All's Fair in Love and War
(Hey guys. This is my first ever fanfiction here, so I hope it goes well. I hope you enjoy what I have to offer, because none of this has been planned out. I'm making it up as I go along. However, be warned. There are spoilers in this. Without further ado, the 1st chapter.)
Chapter 1
Character POV
I remember seeing nothing but darkness and feeling weak before waking up. I remember that I did have a strange dream, but I cannot recall what that dream was, or what happened in it. If I do remember anything else, it's this word. Slash. Why did I know that but nothing else? Why am I feeling so weak? What happened to me before this?
I opened my eyes to find the blinding sun. I put my right hand up to my face in order to block it out. Slowly, I sat up, using my left arm for support. As my eyes adjusted to the sunlight, I could see I was in a large field of grass, surrounded by wildlife of all kinds. I only wish I knew what these creatures were. I also noticed that my vision is not centered. Strangely enough, it was sided to the left. What did this mean? Was something wrong with my vision? Did I do something to mess up my eyes? Already so many questions popping up in my mind, and more to come.
I stood up and noticed my clothes. I was wearing fingerless gloves that reached down to the middle of my forearms, and holes shaped like triangles on the backs of my hands. There was a sort of metal band around the end of both gloves. Was that to keep them from falling off perhaps? I wore a white tank top for an undershirt, a blue, long-sleeved, button-up jacket with a collar and all all of the buttons undone, revealing my undershirt. I had regular blue jeans with a normal black belt across the waist, red scarf around my neck, black socks that reached mid-calf length, and black tennis shoes. I also noticed what seemed to be another belt strapped across the middle of my upper body, from the top of my right shoulder to the bottom of my left hip. I reached back there and drew my sword to find it was of a unique design. The hilt of the sword had a black and red diamond pattern on it. On the bottom of the hilt was what I believe was some sort of dagger. It started to form another diamond, only near the end, it stretched and formed a small blade for the tip. In the center of the dagger, it had a hole that seemed to be the same shape until it got to the last tip on the bottom. The hole didn't stretch with the blade. It merely formed a perfect, well diamond. What was it with this blade and all these shapes right now? Anyway, the pommel of the sword was made of 2 pentagons. 3 of the sides, the sides closest to the hilt, were in no way separate. The last 2 sides of each pentagon, pointing up to the top of the blade, were apart from each other. In the center of each pentagon rested a triangular hole, so I could see the blade inside the pommel. It appeared to be a normal straight long sword, until I looked at the tip of it. There wasn't just 1 tip, there was 2. The sword looks as if it had split down the middle where the tip was supposed to be, leaving about 4 inches worth of space in between the 2 tips. 3-4 inches down, the metal made a 90 degree angle towards the center of the blade, made another 90 degree angle, turning it straight down for about 10-12 inches, leaving 2 inches worth of space the rest of the way down, and finally, another 90 degree angle towards the center and the 2 sides merged. Why is my sword made like this? Did I make it like this? Pushing those thoughts aside, I sheathed the sword again, and began to walk around to try and find out where I was.
As I was walking, I noticed a lot of rock formations. Some of which made natural arcs giants could walk through. Eventually, I found a dirt path. I looked down the path in both directions, wondering which way I should go. I decided the heck with it and just walk along the path, not caring where I was going. As I walked, I noticed a waterfall nearby. I decided to go over there and get some water, considering I felt I was overdo for this. Once I got to the waterfall, I cupped some water in my hands, and drank as much as I could. Thank the Bionis it was fresh. As soon as I was done drinking to my hearts content, I looked at my reflection and was utterly shocked at what I saw. No wonder my vision was off center. I had a scar on my face that cut across my right eye. 4 white marks on my face, all parallel to each other, from the middle of my chin, going up and to the right across a little of my mouth, grazing my nose, 2 of the marks below my eye, 1 above it, and the last 1 going straight across my eye, leaving a gray blur where the pupil and iris used to be, and extending further to cut off a little bit of my hair. As I looked at my reflection, I took in my features so I could remember my own face. My hair was a bit off. It started off brown at the beginning of the strand, faded to orange more towards the middle, and faded even further to form red at the tips. My left eye was a perfect shade of hazel. I didn't have any sort of facial hair, or anything. I was cleaned up. Other than that, I was a normal guy around 19 years old, I think. I pulled down the scarf to find another scar on my throat. More white slash marks that were wavy and uneven. How that happened and I managed to survive, I may never know, but it would be best to leave it alone for now.
