apparently i've been summoning all the dadow enthusiasts in the vicinity
especially on ao3 good heavens
With the flick of his hand, Shadow sent the untied blades flying through the air. In a whistling thunk, the twin knives had wedged themselves in the broken gate - right next to the head of the stunned blacksmith. Green eyes stared at their unpolished reflection as Shadow's voice caught in every ear.
"You may have your blades back, blacksmith." The ranger stated, turning to the dead beast once more. "They're a good pair - they deserve a hilt and a high price."
"Y yes sir." The blacksmith responded, pulling the metal objects from the wood.
Silver picked up his feet, scrambling to his mentor's side despite being unsure of what to do. The goliath laid before him, mouth open and smelling wretched as it black blood dripped from its many wounds. Nervous, Silver reached out for the Ranger's hand only to find it not there.
Shadow had drawn one of his personal blades and knelt down to the paw of the massive beast. Sounds of scraping and slicing tickled the young hedgehog's ears as the adult worked. Curious, Silver squatted down to see.
"Hold out your hands, Silver." Shadow ordered, eyes still focused on his work.
Silver obliged, cupping his paws as if to receive food while Shadow stood from his knees. Before he could look into the hard red eyes, a heavy weight hit his palms - almost prompting him to drop the object in the unexpected jolt.
"I noticed my children liked to keep objects from their first fight as a souvenir." Shadow stated, crossing his arms. " I believe this is a fitting prize."
Gold eyes shifted down towards the heavy thing, only to dilate in awe. There, clasped in his hands, was a claw from the goliath. Silver had never gotten a good look at anything crystal; from either a stalker or a goliath. Yet, in his paws, was one of the most beautiful growths he had ever seen - aside from the blue Chaos gem that Shadow had hidden from him of course. Turning it over he felt at its hard surface - scratching his juvenile nails across the sharp, glassy claw without leaving a single mark.
"I've only seen crystals like those twice." The blacksmith commented, walking up behind the young prodigy. "They're some of the toughest things in existence."
"Which is why I am impressed that your blades held up." Shadow stated. "They're sharp enough to split atoms."
Silver looked at his reflection in the dull purple color. This certainly was a beautiful thing. It cast speckles of light on the ground below, illuminating the cobbles in a soft glow. The hoglet could only stare at the refractions in awe. It was truly amazing to even hold such a thing.
"I can inscribe your initials on that." The blacksmith offered, leaning down and selecting a crystal shard from the ground. "As a…thanks for helping the village."
"Yes please!" Silver chirped, turning and handing the sharp object to the tradesman.
Smiling, the muscular bull took it in his gloves - investigating the crystal for himself. The brown eyes scanned the surface, measuring weight height and length with expertise.
"What name will be carved?" He asked, turning his head to face the young hedgehog.
"Silver!" The hoglet in question exclaimed, excited and proud to even know how to spell it. "S-I-L-V-E-R."
"Ah, an education." The bull laughed, shooting an approving glance at Shadow. "I see you're smart. Have no worries - your claw will be returned to you tomorrow evening."
"As for everyone else." Another voice spoke above the crowd. "I believe going back to bed would be in our best interest."
Noises of agreement rippled through the tired crowd as the Elder walked his way through. Stopping to place the blacksmith's barrel down, the bear faced the two out-of-towners by the fallen monster. A small nod of approval, which was reciprocated by Shadow, graced the two men as respect was finally established between them. Silver felt himself sigh. It was a relief that neither the ranger nor the Elder would be at each other's throats the whole stay.
Clunks and clatters thumped in the barrel as the villagers shifted away from the gate - returning their weapons to the blacksmith's care. As the crowd dispersed, Shadow also followed - sweeping his cloak off the ground and disappearing into the town. Before he could even ask what was going on, Silver found himself all alone outside the gate; with lights flickering off inside the village one by one. It was safe to say his adrenaline was a little too high to be going to sleep at that specific moment, but it was also true that he was tired. Silver had never had to fight before, and it was really exhausting. Balling his tiny fists, he rubbed his eyes. Perhaps he should find his way back to the dog household…
As he walked through the broken door, a slight movement caught his eye. It was almost like a snake slithering up the side of the wall…right? Silver twisted himself around, facing the interior side of the gate in fascination. Was he dreaming?
"You know…" A voice sounded. "You remind him of his failures."
Gold eyes shot to the top of the wall, spotting a figure sitting on one of the many log posts. It was…a young looking person. He sat rather casually- one foot up and one foot swinging off the other side with his long bushy tail twitching lazily against the barked wood. Squinting, Silver tried to make out the teen's face only to realize he was facing away. Who was this person?
"Huh?" Silver squeaked, holding his balled fists close to his chest.
"His mistakes." The teen responded, leaning back on his hands. "All his silly little tries to play God on this forsaken planet."
Silver felt a wave of unease wash over him. This teenager wasn't very friendly… Ugh how he wished it wasn't so difficult to see at night.
"He takes the abandoned." The figure continued, standing up and balancing on the post. "The downtrodden - the abused."
With a light skip, the teen jumped to the next log, prompting Silver to jog after him in a panicked curiosity. A laugh filled the air as the teen hopped along, stopping after a few more skips to stand straight with his striped tail curled around his black legs.
"He says it's for the betterment of the world." The figure continued, voice growing more sinister. "For the sake of the many."
Twitching, the teen tilted his head - soft round ears flicking in amusement. Silver scrambled, clawing his way up the side of the post until he reached the top. Panting, he pulled himself over the edge - sitting on the log and staring at the teen's back with morbid curiosity.
