Chapter 10: A Vision of the Face
I didn't expect this place to be creepy, but then again, these are ruins of some sort, so I guess it needs to be creepy. The first real room we entered had grey grass–or it looked that way–but not only that, we also had green pods lighting up the area and other pods about, giving off the creepy feeling this place needed.
"What is this place?" Shulk asked, looking around.
"It's giving me the creeps," Reyn said, getting into position for anything to jump out and attack us.
"Um, no kidding, Reyn," I replied, looking at the glowing pods.
The pods around reminded me of the alien eggs ready to hatch.
"Hmm... At a guess, I'd say we're inside the Bionis," Dunban thought aloud for us all to hear.
Just then Shulk let out what seemed to be a gasp or just a large breath, though it probably was a gasp.
"What is it, Shulk?" I asked, being a bit concern.
"Oh... Nothing," Shulk replied, obviously hiding something.
"Shulk... It's not nice to be lying, even to your close friends! Come on, you can tell us."
"...It's just that," Shulk let out a sigh while looking at the ground. "It feels like the Bionis isn't really dead."
It isn't dead? Well, I think I got that from all the life that's on this titan, but then again, I could just be thinking that a titan's like planet Earth instead of its own being. If Shulk's right about this...does that mean it'll start moving? We were all were confused by this statement from Shulk, and I could see why.
"Wait a minute, Shulk," Reyn looked over at Shulk, who still wasn't looking up at us. "If the Bionis starts moving around, things won't look good for us! Let's just keep moving."
"Right," Shulk replied, looking forward.
Not wanting to stand here any longer, we all went deeper inside the Bionis. It was pretty creepy to see this place–according to Shulk–was the Third Lung. Things weren't looking good, and I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. As we climbed higher, we found a pool full of yellow-liquid with a Nopon traveler by it... Please don't tell me what I think it is because if it is what I'm thinking, I think I'm going to be sick, and the fact we're in the hip doesn't help at all! Since we had no other idea on what to do, Shulk went over to ask the Nopon on how we got up higher. That meant we had to go into the liquid and ride it up to the top! Just my luck! As everybody else got into the liquid, I was a bit hesitant to go inside it if it was what I thought it was.
"Is something wrong, Neetz?" Dunban asked once everybody else was inside swimming.
"Am I the only one thinks we shouldn't go inside here?" I asked, looking at them. "It just doesn't look safe-!"
I was cut off screaming as Reyn pulled me into the liquid. It tasted disgusting, and once I reached the surface, I noticed how Reyn was laughing at me, so I spat the liquid into his mouth while I pulled my bangs out of my face. Everybody laughed at this, but since I was finally inside, we started swimming towards the geyser. The geyser wasn't on as we swam on top of it. As soon as the geyser spat us up, I let out a scream as we were shot up. Of course, we all landed safely onto the landing spot, with me landing on top of Reyn for a softer landing. He got mad at me, yes, though I got payback anyway. We all checked ourselves for damage before continuing onto towards our exit. Just as we got towards what looked to be our exit, my headache returned sharply, stopping me in my tracks. Everybody else had stopped but before they could turn around, everything around me faded off.
I found myself in some sort of area, almost like a cut scene in a game. It showed Metal Face flying off towards what looked to be a base. Then it changed to some sort of chamber...creating a silver Faced Mechon?! I couldn't believe my eyes as I heard voices talking, like in a cut scene! It looked to be a newer one, and the one making it was shrouded by darkness so I couldn't see her identity, but her voice, I could hear crystal clear. The silver Mechon was being assembled, and I had no idea if this was in the past, present, or future.
"Face Nemesis..." the woman's voice said in awe. "Your frame is complete. All that remains is the soul transfer."
Soul transfer? What is going on here? Ok, I saw a female body being placed into the Mechon that I'm certain of covered in armor of some kind, but what is a Homs doing inside one of the Mechon?! This makes no sense! Next, I saw Metal Face flying again, but looking more closely at the injury Shulk managed to do with the Monado.
"That damage..." the female voice thought aloud. "Does a weapon exists that can melt Face armor? How...?"
"Lady Vanea," another younger female voice called out. "Master Egil wishes to see you."
