Forenote: Okay, here I go. Last fic went well. This time, I'm going to try some things. So please, let me know your thoughts in reviews. I will take opinions seriously, and respond to the best of my ability.

Boots stamped across wood rhythmically. One-two, one-two, one-two...

Ardainian soldiers. This was the Torigoth relay base, completed four months ago, to the nervousness of the residents. While the soldiers did act in good faith for the town, construction of a military establishment here was an aggravating political move. Many thought it would lead to war. Many thought it was fine, and that coming under control of Mor Ardain was a benefit to the town so often hassled by monsters. Everyone hoped it didn't actually mean war was coming.

"Soldiers... Fix rifles! Turn! And march!" Shouted the instructor.

Two boys were watching, from the top of the nearby Garagorm arch. Both Gormotti. One tossed a pebble down to the floor, watching as the batch of troops went through their drills. "Man, I'm glad I don't need to join those guys." Said one. They were taller than the other, with black hair.

"Yeah, same. Nice money though." Replied the other. He had brown hair, and a scruffy smile. "And if you're a driver? Whoo boy."

"I still don't like the idea of being tied to the army all the time... and I dunno. You remember when we tried using core crystals?"

"Hey, you nearly managed it." Said the boy. "While I nearly died."

"Pfft, 'nearly'. I went flying across the room." Deadpanned the other one. "Hey, Liam? Want to go down to that old swamp? See if anything's washed up on the titan recently?"

Liam got up and stretched. "Yeah, yeah. Can't just watch the soldiers get yelled at all day. How's the college course going, Rhod?"

"Like a one-legged armu." Rhod got up stiffly. "I'm never going to get accepted to study at Indol at this rate."

"Just join the army and buy your way in." Joked Liam. "Or I guess you could take up salvaging."

"Salvaging is so difficult though."

They got down from the arch, and started to walk through Torigoth. Over the bridge, past the inn, past the driver recruitment stand, past the shops...

"Oh, did you hear?" Started Liam, as they left the town. "Apparently there's a new consul coming over soon."

"Oh, they're replacing the current one? Good riddance. Incompetent wet sock, I swear." Rhod rolled his eyes. "How long did it take him to fix that small bridge we all use every day? Ten weeks?"

"Nine. I'd still bet the tosser's been using our taxes to wipe his bum." Added Liam. "Let's just hope this Dughall guy's not as corrupt."

"Bloody politicians, eh?" They were out into the fields outside Torigoth now.

"Watch out!" Warned Liam, before pointing over to one side. "Seriously. You've seen how it leaves people. Even the military can't do anything about that thing."

Rhod followed the finger. "...Oh, yeah. Better not get too close to THAT. I like my head where it is."

It was at the same spot it always was. A giant gogol was sitting on a ledge, glaring at everything that dared to exist. Notorious for charging and killing pretty much anything you could imagine. Gogols were somewhat unpredictable by nature, and tended towards attacking humans that got too close.

Well, 'Within the range it could run in two minutes' was too close for that particularly infamous gogol.

Territorial Rotbart, as it had been dubbed by the town. Who called it that? Who named any of the named monsters? Nobody knew. But the names stuck. Especially when they fit so absurdly well.

Rhod and Liam skirted around the very edge of the plains, as far from the gogol as possible.

"Honestly, when are they going to send some drivers to deal with that half-brained sack of wasp spit?" Whispered Rod, as if it might hear him at this distance.

"I think they did. Drivers died." Answered Liam. "At least it's brother isn't as bad..."

"You'd have to be pretty damn bad to top that demonic giblet of filth."

"What I'd give to have a tongue like that, huh?"

"Your soul? Insults are fun. You know, that thing you get choked for once you get responsibilities." Said Rod. "Come on. We're nearly at the wastes."

"Welp. Not sure what we expected, Rhod old buddy."

"Meh. Still a pretty place. Makes you wonder why we call it a swamp?"

"Because it's covered in water, genius." Replied Liam.

"But do you really associate 'swamp' with... this?" Rhod waved a hand around. "The flowers? The trees?"

"The brogs?"

"...Architect, I forgot about those flaccid plastic-wraps. Nevermind, this is a swamp."

"Heh." Liam cracked a smile. "Oh, should we head back? It's getting kind of late."

