"Nice to see you again, Dickson," Otharon said kindly.
"It's been a while, old man. A whole year, if I can be trusted. Good to see you're still kicking!" Dickson responded.
"Wait a minute… Dickson? Dunban? You're the legendary heroes of Sword Valley, aren't you?" Sharla asked.
"That I am," Dunban said.
"Thanks for the help, Dunban," Shulk said.
"That wasn't our doing, was it, Dickson?" Dunban responded.
"Naw. It was definitely the doing of that Telethia that passed us by," Dickson said.
"A Telethia?" Shulk asked.
"One of the guardians of Bionis, they are. Surprised I've never mentioned 'em before. Otharon, scratch that last comment: apparently, I can't be trusted!" Dickson said.
"A guardian of the Bionis… if we could have an army of them, we could take down the Mechon no problem!" Shulk said.
"Don't bother. Telethia are temperamental folk. Why do you think there was no mention of the Telethia in the Battle of Sword Valley? I tried to come charging in with a small murder of Telethia in my wake, but it didn't work," Dickson told Shulk.
"So, what's our plan from here, Shulk?" Dunban asked.
"I've had a vision… I need to go to a tower containing a giant… and there was a wise man with wings growing out of his head, and he had a young daughter, a really cute one… if we can get there, we can get to the Face Malice!" Shulk said. There was silence for a few seconds, as everyone absorbed the meaning of Shulk's sentence.
"Hm… a giant in a tower… two winged heads… odds are you saw Prison Island in that vision of yours," Dickson said. "It's at the head of the Bionis. Probably built by the High Entia."
"The High Entia are real?" Shulk asked.
"Real as you or me, they are. You've already met two of them: the old man and the girl in your vision with wings in the back of their head are High Entia," Dickson said.
"Wow! Dickson, you're just full of surprises," Otharon said. Reyn and Dunban nodded as well, still a little bit in shock from Shulk's earlier comment.
"A wise man once said this: You can never know too much. That was me, just five seconds ago, but he wasn't wrong. There are many cultures out there… I've met as many as I know of," Dickson said.
"Then it is settled. Reyn and I will go to Prison Island. Raise your hand, who else wants to follow?" Shulk asked. Sharla and Dunban raised their hands. Dickson did so as well, with the comment that he would do so for only part of the journey. Otharon and Juju decidedly refused.
"Now it is settled. Reyn, Sharla, Dunban and I will go to Prison Island. Dickson will accompany us as a temporary guide until his other commitments lead him elsewhere. Otharon and Juju will remain on the Bionis Leg, and begin reconstructing Colony 6 with the refugees. Do I hear any arguments?" Shulk asked. Everyone shook their heads.
"Now it is-" Shulk began.
"Shulk, you've said that twice already. It's clearly not settled…" Sharla pointed out. Shulk nodded, and stopped saying it.
"Well, if there are no more complaints, follow me. We will head through the Satorl Marsh, and go around the Bionis' waist," Dickson said. Shulk nodded.
The next day, Shulk and Co. finally complied, and travelled through the Satorl Marsh. The amazing scenery was something that no traveller in the group, bar Dickson, had ever seen. While Shulk was taking notes on what he saw, Reyn and Sharla were simply enjoying the environment as they saw it. Dunban was talking to Dickson as they walked.
"Did you hear what Shulk said about that High Entia?" Dunban asked.
"Yeah, I did. Which part?" Dickson asked.
"He called the High Entia girl 'cute'…" Dunban said. "He never said something like that about Fiora."
"You're not still going on about that, are you? Fiora is dead. The chances of Shulk falling for her are less zero. Honestly, it'd probably be better for him to go find another skirt," Dickson told him.
"It's the principle that matters. The way I hear him go on about Fiora… he talks about Fiora like she was Mumkhar. You know… had he given his life for us instead of fleeing like a coward," Dunban said. Dickson put a hand to his beard.
"Since Fiora's death, I've been thinking… maybe we were trying too hard to match them up," Dickson said. Dunban opened his mouth to complain, before closing it. He conceded Dickson's point.
"All the same, I think all that matters at this point is how Shulk reacts when he sees this High Entia. Do you happen to know who she might be?" Dunban said.