"Understood. Tell him I will see him when this Face is complete."
"Acknowledged."
Looking back at the Mechon, I couldn't step forward as a red glow emitted from it, almost like the energy was the red glow.
"I have fulfilled my duty," Vanea announced in her monotone voice. "You and only you can bring about a new age on Mechonis,.. No, the entire world."
My eyes widened hearing what she said, turning around as the light went down. I saw the figure... A human-no Hom-like shadow. Now, I couldn't believe this. The Faced Mechon... Were they all like this one? A new age of Mechonis? Who exactly are Lady Vanea and Master Egil? But more importantly...why would they even be doing this?!
"My Mistress, Lady Meyneth," Vanea addressed Face Nemesis.
The last thing I saw was the Mechon...offline for the time being as everything around me returned back to normal.
Opening my eyes, I found myself outside the area, seeing the beauty of this new area. That didn't occupy my mind, but rather that vision I just had, or rather a cut scene. This Lady Vanea...had placed a Homs body into a silver Mechon. Ok, things are starting to get creepy around here and I don't like creepy. It was daylight, and everybody seemed to not have noticed that I had the vision. I was pondering if I should tell them this, but then again, I don't think I should as of yet...until I had more proof. Deciding on keeping this to myself until I had more proof, I followed the others as we went down the winding path. We ran down the path, wasting no time until we had a good view on just where we ended up. It was like a toned-down jungle with two spiraling stones in the middle as we heard creatures–or rather monsters–crying out everywhere. It didn't take me very long to feel the sudden change of heat, causing most of us to start sweating.
"Whew... Who turned up the heat?" Reyn panted.
"I've never seen such a dense forest," Sharla confessed, wiping off some sweat from her forehead.
"Me neither. How much further?!"
"This must be the back of the Bionis," Dunban thought aloud before looking out into the distance. "If Shulk's vision is right, we've still got a long way to go."
Wait, if we're on the back of the Bionis...then how are we even-? Neetz, remember this isn't Earth and you have cute, adorable creatures called Nopon that aren't pets. Just go with it, and you'll be fine.
"You mean go on in this heat?" Reyn exasperated. "I'm sweatier than a Brog's armpit!"
"We'll have to search for the best route," Sharla panted out to reply. "Sadly, until we find a way, we'll have to put up with Reyn's stench."
"And I think I'd rather not smell him for the rest of the way up," I walked over towards them, away from Reyn. "I'll have a hard time keeping my nerves if I have to smell this all the time. But if it's until then, I shall try to ignore it as best I can."
"Sharla! Neetz!" Reyn gawked at us, then pouted.
"What? It's true," Sharla and I replied to Reyn at the same time.
I giggled at Reyn as Sharla gazed down from our point, trying to see if we could go anywhere from this point.
"Look over there!" Sharla pointed over towards what she saw. "A rope bridge! It looks Hom-made!"
"Not Homs, Nopon," Dunban corrected Sharla. "Though a lot of them have settled in our colonies, the Nopon are originally native to Makna Forest."
"Do you think they'd know the way to the Bionis' head?" Reyn asked Dunban.
"I can't say. But walking around it circles isn't going to achieve anything. Our best bet is to look for their village."
Though unless you're grinding up levels in games, then that's ok. Being lost, however, is another story. Makna Forest was huge, and seeing the rope bridge didn't help my fear of heights at all, but if I just ran to the other side, then I'd be fine. Going down towards the rope bridge, we found two Nopon. As one had quests for us, the other one was a merchant selling new attire suited for this heat. Other than that, we bought more comfortable clothing for everybody as I was looking around to see the amazing waterfalls by the bridge. I went over there by myself just to see it in peace without having to bother the others. These falls reminded me of the Niagara Falls back on Earth, and I still couldn't believe this existed on a huge stone titan. If I was to ever get home, would I miss this place? I've gotten use to this place for the most part, but the strange feeling in the air was different. Sharla also used what was called Ether to heal us during battle, and I knew nothing like that was on Earth. Since it came from the Bionis, I couldn't help wonder if it was the Bionis' life source helping out the life living on it. It was pretty stupid, but I didn't care really.
