In Floral Forest Village, Dr. Eggman is once again pouring out a large batch of the Metal Virus with the Faceship.

"I don't understand, Doctor. This village is too remote to be of any strategic value. Why are we going out of the way to infect it?" Starline asked.

"It's twofold. Starline," Eggman explained. "Once fully converted this lush space will become a veritable minefield of Metal Virus Infection vectors that not Sonic can avoid! And the cherry on top is he still right into it all because he has dear friends here!"

"What better way to break his will than to hit him where it hurts! Having fun hedgehog?!" Chrysalis asked.

"When I'm done down here, we're gonna a few words, Cheese Legs!" Sonic shot back while he continues fighting the Zombots to keep them off of the uninfected villagers. Got a lot of questions for him, but he will be dealt with later. I couldn't Charmy couldn't save him. Poor kid got wrapped in something that was to bug for himself and the same thing is going to happen to either of them.., Stop it, this is exactly what Eggman wants me to do, Gotta keep moving. Gotta protect my friends here. Gotta find Cream and Fluttershy!.

Meanwhile...

"Cream! Close the shutters and get away from the Window!" Cream's mother Vanilla told her.

"Yes, mother!" Cream closed the window then her mother and Chocaloa barricaded the door. "Our neighbors are in trouble! I should go help!"

"This isn't like your adventures with Amy Rose or the others! You're still a little girl, and we're not heroes like them!"

"But I'll have Cheese with me! He'll help me look after myself! He always does!"

"Chao-Chao!"

"And you'll have Chocola to look after you!"

"But your mother has point," Fluttershy came in with Discord. "We all know your brave, but this is a little more complicated than last time, please reconsider it."

"Your right, thank you Fluttershy," Cream thanked her.

"Besides, if you can't help, the robot can, right?" Discord asked Germerl.

Request acknowledged proceeding assist village defenses to Cream, Vanilla, Fluttershy and others," Germerl replied.

On the Faceship.

"Even with a low population. the village is succumbing to the Metal Virus," Starline said.

"Such efficiency is a sign of a true genius of a wouldn't say? Care to take the lead!" Eggman passes the mic to Cozy.

"You'll bet!" She holds the mic to her mouth. "Attention all Zombots! Converge on the blasted Hedgehog! Let's see him run off a full infection!"

However, the Zombots ignore Cozy's orders and continue wreaking havoc on the village.

"Luck break!" Sonic was relieved. "Cream? Flutters? Where are you guys?"

Uh, they ain't moving not in the way you told them to at least," Cubot told her.

"What?!" Cozy and Eggman shouted.

"Actually boss, there been a steady decline in Zombots to the voice commands since we started," Orbot told him, while Starline and Chrysalis look at the data.

"How is that possible?"

"Well... it a virus spreading from exposure may be prompting random mutations in the coding."

" 'May' didn't you account for that possibility?"

"Relax, Starline," The changing assured him. "It's working, isn't it? The Metal Virus is spreading like wildfire besides we can work out the bugs."

"Yes, but this gets out of control-"

"Then I'll find a way to control it!" Eggman snapped. "Anyone else up for a quick bite?"

"Sure why not?" Both Cozy and Chrysalis join him leaving the bots. the demon, and Starline by themselves.

...

Back on the ground, Sonic fends off more Zombots.

"A shuttle is coming to evacuate everyone! Head north to the glade!" orders the uninfected villagers to head north then get knocked over by Gemerl. "Ow! Did cross some wires, I thought were friends?!"

Sonic. Designation: Friend. Analysis: Infected with the same material as villagers. Assessment: You will transform to the highest level threat to safety. I will not allow that."

"Fair enough, but is possible you can bond with it?" Sonic asked his dodges Germel's assault.

"Negative. The Metal Virus is incompatible. I cannot control it. It cannot infect me. Elimination only option.

"I can't fight you and the Zombots! Quit being a jerk!"

Top priority: Keep Cream and Fluttershy safe. Your compliance is not needed. Warning: Arming Missiles.

"Fine! Have your way!" Sonic said as left.

Primary threat neutralized changing targets to infected villagers. Commencing purge.

Cream then runs out ordering Gemerl to stop. She tells him that he was taking his protection much too far. She tells off Gemerl for being mean to Sonic, though Gemerl reminds her that he was infected. Cream corrects him by stating that Sonic is a victim and was only trying to help the village. She also points out the Zombots are victims as well and he should not attempt to blow them up. Gemerl finds a logic error with this and Cream continues to protest. She tells Gemerl that the villagers did not want to be robots. Cream reminds Gemerl of the time Eggman forced him to fight and destroy until he was stopped and reprogrammed by Tails, allowing him to live peacefully with Cream and her family. The young rabbit then asks if the Zombots deserve a chance to be fixed as well; a chance to be happy. Gemerl backs down and tells Cream he will proceed to protect her non-lethally. Cream happily hugs the robot, thanking him, and tells him to apologize to Sonic when he returns. While Gemerl fights off a few Zombots, Cream hears a scream come from inside her house. She calls for help but Gemerl finds himself surrounded. Sonic also finds himself preoccupied preventing a forest fire that is nearly begun by two villagers who wish to burn it down to stop the infection from spreading.

Inside her house, Cream finds Fluttershy, Discord, Vanilla, Cheese, and Chocola being attacked by Zombots. Cheese immediately hits the leading Zombot, ignoring Cream's protests. Cheese flies at the Zombot again, only to be captured in its hand. Chocola flies in to save his brother, only to be deflected easily and captured by the same Zombot. Cream and Vanilla then look in horror as Cheese and Chocola become Zombots. Vanilla attempts to take Cream out of the house, though the latter wishes to not leave her Chao behind. Vanilla is blocked off by a Zombot but it is quickly knocked out of the way by Sonic. Sonic is then met by an infected Cheese and Chocola. He turns to Cream and calms her down, saying that Cheese would not want her to get caught. He asks Discord if he can teleport to them the glade which he did.

"Sonic? This is Rouge. Do you copy?" Rouge came through his comm.

"Yo, I copy," Sonic replied while fighting the Zombots.

"Are you busy?" the bat asked.

"Just wrapping some personal business. What's up?"

"I just intel that Eggman is en route to Sunset City. Shadow, Omega, and Tempest are heading there to intercept but..."

"You wouldn't mind some extra help, go See you there!" Sonic agreed and then contacted Twilight. "Twi, are you there?"

At the Castle of Friendship.

"Yeah," Twilight replied. "What's up?"

"Eggman and his cronies, are heading to Sunset City, and Team Dark needs some help. Mind sending someone?"

"Tell him I'll see him there!" Rainbow exclaimed as flew out of there.

"Does that answer your question?" Twilight asked.

"Yep, stay safe out there," Sonic replied.

Next Chapter: Crisis City Part 1 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 8 Minutes