Chapter 39
Here Be Consuls
Looking at the Black Cradle, Kokonoe nervously noticed periodic dark red pulses from it. Gazing down at the tablet she was holding, she then performed a scan, sending out a thin beam of pale green light at the Ferronis the Black Cradle was attached to. "That's odd. If anything, the Black Cradle is considered the Embryo now. But there's also something dark and eldritch inside it.", she said to herself. Walking into the hangar, Shulk asked, "So, what is the verdict?". "Well, I think there might be something else in the Black Cradle. I don't know what it is but it seems very familiar to the dark presence in Ragna's right arm.", Kokonoe replied. "You know, I sensed something strange in the Black Cradle too. Just what could be in it?", Shulk said. "Incidentally, did you sense anything within Jack? Anything dark?", Kokonoe asked. "Now I think about it, I did sense that his left arm was very similar to Velvet's and his right arm was very similar to Ragna's. I don't even know how a living Azure Grimoire like him is even possible.", Shulk replied. "Well, the entire body containing an Azure Grimoire isn't exactly unprecedented. After all, Hazama has the BlazBlue in his chest, but he's an artificial creation so I don't think he really counts.", Kokonoe said. "Not to mention how Jack has Sovereign powers and is also the Dominant of both Odin and Phoenix, although Byleth has the other half of Phoenix.", Shulk said. Looking at the Ferronises, Kokonoe said, "Shulk, how are we going to power these things anyway? We're down one Chaos Emerald and the new Flame Clocks Y is making aren't ready yet. If you have a crazy solution planned, now would be the time to hear it.".
As Shulk and Kokonoe were talking, Rex opened his eyes, wearing a sinister suit of red and purple armour. "Arise, Consul R III.", Z said. Rex smiled, a red infinity symbol glowing in his left eye. "Now you're one of us, Father.", Mio said. "He sure is, my love.", Noah said. "To see Shulk and Rex join us as Consuls, it brings a tear to my eye.", Triton said. "With the Replica Monado EX+ and the Firelight Swords with us, the Endless Now will now continue forever. A sublime experience.", Sena said. "By the way, what are we gonna do about the green Chaos Emerald? That ingrate Jack destroyed it against Clive.", Eunie said. "No need to bother yourself about that, Sister Consul. Brother Y is working on a recreated version of it with Tails' help.", Shania said. "Even still, we need to be vigilant if the Endless Now is to continue forever.", Rhea said. "Don't you worry about that. Once Yuito is coronated as Our Sovereign, I have a feeling that the Endless Now will just prolong itself.", Byleth said, a red infinity symbol glowing in his right eye. Suddenly, Micaiah rushed in, panting. "What brings you here, dear ally?", X asked. "Jack's relearned how to semi-prime into Odin.", Micaiah said. "This is a grave problem.", Z said. "Don't you worry. I'll crush him and then Yuito will become the Mythos, qualifying him to rule over all.", Rex said, grinning.
Drinking a cup of tea, Dimitri then felt a strange sensation within him, a red infinity symbol glowing in his right eye. "Are you OK, Dimitri? You seem under the weather.", Edelgard asked, a red infinity symbol glowing in her left eye. "Don't worry, it's nothing.", Dimitri said. "That just makes us more concerned that there is something wrong.", Claude said, a red infinity symbol glowing in his right eye. "Truth be told, I'm starting to wonder if what we're doing is all for naught.", Dimitri said. "Even a Mote of Light like you shouldn't be concerned with that. What's important is that we succeed with the Endless Now and bring peace to all.", Edelgard said, a faint smile on her face. "Still, what that ingrate has done concerns me.", Claude said. "How so?", Dimitri asked. "Well, given that he created seven digital copies of the Chaos Emeralds and placed them here into Cyber Space, I'd expect that he'd help us acquire them. But instead he feels the need to destroy them and wreck our plan to make Yuito the Mythos and Our Sovereign. It just seems very strange.", Claude said. "You're right. It does seem strange.", Edelgard said. "I'm sure he has his reasons for doing so.", Dimitri said.
Approaching the Ring Vault in Agnus Castle, Shiden examined the architecture intently. "That reminds me, Shiden, do you know how to prime into Ramuh?", Kagero asked. "Well, I'm capable of semi-priming and know how to do it, but I don't know how to properly transform. Then again, it's not like I need to anyway.", Shiden replied. Sighing, Kagero then placed his hand on the door, hearing a strange rumbling. The door opened, prompting the two to enter the Ring Vault, gazing upon the red Chaos Emerald. Picking up the emerald, Kagero said, "6 down, one to go.". Suddenly, Dohalim walked in. "Lord Dohalim, what is it you desire?", Shiden asked. "Shiden, have you heard anything about Jack's current whereabouts?", Dohalim asked. "Well, I don't know anything specific, but I think he might be in the Cyber Space recreation of his house. Why he's there, I don't know.", Shiden said. "It's just that we need him here to ensure that the Flood of Light consumes all. If the Flood is destroyed, then the Ascension Project is good as ruined.", Dohalim said. "Still, we also need all seven Chaos Emeralds to ensure that the Flood of Light spreads over the entire Multiverse. Until that happens, we cannot move forward with the Ascension Project anyway.", Kagero said. "That is true.", Dohalim said.
Entering a pastel pink coloured room, Naomi watched Kasane intently. Kasane calmly used her psychokinesis to lift up a vial of purple nail polish, using it to lather her toenails in a rich purple. Then, Kasane grabbed the vial and lathered her fingernails in that same rich purple normally. Setting the vial down, she then lied back and relaxed. Naomi then walked further into the room, to which Kasane turned her face and looked at her. "Oh, hey sis.", Kasane said, a red infinity symbol glowing in her right eye. "Kasane, why did you do it?", Naomi asked. "Come on, Byleth, Claude, Dimitri, Edelgard, Rex and Shulk did it too. Besides, who wouldn't want to give up their humanity to ensure the Ascension Project succeeds?", Kasane replied. "But there had to have been another way other than joining Moebius.", Naomi said. "I know, but maybe there wasn't really a way to prolong the Endless Now otherwise.", Kasane said. "That reminds me; you do know what we're going to do when the time comes, right?", Naomi asked. "Yeah. To be honest, Yuito's a fool for continuing to believe that he even has a remote chance of being crowned as Our Sovereign. I mean, even he must have realised the truth about the folly of his efforts to become the Sovereign. He doesn't even have the necessary trait to become one anyway, what with his lack of an equal disposition towards all types of Dahnan astral energy.", Kasane said. "Even so, it is a necessary manoeuvre to ensure that the Ascension Project succeeds.", Naomi said, looking at the vial of purple nail polish.
Walking down a corridor with a red satin carpet, Shulk noticed a strange letter attached to the door to his and Fiora's room. Reading the letter, Shulk then crushed it in anger, a red infinity symbol glowing in his right eye. "Let me guess, something's not really right?", Maruki asked behind him. "Even so, it's nothing that the Ascension Project cannot fix.", Shulk said. "I hope you're right, Lord Consul.", Maruki said. Entering the room, Shulk was greeted by Fiora's passionate embrace. "Oh, the red armour of a Consul certainly is a good fit on you, dear.", Fiora said. "Indeed it is.", Shulk said. Meanwhile, Nikol watched the two, an expression of abject horror on his face.
The story continues in the next chapter.