" Sage replied.

"... How's Metal Sonic doing?" Eggman asked. "With his mission, I mean."

Sage made an image appear on Eggman's computer, as the doctor himself turned around to see what is it.

It showed Metal Sonic's front camera, as the machine was now approaching to the Crystal Brighthouse, but it stopped moving once the camera zoomed and noticed Omega outside of the Crystal Room.

Eggman frowned slightly, but then returned his sight to the Metal Virus infecting the plant.

Sage, despite not having physical eyes, still noticed this. "Father? Y-You won't tell him to retreat or something?"

"Metal Sonic can handle this himself." Eggman replied. "He has strict instructions to not attack anyone. He just has to deliver the package and come back here as soon as he's done."

"I... I do not understand why you want to deliver a 'gift' to that Unicorn." Sage said with honesty. "Didn't she betrayed you?"

"... Is complicated... In a way, we betrayed each other." Eggman replied with concern. "I told her that I wouldn't hurt her, even if we were on different sides... But getting rid of Sunny Starscout and her friends didn't made me realized I was... Attacking her, too. I betrayed her, and I cannot forgive myself for that..."

Sage didn't replied anything this time, and Eggman thanked her in silence. He wasn't in the mood to talk, anyways.

Suddenly, a beep sound called his attention, and he saw that the plant infected with the virus was slowly dying, which made him deadpan and facepalm annoyed.

"Great... Time to upgrade this thing again." Eggman declared, as he pressed a button that incinerated the dead plant.

Speaking of Metal Sonic, he landed far from the Brighthouse.

He didn't wanted to be spotted by Omega in the top of the Brighthouse, so he quickly sneaked in and flew upwards, surrounding the building and looking for a specific entrance, until he found the window with a Butterfly.

He opened said window slowly and checked the inside. Once he made sure that Team Dark wasn't around, he entered the place and carefully landed on the bed. This seemed to be Misty's side of the Brighthouse, because it was decorated with the same blue tone than Misty's fur.

There was a small nightstand besides the bed with purple blankets, and the pillows over the bed had butterfly drawings, all choose by Misty, who wanted to feel comfortable on her new home, and thanks to her friends, she did it.

Metal Sonic found all of this ridiculous, and he could just destroy everything if he wanted... But he was here for a mission from Eggman. A very stupid one, if you ask him, but a mission all the same. So, he took out the small blue box with a red ribbon around and placed it on the desk.

With that done, Metal turned back to the window and boosted out of the Brighthouse, heading back towards Eggman's new hidden lab to report that his mission was successful.

At least he has the glee to say that, even if he still believed this was a waste of time, more than a mission.

Back at the castle, Queen Haven was showing a video of Zipp and Pipp when they were fillies.

"Mom, Mom! Look at me!" Filly Zipp called out, as she ran up a tree and did a flip, while Filly Pipp was looking at a tree sapling.

"If I sing to the tree, Mom, will it grow faster?" Filly Pipp asked her mother.

Just then, Haven appeared to the camera as she smiled at her daughters. "Oh, there's an idea! Let's try, shall we?" She suggested, as the family huddled together, with Filly Zipp landing on her mother's back, while Filly Pipp was under her chin.

The four ponies and Team Sonic watched the video, all cooing at the moment. And even if Sonic was still mad with Pipp, he couldn't deny she still looked adorable as a filly.

"I remember your Cutie Blossom Bash like it was yesterday." Haven said to Pipp with a small smile.

"I just wanna pick them up and squeeze them! Ah." Izzy cheered, as she hugged Misty and squeezed her tightly, while Misty smiled at her.

"We were so cute." Pipp said with a smile.

"You still are." Haven answered as she, Pipp, Sunny and Team Sonic but Tails walked off.

Meanwhile, Misty was in deep thought again. "What's up, Misty?" Tails asked her concerned.

"Um… It's just that… most ponies get their Cutie Marks when they're young." Misty started as they walked on. "Because that's when the magic of their personality…"

"And their Luminessence!" Izzy sang cheerfully.

"... Starts to shine." Misty finished and continued. "But, because of Opaline, I never got to shine until now." She stated, as Izzy, Tails and her caught up to the others to the door that leads to the throne room. "That means not only will I be in front of everypony, but…"

Once the doors opened, she saw something that made her feel absolutely panic.

In the throne room: Seashell, Peach Fizz and Glory were chattering with each other, and with other foals around them.

"I'm gonna be the oldest pony here." Misty finished with worried and awkward look.

"Remember to be the biggest one in the yard!" Knuckles reminded her in a whisper.

"Knuckles, for the last time, that's prison, not a gathering between kids..." Tails facepalmed and groaned.

On the other hand, Sonic walked towards a balcony to breath some fresh air.

He didn't wanted to talk with anyone right now. He just wanted peace and quiet to put his thoughts together, specially because he didn't wanted to be near Pipp the entire time.

He's been avoiding her the whole week ever since he realized how many likes she gets with all the pictures involving him. Hence why he has made a grumpy expression, to hopefully get that number lower... But he knows he's just fooling himself, because the likes are just as much as usual.

"... Blue Star..." Pipp's voice called out, and that made his eyes shot open.

No... No, no, no, no... Please no... Sonic begged internally.

Yet when he looked over his shoulder, he frowned, because Pipp was there, behind him.

He simply turned around again and decided to ignore her. Again, he isn't in the mood to talk with anyone, specially if it with her.

"Sonic..." Pipp called out again, but now she was really concerned when he didn't replied for a second time, and now it was her turn to frown. "Sonic, I know you're listening."

"I am. Do I wanna reply? Ha! Not even to joke." Sonic replied coldly, and with a tone that already told Pipp he was mad, and she could sense that he was mad with her.

"... Okay, at least I can tell that something is bothering you." Pipp said, still frowning. "What's the matter?"

However, Sonic snorted and the started to laugh, even covering his face with his hands as he lay on the balcony. Then, he turned to see Pipp, and she felt a horrible sensation when he glared down at her with rage, a type of rage she hasn't seen on him before.

"I'll tell you what's the problem: Your phone seems to have a better romantic relationship with you than I'll ever have!" Sonic said with anger. "You love showing everything to your fans, and while I'll normally understand and even find it adorable, it becomes annoying anytime I wanna get intimate with you and you just cut the tension off to take a goddam picture for your goddam ponygram!"

"So you're mad because I'm showing off how much I love you and how much you meant to me to my Pippsqueaks?" Pipp asked with a frown.

"Yes! Because I feel that you care more about a bunch of strangers that will ditch you at the first mistake you make, rather than be with someone who genuinely cares for you and would never do that to you!" Sonic replied with anger as well.

"That's not true! And you know that, Sonic!" Pipp replied offended, also opening her wings in anger.

"Then explain me why anytime you upload a picture to your profile, is always one with my face, which conveniently always gives you the most likes out of all your other pictures!" Sonic said with a frown.

"T-That's just a coincidence!" Pipp replied, still offended, but also stuttering a bit since she'll be lying if she said that she's not doing it for the likes, even thought it isn't her main reason. "Sonic, I don't think you're thinking straight––"

"No, Pipp. I'm thinking very straight right now. I love that you enjoy doing this kind of stuff, but if that means that I'm just a like generator for you, of course I'm gonna get mad!"

"For the last time, Hedgehog: You're my boyfriend! I'm not using you as a like generator! I genuinely love you!" Pipp said with anger.

"Right! You love me so much that you post my image on your profile to get some attention, because apparently mine isn't enough for you!" Sonic said with a frown.

"UGH! I won't let you mess with my Pippsqueaks, Sonic!" Pipp said enraged at this point. "Yes, I publish those pictures often and more than any other one because I love you, dang it! But this is also what I love, what I live for! It makes me happy, and I won't stop doing it just to please a stupid porcupine like you!"

Sonic frowned and growled a bit in anger after hearing that, so he simply left and choose to keep his mouth shut.

"So that's it?!" Pipp asked with anger and disbelief once he began to walk away. "You just said all of that out of nowhere, to be mad with me for a childish thing, and then walk away?!"

"I'm leaving before I say something I'll regret my entire life!" Sonic replied, because even if he was mad, the last thing he wanted was to hurt Pipp with his words.

Pipp growled and then shouted. "Go to hell, Sonic the Hedgehog!"

"Kuso mitaina hatsudenki to shite tsukawa rete mo kamawanai yatsu ni meiwaku kakero yo, Pippu!" Sonic shouted back, and Pipp understood every word, because he said 'Go bother someone else who doesn't mind being used as a damn like generator, Pipp!' in Japanese.

The pegasus mare growled in anger and shouted her frustration out. She was in the balcony already, so better take the chance now that she has it, right?

Back inside the castle: Sheriff, Deputy and Detective were talking.

"Alrighty, Zipp. Perimeter checked. The throne room looks alright and safe from rain!" Hitch declared as he looked around.

Knuckles facepalmed and groaned, while Zipp flew down and landed next to them. "That's great, Sheriff, but what about…"

"The fact that the Blossom Bashers will have to trot outside to get from the palace to the stage and getting wet because of the rain?" Knuckles pointed out with a bored expression.

"Yeah, what he said." Zipp agreed with a smile.

"We need rain boots! And umbrellas! And fast!" Hitch called out, while Zipp and Knuckles nodded in agreement, then they all ran out of the room.

Meanwhile, right behind them, Misty was moving backwards nervously, just before Seashell, Glory and Peach Fizz came to her.

"Misty!" Seashell called out, which surprised Misty as she turned to see them. "We didn't even know it was possible a pony your age could get a Cutie Mark for the first time." She said surprised, while Misty felt awkward as she rubbed her hoof. "It's so cool!"

Misty gasped in surprise, since she wasn't expecting them to say that, specially because she still remembers Sonic's words about kids being cruel when they sense weakness. Guess he was wrong.

"Would you like to join us?" Seashell asked. "Glory and Peach Fizz are here to celebrate my new Cutie Mark with me. Look!"

She hopped happily, and then she showed her green conch shell and two pink stars that she got as a Cutie Mark.

"It's awesome, Seashell!" Misty told her with a smile, just when Zoom came up behind them.

"It is time!" Zoom announced.

"Time? For what?" Misty asked nervously.

"Don't worry!" Seashell assured. "You can stick with me!"

All the foals that recently got their Cutie Marks, and Misty, formed a line. Of course, Misty feels awkward because she's taller and older than all these foals.

"Welcome to the Cutie Blossom Bash Eve Dinner Soiree!" Thunder announced, pointing to the dinner table, while the foals and Misty took a seat.

Queen Haven walked to her seat as well, turning to Misty with a smile. "You got this!" She whispered and winked, which made Misty smile, while Haven took her seat. "I am so honored to have you all here in Zephyr Heights for our first Cutie Blossom Bash Together!" She announced. "From Pegasi to Unicorns to Earth Ponies, every one of you has reached an important milestone in your journey to become your best, most authentic selves." She added as Misty was still in deep thought. "It's time to go out and make your mark on Equestria! But first, please enjoy this incredibly fancy springtime feast!"

With that being said, the foals grabbed the forks to eat. Misty, however, had a little trouble picking hers, since there was two, and when she grabbed one of them, Seashell noticed it.

"Psst. That's the wrong fork." Seashell whispered and pointed to her fork, the one Misty didn't grabbed.

"Oops." Misty said sheepishly, so she put down the fork and grabbed the right one, then tried to pick her carrot, but it was giving her trouble, so she pushed down hard, making the carrot fly off. "Oh no!"

The carrot flew and landed on a unicorn foal's horn, making the other kids laugh, while the foal himself didn't seemed to mind, and even smiled. Then, Thunder came in and pull the carrot off, before he fell to the floor.

"I am so sorry!" Misty said ashamed.

"It's okay, darling, it happens." Haven assured with a small smile, then she turned to the foals. "Now as per tradition, it's time to introduce yourselves to one another and tell us about your Cutie Mark." She announced. "Misty, why don't you start?"

That caught Misty off guard, and she even tossed her utensil startled. "What, oh, um… me?!" She asked nervously. "Uh, yeah. I'll go first." She said as she stood up. "So, um… My name is Misty. Misty Brightdawn, and uh, my Cutie Mark is a butterfly." She showed her Cutie Mark with a sheepish smile.

The foals looked amazed at her Cutie Mark, but also expecting her to tell more.

"Uh… That's it." Misty said nervously with a sheepish smile.

"My dear, you also have to tell everypony why you think it's a butterfly." Haven explained with a smile.

"Oh!" Misty said nervously as she sat down. "And um… uh… because… Um…" She stammered, because how could she reveal that she got it by freeing her friends from Opaline? She'll probably end up locked on a cell. "Uh… heh, because…" She then swiped a fork and made it fell to the floor. "Oh, ah, I dropped my fork."

After saying that nervously, she dropped to the floor and hid under the table.

"This is so awkward!" Misty whispered to herself. "I have no public speaking skills. My only friend before this was a pile of junk named Madame Taffytail! Opaline was right. Maybe I'm not cut out for this world."

"My name is Seashell and my Cutie Mark is… a shell!" Seashell spoke, and Misty was hearing her. "Because I'm a pony who's as unique as every shell on the beach is!"

"Wonderful, that was lovely, dear!" Haven said, while the foals cheered to Seashell.

"Yay, Seashell!" A foal cheered, while Misty sighed on the ground with disappointment.

On the other hand, Sonic was training up with Amy on a room that Queen Haven let them borrow.

Of course, this training was a 1v1, and they were both trying to be as careful as possible to not brake anything in this room... However, Sonic could barely focus on the battle, because his fight with Pipp was still haunting his thoughts, and he could barely think straight.

Is exactly because of this that Amy hit him with her hammer and sent him backwards, towards a column, where he crashed on his back, and then fell on his knees with pain.

Normally, Amy would apologize, but this is the sixth time today she has launched Sonic against a wall or column during their training, and she knows something's really wrong with him if he can barely concentrate on attacking her, or even defeat her at all.

So, Amy approached Sonic and looked down at him with a slight frown, also laying on her Piko Piko Hammer. "You are not being yourself today, Sonic."

Sonic chuckled in pain and decided to sit down in the floor instead of standing up. "You've noticed?"

"More than that." Amy replied, as she placed her hammer to lay it on the column behind them, while she sat down next to the Blue Blur. "I heard you had a fight with Pipp. In fact, everyone knows. Pipp cursed your name a lot during lunch break."

Sonic frowned slightly after hearing that, but then sighed. "Yeah, well... It was inevitable with how I've been feeling lately."

"Pipp said a lot about you not understanding that the 'like thing' was just something that happened. That there's another reason why she collected all those pictures on her phone, but she never told which one."

"... I honestly don't know what to believe anymore..." Sonic said with concern. "I still feel mad because she always has to bring her Pippsqueaks whenever we're on our own, and... I just don't want to feel that I'm there to be another big event for a livestream she makes, you know? I'm her boyfriend, but sometimes... I feel like she loves her phone more than she'll ever love me..."

After saying this, Amy smacked him in the head really hard, making Sonic groan and rub his head in pain.

"Amy! What the hell?!"

"I'll tell you what's the hell: The one I will unleash if you don't stop saying the biggest amount of nonsense you'd ever speak in your life!" Amy replied with anger. "What in your sane mind makes you think that Pipp loves her phone more than she loves you?!"

"Amy, she barely leaves it aside whenever we are together." Sonic pointed out with a frown. "Whenever I wanna have a normal conversation with her, she always has to bring out her phone and her fans and... I know is what she does, that she likes it, and I'm happy for her... But I don't wanna feel like an accessory instead of her partner."

"And why haven't you told her that?" Amy asked him with a bored expression.

"How could I face her after I told her to leave me alone?" Sonic asked with concern.

"Because staying here and hope to forget what happened won't work, Sonic." Amy pointed out, then she stood up and grabbed her Hammer to walk off, but not without saying one last thing, even though she didn't turned around. "Is one thing to try and forget a kiss, but you cannot avoid something like this. Even if the problem is small, it can get bigger if you don't do anything to solve it."

With that, Amy lefty the room, and Sonic was now on deep thought, because her words truly reached him.

The fact that Cyber Sonic appeared right in front of him and stared down at him with anger wasn't helping that much, but Sonic simply sighed, stood up and walked though the illusion, as it banished.

"I'm not in the mood to panic over you today." Sonic muttered, walking off the room. "Not right now."

The next day, Glory and Peach Fizz were throwing some blossoms outside.

Meanwhile, Misty was taking a nap on the guest room, until an airhorn played, which startled her away.

Misty screamed startled and jumped, ducking behind her bed. "What? What is it?! Are we under attack!?"

"No, Misty! It's your big day!" Sunny called out excitedly, as she arrived with her along Tails. "The Cutie Blossom Bash! Yippee! Time to get ready. Aren't you buzzing?!"

After asking that, Sunny trotted off with a squeal, leaving Tails behind, as he looked at Misty with concern.

"Buzzing… with nerves!" Misty said nervously.

"This could've been avoided long ago if you told them already that you don't want to do this, Mist..." Tails reminded her with concern, as he sat at her side and let out a sigh. "You cannot keep this for you. Nobody looses anything if you told them that you're against the idea!"

"But I don't want to disappoint them, either!" Misty said with worry. "They seem so excited, and... I don't know if I can take that excitement away."

"Not telling them the truth just makes things worse. And after everything that has happened in the past few months, keeping yourself a secret that actually affects you more than them is bad."

"But I... I don't wanna ruin our friendship..." Misty said. "I know is silly to think something like this can do that, but it still concerns me..."

"Oh..." Tails said, now being in deep thought. "Is that why you never told me that you like me?"

That made Misty's eyes shot open widely, and her face got as red as a tomato, while she slowly turned to see Tails, who was smiling at her the same way he always does.

"... Y-You... You knew?!" Misty asked in shock.

"I suspected it for a while." Tails replied. "Ever since you gave me that kiss when your Cutie Mark wasn't shining as much as the others, to be precisely.

"S-Six months?!" Misty asked, completely surprised and embarrassed by this. "B-But why didn't you ever told me anything?!"

"Because you're my best friend, Misty!" Tails replied. "I wasn't going to tell you that. I wanted to wait until you were ready to tell me, but... I guess I just screw that, huh?"

"K-Kinda..." Misty said nervously.

She started to play with her mane, and all she wanted to do right now was to disappear and not have to face Tails anymore, not now that he knows she likes him.

"S-So... W-What do you... t-think?" Misty asked concerned, looking away from Tails.

"Well... You're a great mare, Misty." Tails said, and that made her eyes open wide and sparkle, as she slowly turned to see him. "You have come a long way in just a few months... And that's why you deserve someone that feels the same than you."

Misty's expression quickly shifted, and she already knew what Tails implied with his words, so she felt very disappointed.

"... I see..." Misty said.

"Don't take it the wrong way, Mist. We're still friends! That won't ever change." Tails assured her with a smile. "I just... My heart belongs to somepony else. And I cannot be with you to hurt any of us. Nor you, nor me, nor the one that owns my heart. But I know that, one day, you'll find that special pony that'll love you and threat you like you deserve. And they better, because if they don't, I'll follow them to the end of the world and make their life a living nightmare!"

After hearing Tails swearing to kick whoever's ass in order to protect her, and even if she was still hurt by being rejected, Misty couldn't help but burst out laughing at his words, and Tails laughed along.

However, she soon pulled him into a tight hug, and while startled at first, Tails still smiled and hugged her back, since he had a feeling that she needed this right now. After all, he rejected her gently, so she might need a few seconds, or even minutes, to process it.

"... Do you promise?" Misty asked Tails, tightening her grip a bit. "You promise that nothing is gonna change between us, even thought I have feelings for you?"

Tails chuckled and rubbed her back softly. "We're still friends, Mist. And nothing is gonna brake our bond, not even the biggest menace ever to live."

Misty smiled after hearing this and tightened the hug a bit more, while Tails decided to let her be.

"... Aren't you gonna ask me who my heart actually belongs to, or––"

"I know is Zipp, Tails."

"... Dang it..."

Misty chuckled after hearing him saying that, while Tails rolled his eyes annoyed, but still smiled at her.

Pipp was at her old room in the castle, laying on her bed and hugging a pillow.

She hasn't talked with anyone since dinner last night, and now she's very concerned. She never had a big fight with Sonic like the one from yesterday in the balcony, and she didn't liked that their first fight as a couple involved her fans and her life as a popular pony.

She knew that couples fight often, and that communication was the key to avoid a split up... But she didn't knew how to approach Sonic about this, or even if approach him at all.

A knock on her door suddenly pulled her out of her thoughts, and she simply let out a startled squeal.

"W-Who is it?" Pipp asked.

"... Is me, Pipp... The idiot that screamed at you yesterday..." Sonic's voice replied from the other side of the door.

Usually, she'll be happy to hear him, but she was still kinda mad at him fro everything he told her the previous day, so she returned her sight to her pillow... But the girl in love inside of her was somehow stronger than her normal self, so she ended up sighing and walking up to the door, removing the lock and then walking back to her bed.

"Come in." Pipp said, burying her face on her pillow again.

Sonic opened the door, and even if he was still a bit mad for the reasons he shared earlier, the sight of his girlfriend burying her face on her pillow and feeling down did shattered his heart.

He sighed, then closed the door behind, and then slowly approached her, not saying anything so far. But then, Pipp suddenly squealed startled when she was picked up like a pet, and then hugged from the back by Sonic like if she was a giant plushie... Well, she's technically that to him.

"... Pipp... I... I think we need to talk..." Sonic spoke.

Pipp was a bit flustered to be hold like this, but she still frowned slightly. "W-Why should we talk? You told me not to bother you..."

"Well, I'm technically the one bothering you..." Sonic pointed out with a chuckle, before getting serious again. "You wanna know why I'm actually mad, Pipp?"

"I thought you told me that already..." Pipp pointed out as well.

"Not the full story." Sonic replied. "I... On our last date, you were barely paying me any attention. You were so focused on your phone and on your fans... Like always."

Pipp's eyes opened wide after hearing that. "L-Like always?"

"Whenever we go on picnics, to a restaurant, to the beach, anywhere, you and your damn phone are on the way. Always taking pictures, uploading them to your Ponygram." Sonic explained. "It didn't bothered at first, but I noticed how many likes you get from those pictures this past week... I started to feel that you were only using our relationship as an excuse to get more likes... I started to feel that I was an accessory for you, and not your lover..."

Now that Sonic explained himself, Pipp actually began to tear up, and she even grabbed Sonic's arms with her hooves, squeezing them tightly and whimpering.

Once Sonic heard that, he turned her around, and he felt even worse when he saw her crying.

"P-Pipp?!" Sonic asked confused. "Crap! Sorry, I'm so sorry! I should had worded that better! Me and my stupid mouth––"

However, Sonic was shut down when Pipp locked her lips with hers, startling him a lot, since he wasn't expecting this reaction from her after what he said, specially considering she's still crying.

"P-Pipp?" Sonic called out confused once she broke the kiss.

"S-Sonic... Why didn't you told me that instead of being so mean to me?!" Pipp asked, as he tapped her hooves on Sonic's chest in an attempt of hit him, but he only felt she was tickling him.

"... Because like you said, I wasn't thinking straight..." Sonic replied with an ashamed smile. "I guess I still have a lot to learn as your boyfriend, because thinking about it... I was just childish and immature, thinking you only see me as an item for your own gain... And I'm sorry for shouting at you yesterday."

Pipp smiled, then wiped some of her tears away, and then hugged Sonic, burying her face on his chest, while Sonic returned the hug and rubbed her back with a smile.

"While I'm glad you apologize for yesterday... I still must apologize, too." Pipp stated, then looked up at him and caressed his cheek with a hoof. "Sonic, the reason why I was taking so many pictures is not even related to my Ponygram!"

Sonic's eyes shot open after hearing this. "I'm sorry, what?!"

"Sure, I uploaded some pictures, but it was to show you off as my boyfriend!" Pipp pointed out with a smile. "I mean, I'll be crazy not to lay my eye on you~" She bite her lowed lip as she looked at him up and down, while Sonic smirked smugly at her. "But the rest of the pictures I took? They're for a surprise I have for you, for our first anniversary!"

"Huh?!"

"That's why it angered me what you said yesterday, but... it also made me sad..."

Sonic facepalmed and groaned, then lay on the bed. Right now, he wished that earth would just swallow him and make him disappear, because he was too ashamed to find out that his girlfriend took those pictures for something special and meaningful.

"How could I had labeled all of that as you using me?! Gosh, I'm so stupid!" Sonic scolded himself.

"Well, is kinda my fault not to tell you why the pictures were for." Pipp pointed out, as she got on top of him. "I guess I also have to learn a lot about being a girlfriend as well."

Sonic chuckled and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, pulling her down for another kiss, one they were both ready for, as Pipp kissed him back and massaged his chest with her hooves.

"We both have to learn more, Little Pipp~" Sonic said in a flirty tone, but Pipp bite her lower lip when he used that tone. "I'm just glad we talked this out before things got worse... Because we're good now, right?"

"Mmm, I don't know..." Pipp replied mockingly, as she made circles on Sonic's chest. "I think you have to be more convincing than this, Mr. Hedgehog~"

At first, Sonic raised an eyebrow confused, but then Pipp got off him and went towards the door, as she looked it and shook her tail, something Sonic noticed, and he blushed at the sight of her rear, but then he smirked and bite his lip as well.

"Well, well, well, Princess Petals. Looks like you're more naughty than anyone could ever imagine~" Sonic told her with a mocking tone.

Pipp simply giggled and removed her bandana, then launched herself against Sonic, tackling him in the bed.

Outside the castle, the foals were enjoying their day before the Blossom Bash.

They trotted around, petted bunnies, and crafted stands, while Izzy got her Izzy's Does It Cart with her, holding up a bracelet.

"Flower corsages! Get your flower corsages!" Izzy called out. "Hoofmade by me, Izzy, of course! Smells great!" She then sniffed the corsage in her hoof. "Like flowers!"

Dazzle came walking by and accepted the corsage from Izzy, then she trotted off, just before thunder crackled, as the sky was more gray then yesterday.

And then Hitch, Knuckles and Zipp came out, all wearing weather boots and a couple of umbrella hats.

"Don't worry, everypony!" Hitch called out.

"There's no way we're letting it rain on this parade." Zipp finished.

"Wait, there’s a parade?!" Izzy asked excitedly, as she came skidding next to them. "Why didn't anypony tell me? Um… I may be able to fashion a float quickly, but I will need a tube of glue, 5014 gummy bunnies and a––"

Hitch, Knuckles and Zipp looked at her confused, then the two ponies shook their heads and Knuckles walked up to her.

"Izz, it's just an expression." Knuckles explained with a smile. "What we mean is we've got this festival of fun under cover!" He then gestured to the tarps all over the festival.

"We also have critter deputies on duty to make sure nopony slips." Hitch added, as he gestured to his critter crew, who gave a salute, then they all posed out with walkie talkies. "And trottie-talkies! Because… Well, trottie-talkies are cool."

"We've taken every precautionary measure. So now, we wait." Zipp said with a smirk.

Knuckles looked at the sky with a frown, specially because last time it rained, he ended up dragging his friends to the Starfall Islands as soon as it stopped. "It'll be here any minute."

"Kenneth. You take charge!" Hitch said to his bird friend. "When it rains, you know what to do!"

Kenneth chirped in understanding, as he and the other critters gave a salute, while the three in charge of drifting the rain away saluted back before splitting up.

In Misty's room, she was putting the final touches of makeup on her.

The young fox was helping her out, and he placed a flower on her ear as the definitive touch of her look.

Tails kissed his fingers and felt happy with the result. "Divine, Mist. That's the best word to describe it: You look divine!"

"Well, at least I look pretty." Misty said with a smile, before getting nervous again. "Pretty terrified."

"Aw, come on, Mist!" Tails said with a smile. "You look great!"

Just then: Izzy, Sunny, Pipp and Amy came in, and they gasped at Misty's look, while the Unicorn was surprised by their arrival, but she still smiled.

"Wow! Misty!" Izzy gasped.

"Oh my hoofness!" Pipp exclaimed. "Misty! You are the picture of spring! A vision in florals, an ode to the beauty of the butterfly!"

Izzy then gasped with a smile. "You're gonna stick out." She said with a smirk, which made Misty stiff. "In a good way."

"Watch out, everypony!" Tails said with a smirk. "Because a beautiful butterfly is ready to bloom!"

"Here it goes." Sunny squealed, as she turned Misty's chair around and walked off.

The rest followed up and exited the room as well, but Misty still felt nervous, and Tails looked at her with concern.

Once outside, the crowd of ponies were out the front gates.

Soon, the foals started to trot excited with a flag of their Cutie Marks strapped on them, while Misty looked at her friends behind her... But then, she stopped and started to panic.

Misty saw all the ponies outside, and she was finally feeling very overwhelmed... Until she finally gave up.

"I can't do this. It's all too much." Misty said, then used her magic to close the doors, which surprised her friends, except for Team Sonic.

"What?" Sunny asked in surprise.

"No!" Izzy said, while the others ponies gasped confused.

"Wait!" Misty said, as she turned to her friends. "I need to confess something."

"I knew it!" Zipp said with a smirk.

"It's not about Opaline, Zipp." Misty cleared, and that surprised Zipp, since she believed that it was about her. "This is about… me."

"Took you long enough." Knuckles deadpanned.

"The whole Episode, to be precise, but yeah." Sonic deadpanned as well.

"The truth is I.. can't go out there!" Misty confessed.

"What, is it the outfit? We can change it!" Pipp exclaimed in worry.

"Seriously, Pipp?!" Amy asked the pegasus with disbelief.

"She's always like that, Ames." Tails pointed out with a deadpan and his arms crossed.

"No, no! It's perfect. It's all perfect." Misty said, twirling around a bit, while the rest looked at her with concern. "But ever since I got here, I haven't felt… comfortable. All these ponies and all this fuss over me."

"Wait, you don’t like that?" Pipp asked confused.

"No." Misty answered. "All this Cutie Blossom Bash stuff has made me feel so not me. I may be smiling, but this is what I really feel like." She showed a very unhappy expression.

"Oh wow, yeah. That, that looks unhappy." Izzy said sheepishly.

"I don't wanna trot across that stage with all those eyes one me." Misty continued. "I don't want the spotlight! I just wanna be Misty. But if I don't pretend, then everypony will know the truth about me. That I'm… shy."

"Tails. Remind me what's the problem with telling this from the beginning." Sonic said with his arms crossed.

"What problem?" Tails asked with a bored expression.

"Exactly." The rest of Team Sonic all said in unison.

The rest of the Mane 6, however, gave Misty sympathy looks. "Oh, Misty. We just wanted to celebrate your new Cutie Mark!" Sunny said with a small smile.

"I know I should be proud of it and I am, but I don't wanna do this." Misty said, then she walked up to them. "I've been so scared to tell you because you were all so excited. And Team Sonic told me to be honest from the beginning, but I didn't wanted to ruin this for you! And now look where that led us. I'm sorry. I should've been honest. I've ruined everything!"

"Misty… You haven't ruined anything at all." Sunny told her, as he walked towards her. "We are the ones who should be sorry. We got so caught up in trying to make this moment special for you, we forgot to ask along the way if this is what you even wanted."

"That's what real friends do." Sonic said, then he turned to the rest with a smile. "Guys, you get way too excited sometimes, and while I'm all in for enthusiasm, let's try to be a bit more aware of our surroundings and each other's feelings before jumping to conclusions. And that goes to me as well."

Pipp smiled tenderly after he also pointed his own words out towards himself.

Meanwhile, Misty was happy to see her friend understood her. "Thank you for understanding. I'm still learning about friendship."

"And so are we." Izzy added.

"Every day." Pipp spoke next.

"Isn't that the entire point of 'the Magic of Friendship'?" Tails pointed out with a smile. "Sure, you learned stuff along your life, but you still learn everyday! That's whats makes friendship so cool, remember?"

Misty smiled back at Tails and nodded, since she does remember the conversation she had with both Zipp and Tails in the library during the Manesquerade Ball.

Suddenly, Zipp turned to Pipp, Sunny, Sonic and Tails, whispering something into their ears, while the rest looked at them curiously and confused.

"What are you guys whispering now? I'm done with secrets!" Knuckles said with a frown.

"What are you talking about? We didn't hide anything from you." Amy pointed out confused.

"You don't, but that Hedgehog is hiding something." Knuckles pointed out. "Or haven't you noticed how he always looks around startled and afraid, like if he saw a ghost?"

Amy realized what Knuckles was talking about, and she looked back at Sonic with concern, as he approached along the royal sisters, Sunny and Tails to them.

"Maybe we can celebrate in another way?" Sunny suggested, and Misty smiled at her response.

Outside, the Cutie Blossom Bash for the foals continued.

The foals themselves were on stage, showing off their Cutie Marks and their flags, with the crowd applauding to them.

"And next we have… Seashell!" Dazzle announced, as she gestured to Seashell, who moved around and made the crowd cheer, including did the Mane 6 and Team Sonic.

"Good thing Omega isn't here, or he'll be a crying mess." Sonic said with a smile. "He's got weirdly attached to the Pippsqueaks lately."

That made Pipp's eyes shot open, as she looked at her boyfriend confused. "Omega can cry?"

The Cutie Blossom Bash was being recorded and broadcasted in TV.

In the Brighthouse, Shadow was patrolling the Crystal Room since it was his turn, while Omega was in the living room, seeing Seashell getting her time to shine, as he cleaned his oil tears with a handkerchief.

"Are you crying?" Rouge asked Omega with an amused and mocking smirk.

"N-No. I'm presenting problems through my ocular radar." Omega replied, then sorbed a bit on the handkerchief. "They grow so fast!"

Rouge chuckled at his attitude, patting his arm a bit for comfort.

"Wow..." Pipp replied after Sonic explained how Omega can cry.

"I know. Crazy stuff." Sonic said with a smirk, placing an arm around his girlfriend, and Pipp smirked at his flirty attitude.

"Thank you, guys." Misty said gratefully, as she turned to her friends. "For the first time in a long time, I feel… happy. Probably about as happy as Seashell feels right now."

Seashell giggled as she moved excitedly. "This is the best moment of my life!"

"Yeah, it is good Omega is not here, or he'll be crying oil nonstop." Knuckles deadpanned.

Just then, Zipp flew down to her friends. "Okay. Talked to Mom. She's totally cool with it."

The rest cheered, and Sonic and Knuckles even fist bumped, while Misty looked at her friends confused.

"Cool with… what?" Misty asked them.

"A special surprise." Pipp answered, standing right next to her. "That we promise doesn't involve any other ponies, preparations or primping. Just us!"

"It is time you make your mark, Mist!" Tails said, standing right next to Misty with a smile, and she smiled back.

Later, the Mane 6 and Team Sonic then went into the Royal Garden.

As they looked around and walked ahead, Misty gasped surprised, since she recognizes it.

"Hey! This is the place from the video! It's beautiful." Misty said as she looked around the garden, before noticing a whole dug right in front of them, so she turned to the rest. "But why are we here?"

"We wanted to do something cool to mark your big day, in a small way." Zipp explained with a smile.

"And like we promised, just you and your friends! No one else will be here." Tails added with a wink.

Then, Pipp flew in front of her, holding a tree sapling. "This is one of the saplings I've been singing to, I mean, nurturing for a while." She quickly corrected herself sheepishly, with her friends giving her playful smirks. "And now it's yours." She put the sapling down. "It represents you growing into the pony you were meant to be."

"Now your sparkle can take roots! Woo!" Izzy cheered, while the royal sisters flew around.

"Like mine!" Pipp sang while gesturing to a tree.

"And mine." Zipp added while gesturing to her tree.

"This is where you finally start to write your story!" Sonic pointed out with a smile. "No chains, no one to hold you back... Just you growing for yourself, by yourself."

"So… what do you say?" Sunny asked.

"I love it!" Misty exclaimed in joy, as she levitated her sapling and put it on the ground. "It'll be a long time my tree catches up to yours!" She added as she secured it with some dirt before grabbing her flag and planting it next to the sapling.

"Maybe it doesn't have to…" Sunny stated with a smirk.

https://youtu.be/kf-X7nDwGmk?si=gjVbZg3fS7jUQJxv

Sunny:
Just plant the seed
To be who you wanna be

Tails:
Because the magic
It lives within you and me

As Sunny and Tails sang, they moved next to Misty, with the Unicorn smiling, just before Zipp and Pipp flew close to her and lifted Misty into the air.

Zipp and Pipp:
It takes time to grow
And to learn on your own

Sunny, Tails, Zipp and Pipp:
The transformation is beginning

The royal sisters put Misty down, while Sunny used her Earth Pony magic on the sapling, just before Izzy stepped in and started to dance around.

Izzy:
Butterflies don't get their wings

Sonic:
Over the night

Sunny:
It all takes time

Izzy, Sunny, Tails and Sonic circled the sapling, while Hitch and Knuckles came next to Misty.

Hitch and Knuckles:
Birds don't just wake up and fly

Amy:
It comes from deep insiiiidddeee

Misty closed her eyes and thought back how Opaline treated her and how she scared her, before she had memories of good times she had with Eggman as a father figure, then with her friends before redeeming by freeing them, getting her Cutie Mark, and vowing to stop Opaline and Eggman.

Mane 5 and Team Sonic:
Find you light
Let it, let it glow
You got it, got it, go

Find your light
You got it, got it, go
Everypony can grow

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

The Mane 6 Cutie Marks and Team Sonic but Amy's powers started to glow, as Pipp flew up in the air and dance, while their magic from their marks and powers began to fuse with the sapling, which started to grow faster.

Everypony can grow

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Misty smiled as she hopped around and finished the song, while the tree fully sprouted, and butterflies fluttered around.

Everypony can grow

Just then, Misty turned and looked at her very own tree. "Whoa. Look at that!"

The rest of the Mane 6 and Team Sonic saw the butterflies moving around, and while the ponies laughed around, Sonic let one butterfly stop over his finger, as he smiled at it.

Then, Misty saw her horn glow, so she looked at her flank and noticed her Cutie Mark glowing, which made her smile.

"That's it! That's why my Cutie Mark is a butterfly!" Misty realized. "It's because I have the power to change, to transform my own destiny. That's me."

"Well, I never believed in destiny until my mother figure popped up from a Chaos Emerald as an hologram and told me my whole life was a lie." Sonic deadpanned. "But I've been proven wrong, and honestly? I'm kinda jealous. I mean, my whole idea is to just run around as free as the wind, to be just another guy that so happens to be there whenever there's trouble! But knowing almost everything I've done was already written, it makes me feel jealous of you, Mist. You can change your destiny and forge a new one. And that's something I both admire, and I'm so jealous of as well."

"Really?"

"Yeah!" Amy agreed. "Who wouldn't want to change their destiny for real? I've tried to do that long time ago, but it didn't went well..." She looked over at Sonic with shame, but Sonic smiled at her, and she smiled back. "When I realized that, everything went better than I could ever expect." She then looked at Misty. "And I don't need fortune cards to tell that your destiny will be amazing."

Misty smiled after hearing this, then she took a deep breath and looked at the rest with a determinate look. "Well, I don't know what destiny may have in store for me, but there's one thing I have clear: We need to find Eggman and stop him, as well as Opaline! She might been defeated once, but there's other thing she shares with Eggman besides ambition: She'll always come back, no matter how many times we stop her."

"Oh, and we will!" Knuckles said with a smirk, punching his fists together. "He still owes me one for mentally torturing my friends in a lab!"

"After what he did to Sunny? I'm not planning on being merciful." Tails said with a frown, as he made a sniper appear.

Sonic's eyes widened, and he tossed the weapon from Tails' hands. "Okay! I wanna kick Eggman's butt as much as everyone here for what he did with the Death Egg Titan, but let's not cross lines."

"I don't know, Sonic..." Sunny said with a smirk, making her Alicorn form show up. "I'm up to being a little more violent to crack and Egg open!"

"You're hanging out with Shadow too much, young lady." Sonic said with a frown and his arms crossed.

Suddenly, it began to rain, and everyone looked up confused... Except for Pipp and Amy, who squealed in fear.

"Ah! My mane!" Pipp cried out, as she rushed back inside the palace.

"Not my hair, not my hair!" Amy cried out as well, which made everyone else laugh.

However, once they were all inside, Misty stopped Sonic for a moment. "Sonic?"

"Yo!" Sonic replied with a smile.

"Sorry to stopping you, is just that I never had the chance to ask this before..." Misty said sheepishly with a chuckle. "Um, when the others revealed that I was working with Opaline and Eggman, you stood for me. You said that I was still your friend, and even blamed the others for things that weren't as bad as working with two power-hungry tyrants! Why? Why did you defended me the same way Tails defended me from Zipp all the time, even if she was right about me?"

"I told you that already, Mist, that same day!" Sonic reminded her with a smile. "You are my friend no matter what. And I knew that you were going to make the right thing in the end, even if everyone else doubted you. I know that I blamed them for things that aren't as bad, but my point was to prove that we all make mistakes in life. We can either hold into them forever, or learn and keep going. You learned the latter, and look how far you've gotten ever since! And I cannot wait to see what await us all in this journey to stop Eggman and Opaline!"

Misty smiled and felt touched by Sonic's words, then she nodded with a determinate look, and they both rushed to catch up with the rest.

Hours later, the whole group went back to the Crystal Brighthouse.

Once everyone entered, they saw that Omega was on his resting pod near Izzy's crafting corner, while Shadow was attempting to read the instructions in how to roasted vegetables, and Rouge was nowhere to be seen.

"Yo, Shadow!" Sonic greeted with a smirk.

That took Shadow out of the cooking book, as he turned to see the rest on the entrance. "You came earlier than I thought."

"We finished the event earlier!" Sunny said with a smirk, before snorting once she approached Shadow and noticed that he was wearing a pink apron with a heart. "What are you wearing?"

"I lost a bet against Rouge." Shadow replied with no shame. "My pride may be big, but I know when to loose. Also, I was trying to cook... Let's just say is not one of my stronger points."

"I'm just impressed the kitchen is still in one piece." Knuckles said as he looked around, and Shadow deadpanned at him.

Just then, a flash snapped as a picture was taken, and everyone turned to see Sonic, pointing his phone at Shadow, because he just took a picture of him with the pink apron.

"Let's see how proud you truly are when I publish this!" Sonic said with a sinister grin, before boosting away.

Shadow frowned, then removed his apron carefully and gave it to Sunny. "If you'll excuse me; I'll go make that Hedgehog's life a living nightmare."

After that, he teleported out to chase down Sonic outside of the Brighthouse, making everyone else that saw this chuckle.

Upstairs, Misty was heading to her side of the room with a smile.

She was about to pick something from her desk, but right as she approached it, she noticed the blue box with a red ribbon, and she tilted her head a bit confused.

She levitated the box with her magic, and then she opened it... Her eyes shot open when she then levitated out a golden necklace shaped like a heart, as well as a note that came with the necklace. Misty opened the note to see what it said and who gave her this.

"To the daughter I lost because of my arrogance.

Misty. I cannot express in words how happy and proud I am that you finally have gotten your Cutie Mark all by yourself, without needing Opaline's help nor mine! You have grown into a young and beautiful mare that's more than ready to face the world, even if you think otherwise.

Don't let Opaline's words get in your mind. You are more than capable to survive without any of us... Because you've got more than just lots of new friends. You've got a family, one that will look after you the way I couldn't.

I'll never forgive myself for hurting you when I promised that I wouldn't, and I really hope you don't forgive me, either. I don't deserve it. Just know that I'll always be proud of you, and that I cannot wait to see you kicking ass next time we see each other!

Go and make me proud, Misty, even if we are on different sides now.

Yours truly: Dr. Ivo 'Eggman' Robotnik."

After reading all of that, Misty's eyes watered, and she smiled fondly after reading the letter, then she opened the necklace to see what picture was inside, and her smile grew when she saw a photo of her and Eggman.

In this picture that she took on a sneaky way, she was taking it so fast that she appeared a bit blurry, but with a huge mocking smile for finally getting the picture, while Eggman himself turned and looked very confused at the camera, clearly not expecting Misty's move at all.

Misty smiled brightly, and then she held the note and necklace close to her chest.

"I won't let you down... Dad..." Misty declared with a determined look.

Author's Notes:

I've never been happier with the result of a chapter more than with this one.

Seriously, everything I added to it, I absolutely love it. From Tails comforting Misty, to him confessing he knew she likes him. Having Tails reject her, and still be as sweet as supportive as he is is the perfect scenario. Because what better way to show things are the same than acting the same? I simply love what I did with these two.

The Sonic-Pipp fight might seem unnecessary for some of you, but I wanted these two to behave like an actual couple, and sometimes couples have fights for things they take out of context, like Sonic did with Pipp's pictures.

Finally: Metal Sonic is gonna be a silent watcher. He is there, but by Eggman's orders, he won't attack... Yet.

Next chapter: Who's up for some spooky ghost in a spooky mansion with a spooky Sonic?

Thanks for reading, and see you next time!

4. Night of the Werehog

View Online

It was a rainy and stormy night in Equestria.

Deep inside of Bridlewood, in a regularly avoided place, an abandoned mansion rested on a hill. This mansion looked like any abandoned mansion would look: There were gargoyle statues at the entrance, a huge gate with spikes, the mansion was black and gloomy, there were holes around it due to its dilapidated state, and the few windows that were not covered with wooden planks were broken.

Yup, an abandoned mansion no doubt.

Inside the mansion, a door opened slowly as it creaked.

Then, a light illuminated the path, while two colts entered to a room in the mansion. One of the colts was a green unicorn with purple mane and tail, brown hooves, silver horn and a cookie as a Cutie Mark, as he levitated a flashlight with his magic.

The other colt was a blue pegasus with yellow mane and tail, silver hooves, red and yellow feathers, and a red ring with a star in the middle as a Cutie Mark.

Both colts were completely scared to be in this mansion, but of course, they still had explore it because kids will be kids.

The place they were both exploring right now was a room where all the furniture was covered in white blankets, except for an old clock, a few tables, some chairs, and a dresser with a globe.

Suddenly, lightning stroke and reflected a shadow in the ground that startle the two colts. So, the unicorn colt quickly pointe the flashlight on said direction, while the pegasus colt hid behind... But it was just the shadow of an old knight armor for ponies that was holding a sword.

The two colts sighed in relief after seeing this, and the unicorn even wiped some sweat from his forehead, but then, the pegasus pushed the unicorn a bit and indicated with his head they should keep going.

Frowning at first, the unicorn silently agreed and kept walking forward.

However, as they did so, they didn't noticed that they were being followed by something. Well, not at first at least, because the figure zoomed towards them after a few seconds... And then, the two colts turned around.

Soon enough, a camera took a picture of them, but whoever took it apparently scared them, because their screams of fright were heard from outside the mansion... They'll be fine, though... Probably...

In Bridlewood's forest, while lightning kept striking, some critters hoped by.

Soon, Sonic, Tails, Amy, Sunny, Hitch and Pipp passed by, as they tried to find the exit to said forest. Tails and Amy were holding several boxes and bags with Nightmare Night stuff on them. Of course, they were all wet because of the rain, and only Pipp seemed to be mad about it, because the rest didn't really minded that much.

"Ugh! I can't believe it started to rain the exact moment we stepped out of the Nightmare Night store!" Pipp groaned with a frown.

"That's why I told you guys we should had taken the Marestream out instead!" Tails pointed out with a bored expression.

"Or buy stuff from Maretime Bay instead of coming to Bridlewood..." Amy pointed out with an eye roll.

"But unicorns have gotten so much better with the spooky stuff!" Sunny pointed out with a slight smile. "I'm usually not too fond on the decorations department, but it's hard to ignore that the Nightmare Night stuff that's being made in Bridlewood lately is nothing but quality!" she added.

"I hate to admit it, but I agree with her" Hitch said with a smile. "When it comes to Nightmare Night parties, Zephyr Heights is on top. When it comes to decorations? Bridlewood wins that department" he pointed out.

"Look, I get that you guys want to make tomorrow's Nightmare Night party memorable and all, but who in their sane sake takes a whole-ass day to choose on decorations?!" Sonic asked confused while walking backwards.

"Uh, hello!" Pipp said with an eye roll. "If we want to make the best Nightmare Night party in Equestria's history, we've got to have the best of the best!" she declared.

"Doesn't change the fact that we could have brought the Marestream, or even the Tornado IV!" Tails pointed out with a frown. "We don't even brought any Warp Rings!" he added.

"Warp Rings are for live or death situations from now on, Tails" Sonic reminded with a bored expression. "We can't just use one of them anytime we're stuck in some place!" he pointed out. "And, we don't have that many anymore, so we have to spare them wisely" he finished.

"Ugh, but the walk back to Maretime Bay is long!" Pipp groaned, before taking out her phone and groan again. "And it's 9 p.m. in the night already!" she added with concern.

"Not to mention, we're already far from the main town. I guess we'll have to spend the night somewhere else" Hitch added.

"Um, where exactly do you want us to stay, Sheriff?" Amy asked with a bored expression and a raised eyebrow. "If you haven't noticed yet, we're trapped in a forest that looks the same to me at night!" she pointed out with anger.

"And Izzy stood in the Brighthouse with everyone else to babysit Sparky after you told her that we'll be fine without guidance..." Sonic added with his arms crossed and a bored expression as well.

Hitch chuckled sheepishly after hearing that and scratched his neck. "Okay, yeah... Maybe I got too carried away with that..." he confessed.

"I'm sure we can find some place to stay!" Sunny said confidently. "After all, Bridlewood is big enough. There's several sectors around, too. We should find somepony that let us pass the night with them!" she added with a smile.

"How exactly do you expect us to find someplace in here?!" Tails pointed out with a frown. "Are we just gonna walk a few meters into the forest until a big, old and spooky mansion pops out of nowhere––" he tried to be sarcastic, but as they literally walked some meters away, they came in front of a huge gate with spikes that lead to... A big, old and spooky mansion. "... You've gotta be kidding me..." Tails deadpanned.

Everyone else looked at the mansion at the other side of the gates, and while Sonic and Sunny raised eyebrows, Amy and Hitch gulped nervously, leaving Pipp gasping in excitement at the sight.

"Dude, are you sure Apollo didn't hit you with the gift of prophecy or something?" Sonic asked Tails with a mocking tone, while Tails rolled his eyes in annoyance and lightning stroke behind the mansion.

That last thing made Hitch yelp a bit in panic, while Sunny at his side snorted playfully at his attitude.

"Um, are we sure this is the closest place we have?" Amy asked nervously. "It can't be the only house around..." she pointed out, gulping nervously again.

"I agree with Amy!" Hitch said with a nervous smile. "Is not that I'm terrified or anything, but this place gives me a bad feeling..." he confessed with concern.

"Right. You're definitely not scared" Sunny mocked up wit a giggle, while Hitch at her side frowned and blushed.

"Well, if there's other houses or not, I'm not in the mood to look after it" Sonic said with a frown, as he pushed the gate open and kept it like that for the rest to follow along. "I wanna get dry! And maybe get a hot drink, because it's freezing out here!" he yelled with a frown.

With the gate open, Pipp immediately followed over, followed by Tails and Sunny, leaving Hitch and Amy behind, who looked at each other nervously, before gulping and follow everyone else as well.

Then, Sonic closed the gates and boosted towards the entrance of the mansion.

Speaking of such, inside the mansion, a ghost-like figure was holding two pictures.

Both of them were pictures of the two colts from earlier, making funny faces after they were scared. However, the pictures had something on themL The picture of the unicorn colt had a red scarf on it, while the picture of the pegasus colt had a red tie on it.

The ghost-like figure was looking back and forth between the two pictures, and when they retired them, they had two white ghosts in front of them.

The ghost on the left was holding a camera, had greens eyes, a red scarf and fangs on his upper teeth. He was taller and skinner than the other ghost as well. Speaking of the latter, he had yellow eyes, hold a camera as well, a red tie and fangs on his lower teeth. He was not only shorter than the first ghost, but he was also a bit more chubby.

They were the ones that scared the two colts before and took the pictures. The skinner ghost was called Uh, and the chubbier one's name was Su.

As they waited eagerly for the mysterious ghost-figure to say something about which picture they liked more, Su mocked Uh a bit by pushing him slightly, while Uh got payback by pushing Su's camera away and laughing, before pretending he did nothing once Su adjusted his camera and glared daggers at Uh.

"Hmm..." the ghost-figure from before said with a thoughtful look and a smile, while Su and Uh payed attention to her.

Yes, she was a ghost girl. Her name was Lah, and she was a pink ghost with purple hair tied in two pony tails with two golden rings, blue eyes, pink eyeshadows, a pink flower over her hair, two golden rings as bracelets on her right arm, a pink heart painted on her left cheek, and a long pink dress.

This girl was obsessed with laughing at the funny faces of the ponies (foals and adults) that showed up to the mansion to prove courage or something like that, I don't know.

Of course, she has Uh and Su to make that job for her, and why? Well, she manipulates them by making them compete on who gets her the funniest picture to reward them with a kiss on the cheek, all with the excuse that she loves them... Yes, she's that kind of girl.

Curiously enough, she also has a sick obsession with monsters, specially werewolves.

After analyzing both pictures for a while, Lah finally make her decision: She turned Su's picture and showed it to the two ghosts, which made Su happy and Uh sad... But then, Lah threw Su's picture away with a smirk and showed Uh's picture while pointing at it, indicating that he 'won'.

This made Uh incredibly happy, while Su stared at Lah in disbelief, as Lah herself hugged the picture and then flew to her board and pinned the picture there, along with the others pictures she has saved from Su and Uh in the past.

With this, Lah went over to Uh and kissed his cheeks as a reward, which turned his whole face red. Then, he cheered and flew through the room like a rocket, finishing his cheer up by posing in front of Su and showing off the kiss mark on his cheek, while Su kneeled and smash his hand on the ground with frustration.

Yet, that frustration didn't lasted long, because as soon as a knock was heard on the mansion's door, the three ghosts got excited, specially Su, who was planning on get a picture for Lah and win his so desired reward.

In the mansion's first floor, the door opened slowly.

Soon, Sonic popped his head through the door and looked inside, while Tails flew behind him to do the same, and Pipp popped her head from behind Sonic.

"Hello?!" Sonic called out. "Anyone there?!" he asked, but he got no response, which made him smirk. "Oh well. Seems like no one lives here!" he stated, as he stepped into the mansion with no shame at all.

"That's perfect!" Pipp cheered, as she followed along.

"It'll be weird if someone lived here, anyways" Sunny pointed out, as she also stepped in.

"As long as it gives us a place to spend the night, I don't really care" Tails said with a smile, following Sunny along as he still hold a box with some Nightmare Night stuff they bought.

"Um, guys?" Amy called. "Are we sure nopony lives here? We might be doing something illegal..." she pointed out.

"I still have a bad feeling about this place..." Hitch said with a gulp.

Yet, they both had no choice but step in as well, with Hitch closing the door and Amy still holding bags with Nightmare Night stuff as well.

Since the ground was all full of mud, everyone had their hooves and shoes muddy, which left some gross and marked foot and hoof prints on the ground, but none of them seemed to care. Instead, their attention was focused on the mansion, which seemed in a better state from inside than the outside.

"For a allegedly abandoned mansion, this place looks better than I expected..." Sonic confessed with an amused expression, as he looked over at some tables with candles and some chairs across of what appeared to be the living room.

"Right?" Pipp said with an excited smile. "And yet, it gives a spoooooky feeling, too!" she pointed out excitedly.

"I had enough spooky experiences while getting that mice out of Canterlove Studios, I don't need another experience like that on a place like this!" Hitch cried out in panic.

"Aw, come on, Hitch!" Sunny called out. "It's just an abandoned and really old mansion. What's the worse that could happen?" she questioned confidently.

Suddenly, a loud thunder stroke and illuminated the living room, which startled Hitch a lot, while everyone looked up to the ceiling. There was a giant crystal protecting the mansion, as rain drops falling over it could be seen.

However, it wasn't that what caught the group's attention, but instead the amount of floors that the mansion had.

"One, two, three, four, five..." Tails counted. "If we don't count the main floor, this place has six of them!" he pointed out.

"Whoa!" Sonic exclaimed with a smile, as he headed towards the staircase, with Pipp, Tails, Sunny and even Amy following behind, while Hitch extended a hoof and tried to say something, but couldn't.

Now, why was Sonic heading to the stairs? Because he's an adventurer! Exploring places and see every corner out of it is just a part of who he is. He needs to be moving around, and what a better way to do so than exploring a spooky mansion from top to bottom?

Pipp was just as eager as her boyfriend, if not more, to explore down this entire mansion. There was no sign to make a livestream about it because of the rain, but she was going to take lots of pictures and upload them later!

As for Sunny and Tails? They were just curious on exploring the place as well, and maybe Sunny could even find something here from Ancient Equestria depending on how long has this place been abandoned. Amy was a lot less scared than earlier, but she did had a bad feeling about this place.

Oh, and Hitch? Yeah, he's completely scared of this place. If he had to be thankful for something, at least, was the fact that Sparky wasn't here, as well as the fact that this mansion could work as a place to stay this night only.

As the group climbed upstairs, they saw a couple of paints in the walls, while their furs started to dry out. The paint in the left was a paint of how the mansion used to look years ago, before it was abandoned. The second one, however, showed a dismal background with dead trees and a pony on a black cape with just their left eye open.

That last paint startled Hitch, as he shook in fear while slowly passing by the paint with his eyes half-closed and half-open.

Just then, the open eye of the paint saw Hitch and started to follow him, which just startled the Sheriff even more and caused him to finally broke in panic and ran away towards the rest.

Sonic slowly opened a door to a room in the second floor.

Once he did so, he whistled amazed, while Pipp gasped excited and flew around, starting to take several pictures and selfies of the room. Sunny and Tails got inside and inspected their some stuff on their own, while Amy was even less spooked by the place and actually smiled at the sight.

This room was the very same one where Su and Uh scared the two colts earlier, and if I had to make bets, Su's probably waiting to scare someone in the group.

And if I had to guess again, then I'll say that Hitch is the unfortunate soul that's gonna be scared, because he popped his head from the doorstep while trembling and gulping, as he slowly stepped into the room and looked around with wide eyes, since he didn't wanted to be here at all.

Soon, Sonic, Sunny and him passed in front of a mirror, but Hitch was doing it on tippy toes... Until he saw his reflection and freaked out because of the surprise, which made both Sunny and Sonic turn to him.

However, as soon as they saw that Hitch got scared of his own reflection, Sonic frowned and Sunny deadpanned.

"Seriously, Hitch?" Sunny asked on disbelief.

"It got me freaked out!" Hitch replied on defense.

"It's your reflection!" Sonic shouted with anger, before turning around along Sunny and keep walking away.

Hitch chuckled and scratched his neck sheepishly... while his reflection chuckled with a sinister grin and looked over at him.

The Sheriff did noticed that last thing, because he slowly started to look over at his reflection on the mirror with pure fear on his eyes. At first, nothing seemed out of place... But then, Hitch's reflection smirked sinisterly.

That already had Hitch going pale, but it just got worse when Su came out of the mirror with his mouth widely open, which just scared Hitch entirely as he made a funny face. That gave the perfect chance to Su for taking a picture, because he had his hands with the camera ready inside of his mouth, and he took a picture of Hitch's face.

Once the earth pony fell to the ground with his face entirely pale, Su disappeared as soon as he arrived, while Sunny rushed to see if Hitch was fine, and Sonic just came back to look at him with a bored expression.

"Hitch!" Sunny said, as she helped him to stand up quickly. "Are you okay?!" she asked with concern.

"You look like if you just saw a ghost, man" Sonic mocked up with a smirk.

And yet, Hitch said nothing and just stood closer to Sunny, even wrapping a hoof around her and hugging her like a big teddy bear, which made Sunny blush and look around nervously.

"Dude, if you just wanted an excuse to be with Sunny, you could had come up with something better than screaming like that" Tails mocked up, and Amy at his side chuckled.

"N-Not helping, Tails!" Sunny said with a completely flustered expression, but Hitch never separated from her, nor tried to scold Tails along Sunny.

On the other hand, Su delivered his recently taken picture to Lah.

The picture showed Hitch's scared and funny face, and as Lah looked over at Su, who was smiling at her with a loving gaze, Uh looked down to the floor with shame, since he didn't even went to take any picture.

Lah smiled and hugged the picture that Su took, before moving over to him and kiss his right cheek, who made Su feel in heaven already... But then, Lah also kissed his left cheek, and that made Su melt. No, seriously he literally melt in the ground and smiled like an idiot after getting not one, but two kisses from Lah.

Uh groaned in anger and flew away from the room to get a picture of a scared Hitch himself, while Su followed him since he wanted to take more pictures as well, and Lah behind them waved her hand with a giggle and a smile.

Back with our heroes, the group was now on a hallway from the mansion's second floor.

Hitch still felt spooked out by Su's scare from earlier, and he was walking slowly while staying close to the wall. But then, he stopped when his hoof touched something fluffy, and he slowly turned to see that he was touching Tails' fluffy tails, as be snatched them from Hitch with a bored expression.

The Sheriff sighed in relief, but Tails rolled his eyes and walked away, while Sonic looked at Hitch with a frown and stomping his foot desperately.

"Stop being a chicken and move!" Sonic scolded, before walking away with a groan as well.

Hitch frowned as well at Sonic's attitude, but once lightning stroke, he yelped in fear again, before following up the rest.

But as Pipp kept taking pictures and selfies of everything, while everyone else just followed her, Hitch kept looking back constantly, and just when he turned around again, Uh appeared and spooked Hitch again, taking another picture of him.

Of course, Hitch's scream made Sunny's ears perk up alert, and she quickly ran towards him after hearing his scream, while the rest kept walking, as Pipp ignored Hitch's screams and took more pictures and Sonic rolled his eyes in annoyance again with a groan, something Tails and Amy noticed.

"Sonic, are you okay?" Amy asked confused, but Tails actually didn't seemed concerned about it.

"As okay as I can be with a chicken disguised as a Sheriff..." Sonic replied with annoyance and anger.

Amy's eyes widened after hearing that reply, and Pipp even looked at him confused for a moment, but she thought he was probably just grumpy because of Hitch's attitude, so she decided to shrug it off and keep taking more pictures.

"What's the matter with him?" Amy asked confused.

Tails' eyes widened after she asked that, and he quickly glanced at Pipp for a second, before looking back at Amy with concern. "Today's October 30th... You know what that means, right?" he asked her with concern.

Amy's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth while gasping. "Wait! So today... Sonic's curse flows over?!" she muttered at him with panic, while Tails just nodded and confirmed her worries. "Are they aware about it?" she asked.

"No!" Tails muttered back. "Last year, Sonic convinced them to go to sleep earlier so we could all enjoy Nightmare Night, and Knuckles stood awake to keep guard and make sure none of them woke up, while Sonic was out and slept in a forest until he wake up the next morning" he explained. "But I don't know how he plans to hid it this year, or if he's gonna hide it at all..." he pointed out with concern.

They didn't knew that Sonic was hearing them, however, but he really didn't wanted to bring it up, either. He did had to recognize, though, that he needed to find a very good excuse to explain his curse to The Mane 6, specially to Zipp, Izzy and Misty once they went back to the Brighthouse...

Well, that is, if they can ever go back with Hitch.

In Lah's room, Uh placed the picture he just took of Hitch over the one that Su took earlier, and why? Because they were both planning on take more and more pictures of them scaring Hitch to please Lah like never before.

Call it a temporal partnership between them until Lah decides who took the best pictures... You know what this means, right?

Yup, it's montage time!

Later, Hitch approached to a window with doubt.

Just then, Su appeared and scared Hitch again, taking a picture of his scared face.

A while later, Hitch noticed a frame in a wall upside down.

This frame was a paint of Uh, who was smirking and holding a camera. Hitch got confused on why it was upside down, so he approached the frame to check it out, just to get jump-scared by Uh, who got out of the frame and took another picture of Hitch's terrified look.

Later on, Hitch was on the dining room and found a table prepared.

That should had been a bad sign already, but the Sheriff was starving, so he approached to the table to pick something to eat... Just to get jump-scared by Su, who took another picture of the earth pony's scared face.

Soon, more and more pictures are taken by Su and Uh of Hitch, as both ghosts were not only enjoying scaring the poor Sheriff to death, but they were also dying to know who's gonna have the most and better pictures to get kissed by Lah.

After a while, Hitch was walking through a corridor with an exhausted look.

He was tired of getting scared for so long... But it was far from being over, because someone touched his shoulder, which made his eyes widen in pure terror and panic.

So, he turned around and... Well, he instead got scared by Sonic, who brought out a lantern and approached to his face while making a spooky face. That was the straw that broke the camel's back for Hitch, because his eyes twirled around dizzy, and then, he fainted in the ground tiredly, which made Sonic look at him with genuine concern now.

Still, Sonic looked away and turned off the lantern while scratching his head with embarrassment. "Whoops!" he exclaimed sheepishly, not noticing that Uh appeared behind him and took a picture of Hitch's expression once again.

In Lah's room, Lah herself never giggled as much as she was doing right now.

The table was full of pictures of Hitch being spooked by Su and Uh, and Lah was feeling in heaven right now with so many funny pictures of Hitch being scared.

Uh and Su, of course, were happy to see her happy, as well as proud of themselves for taking so many pictures.

But that didn't lasted long, because when Lah picked another picture, she was not happy of what she saw. This confused both Su and Uh, who looked at her confused. Then, Lah looked at more pictures on the table and gasped in horror, because whatever she saw on the first one she just let go, it was on many of them.

She then looked over at Su and Uh with a frown, smashing a hand on the table with anger, which confused Su and Uh even more, but then, Lah decided to show them what was concerning her:

Despite all the pictures having Hitch on them, some also got Sonic, Tails and Amy in the middle. There were also some pictures with Pipp and Sunny in the background, but unlike the Mobians, none of them noticed Su nor Uh scaring Hitch behind them, since Pipp always appeared taking pictures and selfies, while Sunny was just distracted with something else.

But Team Sonic's pictures? Well: Amy appeared surprised in one of them, Tails looked at the camera with a raised eyebrow, and Sonic... Sonic appeared reading a book and smirking at the camera, in other one he yawned in boredom, and on other one? He straight up was in the full picture while making a mocking face, clearly indicating that he wasn't slightly scared with Su nor Uh.

Speaking of them, Su grabbed two pictures and looked at them concerned, even showing one that Uh took to him, while Uh showed Su one he took, as they both looked at each other concerned, before looking back at Lah.

Lah humphed and looked away from them, before flying away and leaving the two ghosts behind, not even giving them a chance to explain themselves. At this, Uh groaned in anger and flew away, while Su smashed his fists on the table and flew away as well, both ghosts ready to give Sonic a real scare and get Lah's forgiveness.

Sonic and company were walking through a corridor in the third floor.

Outside, it was still raining with thunders, and Pipp was still taking pictures and selfies around like a maniac, while Sonic found everything so interesting and cool.

Amy wasn't scared anymore, and even after seeing those ghosts earlier, she was enjoying the stay in the mansion as well. Tails wasn't grumpy anymore, and even if he still preferred to sleep on his bed back on the Brighthouse, he was enjoying this too.

As for Sunny? Her excitement faded away once Hitch got startled constantly by some ghosts that she never saw, and Hitch at her side was panting heavily while praying inside that this got over already.

"How long until the rain leaves?!" Hitch cried out with concern. "I've been getting ghosted by literal ghosts the entire night, and none of you besides Sunny seems to mind it!" he pointed out with an anxious look.

"Dude, you go out on nocturnal guards around Maretime Bay the whole time!" Sonic pointed out with a mocking smirk. "Why is a mansion with some silly ghosts were we cross the line?" he asked.

"It's one thing to guard over a place I know perfectly at night!" Hitch pointed out with a frown. "One completely different one is to enter a haunted mansion!" he added.

"But it's amazing!" Pipp sang with joy. "And we cannot leave yet! I still need a picture of those ghosts for my Ponygram!" she added with excitement. "After the fiasco at Canterlove Studios, I'm so happy to find real ghosties this time!" she cheered.

"I find it amazing that you, being a princess, love spooky stuff so much" Amy confessed with an amused smile.

"What is there not to like?!" Pipp asked excited, while flying around the corridor.

"Everything?" Hitch deadpanned and rolled his eyes.

"The spooky sensation, the unsettling feeling, that chill running down your spine as you get scared! There's no excitement I love more than a spooky one!" Pipp exclaimed with glee. "That's why Nightmare Night is my favorite holiday of the year!" she added.

"I'll usually would be happy to see somepony enjoying what they like, but if this place really has ghosts that had been scaring Hitch the whole night, I don't really share the excitement of being on a haunted mansion..." Sunny said with concern.

"You're just mad because they're scaring your boyfriend, Sunny" Tails mocked up with a smirk.

"Shut up, Tails!" Both Hitch and Sunny scolded with frowns and blushes.

The rest chuckled at their flustered reactions, and Sunny looked away from Hitch slightly embarrassed, while Hitch rolled his eyes in annoyance again.

But then, they all heard a loud and metallic stomp coming from the end of the corridor, which they were reaching now, and everyone stopped moving, as Pipp landed on the ground and stood behind Sonic, while him, Tails and Amy stood in front of the three ponies, and Hitch yelped a bit in fright.

As a thunder roared outside, the light from the lightning that stroke showed a shadow approaching. And then, a metallic hand grabbed the corner of a wall, as a knight statue appeared, and then turned their head to the rest, showing green eyes.

"Oh, now this place wants to haunt us for real!" Amy said with anger, as she took her Piko Piko Hammer out of nowhere.

"Where did you took that out from?!" Pipp asked confused with wide eyes.

"There's a haunted knight in front of us, and that's your concern?!" Sunny asked her in disbelief.

"That's it! I'm out of here!" Hitch declared in panic, as he turned around and tried to run away.

However, he bumped into something metallic and fell to the ground, sitting on his hind legs and shaking his head a bit... Just for his eyes to widen, as he slowly looked upwards and found himself facing a chubbier knight armor, which looked down at him with orange eyes and a frown.

This, of course, made Hitch scream in panic, as he quickly stood up and returned with the rest, while the two walking knight armors approached and cornered the group.

"Um, Sunny? How about you give us some magical help with your mystic Alicorn powers, please?!" Amy requested, as she lifted her hammer and got ready to fight the knight armors.

"Roger that!" Sunny stated, as she made her Alicorn form appear and looked at the chubbier knight with a frown.

Both sides were protected now: Tails and Amy had the left with the knight with green eyes, and Sunny had the right with the other knight, the one with orange eyes, while Sonic, Hitch and Pipp stood in the middle.

"Guys! Getting spooked to death wasn't on my bucket list today!" Hitch cried out with panic, as he stood over the wall with panic and fear.

"Well, at least this will make some good content!" Pipp said with a gulp and a nervous smile, as she took pictures of the two knights. "Besides, we can deal with this, right, Blue Star?" she asked confidently, not looking at Sonic.

Yet, the response she got was unexpected, because... He started to whimper...

That made both Hitch and Pipp's eyes widen, as they looked at each other for a moment before looking over at Sonic, and then panic when they noticed that he was trembling.

"S-Sonic?" Hitch called out with panic.

Sunny looked over at him over her shoulder and gasped in panic when she noticed that as well. As for Amy and Tails, they noticed too, but they didn't panicked because of the fact that he was trembling and whimpering: They panicked because they knew why he was trembling.

Of course, the ponies didn't, and they were genuinely concerned that he was scared of the knights.

"This gotta be a joke!" Hitch exclaimed in panic. "You have fought literal Titans before, and you're scared of some haunted armors?!" he pointed out with terror.

"Sonic, dear, if this is a joke, is not funny!" Pipp exclaimed in panic as well.

But Sonic kept trembling and whimpering, as his ears lowered and he looked around with pure fear on his eyes.

Soon, the two armors came closer to the group, and as they did so: Amy and Tails stepped back, with Tails creating a plasma gun with his powers; Sunny stepped back as well; and Sonic fell on his knees in the ground, as the whimpers turned into groans of pain.

"Okay, seriously: What is going on?!" Pipp exclaimed, now genuinely concerned for her boyfriend.

"Um, Tails? Should we tell 'em?" Amy asked with concern, as she also gulped nervously.

"Tell us what?!" Sunny asked this time.

"You're gonna find out for yourselves..." Tails replied nervously.

And so, Sonic kept grunting in pain, while outside, the rain stopped and some clouds showed the sight of the full moon up in the sky. As this happened, the two armors stopped, and the eyes changed to show Su and Uh inside of them, with Uh even holding a camera, ready to take a picture of Sonic's scared face.

"Oh man, I think I'm gonna throw up..." Hitch said with a dizzy expression, while Sunny came to him and hold him to make sure he wouldn't loose his balance.

And just then, Sonic gasped and looked at the moon outside, while his pupils went from round to oval.

With this, Sonic began to transform: His skin went from normal blue to Prussian blue; his ears became more hairy and pointy, which startled Su, who also got his camera out; his teeth sharpened and turned into fangs, which startled Uh; his arms went from being shaved to completely hairy; his body was growing to the point that his gloves ripped apart once his hands were too big; his hands turned grey now; his nails grew into claws that he buried in the ground while making a chirp sound; his wrists got hairy and in white hair; the tip of his quills were white now; and his shoes had spikes over the white stripes and on the sole, while his socks were a bit spiked as well.

Tails and Amy were just staring at Sonic with concern, since they were already used to this, yet it was still painful to watch his transformation. The ponies and ghosts, on the other hand? They were completely terrified at what they were witnessing, and Sunny's Alicorn form even disappeared.

