Just as Eric and Mina were starting to recover from the first blast the second hit. The building they were standing on crumbled away and the two Guardians were tossed through the air like ragdolls. Mina's eyes were practically glued shut as she flew through the air. She felt someone take her in their arms and the air crackle around them. When she opened them again Eric was setting her on her feet staring at the source of the explosion.
"I really hope that was Sonic," he said quietly as he looked at the destruction around them. The explosion had blown away the wind barrier and forced many of the buildings in the area to lean from their foundations. The space within the barrier, however, was nothing but rubble with the exception of a small house in the center. A quick probe told Eric everything he needed to know about it and he wasn't the least bit surprised that it had survived the onslaught.
"Should we see if he's alright?" Mina asked as she stared in awe at the destruction.
"We need to find him first." Eric turned to the building where he had sensed Antoine and his party. "Let's also make sure the future leader of this place is in one piece, too."
Antoine stood up, his head still spinning after the massive explosion. "Is everyone alright?" he asked. Amy and Tails gave him a dizzy thumbs up from the other side of the room where they were imprinted into the wall. Bunny's head was stuck in a trashcan and she let out a colorful stream of curses. "Okay, anything beyond pride hurt?"
"I finally get what Sonic meant about being run over by a bus," Tails groaned as he and Amy freed themselves of the wall and went about pulling the bin off Bunnie's head. "What the heck was that?"
"That would be your typical Sonic stunt," Eric said as the air crackled from his shift. The fox and hedgehog bodyguards jumped as the Guardians materialized. "For some reason he and Arias picked the city as their battleground. We didn't see a lot of the fight but enough to know that those two weren't pulling any punches. Are Nicole's sensors still working?" Antoine double-checked and confirmed that they were. "Good. Nicole, can you run a scan for Sonic's transmitter?"
"I'm sorry, Commander," the computer replied. "I'm unable to detect the transmitter signal. There is, however, a faint life sign coming from near the center of the affected area."
"My idiot son probably damaged it with all the fighting," Eric muttered as he climbed the ladder to the roof with Mina right behind him. He told her to grab on as he hopped from building to building until reaching the ground and made his way to the entrance of the Temple. His eyes narrowed as they got closer. Arias was lying on the ground unconscious covered in grievous wounds. The wound to his left shoulder went down below the bone and almost his entire left side was badly bruised cut as if Sonic had dropped something immense on him. The diagonal slash across his chest was still bleeding profusely as were many of the slashes from Sonic's Chigiri no Mai.
"How could he have survived all that?" Mina asked as she jumped off Eric's back and over to the human. "Eric, we need to get him somewhere we can treat his wounds." She turned to the hedgehog only to see him with his bow drawn and an arrow nocked.
"Step away from him, Mina," he ordered her, his eyes filled with fury.
"What are you doing?" she asked, standing between him and Arias. "This isn't justice, Eric. It's murder. We need answers and he's the only one that can give them to us."
"I don't care." Mina's eyes widened at the elder hedgehog's admission. "After everything this bastard has done this is the fate he deserves. Sonic may not have had the stones to finish the job but I don't have the same issue."
"Maybe he didn't for a reason," Mina replied as her hands started to glow. "Once we have our answers you can do whatever you want to him. But until then we need him alive."
Eric glared at her as flames licked her hands. He'd known Mina long enough to know that she wouldn't back down but now she had some serious power to back up her convictions. Reluctantly he lowered Sagittarius and the arrow faded from view. "Fine," he said, "but this had better be worth the trouble."
As they lifted the human together Mina probed the area for any sign of Sonic. Still nothing, she thought with a sigh as the air crackled around them. Once back with Antoine and his entourage they set Arias on a cot and Eric fetched a first aid kit. He was the first to admit he wasn't sure if it would help or not considering how bad most of the wounds were. Nicole informed him that Arias had lost a significant amount of blood and needed professional treatment.
As Eric was patching him up the human's eyes fluttered open. "I wouldn't move if I were you, Arias," Eric told him as he wrapped his knee. "Your body is in rough shape and I have no desire to use healing magic on you. Personally I hope you bleed out and die right but Mina here insists that we get some answers from you first." He glared at him but the human seemed to be off in his own world. "Hey, are you even listening?"
"I'm listening, mongrel. I have no choice with since all you people do is run your mouths," Libra said as he sat up. The Mobians backed away from him as his entire body started to flash. "Your son may have beaten me on the battlefield but I'll take everything away from him in one blast." The sigils on his hands began to pulse rhythmically as the air shimmered with power.
