Day Nineteen - Sacrifice/You'll have to go through Me
Dark Sonic feels the need to sacrifice his morals to save all those he loves. Shadow won't let him.
They've been at this for hours. Eggman would not back down no matter how much they had attempted to bring down his defenses. They were on the brink of defeat but Sonic swore he would never let that happen. Not at the cost of the lives of hundreds of civilians. No way.
He was angry beyond comprehension. Sonic was not one to get upset easily, slow to anger, and always attempted to approach things with different strategies. There was always another way.
This was the one time that he thought he was left with no other choice.
The Chaos Emeralds are who knows where scattered somewhere across the planet. Sonic only had one emerald on hand but that wasn't enough to go Super or anything. His poor planning made him even more hot-headed.
The final straw came when a child, no older than four, had been screaming from afar yet Eggman's robot was so close. He ran so fast that he quite literally broke the sound barrier. The child was only steps away from being crushed. He mentally tried to tell the kid to get up and run but the kid was only focused on crying, screaming for their mother.
He was fast and he knew it. Not many creatures on the planet have been able to get as close to his max speed. Not even Shadow despite his engineering. So why was it that he was so fast that he somehow couldn't manage to save that child?
He doesn't know how it happens, he just doesn't. It's almost laughable. Sonic ran until the robot itself lifted its leg as it hovered over the small delinquent and he slid under it but he slid too fast because his hand didn't get the chance to grab them before he found himself on the other side of the robot and a loud pound came from its leg stomping on the ground below.
At that moment, he felt numb. He didn't know what to think. How the hell did that happen? What was he thinking? Did he just- did he just let a kid- no.
No. no. no. no. no was the only word repeating in his head. He wanted so badly, so desperately to believe that the robot's foot landed in front of the kid and not on them but the second that robot lifted its leg again, he was proven otherwise.
He was breathing hard, too hard that he was having trouble getting enough air in his lungs. His mouth was agape and his eyes fixed on- on…
Eggman is a malicious man he's been fighting for years. That man's needs and evil ways have only grown with every defeat on his hands. He couldn't remember Eggman being this vile to simply crush a child with no regard of any kind. His heart was bound to burst.
He was angry, so upset. A child, a literal kid. He crapping missed him somehow, how- how could he let this happen? He let a literal life slip through his fingers. There's no justifying what he did, he could blame Eggman all he wanted, no this- this was his fault. That kid is gone because of him.
He's had this feeling before, a bubbling hot sensation filling in his heart and stomach. It only grew to the point where there was no turning back. It was uncontrollable at this point. He felt hot all over like he was on fire but not because he was ill or anything. He was angry.
Emerald eyes were completely whitened over and bright blue fur turned into a dark midnight shade. His quills rose as they would when he went Super but he was not in his Super form. No, he was in his Dark form.
He rose from where he lay, his only intention was to get his hands on Eggman. He needed to end this once in for all. How many more children must die before Eggman is finally permanently defeated? How much more do families need to suffer because he couldn't find it in himself to finish things? How much more can these civilians take from his actions? How much more?
A call at his name made him turn around and it was Shadow that stood before him, eyes wide with shock and speechless. He'd never seen Sonic like this before, this- this was a surprise.
"Sonic? W-what happened to you?" Shadow stuttered.
"I became the very person I need to be to finally end Eggman." Dark Sonic stated with no sense of emotion in his voice.
Shadow shook his head, eyes furrowing, "W-what are you talking about? Ending Eggman? Sonic, what are you planning on doing?"
Dark Sonic gave little acknowledgment to his words. He turned his head to the side with an intimidating gaze. Shadow didn't hesitate to go up to him only centimeters from his face, "Sonic I don't know what you're planning on doing but killing Eggman is not the answer and you know it."
Sonic straightens his neck, "Not anymore."
He turned around no longer listening to his rival and was about to fly away when suddenly, he was grabbed from behind and the words "Chaos Control" filled his ears.
When they reappeared, Dark Sonic and Shadow stood amid a wooded area. Night overlooming as the warm colors of the sky began to color their surroundings in preparation for dusk. They were far out of the city center, there was Eggman who was ravaging throughout the city and Sonic had quite literally had enough of these games.
"Sonic, you need to listen to me, this is not who you are, alright? I don't know what this is but I know you. You wouldn't want this."
Dark Sonic said nothing. He was a person who had very few words. His actions spoke for themselves. With that, Shadow wasn't expecting to be flung breaking through several trees and knocking them over. His back hurt terribly but that was of no concern of his right now.
"I wouldn't get involved if I were you, Shadow. You are making a huge mistake as we speak."
Shadow stood up, "Mistake? Sonic here you are about to make the biggest mistake of your life you need to listen to me-"
He doesn't finish because all of a sudden Dark Sonic jump scares him by suddenly running up to him too fast for him to realize until he is right there. His throat was in Dark Sonic's clutch and he was raised high until his feet no longer touched the ground and slammed on his back on the dirt below, the air leaving him in an instant causing him to cough.
"I am doing what I should've done all those years ago. I was a coward, letting my emotions get the best of me. I need to do what needs to be done for the sake of everyone. It needs to be done." Dark Sonic said grimly, he had no intention of changing his mind.
"Listen to me, just listen. You just said your emotions clouded your judgment in the past, isn't that what's happening now?" he feels that hand tighten around his neck and he wraps his own two hands around Sonic's.
"Your emotions are clouding your judgment. You don't feel this way. You don't want to kill him. Listen to your heart Sonic, please! Don't listen to your head, I'm asking this one time please believe me. This is not the answer," Shadow tries.
Dark Sonic doesn't move or say anything further. By how his face twists he seems conflicted. He knew a million thoughts were probably swirling around his head right now but he could only hope that there was at least a midget of realization in there that Sonic could pick up that said that Shadow was right.
Dark Sonic's arm began to shake and his face screwed in an uncomfortable anguish. His lips quivered and he wanted so badly to keep this form but he couldn't. His heart was telling him otherwise.
"I killed a kid. I killed him. I let him die, I let him die Shadow, I- I-"
Dark Sonic reverted to his original self, white eyes returned to their emerald green irises. The dark color on his fur is slowly dissipating but still clinging on. The aura that surrounded him leaves him and he lets go of Shadow as he stands to his feet and paces from afar.
Sonic's breathing is heavy, "I let him die. I killed him. I thought I had to do what had to be done. It was the only-"
Sonic too isn't given the chance to finish because Shadow only brings him into his arms in a crushing hug. It wasn't expected but not unwelcome. His hands find Shadow's shoulder blades; he rests them there as he sobs into his shoulder. He doesn't care about what's happening back in the city but all he knows is he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life and, Chaos, Shadow by some miracle managed to break him out of that trance.
"I'm sorry, I am so, so sorry," Sonic muttered.
Shadow petted at Sonic's quills unconsciously, "Chaos, Sonic I know. Gods I know."
Sonic doesn't stop crying in his arms and he's seeping to the ground bringing Shadow down with him.
They sit there until finally it becomes dark. The sounds of crickets are out and the sounds of heavy machinery have since ceased.
He would need to speak to Sonic about this alternate form at a later date but for right now, this was the most important thing he needed to do right now. Ensuring this hero was taken care of.
Second post of the day. I feel like something's off about me, my heart I usually can't feel or hear it but it is just loud when I try to sleep and I feel like it's hitting against my chest. My breaths are shallow, I don't know it could be nothing and I swear it's not anxiety or nothing. I just don't want to go to the doctor's and it ends up being nothing and then it'll be a waste of time. ;-;