Hitch was speechless at what was he seeing, like if he was in some kind of horror movie, and Pipp was completely shocked to see this. Watching a werewolf type of transformation wasn't as exciting as many books and movies she has seen before made it look...

Finally, Sonic's transformation completed as he growled in anger and covered his face with his hands, before exploding in rage and hit the two armors that Su and Uh were using with his arms.

The armors poofed and turned into the normal Su and Uh again, as they both were sent backwards and rolled in the ground, accidentally taking pictures of themselves in the process as well.

Soon enough, though, Su shook his head and tried to stand up, just to feel completely terrified when a red shoe with spikes stepped in front of him. So, the ghost looked up, and he got even more terrified when he saw at Sonic... Now transformed into a completely different creature, one that had teeth sharp enough to bite him.

Of course, and naturally, Su got scared as heck, and so, he flew and crashed with the ceiling, before recomposing himself again and then grab Uh, as he dragged him away in fear of Sonic's monstrosity aspect.

With the two ghosts gone, Sonic let some smoke go from his nose and nodded confidently, before slowly turning around to look at his friends and his girlfriend, with Tails and Amy smiling sheepishly at him, while the three ponies were completely terrified at him, even Pipp.

"I thought it was going to take you some time before turning into the Werehog again... Guess I was wrong..." Tails said with a sheepish smile.

This made the three ponies look at him with wide eyes. "W-What?" Sunny exclaimed.

"W-What are you talking about?!" Hitch asked in panic.

Tails, Sonic and Amy looked at each other, but then, Sonic nodded at them with a serious expression, and Tails and Amy nodded back at him.

"Guys. This is still Sonic..." Amy explained first.

"He just changed, but he's the same Sonic we're used to deal with" Tails assured with a little smile. "Remember that prank we did with the Werehog last year? Well... It wasn't that much of a prank..." he confessed.

"Wait, wait, hold on!" Pipp said, as she flew closer to Sonic and looked at him in the eyes.

Despite his pupils being oval instead of round as usual, the same loving sight that Pipp could recognize on him whenever he looked over at her was still there, deep down that angry look on his expression.

That made Pipp gasp and cover her hooves, as she landed and looked up at the much taller and completely transformed boyfriend of hers. "S-Sonic... It is really you..." she said with surprise. "I-I thought that you were replaced with a monster or something like that!" she confessed with concern.

Sonic chuckled slightly after hearing that. "... You... Wouldn't be so far from the truth..." he spoke, but his voice was raspy, deeper and sounded more like if he were ready to roar at any second now.

"Sonic?!" both Sunny and Hitch asked on disbelief.

"So you're a big and scary monster now?!" Hitch asked with panic, as he walked around Sonic and analyzed all his changes.

"Werehog" Tails deadpanned.

"Same thing to me!" Hitch exclaimed.

"Ugh! Sonic, just explain them about your curse already!" Amy told him with a bored expression, annoyed of Hitch's attitude.

"Wait, curse?!" both Sunny and Pipp asked in panic, as the latter flew over and placed her hooves over his right shoulder.

"What are they talking about?!" Sunny asked confused and concerned.

Sonic let out a sigh and looked at Sunny and Hitch on the ground, then at Pipp on his shoulder and nodded. "I'll tell you everything... You deserve to know the truth" he stated, still with a raspy and deeper voice.

On the other hand, Lah was at her room, laughing like she never did before.

The pictures that Su and Uh delivered to her this time around were different: The pictures showed them with scared expressions after the way Sonic scared them with his Werehog form, which Lah found hilarious, as she laughed loudly about their situation.

Uh and Su, on the other hand, were completely ashamed and disappointed that Lah saw that. At least she wasn't mad anymore, but it didn't changed the fact that they felt ashamed of those pictures.

Just then, Lah started to laugh even more, which lead her to smash the table were all the pictures of Hitch and Sonic were, as well as the ones of Su and Uh. But as Lah smashed the table, the picture of Sonic making a mocking face to the camera fell to the ground, and Su and Uh looked at it for a second with raised eyebrows.

But as soon as they noticed that it was the picture of Sonic's mocking look, they both felt something they barely have felt since they started to do this moons ago... Rage. Pure and hatred rage.

Looking at each other with angered expressions, the two ghosts nodded and placed their right hands together, as their hands started to fuse in a green fire that clearly represented all the hate and anger they felt towards Sonic, who's scared face they were going to take a picture of, one way or another.

Around midnight, the group went to the mansion's living room.

Sunny started a fire on the chimney the same way she did back when Sonic was the only Mobian around and they were heading to Bridlewood to get the Unicorn Crystal.

As she did so, Amy quickly prepared some hot cocoa so they could warm themselves better and, at least, calm down a bit, because Sunny and Hitch were staring at Sonic with wide eyes, while Pipp was more concerned about him, because she was frowning instead of feeling freaked out by his Werehog aspect.

Soon, Amy came with the hot cocoa, and that finally distracted the three ponies' attention away from Sonic, as they all grabbed a cup and thanked Amy for making it and deliver it.

One slurp from the cocoa was enough to switch the three ponies mood, as Sunny and Hitch actually sighed in relief because of the cocoa's taste, while Pipp calmed down a tinny bit, but she still glanced at her boyfriend with a frown.

"Okay... We're all gathered here" Pipp pointed out with anger, as she placed her mug with cocoa on the table in front of the whole group. "Can you explain yourself, Sonic, about your aspect?" she requested calmly, even though Sonic could perfectly see on her gaze that she was beyond furious.

"... You remember when I told you about Dark Gaia?" Sonic asked with a serious expression, a side he used to only show when he was fighting, but he showed it more often as a Werehog.

"The giant and scary monster with many arms and eyes?" Hitch asked.

Sonic nodded after he asked that. "12 years ago, Chip and I were there, face to face with that monstrosity..." he started to narrate.

The scenario changed, and now, we see Sonic and Chip, face to face with Dark Gaia.

"That thing came out from the ground like the demon it was" Sonic narrated, as Dark Gaia launched some blasts to Sonic and Chip.

Then, Sonic grabbed Chip and jumped from rock to rock to avoid Dark Gaia's blasts. Sonic soon landed on a rock and let go of Chip, while they both frowned in anger towards Dark Gaia.

"We were both ready to take that thing down... But Dark Gaia had other plans..." Sonic kept narrating, as Dark Gaia's normal eyes glowed in purple.

That made Sonic's eyes widen, and he fell to his knees, something that Chip noticed a bit too late.

"Sonic! What's wrong?!" Chip asked the Werehog with concern.

Yet, all he got for an answer was a painful groan from Sonic, as his fangs and his claws started to grow backwards. And then, the energy from Dark Gaia that Sonic absorbed before went back to Dark Gaia himself, while he went back to his normal self in a really weakened state.

"We all thought that 'Sonic the Werehog' was gone when Dark Gaia absorbed back his energy from my body..." Sonic narrated, while his flashback-self looked down to the ground with fear and confusion on his eyes. "But we were very, very wrong..." he added with concern.

Sonic was now running across Green Hills during nighttime with a smile.

"Exactly one year later, after defeating Dark Gaia from destroying the planet, I was doing my usual run across Green Hills..." Sonic narrated. "But as I stepped out of the shadows and the moon shone bright above me... The horrible sensation I always had before turning into the Werehog came back that day..." he added.

Sonic suddenly tripped and looked up at the moon, which made his eyes go oval, and his Werehog transformation repeated again. Of course, once the transformation was over, Sonic looked at his hands down in pure panic and terror.

"I didn't knew how, nor why I was like that again, so I ran towards Tails' Lab to find out what was going on" Sonic kept narrating.

And so, we see the Werehog on Tails' lab.

"After scanning some of my extracted DNA, Tails found residues of Dark Gaia's power inside of my blood, which worried us, because we both thought that the Werehog was gone when Dark Gaia was defeated..." Sonic narrated with concern.

"And what am I suppose to do now?!" Sonic screamed in rage on the flashback.

"First of all, calm down!" Tails requested. "You're not going to win anything by getting so raged up! Besides, I don't want you to destroy anything in my workshop.." he pointed out.

With that, Sonic took a deep breath and calmed himself down, as all the sudden rage faded away.

"Good. Now, let's not jump to conclusions yet" Tails stated. "I don't know why there's remains of Dark Gaia's power inside of you, but I can find out if I study your DNA sample. As for what to do with you? I suggest you stay here for the night, and we'll see if tomorrow you transform again. If not, then it's both a good and bad sign" he pointed out again.

"Why would it be a bad sign?" Sonic asked calmly.

"Because it means that I only have one night to find out about why you still have Dark Gaia's power, as well as one night to find out if you'll ever transform into this again or not" Tails explained, as he turned to his computer and started to type on it.

"And that's exactly what I did..." Tails joined the narration. "I spent the whole night analyzing and comparing Sonic's old DNA samples with that new one, and it was clear that Dark Gaia did not removed all his power from Sonic's body..." he explained.

One year later, Sonic went to Windmill Isle.

He came by to the city to pay a visit for the old times, as well as to remember Chip and all the good moments they lived together, back when Chip couldn't remember who he really was.

"I didn't transformed into the Werehog again for a whole year once more..." Sonic narrated again. "But that day, the very same day I visited Windmill Isle... That horrible sensation came back" he said with concern.

And so, once again, at night, Sonic felt his body experimenting the change of becoming the Werehog, and he couldn't feel more panicked if it was even possible.

"I couldn't understand why this was happening again... But unlike the previous year, I tried to didn't let it affect me, and I simply acted like nothing was wrong... But it was..." Sonic added.

One year later, Sonic was on Tails lab, as Tails held his Miles Electric and pointed it at him.

"The next year, we decided to test if the pattern repeated the exact same night" Tails narrated now.

Just when the clock hit 11 p.m., Sonic groaned and fell to his knees, just for the Werehog transformation to repeat once more, which startled and worried both Sonic and Tails.

"Our suspicions were confirmed that third night..." Sonic narrated next. "The remains of Dark Gaia's powers indie my body were not an accident, but a curse that monster launched on me..." he finished narrating with concern.

With this, the Werehog in the flashback growled, before shouting in rage and howl to the moon, because he hated to be attached to this curse.

Back to reality, Sonic had his claws buried in the chair he was sitting on.

He did this to contain his anger of remembering that he was going to take this same form, on this very same night, every single year until he died.

"The next year, it happened again, and since the confirmation of the curse kept growing, we all decided to let it be" Sonic said. "This form awakes in me my most violent and angered side, but nothing really bad has happened that makes me feel like that... not until tonight, at least..." he explained.

"Ever since, Sonic transforms into the Werehog this very night, every year" Tails added with concern. "And, well, is not a big deal since he's the same Sonic" he pointed out with a sheepish smile.

"A bit grumpier sometimes, but yeah. Same old Sonic!" Amy added with a sheepish smile, as she drank from her hot cocoa while sweating.

The three ponies, even Pipp, looked at Sonic with shock and wide eyes after he explained the whole thing of his curse, and Pipp felt a bit bad for being mad at him... although her reasons to be so are justified.

"Wait... You transform into this... Every year?" Hitch asked first confused, and Sonic nodded.

"But you didn't transformed last year!" Sunny pointed out. "You even disguised as the Werehog for Pipp's Nightmare Night Party in Mane Melody, and both you and Tails used an hologram to scare us!" she reminded.

"I did transformed... the previous night to the party" Sonic confessed, but in no moment his serious expression left.

"What?! But that doesn't make any––" Pipp tried to say, but then, she gasped dramatically and frowned. "So that's why you told us to sleep earlier last year! It wasn't for the party, it was for your curse!" she realized with anger.

"Are we sure your sister's the detective around here?" Sonic asked mockingly with a raised eyebrow.

The fact that his voice was deeper, as well as the fact that Pipp found his fangs and new aspect in general attractive was a problem, because she blushed completely flustered at his flirting, even thought she was still mad with him. "D-Don't you dare to flirt with me right now!" she cried out like a filly.

"Sonic... Why didn't you told us about this?" Sunny asked concerned. "We all thought that you told the whole story about you turning into a Werehog when you talked about Chip and Dark Gaia!" she pointed out.

"You really thought I could just tell you all that I turn into a wolf-hedgehog hybrid by night every October 30th at 11 p.m. just like that?" Sonic asked with a deadpan.

After saying it like that, the three ponies looked at each other and shrugged. "Well, maybe not just like that, but at least knowing that something was going to happen would had spared us from such a scare! I thought you were dying or something!" Pipp pointed out with anger.

"I get why you guys are mad with him for not explaining himself... As usual..." Amy deadpanned, and she frowned at Sonic, who growled and frowned back. "But would you had trusted him the same way you do if he suddenly forgot about the curse and turned into the Werehog in front of you?" she asked with anger.

"Be scared of him? Totally! I'll say is a normal reaction to see a friend suddenly turn into a different creature!" Sunny pointed out with concern. "But mistrust him? Sonic, we are friends!" she reminded, now looking and walking up to him. "Maybe your aspect would had freaked us out, but if you explained us this after we calmed down, we wouldn't be this freaked out right now!" she added with concern.

"I can't believe you don't trust us with something this important, Blue Star!" Pipp exclaimed mad, as she crossed her forelegs. "What else do you hide from us? From me?!" she asked with rage.

"Alright, let's calm down for a second, okay?" Tails requested. "Guys, Sonic's on his right to share or not something. You can't just take it out of him because you're concerned and worried! If someone doesn't wants to tell you something, no matter their reasons, you have to respect it!" he stated with a frown.

"No, Tails" Sonic spoke this time. "They're right. This specifically shouldn't had stayed as a secret... I was just scared that you guys would look at me as a monster, and not as Sonic anymore..." he confessed, and that made the three ponies' eyes widen again, while Pipp's anger entirely faded away to let some shame get in. "I know it's silly and all, but... I'm a completely different guy when I'm mad... Specially as this... thing..." he pointed out, looking down at his hands.

Tails and Amy looked at him concerned, and then they looked at each other, both worried for Sonic.

Soon enough, however, Pipp arrived and placed her hooves on Sonic's right hand, who was way bigger compared to his normal one, and Sonic felt a bit surprised to see his girlfriend's hooves on his hand, so he slowly looked up to face her.

"Sonic... You are not a thing..." Pipp began with a warm smile. "You are just Sonic. Hedgehog, or Werehog, what's the difference? That you look different and are a tiny, little angrier? So what?!" she pointed out.

Soon, Sunny joined and placed her hooves on Sonic's hand as well, startling the Werehog again. "Pipp's right, Sonic" she began. "Just because you look different now doesn't means you are a monster. To us? You're the same old you, no matter what aspect you take" she assured him with a smile.

Finally, Hitch approached and placed his right hoof on his hand as well. "Look, I'm not going to lie and say it: This aspect, this place in general! It does freak me out, a lot!" he confessed, before looking at Sonic with a smile. "But just because you look like a scary monster doesn't mean you are one" he pointed out. "You are our friend, the same old Sonic that likes to kick butt and have fun! Just bigger, with scary fangs and some anger issues, but we already deal with Knuckles. What's another one?" he joked with a wink.

That made everyone else but Sonic laugh at the joke, while Sonic chuckled with a slight smirk, and his pupils went from oval to round again, despite his form still being the one of the Werehog.

"I was mad at you because you didn't told us, but... You were scared to tell us, and I can get behind that" Pipp said with a smile, even flying over to his face and kissing his cheek lovely. "I do hope, though: No more secrets, dear!" she warned.

Sonic could have thought on a joke if he was his regular self... But he wasn't, and so, he limited himself to smile at his girlfriend and nod at her words.

"... Thank you, guys..." Sonic said, as he looked over at both Pipp, Sunny and Hitch with a smile. "I... I feel a lot better now. I'm still concerned about one thing, but... Everything at its time, right?" he declared with a slight smirk.

The rest nodded at him with smiles, even Tails and Amy, and Sonic felt like a huge weight left his shoulders.

Suddenly, however, Hitch noticed from the corner of his eye that his cup with hot cocoa moved. So, the Sheriff looked closer to the cup, but before he could look inside of it, the entire cup moved as it trembled, and even spilled some hot cocoa on the table it was over.

That startled Hitch as he started to look around because of a strange sound, which everyone else noticed soon as well.

"Um, is everyone hearing that?!" Pipp asked in panic, as she hid behind Sonic and looked around, while Sonic frowned and moved his ears.

"Yeah!" Amy said, taking out her Piko Piko Hammer again. "But were is it coming from?!" she asked concerned, as Tails came at her side and created to giant metallic gloves with his powers.

And then, they all heard the ground being completely demolished, while a creature came out of the ground and landed in front of the group.

Of course, Hitch and Pipp yelped in fear, while Sunny stood along Tails and Amy with her Alicorn form and frowning at the creature in front of them.

What was what scared the pegasus and the earth pony? Well: This was a a green and anthropomorphic bull ghost, with red eyes, long claws, and a red scarf. His name was Baker, and he looked over at the group with a frown, specially at Sonic, while Sonic himself growled in rage and looked over at the bull ghost with a frown as well.

Baker then got on his fourths and prepared to charge against the group, while Sunny, Amy and Tails did the same, and Sonic decided to stay behind to protect Hitch and Pipp.

Then, the bull ghost charged, and so did Amy, Tails and Sunny, with the laters flying over Baker, which confused him, while he got his face slapped by Amy's hammer, which sent him backwards.

Baker shook his head and growled in anger, but just before he could fight back, he got his face hit by Tails, who started to punch the crap out of him with his amplified fists thanks to the metallic gloves, and even if Baker was growling and trying to fight back, Tails was always a step away, hitting the bull ghosts right where it hurts.

But he wasn't the only one, because Sunny soon joined by flying around Baker and kick him over several spots, like his back, his shoulders, and even his face.

Of course, Baker got tired of this, and so, he quickly grabbed the three of them and launched them towards a wall. Thankfully, Sunny protected the three of them with her Alicorn magic, but it didn't change the fact that Baker was getting madder.

"Sunny!" Hitch exclaimed in panic, before frowning in anger. "Oh, now you've done it!" he declared, tired of getting spooked by ghosts tonight.

And so, Hitch stomped his hooves on the ground, which made some vines come out of the ground so quickly that Baker couldn't even dodge them, and so, the bull ghost got sent backwards, as he landed on the ground with a painful groan... Just to be launched by another vine, then another one, and then another one.

As Hitch kept stomping his hooves on the ground in anger and playing with Baker, Pipp and Sonic were surprised that Hitch was doing this just now, after getting spooked by Su and Uh the whole night.

"Are you telling me that you could have done that this whole time, and you choose to do it right now?!" Pipp said in rage.

"One thing is to mess with me, to mess with my friends, and with my fellow earth ponies..." Hitch started with a frown. "But no one, and I mean NO ONE, messes with Sunny and GETS. AWAY. WITH IT!!!" he declared, completely angered, before stomping his hooves hard enough to create another vine that sent Baker backwards.

As all this happened, Tails, Amy and Sunny were watching this with wide eyes as well, but Sunny even had her whole face as red as a tomato.

"Whoa, girl... You truly hit the jackpot with him!" Amy teased Sunny with a smirk, which only made Sunny's ears lower in embarrassment.

"I've been telling them that the whole crossover, but they even listen to me?! Nooooo!" Tails complained, crossing his arms and shacking his head.

Just then, Baker stood up and roared in rage, but he decided to ignore Hitch and get his revenge on him later, because he had a mission first: Take down Sonic, who he looked at with rage, as he roared in anger and approached to the Werehog with his arm raised, ready to punch the crap out of him.

Yet, Sonic extended his arm to a chandelier in the ceiling and moved away, as he twirled in the air and then stomped on Baker's face, which didn't sent the ghost backwards, but it did made him drop a camera, something that Pipp noticed.

Soon, Sonic slid on the ground and buried his claws on the ground to stop himself, before roaring in anger and extend his punch to beat the crap out of Baker... Yet that didn't happened, because instead, his fist traversed the ghost, and Sonic retracted it confused.

To make things even weirder, the place that Sonic traversed soon started to dissipate, and as Baker chuckled mischievously at Sonic, he became invisible, which made Sonic panic, as he started to look around him to find the bull ghost.

And yet, he couldn't look too much, because he was punched on his back by Baker himself and sent backwards, crashing against a table and sending both Hitch and Pipp backwards as well, with Hitch landing first and Pipp landing second on his back, as they both groaned painfully.

In the process, however, the camera that Baker let fall also got sent backwards, and it took a picture. Pipp shook her head and got off from Hitch, rubbing her back a bit painfully, but then, she noticed the picture and the camera.

So, the pegasus princess took the picture on her hoof and noticed that it was a picture of the same background, but with Baker in the middle. So, Pipp looked at the real empty background, then at the picture again, then at the camera in the floor, and she kept doing this back and forth, until she realized something, and she smiled with an idea in mind.

Meanwhile, Sonic was being careful on where was Baker going to attack next, but sadly, he got hit and sent back to the main floor of the mansion, traversing the wall and rolling in the ground with painful grunts.

Soon, Sonic kneeled and shook his head while feeling dizzy, as he also sighed frustrated. But then, the camera from earlier was launched, and it first bumped over Sonic's head, before it also felt in the ground. Sonic looked confused at the camera, and then he looked up to see his girlfriend.

"Use the camera, babe!" Pipp told him from her place, before she took out the Baker's picture and showed it to him. "He can't hide from cameras! Take a picture, analyze where he is, and show him who you are!" she cheered to him with a smile.

Understanding her plan, Sonic smirked at her and raised his thumbs up, before taking the camera and stand up, as he started to look around the room with a frown and being careful. Then, he took a picture with the camera and took the phot that came out of it, as he looked at it being empty, so he frowned and looked around with concern again.

Pipp landed on the upper floor and looked down with concern, while everyone else joined her, as they looked down at Sonic confused. "Why is he with a really old camera?" Tails decided to ask.

"That thing can't hide from pictures!" Pipp replied, and that was enough for everyone else to understand what was the plan here.

Yet, it didn't seemed to be a good plan, because the picture was taking too long to show up, and Sonic started to get desperate, so he shook the picture for the image to appear already.

And still, when it did so, it showed Baker on his fours and smirking mischievously at Sonic, while at the same time, Baker stopped being invisible and raised an arm, something that Sonic noticed too late, because he got punched on his jaw and set towards the ceiling, while Baker went invisible immediately afterwards.

"SONIC!" Amy, Pipp and Tails all shouted in fear after seeing this.

Sonic, on the other hand, was dizzy and confused at first, but then he shook his head and looked back to the ground with a frown. As he head back to the floor, he took three more pictures with the camera, and then made a quick twirl in the air, landing on his feet and then blowing over the three pictures desperately.

Yet, Baker appeared out of nowhere and sent Sonic against a wall, as the Werehog landed over a table and destroyed it, while he also lost the camera in the process.

Sonic shook his head dizzy and stood up, now looking at the three pictures he took a few seconds ago. The first one showed Baker reading a book and smirking at the camera, the second one had Baker yawning in boredom, and in the last one, he was making the same mocking face that Sonic did earlier with them.

As Sonic looked at each picture, he felt everytime more enraged, until he saw the last one, and that made him snap again, because his pupils became oval-shaped again.

So, Sonic ripped the three pictures apart, roared in rage and started to move his arms across the room in anger, as well as grabbing stuff and throwing it to hopefully hit Baker at some point... not noticing that his friends were getting caught in the middle.

"Whoa!" Hitch exclaimed, as he immediately dragged Sunny to the ground, and they both stayed there while some stuff flew in the air and crashed against the walls. "He's completely enraged!" Hitch exclaimed in panic.

"We've gotta calm him down!" Sunny pointed out.

"You think?!" Pipp exclaimed in panic, as she, Tails and Amy ducked down as well to also dodge Sonic's attacks.

However, none of them knew that Baker was smirking, then he got on his fours and charged against Sonic. Just when he was about to hit Sonic, in the exact last second, Baker became visible again and hit Sonic right on his chest, as he sent the Werehog backwards and made him crash into a wall, as Sonic groaned in pain and the fell sitting down, falling unconscious.

The rest didn't took long to notice that Sonic stopped throwing stuff, so they quickly got up to see what happened, just to panic when they saw him unconscious and laying against a wall.

"SONIC!!!" Pipp cried out, as she opened her wings and tried to fly towards him, but both Amy and Tails stopped her by grabbing her and making sure she wouldn't open her wings. "GUYS! LET ME GO!" she cried out desperately.

Meanwhile, Baker laughed victoriously over Sonic and approached him while becoming invisible again. Then, he grabbed the camera that was near Sonic, and with that, Sunny made her Alicorn form appear and was ready to charge against him for what he was doing to the Werehog, but before she could even fly in the air, she noticed the camera moving back and forth, which confused her a lot.

With this, Baker stopped being invisible, and then, the ghost split up from the waist up back into Su and Uh, since all this time, Baker was a fusion between them, forged as an alliance between the two ghosts, one that was breaking now that they had Sonic where they wanted, and now, they were going to fight and see who takes the picture of Sonic's face for Lah.

"Uh... What is going on?" Sunny asked confused, as she rather landed back with the rest, and all of them looked confused at Su and Uh fighting to see who kept the camera.

However, that also seemed to be enough time for Sonic to slowly wake up and shake his head, at first confused, and then completely enraged.

Su and Uh, on the other hand, kept fighting with each other on who was going to take the picture, until they noticed that Sonic was growling, so they slowly looked towards them, which made Sonic scream in rage. That made the two ghosts panic, and they even fainted because of the shock, also letting go of the camera in the process.

Then, Sonic grabbed then from their still fused feet and started to twirls them around the room while extending his arms and smashing the two ghosts against the walls, as they both screamed in fear.

Finally, Sonic throw the two ghosts in the air, and as they fell towards Sonic, he raised his punch, ready to sent the two ghosts flying away, something that made both Su and Uh panic even more. And so, Sonic punched the two ghosts, undoing their fusion entirely and sending them through the ceiling, as they got lost in the sky.

With them gone, Sonic nodded confidently, before going over and smash the camera from earlier, as a way to realize the little anger that remained inside of him. With that, he sighed relieved and smirked, as his pupils went round again.

"Blue Star!" Pipp's voice called out, and Sonic turned to see her, as she approached him along the rest of their friends, with Pipp wrapping her hooves around his neck and nuzzling to him. "I was so worried about you!" she confessed with concern.

"Well, even if I did worried too, you still came out on top as usual!" Tails cheered, as he and Sonic fist bumped.

"I still don't get this whole thing of the Werehog being a 'curse', you know?" Amy confessed with a smirk. "You just become more skilled in fighting! Despite getting slower..." she mocked up.

Still, Sonic chuckled at her comment and smiled. "Well, I guess I should thank that sudden anger I felt after those two mocked me up" he said with an amusing smirk.

"Well, as much as I'm glad that this is over, I think we should leave..." Hitch said with a nervous expression. "I hate to admit it, but this place creeps me out, and I don't want those two ghosts to come back!" he added with a frown.

"You literally smashed the whole room we were in with your magic and those two combined!" Tails pointed out with a bored expression.

"Because they messed with Sunny!" Hitch said with a frown, and Sunny blushed and looked away a bit flustered.

"We got, Sheriff. You just stood for your girlfriend. I would've done the same if it was Pipp" Sonic said with a mocking smirk, as he started to walk towards the exit.

"Aww!" Pipp said with a smile and a loving gaze towards Sonic, feeling touched by his words. "Well, I don't mind going back to the Brighthouse now, either. I already got, like, a bazillion pictures of this place! And I honestly don't think I could sleep in an old and rusty bed in this mansion" she confessed, as she followed Sonic to the exit.

"And for the last time, Sonic: We are not a couple!" Sunny groaned with annoyance and a blush, as she and Hitch followed Sonic and Pipp towards the exit.

"Yet!" both Tails and Amy said with mocking smirks, as they followed the rest while holding the Nightmare Night stuff they bought earlier, while both Sunny and Hitch groaned in annoyance at their teasing.

"By the way, how are we gonna explain the rest that you, um... Look like this?" Pipp questioned him.

"Knuckles and Team Dark know already" Sonic explained. "As for the rest, I guess we'll just had to hope that Misty won't faint and Zipp won't try to attack me..." he added with concern.

"What about Izzy and Sparky?" Amy asked confused.

"Eh, Sparky saw the Werehog prank last year, and Izzy is Izzy" Hitch replied with a bored expression.

"If anything, Izzy's gonna think he's someone else and not Sonic!" Sunny pointed out with a giggle, and the rest chuckled along her.

As they finally left the building, they never heard Su and Uh screaming in fright, as they came back from the sky and now traversed the ground, groaning painfully after their crash.

They slowly got out from the hole and shook their heads dizzy... Only to feel completely panicked when they saw that Lah was there with them, not looking happy in the slightest. In fact, she was very, very mad with the two ghosts, as she pointed not only at all the things destroyed in the mansion, but also at the destroyed camera.

Su and Uh looked around with panic and concern, before looking up at Lah with sheepish smiles, while Lah herself started to get so mad that her face went red, her hair got messed up, and her teeth turned into fangs.

With this transformation, both Su and Uh hugged each other in fear and concern, and so, Lah roared in pure rage and hate at the two ghosts, while they both screamed in fear and panic.

Yeah, let's just say that they were going to be resting painfully in their bed for quite a long time...

Author's Notes:

And that's a wrap!

I seriously wanted to make an episode for this holiday, even if I don't celebrate it, but it was fun to do! Also, I wanted an excuse to actually use Sonic the Werehog.

This episode, besides being a Halloween/Nightmare Night special, was heavily inspired by the official "Sonic: Night of the Werehog" short made by my number one animation studio in the world: Marza Animation Planet.

Have you seen all the CGI promos that SEGA launches when they promote any 3D Sonic game? Mainly Forces and Frontiers? Well, Marza is the studio behind their creation! And I'm not joking when I say that we need a full CGI animated show/film about the Blue Blur made by them.

Of course, despite the heavy inspiration on the short made by Marza, I changed some things, like the fact that there is dialogue, as well as the ending. Now, why did I changed it? Well, Lah got away with what she wanted, and I never liked that ending. So, I took the liberty of change it to what you just read!

Now, I kind of get that the whole point of doing a "Nightmare Night" special is to scare, but I'm terrible at writing horror, so that wasn't ever going to happen in the first place...

Also, this episode should already confirm which episode from Chapter 5 won't be adapted, right? I think someone in the previous story guessed it right, so congratulations to said person! Oh, and if you wonder why I removed said episode: It simply didn't fit with the narrative I had in mind, so I apologize if anyone feels disappointed with this decision.

Anyways. Hope you guys enjoyed, and I'll see you all next time with... Wait, what?!

What do you mean with Tails getting some rizz?!

5. The Fox in the Storm

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Sonic, Pipp, Tails and Zipp were at Zephyr Heights.

The formers were on their own having a date, while Tails decided to do some shopping for a device he was making to tear down Opaline's barrier around her castle. As for Zipp? Welp, she was doing her favorite thing in the world: Helping her mom to settle everything for the Royal Feathers Ball.

Yeah, I'm getting a little sarcastic here, sorry for that.

In all honesty, Zipp was bored on helping Queen Haven to organize all this stuff, but this year, she had two big reasons to feel a tiny, little bit less annoyed by the ball: The first one, she has helped her mom to organize it countless of times in previous years. She already knows the schedule better than her real name, and it was a bless considering how pushy Haven gets with preparing anything in general.

The second reason, and the most important for her, was that she was looking forward to the ball so she could have some time alone with Tails.

Yeah, it was weird for her to be interested on the ball, or even thinking about looking pretty for it. However, she wanted to look presentable nor only to avoid scolding from her mom, but also to see if it got Tails' attention. Again, she never though to look pretty for anyone or anything before, but she believed that it was worth it if it was to impress Tails.

She find it funny that he still didn't told her he has feelings for her, and she definitely wasn't planning on making that step herself, but maybe this ball could be the perfect excuse for her to actually encourage him to make that step forward.

But everything at it's stablished time. First things first: She had to deal with her Mom wanting everything to be perfect, which only made Zipp want to roll her eyes in annoyance at the mere thought of Haven panicking all over the castle about the ball.

Right now, mother and daughter were at the Throne Room, with Zoom marking with a check all the stuff that was already verified by Haven and Zipp, while the latter was placing on specific zones some curtains around the room.

"Food, granted by the most refined chefs of all Equestria?" Haven asked, as she paced back and forth with a panicked look.

"Check!" Zoom informed.

"All the invitations to High Social Ponies?" Haven asked again.

"Double check!" Zoom informed again.

"Decorations?!" Haven asked one last time, this time literally getting into Zoom's face and lowering her phone, while Zoom herself gulped and looked around in panic, not knowing what to tell her Queen.

"Triple check, Mom!" Zipp informed this time with a smirk, as she landed next to Zoom and pointed at the Throne Room decorated.

The already fancy Throne Room now had several tables placed around for threats and drinks; the curtains that Zipp was placing perfectly were a mix of red and pink, displaced on all the windows; and there was a small stage not so far from the thrones in the middle of the room, probably for a band to play music during the ball.

"Oh... Oh!" Haven said, really impressed that the whole place was already done. "This is... Perfect! Even better than that!" she exclaimed with a smile. "How did you got it all so well done, and even placed on the specific place?!" she asked Zipp.

"Well, after years of panicking and instructing on how things have to be done for the Royal Feathers Ball, I already get the hang on how this should be done!" Zipp replied with a slight smirk. "Also, I know how much this ball means to you, Mom. And I also know that I'm not enthusiastic for this stuff, and I honestly still ain't, but I guess I can make an exception if it makes you happy" she added.

"Aww, Zipp!" Haven said with a warm smile, touched by her daughter's words, as she didn't hesitated to embrace Zipp into a hug, which did made her feel uncomfortable, but she still hugged back because it was her Mom at the end of the day. "That's so sweet of you! This place never looked this good, nor ready in so little time! Of course, I still need to check out some minor details, but I can handle that on my own. Thank you so much for your help!" she thanked Zipp with happiness.

"Again, if it makes you happy, I can put my lack of enthusiasm aside to help you out!" Zipp replied with a smile as well.

"That's good to hear. Zoom, inform all the chefs that the ballroom is ready and they can sent their meals and threats if they're ready" Haven instructed the pegasus, who made a salute and then flew away. "And you, Zipp, really made me proud with this! Are you sure you did this just to help me out? Or you want this place to look nice so Tails can get his eye on you, hmm?" she asked her with a mocking smirk.

Zipp immediately blushed after being teased like this. "MOM!" she exclaimed embarrassed, while Haven laughed at her fully red expression. "T-That has nothing to do with it! Even though I do expect him to notice me, though..." she confessed, now looking away and looking down at the floor.

"Ooh, are you planning on leaving an impression?" Haven asked mockingly, and Zipp growled and facehoofed. "I'm just messing with you! But I do believe he'll be impressed if you invite him to your presentation" she added, as she started to walk away.

"Yeah..." Zipp rolled her eyes, but then, her blush left, and her eyes widened. "Wait, what? Presentation?" she asked confused, now flying in front of her Mom and looking at her with concern. "What are you talking about?" she questioned.

"Pipp didn't told you?" Haven asked with a raised eyebrow, and a deadpan of Zipp was enough to get her answer. "Of course she didn't..." she deadpanned as well.

"She's always on her phone and focused on Sonic. It's really weird seeing her not doing any of that" Zipp pointed out with a bored expression.

"True..." haven admitted, before shaking her head and smiling again. "Anyways! I decided to make a little change this year around. You'll be the main presentation, and you must bring a partner with you" she explained.

"What?!" Zipp shouted with wide eyes, also opening her wings in surprise. "But why?! Pipp's always the one that makes these presentations! A-And now that she has a boyfriend on Sonic, why change it to me?!" she asked in panic.

"I'm aware that you are not a fan of big crowds, nor being the center of attention" Haven confessed. "However, I need you to remember that you are the Heiress to the Zephyr Heights' Throne. Therefore, I need you to start showing a bit more of confidence when talking in public. Consider this a 'test' for that" she explained with a relaxed smile.

"B-But why?! Could you at last have asked me if I wanted to do it?!" Zipp asked, now frowning. "I know you are the Queen, and my mom, but that doesn't mean that––" she tried to say something.

"Zephyrina!" Haven shut her down, now frowning as well. "I don't want to hear what you have to say! You are gonna be Queen one day, and like it or not, you have to get over this 'I don't like crowds' thing!" she pointed out.

"But why can't I have a word on this? I'm simply trying to say––" Zipp tried to counter.

"ENOUGH!" Haven snapped, this time stomping her hoof on the ground, and Zipp flinched, as her ears lowered. "You will be the main presentation of the ball, and that's final! Understood?!" she stated with anger and open wings.

Zipp looked down at the floor and sighed. "... Yes, Mom..." she replied.

"Good" Haven said, turning around and leaving the Throne Room, while Zipp sat down on the floor and sighed again.

She always felt like her word didn't mattered to her mother. It didn't mattered what she tried to say, Haven would simply not listen and label it as 'nonsense' from her, which hurt her feelings and made her feel insecure sometimes. If it wasn't because of her friends and her sister, maybe she wouldn't feel as confident as she is today.

Suddenly, her ears perked up, and she smiled a bit. "Pipp! Of course! Maybe she can talk Mom out of it!" Zipp said with a smile, as she also left the Throne Room by flight.

The next day, back in Maretime Bay, Zipp went to Mane Melody to talk in private with Pipp.

She shared how everything was going well when she helped Haven to organize everything for the ball, until she mentioned that Zipp was going to be the highlight of the ball instead of Pipp this year around.

"... and then I tried to talk her our of the idea, but she shut me down!" Zipp exclaimed with rage, as she paced back and forth in front of the stage, while Pipp was paying attention at her and looked concern. "She didn't even let me explain myself! How can I get over my deal with talking in public if I'm not allowed to have a word at all?!" she complained.

"You truly are not taking this well..." Pipp commented with a sheepish smile.

"Of bucking-course I'm not taking it fine!" Zipp said with anger. "Why does she always refuses to listen to me?! Do I have no right to have a word on any of her decisions over what I can do or not?!" she said with rage.

"Whoa, okay, slow down your horses, sis!" Pipp requested, as she flew at her sister's side and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Mom does care for you and your word. Is just... Whenever she gets an idea that's part of your 'Training to become Queen', she stops hearing everypony. You included" she pointed out.

"But why?! If it's my training, don't I get to decided wether if I find it adequate or not?!" Zipp asked in anger.

"Again, Mom never listens to reason when it comes to your training" Pipp reminded. "I did tried to talk her out of the idea and let me be the main event as usual, but... I guess you can already tell how that idea went..." she confessed with a sheepish smile.

"... You tried to talk her out of the idea, even though most of the time you agreed with her actions regarding me being prepared to be Queen?" Zipp asked, both shocked and confused.

"Of course I did!" Pipp said with a warm smile. "Not only because I would love to be the main event as usual, but also because you are my sister! And I know you don't really enjoy this kind of stuff. I couldn't stand there and not try to do something, but... Mom didn't listened to me, either" she explained with concern.

Zipp sighed in concern and felt a huge grudge against her Mom. Why wouldn't she listen to her?

"Look, sis. I say you let this one slip and, next year, if she gets that idea of having you as the main star, we'll both confront her, together!" Pipp told her with a smile, even wrapping a hoof around her neck.

"Well... I guess it'll be worth a shot, even though I feel like she won't listen, anyways..." Zipp said with a half-smile and a half-sad look.

Later on, Zipp went back to the Brighthouse.

There, she found both Sunny and Knuckles making dinner, with the former checking something on the stove, while the latter was wearing a chef hat and cutting some vegetables.

Just then, Sunny noticed Zipp entering to the kitchen. "Oh, hey Zipp!" she greeted her with a smile, which faded away once she noticed her conflicted look.

"Hey, Sunny. Hey, Knuckles..." Zipp greeted back, not even trying to hide the fact that she was not feeling happy nor cheerful.

"Yo!" Knuckles said, but he kept cutting vegetables.

"You look sad about something... Are you okay?" Sunny asked Zipp with concern.

"Kinda..." Zipp confessed. "It's just... Mom wants me to be the center of attention for the Royal Feathers Ball this year instead of Pipp, and I really don't want to! But... she doesn't even listen to me..." she pointed out with concern.

"Royal Feathers Ball? That thing were Pipp's show was almost a replica of the one you ruined when Sonic was the only one from our world around here?" Knuckles asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yup" Zipp replied. "And this year it all depends on me... But I seriously don't want to do it! Is not what I want, I don't even like to sing that much, nor have all eyes on me! It makes me feel anxious, watched, and awkward! What if I say or do something stupid?!" she pointed out with panic.

"Zipp! Zipp, breath!" Sunny said, as she got to her side and placed a hoof on her shoulder, while Zipp obeyed and took a deep breath to calm herself. "There. Feeling better?" Sunny asked her with a smile.

"A bit..." Zipp replied. "I'm... I just really, really hate that she gets to decide everything for me, and I have no word on it only because she says so! It frustrates me!" she exclaimed with concern and a frown.

"Girl, I'll tell you what's the problem..." Knuckles decided to speak. "The way you might see things, she's being evil and mean and forces you to do stuff because she enjoys it... Girl, she's your Mom. She knows when she's right and when she's wrong. But sometimes, what she feels is right is actually wrong, and what she feels is wrong is actually right" he explained.

However, both Zipp and Sunny blinked a few times and stared blankly at Knuckles.

"The what now?" Zipp asked confused.

"Um, I think Knuckles is trying to say that your Mom may be strict sometimes and won't listen to reason" Sunny pointed out with an awkward smile.

"I know that! Pipp told me the exact same!" Zipp pointed out with a groan, even facehoofing.

"But she do can respect when things seem to get out of hand, even for her" Knuckles said. "I say let it slip this one time and then make a whole revolution if she insists on the same thing next year" he suggested, as he went back to cook.

"What?!" Zipp said with disbelief. "Pipp also said that, but I––" she tried to explain, but this time, Sunny cut her off.

"See? Even your sister agrees that this is just one of your many Mom's shenanigans!" Sunny said with a smile. "Just roll with it this year, and then tell her how you feel about it the next one!" she added, as she went back to check the stove.

"But that's not what I want! I––" Zipp tried to explain, but then, the stove started to let go some smoke, which caught both Sunny and Knuckles' complete attention.

"The stove is burning!" Sunny said with panic, while Knuckles quickly boosted away and then came back with an extinguisher and turned off the small flame.

"Welp, that was close..." Knuckles said with a bored expression.

"Yeah... I guess we got carried away with the conversation..." Sunny chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, Zipp, but I'm afraid we have to––" she tried to apologize, but once she was going to face Zipp, she was gone. "Oh..." she muttered.

"Eh, I'm sure she's just overreacting" Knuckles shrugged it off, and Sunny deadpanned at him when he did so. "Is one thing to be paranoid about a potential traitor in one of our friends, but there's a completely different one with being scolded because your Mom made an appointment for your own good" he pointed out with a bored expression.

"... Okay, that's true..." Sunny admitted.

Zipp went upstairs, where she found Sonic, Amy and Izzy playing UNO.

Well, Sonic and Amy were playing, Izzy was just keeping the count of who was winning... Amy was 36 rounds ahead of Sonic, who has won none.

Soon, though, Izzy noticed Zipp coming in. "Oh, hi, Zippy!" she greeted her with a cheery smile, also waving her hoof.

"Hey, guys..." Zipp replied with a bored expression and tone. "What are you three up to?" she asked them.

"Just playing UNO. And I am not leaving until I have defeated Amy!" Sonic declared with a smirk.

"Please, Sonic! You can't really say that for 36 rounds and still believe you have a chance!" Amy mocked up.

"I'll prove you wrong, Ames, even if it takes all day!" Sonic declared with a frown.

"At least you guys seem to be doing better than I..." Zipp muttered with concern.

"By the way, congratulations for being the main event at your Family's Ball!" Amy told her suddenly with a smile.

Of course, Amy was just trying to cheer her, but Zipp did not took it as that. So, she frowned in anger, but before she could even say it, she got interrupted... again.

"Yeah! Pipp told me that your Mom pointed the lights to you!" Sonic said with a smile as well. "Shōshin omedetōgozaimasu!" he added, saying 'Congratulations on your promotion!' in Japanese.

This just made Zipp feel even more angrier, and she started to breath heavily in rage, but she couldn't say anything again because Izzy cut her off.

"I can't wait to see what are you gonna do in the ball, Zipp!" Izzy said with a huge smile, also side-hugging the pegasus. "Oh! We gotta get back to the game. Sorry!" she added, as she, Sonic and Amy went back to focus on the UNO game between the two Mobians.

That made Zipp growl loudly in rage, but to avoid upsetting her friends with her words, she flew out of the bedroom, although she did slammed the door as she did so, which finally called her friends' attention.

"Uh... Did you girls heard that?" Sonic asked confused.

"Yeah..." Izzy replied. "Sounds like somepony hit with something..." she pointed out.

"Probably Knuckles hit the table after something went wrong..." Amy deadpanned, before looking down at her cards and smile, as she placed a 'Eat 4 + Color Change' card in the table they were at. "I change to green!" she exclaimed with a smile.

"Aw, come on–– I have 24 cards, woman! AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE A GREEN!" Sonic shouted with rage.

Now, as the sun settled, Zipp went to the Sheriff Station, this time completely outraged.

She found Hitch, Misty and Sparky there. Misty seemed to be playing with Sparky, as she was laying in the floor on her back and tossed the baby dragon in the air, trapping him from time to time; while Hitch was organizing some paperwork alone since Knuckles left early to cook dinner along Sunny.

Misty was busy playing with Sparky, but even if Hitch was busy as well with paperwork, he noticed Zipp entering the Station anyways, and he smiled at her. "Oh, hey, Zipp!" he greeted her.

That called Misty's attention, so she stood up and looked over at Zipp with a smile. "Hello!" she greeted as well, and she caught Sparky with her magic, since she launched him before hearing Hitch greeting Zipp.

"Hey..." Zipp replied, not really in the mood to talk.

"Uh, you okay?" Hitch asked. "You don't really seem good today" he pointed out with concern.

"Ugh! NO! I am NOT okay!" Zipp shouted, which made both Hitch and Misty flinch. "Everytime I want to say what I'm thinking on that stupid idea of me headlining the Royal Feathers Ball, no one listens to me, and––" she tried to point out again.

Wanna guess what's gonna happen? Yup! She gets interrupted again!

"Oh, yeah! I think we heard about that!" Misty said, as she and Hitch looked at each other for a second with a smile.

"UGH!" Zipp groaned loudly, and snapped in anger once again. "THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN!!!" she shouted in rage, before boosting out of the Station, completely outraged.

Both Hitch and Misty were completely shocked after Zipp snapped like that, and they slowly looked at each other, before looking back at the Station's door.

"Uh... What's gotten into her?" Misty asked confused. "She was talking so fast, and I could barely just get the part where she mentioned the Ball thing" she pointed out.

"I don't know, but... She didn't looked happy..." Hitch said with concern, before pulling out his phone. "Better tell Tails and Pipp about this..." he stated.

Misty didn't frowned when Hitch said he would tell Tails about Zipp's situation, because even if she was jealous that Tails liked Zipp, she knew that he was the best choice to talk with her if Pipp wasn't available. Hopefully, he could find out what was going on with her...

Zipp flew away from Maretime Bay.

Heck, she flew to a place that wasn't visited at all by anypony, nor that was near any of the three cities. She wanted to be as far as she could from any of them, specially Zephyr Heights, considering that's where the Royal Feathers Ball is gonna take place... Where the presentation she does not wants to do is gonna take place.

Why was so difficult for her Mom to show some sympathy and hear what she has to say? Why was so difficult for her friends to stop doing what they're doing and just listen to her?!

She wasn't even bother to going and talk with Tails nor Team Dark. The former was probably busy on his workshop, and the latter group wouldn't even care if she was being honest, so why bother on going to tell them the same she's being trying to tell everyone else? Just to be shut down again? No thanks.

"They cannot do that forever... She cannot do that forever!" Zipp said with a frown, as she landed on a random forest far away from her home. "I can't... I WON'T be silenced!" she stated.

https://youtu.be/1vU4qYnyOlY

Soon, Zipp started to wonder across the forest, which actually got a pretty good lightning tonight, probably because of the moon being on its full state today.

Usually, she would just let her frustration out by mental cursing everyone... But since she was alone, she felt like she could let it out in another way. And, of course, with this being a My Little Pony story, she did it the best way any My Little Pony character would do it: She sang her frustration out.

Here comes a wave meant to wash me away
A tide that is taking me under
Swallowing sand, left with nothing to say
My voice drowned out in the thunder

Zipp hopped over some bushes, flapping her wings a bit, and she ducked down to dodge a tree branch.

But I won't cry
And I won't start to crumble
Whenever they try
To shut me or cut me down

As she sang this part of the song, she frowned slightly, while she also reached a place on the forest where she could see a stone in the middle of the tress, as the moonlight illuminated it. She decided to approach said rock.

I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless

Zipp stood over the rock and looked straight up at the moon in the sky, as it illuminated her as well. Then, she resumed her walking through the forest, but this time around, she decided to fly around some tree branches.

'Cause I'll breathe
When they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

As she sang this, she stopped herself near a lake she found in the forest and looked at her reflection on the water.

Written in stone
Every rule, every word
Centuries old and unbending

While singing, she started to remember all the previous times before yesterday that she tried to share her opinion on anything to her mother, but she was either ignored or shut down.

This is a problem that's been happening ever since she was a filly, and now, even in her young adulthood, it still happens. Worse of all, her Mom is not the only one that made her feel that way: When magic glitched on Maretime Bay Day, she also felt ignored and shut down. And after meeting Misty, it got even worse with the way Tails treated her...

He apologized unlike her mom, true, but it still hurt her sometimes...

Stay in your place
Better seen and not heard
But now that story is ending

After she remembered what happened yesterday while looking at her reflection on the mirror, she frowned, and with the last sentence being sang, she waved the water with her hoof and took flight again.

'Cause I
I cannot start to crumble
So come on and try
Try to shut me and cut me down

Singing this still, Zipp took flight to the sky, were she stood there while singing and staring at Zephyr Heights in the distance with concern, before frowning with anger after remembering what Haven told her, so she turned around and smiled at the sight of the forest, as she flew towards it again.

I won't be silenced
You can't keep me quiet
Won't tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless, speechless

Zipp dive into the trees of the forest, and she started to accelerate across it, as she dodged tress like obstacles and made some loops around spaces between the tree leaves and the tree branches, never stoping singing a single second.

Let the storm in
I cannot be broken
No, I won't live unspoken
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

Zipp was singing her lungs out during her whole flight, as she felt free by feeling the wind in her mane, in her wings and in her face. She never felt any more satisfaction than when flying, because she knew that she was free in the sky, that nopony had control over life when she was in the air, and she loved it.

However, she never noticed that a figure was following her by flight the whole time.

Try to lock me in this cage
I won't just lay me down and die

Zipp almost crashed with a tree branch because of bad calculation, but she did dodged it on the last second. As she did so, she smiled and passed through a pile of leaves, as they flew and danced around her.

I will take these broken wings
And watch me burn across the sky
Hear the echoes saying-

I won't be silenced
Though you wanna see me tremble when you try it
All I know is I won't go speechless, speechless

Even though she always said she hated to sing, the truth is that she does enjoys it. In fact, sometimes she thinks that she would be as passionate about it as her sister if she wasn't so hesitant on being the center of attention.

Still, that didn't meant she couldn't enjoy it, and this was one of the many times she absolutely loved to sing.

And as the song finished, she reached the end of the forest and ran through a small field, before reaching the edge of a cliff and once again look at the moon, while it's light pointed at her.

'Cause I'll breathe
When they try to suffocate me
Don't you underestimate me
'Cause I know that I won't go speechless
All I know is I won't go speechless, speechless

Zipp breathed heavily as she finally finished her song. She was impressed that she managed to get out all the frustration she was feeling because of her Mom and her friends.

Many would say it wasn't as effective as crying or talking things out, but she definitely got a massive weight off her shoulders, although she knew pretty well that it wouldn't last forever, and that she was eventually going to feel that weight again.

"Wow..." a voice spoke suddenly, startling Zipp.

She turned around with wide eyes, but her gaze softened and she even smiled genuinely after seeing that Tails was behind her, as he slowly approached the pegasus mare with a wide smile and even a look of admiration on his eyes.

"You know? I've heard you singing before, but... I've never heard you singing on your own" Tails said, stopping in front of her and slightly looking down at her.

Of course, now that he has grown up a bit, he's a few inches taller than Zipp, and not because of his hair. Still, it wasn't that much of a difference. In fact, if Zipp stood on her hind legs only, it'll be obvious that he's technically still smaller than her, but he wouldn't really care, to tell the truth.

"Well... To be honest, I... Do like to sing sometimes... Just when I'm alone and nopony's watching, you know?" Zipp confessed with a slightly embarrassed smile, and she even rubbed one of her hooves nervously while avoiding eye contact with Tails, something he found adorable. "S-So, uh... Whatcha think?" she asked him nervously.

Tails sighed, but still looking at her eyes, he didn't hesitated on saying what he truly believed. "It was beautiful... Just like the mare that sing it..." he said with absolutely no sign of shame, even though he did got a slight blush on his cheeks.

Zipp, on the other hand, got completely red from embarrassment, and her wings even opened entirely. Anyone could confuse her with a tomato because of how red her face was looking right now, but Tails still found it adorable, since he chuckled at her reaction.

So, Zipp quickly shook her head and scratched her neck, still looking away from Tails. "S-So... Heheh... W-What are you doing here, uh... partner?" she asked him, trying to look less flustered and miserably failing at it.

Tails chuckled one last time, before letting out a sigh and look at Zipp with concern. "Well... A bird told me you seemed concerned and asked me if I could check on you" he explained. "And after hearing that song, despite your beautiful and angelic voice, I got the message behind it" he confessed.

Zipp's blush disappeared, just to let in a feeling she hasn't felt ever since Pipp was almost crushed by the Death Egg Titan: Fear. But why? Because she feared to hear what Tails was going to say...

However, Tails just carefully took one of her hooves and guided her towards the edge of the cliff they were over, as they both sat down, and Tails never let go her hoof. In fact, he even placed his other hand over it and caressed it slightly, which made Zipp feel butterflies on her stomach, and she even blushed a bit again, just not as much as before.

"I understand perfectly that you feel speechless, Zipp" Tails told her. "I don't know how or why, but I'm willing to hear you, Zipp. I'll try not to interrupt you, okay? So you can explain me everything from the top" he assured her with a smile, one that warmed Zipp's heart and made her blush a bit more.

She knew she liked Tails ever since the Unicorn Sleepover, and she never thought she could ever feel more in love with him... Yet here he is, proving her wrong on something good and wholesome. He surely loved her if he was willing to listen.

So, taking a deep breath, Zipp looked at Tails in the eyes and spoke. "... Ever since I was a filly, my Mom has gotten the idea of me being the heiress and future Queen of Zephyr Heights too serious. I can never speak, refuse, give an opinion, or even stand by my position. Mom's very stubborn when it comes to train me so I can become the Queen one day, but... It doesn't changes the fact that I feel a bit left out and ignored by her... By my own mother!" she explained with concern.

Tails said nothing when he noticed that Zipp was almost at the edge of crying, and ehe even felt part of her hoof gripping into him, so he slowly grabbed Zipp from her chin and made her look at him, as he smiled at her, and she smiled back.

Zipp took another deep breath after that, and she decided to continue. "Remember that I was helping Mom for the Royal Feathers Ball while you were shopping and our siblings were dating?" she asked him, and Tails nodded, sticking to his word of not interrupt her. "Well... Mom told me that I'm gonna be the one making the big and main presentation for the Ball, something Pipp does every year instead of me! But Mom insists that I have to do it this year only because I... Because I'm the future Queen..." she said with concern, looking down and not daring to look at Tails in the eyes. "I know she means well, that she wants me to be the best kind of Queen I could ever be, but... How am I suppose to do that if I don't get a word on my own decisions?" she pointed out with concern.

Tails looked at her with shame and concern. He definitely wanted to help her out, to make her feel confident and happy as usual, but if she was right, then going with Haven and trying to talk her out on his own was maybe not the right idea.

And yet, he might had an idea on how to help, so he made her look at him again. "Well... I never got that feeling of being speechless... But I do know that you can prove your Mom wrong" he stated.

That made Zipp's eyes widen, and she looked at him confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Well, according to all that you've told me so far, Haven expects you to be this perfect little princess that will become the perfect Queen like her..." Tails started to explain. "But she's wrong on all of it! You gotta show her that you not only won't remain silent and obey as a perfect princess, but also that you won't be the kind of Queen she expects you to be, and that it's okay!" he said with a smile.

"... The what now?" Zipp snorted. "Little man, are we sure you're the same Tails I met last year? That wanted to hide behind Sonic and avoid talking to anyone?" he asked him with a mocking smirk.

Tails chuckled after hearing that, and Zipp couldn't help but chuckle along. "Ha ha. Very funny, princess" Tails mocked up with a smirk. "What I'm saying is that... Maybe you should apply your own words against her. I mean, I remember that Longclaw used to say no to a lot of stuff Sonic and I wanted to do, but we kept insisting until she said yes just so we could shut up about it and not annoy her anymore!" he confessed.

"... Wait, what?!" Zipp said with wide eyes, "Is... Is that even possible?!" she asked with shock.

"Yup!" Tails assured. "If there's anything that a parent hates more than a crying child? Is a kid that never shuts up about a thing. And, if you keep insisting with the idea until Haven is tired of hearing you talk about it, she might change her mind and let you not be the highlight of the ball just so you can stop talking about it!" he pointed out with a smile and a wink.

Zipp blushed a bit, but also chuckled. "So... You suggest I should insist on not doing this? You're not gonna... congratulate me or tell me that I should let this slip and wait for next year to complain with Mom?" she asked.

"Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today!" Tails replied with another wink. "If you can do something today and convince your Mom to let you decide if you'd rather be the highlight of the ball or not, then do it! After all, your Mom might be the Queen, but heiress or not, you have a voice, a life of your own, and you are absolutely on your right to choose what you want or not to do, no matter what your Mom, or anyone else, thinks about it" he stated. "That's the beauty of life: You get to live it how you want, no matter what everyone might think of it" he finished with a smile.

Yes. This was it. If Zipp was doubting before about being in love with him, she definitely was sure now that she loved him, that she wanted him.

So, she wrapped her hooves around Tails and hugged him tightly, also feeling her eyes watering, but this tears were not of sorrow: They were from pure and bright happiness.

"... Thank you, Tails... This means the world to me..." Zipp told him with a smile.

Tails chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, also rubbing her back. "Anytime, Zippy~" he said with happiness

Zipp blushed, but she still smiled widely. Tails not only listened with no interruptions, as he promised, but he also gave her a very good advice... one that gave her the wrong idea of what Tails actually meant, and it was probably going to make more than just her mother mad.

The day of the Royal Feathers Ball finally arrived.

To this event, at night, not only attended the highest class members of all Equestria, but also everypony else could attend to it. And yes, this includes our protagonists, obviously. I mean, even if he's not that relevant this Season, Sonic's still the protagonist... his name is literally in the tittle.

However, as everypony was entering to the ball through the Castle's entrance and across the red carpet, our protagonists were on a wing in the Castle, preparing on their own for the Ball as well.

"It was so nice from Queen Haven to let us get ready for the Ball in the castle!" Sunny commented, as Rouge seemed to be dividing her usual bride pony tail in two, while the bat herself had curlers on her hair.

"Duh! Mom always moves some strings whenever we gotta look divine for the most important events in Zephyr Heights!" Pipp said with a confident smile, like if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Well, yeah, it's a nice detail, but a whole wing of the castle isn't a bit too much?" Sonic asked, while he helped Knuckles to tie his bow.

"When it comes to be prepared, is never too much for a lady, honey" Amy said with a mocking and sarcastic tone and smirk, while Sonic rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Besides, having the whole wing for us means we can change each on our space, compared to the limited space in the Brighthouse" she pointed out.

"She got you there!" Knuckles said with a smirk, which lead to Sonic frowning at him and then making the bow tighter to cut the echidna's breath for a second, before adjusting it back and allowing Knuckles to breath again, as he glared daggers at Sonic, who smirked mockingly at him.

Suddenly, Pipp seemed to be counting if everypony was in the room, but then she came to notice that they were missing somepony, the one pony that shouldn't be missing today.

"Uh... Where's Zipp?" Pipp asked confused. "I was hoping I could die her mane a bit for her presentation in the ball" she explained.

"I haven't seen her ever since this morning" Izzy said, while Amy came by and started to tie her mane on a pony tail with several flowers.

"Ugh! Of course she was going to make an excuse to not get herself ready..." Pipp deadpanned, also facehoofing in frustration. "Has anyone any idea or were she could be?" she asked with half a frown and half a bored expression.

"Pipp, sweetie, this is your house. Shouldn't you know that?" Sonic pointed out with a bored expression.

"She didn't even entered with us, princess" Shadow said with a bored expression and his arms crossed, while laying on a wall near the area where Rouge was doing Sunny's mane.

"What?!" Pipp said with shock, panic and wide eyes, as she flew in front of Shadow and glared daggers at him. "You noticed that she didn't even came with us, and said NOTHING ABOUT IT?!" she shouted in rage.

"I thought she was getting ready on her own or even making her look a surprise or something" Shadow said, not even flinching at Pipp's stare. "Also, don't expect me to feel intimidated. You're all too cute for me to take you serious" he confessed.

"UGH!" Pipp groaned. "I thought that she was better after Tails talked with her! I mean, yeah, she still didn't wanted to talk about her presentation, but she didn't even seemed bothered about it anymore!" she pointed out.

"It's kinda weird, if you ask me..." Hitch said with a raised eyebrow, before looking at Tails, who's tail was being groomed by Misty. "Hey, Tails! What did you told Zipp exactly that got her so cheered up?" he asked him.

"I just told her she should've keep insisting on the idea of not being the highlight tonight if she didn't wanted to" Tails confessed while shrugging. "I don't think she actually followed my advice, but she was definitely happier after we talked that night..." he pointed out with concern.

"Well, if she wants her look to be a surprise, I don't really see the problem" Sonic pointed out with a shrug.

"Me neither! Maybe is for the best that we don't know where she is so she can impress us for the Ball?" Sunny pointed out.

"Oh, you guys clearly don't understand..." Pipp said with a frown. "Zipp never liked the idea in the first place! I tried to talk Mom out of it, but she insisted that we had to do it her way!" she pointed out.

"... Wait... Was that why she was so mad with us before Tails talked to her?" Izzy asked confused.

"Yes, Izzy. And you are just realizing. Wonderful..." Tails replied sarcastically with an eye roll.

"I would go and check how's she doing, but I need to get myself ready!" Pipp pointed out with concern.

"Then I'll go and do it" Tails said, as he walked towards the door.

"Is the fifth door after going straight for 2 minutes and take a turn to the left!" Pipp instructed.

"Got it!" Tails replied, as he left the place and went to look for Zipp.

Speaking of Zipp, she was, in fact, at her old bedroom on the castle.

However, and unlike many would've expect, she wasn't preparing for her presentation for the ball... Because she didn't even created one. Like, she had two whole weeks to plan it out after Haven told her that she was going to be highlight this year... She choose to simply not do anything at all.

Yup, her plan wasn't even to insist to her mother on not be the main event at the ball, she simply wasn't planning to show up at all and that's it...

Soon enough, however, she heard a knock on the door, but she didn't even bothered to open the door. She just lay on her bed and checked her phone, something she wouldn't do that much if she wasn't planning on staying on this place the whole night... A plan that wasn't going to work at all.

"Zephyrina?!" Queen Haven's voice spoke from the other side of the room, and Zipp groaned and rolled her eyes. "Zipp, are you in there?!" her mom asked with concern.

Sighing frustrated, and knowing very well that Haven wasn't going to leave her alone, Zipp hopped off her bed and walked over the door, opening to face her mother with a bored expression, while Queen Haven herself was wearing a long, golden-purple dress that combined with her crown.

But of course, Haven's eyes widened after she noticed that Zipp wasn't even preparing for the ball. "For the love of–– Zephyrina, why are you not even ready?!" she asked with concern and a half-frown.

"Uh, because I'm not gonna make the presentation?" Zipp replied sarcastically with a raised eyebrow.

"... Excuse me?" Haven said, followed by a sarcastic laugh and a sigh. "Okay, that was a good one, darling. Seriously, though, you better be ready to make your presentation tonight––" she tried to add, but...

"Oh, I don't even have a presentation. In fact, I didn't even made one" Zipp replied with a very relaxed smile, since it wasn't a big deal for her.

Haven chuckled a bit, but this time, she did it awkwardly and looking around. "Um... Is this some kind of joke? Are we getting recorded for an exclusive 'prank segment' on ZH News or something?" she asked, now starting to get concerned.

"Nope. I seriously have nothing for tonight" Zipp replied, still smiling for Haven's confusion.

"... Zipp, what in the name of Zephyr Heights are you talking about?" Haven asked, now frowning and getting mad, which would usually be a sign for Zipp to panic... But today? She didn't even flinched. "Are you serious with not having a thing for tonight? You don't even have a dress ready?!" she asked in anger.

"Nu-uh!" Zipp replied with a shake of her head, still smiling.

"What the buck you mean with 'Nu-uh', young lady?!" Haven shouted, now loosing her patience completely.

"Mom, is that really hard to understand?" Zipp asked with a confident smirk. "You told me out of nowhere that I'm gonna be the highlight of the show when I don't want to, but you don't respect my position. So, I'm not giving you any satisfaction tonight. I'm choosing to not perform because I don't want to. Is pretty simple" she explained.

Now Haven was really lacking patience at this point. "Zephyrina. I understand that you are mad with me for not giving you time or 'a choice', but not showing up to the ball and making us look like fools is not gonna solve anything!" she pointed out with anger.

"Um, we are not gonna be fools" Zipp spoke. "If anything, you'll probably be the fool in there for promising something that was never discussed with me in the first place. I'm not even showing up" she pointed out with an eye roll, but still smirking and even snorting a bit.

"ZEPHYRINA!" Haven snapped, but Zipp didn't flinched, although she did looked over at Haven with a raised eyebrow because of her outburst. "I don't get what's your game, nor where you want to go with it, but you are not damaging our image because of a foolish behavior like this one!" she stated.

"And there you go again, caring for ponies' opinions that are later going to be worth nothing because they talk trash about us on our backs anyways" Zipp said with another eye roll, now turning around and heading inside of her room again.

"Ugh! Why can't you ever listen to me for once?!" Haven shouted, as she got inside of Zipp's room and closed the door behind to make sure the conversation wouldn't be that loud.

"For the love of feathers, Mom!" Zipp said with anger as well. "I've been listening to you my whole bucking life! I've followed your every order, step, petition, rule and indication. I have complained, cried, shouted, begged for other choices, but I still followed your orders! Yet the only time I choose to have a second opinion out of this, you suddenly forget everything I've done because you told me to, and now I've never listened you before!" she snapped, opening her wings.

"Precisely because you never disobeyed me before is that I'm concerned!" Haven said with a frown. "What have changed this year that you don't want to do this, the one thing I hoped you would not rebel at?!" she asked with anger.

"Because I'm not the perfect princess you want me to be, Mom!" Zipp snapped with pure anger, but even at her rage, tears started to roll down her cheeks. "I never was, and I'll never will! I'm not like Pipp, who obeys you like the sweet, little and perfect doll she's supposed to be! I can never speak on my own, I just have to hang my head low and resist the urge to shout all these things on your face because I don't have a right to speak according to you! I don't follow your rules they way you want me to, because I am not going to be the Queen you want me to be! And I am definitely not going to ever be like you! So go ahead, disinherit me if you want! I don't care! I'm not going to do things your way because I'm not perfect, Mom. And I. Never. WILL!!!" she shouted in anger, as tears kept rolling down her cheeks.

"THAT'S ENOUGH WITH YOU!" Haven shouted in anger as well. "I don't know why I even bother trying to resonate with you! You are rebellious, irresponsible, insecure, and a terrible heiress! Your sister never answers to me because she knows her place, because she knows that I cannot be denied! But no! You still have to be that stupid filly that misses the father that never cared for her in the first place! And the truth is, Zephyrina, that I'll still will shut you up, that I'll still will get you to take Pipp's place in more future events because you are not enough to rule this place, and if you keep doing what you're doing right now? YOU'LL NEVER BE!" she snapped with her wings hanging up, also breathing heavily.

However, as her outburst was finally over, she got a look over Zipp's face: Her tears were rolling down her cheeks at a faster paste now; her eyeliner, which she did used today, was running down as well; her ears were hanging low; her jaw was trembling; her wings were hanging low as well; and her eyes showed a pure and genuine mix of fear and concern that Haven hasn't seen in her, nor in Pipp now that she thinks about it, ever since their father... Since her husband...

She realized too late what she did, what she said, and she felt her own eyes watering. Just remembering all the things she told her daughter a few seconds ago were enough to make her feel worse than terrible. She told her own daughter things that she have thought of her several times in the past, but she didn't actually believed them.

But of course, Zipp didn't knew that. In fact, she believed that Haven did trusted on her own words, that Zipp was not enough to be the heiress to the throne, and that she never will.

"... So that's what you think, huh?" Zipp muttered, snorting a bit despite the tears still rolling down her cheeks. "You never trusted me with this in the first place... You don't trust me with anything..." she said with sorrow and concern.

"Z-Zipp..." Haven spoke, as she stepped in front and tried to approach her daughter, but Zipp stepped back.

"You don't even care what I do at the Bay, do you?" Zipp asked. "You probably only let me stay in there not because you support me, but because you don't want to see the disappointment you have as a daughter, isn't that right, mother?" she asked her, now frowning with anger.

"Z-Zipp, t-that is not––" Haven tried to say, but Zipp just let out a cracked and broken laugh, as tears rolled down her cheeks, and Haven started to tear up as well.

"Don't. Bother. To answer me, Mom" Zipp said with a cold and hurt stare. "I know what you think of me... And honestly? I wished you were the one that left instead of dad" she added with anger, before turning around, push the window of her room open and then fly away, not bothering to look back at her mom.

"ZIPP!" Haven shouted, as she rushed to the window and looked out, but unfortunately, Zipp was already long gone.

Her breath intensified, and her mind started to roll down with thousands of ideas on where did Zipp go, or what is she gonna do now that she was far away. She also felt deep regret: Why did she said all those things? Sure, she was mad, but it was no excuse to say all the stuff she said to her.

Worse of all, she had to brought up her dad, when she was conscious on how delicate that subject was, but she still brought it up, and she broke her daughter's heart in the process.

And the last thing that Zipp said before she left was stuck on her mind: 'I wished you were the one that left instead of dad'... That was going to haunt her on her nightmares for a while now, if not forever. She screwed it big time, all because she was too focused on training her to be Queen that she never stopped to consider how she felt about it...

"Oh, Zipp... What have I done?" Haven muttered with concern, as she sobbed and cried out in sorrow, while her makeup got completely ruined because of the tears rolling down her cheeks.

However, neither the Queen of Zephyr Heights nor Zipp are aware that Tails heard the whole thing.

He actually found them talking ever since Haven arrived to her room, so he hid in the air to not be seen. However, once Haven got inside the room and the conversation got worse, Tails landed in front of the door and putted his ear on the door, just to feel shocked after hearing everything Haven told Zipp.

He was feeling bad that Zipp finally told everything that was bothering her for years out loud, and she still got scolded for it. Worse of all, Haven said really rude things, but judging by her cry that he could hear from the other side, she regrets it.

Also judging by her cry, Tails could feel that Zipp was not even there anymore... But he had to be sure. So, he slowly opened the door, and he found Haven crying down as she sat down on the floor, with her makeup completely ruined. Even worse, the window was open, indicating that Zipp escaped, which concerned him.

Haven slowly lifted her head and looked at Tails, while the young fox approached her and looked at her with concern.

"T-Tails... Y-You heard all of that?" Haven asked with concern, but the tears wouldn't stop rolling down her eyes.

Tails only nodded at her, before looking at the open window again, and then return his sight to the crying Queen, as he kneeled and placed his hands on her shoulders. "... I heard everything... And I know that you don't mean what you said, Your majesty" he told her with a little smile, which made Haven to look at him with wide and shocked eyes. "I judge people, and ponies, by their actions, not by their words. You cry here because she left, which means you don't mean anything that you said. That's enough for me, but it clearly isn't for Zipp" he pointed out with concern.

"... I... I said things I don't believe from her... But my mind wasn't at the right place, a-and..." Haven spoke with a broken voice.

"Your majesty, as I said, I know you don't mean any of what you said, but Zipp doesn't knows that" Tails explained with concern. "She feels that you don't care about her opinion, and honestly? Pipp feels that too. You need to show her that you trust her, that you care about her word" he pointed out.

"B-But I do care about her, about her word!" Haven said with concern.

"But you never show it" Tails pointed out. "Zipp feels that you never give her a chance to say what she wants to, that you never allow her to have a voice, a second opinion because you are too––" he tried to say, but...

"Focused on her training to be a Queen..." Haven finished with wide and shocked eyes, finally getting why Zipp was refusing to attend to the Ball in the first place. "All she wanted to do is tell how she felt about it, to have a second chance that she could choose on her own because she wanted. Not me, not her sister, not even you or any of her friends... Just her... And I never gave her that chance..." she finally realized. "G-Gosh... I-I'm such an awful mother..." she said with a broken voice.