"Is he gonna do what I think he is?" Amy asked as they were slowly pushed back by the raw energy the human was putting out.
"He won't have the chance." They all turned to the new voice to see a blue fox with orange hair standing with them.
"You!" Libra snarled at Kiarra as the waves of energy intensified.
"Me," the Frost Dragoon replied. She bolted at him, ice forming around her fist which she planted into Libra's gut. The human staggered for a moment and was about to comment on her being too late when Kiarra slammed her head into his. The force of the impact, combined with all of his other injuries, knocked him out cold once more and dispersed the gathered energy. Libra collapsed onto the cot with blood pouring from his nose.
"Would y'all like to explain what in the hoo-hah is goin' on?" Bunnie asked. "Why is Arias tryin' to kill sugarhog and all of us? And who are you?"
"Arias, you fool," Kiarra said, ignoring Bunnie and kneeling next to the human. She stroked his cheek gently. "After everything you went through you took Libra back into yourself. And for what? You already had your revenge."
"Glad to see I'm not too late," a familiar, but pained, voice said. They all turned to see a battered and bloody Sonic leaning against the wall. Mina cried out his name and ran to embrace him but he kept her at arm's length. "Sorry, Mina. I think a hug from you might kill me right now." His eyes narrowed at Libra's unconscious form. "And there's something that I need to finish."
"You would kill a man in his sleep? I didn't think you had it in you, Sonic," Kiarra said turning back to Libra.
"After everything that bastard put me through I think it's the only way I could...if I was planning on killing both Libra and Arias," he replied, earning the curious stares of all but Kiarra. "Give me some room, Kiarra. This isn't going to be pleasant for either of us."
The fox did as he asked and Sonic stood over the human's unconscious form. He dabbed some of his own blood on Libra's body and drew several symbols. Sonic focused on the symbols and they began to dimly glow. "Discutere tenebras animam (Dispel the Soul of Darkness)," he said and Libra's entire body began to flash. Without hesitating Sonic plunged his hand into the human's gut. Libra snapped awake and grabbed Sonic's arm, his eyes filled with panic.
"What do you think you're trying to do?" he asked, trying to pull Sonic's arm out. "If you destroy me then Arias dies as well."
"I'm not destroying the weapon, Libra," Sonic growled. "I'm destroying the personality inside the weapon. Arias'll get to keep the power of the Libra weapon but without worrying about you trying to take over ever again." The wound in Libra's gut began radiating light as were his eyes and mouth. After a moment he let out a roar and blinding light filled the small room. When it subsided Sonic's hand was out of his stomach and the wound he'd caused was gone. The symbols crumbled away, their purpose completed. Arias fell back onto to the cot out cold once more while Sonic sat down on the ground, the last of his energy spent. "Holy crap," he panted. "I can't believe that actually worked."
"That was sorcery," Kiarra realized. "Where did you learn a spell of that power?"
"Not sure if you'd believe me if I told you," Sonic admitted as he tried to stand. Mina caught him as he started to fall and he smiled. "I'm still kinda working on believing it myself."
"That doesn't answer my question, Sonic Hedgehog," Kiarra said angrily. She took a deep breath before looking him over curiously. "Also, why haven't your wounds started healing? By now all but the worst of them should just be a memory."
"You should know why, Kiarra," Sonic replied. "You, Mina and my old man should all know why." The Dragoon and two Guardians looked at him as the news settled in. "I'm not a Guardian anymore. My powers were taken from me in order to help stop Libra."
"The only type of being that could do that is an Aspect," Kiarra told him but Sonic didn't reply. "Are you telling me that not only did it take your powers away but it taught you a highly advanced exorcism spell to use on Arias?"
"Something like that," Sonic said. "And it wasn't an exorcism. It was meant to destroy a soul living within a body. I wanted to destroy Libra without killing Arias in the process. An exorcism just expels whatever is possessing the host and doing that would kill him. If we want answers then he has to be alive."
"You're starting to sound like your girlfriend," Eric muttered as he glanced back at the sleeping human. "So what exactly is going on? And who is this 'Libra' guy you keep talking about?" When Sonic didn't answer Eric turned only to see Mina looking around for the missing hedgehog. "Damn it, not again."
"But if he's not a Guardian then how can he shift?" Mina asked.
"Whatever took him from Xenodome is probably the same thing that took him just now," the elder hedgehog offered as he looked to Kiarra who simply nodded. "Just freaking great. And while we're on the topic just who are you and how do you know my son?"