"Yeah, let's- Oh, hold on..." Rhod saw something in the corner of his eye. Half-buried in the floor, further obscured by some grass, but glowing blue. "A core crystal! Neat!" He jogged over and knelt.

"Don't touch it!" Yelled Liam. "Normal folks like us can't touch them!"

"I know that! I'm just going to wrap it in my shirt or something and sell it to the Ardainians."

"Just jumpy, is all. Here, take my hanky." Liam pulled a small square of cloth out of his jacket. "No touch means no deathly reaction."

Rhod pulled up the grass around the crystal, then pried it out of the floor with his boot, before picking it up. "Nice glow on this one, if I'm honest."

"Lemme see?" Liam peered in. "Hey, don't wipe all the dirt into my handkerchief! I use that to wipe my face!"

"Poor blade! It's gotta deal with Liam's face."

"Ah, shut up. Anyway, you're right, this one does have a nice glow. Maybe it's got a special blade inside? Like Vess, or Nia? Do you reckon they'll have boobs?"

"What difference does it make? I'm not the one who'll be awakening this little guy." Rhod folded the cloth over the gem, holding it in both his hands. "And shame on you. Boobs are overrated and... kinda... well, awkward, I guess? I mean seriously now. You can't just walk around Torigoth topless."

"Eh, maybe. But I bet if you really tried to resonate-"

"I'd go flying off the edge of the titan and drown in the Cloud Sea." Responded Rhod, as they started to trudge back towards Torigoth. "What about you?"

"Ah, I'll just pass on that. Nothing like dying in the middle of a field because you got cocky!"

They walked on.

"Ugh, getting kind of late, isn't it?" Said Liam.

"We'll still be back before night."

"Hopefully. Oh yeah, have you seen Tora anywhere recently?"

"Yeah, he's in my chemistry class." Said Rhod. "Smartest thing alive- as per usual."

"Wait, what? But he's too old for school, right?"

"He wanted to learn and just sort of... signed up. I think."

Liam chuckled. "A nopon that loves science more than money. Whoever heard of something like that?"

"Not Bana."

They laughed a bit.

Then Rhod felt something. It was like the metaphorical feeling of someone walking over your grave, but this was more of a cavalry charge over your grave. "Liam?"

"Something's wrong." Said Liam, looking around. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

Rhod tried to calm down, and work out what felt so wrong. "Let's just get out of here. Come on."

"SHOW YOURSELF!" Shouted Liam, into the twilight.

Rhod suddenly was aware that something was very wrong. The ground was shaking. "Liam, let's go!"

"...Yeah let's go." Whispered Liam. "Let's go, quick!" He started running.

Rhod realised what was wrong. "NO, not that way!" He sprinted at Liam. "LIIIAAAM!"

Liam turned. "Huh?"

Rotbart had already been charging. Liam saw him coming. But at that point, it was already too late.

Rhod put on a burst of speed, trying to reach Liam, for whatever good it might do. Rotbart rounded on them, and it roared. The roar alone felt like it parted Rhod's soul from his body. It was loud and foul. Liam froze up, with nowhere to run.

Rhod ducked down, and grabbed a stone. As he took a hand off the wrapped core crystal, the wrapping came loose on that side, exposing the blue glow- a split second distraction Rhod's heart leapt at. "Hey! You fetid little wankstain!" He threw the stone as hard as he could, aiming for Rotbart's eye. He didn't know if the stone hit or not, but then it batted Liam to one side and charged, coming for Rhod.

Rhod froze up for a moment, watching Liam go rolling along the floor, not knowing if he was alive or dead. Rotbrat tried to slam down a fist on him, easily large and heavy enough to turn him into a red smear. Rhod reacted as fast as he could, trying to get back, and was knocked to the floor by just the force that the earth was rattled.

Rhod looked up, as the giant monster prepared to swipe at him, and grabbed the closest object he could, trying to block the incoming attack.

I don't want to die!

Every fiber of his being exploded in pain. It was like having each set of nerves first electrocuted, then ripped out of his body and dipped in lemon juice. It was excruciating. It was the worst pain Rhod had ever experienced in his life, by far. He'd broken bones before, he'd stepped on sharp things, he been bitten by insects- None of that even registered.

And Rotbart hadn't even touched him yet. Rhod had grabbed the core crystal.