"Hey, Haven. Look at me" Tails called out, even daring to leave formalities and calling the Queen by her name, but she still obeyed and looked at him. "You are not a terrible mother. You just made mistakes, like any parent, because not even they are perfect!" he pointed out with a smile. "Mine never cared for me in the slightest, hence why I was always bullied for my tails. And even if Longclaw was a great mother, she also made mistakes! You did what you thought was the right call for her education, even if that made Zipp close herself and feel speechless whenever she wanted to have a voice on anything..." he pointed out.

"... I truly screwed it, didn't I?" Haven snorted sadly. "Sweet hoofness, what wouldn't I do to change the past and allow my girl to say what she wanted to when she wanted to... So many things would've been different..." she said with sorrow.

"No one can change the past, and even if we could, it would bring more disasters than benefits..." Tails pointed out. "But you can still change the future, Majesty" he stated with a smile. "All you gotta do, is show Zipp that you care for her, that you are willing to give her a choice! I know it might look silly to you that she doesn't wants to be the headliner of the Ball, but it means a lot to her because she's not doing it by choice! She wants a choice, Haven. She wants you to give her options to choose for herself!" he explained. "You gotta show her, prove her that you are willing to do so" he pointed out, but now with a smile. "And that's not only for Zipp... Pipp deserves that, too" he added.

Haven was speechless after hearing all of this. She could understand why both her daughters fell in love with Sonic and Tails... Because both of them knew what to say and when to say it. With such simple words, Tails managed to cheer her up, and she couldn't help but smile warmly at the young fox for his words...

And she knew he was right. She loved her daughters, but she barely gave them a chance... Not anymore.

So what if Zipp was the heiress to the throne, or that Pipp was a big Pop Star in Equestria? They were still ponies, but most importantly, her daughters, two creatures she brought to the world.

They both had their own lives now, just like she has her own life as well with Alphabittle. Her daughters were free to choose what they wanted to be, and she could not like it, but she was in no position to destroy their lives just because she's their Mom, nor because she's Zephyr Heights' Queen.

So, it was settled: She was gonna give her daughters a chance, no matter if she was on board on with it or not. She couldn't control their lives, she didn't had to, and she wasn't going to anymore.

"... You are right, Young Prower" Haven spoke, as she stood up and looked at the fox, while Tails himself stood up and looked at her. "My daughters mean everything to me... but they have their own lives, and I'm in no position to take that away from them. I will change this, I will make sure they know that I care for what they have to say, that they have a choice..." she stated with a determinate look, despite her ruined makeup.

"And I know that you mean it, your majesty" Tails said with a smile, before looking out of the window. "... I'm gonna look after Zipp. I'll bring her back!" he stated, as he rushed to the window and prepared his tails to fly off.

"Tails, wait!" Haven called out, and Tails turned to see her. "... Tell her that I love her, and that I never meant all of what I said..." she begged.

However, Tails snorted at her petition. "I'm sorry, Majesty. But I'm afraid that you'll have to be the one who's telling her that!" he stated, before twirl his tails to fly in the air, and then boost away.

Haven wanted to say something before he left, but she stopped herself. Deep down, she knew that Tails was right, even if she hardly wanted to recognize it.

Tails flew across Equestria faster than he has ever done it before.

His tuxedo suit was ruined, so he removed it in the air and even brought out his googles again, placing them on his eyes.

He first visited the same place where he found her singing about how speechless she was feeling, but he didn't found her there. So, he quickly flew towards Maretime Bay, because he knew perfectly that Zipp wouldn't hide on Bridlewood.

However, once he arrived to Maretime Bay, he stopped flying right above the Sheriff Station and landed over the giant badge in front of it, as he used his googles to scan the entire bay in search for Zipp. Eventually, he got her lectures coming from the beach, so he headed to said place.

And yet, the sign guided him to a place that he could not access because it was blocked by a bunch of rocks. Tails checked the sign again to make sure he wasn't wrong, but the sign clearly showed Zipp on the other side.

So, he quickly flew above the sign, until he reached some kind of hill in top of the cave where Zipp seemed to be into. He removed his googles and looked for a place where he could enter, until he saw that there was a small hole in the ground. So, he quickly entered through said hole curled into a ball, barely spinning his Tails once he didn't felt a ground to land.

Once he did that, he got impressed when he saw all the glowing crystals and the small lake in the cave. This place was beautiful, no doubt, but that's not why he needed to get in for.

He looked down, and there, he found Zipp, looking down at her reflection on the lake, while he slowly approached her, landing behind her. Zipp didn't even flinched, despite the fact that she knew Tails was there. So, Tails approached a bit more, but that's when Zipp sobbed, and he stopped moving.

It seems that Zipp has been crying ever since she arrived here, and Tails was feeling bad because of it. Still, he choose to approach her anyways... But he didn't exactly knew what to tell her...

"... What are you doing here?" Zipp spoke first after some seconds of silence, which were only interrupted whenever Zipp sobbed occasionally.

"I... I was worried for you" Tails said with honesty. "I just wanted to check on you, but... I don't need some sort of super vision to know you're not okay..." he said with an awkward chuckle.

"No crap, Sherlock..." Zipp said sarcastically, sorbing through her nose a bit. "Well... Now you know how I'm doing.... You can go..." she said with a cold tone, despite the sad tone being there as well.

"What? No! Zipp, I'm not just gonna––" Tails tried to say.

"Yes, you are!" Zipp said sternly, as she turned to face him, and Tails felt his heart sinking when he saw that her eyes were incredibly red and her mane was a bit messy. "I don't want to hear anyone trying to comfort me with lies! Everything that Mom told me is true!" she shouted with anger and hate, but not hate for Tails... it was hate for herself.

"Zipp, whatever she told you––" Tails tried to spoke again, but again, she cut him off.

"I'm just a rebel princess that runs away from her problems, Tails!" Zipp cried out loud, as more tears started to fall from her eyes and she looked at her own reflection with disgust. "I'm irresponsible and not even dare to attend my own duties! I never feel enough when it comes to anything in general! As a detective, as a princess, as a friend, as a sister... I have so many insecurities that I simply hide away because I don't want anypony to see the fragile and ridiculous princess behind my confident smirk! I'M JUST NOT ENOUGH!!!" she shouted with rage, sadness and shame, as she started to hyperventilate.

After she spoke out all her worries out, she broke entirely and started to cry again. She couldn't hide anymore at this point. She felt completely heart-broken after Haven shouted all that stuff, and now it was stuck on her head.

It didn't mattered if a part of her wanted to believe that her Mom just said all of that because she was mad at the moment, a louder part convinced her already that Haven believes she's a failure of a heiress and princess. Worse of all? A part of her desired to end the pain she fas feeling in all the possible senses, but she was too coward to even make such a thing.

Once again, she was proving to herself that she wasn't enough if she couldn't even end everything because she's so afraid.

As for Tails, he couldn't believe that Zipp would think so low about herself. Yeah, what Queen Haven told her was horrible and wrong, but it was that bad? He couldn't understand.

And yet, he wasn't planning to leave her like that, so he slowly walked up to her, kneeled at her side and opened his arms, indicating that he was willing to comfort her, no matter how much she declared that she didn't wanted it. Zipp noticed this, and didn't even hesitated, as she buried her face on Tails' chest and cried, cried like she never had cried before.

For the next 10 or 15 minutes, they both honestly lost count, Tails just embraced tightly the white pegasus and comforted her by rubbing her back, while Zipp cried on his chest and started to calm down.

Once she finally had calmed down, she simply stood there, burying her face on Tails' chest and still sobbing a bit sometimes, holding him like if her life depended on it, and it sort of did. And Tails just kept comforting her, just like Sonic and Amy used to do with him when he was younger and got scared of thunderstorms.

After some seconds of silence, Tails sighed and finally decided to speak. "Zipp... I heard everything you and your Mom discussed about..." he straight up confessed, since he didn't wanted to lie at her.

Zipp's eyes widened, and she slowly looked up at him. "... What?" she asked confused.

"I was looking for you when I heard that you two were fighting..." Tails confessed, a bit ashamed. "I'm not proud of that, but... Zipp, your Mom was outraged from the moment. I don't think she meant everything she told you" he pointed out.

"Yeah, well, I do" Zipp said with a frown, but some tears were daring to show up. "She's been disappointed at me ever since I got more rebellious with time––" she tried to say, but Tails placed a finger on her mouth.

"Zipp, none of that is true, and you know it" Tails said with a serious look. "Now, let's pretend for a second that she does believe that, even if she doesn't... So what? She'll be wrong about you on everything!" he said with a smirk.

Zipp raised an eyebrow after he said that. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"First of all: You are not someone that escapes from her problems" Tails started to explain. "You wanted to choose wether to stay on Maretime Bay or not when magic glitched for the first time, and you choose to stay. You didn't wanted to escape your obligations, you just wanted to find out who you are first. And if you are still discovering that, is still not running away from your obligations!" he pointed out.

Zipp looked at him confused, but she decided to keep listening.

"Second: You definitely do not run from your duties!" Tails kept explaining. "Yes, you wanted to avoid Portrait Day because you didn't liked it, but you still attended to it along your sister!" he pointed out with a smile. "And don't even get me started on your delightful presentation for Wishentine! I still do not know how was that musical called, and I refuse to learn that long-ass name, but you were amazing! Y-You flew like an angel in the sky, and your voice! That's what I meant when I said that you're a great singer!" he explained happily.

Zipp felt her cheeks turning red after that compliment, but she still smiled warmly at Tails.

"And third, but most importantly: You are enough at everything you listed!" Tails said firmly, even grabbing Zipp's hooves, which made her blush increase. "As a detective? If it wasn't for you, the rest would've never had found that magic was glitching; or that Misty was a traitor, even though I didn't believed and was an asshole with you, I'm not proud of that" he deadpanned.

At this, Zipp giggled slightly at his statement.

"As a princess? Pipp might be famous and all, but ponies' are more interested in you, and not only because you're the heiress, but because you're one of the five ponies that brought magic back to Equestria!" Tails kept talking. "As a sister? Pipp adores you! You are her best friend, and she loves and knows you more than any of us, even more than Sonic! And you know how obsessed she is with him..." he declared with a smirk.

"Yeah, she never shuts up about him..." Zipp rolled her eyes, but still smiled.

"And as a friend? Zipp... I don't think I could ever shut up about everything I love about you" Tails said with a smile, not even flinching after he said straight up 'love'.

And, of course, Zipp blushed hard after she heard that. "... L-Love?!" she asked with wide eyes and disbelief.

"Charismatic, funny, athletic, intelligent, sassy, sometimes adorkable... beautiful..." Tails listed up with a huge smile, and Zipp's hearts skipped a beat, while her eyes sparkled and her cheeks got even redder if that was possible.

Then, Tails let go one of her hooves and caressed her cheek with a hand, while Zipp smiled and closed her eyes at Tails' gentle touch over her.

"Zipp, you are one of the most beautiful girls I'd ever laid my eyes on" Tails said with happiness, although this time around, his cheeks did got red, and Zipp opened her eyes wide after what he told her. "Your Mom and your sister are pretty, true... But in my eyes? I don't think I could ever find a jewel more precious than you" he confessed, and even though his heart was beating fast and his face was blushing, his smile showed confidence, and his eyes showed love for her.

Yeah, she was even more in love with him at this point, if it was even possible.

Anytime she needed to be cheered up, either Sunny or Pipp were there for her, and they did made her feel better... But the amount of mixed feelings that Tails made her feel? No one she ever met before was able to do it, and she definitely loves that about him, because she likes him, she loves him.

And yet, her eyes still showed insecurity and fear, because all the bad stuff Haven told her earlier was still stuck in her head.

"... But what If you're wrong?" Zipp asked, as she looked over at Tails with concern. "... What if... I'm not everything you tell me I am?" she added with pure fear and panic on her eyes.

https://youtu.be/LpvLhqmZxpo

Tails looked at her with concern for a moment, before having an idea on how to finally cheer her up and smile. So, he lifted her chin and made her look at him.

"Because I know that you are the most beautiful star in the sky, Zippy~" Tails told her with a loving gaze.

Zipp blushed a lot, but then looked down with doubts on her mind. "R-Really?" she asked, still not believing him.

Tails:
Close your tired eyes
Relax and then
Count from one to ten
And open them

All these heavy thoughts
Will try to weigh you down
But not this time

As Tails began to sing, he helped Zipp to stand up. After that, he used his powers to create a massive cannon, which he used to destroy the rocks blocking the cave's entrance, and Zipp covered herself from the explosion.

However, once she opened her eyes, the moonlight illuminated over Tails, making him look more attractive than she already found him.

Next up, Tails extended his hand to her, and she placed a hoof over his hand. Then, Tails spun his tails and dragged Zipp to the air, as the pegasus mare flapped her wings along.

Way up in the air
You're finally free
And you can stay up there
Right next to me

In the air, Tails let go of Zipp's hoof and pointed at the night sky while singing, and Zipp smiled brightly at the verse he just sang.

All this gravity
Will try to pull you down
But not this time

However, what Tails did next did made Zipp panic: Once they were both really high in the air, he stopped spinning his tails and dived towards the sea, so Zipp dived towards him in an attempt to rescue him.

But as the young fox sang the last line and approached to the sea, he spun his tails again and flew over water, back to the sky. Seeing what he really wanted to do, Zipp smirked, and so, she did the exact same thing, while her hind legs touched the water for a second, as she went back to the sky along Tails.

When the sun goes down and the lights burn out
Then it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So Shine no matter where you are

As Zipp reached the sky and stopped once she was above the clouds, Tails started to sing and move around her, also making her twirl in the air a bit, which made the pegasus mare let out a giggle that melted Tails' heart.

Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light
Cause it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So Shine no matter where you are
Tonight

While singing this, Tails flew around the sky, with Zipp imitating his moves, and then, Tails approached and grabbed her hooves, as they made a little dance in the air, which was still just twirling around. But then, Tails launched her towards the sky, and the moonlight illuminated her figure, truly making her shine like a shooting star.

Woah, Woah, Woah
Brighter than a shooting star
Shine no matter where you are
Tonight

As Zipp dived back with Tails, he caught her in the air with his hands, and they both twirled around for a bit, until Zipp was now doing it on her own.

Zipp:
Gaze into my eyes
When the fire starts
And feel the flame so hot
It melts our hearts

Now that Zipp was singing as well, Tails smiled, because it meant that her confidence was returning little to little. In fact, he did gazed into her eyes just like the song was telling.

Oh, the pouring rain
Will try to put it out
But not this time

As Zipp sang this and kept looking at Tails on his eyes, the young fox nodded, because she was finally getting what he meant with this song, and now she was singing along.

Let your colors burn
And brightly burst
Into a million sparks
That all disperse

While still singing, Zipp noticed that Tails flew away from her, so she decided to follow him.

They both started to constantly dive into the clouds in a playful manner, as the pegasus mare giggled happily to be chasing the young fox, because it was just an innocent game of two lovebirds chasing each other.

Illuminate a world
That will try to bring you down

At the end of their game, Tails surprised Zipp by coming below her and lift her in bridal style through the sky, but Zipp didn't really seemed to mind, since she even wrapped her hooves around his neck, and as they flew in the sky, Tails joined her into singing again.

Tails and Zipp:
But not this time

Soon, Zipp got free of Tails' grip and started to fly across the sky while doing several loops in the air, and Tails followed her along with a smile.

When the sun goes down and the lights burn out
Then it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So Shine no matter where you are

They both sang in harmony and synchrony, while they also held hooves/hands and several occasions because they wanted to feel each other close.

Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light
Cause it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So Shine no matter where you are
Tonight

Soon, Tails wrapped his arms around Zipp's waist, while Zipp wrapped her hooves around his neck, as they both smiled and stared at each other with loving gazes. Zipp's Cutie Mark even started to shine bright as they sang together.

Woah, Woah, Woah
Brighter than a shooting star
Shine no matter where you are
Tonight

For this part of the song, they both parted ways and dived towards the ground together. They stared into each other's eyes, and Zipp was marveled with Tails'. She found her happy place on them, a zone were she could be herself, were she could fly and be free... with him.

Tails:
A thousand heartbeats beating time

Zipp:
It makes this dark planet come alive

Tails and Zipp:
So when lights flicker out tonight
You gotta shine

Once they were close to hit the ground, they looked to each other's eyes and smiled, then nodded with confidence, before boosting back to the air.

When the sun goes down and the lights burn out
Then it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So Shine no matter where you are

Once there, they flew around some more, but even if they were circling, they slowly approached each other, until they wrapped arms and hooves around each other again and stared into the other's eyes with loving gazes.

Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light
Cause it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So Shine no matter where you are
Tonight

This was their safe and happy place. This is were they wanted to be. Tails always though he had just a silly crush on her, but he was glad to be wrong: He loved her, so much that he thanked whatever impulsed him to follow Sonic to Equestria along Knuckles. Otherwise, he would've never had met this beautiful mare.

And Zipp? She could clearly see that Tails loved her, too, but the way he was holding her, cheering her up, all the things he said about her earlier in the cave... Zipp was in love with this fox, and she wouldn't want it otherwise. She liked Tails, and she knew he liked her as well. This was perfect for her, no matter everything that happened earlier that night.

Woah, Woah, Woah
Brighter than a shooting star
Shine no matter where you are
Tonight

As they finished singing, they slowly landed back on Maretime Bay's beach, with Tails still holding Zipp's hoof over his hand.

They both looked at each other for a second, a second where they smiled. Zipp could still see on Tails' eyes that loving gaze over her, and she herself had the same gaze for him to be honest.

"Zipp, there's a sky full of stars out there, but... I find you to be the most beautiful one of them" Tails told her with a smile, and he even held her hoof with both hands, caressing a bit.

Zipp blushed again after seeing this. "T-Tails?" she said a bit confused.

"Looking back at everything we've lived together? I realize that you mean more to me than just a friend..." Tails spoke, and even if he blushed, his voice still showed security. "Despite clashing on some stuff sometimes, like your detective stuff, or the thing with Misty... I actually never realized I was doing all of that because I cared for you, and... I just didn't wanted your heart to be in the wrong place..." he confessed with concern.

Zipp's heart melted after he said that, her eyes sparkled, and she even felt her eyes tearing up. "... Tails..." she muttered with disbelief.

"What I try to say, Zipp... Is that you are enough to all of us" Tails said with a smile. "To your mom, to your future subjects, to your friends... To me... You are the brightest shooting star ever, Zipp Storm. And I... I love you because of who you are" he finally confessed.

Zipp's eyes widened, her wings opened, and her heart skipped another beat. Did he... Did he just confessed to her? Just like that? With no previous warning?!

Sure, she already knew that he liked her back, but... this was sudden and unexpected.

"I love you, Zipp, because of the mare you are" Tails kept speaking. "A beautiful mare that never gives up so easily, no matter how frustrating or desperate the situation seems. A mare that fights to keep her friends save from any possible threat, but most importantly... The mare that captivated my heart by just being herself. Because, if I haven't been obvious enough at this point? I love you, Zipp Storm..." he finished with a huge grin, although his face was flushing red.

However, Zipp couldn't care less for that last fact. Her eyes teared up from happiness, and she smiled and started to laugh. Soon, she wrapped her hooves around Tails, and Tails hugged her back, even twirling her in the air with pure joy and happiness.

Zipp squealed, but her giggles never stoped, and Tails didn't wanted them to. For him, her giggles were the most beautiful sound on the entire world, both Equestria and Mobius.

And Zipp? Finally hearing from Tails that he loves her just as much as she loves him was music to her ears. She knew that she loved him, true, but it was a different story when she was loved in the very same way, and the way he was so confident when telling it... She wouldn't change that for anything in the world.

After a few minutes, Tails finally putted her back in the ground, and they both stared at each other with blushes and smiles.

"Tails... You have no idea how much all of this means to me..." Zipp spoke with a smile. "I... Tails, I love you too! Everything of you. Is not only the fact that you have gotten more attractive as time went on..." she said with a blush, and Tails blushed like mad as well. "I also love the special way that you are with me. So sweet, so caring, so... You. Because, well... I like you, Tails! I like, like you, a lot, and... I honestly suspected that you liked me too... I was just nervous to see if you'll ever said something or not, I guess..." she confessed.

Tails chuckled slightly, and he caressed Zipp's cheek with a hand. "Well, I honestly started to suspect the same about you feeling in love with me... And I'm so glad that I was right..." he said with a loving gaze.

"Me too" Zipp said with the same gaze.

And so, they both nodded, before leaning over and lock their lips. To tell the truth, this was the first time they both were doing something like this... But despite the strange and fuzzy feelings they both had because of their first kiss ever in their lives, they were enjoying it a lot.

Now that Zipp was standing on her hind legs? They were both surprisingly the same size, but that just made their kiss easier to carry, and she even enjoyed it at some stance, if it meant she could kiss her now lover's lips.

Soon, their lips parted away because of the lack of air, but as they locked eyes, they smiled at each other with love.

"So... does this makes me a prince, or just a 'friend with benefits'?" Tails asked with a mocking smirk.

Zipp's eyes widened in shock, but then, she bursted out laughing at the joke, and Tails joined her soon enough. After all, the sound of her laugh is what he loves the most about her.

"Oh, you cute goofball..." Zipp said with a loving gaze, also bitting her lower lip. "I think we are just a couple of young adults in love... Unless you want us to go further~" she mocked up with a mischievous smirk.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, Zippy" Tails told her with a smile. "I think we should first go back to Zephyr Heights, you know?" he pointed out.

At this, Zipp's eyes widened in shock and panic. "The Royal Feathers Ball! I forgot it entirely!" she screamed in panic. "Oh, Mom is gonna kill me! Not only because I'm incredibly late at this point, but also because I seriously don't have anything! Ugh! I shouldn't had granted that Mom was going to let me slip just like that!" she pointed out with concern.

"Hey, Zipp..." Tails called out, as he made her face him, and he smiled sweetly at her. "It's not late to come up with something. We can figure out what to do for your presentation, together" he stated confidently.

Zipp was surprised to hear this, but she still smiled at him. "You truly love me if you are willing to do that for me, don't you, Mr. Prower?" she asked him with a mocking smile.

"Anything for a cute princess like you, Ms. Storm~" Tails replied.

With this, Zipp giggled and leaned for another kiss, which Tails gladly returned. These two love birds were now a couple, and even if they knew the reactions about them being an official couple were gonna be similar to Sonic and Pipp's, they didn't cared. Because, if they had each other, they were never going to be alone.

The couple of lovebirds was flying back to Zephyr Heights now.

As they were flying in the air, they decided to play around with each other, chasing and even tackling each other in the air several times to get a quick kiss, all for the sake of playing and messing around with each other.

Soon, they both landed on Zephyr Heights' land track and went inside of the Castle. As they walked down the long corridors, of the castle, however, they walked into Queen Haven, who seemed to be completely concerned for Zipp, since she and Tails left 2 hours ago.

But when the Queen saw her daughter walking alongside Tails, she immediately rushed and wrapped her into a tight hug, which took Zipp off guard, since she wasn't paying attention to her road.

"U-Uh... Mom?" Zipp called out a bit startled and confused.

"Oh, Zipp!" Haven said, as she hold her daughter tightly and teared up. "I'm so, so, so sorry for everything I told you! I-I wasn't thinking clear, my head got dizzy and messed up, and I... and I told you things that are not true..." she apologized, as she broke the hug and looked at Zipp with genuine concern and sorrow in her eyes. "I could not be anymore proud of you, my little and beautiful filly..." she added with a sad smile and a broken tone, but also caressing Zipp's cheek, and Zipp couldn't help but smile at the warm touch of her mother.

However, even if her words, her actions and her attitude were clearly showing her that she was sorry, a part of Zipp was still hesitant on forgive her mom, specially considering that she brought up her father...

"Zipp, your Mom was outraged from the moment. I don't think she meant everything she told you."

Tails' voice echoed on her mind, as she remembered that he told her that after she calmed down... and she couldn't help but smile a bit.

"Mom... I am sorry too... For letting my rebellious side get the best of me" Zipp decided to apologize as well. "While I do feel speechless with you sometimes, I also realize that we could have handled this situation better..." she pointed out with concern.

"I know, dear... Specially me..." Haven said with shame on her voice and tone. "I should had never silenced you when you wanted to have a choice, a voice on your life decisions... I know I can't go back in time and change all of that, but..." she stopped herself, then looked at Tails for a second, who smiled at her and nodded, which made Haven smile as well. "But I know that I can still make a better future for you... And for your sister..." she declared.

"What do you mean?" Zipp asked confused.

"From now on, Zephyrina... You and Pipp are free of choosing on anything you want. It won't be my choice anymore if any of you would rather headline a presentation or not... It'll be completely yours. And whenever I need a second opinion on anything from you two, I will listen, even if I do not agree" Haven explained with a determinate look. "I know we never had the best kind of mother-daughter relationship, but... I'm willing to listen and understand you, Zipp, even if it takes us some time..." she finished.

Well, this was it. If having Tails as her official boyfriend wasn't good enough, now hearing from her own mother that she was allowed to choose over her life with no intervention was a massive bless, one she was so grateful for.

So, with no hesitation, Zipp hugged Haven tightly, like she never did before, and Haven didn't hesitated on hugging her back with as much love and care.

"Y-You mean it, Mom?" Zipp asked, as she started to tear up for what felt like the millionth time today. "You really, really mean that?" she added, still in disbelief.

"I do, my dear. I do. You won't feel speechless ever again... I promise" Haven assured her with a sweet smile, and that made Zipp hold into her even tightly.

Tails felt touched by the moment, of course, but he still stepped a bit back to give mother and daughter a moment to bond.

"And I want to prove you that I'm serious with letting you choose... By letting you do so if you still refuse to headline tonight's main event" Haven stated with a smile.

Okay, that not only made Zipp's eyes widen, but Tails' as well, as he stood right besides his new girlfriend in shock. "... Uh, is this real? Are we not being the ones recorded for a 'prank segment' of ZH News?" the young fox asked confused.

Haven chuckled. "No, dears. I'm serious with this one. If you still don't want to be the center of attention tonight, I'll understand completely" she assured.

Zipp couldn't help but smile after hearing this. It was a relief that her Mom was serious about this and was allowing her to choose, because she seriously had nothing for a main event nor presentation for the Ball. However, she did had something to announce, and maybe she could use that for the big opening tonight.

"Well... I seriously have nothing for a big and fancy presentation like Pipp, but..." Zipp started, before glancing over at Tails and smile with a loving gaze over him, and Tails smiled back with the same kind of gaze. He even offered her his hand, and she gladly placed her hoof over it.

Haven noticed this and raised an eyebrow, but after looking back and forth between them, she noticed that they were gazing at each other the same way Sonic and Pipp do, and even the same way she herself does with Alphabittle anytime they look at each other. To add more into this, Tails' gesture was the thing that made her realize what was going on.

It was clear now, and her eyes widened in shock, even letting out a loud and dramatic gasp that called the new couple's attention. "Y-You two... are... You are..." she tried to ask in shock and disbelief.

"Yeah... Let's just say I wasn't so subtle with my words on me liking her, so..." Tails said with an embarrassed blush, as he rubbed an arm nervously, while Zipp blushed as well and rubbed her own hoof nervously, too.

"Right... I-I think I would like to use this Ball as my 'Big Relationship Announcement', Mom..." Zipp said nervously.

"Oh my heavens!" Haven squealed, before pulling both her daughter and her new son-in-law into a tight hug, as Zipp and Tails looked at each other confused in the middle of the hug, but they still chuckled silently, and then, Haven broke the hug. "Oh, sweet pony feathers! My babies are growing up so fast!" she said dramatically while waving a hoof at herself, while Zipp rolled her eyes with a playful smirk at her Mom's attitude. "Oh! And Tails..." she tried to add, now frowning.

However, Tails raised a hand and quickly cut her off. "I promise you, your majesty, that I'll watch her back like a guardian angel, just like she'll do with me" he assured her with confidence, and Zipp felt touched by his words, even placing a hoof on her chest. "Also, if I ever hurt her, I'll rip one of my own tails myself" he added with a deadpan. "I know it'll be a bit sadistic, but I'll deserve it for hurting her" he pointed out.

"Oh, you better-damn not hurt her, thought guy!" some weird minimized elephant said with a frown, before they walked away and disappeared as soon as they arrived.

This confused the Queen, the future Queen and the young fox, who looked at each other confused.

"What's up with the elephant in the room?" Tails asked confused.

"No clue..." Zipp deadpanned, before her eyes widened. "Wait! Does that mean that you approve us being together?! A-As a couple?" she asked, a bit scared of the answer.

"Why, of course I do!" Haven smiled widely. "Your sister is dating someone similar to him. I'm not surprised you fell for him as well~" she teased with a grin.

"MOM!" Zipp groaned in annoyance with her face fully red, also facehoofing, while Tails chuckled at her attitude, because no matter what she did or how she did it, he found her adorable.

"ABOUT DAMN TIME" Knuckles' voice shouted.

Zipp and Tails went to the private wing of the castle, and before Pipp could get a chance to scold Zipp for 'trying to run away from from her duties', both Zipp and Tails were holding hands/hooves together, and that cut her off.

Just then, they revealed the news and said that they were a couple now as well. While Team Dark was indifferent, although Shadow did rolled his eyes in annoyance and Rouge chuckled at his expression, everyone else but Misty soon gathered around them and congratulated them, with Knuckles messing with Tails' hair, and Sunny and Sonic squeezing the young fox into a hug like the older siblings they were.

On the other hand, Izzy and Pipp were doing the same with Zipp, with Pipp even dramatizing how fast Zipp was growing, despite the fact that she's the younger sister.

But as they separated to go and congratulate Tails, both Sonic and Sunny popped at Zipp's side, not looking friendly.

"Look, Zippster. We've been brothers in law for 8 months and known each other since last year..." Sonic spoke first. "But let's make one thing clear: If Tails ever gets hurt, and I find out you are the one that hurt him, I'll bring hell to earth and you'll be the cause of it!" he warned her with a menacing tone, fully blue eyes, and his electrical powers showing off.

"And if I am the one finding out..." Sunny spoke next, as she made her Alicorn form show and she gave a deadly stare that made Zipp feel her spine shivering. "I won't answer for my questionable actions" she stated, as her Alicorn form disappeared.

But as Sunny treated Zipp, Sonic looked at a random corner of the room for a second and panicked when he saw Cyber Sonic, standing behind Shadow and Omega. He shook his head, and then, the figure was gone, but it didn't made him less concerned.

Zipp, however, chuckled nervously and looked around concerned, not so sure on how to react to Sonic and Sunny's threats.

And yet, she wasn't the only one, because Tails was going down a similar situation with Pipp. "Listen here, Tails. I love you as a little brother like everyone in our group, but if you ever hurt my sister, all the other times I had gotten mad would look like nothing compared to what I'll do to you if my sister's heart is broken. Understood?!" the young pegasus warned Tails, while getting onto his face and even glaring daggers at him. Heck, Tails could even see fire on them for a sec.

Still, he nodded with a nervous gulp and a sheepish smile.

But as Hitch and Amy congratulated them as well and felt happy for them, Misty stood behind. She was smiling, true, but that didn't changed the fact that a part of her was disappointed.

Yes, she knows that Tails was in love with Zipp for a while now, but a part of her still kind of hoped that he was going to give her a chance one day... Yet that one's on her, because she should've had predicted that it wasn't going to happen.

She looked down, and even sighed frustrated, but soon, Amy approached her. "I know that look..." she told the unicorn mare. "You want to be happy for him, but you feel hurt because he choose someone else, don't you?" she asked her with a smile.

Misty's eyes widened at such an accurate description, and she simply nodded in disappointment.

"I know that feeling..." Amy confessed, as she turned around and saw Sonic and Pipp, with the latter flapping her wings in the air while hugging Sonic from the back. "A part of me is still selfish and wishes to be on her place... But I love Sonic enough to let him be happy with whoever he wants to be" she stated with a smile, then looked back at Misty. "You love Tails, right?" she asked her.

Misty hesitated on answering at first, but she still looked at her and nodded.

"Then I know that you'll heart will tell you the same" Amy finished with a smile.

To this, Misty couldn't help but smile as well.

She looked back at Zipp and Tails being congratulated for their relationship, and when they looked at each other, she could tell that Tails was very happy... And that made her happy too.

This is what Amy meant with her heart telling her the same, and honestly? She could live with that. As long as she could have Tails as a crucial part of her life, she didn't minded being her friend, one of the best, even.

She loved him, and she was happy to see that he's happy with Zipp. What else could she ask for?

Author's Notes:

Huh... Is weird, but I feel like I made a better job writing how Tails and Zipp got together than my OTP (Sonic x Pipp)... Is this hypocrisy, or I just got better at writing this kind of stuff?

Anyways, as you guys can see? These two have become a couple as well! That just leaves Sunny and Hitch, of course, but we'll get to them later! Specially considering that Hasbro just makes fan-service of every ship in general at this point.

I gotta admit that the part where Zipp sang "Speechless" from Aladdin (2019) was suggested by my already co-writer of this story at this point, BenictheHedgehog, because it originally wasn't going to be used. So, thanks again for the idea, Ben!

I always though that "Shooting Star" was the perfect song to use when these two became officially a thing, and I really hope I did captured a good atmosphere with these two, specially considering that the whole song took place in the sky. Now, I tried to find a duet version, but it doesn't exists, so I had to use the original one... Let's just use the imagination and pretend that Zipp's verses were sang by a female singer and call it a day.

The whole concept of "Queen Haven fights with Zipp and it almost leads to disaster" was stablished since last November, but I'll be lying if I said I didn't got some inspiration from Flamewarrior02's story, Path to Peace, so... thanks for to you too, I guess?

Oh, and yes, that elephant that came out of nowhere is Flame's OC, I popped him in because I can

Finally, Misty and her crush on Tails. I honestly don't think she's got over it. I think she's in the same situation than Amy: She's disappointed that she wasn't choose, but she's happy that he's happy, and that's enough for her. Personally, I think this is a better outcome, since we see that Sonic and Amy are very comfortable around each other, and I think Misty and Tails will be in the same situation.

Anyways! Thanks for reading this chapter, and next time, we'll follow Misty on a quest to find out where she comes from!

6. Family Trees - Part 1

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Many years ago, a Filly Misty was trotting around Bridlewood and laughing happily to herself.

Suddenly, as she kept trotting, she saw a bunnycorn in front of her, so she stopped moving.

"Aw, hi there!" Misty said happily, before the bunnycorn squeaked and hopped away. "Hey, wait up!"

Misty trotted happily after the bunnycorn, chasing it around the forest while laughing, until she tripped and fell into a ditch.

Misty felt a bit dizzy at first, but then, she saw a tree, the Wishing Tree. "Wow!" She exclaimed, standing up and noticing a blue glow besides the tree, which made her gasp in awe. "Where'd that come from?"

Misty decided to surround the tree and look what the light was about, ending up finding a glowing door.

"Whoa!" Misty said amazed, and she was about to touch the door, but then she heard something rustling behind her. "Huh?"

Misty turned around and saw a shadowy figure in the fog, which made her scream in fear.

Misty suddenly woke up on her bed in the Brighthouse, breathing heavily.

She realized where she was in reality, and it didn't took long for her to deduce that she only had a nightmare... But was it a nightmare?

"What was that about?" Misty asked concerned. "It felt so real. Like it's happened before. Or it's going to."

Then, she removed her blanket off her, and she realized that her Cutie Mark was shining brightly.

"That's new." Misty said a bit concerned. "Something is definitely up. I've gotta tell my friends!"

After that, Misty stood up, then quickly fixed her bed with her magic, and then decided to go downstairs.

In the Brighthouse living room, everyone was kinda busy.

Sunny was making some pancakes; Knuckles was making Jutsu movements with his fingers, all to just slice a watermelon in half with a single punch; Hitch was teaching the critters some tricks with a flower crown as a squirrel jumped through it; Zipp was looking at her phone; Izzy was watching over Sparky, who still looks tired; Pipp was watching a rerun video of when they started Bridlewoodstock; Tails was trying to narrow down another possible place for Eggman to be hiding; Amy was cleaning her Piko Piko Hammer; Sonic was out taking his morning run; and Team Dark was playing poker... again.

And then, as Sonic entered to the Brighthouse again while stretching, Misty rushed downstairs with a panicked look.

"I think we're in danger!" Misty shouted suddenly.

Everyone else looked at her confused, and the ponies all gasped in panic.

"Is it Opaline?! Or Eggman?!" Sunny asked concerned, as she came by with the frying pan that still had the pancake, but it fell to the ground all the same.

"That's not what I meant." Misty said sheepishly.

"The bad guys are here?!" Hitch asked in panic, then he ran to grab Sparky.

"No, I'm trying to tell you that––" Misty tried to say, but she was cut off again.

"Look alive, ponies." Zipp said with a serious expression while flying. "And don't panic."

"Guys, Misty is literally saying that––" Tails tried to call out, but he was also cut off.

"Okay, we're under attack. But don't be afraid." Pipp sang, as she flew in the air and twirled around, before looking down and noticing that her friends deadpanned at her. "What? You said not to panic! Singing keeps my calm, okay?!"

"Are they even listening to her?" Shadow asked.

"No, and they won't until Misty snap." Sonic deadpanned, as he stood at Shadow's side with his arms crossed.

"Is it always like this with them?" Rouge asked with a slight glare.

"Yeah." Knuckles replied with a deadpan as well, as he removed his chef hat and put his boxing gloves again. "Welcome to hell."

"If you could just listen." Misty tried to speak, just before Izzy stepped in and moved around.

"I, Izzy Moonbow, of the Bridlewood Moonbows, call upon the Unity Crystals to protect this Brighthouse and everypony in it." Izzy said dramatically.

That was the last straw to finish up with Misty's patience. "LISTEN TO ME!"

The Unicorn's outburst made everyone else but the Mobians to flinch, and Tails slowly put away the party bugle that he suddenly brought out to make everyone listen to Misty.

"And here I thought I'll finally use this thing again..." Tails deadpanned disappointed.

"I should clarify. I don't think we're in danger right now." Misty said, which caused the ponies to sigh in relief and calm down. "But we absolutely could be soon."

That made the ponies panic again, and Sonic facepalmed. "That's literally worse than saying we're in danger right now..."

"What?!" Hitch asked in panic.

"No!" Izzy said with fear, even hiding behind Knuckles.

"What do you mean?" Pipp asked as well, also hiding behind Sonic.

"CAN YOU ALL SHUT UP AND LET MISTY TALK ALREADY?!" Tails snapped as well, and that made everyone else flinch. Even Omega stepped a bit back, just to be sure.

"Okay, back up, Misty. From the top. What's going on?" Zipp asked calmly, landing in front of her and pulling out her phone to record her words.

"I had this scary dream, but it felt real." Misty began to explain. "There was this tall creature…"

"Tall creature?" Sonic questioned. "Could be anything."

"Sonic!" Amy pushed him on the shoulder with a frown, and Sonic rubbed it painfully.

"Do you usually have scary dreams?" Sunny asked Misty.

"I've been having a lot of them, actually." Misty admitted, then she moved to a chair and lay on it. "I'm exhausted!"

"I wonder what they mean." Sunny said, while everyone else sat down as well.

"A dream that feels real..." Shadow muttered with concern. "If it hasn't happened yet, could it be a premonitory dream?"

"Or a deja reve." Tails suggested as well. "It might be something that already happened, and it's being transmitted as a memory."

"Oh! I love dream analysis." Pipp said happily. “Like, did you know that everypony in your dreams is actually you?"

"Ah!" Izzy cheered and hopped happily. "So I'm actually a tap-dancing tube of paint and the queen of the hermits crabs?!"

"Yes." Pipp answered with a nod.

"Oh, I'm so gonna enjoy myself next time I dream with Chilidogs!" Sonic said with a sinister grin, also rubbing his hands.

"So I was one ballin in that dream, huh?" Shadow smirked to himself.

"Or… maybe it wasn't a dream at all." Zipp suggested. "Maybe it was a vision!"

"Of the future?" Sunny asked confused.

"Exactly." Zipp said, then she stood up and walked to Misty. "You told us Opaline won't stop 'til she has all the power of Equestria, right? And she's kinda tall. So, the dream creature must be her!"

"I don't know." Misty denied with her head. "I couldn't really see the creature. It was just a big shadow."

"Maybe it was Eggman?" Knuckles suggested. "He's taller than all of us, and just a few inches shorter than Omega."

"Affirmative." Omega agreed. "Dr. Eggman is 7 feet tall, I'm 7.2 feet tall."

"I don't think it was Eggman, either." Misty denied again. "Like I said, I only saw a big shadow. Not the figure as it looks."

"Hmm… So it could be a new threat?" Zipp suggested, then she brought out her phone. "Okay, describe it to me. Don't leave out any details. They could be crucial."

"Uh… I can't really remember now." Misty said as she shook her head. "I just knew something very bad was about to happen."

"Focus, Misty." Zipp said firmly. "If we don't decode your vision, we could be missing a vital clue to Opaline and/or Eggman's next move!"

"Or maybe, we could give her some space to breath and not launch at her with questions that she can't answer when she's cornered in a couch, Zipp." Tails deadpanned and rolled his eyes. "I thought we were over this..."

"Yeah. Go easy on her, Zipp." Sunny agreed. "Misty's been through a lot. Maybe these bad dreams are because you're still not used to live in the Brighthouse?"

"It's been 8 months." Knuckles pointed out. "Although living your whole life with a tyrant like Opaline is not something easy to forget, now that I think about it..."

"At least you don't live with Opaline anymore." Sonic said with a smile.

"Yeah!" Pipp agreed. "We're glad to have you here, instead of living on the lair with Opaline as a double-agent or something."

"And considering that you betrayed Opaline to help us instead, I doubt you had a chance at all to go back." Hitch pointed out with a smirk.

"It still doesn't explains why I'm having this weird dreams." Misty said with concern.

"Don't worry, I'm gonna help you crack this mystery wide open." Zipp told her with a determined smile.

"We all will!" Sunny assured with a smile. "Take a breath and think back."

"What else did you, Mist? Anything besides the strange and tall shadow?" Tails asked as well.

Misty took a breath and tried to remember her dream, remembering she saw the Wishing Tree. "There was this big beautiful tree. Kind of like the one you planted for me in Zephyr Heights. But this one was in a forest and it had a door."

"A door in a tree?" Amy questioned.

"Isn't that in every single house in Bridlewood?" Sonic pointed out confused.

"Hmm…" Izzy hummed, before she gasped with wide eyes. "But a door in a big tree sounds just like the Wishing Tree in Bridlewood! Other than the door part. Could that be the one?"

"I… I don't know." Misty confessed concerned. "Before Bridlewoodstock and the Forest Critter Field Day, I don't think I've ever actually been to Bridlewood. I was just pretending to know about during our Unicorn sleepover."

That made Izzy gasp deeply in shock after hearing about a Unicorn that's never been in Bridlewood before.

"What's so surprising? We've known that for months." Knuckles deadpanned.

"I'm so sorry, Izzy." Misty apologized. "I just––" She was cut off when Izzy suddenly rushed in front of her.

"A unicorn who's never been to Bridlewood?!" Izzy cut Misty off and rushed in front of her in shock, but then she smiled with excitement. "What are we waiting for? We have to take you there. Now, now!" She exclaimed excitedly as she grabbed Misty off the chair and drag her to the door.

"I have always wanted to see where the other unicorns live." Misty said with a little smile. "With more patience and with less events going around, that is."

"I'll show you the Crystal Tea Room, and then we'll trot through the plaza and got to my house, and we'll go skipping!" Izzy exclaimed with excitement, then giving a crazy expression while shaking her head.

Then, Zipp cleared her throat and got the Unicorns' attention. "And we'll see if Bridlewood helps Misty remember anything else about her vision!"

"Uh, yeah, that too!" Izzy added with a smile.

"I'll tag along this time." Shadow spoke, as he approached the rest. "Might as well take a look around. Besides, I need to get some air instead of staying between this four walls. Is giving me a headache."

"As long as you don't use your Chaos Blast, do whatever you want, Shads!" Sonic said with a mocking smirk, making Shadow roll his eyes annoyed.

"I'll stay to look after the Crystals." Rouge assured with her arms crossed. "Eggman hasn't showed up, nor Opaline, but is better to be prepared than mourn later!"

"Thanks, Rouge!" Sunny said with a smile. "That actually makes me feel better. That way I can focus on our task without worrying about the Crystals getting stolen while we're out!"

As Sunny said this, Omega headed towards the exit. "Hey, Meg!" Knuckles called him out. "Are you going, too?"

"Negative." Omega replied. "I had a stablished compromise previously inscribed. I'm afraid I cannot cancel it."

After saying that, Omega left the Brighthouse without explaining further what was this compromise.

"He's going to spend time with the Pippsqueaks, isn't he?" Sonic deadpanned."

"Yup/Uh-huh." Shadow and Rouge both replied at the same time with deadpans as well.

"Oh no." Hitch said concerned, calling everyone else's attention, as they turned and saw Sparky still looking tired. "Come on, buddy. You still don't want to play?"

Hitch held a crab plushie close to Sparky, but the baby dragon didn't even seemed to be interested on it.

"What's going on with Sparky?" Sunny asked in concern. "He seems so tired lately."

"I thought he would get his energy back after Opaline drained his Dragon Fire, but he's been sleeping for days." Hitch explained, looking at Sparky with concern.

"He seemed fine after that, though." Sonic pointed out. "He was with us in the Starfall Islands as a ghost, and he seemed to be fine. Why is he feeling bad now of all times?"

"No clue, but I'm getting worried." Hitch replied with a concerned frown.

"Well, the Bridlewood forest is known to have many healing properties, especially the Wishing Tree!" Izzy explained cheerfully, before whispering to Misty. "I'm not saying that Bridlewood has it all, but... it has it all!"

"It's worth a shot." Hitch said.

"To the Marestream!" Sunny announced, as the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Shadow walked out the Brighthouse.

Hitch placed Sparky on his back and exited the Brighthouse as well, while Rouge waved her hand in goodbye to them.

Later, the Marestream flew across the sky, being piloted by Zipp, who was wearing sunglasses.

"This is your pilot, Zipp Storm, speaking." Zipp said through the speaker. "I'm expecting clear skies and smooth conditions as we cruise into our destination: Bridlewood."

The rest, sitting on the passengers cabin, heard the entire thing that Zipp said through the speakers.

"Thank moons for that!" Misty said happily.

"Woo! Listen to that unicorn speak." Izzy cheered, as she turned to Misty with a smirk. "Soon you'll know Bridlewood like the back of your hoof."

"If there's time, I wanna forage for some exotic forest berries for my smoothies!" Sunny said excitedly, as she held up her smoothie cup. "Do you think Alphabittle will have recommendations?" She sipped from her smoothie.

"What's a guy that serves tea gonna know about berries?" Knuckles asked confused.

"Don't judge a book by it's cover, Knux. You never know what you'll find inside!" Amy pointed out with a smile.

"Alpha-whattle?" Misty asked confused, but with a smile.

"You'll see when we get there, Misty." Sonic assured her with a smile.

Then, Pipp took out her phone and stepped in front of the rest. "Take a good look, Pippsqueaks!"

In Maretime Bay, Omega was just walking around the town.

However, he also had Seashell, Glory and Peach Fizz over him, as they were watching and listening to Pipp's livestream through Peach Fizz's phone.

"'Cause this is the last you'll see of my muzzle for a bit!" Pipp announced.

Back in the Marestream, Sonic looked at Pipp with a raised eyebrow.

"Today, I'm going to unplug and practice 'mega-pega-mindfulness'." Pipp announced, while Izzy waved her hoof behind her with a smile as a greeting. "And I'll be scoping out supplies for my up coming all-natural Hoof and Mane product line!" She added happily. "Follow me for more details for when it drops. But, y'know, don’t follow me today. Get off your screens and get outside! That's where I'll be! Pipp Pipp. Bye Bye!"

"You getting off your phone without anyone else telling you to do so?" Sonic questioned her, before smirking mockingly. "You're up to something, aren't you, Princess?"

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. I won't tell you~" Pipp replied mockingly, pulling out her tongue. "Besides, you are the one who said I spent to much time in my phone to pay you attention. Don't complain now that it's happening, goofball."

Sonic snorted and rolled his eyes after his girlfriend said that.

On the other hand, Hitch looked at Sparky, who was laying on the chairs, while Hitch held a block in his hoof. "I really hope Izzy's right about those magical healing powers. I'll try anything to help Sparky feel like himself again."

"I'm sure we'll find something to help cure him." Sunny tried to assure.

"And find the answers to Misty's vision!" Zipp called out from the cockpit.

"We get it, Zipp. You're a detective." Amy rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile, Tails seemed to be really focused on his Miles Electric, and Shadow was at his side, paying attention to what he said, but barely saying anything.

"Eggman must be hiding somewhere in Bridlewood, I'm sure of it!" Tails declared. "I just need to look deeper."

"The base you found along my teammates and Misty was empty, Tails." Shadow pointed out. "While I do agree that the doctor must be hiding in a place with little to no tech, like Bridlewood, it doesn't change the fact that he won't be an easy target to track down."

"But I still must try!" Tails said. "Eggman's plan in the Starfall Islands backfired, true, but if he succeeded, Equestria would be doomed by now! I cannot allow him to be close to it! Not after what he did."

"Is this a matter of justice, or a matter of vengeance, kid?" Shadow questioned, now looking at him. "Because if you want to beat the crap out of him for what he did to Sunny, then 1- That's my thing to do, and 2- That's not justice, that's vengeance. I know about it."

"... What I want to do to Eggman is not important. Find him and stop him before he pulls out his next big plan to take over is." Tails replied with a frown.

"You won't find him if you don't focus on the real question here: Can you track Eggman and help your best friend at the same time?" Shadow questioned, and that made Tails go wide-eyed. "As much as you want to deny it, you're not as fast as Sonic or me. You have to choose one over the other."

That made Tails feel conflicted and concerned. On one hand, he had to recognize that he actually only wanted to find Eggman to make him pay... But on the other hand, could he really do that when Misty might need him at her side now more than ever before?

"Starting our descent!" Zipp announced, as she lowered the Marestream to Bridlewood, while Misty and Izzy looked out the window.

"Misty, welcome to Bridlewood. For the third time!" Izzy announced.

Misty looked down and saw the forest of Bridlewood below them. "It's so… beautiful." She smiled.

Seeing how excited and happy Misty seemed to be for being in Bridlewood again, Tails didn't even had to think it twice. He wanted ~~vengeance~~ justice for Sunny, but Misty needed him right now.

He'll focus on help Misty remember her past. Finding Eggman and beat the crap out of him can wait.

After the Marestream landed, the Mane 6 and the Mobians exited the vehicle.

They landed right next to Izzy's old home from before moving to the Crystal Brighthouse.

"Welcome to my home!" Izzy announced happily, as she gestured to it. "Villa Izzy. Tree Sweet Tree."

Misty looked around amazed, and noticed Izzy's Unicycling projects. "This is all yours?"

"Oh, well it doesn’t so much belong to me as it's a living part of the forest." Izzy explained cheerfully, then she rushed up to her old projects, the tune player she played and her tea fountain. "It's sort of like I've been tasked with tending to it and leaving it more beautiful than I found it." She stopped in front of Misty. "Know what I mean?"

"I think so." Misty shrugged.

"And now it's yours, too! All of Bridlewood is!" Izzy exclaimed.

"Wow!" Misty said amazed, looking around with a smile.

Later, the group was walking around Bridlewood, as Izzy gave Misty a tour around.

Soon, they arrived to a place where they saw some paintings and sculptures around.

"These were all made by unicorns?" Misty asked curiously.

"You bet your crystals!" Izzy answered, as she ran and came behind a unicorn sculpture. "Every last one!"

"So the whole 'being creative thing' is a unicorn thing." Knuckles muttered. "Does that mean that you're a unicorn with a more advanced capacity of creativity? I mean, your butt's tattoo implies that's your special talent."

"That's a way to put it, yeah!" Izzy smiled cheerfully.

As they walked ahead, Sonic stood way back to appreciate the sculptures and paintings better, but just as he turned back to the paintings, he noticed that one of the artists was not a pony, and the painting they were making showed The End in space, destroying Equis with a laser.

That was concerning enough, but when the artist looked at Sonic, the Blue Blur's eyes widened in panic, since he saw Cyber Sonic staring at him and chuckling.

"Crap. The visions are back!" Sonic complained, as he looked away and kept moving forward, while Cyber Sonic glared at Sonic and growled in anger.

Meanwhile, Hitch looked at Sparky with concern, since the baby dragon was groaning in pain and not feeling good.

Just then, Zipp went in front of Misty. "So Misty, anything jogging your memory yet?"

"Actually, yes." Misty said with a smile.

"Really?! Another vision?" Zipp asked excitedly, as she brought up her phone.

"Oh. No, sorry. I meant this art." Misty said, as she looked at a painting of an Alicorn in a strange field. "I've never seen such beautiful images of ponies who look just like me before! Or... have I?"

Zipp sighed and rolled her eyes disappointed, while Sunny and Tails came to her.

"Give her time." Sunny reminded her.

"I don't know how much time we have!" Zipp exclaimed with concern, as she decided to keep going.

Tails groaned and rolled his eyes. "I love that mare, but Chaos dang it, she's stubborn like a mule!"

"Welcome to my world, bro-in-law." Pipp said with a deadpan as she passed by him.

Later, the group was at a stand, waiting for Izzy.

Pipp was flying in a meditating position, gaining weird looks of Sonic and Shadow, while Izzy came walking up to them, levitating a box of treats and humming to herself.

"These macarons are a Bridlewood delicacy made of edible fluffy-flowers." Izzy explained.

Then, she levitated a macaron to each of her friends, each one grabbing it with their hoof/hand.

"Oh! Cute!" Pipp exclaimed, bringing out her phone to take a selfie, but then she remembered something. "Oh, right. Mega-pega-mindfulness." She reminded herself, then took a bite of her macaron and gasped happily. "Neigh way! When I don't record it, I can really taste it!"

"Wait a second... So anytime you were eating something while taking a selfie, you were not tasting it?" Sonic asked confused, worried and scared for his girlfriend.

"Why don't you just take her phone and throw it away?" Shadow questioned.

"Oh, I did it once." Sonic said with a blank look.

It was just another day in the Brighthouse.

Suddenly, Sonic was thrown from the window, as he screamed in fear while falling.

Shadow stared at Sonic with wide and concerned eyes after hearing that.

"She didn't took it well." Sonic pointed out.

"Yeah... I noticed..." Shadow replied with an anxious look.

Hitch looked at Pipp strangely as well, before he kneeled down to Sparky and tried to offer his macaron to him, but Sparky denied it, and reached his arms out to Hitch.

"Aw, the little dragon wants a ride." A Unicorn filly walked by with her friend. "So adorable!"

"It is adorable." Hitch admitted, before putting Sparky on his back and frown in concern. "But this is so unlike the usual, off-the-walls-with-energy Sparky!"

Misty took a bite of her macaron, and then her eyes widened. "That is incredible!" She exclaimed happily. "And strangely familiar."

"Taste can unlock new pathways to the brain." Zipp pointed out with a smirk, as he came up to Misty's side. "Are these treats making you think of anything new?" She brought out her phone again.

"It's making me think… I need more!" Misty answered happily, eating the rest of her macaron and then levitating more from the box with a joyful smile.

Zipp looked at her strangely, then sighed in disappointment and put her phone away.

Meanwhile, Knuckles was happily chomping his Macaron. "Mmm. This tastes really good. I mean, I'm not really fond to taste mint, but is still good."

However, Sonic heard what Knuckles said, and he slowly turned to see him, before rushing right in front of the echidna. "What did you just said?!"

"That I'm not really fond to taste mint, but is still good?" Knuckles repeated himself confused.

Then, Sonic suddenly grabbed him from his arms and shook him violently. "Yes! That exactly!"

His eyes then widened in panic, and he slowly turned to see Tails, who was grinning sinisterly as he held two boxes of macaroni mint-flavored.

"Must... consume... MINTS!" Tails said maniacally with a twitchy eye.

"Tails..." Sonic called out, as he slowly approached him. "Put the boxes down, and walk away from them..."

However, Tails did the exact opposite, and instead, he held them tightly and stepped back from Sonic.

"Tails... Don't you dare––"

Yet Sonic couldn't finish his sentence, because Tails spun his tails and then flew away at top speed, which made Sonic growl and follow him around.

"COME BACK HERE, YOUNG MAN!!!" Sonic called out with anger.

"YOU'LL NEVER CACTH ME ALIVE!!!" Tails replied maniacally.

Later on, Sonic did caught him alive.

Tails was rubbing his head painfully with a bored expression, and Sonic returned the macarons he bought, while the entire group was in an area of green crystals.

"These crystals have gotta spark something for you." Zipp said to Misty.

To this, Misty looked at one of said crystals a bit closer, while Tails groaned a bit annoyed.

"She didn't learned anything from the Manesquerade Ball, it seems..." Tails mumbled to himself.

"She's just worried that Eggman or Opaline might pop up, and she won't be able to do anything." Amy pointed out with a slight frown towards the young fox. "If anything, it'll be weird if she wasn't so paranoid."

While Tails did understand her concern, he still didn't liked that her phase of being so defensive and 'detective' towards Misty was far from being over, even if the Unicorn mare is on their side now.

"Actually, you're right." Misty said to Zipp, as she drew closer to the crystal. "They are just like the ones in my dreams."

"Well, some guidance is better than none!" Sonic said with a smirk and his arms crossed.

Then, Sunny picked a crystal as well, then turned to the baby dragon on Hitch's back. "Here, Sparky. Try holding this bliss-quartz."

Despite feeling so tired, Sparky still accepted the crystal and grabbed it, then lay on it like if it was a pillow.

"Oh, good eye, Sunny!" Izzy exclaimed. "Bliss-quartz boosts up positive energy! And helps you see things clearly. Clearly… clearly… clearly…" She imitated echo.

"Positive energy?" Sonic asked, before looking mockingly at Shadow at his side. "Why don't you try to lay on them, Shads? You seriously need some positive energy boost... All the time!"

"Shut up, Faker." Shadow replied with an eye roll and then moved away from him, while Sonic snorted and laughed.

Now, Sunny walked to Misty and gave her a crystal as well. "Here, Misty. You try."

Misty accepted the crystal and looked at it. "It feels… nice?"

"And?" Zipp asked, as she brought out her phone again.

"And it's so… pretty?" Misty continued, since she really didn't knew what to say.

"Ugh!" Zipp groaned. "It doesn't seem like you're responding to anything here."

Zipp walked off disappointed, while Misty looked down concerned, and Tails glared at Zipp.

"My patience is running out, Zephyrina..." Tails mumbled to himself.

Seems she hasn't learned anything after all, not even now that Misty is free of secrets.

Now, the group was passing by the playground of Bridlewood, with Sunny, Zipp and Tails ahead of the rest.

"Just go easy on her." Sunny told Zipp.

"I am, but we're running out of time." Zipp pointed out with a frown.

"If you're trying to prevent a catastrophe, you're doing a terrible job, Zippy." Tails told her with a deadpan. "Besides, it doesn't matter how much you prepare for Eggman and Opaline. It won't change anything."

Zipp stopped and looked at Tails with a frown. "What do you mean with that?! And why are you against me when you should be the one agreeing with me the most?!"

"A) Yes, I wanna know what Misty's visions are as well, but if attacking her with questions she can barely answer because somepony is invading her space like always, then I don't wanna be a part of it." Tails replied with anger. "And B) Like it or not, none of us will be ready for when either Eggman or Opaline pull their next move. Why? Because we never where when they both attacked previously."

"Huh?" Both Zipp and Sunny said confused.

"Eggman literally showed up out of nowhere on Wishday." Tails began to list out. "Metal Sonic and the Metal Mane? No one saw them coming! Misty taking Sparky to Opaline? We never doubted her. Eggman showing up on the mountains and attacking us? Completely unexpected. You guys getting ponynapped by Eggman after 'defeating' Opaline? Yeah, sure. The Death Egg Titan? We barely had anytime to react! And don't get me started on the strange portal that dragged us in Starfall Islands."

"Okay, okay! That's a big recap of everything that has happened so far..." Zipp deadpanned slightly. "But what does any of that has to do with what Opaline and Eggman might be up to now?"

"We were never prepared for any of that, and look where we are!" Tails pointed out, but now with a smile. "You're worrying a lot, Zippy. Just let things happen when they have to. I'm not saying that is bad to be prepared, but Eggman and Opaline are unpredictable. They may attack at any second and we might not be prepared in the moment."

This only concerned Zipp a lot more, although a part of her believed that Tails was right on her being too intense over Misty. And, unlike Pipp, she wasn't that hurt with Tails' criticism over her methods, even if he's her boyfriend now.

She's new to the whole thing of love, and she isn't sure on how to express it without feeling embarrassed for showing affection in public, specially when the last thing she wants is to be trend everywhere for another week after announcing her relationship with Tails.

Misty, on the other hand, walked behind the group, but then gasped when she saw a foal on a swing with his father pushing him... It made her remember something all of a sudden.

In a foggy day in Bridlewood, Filly Misty was on the same swing, laughing happily.

Suddenly, however, she heard an echo, which made her confused. "Huh?"

"Misty! Misty! Misty!" Tails' voice echoed, as she was brought back to reality.

Back to the real world, Misty was a bit confused on what happened.

"Are you okay?" Zipp asked her, as she and the rest huddled around her.

"You zoomed out for a moment." Tails told her with concern.

Then, Sunny saw Misty's Cutie Mark glowing. "Look, her Cutie Mark!"

"It worked!" Zipp exclaimed. "You had another vision, didn't you?"

"Ugh… I don't think it was a vision." Misty replied, denying with her head. "It felt like… a memory."

"A memory?!" Izzy asked surprised. "You mean… Maybe you are from Bridlewood?"

"I don't… It's too foggy. I can't remember." Misty explained.

"Eh, something's better than nothing." Knuckles shrugged

"We must be on the right track!" Zipp said with a smile, then she turned to Misty. "What did you see?"

"I think I was a filly in that playground." Misty said, pointing mostly at the swing in the playground.

Izzy gasped after hearing that. "I played there when I was a filly!" She walked up to the playground.

Zipp then turned back to Misty. "Uh, who were you with?" She asked desperately.

"I want to know, but I just don't––" Misty tried to say, but Zipp cut her off.

"You must remember something from your fillyhood." Zipp said, as she brought out her phone again. "Before Opaline? Just think!"

"I don't want to anymore." Misty replied with a frown, then looking away concerned, while Sunny came to her.

"It's okay, Misty. You don't have to have all the answers right now. I'm sure you'll remember eventually." Sunny assured her softly, then glared daggers at Zipp. "Right, Zipp?"

Zipp flinched at her look and felt a bit nervous. "Right, of course." She shook her head, now feeling guilty for how she treated Misty. "It's okay, Misty. I'm sorry."

As this happened, the three mares heard something behind, so they turned to see that Tails was doing something on his watch, while at the same time, he made several small yellow drones with his face appear thanks to his powers.

"Tails?" Misty called out. "What are you––"

"I'm drawing quest lines to Eggman and Opaline all over Equestria." Tails replied, as more drones appeared. There were around 90 of them. "100 miles in each city should be enough to find something. And, as soon as there's even the slightest sign of Opaline, Eggman, or any of the latter's machines..."

His watch made a beep sound, and so did the rest of Team Sonic's, although only Amy noticed, because Sonic was busy using his legs to make the carousel spin at top speed, while Knuckles was riding it and laughing out loud, although he was also feeling dizzy, making Amy facepalm at their attitude.

"Yeah, that's going to happen." Tails said with a smile. "I can't be looking for Eggman and help Misty at the same time the way I'd like, but if keeping track of Eggman and Opaline while helping Misty to remember anything is going to make you feel safer, Zipp, then so be it."

Zipp felt touched after hearing why Tails was doing this, and she couldn't help but smile. "Y-You're doing this for me?"

"For both of you!" Tails pointed at Misty as well. "I care for you both, you dummy. And I don't like to be mad with you, so if this can help ease the tension, and make you less intense with your detective side, then again: So be it."

Zipp smiled more, and then she hugged him tightly, while Tails chuckled and hugged her back. She isn't the kind to be affective in public, but he could already feel he was her weak spot.

Soon the group choose to keep going, while Izzy slide down from the slide and screamed in joy, before she crashed against something that made a loud noise, but she giggled and caught up with the others. Finally, Sonic and Amy followed as well, with Knuckle following them a bit dizzy.

However, Sonic once again looked at the corner of his eye, but then he looked entirely on said direction and panicked when he saw Cyber Sonic juggling some crystals and shaking his right index finger as saying 'no' mockingly.

Sonic panicked and shook his head looking away from said direction and still walking ahead. "He's on your head, Sonic. Don't let him get the best of you..."

He didn't noticed, though, that Shadow saw his strange attitude, and he frowned slightly concerned.

The group was now passing by the Crystal Tea Room.

As Izzy was ahead of the rest, hopping happily and singing, Misty stopped and noticed the tea shop.

"What's that?" Misty asked curiously.

"That's Alphabittle's shop: The Crystal Tea Room!" Pipp answered with a smile.

"He's the best tea maker in all of Bridlewood." Tails told her with a smile as well.

"Oh, you'll probably meet him later." Izzy said, coming up to them. "But first, we need to visit the Wishing Tree to see if it's the tree of your dreams!"

"And to find something even more powerful than bliss-quartz to help Sparky." Hitch added, gesturing to the still down baby dragon that was laying on Hitch's back.

"We'll find a cure, Hitch. No matter what." Knuckles assured him with a determinate look.

Misty, however, looked back at the Tea Room, having a strange feeling about that place, before she followed her friends.

Inside the Crystal Tea Room, things seemed to go as usual.

Also, Queen Haven and Alphabittle were talking to each other, while Cloudpuff played with an armadillo.

"You know Alphabittle, you should really consider opening a second Tea Room in Zephyr Heights." Haven suggested with a smile. "The Pegasi would go wild for a shop like this."

Alphabittle caught a vase an armadillo accidentally knocked over, and then he placed it down. "Ya think?"

"And, then I could see you more often." Haven added with a warm smile, before sighing. "Ugh. With my royal duties it's hard for me to make it to Bridlewood as often as I'd like."

Alphabittle smiled at first, but said smile faded away. "Well, that would be nice. But I could never leave Bridlewood." He turned away with a sad look.

"Why ever not?" Haven asked confused.

"I just, I need to be here in case." Alphabittle replied, remaining mysterious the whole time, but clearly afraid of missing something in case he left.

"In case of what, Alphie?" Haven asked concerned.

"In case of all sorts of things!" Alphabittle snapped for a moment, before he calmed down. "It takes a lot of work to run a tea shop." He reasoned while gesturing his Tea Shop, before looking at the sections of teas he had. "Anyway, what do you want? Your usual? With oat milk, I assume?"

"Hmm…" Haven hummed, wondering what got Alphabittle seemed to avoid the question she made.

The sun started to set down in the horizon.

Meanwhile: The Mane 6, Team Sonic and Shadow made it to the Wishing Tree, which made Misty smile widely.

"Izzy, you were right! This is the same tree from my vision!" Misty exclaimed happily. "Let me see..." She looked at the side of the tree. "The Bunnycorn led me here, but then… there was a glowing door." She looked around to see if she could find said door. "Where is it?"

"Wait, this is the Wishing Tree?" Knuckles questioned, looking closely at it. "Now that it doesn't has snow... It looks very familiar to me..."

"Everyone split up, look for that door!" Zipp instructed, then everyone went on their own to look for the door.

"This is weird." Izzy said as she tilted her head, before smiling. "I love it!"

As the group searched around the tree, Misty got close to it and looked around as well.

"No door this way!" Pipp called out from her side.

"I've got nothing either!" Hitch informed next.

"No magic doors over here!" Sonic said as well.

Just then, Misty touched the muss on the tree, then gasped when she had another flashback.

Filly Misty stared at the Wishing Tree, while tick fog surrounded her.

"Hello?! Is anypony there?!" Misty asked nervously.

"Misty!" A mysterious male voice called out, which Misty seemed to recognize.

"I'm right here!" Misty called out, as she jumped over a stem, still looking for the source of the voice.

"Misty, come back!" The voice yelled out as the fog moved towards Misty.

Misty yelped in fright as she moved around blindly in the fog. "Why can't they hear me?!"

"Misty, where are you?!" The voice yelled again.

"I'm here!" Misty responded, but then she stopped and gasped as the fog surrounded her. "Help me!"

The fog caught her, making the filly cry in fear, but when the fog suddenly cleared out, Misty looked around and saw that she was not in Bridlewood anymore. She was now near a cliff... One not so far away from a dark and scary castle that could be witnessed in the distance.

Misty came back to reality and started to cry.

She moved back away from the tree, while Tails immediately rushed at her side and side-hugged her fro comfort when he heard her crying, and the rest arrived with her as well.

"Misty! What happened? Are you okay?!" Tails asked her in panic.

"Hey, hey, you're safe now." Izzy said, as she came from the other side and huddled close to her, just like Tails did.

"I remember more of it now." Misty said solemnly, then she stood up and looked at the tree. "I did live here when I was small. But then one day, I went out collecting Glowpaz crystals and I got lost in the forest, and when I tried to make my way back, Bridlewood... was gone." She explained as her friends gave her sympathy looks. Even Shadow, who couldn't kept his cool that much. "Just… gone."

"Wherever you appeared, it must be when Opaline found you..." Tails theorized. "And then... Then..."

"She 'took you in', and turned you into her minion." Sonic said with concern, before frowning and close his hand in a fist. "Next time I see that Alicorn... I won't kill her... But she'll learn why messing with my friends is a big mistake."

"... That Opaline gal should be afraid." Shadow muttered to himself. As annoying as he found Sonic, he had to recognize that when Sonic gets serious, he gets serious.

On the other hand, however, Misty lay on the tree and placed her hooves on its trunk. But she didn't noticed that her Cutie Mark and her hooves began to glow. And now, said glow was spreading through the Wishing Tree, something everyone else noticed with wide eyes.

"Misty, your Cutie Mark, it's glowing stronger." Sunny said amazed.

"It's doing something to the tree. Look!" Hitch pointed out with an amused smile.

They all look at the tree, noticing Misty's magic spreading through the cracks and stems of the Wishing Tree, making it glow brightly.

"For the love of Chaos..." Amy exclaimed amazed.

"Your powers are changing the Wishing Tree?!" Izzy asked surprised, while Misty smiled at her.

"Perhaps you're more special than I thought, Mist!" Tails told her with a smile, and Misty blushed at his compliment.

"Be present, Pipp." She told herself, holding her head with a desperate look and a twitchy eye, while Zipp gave her an amused smirk. "I don't need to film this right now. It's way better to be mindful."

"You're gonna explode, Pipp. Just record it already." Sonic said with a deadpan. "I said it was bad you overused your phone when we were alone, not witnessing something that actually calls to be recorded!"

Just then, the flowers on the Wishing Tree started blooming, having either blue or purplish glows, while the Unicorns around, as well as the critters, watched amazed at what they were witnessing.

And then, Pipp came between Izzy and Misty. "Did anybody ge that on video?!" She asked desperately.

"Yup!" Tails replied with a smirk, as a drone with his face came down and made a fist come out, then the drone and Tails fist bumped each other, since the drone recorded the whole thing.

Pipp sighed in relief after hearing that. "Thank hoofness."

"I… I did that?" Misty asked with an amusing smile.

"Whoa! I think so." Zipp chuckled.

But then, everyone heard a strange sound, like flapping wings, and they began to look around confused, also searching for the source of the strange sound.

"What’s that sound?" Sunny asked her friends. "Is the tree vibrating?"

"No." Izzy spoke, then she climbed up Pipp's head, which surprised the pegasus for a bit, before Izzy listened closely to the tree. "It… it sounds like…" She then gasped and pushed Pipp away in shock. "No, it couldn't be. I didn't think they were real."

"You didn't think what was real?!" Zipp questioned, standing defensively in front of Pipp, Izzy and Misty.

Knuckles was hearing closely as well, and then his eyes shot wide open, but a huge smile also formed on his face. Then, he dragged Sonic, Tails and Amy at his sides, confusing them as they looked at Knuckles.

"You guys are hearing what I know we're hearing?!" Knuckles asked them all with a huge grin.

Sonic, Tails and Amy decided to hear closely at said sound, but then one by one, going from the former to the latter, their eyes widened, and they started to hear it as well.

"No freaking way..." Sonic muttered, and then a smile was drawn on his face. "No freaking way!"

"It's been years since we saw them!" Tails pointed out with a huge smile. "I'd never thought we'll see them again!"

"Okay. This is happening. Calm down, Amy. Is okay. No need to loose your cool over this..." Amy told herself, but she still couldn't help but squeal a bit and hop on her place with excitement.

"Wait... You guys recognize that sound?" Sunny asked Team Sonic confused.

And then, small pixie-like creatures leaving a glowing trail behind them as they fly around the tree.

"Ah! Oh!" Izzy said surprised and then laughed.

"Breezies!" Both Izzy and Team Sonic said at the same time, although the latter group seemed to be more excited, with Knuckles even shaking Sonic violently, although the Hedgehog was laughing and not annoyed.

The Breezies flew down, and while most of the group ducked down, Izzy and Team Sonic didn't, and Sonic even let some of them pose around his body, while most of them began to carry Knuckles around, making the Echidna chuckle.

Meanwhile, Hitch protected Sparky as the Breezies came to them, but when Hitch saw that they were not a threat, Hitch smiled and let them look at Sparky. However, the baby dragon waved them away, not excited nor interested, and only wanting to sleep more.

A breezie flew to Sunny, who looked at it amazed. "No way! My dad always old me bedtime ponytails about breezies." She said joyfully, while a few more of them flew up to her.

