Chapter 13: Crimson Fury

Tails hadn't time to register what had happened. One moment he was on his feet, eyes glanced skywards to peer at the threatening clouds, and the next he was flat on his bruised back, eyes glanced skywards to peer at the threatening eyes that glared back at him.

Tails squirmed beneath Sonic's might, but Sonic had pinned him to the ground with one muscled, veiny forearm on each shoulder, nails digging into the fabric of his shirt. He straddled Tails' waist, knees trapping him on the ground. The more Tails struggled, the tighter Sonic's grip became until Tails was screaming. He wriggled uselessly, his petrified eyes stuck in a staring contest with Sonic's rage-filled ones. White had completely been replaced by red.

"S-Sonic, p-please," Tails wheezed through the pain, his spine aching.

"You," Sonic hissed, his voice closer to that of an animal than a human. Before Sonic could say more, Amy tackled him in a blindside, a clean shoulder-to-shoulder hit that pushed Sonic off of Tails. Their bodies entwined as they rolled along the moist blades of grass. Amy jumped up with cat-like reflexes and drove her leg forward, delivering a kick into Sonic's gut as he lay on the ground.

"Amy, don't hurt him too much," Tails cried out, Sonic's wellbeing at the forefront of his mind above his own. He rushed over to check on Sonic, but was greeted with a flying elbow that caught him in the temple. Tails stumbled backwards, haze clouding his vision as he struggled for footing.

"Tails, stand back!" Amy warned as she turned to Sonic and scowled. "What the hell was that for?" Sonic didn't reply, and instead let out an animalistic grunt.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Tails asked.

"It's the emerald," Amy shouted back as she side-stepped Sonic's charge. "Before I asked him to judge me, I asked him about the curse of the red emerald. He spoke–" Amy was interrupted as she ducked the swipe of Sonic's arm. In his raged fury his attacks were heavily telegraphed and slow, but the power they packed would have knocked her flat on her back in an instance if they connected, and Amy knew it. "–of the drawback."

"The green emerald explodes with the violence of a volcano if forced by one not deemed worthy," Tails recalled. "He never did finish the red emerald's drawback. What was it?"

"You're looking at it," Amy bellowed as she held up her arms to block another swipe from Sonic. His arm collided with her brandished forearms, and the blow felt like it cracked Amy's bones as she was sent flying backwards.

"Amy!" Tails cried out, but dared not turn his back on Sonic, a sadistic smile creeping across his face. Tails' hand snuck to the hilt of his sword, ready to unsheathe it if the need arose. He held up his arm, palm outstretched and tiptoed a few steps closer to Sonic like a trainer to a dangerous animal. "Sonic, please, this isn't you. You don't want to do this."

"I do," Sonic found his voice. His deep, growling voice.

"This isn't you."

"This is what you've made us," Sonic bit back. "I know you've been conspiring behind our back."

"Conspiring?" Tails didn't understand.

"Since the day we fought Shadow you've had your eyes on the emeralds. Both of you," his gaze flicked to Amy who managed to rise on shaky legs. "You've been trying to take it away from us."

"Us?" Tails' eyes widened with fear as the depravity dawned on him.

"Sonic, this isn't you speaking. It's the emerald," Amy reasoned.

"You're just trying to tear us apart again," Sonic accused. "The fact that you snuck back here in the dead of night to see Aldar proves it. I went to your houses after fighting father, and both of you were gone. I knew where you were. We knew."

"It's not what you think," Tails tried to explain, but the more he spoke about his encounter with Aldar, the more he could see the flames dance behind Sonic's red pupils. Tendrils of red whisps thrashed around Sonic's ankles like the coils of a tattered cape in the wind.

"Sonic, please listen," Amy begged. "Aldar explained the truth. You're under a trance. The red emerald has a drastic consequence for drawing upon its power too often. It's wielder becomes corrupted, addicted to the power when drawn in by its lure. It corrupts the mind, and then completely takes over. You've been hearing it whispering to you, haven't you?"

"It tells me the truth, unlike you."

"It's not really speaking. It's in your mind. This isn't you!"

