A/N: I'M BACK! :D

so more to throw on this dumpster fire that i love so much for some reason :P

just some more exploring the world of Blades and what they're doing~

Enjoy!

The sun was shining brightly on the remains of the Leftherian archipelago. The large titan that housed the Spirit Crucible Elpys and the one the smaller ones surrounded, floated when it landed and became the largest island in the string of new islands forming the new Leftherian archipelago in Elysium. There were a few jagged islands that were prior land formations but now most of them had bridges of some sort thanks to the creatures of Alrest expanding and moving out into the new world and the small island Titans doing what was natural to them.

In the soft surf a green bird looking girl floated along listlessly, basking in the sunlight and warm salty waters.

She floated over to one island, landing in the wet sand and just laid there for a long time.

"Ey? Ey? Wut dis?"

"Kant say?" there was an alarming squawk, "Look Tirkin?"

"Got Fether like Tirkin, mus be Tirkin!" another squawk.

Three Tirkin with chef's hats had wondered to the beach and spotted this odd green bird looking girl just lying there in the sand.

"Poke wit stick, mite git up?" one of them suggested, shrugging.

"Is Tirkin ded?" another leaned down and poked her cheek with one of his claws.

Finch sat up immediately, purple with green iris eyes halfway open as she tilted her head this way and that, "Haa? Where am I?" she looked up, then around, "I had a mission… what was it again?" when she got up and turned around she spotted two Tirkin hiding behind one that was brandishing a stick, "Eeeey? You want to fight?" without any effort she held out her hand and summoned a big windy hammer with little wings on both ends, "I'll warn you, I'm no push over!"

The Tirkin chefs immediately dropped the stick and dropped to their knees groveling, "NOT AGAIN!"

"Haa?" Finch tilted her head to the side pretty far, glancing past the groveling Tirkin chefs and spotted a ramshackle building with a sign that read 'Five Dragons RestURnt'. Her head tilted to the other side, little bubbles coming up around her head like she might actually remember something for once!

They popped.

"Oh! A restaurant! I'm hungry!" she desummoned her hammer and walked over to the restaurant, not even noticing or caring about the groveling Tirkin at her feet.

Finch had some kind of mission from Morag, maybe it was to check out this restaurant by sampling all its food. That sounded about right!

"Alright, now Ethos," an upbeat voice called out to the small girl on the beach as Godfrey held out his own hammer, "You got to try holding it like this! See!" he held out his weapon with one hand, "And start doing a spin! Gain some momentum! And bash those baddies!" the justice nut gave a wide grin, holding up his weapon in cheer, "It's a great way to get their attention and better serve as a tank!" those light eyes of his dropped to the little girl as he leaned over, "Now you try!"

Ethos, who close to a year old looked to be about the size of a two-year-old human, just glared her orange eyes at the weird ice-covered Blade. She really did look like a mini version of Mythra only with orange hair and eyes along with a different core crystal. Both she and Logos' core crystals weren't quite the strange cross shape of the Aegis that was their mothers', but they seemed to be changing as they grew so no one knew quite what they'd end up as. But like her hair and eyes, her core crystal was a bright orange while her brother's was a dark blue.

She also seemed to be developing her Blade armor, even at this young age. So far it resembled bits of bone in certain areas of her skin and the weird ribbon around her shoulders had fully formed, but it was clear this was all still in development. Though a few red 'spots' had started to form on her cheeks and the others wondered if these would develop into interesting markings.

Otherwise she was very much an orange dipped Mythra… right down to the little pouting scowl she made when things didn't quite work out her way.

Godfrey, ever the optimist and missing the scowl on the little girl's face, leaned down closer…

He got walloped in the face with a boney hammer for his troubles… much to Ethos' amusement as she started laughing.

"Oooh," Perun, Vess and Mythra had been watching and all three of them cringed. For being so young Ethos could sure hit hard.

"That looked like it hurt…" the light type Aegis winced, almost sorry for the Gormotti Blade. Almost, as she knew the second he leaned in close Ethos would have taken advantage, it was really his own fault!

"I keep telling him to not underestimate his opponents," Perun gave a long drawn out sigh as she leaned against the side of the porch the other two were sitting on. Clearly this was an issue that had been repeatedly brought up between the two ice type Blades. Her stern eyes opened, watching as her partner got up, holding his face, shaking her head, "Even if they are children…"

There was another sigh as Vess could only shake her head at the two. Glancing over, the electric healer spotted Logos a bit further down the beach. She had been helping train the boy on how to use his bitball properly, but unlike his sister he seemed to be more interested in playing with his weapon than actually using it… at least for now. He looked like a baby version of Rex, they all agreed to that, just with the dark blue hair and eyes along with his core crystal being in his forehead. What little bit of Blade armor was developing on him seemed more like scales, or perhaps a body suit, and he still sucked on his pacifier even if he was probably 'too old' for it now.

"It's amazing two such distinct personalities come from siblings," Vess quietly sipped her tea, sitting comfortably on the porch and not directly addressing anyone, "One so calm and reserve, while the other is so aggressive and assertive," another totally-not-snide-sip, "Must be due to their mothers…" okay, there was a bit of a smirk on the electric demon's face.

It got a chuckle out of Perun, the chivalrous ice knight turning away, not wanting to be too obvious.

"Watch it," Mythra growled, boring a hole in the back of the electric healer's head.

