#mightythestrongooc

“-Chaos do you know who I am?? I’m the strongest armadill-”

“Spare me the titles; yours is a feeble and fragile kind. Simply being stronger than the rest is no feat, and nothing to pride yourself in.”

“Ya wanna prove that?! Let’s you and me arm wrestle right now!” The red shelled mammal shouted a little annoyed at the being he usually thought of as a friend.

“Proving what?” Emerald eyes narrowing, “ignoring even that I am a liquid form that would pass through your limb.”

“So that means I win! Who’s weak now huh??”

This time he didn’t get a reply. At least, not a spoken one. There was a rather large growl at which the armadillo jumped a bit. Chaos hadn’t really growled at him before, mostly just sighed. But he was getting on the visitors nerves first! Mighty crossed his arms and huffed at the God, standing his ground.

For a while there was quiet, and it seemed almost as if the aquatic’s look alone were trying to communicate something. Alas whatever it was flew over the other’s head. Chaos sighed as was a custom when speaking with Mighty, though this time it was less out of frustration with him specifically. “Your petty mortal strength competition does not involve slaying the opponent.”

Mighty had no real idea how to respond to that, other than to quietly squeak and look at the God as if he were crazy.

Chaos continued, “Whatever result it yields is moot. Whether you lose, tie, or win; by your own rules or standard; you are far weaker than I, or my peers, or even Mephiles.”

This was really getting aggravating. Why was he being so mean? Sure it was known that Chaos had a bit of an inflated head but that didn’t mean he could go around making other people feel bad. Somebody oughta teach him a lesson, or at least give him a stern talking to. Seeing as Tikal wasn’t here, he took it upon himself to give the lecture. Good, he wanted to blow off some steam about this topic anyway

“Listen buddy, just because you’re a big rude God who owns a floating island doesn’t mean you get to look down on everyone-.”

“-That’s exactly what it means thou may find.”

“Shush I didn’t finish!” He scolded. Chaos begrudgingly held his metaphorical tongue. “Now you listen here and listen well; I can break this here ground by just stepping on it! I work hard to keep my strength in check so I don’t end up ruining your poor lawn and just because I don’t use it all the time doesn’t mean I can’t! -And my shell is a heck of a lot sturdier than you’d think. I can run really fast and I’m not new to fighting and..!”

There was a brief pause during which Mighty grew visibly more frustrated at something seemingly invisible. Before long he spouted out, “A-And it’s really not fair how you and Meph just write me off because I’m not some lumbering glob of goo that makes pretty colored jewelry; or some weird dark misty hedgehog thing!!”

Chaos didn’t really react. Granted it was better than him reacting poorly which was normally his go to when people he didn’t feel he knew very well acted out like such, but it didn’t help Mighty feel better either. The deity glared, though not angrily, seemingly waiting for the other to either continue on or wrap it up. Surely that wasn’t all he had to say?

“I used to adventure with Sonic too!” The armadillo sounded again feeling pressured to do so, “and if you think it’s easy to do that then you really must not know what’s up! Sonic isn’t weak at all, and neither are all morta-”

“He is no different.”

Mighty stopped dead sentence, a little shocked /anyone/ could say that. Much less Chaos after having been reportedly bested through and through by the hedgehog in question.

“-you are one and all unfit for any form of combat. This is fact, child; not my personal dismissal.”

“-HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT???” The red one cried! “Sonic the MORTAL has saved the whole world more times then-”

“He has ‘saved’ this world from another soul who belongs even farther from the field of war. What talent does that human have besides giving rise to /objects/ more capable than he is??”

Mighty stuttered. Oh how badly did he want to argue with that if only he could find a retort. Only just before he was about to voice one did Chaos interrupt and continue, “Even so; his still fall short of those created by the Nocturnes -Whom, if I may remind you, struggled in war with the very same clan I destroyed with hardly a thought.”

It was very strange sometimes, talking to Chaos. Just in general, it was strange to speak to a creature who was responsible for so many deaths. Mighty didn’t know anything about the ancient echidnas, but he had read about the station square disaster. Chaos was a jerk yes, an ass even most of the time; and while it wasn’t that he didn’t seem the type, there was just something odd about the way he brought it up. He was just so factual about it.. Sometimes it really felt like he was /proud/ of his-

“I aim not to brag, Mighty.” Oh, Never mind that last bit then, “In fact… I really don’t wish to delve into that topic at all. Your capabilities pitted against my own are not what I choose to call out at present. Indeed at this very moment I could easily lose a test of raw strength to you.” Echoed the voice of the deep, his eyes rolling at the last bit indicating heavy doubt in it.

But now the poor mortal was confused. If Chaos just said he wasn’t sure he was stronger than a mortal as is, why then was he firmly insisting that they were all so weak? The question gave voice soon enough.

“Th-then where do you get off callin me a weakling?”

