JunAegileus777: Whew! Looks like I missed V-Day wknd...for good reason. (It's not like anyone was reading fanfiction that wknd or anything...lol.) Oh well. I got this one, and the struggle between Sonic, Shadow, and Scourge intensifies. Slivers of Sonic and Scourge's shared BG have been snuck in there. It's mostly demonstrated through their fighting styles, if you're careful, flashbacks and arguing. So, since those are things...

WARNING: Moderate to intense depictions of violence/blood, coarse language, nonconsensual sexual allusion, minor drug reference, and ideologically sensitive subjects ahead.

CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Mon Coryphée

Book I, Mes Larmes

"Épisode XVII"

His steamy huffs didn't want to be acknowledged. Raging eyes blurred. A mindless charge towards the enemy.

Though, Scourge read the move like a turning book-page. Another smirk: "Keh! This is how you greet your long-lost hood-brother, Sonic? Why, I'm insulted." He was fluidly dodging Sonic's attempts at a straight punch. Entertained by the notion, a brutal roundhouse kick to Sonic's side showed how worn out the blue hedgehog was. Hands pocketed and snidely grinning, "Can't even hit me, you weak-ass piece of shit."

Sonic cringed. The blow was harsh; as expected of Scourge, especially because so much time had passed since Sonic's years in Northeaster Heights. Had the Inner City sensitized him? The pent-up anger was far from completely boiled. A blowup of that magnitude would exhaust anyone, he supposed. Holding his side, Sonic coughed a bit.

But Scourge was there to belittle him, even more than he needed to. "What the hell was that? No connects, at all? Pathetic." He stomped his boot into Sonic's pained side, disregarding the hand shielding it. "Gah!" he heard the other hedgehog force out. "Looks like Inner City life made you soft…God, it's so freakin' obvious. Show me your 'Grr!' face, bastard." A harder stomp; Sonic thought his rib was going to crack. "Yeah, didn't think so."

The open door remained untouched. The stench of aging blood wafted throughout the room, occasionally stirred by a wintry whistle. No comfort. No assurance. No solace came Shadow's way. Grunts and taunts ebbed into his awareness. Sonic was too weak to fight back. But Shadow was in no better condition. Nothing in his body was remotely resilient enough to go up against Scourge.

"Get up, bastard! You're not that weak, are ya?!"

Terror plucked a heartstring in the President. His strength crumbling, Shadow struggled to get himself up to a stand. He braced the wall, for balance, as well as to keep his distance from the white hedgehog corpse. Literally, he edged away from it. More tears soaked his cheeks. Trying to, but vainly, bury his fear Shadow made his way towards the doorway.

Huffing a little, Shadow stumbled out. His legs had jellified, so he resorted to dragging himself further into the hallway. He gave himself a moment to rest against the opposing wall. By mere convenience, there was another doorway. It opened right up to the unplanned arena. From where he could hear heartless chitters, impact noises and pained grunts. Those grunts belonged to Sonic; he could hear his lover in pain. Huddling closer to the wall, Shadow slowly accepted how helpless he was to Sonic, how helpless Sonic was to him and for himself. A compounding fear began to counterweigh the consequences of inaction. As scared and powerless as Shadow was, he couldn't just leave Sonic to face that physical inner demon.

A hand shook at his chest, over his heart. "Sonic…!" Strength to move began to build.

KA-THUD!

"Well, shit, if you're not gonna fight me…might as well reintroduce myself, play some catch-up with ya."

Sonic had been at Scourge's mercy. He'd been flattened by Scourge's weight—complete with a knee in his back and a fistful of blue quills. But a reintroduction was in order, apparently. Which lead to Scourge blurting out how "bored" he'd gotten, releasing him, and sauntering away. From a distance, he pulled out a lighter and a cigarette. To the lighter's clicking, Sonic refocused a bit. Wasted energy, he growled in his mind. He had to save every bit from now on, if he wanted to stand a chance against Scourge. Tempered snarls huffed through his nostrils. His hands and legs were leaden with exhaustion, so all he could do was move up to all fours.