Rotbart was blinded by a flash of light. Rhod was blacking out from pain, but then he was knocked up from the ground by the swipe missing, carving into the floor and bringing it upwards, into a small mound. Rhod stumbled to his feet, losing track of the core crystal as it left his hands. He groggily looked up at Rotbart, who was ready to crush him.

"No!" Liam had grabbed a stick, not dead yet. "Get away!" He was a better shot than Rhod, and hurled it like a javelin, the branch knocking against the side of Rotbart's head.

Rotbart turned and hit him. Rhod could only watch as Liam went flying again, and this time... this time he knew it before Liam even hit the floor. He knew there was no way he could have survived that.

He froze up.

"H-Hey! Watch out!" Called a new voice.

"Liam?"

Rotbart bellowed, and prepared to smash Rhod flat again.

"Stoppit, beastie!" Said the new voice. A girl. High-pitched, but not immature. Just weirdly high-pitched. "I said stop! Stop!"

Rhod was vaguely aware of someone behind him moving. Of his own nose bleeding like there was no tomorrow. The gogol was about to kill him. Any moment now. The fist was coming down and there was nothing he could do. There was nothing Liam could have done either.

At least they'd die in the same place.

The fist hit.

Rhod finally snapped out of his stupor as it didn't hit him. It hit a barrier of ether. "Wha-?!"

"Driver! You're my driver!" Called the voice. "Quick, we'd better go! You're about to die if you don't!"

Rhod landed firmly in reality. "Yes..."

"Quick, run! Run!" Rhod felt a shove behind him as Rotbart started to get over it's confusion at the boy not dying. He stumbled forwards, and slipped past Rotbart, trying to get away.

"Where can I run to?!" Shouted Rhod.

"The edge! Jump down! The cloud sea can catch you!"

Rhod turned for a second. "But what about-" He tried to look for his friend, even though he knew that it wouldn't change a thing. Instead he saw a blade, leading Rotbart away from him. He could hardly make them out in this darkness, the only things visible about them being a few glowing blue lines across their chest and red ones on their boots.

"Jump down!" She called. "I'll be right behind you!"

Rhod turned. "I can't leave anyone else to die to that thing!" He prepared to charge, when his blade arced around, running for him just fast enough. Rotbart was gaining on her, but she'd make it, right?

"Jump! Please jump!"

Rhod jumped.

The fall was long. A good three seconds of falling through the night air before Rhod hit the cloud sea, and was completely disoriented. He couldn't see anything.

Five seconds later, there was another sound as someone else hit the could sea.

"Driver? Driver? Can you swim?!"

"I can swim." Responded Rhod, fighting to stay afloat. Normally he was a great swimmer, but now he barely had the power to stay above the surface. "I... I can't see land. Are we going to drown?"

"I hear you, just wait there a second. There's an island right here! Kit, Sunny, grab onto him for me!"

Rhod was suddenly aware of someone or something grabbing him by the shirt, pulling him along for a few panic-filled seconds before his foot kicked a root of some kind.

Land.

He pulled himself up as fast as he could, as his blade climbed out of the water.

"Hi there! I didn't really get the chance to introduce myself, did I?" She said.

"Who... Liam, he..."

"Liam?"

"You didn't see?" Said Rhod. He got the first look at his awakened blade. It was low light, but he could still see something. "Architect alive, you're wounded too! He got you?! You can't die now, as well! I just lost my oldest friend, not you too!"

Nim looked down. Her side had two parallel cuts, one deep, one slightly shallower. But both were enough that anyone ought to have bled to death in a matter of moments. "Huh? Oh yeah, I am bleeding. Ow! Actually it hurts a lot... now I see it." She pressed a hand onto the cut.

"You're going to bleed out! Hold on, I-I'll tear up my shirt for bandages..."

"Huh? Why?"

"Why?!"

"Look." Nim moved her hand. "I'll be fine."

Rhod could see the cuts already receding. "What the... I'd heard blades could heal themselves from any injury, but... that would have killed a man twice."

"I'm alright! Just used a bit of ether. I feel really drowsy now... Hey, want me to fix your wounds? I'm a healer! I know it!"

"Can you do anything about Liam? The other boy, up there?"

Nim shook her head. "I need to be close. Ow!"

"No... Oh, did you step on something? I think this is Lascham's rock. There's sharp stones all over the floor."