"Tale? No, no, no, Sunny-bunny!" Sonic said with a smirk. "These little fellas are as real as Discord is. Too bad he's not relevant to this story anymore."

Pipp brought out her phone, ready to take a picture, but then she stopped herself. "What? Wait... This is not content. This is a real moment. Experience it, Pipp." She told herself, tapping her head, taking a deep breath, and then looking at the breezies. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Princess Pipp Petals of Zephyr Heights. And you must be…"

The Breezies then started speaking in high-pitched gibberish as they tried to say something, but Pipp didn’t get it.

"Tiny pixie pony of… tree?" Pipp guessed confused, before the Breezies looked at her phone.

"What in the hay are breezies?!" Zipp asked desperately, looking at the Breezies in panic. "And most importantly, are they dangerous?"

"What?! Of course not." Hitch said with a smile.

"They're very inoffensive." Tails assured her with a smile. "Their only scary power is that they know where to tickle you until you are writhing with laughter."

"Wait... You guys know the Breezies?!" Izzy asked Team Sonic in shock.

"Yup!" Amy replied with a smile. "We go way back before coming to Equestria."

"But the Breezies are an Equestrian legend!" Hitch pointed out, but then his eyes widened. "Unless is another thing our dimensions share in common..."

"It wouldn't be weird." Sonic said with a smirk, while some Breezies nuzzled on his cheeks. "Aw, I missed you too, little fellas!"

"And how did you met the Breezies?" Sunny asked curiously.

"Oh, that actually is quite a fun story!" Knuckles said with a smile.

Angel Island - 17 Years Ago...

A young Team Sonic was exploring Marble Garden's abandoned ruins.

Knuckles was guiding everyone else by going in front. Behind came Sonic, then Tails, and Amy was the last one in the back. Knuckles himself guided them all towards this place because he discovered something recently.

The young Team arrived into a zone never explored before of the garden, which gave Sonic a bad feeling, and made both Tails and Amy hide behind him, for his eternal annoyance, since he rolled his eyes. Then, Knuckles gestured them to follow him, and so they did.

Once they reached deeper into the zone, the began to see a blue glow in the distance, and when they finally approached the end, Knuckles smiled, while the other three's jaws dropped in amazement.

They were looking at a tree that looked way too similar to the Wishing Tree, but with red wood instead of purple, although the blue glow around was the same. They all came closer to see the tree better, while Knuckles explained that he found this recently, and that it wasn't here before.

Sonic was about to ask what he meant with that, but then they heard the same buzzing sounds from the Breezies, and then, said creatures appeared in front of them, as they approached the young Team.

Tails and Sonic stepped back, the former a bit afraid they'll be dangerous, and the latter doing it to protect him in case they were, but Knuckles told them about what they are, how inoffensive they are, and how he always thought they were just a legend from his ancestors.

Amy was already loving these creatures, as she huddled some closely and hugged them, while Tails was still hesitant at first, but he eventually opened up a bit and liked them too.

Knuckles also seemed to like them, specially because he always wanted to see a breezie. Finally, Sonic was not so sure on if to like them or not, but as soon as they Breezies began to tickle him on his most ticklish areas, he started to writhing with laughter, and he ended up liking them as well.

As Knuckles finished narrating, Sonic was actually writhing with laughter.

That's because the Breezies were tickling him on his most ticklish spots again, and even though he begged them to stop, he was still writhing with laughter, making everyone else but Shadow laugh as well, although Shadow did smirked mockingly at the scene.

Then, a breezie spoke to Hitch's ear. "They're just excited to see us!" He translated, then another breezie spoke. "These two say they haven't seen other ponies for a long time."

"You know Breezie language too?" Sunny asked surprised.

"It's our pony language. But at too high of a speed for most to understand them." Hitch explained as Zipp came up to them.

"Duh!" Sonic said with a smile, as he stood up and fixed himself after all that tickling. "Their voices sound more high-pitched than what they are. Thankfully, I can understand them."

"You too?" Pipp asked him with a smile.

"Vibration!" Sonic said, as his body literally vibrated. "I just have to reduce my speed in real time to understand these guys, while also talking with you."

Then, a Breezie told Sonic something on the ear, and he began to vibrate so fast that no one actually noticed.

"Oh, you guys wanna show them that?" Sonic asked them with a smirk.

"Show us what?" Sunny asked.

"Better ask them yourselves! I won't ruin the surprise." Sonic replied.

"I can help with that!" Zipp said, as she brought out her phone again. "Watch this." She turned on the phone and used the speaker, then approached it to the Breezes. "What were you saying again?" She asked, while the breezies repeated themselves. Once they finished, Zipp stopped the recording. "Now, just slow it down." She then played it again.

"We haven't seen new friends for hundreds of moons! We have a special treat for you!" The first breezie, a pink one, said from the phone.

"Follow us, new and old friends. The Night Market awaits!" The second breezie, a yellow one, declared, while they pointed to the tree.

"Night Market?" Misty asked confused. "What's that Izzy?"

Izzy then popped up between Misty and Pipp with a gasp. "I have no idea! Something in Bridlewood I never knew about?! I've gotta see this!"

Then, the breezies led the group and the other ponies to the Wishing Tree, while the Breezies approached the center of the Wishing Tree to crack it open with a glow coming through it. The Mane 6 watched amazed, while the Breezies revealed a hidden passage, at the same time it made a trail for them to go inside.

"Wow!" Sunny said surprised.

"Oh, just you wait 'till see the inside!" Tails said with excitement, as he started to drag Sunny a bit faster by grabbing her from her hoof, while Sunny giggled at Tails' enthusiasm.

The ponies who saw the whole decided to go with them, as well as the critters, while they all entered the passage.

Inside the tree, there was literally a whole new world.

There were stands and bridges on top with many, making everyone but Team Sonic get amazed, even Shadow and Sparky.

"Wow!" Misty awed at the sight.

"How'd they do this?" Sunny asked amazed, as she looked around. "It looks like it goes on forever!"

"The Breezie world is a pocket dimension connected to all the other ones." Tails began to explain with a smile. "It shifts around every once in a while, but some areas remain open to travel between their world and the others at will. This is just a part of their land."

"The only accessible one for our sizes, anyways." Amy added with a smile as well.

"Amazing!" Sunny exclaimed happily. "I can't believe this has all been hiding inside the Wishing Tree."

"So that's why the Wishing Tree seemed familiar... Is because it looks exactly like the one in Marble Garden on my island!" Knuckles realized with a smile. "Although that tree was red, but eh. Details."

Then, a breezie came to Zipp and said something, while Zipp recorded her voice and played the audio. "In these stalls, there are magical items and secrets that have been lost to your ponykind for generations!"

As they explained that, they also showed some lost relics, artifacts and other items on the stands.

"Really?" Sunny asked excitedly.

"There's a lot of cool stuff around here." Sonic said with a smirk. "And, if you look deeper, you'll find something you never knew you wanted and/or needed, but now you do!"

"Hear that, Sparks?" Hitch asked Sparky, who looked sad again. "This wonderful place has gotta have something to get you feeling better in no time!"

"And maybe more answers to my past." Misty added with a hopeful smile.

"Only one way to find out." Zipp said, as they all walked further into the market.

"Digs on the ice cream floor!" Tails challenged Sonic, as he boosted away with a chuckle.

"Oh, no you won't!" Sonic said with a smirk, accepting the challenge and boosting towards him.

Near the Tea Room, a breezie was passing by the place.

Then, the creature flew towards it, while inside, Alphabittle and Haven kept chatting to each other.

"I understand if you're not ready to share everything about your life with me." Haven said honestly, while an elder unicorn opened the door, which made a few Breezies flew in and behind Haven. "But I feel like you're avoiding my questions."

Alphabittle looked at the Breezies behind her, and his eyes widened in shock. "Breezies?!"

"Please stop changing the subject." Haven deadpanned, since she hasn't noticed the Breezies behind her. "And that's nonsense, there's no such thing as…" The breezies flew in front of her all of a sudden, and that make her yelp in surprise, before gasping. "Oh my…"

Then, Cloudpuff woke up and started to bark at the breezies, which made some fly away.

"It's okay, Cloudpuff, these are… ponies!" Haven said, since she's not so sure because of this being her first time ver seeing Breezies in real life.

A breezie flew up to Alphabittle, and he looked a bit uncertain at the creature in front of him. "Uh, oh… Welcome to my shop. May I offer you some… tea?" He brought out a cup of tea.

The breezie respond by sitting in the tee like a hot tub, while Alphabittle look at the creature confused.

"Hmm, well, okay. Sure, whatever you want!" Alphabittle shrugged with a smile.

"It seems like they're trying to tell us something." Haven suggested, while the Breezies gestured them to the door.

The Queen, Alphabittle, and other ponies around the Tea Shop followed the breezies, which flew out of the door.

"Wow. You don't see this everyday or any day! Ever! Hmm…" Alphabittle commented.

The breezie in the teacup then flew out of the shop as well, while Cloudpuff barked and followed the creature.

"Okay, everypony, I'm closing early." Alphabittle announced. "Let's go see what this is about!"

And so, everypony in the Teashop left to follow the Breezies towards the Wishing Tree.

Meanwhile, at the Night Market, the Mane 6 and Shadow were looking around the stands.

At the same time, Team Sonic seemed to move around freely. Since they've been here before, they know the place pretty well even though some things have changed over time.

"Oh… I can't use my phone to look up which ingredients would work in my new beauty line." Pipp told Izzy and Amy, since they were at a stand with various ingredients and a few bottles. "So I'll have to go on instinct."

"Oh! How do you do that?" Izzy asked her.

"Like the Pegasi who came before me!" Pipp declared dramatically as she picked up a bottle. "I'll base it on touch and smell." She opened the bottle and sniffed it. "Oh, safflower, that could be nice." She said, but then she sniffed another bottle that made her cringe. "Oh, nuh-uh. Not that one."

"Remember what Sonic said, Pipp?" Amy reminded her with a smile. "If you look deeper, you'll find something you never knew you wanted and/or needed."

Then, a Breezie opened another bottle and passed it over to Pipp, as she sniffed it. "Oh! I'm getting notes of grapeseed, jasmine…" She listed out, before sniffing the bottle again. "And glitter essence? I'll take this one! How much?"

The Breezie said something at fast/high-pitched paste, also pointing at Pipp's phone.

"Wait, wait, wait. I can't trade my phone." Pipp said nervously, while Izzy saw something from another stand that made her smile, so she walked up to it, leaving Amy on her own to deal with Pipp's shenanigans. "I may be getting better at this 'being present' thing, but that is too far!"

"Don't you have, like, spare phones or something?" Amy reminded her with a deadpan.

Then, Izzy squealed joyfully, as Pipp and Amy turned to see her looking at some fabrics. "This fabric will be perfect for new curtains for the Crystal Brighthouse!" She said cheerfully, hugging one of the fabrics. "Oh, thank you unicorn ancestors for guiding us to this secret trove of treasures!" She nuzzled the fabric.

On the other hand, Shadow seemed to find himself interested in a sector that had all kinds of old ruins and rubble from several places he both recognized - like Angel Island, Sand Ruins, and even some rubble from the ARK he hasn't seen in ages - and didn't - there was a massive piece of crystal that probably comes from the Crystal Empire, for example.

"I've gotta admit... This place seems more interesting than I'd thought it'll be." Shadow muttered.

"Never judge a book by its cover!" Sunny said cheerfully, as she came up to him with a smile.

"You must be feeling in the clouds with so many artifacts you heard about, yet never had the chance to see." Shadow told her with a mocking smirk.

"Oh, you bet I am!" Sunny replied with a smile.

On the other hand, Hitch held up a bottle and headed to Sparky, who was being watched by Knuckles. "The Breezies said this oil has been used to revitalize pony energy since the earliest days of Equestria. Maybe it'll work on dragons!"

"Is worth a shot." Knuckles said with a concerned frown, then he turned to Sparky. "What do you think, Sparks?"

Hitch opened the bottle and approached it to Sparky, who sniffed the oil, but then he gurgled and shook his head, before laying down again.

Both Hitch and Knuckles looked at Sparky with concern, but then a Breezie flew towards the baby dragon and covered him with his blanket, while another Breezie gave him his pacifier, which made Hitch and Knuckles smile a bit.

On the next floor: Sunny, Zipp, Misty, Shadow, Sonic and Tails walked around it, until Sunny approached a stand that had some rocks and a compass.

Sunny gasped when she saw the compass, so she picked it up. "This reminds me of something my dad used to have. If only he could see me now, pursuing precious objects thought to be lost to history!"

"He'd be so proud. Or jealous!" Zipp told her with a laugh, while Sunny rolled her eyes, and then Shadow came to her.

"But it'll definitely would lean more to the 'proud' side." Shadow told her with a smirk and a wink, which made Sunny smile even widely.

On the other hand, Sonic noticed an owl statued right besides the compass that Sunny picked up, and he picked said statue with a nostalgic smile, but also with a sad expression.

"... I know that look." Tails said once he noticed, but as soon as he saw what Sonic was holding, he gasped with wide eyes, and then he got the same sad expression than him.

"What's that?" Sunny asked them.

"... One of Longclaw's many lost relics from her tribe." Sonic replied. "She always told me that she barely had anything left from them, except for a few of these statues. She traded this one for a fabric she found to repair her scarf."

"She knew about the Breezes?" Zipp asked him.

"We couldn't keep the secret for more than 2 seconds, and we told her." Tails replied with a sad smile. "She ended up coming here by herself."

"I wish I had something as valuable to exchange this." Sonic said sadly, putting the statue back on its place. "Is not really magical or miraculous, but it'll be a nice memory from her."

"You guys still miss her, don't you?" Sunny asked with concern.

"Everyday." Tails replied with low ears, before they perked up and he tried not to cry. "It barely gets easier."

"That's because the pain hasn't left, Tails." Sonic pointed out. "It never leaves. You just learn to live with it over time."

"Yeah, that is true." Zipp said, since she knows what it feels like to loose someone close and important. She choose to shake her head and change the subject. "So uh… how about you, Misty?" She asked, looking around the stands. "Getting any clues about…" She stopped when she noticed that Misty was standing alone in a corner, while looking straight. "Huh, Misty?"

Tails noticed this as well, and he frowned concerned. "Mist? You okay?"

As a filly, Misty was passing through some ponies on Bridlewood.

However, she started to grow nervous while looking around in fright, because she got lost, and she was trying to find someone she knows, but then she gasped.

"No!" Misty shouted, as she shook her head and saw her friends in front of her.

"What did you just see!?" Zipp asked.

"I… I was shopping at a place a little like this." Misty started to explain, while looking around the market. "It was definitely Bridlewood. Unicorns everywhere. But I couldn't see who I was with."

"These flashbacks and visions are getting out of hand..." Tails said with concern, rubbing his chin.

"I wonder what it was around here that triggered the memory this time." Zipp wondered, before Cloudpuff suddenly came flying by and tackled Zipp to the ground. "Ah!" She yelped and rolled to the floor on her back, as she saw Cloudpuff barking happily. "Cloudpuff?!" The pup began to lick her, and Zipp laughed at this. "Where did you come from? Mom must be here."

Then, they heard Queen Haven's laughter and turned to to see her and Alphabittle looking at two stands, although Haven's laugh made Shadow look around concerned at first, before looking at que Queen with wide eyes.

"Ugh, I'll never get used to her laughs." Sonic deadpanned.

"No offense to her Majesty, but I thought that was a witch laughing." Shadow said with a concerned frown and his arms crossed.

"Wouldn't be so far from the truth." Zipp chuckled. "I'll be right back!"

With that being said, Cloudpuff and Zipp walked up to Queen Haven, while she turned and saw her daughter.

"Darling, I didn't know you were here!" Haven told Zipp with surprise and joy. "How lovely! Can you believe this remarkable place? I've never seen anything like this in all my days."

As Haven picked up a bottle, Alphabittle was next on the stand besides theirs, holding a cup of tea that a Breezie gave him, as they also gestured at it.

"So you're sayin' if I can correctly guess what herbs you used in this tea, you'll give me the whole bag?" Alphabittle asked, while the breezie nodded, and Alphabittle smirked, cause he loved challenges. "You're on. I've never met a tea blend I can't name in three sips!"

Soon, Alphabittle sipped on the tea and tasted it to see what kind of herbs there is in it, while Sunny, Misty, Shadow, Sonic and Tails walked behind him without him noticing.

Pipp was close to the rest, trying to keep a couple of breezies away from taking her phone, as she held onto it while Zipp came to her sister and laughed at her situation.

"Hey sis, how's the mega-pega-mindfulness going?" Zipp teased her sister, while the Breezies tapped over Pipp's phone.

"Amazingly." Pipp answered with a smile. "I've never felt more clear. Can't say the same for these breezies though."

The breezies kept messing with her phone and said something, while Sonic came by and chuckled at them.

"What's so funny?" Pipp asked Sonic with a slight frown.

"Nothing special. The breezies just think that your phone is some kind of magic." Sonic said with a smile. "Quoting their words: They've never seen magic like this before."

As Sonic translated their words, the two breezies started to fight over who gets to use the phone now.

"I tried to take it away from them, but they just started crying." Pipp explained as she leaned close to her sister and boyfriend's ear. "I think they might have a real problem."

"Or they're just impressed with a screen for the second time." Sonic deadpanned. "And yes, is the second time, because Tails had a problem with his Miles Electric too when he brought it up our first time here."

"And what did he do?" Pipp asked, hopefully to get a solution to keep the breezies away from her phone.

"He built a new one and give it to them so he could keep the original." Sonic replied, then turned around and walked away.

"That's not really helpful..." Pipp deadpanned.

Sonic chuckled after hearing that, but then he noticed that, near a stand, Cyber Sonic appeared again, and he was holding a very similar owl statue to the one Sonic saw before. Then, Cyber Sonic crushed it with his hand, before looking over at Sonic and chuckle sinisterly.

This made Sonic feel anxious and then move away, something that Shadow noticed as he stood besides Sunny and Misty in a fruit stand, and he frowned, because he was getting tired of Sonic's strange attitude.

"Mind if I stop here?" Sunny asked Misty and Shadow. "Those fruits look out of this world!" She exclaimed, then she turned to them and shook a bit with a smirk. "Or should I say 'inside this tree'?" She started to laugh at her own joke. "Because inside the tree… Ah, okay."

"Wow, not a good joke." Shadow mumbled, and he looked at Sunny concerned. "You hang too much with Sonic, and I don't like that."

"I'm actually with you on this one, Shads..." Sonic said with a cringed expression. "That joke was a 4/10 at its best."

"You're being way too humble." Shadow deadpanned, and Sonic deadpanned back with an eye roll.

"Okay..." Misty said awkwardly, looking around and stepping back. "I'll… wait over here."

Just then, a breezie came to Misty and told her something. "Uh, what? Me?" She asked confused, before the breezie nodded and flew off. "Hey, wait up!"

Misty decided to follow the breezie, chasing her to a room where the creature entered, and then they came back with a key.

"A key? But I don't understand." Misty said confused, holding up the key. "What is this for?"

Since the Breezie is aware that Misty does not speak as fast as them, they wrote down their answer, then showed it to Misty so she could read it.

"This enchanted key will take you to the play you most want to go." Misty read before, she saw something else written down. "One time use only?!" She asked surprised, then took a closer look at the key. "Why is this so familiar?" She asked herself, but then, the key started to glow blue, and it showed a symbol that Misty recognized. "It belongs to the door in my memory. But how did you know…"

However, she trialed off when she noticed that the Breezie was gone, and so was the door they got the key from.

"What, where did you go? Hello? Sunny? Tails?!" Misty asked, as she looked around, but then noticed that the market was gone, and nopony was around, as fog started forming and made her panic. "Wait, no!"

Yet it was way too late, because the fog swallowed her and took her Chaos knows where.

Alphabittle was still trying to guess the herbs from the tea.

Just then, Haven was arriving with him, but she noticed that his Cutie Mark was glowing. "Alphie! Your Cutie Mark!"

"Look at that!" Alphabittle said with a smile. "Must be the magical properties of this tea. Or the thrill of a new challenge!" He smirked, then looked at the Breezie. "Saddles off to you! I haven't tasted oolong that smooth in… oh, a long time."

Just then, Haven's daughters and Sonic walked up to Haven and Alphabittle, with Zipp looking with interest at Alphabittle's Cutie Mark glowing. "Hm, that's so strange. That's been happening to our unicorn friend all day, too."

"You mean Izzy?" Alphabittle asked confused.

"No. A new friend of ours." Sonic answered with a smile. "You probably don't know her because she was living…" He stopped himself when he thought better that it's for the best to keep Misty's life as a secret from everypony else, so he shook his head and smiled sheepishly. "You know what? It doesn't matter right now. Is just a long story."

Just then, Sunny and Shadow came walking by, with Sunny holding a basket with fruits, while Shadow was eating coffee beans with a hand and munching them as happy as he's willing to show.

"Huh... I'd never seen you smiling that much, Shadow." Sonic said with a smirk, and even if everyone else just saw the same grumpy Shadow, Sonic seemed to be the only one noticing that he was happy.

"This are coffee beans. What outcome did you expected?" Shadow asked mockingly, as he still munched

"Oh, here they are. I'll introduce you right now!" Zipp said with a smile, but soon, she noticed that Misty wasn't with them. "Uh… where's Misty?"

Sunny placed her basket down. "I last saw her at the Berry Booth. I thought she'd left to find you!"

"Uh, no." Shadow said. "She ran away when a Breezie told her to follow them."

"And you're telling us right now?!" Sunny was the one that scolded him, for even Shadow's surprise.

"Welcome to my world, sis." Sonic deadpanned behind Shadow.

"We gotta find her!" Zipp declared.

Everyone else but Shadow nodded in agreement, while Shadow stood behind for a bit to keep enjoying his coffee beans, at least until Sonic grabbed him from his arm and dragged him away.

Meanwhile, Tails was buying some new ingredients for a little something he's working on regarding the Transformative Substances he makes... But then his Tails poofed and showed some electricity, just like his eyes did, and he felt panic, because that never happened before.

Yet he didn't liked the sudden feeling. "Something's wrong."

He didn't hesitated and boosted away to gather with his friends, finding them all huddling together close.

"Misty, where are you!?" Sunny called out.

"Come back!" Pipp called out next.

"Misty?!" Zipp said with concern.

"Misty!" Sonic shouted out loudly.

"Come back!" Izzy yelled.

"Where did she go?" Hitch wondered as he trotted around.

"Brightdawn! If this is a joke, is not funny!" Knuckles shouted as well with a concerned frown.

"Misty! Are you here?!" Amy asked with concern as well.

"Where is she?!" Tails' voice called out, and everyone turned to see him with panic, even Shadow, despite the fact that he wasn't calling Misty out. Then, Tails zoomed to Sonic and shook him a bit. "I said where is she?! Where's Misty?!"

Sonic looked around nervously, since he felt Tails' desperation just by the tone of his voice, but he knew that lying was not an option, so he sighed frustrated and looked on his eyes with sorrow.

"I... I don't know..." Sonic replied, and that made Tails' get more desperate now.

"Tails, honey..." Zipp called out, and Tails turned to see her while breathing heavily in panic. "She's… gone."

Tails let go of Sonic, and time itself seemed to stop around. He could barely feel his legs anymore, or his hands... Or his body in general. Whatever was happening it couldn't be good... But he was more concerned and terrified at the fact that Misty was gone.

No sound came out of him, and the next thing he knew, he was laying on the floor, as his sight blurred out, while someone called his name, but he had not time to try and guess who it was.

Al he knew now, was that he was unconscious, and therefore, he couldn't go and hep Misty.

To be continued...

7. Family Trees - Part 2

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An infinite black void of emptiness extended as far as the eyes could witness.

Soon, the only floating figure around slowly started to wake up, and they looked around at the emptiness surrounding them. Confused, they stood up and looked all over their body... Tails seemed to be just fine physically speaking.

But then, he suddenly heard a giggle, and he turned around... For some reason, he saw the figure of a filly running around while following a butterfly... But then, that figure disappeared and turned into dust, something that startled and confused the young fox.

But then, another figure passed by his side. This time, when he turned, he gasped, because it was an adult mare this time around... More specifically, it was Misty, who seemed to be running away.

"Misty! Wait!" Tails called out, and he twirled his tails to follow her around.

However, it didn't mattered if seemed to be boosting ahead to catch her, she simply moved more and more far away, until she disappeared entirely.

"MISTY!" Tails shouted.

"Tails..." A voice suddenly started to call him out.

Tails stopped moving and looked around confused, since he was looking for the source of the voice.

"Tails!" The voice, now sounding clearer, spoke again. It was a female voice. "Tails, wake up!"

"Huh?" Tails said confused for a moment.

Yet he couldn't question anything further, because a sudden flashlight blurred his vision, and he covered his eyes...

"Tails!" Sunny's voice was calling out desperately as she shook him. "Tails, wake up!"

Tails began to groan a bit, and he opened his eyes slightly, just to close them immediately again when he felt the light shining tight over his eyes, which annoyed him a little bit.

"Hmm... Five minutes more, Mom..." Tails muttered, as he covered his sight with his arms.

Sonic, Amy and Sunny, the ones looking after him after he fainted, all sighed in relief when he replied that, but Sonic still removed his arm off his face and shook his head a bit.

"Come one, little buddy! You already gave us a terrible scare, now's time to shine again." Sonic told him with a mocking tone.

Tails groaned and opened his eyes, also slowly sitting down in the ground, as he shook his head while feeling a bit dizzy. He realized that he's still on the Night Market, inside the Wishing Tree.

"What... What exactly happened?" Tails asked, since he barely remembers why he fainted, or that he fainted at all.

"Well... Misty went missing, and you fainted." Sunny explained him with concern.

"Misty is..." Tails tried to ask, but then his eyes widened when he remembered exactly that. "Misty!"

He immediately stood up and looked around concerned, pretty much looking after his friend.

"Where is everyone else?" Tails asked.

"After you fainted, everyone went to look after her." Amy explained. "We stood at your side, although we had a hard time convincing Zipp to go and look after her. She was really concerned for you."

Tails smiled a bit after hearing that. "I bet she is." He then shook his head and looked at Sonic with a determinate expression. "Well, I'm up, and while still concerned for Misty, I'm ready to help look for her!"

Around the Night Market, the ponies and breezies were still minding their own business.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Shadow were looking for Misty around the place.

"Uh. Hmm…" Zipp hummed as she looked around, before flying towards Hitch and Sparky. "Any sign of Misty? She just disappeared!"

"Not yet. But it is tricky to spot a unicorn in a market full of unicorns." Hitch pointed out, gesturing to the many unicorns in the Night Market.

Then, Pipp landed next to them. "No luck a the macaron stand either!" She cried out, as she ate a macaron, which made her sister glare at her. "What? It was a free sample!"

"Izzy, Shadow and I tried to trot around the whole Night Market." Sunny said, as she arrived along Izzy and Shadow.

"But this place goes on forever!" Izzy cried out with concern.

"Is like walking though a maze that's constantly changing." Shadow pointed out with a frown. "Am I crazy, or wasn't that stand two floors below us 10 minutes ago?"

He pointed at a stand that had all kinds of jewelry, but the ponies' eyes widened when they realized what he meant.

"It was!" Sunny said in shock. "How did it got down here?" She asked, but Shadow shrugged at her.

"Well, I still can't believe this all fits inside the Wishing Tree." Izzy said with a smile.

"Hmm…" Zipp muttered, then she flew up and looked around. "Where could that pony be?"

"Or most importantly: Where is Team Sonic?" Hitch pointed out.

As he said that, none of them realized that Knuckles was gliding all above the Market, as he looked around to every stand with his eyes, in search for the missing unicorn.

"Any sign of her, Knux?!" Tails asked him through the watch's communicator.

"Not yet." Knuckles replied. "Is hard to look after a unicorn when there's a market full of them. She could be anywhere!"

Near a stand with flowers, Amy walked by and heard the whole thing.

"I agree with Knuckles." Amy said with concern. "However, not only it is hard to find a Unicorn in a market full of unicorns, but I also feel that I'm lost. I've seen this flower stand at least five different times in the fives different areas I've been!"

Sonic was running through the whole market at top speed, also hearing the conversation.

"That's because the market changes from position every 10 minutes." Sonic reminded. "I get that the Breezies wanna keep their costumers for as long as they can before closing the market, but can't they stop for a moment? This is too much! Even for me!"

"Focus, Sonic!" Tails called out from the watch's communicator.

Speaking of Tails, he was flying over the market at slow paste, looking stand by stand for Misty.

"We've gotta find Misty before they close!" Tails stated. "We're gonna have to keep looking after her, but this time as twice as fast as we were doing until now!"

"Roger!" Amy said confidently.

"Who's Roger?" Knuckles asked confused.

"He's talking to me." Sonic's voice said, although a lot more deeper than ever. "Leave this to us, buddy!" He added, now with his normal voice.

Team Sonic cut communication, while Tails flew higher and looked around the market with concern.

"Where are you, Mist?" Tails muttered with worry.

You might be wondering, then: Where the heck is Misty?

Well, she was back in Bridlewood's forest, but just like in her dream, there was fog all around her, and the moonlight was showing up in the sky, as she walked through the fog nervously.

"Okay, just stay calm." Misty told herself, then she looked at the key again, that's now wrapped around her neck. "Just because this seems exactly like my dream doesn't mean it has to end the same way. I just need to find that magic door, then maybe I'll remember where I came from." She stated, then put the key down. "Fine. One more time."

The Unicorn mare took a deep breath, and then focused on trying to remember anything else from her past.

Misty accidentally tripped and fell into a ditch.

Misty decided to surround the tree and look what the light was about, ending up finding a glowing door.

"Whoa!" Misty said amazed, and she was about to touch the door, but then she heard something rustling behind her. "Huh?"

Misty turned around and saw a shadowy figure in the fog, which made her scream in fear.

"No!" Misty snapped back into reality.

She grew concerned for the vision she just had, scratching her head a bit, before noticing a Breezie flying by, while holding a lantern and humming to themself.

Misty smiled with a gasp, as she walked towards it. "Pardon me!"

The breezie exclaimed in surprise after seeing Misty.

"Um, hello. I was wondering if you know of any doors around here?" Misty asked the breezie, who thought for a moment at her question, before nodding and saying quick gibberish. "You do?"

The breezie turned around and gestured Misty to follow them, then they boosted away, surprising Misty.

"Wait! If you could just…" Misty called out, chasing after the Breezie.

The creature was flying really fast, and Misty tried to keep up, but she ended up panting, because she wasn't used to run this much. She internally wondered if this is what if feels like to chase Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Shadow around, because if it was the case, thank hoofness she's on their side now.

Suddenly, the breezie stopped moving and turned to Misty, while the unicorn tripped on a stem and rolled across the floor, landing on her stomach with a painful grunt, before she stood up.

"Yeesh, those little guys can really fly." Misty muttered to herself. "Tails probably flies as fast as them, if not more." She added, just when the breezie circled around her and said something else, also gesturing to the area they're in. "This is it? But where's the door?"

"Uh..." The breezie said a bit nervous, before looking around and then see a small doorway that leads to their house that's inside the tree. "Bye-bye!" The breezie went into the house.

Misty sighed in disappointment after seeing this. "Thanks anyway. But that's not the door I was looking for." She said sadly, and then turned away.

The breezie looked at Misty with sympathy, feeling bad that Misty didn't find the door she was looking for. Noticing that Misty was sad, the Breezie flew over her head, looking at her upside down.

Misty smiled a bit after thinking on something else. "But you can help me with something else." She said, while the breezie looked at her a bit confused. "How do I get back into the market? I got a little lost." She explained, gesturing to the forest and then sighing. "I think I've been gone a long time. My friends must be worried."

The breezie exclaimed something happily, and then they lead the way, while Misty smiled and followed them.

Back at the Night Market, the rest of the Mane 6 regrouped after not finding Misty on the market.

"Okay, everypony, get your hooves in the game." Zipp spoke first. "I'm worried I'll miss a critical clue about Misty's visions if I'm away from her for too long and I can't––"

"Zipp! That isn't important right now." Sunny pointed out, while Zipp looked down concerned. "Misty is still just learning her way around Bridlewood. What if she got lost?"

"It wouldn't be hard to do in a place like this." Hitch commented as he looked around. "In fact, I think I'm lost! Where am I?"

"I think I heard Sonic saying something about this place changing every 10 minutes fro the breezies to keep costumers in as much as possible before closing." Shadow commented. "We're not lost. The place is simply changing whenever it seems we're close to get out."

"... So we are lost..." Zipp deadpanned and Shadow deadpanned back.

"I've lived here all my life and even I'm all 'woo-ooo'." Izzy said, as she gave a weird work and moved around to prove her point.

"Too bad I still don't have any service." Pipp said with concern as she looked at her phone, which soon beeped and showed that there's no signal. "My Pippsqueaks can find anything or anypony!"

Pipp's phone beeped again, which concerned her, but then, two breezies came flying towards her after hearing her phone beeping, and Pipp tried to keep her phone away from them.

"Again?! I told you Breezies, this isn't magic, it's just the latest and greatest in pony tech!" Pipp reasoned with a small smile, but the breezies still wanted it, making Pipp groan and still try to keep her phone away from them... just for more of them to come, as she ran off protecting her phone, with the breezies chasing her.

Meanwhile, as this happened, Knuckles glided around, and when he saw the ponies and Shadow following Pipp, he glided down towards them, stopping in front, with Amy soon arriving to his side by running.

"I looked over to the last stand, and even double-checked with the first three changes for the past 30 minutes." Knuckles said with a concerned frown. "But I saw nothing.

"Same here!" Amy said with concern as well. "Is like if she just disappeared in thin air!"

Then, a blue blur ran at top speed across the whole market, until is slide and stopped besides Amy, revealing to be Sonic. "I looked the entire market top to bottom. She's not here at all!" He said with a concerned frown, too.

"She couldn't have just disappeared!" Tails said, as he slowly descended and landed on Sonic's side. "Maybe she got so lost that now she's back in Bridlewood?"

"Is a possibility." Sunny said. "With how huge this place is, maybe she found the exit and got out."

The group kept talking, and Sonic even was going to suggest on getting out of the market and check on his own if Misty was outside. However, just then, Sparky saw a stand that called his attention.

The Baby Dragon perked up and turned to the stand, looking at a big footprint that he seemed to recognize... Said footprint made him have a vision of his own, and it somehow triggered a memory on his mind.

Far away from Equestria, we have the Dragon Lands.

This place is a lush jungle of exotic plants, with some birds with feathers on their heads chirping and landing on a branch.

And then, something made the earth shake and rumble, making water move and shake as well, and also making the birds flying off. Right int that instant, a big and scaly purple leg smashed the floor, leaving a footprint behind, while the creature that made the footprint roared.

Back in reality, Sparky began to sniff the fossil footprint, trying to smell the scent.

Hitch felt this and turned to Sparky, with the rest noticing the baby dragon's attitude as well. "Sparky?! What is it, little bud?"

Yet, Sparky only gurgled and hopped off Hitch's back, as he ran towards the fossil, surprising both Hitch and Knuckles.

"I haven't seen him move like that since before Opaline drained him!" Hitch exclaimed surprised.

"Maybe he found something!" Knuckles pointed out with a smirk, as both Sheriff and Deputy followed the baby dragon.

Everyone else followed as well, but Tails stood behind and looked around concerned, something Sunny noticed, so she came up to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder.

"Hey, Tails. We'll find her." Sunny assured him with a smile. "Like you said, maybe she's just outside in the forest. We'll check for her outside if necessary."

Tails looked at Sunny and smiled a bit, then he nodded, and then they both catch up with the rest. There, they saw that Sparky went up to the fossil and o'ed at it, while the rest looked at the fossil.

"Huh? These don't look magical or healing." Hitch said confused.

"Yeah, what the hay?" Pipp said confused as well. "It's just a bunch of old rocks."

That made Knuckles gasp loudly and dramatically, as one of his eyes twitched, and then he grabbed Pipp and shook her violently. "Damn pegasus, you take that back!"

Just then, a breezie flew in and said a lot of gibberish with anger at what Pipp said as well.

"See? Even the breezies agree!" Knuckles groaned with a frown.

"Oh, I think we offended them." Sunny said sheepishly.

"Yes. Yes, we did." Hitch said with a deadpan.

"Ooh!" Sonic closed an eye and then chuckled. "Big mouth for a little creature!"

"I never heard someone swearing at such a high speed before." Shadow said with a somewhat proud smirk.

"What are they saying?" Amy asked.

That made Hitch, Sonic and Shadow's eyes widened, as they looked away and tried to play innocently.

"... I feel like it's better if I don't know..." Amy muttered while narrowing her eyes.

"It actually is." Hitch said sheepishly, before looking at Pipp with a glare. "The breezie is seriously offended, though."

"Oops, sorry." Pipp apologized sheepishly to the breezie, then she brought out her phone. "Can I make it up to you with a little bit of this?"

The breezie wasn't too pleases with this, and she pushed Pipp's phone away.

"Hey!" Pipp said offended.

"On the bright side, they're not fighting to get your phone anymore." Sonic said with a mocking smirk.

"Wait, no, she's trying to tell us something." Hitch said, while the breezie kept talking and gestured to the fossils, with Hitch translating. "She says, 'These aren't just any rocks, these are ancient fossils'!" The breezie then flew up to the fossil Sparky is looking at. "And that's the fossil of... a dragon print'."

This made everyone's jaws to drop. Well, Shadow's didn't, but he was still wide eyed, facing at the print in shock, while Sparky looked excitedly at it with a smile.

"A Dragon print?!" Hitch said in shock, as he turned to Sunny.

"Wow, look!" Sunny pointed at Sparky.

The baby dragon nuzzled the fossil happily, with his horns and scales glowing the moment he touched it. "The fossil's lighting him up!" Izzy said with a big smile.

"It must be from his home." Knuckles pointed out. "I never actually stopped to consider where the Egg he hatched from could come from... But perhaps it is time to find out." He added, although rather with sadness.

"Maybe we need to get him around more dragon things!" Zipp suggested with a smile.

"You're right, maybe he's been away from other dragons for too long…" Sunny said with concern.

"And the only way to fully cure him is to get him back with his kind!" Zipp added, while Sparky kept glowing and nuzzling the fossil happily.

"Hmm..." Izzy muttered, rubbing her chin with a hoof. "I know I said Bridlewood has everything but, uh…" She looked down at Sparky and put him on her back. "You won't find dragons here." She stated, then she looked at Sparky, who was gurgling happily, and that made Izzy laugh. "Except Sparky of course."

Hitch laughed a bit as he came up to Sparky, but then sighed sadly as he rubbed the dragon's head. "At least we know what will help him now, that's good news."

Yet there was no happiness on his tone, and Sunny noticed that, as well as everyone else, but the Earth Pony mare was the first one to approach her best friend.

"Then why do you seem upset?" Sunny asked him concerned.

"It's just that I always knew I'd have to say goodbye to him one day, but that day might be sooner than I thought." Hitch said with low ears, while Sparky gurgled at him cutely.

However, when Hitch mentioned that, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles seemed to look away, because even if Hitch was talking about Sparky, the three of them felt called out, maybe because they know that they have to say goodbye one day as well, and none of them are prepared for that day, just as much as Hitch isn't ready to say goodbye to Sparky.

"Hey, you never know. Maybe not!" Zipp said, as she flew in front of everyone else. "We'll figure something out!"

"Right..." Tails agreed, then he shook his head, flew at her side, and looked at the rest with a serious expression. "But first, we need everyone to focus on tracking down Misty!"

However, right after he said that, the rest but Shadow gasped, with the latter's eyes opening wide, which made both Zipp and Tails feel confused at their friends' reactions.

"Why are you all looking at us like that?" Zipp asked confused.

"Guys... Look behind." Sonic replied with shock.

"Huh?" The couple said as they turned, just to see Misty walking towards them with the breezie that helped her.

"Oh Misty!" Sunny said in relief.

"There you are!" Sonic said with a smile.

"We looked all over!" Hitch added.

"You just disappeared! Like–– Poof!" Knuckles added in shock.

“Where'd you go?” Pipp asked.

"We were so worried!" Amy added with a smile.

"Thank the moons!" Izzy cheered happily.

"About damn time." Shadow muttered with his arms crossed and a smirk.

"Oh." Misty said in relief, then she waved in goodbye at the breezie that helped her, and the breezie waved back before flying off. "I was worried you might've gone back to Maretime Bay without me!"

"We would never do that!" Sunny said.

Then, Zipp came up to Misty. "Where did you go? Was it another vision?"

"Well…" Misty tried to explain, but...

"Did you find something? What's that key you're carrying?" Zipp pointed to the key, while Misty felt uncomfortable.

Yet when Sunny was about to remind Zipp on giving Misty space, Tails boosted pass them and hugged Misty tightly, startling the unicorn mare a bit, and also making her blush.

"... Never scare me like that, ever again." Tails begged her with a shaky voice.

Misty felt her heart fluttering at his worry, but she also smiled and returned the hug. "Aw, Tails."

Once they broke the hug, Zipp followed and hugged her as well. "I was really worried." She said with honesty, and Misty chuckled, once again returning the hug.

When they broke the hug, Misty showed them the key. "A breezie gave me this special key."

As she gave the key to Tails, the young fox inspected it closer, with Sunny joining him.

"I haven't seen anything like this before." Tails said. "With all the books I've read from this world, I thought it'll click, but... no."

"Well, I think I've seen these patterns before." Sunny said, looking at the patterns on the key. "They're old, but I don't know what they mean." She added, while Zipp took out her magnifying glass to inspect it.

Knuckles, however, narrowed his eyes and tried to look closely at the key, but then his eyes widened. "Tails, let me see that key!" He pled.

Tails looked at him with a raised eyebrow, but he still gave him the key. Knuckles looked at the key closely, at first looking at it the same way everyone else has... But then he turned the key upside down, and when he saw the bow upside down, he gasped again.

"I knew it!" Knuckles said with a smile. "I've seen this door before!"

"Wait... a door?" Amy asked confused.

"In fact, I've seen this key before, too!" Knuckles confessed. "It takes you to the place you want to go the most. These keys appear every 10 years, but they can be used just once since the key disappears after being used."

"Wait... You've seen this before?!" Misty asked in shock.

"If you specified the kind of door you were looking for, I would had helped you hours ago!" Knuckles replied.

Angel Island - 17 Years Ago...

A young Knuckles was watering the tree he found along Team Sonic while humming to himself.

"I was watering the tree we found back on Marble Garden to ensure it'll last forever, until I almost tripped with a rock." Knuckles narrated.

Meanwhile, his younger self almost tripped with a rock, just like he said, and even if he sighed in relief, he still frowned down at the rock he almost tripped with, and then he kicked it away... But that made him find something under the rock that he didn't noticed before.

"When I kicked the rock out of anger, I found a key just like this one under it." Knuckles narrated, as his younger self picked the key and looked at it confused. "Just then, I saw some of the breezies saying something, but since Sonic wasn't there to translate their words, I looked at them confused."

Young Knuckles looked confused at the breezies, but then he noticed them pointing at a certain direction in the tree, so Knuckles surrounded the tree, and then felt amazed when he saw a glowing door in the other side.

"When Misty talked about the glowing door I didn't thought she was talking about the same kind of door I encountered that day." Knuckles narrated, while his younger self looked at the key, then at the door, then at the key again, and finally was going to introduce the key...

Back in reality, Knuckles kept narrating his story.

"The breezies stopped me before putting the key on the door and explained me how the key worked, so I didn't used the key until a year later." Knuckles narrated. "Don't ask me what I used it for, though. That's classified info I'm not sharing."

"I'll blame you for not talking sooner, but like you said, Misty never specified how the door looks like, so..." Sonic deadpanned.

"Then it definitely has something to do with home!" Misty said with a smile. "I thought that maybe if I could just find the door it goes to, I'd find some answers about my past and my family."

"Well? Did you find anything?" Zipp asked, while Sparky hopped off Izzy's back.

"No." Misty said sadly, but then she felt something hug her hoof, and when she looked down, she saw Sparky hugging her hoof while gurgling happily, which made Misty smile. "Sparky?! You found a cure for him?"

"Only a temporary one." Hitch replied. "I think the only thing that will really heal him is finding his family."

Sparky nuzzled Misty's leg, making her smile even more, as she rubbed the baby dragon's head. "I know how you feel, buddy."

"We can help!" Sunny said with a smile. "Come on, everypony, let's find that door!"

Misty smiled after seeing them willing to help, while Tails came by and placed an arm around her neck. "We won't rest until we have answers, Mist. And that's a promise!"

"I know, Tails." Misty said with a smile. "By the way... I, uh, I didn't wanted to really bring this up ever, but... Since we have this whole thing of the family, why you never talk about yours?"

Tails felt a bit confused with that question. "What do you mean? Sonic is my family! So are Knuckles and Amy. So are our friends. So are you!" He replied with a smile.

"I mean your biological family." Misty said with a cringed expression, since she's not sure if this is a delicate subject for him or not.

"Oh..." Tails said with concern, scratching his neck a bit. "Well, I can't say much on them. I only knew my parents, but that'll be stretching the truth. I barely saw them face to face. And when I did, they didn't even cared for me. They were really weird, and I honestly can't say if they were good or bad parents. They were not there. Heck, they didn't even cared when I was made fun of because of my tails."

Misty looked at Tails with pure shock and horror after hearing that. "They... They bullied you because you were different?" She asked concerned.

"That's just being gentle with how things happened." Tails replied with a chuckle. "For the first 5 years of my life, I felt lost and alone... Until I met Sonic. I found the family I never knew I needed with him and Longclaw. And the more friends we made as years passed by, the bigger our family grew." He smiled, then he looked at Misty. "I'll help you find answers about your family, but even if we don't find them, know that you have us, your friends, and we'll always be that family. Maybe not the one you want, but then one you definitely need and deserve."

Misty smiled warmly at his words, and then hugged him tightly one more time, with Tails hugging back. "Thanks, Tails. I'm really glad we're friends." She told him happily.

"I'm glad we're family, Mist." Tails replied with a smile as well.

https://youtu.be/pPqa3v9_4-o?si=fPD02mX8nF_1yObf

The Mane 6, Team Sonic and Shadow began searching around the market for clues.

However, as they did so, Alphabittle felt his Cutie Mark glowing again, weirding him out, while Misty was in the lower floor and went up to a stand, showing the key to two breezies, who'm shook their heads, since they had no clues for the door that the key opens.

Misty:
What is the key to a family? (Oh-oh)
What is the key to a home?
What is the part of that I'm missing? (Oh-oh)
To help me find where I belong

As Misty sang this, she checked out the other stands around to find a match to the key.

Then, Zipp flew out of the market and searched outside, while Hitch was checking a fossil stand, holding out a bird one.

Hitch:
I'm searchin'
I'm looking for something
Something that comes from the heart (From the heart)

Hitch left the stand to keep search, while Tails came to Misty and bumped her playfully to cheer her up a bit, which actually made Misty smile and giggle.

Meanwhile, Sparky saw two breezies making a fire show, which made him smile happily, since it reminded him of his own fire, while Hitch smiled when he noticed Sparky felt better, and Tails and Misty smiled at this as well.

Tails:
'Cause sometimes you need something to lift you up
And help to reignite your spark

Then, Misty, Hitch and Tails came towards each other and sang together, also holding tails for a moment, before continue on separate directions.

Misty, Hitch and Tails:
'Cause I've got you
And you've got me
'Cause when you're with your friends yeah
You're with your family

The rest kept searching around the market, while Zipp was still outside, wearing her Z-Googles and searching around the tree. Soon, Knuckles arrived and began to look around the tree as well.

Meanwhile, in the market, Izzy, Pipp and Amy saw a dragon plushy in a plushy stand, looking at it cutely with smiles.

Keep 'em in your heart
'Cause that is the key

Izzy brought out two plushies, a dragon one and a unicorn dog one, but when she showed the dragon one to Sparky, he denied with his head.

Oh when you're with your friends yeah
You're with your family
I've got you and you've got me

Then, Hitch came up to Sparky, and the baby dragon jumped happily, while Hitch picked him up and placed him on his back. The baby dragon hugged him, while Misty, Tails and Sunny looked at him with smiles, while Misty looked down at the key.

'Cause we aren't just friends
No, we're a family
When you're feeling lonely or incomplete

Outside, Zipp took off her googles and looked around, but down, Knuckles whistled and called her attention by waving his hand and gesturing her to come down where he was standing.

Don't forget about your friends
Yeah they're your family

Oh-woah-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh-woah
Woah-oh-oh-oh

When Zipp flew down, Knuckles pointed with a smile at a place that was glowing. Then, he removed the vines covering the way, and Zipp's eyes widened, but she also smiled, and then Knuckles and her fit/hoof bumped with smirks.

'Cause when you're with your friends
Yeah you're with your family

Meanwhile, the rest regrouped once Misty, Tails and Hitch finished singing. However, Sparky yawned and lay down on Hitch's back again, then started to snore.

"The dragon fossil helped him, but I don't think it was enough." Hitch said with concern and dropped ears.

"Hitch, I'm so sorry for letting Sparky get hurt." Misty said with guilt, since she's the one who brought Sparky to Opaline in the first place. "I'll never forgive myself."

"Well, I forgive you, Misty." Hitch said with a smile. "I've seen how good your heart is and, well, even if you don't find what you're looking for, we can be your family."

Misty smiled brightly at him. "You mean it?"

"Of course!" Izzy cheered happily. "I've always wanted another unicorn in the family."

"See! What did I told you?" Tails told Misty with a smirk, bumping her shoulder. "Quoting someone else's words: 'Family' is just a fancy word for those who always stick together. And like I said before, you have us! Your friends! And we'll always be there with you."

"Friends forever?" Sunny asked with a smile.

"And ever!" Pipp finished with a happy nod.

After that, everyone shared a group hug, and even though Shadow tried to move away, he still got dragged thanks to Sunny's magic, for his eternal annoyance, and now he was trying so hard not to scream for help.

"Awww!" Everyone else exclaimed happily, while Shadow gave up and accepted his fate.

"So cute." Izzy commented.

However, Pipp noticed that one pony of their group, as well as certain echidna, were missing. "Hey, has anyone seen Zipp and Knuckles?"

"ATTENTION CI-DESSOUS!" Knuckles' voice suddenly called out saying 'CAUTION BELOW!' in French.

They broke the hug and turned up, seeing Knuckles diving towards them, more specifically towards Shadow, who simply deadpanned and teleported away, while the one that ended up tackled in the ground was Sonic, as both Knuckles and Sonic rolled and then crashed into a wall.

Everyone cringed after seeing this, while Shadow appeared again and chuckled when he saw that Sonic got hit instead.

"Misty, we found it!" Zipp called out next, and the group but Sonic and Knuckles turned to see her land between Hitch and Pipp, also panting a lot from how fast she came here.

"You found what?" Amy asked confused.

Knuckles then zoomed in while holding Sonic's hand, and he smiled widely. "What we've been looking for!" He answered, then he looked at Misty. "Girl, we found your magic door."

Misty gasped with wide eyes after hearing this.

Outside the market, the group followed Zipp and Knuckles.

Once the pair lead the rest to the same spot they found earlier, they moved the vines aside to reveal the door.

"This is it! This is the door!" Misty exclaimed in joy.

"We couldn't see if from the ground because it was so overgrown, but when I looked from the sky… Boom!" Zipp explained while spreading her hooves at the 'boom' word.

"Hey! I found the glow from the ground!" Knuckles complained. "You literally didn't saw anything until i pointed it out!"

"Ha! You wish." Zipp mocked up.

"You stupid chicken, I'm going to–-" Knuckles tried to say, but Izzy pulled him aside by grabbing one of his quills with her magic and dragging him away, making Knuckles groan in pain.

"Excuse us for a second!" Izzy said cheerfully, then she pushed Knuckles behind a bush, then she jumped into the bush.

Next thing everyone knew? Knuckles cried out loud for getting hit, and then Izzy came out of the bush humming happily, while Knuckles came out rubbing his right cheek.

"Did it hurt?" Amy teased Knuckles with a smirk.

"What do you think?" Knuckles replied with a deadpan, but still rubbing painfully his cheek.

Then, Zipp pushed the door, but it didn't budge. "Locked! Which means…" She looked at Misty eagerly.

"We need this!" Misty stated, as she took out her key with a smile.

"Oooh! Where will it lead us to?" Izzy asked excitedly.

"The Breezie who gave it to me said it would take me to the place I most wanted to go." Misty explained with a smile, but then Sparky started to gurgle sadly again. "But it can only be used one time."

"Is what I said." Knuckles reminded. "These keys appear every 10 years. It means that if you use it now, you'll have to wait ten long years 'till you can use it again."

"Well, what are you waiting for, Misty?!" Zipp said excitedly. "You can use the door to find your home! Your family!"

"I could, but…" Misty looked at her key, then she took a deep breath, and then walked up to Maretime Bay's Sheriff. "Hitch, I want to use this key for Sparky."

"What?" Hitch asked in surprise. "But what about your family?"

"Sparky needs to be around dragons." Misty pointed out with a smile. "You've all taught me the true meaning of family and friendship. I'm willing to wait a little loner to solve the mysteries of my past, if it means I can save Sparky's future. Besides, 10 years could go in a flash."

"Or be painfully slow." Shadow greeted his teeth, but Sonic hit him on his shoulder and denied with his head with a frown, which miraculously made Shadow shut his mouth, although he still rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Please let me do this." Misty urged Hitch. "After all, we're family now, right?"

Hitch and Sparky looked at each other, then they both smiled and nodded to Misty.

Misty smiled back and took a deep breath, then she turned to the door and walked up to it, taking off the key from her neck and placing it on the lock of the door. "The place I most want to go is where Sparky came from."

Suddenly, the key began to sparkle, and Misty gasped in awe.

"Something's happening." Sunny pointed out.

No crap, Sherlock. Shadow thought to himself with an eye roll, but since he wouldn't dare to offend Sunny, he kept the comment to himself.

"Take us to the Dragonlands!" Misty announced with a smile, turning the key, which disappeared and made her gasp again.

"It's working!" Izzy cheered.

"Okay, but do we think it's supposed to shake like that?" Pipp asked nervously.

"Maybe it's a little rusty." Zipp said with a nervous chuckle.

"Or the door's gonna explode and we're all gonna die." Sonic said with a neutral expression, gaining glares and deadpans from everyone else.

"Wow, thanks for the unconditional support." Tails said sarcastically.

"Remind me to never count on you for inspiration ever again." Knuckles frowned, and Sonic rolled his eyes annoyed.

Then, the door opened up and showed a portal inside, surprising the Mane 6.

"A door that's actually a portal to a place full of dragons." Sonic commented, then shrugged. "Just another Monday."

"So I guess now we just––" Misty started, feeling a little nervous.

"Step through this strange door into the unknown based entirely on the world of a tiny pixie pony!" Izzy finished cheerfully with a nervous chuckle.

"What's so strange about it?" Knuckles shrugged as well.

"Mom would not be pleased to know we were thinking about doing this." Pipp said nervously.

"When has that ever stop us?" Zipp questioned with a smirk.

"You guys act like if we were going to get killed or something. "Knuckles deadpanned. "Is just a damn portal! Not the gate to hell."

"Don't tempt destiny, Knuckles." Shadow warned him with a frown.

"Well… Okay then. You first, Hitch." Sunny suggested with a nervous smile.

"Me?" Hitch asked surprised. "No, no, I couldn't possibly. After you."

"Is this sexual tension, or just them teasing each other?" Sonic asked Amy in whispers.

"Yes." Amy replied in a whisper as well.

Just then, a leaf came out from the portal, surprising the group. When Sparky saw the leaves, he gurgled excitedly, and the rest turned to him.

"Look at him!" Hitch called out with a smile.

Sparky jumped from Hitch's back and picked up the leaf, then he started running to the portal and jumped in it, surprising everyone else.

"About damn time!" Sonic cheered, before boosting and crossing the portal without hesitating.

"Why am I not surprised he jumped first besides Sparky?" Knuckles deadpanned.

"Guess we have no choice now!" Sunny said with a small smile.

Hitch gave a determined look, as he and everyone else jumped inside the portal, with Shadow being the only one staying behind.

"I would go in, too... But I'd rather stay here in case the portal seems to unstable or something." Shadow told to himself, so he turned around and crossed his arms, determinate to watch over the portal.

The portal was open in the Dragonlands.

At the other side of said portal, the Mane 6 fell to the ground and landed over each other, with Izzy landing on top of the rest, while Team Sonic seemed to be the only ones that landed away from the others.

"Hey! That wasn't so bad." Izzy said cheerfully.

"Speak for yourself." Hitch groaned, since he was on the bottom along Pipp and Sunny.

"You guys should really get used to it." Sonic said with a smile. "It becomes more easier to handle over time."

"Say... Where's Shadow?" Amy questioned, as she cleaned some dust off her dress.

"Probably stood behind to guard." Knuckles deadpanned. "You know how he is: He worries for us, but chooses to not say anything and let his actions speak."

"Let me doubt the 'he worries for us' part." Tails deadpanned.

"Ditto." Sonic agreed with a nod, then he turned to the Mane 6 with a smile. "Anyways! You guys seeing this? It's beautiful!"

"Huh?" Zipp said, before she gasped, and so did the rest of the Mane 6.

They were no in a lush jungle of exotic plants, and the six ponies stood up. "It is beautiful!" Pipp said with sparkling eyes, then she took out her phone, which beeped again. "Definitely no service here, but…" She squealed and flew around like a happy, little filly, which Sonic found adorable as usual. "I can't wait to get photos of a real adult dragon!"

"I can't wait to meet another dragon." Zipp said next. "I have so many questions."

"I hope we're not disappointed." Sonic said with a smirk. "We've been teasing dragons since Season 2. We better see at least one of them!"

Yeah, you and everyone else is gonna be disappointed, and I'm not only talking about this story so far...

"Well, I did met a dragon before, and I don't mean Sparky." Knuckles said with a smirk. "I have never been here, but the dragon I met was quite a match!"

"Dude, you seriously have to speak more often and not wait until the last DAMN second to speak!" Sonic scolded him, and Knuckles rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Wait... You've met a dragon before?!" Sunny asked Knuckles with wide eyes.

"Have I?" Knuckles replied with a smirk. "He was quite a thing, I'll tell ya."

Angel Island - 15 Years Ago...

A younger Knuckles was walking near Lava Reef, making his rounds across the Island.

By this time, he already has got his eyes pink-colored instead of being black, and he simply was making sure that everything seemed to be fine... Until a rumble shook the entire Island.

"When I was younger, something shook the entire island while I did my rounds." Knuckles narrated, while his younger self attempted to keep his balance. "I thought that it could be Eggman attacking, so I rushed out of Lava Reef, where I was currently in, and went straight towards the Master Emerald."

Thinking that is was Eggman, Knuckles boosted to the Altar of Emerald to keep it safe from whatever made the island shake... But he found himself completely surprised when he was face to face with a really big dragon.

"Instead of Eggman, I found a giant dragon, eyeing the Master Emerald and trying to take it away from me." Knuckles narrated. "That dragon was huge and purple with green scales and belly. His wings resembled those of a gigantic bat, and his claws looked sharp. They shined so brightly that I could see my reflection in them."

As he narrated this, the dragon attempted to attack the Echidna, who jumped backwards and grabbed the Master Emerald then he putted behind him and looked back at the dragon with a frown.

"I was ready to fight that thing, but just when I jumped and aimed my punch to his face... A cry stopped me." Knuckles narrated.

In the memory, his younger self was about to hit the dragon on the face, but then, their eyes widened when they heard someone else crying. So, the dragon turned to their back and saw a pair of babies crying, while each of them hold on their paws a dragon egg.

Knuckles noticed this as well, and he glided back to the Master Emerald, but now he was looking confused at the dragon and the babies on their back.

"It turned out that dragon was a father, in search for food for his children." Knuckles narrated. "He told me that in his dimension they ran out of gems to feed their newborns, so now every dragon was crossing one dimension to the other in order to have crystals for their babies. I couldn't let them get the Master Emerald, but I did knew of a place where he could take as many gems as he needed."

Young Knuckles looked down in thought and rubbed his chin, before smiling at the adult dragon and nod while hitting his chest, since he was going to help the dragon out.

"After that, I lead that dragon to Hidden Palace, a place full of gems." Knuckles narrated. "The dragon took as many as he wanted - that is, three fourths of the palace - to feed both his babies and his fellow dragons. He thanked me for the help, and even taught me about dragon stuff. Heck, I could carry one of his eggs for a good while! And then, he thanked me once again before disappearing in a portal made out of his own dragon fire."

"Again, it could had been nice if you told us this before..." Sonic deadpanned.

"So you met an actual adult dragon from Equestria?!" Sunny asked excitedly.

"Well, considering the eggs that dragon carried looked like Sparky's before he hatched, I guess so." Knuckles replied.

"Oh! So that's why you knew about the egg being a dragon one!" Tails noted. "I thought it was because you hatched from an egg, and you know from other species that hatched from them, too."

"Is a little bit of both." Knuckles replied with a smile.

"You hatched from an egg?!" Zipp asked him with shock and wide eyes, also zooming to his face.

To this, Knuckles raised an eyebrow. "Duh! I'm an echidna, one of the only two oviparous mammals that exist. My entire species was born from an egg." He replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.'

"Well, sorry for skipping school, Knucklehead." Sonic said sarcastically with an eye roll, before looking around. "Say... Where's Sparky?"

Once he said that, Hitch started to look around with concern. "Sparky?! Where'd he go?" He called out, just before Sparky came to him happily, as he jumped around his friends, and Hitch laughed. "There you are, little guy!" He said happily, then he picked Sparky up. "Look at him. This place is helping already!"

"Then we're in the right place." Tails said with a smile. "I thought for a moment this was other area, since Argyle's archives describe this place way differently than it currently looks.

Then, Hitch turned to Misty. "Thank you, Misty. Truly." He told her, while Sparky babbled to her, and Misty patted Sparky's head with a smile, just before Sparky jumped off Hitch's arms. 'Huh…"

The group watched Sparky running to a tree, and he started climbing it, then he turned to gesture the rest.

"It looks like he wants us to follow." Izzy said cheerfully. "Does he know the way?!"

"It must be instinct." Zipp theorized. "This is his homeland!"

"Hey, buddy!" Knuckles called out. "Do you know da wae?"

After hearing this. Sparky ran off again. "Whoa, wait for us, buddy!" Hitch said, while the Mane 6 and Team Sonic went after him.

Sparky kept running, while the ponies panted for breath, while Team Sonic seemed to be trotting and not tired at all. They're pretty much just holding back to not leave their friends behind. Then, Sparky stopped and landed in a big footprint, so he followed the tracks, also breathing his dragon fire around happily.

"He's so much better." Hitch said happily before, they all screamed when Sparky nearly hit them with his dragon fire. but then it was followed by laughs.

"And his fire's back!" Misty added, while Sparky kept breathing out his dragon fire.

"Again: That means we're in the right place." Tails repeated with a smile.

Then, Hitch turned to see Misty with a smile. "I can't believe you used your key to help Sparky instead of finding your family. Do you remember anything about them?"

"I wish I could…" Misty replied sadly at first, before she started to look around with a smile "But I'm glad I'm here to see this."

Now, Pipp brought out her phone and started to record this moment, since she cannot keep it up with her mega-pega-mindfulness anymore.

"I bet we're gonna see a big dragon any second now!" Pipp exclaimed excitedly.

"I wonder if the dragon I met is with them. Dang, if only I could remember his name..." Knuckles scratched his head.

Meanwhile, everyone else waited around for a dragon to show up... but for some reason, no dragon came to them. Heck, there wasn't even the slightest sign of rumbling or the ground shaking at their stomps. There simply was nothing of the dragons around here.

"Any second now!" Pipp repeated, but still nothing. "Any second now."

"Does anypony else sense there's something a little off here?" Zipp asked with concern.

"Besides the fact that there's nothing so dragon-y in here beyond the footprints?" Sonic asked with a bored expression, also kicking a rock near by.

"Huh, let me check." Izzy said, then she posed like if she was meditating, and the rest simply stared at her confused, while Sparky hopped around happily. "I'm definitely sensing some energies. A lacking of luminescence. And absence of sparkle, really." She began to hum again. "I think something happened here."

"No crap, Sherlock." Tails rolled his eyes.

"A lot of dragons seem to live here." Sunny pointed out. "There's all these clawprints, and those amazing statues but…"

"No dragons." Zipp finished.

Then, Hitch stepped over one of the clawprints. "Maybe they're just off foraging somewhere?"

"All of them? At the same time?" Sunny questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"And with Sparky here making all this commotion…" Zipp added with concern.

"Yeah, wouldn't his family hear? And want to come to him?" Pipp added confused.

"Hmm..." Sonic muttered, then he turned to see Knuckles. "Yo, Knux. You seem to be the one who knows about dragons the most. Is there anything you know about why their home would be this empty?"

"There's a lot of reasons I could think of, actually." Knuckles replied. "Dragons are creatures that constantly emigrate around the globe. They don't stand in a specific place for too long, and if they do, is rather because something scared them so much they'd rather remain hidden."

"What in the name of Chaos could scare big monsters with claws, pointy spikes, sharp teeth, and freaking fire breath?!" Amy asked confused.

"Something just as dangerous as a dragon." Knuckles replied with a frown. "And if it's not migration what they're doing, then they're definitely hunting food down. Perhaps the gems reserve they had ran out again, and now they're hunting for food. But usually at least 2 or three dragons stay around... Something's definitely off if there's no one else here."

"Maybe they all took off before we got here, or…" Zipp said, trying to think of another reason.

"Or somepony else got here before us." Misty said with concern.

"Opaline." Sunny said worryingly.

"That's what I mean with 'Something just as dangerous as a dragon'." Knuckles pointed out. "But if Opaline is as dangerous as you guys say she is, then she's even more dangerous. Ugh! If only I could remember the name of the dragon I met! I just remember it started with 'Sp'!"

"We can help you finding that out later, Knux. Right now, we've gotta find some other dragon around..." Amy pointed out. "If we find anyone, that is..."

Just then, Sparky came to them and babbled excitedly. "What is it?" Hitch asked him, but then, Sparky ran further again.

"I'm starting to think Sparky is more hyperactive than me. Is that a good thing or a bad one?" Sonic questioned, while scratching his head.

"It'll be hell if he ends up being like you." Knuckles deadpanned. "One Sonic is enough to deal with."

With everything said and done, they all followed Sparky to a cave, as he babbled to it amazed, while the rest caught up to him. As usual, the ponies felt nervous, while Team Sonic was not even impressed.

"Oh…" Izzy said before laughing. "No thanks, Sparky. Kind of you to show us your home, but I rather not go into a creepy cave." She chuckled nervously.

"Same." Pipp said in agreement. "One mysterious entryway in a day is plenty for me!"

"What? Is just a cave where probably an adult dragon lives." Knuckles pointed out confused.

"Or snakes, bats, rats... Anything's possible." Amy added with a smile.

"You guys used to these kind of stuff?" Zipp asked confused.

"Zipp, literally everyone present right now but Amy and Misty was turned into a digital ghost six months ago while I was fighting machines that came from Evangelion with Sleeping with Sirens vocalist singing in the background." Sonic pointed out with a bored expression. "Why is a dark cave where we cross the line?"

Then, Sparky started to babble again, urging the rest to take a look. "Alright, I'll just take a look." Hitch said, although he was still feeling nervous.

"I'll go with you, Hitch." Sunny said with a smile.

"Is Sparky pushing his parents to be alone? I ask so we can turn around and let them be." Tails said with a mocking smirk, while the remaining mares and Amy tried not to burst out laughing.

As the three ponies went into the cave with Sparky and looked around, Knuckles was deep in thought, still trying to remember the name of the dragon he met 15 years ago.

On the other hand, Hitch cleared his throat inside the cave. "Hello?" He said, but no response reached his ears.

"I think you'll have to be louder than that." Sunny suggested, then she cleared her throat. "Anydragon in here?!"

Sunny's voice echoed through the cave for quite sometime, but no response reached her ears, either.

"Spencer... Spanky... Spot..." Knuckles was muttering.

"What are you doing?" Misty asked him confused.

"I'm trying to remember the dragon I met's name, but I've got notting besides the 'Sp' part." Knuckles replied.

"Well, unless you can spike this mystery out, I'm afraid we'll be stuck in here for a while." Sonic deadpanned.

Yet Knuckles' eyes widened when Sonic talked, and he zoomed to his face. "What did you just said?!" He asked him.

"Uh... That I'm afraid we'll be stuck––" Sonic tried to repeat.

"Before that!" Knuckles clarified.

"That unless you can spike this mystery out––" Sonic said, but then Knuckles threw him away, just the same way Izzy throws Pipp away sometimes.

"That's it!" Knuckles said with a smile, then he zoomed inside the cave, took a deep breath, and then shouted his lungs out. "SPIKEEEEEEE!!!"

This time around, a pair of glowing eyes appeared, which startled the ponies. Then, more eyes opened up, and then a bunch of bats came out of the came, making the ponies of the group scream, except Izzy since she laughed, then the bats flew away.

"Ha! I knew bats could be in there!" Amy said with a smile.

"No dragons in there, either!" Hitch said with a sheepish smile, but that made Sparky sigh in sadness.

"Then they definitely are hiding somewhere else." Knuckles pointed out with a frown. "I saw some traces of food inside the cave, which means they didn't left to get more."

"Where could they have gone?" Sunny wondered with concern.

"They must've sensed the growing dragon fire power in Opaline." Misty theorized.

"You sound so sure." Zipp pointed out worried.

"She's been the closest thing I've had to family for a long time.” Misty explained as she continued. “I know Opaline's interest in total domination goes way beyond Equestria."

"She wants to rule over the Dragonlands too?" Zipp asked in shock.

"Over everything." Misty said with concern. "She wanted Sparky's dragon fire to gain power. Maybe she wanted to take it from the other dragons too! And maybe they fled before she could get to them?" She theorized, which scared Sparky as he nuzzled Hitch's leg.

"Huh... That actually makes Eggman betraying Opaline kind of weird." Pipp pointed out. "He said that he wanted to rule it all as well, and he was actually trying to do so, but Opaline stood back. And he even betrayed her!"

"Yeah, he shook her like..." Izzy said, then made weird noises as if she was being electrocuted to prove her point.

"So why did he betrayed someone that has the same aspirations than him?" Pipp questioned.

"Eggman's never been the kind of guy that likes to share." Tails explained. "He just uses those that make his game easier on the way to conquer everything, and if they're not of use to him anymore, he ditches them like trash. That's how it's always been, and I doubt it'll change anytime soon."

"Yeah, Eggman has his goals pretty clear." Sonic deadpanned, before smirking. "But so we do! Kicking his butt and Opaline's flank before any of them try to pull out a new move again!"

"That is, if we can find out what are they up to first." Tails pointed out with a frown. "I still need to finish that device to tear down Opaline's barrier, and I have no sign of Eggman from my drones yet. Eggman's been really quiet ever since what happened in the Starfall Islands, and I don't like it."

"Me neither. Whatever he's up to now must be big if he's this secretive about it." Amy pointed out with a frown as well.

"For now, let's just hope that the dragons actually left after sensing Opaline's power growing." Knuckles stated.

Hitch rubbed Sparky's head for comfort. "Let's hope that's what happened. Being with Misty and coming here has shown me that everypony deserves to find their home. Where they belong. Maybe Sparky belongs with dragons."

"Are you thinking of... leaving him here?" Sunny asked surprised, while Sparky hugged Hitch's leg again.

Hitch looked around and stared at a dragon statue. "One day, I'll have to let him go. But I won't leave him here, all alone." He stated, then he looked down at Sparky. "I'll be Sparky's protector for as long as he needs me."

Sparky hugged him happily after he said that, while Knuckles came by and picked the baby dragon up, placing him on his head. "Which means that you won't say goodbye to us anytime soon!" Knuckles declared with a smirk.

"And as long as you need us, we'll help you open as many doors as we have to, to find your family." Sunny said to Misty.

"That also means you won't get rid of me so easily!" Tails mocked Misty up with a smirk as well.

"Um, yeah about that..." Izzy said suddenly, as she looked around nervously. "Anypony remember how to get back to the door?"

That made the others look around for the way they came in, but none of them could remember where they've been, not even Sparky.

"Great, now we're lost in a jungle on Chaos knows where!" Sonic groaned and rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Don't sweat it, ponies!" Pipp called out, and everyone turned to her, seeing she was holding a piece of a petal. "I got it covered." She said, then she flew to a trail of petals on the ground. "I left a trail of jungle flower petals I just picked up for my all-natural beauty line so we could find our way back." She explained, flying around and sniffing the petals. "And these one smell tropical, like passionfruit! Mmm, yumi!"

Everyone else sighed in relief, and they all walked their way back to the portal.

"Smart thinking!" Hitch complimented.

"This is why I love you, Little Pipp!" Sonic said with a smile.

"Thank hoofness." Izzy added gratefully.

Meanwhile, Zipp looked at her sister with a smirk. "What?" Pipp asked.

"Nothing. I'm just... impressed." Zipp said to her sister with pride.

"Hey, you're not the only sister who can do cool tricks!" Pipp said with a smile, before she picked up another petal and sniffed it. "Oh, and this one smells just like 'Canter Number 5'!" She sniffed the petal again.

Zipp chuckled after seeing that. "Let's go!"

Then, the sisters flew off to catch up to the others back the way they came.

Yet as they moved, Sonic could hear a chuckle from behind, and he immediately turned to the cave, just for his eyes to widen in panic when he saw Cyber Sonic again, analyzing a petal similar to the ones Pipp made a trial with.