"No, this isn't me," Sonic grinned again, white teeth juxtaposing the dark night. He was like a spectre, a ghost of himself. A dark armour had encased him, blocking out the words of his friends. He wasn't in control of himself anymore, and they could both see it. Slowly, delicately, purposefully, Sonic unsheathed his blade, brandishing it more like a dagger than a sword. "This is me."

"You moron," Amy groaned. Cold hands fell to cold steel as both Amy and Tails brandished their own swords, but before either could react Sonic dashed at them. In one swipe, his steel clashed against Tails' and the pain that shook his wrist was immense. Tails' sword flew from his hand, clattering along the ground as he gripped his wrist with a wince. It was as if his bone had shattered.

With a glint in his eye, Sonic slashed at him again, but Amy darted in front defensively in the nick of time, parrying Sonic's blow. The force of his strike rocked her too, but she was strong enough to keep hold of her blade. A flurry of strikes erupted from Sonic as he sacrificed a morsel of strength to increase his speed and stamina. Amy could do nothing but dodge, her shoulder a centimetre to the left, her head an inch below strikes.

Tiredness pulled at Amy's aching muscles. The energy she had exerted simply blocking and parrying was quickly becoming too much, and before she had time to do more her mid-riff was met by the sole of Sonic's boot and she felt herself collapsing backwards to the ground, a harsh grunt escaping her.

"Amy, no!" Tails cried out. She was as defenceless as a mouse while flopping on the ground and Tails knew it. Snatching his sword, he dashed at Sonic in a last ditch, brainless effort but Sonic hardly paid him mind, swiping him aside with a strong smack of his off-hand. Tails felt himself go flying, his back crashing against the thick trunk of one of the many trees that lined the forest's edge, and slumped to the ground.

Tails could do nothing but watch in horror as Sonic descended upon Amy. He tried to will himself to his feet, but his body wouldn't listen, relinquishing itself to the pain. Haze clouded his vision.

"A-Amy," Tails stuttered, a spurt of blood erupting from his mouth in a cough. He raised his hand, silently trying to reach out to Sonic. "Please… stop," Tails begged, but Sonic was blind to his best friend's pleas as he raised his blade above his head and brought it down on Amy.

Shrieks filled the sky, mixing with the cracking lighting above.

The air was still and stuffy. Not a sound could be heard in the quiet, giant library tucked away in the east wing of the castle. Only the echoing footsteps of the old librarian who spent his days consumed in ancient texts and tomes of times long forgotten could be heard through the forest of the dead. Old, weathered books lined the thousands of rows. Ix stopped beside an unusual shelf. Stretching up on his toes, he carefully selected a rather large red book. With a blow he removed the layer of dust that was caked on the books exterior and, hooking it under his arm, retraced his steps back to his desk where Eclipse waited, shuffling from foot to foot in impatience.

"Here you are young master. As promised, after scrollling through our catalogue, I found one old book mention an emerald. Two in fact. It appears to be a manuscript written by a man decades ago. May I ask what your interest is?" the elderly librarian asked.

"Just curiosity. Thank you Ix," Eclipse accepted the book and bowed graciously before making his leave. As he exited the grand library, he heard a familiar voice call his name.

"Eclipse, where have you been?" Mina asked, walking up to greet him. "You've skipped dinner the past two nights in a row."

"Hi Mina, I, uh, I've just been busy is all," Eclipse lied, subconsciously trying to conceal the red tome between his arms but Mina noticed his caginess quickly.

"What's that you've got there, and why don't you want me to see it?" she probed.

"This old thing? It's just something to keep me entertained," Eclipse lied, but Mina was perceptive, and although she hadn't known him for long, she found it quite easy to read him.

"Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not."

"You've been avoiding me, and now you're keeping secrets? Is everything okay, Eclipse?" her hand fell to his arm, and he felt a tingle of warmth rush up his spine.

"I…" Eclipse bit his bottom lip and tried to think of a lie, but her gaze was too piercing and he melted under her touch. He found it impossible to lie to her. "I've been instructed not to distract you from your work."

"Shadow said that?" Eclipse nodded. "And you're listening to him?"

"He's my king, and my best friend," Eclipse admitted. "He and I had a bit of a fight last we spoke, but I've dwelled on it these past nights and know he isn't himself. He's in a battle with his inner demons, and he's losing. Badly."

