Fleetway's Torment

Pain in the past

(Nobody Pov:) Infinite got closer and closer to Fleetway and Shadow. Shadow has a suspicion who infinite could be though he realizes it could be a tad bit offensive/racist/specist to assume that just because he knows of one jackal that it will be that jackal. (Shadow! You can't be profiling!)

Fleetway however is confused and he fires a laser from his eyes at Infinite who blocks it with a red energy shield though his hold over Shadow and Fleetway break.

'Ah now we can get to the real fun!' Fleetway dashes towards Infinite and goes for a high powered punch but Infinite sends a volley of red cubes at Fleetway.

Fleetway once again sees the red hue everywhere and spikes and fire traps come out from the ground trying to hurt him but do no damage.

When the hue ends, Infinite is rapidly sending projectiles at Fleetway.

Shadow is watching the fight and trying to figure out what he should do when all of a sudden, Mephiles jumps from a nearby roof and shoots a blast at Infinite which explodes and knocks him back.

'Who just signed their death warrant?' Infinite turns round and once he sees Mephiles, he gains a red aura of fury.
'You have something that does not belong to you, thief. Prepare to give it back now or-' Mephiles is interrupted by Fleetway rapidly charging into Infinite. Mephiles seems incredibly confused how Fleetway arrived. (Understandable really)

(Mephiles Pov:) How did Fleetway get here? I look to my side and see...Shadow?! I walk over to Shadow.  He is covered in cuts..and scars...and blood. Either Exe did this or Fleetway. I'll assume the former.

'Shadow...what happened to you-'
'No time to talk! We need to stop them from fighting!'
'Well that is easier said than done'

I say as Fleetway and the thief start punching each other.

'I'll deal with Infinite. You deal with Fleetway. He listened to you before, he should listen now.'
'Fair plan though...what will you do about the jackal?'
'If the jackal is who I think they are.. I know they will listen.'
'So your whole plan is based on an assumption you know them?'
'You have anything better?'
'...Fine, we will do your plan, Shadow.'

Shadow and I get closer to Fleetway and Infinite, Fleetway is going for another attack when Infinite sends a collection of red cubes at Fleetway. The cubes seem to be absorbed into Fleetway.

Before Infinite can attack Fleetway, Shadow gets in the way and does a homing kick which knocks them away.

'Fleetway...' I look at Fleet and he seems to be shaking.
'E-Exe? G-get up. Please.' Exe? Does he see Exe? He must be hallucinating.

(Fleetway Pov:) Infront of me I see Exe on the ground with his left arm and right leg cut off. His right eye is dangling out of its socket. He...he's dead?! I collapse to the ground and try to touch Exe to see if this is real and...

I can touch him. He is really dead. Tears begin to flood out my eyes as I hug his corpse.

'I'm so sorry.. I should've helped you. I shouldn't have let this happen! I...I love you Exe. I should've...should've...'

I can't get any more words out as I can't bare seeing Exe in this state.

(Mephiles Pov:) He is crying...as he believes Exe is dead? It must have been from what Infinite hit him with. I turn towards Shadow to see that him and Infinite are still having a back and forth fight. Shadow is trying to speak to Infinite but I cannot make out what he is saying.

I look back down at Fleetway and kneel down and place my hand on his shoulder.

'Fleetway, what you are seeing is not real. Just try to snap out of...it?' Fleetway hasn't reacted to a single word I've said. What else can I do? If I attack Infinite then I ruin Shadow's plan... if I do nothing then I have let Fleetway's torment continue. Perhaps... Simple comfort could help him.

I go infront of Fleetway and hug him softly while patting his back. It is...good to hug him again.

(Fleetway Pov:) I feel warm. Is it Exe's spirit? It kind of..feels like a hug. I start to try to hug back which I find is simple as it is if an invisible being really is there. Must be Exe. (Nope)

(Mephiles Pov:) He is hugging back.. so he does feel this. Good. I will keep hugging him. His cries are quieter and he is breathing less deeply. I can now hear Shadow and Infinite.

(Shadow Pov:) I dodge a blast from Infinite and throw a chaos spear at him which he avoids.

'I know that's you, Zero.'
'I'm not that weakling. I'm Infinite. I'm the opposite!' They go for a dash into me and using some of the chaos energy I got from Fleetway, I use chaos control to get out the way.

'Why do you defend him?! He is a monster! He's killed so many good people!'
'Because he tried to redeem himself! He knows what he has done is wrong.'
'Then why is he with the monster who killed you!?'

I suppose my appearance gives away that Exe ended me once.

'Exe had Fleetway at his sanctum for six months, and during those six months, he would torture Fleetway every single day and night. I was powerless to stop it-'
'And why is that?!' Infinite shoots a laser at me which I slide under and I tackle Infinite.

'He controlled my mind. I was forced to obey him untill 5 days ago where he almost killed me again and forced me to leave his sanctum as I had tried to corrupt Fleetway...'
'Well Exe seems to have done that job for you.'

Before I can say another word, Infinite punchs me in the head and while I take a moment to recover he tackles me. (Tackle Warfare over here.)

'Zero-'
'Stop calling me that!' With that reaction it must be him.
'Its the name of your true self. Don't forget that-'
'Zero was weak! I am not weak! I am Infinite!'
'Just because you couldn't defend your squad doesn't mean-'
'DON'T. MENTION. THEM!'

Zero punches me in the face so I headbutt him in retaliation and while it hurts my head to hit his mask, it still hurts Zero a bit, enough to make him move backwards a bit.

With this oppertunity, I pick up Zero, throw him at a wall and pin him against it. (Ayo)

'I know that you don't want to accept that but its true... you are Zero.'
'I am Infinite!' He activates a field of energy where everything is under a red hue, I drop him and traps appear as well as cannons. I dodge the traps and many cannon shots but one hits me and I slam into a wall.

'That is what you get for protecting the beast that ended my squad..'
'Zero-'
'I will end your life, Shadow.'
'Just fucking listen...that was before he tried to redeem himself. He knows what he's done was wrong. Can't you just let him be redeemed?'
'Redemption...is a lie.'
'Then why did the authorities let you join? You were a mercenary and a well trained thief so why would they let you join?'
'It wasn't a fucking choice! It was join them or go to prison. Those fools still look at me with fear...except..' Zero stops.

The red hue ends and he is just standing there. As I get up from the floor I try to say 'Zero-' but he then dashes away as a red blur.

'Maybe ..someone doesn't fear him?'

I look over to Mephiles who is holding an asleep Fleetway.

'He fell asleep during the hug I gave him, Shadow.'
'I see..well with Zero gone, there is nothing stopping us from getting Fleetway to safety'

(Mephiles Pov:) So all along.. Zero was a thief. The next time I see him...

'Mephiles... focus on the truth later. First think of Fleetway.'

Fleetway. I look down at the hedgehog in my arms and know where we should take him. 

'My home. He will be safe there'
I create a portal to my home and walk through before placing Fleetway on the couch. Shadow walks in the portal and it closes.

'We can tell the others but first we must make a plan for when Fleetway wakes up'
'Right'

Shadow and I ponder what to do as we look at Fleetway who is snoring softly.

End