...So, what even should be our next move against Team Mecha? We don't know where they are or what they could even be up to right now, if anything at all.
Yeah, actually, that's a good point. Why are we just rushing into things like this?
Hey, rushing into things is just my style! ...*Sigh* But, I suppose you have a point... Maybe we need to sl-
...Sl... Slo...
Sonic? Are you alright?
He'll be fine. He just never said the words "slow down" in his entire lifetime, other than to say something like "You'll never slow me down".
I see... Regardless, you're right; Even if Team Mecha has any intention of using more of those HEX Adaptors, we shouldn't exactly attack them without a plan, especially when we don't even know where they are.
I'm afraid there's more to worry about than whatever Team Mecha's up to.
Hey, that's...!
The emerald you took from Koopenstein...
...Hand it over to me. NOW!
...So, that emerald was a fake? Sounds familiar*...
Hold on, how the hell can you be so sure of this? For all we know, this is just some dumb trick!
...I'm certain of it because I came from the future.
The future? There's not another evil me involved, is there?**
Huh? No! ...Probably? It's fairly unlikel- Look, that's not the point. The point is, Koopenstein fooled you. And now, he's going to start making copies of the real emerald, which will begin a catastrophe known as the Great Chaos Imbalance.
...So, not only did he trick us with a fake emerald, but now he intends on copying Chaos Emeralds and upsetting the balance of chaos? We can't allow this.
But who knows what Team Mecha is up to right now... What should we do?
Is it not obvious? We take on the more present threat, and deal with Team Mecha when they come.
That's great and all, but how are we supposed to find Koopenstein?
Hm... Silver, was it? You wouldn't happen to know where Koopenstein's base is, do you?
Sorry, my knowledge on that is next to none. Any traces of where the base could be has been lost to time in the future.
...Come to think of it, there weren't any traces of beings like you in the future I came from. I only found out about the Chaos Imbalance because the next thing I knew, Chaos was suddenly imbalanced.
Wait, so things in your future are changing? How strange... Could this be because of the inherit strangeness of the Chaos Zone?
The Chaos whatnow?
It's a long story... But I think we can explain it on the way.
On the way to where?
The Mushroom Kingdom. Call it a gut feeling, but I think that's where we'll find our next clue as to where to go... And maybe get a few more helping hands while we're at it.
... (I'm prepared to find us an ideal route once we have entered the base.)
Mighty, get ready to assist with the door.
Well, this is the place!
Look, I don't know what nonsense you're trying to pull to butter me up, but I'm telling you right now it won't-
Calm down. She's with us.
Wait, didn't I see you guys on...
Oh, that's right! From the experiments!
To tell the truth, I'm still rather confused about the magician's plans...
AGREED. TELL US MORE!
Of course. You see, I found that plenty of people, including you four, were left to yourselves from a shared conflict: the HEX. None of you seemed much closer to solving the problem on your own, so of course I wanted to give you some strength in numbers!
To tell the truth, you were far from the only I contacted on the matter. I talked to a recent colleague, as well as two of the other experiments, but they were...less interested. In fact, two of the three seemed opposed to it.
I doubt you're all intent on staying together that often, hence why everyone has a trip back!
Well, that's all on my end. I hope you know what to do from here!
Wait, what? You aren't staying?
Not a chance. I simply wanted to help a few in need, is all; I'm not the greatest magician for a scheduled performance. Farewell!
Well, uh...I need to keep check on the Square for now. But hey, if we need a group meeting, I'll be there.
Reasonable, for sure. We'll be ready for then, uh-
...you know, we never caught your name.
Name's Silver Sonic II. Don't get me confused with the first.
You'd think they came from two different people just hearing both for a minute each...
Well. It's been an hour and thirty. I've waited long enough.
Actually...he does seem...off. Ean! Scan for an ID.
ID NUMBER 21563.
Scan again.
ID NUMBER 21563.
That can't be right. Null's ID changes with every scan. So...
ID TARGET NAME: GREY VESSEL.
Grey...Vessel?
But he's not even grey!
...
...
...
...
And now I see why he's called Grey Vessel. Ean...we should-
Tier-6 Virus detected! Preparing countermeasures.
No Ean! Stop!
YUmmy.
...Ean, come on. Let's let the heroes deal with this. I...I don't feel so good.
...
