Violet Dreams

Part II

Chapter 53: Roses for the Dead

Green eyes stared in awe at the portal in front of him, watching as it spun inwards on itself and then disappeared. Glistening embers of energy fizzled off into the air, then burst into nothing in front of Sonic, leaving him to absorb and digest the events that had unfolded.

His chest rose and fell with each small breath he took to calm his shaking hands. Not even thirty seconds ago he felt happy. He had a sense of closure.

But now...

This wasn't how it was all supposed to end. Another soul wasn't meant to be lost because of him, yet here he was with the blood of another man on his hands. The idea of death had begun to feel natural, like it were nothing but an ant being crushed. He felt numb to it.

Tears slowly collected at his eyes, and as they slid past his cheeks he collapsed to the cement amidst the puddle of crimson. Suddenly the sky began to let loose a blanket of puffy, white and pure snow over the city. It was like a cloak of purity being granted from the angels.

Sonic stared quietly at the concrete, the entire world becoming mute.

"I think I found him guys," a voice echoed amidst the rainfall, followed by a group of footsteps. "Hey, Sonic! Are you okay?"

The blue hero turned to gaze at his friends, who had now surrounded him. One by one he went over their faces, trying to bring himself back to reality.

"...Tails? Amy?"

With a few blinks, the shake of his head and a pained grunt Sonic found himself ready to stand and face the ones who had always been there for him. Streams of tears cascaded down his peach muzzle like waterfalls. Exchanging confused and scared looks, the two heroes each moved around Sonic as he broke down amidst their embraces.

"No one else was supposed to die..." Sonic muttered, giving the group reassurance to part from their comrade. "Galaxy...wasn't such a bad person in the end. I've realized now...that...everyone has their own means to peace. We all want it, right? I should have been able to save him."

"Sonic..what happened?" Amy asked with a look of worry and sorrow, her heart aching for the one that she loved.

A broken yet gentle gaze fell on the pink hedgehog, and once more his lip quivered in terror and guilt. "I met someone I never would have thought I'd see again. Long ago...we were best friends, Havoc and I. I never put two and two together until I saw him. But...he's different now. I was helping Galaxy, I was going to make sure he lived! Never again do I want to take another life like I did Eggman...but, I failed. I couldn't stop my own inner conflict during my battle with Doctor Robotnik, and his blood is on my hands. Now...I chose too late to take the approach of mercy with Galaxy...and he's gone."

"Sometimes a death is necessary to keep the world in order," a voice spoke up from behind the group of friends, both gruff yet calm. "It's a vicious cycle that we're stuck with, regardless of how we perceive it."

Turning around, Sonic watched as Shadow walked up to him. Bandages had already been wrapped around the many wounds inflicted on his body, though the intense bleeding still managed to escape the white cloth.

"But...not everyone deserves to die!" Tails replied, earning an agreeing nod from Amy.

"Tails is right...when someone is truly trying to redeem themselves for their misdeeds...shouldn't they be given a second chance?" Amy added.

"The lives of others aren't in our control. One death can mean the safety of millions, and when you have to decide whether to preserve the innocent – consisting of mothers and children – or one single man with a set of deranged beliefs...that's when ones sense of justice, and even sanity, could be doubted. You're what the world considers a hero, faker. With a title like that, you're bound to end up with a little blood on your hands."

"I don't believe it should be that way, Shadow," the blue hero remarked painfully. "Why do people have to lose their lives when they're searching for mercy?"

"Karma's a bitch, isn't it?" the dark hedgehog retorted quickly, with a hint of anger lining his voice. "Lives are lost for reasons that we may never know. I deal with wondering why the innocent are lost every day. And don't you for a second think I wouldn't change it if I could!"

Grimacing Sonic stepped back in surrender once he realized where his comrade was coming from, remembering the painful loss that Shadow had to endure.

Sensing the sudden tension amidst the twin hedgehogs, Tails jumped between them trying to draw the conversation in a new direction before hell broke loose for the second time that day.

"Listen, why don't we head back to meet up with the others? I just spoke with Mighty, and he said he found someone on his way back that needs some medical attention. And by the looks of it, you do too, Sonic."

With a gentle nod, Sonic stared back at the blood staining the concrete, doing his best to rip the gruesome image from his head. Almost reluctantly, the four heroes made their way back to the rest of their allies, apart of them all thankful that the battle was over.

