VOICES: CHAPTER 11

Everything hurt.

Bahamut had existed since the first spark of light pierced the dark of Odin's veil. He had seen worlds flourish and civilizations burn, nurtured life and torn it down in a flash. But this was the first time he'd ever, truly, hurt.

Great Greagor this is far more painful than Ifrit made it sound, Bahamut hissed to himself. His Dominant didn't respond. The poor boy had lost consciousness during the fall, before Bahamut had seized control. It had been a moment of panic, when their shield broke and the full brunt of Ultima's blast hit them. They had managed to fire off enough megaflares to take the abomination down, but the damage was too much for Dion to keep his tenuous hold on the prime in tact. Bahamut felt the connection drop, and suddenly they were falling.

It was pure instinct, what had happened next. They were falling, and this was to be the end. Bahamut had felt it in the boy's words, but the spear of fire as Phoenix dove down to find where Ifrit had landed goaded the Eikon into action. This was not done.

A memory flashed before the Eikon of the Light as the wind rushed passed them.

You're ready?

Ifrit's voice had jarred the great wyrm out of his private thoughts. Dion was waiting patiently for the Brothers to say their goodbyes, and Bahamut hadn't entirely been paying attention, going over one last time their plan to keep Dion from succumbing to Bahamut's primal elemental nature during the prime. This whole idea that the others could simply reach out and contact him through whatever threads wove their powers to Ifrit was still very new, and while he was rapidly getting used to being startled by hearing the voice of one of his own, it did not make the sensation any less surprising.

I think my Dominant is ready to try, yes.

Will you two be okay?

Bahamut snorted fondly. He is a strong boy. Stronger than he knows. We can do this. The Eikon of Light glanced over at Ifrit's hazy hulking bulk across the threads. It was fascinating, this sensation of 'seeing' the other Eikons in their natural forms. A fusion of their physical manifestations and their elements that could spread across the bridges Ifrit's absorption of their powers had created. Bahamut wondered idly what the others might have looked like. Would Garuda have been as flighty and elusive as her winds? Titan an unmissable mountain? Would Odin have been as dark as Bahamut was bright? He would have loved to have met Leviathan, though according to the others he was…less than cordial about the whole idea.

Ifrit's rumble of fire and magma broke Bahamut's wayward train of thought and brought him back to the moment. What they were about to attempt.

If… Ifrit began suddenly, but cut himself off, a low growl of indecision making him hesitate. Bahamut cocked his head curiously.

If what?

There was another long pause before Ifrit seemed to come to a decision and continue. If…something happens…and he can't keep control-

He will, Bahamut interrupted harshly. Ifrit growled a bit in response and narrowed his eyes at the wyvern Eikon.

IF…he's compromised…there is a way for us to force it. A prime. Without overwhelming them.

Bahamut remembered the sensation well. Dion would call it 'his heart skipping a beat'. Bahamut hadn't really understand that turn of phrase until that moment.

What do you mean 'for US to force it'?  The dragon king balked, his 'voice' rising in pitch.  The human channels our aether, wields our power and allows our form to manifest, that is how it works, how it has ALWAYS worked. We don't initiate a prime without them unless we want to become the raging primals that emerge after our dormancy! What you're sugguesting is. Not. Possible.

Ifrit rumbled a bit in irritation, but held back any biting words. The second of the Fire Eikons had always been rather standoffish towards Bahamut since he had wandered into their conversations, Phoenix always subtly positioning herself to step in if her twin seemed close to snapping at him. To see Ifrit now personally restraining himself when he clearly wanted to snap at Bahamut's tone of disbelief was surprising, and made the wyvern king pause.

It IS. We can channel a prime if our link to our Dominant is damaged.

You can, you mean, Bahamut corrected, cocking his head at the horned fire Eikon. This entire conversation seemed silly, Ifrit was not like the rest of them, why assume they could duplicate anything he could do?

No, I mean WE, Ifrit snarled in warning, his temper flaring through bared teeth and seething flames. Whatever else Ultima has made of me, I am still an Eikon. I still have a Dominant. If I can do that, so can you. The younger Eikon of Fire simmered for a moment, letting his anger cool before he continued. But…the price to do it is high.

How high?

If it weren't for Phoenix, I would not be here right now, Ifrit said simply, but he seemed to notice Bahamut's lack of total dismissal.  He had intrigued the dragon Eikon, despite Bahamut's words, and he knew it. We can do it, but we aren't meant to. It may kill you.

You mean kill us?

No, Ifrit rumbled. Just you.

