Recommended Music: None
One Month Ago
Alvis held out his hand to the Emperor, showing him a vision of what would happen. Sorean saw himself lifting his staff into the air, as a pattern in the floor he stood on glowed. He saw a large, humanoid creature before him, with Melia and a boy next to him. Then, a large Mechon bringing claws into his back.
Alvis stopped the vision. "Can this be true?" Sorean asked.
Alvis bowed. "It will happen soon."
"I saw Melia. She was fighting a battle against a Mechon with a strange group of Homs."
"Yes."
"That sword. Could it be the...? Could it possibly...? And that location. Was it...?"
"The vision is a sign. By your will, it can be changed."
Sorean sighed. "For now, we must consider all things. Everything. The capital, and the lives of our people, depend on it."
Present Time
"Wow!" Reyn yelled as ships passed by the city. "Take a look at that! A High Entia bird show!"
"Bird People fly higher than Nopon birds!" Riki said in a high pitched voice, making ship sounds.
"They've got some neat tricks." Fireworks shot in the sky as a screen appeared, showing a woman in a mask. "Shulk, I think that's Melia up there!" Melia lifted her staff up in the air, Robin and Lucina bowing before her.
"By the authority of our divine ancestors," Melia started. "I, Melia Antiqua, am honoured to accept the responsibility of becoming your next benevolent ruler. Should I be deemed unworthy of this calling, or fail to protect the ancestors or the Bionis, I promise here and now to throw myself to the mercy of you, the people." The High Entia cheered as Melia finished her short speech. The fireworks continued as Robin and Lucina stood up and used their tomes to create the High Entia Emblem in the sky out of fire, lingering there for a few seconds.
"Most majestic." Dunban commented. "That fragile girl in the forest is a distant memory."
"But which one is the real Melia?" Sharla asked.
I ask this not as Emperor Sorean Antiqua, Shulk remembered the Emperor's words. But as a father. I do not demand that you act as Melia's protector, but I would be honoured if you would be her friend.
"No, it's not like that." Shulk said. "They're one and the same girl. I think.
Recommended Music: Intrigue (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Lorithia walked outside, where Alvis was staring out to the sea. "And what did you see, Alvis?" Lorithia asked.
"Oh, it's you." Alvis replied.
"Don't play games."
"No need to be angry. I only wanted to analyse the boy. Which was the point, no? I did not interfere with you ministerial affairs. In fact, you should be thanking me."
"I wonder if he feels the same."
"We have all the information we need. We know that such a Telethia cannot harm them. You see...nothing can befall him before he sees his dream fulfilled."
Recommended Music: None
"Brand spanking new!" Metal Face yelled, flying fancy as they left the Mechonis. "Nothing like an ether change and a new paint job!" He showed off his bigger frame and cruder design to the Mechon he was flying with. "We don't need her." He said as he flew next to a Mechon designed like a female, Face Nemesis. "Look at me, look at me. Goody two shoes! Let's just see if you can hold back the screams when his blade gets a taste of you!"
Face Nemesis stayed silent. That was when the army of Mechon were interrupted by some High Entia defence mechanisms near the Bionis' head. They opened fire. "I love a warm welcome!" Metal Face said. "Let's settle this, machine to machine!" He charged up an ether blast and fired.
Recommended Music: Such bonds are the true strength of this army. (Fire Emblem Awakening)
The group of Homs were back in their 'room'. "So they've got a new crown princess." Reyn said. "Three cheers for Melia!"
"Right." Sharla said. "But we're still no closer to that murdering faced Mechon."
"Once we reach Prison Island, we'll get our chance." Shulk said. "I've seen us there. It must be true."
"Shulk, man." Reyn said. "Maybe we can still persuade big wings? Melia's crown princess now, I reckon the Emperor might change his mind."
"Maybe."
"Reyn, the Emperor's request was clear." Dunban scolded. "Give him time. There's more to this island than we know. Things are at play here that reach beyond our understanding."
"Dundun right!" Riki agreed. "Riki and friends visit Luci, Robin and Melly now!"
"Hey!" Reyn said. "The adults are talking, pops!"
"Riki want to see them. Riki think they sad too."
"They might like the distraction." Sharla added. "All those stiff ceremonial duties... You decide, Shulk."
"Riki say yes!"
"All right, then." Shulk said. "I guess we'll go. I was told that Melia's room was connected by a transporter to the left of the one to the Audience Chamber. Are we going?"
"Riki going!"
"All right then." When they walked out of the room, it seemed that word spread that they helped Melia. People whispered around them, looking surprised. They decided not to let it get to them. They found the transporter they were looking for and found what the Emperor called the Imperial Villa.
It was filled with flowers, a tower in the centre. From it, came Melia, Lucina and Robin. They looked worn out. Lucina had her cape and shoulder plates off, while Robin had his robe off. Melia's shawl on the back of her head was gone, revealing two wings barely reaching her neck. "You came to see us?" Melia asked.
"Riki's friends!" Riki yelled. "Melly look amazing before! Riki so proud!"
