It was morning at the White Park Chateau. Amy, Cream, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Cheese, Flurry Heart, and Gemerl are having breakfast.

"Something on your mind darling?" Flurry Heart asked the rabbit.

"I'm worried, Ms. Rouge didn't come last night!" Cream expressed her concern. "What if something happened to her?"

"Rouge can take care of herself. She probably just had too much-stealing everybody's fancy jewels or something," Amy said knowing her.

"The only treasure in this Chateau is friendly faces!" Rouge suddenly came out of nowhere. "I checked. Most of the guests in this place are gold plating and rhinestones."

"Morning Ms.Rouge."

"Do you think that's a good example to be set for her?" Applejack retorted.

"Definitely not, Cream remember, if you're ever going to loot a hotel, make sure are loaded first."

Then the Omocaho started to speak.

Attenion, race attendees! Today's proceeding will be starting momently. Trainers, please your Chao to the track!

"I believe that's our cue!" Rarity exclaimed.

"C'mon! We don't want to be late!"

"Chao Chao!"

"Wait for me!"

As Rouge and the others headed to the track, none of them knew that Shadow and Tempest were still baffled by what happened last night.

"If we're going to find the one who beat us, it won't be with them," Shadow explained.

"If maybe our luck that stranger could be the root of the Egg-tech rumors," Tempest suggested. "Even luckier that we have a lead."

"I hope they make use of the time they have left because it won't be much,"

As Cheese performs in their race, Shadow and Tempest make their way up to Clutch's penthouse.

"It looks like the rumors were true, this collector better has answers about Eggman's whereabouts, for their sakes."

"Hey, this looks suspicious."

Both looked under the tarp and were disgusted.

"Utter scum!" Shadow couldn't believe what he and Tempest saw then heard a familiar robot's voice.

At the race, the announcer states that the winners of the race will be entered into the semifinals. Clutch's Dark Chao glares at Cheese before the race begins. When it commences, Cream cheers Cheese on and asks them to be careful. The Chao struggles with Clutch's Chao. However, once they set their eyes on the finish line, they flew directly for it while Clutch's Chao failed to catch them and fell into the water. After several other Chao finishes, Cheese is congratulated by Cream and Amy. Rouge catches Clutch's eye, who glares at her. She then turns to Cream and asks to take Cheese to first aid as she believed their last landing was a little rough. Gemerl does not permit this action, with Amy backing him up and asking what Rouge was up to.

Rouge explains that she needs Cheese with her so that she can get Clutch alone. He believes that it will be a trade of a Chao for the parts they need. However, she has the plan to turn the tables on him and thinks that it may be too much to handle for the others. Amy dismisses this, determined to help. Soon, the five went to Clutch's penthouse. The opossum smugly mocks them, especially Gemerl, who nearly begins a fight with him but is stopped by Rouge. Clutch makes it clear that he is not defenseless. Rouge insists that they are there for the trade, and as she leads Cream and Cheese to the opossum, she whispers that she has it under control. Clutch finds some amusement in realizing that Cream was Cheese's trainer and says that he knew he liked Rouge. The bat replies with "I always get what's mine. After nothing happens, Rouge repeats it, but Clutch picks up on her attempt to use a codeword.

Then Clutch was kicked by Shadow and Tempest did a magic blast.

"Anayals complete: Shadow's plan is better than Rouge's" Omega said.

"Take that you, ruffian!" Rarity exclaimed.

"Not the help I expected but I'm not complaining, thank you two!"

"I didn't do it for you," Shadow said then left. "I'm off to find a real challenge."

As the black hedgehog left, Cream, Cheese, Fluttershy, and Gemerl looked underneath the tarp and quickly a ghast.

"Oh, my goodness!" Fluttershy, Cream, and Cheese gasped seeing the imprisoned Chao. "You poor things, so this is why you raced so hard.., that Mr. Clutch would put you back if you lost!"

"Chao Ch-Chao..." the Dark Chao said yes.

"We have to get them out!" Cream exclaimed as Cheese tries to help his fellow Chao.

"Agreed, but I think it won't be easy," Gemerl said as Applejack saw Rouge leaving.

"You're leaving as well?"

"Uh I'm going to call Tails, we could use his help picking the right parts for Omega," Then Rouge left.

In Eggman's abandoned base, Sonic playfully fights a Knuckles-like doll. And already bore off his skull.

"Sooo... Tails! Are you nearly done with that whole hacker thing yet?" Sonic asked.

"Sorry, the system firewall is really tricky. It's taking most of me and Twilight's effort to stay undetected!"

"You say that the Eggnet is hard to crack!? Ha, that's a good one!" Pinkie laughed at it.

"Ugh," Rainbow groaned. "It's official, this least fun trip to a secret base I've been on!"

"Same," As Sonic kicks a screw. The screw bounces around and hits an individual hidden in rubble.

"Oh, sawdust."

"Badink!" Sonic exclaimed. "Hang tight I got this!"

"Holy moly, your Sonic the Hedgehog!" The robot recognizes Sonic as he continues to try and fight her. Once Sonic steps on her tail, she quickly kicks him away.

"No that's inserting!"

"Oh, no! I am so sorry, it's a reflex, I can't even control it, honest! I'm not a badnik, I don't even know how to fight!"

"My bad, I get squirrely when I'm cooped up inside."

"Forgive us," Twilight greeted the puppeteer. "When we run into robots, they're usually part of Eggman's army. I'm Twilight, and these are my friends, Tails, Rainbow, and Pinkie. What's your name?"

"Uh, Belle."

"Holy moly! Your construction is remarkable! I've never seen a wooden robot before!" Tails exclaimed. "Who did the work?"

"That's private."

"Let me guess: Mustache, Bald, Big on theme parks?" Pinkie took a stab.

"My creator is missing and I'm looking for them, They're not Dr.Eggman."

"See? You don't have to fight every robot, Sonic," Tails said.

"Sure," Sonic said sternly.

The computer soon detects an unauthorized access attempt and begins an alert.

"Son of a... I forgot about the firewall!" Tails run to the computer to find everything locked. "Damnit it's locked!"

"It's ok," Pinkie comforts him. "We'll figure something else out--"

"No, I'll get around! I won't give up!"

"Uh, guys?" Belle chimed in. "I don't think were alone in here... Yeek! Gears and Starters!"

"You say that again!" Rainbow said the attention to the Beats begin to swarm the area.

"Are those Badniks?"

"Yeah, these guys are the type that explodes if they grab you."

"And not very smart but also slow!"

However, the group is unaware of an Egg Keeper that emerges from the ground behind them. Seeing it, Belle pushes Twilight out of the way, getting herself trapped within the Badnik's saucer. Twilight destroys the Badnik with a Magic Blast to free Belle

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked her.

"I think so..."

"I hope you're ready to put those weird skills to use..." Sonic said.

"Because we're gonna need all the help we can get!" Rainbow finished his thought.

Next time the Race is on!