End 3: Sad but Good Ending

Part 1

Recap from Chapter 53--

Gadget had a choice to make. He had to decide the right course of action, and who’s voice he should listen to as the voices of Sonic and Silver rang in the corners of his mind, along with his own. Who will he choose to listen to?

This other Zero was determined. Silver, Sonic, and the purple cat he didn’t know, were bound tightly in the air. Members of the Resistance banged on the outside of the barrier, trying their best to get in, but none of this could be heard; only what took place within could be caught by those bright red ears.

The Phantom Ruby laid by his feet, claiming of being able to help. He also heard both Sonic and Silver shout different things out. Not sure of who to listen to, his hearing tuned in to the one he knew better, Sonic. What was Sonic saying?

“Infinite! Leave him alone! How do we know that you’re not an illusion like the Zero that was here only moments ago?!”

An illusion? Right, the Zero with Eggman in this dimension was not real. Silver said something to Sonic but it hadn’t been caught as the gears were turning in his mind. If this Infinite is similar to the one that just disappeared, then…

Bending down, he swooped up the Phantom Ruby before readying himself for a fight. But wait… how does he use this thing?

‘Are you agreeing to be my host and user?’

‘What does that entail?’ Gadget had a mental conversation with the gem as that single eye narrowed when witnessing the wolf pick up the Ruby.

‘I will help you fight. I will basically attach you to so you have access to my powers, much like the Infinite you knew and the Infinite standing before us.’

‘Will this...hurt?’

‘No, but it might feel strange.’

Huh. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but he didn’t have many options as this Infinite would fight and possibly hurt the ones he cares for the most. He had to stop this war, permanently, and he wasn’t about to allow another fake Zero to run around and kill everyone. This needed to end, and it would be now.

‘I accept.’

‘Alright.’

A bright red light illuminated as the red gem levitated from Gadget’s hands. Coming face to face with him, red cubes began to form before surrounding him and the rock; almost like in a cocoon made up of squares. A snarl left the jackal at the display. Bringing forth the purple sword he used earlier to pierce the Doctor’s heart, he flashed to the cocoon and swiped at it.

“Gadget!” 

Sonic cried out as he feared Infinite got him. The attempt by the enemy was unsuccessful however as he was immediately pushed back when he got too close. While that took place outside of the cocoon, Gadget had no idea, but only knew that indeed, this did feel very strange. The Ruby was inside with him and split into two sections before attaching to his hands; creating a large enough hole in each glove so the duel pieces could fit nicely onto the back of each hand. This was confusing to the wolf and he wondered why the gem split into two.

“Depending on my user depends on how I attach to them,” she explained his unspoken curiosity.

“Really? Why’s that?”

“I don’t completely understand it myself… We must hurry. Infinite is about to break in.”

No other words were given as the Phantom Ruby finished attaching to his hands. A surge of energy traveled through Gadget’s veins that he’d never felt before. It was so much power, and he wasn’t sure what to think of it. There was no time to dwell on it as she finished and Infinite broke through the cocoon; making it disappear into a trail of red cubes.

“So the Phantom Gem of this dimension chose you,” the jackal snarled out as he pointed the tip of his sword towards the wolf, “Then it looks like I’ll have to defeat you and remove those rubies from your hands myself.”

Though nervous, the determination to win was stronger as Gadget created his own sword, much like the sword Infinite held, but it was red; the exact same sword Zero used in the abandoned warehouse when they dueled. He wasn’t going to stand there and be afraid or doubtful. Not anymore.

“This ends today Infinite.”

“Oh, it will. We will duel before I remove the Phantom Ruby from your body and take you back to my home; where it will only be just the two of us. All you need is me.”

Gritting his teeth, fingers tightened on the handle of his sword as Gadget rebutted, “I don’t think so.”

Phasing out, Infinite appeared immediately in front of the Rookie; but he was expecting it as he deflected a blow meant for him. Once blocked, Gadget took a swing of his own towards the fake, whom disappeared to avoid the slash that almost landed on him. Tips of both swords were pointed towards one another. 

Neither planned to hold back, and this would be the fight of Gadget’s life. He couldn’t lose this time; couldn’t afford to. Determination and courage pumped through his veins as the duo went forth once more; metal dinging and clikening as the battle resounded around them in that barrier that Infinite still kept up to keep intruders out. Though Gadget couldn’t hear the Resistance cheering him on from the outside, inside his ears caught the voice of Sonic and Silver encouraging him to press on and never give up.

Though they continued their duel for several minutes after that, Gadget could already feel himself beginning to wear down while Infinite looked unaffected by the battle despite Gadget delivering just as many hits as the jackal did. It seems their childhood still rang through in this fake Zero as did the real one; he’s still in way better shape than the wolf ever was. He had to think of a strategy fast if he’s going to defeat the Infinite in front of him…

‘Don’t let his ability to battle intimidate you.’

‘Huh?’

‘He might be better with a sword, but keep in mind the powers that I have. Don’t let that go to waste.’

The Phantom Ruby’s powers?

‘Think of what the Infinite of this dimension did. What did my power do?’

‘It made illusions.’

‘So use my power. You both are battling, yes, but no one said this had to remain strictly a duel of swords.’

