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“You have lost. Surrender.”
Shadow spoke with finality. Eclipse blinked the sweat out of his eyes. His chest heaved as he gasped for breath, and his claws sunk into the sandy dune. Hot grains burned into his backside, scorching his body with the same fury as the sun beating down on him from the cloudless sky.
He squinted at Shadow, gnashing down on his jagged teeth. He rolled his stiff shoulders, preparing to sit upright, but he flinched. The Chaos Spear gripped in Shadow’s hand elongated, and Shadow aimed it at his neck, his eyes narrowing as if to challenge him to retaliate. Chaos energy crackled off the tip, but it never touched him.
Behind Shadow, the Desert Raiders gawked. Spike’s expression tensed, and Sonar hid behind Trevor, who covered his mouth. They were rendered speechless in the aftermath of their battle, and Eclipse knew those cowards could only stare, helpless, worthless fools that they were.
When the ship he had stolen from G.U.N crashed, Eclipse had sought any refuge with his Dark Arms. They had traveled to Shamar to regroup and learned about the Desert Raiders’ base. After observing them for a few days, Eclipse had attacked them in his empowered form and easily defeated the shocked, uncoordinated Freedom Fighters, giving him full access to their facility.
But before he delivered the finishing blow, all of a sudden, Shadow had teleported to his side and struck him across the jaw. It was a clean punch, one that would have shattered the teeth of an average G.U.N soldier. He had toppled like a ragdoll, his Dark Arms scattering and sinking into the sand. And when he cradled his face, Shadow searching for any instance of further hostility, Eclipse had never felt such unbridled humiliation in his entire existence.
He should have known Shadow was following him. He had let his guard down, allowing his arrogance to circumvent his rational thinking. When he believed he had finally won a battle against the pitiful inhabitants of the world, Shadow stole his glory and conquest with a lone blow.
“How long have you been following me?” Eclipse hissed.
“Long enough. All I had to do was follow your trail and received a bit of help from a local,” Shadow stated, flicking his spear. “Stand. You’re coming with me.”
Spitting out a laugh, Eclipse shook his head. His jaw ached, and his teeth rattled, but he sneered, “What, you don’t have the strength to finish me? Why not eliminate me in front of your peers?” He scraped his nails into his dry palms. “Give them a show, Shadow, just like you gave me when you obliterated Black Death and the rest of the Black Arms.”
Sonar winced and clung to Trevor’s side. He rested his hand on her shoulder and fidgeted with his sunglasses. Spike continued glaring at him, stress lining around the corners of his eyes, and he gnawed on his lower lip. Their inability to mask their distress churned Eclipse’s stomach, and he wished he crushed them when he had the chance.
They were prime examples of humanity’s folly. Shadow sided with them and their ilk, baffling Eclipse to an endless degree. The chances he wasted on Shadow mocked him, as the Desert Raiders could only look on with wide, petrified gazes that sickened Eclipse, deepening his hatred for the world that should have belonged to the Black Arms.
Shadow scoffed, his lip curling. “I won’t stoop to your level.”
“My level?” Eclipse bellowed, bashing his fists into the sand. “Their level is far beneath us! We should have been brothers usurping this planet, but you chose to obey your lessers. Don't you dare imply that the Black Arms were lesser than those spineless creatures using you as their sword and shield!”
Shadow’s expression refused to betray his emotions. Not a hint of annoyance or fury glazed over his eyes. He observed Eclipse with the same efficient prowess he maintained upon their first meeting, only changing to incandescent rage in a fit of raw power that exhilarated Eclipse. When Shadow had been under his thumb, soothed by the words of Black Death and annihilating his paltry comrades in the blink of an eye, it had been absolutely worthy of Eclipse's idolatry.
“We’re not the same, Eclipse,” Shadow said, the chaos energy sparking around his fist. He thrust his spear high above his head, the center resting on his shoulder as if carrying a bayonet. “Stand. Collect your defeated minions and walk in tandem with me. I won’t allow you to escape for the third time.”
His brows knit, frustration encapsulating him. His muscles throbbed, his teeth grinding with enough intensity to crack. He dragged his hand across his muzzle, his mouth moving in disbelief, emitting no sound as Shadow watched his every move.
Again, Eclipse failed to avenge the Black Arms. His beloved Dark Arms writhed and whimpered around him. The Desert Raiders visibly relaxed, the leader pumping his fist in the air, and his subordinates cheered for their savior, no longer needing to fear Eclipse. Shadow stood tall and proud over him, and Eclipse truly understood how Black Doom felt in his final moments, defeated, boiling with hatred toward a hedgehog who was supposed to bring them all preeminence among a planet filled with irresolute recreants.
"You’re nothing but a hybrid created by a madman,” Eclipse hissed, pushing himself to kneel. He rubbed his jaw, stray tears pricking the corners of his eyes. He sucked in a breath, and through the spaces of his teeth, he seethed, “You took everything from me, Shadow, and you don’t regret it, do you?”
Shadow’s composure remained firm. He tightened his lips into a thin line. The Chaos Spear continued crackling, filling Eclipse’s ears with lightning, and Shadow drew in a breath, evenly meeting Eclipse’s scowl with one of his own.
“I did what was necessary to protect this world,” Shadow proclaimed, and he flicked his spear upwards, gesturing for him to move. “Now, hurry up. I don’t want to keep wasting time.”