I stayed there and rested for what felt like hours on end, wondering when I would stop feeling weak. I was about to take a nap, until I heard a scream. It sounded like a kid. I stood up and looked around, hoping to find the source of that scream. I found a boy with somewhat long brown hair wearing shorts and some sort of jacket on the ground surrounded by a few monsters. They looked like they were ready to eat him. I was about to go and help him when 2 other guys seemingly showed up out of nowhere to do just that. 1 of them looked like he was from Colony 6 and was ready to fight, while the other guy had a large red sword on his back. I recognize that sword from somewhere. Wait. Is that the Monado? How do I even know any of that? Never mind, I'll think on it later.
The big guy from Colony 6 spoke up. "You all right, kid?"
The kid asked, "Who are you?"
"That can wait. Go! Get out of here! Leave these guys to use."
"OK!" After that, the kid got up and ran off in some random direction. I waited until he was a safe distance away before I looked back at the other 2.
The guy with the Monado looked over to his partner and said, "Let's do this!"
The big guy rolled his shoulder. "Ready when you are!"
The 2 of them versus these beasts? Even with the Monado, I thought they were insane to do something like this. Even so, they followed through with fighting those creatures and were doing a fairly good job in doing so. Out of those 3 monsters, only 1 remained, but as the 2 guys thought they were done, it struck them in the back. They were only knocked over, but now they were in a terrible position. That's enough sitting on the sidelines for me. I ran in there as fast as I could and gave that thing a taste of his own medicine. I realized how close I was to the guys. Although they didn't see my face just yet, and it needed to stay that way. In the state of shock the creature was in, I pulled the scarf over my face, covering my mouth and nose as a makeshift mask. It wasn't much, but it was good enough. The creature turned to face me and tried to attack me, but I jumped on its back and jammed my blade deep into its heart, ending it instantly. It dropped on its side, dead. How did I do that? I didn't even think about it, it just happened. Did I react on instinct? Have I done this before?
"Hey." That took me out of my thoughts as I looked over to see those 2 guys getting back up without a scratch on them. From the some of his voice, it sounded like the big guy. "Thanks for helping out there. Didn't even see that last one. Thought we were done there for a sec."
"Yeah." The guy with the Monado spoke, and as I looked at him, I was becoming more interested as to why he had it. "Can you tell us your name?" Again, taking me out of my thoughts, I answered him with a word I wasn't entirely sure was my name, but I feel it will suffice for now, until I can find my real name.
"Slash." That was all I said. They looked at me strangely, probably wondering where I learned to fight, or where I came from, or whatever, but even I couldn't answer those questions.
"Can you tell us more about yourself? I'd rather not stick around someone I don't really know well enough to put my trust in." Of course it was the big guy talking to me.
"Reyn!" And now the guy with the Monado speaks up.
"Come on, Shulk. I know you're just as curious as me."
"Yeah, but now's not the time. We've got to see if that boy is alright."
My turn to talk. "He's right. We should at least check up on him, provided he hasn't already run off somewhere."
We agreed on that, and I followed them to where the kid went. We found him by some sort of buggy that had smoke coming out of it. Not much, but still smoking nonetheless. Did he crash it or something?
The guy with the Monado, or Shulk, went to work fixing the buggy for the kid. He seems to be the smart one here while Reyn is just empty headed muscle. Of course, looks can be deceiving, so I shouldn't be so quick to judge.
"OK. It should work now." Shulk said as he just finished.
