Sonic the Hedgehog: The Phantasy of Archangelus

Paradigm Forty-Four - Phantasy Knell

"Everything's almost ready."

INFINITY VOID…

High Summoner Yuna's Legendary Guardian nodded in understanding. With a half-smile, he chuckled, "Ah, so that's what you're planning…? I see."

Rikku shot her eyes over to him, only to feel the baby's grip let go. In a strange way, the baby's flails and cries seemed lonely. Swirling irises stayed on the baby. "I understand, Yuna," she heard the casually regal young man say. "Looks like this might end soon, Rikku. So, I'm gonna need everybody's help…in sending Yuna and her Aeons the strength they need to end this." The Al Bhed Guardian threw her teary sights between him and the baby he'd put back in her arms. "Wait! Future Cousin-in-Law, what does that mean? What'll we have to do—what can we do?"

He stopped. Wordless, motionless in that moment. Enough to catch the attentions of Auron, Paine, and Gippal. The Al Bhed gunner sneered bitterly.

"We can sing."

Rikku's eyes flared. "The Hymn of the Fayth, to quiet Solaris down," came more of his explanation. She clutched the child closer. And relinquished her tears. "Just enough to render him defenseless."

Paine looked to Auron, who'd already notified Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri of Yuna's supposed plan. Demanding that he'd help, Paine grappled Gippal by the shoulder and shook him into following her. The Al Bhed trained his single eye on Rikku for a spell, before heeding Paine's command.

No wind could ruffle the man's blond hair, no sunlight to brighten his brave blue eyes. But an unseen strength, valor and unspoken faith in Yuna and her Archangelus Triune made him look up at sky. That starless infinity, that blank cosmos.

'We're almost ready on this end, too.'

It was the final battleground. The site of victory, and long-awaited salvation.

SPIRA'S VACUUM…

The teal overseer veered from the world below askance. Its blood vessels were losing their red darkness. Amy, the children, Vector, Espio, Rouge, Knuckles, Blaze, and Dr. Eggman wondered why. The Glyph of Yu Yevon was losing its brightness, as well. The near-perfect pupil jittered in and out of dilation. Blaze watched it carefully.

'The Eye…it's losing power? Could it be…!'

"Scary!" Cream cried, Cheese whining at her side. "Please, why won't he stop? Everything's going to disappear soon!" Cheese's coos were also wrought with fright.

"C'mon, Big Bro, Silver, Shadow…!" Tails chanted softly, holding Cream and Cheese's hands from Amy's back. "You guys can win this!"

"Everyone, get around Lady Yuna, right now!"

Everyone in question threw their glances back at Blaze, with Knuckles and Rouge coming up from behind. Rouge wasn't strong enough to walk yet, so Knuckles carried her after Blaze.

Amy got to her feet first. "Wait, what for? Is something wrong? She's okay, isn't she?"

"She's fine. She…!" Blaze's whiskers frazzled, and she darted her sights back at the Eye. Its pupil was shrinking, the Yu Yevon Seal dimming more and more. It seemed to be struggling to focus on them. Blaze glowered at it. "She needs us to be ready."

"Ready for what?" Vector spat out the question.

Blaze was placing everyone around the fragile statuette. The children—Cream, Tails, and Charmy—were poised at Nirvana's crown, hands interlocked. Vector and Espio were pulled into an outer circle with Amy, Knuckles, Rouge, Dr. Eggman, and herself. Vector was reluctant to hold Eggman's hand, but the situation demanded he let go of any ill feelings. Rouge was a little better about the motion, confident that the mad doctor was only doing it for his own benefit and using Spira as a scapegoat. The Pyromantic Guardian placed her own hands into Knuckles and Amy's. The Chaos Emeralds twirled faster in their orbit.

A prayerful leer. "Ready to assist her. Wait for her signal." She tightened her grip on the echidna and hedgehog girl's hands.

