Chapter 21
Pokemon reference times!
I coughed. The world seemed to be darkening, intensive as Dickson fired another few rounds into me. "Ow..."
"Still got enough energy left to talk, eh?" He laughed aloud, picking me up. He dangled me over the cliff. "I probably will regret letting you go, eh? Well... not like you can do anything now."
I gripped his arms weakly. "D... damn it..." In front of me was a massive blur.
"Well... see if you can survive... this." He stabbed me with my sword and dropped me.
I fell. Into water. Then everything ceased to exist.
...
I coughed. Wherever I was... it was a bit too dark to see clearly. "What...?" I tried to move, but intensive pain flared through me. "Ugh!" I fell on my back. My vision adjusted, and I noticed that my sword was still in my body. "Crap..."
"Finally," huffed a voice. "Awake at last, I see."
I groaned. "Huh...?" I looked in another direction. "Oh... hello." I wasn't close to a large source of water where I could've come up from being beaten by Dickson, but my sword was still in me. Weird.
The princess folded her arms, staff in her grip. "Well... that is a serious injury you have there... what is your name?"
"Andrew." I grunted. I felt dead tired, but maybe... "Right... RAH!" My form flickered for a moment, and I took out the sword as I reverted to normal. "Ow..."
"What was that?" Ether appeared into existence above her palm. "Hm?"
I stabbed my blade in the ground, using it to support myself as I stood. "Honestly... it's something you don't need to concern yourself with." She would never understand...
As Melia moved away, probably to talk to the knights nearby, I looked around.
There was a ton of forest. An absolute TON of it.
This has to be Makna Forest, I thought. So I skipped Satorl Marsh? Huh... wonder about Shulk and them... I even forgot about Satorl Marsh for a while there... don't really like it... it's dark and... never mind... I managed to stand upright, placing my sword on my back through convenient back straps. Red jackets rock, and even more than white ones.
"Ah!" shouted a knight, as a Telethia dropped in from the sky, kind of like Brave Bird from Pokemon X and Y. Except it probably didn't take any recoil damage.
"Ah!" gasped Melia, thrown aside as the Telethia landed, giving a massive roar.
As the Telethia moved a sword swung high in the air and stabbed into the ground.
"Lady Melia!" called a knight. "Withdraw to the Nopon village and let us handle this beast!"
"No, Aizel!" she responded, strong in her words. "Do you really expect me to leave you, run away and save myself?"
"You're a princess," I spoke, moving up from behind her. I groaned, stiffness in my entire body. That, and I really hurt all over. "Do you know what would happen to Alcamoth if you died? Huh?" I hope I'm not wrong with this...
She glared at me for a moment, before turning back to the knights. "Well?"
"Permit us this once, Lady Melia," replied the same knight. "It is our honour and our duty to protect you with our lives."
She began to shake her head slightly as the knight continued. "Do not fear for us. Flee!"
Now... whenever a character says a line like that, you know he's going to die, I thought.
"I will not," she declared. "I cannot return to the capital with this monster still standing!"
"He told you to go to the Nopon village!" I snapped, as she clearly didn't see the merit of the knight's words. "NOT TO ALCAMOTH!"
"Silence!" hissed a knight, as he battled the Telethia. "Do not talk to Lady Melia like that!"
"What's going to make me?" I asked, somewhat sarcastic. Just a touch of sarcasm.
At that moment, the Telethia glowed, a ball of energy looking like a Metsu Hadoken from Street Fighter condensing. Then it spread outward in a wave attack.
The knights faltered, and Melia gasped, shrinking down to try and avoid the attack. I grimaced, as the attack somehow missed me.
Then the knights began to fade away under the force of the attack.
"Aizel!" screamed Melia. "Hogard!" Then it dove for her, and she looked at it with a gasp.
I grunted, using my sword to block the blow with my Defensive Reversal Art. "Rah!" I roared, and it slid off to fly above. "Phew."
The Telethia circled as Melia slowly got up again. "Th... thank you." Melia stood up straight again.
"Don't thank me," I muttered, as she began to glow with white light. "Huh?"
"Aizel... Hogard... Garan..." Hey, that's almost a Fire Emblem name! I thought suddenly. "Damil...!"
As she spoke the names of the knights the light around her grew stronger.
