Content warning: References to suicide and suicidal thoughts
XO
Everything felt wrong. His body, his head, his heart...everything. Everything felt numb and empty.
Sonic...
He couldn't grasp any coherent thoughts. Any time he tried, they all centred on one thing. He raised both paws towards his chest, placing his palms where his shattered heart was.
Why Sonic...? Why...?
He had long ran out of tears to use, but sadness had cascaded onto him like a never-ending waterfall.
It's all my fault. I couldn't protect you...
He had stayed in his bedroom all day, refusing to come out for anything. An annoyed sigh exited his mouth as he heard another knock at that goddamn door. Ignored. He wasn't coming out.
"Lucario?" He recognized Pyra's gentle voice. The handle rattled. "Please let me in..."
"Go away!!" He yelled, throwing the covers over his head. He wrapped his tail around his body and his eyes welled up. Pyra could see her attempt failed and she dejectedly headed back towards the lounge, where everyone else had congregated, apart from Falco, who was locked in his bedroom due to his insanity spiking in the last round. The sudden turn of personality had been a massive shock for everyone. Pyra wandered into the room.
"Any luck?" Zelda asked the Blade, who shook her head.
"Geez, Lucario's really been hit hard." Terry scratched his head.
"It makes sense, the two were best friends." Ai sadly said.
"Are. Are best friends. You're speaking of Sonic as if he's dead." Donkey Kong corrected. "Hey Mario, have you even told Lucario that the hedgehog's alive?"
"I tried to. He didn't believe me." The plumber, as well as trained doctor, huffed. "I'm kind of glad he chose the stomach and not somewhere like his throat or skull. He would have died instantly otherwise. I got him stable and stitched him up. Not sure when he'll wake up though."
"I should have kept a better eye on him... " Daisy mumbled, rubbing her already pink and bloodshot eyes. Like Lucario, she had been in her room a lot too. Peach had coaxed her out only 30 minutes prior to the meeting.
"It isn't your fault, Daisy." Peach reassured, hugging her close friend tight. "You did keep him calm in the game, which is important."
"Are we any step closer to discovering what sick demonic souls are behind this death trap?" Simon asked.
"What's making you think it is more than one person?" Young Link inquired.
"When new medical equipment came through for Sonic, it wasn't from 8. This villain called himself M." Mario explained. "Furthermore, they said the game would be suspended until he recovers. They're not fans of deaths outside the games. It's an interesting rule."
"I'm just surprised Master Hand hasn't saved us yet." Came a whimper from Pichu.
"For all we know, there is no help coming." Marth sighed.
"Chances of aid: 0%." R.O.B. joined in.
"Thanks for the grim reminder. I'm starting to think playing as a team isn't going to work for much longer. People are dropping like flies, and it should be survival of the fittest, so I'm gonna be honest. I voted for Sonic in the water game." Bowser got a lot of glares. "I know I saved him and all, but it wasn't his turn to die."
"O-Okay, then 24 other people also voted. Hands up if you voted Sonic in that round." Game and Watch asked the group. 22 hands went up: Bayonetta, Popo, Yoshi, Bowser Junior, Joker, Kazuya, Steve, Meta Knight, Dedede, Wilma, Red, Incineroar, Ridley, Sephiroth, Pikachu, Cloud, Shulk, Chrom, Dark Samus, Olimar, Byleth and Wario. Game and Watch counted. "The other two must have been Falco and Fox."
"It checks out, and I can confirm Falco and Fox did vote Sonic. I was between them both." Min Min spoke.
"You guys better not let Lucario find out, or your backs will definitely be targeted." Nana whimpered, in disbelief over what her brother had done. Pichu was doing the same with Pikachu and Lucina with Chrom. Mario suddenly stood up, stretching.
"I better go check on Sonic." He announced, before heading up the stairs. He had been struggling with his own guilt. Truth was...he was the one who voted Sonic in the first round. It was mostly out of spite for the rivalry the two had had over the years. It had mellowed out to playful friends, which Mario was grateful for. They really hated each other when they first came across each other at the Beijing Olympics, but with the most recent tournament come and gone, they were really good buddies. The stress had gotten to his head and he had voted on impulse. The Italian softly groaned to himself. He slowly opened the door to Sonic's bedroom. The hedgehog was lying on his back on the bed, no covers on him. His wound was still fresh. Despite Mario's best attempts to stitch it up, the equipment they had was pretty primitive. The bandages were starting to become soaked with remaining blood. He started working, refreshing the bandages and checking the stitches.
"...M-Mar...?"
Mario froze at the voice. He saw Sonic slightly awake, confusion in his weak green eyes. Mario gave him the best smile he could.
"Hey Blue, it's alright, I've got you."
"O-okay." Came the mumbled reply. Mario finished with the medical supplies and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He went into Sonic's bathroom, washed the blood off his hands and then sat next to the hedgehog, giving him a gentle cuddle. Sonic rested his head on his shoulder, sinking into the denim dungarees he always wore. He sniffed a little. "You didn't have to save me..."
"Yes I did. You're my friend, one of my closest friends. I couldn't see you die like that..." Mario stroked his head. "Nobody wants to lose you that way. I know not everybody shows it directly or every day, but they all do care. I know Daisy in particular was extremely worried, and Lucario was besides himself." Sonic was listening to this, suddenly burying his head in Mario's chest and crying. Mario gently smiled and petted him more. "Cry all you need too, buddy. I'm gonna stay here until you feel better."
"I should have died. I need to die...!!"
