Sonic didn't even get one word out before somebody called for Shadow. Sonic groaned and flopped onto the bed, giving his creator a deadpan look.
Shadow sweat dropped and answered the call. "What is it, Silver?" he asked with a yell; though it sounded like a growl
"She's back," he answered sullenly.
Shadow froze. "Define 'she,'" Shadow said quietly. He got off the bed slowly, opening the door. Sonic followed, though didn't understand what was happening.
"Well, who do you THINK it is?" asked Silver, looking somewhat panicked.
Shadow's eyes narrowed. "The magic at the borders are too strong for her to break through," he argued.
Silver shrugged. "Guess the magic took a vacation. Either way, she's here. And she doesn't look happy."
Shadow chuckled. "She's never happy. Ever. Only when She's stabbing a knife into somebody's back. Namely mine," he said dryly, absentmindedly rubbing his shoulder, wincing.
Silver leaned against the wall, his fingers drumming against the wood of the coffin. He looked into Shadow's eyes, his own golden brown warm. "Aw, you know she loves you too much to actually kill you," he cooed.
Shadow face-palmed. "Yeah, sure. When she stabbed me in the leg after cutting a major artery, and left me, it was to get a doctor. Yes, Silver, she cares deeply for me," he snorted.
Sonic looked confused. "Wait, who's she?" he asked.
Silver raised an eye ridge. "He really knows nothing, huh?" he asked with a snicker.
Sonic shot him a glare. "I've been here for only a few months. Give me a break. Now who's SHE?" he demanded.
Silver looked at Shadow, who shook his head. "Not now," Shadow snarled through gritted teeth. He stalked down the halls, only to be followed by his youngest creations.
"Other than her, there are Slayers wandering around the borders. They look like wolves. Some are definitely witches. They all poisoned their knives with Triste blood," Silver said sadly.
"What are Tristes?" asked Sonic, feeling like this conversation was a maze. He couldn't find the end.
"Tristes are immortal witches. Their blood can't be drunk by a vampire; it'll kill us!" Silver groaned.
Shadow sighed. "But they can be killed," he grumbled.
Sonic suddenly got nervous. "But what about the were-wolves?" asked Sonic quietly. "I didn't know... I didn't know that there were Slayers in our kind..." he said quietly.
"Of course you didn't," Shadow snarled. "The damn 'Alpha' probably sent them. That mutt," he growled.
Sonic looked insulted – well, in a sense, he was – "Why do you think it was him?" he asked, eyes narrowed.
Shadow grimaced. "The Alpha and I have never gotten along, it doesn't matter what generation. He hates me, I hate him. It's been that way for a long time."
"But you were a werewolf," Sonic murmured, looking up at him with large emerald eyes.
Shadow gave a biter laugh. "I am a mongrel in the eyes of the werewolves. I am tainted with the demon's black blood. They simply want nothing to do with me... with the exception of killing me. It has been their goal for nearly a thousand years." Shadow's ears bent forward. "They hate me. They hate my creator. They hated my sister. They live on that pitiful emotion and I no longer let it bother me."
Silver shook his head. "They really need to take a look at themselves. If they think Shadow's horrible, they've got another thing coming. The Queen was about ten million times worse."
"Whoa, I know Rouge seems a bit sketchy, but she's not that bad," Sonic said, puzzled. Why would they talk about her that way? He didn't like her, but she didn't seem that horrible.
Shadow shook his head, chuckling. "Rouge is not the Queen I am talking about. The one I am trying to describe to you is ancient, and incredibly powerful. I'm also on her hit list," he sighed. His crimson eyes flashed eerily.
"Why are you hated by her, too?" Sonic asked, brows furrowing.
"Easy. I kicked her off the throne. She was not pleased," he mumbled.
Silver snickered. "Not pleased? She went out kicking and shrieking, fangs flashing. She caught my eyes, Shadow. I thought I'd die from terror." Silver shuddered, looking down.
Shadow rubbed his shoulder, looking embarrassed. "She was never happy. I feel bad for her soul mate," he added with a smirk, looking at Silver.
The ivory hedgehog snorted. "I love the soul mate principle. You should have seen their faces, Sonic, when the two found out they were soul mates. They nearly killed each other before Shadow had to drag the Queen away."
"What's the soul mate principle?" Sonic asked, not too sure if he wanted an answer.
Silver raised an eye ridge, as if to ask, 'Should I tell him, or you?' Shadow waved a hand, looking bored.
Silver beamed. "Well, the thing is, there's one person in the planet that's meant for you. They're it. The thing is, you don't have to love them, you could even hate them, but you're stuck with them. Usually they warm up to each other, but some don't."
"Then why don't they just see other people?"
"The person doesn't feel complete unless their soul mate is with them. And yes, they have to actually meet their soul mate first. Isn't that right, Shadow?" he asked with a laugh.
Shadow shifted uncomfortably. "Well, it doesn't work out that way. We didn't work out."
Sonic was going to question Shadow further, but the ebony hedgehog sighed and looked at Silver. "I have to go take care of the Slayers. Send down the huntress and afterwards alert Espio and Blaze that she's back."
Sonic folded his arms over his chest. "I don't get it. Shadow's an old dude. How 'ancient' can this 'Queen' be?" Sonic asked, sending a grin Silver's way.
The ivory hedgehog shrugged. "Nobody knows how old she is, except her creations, Shadow, Mephiles, and Ebony. There are whispers that float around the castle, saying she is a few millennia old."
Sonic's eyes widened. "How can she be that old?"
"She... well, nobody knows." Silver hesitated, his quills blowing softly with an ice cold wind that flew down the hall. He gasped, shuddering. "I can't talk about her," he whispered. "She's crazy, man! Let me tell you, you have to stay away from her. She'll kill you, just to piss off Shadow."
Sonic cocked his head to the side. "Why would she kill me? I didn't do anything to her."
"You have the Demon blood running through your system. How old are you? A month? Shadow gave you his blood to transform you, and a lot of it. He's weak enough as it is, and giving his blood just doesn't work out well. The Queen'll tear him apart."
"What Queen are you two boys talking about?"
Sonic turned around to look at Rouge. Her silver hair was wet, put into a high ponytail. Her black mini dress flowed as she walked, her high heels clacking against the stone floor. Her wings fidgeted, fluttering slightly.
"THE Queen, Rouge," Silver said, his brown leather boots fidgeting against each other.
Rouge went paler than normal. She looked out the window. "Shade is getting suited up. I don't want Shadow going anywhere near her."
"What is the twin is with her?"
"Of course. She's trying to control her, but it doesn't seem to be working. And... she's gotten a bit more brutal with her killings..."
"How so?"
"She breaks the neck. Looks like she twists the head too far and leaves them. She cracked open the skull of another. She has a thing for ending it like that nowadays. We also found a car in the bottom of a lake with a boy handcuffed to the steering wheel and a knife stabbed into his leg." As Silver spoke, his lips trembled.
"Calm down. She's just on a power stroll. You know that," the Vampire Princess replied. She tossed her silvery hair. "She always calms down. Well, eventually," Rouge said. Panic seemed to seeps into her voice. "I'm sure Shadow will keep the magic protecting us up, and banish her again."
"She's more powerful than last time," Silver insisted, his amber eyes smoldering. His body glowed a faint blue, stepping forward.
"I know," Rouge said softly. She looked at Sonic. "You should go back to the werewolves. They need you now. Imagine your friends, Sonic. I can tell you're a fighter in the town. If the Queen is on the hunt, you need to protect the town."
Sonic nodded absently, though trying not to show his creeping fear for Shadow's life, said, "Hey Rouge?"
"Hmm?"
"I want to bring a friend here. I think he wants to meet you," Sonic said with a grin.
Rouge raised an eye ridge. "Do you not like him or something? You're setting him up to get killed. We don't have many 'live' visitors," she added helpfully.
Sonic shrugged. "He can protect himself just fine. He nearly trampled me to death the other day when I told him his stupid rock was taken. He'll be fine," Sonic said, stretching.
