Chapter Text
The winds rushed silently across the sandy plains, pushing clouds of golden grains through the air like aggressive fog. The storm of sand whipped around me, occasionally obscuring the hedgehog standing across from me behind its unstable curtains. My fingers squeezed around the handle of the blade they wrapped around, finding a strange sense of reassurance in its almost familiar weight. For a moment, I felt like something was bubbling to the surface of my mind, but then it slipped and I lost it to the depths. The air around me was too hot and dry, and I briefly tried to locate a landmark or something that I recognised. I failed.
I focus on the hedgehog in front of me. He, too, clutched a blade. His grip was relaxed, almost casual. His quills were blue and pointed back, which almost reminded me of a bird– able to move through the air with ease. His eyes were emerald green and locked onto mine. His mouth was curved into a smug smirk. For some reason, he seemed familiar. Like a reflection. Staring at him, I felt a burning flame rapidly growing inside me, far surpassing the heat surrounding me. I could feel my face twist into a snarl, which seemed to surprise him.
A cold gale filled the dry air and seeped into my bones. I realised I was on my knees. I stood up, despite the warnings that every fibre of my body yelled at me. I flicked my arm to my side, my blade at the ready. I felt the fire inside me rushing through my blood, focusing into my arm and then traveling down into the weapon I was holding. Pitch black lightning surrounded the metal of the blade, wrapping around it in a thorny embrace. Confusion was banished from my mind, replaced by the crackle of energy around my blade.
I launched myself forward, the world around me stretching from my sheer speed. I swung my arm, my blade whistling as it cut through the air, the charged metal ready to bite into flesh.
I felt clarity. I knew this was everything. It was all I knew.
There would be bloodsh–
A resounding crash of metal rung out in the desolate landscape. I stumbled back, my blade still ringing from the impact. The mirror hedgehog shook his head, his eyes wide. He opened his mouth. The fire inside me erupted and I let loose my blade once more. He stepped backwards, the blade slicing through only air. I swung again. He stepped back again. I thrust my sword. He stepped to the side.
Swing, back. Stab, side. Swing, back. Swing, back. Swing, back. Stab, side. Down swing, side.
I could feel my limbs burning, the flame growing and growing with each swing. He had parried me earlier, but now he was only moving out of the way. Why?
He was sweating. His movements were slowing. Subtly and gradual, but happening nonetheless. I pressed forward.
Swing. A flash of steel. A crash of metal on metal. A storm of sparks flew through the air.
I pushed on my blade, and he responded in turn. Equal and opposite. Defensive. Responsive, not proactive.
“You deny your weapon its purpose!” I snarled. I drove a foot into stomach. I felt something give and I heard a crack. He flew backwards.
I rushed forwards, bringing my blade down again. Crash. Sparks. He was wavering. “It should be bathing in the blood of your enemies... but you hold it back!”
His sword pressed against mine with greater effort. “No! My sword is a tool of justice!” He declared. Metal screeched as he pressed closer.
I stepped to the side and let his sword fall. “Shouldn’t have brought a tool to a sword fight!” I scoffed. I brought my foot down onto the ‘tool’. “Is your cause just? Or is that what you tell yourself?” I didn’t know what I was saying. It just came out.
He opened his mouth. I moved. Steel whistled and sliced through muscle, tendon, and bone.
His sword clattered to the ground.
His eyes were wide. They darted to me, then to his shoulder, then to his arm on the ground. “Wh- I- You-” He stammered uselessly.
I stepped forward, ready to finish it.
He pulled back. His remaining arm raised defensively. His eyes were wide. His pupils were dilated. Blue energy crackled inside his quills like a thunderstorm. His eyes glowed blue with raw power.
I was not afraid.
I took another step forward.
A flicker of movement. Pain in my chest. Breath gone. I looked down. His attached arm stopped at my chest, only visible up to his elbow. Blood covered his arm. My vision swam. Darkness creeped in from the corners of my sight. My mind plunged into a thick, syrupy tar. My skin felt numb.
My last thought was so familiar, but just barely unreachable.
“Maria…”
Everything went dark, and I died.
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Sonic jolted awake as he heard Shadow screaming. His heart pounded in his chest. What was happening?
He needed to get to Shadow immediately.
He dove out of bed, jumping out of his room and blazing into his living room, finding Shadow… sitting there.
His eyes were as wide as dinner plates. He had a hand held to his stomach, clutched tight as if it was going to run away. He was completely still. Sonic couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.
“Shads?” Sonic asked softly, not wanting to startle him.
Shadow’s head whipped around at his voice, his eyes briefly widening even further in… fear? Why…? After a split second, the tension fled Shadow’s body and the fear dropped from his expression. He coughed, his throat clearly hoarse from the screaming. “Ah, Sonic. Just… a nightmare.” He said, still slightly gripping his stomach.
Sonic walked closer to Shadow, sitting down on the couch next to him. He put a hand on his lap. “I’m here for you, always.” He tried to reassure him. “We all are.” He added quickly.
Shadow put his hand on Sonic’s, gripping it tightly. “I know.”
Sonic leaned on Shadow’s shoulder. “Wanna talk about it tomorrow with Ames?” He asked. “Bet she’ll recommend a very specific type of tea.” He said with a smile.
Shadow chuckled softly. Success! Sonic mentally pumped his fist. “I think I’d like that.” Shadow murmured.
“Then it’s settled.” Sonic declared. “But right now, you need rest. But fear not! I shall keep you safe. As is proper for an Arcane Knight.”
Shadow raised an eyebrow. He opened his mouth to speak, but almost immediately realised the blue hedgehog had already fallen completely asleep. He chuckled and shook his head. He pulled Sonic closer to him and laid back down, soaking in the warmth of the other hedgehog.
Within minutes, he, too, was asleep.