Archangel: A spell used by the ancient race of Nabateans at their coming of age or in their greatest moment of peril. It is a very draining spell and only the strongest of the race could use it.

Danger level: Don't you dare miss.

Day 1 of the Verdant Rain Moon

"Ok Lin. I go under the knife at the end of the month, think you can handle that time?" Santaniel had gotten noticeably weaker since Shambalha, and he needed help quickly.

Otherwise his demise would take him happily. "Yes, that's quite alright. Now let me get back to my nap…"

He rolled his eyes and walked out of the dorm, everyone was starting to pack up their belongings and he should start too. After he underwent the surgery he'd go with Lysithea to the Ordelia territory and help her with adding it to the Gloucester's instead, Lorenz would assist them as well.

'Everything is goin peachy for me… Yet my stomach tells me something is wrong…'

"Santaniel!"

'There it is!'

"Hey Cyril, what's up?" He turned and placed his left hand on his hip, the veins had spread to his arm and he started to cover it with his jacket, even when it was blazing outside.

"Claude has an emergency meeting! It's urgent!" Santaniel nodded and he followed Cyril in a sprint to the cardinal rooms, bounding up steps and he burst through the door, stumbling, "What's up?"

"An army flying the Crest of Flames as their banner has been marching from Shambalha." Santaniel had a slew of questions in his mind but his mind immediately went to the lab. "Ok, well, what's the plan of action?"

Claude shook his head, "We'll be intercepting them at Myrdin Swamp. Other than that, I don't think I have a strategy for something that tore through Holst without a second thought. Thankfully we have Teach, you, and Lysithea. We have enough firepower to crush them back."

Santaniel nodded and grimaced at the time he had left. Four weeks until they fight, and then any time he transforms… This is bad. "Claude."

"Yes? Have trouble laying down for a nap?"

"Santaniel isn't fighting."

"Yeah. And I'm also Almyran. I'll be damned if I let you guys tackle this by yourselves. I can postpone my surgery until further notice, if anything Linhardt isn't fighting."

Lysithea glared at him and he returned it, normally he'd let Lysithea talk him down. Not now. He was ending this. "Santaniel-"

"Lys. You know I can take on anyone who comes at me. I promise I'll be fine. Just trust me, you can do that." She nodded and bit her tongue, it was killing her to let him fight. He knew that.

Good thing nothing else would be killing her on his watch then.

———

Santaniel returned to the island that night and visited his family's graves, kneeling in front of all of them in prayer to the Brigid gods.

He sang silently afterwards, relieving his nerves as much as could, ending the night by taking a ring from his pocket, the golden glint fading in the faint dusk light.

He was too caught up in his hope that he never noticed the freshly turned earth of his mother's grave. The missing Saint.

———

Day 31 of the Verdant Rain Moon

"Don't go into the swamp, it seems to be poisonous! If you have to, make it quick."

Santaniel nodded and took a deep breath.

They were fighting the Fell King Nemesis, and they didn't have the saints on their side this time. Well… They had him, Seteth, and Flayn. They were also facing the ten elites, so they were splitting off in teams:

Ignatz and Leonie would take on Blaiddyd

Hilda and Marianne would take on Gonereil

Lorenz and Hapi against Gloucester

Bernadetta and Dorothea got assigned to Daphnel

Raphael and Balthus on Gautier

Catherine and Lysithea would take on Charon

Felix and Dedue would fight Fraldarius

Shamir and Annette would fight Dominic

Seteth and Yuri to Riegan

Cyril and Constance pitted against Lamine

Claude and Byleth were against Nemesis

himself

Flayn and Linhardt to support from a distance

He'd clean up anyone in the way

Let's just hope they don't die now.

Santaniel unclipped his Holy Twins, taking a deep breath, "Ready Professor?"

"Always."

"Let's go then!"

———

Ignatz let a flurry of arrows go from his bow towards Blaiddyd, deflecting them skillfully before advancing. He was met in his tracks by Leonie who wielded a blessed lance. The same one Jeralt had.

She blocked Arendbhar and cut at his horse, chunks of dust coming from the reanimated steed, and she jabbed him in the stomach with the tip of the spear next.