"No, Sunny bit my ear."

Rhod couldn't see this 'Sunny', but pretended to understand. "We have to rescue Liam. Come on, if I'm a driver now then surely I can fight that-"

"He's already dead."

"...No, no that can't be right..."

"...You're dying, too. You're bleeding so much. What happened to you?!"

"I don't know. I... I can't think straight right now, okay?! I just watched Liam... Architect... I think I'm going to faint."

"Let me heal you!"

"..." Rhod nodded. He felt woozy. He could hardly even focus on his blade. "I'm sorry... that you might... return to your core so... soon." He collapsed onto the ground.

Nim was having a somewhat difficult first day alive. The knowledge she'd been born with did at least cover a few things, however. "Kit, what do we do? He's not moving! What if he's dead?!"

There was an odd squeak by her head.

"Oh yeah, I'm not back in my core. Uh... what should I do? Maybe I could go ask someone for help?"

Another squeak. "Oh, right, get him to safety."

Picking up an unconscious Gormotti was surprisingly easy for her. People became much stronger if they could survive the transition into being a driver, but with injuries like this... She could tell he was bleeding from his nose, both ears, and the rest of his body was ragged.

She dragged him over to a rock, away from any monsters that might stray too close, and started trying to cast healing arts. "Sunny, can you see any herbs that can help? ...No? Okay."

It took a while to stop the bleeding. Nim didn't have the energy stored to cast any kind of special, and her driver couldn't try using an art if he wasn't conscious.

The most confusing thing to Rhod when he woke up the next day was that he woke up at all. He wondered if he'd died and he was looking out over Elysium for a moment, until his nerves woke up.

"Owwww... ow. Ow, argh."

"Yay, you're alive! Now I can properly introduce myself! I'm Nim, and these are my phonexes, Kit, and Sunny! I'm an ally to nature everywhere!"

"I..." Rhod tried to get up. "I can't move. I... can't remember..."

"You can't remember something? Well, yesterday you woke me up up there, and then you jumped over that ledge up there!"

"I woke you up..? I'm... a driver?"

"Yes! It looks like you only just had enough potential to call on me though. In fact, I'm not sure you'd have been able to if it weren't for the situation!"

"Situation?"

"It's natural you're capable of a bit more when it's life or death!"

"Life and death? What happened yesterday?! I jumped down from- Liam!" Rhod sat up. "...I remember now. Oh, Architect, why... Ow."

"You're pretty hurt." Said Nim. "Should we get back to your town? I bet everyone's worried!"

"Alright... right..." Rhod pushed his hands into the ground, forcing himself to his feet and nearly losing his balance. "Ugh... I..."

"It's just natural to hurt! You'll be able to heal in no time. I'll find some herbs, or maybe-"

"Herbs? I mean... thanks, but... I don't think mint or whatever is going to help much right now..." Rhod grabbed his head. It was pounding.

"O-oh. I'll still try though! Don't count nature out!"

"Fine, fine... I just feel so... Okay, It's not far to Torigoth from here." Rhod tried to walk, and nearly fell.

"Let me help you!" Nim shoulder-lifted Rhod, and took him off the island.

They made it about halfway back when someone saw them. "Rhod? Is that you over there, Rhod?"

"Ooh? Hey, Sunny thinks that's a rescue party!"

"A rescue party?" Mumbled Rhod.

"Yep!" Nim looked over. "Hey! Hey! This way!"

Someone came running over. "Rhod, what's happened to you?"

Rhod looked up, and sighed. "Dad... Liam..."

"Don't say another word, you're clearly hurt." Rhod's dad moved around his other side, and supported his other shoulder. "Not sure who your driver is, Blade, but thank you for helping. You can return to your master now."

Nim shook her head. "I'm his blade!"

"You? You're... Rhod's blade? But he didn't have enough potential to-"

"It's true..." Coughed Rhod. "Dad, Liam... he... he's..."

"Boy, you're too hurt to speak. Let's just get back home." Said his father sternly.

They started to walk back. It was a long trek for someone who was so injured.

"So you say that this is your blade?" Asked his father. "Yes or no. Don't say more than you must."

"...Yes."

"Then we must not allow the army to find out. They'd have you conscripted. You, blade. I'll buy something you can disguise yourself with... but with a face like that... hmm... And we need to get you to Indol."

