Chapter 34

A Crimson Light

Entering the temple, Noah caught the sight of a young woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a purple dress with an indigo trim. Beside her was a man with long red hair and pale blue eyes wearing a salmon pink shirt with detached salmon pink sleeves and black gloves, a pair of long white trousers, a pair of white shoes with golden toes and a white headband; a young teenage boy with spiky white hair and blue eyes wearing a blue t-shirt, blue shorts and blue boots; and a woman with short and spiky black hair and brown eyes wearing a lavender kimono, long black stockings, detached lavender sleeves and a large pink bow at the rear of the kimono alongside a smaller pink ribbon in her hair and lavender boots. "I knew I'd find you here, Lady Chosen.", Noah said. "So would I, Lord Consul.", the blonde-haired woman said. After a brief moment of reflection, Noah said to the blonde-haired woman, "Seriously though, Colette, we will have to find a way to perpetuate the Endless Now.". "Oh, we will.", Colette said. Turning her attention to the red-haired man, Colette said, "By the way, Zelos, do you know what possibility Jack is in?". "To be honest, if I had to really guess, it would have to be a possibility where Ragna has yet to turn into the Black Beast. Of course, that is just my guess.", Zelos said. Turning his attention to the black-haired woman with brown eyes, Noah said, "Sheena, have you had any contact with Jack's parents in regard to which dimension he travelled to?". "I don't think I have. Actually, I don't think they even know he's travelled into another possibility at all.", Sheena said. "Strange.", Noah said. Turning his attention to the teenager with spiky white hair, Noah said, "Do you know if Jack might come back to us, Genis?". "To be honest, that's his decision. Why do you ask?", Genis said. "Well, we need both the Dein Nomos and the Renas Alma if we are to crown the next Sovereign after Alphen. Given that Jack has them, I'd like to know when he'd come back so we can move on with the coronation.", Noah said. "You mean for that faker Yuito?", Genis asked. "No, not Yuito.", Noah said.

Meanwhile, Lloyd looked upon a sinister crimson altar. "This is where the next Consul will awaken, right?", he asked. "That is correct. Still, to think that Lapis was personally selected by Z to become part of the Great Family of Consuls. Makes me proud.", Shania said. Turning her attention to X, Shania then said, "Sister Consul, when shall Lapis's confirmation as Consul L begin?". "Why, very soon.", X said. As if on cue, Lapis then entered the room wearing a crimson gown adorned with a maroon infinity symbol on the chest. Approaching the altar, Lapis then laid herself on the crimson stone, her head looking up at the crimson ceiling. Z then walked out of the shadows into the red light. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness the birth and awakening of our newest sister- Lapis of Brodia. If there is any legal precedent that precludes our soon to be sister's rebirth, speak now or forever hold your peace.", Z said. Receiving a resounding silence, Z then spread his arms, gathering a crimson energy around his body. Two infinity symbols lit up in his eyes as the crimson energy spread and engulfed Lapis, forming a crimson cocoon. The energy solidified and crystalised, forming a hard red crystal; subsequently, a red infinity symbol appeared below the altar, engulfing both Lapis and the altar in a pillar of crimson light; the crimson light pierced the very Heavens about Garreg Mach, with Noah, Colette, Zelos, Genis and Sheena witnessing the crimson energy piercing through the Flood of Light. The crimson energy disappeared as the infinity symbols in Z's eyes vanished, leaving Lapis sleeping on the altar, now wearing a suit of sinister red and purple armour. Suddenly, Lapis awoke, a red infinity symbol in her right eye. Smiling, Z said, "From this day forth, you shall be known as Consul L. Welcome, dear sister.". Lapis then got off the altar, saying, "Thank you, dear Brother Consul.".

Rushing to the altar, Leif then sensed a very sinister chill down his spine. "No.", he said. "Cousin, what's wrong?", Marth asked. "We're late. Too late.", Leif said. "What do you mean? How are we late?", Eirika asked. "Lapis has awoken as a Consul now. She is Consul L III.", Leif said. "Is that not a good thing?", Celica asked. "No. Now Lapis has become one of them- Moebius.", Sigurd said. "If that's the case, then why didn't we intercept the ritual earlier?", Ike asked. "I didn't think that Z would move to induct Lapis into Moebius this soon. It's my fault.", Lyn said. "Come now, this only because Z chose to bring Lapis's confirmation ritual forward. We also failed to stop Z confirming Ouroboros but we didn't beat ourselves up over it.", Corrin said. "I know that, but still, we failed to stop Z in making yet another Consul.", Leif said. Rushing up to the Emblems, Shulk and Rex then panted heavily. "Did I hear that right? Moebius has a new Consul now?", Rex asked. "That's correct.", Lucina said. "That…that's great news!", Shulk said, a smile on his face. "What do you mean?", Byleth asked. "You know when the Convergence happened, with Aionios absorbing various other worlds into itself?", Shulk asked. "Yeah.", Micaiah said. "Well, during the Convergence, Z selected people he believed would become new Consuls; Lapis was one of them. Said chosen Consuls also included Karen Travers, Fubuki Spring, Hanabi Ichijo, Ragna the Bloodedge, Velvet Crowe, Lanz, Eunie, Taion, Sena, Kazuto Kirigaya, Melia Antiqua, Morag Ladair, Zeke von Genbu, Rex and myself.", Shulk said. "Wait, you're saying Lapis was chosen by the King of Moebius himself?", Roy asked. "That is correct. And now she is a Consul, making her eligible to become one of the rulers of Origin. It only requires her to select who she shall rule Aionios with- I believe she might have Jack in mind.", Rex said. "What, as Consul J III?", Sigurd asked. "No, as the Sovereign Consul.", Rex said.

