

Tails accuses Sonic of ignoring Tails' feelings (which is a convincing argument), and Sonic replies by saying that, by dating Fiona, he was trying to help Tails "move on." If it's any consolation, Sonic gets his comeuppance. Tails doesn't take this well, and the rift between Sonic and Tails culminates in Sonic the Hedgehog #178, when Sonic and Tails end up on opposite sides during a political debate and end up trading blows in the forest. When he confronts the pair about his feelings, Fiona shoots him down, claiming that she likes older critters-like, say, Tails' best friend. Tails discovers the truth when he walks in on Fiona and Sonic swapping spit. In Sonic the Hedgehog #155, the real Fiona-the one that Tails' mechanical girlfriend was based on-is back, and she's making time with a certain blue hedgehog. Now, flash forward 11 years and 127 issues. Robot Fiona eventually succumbs to rust (Robotnik forgot to waterproof her), and Tails rushes off to tell the Freedom Fighters about his adventures. And besides, robot or not, Knothole's devastation came at Sonic's metallic hands, and that's something he's just going to have to live with. Things don't proceed exactly like Sonic expected, but the similarities are close enough for Sonic to be tried for treason once he returns to his organic self. On the other hand, as Sonic the Hedgehog #39 reveals, turning into a robot was Sonic's plan to begin with (by getting a stronger robot body, Sonic hopes to get the strength he needs to take out Robotnik once and for all). Technically, it's Mecha-Sonic who beats up Knuckles and Bunnie, and who lays waste to Knothole Village. In Sonic the Hedgehog #39, a bounty hunter captures Sonic and delivers him to Robotnik, who dumps Sonic into his roboticizer and transforms the hedgehog into a mindless, evil robot known as Mecha-Sonic. Now, to be fair, Sonic isn't in complete control of his facilities. As the Freedom Fighters' secret hideout, Knothole is pretty damn important, which is why it's extra bad when Sonic himself tears the whole thing to shreds in Archie's Sonic & Knuckles: Mecha Madness Special.

While Robotnik rules Mobotropolis, the Freedom Fighters operate from a forest hideaway called Knothole Village.