It felt peculiar. Like an iron curtain had fallen over both of them. Addictive vapors whisked about the "arena." A couple snorts made Sonic growl.

"In case you haven't noticed, dip-shit, I go by 'King' 'round these parts, now." Annoyance forced the awaiting nicotine cloud through his nostrils. "But you couldn't have possibly known that beforehand, right? Too busy pickin' pansies and posies with those so-called 'friends' a' yours, right?" He took another puff.

"Scourge…" the other hedgehog forced another exhale. "Scourge, c'mon…it's not like that."

"Don't you gimme that bull."

"Look…I know what you want, okay? Just…let Shadow go…and deal with me."

The very person in question came crawling in. Careful not to touch any rusty beams, Shadow weaved through the rubble. As quiet as a field mouse. Tiredness tore at his muscle and wit, so some things had missed his attention.

"Yeah, yeah. I'mma deal with both of ya. Quit puttin' your panties in a twist, bro."

Losing some of the dead weight keeping him down, Sonic chanced a stand. He craned himself to his knees, held his balance, gauging it before moving up to kneel. All the while Scourge had walked right past him. Almost as if to flaunt his strength to walk. At least he didn't knock Sonic back down. He appeared to be heading towards something.

"Thought I wouldn't see you squirmin' over there, huh?"

A scream. "No! No, let go of me!"

Sonic's heart dropped as he watched Scourge dragging Shadow, by his head-quills, behind him. The Chorus Captain, stripped of any and all his power, was as helpless as a princess being served to a dragon. His furious kicking and restraining did absolutely nothing. Scourge wore a big grin on his face as he plopped Shadow down a few inches away from Sonic.

"Sonic! Please, help me!" Shadow strained a reach. So close, yet so far. Neither of them had much strength.

But Shadow's remaining strength was pinned down. By Scourge's boot upon that hand. And a freezing ring touching his skull's crown. The black hedgehog froze.

The Black King armors himself in Malice.

"Don't you dare, Scourge!" came the blue hedgehog's vehement warning. "I swear to God, Scourge—Withdraw! Withdraw, dammit!"

Sonic's order changed nothing. But it did intrigue Scourge to a degree, enough for a pensive look to take over. Lifting an eyebrow, he tapped some ash off his cigarette. "Hey?" he began with some of the gray powder traipsing through another icy breeze. "Why you gettin' all hyper-defensive an' shit, bruh?" With no consideration, Scourge leaned further down, as if to intimidate both Sonic and Shadow. Though, Shadow agonized over the pressure on his hand. Quick flicks brought Magnum Opus up from Shadow's skull back into its leg holster. Nonchalant in an unnerving way, he propped an elbow on a knee, then rested his chin inside a palm. "You actually care about this motherfucker?" Gleaming cobalt peered down into fuming peridot. "How sad is that?"

The Ring around the Kings incinerates anything seen beyond itself.

Outside, Lieutenant Washburn and Sergeant Kerrison were able to regroup with Captain Sonia. The mill was a health hazard in itself, what with rust and mold particles floating around. The fallen steel rafters brought its wheel side down with it. Sonia's combusted cruiser aided in its collapse, as well as the destruction of a supposed computer lab, set up to coordinate Scourge's attack plans. Disheartened by the loss of possibly ascertainable info, Sgt. Kerrison huffed. The Captain updated her partners on the situation. Realizing they were all blocked out, the sergeant called in professional cutters (from a division of local SWAT) to weld some metal apart. There wouldn't be much time to crane or bulldoze everything out of the way; the cutters were specifically told to cut an opening into the mill. Unsure of Sonic or Shadow's location, the thought of ambushing Scourge was weighed on Sonia's mental scales.

What would happen if they just crashed in? How would Scourge counterattack? Would he take Sonic and Shadow's lives—right then and there? Was there a way to diffuse the situation once they entered it?

Sonia's mind boggled, but her feet were certain in leading the remaining officers around the building. 'Windows…where is a window?' the question trudged in her head. The outermost shelling was metal. Heavily-armored guards toted blowtorches and masks as they trailed after Sonia.