Rouge had a fear that Sonic knew what she was doing. "Um, sure. Whatever you like, Sonic. I have to attend to a meeting, so if you'll excuse me..." Rouge said, turning away and lifting her wings to fly out the window.
She stood on the ledge, looking over the palace. She leaned her head back, letting her silver hair fall free of the ponytail. She smiled as her black wings unfurled. A flash of lightning struck, and Sonic thought he had seen a human girl beside Rouge.
The girl leaned her head back, her golden skin glowing faintly in the brilliant light. Her pure silver hair flew out like a glowing halo around her perfect face. Her eyes were closed, her soft pink lips in a smile. The girl had to be eighteen. She wore the same outfit as Rouge.
And had wings that stretched out to be fifteen feet long.
They were black, blue and silver. The feathers were sharp, and the girl arched her body, straightening out.
Sonic found it amazing that he saw this all in an instant.
Rouge and the mystery girl shot off the ledge like an arrow from a bow. The second the light faded away, so did the mystery girl. Sonic was wondering if maybe he poked his eye out or something.
Silver looked spooked. "Did you just see her?" he asked.
"That's not the queen, is it? Usually I don't picture Vampires with tans," Sonic remarked.
Silver laughed. "You'll know who she is. Shadow's best friends with her. And this time, I'm not being sarcastic."
Sonic laughed as he walked away. When he began to leave the castle, the mystery girl stayed on his mind. She was a human girl with falcon wings. You don't see those every day.
Sonic was running through the rain, tripping over branches, and choking on the mist that surrounded the Vampire's forest.
"Damn that mystical house!" Sonic cried, trying to not get strangled by the vines by Knuckles' sacred alter cave. Sonic kicked uselessly before shrieking for Knuckles to get his furry red ass out of the cave.
Well, he was treated to a sight.
Knuckles came lumbering out in blue pajamas with yellow ducks. He yawned loudly, stretching out his arms.
Sonic stared at him for about two seconds before bursting out in laughter. "Oh, yeah, THE LADY KILLER! This guy is a chick magnet, girls! Look at how those ducks adore him!"
Knuckles glowered at Sonic. "Hey, they were the only clean pair of pajamas I had."
Sonic nodded, smirking. "Well, I only wear boxers, if I wear anything. You don't need much. We. Are. Animals," Sonic pointed out.
Knuckles grumbled as he cut the vines. "And? I don't have tons of fur, so it gets cold."
Sonic laughed. "Yeah, whatever. Just put something else on or wear the birthday suit. Come on, I think somebody wants to see you~!" he sang mockingly.
Knuckles blushed. "Whatever. I'll come. Just... ah, stop being so annoying. Go hunt a bunny or something."
Sonic bristled. "The only thing I want to sink my teeth into right now is a Twinkie. And I do not hunt down the woodland creatures!"
"I bet that's how the next Bambi movie is going to go. Bambi's mom running along happily, and then, POW, you come out and drink her blood!"
Sonic grimaced. "Why would I do that? Just 'cause I got a new pair of choppers doesn't mean I'll attack anything I see! Jeez, you're so stereotypical!"
Knuckles shrugged. "You get that way after a few thousand years of war."
Sonic shook his head. "This war is going to end soon, I can assure ya. I'll do anything to stop it."
Knuckles barked out a laugh. "We'll all be dead in a month."
"Hey, give me some credit! I'm the first Vampire/Werewolf! It'll work out!"
"You're turning into a Vampire, Sonic. Your eyes already have a crimson glow to them when you get angry. I think you're forgetting that you are a werewolf. And not just any old mutt, the Alpha," Knuckles replied roughly.
Sonic glared. "I can do whatever I want. And anyways, the King is actually... nice."
Knuckles went almost as white as Sonic. "What? You met that murderer?"
"He wouldn't hurt anyone," Sonic said hastily, waving his hands. He paused. "Well, he might hurt a few people, but we've hurt some too. Knuckles, the point is, I care about him. The only thing is, he doesn't exactly know what I am."
"A retard?
"Shut up."
The two walked in silence away from the cave after Knuckles set the alarms.
Sonic noticed that he could see the forest much better now. The plants were so vibrant! The flowers could range from purple to the most potent red, and the green was so bright! Sonic smiled dreamily as he walked by.
Knuckles straightened as they met the mouth of the misty forest. "Um, do I really have to go in there, Sonic?" he whispered, cringing at the sound of a hiss in the distance.
Sonic nodded. "Yeah, they won't hurt you. These guys are pretty nice. And don't worry, if they tackle you to the ground I'll get them off," he added, grinning.
Knuckles cringed.
Sonic had to drag Knuckles through the forest; literally. He grabbed Knuckles by the ankles and hauled him through. He stopped dead as he heard a group of people.
"Damn you, Shadow!" a young girl cried out, holding her wounded arm.
Shadow was sitting nonchalant in the trees, looking down at the Slayers with a bored expression.
"Too late," he sang, swinging his legs with a devilish grin.
The girl – a female mongoose with warm brown fur and amber eyes – flung a stake in his direction. He easily picked it out of the air and chuckled. "Then damn you again!"
"Maya, after three hundred years, I thought you'd come up with something a bit more... clever," he said, laughing darkly as he broke the stake in half, inspecting it. "Hmm, interesting. A wooden stake embedded with Triste blood and lined with silver. Destined to destroy both parts of my soul, huh?"
"Creatures like you don't have souls, demon!" the girl shrieked. Her fists clenched, and Sonic rubbed his eyes. Was she glowing?
A Triste is an immortal witch. Their blood is poisonous to all Vampires. Witches and Vampires get along okay, but some do not like the bond shared between them. Some are trying to overthrow the king to replace him with the True Queen.
Sonic blinked and hit his head a few times. Where the hell did that come from?
Maya, the mongoose, charged. A second later she was pinned to the base of the large oak tree.
An echidna with a glowing black and purple suit had thrown Maya against the tree. She growled. "Don't you dare touch Shadow, witch. If the Queen wants the throne, she could battle for it herself. You have your Queen, we have our king. We don't go by the rule: You rule forever."
Maya struggled against the echidna's iron grip. "Krishna is the greatest Queen we've ever had! Her twin should rule, like she used to!" she protested.
Several werewolves came into the clearing, all in their second form.
Sonic had to be pinned to the ground by Knuckles not to shriek out in annoyance.
Shadow's eye ridge raised up a notch. "So the mutts came," he chuckled. He looked down at the echidna. "You go take care of them, Shade. Give me the girl."
Maya shrieked, "You will never be king! Never! You will die before the day you are crowned!"
Shadow sighed, shaking his head. "Maya, you're giving me a headache. Do me a favor and be quiet for a bit," he said, dropping down from the tree. His hands were like handcuffs, holding her arms behind her back.
Shade looked like she was having a wild time. "What should I do with them? Tie them up? Drink 'em?" She asked excitedly.
Shadow shook his head. "They aren't worth the trouble. Scare them off."
Shade looked disappointedly at the ground. She sighed dramatically, her orange fur bristling, "Fine, I'll get the pups. Finish off the girl." She bared her teeth, her long, sparkling fangs becoming pronounced. She dashed off into the forest, her suit glowing eerily.
Shadow watched Shade go before he turned back to the groaning mongoose, the Triste struggling to perform a spell. Shadow walked over to her quietly, studying her. He held out her wounded shoulder, and she shrieked, though held in the tears.
Shadow looked at the nasty cut, watching how the crimson liquid leaked down her side. Shadow bit the tip of his finger, and Sonic and Knuckles watched in amazement as pitch black blood seeped out of Shadow's bare finger and into the cut.
It healed instantly.
Shadow lifted her arm, watching it with careful eyes. He released a shuddering breath before stepping away, closing his eyes.
And opened them not even a second later, finding a knife embedded in his chest.
Crimson eyes turning a tawny brown, Shadow staggered backwards, gasping. The black blood leaked onto the ground, the grass dying and turning black wherever it touched.
