Page onePANEL ONE: Wide shot of Spring Yard Zone's buildings. One building, a casino, is lit up, with speech bubbles coming out of it.SPEECH BALLOON: The casino opens in five minutes, Rotor. Status report?PANEL TWO: Shot from inside the casino. Rotor Walrus, somewhat dirty and covered in oil, is holding a wrench in one hand and wiping his forehead with the other. Standing in a lit doorway, seen only as a shadow, is a voluptuous Mobian woman with big hair.ROTOR: All set to your specifications, boss. Although the odds on the slot machines were a bit off, so I re-calibrated them.WOMAN: You WHAT?PANEL THREE: The woman (still shadowy) walks up to Rotor, angrily, hands on her hips. Rotor looks a bit cowed.WOMAN: Go back to those slot machines and set them up PRECISELY according to my orders. We don't want to be giving money away willy-nilly if we want to keep up a profit, right?ROTOR: Um... y-yes! Yes ma'am!WOMAN: Excellent.PANEL FOUR: Full lit shot of the woman (Breezie) standing triumphantly and confidently. Reference: vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/so… BREEZIE: Let nobody say that Breezie Hedgehog doesn't give you a run for your money!---Page twoPANEL ONE: Sonic, Sally, Antoine, and Bunnie make their way across the surface of Marble Zone. Antoine is somewhat freaked out at the lava, and quickly dodges a fireball coming at his tail.BUNNIE: So ya know these folks, sugah-hog?SONIC: We went to school together. Ant kept getting picked on by a lizard bully that didn't like that they had the same name.PANEL TWO: Antoine turns to Sonic huffily. Sonic is unrepentant and unintimidated.ANTOINE: Hmmph! I could have handled zat buffalo with one paw tied behind ze back!SONIC: "Buffoon," Ant. And close as I could tell, he drop-kicked you into the dumpster the first day. And the second. And the third.PANEL THREE: Bunnie is curious. Sonic is smug. Antoine is deflated and kind of angry.BUNNIE: An' then wha' happened?SONIC: I happened. And Anton Brooke learned that if you mess with a hedgehog, you get the spines.ANTOINE: I had eet sorted...PANEL FOUR: Sally reaches the edge of Marble Zone and Spring Yard Zone. The other three are behind her.SALLY: We've made it. Spring Yard Zone. I know a walrus here who can help us.SONIC: Whoa...---Page threePANEL ONE: Wide shot of the city, filled with flashing signs, neon lights, and countless Mobians chatting, drinking, walking, and otherwise going about their business.SONIC: ...now THAT is a city.PANEL TWO: Sally, Antoine, Bunnie, and Sonic step out onto the road. Bunnie gives a sad glance at her roboticized limbs.SALLY: We'll have to stick to the shadows. Snively and Eggette no doubt will have reported us to Robotnik by now, and he'll have agents looking all over for us.BUNNIE: An' ah kinda stick out like a sore thumb.PANEL THREE: Sonic points to an upscale clothing store a short distance away. The sign reads "Honey Clothing" and has an image of Honey the Cat making a cute 'victory' gesture while winking. Antoine is skeptical.SONIC: Well, lucky for us, there's a wrap for that.ANTOINE: You zink we can afford zat? Eet looks... extensive.PANEL FOUR: The four Freedom Fighters turn in surprise and puzzlement as they hear a voice behind them. The shadow of a cat with big hair fills the empty space between the four.VOICE: Well, what do we have here? Newcomers! Welcome to Spring Yard Zone!ANTOINE: ???