The ship landed and the passengers then departed it. They approached Team Dark, Sira, and Natalie. Arthur’s eyes widened.as he saw Sira. “Sira?!” he called. Sira turned and arched an eyebrow.
“Do I know you?” she asked.
“You know my name, though my shape would probably make me appear as a liar. Tell me, dost thou remember the time when we once played by the lake?”
“I…don’t know of any Hedgehog man I played with, only Natalie as we romanced each other.”
“Thou once told me that thy heart bent not towards any man, but a woman. I remember promising thou that I would ensure that thy marriage to a woman be kept secret and asked Merlin if he could make thy partner appear as a man to those outside those who knew. He said he could not, so thou and thy partner spoke to a nature woman, and she made both of ye…maidens of magic, if I remember correctly.”
“That was at Lake Logres! So you DID return, Your Majesty!”
“Hold on!” called Optimus. “Sira, I hate to ask this, but how old are you?!”
“I was born in the time of Camelot, as was Natalie.”
“The time of Camelot! You two were under King Arthur’s rule?!”
“Indeed.” Sira then spoke to Arthur. “Your Majesty, it’s wonderful to see you! Let’s have a look at that wound!” Arthur then showed off a scar in his chest. “It’s healed quite nicely! So, if you’re here, then that sword over there MUST be Excalibur!” She pointed to the sword in the anvil on the stone as it was being pulled by Shadow. He tried to get it out, but to no avail. Omega then tried, but the results were the same.
“HOLD!” called Arthur. Everyone turned to him Sira whispered the news to Natalie, and the maid goggled at him. “I am King Arthur, the owner of that sword! Let me try!”
“…What?” asked Rouge.
“You’re deranged,” muttered Shadow.
“Curb thy wagging tongue, Boy!” snarled Arthur.
“Aw, is little Shadow unable to pick a sword out of a stone?” laughed Sonic’s voice. He sped by them and was tossing the sword carelessly. Arthur was amazed.
“…Be ye of my blood?!” he asked.
“…I don’t think so,” said Sonic. He put the sword back into the anvil and let Arthur try. Arthur gripped the sword’s handle, steeled himself, then pulled. It came out as easily as when he was a boy. He grinned as he felt whole once more.
“If both of us can pull this sword out as easily as the other, then tis proof we are of the same blood,” declared the Once and Future King.
“But I’m a Hedgehog!” protested Sonic. “From what I can remember about you, you were a human! How’s THAT possible?!”
“Well there ARE Mobian animals that had human origins in their bloodline,” recalled Natalie. “Maybe you’re one of them.”
“I guess,” muttered Sonic.
“It would make sense,” said a new voice. Everyone yelped as the sword bounced itself on its tip with the hilt pointing towards the sky. A face then appeared on it. “So, the knave has pulled me out of the stone once more.”
“…C…Caliburn?” asked Sonic.
“In the world of the Knights of the Round Table, you pulled out a version of me connected to the real me,” explained the sword. “Here, I am Excalibur.”
“Thou…thou spake not in mine era!” mumbled Arthur.
“I wasn’t charged with enough of Gaia’s energy to do so, Your Majesty,” explained Excalibur. “Now, I believe there is a prisoner to release.”
“Aye, there is.” Arthur then approached the glowing tree. It was shimmering in all the colors of the rainbow. “Merlin, ye who hath been imprisoned for long of time, thy student stands before you and urges ye! Come forth! Break the locks of thy prison and return! Return! RETURN!” The only response was the wind. It started out as a light breeze, then it picked up. Natalie’s eyes widened.
“It’s alive!” she breathed. “An Air Elemental!”
“An Elemental?” asked Arthur. “I wish not to speak with Elementals, but to their maker! Elemental, where is thy master, Merlin?” The wind then blew furiously.
“GO BACK TO THY GRAVE, PRETENDER! RULE THE DEAD!” roared the wind. Fire then covered the sky.
“ENGLAND NEEDS YE NOT, USURPER!” it crackled. “GO AWAY!”
“NO!” shouted Arthur as he grabbed Excalibur. “I am Arthur Pendragon, King of England, and I WILL BE HEARD!” He brought the blade through the glowing tree in a horizontal slash.
“OUCH!” shouted Excalibur. The tree fell and it stopped glowing, revealing normal bark. The light show had abandoned its bark and formed into the shape of a human. It then died down to reveal a man in robes, with a long beard, and a piercing gaze from under his cowl.
“You have been heard, Arthur Pendragon, and answered by Merlin!” rumbled the old man.
“I never thought I would see you again, Merlin!” chuckled Sira.
“Ah, the Lady Sira!” greeted Merlin. “Tell me, is it legal for you to marry the woman you love yet?”
“It’s been legal for some time now,” answered Natalie. “It became so in the 2010’s.”
“Excellent, then there is no need for me to hide my support anymore. I, myself, have no use for it as I don’t need it to be happy, but it does my heart good that Gaia’s Magic Maidens are free to love each other as their heart demands.”
“I be happy for them as well,” snarled Arthur, “but explain why thine Elementals dared mock me! Thou mayst be my mentor, but I am still thy king!”
“Calm yourself, Arthur. The Elementals knew what they were doing,” assured Merlin. “Specifically, they were baiting you so you would free me. Now, with you awake, that means Morgane is as well, or is in the process of doing so.”
“You think she will try to thwart our purpose?”
“Most likely.”
“Then, by heaven, let us…!”
“WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!” Shadow finally shouted. Everyone turned to him. “…Sorry, it’s just been a rough few weeks! …Months?! I’ve honestly forgotten how long it’s been since the Unicron Games! All I know is that I got a call about a glowing tree! Then a sword popped up from the ground and I tried to pull it out! All of a sudden, I’m surrounded by two versions of the Faker who pulled it out successfully, freed some shmuck from a tree, went on to reveal that Camelot was real and that Excalibur talks, to which I’m heartbroken to report I didn’t even find all that strange, when what I need are answers as to what’s going on here!!”
“And once Cliffjumper’s team finds Shahra’s ring and escapes the Thrashracons, answers will be given,” replied Merlin.
“Hang on a minute, Shahra?!” asked Sonic. “A genie girl?!”
“You met her?”
“I traveled through the Arabian Nights with her to stop the Erazor Djinn.”
“Wait, that was a real thing?!” asked Shadow.
“Yeah.” Shadow then stopped for a minute to process what he just heard.
“Okay, willing to accept that.”
“In the meantime, we must return to the Autobot base,” mused Merlin. “Optimus, how skilled are you in Locus?”
“How did you…never mind. I can cast it without chanting it.”
“Would you mind getting us there? I still need to get adjusted to this body right now.”
“Sure. Everyone, gather around.” The instant they did, Optimus concentrated on the spell.
“…Wait, what was that about the…?” Blackarachnia’s question faded as they did. Soon, the remains of Merlin’s prison were all that remained.