Chapter VI: Incoming Spiders!
The three of us go through the Mag Mell Ruins, walking by the familiar places. The regular sights, and sounds of Tephra Cave around us; the dripping of water, the many stalactites and stalagmites, the darkness permeated by few lamps that Shulk say are made out of ether, and the hard ground with many slippery rocks that make us lose our footing. It's pretty hard to believe that this is the same place that we went to before Fiora died.
"Oy, watch it over there!" Reyn says, as Shulk slips on a rock.
"Aaahhh!"
"Maybe we shouldn't run through these areas." I say, as Shulk and Reyn keep running everywhere they go. "Anyway, why do you run everywhere? Don't you guys get tired sometimes?"
"We do, but the only times that we walk is when there are monsters that detect you through sound instead of sight." Shulk answers.
"You know what, I've never gotten to know either of you. You two are very interesting people, and your bond seems inseparable."
"Come on Augustine, we explained to you that we are such good friends because of the fight that we had when we were younger." Reyn says.
"So, how did you two meet each other?" I ask while we keep walking.
"Well, fourteen years ago Dickson brought me to the colony." Shulk says.
"Why did he bring you to the colony? Isn't he your father?"
"No, you know the Monado right?" as Shulk asks this I nod my head, "There was an expedition fourteen years ago, where both of my parents died. I don't remember anything about the expedition except the fact that inside the tower that the Monado was housed, we took it out of the place, there were beautiful ether shimmers."
"Ether shimmers?"
"They're hard to explain, but I think there are some in Tephra Cave." Shulk answers.
"So when Dickson brought Shulk to the Colony, fourteen years ago, naturally he met me, and Fiora at school. We didn't get along together that well, at first." Reyn says.
"Then I met Dunban, and I was taken by his...well, awesomeness. He then said to me that he couldn't have this mastery without his friends. Dickson, my surrogate father, is a friend of his, so he taught me how to make friends."
"He apologised to me, and the two of us became friends."
"Reyn and I have been inseparable since."
"Tell us about yourself Augustine." Reyn asked.
"Well, I still can't remember a lot, but I know that I was an avid reader, or so I think. Another thing that I can remember is my name, and the fact that I had a girlfriend. I also just celebrated my 20th birthday. The only other thing that I can remember is that I'm from another place, maybe even universe, as I tried to calculate some things in physics, and nothing added up."
"Wow! Twenty, that's pretty old." Reyn says.
"Reyn, you're 18." Shulk says, laughing.
"Oh yeah! I just turned 18 a few weeks ago. You, Shulk, you turned 18 a few months ago."
"That was a birthday to remember…" Shulk trails off with a smile.
We get to the Mag Mell Ruins and see Military Personnel. They ask us a few favours to get some arachno string, and other random monster parts. Shulk remarks that none of these items should be hard to get.
"Let's not lose our 'eads though." Reyn says, as Shulk remarks.
"Ha ha."
The three of us then see a door that is green-lit instead of red-lit.
"Shulk, how did you remember that this door was red-lit when we came here earlier? Have you studied this place so profusely that you now know every door in the ruins?"
"I just had a hunch, like usual?" His pitch goes up with slight uncertainty.
"Why'd it turn green?" I ask.
"Maybe it was programmed to open up in case of a Mechon emergency. The way to Bionis Knee is just up ahead."
"How do you get to Bionis Knee regularly? Without the Mechon emergency?" I ask.
"Hover transports. We rarely go through Tephra Cave unless you're posted there."
"Traders go through Tephra Cave." Shulk says.
"Yeah, they do, but I don't know where they go through." Reyn answers.
We walk through the door and see some of the men posted there.
"Hey guys." Reyn says.
"Reyn, I heard that you resigned."
"Yeah, I'm going to that Metal-Faced Mechon, and showing him what-for. I'll give him as much hell as-"
"That's well and good Reyn." Shulk adds in.
"Ha ha ha."
The two of us keep walking through the escape pod, and see a lot of ether lamps.