Bahamut was silent, letting that sink in.

He had taken on a very strange role in his Dominant's life, waking to the cries of an infant child with only emotions to speak with and wails to explain. A child devoid of guidance and warmth, cared for in all but the ways that mattered most to humans. He had taken it upon himself to nuture his Dominant when the shadow of darkness threatened to encroach. To comfort and to soothe when the rough edges of life threatened to overwhelm him. It was an uncommon choice it seemed, among Eikons with their Dominants, but as the Eikon of Light, Bahamut saw his nature as multi-faceted as the spectrum of his element. Embracing a lost Dominant who had so much potential seemed like the easy choice.

The fondness, however, did have drawbacks. It made judgements less clear, choices less easy, but it was very simple when he considered that both of their existences were intertwined. Light was there to guide, as was a commander of soldiers, and so with Dion as his Dominant, they could both guide their people without issue.

But what Ifrit was saying…if it was true…

If something went wrong, if Dion fell or could not keep control, then Bahamut could sacrifice himself to save him.

His life, for Dion's.

H…How? Bahamut had said after a long time. Ifrit looked back up from where he had been lying, waiting to see what the great wyrm's answer would be. How do you do this?

The younger of the Twin Flames grinned toothily at the Eikon of Light. It's gonna hurt like a bitch.

Bahamut shook himself out of the flash of memory and focused back on the present. They were falling.

Choose. He could choose.

A semi-prime. That's all they needed. Wings to slow the descent.

And so Bahamut had done as Ifrit had instructed and forced his way across that invisible boundary between Dominant and Eikon, claws grasping onto his side of the bond and clamping his jaws down on the frayed strand at the edge of Dion's consciousness. The pain was immediate and indescribable, the force of his own element was tearing him apart from the inside out, but the king of Dragons held on and redirected just enough of the violent flood of aether to manifest his wings from Dion's back.

It was not a graceful landing by any means, and Bahamut had heard the sickening crunch as Dion landed, indicating a likely broken bone or ten, but instead of shattering on the ground they managed to slow their decent enough to merely skid to a violent halt. As soon as the solid ground was beneath them, Bahamut had dropped the link and took his first real 'breath' in what felt like an eternity of agony.

Ifrit had not been exaggerating. The forced prime had torn a literal hole in Bahamut's side and he was bleeding light from the open gash. He had never seen anything like this and never felt pain of this magnitude. It was nothing like when his Dominants were injured or when his physical form took damage.

And that had only been a semi-prime.

Somewhere between wondering how in the world Ifrit had managed a full sustained prime without ripping himself in half and making sure Dion was still breathing, Bahamut realized he'd lost consciousness. Another new and disturbing feeling. Eikons only went dormant when their Dominant died, and when they woke again it was violently and with a new human host. They never just…woke up quietly still bonded to the same Dominant.

This must be what Ifrit meant when he said it caused him to go into a temporary torpor, The great wyrm muttered to himself. He lifted his head enough to notice that the wound had not gone away, but it had stopped violently bleeding light. And it still hurt to move. Time had clearly passed. There was dust settled on Dion's still form, but it fluttered into the dim filtered air as his chest rose and fell with his faint but steady breathing. His injuries were no longer openly bleeding, having clotted some during the missing time.

But he was alive. They were alive.

Bahamut glanced around at their surroundings after confirming Dion's safety. They had landed in the desecrated husk of what once was Twinside, now more tomb than city. Their landing had punctured a hole in the ancient crevices that had lain beneath the bustling city but nothing had followed them. Tentatively, Bahamut reached out to see if he could sense Phoenix and Ifrit. He was not ashamed to say he was relieved to sense them still, their twin pinpoints of fire still alight in the aether, but the way Phoenix was flickering wildly did concern him. Something had clearly happened while he had been unconscious.

Bahamut had almost managed to compose himself enough to try and see if he could reach them from where they were. He had no idea if their bridges held over long distances or not, but just as he was about try, the ground beneath them shook.

Oh that cannot mean anything good, Bahamut mused.

---

Everything happened so quickly. One moment everything was as it had been, her Dominant on guard as Ultima preened and assimilated his…whatever they were…and then next she felt the agonizing scream as the shard of Ultima Joshua had imprisoned so foolishly all those years ago finally tore its way out of his chest. It had been so fast Phoenix hadn't even realized it was happening until it was too late to even try and reinforce the shield.