"By the way, Mythra," the electric healer turned towards the blonde Aegis, ignoring her threat, "There was something I wished to ask you about," she turned up the charm, smiling at the scowling woman, "You remember those two who were the children of my former Driver? I was wondering if-?!"

"No!" a light hand came up as light eyes glared, "I'm going to stop you right there!"

"But I didn't even get to finish asking," it was almost like Vess was sulking, but the way she sipped her tea said she had been expecting this reaction.

Another growl, those light eyes narrowing as she leaned in towards the tall Blade, arms under her chest as she scrutinized the woman, "You wanted to ask about making a core crystal! To give as a 'gift' to friends, right?!" those light eyes narrowed further as Mythra got uncomfortably close, "And you were going to ask me to help out, weren't you!"

Purple eyes rolled, "So dramatic," Vess set her empty cup down, turning nonplussed towards the aggressive Aegis, "I was here when KOS-MOS came by, and she said the Aegis were capable of rapid data transfer that would result in another Blade child-!"

"Ah-ha!" Mythra was pointing at her, accusingly, "See! SEE!" turning to the side she dramatically waved her hands in a 'X' shaped fashion, "I am NOT getting pregnant again!"

"I didn't say it had to be you," another sigh from the calm healer, shaking her head, "And it was KOS-MOS' theory that when done with a normal Blade as the recipient it would result in just another core crystal, so its not like either of us would truly be pregnant like you were-!"

"No!" back was Mythra in Vess' face, holding up her finger and her eye was twitching, "Knowing my luck, it'd be Ethos all over again!"

"Haa?" the little bone-covered-Mythra turned at the sound of her name, blinking confused orange eyes at her mother.

"Nothing sweetheart!" an abrupt smile was on Mythra's face as she waved her hand, signaling her elder daughter go back to 'playing' with Godfrey, before she turned back to Vess with a terrifying glare, speaking quietly, "No!"

A sweet sigh from the electric healer, "You're being awfully dramatic Mythra," there was a snort behind them and Vess tossed a smirk towards Perun. Clearly her sister-Blade thought the same about this version of the Aegis, Mythra could be rather over the top at times. But turning back, Vess decided to give it one more try, "I simply thought it would be the quickest and least intrusive way to produce a core crystal."

Another swift, nearly frayed, "No!" before Mythra scooted a foot away, grumpy now, with her arms wrapped around her stomach like she felt nauseous.

There was another sigh, as Vess shook her head. So much for that idea…

Light eyes glared at the electric healer, and back at the ice knight, then back. Grumpy did not quite describe the look on her face, "Why not ask Perun or Godfrey, I'm sure they could spare one night apart…"

The look that crossed Vess' face was priceless, but Perun looked down right mortified.

Mythra smirked like a vindictive cat, Nia would have been proud, "Or how about a threeway? I'm sure you guys haven't tried that one yet!" her voice was light, almost innocent as she turned back on the chivalrous knight, enjoying every second of her dark skin going bright red. If she didn't stop, Mythra was almost sure Perun would melt, though how to interpret that was anyone's guess.

Taking pity on them, and seeing as Vess was nonplussed at this point, she just sighed, waving her hand, "Hell I'm sure Azami's around, somewhere, she's a weirdo like that right? I bet she could help you out…"

"I'm sure she's on merc missions for Roc, while spying on Rex with her clairvoyant eye…" Vess spoke calmly. It was an option, but she wasn't that interested in the prospect of asking the dark marionette for a little 'help'. -Roc though?- That was a maybe…

"Yea I wouldn't want to ask her either," Mythra snorted, moving to sit a bit more comfortably. Azami had always been a weird one, more inclined to spy on her Driver whom she claimed to 'love' but never really do much else. She was… mostly harmless. Just really weird… and dark… "Damnit! Now I can't help but wonder if she's watching us while we-!"

"Momma!" a little voice called out behind the three Blade women.

"AGH!" Mythra jumped, putting her hand to her mouth. She shouldn't be saying such things with her young children nearby!

Pathos was standing by the door, blinking as she tilted her head at her mother. The little toddler was holding the side of the door, still having trouble walking around. She was the youngest of the three children, though it always amused Vess, and Perun to a lesser extent, that despite this she was already better at communication compared to her siblings. She had a harder time walking, but she could already convey sentences where the best they could get out Ethos was angry grunts and Logos rarely liked to remove his pacifier. But the little girl with the green eyes and hair, looked like a mini version of their mothers' combined form, even down to her Aegis shaped core crystal in her chest and the little horn armor piece on her head. She just smiled brightly at them all, "The com-commun-the talking thing is going off! Aunty Brighid is on the screen!"

"Okay sweetie," Mythra shot up, going to her little girl, picking her up and kissing her head, earning a delighted squeal, before putting her down and going over to check on what Brighid, and more than likely Morag, wanted… as well as pestering her rival from 500 years ago about having little core crystals of her own. Oh, how Mythra waited to see the day Brighid had to admit to her she had a kid and how they'd get their butts kicked just like her by Ethos and Pathos!

Pathos sat on the ground, popping her fingers in her mouth to suck on, as she watched her mother go in the house, then turned back to the two other Blades.

Perun gave her a kind smile, but the little girl tended to stay away from the ice knight. She was less familiar with her after all and Perun was rather icy.

Vess though, she knew. The electric healer was a constant at their house and took care of the kids a lot, even when her mother decided she needed a break and went off to Mor Ardain for a while. The same as her other mother and Rex went on that trip and been gone quite a while.

