Sonic ran through the outskirts of Robotropolis, silently singing to himself as he moved. "It doesn't matter now what happens," he sang as he ran. "I will never give up the fight." He reached a ledge and jumped down. "Long as the voice inside drives me to run and fight, place all your bets on the one you think is right!" As he said the last word he hit the ground. "Nice song, wonder where it came from." Sonic looked around him. "I'm near the old robot factory, Uncle Chuck said what he needed was here somewhere." Sonic zipped over to a machine nearby. "Now, if I were an inverse sensor anomaly detector, where would I be? What's it look like anyway?" Sonic reached into his pack and brought out Nicole, conveniently loaned to him from Sally. "Nicole."

"What's up?" Nicole said in her monotone voice.

"Show me this detector thingy."

"You got it," Nicole beeped for a second, then an image of a piece of machinery came to life.

"Hmmmm," Sonic turned and looked through more junk. Then he saw what he was after. "Bingo." He put Nicole back in his backpack, then grabbed the device. "All right Sonic, let's blow this chili-stand." He revved up, then took off, running straight up the wall and landing on the ledge he had leapt off of previously. Then he ran a zigzag course back to Knothole, singing the song the whole way.

Rotor clicked a panel shut. "There ya go, Sir Charles," Rotor said.

Chuck laughed. "Just call me Uncle Chuck, Rotor," he said, then stared down at the machine. "Yep, it's finished. All we need now is that sensor. Once Sonic gets back we can test it."

"He shouldn't be too much longer," Rotor said.

"Place all your bets on the one you think is right," Sonic's voice carried into the lab quicker than his feet did as he walked through the open door. He pulled the piece of machinery out of his pack then handed it to his Uncle. "And here's where all my bets are placed."

Chuck laughed again, "Good one, Sonny boy." He set the device on the table and looked at it. Occasionally he turned the small instrument. "I don't see anything wrong with it. You take a look Rotor."

Sir Charles vacated the seat he'd been at as Rotor approached to take a look at the device. Rotor pulled out a simple magnifying glass, the looked at the piece of machinery at odd angles. Rotor sat back, then looked at the two hedgehogs in the room. "This detector is a bit broken."

"What?" Uncle Chuck said. "How?"

Rotor pointed at a small wire running along the surface of an open conduit. "The wire is fused in three different places along that conduit. Not only will that slow down the time it takes for the electricity to go through, at the last fuse-point everything will be left in the open conduit, so nothing will happen if you turn it on."

"That's probably why it was called an 'abandoned' factory," Sonic laughed at his own joke.

Uncle Chuck looked at the instrument. "Do you think we can fix it Rotor?"

Rotor stared at the machine for just a bit, then looked back at Sir Charles. "Well, seeing as how you're here, and you are a lot better at this than I am, I think so."

"Well, you two go ahead and fix it," Sonic turned back towards the door. "Call me when you're finished or if you need me." He got a quick nod from his Uncle who turned back to his work; then Sonic headed out.

Sonic was in his hut, fixing himself a chili dog and humming the song he'd had in his head all day, when someone knocked on his door. "It's open," Sonic said, taking a bite of his chili dog.

Tails opened the door and walked in. "Uncle Chuck says they're done and they want you to come see something."

"Sure thing," Sonic mumbled between bites of chili dog. He pointed at the other one on the table. "Want one?"

"Sure," Tails said.

Sonic handed it to him. "C'mon, let's go see what it is Rotor an Unc want us to see." He got up and they both left, walking towards Rotor's hut while eating.

Sonic laughed as he talked with Tails and they ate. I should do this more.  Sonic thought to himself. I don't sit back and talk and joke around like I'd like to anymore. When you stop and think about it, this war has taken a bigger toll than just us losing our way of life and families. Sonic finished off his chili dog. We've lost our lives too. I've lost years where I should have just been playing with Sally and Tails and the others. Of course, then I would of missed all this action. Sonic felt Tails tap him on the shoulder, as he turned to look his head hit the door to Rotor's hut and he fell backwards.

"Uhh, Sonic," Tails tried to talk without laughing. "I tried to tell you, but you just seemed so determined to walk through the door."

