Previously on the Monado Arc...
Sharla has been left heartbroken at the revelation that Gadolt couldn't remember her because of Egil and Brigitte's mind control. It soon becomes the least of her concerns when it comes to light that Zanza once used the Monado and Telethia to attack Agniratha and nearly wipe out the Machina, which caused Egil to go through with his plans with Brigitte. Now her, Shulk, and the rest of their friends have to stop Egil and Brigitte from awakening the Mechonis and prevent them from using it to wipe out all life on the Bionis.
Monado Arc Chapter 12: Sudden Revelations
The next day, it was agreed that it was time to go to the Mechonis Core so we could confront Egil and Brigitte once more. The promise between me and Shulk has to be fulfilled now or else everyone on the Bionis could die.
Junks' engines started up and the ship rose into the air, leaving the Machina village far below. As it gained height, it's wings opened, it's engines began turning, and then it blasted toward the Mechonis.
Of course, no one said getting close to the Mechonis was going to be easy. Countless Mechon waited, opening fire as Junks came close. But the pilots were skillful, dodging blasts as they flew past the titan and then swung back around. Even with the dodging skills, several shots struck, leaving the hull blackened and blasted.
We all gathered at the bridge as Junks went down into a safe flight mode.
"Shulk, Sharla, good news from His Highness." Alvis said. "The allied force retreated in time. Casualties were kept to a minimum."
"Glad to hear it." Shulk said in relief.
"That's great news." I added with a nod.
"All areas are being prepared for evacuation." The seer continued. "We can only hope they make it."
"We won't let them down." Zellium said. "This is one fight we can't afford to lose."
"Heropon Riki all set!" Riki exclaimed. "Riki bounce some heads!"
"We'll go with you." Dickson said. "Can't beat strength in numbers."
Murakumo, Minori, Kiyo, Miyadera, Angie, Kokichi, Mirai, Gonta, Tsumugi, Ajia, Gita, Bea, and Machamp nodded in agreement before Shulk's eyes widened in surprise.
"Really?" He asked.
"You guys sure are tough." Murasaki said admiringly.
"The old man and his group of misfits want to tag along?" Sae asked in surprise. "As long as you don't slow us down."
"Let's see who makes it through the battle!" Minori exclaimed as she laughed.
All of us braced ourselves as Junks flew towards one of the cooling ducts, blasting it open with it's own cannon. Then they flew swiftly through the tunnel, dodging support beams, several Mechon giving chase. The ship dodged blasts as well as those beams, and as it drew near a blockade of Mechon, it shot them, eliminating all of them, until finally, it docked at the Ventilation Conduit above a massive fan.
"W-We're here." Murakumo said. "E-Everyone ready?"
"Ready." Melia said, giving her a nod.
"Anytime!" Zellium agreed.
"Leave it to Heropon Riki!" Riki exclaimed, flapping his wings and hovering slightly above the ground.
But while the rest of us were ready to go ahead, Shulk hung back a bit. I walked up to him in concern.
"Shulk?" Zellium called out to him. "What is it this time? Stop worrying and let's go."
"The Monado isn't at full strength." The mechanic said. "I don't know if it can beat Egil and Brigitte."
"You're talking about the Apocrypha?" My Pokémon partner asked. "Don't worry! They're no match for all of us together!"
"The last encounter allowed us to gauge how they fight." Sae said. "We can't screw this up again."
"The core is directly linked to the Apocrypha Generator." Vanea said. "Destroy the generator, and the Apocrypha field will deactivate, allowing Shulk's Monado to function properly again."
"Now you say that!" Murasaki exclaimed. "I wish you've said something earlier."
"Big brother!" Minori called out. "Did you and Sharla hear that? Looks like you're gonna get your wish after all!"
"Something's not right." Shulk said.
"Oh~?" The confectioner asked in confusion.
He turned to face the others. "Egil... Brigitte... They called me Zanza. The same Zanza who... devastated Mechonis. What did they mean?"
"They were just trying to get to you." Zellium said.
"I told you before, right?" The blonde haired boy asked. "I haven't had any visions lately."
"Yeah?"
"But I still know... if I concentrate... I feel like something will happen, and it does."
"Just like what happens to me." I said before me and Shulk both closed our eyes.
"Are you two saying you don't need a vision to know what comes next?" Mirai asked. "Pull the other one!"
"Gita, you're going to scratch your head with your right hand." Shulk said.
The surprised reactions from Gonta, Bea, Machamp, Murakumo, and Ajia indicated that Gita did exactly what the mechanic had said she was going to do.
"What are you talking about, Shulk?" The guitarist asked. "Don't screw around."
And yet when she looked at me and Shulk, she must have realized that she just did what the mechanic said she would even though neither of us saw her scratch her head.
"Ohh..." She muttered, a little unnerved. "But... how did you do that?"
"We can't work it out!" Shulk responded as me and him opened our eyes. "Ever since we came to Mechonis, my abilities have been changing. Why would that happen? If it's true that Zanza used the Monado to lay waste to Mechonis, then... is it right for me to use it? Is what I'm trying to do really the right thing?"
"Shulk!" Fiora called out in concern, gripping his arm.
"Sorry." The mechanic said. "I just... I think I just need to walk."
"All right." The mech pilot responded, releasing him. "I'll come with you."
"I'll go with you as well." I said.
"Thanks." The blonde haired boy said.
We walked side by side as we went out onto the deck. Absently, Shulk drew the Monado. It might be a struggle for him to use it, but we were inside the Mechonis once again, and there were undoubtedly Mechon around. It's better to be ready for a fight than to be caught off-guard.
We were about halfway across the deck when it happened.
Without warning, the Monado sent crackling surges of energy through Shulk, and he cried out and collapsed, the Monado slipping from his grasp.
Me and Fiora turned, our eyes widening as we saw the mechanic shaking and twitching on the deck, covered in blue lightning, screaming in complete agony.
"Shulk!" We both cried out, kneeling beside him.
He continued screaming, clutching at his right arm as the others stepped out onto the deck.
"What's wrong?!" Melia cried out in shock and confusion.
They rushed forward, clustering around Shulk, unable to do anything to help. Murakumo and Minori even got shocked a bit from the lightning coming off the mechanic. I soon realized what was happening to him.
"It's just like what happened to Dunban a year ago!" I shouted. "Shulk! Hold on!"
Abruptly, the lightning dissipated, and Shulk stopped screaming. He sat up, gasping in air, shaking.
"Are you alright?" Ajia asked.
"Yeah." Shulk said breathlessly. "It's OK. I'm fine now."
"Damn..." Zellium muttered.
"Your control of the Monado has always been flawless." Murasaki said. "It never crossed my mind that this would happen to you too. Are you sure you're OK?"
"Perhaps you are suffering this much because you put all your energy into fighting the effect of the Apocrypha." Melia theorized.
"Don't you remember what Reyn said back at the mine, Shulk?" I asked. "If something's wrong, you have to tell us. He wasn't just talking about visions, he meant whatever is on your mind. All right?"
Shulk nodded. "S-Sorry, Sharla."
