The more things change, the more they stay the same.
It's the end of the world as they know it, and they feel... fine?
It appears that things have calmed down after the biggest earthquake ever shook down the entire globe, and it's time to assess the damage.
The Freedom Fighters rush to a severely decimated Station Square to assist with rescue operations, but are still reeling from the memory surge of their old life. It may take more than just them to get the job done.
Then, the question arises of what has become of the planet they have been protecting for years.
The Shattered World Crisis has begun.
Tropes:
- Aborted Arc: Enforced. This is the last time the memories of the old Sonic universe are ever discussed, as the characters feel they are slowly fading away. However, the Genesis Waves are still acknowledged from time to time.
- Adaptation Expansion: With mention of Professor Pickle, the Gaia Manuscripts, and the planet's current state, this officially becomes a retold storyline of Sonic Unleashed. There are some pacing and story differences in ongoing issues, and the full cast plays a part in the saga rather than just Sonic but, otherwise, the quest to restore the shattered planet remains the same.
- The Atoner: Sally desperately wants to make amends for everything that she has done as "Mecha Sally" in her old life, but Nicole and Cream tell her that's not needed. She has accomplished much in her current life and whatever happened back there is long gone now.
- Call-Back: Bunnie and Antoine remember being in Station Square before when Perfect Chaos attacked. This also counts as a Continuity Nod as that actually took place in the old universe. Bunnie claims that they were elsewhere in this new universe during the incident.
- The Cavalry : The team has been performing well despite being underprepared, but still do not have the means of effectively evacuating an entire city's worth of people. Luckily, GUN arrives to assist and the captain of the airship thanks the team for giving them the opportunity of prioritizing rescue over cleanup duty.
- Cliffhanger: Sally finally comes to terms with her past and present self and helps the Freedom Fighters provide assistance with the citizens of Station Square until GUN arrives to take over. They look over the situation across the globe to discover that it's not completely destroyed yet, though broken. They decide to contact Uncle Chuck to see if there is any connection behind the quakes and the strange dark energy he was gathering. Unfortunately, a panicked Ben Muttski tells them that Eggman has abducted Chuck and another professor named Dillon Pickle, and stolen some important research materials that may help with the current crisis.
- Continuity Nod: Sally mentions that Station Square is still recovering from Perfect Chaos' rampage before the planet shattering hit.
- Driving Question: After the rescue operation, Sally and Nicole talk to King Acorn about what they have found. Shortly after the mass global quake, the planet is described to be in literal pieces like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle, though not drifting away from its rotation. The oceans are also still intact, as is the breathable atmosphere. So, the big question on everyone's minds is what is holding everything together?
- Earth-Shattering Kaboom: Minus the Kaboom. The planet is reduced to giant floating pieces, but is still livable thanks to the atmosphere and waters remaining as they are.
- Nothing Is the Same Anymore: Eggman takes one last analysis of the Super Genesis Wave aftermath and concludes that the changes of their universe are permanent. Any chance of fully reverting things to the way they were is gone forever so, for him, it's time to focus on fixing this world so he can properly rule over it.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: Orbot once more reminds Eggman that his interference with Super Sonic's Chaos Control led to this planetary crisis. Eggman orders him to drop it once and for all.