Sonic got up and rubbed his head. "Hehe," he chuckled. "Guess I forgot to open the door." He opened it and motioned for Tails to go through. "After you."

Tails walked in and Sonic followed. Sonic looked around and saw Sally in the room with them. I wonder what they cooked up this time. Sonic walked to where his Uncle and Rotor were standing. "Hey guys, what's up?"

Rotor grabbed a rope near a large, cloth covered object. "This is what's up Sonic," Rotor said as he hauled on the rope. The cloth flew up and a big machine with a view screen appeared beneath it.

"Oooh," Sonic said. "Lemme guess." He looked at it for a second. "New video game system!"

Uncle Chuck laughed. "No, Sonic." He pushed a button on the machine and the monitor glowed to life instantly. "I wanted both you and the Princess here to see this. It's our new protection system. This sensor monitor device can detect anything in the forest." He started flipping switches on the control board. The main screen switched views, and other smaller screens appeared on it with radar and radio signals pulsing across.

"Sir Charles," Sally said. "How on Mobius are you seeing visuals of everywhere in the Great Forest?"

"It's simple really," Chuck looked at the walrus to his side. "Go ahead, it was your idea, so you tell them Rotor."

"Well," he began. "Uncle Chuck is not completely telling the truth. It wasn't my idea all that much. I got it from Dr. Robotnik." He motioned for them to quiet after the short gasp that greeted his statement. "Chuck and I were looking through some trash outside Robotropolis when we found a few broken Surveillance Orbs. It was simple to extract the visual and auditory sensors, then plant them around the Great Forest. Oh and check this out." Rotor pushed another button on the console and an image of Robotropolis came up, the words "Sector 7" appeared in small text at the corner of the screen. Rotor motioned to Uncle Chuck to explain.

"By finding the frequency at which the Orbs send signals," Chuck said. "We tapped the system and can see anything Snively sees." A small blip appeared on the radar screen, accompanied by a warning siren from the machine. "Blast!"

"What's up?" Sonic asked, nearing the machine. He looked at the main viewer. "Is that what I think it is?"

His Uncle nodded. "Sonic, that sensor you gave us was the last piece we needed. It's what detected this." His Uncle pointed at the screen. "In approximately 2 seconds-" A large vortex appeared on the screen, a red vortex, with streaks of yellow spinning inside. "Or less, the Void will appear."

Sonic watched as a small piece of crystal appeared from the center of the void. "What's going on?"

The aged hedgehog studied the readouts from the screen. Then he turned to Sonic," Sonic, that crystal is giving off some strange energy readings. It isn't harmful from what we can tell, but it would probably be better if Snively didn't get his hands on it."

Sonic nodded. "I get the gist of what you're saying." He looked back at the whirling vortex. "What about that?"

"Don't worry," Uncle Chuck said staring at the monitor. "The readings indicate it'll close in a few minutes." He turned back to Sonic. "With the Princess' leave, you probably need to go."

"Sal?" Sonic turned.

"You better get going," Sally looked away from the monitor. "If Snively gets that crystal first, well, I don't know what it'll mean."

"I better juice then," Sonic said as he went and opened the door. "Later guys."

Sonic zipped along the broken surface of the Great Unknown. "All right," Sonic said to himself looking around. "Uncle Chuck said that crystal should be around here somewhere." A glint of something caught his eye. "Bingo." He ran towards the object and found the crystal on the ground. He crouched down to get a better look, looking at it. "Weird energy coming off it, eh?" Sonic reached out and picked up the crystal. "Looks harmless enough." He stood up and was just about to put it back in his pack when a small projection began to appear from it. It formed a holographic image above him.

"Sonic," the image began to become clearer as the speaker went on. He thought he recognized the voice, but he wasn't sure. "We're here waiting. Naugus believes he may have found a way to return us to the world." The image finally stabilized, it was King Acorn. The monarch's voice continued. "You must return inside the void. Do not worry about becoming trapped. Naugus can re-open the vortex for your escape."

"That's cool," Sonic looked at the image, then at the surrounding area. "But how do I get there from here?"

"If you are wondering about how to enter the Void," King Acorn's voice spoke. "Just wait. When this messages reaches it's end, Naugus will know and the Void will open. We are waiting." As soon as the King finished, a bright flash appeared and Sonic felt himself being pulled backwards.