Finally, a tiny window. A female soldier pulled out a glass cutter. Despite the glass's thickness, it caved to the serrated adamantine edges. Tense moments filled the air. Sonia's remaining manpower, a mere couple of handfuls, was set to resolve the crisis. She wasn't sure if they understood all its underlying apprehension, especially with Lt. Washburn's lack of experience and Sgt. Kerrison somewhat biased opinions about it. One thing was certain to her: If they didn't, they were going to. Relatively soon.

A clean circle allowed the glass cutter to poke her head inside. It reeked of staling blood and flesh. She had to pull her face out and cover her muzzle. Sonia saw her mouse tail flick back and forth. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she coughed, "it's just…there's a body in there. And it smells recent."

At her signal, the blowtorches started on the wall underneath. A sorrowful grunt. "…Did you identify it? Were you able to tag their face, or even a gender or color?"

A fist to her nose, she nodded and was able to say, "Yeah. One of the kids in there. White spines, so one of the hedgehog boys."

Frosted no longer by too much cold, the clean hole was surely easing out more postmortem fumes. Another breeze dispelled them. So Sonia couldn't lock on to that dreadful scent. Relieved to a degree, tears cradled the lady-red squirrel's eyelids. But now, it left three: Sonic, Shadow, and Scourge.

Her motherly instincts were blazing. She wanted to save her "baby." Scourge's plans were easy to read. She knew someone else in there was about to die. 'Bambino…just hold on. Handle yourself for Mamá…please.'

"On your feet, priss."

Scourge kicked his boot heel off Shadow's hand and pulled him to his feet. The black hedgehog's whimpering must have been enjoyable because Scourge was grinning. Weakened by stress and fear, Shadow's normally strong resolve shattered the moment his life was threatened. "Now, tell me…you pussy." A strong arm raveled his neck and locked itself there. Shadow choked a gasp. "Since when…did this prissy fucker…become so damn important to you?" Magnum Opus greeted Shadow's temple. "Enough to take a beating for?"

Hopelessness etched itself into Sonic's heart. Thumping desperately, its blood pleaded for mercy. "Scourge! Scourge, no! Please! Don't shoot him!" Just as the boy did.

"Why? 'Cause it's not worth it?"

The ring grew colder with an eager press. Shadow flinched, shivered madly, and wept as quietly as he could. "Sonic, help…!"

At a loss of what to do, Sonic could only gawk and listen to whatever Scourge, who had total control over the situation, wanted to say. Tears dripped like leaky faucets, but Sonic couldn't care.

"I don't think this priss was worth it…Taking a beating—no, a bullet for! What's this spoiled rich boy done for you, huh?! Ooh, wait, lemme guess…." A crookedness made his sick smile twitch. "He's your little bitch, isn't he? It makes sense, now! He's getting you whatever you want, he's your lil' doormat—how 'bout that!"

Cobalt brows dipped. Fangs grinded together into a harsh snarl.

"That's all he'd be good for to me, if I had him. A walking bank, I'd say…. Huh, speaking of moneymakers, lemme see yours, priss. Not that I need it or anything…!"

"Please, take whatever you want! Just—please, don't kill me!"

"Okay. But all I need you to do is drop your pants."

An unforgivable chill blasted through. Sonic's pupils were pinpoints. Of rage. But Shadow's were of panic. 'What did he just…?!'

A rude palm groped the crotch of Shadow's pants; a disheartened gasp escaped.

"Scourge, you bastard—!" Dirty gloves scraped against the metal floor. An angry shriek: "Hands off! Hands off him, now!"

Sniffles. Shadow couldn't even defend himself. With a gun to his head and hand below his beltline, he was helpless. Weak, tired hands tugged at the single one between his legs. He had no strength to pull it away, so he was left to pant and heave for breath. "No…No, please…!" he begged.

"Scourge, don't! You hurt him, you're dead—you hear me?!"