"Really? It all happened so fast..."
"Luci and Robin made big boom with fire!"
"It was part of the ceremony." Lucina said. "The Emperor wanted it in there for his daughter. We couldn't say no."
"What a stunning garden!" Sharla exclaimed. "The arrangements, the fountain... When the colony is up and running, can I steal some ideas?"
"My late mother adored this place." Melia said.
"Late mother?" Reyn asked. "But I thought your mum was..."
"Her Highness the First Consort is not my birth mother. Members of the Imperial Family must take two wives: One Homs, the other High Entia. My mother is the Second Consort. I am half Homs, half High Entia."
"Melia..." Sharla started.
"Melly live here?" Riki asked.
"Yes, Riki." Melia answered. "Since I was young. I cannot walk outside as you see me now, so this garden gives me much relief."
"What's wrong with how you look?" Reyn asked. "Who cares if your half Homs? You'll always be you."
"Their way of thinking differs from ours." Dunban said. "Different ways, different morals."
"So that's why you wear a mask in public." Shulk said.
"That's why all three of us do." Robin said. "Back in Ylisse, when it became known that I was Grima, people wanted me dead. They said that they didn't need me, that I should go back to hell. If only they knew..."
"If everyone found out that we were pretty much gods..." Lucina said. "We would never here the end of it. There would be riots, people begging for healing, for us to kill people they hate. Not to mention we aren't from Bionis. The results no one could handle."
"Shulk, in less than an hour there will be a banquet in the palace." Melia said. "I would like you all to come."
"Riki so hungry he could even eat smelly Orluga!" Riki exclaimed.
"There'll be plenty to eat."
"Finally some decent grub!" Reyn said.
"Yes." Lucina said. "Try not to eat all of it. We know how much of a hoarder you can be."
"Hey!" The group laughed. "I haven't eaten anything since breakfast! What's on the menu? Any High Entia specials?"
Breakfast. Lucina said sarcastically. Wow, he must be starving.
Give him some slack. Shulk said. He is Reyn.
"Do not embarrass me at this dinner!" Sharla said to Reyn.
"Expectations lead to disappointment." Dunban said. "We are talking about Reyn here."
"What?!" Reyn exclaimed. "That's the last time I sit next to you then!"
"We have much to prepare." Melia said. "I will have someone to call for you later."
"We can't wait." Shulk said. He suddenly stopped her from walking out of the garden.
"Is there something wrong?" Melia asked.
"No." Shulk said with a pause.
"You're a funny one." Melia said. As she, Robin and Lucina walked out, a vision appeared.
Metal Face, bringing his claw into Sorean, Shulk screaming as the Emperor fell to the ground.
The vision ended. "It can't be!" Shulk said aloud.
"Shulk?!" Reyn asked.
"It's the Emperor!"
"Father?" Melia asked, running back towards them. "Robin, Lucina. Did you two see it as well?"
"Yes, Melia." Robin said. "I can't explain it."
"Another vision?" Reyn asked.
"What did you three see?" Melia asked.
"Prison Island..." Lucina said. Sirens sounded. Everyone got into combat stances.
"What does the siren mean?" Dunban asked.
"Siren 5." Robin said, eyes wide. "We learned all the sirens. We are under attack. By Mechon."
Recommended Music: Crisis (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Metal Face flew into the sky of Eryth Sea as Andos followed him around. He flew near the water, transformed into his humanoid form, and brought his claws out, flying forward and destroying all the Andos. "Too slow! you'll never stop me now!" He flew forward to join another fight as hundreds of Mechon joined him.
Three guards ran into the Audience Chamber, bowing before the Emperor. "Report!" Kallian ordered.
"Yes, Sire." The guard in front said. "We received a report from our south station. Mechon are approaching."
"Impossible!"
"Kallian." Sorean said. "Your sister's time has come."
"Your Majesty."
"There is only one course of action left." Sorean walked to a staff behind his throne. "We will not waver from our destinies."
"Father!"
Sorean grabbed the staff. "Kallian! Take care of the capital's defences. I will go to Prison Island!"
"Tell me!" Melia yelled. "What happens to my father?"
"He..." Shulk started. "It follows the last vision. We're on Prison Island. Metal Face and your father are..."
"Prison Island? Why would father go there?" Melia thought, then realised what her father was planning. "No! I must go to the palace. I must stop him. I will go to the Audience Chamber!"
"Wait, Melia! We're coming too!" They quickly ran to the Audience Chamber as all the guards ran out of the palace to the oncoming threat. When they reached the chamber, only Kallian was there.
"Brother!" Melia said. "Where is father?"
"Melia..." Kallian said.
"The imperial staff. Its..." Melia noticed the empty slot behind her father's throne. "So father has gone?!"
"I..."
"Kallian!"
"The Emperor has proceeded to the island, alone. For the sake of the empire."
"Why did you let him go alone? Father...!"
"His Majesty if fully aware." Alvis said, walking in on the conversation.
"Alvis..." Shulk said.
