"Did they just try to rhyme pummel and tumble?" Tails asked.

"Yep," Rainbow sighed. "It's a thing for them. These are guys that Sonic, Knux, AJ, and I had to deal with it."

"That funny," Twilight turned to her. "I don't remember you saying they had those weird weapons"

"It wouldn't matter anyway," Sonic said. "Talis, you, Twilight, Spike, and Rainbow help the elder with saving the villagers. I handle these two morons."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Don't act like we're nothing! You only won caused you mobbed with Wisps!" Rough reminded him.

"Say were's the others the red one and orange pony?" Tumble asked.

"Knuckles and Applejack have better things to do than teach you two ding-dongs a lesson in humility." Sonic declared.

Sonic demands to know where Eggman is, Spin Attacking Tumble's new mechanical tail. He also asks if Eggman was the one to bust them out of jail, to which Rough denies. With his new machinery, the Vapor Condenser, Rough then shoots a capsule of odoriferous liquid at Sonic, which the hedgehog narrowly dodges.

"Okay, something is not adding up, you two aren't smart enough to build gear like that. And you aren't the subtle type to leave a cryptic letter. I'll leave the mystery stuff to Chaotix. Why save the time and tell me where is Eggman.

"If you can beat us,"

"Don't banter, crush him!"

...

. Tails manage to unlock the community center door to release the villagers.

"It's okay everyone," The Elder reassured. "Sonic and his friends have come to save us!"

"Swing and a miss!" Twilight heard Sonic taunt Tumble. "You better off in here until the fight is done. Take cover and heads down, Tails, Rainbow, and Spike stay behind!"

"Alright then." The Elder closes the door behind him.

Elsewhere

"The Metal virus is a complete success!" Eggman was please with the testing. ' the virus will spread across organic tissue, turning that organism into his robotic slaves. And a bonus inorganic or processed material remains inert, leaving him safe from infection."

"I'm so happy to have been a part of this!" Starline expresses joy in working with Eggman, as he had never dreamed of doing it when he was searching for the doctor.

"Just out of curiosity, how did you find me?" Eggman asked.

"Yeah, I been wondering that myself," Cozy added. "Metal Sonic had half the empire scouring the globe.

"Metal Sonic had sent out Badnik search parties, which only had a finite amount of sensors. However, I had the Warp Topaz. With a Modest Charge, I open windows to the world in a flash. Saves half time than the Badnik could do in a day." Starline explained.

"When the hell did you go to bed," Chrysalis said.

"Sleeping is for weaklings. I made it worth my time to find Dr. Eggman."

"I'm so glad you can think," Eggman expresses gladness in this. "Can you zoom in on the battle? I want to see Sonic getting smashed."

"Of course," Starline zooms in on Sonic's fight against the skunk brothers using the Warp Topaz.

As Sonic is hit by one of Rough's capsules, Twilight joins in and kicks the skunk's head.

"Tails and others are watching the villagers," Twilight told him. "How are you hanging?"

"I've had child dogs hit my guts harder," Sonic replied then Tumble attack them.

"Yikes!"

"Okay, so it was BIG chil dog..." Sonic said as he and Twilight dodged it.

"Who asked you to but, kid?" Rough asked Twilight. "Why are you even here?"

"Cause when the day needs saving...

"One team never fails!"

"You're about to get busted by Sonic and Twilight!" Both imitate the skunk brothers' usual introduction.

"That's our thing quick stealing out thing!" Rough exclaimed.

"Dibs on the horse," Tumble pointed to Twilight then tried to ram her but dodged it and dodge.

"Sonic, you got Tumble I've got Rough!" Twilight said.

"Will do,"

Sonic mocks Tumble and has him tail behind him. Twilight continues to dodge capsules shot from Rough's Vapor Condenser. Rough shoots one more at Twilight, leaving the young alicorn to make some quick calculations. She catches the capsule with her magic and sends it back to Rough. He suffers the effects of the putrid gas as Twilight strips him of his machinery and destroys it. Cozy, Chyrsails, Starline, and Eggman watched the battle in disappointment.

"What a waste of vapor condenser, "Cozy sighs they turn to Eggman. "Shall we move on with Test Six?"

"No need. The Metal Virus is ready it's time to move to phase two of my master plan!"

...

"Come on, buddy step on it!" Sonic exclaimed while making Tumble follow him.

"Do you ever shut up!" Tumble complain.

"Nope, part of my charm," Sonic jumps to a windmill and breaks off its turbine. The turbine rolls toward Tumble, breaking off his tail attachment. Sonic attempts to land a final kick on Tumble, only to find him weeping as he finally had a tail again but it was gone once more.

Sonic orders Tumble to begin walking and lose all sympathy for him when Tumble calls him heartless as all he wanted to do was "cave his head in". Sonic and the upset Tumble meet up with Rough and Twilight, the latter telling Sonic he found no trouble beating the skunk. Sonic reminds Rough to keep up his end of the deal. As Rough angrily begins to tell Sonic and Twilight the truth, the skunk brothers are suddenly pulled down through a portal.

"What the hell was that?!" Sonic asked.

"If I were to guess a local wormhole?" Twilight wondered. "Okay, it's officially, Eggman is back, isn't he? I mean.., Those guys kidnap Mr. Tinker, and then show with new tech..."

"Yeah, but who's the wise guy who sprung them out of jail?" Sonic asked. "Better yet, who them where Mr. Tinker was?"

"What are implying?"

"Something tells me, that someone is involved in this and I have a bad feeling it ain't Cozy, Chrysalis, or any other member of the Legion of Doom."

...

"Are you kidding me!?" Chrysalis shouted. "Not only did you assholes lose to Sonic but you lost to Twilight Sparkle!"

"You got to give us a shot, doc!" Rough pleaded.

"We came so close!" Tumble did the same then Metal Sonic pushed them out of the way.

"Oh-ho-ho! What's the matter, Metal Sonic? Feeling overlooked?" Eggman asked.

"You had your chance!" Rough threatened him only for Metal to turn the tables.

"Delightful!"

"If I may so bold, sir, I share in Metal Sonic interest."

"You too?" Eggman turned to him.

"Oh, yes, please let me and my associates take a shot at Sonic and Twilight. I know how to handle them."

Next Chapter: Misdirection Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 35 Minutes