"Why don't you come sit with me, Pathos," Vess patted the space next to her. It was good to have the girl test herself with little spurts like walking across the porch, plus she rarely came outside compared to her siblings, and it'd be easier for Vess and to a lesser extent Perun, to watch her if she wasn't sitting by the door.

Those little emerald eyes glanced back in the house, then back to the Blades, before she pushed herself up and toddled towards the familiar healer. "Eep!" with a squeak she fell half way, pouting with tears forming in her eyes as she crawled the rest of the way.

"There, there," Vess just spoke softly, pulling Pathos up into her arms and consoled the girl before she cried. Communication wise she was pretty advanced for her age, as far as they knew compared to her siblings, but she was still just a toddler and stumbling her way through everything else.

"Hehe!" there was a rumble as a patch of sand suddenly erupted with a huge earth spikes… and Godfrey went flying into the water. Ethos had stomped her foot on the ground, channeling a lot of ether and caught the ice Blade off guard.

"Godfrey!" and Perun was after him, running across the water on ice to help him out. For some reason the Gormotti Blade just did not do well in water. He was not programmed to swim or something, he could barely tread water let alone float. The beach was a truly dangerous place for him, especially when Ethos decided to shoot him off into the ocean.

"MY LOVE! IT IS COLD! AND DARK!" he made a few bubbles, falling under the surf just as Perun got there, dragging him up on the ice bridge she'd made to get to him. He dramatically gasped, thanking her for his freedom from the 'evil scourge' that was ocean water.

Ethos was still laughing, pointing at her instructor as if it were the funniest thing ever…

=boink!=

Only to get a bitball thrown at her head, sending her skidding into the sand.

With a growl, Ethos pushed herself up, "Who?!" it was as much as she got, her orange eyes spotting Logos not far off, narrowly staring at her while his bitball bounced back to him and he caught it with ease. With a roar she grabbed her hammer and chased after her little brother, who squeaked around his pacifier and ran off, throwing his bitball behind him and managed to get Ethos in the face again.

"Oh dear," there was a deep heavy sigh as Vess put her hand to her forehead. The more the children learned about their weapons, their ether abilities and everything else normally ingrained in a Blade the second they were released from a core crystal, the more inclined to getting into fights the children seemed to be. Ethos and Logos, being the eldest and already decent enough to wield their weapons, were already getting into spats, and since their home was on a beach there was plenty of earth and water ether around for the two to feed off of to power their premature Arts.

She looked down at Pathos in her arms, glad she was still too young. Her weapon hadn't formed yet but if her power was anything like Pneuma whom she resembled so closely… well the electric healer didn't want to think about it.

"I heard screaming!" panicked, Mythra appeared at the door, "Why did I hear screaming?!"

With a deep sigh, Vess just pointed at the scene. Perun saving Godfrey while Ethos chased Logos around, getting hit by his bitball more than she actually getting close enough to get him with her hammer.

The light type Aegis' shoulders slumped, "Ugh," she walked up to the edge of the porch, hands on her hips and looking every bit the disciplinary parent, "What have I told you two about fighting?!" suddenly her light version of the Aegis sword appeared in her hand, scowl clear on her face.

Everyone in front of Mythra stopped, and for a second she thought it was because of her, causing Mythra to grin wide, glad to have all their attention.

Then a glowing green blade dropped at her side and even she had to squeak as a powerful laser beam shot out of it, destroying the rock formation Ethos had summoned.

When it exploded Ethos had actually brought up the shield part of her shield-hammer, grabbing Logos and putting him behind it as bits of rubble bounced off with ease. While behind them Perun jumped into Godfrey's arms as he did similar with his own shield-hammer.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Mythra turned around, brow twitching as she tried to keep the shock off her face.

Pathos stood in front of Vess with a worried if oddly stern look on her chubby toddler face and in her tiny, tiny little hands was the Omni-element Aegis sword Pneuma wielded.

"I think I should go call Rex…" Vess quickly stood up and made her obvious exit.

"W-wait?!" Mythra squeaked, looking from her retreating help down to her second daughter and back, "I'M NOT READY FOR THIS!" there was only a gust of wind as the light type Aegis' eyes fell back on her daughter, gripping her own weapon in her hand.

"Momma?!" clearly terrified, Pathos turned her shimmering green eyes on her mother, "What-what did I…" the poor little girl was deeply confused, her eyes turning slowly from her mother back to the weapon that just appeared in her hands.

All eyes turned from the obviously scared little girl to her mother…

Mythra had no idea what to do. She hadn't worried about Ethos and Logos since they had normal weapons, sure they were a bit reckless with their ether powers here and there, but they were just developing and that was normal… maybe. Pathos on the other hand… she'd just summoned Pneuma's sword, Mythra's literal worst case scenario for her daughter. That sword was meant to destroy continents if not the planet and could summon Artifice attacks from any of the Sirens still in orbit…

It was NOT something a child should be wielding!

But Pathos looked terrified, and that was her baby girl!

Taking a calming breathe, the light type Aegis unsummoned her own sword, approaching her daughter softly, hands out and obvious, "Shh, it's okay, Momma's here…" she managed to get close enough to put her hands on Pathos' wrapped tightly around the sword, "There, now, see, not so bad?" with a gentle smile, Mythra rubbed her daughter's hands, coaxing her to let go of the sword.