"Of what will happen to him, and what he must do before then."
"You saw something?"
"I did. During our ancient divination ritual."
"If he knows, then why?"
"Because he is the ruler of the imperial family and all the High Entia. We must respect his decision above all else."
"But that doesn't mean..."
"Trust him, Shulk." Kallian said. "His fate was decided long ago."
"No!" Melia yelled.
"Shulk, we're going!" Dunban said.
"Dunban?" Shulk asked.
"Respect? Destiny? We don't need rules to tell us when to save the people we care for! You too, Melia. Don't give up on him. The Emperor, your father, is going to die!"
"Dunban!" Melia said.
"There's only one thing to do. Are you with me?"
"Of course!" Shulk said.
"But you can't." Kallian protested.
"We are Homs." Dunban said. "Do what you must. But your laws don't concern us."
"My apologies, Dunban."
"No apologies needed. So, Melia, what's it to be?"
"We go to Prison Island." Melia answered.
"This fly infestation is beginning to bug me!" Metal Face yelled in Eryth Sea, flying past more Andos. He laughed at his own joke.
"Unmanned craft built by ancient High Entia." Face Nemesis said, speaking for the first time. "Is it too much to hope this is the last of them?" She looked to Prison Island, where large stingray like creatures emerged. They were bigger than Metal Face.
"Ginormous things as 12 'o clock!" Metal Face yelled, flying past one.
"Ancient creatures that were sealed within Prison Island." Nemesis said. "They have us in their sights." The creatures had the Mechon surrounded in a sphere, where there was no where for them to go.
"They must be our target's pets!"
"Perhaps."
"Let's see how they like this!" He flew up, and charged a blast from the cannon on his back. "Die!" He yelled, firing a straight beam straight through one of the creatures, splitting it in two. The battles continued on around the Island, being seen from Alcamoth, frightening civilians.
Shulk and his group walked out of Alcamoth, where they saw the explosions. "Prison Island is just up ahead." Melia said.
"Do we need to use the transporter?" Shulk asked.
"We do. But first we must unlock the seals."
"Seals?"
"We'll need to unlock two seals to reach Prison Island. Then a door will appear before us, showing the way."
"Got it. Move, everyone!"
"If we split into teams of four, we can get both seals at once." Robin said. "The paths are filled with monsters, if I am assuming correctly?"
"Correct." Melia said.
"Then we each go to one of the seals. Shulk, you and I will be on a team with Reyn and Sharla to the left seal. Lucina, you, Melia, Riki and Dunban will go to the other seal. We need to get onto the island as soon as possible. Any questions?"
"Yeah." Reyn said. They had reached the entrance to Prison Island, and two transporters were on either side of the island. "Why are you in charge?"
"I'm a tactician. I split us up as evenly as I could. I know a lot about strategy. Now, any other questions?"
"No." Shulk said. "It's as good a plan as any. Let's get going."
They split up to their groups. Robin's group went to the Soltnar Seal, while Lucina's went Khatorl Seal. When Robin's group reached Soltnar, the path was crowded by monsters. "We'll have to fly up." Robin said.
"Uh, I'm okay." Sharla said. "How about Reyn and I take the bottom to clear a path for you and Shulk back?"
"Uh, sure." Reyn said. "You two go ahead. We'll go up the long way."
"All right." Shulk said. "Come on, Robin." Robin pulled out his wind tome and sent the two up in the sky, narrowly avoiding a large serpent-like monster flying in the air. Robin went to the switch while Shulk defended him. Robin pressed the button, and at the Central Seal, a large pillar on the left rose up. "All done." Robin said. Right then, Reyn came crashing through, sending a monster down into the sea. "You done?" He asked.
"All done." Shulk replied. "Let's hope Lucina's group is done as well."
"Yay! Happy! Happy!" Riki yelled, jumping up and down. The group had made it to the top unscathed.
"A tough battle." Dunban said, breathing heavily from the battle with roughly ten monsters.
"Agreed." Lucina said. "But, we did it."
"Yes." Melia agreed. She walked up to the switch and pressed it. On the right on Central Seal, a large pillar appeared on the right. "It would seem that the other group finished." Melia remarked. "We have no time to lose! We must hurry." They quickly ran back to the Central Seal, where the others were waiting.
When they got back, they got a close look at the battle. "Mechon!" Shulk shouted. "And something we've never seen before!"
"Big fish coming!" Riki yelled as a shriek pierced the air. A large stingray like creature came down in front of them, ready to fight.
"What is it?" Robin asked.
"I don't know!" Melia yelled. "I've never seen any creature like that in Eryth Sea. It looks ancient. But it looks like it wants to fight." She stepped backwards with Sharla while everyone else charged. Shulk got behind it, trying to find an opening, while Reyn taunted it. Robin and Lucina flew up to the pillars, where they formed a large bridge, and fired tome magic at it, angering it even more. It still kept its attention on Reyn and Dunban, while Melia and Riki shot it with ether and Sharla healed anyone who needed it.
