Chapter Text
Eclipse tore through the trees, warping now and again to put more distance between him and his pursuers, his Dark Arms following closely. He was deeply confused and panicked. Eclipse had ceased pursuing revenge against Shadow, he had even apologized for his role in the hedgehog becoming mind-controlled on the New Black Comet, so why was Team Dark pursuing him now? Had nothing actually changed?
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be, Eclipse!" Shadow shouted as he skated through the woods. He would've already caught up to the darkling if he wasn't using his powers to slow him down.
"I don't want to fight you anymore, Brother! You know that!" Eclipse shouted back. "Why are you still after me?"
Eclipse stopped, having blindly ran himself into a corner. He was about to change directions when Omega showed up in front of him.
"You're still a threat to everyone else," Shadow explained as he approached.
“WE CAN DO THIS THE EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY,” Omega stated as he flexed his sharp fingers. “PLEASE CHOOSE THE HARD WAY.”
"Wait! No, I-"
Before the darkling got the chance to finish, Rouge had hovered down behind him and quickly jammed a needle into his arm. Liquid drained from the cylinder through the needle and into the muscle of his arm. Adrenaline kicked in and his heart raced, distributing the chemical cocktail faster.
"What did you do to me?!" Eclipse screeched as he placed his opposite hand on the arm that the needle had gone in.
"Relax," Shadow assured. "It will just put you to sleep."
Eclipse stumbled. "But I did what you asked me to, Shadow," he croaked. "Who will… take care of my Dark Arms?" He felt weak and his body trembled. "Who will protect… my children?" His limbs became like jelly.
Shadow caught Eclipse as he fell. "They will not be harmed," the hedgehog promised. "You can make this easier on them if you order them to comply."
Eclipse held onto Shadow with what little strength he had left. His eyelids were heavy, and he could barely think. "Little ones, do… do as Shadow says." He finally fell unconscious as his Dark Arms squawked worriedly.
Shadow scooped up Eclipse to carry him. "Why was Eclipse panicking so much?" he wondered.
"Who knows… oh..." Rouge ears drooped when she realized. "You said it'd put him to sleep."
"So?" Shadow dismissed. "I don't see why that would warrant worrying who'll take care of his Dark Arms. It's just for a few hours, assuming the estimated dosage is correct."
Rouge sighed. "Put to sleep is another way of saying euthanized. I'm surprised he knew, and you didn't."
"Oh," Shadow said simply and looked down at Eclipse's weary sleeping face. He just hoped that he was making the right decision in sparing the darkling and allowing the remaining Black Arms to live on.