Merlina the Wizard

Merlina is depicted as a slender and beautiful young girl with a fair complexion. She has hip-length magenta hair that she ties into a braid, along with large blue eyes and long, pointy ears. Her attire consists of a blue and purple wizard’s robe adorned with gold and purple trim on the back.

Past

Following in her grandfather’s footsteps, Merlina assumed the role of the Royal Wizard of Camelot and served in the Royal Court. However, at some juncture, she became aware of her world’s grim fate, which she perceived as extending even deeper than “the depths of the underworld.” This realization instilled in Merlina a somewhat nihilistic perspective, leading her to occasionally question the purpose of life, considering that everything is ultimately destined to perish. Driven by her desire to safeguard the kingdom of her grandfather,^[4]Sonic Team (13 March 2009). Sonic and the Black Knight. Wii. Sega. Area/Level: Gallery, Vault 1. “Underworld Queen: Merlina, changed into the Queen of the Underworld, guided by her desire to protect the kingdom of her grandfather.” Merlina became determined to ensure its eternal existence and preserve its beauty. To achieve this goal, she sought to obtain the scabbard of Excalibur.

Sonic and the Black Knight

During the opening sequence of Sonic and the Black Knight, Merlina is pursued by King Arthur and the Knights of the Underworld. In a desperate attempt to seek aid, she performs a summoning ritual to bring a “brave knight, swift as the wind” into the world of Camelot, leading to Sonic’s sudden arrival. After Sonic defeats the demon knights, Merlina intervenes to prevent him from attacking King Arthur immediately. Instead, she conjures a magical cyclone to teleport them away to the shores of Misty Lake.

After Sonic acquires Caliburn, Merlina explains that she cannot accompany them on their journey; as the Royal Wizard, she would attract unwanted attention from the residents of the kingdom. Merlina instead remains in hiding while Sonic wanders around the world of Camelot to complete his knighthood training. After Sonic defeats Sir Percival, Merlina appears to meet him, having witnessed all of the events Sonic partook in, and praises Sonic for his knighthood progress. She then informs him that King Arthur is located at Avalon. When Sonic goes to battle King Arthur for the final time in Faraway Avalon, Merlina is finally tracked down by the Knights of the Round Table in Camelot Castle. The Blue Blur arrives back just in time to intervene and gives Merlina the Excalibur’s scabbard, which then enables her to carry out her plans.

Merlina reveals that she had, all this time, been planning a double-cross. Summoning Sonic to the kingdom was not a scheme to defeat King Arthur and bring peace and liberty to the land, but rather to take the power of Excalibur’s scabbard for herself. Having foreseen the future of the storybook realm, Merlina realized that the Grand Kingdom was doomed to end in ruin and warfare—and is determined to stop these events from coming to pass, interpreting her grandfather’s dream of a kingdom that lasts forever literally. The wizard intends to apply the scabbard’s power of immortality to the realm itself by placing Grand Kingdom under a kind of magical stasis, fueled by the dark forces from the Underworld. As the castle falls apart around them, Sonic and the Knights flee through Knight’s Passage. In order to save the kingdom, the former lieutenants of King Arthur agree to work with Sonic and Nimue to halt the Dark Queen’s magic by activating four sacred stones. Sir Lancelot rushes to Shrouded Forest, Sir Gawain to Great Megalith, Sir Percival to The Cauldron, and Sonic to Dragon’s Lair.

Nimue’s plan is, however, ineffective in halting the spread of Merlina’s magic. Sonic and Caliburn head back to the castle to face Merlina in Dark Hollow (now transformed into the Dark Queen), where she explains her intentions. Enraged and disgusted, Sonic turns a deaf ear to Merlina’s words and attacks her, but only suffers a severe beating. After being bisected by the crazed sorceress, Caliburn fuses with the other sacred swords of the Knights of the Round Table to become Excalibur–simultaneously encasing Sonic in a suit of gold armor: Excalibur Sonic–and engages Merlina in a final battle.

After her defeat, Merlina returns to normal, but continues to lament the fate of her world. Sonic hands her a flower and comforts her, proclaiming the anarchic wisdom that while every world has to come to an end, they just have to live their lives to the fullest until that day comes. Reminiscing about her grandfather, Merlina takes the Blue Blur’s words to heart. Though her reaction is not seen, she is also present when Caliburn reveals that Sonic is the one and true King Arthur.

Sonic Runners

In Sonic Runners, Merlina appears as an S Rare Buddy who activates a random Color Power after a certain number of combos.

During the “Windy Hill in Spring Event,” Merlina came to Earth, where she was introduced to Team Sonic by Omochao. After Merlina greeted them, Omochao asked Team Sonic to give her a tour while promising that her powers would be of use to them, to which Team Sonic gladly accepted.

Merlina is portrayed as someone who cherished the kingdom her grandfather, Merlin, helped create with immense love. She valued every aspect of it, from the dancing meadows to the singing birds and the blooming flowers along the roads. However, upon discovering the grim fate that awaited her world, Merlina’s love turned into profound sadness and sorrow, reaching depths comparable to the underworld. This realization led her to adopt a somewhat nihilistic perspective, causing her to question the purpose of life in a world destined for demise.