"Great. You saved my skin! My buggy short-circuited, and then there were those monsters, and… Well, thanks!"
The kid said to the guys as I stood off to the side, looking around, taking in my surroundings, invisible to them at the moment.
"I fixed the circuit, but it's out of ether. Change the cylinder and it'll be as good as new."
"I think it's time for the introductions." Reyn said out of nowhere. Didn't think someone like you could be somewhat of a gentleman, Reyn. "I'm Reyn. That's Shulk who just fixed your buggy for ya. That other guy over there is Slash."
"Pleased to meet you." Shulk said to the kid. I decided to stay silent. I assumed that with the scar on my neck, I wouldn't be able to talk that much, but I suppose it's better the complete silence overall.
"Oh...Hi! I'm Juju." What kind of name is that for a kid? It sounds like a nickname for him, but again, I shouldn't be judging. I'm obviously not normal either. "Where are you 3 headed? If you've got time, you should come back to our camp!"
"You're camp?" Shulk and I said at the same time.
"Yeah. It's not far."
"How about it?" Reyn asked Shulk. It seems like a good idea to me, but can we really trust this kid? I need to get to know someone before I can trust them. That goes for Shulk and Reyn as well. I have a feeling that they will stab me in the back if I'm not careful. Well, mostly Reyn. The Monado can't cut people. Another thing I feel I shouldn't know. Why did this have to happen to me? OK. No more questions for a while out of me. I've already asked too many to count.
"Let's take him up on the offer. I'm surprised there's a Homs camp here, but they might have some information." Smart thinking, Shulk. I expected that much out of you.
"I suppose."
"Juju, can you tell us how to get there?"
"Sure!" It seems this kid knows his way around here. "If you go back to the oasis, you should see a tall stone post. Head there first."
"Then what?" I asked. Gah! I thought I said no more questions for a while. I guess I couldn't help myself with that one.
"There's a small path in the woods next to the stone post. Just follow it down to our camp."
"Got it. Now, let's make a move." Reyn chimed in. We watched as Juju drove off in his buggy in the direction we were supposed to be headed. We decided to get moving and get some answers.
As we made our way towards the stone post, Reyn kept pestering me with questions about where I came from, who I am, where I got my sword. As much as he gives me a headache right now, I wish I could answer those questions myself. I don't remember anything about my past life, but strangely, I've recognized things like the Monado. This just continues to confuse and baffle me to no extent, but I am lucky I ran into these guys. Maybe they can help me out. I hope they can anyway.
We arrived at the stone post to find Juju waiting for us. He turned to see us walking over, then he looked away and started driving down the path. We followed him down the path and saw the camp he was currently living in. I felt a little bad for the kid. It didn't seem like they were used to living this way. I wonder what could have caused that to happen. I saw the look on Juju's face. He looked upset about something. I was about to ask him why this was, until I heard a woman's voice.
"Juju." This woman had long black hair that reached down to her shoulders, a blue top with a red vest around it, revealing her stomach. She had goggles around her neck, a pair of gloves about the same length as mine, red, and not a single hole. She also wore a pair of white short shorts, and some leggings. I can't really describe those at the moment. "Where have you been?"
At that moment, I saw Shulk's eyes glow for a moment, and then I saw something strange. It started off gray and blurry, but I got a more clear picture as it went on. I saw Juju being held in the air by something, and the girl running towards him, obviously in a panic. Next, I saw the girl falling to the ground, but a metal claw of some sort clamped down on her midsection, killing her. I could hear her screaming, and it sent a chill up my spine. Finally, I saw a huge robot with glowing red eyes, looking straight at me. Then, it all faded away, just as Shulk's eyes stopped glowing. He must have also seen this. He seemed just as unnerved as I was. Shulk explained to me after we met that the Monado shows him visions of the future as a warning. If that's true, then Juju and the girl were as good as dead.
"Don't tell me you were..." The girl continued. Juju stayed quiet. Was this his mother? No, wait. She's too young to be this boy's mother. Maybe his sister?
