Six Against Infinity, Part 3

Six Against Infinity, Part 3 is the seventeenth episode of the second season of TFAWPS. It is the forty-third episode overall.

Plot
After being thrown into a portal by Genesect, Sonic awakens on a strange and psychedelic world where he must travel into his own mind and defeat his inner demons.

Synopsis
Out in space, Genesect says that he wishes TFAWPS luck wherever and whenever they end up. As he says this, Sonic is thrown into a wormhole and disappears.

Awakening in mid-air, suspended by his leg on a flying bird, Sonic screams for his life, only to look up and see Knuckles piloting the bird. Knuckles looks back at his friend and laughs playfully as he continues to scare him. Sonic asks Knuckles what he's doing and Knuckles tells him that he passed out and was trying to wake him up. Sonic tells Knuckles that he's awake now and requests to be let down. Knuckles tells Sonic he'll let him down after a few more laps, but Sonic tells Knuckles that he's had his fun and says he's gonna be sick. Knuckles says that he'll let him down, as long as Sonic doesn't throw up on his bird.

Landing on a cloud, Sonic looks around and discovers that he's on an island in the sky, bright and sunny, with large birds flying overhead, much like the one Knuckles was on. Knuckles tells Sonic to admit that he had fun on the bird ride. Sonic admits that it was pretty exhilarating, but they should get back to business now. Knuckles begins unwrapping a burger and asks him what business, they haven't had business in years. Sonic asks him what he's talking about and tells him about Cell and Genesect. Knuckles tells him that all that stuff was years ago, and that they defeated them. Sonic asks who could have done that and Knuckles replies, rather matter of factly, that it was TFAWPS. Sonic says that's impossible because he would have remembered. Knuckles then stops eating and asks Sonic what happened to him. Deciding to play along, Sonic tells Knuckles that he fell off his bird and passed out and guesses he must have forgot, so he asks Knuckles to explain to him what happened, step by step. Knuckles tells Sonic that it's a very long story and says that he'll need help to remember it all. Knuckles gets on the phone and calls up Tails. Upon hearing his name, Sonic asks Knuckles if he's really talking to Tails, which Knuckles replies that Sonic must've fallen off of the bird from a very high height. As Knuckles hangs up the phone, he tells Sonic that Tails will be here soon. Sonic tells Knuckles to listen to him for a minute. Knuckles agrees. Sonic says that he genuinely no idea what's going on, but he has to know because he thought Tails wasn't talking to them anymore. Knuckles tells Sonic that that's ridiculous because the three of them hang out all the time. Sonic says that the last time the three of them hung out together was before he met Ted or Pink Panther, or any of the others. Knuckles tells Sonic that he doesn't know who those people are. Sonic tells Knuckles that he's met them. Knuckles tells Sonic that maybe he was having some weird dream. Just then, Tails arrives on his bird and greets Sonic with a hug and says that he asked about some bad guys.

Sitting out on a cloud, Tails and Knuckles explain to Sonic their battles with all of Sonic's enemies. Knuckles and Tails explain that after Cell was killed and Genesect was depowered and arrested, Zack, Agent Yellow, Bart, and Master Robot were all killed in battle, Captain Cowboy was arrested, and Pig King lost his crown and dropped off the map. Sonic replies that all of that is heavy information. Tails said that it was all pretty ugly, but tells Sonic to look at the peace and prosperity they've created. Sonic says that this is all make believe, but Knuckles says that it's really not. Sonic then decides to accept that this is all real. Knuckles says that that's good because they have a bird race to get to. As Knuckles and Tails get up, Sonic sits back trying to process all of the information he's been given. When his friends ask if he's coming, Sonic says that he has just one more question. Tails tells him to go for it and Sonic asks about TFAWPS. Knuckles asks what he's talking about and says that TFAWPS is sitting right in front of him. Sonic smiles and says it's just like the old days. Tails says that it's always been them. "Three Friends Adept When Punching Suckers," the three of them say in unison, then laughing for keeping a name they made when they were five. Tails begins to panic and says the race is starting and Sonic gets up, telling them they shouldn't keep his trophy waiting. Laughing, the three run out. After a montage of Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails racing, having fighting tournaments, eating food, bird jousting, playing games, and other assorted activities, the group relax on a cloud cliff. For the first time in a long time, Sonic appears at peace. However, his moment of peace is interrupted when a dark force looms over the island in the sky as Tails is lifted into its dark embrace. Sonic falls from the cliff as Knuckles tries to reach out for both of them.