---Page fourPANEL ONE: A robotic female cat with Bride of Frankenstein hair stands in front of the four Freedom Fighters. The Freedom Fighters get ready to rumble, except for Antoine, who looks ready to soil his jacket.SONIC: Who are you? One of Ro-Butt-Nik's robots?BUNNIE: Simmah down, sugah-hog. She could be roboticized.ANTOINE: I'm too young and handsome to die...PANEL TWO: The robot lady shakes her head no.ROBOT: Oh, there's no need for that! I'm Ro-Becca. Breezie sent me to find new contenders for her obstacle race course. How would you four like to compete to win fabulous cash prizes and a Chaos Emerald?PANEL THREE: Sally starts to back away slowly. Ro-Becca energetically continues to plug the race.ANTOINE: Chaos... Emerald?SALLY: Oh, we're not here looking for money. We're trying to find... someone.RO-BECCA: Then you've come to the right place! Anyone who's anyone will be watching the big race! You can't afford to miss it!PANEL FOUR: A slow grin creeps up on Sonic's face as he rubs his palms together.SONIC: A big race, huh? Finally someone's speaking my language...!---Page fivePANEL ONE: Wide shot of a racetrack set up with bumpers, floating blocks, and spiked balls as an obstacle course. Loudspeakers are arranged around it, and huge bleachers packed with crowds are set up around it.LOUDSPEAKER: Welcome, welcome, one and all, to the Spring Yard Zone obstacle course! This is Breezie Hedgehog coming to you live with the greatest thrills, chills, and spills!PANEL TWO: Close-up on the bleachers, where Sally, Antoine, and Bunnie are sitting. Sally and Antoine are sulking, and Bunnie regards them curiously.SALLY: How exactly did Sonic talk us into this? Doesn't he know the match is televised?ANTOINE: Once ze fuel, always ze fuel. Even eef eet EES ze Chaos Emerald.PANEL THREE: Bunnie turns to Antoine, stepping in on Sonic's behalf. Antoine is unconvinced.BUNNIE: Now, hold yer pashas a bit. Sugah-hog's had th' worst day of his lil'-ol' life here. If he wants t' blow off steam, ah can think of worse ways t' do it.ANTOINE: But Robotnik's Egg Boxes are after us! How weel we stay under-hover?PANEL FOUR: Bunnie smirks a bit.BUNNIE: Oh, ah have a few ideas...---Page sixPANEL ONE: Sonic, backstage, looks at himself in a mirror. His spines have been styled into one huge spike pointing upward. Clearly he's ticked off about this.SONIC: ...why did I let myself get talked into this? I look like a moron.PANEL TWO: A sullen-looking Coconuts badnik behind Sonic speaks up. (reference: vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/so… COCONUTS: Oh, SURE. At least you're not the one cleaning the toilets in this place. Why hire a robot to clean toilets? Robots don't USE toilets!PANEL THREE: Sonic turns around to face Coconuts.SONIC: Do I know you?COCONUTS: The name's Coconuts. I work for the Big R himself. Mainly as a janitor. But I'm looking for a big promotion soon! I've heard that the Egg Bosses are after a blue hedgehog and a cyborg rabbit that caused them a lot of pain.SONIC: Riiiiight. If I see them, I'll let you know.PANEL FOUR: Sonic and Coconuts turn around to see a hulking figure come up to them. Sonic is shocked and slightly terrified.FIGURE: A hedgehog, you say? I hate those spiny pricks. Think they're so above it all. But they can't beat me!SONIC (thinking): Oh no... of all the times for HIM to show up...---Page sevenPANEL ONE: Shot of Anton Brooke hulking over Sonic and Coconuts. Reference: vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/so… BROOKE: The name's Anton Brooke, South Island's number-one hooligan. I'm going to win that big race, get the emerald and all that money, and score myself a girlfriend. Chicks love lizards with bling.PANEL TWO: Sonic and Coconuts eye each other nervously. Coconuts is both nervous and ticked off.COCONUTS: Grr... you're mistaken. I, Coconuts, am going to win that prize! I'm light, I'm agile, and you're so big and bulky that you're going to trip over your own tail at the starting li--PANEL THREE: Brooke grabs Coconuts by the throat.COCONUTS: --urk!PANEL FOUR: Brooke slams Coconuts into the wall.SFX: CRASH!PANEL FIVE: Brooke gloats arrogantly. Sonic glares at him. Coconuts' tail sticks out of a Coconuts-shaped hole in the wall.BROOKE: Anyone else?SONIC (thinks): Am I REALLY going to call him out on smashing a badnik that was out to get me and saving me the trouble?COCONUTS (weakly): I'm okay...