Sonic the Hedgehog: The Phantasy of Archangelus

Paradigm Twenty-Four - The Key to Love Is Ever Fleeting

BESAID ISLAND - NEAR BESAID VILLAGE - Mere Moments after Twilight…

A strong birdlike call cawed, and a fairly large birdlike creature landed safely on a dirt pathway. It was strangely dragonlike as well, with its smooth wings and scaly-looking long tail. The sharp fiery tufts were proven to be soft after Yuna hopped down from its back and ruffled them playfully. The creature tweeted sweetly. It looked like it was nuzzling the side of Yuna's neck too.

Sonic scratched the back of his head. But shrugged off the puzzlement soon after, smirking a little.

"Thank you again, Aerial Aeon, Valefor. I am in your debt. You may now return to the Temple." Yuna bowed.

The Aeon bowed in deep return. Valefor looked like it was "curtsying" as Yuna waved her Summoner staff over its head. And the Aeon began to disassemble into magical gleaming pyreflies that twirled over the dirt path trailing downward next to her and Sonic.

Sonic blinked a little. He looked up at Yuna's new outfit. It looked nothing like the one she'd worn when he rescued her for the first time: The gown's bodice exposed her shoulders, collarbone, and belly in an interesting cross shape. The rippling bell sleeves fell from her upper arms just over her wrists. The hemlines along her sleeves, sashes, and ankle-length skirt looked delicate and downy, like that of feathers. A rippling sash cascaded behind each of her shoulders, as well as the overskirt that draped over her hips. Yevon Script in roseate pastels embellished the sashes beautifully; Sonic was sure they meant something, even though he couldn't read what they said. The pearlescent disk in the middle of her chest was enormous and its milky quality swirled mystically.

The woven fabric holding her long ponytail together was still its hue of cerise. Silky lace trailed along her hands and thighs, and the netting was anchored by heeled bootees and downy wristlets. The same silky lace thatched around her neck, forming a pretty collar for the pearl disk.

The whole ensemble impressed Sonic. Enough for him to ask, "Is that your Summoner outfit, Yuna?" pointing at the dress. "'Cause it sure doesn't look like it."

Yuna blinked and examined the gown herself. She chuckled shyly. "Well, it's one of them, anyway."

Sonic flinched back a little. "Gehh…? How many do you have?"

Yuna had a sweat drop trailing down her jaw. "Heh, too many, thanks to my cousin, Rikku." She tried laughing it off, thinking back to a point in time where Rikku was flailing around her dressing room; she had been trying to decide on which gown Yuna should wear. In Yuna's stead.

Sonic saw the shy embarrassment in her smile. He smirked somberly.

"Nice smile…Lady Yuna."

Yuna's heterochromous gaze glanced at Sonic with a tad of whimsical surprise in them. Her smile broadened as another light chuckle played out. She saw the thumbs up he was giving her, along with his cool boyish wink.

She nodded to him. "Thanks."

Further down the path, the caws of the Besaid wilderness beckoned the settling evening. The torches lit along the path indicated civilization, but the Summoner and the blue newcomer were a ways away from it. There were strangely modern relics lying about, and massive mechanical structures littered the island throughout. So when Sonic asked about it, Yuna explained that their deteriorating presence resulted from what was left of a war that raged a thousand years ago. Surprised by such a hefty number of years, Sonic barraged Yuna with more and more questions, much to Yuna's delight.

Their walk proved short as Yuna and Sonic noticed how close they were to the island village. The colors on the village walls were not so easily perceived due to the darkness. But Yuna was able to identify it.

"This is Besaid Village, Sonic," Yuna said proudly. "This is where I lived for a while, sometime after my father passed away…and it's the only village on the island."

"Wow," Sonic sighed, tempted to creep through the open gateway. "Nice. Looks cozy."

The bonfire in the middle of the village square made it look that way. There were crowds of people moving around it as well. It looked like some kind of party was going on.

Sonic saw the trays of beverages and surfboard-shaped slabs of colorful foods. His eyes sparkled wishfully. 'And food does not sound bad right now, either…!'

"Welcome home, Princess!"

Sonic snapped out of his famishment and looked up. The first thing he saw a bright coppery coif wrapped by a cool blue headband. The manly, tanned face underneath made him blink a little.

Yuna giggled cutely. "Hey, Wakka." She trotted over to him and hugged him tightly.

Soon into the embrace, the entire congregation cheered Yuna's name and whistled, dancing and clapping. They were praising her return. Wakka even lifted Yuna up and spun her around, apparently very excited to see her. She laughed playfully.

And Sonic was a bit confused. "Huh?"