His eyes flashed a brilliant gold, his long quills following suit. He gagged, choking on the blood flowing freely from his mouth, not able to take in a breath from his punctured lung. A shrieking whistling sound filled the air as Shadow's fangs grew, his pearly whites growing larger, curling to an in-human point.
He lurched forward, like a puppet on strings, throwing the girl to the ground, the whistling become louder.
"Big mistake," Shadow snarled, ripping the knife from his chest. Golden eyes glowing, he pulled his arm back.
Knuckles forced Sonic to look away, covering his eyes with his large hands, ears pinning down against his head as Maya's bloodcurdling shriek sounded throughout the land, the dark leaves on the trees bristling.
Knuckles looked over at Shadow, who had stopped breathing completely. His black blood flowed freely, crimson staining his white gloves. Knuckles gagged when he thought he saw bone through the thin and torn layer of ebony fur.
Shadow tensed, eyes flashing around his so called arena, putting a hand to his chest. He looked in dismay at his tuft of pure white, raising an eye ridge as to why it was crimson.
Oh yeah, that's right.
Shadow closed his eyes and leaned against the tree, forcing his body to relax. He didn't care if he survived or not, he honestly didn't care anymore. He just wanted it to stop.
A tinkling laugh came out of nowhere.
"Hmm, I don't recall you looking like this when I last left you."
Sonic and Knuckles rubbed their eyes, wondering if something was wrong with them.
In front of Shadow was a human girl, no older than twenty, no younger than seventeen. Her midnight black hair fell in tumbling wave past her waist, her skin as pale as a ghost. The girl's lips were full, a creamy rose. Her body was well toned, showing she was strong; her arms and legs well sculpted. Her body was what one might describe as perfection, though the way she moved was too graceful, as if she was a predator. She moved like a panther or a jaguar. Her smile was blinding, her curved fangs sharpened to an inhuman point.
The thing that caught Sonic's eye was her eyes.
The girl's eyes were crimson red, like pure blood. Like Shadow's eyes used to be. Her eyes flashed, never blinking, her pupils in slits.
Shadow's golden orbs snapped open, looking up in a mix of amazement and anger. "What..." he tried to growl, blood flowing past his lips. Shadow winced, biting down on his lip.
"Oh, poor baby," the girl mocked, bending down. She held Shadow's face with one hand, pinching his cheeks.
Shadow groaned loudly, coughing weakly.
The girl laughed maliciously, throwing her head back. Sonic felt the blood running in his veins go ice cold, hearing her voice. Though it was beautiful, it was haunting, ancient.
Knuckles had to pin Sonic to the ground to keep him away from the girl. "Can it, fur ball," he snarled. "I know who this is. She'll kill us."
"I don't care about what happens to us," Sonic whispered back angrily. "My life doesn't matter anymore. She'll kill him!"
"Oh, what a great friend," Knuckles retorted. "You'd let your friend die for him of all people? The guy we're in a war against!"
"He's not just a guy! He's my creator," Sonic growled, thrashing against his friend's strong iron grip.
"Excuse me, are we interrupting you two?"
The girl's voice was like a slap in the face.
Knuckles and Sonic looked up. Shadow's frantic eyes stared deep into Sonic's emerald ones. Shadow closed his eyes and turned away, shuddering.
"Shadow," Sonic whispered, getting up and taking a step towards his fallen partner.
"Come any closer and I will rip your precious Shadow's head off," the girl snarled, her upper lip curling over her sparkling fangs. "Step back."
Sonic and Knuckles obeyed, stepping away from the crazy girl.
The girl huffed, picking up Shadow. He screamed, thrashing about. The girl looked down at him with a bored expression, and said quietly, "Sleep."
Shadow's eyes slipped closed, the horrid whistling coming to an end.
Sonic looked at the girl, confused. She was wearing a tight black tank top, and pitch black skinny jeans. She walked quickly, never breaking her stride.
Sonic and Knuckles followed. Knuckles grimaced, his amethyst eyes glowing. "I have a feeling she's showing me to my grave."
Sonic rolled his eyes. "We're going back to the palace. I can't explain it, but the place is everything to me. It's weird. At night, you can hear singing, and the stars are always bright. Magic is full there, and some things are so new. The Vampires aren't all that bad," he said with a smirk, his own fangs exposed.
Knuckles paled.
The sky was clear, the air cold and crisp. The girl relished in the cool wind, smiling as her wild hair was tossed. Her feet began to move faster, faster, and she was soon nothing but a black blur. Sonic dragged Knuckles along.
She threw open the doors of the palace with only the flick of her hand.
"Shouldn't we go to the infirmary?" asked Sonic.
The girl barked out a laugh, tossing her hair right into Sonic's face. She ignored his gags as he choked on her hair. "In my years, there was no infirmary. You either survived or you didn't."
"What time was that?"
"Never you mind, blue hedgehog. Just follow me," she said lightly, walking down the empty stone halls.
Sonic grimaced, following her. Knuckles nearly ditched when he saw the frozen yogurt machine, but with a hard punch landing on his skull, he was convinced that perhaps that wouldn't be the greatest idea.
The girl's black high heels clacked against the floor as she walked, the air turning cold. The palace seemed empty, and was completely silent.
She stopped in front of Shadow's bedroom, not even touching the door before it slammed open. She sauntered over to the coffin, once again opening it without the help of her hands. She sat on the edge, winking at sonic before bending backwards, falling into the hidden room with the nearly dead king in her arms. She laughed on her plunge down.
Sonic hauled Knuckles into the coffin, screaming and shouting, "I'm claustrophobic! I also have a fear of being buried alive!"
Sonic ignored him and gave him a swift kick in the ass, laughing as Knuckles shrieked and fell.
"I'm dead!" the echidna announced, lying facedown on the bed. "I must be dead! I'm in a Vampire's coffin!"
Sonic picked him up by the scruff on the back of his neck, baring his fangs teasingly. "Get up, idiot. You aren't dead, and nobody would drink blood that smells like butt. So stop worrying."
Knuckles' face became as red as his dreadlocks. "Hey, I smell great!"
"If you two would hold your tongues for more than a moment, thank you," the girl snarled, baring her fangs – and all her other sharp teeth. She hissed, gingerly placing Shadow on the bed.
She worked over him quickly, her fingers glowing an eerie red as she swept her nimble digits over the separated flesh, watching the black blood dry and disappear. She was murmuring incantations in an ancient language, her lips just barely moving. Her crimson eyes glowed as she bent down and bit Shadow.
Shadow finally relaxed, sinking into the sheets. He had a small smile on his lips, his breathing becoming normal.
Sonic sat down next to Shadow, looking the girl in the eye as he stroked Shadow's quills.
"Who are you?"
The girl sneered at Sonic, looking disgusted. "The male is the one to introduce himself," she said quietly. When Sonic continued to stare at her blankly, saying nothing, she heaved a sigh.
"My name is many... I have lived too long, seen too much to have but one name. I have been Rifkele, Persephone, Rana, Radha, and other names. All different lives."
"So... name please?" he asked awkwardly, playing with his gloves.
"Raksha. Raksha Slayer, if you will," Raksha replied, sitting back in the chair, crossing her legs. She opened a newspaper that seemed to come out of nowhere.
"Oh. Hey Raksha," the blue furred hedgehog said with a smirk. "So how old are you?"
Raksha looked over at Sonic, lifting a dark eyebrow. "That is quite rude, is it not?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Sonic grinned nervously, blushing. "Heh, sorry. But I wanna know," he said with a short laugh. "I'll tell you my name and how old I am. I'm Sonic, and I'm sixteen, soon to be seventeen."
Raksha's crimson eyes stared him down. "Do not lie to me. Sonic is not your name."
Sonic cringed, though forced a smile, confused. "What're ya talking about? That's my name."
Raksha shook her head, chuckling as her midnight locks swayed. "Maurice. Maurice the Hedgehog is so unhappy with his name. What a pity, I always liked that name," she said with a cruel smirk.