It didn't really work, Pathos was scared that if she dropped the sword, even to give it to her mother, it'd shoot out another laser and with her mother so close… tears began to well up at the edges of her eyes as she trembled and looked at her mother, her tiny voice squeaking, "Momma…"

"I'm here, sweetie," Mythra tried to look calm, hoped she looked calm as she held her daughter's hands, "Just… just think about letting it go, alright? Try and grab that feeling you first had drawing it… and just think about putting it away," closing her eyes, giving a gentle smile, Mythra tilted her head hoping this would work. -Damnit! I wish Pyra was here! She's so much better at this stuff!- "Just… let it go!"

Trembling, still clearly unsure, Pathos looked at her mother once more then at the big sword in her hands. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, furrowing her little brows, and tried to do what her mother said. -Just… put it away…- as she concentrated she could feel a strange pull, her hands opening and the sword began to fall.

There was a squeak and Pathos opened her eyes wide.

Mythra had panicked a moment as the Aegis sword started to fall, leaning away.

But it started to disappear, disintegrating in a digital pattern of ether until it was gone.

There was a collective sigh, Mythra turning back to her daughter smiling, "There, see, easy!" when her daughter's eyes started to water again, and it looked like she was going to cry, the light type Aegis just held out her arms, drawing her baby girl to her chest and nuzzling her head, "There, there sweetie, everything's fine." The blonde Blade picked up her daughter, looking at the others sympathetically, "I think I'll just… put her to bed…"

The others could only stare.

The sun was bright over the vast ocean making a beautiful scenery for some…

"Urgh… ugh…"

For others it was completely lost as they hung over the guard rail puking up last night's dinner.

"There, there," Pyra rubbed circles on Rex's back as the young man got sick again.

"Uuuuh… what'd that bastard chef put in the food again?" he had his head flat on the railing, trying to will his stomach to stop doing flips.

A tittering giggle was at his side, "I don't think it was the food…"

Light eyes got up suddenly, looking at her funny, "It's not cloud sickness!" the young man waved his hands about, trying to convince her, "I'm a salvager! That don't happen to salvagers!"

Pyra just backed up, laughing again, a bit more discreetly behind her hand, "Well, this isn't the cloud sea, it's just the ocean… so maybe its just seasickness?"

With a growl Rex stomped his foot, "There ain't no difference between this and clou-clo…" a wave of nausea hit him and he rushed back to the railing, hanging over and spitting up saliva more than anything else.

"There… there?" and Pyra was back to rubbing his back, trying to hold back her giggles.

They had been out at sea, exploring the vast new salt water ocean of Elysium for several months now. Adenine was leading an expedition to find remnants of the World Tree that sunk below the sea, pieces that didn't burn up in the atmosphere when Pneuma shot it down. KOS-MOS had told them precise coordinates, supposedly, but only Adenine could make any kind of sense out of them.

Apparently where ever this 'treasure trove of knowledge' landed was in the dead center of the ocean between the large continents of Elysium. The base of the World Tree still existed, according to Herald, but that continent was still crawling with those mutant undead and Morytha was still dangerous. The control center, the top of the tower, or at least pieces of it, were somewhere in the middle between where the denizens of Alrest had colonized and the dark continent.

Which, all of this was easy for Herald and KOS-MOS to go on about, they'd done some extensive exploration in their five years on their own. But where Herald could cover the distance in days, maybe weeks, thanks to her unique flight capabilities, it would take a vessel carrying Salvagers months to get there. The remaining Titan ships were slow, and the new ones designed to work in this salt water weren't any better and very temperamental.

They could at least thank Mor Ardain for that. With their penchant for a more technological lean, it wasn't very hard for the Empire to figure out a way to make ships without Titans. Nothing like the Monoceros yet, but they were getting there. The main vessel they were using now, the IAS Thames, was mainly designed as a mobile platform. Great for salvaging off of, but a lot slower then the smaller defense vessels designed to protect it from whatever threats appeared.

The Urayans had been sulky, deeming this gathering of expedition ships a fleet with war potential… until Morag had signed off that Adenine could choose whoever she wanted for this mission. Salvagers from all over came far and wide for the chance to join the expedition, along with various engineers and scientists from all the new nations of Elysium. The bookish Blade who was in charge didn't care where people came from, just that they were useful.

… and were more than willing to risk their lives in any of her experiments if they cropped up… such as trying to see if anyone was compatible with the handful of new core crystals she had stored away somewhere.

There was a loud cheer further down on the deck, near the aft of the vessel.

No matter the navy, sailors were still sailors. There had been a bit of a rough patch at the beginning of the expedition with fights breaking out between the Urayans, Ardainians, and even the few Indolines that joined. The Tantalese and Nopons that joined tended to stay away from any spats, and the Gormotti were grudgingly used to it by now.

The Captain of the IAS Thames' solution had been to get everyone piss drunk for a week and let things sort themselves out. He was a salty old veteran of the Ardainian Navy that should have retired long ago, with a leathery bald head, a couple scars and a bushy mustache that covered most of his face making him look like a walrus. He was a fan of the old code of the 'Men! Of! The Sea!' which included lots of drinking and solving situations with one's fists.

There were a lot of fist fights among the sailors during that week, even dragging the Salvagers in and a few of the scientists that joined just wanting to get a glimpse of the remains of the World Tree.

Wulfric had LOVED it.

