The ship landed and the passengers then departed it. They approached Team Dark, Sira, and Natalie. Arthur\u2019s eyes widened.as he saw Sira. \u201cSira?!\u201d he called. Sira turned and arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo I know you?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou 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?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2026don\u2019t know of any Hedgehog man I played with, only Natalie as we romanced each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThou 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\u2026maidens of magic, if I remember correctly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was at Lake Logres! So you DID return, Your Majesty!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHold on!\u201d called Optimus. \u201cSira, I hate to ask this, but how old are you?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was born in the time of Camelot, as was Natalie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe time of Camelot! You two were under King Arthur\u2019s rule?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIndeed.\u201d Sira then spoke to Arthur. \u201cYour Majesty, it\u2019s wonderful to see you! Let\u2019s have a look at that wound!\u201d Arthur then showed off a scar in his chest. \u201cIt\u2019s healed quite nicely! So, if you\u2019re here, then that sword over there MUST be Excalibur!\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHOLD!\u201d called Arthur. Everyone turned to him Sira whispered the news to Natalie, and the maid goggled at him. \u201cI am King Arthur, the owner of that sword! Let me try!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026What?\u201d asked Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re deranged,\u201d muttered Shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCurb thy wagging tongue, Boy!\u201d snarled Arthur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAw, is little Shadow unable to pick a sword out of a stone?\u201d laughed Sonic\u2019s voice. He sped by them and was tossing the sword carelessly. Arthur was amazed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Be ye of my blood?!\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I don\u2019t think so,\u201d said Sonic. He put the sword back into the anvil and let Arthur try. Arthur gripped the sword\u2019s handle, steeled himself, then pulled. It came out as easily as when he was a boy. He grinned as he felt whole once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf both of us can pull this sword out as easily as the other, then tis proof we are of the same blood,\u201d declared the Once and Future King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m a Hedgehog!\u201d protested Sonic. \u201cFrom what I can remember about you, you were a human! How\u2019s THAT possible?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell there ARE Mobian animals that had human origins in their bloodline,\u201d recalled Natalie. \u201cMaybe you\u2019re one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess,\u201d muttered Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would make sense,\u201d 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. \u201cSo, the knave has pulled me out of the stone once more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026C\u2026Caliburn?\u201d asked Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the world of the Knights of the Round Table, you pulled out a version of me connected to the real me,\u201d explained the sword. \u201cHere, I am Excalibur.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThou\u2026thou spake not in mine era!\u201d mumbled Arthur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t charged with enough of Gaia\u2019s energy to do so, Your Majesty,\u201d explained Excalibur. \u201cNow, I believe there is a prisoner to release.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAye, there is.\u201d Arthur then approached the glowing tree. It was shimmering in all the colors of the rainbow. \u201cMerlin, 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!\u201d The only response was the wind. It started out as a light breeze, then it picked up. Natalie\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s alive!\u201d she breathed. \u201cAn Air Elemental!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn Elemental?\u201d asked Arthur. \u201cI wish not to speak with Elementals, but to their maker! Elemental, where is thy master, Merlin?\u201d The wind then blew furiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGO BACK TO THY GRAVE, PRETENDER! RULE THE DEAD!\u201d roared the wind. Fire then covered the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cENGLAND NEEDS YE NOT, USURPER!\u201d it crackled. \u201cGO AWAY!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNO!\u201d shouted Arthur as he grabbed Excalibur. \u201cI am Arthur Pendragon, King of England, and I WILL BE HEARD!\u201d He brought the blade through the glowing tree in a horizontal slash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOUCH!\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have been heard, Arthur Pendragon, and answered by Merlin!\u201d rumbled the old man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never thought I would see you again, Merlin!\u201d chuckled Sira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, the Lady Sira!\u201d greeted Merlin. \u201cTell me, is it legal for you to marry the woman you love yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been legal for some time now,\u201d answered Natalie. \u201cIt became so in the 2010\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent, then there is no need for me to hide my support anymore. I, myself, have no use for it as I don\u2019t need it to be happy, but it does my heart good that Gaia\u2019s Magic Maidens are free to love each other as their heart demands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI be happy for them as well,\u201d snarled Arthur, \u201cbut explain why thine Elementals dared mock me! Thou mayst be my mentor, but I am still thy king!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCalm yourself, Arthur. The Elementals knew what they were doing,\u201d assured Merlin. \u201cSpecifically, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think she will try to thwart our purpose?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost likely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen, by heaven, let us\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!\u201d Shadow finally shouted. Everyone turned to him. \u201c\u2026Sorry, it\u2019s just been a rough few weeks! \u2026Months?! I\u2019ve honestly forgotten how long it\u2019s 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\u2019m 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\u2019m heartbroken to report I didn\u2019t even find all that strange, when what I<\/em> need are answers as to what\u2019s going on here!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd once Cliffjumper\u2019s team finds Shahra\u2019s ring and escapes the Thrashracons, answers will be given,\u201d replied Merlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHang on a minute, Shahra?!\u201d asked Sonic. \u201cA genie girl?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou met her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI traveled through the Arabian Nights with her to stop the Erazor Djinn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait, that was a real thing?!\u201d asked Shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Shadow then stopped for a minute to process what he just heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, willing to accept that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the meantime, we must return to the Autobot base,\u201d mused Merlin. \u201cOptimus, how skilled are you in Locus?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow did you\u2026never mind. I can cast it without chanting it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWould you mind getting us there? I still need to get adjusted to this body right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure. Everyone, gather around.\u201d The instant they did, Optimus concentrated on the spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Wait, what was that about the\u2026?\u201d Blackarachnia\u2019s question faded as they did. Soon, the remains of Merlin\u2019s prison were all that remained.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The ship landed and the passengers then departed it. They approached Team Dark, Sira, and Natalie. Arthur\u2019s eyes widened.as he saw Sira. \u201cSira?!\u201d he called. Sira turned and arched an eyebrow. \u201cDo I know you?\u201d she asked. \u201cYou know my name, though my shape would probably make me appear as a liar. Tell me, dost […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,667],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-4196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-17-living-stories","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4196"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4197,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4196\/revisions\/4197"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}