EXT. MARBLE ZONE - DAY
A cute blue bird flicky settles down at its nest, before SONIC THE HEDGEHOG comes roaring past. It tries to sit back down, but MILES “TAILS” PROWER flies after Sonic. It waits for a moment, but just as it’s about to sit back down, the EGG OCTOPUS robot tears through the column its nest is on top of. Angrily, the bird flies away again, and a panning camera shot shows the entirety of MARBLE ZONE.
Cut to Sonic leaping off of a column to dodge the Egg Octopus’s attack.
SONIC
(yelling over the noise.)
So, an octopus this time? What, did you take a trip to the aquarium, egghead?
As Sonic slides underneath the column, the EGG OCTOPUS yanks the column upwards, and the camera pans to DOCTOR EGGMAN in the cockpit, mashing away at the control panel.
DOCTOR EGGMAN (OVER SPEAKER)
If I took a trip to the ocean, I’d drag you down with me, hedgehog!
The camera pans close behind Sonic — dashing straight for a power generator.
SONIC
Sorry, but I’m gonna have to take a rain check on those plans. After all, we’re only halfway through the alphabet! Say it with me. P is for Parrot, Q is for Quill, and R is for—!
A tentacle lunges at him, but Sonic leaps into the air, and the tentacle destroys the power generator, throwing a shockwave of electricity. The EGG OCTOPUS thrashes uncontrollably. Doctor Eggman tries to control it. A blue field around the EGG OCTOPUS fades away.
DOCTOR EGGMAN (OVER SPEAKER)
(shouting)
Rats!
Sonic lands on top of a stone roof.
SONIC
(clapping sarcastically)
There you go! You’re getting it, now. Next, we’ll finally get to numbers.
Tails flies behind Sonic, tapping at a tablet.
TAILS
That was the last power generator! The shields are down!
Sonic lowers himself to the ground.
SONIC
It’s about time.
Time for a classic. He revs up his signature Spin Dash. A rising whirr, a cloud of dust, and he shoots through a metal tentacle in the blink of an eye.
SONIC
One!
He dashes across a marble bridge over lava. A tentacle smashes through the lava, but Sonic jumps and does a homing attack to destroy it.
SONIC
Two!
A fast-paced panning shot. Sonic bounces from column to column across the pool of lava and through the ancient ruins. He takes a sharp curve. The EGG OCTOPUS is on the backfoot, lunging at him with its tentacles. Sonic counts aloud as he destroys every tentacle through every jump — they’re no match for his Spin Attacks.
SONIC
Eight!
He destroys the last tentacle and jumps off of the Doctor’s cockpit, cracking a smile.
SONIC
Are you ready, Tails?
Tails soars high above him.
TAILS
Let’s finish this!
Tails and Sonic grab each other’s arms by the wrist — the background flashes with hand-drawn, bright yellow and blue colors. He swings Sonic around and around, blurring into a tornado, building up speed before launching Sonic at the EGG OCTOPUS.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
(crying out.)
No! No! Not like this!
Sonic tears through the EGG OCTOPUS’s core, rolling a great distance before he stands back up. Tails lands beside him. In the background, the EGG OCTOPUS flashes and thrashes violently. Sonic and Tails bump fists as it explodes.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
(flying away, shouting.)
You won’t be so lucky next time!
Burnt to a cartoony crisp, Eggman flies off into the distance. Sonic chuckles.
SONIC
Sure. I’m always lucky.
TAILS
(admiring the explosion.)
Wow! Look at that explosion!
SONIC
That’s the biggest one we’ve made in months, isn’t it?
TAILS
Well, we also just destroyed hundreds of priceless artifacts from the past, but, yeah!
A background column falls, bringing down an entire structure with it. Tails gasps.
TAILS
Oh, no, wait - the Chaos Emerald’s in there!
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
SONIC
No it’s not. I have it right…
In a blur, Sonic runs into the background destruction. He returns a second later, cyan CHAOS EMERALD in hand.
SONIC
Here!
Camera pans in close, focusing on the shiny, magical emerald in his hand. Tails puts the Chaos Emerald away and pulls out his tablet, tapping.