While this was occurring, Rachel approached Jin. "Rachel, what's on your mind?", Jin asked. "Jin, you know when Mr. Hero was grievously injured after that little fight he was in at Prison Island, did you notice something odd?", Rachel asked. "You know, I did sense a certain crimson aura surrounding Shulk, Fiora, Reyn, Dunban, Melia, Sharla, Rex, Nia, Zeke, Morag, Noah, Mio, Eunie, Taion, Lanz, Sena, Matthew, A, Na'el, Nikol and Glimmer, yes.", Jin said. "But what about Riki, Tora and Vandham? What about them?", Rachel asked. "I sensed a crimson darkness inside them too. Come to think of it, the crimson aura was also surrounding Ragna and Velvet too.", Jin said. "And this crimson darkness, what was it?", Rachel asked. "Now that I think about it, the darkness was likely that of a Consul's crimson aura.", Jin said. "Do you know where Riki, Tora and Vandham are?", Rachel asked. "Come to think of it, I'd say they're currently bogged down in Cyslodia, but for what reason I don't know.", Jin replied. Suddenly, Dunban rushed in. Turning to face him, Rachel said, "Hello, Dunban. How is your sister Fiora?". "Quite well, thank you. Incidentally, Lady Rachel, do you know where the Ontos core is?", Dunban said. "If I were to hazard a guess, the core would be with Jack. However, I have no clue as to where he is exactly. After all, he is in another possibility.", Rachel said coolly.

Pouring herself a cup of tea, Shania sighed. "If he could only see how dire the situation is, then maybe he wouldn't be so inclined to run from who he really is.", she said to herself as the brown liquid filled the cup all the way to the top. Approaching her, X said, "Sister Consul, our new sister has awakened.". "Of course. Sister Lapis must rest first before settling into her duties as a Consul though.", Shania said. "Don't be like that.", X said. "It's true though. By the way, you owe me for giving you the City's location. Don't forget that.", Shania said. "Indeed. By the way, your mother had absolutely no excuse to treat you how she did. She must have realised that after your sister's death, you were the next heiress of House Reid; your mother had absolutely no reason to abuse you and compare you to your sister. Still, I am glad you joined us in the end.", X said. "Incidentally, where is my mother now?", Shania asked. "Oh, Brother Joran is keeping her trapped in the Crimson Prison.", X said. Shania smiled at this, happy that her mother was getting what she deserved.

Entering a sterile white room, Reyn looked upon a gathering of three- a small furball with blonde and orange fur and brown eyes; another furball with golden brown fur and brown eyes; and a very large man with dark skin, silver hair, greyish-brown eyes, pointed ears and white scales on both sides of his face wearing green and blue armour. Turning to face Reyn, the man with silver hair said, "Oh, you've come to tell us about Lapis' holy confirmation as a Consul, right?". "Yeah, that's right, Vandham.", Reyn said to the silver-haired man. "Still, to think Lapis count as Consul material. Bring tear to Riki's eyes.", the furball with blonde and orange fur said. "Tora think so too, Riki.", the furball with golden-brown fur said. Still, in order to make sure that the kingdom of the dead goes through, we will need the Dein Nomos and Renas Alma to ensure the Multiverse's destruction.", Vandham said. "How will the Multiverse be destroyed anyway?", Reyn asked. "Well, I believe that the Sovereign will use power from the Dein Nomos and the Renas Alma to synergise with the Flood of Light, causing a crimson explosion to consume the entirety of the Multiverse and replace it with a kingdom of death.", Vandham said. "It's just that I don't think that Our Sovereign will be all that willing to do so. Well, not as he currently is right now.", Reyn said. "Riki not understand why he run from holy duty as the Sovereign.", Riki said. "Well, it's very likely it has to do with his imposter syndrome. I really don't understand why he insists on not thinking of himself as the Sovereign though. No-one should be so dead set in imposter syndrome forever.", Vandham said.

Drinking a cup of tea, Amy looked at her beloved darling Sonic. "Still though, Amy, what brought you, Tails and Knuckles back here into Cyber Space?", Sonic asked. "To be honest, I really don't know. I just felt something horrid had happened and a very strong need to correct the grave injustice that had been committed and before I knew it I was back here in Cyber Space again.", Amy said. "Think it has anything to do with what happened to Jack?", Sonic asked. "You know, I actually think it might.", Amy said. "You know, I did see an angel with black wings and a black halo lying in wait outside the room where Jack was placed in Cyber Space too. If only I'd killed it right there and then, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess.", Sonic said. "Don't put yourself down like that, Sonic. You didn't know it was a threat at the time.", Amy said.

Meanwhile, Knuckles entered a dark hangar. "I feel a strange energy.", he said as a dark portal appeared.

The story continues in the next chapter.