The black beast of a Blade had been bored and sulky being on the ocean so far away from dirt, but he'd come because it was where Adenine was, and he wasn't going to let her go wondering off a pier or something on her own. There were still a few times people would catch the wind Blade reading something so intently that she wouldn't notice she was headed for something dangerous, only for the earth beast to nudge her to safety.

But aside from babysitting his partner, he was mostly bored.

So when the Captain stopped the ship, brought out some illicit kegs that were likely NOT on the approved manifest, and everyone started getting rowdy… well there was barking laughter that echoed throughout the entire ship.

Ever since the Captain would cut engines once a week, officially to get their barring and figure out where the expedition was compared to its goal while logging it as some 'crucial maintenance'… but really it was just so the crew and passengers could cut loose any tensions.

One of the things that had become popular had been deck fist fighting. That was what the crowd at the aft was doing right now.

… and with the addition of a few more Blades, Wulfric was having much more fun going claw to claw with one of his sons then simply holding back for any human challengers.

"OOOOWAHAHAHAA!" the large black beast was smiling as the other Blade tried to tackle him around the waist, only to get a spikey elbow dropped on him. Wulfric might have been a spear wielding Blade, but he had spared with Adenine enough to get the basics of hand-to-hand combat.

"Yea! Get him in a headlock Wulfric!"

"C'mon Tai! You can kick his ass!"

The sailors, being sailors, just enjoyed watching a good fight and betting watch shifts, booze, or cash.

Tai Long was the name of one of the new Blades. He looked like an overgrown cat with spikey grey fur and spots here and there. There was no armor on him, just a pair of tattered pants with a fabric belt and wrappings around his humanoid hands. Some compared him to a Gormotti only with fur all over their body grown out too long with a beast's face and the size of an Urayan. He stood as tall as Wulfric and was just as muscular, with small green eyes and a pair of small horns on his head.

Pyra had laughed when she'd seen him, thinking that Dromarch would be upset to see a Blade that looked similar to him but stood up like humans and had hands. Then to add insult to injury, he was a healer, just a fist type.

But the whole point of these strength type competitions was to NOT use their weapons, so Tai left his gloves with his Driver; a large, burly Urayan with a scar on his cheek that was the ship's doctor. Everyone just called him Doc, he was a mercenary from a small band that decided to test the Ardainian's insistence this was an inclusive expedition, and with his experience he knew that if something was going to happen, they'd need a good doctor.

Most people just mistook him for any other mercenary, until they got sent to the infirmary. When he'd had five patients nearly dead from blood loss, thanks to wounds he hadn't seen in years from fools trying to activate core crystals they weren't ready for, he had tore the ship apart to find out what was going on. When his search took him to Adenine, the windy Blade had simply offered him one of her rare core crystals and shockingly enough, the earth type fist-fighter Tai Long had come out of it.

So Doc had a new assistant, and Adenine had more information on the results of her and Wulfric's core crystals.

Tai managed to get a good combo in on the black beast, but one good headbutt from Wulfric and the man-cat was down.

"OOOOOOOOOH!" the crowd of sailors winced in sympathy, that looked like it hurt a lot. Then there were cheers, winnings exchanged, gloating and laughter as Wulfric raised his fist in triumph.

Adenine had watched the fight from atop one of the platforms on a tall mast. She wasn't sure what she should be feeling; disappointed that her fist-fighter son couldn't beat his lance wielding father in a brawl or proud that Wulfric had been improving his hand-to-hand fighting since this trip started. She supposed she wasn't truly disappointed, Tai Long was still young.

There was a loud crash, and Adenine looked to the side. She spotted one of the heavy doors leading below deck opening.

A large hulking white wolf looking creature came up a set of metal stairs, carrying two big barrels under his arms.

"Beckett! Don't go so fast! Yea!" a small blonde Gormotti woman came running up the stairs after the big wolf man. She was stumbling with a much smaller barrel and had a spear strapped to her back.

Adenine watched the two with a small smile. Beckett was another of her and Wulfric's core crystals, she'd gone through about three different crew members before this skittish little Gormotti woman from the supply department gave it a try. Both Wulfric and Adenine had been surprised to see an ice spear wielding werewolf came out. They both knew that core crystal was one of theirs, Adenine was very meticulous about them, so it was a curiosity he had an element that was neither of theirs.

After a call to KOS-MOS and a long discussion about probabilities within the core crystal data, Adenine could only theorize that there was a small chance for any of the core crystals now produced to result in the opposite element of either of the parent Blades. She also proposed to the battle android that the various non-human Blades produced from her and Wulfric's core crystals probably came from data stored in Wulfric's core crystal, since there was a chance he'd had a lot of monster Drivers. KOS-MOS found the prospect that prior Driver data could be lingering in the core crystals of all the known Blades to be fascinating, even more so that it had the potential to influence ones they could create now.

Adenine wondered if Beckett was based off some prior Volf-Driver data, same with Tai Long being Gormotti or some similar feline beast. Perhaps a serpent beast or similar reptile for Medusa?

All the speculation and possibility was fascinating to Adenine! So many factors to figure out and discover!

Beckett set the kegs down with a loud sound, gaining the attention of a lot of the sailors about. Cheers were had when they realized it was booze, and the big white werewolf just crossed his arms with a wide fanged grin.

