Chapter Text
6 Months Ago
Tell me exactly what am I supposed to do
Now that I have allowed you to beat me
Do you think that we could play another game?
Maybe I can win this time
Infinite couldn't say that he understood the Doctor's obsession with Sonic. Yes, the blue hedgehog had thwarted his schemes dozens of times, but, to be perfectly fair, most of those schemes had been, pardon his language fucking stupid (See: amusement park in space. Seriously, what the hell?), and Eggman and all of his lackeys were, in fact, still alive. So why the constant revenge plots?
Who knew. Certainly not Infinite. He just did what he was told, in return for the magnificent power that beat in his chest.
The Phantom Ruby. Able to make all his dreams come true and then some, for the small price of capturing the so-called Hero of Mobius. Well, if that's what the Doctor ordered, then that's what the Doctor would get.
It was surprisingly easy. So easy, in fact, that Infinite wondered if Eggman had just never actually tried before.
All they had to do was destroy a little bit of Station Square. Use barely a handful of robots, light a few fires, scare a few villagers and lo and behold here came Sonic the Hedgehog himself, swooping in to save the day. Hooraaaaay. He dealt with the robots like they were nothing, bouncing around in a whirling blue ball, and then had the gall to lean back and ask the small crowd, “Is everyone okay?”
Well. They surely wouldn't be. In just a moment. Infinite's lip curled as he tapped his fingertips against his arm from his perch on a nearby chimney, watching the scene from several different perspectives as he channeled the feed from Eggman's robots into his mask screen.
And Infinite had to grit his teeth at the reply of Sonic's sidekick, the yellow fox known as Tails. Although...the jackal tilted his head. The fox's response to the attack had been...unexpected. He had planned for Tails to launch some kind of at least reasonably formidable defense, if not an actual offensive strategy. After all, the fox kit was frequently held in equally high regard to his blue counterpart, but all he'd done so far was cower along with the rest of the townspeople.
Well. No skin off of Infinite's back: it just made his job easier. Fewer so-called 'heroes' to deal with.
Shadow, of course, was already out of the picture. Infinite hid a smile at the thought that his nemesis had already found himself locked in a snug little cell inside one of the giant robots all lined up in neat rows at Eggman's bases, ready to take over the countryside just as soon as Sonic was captured.
Sonic's lines were so damn cheesy that they made Infinite scoff under his breath, “Okay let's finish this Eggman!” As if he ever finished anything. Infinite was well aware that one of Sonic's prime weaknesses was his inability to actually finish the job. Hence why Eggman, and therefore himself, were here now, tearing down the city. Weakling.
“It will be your finish, Sonic. Behold the power of my ultimate masterpiece!” Okay. Eggman's lines were damn cheesy too. Maybe even worse. Damn why was Infinite cursed with nobody but idiots in his life? Didn't anyone here know how to actually speak like an adult? Of course not. His expectations were obviously far too high.
Infinite rolled his eyes, which fortunately nobody could see at the moment, but that was his cue. With a wave of his hand, figures manifested out thin air, rippling into existence out of glowing red cubes: villains from Sonic's past, pulled from his memory and video files.
Sonic, unaware, grinned insouciantly, and started towards Eggman—only for Infinite to flick his wrist, and the first of his little creations spun in a spiral of purple and black to knock the blue hedgehog away.
Infinite smirked as Sonic gasped, “Shadow! It's you?” Ah, the bliss of ruining your enemy's reputation in one single moment. Shadow had worked for years to cultivate a trustworthy repute and here it was, gone, destroyed in a single brilliant second. He could feel Sonic's disbelief turning into resentment almost immediately. Delicious.
But that wasn't all. Oh, no no no. Infinite wasn't taking any chances here: Eggman had said that Sonic would be captured, and so he would be captured. Infinite wouldn't make the same mistakes of his creator—bringing out the weakest thing first and slowly leveling up so that his enemy could build up to the final showdown.
No. He was bringing out all the big guns right away. No mistakes. No do-overs. No second chances.
“Zavok?...Metal?...Chaos!!” At each challenger, Sonic sounded more and more confused, and more and more worried—Infinite was particularly proud of that last one. Chaos had been difficult to create, requiring far more research than the others, but the look on Sonic's face was well worth the effort to recreate the water god's zero phase form.
And then Infinite himself floated down to stand right in the center of his lineup of powerhouse creations, the crowning achievement and the thing that would finally defeat Sonic the Hedgehog.
Of course he didn't know that yet. Well, Infinite would be happy to teach this hedgehog his place.
Sonic thumbed his nose at Infinite with a derisive snort, and ran at him...
Only for Infinite to sidestep with a yawn. Not even using any effort.