PERISH VOID - POST-WAR ZANARKAND…

Pyreflies sang ghostly psalms. An arch of them wafted in the distance, as the specter to that beautiful watery arch High Priest Yu Yevon always marveled. The teal rapids diminished, revealing more of the platform's underside: a coliseum of sorts, amidst a sea of ruined buildings and barren harbors; hills and cliffs were bone dry, the Zanarkand Dome's outline was in another corner; the High Priests' pavilion was only desolate earth, no longer a beautiful blue. That Garden of Pain surrounded the Hadean Aeons. Neither of which had moved a muscle nor heaved a sigh.

They were statuettes, much like Yuna. And thereby, they were just as defenseless.

Valiant strength moved the triple-coated Aeons towards them at a tremendous speed. Howling ferocity begot a tertiary wave.

"For Lady Yuna…!"

Yuna's statuette brightened. "Formation Gamma." Hair and staff tassels billowing higher, Nirvana's crown undulated between ardent reds, frigid blues, and etheric gold.

"For Lady Yuna!" Sonic, Shadow, and Silver repeated, stronger.

Sonic was the first to attack. Prismatic Luster was brought out once again: Three sigils appeared this time, one at each hand and a large one at his front. After crossing his arms over his face, Archangelus Sonic crashed through it. His wings and halo became enlivened by a flaming, earthy crimson; that same crimson snaked from Prismatic Luster's armor—between its arched pauldron and armlet, and beyond. Twin chakram-blade strikes sent the invisible floor asunder, cracks encircling Hadean Solaris. They scissored upon meeting and shot into the air, where Sonic caught them. The aerial twist ruffled some feathers from their hold. He prepared a mighty charge.

Just past a fallen feather, he achieved perfect aim. 'That's it!'

The blond man's left claw summoned a fireball. Along his head, familiar horns curved from his temples. A long red scarf branched from the claw's wrist-guard. The talons weren't too much of a problem for his clenching fist. The Infernal Aeon's Seal scorched itself into the metallic top, branding itself into existence for all of history, and forever after.

The chakram-daggers blazed. "Ifrit's Hellfire!" he called. The Infernal Aeon's Seal flashed within the rupture's circle, it clearly overshadowed the Hadean Glyph. And without hesitation, Sonic's wings guided him into a downward spin. He became engulfed by his chakram-daggers' energy, and like a fiery comet did he fall. And at the very last, he cut through the motionless Aeons. Fiery energy and unearthly terrain erupted once the blades made contact with the floor.

Archangelus Shadow spotted the Aeons flying upward. Their hands were still braced, in spite of the rest of them being severed in other places. Before they reached their peak, Shadow readied his turn in the attack. Gilt Patina shined: Obsidian down bristled, almost from cold, while the helm-shaped pauldron and armlet unfurled a light-blue tassel. His halo revolved, cautious armlet glistened with the armored over-wings, and the ruby orb now encased the Yevon "Ice" sigil. His hands stretched outward and summoned his own triplet Glyphs. The Glacial Aeon's Seals danced underneath the Hadean Aeons.

The spiked fangs on the woman's right wrist receded. Her coiled braids didn't give to the powerful aura from beneath her feet. What replaced them was a wrist-guard. In the shape of her braids' anchors. The Glacial Aeon's Seal froze the platform she stood on. Delicate fingers flexed, assuring mobility. The newly armored hand retreated toward her back, the wide blade glimmering like her Glyph.

"This is it…!" Shadow threw his hands upward. Summoning three musket-like cannons from the Glyphs. When they appeared, each one became stationary. Anchored to what floor was left, long barrels craned into position. They aimed at the highest point of their ascension. Shadow equipped each one with a frozen shell; they were locked and loaded. "Shiva's Diamond Dust!" his command came somberly. The musket-cannons fired, each bullet disintegrating upon release. But the trajectory was enough to send most of it skyward. The Hadean Aeons hung. And before they could fall, the hyperreactivity in the snow particles activated, each freezing on contact. Soon, everything froze. Hadean Solaris was imprisoned by a massive snowy hunk, leaving ridges between itself and the cannon mouths. But one more musket appeared. Much smaller and from Shadow's own hand, one last bullet was fired. Which burrowed through the snow chunk, splattering whatever was inside all over the field.

The last round of the attack was ready: Archangelus Silver crossed Splendent Gleam over his chest. His aquamarine orb sparked. The hand medallions grew brighter and brighter with each charge of energy. Splendent Gleam's Microphone Staff twirled up to him. It was caught flawlessly. Silver echoed a rich, somewhat deep tone into the receiver and let it resound.