"I've told you a thousand times. We're not ready to leave the camp yet."
"But I thought..." Juju finally speaks up. I'm guessing he is a little scared of this girl. She seems to have some authority over him.
"Juju!" I flinched at that. I wasn't expecting her to yell that soon.
"Sorry Sharla." That was all he said at the moment. He knew he couldn't win this argument. I would hate to be in his position. Phew. She leaned down, put her right hand on the back of Juju's head, and leaned until their foreheads touched. They stay like that for a minute, not saying anything. She leaned back to look at him 1 more time, then looked over at us, or rather, at Reyn.
"That gear. You must be survivors from the Defense Force!" At that moment, she ran up to Reyn, put her hands on his chest, and looked up at him with a desperate look on her face. "Is Colony 6 OK? Did Gadolt make it?" What in the Bionis was she talking about?
"Hold on. What're you talking about?" At least I'm not the only 1 here thinking that. Thanks for that Reyn.
"We've come from Colony 9." Shulk said.
"Colony 9?" The girl, Sharla, asked. Apparently they don't get a lot of visitors, do they?
"They saved me from some monsters. This is Reyn, Shulk, and Slash." I thought Juju had been shut up in response to Sharla. I guess he found his voice after all.
"Oh, so you're not from Colony 6. Thank you for helping Juju. I'm his sister, Sharla." Looks like I was right. It was just a lucky guess though.
"I told them they could rest here with us."
"Did you now? Well, all right. I suppose that's only fair."
"Did something happen at Colony 6 that we should know of?" I decided to chime in. Everyone seemed a little surprised to hear me actually say something. I don't blame them.
"Actually, we're headed there ourselves." Shulk said to Sharla. As he said that, I couldn't help but wonder who this 'Gadolt' guy was. He seemed pretty important to Sharla for some reason. Otherwise, she wouldn't have blurted out his name.
"Colony 6 has been..." Sharla stopped there for a second, a bit uneasy. "Our home. It's been occupied be the Mechon." The look on everyone's faces. The Mechon? What was it about them that made everyone be like this? What did they do? I got my answer soon after, as I had a vision of my own once again. I saw what the Mechon did to both of the colonies, the lives they have taken, the destruction they caused. I also saw the reason Shulk and Reyn were even out here in the first place. Revenge for taking their friend away from them, but this girl seemed especially important to Shulk. He was angrier than the others at the mere mention of the Mechon. I saw his fist clench itself tight once the vision had faded. "I'll tell you about it inside. Follow me." Sharla finished. We did exactly as she said and followed her to where she wanted to go.
She took us to a nearby cave, which everyone was using for a roof over their heads. I continually felt bad for these people, because of the situation they were all put in, courtesy of the Mechon. I also found myself getting angry towards these machines, but not for these people. I was just angry at them. Maybe they were the reason I have these scars. I stopped before entering the cave, turned the other way, and thought to myself for a moment. I already know what happened to everyone here. I knew why they were here, and what they were feeling. I had no need to listen to the story. I already knew it. I looked back at Sharla and the others. They didn't notice I fell behind yet. Taking advantage of this, I ran back to the stone post, and decided to see if I could get to Colony 6 myself, without getting lost I hope. Sorry guys, but this is something I have to do.
3rd person POV
As the others went with Sharla to listen to her story, Juju looked back and noticed Slash had gone missing.
"Hey guys. Where's Slash?" Everyone looked back to see where he was. Slash was nowhere to be found.
"He abandoned us! Somehow I knew we couldn't trust him!" Reyn shouted, upset that Slash had willingly disappeared on them.
"Reyn, relax for a second and think." Shulk said at an attempt to calm him down. "He may have had somewhere to be, or something important to take care of. Whatever it is, it must be personal. We should let him be for now."
"Yeah. I guess you're right Shulk. Sorry about that."
"It's alright, Reyn. Now Sharla, can you tell us what happened with Colony 6?"