"…Shulk mentioned an old man High Entia. Technically, they're all centuries old. But the only one someone on the outside might call old is Sorean Antiqua, the current reigning emperor of the High Entia. He has a daughter called Melia, who should look to be Shulk's age. If my hunch is correct, I think the girl Shulk saw was Melia Antiqua," Dickson explained. Dunban nodded.
"Melia Antiqua…" he repeated.
"That's the one. Now, don't go parroting this to Shulk and the others. Hopefully, we learned our lesson from Fiora. If we stay out of this more than we did last time, Shulk can finally get a social life. A lifetime in a laboratory is no life for him," Dickson said.
"…I can get behind that plan," Dunban said. He turned back to Shulk. Yes, he had been too engrossed in Satorl's surroundings to pay attention.
"Never forget Fiora. But also remember to not let her take over your life."
At the end of the Satorl Marsh were the Sororal Statues. Dickson stepped forward, and began his pointing.
"The upper regions of Bionis are through that entrance. Getting to Prison Island will require you go through there, and then through Makna Forest, home to the Nopon," Dickson said.
"Thank you," Dunban said.
"Oh, and, err… the Mechon might be gone from Colony 6 today, but we haven't seen the last of them. We've sent our best warriors up to Prison Island, so somebody's got to keep an eye on the colonies, eh?" Dickson said.
"Of course, Dickson. I wouldn't trust anyone else," Shulk said. Dickson nodded, and started to walk back through the marsh. He waved with the back of his hand on his way out. Shulk turned back to the statues, and looked at the door.
"Hm… I wonder how to open this door…" Shulk asked. "There must be some kind of opening mechanism…"
Sharla stepped towards the door. A small nudging sound happened, and the door grinded itself opened.
"Sometimes, it isn't quite so complicated, Shulk," she said. Shulk nodded. The four remaining members of the travelling group passed through the door.
Travelling through the insides of the Bionis, the group emerged in Makna Forest. They had heard some nightmarish noises, but shrugged it off. It was a new forest, and those sounds were probably normal to Makna.
"Wow, it's hot…" Reyn moaned.
"Oh, shush, Reyn. If maybe you wore less heavy armour, you wouldn't complain so much!" Sharla told him.
"You never wore much in Colony 9," Dunban added.
"Reyn, Sharla, Dunban… do you hear that?" Shulk asked. Everyone remained silent. They heard a high-pitched scream, and then more silence.
"That was there when we got here," Reyn said.
"…Of course…" Shulk said.
"We'll need to travel through Makna as best as possible. Sadly, we've got to do that with Reyn's stench…" Sharla said.
"Sharla!" Reyn called out.
"Reyn is correct, Sharla. We mustn't argue amongst ourselves. The Nopon are native to Makna Forest. Although they sound dim, the Nopon are very intelligent. Perhaps more intelligent than the Homs. Finding them feels to be in our advantage," Dunban said. Shulk nodded. He turned around, and began leading the way through the forest.
"Over there," Dunban said. Walking through Makna Forest was a challenge in and of itself, and the group was nowhere near the Nopon village. What Dunban was pointing out was instead a fainted girl.
"Oh no…" Shulk said. He ran over to her, and pulled her head up so that it rested on his lap. Dunban hid a scowl behind his hand, as he, Reyn and Sharla stood to see the girl as well.
"She needs help…" Shulk said. Sharla nodded.
"But first, we have to get her somewhere safer than this place," Reyn said. Shulk looked up, and nodded. He hadn't quite noticed it, but the forest here was quite dead. He scooped up the girl, and carried her to a clearing Dunban pointed out. Sharla looked at the girl over Shulk's shoulder as they walked.
"I can see no injury. But her condition is far from stable…" Sharla said.
"So can you tell me what's wrong with her?" Shulk asked.
"…Her symptoms suggest ether deficiency. I've had several cases of it, but never as severe as this one. I can shoot a cartridge near her to help her cure it, but I'm going to need Water-type Ether Crystals. But I'm going to need pure crystals. I noticed some over in an out-of-the-way waterfall area over where we came into Makna from. Probably should've mined them…" Sharla said.