"Oof!" the little supply girl that was his Driver bumped into his side, putting down her barrel to glare up at him, "You gotta stand there like that, all proud?!" her ears went back as she scowled at him, making the big white wolf scratch his head embarrassed.

"Careful, Beckett!" one of the Ardainian sailors called out, "Them fuzzy-ears got claws! Wouldn't want her messin' up that pretty face of yours now!" a round of laughter followed.

The big white werewolf's ears went down, clearly even more embarrassed. He didn't talk much, and despite his big size crowds weren't the easiest for him to deal with. He liked working down in supply with his Driver and reading books his mother had on hand when there was nothing to do. His white eyes glanced over to his little Driver, "S-sorry…"

The little Gormotti woman glared at the big scaredy-dog, then glared at the half-drunk sailors taunting him, "Oi! You watch it, or I'll send you off to Doc again!"

"Look mates! Kitty's got her claws out! HAHA!" a big Urayan started laughing, along with the rest.

The little Gormotti woman hissed back in response.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" Wulfric gave out a joyous roar, unknowingly breaking up any fight between the humans. He was just glad to get in a punch-out with his boys and now that Beckett was here, might as well try his hand at him.

Pyra just shook her head, watching the wily group of Blades and sailors. It was good they were all… 'getting along' in some sense, and it kept moral up she supposed. It was still a strange sight to get used to. Seeing Wulfric interact with his sons, catching a glimpse of Adenine spying on them with a funny smirk from a crow's nest, it was cute in its own way.

Made Pyra miss her own kids back in Fonsett.

Rex took in a deep breath, standing up, glancing around seeing the big crowd. He got a funny look on his face, turning around and leaning on the railing, "Man, I'm starting to think I should'a stayed back in Fonsett…"

There was a titter next to him as Pyra got comfortable next to him, "I wonder how Mythra's doing, and the kids." She sent a smile towards Rex, her gentle red eyes on him.

The young man had a wide grin, dropping down to sit on the deck, "Yea, bet she's got it easy with those three," he rubbed his head, "Wonder how big they'll be when we get back?"

Pyra just smiled, "Probably big enough to give you some trouble, hmhm."

That big grin spread, "Yea, well… I'll be fine, so long as I got you and Mythra, right?" the only response the fire type Aegis gave was a smile, neither confirming or denying his plea.

A grey haired Gormotti in an Ardainian uniform came down the deck, stopping in front of them, "Rex? Pyra?"

The Aegis and her Driver looked up at the man, blinking. Rex was the one to respond, "Yea, that's us?"

The Gormotti gave a deep sigh, "Oh, good, I found you!" he gave a wide grin, "Sorry to intrude," he saluted, "Communications Officer Franz, we've received a communication for you? Seems pretty urgent."

The two blinked again, sharing a look. Pyra was the first one up, helping Rex get stable, "Whose it from? Are there any details?"

Franz seemed to get a bit uncomfortable, "A woman named Vess? Something about a sword?"

Immediately Pyra's hands went to cover the lower half of her face, partly because she was surprised what this could mean, but also excited. Warm red eyes turned to her Driver, "Rex! Do you think it might be Pathos?"

The young man just looked confused, scratching the back of his head, "Well only one way to find out, right?" he gave Pyra a wide grin, and together they followed Franz below deck.

Hopefully this would be good news, and not something along the lines like the kids blew down the house or ran after a big monster. Mythra would surely stop them from doing either of those things, right?

… right?

"It's exactly as I said," on the screen of the communications device, a blonde woman with serene purple eyes and small horns spoke calmly, "Pathos summoned Pneuma's sword."

Red and Pyra were blankly staring at the screen. Communication's Officer Franz coughed into his hand in the silence.

"What'cha mean she summoned THAT sword?!" hands slammed on the desk as Rex leaned in to the device, eye twitching, "She's just a baby! How can she just summon THAT sword?!"

Vess just shrugged, holding her hands out, "You know about as much as any of us do…"

There was a ridiculously flabbergasted face on Rex, waving his hands just speechless. It had taken him a whole trip through Elpys, nearly dying various times, and the help of Mythra and Pyra to get that sword! How the bloody heck did a baby Blade barely a year old get it!?

Ignoring his clearly astonished response, Pyra leaned in, pushing Rex out of the way. The fire type Aegis was smiling cheerily, "This is great Vess, I'm glad she finally summoned her weapon," then scratched the side of her head a bit embarrassed, "Though it is a bit problematic if she summoned Pneuma's sword…" her red eyes looked at the electric healer sympathetically, "I hope no one was hurt?"

"No, just a rock," the electric demon just shrugged, "We were more surprised than-!"

Quickly Vess was shoved out of the way and angry light eyes took up most of the screen…

"Pyra…"

Said fire type Aegis just looked a little nervous, "Y-yes, Mythra?"

The light type Aegis leaned back enough that she could be seen properly, scowl and all as her brows were low and she was glaring at her sister Blade. She also obviously had her hands on her hips and was irritatingly tapping her foot, "You know what this means?!" she slammed her hand on the desk, making the communications device jump.

Incidentally, Pyra jumped as well, looking ever more nervous, "N-no, n-not really?" the way she was looking away and scratching the side of her face made it obvious she did but was just trying to pretend.

Somehow the light type Aegis' glare intensified and radiated through the device.

Pyra sweatdropped, looking more nervous by the second.

"DAMNIT!" Mythra leaned into the device, her face taking it up mostly again, "I TOLD YOU this would happen! I TOLD YOU!"