Awakening in mid-air, suspended by his leg on a flying bird, Sonic screams for his life, only to look up and see Knuckles piloting the bird. Awakening in mid-air, suspended by his leg on a flying bird, Sonic screams for his life, only to look up and see Knuckles piloting the bird. Knuckles looks back at his friend and laughs playfully as he continues to scare him. Sonic asks Knuckles what he's doing and Knuckles tells him that he passed out and was trying to wake him up. Sonic asks Knuckles if this already happened and he replies that he'd probably remember if it happened before. Sonic tells Knuckles to let him down. Dropping down on the cloud, Sonic asks Knuckles where he is, and Knuckles replies that he's on an island in the sky, and Sonic replies that he knows that, but asks where he is really and what happened to the rest of TFAWPS. Believing he means Tails, Knuckles calls Tails on his phone and tells him to come on down. Sonic says that he doesn't mean Tails, he means Ted, Pink Panther, Paco, Mofo, Buster, Roy, and G. Biv. Knuckles comments that those are weird names, but says he doesn't know them and says Sonic must have been having a wild dream. Sonic tells Knuckles that this place is the dream, it's fantasy land. Knuckles looks at him bewildered. Sonic asks Knuckles if he's dead, but Tails arrives and replies that he's not dead. Shocked at seeing Tails again, Sonic tells Tails that he should be dead. Knuckles says that that's an awful thing for Sonic to say, but Sonic asks them if they remember anything from the night before and mentions that Tails was pulled into the sky and Sonic fell off a cliff. Both Tails and Knuckles say that they have no idea what he's talking about. Tails tells them about the race, but Sonic tells them to go ahead without him and he'll catch up with them later tonight. Knuckles and Tails head out, telling Sonic to meet them at the cloud cliff after the race. Knuckles and Tails race each other to the race.

Wandering around the island in the sky, Sonic begins to question his own reality. Sonic sits under a cloud tree and has a flashback to his own childhood on the Land of Ooo. He remembers hanging out with Knuckles and Tails, working together as detectives solving crimes. After stopping a group of criminals, Sonic thanks Knuckles and Tails for being the best sidekicks a hero could ask for. Knuckles tells Sonic, that for the last time, Sonic is the sidekick and Knuckles is the hero. Tails then arrives and says that it's actually him who's the hero and the rest of the guys laugh. Tails says that they're just three friends adept when punching suckers. Sonic tells him that that doesn't even make sense, but Knuckles says that it's actually quite catchy.

Sonic flashes back to reality and realizes that it's almost night time. He rushes to the cliff and finds Knuckles and Tails are already there. Sonic tells them that they need to get out of there because something is going to happen and they have to either leave or fight it. Tails tells Sonic that there's nothing to fight anymore because they stopped it. Sonic tells Tails that it doesn't ever stop, there's never peace because there's always evil. Tails tells Sonic that he can't possibly believe that. Suddenly, the skies open up just as the had the night before. Sonic then asks Tails if he believes him now and the three stand to fight, on Sonic's insistence. As the sky begins to grab Tails, Sonic rushes up and pushes Tails to the ground and racing up into the darkness, watching Knuckles and Tails disappear.

Now awakening in total darkness, Sonic hears Tails' voice telling him that he should have done that before, but now it's too late. Sonic tells Tails that they were just kids and that he can't be held accountable. Tails then tells Sonic that he needs to grow up and realize that it's his fault TFAWPS fell apart. Sonic says that he's had enough of this and asks to be returned home from this nightmare. Just then Genesect, Cell, Zack, and Pig King appear and begin taunting Sonic about stealing TFAWPS from them and abandoning his friends. Sonic then gets angrier and angrier and says that he doesn't need to hear this, especially from them, and moves in to attack them, promising he'll get rid of them by himself right now, once and for all. As Sonic charges after his enemies, they fight back. As Sonic is about to make a move, Genesect grabs him and stabs him with his pincers. Sonic then immediately wakes up and Tails tells him that he lost. Sonic tells Tails to can it and asks for his enemies, this time he won't lose. As Sonic fights again, he is eventually killed by a tag-team from Pig King and Zack. As he awakens again, he enters the fight and is immediately killed by Cell.

The fifth time, Sonic then asks Tails what he wants. Tails tells Sonic that he's not even here. Sonic then asks where he is, but Tails says that he is wherever he thinks he is. Suddenly, Sonic is brought to another flashback on the Land of Ooo, this time the three of them are young adults. Working as TFAWPS for some years now, the three noticeably have less banter and have become more distant. After returning from a case, Sonic and Tails sit in their offices in complete silence, as Knuckles try to get them to reconcile. Sonic refuses to speak to Tails. Knuckles says that the team can't continue like this. Tails says that that's fine with him. Sonic says that that's literally the first thing they've agreed on in decades. Tails says that's surprising because it wasn't his idea. Sonic says that it was his idea, he just didn't say it. Tails and Sonic then stand up and approach each other. Sonic says that he's the leader, it's his job to come up with ideas. Tails replies that TFAWPS isn't supposed to have a leader. Sonic fires back that it's because Tails can't lead. Tails then says that he's done and says that he's leaving. Knuckles chimes in and says that Tails shouldn't leave. Tails apologizes to Knuckles and says that none of this is his fault and then directly blames Sonic for destroying TFAWPS. Sonic then says that TFAWPS only succeeded because of him and that Tails was always the weakest one. Tails replies that's exactly why he's leaving. Knuckles turns to Sonic and says that he understands that Sonic's suggestions led them to victory, but it cost him his friendship with Tails. Sonic then turns to Knuckles and tells him that he can't be seriously defending Tails, but Knuckles says that they're both wrong, but he refuses to pick sides. The three then go their separate ways.