Sonic froze, looking at Knuckles, who had a spooked look in his violet eyes.
"How do you know my name?" Sonic asked, stepping forward.
Raksha barely glanced at Sonic. "I knew you from a long time ago, hedgehog. When you lived a different life. Your first life," she recalled.
Sonic's blue eye ridges furrowed. "What're ya talking about? I'm living now." He left Shadow to walk forward to the human, seeing just how tall she was.
A helluva lot taller than he was.
"Yes. Sonic, you, your friends, and your parents are very rare individuals. My sister and I like to call you guys 'Old Souls,'" she chuckled, settling back down in her chair.
"Old Souls? Are you makin' fun of me?" he asked, frowning slightly.
"No," she responded lightly, her soft lips hardly moving. "I am just stating what you are."
"And what would that be?"
"You. Once, your name was Dash Maurice the Hedgehog. You were nineteen when I met you. Well, face to face, anyway. I had always watched you, because you were very close to Shadow. Old souls are people that, when they die, return a number of years later with their friends and family. I like to call them stubborn, they are reborn."
Sonic's face was confused; Raksha knew that without even having to look at him. She sighed.
"In your first life, as Dash, you were a young teenager when you first saw Shadow being made by man. You and your friends thought he was the best thing since sliced bread."
"You say when Shadow was created. As in born? That was over eight hundred years ago," he said, touching his face, as if to feel the wrinkles. His emerald eyes flickered to Shadow's limp form on the bed.
Shadow's pitch black quills had dull golden streaks, slowly changing back to crimson. His chest shuddered as it tried to lift, before collapsing back down. Dried blood caked his once pure white gloves, his fangs slightly curving. His fur in a wild array, dull and lifeless, Shadow seemed lost to the world.
"Precisely so," Raksha said in a cold voice. You died at age nineteen after committing suicide," she said. Her crimson eyes glowed when she took in Sonic's shock.
"Look, I think you've got me mixed up with someone else. Why would I..."
Raksha cut him off. "You're mother's name was Anonda, but now her name is Aleena. Or should I say was?" she cackled, watching the rage ignite in Sonic's burning emerald eyes. "Your father's name was Jyotis, and was Jules before he perished. You were Dash, even though your father wanted you to go by your real name, Maurice. Aleena wanted to give you an ancient name, but your father said it was time to give you a new name. Something fresh. So you were named Maurice.
"As a child, you ran exceptionally fast. Faster than anyone thought it was possible to run, though there was one catch; friction. Your feet would burn if you moved to quickly, and it hurt. When you turned thirteen, you were taken to the world renowned Alchemist, Gerald Robotnik. Yes, yes, he is the great, great, and then some, grandfather of Ivo. When you were wandering around the house after the Alchemist, you met the blue witch, Maria. She is a descendant of my sister. You've seen a picture of her, the young girl with gold hair. You two became good friends, even though she was deathly ill.
"When you were fifteen, you went to see Maria with your friends, Milo and Fighter. When you went into the 'lab,' you saw one of my creations, Black Doom, giving his blood to Gerald. Shadow, at the time, was just a hedgehog. His fur was pure white, his eyes electric blue. He wasn't alive, but was strapped to a metal table, a golden table. Maria was glowing blue, powering up. You watched as the Alchemist put the black blood in a shot, injecting it into the mysterious white hedgehog. His fur slowly turned an inky black, his open blue eyes turning crimson.
"Maria shocked the creature with her powers, you had seen nothing like it before. The creature's blood red eyes flashed as he forced himself to sit up. He locked eyes with yours, and you felt a blush creep up to your cheeks. You knew there was something about him before you even spoke to him."
Raksha finished, looking mildly triumphant as she finished on a romantic note. She looked at Sonic.
"I lost you at Jyotis."
Raksha nearly slammed her head into the wall. "Did you catch ANY of it?" she shrieked, her scream like the strained cry of a raven.
"Yeah. You're a stalker," he said tiredly, leaning against the wall. Knuckles looked so like he was lost in a maze, like he would never get out. "Why were you watching me?"
"You were needed," she said carefully. "You were necessary for my Shadow. I knew you two would be soul mates before Shadow was even created."
Knuckles shook his head. "Bullshit. You're eighteen. How old do you think you are?"
Her crimson eyes flashed as a transformation racked her body. Her skin was not a ghostly pale anymore, turning shining bony white. All of her teeth curved into a point, looking like the cat from Alice in Wonderland. Her pupils became small slits as her eyes became angled. Glossy black scales raced over her arms and hands, all the way up to her neck. Any exposed skin was now covered by rows of beautiful Snake armor. Her head stayed untouched, her eyes still those of a murderous snake. She hissed, her forked tongue slithering out.
"What the hell?" the echidna yelped, jumping straight up.
"I am the Queen. The 'She' they were talking about. My name is Raksha Slayer, Raksha meaning Demon. I am the True Queen of the Vampires, for I am the first. I am a queen cobra shapeshifter, and my mobian form is a fox, though I prefer to stay human. I am 5,000 years old, and I suggest you hold you tongue," she snarled.
Knuckles was as white as a sheet. Sonic nearly passed out.
Slowly, the glimmering scales retracted, her eyes returning to a somewhat normal look. She stretched, flexing her prominent muscles, listening to the pops as her limbs went back to their normal sizes. Raksha yawned, planting her black high heels on the concrete.
"So, as you can see, I am not just your ordinary Vampire. I was the first, and I am the Demon. The girl of black blood," she chuckled. Her pale, ice cold hands lashed out, grabbing Sonic's and Knuckles' wrists in an unbreakable iron grip.
Sonic staggered, crying out. Raksha's clawed hand grasped him tightly. "You will live your life as it was 800 years ago. Follow me into the darkness."
...
I opened my eyes.
I was confused. Why was the name Sonic stuck in my head? I looked around my room, dismayed. Why did I have the feeling that it looked so much cleaner?
And New?
"Calm down," I told myself. I'm Dash. Dash the Hedgehog," I said confidently, though it sounded like I was trying to convince myself.
I looked into the mirror, smirking. Light blue quills, peach fur, and Emerald eyes. I think my dad's color blind, because he says they're brown. But they're emerald green, definitely emerald.
I bent down, picking up my sneakers, specially made by Old Man Gerald. Red and white, with a golden buckle. At least I would never have to suffer having my feet burst into flame.
Milo said it was cool.
Milo was my little bro, a kitsune. He was thirteen, and I was nineteen.
Well, turning nineteen.
Fighter was my other friend. An echidna at age twenty one, and the boyfriend to the hottest girl in the tribe, Maroon, the bat girl. He was a hot head, and a pretty good fighter.
But not the best.
My best friend, Shadow, was what my mom would say dreamily, was the Warrior of the Tribe. He was the strongest, though I teased him that I was the fastest.
I sighed dreamily, in a way that scared me. Ever since I met Shadow, we've really been going out. I can't explain it. All I know is that when he looked at me, I think I might have turned into a puddle of melted blue wax.
I smirked as I thought of this. Buckling my shoes on, I jumped out my bedroom window.
"Maurice!" I heard mom shriek. I kept on moving. Either she called me by my real name or I wouldn't come.
"Dash, please don't let your mother's blood pressure go out of control again!" my dad yelled, begging. I ignored him, though. I couldn't be late for meeting up with Shadow.
Not that it was even possible for the fastest hedgehog.
The world became a blur around me as I sprinted through the forest. Nothing could compare to the wind through my quills, my feet slapping like a whip against the ground.
Before I knew it, I was at the house.
It was a house Shadow and I had found close to the border in the Vampires' forest.
"Hey, faker, can you try not to blow down the house?" I heard Shadow growl.
He was looking down from a window on the second floor. He had a smirk on his tan muzzle as he lifted an eye ridge.
I opened the door to the house. "It wasn't intentional," I called. "Honest. Scout's honor," I laughed, putting a gloved hand over my heart. I walked up the rickety stairs, smiling.
Shadow rolled his eyes.
