The Void

"The Void" is twenty-first episode of Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM), and the eighth episode of season 2. It follows "Dulcy" and precedes "The Odd Couple/Ro-Becca".

In the episode, a wizard named Naugus attempts to escape from imprisonment in The Void by using Sonic's speed, leading a terrified Robotnik to become panicked and reckless. Meanwhile, Sonic and NICOLE are forced to work together to rescue Sally and Bunnie, allowing them to bond. Sally is reunited with her father, but only for a brief time.

Synopsis
Sonic is running across the Great Unknown when The Void opens up in the ground beneath him. Using a Power Ring he manages not to be pulled in. He finds a golden artefact, which he brings back to Knothole. Sally believes it is an artefact from the Mundaras people, and intends to study it. Sonic receives a message from Uncle Chuck and leaves for Mobotropolis. While he's gone, Sally discovers that the artefact may be fake, but she reads an inscription on it. Suddenly, Sally and Bunnie are engulfed in red light. They enter a trance-like state and fly off towards the Void, leaving NICOLE behind.

Uncle Chuck informs Sonic about the Doomsday Project, though he doesn't yet know what it is. Sonic returns to Knothole, to find Sally gone. He asks NICOLE what happened, and becomes infuriated at her technical language and inability to volunteer information without being asked. He starts shaking her until she speaks more simply. She displays an image of what happened before Sally disappeared, and says the energy resembles readings from the Void. He goes to investigate.

Snively detects Void energy, which panics Robotnik. He is terrified of the wizard Naugus, an old partner (or boss) of his whom he trapped in the Void many years ago (and who had a habit of turning his head into different animals, to Snively's obvious enjoyment). He sends his robots to close the portal. When he finds Sonic in the area, he starts worrying that his two enemies, Sonic and Naugus, might be working together. He sends the robots to destroy Sonic, and when another portal to the Void opens he forces Sonic into it.

Meanwhile, the wizard Naugus has used his magic to bring Sally and Bunnie to him, as bait for Sonic. He discovered the Void many years ago, although it was Robotnik who found the means of accessing it - and Robotnik who then trapped him inside. Naugus has since learned how to open the portal out, but can't escape without Sonic's speed. When Sonic himself arrives, Sonic has no interest in helping someone who kidnapped his friends. He takes Sally and Bunnie and tries to escape himself, but instead finds a beautiful crystal replice of Castle Acorn. And, inside, they find King Max himself!

Sally is overjoyed to be reunited with her father, but he seems weak. He asks Sonic to take him out of the Void, which Sonic is only too pleased to do. However, once Sonic and the King are gone, Sally gets another surprise. Ari the ram (who was sucked into the Void previously) appears, explaining that Naugus knew Sonic wouldn't take him out, so he impersonated the King. Sonic has taken taken Naugus into the real world, and the King is still here! Sally and the King are now re-united for real.

Back in the Great Unknown, Naugus drops his disguise and freezes Sonic in crystal. When one of Robotnik's egg cameras sees them, he sends a message to Robotnik ("Wanna play?"). Then he releases Sonic, telling the hedgehog to rescue his friends, and goes to confront Robotnik. Naugus wants revenge for Robotnik's betrayal, and starts transforming Robotnik's head into many different animals, finally settling on a pig and forcing him to root around in the dirt. Suddenly, Naugus' feet turn to crystal. He restores Robotnik to normal, and chases him away by saying they are going to play "Hide and seek. You hide, I'll seek." Robotnik quickly leaves.

Sonic brings Sally and the King to Naugus, only to find that the King is also turning to crystal. Naugus explains his miscalculation: they have been in the Void too long, and cannot survive outside. It is drawing their lifeforce back into it. Naugus can control it, but only from within the Void itself. The King tearfully bids farewell to Sally, giving her a list of the other Freedom Fighter groups. Then he and Naugus return to the Void, each vowing to return someday.

Sally is saddened to have been separated again from her father after such a short time. but Sonic helps her to see the upside: she did get to see him, and someday Naugus will get him out. Not only that, but they have the Freedom Fighter list and Ari is back. Sally has to admit that Sonic's right, as does NICOLE ("He's cool, Sal. Way past."), leaving Sally to wonder just what Sonic has done to her!

Continuity

 * This is the first appearance of Naugus]. Although Naugus did not appear in full during the rest of the series, Ben Hurst revealed that it was Naugus whose red eyes appeared at the end of the final episode. Also, Naugus (called "Ixis Naugus") is a regular antagonist from the Archie Comics series.
 * Ari was previously pulled into the Void in the episode "Game Guy".
 * Sally received the Freedom Fighter list from her father. They later use it to track down ther Freedom Fighter groups, such as the Wolf Pack in "Cry of the Wolf".
 * Uncle Chuck learns about the Doomsday Project, which will become more prominent as the series reaches its conclusion.