"Careful guys, the Defence Force doesn't protect anyone outside of the escape pod bay."
"Okay Reyn."
We stop at an ether lamp.
"This, Augustine, is an ether lamp."
"Traders use these things for navigation." Reyn adds.
"Can we follow these to the Bionis Knee?" I ask.
"Of course." Reyn replies. "But, this place is pretty dangerous. If armed traders need guideposts, then it must be extremely dangerous here. We must keep our wits around us."
"Definitely." Shulk says.
The two of us keep walking through the stone caverns, where the ground is thankfully dry and not slippery. We then get attacked by a lot of bunnits, and we kill them all.
"So, what did we get this time?" I ask.
"Wow, it's new shoes!" Reyn shouts, barely containing his excitement.
"What's that green thing inside them?" I ask.
"Oh, that's an ether gem. Sorry that we couldn't give you one. You can have these shoes though."
"Thanks Reyn!"
"No worries, man."
We keep walking until we see a pool, where many dead traders are there. The five men are garbed in gray armour, with orange trim. Their armour is full body, unlike ours, as even the leggings are armoured. Next to their bodies are ether rifles, and swords are at their hips, not drawn. That signified a surprise attack by animals. I look and see that on one of them there is blunt-force trauma on their head. On another body the face is bloodied to a pulp, unrecognisable. It slightly looks like mandible marks on his face. I look away, not wanting to survey the rest of the bodies.
"What the…?" Reyn says, mouth agape with surprise and disgust.
"Look at the emblem. They're traders from Colony 6, no wonder it's been so long since the last delivery." Shulk says.
"Why? How long should deliveries take?" I ask.
"About 2 weeks, it's been nearly a month since the last delivery." Shulk answers.
"Reyn… their injuries…" I say.
"They weren't made by no Mechon. It was probably the monsters that live here." Reyn sighs "Man, that's grim. I don't wanna die in a cave like this. Not even killed by Mechon, just some monsters in a cave."
"This is the antithesis of a good death." I say.
Shulk looks in thought, "They had families… children…"
"Maybe, it wouldn't surprise me. What makes you say that?" Reyn asks.
"No reason. Reyn, shouldn't we return them to the Bionis?" Shulk asks.
"Oh, right. What's born from the Bionis is returned to the Bionis, that's the way of the Homs." Reyn answers.
"What's returning to the Bionis? Is that cremation, or something else?" I ask.
"It depends on the Colony. Colony 9, usually brings them to the water and sets them to the water. We're gonna do that because we're pretty near water, aren't we?" Reyn replies.
I take the head of one, while Reyn takes the feet of the other, while flies are buzzing about we set the first body on the water, Shulk prepares the next one and we take him to set lake, where we set him down too. The three of us then do the same things with the other three bodies, and about twenty minutes later we finish with the ritual.
"Do you do the same thing in your world, Augustine?" Reyn asks.
"I don't know, but there is a saying in our world, 'From dust you have been created, and to dust you shall return.'"
The three of us nod as Reyn voices his tiredness.
"That was way harder than I thought it'd be. I'm just about ready to collapse!" He voices.
"We should take a rest, if all of these monsters killed all these traders then we need to be at our best. I'm wide awake, so I'll take first watch." Shulk says.
"Yes, I would say it is imperative for us to rest." I say, yawning. "Anyway, thanks for taking first watch. I'm pretty tired. Reyn, will you sleep too?"
"Yes."
I get into my sleeping bag and rest.
A few hours later I get woken up by Shulk and Reyn talking.
"Hey… Why do you think the Mechon attacked? Are we just food to them, or did we do something wrong? Sort of reminds me of the battle between the Bionis and the Mechonis. I wonder if it's got to do with that." Reyn says.
I wake up and sigh.
"Oh, up already?" Shulk asks.
"Yeah, Reyn, did you sleep too?" I ask.
"No, couldn't sleep a wink."