Sharla nodded, and began to tell them the story. "We had already fought off the Mechon a year ago, st the Battle of Sword Valley. It left us with a false sense of security. The Colony 6 Defense Force didn't even notice the approaching Mechon. By the time the air-raid siren sounded, a swarm of Mechon had blackened the sky. They ate people and burned our buildings. Me and Juju dedicated ourselves to evacuating the children and elderly." As Sharla explained their situation to Shulk and Reyn, she was forced to relive the horrible events that toke place at Colony 6 when the Mechon attacked, the memories had burned their way into her mind and were there to stay. "I don't know what happened next."
"It's just like what happened to Colony 9." Shulk said with remorse, as he was also forced to remember what happened at Colony 9, with it being the same for him and Reyn. Well, almost the same.
"They attacked your colony as well?" Sharla was surprised to hear this.
"Yes. It's good that you managed to evacuate so many."
"We have Otharon… the Colonel… to thank for that. Him and Gadolt."
"This Gadolt..." Reyn said, curious as to who this Gadolt was.
"He would have been my husband by now if not for all this." Sharla replied, looking down at the ground. "Cheer up, you 2!"
"Er..." Reyn said, utterly confused that Sharla was not more upset about something like this.
"We can't lose hope just yet. I'm certain Gadolt and the other soldiers are still alive. They're still fighting. I can feel it."
"Erm..." Juju chimed in.
"Hmm?" Shulk replied, curious as to what the boy had to say.
"You're on your way to Colony 6, right?" Juju asked Reyn and Shulk.
"You bet! We're up for some revenge. I bet we can even get your colony back!" Reyn said, obviously feeling very confidant about dealing with the Mechon.
"There you go showing off again..." Shulk said, a little annoyed about Reyn's behavior.
"If anyone can do it, it's you 2." Juju chimed in again. Everyone was beginning to wonder where this was going. "Could… um… Could you take me with you to the colony?!" This caught everyone off guard for a second.
"Juju!" Sharla shouted at him. "The people here need us! How many times do I have to tell you?"
"But you heard. The Mechon attacked Colony 9! That means a load of them have left Colony 6 already! It has to!" Sharla could hardly believe what she was hearing out of her little brother. Shulk and Reyn were just as surprised as she was, but also curious as to where this kid's courage came from. Sharla took a moment to think over what Juju had just said to her. After a brief moment, she had made her decision.
"Even if that's true… No, especially if it's true! We cannot expose the camp to any more danger." Sharla said.
"So, you don't care what happens to the people of the colony?! How can you be so heartless? Are you that scared of the Mechon?!" Juju shouted at his older sister, unaware of how foolish he was being instead of courageous. Again, everyone there was surprised to hear Juju talk like that to his own sister of all people. At the same time, Shulk's eyes began to glow once again. Although nobody noticed, he was having another vision. He saw Mechon tentacles in a rocky valley, engulfed in flames. Juju's lifeless body was being held in the air by 1 of them. In another tentacle, Sharla'a body has being held in the same way from meeting the same fate as Juju did. Finally, he saw a Mechon with a face amidst all the destruction, looking right at him with its glowing red eyes. The vision ended there, only for Shulk to see Reyn talking to Juju about something.
"Kid!" Reyn said to Juju.
"Reyn..." Juju said as a response.
"You oughta know how Sharla feels. Watch your mouth, and have some respect!" Reyn scolded Juju. At that moment, Juju could only stay silent on the matter, stuck thinking about what to say.
"I'll go and make dinner." Juju said, utterly defeated by Reyn. After saying that, Juju excused himself.
"Maybe I was too hard on you." Reyn said, feeling a little guilty for telling him off like that. Everyone there just stood still in silence for a while, thinking about everything that just happened in this little discussion. "Shulk?"
"Reyn, you really remind me of Gadolt when you get angry." Sharla said.
"I do?"