TAILS
One emerald down! I’ll mark this as a success!
Sonic lays down on a nearby column, relaxing, stretching his legs.
SONIC
Nice! Where’s the next one?
TAILS
Near...Sunset Coast, if my map’s right.
SONIC
That’s past Emerald Hill, isn’t it?
A butterfly lands on Sonic’s nose. He grins.
SONIC
Wanna race there?
Tails laughs.
TAILS
Are you kidding? I can time you, though!
Sonic instantly jumps to his feet, and the butterfly flies away.
SONIC
Awesome! Race you there!
With a loud BOOM, Sonic dashes out of frame.
TAILS
Wait, we aren’t racing! Wait up!
Tails takes off after him, following Sonic’s trail of dust across the lands.
MATCH CUT TO:
INT. DOCTOR EGGMAN’S LAB
A picture of Green Hill Zone illustrated with evil plans is swept from the desk. The camera looks up — Doctor Eggman, still dirty with his mustache burning, throws a gadget in anger.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
(very angry.)
Failures, failures, failures!
ORBOT and CUBOT nervously peek around the corner, floating into his lab.
ORBOT
(meekly.)
Sir? Is something the matter?
Doctor Eggman glares at him.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
What do you think is the matter?
Orbot raises a finger to reply.
CUBOT
(blurting.)
Oh, I know! Is it the lasagna you undercooked last night? Was it you losing against Sonic for the ninety-ninth time? Is it your lack of actual relationships? Is it the fact that the left side of your mustache is still on fire?
DOCTOR EGGMAN
No, you idiot! It’s the-
He sniffs at the air - Cubot isn’t wrong. He pinches the fire out.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
(cont.)
All my plans and schemes, my grand, original inventions — all failures!
Orbot twiddles his thumbs.
ORBOT
(quietly.)
Well…
DOCTOR EGGMAN
(loudly.)
What? Spit it out!
ORBOT
Technically, the Egg Octopus wasn’t very original, either. You fought Sonic with a large, animal-themed Badnik empowered by a Chaos Emerald. You’ve lost in that way-
The anger in Doctor Eggman’s glare intensifies.
ORBOT
(meekly, cont.)
Countless...times…
Doctor Eggman paces towards Orbot.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
I have an I.Q. of 300, I’ve invented countless pieces of technology, but you’re telling me I can’t bring out a single original idea?!
He grabs Orbot by the head and launches him at a dilapidated poster of his worst enemy - knocking several darts off the wall.
CUBOT
It’s not all bad, boss!
Doctor Eggman raises an eyebrow.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
Excuse me? Elaborate.
CUBOT
When you think about it, everything is a remix of what came before it! The idea that originality comes from something that’s never EVER been done before is fundamentally flawed, and will only have you chasing an impossible goal!
Doctor Eggman’s jaw falls wide open - did Cubot actually say something smart? Orbot floats back up from the ground, rubbing his head.
ORBOT
Forgive us, Doctor. Cubot’s thought processor was damaged in the explosion. He’s having ideas that he shouldn’t.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
No, no. He has a point. Cubot, are you suggesting that I focus on...remixing my past ideas?
CUBOT
Am I? I don’t even know what I just said!
Eggman paces to his desk and types at a holographic keyboard, filling his screen with a database of every tool of destruction he’s ever made. The DEATH EGG ROBOT, the EGG WIZARD, and the EGG DRAGOON flash across the screen.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
Let’s look at my most recent venture: the Metal Virus.
ORBOT
The Metal Virus? Didn’t Sonic and the hedgehog from the future destroy every trace?
DOCTOR EGGMAN
Every physical trace, yes, but I still possess the original formula. It only takes a little experimentation to discover its hidden potential!
He cackles, camera panning to the flash in his glasses.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
Cubot, you idiot, I think you’ve earned an extra slice of lasagna. Go put it in the oven.
CUBOT
Yes sir, Eggman-boss, sir!
Cubot floats through the exit to Eggman’s lab.
DOCTOR EGGMAN
Meanwhile, I have experiments to begin. Orbot...bring me the live subjects.