ID: 2112. Passive Effect: Close Corruption.
That thing knows what IDs are? That means that it knows what the System is.
I...I can't die here. They need to know.
You're YUmmy.
...What...what did you just say?
Your emotions...your despair...equal my joy...YUmmy.
IS THAT!?
ᕊ╎∩i!ᒲリᔮ⎓!
Goldyba A | Level: 32? | HP: ???/??? (100%) | OTHER STATS UNKNOWN
Goldyba B | Level: 32? | HP: ???/??? (100%) | OTHER STATS UNKNOWN
Goldyba C | Level: 32? | HP: ???/??? (100%) | OTHER STATS UNKNOWN
Let's see how you get past this! Shoryureppa!
Dragon Smash!
HAAAAAARGGHH!! 
What? A star at this time of day?
That's no star. That's Boom Boom, and he's coming right at us.
You know. If I wasn't a talking skeleton head, I would be screaming right now.
aaaaaaaaaaa--
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Now, -a-you guys! Hit-a-him with everything we've-a-got!
Rrrrrrrgh!
Why isn't anything working?
(Just.. A... little more...!)
DON'T YOU IDIOTS SEE!? YOU CAN'T WIN NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY! I'LL DESTROY TOAD TOWN, BECOME BOWSER'S MAIN MAN, AND SQUASH ALL YOU DO-GOODERS ONE BY...... huh?
!!!!!
What the... Huh!? NO! DON'T--
!
(Alright, Betalix... This is your first fight in over a year... Deep breaths. You can do this.)
*Huff* *Huff* Clearly... You will... Never win. ...I... will-

Alright, now where did that little sneak run off to?
Goldyba A | Level: 32? | HP: ???/??? (76%) | OTHER STATS UNKNOWN
Goldyba B | Level: 32? | HP: ???/??? (100%) | OTHER STATS UNKNOWN
Goldyba C | Level: 32? | HP: ???/??? (76%) | OTHER STATS UNKNOWN
Oh yeah! Wario number one!
That's-a-good and all, but I-a-have a feeling we're-a-forgetting someone.
I'd recognize that voice from anywhere... Ludwig von Koopa!
Ah. I remember you. You were one of the two toads there to aid the Mario Brothers ten years ago*.
But I have a question for you..
Just how do you meddling menaces plan on escaping this scenario?
Koopenstein!
Ah, my marvelous monarchist counterpart! To what do I owe the pleasure?
More of those idiot interlopers are coming to the Mushroom Kingdom! At this rate, Ludwig might lose in no time! We need to send more--
My friend, we need to capitalize off of this moment. The Mushroom Kingdom is merely a distraction!
A distraction!? I'll have you kn--
Know what, Bowser? Think of it this way: Once they all realize what's happening with the Chaos Emeralds and go off to restore their precious balance... then that will create yet another opening for you to strike. Understood?
...Alright, I suppose you have a point there.
GREETINGS SUBJECTS "BOWSER" AND "LORD KOOPENSTEIN". SUBJECT "DUPLICATE EMERALD" IS COMPLETE.
What the--!? "Lord Koopenstein" !?
Wonderful... And I know just what to do with this little thing.
Fools. You have made it painfully obvious you know nothing about hostage situation. I will merely let you live with the misery of knowing that you have ruined this citizen's life. I wish you extreme magnitudes of fortune on turning him back to normal, by the way... The magical spell that binds him is permanent.
How about you save yourself the trouble and leave town before we kick you to the curb?
You all simply couldn't; No matter how hard you tried.
Alright, this'll have to do for a pit stop. 'least until we find a secure place of our own to stash loot in.
D'uh, J--
Boss.
Boss? Those guys on the statues... I think they looked familiar.
Oh, those good-for-nothing dorks? Don't sweat it! They'll never-- *Ouch!*
Ah crud, is that them?
No, but look.
A Chaos Emerald!? Wow! I can barely remember the time I had all seven of them!
Who's to say that Emerald isn't fake? Perhaps it was dropped here to trick us.
I'll take my chances, thank you very much! Even if it's fake, a buyer will be none the wiser!
What're you gonna do with the Emerald, boss?
For now? I'm just gonna tuck this away. I don't feel like becoming some kinda Mammoth Mogul*.
We'll stay here for now. Until then, we sit here... and wait until the time is right.
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