History Recap / SonicTheHedgehogIDWTrialByFireArc

||Saga: || Imposters||

* FortuneTeller: Amy who uses it as an activity while the girls are around the campfire, [[TarotTroubles drawing cards]] to give out some predictions to Jewel, Tangle and Belle.

** Amy refuses to show Belle her card and accidentally drops it in the fire when Belle tries to take it, then lies about what it was. Suggesting it was pretty bad.

* BasedOnATrueStory[=/=]RealLifeWritesThePlot: As stated in Issue 47's "Sonic Letters Squad" section, Evan Stanley based the plot of this arc on a personal experience where her family had to escape a wildfire in Oregon through whitewater rafting when she was 15, as well as on the redwood fires in California that started in 2020.

* TheCameo:

* CampingEpisode: Or StoryArc, in this case, but the camping trip is primarily the focus of this one.
* CoversAlwaysLie: #45's A cover sees the girls traveling in a RV camper. In the comic, they all go in Amy's car.

** Jewel draws a card representing leadership and strength, which Amy claims fits her new role in the Reconstruction, but she is not totally convinced.

* {{Jerkass}}: The old camper in the second issue, despite the ranger's attempts at keeping things orderly and explaining his child is missing. The man acts completely unfazed to his plight and even seems to accuse the ranger's son's wisp for starting the fire. Luckily, Amy gets him to shut up via hammering the rock in the middle of the camp and allowing Jewel some time to think of an evacuation plan.

* MythologyGag: Amy fortune telling is a trait she was stated to have in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''.

* SneezeCut: When Amy says that her fortune telling led her to someone important to her, we cut to Sonic sneezing while playing with Tails.

** Whereas a couple of previous issues showed a bit of physical and emotional/psychological consequences of the [[ZombieApocalypse Zombot Apocalypse]] caused by the Metal Virus (misplaced around the globe and general fatigue, respectively), Issue 45 introduces a serious environmental one. Because the formerly infected plant life didn't absorb enough water during the hydration season, most of the camping area where Amy and her friends are traveling have become too dry. It doesn't take much to start a fire.

--->'''Park Ranger''': Fire watch, come in. Yup, it's like you said. ''This was no accident.''

* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Jewel has a HeroicBSOD when asked to take over the evacuation of the park, feeling that she's been useless as the Restoration's leader during recent crises. Amy calms her down, telling her that she's always done her best, and that's all that's being asked of her. This calms Jewel down enough to start organizing things with a level head.

* DudeNotFunny: When Tails reveals the camping gear he's loaning Amy is experimental, Sonic jokes about her being a guinea pig instead of a hedgehog. Understandably, she isn't amused.

||Saga: || Metal Virus||

* NightmareFace: Kit sports one in Ashe's flashback. Barely averted in the same shot with Surge[[note]]although she's still got one ''mean'' SlasherSmile[[/note]], since the glow of her lightning makes more of her face visible.
* NothingIsScarier: Invoked with Surge and Kit, both before and after they've fled the scene of their crime. They and the four heroines never interact nor are even in the same shot, except when Belle sees the evil duo's heat-distorted silhouettes from behind. Surge and Kit are still out there at the end of the arc, with the Restoration largely oblivious to what's really going on.

* RedRightHand: One of Belle's "gloves" is burned off in the wildfire, exposing the hand of her metal endoskeleton, forcing to Tangle bandage it with some of her sports tape. Tails crafts Belle a new hand casing at the end of the arc.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pic_sonic_idw_45_cover.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Hey, no need to get heated. It's just some simple woods and relaxation... Right?]]

''Featured in issues 45-47''

With all the craziness of the Metal Virus, mad doctors, and Zeti, Amy, Jewel, Tangle and Belle decide to take a break and go camping to clear their heads. However despite all the smiles and cheers, there's some unseen tension brewing within a few of them. But things turn serious when a forest fire breaks out, threatening their lives and the other campers as well. Our heroines are put on the spot to save the day, while likewise overcoming their personal problems in the process.

* TarotTroubles: Amy decides to pass time by giving Tangle, Jewel, and Belle tarot readings. It goes well until she gets to Belle, as Amy panics when she sees the card she drew for her. [[TheUnreveal We never get to see it]] as she accidentally drops it in the fire, [[BlatantLies but Amy nervously claims it was a card with more positive implications]].

* AdultFear: The camp ranger has a son named Ashe, who has a fire wisp for a friend. When the forest fire starts up he can't find his son in the chaos of the evacuation, prompting Tangle to volunteer to go look for him. When Tangle and Belle return with Ashe, to say the ranger is relieved would be an understatement.

* FortuneTeller: Amy who uses it as an activity while the girls are around the campfire, giving out some predictions to Jewel, Tangle and Belle.

* AdultFear: The camp ranger has a son named Ashe, who has a fire wisp for a friend. When the forest fire starts up he can't find his son in the chaos of the evacuation, prompting Tangle to volunteer to go look for him. When Tangle and Belle return with Ashe, the ranger is absolutely ''relieved''.

** Tangle and Belle try to jump the chasm on the motobug using Belle's kick function to cross. Despite the added boost, they still end up falling short, only managing to get across thanks to Tangle's tail.

