Chapter 16

With a limp in his step, Sonic makes his way back to his unending showdown. The doppelganger awaits with twisting and living fabric surrounding him like a hurricane, complimenting the winds and gray skies above them. The numerous bloodstains decorating the ground is the only remainder of the deaths he has lived through.

His green eyes narrow as he stops in front of this raging homunculus, throwing his arms up like issuing a fight. "You know, for an image all about not using anger on people, you sure are using a lot on me." He comments with a tired huff of breath.

The cobalt hedgehog's ear flicks lightly when a piercing snap echo through them. The cause coming from the irate double, a burst of air unravels the bindings on his body as blood seeps from now freshly opened wounds detailing him. Dark and muddy green eyes losing focus as he snarls at Sonic. "My anger has only ever been directed toward the horrid self the festers here! It has always been you that screws up!" Wrath spills blood as he shouts, the fresh split scar in his lip that adorns his face being the primary reason.

Sonic scrunches his nose in disgust, leaning back despite the distance he and the double had between them. "Dude say it, don't spray it. Blech, think I've had enough blood on me for a couple of lifetimes." He huffs, rolling his eyes. Hands brush against his chest, wiping him free of the imaginary blood specks.

Probably the wrong thing to say to a literal being of rage and violence but at least Sonic was starting to feel right again. Like the anger dripped out of him the more of his blood was spilled. His ears perked when he made that connection, eyes scanning the dark liquid decorating the ground, the spots where he was quickly ended with no mercy.

'That's weird.' Emerald eyes narrow, mind spacing out as he watches the puddles closer to his double turn dark in color and break off like ash, slowly drifting towards the bleeding homunculus. 'Eating away at what came from me.'

The blue hedgie's position settles into one that is relaxed, despite the pain he was suffering from the many blows sustained. Arms come up behind his head, knotting his fingers together as he leans back. "You're getting worse. Like you're sucking up all that rage I used to have." He comments plainly, a bored expression on his face.

His words apparently struck something in Wrath, twisting cloth turning sharp and deadly like spinning blades. They stretch towards Sonic like rapiers of a fencer. The first was dodged easily with adrenaline running through the hedgehog's veins, but the second runs him through like butter.

A wet cough leaves the azure male, hands instinctively holding onto the strange stiff cloth. This close, his eyes recognize the patterns of this weapon, gritting his teeth. 'Fuck, the spikes have always been him. Crafty bitch.' He feels a tug in his chest, the pain numb at this point and skewer pulls away from his wound with a lash, returning to its master and allowing Sonic to fall to his knees.

Shamelessly, the sharpened cloth moves toward the homunculus's mouth, dark eyes glare at Sonic's weakened form as he licks away a large portion of the life-giving liquid drenching the blade.

The downed hedgehog briefly snarls, spitting out the blood that filled his mouth and then sticks out his tongue in revulsion. Not to the taste of iron enveloping his senses, but the classless act the fake was putting on in front of him. Now, on death's doorstep for the impossible nth time, he could see the bloodlust wavering in Wrath's eyes, a sharp tooth grin splitting his muzzle wide in his craze.

'Sick asshole was just playing me, his whole thing was just to get me worked up.' Sonic reasons, darkness consuming him in the next moment. Of course, his last vision had to be that rabid hedgehog cackling over his demise, blood running down his open wounds in rivulets.

xXx

Sonic wakes blearily, darkness still surrounding him but voices echo. Voices that he has heard before, a scenario etched into his mind thanks to this ordeal. A fight, an argument between him and his best friend. One that drove a wedge in their friendship.

His ears automatically lower, much like his spirits as the scene once again engrains itself further into his head, and into his guilty heart.

'You broke my phone!' And then a shove, one that physically burns his body. The blue hedgie becomes frantic as he pulls off his jacket and shirt, watching as charred peach fur on his chest makes out two hands.

His hands.

The smoldering skin settles, the burn becoming a new part of his growing collection of well-deserved wounds and bruises.

'I know, and it was the best thing I ever did! I told you I won't let you ruin yourself Sonic. I promised you that!'

Sonic's ear flickers, glum expression sinking further. "That wasn't supposed to be your mission buddy. I'm the one who should've done that, I'm supposed to be the one you look up to." He sighs dejectedly, hands clenched to fists, awaiting the next part.

'You have to stop this; you can't let this happen. You just have to trust that we're all here for you, don't let Fi-' The yelp seems to echo, even louder than when he first heard it. It was like his eardrums were vibrating from the horrid sound.

His face snaps to the side, feeling the blood pump to the forming bruise along his cheek. The punch he landed made his teeth ache and once again he had wash out the blood from his mouth, the wound had cut open his cheek. Though it was painful, it was nothing compared to knowing he had broken bonds with the chance that they could never be repaired.

"Chaos, I'm such a dick." The blue hedgehog murmurs, taking a hand and rubbing the bridge of his muzzle. Feeling the ground shift under him, he lays back and feels weightless instead. The vision was over and with it, the fires of violence that he felt in him once before.

All actions previously now reminded him of his childish decisions, if you could call them that. He never weighed what his actions would come to, like a responsible person would do in any and every situation, instead he was consumed with emotions and keeping up an image.

Emerald eyes stare at the panicked sky of the burning town, taking a deep inhale and his vein cool dramatically. No more off the wall aggressions, no thoughts of violence. It was just him, with clear and resolved mind.

One of destroying this world's monster and furthering this unyielding quest.

Sonic jumps up from his supine position, dropping his shirt and jacket back on the ground. Both articles of clothing were at this point shredded to scrap fabric. Arms cross over his chest, humming in thought at how to defeat this homunculus, eyes shutting reflexively.

'Okay, one major issue blocking my way out. Apparently sentient bandage blades that he controls and senses violence. Wounds are all over him, just like me, none are life threatening.' He processes, rolling over the facts of his opponent. His foot idly taps at a quick pace. 'Could I even get close to him? Would I even be able to land an attack without his blades hitting me?'

"Wait, there's one bandage that hasn't been removed yet." The cerulean hedgie murmurs under his breath, eyes snapping open. A frown mars his face as he begins to limber up, stretching his legs much like his earlier years of track when he first began.

"Hey Shadow?" He calls aloud, the demon materializing beside him and drifting in the air.

"Hm?" The crimson splashed male responds, barely lifting his gaze to look at the mortal from his paperwork.

"Is there something on that psycho's back? Something I can use against him?" Sonic questions, standing straight once more.

Finally, he garners a response from the demon. Shadow's head tilts to the side, a sharp smirk on his muzzle. "My, you can read a situation. Yes, your Wrath homunculus has something in his back you can use to your advantage." He answers, whisking the papers away from his body to give Sonic his full attention.

"Great, all I needed to hear." Sonic yips energetically, bouncing on his feet a little before heading off to his boss battle.

Hey, guess what, I'm still here. Classes are just really really hard and writing has been on the back burner. I will be trying to writing when I can, but it is difficult juggling all these things. Just please be patient, I won't be leaving this behind unfinished!