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Disclaimer: Sonic the Hedgehog is © Sonic Team / Ashura the Hedgehog & the Uni are © me
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10: Like a King
"Ashura," Arisu said, "I take it you understand your destiny? My daughter has explained it to you?"
"Yes, ma'am," Ashura replied. "We are all sorry that you must do this," Arisu said. "We understand the danger. But this is also a great honor, both to you and your species. Mine as well." Ashura finally allowed himself to smile. Honor was something he'd like to have.
"May I have the Rod, please?" Arisu asked, though her strong voice made the inquiry sound more like a command. Ashura swallowed again and held his weapon out to her. She took it from him, wincing a bit as her hand closed around it.
"As you should know by now, the Enjeru Rod is the only way you can defeat Akuma. But be warned: while the Rod is your aid, it can also harm you."
"H-how?" Ashura asked softly. "Its power is beyond anyone's comprehension," Arisu said, "even mine. Now that the power has been awakened from your battle in the city, no one of normal stature---that is, anyone besides you, Sakana and myself---must touch it. Its power may kill them quickly. They simply cannot handle it."
"What?" Sonic yelped. Everyone in the room glanced at him, except Ashura. "I-I . . . I don't understand," said the older hedgehog. "Take it," Arisu told him. Ashura did as he was told, and gasped. A hot electric feeling shot up his arm, and the veins swelled briefly under his skin. "You will become used to that," Arisu said. "Since you are the Chosen One, you are naturally protected from too much of that energy. But do you see what I mean now?"
"Y-yes." Ashura rubbed his arm briskly.
"A power surge from the Enjeru Rod could kill you as well."
"P-power surge?"
"The final blow in the battle with Akuma usually requires a tremendous blast of energy from the Enjeru Rod. It might be more than even you can handle. Your body may be able to withstand it, but if it can't . . ."
"Pop," Sonic said under his breath. Ashura winced and lowered his head. "I . . . I . . . Okay."
"No, not okay." All heads turned to Sonic again. "Why Ash? Why all this? Can't he just fire a beam, ka-pow, at Akuma and be done with it? Why does it have to be so friggin' dangerous? Why's the one thing that's gotta save us kill us too?"
"Akuma is no ordinary foe," Sakana spoke up. "He is the most evil being in existence. We have to---"
"I know that," Sonic snapped. "Look, maybe you all don't feel the way I do, because it isn't your only family going out there to risk his ass for the world. At first I wondered why I had to be part of this, too. That was selfish. I can't lose my brother! Can't you find someone else to do this?"
"No," Arisu said firmly. "No," Sonic snorted. "No? Why not? What determines the 'Chosen One'?"
"It is Ashura's destiny, and his alone, and you know it," the Erus said rather sharply. Ashura closed his eyes briefly, willing himself not to cry. I'll do it; I'll do it. Why won't you stop fighting?
"I'm his family," Sonic said. "I can do it. I'm used to this Apocalypse stuff. He isn't. I save the goddamn world every month. You couldn't find a better candidate."
"I can do it," Ashura whispered. "I can."
"You know what this is?" Sonic fumed on. "This isn't heroic or honorable. It's insane bullshit." He grabbed Ashura by the arm. "I'll take care of this my way. Let's go, Ash."
"Sonic," Arisu said. A blue aura formed around Sonic suddenly, and he began to hover a few feet off the floor. "Hey!" he cried. "What the hell?!"
"Sonic!" Ashura gasped, shrinking away from his levitating brother.
Arisu took a step towards Sonic. Please don't hurt him, Ashura thought frantically. He didn't do anything bad. He was just trying to help.
Sonic turned to face Arisu, and if looks could kill . . . "Put me down."
"You are wrong, Sonic," Arisu said softly. "I do feel what you are feeling." She placed her hand on his cheek. He caught his breath and gazed into her eyes. "I know loss. I have family at risk as well," said the Erus. "Sakana's job is to protect you, at all costs. She will lay down her life if she must. We are not sadists, Sonic. This is just how it is. All my people do is help." Arisu smiled a sort of condescending smile, and then let Sonic down. She turned and began to speak to the servants. "Make ready a room for the Chosen One and his brother."
"Ya, Erus," the servants said, and rushed past their queen and out of the room.
- - - - -
It was dinnertime. Sonic and Ashura had never seen such an enormous table. It had to be at least thirty feet long, and seven feet wide. There was enough food to feed an army---the army being the Erus and her two children, the servants and their families, and the royal guards. Arisu ordered two extra chairs, but not for Sonic and Ashura. They were for Sonic and herself. She gave up her chair at the head of the table for Ashura.
Everyone except Sonic and Sakana appeared stunned. The Erus, allowing a mere Land-Dweller to sit in her place! "He is not an ordinary guest," Arisu reminded them all. "He is the Chosen One. He is greater than I should ever hope to be." And then, while it was usually a servant's job to pull out the chair for one of higher importance, Arisu herself pulled out her chair for Ashura to sit in. He was hesitant and trembling. He wasn't used to all the attention, and he disliked being called "the Chosen One". Why wouldn't they just use his real name?