He got a wide cut on her steed and it bucked her off, slashing across her face and left a nasty scar on her left eye.

An arrow from the Inexhaustible found its rightful place in his forehead afterwards, Ignatz cheering at his success. "Nice job Iggy!" They didn't busy themselves with celebrating though, instead making their way towards a demonic beast.

———

Hilda blocked the opposite Freikrugel with her relic, grunting under the pressure, her ankle rolling and she yelped in pain.

Marianne got a quick slice in on her ancestor after the sudden change, drawing his attention to her.

The man changed targets and got a jab in on Marianne, following with a hook to her abdomen. The frail mage fell to the ground but no follow up attacks followed. A grunt and scream followed, Hilda having lodged Freikrugel through his chest and into the earth in rage.

"No one hurts my Mari!"

———

Lorenz laughed as Gloucester struck at him with Saggitae, deflecting the measly spell powered by Thyrus. "Let me show you the fruit of your labor!"

He casted his own Saggitae and Hapi followed it up with a slash by Windig, ending the mage's onslaught of magic and freeing the way for their troops to advance.

"Nice job Hapi- Where'd she go?"

She was off to assist Chatterbox.

———

"Meteor!" The ball of fire and rock crushed the earth below it but missed the original Daphnel. "Urgh! Would you just stand still- Oh no."

Dorothea fumbled with her Levin Sword as the woman charged, preparing for the duel that never came. "Get away from her!"

Bernadetta pierced the woman's chest with a spear perfectly, falling off her crumbling horse.

"Oooohhhh thank you Bernie Bear!"

"Heh… no problem Dorothea…"

———

Raphael and Balthus threw a barrel full of jabs and hooks into Gautier, knocking him down. He was finished off by an overhead swing from Raphael's war hammer, splattering his dried remains to the poisonous muck in the water.

"Good job bud! Too bad you didn't enter that last brawling tournament with me."

"Maybe another time bud. Let's focus on this."

"You got it!" They were off to assist Claude.

———

Catherine ducked another sword swipe and leaned back at another, growling in frustration. Sucker was fast.

An overhead strike came at her head faster than she could react and it was caught by the jagged blade of a Levin Sword. "Two on one seems fair."

The Thunder dragon duo started slashing at their legs and abdomen respectively, littering them with cuts and eventually a piercing blow was landed on them, their heart disintegrating inside out.

"Nice job!"

"Let's go find Santaniel, knowing that idiot he's already in trouble."

"Ah, Young love."

———

Santaniel grunted as he threw another Agarthan corpse off himself, "Would you idiots just leave me alone? Goddess on a flaming cross…"

"That's no way to speak around your mother."

"No fucking way." He turned and met the green eyes of Ernest Lisa Amaryllis. His dead mother reanimated to come back and fight, just for the other side.

"You've grown." Santaniel warily stepped back and eyed her suspiciously, "You're supposed to be dead." She stepped forward and placed a hand on his cheek, "I don't feel that way, do I?"

Santaniel felt himself grow relaxed, locked in her eyes. His breathing grew softer, more labored and soon the visions of his family filled his mind, he was affixed in place remembering times long since the past.

"Just stay here with me… please." He heard the voices of Xavien, Arti, Hephaestus, his father… All the people he's ever loved.

He felt the movement of her other arm reach behind her and something metallic clink against its sheath. "I'd love to…"

He winced at the cold metal pressing against his veins, the pulse and green glow of death in his peripheral. Tears rolled down his cheek as he cherished his mother's embrace for the last time, Arti, Hephaestus, Xavien all screamed in his mind. They were telling him to fight.

This was just a puppet, "But it isn't real mom."

He drew the trip down memory lane to its close with a fluid motion. The impact of a body hitting the ground filling his ears and tears rolled down his cheeks as strong as the waterfall on the island.

He wiped the emotion away and stared at the body, rage growing in him and he flashed, transforming as he cleared the way with another three weeks of work.

He could spare it.

———

Felix hummed as he cut through several Agarthans, why did any song he heard get stuck in his head?

First Annette's and now Santaniel's stupid song from last month. He whipped around and caught the blade of his ancestor Fraldarius, "Coward."

He kicked out and caught his elbow, disarming him, and Dedue crushed his chest for him. The dry puff of smoke signifying another end.