Back in his mind, Genesect, Cell, Zack, and Pig King continue to come at Sonic, this time aided by Agent Yellow, Bart, Captain Cowboy, Master Robot, Android 16, Android 17, the Cosmic Entity, Frieza, Meta Knight, and Allister McCallister. Sonic once again tries to take them all on by himself, saying that he won't let them beat him, but nevertheless, they manage to defeat him once again. After several more attempts. Sonic then asks what it is he's supposed to do. Without a response, Sonic is once again thrust into a fight. This time, he manages to take down the Androids, as well as Agent Yellow, Bart, Captain Cowboy, Pig King, and Frieza, but is then defeated by the others. Awakening again, Tails tells him to swallow his pride. Sonic then says that he will and calls in Knuckles and Tails to help fight. Bringing them back to the Land of Ooo, the three face off against all the enemies and the three defeat them as a team, but once they are all defeated, Sonic is then left alone in the darkness.

Awakening in mid-air, suspended by his leg on a flying bird, Sonic screams for his life, only to look up and see Knuckles piloting the bird. Knuckles looks back at his friend and laughs playfully as he continues to scare him. Sonic asks Knuckles what he's doing and Knuckles tells him that he passed out and was trying to wake him up. Sonic tells Knuckles to let him down and call Tails immediately. Landing, Knuckles tells Sonic that Tails doesn't take his calls anymore. Sonic asks what he means by that, but Knuckles just says that after their fight, TFAWPS broke up. Sonic tells Knuckles that they need to go find him. Knuckles says that he's tried, but it's no use. Sonic then tells Knuckles that he wishes he could say this to Tails as well, but he apologizes for destroying TFAWPS. Knuckles says that he forgives Sonic, but Tails most likely wouldn't. Sonic says that it may have been wrong for him to use the TFAWPS name and lead them without Knuckles or Tails, but he says that TFAWPS means a lot to a lot of people now and he can't just abandon it. Knuckles says that he understands.

Awakening again, this time he is on the cliff with Knuckles by his side. Knuckles breathes a sigh of relief, saying he thought Sonic would never wake up. Sonic tells Knuckles that he's not convinced he has. Knuckles asks Sonic if he wants to talk about it, but Sonic says that he'd rather not, he'd just like to sit on the cliff and catch his breath for a few minutes. Knuckles agrees and the two friends sit together on the cliff under a tree, with Tails' spot vacant.

Meanwhile, Knuckles sits in his office on the Galactic Federation researching Dr. Robotnik's case file. Still confused by their last interaction, Knuckles puts the file away as he gets a knock on the door. Mega Man enters the room with Lupina and Wally as Knuckles greets them casually, but then notices the disdain on their face. Knuckles asks who died, but Lupina and Wally look at him with blank expressions. Wally tells Knuckles that it's important and Lupina says they don't know if they're alive or dead. Knuckles asks who and Mega Man says that TFAWPS are gone and they need his help. Knuckles asks about Sonic, but Mega Man says he's sorry. Knuckles then gets up, closes down his office and heads out with the group.

Characters

 * Sonic
 * Knuckles
 * Tails (first appearance, alternate version, and flashback)
 * Cell (alternate version)
 * Zack (alternate version)
 * Pig King (alternate version)
 * Agent Yellow (alternate version, no lines)
 * Bart (alternate version, no lines)
 * Captain Cowboy (alternate version, no lines)
 * Master Robot (alternate version, no lines)
 * Cosmic Entity (alternate version, no lines)
 * Frieza (alternate version, no lines)
 * Meta Knight (alternate version, no lines)
 * Allister McCallister (alternate version, no lines)
 * Android 16 (alternate version, no lines)
 * Android 17 (alternate version, no lines)
 * Mega Man
 * Lupina
 * Wally
 * Genesect

Trivia

 * This episode is the third in the Six Against Infinity saga.
 * This episode focuses on Sonic's past and the original TFAWPS, as well as his dictatorial style of leading ever since the events that unfolded starting in Villainy Redux Syndrome.
 * Sonic's relationship with Knuckles and Tails is explored greatly in this episode, having only been hinted at in A Tale of Suspense. The three were actually quite close, however a rift formed between Sonic and Tails which ended up causing the dissolution of the original TFAWPS. A similar conflict occurs in Season 5 between Sonic and Pink Panther which brings a more permanent end to the main incarnation of the team.
 * Tails appears for the first time in this episode, having been first mentioned in A Tale of Suspense.
 * It is revealed that TFAWPS originally stood for 'Three Friends Adept When Punching Suckers,' a phrase coined by Tails. Sonic kept the name when the new incarnation of TFAWPS was formed, however it is likely he only kept the acronym, as the real title no longer applies.
 * The fates of Sonic's enemies are foreshadowed in this episode.