Unknown Location – January 10th, 2016

The tap, tap, tap of boots stepping along pristine, marble floors echoed and bounced around the elegant and shimmering hallway. On either side, spaced about ten feet apart, furiously burning torches lit the way towards a gaping doorway at the end of the corridor. It was a place most members of Dusk dare not go, for they knew it would result in death if they weren't summoned. It was a place of absolute fear and paranoia. But, one man strode towards it with such confidence one might think he owned the place, yet it was evident he didn't. Havoc whistled a cheery tune, dragging the bloodied and cold corpse of Galaxy behind him, leaving behind a thick trail of blood down the hall, which he paid no mind to. One of the common soldiers would see to it that it'd get clean.

Kicking open one of the propped open wooden doors, Havoc heaved the dead body into the center of the small circular room. Sitting at the far wall, a device lit up within the darkness, causing an array of torches to light up along the circumference of the chamber. The meagre lighting allowed Havoc to see the status of his leader, whom was suspended in a black cube. Even though the prison, or container, was made of a solid material, the exterior seemed to churn and move as though it were liquid.

"Still asleep, I see," Havoc murmured to himself, as he walked up to the crystalline door on the front face of the cube like container. "I brought Galaxy back, he went rogue and tried to kill Sonic instead of ensuring phase 1 of your plan was completed. I killed him, though...my bad."

Suddenly three rings of white energy lit up on the door panel. The outer ring had six flames sprouting off it, while the middle ring had three, and the smallest bearing an "x" through it. Within, Havoc could see a blackened coffin, held down by chains of fire. And even though the heat was so overwhelming- so intense - he was able to stand close enough to see the vague outline of a figure within it, in a deep slumber.

"I know you said not to interact with any of them until our phase was in action...but I had to see him. We were best friends, you know. He's really something now, and he's definitely going to give us a run for our money. I can see how he killed Doctor Robotnik," Havoc babbled, a smile present on his face from meeting his long lost friend. "Though, I'm wondering something...you said you'd make yourself known to all of us here within Dusk. I know you didn't mean in this form...in this cube...so, what did you mean? How are we to finish our plan if you're always sleepin'? Ugh. Days like this I wish you were a helluva lot more talkative."

With a sigh, Havoc turned back to Galaxy's dead body and begun dragging him over to the otherworldly coffin. With a deep breath, the jackal sat down and stared back into the cube. "I don't think the Twilight Key is inside him anymore...I'm pretty sure Sonic destroyed them when he sent Polaris packing."

Suddenly a panel in the floor descended, carrying the lifeless body of the former royal soldier down into the catacombs of whatever lie beneath the solitary chamber. As soon as the body had left, a sheet of light expanded across the missing floor panel, replacing it like it was never gone.

"Well, it's been a nice chat. I guess it's time to go recruit Phase 2 now...are you sure the ones on your list are suitable? I mean...they look pretty mediocre," Havoc remarked, skeptically looking down at the list in his hand.

Central City, United Federations – January 27th, 2016

A chorus of church bells, voices and sobs reverberated off the marble walls of the church. High above the chapel hung an elegant chandelier with intricate carvings of heaven and angels all across it. Below it, a stream of people moved in and out of the building, paying their respects to the lives lost in the catastrophe that had occurred just over three weeks ago.

Vector, Espio and Mighty stood solemnly in a room off the main hall, where a large portrait of their dear friend Charmy had been hung, and below it a casket filled to the brim with flowers. The trio stood quietly, each consumed with memories, regrets and thoughts of the one they lost. One by one, more of the heroes occupied the room, along with a new face.

A gentle touch grazed over Mighty's shoulder, and without even looking the young traveler wrapped his arm around the waist of Crush, pulling her in close to his body. Quiet sobs escaped the armadillo, forcing him to lean his head on the woman beside him. Without missing a beat, both Vector and Espio pulled the two into an embrace, trying to comfort not only Mighty, but themselves as well.

"He's in a better place now, you know," Knuckles commented, walking up behind them as they left their group hug.

The large hand of the Emerald Guardian rested on Vector's shoulder briefly, trying to console the croc. Happily accepting the gesture and the kind words, Vector nodded with a half smile. He knew that Knuckles was right, and that Charmy would be in a much happier place, free of all the torment of their own world.

"You're right, Knux. Maybe one day we'll see him again, yknow? The worst part of it all is not having been able to say goodbye," Vector said, earning an agreeing nod from both Mighty and Espio.

"He'll always be in our hearts," Sonic spoke up from the doorway, bringing them to turn around and face the blue hero. "His death...it wasn't in vain. In a way, as much as I hate to think about it, killing Galaxy avenged Charmy. He's looking down on us, and he's protecting us all now. Protecting you three, because I know the you were all closest and knew him better than any of us."

