Shadow: Forces (Cringe)

Chapter 17: And The Deed Is Done...

A/N: language warning. Not much, only a reference to a place that isn't exactly somewhere normal people like to be. Also this chapter is more... Violent. No descriptive mentions of blood or anything, but there is a death. Also it's more on the depressing side, so I just wanted to give y'all a fair warning.

"Confront Arnec, bring him home..."

Dare left the Hrimfaxi, nobody following. She went to the coordinates that Arnec had sent and was in a small destroyed village. She then saw him, standing in the middle of the village.
"Dare..." he said quielty. She sighed and looked at him "Even if your heart is trapped in that machine, I know your soul is still in there. We don't have to fight..."
Arnec took off his mask, revealing his now almost completely healed scar. His cheek was still almost completely burnt off, with his cheek fluff gone. He growled before putting his mask back on, a strange vapor coming from it and hissing as it sealed. "I am but machine, forsaken by those I fought beside." he spoke in a filtered voice. Dare sighed "Nobody forsake you, you CHOSE to stay behind, to make sure we made it!" Dare yelled. Arnec pointed one of his swords at her while sheathing the other
"And I regret ever letting you get to me."
Dare gasped "W-what!?"
"Had I never met you... I would be still alive... Not just a machine..."
"Th-this isn't the real you!" Dare yelled.
"Maybe we deceived each other. You wear my amulet, use MY sword, like it is your own. And my brother's too... You care not-"
Tears came down Dare's cheeks "Your blade and amulet called to me, I-I loved you!" She yelled. Arnec said nothing. There was a moment of almost silence, with only Dare's sniffles being heard. "You show emotion... Emotion is nothing but a weakness."
"Better than being a monster..." Dare quietly yelled, growling. "...Who even are you!? The Arnec I knew, the Arnec I LOVED and would give my life to see him smile... He would never be like you!" She yelled, Arnec's amulet glowing brightly. He scoffed "I don't know who I am... Except that I am Harikēn, the wind transformed!" Arnec yelled as blue energy circulated around him. He roared, his eyes glowing. Dare wiped her tears with her sleeve before drawing the Deimos, the blade almost glowing with cyan light.
"Then you can go straight to hell..."
(Bury the Light (Mission 20 version) - Devil May Cry 5 OST)