The Phoenix shrieked reflexively as Joshua stumbled, a steady stream of blood pooling at his feet and through his fingers. It was her least favorite part of this existence, this feeling of helplessness at the end, but never before had it felt so poignant. Her Dominant was dying, and she could do nothing to stop it. If she healed him, the amount of magic he would have to use would turn the rest of his body to stone. If she did nothing, he would perish. There was no way out of this.

Joshua was going to die. And so was she.

Phoenix!

It was almost funny how both Ifrit and his Dominant cried out their corresponding names almost in tandem.

I can't heal him…it's too much, there's too much damage… Phoenix trilled sadly. She could 'see' the way her brother balked at the sheer notion of defeat, and had to chuckle. He really was so young…so much like Joshua in a way. There's nothing I can do.

What do you mean you can't?! You're the Eikon of Life!

There is nothing I can do that will not condemn him to the Curse.

Then what can WE do?!

Phoenix paused. We?

Ifrit's panicked growl seized on her reply in desperation.  What if we fused? We did it before, you could use us, my Dominant will gladly agree! The Curse doesn't hurt us!

He is broken, Brother, Phoenix repeated, the words getting harder to repeat as the reality of what she was leaving behind started settling.  It was no wonder Joshua and Clive clung to each other so desperately, after all they had been through.  If she had a choice, she would do anything to stay longer to make sure her sibling was safe.

Ifrit seemed of a similar mindset, though he was far less accepting.  This cannot be how it ends! There has to be something!

The firebird's mind was already in mourning, knowing there was nothing more to be done, but her heart or whatever passed for one did not let her give voice to those words. Instead she turned to her dying Dominant, feeling the creeping gasps as their bond grew weaker. Looking at the grievous wound in Joshua's chest, it gave the firebird a desperate, flimsy flicker of an idea.

Maybe…

Maybe… Phoenix said, almost in a daze. She couldn't believe what she was about to suggest. Maybe…if YOUR Dominant could heal him…

There was a frustrated snarl from her brother. We cannot heal with just the blessing.

You can with the rest of my power.

No!

It is the only way.

Ifrit was actively pacing, seeming to wrack his mind for any other option, but appeared to keep coming to the same conclusion Phoenix had. She couldn't heal Joshua without killing him, as it was his body that would have to bear the brunt of the power she would need to restore him. Clive could not heal him with just the Blessing at his disposal. The only answer was for her to let Ifrit absorb the rest of her power.

It might kill you…I don't know if…I've never tried to control this power. If I can't…

You can. You have a habit of doing the impossible, brother. And I trust you, Phoenix pleaded. Ifrit made a valiant effort to try and refute her, but in then end she heard his resigned agreement rumble across the threads.

This would be difficult. She would have to go over entirely. She could not remain with Joshua…and yet she could not be parted from him. He was still her Dominant.

So she would have to take him with her.

Phoenix turned to her rapidly weakening Dominant. My friend, it is time.

Time? was Joshua's delirious reply.

To let me go. I have to help my brother. Help your brother. You have done all you can. Let me do the rest.

What…are you planning to do?

Phoenix gently brushed her beak against Joshua's mind, a gesture of trust she had often used to soothe him during the long recovery after Phoenix Gate. Do you trust me?

I suppose it would be silly to say I didn't at this point, Joshua laughed softly.

Then trust me now. And do not let the light go out.

The light?

Promise me.

Phoenix turned her focus on Joshua's brother, desperately pleading with Flames knew what for his brother to live, until she saw the dim light of understanding in her Dominant's eyes.

I promise.

Then give me over, and we will do the rest.

Joshua didn't directly respond to her, but his death grip on his brother's shoulder was enough of an answer. With her Dominant's blessing, she turned back to Ifrit.

Alright, Ifrit. Now you try and take him with you. Just like he took Ultima with him.

And you give me grief about MY bad ideas?! her twin barked, looking at her as if she'd gone mad. I don't even know how you did that to begin with!

Phoenix cocked her head as she felt the pull of the transfer begin, a crooked bird-grin directed at her brother at the other end. It wasn't as hard as you'd think. Just a simple cage of fire. And, if I can do it….

…then so can I, Ifrit snorted in amusement.

She watched as Ifrit attempted to replicate the snare they had used on Ultima, using a combination of her own magic and fortifying it with his own, lining it with the healing of her flames. When it was complete, Phoenix grabbed the tiny sliver of Joshua that was still there and pulled it over with her as the last of her power went over to Clive. As soon as she was over entirely she shoved Joshua into the snare and let it snap shut. Not unlike the trap they had sprung on Ultima five years prior, some small shard of her Dominant sat in the center, dormant but alive, this time sustained by the flames of rebirth instead of constrained by the flames of death.

