They came to a decision. Two days had passed and the day of the meeting had arrived. Outside of Knothole, a figure stood covered in armor with Mecha Sally standing next to them.

Eggman:...

The Doctor looks up at the guards stood atop the wall.

Eggman:... Are you going to let us in?

The voice came through a filter, it having a mechanical sounding tune. It took a few seconds, but the doors slowly swung open. All eyes were on Robotnik. The people and soldiers stood ready for anything. Some prepared to fight, others cowering in fear. The doctor walks down the path, silently passing everyone by as each step took them closer to the castle. After the long march was complete, the two now stood in front of the castle doors.

The doors slide open, revealing a crowd of angry faces, clearly ready for a fight. After a moment of standing there, Robotnik and Mecha Sally walk in as the doors close behind them.

Robotnik: Alright then, shall we get started?

The filtered voice asked. The first to speak was the queen of the village, Queen Alicia.

Alicia: Release my daughter first.

She said, every word laced with venom.

Robotnik: Alright.

The speed and confidence of the response caught everyone off guard.

Surge: He's bluffing! No way he'd just hand over the princess without even discussing terms!

The Tenrec yells, a few sparks flying off her piercings.

Sonic: Hold on everyone!

He says angrily.

Sonic: Eggman, how can we trust that you won't blow her up or something!?

Robotnik:... I will remove my protective suit and stand next to the de-roboticizer. If she were to explode, I'd die too.

Shadow: Not good enough. You could have it set to just make her go braindead or something.

Robotnik: Place a gun to my head then.

The doctor said confidently.

Robotnik: Killing her here would do nothing to benefit me. If I wanted you to suffer it would be smarter to send her in solo and send a self destruct command from the safety of my base. There is no strategic advantage to me being here if that was my goal.

Shadow: If you're in there.

Robotnik:... Alright.

The doctor's armor started clicking followed by a hiss as the plates started shifting, then falling to the floor.

The people in the room were immediately confused as to who was in front of them.

Robotnik:... Oh, right. You must be confused! Well, allow me to explain why I'm really here.

She starts.

Robotnik: During our last fight, I found myself plummeting off the roof of my tower and onto a big ol' piece of metal. My team pulled me out of course, but I was... comatose... I was... Trapped in my own mind. I could hear and see things going on around me but I couldn't actually do anything! No one could hear me!... I... Had some time, and I started to think...

She looked nervously down to her feet.

Robotnik:... What... Was this all for...?

She adjusted her glasses.

Robotnik:... Why was I doing this? I have machines that could terraform planets! If I wanted to undo all of the damage I caused, it'd take less than a day! I have a machine that I use to reconstruct my body if it gets too damaged! I could cure cancer! Restore missing limbs! Cure genetic issues! And what was I doing with it? Nothing! I literally use it as a coffee table more than a genetic reconstructor!

She ranted.

Robotnik: I wanted to perfect society but in my blind desire I literally caused a war! Over what!? Fucking... "PrOgReSs"!?

She sighs.

Robotnik: So... I did some "soul searching". I thought about everything I had done, everything I was going to do, everything I wanted to do and so... here I am!

She says, looking right at Sonic now.

Robotnik: I'm surrendering.

She said bluntly.

Robotnik: All I ask in return is you let the  subordinates I forced into their positions walk free. They weren't committing their crimes willingly.

She sat on her knees.

Robotnik: I know my crimes and I know I have no right to ask anything beyond that. I can help you locate and identify the inventions that can undo my damage and make more if need be.

She smiles.

Robotnik: I'm content to rot away in prison for my crimes.

She bows.

Robotnik: I know these words do not mean much, but I am sorry.

The room was silent. Not a single person was expecting things to turn this way. Not for a second. The concept of Eggman turning himself- now herself in was unfathomable.

Robotnik: Oh! Right! Sally!

She quickly stood up and walked to her collapsed suit, pulling up a larger panels the throwing it into the ground and causing it to shift into a platform. Robotnik then grabs a briefcase from the armour.

Robotnik: It's gonna need a power source. Here, take your pick!

The says, holding out the briefcase. Shadow was the first to react, quickly grabbing the case and opening it. The familiar glow of the chaos emeralds shining back. Shadow placed a hand on each one, and came to the same conclusion.

Shadow: These... are the real Chaos Emeralds... Not fakes?

Robotnik: I'm surrendering, what use would I have for them?

Sonic:... Eggman... You-

Surge: Oh, come on! This is a load of bologna! No way Robotnik's is seriously going to just give up because he had a dream! A-A-And he said he wanted his goons to go free! They could pull something!

She was going to say something more, only for a hand to be placed on her shoulder.

Amy: Surge... Please, calm down for a second here-

Surge: NO! This can't be real!

Sonic: Use the machine.

He said bluntly.

Sonic: You said your terms. Well hold him- ehh... her, at gunpoint.

Robotnik smiles.

Robotnik: Thank you, Sonic.

*CLANK BOOF*

Robotnik looks to her side, seeing a mini gun at the side of her head.

Omega: I hope that it does not work.

The robot says coldly as the gun slowly started to spin.

Robotnik: Place one of the emerald in the port on the side, turn off the safety lock and once Princess Acorn is on the platform, flip the switch next to the safety lock.

Tails quickly took action, grabbing the yellow emerald and inserting it into port before flipping the safety lock.

Robotnik: Mecha Sally, step onto the platform.

The robian obeys, stepping onto the machine.

Robotnik: Just a heads up, the strain of being converted back to her regular form might cause her to pass out. So if she collapses, check for a pulse before opening fire.

Tails turns on the machine, a yellow glow emanating from its self before the light covers Mecha Sally.