The green hedgehog's wily fingers were already undoing the zipper. "Mm…feels expensive. Yeah, he made a pretty decent bitch outta you," he remarked in a tinge of proudness. "I can feel that six-digit net worth, now…Heh heh!" Holstering Magnum Opus again, his free hand went into Shadow's open shirt.

Disgusted, Sonic and Shadow made the same face. Scourge's unrestrained groping fueled Sonic's rage tank. It combusted into arm and leg strength. It was a slow conversion, but Sonic's breaths were getting deeper and rougher. Like a beast aggravated out of its slumber Sonic's peridots stabbed themselves into Scourge's electric bolts.

"Fiona feels more…streamlined, but whatever, this is just to spite your weak ass. Look at him, isn't he just adorable when he's tryin' too hard?" The remark slithered into Shadow's ear. Much like the tongue against his neck. "Pathetic lil' piece a' shit, ain't he? Ha!"

"Please…no, stop! Please, stop it!"

"But you're his bitch. And if you're his bitch…that makes you my bitch, too. You're up for grabs—you're anyone's pick, priss…Didn't Sonic tell ya that?" Another sneaky grin.

"Bastard, I told you—it's not like that!"

"Well, what's it like, then? Don't tell me, dear brother…Don't tell me he's your—" A heartlessly feigned gasp. "No…no way! Ha ha hah! He's more than just a bitch?! Gya ha ha ha ha ha—!"

Shadow's chest and crotch was gripped tighter, forcing a yelp out of the seventeen-year-old as he flinched. Unwanted heat rose in his trembling chest. More tears pushed through snapped eyelids.

"Scourge, I'll kill you!" Sonic raged.

"That pansy Silver said somethin' like that, too! I thought the kid was pulling a sick joke outta his ass, but now…it looks like the joke's on you, Sonic." A gleam of intrigue flickered across his teeth.

"No, it's on you, Scourge. You think this shit's funny? Well, what if it were me doing that to Fiona, huh? You wouldn't be laughing then, now would you?" One hand lost contact with the earth. It fell upon a knee shortly after. "By the way…that chick's dead. Wanna know who did it?"

Just as another rage-fueled darkness filled Sonic's eyes, an identical one flushed into Scourge's. On two feet now, the Blue Blur locked eyes with his hood-brother. Then, without a word, Sonic pinned a thumb to his chest. Nodding. With a growing grin. As if he'd earned a medal. That madness reentered Sonic's spirit.

It silenced Shadow's quibbling. It hoisted his heart and pitched it into a familiar mire. Of fear, of dread, of fretfulness, of hopelessness. Was he losing Sonic again? Right after getting him back, even for those bittiest slivers of time?

"Freeze! This is the police! Do not attempt escape! Repeat!"

Suddenly, a storm of footsteps swarmed the outer arena. Local authorities imprisoned the three hedgehogs. SWAT members took up the formation's ends. Armed with pistols, everyone shared a lock-on.

Sonia was the first one to lower her aim, however. "Everyone, hold your fire!" she spat out the command.

A unison leap propels both Kings forward.

After a quickest glance back, Scourge refocused his fury on Sonic. He tossed Shadow heartlessly to the side, like a bag of trash. It was quite a shove, hard and quick enough to force him to the floor. He rolled away, snatched up his balance, and threw his teary eyes ahead. "Sonic?!"

KA-WHACK!

A successful straight punch. It knocked Scourge off balance, what with Sonic's fist going into his jaw. The blow threw Scourge for a loop. Being the King he was, his counter proved how flawed Sonic's strike truly was: A fluid spin let him regain balance and focus without colliding with the floor. Boot soles skidded. A molar had cracked. "Ha! You tryin' to knock me down, pissant?!" Then, as swift as the wind, Scourge scored a hit to Sonic's stomach.

Bloody spittle escaped in a winded exhale.

"Sonic!" Shadow cried out.

Why are we forced to fight?

A small blue hedgehog ripped through aimless alleys. His fully loaded handgun couldn't serve him if he kept refusing to use it.

"There's that bastard! Get 'im a'ready!"

'Oh no! They're gonna kill me!'

Why are we forced to steal?

