Sonic ran through the streets in pursuit of Rouge the Witch. He could see her overhead, floating past the rooftops with ease. Being on the ground put the duo at a disadvantage. Sonic had to change directions quickly and weave through different alleyways in order to follow Rouge's flight path. His eyes darted around in search of a solution. Approaching yet another ally, he eyed a tall apartment building and an adjacent building that was only two stories.
"The fire-escape!" Sonic yelled.
"Got it,"
Sonic jumped toward the metal stairway, hooking the blade onto a railing while starting an upward swing. Shadow transformed back into a hedgehog, with one hand on the railing and the other still holding onto Sonic. Shadow growled as he exerted himself, pulling Sonic upward to complete his swing arc. Having successfully added to Sonic's momentum, he shifted back into a scythe without letting go. Sonic landed on the rooftop with his partner in hand, running and jumping across each building with ease. Rouge looked back to see that the pair was catching up to her.
"You're quicker than I thought you'd be," She said, turning back to look at them without changing the direction of her glide.
"When a weapon and meister are linked, they go beyond the power of a normal person!" Sonic shouted back.
"Please stop giving her information," Shadow groaned, still in his scythe form. His voice sounded more distant with a metallic echo while he was a weapon.
"Guess I don't need to go so easy then," Rouge twirled, releasing little pink pellets of magic shaped like bat wings. They floated outward slowly at first, but their speed crescendoed quickly.
"Watch out," Shadow warned.
Upon striking the rooftop, the pelts released a burst of magical energy sending tiles in all directions. A cloud of dust enveloped the air around the building. Rouge slowed for a moment to admire her work.
"Maybe that was too much?" She thought aloud with a mischievous grin.
"I was expecting more from a witch!" Sonic emerged from the dust, launching through the air quickly.
Rouge let out a gasp, then repositioned herself. The scythe swing missed, causing Sonic to fall back onto another rooftop. His forward momentum had put him just a bit ahead of Rogue's path so he jumped to meet her once more. Shadow's blade was pointed upward, being held stationary without Sonic winding up.
"Eep!" Rouge was nearly clipped by the blade, but managed to remain unharmed a second time. Sonic was ready though. By holding Shadow in place earlier, he was now able to manage a partial swing using the back of the scythe.
"Down you go!" The back of the scythe slammed into Rouge, flinging her back towards the earth. She was able to influence and slow her descent somewhat, but still hit the ground with a thud. Sonic landed a short distance away from his opponent.
Being so close to victory brought a wave of anxiety. Sonic ran forward, tightening his grip and putting everything into his next swing. Rogue held out both of her hands to release a massive wave of energy. Sonic blocked with his weapon, causing them both to be pushed back slowly as the clashing of soul energies sent sparks flying through the air. The attack faded, and Sonic saw that Rouge was now standing.
"Why don't we try something else?"
The witch waved her hand, sending out several magical orbs. They grew in size and clustered together the longer they were in the air. Beastly bat creatures formed from the magical energy, flapping their wings and baring large fangs. They maintained a magical glow despite shifting to a more physical form. Each of the creatures moved towards Sonic to attack.
Sonic spun his scythe once before slicing through the first bat creature. It split right down the middle, bursting into a collection of dull, fading lights. There were three of the creatures left. Two of them circled around their target while the third sat between them and Rouge. Sonic watched closely, tracking the motions of the creatures. They both swooped in a pincer formation, one coming head on with the other behind.
Sonic leapt through the air and dodged the attacks just in time. He had added a spin motion to his leap, allowing him to bring his scythe around through the air as both the attackers lined up. Shadow's blade pierced the creatures, skewering them together. The final bat monster swooped in to catch Sonic mid-air. He was sent flying back toward the ground. Sonic held out one arm, allowing him to cartwheel back into a standing position before the next attack came. He stunned the bat with a jump kick before ending things with the scythe's blade. The last of Rouge's phantoms had been extinguished.
Quiet returned to the streets, the only notable sound coming from Sonic's strained breathing. His body ached as the exertion caught up to him. He was well into his second battle of the night. His time was running out.
Walking through the dimming magic lights, Sonic saw that Rogue hadn't taken to the air to try fleeing.
"Why don't you show me what that scythe can really do?" Rouge proposed.
Sonic hated to oblige his opponent, but he knew there were few other options.
"Shadow, let's go for a soul resonance,"
"What? We've never been able to make that work!"
"Now's as good a time as any. I like it more than running, especially since we probably wouldn't get away," The cold, soberness of Sonic's tone made Shadow uneasy. After a moment of silence, he made up his mind.
"Alright then, let's go,"
Rogue noticed the atmosphere of the night change suddenly. What was left of the magical lights began to swirl around the weapon meister in front of her. Lines of static shot through the air.
"They're amplifying each other's soul wavelengths," Rouge observed with interest.
The air around Sonic and Shadow began to ripple. Sonic groaned from the effort of handling Shadow's soul wavelength. His lungs felt like they were shrinking in. His body grew cold.