"OK. Sharla and I will stay here. Um… Reyn, you'll be able to carry the crystals best. You go and get the Ether Crystals," Shulk said.
"Got it. I'll be back in a tick!" Reyn said.
The Puera Telethia will use Telethia Tail on Reyn. This art will not kill, but it will leave Reyn in mortal peril if further action is not taken immediately. You have half an hour.
"On second thought… I'd better go…" Shulk said.
"What, Shulk?" Reyn asked.
"I've got the Monado. I'd be safer alone than you would," Shulk pointed out.
"…Oh, you had a vision. Gotcha. Be safe," Reyn said. Shulk nodded.
"Keep her safe," Shulk replied. He began his trek back to the Water Crystal Deposit Sharla saw.
Shulk walked up to the Crystal Deposit, and grabbed the pure crystals from it. The brilliant blue turned a darker hue.
"Shame… but we must rescue those in need," Shulk said. He had noticed Dunban's earlier annoyance. He couldn't see why. Helping others should come naturally.
The Puera Telethia will use Telethia Tail on Shulk. This will deal some harm. You have five seconds.
Yep. Roughly half an hour had passed since his last vision. Shulk turned on the spot, and dodged the Telethia's attack… into said Telethia's attack.
"What?" Shulk asked. The Telethia were supposed to be the guardians of Bionis, according to Dickson. That… and his vision lied to him! What gives?
"Are you in danger there?" a cool, measured voice asked from above him. Shulk looked up, to see no one. He looked back down, to see a Homs clad in a lot of blue in front of him. Shulk's eye was immediately drawn to the key around his neck, the blue of his eyes, and the mystique of his posture.
"Who are you?" Shulk asked.
"I am called Alvis. Hello there. It is quite rare to see a Homs this high up the Bionis. You are Shulk, correct? Here to head to Prison Island?" the figure asked.
"…How did you?" Shulk asked, keeping one eye on the Telethia.
"You're famous amongst the Homs. I heard your tale from Dickson, personally. You have seen me before… but I assure you do not remember where. This is not the time to explain… The Telethia can read your mind. You must use a Monado Art to avoid it… like so," Alvis said. The next thing Shulk knew, Alvis had the Monado, and was running up a wall. The Monado glowed a green hue, and Alvis swung at the nearest Telethia. He jumped toward it, and sliced it in two. The Monado next appeared in front of Shulk, looking like a sword in the stone. Shulk pulled it, and turned to face the remaining Telethia.
The Monado glowed green again, and Shulk slashed. He removed the aura around the Telethia, and used an Air Slash. The attack knocked said Telethia into the ocean.
"Thank you…" Shulk said. Alvis had activated a new art for Shulk to use.
"You're welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me… you have a girl to save," Alvis said. He completely vanished. Shulk scratched his head, before going to give the Ether Crystals to Sharla.
"Perfect quality there, Shulk," Sharla said. Shulk had returned with the crystals. Sharla hurriedly crafted them into a small cartridge, and loaded it into her rifle.
"Stand back. This is not going to be good for the rifle's cooldown…" Sharla said. She aimed it into the sky, and fired. Ether floated down on the wind, and into the girl. She took a great, shuddering breath, and opened her eyes.
"You're awake!" Shulk said, running in to kneel beside her.
"Where… where am I?" she asked. Shulk smiled.
"Everything's fine. You're in good hands…" Shulk said, leaning in to pull her up. She gasped suddenly.
"Get your hands off me, you lowborn cur!" she said, slapping Shulk.
"Oi! Who are you calling lowborn? This is Shulk, heir to the Monado!" Reyn called out.
"Reyn, please…" Shulk muttered.
"Forgive me… it was a natural reaction. So you helped me… very well then. My name is Melia. I have never actually had the pleasure of coming into contact with a male Homs," the girl said. Dunban's eyebrow rose at the name Melia. Reyn's eyebrow came later.
"Pleasure of coming into contact… heh heh," Reyn said.
"This large one is far worse," Melia said. Shulk nodded.
"If I could pick any Homs to introduce you to the species… I really would not pick Reyn. He's my best friend, but he really needs to grow on people," Shulk admitted. Melia nodded.
"So where did you come from? How did you get so badly damaged?" Sharla asked.