"Bestow the light of your life unto me!" she spoke, determined. The light focussed at the top of her staff and shot at the Telethia.
As the Telethia was struck from the blow, a resulting explosion burst outwards, rapidly rushing at Melia.
"Hey...!" I let out a shout, and time slowed down, though the explosion was still racing at the princess at an alarming rate. Are my powers not as strong because I'm weakened...?!
I shook my head. Now's not the time to think about that. I rushed forward, grabbed Melia and ran off, just outside of the explosion's complete radius as my Time Slow power wore away.
"Wow," I breathed. The Telethia went flying through the air, and the sight of it made me laugh. "Ugh..." Pain flared through me and I flinched at it. "Ow..."
I looked at Melia to find that she was now unconscious. I groaned, placing my sword on my back again.
"Now... how the hell am I going to get to Shulk and them again?" I mused.
I groaned as loud roars ripped through the forest. "Great..." I placed Melia against a fallen tree, which was massive, and drew my sword as some seriously weird creatures came along at me.
...
I panted, gasping for air as I leaned down, sitting against the large fallen tree. "This... forest... is a... bunch of... crap..."
At least a dozen animals had attacked me by now, thankfully never more than two at a time, but still so quickly it was draining. And Melia still hadn't woken up yet.
To top it all off, I was now bleeding due to the effort I was using up and from my earlier wounds.
I groaned as I heard heavy footsteps from the other side of the fallen tree. "Ugh..." I arose again, and a dino roared at me. It stood on two legs and was about five times my size.
"Huff..." I grunted with exhaustion as I blocked its claws with my sword. "Ugh!" I went flying as it used its other hand. "Ow..." I arose with a pant. "Huff... hah!" I used Aura Wave to send a shockwave at the beast, causing it to stagger. "Huff..."
While my next intention was to go up to the beast and stab it, hopefully, my legs gave out from under me. "Ugh..."
"BUSTER!" shouted a voice, and the beam of the Monado suddenly appeared through the beast.
"Phew..." I managed to stand with the support of my sword. "Hi... Shulk..."
"Andrew! Are you alright?" he asked, looking me over. "No, you're not," he decided. "Sharla! Andrew needs some medical attention." His eyes went over Melia as Sharla came forward. "Who is she?"
I grunted. "Thanks, Sharla." I managed to stand upright. "Her? She's..." Spoilers or not? I paused for a moment. "I... don't know." Messing with the plot in which... my god, I just realized something.
This game is like a more awesome adventure than Life Is Strange!
"Andrew. Good, you're alive," spoke Dunban. "Dickson told us that you had fallen from that cliff when Shulk came along... said he had a vague vision of you in danger."
"Well, being in danger was correct," I muttered. "Geez... how long has it been?"
"A... week," stated Shulk.
A week?! I thought. How the hell am I still alive, if my sword was still in me that whole time?! Also... hungry...
"In my vision, I saw you in a forest, and Dickson informed me it's probably Makna Forest," he continued.
Sharla looked at Melia. "Grey area around..." she mused. "Looks like... there was a massive discharge of Ether."
That light was a blast of Ether? I thought.
"If I can find some Ether crystals... I can shoot them out of my rifle and... bring her back to consciousness," continued the sniper.
"Alright. I saw a lake nearby. I'll go get some crystals," declared Shulk. "Andrew, coming with me?"
I grunted. "Sure." I followed the blonde as he walked off in a direction.
"Here," he breathed suddenly, and I almost walked into him. Somehow, I had failed to notice that the area around the two of us had changed drastically from forest to a more marshy area.
"There's some Ether crystals Sharla can shoot over there."
"Then let's go get them," I told him. I still felt stiff. And now, really hungry.
"Right." Shulk rushed forward, with me following more slowly. He collected the crystals and stood up straight.
"There we go," he declared, holding up a small leather bag almost glowing with the Ether inside it. "Some Ether crystals collected."
He then gave a small gasp, looking behind me. I turned to see Alvis standing there.
"Who... are you?" asked the wielder of the Monado, moving around me to look closer at the Homs.
Alvis gave a slight, almost sly smile, turning towards Shulk. His eyes glanced over me for a moment, and he gave a nod. "Hello there."
