"New Year's Retribution?" Tails read the title of the show.

Amy smiled. "It looks like they're celebrating the New Year in their universe."

The scene began with Team Sonic in the middle of the village. Amy was on top of a ladder hanging streamers while Knuckles made sure she didn't fall. Sonic, Sticks, and Tails were watching a distance away.

"Come on, everybody!" Amy glanced down at the three observers. "These decorations aren't gonna hang themselves!"

Tails grinned up at her. "Oh, aren't they?" In his hands was a gun of some sort, and he aimed it at the sky, firing a few times. Lines of decorations neatly landed on rooftops and between trees. Tails turned back around, proud.

Cosmo smiled. "Nice one, Tails."

The kit smiled proudly. "Why thank you, Cosmo."

Amy was on the ground now, not as impressed. "They still didn't hang themselves. Your machine did it."

Knuckles, beside her, crossed his arms. "Not cool, Tails."

Carol frowned. "What's up with them? Why aren't they impressed?"

"They could at least say 'great work'." Milla added.

Tails frowned. First the Translator Bot and now this. This is just not his day,

Sticks approached the kit, motioning to the decorations. "Tails, take those things down. You're gonna attract bugs, and aliens, and kumquats, and list jokes!"

Sonic snorted. "I expected aliens, but kumquats? That's a new one."

"Makes you wonder what bad experiences she's had with kumquats..." Tails pondered.

"Come on, guys. Lay off him." Sonic interjected as every single decoration Tails put up fell down. With a change of opinion, a disappointed Sonic put a hand on the fox's shoulder. "Way to ruin New Year's, dude."

"The only thing that's gonna ruin it is your attitude," Sonic lightly grouses, coming to his little brother's defense.

"They can build it back." Amy said. "After all, it's a New Year's Eve celebration. Nothing should go wrong.

Eggman crossed his arms. "Not unless my double will shows up."

Rouge grinned over at him. "Still haven't warmed up to your twin, doctor?"

"Never have, never will."

"Is that the holiday where a giant rabbit breaks into your house and hides painted eggs?" Knuckles asked.

Tails' brow creased. "Uh... that's a weird holiday."

Amy was walking over, rolling a large colorful ball. "Knuckles, forget about your crazy holidays and help me get this ball on top of that pole."

Obeying, Knuckles went over and lifted the wooden pole she was talking about. Amy placed the ball on a stand, and the echidna slotted the pole into the hollowed holes in the ball. After attacking a hook to the decoration, Knuckles cranked a lever, slowly rising the ball to the top of the pole.

"When it drops to the bottom-" Amy began. "-then it's exactly midnight and the start of the new year!"

Torque didn't get how the mechanism worked. "Does anyone see a timer on that?"

"I don't," Carol said.

"It looks like they're just hoping for the best." Lilac said.

"Don't trust her, Knuckles." Sticks quickly sidled up to the echidna, startling him and making him let go of the lever. "I told you about the kumquats!"

Without any support, the colorful ball fell back down the pole. Amy tried to save it, but it was too heavy for her to hold. They both crashed to the ground, the decoration shattering.

Tails snickered. "You really...dropped the ball!"

Knuckles couldn't help but to cringe. "Leave the jokes to Sonic, Tails. They're worse enough as it is.

Sonic took offense to that. "Hey! My jokes aren't that terrible!"

Tails' tone turned meek when irritated eyes landed on him. "Not cool?" Everyone gave him a look that clearly implied a 'yes'.

Tails felt bad for his twin. If Sonic of all people didn't improve of it, then it was horrible.

Then, the ground started to shake.

Eggman knew what was coming.

They all turned to see Eggman fly over, laughing while large robotic balls bounced around him. The doctor grinned. "Okay ball bots, let's roll!"

Scourge gave a blank expression. "First the fox and now the fat man." He shook his head. "

"Talk about kicking a horse when he's down." Fiona said.

The robots rolled around the ground, aiming for the heroes. Sonic hopped on one and ran before slamming it into a nearby tree. Knuckles punched two of the robots, making two makeshift weights and showing off by doing reps with them.

