Christmas Eve eve. What a wonderful time for a fight to the death, the young hedgehog thought as he studied the dark ceiling of his make-shift room. But is Vanity still resting? He let himself drift away, finding the coyote and becoming her shadow.
She cursed before muttering to herself in her mind: "That demon said his mistress. He said he had a master before, so it has to be that pathetic hedgehog ghost I had injured from last time." The astral being clenched his fists when he heard her talking about his mother like that. Her tail swished in irratation. "Demons and their bothersome riddles! It was more amusing when it happened to someone else!" Vanity stopped to put her fingers under her nose and hum. "Then again, he said it was a gift from her. Oh, I still think I should show her what used to happen to those who make friends with creatures from hell." She couldn't help chuckling to herself as she continued walking towards the opening. The hog followed her, hoping she wasn't going to hurt the young ghost further.
As the purple figure made her way through the cemetary, weaving around tombstones and counting them, she began chanting something Silver didn't understand. Peeking into her mind, seeing what she could see, white glowing blotches faded into her vision. She's trying to find Mom! he gasped, pulling out of her mind and freezing as Vanity stopped at the tombstone, leaning in to read it.
"Miss Selene Luminia Phoenicia," she read, huffing afterwards. "That's a name mortals give to spoiled brats." She looked around, waiting for her. "Huh, not going to defend yourself, are you? You cowardly wretch. Where are you? Show yourself!"
The hedgehog didn't come. The coyote grew impatient. "This tombstone isn't acturate, is it, hedgehog? This is your maiden name. You didn't tell anyone, did you?"
She didn't appear to Vanity, but her son could spot her among the trees, shivering as the woman went on. "Or you couldn't. It's all their faults, right? Your husband's for being immortal, and your son's for traveling through time. You died because of them! He wasn't paying attention because of him! Aren't you upset?" she screamed.
"N-n..." The coyote's ears pricked at the sound, finding Selene the Hedgehog. "N-n..."
"There you are," she breathed, a devilish grin spreading across her muzzle. She approached the ghost as she stuttered.
"Y-y-you're... You're wrong!" she exclaimed, catching the coyote off guard. "You might as well blame the lamp post, and whatever it was that Shadow hit because it's just as much their fault as anyone's! I distracted him with Silver! It's my fault!"
"Blinded with love," Vanity dismissed the outburst. "You foolish girl. But I suppose that you would be better off, seeing that you being alive only brings shame to your family. Do you have any idea how displeased your parents would be if you were alive and mothered a seemingly illegitiment child after running away like that? They would hate you."
"They wouldn't show it! Why are you dead-set on killing Leaf?"
"None of you would understand!" she shrieked, scratching the moon-colored spirit, but instead of cowering the hedgehog stared at the purple being. Selene sighed and used telepathy to speak with her son.
Dove, go to sleep. You shouldn't be here. You need to rest. Leaf depends on your abilities. Go back to sleep...
Leaf was less than thrillled about fighting Vanity. Silver glanced at her, who shook, eyes wide and wet. He went over and squeezed her. "Leaf," he murmured. "I know... I know I can't promise anything..." The dam started to leak as she whimpered. "But... I can promise I'll try my best to get rid of Vanity and make sure she doesn't hurt you." The green hedgehog clung to him tighter. "Because I love you, Leaf. You're everything to me."
She bursted, soaking his shoulder with tears. The silver hedgehog let her cry; for all he knew, this might be the last time they would ever see each other. This reminded him of something from his birthday...
She kissed him with the last minute ticking down. This was her last goodbye. No words could replace a moment that had to end like this...
Mom and Dad... Their longest kiss was their last... I hope Leaf and I will share many more after today... Whether or not we're both alive. Teary-eyed, Silver quivered, then, "Leaf?"
"Y-yes?" she whimpered. He clamped his eyes shut.
"Promise me...P-pr-promise me...if I don't..."
"Don't say that!"
"If I don't..." the words were heavy on his tongue and heart, "If I don't make it-"
"No!" She hit his back.