"You don't have to apologise." I said. "I've noticed it from the start when I joined your cause back at the camp, really. Let's get one thing straight. You've still got a promise to fulfill with me."
"Thanks." The mechanic responded with a smile, but then the expression faded, replaced by a confused, troubled one. "No."
Fiora looked at him in concern. "Huh?"
"This wasn't caused by the Apocrypha." The blonde haired boy said, lifting his trembling right hand and staring at it. "It's a completely... different kind of power."
"Shulk..." His childhood friend muttered.
"What's... happening to me?" He muttered in fear.
Gonta and Sae helped Shulk to his feet and he picked up the Monado and hung it down his back without a problem.
"I know I should be glad we made it this far." Zellium said. "But if we don't find the Apocrypha Generator soon..."
"Exactly." Murasaki confirmed. "The fight with Egil and Brigitte is not going to be easy with the Monado in it's current state. We also don't know what kind of toll it'll take on Shulk's body. We have to destroy that generator."
"It's up ahead." Shulk said, staring at a passageway.
"Shulk?" I called out.
"There's a strong energy coming from up ahead." The mechanic explained. "That has to be it."
"Really?" Zellium asked.
The heir to the Monado nodded. "Yes."
"Then this is it!" My Pokémon partner exclaimed. "Egil and Brigitte are gonna be scrap when I'm through with them!"
As we headed for the generator, I couldn't help but think to myself.
It's just as I thought. Shulk might not be who we thought he was. No, he might be something more than that.
I remembered the history I had seen in Agniratha, remembered watching the two titans fight.
The Bionis' Monado and the current Monado. They have to be connected... somehow.
"Because... he isn't here. Not anymore."
Why am I remembering that dream again? Why now?! Without that power, I can't stop Egil and Brigitte. I have to concentrate! If the Monado does bring about the end, then I know what me and Shulk must do.
"Hey, you two!" Gonta called out, noticing that Shulk and Fiora are lagging behind. "Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing!" The mech pilot responded.
We walked through the hallway, arriving in a large empty room with a great rotating machine on the far wall.
"This... machine." Shulk muttered. "Is this..?"
"Yes." Vanea responded. "The Apocrypha Generator."
"Alright!" Zellium exclaimed. "Let's take this thing down! Once we do, Shulk will be back in the fight for good!"
"He should be." The Machina agreed. "It is a miracle that you have been able to use the Monado at all."
Sae smiled. "Did you hear that?!"
Shulk grimaced in pain.
"Are you really all right?" Melia asked in concern.
"Y-Yeah." He muttered. "I'm... fine."
"Vanea, we need to find Egil and Brigitte." Sharla said.
"The control core is directly above." The Machina explained. "It is not far."
"ALLA TILL MIG!"
Brigitte's voice echoed across the room and everything suddenly shook.
"Hold on!" Murasaki exclaimed as the room seemed to tilt. "It's moving!"
"No!" Vanea cried. "We're too late!"
"You mean..." Shulk muttered in growing alarm.
"The Mechonis' functions have been restored!" The Machina cried out.
"No, it can't be!" Zellium exclaimed.
"Yes!"
It was Egil's voice, magnified, sounding across the world.
"You puny pests are too late!"
We felt the Mechonis shift, and then a violent tremor ran through all of us, the entire place shaking.
"They've gone and done it." Dickson said grimly. "The Mechonis has struck. Not good. I think it must've hit somewhere on Bionis."
"No!" I cried out.
"Move out!" Sae shouted. "We still got a job to do!"
"Right!" Shulk agreed.
We ran towards the generator, but suddenly red light flared at it.
"What?!" The mechanic exclaimed.
"Activating Apocrypha Generator defense protocol!"
Brigitte's voice echoed across the room again as a great metal sphere, the centre of the generator, emerged, four smaller spheres hovering around it.
"What the hell?! A defense protocol?!" Zellium exclaimed in shock. "Guys! Let's take it down!"
"Right!" I agreed before pulling out my Battle Gem. "Everyone! Transform!"
"While you do that, we'll distract this bitch!" Mirai said, gunbrella in hand. "Charge in, guys!"
"Wait for us!" Sae called out as she and Zellium charged in along with the others at the generator.
As they fought the generator with everything they got, I looked at my friends and they nodded in confirmation that they were ready as they pulled out their Battle Gems.
"Xenoblade Transformation!" The six of us shouted before the transformation began once more.
Clutching her Battle Gem to her chest, Sharla has her eyes closed as light begins to surround her. The light engulfs her upper chest and around her hips, bursting to reveal a black top that covers her breasts and exposes most of her upper back with gold details on her chest, black wing-like feathers on the top, and thick dark orange string creating details on the back, and a black skirt with white and gold trimming and white lace on one side, black and dark orange feathers on the other, and the back reaching her ankles made of black feathers and gold tendrils. Light went down her left leg and her other leg became engulfed in light when it reached her knees, fading to reveal a black legging with small crystal details imprinted on it and metallic black boots reaching near her knees with gold armor on them as well as gold plating, black lace in the middle that was exposed, and dark orange soles. She crossed her arms in an 'X' formation in the sky as black skin-tight gloves reaching her elbows with an black and gold encryption attached to them and dark orange armor around her fingers formed from water-like light. In a flash of light, a cute little black top hat with black lace, gold ribbon, and crystal details imprinted on it attached to a black headband with crystals on it formed. She opens her eyes and aims her rifle at the 'camera' in a jumping leap, creating her final pose.
Shulk's eyes glow blue before he closes them as his body is engulfed in red liquid-like light. It fades away from the feet up to reveal dark red and silver armor with several details encrypted onto it. A horned dark red headpiece formed on his head from the remaining light. Gripping onto the Monado, he slashes at the 'camera', creating his final pose.
A small light shines in Fiora's eyes before she closes them as white smooth-looking Mechon armor attached themselves to her body. Soon after, black armor parts attached themselves to various part of her body mainly at her hands, lower body, and neck. A mint green color came to life on the jewels at her feet, legs, hips, under her breasts, and shoulderblades. White and black armor cover her chin up to her ears and mint green jewels with thick black rims attach themselves to the back of her head. A gold headpiece with a horn attached to the armor at the top of her head and white drones with the insides black and golden rings around mint green gemstones attach themselves onto her back piece-by-piece. A gold chain appears under her chest piece in a flash of light and she opens her eyes before pointing one of her twin blades at the 'camera', creating her final pose.
Small bolts of dark purple lightning shine in Murasaki's eyes as she spins around with dark purple energy surrounding her. The energy takes the form of chains and surrounds her legs, breaking to reveal dark purple leggings covering most of her legs with black rims and a pair of black shoes. The rest of the dark purple energy covers her body, slowing revealing a long-sleeved black dress with dark grey trimmings that reaches her ankles. She throws her right arm outward and one of of her shurikens goes in that direction, creating her final pose.