Then, he hurled the bots at Eggman, knocking him upside-down in his hovercraft. He growled. "Oh, what's the use?" He flew away, leaving behind a black cloud of smoke.

Knuckles would like his twin much more if he was all muscle and no talk. That way, the question of whether a robot could be born would never be asked again.

Eggman appreciated that his double had been driven off so early, but he had a sneaking suspicion that the headache wasn't over yet.

Just please leave the bad jokes behind. I beg you.

With Eggman gone, Tails faced the last activated bot and aimed his gun at it. He shot more decorations at the floating ball, causing it to quickly spin and fling the streamers back onto the rooftops.

That ball wasn't spinning fast enough for that to be possible, but Tails wasn't going to question it. If someone could survive being hit by a plummeting meteor in that dimension, anything could happen.

After looking around, Amy smiled. "The decorations look great, Tails." She gestured over to the round robot. "And this will make a great New Year's Eve ball!"

She pushed the floating ball over to the wooden stand, and Knuckles impaled it with the same pole as before. The echidna turned the crank, the bot rising to the top for all the see.

Carol raised a brow. "Wood could just go through metal like that?"

"It can when you're strong enough," Cory replied.

The scene changed to Eggman's evil lair.

Eggman hated that he barely had time to enjoy the absence of his other self. Maybe this was an episode where his twin wasn't that much of an annoyance and...

Oh, who was he kidding. It was inevitable.

He entered a room through sliding doors, grumbling to himself. "Great. Here it is, New Year's Eve, and I still haven't fulfilled my resolution from last year!"

"Let me guess: to rule the world?" Sonic spoke up with a smirk. "That's getting old, Eggface."

"At least I came close to ruling the world, porcupine."

Cubot and Orbot stared at him. "Was that the one to become a more benevolent master?" the latter asked.

Eggman glared. "I'll show you benevolent , you bag of bolts!" He pulled out a magazine from nowhere and hit Orbot in the head with it.

Eggman would imagine that magazine as a knife and would love to use it on every other person in this room. Except for Shadow, Scourge Anti-Tails and Rosy of course. He liked living.

Orbot rubbed where he'd been hit. "Clearly, one of us doesn't know what benevolent means..."

"Two of us!" Cubot chimed in.

"All I wanted was to have one decisive victory over Sonic," Eggman explained with a frown. "Just one! I'm so miserable, I barely enjoyed smacking you with that magazine."

"That's...kinda sad?" Amy didn't know how to feel about this. "I'm sure that Eggman could beat Sonic at something though!"

"Well he beats Sonic at brains, right." Tails hummed as he thought. "I mean, doesn't he have a high IQ?"

"He should," Eggman grumbled.

"Doesn't seem like it." Knuckles derisively snorted.

Tails kept going. "So, maybe he could outsmart at uhhh... Chese??""

Sonic shuddered at the thought of sitting through that long game. "He'd win by default! I'd get bored and walk away before the game's halfway over."

Rouge nodded at that. "Well doctor, whenever you feel a little down, play chess with Blue here. That should cheer you right back up."

Eggman was starting to agree with Knuckles. One less bat meant one less rodent he had to deal with. "Don't patronize me!"

"Or maybe you'd be happier with a game of Sudoku? Or Scrabble?"

"Or Monopoly!" Amy suggested. "Any long game would guarantee a win for you."

Sonic nodded, not offended at all. "Very true. Let me know when you need a pick-me-up, Eggy! I'll even let you pick the game."

Eggman rubbed his temples. If Metal was here, he would tell him to kill everybody in this room. But Scourge was here, so maybe...

"Scourge, can you do me a favor and-

"I don't take orders from you."

Oh well, at least he tried.

Cubot's spirits were down also. "It's sad when we no longer enjoy our hobbies."

"Don't you worry, sir!" Orbot reassured Eggman. "I've dreamed up a New Year's Eve party that's going to really put the spring back in your step!" He floated beside a device, digging around behind it.

Eggman narrowed his eyes. "If you pull out a checkerboard, I'm going to sell you for scrap metal!"

Orbot froze, checkerboard in hand, before putting it back.

Silver couldn't help but laugh. "Looks like someone else had the same ideas you guys!"