"-that you'll move on-"
"Don't say that!" A second blow.
"-and find a nice guy to settle down with-"
"No one can replace you!" Her blows were harder and less controlled. "Silver! I love you! No one can replace you!"
"Of course I don't want you to replace me," he whimpered. "I just want you to live life, to continue... Don't miss me so much you won't share these feelings you have with me with someone else who deserves them." He saw his tear on her shoulder. "It might hurt me a little, but I'll be happy that you moved on." His voice wavered a bit but he had to be strong. "I know I'll always have a special place for you in my heart."
"Silver! I'll love you too! Forever!" The young hedgehogs pulled away and gazed into each others eyes: a lush forest's reflection sparkling on a rainy day; melting gold in a dark room. Their affectionate kisses were detailed with tears. Every kiss seemed to be denying the truth, begging this wasn't the last time they could have a moment of passion. Pleading that everything would be okay.
When the passionate burst faded they returned to squeezing each other and resting on each other's left shoulder. I will not let you die today, my Leaf he vowed. I will not. I won't let her!
"Silver," Leaf mewed, burying her head into his neck.
"Yes?" he replied. She managed to start calming down as she squeezed his mane.
"I love you. I hope... If I have to move on... That I'll never forget you."
"I hope so, too, Leaf. I love you."
"Maybe...I can grow a flower for you... And take care of it every day... And try to get it to the closest silvery color I can get it. So I'll remember."
"Do that. That's really sweet of you," he commented as his eyes grew damp again.
"I'd grow a green-colored one right by it, too. So it won't be lonely." She choked him harder. "Oh, Silver. Promise me you won't-"
"I'll try not to, I promise." They pulled away for the last time. "Let's go!"
The pair of hedgehogs were walking out of the second wall when Silver stopped to prick his ears. "Leaf."
"Yes?" she looked at his face, becoming much like his father's used to be.
"If something should go wrong, I want you to run back here," he demanded. "Don't try and help me, just run back here. As long as you get past that line of trees,"-he pointed to the edge of the clearing,-"you should be all right. Promise?"
"I promise," she clutched her leaf necklace. "Where is Vanity?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out." He reached out to where his father was, hoping Vanity had no idea what they were up to.
Shadow's vision was blurry, and panting filled the ears. There was lots of green, and the black hedgehog could hear Mephisto galloping past him.
"Let's go." They jogged to the edge of the first wall, slowing to a stop at it. The male held up his hand as he crossed it. He scanned the area, nothing visible, but he could hear a series of pants, and then a montrous roar followed by fwoooshes. Shadow came to view though. "Stay back," he warned to Leaf, who obeyed, staying within the wall. The black hedgehog was his father; his eyes weren't a single layered red and his Umbra charm dangled from his neck as he caught his breath.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he came to his heaving side. The tips of his quills were bruised, and his muzzle was cut.
"I'm fine; Mephisto's holding her off," the dark one straightened up. "Is she safe?"
Silver nodded. "But Vanity could hear her."-To the lime-green hedgehog, "Don't speak." The reply was a nod. With telepathy, she asked Is he all right?
Yes. This side of the family is known for being sturdy.
"Where's Mephiles?" the light one wondered.
"Going to help his kid, I hope," Shadow puffed. "But Mephiles' base form is only a gas, he's a bit unstable." More roars and rushes of flames sounded, and other battle sounds were audiable.
"Should we go help them?" Silver mewed. His father caught his breath and straightened, starting to turn.
"All right Silver. Be careful." They eased closer to the sounds. The sound of a Dark Chaos Lance cut through the air, and Vanity's grunts followed. Soon orange flashed before their eyes, black shapes blurred in the flames. The spiky shape looked like Mephiles.
"Enough!" she screeched, sending the Darks flying with a wave of her hand. Silver levitated unto a tree branch, fixing his gloves. Shadow flung a Chaos Spear at her, engaging. They started flinging energy at each other while Silver looked for things to throw at Vanity.
Wait, wait, wait! I don't think crushing's going to help my cause. He formed a sphere of psych energy between his hands, sending it towards the coyote. Her back was the spot of impact. She whipped around, glaring and baring her teeth.