Holding her Battle Gem to the sky, Melia did some ballet moves as light resembling an aurora spun around her. Starting at her chest and to her hips, the aurora slowly revealed a black, purple and gold armored dress with most of her midriff exposed, a black choker around her neck attached to it, and white and gold talons on her upper back and either side of her skirt. The water she seems to dance on flows up her legs and forms white laced stockings reaching a little above her knees and a pair of black, purple, and gold knee-high boots with silver plating at her ankles and gold soles. As Melia finished her dance, the remaining aurora forms a mainly purple and gold headpiece on top of her head, black and gold cuffs around where her elbows are, and a pair of black and gold fingerless wrist-length gloves. Gripping her staff tightly, she spins it before holding it behind her back while she looks at the 'camera', creating her final pose.
Riki's Battle Gem glows in a blazing aura while he looks at it in confusion until it flies out of his wings in the form of a dragon, catching him off-guard in surprise. The dragon's dust-like breath engulfed him and when he opened his eyes to see what happened, he saw that the dragon's breath has materialized into black and silver armor on most of his body with a red demonic face with silver eyes and a tail like a dragon's, black crescent moon-like markings near his eyes, and a cute mini dragon on his back like a backpack. The dragon goes into him from behind and in what seems like a instant, forming black dragon-like wings over his wings and a helmet appearing like a dragon's head with grey and red hair, red eyes, and a red mouth. He pointed his biter at the 'camera' in a jumping charge, creating his final pose.
Once transformed, we took the battle from where the others left it at. While Fiora distracted the generator, Shulk and Riki crept up behind, attacking it swiftly, and then Zellium and Sae charged at it, striking furiously with their Double Kick and Brutal Swing respectively. Gita and Mirai hung back a bit, aiming with their guns, knocking the smaller spheres aside momentarily so the rest of us could attack the main one.
Me and Melia finished it off, striking it with Monado Buster and crackling lightning. The spheres all fell, crashing to the ground, twitching slightly before falling completely still.
The generator continued spinning for a few more seconds before stopping abruptly, some of the lights around it shutting off.
"Nyapakapow!" Riki and Minori shouted enthusiastically.
"Take that, Apocrypha!" Gonta yelled. "We did it, Shulk!"
"Shulk?" Me and Gita asked at the same time as the three of us stared at the mechanic.
He held the Monado before him, staring at it intently.
"Hey!" The guitarist exclaimed.
"This is..!" I muttered, seeing the symbol for Cyclone on the Monado.
Abruptly, the blade of light burst out, longer than ever before, a more brilliant white than usual.
"Woah!" Gonta breathed as he stared at it.
"What's happened to the Monado?" Sae asked.
"It must have changed just as the generator was destroyed." Ajia theorized. "It's amazing!"
"This is definitely Monado Cyclone! It must be." Murasaki said in amazement.
The blade returned to it's usual length and hue, and then it disappeared as Shulk deactivated it. He hung it from his back, his fingers lingering on the hilt.
"Now we're talking!" Zellium exclaimed. "Next up, Egil and Brigitte!"
"Can you go on?" Melia asked.
"Me? I'm all right." The mechanic responded. "Come on. We have to stop Egil and Brigitte."
Dickson, Alvis, Gonta, Kiyo, Miyadera, Murakumo, Minori, Angie, Kokichi, Mirai, Tsumugi, Gita, Ajia, Bea, and Machamp stayed behind while the rest of us hurried for the transporter that would take us to the Mechonis Core.
"So, you worms have finally arrived." Egil said, watching as we stepped out of the transporter and walked up to him and Brigitte.
We barely noticed the round room we found themselves in. All our attention was focused on the golden Mechon before us, hovering in the centre with a narrow platform running all the way around them, their limbs augmented and a notched sword in their right hand.
"Egil! Brigitte!" Shulk called out as he drew the Monado. "Stop the Mechonis! There has to be a way for us to live in peace! There's no reason for us to fight! You must stop this now!"
"Our reasons are clear." Brigitte said. "And truer than yours."
Abruptly, the light of the sky ran across the walls, all the way up to the domed ceiling. The walls now showed the world around the Mechonis.
"What's that?" Zellium asked in surprise.
"Look! It's Bionis!" I exclaimed, pointing at the other titan, which was now visible.
"May the roar of the Mechonis be the wrath of my people!" Egil shouted.
They drew their sword arm back, the blade suddenly shining with golden light, and then they thrust it forward, forcing us to duck to dodge it. At the same time, the Mechonis thrust it's own notched sword forward in exactly the same motion, stabbing it into the Bionis' right shoulder. For a moment, they held the blade there then they drew it back.
"How many?" The Machina asked. "How many do you think died in that attack? Hundreds? Maybe thousands."
"You're both gonna regret this!" Zellium snarled.
"Brother, stop this!" Vanea cried, running forward. "You and Brigitte will destroy the Bionis! Let us put an end to our torment!"
"It ends when we say it ends!" He proclaimed. "We will end our curse by destroying the world!"
"You must realise that is not Lady Meyneth's wish." The Machina woman said. "That's why she left us her legacy, our whole world!"
The notched blade slammed down, causing all of us to leap aside.
"Pure nonsense!" Vanea's brother sneered, lifting the sword and pointing it right at Fiora. "That thing lurking within the Homs girl is no longer our god! This world no longer has a need for gods!"
"Egil! Brigitte!" I yelled as me and Shulk placed ourselves protectively between the mech pilot and the massive blade, the mechanic activating the Monado. "Stop this!"
"Face us, Shulk!" Brigitte shouted. "Successor of Zanza! We'll crush the Bionis and spread it's ashes across the world! Then we'll turn the Monado into dust. Only then will there be peace!"
They raised their sword and slammed it down. All of us dove to the sides, and then we scrambled up and hurried towards the golden Mechon. Me and Shulk dashed forward and struck, but Egil and Brigitte did not even seem to acknowledge the blow.
Suddenly, bits of metal floated in the air, and then Mechon stood on the platform with all of us, attacking us.
I could barely see the others for the massive six-legged Mechon advancing on me and Shulk. We heard them fighting, heard Fiora activate her drones, saw Melia's torrent of white-gold light ripping though several of the machines, but then we had to concentrate on the huge Mechon before us as it stabbed massive blades down at us.
"Shulk, more from behind!" I warned.
He moved swiftly, slicing off one of the Mechon's arms. At that moment, Sae dove down on it, distracting the Mechon long enough that the mechanic could turn and cut through the flying one that swooped towards us.
Zellium and Riki struck the large Mechon together.
"Shulk! Sharla! Go take care of Egil and Brigitte!" My Pokémon partner called out, dodging a blow.
We fought our way to the golden Mechon, cutting down several smaller machines. We saw Melia fighting from a distance, hurling flames, lightning, and water forward, while the others struggled to carve a way through the Mechon crowding them away from Egil and Brigitte.
We struck, and now the Machina and engineer did react, did falter a little. But then they slammed their sword down, and we barely managed to roll away in time. Still on our hands and knees, barely holding onto our weapons, we lifted our heads, finding Yaldabaoth staring down at us.
I closed my eyes and concentrated, and then time seemed to freeze once more.
The Mechonis raises it's sword high and slams it down on the Bionis, killing everyone on it.
