This turned out to be a Knuckles race.
SUMMARY:
AIZ goes as planned, with everyone neck and neck, me in front.
HC1 looks to go the same way, but RPG actually GAME OVERS there. Everyone fails at HC2 but me, and I head into Marble Garden while most people are barely halfway through the stage (the lone exception is DsS, who is still a good 30 seconds behind me).
Marble Garden 1 goes as planned, but the first real trainwreck of my run comes up in MG2. I attempt to preform the zip over the top of the level, but fail once, and although I succeed the next time, get killed by a drill from the boss. During this time, AD throws in the towel, having just finished HC2. Somehow, SBW, DsS, and I all line up going into CN1.
I outdistance them both over CN and IC, but LB1's boss kills me 6 FUCKING TIMES and we line up again going into LB2, where SBW loses his last life.
Surprisingly, DsS and I keep even for MH, but in FB and beyond shit gets real and I wind up like five minutes ahead. I go into SS with 2 lives.
I then gameover, and DsS remains the only one who crosses the damn finish line.
EDIT: .giz attached.
