The DWMA has a clerical office for sorting out the various administrative intricacies that come up from the morally gray profession of hunting souls. Most issues could be solved through the highly automated processes installed here, while the more unsavory problems could at least be kept at bay through hollow bureaucracy. Sonic was experiencing the latter concept firsthand.

"Your meister license has been suspended," A secretarial robot stated. It resembled a more stripped down version of the instructor models. "If you wish to continue operating as a meister, you must first complete a disciplinary certification process. Upon completion of this certification, you must then request to pair with an available weapon and receive approval. Once paired with a weapon, you will be cleared to embark on missions. Here are your disciplinary certification forms,"

The robot printed several pages from its body. Sonic grabbed the stack of papers and stormed off through the hall. After arriving at Starline's office, he threw the door open. The professor calmly watched Sonic march over and drop the stack of papers on his desk.

"A gift?"

"Fill these out so I can get my meister license back,"

"You'll have to complete the required evaluations," Starline's tone was dreary, yet playful.

"You can say I completed whatever it is I need to complete. You owe me and Shadow for using us as bait,"

"To think that I could find absolution through paperwork," Starline began writing with a pen. "What will you do after your status as a DWMA meister is restored?"

"I'll partner up with Shadow again,"

Starline stopped writing. "My, you really are a man with a plan, aren't you?"

Sonic frowned. "What else would I need to do? I'm the only one who can wield Shadow,"

"Your restriction from seeing Shadow isn't based solely on your status as a meister."

"But I'm the only one who can wield him!"

"I heard you the first time," Starline snapped. "It's been almost two years since he tried resonating with a suitable candidate. Once the effects of the black blood in his system are quantified, the DWMA will be encouraging him to give it the 'ol college try," A tired chuckle came.

"He won't trust another meister easily. What happens when he doesn't partner up with any of the candidates?"

Starline shrugged. "I suppose he could work part time as ornamentation,"

Sonic glared at Starline, who shrunk away with a mischievous expression. "Don't hurt a lowly sinner,"

"I didn't peg you as religious,"

"I'm not. Religion and deities are constructs made by the people of this world. Even monsters like the kishin are merely a product of the world around us. Religion might be a sham, but you have to admit the most successful ones do have a rather potent aesthetic,"

"Do you think you could spare me the lectures when I'm not in class?"

Starline looked back down at his desk. "Force of habit, I suppose,"

Sonic paced the room in thought while Starline continued writing.

"What's Eggman planning to do with Eclipse?"

"The darkling has become docile since being brought into custody. Aside from conducting tests to better understand him, the DWMA has no plans for him currently,"

"So Eclipse is a prisoner and the DWMA is reassigning Shadow. What about me?"

Starline appeared perturbed again. "I assumed you brought me this paperwork because you understood your situation on some level,"

"I meant that if I get my license back, can I really stay here?"

"You're worried Lord Death will try getting rid of you?" Starline deducted.

"Of course. He's always had it in for me and he hates me even more now,"

"It's worth mentioning that you did disobey direct orders on an emergency mission whose outcome directly impacts the entire world,"

Sonic frowned. "Hey, I saved Eclipse!"

"Your actions altered the outcome of a crucial mission. Can anyone be certain that was the best option? An argument could be made that it was for the worse,"

"So what, you're saying that Eggman's right? You want to get rid of me too?"

Starline sighed impatiently. "I'm saying that, despite your talents, the DWMA can start building a case for discharging you. You're already aware that your value as a meister comes from your ability to wield Shadow, so if a suitable replacement meister is found, you'll have less leverage. And, as you said, Lord Death hates you. There's no reason he'd want you working here at that point,"

"I figured as much," Sonic reconciled.

"Then are you planning on partnering with another weapon so you can resume mission work? Perhaps, you'll show that you're a responsible contributor to this organization who can accept consequences and improve over past mistakes?"

"Nope," Sonic replied flatly. "For now, I'll request to partner up with Shadow. If Eggman tries forcing him to work with other meisters, fine. I'll be around when that doesn't work out,"

"And if it does work out?" The professor gave a sly, curious look.

"Just sign the damn papers, Starline,"

Upon completion, Starline held out the papers then spoke after Sonic eagerly grabbed them. "Forgive me my sins?"