Both looked at each other as they walked in a circle "This fight is foolish." Arnec said as his hand gripped the handle of his sword. "Then don't hurt yourself thinking about it. I'll make sure I end it quickly... For both of our sakes..." Dare said as she leaned forward, the blade's tip pointed straight at Arnec. He drew his swords and chuckled "Time to dance." he said before dashing forward. Dare deflected the blade before jumping into the air and twirling, the blades colliding. Arnec was knocked back but recovered quickly, blocking the strike that Dare had slashed. She sheathed the Phobos and pulled out her guns, opening fire. Arnec swiftly deflected the bullets, his sword spinning in a perfect spiral. She holstered the pistols and pulled out the Deimos, swinging it back before going forwards with it. A blue arc of energy shot from it, Arnec spinning around it. That's when Dare noticed that he had a tail now, although it was made of metal and had what looked like a jagged point at the end. He chuckled "I created that move, you can't use it against me." he said as he walked towards her. She held the Deimos in her left hand and the Phobos in her right before charging at him. He rushed at her and the two forces collided, lightning coming off of both of them. "You cannot win this. It is foolish to continue fighting. I am the storm that is approaching."
"Oh yeah? I'm the hurricane that will rip you apart! I know you're in there!"
"You're right, I am. Just not the fool you were dumb enough to fall in love with."
Dare growled before knocking him back. He went for a slash and she spun, holding the Deimos behind her back and deflecting the sword. She spun, swinging the Phobos and nicking his leg. He chuckled "That supposed to hurt? You couldn't hurt me, even if you tried!"
"How about I save you instead!?"
"Save me? From what!?"
"Becoming that monster. You said you wanted to prove that just because you were pare demon, you weren't evil..."
"Lies from a deluded person. I have since been enlightened."
"You've been corrupted!" Dare yelled, lowering her guard. Arnec had no hesitation as he shot his blade forward. Suddenly Dare felt the sharp pain in her stomach and collapsed, gasping for air. Slowly, her life left her body... Arnec sheathed his sword "Just as I thought. Weak, like the rest of your resistance."
Suddenly he heard Fayn "How's it feel?"
Arnec looked and saw Fayn standing beside of Dare's body, his blue eyes looking straight into Arnec's soul. Fayn had a red glow and was slightly transparent, like a ghost... He then shook his head "How does it feel, to take the life of the only person, outside of family, who cared about you for who you are? Hmm!? She loved you, and yet you killed her... You monster..."
"What would you know about monsters?"
"That I'm looking at one..."
"Shut up."
"Oh no, you don't get to tell me to-"
"Shut up!"
Fayn growled before disappearing. Arnec smirked "Yeah, run you coward."
Suddenly Dare got up! "What the!?" Arnec yelled, grabbing his sword. Then, two wings with talons on them sprouted from Dare's back! They were a transparent red, matching her eyes. They almost looked like Arnec's demon wings... Dare then pulled out the Phobos and growled before teleporting behind him "Nothing personal, kid." Dare said as she sliced up, hacking Arnec's mask in half and exposing his right eye as he turned. Arnec growled "What kind of power is this!?" he yelled. Dare growled "Mine, brother..." Fayn yelled. Arnec growled "Using a corpse to fight your own fight!? Pff... Glad I disowned you."
"This is my own fight!" Dare yelled, the red wings of Fayn spread. Arnec chuckled maniacally "Then you can die again." Both charged at each other, with Arnec going for a jab. Dare spun around, the blade rubbing against her side as her led wing grabbed his face, slamming him into the ground. She picked up one of the swords and snapped it clean in half before tossing it. Arnec spun and got up, his last sword drawn. Both charged again, with one of the wings stopping the blade from colliding with her and her hands gripping his. Both growled before headbutting each other, doing little. Both did a back flip, using each other's feet as a launch pad. They landed and slid back. Arnec jumped up and Dare was supernaturally quick, kicking him in the stomach. He landed on his back and growled. Both looked at each other, two red eyes staring at one cyan and green. Both charged at each other once again, dust shooting up as the two went full speed. They blazed by each other, their blades bouncing off of one another. "Get... Out... Of my head!!!" Arnec yelled as he clutched his head. Dare smiled before she sheathed the sword and took out her twin pistols, making sure they were locked and loaded. She charged at him, both blasting at full auto. Arnec deflected the bullets but as Dare went to reload, Arnec grabbed his head again "No! I... Won't... Let the weakness take me over! She... Means nothing... She means... Everything..." Arnec said as he dropped the sword and stood, fighting himself now. Dare finished reloading but holstered her guns. The wings disappeared alongside her red eyes going back to blue. She heard Fayn speak weakly "Dare... I'm sorry... I couldn't hold it anymore... Seeing him like this... I can't... The ruby... Save him..." Dare nodded as she drew the Deimos, it's gold hilt shining "Don't be sorry, without you I'd be dead!" she said before rushing at Arnec. She made one last slash and hit the ruby, it shattering as the blade broke it to bits. Arnec's pupils got huge before getting small again. He fell onto the ground and breathed heavily. He then stood up...
(Galm 2 (Pixy's theme) - Ace combat zero. So I try and find the best music that fits the scenes, and this one I think really fits... Especially when the guitar kicks in...)