"All of this effort is so... pointless." Cyber Sonic spoke, then it turned to see Sonic. "In the end, this world's fate won't be avoided. It'll still fall, and you will witness it on first row."

Sonic panicked at his words, but then shook his head and moved forward before making any of his friends worry or notice that he was hallucinating again. The last thing he wanted was to worry them... Even though they were already, despite not having saying it out loud yet.

He's gone, Sonic. He told himself mentally. He can't hurt you or your friends. Not anymore.

Later on, Shadow stared at the portal with concern.

The Mane 6 and Team Sonic have been gone for at least 20 minutes, and even though the portal seemed stable so far, he was worried that none of them would come back intact, but he was mostly concerned for Sunny.

But then, Sunny was the first one to walk back from the door, followed by the rest of the Mane 6, and finally by Team Sonic, with Sonic himself being the last one to cross. After that, the portal closed and the doors shut, something that confused Misty, before she went with her friends.

"And here I thought you guys wouldn't made it." Shadow mocked up with a smirk.

"That'll make you happy if Sunny wasn't with us, Faker." Sonic mocked him up back.

"Won't even try to deny it!" Shadow replied, and Sonic deadpanned, also rolling his eyes.

The group made it back to the entrance of the Night Market, but then the breezies flying out of the entrance closed it.

"Guess that's it for the Night Market." Sunny said, while the breezies flew off to their homes.

Izzy then walked up to a breezie. "Pardon me, when does this mystical magical market come back?" She asked.

The breezie spoke slowly with a smile and flew off, while Izzy tilted her head confused.

Hitch then come up to Misty. “She says, ‘You never know’.” He repeated while talking it slowly to Izzy.

"Huh, that doesn't really narrow it down." Izzy commented in thought.

"The breezies are just playing with you, Izz." Knuckles told her with a smile, also wrapping his arm around her neck. "They open at night. Hence why it's called 'Night Market'."

Just then, a couple of breezies flew up to Sonic and gave him something n his hand that made his eyes open wide: The owl statue from Longclaw that he saw earlier.

Sonic looked up at the breezies confused, and they told him something at fast paste. "R-Really? I-I can keep it?!" The breezies nodded, and Sonic looked down at the statute again before smiling. "Thanks. This means a lot to me."

The breezies smiled, then waved their hooves and flew off, while Sonic smiled warmly at the statue.

"One more thing to keep your memory alive, Mom." Sonic muttered, before putting the statue on his quills.

Meanwhile, Misty was looking at the tree in deep thought. "Hey, Misty? We just wanted to see if you're okay." Sunny said with concern for her friend.

"You've been a bit down ever since we walked back to the portal on the Dragonlands." Tails pointed out with worry.

"Yeah, and if you wanna share anything else you might have learned about your past, we're all ears." Zipp said as well with a smile, and not being so pushy over her questions this time around.

However, Misty sighed disappointed. "I wish I had more to tell." She replied, then began to look around. "At least I know I've been to Bridlewood. But, I'm not any closer to figuring out who was in my memory or who I used to belong to." She said sadly as she walked around, but then she smiled. "But that's okay for now."

"Well, as long as you have us, you have family." Tails said with a smile, as he stood next to her and pushed her playfully in her shoulder, making Misty chuckle.

"And you have our Zephyr Heights family too!" Pipp added, flying down to stand at Misty's other side, before she gasped as she remembered something. "I totally forgot to tell you we saw my mom in the market earlier today!"

"Queen Haven was here?" Hitch asked surprised.

"Yep!" Pipp answered with a nod. "She was walking around with Alphabittle. Oh, look!" She then brought out a golden sparkling photo booth picture. "We went into that enchanted photo booth together!"

The others huddled around to see the pictures, and soon, both Sonic and Knuckles bursted out laughing after saying it, while Pipp and Izzy laughed as well.

"Ha-ha! Zipp! What is the expression you're making?!" Izzy asked.

The photo booth pictures seemed to be magical, and it showed the sisters, Queen Haven, Cloudpuff and Alphabittle. Each section changed into a different photo, and Zipp's face was always off and weird in all of them, which made everyone but Zipp laugh. Shadow even grinned and snorted a bit.

"I wasn't ready!" Zipp complained and covered herself in embarrassment.

Tails then flew up and embraced her into a hug. "I say you look really cute, Zipp~" He told her with a wink and a flirty tone that made Zipp blush and chuckle nervously.

But then, Izzy saw Misty looking at the pictures longingly. "Huh, and what's the expression you're making, Misty? Is something wrong?"

"Oh no. Another vision?" Zipp asked in concern.

"Is it good or bad?" Tails asked anxiously.

"Is it Opaline this time?" Sunny asked next.

Misty shook her head. "No, it's not that, I… I think I recognize…" She started, looking even more closely to the picture, but only focusing on Alphabittle. "Who is that?"

"Oh, that's Alphabittle!" Pipp answered. "We've mentioned him before. He runs the Crystal Tea Room here in Bridlewood."

But after Pipp explained this, Misty walked off with a sad and confused expression, while the others looked at her.

"Um, Misty?" Hitch asked.

But while Misty stood in front of her friends in deep thought, her Cutie Mark started to glow again. "Wait a second, Alphabittle's Cutie Mark was glowing today too." She said, rubbing her chin with a hoof, before gasping and flying to Misty. "Misty! In your vision, the large shadow, is it possible that it wasn't a creature after all?"

"Huh?" Tails said confused. "Zipp, what are trying to––" Yet he cut himself off, and his eyes widened. "You are not suggesting what I think you're suggesting... Are you?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Sonic asked, completely lost already.

Misty, however, thought for a moment on Zipp's words, before she gasped and remembered everything once again.

Filly Misty was looking at the glowing door.

But then, she turned to see a large shadow behind her. Yet this image zoomed in closely, and in the end, the large shadow happened to be Alphabittle, a young Alphabittle who's hair was dark blue, as he was looking for Misty around the fog.

"Where'd ya go, pumpkin?" Alphabittle called out with concern. "It's almost dinner-time!"

Misty was brought back to reality in shock.

She finally remembered what that figure was, and she could barely believe it. "D-d-d… Dad?!"

This made everyone else but Shadow gasp dramatically in utter shock and disbelief.

"Alphabittle is your dad?!" Izzy shouted in shock.

"What the hell is going on in this episode?!" Knuckles shouted. "Anyone else has an incredibly and shocking revelation to share right now?! I mean, now that we're at it, that is!"

"This crap went from 0 to 100 to freaking fast, even for my liking!" Sonic shouted with a twitchy eye.

"Why aren't you surprised?!" Amy asked Shadow, as she grabbed him from his shoulders and glared daggers at him.

"I already knew it." Shadow replied. "Both Misty and Alphabittle's Cutie Marks were casually glowing the same day under the same unknown circumstances. Even a foal would had guessed that if it payed enough attention."

"Yeah, yeah we get it, Shadow." Amy said with an eye roll, as she placed a hand on his face and pushed him away. "You're cool, the Ultimate Life-Form, figured this on your own, yada-yada-yada."

Tails, on the other hand, approached Misty with wide eyes. "This... This is hard to process..." He confessed. "Alphabittle is your dad?!"

"Yeah, I think so." Misty replied with a big smile.

"Wow." Tails said with an awkward chuckle, then he looked down in thought. "Shadow makes a point, actually. The glowing marks should've been obvious enough. But still, I'm glad we finally have the answer. Just... How do you think your other dad's gonna feel if he finds out?"

Misty looked a bit concerned after hearing this, and she looked down in thought. "I... I don't know. I doubt he'll mind, if what you said earlier of him is true, but if he does... I don't think he'll interfere, either. If he really cares for me, and I really believe he does, then he'll be happy and leave me alone. Besides, I really wanna meet my real family!"

Tails smiled at this answer, while Zipp zoomed at Misty's side and wrapped a hoof around her with a smirk. "We gotta get to the Crystal Tea Room right now!" She declared.

However, none of them noticed a pair of red eyes recording the entire thing, even their conversation. And soon, the figure that recorded it all stepped back and got lost in the forest.

A the Crystal Tea Room was already closing again.

Inside, Queen Haven was helping Alphabittle to clean around, grabbing some cups and walking up to him.

"I didn't even believe in Breezies before today!" Alphabittle said with happiness, putting his teacups away. "Ha! And then, one beat me at a tea-tasting contest!"

Haven chuckled a bit. "I never know what excitement awaits me in Bridlewood." She said in amusement, before looking at Alphabittle with a loving gaze. "Although… You're welcome to join me in Zephyr Heights, whenever you'd like."

But Alphabittle looked concerned after she said that, however. "Yeah, about that, um… I haven't been totally honest with you about why I don't like to leave Bridlewood."

Then, Alphabittle went over to a shelf with photos and took one off, handling it to Haven. This picture was one of a young blue filly with a striped blue mane in a pigtail, holding a bunnycorn plushie.

"How adorable! But... I don't understand. Who is she?" Haven asked.

"... My daughter." Alphabittle admitted, which made Haven gasp.

"You have a––" Haven trailed off in shock.

"She went missing, many moons ago. I searched everywhere, but... I couldn't find her." Alphabittle lamented over the loss of his daughter. "So the real reason I can't leave Bridlewood is because I need to be here, when my filly comes home."

Then, Alphabittle put the picture back on the self.

"Oh my lovely Alphabittle, I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Haven breathed, putting a hoof on his chest.

"It never gets easier..." Alphabittle sighed, but then, his Cutie Mark began glowing again. "Why does this keep happening today?"

"D-Dad?" Misty called out suddenly, as she entered the Crystal Tea Room, with the pair's Cutie Marks glowing together.

"Misty is... your daughter?" Haven gasped in shock.

"Misty? But how?" Alphabittle gasped.

"I'm home, Dad." Misty smiled, before she galloped over to Alphabittle, and he did the same, as the pair met each other and hugged deeply.

"You are home." Alphabittle cried.

"Aw, Dad.” Misty smiled.

"And I'm never letting you go again." Alphabittle smiled with tears of joy, finally having found his daughter after years apart and Misty now knowing she had a real father in her life.

The rest of the Mane 6 and Team Sonic arrived just in time to witness the beautiful family moment, with Knuckles trying so hard not to brake down in tears.

Shadow, on the other hand, lay on a wall outside of the teashop, since he was not too fond of wholesome moments, but he still smiled, knowing that everything inside was going well, and deep down he was happy for Misty on finding her family, even if he'll never show it.

The next day, everyone but Shadow returned to the Tea Room.

Shadow choose to stay in the bay with Rouge and Omega to check over the Crystals, while in the teashop, each of the Mane 6 and Team Sonic mixed up on their own tables while enjoying some tea.

Sonic, Tails and Amy were on a table; Sunny and Hitch on another; Knuckles and Izzy on third one; and Zipp, Pipp and their mother on a fourth one, while Alphabittle showed his founded daughter around the teashop.

"So um… do you wanna hear about my tea kettle collection?" Alphabittle asked, hardly containing his excitement as he showed Misty his tea kettle collection on a shelf. "Of course you don't! That probably wouldn't be interesting." He rubbed his hoof nervously.

"I'd love to hear it." Misty answered with a smile. "I wanna hear everything."

Alphabittle was surprised, but then he smiled. "Aw, kid, I just can't believe it." He wiped his tears of joy off his eyes. "Okay, well um, I started my collection before you were even born, when I sat in on an ancient tea ceremony held by unicorn elders."

Meanwhile, Haven and her daughters smiled at the two getting along, but as Haven sipped her tea, one of Sparky's dragon fire hit her teacup and turned it into a butterfly.

They all turned to Sparky, who was babbling excitedly and running around the tea shop. Soon, Sunny stood in front of him, so he skidded to stop before breathe his dragon fire out, which startled her.

"Sparky! No inside fire!" Hitch cried out, as he chased after Sparky, then caught him and placed him on Izzy and Knuckles' table with an anxious look.

"Look who's back to be an hyperactive little fella!" Knuckles said with a smile, as he patted Sparky's head.

"Heh, so sorry, Alphabittle!" Hitch apologized anxiously, while Izzy tickled Sparky. "He's still trying to learn to control his fire breathing, and ever since we all went to the Dragonlands, it's more powerful than ever."

But Hitch made the mistake of mentioning that, and Haven heard it, so she looked at her daughters in shock. "You all went where?!" She asked with wide eyes, while Zipp and Pipp stood stiff with wide eyes as well.

"Busted." Sonic muttered with a playful smile.

Seeing that they were caught, Pipp moved back nervously. "Uh, I think I have to go work on my Mane Hoof line!" She flew off, while Haven glared at her.

"And I, uh, gotta help her!" Zipp said nervously, flying after her sister.

"Girls!" Haven angrily yelled, as she flew after her daughters with anger.

The others watched the royal family go, and with the strange exception of Tails, everyone else laughed at the scene.

"It's okay, Hitch." Alphabittle told him with a smile. "Nothing can dent my mood now." He gave Misty a side hug. "And I'm glad to see Sparky feels well enough to be a hoof-ful again."

"I'm glad too." Hitch said with a smile. "Even when it's tough, I love being Sparky's dragon-pony-dad." He stated, as he nuzzled the baby dragon happily.

"Well said." Alphabittle said, then he levitated tea cups for him, Hitch, Sunny, Sparky, Izzy, Misty, and Team Sonic. "To family." He announced with his cup raised. "We wouldn't want it any other way!"

"Yeah! To family!" The group but Tails announced together.

And then, Sparky sipped his tea, but then he burped out his dragon fire, turning Hitch's mane and tail color to rainbow streaks and flowers, something Hitch noticed and despised.

"Sparky, not the mane!" Hitch cried out, as he looked at his now changed mane and tail with concern, while Sparky looked at him innocently.

Both Sonic and Knuckles bursted out laughing at this, while Amy playfully touched his mane a bit. "Yeah, this colors suit Sunny, but not you."

Hitch rolled his eyes, but then he look a Sparky and smiled, since he can't stay mad at him for so long. Then, Sparky grabbed his tail, and then everyone but Tails started to laugh again.

Speaking of Tails, he was deep in thought. Even if he did grabbed the cup, he didn't participated on the toast that Alphabittle made, and he was so lost on his own thoughts that anyone else's voices where echoing... At least until Sonic smacked him on his head.

"Ow!" Tails complained in pain.

"Well, about time you hear!" Sonic scolded him with half a frown. "What's gotten into you, buddy?"

Tails rubbed his head a bit and looked back on the ground with a concerned expression. "Nothing important, is just... We haven't really sat down like this to consider how odd it is that Eggman's so quiet lately."

"Uh, I thought we agreed that his attack will happen when it happen?" Sonic said confused.

"Well, yeah, but we've never been so misinformed on his moves like now!" Tails pointed out. "At least last year, we knew he wanted the Crystals and the magic to become so powerful and almost unstoppable, which he actually did. And in the Starfall Islands, we knew he tried to hack Cyberspace to get his hands on the Ancients' technology. But what do we know about his next plan? Nothing! He hasn't shown up in months! I know that's a good thing, but... It concerns me how big his next plan will be, considering how big the last two were."

"You're worried that any of our friends goes through what Sunny went through, right?" Sonic asked him concerned. "Or if Sunny herself will get through something similar again."

"I don't want more friends to suffer." Tails replied. "That's why I'm focusing as much as I can on Eggman, but there's this neat experiment I've been wanting to do for so long... I don't know if keep delaying it, or just go for it already."

"Well, listen to your heart, buddy." Sonic told him with a smile. "It'll show you the right thing to do. And we'll find Eggman eventually. He can't stay hidden forever, anyways. Besides, we still gotta show him what happens when he messes with a friend, our more specifically: With our sister!" He extended his fist to him.

Tails smiled after hearing this, and then, he fist bumped with Sonic, since they were both ready to defeat Eggman for what he did to Sunny.

Metal Sonic was slowly descending on an elevator that leads to Eggman's new hidden lab.

Once he reached the bottom, the doors opened, and Metal boosted towards the main room, where he found Eggman still testing out the Metal Virus with Sage.

The robot stood behind Eggman, but since his steps were too loud, he didn't had to turn around to see him there.

"Welcome back, Metal." Eggman said. "Report."

Metal Sonic nodded, and so, he played an holographic screen that showed him following the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Shadow around the forest ever since they arrived. He heard the entire thing about Misty wanting to have a family, about finding it with her new friends.

That actually made Eggman feel bad and concerned, because he still remembers that he considered her family. Yet Misty still had relatives out there... Unlike him, that he's all alone here with his machines.

Yes, Sage was alive, but she was an AI for now, and he was still working on creating her a new physical body. But what definitely crushed him was to hear that Alphabittle was Misty's father, and that's when he knew that she was lost... That she was on better hooves and hands now.

Maybe it was for the best that Misty was with someone that would take care of her properly. A life with villainy would never made her happy, and even if it hurt, a life with him wouldn't either.

"... Thanks for the report, Metal. Go back and... Keep and eye on them." Eggman informed.

Frustrated for being reduced to this task, Metal Sonic nodded and turned around, leaving the room and getting back to the forest, while Eggman turned back to the Metal Virus experiment... But instead he stared at his reflection. There was something on it that he despised.

Was it his looks? His mustache? His glasses? No... It was the pain that only he could see over himself, the pain of having lost two daughters in such a short amount of time.

First, Misty betrayed him and Opaline by joining their enemies as an ally, even gaining her Cutie Mark by helping them out. Then, Sage sacrificed herself by launching Supreme's damaged body against The End to save Equis from destruction... All of that with 2 months of difference.

Now, six months after physically lost his second daughter, he felt lost and confused on what to do. The Metal Virus wasn't progressing so far, so maybe it was time to––

"Father!" Sage's voice called out suddenly in excitement, and Eggman got out of his thoughts.

But when he looked forward, his eyes widened in shock: The plant that they infected with the new sample of the virus was... Intact. It was infected entirely, it's signs seemed to remain stable, and the plant wasn't dying... The Metal Virus was stable. It was done. It was ready.

"The plant remains alive!" Sage said. "The stats show that it's molecules have been replace with the virus' ones, but in general... It lives. You did it! We have completed the Metal Virus!"

Hearing this gave Eggman a confidence boost so big and bright that it made him smile sinisterly as usual, and he even began to laugh maniacally as well.

Whatever thoughts he has seconds ago were gone, and good ol' Dr. Eggman was back in all his glory.

"Eggcellent!" Eggman declared. "The next step on our plan is a go: The take over for the land of Equestria!"

After saying that, he once again laughed like a maniac, and he was more than ready to put his new Metal Virus in action.

Author's Notes:

Okay, before going deep into this chapter, there's two things I wanna clear up:

1- The reason why there's chapters with better writing than others is because I've been practicing to get better at it... It doesn't mean that the future stories are gonna look this good. In fact, you might even feel that I'm going backwards with them, but that's because I'm still on the harsh editing process.

2- The lack of Eggman this Season is more so because he's gonna loose relevance for a while until the Ninth entry, but don't worry: The next two chapter compensate his lack of appearance.

Now, regarding this chapter: Since I already added that Team Sonic knew the breezies before Equestria, having Knuckles experiencing something with a magic door just like Misty's is for something that will be touched on one of the next two episodes, probably the next one.

Also, sharing a bit of Tails' backstory before meeting Sonic is something I always wanted to do, and since I wanted Tails to be part of the song with Misty and Hitch, adding that scene with context seemed the right call. I really like how it ended up being.

Finally: Where's Opaline, you may wonder... Well, that question will be answered in the next chapter!

Nothing else to say more than the usual: Thanks so much for reading so far, and I'll see you around for the next chapter of this Season, which is already reaching the end.

Bye bye!

8. Father of the Bridlewood

View Online

On her Dark Castle, Opaline seemed to be meditating.

The Fire Alicorn has remained pretty quiet ever since she was defeated 8 months ago by Sonic and the Mane 6, and also since both Misty and Dr. Eggman betrayed her.

Now she has less dragonfire because she has been using her power to increment the force of the fire barrier that protects her castle from anyone to ever get inside. She was a target now, a very powerful one still, but soon it wouldn't be the case since she's running out of dragonfire.

If only she had seen Eggman's betrayal coming faster, none of this would've happened... But now here she is, limiting herself to sit on her throne and watch her enemies being so happy and joyful.

It boiled her blood seeing her enemies being so relaxed, not scared in the slightest by her, and actually being scared from Eggman instead. He made a really good show with his Death Egg Titan, after all, and he recently went to the Starfall Islands as well, but failed all the same.

Why was he more memorable than her? Perhaps because Eggman made sure to be remembered big time. He called enough attention to make everyone fear his power, fear what he's capable of...

But it should be her instead! She literally has the power to burn it everything down just by thinking about it! What did Eggman had she lacked? Why was everyone more aware and careful with the doctor than with her, an Alicorn? Why has she been forgotten by time?!

Her horn lightened up in fire as her thoughts suddenly got in her, so she shook her head and took a deep breath, which made her horn 'turn off' again.

Complaining isn't going to change anything. She had to take action. She had to, for once, follow Eggman's example and leave a big impression. Of course, she couldn't just leave the liar just like that. She needed a plan, and she needed to make sure it had little to no flaws.

But there was a tiny little problem: As much as she hated to admit it, she was a terrible planner. If anything, Eggman's schemes were always close to success because he calculated all the possibilities.

Her? She just attacks. No time to ask, to time to breath. Just act. That's why she always failed, and so did Misty.

"... I cannot just leave the lair and attack those ponies." Opaline told herself with an annoyed frown. "What am I supposed to do after that? Scaring them isn't enough. I need to be splendid, to be unpredictable, to be... Better than a Queen."

But just when she thought that she'll had a hard time coming up with a plan, something clicked in her mind, and that finally made her grin in a sinister manner. It's been quite a while since the last time she grinned like that, but what she had in mind might be what she needs.

"Why bother on making a plan on my own?" Opaline said, then she stood up from her throne and approached the pool, making an image of Zephyr Heights show up. "I know that Ivo has a spare lab in here. And when he's ready to use it... I'll be ready to take his plans away!"

Her idea was that simple, actually: Instead of making a plan on her own, she's gonna take Eggman's plan. Whatever it is doesn't matter, as long as she can rule over Equestria and beyond.

In Bridlewood, outside the Crystal Tea Room, things were quite happy.

Zipp and Pipp were talking to their mother, after some intense lecture of course, while Misty and Alphabittle were catching up for their lost time.

"Oh, I can't believe it…" Alphabittle said, still bursting in joy. "My daughter, Misty, has returned! Hoo!" He exclaimed happily. "Well, back then, I used to call you Misty-Wisty, be we can retire that nickname if you like."

"Oh! Um…" Misty said surprised, since she didn't remember that. "I'd like that very much. For now at least."

"Okay, Misty-Wisty! I mean… Misty." Alphabittle corrected himself with a smile. "Ah, there's so much to catch up on…" He stopped when he remembered something. "Oh, uh… I gotta go get something." He then walked back into the Tea Room.

Seeing this, Queen Haven laughed. "How wonderful is this!" She said to her daughters in joy. "Oh, I wish I didn't have to fly off so soon to attend to some royal duties!" She said, then she flew between Misty and Alphabittle, who was carrying a box with some things in it. "I'm so happy for you both! Nothing beats having a daughter. Except maybe having two." She joked, as she and Alphabittle laughed, then she brought the two Unicorns in a hug, and then walked up to Zoom and Thunder, who were waiting for her. "Well, I must be off! Ta-ta!" She said, then the three pegasi flew off.

Meanwhile, Alphabittle brought out a red nose from the box and put it on. "Remember when we went to the circus and you thought this was the funniest thing ever? Huh?" He asked Misty with a smile.

Misty looked at Alphabittle confused with a sheepish smile, since she couldn't remember that at all.

Alphabittle took off his clown nose and looked at the box again. "Oh, and you loved this painting from the Unicorn Art Museum!" He said as she brought out a picture of a white unicorn with a grey helmet and blue mane with light blue stripes.

Yes, guys, that's Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle's brother. Misty had a good eye, eh?

"I must say, you had incredibly advanced artistic taste for such a young filly!" Alphabittle told Misty with a smile.

See? Even he agrees!

"Oh, um…" Misty said nervously. "Those memories are a little fuzzy for me, Alphabittle."

Yet, Alphabittle smiled and placed Shining's picture away. "Hey! No more Alphabittle here. From now on, call me 'Dad'."

"Okay, Dad!" Izzy said suddenly, which confused everyone else as they looked at her. "Oh, you meant just Misty. Got it!"

Sunny and Hitch shook their heads with smiles and looked at each other, Sonic rubbed his face stressed, Tails pointed at Izzy as if saying 'Bro, are you seeing this crap', while Knuckles facepalmed with a smirk, and Amy shook her head amused as well with an eye roll and a smile.

"Sorry, I don't remember… um… Dad." Misty said with a small smile.

"We just need to jog your memory, kid." Alphabittle declared with a smile. "I know! Let's have the most incredible father-daughter day. Then I guarantee it'll all come flooding back. What do you say?"

"I would love that!" Misty answered happily. "Wow… first my Cutie Mark, and now this." She noted, then hopped around happily. "I'm so over-the-luna-moon to be reunited!"

After that, Misty did what Pipp and Tails would call 'Smiling with the eyes', and Alphabittle returned the gestured.

"Adorbs." Zipp said, as she looked at the scene along the rest of the Mane 6 and Team Sonic.

"So cute!" Pipp happily said.

"Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry..." Knuckles repeated to himself, as he hardly closed his eyes.

"Aw!" Sunny, Amy and Tails exclaimed at the scene, while Hitch wiped off his tears of joy, and Sonic limited himself to smile at the reunion.

Then, as Misty and Alphabittle touched hooves, Izzy hopped to them. "I am just feeling so many emotions!" She said, while the others exclaimed happily and laughed at her.

Alphabittle then moved the box while thinking on something. "Where to begin with re-connecting and re-membering?" He asked himself. "You were always better at coming up with games and fun things to do…" He told Misty.

"I was?" Misty asked surprised.

"Yeah!" Alphabittle confirmed with a smile. "That's the whole reason I play games in the Crystal Tea Room! Because of you."

The others all shared a collective "Aww!", while Hitch sobbed harder, and Knuckles was starting to fail on not to cry.

"So thoughtful. I can't take it!" Sunny exclaimed heartily.

"I don't remember that… or the last time I even played a game!" Misty replied a bit confused. "Unless you count 'The Evil Plotting Game' where you have to strategize and take over the whole world and all of ponykind?" She asked while pacing around. "Opaline and Eggman surely love that one."

The rest looked at her concerned, and Zipp even frowned a bit, while Alphabittle looked at her confused.

"That sounds like the lamest game ever." Knuckles deadpanned.

"Wait. That's not a real game… is it?" Misty asked in embarrassment.

"If it was a game, then we've been playing the counterpart for years. 'The Kicking Your Evil Ass Before Conquering The World Game', to be specific." Sonic deadpanned as well.

"It also sounds lame." Knuckles frowned, and Sonic rolled his eyes, while Amy facepalmed and Tails snorted.

"We know you've been through a lot, Misty." Sunny said softly, as she approached her. "There's still so much to unpack."

Then, Alphabittle chuckled. "Seriously! I got another twenty of these Misty memory boxes." He stated, gesturing to the box he brought out.

"Twenty boxes?!" Tails exclaimed in shock as he zoomed in. "You were a busy kid, Mist."

"I guess." Misty replied with a sheepish smile.

"I mean, more mentally and emotionally, but yeah, those too!" Sunny said with a smile.

"Speaking of, mind giving me a hoof, daughter?" Alphabittle asked Misty with a smile, while he levitated the box.

"Oh. Anytime dad-a-bittle…" Misty said before, she realizing her own words. "Heh, I mean, Alpha-dad!" She said, and then smiled sheepishly after saying that wrong again. "Uh. Sorry, still getting used to it!"

"Well, I'd love to stay and see how Misty bonds with her newfound father, but I gotta go." Tails said with a sheepish smile. "Team Dark's gonna head off soon, and I was thinking on starting up a project I've been wanting to work on for a while. Also, in that way, no one leaves the Crystals alone! Peace out!"

After saying that, he kissed Zipp on the cheek as a goodbye manner, making her blush, then he spun his tails and elevated over the trees, before turning around and boost towards the Crystal Brighthouse in Maretime Bay.

"Wait... Team Dark is heading off?" Sunny asked confused.

"Shadow said something about looking after Eggman's lair to caught him off guard and stop his plan before it even starts." Sonic explained. "I find it odd as well that what Eggman wants is so quiet lately, which is why Team Dark's heading to a second quest to find him. Oh! That reminds me that I have to go, too. I've gotta get an altar!"

The rest looked at him confused, but before he could explain himself, Sonic kissed Pipp in her cheek as a goodbye manner as well, and then he boosted away.

"I have to go, too." Knuckles said. "I promised to help out the orchestra in Maretime Bay's school for the next Bay Day."

"And I have to go back with Jazz to Mane Melody." Amy added with a smile. "I promised her to help look after exotic plants for Pipp's new line."

"Oh! Don't forget to sent me pictures, Ames!" Pipp reminded her with a smile.

"I won't!" Amy winked back, then she climbed on Knuckles' back, while the echidna boosted away at top speed.

Soon, the rest but Zipp and Sunny followed Misty and Alphabittle inside the teashop, while Zipp turned Sunny to face her.

"Did you hear what Misty just said?" Zipp asked suspiciously.

"Yes!" Sunny replied with a smile. "Dad-a-bittle? Ha! Too funny!"

"No, no, not that." Zipp denied with her head. "About Opaline taking over all of ponykind!" She pointed out. "Maybe this game they played can give us clues to her plan?! Then we get ahead of her! What are we really doing to protect Equestria? The Mobians have been putting their efforts on this! Tails with his drones to search for Eggman, Sonic running around, and Team Dark actually going out to look for Eggman's location. We still have to do our part to protect our home!" She stated, then turned to the Tea Room. "I have to ask Misty right now."

"Zipp, you are a brilliant detective. But you should 'detect' that this isn't the time to interrogate Misty!" Sunny pointed out, placing a hoof in front of her to stop her from moving ahead.

"Sure it is!" Zipp said with a smile.

"I mean, your tactics with Misty lately have been a little 'extreme'." Sunny explained.

"Pssh, what are you talking about?" Zipp asked confused.

Misty was with Grandma Figgy and Sparky on Figgy's place.

There, Hitch's grandmother was showing Misty the photo album of Hitch's pictures where he always repeated the same Cookie Cottage, while Sparky sat next to Misty and eat a cookie.

But then, Zipp suddenly appeared and pushed the book down. "So about Opaline…"

"Ah!" Misty yelped startled, and she fell on her back.

Now we go to the Sheriff Station.

There, Misty was stacking some cards into a pyramid with Hitch's animal crew, as she levitated two cards to the top.

But then, Zipp appeared beside her. "About that Opaline…"

"Ah!" Misty yelped again and fell to the floor, while the card pyramid collapsed.

And finally, we move to Sunny's Smoothie Stand.

There, Misty just bought a smoothie from Sunny, but then, Misty's cup began to shake and popped open to reveal a drone, which caused her to scream.

"Hey Misty!" Zipp spoke through the drone, so Misty tried to run away from it until she saw in front of Zipp. "Tell me about Opaline right now!"

Just in that moment, Tails - who back then still had the same look from the previous stories - arrived and spin his tails on her face, making Zipp fall backwards and spin her head dizzy, while Tails facepalmed and looked at Misty with a sheepish smile.

"Don't mind her, Mist." Tails said with a nervous chuckle, before looking at Zipp behind with a deadpan.

Once Sunny finished explaining, Zipp's eyes were open wide in realization.

"I guess I have come on a bit strong." Zipp admitted, seeing Sunny's point.

"Right now, she just needs our support." Sunny said with a smile. "When she's ready, she'll tell us everything we need to know. Maybe we can do some more digging on our own?"

"Great idea, pals!" Izzy cheered from behind a crystal, as she jumped from behind it. "We Unicorns always say, 'the past is the key to the present'." She said dramatically, then switched back to her voice. "It's very important to understand the history of somepony, for everypony's choices echo in time… time… time…" She repeated the world while spinning on her hind legs.

"Echo in time?" Zipp asked confused.

"Yes, time." Izzy confirmed. "And I know just the pony you need to talk to. Or rather–– The Echidna!" She smirked.

"Huh?" Both Sunny and Zipp said confused.

"Echidna? You mean Knuckles?" Zipp asked, and Izzy nodded happily. "No offense, Izz, but most of the time Knuckles is a... What's the less offending way I can say it?"

"A Knucklehead?" Izzy asked, weirdly enough, with a cheery smile.

"Yeah. That's the perfect word to describe him." Sunny said with a sheepish smile. "I mean, I'm up to ask for a friend's help, but why would Knuckles be the key to help us discover more about Opaline?"

"He met a dragon that was around Twilight Sparkle's reign, remember?" Izzy pointed out with a smile. "He said he was called Spike, and he also said he told him a lot of stories of his home when they met. Maybe he told him about Opaline!"

"Well, I guess you have a good point." Zipp rubbed her chin, but then smiled. "If anything, we might learn more about Ancient Equestria, even if we'll learn nothing of Opaline. Right Sunny?"

However, Sunny's eyes were widely open for some reason, and she then zoomed to Izzy while grabbing her from her shoulders. "Izzy, what did you just said?!" She asked in shock.

"That the dragon told Knuckles a lot of stories––" Izzy tried to reply.

"No! The other thing, before that! When you said the dragon's name!" Sunny corrected herself.

"Oh!" Izzy said, before smiling again. "He said that the dragon was called Spike."

"Spike..." Sunny muttered, then she let go of Izzy, who slowly fell on her back in the ground. "Twilight Sparkle's dragon friend and number one assistant was named Spike... KNUCKLES MET SOMEONE FROM TWILIGHT'S ERA, AND HE NEVER TOLD ME???!!!"

Sunny's scream was literally echoing all over Equestria, and her friends stared at her with wide and confused eyes, but Hitch seemed pretty nervous, like if this wasn't the first time she has done that.

"Oh no..." Hitch said with concern. "I don't know what Izzy told her, but that awakened Sunny's geek side."

"Is that a good or a bad thing?" Pipp asked concerned.

"WHY DID YOU SHUT ABOUT THIS, IZZY?!" Sunny said, grabbing Izzy and shaking her violently, then throwing her away. "In fact, why are we standing here?! Come on, Zipp! We've gotta ask a few questions to an echidna RIGHT NOW!!!"

Zipp tried to say something, but before she could do so, Sunny dragged her away, galloping as fast as her hooves allowed her towards the Marestream.

"... Does that answer your question?" Hitch asked Pipp with concern, while the pegasus looked ahead anxiously and nodded with a nervous gulp.

In another side of the Bridlewood forest, Team Dark was wondering around.

In front, Omega was scanning a lecture he had from this specific place. Tails did received a sign of Eggman being around on his watch, but he didn't told Zipp since he knew she was going to loose control and bomb at him with questions about his location.

The sign came from Bridlewood, but he only told Team Dark about it because he wanted to finish the problem with Eggman ASAP before Zipp went ill on attacking Misty with questions she can't answer... again.

"Any luck so far, Meg?" Rouge asked the robot.

"Negative." Omega replied. "Lack of signal in this forest. Might take a while before we can find––"

Yet as Omega spoke, Shadow rolled his eyes annoyed, since he didn't wanted to wait for so long, and Rouge frowned concerned at Omega's answer... But the robot cut himself off when his scanner detected something on the ground, because his sensors beeped loudly.

"... Never mind." Omega said, then he smashed with his fist the zone that sent his sensors wildly, and instead of punching dirt, he punched something hard and metallic.

Rouge and Shadow approached as well and removed dirt and some plants over that were working as a cover for the metallic structure underground, and once they spotted Eggman's logo, Team Dark looked at each other.

Then, they all nodded with determinate looks, and then Shadow and Rouge stepped back, while Omega went over to open the door to the place under them. He simply started to smash the ground as fast as his fists and arms could move, until he finally damaged it enough.

So, Shadow delivered the final blow by launching himself in a Spin Dash and making a hole in the ground, allowing both Rouge and Omega to enter as well.

Once inside, they checked the walls around this new place... And for the very first time in six months, they finally found something different from the other hidden labs: They didn't landed inside a corridor, but instead on a control room with several badniks deactivated.

There was also a computer near by, and Rouge wasted no time on going over it to hack it over and see what was hidden in this place, while Shadow and Omega looked around.

"This place is different than the other labs." Shadow pointed out. "It actually feels like a place Eggman would use to experiment instead of just trick us again."

Omega then scanned the place around, and he detected something strange. "My sensors detect a mysterious new life form in this building. I can't tell what is it yet."

"... But I can..." Rouge spoke, and both Shadow and Omega turned to her confused.

Soon, the bat showed them images of plenty of the tests Eggman made with the Metal Virus. They witnessed how Eggman killed several critters from around Bridlewood, as well as some exotic plants. The numbers 1, 67, 91, and 153 appeared on the corner of each video, indicating the try number.

While used to see stuff like this, Team Dark was still petrified to see everything Eggman seemed to be doing with the animals and plants from Bridlewood.

"... What the heck is that thing?" Shadow questioned with anger.

Rouge stepped forward and tapped more on the computer in front to see that information.

When it finally popped up, she gasped. "... It seemed to be something called... Metal Virus." Rouge replied. "If this data is correct, the doctor's been working on it ever since the very same day that Izzy shoed us the Lumi-Bloom from this place."

"Metal Virus..." Shadow muttered. "How weird. Why do I feel like we have passed through this before? Or rather, that we lived it in other life, in another universe."

"As weird as your talkery sounds, I actually also feel familiar with this two words together." Rouge confessed with concern.

"Agreed. I even feel my head wants to fly off my body for some reason." Omega commented. "But that's the least of our worries. Whatever this Metal Virus is, if is unleashed, it might be bad for those citizens out there."

"Omega is right." Shadow said. "That thing must be Eggman's next move. Let's check out the rest of the place, and if we can't find Eggman nor the Metal Virus, we'll go back with the rest and warn them about this thing."

Rouge nodded in agreement, but just when they both headed to the exit, they didn't heard Omega following, so they looked at each other confused, before turning back and notice that Omega was frozen on his place and not moving forward, and that confused them even more.

"Meg?" Rouge called out. "Are you okay?"

She approached the robot and moved him a bit, but Omega not only did not replied... He also leaned a bit to the side and fell. It wasn't until now that they both noticed his eyes suddenly shut down.

"Crap!" Shadow said with anger.

"What the heck?!" Rouge exclaimed confused.

Shadow startled to grow, and then, the door to this room closed behind them. "This is not good... This must be––"

Yet before they could speak, a green gas was released inside the room, and that made them both cough. Then, it didn't took long for Rouge to fall unconscious in the ground, while Shadow by instinct tried to move around the room and use his abilities to get out.

Yet the effect of the gas was starting to make it's work on him, and he eventually kneeled on the ground, while the door of the room opened, and a pair of red and metallic feet appeared in front of him.

Shadow frowned and weakly looked up to see Metal Sonic face to face, standing there and looking down at him with the 'pathetic' expression from that cat meme. Shadow growled and tried to stand up and punch the machine, but Metal was quicker and kicked Shadow on the face.

That made him fall backwards and immediately unconscious, while Metal approached the computer in the room and tapped on the keyboard to say something to Sage, since he cannot talk verbally.

"I'll inform father that the subjects for the Virus are here." Sage informed after getting her brother's message.

Somewhere else in Bridlewood, Alphabittle and Misty walked through the forest as well.

Behind them, Pipp, Hitch and Sparky followed way behind, with Pipp recording everything that Misty and Alphabittle were doing together.

"How wonderful to take a stroll with you down memory lane today!" Alphabittle said to his daughter happily. "You used to love this place."

"I did?" Misty asked surprised. "What's it called?"

"Memory lane!" Alphabittle answered with a smile, then he saw something. "Oh! And look there." He gestured to a tree with a heart carved in it with a picture of Misty and Alphabittle together. "We carved this together! With the tree's permission, of course. I've passed it every day since you've gone missing." He said fondly while looking at the carving, which made Misty smile at it. "Oh, I can't wait to start full-time dad-ing again!"

After saying this, both Misty and Alphabittle kept moving forward, while Pipp, Hitch and Sparky stood behind.

"I have never seen this grumpy guy act so happy." Hitch commented. "Not even with Queen Haven!" He added, and Sparky babbled in agreement.

"I've never sene Misty this happy either!" Pipp said with a smile, still recording Misty and Alphabittle.

"Maybe we should let them reconnect in peace?" Hitch suggested with a smile.

"I can't understand why we should…" Pipp argued and kept recording, but then Hitch cleared his throat and deadpanned at her. "What? She'll want this later! It's adorable!" She said in defense, but Hitch's deadpan intensified, and she realized what he meant. "And I guess a little invasive. Fine!" She turned off her phone, and Hitch smiled in approval.

"We're gonna head out so you can have some quality family time together!" Hitch told the two unicorns with a smile.

"And privacy!" Pipp added. "But don't ask why I brought that up. We're just a phone call away if you need us!" She finished, then she trotted off after Hitch.

"Did you hear that? Family time. Just the two of us." Alphabittle said happily, as he placed a hoof on Misty's cheek, while said unicorn mare smiled. "Like it used to be!"

After that, Alphabittle neighed and started hopping forward happily like a foal, while Misty laughed at her father happily and hopped as well to follow him.

Back in the Crystal Brighthouse, Sonic placed an altar not so far from Izzy's crafting corner.

Over said altar, Sonic placed some candles and turned them on. Next, he decorated the altar with flowers, more specifically with lobelias, since they used to be his mentor's favorites. Then, he placed the same framed picture of Longclaw from Wishday on top of the altar.

Finally, he placed Longclaw's scarf an a metallic plate over it, while Sonic smiled after being done with this, as he read the metallic plate, which said 'In Memory of Longclaw the Owl, beloved mentor, mother and friend'.

Sonic let out a sigh and then smiled, since he've been wanting to do this is a way to remember Longclaw for a while.

Soon, Tails and Pipp arrived to his side, the former having seen Sonic making up the altar minutes earlier, and the latter just arrived in the Marestream along the rest of the Mane 6 but Misty, with Sunny and Zipp looking for Knuckles the moment they stepped out of the vehicle.

"I know is not the prettiest altar ever, but... Is the way I can remember her, and that's enough to me." Sonic smiled.

"Well, I think is perfect." Tails said with a smile. "Is just what Longclaw would've liked us to do."

"And don't worry, Blue Star." Pipp told him as well with a determinate look. "We'll make sure to be careful and respectful about it."

"Careful and respectful on what?" Hitch questioned as he arrived with Izzy, while Tails boosted away from the Brighthouse, and Sonic and Pipp moved aside to let their two friends look at Longclaw's altar.

"Oh." Izzy said, not as cheerful as she usually does.

"Yeah, it makes sense why Pipp said that thing about being respectful over it." Hitch confessed, but then he looked at Sonic with a smile. "But she's right! We'll respect and be careful around it."

"Yup! I'll try to be less wild with my unicycling projects from now on, considering how close the altar is to my crafting spot." Izzy stated with a cheerful smile.

"Thanks, guys. I mean it." Sonic said with a smile. "Hopefully, this will help me finally be at peace with my past self for almost making something I swore to her I'll never do."

After saying this, he placed the owl statue the breezies gave him at the very bottom of the altar, then he sighed sadly but with a smile after seeing the altar almost done.

But then suddenly, the doors of the Brighthouse bursted open, and Tails rushed inside, while carrying a beaker under his left arm that had a yellow substance inside. Then, he came to Izzy and carefully took a stray of hair from her mane.

"Ow!" Izzy exclaimed painfully.

"Sorry, Izz!" Tails apologized, before going with Pipp and carefully take off a feather from her left wing.

"Hey!" Pipp groaned painfully as well.

"Sorry, Pipp!" Tails apologized again, before rushing with Hitch and take a stray of hair from his mane.

"Ow!" Hitch exclaimed painfully too.

"Sorry, Hitch!" Tails apologized one more time.

After that, he placed the beaker on the kitchen's table, then poured the feather and hair strays on the it and mixed it with the rest of the contents, before rushing to the fridge and take out some orange juice.

He poured the juice inside the mix, then grabbed some salt and poured it as well. Now, he grabbed a bit of pepper and placed it in the mix too. However, he seemed to be missing something, but when he saw Sonic with the rest, he smiled and boosted towards them.

"Uh, Tails?" Sonic called out confused, same feeling the three ponies felt towards him, but when Tails came by and pulled a quill off his head, he groaned in pain. "Man, what comes?!"

"Sorry!" Tails apologized quickly.

Then, he made a bit of electricity appear on his fingers, then he touched the tip of the quill, which turned on its electrical powers, and then he threw the quill in the beaker with a smile.

Now, he used a stick to carefully mix the content inside the beaker, while Hitch came to his side with a deadpan.

"Tails, what the heck are you doing, and why are you running all around without explaining yourself?" Hitch asked.

"Yeah. You've been running around ever since we arrived." Sonic pointed out as well. "What areyou making?"

"Can't tell you yet. Is not ready." Tails replied, as he finished mixing the content on the beaker.

Then, he rushed outside and placed the beaker in the floor, far from the Brighthouse, before rushing back inside and close the doors, then check a digital countdown that appeared as an hologram on his watch. Once the countdown reached zero, a slight explosion was heard outside.

So, Tails opened the door and rushed outside, then grabbed the beaker, which was releasing a bit of smoke now, and then walked back to the Brighthouse.

Once inside, he closed the door again using a leg, and then placed the beaker on the counter.

"It's ready!" Tails said with a smirk.

"What is ready?!" Pipp asked out loudly, running out of patience since Tails hasn't explained himself.

"My Mobian Transformative Substance!" Tails replied. "Is like the Pony Transformative Substance, but with Mobians."

"Transformative Substance?" Izzy asked confused.

"Wait... Is that weird liquid that turned us into ponies that one time, but now it turns anyone into a Mobian?" Sonic asked.

"Precisely!" Tails replied. "Of course, this is still a prototype, and unlike the one with ponies, this one has a shorter effect. It lasts at least 2 or 3 hours."

"Wait... So if a pony drinks this, it turns into someone like you?!" Pipp asked in excitement, as she approached along Izzy and Sonic to him.

"Yeah! Yet I'm still trying it out. This is just my third attempt, and I hope it went right this time around..." Tails said. "Let's just say that the first two attempts went very wrong, and... I don't think my initial guinea pig will accept to test the substance out again."

"What happened, exactly?" Sonic asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't want to know." Tails replied with an anxious expression. "No, seriously: You don't want to know!"

"So... Do we know this thing works, or...?" Hitch questioned.

"Again: I have no idea." Tails replied. "I still need to find someone else to try it out, but I don't know who to ask."

"Oh! Then what about us?" Izzy suggested with a cheerful smile.

"Eh..." Tails smiled sheepishly and looked around, not sure on how to say what he wanted to.

"What's the matter?" Sonic asked with a smile. "I think Izzy makes a good point!"

"I agree! I'd be lying if I said I'd never wondered how it'll feel to walk in two hooves and pick things up with fingers!" Pipp said excitedly.

"Um... I'm not really fond of the idea of changing my whole aspect, but if it helps, I don't mind!" Hitch said with a nervous smile.

"Well..." Tails stuttered, because he was afraid about the possible side effects that it could cause on them. "I'm not sure if it's a good idea... Keep in mind that if you do help me out, once you drink this over, there might be secondary effects I cannot control during the process. You'll have to wait 2 or three hours before going back to normal, so you'll have to stick with whatever it comes. Are you absolutely sure you want to do it?"

The three ponies looked at each other, and each one of them started to think better about this before making their final decision on helping Tails out or not.

"Well, I really like how I look." Izzy said, before smiling. "But a little change for 2 or 3 hours doesn't sound so bad!"

"Ditto!" Pipp said with a smile. "I love my style, but I seriously wonder what it'll be like to look like one of you! It'll be something fresh for a while!"

"Can't really say I have imagined myself looking like a Mobian." Hitch confessed with a sheepish smile, also scratching his neck nervously. "But I guess there's a first time for everything. I'm down!"

"Me too!" Both Izzy and Pipp said at the same time, and they laughed after realizing this.

"Well, seems like they made their minds up." Sonic said with a smirk, before looking over at Tails. "Seems like you have no choice, buddy!"

Tails was still not so convinced with the idea, but then he groaned and rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll let you make the test."

That made Izzy and Pipp cheer loudly in happiness, while Hitch only smiled, and Sonic chuckled at the mares' attitude.

In Bridlewood, Alphabittle lead Misty to his tree home, or their home, since it was Misty's house as well.

"Welcome back to your home, kid!" Alphabittle said happily, then he opened the door for them to enter, while Misty looked around at her real home. "I want to make everything as comfortable as possible for you."

Misty entered the house and gasped as she looked around, noticing three doors and a couple of trophies on the walls with some books shelved. She seemed pretty happy to be home.

"Oh, wait!" Alphabittle said. "Wait till you see the best part!" He lead Mist to a door and opened it. "Ta-da!"

Misty looked around with a smile, seeing a bed with animal plushies and pink and yellow pillows, a window, and some toys that were either in place or spread across the room.

"Wow… is this…" Misty wanted to ask.

"Your old fillyhood room!" Alphabittle announced, which made Misty gasp with a smile. "Left exactly as the day you went missing…" He said concerned, since the last thing he wanted was to loose his daughter again, while Misty looked around her old room and her old stuff. "... But with more dust bunnycorns now I guess."

Misty came up to her bed and saw her animal plushies longingly, then she picked up a bunnycorn plushie.

"I'll just call up Dusty, the cleanup pony, and hire her to help out." Alphabittle stated, as he walked out of the room to let Misty enjoy it. "I promise, it will be in mint condition soon. Do you still like mint?" He asked, before shrug it off and come back to Misty. "Anyway, now that you're settled, let's get to the fun stuff!" He announced, walking into the room. "I've been waiting for this moment my whole life! Who-hooo!" He said happily, then walked out of the room again.

Misty watched her father go with a nervous chuckle and a smile, before looking at her plushie. "He has no idea who I am now!" She said to the plushie with concern. Years apart of her father have changed her, and since she has little to no memories of her fillyhood, Alphabittle is almost talking to a stranger. "But I have to go along with it. I want this to be the best day ever for him."

She squeezed the plushie, and then she smiled with a determinate look.

"Okay, Misty, you've mastered the fake smile, so use it. And go!" Misty told herself, putting the plushie down and waving her hoof in front of her, now forcing smile with her teeth showing. "Heh.. Ow, ow… It hurts."

After whatever the hell was that, she walked out of her room with a fake but really wide smile.

Tails poured the mix of the beaker in three cups.

He was still hesitant at the idea of his friends being the test subjects for this new prototype, and he only agreed to do it because of the pressure of the three ponies insisting.

The only good thing he could think of about this was getting the proper results he wanted. Hopefully this will turn out well, and they will turn properly in Mobians. Now, will Izzy and Pipp gets clothes on? That was hard to tell, but if they did, then it was a good thing, and if they didn't...

Let's not think on that for now. Hopefully they will get clothes on.

Once he made sure that the cups were not melting nor near to explode, he nodded, then he extended one to each one of the ponies that were going to test the substance out.

"Remember, guys: Any secondary effect that you get, you've gotta tell me. How you feel, if you can move normally, if you still preserve your magical abilities after the change..." Tails explained.

"Wait... Does that mean I may conserve my wings, even after I transform?" Pipp asked, as she held her cup.

"Same goes to me and my horn?!" Izzy asked excitedly.

"And my Earth Pony Magic?" Hitch added.

"Is the idea." Tails nodded. "Oh! One more thing: Drink it slowly. Swallowing the whole thing so fast could, um..."

Instead of replying with words, Tails just made explosion sounds with his mouth, also moving his fingers around. Despite the weird way he did, his explanation was very clear for the three ponies: They could explode if they drank the substance really fast.

"Okay. So slowly it is. Got it." Hitch said with an anxious expression.

"Are you sure they'll be fine?" Sonic asked, since he was there too, and he was worried for what could happen to the ponies, specially to his Little Pipp.

"No. Which is why I need to write down all possible side effects." Tails replied with concern.

That just made Sonic stare at him anxiously and with a twitchy eye. "You were supposed to comfort me, not make me more afraid, man."

Tails rolled his eyes a bit, then looked at the ponies. "Well... If you guys are ready, go on."

Pipp and Hitch were hesitating a bit on drinking this. Izzy, on the other hand, waited for Tails to give the sign, and she slowly started to dig in the substance, which surprised everyone else.

Yet seeing her going for the dig, Pipp and Hitch looked at each other, then nodded and started to slowly drink the substance as well. Sonic was biting his nails nervously, while Tails already had his Miles Electric to note down what was going to happen... But he was also concerned for his friends.

Finally, the three ponies finished drinking the whole substance from their cups, and they decided to stop a moment so they could taste the flavor of it.

"Mmm! This tastes like that pearnana and mangopple smoothie Sunny did a while ago!" Izzy said with a smile.

"Yeah! I was expecting it to taste a bit bad, but it was actually delicious!" Hitch agreed with a smile as well.

"Agree! Although I feel the exact same. Maybe is not ready yet?" Pipp said a bit confused.

But right after she said that, the three ponies' bodies began to glow on auras colored as their skins.

"I just jinxed us, didn't I?" Pipp deadpanned.

"Don't panic, guys." Tails told them. "The glow is completely normal. Nothing to worry about."

"I really hope so!" Hitch cried out in panic.

"Wee! Our bodies are shining!" Izzy said cheerfully.

The glow then become so bright that it made everyone close their eyes. Sonic and Tails had to cover their faces as well, and when the glow faded away, all they could see was dust where the three ponies used to be, but before any of them could say anything, they heard the ponies coughing.

Both Sonic and Tails sighed in relief, since it meant that the ponies were fine, but now they were concerned to see if the experiment worked, although Tails was also concerned if Izzy and Pipp got clothes or not.

Yet when the dust faded away, the two Mobians gasped, and Sonic even felt his cheeks burning in red.

Was the transition successful? Well: Yes, the three ponies now had Mobian-like forms.

The only big and noticeable change is that they stand in two legs and have hands now, since everything else seemed to be the same... But thankfully, there was also other detail, and is that they all had clothes. Well, Hitch only had his belt around and a pair of brown, military shoes.

As for Izzy and Pipp? The former was now wearing a white dress with flowers, a belt on her hips with her name, a purple shirt with long sleeves that had a draw of her Cutie Mark, and white boots.

Pipp, on the other hand, had black heeled boots with very large black socks, a purple mini skirt with her Cutie Mark printed on it, a black jacket with short sleeves, and golden bracelets on both of her hands.

One one hand, Tails was glad to see that his experiment worked, and that his friends were just fine, as well as to see that Pipp and Izzy did got clothes on... But on the other hand, he was still trying to process the fact that it worked, and he wondered how would Zipp look as a Mobian.

Sonic, on the other hand, had no so healthy thoughts once he saw Pipp as someone that looks like him, and he felt his heart racing at top speed.

The ponies, on the other hand, slowly started to wake up and recover their senses. Pipp was the first one to open her eyes and look ahead, but when she tried to reach something to stand up, she extended her arm... Which allowed her to see that now she has hands instead of hooves.

That immediately made her yelp in panic and surprise, as she fell backwards, but then she sat down on the ground and noticed her boots, as well as the rest of her clothes, and then she looked at her fingers anxiously.

"... O-Okay... This is weirder than I thought it'll be..." Pipp muttered concerned, now managing to kneel and look at her hands, moving her fingers in an attempt to try and get used to them.

Izzy was next to notice the body change, but unlike Pipp, she didn't find it any weird. "Ooh! This clothes are pretty!" She said, then she levitated herself with her magic and tried to stand on her new feet, but it was here where she had some trouble, because she was loosing her balance, and Tails had to rush over and catch her before she fell.

"Well, I don't need to be an expert to notice the first side effects: Difficulty to adapt to fingers, and some lack of balance." Tails said with little smile, as he helped Izzy to lay on the counter for stability.

"How about a third effect?" Hitch called out, as he stood up and showed himself not having so much trouble in standing on two feet, nor having fingers. "I'm naked! I only have my belt, my badge, and a couple of boots, but I'm naked!"

"Dude, I don't know if you have ever noticed, but... We are always naked." Sonic pointed out with a deadpan.

"But I have nothing to cover me! I feel naked!" Hitch complained.

"Hmm..." Sonic muttered, then he rushed upstairs, and soon came back to put some brown gloves on Hitch, who looked at his hands confused. "There! Feeling better?"

"... Actually, yeah... Huh. Is kinda weird that just a pair of gloves make such a big difference." Hitch smiled.

"I know." Sonic said with a smirk, then he went over and extended a hand down to Pipp. "Need a hand, Princess?"

Wether if he was mocking her or being flirty, Pipp blushed and puffed her cheeks, then sighed and carefully placed her new right hand on Sonic's, while the Blue Blur helped his girlfriend to slowly stand up, and just like Izzy, she almost lost her balance if Sonic didn't caught her with his chest.

He chuckled down at her, and she blushed again. She always felt that she was falling in love with him for the first time again everytime he stared at his eyes, so green and bright like emeralds.

"If you two are done being the Beauty and the Beast, can we focus?" Tails deadpanned at the couple, which deadpanned back at Tails, although Pipp had some struggle as she held onto Sonic. "Well, beyond the fact you have to find some balance with your new feet, how are you guys feeling? Any headache? Stomachache? Nausea?"

"Well..." Izzy said, as she slowly started to stand on her new feet. "Besides the fact that I barely can keep my balance, I feel almost the same. The clothes are gonna get some time to get used, though."

"Well, I feel a bit scratchy on my hooves–– I mean, my feet and hands." Hitch said. "But I honestly have no trouble with my balance, nor having fingers. I just feel the same."

"Well, I can't seem to find a way to use... these..." Pipp cringed, as she kept moving her fingers a bit weirded out.

But then, Sonic's hand carefully and gently grabbed hers, making her blush a lot, while her heart raced like in a marathon. The way Sonic grabbed her hands was just out of kindness, but she knew he also just wanted her to feel comfortable with her new form.

"It's okay, Pipp. We'll make sure you and Izz get used to your new bodies." Sonic assured her with a smile, which only made Pipp's heart melt. "Right, buddy?" He looked at Tails.

"Yup. I was planning to do it for research purposes, anyways." Tails replied, taking out a notebook and a pen.

In Bridlewood, Misty and Alphabittle walked across the town, meeting with other unicorns.

"This here is my daughter, Misty! Remember her?" Alphabittle said happily at the ponies around them. "Say hello to my little filly!" Then, they walked up to a random unicorn stallion. "Hey! This is my long-lost child! Giver her a hoof!"

The stallion lifted his hoof to Misty, and she did the same embarrassed, then they tapped hooves, and the stallion moved on.

"Alphabit… I mean, Dad." Misty said embarrassed. "Could we maybe, uh, tone it down? I'm not sure I love all this attention on me."

"Oh! Uh, of course!" Alphabittle nodded. "I'm so sorry. You used to love when I pranced around and did this." He explained with a smile. "I'll dial back on the shouting. But not on the pride!" He stated, and Misty smiled at him. "Oh! I've got something really exciting in store."

"What is it? Maybe a trip to the unicorn library?" Misty asked a bit excited. "I've never been to one of those before. Or is it…" She trailed off when Alphabittle stopped, and she gulped. "We're… at a playground?" She asked confused, since there are some foals playing in the playground.

"Exactly! We have so many fond memories together here." Alphabittle said to his daughter with a smile. "You used to love the seesaw."

"Wee…" A foal said with boredom, while he was with his friend on the seesaw.

"And going down the slide." Alphabittle continued as he gestured to the slide.

There, a filly slide down. "Wee… Oh..." She said in disappointment when she reached the end.

"And the spinning on the filly-go-round!" Alphabittle added, and this time, he gestured to a grown stallion on the merry-go-round. "How about you give it another ol' spin, with the ol' stallion? Please?" He asked with puppy eyes.

Misty felt weird with this, but since Tails has shown puppy eyes to her several times in the past, she simply couldn't refuse them from anyone else anymore.

"Heh… Of course." Misty said with a fake smile, then she walked up to the merry-go-round. "Um… do you mind if I borrow this?" She asked the stallion nervously.

"Aren't you a little old to be using this?" The stallion asked.

"Heh. Yeah, but… wait… Aren't we the same age?" Misty asked confused.

"Oh what about it?" The stallion asked again, before Misty grabbed the merry-go-round and stopped it, making the stallion flinch a bit.

"Listen, after being filly-napped and brainwashed for years, I am feeling so many feelings right now and I just really need this, okay?!" Misty explained frantically to the stallion.

The stallion looked at Misty unamused. "Feelings…" He started sniffling, and then looked in a distance. "I understand those well." He placed a hoof to his chest.

Misty just raised an eyebrow confused. She has seen weird things, but this was the cherry in the top.

"May the turnstile of emotions guide you from eternal darkness to light." The stallion said to Misty, then got off the merry-go-round and walked off.

"Sure, okay." Misty said weirdly, then sat on the merry-go-round, while Alphabittle walked up to her. "Ready!" She said with a smile.

Alphabittle smiled, and then pulled the merry-go-round so hard that it started spinning her really fast.

"Wee!" Misty screamed, before she started retching, as her cheeks turned green, then she screamed again, just before her face turned completely green, because she was getting dizzy. "Alright, that's enough!"

Alphabittle stopped the merry-go-round, and Misty got off while feeling dizzy, as she moved around and tried to keep her balance, while her eyes spin.

"Hmm. You used to have a stronger stomach." Alphabittle said, while Misty tried to keep her lunch in. "Maybe that's enough playgrounding for today?"

"I'm fine! Hah. Totally fine." Misty assured, lying a bit since she didn't wanted to ruin this, even though she's still looking green, but her color eventually came back. "That was super fun. Yay!"

"Why don't we try something else?" Alphabittle asked with a little smile.

"Yes! I'd love that." Misty said with a smile, feeling relief that their skipping the playground.

"I'm between cave-exploration or extreme tree-climbing." Alphabittle listed, before smiling at another thought. "Or, maybe we can get back into fire-swallowing again."

Misty's eyes shrunk uneasily at the last part her father suggested, then she blinked a bit and smiled nervously, but also gave a panicked look, deep down screaming for help.

Back in Maretime Bay, Sunny and Zipp were waiting outside of the town's school.

Since Knuckles said he'll be helping out the school's orchestra, it was obvious to wait for him here. Besides, they could already hear the orchestra inside of the school, and they were actually making a great number so far, for both Sunny and Zipp's surprise.

Then, the bell that rings the end of the day in school ringed, and all the foals immediately left the building, with Sunny and Zipp waiting up for the teachers and Knuckles to get out of the building.

Speaking of Knuckles, the echidna's laugh was heard as he exited the school along Primrose, who was also laughing.

"Is always a pleasure to have you around the school, Deputy Knuckles." Primrose said with a smile.

"Oh, please. Just Knuckles." The echidna replied with a smile as well. "I'm off-service for the next 10 minutes. And even if I wasn't, I still just want to be referred to as Knuckles, 'kay?"

Primrose giggled and nodded. "Thanks for the help today, Knuckles. See you next week!"

"I'll see you then!" Knuckles saluted, then happily walked towards the Sheriff Station while whistling a melody to himself.

However, on his way there, Sunny and Zipp rushed towards him, with the latter managing to take him off guard and tackle him in the ground, surprising the echidna.

"KNUCKLES!!!" Zippp called out with a huge smile. "We need you to tell us everything that Spike told you, like right now!"

Knuckles, however, felt dizzy and shook his head, then he opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow at Zipp. "Huh? Older Princess? Starscout? What's going on?" He asked confused.

"Sorry, Knux!" Sunny apologized, then levitated Zipp off him with her etherial horn, while Knuckle stood up and cleaned himself off, and Sunny made her horn disappear. "What Zipp is trying to say is: You think you can tell us some of the stories that the dragon you met shared with you? We think he's the very same dragon that was raised by Twilight Sparkle so many moons ago!"

Knuckles raised an eyebrow again. "You mean Spike? Well, he did told me he was born long time ago. I'm daring to say he's even older than my own people. But what do you mean he was with Twinkie, or however she's called?"

"Is Twilight." Zipp corrected with a bored expression. "And we think he's the same Spike because of the description you shared from him."

"Yeah! He's a purple dragon with bat-like wings and green scales, right?" Sunny asked with a smile, and Knuckles nodded. "Then he must be the very same spike that became Twilight's Friendship Ambassador, the one that saved the Crystal Empire from King Sombra, and the very same one that stood with Twilight 'will the very end!"

"Hmm... Actually, now that you mention it, some of Spike's stories match with what you're telling me." Knuckles said with his arms crossed. "He definitely mentioned something about saving an empire from an evil king when he was so young that he was my size."

"Then he definitely is the same Spike!" Zipp said with a smile. "You said that he left your island through a portal he made appear with his fire, so that's definitely the way he travelled there!"

"That makes sense. But why do you two want me to tell those stories?" Knuckles asked confused. "I would've been asking to an elder of any of the tribes instead. They have more knowledge about ancient Equestria than me––"

"But you were told stories from Spike the Dragon himself!" Sunny pointed out, not being able to hide her excitement. "There must be something you know!"

"Yeah! Maybe there's something about Opaline on any of the stories that Spike told you. And if there isn't, well, at least we're learning more from Equestria's history!" Zipp pointed out as well with a smile.

"Hmm..." Knuckles muttered, rubbing his chin in deep thought, then he looked back at the two mares and grinned. "Well. I'm willing to share with you what I know."

"Really?!" The two mares asked with smiles.

"IF!" Knuckles kept going, and Sunny and Zipp's smiles faded away. "You girls do something for me first."

"Huh?" Sunny said confused.

"You're asking us a favor?" Zipp asked with a slight frown. "But we're friends!"

"Nothing is free in this life, Princess." Knuckles replied with a mocking smirk. "Don't worry, I won't ask for anything that pushes any of you to your limits. I just require magical assistance, that's all."

"Well, if it's not a big deal, I guess we can help." Sunny said with a smile.

"But Sunny––" Zipp tried to argue, but Sunny kick her on her rib with a hind leg, and Zipp had to contain a painful groan, before looking at Knuckles with a forced smile. "Sure thing. We'll help you out."

"Very well. Follow me, ladies!" Knuckles stated, before turning towards Canterlove Studios and boost ahead.

"I really hope he's not going to push our limits..." Zipp deadpanned.

"Just one way to find out. Come on!" Sunny said with a smile.

With that, the two mares proceed to follow Knuckles to Canterlove Studios as well.

In the Crystal Tea Room, Misty and Alphabittle entered the place.

As they did so, Onyx was reciting a poem, while Dapple played the bongos for percussion.

"The injured cat says, meow-ow." Onyx started.

"Me-ow-ow." Dapple finished, and the crowd clapped to them, while Misty and Alphabittle came up to the counter.

"No doubt this will bring back memories." Alphabittle said with a smile, while Misty sat down on the table, and an armadillo passed by with a tea cup that she grabbed. "A specialty special-tea tasting at my Crystal Tea Room!" He announced, then rubbed his chin in thought. "Now, let's see if I remember…"

Then, Alphabittle started tapping on some things on his stand: Some bottles, turning tea kettles, setting a clock time, grabbing two controllers, moving the handles, and even playing a tiny piano with a drumstick.

After that, something was heard clicking at the bottom counter. It was a secret door, that appeared and left a compartment with a bowl that has a pink vase in it, and Alphabittle sighed in relief.

"Phew. It still works." Alphabittle said happily, then he opened the vase and put some tea leaves in Misty's cup, then he brought out a tea kettle and poured some hot water in it.

Misty gulped nervously and looked at Alphabittle, who was smiling giggly at her, so she forced a smile and drank the tea, which made her eyes widen at the taste. It tasted like crap for her, but she forced a smile after shaking her head, because she didn't wanted to hurt Alphabittle's feelings.

"Mmm, yummy." Misty said with a twitchy eye.

"I knew it!" Alphabittle cheered. "You still love 'Misty's Mys-tea-ry'. I named it after you and haven't let anypony drink it since." He explained, but he didn't saw Misty coughing and then tossing the tea away before turning back at her. "But I can't remember for the life of me what's in it!" He then noticed Misty's empty cup. "Gone already? Wow!" He said, while Misty still forced her smile. "Looks like you need another cup."

Misty panicked and pushed her tea cup away with a forced smile. "I'm all tea'd out, Alpha… uh… Dad." She quickly corrected herself, then leaned on her cheeks casually. "Any chance there's something else, anything else, on that list of yours?"

"In fact, there is!" Alphabittle said with a smile, then he tapped his hoof on the ground, and a light turned on over Onyx and Dapple.

"Ow-owl, says the injured owl!" Onyx declared.

"Oh! Owl…" Dapple finished, and the crowd clapped to them, while Alphabittle and Misty walked next to the stage.

"Slam poetry! Your favorite!" Alphabittle said to his daughter. "Remember when you won the youth slam with your performance of 'Reflections of Glowpaz Crystal'?"

"No. I do not." Misty said confused. "That actually sounds awful––" She was cut off when Alphabittle gave her a side hug and startled her.

"Awfully cute?" Alphabittle guessed with a smile. "I know! It was! Here." He pushed Misty to the stage.

"Wait, I…" Misty tried to explain, but she was pushed over the stage, right in front of Onyx and Dapple, with more lights shining over her, and she looked at the ponies watching her.

Of course, being the incredibly shy pony she is, she got nervous, and right now, all she wanted to do was disappear.

"Uh… Um… Uh…" Misty stammered, as she stood up and was about to speak through the microphone, but stopped since she had nothing to say. "Uh…" She repeated, and the crowd looked at each other confused.

In Maretime Bay's Sheriff Station, Knuckles took a deep breath.

There he was with Sunny, Zipp and Sparky. The former having her Alicorn form out, the middle having her Z-Googles ready, and the latter being there to be in custody by Knuckles, since he was previously being dragonsit by Hitch's animal crew.

"Alright, girls. Let's do this one last time!" Knuckles declared. "On your marks, set... GO!"

After shouting that, Zipp and Sunny started to work together so they could organize Hitch and Knuckles' pile of papers first and in a short amount of time. Sunny was using her magic to float the papers around, while Zipp was using her googles to scan every single paper.

Once she scanned them all, she told Sunny which papers to organize alphabetically so she could place them all back into their respective cabinet.

Knuckles was taking their time with a sand clock, and once he saw until the very last paper on its place organize, he grinned and stopped the countdown. "Times' up, ladies!" He announced, and Sunny stopped using her magic with a relieved sigh, while Zipp sighed and smiled.

"So? How did we did?" Zipp asked with a smile.

"33.4 seconds." Knuckles replied with an impressed tone. "My record is 32.1 seconds."

"Darn it!" Zipp groaned. "We were so close this time!"

"Guess that means we have to organize them... again." Sunny said exhausted and a bit disappointed.

"Actually, that won't be necessary." Knuckles said suddenly, and that called the two mares' attention.

"Huh?/What?" Sunny and Zipp said confused.

"I said I'll give you what you want if you organized those papers in the shortest time possible." Knuckles pointed out. "I never said you had to beat my mark. Why do you think I said you could've done better and insisted on doing it again?"

"But you also said you wouldn't push us!" Sunny pointed out.

"Rule number one: When someone tells you that you won't be pushed, always expect to be really pushed." Knuckles declared. "Reverse psychology."

"What? That..." Zipp tried to argue, but then her eyes widened, and she tilted her head a bit. "Huh... That actually makes sense."

"I'm not the smartest one out there, but I'm not an idiot, either." Knuckles said with a smirk, then he went to grab Sparky and walked out of the station. "Now come on! We've gotta look for a more comfortable zone so I can tell you what you want."

Knuckles exited the station with the baby dragon on his head, while Sunny deactivated her Alicorn form and tried to leave as well, but Zipp stopped by placing a hoof in front of her.

"Sunny, are we sure we can trust Knuckles with giving us this kind of information?" Zipp questioned. "It is one thing to translate something we might not understand, but actual Equestrian history? I have my doubts about it."

"I know that Knuckles can be a little difficult sometimes..." Sunny recognized with a sheepish smile. "But Izzy made a point before. He met Spike the Dragon himself! The very same dragon that was raised by Twilight Sparkle when she reigned around! I say we give him a shot."

"Well... When you put it like that, I guess it is worth to try and see what he has to say." Zipp ended up smiling.

"Hey! Are you two coming or what?!" Knuckles' voice called from outside, catching the two mares off guard.

Still, they looked at each other, smiled widely and chuckled, then exited the Sheriff Station as well.

For the next 2 hours and a half, Tails tested out all the possible effects that the substance could had on his friends.

Yet nothing seemed off: Their magic was working just fine, since Pipp was able to fly still, Izzy could levitate stuff and even used her hands in case her magic wasn't enough (which barely happened), and Hitch could still talk with animals and use his Earth Pony magic.

With some practice help from both Hitch and Sonic, Izzy and Pipp were now getting better at walking around, and now Pipp even got used to her fingers, to the point that she could use her phone again normally.

She even said that fingers helped her to scroll faster than with hooves, meaning she liked them a lot better.

As for Tails? Well, he's on the living room, deadpanning at the results he's got so far, while Sonic listened to him.

"Well... These results are... Something, I guess." Tails said with a raised eyebrow. "Is not like when we turned into ponies. Back then, I could study and understand everything the ponies go through by being one. This time? I haven't heard anything new. Your magic works, you have no pain, and you move around freely." He deadpanned. "Guess I'm just trying to dig for a mystery where there's none to begin with."