The liquid immediately grew agitated, standing up and staring at his guest deadpan and stern. His tone was harsh, unforgiving. It put the poor dear on edge just listening, “Mighty…” A pause, “Here I invite you personally to do me something”

Before the armadillo could even finish stammering out a “What”, Chaos boomed out a single command.

“Slay me.”

———————————–

A silence had set in over the airborne isle. A confused, and somewhat scared silence. Mighty stood speechless in response to Chaos’ previous request, his friend-, the God of Destruction’s favor. 'Slay him’??? Why ever?! /How/ even?? Sure, no, super-strengthened armadillo wasn’t hot on the idea of just settling with letting people keep calling him weak; but no way would he go that far to prove otherwise!! He wasn’t willing to /kill/ over this!! He wasn’t willing to fight over this! He just wanted an arm wrestle-..!

“Y… Y-You’re taking this /WAY/ too seriously Chaos!!”

“I do not.” Was the God’s short retort. He offered nothing beyond that, just egging the mortal on.

“Like heck you don’t!! I said arm wrestle and you’re asking me to-”

“-Do the impossible?” Chaos cut in.

The both of their brows furrowed at each other. That wasn’t what Mighty was going to say, but clearly Chaos didn’t care. There was a point to be made here, a point Mighty was kind enough to let the other make- though he immediately regretted that decision when Chaos spoke.

“/Forgive/ me Mighty, I only presume that’s how it may seem from your perspective. See, funnily enough, if I had asked myself to kill me, then I too would deem that undoable! The fact is Gods are very, /very/ hard to do away, insomuch so that even we ourselves consider it too much of a hassle. I don’t let your precious abomination live because I like him Mighty.”

Oooooooh someone was gonna get a sluggin’ if they did not shut up soon…

And yet he still continued, “But that’s only half of my point child. See here in lies the kicker; you’ve asked me to 'arm wrestle’ as a test of might…”

Mighty’s glare narrowed frighteningly as the God let that sentence linger on;

“-but dear friend, with the same amount of effort I would put forth to win that game of yours, I could just as easily /kill/ you. In fact, the later could quite possibly be far, far easier than the former.”

The mortal was speechless. This creature, this guy was supposed to be his friend! But now he was talking about how easy it would be to kill him! What was going on?? Mighty tried to search back through his memory to see if he could find something he might have said that would have made the other this angry. It scared him to be honest, this kind of talk. It shown clearly on his face, he didn’t like this one bit!

“What? Why doth thou look so dismayed?” Chaos questioned sensing the visitors discomfort, “Merely stating facts is all. I have no intention of wounding someone… Right now anyway.”

Another silence set in, deeper and more dreadful than the last. Again it was Chaos to break it, “Do you know what my species equivalent to an 'arm wrestle’ is? Well, in truth we don’t have one, as none of us get along well enough to coordinate that. However we do have contests to determine physical superiority- and well to get to the point I’ve torn my peers limbs off. Multiple times. Arms, tendrils, eyes, jaws; whatever grotesque form they take I’ve dismembered it, watched it regenerate, then shredded it off again. That is how we 'play’ Mighty; we don’t feel pain in the same manner as your kind.”

The quiet armadillo only peeped every now and then. Just imagining it, he deduced on his own that the word 'play’ was being used as loosely as possible in this case. He’d seen how they acted around each other; there was no such thing as play between him and Mephiles- at least not from the aquatic’s perspective. Even if his dearest was just trying to mess with or pester the other, Chaos went back at him with real harmful intent. He could recognize it now, he could have felt it then if he listened, but Chaos never seemed to fight without intent to kill…

“-To say nothing of what I’ve done their minions. Feeble little things still manage to be tougher than mobians and yet even my weakest form hasn’t ever been troubled by a one. A complete and utter waste they are; you’d do well to persuade Mephiles to reclaim what meager energy he’s blown on them.”

“B-but I like Geinyah-”

“He /named/ one?? /Why/?!? Pray tell me that’s your name for it and not his own; otherwise my opinion of the creature as just fumbled and plummeted down yet another trench.”

“-Chaos” Mighty cried out, barely able to take anymore, “What’s wrong with you?? Why are you so being so harsh and awful!? I know you’re at odds with him all the time but there’s never a need to be so-… So cold to /anyone/!!”

“…” After all this time, the god froze. He lost his words. His will faltered at the sight of the mortal, yet another mortal shouting out at him. This was familiar; though the god had never really been unfortunate enough to receive this lecture from Tikal, he’d seen it in action in her life many times. This whole situation for that manner; it was starting to remind him of her last words to her late father- only in her place was Mighty… And in Pachacamac’s place was-…….

This did not make Chaos happy. Not a bit. He filled with rage, angry at no one but himself for letting this happen; for /making/ this happen.

Mighty eased up, just a tad. He sighed thinking he may have finally stopped this terrible argument. Maybe proved a point; moved up a little bit in Chaz’ eyes..?

