You lose. Continue...?
Eggman and Snively arrive with the mother of all party crashes, launching an all-out assault on Knothole, and Sonic makes a headstart to put a stop to it.
However, things aren't so simple this time. The doctor has planned meticulously for this day while the Freedom Fighters were busy, in a way they aren't prepared for.
It seems as though the Fastest Thing Alive and all of his friends have finally met their match, but is it truly the end?
Tropes:
- The Atoner: Poor Hope learns about Eggman and Snivley's attack on Knothole; made worse by the fact Snivley convinced her to leave well beforehand. Feeling like she won't feel welcome in New Mobotroplis because of this, she attacks and vehemently tells Snivley that she plans to join GUN and help the Freedom Fighters fight the Eggman Empire, if only to restore some dignity to their Kintobor name.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Subverted. Dr. Eggman earns his most epic victory to date. He completely destroys Knothole Kingdom, abducts almost everyone, and delivers to Sonic the beating of his life. There is no denying he has earned this, but it's too bad for him this victory doesn't last.
- Chekhov's Gun: Nicole has been secretly repurposing the Nanite City since the Freedom Fighters disabled it from ADAM. With Knothole destroyed, she helps move everyone to it, now making it New Mobotropolis.
- Crippling Overspecialization: During their rematch, Eggman reminds Sonic that the Egg Beater is specifically designed to counter all of Sonic's abilities, which led to the beatdown last time. Sonic hasn't forgotten... which is why the rest of the team can coordinate and take down the machine with little effort.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: Eggman's latest weapon is a mech suit specially designed to counter everything Sonic throws at him. Despite Sonic going beyond his usual limits, it's still not enough, and is soundly beaten.
- Failed a Spot Check: Snively captured everyone at Freedom HQ, but misses Amy, Knuckles, and Tails, while Sonic is left to Eggman. This is just one factor that leads to Eggman facing an epic loss near the end of the arc, as they never made sure to check back and capture them.
- Foreshadowing:
- Rotor notices that Tails and Sonic haven't been very close for a while. Though Tails insists that he is okay since he has his family, the events involving Fiona and the next arc will boil over and threaten their bond.
- Elsewhere, Scourge tells Finitevus that Dimitri of the Dark Legion has left to warn Knuckles of his plan. Finitevus decides to let him do so, as he feels that nothing will stop him from unleashing a new Enerjak on Mobius.
- Heroic Second Wind: Invoked thanks to all of the Power Ring energy Sonic has kept over the years. It's the biggest reason why he wasn't reduced to paste after being crushed by Eggman's battle suit, and why he is able get back up.
- Hoist by Their Own Petard: Part One had Snively use a laser weapon to warp targets to New Megalopolis, where they are trapped into numerous Egg Grapes. Nicole hacks in the system in Part Two, in order to redirect everyone into a new city when Eggman tries to recapture them with the same weapon.
- Important Haircut: Sally has been "mostly" off-duty from the Freedom Fighters to overlook Knothole since Sonic was thought to been dead a year ago in Mobius (even more so after their breakup), and it shows from how her hair grew during that time. Before they all join Sonic in his rematch against Eggman, Sally asks Bunnie to cut her hair back to her classic style, remembering the rabbit's dream of being her royal hairdresser. After the battle is over and Sonic notices her new look, the princess explains how it represents her heart and mind being on the right track.
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: Charmy is briefly hit with the Egg Grapes' energy before Sonic's team saves him and everyone else. Once they are teleported to New Mobotropolis, Dr. Quack deduces that he has lost some of his memories. At the very least, he remembers his role as prince of his own fallen kingdom, the Chaotix and, most importantly, his friend Safforn.
- Limit Break: When Eggman taunts Sonic about "reaching his limit", the irate hedgehog speeds halfway across the country and double back to go beyong said limit and destroy his mech. It doesn't, but not for lack of trying.Sonic: Limit? I'VE GOT YOUR "LIMIT" RIGHT HERE!
- Mugging the Monster: Mammoth Mogul, one of the people captured by Eggman, attempts to lead his fellow baddies to take over New Mobotropolis, only for Nicole to instantly transport them to a nearby prison. Granted, Mogul is still fairly weak without a Chaos Emerald, but the city is almost completely powered by ninites, with Nicole controlling its security. Sonic gives her props for actually interrupting the mammoth's usual rants.
- Trash the Set: After over 200 issues (175 of the main one up to this point and across the spinoffs and one-offs), Knothole is no more thanks to Eggman.
- Unspoken Plan Guarantee: Nicole's plan is to have Sonic and the others charge to New Megalopolis and rescue everyone from the Egg Grapes. While that's happening, Tails and Nicole modify the teleportation beam that abducted everyone last time to a new area. All that is left is to keep everyone else out of the loop while Eggman thinks he'll win again. By the time the doctor realizes he has been played, it is already too late and everyone is warped to New Mobotropolis.
- Wham Episode: #175 is a major milestone of the main series focusing on Eggman's biggest victory against Sonic and the Freedom Fighters, short lived as it is. They defeat him once again and, thanks to Nicole, they have a new kingdom to live in.