"Well, at least some result is better than none, right?" Sonic said with a smile, as he approached and pushed him on the shoulder slightly, calling his attention. "Besides, if the substance did nothing wrong, shouldn't that mean it is a massive success?"

"Well, yeah, it is as success..." Tails admitted. "I guess I'm just a bit disappointed that they reacted so... normally about it. Like, we were amazed by looking the way we did, but they didn't seemed to feel so different, beyond the fact that Izzy and Pipp almost tripped several times 'cause they were not used to walk in two legs yet."

"Perhaps you're just thinking this too much, bud." Sonic said with a smirk. "Like, what can you learn from being a Mobian when you've been one your whole life?"

Tails' eyes widened after hearing that, and he slammed his face on the table in frustration, which made Sonic chuckle.

"I'll be with Pipp upstairs to see how much she's getting used to her body." Sonic said with a smile, as he walked upstairs. "I'll tell you of any changes if I see one!"

Tails just mumbled something, probably agreeing and Sonic choose to shrug it off, so he went upstairs and entered the bedroom, where he found Pipp sitting with her legs crossed on the bed while checking her phone.

If you wonder where are Hitch and Izzy: They're both downstairs, the former in the Critter Corner with the critters and Sparky, since Knuckles quickly came and gave him back to Hitch, not even questioning why he was a Mobian; while the latter was on her Crafting Spot.

Back with the couple of the year, Sonic approached Pipp in a sneaky way and hug her from behind, also kissing her cheek with love, which made his girlfriend giggle from the gesture.

"Can't resist me even as a Mobian, can you, Blue Star?" Pipp asked playfully in a flirting manner.

"You'll look pretty even is a reindeer, and I'm saying it in a good way." Sonic replied with the same kind of tone. "Well, I also might have looked at that fan art of you as a reindeer, but eh. Details."

Pipp rolled her eyes with a chuckle, and then kissed Sonic on his cheek.

"So? How you feeling being one like me, Little Pipp?" Sonic asked her with a smile.

"Well, it took me a while to get used to walk, but it wasn't so hard thanks to your help!" Pipp said with a smile, as she lay and put comfy over Sonic's chest. "And why did you never told me how great it is to have fingers?! I can totally pass through so many icons, apps, scroll down ten times faster... I've been missing this my whole life, and I didn't knew it!"

"You seem really happy with your new form." Sonic said with a smile, before grinning and bite his lower lip. "And honestly? You look very sexy with that outfit~"

Pipp blushed slightly, since she could tell he was insinuating something else, and she hit him slightly in the shoulder, although that only made Sonic smile and nuzzle with her, which made Pipp pout a bit, but she eventually gave in and nuzzled back at him.

"Would you say learning to walk was harder than pretending to be your sister for a whole day?" Sonic asked curiously.

"Actually, being Zipp for an entire day was more exhausting, and it made me realize that I shouldn't minimize what anyone does, even if I feel is less important than my own stuff." Pipp replied with a smile. "Besides, Milkway returned us to normal after we learned our lesson. Everything turned out fine in the end!"

"Yeah... I'm just thankful that she didn't made something as creepy as making me have a crush on Zipp." Sonic said with a cringed expression. "Milkway was a weirdo, but at least she was nice enough to keep our relationships intact. Could you imagine all the chaos that could've been caused if she swapped that, too?!" He shivered at the thought. "I get goosebumps just at the idea..."

"Yeah. I'm really glad she didn't switched that, either." Pipp said with a sheepish smile. "I seriously cannot imagine myself being the way I'm with you with Tails... Or with anyone else in general. I just... I love you too much to picture myself with someone that isn't you."

Sonic felt his cheeks burning a bit after hearing that, but he still smiled and kissed Pipp's forehead. "Well, I cannot picture myself with anyone but you either, Princess. Pony, Mobian, or even a freaking dinosaur! I love you for who you are, Pipp, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Who cares what anyone else says? If we're happy together, I don't see why we should change it."

Pipp felt touched by his words after hearing all of that, and so, she smiled, before putting her phone down and kissing hims on his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, while Sonic wrapped his arms around her hips and kept her close.

They spent some time like that before braking the kiss and stare at each other with loving gazes.

"You know... We still have some 20 minutes before I turn back into a pony... Wanna spend that time?" Pipp asked while bitting her bottom lip, and Sonic knew what she wanted to do.

"Seriously? Right now?" Sonic asked her with a playful tone and smirk, but also with a raised eyebrow. "You've been quite needy lately, Princess Petals."

"Is almost that time of year for Pegasi." Pipp replied, still bitting her bottom lip. "Besides, I know you want to see me without these clothes on~"

"W-Well... I-I never said I didn't..." Sonic tried to argue, but then he was tackled on the bed by Pipp.

You know what happened next... I don't think I need to say, do I? Hopefully not.

Back at the Crystal Tea Room, Misty was still frozen with nothing to say.

"Hu-huh. Rad." Dapple commented, while Onyx turned to him. "Such a dedicated choice."

"Uh…" Misty kept going nervously, before finally snap. "I'm sorry! I can't do this anymore!"

"Huh?" The audience said confused as Misty ran out the door, but then, the crowd started clapping to her, thinking she actually made a poem, while Alphabittle got over the stage confused.

"That was… brilliant!" Dapple cheered.

"I am overwhelmed with emotion." Onyx said naturally.

"What… what was it about?" Alphabittle asked Onyx, since he got nothing from what Misty said.

"It was a commentary on the loss of identity." Onyx explained.

"Imbued with undertones of fear about a newfound, fragile father-daughter relationship." Dapple added, clapping his hooves together.

Alphabittle cleared his throat when he heard that. "You, uh… got all that?" He asked, while Onyx and Dapple nodded. "I see."

After that, Alphabittle looked with guilt and left the stage to go and check on Misty

"She also could have been saying something about um-bellas." Onyx commented.

"Yeah, that too." Dapple agreed.

In Alphabittle's home, Alphabittle entered the place.

There, he heard Misty crying in her old room, and that immediately made him feel bad, so he entered and saw Misty on her bed crying her tears out, which only made him feel worse.

"I thought you might be in here." Alphabittle said, entering the room and sitting over the chest in front of the bed, since he's to big to sit on the bed. "What happened? You love performing."

"No, I don't!" Misty cried out, turning to him. "At least, not anymore. I hate the spotlight. I hated the playground!" She cried out, and Alphabittle flinched a bit. "I'm sorry, but… this whole day has been a struggle." She said, holding her bunnycorn plushie.

"You didn't like any of the things we did?" Alphabittle asked surprised.

"No, I didn't." Misty said, turning away sadly. "The truth is… I don't actually know what I like! Or even who I am…" She looked at her own hooves, and then held her plushie again. "I haven't really had the chance to figure it out yet."

Alphabittle looked up in surprise. "Wow, Onyx and Dapple were right." He then looked at his daughter with sympathy. "I just want you to feel at home."

"But I don't feel at home." Misty said, gesturing to her old room. "I barely know this place. I barely know myself!" She pointed out, then she turned to her father. "And you barely know me. So much time has passed, so much has happened. Whatever filly you used to love isn't here anymore." She looked at her plushie and buried her face on it. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She muttered through the plushie.

Alphabittle looked at his daughter with guilt for not knowing how she felt. "I didn't realize… I was just trying to show I cared. But I understand. You want to be alone."

After that, he stood up from the bed and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Misty looked at her plushie sadly, tears dropping from her eyes, but then she quickly rushed to the door and opened it to her father. "No! I don't want to be alone anymore. That's all I've ever been and ever felt." She said, which surprised Alphabittle, as he turned to his daughter in surprise. "And now I have you. I somehow have you. My dad!" She smiled, and then she rushed up to him.

Alphabittle caught Misty, and they shared a warming hug as Alphabittle held his daughter. "Oh… my Misty-Wisty!" He said joyfully. "You're right. I've been holding onto the past. Onto the pain of losing you, which made me hard-headed." He broke the hug and looked at Misty. "You just ask anypony in town how grumpy I've been all these moons…" He nuzzled with her. "Let's start over. My name is Alphabittle, and I am your father." He said, which made Misty smile tearfully and heartfelt, so she wiped her tears. "Though I know nothing about you, someday when you're ready, I want to hear all about your life and experiences and who you are now."

"It's a pleasure to re-meet." Misty said with a smile. "I'm Misty. Tea for short." She said playfully, moving in a circle.

"Tea?" Alphabittle asked with a chuckle. "I like that."

"I do too. I just made it up!" Misty said cheerfully.

"Hey, there's still a little bit of the father-daughter day left." Alphabittle said with a smile. "What would you like to do?"

Misty thought for a moment before she smiled at her father.

Shadow slowly started to recover his senses, opening his eyes with a painful grunt.

He stood up on his site, and felt a bit disoriented, but just when he began to look around, that's when his eyes widened in panic: Wherever he was, it was clearly one of Dr. Eggman's labs, since he could see a computer with his logo not so far from his place.

Speaking of which, Shadow realized he was trapped inside a capsule. By instinct, he tried to teleport out of there, but just when he was about to charge his Chaos Energy to do so, he was electrocuted and stunned in place.

Shadow fell on his knees in the ground and groaned, but then he heard a maniac laugh, and that made him frown and look ahead with anger, slowly standing up again: He saw the chair in front of the computer turn around and show Eggman himself, grinning sinisterly with his hands together.

"Greetings, Mr. 'Ultimate Life Form'!" Eggman said with a mocking tone. "Hope you slept well. It might have been your last nap forever!" He laughed like a maniac.

"I'm not in the mood for your ticks, doc." Shadow said with a frown, then tried to make a Chaos Spear, but it ended up on him getting electrocuted again.

That made Eggman burst out laughing, even cleaning off some tears of joy. "Oh, this is quite a spectacle, alright! I mean, not as exciting if you were Sonic instead, but a Roasted Hedgehog is still a Roasted Hedgehog!"

Shadow groaned and lay in the capsule he was trapped in, then he frowned at Eggman. "W-What's the meaning of this? Why can't I use my powers?"

"Because that capsule is modified, duh!" Eggman replied mockingly. "I programmed it to electrocute you if it detects even the smallest sign of Chaos Energy rising on your body. Which means that you won't get out of there!"

"I have my ways, Eggman." Shadow said with anger. "How about you explain me what the hell is the Metal Virus? Or where is my team?!"

"Rouge, you'll find out soon. Omega is being guarded by Metal Sonic in my machinery room." Eggman replied, then grinned sinisterly. "As for the Metal Virus... I won't tell you a thing. Everytime I explain my plan detail by detail, everything goes to hell. This time around, my lips are sealed on that regard... BUT, I do plan to show you exactly the result of my plan coming together!"

Shadow growled when Eggman stood up from his seat, but when he approached to the other capsule in the room and turned the light from inside, his eyes widened, and his blood became very cold.

Inside the other capsule, Rouge was... Not her anymore. Her body seemed more pink and metallic, her eyes were red, her iris yellow, her fingers looked more like claws, some spikes seemed to grow on her elbows and on her boots, while her wings seemed to look like blades.

Whatever was in there, it looked like Rouge... But it wasn't her, and Shadow knew that. He knew that the thing inside of that capsule once were Rouge, but now it was something Eggman made.

Or rather, something Eggman corrupted.

"W-What..." Shadow tried to say, still stunned at the sight, but then he looked at Eggman grinning with joy, and he felt anger running through his body. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"What I'm doing to you right now!" Eggman replied with a grin, then pressed a button on his panel control.

That confused Shadow at first, but then, a vent opened over him and released part of the Metal Virus on his body. Shadow shook his body on a desperate attempt to get the virus off... But it only kept spreading across his body, and despite his efforts, he ended up infected as well.

"Fun fact! Omega actually watched Rouge getting infected, but he could do nothing about because I immobilized his body to watch the whole thing painfully!" Eggman said with a maniac laugh to Shadow, who's body was pink and metallic now, his wrists and ankles got spikes, his fingers grew to look like claws, his sclera was red now, and his pupils were yellow, while all his teeth sharpened. "But of course, you wouldn't know that. You're just a mindless zombie that looks like a robot now... Ooh! A Zombot! I like the sound of that!"

Eggman laughed maniacally once more, while Zombot Shadow just looked at him completely lifeless.

In front of Canterlove Studios, there was the giant tree from Hitch's 'no magic' rule incident.

Knuckles was staring at the tree with a smile and his arms crossed. He usually comes here whenever he feels a bit down or nostalgic for missing Angel Island, since the tree is very similar to the one from Angel Island, which at the same time was similar to the Wishing Tree.

"Knuckles?" Sunny called out first, as Zipp and her looked at the echidna confused. "What are we doing here, exactly?"

"No better way to start telling you about Equestria than coming to a place like this one, where I know I can tell you quite a story." Knuckles replied, turning to face them. "There's a story about a bat that Spike told me one time, but it actually has a completely different meaning once you tell the story in a not metaphoric way."

"Finally…" Zipp said in relief, as both Sunny and Zipp sat down in the ground. "Here we go!"

Knuckles then brought out a matchstick and turn it on fire, as he stared at the flame. "A long time ago, there was a powerful creature, with wings that literally burned in fire." He began to narrate. "This creature, surrounded by others like them, always stood aside and refused to get along with others. Because this creature had only one goal in mind: Be as powerful as they could be, and take over everything and everyone."

After saying this, Knuckles crushed the matchstick, and then his fist was set on fire, which made Sunny and Zipp flinch and panic, but before they could ask if he was fine, Knuckles did something unexpected.

The echidna warrior guided the fire on his hand thanks to his electrical powers and started to make silhouettes of his own narration with his bare hands, which surprised the two mares a lot, as they saw the creature he was talking about moving away from the other creatures like them.

"So, this creature attempted to take all the power from everything and from everyone only to themselves." Knuckles told, as his fire silhouettes showed this. "But the creature had a big ambition. They wanted more than just their alike's magic, so they went further beyond and started to steal the magic of the dragon's fire breath, in a desperate attempt to become more powerful in the quickest way possible before taking over everything else."

The silhouettes showed the creature stealing the dragon's magic dragonfire, which worried the two mares, as Sunny's ear s dropped in sadness and concern, while Zipp frowned with only the latter emotion.

"The creature, however, never counted that the others like them and the dragons would team up to stop their plans before they could even get any further." Knuckles kept narrating, as he showed a war between the creature and the dragons teamed with the others. "In the end, all settled down to a fight between Spike, his mentor, and the creature, one battle that sent the creature to a zone where they were sealed away for thousands of years."

The silhouettes ended showing precisely what Knuckles narrated, with the creature being sealed far away from Equestria. After Knuckles was done with his story, both Sunny and Zipp stared at the echidna with their jaws dropped, completely impressed by everything he told them.

"Knuckles... That... That was incredible!" Zipp said with a huge smile.

"I know, right? I recently learned how to control fire with my own powers. Perhaps is because they're half magic." Knuckles replied with a smirk, thinking she's talking about what he did with the fire silhouettes.

"No! Well, yes, that was cool, but we mean the story!" Sunny pointed out with a smile. "It is exactly what we were looking for!"

"Yeah!" Zipp nodded in agreement. "If we change the creatures with ponies, then the one that wanted all that power was definitely Opaline!"

"And Spike's mentor must be Twilight Sparkle!" Sunny added with a smile. "It all connects! Thanks for telling us this, Knux!"

"Anything for a friend." Knuckles smirked, then he looked back at the tree behind. "I'm sure the good o'l Together Tree enjoyed the story just as much as you two did."

That got the two mares attention. "Sorry… what?" Zipp asked confused.

"The Together Tree!" Knuckles repeated. "This fella over here is a Together Tree. The one we helped Misty make grow is also a Together Tree. Heck, even the Wishing Tree is one! Just a lot older than the other tow trees."

"What's a Together Tree?" Zipp asked again.

"Very powerful trees." Knuckles replied with a smile. "Only created when a group of individuals come together through true friendship. Together Trees communicate and connect magically to each other, through their roots underground. They're like silent protectors that watch over us. And we, in return, must protect them and watch over them." He stated, as he approached the tree and gently touched its trunk.

"Whoa!" Sunny and Zipp said amazed, and Zipp jumped a bit.

"Knuckles, thank you so much for teaching us that." Zipp said gratefully. "I-I didn't thought you'll know this much about Equestria!"

"I owe Spike all of that, except the part of the trees." Knuckles replied with a smile.

"Huh?" Sunny said. "Then how did you learned about the trees?"

"When investigating about the mysterious tree where I met the breezies along Sonic, Tails and Amy; I eventually found info about the trees in my tribe's ancient scrolls." Knuckles replied. "I barely checked those things as a kid, but when I did, I surely learned a lot. Come to think about it, I didn't found the possibility of talking ponies with magic any weird because of Spike's stories, and because of my ancestor's scrolls."

"Well, I'm glad you learned!" Sunny said with a smile. "Because now we know that Opaline is the creature in search of power, and that she seeks for both dragonfire and magic to take over."

"And with that much power, she could even reach Mobius with a fire portal, like the one that Spike made to visit your island." Zipp said with concern, and Knuckles nodded with a frown. "Well, thanks again for telling us this, Knux!"

"Anything for my friends!" Knuckles replied with a smirk.

Back at the Crystal Tea Room, Misty and Alphabittle returned.

There, Misty was on the counter, making something the best she could, while Alphabittle sat on the table with his eyes closed and two armadillos next to him.

"Oh, I know I said I was a patient stallion, but I cannot wait to see what you've up your sleeve." Alphabittle said in excitement, while Misty finished making a tea and placed it in front of Alphabittle.

"Okay, open your eyes!" Misty said, waving her hoof.

Alphabittle opened his eyes and looked down at what Misty did. "Tea?!" He said surprised, then inspected the cup. "Hmm, tea."

"Not just any tea." Misty said getting her dad's attention. "A new bled designed and crafted by me. Try it!"

Alphabittle smiled, then took a sip of the tea and smiled widely. "Ah! Delicious." He said, then started to spin on his chair "At first, it has a bitterness. But then, it softened into a warm, comforting cup."

"My tea-metaphor for you." Misty said with a soft smile.

"Aw… It's like poetry!" Alphabittle smiled. "I am so grateful to get this second second-chance with you. You're home!" He touched Misty's hoof.

Yet Misty looked a bit sad after hearing that. "Honestly, I still don't really feel at 'home' here. I'm not sure why."

Alphabittle thought on something, then smiled and stood up. "I know just what to do. Just need to make a little phone call." He stated and walked off, while Misty looked at him confused.

Later, at sunset, Misty and Alphabittle arrived at the Brighthouse, stopping at the front door.

"Ta-da-da!" Alphabittle said with a smile. "Get it? Da-da?" He chuckled.

Misty did smiled at his joke, but then looked back at the Brighthouse confused. "Huh? The Crystal Brighthouse?"

Alphabittle and Misty entered the bedroom in the Brighthouse.

Misty was still confused, but then she heard something or someone squeaking, so she turned to see the source... And she saw something that made her gasp in surprise.

Misty was seeing that Izzy, Hitch, Pipp, Sonic, Tails and Amy were setting up all the things from her Bridlewood bedroom on her section of the room. Since she previously only had a spare mattress from the basement, as well as some sheets and pillows that were not even hers, this was something completely fresh and new, because it actually belonged to her.

Besides her bed there was also a pink curtain covering her bed, purple sheets, the same bunnycorn plushie from her old room, and a series of tables pilled together where more stuff was supposed to be.

Well, and the butterfly window as well, but that's been there for months.

"Hey!" Pipp said once they saw Misty, and she put down a box she was carrying. If you wonder, she along Hitch and Izzy already turned back to ponies a few hours ago. "Sorry we don't have everything unpacked yet. You have some…" She tried to lift the box again, but it was pretty heavy and made her grunt in effort. "... heavy stuff." She finished, but then she flopped to the floor and panted a bit.

"What the hell's in this that's so heavy, anyways?" Sonic questioned, as he kneeled and opened the box.

Once he did so, the couple got startled when they saw Sparky inside the box with some barbells, as he babbled and tried to lift one up, but it was pretty heavy for him. Soon, Hitch look inside the box with Sonic and Pipp.

"Sparky, put those down! You'll stub a claw." Hitch scolded, and Sparky sighed disappointed.

Izzy picked up the barbell Sparky was holding, but then he sneezed and fell to the floor on his back, while the sneeze released one of his dragon fires and turned the barbell Izzy was holding into three balloons.

"Well, that's just another good sign that Sparky is feeling better!" Tails smiled, as he turned and picked up the baby dragon with his tails, spinning them slowly to entertain Sparky, which made him babble in happiness.

"What is all this?" Misty asked confused to her father with a smile.

"Well, your pal with two tails told me that you've been living here for a while." Alphabittle replied with a warm smile. "They'd love for you to stay permanently, if that's what you want."

Misty turned to her father surprised, then turned to the others with a smile. "Really?!" She asked happily, while her friends nodded with smiles, making Misty laugh and ran up to her bed while jumping on it. "I do!" She exclaimed, while the critters came to join her fun.

"I just made the bed!" Hitch cried out, shaking his head in amusement before calm down, while Sparky joined Misty. "Heh, whatever!"

"Just relax, Hitch, Let her have this moment." Amy said with a smile.

Then, Misty got off her bed and came to her father. "You don't have to live with me in Bridlewood. You don't have to do anything you don't want to." Alphabittle said with a smile, sitting down and grabbing Misty by the shoulder, while she smiled at him as he held her cheeks. "You're a grown pony, now. Not my baby filly. And that's okay." He said tearfully, then sighed and let her go. "Just promise you'll call me every week. Also, I filled the fridge downstairs with healthy meals. Oh, and you were so good at making that tea, I left you a giant box full of dry herbs and flowers so you can make your own blends at home!" He listed out, gesturing to one of the boxes with herb and flower pictures on it.

Pipp was near by moving a box, but when she saw the box that Alphabittle was gesturing, she felt nervous. "Um… fun!" She said, fully aware that the box was pretty heavy.

"I'm going to miss you so much!" Alphabittle said to Misty with teary eyes and a smile.

"I'm going to miss you too, Dad." Misty said with a smile, then she hugged her father, and he returned the gesture happily.

"Still got it." Alphabittle said happily.

Just then, the three ponies and three Mobians joined in the hug while exclaiming with joy.

"We want in too!" Pipp said joyfully.

Knuckles was walking ahead of his pony friends, inhaling the fresh air with a happy smile.

"Nothing like the North Wind to bright my noon." Knuckles said, as he walked towards the Brighthouse along Sunny and Zipp. "That actually reminds me of a story that Spike told me, about the North Wind going against the South Wind in a 1v1 match that turned into a tornado! Or was it a dance-off? He told me two versions of the story, so I don't remember precisely which one I liked the most."

"A dance-off? Sounds like some story!" Zipp said with a smile, and Sunny at her side chuckled with a smile.

"Is there some deep, hidden message to decode in this one?" Sunny asked her echidna friend.

"There's always messages in the wind, girls." Knuckles replied with a smirk. "If you fly directly into on a Thursday, you'll see what I mean." He winked at them.

"I really own you an apology, Knux. Maybe you're not the smartest out of us, but you definitely know what you talk about when you do so." Zipp said with a smile.

"Yeah. I'm very impressed with how many stuff from Equestria's past you know." Sunny agreed.

"I just like to take action more than stop to think about anything." Knuckles said with a smile. "Perhaps that's why I crash with Sonic so much. We both jump to action and conclusions before actually talk things out. Let's just say words are not our thing when it comes to take on a good fight."

"Yeah, we noticed!" Zipp said with a chuckle, and both Sunny and Knuckled chuckled along, then they entered the Brighthouse.

In the back of the Brighthouse, the group was laughing and drinking tea together.

Just then Knuckles, Zipp and Sunny came from the door to them.

"You're back!" Izzy cheered.

"Took you guys long enough!" Sonic said with his iconic smirk.

"Hey, pals!" Hitch said with a smile.

"What took you so long?" Amy said playfully.

"We missed you!" Pipp added, turning away from her phone.

"How was your day?" Tails asked.

Sunny then gasped when she saw Misty and Alphabittle. "Yay, Misty's here!" She cheered.

"Welcome home, Mist. Greetings, Alpha B." Knuckles told them with a smirk and his fists on his hips.

Then, Zipp came to them with excitement. "Hi, Alphabittle! You'll never believe what we learned." She said to their friends, then they turned to Knuckles. "Knux, would you like to do the honors?"

Knuckles raised and eyebrow confused at Zipp. "You want me to tell them about the fire creature?" He asked.

"No! Not yet, at least." Sunny shook her head with a smile. "She means the other one. The one with the tress!"

"Oh! Yeah, that makes more sense." Knuckles realized with a chuckle. "So Together Trees. Well.. They're all magically connected…"

Yet, as Knuckles said this, Sonic looked on a random direction, and his eyes widened when he saw Cyber Sonic again, holding a flower that he smelled, before exhaling relaxed... And then crush the flower with his bare hand, slowly turning to see Sonic with hate on his eyes.

"How long can you stay this quiet, Hedgehog?" Cyber Sonic asked. "In the end, this will consume your whole being... And so will I."

Sonic frowned and shook his head, then looked away from that direction... But this time, Cyber Sonic didn't left. He stood there, staring at Sonic and feeling glee at his scared expression.

Sonic just tried to ignore his presence, but it was difficult to do. Hopefully, he would leave him alone soon enough.

Eggman was staring at his first two successful Zombots with glee.

Along Sage, he tested out all the capacities the Zombots had, like super strength, regeneration thanks to their liquid-like bodies, strength reinforcement that made them more durable with each attack they receive, and most importantly: The ability to infect other living forms.

With this last ability tested out in some critters that, along Shadow and Rouge, are now infected with the virus and more than willing to obey Eggman, he knew that the experiment was a massive success.

"My beauty..." Eggman said happily. "You see this, Sage? This is why I love to scheme! Because the glee of seeing your efforts paying off is priceless! Of course, the virus could get out of control, which is why I developed a cure. It's still a prototype and needs to be finished, but I know for sure that I'll have it ready before releasing the virus to Equestria."

"A virus, you say?" A female voice spoke behind... one that made Eggman's eyes widen in panic and horror, and when he turned around, he found Opaline, right there, on his lab. "I'm interested to hear more!"

"You!" Eggman said with anger, before trying to take out a plasma gun and point it at Opaline, but that plain failed when Opaline levitated him and made his hand release the weapon.

The Fire Alicorn approached Eggman and looked at him with a grin, while the doctor sweat nervously and looked around helplessly. He never heard her coming, his alarms never sent any sign of intruders... And now, he was trapped on her magic, with a high chance of getting his ass burned.

"Hello, Ivo." Opaline said with a sinister grin. "Long time no see!"

Author's Notes:

Cliffhangers! My favorite thing in the world!

Honestly, this chapter took me a while to finish because I had lots of ideas for it. Now that I'm finally done with it, is time to share some important details about:

Let's start with Eggman. Like I said, his lack of attention would pay off, and we still have the next chapter before moving to the big Season Finale. He has finished the virus, but it seems that Opaline has him between a rock and a hard place, 'cause I don't think he'll be able to finish the cure.

As you saw, I changed the entire thing with Sunny and Zipp, removing Elder Flower and replacing her with Knuckles. He has knowledge of Ancient Equestria thanks to Spike, and with this episode, I believe this Season is as much of Tails and Misty as it is of Knuckles. He deserved some spotlight, after all.

Sonic keeps hallucinating with Cyber Sonic, and with Shadow infected as a Zombot, the only one that could have make him talk is out, meaning he'll keep his mouth shut for another episode.

The thing with the ponies becoming Mobians was just a fun gag I wanted to make. I know is not the biggest deal of all, but hey, we saw three Mobians going ponies the previous Season. Why not see the reverse effect?

Finally, this is my favorite episode of MYM Chapter 5 because of how realistic the reconnection between Alphabittle and Misty is. She's been gone for years, and Alphabittle can't come to accept that at a 100% yet. I like how things turned out for them both.

Anyways. Next chapter: We'll see what's Opaline been up to, and why she didn't acted until now.

See ya!

9. Mane Smelody

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Eggman was beyond terrified this time.

It is one thing to sneak inside anyone's place, liar, basement, call it how you want; but when you're the one who's getting sneaked in, the tables take a unexpected and undesired turn, specially since he was now at his enemy's mercy, Opaline's mercy, which was way worse, even.

"I've gotta handle it to you, Ivo." Opaline spoke with glee. "Finding you turned out quite difficult with so many liars around Equestria. Tracing your little robotic Sonic's path to finally find out where you are was a pain, but worth it in the end."

"Y-You've been tracking down... M-Metal Sonic's sign?!" Eggman barely managed to ask, since Opaline's magical grip was something he could not escape, and worse of all, it barely allowed him to talk.

"Indeed. Let's just say that he's terrible at having a low profile." Opaline rolled her eyes. "His flight from Bridlewood to Zephyr Heights was a constant, and he didn't even tried to fly above the clouds. It would've been foolish of me if I didn't found you, Ivo."

Eggman could only limit himself to growl annoyed, and if he could curse Metal for his mistake, he would.

"To be honest with you, I've been trying to find your location for a few weeks." Opaline confessed. "My power's been weakening after someone betrayed me and literally stabbed me in the back."

"I electrocute you on the back. Big difference." Eggman deadpanned.

"A knife made to electrify someone is still a knife." Opaline pointed out.

"And what do you want from me? If you wanted to get rid of me, you'll have done it the moment you entered my place." Eggman pointed out with a frown.

"Still the smartass in town, aren't you?" Opaline mocked up. "Well, you're absolutely correct. I don't want you dead, Ivo. Not yet, that is. I have my own plan with you... But first of all, I want to hear what's this 'Metal Virus' you were talking about when I entered in here."

"Like if I'll tell you." Eggman snorted. "Getting killed by a forgotten pest like you is not the way I'd imagine my life to end, but I'd rather die than tell you a crap!"

Opaline raised an eyebrow after hearing that declaration, then grinned sinisterly and laughed. "Oh, I see. Well, the Dragonstone back in my liar had little dragonfire, but enough to restore my magic. And since you refuse to talk, I'll have to use other methods!"

Eggman gulped nervously, but he frowned and glared daggers at Opaline. Remember what I said a few episodes ago? Eggman's Sonic's enemy for a reason: They're stubborn, very stubborn.

No matter how many times one is defeated, they'll always come back. Today, however, it was time to use his stubbornness for his own sake. Telling Opaline about the Metal Virus was a bad idea, specially because the cure was not ready, and he didn't wanted to use the 'Party Pooper' protocol.

Hopefully, he'll find his way out of this dangerous situation... But he had the feeling he wouldn't.

In Bridlewood, Pipp walked and singed through the forest with a flower basket on her back during a sunny day.

"A foraging I will go." Pipp sang and danced around, while the critters listened to her. "A shmoraging I will go." She sang, then she placed the basket down, while the critters circled around her. "Oh, great lighting. Nature selfie!"

Then, she brought out her phone, while the critters huddled close to her with the flower basket as the phone clicked.

But after that, Pipp tripped over a yellow Inkthistle. "Oh! Ah!" She yelped as she tripped and dropped the basket, while the critters flew off, and she screamed at her ruined harvest. "My natural beauty forage haul!" Then she turned and glared a the yellow Inkthistle she tripped on. "Sheesh, watch where you're going, plants. Mm, that really hurts!" But when she looked at her right back hoof, she noticed something weird. "What the hay?"

If you wonder what did Pipp noticed, well, she saw that her right back hoof is now gold and sparkling.

"That Inkthistle shined my hooves so bright I can see my own reflection!" Pipp said excitedly, literally seeing her own reflection on her hoof, and then, she gasped and brought out her phone. "My plant-finder app didn't tell me it could do that."

As she said this, she put her glasses on and lifted her hoof up, before taking off her glasses and look at the plant again.

"This gives me an idea." Pipp smirked, and then she pictured herself with a new product and her hooves shining bright, also seeing herself posing cause why the hay not. "Woah, mama! I think my future's gonna be bright!" She cheered before, she realizes what she said. "I never say 'mama'. Now I know this is a good idea!"

However, during her cheering for her idea, she took a while to realize that a smell in the air was very stinky, and after searching for the source of it, she finally noticed that it was coming from her hoof.

"Huh… Little fragrant, but look at that shine!" Pipp cheered, choosing to ignore the smell and walking off.

Meanwhile, one of the bunnycorns close to her sniffed the smell and cringed in disgust, coughing and almost fainting because of how terrible the smell is.

At Mane Melody, Amy brushed her hair a bit.

Meanwhile, at her side, Jazz was spraying a manespray on her mane, looking at her reflection with a smile, just before Pipp entered the salon.

"Girls, look! To spruce up the place." Pipp said, as she brought in the basket filled with Inkthistles, and the girls came up to her.

Jazz picked up a Inkthistle with a smile. "Oh, these are…" She then sniffed it, but then cringed in disgust. "Uh… nice, they're nice!"

Amy raised an eyebrow confused when she saw Jazz's forced smile, so she also picked up another Inkthistle and sniffed it only to avoid throwing up right there out of respect to Pipp and to the salon's janitor. "Uh... Yeah! Very nice..." She forced as smile as well. "Um, what's the occasion?"

"Let me answer that question with a question: ever seen hooves this shiny?" Pipp asked, as she showed her smelly but shiny hooves to her two friends.

They both looked at Pipp's hoof, narrowing their eyes because of how bright they were. "My, that is bright! You could power a lighthouse with that shimmer!"

"Agreed! Haven't seen anything that shiny ever since Super Sonic!" Amy said, but then both she and Jazz caught the smell again and retched, trying to keep themselves from throwing up.

Pipp nodded with a chuckle. "And it's all because of this perfect plant I plucked!" She said, raising the thistle Jazz was holding, who forced a smile because the plant smells terrible. "It's a miracle beauty discovery cropping up all over Bridlewood Forest!"

"This has potential!" Jazz said with a smile. "Which is great, because our sales have been dropping ever since our last failed promotion!" She cringed.

"Ugh... Don't remind me..." Amy covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.

How bad was their previous presentation? Well...

Not so long ago, an earth pony mare exited the salon while screaming, having her face covered with ice cream with sprinkles, which made some pegamice start to peck on the ice cream... And on her face.

"Get it off! Get it off!" The mare cried in panic and disgust.

Back in the present, Pipp rubbed her chin while thinking about that time.

"Huh… maybe using actual ice cream as a face mask treatment wasn't that great of an idea?" Pipp asked with a sheepish smile.

"You think?" Amy deadpanned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah… No. It wasn't." Jazz admitted, while Pipp chuckled a bit. "But those shiny hooves could redeem us! Let's test it out."

"So, who's gonna be our guinea-pony?" Amy asked, as the three girls began to look around.

Then, they saw Zipp wearing her Z-Googles and looking at her phone. The three girls gave each other knowing smirks, before they all went towards the white pegasus.

"Zipp! It's your lucky day!" Pipp said to her sister, while Zipp stopped and looked at her sister confused. "You are the recipient of a free luxury hooficure treatment! Oh! We can't wait to know what you think of this great shiny find I came across: Inkthistle!"

Amy brought in front of Zipp the Inkthistle she grabbed earlier, and Zipp looked at it confused before sniff, and then she cringed back with a disgusted look.

"You okay?" Jazz asked concerned.

Zipp coughed from the smell, then walked towards the door with a nervous smile. "Uh, yeah. That was from something else. Can't do the hoof thing. I'm busy, gotta run." She walked backwards, then used one her left hind leg to open the door.

"Uh, busy with what?" Pipp asked.

"Investigating. Bye!" Zipp said quickly, exiting the salon and running out the door. "Bleh!" She cringed in disgust and then sighed. "That stuff stinks! Bleh!"

Zipp flew off after saying that, while Sunny walked into the salon, something Pipp immediately noticed.

"Sunny! Lucky you!" Pipp said, as she guided her friend to a couch. "You get to be the first pony to try our new all-natural luxury hooficure treatment!"

"I do? Ah! Okay!" Sunny said with excitement.

Just then, Jazz answered lifted the Inkthistle in front of her, making Sunny gag once she noticed the smell.

"So? What do you two think?" Pipp asked her with excitement, while Sunny sniffed the plant again and coughed, trying so hard not to puke right there and now.

A few minutes of explaining later...

"Don't worry, Sunny, I know this Inkthistle plant itself has little bit of a funky aroma at first, but the incredible hoof cream I've made out of it is scentless!" Pipp assured, as she grabbed a bottle that had the Inkthistle already made into a hooficure cream, and then gave it to Jazz. "The perfect, luxurious touch for those seeking a top notch hooficure with lasting shine!"

"How did you finished the cream so damn fast? You were literally explaining how you got the plan a second ago!" Amy pointed out confused.

"I'm the Fastest Thing Alive's girlfriend, Ames. I've learned my methods thanks to him." Pipp replied with smirk.

Then, Jazz opened the bottle and took out the brush, but when both she and Amy sniffed it, they cringed in disgust again, because the smell was still there.

"You're right! It's... kind of… nice!" Jazz managed to say, then she applied the brush on Sunny's hooves.

Sunny could still smell the sent, but she decided to force a smile. "Yup! Just uh... super pleasant!"

Amy could notice Sunny's uncomfortableness, and she felt really bad for her.

Pipp, on the other hand, laughed and started hopping around excitedly. "I'm so excited to start selling these treatments!" She stated, not noticing Sunny, Jazz and Amy gagging. Then, when stopped and turned to her with a smile, they quickly forced smiles, while Pipp stared at the rest of the bottles. "I must practice my sales pitch."

"And maybe get a flavoring to fix those stinky hooves' smell." Amy muttered with a bored expression.

Meanwhile, Pipp cleared her throat, then went up to a mirror and hold a bottle. "Hello, my glamour ponies! This special new treatment is guaranteed to make your hooves shine as bright as your sparkle! Get it while you can, it's a Mane Melody Limited Time Only Exclusive!"

"Sounds great, Pipp!" Jazz complimented with a nervous smile. "We're gonna have so many sales!" She cheered, then leaned in to Sunny and whispered to her. "Sorry it stinks. But you look great!"

"I feel great!" Sunny exclaimed happily, lifting her hoof. "And look at that shine, ah!"

Yet her hoof led off the scent, making Jazz and Amy cringe with puffed cheeks in disgust, trying not to vomit.

"We'll find a way to... Retract the smell, Sunny." Amy said with a sheepish smile.

"Good luck with the launch. And um… maybe crack a window?" Sunny suggested sheepishly, then she left the place.

"Good idea." Jazz and Amy agreed, while the former quickly went to the window and opened it.

Amy soon joined her side, and they both breathed in the fresh air, while Pipp came by, singing to herself, but then she looked confused at Jazz and Amy, bot quickly sitting on the couch and laughing nervously with smiles, while Pipp smiled back in response.

Outside of the Brighthouse, Sonic and Tails were training out.

Sonic was hitting Tails with everything he got, not holding back a single bit since Tails himself asked him not to, while Tails tried to hit him with his various gadgets made with his powers or with attacks he made by himself.

An example of the last group is his spinning tails, which he has learned to control as a weapon besides a flying tool, and has managed to sent Sonic backwards on several occasions and even stun him for a couple of minutes so he can attack him and go all on him.

Yet Sonic was a quick fighter in everything: Attacking, dodging, recovering... It didn't mattered how many strategies Tails came up with in such a short time, Sonic simply moved too fast and kept going against him.

That's precisely what he wanted, true, but is began to become a bit overwhelming as the training went on.

Eventually, Tails made a big mistake while trying to hit Sonic with a giant metallic glove made with his electrical powers: After the Blue Blur dodged the attack, Tails looked ahead and blinked... Just to realize that Sonic was gone, and not in front of him anymore.

That was bad news already, and yet it became worse when Sonic appeared behind, then kicked him on his back, and then charged the Phantom Rush against him, since it was already charged thanks to the training.

Sonic finished up the attack by punching Tails against a wall of the Brighthouse, and the young fox crashes on his back against it, slowly descending in pain and groaning. This was his third defeat today, and if he didn't started to improve his strategies, it'll keep going up.

Tails kneeled in the ground painfully and held his stomach, while Sonic came in front of him and looked down at him with a mocking smirk.

"You blinked." Sonic said, then extended his hand to help him stand up.

Tails rolled his eyes and accepted Sonic's help to get back into his feet, although he still grabbed his stomach in pain. "I tried not to..."

"But you still did." Sonic deadpanned, then crossed his arms and looked at him concerned. "You okay? I think I went too hard on you."

"I'm fine, Sonic." Tails replied. "Besides, even if my body hurts, is precisely what I need. It just means I have to get better if I wanna be at your level when facing powerful foes."

After saying this, he limped a bit towards inside the Brighthouse, while Sonic looked at him concerned, but still followed along out of concern. Once inside the building, Tails brought out a bag with ice and placed it on the chair's back, then he sat there to ease the pain he felt on his back.

"I don't have to throw my fists against you, little bro." Sonic pointed out with concern, but a glare from Tails when he used that nickname make him shake his head. "I mean, buddy. Getting stronger is more than just training yourself physically. Is also growing as a person, gain more knowledge, mature. Punching the crap out of you is affecting you more than helping, and you know it."

"If I wanna be on par with powerful foes and at least be a struggle for them, I have to keep testing my physical strength as much as necessary." Tails replied, also sighing a bit frustrated. "Taking down an Eggman Decoy is not hard for anyone, if we're being real. The decoys are not a threat, but their creator is. I want to take down Eggman alone again, or even anyone as dangerous! But to do that, I must keep training and growing. And, if I wanna show I'm your equal, defeating you seems to be a good start!"

"But making me go all out on you is unfair, don't you think?" Sonic said, still feeling concerned. "I'm faster than anyone in this building, man. Even containing myself, I'm quite a match. And I'm not saying it to brag, I just wanna point out that maybe going all out on you is not the best right now. I'm sure you can defeat me, Tails. But maybe wait until you have defeated me while I hold back before facing me when I don't?"

"Like I said, if I want to be your equal, I must defeat you on your full strength!" Tails said with a determinate look.

"You're a maniac, you know that?" Sonic said with a frown. "You're like the guys that want to face the final boss full strength on a game at level 1 or 2. That cannot end well."

"I appreciate that you worry, Sonic, but I made up my mind." Tails said with a serious expression. "From now on, I won't train with you if you won't use everything you've got against me! Same goes to Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, and Sunny... And to anyone else that helps me to train. I'm gonna become a good and skilled fighter like you, just you wait and see!"

Sonic was still concerned that Tails could get hurt if he insisted with this idea, but he still smiled at him, and even felt a bit jealous with how decided he is with his idea.

"Look at you. You really wanna be my equal, huh? 'Cause everything you just said sounds like something I'll say instead!" Sonic said with a smile.

"I agree!" Sunny's voice spoke, as she arrived and joined the conversation. "Sorry to be nosy, guys, but I couldn't help and listened the whole thing!" She apologized with a sheepish smile. "And I've gotta say: The idea of all of us going against you is a bit... concerning. But I know that you're gonna be a great warrior, Tails." She bumped her shoulder with his slightly. "Just don't make us get yourself killed by mistake. I don't think I could live with that..."

"You had enough traumas because of Eggman, Sun." Sonic said with concern, before smirking. "Although, I bet you'll kill him first with that powerful Alicorn magic of yours."

"Aren't you the one dragging him constantly on dangerous adventures?" Sunny questioned. "In fact, why did you brought a kid three years younger than you to a very dangerous quest across an island that was being conquered?"

"If you're trying to get mad at me because of childhood experiences, know that I regret nothing." Sonic said with a smirk.

"You should at least regret dragging a kid that barely knew you."

"Excuse me? I knew him for 2 weeks!" Tails replied a bit offended.

"What he said! We knew each other pretty fine by then!" Sonic added with a smirk, then turned around and stretched a bit on his place. "Anyways! Time to go and take a run."

"Don't do anything stupid that could get you in trouble!" Sunny scolded him with a frown, and Tails at her side deadpanned at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Whatever you say..." Sonic started, then snickered and looked over his shoulder at her. "Little sis!" He then boosted away while laughing out loud.

"SONIC!" Sunny shouted with a scold, and then growled a bit.

"Asking Sonic to do nothing stupid is, ironically, the stupidest thing anyone could say to him." Tails deadpanned.

"Hey, at least I've gotta try!" Sunny countered.

"Sonic's a free spirit, Sunny. No matter what you do or say, as long as he's that free, you cannot make him listen to reason." Tails pointed out, and Sunny rolled her eyes. But then, Tails smelled the air, and immediately covered his nose. "And what's that smell?!"

Sunny cringed and then looked at her hooves, that were still shining, but also stinking. Tails noticed them, and he stared at them with wide eyes, specially because he could literally see his reflection on them. However, the smell didn't took long to come afloat, and he gagged disgusted.

"What the hell is going on with your hooves, Sun?!" Tails asked concerned and disgusted with a cringed expression.

"Pipp's deal." Sunny replied with a sheepish smile.

In the bedroom, Zipp was at her zone, more specifically on her desk.

She was on her laptop with the Alicorn book, searching for more clues regarding Opaline.

"Hmm… There's gotta be something else here!" Zipp said to herself, but then, she sniffed a scent and retched in disgust, so she turned and saw Sunny and Tails walking in, then saw the former's hooves shining, as well as the smell coming from them. "Oh no! She got to you?" She reached to her sunglasses and put them on.

"I just wanted to help." Sunny sighed a bit ashamed. "And the smell kinda goes away." She added, lifting up her hoof, but then cringed back since the smell was still there. "Or maybe I'm just used to it."

"I'm seriously considering wearing a mask, but that wouldn't help." Tails said with a cringed and bored expression. "By the way, what are you doing her, babe?" He asked Zipp.

Zipp took off her glasses before replying. "My leads have all run cold. I've read that Alicorns book like a hundred times and certain things still aren't adding up about the past we've all been taught!" She explained, laying on her desk and resting her head on her hooves.

"Knuckles haven't told you anything else that Spike might told him?" Tails asked curiously.

"No... While his stories are great and do teach me some more stuff from Equestria's history, they have nothing about Opaline, more than the story of the creature with fire wings." Zipp replied with concern.

"My dad always used to say, 'The past is something we'll never stop discovering'." Sunny quoted her father's words with a smile.

"And if we did, well, I'll feel sorry for historians and their lack of jobs." Tails said with a chuckle.

Yet Zipp thought on something after hearing Sunny, and she flew off her desk. "Guys, that's it! Sunny, your dad was definitely onto something with his research, right? Do you have any old things that Argyle left lying around?" She landed in front of them. "Stuff that might have a clue?"

"Well, we lost a lot when the lighthouse was destroyed." Sunny explained sadly with lower ears. "I do still have a few things, but Tails and I have gone through them a million times before."

"Specially when Discord stoled the Pegasus Crystal that one time." Tails added with his arms crossed. "There's nothing in Argyle's notes about Opaline, though."

"But with fresh eyes and open hearts and minds and clear heads, and the help of a master sleuth…" Zipp started, as she brought out her magnifying glass and twirl it around with a smirk.

"Okay, we can try!" Sunny said with a smile. "Maybe my dad would've liked that. I'll go dig them up right now."

Yet, as Sunny left, the smell from her hooves intensified again, and that made both Tails and Zipp gag a bit, then sigh relieved when she left along the scent.

"I swear to Chaos that your sister has a serious problem with her products sometimes." Tails deadpanned.

"Thank that Chaos god of yours that you were not here when we were younger, babe." Zipp deadpanned as well.

Outside of Mane Melody, Pipp was preparing everything to sell her new product.

She set a table full of the Inkthistle bottles, then she set up her phone while humming happily, and then she started to livestream the whole thing... As usual.

"Casual viewers and Pippsqueaks alike! Have I got something great for you!" Pipp started with a smile, as she moved to the table set. "It's the special deluxe pampering you've been needing." She picked up a bottle, then got close to her phone. "Treat yourself! You deserve only the best and we've got it here in Mane Melody!"

Inside the salon, Jazz and Amy were watching Pipp's livestream, as the pegasus flew around.

"Guaranteed to make your hooves shine brighter than a Bridlewood crystal during the Lumi-Bloom!" Pipp finished, flying next to the table and showing off her shiny right front hoof.

"Good thing ponies can't smell through the phone." Jazz said nervously, looking at her hooves a bit disgusted, since they're now shining thanks to the hooficure.

"On the bright side, you'll never see any more glamorous, girl." Amy said to Jazz with a little smile, and Jazz smiled back.

In the Brighthouse, Sunny, Zipp and Tails were at the basement.

There, the trio was looking for Sunny's dad research and other stuff that they managed to save after Sprout crashed his robot against the original lighthouse.

If you wonder how that stuff survived after Eggman rip the Brighthouse apart, the Crystals restored everything.

"There it is. Gimme a boost!" Sunny said, as she climbed on top of Zipp and tried to reach a box on top of a shelf, making Tails raise an eyebrow.

"Um, girls?" Tails called out, but before keep talking, Sunny grabbed the box.

And at the same time, she lost her balance and fell to the ground with Zipp, while most of the things from the box fell off as well, making Tails facepalm.

"I was going to say that we probably could've just flown up there." Tails deadpanned.

"Yeah, didn't think that through." Zipp commented, and Sunny nodded in agreement, while the two mares stood up, and the three of them began to pick up all the stuff that fell from the box.

But then, Tails came up to see two very interesting notes: The first one talked about a strange crystal that was hidden in Equestria. Said crystal was of four different colors: Red, yellow, blue, and green. The second one, however, seemed to get his attention even more.

The second note talked about Cyberspace, and how it could affect those who were not physically prepared to handle the side effects of interacting with this reality so constantly.

Yet it also talked about the possibility to turn that side effect into a power source. In other words: The note was talking about the Cyber Corruption, but it seemed that there was a way to turn the corruption into an actual power that actually boosts the one affected.

"It would've been nice if we knew this back in the islands..." Tails muttered, yet Sunny and Zipp heard when he spoke.

"Know what?" Zipp asked curiously.

Tails turned the note around and showed it to his sister figure and to his girlfriend. "According to this note, the Cyber Corruption sonic went through could've been transformed into an actual power up."

"What?!" The two mares exclaimed, as Zipp almost snatched the note from Tails' hands.

"If what the note says is true, then maybe there was a way to help Sonic out and avoid The End getting control over his body." Tails explained. "Yet we're finding out this six months after defeating that guy."

"But this could come handy and useful later on!" Zipp said with a smile.

"I don't know, Zipp..." Sunny said with concern. "Sonic barely talks about what happened in there, and when he does, is only to joke. I doubt he wants to ever go back into Cyberspace, and after loosing our physicality while being trapped in there, I doubt any of us wants to."

"Maybe so, but a detective never fully abandons a clue!" Zipp stated with a smirk. "Like I said, it might be useful later."

"You know what? I'm not gonna discuss that." Tails said with a smile. "You already prove me wrong - like, really wrong - once, when I trusted Misty. Perhaps you'll prove me wrong again."

"Or she's stretching this out and is actually nothing." Sunny said with a mocking smirk, making Tails chuckle and Zipp roll her eyes with a smile.

At Mane Melody, ponies were waiting in line, making Pipp to get very excited.

"Mmm, girls, I've got a great feeling about this, don't you?!" Pipp asked Amy and Jazz excitedly.

Both girls started to look around unsure, but also smiling nervously to fool Pipp a bit. "Ha, yes. Definitely. Absolutely. It's gonna be a spectacle!" Jazz said, which made Pipp look at her confused. "I mean… spectacular!"

"Definitely a show to remember..." Amy said nervously, then shook her head and corrected herself. "I mean... A sell to remember!" She chuckled sheepishly.

Then, they opened the Salon's door, allowing the crowd to come in. "I'm first!" An Earth Pony mare shouted.

"Ponies! Ponies! There's plenty of deluxe to go around!" Pipp assured with a smile, holding up a bottle that Jazz soon grabbed. "Right, girls?"

"Yes. Of course." Jazz said nervously. "Everypony will get a treatment, if they want one! Totally optional." She added, while Pipp looked at her confused.

"But… you'd have to be… uh, ready to miss out on the best beauty treatment ever." Amy added quickly to save Jazz, as she held up a bottle as well, while the crowd started grabbing one each.

"That's more like it." Pipp said with a smile, before she turned to the crowd. "Okay, let's break out the Inkthistle and get this sparkle party stared!" She announced, while the crowd cheered at her.

"I swear to Chaos, she's like Sonic in so many aspects that I don't wonder anymore why he likes her..." Amy deadpanned and muttered with an eye roll.

Back in the Brighthouse, Sunny and Zipp gathered all the saved Argyle stuff.

Now, they were on the main floor, over the kitchen's table, researching about anything that could be useful to fight against Opaline, with Sunny taking a picture of the Alicorn book, while Zipp scanned a map with her Z-Goggles.

"Hmm." Zipp thought.

"Hmm." Sunny said, looking at the book.

"Hmm!" Both ponies said in unison.

"Have you found anything?" Zipp asked Sunny.

"Yes!" Sunny said, before looking a bit confused. "I mean, I think so. Actually, no. I have nothing. Sorry! I was just imitating you for fun."

Zipp chuckled with a weak smile. "It's fine, really. I don't really have nothing, either."

"Oh, but I do!" Tails said, as he bursted inside the Brighthouse, holding a big and heavy blue book with the same strange symbol that they always saw everytime a Koco died in the Starfall Islands in the cover.

"What's that?" Sunny asked, then came close to read the title. "Huh? 'History of the Ancients: An Almost Full Guide of a Long Lost Civilization'?!"

"Wow!" Zipp said amazed. "Where did you found this?!" She asked Tails with a smile.

"This is Misty's book, one of the many things she could bring from Opaline's liar." Tails explained with a smile. "It has lots of interesting information. For example: The logo in the cover, it seems to represent an ancient god the Ancients worshiped back in the day. But as interesting as that is, that's not what impressed me. Remember that Cyberspace is like a huge computer that downloads data from the brain?"

"Yeah. That's why anytime Sonic entered Cyberspace, he saw a familiar zone that mixed his memories a bit." Sunny pointed out.

"Well, I was thinking... If the Cyberspace portal in Maretime Bay still works out thanks to the gear that Knuckles used, perhaps there's a way we can trick Opaline to access Cyberspace."

"What?!" Zipp asked with wide eyes. "We could do that?!"

"Most importantly, why should we do that?" Sunny questioned.

"Come on, girls. Think: Cyberspace is a computer for braincell data. So, if we trick her to get inside, even if she comes out and returns to Equestria, all her brain data will be uploaded to the Cloud in Cyberspace." Tails explained with a smile. "And, if her data is uploaded there..."

"We could actually see for a way to defeat Opaline... straight up from Opaline herself?!" Zipp asked amazed by this revelation.

"Exactly!" Tails stated with a confident smirk. "Opaline will be her own doom! After all, your worse enemy is you. That, and Opaline knows there's a way she can be defeated, but won't share it out loud. So, Cyberspace is our best shot to literally hack into her mind!"

"That... Actually, that sounds like an incredible idea." Sunny smiled. "Tricking Opaline into a trap that she'll believe is harmless, but the moment she's inside Cyberspace, everything on her brain's gonna be uploaded to Cyberspace's cloud. Including a way to take her down!"

"We have a plan!" Tails said with a smirk, but then sighed frustrated. "But I still need to learn how to access Cyberspace without entering the plane of reality Sonic did."

"Well, I'll really like to find out more about that thing of turning Cyber Corruption into a power up." Zipp said with a smile. "But do you think this book will be enough to cover that up?" She asked her two friends.

"Well, I think if we're going to get to the bottom of this, we've gotta get out of here and get out there." Sunny suggested, also pointing outside. "Start asking some questions."

"Maybe you're right, Sunny." Zipp said in agreement. "And I know exactly where to start."

"So long as you keep your desire of jumping into questions without thinking..." Tails warned her with a slight glare.

"Don't worry, hun. I'll keep myself under control." Zipp winked at him playfully.

"Uh-huh." Tails raised an eyebrow with crossed arms, not convinced on Zipp's word.

"Yay! Field trip!" Sunny said excitedly, waving her hoof in the air.

Zipp put on her Z-Goggles with a smirk. "Field research."

"Hopefully, we'll find out something interesting if we're going where I think we're going." Tails stated with a smirk.

Back in Mane Melody, more ponies were waiting outside for their turn to glow their hooves.

While an Earth Pony mare exited th salon, a stallion took a picture, but then, the mare smelled the stink coming from her hooves and coughed before running off.

Meanwhile, inside the salon, some of the ponies were retching on their hooficures, with an Earth Pony mare running around excited, while Posey was looking at the magic mirror, and Jazz was doing Windy's hooves with a mix of a cringed and uncomfortable look.

"I've never seen anything like this!" Posey said, looking at her shining hooves. "Have you, Bestie?" She asked Windy.

Windy, however, squint her eyes, trying to look at her hoof. "I actually can't see anything like this, it's too bright! My eyes!" She added, putting on her sunglasses and spreading her wings.

Then, Posey caught the smell of her hoof and cringed a bit. "Oh… I've never smelled anything like this. I was lying when I said I've never seen anything like this. It's just bright. But this?" She sniffed her hoof and cringed again. "Ugh, this is something else." She commented, which made Jazz grow nervous, right before Posey saw Pipp. "Oh. Shh. Hi, Pipp." She said with a friendly smile, which made Jazz panic a bit, while Pipp flew with them.

"Hiya!" Pipp replied with a smile. "Oh! Haven't seen shines this bright since I made my own toothpaste!" She said, which made Posey raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"Thanks, Pipp!" Windy said with a nervous chuckle and a sheepish smile.

"No prob, Windy!" Pipp said with a big smile. "This is turning into Mane Melody's biggest success! What are we going to do with all this success?!" She asked excitedly, then flew off.

"Yeah, the sweet… ugh… smell of success!" Jazz groaned after smelling the bottle again and cringed. Just after Pipp flew off, Jazz walked up to a fan and turn it on, sighing in relief. "Phew!"

Meanwhile, Amy was doing a Unicorn mare's hooves with an uncomfortable expression, because even thought the hooficure looked great, the smell was terrible, but she tried to resist so Pipp wouldn't notice.

Just then, Sonic came inside the salon and cracked his neck, since he was just back from his usual run. "Phew! Nothing like stretch the legs to feel alive!" He smiled, then noticed Pipp around the stage and walked towards her. "Yo, Little Pipp!"

Pipp felt surprised since she gasped, but then turned around and smiled, flying with Sonic and kissing his cheek lovely. "Blue Star! What a surprise! Did you came to try out the new Inkthistle?!"

"I have no hooves, babe." Sonic reminded her with a smirk. "Although, I've gotta say it: Those things look as shiny as my Super form. I'll bet a bit more, even!"

Pipp giggled and side hugged him again, but then, the smell coming from the hooves reached Sonic's nose, and when he smelled it, his cheeks puffed, and he had to avoid gagging and throwing up right there in front of so many ponies, so he resisted said urge.

"Um... I-I just remembered I promised Knuckles to help him out with something." Sonic lied with a sheepish smile, as he kissed Pipp's cheek slightly. "We'll talk later, okay? I've gotta go before he scolds me for getting late... again..."

Pipp nodded and kissed him slightly on his lips, then let him go and flew ahead, while Sonic didn't wasted time to boost out and get near to the closest trash can to throw up in there, since he couldn't resist the smell.

Once he was done throwing up, he sighed relieved and breathed a bit heavily. "Okay... On one hand, it was a terrible idea to eat 15 chilidogs today..." Sonic told himself. "On the other hand, that thing stinks horribly! What the hell was that?!"

Amy noticed from her place by looking out of the window Sonic's reaction and cringed, then looked over at Pipp over her shoulder and grew concerned. Pipp didn't seemed to mind the smell, unlike everyone else who did, and this was starting to overwhelm her a bit.

The Marestream was flying across the sky at top speed.

Inside were Sunny, Tails and Zipp, the latter driving the vehicle towards their destination, still unknown for the former, while Tails had an idea of where are they going.

"So… are you gonna tell us where we're going?" Sunny asked curiously.

"Yeah, you've been pretty secretive about it, although I have a feeling of knowing where we're going to." Tails said with a smile.

"To Bridlewood." Zipp answered.

"Called it!" Tails cheered happily.

"What's there?" Sunny asked confused.

"The Breezie Night Market!" Zipp revealed.

"And you really think the Breezies can help us find out more about how Cyberspace works, or how to turn Cyber Corruption into a power up?" Sunny asked, not so sure about this.

"Come on, Suns! There's a lot of old, mystical stuff there!" Zipp pointed out. "Maybe they have another version of the book than the one we had."

"Yeah. We've checked it before taking off, remember?" Tails pointed out. "Is shocking to find out that all those rails and platforms in the Starfall Islands where only on Sonic's mind and not actually there."

"Which explains why he was always floating around everytime he claimed he was... platforming." Sunny cringed.

In the Starfall Islands, Sonic was traveling through some rails.

These set of rails in specific where guiding him towards an upside down pyramid where the Silver Chaos Emerald was located and locked down on a tower, and Sonic headed towards it to obtain it.

Sunny and Hitch were watching him, since this was Kronos Island... Yet they were watching Sonic floating around, and not traveling over anything whatsoever, which left the two Earth Ponies very confused, since they didn't knew he could float last time they checked.

"He's... flying around for no reason..." Sunny said confused.

"HOW?! JUST HOW?!" Hitch asked very, very confused.

"That's just another Wednesday for me." Tails shrugged.

"It was also cool to find out that the Ancients had such and advanced tech for their time, yet they found the simplest of things more entertaining." Zipp added with a smile. "I mean, annual tournaments to see who can pile the most amount of rocks in the hardest and unique way possible? That actually sounds kind of fun!"

"Don't forget the giant Pinball Machine they set up to activate the volcano in Chaos Island." Tails reminded with a smirk. "Of all the things they could've designed, they made a Pinball. Strange design choice, but also very unique!"

"It was also cool to discover that they took all the wildlife of the islands to safety before The End attacked." Sunny said with a smile. "They really thought of everything if they even saved those animals."

"Yet we have nothing about how to access Cyberspace without getting affected by it, nor how we can make a power up out of Cyber Corruption." Tails pointed out with concern, but then smiled. "Which is why the breezies must have something! They've been around far longer than any of us, so the answer must be with them."

"And if not, Sunny, I'll buy you your favorite treat." Zipp added with a smile.

"Oh!" Sunny squealed in excitement. "Triple Berry ice cream?!"

"With three scoops!" Tails said with a smile.

"Also, maybe they have some magical cure to make your hooves smell better." Zipp said, pointing at Sunny's hooves.

"Hey!" Sunny said with a little smile.

"Girl, those things are ripe." Tails said with a mocking tone, also laying on Sunny's shoulder.

"You're not wrong." Sunny said after sighing, then the three of them started to laugh out loud.

Back at Mane Melody, new costumers were buying bottles from Pipp.

Meanwhile, Amy was doing Toot's hooves, although the Earth Pony stallion seemed to feel uncomfortable.

"This is great for business, Ames…" Amy told herself anxiously, while her right eye twitched a bit. "Oh, that's gonna look wonderful!" She told Toots when she finished his hooves.

"Yes, yes, but I wanted to know…" Toots said a bit unsure, also smelling the scent from the hooficure. "Uh, well, it's just that uh… How do I say this… The odor? Is that part of the package?"

"Everything that goes into this treatment, from the raw ingredients to the experience of sitting in that chair, to the beautiful shimmer, and yes, even the…" Amy started, lifting Toots' hoof and smelling the stench again, cringing back a bit. "... odor, is a part of a special and one-of-a-kind hooficure." She let go of Toots' hoof. "You'll be talking about this one for moons, I bet! Yup!" She chuckled nervously.

Toots felt uncomfortable after hearing that, then he turned to Windy. "Does she not smell it?" He whispered.

"I've been wondering that all day!" Windy whispered back, before she smiled and sat down, bringing out her phone. "My friends have to see this." She started to livestream her hoof... Don't look at me, that's what she's doing.

"This is fantastic!" Pipp cheered happily after hearing Windy. "Tell your friends, please. There's plenty of 'Potions by Pipp' to go around!"

Yet she didn't noticed ponies recording or live streaming their hooves and playfully making disgust looks after smelling their hooves, while Amy's eyes went wide in panic, since what seemed that could not get worse, was getting worse, and she didn't liked it.

In Bridlewood, the Marestream was parked by the Wishing Tree.

Meanwhile, inside the Breezie Night Market, Sunny, Zipp and Tails were looking around the stands, until they approached one filled with fossils.

The breezie attending said stand started to speak in quick gibberish once they noticed the trio of friends.

"She asks 'What can I do for you'?" Tails translated.

"You understand them, too?" Zipp asked Tails.

"Just a few words. Unlike Sonic, I don't fully understand what they say." Tails explained.

"We're trying to figure out more about the Ancients and Cyberspace." Sunny told the breezie, even bringing out the Ancients book that Tails borrowed from Misty. "Is there anything you have that can help us?"

The breezie look at the book and tried to analyze it, but then she cringed back in disgust because of the smell coming from Sunny's hoof, and she shook her hoof, making the group of friends think that she was saying that she knew nothing about the Ancients or Cyberspace.

"So you got nothing?" Zipp asked with concern.

"Uh, I don't think she's talking about the book." Tails pointed out.

The scent coming from Sunny's hooves made the breezie scream from the smell and fly away, which made Zipp chuckle and look over at Sunny.

"And I think she's also saying you, uh, stink." Zipp said in amusement, while Sunny gave her a dull look.

"There's better ways to phrase that, but... Yeah, she's pretty much saying that." Tails said with a sheepish smile.

"Should we get that triple berry ice cream now?" Sunny asked with a bored expression, while the trio walked away from the stand.

However, as they moved away, they failed to notice a breezie with a chef hat that saw them and followed.

Back in Mane Melody, the things were going... Fine, I guess?

Everypony was on their phones, with both Posey and Sprout taking a video of Dahlia's hooves on theirs, while Pipp, Jazz and Amy watched them.

"Girls, are you seeing this?" Pipp asked them with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess ponies really want to remember their time here?" Jazz said, feeling surprised to see everypony actually recording and livestreaming their shiny hooves instead of being totally disgusted.

"We'll sell out of these treatments by the end of the week if this keeps up!" Pipp exclaimed excited, then she walked up to the table where the bottles are. "We're hitting our stride."

"Well, ponies did like your hooficures before." Amy pointed out with a smile.

"I know, but not like this!" Pipp smiled with her wings spread. "The word of mouth is going to be incredible!"

Yet the smell reached Jazz and Amy's noses again, which made them cringe in disgust, so they went over and opened the windows of the salon while coughing... Just before turning around and see Posey behind them, which made Jazz gasp in surprise and Amy panic a bit.

"A little fresh air never hurt anypony!" Jazz said nervously.

"Right! Just getting some air won't kill us!" Amy added with a sheepish chuckle.

"Please. You both know what we all know: Whatever's in that shiny hoof cream is stinky to the extreme!" Posey pointed out, circling the two girls around. "Our snouts are falling off over here!" She waved her hoof, which released a slight trail of the smell.

"I don't know whether to agree or be offended!" Jazz said a nit concerned.

"Whoa, wait a second..." Amy called out confused. "If you don't like the hooficure treatment, why are you all filming it with your phones?"

As she asked this, she gestured to Dahlia and Sprout, with the former cringing back from sniffing her hoof, while the latter laughed at her.

"Oh, that's just the 'Mane Smelody Challenge'." Posey explained.

"The what now?/Huh?" Jazz and Amy asked confused.

"It's like the latest viral endurance test." Posey replied with a smile. "If you can get through it without your eyes watering from the smell, you tag a friend and they have to do it!"

This made Jazz and Amy feel nervous. "So, our newest hoof treatment is now a joke online?" Jazz asked in shock.

"Yeah, but it's a really good one!" Posey assured, then she turned to Toots. "Hey, show them your phone."

Toots proceed to do that, which made Amy and Jazz's eyes widen in shock. "Oh..." Amy said, since video was showing ponies sniffing their hooves with the hooficure on them and cringing in disgust, while laugh emojis started to pop up. "Oh my… It's trending?!"

"Whatcha looking at, girls?" Pipp asked from behind them with a smile, which made Jazz and Amy gasp in panic. "What are you gasping at? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Yup, that's it!" Jazz lied with a nervous smile, grabbing Toots' phone and backing away. "It was… one of those… ghost hunting videos on YouHoof. I'm uh… afraid! Ah! G-G-Ghost!" She acted a yell, then she tossed Toots' phone out the window.

"Ow!" Knuckles' voice exclaimed from outside the salon. "A phone? But the forecast said it wouldn't rain phones until Monday!"

"Ah, my phone!" Toots yelled out in panic, then he rushed out of the salon and closed the door behind him.

Meanwhile, Pipp smiled down at Jazz. "You're just like Hitch." She chuckled. "What a scaredy cat!"

Jazz watched her go and sighed in relief, but then saw a group of ponies laughing because of the trend Posey explained earlier, and she felt a bit panicked, something that Amy noticed, but she could not comfort Jazz since she was as worried as her.

Back at the Breezie Night Market, Sunny and Zipp were sitting on a bench.

They both had triple berry ice cream, with Sunny having three scoops while Zipp had only one. Tails, however, was nowhere to be seen for now.

"I guess no breezie knows a thing about Cyberspace." Sunny said a bit concerned, also looking at the book Tails borrowed from Misty. "Should we get out of here?"

"Ugh!" Zipp groaned in disappointment. "I hate leaving empty-hoofed."

"But not empty-stomached!" Sunny said, as she licked her triple berry ice cream.

"And luckily, not empty-handed either!" Tails said, as he came up to the two mares with a smile. "Or not empty-hoofed in your case. Look!"

Tails then lifted up a red book and showed it to them. The cover had a figure that resembled a Cyberspace portal, and it was titled 'Making of Cyberspace: A Digital World that works for the brain'. It also seemed to be signed by someone who's last name was 'Apple'.

"Whoa!/What?!" Sunny and Zipp exclaimed with smiles, as the latter grabbed the book in her hooves.

"You actually found something!" Sunny cheered.

"Where did you found this?" Zipp asked.

"I asked a breezie expert on ancient cultures about Cyberspace, and they brought that book to me!" Tails replied with a smile. "Hopefully, it has what we're looking for."

"Oh, I bet it does. The title seems promising already!" Zipp said with a smile as well, then she smirked as she looked at Tails again. "Guess I fell for the right guy~"

That made Tails blush like mad and turn away while coughing, trying not to loose his cool, but it didn't stopped Zipp from chuckled and Sunny from letting out an "Aw!" at him.

Just then, the same breezie with the chef hat that saw them earlier came flying by with a basket, flying up to Sunny.

"Whoa, hello!" Sunny said a bit confused.

The breezie put the basket down and opened it to brought out a heart shaped locket, flying to Sunny again.

"No, I think there's been a mistake. That's not mine." Sunny pointed out, but the breezie told her something that she didn't understand. "What is she saying? It seemed serious."

"Don't look at me, sis. I didn't got what she said, either." Tails said, raising his hands in defense.

"Wait…" Zipp spoke with a smile, then brought out her phone. "I think I can translate this with my new app!"

The breezie repeated again what she said to the phone, while the device translated her words. "I have long been waiting for a special pony. A hopeful pony. I believe that you and your Blue Hedgehog friend are the ones."

"Me?" Sunny asked surprised.

"Blue Hedgehog friend?" Tails added with a raised eyebrow.

"That's kind of strange." Zipp commented, while the breezie spoke again, like insisting on letting Sunny keep the heart lock. "But weirdly flattering! This is awesome! What a cool color. And it looks old too, really old."

Then, the breezie gave Sunny the lock, which she finally choose to accept. "It's lovely. Thank you so much!"

The breezie spoke again, and Zipp translated her words again with her phone. "Remember, nopony is alone who has friends. I bid you adieu." The breezie said, then she picked up the basket and flew off.

"Did that just happened? Or am I dreaming?" Sunny asked surprised to her friends, then she looked down at her heart locket. "What do you guys think she meant by 'The Ones'?"

"No clue. The only thing I can decipher from her words is that Sonic must be the other one." Tails pointed out, while rubbing his chin in thought.

"Looks like mysteries are cropping up all over the place!" Zipp said with a big smile. "We gotta start solving some of 'em."

"Starting with this fella here!" Tails stated with a smile, lifting up the book of Cyberspace. "Hopefully, it will give us the clue to use Cyberspace against Opaline."

Meanwhile, Sunny stared at her locket again and analyzed it for a bit in wonder.

Later on, Sunny now had the locket around her neck.

At the same time, the three friends were walking off from the market, ready to head back to the Crystal Brighthouse.

"Okay, the clue hunt continues." Sunny said with a smile.

"And now we have what we need to hopefully be three steps away from Opaline, if not more!" Tails declared with a confident smile.

"Back to the Brighthouse?" Zipp asked with a smirk.

"I just have to investigate one quick thing first." Sunny said, then she walked up to a stand.

"Hmm?" Both Tails and Zipp said confused, before they started to laughed in amusement when they saw that Sunny went to get another Triple Berry ice cream.

"What! Ice cream helps me think!" Sunny said in defense, then she licked her ice cream.

"Never change, Sunny!" Tails said with a smile

Opaline whistled to herself, as she polished her hooves with a lime.

She was reading at some archives from the Metal Virus' notes she managed to gain access to thanks to her 'convincing methods' over Eggman. She did said that she was planning to get the information from the virus from him, after all, and so she did.

How, you may wonder, if Eggman himself wanted to be stubborn and remain quiet? Well, let's just say that what Opaline did was not the conventional torture method one may expect.