Roaring, Eclipse thrust a fistful of sand at Shadow’s face. Shadow grimaced, blinded. His spear evaporated into nothing, leaving behind only the dwindling, faint sound of electricity. Launching off the ground, Eclipse tackled Shadow. His hands wrapped around Shadow’s throat, filling him with a thrill he had long anticipated. They crashed into the ground, Shadow’s legs kicking out as he squeezed, a wicked sneer carving onto Eclipse’s muzzle.
“You’re a faker! You’re not even good enough to be my fake!” Eclipse screeched, relishing in the grunts and gasps emitting from Shadow. He winced as Shadow clutched his wrists, his bones aching at his grasp. “You-! Stop resisting! Just let me have my-!”
Pain erupted in Eclipse’s head. Orange flashed across his vision too quickly for him to process it. The force propelled him airborne, and the bright blue sky mocked him. His head twisted to the side, and he saw as clear as day the fist rushing for his face. Eclipse raised his elbow in time to block Trevor’s punch. The recoil launched him onto the ground, sand blasting around him as he skidded to a stop. His knees locked, and he collapsed, holding himself up by his hands. Panting, Eclipse whipped his head up, his mouth falling open as the Desert Raiders faced him, their fear replaced with palpable aggressive confidence.
“Didn’t expect that did you?” Spike jeered, bouncing in place.
Trevor kept his fists in front of his face, snickering. “Well, round two is looking to be more and more in our favor.”
Grabbing his hand, Sonar helped Shadow stand and grinned at her friends. “Nice one, guys! And Shadow is okay, too.”
Eclipse massaged his sore jaw, hearing it click. His eyes darted among the new combatants. He should have been able to tear them to pieces and let the Dark Arms feast on their remains, but his mind fogged, and his body ached for any kind of reprieve.
“Surrender. I will not order you again,” Shadow demanded, but his gaze fell to the ground, grunting in bewilderment.
Eclipse gasped. The Dark Arms crawled toward him. Blurk’s tiny limbs stumbled through the sand. Cregal’s wings struggled to make any headway. Cyzer slid on its belly, panting, eyes closing as if ready to fall unconscious. And sweet Rhygenta hobbled and hopped, squeaking like a wounded animal wanting nothing more than to lick its wounds.
He clutched them to his chest. Burying his face against their cool skin, Eclipse cursed his weakness. He could not defeat the crossbred monster who decimated everything Eclipse loved, all to serve his ego, all to protect thankless, worthless people when the ones who should have been his family suffered by his hand.
“I’ll make you pay. You’ll beg for mercy, and I’ll show you none, Shadow,” Eclipse cried, cradling the Dark Arms. “You’ll reap what you sow, murderer.”
Shadow did not reply. Eclipse wished he would have. He believed Shadow wasn’t above kicking an enemy when he was down, and Eclipse wanted to rip into him with all the vitriol and venom stewing inside him.
For a moment, Eclipse thought he saw Shadow's expression soften, but that was certainly a trick played on him by the sunlight burning into his retinas. The monster who destroyed the glorious Black Arms, the sovereigns of the galaxies, their family, would have never given Eclipse an inch.
But to his shock, a siren blared in the distance. Eclipse felt vibrations in the soil. Dozens of footsteps were marching in unison. Some were lithe, others heavy, but they thundered.
“It’s the Egg Army! They must have snuck in while we were distracted!” Sonar exclaimed, cupping her ears.
“They can wait! Our objective is capturing Eclipse,” Shadow ordered, summoning another Chaos Spear.
“Glad to know I’m worthy of your time, Shadow,” he snarled, stumbling to his feet. Lowering his chin, he whispered, “Sorry, Cregal, but I need your power.”
Cregal cooed, and a flash of red light surrounded him. Eclipse’s sinews twisted, filling him with energy and forming wings in place of his arms. The Dark Arms clung to his head, and he flapped his wings with the rest of his strength, sweat dripping down his face from the sudden exertion.
Shadow roared at him, but what he said was drowned by the invading Egg Amy crossing the horizon. As they charged, Eclipse soared across the village, his breath rattled and eyes glazed. Over his shoulder, he smirked at Shadow, but Shadow had already rushed at the incoming soldiers, firing spears as if Eclipse had become an afterthought.
As he flew and listened to the gentle crooning of the Dark Arms, he gnashed down hard enough on his lip to draw blood.
(After failing to capture Eclipse, Shadow thanked the Desert Raiders for their assistance and made his way through the village. Finding an abandoned alley nestled between brick apartment buildings, he retrieved a thin communicator from his quills. Flicking a switch, he growled, “You fed me misinformation.”
“I did not. I informed you that Eclipse was in the area,” Nephthys remarked with the poise of a teacher.
“But you claimed you wouldn’t interfere. You said Eclipse was a danger to us all. I thought you were a reasonable crony, but I suppose someone who works for Eggman will always be treacherous.”
“It’s not my fault that you were unable to finish your mission. It was perfect timing for me to eliminate the Shamar Freedom Fighters and you by sending in a squadron after your duel with Eclipse.” She huffed out a sigh. “Now, I believe our business has concluded. I have a report to make to the good doctor. I’ll disconnect us and destroy your communicator on my end. I suggest you throw it away before it explodes in your hand.”
“Remaining neutral will not help anyone,” Shadow snapped. “This game you’re playing with the Desert Raiders, it’ll only end in disaster.”
A flustered sound came from the other end. “‘Game?’ This isn’t a game.”
“My meaning still stands. Playing both sides where no one wins or loses will never work.” Shadow lowered his voice. “Eggman is a monster. Eventually, he will force your hand, and they will suffer.”
Crushing the communicator, Shadow tossed the metallic debris in a rusted trash can and teleported to the nearest G.U.N base, his fists clenched.)