"Now, Mythra…" the red flame Blade waved her hand, "Be reasonable, neither of us could have known-!"

"I TOLD YOU!" that light colored glare intensified.

"Eh-heh…" red eyes looked away. Pyra knew her sister Aegis was right, but…

Seeing the standoff happening, and that it was getting nowhere, Rex grabbed the edge of the communication device's screen and turned it towards him, "H-hey, Mythra, what's-uh? What's the big problem?"

That overly intense glare turned to her Driver, making the Salvager squirm, "The problem, Rex," Mythra looked at him flatly before turning to what little of her sister Aegis she could see with an intense glare, "Is that now that Pathos has shown this sword, I NEED Pyra back her ASAP!"

The red flame Blade had the decency to look embarrassed, "S-sorry, Rex…"

"Wha-what?!" the Salvager looked from the woman with him to the other on the screen and back several times, "You can't?!" he leaned into the screen, clearly reflecting Mythra's tendency to do it, "You're the one that sent us out here sayin' we ought to go do something cause we was mopin' about! You can't just take back what you said?! We haven't even found anything yet!"

"That was before this crisis!" Mythra dramatically slammed on the desk causing the screen to jump again, "Yea! I get it! Morag hasseled me enough! I don't need to hear it from either of you two!" now she was childishly pointing at the screen, "But that doesn't change the fact I NEED PYRA!" suddenly she seemed to shift gears, turning towards her sister Aegis, hands clasped below her chin and light eyes all watery, "Please, Pyra, I need you… our daughter needs you!"

Rex was thrown back by this sudden turn, "Wh-whoa!" eyes wide with shock! "Mythra! You're serious!"

Pyra on the other hand was not moved, her red eyes flat on the screen of her sister Aegis amping up the charm, "You picked that up from Nia didn't you?"

And suddenly the spell was broken, as Mythra comically fell, quickly scramble back up and looked at the screen pleadingly, "How the hell can you deny that?! MORAG falls for that all the time!"

Those red eyes got flatter, clearly unmoved.

"Ugh," Mythra just dropped all of her acts, the brash one and the sappy begging, "C'mon Pyra, please?" light eyes looked at the redhead honestly, "I need you to help me out? I'm not strong enough to hold off that sword on my own if something happens…"

Pyra just stood back with her arms crossed, clearly mulling over the request, "Mythra," sincere red eyes looked at that nearly identical face, "You're the stronger one of us, what could I do that you can't?"

Those light eyes seemed to shimmer, and Mythra looked almost apologetic, "You're a lot better with the people stuff than I am…" nervously she scratched the back of her head, looking down, "And, besides…" those eyes looked up, locking with those similar red ones through the screen, "Pathos needs her father…"

The look on Pyra's face was emotional and sympathetic, bringing her hands up to hide her smile…

"Oi?!" Rex rolled back in the seat and leaned in front of the screen, glaring at Mythra with similar light eyes, "What about me?! Thought I was the kids' dad!"

"Shut up Rex!" those cocky eyes of the light type Aegis cut back to the young man, "I'm talking to the father of my other daughter! Not you!" she stood up with a pout, crossing her arms and looking angry before a bit of a funny smirk passed her lips, "Ethos and Logos are doing fine by the way, a bit spooked, but I heard Godfrey get thrown in the ocean again so they're fine! Hehe…"

Pyra kept smiling, showing it mostly in her eyes to her sister Blade, "Morag's going to be mad at you for letting Ethos torment her Blade…"

"Pfft," Mythra just waved her hand nonchalant, "I think Perun would be more upset, she's the one mostly babysitting him." Cracking open one light eye she looked at the redhead seriously, "So, you coming back?"

With a funny smile, Pyra leaned over, hands behind her back, "I thought we were both her mom? I'm not Nia," slyly she looked back at their Driver before chuckling back at Mythra, "And that's so mean, not including Rex like that!"

Mythra snorted, turning up her nose and cockily crossing her arms, "Only takes two people to make a Blade," she narrowly eyed the two on the screen, "And it's not like I got a chance to give permission the second time!"

Pyra just scratched the back of her head, chuckling. She'd apologized as many ways as she could think of but she knew better than anyone Mythra could be stubborn about the silliest things.

"Hey!" Rex but in again, "What about me? I got two kids too! And I worry about them! And I see Pathos as my girl too!"

"Yea well your kids are fine!" Mythra leaned in again, all huffy, "They've got a handle on their weapons, and they're normal! Pneuma's sword could cut the world in half!"

With a stomp, Rex leaned in as well, "Y-yea! Well! I could still help!"

The two were practically growling and as close to the screens as possible, it made Pyra laugh out loud, "Oh would you two s-stop!" it wasn't that she was nervous or anything, just having a hard time containing her laughter. The redhead waved her hand, "This isn't the time to start flirting, what would the kids think? Or Vess?"

"Thank you!" the electric demon leaned into the screen in the background, glaring flatly at the back of the light type Aegis.

Both Rex and Mythra blushed deeply, staring at Pyra embarrassed or glaring.

"I, er, well, that's to say…" Rex coughed into his hand, clearly the one embarrassed.

Mythra was still glaring, "What?! I haven't seen him in a while!" that didn't get rid of the blush on her face.

Pyra just kept chuckling, moving next to Rex to smile back at her more aggressive half, "So, you miss us now?"

