Chapter 47

A Lesson in Power

Arthur stood upright and sideways making himself as narrow of a target as possible. One hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the other hid behind his flowing cape. An aurora of power and confidence swirled around him so intensely that Zero backed away. Arthur's head was bent and his posture indicated that he found Zero as appalling as a feral beast.

"What have you done to yourself?" Arthur asked, sounding like a disappointed school master. "Is your thirst for power so great you would destroy yourself to have it?"

Zero shook his head, spraying foam and spittle in every direction. "I…stronger…" The jackal's voice was guttural and brutish. He flexed his claws and extended them further until they were nearly the length of swords.

"You will kill yourself Zero. Retreat now and perhaps your body can endure the punishment you've put it through."

Zero howled with manic laughter. "You…afraid…I…stronger."

"You reveal the delusion of the empire when you place such an emphasis on strength. Power is not everything."

The smile that spread across Zero's face was nightmare inducing. "Says the weakling that is about to die!"

Cling! Arthur drew his sword in one fluid motion. The blade was silver infused with a crimson color that shone like the light of dawn. "You are nothing but a rabid dog that Mesto has let off the leash. Putting you down is a pity, not an honor."

Sonic did not understand why Arthur was taunting Zero. The knight was strong but he had not seen how fast and strong Zero had become. Sonic tried to push himself onto his knees but his body refused to budge. Every inch of him felt bruised and broken. Have to help…must get up.

Zero threw back his head and let loose a howl that made Sonic's blood run cold. The next second he had charged at Arthur like a wild bull. Arthur stepped to his side at the last second and Zero slashed at him with his claws. The knight's sword swept up to catch the blow and the attacks met with a Clang! Arthur spun out of the impact and countered with a stab that made Zero leap backward.

The pace of combat slowed dramatically from Sonic's battle. Arthur could not match Zero's speed and did not even try to. Instead, he relied on precision strikes and subtle deft movements. Zero circled around him and pounced from every angle, but his every attempt was thrown back. Arthur's blade appeared to have a mind of its own. It moved unconsciously to parry and counter every one of Zero's attacks.

Sonic watched in awe as Zero's frustration mounted. The jackal's attacks became wilder and less focused. Arthur managed to parry one blow and strike Zero on the back with his counter. Blood sprayed into the air and Zero howled with pain. The jackal leapt away and his body became rigid. His eyes glowed a brighter shade of pink and Sonic watched as Zero's skin mended itself.

"Stop this," Arthur warned. "Your body cannot take much more. Rest or this will be your last battle no matter if you kill me or not."

Zero whined in pain. His skin had healed but the exchange had obviously exacted a heavy toll. Smoke again started emitting out of Zero's fur and Sonic felt a wave of heat rush against his face. The jackal's eyes bulged and when he opened his mouth instead of salvia, steam poured out onto the grass.

Arthur cringed away from this sudden monstrous display and Zero used that opportunity to pounce. He leapt forward and turned into a blur of slashing claws. Arthur defended himself but immediately lost ground.

"Look out!" Sonic saw Zero's tail move before Arthur did. His warning allowed the knight to brace himself before being smashed across the chest. Arthur flew a dozen feet in the air, but flipped in midair and landed gracefully on his feet. Zero howled in frustration and charged a third time. Arthur's stance changed and he squared up to his opponent. Zero's first strike targeted the knight's head but Arthur slipped under it and countered with a vicious swipe that cut a red smear across Zero's chest.

"Yes-" Sonic's triumph died before his next breath. Zero absorbed the strike and dropped his fist like a hammer on Arthur's head. There was a sickening crunch and Arthur collapsed to his knees. The knight managed to roll away from Zero's follow up, but he staggered when he rose back to his feet.

The reason for his disorientation made Sonic cringe. Zero's attack had smushed Arthur's helmet, bending the mask into the knight's face. Arthur tried to steady himself but it was clear he couldn't see clearly. Zero noticed Arthur's blindness immediately. The jackal drew back and picked up fallen pieces of the broken spyre.

"Duck!" Sonic yelled as Zero launched the projectiles forward. Arthur managed to avoid the first, but the second hit him in the shoulder. He fell backward and swung his sword blindly. Zero bounded straight ahead and then quickly darted to Arthur's right. Unable to see his foe, Arthur was caught off guard when Zero snatched him by the cape. "Argh!" Arthur screamed as Zero lifted him off the ground and smashed him into the earth.

CRUNCH! Zero was so strong that Arthur's body broke through the ground. The knight's limbs shook feebly and then stopped. Zero tossed back his shaggy head and let loose a howl of victory. Steam issued out of his mouth as he screamed.