Melia held up her hand, letting ether build. "Robin, Lucina!" She yelled. "Now!" She fired the blast of ether, while Robin and Lucina cast Thoron on it. It shuddered, and fell to the ground, dead.
"Can anyone explain what this thing is?!" Reyn asked.
"I believe it's one of the oldest creatures on Bionis." Melia said. "I have only seen them as fossils discovered around the capital. To find that they were trapped on Prison Island..."
"Was it protecting the island?" Sharla asked.
"That would imply its sentient." Dunban said. "I believe its responding to something primitive."
"Primitive?"
"It doesn't care who or what we are. Its instinct was to defend against anything. But we'll never really know."
"We're losing time here. We still haven't reached the island."
"Riki go to island!" Riki yelled.
"Lucina." Melia said. "That switch up there unlocks a transporter to Prison Island. Press it." Lucina did so, and a large beam of light appeared in front of the group. Robin and Lucina jumped down.
"Follow me." Melia said, walking into the light.
Recommended Music: Face (Xenoblade Chronicles)
"Our forces can only take so much." Sorean said from the top of Prison Island, looking out at the battlefield. "The capital's defences are sure to fall." Holding the Imperial Staff from Alcamoth, he sighed, turning around. "Forefathers, grant me your wisdom." He lifted the staff in the air and chanted, "Iluna Mel Rukan Tak'sis Duku Aruke Mese Dakhani Ehato!" Lights formed in the pattern on the floor. When he finished chanting, the floor opened up in front of him, showing Sorean the prisoner.
"It can't be!" Sorean exclaimed. "A Giant." The giant had purple skin, red eyes, white hair that grew so long without being trimmed. It was in chains, imprisoned in the tower.
"So this is what was sealed away." Sorean said.
"How long has it been, Emperor?" The giant asked.
"This is our first encounter."
"It is not you that I speak to, but your blood. The blood that shackled me."
"I see. Then I assume I do not need to tell you the reason why I am here."
"There is no need. I already know why you have come. Use it. That is the reason I am here, after all."
Sorean slammed the staff down in a socket near the giant, and the staff started to glow. Large beams appeared above them, creating a shield around Prison Island. The beams shot down a Mechon flying nearby Metal Face, destroying it.
"How did they...?!" Metal Face exclaimed. The beams continued the attack, which Alvis and Kallian could see from Alcamoth.
"That light. It's..." Kallian started. "Father." Alvis just looked ahead with a look, as if he knew all this would happen.
Recommended Music: Prison Island (Xenoblade Chronicles)
The group had just got out of the transporter, and arrived at the door into Prison Island. On it was the seal of the High Entia.
"Whoa!" Reyn exclaimed. "Big door! Whatever needed this door was massive."
"Ah!" Riki yelled. "Dinobeast!" Riki ran to a statue of a large dragon. Robin and Lucina's eyes widened.
"It's just a statue." Reyn said. "Don't freak us out like that, Riki!"
"Is this a person?" Sharla asked. "I can't make it out."
"This may very well be the appearance of my forefathers." Melia said. "The legends tell they differ greatly to how they look now."
"No..." Robin muttered.
"What is it?" Melia asked.
"I-it's nothing." Robin said. "Carry on."
"So, this is what they looked like?" Dunban asked.
"Wait a minute." Reyn said. "I've seen this thing somewhere before..."
"Dinobeast! Dinobeast!" Riki cried.
"You might be right. It reminds me of the Telethia as well."
"Did your ancestors build this island?" Shulk asked.
"No." Melia said. "The stories tell of this place existing long before my people. No one knows for sure, but we think our forefathers are the ones who sealed it."
"I wonder what's hidden inside." Sharla said. "Well, we'll know soon enough, I suppose."
Melia looked around. "There! An engraving by the forefathers." On the statue was ancient writing like the one in the Audience Chamber. "I've seen this engraving around the capital. Many researchers have tried and failed to discover its meaning."
"Hey, Shulk." Reyn said. "That symbol..."
"Yeah." Shulk said. "It's similar to the Monado's symbols." Above the text is a large symbol. "There must be a connection."
"Connection?" Dunban asked.
"The sealed door of Prison Island." Melia said. "It is said that only a true successor to the throne can open it."
"Then the Emperor must be inside." Shulk said.
"I believe so." She stepped up to the door. "Forefathers. I, your descendant Melia Antiqua, stand before you. For the sake of our world, release the seal!" Ether light moved up and down around Melia like the one at the tomb, scanning her. "Just like at the Tomb..." Melia said.
"What's it doing?" Reyn asked.
"Aren't we going to help?!" Sharla asked.
"Please do not worry." Melia said. "It is necessary." It finished scanning. The emblem disappeared and the door retracted to a large hall. A vision appeared in Shulk's head. "Heir to the Monado..." The same humanoid creature in the previous visions said. "Let the shackles be released!"
"What is it, Shulk?" Reyn asked as the vision ended. Everyone walked over to him except Robin and Lucina. They were still staring at the two statues by the door. "Get a move on. You saw it, right? Us bashing that tin man's head in!"