Joshua was secured, but now Phoenix had to orient herself. Nothing felt or perceived like it should, some mixed blur of Ifrit's senses and her own, it was difficult not to be swallowed up by the overload. It was already a strange enough sensation, swapping Dominants. In a sense, it felt much like their prior fusion had, where her fire and Ifrit's mingled and complimented each other, only this time, she could see her own flames being manipulated by someone else. And with Ifrit now fully awake it was far more difficult to keep the two of them separate.

Did it work? Ifrit muttered after a moment. Phoenix 'blinked' at her surroundings. There was a thin wall of black and red flames just barely visible between her and everything else; some fence Ifrit seemed to have erect to keep her consciousness separated from everything else. He was also keeping his distance from her, likely in an attempt to make sure he didn't entirely consume her consciousness. She had entirely come over, this was not a partial absorption like the other Eikons.

Of course, fire would call to fire. And right now, she had no Dominant to go back to. It was a miracle she hadn't been consumed immediately.

I think so, Phoenix said slowly, adjusting to her new surroundings. Just like when they'd fused, it was just like that, she just had to focus…keep her focus…

Ifrit rumbled out what amounted to a sigh of relief, which was quickly replaced by a growl of anger directed at the foul presence that was growing stronger behind them.

Ultima, Ifrit snarled, the hatred in his voice so thick Phoenix shuddered at the potency of it.  She may have underestimated how much her brother hated this entity.

I…cannot help you with him…I…Phoenix started to say, but a lash of Ifrit's tail cut her off

Don't worry about us. Protect yourself and your Dominant, Ifrit said through bared teeth. We will handle this THING.

Phoenix nodded and flared her wings protectively over the globe of fire. Kick his ass, Brother.

The huff of embers was all the assurance she got before Ifrit's attention was called back to his Dominant and the fight at hand.

Despite her bravado, it was a truly terrifying experience, trying to keep her sense of self in tact while making sure she retained enough magic to sustain the shield around Joshua. And somehow Ifrit and his Dominant managed to withstand the strain of her magic use along with their own, which…seemed quite extensive. There was a dull roar of battle in the background that Phoenix could almost perceive but the moment she would try and focus on it her control would waver.

Her brother was strong, she had known this. She had watched him take on Gods and Eikons over and over again and survive, seen his Dominant weave all the elements of the Wardens together in a tapestry of battle that defied explanation. But it wasn't until now that she realized just how powerful the two of them really were, and she realized very quickly that she had to be careful. It would be far too easy for their temporary fusion to become permanent, and if she gave in, so too would her control over the small amount of magic she kept a close grasp on to keep Joshua alive.

She was not sure how long she stayed there in that precarious tug of war, her wings wrapped protectively over the last sliver of her Dominant while she tried to resist the tempting lure to add her fire to the storm going on in her periphery. At some point the pull towards the flames that were Ifrit lessened, but never truly dimmed. It must've meant that he was no longer priming, but the surges of aether did not relent, so the battle must not have ended. There were some very close calls, where Ifrit's flare grew dangerously dim and she almost, almost, gave in and tried to channel more of her power into helping her brother, but then suddenly he'd be back up again.

Don't let the fear control you. That's what Joshua had said. Fear for him, but don't let it force your hand. Be there to pick him up if he falls. So far, her brother had not fallen, so she had to hold out and keep her end of the promise. She didn't need him worrying about her. She had to trust in her brother's strength and maintain her own.

What had Shiva called him, that one time Phoenix had managed to corner the Ice Queen without Ifrit's attention being on them? Hellfire with an arsenal.

She could certainly agree with that now.

You know, my friend, my time with you and your brother has been the most exciting of my long existence? Phoenix chirped weakly, trying to distract herself from the fight. I discovered that I have a brother, and furthermore, I became able to hear him! And not just him. Other Eikons. Did you know that Bahamut is actually may care for his Dominant as a human might their own child. It's quite adorable. And speaking of softies, did you know I think Shiva may have a soft spot for Ifrit? She hasn't been insulting him nearly as much as she used to. I think she may like him! And it's sweet because I know Ifrit likes bantering with her the most. And if I'm being honest, I enjoy speaking with her too. I might even call her my friend.

The Phoenix grew quiet as she contemplated all that had happened. Her entire existence she had been passed down along a line of leaders and rulers to the Motes of Fire. She had seen wise rulers, cruel ones, weak ones, strong ones. Ones who ran from their calling, others who embraced it, some who became obsessed with it. Some of her Dominants had cared to listen to her, others ignored her, most fell somewhere in the middle.