The hoary, taupe-skinned man held up his weapon. Sticky ponytails bobbed to the static shooting out from the Etheric Aeon's Glyph. He spread his bare feet farther apart and bent his knees. Now in a slow, shallow crouch, his head dipped forward, as if he was going to charge into someone. His enamel weapon gleamed with lightning; his grip on it tightened.

Splendent Gleam's resonance called forth a gigantic halberd. Double-headed at two axes, rugged tassels fluttering, and shaft taken up, the Etheric Aeon had granted Silver use of his power. Silver presented the weapon, blades heavenward. The Microphone Staff was still at his throat, ready for the next command. Lightning surged throughout Silver's medallions, orb, and wings. His halo maintained the voltage by spinning rapidly. That equine Aeon's sigil appeared under his feet. 'Thank you, my friend…!' The energy was redirected into the halberd. "Now! Ixion's Hammer!" An electrifying laser shot upward. It struck both Solaris halves, much like Heralding Rain. Its power sent them higher into the atmosphere, but Silver wasn't done: A surplus of energy, in the form of a ball, had built up before being sent to crash into them. The explosion that followed propelled them even higher.

Then, the Helios Gyres stopped. Three spires, that happened to be closely aligned, had stopped; the other three felt panic building up. They couldn't move from their places. Because the Carnal Fervor, in efforts to shield his lover, had taken the stabs in his back. With their hibernation phase disrupted, both Embodiments were thrown back into a near-unconscious state. Chunks of the Fervor's armor were snagged on the Gyres, while both he and the Mystic Illumine fell back towards the platform.

INFINITY VOID…

"It's time, everyone! Get ready!" the Legendary Guardian cried out.

Paine and Gippal rallied up the Calm Land's youth, getting them together and pumping them up. Gippal was chanting "For Lady Yuna!" in Al Bhed, for his brethren, with Paine struggling to translate. Lulu and Wakka found themselves directing Bevelle's Conclave Maesters to Fahrenheit's upper deck. Auron confirmed Yuna's safety to Praetor Baralai and his Guardsmen, only for the young man to growl somewhat bitterly. Kimahri had joined up with his Ronso clansmen. Maester Kelk overheard the tribal chants and foot stomps. An inner peace took over at the sight of all the warrior spears thrusting up to the featureless heavens.

"Main speakers, green! Subwoofers, green!" Rikku's brother—duly named Brother—made sure everything was perfect. "Mic check: Buddy!" He trilled his fellow's name, who ran up to him and snatched the device from his hands. "Bwah!"

"I can hear you just fine without it…tyhgwesi!" Buddy snapped.

A little boy in strangely hooded coveralls seemed to be manipulating the controls effortlessly. "All audio systems are green. Looks like we're ready to rock out loud, everyone."

"Wahoo!" Brother cheered. He grinned at Buddy's rough sigh and rung an arm around his neck.

Meanwhile, Rikku watched everyone scurrying about. She tended to the infant left in her arms by her not-so-kingly father. Pacing the upper deck calmed the little one, but not Rikku. A wash of anguish climbed over her. She wanted to fall to her knees and cry for her queenly cousin's return. She didn't want her to be the only one who could save Spira. Being a Summoner was hefty business; being a High Summoner made it all the worse. Her father, Lord Braska, left a strong imprint on Yuna. His legacy propelled her to follow in his footsteps and do well. And now, that little baby was bound to do the same.

Except, that was only if the Tides of Penance never came.

"Hey. All your worrying is gonna worry the baby, Rikku."

Teary eyes faced the Legendary Guardian. A gentle hand shook her shoulder, encouraging and cheerful. Even with everything that was happening, something in his eyes looked unmovable, felt strong. And as he took the cerise bundle into his hands, Rikku hoped that giggling baby would have it, too.

PERISH VOID…

"My Triune: Return."

The Archangelus Triune flashed back into formation. Shadow was at the helm now, with Silver and Sonic on each side of him. The black hedgehog frowned a little. "We need to end this quickly," he huffed, noticing his exhaustion.