"Hold on a second." Shulk said.
"Here we go. I knew you'd start overthinking."
"There's not much time, Shulk." Sharla said. "We've got to go now."
"Sharla's right. We'll miss our chance to take that murdering Mechon down. And save Melia's father too!"
"I..." Shulk said. "OK."
"Right. Come on, royals!" Reyn said to Robin and Lucina. "Those statues look interesting, but we have a job to do!"
"O-OK." Lucina said. She and Robin walked away from the statues of Naga and Grima in their dragon forms.
This just got much more personal. Lucina said. What do we do? Should we tell them?
No. Robin said. Not until we know what it means.
The group walked into a black light, which sent them to the top of the tower instantly. The group started running to stop Sorean. "We must be outside the tower." Sharla said.
"Are we here?" Reyn asked.
Shulk looked out to see the top of the Bionis. "This is it." He said, remembering the vision. "This is the place I saw." Two Mechon flew up, seeing them. When they try to fly in, however, they ran into the shield and exploded. Melia ran up the stairs to the top of the tower, where she saw Sorean and a giant.
"Melia?" Sorean asked.
"Father!" Melia shouted. The rest of the group came up the stairs next to her. "Father, who is this?"
"Welcome, True Heir to the Monado." The giant said.
"Who are you?" Shulk asked.
"Check that guy out!" Reyn exclaimed.
"Is this...?" Melia asked.
"He's one of the Giants, said to have become extinct eons ago." Sorean explained. "This is what our forefathers locked away."
"I am Zanza." The giant said. "And I have waited centuries for you."
"You waited for him?" Melia asked. "But I thought our forefathers imprisoned you here?!"
"I did not wait for just him." Zanza said. "The two over there as well with the dragons imprisoned inside them like I am now."
"Us?" Robin asked. "Why?"
Zanza paid him no heed. "I forged the Monado. It is moulded from me. All who wield the sword are made known to me."
"You made the Monado?!" Shulk exclaimed.
"Yes. I made it millennia ago to oppose Mechonis."
"But why are you imprisoned?"
"The Monado controls the principle on which life is based, the source of your existence-ether. Master the principle of life and all things will bow to you. Your power would be infinite. As you now know, the sword gives the wielder the power of foresight. And I myself once used that sword against the Mechonis, and defeated it."
"You're telling us you beat the Mechonis with that tiny thing?!" Reyn laughed.
"Its appearance is merely an illusion. Its form morphs to conform to the will of its master. The power comes from within. But its power was feared by some. That is why the High Entia imprisoned me here long ago."
"That can't be true!" Melia yelled. "Our forefathers would have had better reason!"
"You are what you are. Do you not believe your own eyes? Open your mind! New ruler of the High Entia. The Monado is the blade of the Bionis. The only force that can oppose the Mechonis. As the wielder grows, so too does his ability to control all things. Yet there is still power trapped in the sword. The Monado is in shackles, along with the dragons within the two humans over there."
"What do you mean?" Lucina said.
"By coming to this land, you have broken ancient law. No others are allowed in this world. So, the dragons have been imprisoned, and you felt the consequences."
"But, why can we see the future? Why can we harm Mechon but not Faces?"
"You are under the same shackles as the Monado. Anything the Monado can do, you can do. By coming here, you have been linked to the Monado."
"There's more to it, isn't there?" Robin asked. "There's something your not telling us."
"It is not the right time. You will know why you are here. You will see everything in due time."
"I want answers now."
"Robin." Shulk said. "Zanza, what do you mean, shackles?"
"They are suppressed." Zanza said.
"You mean..."
"Yes. It was this constraint that gave rise to faced Mechon. Mechon which cannot be destroyed the Monado, or anything else."
The beams continued to shoot the Mechon, angering Metal Face. "This is beginning to wear thin." He said. He fired a beam which just bounced off the shield around the island. He flew around to the top of the tower, out of range of the beams firing at the Mechon. "Now, where is it? Where's this power coming from?" He flew to the platform at the top, seeing a large body. "Is that...? So, he's come out to play! That's cheating. Can't have that. This is gonna be good." He flew up higher, pulling out a large green spear. "Try and stop my new toy! Catch this, Zanza!"
"These shackles... They must be the reason the Monado can't hurt people of the Bionis as well." Shulk said.
"So, that's why we couldn't use weapons to kill the Inquisitors that attacked us." Robin said. "Since we're under the same shackles as the Monado, we couldn't harm them."
"Does that have something to do with the faced Mechon?" Shulk asked.
"You must find that out by yourself." Zanza said. "As well as the real reason the humans do as the Monado can."
"So what you've told us...isn't the real reason?" Lucina asked.
"It's the only explanation you can understand at this time. You have more connections to this world than you think. As for the shackles, I will remove them for you. However, you must take your weapons and free me from this prison. Free me, and the Monado will cut down anything you wish. Nothing but a god can stand in your way!"