Sonic snickered. He glanced at the human genius. "You sure you don't want to play with, Eggy."

Eggman growled.

"I hate all of you with all of my heart."

Back at the village, the sun had set, and the party was in full swing. Knuckles, in a hot dog suit, was dancing in a conga line formed by the villagers.

"It's a party for New Year's Eve, not Halloween." Knuckles pointed out, deadpan.

"Yeah..."

Rouge patted him on the head. "The suit looked pretty good on him, if I say so myself."

The echidna perked up, a smile nearly splitting his face in half. "Really? I knew taking that risk in wearing it would pay off!"

"No one looks good in a hotdog suit!" The guardian crossed his arms and grumbled to himself.

Leroy the turtle was providing the music that mostly everyone was dancing to.

Sonic and Amy were standing off to the side together, leaning against a wooden counter.

Amy lit up like a neon sign. "Look how close they're standing together!"

Knuckles grinned. "They're definitely going to go in for a New Year's kiss when the time is right!"

Tails joined in as he chuckled. "They are standing pretty close to each other. And Sonic's not even running away. It's like he wants to be with Amy."

Amy gasped. "Really?!"

The blue speedster ran a hand down his face. "Tails, Knuckles..." He sighed before gesturing with a defeated look on his face. He hates to admit it, but they were right. He couldn't argue. After all, they are less than an arm's length apart. Sonic softly smiled. "You know what? It's fine. If it makes them happy, then leave them be."

But Knuckles wouldn't let up as he grinned. "So if the Sonic and Amy in that universe were to fall for each other, wouldn't that mean you and Amy in this universe fall in love as well?"

Rouge joined in too. "So, you're saying that as long as they're happy, you too can be a couple too?"

Sonic's smile fell, and Amy squealed in joy.

The blue hero floundered for a moment, not knowing how to answer the question, until he called for help. "Tails?"

Tails didn't want to be caught in the crossfire here. "Um... this is your relationship problem, Sonic!"

Sonic threw him a look of betrayal before asking, "Anyone else?"

Silence.

The blue blur sighed.

The pinkette hedgehog smiled and leaned in her seat. "I'll make you happy, Sonic! I promise!"

The blue speedster slumped in his seat.

They watched as Knuckles danced by, and Sonic had to ask, "Why are you dressed like that?"

The echidna turned around. "Isn't New Year's the holiday where you put on a costume and threaten to prank strangers if they don't give you candy?"

Knuckles frowned. "You can't prank strangers to give you candy because it's not Halloween!"

"That's not a holiday." Amy crossed her arms. "It's extortion."

Knuckles blinked. "I'm hearin' a lot of words, but I'm not seeing any candy, lady." He held up a bag with the picture of a ghost on it.

Charmy was curious. "What is better: candy or cookies?"

Vector shrugged. "It depends on your preference. Some people like cookies while some people like candy a little too much."

"I don't like it that much, echidna," Shadow began to explain. "It was about going out of one's way to blatantly hide something."

"They're both deliciously sweet. It comes down to the person." Espio said.

In the middle of the party, a particular bird was talking into a camera.

"Soar the Eagle here, reporting live from the village center, where the New Year's festivities are in full swing! People have come from far and wide! Men, women, children, celebrities, politicians, some nut in a hot dog suit-"

Knuckles perked up, whispering to his friends. "I think he's talking about me!"

Soar continued. "-it would be hard to find anyone who's not having a great time tonight!"

In the lair, Eggman was uninterested as Orbot droned on about checkers.

Sonic snickered. "The desperation won out, huh?"

The robot pointed to multiple spots on the board. "I could jump you there, or there, but then you could jump me there, or even there, but ooo , I could double jump you there, and-"

Frustrated, Eggman slapped the board off the table, its circular pieces flying everywhere. "This is the worst New Year's party ever!"

Cubot wasn't too happy either. "Well, it is now!"

Tails furrowed his brow. "I'm more surprised that Orbot was actually beating him in checkers."

Eggman grunted. "That says a lot, doesn't it."

Knuckles scoffed. "Eggman created him. Of course he's gonna beat him>'

Orbot left and flew back over with a crockpot. "Let's not forget dear old Orbot's famous mouth-watering slow cooked New Year's roast!" He took the top off the pot to reveal a steaming roast.