The light type Aegis stood back with a huff, blush still on her face, "N-no, of course not!" she glared, the blush no less, "Like I said, need your help Pyra, and Rex…" light eyes seeming to glare at the Salvager, "You can stay there!" she waved her hand, "I'm sure you're having all sorts of fun…"

"Er, wouldn't exactly say that…" the young man groaned, scratching his head. He did notice the sudden attention Mythra was giving him, looking his way with a cocky raised brow. He looked away with a blush.

The fire type Aegis just giggled, "He's spent more time throwing up overboard then looking for salvage…"

"Hey!" Rex stomped his foot.

"Whaaat?" the blonde Aegis tilted her head, leaning in like she was getting a secret from her sister, "You're kidding? I'd have thought he'd have been too experienced for that sort of thing…?"

"Seasickness isn't the same as cloud sickness apparently," Pyra waved her hand, as if what she was saying was nothing really.

Flat light colored eyes stared at her Driver, up and down, then she shook her head, "I'm disappointed in you Rex."

"Oh, come on!" again the young man stomped his foot, "I'm used to salvaging in the cloud sea! On my own!" he waved his hand around, frowning, "Not surrounded by all these military types and other salvagers and weird scientists and all those that Adenine brought in!"

There was a nonchalant cough behind them.

Comically, Rex and Pyra turned around, opening the way for Mythra to see perfectly what was behind them.

A grey Gormotti ear twitched on Communication's Officer Franz, "Please, ignore me."

The two in the room turned back to the screen as if nothing happened, but Mythra was looking disturbed, pointing, "Has that guy been there the WHOLE TIME?!"

"Yea, ignore him," Rex waved his hand, "Just like he said."

Pyra had to giggle, "He's one of the Officers here on the IAS Thames…"

"What a weird name," Mythra crossed her arms.

"I think its nice!" clapping her hands, Pyra held them up near her cheek, "Seems nostalgic…"

There was a snort as light eyes rolled, "Sure, whatever," Mythra stood seriously, hand on her hip and looking at the two of them, "So… what are the chances I can get at least one of you back to help out?"

Red and light eyes blinked as Rex and Pyra gave each other a look, shrugging before turning back to the Gormotti Officer.

"Hey, Hans right?" Rex scratched his head, "Any chance we could get a ride back to Fonsett in Leftheria, bit of a family emergency?"

The man's grey ear flicked, "Its Franz, and you'd have to ask the Captain, but I doubt it. We're close to our destination, excavation is expected to begin within the week and we need all the Salvagers possible…" he coughed into his hand nervously, a light blush of embarrassment creeping up on his cheeks, "Though I'm sure you could ask to join a supply run, perhaps one of you could-!"

"PYRA!" "Pyra!"

"I'll do it?" red eyes blinked as the flame type Aegis looked from her sister Blade to her Driver, chuckling as she realized they all said that at once, "Well, I guess that was easily settled?"

"I'm surprised Rex," Mythra looked at the young man, a small smirk on her lips, "Thought you didn't want to be alone?"

The young Salvager just had a tight frown as he crossed his arms, "No, I didn't want to be useless!" his light eyes met Mythra's, "And you know I'd be there in a second if I could! But this is a chance of a lifetime! Digging up the World Tree! But…" he deflated as glanced between the two, scratching the back of his head, "Well, you know… I'd drop it all for you two and the kids…"

"But if only one of you can come back, even for a little bit, you're more than willing to sacrifice your chance and stay there, right?" Mythra had a cocky grin, leaning in close.

Rex pouted as he crossed his arms, looking similar to how Mythra did when she was trying to be cocky, "Yea, well! You're the one that wanted her and nothing to do with me!"

Light eyes rolled, "You're such an idiot sometimes…"

Pyra chuckled behind her hand, "You really can miss something obvious at times, Rex…"

The young man's bravado dropped instantly, and he looked as lost as he did back when he was a kid dealing with the two, "Hey? What?! C'mon! you two are teasing me aren't you?!"

His only response was the two Aegis laughing at his expense.

Rex just groaned, rolling his eyes, "Well least I can still use Adenine or Wulfric if they don't mind," in a huff he waved his hand, "Go on, just leave me all alone out at sea…"

"Thanks, Rex," Pyra leaned over and kissed the young man on cheek, smiling wider when he started to blush.

"Hey!" Mythra yelled, getting both their attention, looking angry… only for a second as she grinned wickedly, "Don't forget to give him one from me!"

"Wut-?!" was as far as Rex got before Pyra grabbed both sides of his face and pulled him towards her, enveloping his lips in a rough passionate kiss he'd normally expect from Mythra, who was laughing on the screen at the surprised look on his face.

Communication's Officer Franz just covered his eyes, grey Gormotti ears flat, "I'm so glad I'm not married…"

A/N: i love Mythra being salty :D

so fun times playing with the Aegis triple~

the IAS (Imperial Ardainian Ship) Thames is a blatant ripoff from its Xenogears counterpart, i love the place and the reference, as well as the surly Wulrus Captain, his famous line, and Com Officer Fanz, though he was on the Yggistral... i'll work in first mate Hans i swear! :D

Tai Long is the big bad kitty from Kung-fu Panda, cause why not~ and Beckett is a reference to a character from Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, such a fun game, and thanks to Vampyr i'm really dying to play it again XD

Till next -salute-waves- Sayounara, Mina!

-Ikasury