"The job is done."

"You're a fine warrior Dedue. I apologize for my harsh words at the academy, let's do this… In memory of the Kingdom and those we love, alright?"

"Kind words Felix, thank you.:

———

Shamir let loose her entire quiver into Dominic, cutting into his skin as she closed with a lance next, avoiding Crusher with nimble movements. "Never underestimate the strength of an outsider, nor the future asshole."

She ducked and Annette brought Crusher across horizontally, sending the old dust bunny flying into the swamp. "Yay! I did it!"

"Don't get comfortable. Let's catch up with Byleth."

———

Seteth tucked into a barrel roll with his wyvern, Failnaught's arrows flying past him. He dove and cut into Riegan on their Pegasus, blood flying off their side, and Yuri took his place in the air as he landed on the winged horse.

With a quick quip and a vertical strike to close out their fight, the battalions started circling the gathering fight, "Let's assist Byleth!"

———

"Witness the advancements of house Nuvelle!" She slammed her relic into the dirt and the surrounding ground burst into flowers, blooming and surrounding Lamine.

"Cyril sweetie, take your shot!" He obliged with some muttering, a single arrow piercing the woman's chest and a scream of pain echoed into the air as the last of the ten met their demise.

"Goodbye Lamine! Make way for the house of Nuvelle-"

"Constance! Let's go help the Professor!"

"Oh, I suppose you are correct." The woman's corpse glowed red as the spell she casted dispersed, and the barriers around Nemesis faded.

———

Byleth grunted as he was kicked in the chest, rolling away from the next slash of Nemesis, only saved by Claude losing an arrow at his chest, catching a bit of skin.

Nemesis full on sprinted at Claude, cutting into his chest and knocked from his perch, scrambling away from the white haired, self proclaimed king.

Byleth stood again and readied his blade. Nemesis took his challenge and unleashed his sword like a whip, Byleth meeting it head on, jumping over the blade and closing in, his first strike blocked and then parried.

He took a swipe to his chest and a jab in his ribs and only got away from Constance using rescue. "Hello Professor."

"Byleth, stand still, you need healing."

"Let me take him next."

"You fools lack the courage to face me in lone combat!"

"I have an idea…" Hapi sighed and waited for a monster to come, but nothing did. "Oh! So now the curse decides to stop-" A beast plummeted from the sky and in front of them, familiar golden wings stretched out in the sight of a breaking dawn. "No… Santaniel- don't-!"

"I ain't doing this alone. Remember the promise Claude. Now let's break these walls down."

———

Santaniel locked gazes with Nemesis, daring him to move.

'Stand tall.' He fixed his posture and kept his gaze strong, meeting his challenge.

'Deep breaths.' He took a deep breath and readied his trump card, Archangel was still there and ready to use.

'Don't take no for an answer.' He readied the Holy Twins and his eyes slit, "Fight me."

"Who are you boy? You dare to fight a God?!"

'Fight like hell.'

"If we're asking questions, let me ask you something. What is God to a man who does not believe? Now fight me!" He used Shatter and absorbed his energy pulsing through his veins. The purple blood coursing through with it and he practically glowed with power, the veins were reaching up to his neck.

This was it. His last fight and he would never dare to lose it. Not on his damn word at least.

The blur across the field was too fast to follow, Byleth and Santaniel crashing into him, scales covering the man's face as he tore at Nemesis' chest. Three claw marks drew blood, then two dots of a serpent's fangs unleashing poison.

He ducked one slash, jumped the second, took the next on the chin and gave the man a fierce right hook to his face.

He casted Fire on his feet and cut his calf. Nemesis went on the offense next and cut at his chest, shredding his jacket and cracking his amulet, purple blood dying the blade and it flowed from his wounds. "You are nothing to me boy!"

"Then why the hell are you bleeding you crusty, old bastard? Besides. I have nothing to fear from a man who kills a Goddess in her sleep now do I?" Byleth slashed next, Failnaught's arrows flying over his shoulders.

Santaniel absorbed his Holy Twins through his arms and talons took their place again. He attacked him with the Leistrung, throwing it into his shoulder and then wielded Sturmrufer. He readied his last couple breaths. Byleth and Claude were engaging him again, it was going well.

