In the cold silence of space, Eggman's ship cut through the void, its engines thrumming with the power of a thousand failed plans. Inside the dimly lit lab, Eggman stood at the center, his face a mask of fury. His fists slammed against the control panel, shaking the lab as he screamed at the top of his lungs, "Those brats have FOUR Chaos Emeralds and I can't even find ONE! NOT EVEN ONE!!"

The sound of his outburst echoed throughout the metallic walls, making his subordinates—Bocoe, Docoe, and Bokkun—stiffen in place. They exchanged nervous glances, unsure whether to speak up or let their boss work through his temper tantrum.

Bocoe cleared his throat cautiously. "Um, sir... maybe it's not the Chaos Emeralds that are the problem..." he began, his robotic voice hesitant, but Eggman's glare immediately silenced him.

"Shut it, Bocoe! I KNOW that!" Eggman snapped, spinning on his heel. His wild, red eyes locked onto his robotic minions, making them flinch back. "Those blasted brats—Michael and his pathetic friends—are one step ahead! They've managed to collect four, FOUR, of the Chaos Emeralds, and I can't even get my hands on a single one! Do you know what that means?!"

Docoe gulped nervously, stepping forward just slightly. "It means... they have a significant advantage, Doctor?"

"ADVANTAGE?! That's an understatement, you moron!" Eggman's voice boomed, his frustration rising to new levels. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to be constantly outsmarted by those imbeciles?! I could have all the power in the universe if I just had ONE Chaos Emerald! But no! I'm stuck here, getting outclassed by a bunch of second-rate heroes and their stupid little tricks!"

Meanwhile, Bokkun, ever the obedient though slightly mischievous assistant, stood in the back, his eyes wide and his body tense. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, unsure of how to proceed. "U-uh, Doctor, maybe you just need to regroup and... y'know, come up with a new plan," he said hesitantly, trying to avoid Eggman's wrath.

Eggman slowly turned to look at him, his gaze narrowing. "New plan? NEW PLAN?!" He stalked toward Bokkun, his anger now fully focused on his diminutive assistant. "I've tried every plan in the book, and they STILL keep messing it all up! I can't just sit here twiddling my thumbs while they get stronger!"

From the shadows of the lab, a sleek figure stepped forward—tall, imposing, and shrouded in a cloak of mystery. Eggman turned with a start, his surprise quickly giving way to a twisted smile as he saw his latest creation, standing proudly behind him. The figure's eyes glowed with a cold, calculating light, and the metallic sheen of her form gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights of the lab.

"Father," the figure spoke, her voice smooth and confident, yet tinged with an eerie, almost haunting quality. "Why continue to search for the Chaos Emeralds, when we could go straight to the source itself?"

Eggman's eyes widened in a mixture of disbelief and fascination as he took in her words. "What are you talking about, Sage?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of admiration for the intellect of his creation.

Sage stepped forward with a graceful, almost ethereal stride, her mechanical body reflecting the cold, blue light of the lab. Her gaze never wavered from Eggman, her eyes glowing faintly with a sharp, intense focus. "The Master Emerald, Father. The one artifact that holds the power to control all the Chaos Emeralds. The very source of their power—if we acquire it, we won't need to chase after those feeble emeralds anymore. We will control the source itself, the heart of their power. And then... nothing will stand in our way."

Eggman's eyes narrowed as the idea took root in his mind, his hand instinctively stroking his mustache as he mulled over the implications of Sage's words. "The Master Emerald... of course! Why hadn't I thought of that sooner?" His mind raced as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "That's the key to everything! All these years I've been running after the Chaos Emeralds, chasing after fleeting power, when the true power—the ultimate source—has been sitting there, untouched, waiting for someone smart enough to seize it!"

Sage's face remained impassive, her eyes glowing even brighter now as she observed Eggman's growing excitement. "Exactly, Father. The Master Emerald is located in the Temple of the Ancients, on the legendary Angel Island, far from prying eyes. Only those with the knowledge and skill can reach it, and I have every confidence that you are the one who can claim it for yourself."

Eggman's grin grew wider, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained ambition. "Angel Island... the legendary sanctuary of the Master Emerald! The very place that has eluded even the greatest minds of history!" His voice rose with excitement, his hands trembling with barely contained energy. "I will go there, I'll take control of the Master Emerald, and finally, the world will be mine!" He clenched his fists, his face a mixture of ecstasy and madness as he began pacing in a frenzy. "With its power, I'll crush Sonic and his pathetic friends! I'll reshape the entire planet in my image! There will be no one left to challenge me, no force in the universe that can stop me! And the best part, Sage..." He stopped and turned to face his creation, his eyes burning with fury and delight. "The Master Emerald will be mine—and no one, not even that blue hedgehog, will be able to take it from me!"