Me and Shulk both gasped, scrambling up, turning and looking and suddenly noticed the three small generators around Egil and Brigitte, all of them glowing as they started to give them the power to deliver that final blow.
"Everyone!" I shouted. "We need to take out those generators! NOW!"
The Machina and engineer must have heard me, for suddenly dozens more Mechon crowded onto the platform, trying to shove us back from the generators. Out of the corner of our eyes, we saw Murasaki, Melia, and Zellium break a path through the Mechon, reach the first generator, and begin attacking it.
Fiora was suddenly at our side, her teeth bared as she slashed at Mechon, forcing her way forward along the other end of the platform. Sae followed, keeping the Mechon from overwhelming us from behind, giving me, Shulk, and Fiora the time we needed to destroy the second generator.
"One more!" Shulk yelled.
But the Mechon pressed forward, slowing them down. Egil and Brigitte were raising their sword, preparing themselves for the blow that would annihilate the Bionis. Desperately, I glanced across the way toward the other group, hoping they were having better luck, but I saw Melia with her face drawn in severe pain barely supported by Murasaki, who looked as though she could not manage to hold her upright for much longer, saw Zellium with his right side of his fur covered in blood, and I knew it would have to be us.
Fiora ran the machine through, tearing her weapons free and rounding on the next one, but then another machine struck her, sending her crashing to the ground. She barely had time to lift her swords to block the downward stab that would have killed her, and even then she couldn't rise.
"Shulk, Sharla, go!" She shouted.
We hurried forward, but then a blast struck the floor right before us, knocking us down.
"Sharla!" The mechanic cried as he stared up fearfully as Egil and Brigitte raised their sword even higher, beginning to shift forward.
We wouldn't make it in time, we have lost.
I stared ahead hopelessly, struggling to rise even though I knew we couldn't make it to the generator in time.
But that's when I saw it...
I saw Riki at the generator.
The Nopon leapt up and slammed his weapon against the orb, and it shattered.
"NO!" Egil and Brigitte yelled angrily.
"Way to go, Heropon!" Zellium exclaimed.
Me and Shulk stood and helped Fiora get up, and then they ran towards Yaldabaoth, ran up to them and attacked.
The others joined us, attacking with all our might. Growing angrier by the second, they held up their free hand, blue light building in it, and then they flung it down.
It struck no one directly, but the blast knocked us all to our knees. But then me and Shulk were up, dodging another blast, and then another, more and more as we dashed up to Egil and Brigitte. The Mechon swung their huge sword, but Shulk blocked it with the Monado, impossible though that should have been, and then forced the notched weapon away.
"Incredible!" Sae exclaimed.
"Whoa!" Zellium breathed.
The Machina and the Jewel of the Mechonis swung their sword again, but then me and the mechanic leapt into the air, towards the silver-white face, crying out angrily as we swung the Monado back and aimed in preparation for the attack.
"Shulk! Sharla!" Fiora cried, pushing herself up. "Don't do it!"
We landed on Yaldabaoth's chest and attacked viciously, slicing off the head of the machine and revealing Egil and Brigitte, visibly startled. No one moved as the silver-white face fell and crashed to the bottom of the core.
"How could this happen?" Brigitte muttered, staring at us crackling and glowing with blue lightning, the blonde haired boy holding the Monado over his head and me aiming at her and Egil, prepared to give the killing blow.
Do it!
It was a voice in my mind. Prison Island? The Giant?
Kill them! Kill them!
This voice... Is this..?
Strike them down!
We will. We'll kill them. A thousand times.
Yes! Finish them! End it! It is what you want!
Yes... We want to.
"We'll kill them." Shulk said, soft but intense. "For Fiora. For the Emperor. For our home!"
You two must find your Monados. Brigitte's voice spoke through me. Are you ready?
The look on the engineer's face seemed rather pleaful as if this wasn't what she wanted the outcome to be.
"No!" I cried. "This isn't what we want!"
"Shulk! Sharla! NO!" Fiora yelled as Shulk swung the Monado down.
"BROTHER!" Vanea screamed, pushing herself up, and everyone else stood swiftly, eyes locked on the scene above them.
Egil and Brigitte stared up to find the Monado just above their faces, the blade of blue light crackling and the end of my rifle dangerously close. But then we stood down, the mechanic deactivating the Monado, and then we sat near the golden Mechon's shoulder, our backs to the two.
"Why didn't you do it?" Egil asked. "Killing us would have saved your world."
"We've forgotten all about that." Shulk responded.
"Forgotten about it?" Brigitte said in surprise.
"We realised... that we all share the same pain." The heir to the Monado explained. "Egil, Brigitte, we don't have any... reason to kill you."
"Even if you do not, we still do!" The Machina man pointed out.
"We know." I said. "But we won't do it."
"If you don't kill us now, our blade will annihilate every last one of your people." The Jewel of the Mechonis threatened. "Even then?"
"We can't kill you, but we can stop your blade." I responded. "And we'll do it. Over and over again, until... we understand each other. OK?"
The two gasped in surprise, turning away before Egil spoke up. "You have used the Monado well. But do you honestly believe you are it's master?"
For a moment, no one said anything or moved. I don't blame them. How could they?
"Mechonis and Bionis once lived in harmony." Egil said finally. "They coexisted in peace. Without hatred or strife."
He took a long pause as he remembered a conversation he had with Arglas before continuing. "Everybody shared the belief that the prosperity of our two worlds would continue for all eternity. It would have done, were it not for the Monado. The Monado refused to permit the existence of the Mechonis. Or rather, the existence of anything but itself. And one day, it took control of my friend Arglas, and he became Zanza."
The Machina clearly remembered the horror he had felt when he had seen the Giant after that event.
"It was Arglas, possessed by Zanza, who directed his sword at Mechonis."
"My motive for all of this happened many years after Egil's reasons." Brigitte began. "A month before you set off on your quest to stop us, I was friends with the Jewel of the Bionis, Murasaki, who you seemed to have brought with you along with her sister, Imu. Back then, the two of them represented the seven protectors, each with a different power, affection, bravery, camaraderie, rashness, obstinance, passion, and heroism."
I could only stare at her as she continued. "Though the protectors themselves died during Zanza's attack on Mechonis, their power lived on through the two Kurayami sisters. The three of us believed that Zanza wouldn't try to have us killed, but we were wrong. A dark protector sent by Zanza before being sealed away had organized our assassinations via an ambush attack. And in all the chaos, the protector had killed Imu, who sacrificed herself to protect Murasaki from the attack that was meant for her."
"I..." I didn't know how to respond as I stood up and stared at her, but the engineer continued her story regardless.
"When Imu was killed, Murasaki unleashed a massive calamity involving her guardian animal ripping into the dark protector and those they brought for the assassination in a last ditch effort to stop the protector from giving me the same fate as her sister. And it worked. Before I knew it, the dark protector was gone and Murasaki had went into her crystal slumber. She told me to run so that I wouldn't get the blame for what happened. I didn't know that was her true intentions until I fell victim to Zanza for a while before breaking free and coming back to the Mechonis. I knew that she would reawaken, so I decided to give the people of Bionis the means to survive."