"Uh... hello..." responded Shulk, as Alvis walked by him. He leaned close to me for a moment.
"What you saw in that dream is true," he murmured. "Though they have survived for now, they will not if you don't journey with them."
I grunted, stepping back from Alvis as he turned towards Shulk.
"How unusual." Alvis peered in for a closer look at Shulk. "It is quite rare to see a Homs in this region."
Shulk stared at Alvis. "I..."
Alvis chuckled for a moment, standing up straight. "I suppose you're wondering why I'm here, in that case."
He moved to the other side of Shulk, who turned to face the Homs. "Then permit me to introduce myself. My name is Alvis." He took a grand bow as he spoke.
"Alvis?" repeated Shulk. "Um... my name is..."
"It's Shulk."
Alvis looked at Shulk with another sly smile. "Isn't it?"
The blonde took a step back in surprise. "Wha... how did you know that?"
Alvis looked away from Shulk, towards the sky. "Wielder of the Monado. Defender of Colony 9.
"The hero that has every Mechon running."
That is such a lie and you know it, I thought.
He looked back at the game's protagonist. "You're famous amongst all Homs."
Shulk looked at Alvis. "I know you from somewhere..."
I leaned against a wall with a soft sigh. Cutscenes had way longer pauses in real life then in the game.
Alvis turned away as Shulk stared. "They're here."
"Huh?" responded Shulk.
"The Monado emits a particular Ether wavelength in its ground state. Namely, when it is not in usage," explained Alvis. "It must have drawn them."
Shulk looked at where Alvis was looking and gave a gasp as more stinking Telethia screamed, rushing towards the three of us.
Shulk ducked, just dodging the Telethia using its Brave Bird attack. "Whoa! What are they?!"
Alvis looked at the flying beasts, as one of the Telethia circled back to try using Take Down at Shulk.
"Alvis, get out of the way!" shouted Shulk, drawing the Monado as the Telethia rushes at him. "I'll deal with this!"
I stopped leaning against the wall as Shulk activated the Monado, moving forward. His eyes flared blue for a moment as he charged.
"From the left?" he mused as the Telethia lunged. "Then I'll go..." He leapt to the other side, and the Telethia stretched out its other claw, the blow forcing him away as he gave a loud gasp. "Unh! UGH!" he groaned as he slid along the ground.
It would be really funny if the reason why he was hit was because he said something instead of the Telethia being able to read minds, I thought with a slight chuckle.
"How?!" he gasped as he got back up from the ground. His eyes flared blue again, and the Telethia flew up using Fly.
"Now... from above!" he exclaimed. He raised the Monado to block the blow, but the Telethia descended further and forced him back. "UGH!" he gasped again, as he goes flying, the Monado falling from his grasp.
He stopped sliding beside Alvis, coughing, as the Telethia flew up in the sky again.
Shulk gave one last cough. "It can't be!" he gasped. "I saw its movement before it struck. How can it...?!"
"It is a Telethia," mused Alvis, looking at the flying bird beast which totally wasn't a Pokemon at this point.
Shulk finally stopped coughing for real and looked at Alvis. "Te... Telethia?"
"They can read your mind," spoke Alvis, gesturing to his head as he looked at Shulk.
"Whether you have a vision or not, if they can read your next move, it's all in vain."
Shulk stood from the ground. "You... you know about my visions? How could you possibly-"
"There is only one way," declared Alvis. He began to look at the Monado. "Stop it in its tracks... then dull its perception."
He ran forward, grabbing the Monado. The beam of light pulsed outwards as he grabbed it.
"No, Alvis, stop!" shouted Shulk, with a gasp. "You don't know how to-"
Alvis charged at the Telethia, and the blue beam turned a violent shade of green.
Shulk gasped. "A new symbol!"
He must have good eyes if he can read that symbol from that far away, I thought. Because, me... I lost my glasses, which sucks...
Alvis let out a shout, swinging the Monado as a Telethia neared. What looked like a green Hyper Beam burst out and struck a Telethia. It screamed in pain, freezing in place. Alvis let out a roar, dicing it up with a cool look and an aura of green.
Shulk stared as Alvis landed on the ground again. "Whoa..." He looked as the Telethia burst into a colourful burst of green. "That was... amazing..."