"…My situation does not concern you common passers-by, lady. This one here, the one that saved me… I might tell him at some point. But I really shouldn't be talking to any random person," Melia said.
"Shulk… Shulk only got the Ether Crystals. I'm the one who made the Ether Cartridge that saved you. I'm the one who administered it!" Sharla said. She drew the line at people taking credit for her work.
"Shulk, is it? Well, thank you for your kindness…" Melia said.
"She's not listening… I give up! You're hopeless!" Sharla said, walking away in exasperation. Reyn followed her.
"That went a lot better than I thought. Got rid of the large mould, as well. Just me, Shulk, and this weird Homs," Melia said.
"Duly noted, your ladyship. If I may be so bold… you did not come to this part of the forest alone, and weren't just taking an afternoon nap," Dunban poked.
"…Please go with the other Homs," Melia said.
"I will do… exactly as you ask, actually," Dunban said, turning and leaving.
"Excellent. What are you doing here, Shulk?" Melia asked.
"We are going to Prison Island. I received a prophecy stating that this was of importance," Shulk told her.
"So you met Alvis. Makes sense, then. Very well, Shulk. I shall aid you in your journey as a guide. I make my home not that far from your goal. But anything I say to you, I don't want you to tell the other Homs. You saved my life… I must repay my debts," Melia said.
It really was all Sharla… what is this girl's angle? Shulk thought to himself. As nice as it was to have this girl's snobbishness pointed away from him, that in and of itself was getting annoying.
"Escort me through the forest, and I will escort you through Eryth Sea past here," Melia said. "We must go to the Nopon Village first. Come with me. The other Homs can catch up if they so desire."
Shulk and Melia arrived at the Frontier Village. Shulk turned back: Reyn, Sharla and Dunban were still pretty far back.
"Ah! Hello, Bird Lady! What happened to Bird Lady's friends? All Nopon see is Hom Hom," a Nopon said beside the entrance.
"Wait, what?" Shulk asked. He had been a tad preoccupied, and he missed the Nopon's comment.
"I wish to speak with the village chief. Can I enter with my Hom Hom friend?" Melia asked.
"Nopon pleasure, of course, Bird Lady," the Nopon said, bowing as best as a ball of fluff could do.
"Now, Shulk, we will see Chief Dunga. I'll explain what happened later. Oh, and little Nopon? If you see three Hom Hom: a big, scary one, one with two littlepon in her shirt, and a very strong Hom Hom with one arm, you can let them in too. They're friends of this Hom Hom here…" Melia said.
I think that's the second reference to those things on Sharla's chest I've heard. Come to think of it, Fiora and Melia have smaller ones, too… what is everyone's obsession with them? Shulk thought. Also, what did she call Reyn?
Shulk and Melia entered the Frontier Village. They were surrounded almost instantly by Nopon, all calling out 'Hom Hom' repeatedly, and muttering amongst themselves.
"They are so adorable… I wish to see Elderpon Dunga," Melia said.
"Bird lady!" the Nopon said excitedly. Following the sound was a very large Nopon clad in purple.
"My dear Melia… it's good to see you again so soon," the Elderpon Dunga said. From what he had seen of the Nopon before, it surprised him to hear Dunga's voice.
"But what of your men?" Dunga asked.
"They have joined the Bionis. They sacrificed their lives for me…" Melia said.
"…I am sorry for your loss. I assure you, I will not join them readily," Shulk said. Melia nodded, and held her chin higher.
"This Homs here, Shulk of the Monado, needs your help. Him and his friends… uh…" Melia said.
"Reyn, Sharla and Dunban," Shulk prompted.
"Yes, them. They need safe passage to Eryth Sea," Melia said.
"No reason to deny them. But what of you?" Dunga asked.
"I have unfinished business to attend to. I will do so once this Homs and his friends are gone," Melia said.
"Melia… if it's the thing that killed your friends and left you in the state we found you in, I do not want to leave you to fight alone. I will accompany you. Reyn, Sharla and Dunban don't have to follow if you don't want them to," Shulk said.
"That is a nice offer, but not necessary," Melia said. Melia climbed up Frontier Village, and Reyn, Sharla and Dunban arrived.
"Where's Melia?" Dunban asked.