"Yuna…?" Sonic gripped his armored fist.

"Yes. Everything's ready, my Triune." Yuna's ossified likeness brightened with pearl. Rainbow-sprinkled snow billowed around her shoulders and over her back. Her face did not move, Nirvana still locked in her grip. The children watched the Chaos Emeralds in their line of sight: Opal brilliance, multifaceted colors spun, flashing as if ready to explode. The Archangelus Glyph beneath her and the Otherworlders radiated the same light. "Everyone's ready, as well. It's time: Formation Delta Shift."

The Mystic Illumine reawakened to the feel of lava. It was pooling up to his cheek, under his hand. Now alone and detached. The Yu Yevon Glyph had finally disappeared, and he regained his emerald iris and draconic pupil. His right eye had healed, as well. In that calmer state, Acumen's darkness was more lucid and transparent. Adamantine horns were mostly broken, and Hecate's Laurel suffered a loss of lotus blooms. Along with a torso immensely punctured and a nearly detached leg. Those eyes bucked in terror.

"Fervor!"

The Corporeal Embodiment was in terrible shape: He'd taken the brunt of the Triune's attacks, so he was missing both his lower legs, pieces of his back, hands, Eris's Gorget, and nicks in his obsidian horns. Nonetheless, Ardor's flames were furious but at a much duller roar. He breathed, orange huffs struggling between themselves and red sighs. Lava was bleeding from his back.

The Illumine only had the strength to crawl. He scrambled over to his mate's side. Icy talons scratched closer.

But the Fervor's instinct was still attack-driven. His right eye had healed up, with the paper "Seal" replaced by a newly grown left eye. Both pupils matched, both irises sober green. Both locked on the Triune. Missing fingers clawed into the floor, in attempts to drag him back into battle. His huffs spat feeble red flares. Ardor was nothing but a smolder, ashes crumbling from its hems. Milky tears scorched his face. He was desperate; his desperation propelled him to attack, destroy, to protect the Illumine, and Zanarkand, though it no longer stood.

"Fervor, that's enough! Stop!"

He was toppled. His Ethereal Counterpart had thrown himself around him. Hands clasped together, familiarly, longingly. A gruff snarl, red fire, and a snap of fangs: All disregarded and soothed. The Illumine had pulled him into a loving, frightened embrace. Pleading cessation, begging for physical return, quelling his turbulent instinct.

There was a moment of complete silence. Nothing disrupted anything. The teal rapids were noiseless. Pyreflies scampered overhead in unsung movements. Yuna's Triune Aeons were speechless as they watched the next turn of events unfold. The broken world was quiet. Dialogue heralded its calm.

"Mrgh…My…love…?" the Fervor grunted.

"Please, dearest, no more." The specter's lilt was soft, sheepish. "Don't fight…for me"—That pleading clasp tightened.—"…anymore."

Archangelus Sonic, Shadow, and Silver lifted away slowly. They all kept their eyes on the two weakened deities. Tender kisses were pressed against the Fervor's forehead and cheek. The Fervor lifted the Illumine into his arms, and teetered into a proper sit. Shadow could sense their calmness returning, as well as an undying love that could lull the heavens themselves into a millennium-old stillness. The last step to Yuna's plan was about to be put into motion, but he didn't want to break them apart again. He bit his lip, gripping his fists. "I feel torn." His time in the Farplane's Baaj Temple Semblance came back to him. It was a different implication, but that same feeling resonated to this situation, too. He somehow felt a connection he'd never made click in his mind. 'The Fervor didn't want the Illumine to lose him, either,' his mind understood. He brought his mailed fist up to his chest. Gilt Patina's ruby core was given a gentle pat. Before a remorseful tear struck it.

Through the Endymion Harness, Sonic understood what Shadow was feeling. That same regret was washing over him, too. His time in the Mi'ihen Highroad Semblance was more reminiscent of High Summoner Yuna, but he established another hidden connection. One he'd just as easily missed. "I feel heartbroken." Suddenly, Sonic glimpsed into Yuna's vision of the future; the timeline Silver hailed from showed a mutated Fervor killing a powerless Illumine. He gasped at the merciless destruction of his own partner, the one who'd prayed for his beloved murderer's guidance and wisdom, even after death. His chin tilted downward. Teardrops made abrupt leaps over his eyelids. 'He must've been, truly. He had to be…!' Prismatic Luster's emerald orb caught them.