She tied Eggman's hands and feet, then hung him upside down against a metal pipe, and then levitated a bucket of water to try to drown Eggman for 2 minutes. She always pulled him out of the water before he died, since she needed him alive to learn more about the Metal Virus.

Eventually, Eggman gave in and spilled the beans, since Opaline was constantly trying to drown him in the bucket. He was not ready to die, and so, he broke his own oath and told Opaline exactly what she wanted.

Now, even though she was not drowning him anymore, Eggman was tied on his hand to the same metal pipe, hanging from it and hoping that Opaline would leave him alone already so he can ditch the Metal Virus for good and plan something else, if he could, that is.

"Well, Ivo... I have to give it to you. I'm very impressed with these results!" Opaline grinned, then she approached Eggman, who looked at her with a frown, while the Alicorn began to circle him around. "You created a very powerful and dangerous weapon. One that can infect all of Equestria and put you on top. However, it seems there's one thing that you didn't considered: I found you!"

"So?" Eggman replied with annoyance. "Just because you found me, doesn't mean that you have won, Arcana. This isn't the first time I'm cornered, and this isn't the first time I will escape."

"And where would you go?" Opaline mocked up. "I have the exact location of every single one of your 'hidden' labs. Even if you managed yo hide someplace where I could never found you, the need to buy your basics would make you get out of your hideout. And we both know that your ego won't allow you to ask for your own enemies' help, even if it was your only option to stop me."

"Wouldn't be the first time I ask that blue pest to lend me a hand for something." Eggman said. "And unfortunately, I know it wouldn't be the last, either. Yet I know he'll help me out, because he hates you just as much as I do, if not more after what you attempted to do with his friends."

"Oh, but he hates you more than me, Ivo. And he has plenty of good reasons." Opaline pointed out. "You destroyed Sunny Starscout's home, and unlike the rest of the ponies he calls his friends, or marefriend..." She rolled her eyes at that last thing. "Sunny is a sister to him. The same way Tails is a brother. You messed up that big time, but it wasn't enough, was it?"

Eggman had a bad feeling of which direction this conversation was going, and he gulped nervously at the thought.

"You couldn't just stop in destroying the Crystal Brighthouse." Opaline remarked. "You went further than that before destroying it: You tortured Sunny's friends psychologically, and then swapped the ground with Sunny herself. Then, you tried to destroy her home, and then to kill her along Sonic."

"Where do you wanna go with this turkey talk?" Eggman asked with a frown.

"Our enemies might be fools, Eggman, but they're not stupid enough to help you." Opaline said with a frown.

"Wrong." Eggman grinned. "They were foolish enough to accept helping me out to defeat an entity in the Starfall Islands that was prepared to destroy this entire planet. What makes you think they won't help me out to stop you from conquering Equestria, hm?"

"The fact that the moment you step into their home, they'll beat the crap out of you without thinking?" Opaline deadpanned.

Since Eggman didn't had his glasses because of Opaline's torture from earlier, the doctor blinked twice, before his mustache flattened and he deadpanned as well.

"You didn't thought of that, did you?" Opaline mocked up.

"As a matter of fact: No, I did not." Eggman replied with honesty.

"Oh well. Guess that only means I have one more thing to make you spill out before getting rid of you." Opaline grinned sinisterly again.

"If your plan is drowning me again, then this time, I will die." Eggman frowned. "I know you want me to give you control on the Zombots after they get infected, but I won't tell you a thing!"

"Zombots, huh?" Opaline raised an eyebrow. "That actually sounds very catchy. Now, as for how to make you talk... I don't think I'll use water this time."

After saying this, the Fire Alicorn turned her horn and wings in fire, spreading the latter with pride, while Eggman stared at her with wide and panicked eyes, as he also gulped nervously. If he survived whatever Opaline was about to do, then he was damn lucky.

Eggman chuckled nervously, by the way. "I'm in danger."

Back in Maretime Bay, the sun was setting down on the horizon.

At the same time, ponies outside of Mane Melody were either looking at their phones and waiting for their turn, or livestreaming their stinky hooves. Speaking of livestreaming, an Earth Pony mare was just doing that, waiting for her turn to get the hooficure.

"About do the 'M.S.C.', Mane Smelody Challenge!!" The mare said to her viewers. "My friend Sugar Moonlight tagged me. I'm next!"

In the salon, Pipp saw two ponies laughing at the videos of the challenge.

"Hey, glam-ponies, thanks for making today the best day in the history of our little singing salon!" Pipp smiled, then she inhaled deeply and breathed out with a sigh. "Success smells great!" She cheered, then she flew off into a door.

Once Pipp was out of sight, the ponies around, started laughing, Posey included, then she took out her phone and started to watch a livestream by Shutter Snap.

"What's up, trendwatchers! I'm Shutter Snap." Shutter started, while Jazz and Amy came next to Posey to watch the video. "Today in trends, Everypony in Maretime Bay is lining up at our very own Princess Pipp's salon to do the 'Mane Smelody Challenge'!" She announced, then moved her phone to a stallion waving his hoof that stink up. "Can you stand the stink?" She asked, just before she and the stallion retched up from the smell.

"Hey! Whatcha watchin'?" Pipp asked with a smile, while Jazz, Amy and Posey turned to see her in front of them.

Posey simply smiled, while Jazz and Amy felt very nervous, so Amy quickly grabbed Posey's phone and toss it into the trash, making Posey gasp. "Hey!" She complained, while the phone landed on the trash.

Pipp looked at Amy confused. "Why did you just trash Posey's phone?"

"Well..." Amy began nervously, while Posey glared at her. "Everypony should focus on the zen of the treatment when they're here." She said calmly, then she glared at Posey. "Phones are a distraction!"

Pipp decided to shrug it, then she walked off, with Amy smiling nervously and Jazz looking at her concerned, while Posey kept glaring at Amy. Speaking of her, she sighed in relief when Pipp left, then she pick up Posey's phone from the trash and gave it back to her with shame.

"Ha!" Posey huffed and snatched her phone, then walked out of the salon.

Meanwhile, both Jazz and Amy turned to see Pipp, who was giving a stallion one of the bottles. "Why can't we just tell her the truth?" Jazz asked with concern.

"Because we don't wanna hurt her feelings?" Amy guessed with a sheepish smile, although she wasn't so sure herself.

At the Sheriff Station, Hitch and Knuckles were training Sparky to keep him safe... Or something like that.

Sheriff and Deputy both set up some cones from the station to the outside, and Sparky was wearing a safety helmet.

"Speed run." Hitch said with a smile, acting like a military general. "How fast can you get out of a station? Like we practiced."

Sparky babbled excitedly, and he also adjusted his helmet, with Knuckles helping him out.

"You can never be too safe, my tiny buddy." Knuckles told Sparky with a smile, while Sparky kneeled down like Sonic, ready to head off. "Here... We... GO!"

Sparky started running, but he knocked over the cones and ran out the station, which made both Hitch and Knuckles chuckled and walk ahead amused.

"Typical Sparky." Hitch said with a smile, as he picked up one of the cones.

"Why even put the cones down, Hitch, you silly safety stickler!" Knuckles told him with a snort and a very soft bump on his shoulder to avoid braking him.

Just then, Sunny, Zipp and Tails walked into the station. "Hey! You're just in time to see Sparky fail his safety drill with flying colors." Hitch told them with a smile.

"Yeah, why even put down the cones?" Zipp asked with a smile, while looking around at the tripped cones and at Sparky running around the station outside.

"That's what I said." Hitch pointed out. "So, what's new?"

"We're investigating a mystery, and we found another mystery." Sunny replied, then she showed Hitch her heart locket. "A Breezie just randomly gave me this ancient locket. Cool, huh?"

"Very cool." Hitch replied with a smirk. "But what does it do?"

"No idea! It's just pretty I think." Sunny said with a smile. "It's more about what the Breezie said… 'Nopony is alone who has friends'."

"She also said you are the one along your 'Blue Hedgehog friend'." Tails reminded. "Whatever the breezie meant, I'm pretty sure that you and Sonic are part of something bigger. Something we cannot prevent to happen. It adds up to the already verified theory that Sonic arriving here to Equestria is more than just a coincidence. After all, there's a prime reason Eggman wanted Sonic in this dimension, far from Mobius."

"Maybe we'll find out over time." Knuckles said with a smile, before his eyes suddenly widened. "Oh! By the way, Tails. What do you wanted to ask me earlier when I couldn't talk because I was late for work?"

"Right!" Tails said with wide eyes. "I wanted to ask about the Cyberspace portal that you activated by accident. Do you think it still works out?"

"It depends if Cyberspace itself is still active, even after all this time. Why?" Knuckles replied.

"Because I think that portal can be our key to find out how to defeat Opaline." Tails replied with a smile. "Could you show me where you found the portal? I want to check it on my own."

"Sure thing." Knuckles nodded. "Imma head out, boss. Gonna show this little fella what he needs to see."

As Knuckles and Tails left the station, Sunny turned to Hitch. "You think you can help us discover how the portal ended up there at all?"

"And most importantly, why nopony ever bothered to talk about it if it was in a cave near the town." Zipp added.

"Well, I can look through the old station archives to see if there's anything about a strange tower which's description resembles the Cyberspace portal." Hitch replied with a smile.

"Let us know, would you?" Sunny told him with a smile, as she and Zipp headed to the exit. "Thanks, Hitch!"

"You betcha!" Hitch replied with a smile. "And if you see Sparky outside, would ya tell him to scoot his boot on in here?"

"We will!" Zipp called out, just before Sparky zoomed pass the two mares with three cones on his head.

"Ah!" Sparky cheered, as he tackled Hitch to the ground, while Hitch laughed at him once he saw Sparky having three cones on his head.

Opaline went farther this time than trying to drown Eggman.

Just like she said, she wasn't going to kill Eggman, nor use water on him... But she was going to make sure that he felt like if hell was unleashed all over his body. Why? Because she tied him from wrists and ankles, and now he was over a giant stove that was starting to heat up.

Yep, like she said: She wasn't going to use water but fire instead to torture him this time.

"Well, Ivo. How are you feeling on your new torture method?" Opaline asked him mockingly with a chuckle. "I bet that is way too hot for you to handle."

"Eh. I've been in hotter places." Eggman replied in an attempt to remain calm and not actually say that he was suffering a bit in pain because of Opaline's torture method.

"But have you been in a place this hot?" Opaline asked, lightening up her horn and making the stove to release more heat.

While Eggman wasn't physically in contact with the stove, he was definitely having a terrible time hanging over it, and he was just praying that it'll be over soon.

"You just have to tell me what I want, Ivo, and this will be over." Opaline whispered to his ear. "How do I gain control over the Zombots once they are enough to become a loyal army?"

"My lips are sealed." Eggman stated, but his voice did cracked a bit in panic.

"Is that so?" Opaline raised an eyebrow, then proceed to heat the stove even more, and now Eggman let escape a painful grunt. "Because from what I can tell, you're suffering in pain right now."

"Well, then you are stupid! I am not suffering!" Eggman said with a frown, but he still let out another painful grunt.

"Who are you trying to fool? Because right now, you cannot resist the heat forever." Opaline pointed out, and she started to intensify the heat even more.

Eggman was really at the edge of screaming in pain, because even if there was still no contact between him and the stove, it still hurt as hell. He was trying so hard to remain silent, to not say a thing... But the pain eventually made him snap, and he couldn't take it anymore.

"SAGE!" Eggman shouted in pain, some tears falling down from his eyes. "CHANGE THE SETTING FOR THE ZOMBOTS ORDERS! GIVE OPALINE FULL CONTROL OF THEM!"

Opaline grinned widely after hearing that. Then, after 30 seconds, a text appeared on the computer's screen, showing that the setting was changed from Eggman to Opaline, giving her full control over the Zombots.

"Changes applied." Sage informed.

Opaline chuckled, and then, she let go of Eggman by making the oven disappear, also releasing him from the strings that tied his wrists and ankles. Eggman fell painfully in the ground, and he barely could stand up. He simply was glad that it was over, and that he was still alive.

"A pleasure to make business with you, Ivo." Opaline said with a grin, then she levitated the capsules' crystals where Shadow and Rouge were trapped as Zombots, and with a gesture of her head, she indicated them to go after Eggman.

The two Zombots didn't even said anything, they just made weird sounds that made them sound like zombies and walked towards the doctor, who slowly stood up and grabbed his back in pain.

Yet when he finally looked ahead, he noticed that Shadow and Rouge where already close to him, and his eyes widened in panic, so he tried to step back away from them, just for being stopped by Opaline's magic, which made him feel even more panicked.

"This is your punishment, Eggman." Opaline said with a grin. "Take it with honor."

Eggman was beyond terrified now, and when Opaline let him go, he tried to avoid the inevitable: Shadow and Rouge approached him and made contact with his skin, spreading the virus over his body.

"Crap!" Eggman shouted out loud. "Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap!"

He tried to fight it back and get them off him, as well as the virus, but it was a worthless effort.

"Sage!" Eggman called out again. "Activate Protocol: Party Pooper!"

With that last instruction given, Eggman was completely covered by the virus, making Rouge and Shadow step back from him and stare blankly in no direction, while Opaline grinned sinisterly, and soon, she started to laugh like a maniac, because her silly plan worked.

On the room where Metal Sonic was watching Omega, Metal opened his eyes.

He looked around confused, having the strange feeling that something's wrong and shouldn't be in the way it is, like if the natural order was altered or something.

"Brother!" Sage's voice spoke suddenly, as her voice popped up from a computer in the room. "Father's in danger! Opaline... She infiltrated our base, has control of the virus, infected father!"

After Sage explained all of that, Metal's eyes widened a bit, probably by the shock of the recent news.

"He told me to activate the Party Pooper Protocol. Hence why I'm telling you this until now. I... I thought father had it under control..." Sage said with a guilty expression.

Metal Sonic looked at the computer concerned, and even though Sage was stuck as an AI, she still had feelings. So, to try and comfort her a bit, Metal approached the electronic device and patted the computer's monitor, like if he was patting Sage's head instead.

After that, he looked at Omega's deactivated body, and he sighed, because he knew what he had to do. So, he simply touched Omega's shoulder and let out a bit of electricity from his hand.

That made the other robot immediately reactivate, and he started to scan his surroundings confused, in search for something or someone, before finally noticing Metal Sonic. His first instinct was to charge his guns and attack, but Metal Sonic raised a hand and stopped him.

Omega tilted his head confused, and Metal just stared at him for a moment before finally say something.

"... The world is in danger." Metal Sonic said, but since Eggman deactivated his voice, he had to reply mixed voice clips to speak, in this occasion using Shadow's voice and words. "I need your help."

Back at Mane Melody, Izzy was next in line, so she hopped into the salon cheerfully.

"Pipp, I'm here to…" Izzy started, before she sniffed the scent and gasped. "Sheesharoo! Why does this whole salon smells like Stinkthistle?!” She asked, noticing the ponies' hooves stinking, as well as some ponies gagging while laughing.

Then, Jazz and Amy came up to her. "Hey, hey, listen, Izzy." Jazz said quietly.

"What's up?!" Izzy asked loudly with a smile.

"Shh!" Jazz shushed her to be quiet. "Pipp's in the back, so we'll just say this now." She and Amy moved forward, while Izzy moved back a bit, next to the table with the bottles. "This stuff Pipp foraged shines hooves like you wouldn't believe, but the smell is––"

"Stinky!" Izzy finished with a smile. "That's why it's called 'Stinkthistle'."

This made Jazz and Amy's eyes widen in surprise. "You know it?" Amy asked.

"Mmm-hmm." Izzy nodded with a smile. "Pipp has foraged the stinkiest plant in all of Bridlewood. If a pony spends a long time exposed to it she can become used to it."

"That's why Pipp can't tell!" Jazz realized.

"So we've been selling a product that's beyond unfinished?!" Amy asked in panic.

"Yeah, unicorns mostly stay away from the Stinkthistle because it is so stinkeriffic!" Izzy added with a smile.

"You mean we've gotten used to it, too, and it's actually stinkier than even we can tell?!" Jazz asked in shock, as she and Amy looked at the ponies laughing and livestreaming the hooficure smell. "These poor costumers…"

"Ugh! Why didn't we just say something sooner?!" Amy questioned herself, sitting on a chair.

"Izzy, it all make sense now. But I still feel nervous to tell Pipp the truth." Jazz said uncertainly.

"Me too. She's worked so hard on her beauty line. What if we tell her and ruin it?" Amy asked nervously.

"You've got to!" Izzy said.

"Just knowing how bad it smells would crush her, but knowing that everypony is here for a viral challenge?" Jazz pointed out, also gesturing to what is going on in the salon. "It would destroy her!"

"Girls, if you were part of a viral craze that made you the butt of somepony else's joke, wouldn't you wanna know?" Izzy asked them with concern.

Jazz and Amy thought on Izzy's words for a moment, then they looked at each other and sighed. "Yes." Amy said with her head down, while Jazz nodded in agreement.

Knuckles guided Tails towards that cave in Maretime Bay with the broken Cyberspace portal.

There, Knuckles explained to tails what happened, how he found the gear, and how he accidentally activated the portal after placing it over the entrance.

"After the portal activated, a weird red aura surrounded me and our friends." Knuckles explained. "Next thing we all knew, we were on the islands, right before being captured in our Cyber Cages."

"And the portal was broken already?" Tails asked, while several of his drones created with his own power were scanning the portal from top to bottom.

"Indeed." Knuckles nodded. "Why do you wanna access to Cyberspace, anyways? Last time I checked, you didn't wanted to get back in there like everyone else that got dragged to the Starfall Islands."

"I don't want to interact with Cyberspace physically talking." Tails replied. "I think that we can use Cyberspace as a weapon against Opaline. After all, is a reality based on memorial data. What if we can trick Opaline to get in Cyberspace––"

"So we can find her weakness by Opaline herself?" Knuckles finished with a raised eyebrow and arms crossed, but also with a smirk. "That actually sounds like a very good plan. Anything I can do to help?"

Tails smiled at Knuckles, then he turned to see the Cyberspace portal split in two, the higher part leaning into a wall. "Maybe there is one thing, Knux." He smiled and turned back to him.

Outside the Crystal Brighthouse, Sonic was teaching Misty about self-defense.

The blue blur made in seconds a trio of decoys that resembled a Moto Bug from Eggman, and Opaline herself. They actually looked like jokes, but they still worked as for what they were: Decoys that help out to train to fight against the real people the decoys are based of.

"Um, are you sure we need to use decoys for me to learn self defense?" Misty asked a bit concerned. "Wouldn't it be easier if you threw a target in the air first so I can shoot at it before learning straight 1v1 combat?"

"This is not 1v1 combat, Tea." Sonic pointed out with a smile, as he putted the badnik decoy in place. "Is pretty similar to the shooting practice you mentioned, but before aiming at moving objects in the air, we first have to teach to aim at the none moving ones. Trust me, there's always plenty of those."

"Oh!" Misty said in realization. "So I just aim at a target and then shoot?"

"Pretty much!" Sonic said with a smile. "But don't feel bad if you fail. No one gets the first shot right, anyways."

Misty nodded and took a deep breath, then she stared specifically at the Opaline decoy and frowned. She lightened her horn up and aimed at the decoy, then shoot a laser.

Yet this laser in specific was way too powerful, even for the average unicorn, because it not only reached the Opaline decoy, but it also destroyed it entirely, leaving no trial of the decoy behind, which surprised Misty a lot, but it also made her smile widely in pride for herself.

Sonic, on the other hand, had his jaw dropped from what she just did, and he looked at her in shock. "... Okay... I was... not expecting that... Uh, how about you try with the other––"

Yet Misty already shot another laser to the Moto Bug decoy, and just like with Opaline's, it was completely destroyed, leaving no sign of it even existing behind.

Sonic's eyes widened again, while Misty squealed excited after seeing what she did. "I did it again! I didn't knew I could do that! It was amazing!"

"Yeah... Very cool..." Sonic said, but then he looked at Misty and smiled. "Maybe you're more skilled than anyone thought, Mist." He stated, then he walked ahead and brought out an orange and an apple, then looked at Misty over his shoulder with a grin. "But can you... DODGE THIS?!"

Sonic threw the orange and apple towards Misty, almost hitting her in the face, if it wasn't because she covered her face with her hooves, but she also unconsciously lightened her horn up and accidentally let out two lasers that destroyed the fruits in the air.

Sonic smiled after seeing this, while Misty stopped covering her hooves and looked around confused, since the fruits never hit her like she was expecting.

"Misty, I think you're a natural fighter!" Sonic said with a smile, then he started to grab anything he had close and threw it at her, like more fruits, some vegetables, and even heavier objects like small rocks. "Now hit this!"

Misty smiled and nodded, then she lightened her horn and started to hit all the objects that Sonic threw at her with ease, like if she was supposed to do it. She was being so natural at it that Sonic didn't even had to keep throwing stuff at her, so he threw himself in a Spin Dash.

The Unicorn mare gasped because of this, so she launched another laser beam that didn't hurt Sonic thanks to his Spin Dash form, but it did sent him backwards and away from her.

Misty gasped and sighed in relief once she saw that Sonic was fine, and that he didn't hurt her, while Sonic himself smiled at Misty for having passed her self-defense lessons. She seemed to be a natural on it, and he clearly knew that he had nothing else to teach her.

"Well, I gotta hand it to you: You are more than capable to strike a punch!" Sonic said with a smirk. "Are you sure you knew nothing about fighting before today? Hmm?"

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. I won't tell you my secrets!" Misty said mockingly with a smile.

Sonic chuckled and rubbed Misty's mane in a playful way, while Misty chuckled and slightly pushed him away so he wouldn't mess with her mane so much.

In Mane Melody, the ponies were leaving salon, while Pipp, Jazz and Amy remained.

"That was… wild." Pipp said happily, flying over to Jazz and Pipp. "Ugh, we gotta rest our hooves and hands, girls!"

"Yeah, we've had quite a day." Jazz said nervously, while she and Amy looked at each other concerned. "Listen. Pipper. Pippito. Pipperoo."

Pipp leaned close to Jazz with suspicion. "Mm… you've never called me a nickname. What's going on? You can be honest with me!"

"Um… well… How to say this?" Jazz asked herself, then she cleared her throat. "You foraged the worst-smelling plant in the entire forest and made it an only slightly less smelly lotion."

Pipp was both surprised and confused after hearing this. "I did?"

"You did." Amy confirmed. "And then all of our customers today…" She brought out her phone to show the livestream of the M.S.C. "They turned the deluxe treatment into the Mane Smelody Challenge because Stinkthistle smells so bad being around it is like punishment to your nose."

After saying that, Amy played the video, which showed an Earth Pony mare showing her hooves to a stallion before he cringed at the smell. "Nasty!"

"Ew!" The mare said in amusement, as the stallion fell back a bit and smell again, while Pipp watched the video. "Oh my hoofness! The smell!"

Pipp watched, then the realization hit her. "Oh… oh no. Oh, wow!" She said surprised, but then... she smiled and flew up. "Oh, that makes so much sense. You two and everypony were acting so funny today!" She twirled in the air. "And I was just used to the smell? Oh this is bad. Oh…" She laughed and landed.

Jazz and Amy were surprise by Pipp's calm reaction, since it wasn't what they expected. "Wait so, you're not mad?" Jazz asked confused.

"It certainly doesn't feel good to be the butt of an entire town's joke." Pipp said, while Jazz and Amy smiled sheepishly. "But you know what does feel good? A friend you can be honest with. Friends should always feel safe and comfortable to tell each other the truth. Even when it stinks."

Jazz nodded in agreement after hearing that. "We're sorry we kept this from you."

"We just didn't wanted to ruin this for you. Guess if we talked sooner, we could've avoided all of this." Amy apologized as well.

"It's okay." Pipp assured with a smile. "Now, help me drastically slash these prices. For my next Potion by Pipp, I'll…"

"Keep it simple?" Jazz guessed with a smile.

"Stink to the classics?" Amy added, also smiling.

"Oh! I love that for us." Pipp smiled as well.

Just then, Izzy came through the door with a basket full of new inkthistles. "Pipp, Pipp, Pipp! I found it!" She cheered and hopped around. "I found the elusive neutralizing ingredient! Pinkthistle! Fresh form Bridlewood. Give this a whiff!"

Izzy then levitated a Pinkthistle to Amy, Jazz and Pipp, and Jazz was the first one to smell, then she smiled. "Best smell I've ever smelled!"

Then, Pipp gasped when she had an idea. "This will keep the shine but erase the smell!" She said, picking up one of the bottles. "And it's all natural, just like I wanted. Aww, Potions by Pipp is saved!"

"Want me to start the social media blast, or wanna do it yourself?" Amy asked Pipp with a smirk.

"Let's do it together." Pipp said with a smile. "But with way less stink this time!"

Izzy levitated the Pinkthistle to Pipp, as she opened the bottle and sprinkled it into the content. Then, the four girls smelled the scent and smiled widely, before start to laugh together after what they've been through today. It was definitely something they would remember.

Two days laters, as the sun set in the horizon, the Mane 6 and Team Sonic were at the Brighthouse living room.

Sunny, Tails and Zipp were at the kitchen counter, already writing down several strategies to trick Opaline to get into Cyberspace once the portal was repaired.

Meanwhile, Sonic and Amy played Monopoly as a team against Knuckles and Hitch, while Pipp checked her social media in her phone, and Izzy seemed to be teaching Misty and Sparky about making bracelets, which was a bit more difficult for Misty than she originally thought.

"Reading this book to learn more about Cyberspace has really helped us out!" Zipp said with a smile, holding the red book Tails got in the Breezie Night Market.

"It's still gonna take us a while to cover it all so we can have the trap for Opaline ready." Tails pointed out with a smile. "But I'm convinced we'll have it done even before Eggman dares to make a move!"

"And I'm sure that Opaline won't ever expect what's coming her way!" Sunny smiled as well. "Ooh, everything's working out so far. Nothing's getting in our way!"

Thanks, Sunny. You just jinxed yourself and your friends...

Suddenly, the lights in the living room started to flicker, calling the group's attention, as they looked around confused, and Pipp did got a bit scared, because she approached Sonic by instinct for protection.

"Tails? Report." Sonic called out, as he stood up from the table he was playing Monopoly along Hitch, Amy and Knuckles.

Tails just nodded, and he was about to take out his Miles Electric, but he was interrupted mid-way in doing so because he and everyone else heard footsteps coming from outside. Looking at the Brighthouse door, they saw a shadow standing right in front of the entrance.

That put everyone a bit nervous, but it also made Sonic and Sunny take the lead and stand in front of the rest, while some of the others prepared to fight, like the rest of Team Sonic and Zipp.

Soon, the doors of the Brighthouse where a bit pushed open, and when they finally opened entirely, the figure at the other side made Knuckles growl in anger, Sunny activate her Alicorn form, and Sonic's electrical powers show up before fading away: It was Eggman himself.

Behind the doctor, two thunder rays roared and added more tension to the atmosphere.

"Guess I spoke too soon." Sunny said with anger and glaring daggers at Eggman. She was so ready for her payback regarding what happened 8 months ago.

"Alright, Egghead. I'm not in the mood to deal with your crap." Sonic said with anger. "Give me one good reason to not wipe your butt away from here!"

But Eggman replied nothing. Instead, he let out some strange sounds, like if he was some kind of zombie, which confused the group a lot, as they stared at Eggman confused and with distrust.

"Uh, Eggman?" Sonic called out nervously.

Eggman said nothing again. Instead, he stepped inside the Brighthouse and let the light illuminate him: His body looked like red metallic skin; he had sharp teeth, claws and spikes on his wrists; his eyes were red with yellow iris; and his sight was completely lost.

Whatever this thing was, it couldn't be Eggman... Could it?

10. Zombot Apocalypse

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Sonic has met up with Eggman in various and strange ways in the past.

Sometimes he found the doctor in a very bad mood, sometimes he found him on a very good one instead, which usually always lead to bigger problems; and sometimes he even discovered him so outraged that he simply attacked him without thinking straight, which usually allowed him to win.

Today, however, was the very first time in his life that he was afraid to even look at Eggman.

It was bad to look at him out of his Eggmobile already, but the fact that his whole body looked like metal, that he had no glasses, and that his sight seemed totally lost was bad... Well, the sharp teeth and the spike-alike wrists are bad too.

"Uh... Eggman?" Sonic asked confused, stepping a bit back since he never saw Eggman so creepy before.

Yet he got no answer, as Eggman stared at him blankly.

"This is giving me the creeps..." Sonic muttered with concern.

Soon enough, however, Sunny stood in front of him, activated her Alicorn form and lightened her horn up. "So 6 months of absence bring you back to what, Eggman?!" she asked him in rage, since she was ready to get some payback for what happened with the Death Egg Titan.

However, Eggman still remained silent, which now confused her as well.

"Why is he so awfully quiet?" Amy asked, raising her Piko Piko Hammer just in case.

"Shouldn't he be mocking us up on how are we gonna lose or something?" Zipp asked, as she stood defensive in front of Pipp, while Tails did the same with Misty, also pointing a plasma gun to Eggman.

But then, Eggman stepped inside the Brighthouse, making really weird sounds as well, like if he was some kind of zombie.

"Okay, this is just getting creepier... How about some context, Egghead?!" Sonic asked with a frown, while both him and Sunny stepped a bit back.

But instead, Eggman just slowly entered the Brighthouse and approached Sunny and Sonic, which made latter gulp and the former frown and light her horn up, although she was also sweating nervously.

"Seriously, Eggman. If this is some kind of joke, is not funny!" Sunny said with anger and a nervous tone, as she lightened her horn brightly.

Again, Eggman replied nothing and kept walking towards them like a zombie.

"Okay, this drawing a line beyond creepy!" Hitch said with a frown, as he placed Sparky on his back, since he was hugging him in a protective manner when Eggman arrived, and then made his hooves glow in green, getting ready to attack.

Ans still, Eggman was just getting closer to Sunny and Sonic.

"D-Doctor... P-Please step back..." Sunny said entirely nervously, because even if Eggman made her pay a whole month of therapy, deep down she didn't wanted to shot him.

But Eggman didn't stepped back. It was like if his mind wasn't responding to him, and he was just walking to them.

"Eggman!" Sonic called out next. "This isn't funny anymore... Say something!" he begged this time around.

But Eggman didn't said anything, and just extended his hand, ready to touch Sunny.

Gulping nervously, the named Alicorn looked at him extremely scared. "W-Well... You can't say I didn't warned you!" she declared, as he horn lightened up brightly.

And then, just seconds before Eggman touched her, Sunny let out a massive blast with her horn, one that came out of the Brighthouse's entrance and blurred everyone's sights.

Slowly, everyone started to slowly open their eyes, as they all adapted to the light of the place again. Sunny thankfully wasn't touched by Eggman, but a scream of despair from Izzy made everyone else alert. They all looked around in despair, but it wasn't until they all saw that she was pointing at one direction and saw in said direction that they realized why she screamed in the first place...

Right in front of them, Dr. Eggman chest had a hole, because Sunny's blast traversed him entirely.

Weirdly enough, though, Eggman didn't showed any sign of feeling bad or being in a difficult position. In fact, he was standing normally, and his gaze was still completely lost.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for the heroes: Tails' eye twitched, Knuckles felt anxious, Pipp and Amy covered their mouths in shock, Hitch covered Sparky's eyes and look anxiously at the hole in Eggman's chest, Zipp had to make herself look away, Izzy was already petrified at the sight, and Misty went to bathroom to throw up in there.

As for Sonic and Sunny? The former was hoping to be in a bad dream that he'll wake up soon, while the latter's Alicorn form disappeared, and she stared with pure shock at what her horn just did, at what she just did.

"... I... I-I just..." Sunny said with shock, as she looked down at her hooves and started to breath heavily.

"He... He's really... Gosh..." Sonic muttered with shock and wide eyes.

However, before anyone else could even process what just happened, they all heard Eggman kind of laughing.

So, as Misty came back from the bathroom, they all noticed how Eggman's hole was... regenerating. No, seriously, the hole was slowly disappearing and getting filled by some weird metallic liquid, until the hole was fully covered and even restored the aspect of Eggman's clothes.

His laugh stopped, and soon, he resumed his walk towards Sonic and Sunny, which made the former grab the earth pony mare and step back entirely.

"What the actual heck just happened?!" Knuckles shouted in shock and panic.

"I don't know... But whatever that thing is, it clearly isn't Eggman!" Sonic said with a frown, as he placed Sunny down.

"So I didn't killed him?!" Sunny asked, both relieved but still concerned for what was going on.

"Then why does it look and kinda sounds like him?!" Amy asked with concern.

"Whatever's the reason behind, I don't give a damn!" Hitch said with a frown, before he stomped his hooves on the ground and made some vines grow big enough to tie Eggman's feet.

However, this was a big mistake, because the vines soon started to get infected by the same metallic liquid over Eggman, and it was spreading at a very fast paste. And, since the vines were still linked to Hitch's hooves, the liquid extended until it made contact with the sheriff's right hoof.

"Ah!" Hitch screamed in panic. "It's on me, that thing's on me! Get it off, get it off!" he cried out in panic, rubbing his hooves over each other.

"Hitch!" Sunny cried out in panic, but when she was about to move to him, both Knuckles and Sonic interfered and stopped her.

Hitch was desperately trying to get the liquid off him, and Sparky even saw some spreading on the pony's neck, so he tried to remove it by rubbing his claws over it, but the liquid ended up spreading over the baby dragon as well.

And just like that, at a very slow paste, the liquid spread over Hitch's and Sparky's bodies, until they got completely infected by the liquid and stopped moving for a second... Just to slowly turn around and look at their friends with the same lost gaze that Eggman had.

Their bodies looked more metallic now, and both their iris and sclera looked entirely red, like if they were some kind of robotic zombies.

Sunny felt her heart shattering at the sight... Her crush was now infected with whatever Eggman had over him, as well as Sparky. Worse of all, this also made her realize that she shot at the real Eggman, and even if he regenerated, it doesn't changes the fact of what happened.

"Hitch? Sparky?!" Knuckles called out confused, but getting a zombie-kind of roar was enough answer to know that he was a goner, and that Eggman was infected with something too.

"What the hell is going on?!" Tails screamed in panic, pointing his plasma gun back and forth between Eggman and Hitch.

"Uh... I don't like where this is going..." Misty muttered in panic.

"Me neither!" Pipp said as well, and even if she would usually find spooky stuff entertaining, this was beyond creepy, even for her.

"Hitch..." Sunny muttered, as she started to tear up while looking at her childhood friend. "Hitch... Please say something..." she begged.

"I doubt she'll reply, Sunny!" Amy said, slightly panicked, but still having her hammer high just in case.

"I don't think any of them is going to say something..." Sonic pointed out with concern.

Just then, the Brighthouse door was shut down, as various ponies from Maretime Bay entered the Brighthouse... All having the same lost gaze, metallic body and red eyes as Eggman, Hitch and Sparky.

"Aw, great! There's more of them now!" Sonic complained, turning his electrical powers on, while he and everyone else started to walk backwards from all the infected ones.

Posey, Dahlia and Toots were infected too, and they were the ones getting closer to the group, along Eggman, Hitch and Sparky. Soon, other ponies were approaching as well, like Sprout, Toots, Rufus, Sweets, Fifi, Windy, the Pippsqueaks, the Filly Three, and even Jazz and Rocky.

It was a nightmare come true, and it was just going to get worse...

"The damn apocalypse has arrived!" Knuckles said with anger, punching his fists together and turning on his powers. "I knew we'll eventually get caught by the end of the world, but I was hoping it wouldn't be today!" he complained.

"This is just a nightmare..." Misty said, as she curled into a ball in the floor and chuckled anxiously. "Yeah! Is just a nightmare! We'll eventually wake up and we'll laugh about this, right?!" she asked with a twitchy eye.

"I wouldn't mind waking up right now!" Pipp cried out in panic.

But just then, all the ponies approaching them were traversed by two robotic figures: The first one was Omega, who stopped moving in front of the group and then turned around, aiming all of his weapons to the infected ones.

"Omega?!" Amy asked with wide eyes. "H-how did you got here?!" she asked confused.

"Where's Shadow? A-And Rouge?!" Sunny asked with concern.

However, Omega replied nothing and instead started to shot at all the infected ones, traversing all of their bodies with his bullets... The Pippsqueaks' included.

It hurt him a lot to do so. Even if he's just a robot, Omega definitely had a very soft spot for the Pippsqueaks, and being obligated to shoot at them just to keep them away from those who he starts to call his friends... It was painful, but it was necessary if he wanted to avoid them getting infected as well.

Yet some of the infected ponies were coming from the other side, something Izzy noticed. "We've got trouble at 12!" she cried out with concern.

But just when Sonic, Tails and Zipp noticed this as well, something completely unexpected happened: Metal Sonic, the second robotic figure that arrived, used his claws to slice apart some elder ponies that tried to approach the group, and once he was done, he looked over his shoulder at the heroes, but specifically at Sonic.

"... You own me one, hedgehog..." Metal Sonic said, although his voice sounded like a bunch of recycled voice clips from other people, like Eggman and Sonic himself.

"What the heck is going on today..." Sonic muttered with shock.

But then, Omega ran out of bullets, and he looked at his arms with concern. "This is gonna be a problem..." he muttered.

"Well, what do we do now?!" Zipp asked in panic.

"We get the hell out of here!" Metal Sonic replied, this time using a mixed voice clip from Knuckles and Amy, while he flew in front of Omega and charged a laser beam on his chest, before shoot it against all the infected ones in front of the Brighthouse. "Don't stand there! Is time to run!" Metal said, now using voice clips of Knuckles and Sonic.

"Why is Metal Sonic helping us?!" Knuckles questioned. "Are we on a simulation or something?!" he shouted confused.

"No time to figure it out here!" Tails said, as he grabbed Zipp and Misty from their hooves, before boosting towards the bedroom, making the two mares he grabbed yelp in surprise.

"Well, you heard the fox!" Pipp said, as she flew and grabbed Sonic from his hand, while Sonic exchanged placed and grabbed both Pipp and Sunny from their hooves, also boosting towards the room.

Knuckles grabbed Izzy and Amy as well and also boosted to the bedroom, with Omega following them, and Metal Sonic stopped using his chest laser, also following the rest to the bedroom... None of them noticed that Amy's hand rosed a hoof of one of the infected ones.

Once the whole group was there, Omega and Metal Sonic closed the doors, also using Sunny's and Pipp's beds to ensure that no one was going to enter the bedroom.

"Hey!" Pipp complained.

Omega looked up at his weapons and then turned to Tails. "I need a recharge" he pointed out.

"I'm on it!" Tails said, as he took out several munitions for Omega and putted some on a backpack he putted on, before giving two of them to Omega.

Omega grabbed the two munitions and recharged his weapons. Once they were ready to go, he pointed at the bedroom door and prepared for anything.

"We still have to get out of here!" Zipp pointed out with a frown.

"And where do we go exactly?" Knuckles asked. "If everypony in Maretime Bay got infected with whatever Eggman, Hitch and Sparky have over them, we don't know for sure if Bridlewood or Zephyr Heights haven't got infected as well!" he pointed out.

"I know where to go" Metal Sonic spoke, mixing voice lines again, this time from Eggman and Opaline.

"Yeah, right..." Sonic said with a frown, as he zoomed into Metal's face. "As far as I know, you're only helping for some kind of hidden plot that will backfire at us at any minute!" he pointed out with anger.

"Believe or not, Sonic, capturing you is not ideal for the current circumstances" Metal replied with Eggman and Misty's voices mixed.

"What does that even mean?!" Sunny asked, as she got close to Metal Sonic and pointed at him with anger. "You were created by the same creep that almost destroyed my home! I had to pay a month of therapy" she complained.

"And I'm still going to kick Eggman's butt for that!" Tails said with anger, also stepping in with Metal Sonic. "Why should we trust you, anyways?!" he asked in anger.

"Because, Young Prower... You are outnumbered by a bunch of Zombots that have specific orders to kill you all" Metal Sonic replied coldly with a bunch of voices mixed. "Like it or not, you have no choice but trust me" he pointed out.

Suddenly, the doors of the bedroom started to get stomped by the ponies outside, since they wanted to get in and infect everyone inside.

This made everyone but Metal Sonic and Omega panic, while Metal Sonic looked over his shoulder and Omega was ready to start shooting in case anyone traversed the doors.

Sonic was conflicted right now... He knew perfectly that trusting Metal Sonic was a sin, and he could regret it later... But he also knew that the robot was right: He didn't liked it, but the truth is that Metal was the only choice to escape from here, and maybe even get some answers.

So, with a sigh, Sonic looked at Metal Sonic with a frown. "... You better not trick me this time, Metal..." he warned.

"Trust me, Hedgehog..." Metal said with Eggman's voice, before he took out a warp ring from Chaos knows where. "I hate this as much as all of you do" he stated, still with Eggman's voice.

After saying that, Metal launched the warp ring, as it opened and showed a lab on the other side.

Of course, seeing a lab like that one gave terrible flashbacks to Sunny about the time Eggman tortured her, but she quickly shook her head away from those thoughts. Now wasn't the time to think, it was the time to run.

Then, Sunny and Pipp's beds were destroyed by the Zombots, as Metal called them, and they all entered like crazy maniacs to the bedroom, while Omega had no mercy over them and started to shot at all of the Zombots, the Pippsqueaks included, for his eternal suffering.

Seeing this, Sunny didn't thought twice and jumped into the portal, followed immediately by Zipp and Pipp, with Misty hesitating at first, but Tails placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded, which made Misty smile, and so, they both jumped through the portal.

Izzy and Sonic went through it as well, and Metal Sonic traversed it too, but when Knuckles was going to do the same, he heard a weird noise behind.

"Uh... Amy? Did you heard––" Knuckles tried to ask, but just when he turned around, he saw that Amy got infected and turned into a Zombot as well, with the wrists of her gloves getting spikes, her eyes turning red and her body becoming metallic as well. "AMY!!!" Knuckles cried in panic at the sight.

However, just when he was about to jump in to save her, Omega arrived and pushed her away, as well as he pushed Knuckles through the portal, while Omega turned and started to shoot at Amy, who slowly got up and got her body traversed with bullets, but it immediately regenerated as she tried to traverse the portal as well.

And it dies as an attempt to do so, because the portal closed in that very moment, and with that, only 9 of the heroes from the group remained... And Metal Sonic.

Now, the survivors where on Eggman's hidden lab.

Then, Knuckles stood up and looked with wide and panicked eyes at the place were the portal just closed. "A-Amy..." he muttered with shock and terror. "No... No, no, no, no..." he muttered with panic.

"Knuckie?" Izzy called out, slowly approaching to her boyfriend.

And yet, all she got from a response was Knuckles aiming a punch to Omega, if it wasn't because Izzy surrounded him with her magic.

"YOU STUPID BASTARD!" Knuckles shouted in rage, as he shook violently and tried to get free of Izzy's grip. "WHY DID YOU STOPPED ME FROM SAVING HER?!" he asked the robot in rage.

"Ms. Rose was infected already. You wouldn't had saved her, you would had infected yourself" Omega replied.

"LIKE IF I GAVE A CRAP!" Knuckles shouted again. "HOW DID SHE GOT INFECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?!" he asked madly.

"Or even better: With WHAT did she got infected?!" Zipp questioned as well.

"Guys..." Sunny called out.

"We can explain. But we need you all to remain silent––" Metal Sonic tried to explain, but this time Sonic stepped in.

"Silent?!" Sonic shouted in rage, and just when he was about to move, Pipp grabbed him from one arm. "You and Omega are the ones that got into our home all of a sudden, seconds after Hitch and Sparky got infected with whatever is that weird-ass liquid! And now Amy is infected too, so don't you dare to ask any of us to remain calm, Metal-Scrap!" he snapped in anger with the robot.

"Guys..." Tails called out next, but he sounded a bit more irritated.

"Is not our fault that the virus spread, it's Op––" Omega tried to speak next.

"Virus?!" Zipp said in anger, and Misty used her magic to surround the white pegasus before she did something stupid. "What do you mean with that?! WHAT VIRUS?!" she snapped in anger as well.

"GUYS!!!" both Sunny and Tails called out, tired of this fight going on.

With that scream, everyone shut up and looked over at Sunny and Tails with wide eyes.

"Look... We all hate the idea of having to trust in Metal Sonic, right?" Tails spoke first, and everyone else but Sunny, Omega and Metal himself nodded at his statement, which made Metal Sonic deadpan annoyed.

"But like it or not, he's the one who saved us from that situation..." Sunny kept going, before she looked at the robot with a frown. "And something tells me that he knows what's going on..." she pointed out.

Metal Sonic only nodded at this statement, but something behind those robotic eyes could almost tell Sunny that he was concerned about something...

"So, until he explains what's happening..." Sunny kept talking.

"Can you all shut the hell up and let him speak?!" Tails finished with anger.

Experience told everyone in the group that it was a sin not to listen to Tails when he was mad, so they all looked at each other for a moment, before looking back at Tails and nod in agreement.

"Good" Sunny said, before turning to Metal Sonic with a frown again. "So, Mr. Robot... care to explain yourself?" she asked sarcastically with an eye roll.

Metal Sonic just nodded, before he walked up to a computer and pressed a button, which turned the whole system on and straight up displayed all the information about the Metal Virus: What it was, how it works, how to control the infected ones, how to cure it, everything.

"What in the name of Chaos..." Sonic muttered.

"For the past few weeks, not so long before you all performed that 'Bridlewoodstock' thing, Dr. Eggman was working on his ultimate weapon..." Metal Sonic started to explain. "A virus capable to control all organic matter and turn it into metallic matter. Code name: Metal Virus" he said.

"Metal Virus?" Zipp questioned confused. "That sounds... dangerous, and reckless..." she pointed out.

"In other words, it sounds like Eggman..." Sonic said with a frustrated sigh.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking... Why is your voice mixed with so many recycled voice lines?" Tails asked Metal confused.

"Eggman deactivated my voice" Metal replied with a deadpan. "This is my only way to communicate. Not ideal, but... It works" he pointed out.

"Hmm... Fair enough..." Tails said with a deadpan as well.

"Getting back to the point... The virus function is to control the mind of everyone who gets infected with it" Metal Sonic explained, but whatever he said next, Sonic stopped hearing.

As soon as Metal mentioned that the virus controls your mind, he got PTSD on when The End took over his body again, and he panicked a lot, and even worse, when he looked back at Metal Sonic, The End was right there, as he slowly turned to see Sonic and narrow his eyes with anger.

Sonic felt anxious at the sight, but he still took a deep breath and calmed himself down, also closing his eyes, and when he opened them again, The End was gone.

"So Eggman created something to control our minds... Neat..." Sunny deadpanned.

"He at least calculated all the possible outcomes while making this, right?" Zipp asked with a bored expression.

"The doctor contemplated all the ups and downs with this virus" Metal Sonic replied. "He tested it out on plants and critters until the virus was perfect and functioned as he desired... Let's just say it worked too well..." he explained with a concerned tone, something weird to see in Metal Sonic.

"What do you mean?" Misty dared to ask with a gulp.

"We came in, and Eggman used the virus on us..." Omega spoke next, and everyone but Metal Sonic turned to him with wide eyes. "I didn't got infected since I'm not organic life... But I don't think I have to explain what happened with Shadow and Rouge..." he pointed out, slowly looking down with worry for his teammates.

This were shocking news for the rest. On one hand, Pipp covered her mouth with her hooves and her ears lowered. Amy, Rouge, Jazz and Rocky... all her stylist friends fell as victims of the Metal Virus, and she started to tear up because of it.

On the other hand, Tails and Knuckles felt anxious, and they looked at each other with concern; Izzy lay on Knuckles shoulder and started to tremble in panic, while Misty and Zipp looked at each other in shock and worry.

As for Sunny? The idea of Shadow, one of the most powerful Mobians she has ever met, falling down as a victim of this Metal Virus... It crushed her, and knowing that both Shadow and Hitch were infected, as well as Sparky, Amy, Rouge and everypony in Maretime Bay... it crushed her soul, and she was feeling hopeless again...

But Sonic probably had the worse reaction... So many people, both citizens he cared for and closest friends and allies, fell as victims of the Metal Virus that Eggman created because of his obsession with his Empire... He felt angry at him, no doubt, but he was still confused about something.

"Metal..." Sonic called out. "How... How did Eggman got infected?" he questioned. "I mean, if he created the virus, how did he fell victim of his own game?" he asked.

"... Eggman calculated all the possible outcomes, true..." Metal Sonic spoke with mixed voices again. "But there's one thing he never contemplated... Opaline" he pointed out with concern.

Again, everyone's eyes widened as they all stared in shock at Metal Sonic, and even Omega's eyes widened this time.

"... O-Opaline?" Misty asked, as she gulped nervously after hearing her name.

"We still don't know how she arrived. We just know that she found us somehow..." Metal Sonic explained. "When she came in, she used her magic to immobilize both Eggman and I... Once she discovered everything about the Metal Virus and how it works, she made Eggman change the setting on the Zombots orders, then she free'd Shadow and Rouge, who infected Eggman with the virus" he finished explained.

"So Opaline turned Eggman's plan against him..." Sonic muttered in concern. "That's both impressive and concerning, because... If she could outsmart Eggman, then we truly aren't facing just a cold that turns you into a zombie made of metal..." he pointed out with a frown.

"Zombot" both Metal Sonic and Omega said.

"Wait... That's how you guys call the infected ones? 'Zombots'?" Zipp asked.

"That's how Eggman and Opaline call them" Metal Sonic pointed out.

"It kind of fits, considering all the infected ones turn into half-zombies, half-mind-controlled-robots" Omega added.

"Right..." Sunny rolled her eyes. "But, did Eggman ever thought about a cure? I mean, you said Opaline is something she wasn't counting with, so he must had made––"

"A cure" Metal Sonic finished for her and nodded, before walking towards frame in a wall.

This frame in particular showed Eggman graduating from college and getting his diploma, and Metal Sonic slid the diploma to the right, revealing a hidden safe box behind it.

Metal Sonic pressed a green button, which made a red laser scan Metal Sonic's eyes. Once the eyes were scanned, a numeric panel appeared, and Metal placed the code 23061991 in said panel. Then, he pressed the green button again, and the safe box opened, showing off a small tube with an orange liquid inside.

Metal carefully grabbed the tube and took it out of the safe box. Then, he turned and faced the others. "Eggman knew that the virus could get out of control at some point, no matter how much he tried to avoid it. That's why, he created this sample of a cure, as part of his 'Party Pooper' protocol" he explained.

"Party Pooper protocol? What kind of name is that?" Zipp deadpanned.

"The doctor believed that the only ones capable of making sure this cure could be finished if the virus went wrong were, and I quote him here: The very same party poopers that destroy his plans over and over again" Metal Sonic explained.

To this, everyone in the room deadpanned at the robot.

"So Eggman screwed up his own plan, and now he wants us to clean his disaster?" Sonic asked.

"This all sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me" Knuckles said with a frown, also crossing his arms in anger.

"Yeah... Why would Eggman relay on his enemies to fix his disaster?" Zipp asked with a bored expression.

"Believe me, he never planned to relay on any of you" Metal Sonic assured them. "This is just a last minute solution in case the virus didn't worked as he planned. But I know for a fact none of you like the sound of that..." he recognized.

"You're asking us to fix the mess from the same guy that almost destroyed our home!" Pipp pointed out with a frown. "Of course we don't like the sound of that!" she added.

"And yet, you're ignoring the most important detail of this..." Metal Sonic pointed out.

"Which is?" Tails asked with a bored expression.

"That Opaline has control over the virus now... And that your friends have been infected with it" Metal Sonic pointed out, and all the frowns in the room disappeared, with everyone's eyes widening at that reminder. "This little tube right here..." he pointed at the tube on his hand. "... Is the only thing that can save them. Yeah, that implies that you have to save Eggman as well, and I know you all hate the idea... But keep in mind that there might not be another choice..." he explained.

"So we either save everyone from the virus, Eggman included, or we all fall to Opaline's game..." Misty muttered with concern.

"Ugh... Why do we always have to deal with some kind of weird-ass intervention?!" Knuckles complained out loud.

Sonic had to stop for a moment and start to consider all the possible outcomes: If they did nothing, the virus would spread across Equestria, and everypony will be infected. Worse of all, Opaline would succeed on conquering the magical land, and no magic of friendship could save them this time around...

On the other hand, finishing the cure implies defeating Opaline and restore everyone back to normal... That includes Eggman as well.

It wasn't a hard decision, if he was being honest, but... The fate of everyones was on his hands, and he couldn't let that slip just because he didn't wanted to help his nemesis.

So, with a heavy sigh, Sonic approached Metal, and they stared at each other for quite a while, before Sonic extended his hand open, and Metal didn't hesitated on giving him the tube with the cure's sample. Sonic closed his hand after getting the cure, and he looked back at Metal.

"... I owe you two now, Metal... I don't like how that sounds..." Sonic said with anger.

"The cure is necessary for everyone, Hedgehog... However, you do owe me one for saving your butt" Metal Sonic mocked up.

Sonic rolled his eyes and turned around, walking up to Tails. "I know for a fact that you're familiar with this kind of stuff, little bro" he told him with a smile, as he showed him the tube with the cure's sample. "Think you can impress us with your science magic?" he asked him mockingly.

Tails looked at the tube for a second and grabbed it, analyzing it for a bit before smiling and look back at Sonic. "I have everything I need to finish this in my workshop!" he stated.

"Uh, but that's gonna be a problem..." Zipp pointed out with concern. "If you forgot, everyone in Maretime Bay is infected by the virus. How are we going to get close to Electronic Tails without getting infected?" she questioned.

"Oh, oh! I think I know how! Anypony's got a map here?" Misty asked cheerfully.

Soon, Metal Sonic went to the computer and tapped on the keyboard, then showed up a map of Equestria, which had Maretime Bay, Zephyr Heights, Bridlewood, Opaline's Castle, and even Canterlot on it.

"Okay..." Misty muttered, as she analyzed the map for a second or two. "So... Electronic Tails isn't so far from the Sheriff Station, right? So, if we get a detour out of Zephyr Heights, and we then move to this forest here..." she kept muttering, until she finally had a path memorized. "I think I know how to get there without getting infected or spotted!" she said with a smile.

"And how do you know so much about Equestria's demographic––" Zipp was going to ask, but her own mind answered for her. "Oh, right... If you used to spy on us, you had to memorize every path in Equestria..." she said with a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, I'm not proud of that, but at least I can put my knowledge on good use!" Misty pointed out with a smile, while Izzy came by and hugged her.

"Of course you are!" Izzy said cheerfully with a smile.

"Well, that's great! We have Tails working on finishing the cure..." Sunny started with a smile, while Tails scanned the cure's sample with his Miles Electric. "And Misty can guide us back home without getting infected!" she cheered.

"That's good and all, but shouldn't we be looking for an exit?" Pipp pointed out.

"I was previously here when my comrades got infected with the virus" Omega pointed out, before he turned to a direction and slowly walked to it. "I know where's the exit. Follow me!" he instructed, as he quickly moved towards the exit.

Everyone else followed him, but Sonic and Metal stood behind for a second.

"I'm going to guess you'll come with us, don't you?" Sonic asked Metal with a frown, and the robot nodded. "Well, keep this in mind: I don't care if you are helping us for selfish reasons, because you want Eggman back, or because you actually give a damn about what's happening to the world. One false move, and I'll destroy your body piece by piece. Understood?" he warned him with anger.

"Aye, aye, captain" Metal Sonic replied with Sonic's voice.

Sonic growled in anger after hearing that, but he nodded, and then, he boosted in the same direction everyone else went.

Metal Sonic was about to follow, but the computer behind him showed a weird logo, and Metal stopped moving.

"Brother..." Sage spoke, and Metal looked over his shoulder at the computer. "Are you sure you can trust on them to bring father back?" she asked with concern.

Metal Sonic looked straight ahead for a second, before letting out a sigh and turn around to face Sage again.

"Like it or not, 'sister', we have no choice..." Metal Sonic spoke with mixed voice lines from Eggman and Pipp.

After that, Metal boosted away to follow the rest as well.

Sage let out a sigh, despite still being a program. "... Good luck, brother..." she muttered.

In the middle of Zephyr Heights, a sewer cover opened up.

Then, Omega boosted flying out of it and landed in the street, being followed by Zipp, Pipp and Tails coming out flying as well, with everyone else coming out by crawling, and the last one to get out was Metal Sonic, who covered the sewer again.

"Wait a second... Eggman's lab has been hided on Zephyr Heights this whole time?!" Tails exclaimed with wide eyes.

"No" Metal Sonic replied. "This was a temporal establishment to finish the Metal Virus. His actual lab is still hidden" he explained.

"Why am I not surprised?" Sonic said with an eye roll.

Soon enough, though, the whole group walked down Zephyr Heights, but... The entire city had a weird vibe, like if it was abandoned. There even was fog all around the city, which just contributed to the creepy vibe.

"Geez... This place is giving me goosebumps... And not the good kind of ones..." Knuckles said with a frown.

"Where is everypony? Zephyr Heights is usually one of the most inhabited places in Equestria!" Zipp pointed out with a frown. "Something's not right..." she muttered with concern.

"It's even a bit cloudy in here. That never happened before..." Pipp pointed out as well.

"Maybe they're all aware about the virus and went home to stay safe?" Sunny asked, trying to cheer up the situation.

"It wouldn't be weird, if we're being honest" Sonic pointed out. "I mean, Sky and Dazzle are recording news 24/7. Perhaps they discovered what happened and told everypony else to go home" he suggested.

But then Omega, who was guiding the group, stopped moving and raised an arm with his fist closed, a sign everyone took to stop moving.

Soon, Omega looked in a direction and aimed his weapons. "Zombots!" he informed with anger.

With this sign, Metal Sonic turned around and prepared to protect the group from behind, as both robots stood alert and looked around to make sure that they wouldn't be surprised nor attacked on their backs.

Zipp and Tails stood close to protect each other, Izzy and Misty lightened their horns just in case, Knuckles and Sonic turned on their powers, Pipp opened her wings despite feeling nervous, and Sunny made her Alicorn form appear, with all the group getting ready to defend each other just in case.

After a while, notting seemed to happen, but then, a figure appeared from the fog and hissed, as it jumped towards Knuckles.

The echidna yelped in panic, but before he could do anything, Omega interfered and punched the figure away.

The figure rolled in the ground with a yelp and groaned in pain, but after a few seconds, it stood up on its two feet and opened their wings, slowly approaching and moving like an angry zombie towards them... Revealing to be Rouge, who was infected with the virus and showing her sharp teeth to the group.

"Ah crap!" Knuckles groaned. "Seems like we've been spotted!" he pointed out with concern.

Omega, however, lowered his weapons a bit... He still remembers how scared Rouge seemed when she got infected by the virus, but now, she was mad, and her mission was to destroy them, to destroy him... It hurt...

But it didn't mattered how much it hurt. They had a cure now, and they could bring her back. However, and liked it or not, he had to fight against her if he wanted to make sure the cure was properly finished.

"I'm sorry, partner..." Omega said with sorrow, once again pointing his weapons at the bat.

Rouge hissed again and flew to the air, diving towards the group, which made Omega fire and shot at her wings, which made Rouge fall to the ground and turn into a metallic mud, but then, she quickly regenerated again into herself, slowly walking like a zombie towards the group.

And then, more and more Zombots appeared, all being pegasi infected by the Metal Virus, and all of them walking towards the group.

"This is starting to get out of hand, and I'm sick of this!" Knuckles screamed in rage.

"But we cannot fight them!" Tails pointed out with concern, as he created a boomerang with his powers and launched it towards some of the Zombots, cutting their heads in the process. "If we touch any of them, we get infected!" he pointed out.

"And that's exactly the plan!" a female voice spoke, followed by a maniac laugh, and everyone's eyes widened.

"Oh no..." Misty muttered with concern, as she slowly turned around and saw Opaline, slowly descending and landing not so far from them, while the Zombots stepped back and allowed her to have some space.

Of course, everyone but Misty glared in anger at the Alicorn, and Sunny lightened her horn in anger, while Omega pointed his weapons at her.

"Great, the Queen of the Fire Nation is here..." Sonic muttered with annoyance.

"Aww, what's the matter, Sonic? Can't stand the fact that you and your pitiful friends have lost?" Opaline mocked up with a sinister grin.

"We don't have time to deal with your stupid games, Opaline!" Sunny shouted in rage. "Now get lost before I launch a beam to you too! I know for a fact that you won't regenerate like the Zombots..." she stated with anger.

"Ooh! Daring to fight against me, Sunny?" Opaline asked with a snort. "I have no fear towards that weakling thing you dare to call power!" she stated. "And I know for a fact that you plan to get a cure for the Metal Virus... Well, I won't allow it!" she stated with anger.

"Like if being outnumbered was a problem..." Metal Sonic said this time with Sonic's voice, before he looked at Omega over his shoulder.

Omega also looked at him in the same way, and both robots nodded in agreement, before Metal Sonic started to run at sonic speed around the group, while Omega stepped back and allowed Metal Sonic to do his thing.

Soon, the group was in the middle of a tornado created by Metal Sonic's speed, and everyone but Omega and Sonic were confused.

"What is happening?!" Pipp asked in panic.

"Metal is creating a distraction for us to escape!" Sonic said with smirk, as he looked at the top of the tornado. "We've gotta escape through the sky!" he stated, pointing upwards.

"But there's pegasi infected as well! We can't just escape like that!" Zipp pointed out.

"Actually, we can!" Tails said with a smirk, before he grabbed Misty bridal style and twirled his tails, boosting towards the air.

"What about us?!" Knuckles cried out in panic and anger.

After saying that, Sunny flapped her wings and surrounded Knuckles, Sonic and Izzy on her magic.

"Were you saying?" Sonic mocked him up with a smirk, and Knuckles rolled his eyes annoyed.

With that, everyone else went to the sky, leaving Omega and Metal Sonic in the ground to defend the rest.

So, Metal Sonic stopped moving, as the two robots stood back to back, and they prepared for anything that Opaline had in store for them.

However, as the Zombots launched to the two robots and they made sure to make them step back, Opaline's eyes widened once she saw that the rest of the group was gone.

"Where... Where did they go?!" Opaline shouted in rage.

But then, Opaline noticed that a figure was flying away in the sky, also surrounded by a golden aura, and she frowned and growled in rage.

"You think you can escape me, huh?" Opaline snickered with a sinister smile. "Very well, then... I shall prove you wrong!"

In the sky, the group was flying through a bunch of storm clouds.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?!" Sunny asked, panicked because of the lightning.

"If we want to loose Opaline from sight, we have to risk ourselves here!" Tails pointed out with concern.

"But this is too much risk, even for us!" Misty pointed out with worry.

"And I feel it's going to get worse!" Knuckles said with a frown, as he saw something ahead approaching.

The rest of the group saw straight ahead as well, and they all gasped in shock when they saw a bunch of Zombot pegasi flying towards them. However, the real shock was that the Zombots were lead by Queen Haven, Zoom and Thunder.

"MOM?!" both Zipp and Pipp asked shocked with wide eyes.

"I knew that calling her mother-in-law was going to pay the bill one day..." Sonic deadpanned.

Just when the pegasi zombots were approaching them, they decided to split up to dodge them each one on their own, that way avoiding to get infected with the Metal Virus as well.

However, Sunny was having some trouble dodging properly, because she also had to keep in mind that she was levitating Izzy, Sonic and Knuckles as well, which only complicated her task of dodging the Zombots. Worse of all, she was getting tired because of overusing her magic.

"G-Guys..." Sunny called out tiredly. "I-I don't know how longer I can––" she tried to say.

However, before she could finish her sentence, both Izzy and Knuckles were dragged away from her magical aura by Zoom and Thunder, while Sonic barely dodged Queen Haven, who tried to grab him as well.

And yet, his eyes widened when he saw Izzy and Knuckles being held by Zoom and Thunder. "KNUCKLES! IZZY! NO!" Sonic shouted in panic and fear.

Meanwhile, Izzy was blasting her horn over Zoom, while her body was getting slowly infected by the Metal Virus, although it made her laugh for some reason. "Hahaha! It tickles!" she said cheerfully.

On the other hand, Knuckles was punching constantly Thunder's face to make him let him go, but the pegasus' face always regenerated, and worse of all, Knuckles saw his hands and saw that the virus was spreading through his body as well, which concerned him. "Oh merde!" he said in french with a frown.

So, he turned and saw Sonic and Sunny, both looking at him and Izzy getting infected by the Virus with wide eyes.

"Hedgehog! Starscout!" Knuckles called out. "You two better get that cure working, or I'll infect you two next!" he mocked up with a smirk, while Sonic and Sunny felt their hearts skipping a beat in panic.

After that, Knuckles ripped off Thunder's wings and jumped off him, ripping one of Zoom's wings as well, while the three ponies and the echidna fell from the sky and got lost on the clouds. Izzy and Knuckles were screaming in fear at first, but with the infection getting completed, their screams turned into enraged ones.

Now, Izzy and Knuckles were Zombots as well, and neither Sunny or Sonic could do anything about it.

Soon, the rest gathered with them and looked at them in concern. "Guys? What happened?" Zipp asked concerned.

"Where's Knuckles? And Izzy?" Tails asked as well.

However, just by the anxious looks and low ears from Sonic and Sunny, the rest could tell already what happened, and their ears lowered as well, while Pipp covered her mouth with her hooves.

"... This just getting worse and worse..." Sunny muttered anxiously. "Shadow, Rouge, Hitch, Sparky, Amy... Now Izzy and Knuckles too..." she listed out with concern.

"And everypony in Zephyr Heights and Maretime Bay..." Misty said as well. "This is the worst nightmare ever..." she muttered with concern.

"Is worse than a nightmare..." Sonic said, while he still stared in the direction where Izzy and Knuckles fell along Zoom and Thunder. "This is real... Is damn nightmare turned into a reality... When you think it can't get worse, it gets worse..." he pointed out.

"Couldn't had said it myself better!" A mixed voice between a male and a female spoke.

Everyone else looked around confused, but Sonic's eyes widened in panic, because he could recognize that voice anywhere. After all, it's been haunting him for months now.

And so, with no previous warning, something dragged Sonic away from Sunny's aura and pushed him down towards the ground, quickly getting lost in the clouds, while the figure left a red and glitchy aura behind.

"SONIC!" all his friends shouted in panic, and Pipp immediately dived towards him, not giving a damn if whatever took him away was a Zombot or not.

"Pipp! Wait!" Zipp exclaimed in panic, diving towards her sister, while Sunny followed immediately, with tails making sure he was holding Misty tightly and then dive towards his friends and girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Sonic was still getting pushed towards the ground.

At first, he couldn't see what was dragging him, but when he opened his eyes, they widened, because he saw that Cyber Sonic was pushing him towards the floor with a frown.

"Y-You..." Sonic muttered with panic, while his breath started to increase.

"Me!" Cyber Sonic replied, followed by him punching Sonic in the face and sending him towards the floor, as Sonic crashed against some tree branches and bushes, before rolling on the floor and stop doing so painfully.

https://youtu.be/PsKnb0xqH18

However, before he could get up and shake his head, the entire environment around him changed, and now, he was in some kind of infinite black void.

Concerned, Sonic stood up and looked around with panic, as his breath was starting to calm down a bit... And then, a light illuminated over another place: It showed Sonic himself, for some reason, but he was trapped on a Cyber Cage, like the ones were his friends were trapped in the Starfall Islands.

Languished in silence
A cell beyond time
Thought I was alone but I saw your mind

Sonic was used to songs starting out of nowhere, but he didn't expected to hear a villain like The End singing.

However, when The End sang that last part, the entire environment changed again. Now, they were on some kind of astral plane where Sonic's memories started to replay. Stuff like Perfect Chaos being defeated, Shadow and him going super, defeating Metal Overlord, Dark Gaia, the Deadly Six, and even Infinite where shown.

The key to my freedom
The unwitting aid
With every selfish choice
You broke the seal

As The End sang this, the images switched and showed each time Sonic free'd one of his friends from Cyberspace: Sunny, Knuckles, Tails, Zipp, everyone, while the Cyber energy of the cages entered his body.

No longer contained
You are the key
You've conquered gods and machines

Now, The End showed himself with Sonic's form, covering his face with his hands, before singing out loud with a smirk, as his eyes turned red, and his whole body went back to be Cyber Sonic's form.

At the same time, Sonic stepped back nervously, but then, holographic figures of Perfect Chaos, Dark Gaia, the Death Egg Titan and Giganto appeared around him, which only startled him even more.

Now you've set me free
It's armageddon
Do you know my name

At this part of the song, Sonic covered his ears and eyes, trying to avoid what was coming, but with the last verse, Cyber Sonic appeared right in front of Sonic.

You stand against the end of all things
In space and time
You tore down the walls of the prison
Without care for what's inside

With this being sang, Cyber Sonic showed Sonic the images of him freeing his friends from Cyberspace, while his Cyber Corruption got worse and worse with every free'd friend.

An inescapable force
I cannot be denied
Like the countless before you consumed
I'll leave nothing behind

Then, Sonic was transported to space, where he could see Equis, and with the last verse being sang again, Cyber Sonic appeared like a giant and crushed Equis with his hand.

This made Sonic panic, but before he could do or say anything, he was falling towards the ground again, as he screamed in fear before falling face-first to the ground, while the environment changed again to show Chaos Island this time around, with Sonic laying over a floating platform.

The Blue Blur slowly stood up and shook his head, but when he realized where he was standing, he panicked. And then, Cyber Sonic appeared right behind him, which made Sonic turn around in panic.

You've served you purpose
Done your service
Now it's time to meet your end

With that last sentence, Cyber Sonic pushed Sonic off the edge, and the hedgehog screamed in fear as he traversed several platforms floating in Chaos Island, until he crashed in the ground.

Now, Sonic was kneeling in the ground, while Cyber Sonic appeared in front of him while floating.

Bow down to order like before
Your futile effort to defend

As Cyber Sonic sang, the sky suddenly turned red, and many of the defensive mechanisms of Chaos Island started to shoot to the sky, and Sonic knew perfectly why they were doing so.

Erase the teeming chaos
The endless noise
The mote of golden light snuffed out
And your existence destroyed
So why can't you see

With this whole verse being sang, Sonic witnessed in the distance the death of the Owls and Hedgehogs defending the island again, as well as Knave's.

Sonic tried to move to them, but then, The End shot against the defenses, as well as against Knave, killing them all in the process.

You stand against the end of all things
In space and time
You tore down the walls of the prison
Without care for what's inside

This time around, Sonic was witnessing all the times he entered back at Cyberspace and got more and more infected with Cyber Energy. He was also seeing all those times he escaped the virtual reality and remembered nothing for a few seconds or even minutes, until his mind regained the memories again.

An inescapeable force
I cannot be denied
Like the countless before you consumed
I'll leave nothing behind

Cyber Sonic started to float around Sonic, tormenting the Blue Blur and singing loudly, while Sonic grabbed his head and tried to cover his ears, closing his eyes hardly and begging silently that this will be over... But it wasn't.

Come on

Instead, The End/Cyber Sonic started to torture Sonic with countless replies on all the living nightmares his friends lived while being trapped in Cyber Space, and now Sonic understood perfectly why Knuckles and Izzy hated to be in their Cyber Cages so much.

Sunny's nightmare was ending alone, and actually turning into somepony with the same morals than Eggman; while Hitch's nightmare was to be untrusted and unliked as a Sheriff, failing his duty to protect.

Knuckles and Izzy's nightmares were being all alone in an empty void of darkness; Tails' nightmare was not being strong enough to protect those he cares for; Zipp's nightmare was to fail as a Queen for Zephyr Heights; and Pipp's nightmare was to be unloved by everyone, friends and family included.

Then, The End showed Sonic all the planets he has destroyed across the cosmos, included the Ancients' one, and Sonic was reaching his braking point... Months of torture were finally paying the bill, but now, he literally needed it to stop.

Strike this body down with all your might
This changes nothing
You can burn your soul away

The scenario suddenly changed again, once again being entirely black, and now, only Sonic and his corrupted self/The End remained, floating in this void of emptiness.

However, Cyber Sonic had his eyes closed, but when he sang that last sentence, he opened them again, just to show that they were purple instead of white now, and then, Cyber Sonic transformed again into The End's final form: A giant purple snake with a dragon head, three glowing pink scales on his forehead and three more on his parietal bone, as well as twelve long pink tails on his head that worked like his hair.

You stand against the end of all things
In space and time
You tore down the walls of the prison
Without care for what's inside

This time around, The End was showing Sonic the whole fight that happened on space.

Super Sonic and Supreme, piloted by Sage, were fighting with everything they had against The End. Soon, Supreme lost one of his arms, and then, The End was trying to wipe out Sonic from existence, if Supreme didn't came back to lend a hand and protect Sonic against the attack.

An inescapable force
I cannot be denied
Like the countless before you consumed
I'll leave nothing behind

With this, Supreme grabbed Sonic and launched him against The End, literally passing through The End's face to destroy his tail and coming out of that zone.

But what happened next was a memory that Sonic hoped not to see ever again: The End was about to explode, and in an attempt to save everyone else, Sage launched with Supreme against The End, avoiding the destruction of Equis in the process.

"NO!" the real Sonic said with concern, but the explosion actually sent him backwards, as he finally got away from that weird-ass reality where he was launched into when The End was singing.

Sonic fell on his back, then sat down on the floor and shook his head, but when he opened his eyes, they widened again in pure terror, because Cyber Sonic was right in front of him again.