"I am the Frost Dragoon Kiarra Volkov," she said, turning back to Arias. She placed a hand on his chest, uttered "Naoru", and a gentle light extended from her hand. The wounds Eric hadn't covered began to close. After a moment or two the light vanished and Arias, still unconscious, let out a relieved sigh.
"Care to tell us how you two know each other?" Eric tried.
"Not particularly."
Eric was about to comment on her attitude when he felt a powerful pulse. Mina's eyes widened as she felt the same thing though Kiarra remained more or less the same. "Are y'all alright?" Bunnie asked them. "Y'all're lookin' like you seen a ghost or somethin'."
"I've felt something like this before," Mina said and Eric nodded. "About a year ago, give or take. But this is so much more intense." The two Guardians and the Mobians rushed onto the roof leaving Kiarra alone with Arias.
"It's been a long time since I've felt this," she commented with a smile. "But I guess I shouldn't be too surprised after all. This is Sonic we're talking about."
The group outside stared at the floating city as it began to draw a section of forest onto the bottom of its hull and settle into the hole it was creating. The city settled comfortably, merging its own borders with that of New Mobotropolis. Tails pointed to a figure floating above the destroyed section of the city. The clouds above him were spinning rapidly and peals of thunder rang out.
"Anyone else having déjà vu?" Amy asked and all but Mina nodded.
The air pulsed once more but this time all of them felt it, the force of it pushing them down to one knee. The wind rushed past them, almost throwing them off the rooftop. It began to form a funnel cloud around the figure before wrapping around it like a second skin. Just as the group started to regain their balance the figure let out a roar that rattled the ground beneath them. Pale green wings stretched out from its back and even from where the Mobians were they could see matching plate armor on the figure. It raised its hands as the wreckage of the city began lifting upwards.
"Saiken suru (Rebuild)," Kiarra said as she joined them. "It's an advanced version of the tsukurou spell but tailored for use by Wind Guardians. Since matter cannot be destroyed it simply takes the particles of all that was destroyed and reconstructs them into their original form. To perform it on this level, however, would take the power of a Dragoon."
"You don't mean..." Tails started as Kiarra walked past him.
"When Sonic forced his transformation before it was nothing compared to this," she finished for him. "What you are about to witness is the power of a true Dragoon."
The remaining pieces of rubble began to break down, reforming gradually on the ground into their original shape. Within minutes the city was restored to how it had been before Sonic and Libra had torn it apart with their duel. The figure's hands lowered as the armor and wings dissipated. The Mobians stared as he vanished only to feel a burst of wind from behind them.
"You guys miss me?" Sonic asked. Ignoring his protests Mina tackled him in a hug. Despite further protests that she'd reopened several of his wounds she clung to him.
"When I couldn't sense you I thought..." she started but buried her face into his shoulder. He held her gently before insisting that they stand up. Many of his wounds still persisted but he was in considerably better shaped than he had been several minutes earlier.
"So you're a Dragoon now, eh son?" Eric asked as he extended his hand. Sonic took it and pulled his father in for a brief hug. "Took you long enough to beat me to something."
"I beat you to two things, old man," Sonic reminded him motioning towards the roof. "Beat you to Dragoon and beating Arias. Well, technically Libra but who's counting." He winced holding his ribs but waved off their concerns. "I've slowed my regeneration down so I can learn to appreciate actual pain again. Losing my powers made it pretty clear that I've gotten soft in that department."
"What about Arias?" Antoine asked as they headed back to the access hatch. "I take it there was a reason you two were engaged in such a...vigorous fight."
"There was and I'm hoping he has some answers for us as well," Sonic replied as he dropped into the room.
"Who were you hoping had answers?" Arias asked in a pained voice as he sat up. "And just who are the lot of you and where am I?" Sonic gave him a quick reminder but the human just stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean 'New Mobotropolis'? Did something happen to the old city?" The Mobians stared at each other, each debating on their own what was wrong with him.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Eric asked.
Arias turned to Kiarra and let his gaze linger. "Enerjak had just torn Libra out of my chest and left me for dead," he told them. "Someone came to save me in the nick of time. I repaid the favor by taking Libra once more only to have him seize control over my body. After that it gets a little spotty."
"You're telling me that's all you remember after three thousand years?" Sonic asked incredulously and Arias stared at him in disbelief. "Okay, this could take a while."
"Would you mind giving us a moment?" Kiarra asked. "I can sympathize with him more than the rest of you can."
"So he doesn't remember slaughtering hundreds of innocent civilians not a few hours ago?" Eric said angrily. "Fan-freaking-tastic." He stormed out of the room with the others right behind him except Sonic.