It was during the day. He looked like every normal hedgehog would.
Well... with a few exceptions.
His fur was inky black, from that shot the Doc gave him when he was created, and his eyes a burning crimson red. He had a temper that flared up like a match thrown into a lake of gasoline. Though, I wouldn't trade him for the world.
I grabbed his wrist, and Shadow looked at me, confused. I leaned up, brushing my lips against his. He nearly leaned into it, but pulled away, backing up a few steps. I looked at him with hurt eyes.
"So how's Amma?" he asked lightly.
I cringed. Another one of these fights. I sighed, rubbing my arm. "She's fine, already picking out a wedding dress," I mumbled, not looking him in the eye.
Shadow studied my face. "Then why are you here talking to me?" he asked.
My face grew hot as I stepped towards him. "Because I love you," I said, nearly stammering over my words. I blushed in rage when Shadow scoffed. "I'm serious. I love you," I said carefully, grabbing his face. I forced him to look down at me.
"How can I be so sure?" he whispered. It was the first time I had seen him like this – I was pretty sure those were real tears in his eyes. But I knew Shadow too well, he wouldn't let them fall. He'd rather be dragged into the Vampire's court on a silver platter by his toenails then to show real emotion. To show me how he felt.
"Look," I said finally. "I. Don't. Even. LIKE. Amma!" I yelled, exasperated.
"But you're still going to get married to her," he protested. "This relationship is not fair to either me or Amma. Sonic, we can't do this. It isn't right," he choked.
I really hated to see him like this. We always had this fight. Always.
Amma was my... ugh, fiancé. It's not like she was ugly or anything. She was actually really pretty. She had soft red fur and jade eyes. She says they're emerald, but Shadow would argue that, compared to mine, they were dull and dark.
She was obsessed with me. Really, all she talks about is how I 'saved the tribe' or something stupid like that. A vampire hasn't even come into town for twenty years!
But we had an arranged marriage.
Shadow begins to move away from me. I look at him, shocked. "Why do you have to be this way?" I asked. My arms wrapped around his retreating form, forcing him to press himself close to me. I leaned my head on his chest, nearly choking on the white chest fur residing there.
"Dash," he sighed. "Why won't you listen to me? Are you deaf?" he growled, struggling in my arms.
I kissed his cheek. "I'm just stubborn," I said lightly. My lips moved to his neck.
His resistance was faltering. "Please, stop," he begged. His crimson eyes stared down at me, glowing.
"Yeah right," I snickered. I pushed us down into the bed. I hovered over him, looking down at my Shadow.
I can't describe how he looked. His crimson eyes were ablaze, showing an emotion that I couldn't describe. There were too many- anger, depression, guilt... lust.
That's all it took.
...
I woke up on Shadow's chest, feeling comfortable and not wanting to move. I looked up to see his tan furred muzzle, leaning up to kiss it lightly. Shadow didn't stir, but remained unconscious.
I snuggled to his chest. I usually wasn't this affectionate, but I couldn't help myself. He was so warm...
Shadow groaned, sitting up. He wrapped an arm around me protectively, rubbing his eyes with the other. He blinked a few times, looking around.
"Damn it, Dash!" he yelled.
I nearly shot into the ceiling. "What?" I asked. "What did I do this time?"
"I didn't want to do this," he said, shaking his head. He waved a hand over the rumpled bed sheets, trembling with rage. "I didn't want this to happen?"
"You sounded pretty good about it an hour ago," I muttered, not looking him in the eye.
He threw up his arms, exasperated. "The point is you pushed me into something I didn't want to do!" he yelled. Shadow cursed quietly.
"I didn't hear any complaints!"
"It's something that should have never been done," he hissed, pushing me away. "We should have never been together in a relationship we knew could never work out. Everyone just gets hurt," he murmured.
I looked at him, pale. I felt the blood drain from my face in dread. "What? What do you mean it would never work out?"
"I've been you 'little secret,' Dash, for five fucking years. Nobody knows. They still think you're getting married to Amma, WHICH YOU ARE," he screamed. He shook violently as he backed away from me. "We aren't supposed to be like this. You have to carry on the blood line. You have to get married. You're going to hurt Amma, and by doing this you are hurting me. The best thing is to just forget the last five years of our lives and get on with it," Shadow said finally.
I couldn't move, I was frozen. "What do you mean, Shadow? Are you..."
"I'm ending this relationship, yes," Shadow said quietly. "For the sake of your fiancé and my sanity, I think it would be best if this relationship came to an immediate end."
"This isn't how it goes," I whispered, shaking my head. I felt the tears rush to my emerald eyes. "We always have this fight. Always. But nothing ever happens. Not like this," I choked.
Shadow's crimson eyes softened, though his face remained cold and emotionless. He walked forward, putting his hands my shoulders.
"Sonic, you and I both knew this would never work out," he said quietly.
"But you said it didn't matter," I said. "You said that you never felt like this towards anyone else, remember? You promised that you'd find a way."
Shadow shook his head. "This relationship isn't healthy, and it was destined for failure the day you told me you and Amma were destined to be married. This is the end, Sonic," he said quietly.
"Please, don't..." I whispered. I could feel hot tears sliding down my cheeks, but paid them no heed.
Shadow kissed my forehead gently. "Goodbye, Dash. I love you."
I blinked, looking up at him. But nobody was there, and I was alone.
...
After sulking around the empty house for a few hours, staring out the window, I plopped down onto the bed, too drained to let another tear fall.
At first, I thought that maybe he'd come back. After all, we had this fight plenty of times.
But he never showed up.
I was just sitting here, thinking. I had Sonia and Manic, they could take the throne... But Shadow would call me an idiot for throwing my whole life away like that...
Every path my frantic thoughts went down ended the same way; crashing into a dead end.
And then somebody knocked on the door.
I cocked my head, listening to three distinct knocks. Was it him?
I stumbled down the stairs, throwing the door open. "Shadow?" I asked.
What I got was not what I was expecting.
A woman stood at the door, a hand on her hip.
She was possibly the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.
The girl was as pale as snow, her skin fair and without a blemish. Her lips were a soft pink, set in a smirk. Midnight locks fell to the girl's slim waist, long and curled slightly at the tips. She was dressed in a black fur leotard, or at least that's what it looked like, and black furred boots. I thought it was nuts how she wasn't cold.
Her crimson eyes were locked on my face with an intensity that only Shadow could rival.
Wait... crimson eyes?
The girl cocked her head. "Hello Maurice," she said gently.
I blinked. How did she...?
"That is not important," the girl said sharply. She took a deep breath, asking, "My name is Raksha. Can you invite me in?"
Before even giving it a thought I was waving her inside.
The woman sat down in an armchair, looking like a queen as she crossed her legs and rested her arms on the sides. She looked at me and smiled cruelly as the waves of inky black hair shielded the eyes I loved so much.
Well, more so on another face.
And for some reason, I couldn't help but feel as if I had seen her before, looking exactly in this pose, though in clothes... a little skimpier.
"Maurice," she whispered. "You look sad," she said in that same irritating monotone. Her voice seemed dead.
"Well, it's nothing. I can't tell a total stranger everything," I said awkward, my mind finally gripping how strange this was.
"Tell me," she commanded, moving her ebony hair away from her face. Her crimson eyes bored into mine.
Suddenly I was spilling. Everything.
The entire story came out of my mouth nonstop. No matter how many times I tried to force my hand to my mouth, to keep it from moving or to stop it from saying this.
When I finished, Raksha nodded, looking at with that same dull expression, though her eyes betrayed her. The magnificent crimson orbs glowed with satisfaction, her inky waves of black hair bouncing as she nodded.
"You love him."
My gaze returned to the floor, refusing to meet her eyes- no, his eyes- and I nodded, breathing hard.
My misery seemed to break through that steel wall between her and connecting with her emotions as she smiled at me.
"Shadow has a hard skull. He is, in fact, very stubborn," she murmured, looking out the window. "But he is not lying to you when he said he loves you. Honestly, I think he'd do anything for you. He's crazy about you, Dash," she said quietly.