Wakka placed Yuna back on her feet and helped her dust herself off. "Gah, we've been missing you so much! Looks like you had one heck of a trek, ya?" Wakka grinned, his arms akimbo. "Well, you're more than welcome to the yummies we've got here! Eat up, Princess!" He heard Yuna giggle again when he waved her over. As she headed toward the happy bonfire, he noticed Sonic still standing at the gateway. "You're welcome to eat too, little guy! C'mon!"

Sonic pointed at himself. "Is it really okay?"

"Sure is!" Wakka snickered through his grin and wink. He waved the hedgehog over. "Better come and get it before it's all gone, ya?"

The tall, strangely dressed man had the warmest and widest smile Sonic had ever seen.

"Did Valefor make it back to the Temple all right?"

Yuna and another woman in a long black dress were sitting off from all the excitement. Her dress and that of the other woman's almost totally contrasted each other, showing their difference in personality, perhaps.

As Sonic could only observe from afar. He snagged a bite from the kebab of meat and blinked at the two women.

"Hmph. Yes, she made it back just fine," the other woman nodded to her. Apparently, the strange birdlike Aeon that ferried Yuna and Sonic over from Kilika was female. "Judging by the giddy trail her pyreflies made, I'd say she was happy to see you. She adores you, you know." She huffed a pleasant chuckle.

"Yes, she does, and I like that about her." Yuna smiled at her company. "Much like Sonic does…you think?"

The other woman glanced past Yuna's shoulder and saw Wakka chatting it up with the strange blue creature that had arrived with the Summoner. "So that little one's name…is Sonic?"

"Yes," Yuna nodded.

"I love how Wakka and I can think on the same wavelength." She shook her head, so that her beaded hair and chopsticks clacked and swayed. "It's obvious the little one likes you…on a completely different level than Valefor does."

Yuna flinched a little in her skin. A sweat drop bolted down her jawline. "Wh-What do you mean, Lulu?"

Lulu was being brutally honest. "He's very much in love with you, Yuna."

"Ah!" Yuna gasped, jumping a little. A hand flew over her mouth. She looked away. "Umm…well, I didn't want to think of it that way…!"

"Why didn't you?"

Yuna hesitated. A despondent sigh followed. Her eyes were getting misty. "I…didn't want to because…I didn't want to hurt his feelings, Lulu."

"But ignoring his feelings is worse than declining them, Milady."

Yuna's eyes glanced back over at the older woman. "It sounds strange to hear you address me as 'Milady,' Lulu." She was trying to break the conversation's iciness.

Lulu paused for a moment. "Agreed, it does," she said, showing a tiny sad smile, in response. But she refocused and reshaped the ice in one breath: "But you're trying to bob and weave around the subject, aren't you, Rikku?" A cynical smirk played across Lulu's lips.

Yuna made a bit of a pouting face, bubbling her cheek and huffing childishly.

"You have to tell him, Yuna," Lulu insisted.

Both she and Yuna looked back over at the celebration, seeing some of the villagers dancing and bopping to the beat of the drums and tweets of the flutes. The bonfire was still blazing, so the two women could see Wakka and Sonic grooving to the beat. Wakka encouraged Sonic to dance with his blitzball teammates, so they could all collaborate on a friendly dance competition. The rhythm of the drums changed, thumping more rapidly than from before. Wakka and two of his teammates performed first; then Sonic and two other blitzball players went after them.

The cheering was for both the tag teams, and it didn't look like it mattered to the crowd who won or lost. Everyone was happy and lively and enjoying themselves and everybody else's company, too.

And that was all that really mattered, and it made Sonic really happy.

But a few tears crept onto Yuna's lower eyelids. "Or else he'll figure it out the hard way," she heard Lulu say. Her tears didn't fall, even when she drooped her head. She sniffled.

She remembered why she couldn't let them fall.

So, she exhaled as strongly as she could, "I know I do, Lulu."

"There, there. Don't cry, Yuna, please."

And Lulu knew why she couldn't either. Lulu pulled her into a close motherly embrace and held her there for a while. Yuna blinked slowly, trying to push back her welling tears.

"Hey, is everything okay?"

Yuna leaned up from Lulu's hug and gawked at Sonic stepping up to them. The puzzled look on his face told her that her own expression hadn't changed very well. She made a disheartened face; Lulu saw it and huffed nervously.

"Carry on without me, Milady."

But she had the mind to get up, bow, and head back toward the revelry where Wakka sweetly led her into some kind of tribal quickstep. Surprisingly, Lulu moved really well, despite her awfully long and heavy-looking dress. She and Wakka grooved together, both moving in close and in sync with each other.

Sonic moved closer to Yuna, still watching the dance go on. There was a bit of coyness beginning to tinge his cheeks.