"Well," he said as the pull began to increase. "Here I go again." He gave a thumbs up, and smirked at where he believed the hidden camera Rotor had placed somewhere and did a backflip into the vortex.

As before the trip was amazing. "Cool," Sonic said, as he slid down the invisible slope of the Void. Soon he landed on his feet and began gliding forward on trails of sparkling gold at his feet. He reached the end and did a forward flip, landing in a ready position at the end of the trip. "Another amazing entrance by yours bluely." He bowed. "Thank you, thank you, and thank you."

"Sonic!" King Acorn's voice came sharply. "Look out, it's a trap!"

"Huh?" Sonic didn't stop to think as a bolt of crystal energy zapped where he'd been standing a second before. "What's going on?" Sonic looked back behind him. "No, you can't be here. You're dead! This has got to be a dream!"

"Really Hedgehog?" A dark, deep voice came from large lips. "Is that really anyway to welcome the person who gave your life meaning back from the dead?" A sinister smile appeared on the features of Dr. Ivo Robotnik as he stepped forward. Energy still sizzling from his robotic arm.

Sonic looked to where the voice of King Acorn had come. A pair of crystal Swatbots held him tightly. "Gave my life meaning? More like destroyed my life!" Sonic looked at his arch nemesis. The one whom he thought had been destroyed at Doomsday. "This cannot be happening. Where's Naugus?"

"Oh he's safe enough, dear boy," Robotnik's sinisterly black voice said. "Here, you can meet him personally." Robotnik laughed as another pair of crystal Swatbots appeared, carrying a large block of crystal. "It took me a while, but I managed to figure out how to work with Naugus' magic. It's really not magic at all, but energy. Once I'd adapted it to my arm, I became ruler here!" Robotnik aimed his arm at a wall, firing a blast of energy another vortex opened. Robotnik fired another blast, closing the only means of escape. "You, are now my prisoner in my own little crystal realm. Ahahahahaha!" Robotnik's dark laugh echoed off the crystal walls as Sonic looked around, and watched as the King struggled against the 'bots holding him.

Sonic struggled against the crystal shackles on his hands and feet. He sat beside the King in a small crystal dungeon. "It's no use, lad," the Monarch said. "If you break out of here, you'll just end up being blasted by Robotnik's energy gauntlet."

Sonic looked up at the King. "Sire," he said. "I've been fighting 'Botnik for a long time. The one thing he wants above all, is to destroy me." Sonic shrugged.

"If that's true," King Acorn said. "Then why didn't he just blast you, instead of shackle you?"

Sonic smirked. "Because he wants to gloat and he's stupid." Sonic stopped struggling suddenly and strained to hear outside his cell. The sounds of crystal clinking against crystal greeted his ears. "Someone's coming." Sonic waited, soon the door to their cell opened and two crystal swatbots appeared.

"You will come with us," the 'bot said as they pointed at the King. "Move quickly."

Sonic prepared to leap up and take out the 'bots, but the King caught his eye and the slight nodding of his head said it all. Don't try it Sonic. Not yet at least. Wait until the time is right. Sonic nodded back and watched helplessly as the 'bots took the King away. Sonic strained to hear. The sounds of crystal steps echoed down the halls.

"Wait a sec," Sonic said, standing up. "There were five pairs of footsteps leaving here. That means the guards are gone." Sonic stood for a second. "No guards and he took the King. He's waiting on me to try a break-out. Well if that's what he wants, that's what he'll get. But I'm not going alone." Sonic went into a Sonic Spin and shredded the shackles on him. Then with a similar spin he opened a hole in the cell door. And snuck out. Sonic crept along quickly and quietly. "The layout of this place is exactly like in Robotropolis. They probably took the King to a different cell!"

Sonic searched each level of the prison, finally he found where the King had been put. "Sire," Sonic whispered through crystal bars. The King's head came up and he looked at Sonic.

"Good lad," he crept nearer to the door. "Now is the time, get me out of here and we may leave."

"What about Naugus?" Sonic asked.

"Don't worry about him," the King said. "You can return to get him after we escape. Naugus knows how to prevent us from turning to crystal."