"Guys, don't do it!" Melia said.
"But Melia, why?" Shulk asked.
"Something's not right. The forefathers must have had good reason to seal him!"
"We need to release the dragons." Robin said. "Its what we're supposed to do. It's the only way for us to even stay alive for much longer!"
"I need that power." Shulk said. "I thought you of all people would understand!"
"I do...but..." Melia said. "It's just..."
"Hold on a minute!" Reyn said. "He only said he'd release this new power, and those powerful dragon folks. Sounds like a good idea to me."
"But..."
"Melia, please understand." Shulk said. "I must do what I set out to. The Mechon must pay!"
"Young Shulk." Zanza said. "I will not force you. I ask for nothing in return. It is your choice."
"I will." Shulk said. He activated the Monado, lifting it up high in the air, willing the blade to grow. He swung the Monado across the chains at Zanza's hands, breaking them. They disappeared, and Zanza stood up to full length, yelling in joy.
"Heir to the Monado." Zanza said. "Your will shall be done. Let the shackles be released!" Light formed around him, swirling around Robin, Lucina, and the Monado.
Robin and Lucina froze. "What...?" Lucina said, but was cut short by a hard shell cocooning her and Robin.
"Hey!" Reyn yelled, banging on the shell. They wouldn't break. "What is this?!"
"This party's over!" A new voice yelled. A large spear broke through the shield, impaling Zanza. Zanza looked down in shock, sliding down.
"No!" Sorean yelled.
"Zanza!" Shulk yelled. The shield disappeared, leaving it open for Mechon to come in, led by Metal Face.
"It's him!" Reyn yelled.
"Metal Face!" Shulk said, aiming the Monado at him.
"Sorry we're late to the party!" Metal Face said. "What do you think of our leader's gift?"
"How did you know we'd be here?" Reyn asked.
"What's that? The poor insects are a little confused? We're here for the old fool! If he's dead, he can't power up the Monado, or free the dragons. You being here's just an added bonus!" A Mechon flew down from the sky, right in front of Zanza.
"A silver-faced Mechon!" Sharla yelled. The Mechon Face Nemesis paid them no heed, and stared at the dead body of Zanza.
Zanza. She said through her thoughts. Respond, Zanza. I know you can here me.
I sense thought waves. Zanza said.
Zanza, how many more will you sacrifice?
Who are you to talk to me? How dare you! You know nothing.
I am here to talk, Zanza.
The connection was broken by Shulk yelling and swinging at Nemesis, missing.
Recommended Music: Engage the Enemy (Xenoblade Chronicles)
"Mechon!" Shulk yelled. "You will pay for what you've done!"
"Please wait." Nemesis said. "I mean you know harm."
"Give us back Fiora. Give her back!" Shulk jumped into the air, bringing the Monado down towards Nemesis, which was blocked by Metal Face.
"I told you to stay out of the way, boy!" Metal Face yelled, pushing Shulk back and stunning him.
"Shulk!" Dunban yelled.
"Weak. Weak and pathetic!" Sharla fired shells at Metal Face, while Reyn and Dunban stabbed at his feet. Metal Face deflected the bullets and kicked Dunban and Reyn off his feet.
"Dunban!" Melia yelled, blasting Metal Face with ether.
"Stupid bug!" Metal Face yelled, bringing his claw up. Dunban pushed Melia out of the way right as the claw slid through where she was standing, hitting the cocoon around Robin and Lucina. A wave emitting from it hit Metal Face, momentarily stunning him. He quickly got back up, though. "Ah! So, the dragons are stuck? Less for us to kill, then!"
"Melia!" Sorean yelled.
"Look at you! Worthless without the Monado! Isn't that right, Dunban?"
"What, or who are you?" Dunban asked, getting up off of Melia. "How do you know me?"
"Let's see if this jogs your memory!" He swung in a flurry of swipes which Dunban recognised.
"He moves like... But that's impossible!"
"Dunban!" Reyn yelled.
Mechon were approaching Sharla, who was desperately trying to shoot them down. Nemesis flew in between them. "Cease immediately! They are not our target."
"Any final words?" Metal Face asked Dunban, aiming his cannon at Dunban. It charged quickly. "Die!" Before he could fire, electricity came down on top of him, stunning him. "Who dares?"
"Stop at once!" Sorean yelled, the staff in its slot, emitting the electricity. "Mechon!"
"Emperor!" Shulk said, slowly getting up. The electricity continued, until Metal Face fell to his knees, the lights in his eyes going out.
"Father!" Melia yelled, running to Sorean and wrapping her arms around him.
"Are you hurt, Melia?" Sorean asked.
"No, Father."
"You're gonna pay for that, you bag of bones!" Metal Face yelled, activating, bringing his claw up. Sorean pushed Melia out of the way, and turned right when the claws slid right through his chest. Melia opened her eyes to claw tinted red protruding from her fathers back.
"Father!" She cried.
"Emperor!" Shulk shouted, getting on his feet. The Emperor fell to the ground, while Metal Face laughed.