Sonic exited the room, but not before giving the door a hearty slam. He returned to the secretarial bot and handed over the papers. A minute or so of scanning and processing came from the machine.

"Congratulations. You have completed your disciplinary certification. When you are ready, please submit a request for weapon partner approval at this office,"

"I'd like to submit a request for weapon partner approval," Sonic stated.

"Please state the name of the weapon you would like to request partnership with,"

"Shadow,"

"I'm sorry. There are no registered weapons with the name you provided. Please state the name of the weapon you would like to request partnership with,"

"Shadow!"

"I'm sorry. There are no registered weapons…"

Sonic stormed out of the building. Clusters of students were walking up the stairs around him as he descended. He found Amy, Cream, Tails and Knuckles standing around the courtyard near the entrance. He hadn't necessarily planned on stopping to talk, but Amy drew the attention of the others when she noticed him.

"Sonic! Are you okay?"

"Depends on what you mean by 'okay,'"

"It's just that I haven't seen you since the attack. Vanilla said you were in rough shape when they found you. I hadn't heard anything else until I talked to them just now," Amy gestured at Tails and Knuckles,"

"I'm fine. My wounds were better than they looked, and I'm healing fast. I'm more worried about Shadow,"

Amy looked around cautiously, speaking at a lower volume. "Sonic,"

"What?"

"You know we're not supposed to talk about him, right?"

Sonic gave Amy a pointed, puzzled look. "I get that there's a lot of classified stuff you don't know about, but you can't be serious,"

"Look, Vanilla told me it's better not to mention him at all right now. The situation is tense after what happened. I don't think you should be talking about him so casually,"

"I get that being annoying is kinda your thing, but this is a pretty advanced level for you,"

"Sonic!"

"I'm serious," Sonic's eye's flared with anger. "You're going to tell me not to talk about Shadow? That guy we've all known for the past two years? Maybe you've heard of him? The one they dumped in the dungeon for crying out loud!

The other four looked confused and worried, but didn't speak.

Sonic began pacing. "Yeah, I found out that little nugget of info yesterday. Isn't it great knowing that this hole they call a school has a dungeon? A dungeon! Shadow's in there and you're worried about just mentioning him? You're all fine with that?"

Watching his friends avoid his gaze wasn't a particularly fun activity for Sonic, so he walked away. Guilt made Amy's mind race. She didn't want him leaving on a note like that.

"You're not going to class?" She called after him.

Sonic let out a single, bitter laugh.

"Why would I waste my time?"

Unfortunately, Amy's efforts only vexed Sonic further. She gave up, but Tails took off. Sonic traversed a decent portion of the DWMA's main staircase before Tails was coming up behind him.


Announcement:

First off, I want to say thanks to everyone who's been following the story so far. It feels weird to say, but I probably would have given up a while ago if there hadn't been anyone following or reading as I kept posting. I'm happy with the attention this story has had on this site, although the Wattpad version has been dead for quiet some time now.

I don't know to what extent re-reading is a thing that people do, but if you're someone who's read up to this point and plan on going back through older chapters or starting from the beginning, I would encourage you to give the Wattpad version a look. More views would ideally get the story recommend the story to a wider audience than if I was just posting on this site. I'm also considering adding some drawings to the Wattpad version of the story too since that seems like a neat feature to compliment the story. Not sure what I'll do yet, and I'll announce any major changes here as they happen.

I also update the Wattpad version first out of habit, which means there's a 30 second- 2 minute gap where the newest chapter exists only on Wattpad ;)


5/29/21 Edit: I tried posting the Wattpad link in my profile but it kept getting auto removed. I've already updated my profile to mention this too. If you want to read the Wattpad version of the story, go to the site and type "Soul Eater but it's Sonic" with the apostrophe in the story search. For whatever reason, typing the title without the apostrophe keeps the story from coming up in the search. It's annoying that linking to the Wattpad version of the story has been this much of an ordeal, but I don't know that I can do much else. Oh well, the battle for Wattpad recognition rages on.


The story will still be updating on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

I updated the cover for the story. I got tired of looking at my old, cringey cover art so I drew a new one.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!