---Page eightPANEL ONE: Sonic, Coconuts, and Brooke line up at the starting line. Sonic is wearing number 1, Coconuts number 2, and Brooke number 3. Coconuts is rather dirty and wearing, incongruously enough, several bandages. Breezie stands by the starting line, speaking into the microphone.BREEZIE: Come one, come all, to the seventh Spring Yard Zone obstacle race! We have three fine contestants today, all competing for the ten thousand dollar cash prize and the Chaos Emerald!PANEL TWO: Shot of a television set in Spelunk's treasure room, depicting the three contestants lined up. The silhouettes of Snively and Eggette are seen against the wall, and Eggette's hand is seen pointing at Sonic at the screen.TV: In the first corner, number one, is the mysterious newcomer Blue Blur!EGGETTE (oos): There! Right there! That's got to be him!PANEL THREE: Snively and Eggette, sitting inside their cage. Snively has bandages on his head where Spelunk hit him with a diamond. Eggette still looks a bit scorched, and is pressing buttons on a flip-top phone.SNIVELY: But what are WE going to do about it? We're locked up all the way back here.EGGETTE: We call our allies, of course, and ask them to rig the race. Stage a convenient 'accident' and deal with our rat problem.TV: Number two, the little badnik with big hopes and dreams, Coconuts!PANEL FOUR: Eggette speaks into the cell phone.TV: And number three, South Island's self-proclaimed number-one hooligan, Anton Brooke!EGGETTE: Hello, little robot friends? I need some of you to break us out, and a few others to do us a favor...---Page ninePANEL ONE: Back to Spring Yard Zone's racetrack. Nack the Weasel (yay cameos!) fires his pistol into the air, signifying the starting time.SFX: POP!BREEZIE: And we're off! It's every Mobian for himself now!PAGE TWO: Sonic and Coconuts keep pace next to each other, approaching a set of floating boxes moving over a deep gap.BREEZIE: Numbers one and two are in the lead, approaching the first obstacle: the Crush Cubes! Timing is crucial here to avoid being squashed!PANEL THREE: Up in the bleachers, Sally and Bunnie are nervous, and Antoine looks like he's about to be sick.ANTOINE: Zees ees not good... zees ees not good...PANEL FOUR: Sonic and Coconuts leap on top of the boxes, with Sonic slightly in the lead. Brooke clings to one box in the very back, looking nauseous.BROOKE: Th-this isn't at all what I had in mind!SONIC: You snooze, you lose, Mr. Number-One Hooligan!COCONUTS: Or should I say... Number-Three Hooligan?---Page tenPANEL ONE: A squad of four Buzz Bombers appears out of nowhere onto the track, each one with a spiked ball and chain attached to their abdomens.BREEZIE (oos): Well, look what we have here! A few of our fans have turned the tables on our little game!PANEL TWO: Sonic suddenly has his hands full dodging spiky balls flung at him by the Buzz Bombers. Coconuts takes the opportunity to leap ahead, unbothered by the Buzz Bombers.COCONUTS: Bye-bye, blue guy! It's every bot for himself!SONIC: Hey, that's cheating! Get back here!PANEL THREE: Breezie speaks into her microphone. In the background, Sonic is struggling with the Buzz Bombers' balls on chains.BREEZIE: It's anything-goes in Spring Yard Zone! Our brave little monkey is in the lead, but it's anyone's game now!SONIC: You're not helping, lady!PANEL FOUR: Sonic curls up into a spiky ball and rams into the Buzz Bombers, destroying them. Cute animals pop out of them.SONIC: That'll be --SONIC: -- enough --SONIC: -- of that!