"Gadolt's taken care of us ever since we were young. I always saw him as a big brother really, but he was always more of a father to Juju… He'd call him 'kid' whenever he told him off, just like you did."
"I don't think I'm ready to be someone's old man just yet… Shulk? Did it happen again?" Reyn said, now concerned about what may happen sometime soon.
"Yeah." Shulk answered gravely.
"You had another vision?" Almost immediately after Reyn said that, they heard what sounded like an engine roar outside, and the sound faded away quickly.
"Oh no!" Shulk shouted out, aware of what was now happening.
"No! Juju!" Sharla now shouted. Worried about her little brother, she ran with Shulk and Reyn close behind her, only to find Juju's buggy has gone. "The buggy's gone! He's going to Colony 6 on his own!"
"Stupid kid!" Reyn yelled out angrily. "First Slash ditches us, now Juju. I feel like I'm standing with a bunch of crazy people here!"
"We have to hurry. Something bad's gonna happen." Shulk said, knowing where this was all going.
"What did you see?"
"A deep valley… Everything's engulfed in flames… There's a black shadow… It kills Juju."
"Is it the Mechon with the metal face?"
"Yeah."
"Where does it happen? Is it near Colony 6?"
"I'm not sure. I think so."
Let's get after him, Shulk!" Those 2 began to walk off, leaving Sharla confused about what just happened, until she spoke up.
"Hold on a second! What was all that about?" Shulk and Reyn did not stop. Sharla ran up to them to try and get their attention. She grabbed Reyn's shoulder, getting him to stop.
"I know you won't believe this…but Shulk can see the future." Reyn said.
"The future? That's not possible." Sharla said, not believing a single word like Reyn said.
"That's what I thought too. I still can't explain this. But that vision I had will come true unless we stop it." Shulk said.
"So you're telling me Juju's in danger?" Sharla asked, still trying to take in what they are saying to her.
"Believe it or don't believe it, that's your call. But I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for Shulk's visions." Reyn said, as he began to start walking again.
"Juju…" Sharla said. She let her head hang as she went into thought about everything Shulk and Reyn just told her. After a moment of thinking, she had made her decision. "OK. I can't say I believe you, but what have I got to lose?"
"I like the way you think!"
"Sharla, you're…" Shulk said, unsure of how to say she was meant to die there too.
"What?" Sharla looked over and asked.
"No. Nothing." Shulk decided not to say anything.
"What are you doing? Let's go and find Juju! If we're lucky, we might see Slash along the way." Reyn said to the both of them. Reyn started walking again, Sharla ran up just in front of him, and stopped to say something.
"When you talk like that, you sound just like Gadolt! That's how I know it's not worth arguing."
"What am I, some kind of Gadolt substitute?" Reyn and Sharla started walking yet again, as Shulk didn't even notice, lost in his thoughts.
"That thing kills Sharla too. I saw it in the vision. But I can't stop her coming with us. I don't know how I can protect her. But I will do it. I WILL change the future." After he finished his train of thought, he caught up to Sharla and Reyn, hoping for the best deep down inside, and unsure if he can change the future this time.
Slash POV
It feels like hours since I left the camp. I feel bad for ditching the guys, but I doubt they would understand what I'm going through. I stayed along a dirt path, getting closer to an old bridge, fighting any Mechon that was on the path. Yet, I wasn't feeling tired at all. Later, I heard something coming my way. I hid in a nearby bush and waited for it to pass. I couldn't believe what I was. It was Juju's buggy, with Juju driving it. He was also headed for the bridge. I could feel his emotions as he passed by. I felt anger, bitterness, and some slight courage in the mix. After that, I knew where he was headed. Colony 6.
"What is he thinking going off on his own?! At least I now know I'm on the right track. Focus, Slash! I need to follow him, and stop him before he gets himself killed. If that vision was real, and it comes true… Then I'm afraid it's goodbye to 2 innocent people. I can't let that happen."