"Wha-where am I!?" He yelled as he violently ripped his mask from his face, smashing it with his foot. He looked at Dare, who sniffled as she realized that Arnec was... Mostly... Back to normal. He looked down and noticed his robotic body and felt his little bit of exposed teeth. He growled in disgust before punching the ground. "What... Did... He... Do to me!?" Arnec yelled before howling loudly. He kneeled on the ground and Dare heard him sniffling. "Arnec?" She asked nervously
"What!?" he asked frantically. Dare stood next to him "Are... You alright?"
"LOOK WHAT HE DID TO ME!" Arnec yelled as he looked at his cyborg body.
"Arnec... I'm sure we can fix it!" she said as the wolf clawed at his own face. Arnec sighed before sitting.
"Don't bother... Just a lost cause... All I was from the start... Keep the amulet... And the sword... Better off with you..." he said before he got up and began walking off. Dare grabbed his shoulder "Arnec, please-" he spun around "I've lost enough... I can't lose you, knowing that it was my fault. I... Saw flashes, like nightmares... Where I... Killed you... I... I don't want that to be reality..." he said quietly. Dare sighed before brushing it off, not wanting to tell him with the truth that that's EXACTLY what he had done. She looked into his eyes, feeling his pain. "Arnec... Please... For me?" She asked. He sighed as he took her hands "Dare... I'm doing this for you! If I can prevent myself from being near you, there's no way I can hurt you!" Arnec said as he rubbed her cheek. He then looked away, trying not to break down "...I'm sorry... But... What if he put a chip in me, in case I escaped? One that would override me and make me hurt you? I'm not risking that."
"But-"
"No! This is my fault! I chose to stay behind... Seeing you alive... It makes me feel like I finally did something right... But I'm done, my fight is over... You're Warwolf one now... Goodbye... I love you..." Arnec said, a tear going down his cheek as he stepped back. Dare sniffled too "I... I guess I can't convince you... But... One last kiss before you truly wipe yourself from history?" She asked, in tears. Arnec smiled a little, a smile not of happiness, but of a broken heart. He nodded and they slowly walked up to each other and put their hands on each other's cheeks. Dare nearly jumped on top of him as she made sure this kiss would be the most passionate one. Slowly it blossomed and Dare felt one of Arnec's hands rub her cheek as she tightened her grip on him, refusing to let go. Arnec didn't want to let go either, but both knew... It had to end eventually. Finally they separated their lips, both sniffling as they looked at each other. Dare's hands were around him tightly "I don't want you to go!" She yelled, burying her face in his chest. Arnec sniffled too as he stroked her hair "I'm sorry..."
"Please tell me, one day, we'll meet again?"
"Maybe one day... See you later, alligator?"
"I-in a w-while... C-crocodile..." Dare said before they gave each other one last look. Arnec slowly left, holding his hand over his heart... Dare broke down, kneeling on the ground. She then growled as her hands dug into the dirt "That's it... You may, somehow... be related to Maria, "Dr. Robotonick"... But you will never have her spark! And... And for what you've done, to me adn the rest of Mobius..." her eyes shifted from blue, to dark red, same color as Shadow's... "...I will destroy you, and everything you've ever cared about... This... This is who I am!" She yelled, howling. Her howl sounded almost like a wolf mother who'd just lost her litter from a rival pack... She was mad, a massive understatement... She quickly called Shadow. "Hey..."
"Dare, what's wrong?"
"We're going back to the Death Egg... This time... Eggman's leaving in a bodybag..."
"Dare, what's wrong!? Are, are you okay!?"
"What's wrong? My heart just got broke into a million pieces, and the only way I can put it back together is with the glue of revenge. This war needs to be over anyway. If you want, it'll just be me and you... We can tie up loose ends together..."
"Dare... What happened to Arnec!?"
"He's gone... He quit..."
"What do you mean?"
"He's not himself... Eggman... He... Took so much from him, not just his mind and body... But he lost his aura..."
"Aura?"
"When you're around someone, and you get that feeling... Like they're the one?"
"I... I think I know what you mean..."
"Yeah... Even that was taken." Dare responded, her voice cracking as she wiped the tears with her sleeve.
"It's going to be okay..."
"No... It never is!"
"Dare-"
"First Maria, then Arnec... Now I'm losing myself... Shadow?"
"What?"
"Why was I even made?"
"Wh-what?"
"All I've done is suffer my entire life, trying to do what I was told I was supposed to do! I do just as I was supposed to do and look at what happens! I can't lose much more..."
"Listen... Just come home... Please... After that, we can talk about whatever."
"Fine..." Dare mumbled. Shadow got off and Dare stood up, looking at Arnec's amulet. She clenched it tightly before she started the journey home...