Driven by her desire to protect her grandfather’s kingdom, Merlina became singularly focused on ensuring its eternal existence and preserving its beauty. However, her noble intentions became corrupted, turning her into a well-intentioned extremist. She believed that any action, no matter how morally dubious, was justified if it served the greater goal of eternal preservation. Merlina saw manipulation and sacrifice as necessary evils in pursuit of her mission.

When confronted about her actions, Merlina attempted to garner sympathy from others, only to become defensive and blame them for their lack of understanding when rejected. Despite her justifications, it is hinted by Caliburn that Merlina’s true motives were driven more by selfish desires to escape her own sorrow than by genuine altruism.

To those around her, Merlina would appear as a kind, yet strong and wise individual, with a deep sense of compassion and genuine intentions for the well-being of her kingdom. However, when revealing her true motives, she would display a calm, cold, and ruthlessly determined demeanor, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals.

Unlike many other villains driven by a thirst for power and recognition, Merlina did not see herself as inherently evil. Her actions were driven by a desire to protect what she held dear, rather than by selfish ambitions. She would criticize Sonic’s efforts to thwart her plans as selfish endeavors that would ultimately lead to their downfall.

After her defeat, Merlina came to understand, through Sonic’s advice, that the brilliance of life lies in its impermanence. This realization prompted her to embrace the present moment and live life to the fullest, ultimately freeing her from her sorrow.^[5]Sonic Team (13 March 2009). Sonic and the Black Knight. Wii. Sega. Area/Level: Gallery, Vault 5. “The New King: The Wizard’s sadness at knowing the end of the story was cured by the hedgehog’s golden light. Doesn’t the brilliance of life come from knowing there is an end to the story? The new King, pure of heart, is set to make new legends.” These complexities in her character make Merlina one of the most nuanced villains in the series.

Merlina is a highly skilled wizard possessing incredible power, capable of wielding a formidable form of magic known as “High Ancient magic.”^[6]Sonic Team (13 March 2009). Sonic and the Black Knight. Wii. Sega. Area/Level: Knight’s Passage. “Caliburn: This is no doubt the effect of Merlina’s High Ancient magic.” Through her magic, Merlina demonstrates various abilities, including teleportation through whirlwinds, the ability to accelerate the aging process of plants to death, and the capacity to observe Sonic’s adventures throughout the World of Camelot. Additionally, she exhibits proficiency in summoning individuals from other dimensions using spells.

Beyond her magical prowess, Merlina is also a shrewd manipulator, adept at deceiving others for her own gain. She cunningly orchestrates events to trick Sonic into defeating King Arthur on her behalf and relinquishing the scabbard of Excalibur, enabling her to harness its power for her ulterior motives.

Merlina displays remarkable agility and physical strength, showcasing surprising speed and power. She demonstrated her agility by swiftly catching Sonic the Hedgehog when he attempted to dash away at high speed, holding him in place with ease for a brief moment using only one hand before reining him back. Additionally, Merlina exhibits proficiency in swordsmanship, possessing enough knowledge to impart the basics of swordplay to Sonic during their encounters at Misty Lake.

Furthermore, as a member of the townspeople species, Merlina exhibits a unique respiratory system, similar to trees, whereby she inhales carbon dioxide and exhales oxygen. This trait underscores her connection to the natural world and enhances her enigmatic character.

Dark Queen

Main article: Dark Queen

By tapping into the energies of the scabbard of Excalibur, Merlina undergoes a transformative process, assuming the formidable identity of the Dark Queen. In this empowered state, her magical abilities are significantly heightened, granting her mastery over the dark forces of the underworld. She gains the ability to levitate and fly effortlessly, as well as manipulate her surroundings by conjuring powerful barriers to repel attacks.

Moreover, as the Dark Queen, Merlina harnesses the shadows to augment her combat prowess, using them to strike at her foes with lethal precision. She can also manifest a spectral form, imbued with potent energy, allowing her to unleash devastating attacks, erect formidable barriers, and engage in skilled swordplay against her adversaries. This spectral manifestation amplifies her already formidable magical capabilities, making her a formidable opponent to contend with.

Merlin

Merlin, Merlina’s grandfather, served as her mentor and inspiration, guiding her on the path to becoming the Royal Wizard of Camelot. Deeply devoted to her grandfather and the kingdom he helped create, Merlina’s sole motivation was to preserve the beauty and splendor of Camelot. However, upon learning of her world’s grim fate, her love for the kingdom turned to sorrow and despair.

Following her defeat at the hands of Sonic, Merlina found solace in reminiscing about her cherished memories of her grandfather. Despite her misguided actions, her bond with Merlin remained a poignant reminder of the love and legacy she sought to protect.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Merlina, every world has its end. I know that’s kinda sad but, that’s why we’ve gotta live life to the fullest in the time we have. At least that’s what I’d figure.

Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic and the Black Knight

Merlina’s journey with Sonic in Sonic and the Black Knight was a tumultuous one, filled with twists and revelations. Initially summoning Sonic to retrieve the scabbard of Excalibur, Merlina had noble intentions of making Camelot eternal. However, as events unfolded, it became clear that her desires had become warped by her grief and desperation.

Guiding Sonic through his knighthood training and aiding him in his quest, Merlina concealed her true motives until the climactic confrontation with King Arthur. There, she revealed her plan to use the scabbard’s power for her own ends, leading to a heated battle between her and Sonic.

Defeated and confronted with the consequences of her actions, Merlina found solace and wisdom in Sonic’s words about embracing life’s fleeting beauty. In the end, she accepted the inevitability of endings and chose to cherish the memories of her beloved kingdom and her grandfather, Merlin.

Friends/allies

• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Caliburn
• Nimue
• Knights of the Round Table
  • Sir Lancelot
  • Sir Gawain
  • Sir Percival

Enemies

• King Arthur
• King Arthur’s horse

Books and Comics

Archie Comics

Main article: Merlina the Wizard (Archie)

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series by Archie Comics, Merlina makes a brief appearance in the adaptation of the opening cinematic of Sonic and the Black Knight.^[7]Sonic the Hedgehog #197, “Knight Time” In this continuity, she is portrayed as the royal wizard of Camelot and hails from another Zone connected to the ‘In Another Time, In Another Place’ reality within the multiverse.

Merlina is depicted as fleeing from the pursuit of the evil King Arthur for reasons undisclosed in the comics. In a moment of desperation, she summons Sonic the Hedgehog to her aid. However, upon Sonic’s attempt to confront Arthur, Merlina activates her whirlwind magic to teleport them away to safety.

Dengeki Nintendo

Main article: Merlina the Wizard (Dengeki Nintendo DS)

In the Sonic and the Black Knight manga published by Dengeki Nintendo, Merlina appears in the adaptation of Sonic and the Black Knight storyline.

Merlina has four songs associated with her character:

1. “Merlina’s Theme”: A slow piano theme used when Sonic interacts with her.
2. “With Me”: Played when she transforms into the Dark Queen (also shared as the theme for Excalibur Sonic).
3. “Merlina- Her Wicked Smile”: Used when she reveals her true intentions.
4. “Merlina- The Queen Of The Underworld”: Played during her battle with Sonic.

My name is Merlina, the court wizard. I wish to preserve this world: the winds that makes the meadows dance, the flowers that bloom by the wayside, the melodious songbirds. Please, help me stop the evil king.

Merlina’s introduction, Sonic and the Black Knight

Ifaras zaras yezaras, Ifaris zaris yezarik. O brave knight, swift as the wind! Heed my call.

Merlina summoning Sonic, Sonic and the Black Knight

Being from a distant world! Forgive my abrupt summons!

Merlina greets Sonic, Sonic and the Black Knight

Let me introduce myself, I am Merlina the Wizard.

Merlina introduces herself to Sonic, Sonic and the Black Knight

The fate of our kingdom rests in your hands, do not fail us.

Merlina trusts Sonic with the fate of the kingdom, Sonic and the Black Knight

T-That was amazing! Defeating the Mist Dragon like it was nothing. The mark of a true knight…

Merlina after witnessing Sonic’s defeat over the Mist Dragon, Sonic and the Black Knight

If you remove that sword and defeat King Arthur with it, you shall forever be the worst of knights, slayer of Kings.

Merlina warns Sonic of the consequences of his quest, Sonic and the Black Knight

Your king was nothing more than an illusion my grandfather conjured up.

Merlina reveals who King Arthur really is to the Knights of the Round Table, Sonic and the Black Knight

With this scabbard, I can erase my grandfather’s greatest mistake. (…) I shall make this kingdom eternal…

Merlina reveals her intentions for the scabbard, upon becoming the Dark Queen, Sonic and the Black Knight

Merlina, despite being related to Merlin from the King Arthur stories, is an original character created for Sonic and the Black Knight’s plot. She shares some similarities with Shahra in appearance and role as Sonic’s companion, as well as betrayal, although Sonic forgave them both in their respective game plots. When summoning Sonic, Merlina uses the same incantation as Erazor Djinn from Sonic and the Secret Rings: “Ifalas zaras I e zaraq”.

Merlina is unique as the first Sonic villain who sought to do good rather than evil, but her intentions became corrupted. Her fondness for straw chrysanthemums, which symbolize death and grief in many European countries, aligns with her sorrow over her world’s eventual demise.^[8]Shiro Maekawa on Twitter (Japanese) (18 November 2011). Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved on 27 July 2022.

In Sonic and the Black Knight’s opening sequence, a symbol on Merlina’s dress resembles the guild seal from the Fable franchise. She stands out as the only female human-like companion in Sonic’s adventures not to die in her story; Maria, Elise, and Shahra all met tragic fates, whereas Merlina seeks immortality.

Merlina is notable as Sonic’s first female primary antagonist and the first main antagonist to reform. She is also the second female primary antagonist in the Sonic series after Witchcart, both employing magic. Additionally, she is Sonic’s first female final boss.