Chapter 21: Unstable

Sonic was shoved to the ground as the enraged Darkspine tackled him. It raised its fist to attack, but Sonic was quicker. He kneed the indigo hedgehog in the stomach, and pushed him off. Darkspine acted like nothing happened, and instead flew at Werehog, who wasn't expecting the attack. Darkspine kicked the wolf in the snout, and then grabbed his arm and threw him. Werehog flew 10 feet and landed with a loud thump. Excalibur responded by swinging his sword at Darkspine, who side-stepped the swing and grabbed onto the hilt, trying to wrestle the blade away.

"This darkness is clouding your judgment, my friend," the knight said. "Thou art know that you shall never steal a knight's blade!" He threw off Darkspine, and attacked again, managing to scrape the hedgehog, while taking a hard punch to the side of the head, leaving a dent in Excalibur's helm.

"What is with his power?" Sonic shouted, as he and his clone dived at the out of control hedgehog and grabbing an arm each. Darkspine threw off Sonic's clone, and faced the real one. Sonic managed to dodge the first punch, but didn't see Darkspine's foot aiming for his knee. With a loud crack, Sonic's leg broke.

"Sonic!" Werehog yelled, getting back up and launching himself at Darkspine, along with Sonic's Wisp form and Zonic, while Excalibur ran to the speed demon's side.

"Art thou alright?" he asked. Sonic gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. A burning sensation filled his broken knee, and in a few seconds it had mended itself. Sonic stood up and smiled.

"Nice to have that available," he remarked, before looking at the fight to see his Zeti form skidding back towards him. Sonic put a hand on Zonic's shoulder to stop him from running back into battle.

"We need to fuse up in pairs. It might be the only way to stop him," he said.

"Why not just have all of us fuse together like you did with the Balrog?" Zonic asked, but Sonic shook his head.

"It took a lot of energy to do that. I need to build up more Chaos Energy in order to do so again. Plus, I want to save that for the next time we meet Dark," Sonic said.

"Tis the best choice," Excalibur stated. Zonic hesitated, and then nodded.

"You are with me then, oh armored one," he said with a grin. The two stood next to each other and began to fuse while Sonic ran towards Werehog, who had been thrown to the ground again.

"Get into me. We're fusing with Wisp," he commanded. The wolf quickly went back into Sonic, and the hedgehog turned into the wolf. He whistled to the alien, who quickly got away from Darkspine's grasp and floated next to Werehog as the two fused as well. Soon, Werewisp Sonic stood before Darkspine, while Excalibur Zonic stood behind him.

"Bring it on, you scallywag!" Excalibur Zonic shouted. This fused form was just Zonic with the Excalibur armor on. The hands were still clawed, and the armor was changed to fit Zonic. Werewisp Sonic was mainly Werehog, but had antennas, one hand was a tentacle, and he had a third eye on his forehead.

Darkspine snarled and shot forward. In one fluid move, Excalibur Zonic drew his sword and blocked the attack. He managed to cut Darkspine twice, one on each arm, before he was shoved back by the corrupt form. Werewisp took this opportunity to shoot forward in laser form and struck Darkspine in the back.

"Take that," Werewisp snarled. Darkspine responded by stamping on the fused form's foot and then kicking him in the snout. Werewisp whined in pain, and was tackled below the waist while distracted. Darkspine proceeded to pound Werewisp into the ground, until he felt a sharp pain fall across his back. Excalibur Zonic had attacked from behind and left a large gash in Darkspine.

"That's enough my friend," he shouted. Darkspine only smiled, and then vanished. Before Excalibur Zonic could react, he was flying across the room, as Darkspine appeared behind him and side kicked him with so much force, that Excalibur and Zonic split apart. Darkspine proceeded to throw Werewisp after them, splitting Werehog and Wisp as well. Sonic's clone, which had been standing on the sidelines, ran to greet them.

"What do we do? He's too strong!" it said. Werehog turned back into Sonic and came out of the hedgehog.

"There's only one thing we can do" Zonic said, gritting his teeth in pain.

"If you have an idea make it quick," Sonic responded, watching Darkspine slowly walk towards them.

"We need to drain his negative energy by force. None of us can do it except Sonic. But he'll need some help," he added, turning to face the clone.

"Wait what? What can I do?" it asked, looking a little afraid.

"You are Sonic's clone. You are the closest thing we have to his power," Wisp said. The clone nodded, looking a bit shaky.

"Alright guys, just hold him down and I can do this," Sonic ordered. The others nodded and got ready. Darkspine stopped walking to glare at his opponents. Then, with an almighty roar, he charged.

"Go!" Sonic shouted. Werehog and Zonic threw themselves at Darkspine, and managed to pin him. Excalibur ran over and placed the sharp end of his sword on Darkspine's throat, while Wisp circled around in eagle form, ready to attack. Sonic and his clone walked up to his corrupted form, who growled at the sight of him.

"No hard feeling dude," Sonic said, as his and his clone placed their hands over Darkspine's chest. Sonic looked up at his clone, who nodded. Sonic nodded back and closed his eyes, concentrating.

All at once, a huge wave of energy slammed into Sonic, almost throwing him off Darkspine. He held on with all his might, trying his best to absorb the negative energy coming from Darkspine, while stopping it from consuming him. He could sense his clone struggling to do so as well.

"Hold on sire!" Sonic heard Excalibur shout. Darkspine was convulsing and letting out terrible howls. Sonic could feel the negative energy eating away at him, yet he held on and on, until he felt the force starting to give.

"Just…a little…more," he said between breaths. As he said this, he heard someone fall over. His clone had collapsed out of exhaustion. It turned into a ball of light and went inside him. He was now alone.

Sonic felt his strength giving way, but he kept going as hard as he could. With a final push, the negative energy surrounding Darkspine broke. The indigo hedgehog stopped moving all together and laid still. Sonic took his hands off Darkspine, and tried to stand up. A wave of dizziness came across him, and he almost passed out, but Zonic shook him.

"Stay with me Sonic. You did amazing!" the Zeti said.

"Yea man, nothing to it," Sonic said back weakly. Darkspine stirred and opened his now pure white eyes. He sat up and looked around.

"Guys, what's going on? Last I remember I was fighting Zonic and…" Sonic's form was saying, and then he caught sight of Zonic. "You!" he yelled, and tried to launch itself at the Zeti, but Werehog held him back.

"Calm down Darkspine, he's on our side!" the wolf shouted. Darkspine stopped struggling and looked confused.

"Really? You beat him?" he asked. While the others gathered around to explain, Sonic heard Wisp speak to him in his head.

"Sonic, I hate to break up this little party, but we have a problem," the wisp said. Sonic looked over at the little alien, confused. In response, Wisp pointed around himself. Sonic looked up, and his blood turned to ice.

"Guys, we have a problem," Sonic said slowly. Everyone else stopped talking to look at him, and it dawned upon them what was wrong.

In front of the group stood Dark, and his minions were standing around all of them, with looks of venom etched onto their faces.