Joshua was one of the curious ones, ever since he was a child sickly and injured, with little else he could do except lie in bed and ask his 'imaginary friend' questions. She had fully awoken to a crippled Dominant, bound and broken to a sickbed and tended by the Undying for years. Joshua, when he realized Phoenix was awake and what she was, was a voracious consumer of knowledge, always asking questions and prying deeper than seemed necessary. But that constant questioning, that pursuit of the unknown was what had lead to their discovery of Ultima, the machinations behind the chaos of their world, and ultimately, it had lead them to Twinside where they rediscovered family and friends thought lost or never known.

And then Shiva's Dominant, his childhood friend and surrogate sister, had asked that silly, seemingly innocent question; "What does Ifrit sound like?".

It had changed everything. It woke Ifrit from whatever slumber Ultima had kept him in, and in doing so it gave them all a gift that could never be repaid. A voice for Ifrit. A friend for Shiva. A brother for Phoenix. A family. Friends. Things Eikons were never meant to have and things that have proven priceless.

I do not know if or how we will survive this, my friend, but I owe you everything and more than I can explain, Phoenix whispered to the shard of Joshua beneath her wings. You have given me a family and friends to call my own, things I would never have known if not for you. No matter what happens, I am proud to have called you my Dominant.

Phoenix?

The Phoenix startled out of her thoughts when she heard the quiet voice of her brother. She hadn't even realized that the fight had ended, so caught up in her thoughts. Ifrit sounded winded, ragged, and worn, but his presence was still strong. Still his.

They had won.

Is it done?

Ultima is dead. Yes.

Then we are free?

When Ifrit didn't answer right away, Phoenix dared lift her gaze away from Joshua's shard and turn to her sibling. He seemed relatively untouched, but she could see the oily presence of another power lingering in the halo of his flames. Ultima's power. So the demented god truly was finally gone.

Ifrit?

Almost, he said finally, and turned his head upwards toward the winding tendrils of crystal that hung above their heads. We have one more crystal to destroy.

Phoenix cocked her head at the way her brother worded it. There was something he was hesitant to tell her.

And?

She heard the heavy sigh as Ifrit turned back to her.

When we destroy this crystal, the aether of the world will be released. The world will be free to finally begin to heal…But with it too will all the influences of Ultima be purged…including magic….

…Including us… Phoenix finished for him. Her brother nodded, the strange shimmer of blues and greens sitting atop his flames flickering in tandem.

We will be free…but we will be our elements once again. Our forms…our voices…will disappear along with humanity's ability to channel magic. But the world will heal, and our Dominants will have a chance to survive.

Phoenix trilled thoughtfully, turning back to the tiny glimmer of Joshua that she still had cradled under her wings.

Heal him, Phoenix said gently. Before the crystal comes down. If his body is healed, maybe I can put him back before…before the end comes.

Dimly, Phoenix felt Ifrit's Dominant call on her power, and realized he must have heard her. She was still having trouble seeing anything besides Ifrit clearly, but she could vaguely make out a familiar shape of red and black with a mop of strawberry blonde that must have been Joshua's body.

She also noticed a familiar sensation along with the draw of power. It was like when humans described the pins and needles sensation of a limb losing its feeling, replaced by muzzy tingling instead of true sensory. A sensation she had an intimate and unfortunate familiarity with. The Curse.

I thought you said the Curse didn't affect your Dominant!  Phoenix flared, accusation directed at her twin.

Ifrit snorted sheepishly. Well it didn't before now…

My Dominant will never forgive yours if he dies for his sake, you know.

I know. Don't worry, I have an idea.

Phoenix couldn't help the caw of laughter, despite everything.  Oh that's when I know I should DEFINITELY worry, brother. Remember your last great idea? Channeling a prime against Odin?

It worked.

It almost killed you.

Almost. But it didn't.

Of course not, because I was there to save your sorry tail.

And you're here to save my sorry tail this time too, sister.

Phoenix chirped softly and sent out a playful flare of flame at her sibling, who swatted it aside and huffed a plume of ash back at her.

When the crystal comes down?

When the crystal comes down. Whatever we're going to do, we do it then.

Phoenix nodded in solemn agreement.  Once they began, their time would be at an end.  They both knew it.  I'm glad to have known you, Ifrit. I could not ask for a better brother.

Nor I a better sister. Are you ready?

Ready.

Then here. We. Go.

---

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