"What do you mean?" Silver asked, wondering who this person even was.
"He says it's for their sake." The teen spoke, not turning to face the young prodigy behind him. "But I know better."
A wave of nausea hit Silver as the last words entered his ears. Something wasn't right. Standing, Silver prepared for confrontation - despite how his knees shook."
"He only sees himself." The teen spat, ringed tail flicking aggressively. "He only sees a sad little hedgehog who lost… everything."
Silver assumed his stance, sensing the growing bitterness in the figure's voice.
"Every single child he finds, he begs to spare from his own fate." The figure growled, voice growing distorted. "But he cannot save them from me."
Slowly, the teen turned around. Gold eyes grew small in horror as reptilian green eyes pierced back. Paralyzed, Silver begged for his body to react as he stared at the mouthless muzzle. The undereye stripes seemed to turn horizontal as the demon's head twisted to the side. Slowly, a desaturated glove raised in point as malice and hate erupted from its very soul. Tears rolled down Silver's quivering face as he silently begged for Shadow to arrive. Knowing in his heart that this wasn't a dream and he would surely die.
"He cannot save you from this fate." Mephiles spoke. "It is your destiny to die."
"P please…" Silver hiccuped, unable to move from the pure panic and terror.
"He can try all he likes, but every single one has seen my face." The demon laughed. "Every single one has seen torture like his own immortal soul."
Crystal crept around the tips of the rounded gloves, forming claws that did not match the body they sprung from. Silver felt snot start to roll down his nose as sweat dripped from his puffed fur.
"Every child he touches turns to a mirror of himself." The demon continued. "You will know pain, Silver the hedgehog."
"Sh-shadow…" Silver hoarsely called out, unable to make any noise louder than a whisper.
"I will do to you what He has done to me…" Mephiles exhaled, trying to contain another breathy laugh. "And then I'll do worse."
Light exploded around the feet of the demon, prompting the creature to jump before the chaos attack could even reach him. Silver toppled to the side, falling off the wall as another burst hit the air. Strong arms wrapped around his body, snatching him out of the air as more energy blasted the young hedgehog's senses. Shadow, hood askew, swung Silver to the ground just in time to execute another shot- missing the creature once again. Laughter filled the air as the demon disappeared, fading in a wispy cloud of smoke. Silver could only lay on the ground as the fumes drifted away; utterly shocked and shook by the near death experience.
"Shhhhnnnngh!" Shadow hissed, punching the wooden post and sinking to his knees. "Blast it all!"
Silver dared to sit up, muscles twitching from stress and adrenaline.
"Blast it all…"
"Shadow?" Silver asked nervously reaching his hand out to the adult.
"What?!" Shadow shouted, whipping his head around with glowing red eyes.
Flinching, Silver crawled back slightly. Shadow was upset again…it seemed. At least if he ran off, the prodigy wouldn't be alone this time…
"W…what…?" Shadow asked again, noticing the terrified look on the child's face and lowering his voice.
"S shadow…" Silver bawled, curling as tight as his body allowed and letting loose a flood of tears.
The ranger only turned his head back around, slamming it into the post with a pained sigh. Gloved hands clenched. Despite being in a slough of emotions, Silver could sense the disquiet in Shadow's stance.
"That…evil…" Shadow hoarsely mumbled, voice barely audible over the sniffles and hiccups of the sobbing child. "He's doing this…to… spite me…"
Slowly standing from his knees, Shadow turned around. Seeing the melancholy adult approaching him, Silver leapt from his place on the dirt and flung himself at the ranger's knees, grasping onto the coarse black and red fur like his life depended on it. Leather clad gloves scooped the child up, bouncing him slightly to hold him comfortably against the armored shoulder.
"Shadow…" Silver hiccuped, unable to say another word as the ranger slowly pulled himself to a slow walk.
"Don't speak." Shadow spoke, voice quiet and low. "It's ok - I am here."
In a careful movement, the ranger pulled the hood back over his head. Warmth cascaded down from the thick leather in a soothing kiss - blessing Silver like a hot coal on a cold day. Gold eyes fluttered shut as Shadow's hands gently secured him in a tight grip. The slow yet powerful heartbeat of the adult calmed the hoglet's tears. Silver found himself entranced by the rhythmic beating. The strong ba-thumps loosened his tense muscles as the leather gloves slowly smoothed his wild fur and quills.
"Axon…"
Shaky breaths caught in the ivory ears as Shadow approached the dog household. Tired eyes opened as the heavy steel-toed boots thumped onto the handmade porch. Carefully, Shadow rapped his knuckles against the wooden door - earning worried movements from inside.
"Oh Hero!" The golden furred dog cried, holding out her arms to take Silver as she spotted his exhausted cargo. "I was so worried when he ran out…i.."
"It's ok…" Shadow spoke, volume low and voice monotonous. "He's been training for this…"
"A-apologies." She stammered, holding the limp child to her chest.
"Please…" Shadow asked, holding his hand out slightly at his prodigy. "Make sure he rests…I…I will be back in the morning…sometime…"
"O of course." She replied, tilting her head as the ranger turned and walked away.
Groaning, Silver held out his cyan marked paws - reaching for his mentor as he disappeared into the night.
Sorry to ruin the tone here but there is something i need to address in this Sonic community here
On this specific website there is a predator lurking in the sonic stories who lures young girls to discord
Id give names, but they keep switching accounts after each girl so they are very difficult to nail down
just thought id let the community know as a PSA to stay safe and dont trust discord invitations
SilverPsychic ... i am sorry i couldn't help you sooner