"I warned you, mortal..." Cyber Sonic spoke, as he walked towards Sonic, while Sonic tried to stay away from him. "I am inevitable... I cannot be denied..." he reminded him.

"N-No... S-Shut up..." Sonic muttered, as he finally was laying over a tree, while he held tightly to it, while with his other hand he grabbed his chest.

"You are not brave, you are not victorious..." Cyber Sonic spoke.

"Shut up!" Sonic screamed in fear, panic and rage, all the emotions mixed together.

"No matter what form I take... The End comes for you all" Cyber Sonic finished.

"SHUT UP!" Sonic screamed, and now, he was tearing up, while his breath increased, and he closed his eyes in despair, afraid that The End would still be there when he opened his eyes again.

Soon, all he could hear was his own heart beating at full speed, while his breath got worse, and he was grabbing the specific part of his chest where his heart is located.

Not so far from him, his friends were looking for him.

"Sonic!" Tails called out first, as he tried to locate him with his googles.

"Blue Star!" Pipp called out with concern.

"Sonic!" Zipp called out next, as she tried to look for any signs of him from the sky.

"Sonic?" Misty shouted as well.

"Guys!" Sunny's voice called out suddenly, and everyone turned to her. "I found him!" she said.

Everyone else immediately rushed towards Sunny, and they all saw Sonic, laying over a tree, grabbing his chest and holding to the tree tightly, while his breath was increasing with every second.

"Sonic!" Pipp said, as she immediately flew towards him, and everyone else just followed her.

Once they were close to Sonic, they realized how hardly he was breathing, and he was closing his eyes so tightly that he refused to open them again.

"Sonic?" Pipp called him out, but Sonic refused to open his eyes, even when she placed a hoof on her chest and tried to shake him off. "Sonic, what's wrong?!" she asked.

However, Sonic only heard muffled sounds beyond his heartbeat, and as far as he knew, whoever was talking to him could be The End pretending to be Pipp and trying to torture him even more.

"W-What's gotten into him?" Misty asked concerned for him.

"He... He's having a..." Tails tried to say, but he could barely believe what he was going to say...

"A panic attack..." both Sunny and Tails said in unison.

"What?!" Pipp asked in concern. "What do you mean my Blue Star's having a panic attack?!" she asked them confused and worried.

"Pipp, something's been bothering Sonic for a long time, and you know it!" Tails pointed out. "He has been acting strange ever since we came back from the Starfall Islands. He stares at random places like if he's seeing a ghost, he mumbles things no one understands when he never mumbles, and he even has woke up in the night from nightmares!" he explained. "I didn't wanted to interfere because I thought he would say something eventually... But it seems that I was wrong..." he pointed out with anger to himself.

"But how do we calm him down?!" Sunny asked concerned, since Sonic's breath was increasing with every passing second.

Pipp looked around concerned, then back at Sonic... But then, she had an idea.

So, the younger pegasus went to Sonic's left side and slowly rested her head on his chest, like if she was some kind of puppy in need of attention.

Sonic's breath was still heavy, but as he physically felt the soft touch of Pipp's head on his chest, his breath started to slow down. He even lifted his trembling hand from his chest and slowly approached it to Pipp's mane. Despite having gloves, he could still feel her soft mane touching his hand, and his breath finally came back to normal.

He couldn't hear his own heartbeat anymore, since it went back to normal as well, and Sonic slowly opened his eyes, looking at the night sky over the trees.

Then, he lowered his sight and found his friends looking at him with concern, although they still smiled at him, while Pipp was resting her face on his chest and even caressing him a bit with her hooves, having her eyes closed for a second, at least until she felt Sonic's breath being normal, so she opened them and smiled lovingly at her boyfriend.

Sonic smiled back and caressed her mane a bit more, before letting out a content sigh. "... Thank you, Pipp..." he told her, finally feeling like he could put his thoughts together.

Pipp slowly lifted her face and nuzzled it against Sonic's neck, while Sonic chuckled a bit since it tickled him a bit.

"Sonic..." Sunny called out. "We, um... We know that something's been bothering you for a while..." she confessed.

"But we thought that you wanted to tell us when you were ready" Zipp added with concern.

"So, if you don't mind us asking... What's going on?" Misty added with worry as well.

Sonic let out a heavy sigh, before looking up at the sky. "... Ever since The End got control over my body, I... I have been living in a nightmare..." he started to explain.

"A nightmare?" Tails asked confused.

"The End... Cyber Sonic... He always appears randomly at random places..." Sonic kept explaining, letting out another heavy sigh. "He's been haunting me wherever we go ever since... Ever since we left the Starfall Islands..." he confessed.

"... Six months...?" Pipp asked with concern, and even if a part of her wanted to scream at him in rage, she decided to remain calm and not explode at him. Not yet, at least. "Why... Why didn't you told us anything?" she asked him calmly.

Sonic chuckled, although he was not finding any of this funny. "Well... I always had the idea that I shouldn't show when I'm afraid of something, so... My dead-ass mind told me that the best was to stay quiet about it..." he replied with a broken tone, wiping some tears that dared to escape. "I'm supposed to be the one that finds the solution when things get bad, not be a scared kitten that wants to run away and hide... But I haven't felt like myself the past months..." he confessed.

"Sonic, keeping this to yourself clearly didn't helped..." Sunny said with a concerned frown.

"Why did you choose to keep this as a secret instead of asking for our help?!" Tails asked, concerned and angered with Sonic.

"The first few times I saw Cyber Sonic, he popped up out of nowhere randomly every few weeks..." Sonic explained, as he played with his fingers. "I guess... I just... A part of me hoped that I was just hallucinating, and that it'll eventually stop... But it just got worse after Bridlewoodstock..." he confessed. "He appeared on everything, to the point I couldn't even look at my own reflection... I... I was scared, and I guess I was... Worried on how everyone would act if I admitted that... That I'm afraid... Afraid of ever turning into him again..." he finished explaining.

"Oh, Blue Star..." Pipp said with concern, as she hugged him tightly and nuzzled on his neck, while Sonic limited to wrap and arm around the pegasus.

"Worse of all, I... I had weird thoughts that I never dig to much into..." Sonic confessed. "Thoughts about... killing... Conquering... Burn it all... I started having these kind of thoughts after Longclaw died, but when The End took over my body... Those thoughts intensified..." he added.

For the next couple of minutes, no one said anything. After Sonic finally confessed why he was acting so weird, and why he choose to stay quiet, it was kind of understandable. Now, Sunny was still upset that he choose to stay quiet when he's one of her friends that insisted in the idea of her asking for help when she was traumatized because of the Death Egg Titan.

Yet, she could also see why he choose to keep it as a secret, because if she ever was forced to watch how a powerful entity uses her own body against her friends, she could never not be afraid of actually do it on purpose.

Pipp had a lot of things to say, but she didn't wanted to push him. After all, he's been through enough already by hallucinating with Cyber Sonic for months, so she'll keep her words quiet for now. As for Tails, he felt a bit guilty for not interfering before, and for not show some support to Sonic when he definitely needed it.

"... Sonic..." Pipp called out after a while, as she separated from the hug. "I'm... I'm upset because you didn't say anything, don't think I'm not... But I can understand why you are so afraid of actually becoming that 'Cyber Sonic' thing..." she explained.

"Yet, that's no excuse to stay quiet for so long..." Sunny said next with a slight frown. "I remember you said something about promising to not keep secrets from us. I understand why you did it anyways, but I wished you looked for any of us and told us about it!" she pointed out with concern.

"And you shouldn't be afraid of becoming Cyber Sonic... Because you never became him, remember?" Tails pointed out to him with a little smile. "The End controlled your body while your mind was trapped in Cyber Space. None of what he did with your body was you, and you didn't hurt us. The End did" he reminded.

"I can get behind the fear of turning into something you aren't..." Misty said with a little smile. "Before meeting you all, I was always scared that I was actually as evil as Opaline always I said I was... It wasn't who I am, and thanks to you all, I'm happy to say that I could never be like Opaline, or like Eggman... Because I got you and everypony else at my side" she pointed out.

"We're not saying that you shouldn't feel afraid. We're just saying that if you ever do, never doubt of talking about it with us" Zipp pointed out with a smile. "We're friends, man! And we help each other with anything, even if it might look silly for everyone else" she added.

"Because if it matters to you, it matters to us" Pipp added with a smile, as she kissed Sonic's cheek lovely. "Never doubt on telling us how you feel, Blue Star..." she finished, as she caressed Sonic's cheeks tenderly.

Sonic couldn't help but smile at his friends words, and he let out a long sigh. "... I'm gonna be honest: I can't promise that I won't do this ever again. Trust me, I know it because I'm stubborn like a mule..." he explained with a deadpan.

"More stubborn than a mule..." Tails deadpanned.

"But I do promise that I'll try to be better" Sonic assured with a smile. "I'm still kind of concerned about The End, specially because his presence has been even more noticeable lately..." he pointed out with concern.

Then, he saw in a certain direction, and his eyes widened, because Cyber Sonic was right there again.

Pipp seemed to immediately notice this, so she got in the middle and made her boyfriend look at her. "Sonic, listen carefully: If you are looking at him, remember that you are not him, and you'll never be" she reminded.

"She lies" Cyber Sonic spoke, as he suddenly appeared behind Pipp, but apparently only Sonic could see him.

"He used your body against us, just like Tails explained, but nothing he did was your will" Pipp kept talking.

"It was, and you know it" Cyber Sonic countered.

"But most importantly? Know that if you ever fell in a similar situation, you will never be a monster... Because being mind controlled means that you're doing stuff you wouldn't usually do against your will, not because you want to do it" Pipp stated with a determinate look. "So, if you see him and he tries to convince you that you are a monster... Sent him to hell!" she declared confidently.

Sonic's eyes widened after hearing that last thing, but he still smiled warmly at her.

And this last action seemed to be enough, because Cyber Sonic disappeared again, leaving Sonic alone one more time, which made Sonic sigh in relief and smile even more at his girlfriend.

"Thanks, Little Pipp..." Sonic thanked her again. "I'll try to keep it in mind!" he added with a wink.

"Anytime, Blue Star" Pipp smiled.

"As for your intrusive thoughts––" Sunny was going to add, but Sonic raised a hand and made her stop.

"I already have something to deal with that" Sonic replied with a smile. "I just look back at everything I did and accomplished without doing any of the stuff I thought about, and they go away in a flash..." he explained, and Sunny sighed in relief with a smile.

"Seriously, though, please don't just stay quiet about this kind of stuff. It's starting to get annoying!" Tails begged, at first with a bored expression, and then with a frown.

"Again, I don't promise anything!" Sonic mocked up with a smirk, and Tails rolled his eyes annoyed.

However, they all heard some bushes moving not so far from them, and so, they all stood up quickly in fighting positions, with Sonic and Tails turning on their powers, Sunny and Misty lightening up their horns, and Zipp, Pipp and Sunny opening their wings defensively.

The bushes kept moving, and they were all ready to fight against more Zombots... And yet, what came out of the bushes were Omega and Metal Sonic who finally stopped in front of the now much smaller group.

"Oh, is just Omega and Metal..." Zipp pointed out with a raised eyebrow, while everyone stopped being so defensive.

"We finally found you!" Metal Sonic said, mixing voice clips of Zipp and Tails.

"We lost the Zombots, but we can't say for sure how long they'll leave us alone" Omega pointed out. "We have to keep moving" he explained.

"But before that: Where's Knuckles and Izzy?" Metal Sonic asked.

Sonic let out a sigh after remembering what happened with them. "... We were ambushed in the sky... Knuckles and Izzy got infected..." he replied with concern.

To this, Metal Sonic closed his eyes and lowered his head, while Omega growled and shot at a tree with his weapons just to let go of his frustration.

"... We better keep moving if we want them back, then..." Omega declared, before he turned to Misty. "Little unicorn. You know how to get out of here?" he asked her.

"Y-Yeah..." Misty replied, shaking her head and focusing again. "I used to run through here when I didn't wanted to be spotted when Opaline or Eggman sent me to spy on you, guys. Follow me!" she declared, as she ran into one direction.

With this, everyone else followed her, but when Sonic was going to, he stopped and looked at Cyber Sonic over his shoulder, since he appeared again.

"You can't run forever, Hedgehog..." Cyber Sonic said with anger, before slowly pointing a finger at him. "I will haunt you forever, until your mind collapses and can't take my presence anymore..." he declared.

"Yeah, uh-huh. Come back when I give a damn, Faker" Sonic said coldly with a bored expression. "You're not worth my time, and you know it!" he declared with a confident smirk, before boosting away to follow his friends.

Cyber Sonic's eyes widened after hearing this, and he growled in rage.

Misty got her friends and the robots out of the forest in no time.

As they did so, they could see Maretime Bay in the distance, which meant that they were closer to their home, as well as closer to make a cure.

"Okay..." Sunny said, panting heavily along the rest of the mares and Tails, while Sonic looked ahead with concern. "We just have to approach Tails' workshop, and everything else should be fine! Right?!" she asked with a twitchy eye.

However, both Omega's and Metal Sonic's systems made loud beep sounds, indicating that something was approaching. That wouldn't be bad... If it wasn't because of the fact that the thing approaching, was doing it at super sonic speed, and if Sonic was not infected, then that could only mean one thing...

"Crap!" Metal Sonic shouted, as he and Omega turned around and saw a blur coming towards them at fast paste. "Guys... You're not gonna like this Zombot..." he warned with a frown.

"What?!" Zipp said with wide eyes. "Another Zombot is coming?!" she asked in panic.

"Affirmative" Omega replied with concern and anger. "But this one is... fast. Very fast..." he pointed out.

"Fast?" Sonic asked confused, before his eyes widened in realization. "Oh no..." he muttered with concern.

"What? What's the matter?! What do you mean with oh no?!" Pipp asked in panic and concern.

However, her answer arrived sooner than she might have expected, because the blur was getting closer and closer, until the figure stopped not so far from the group, jumped in the air, and then tried to kick Sunny, if it wasn't because of Omega, who got in the middle and worked like a shield for her, before pushing the zombot back.

The Zombot slid a bit in the ground and stopped, soon revealing himself as Shadow, who's body was pink and metallic now, his wrists and ankles got spikes, and his fingers grew to look like claws. His sclera was red now, and his pupils were yellow, while all his teeth sharpened, and the now Zombot roared in rage, charging against the group while impulsing with his air shoes.

"Shadow?!" both Sunny and Sonic said in panic, while the Zombot roared in rage and aimed at them.

This time, however, Metal Sonic was the one who interfered, and he pushed Zombot Shadow back, but Shadow slid and quickly impulsed back, which made Metal impulse as well, as the two of them weaved their fingers and started to push against the other.

At least, it was like that for a while, because Omega soon arrived and helped Metal by using his own rockets, pushing Zombot Shadow away, with Metal Sonic grabbing the Zombot from his neck and then smashing him against the ground.

With this, Omega turned to see the rest. "We'll keep him busy. You go back to the normal horse town and finish that cure!" he instructed, before boosting away towards Metal and Shadow.

Sunny made her Alicorn magic appear again and tried to follow him, but Tails grabbed her from her tail and stopped her.

"Where do you think are you going?!" Tails asked her with a concerned frown.

"To help them?!" Sunny pointed out, but before she could explain any further, Sonic made her turn to him.

"Are you nuts, woman?!" Sonic shouted with wide eyes and panic. "Sunny, you saw how Hitch, Sparky, Izzy and Knuckles got infected with the virus! You won't be helping anyone, you'll just get infected yourself!" he pointed out.

"But I can't just stand here and do nothing anymore!" Sunny pointed out. "I can't let any more friends get infected with that thing!" she stated in anger.

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but we can't do anything right now" Sonic pointed out. "We are exposed, and until we get to Tails' workshop and finish that cure. Until then... We're gonna have to keep going..." he added, now looking down at the ground sadly, and then looking at the rest. "... Even if that means that we have to leave some of us behind, no matter how much we hate to do it..." he finished.

"So that's it?! We just let all the infected ones behind and then try to finish a cure we don't know for sure that's gonna work?!" Sunny shouted in rage.

"Sunny..." Pipp called out. "We all hate the idea, but... Sonic's right. We can't do much being exposed, and our best chance is to use Eggman's sample of the cure..." she pointed out with sadness and concern.

"But it's not fair!" Sunny pointed out, stomping her hooves in the floor. "All the infected ones did nothing to deserve that! Shouldn't we at least try to take them out without a cure?!" she asked desperately.

"We won't help anyone if we stay here discussing it instead of finishing the cure like Omega told us to!" Zipp pointed out with w frown.

"I don't give a damn about that sample! It's not fair for them to be like this!" Sunny shouted completely enraged.

"WELL, THAT'S HOW LIFE WORKS, SUNNY!" Tails snapped. "Sometimes it's fair, and sometimes it isn't. Right now, we're on a situation were we don't have a choice. We can't help them now, Sunny. And discussing it and screaming at each other won't solve anything, either!" he pointed out with a frown. "So stop complaining and crying about what's fair or not, and––" he tried to add.

However, he had to ignore Sunny's frown and glare at him, because he barely saw that behind Sunny, a different Zombot was approaching, and this one blasted her magic against the group.

"MOVE!" Tails shouted, as he grabbed Sunny and moved her out of the way, while everyone else just moved as well by reflex because of Tails doing so.

The group all stood up and looked at the new Zombot that just arrived: Izzy, who's skin was metallic purple now, her hair was metallic black, she had no Cutie Mark anymore, her sclera was red, her pupils were yellow, and her teeth where sharp. Also, her bracelet on her hoof was replaced with spikes, and her horn lightened up with lightning around it.

"Okay, first of all: I'm sorry, everyone" Sunny apologized. "I'm just... so stressed over this whole Metal Virus thing that I needed to let my frustration out somehow!" she pointed out with concern, as she blasted a laser beam against Izzy, making the unicorn mare stop for a second, because all her hooves were turned into a metallic puddle.

"Well, it's understandable... We're all stressed with this whole thing!" Misty pointed out with concern.

"I want to apologize too, Sunny. I shouldn't had snapped at you like that!" Tails apologized as well.

"It's okay, Tails! I deserved it..." Sunny replied a bit ashamed.

Suddenly, however, the ground started to rumble and so, everyone moved even more back, because from the ground came Knuckles, turned into a Zombot as well.

His skin was now metallic red, his quills and wrists had spikes, his sclera was red and his pupils were yellow. Of course, that was a big problem already... But it was even worse, because he also had still his electrical powers, and thanks to the Metal Virus, they were expanded.

"Okay, what the actual hell?" Sonic said with a frown, because zombot Knuckles punched his fists together, turning his electrical powers on.

"Well, I'm glad you two have made amends..." Pipp told Sunny and Tails. "But we have a bigger problem to deal with right here!" she pointed at Knuckles with concern, while the echidna smirked sinisterly at the group.

"Um, how are we suppose to fight back if he chooses to attack?!" Zipp asked with concern, but just then, Izzy's hooves regenerated, and she started to move towards the group again. "If they choose to attack?!" Zipp corrected herself.

"We can't touch them or we'll turn into Zombots!" Misty pointed out with wide and panicked eyes. "What do we do?!" she asked in concern.

"We'll have to improvise!" Sonic said with a frown. "Misty, Zipp, Pipp. You three go deal with Izzy. Fly around and distract her, maybe Misty even can use her magic to keep her away for a while!" he pointed out.

"Gotcha!" Zipp said, as Pipp and Misty nodded in agreement, while the three mares went towards Izzy.

"Sunny, Tails. You two and I will deal with Knuckles..." Sonic declared. "We can't punch him directly, but since Tails can use his weapons, maybe I can use the energy of the watch" he pointed out again.

"So we have a plan?" Sunny asked with a smirk.

"Half of one, actually... But it's better than nothing!" Tails pointed out with a half smirk.

And so, the three of them launched to fight with Knuckles, while the Zombot shouted in rage and jumped towards them as well with a raised arm.

Meanwhile, Omega and Metal Sonic were busy dealing with Zombot Shadow. The infected hedgehog was stubborn and kept insisting on running away from the pair of robots to infect everyone else with the virus as well, but thanks to Metal Sonic being as fast as Sonic, Shadow couldn't ever accomplish that plan.

So, Shadow decided that he would fight off Metal and Omega until he could finally infect the rest. Shadow boosted against Metal Sonic and tried to punch him, but Metal dodged the punch and launched the hedgehog against Omega.

The Ultimate E-100 Robot caught Shadow with an arm and smashed him against the ground, holding him still with the same arm, while he used the other one and started to punch him on the face several times, in hopes of eventually knock him off, or at least stun him.

However, Shadow stopped the attack with an arm and pushed Omega backwards, before charging up an Spindash and attack the robot several times, but before he could aim a punch, Metal Sonic grabbed him from behind and made a fight key with him.

Of course, Shadow felt enraged by this, so he quickly teleported away, grabbed Metal from one foot and twirled him around, before launching him towards Omega, making both robots be sent backwards.

Shadow smirked satisfied with this result, then he turned to see that Sonic was fighting alongside Tails and Sunny against Knuckles, and he smirked sinisterly, because he had planned to infect Sonic next... A plan that failed once Metal Sonic came and turn him around, before starting to beat the crap out of him with his bare fists.

Of course, Shadow tried to fight back, but all he could do was groan in pain whenever Metal hit either his chest or his nose, he could not respond back.

And then, Metal Sonic gave a really good use to his claws, because he used the left one to rip Shadow's right arm entirely from his body, making the Zombot groan in pain, as he grabbed the place where the arm used to be, while Metal boosted back and showed Shadow's arm to Shadow himself.

"Want to get it back, champ?" Metal mocked up, before he launched the arm to Omega, who caught the arm and turned around.

"Then come and get it!" Omega said, before he boosted away, while Shadow growled in rage and turned on his air shoes, boosting to the max behind Omega.

Meanwhile, Zombot Izzy was trying to hit with her magic at Zipp, Pipp and Misty, in hopes that she could infect any of them in the process.

However, and just like Sonic told them to do so, the pegasi sisters were constantly flying over Izzy like a pair of flies that wanted to bother her, while Misty constantly levitated her and let her go to let her turn into a puddle of metallic liquid, but of course, everytime this last thing happened, the four mares were careful to not get infected with it.

On the other hand, we had Tails using several weapons from his arsenal, while Sunny launched laser beams and used her magic to hit Knuckles and turn him into a metallic liquid puddle as well.

Sonic was being extremely careful, however, because even if Knuckles was just attacking without thinking, the echidna still had both super speed and super strength, which were amplified by the electrical powers he had. In fact, Knuckles smashed the ground in some occasions with his powers, and instead of braking the ground, he created giant metallic spikes that aimed to reach any of the three survivors fighting him.

"Well, this is definitely getting us nowhere!" Sonic complained with a frown. "We can't punch them, and our long-distance attacks are not doing much!" he pointed out with concern.

"But we can't touch them!" Zipp pointed out. "And if we keep loosing time dealing with them, we'll never get back to Maretime Bay to make the cure!" she added with concern.

"Seems like one of us is going to have to stay!" Sunny said with concern. "But I don't want that to happen! We already lost enough friend to the virus!" she added, as she launched another laser beam to Knuckles, separating hims from half of his body.

However, once Sunny said that last thing, Sonic stopped moving, and time a round him seemed to stop for a second.

He looked around at everything happening: His friends fighting with each other, because even if Izzy and Knuckles were Zombots, at the end of the day they were still his friends.

Then, he saw at the distance Omega and Shadow freeze'd as well, with Shadow missing one arm and chasing Omega, while the robot had Shadow's missing arm an boosted away from him, probably as an strategy to win more time and let the rest escape...

But Sonic knew that escaping wasn't going to save anyone. Like Sunny said, one of them had to stay behind and keep the three Zombots altogether busy, allowing everyone else to escape.

And, of course, Sonic knew what he had to do now... But before doing what he wanted to, he had a last talk with Cyber Sonic, who once again appeared in front of him. So, since he was kneeling in the floor, Sonic stood up and stared with a frown at Cyber Sonic, who frowned back at him.

"... Finally giving up?" Cyber Sonic asked with a mocking tone. "I shouldn't be surprised... After all you were always the weakest one of––" he tried to add.

"Shut up" Sonic said with a confident smile. "You have no power over me. You're free, true, but I'm not scared of you" he confessed, and Cyber Sonic's eyes widened. "Want to keep invading my mind? Go on. Wanna trick me with more creepy ideas? Be my guest! You'll just waste your time, and you know why?" he questioned, now getting at Cyber Sonic's face, while the entity stepped back. "Because we're not the same guy, and we never will" he finished with a confident smile.

The End/Cyber Sonic stared at Sonic in shock and disbelief... After months of haunting him, the Hedgehog now felt nothing by looking at him, and of course, that made his body slowly turn into dust.

Has he been real this whole time, or just an hallucination from Sonic? Only time will tell...

"... Well played... Mortal..." Cyber Sonic said in anger, narrowing his eyes as well, before finally disappearing.

Sonic smirked with confidence and nodded to himself, before snapping his fingers and make everything and everyone around him run at their normal speed again.

Followed by this... He grabbed Izzy from her tail and launched her away. Then, charged up an Spindash and launched it against Knuckles, pushing him backwards towards Izzy as well.

Soon, Omega and Metal Sonic were launched towards the group, while Zombot Shadow growled and placed his right arm back on his place, as the Metal Virus regenerated the arm. With this, Shadow grinned sinisterly and prepared to boost towards the group, if it wasn't because Sonic punched him away and made him land over Izzy and Knuckles.

With this, Sonic panted heavily and sighed...

"HEDGEHOG!" Metal Sonic called out with Knuckles voice, and he looked over his shoulder at his robotic copy. "ARE YOU NUTS?!" he asked.

"Why are you screaming like that?!" Pipp asked.

"... He touched the three Zombots..." Omega said, but something on his tone clearly said that he wasn't happy on saying this.

"The what now?!" Tails said, as he looked back at Sonic with wide eyes and a frown. "Sonic, please tell me you didn't––" he tried to beg, but the moment Sonic turned around, he stopped talking, and he started to feel incredibly anxious.

Sonic's hands were trembling and covered a bit by the metallic liquid, but soon, it started to spread, fully covering his hands, followed by his arms getting slowly covered in the virus as well, and then, it started to spread on his back, on his chest, and his feet, but of course, at a very slow paste.

Sunny felt as anxious as Tails now after seeing this. "No... No, no, no... Please no..." she begged.

"Darn it!" Zipp muttered, covering her face with a hoof to fight the tears that wanted to get out.

"N-No, no, no..." Misty begged as well, stepping a bit back.

"S-Sonic..." Pipp muttered with wide eyes, seeing hopelessly how her boyfriend slowly turned into a Zombot as well.

All the adventures he went through, all the obstacles he cleared, all the people he saved... Now, he was transforming into one of the many Zombots that Opaline controls, and she could do nothing to stop it...

"What the hell were you thinking, Sonic?!" Metal Sonic scolded, which was weird since he always wanted to defeat Sonic, but perhaps this isn't the way he pictured it would happen. "Any organic living being gets infected with the slightest touch!" he pointed out.

However, despite the fact that his hands were trembling at first, Sonic closed them into fists and smirked, looking back at the rest. "Eh, is not the first time I get possessed by weird stuff like this" he pointed out confidently. "But I know for a fact that I can slow down the process a bit, yet I'll become a Zombot eventually..." he explained.

"It would've been better if you didn't!" Tails shouted, although his tears were starting to show.

"Someone has to stay and distract those three..." Sonic said, looking over his shoulder at Izzy, Knuckles and Shadow, who were slowly standing up. "And I'm the only one fast enough to keep the three of them in one place before getting fully infected" he pointed out.

"But why do something this reckless?!" Sunny shouted, as her tears were already falling through her cheeks.

"B-Blue Star... W-We need you..." Pipp said, as she started to tear up as well. "I-I need you..." she muttered to herself.

Sonic felt bad for making Pipp cry, but he still smiled warmly at her, despite the effect of the virus already fully covering his legs and part of his chest.

"Pipp... I don't even know how to finish the damn cure Eggman made..." Sonic pointed out with a sad smile. "You guys don't need me. Which is why I will give us some time!" he declared confidently, before turning around and face to the three Zombots that already got up, but also showing to his friends that his back was already fully covered with the virus.

"Sonic... Don't you dare to––" Tails tried to warn, but...

"Tails, little bro..." Sonic interrupted him, looking over his shoulder at him with a smirk. "You have a mind so smart that sometimes it scares me to look back and notice how talented you truly are... I trusted that cure to you because I know you have what it takes to save us all. So don't stand there and save the day, man! Because this time around? I'm not the hero of the story..." he finished, before boosting away towards the Zombots.

"SONIC!!!" Pipp shouted desperately, while she tried to follow him along, but Zipp and Misty stopped her by grabbing her. "ZIPP, MISTY! LET ME GO!!!" she shouted, tears falling down her cheeks desperately.

"No!" Zipp said. "I won't loose you to that virus like we lost Mom!" she stated, holding her sister tightly.

Meanwhile, Sonic started to run at top speed around Izzy, Shadow and Knuckles, creating a massive tornado where the three Zombots got located in the middle of it, while they all looked around confused.

"GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!" Sonic shouted as he kept running, while the virus covered his chest, meaning only his face was left to get infected.

"NO! SONIC!" Pipp shouted desperately.

"Pipp, we have to go!" Misty pointed out. "There's nothing we can do for him now!" she added.

"Tails must finish the cure..." Sunny muttered, as tears fell down her cheeks as well, but she quickly tried to wipe them away. "W-We must keep going..." she stated, as she turned around with effort and then flew away towards Maretime Bay.

Tails noticed this, and he looked back at the tornado in the distance for a second, before sighing and let out a last and lonely tear. Then, he nodded confidently to himself and went to Misty, Zipp and Pipp.

"Girls, we gotta go!" Tails stated. "Equestria's fate is now on our hands. Let's get back to my workshop and finish this damn cure!" he instructed.

"B-But Sonic!" Pipp cried. "W-We can't just––"

"Pipp, Sonic is infected, and he'll soon be against us" Tails pointed out, as he got in front of the young pegasus. "I hate this idea as much as you do. Heck, maybe even more! Sonic's my best friend! My older brother! But... We can't do anything to help him right now..." he pointed out with concern. "We gotta go and finish the cure, or else he'll never come back to normal..." he added with a frown.

Pipp hated everything she was hearing. She didn't wanted to leave Sonic behind, she didn't wanted to run away and hope for a cure to work when there was no guarantee that it even was a stable cure.

However, she also knew that if anyone got infected, they had no salvation until Tails could finish the cure... And that unfortunately included Sonic, because like he said it himself: He can slow the process, but he'll eventually will turn into a Zombot as well.

So, with a hurtful expression and shattered heart, Pipp stopped trying to fly away from Misty and Zipp, and when the two mares let her go, she... She choose to fly towards Sonic anyways.

She couldn't save him, true... But if he was to fall as a Zombot here, then she'd rather fall with him.

"PIPP! WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" Zipp shouted desperately after Pipp boosted away, but before she could leave, Misty surrounded her with her magic, while she walked backwards. "MISTY! LET ME GO!" Zipp begged.

"... Sorry Zipp... But we already lost enough friends" Tails said coldly.

It hurt him to speak in that way to her girlfriend, specially considering that she just saw her own sister flying towards her boyfriend since she refused to leave him alone.

"TAILS, NO!" Zipp said, as she started to cry loudly, while desperately attempting to get free from Misty's magic, but failing miserably in the process.

"We gotta go!" Misty told Tails, and he nodded in agreement with a saddened expression.

So, Tails grabbed Misty bridal style, and the unicorn still had Zipp surrounded on her magic, so Tails flew in the air and boosted towards Maretime Bay as well, while Zipp sobbed even harder and lowered her head, devastated that she couldn't stop Pipp from flying away.

As for Metal Sonic and Omega? The y looked at each other concerned for a second, before nodding sadly and then leave as well, since they needed to protect the survivors and the cure.

Meanwhile, Sonic was still running and holding the tornado a bit more, but then, he finally stopped doing so, as he kneeled to the ground and panted heavily, while the Zombots behind him didn't moved, since they could see he was already in the process of turning into a zombot.

Suddenly, however, Sonic was wrapped in a pair of hooves, and he opened his eyes widely, because just by the touch he could tell who was hugging him... And he didn't liked it...

"P-Pipp?!" Sonic shouted in shock. "What are you––" he tried to ask, but Pipp broke the hug and covered his mouth with one of her hooves.

"I couldn't leave you alone, Blue Star... I simply couldn't" Pipp said with a warm smile, while the Metal Virus started to cover her body as well. "We're a team. And if you're gonna turn into a Zombot... The I'm happy to turn into one with you..." she added.

"But this is insane! Are you nuts or something?!" Sonic said with wide and panicked eyes.

"Well... Ponies do crazy things when they're in love" Pipp pointed out, playing a bit with her mane with a hoof. "And I really, really love you, Sonic..." she added with a slight blush, because even if they tell that to each other on a daily basis, she still felt butterflies on her stomach whenever she said it.

Sonic felt butterflies as well, and despite knowing that he was about to turn into a Zombot, he still moved Pipp by grabbing her from her chin and make her face at him.

"... I love you too, Pipp..." Sonic said with a smile.

Pipp smiled back, and so, they decided to share a kiss one last time, before their transformation to Zombots was completed.

Soon, the five Zombots walked ahead to a cliff, which got infected with the virus as well, and the zombots stared to Maretime Bay in the distance with frowns and growls.

Misty was leading the way as the group of 4 friends and two robots approached Maretime Bay.

Finally, after at least 3 or 4 hours from the Virus spreading, they were finally so close to their home, to Electronic Tails, and to finish the cure for the virus.

"Come on, guys. We're almost there!" Misty announced.

Soon, they took a turn around Mane Street, which should lead them towards the Sheriff Station and Electronic Tails... But what they found instead made them gasp: Yes, they found these two places, but they also found the whole street infested with Zombots everywhere.

It didn't mattered where they turned to, the place was infested of Zombots: Toots, Dahlia, Posey, Hitch, Sparky, Eggman... Even Rouge, Haven, and a Zombot Alphabittle were here as well.

"Seems like Opaline was busy redecorating..." Sunny muttered with concern, making her Alicorn form appear for what felt the millionth time in the last few hours.

"But we need to reach the workshop, or I won't be able to finish the cure!" Tails pointed out.

"Then stay close..." Metal Sonic said, as he and Omega stepped in front. "And whatever you do... Don't. Get. Infected." he added, looking over his shoulder at the group.

"With so many Zombots, is gonna be tricky..." Zipp pointed out. "But we gotta fight to the very end!" she declared.

The rest nodded in agreement, and so, Metal Sonic and Omega boosted towards the Zombots, punching them out of the way as they launched towards the group, while the ponies and the fox moved as fast as they could and approached to the workshop.

But just when they were about to reach the workshop, a massive blast of fire made them stop, and so, they all slammed the brake from going anywhere ahead.

They looked around and noticed that they were all surrounded by a massive fire barrier. Worse of all, Omega and Metal Sonic were nowhere to be seen, but there were no Zombots near by, either, so at least there was a good sign in whatever was going on.

However, they all heard a maniac laugh, and Misty's eyes widened in panic. "No, no, no, no..." she muttered in fear, stepping a bit back.

And so, Opaline landed in front of the three ponies and the Mobian with a loud stomp, while she showed off her ignited horn and wings, which made Zipp, Sunny and Tails frown in anger, while Misty gulped nervously.

"Well, well well... Took you long enough!" Opaline declared with a smirk.

"Aw, great... Queen Ursula is here..." Tails muttered annoyed with a frown.

"You'll refer to me as Queen Opaline Arcana, stupid fox!" Opaline snapped in anger, but Tails just rolled his eyes. "Now, hand me over the cure, and I'll make sure your transformations into Zombots is fast and not painful!" she declared with a sinister grin, also extending her hoof.

Tails snapped his tongue and snorted. "You want the cure?" he asked playfully, soon using his power to create a long, metallic stick that he twirled around and then stuck to the ground. "You'll have to go over me!" he declared.

Of course, this made Opaline burst out laughing, since she could not take Tails serious. "Oh, pluh-ease! A little weakling gremling like you could never––" she tried to mock up.

And yet, she soon found herself rubbing her nose with a hoof when Tails boosted in front of her and used the stick he created to hit her straight in her face, showing absolutely no mercy in the process, while also frowning up at the Alicorn.

Of course, this left the other three mares completely shocked and jaw-dropped, specially Misty, who even covered her mouth with her hooves. Yes, they all knew that when Tails got serious, he got serious, but they never expected him to go as far as punching Opaline on the face.

"Let me show you what this 'little weakling gremling' is capable of!" Tails said with anger, as he twirled his stick around, using it like a shield.

Opaline rubbed her nose a bit more, but when she retired it, she noticed that she had some blood on it, and her eyes widened in panic.

In all her years of living as an immortal Alicorn, nopony was ever capable of making her bleed. She's been punched, slapped, smacked, and even thrown against walls on her own throne, but none of that ever made her bleed... And yet, Tails just made one simple move with his stick, and made her bleed.

She was beyond furious now, and she slowly looked over at Tails. "... You... You little piece of CRAP!" she shouted in rage, before shooting a massive blast against Tails.

Of course, Tails boosted to the air, while Sunny used her magic to create a magic shield that protected her, Zipp and Misty from Opaline's attacks, while Tails landed back and looked at Opaline with rage.

"Hey, handsome!" Zipp called out to Tails. "Want a helping hoof?" she asked with a smirk.

"... I appreciate the offer, My Princess..." Tails replied without looking at them. "But I'll take it from here!" he declared, before taking out the cure's sample and launch it to Zipp, who caught it with her hooves. "Go finish the cure, Zipp! I know you're as capable as I am on finishing it!" he declared, before boosting towards Opaline with a warrior cry.

"Oh no, you w––" Opaline tried to say, but she was punched to the air by Tails and his stick, as the young fox boosted to the air to fight with the Fire Alicorn.

In the meantime, Sunny used her magic to dissipate the fire surrounding them, just to found herself surrounded by Zombots again. However, Omega and Metal Sonic soon came by and pushed the Zombots away from Electronic Tails, allowing the three mares to move on.

"Come on, girls!" Metal Sonic said. "You have the cure, finish it!" he instructed.

"We'll hold the Zombots as much as we can!" Omega added in agreement, as he recharged his munitions and then started to shot at the Zombots again.

"You two go!" Sunny told Zipp and Misty as she turned to them. "I may not be immune to the virus, but I can stay in the air and use my magic to keep them away from the workshop as well!" she stated.

"A-Are you sure?" Misty asked concerned. "We already lost a lot of friends, Sunny..." she pointed out.

"That's why you have to finish that cure!" Sunny said, as she pulled Misty and Zipp into a hug, which the two mares returned. "Just in case things go wrong..." she muttered. "Good luck, girls!" she told them with a smile, before blasting a bunch of Zombots away from Tails' workshop.

Seeing the path free, Zipp and Misty looked at each other, before nodding with confident looks and then get inside of the workshop.

With the cure safe, Metal Sonic, Omega and Sunny stood back to back, glaring at all the Zombots that approached them, before they all started to use everything they had to keep the Zombots away from the workshop, and therefore, from the cure.

So, Sunny flew to the air and created a magical barrier around her, before diving to the ground and then fly towards a bunch of Zombots, which she sent flying away as she blasted through them. Next, Omega fought several Zombots and launched them, taking the fact that he's bigger than all of them as an advantage.

Finally, Metal Sonic made a good use of his claws by ripping apart some extremities from the Zombots and launch them away, confusing them and making them to move away to recover their correct extremity.

However, Metal Sonic was soon pushed backwards, and he rolled a bit in the ground with a painful grunt. Soon, he shook his head and stood up, but when he saw who punched him, his eyes widened: The one who sent him away was Zombot Sonic, who looked at Metal Sonic with rage.

"Well... It all comes full circle..." Metal Sonic muttered, positioning to run towards Sonic and fight.

Zombot Sonic growled in rage and showed his sharp teeth, while he boosted against Metal Sonic, and the robot did the same, as the two of them raised their fists and punched the other one. Soon, Metal let go Sonic's fists and started to punch him in the face, but Sonic moved and hit Metal Sonic on his chest, sending him backwards.

Metal Sonic slid in the ground and dig his claws on the pavement, before boosting back with Sonic and hit him on the face, then dodge an attack and hit him on the back.

Now, instead of finish him off himself, Metal moved aside and let Sunny come in and blast her horn against Sonic, traversing entirely his chest. Then, Omega came by and hit him strong enough to sent him flying backwards, which made Sonic scream in rage as he crashed against a random store in the town.

"Sorry, Sonic. But until the cure is ready, I'm afraid we'll play on opposite bands..." Sunny said with concern.

However, Omega heard a warrior cry from a Zombot coming from the sky, and soon, he shoot at their wings and made them fall to the ground.

The Zombot in particular was Pipp, who rolled painfully in the ground, before quickly standing up, shake her head, and then growl in anger towards Sunny, Omega and Metal Sonic.

"Princess!" Metal Sonic called out. "I hope you and Misty are making progress with that cure, because your sister just arrived, and she looks mad that we wiped the floor with her Zombot boyfriend!" he pointed out, before he and Omega boosted towards her, while Sunny went to the sky again.

Inside the workshop, Zipp and Misty were grabbing some things.

"We're working on it!" Zipp shouted back, before she and Misty moved to the storage room of the workshop.

They gathered several items to use to finish the cure: A balance scale, a microscope, graduated cylinders, beakers, droppers, and erlenmeyer flasks with several chemical substances they were going to use to finish the cure.

"Okay... Safety first!" Zipp said, as she brought a couple of protective googles and gave one pair to Misty, who grabbed it and putted it on, with Zipp doing the same. "Okay. Hand me the microscope over. We gotta check what's this cure made of before we can finish it..." she explained.

Misty just nodded and gave her the microscope, while Zipp placed the cure's sample under the microscope and started to check on it.

Outside, the battle against Opaline and the Zombots continued.

In the skies, Opaline was launching blast of fire after blast of fire towards Tails, while the young fox used his stick to protect himself from the attack, but he also started to use other weapons, like boomerangs, bazookas, guns, and even a hook that he used at some point to pull Opaline closer, before creating a metallic glove and then punch her in the face with it.

Irritated, Opaline teleported behind Tails, but he activated the shield on his watch to protect himself, before deactivate it and then divide his stick into nunchucks, which he used to hit Opaline in her face again.

However, Tails didn't stopped there, because he used the nunchucks to hit her face for a good while, before he joined the nunchucks into the stick again and then started to fly at top speed around Opaline, hitting her on her weakest and exposed spots like if she was a piñata, until he hit her face once again.

The Fire Alicorn screamed in rage, and so, she blasted a very strong and powerful blast, while Tails used his stick as a shield, but he also activated the one from hi watch at some point, sweating nervously at Opaline's power.

Zipp finished analyzing the cure's sample, and so, she and Misty got to work.

"I gotta hand it to Eggman: Despite being a menace, he did made sure to make this sample work, 'cause I think it could definitely work" Zipp pointed out.

"But don't we need a subject to test it over?" Misty asked concerned.

"I gave a drop of the sample to Sunny, and she used it over Sonic while fighting him" Zipp explained with a smirk. "She says that the drop managed to dissipate the virus effect temporally, so the cure finished should save them all!" she pointed out.

"Let's finish this cure, then!" Misty stated confidently, while Zipp nodded in agreement.

Soon, Zipp mixed some ingredients on beaker, and she instructed Misty on how to do the same so she wouldn't mix up the ingredients. Since some of the substances had the same colors, Zipp decided to call them by number (Green 1, Green 2, Red 1, Red 2...) instead of their names so Misty wouldn't confuse them.

"I need Blue 2 and Pink 1, Misty!" Zipp said at some point, and Misty gave her the respective ingredients.

Then, as Misty was mixing some as well with droppers and a graduated cylinder, she gasped a bit concerned. "Zipp, give me Orange 3 and Yellow 4!" she requested.

"Got it!" Zipp said, as she gave Misty the substances.

After a few minutes, the two mares finished up their respective mixes. Then, they combined them on the beaker and then ducked down for cover, while a small explosion happened. With the explosion over, Zipp and Misty looked at the beaker's content, and then, Zipp dropped everything that remained of the cure's sample inside.

"Is it ready?" Misty asked.

"Almost..." Zipp replied, before she moved over towards a microwave, and Misty followed her.

Zipp placed the beaker with the cure inside the microwave, and then settled it for a minute and a half.

"Once the microwave has the cure over, we'll be able to destroy this Metal Virus" Zipp explained with a smile.

"So... we did it?!" Misty asked with a hopeful smile.

"If Tails, Sunny, Omega and Metal Sonic can keep Opaline and the Zombots busy while we finish this, then we're just a minute and 15 seconds away to save our home, Mist..." Zipp replied with a little and hopeful smile.

Outside, Tails was still fighting with Opaline.

The young fox fired several blasts from his guns against Opaline, but the Fire Alicorn burned the blasts down and aimed to Tails, who once again used a shield to protect himself from the Alicorn's attacks... But then, he heard Sunny growling as she used a magical shield to protect herself.

Zombot Amy, Hitch and Izzy were all stomping over her shield, trying to make her brake it and get infected with the virus as well, but Sunny was willing to fight back.

"Sunny!" Tails exclaimed with wide eyes and panic.

However, when Opaline noticed this, she smirked sinisterly, and then, she teleported behind Tails, before charging up her horn entirely with her magic... And then, she launched the attack towards him, blasting the poor fox against his own workshop, as he traversed the window and broke it, while he crashed on his back against his logo near the counter.

After that, Tails fell to the ground, while he groaned in pain and then kneeled, even scratching his head a bit. Then, he coughed some blood, and he even felt one of his eyes purple from the pain.

"TAILS!" Sunny screamed in fear, before she blasted the zombots trying to infect her away with her magic, and then, she flew towards Tails and his workshop.

Meanwhile, Opaline landed on the ground and laughed maniacally, seeing how Tails was crawling out of sight, but in her eyes, that was just a sign of weakness.

"You really thought you could stop me?! YOU WORTHLESS, WEAK LITTLE NOTHING!" Opaline shouted in rage. "COME OUT AND FIGHT! Or are you too scared?!" she mocked up with a sinister grin.

Tails hid behind the counter and groaned, while he held his left arm in pain and breathed heavily after the blast he received from Opaline. He also looked down at the floor in sadness, because he attacked Opaline several times on her face and she could still fight back, while one single blast from her weakened him and made him feel painful.

He did got strong if he didn't wanted to cry, true... But maybe Opaline is right. He is a worthless, weak and little nothing at the end of the day...

Since she got not response from Tails, Opaline cackled. "Just what I thought" she said confidently.

But then, Sunny arrived and blasted against Opaline, which made the older Alicorn scoff at first, and then growl in anger, as she blasted back at Sunny, while the younger Alicorn created a shield to protect herself from Opaline's attack.

"So you wanna fight, little pest?! THEN BRING IT ON, STARSCOUT!" Opaline shouted in rage, as she launched against Sunny.

Irritated, Sunny wrapped herself in some kind of yellow shield and aimed against Opaline.

The Fire Alicorn imitated this action and wrapped herself in a shield as dark as the night and pounced on Sunny. When both shields collided, they were pushed backwards; Opaline took the opportunity to turn off the shield and launch another powerful beam towards Sunny, which she quickly dodged.

Then, the younger Alicorn also turned off her shield and launched herself at Opaline, punching her in the face. The enraged Fire Alicorn used her front hooves to push Sunny to the ground, where she landed unharmed, but she moved in time to dodge another blast from Opaline.

The younger Alicorn then began to move nimbly through the air, as she dodged more of Opaline's attacks. She made sure she was on pony-free ground so the blasts didn't hit anyone, and she began to fly back towards the Fire Alicorn. She used her wings to protect herself from the last beam that Opaline was throwing at her, and when she unfolded them, she released a very powerful one herself that sent the Fire Alicorn to the ground.

However, Opaline went ahead and activated her shield, so that at the moment that Sunny stopped throwing the beam, she turned off the shield and launched another very powerful one towards the alicorn, which in response also launched one herself.

Both were almost equal in power, since the blasts of both Alicorns collided and did not move from their place. The two ponies did their part to get past the other, but both dodging and throwing blasts exhausted Sunny a bit, while Opaline, having more experience with magic, managed to push her blast and surpass the younger Alicorn's.

At the last second, before the blast hit her, Sunny made a very daring move and used a transportation spell that moved her right behind Opaline, and then, she shot a powerful laser blast and attacked her from behind. This action only angered the Fire Alicorn, who again tried to attack Sunny.

Meanwhile, inside the workshop, Tails was still hiding behind the counter, feeling weak and hopeless.

Soon enough, though, Zipp and Misty came out of the storage room, with Misty holding a big jar that had the finished cure, but as soon as the two mares saw Tails having some blood on his mouth, some cuts around his body, and a purple eye, they both gasped in shock.

"TAILS!" the two mares shouted in panic, and they rushed to him, with Misty placing the cure carefully in the ground.

"Are you okay?!" Misty asked panicked.

"Hey, honey, what happened?!" Zipp asked with concern and an anxious look.

Tails did nothing but sigh and weakly look at the two mares. "... I thought that I could stop her... That I could fix everything... But it doesn't matter how much I train, or how much I 'upgrade' myself... I'm still the same pathetic and scared kid that Sonic met when we were kids..." he explained with concern.

"What? What are you baffling about?!" Misty asked confused.

"I can't even keep a fight against Opaline without getting a hit and be weakened!" Tails said with a frown, also closing his hands in fists. "I... I don't feel like I really changed in the 6 months we spent away, girls... I still feel like I'm just a burden..." he confessed with concern.

"Tails, babe, I though we had this conversation already..." Zipp said concerned. "Of course you have grown! Or what, you're gonna let the words of a 10 budget mane style Alicorn like Opaline tell you how you truly are?" she added with a slight frown.

"Tails, I don't know why just one hit from Opaline was enough to bring your steam down, but I know for sure that anything she told you is a lie" Misty told him with a determinate look. "So what if you are scared? Isn't Sonic scared all the time? He still does what he does because he knows he's helping so many people, and he doesn't lets his fear win the best of him!" she pointed out with a smile.

"And you think you can't fix this? Man, Misty and I might had finished the cure, but if it wasn't for you and Sunny giving us time, we wouldn't had even done it!" Zipp pointed out with a smile as well. "And I'm not even mentioning things like when you helped out to fight the Death Egg Titan! O-Or how you went to look after me after my fight with Mom!" she added.

"Or how you always believed in me, and how you forgive me despite all the time I worked with Opaline and Eggman..." Misty added with a smile. "You're the reason why Zipp and I are here today! And we're grateful for that..."

"... I... I did all of that?" Tails asked slightly confused.

"And so much more stuff!" Zipp said. "Maybe we were not there, but the way Sonic talks about you with so much pride already tells in which position he has you, and I know for sure that he isn't wrong!" she stated.

"The cure is ready, but... We think you should be the one to spread it around!" Misty stated with a smile.

"... Are you girls sure...?" Tails asked, still having doubts about this. "I don't want to screw things up again..." he pointed out.

"Tails, I know for sure that you can do this!" Zipp stated once again.

"All you gotta do..." Misty followed.

"Is find your flame!" both mares said with smiles.

Tails' eyes widened after hearing this, and his mind flashed back to something...

"You just got to find the courage to put your fears and doubts aside!" Sonic said with a smile. "But the moment to show the world who you are won't arrive that easily" he pointed out.

"Why not?" Tails asked confused.

"Because you won't choose that moment, Tails" Sunny pointed out with a smile as well. "That moment will choose you" she added.

"And your moment to show everyone in Equestria that you are your own hero without me will come as well!" Sonic assured him. "You just gotta wait for it!" he stated confidently.

Tails finally understood it...

He was chasing his moment for so long, but it never arrived because of said reason... Because he went after it.

Now, Opaline was outside, fighting the pony he considers his sister, and he wouldn't allow her to get way with hurting her as well.

Because this was his moment.

"... Alright... Opaline wants to go nuts?" Tails asked with a frown, before he stood up, grabbed the jar with the finished cure, and then he adjusted his googles, now walking to the exit. "Let's get nuts!" he stated.

Zipp and Misty got up and looked at each other with smiles, before following Tails towards the exit.

The young fox kicked the door of the workshop, just to witness how Opaline was blasting a powerful fire blast against Sunny and growling in rage, while Sunny tried to protect herself with her own magic, but the trick wasn't working...

"Hey!" Tails voice called out, and Opaline's ear twitched, before she stopped hitting Sunny and slowly turned around with a frown. "Leave her alone!" he stated, as she stepped closer and glared daggers at the Fire Alicorn.

Opaline growled in rage and lightened her horn again, but this time, she aimed it at Tails. "You just don't know when to quit!" she shouted in anger, lightening her horn in fire again.

"Yup! I'm stubborn like a mule!" Tails replied with a smirk, also wiping some blood coming out from his mouth.

Opaline growled more, and without further ado, she charged up her most powerful and devastating blast. Then, she let out a loud warrior cry and shot her blast against Tails, who didn't even flinched nor attempted to move away, even placing the jar with th cure in front of him with a frown.

"TAILS, NO!!!" Sunny shouted, and right at that moment, Zombot Hitch touched her back, which made the virus start to spread across her body.

As for Tails, he could feel time stopping around him for a second. He was staring at the blast, that was inches away from him and the cure for the virus.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing on the energy of his body. He knew for a fact that his electrical powers had some Chaos Energy, so maybe he could focus on that and contact the Chaos Emerald to use their power. After all, they could make the job of defeating Opaline and spread the virus' cure a lot easier.

So, he focused, and focused, and focused, until time stopped moving for a moment, and the Chaos Emeralds surrounded him. They twirled around him for a few seconds, before entering his body and illuminate it entirely.

Soon, a light shone bright, and when time started to run normally again, Opaline's blast hit Tails and the jar with the cure.

"NO!" Sunny screamed, while her body was getting covered with the Metal Virus.

As for Opaline, she laughed like a maniac at her accomplishment... One that failed, actually.

https://youtu.be/gXjf5r-Fvvw

We won't back down, we won't
(Yeah, yo)

Soon, the dust from Opaline's blast hitting Tails dissipated, and it showed that the young fox actually survived the hit, and was now glowing in a bright white color that covered his fur.

His eyes turned red as well, and all the cuts he got, as well as the bleeding mouth and the purple eye, healed thanks to the power of the Chaos Emeralds.

Yes, he went Super Tails, why aren't you clapping?

Tails opened his eyes and smirked, before making the jar with the cure float on his own, and then, he boosted towards Opaline, making her traverse a bunch of walls with one single punch, while the Fire Alicorn grunted in pain because of that single hit.

Will the whole world know your name
When we dance with destiny?

With Opaline down for the moment, Tails smirked and used the Chaos Emeralds' power to make the cure float out of the jar, and soon he pointed it to the sky, as he started to accumulate energy with his body.

I've been there, and I've seen it
I'm never gonna stop believing
You'll find your flame

Soon, Opaline shook her head and noticed what Tails was doing. "NO!" she shouted in rage and tried to fly towards him, but she got a blast that made her crash on her back against the wall and then fall to the ground.

"Not so fast!" Misty said with a frown, as her horn was lightened up and sparkling, while Sunny joined her, despite the virus still being infecting her.

(So take this as a lesson
Cause it's all that we know)

Opaline growled in anger and tried to stood up, but then, both Sunny and Misty shoot a powerful and combined blast against the Fire Alicorn, which made her yell in pain.

Will the whole world know your name
When we dance with destiny? (We won't back down)

Meanwhile, Tails was growling in pain as he extended the cure for the virus and made it so big that it was almost covering half of Equestria, but he started to feel the power of the Emeralds flickering, probably because he never used their power at all in the past.

I've been there, and I've seen it (We won't)
I'm never gonna stop believing (Back down)
You'll find your flame (We won't)

"You just got to find the courage to put your fears and doubts aside!"

Sonic's voice echoed on his mind, and his eyes widened, before he nodded to himself with a determinate look. He wasn't going to let fear take over himself when his friends needed him. He allowed it to happen when Infinite attacked, but he wouldn't fear today... Not anymore.

So, with a warrior cry, Tails focused all his energy and finally finished extending the cure, before releasing it over all the Zombots, and Sunny included.

Now here we go, it's the end of the show
Hear them, they're calling your name

Soon, the cure started to make its work, and it slowly began to cure all the infected ones, who at first shone bright once the cure made contact with them. Once the light was gone, all the infected ones where back to normal, and they started to look around confused.

With that done, Tails looked at Opaline, still being attacked by Misty and Sunny, the latter being cured as well from the virus.

With a determinate look, Tails boosted towards Opaline and punched her on the face, which made the Alicorn groan in pain, but before she could attack back, Tails grabbed her from her tail and twirled her around for a while, which made her have a huge Dejà vu, before Tails launched her far away, while Opaline screamed loudly in rage and fear.

"I'LL GET MY REVENGE, STUPID FOX!" Opaline shouted maniacally, getting lost in the distance.

Cause in the end
It's you and your friends
You'll find your flame (Oh, we can save the day)

With Opaline gone, Tails started to pant heavily exhausted, but he still smiled satisfied. He did it... He spread the cure... He defeated Opaline... He won...

Meanwhile, all the once infected Zombots were looking around confused.

"Uh... How the hell did we came back to Maretime Bay?" Knuckles asked.

"Weren't we in the sky trying to get away from Opaline?" Izzy pointed out confused.

"I... I was encaged in a capsule that blocked my powers..." Shadow said confused. "Then Eggman opened a small vent and released a weird metallic liquid... I don't remember anything else... How did I got here?!" he asked.

"Shadow!" Sonic cheered, as he tightly hugged the Black Blur, which confused Shadow a lot.

"... What kind of alternate reality am I?" Shadow questioned.

"Oh, don't get used to his, I'm just glad you're not a Zombot anymore!" Sonic explained with a smile, before putting Shadow back in the ground.

"A what?" Shadow asked, but Sonic boosted away before he could ask further.

"Uh... I thought we were in the Brighthouse when that creepy Eggman came in?" Hitch pointed out, while Sparky on his back babbled with a dizzy expression.

"Hitch?" Amy called out, scratching her head confused. "But I thought you turned into one of those things... Wait, how did I got in town?" she asked confused.

"AMY!" Knuckles said, as he dragged the pink hedgehog into a tight hug, before he started to shake her violently. "DON'T YOU DARE TO SCARE ME LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN!!!" he screamed at her with a panicked tone and expression.

"Scare you? What are you talking about?!" Amy asked, not understanding what the heck happened.

"Long story short: You guys turned into Zombots!" Sonic said, appearing suddenly and wrapping his arms around them.

"I did?!/A what?" Knuckles and Amy said at the said time.

"I'll explain you later, Ames––" Sonic tried to say, but then, his eyes widened when he remembered someone. "WAIT! Where the heck is Eggman?!" he asked confused.

After saying that, Sonic started to run around the bay at fast paste in search for the doctor, but soon, he stopped near Mane Melody when he heard a maniac laugh coming from the sky.

So, Sonic looked upwards, and he frowned slightly when he saw that Metal Sonic was carrying Eggman by holding him from one hand, while Eggman looked down and laughed like a maniac. "You have won today, Hedgehog... But my next sinister plot will be unbeatable! Until next time, you wretched hedgehog!" he shouted, before Metal Sonic turned around and rolled his eyes.

"I don't get paid enough for this..." Metal Sonic said with Knuckles' voice.

"You're a robot, I don't need to pay you!" Eggman complained, as Metal Sonic boosted away. "And how are you talking?!" he asked with rage.

Sonic et out a heavy sigh and shook his head, also placing his hands on his hips. "Until next time, Doc. And the time after that, and the one after that..." he said with a worried expression. "Maybe you'll eventually come around..." he pointed out.

"SONIC!" Pipp said, as she tackled the Blue Blur to the ground and hugged him tightly.

Sonic chuckled and hugged her back, while the pegasus tenderly kissed her boyfriend's lips. "Let me guess... We turned into Zombots?" he asked.

"Y-Yeah!" Pipp said with concern. "You don't remember?" she asked.

"I honestly don't remember anything that happened after I grabbed Izzy's tail..." Sonic confessed. "Is like, I grabbed her from her tail, and the next second I blinked, I was here... Is strange..." he pointed out.

"PIPP!" Zipp's voice screamed, as she came by and wrapped Pipp into a really tight hug. "Don't you dare to scare me like that again!" she begged, but Pipp just let out a giggle.

"You grabbed me from my tail?" Izzy asked confused, as she arrived along Knuckles, Amy, Hitch and Sparky.

"Yeah... Although by your expression, it seems that you guys don't remember turning into Zombots..." Sonic pointed out with a playful smirk, as Pipp and him stood up.

"I turned into a Zombot?!" Izzy asked panicked with wide eyes, also placing her hooves on her cheeks.

"What the hell is a Zombot?!" Amy and Hitch asked at the same time, both confused and irritated.

"Izzy!" Misty's voice spoke, and she arrived along Sunny, with the unicorn mare hugging Misty tightly, and even if Izzy was still confused on how she turned into a Zombot, she still hugged Misty back. "I'm so glad that you're back!" she said with a smile.

"I honestly don't even remember how I turned... But I guess is good to be back!" Izzy said with her usual cheerful smile.

As this happened, Sunny dragged Hitch into a tight hug as well, but she also nuzzled her face against his neck, which made Hitch blush like mad.

"U-Uh... S-Sunny?" Hitch asked confused.

"Don't mind me, Hitchy... I'm just glad you're back..." Sunny replied, and even if she was blushing as well, she wasn't planning on letting him go.

Hitch felt his heart skipping a beat after Sunny said that, specially because she hasn't called him 'Hitchy' in years... But he couldn't help but smile, and he hugged her back.

"I'm still confused on what happened, but... It's good to be back" Hitch replied with a smile.

On the other hand, Shadow helped Rouge to get back up, while the bat scratched her head confused.

"What the heck happened?" Rouge asked. "I don't remember anything after Eggman released that liquid in our cages..." she pointed out

"No clue, either..." Shadow replied. "Apparently, he spread that thing, because everyone around seems as confused as us..." he pointed out.

But then, Omega came by and grabbed his teammates, wrapping them both in a really tight hug, while his eyes shining brightly, probably as a sign that they are sparkling.

"Don't you #*@!#!! dare to leave me alone ever again!" Omega said, still hugging Shadow and Rouge tightly, while they looked at each other confused.

After this, Omega let them go, then he went over and approached the Pippsqueaks, who despite of being as confused as everyone on what happened, they still giggled and accepted to approach the robot and hug him, since he was kneeling down the same way he always does when he allows the fillies to climb over him.

At the same time, Zipp and Pipp were hugging tightly their mother, even though Queen Haven had no idea on what was going on, nor how she arrived to Maretime Bay in the first place.

But as this happened, Sonic realized that someone was missing. "Say... Where's Tails?" he asked confused.

Just then, he felt his ear twitching when he heard someone panting exhausted, so he turned around and saw Tails, still on his Super form, slowly descending until he collapsed in the ground, while the Chaos Emeralds left his body, but instead of spreading around as they usually do, they just stood there in the ground.

"Tails!" Sonic screamed, boosting towards his little bro and helping him to stand up, while Tails shook his head dizzy.

"Ugh... S-Sonic?" Tails asked, a bit confused at first. "Did I... Did I did it? I-I actually cured you and everyone else?" he asked, groaning in pain again.

"... You're the one who spread the cure?" Sonic asked with wide eyes, but also with a very proud smile. "Y-You used the power of the Emeralds despite not having the experience with them?!" he added, but still feeling so proud.

"I... I guess?" Tails replied. "I just remember that I used their power to spread the cure and then sent Opaline away, but that's it..." he pointed out.

"Wait... You thrown Opaline away?!" Sonic asked with an excited smile.

Opaline was still screaming in fright, until she crashed against a window of her castle.

There, she groaned in pain as she lay on the ground, until she decided to stand up and shake her head. But once her mind stopped feeling so dizzy and remembered what happened, she felt her right eye twitching, then her face turned red from rage while her ears let out some smoke, and then...

"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!" Opaline shouted in rage, as she blasted another power blast of fire against a wall of her castle, which traversed it, as well as it activated the magic barrier around the Castle again, also spreading a bunch of fire.

"... Yeah... Now I think she wants me dead..." Tails realized with wide and panicked eyes.

"But that's amazing, little man!" Sonic said happily, as he hugged Tails tightly. "I mean, the fact that Opaline hates you more now isn't, but the fact that you stood up for yourself and beat the crap out of her is it!" he pointed out.

"Well, I couldn't stand aside and let my fear take over me again" Tails pointed out with a sheepish smile. "I just... I knew I had to do something to prevent all of this!" he declared. "Like you told me to before Bridlewoodstock, I putted my fears aside and decided to find the courage to stand up and fight 'till the end!" he stated.

"And I couldn't be happier for you!" Sonic stated, once again hugging him tightly.

"Tails!" Sunny's voice called out, and soon, he was wrapped in another hug by the earth pony mare, while Tails chuckled at the gesture. "I can't believe that you managed to stand against Opaline the way you did! I'm so proud of you!" she said with a smile.

"Well, thanks!" Tails replied with a smile. "But I couldn't have done it if you and Misty didn't hold her enough for me to spread the cure!" he pointed out.

"Tails, that was amazing!" Misty called out as well, and both Zipp and her arrived to wrap him into another hug. "We knew that you could do it!" she stated happily.

"Yeah! We told you that you had in you! And now, everypony is safe and back to normal!" Zipp pointed out with a smile.

"Wait... So Tails fixed everything up?" Knuckles called out with a smirk. "And here I thought Sonic was going to save the day as usual..." he mocked up.

"Come on, dude. I can't have the fun for myself all the time!" Sonic mocked back with his arms crossed.

"Well, I'm glad that whatever Eggman or Opaline were doing is over, but can someone now explain me what happened?" Hitch asked with a bored expression. "I'm completely lost here!" he pointed out.

"I'm actually eager to have an answer as well..." Shadow said, as he came with the Emeralds' Box, because he already picked up the seven of them.

Soon, all the ponies around Maretime Bay gathered around the Mane 6, Team Sonic and Team Dark, since everypony wanted to know what was going on.

So, Sonic went over to grab a box then placed it over where he was standing earlier, and then he stood over the box, clearing his throat and asking for everypony's attention.

"Okay, everypony! I know you want answers, and you'll have them!" Sonic started. "The creepy guy that builded that giant robot and almost destroyed the town created a dangerous Virus that mind controlled all of you!" he began to explain.

Of course, everyone but those aware of the virus gasped in shock. Yes, Amy and Hitch gasped too because they didn't knew about it since they got infected before the rest discovered what was the Metal Virus.

"The few of us who survived managed to find a cure, but it wasn't finished!" Sunny joined the explanation. "Unfortunately, on our way here to try and finish the cure, only Zipp, Misty, Tails and I survived to get infected with the virus... Everyone else fell victim of it..." she pointed out with concern.

"Then how are we back to normal?!" A unicorn mare among the crowd asked.

At this, Sunny and Sonic looked at each other with smiles, before turning to Tails, who looked at them with wide and panicked eyes.

Still, Knuckles deadpanned at his attitude and pushed him ahead, while Sonic grabbed him and made him stand over the box in-between Sonic and Sunny, while Tails felt all the confused stares from the crowd over him, as he paralyzed completely in panic.

Soon, Sunny used her Alicorn magic to levitate Zipp and Misty as well, since the three mares over the box and the young fox were not only the three survivors, but also the reason why the Virus was destroyed in the first place.

"It was Zipp and Misty who finished the cure for the Metal Virus!" Sunny said with a smile.

After hearing this, the crowd started to whisper among themselves, but when Queen Haven logically started to cheer for her daughter, the crowd of ponies soon where all chanting together and cheering not only for Zipp, but for Misty as well.

Of course, none of the mares were used to so much attention, even less to hear their names being chanted that much... or at all. Still, it was good to know that the ponies were happy for the mares that stopped the Metal Virus from getting worse at some point.

"But the responsible ones for stopping the tyrant that spread the virus across Equestria, as well to spread the finished cure, those were Sunny and my little fella Tails!" Sonic added with a smile, rubbing Tails' hair with a hand.

And once again, the whole crowd started to cheer for them. Of course, Sunny got used over time to hear her name being chanted, and thankfully it wasn't because of her being the Alicorn anymore.

As for Tails? He was beyond happy to see that everypony was so supportive to him. After years of feeling on Sonic's shadow, after years of being called a sidekick, after years of feeling so useless... He finally was getting recognition for something, and couldn't be happier.

"Enjoy it, little man!" Sonic told him with a smile, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"You earned this!" Sunny added, also smiling, and Tails smiled back at them.

"I'm still gonna pay for a month or two of therapy, though..." Zipp muttered to Misty at her side. "I saw my friends, my Mom and my sisters turned into robo-zombies... You just don't move forward from that easily..." she pointed out with an anxious smile and look, while one of her eyes twitched.

"Point me to the therapy thing, too..." Misty muttered. "I... I thing I really need it..."

However, as the crowd kept chanting, Shadow noticed that in no moment neither Sunny or Sonic mentioned Opaline, nor that she's the tyrant that spread the virus around.

So, the Ultimate Life Form approached Hitch and whispered to him. "Say, Sheriff. Shouldn't all the ponies be aware that Opaline exists?" he asked them.

When Hitch heard this, he sighed and whispered back with concern. "I know we should tell them about her, but... Do you really want them to panic over a pony they've never seen before?" he pointed out. "I know that keeping Opaline's existence as a secret could lead to disaster, but it doesn't changes the fact that everypony panics incredibly easy. How do you think they would react knowing an Alicorn tyrant exists?" he asked.

"... Yeah... Fair point..." Shadow replied, although he wasn't happy with the answer.

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, we will tell them about Opaline one day" Hitch assured with a smile. "For now? We just want to keep peace and quiet across the bay, even if it means we have to lie..." he pointed out with concern.

"For your sake and everyone else's, Sheriff... I hope you're right..." Shadow replied with a worried frown.

Eggman and Metal Sonic arrived to their actual hidden lab.

After the doctor caught his breath because he felt tired for being dragged do fast to this place, Metal Sonic showed him recordings of everything that happened: Omega and Him escaping the lab in Zephyr Heights; the two robots arriving to the Brighthouse; Hitch, Sparky and Amy getting infected; Metal handling the cure to Sonic; Opaline trying to stop them; Knuckles, Izzy, Sonic and Pipp getting infected; the survivors reaching Maretime Bay and fighting against the Zombots...

Once Metal Sonic was done explaining, Eggman let out a loud and heavy sigh. "Of course that I was defeated again..." he complained. "I can't believe Opaline outsmarted me and stoled my plan!" he shouted in rage.

"Not everything is lost, though..." Metal Sonic pointed out, his voice mixing voice clips from Pipp and Sonic. "Yes, you have lost again. But maybe you could stable the Metal Virus and––" he tried to point out.

However, Eggman growled and brought out a controller, pressing a button over it, which muted Metal Sonic entirely.

"I won't use that thing!" Eggman shouted in rage, also removing his glasses and glaring daggers at the robot. "It's way too dangerous, and that stupid Fire Alicorn could sabotage it all again! I cannot risk myself!" he explained with anger.

Soon, the computer turned on and showed that weird logo again. "F-Father?! Y-You're back!" Sage spoke with a happy tone.

"Yeah, yeah, I know I am..." Eggman replied a bit annoyed. "But now that the Metal Virus has showed to be a failure, is time to change the plans..." he stated with a frown.

To be continued...

Author's Notes:

Phew! Well, I'm done with this Season!

There's a lot I wanna talk, but let's start with why I infected all the main characters but Misty, Zipp, Sunny and Tails:

Sunny was missing a proper fight against Opaline, and since I wanted Opaline to have some big bad girl time as well, I needed her to survive, and then add some unnecessary tension when Zombot Hitch touched her, because I like drama.

Tails was always meant to be the hero of this Season instead of Sonic. Let's just say that I wanted to try giving a bit more of focus to Tails instead of Sonic, specially considering that he was hallucinating with Cyber Sonic/The End (yes, they're the same character). I hope I did managed to fit the "I love to make Sonic suffer and brake his mental state" number one stand role.

As for Zipp and Misty, well: The former was the right choice to finish the cure instead of Tails, and I wanted to show how much her friendship with Misty developed by having the latter at her side finishing the cure.

Eggman and Sonic getting infected was always the plan from the beginning. Guys, I like the Metal Virus arc from the IDW Comics, but... Sonic being the only one that can repel the Virus because he runs fast? Dude, that's not a solution, that's just plot armor. So, Sonic becoming a Zombot seemed like the right call to me.

Also, like stablished before, Eggman did planned on a cure because he might let his ego get the best of him sometimes, but he also knows when to have his feet in the ground and consider all the possible scenarios, both the good and bad ones.

Finally, Zipp and Misty will take therapy off screen. Unlike with Sunny, this time the therapy thing is just a joke, but at least I show in this way that just because the infected ones don't even remember when they got infected, it doesn't mean the ones who didn't will walk off this that easily.

Anyways. I leave you guys with the epilogue now.

Sonic The Hedgehog x My Little Pony: Make Your Mark - Season 3

by BronySonicFan

Prologue

1. Bridlewoodstock

2. The Jinxie Games

3. Cutie Blossom Bash

4. Night of the Werehog

5. The Fox in the Storm

6. Family Trees - Part 1

7. Family Trees - Part 2

8. Father of the Bridlewood

9. Mane Smelody

10. Zombot Apocalypse

Epilogue