Eggman wasn't impressed. "It too is just a sad, succulent reminder about how quickly everything else in life moves."

"A slow cooker is truly one of life's most poetic small kitchen appliances," Cubot commented.

"Aren't poems usually short and sweet?" Lilac questioned. "I thought microwaves would be the most poetic."

Rouge thought on that. "I would say a blender because no matter what you put in there, someone, somewhere would find it useful and appreciate it."

Orbot wafted his meal. "If only everything moved at the same pace as the marinating juices of my roast."

Eggman scratched his chin in thought. "Then, I'd have another chance to fulfill my New Year's resolution! That's it!" He picked up the crockpot. "If only I would harness the technology of this slow-cooker, I could create a slow-motion machine!"

Torque repeated those words in his mind to make sure he heard that correctly. "You can't...Does he not know how a slow-cooker works? You can't make a slow-motion machine out of it."

"He can't hear you." Anti-Tails sighed. "And if he could, he wouldn't listen."

"And what would that do?" Cubot asked.

"Slow everything down!" Orbot answered.

"Giving me more time before the end of the year to defeat Sonic!" Eggman tossed the roast out of the cooker, to Orbot and Cubot's surprise, before turning the appliance upside-down. The doctor grabbed a screwdriver and popped off a covering on the bottom. Inside was a red glowing ball. "There it is, the power source that makes a slow cooker cook slowly!"

Torque resembled a fish out of water. "I...stand corrected?"

"I mean, it's a good idea." Tails admitted. "But since it's coming from Eggman, it probably won't work."

Orbot was wiping off some of the roast that splashed on him. "And here I thought it was the mixture of patience, low heat, and collected condensation."

"Nope," Eggman said as he held the power source in his hand. "Glowing energy ball."

"The more the better!" Sonic chirped.

At the party once more, Comedy Chimp was holding the microphone now. "Welcome back to Comedy Chimp's New Year's adequate eve, sponsored by Meh Burger!" He lifted a bowl of chili. "Home of the new Ten Alarm Super Atomic chili!" He dipped a chip and ate it, frowning up. "Ten Alarm? This thing's barely ketchup."

Remembering that he was live, Comedy Chimp mended his words. "I mean, uh, I'm sure it'll kick in eventually. Now let's see who's out celebrating!" The chimp held out the microphone to Knuckles, who was wearing a nightcap and holding a pillow. "How about you, sir? Excited?"

"You bet!" Knuckles agreed. "I just hope the obese man who watches me sleep doesn't think I've been naughty. Otherwise, he might not sneak into my house and leave presents!"

"Why does he explain holidays so weirdly?" Wave lightly admonished. "That's just Christmas."

"Does he want to scar the children who are watching too?" Amy questioned.

"Right..." Comedy Chimp drawled out, confused, before focusing elsewhere. "Oh, there's the Mayor!" He slid over to Fink. "Mr. Mayor, a word?"

The Mayor looked at the camera pointed at him, scratching his cheek in worry. "Uh uh...look, the allegations that I use the town's money to buy myself a vacation island are totally untrue!" He laughed nervously.

Sonic snorted. "He started telling on himself instantly."

Tails did the same. "Guilt does that to people sometimes. They say or do things that don't plan to."

Comedy Chimp deadpanned. "I was gonna ask you to say a few words before the start of the countdown."

"Oh!" Fink regathered himself. "Well in that case, I just wanna wish everyone a very happy New Year, and you're all welcome to come visit me on my private vacation island! Um, I mean, if I ever get one, of course! No more questions," he said before walking away.

Another conga line formed with Knuckles dancing at the end of it. They went along until they crashed into a pole, releasing star-shaped confetti.

While everyone celebrated, Eggman swooped down at the edge of the party, holding his power source. "We're going to slow this next one down, for the ladies!"

Please don't, Eggman inwardly pleaded. Just go home and wallow in your miseries by yourself. Pick up a tub of ice cream while you're at it.

Noticing him, Sonic sprinted over. Meanwhile, Eggman had thrown the red ball into the air and pressed a few buttons, causing it to glow brightly.