"Huh? What's Indol?" Asked Nim.

"I see you weren't born with knowledge of it. Indol's Praetorium is the land responsible for all matters concerning blades. They register all the drivers and blades to prevent powerful blades falling into the hands of drivers without enough potential to awaken them. And help protect people like my son from getting conscripted." Explained Rhod's dad.

They came up to the gates of Torigoth. "Um, so what should I do now?" Asked Nim.

"Hide somewhere. I'll come and get you once I can." Instructed the man.

"Wait, I can't leave my blade here, c-can I?" Asked Rhod.

"Boy, for goodness sake! She's a blade. She'll be fine, so come on- you need to be healed!"

"I-I'm a healer!" Called Nim.

"I'll see about it." Rhod's father walked in.

"Rhod, what happened to you?! You look terrible! And where's Liam?!" Asked his mother.

Rhod was lying in bed. He'd had the worst of his blood cleaned off, and changed into clothes after being inspected, but his mother couldn't find any injuries. "Liam is... he's dead."

"Liam? No... What will I tell his family?"

Rhod shook his head. "I don't know." He picked at his arm. How he wasn't cut, crippled or at least scarred only had one explanation. He was a driver now. He had new strength and durability, enough to send monsters running.

How ironic it had only been given to him after it would have been needed.

"And resonating with an uncleansed core crystal?! What came over you?!"

"I didn't mean to. I didn't even realise I'd grabbed it."

"...Fair enough. And I shouldn't speak to you this way... Lloyd, go get something for us to sneak his blade past the army. Drivers can recover better with them around."

"Really?" Questioned his father. "...I won't argue. Wives' tales come from somewhere. Rhod, get some rest. You have to heal first, then we can try and make heads or tails of this mess." His father left, the door swinging open.

"Ah, I do wish he'd learn to close it properly!" Rhod's mother shut the door, and started pacing the room. "Are you really sure you're okay? I can't find any cuts, but- Let me check again! All that blood on you..."

"It was just a nosebleed. Everyone gets them if they fail to resonate..."

"But you were successful!"

"Only just... Maybe I shouldn't have been. Even so. Fat lot of good it did me."

"Don't say that!" Protested his mother. "Liam wouldn't want you to be like that about his death."

"But he's dead and he can't want anything anymore!" Shouted Rhod. "If I'd just done something differently, or even just not been so stupid as to go near that... that gogol, then none of this would have happened!"

"..."

"Why... why did this... what did I even try and save myself for?"

"I'm here for you. You just... sit tight, and let your ma work out what to do."

"I can't once I go to-" Said Rhod automatically. "I can't rely on you anymore if... Oh Architect, if I go to Indol then I... Aw, this is too much. Too much is happening."

"Then try to calm down. I'll get you something to drink. Just rest for a moment, Rhod."

"Uh, what is this? Smells weird." Said Nim, holding up a large cloak.

"I needed something that would cover you." Replied Rhod's father. "Thankfully these are common enough. Just don't show your face. It's unmistakably... Just put the cloak on."

Nim wrapped it round herself, to the protest of the two animals on her shoulders. "Um, my phonexes really don't like this?"

"Just deal with it."

They walked through town.

"...My son, a driver... Never imagined it." Muttered Lloyd.

"Oh? Why not?"

"Nobody in our family's ever been a driver." Whispered Lloyd. "Never. We don't know how to wield blades. How they're meant to be used. I sure hope Rhod can learn quickly... And we can't let those Ardainians find out, either..."

"Ardainians?"

"You see him, there?" Lloyd pointed across the square as they walked through it, to a soldier behind a booth, with a core crystal set on the front. "Captain Padraig of the Ardainian army. In charge of recruiting drivers. If he were to realise Rhod were a driver..."

"Oh, so they're like bad guys?"

"..." Lloyd was silent. "...They claim they're doing it to help us if there's a war between kingdoms. 'Better to stand and protect than lay down and die'. It's selfish, I know, but I won't ever let my son be sent to war. But now he's your driver. And drivers, especially of unique blades, are VERY important resources in armies."

"Well, I don't like these guys either!" Said Nim, slightly too loud for comfort.

"Shh. What you think of something like that doesn't matter. Even a driver can't take on a whole army. So accept it and move on."