"I suggest you stop staring." Alvis tossed the Monado back to Shulk, who caught it. Alvis then got behind Shulk somehow.
"The sword is yours to wield," he told him.
"What... was that light?"
"The Monado does not control itself," replied Alvis. "You control it."
Shulk looked back at the Telethia that were still there. "I... control it." The beam burst out in his grip.
"By the light of the Monado... I will stop them."
At his words, the beam turned green.
The three of us drew all our weapons and got together in a tight circle to face the three Telethia before us.
"Here I go!" screamed Shulk. "MONADO PURGE!" The Telethia before him flinched. "Go, guys!"
"Hah! Cross Ray!" shouted Alvis, his sword sinking into the beast. "All three at once, hm...? Interesting..."
I feel energized now, thanks to Sharla, I thought. Now I can... "Hah-RAH!" I slowed time as I morphed into my Soul Trigger state, using Whip Slash to cut all the Telethia at once. They growled, moving back a bit.
"That was simple..." I noticed as I reverted back to normal. Almost disappointing... and... I didn't stay in that form? What?! And time... it's back to normal?!
What's happening?!
"How about this?! I'M REALLY FEELING IT!" shouted Shulk as he used Back Slash to take down a Telethia. "Yes!'
I blinked. "Okay..." I used Defensive Reversal to block the claws of another one of the beasts. "Whoa!" I then used Stab Strike and pinned it to the ground. It stopped moving, dead. "Phew..."
"Well? Do you see now, Shulk?" asked Alvis, placing a hand on the wielder of the Monado's shoulder. I saw that the Telethia Alvis had obviously fought was dead as well.
"Mm," replied Shulk. "Thank you."
He then blinked and came up closer to Alvis, who looked a little overwhelmed. "Hey! Wait a second!
"More importantly, where on Bionis did you learn to use the Monado?!"
Alvis chuckled, stepping away. "They were not primary Telethia."
Sure, go ahead, just not answer Shulk's question, I thought.
"Merely its spawn," continued Alvis. "The primary Telethia dwells elsewhere in Makna Forest."
He seemed to talk to himself for a moment. "Is it... wounded? I see..."
"What?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
"The Telethia is hurt and lies in rest," mused Alvis. "Wounded by... a girl."
Melia uses Ether to do... stuff, I thought. "Huh..."
"A girl?" repeated Shulk.
"The Monado is a divine sword capable of disturbing the very fabric of existence," spoke Alvis. "Of both the material and the immaterial." He touched the Monado lightly as he spoke.
"Alvis... how do you know so much about the Monado?" asked Shulk. "Who are you?"
"SHULK! SHULK!" shouted Reyn, and Shulk turned.
"That's Reyn," he grunted. "I'm over here!" He waved.
Reyn came by and up to Shulk. "Shulk, we looked all over for you. We thought the forest had eaten ya up!"
"Ha ha, nope," he replied. "Sorry. I got attacked by Telethia. If it hadn't been for Alvis I wouldn't have survived."
"Alvis? Who's that?" asked Reyn.
"I'll introduce you. He's the one that..." He turned, and Alvis had disappeared somehow. I blinked.
"Alvis? But he was..." Shulk paused.
"Uh... there's no one here but you and Andrew," spoke Reyn.
"I'm telling you, he was right here!" declared Shulk. "He... even taught me how to unlock a new power for the Monado!" He turned as he spoke.
"Telling' ya, just you, Andrew and me, Shulk," spoke Reyn. "Ain't no one else around. You probably passed out from dehydration and dreamt this guy up."
"I didn't!" replied Shulk. "Andrew, was Alvis really here?!"
"Uh... yes?" I replied.
"See?!"
"Okay, fine, whatever," responded Reyn. "Let's just go back, okay? Did you find some Ether crystals?"
"Yes. Good quality ones too," replied Shulk.
"Then let's go. Back to Sharla, alright? Before some imaginary beast comes by and eats us up or somethin!"Reyn turned to move with a bit of a chuckle, and Shulk gave a sigh, following, with a mumble.
I blinked, and followed. I saw Alvis on a rock in the lake, and I blinked as he gave a smirk, moving away silently.
Alvis must be a ninja, I thought. Or able to teleport like Deadpool. One of those two...
Thanks for reading!