"She went up Frontier Village. I will follow her. You can rest here, but do not follow me," Shulk said. "She really doesn't like you."
"I could tell that," Sharla said. Shulk started to follow Melia. Reyn, Sharla and Dunban looked between each other.
"It seems to be starting…" Dunban commented. He put his hand to his chin. He waited for five minutes or so, and started to slowly climb behind Shulk. Reyn and Sharla followed as well.
"Hello, Melia…" Shulk said. "The other Homs are here, so I don't have much time. Dunban especially has been acting a little odd lately. I guess… I want to say goodbye. If you do not want me to join you, then good luck on your quest," Shulk said.
"The thing that killed my allies must be stopped by my hand. I hope you understand…" Melia said.
"Yeah. I guess it's just like Face Malice and Fiora…" Shulk commented.
"… … …Actually… you have a desire for revenge, don't you? Well, Shulk. I permit you to accompany me on my quest. There is someone else I know around here who could help as well. That's a party of three… I think that's enough to beat Telethia," Melia said.
"Telethia? With that mind reading ability, you'll definitely need my aid. Now, we should probably go and get out of here with that Nopon ally of yours before the Homs find us," Shulk said.
"Wait, back up… you can defeat Telethia?" Melia asked.
"I can see the future with this blade… the Monado. It's a powerful weapon. It has only ever failed me thrice... wait, four times… no, three… ah, you get the picture," Shulk said. Melia was in awe.
"However, they were only small Telethia. I have seen larger… and I assume it wasn't the small Telethia that killed your allies," Shulk said.
"No… we fought quite a big Telethia indeed… but I have faith that you and I can destroy it! It must be stopped," Melia said.
"Damn straight!" Reyn said. Shulk and Melia turned around.
"And… my time is up. Sorry, Melia," Shulk said. Melia made no reply.
"So Shulk was going to go fight a dangerous foe on his own? Well… on his own with some high-class lady that leaves us behind? What would I tell Fiora?" Reyn asked.
"You're going to need our help, Shulk," Sharla said.
"Whether Melia wants us or not," Dunban added.
"You are persistent for such beings… very well. I shall permit you to accompany us," Melia said. She descended the stairs.
"Oh Bionis, more climbing…" Reyn said.
Shulk and Melia turned towards the altar where Dunga rested.
"What're you doing? Telethia's that way!" Reyn said, pointing away from the village.
"Melia wants a third, uh, sixth party member," Shulk said. Reyn, Sharla and Dunban shrugged, and climbed the stairs to stand beside Shulk and Melia.
"You desire him, the finest warrior of our clan? …Sure, why not. Allow me to introduce unto you… our Heropon!" Dunga exclaimed.
"Riki! Riki! Riki!" The Nopon of the village cheered, as a bright, orange ball of fluff descended down onto the altar. It hit Reyn in the face, sending him stumbling. It went to Dunban, who nudged it over to Sharla. Sharla sent it to Melia, who bumped it to Shulk. Shulk set it into the air, followed by a spike from Reyn, sending it into the pool in the centre of the altar. Everyone looked at it now that it was no longer moving. On closer inspection, it was an orange Nopon.
"Heropon, get up!" the Nopon around the arena cried out. Dunga called for silence, and pulled the Nopon from the pool.
"I introduce to you… this year's legendary Heropon… Riki!" Dunga proclaimed, thrusting Riki towards the party, holding him by the fronds of his hair. He didn't look too good. He promptly snapped out of it.
"New Hom Hom friends! Meet legendary Heropon, Riki! Riki live to serve! Riki… would like to ask for do over entrance! Would Chief Dunga grant Riki second chance?" Riki said. He sounded so adorable; it was hard to believe Riki could be good in a fight.
"A Heropon? Not sure where you'll come in handy, but the more the merrier, I always say," Dunban remarked.
"That is definitely the case against Telethia. If it weren't for Alvis, Melia and I would've been done for…" Shulk commented. "As long as you know which end of a weapon is the part that goes in the enemy, you're in."
"Riki has been informed of the Dinobeast. He has very good skills in battle, and will make a valuable addition to your team, will he not, Riki?" Dunga asked, his voice subtly rising.