He could feel Sonic's disbelief in the way that the blue hedgehog froze, startled out of his carefree attitude by Infinite's sudden display of speed.
This was going to be so easy.
He heard the fox mutter with a gasp, “Whoa! This guy is faster than Sonic!” And Infinite grinned. Because yes.
Yes he was.
He let that thought sit for a moment, practically able to watch the gears turning in Sonic's head as he zoomed back up into the air, shooting a pulse of energy from his hand: Sonic dodged exactly the way the display in his mask had predicted, which meant that he was able to adjust and deliver a double series of roundhouse kicks, hearing the air whoosh out of the blue hedgehog's chest.
The exact. Same. Move. That Shadow had used on him.
And Sonic fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker, straight into a building, making a very nice dent in the stonework facade. Really classing up the place with the splash of blue.
The fox was mumbling something, but he'd already proved himself to be no threat at the moment, so Infinite focused his attention on Sonic. Throwing more ranged attacks with energy bolts, but now he concentrated and his illusionary creations moved in as well.
Zavok, Metal, Chaos—all them delivering their own brand of attack, all of them ensuring that not a single hit was actually landed on Infinite himself.
It was so cute. Sonic and Tails calling out to each other, giving away their moves and trying to figure him out in the middle of a fight. Pathetic creatures. If there was anything the Ultimate Mercenary knew, it was when to focus on the fight. Obviously for all that Eggman had touted Sonic as some mighty hero, he had no idea how to fight an enemy who actually wanted him dead. Or, well, at the very least actually out of action permanently.
From there it was easy. Hit after hit. Treating Sonic's body like it was a balloon, trying to keep it flying through the air—Infinite was playing with him. While utterly destroying him.
It was so stupidly easy. The whole fight Infinite had used only minor energy—enough to maintain his illusions, and enough to make himself fast. Nothing else was needed.
And this was the creature who had stood in Eggman's path for decades.
If Infinite hadn't been wearing his mask, he would have spit at how damn pathetic this whole situation was. Everyone here was an absolute imbecile.
Including that fox. Who, as he watched Sonic collapse to the ground, defeated, was now scrambling over the rubble towards Infinite, an expression of fury on his face.
“Sonic! Sonic! You,” the fox waved a little box at him, and Infinite almost snorted, “I will figure out what you did and I will stop you! Go away!” His bright yellow tails were beginning to spin, and Infinite huffed.
Apparently he'd unleashed the fox's inner hero now that Sonic was out of the picture. Well, no matter. The doctor had made no mention of this kit, which meant that Infinite was free to do with him as he liked.
And what he liked was so, so easy.
Before Tails could react, Infinite was right in front of him, one clawed finger extended to tap against the fox's forehead.
“Oh, you foolish creature.” Infinite's voice was a smooth chuckle, “You have no hope of defeating me. Your hero is gone...and with him, your mind.” And he flicked his fingers, a spiral of red swishing around Tails' head and swooshing into his enormous fluffy ears. The fox's blue eyes crossed and he collapsed back into a pile of rubble.
Infinite was almost sorry that he wouldn't be here to see how Tails reacted when he woke up. He was sure it would be...amusing.
But for now...
There was a clatter behind him, and Infinite smiled. The infrared sensors in his mask informed him of one little creature left, hidden behind a low wall that used to belong to a stately brick building, and was now nothing more than a pile of rubble.
“I can taste your terror, child. All that anxiety and doubt...” He wasn't lying. The readouts that flashed in front of his eye spelled out exactly how fast the heart of this little red wolf was beating. He didn't flinch as the wolf lifted a trembling arm, some sort of weapon leveled at him, “It's...delicious.” He licked his lips, an invisible smile in his voice. He watched as the wolf couldn't even come close to pulling the trigger. A ridiculous and feeble resistance.
A single blast was enough to send the wolf reeling, “Give in to your fear. Flee, screaming, and I'll let you live.” After all. A great conqueror needed witnesses to spread rumors of their power. Of their victories. As the wolf scrambled to his feet and stumbled away into the ruins of the city, Infinite just laughed.
Until his mirth was abruptly cut off.
“Excellent job, Infinite!” Eggman's voice crackled through his wrist communicator, “Now transport Sonic back to base immediately. Get him restrained before any more of his little friends show up.”
Infinite rolled his eyes again, and sighed before he replied, “Yes, sir.” He didn't bother holding Sonic, just levitated him up with his powers, taking one last look around at what had started the day being a peaceful square and was now a flaming pile of ruin. Yes. It would be quite pleasant when the whole world looked like this.
Maybe then, when everyone knew his pain, he would find peace.
And then he and the blue hedgehog were gone.