"That doesn't excuse some of his behaviour I've been witnessing."

"Lower your voice, lest a guard overhear you critiquing him," Eclipse hissed, eyes flicking to the guards lounging at the end of the hallway. "Come with me," he grabbed her hand and led her into an empty room where they could talk more freely.

"If he's really your friend, why would you be scared to talk about him?"

"You really are knew to the castle," Eclipse joked dryly. "Normally, yes, I'd have no fears discussing him so candidly, but that was when he was just a prince. He's a king now."

"He sounds like a bully," Mina said matter-of-factly.

"He… he's not normally like this. He's normally kind and carefree, but the murder of his father has been weighing heavily on him. That and…" Eclipse trailed off.

"And what?" Mina pushed, and although Eclipse tried to resist her, he couldn't.

"And the emeralds," he sighed. Mina was intrigued, and Eclipse explained the abridged version of what transpired in the forest those short months ago. "He's obsession with the emeralds has been blinding him, I fear. I found this book, and thought maybe if I could understand it more then I could help bring my friend back. The friend I remember."

"I think that's a noble cause, Eclipse," Mina smiled. "And I appreciate that you trust me enough to tell me. Is there anything I can do?"

"I'm not sure. I–"

"Eclipse," Rouge's booming voice pierced through the conversation and stole their attentions. "What are you two doing hiding away in here? And don't lie to me."

"I… we…" Eclipse stuttered.

"We were discussing literature," Mina said. Eclipse understood her misdirect and nodded in agreement.

"I've spoken to Shadow, and he informed me that you were strictly instructed not to be distracting miss Mongoose from her important research," Rouge glowered with arms crossed. "I've been tasked to ensure you obey this command."

"Are you serious? He really doesn't trust me?"

"By my own eyes it appears he had good reason not to," Rouge flicked a judgemental glance at Mina.

"This is ridiculous," Eclipse grumbled. "I didn't think he was serious. And here I was trying to help him, but if he's insistent on continuing to be a petulant child then maybe I will leave him alone." Rouge immediately softened.

"I'm not sure that's best," she sighed. "I apologize for bursting in here hotly. I needed to put on a show for the eavesdropping guards. I am still their general and need to keep up a certain air." Eclipse raised a curious eyebrow, but said nothing more. "I didn't come here to judge, and I didn't come to enforce solitude upon you."

"Then why did you come?"

"I came to ask you for help. I need your help. Shadow needs your help."

"I was trying to help him. I still am. But every time I try it ends in a big fight between us, and then he imposes all these restrictions upon me. What am I supposed to do?"

"I'm afraid I don't have all the answers. I've simply come to ask you not to give up on him. I fear you're the only one left who might be able to help him see reason. Without you, he will be truly lost to his demons."

"She's right," Mina found her voice. "As frustrating as you might find him, I think that might be his way of trying to reach out to ask for help."

"That's a funny way of asking. Why can't he just ask, or accept my help when offered?"

"Some people are too proud to ask, and I imagine the stress of ruling an entire nation might add to that. He needs to project strength, and he might be unable to ask. But that doesn't mean we should give up. You need to help save him from this path he's finding himself slipping down."

"I…" Eclipse's eyes flicked from the book tucked beneath his armpit, to Rouge, and finally to Mina. Shadow has been nothing but brutish to her, been nothing but stubborn to Rouge, and nothing but rude to himself. Yet, both of them continue to think positively. If they haven't given up hope, then what kind of friend would Eclipse be if he did.

"Okay," Eclipse nodded, a newfound determination brimming within him. "I'll give it one more shot. One chance."

"That's all I ask," Rouge smiled. "You're a good friend to his majesty, Eclipse. He might not have much, but he is lucky to have you."

A fracture of radiant light fractured the cauldron-black sky as the deluge began. The scar of lightning remained tattooed on the heavens long after the sound had finished rupturing the eardrums of the children of Ashorus. This was no ordinary storm, and this was no ordinary night.

The silver blade missed Amy by an inch, a lock of her hair clung to its edge that was carved from her head in the attack. She crawled backwards, scrambling to snatch her sword from the mud. Leaping back to her feet, Amy slashed at Sonic, their swords colliding again and again. The life-threatened adrenaline had finally kicked in, surging through her veins similarly to the red venom surging through Sonic's. With an indomitable will, Amy stood her ground.