My mind went back to the Faced Mechon and how it seemed like there was more than meets the eye on them. The Homs inside it... Vanea talking... All of that wanted me to go on just to get answers. They had no connection to how I got here from what I could tell, but I was still wondering if I could ever go back home or rather...confessing that I wasn't from the Bionis at all...but an-
"Neetz, is something bothering you?" Dunban asked, walking over to me.
"Huh? Oh Dunban... It's nothing at all..." my voice trailed off as both of my hands went behind my back. "Is everybody else ready to go or are we still waiting?"
"Well, Shulk was wondering if you were alright. He's been noticed that you're...thinking a bit too much lately."
"And why hasn't he told me himself then?"
"He doesn't feel comfortable asking you himself."
"Really? After all we've been through?" I chuckled before letting out a breath. "I think I'll never understand those boys..."
"And it looks like Reyn will never get used to you."
"Hey, I was being honest earlier about Reyn's stench; Sharla agreed about it as well."
"I know that, but I do have a question of my own I'd like to ask you."
"Sure... Go ahead."
"What's up with your reaction to Ether? No Homs has the reactions you have."
"...Reactions? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't think you can avoid this question, young lady." Dunban put his left hand on his hip. "I've seen that whenever Sharla heals you, your wounds don't heal over as with the rest of us. It just seals up the wound, and you still experienced pain."
That never came to mind with me, but I think I was too busy in my thoughts and everything else that I was even oblivious to that simply fact. Thinking back, I do recall that whenever Ether was used onto me, my body was still in a numbing pain like my headache. I guess I never thought of it that much, but Homs don't usually have these reactions- Oh crud!
"I... Um..." I uttered, trying to think of the words to say to Dunban. And of course Dunban has to ask me about this! Well at least it's not Shulk or Sharla or I'd be screwed. "You've noticed that...haven't you?" I finally managed to ask, looking away from him towards the waterfalls.
"I don't think anybody's taken that into thought as of yet, but you aren't a Homs, are you?"
"...Alright, you got me, Dunban..." my voice trailed off as I took a deep breath. "But just before I tell you why, I need you to promise me something: whatever happens from here on out, I want you not to tell anybody else about it. I need to prepare myself for that moment."
Dunban nodded. "If you insist, then I won't tell anybody else about it. I am a man of my word."
"...As much as it may sound weird to you...I-I'm not from here at all. I'm from another world entirely," I turned to look at him, to make sure he knew I wasn't lying as I broke down my barriers confessing. "I'm the one the Mechon called 'The Outsider.' I-I didn't think much of it until I made the connection that I came from a planet called Earth and not the stone titan: Bionis. Truthfully...I'm not quite sure how I even arrived here myself. But I somehow ended up by the outskirts of Colony 9, and grabbing the bracelet around my wrist, I found Shulk and the others. That's how the journey began. At first, I thought that by just traveling with the boys, I could return home and everything would be back to normal, but now I see this isn't the case. If I had the chance, I'd go home as soon as I can, but now things seem that I might be stuck here forever. If that's truly the case, then I must continue on in this world and figure out what I'm going to do from here on out. Until I can either find a way home or figure out what I'm going to do with my life if I'm trapped here forever, I will travel with Shulk and the others until the end of the Mechon attacks."
I knew it was a lot to take in, so I turned around holding my hands to my chest.
"Even if you don't believe me," I continued, "I hope you now understand why I react the way I do to Ether..."
"So that's the reason why..." Dunban said simply, putting his left hand on his chin. "Now that explains a lot."
My eyes widened hearing his voice. His tone never changed, and I did not hear anything from anger to shock in his voice.
"Wait... You're not mad?" I asked surprisingly, looking into his eyes. "B-but I thought-!"
Dunban chuckled with a warm smile. "Hey, it doesn't change who are you to the others. I can understand that it's a lot to take in, but you should tell the other soon enough. If you don't tell them soon, you might find yourself in a position that you're not going to be comfortable in. Consider that as we continue in this journey."
"Yeah..." I nodded back. "You're right. I'll tell them soon enough."
We all heard the others coming, and looking towards the Makna Forest, we all had our next point of interest.