"Kiarra, when you told me about your family you said there was only other one person who knew," the hedgehog asked turning to the fox. "It was Arias, wasn't it? You must have been the one that must've saved him back then." The Frost Dragoon nodded and Sonic couldn't help but smile. He walked out the door and gave them a brief wave before shutting the door.
"Was that Magan boy telling the truth?" Arias asked Kiarra. "Has it really been three thousand years since Libra possessed me?"
"It has, Arias," Kiarra answered, kneeling next to him. "The year was 182 when I found you and it is now 3237. I find it hard to believe that Libra had you suppressed for so long."
"The only times I can remember are when he was committing atrocities," the human told her. "He wanted me to feel the suffering of others as he crushed them with my hands." He clenched his fists before wincing in pain. "I wanted to use Libra to atone for the sins I committed but ended up causing so many more. But what about you? No Magan I've ever met has lived that long."
Kiarra stood up and Arias felt the room temperature drop almost instantly. A crown of ice grew across her brow as a thin sheet of ice flowed around her body like a dress. Her eyes shifted from deep blue to ice blue with an unearthly glow to them. Finally her nails extended until they were proper claws.
"Now I see," Arias said with a nod as her form faded away. "So you became a Dragoon after we parted ways. You look good for a woman your age."
"And you look good...for an old man," she replied helping him up. "Now come along. I imagine there are two very concerned humans looking for you."
EPILOGUE:
Sonic stood from his crouch over the pile of ashes and sighed. This was the third village they'd been to but all had been the same so far. Whatever Libra had done to these people had rendered them into nothing and the only evidence to how was a smudged circle with indecipherable symbols under the ashes. The Vanguard members were documenting as much as they could with help from their Azosarrian equivalent.
"You having any more luck than us?" Eric asked over the earpiece. Sonic gave him a negative and the elder hedgehog heaved a sigh. "And to top things off Arias has no memory of any of this."
"Whatever Libra was doing he wanted to keep it a secret from Arias," Sonic explained. "Maybe he'll remember eventually but I'm not banking on it. I'm just hoping Kazama picked him up in time to stop whatever his endgame was."
"Care to give us a guess?"
Sonic scratched his chin as he looked at the circle closely. It wasn't just the body that was burned but the ground as well. "Could be fire sorcery," he offered, "but that doesn't explain what he was trying to do. If he was just trying to rack up a body count then all he would've had to do was use his Zodiac form in one of the major cities." He looked around and stopped when he saw an echidna female in a black bodysuit and several of her dreadlocks replaced with cybernetics. He blinked only to have her vanish just as quickly as she'd appeared. "I must be going crazy," he said when his father asked what was wrong. "I thought I saw this echidna chick but then, just like that, she's gone." He rubbed his eyes tiredly with a sigh. "Right now I just want some sleep. Taking on Gilgamesh and Libra in one day is freaking exhausting."
"Head home and get some rest, son. You did good today," his father told him and Sonic thanked him. He looked where the woman had been one last time before shifting home.
The echidna woman Sonic had seen walked up a staircase made of opaque crystals before dropping to one knee. "My lords," she reported, "the energy that Libra sent us is barely enough to stay a few seconds. How can we be expected to gather the resources we need to escape?"
"There's no need to be impatient, Grandmaster," a figure in golden armor said. He was seated next to another figure like him but his counterpart wore golden robes. They both, however, carried identical ornate staves and wore masks over their faces. Their dreadlocks could be seen behind the menacing face of the mask and all that could be seen of their eyes was a dark blue light. "The bridge between the Cage and Mobius has been established, just as Libra promised he would do. With time we will be able to exercise our influence over that world and release our master from his prison."
The female echidna bowed her head before being dismissed. The armored figure turned to his counterpart. "Soon, brother," he said with anticipation. "Soon we will walk amongst the mortals once more."
The robed figure chuckled as he gazed into the eternal night of the Twilight Cage. "That day cannot come soon enough, brother," he replied. "And when it does all of Mobius will quake before the power of the Dark Legion."
A/N: Well, that wraps up the third arc! I've already started working on the 4th and have a very good grip on the direction and, hopefully, the flow. I don't expect it to be as long as 'New Beginnings' since it's focused on moving the plot forward rather than introducing a whole new universe. I don't have a timeframe for when it will start to go up since I want to get working on 'Vengeance is Mine' more. In the meantime, I wish everyone a Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks again for all your support and advice.
DragonKnight159