"What is the matter?" Arisu asked. Ashura shook his head quickly. "N-n-nothing, m-ma'am, it's fine. But . . . but I can't take your seat. I-it's yours."
"You are not taking it, Ashura. I am offering it to you."
"I-I can't----"
"Sit." Though it was a command, Arisu's voice was gentle. Taking a deep breath, Ashura sat down in the Erus's chair. She sat next to him on his left, and Sakana on his right. On the left side of the table, nearest Arisu, was an empty chair and Sonic. The Erus immediately noticed the vacant seat. "Keera?"
"Here, mother!" a small voice called. A moment later, a little girl wearing a red kimono and a sand-colored crown scrambled into the empty seat. Arisu sighed. "Keera, you must stop being late."
"I'm sorry, Mother," Keera apologized.
Ashura stared at the little girl, and felt a tiny smile play upon his lips. Princess Keera Uni was a miniature copy of Sakana, right down to the pink hair and jade eyes. The child couldn't have been more than ten, and her young age showed on her spunky but charming face.
Ashura didn't have much time to gawk, however, for the Uni all began to eat at once, and the sudden din distracted the poor, jumpy hedgehog. Sonic fell right in with them; shoveling the food into his mouth. Ashura didn't touch his. He sat perfectly still, staring down at his plate. His heart was racing. He had always longed to be liked, but this was too much. He was receiving royal treatment when he still felt like plain old Ashura the outcast. He would never admit it to anyone, but he almost hated what he was going through.
"You may be excused, if you like," Arisu murmured to him. Ashura looked up with a start. "What?" he whispered. "If you're uncomfortable, you do not have to be here," Arisu said. Ashura's brow wrinkled with confusion, and she gave him a small smile. "All Uni are psychic, you know. I can read your mind."
"Oh yeah . . ."
"Would you like to go?"
"N-no."
"You should. I know how stressed you are. It isn't healthy."
Ashura drew in a shuddering breath. "Th-thank you," he said, and left the dining hall quickly. Sakana watched him go, then glanced at Arisu. "Mother?"
"Leave him be for a few minutes," Arisu replied. "Let him calm down. Then you may go to him."
Ashura ran out to one of the throne room's balconies. He grasped the banister with both hands and hung his head, gasping. You are such a coward, Ashura. A coward. Akuma is right. You are pathetic. He was having a panic attack. His vision swam as his legs buckled. He almost threw up, but managed to keep it down. He had disgraced himself enough. Why can't I be happy? he asked himself. I'm getting what I always wanted, and now I can't take it. It will probably be the last time I'm ever treated so nicely. But that's just me. Poor, pathetic Ashura.
Someone was coming. Ashura heard the soft, barefooted steps moving across the floor towards him. Go away, he thought. I don't want company. No one.
"Ashura?"
Oh, it's Sakana. Well, I guess that's all right. The hedgehog perked up just slightly.
"Ashura." Sakana walked up to him and stopped by his side. "Are you all right?"
"N-n-no."
"What happened?"
"I-I g-got s-scared."
"Of what?"
"T-too m-m-much att---attention."
"I see. And you aren't used to that."
"N-no. I-it's what I've always w-wanted . . . b-but now . . ."
"I understand," Sakana said. She placed her hands comfortingly on his shoulders. A shiver ran down Ashura's spine. It seemed that Sakana liked to touch him a lot. But he always felt a little better when she did. Perhaps it was her magic. He liked that.
"You aren't going to go hungry, are you?"
"I-I'm not . . . No."
"There's plenty of food in there. You can eat as much as you like. But you'd better hurry; the dinner only lasts for an hour."
"I-I'm not hungry anymore. I . . . I feel sick."
"Oh," Sakana said. "Would you like me to stand out here with you?"
"Aren't you going to eat?"
"I did, a little. I don't mind staying with you."
"Okay," Ashura said softly. He glanced up at her. "You can stay."
"Thank you, Ashura."
- - - - -
Darn. They left me alone in here with all these . . . weird people, Sonic thought. He kept his eyes on his food. If he didn't, he might stare at the others. He was nowhere near as terrified as Ashura was, but he felt uncomfortable among the Uni. Especially being near Arisu. The two of them hadn't exactly gotten off on the right foot, and he was pretty sure that talking back to her and Sakana was a big no-no.
I wonder what's wrong with ol' Ashura? Poor guy's been acting weird. Kinda looked like he was gonna pass out . . . And then Sakana went after him when he left. I know something's gonna start between those two. The way she looks at him, the way she treats him, the way she's always touching him and comforting him. I'd say she's trying to be his mother, but she's too young for that. That means there's only one other explanation: she loves him.
Sonic couldn't stop a grin from creeping across his face. She can deny it all she wants. I know when someone's got the hots for someone else. He wondered if Ashura loved Sakana as well.
Heh. He loves everybody. If he doesn't love Sakana, I'm the king o' France.
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A/N: I really dun like this chapter. Too short and dull, IMO. But I don't know what I can do to make it better, and I've gone over it several times. So . . . love it or leave it.