!

‘That’s just what Infinite probably wants you to think, which is why he hasn’t tried any other tactics yet. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. But remember, when you start to, he may as well, so keep your guard up.’

Nodding to himself, finger began to glow red as the sword disappeared. Confusion settled on the jackal’s face as he made his sword also vanish and prepared for the worst as dark purple ignited around his gloved ebony digits. Lightening fast, Gadget rushed from his current location to right in front of Infinite in less than a second. Dark furred arms formed an X by his face and chest for protection, but the wolf only smirked as in the next second fazed to behind Infinite before landing a good kick to the face; making Zero go flying across the barriered battlefield.

No mercy was shown as he immediately disappeared and reappeared in various locations around the enemy; landing hits consisting of punches, kicks, balls of power making contact with various parts of his body, and many kinds of ammo shot out. The Infinite of another dimension never stood a chance against the power of the Phantom Ruby. Gadget didn’t really understand what the other gem on this Zero was, but he could tell very quickly it was not nearly as strong as the Ruby, and he planned to take full advantage of that.

“Woohoo! Go Gadget!” Sonic cheered as the Rookie continued the royal ass whooping he’d been dishing out.

Hearing the praise brought a tiny smile to those tan lips as he went forth and kept giving it his all. Eventually, Infinite panted roughly as he fell to his knees. A slight wave of exhaustion hit Gadget as well, but he stayed on his feet and strolled over to the weakened jackal. Those heterochromia orbs looked up at him with a face mixed with hurt, betrayal, anger, and a sliver of determination. Though it pained him to see that expression on the face of the one who looks like Zero, in the end, this wasn’t Zero. This was a fake, just like the other one.

The same sword as before appeared before the tip was pointed at Zero’s face. Shock made its way on the jackal’s muzzle, but before he could budge, red cubes were already restraining him; keeping him on his knees as he could do nothing but await the final judgement.

“This is the end Infinite. It’s over.”

“Heh,” the enemy sneered out, “What, gonna kill me like what the Doctor tried to do before I disposed of him?”

Disposed of him?... No, he couldn’t let his words distract him from his task.

“Your reign is over Infinite. You will no longer terrorize citizens of your world or mine. The fake Zero of this world is gone, so now I will get rid of the fake from Silver’s world.”

“Wait. Fake?” Zero’s eyes widened from that comment, “I’m not a fake!”

“That’s what the other Zero thought too until you proved all of us including him otherwise.” Silver shouted something but Gadget missed it as the Phantom Ruby began to glow and enlarged the size of his sword; making it more suitable for what was about to occur. A single tear ran down Gadget’s cheek as he spoke softly, “I’m sorry Zero. If we’d never separated as kids, maybe this never would have happened. Or, would it have been better if you never met me? Would you still be alive if that were the case?”

Water drops also ran down the jackal’s muzzle as he listened to the heartbroken words the wolf said. Sword tip was raised and aimed; ready to take strike.

“Zero, I love you. I’m sorry.”

The sword pierced through the gem, shattering it into a million pieces, and went right through the heart. Life left those eyes as they then closed. The red cubed binds disappeared and the lifeless body along with the broken rock parts scattered the dirt ground underneath him. Rivers ran down Gadget’s face as he realized what he just did, and the disturbing fact that this Zero’s body never disappeared like the other one did. Maybe Eggman did something different to this Zero clone that made him more stable. He didn’t know. The red sword vanished from his hand, and he walked away from the scene, from the battle, from the death that he committed to the person he loves by his own hand.

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*A few weeks later

Reconstruction efforts were put into effect as everyone available worked day and night to rebuild the world. It would take a long time before the world was back to its former glory, but things would work out for the best. After all, the world pretty much hit rock bottom, so the only direction left to go was up. That was a big motivational topic to help all Mobians remain positive as they worked tirelessly. 

It didn’t really hold the same meaning for Gadget. After the Zero body was examined, it was confirmed that the Zero from Silver’s dimension wasn’t actually a fake. Silver had tried to explain it seems, but Gadget had been so distracted, he hadn’t heard any of it. No one blamed him for what happened. For all they knew, the way that Infinite was acting could have been the real Zero’s personality. They didn’t know. Perhaps it was said as a way to comfort the poor wolf, but it did nothing for him.

Gadget helped a lot at first in the reconstruction; to the point he wasn’t getting any rest. Whenever any of his friends tried to get him to stop and take a few days off, he refused. He had to, no, needed to work. Anything to get his mind off that last day of war; the Zero he loved disappearing, finding out the real Zero was dead, an Infinite coming from another dimension and Gadget slaughtering him because he thought he was a fake too, only to find out he wasn’t…

He just couldn’t stop. It wasn’t until Sonic dragged him away that he really actually did take a break for a few days, with Sonic supervising him the whole time. Apparently after Gadget finally stopped resisting and rested those days with Sonic, everyone thought maybe it would be better if he stay with the blue blur for awhile. In all honesty, Gadget knew his friends were scared he’d do something drastic, like maybe try to kill himself. And in even more honesty, Gadget was afraid that they might be right. That was why he chose to stay with Sonic; both to give everyone else peace, and to give himself peace too.