PoV: Sally

  It was time. Three days had passed and the sacrifice was set to be done before Sonic's shrine. We laid the Priest on a stone table that had been built just for this event. We set down clay bowls and the largest gourds we had to fill them. I'm sorry Sonic, but you can't escape unless I do this.

"Last words, Priest?" I asked as the prayer was chanted. The bark of the tree began to glow blue between the cracks of the bark. The ceremony couldn't be stopped now.

"I... was meant... to become... an immortal king," he spat.

"That's too bad, you'll never become anything other than a tyrant," I took hold of the sacred katana and aimed toward his neck, just before I began the final prayer to summon Sonic.

PoV: 3rd Person

"Sonic..." the blue demon heard his name being called as a swarm of whispers went on and on in his mind.

"What is it?" Mephiles, who had been beside Sonic all day began to notice the discomfort.

"Nothing it just... I can-" Sonic gasped as the bottom of his yukata began to glow, "What's going on?"

"Those idiot villagers!" Mephiles got up and ran to the shrine. His plans for that night vanished before him. In the mortal realm, his shrine had been set ablaze. Fleetaway picked up Sonic and followed Mephiles, who quickly pulled open the shrine. It collapsed before their eyes. The mansion began to shake, the floors and walls cracking, "They destroyed the shrine... they've severed all ties... this entire place is going to come down... Get Sonic to the garden, NOW!"

"Wait Mephiles!" Sonic was carried out to his garden and the entire mansion collapsed.

Fleetaway was flying over all of it. Scourge and Mephiles made it just before the large piece of land the mansion was on collapsed into the clouds below. The only thing that remained was the garden.

"Fleetaway..." Sonic looked down, he had begin glowing up to his knees now, "I need to go to my shrine... They're calling for me."

"Okay, I'll take you there," Fleetaway flew down to the base of the cherry blossom tree. The tree was glowing, just as Sonic was. White orbs began to appear around the small demon as he walked up to his shrine.

"Sonic do not go through there. You have no idea what they've done!" Mephiles snapped.

  Sonic ignored him, following the call of his village. A vine gently carried him to the top of the tree and through the portal. Mephiles quickly followed.

"Mephile it's over!" Fleetaway jumped into the portal after them.

"Damn it, why do I get dragged into this," Scourge sighed as he felt a black tentacle around his ankle. He was pulled through with them.

---

  The sacred katana came down on the Priest's neck. Killing him. A glow so bright came from the shrine. A light that covered all of them in a blinding light. A light from within the shrine. There was no blood that came from the Priest, it had all gone elsewhere. All that remained was his dried, shriveled skin and bones.

  The villagers opened their eyes in awe. Small flying spirits now floated around the tree. Lanter spirits with warm lights floated along the water and within the tree. Along the ground, small rabbit sprites jumped. Rolling balls uncurled to reveal hedgehog sprites. Sally smiled as he picked one up, it nuzzled against her hand.

"We did it... Sonic is our new deity!" Sally announced.

  The villagers cheered, and the Priest's body was carried to the door of the shrine. Vines from the Lotus flowers dragged the body into the lake where it dispersed its nutrients for the cherry blossom tree.

"I don't think I can see anymore," Scourge growled from within the shrine.

"Whoa..." Fleetaway opened his eyes and looked along the artwork within the shrine. Everything from before they met Sonic was there, "No wonder they fought to get him back..."

"Those fools have no idea what they've cost me!" Mephiles snapped.

"Mephiles, I banish you from the world of the living," Sonic's voice interrupted all of them as he stood up. Black feathers around his body turned white as they fell from his body. A white halo was now floating over his head.

"You can't say anything-" Mephilies growled.

"I can in my shrine," there was a new kimono around Sonic. One that was pure white which faded to a light blue. Lotus flowers and lilies along the trim. A large cherry blossom tree was shown on the back, growing from the blue sea of Lotuses and lilies.

"Sonic..." Fleetaway looked in awe as Sonic turned. The sharp violet that surrounded his eyes was replaced with a soft round white marking instead. Almost as if his eyes had two feathers along the sides.

"You were never meant to get that blood!" Mephiles growled, quickly sharpening one of his tentacles.

"Leave, and never come through my shrine again," the roots of the cherry grabbed Mephiles, dragging him through the portal and back into the demon realm, where he would never return from.

"Sonic... So you were an earth angel after all," Fleetaway knelt down, "The baby bump is gone..."

"I had to give it up to complete the sacrifice. It's alright," he knelt down and held Fleetaway's hands, "I'm sorry the mansion is gone."

"That's alright. I missed being free," he raised Sonic's chin, "Can I?"

  Sonic stuck out his tongue and Fleetaway smiled. He lifted the kimono, both markings were gone along with the collar. Their bond was broken, and Sonic was free.

"I'm free too. Can I at least... visit you?" Fleetaway hugged Sonic.

"Of course. You're welcome in my shrine. You too Scourge, I'll even let you tend the toxic mushrooms," Sonic handed him a small pile of mushrooms he grew.

"Really! Alright, free shrooms," he grinned as stuck two into his mouth.

"I need to go greet my villagers now," Sonic gazed into Fleetaway's eyes, seeing the narrow pupils from his demon form remained.

"Hey, you're still a succubus aren't you?" Fleetaway grinned, "You can still live in the netherworld."

"Only half demonic, the growth abilities were never demonic. We just never knew," Sonic smiled before he opened the shrine door and was greeted by a loud cheer.

"You... you look amazing," Sally ran up to Sonic and bowed. When she stood Sonic hugged her.

"Thank you, for freeing me."

"You're our healing angel, we could never abandon you," she smiled.

  Sonic kissed her cheek and a halo appeared over her, it dispersed, sprinkling over her. "I give you and your future children my blessing. So long as your bloodline remains on the right path, only good faith will befall you."

"Sonic..." Sally cried.

"Let us all celebrate with a feast!" Every spring I shall bring prosperity to the land, and in winter, call to me to help you survive... I will protect this village for as long as I live," There was a large festival in Sonic's honor that night. Lanterns were made and lit. Children played, and music was finally able to fill the streets of our village.

  We were all free.

~~~

12/22/2021