Sharp bangs. Sonic threw both hands over his head. He managed to duck into a nearby opening in the wall. Sniffling a little, he crawled under a table. His little body quaked with fear, attentive to the grownups' snarls. "Quick lil' fucker…where'd he go?" Then, another sharp bang. "What the hell?! Where you punks aimin'—!"

A couple more bangs, and the adult collapsed.

Sonic felt an uneasy stillness wash over him. Both hands shook: one with the gun, the other with a transparent bag. Too scared to leave his spot, he kept his eyes peeled.

Why are we forced to kill?

"There ya are!"

Rattled jades met childish aquamarines. They blinked a little. "Why're ya hidin' under a table? You're such a wimp! Gimme that!" He cracked up after snatching the clear baggy from his friend. Toying with the bag, and doing a silly victory dance.

"Scourge, c'mon, give it back! That goes to—!"

"I know who it goes to, moron. I got the same mission as you, y'know!"

Sonic laughed halfheartedly, reaching for the bag. Even though Scourge continued to tease him.

Why are they forcing us kids…to do grown-up stuff?

…The "me" back then didn't know that white powder was crack.

Itsukara ga boku wa kirameku ashita o shinjite de koto sae wasurete
Jibun wa mamoru tameni takusan no taisetsuna mono kizutsuketeta
Haru ga tooku maue no sora no mukou ni naniga aru ga shiritakute
Otonani nattara kanarazu ikundayotte yakusoku shitanda…

Sonia's heart was sinking. Her commanding wave shook with bundled nervousness and anticipation. Deep inside, she didn't want to, but she was refereeing Sonic and Scourge's fistfight in her head. Brutal blows were made to any open spots. Advanced fighting techniques made their fight rival a championship death match.

"I'mma knock you out, motherfucker!"

"Bring it, pussy! Show me that 'Grr!' face a' yours!"

Scourge assumed Sonic had buried his Swift Fisticuff skills for the sake of not blowing his "Inner City cover." Up against a Brawler like himself, he could easily overcome his speed with power. If only Sonic wasn't the fastest Fisticuff alive. His punches came in trains; his kicks were even faster. But one KO would down the blue hedgehog, he knew.

There was nothing else to lose, now. So he decided to chance it.

Ikura te o nobashitatte todoku hazu no nai ookina ookina sora
Demo boku wa nannimo utagau koto mo naku kirei na mirai o shinjiteta
Kuyashii koto ga aru to korae kirenakatta ookina ookina namida
Demo ano toki no boku no me wa naniyori kagayaiteita to omou…

It appeared Sonia had figured that much out. Because tear trails made their way downward.

"Bambinos…Oh, God…!"

Watching was the only thing Knuckles and Espio could do, too. It hurt Espio, especially, to discover such a violent barbaric side to one of his best friends. He couldn't hold back his tears: He worried for both Shadow's safety and Sonic's wellbeing. Then, a sharp pat on his shoulder brought him out of his frightful trance.

His heart dipped: "I'll be right back…!"

A quick dash at Sonia blindsided everyone. Before she could say anything, Knuckles had taken her pistol and was quickstepping into the fray. She noticed the glare on his face: Scowling with hurt, determined to take down Sonic and Shadow's aggressor—if need be, accepting that if he had to go down, then he'd take him down. Almost mirroring Sonia's professional police training, he crept in a sideways motion toward Shadow. The two hedgehogs were too attuned to their brawl that neither of them noticed Knuckles. Hoping neither would notice him too early, Knuckles was prepared to fire. Edging ever closer to the Chorus Captain.

Ano koro no chiisana boku ga miageru sora wa hontou ni hirokatta…
Suki na hito o kono te de mamoreru to omoutteita honki de.

Sonia's heart was breaking. "Please protect them."

Épisode XVII Set…

Quick Ref: Japanese inserts are lyrics to "Himitsu Kichi" by Kozue Takada, Eureka 7. It will serve as a recurring theme for Capt. Sonia's memories of the Smoke Bomb War. Future/repeated inserts will appear.