I followed the tire tracks he left in the dirt. When I got to the bridge, I was surprised and angry at what I found there. Juju's buggy had crashed, and it looks like he left it there to walk the rest of the way.
"Well, that's just great." I yelled out sarcastically.
"Without the tire tracks from his buggy, I won't be able to track him down. I don't know where Colony 6 is, but he does. DAMN IT! If I can't find him, and soon, he will without a doubt be dead. Now what am I supposed to do? Wait a second. He only crashed a few minutes ago. The wreckage is fresh. OK. If I hurry, I might be able to catch up to him in time."
I began to run after Juju, staying on the dirt path after going beyond the bridge. I just with I knew where I was going, or where I was at the moment. As soon as I got far enough down the path, I finally saw Juju. He was straying off the path to this valley. Why was he going there? He must have seen something.
"Wait a second. Didn't the vision take place in a valley? Oh no. Juju is walking straight towards his death. Not while I'm around, you're not!"
I ran after Juju, going as fast as I possibly could. Before I got there, I saw the metal tentacles from the vision shoot up out of the ground. It had begun.
"Juju!" I shouted. He turned around to see me. Thank the Bionis he heard me. "Get out of there, NOW!"
Juju started to run to me after that, but a tentacle was closing in on him. As soon as I was close enough, I drew my sword, got past Juju, and sliced it down the middle before cutting it off entirely.
"Slash!" Juju said, happy to see I was here.
"Consider yourself lucky I was around to help out, Juju. Now get back to the camp, and tell the others where I am. GO!" I said to him, shouting that last part. He nodded and began to run back to the camp. I hope he gets back alright. "If you want to hurt him, you'll have to kill me first!" I shouted at the Mechon. It sent its tentacles after me, swinging them at me, trying to impale me with them, but they also had flamethrowers built into them. I was forced to dodge what felt like flames from hell. This is what I get for going off on my own. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. The damage has been done. Now to survive this, or die trying. Please let luck be on my side today.
Shulk POV
As we were walking along the path with Sharla leading us, I couldn't stop thinking about my vision, and what I can do to change the future before it's too late. Seeing people die like that is terrible, but it's even worse to experience that, like I did with Fiora. I wish I could have done something to save her. I miss her, more than anything, but I can't lose focus right now. I need to save Juju, and protect Sharla from that metal-faced Mechon that took Fiora away from me.
I saw Raguel Bridge, I could also see something else nearby. It was a piece of a Mechon. Further along the way, there were more Mechon pieces. They were torn apart, sliced up, and utterly destroyed. Did Juju do this? No, I don't think so. So who was it them?
"Hey, Shulk." Reyn said to me. "You seeing this?"
"Yeah."
"Who could've done this? And where did these Mechon even come from?"
"I don't know, but I have a feeling we're about to find out." I saw a figure running across the Raguel Bridge as I said that. Before we moved on, I moved closer to the Mechon part in front of me, and then, I saw another vision. This one was different, because it wasn't Juju against the Mechon. It was Slash, and he was fighting. So far, it looked like he was winning, but that victory was short-lived, as the metal-faced Mechon came, knocked him out, and kidnapped him after saying 'You're that brat that managed to escape us. Well, not this time.' And with that, my vision ended. The future had changed, but not because of me.
"Why did I see Slash in this vision? Did he have something to do with it? And where was Juju? Is he already dead? I have to hurry, before this new vision come true, or else we may lose everyone here."
Once we got to Raguel Bridge, I could finally see who that figure was. It was Juju.
"Juju!" Sharla shouted. He ran up to Sharla, who hit him across the face with her right hand. After Juju recovered, he looked back up at Sharla, who was now hugging him. "I'm so glad you're safe."
"I'm so sorry, Sharla, everyone." Juju said, not making eye contact. He felt bad for running off the way he did, and I understand why. "But you need to go!" This surprised me. Wait, not just me, but all of us.
"Why?" I asked him, hoping my vision wasn't coming true.
"It's Slash. He's the only reason I got away. He's off fighting a Mechon, and I think he needs help!" I couldn't believe it. My vision was coming true.