"Or at least, they're trying,"
The air around them settled when Sonic stumbled forward. The energy surge around them had dissipated completely. Shadow's scythe form clattered, hitting the ground. Sonic landed on all fours to stop himself from collapsing completely.
"Well, that was disappointing. Are you really planning to create a death scythe?" Rouge walked closer to the defeated hedgehogs.
"We're not giving up," Sonic forced himself back onto his feet, weapon in hand.
"Maybe you aren't, but what about your partner?" Rouge pointed at the scythe. Shadow said nothing. Sonic held the weapon in his hands and looked at the blade with earnestness.
"Come on Shadow! We can still do this!"
No reply came from his weapon companion.
"I think he's starting to figure it out,"
"Figure out what?" Sonic demanded.
"That you're limiting him,"
Sonic eyes widened in disbelief. Shadow's lack of disagreement caused the realization to creep into his mind.
"You want to create a death scythe out of a weapon you can barely resonate with? If you knew what was really going on here, you'd know that we're leagues apart in strength," Her stern tone shifted back to the usual slyness. "But if your fancy scythe teamed up with me instead, I could give him access to powers you've only dreamed of,"
Shadow melted out of his scythe form then took a few steps away from Sonic.
"Shadow?"
"Sonic, I…." Shadow was facing away from Sonic, only turning his head slightly back at his partner. "Back then, I never told you why I wanted to become a death scythe, yet you promised to help me anyway."
"So?"
"It's not something a normal person does!" Shadow declared with exasperation. "I didn't tell you about my past, who I am, and you know why?"
Shadow turned to Sonic, who's intense expression was awaiting an answer.
"Because I don't even know who I am!" Shadow turned away once again. "I have no memory of my past,"
Sonic's expression softened. "That doesn't matter to me Shadow, we can-"
"I wasn't finished!," Shadow interrupted. "You both say I'm unique, but I've always felt like there's something wrong with me. No other meister I've met has even been able to touch me, let alone maintain a soul resonance,"
Shadow looked back towards his partner once again.
"You were the first, Sonic. You gave me a chance when I didn't deserve it. When no one else would. Obviously, I don't plan on giving up either,"
Shadow's right arm shifted into a scythe blade. He was close enough to Rouge that the blade gave her little room to move. Sonic had already started running forward when he saw his partner hold out his other hand. By the time Shadow completed his transformation, his blade had already pierced through the witch. Her form broke up into many magical lights that faded away quickly.
"Faker!" They both growled.
"You were both oblivious the whole time," Rouge the Witch was back, floating overhead without a scratch. "I'd apologize for tricking you, but you did try to murder me."
Sonic could barely move. He was in rough shape before his failed attempt at soul resonance, but now it was definitely over. He could sense Shadow's wavelength since they were still linked. His weapon wasn't doing any better.
Rouge let out a long, drawn out yawn while rubbing her eye. "It's been a long night fellas, why don't we call it quits?"
Sonic's burdened expression quickly turned to one of confusion. "You don't want to fight?"
"You're both so sweet,". Rouge noticed that the pair didn't look any less confused. "You saved that girl earlier didn't you? And you do such a good job of looking after each other. I think I'd rather pick on someone who's up to no good," Her sly grin returned yet again. "Besides, if I want a strong weapon, I'm better off letting you make him into a death scythe before I take him," She concluded with a wink.
"I don't know about that last part, but thanks," Sonic said.
Shadow shifted out of his weapon form, officially ending the conflict.
"See you around," With a wave, Rouge flew off into the night for the last time. Sonic and Shadow were alone together once more.
"Yeah I feel like I could use a good sleep or….three," Sonic said rubbing his sore arms.
"Good idea," Shadow dusted himself off halfheartedly for a bit before giving up.
"I guess you were right. Resonating wasn't such a great idea. Sorry about that,"
Shadow merely shrugged in response.
Sonic scratched the back of his head. "It's kinda awkward that she was so nice about the whole thing. We'll need a witch's soul to make you a death scythe." After some consideration, Sonic continued. "I guess we just need to find a BAD witch and take their soul,"
"Honestly Sonic, I'm fine with putting the death scythe thing on hold for now,"
"You know, you're really throwing me for a loop today, Shadow,"
Shadow let out an apologetic sigh. "I guess I always thought that becoming a death scythe would make me complete or something. Help me get back my memories. I was just being stupid,"
"I don't know Shadow, anything could happen when you become a death scythe. Absorbing a Witch's soul is supposed to make you crazy powerful."
"You think so?" Shadow seemed relieved.
"We won't know until we try! Besides, I promised to make you into the ultimate death scythe, didn't I? We'll try again when we're ready"
Shadow nodded. Their aching bodies seemed to agree as well.
"Fine by me. Also, I don't-" Shadow stopped himself then turned to walk away. He took a deep breath and sighed once again. "Let's just go home,"
Sonic followed, and the weapon-meister pair began their journey home.