Sonic watched in horror as Zero reached down into the hole he had buried Arthur in and pulled the knight out. Zero placed his hugely grotuouse hands around Arthur's helmet and started to press them together. Sonic felt sick as he heard soft cracks as the helmet started to break.

Fear and hatred sent waves of adaline surging through Sonic's body. He rose and for just a second, his legs were steady. Sonic had no plan, nor any hope of victory. All he knew was that he would not sit by and watch as Arthur was killed right in front of him. Sonic sprinted forward and shoulder charged right into Zero. The jackal fell backward and let go of Arthur.

All at once, Sonic's energy evaporated. That attack had cost him everything. Sonic's legs turned to jelly and he nearly toppled over. A roar of boiling rage split the night. Zero was back on his feet. Smoke was circling all around him and his eyes were shining so brightly he looked as if he might explode.

Sonic wished desperately that Zero's body would fail him before the jackal could attack again, but his wishes were in vain. Zero's shoulders heaved with rage, but the light in his eyes had dimmed slightly. Terror flooded Sonic's heart as he realized that he could not get away. Fear stole what little power he had left and Sonic did not even try to move when Zero attacked him.

The jackal tackled Sonic to the ground. His jaws were inches from Sonic's face covering his eyes and mouth with his black fur and putrid smell. Zero's body was burning so hot that the heat was making Sonic's eyes water. Clawed hands wrapped around his throat. It didn't matter, Sonic couldn't breathe anyway.

He had lost, for the second time he had been defeated. Shame mingled with Sonic's fear, paralyzing him even more. Images swirled into his mind. He saw Tail's expression of betrayal and pain as Sonic raced through the transporter without him. He saw Amy's smile flicker and fade as he once again left her behind. I left them…I left them…They had all begged him to stay. Knuckles…even Shadow…But Sonic had not listened. He had been so sure of himself.

"No.." Zero whispered. Cold fingers pressed Sonic's eyes open. Zero's menacing face leered over him. "I want you to see me. I want that to be the last thing you ever know." Sonic could not resist. Zero held him still and seeing as he choked the life out of him. The pink glow shone like a furnace in Sonic's face. In its cold depths, Sonic felt he could see a figure of man. His exaggerated limbs were spread wide and he was laughing. It was Doctor Robotnik.

WHOOOSH! A heat far greater than the one emitting from Zero soared over Sonic's head. It blasted Zero off of him and the jackal fell whimpering to the grass. Sonic sputtered and gasped for breath. He turned to his side and his jaw hit the ground. Arthur was back on his feet. Red and gold flames encircled him like twin serpents. Arthur urged them forward and the flames snapped like whips. They struck Zero and the jackal's fur ignited.

In seconds, Zero was completely encased in fire. The jackal roared and yelped, his cries of agony were so piercing, Sonic had to cover his ears. Arthur swiped the air and a blast of fire swept Zero off his feet. The jackal hit the ground and started rolling and crying. Nothing he did seemed to make the flames burn less hot. Sonic watched Zero's fur blacken and wither away. He wanted to look away but a morbid fascination would not let him. A hairless, shriveled and burning Zero tried to crawl to safety.

Arthur followed after him. Orbs of burning flame rested in his palms, ready to be thrown. At last, Zero crumbled to the ground. Arthur closed his fist and all the fires went out. Smoke and sizzling skin erupted from Zero's body. Sonic gagged and turned away. Behind him, he could hear Arthur approaching the corpse. "This is the true price of power. You were not ready to pay it."

A moment later, a hand drifted over him and Sonic took it. Arthur lifted Sonic to his knees. The knight looked just as exhausted and beaten as Sonic felt. His cape was torn and his helmet was twisted and bent. There was no sign of the magical flames Sonic had seen a moment before.

"Thank you," Arthur said quietly. "You saved my life."

"Not before you saved mine. What was that by the way? How did you control those flames?"

Arthur looked down at him. He seemed to study Sonic for a moment before suddenly he put his hands on his helmet and pulled it off. Two purple ears and long braided purple hair erupted out of the helmet. Two slitted yellow eyes blinked and turned to Sonic. A pulsing redstone glowed from the center of the cat's forehead. "There is much I have not told you. But I think now you have earned that right. I am Blaze the Cat, Princess of Soleanna."

AN: This is the end of Sonic's episode for part two. I will probably take a break before I start working on more chapters. If any of y'all have managed to weave through the confusing upload structure, I hope it was worth it. Thanks!