Then blood flew. Claude screamed. Byleth gasped. And Santaniel let go. "I'll send you back to Hell myself bitch! ARCHANGEL!"

Flaming wings burst from his back and Santaniel flashed, the flaming feathers and green eyes of Sothis reminiscent of one of her last descendants.

His eyes glowing with the paralyzing glare of anyone who faced Ernest or himself before their death.

The wings of Macuil to take him higher than any other in their path for knowledge.

The power of a blessing filled him.

The old king didn't dare die yet, slashing at Santaniel's throat with the Sword of the Creator. Three Crests burnt on his chest, one of Ernest, one of Macuil, and one of Blessings.

Fear filled Nemesis' eyes, the power of too much pain and not enough time to rectify it standing before him.

"SHATTER LIKE GLASS."

A beam of energy pierced Nemesis' chest, similar to the Immaculate One's flames as he scorched the earth and birthed a mini Ailel, draining his energy and his life to the brink. Failnaught found a home in his chest too.

Then, Nemesis screamed in pain, a deep grueling screech of hell itself. Byleth, bleeding badly, cut Nemesis's head from his body.

Santaniel flashed and fell to the ground, kneeling and panting, "I-'' He fell to his forearms, eyesight unfocused and ears ringing as people cheered, the remnants of Nemesis' army fading in the sunlight. "Santi-"

He blinked rapidly and shook his head, purple reaching up to his eyes now, "I… I don't have any time left to give…"

—————————

Ending One

Love Again

Santaniel was rolled onto his back, healing washed over him and he burnt badly, "I…"

"Don't speak, I'll get Linhardt-" He felt tear drops fall on his face and he finally saw clearly, focusing on the face of Lysithea.

"Lys-"

"It'll be ok-" Santaniel reached up and cupped her face, smiling, his thumb running under her eye and wiping away her tears. "Lys. I'm not going to make it. You know that, some things can't be changed, fate wanted this. This is just one thing I can't run through."

"No- don't say that."

"Lysithea. Please, just listen to me. Claude promised me he'd take care of you afterwards. Go with him to Almyra and open that restaurant for me alright?"

"But…"

"I get to see my family again. If this is what was planned for me, then I accept it, it has you at my side and I won't stop looking over you. I'm your guardian angel, remember? I don't want to go, I never want to. But I'll save some sweets for you up above alright? I love you, and I hope you love again."

He leaned up and kissed her with what he had left, his eye's light finally dying and he left his own body. 'I'm sorry Lys. But guys… I'm nor coming up. Not yet." His brothers' approval washed over him and he smiled.

Lysithea needed to get over her fear of ghosts now.

Lysithea clutched his departed body and cried for the entire way back, Claude and Lorenz comforting her as much as possible. Phantom feelings washing through her when Santaniel stroked her back, hugged her, and tried to comfort her.

When the war officially ended, she went to Ordelia territory and worked for a month straight, ending the Ordelia territory and adding it to Lorenz' land.

She followed Claude to Almyra after her surgery, and she opened a bakery in the capital.

It's most famous recipe was Saint's Double Chocolate Cake. The same recipe she'd given Santaniel on his seventeenth birthday.

————

Ending Two

Macuil's Miracle

Santaniel was rolled onto his back and he stared up at the pink and blue sky blankly. "Get Linhardt and Flayn!" He gripped Lysithea's hand and squeezed it, his vision fading. "I… I… Byleth do something!"

The mint haired man knelt down and placed his hands on Santaniel's chest, gritting his teeth and pressed as close to his heart as possible. He used Recover and the veins receded just a bit, "Get Santaniel to a medical tent! Quickly! Marianne, Flayn, I'll need you two to help me."

"I- I don't know anything about surgery-"

"I just need your magic, hurry!" Balthus and Raphael hefted his body up and ran him to the tent, sliding him on an operation table. Linhardt hummed as he gathered the tank of emergency blood, that of multiple volunteers with the same blood type and he casted the long, rigorous spells. He grunted through the entire process as it drained his body.

Felix and Annette did their best to comfort a frantic Lysithea, but all came to a stop as similar golden wings covered the battle field. "Brother?!" Seteth yelled, completely in shock.

