Shadow: Forces

Chapter 20: Approaching Light

(Art by me, one of my better ones.)

Arnec was on a cliff, a campfire in front of him. It was almost dawn, the moonlight lighting the landscape. He had let himself go, having a small mustache on his muzzle now. He heard the crunching of twigs from the forest behind him and turned his head, seeing a familiar Jackal... Arnec rolled his eyes "Infinite? Come to finish me off?"
"No. And please, call me Zero." Zero said as he stood above the wolf. His hands reached to his mask before taking it off, revealing a scar across his right eye. In fact, his eyes were two separate colors! Left was yellow, right was blue. Zero sat down by Arnec before smirking and sighing
"Dare misses you."
Arnec stayed silent. Zero's smirk grew "...But... You already knew that. But what you probably didn't know, is that she just pulled the trigger. Eggman, is dead."
Arnec's eyes narrowed. "...But the war is not over yet. Eggman still has one last trump card up his sleeve. And it just so happens that your little camp is in the perfect spot so that when the time comes... You can still help, Warwolf one..."
Arnec looked directly at him "How do you know my- what used to be my callsign?"
"You think Eggman never did any research? He scowered all over your brain. When he found out that you and Dare were in love... He remembered Maria. But it also made him even angrier with her death. Because Eggman? He blames Dare for Maria's death. They're cousins, know that? Anyways, using you, he wanted to get at Dare. I'd say that he regrets it now. Now, guess I might as well share my story. I was a mercenary, living the life of the blade similar to you. But I had my own squad. Jackal Squad was our name. For years we were blades for hire. We'd take any job, and for a while... We had been fighting a proxy war. We didn't know who was hiring us until Eggman revealed himself. My team... Didn't take too kindly to the secrecy and fought back. I meanwhile did nothing. My team then turned their backs on me. I hunted them all down like a predator. Then Eggman gave me the mask before lovingly jamming that ruby into my chest. You see, the ruby works on emotion when taking a new host. It's like a parasite. You were easy, it fed off yours. Me? It just amplified the worst part of me. I wanted to be the ultimate mercenary, and thought by working with Eggman, I could. I however, was wrong. My team meant more to me than I had even realized. The regret fueled the ruby's power, taking over my mind more and more. Then I saw you get freed... I had just enough power to shatter the damned thing. But... I need something, from you..." Zero said before standing and drawing his sword. Arnec stood up too, Zero drawing a second ruby red sword and tossing it to him.
"What are you doing?" Arnec asked as he caught it. Zero sighed "Look at us... Two opposite sides of the same coin. We both use our swords, but for differing reasons. You, honor. Me, glory. But I have none. I have nothing to be remembered for, except as a blight on the face of this world. I have spread death like a demon. You're a demon hunter, aren't you? Go ahead, do your job! I no longer have a reason to live." Zero said, spreading his arms. Arnec shook his head and the tip of the sword poked into the ground  "Zero, why not start over?" he asked, to which Zero smirked "Doesn't matter how much you wash your hands, the blood of innocents never comes off. Go, let us do this like the warriors of old! You wouldn't turn down a duel, would you? That, that would be dishonorable!"
"Zero, I would give up my honor if it would help you!"
"Would you now? That's nice to hear, but I do not accept such proposition. I did not earn that. All I want is finality."
"Zero... Please... I... I don't want to kill you!"
"But you have to. I won't do the job myself." Zero said, his fingers gliding over his sword. Arnec sighed before getting into his fighting stance "I'm sorry, Zero..."
"Don't be, I've accepted my fate. Time for you to do the same..."
Zero charged and Arnec slashed once from his upper left, going around Zero's blade and across his stomach. Zero dropped his sword and collapsed into Arnec's arms "Thank... You..."
"I... I didn't want it to be like this!" Arnec said as the Jackal looked at him. Zero weakly chuckled "Well... Sometimes we don't always get what we want..."
"I'm sorry."
"For what? Least I get the honorable death in battle, even if... Even if I don't deserve it." he said, looking at the horizon. Arnec carried him over to the log he used as a seat and sat the two down. The sun slowly began to rise, nearly blinding Zero as his hand was over his chest, his glove soaked in his own blood. "So, you're *cough* from the demon realm, right?" Zero asked weakly. "Yeah, why?"
"Just thought you'd tell me... *cough* some landmarks for when I get there. Won't be tortured too much, right?" he asked sarcastically. Arnec smiled, but in a sad way "Lucifer should be there. Tell him..." Arnec sniffled "...You're a friend of mine." Arnec said, looking at the scenery. "Why's... *wheeze* that?"
"It'll make sure you get some peace and quiet. You should get that much."
"For what?"
"Dying with honor."
"Heh... Sunrise sure is beautiful..." Zero said weakly as his eyes closed and he slumped over. Arnec shook his head as he got up.
"requiescat in pace..." he said as he put his fist across his chest. He then looked on the horizon "Something's wrong... I can feel it."