"And that's when the Battle Gems came to be?" I asked.
"Yes." The Jewel of the Mechonis responded. "Xenoblade Transformation originated from the seven protectors and was passed down to Murasaki and Imu in a crystal form, their gems were the first ones ever known to the people of this world. I gathered as much leftover ether as I could and combined it with the ether disruption abilities of the Monado. This caused a chain reaction that created the Battle Gems that you have now and I was given the transformation you see me in now when it happened. I created the Battle Gems belonging to everyone else here that has one in the hopes that one day, heroes would rise up and seize their own destiny."
"I don't understand." Shulk said, standing and facing Egil. "Does being controlled by the Monado mean you will eventually become Zanza?"
"The Monado is Zanza." The Machina said. "Zanza is the Monado. The two are one and the same. In order to perpetuate the existence of his soul, Zanza inhabits beings of Bionis. But... you appear to be different."
"What do you mean?" The mechanic asked.
"We can see it." Brigitte responded. "How well you retained a sense of self. Perhaps you... can break the curse of Zanza."
"And was that not precisely our wish, Lady Meyneth?" Egil asked as he smiled down at Fiora, and she smiled back.
"We don't know much about any curse." I said, scratching the back of my head. "For now, all we can do is this, Egil, Brigitte."
Me and Shulk smiled as we held out our free hands and the mechanic spoke up. "We can... live in peace again."
"Again?" The engineer repeated. "We see. Yes, you're right."
The two sat up preparing to shake our hands so we could finally bring an end to the Killing Titan War.
BANG!
A blast from a rifle rang through the stillness. Shulk's back arched as the bullet punched through his chest, his eyes wide with surprise.
Me, Egil and Brigitte gasped with alarm and shock while Melia and Fiora both gasped at what they just saw.
"No!" Sae breathed as Zellium gasped.
"Shulk!" Fiora screamed.
Shulk pressed a hand to his front, struggling to breathe, and when he brought it away, I stared at the fresh crimson blood on his fingers. We both turned and looked down at the others.
They all turned as well and Riki yelped in dismay upon seeing the fourteen new figures who had just emerged from the transporter.
"Dickson?! Everyone?!" Murasaki breathed in shock, hardly able to believe it even though they stood right there, Dickson still pointing his sabre at Shulk.
The bladesmith smiled sinisterly, prompting the others to do the same as he spoke. "You shouldn't have done that, little brat."
"Shulk!" I shouted before Shulk gasped in pain, clutching at his chest, and then he fell, knocked out of his transformation, bouncing off Yaldabaoth. Egil and Brigitte caught him with one giant hand, and then they lowered the mechanic to Fiora, Melia, and Vanea as they rushed forward while I climbed down the golden Mechon to reach my friends. Murasaki, Zellium, Sae, and Riki hung back, glaring at the others in anger and betrayal.
"Everyone! Why?!" Zellium shouted.
"Hey, you bastards!" Sae yelled. "Are you all out of your damn minds?!"
Dickson lowered his weapon, uttering an irritated sound. "You should know by now, Saeyimur. You and Brigitte used to work for us, but you decided to leave us in favor of these kids that don't seem to shut up."
"We're just doing our jobs. As always. Right, Brigitte?" Mirai said.
"Who are you?" Fiora asked as I pressed my hands to Shulk's chest, trying to stop the bleeding and hold him still as he twitched.
"You guys..! All of you..!" The engineer muttered.
"It... it's you!" Egil scowled.
"Yes." Dickson said. "Now you remember. It's been a long time, hasn't it, Egil? Too long."
"Zanza's... disciples." The Machina and Jewel of the Mechonis growled at the same time.
"Zanza's disciples?!" Murasaki repeated. "Egil, Brigitte, what do you mean?! Everyone, what are you?!"
"We don't have to explain anything." Bea said. "After all, seeing is believing. Now, witness it with your own eyes."
"The moment of Lord Zanza's return!" Gita exclaimed.
"Konoyo no kami o mezame saseru!" Ajia shouted as she made a gesture with her right arm that caused white light to blast out from Shulk as he suddenly rose into the air, still clutching the Monado. The light blasted outward, knocking us away.
"Zanza!" Egil yelled. "We won't let you do this!"
He and Brigitte raised their left hands, blue light building there, and they hurled it at the shining figure. But Shulk, still hovering, raised his hand, stopping the light before it reached him. He seemed to draw it within himself, and then he sent it blasting toward Egil and Brigitte, throwing them back against the far wall.
"Brother!" Vanea cried.
"Brigitte!" Murasaki breathed in horror.
The light swelled around him, becoming white-gold, and then then he collapsed, though a new shining figure remained hovering upright, holding the Monado. As soon as the mechanic landed, his Battle Gem fell out of his pocket and hit the floor, not breaking into pieces for some reason.
I quickly rushed forward while Fiora kneeled beside Shulk and cradled his body. I fell onto my knees, picked up his Battle Gem and quickly noticed the crack in it. I held it close to me while Zanza floated above us all.
"Zanza..." Egil and Brigitte muttered in horror, sparks coming off Yaldabaoth.
"Do not be surprised." Zanza said in a voice disconcertingly similar to Shulk's, opening his blue eyes. "Everything in this world is dictated by the passage of fate. As all that exists is interconnected, time can flow only towards the inevitable. That is the vision of which I, the Monado, am the origin. That which will be, will be."
Light seemed to condense behind him into wings made of delicate circles and lines of white light. "This was all predestined. Ever since I came to reside within Shulk."
"What do you mean?" Zellium asked.
"Zanza grew tired from our battle..." Meyneth explained, speaking through Fiora. "...And then the High Entia ancestors trapped him. His flesh was sealed away on Prison Island. His soul, and hence the Monado, was confined to Ose Tower."
"In those ruins?!" Sae said while deep in thought. "But what does this have to do with Shulk?"
"Did you forget?" Murakumo asked, breaking her usual stuttering. "Who discovered those ruins?"
I gasped in horrified realization before Gonta spoke up. "Who happened to be there?"
"Who was the 'survivor' we found?" Minori added.
"And who brought back that survivor?" Miyadera finished as they began to walk forward slowly.
"What are you saying?!" Murasaki asked. "You guys planned all this when Dickson found Shulk?"
"Jackpot." Dickson said with his cigar clamped between his teeth. "It was all for this day. In fact..."
"There was never anyone called Shulk to begin with!" All of the disciples exclaimed together.
"WHAT?!" Me, Murasaki, Sae, and Zellium shouted in shock and anger.
"My soul existed inside the Monado." Zanza said from where he floated high above. "It was fated that I be released. It was shown to me in a vision. At last, the time finally came. And then..."
"The people who found the Monado, and freed it, awoke Zanza." Kiyo explained. "He sucked the lives from them so could live. Shulk was among them."
"Shulk was already dead?!" Murasaki cried. "That's impossible! He, Reyn, and Fiora grew up together!"