"Riki will make Nopon, Hom Hom and Bird Lady proud! Riki will kill Dinobeast, and put head on sharp stick!" Riki said.
"…Is it just me, or did we just become mercenaries for a princess and fluffy furballs?" Sharla asked.
"You told me you knew what you signed up for!" Reyn said.
"I was only prepared for the talking machines!" Sharla responded.
"…So was I…" Reyn said bitterly.
The now large party of six left Frontier Village, Riki, Melia and Shulk leading.
"Oi, furball? How did you become Heropon anyway?" Reyn asked.
"Reyn, he does have feelings, you know," Shulk scolded.
"Riki no mind. Riki get even later. Riki become Heropon because Chief Dunga choose Riki! Chief choose by instinct!" Riki said.
"I'm not confident in him any more from this conversation…" Reyn said. Shulk and Melia let out an exasperated sigh in tandem. Dunban looked in between them.
"Say, Melia… your last name wouldn't happen to be Antiqua, would it?" Dunban asked.
"Yes, it would. Why do you ask?" Melia told him.
"Oh… no reason," Dunban said. Melia turned back to face the front, her lip curling in distaste.
Shulk is falling for her… I think. It's so hard to tell with him. Dunban thought.
The six heroes came up to a dark patch of forest. The dead life looked not unlike the dead life where the party first met Melia.
"What happened here? Riki never see no life like this…" Riki said.
"…This is the work of the Telethia. Stay sharp…" Melia said. Everyone nodded. They looked up, and saw the beast. Dinobeast, Telethia, whatever it was called… it was here.
"Dinobeast! Dinobeast!" Riki cried out.
"Stay focused! Keep it distracted, and wait for our chance to strike! The Monado can remove its ability to read your mind!" Shulk said. Everyone nodded.
"Be still!" Melia cried out, shooting a blast at the Telethia. The Telethia stopped its movements. Shulk grinned, and shot a blast of green light. The Monado Purge revoked the Leone Telethia of its Soul Read, and Reyn, Dunban and Riki charged in to start poking. The Leone Telethia used Channel I, and stunned the three physical fighters. Melia roared, and shot another Mind Blast. The Telethia keeled over, and Shulk clambered onto its belly. He slashed away with the Monado. The slashes instantly healed.
"It's regenerating!" Shulk called out. Melia looked down.
"We shall cut our losses and retreat…" Melia said. She turned to Reyn. The Channel I had put him in quite a dangerous position, and Sharla was tending to him.
"No, Melia. You lost your friends to him. I know only too well the pain of having a trusted ally torn from you… I will not stand by and let you suffer as I have!" Shulk cried out. He took a deep breath.
"Time for a Chain Attack!" he cried out.
SHULK: Back Slash!
RIKI: Bitey Bitey!
MELIA: Bolt Discharge!
SHULK: Monado Purge!
RIKI: Lurgy!
MELIA: Mind Blast!
Telethia down. Melia's party was avenged.
"Amazing work, everyone," Dunban said.
"Yeah…" Shulk agreed. He looked at Reyn, who was still in a poor condition.
"We shall camp here and lick our wounds. We return to Frontier Village in the morning," Melia said.
"Hogard… Garan… Damil… Aizel…" Melia murmured. She had set up her camp away from where Reyn continued to lie. Riki followed her, and after some mild convincing, Shulk followed them.
"So they were your friends? The ones the Telethia killed?" Shulk asked. Melia looked at Shulk with tears in her eyes.
"Overstepping it?" Shulk asked.
"No. They're gone… murdered by the Telethia. I miss them dearly… but they would not have liked for me to dwell on them forever…" Melia said.
"That's a good outlook on death. I try not to let Fiora's death affect me. I'm pretty sure Dunban carries her death heavily. It's probably because she was her sister… don't tell him, but I never liked her much. But she was a good warrior, and the Faced Malice deserves to die for what he has done," Shulk said.
"Riki curious. Shulk fight for Fiora, but Shulk not care about Fiora. Not make sense to Riki," Riki said.
"Yeah… now that he mentions it, it is rather odd that you would seek revenge for something that does not concern you…" Melia commented.