"Thanks, Sonic," Mighty smiled. "How are you doing? You know...with everything that happened?"

"I'm managing. There's a lot of emotions I need to work through yet, but I'm getting there," Sonic admitted, then looked towards the new addition to their make shift family – Crush. "So...I don't have to worry about any vengeance schemes from ya, do I?"

Crush chuckled with amusement, and winked. "No worries, Mighty really knocked some sense into me...honestly, he saved my life. He didn't give up on me, even when I gave up on myself."

"Well, you're one of us now. No one will be giving up on your anytime soon!" Vector remarked with a wide grin, earning a rare smile from Espio as well from the unusual cheer.

"I'm heading outside for some fresh air, I'll come back when the memorial starts, alright?" the blue hero informed, and with a hug to each of the Chaotix the hedgehog left for the front of the church.

His feet crunched into the snow, leaving behind footprints away from the doors of the chapel. The blue hero turned his emerald green eyes up into the sky, watching as the small puffs of white fluttered to the ground, blanketing the city in a white veil. Letting out a deep sigh, Sonic closed his eyes and focused on the second entity within him, eager to speak with the malicious beast that had been locked away within his psyche; especially after the precarious deal he had made.

"So...I thought you wanted to kill me?" Sonic thought, communicating towards the beast sealed away inside him.

"I changed my mind...as much as I hate being locked up inside such a weak and fragile thing as yourself," the beast paused for a moment, pondering its words. "You've amused me, boy. I'd like to see what you do once more of them come. It won't be long."

"I know it won't. But I'm prepared."

Suddenly another set of footsteps broke Sonic free from his head, forcing him to look at the two new faces that had arrived. The blue hero watched as both Shadow and Rouge walked towards him. For some reason, he felt a strange air around Shadow, but he wasn't sure for what reason...it bothered him. It made his gut stir.

"What's up, sugar?" Rouge greeted with a gentle wave. "How's everyone?"

"The Chaotix are grieving...but I think they'll be alright," Sonic replied casually, though his eyes seemed to drift towards the strange vibes radiating from Shadow. "Thought you two weren't going to make it?"

"Well, Shadow had wanted to head up to ARK as soon as we had recovered from that whole situation back in Station Square...but I coaxed him into dropping by to pay his respects. You know he's not the social type!" Rouge remarked with a sly grin, winking at her dark furred comrade.

"The ARK? What's up there, Shadow?" Sonic asked, a suspicious curiosity building up within him. "Didn't GUN lock it down after that whole fiasco with Gerald and the Biolizzard?"

"Some research, that's all. I've decided to part ways with GUN after I'd brought the President back to meet with Shrike. It shouldn't be news to you that he's up to something after he locked us up," explained Shadow, though the blue hero could tell he was withholding details.

"Did you take the same route, Rouge?" Sonic asked, turning his gaze over to the ivory bat, allowing Shadow to walk inside.

"Now, now, you know I'm a spy!" She laughed. "Shadow explained everything to me, I'm serving as an inside agent for him. I mean, he won't be able to get past GUN security on the ARK without some special authorization! Shrike sent me on a secret mission to retrieve and capture Shadow, which also promoted me to his right hand man...or woman, rather! Giving me a lot of freedom and special treatment. I know that man is up to something – he should have never been elected Supreme General after General Towers." Rouge explained, easing Sonic's mind a bit.

"Well, listen, don't let him do anything stupid, alright?" Sonic joked, smirking gently.

"There's a reason he and I are a team, sugar," Rouge replied reassuringly. "I'm heading in now, are you coming?"

"...about that," Sonic said with a hint of regret. "I'm heading out for a bit. I need to go visit my home, and do some soul searching. I met a shadow of my past after the battle with Galaxy, and I don't think I'm prepared for whatever Dusk has planned next, unless I come to terms with a lot of my own demons. And the first place to do that is the island I was born on."

Looking at the blue blur with a look of understanding, Rouge pulled the blue blur into a tight hug. After she had stepped back again, she eyed him with a hint of uncertainty. "You told Amy this time, right? You know how much she hates it when you run off like this."

"Of course."

"Good. Now...go do whatever you need to. We'll all be here waiting when you get back."

Nodding, Sonic dashed past the ivory bat but quickly slid to a stop in the snow, his scarf wrapped around his neck. Green eyes darted back to all his friends within the church, and then fell on Rouge as she stood atop of the staircase to wave at him. Waving his arm quickly, Sonic turned back around and sprinted off through the city, heading towards the one place where everything began. Where his life had taken shape, and where he had found his purpose.

It was time for him to face the shadows of his past.

FIN ~