"Look's like he had his wings clipped!" Metal Face said, looking at his newly painted claw. "Did you really expect to beat me?!"
"Emperor." Shulk banged the floor. "I... Failed you!"
Heir to the Monado. Zanza's voice said in Shulk's head.
"Zanza! You're alive! Give me the power I need!"
I am now a mere shell. The power is already yours.
"What?!"
The shackles have been broken. Wield the sword. It bends to your will. Think of your enemy, and the power to defeat them is yours! Zanza's body disappeared, leaving just the spear in the ground. Ether from Zanza floated down on Shulk.
"Zanza." He held the Monado up to his face. "Mechon! It's not over. The people of Bionis will never let you triumph!" A symbol appeared on the Monado, and it started to glow, until it transformed into a cruder design, with a sharp tip and back. It activated to a beam three times Shulk's height.
"It's changing form!" Melia yelled.
"Be careful." Nemesis said. "We cannot withstand such power!"
Meanwhile, Robin and Lucina were having a reunion. "Robin..." A woman's voice said. "Lucina!" They woke up to see darkness.
"What happened?" Robin asked.
"You are cocooned." A man's voice said. Two people materialized before them, Naga and Grima. Grima was wearing crude armour to match destruction.
"Why?" Lucina asked.
"Because we need to talk." Naga said. "We have been freed. The shackles have been broken. Although..."
"It is not safe for you and us to be as one." Grima said. "Gods have sources of power. Ours is Origin Peak in our world. If we aren't near it for a while, we become unstable."
"So that's what happened at Alcamoth?" Lucina asked.
"Correct." Naga said. "We can still help you, though. You need to trust us. Give us your weapons."
Robin and Lucina handed them their sword and tomes respectively. "Now, your masks." Naga said. They did so. A light appeared around them, and their weapons were gone. Only the masks remained.
"What did you do?" Robin asked.
"The weapons and mask are one." Grima said. "They are tied to you. Now your mask will morph into any weapon you desire!"
"What?" Lucina asked. "Why were we not told this before?"
"It was best not to." Naga said. "We decided it only necessary if there was cataclysmic events imminent that we could not help with. Now we cannot help you much else."
"But, what are you to do?" Robin asked. Something shook the cocoon, rocking Robin and Lucina off balance.
"Our protection is failing." Grima said. "There isn't much time. It is not safe for you to become dragons. When you do so, we are primarily in charge, and since we are unstable, it would be near impossible to change back."
"So, we decided to try something risky." Naga said. "The dragons are part of you. Any part of the dragon you want you can morph onto your human body."
"So you're saying..." Lucina said.
"You can fly, yes." The cocoon shook again.
"We will head into the depths of your soul." Grima said. "You can call on us whenever you need us. Now, you must head out there."
"Brother, you're forgetting one thing." Naga said.
"Oh, right." He pulled out a golden sphere with rings around it.
"Is that...?" Lucina asked. "A Master Seal?"
"They are yours." Naga said. "Few have ever received them in life. It is so hard to become worthy of one. But you two are a different case." She handed the Master Seals to them, along with their masks. "Choose wisely."
"We will not be able to talk again for a while." Grima said. "Farewell." They disappeared, leaving Robin and Lucina alone.
"Are you ready?" Robin asked.
"They need us." Lucina said. "We need to be."
They threw the seals up into the air, as they spun, shooting electricity down on top of them, changing them into another class altogether.
Recommended Music: You Will Know Our Names (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Shulk looked behind him to see cracks in the cocoon surrounding Robin and Lucina. "What..." His eyes widened. "Get down!" He yelled to everyone as the cocoon exploded.
From it, two beings flew into the sky. One with blue hair, the other, white. Robin had a large breastplate on, as well as armoured legs, with his robe acting as semi-armour. Lucina had a breastplate on, with armour on her arms and legs. Her cape was much more regal, and her clothing had more gold in it.
The weirdest thing was on their backs. "Wings?!" Sharla exclaimed. "Since when do they have wings?!"
"The dragons?!" Nemesis exclaimed. "There may be hope left. If they weren't..."
"Aw, yeah!" Reyn yelled. "Now we're talking! Let's get these murdering Mechon!"
"Did we miss anything?" Lucina asked, flying down next to Shulk.
"Not anything we can't catch up on!" Shulk yelled. He charged.
"You can't beat me!" Metal Face yelled, flying up in the air.
"We got him." Robin said, flying in the air as well. His eyes glowed, and a purple hammer formed in his hand, bringing it up on Metal Face, knocking him backwards. Robin flew up behind him, transforming the hammer into a large ball of fire. He shot it on top of Metal Face, sending him to the ground.
"Gah!" Metal Face yelled. Shulk used Enchant on everyone else, while he charged Metal Face with the group.
"Stop!" Nemesis yelled to Robin and Lucina. "Please hear us out!"
"I think not." Lucina said, flying forward and forming a bow in hand. She flew upward, firing an arrow of light at Nemesis, who dodged, letting it hit another face Mechon.