"So, what are you two talking about? Friends, family, or something else?" I ask.
"We are talking about why the Mechon attacked Colony 9." Shulk answers. "I mean, it's hard to believe that us living beings are just a source of energy to machines. There has to be another reason!"
"There probably is, if there wasn't then the Mechon should be attacking the other living beings of Bionis, the Nopon, the animals…"
"Exactly." Reyn pipes in. "I don't care whatever their reason is. I'll never forgive them. They killed Fiora."
"Hmm, I remember that right before Fiora died, the Monado showed me that Fiora was in danger, but I couldn't save her." Shulk says.
"Wait, I had a vision too! Does that mean we both can…" My voice quivers with excitement.
"How about the time when I touched the Monado, could you see something?" Shulk asks.
"Yes."
"Cool!" Reyn says. "Though, I don't think that's true."
"Just you wait, maybe one day we'll save your life, Reyn." I wink at this statement.
"I would love to see that." He replies. "By the way, I've been wondering why Shulk can wield the Monado, and I may have gotten the answer."
"Let's hear it." Shulk says, slightly smiling.
"You were a survivor from the Monado expedition team that went out 14 years ago. There was a blizzard or something and your mum and dad died, and Dickson brought you back." Reyn says.
"That sounds right. I was pretty young, so I don't really remember that much."
"Yes, you said that all that you remember are the ether shimmers." I say.
"True." Shulk replies.
"Is that why you help Dickson with his research? Do you miss your parents?" I ask.
"Maybe. Part of me does see it as something to remind me of my mum and dad. But mainly, if it really is the sword that the Bionis used to kill the Mechonis, like in the legend… I want to work out its secret. That's the real reason." Shulk replies
Reyn stands up, and the two of us are astonished.
"I've got it! You were chosen! By the Monado!" Reyn shouts.
"What?" I ask. "There is no such thing as a chosen one."
"Don't you see guys? Not even Dunban can handle it. It ain't chance that you can and he can't." Reyn says.
"I mean, Occam's Razor says that the more assumptions you have to make, the more unlikely an explanation is. Shulk says that before that attack, he couldn't use the Monado. Except that those 'visions' happened. It is in the realm of possibility." I say.
"We'll take the next watch, you need to get some rest." Reyn says, deflecting it slightly.
"Okay, I'll try." Shulk walks to one of the sleeping bags and sleeps. "Night, Reyn."
The two of us watch, but then something in my mind pulls me.
"Are you okay?" Reyn asks.
"Yeah." I say slightly laboured. "I think I'm having another one."
I see a hazy dream world with a man in a blue coat. He has slightly grey hair.
"You are a traveller from another world. You should not be here."
"I didn't want to be here..."
"On the contrary, your group wanted to be here."
"A group?"
"As you will find, the future is yours."
"What?"
I phase out of the dream world, as the young man waves farewell and I see some spiders incoming.
"Reyn, we have incoming spiders!" I shout.
A vision overtakes me and I see a bunch of spiders surrounding Reyn in a chamber. The chamber has vines covering the entire place, and behind there is a huge spider, probably a queen. Reyn tries to block one of the hits, but the fang goes through his shield, impaling him.
"Well, that won't happen on my watch." I say to myself.
"Shulk! Shulk!" Reyn shouts, to wake him up, as our camp is overrun with spiders. "What're ya playing at?! Give us a hand!"
I pick up my bow and start shooting, killing a few of the spiders. Shulk then activates the Monado and in one fluid stroke, cuts off the legs of two spiders, and kills them instantly. Reyn blocks with his guarder and kill more of the spiders. One of them goes close to me, where I jump and shoot them, exactly like a Legolas move from Lord of the Rings. In a few more strokes, we destroy the monsters.
I sigh, thankful that I have survived the encounter.
"I'm sorry, Reyn." Shulk says.
"Don't worry about it. It looked like you were having a nightmare." Reyn replies.
"What did you dream about?" I ask. "We might have dreamt about the same thing."
