Chapter Eleven: Battles Hurt

I turn to Eggman, trying to focus myself for the fight, but my "mind" is still stuck on the fact that Mephiles simply canned me like he did. It makes me angry and somewhat upset that he would dare do such a thing when he knew he was earning my trust. Trust—Trust is a horrible thing and I wish I never trusted Mephiles. I should have known that he would do this, since everyone knows he is out for nobody's benefit but his own. But me and my caring nature, felt sorry for him. I'm a robot; I shouldn't care about anybody, but for some reason I do. I never will understand why. I think Eggman made an error he didn't notice when he made me, and an error that I probably will never actually discover what exactly is.

I watch as Eggman pushes a button, releasing…

"Metal Knuckles?!" I shout out, seeing the robotic echidna. He looks exactly like Knuckles, except more robotic.

"We are not friends anymore, Metal Sonic…" Metal Knuckles says, his eyes flashing red as he stares at me.

"What?!" I say, somewhat shocked.

"Ohohohohoh!" Eggman laughs. "You thought that I wouldn't get around to fixing him, didn't you? Well, while you and Metal Shadow were off on your unwelcome stroll, I fixed Metal Knuckles to fight you in case you decided to refuse to return the easy way. Now you have a choice: Either come the easy way and maybe I won't put you in the wastebasket for disobedience, or do it the hard way and hurt another friend of yours, then go to the wastebasket!"

I don't say anything for awhile, turning away. Why? I think to myself. Why must I be forced to make a decision like this? I already lost Metal Shadow, I already was betrayed by Mephiles, and now I am going to have to decide both to go back to Egghead or hurt, and possibly kill my second best friend? This is just too much for me to take in one day, people…Just flat out too much.

"Well, I am waiting." Eggman says, crossing his arms, causing me to get interrupted from my thoughts. "What shall it be? The easy or the hard way?"

Knowing I've come too far to simply surrender to Eggman, I brace myself for more physical and emotional pain, and get into fighting position.

"I'm not going to just surrender to you, not after Metal Shadow's sacrifice, and not after how far I've come!" I say.

"Very well then, have it your way, Metal, but don't say that I didn't give you a chance." Eggman says. "Metal Knuckles, attack!"

Metal Knuckles prepares to fight as well and I await him to make the first move. He charges at me, and I charge back at him. I tackle him to the ground, and we immediately are in a wrestling match, rolling along the concrete sidewalk that leads out of the G.U.N. HQ property.

"Metal Knuckles, I don't want to hurt you…I know you're still in there somewhere!" I say softly in an attempt for Eggman not to hear me, but still wanting Metal Knuckles to be able to.

"I was never your friend to begin with." Metal Knuckles says, punching me hard across the head. Somehow, I can feel the pain. Perhaps it was just that strong of a hit, or part of the malfunction or virus I have. However, I don't let anyone know and it's fairly easy to keep the pain hidden since I'm a robot.

"You know that's not true, Metal Knuckles." I say softly, kicking him in an attempt to get him off of me. "Don't you remember all those fun times you had with Metal Shadow and I? Metal Shadow's dead and I don't want to lose you too."

"If you don't want to lose me, then why don't you just surrender?" Metal Knuckles growls, slamming me against the wall. I wince in pain as the wall clashes rather harshly with my head.

I look down at the ground in defeat. There's no convincing Metal Knuckles. Eggman has totally wiped his memory to the point he doesn't even know about any of the times that Metal Shadow, Metal Knuckles, and I had together over the years. He was completely reprogrammed to the point all he knows how to do is listen to whatever Eggman asks him to do. It's downright sickening that Eggman has done that to him. In a way, I guess it was needed, since Metal Knuckles did have a virus, and it probably couldn't have been taken out any other way.

"I'm sorry, Metal Knuckles." I say softly. "But Metal Shadow made a sacrifice for me, and I am not going to let that go to waste. It's a shame Eggman has wiped your memory. You were a great friend, after all."

Then, putting all of my emotions about fighting Metal Knuckles aside, I bring forth my best effort in fighting, ignoring the fact that every time I land a hit on Metal Knuckles, I get sad. We continue to wrestle on the ground, both kicking and punching the other in an attempt to get the upper hand in the battle.

I manage to wriggle free of Metal Knuckles and push him across the sidewalk. I get up and activate my jet pack to fly, which is something Metal Knuckles does not have the programming to do. I lunge at him with speed rivaling Sonic's and he punches me with power rivialing Knuckles'

What results is a massive explosion, which sends both of us flying in either direction. Metal Knuckles goes flying, smoke flying after him straight for Eggman and sends him flying out of his pod to who knows (and who really cares) where. I go flying in the opposite direction, pain singing my stomach area, where my engine is, and I hit the bush a little ways off with a thud.

My vision is fizzling in and out, but I manage to pick up the sounds of Eggman screaming like he always does every time he fails one of his plans. I know at that moment that he will likely not be back for me, and I can finally rest at ease.

But what point is there if all of my friends are gone?

Metal Shadow was killed to save my own metal, Mephiles betrayed me, and Metal Knuckles is probably most certainly dead after the damage I dealt to him in the explosion. I am alone, with no one. What's the point in even being in this world if you have nobody to accompany you? With no one to talk to and lean on for advice? I got what I wanted, but it came at a heavy price—the death of all of my friends.

I find myself crying oil tears, feeling upset and most of all, alone. At that moment, I black out. For some reason, I am wishing that I don't ever come to.