"They grew up with an empty shell." The god above us responded. "He appeared to live because I became his life force. That is until he had matured as my new vessel and become worthy of wielding the Monado, allowing me to truly awaken and finally return."
"L-Lord Zanza is the s-soul of the Bionis, b-but he still needs a l-living body." Kokichi continued. "J-Just like Meyneth o-over there."
Tsumugi laughed scornfully as she looked at Fiora cradling Shulk's body and me holding his Battle Gem. "You and she who defies fate call that corpse a friend? Don't make us laugh!"
"But why use Shulk..?" Melia asked. "What was it that made you select Shulk as your vessel?!"
"There was no particular reason." Zanza admitted. "Shulk merely happened to be there at the time."
"There you have it!" Angie exclaimed. "Anybody could've worked nicely. As long as they can swing a sword around, at least."
"So then..." Zellium muttered. "Shulk's ability to use the Monado..."
"And those visions that he used to help me save us!" I said breathlessly, standing up and holding Shulk's Battle Gem to my chest.
"All because of Lord Zanza." Bea responded as Dickson threw his cigar to the ground. "Lord Zanza can see the passage of fate. He simply led you to the inevitable. The destruction of Colony 9, the death of the High Entia emperor, and Gadolt's despairful demise. All of it!"
"You evil..!" Melia snarled as she rushed towards us.
Dickson struck her with his sabre, and only her instinctive raising of her staff to block the blow saved her life. She crashed to the ground, and then Dickson jammed the end of his weapon against her face.
"There's more." He said grimly. "We haven't even got to the best part!"
"What are you guys going to do?!" Zellium demanded, enraged.
"Don't you get it?" Mirai asked, facing us. "You're just in the way. The lot of you. This world was created by Lord Zanza. By the very Bionis itself. Then you bitches think you can just pop up all over the place."
"All life that is born from me must be returned to me eventually to complete the cycle." Zanza said. "For me to continue my existence as before, then all must be restored to it's former order."
"In other words..." Ajia began.
"The destruction and recreation of the world." She and Gita said together.
"Nothing more to it." Gonta said.
"First we must eliminate my greatest obstacle." The god continued, staring down at Fiora. "You, Meyneth. The Mechonis!"
Blue light blasted out of him, the Bionis' eyes lit up, and it's horned head began to move, slowly, unpreventable. Then the titan leaned back, a great, world-rumbling roar sounding from it.
"The Bionis!" Murasaki cried out in disbelief.
Slowly at first, the Bionis moved it's arms, almost as though it were stretching, rising up, moving limbs that had not shifted in millennia.
"Bionis moves!" Riki exclaimed fearfully.
By this point, the disciples have left through the transporter while the rest of us stared at the Bionis in disbelief.
"I've been waiting." Egil said. "Waiting for this day!"
"ZANZA!" He and Brigitte both shouted as they swung the blade toward the shining figure before him.
The Mechonis' sword moved as well, but then the Bionis blocked the blow with an arm. The two titans straightened, sizing each other up.
"Brother! Stop!" Vanea cried as they swung again and the Bionis halted the blow once more. "You're too weak!"
"I don't care." He said grimly, continuing to attack. "We will gladly sacrifice ourselves to eliminate Zanza! As long as he lives, there can be no peace for us, or for the people of Bionis!"
"Zanza's also been using the Battle Gems for his nefarious motives!" Brigitte shouted. "I cannot let his disciples do as much damage as they intend to do!"
Golden light erupted from Zanza, striking Yaldabaoth.
The god laughed scornfully. "Then you shall cease to exist. By the wrath of my blade!"
He raised the Monado, but it had changed drastically, spiked protrusions along it's great length. And then a sword of blue light, stretching for miles, appeared in the Bionis' right hand.
"It's... the Monado!" Sae exclaimed in disbelief.
"We'll show you the meaning of wrath!" Egil snarled, moving to attack Zanza.
The swords of the titans clashed, just as Egil's blade and Zanza's Monado clashed. But as they remained locked, cracks of blue light began running through the notched blade.
"What?!" The Machina breathed in alarm.
Matching cracks of light ran through the Mechonis' sword.
"It's finished!" Zanza yelled as he sheared through Egil and Brigitte's sword.
The Bionis' Monado cleaved through the Mechonis' sword and sliced off the head of the titan, cutting right through the middle of Yaldabaoth. Brigitte let out a sound of panic as she flew out of the golden Mechon, Egil cried out as he felt the sword go through, cried out as the top portion of the Mechon fell with him still in it.
"Egil!" Brigitte shouted in horror from the sky.
"Brother! No!" Vanea howled.
"Why did you do that?!" Zellium demanded. "They put their differences aside!"
"Meaningless sentiment." Zanza said carelessly.
"Zanza!" Murasaki shouted. "Guys, now!"
"Yeah!" My Pokémon partner agreed, he and the purple haired girl joining the others as they ran forward.
"How could you do this?!" Melia asked.
Zanza didn't even bother to turn all the way, he simply glanced back at us with narrowed eyes, seeing my friends glaring up at him. Suddenly, a great swirling dome of gold light surrounded us.
"It is from me that all life is born." He said, finally turning to face us. "It lives only for me. And it shall... be... returned!"
I could only look down at Shulk's cracked Battle Gem in regret. I closed my eyes and the golden yellow aura came off my body once more.
Brigitte must've noticed as she confronted Zanza herself. But before things could escalate further, I let out a full-force battle cry as I summoned my guardian animal to protect us all while Fiora and Meyneth dueled with Zanza in the sky.
"Sharla!" Brigitte called out in relief.
I opened my eyes and looked up at her. "I can't let Zanza win! Even if the Mechonis is destroyed, I will find a way to bring Shulk back!"
"That's the spirit!" The engineer cheered. "Even with Meyneth gone, he can be saved! You can't let the last glimmer of hope be extinguished!"
I wasn't sure what happened, but Meyneth left Fiora's body and gave up her life to save us and Zanza took her Monado and vanished.
Murasaki went to the transporter and checked it. "Good. It still works. The whole place is going to blow! We must return to Junks via the Central Factory!"
"Let's go!" I shouted.
"Mura-mura, what about Egil and Bri-Bri?" Riki asked.
"Me and Egil will fight Zanza to the very end." Brigitte said. "You have your part of the bargain after all. Once we're gone, you're the only ones left."
The caregiver nodded in understandment before the engineer turned to face me. "Sharla, I want you have this."
She handed me a small bottle the size of the palm of my hand filled with a glowing soft yellow liquid of some sort with silver details surrounding it and a cogwheel at the front with a pair of small wings.
"It's my final Rally in the form of a special potion." She explained. "There's enough for two people to drink it. I want you and Shulk to drink it. With it, you two will become more powerful that not even Zanza and his disciples will see it coming and you can fulfill Meyneth's wish for a world with no need for gods."
"Thank you for everything, Brigitte." I said.
"Just doing my part."
"Let's move, everyone!" Sae shouted.