Currently at the Harness's helm, Silver added his battle mates' experiences to his own. Back in the Farplane, he'd found himself in the Moonflow and trekked to the Djose Temple Semblance. High Summoner Lenne's sacrifice still fresh on his mind, he remembered feeling so heartbroken that he ached. He hadn't expected lifting those Mushroom Lightning Rocks to be that difficult, besides the obvious energy differences; much to his mortification, the pain had even affected his psychic abilities. "Please, help me…! I feel heartsick." In the future, the Carnal Fervor had been renamed "Iblis" somehow, and Silver and Blaze's sole mission was to avenge Bevelle's destruction by slaying him. The Mystic Illumine's true role was never discovered, or even considered. But with the inklings that flashed through the Harness, Silver gained a clearer understanding of the Illumine's motives. 'He was in so much pain, hurting from the separation and destabilizing from the isolation, he was willing to do anything to return to him. He clung to the Fervor's promise to return, and was numbed by the sight of his lover's…hideous transformation.' Silver's tears proliferated. 'He was only trying to get him back…! And Blaze and I…were going to…!' More droplets fell upon Splendent Gleam's aquamarine crystal.

"For a full millennium I have existed with him…!" Such a haunting, pained shriek. To learn the pain behind the Illumine's vengeance now was like a wakeup call. Everything the Mystic Illumine had done, since the Solaris Project failure up till two hundred years later, was for the sake of love. "I will not allow us to be torn apart again!" Silver had no choice but to admit the errors in Bevelle's Triarchal judgment. They were the biggest, and most damaging, abuses of power ever made. An entire Sovereignty of High Summoners led astray. Forced to contain the Corporeal Embodiment through its line, from parent to child, for generations. "He is mine…!" All while the Ethereal Embodiment had to suffer alone in cold, dark depravity. "And I am his!" Nowhere to belong but in that warm bosom, one so unreachable and untouchable. It was no wonder why the Illumine slowly lost his mind over something like that. As much as he didn't want to, as he was so afraid to.

Even as that scary insanity crept over him, he was still attached to that promise, his partner's love, undying warmth—so tightly that he craved it.

Now, the Triune could see how true Sonic's statement was: "They're both pretty harmless when they're together."

How right he was. The Illumine and Fervor, both meek and coy like little lambs, nuzzled and kissed and held each other steadfast. The sight would've been absolutely heartwarming. That is, if the Archangelus Aeons didn't have to execute the final phase of Yuna's plan.

"It is time, my Triune."

Jade, carnelian, and cyan Microphone Staves were caught by Sonic, Shadow, and Silver, respectively. Apologetic tears never ceased. "Do we have to?" Silver rubbed at some tear tracks.

"They're completely defenseless." Shadow tightened his unarmed fist even more. "They're not even attacking us anymore."

"It wouldn't be fair, Yuna…!" Sonic whimpered. "Please, there has to be another way…!"

A pause alluded to her response: "'Our victory will be all the sweeter if we're able to alleviate their pain.'"

The Aeonic hedgehogs gasped.

A tiny, halfhearted smile gave a pang of guilt: "Sonic, you said so yourself."

Ice-blue, ebony, and platinum-blond feathers bristled sharply. Light bounced off the Microphones' Spiran Script. It began to encompass Perish Void's inner whirlpool. The spells surrounding the Helios Core shattered.

"Remember?"

Before the Core itself splintered.

"I-e-yu-i… No-bo-me-no… Re-n-mi-ri… Yo-ju-yo-go.

"Ha-sa-te-ka-na-e. …Ku-at-ma-e."

All the world's hearts sang. Unified by faithful hands, choir upon choir lauded Lady Yuna, her Archangelus Triune, and much-awaited salvation. A collective awareness flooded the Calm Lands; everyone knew the Tides of Penance had to be stopped. So, trebles and basses alike, they all rang out.