"No no, you don't. Just take deep breaths buddy, it'll all be okay. I won't let you try on your life again..." He promised, stroking his head. He sighed to himself. He just hoped he was up to the task.
XO
Lucario was still on his bed, curled up in his duvet fortress of solitude. He felt safe in it. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could imagine was Sonic lying in that pool of blood, eyes lifelessly staring off into space.
He's dead...my Sonic's dead...
He felt his soul get crushed again and again. He had convinced himself he was gone, too filled up with horror, sorrow and guilt to believe otherwise. He felt his stomach loudly rumble. He needed, no, wanted food, but that would mean encountering the others. They seemingly didn't care. He growled as he shakily got to his feet, exiting the room. He heard crying and he frowned in response. Wasn't everyone downstairs? He remembered hearing about some meeting. They gave him an invite but he wasn't in the mood. He decided to investigate and saw Mario hugging somebody. He saw two little blue ears. His eyes went small in realization.
"S-Sonic...?"
Both Mario and Sonic looked at him. Lucario ran and gently pulled Sonic into his arms, relieved. Tears fell down his face. Sonic relaxed in the familiar grip of his boyfriend's embrace and snuggled into his blue fur. It was all ruffled up, but it only made him fluffier.
"I'm right here Sonikku, you're safe with me." He assured, crying more. "I love you so much, it will be okay I promise." He felt Sonic tighten his grip.
"I'm sorry... I'm so so sorry..."
"No no no no, don't apologize!! You have nothing to apologize for!" He stroked his head. "You're my beautiful blue bundle, you're perfect as you are."
"No-Nobody's perfect..."
"I know, but you're the closest thing to perfection in my life right now." He caressed his cheek. "I wanna stay by your side forever, if you'll let me." He saw Sonic blush. Lucario kissed his forehead.
"I love you too Lu..." Sonic softly replied, suddenly becoming very shy. He wasn't good with this sort of thing. Lucario chuckled.
"You're such a cutie." He teased. He then looked serious. "Just promise me you'll tell me if those nasty thoughts come back, okay?" Sonic nodded in response.
"It'll be best to let Sonic rest, his injury still needs to heal." Mario cut in, making them both jump.
"I-I thought you left!! Were you listening in on everything we just said??" Lucario went red in embarrassment, as did Sonic. Mario chuckled nervously.
"Don't worry, just pretend I wasn't here. Mum's the word."
XO
It was nighttime, or at least a time mutually agreed to be nighttime. There were no clocks, so nobody knew how long they had been in the building or when the day and night cycles were. Yet, one person was awake, and breaking the rules. Captain Falcon had snuck into the first chamber they had been locked in, the table room, and was looking around for any exits.
"You're not allowed in here, Douglas."
The racer shrieked but soon relaxed. "Oh, just you. I know I'm not, but I wanna get out of here. Mind helping?"
"I'm afraid not. I'm not here to assist you, I'm here to execute you. I'm afraid you broke the rules, and your punishment has arrived."
"So you're the traitor Snake mentioned!? You of all people!?"
"Wasn't expecting it to be me? I'm not surprised. I'm not the kind of person to get sussed of any wrong doing." The mystery assailant grinned. "Though, before I kill you, you must have some questions for me."
"Why are we in this game!? I know those sins are bullshit!!"
"Some of them are, some are not. But you're right, there is another reason." They took a few steps forward. "You see, there were these villains who attacked the Mansion, and wanted one Smasher as a hostage. We all had to draw straws, and guess who drew the shortest of the bunch? Somebody rigged it against me, cello-taped it to the bottom of the box. Whether they were aiming to get me or not, I was captured."
"So, they're mainly watching you?"
"Pretty much. This isn't just a death game, it's my torture. To watch all my friends die, again and again and again and again..." Broken tears ran down their face. "I've gone through nearly 100 cycles of this torture..." They saw the shock on Falcon's face. "Even though you're all simulations, and if I die, I'm revived, it still hurts so much to see the people you see as friends and family perish again and again with no hope to end the cycle..."
"That doesn't mean we can't help!! We can end the simulation and save you! Even if I'm not exactly real..." He paused. "Holy identity crisis..."
"Don't bother. My real body's a husk at this point. Can't function anymore from the trauma. I can't escape this world. This looping death game is the only world remaining to me. The villains wanted to use that husk to pilot a mech that will destroy the world, and there is nothing anybody can do. You're all safe in your test tubes, which is why you keep all your memories in this game. And it's always you..." They cried again, now laughing. "Always you... you you you you you... why is it always you who I have to kill...?" Their eyes turned cold. "Oh well, to business..." They carried on walking towards Falcon. They grabbed him and snapped his neck without any effort at all. They then dropped his body onto the ground, watching blood ooze across the metal floor. "Goodbye...Captain."
XO
Lucario awoke to see Sonic not next to him. The hedgehog had requested that the two sleep together, to which the Pokemon had promised to stay by his side. He looked around the dark room and used his aura to light his way. A shaking ball was in the corner of the bedroom. Lucario quickly flicked on a light and knelt next to him. He gently shushed him. Sonic silently uncurled and crawled into his arms. Lucario soothed him by humming a lullaby that a lot of baby Pokemon were calmed by. It helped, as he felt Sonic relax and fall back asleep. He carried him back to bed and tucked him in.
"Don't worry Sonic, I won't let those nasty thoughts hurt you ever again." He vowed. "I'll protect you from them, and they'll never again make you cry or sad."