"...Mmph. I still don't like these guys. Do you know what they do to titans?"

"Armor them?"

"Th-they torture them! They don't care at all about how titans feel when they weaponise them! It's- ah! Ooh! Sorry. Phonex nipped me again. They don't like this stupid cloak. It's not natural!"

"I... see. Look, stop drawing attention."

"Okay, okay..."

"We're back." Announced Lloyd. "Rhod, how do you feel now?"

"I'm okay." Said Rhod. "I feel drained."

"That's normal." Assured his mother. She sighed. "Lloyd, what can we tell Liam's family?"

"Just tell them everything." Said Rhod.

Lloyd frowned. "I'll do it. You, get ready to leave for Indol. The next ship is tomorrow and the one after isn't for two weeks. By then the Ardainians will have found your blade for sure."

"Don't blow things out of proportion, dear. You're scaring Rhod." Countered Ma. "Look, you two. I know the army seems evil and crazy but the soldiers are human too, and at least for now, they're not conscripting. You'd have a few letters and probably an invitation to the consulate. You'd be able to escape."

"Thanks, ma... I..." Rhod shook his head. "What do I do now, then? I just... can't think about anything apart from..."

"For now, prepare yourself for the trip to the Praetorium." Said Lloyd. "You need clothes that can survive in battle, you need a water bottle, and you need gold. Everything else is a luxury. Gwen, you write up some instructions for Rhod to follow once he arrives. Blade. You need to avoid going out in public. That face of yours sticks out."

"Hey. What's wrong with my face?" Nim touched her cheek. Rhod was more distracted by her huge furry gloves than whatever was meant to be the deal with her face. Mainly because he wasn't sure they were gloves.

"It's just not human, is all." Said Rhod dismissively. "Humans don't have ether lines."

"Right..."

Lloyd went over to a drawer in the corner of the room and ripped it open, betraying his nervousness that was otherwise hidden. He pulled out a small bag. "Two thousand gold."

"Two... two THOUSAND?!"

"Good armor can cost much, much more." Said Lloyd. "I know it's more money than you're used to, but you'll just have to deal with that. Now go. Get shopping. We don't have ANY time to lose, or you'll miss that boat."

Rhod took the bag. "I... understand." He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Liam. For everything."

Nim looked at her driver walk out the door. "Are you sure he's okay to go anywhere like that? You're supposed to protect your young!"

Lloyd held a stone face. "I'm trying."

Author's notes: Now, it's often said Xenoblade is a series about revenge. Shulk and the mechon, Cross and Earth, Rex and Torna... no. While it is a series about revenge, it's not about any enemy from cutscenes.

It's about getting your ass up to level 80 and having vengeance on Territorial Rotbart.

And why did I give the main character Nim? Because of all blades whose quests I have completed, I feel she had the most wasted potential. I love her design, although it could use a tiny touch less cleavage like the rest of the game, and her premise was cool, but... it never went anywhere. So I'll take it upon myself to fix that.

Rhod is pronounced Rod. It's just in welsh we like putting silent 'H's in random places for no reason. Trust me, I'm a native.

And now, Rhod's Affinity Chart! Even if this will never be in the game and I don't plan to reference it in the story, it's fun to make. Things are intentionally a little weaker than Rex's stuff.

First ring: Past memories (block rate plus 10%),

Chemistry class (Ether plus 10),

Aggressive defence I (First art starts charged),

Survival instinct (Agility plus 20),

Don't give up! (Increases HP restored when reviving an ally by 10%)

Second ring: Aggressive defence II (Second art starts charged),

Open attitude (Increases affinity by 5 when winning a button prompt),

Leading blow (Deals 50% increased damage at start of fight),

Get over it (Debuffs clear 20% faster),

Resilience (Heal 10% more from potions)

Third ring: Vengeful Spirit (150% bonus damage while below 30% HP),

Aggressive defence III (Third art starts charged),

Gormotti heart (Once per battle, survive a lethal blow and become invincible for 3 seconds),

Quick riposte (Auto attacks strike twice while under 30% HP)

Eye for opportunity (Extends enemy Break by 10%)

Edit: Accidentally didn't save the proofread document. Have updated this chapter to fix some typos.

I will answer any and all reviews in this space below, so please feel free to ask questions.