A Shooting Star ~Kirby and Sonic crossover~

Chapter 54: Ancestor of Chaos

Disclaimer:
Do not fear, Yokai is here! Spoilers for Kirby and the Forgotten Land! If you have not played the game, please TURN BACK. If you have played the game, or simply do not care, then read at your leisure.

_________________________________

A soft wind brushed past Sonic's quills, ruffling the starry fields of Scar Kirby's memories with a gentle, whistling howl. A shallow, twinkling stream trickled its way around his feet, almost as if avoiding Sonic, noting his strong discomfort with water. The faded petals of cherry blossoms littered the surface, causing faint echoes to ripple on the water, and overhead, the bright reflection of the afternoon sun shone down through the twisted branches of star-tipped trees, casting Sonic in the presence of playful shadows.

Although Sonic had to admit that nothing could ever compare to the beauty of Green Hills, Scar Kirby's place of memories—which he assumed was the Dreamland of the past—held a tranquility of its own that Sonic had never felt before anywhere else. He drew in a deep breath and stood still, scanning the scenery as carefully as he could, catching every flash of colour with a look of interest. There were only a few places he rewarded with his time, and this was one of those rare few.

As Sonic stared at his surroundings, he couldn't help but feel a deep heave of sorrow. He'd died before, so he was familiar with the pain of having to leave your friends and your home. He'd only been lucky that he was brought back by the power of the chaos emeralds before it was too late for him to return to the living realm. But Scar Kirby...

He chose to sacrifice himself in order to defeat Zero. The mere thought of the leader of the Dark Matters and his tormentor made Sonic shiver with unease, his fur prickling. And he's willing to do it all again.

He lost his friends through death. And I... A stab of pain shot through his heart, and he found himself unable to finish the thought, overwhelmed by shame.

Ever since Amy's absence, Sonic couldn't help but wonder how he could have spared her feelings. He didn't care what he felt—he would suffer at the hands of Dark Matter again and again just to see her again. Sure, she could be obsessive sometimes, and even a little crazy, but the pink hedgehog had a fairy-like charm to her, and Sonic couldn't imagine his life without her presence. The guilt he felt yesterday had eaten him away, robbing him of his sleep, crowding his mind with dark, unwanted thoughts.

Sonic's ear twitched when he heard a sudden rustle, and turning around, he was greeted by the smiling, cheerful face of Scar Kirby. His mystical blue eyes bright and shining, it was hard to believe that Scar Kirby was not a child but an ancient god of Void. His long, jagged scar was the only feature that broke the puffball's illusion of innocence.

"Hi, Sonic!" Scar Kirby greeted him with child-like excitement, waving his paws above his head. "It's nice to see you again. How are you feeling today?"

"I've been... feeling worse lately," he confessed, his speech slightly slurred. Already, despite his consciousness currently residing in the Master Emerald, the hungry gnawing of dark energy surged through his body, and it took Sonic all of his self-control not to attack Kirby.

Scar Kirby's eyes darkened immediately. "Tell me."

Sonic swallowed, his throat tight. How could he possibly describe the bloodlust that possessed his body, that plagued his mind and emptied him of his senses? It would never be an accurate enough description. He placed a hand on his chest, gripping himself tightly. He could feel the tips of his claws, and a cold wave of horror washed over him.