I raised an eye ridge. "Oh yeah? Is that why he said get lost?" I muttered.
"He did not say that," she growled. "He said that it would be best to~"
"To forget the last five years of our lives," I interrupted. "I mean, I guess I don't blame him. If I saw that he was getting married to somebody, I'd flip out," I admitted hoarsely, sending my tongue over my dry lips.
"Well, would this be an apt time for me to tell you that he has accepted an offer to marry a young girl in the tribe?" she asked, sighing with a bored expression, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
I froze. "What?"
"The girl's name is Mona," Raksha said, her dull monotone really getting to me. "She is a young fox. A beautiful girl, really. She's so happy right now, and your mother is excited beyond belief. She is going to attend their wedding."
"When… will he…?"
"Ah, that is where your mother is not happy. He is getting married next week, and will be leaving right after with his bride."
"Its… just a honeymoon, right?" I whispered.
"No."
That one word was all it took to get my head spinning. "No," I moaned. "No, he can't do this. He isn't serious, he's just trying to scare me…"
Raksha chuckled, her laugh like water trickling over stones. Like wind chimes gently swaying in the wind, though harsh, cold. "This is no joke. He is going to marry her."
I put my head in my hands as my elbows rested against my knees. I couldn't speak.
So this is what it was like for Shadow. Watching me commit myself to somebody else, when he loved me. Or at least he did.
I shuddered helplessly.
"I can bring him back to you, you know. Cut all your ties with the pink pest, and get you two married," Raksha said, leaning forward. "You must allow me to do but one thing," she murmured.
I couldn't look away. "What? What will you do?"
"Allow me to change him. This wretched war will come to an end." As she spoke, I couldn't help but agree with her. The war will end. The war will end, repeated through my mind. "Shadow will be a king of my kind, and a good suitor for you. Your mother and father cannot go against it. You can name Sonia's child or Manic's child your heir. You two could finally be left to yourselves, Dash. Think about it," she whispered.
I blinked, my mind going blank.
She stood up, her long hair swaying as she walked gracefully to the door.
"You have one day to make your decision, Dash. Choose well," she said, a harsh laugh erupting from her lips.
I watched her close the door, thinking that there was only one way to spend the rest of my life in happiness.
Shadow would have to be a vampire.
…
Shadow – crying. I never thought that I'd live to see the day where this would happen.
His head was on my shoulder, covering his face with his hand miserably.
I wrapped my arms around him, swaying him gently. "It's okay," I whispered into his ear. "You'll be fine, Shadow."
"No," he groaned. "No, I'm a killer, a murderer. Look at me," he moaned. He was shaking, trembling openly in my arms.
It's been two weeks since Shadow's gone missing. I knew what happened, but always waited for him. He arrived, fangs bared and crimson eyes cold. I moved closer to him, but he stepped away. I nearly had to corner him.
The tears that fell from his eyes were not clear, but a dark crimson. The tears he shed were blood, dropping onto my shoulder, turning my fur into a dark purple. I still held Shadow close to me, not caring that he was ice cold, or that his scent had changed. He was still my Shadow.
"No," I said back. "You aren't. Who said you had to kill? You can just bite," I suggested.
He shook his head, choking on a sob. "No. I c-can't. Every time I try to, I kill them."
I curled my arms around his torso, rocking the both of us, trying to calm him. "It doesn't matter to me," I said honestly. "I love you. I always will."
He shook his head. "You can't. I'll kill you," he groaned. As he spoke, his fangs brushed against my skin, sending shivers up my spine, though not of fear or pain.
"No, you won't, faker. I know you too well. You're… insane, yeah, but then again, a lot of us are. You wouldn't want to kill me, even if I DID eat your burger," I laughed. I pulled his hand away from his face, forcing him to look up at me. "Aw, come on, you love me too much, man."
Shadow rolled his eyes, but didn't smile.
"I'll prove it," I said. I took his face between my hands, and forced my lips onto his. He froze up, his eyes going wide. It only took seconds before he was returning it, however.
I pulled away from him, smirking. "Told ya," I snickered.
Shadow gave me a dry look. "I can't help it. My body died loving you."
I raised an eye ridge. "Well, that's a good thing for me, how isn't it?" I chuckled, my nose trailing across his neck and cheek.
Shadow sighed, relaxing into my arms and leaning his head onto my shoulder. "I'm… sorry… for leaving you," he finally spit out. He looked away, embarrassed.
I waited for that blush that I loved so much to spread across Shadow's pale tan cheeks. But nothing happened, and never would again.
It made me sad, but I reminded myself that I had Shadow now.
"What are you going to do about Amma?" he asked suddenly.
"I don't care about her," I said boldly. "She desn't matter to me anymore. The engagement is off."
I expected to see happiness, to at least see him smile.
He glowered at me.
"You couldn't have said that when I was alive?"
I rolled my eyes and shot him a dry smirk. "There were complications," I said sarcastically. "Does it matter?"
Shadow sighed, slipping his hand in mine. "I guess not."
…
I was nervous. Mom had disappeared into the Vampire's forest the other day, and never returned. She was announced dead. Dad has been crazy since then with hatred for the Vampires. Of course of all days to tell him I chose Shadow, the Vampire Prince, as my mate.
But I couldn't hold it in any longer.
Sonia said that she'd tell dad if I didn't. Manic can't hold in a thought for more than five seconds before putting it into a song. I REALLY didn't need that to be sung to the whole tribe.
Hesitantly, I knocked on my dad's door.
"Come in, Dash," Jyotis said wearily. Dad's blue fur was dull, his brown bangs hanging limply over his eyes.
I walked in, trembling.
Dad was sitting by the window, staring out, waiting for mom to come home. I swallowed thickly, shaking my head. She wouldn't come home. Shadow had run through the forest and couldn't find even her scent.
"Dad, I need to talk to you about my… my mate," I finally managed.
Dad's once bright brown eyes were lifeless. "What has Amma done now, Sonic? Eat your hot dog?"
I rolled my eyes. "No dad. Not this time. It's about… who I've chosen. You know, I chose my mate."
"What? Isn't Amma the girl you've been paired with?" he asked sharply.
My throat constricted. "Well, that's the thing, dad. I can't… She's not… Well, I found my soul mate."
My dady's eyes sparked for just a moment. "Really, Sonic? That's fantastic! Who's the lucky girl?"
Crap, this wasn't turning in my favor.
"Well," I said awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck. "That's kinda the thing. You see… Um, it's not a girl. It's Shadow."
I waited, frozen. I couldn't speak, and sent a dry tongue over my lips.
Dad was quiet at first. Then he sighed. "Sonic, do you love him?"
My eyes flitted to the mirror on the wall. For some reason, Raskha's perfect face appeared. Her crimson eyes glowed as she smiled.
"Yes," I answered boldly. "I love him, and always will, and I accept all his flaws."
My dad's eyes looked confused for a minute. "What are his flaws?" he asked.
I hesitated. "Dad, let me talk before you say anything. Okay. Here we go," I muttered. "Dad… Shadow's a… A Vampire. That's why he went missing a few weeks ago."
I waited for Dad's response.
It wasn't what I expected. Like, at all.
The mirror glowed, and almost looked as if Raksha was going to step out of it. Her eyes lit up the dark room.
"Sonic, this isn't right!" he roared.
I stumbled backwards. "Dad, you were fine with it a second ago," I yelled.
His eyes – man, I don't know what to say! They turned crimson, like Raksha's.
"This is an abomination against our tribe, Sonic!" he yelled, grabbing my shoulders, shaking me. "He's a leech! A bloodsucker! He'll murder you, kill you! He probably killed your mother!" he shrieked.
Now I fought back. "Dad, he went into that forest and LOOKED for mom!" I countered.
"He probably lied to you, that's it! You can't trust a Vampire!"
"Dad, I've trusted him with my LIFE for over a week! Dad, listen to me!" I screamed.