Sage's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "As I said, Father, I have full confidence that you will succeed. After all, who else has the brilliance, the cunning, and the technology to take what the world's greatest heroes could never claim?"

Eggman turned to his robotic minions—Bocoe, Docoe, and Bokkun—who had been watching from a distance, caught off guard by Sage's sudden revelation. "Do you see? Do you understand the magnitude of what we're about to do?" Eggman boomed, his voice brimming with anticipation. "We are going to seize the Master Emerald, and with it, all the power we could ever dream of. No more Chaos Emeralds. No more limitations. Just pure, unbridled power at our fingertips!"

"Start the thrusters!" Eggman bellowed, his voice filled with an intensity that reverberated through the command center. "I will not rest until we've found the Master Emerald!"

Bocoe, Docoe, and Bokkun saluted in unison, their robotic forms stiff and precise as they scrambled to execute Eggman's command, their metal feet clanking against the floor as they rushed toward the bridge.

Eggman turned away from the bustling chaos, his eyes narrowing as they fell upon Sage. Her figure stood motionless in the shadows of the lab, the faint hum of the ship's engines just starting to fill the silence. "What shall we work on, Father?" Sage inquired, her voice cold and calculated, her tone never wavering.

A dark grin spread across Eggman's face as he glanced toward a stasis chamber in the corner of the room. The chamber's glass was fogged, the figure within obscured, yet Eggman's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Soon, we will finish the job," he muttered, his fingers curling into a fist. "We'll have fully rebuilt you, Metal."

With a flick of a switch, a soft hissing sound filled the room as the gas inside the chamber slowly dissipated, revealing the figure within. Metal Shadow. His dark, metallic form lay suspended in stasis, his cold, glowing red eyes still shut, as if waiting for Eggman to awaken him from his mechanical slumber.

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In the depths of a cave hidden beneath the harsh, unforgiving sands of the Middle East, Megatron, battered and broken, sat hunched over, his massive form flickering with sparks. His once-mighty body was now damaged, parts of his armor cracked and singed from the relentless battles he'd fought, both on Earth and beyond. His systems hummed and sputtered as he glared out into the darkness, seething with hatred.

"Curse these insects," he muttered through gritted teeth, his deep voice filled with venom. "Curse this planet, and curse that Michael Kaiser!" The name burned his circuits as he remembered the humiliating defeat and the struggle to survive in the shadows. The Autobots and their human allies had thwarted him again and again, but now, he was ready to rise once more.

With a low growl of frustration, Megatron's hands trembled as he finally managed to patch together his shattered communicator. Sparks danced from his arm as he activated the device, the familiar hum of the signal coming to life. The call was being sent—his message was going out to all the Decepticons.

He leaned in, his voice rough and strained but brimming with power. "Listen to me, all Decepticons!" he roared, his voice crackling through the speakers with a weight that demanded attention. "I, Megatron, have returned! Your leader has returned after six long years!"

The silence that followed was thick, but it was only temporary. All across Cybertron, the Decepticons—some still scattered, some rebuilding—paused. Their leader's voice was unmistakable, even through the distorted communication, and they knew what it meant. The time had come to unite once again under Megatron's banner.

"Leave Cybertron! It is no longer a safe haven for us!" Megatron continued, his tone growing fiercer with every word. "We have found a new home—Earth! This planet is ripe for the taking, and we will conquer it, as we always should have. We shall make it ours, and no one—Autobot or human—will stop us!"

His declaration echoed throughout the galaxy, and across countless worlds, the Decepticons who had been scattered during their exile now began to stir. Those loyal to Megatron knew this was no empty threat. It was a call to arms.

The earth trembled as his words resounded through the atmosphere. Megatron's optics flared with a cold, calculating gleam. He had waited long enough. His body still ached, but his resolve had never been stronger. The Autobots thought they had won, but they had only delayed the inevitable. The Decepticons would rise again. Earth would become the jewel of his empire, and no one—least of all Michael Kaiser—would stand in his way.

"You will bow before me, Michael Kaiser," Megatron growled, his voice now filled with cold malice. "And I will make you regret ever crossing me."

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In the heart of New York, atop a newly rebuilt tower that loomed like a dark sentinel against the skyline, Shredder sat upon his throne. His presence was imposing, the air around him thick with tension. His metal armor gleamed in the dim light of the room, but his expression, though masked, was one of deep frustration and calculation. The weight of his thoughts pressed heavily on his shoulders as he brooded over the recent events that had begun to unravel in the city.

At his side stood Charmcaster, her arms folded and a look of quiet concern etched on her face. "Master Shredder," she spoke with a gentle but cautious tone, "what is it that you're worried about?"