---Page elevenPANEL ONE: The ground erupts with spiky swinging chains, throwing Sonic and Coconuts off-balance.SONIC: Is this another of your crazy tricks, monkey?COCONUTS: What? WHAT? This isn't me! I want a word with the decorator!PANEL TWO: Brooke comes in, exhausted from climbing blocks and pretty pissed.BROOKE: FINE! I got through! Any more crap you want to throw at... me...PANEL THREE: Brooke stands, speechless, at the sight of Sonic and Coconuts all tangled up in spiky chains.PANEL FOUR: Brooke turns around and heads in the other direction, back towards the blocks. Coconuts shakes his fist at Brooke.BROOKE: Okay, I'm out. A true hooligan picks his battles.COCONUTS: Come over here and say that, you scaly coward!---Page twelvePANEL ONE: Sonic spin-jumps out of his spiky chains, shattering them.SONIC: Well, I'd love to stick around, but fame, fortune, and skin that's not got pointy bits sticking the wrong way into it is calling my name!PANEL TWO: Sonic's spin-jump arcs over the spike-chain area, and Sonic lands on his feet, his spines blown back into their usual position.SONIC: Or else my name's not... Blur! Blue Blur! That's my name!PANEL THREE: Coconuts, still covered in spike chains, stares in shock. Brooke, behind him, turns around, jaw dropped.COCONUTS: Waiddaminit... it's you! You're the blue hedgehog I was sent to capture!BROOKE: ...Nicky Parlouser...?PANEL FOUR: Brooke charges into the sea of spiky chains, grabbing and ripping them out with his bare hands, not realizing that he's inadvertently freeing Coconuts as he does so.BROOKE: YOU'RE the one who beat me up in kindergarten! Oh, boy, do I have a bone to pick with you!COCONUTS: Eep! Backstory!---Page thirteenPANEL ONE: Sonic keeps on running towards a flat area full of spring launchers. Brooke is right behind him.BROOKE: You can't escape me that easily, hedgehog! Not after the pain you put me through!SONIC: Because of COURSE this race just HAD to be against the one jerk I hoped I'd never see again...PANEL TWO: Sonic leaps onto one of the spring launchers, which blasts him into the air at high speed. Brooke is still doggedly in pursuit.SONIC: You know what? You're right, I was rather rough on you. Why don't we get together after the race and settle our differences over a nice cup of tea?BROOKE: Don't run from me, Mr. Needlemouse! I'll get you for this!PANEL THREE: Brooke leaps up in the air, fueled by a particularly large spring launcher. Sonic drops down from the air and bounces up from another spring launcher.BROOKE: I was the laughingstock of Mobotropolis Kindergarten! A pariah! An outcast!SONIC: Is that better or worse than being a bully and a prick?BROOKE: SHUT UP!PANEL FOUR: Sonic and Brooke freeze in midair, seeing the silhouette of a very familiar Egg Mobile with a very familiar spiky-haired shadow inside it.SPIKE HAIR: Well, isn't that cute? It's a little blue hedgehog that's a GREAT BIG MEANIE-PANTS!SONIC: Um, Brooke? I think we need to put this on hold.---Page fourteenPANEL ONE: Eggette, in the Egg Mobile, rams into Sonic and Brooke. Both hedgehog and lizard are thrown back, a barrage of lost rings tracing their flight path.SFX: SKOOSH!BROOKE: Oi! What're you charging ME for? I didn't hurt you any!PANEL TWO: Sonic comes to a stop on a floor made of blocks. Eggette hovers over him menacingly.EGGETTE: So, you thought I wouldn't notice you on the big screen? That I was some sort of IDIOT?SONIC: Well, the hair had me fooled for a second...EGGETTE: SHUT UP!PANEL THREE: Brooke growls as he pulls himself back up from a rather harsh landing.BROOKE: Okay, no one gets between me and my target. I don't know who ya think you are, girlie, but you've messed with the wrong --PANEL FOUR: Coconuts comes tearing past Brooke with a cheeky grin on his face. Brooke is incensed.COCONUTS: Thanks-for-the-distraction-now-I'm-gonna-get-the-top-prize-catch-you-later-losers!BROOKE: What the -- that's not FAIR!