It wouldn't last long. Adrenaline was often like a flash in the pan, striking like a match, but burning out just as quickly. Images flashed through her mind as her blade struck Sonic's again and again. First of Tails, then Nico, then her parents and friends, and finally of Sonic – not this version of him, but the innocent, arrogant, obnoxious, brave one she knew. With each blow she felt herself slipping. Their blades clashed. And again. And again... And… again…

Her sword fell to the ground, as did she. That was it, the last of her energy. She couldn't hold on any longer. This was it. She couldn't save him. She wasn't strong enough. Aldar was right, death was coming for her, and in the form of a small red package. She just didn't think it would be this soon that she'd have to face it. As she lay on the ground awaiting the inevitable, she felt something indescribable. Confused, she glanced around and noticed a coil of green mist seep around her legs. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the green emerald lying near her, jostled from Tails' pockets in the battle.

Be cautious and clever. Aldar's words rang in her head. She wasn't cautious; she didn't have time to be. Tails had needed her. But clever, that she could be. Motionless Amy waited as Sonic readied his final blow, but just as he raised his sword to its apex and he was at his most unbalanced Amy acted. She swept her leg, colliding with the back of Sonic's legs and throwing him off balance and onto the ground. Snatching the green emerald off the ground, Amy leapt up and held it out.

"Sonic, please, hear me," she begged, shutting her eyes and focussing on the emerald. Amy fumbled around in the darkness of her mind, feeling around for something – anything – but she could only sense emptiness, just as she always did when she tried to feel the emerald. Then, slowly, she felt a strange warmth emanate from within her, spreading through her body. It was the most pure emotion she knew. Love.

Amy took the love she felt for her family, for her friends, for Sonic, and filled the emptiness she felt, and slowly the dark world was illuminated by verdant brilliance, and a gentle, sweet melody filled her ears. Amy opened her eyes and looked out at the emerald she cradled in her hand. It shone brightly, mist shooting out like the lighting above, and the fields were filled with music.

"I knew it," Tails smiled as he lay crumpled on the ground beneath the tree.

"No," Sonic growled, the sound penetrating his ear drums.

"Sonic," Amy spoke, her words soft and soothing. Something flickered behind Sonic's eyes. It was weak, but it was there. Recognition. The music was cracking the briefest hole in his armour that her words could finally squeak through.

"Sonic, please, it's me. You're scaring me. I need you to let the emerald go. I need you to hold onto me instead," Amy begged, green mist creeping up his body. "I need you to fight this. I need you!"

"Amy?" For a second, the real Sonic broke through and called out to her. But as quickly as he appeared, he vanished in a red flash as a streak of deep, dark, threatening crimson shot from the emerald and patched up the cracks Amy's music had formed. In an instant, the red light consumed him again, snuffing out the green.

"Close, but not enough," a dark voice that didn't sound at all like Sonic's growled.

"Sonic!" a voice cried out from afar, stealing Sonic's attention. He tore his gaze from Amy to look out across the field where Silver ran towards him, shadowed by Blaze and Rob O' not far behind.

"Father?" Amy took that brief moment of distraction and snatched the emerald from Sonic's grasp. As its edge detached from Sonic's skin he let out a guttural, pained groan. Without that connection, Amy pushed on the green emerald and it enveloped Sonic. The remnants of the crimson mists billowed in crazed motions, coils of whisps whipping wildly against the rain before they all exploded out in a flash of red and were sucked back into the emerald. Another agonizing bellow echoed from Sonic as all the strength was sapped from him and he collapsed to the ground, and Amy beside him.

"Amy!" Rob O' called as he rushed over to scoop his daughter's exhausted frame in his arms as she fainted.

"Dad…" she breathed shakily before her eyes lidded. Blaze hastened to Tails, who was clinging to consciousness. She combed back a messy lock of his hair as he managed a smile through his bruised and battered face.

"Sonic," Silver sighed as he studied his unconscious son. He felt for a pulse, but as Blaze turned to him his hollow face said more than words could. He couldn't find one.