"BROTHER?!"

"Cihol. Where is the boy?"

"H-he's in the tent but-"

"Give me his amulet. The boy needs the blood of a Nabatean or relative to live, not a volunteer's blood. This isn't a simple transfusion."

Seteth nodded and retrieved the cracked metal object from Santaniel's things.

"Here- Don't do anything drastic." The beast flashed and an old timey looking man took his place, dressed in all white robes. "Cethleann. Prepare to perform the surgery."

"I don't have the spells mastered-"

"You don't need to. You have someone right here who does."

"Who are you?"

"Why do humans ask so many questions… Do you want the boy to live or not? It isn't his Nabatean blood that is killing him, it is his mixed blood. The Crests are fighting each other for control, and he needs someone with the same type. I am the only living creature able to grant this. Now, hand me that knife…"

Macuil casted a white magic spell and blood started to flow between the two bodies through the open wounds, "Start casting the spells. Since I have only one Crest this will only knock a couple hundred years off my life."

"Only-"

"Would you focus boy?!"

"Sheesh! Sorry!" The surgery lasted more than three hours, people only growing more worried by the minute, once it was done only a few visitors were allowed inside. Claude, Lysithea, and Byleth were those few and gathered around his sleeping body. "How long until he wakes up?"

"A week."

"He'll live?"

"For more than a millennium." Lysithea turned and met the elder man eye to eye, "Who are you?"

"The only Nabatean healthy enough to spare my blood to save your love. You're welcome. You humans are always so caught up in yourselves you nearly didn't consider him to be a different species. It explains why he didn't immediately attempt to kill me in Sreng."

"But… Why did you help him?"

"He gave me closure on my sister's death. He will continue my race's legacy. He deemed you worthy to do such a thing, don't let him down. I will return to Sreng, do not bother me Reigan."

Claude raised his hands in surrender and Macuil met Byleth's gaze, "You have the stink of Sothis upon you… Hmph."

The man stepped outside and tossed Seteth the ammeulat, flashing, and took off into the blue Verdant Rain Sky.

Santaniel stirred in his sleep and Lysithea turned to hold his arm, worry etched on her face and Claude mirrored it. Byleth seemed relieved to anyone's naked eye, but his Golden Deer knew he felt the same as the others.

--

The next two months were hell for the two lovers. After Santaniel awoke from his week-long sleep, it was Lysithea's turn to go under the knife.

Her Crests were removed successfully, the blood of Seiros took its place at the charity of Rhea before her death, and Linhardt was practically hailed as the greatest Crestologist ever.

It was actually a transfusion, performed similarily to how Seiros gave her Crest to Jeralt. No side effects. With a happy life looming.

The next month and a half were filled with paperwork and Santaniel learned about politics and how Byleth's marriage to Hapi affected Fódlan. They attended the wedding, Claude, Santaniel, and Yuri acting as Byleth's best men.

Constance, Hilda, and Lysithea served as bride's maids and a grand feast was held afterward. The experiments snuck off towards the library and listened to the festivities from the lofty room of the Monastery.

"Hey Lys…"

"Hm?" She turned and met Santaniel on one knee, a golden ring and white gem in the center in his hand. "How about we change your last name, so people don't forget it huh?"

She blushed and tackled him, happy tears edging her eyes, "You idiot… Yes."

The couple spent weeks searching for the perfect spot to set up their restaurant and bakery after their wedding. Finally settling on Deirdru. The business was busy and successful for years to come afterward, and eventually fell to the hands of their children.

It's said that the couple was never seen again after they originally retired. Yet a story persists that when you follow the trail of a silver jacket, rattling of a snake's warning, you'll always find a mirror.

The happy giggling of a couple and a far off island's waves echoing from it.

Weeks Remaining: Enough

Progress on Cure(s): Cured!

AAAAAND SCENE! WOO! I hope you guys loved this story. I put a lot of effort into it and this is the last official chapter I'll do on it… Unless you idiots want more of course! I have an upcoming epilogue consisting of their endings and what happens when Santaniel joins the Crimson Flower route! Stay tuned for it folks! Also… Maybe a solo project too ;)

Love- Ya boi Guardian