Chapter 25: Bring Me to Life

Mephiles reappeared in his home, swimming to Sonic's room.

"Where did you go?" Sonic asked, still coughing. "I've regained my energy and will transform any minute."

"I went to see Shadow. He insists that you stay as yourself."

"What...Shadow? But...you told me he was dead!"

Mephiles instantly realized his mistake, and made something up. "If you stay alive as an object, he can't see you in the afterlife."

Sonic hesitated, and then nodded. "Alright...at least I'll be with him in heaven when I die."

"Yeah... You will."

Mephiles hated lying to his wife, but it was for the best. "Is there anything else you'd like to say or do before you die?"

Sonic tried to get up but failed. Mephiles ran out of the room to get Mephic, who came in and ran up to his mother.

"Mephic...Mephiles..." Sonic said with a smile on her face. "I...love...y..."

Sonic gave them one last smile before the life drained from her eyes and she died. Mephic moved closer, shaking her slightly in disbelief. Mephiles stood behind him, waiting for the inevitable.

"Mom? MOM!" Mephic cried. Sonic's hand lay limp, and she was cold. Mephic cried and swam out of the room, followed by Mephiles. They went into their rooms and locked their doors, both crying.

Neither left until a few hours later, hesitant about doing anything about her. Mephiles was unsure of if or how her immortality would bring her back, and Mephic didn't think he could bear seeing her like that again. Mephiles went into Sonic's room and saw Sonic lying there. He put a hand on hers; her skin felt cold to the touch. Mephiles' eyes filled with tears and he sobbed, swimming out of the room. Mephiles went right back to his room, ignoring Mephic on the way. Mephic started cleaning something in an effort to get his mind off his mother. He cringed as he heard the door slam and looked to his mother's room. Mephic swam inside and his eyes widened in sadness as he saw Sonic's dead body.

Smoothing the blankets next to her, Mephic sighed. "I miss you, mom," he said. Smoothing more wrinkles, Mephic sighed. He supposed he'd be the one having to move her, too. Mephiles made him do everything else. He picked up Sonic's body and went into Mephiles' room. "Should we bury her?" he asked.

Mephiles looked over at them. "I suppose we should. Let's go find the right place for her."

Mephic nodded and they swam outside. They dug a hole and put Sonic's body in it. Both looked down at her a few minutes before looking at each other. Sighing, they covered Sonic's body and swam back inside. Neither of them did anything for the rest of the day. Sighing, they covered Sonic's body and swam back inside. Neither of them did anything for the rest of the day. The two left the house the next morning, intent on going for a swim. They were shocked to see the grave empty.

"What happened?" Mephic asked. "Did someone steal her body?"

"No, I'm here." Sonic's voice was a little weak. There was no mistaking the irritation in it, though.

They turned around and gasped. Sonic was alive! "Mom!" Mephic swam over and wrapped his arms around her.

Mephiles smiled and kissed her. "I thought you were gone for good," he told her.

"I was actually surprised when I discovered I was alive again," she said.

"How?" Mephic asked, confused.

Sonic shrugged. "Immortality, I guess. You know more about that than I would."

Mephic and Mephiles nodded; that made sense. "Well...we were just going to go for a swim. Care to join us?"

Sonic smiled. "Of course I'll join you."

The two other smiled and began to swim. Sonic followed them. They passed the palace where Shadow had taken Sonic, and the mermaid stopped and looked at it.

Mephiles looked at the palace and back at Sonic. "Is there something wrong?"

"I...I'm just thinking about Shadow. When I rescued him, he brought me to this palace to meet his parents and they adopted me as their son..."

"They've been dead a long time," Mephiles said. "I don't know who lives here now." Sonic hesitated and nodded, then continued on. She wished Shadow was still alive. "Should we return home?" Mephiles asked. He didn't want her thinking about Shadow too long.

"Yeah..." Sonic said, and swam back home. When they got there, Sonic looked at Mephiles. "I assume I'm still your slave?"

Mephiles nodded. "Why wouldn't you be?" Sonic hesitated and shrugged, then went into her room and closed the door. Mephiles looked at Mephic. "Do you think she's upset with me?"

"Most likely," Mephic said. "But why would she be?"

"I..." Mephiles looked at Mephic. "Never mind; it's not important."

"Dad...is there something you aren't telling me?"

Mephiles hesitated, and then nodded. "Yes, there is. It's about Shadow."

"What about him? You told me and Sonic that he was dead."

"I lied. He is alive, just not here." Seeing Mephic's expression, he continued. "I made a deal with him, and changed him into a hedgehog. He lives on land now, until he fulfills our deal and can see Sonic again."

Mephic's eyes widened in shock. "Why?"

"Are you asking why we made the deal?" Mephic nodded, confused. He looked back to his mother's room and then at his father. "Shadow had accidentally killed her. Don't ask me how, that's unimportant. I offered to bring her back to life for him if he made a deal with me. He accepted my offer. I gave him immortality, and did bring Sonic back to life. But Shadow must learn to love someone else before he can see her again."

Mephic nodded. "That sounds reasonable."

"I've been hoping he doesn't find anyone," Mephiles muttered.

"Why?"

Mephiles looked at Mephic in surprise. He hadn't wanted him to hear that. "I just am."

Mephic nodded, and swam into Sonic's room. He smiled when he saw her in the form of a dolphin. The dolphin looked at Mephic and chirped. The hybrid smiled and swam over to it, placing his hands on its body.

"You seem upset with father," he told it.

The dolphin chirped again, rubbing its face on him. Mephic laughed. Sonic swam around her son, chirping in happiness. Mephilc smiled as he held onto its fin. He was enjoying this a lot. Suddenly, Mephiles swam inside and looked at them.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" He asked them.

Mephic got off the dolphin's back. It chirped again as he looked at his Master. "I was swimming with mother," Mephic said.

Mephiles glared at them. "Get back to work," he said, pulling out his whip. He glared at the dolphin and swam up to it. "You may have been brought back to life but now is not the time to celebrate!"

The dolphin chirped. It looked at Mephiles and shrank away from him. Mephiles glared at the two of them and they got back to work. The dolphin changed back into Sonic on its way out of the room. The slave owner looked at them as they began to work. Mephiles frowned, wondering what Sonic had been doing as a dolphin. Grabbing Mephic, he asked him. Sonic had missed to much work as it was.

"Why was Sonic a dolphin?"

Mephic shrugged. "I don't know. Ask her."

Mephiles looked over at Sonic. Swimming over, he grabbed her away from what she had been sorting. "Why were a dolphin?"

Sonic looked at him. "I...I just felt like it."

"Just felt like it?" Mephiles narrowed his eyes at her. "I don't believe you." Sonic hesitated, and looked away. "What's wrong?" Mephiles asked.

"I saw the palace today, and it brought back memories of Shadow..."

"Sonic...he is dead. It would be better to forget him. You have a family with us now."

"I know." Sonic nodded. "It's just...even after all this time, I cherish the memories I have with him."

Mephiles hesitated. "Do you...love him?"

Sonic shook her head. "I just miss him."

The sea dragon breathed a sigh of relief. "All right. Get back to work."

The mermaid nodded and did so.