Murasaki led the way as we hurried back towards Junks. There was no sign of Alvis when we emerged from the transporter, but we had no time to search for the seer. We felt the Mechonis shaking around us, saw the explosions down below in the Central Factory and forced ourselves onwards even when I healed their wounds completely.
Zellium carried Shulk's body over his shoulder running as fast as he could to keep up with Murasaki. I quickly put Brigitte's potion away as soon as we reached Junks. We ran across the deck, the doors opening before us. Linada glanced up as they entered, and then she gasped.
"Bring him upstairs." She said to Zellium, already heading for the ramp.
He followed her while the rest of us rushed to the bridge, finding Alvis standing near Miqol. None of us needed to explain what happened as the Machina chief looked at us.
"Looks like it's all over." He remarked grimly. "Yep, I know even though I wasn't there. I want to thank you for what you did for my son. But we have to escape here first. Shall we go back to the village?"
"Yes." I said.
Junks flew back through the cooling duct and out of the Mechonis, and Zellium joined the rest of us on the bridge. As the ship began to swing back around toward the Fallen Arm, however, we saw the Bionis ahead, waiting for them.
"Stubborn mortals..." Zanza said. "So desperate to cling to your pathetic lives... Even when there is NO HOPE FOR YOU!"
The Bionis swung the Monado, the massive blade of light heading for Junks, but then the Mechonis' left arm blocked the blow, protecting the Machina ship and giving it time to fly past. Egil and Brigitte were committing to sacrificing themselves to stop Zanza no matter what it takes.
"Don't you ever GIVE UP?!" The soul of the Bionis demanded furiously.
"Never!" Egil said, his voice filled with pain. "But hear this, Zanza! They will judge me not in life, but... DEATH!"
With the last of his strength, he thrust the Mechonis' right arm forward, the hand smashing into the Bionis' chest. The Bionis slammed it's hand down, breaking off the Mechonis' arm. Then it raised the Monado high, preparing to give the final blow.
"DIE!" The god shouted angrily.
The Monado slashed down on the Mechonis, which fell to its knees. Blue light burst from the fallen titan, consuming it.
I then suddenly heard Brigitte's voice speak in my mind for what would be the final time.
Sharla... For mine and Egil's sake and for both of our worlds... You and Shulk must succeed with my final Rally at your side. Believe... in yourself.
The light completely consumed the Mechonis, and it finally burst apart, leaving behind a lifeless, ruined shell.
All of us watched in shock as the titan was destroyed, taking Egil and Brigitte with it.
"The Mechonis!" Murasaki cried out.
"Egil!" Vanea wept, falling to her knees. Sae and Fiora knelt on either side of her, trying to comfort the sobbing woman.
"Look starboard!" Zellium called suddenly. "What's that cloud?!"
All of us looked right, seeing the greenish cloud but unable to figure out what it was. Without a word, me and my friends dashed through Junks and out onto the deck for a better look.
And now, as the cloud got closer, we could see that it was actually comprised of hundreds of creatures. There was no denying their shiny green skin and glowing yellow 'feathers'.
"It's Telethia!" Melia exclaimed.
Suddenly, several large Telethia flew up from beneath Junks, circling around and allowing the figures on their backs to leap to the deck. The remaining pawns, Shoku Tsuburaya, the Ultimate Cook, Kenko Sukoyaka, the Ultimate Health Guru, Seiyo Akanishi, the Ultimate Frycook, Saki Mayuzumi, the Ultimate Patisserie, Beshi Takamine, the Ultimate Bassist, Dora Tamamoto, the Ultimate Drummer, and Kiba Kawaito, the Ultimate Keyboard Artist were also with them.
"You're not getting away!" Dickson shouted as he and the other disciples stood upright.
"Everyone!" Murasaki growled, hatred in her voice.
"Listen, it's over." Bea said. "Time for all of you to return to the Bionis. Nice and quietly."
"That's enough!" Zellium shouted. "How could you, guys?! What caused you to act like this?! Dickson, Shulk looked up to you, respected you!"
"Everyone!" Sae pleaded. "Don't let Zanza control you all! Wake up!"
"You can quit your damn bellyaching!" Gonta exclaimed scornfully. "We're all in complete control. We've always been like this! Dickson's even been like this long before any of the rest of us were born!"
"Before we were born?" Murasaki repeated.
"Now you get it! It's just like Egil and Brigitte said. We're Lord Zanza's disciples." Murakumo said with a smug grin. "Your sins end here!"
The Telethia roared, swooping down and allowing the group to leap back on them. Then before any of us could react, Dickson's Telethia attacked.
It flew straight at us, crashing into Murasaki and Sae and sending them flying. Zellium shot at it with a Pyro Ball, but it lunged towards him, knocking him over. Melia shot her Mind Blast, which seemed to anger the Telethia, for it retaliated by shooting a freezing beam at her, hitting Riki as well. Fiora activated her drones, but then the Telethia struck her.
Watching my friends fall and get knocked out of their transformations, I glared at the Telethia and at Zanza's group of disciples. I aimed at it, but then the Telethia struck me and swept me aside, knocking me out of my transformation. I quickly picked up Shulk's intact Battle Gem and held it close to me as Gita laughed.
"You're really desperate, aren't you?" She mocked. "Keeping that corpse's Battle Gem close to you as if it actually means something!"
I looked up at them, pushing myself up, holding the gem closer to me before squeezing my eyes shut.
"Why can't you understand?" Murakumo said. "Even though you knew the future ahead of time, several events that weren't supposed to happen have taken place because of you."
"You're wrong!" I shouted, glaring at them again. "It doesn't matter that I knew what was going to happen. What really matters is that I believe in myself and my friends. I believe that no one has any control in what we do or say, that everyone can choose their own destiny!"
Beshi looked fed up with how this was going down as light built at the head of Dickson's Telethia. "Can I kill them now?!"
Suddenly, blasts of green light shot at the Telethia, disrupting it's attack and forcing Dickson to jump to avoid being hit.
"What?!" The bladesmith cried angrily. "Who was that?! Show yourself!"
"Melia, are you all right?"
All of us turned to see Kallian fly in with a whole squadron of Havres.
"Brother!" Melia called out in relief.
"Kallian!" Zellium shouted. "Dickson and the rest! They all work for the Bionis! He shot Shulk in the back!"
The prince's eyes widened in shock. "Is this true?!"
Upon getting confirmation from his younger sister with a nod from her, he turned to face the disciples and pawns. "Everyone. This ends here. Your Telethia are no match for our Havres squadron. You cannot win!"
"Maybe you should focus on your own people instead of yelling at us." Ajia retorted.
Kallian gasped before Mirai spoke up. "Looks like you forgot your fucking destiny. Right, Lorithia?"
"Lorithia?!" The prince repeated, turning to look at the researcher standing in a nearby Havres. "Are you involved in this as well?!"
"Your Highness." She said with a smile. "Your naivety is quite charming. But it is also your undoing."
She let out a little chuckle as green light began welling from her Havres before continuing. "Me, Angie, Kokichi, and Mirai had much fun playing with you and your father."
"Wh-What is this light?!" Kallian asked as all the Havres began shining.