Inside Spira's Vacuum, the Otherworlders acknowledged Yuna's signal. And soon heard Spira's song. Blaze was thrown off guard by the tactic; she never expected herself to sing. But with the world's voices all in tune and rhythm, she didn't worry too much about her own ability.

The children looked all over the Vacuum. It was suddenly booming with sound, with the Hymn of the Fayth. A myriad of strong, devout choirs. Altogether, harmonizing into one of amazement. "Wow…everyone's singing," Cream sighed in awe.

Eyes heavenward, Amy watched Infinity Void's Eye struggle to see. Yu Yevon's Glyph was near completely gone. And soon, her voice encouraged the others to reach out alongside Spira.

High Summoner Yuna's final command had come and gone: "Overdrive: Phantasy Knell."

Sublime power materialized. The Endymion Harness was now completely physical like the Aeons. No longer a set of invisible tethers, each Harness gave off a strong, individualized aura: Cradled by armor now, Splendent Gleam's hand medallions emanated pure psychic energy, as aquatic hues milking around inside the breastplate gem. Appendages, much like the crown to the Scepter of Darkness, blossomed from the magical device. Wispy ribbons billowed from the crown, tiny bells clanging majestically on their ends. Mythril glazed into overcoats for Silver's wings. Similar to Gilt Patina's golden shoulders, but of crystalline mirrors.

Gilt Patina emitted a protective warmth. Its orichalcum fidgeted in and out of solidness, uncertain in shape but definitely still armor. The pauldron's helm had doubled in size on Shadow's left shoulder, and a dragon's semblance was better distinguished. One of its branching horns underscored Shadow's sapphire eye. That magical material scaled over his bicep, embossed the armlet, and finished over his fingers. Just as ebony feathers glistened with orichalcum shards. Wings bloomed from his Microphone Staff's crown, as well. Crimson cords knotted around the handgrips. A gold bead braced each crisscross. His core's ruby color stirred like a cauldron's potion.

Snowy down released a pearlescent sheen. Nacreous overhanging shells seemed to be the cause of it. Prismatic Luster's adamantine armor spiked from the pauldron, shingled from the ovular wrist guard. A glove appeared on Sonic's right hand. The emerald at his chest produced a flashing light. Gilt Patina and Splendent Gleam's jewels timed their own blinks to it. Each hedgehog's wings reached out. Calm glows—they were slow, pulsing, and warm. With each syllable of the Hymn sung, the three Aeonic hedgehogs' wings rose. They took each weapon into gentle hands. And lifted their voices across the heavens beyond Perish Void, Spira's Vacuum, and Infinity Void.

All the world truly did sing. Its choirs were strong enough to pacify the dead, and were able to bring the hearts of the Solaris Embodiments to a quietude. Beautiful arcs of kaleidoscopic light: Like rainbows that didn't want to disappear. Sundogs, mirrors, spheres, and bands. Even the Hadean Glyph beneath them sparkled. Pyreflies skipped through the lost avenues of Zanarkand's fresh ruins. The High Priests' garden unrecognizable, the cathedral's glory halved by the invasion, the Zanarkand Dome only a bench-lined crater. Only the water arch stayed, though it was now composed of a river of pyreflies.

The Mystic Illumine and Carnal Fervor marveled everything before their eyes, the Hymn in their ears. Their hands never parted. "Dearest, we shall agonize no more." The Illumine allowed his lover's muzzle to rest against his own. Icy talons melted in size, delicate fingertips smoothing it in their place. "You will finally be mine again…" The Fervor blinked, huddled shyly against that shoulder. "…And I am finally yours again." Lava, now milky with relief, trailed down his cheeks. At the sight of his lover's clear, euphoric pearls.

"May forgiveness be granted…and avowed, momentous salvation ensue."

Sonic, Silver, and Shadow's coats gilded. The Chaos Emeralds spun faster in their orbit. Their halos did, as well. Falls of teardrops cascaded from crystal-clear heterochromia.

The Song of Prayer echoed out. Everyone had sung their hearts out, and did it exceedingly well. But now, the Triune had to end this fight by destroying the spiral of death that mired Spira. And put the Solaris Embodiments out of their misery.