There was a sudden flash, and Sonic looked around confusedly when his speed slowed along with everything else. He ran from his nearly frozen friends at a normal pace. Knuckles was very slowly dancing in line, and Amy was barely moving while jumping in the air.

Sonic tried to run faster, but he couldn't.

Fiona knew that this wasn't going to work. "Even if Eggman is somehow not affected by this, he's still going to lose."

Eggman grinned. "Sonic, my little friend! And by friend, I mean enemy. Happy New Year! And by happy, I mean awful. And by New Year, not yet New Year."

"Was any of that necessary?"

Sonic looked at Scourge. "He probably does it all the time."

"I wouldn't." Eggman groused.

Sonic slowed to a stop in front of him. "What's going on here, Egghead?"

Eggman haughtily crossed his arms. "Isn't it obvious? My slow-motion machine has slowed everything down! Slow, of course, for you is just normal speed."

Sonic blinked. "What about you?"

Amy furrowed her brow. "But Sonic doesn't talk fast though! Wouldn't he sound like everyone else around him?"

"He should, but the physics there is flawed." Blaze reminded her.

"Well," the doctor started. "If you paid attention in evil scientist school in a desperate attempt to get your father's approval, you'd not that-" He cut himself off. "Oh, can't we just skip ahead to the part when I destroy you?"

"I'm curious." Rouge focused on the human doctor. "About the father part. Got any family history you'd like to share?"

Eggman huffed. "More than the things you all unfortunately know? No."

"Let's go with a classic! Laser beeaaaam!" He raised the wrist device on his arm and fired a laser.

That was moving at a snail's pace.

"That's pretty cool!" Charmy said in awe.

"Cool and dangerous, Charmy." Espio pointed out.

Sonic wasn't impressed. He yawned and sidestepped the beam when it got close enough, pretending to examine his nails. When it passed, Sonic smirked. "Nice try, Egghead. Your father would be proud."

"And your father would clap for your sarcasm, rodent." Eggman retorted

The blue hedgehog glared at the human doctor. "Don't talk about by dad."

"Don't talk about my dad."

Eggman growled. "Robots, attack! "

A horde of robot bees were a distance away, very slowly flying forward.

Eggman sighed. "As expected."

Sonic's smirk grew as Eggman floundered. "Uh, well um...they'll be here in a minute." He held up his hands. "Just hang on."

"I can't wait around all day for your slow bots," Sonic argued.

Eggman frowned. "Alright, I need a new plan."

"Here's an idea." Sonic put a hand on his hip. "How about I destroy your slow-motion machine, and we call it a day?"

"The show can't be almost over yet, right?" Amy asked.

"I doubt we're at the end," Knuckles answered instead. They hadn't suffered for long enough this episode yet. "I have a feeling that Sonic won't be able to destroy it."

"Brilliant plan, Sonic!" The doctor mockingly praised. "Oh wait, totally forgot to mention, if you do that, everyone and everything would be stuck in slow-motion forever."

"Except for him, for some reason." Torque pointed out.

Sonic groaned.

"Tell you what, let's settle this with one final test of our abilities." Eggman suggested, approaching him. "Just you and me, one on one, mano a mano, peaches and cream!"

"Peaches and cream?" Milla repeated the words, confused.

Shadow wasn't surprised. "We can all agree that he's slowly losing it."

"It wouldn't be the first." Spade said.

"If you win, maybe just maybe I'll be convinced to switch my machine off and return the world to its normal speed."

Sonic rose a brow. "Did you just say 'peaches and cream'?"

Milla liked that they were on the same wavelength.

"Quit stalling!" Eggman barked.

A short while later, everyone was still barely moving while Eggman and Sonic played dominoes at a table in the middle of the party.

"Bam!" Sonic slammed down a piece, raising his hands up. "Game over!"

Eggman felt numb. "Out of all the games...? That one is more based on luck than strategy!"

"I'm more interested in why there was a random domino set in the middle of a New Year's party." Tails said.

Scowling, Eggman slapped the dominoes off the table. They froze mid-air. "That would've been far more dramatic in normal speed."