"Umm…? Hey, did you wanna dance too, Yuna?" Sonic asked. He shot his thumb back at the smorgasbord that was being filled with more vivid and delicious food. "And there're more 'yummies' there to eat, y'know. Want me to bring you something?" He smiled handsomely. "Maybe it'll ease your mind a little. Whaddaya say?"

Although she knew he meant well, she wasn't hungry or feeling lively enough to dance at all. She kept her dissimilar irises away and out of Sonic's view. Another look of befuddlement overtook his face. He reached out to her a little. He was wanting to comfort her in some way, even though he didn't know what was wrong.

"Yuna? What's the matter?"

"Sonic?" Yuna's voice was able to remain strong with the recession of her tears. She knitted her eyebrows closer together. But her eyes stayed away from his. "What do you…think of me?"

Sonic jumped within his flesh, a lot higher than before—like twenty more feet in the air, no problem. His body shuttered a bit, but not enough for Yuna to notice; or so, he hoped. Going by her bowed head and despondent expression, he'd say she wasn't really paying attention to it. Or to his reaction.

Or to him, really. She was only listening for his response.

And though the blue hedgehog did catch on to her seriousness, the sudden palpitations in his chest were severely distracting him. He blinked wildly. 'Oh no, this feeling…it came back with a vengeance!' The smirk on his face seemed terribly crooked, and was twitching spasmodically.

But he had to respond to her question, and soon; the unhappiness on her face was making him feel uneasy.

"Uhh, what do I think of you, you ask? …Huhh, well…? Umm…it's kinda…complicated, actually?" He shrugged. "I'm—ah-heh, pretty sure you've figured this out already, since it's obvious that I get all weird when I'm around you…? You know, all loopy and blushing and stuff…heh heh." His smile was so awkward but so sweet.

Yuna's was just so, only tiny and more sad instead.

"But, um…I think you're fun—you know, to be around, and not to mention how awesome and great this adventure's been! It's a whole lot cooler since I've got you as my adventurous tour guide!" He coupled the smile with his signature wink. "Which is really awesome because you're so knowledgeable and friendly and popular and kind…"

Yuna's eyes quietly shimmered into alertness. Now she was realizing how sincere his meaning was.

"And—and graceful and eloquent, sweet and caring…tenderhearted. And…beautiful." His voice softened. He pressed a hand against his racing heart. His other hand was a determined fist. "And I…love all of that…about you."

Yuna's heartstrings were drawn back like that of an archer's bow. Her eyes slowly met with Sonic's. She could see the strength in his eyes, and she knew what he was going to say.

"Yuna…"

So, she took aim.

"I—!"

"Please, don't speak any more."

Yuna flew from her seat on a Temple plinth and fell to a kneel in front of Sonic. In that one fluid motion, Sonic found himself within Yuna's arms. They tightened around him a little, and Sonic could detect the sentiment in them. He wasn't sure if he should place his chin upon Yuna's shoulder; the Lady's gentle pat against his head spines affirmed this, though. That infamous flush of crimson was budding into his cheeks yet again.

'Is she okay? Should I…hug her back?' Sonic's heart said, purely unsure.

"You can. And you needn't say a thing more, Sonic."

Her grip on her heart's bowstring trembled a little, but the arrow was still aimed at Sonic. The tears in her mind countered the glowing seriousness her gaze held. And cascaded down her cheeks.

"Because…I'm sorry."

A pang of bewilderment flashed through him. He had gasped, but a quiet chuckle lilted from under the arising lump in his throat. He pushed himself out of Yuna's embrace and looked up at her.

"What are you talking about? Don't be sorry! I'm the one who should be sorry—!"

"No, you shouldn't."

Sonic blinked at the sharp return. Only for a defiant smirk to play across his face. "Hey, what's with the weird modesty all of a sudden? Where'd all this stuff come from, anyway?" He chuckled in a more disconcerting way. "Huh, Yuna?"

"I'm sorry, Sonic."

Then, Yuna's face was suddenly very close to his. Her eyes were closed and his blush was growing furiously. He flared his eyes open wider, making them dance and his love-knotted heart jump into a faster rhythm.

Because their lips were connected, by the softest distance.

Yuna's arrow swirled with despondence and regret, flaring in majestic cold hues of green and blue. Just like her eyes.

"I'm so sorry…that your feelings for me cannot be returned."

That was the only thing Sonic could hear Yuna say to him. Within that moment, in the crux of their kiss, her arrow was shot and went blazing through his heart. Which had fallen into pieces, lorn and broken.

But was sent aflutter by bewilderment.

Wakka and Lulu's dance segment had ended a while before they caught a glimpse at Yuna and Sonic. Wakka's eyes widened in shock and he sharply looked away. "Aye-yah!" he yelped in surprise. Apparently, he had spun completely around. He looked over his shoulder to Lulu, who didn't appear as shocked as he was.