* ThatCameOutWrong: Tangle realizes she could've worded her resignation announcement

* NightmareFace: Kit sports one in Ashe's flashback.
* NothingIsScarier: The camp ranger finds Kit's and Surge's shoeprints in the burnt-down forest, confirming the wildfire was caused on purpose. But the villains themselves are still out there, and the heroes are remain oblivious to Starline's involvement.

* ThatCameOutWrong: Tangle's reaction to the above-mentioned StunnedSilence example. Jewel understands and forgives her, though.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Jewel has a HeroicBSOD when asked to take over the evacuation of the park, feeling that she's been useless as the Restoration's leader during recent crises. Amy calms her down, telling her that she's always done her best, and that's all that's being asked of her. This calms Jewel down enough to start organizing things with a level head.
* WhamEpisode: Downplayed, but Tangle announces she's leaving the Restoration. Largely to go help Whisper against Mimic, but mostly because she prefers being on the frontlines and going to the action then waiting on it.

* WhamEpisode: Downplayed, but Tangle announces she's living the Restoration. Largely to go help Whisper, but mostly because she prefers being on the frontlines and going to the action then waiting on it.

* YouAreNotAlone:
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Jewel has a HeroicBSOD when asked to take over the evacuation of the park, feeling that she's been useless as the Restoration's leader during recent crises. Amy calms her down, telling her that she's always done her best, and that's all that's being asked of her. This calms Jewel down enough to start organizing things with a level head.

** Tangle quits the Restoration at the end of the arc and sets out to find Whisper. Jewel, while stunned, accepts Tangle's choice and lets her go. Though Tangle later tells Sonic she'll still aid the Restoration, just won't be a member in it.

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Befitting a wildfire scenario, the environment is Tangle and Belle's nemesis as they're trying to save Ashe and his Red Wisp. The four, along with the Motobug, brave huge walls of flame, thick smoke, unstable ground, a falling tree, river rapids, and finally a [[InevitableWaterfall a waterfall]] before they make it back to the campground.

* InevitableWaterfall: Tangle, Belle, and Ashe encounter one as they ride a log down the river. The Motobug, floating in the water and clinging to Tangle's tail, follows them down as they go over the falls. Luckily the waterfall isn't too high and they all come out unscathed.

* OhCrap:

* SoProudOfYou: Jewel to Tangle, as the former accepts the latter's resignation.

* StunnedSilence: Tangle's WhamLine that she's quitting the Restoration shocks the other girls speechless for a moment, ''especially'' Jewel.

** Sometimes friends need a change of pace and it's understandable to let them do something different then trying to keep them by your side. Tangle and Jewel come to this understanding at the end of the arc with the former deciding to leave the Restoration to help Whisper and Jewel, having already figured working within the Restoration wasn't to Tangle's liking, more then willing to let her go with no hard feelings.

** Tangle quits the Restoration at the end of the arc and sets out to find Whisper. Jewel, while stunned, accepts Tangle's choice and lets her go.

* InevitableWaterfall: Tangle, Belle, and Ashe encounter one as they ride a log down the river. The Motobug, floating in the water and clinging to Tangle's tail, follows them down as they go over the falls.

** Amy hopes the wildfire situation was accidental, but we all know it was really arson committed by Surge and Kit. Sonic himself is suspicious of what's going on.

* ButNowIMustGo: Whisper finds out that Mimic escaped from prison and heads out to find him, leaving the Restoration for the time being so as not to put them in danger.

* RedRightHand: One of Belle's "gloves" is burned off in the wildfire, exposing the hand of her metal endoskeleton. Tangle bandages it with some of her sports tape.
* SimultaneousArcs: Issue #1 of the ''Imposter Syndrome'' miniseries occurs parallel to this arc, with the forest fire itself turning out to be a [[AssassinationAttempt deliberate gambit by Dr. Starline to kill Amy]] and drive Sonic into the DespairEventHorizon over her death. It ended up failing as Starline didn't take into account that Amy, Belle, Tangle and Jewel were more than capable of handling themselves and saving the day on their own. Moreover, Kit and Surge's arson (the direct cause of the fire) is witnessed by Ashe, and Belle sees them leaving the scene as she wakes up after the Motobug attack.

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Just as Tangle and Belle find Ashe, the whole terrain around them (slopes, cliffs, burning trees, etc.) starts falling apart. Tangle also chokes due to smoke inhalation at one point.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The arc's title refers to the wildfire Surge and Kit started in ''Imposter Syndrome'', as well as the heroines' personal struggles as they work to get the situation under control.

* InevitableWaterfall: Tangle, Belle, and Ashe go over one as the ride down the river on a log. The Motobug, floating in the water and clinging to Tangle's tail, follows them down.
* {{Irony}}: Belle, a robot with all-wooden casing, turning out to have a ''fire lighter'' among the assortment of tools in her fingers. Lampshaded:
-->'''Belle''': It comes in handy, but it's still a little nerve-wracking when you're made of ''wood''.

* AdultFear: The camp ranger has a son named Ashe, who has a fire wisp for a friend. When the forest fire starts up he can't find his son in the chaos of the evacuation, prompting Tangle to volunteer to go look for him.

* InevitableWaterfall: Tangle and Belle's group goes over one while riding down the rapids on a log.