---Page fifteenPANEL ONE: Sonic takes off after Coconuts at top speed.SONIC: Oh, no you don't! I'm not losing this race!COCONUTS: Says you and what army? I'm buying my way out of Robotnik's cesspool, and there's nothing you can do to stop me!PANEL TWO: Sonic and Coconuts run into a field of round bumpers with a yellow star printed on each one. When one of them collides with a bumper, they bounce off it.COCONUTS: This is my ticket to the big time! YOU'RE my ticket to the big time! I'm going to capture you, win that prize, and become an Egg Boss in my own right!SONIC: Yeah, no. Not gonna fly, big guy.PANEL THREE: Sonic leaps across the bumpers, building up speed and approaching the finish line.COCONUTS: ?!?!SONIC: And the winner is...PANEL FOUR: Sonic cuts through the ribbon at the finish line moments before Coconuts can reach it first.SONIC: ...me! Sonic the Hedgehog!COCONUTS: No! No! NOOOOO!!!---Page sixteenPANEL ONE: Breezie approaches Sonic with a gold trophy cup full of bundles of money, and a purple Chaos Emerald. Sonic feigns humility (poorly).BREEZIE: Congratulations, Mr. Blur! You're the first ever winner of the Spring Yard Zone obstacle race!SONIC: Thank you, thank you. I know, I know. I'm awesome.PANEL TWO: A very angry Coconuts stomps across the finish line towards Breezie. Sonic doesn't appear to notice.SONIC: Um, just one question here. You called this the seventh obstacle race at the start, didn't you? But I'm the first one to win it?BREEZIE: It's a difficult course. Most racers never even get past the Crush Cubes. But you aced it!PANEL THREE: Sonic, Breezie, and Coconuts quickly turn around to the sound of screeches behind them.BROOKE (oos): AIIEEE! This lady don't play fair!SONIC: What the... oh, no! I forgot Brooke!PANEL FOUR: Eggette jets off in her Egg Mobile, carrying Brooke beneath it, imprisoned in a large birdcage that's just barely big enough to actually hold Brooke.EGGETTE: We'll see how well you scramble my eggshells once you're roboticized, you big meanie scales!BROOKE: Help me! SOMEBODY HELP ME!---Page seventeenPANEL ONE: Sonic hands the trophy and the Chaos Emerald in it to Breezie, then takes off running towards the field of spring launchers.SONIC: Hold this. It's juice time.BREEZY: Wha...?PANEL TWO: Sonic leaps up into the air, aiming to launch himself at the largest of the spring launchers (which Brooke used earlier).SONIC (thinking): Brooke's pretty high up, so I'll have to time this jump just right... but I can make it.PANEL THREE: Sonic leaps onto the spring launcher, rocketing way up into the air and right towards the departing Egg Mobile.EGGETTE: What the devil...BROOKE: Oh, no! Not HIM again, on top of everything else!PANEL FOUR: Sonic hits his target, clinging to the bars of the cage beneath the flying Egg Mobile. Eggette looks down at him, confused.BROOKE: Ugh, SERIOUSLY? Is there any place I can be rid of you?SONIC: Why, you're welcome, Brooke. I'm glad I could help. Your profuse gratitude is touching.---Page eighteenPANEL ONE: Sally, Antoine, and Bunnie stare in shock as the Egg Mobile, with Sonic and Brooke, floats away. Well, Sally and Bunnie stare. Antoine sort of sulks.SALLY: Blast it! Sonic knows he can't break the cage from that height without killing them both. They're trapped!ANTOINE: What ze waste... zey were both jocks anyway.PANEL TWO: Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine start moving through the crowd, following the Egg Mobile's path.SALLY: They're headed out through the skylight, in the direction of Labyrinth Zone. We have to follow them.BUNNIE: Now, hold on, Sally-girl. We've gotta get that Chaos Emerald prize before the badniks steal it, an' we still don't got yah walrus friend.PANEL THREE: Sally and Antoine turn to Bunnie.SALLY: You're right... we have to trust that Sonic knows what he's doing.ANTOINE: Wheech ees admittedly ze long shot, but we must have fate!BUNNIE: 'Faith.'ANTOINE: Oui, zat too!PANEL FOUR: Sally, Bunnie, and Antoine stare off into the skylight as Eggette, Brooke, and Sonic fly through it.SALLY: Whatever happens now, it's all up to Sonic.END