Shadow uppercutted her while she was distracted. His son leaped down to fling her against the thickest tree in the singed clearing. Stunned, she decided to talk.
"You two... One of you is responsible for that young girl's death, right?"
"I live with two demons; like I'm gonna fall for this!" the black hedgehog spat, flinging another Spear at her shoulder. Following the example, Silver whipped another energy burst at her. She screeched, and any pain that was in her eyes was chilled to hate.
With a roar, she triggered an explosion of purple frigid waves, causing the silver one to fly back, landing in a clearing after some bounces. The hog's spine felt like a snake made out of ice was slithering along it as he recovered.
Leaf's blue-green diamonds were small. "Are you all right, Silver?" He nodded, though the rest of his body would jab him hard in the stomach for that. Idiot! Stop lying!
Wood snapping caught their attention. The tops of trees fell behind the ones in front, and a silouette scame closer. Vanity's pointed smile curled, which would make Mephiles wish he could throw up. "There you are," she uttered, the words just reaching the hedgehogs. "I've been looking all over for you."
Without any warning at all, a purple sphere hurdled towards the two, but it discentgrated before it got past the tip of Silver's boots. The coyote's grin twisted on her face. She cursed before reaching out to tap the wall. "Those - psychics."
Before any other assassination atempts could cross the lady's mind, the hog jumped up, speeding towards her. He wound his fist before slamming it against her jaw. She staggered back, and a recovered Mephisto sunk searing claws into her head. Her screams sent Silver aback. The screams were too familiar.
Every desperate breath turned into a shriek.
No... I thought...
Her legs. She couldn't feel her legs. And something sharp poked at an organ.
I got rid of you.
"Please! Let me call a hospital!"
"No! It won't be fair to him!"
Why? Silver's knees buckled. His ears couldnt fit his cousin demanding to finish her off. They were too packed with screams. Why didn't you let him?
"Selene, please. I can't just..."
"Aaaah!" The pain became sharper. It would only take two minutes to end her.
I...I can't. Silver's eyes dampened. He stood up, ready to say, "I can't kill. It doesn't matter who, I just can't."
He never got to "kill."
A sharp weapon pierced through his body, mainly the torso, but the pain was dull everywhere else. One ruby droplet drifted past his vision, filled with baby memories. They faded and Vienna and Florence replaced them. A green gleam of moonlit fur; aquamarines slowly closing.
Silver closed his eyes as if he were going to sleep, the last sigh escaping a smile.
Silver's body flopped to the ground, not a bloodstain on his lustrous fur. Mephisto gasped and seethed as he fell to the earth. How could he let this happen to his cousin? The cousin whose mother was just so perfect- and that perfection had been inherited; it lay sprawed on the floor of the forest.
Vanity's snickering was the most grotesque sound in the world to the demon. She laughed at Leaf, at her pained expression. "That's right, dear, another dead friend to add to the pile."
Mephiles flinched at that declaration. Master's and Mistress' only flesh and blood? Dead? Just as untimely. Both just as young. "Master is going to break," he murmured. "There's no more silver hedgehogs in his life, and there never will be." If only the demon had tear ducts like his spawn; he'd shed one for his friend's crushed heart.
Leaf stood frozen as a deer facing the muzzle of its hunter's gun. She quivered, then quaked as her eyes flooded. When she quaked, the ground rumbled wth her, ripping. Thick vines tore the ground and curled around the only being in the enraged girl's vision. She could struggle all she want as thorns pierced her.
Mephisto's attention was stolen by this. "Leaf?" he called among the sound of crust tearing and whiping plant snakes. "Le-"
"Do...do it now," she commanded. Puzzled, the fire demon tilted his head, which made her snap. "DO IT RIGHT NOW!"
The hedgehog spat at Vanity, magma searing her. Mephiles used every Umbra attack he could muster as the grip around the coyote snaped bones. Shadow stumbled toward the blaze, managing a giant Chaos Spear, since a Chaos Blast would take out the Darks as well. Hideous screeches scratched the hedgehogs' ears, then it was cut off with a burst of silver-white light. The earth filled back in; the vines silthering away. Nothing was left of Vanity, not even ash.