"Gotcha," Sonic tested the bars with his hands. "Stand back Sire, this won't take much." With that, Sonic went into another spin and broke open the cell. "All right, let's go." It didn't take long for Sonic to reach the point the King had indicated for their exit vector. "How do we get out?"

The King obliged by picking up a small remote and pointing it at a wall, when he pressed the button, a vortex appeared.

"Oh," Sonic said. "Hang tight, your Majesty. We're outta here!" The King grabbed hold and Sonic ran out through the exit.

Sonic came out of the vortex and onto solid ground rather quickly, nowhere near where Rotor had placed the mini camera. "There you are, Sire. Open the Void so I can go back and get Naugus, if you please."

"No, Sonic," the King's voice changed drastically, then his appearance did as well. "Everything is back to normal. Except now, I have a weapon capable of incapacitating you!" Robotnik fired a crystal beam at Sonic. Narrowly missing.

"Woah!" Sonic cried out as he leapt from spot to spot, crystal rocks forming in his wake. I can't get close enough to damage that blaster. What I need is a ranged weapon!

"Stand still!" Robotnik yelled. "Blast you, Rodent!" He fired again.

"Good thing you told me what you were gonna do," Sonic said as he easily avoided the blast. Sonic reached up and pulled two quills from his head. "Ow. I sure hope this works." He quickly leaped straight over Robotnik, and as his enemy brought the crystal gun to bear on him, he threw a quill with amazing speed at the arm.

Unfortunately, the projectile never reached it's target. Robotnik fired, and the blast was absorbed by the quill, transforming it into a crystal spike. "Blast!" Sonic said, evading another shot. "This time, I can't miss!" Sonic went into a spin and went forward faster. He jumped right before another blast hit him, as he leaped over Robotnik, his enemy brought the gun straight up to fire. Sonic threw the quill straight down, vibrating his arm to change the frequency of the quill. It struck with the speed of a bullet hitting a freight train at 300 MPH. As Sonic passed over, Robotnik's gun shorted, smoking and sputtering, with electric energy playing along his robotic arm. "Take that, Robo!" Sonic looked up. "Oh man, sometimes I really hate this." Behind Robotnik, a squad of hover bots appeared.

"Run, Hedgehog," Robotnik said. "I'll kill you another day." With that he waved a nearby hoverbot down and climbed aboard. "Or better yet," Dr. Robotnik's voice came out. "I'll kill you now!"

At the instance Robotnik fired, two things happened. One, Sonic did a backflip to avoid the blast, and two, the Void reappeared beneath his feet as he landed and was pulled in.

Sonic landed in the crystal palace of the Void yet again. "Man, this is really beginning to get old!"

"Not yet, Hedgehog," an eerie voice said. "Things are just about to get more interesting." Ixis Naugus stepped forward with the true King Acorn standing with him. "Take the King back to where he belongs."

"What about you?" Sonic asked.

"I believe that I can control the forces of the Void from here," Naugus sighed. "Your King shall be able to remain in the world for a time. If you do not find a cure in time, he will turn to crystal and die, if not brought back here. I must remain here to keep control on the Void. I am putting my trust in you that you will find the cure."

"What if it doesn't work?" Sonic asked. "What if the King starts to crystallize when we reach the surface?"

"Naugus has taken care of that," King Acorn said. "You see this?" He pointed at a small device in his hand. "It will open the void once, and only once. That's enough times to either return me to the Void, or return to the Void to get Naugus."

Sonic looked back at the Wizard. "I promise I will return, Naugus," he said.

Naugus nodded and turned, then he opened up the vortex of the void once again, allowing Sonic and the King to return to Mobius.

Sonic didn't have to say anything. When he walked into Knothole, and knocked on the door to Sally's hut, she knew as soon as she opened the door what happened, mostly anyway. Sally gladly welcomed the King, her father, back.

Sonic smiled, then turned and walked away to give them time together, before he broke the news of Robotnik's return.

Episode 33- Crystal Fusion

When time begins to run out for the King, Sonic must help his Uncle and Rotor liberate a powerful generator which they need to save the king. But Robotnik has type of intelligent robot. Can Sonic outsmart the robots in time to get the generator back to Knothole to save the King? Will the two inventors' device even work?