"Don't think His Majesty would wanna catch wind of that, ya?" He slowly veered his eyes toward the woman. He saw her face contort into a pensive glare.

"I dare not say, really. But it's one-sided, I'm sure," Lulu reaffirmed, slowly turning away as well.

As she was walking off, Wakka jogged up after her. "Whatcha mean, one-sided?" He sounded kind of frantic. "Yuna's the one who's—!"

"Merely dissuading him with her truth, that's all." Lulu continued, moving in more of a saunter this time, seemingly wanting Wakka to follow. "And her truth…is his love for her must die." She could feel Wakka's hopeless glower on her. "Her arrow has struck him, pierced his heart…so let them be, Wakka. They'll work it out."

Wakka blinked a little sadly. He took the last meat kebab off the long surfboard-shaped table and examined it. He sighed, looking back at the blue hedgehog as Yuna broke away from the kiss. "I sure hope so. Poor little guy looks like he's been pierced…" he added, waving the kebab around gently. He was able to trail Lulu into the hut she was heading for. "Aye-yah, Yuna…aye-yah."

The stars in the sky were not aware of the altercation developing between the High Summoner and her brokenhearted companion. Yuna was standing even farther away from Sonic than she had been. She couldn't look at him, or even in his general direction. She had to get away from him, before her fears became realized.

Unaware of this, Sonic stood frozen in time. He didn't know what to say, think, or feel; heartbreak had paralyzed him within that moment in time. The misconceptions he had were bleeding from the wound, along with those profound memories and genuine connections he'd formed with her. They were all melting away with the incorporeal blood droplets that trailed along the arrow's shaft.

Plop… Plop, plip…

"I…had a feeling…something like this would happen."

Plip, plip, plip…

Yuna lifted her eyes over to see Sonic. She couldn't look him in the eye, but she spotted tearstains landing at his feet. She had to resist the strong urge to run over and hug him.

Because it would've been an unwise action; it would risk her losing control. And she knew she couldn't afford to do that.

"But…I kinda don't know why you didn't tell me."

So, she made a face. Hesitant and reluctant.

"I'm sure…you had a good reason, though, right? I mean, maybe you're having a hard time choosing 'cause there's somebody else you like…? Maybe you wanna like me, but you're scared that you'll upset the other guy…? Or maybe…it's something…completely different? …Anything else…!"

The teenage hedgehog's voice crackled throughout the explanations he thought she had, rambling on and on, and aimless in reasoning somewhat. His aimlessness concerned Yuna, figuring that it wasn't something that normally happened to him. He stumbled over his words and ideas, unsure how to put them together, and seemed rather hesitant in executing them.

He was straying more and more off track when Yuna clamped her eyes shut, turning away from him again in shame.

"All those times I came to your rescue, you looked so happy to see me…and those times we had, talking and sharing and laughing and…bonding. I don't get why you never…said anything. I don't wanna feel like you lied to me…!"

Yuna gasped, her eyes flying open and trembling fearfully. 'I didn't mean…to make you feel that way…!'

"But, Yuna…I don't know what to feel right now!"

Yuna turned her eyes toward Sonic again. She saw his fists trembling, but she couldn't tell if it translated to anger or sorrow. Her own fists clenched around her staff.

"Please, Yuna."

Sonic's voice was immediately soft again. He let go of his fists and let them hang at his sides. He sniffled a little.

"Please tell me what I should feel." He heard her agonizingly worried gasp.

Plip, plop, plop, plip, plip…

'Oh no…Sonic, I…I'm so…!'

"Yuna—!"

But Yuna darted off into the direction of the Besaid Temple doors. She took off like a human bolt, her skirts and ponytail gliding in her wake.

"Yuna! Wait!" the blue hedgehog cried after her, reaching out.

Her blanched figure moved like an unworldly goddess as she ran away and made her way into the Temple. She threw a double door open and closed in one fluid motion.

None of the tears she wanted to shed managed to escape. And even though Sonic didn't know exactly why, his obliviousness didn't stop his own tears from flowing.

Plip, plip… Plip, plop…

And in the end, they only fell into unity with the blood from the arrow still afflicting its prey. The hedgehog could feel the pain intensifying, throbs sharp and relentless. If he hadn't known the effects of Yuna's truth beforehand, he knew them now.

He clutched his chest, where it felt like the arrow hit, and sobbed mindlessly, rocking gently back and forth as he sat there on the Temple steps. His fingers combed jagged parts through the fur on his head, and his face showed nothing but brutal—yet compassionate—distress. He tucked his face against his knees.

'Yuna…! Yuna!'

The unsteady flame of Besaid Temple's torchlight was the only thing there for him now.