"No. But that could only mean that..."
"What is it, Shulk?" Reyn asked me, getting worried.
"It's Slash! If we don't do something, that faced Mechon will..." I couldn't say.
"Will what, Shulk?" Sharla asked.
I said nothing. I won't let this happened. The future had changed, but not for the better. Slash just took Juju's place. Why? What is he trying to do?
"Shulk!" Juju shouted at me, taking me out of my thoughts. "Slash needs our help, and you're just going to stand there? Aren't you gonna help him like you helped me?!" Again, Juju surprises me with his words.
"Yeah. You're right. Let's go!" I said. We ran across the bridge and got back on the path. "Alright Juju, where did you go from here?" I asked him. We needed to find Slash as soon as we possibly could.
"Just stay along the path, and you'll see him to the left, fighting in the valley on a large rock formation. You can't miss it."
"Thank you, Juju. Can you show us the way from there?"
"Sure! It's not far, but we need to hurry."
"OK." We walked along the path, and often noticed more Mechon parts scattered all over. Slash did all this on his own?
"That faced Mechon recognized him. 'You're that brat that managed to escape us.' Who was that, and what was he talking about? Slash, who are you? What are you? Why are you even here? And why won't you say anything?"
"Over there!" Juju shouted, taking me out of my thoughts again. I saw the rock formation. It seemed to be a large natural platform with another one above it, all held up by naturally formed pillars. The Mechon and Slash were there. The way Slash was fighting, it seemed he knew everything it was going to do before it did anything. It's like me and my visions. How is this possible?
"Slash!" Reyn shouted out at him.
"Huh? Guys?! What are you doing he-" He didn't get to finish, as the Mechon took advantage of the distraction. Another tentacle shot out from the ground next to him, knocking him off of his feet. Then, it grabbed his left leg, and began to shake him and swing him around like a doll. He was shouting out in pain. I could see blood dripping from his leg.
"LET ME GO!" He screamed, before he used his sword and cut the tentacle off completely. He landed on the ground hard, and the sword slipped out of his hand, landing near the edge. He tried to stand up, but he dropped back down, because of what the Mechon did to his leg. Sharla ran over to help him.
"Wait! Sharla!" I yelled, experiencing another vision. I saw another tentacle shoot out of the ground, throw Sharla in the air, and crush her. As soon as the vision ended, the Monado began to act again, as it did in the cave. "Another new symbol's appeared on the Monado! Can I save her?"
"Of course you can." Not thinking about the voice I heard, I ran and slammed the Monado into the ground. The energy enveloped around Sharla, and the tentacle missed entirely. Taking my chance, I cut it off.
"Shulk?!" Sharla said, surprised at what I just did.
"Its tentacles could come out from under the ground at any second. One false move and you're done for. Wait for my order! Reyn, you got my back?" I said.
"'Course! Leave it to me!" Reyn said, confident we were going to win.
I ran at 2 more tentacles sticking out of the ground. I had another vision. A 3rd was going to try and surprise me, while the other 2 would attack while my guard was down. Knowing what would happen, I took advantage and slowed down, so when the tentacle appeared in front of me, I cut it down. The other 2 began to move, as I cut off another, while the last one went up and shot its flames, attempting to burn me, only to miss. Finally, it came off too. I regrouped with Reyn and Sharla.
"Amazing! I didn't know you could do that!" Sharla said.
"It's not me. It's the power of the Monado."
"That's right. And that light swirling around us… That's the Monado 'n' all. Sharla! Let's move!" Reyn said.
We now faced the Mechon standing before us. It wasn't the faced one, but it still hurt Slash and tried to kill us. This Mechon will be destroyed for what it has done here today.
(OK. That was chapter 1 for you all. Please review. If you have notes, send them to me, so I can make chapter 2 even better. But fair warning, it may take awhile. Again, I'm making it up as I go along here so… Yeah. 'Till next time.)