However, now that a coyote trapped by vines no longer blocked Shadow's vision, he was able to see why Leaf and the others had decided to attack her. He leaned, stumbled, then rushed to the body. Mephiles would have made numerous comparisons to the young hedgehog, but simply a slain, young, silver, pure and magnificant something would do.
Shadow's heart imploded. This wasn't a bloodstained glass-riddled sight, but yet the pain was worse. He had known of his son for fifteen years, but when the hog suspected that his father was nothing more than a liar, the little time spent with him was drowned with insults. When things were trying to be mended between them, Vanity appeared and that fell to the wayside.
The steel wall of apathy collapsed. The hedgehog's wailing was worse not to the ears, but the heart. Leaf bawled too, and Mephisto coughed as his father just quaked, but that was nothing compared to the black hedgehog's clamor. Each set hurt the rest of them, but Mephiles shuddered as he guided the others away. "It's best to leave him alone at times like this," he whispered to the sniffling ones. "Otherwise he might snap the other way."
"You mean..."-Mephisto wiped his nose as he tried to go on, " mean when Aunt died?" He nodded, explaining he prodded the mourning one too much that he yelled at him. "So we outta leave Uncle to himself." The demon patted Leaf's back as she held her face. "There, there, it's okay to cry."
"He-he said I had to move on for him," she mewed, sniffling. "to continue..." Her wails could match Shadow's for volume but his were worse. They had this fishing line that hooked the heart and tugged it, like it wasn't trying to catch you.
The trio could hear the cries echoing through the trees as they headed back to the house. The faintest of them was shut out by Mephiles. "I suppose immortality is recessive," he whispered.
Leaf whimpered in Mephisto's arms as he guided her to the table. "Is there anything I can get you?" he asked. The hedgehog glanced up, her eyes a dim forest reflection in the rain.
"Silver said..." she cooed, "I have to move on." She let the next sentence bounce in her head before testing it: "You seem very n-"
"I'm not your type," he replied, his head being yanked to the sides. "I'd probably eat your soul after you curl your tail. How's that for loyality?" He glared at a spot in the floor, made a sound resembling an empty or settling stomach, then, "Well... I can help you with finding a nice guy, I guess."
"Could I have some tissue?" The demon held them out to her after a few moments. As she blew her nose she wondered if he was bipolar, or just being sympathetic. But no new tears damped his cheeks. "Aren't you sad? Silver's..."
"Demon's feelings are like butterflies," he explained, sounding much more like a spawn of Mephiles. "They don't stay for very long, for some," he added, after having a glance at his father walking into his room and shutting it. "I felt sad for Silver, but eventually my instincts made excuses. That's the demon's trade." Leaf asked what excuse, he answered that many came across, but one of them made him smile.
The fact that mother and son would be together at last.
Sunset was just ending in the forest. Nothing stirred, except for a black hedgehog cradling a dead silvery one. Shadow's breath was still shaken by Silver's death, but his thoughts soothed him.
Selene'll take care of him. They'll both visit often...but Selene's always sighing when we meet. Must be because she's gone and can't be visiting me as often as she'd like.
With a sigh, Shadow opened his eyes. Silver had such a calm smile when he passed. His eyes were closed and shaped like his mother's when she had warm summer night sky eyes, gazing at him with trust. Now blue indigo eyes died out alongside silver fur. Her only son had died with them. He stroked the hair he wanted to tassle.
A gentle light faded beside Shadow, a pale hand resting on his. "He's just like a dove, isn't he?" a soft voice cooed. Selene leaned on him, sighing. Just her, no pale figure of their son beside her. He opened his mouth to-
"Shadow, he's not with me," she mewed before kissing the silvery forehead. A jolt struck the hedgehog. He ran his hand through the mane-
No beats under the chest yet...
A sigh left Silver's mouth as his heart started with a faint beat.