Prologue: Big Yellow Taxi

The year is 3001, three years after the world was saved. Robotnik's old empire has been transformed into a massive city for all Animoids to inhabit. Repaired and expanded, the city of Soleanna now runs on the power of natural, energetic gems, other than the Chaos Emeralds, that are mined and taken from Ivo's other base locations. Such stones could power a city for half a year at a time with 10 power generators.

After the defeat of Robotnik, Sally, along with Bunnie and Antoine, combined the Freedom Fighters with the Network, an intelligence group, to create the Guardian Units Network, or Gun. This new organization provides protection and police forces to all cities that require them, but mainly Soleanna.

In the years of peace, Sonic has been able to hang out with all of his friends several times and in several places. However, time has made them grow apart. Not through a lack of wanting to be together, but because Sonic never sticks around too long.

Right now, in a dark alleyway, a rich man, his wife, and his son leave a theater before a thug with a gun threatens them.

Thug: Gimme Your Money!

Lady: Oh!

Man: Alright. It's all okay.

The man calmly hands over his wallet.

Thug: Her Pearls, Too!

Man: Allow me.

As the man reaches for his wife's pearls, Sonic dashes in, takes the gun, and points it at the thug. Sonic now wears black clothes with a green jacket on top and colorful shoes on bottom. In his left hand, there's a bundle of roses.

Sonic the Hedgehog: 15

Sonic: Feeling lucky, punk?

Thug: You!

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Sonic pulls the trigger, but the bullets are in his pocket already.

Sonic: Guess you are. Let's see how the other Gun likes your luck.

The thug sweats heavily.

Thug: Wait!

Sonic takes the thug, dashes him into a police station with the gun in his hands, and goes back to the family with the wallet. Only, by the time he gets there, the mother and father are already shot dead with their son crying over them.

Sonic: … What happened?

Mighty the Armadillo: 11

Mighty: Th-There was another.

He looks again to see that the mother's pearl necklace is gone. After a moment, Sonic puts his arm around the kid.

Sonic: Let's get you to some people who can help

Mighty: C-Can they bring them back?

Sonic: … No, but they can find who did it.

Mighty: O-Okay.

Sonic walks through the city with the young Mighty. Meanwhile, there stands an apartment building in the train station square, which is on the coastline of Soleanna. In the highest apartment, Sally waits at her dining table with a suitcase next to her. After several minutes, Sonic runs in and sits across from her without the roses.

Sonic: Hey, Sal. Got any sweets in here?

Sally Acorn: 16

Sally: I thought you were getting flowers?

Sonic: This kid needed them. Thought you were cooking?

Sally: I was, a few hours ago. Why can't you just run there and come back?

Sonic: Can't just leave those people to bite it out there. If you were this fast, you'd get it.

Sally: You think I don't want you to help people? Of course, you should. Just, you could've told me first.

Sonic: So, I gotta run my murder stopping by you before I do it? I gotta be faster than that, Sal.

Sally: *Sigh*

Sonic: What's with the suitcase?

Sally: I'm joining Gun full-time for a while. I'm leaving tonight.

Sonic: Alright, Sal! Where're they putting you?

Sally: In the launch base with Bunnie and Antoine.

Sonic: Guess I can run all that way to see you.

Sally: Sonic, I'm... I'm leaving you, too.

Sonic: Oh. 'Course you are.

Sally: It's just that... I feel like things haven't been going as well, and-

Sonic: Fine. Go ahead. See if I care.

Sonic rests his head on his chin and looks at the table as Sally gets a little shocked. After a moment, she grabs the suitcase, gets up, and kisses his cheek.

Sally: See you next time.

Sonic: Whatever.

Sally leaves the apartment and goes downstairs as it starts raining. She then hails a taxi and gets inside of it. Just then, Sonic dashes outside in time to see the car leave. Without a word, he runs to the roof of the building, sits against the edge of it, and starts crying alone.