Soul Eater but it's Sonic

Chapter 24

"Sonic, don't!" Tails pleaded.

"I don't like it either, Sonic, but Tails is right. We should back out," Knuckles said.

"No, that witch wants us here. If we retreat back into the city, we'd be putting other people in danger. That Infinite guy is up to something, and I don't really care what. I just want his soul,"

Tails glanced at Shadow nervously. "Maybe you should take Knuckles with you?"

"I can't generate enough power with Knuckles to beat this thing, let alone a witch. I'm a scythe meister,"

Shadow couldn't help but feel the last sentence was pointed at him. His suspicion was confirmed when he saw Sonic hold out his hand without taking his eyes from the hogwolf. Shadow reluctantly shifted into his scythe form. The weapon fell into Sonic's hands, and a hissing came from the scythe's handle alongside a burning cold. It felt like he was gripping dry ice.

"Sonic..."

"This pain isn't bad. I barely feel a thing,"

The meister ran down the bridge leaving footprints in the shallow snow. Knuckles and Tails were far away from him by the time he was nearing the hogwolf. The monster stretched one arm into a forward strike. Sonic moved and drug his scythe's blade along the lengthened arm. The hogwolf used its other arm to unleash a heavy blow at close range. Sonic blocked the hit with his weapon, bracing his burning hands against the impact.

"It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt!"

Sonic pushed away the monster's arm, then used the opening to cut at its face. The hogwolf recoiled and jumped away. It couldn't see for now, but it would regenerate quickly. Memories from his fight with the darkling entered Sonic's mind. Shadow bleeding. That fear was returning.

"I'm not weak! I won't fail Shadow again!"

Sonic's wavelength moved into Shadow more forcefully now. He was trying to initiate a soul resonance. Shadow was mortified at the thought. They were barely resonating, and the inefficiency was taking its toll on Sonic. If they were going to pull off a soul resonance, most of the power would have to come from Shadow. He knew he didn't have that kind of strength.

"Shadow..."

Shadow felt his mind drift away from the battle. The cold snowy night was replaced by a different, more familiar darkness. He was in that room now; the one from his nightmares. The suit he was wearing, the cold tiles, it was all so familiar. Except, he wasn't asleep now. Sonic's wavelength was still connected to him, too. The battle was still going on, but the outside world felt like it was slowing. Shadow stood at the center of the room in disbelief. No sooner had the initial shock worn off than he saw Mephiles skulking around the edge of the carpet.

"Come now, Shadow. You know you can't go on like this. Let me show you the proper way,"

Shadow glared at the demon. "You want to kill him,"

"That's nonsense. I'm here because Sonic is out there right now, struggling to stay alive. You're the only one who can protect him, Shadow. You know it's true,"

Shadow couldn't look at Mephiles. His expression was a grimace wracked with conflict.

"I'm a monster,"

Mephiles continued pacing the perimeter of the carpet with deliberate and forceful movements. "You nearly died protecting Sonic and what was your reward? Being scolded and lied to! Being called a monster! And by who? The rotten grim reaper? That wretched princess?" He swiped his right hand through the air to accompany his hateful tone. "Being a monster in the eyes of scum like that isn't a bad thing. They think they're running the show. They're wrong!"