"I dreamt about something with the True Monado." Shulk replies.
"I dreamt about a man talking about the future being ours."
"Doesn't make sense, does it?"
"No, it doesn't."
"What's with you two? We'd better get a move on." Reyn says, breaking as up from the conversation.
I have another vision, where Reyn gets killed by the spiders. I look over to Shulk and his facial expression says that he probably had the same thing.
We walk deeper into Tephra Cave, as Reyn runs and shows us the way. We come to another portion where there are ovals sticking out of the ground. They have intricate patterns on them, but one of them bursts to reveal a large amount of spiders.
"What on Bionis are those?" Reyn asks.
"Monsters' egg sacks… I think… But it looks like there are Mechon parts inside as well." Shulk answers.
"What kind of monsters are they?" Reyn asks.
"Probably some type of arachno?" Shulk answers.
"So they aren't called spiders?" I ask.
"No, only kids call them spiders."
The two of us then get a vision, where Reyn gets killed by a large spider.
"Reyn! Get back!" The two of us shout simultaneously.
A web drops onto Reyn's body and he gets trapped, he tries to struggle out of the web, but it entangles him further, and he gets taken up through the ceiling of the cave.
"We've gotta find him!" Shulk shouts to me.
"Let's go."
We run down a slope and get to a lake, where we look for signs of Reyn.
"You things just don't give up, do ya?" We hear him shouting and look up. He is running away on one of the upper levels from another groups of arachno.
"We need to get up there." I say.
The two of us scan the cave, until we see something that looks like vines.
"Hey, we can climb that!"
The two of us climb up through the vines and get to a hallway full of vines. Suddenly we hear shouting from the cave.
"Reyn!" Shulk shouts.
"Shulk! There's too many of 'em. I kill one, and ten others come up."
"Reyn! No!" Shulk shouts, as Reyn runs after more arachno. "Not that way!"
We keep running and hear a rumble coming from the tunnel.
The giant arachno seen in our visions then appears out of nowhere, with hundreds of other soldier arachno charging to the middle, Reyn hopelessly trapped.
"Reyn dodge!" Shulk shouts.
Apparently Reyn doesn't hear this statement and instead tries to block. Shulk winces with that, but a strange yellow light comes near and a character is shown in the middle. He swings the sword and the three of us are engulfed in a yellow forcefield. The queen's fangs hit the force field and then bounces off.
"What the hell?" I ask.
"What is this?" Reyn asks.
"The power… of the Monado?" Shulk asks sceptically.
"Look out!" Reyn says as the arachno charges, and interposes himself into the middle of the arachno and Shulk. "Pretty glad that one of us figured out that these things would try an ambush."
"À l'attaque !" I shout, while I draw my rapier.
A soldier arachno charges next to me, while I parry its fangs and then strike at its head. It instantly dies, while I again dodge another one and then hit it, killing it too. Shulk charges to the side and flanks another arachno, and stabs him.
After clearing the soldiers, we then charge at the queen. The queen quickly dies when the Monado busted it.
"Looks like the Monado works on more than just Mechon. I gotta say, that's pretty awesome!" Reyn says.
"I thought we already knew that." I say, jokingly.
"Reyn… I just realised something." Shulk says.
"What?" Reyn asks.
"The future I see… It isn't set. I think it is more like a warning."
"A warning?" Reyn asks.
"Makes sense." I say.
"Yeah… A warning about what will happen. What will happen if we don't do anything, or if we can't do anything. So, we can use this power to change the future, and that is exactly what we shall do." Shulk replies.
"You've gotten my vote. And if you could really do that… I think Fiora would have liked it too." Reyn says.
"So, how do we get to Colony 6 from here?" I ask.
"It's pretty easy! We take some of that Queen's fluid, we melt the web, and the three of us go to the hole. It's right there." Reyn says.
The three of us then keep walking to the outside, and the three of us are nearly blinded when we go outside, as it is brightness which contrasts the dark of the cavern.