He couldn’t be farther from the truth…

“This is why…” The aquatic mumbled

“…H-huh?”

“Your kind and mine are not the same, and here’s why: my feelings toward Mephiles are no different from those towards any of my peers. There is no love between us, no connection, no nothing! We see each other only as threats, dangers to be feared and avoided. No matter what you or that /idiot/ in charge of our damn hierarchy says we will only ever want each other out of the way!!”

A pause, then the liquids unfocused ramblings continued, “-Every other creature in the world dies as easily as the next, except for us..! WE should be the ones fighting, not you and your fragile kin! Time and time again it’s been shown what’s happens to war-craving races and yet you all still honor warriors like they do you some great service!? Did it not occur to you that they’re a regression?? That fighting moves you farther and farther and yet still farther away from the society’s you’ve built together??? Do the cities and worlds you’ve colonized mean nothing- NOTHING to you simply because if I awake in an onry I can just go knock one over???? Why do you seek to be like me? To have power? To destroy what others make?! That’s all that comes of it! Think Mighty! I created the emeralds! I had the power in me all my existence to do as the hero did. To save the world time after time after time after time! Tell me mortal; what is the very fitting title I’ve been awarded for my actions towards the only race I’ve interacted with?!”

“…..” He didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to… But he didn’t really need to now did he..?

“I, Chaos, am the Echidnian 'God of /Destruction/’.That’s it. That’s all that’s ever been achieved with my power by my own doing.”

“B-b-but What about-”

“NEVER have I been officially dubbed 'God of Water’ by anyone other than Tikal. And more over, she only did so because she desperately wants to see me as more than I am! Infected she was with this folly idea that since I didn’t strike first, I’m somehow morally superior to her power-hungry father or her war-craving family. Well she’s wrong! You’re both wrong! Power gives you nothing except the ability to ruin everything everyone holds dear. Stop wanting it. Stop trying to convince yourself you have it.”

The armadillo rubbed his forearm. This was a disaster! Nothing at all like what he wanted to happen. Once again another deity had completely shut him up and blown off his concern- this wasn’t easy to deal with, did they know? Did they even care? Would anything “below them” ever have any sort of impact on how they felt?? Mighty had thought, no; hoped that Chaos would be different. I mean he always just seemed more levelheaded back when Tikal was around, or when Chao were involved. He seemed a good listener..! But… maybe he just.. wasn’t at all like Mighty thought..?

Chaos stepped down. He turned and went back atop his Emerald where he curled up as was typical of the creature when he got this worked up. In a way it was like a pout; a young child frustratingly embracing themselves thinking that no one else in the world would provide that service for them. These episodes seemed to be happening a lot recently. That fact terrified Chaos, aware of how much he truly hated being so open with others. He didn’t want to say anything more but… Mighty seemed to him an innocent mortal put upon by monsters beyond his understanding. It wasn’t fair to just leave it like that; the poor poor soul in over its head just wanting to solve its problems.

Mighty needed… something. He needed something Chaos believed no one could provide him. Yet still he was weak, weak and in need of some manner of protection. Glancing up the guardian beheld him just as he was turning to leave; though however he’d even got here in the first place was a question. Chaos cursed himself, this wasn’t the sort of guardianship Chaos ever claimed to be any good at. But in no way was this how the deity would allow it to end.

He could not morally allow himself to be the one to have wounded the weaker creature…

The armadillo was just barely shy of exiting earshot:

“You’re the best thing that’s happened to us, did you know…?”

The red’s eyes looked up, confused and confounded. What was he on about now? Was there more belittlement to come?

“…Meeting you and her. Your other way of life, of thought and culture; your manner of co-existence with one another…” That wasn’t so much true in Tikal’s time, but it was her wish that appeared for-filled in the modern age. Perhaps that was where she was? Not a matter at present either way.

“It’s funny… how frowned upon it is to befriend mortals… As if to think we are some sort of superior breed of life- what a brilliant laugh.” Continuing, Chaos really didn’t sound like he found that funny. Just bitter. Bitter and jealous.

“Tikal and I are different. We’re just… friends… Myself a failure who lost his chance at redemption already. I don’t deserve what I have- or even had with her… but you and him, maybe there’s a chance there. Maybe he can become something more… But child; he and I? All we will ever be is a disappointment to you. We’ll always be behind, seem uncompassionate and uncaring; unyielding in our spiteful views of the world. That’s just how we’re bred. That’s just how we are…”

“So-… So if you plan on resenting us for that, then you best make like the rest of your kind and start at it right away…”

Looking down and talking mostly to himself now as he hid in the deteriorating composition of his form, back turned to face the rest of the world. Chaos finally concluded, “It is easier on everyone… If you get to hating us immediately… instead… Instead of waiting until after a bond is forged… Take it from me…”