He pushed past me. "That Gerald is probably hiding, that crazy old man and his witch daughter. We should have never let them live here!" he snarled.
"They're the best things that have ever happened to this village!"
"Get out of my way, Dash," he growled, throwing me out of the way. I nearly went flying, but followed him, shrieking, asking him what he was doing. I looked back to see the mirror, Raksha's lips twisted into a cruel, bitter grin.
I ran after my dad.
…
Flames. Flames everywhere.
I couldn't believe my dad actually went through with it.
Dad sent all the troops to the Alchemist's house when the full moon was high in the sky, so that we would be at our strongest. I broke out of my room, stumbling out the door and to Shadow's home, where he was currently hiding.
They had burnt the house down.
I heard Maria coughing, and saw her blonde hair turn black with ash. She couldn't keep up with his fast run, only I could.
My people were advancing. Shadow's fangs were bared, though he refused to attack.
They had him cornered.
Their hulking bodies were nothing on Shadow, but towered over Maria's small form. She was too weak to even produce a small spell. She cried out weakly as she clung to Shadow.
"Leave us," he snarled, throwing his arm in front of her to protect Maria.
They ignored him and advanced. One held a wooden stake.
Maria's blue eyes flashed brilliantly as she leapt in front of her best friend, choking as the sharp wood pierced her side.
"Maria!"
I'd remember that piercing shriek for the rest of my life. A cry of such anguish seemed to stun even the werewolves.
Shadow burst forward, snapping the necks of the two beside the one who stabbed Maria with lightning fast speed. His fangs finally saw some action as he ripped the neck of the middle one, his tongue lashing out to catch the falling blood. He backed away when they fell, sneering.
"Ugh, I hate the blood of you mutts."
He turned around quickly when he heard Maria whimper. He ran to her, trying to hold her up. "Shadow," she protested, batting away his hands.
"Maria," He growled. "Let me help you."
Maria whispered something, and a wall of blue energy rose, separating the two. The wall pushed him back.
"Maria!" he yelled, pounding on the wall.
Maria continued to talk, ignoring him. "Please, Shadow… Your people need you. Not only the Werewolves, but the Vampires. YOU will be the one that brings them out of this war. You are the one that will untie the two nations, by creating the first hybrid. Even though your body changes, you aren't the one, you'll bring a time of rest, Shadow!" she yelled, coughing. Her lips glistened red with blood. "Shadow, please, I beg of you… protect these people, and give them a chance… a chance to be… happy!" she wheezed.
Shadow snarled and tried to rip through the magic. "Maria!" he snarled. "Are you INSANE? Let me in!"
Maria flicked her hand, the magic wrapping around Shadow. In a flash, he was gone, but still heard the fatal words: 'Sayonara, Shadow… the hedgehog…'
I walked over to Maria, the little witch girl I met a long time ago. The little girl whose hands would glow blue when she tried to do a spell to make more food for the little kids, and the little girl who tried her best to create new inventions. The little girl that would play with me, telling me of the Witch Queen, how she had beautiful long falcon wings that stretched across the starry skies, and her beautiful blue eyes and silver hair. The little girl that would get secret visits from the Queen, who would try to cure the little girl. The little girl who would give her life for others.
But now that little girl grew up. She really had given her life for her best friend. The little girl was dead.
I guess thinking about this really made me face the facts. That shimmering head of blonde hair would be six feet under the ground tomorrow, and I would never see it again.
Mari looked peaceful with her closed eyes, her blue shawl burnt over her signature blue dress. I bent down, touching her forehead.
I turned away. I couldn't look at her anymore, the guilt was crushing.
…
Shadow was on a homicidal rampage. Bodies were strewn across the forest floor.
Finally, I caught up with him.
Raksha was holding him by the shoulders, speaking soothingly. "You do not have to return to this land. You thought these people were your allies? I think not," she scoffed. "They killed the closest thing you to family. They are nothing. They are traitors, every last one of them. You can't trust a mutt," she said, venom dripping into her dull, cold voice.
Shadow nodded hesitantly. "I need to get away from here."
"Wait," I called.
Raksha stood quietly, backing away from Shadow. She circled us.
Shadow's crimson eyes flashed, a layer of gold closing over them. He glared at me . "What the hell do you want?"
That stung.
"Just to talk," I said gently. His golden eyes were really freaking me out.
"I wouldn't talk to you if you were the last person on the goddamn planet," Shadow barked, turning away. He was walking back to Raksha, who was watching the conversation smugly.
"Hey, can you at least hear me out?" I asked.
"What is there to listen to?" Shadow demanded, suddenly in my face. "You killed me. You killed my family. I wish to have nothing to do with you. You're the worst thing that has ever happened to me."
Those words kept bouncing around in my head. "Shadow…"
He had turned away from me. He stalked over to Raksha, waiting for her to move. Her eyes flickered over to me. She smiled, her pearly white fangs glistening with blood. "Goodbye, Dash," she laughed, turning away. She looked at me one last time. "You look more like a Sonic to me, anyway."
I was left alone. Dad was dead; I knew that. Mom was dead. Maria and Gerald were dead. Shadow said I was dead to him. Everybody was dead.
I walked over to the raging waters in the river, watching the black waters churn. I felt nothing, not the usual fear that clawed at me when I saw water like this.
I lifted a foot up and plunged in to the ice cold water.
(NORMAL POV)
Sonic cracked open his eyes, trying to sit up. He fell back down onto the bed he was sprawled across. "Jeez," he muttered, "Head rush."
Knuckles was staring at his hands, smiling. "These were the hands of Fighter, baby!" he roared excitedly.
Sonic nodded absently. "Yeah, and I'm the heir that got Shadow turned," he mumbled. Sonic felt numb, realizing that he was the one that Shadow despised, had centered his swirling vortex of hate around.
Knuckles gave him a sympathetic nod before going back to staring at his hands.
Raksha had released their arms, sitting comfortably in the armchair.
"How did you get me to do what you wanted?" Sonic asked suddenly, looking at her.
Her delicate lips curled up into a smirk. "It's called the seed of doubt, or influencing. I plant into your mind and let it take root. Soon all you can think about is what I said. It becomes very useful, over the years," she chuckled. Raksha looked thoughtful. "Shadow is quite good at it as well, though he doesn't use persuasion often. He doesn't have to."
Sonic looked blankly at the resting figure on the bed, watching the wounds heal with incredible speed.
"How does a Vampire's blood heal wounds?" he asked.
Raksha pursed her lips. "Not every Vampire's blood can heal. Only a select few, like Shadow. Like me. Only the ones that I have directly created."
"Why you?"
Raksha let a soft smile form on her lips. "Because I am the first. I was struck by lightning five thousand years ago, and woke up like this," she said, waving a hand over her body. I found that I would attack anyone with blood, anything. My sister was with me, and was – is – the first Witch. Though, she is ah, not the best at it," she said awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I am the Demon of Black Blood. That is what my full name means. Rakshasa= Demon."
"I still don't get how you heal," Sonic pointed out lazily, lying back on the bed to lean on Shadow. He nuzzled his sleeping partner's cheek lovingly, as if the simple caress could forgive him of the murder.
"I felt… guilty a few thousand years back. So I searched for the only man who I thought could ease my pain. Some call him the Messiah, and others call him… Jesus," she murmured, the flame in her eyes igniting.
"Holy crap, lady, how old are you?"
"I have already told you that," she muttered, her eye twitching. "Anyway, I had never met anyone so… mystical. He was beautiful, with pale skin, though healthy. Gorgeous burgundy locks fell to his shoulders, and his eyes – crystal blue. He was like no other man I had met. I bowed down to him, begging for him to help me.
"He said, 'You are not death. You have no idea what a diamond in the rough you are, Raksha.' I should let you know that I never told him my name, which baffled me. 'You have the power to heal, as well as to kill. You just never tried.' Well, it was a much longer, wiser version, but I won't go into specifics. Don't want to hurt the red one's puny little brain trying to elaborate. The point is, the next day, I used my blood to cure a young leper. I was able to save lives instead of destroy…" she said wonderingly. She grimaced.