Shredder's gaze shifted to her, his eyes hidden behind his mask, but the intensity of his stare was enough to send a chill through anyone who met it. He remained silent for a long moment, lost in thought, before finally speaking, his voice low and filled with venom.

"The Turtles... and their new friends," he muttered, the weight of the words carrying the bitterness of an old grudge. He clenched his fists tightly, his fingers digging into the arms of his throne.

Beside him, Darkstar, his most trusted ally, spoke with a sharp, pointed edge to his voice. "It's because of that Michael Kaiser, isn't it?" Darkstar's tone was heavy with disdain. "With him becoming more... friendly with the Forever Knights, they've grown bolder. They've become more hostile with us."

Shredder's eyes narrowed at the mention of Michael Kaiser. The name alone was enough to ignite a fire of hatred in his chest. Kaiser had not only united the heroes of Earth but had somehow gained the trust of the Forever Knights, a faction that Shredder had long considered an ally in his quest for power. Their shift in allegiance had shattered the fragile balance of their dealings.

"Indeed," Shredder growled, his voice thick with anger. "That meddling fool, Kaiser, has thrown everything into chaos. The Forever Knights should be our allies, not standing against us!" He stood from his throne, his movements swift and deliberate as he paced before them. "Now, they fight for their own ideals, aligned with him, while we... we are being cornered from every direction."

Darkstar's voice was laced with the bitter taste of defeat. "We are surrounded. The Turtles have been more proactive in their defense. The Forever Knights now stand in their way, and their alliance with that Michael Kaiser has made them stronger. It's as if the very world is conspiring against us, Shredder."

Shredder slammed his fist down onto the armrest of his throne, causing a resounding crash that reverberated throughout the room. "This must end. Kaiser and his friends will not stand in my way any longer. I will make them pay for every ounce of weakness they have shown." His voice cracked like thunder, filled with a dark resolve. "I will show them the true meaning of fear. And when the dust settles, the world will know the name of the Shredder as the one true power!"

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The warm glow of the sun bathed the café terrace in soft hues of orange and gold as Kai leisurely enjoyed her sundae. The decadent dish was stacked high with whipped cream, sprinkles, and syrup—an indulgence she relished with each spoonful. Sitting beside her, Carnage seemed as at ease as ever, its carnivorous hunger sated by a slab of meat it had stolen from a nearby food cart.

Albedo, on the other hand, was far from content. His usually composed demeanor was fraying at the edges as he glared across the table, arms crossed tightly. His normally aloof expression twisted with frustration. "Kai... WHY THE HELL ARE WE HERE?!" he exploded, his voice rising to a pitch that startled a nearby couple.

Kai didn't even flinch at the outburst, her smile only widening as she twirled her spoon in the sundae, unfazed by Albedo's anger. "What are you talking about, honey? We're enjoying our date," she said with an air of sweet innocence, her tone dripping with playful mischief.

Albedo blinked, his red eyes wide in disbelief as he looked at the ring on his finger. "First you put this... this thing on my finger. I mean, what even is this? Then you force yourself on me! And NOW we're on this human thing called a date?!" His voice was rising with each word, his frustration growing louder.

Kai's grin only grew wider, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of her sundae bowl as she continued feeding herself, clearly enjoying the chaos she was creating. "Of course, honey," she cooed sweetly, completely oblivious—or perhaps reveling in—Albedo's distress.

"I don't want to be part of your human rituals!" Albedo slammed his hands onto the table, the force enough to shake his glass of water. "Kai, I need to fix the Ultimatrix, NOW!" His voice was practically a demand, but it was clear that he was becoming less sure of his own stance, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

Before Albedo could make a move, something sinister stirred behind Kai. The shadows around her seemed to bend, and then with a quiet hiss, Carnage's tendrils, dark and predatory, snaked out from Kai's back. With terrifying precision, the tendrils wrapped around Albedo, lifting him from his seat and slamming him back down onto the bench with unnerving strength.

Albedo's face twisted in surprise and irritation as he struggled, but the tendrils held him firmly in place. His legs were forced to sit, though he fought against the immobilizing grip. "What the hell is this?!" he hissed.

Kai leaned back in her seat, her smile still as sweet as honey, utterly unphased by Albedo's frustration. "Honey, the Ultimatrix can wait. Let's enjoy our honeymoon," she said, her voice syrupy sweet.

Albedo's face contorted with confusion. His eyes darted around, his mind clearly racing. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. He wasn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to be fixing things, getting back to the work that truly mattered—not on a date with her.

"Fixing things, always fixing," Kai mused, as if the thought had barely crossed her mind. "Relax. You don't need to fix everything, Albedo. Sometimes, you just need to enjoy the moment."

TO BE CONTINUED.

This small chapter was just to finish off the stories of the Villains and prepare them for UA and more of my own original content. And yes, Albedo got married to Kai without knowing.