"Well Eggman, I won fair and square," Sonic said. "Turn off your machine."

"Give me one more shot!"

"Yeah, pick something that's at least challenging for both of you." Knuckles said.

The next scene was the duo playing hopscotch.

Eggman wanted to bang his head against something.

Sonic made it to the end without any problems. He picked up the rock and tossed it in the air, it slowly floating.

Eggman tried to do the same, but he ended up falling on his back.

No one was surprised.

"I'm impressed with how far he had gotten," Carol snickered..

The next event was pole vaulting.

There was a blank expression on Fiona's face. "Pole vaulting."

Amy was so confused. "Why won't he try something that doesn't involve physical exertion?"

Knuckles rose a brow at her. "What, do you want him to win?"

"No! It's just really sad and pathetic."

Scourge shook his head. "You should be used to that by now."

"I know, but – wait." Amy glared at him. "Are you talking about me or Eggman?"

"Both."

Sonic ran forward with the long pole and vaulted over the raised bar with ease, landing on the cushioned padding with a victorious laugh.

When Eggman went to try, the pole ended up breaking, and he landed on his back again.

Next, Sonic flipped a coin into the air, but its momentum dropped to a near zero. The hedgehog crossed his arms and yawned.

Since that didn't work, the pair moved on to ping pong.

Cory just shook her head. "Might as well try actual tennis while he's at it."

"Soccer too," Jet added.

Sonic served the ball, and it floated through the air. Thinking that he had the win, Eggman laughed before taking a swing and missing the ball entirely, smashing his paddle through the table.

Sonic blinked. "Wow. You hit just as hard as Knuckles."

The red echidna scoffed.

Sonic wasn't amused.

"He not gonna questioned that Eggman just smashed a ping pong table with his bare hands?"

Knucles glanced at the yellow kit. "I doubt he would.

The next clipped showed Sonic winning bingo. "Bingo!"

Then gin rummy. "Gin!"

And lastly chess. "Checkmate!"

Sonic perked up at that. "Whoa, seriously? Either Eggy's really blowing it, or my double's just awesome."

Tails smiled. "Either way, I'm really impressed!"

Eggman frowned, frustrated. "I can't believe that it's come down to this.

Sonic's hand moved across a checkerboard, jumping over the doctor's remaining pieces.

"I hope my twin holds this over Eggy's head for the rest of his life."

"Man, I hate checkers," Eggman glowered, flipping the board. Unsurprisingly, it froze mid-air.

Sonic deadpanned at him while Eggman gathered the scattered pieces, threw them on the ground, and stomped on them.

Knuckles smirked. "It's rare to see a Sonic being the mature one."

Sonic was going to argue that until he realized that he couldn't.

"Ten!" the villagers began to count down in extreme slow-mo, the ball-bot dropping in sync.

"Uh oh, he's running out of time!" Amy pointed out.

"There was no reason for you to say that. We are all literally watching the same thing, idiot."

"Go kiss your boyfriend, Fiona."

"Don't tell me to do things that your boyfriend is scared of doing."

"I'm not her boyfriend!" Sonic protested.

"Not yet you are."

"Shut up, Knuckles."

Eggman slumped. "All I wanted was a chance to beat you in one thing. Just once before the end of the year! Is that too much for a villain to ask?

Sonic's brow creased. "You did all this just to notch some kind of victory over me?"

"Oh no." Sonic slumped in his seat. "Don't tell me that he's gonna let Eggman win something on purpose."

"He better not," Eggman grumbled. "He does not deserve it." Pity wins don't count.

"Maybe," the man grumbled.

"Yeah," Sonic admitted. "I guess I've been pretty dominant this year."

Eggman glared. "You guess? You guess? I made a New Year's resolution to beat you one time this year! And here I am, ten seconds before midnight, and I can't even win a simple game of checkers!"

"That seems like a personal problem." Tails said.

"Nine!" the crowed slowly called out.

Sonic snorted. "Tell ya what, Egghead, we still got a couple seconds left. In the spirit of the new year, I challenge you to a dance off."

Scourge choked on his laughter. "Dance of?!?"

Fiona giggled. "I'm not on Sonic's or anything, but there's absolutely no way that Eggman's beating him in that."