"Life goes on though, so… Now I have returned to take the throne," she said. Raksha turned her back on the two, not even having to touch the door before she warped out of the room.
Knuckles gave a shaky look to Sonic. "She's one scary chick," he muttered.
Sonic nodded. "I know I'm Dash, but I can't remember anything else. Who was I? How did I act?"
Knuckles shrugged. "I got the hot girl."
Sonic grimaced, and said, "As helpful as that is, what does it mean to me?"
Knuckles shrugged, his red dreadlocks rolling over his shoulders. "Well, all I know is that you liked to save people before they became little snacks for the Vamps. That's about it."
Sonic sighed, jumping about three feet into the air as the door slammed open.
Rouge looked gaunt, her face as white as her hair, the skin pulled over her cheekbones. She stumbled into the room, her wings fluttering slightly. She raised her eye ridges as she stared at the two.
"What are you two doing here?" she shrieked. "The castle is under siege. The ancient Queen has returned, and she's… well, not in a good mood." Rouge winced as an explosion rocked through the castle.
"How does she do that, without even touching anything?"
"One of the many mysteries that I hope I am not the one to unravel," Rouge said dryly. Her aqua eyes flitted to Knuckles, concern on her face, as much as she tried to hide it. "What are you doing here?" she whispered frantically. She shook her head. "Actually, don't answer that. Just come," she growled, dragging him out of the room by his wrist.
It's not like he protested. That was the same lovesick face he would give Maroon eight hundred years ago.
Sonic just sat on the bed, thinking. That one little seed of doubt had made Shadow what he was today. Sonic loved him, but Shadow apparently didn't care anymore about what happened to him.
"God… I'm the Alpha," Sonic finally gasped. "I'm Dash. I'm Sonic. Who am I?" he shook his head. It was like a puzzle, and he couldn't find those last few pieces. "All I know is that I'm him. I… I killed Shadow…"
The room was spinning, and deadly quiet.
"Is that so?"
Sonic's clenched shut eyes flew open as he heard his darker adversary speak to him. He turned around, watching his crimson eyes burn.
"It seems we have much to talk about," Shadow grunted, forcing himself to sit up. He winced and put a hand weakly on his chest.
Sonic moved closer to Shadow, hesitating before resting his own gloved hand on Shadow's. The wound was right over his heart.
"I… Chaos, I'm so sorry Shadow, for everything I did! Really, I didn't mean to… I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he managed between sobs.
Shadow's features were gentle as he moved Sonic into his arms and onto his lap. He brushed away the younger hedgehog's tears, his lips on Sonic's ear.
"Why are you crying?" he asked softly.
Sonic looked up at Shadow, his ears bent down to his head, eyes watery. Shadow kissed him gently on the lips.
"I got you changed," Sonic mumbled into Shadow's lips.
Shadow pulled away, chuckling. "That was set for me the day I was created. Raksha made me; she planted the thought of me into Gerald's head. Nothing was your fault, Sonic, she just used you."
"Why did she… make you?" Sonic sniffled.
Shadow shrugged. "Maybe she wanted a new kid to boss around. Ebony was a pain in the ass, and Mephiles loved her, which had to be awkward. And the only child she ever gave birth to, she had to leave. So in a way, I was her other child. Though, she didn't react well to when I helped my father kick her off the throne. And then I got rid of him."
Sonic rested his head against Shadow's chest, trying to breathe evenly.
Then night had come.
Sonic bolted upright, howling with pain as he transformed. Claws shot out of his hands, his body growing three times the size of its normal size. His sapphire fur turned a powdery blue, soft and light. Silver fur surrounded his mitts, his muzzle turning the same blue as his coat. Fangs shot out of his gums, curving to a sharp point.
Shadow watched Sonic quietly, his own transformation not shaking him quite as much. His body grew as well, as he became so much larger. His quills remained sharp, his hands turning into claws. He wrapped his strong arms around Sonic, pulling him back down onto his lap, comforting Sonic as he screamed.
"It will be over soon," Shadow murmured. "And I don't hate you. It wasn't your fault, I just happened to overreact. Calm down, Sonic, please. I love you, more than you would ever know. Don't be upset. The transformation is almost done." Shadow laid sweet kisses on Sonic's cheek, telling him how they would spend time in the past.
Sonic had finally relaxed – well, as much as you could after you felt like you just took a shower in acid. He laid his head on Shadow's tuft of white fur, closing his eyes.
Shadow continued to stroke Sonic's quills slowly, sighing. "Are you okay now?" he asked gently.
Sonic looked up. "Why don't you hate me though? I killed your family. Even if that was Raksha who influenced me, I still said it. I told my dad…"
Shadow tilted Sonic's face up, holding his chin. He leaned in and let his lips touch the younger's. "It gets lonely after a few hundred years," he chuckled.
Sonic furrowed his brows. "But what about~"
Shadow groaned. "For the love of Chaos, Sonic, just forget about it. Don't you think I would have killed you from the very beginning if I still had that hatred pointed at you?" he asked, nuzzling Sonic's cheek.
Sonic shuddered, though returned the caress. "Well, I guess not, but, well…"
"Sonic, as long as it never happens again, I promise you that I'll love you the same way I always have." To prove his point, he kissed Sonic gently on the lips, holding him close.
"But…"
"Sonic, I knew who you were the moment you came for Cream. I could never forget you… or your emerald eyes. I don't think I've ever been happier to see you, or anyone for that matter. To know you were alive again…" he said quietly. He touched the side of Sonic's face with the outside of his hands, his knuckles barely tracing his cheek.
"You actually wanted to see me again?" Sonic mumbled.
Shadow threw his arms up, exasperated. "Sonic, I can't give you anything but my word! I promise that I love you. What else can I do?"
Sonic studied Shadow's face. His eyes traveled around Shadow's tan muzzle, his pitch black quills and the crimson streaks that ran down them. He stared at his strong arms, legs, and looked at the brilliant white tuft of fur residing on the ebony hedgehog's chest. He looked quickly Shadow's golden rings that had remained settled on his wrists and ankles for the last eight hundred years. Shadow was exactly the same, the way Sonic had remembered him. He even still had his hover skates.
Sonic tackled him to the bed, peach crashing into tan, sapphire fingers tangling in midnight black quills. Shadow was so surprised that he wasn't able to respond for a moment.
The two moved together, synchronized. Shadow placed his hands on Sonic's waist, pulling the other closer. Sonic pulled away to gasp for a breath of air. Shadow chuckled, his cold breath beating against Sonic's ear. "You still worried that I don't care for you?"
Sonic looked up and smiled, a relaxed grin settling on his features. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," he said, leaning back.
"What a sweet moment," a girl sighed.
Shadow froze, looking up as every hair stood on end.
Raksha smirked. "Nice to see you too," she chuckled.
"Why are you…"
"To tell you that the slave hold, Eternal was built again. Also, I am taking the throne back," she said, her voice turning cold and dead.
Raksha was now wearing a white t-shirt and black jeans. She leaned against the door, her skin glowing and her midnight hair swaying. Her crimson eyes glowed.
"At midnight the palace will be taken over," she snickered. Her eyes flickered to Sonic. Her lips lifted into a wicked smile, her glistening teeth curved.
"Dash… It was nice to see you again."
Her cruel laughter echoed throughout the palace as she turned and left the room.
….
TA DA! I know, you all hate me, but whatever.
Let's go over some things. First: Raksha. A five thousand year old Vampire, the first. She made Shadow into a Vampire. She's evil, and basks in the glory of bring evil. About five hundred years ago, Shadow banned her from the kingdom. She's back for revenge.
Sonic: She's a whack job… But she's also hot.
Raksha: Evil is always attractive.
Sonic: Whoa! When did you get in here?
Shadow: Roxie is sorry for not updating in what seems like forever, and sorry that the chapter sucks. But, enjoy!
BYE GUYS!