"No..." Nemesis said.
"Come on!" Lucina yelled, chasing after Nemesis into the sky. Robin followed.
"Please! I do not wish to fight."
"Why?" Robin asked, bringing down a sword on top of her. She drew her swords and stopped the blade.
"I only wish to talk."
"A peaceful Mechon?" Robin said. "Please." He continued an assault on her, with Lucina preoccupied with other Mechon attacking her.
"How?!" Metal Face asked. His arm was sparking from where the Monado cut it. "Our armour is impenetrable!"
"Not anymore!" Reyn yelled, slicing his driver across his leg. Metal Face kicked him again. He was fighting a losing battle.
"The Monado bends to my will." Shulk said. "I want it to defeat you, and it shall!"
Lucina swung a spear at a Mechon, sending it down into the sea. She swung it around to make a sword, impaling the other Mechon. It fell to the ground as well. When Lucina pulled up her sword, she saw it tinted red. "No..." She said, realising what happened.
Recommended Music: Main Theme (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Shulk lifted the Monado up, once again larger than him, and brought it down on Metal Face, cutting his arm off and sending Metal Face backwards. "You!" Metal Face yelled.
"You will know the pain and suffering you caused the Emperor and Fiora!" Shulk yelled, ready to finish Metal Face off.
"Desist!" Nemesis yelled, coming down and taking the blow for Metal Face. The plating on her upper body came off, revealing a body inside.
"Look at 'im!" Reyn yelled.
"The Monado has changed!" Dunban confirmed.
Good. Zanza said. Now you feel it. Swing the blade to your heart's content!
"Wait." Nemesis said, on her knees. "Is this what you truly desire, Zanza?
I see now. It is as I suspected. You exist outside the pre-established harmony.
"Is that..." Shulk started, seeing the body inside as a woman's. There was a helmet on her, preventing anyone from seeing her face. "A Homs?!" Robin and Lucina flew down next to the group.
"They pilot every faced Mechon." Lucina said, showing her bloodstained sword.
Nemesis's pilot retracted her helmet, showing her true face. "No way!" Reyn exclaimed.
"Fiora!" Shulk said in shock. Fiora was the pilot of Face Nemesis.
"Fiora!" Dunban said happily. "You're still alive!"
Nemesis shuddered as it malfunctioned. "Zanza." Fiora said. "You have not changed at all. That is clear. But still, I cannot..."
Do as you please. Zanza said.
Nemesis got up, still smoking, and started to fly. "Fiora!" Dunban yelled, running after her. Shulk and Reyn followed on foot, while Robin and Lucina took to the skies.
"Wait!" Shulk yelled. Robin and Lucina continued to fly, but were stopped by monsters ready to pick a fight.
"My mission is complete." Fiora said. "Returning to base."
"You were lucky this time, Dunban." Metal Face said, flying next to Dunban. "But next time, I'll slice you in two!" He flew off after Nemesis.
"Fiora!" Shulk yelled, stopping at the edge of the tower. "It's me-Shulk! Fiora!"
Recommended Music: Memories (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Everyone gathered around the dying Emperor. Robin and Lucina were able to defeat any remaining aggressive enemies, leaving them alone. Melia was kneeling next to her father. "We were too late, again." Shulk said. "We saw it. We knew it would happen."
"Shulk..." Sharla said.
"Why?" Reyn asked. "Why did this have to happen?"
Melia was crying. "Father..."
"Melia, the hope of our people, you must not cry." Sorean said.
"Don't say that! I don't care how improper it is. Let me cry!"
"Melia..."
"Why does it have to be me, if all it takes is to be half Homs?"
"Is that what you think? You are very much mistaken."
"But..."
"To become the hope of the High Entia is a fate that you choose for yourself. As long as you remember this, it is certain you will be worthy of that name. But remember this also. It is not because you are the hope of the High Entia that I love you. It is because I love you that I wish for you to become that hope. Heir to the Monado... I leave the sword in your hands. The sword that my forefathers sealed away. With it, you can succeed."
"Your Majesty." Shulk said.
"Melia. Cry for as long as you must. But when your tears are dry..." The Emperor, Sorean Antiqua, closed his eyes for the last time, and drew his last breath.
"Father, no!" Melia yelled.
Everyone was silent. Then Shulk stood up. "Melia, come with me." Shulk said.
"Shulk...I..."
"You'll have plenty of time to think about your empire and your people's hopes. If you need me, I will be at your side. But you are an individual. You are Melia Antiqua. And you can't let them get away with this!"
"You're right. My foremost concern is making them pay."
"I'll fly him down." Robin said, picking up the Emperor. He took off into the sky, heading back to the capital.
Recommended Music: None
When everyone left, Alvis walked into Prison Island, and leaned on the spear still in the ground. "Well played indeed, Zanza."
Zanza laughed. I do what is necessary for the world.
"I could very easily have stood in for you.
Your sentiment is appreciated. I see a storm on the horizon... Zanza said as Alvis left to head back to Alcamoth.