"…I'll have to figure out why later. For now, Melia… we should rest. We did just defeat a powerful beast," Shulk said. Melia nodded, and the three retired to their tents.
"My Bionis, Reyn. What did the Telethia do to you?" Sharla asked. She had several herbs for use on Reyn.
"I dunno… it was really confusing, that battle. Can you heal it?" Reyn asked.
"Of course I can heal it… I was just worried, that's all," Sharla said.
"Makes you a damn sight better than Shulk, then. Melia goes far away from us Homs, and Shulk follows her. It's like he barely even knows us anymore!" Reyn said. "Oi, Dunban! Do you think you could talk some sense into Shulk?"
"Not particularly. We might finally be getting to see what it was we could not before, when Fiora was alive," Dunban said.
"Say that again?" Reyn asked.
"What we are witnessing here could quite conceivably be Shulk's first romantic relationship. It's the sort of relationship Fiora wished she could've had. I don't know about you, but I'm not sticking my nose into it until I'm sure Melia won't turn into another Fiora," Dunban commented.
"Yeah, I don't get it 'n' all, but… we barely know Melia! She hates our guts! Is that the girl you want Shulk to fall for?" Reyn asked.
"No. But it is the girl he is falling for. We must stand by and accept Shulk's decision," Dunban said.
"Humph. A sane man would agree with Reyn here," Sharla muttered under her breath.
"Riki did good!" the Nopon of Frontier Village said. They had returned to Frontier Village after a long rest.
"Riki beat Dinobeast! Does Riki still have debts?" Riki asked Chief Dunga. The Homs in the party reacted in shock. Riki had debts in the village?
"Your debts are repaid, my courageous Heropon. However, err… your littlepon ate like ravenous Orluga. Riki will continue to accompany the Hom Hom on their travels!" Dunga said.
"Riki expected that to happen… but Riki no mind. Melly and Shulk good friends. Riki even like other Hom Hom!" Riki said. As he said this, a female Nopon and a not-quite-dozen little Nopon came up to Riki. The littlepon began jumping at Riki, begging for food.
"Wait… Riki's a dadapon?" Reyn asked.
"Reyn correct!" Riki said.
"…I never thought I'd say this… but I wish I was wrong," Reyn said.
"It's certainly surprising," Sharla said. Melia said no such thing, instead going to stroke some of the littlepon.
"How old are you, Riki?" Shulk asked.
"Riki have fourty years!" Riki said proudly.
"Hey Dunban! You're younger than furball here!" Reyn said. Dunban looked at Reyn sternly. He did not see the humour in Reyn's comment.
"Now you can return to Alcamoth with your head held high, my dear," Dunga said, turning to Melia. Melia stood before Dunga, and nodded.
"With Shulk by my side… I fail to see how I could ever be endangered again," Melia said.
My Bionis… is Shulk considering dropping his vendetta against the Face Malice? Dunban thought to himself.
"Dunga? May the Hom Hom come with me to Eryth Sea?" Melia asked.
"Without question, Melia. Dunga say yes earlier, why change answer now that Hom Hom are heroes to Nopon?" Dunga asked.
"Good. Shulk, come with me. Homs, Riki, get yourselves ready and follow us when you are done," Melia said.
"Melia? What will you do now?" Shulk asked.
"I would like to continue to act as your guide around Eryth Sea. And, once the time is right, I would like to help you destroy the Face Malice machine that killed Fiora," Melia said.
"That would be appreciated," Shulk said.
"Good. Eryth Sea is a vast place. Unless you know exactly where you need to go, you would find yourself lost there easily," Melia said.
"Well, we do know where we plan on going. Prison Island, at the head of the Bionis," Shulk said.
"You will need imperial sanction. I will need to take you to my home of Alcamoth before any sanction may be granted," Melia said.
"Understandable. A place called Prison Island must hold something prisoner, and going in must be controlled by a local authority," Shulk said. The Homs and Riki appeared behind Shulk.
"Our destination is Alcamoth. We will go to Eryth Sea through the passage behind us now," Shulk said. Reyn looked around, but no one else was making any remark, so he stayed silent. Melia walked into the Apex Lake behind her, and summoned an orb to beam her up. Riki and Shulk followed easily, while Sharla, Reyn and Dunban required a bit more caution.