"A dance off?" Eggman repeated. "What, are you making fun of me? Not cool, Sonic."

"Don't talk like my twin, Eggman." Knuckles retorted.

"I wouldn't even if I wanted to."

"Eight!" The ball lowered even more.

"I'm serious!" Sonic placated, hands on his hips. "The end of the year is the time for letting loose and having crazy fun. What's more fun than a dance off?"

Sonic could list many things but he had to admit that dancing was pretty fun too.

"Seven!"

"So, are we gonna dance, or what?" Sonic asked.

Eggman grinned. "Check this!" He pressed a button on his arm, and music started blasting. He moonwalked before doing some questionable dance moves, ending with a short breakdance and a peace sign. He smirked at Sonic. "Whaaat!"

Spade blinked. "I need some bleach."

Tails didn't know what to feel. "It wasn't that bad..."

"No one asked for your opinion."

"Six!"

Sonic wasn't intimidated. "Aight, aight, my turn!"

Knuckles cringed. "Sonic-"

"I won't."

The music played again, and he grooved to the beat before doing a split. From there, he breakdanced, spinning rapidly and finished with a peace sign like Eggman.

Scourge wasn't impressed. "Eh, seven out of ten."

Sonic inwardly agreed. He could do way better than his double."

"Five!"

Eggman crossed his arms and kicked as the music blasted before spinning around like a crazed top.

Sonic sighed. "Here goes nothing." He balanced on his head and spun rapidly, yelling out in surprise when he lost control. Sonic careened into several decoration boxes, landing in one. "Ow..."

Amy wished the twin had pulled off some crazy moves that left Eggman in the dust, but, "At least it looks somewhat believable!"

"Four!"

Sonic sat up with a slight smile on his face. "Looks like you won, Egghead."

Eggman gasped. "I won! I beat Sonic!"

"I can't believe he actually fell for it."

"He lost to the other Sonic in a game of chess, Rouge," Shadow opposed. "This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone."

He loudly cackled, looking over to the crowd. "Hey, everybody!" He paused when he saw that the villagers were still stuck in slow-motion. "Oh, right." Eggman pressed a button on his wrist, and everything sped up again.

The crowd continued to chant. "Three, two, one!" They all cheered when the ball crashed into the ground. "Happy New Year!"

Sonic, Tails, Amy, Cosmo, Charmy, Cream, and Milla cheered along with everyone else at the party.

Sticks laughed in excitement, and Tails, grabbing his gun again, shot confetti into the air. Fireworks lit up the night sky.

"Hey, everybody!" Eggman held up a hand, gaining their attention. "I beat Sonic! Kneel before me!"

"That's exactly how world domination works." Eggman thought that meeting his younger self during the Time Eater debacle was bad, but this. "Beat your nemesis in a dance-off and poof, you're feared by all."

Sticks frowned up at him. "What are you talking about?"

"It was a dance off, and I won!" Eggman quickly explained. "Didn't you see? It was right here!"

Sonic walked up to him. "Technically, it happened in a blink of an eye. Nobody saw anything."

Sonic grinned. "That was smart, purposely losing a game that no one else could possibly witness."

Eggman deflated at that. "B-But...I...ugh..."

"Well," Sonic's smile was subtle. "Nobody but me." The doctor perked up, and the smile grew. "Happy New Year, Eggman."

Sonic wasn't so mad about the loss anymore. "Y'know, Eggy, let's all come together at the end of the year and-"

"Hell no."

"Happy New Year, you blue son of a gun," Eggman replied amiably, caught off-guard.

Amy had the urge to clap.

"Eggy, we could still-"

"No."

"Hey, guys!" Knuckles greeted. "I just saw my shadow! Six more weeks of winter!"

Eggman and Sonic looked at each other and began to chuckle. They looked overhead as more fireworks went off, celebrating the beginning of a new year.

"Finally," Spade muttered when the screen faded to black.

Milla clapped. "That was a kinda fun episode! Especially with what happened during it."

Tails couldn't help but cringe. "Does this mean that Sonic and Eggman are-"

"No!" Eggman exclaimed.

Lucy giggled and pressed the button to the next episode.