"Ether particles emitted so that the Bionis can be destroyed and reborn." Angie responded. "Your race taught me everything I needed to know about how divine ether can be! That was unknowingly your ultimate undoing!"
Lorithia laughed, leaning on the railing. "What do you get if you cross high concentrations of ether with High Entia?"
"N-No!" Kallian gasped, horrified, desperate to stop her. "You wouldn't! Lorithia!"
"AWAKEN MY DARLING PETS!" The researcher shouted.
A shiny green substance began bubbling from the Havres, covering their surfaces. The High Entia screamed as it caught them, cried out as it began consuming them. As the High Entia were drawn into the green substance, yellow 'feathers' grew on the former aircraft, and the substance solidified into shiny green skin.
"They are..." Fiora began, horrified.
"Telethia!" Sae breathed.
Kallian cried out as the iridescent substance covered him. Melia's eyes widened in complete horror and shock. "Brother!"
"Me-Melia!" He gasped out, fighting to break free and failing, being drawn into what would be the front of the Telethia that was forming.
"Lorithia! Let him go!" The empress cried out.
"You misunderstand, child." The researcher said with a smile, atop one of the newly formed Telethia. "This is the reason why High Entia are born. Do not blame poor old me."
"Explain yourself!" Murasaki demanded grimly.
"It's just as she says." Kiba responded. "The High Entia are a race created by Lord Zanza to eliminate any form of life in the way for the preparation for the rebirth of the Bionis. Their bodies contain a gene that, when the time comes, transforms them into Telethia."
The few High Entia remaining gave their final cries of pain as they were completely transformed into Telethia.
Melia stumbled back, overwhelmed. "It can't be. Say it isn't so!"
"Melia, it is true." Kallian said, struggling to keep his head above the bubbling substance consuming him. "That is why you... are our only hope."
She stared up at him, tears in her eyes. "Brother?"
"Does it really matter though?" Tsumugi asked. "We don't really need a half-blood like you anyway. I mean, if you don't become a Telethia, then you're gonna be crushed by one. Lord Zanza believes that's the only thing you're good for."
"Rise up, pet!" Dickson called out, his Telethia carrying him up. "Do my bidding! Kill your lovely sister!"
Kallian cried out as he was drawn back.
"Brother!" Melia yelled.
The prince gave an agonised scream as he was nearly completely consumed.
"Brother!" She cried out again, running forward and dodging the blasts that struck the deck. "Just hold on! I'll find a way to save you!"
"Me-Melia!" He managed to call. "So... sorry. I always... placed... such a... heavy burden on you."
"Don't say such things, Brother!" The empress pleaded, ignoring the blasts raining down around her and the rest of us running up behind her.
The prince raised his head defiantly, the only part of him not covered by a Telethia's shiny skin. "But... at least I can... still shoulder... the destiny of our people. The burden meant for you!"
"Brings a tear to my eye!" Dickson said mockingly, watching as light flared, signifying the end of the prince's transformation.
"These moments are to be treasured." Lorithia agreed with a smile.
But as the light around the newest Telethia faded, the researcher, Angie, Kokichi, and Mirai gasped in horror.
"How?!" The writer cried out.
The huge Telethia turned around, Kallian's face still visible on it's front. He surged upwards, towards Zanza's disciples and pawns.
"Brother!" Melia shouted.
"Melia!" He shouted back, fighting to keep himself from being completely subsumed by the Telethia. "Father's wish, and the future of the High Entia, are in your hands. Yours, Sharla's, and Shulk's!"
"Telethia! Destroy him!" Lorithia ordered, voice panicked.
They began preparing blasts, but Kallian smashed through them, destroying the creatures, light building around himself.
Most of the disciples and pawns gasped in shock and horror as he charged straight for them.
"Dickson!" Gonta called out urgently.
"I got it!" The bladesmith assured.
"Too late!" Kallian shouted, flying straight towards him.
"Damn him!" The violinist yelled before bracing himself for impact.
The prince collided with Dickson's Telethia, and a brilliant explosion lit up the sky as every disciple and pawn screamed.
"BROTHER!" Melia shrieked.
Zellium and Sae each grabbed one of her arms, dragging her back though she fought them to get to her brother.
Junks flew over and past the Fallen Arm, making instead for Colony 6. Night came as we neared it, revealing the broken remains of the Mechonis in the distance. All of us were at the deck as Junks landed in a small lake inside the colony. I stared at what had once been my home, it seemed like Nessa, Allister, Melony, and their Pokémon had obviously been hard at work helping Juju to organize the reconstruction as the colony seemed like it was complete.
I walked alone in my colony, seeing people from all over the world together talking about their day-to-day life and their fears for what will happen if Zanza isn't stopped. I couldn't sleep at all even with the accommodations my people gave us. It felt I had to do something to fix all of this.
I knew Linada said she would watch over Shulk, but I wanted to talk to him and give him Brigitte's final Rally and his Battle Gem. Trying not to wake anybody up and with Shulk's Battle Gem and the potion Brigitte gave me in my hands, I exited the building we were using to sleep in and went down the colony streets.
I approached Junks and entered, climbing up the ramp to Linada's lab. However, the Machina doctor wasn't present, it was only Shulk, still unconscious on the metal bed, the Replica Monado within his reach for when he would reawaken.
What's Linada doing? I thought. Is she resting?
Slowly, I approached Shulk. He looked pale and almost deathly still, only the steady rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still alive.
"Shulk..." I muttered sadly. "Please wake up. You have to get up. The world needs you. I need you. We all need you."
Of course, the mechanic gave no response. I hadn't expected him to, but I'd hoped.
"Shulk." I spoke a little louder this time. "Can you hear me? Maybe you're lost. Perhaps you feel helpless. But please don't give up on us. Brigitte gave the two of us her final Rally. She's counting on us to stop Zanza and his disciples. She believes in us, so you should definitely believe in yourself too."
Still no response. Had I expected him to wake up upon hearing my words? Wake up and embrace me and draw me close and tell me how things might be hard now but that we would get through it? Regardless, I put his Battle Gem on his chest and it seemed to float above him for a moment.
"You promised me that defeating Egil and Brigitte will be how you'll repay me for everything that I've done for you and the others." I said, pulling out Brigitte's potion. "I have to repay you for what you did for me as well."
I opened the the bottle and carefully sat on the edge of the metal bed. "All I can do to repay you for everything now is this..."
I held the potion to his lips, but he didn't drink it, his head only drifted back a bit. I glanced at him, then at the glowing liquid, and I brought the bottle to my lips, taking a drink of it. Then with the liquid still in my mouth, I set the potion aside, gently brushed his blonde hair away from his face, and kissed him softly.
Once the last drop of the liquid was offered, I couldn't pull away. It felt as if Shulk was still there and still alive as he should be. He had to do mouth-to-mouth with Fiora to help her and ended up giving her her first kiss, so I wouldn't blame her if she wanted to do something like that with him. I guess I did it for her, I'm sure she'll understand given our current situation.
As I lifted my head, I saw the crack in his Battle Gem vanish, and a burst of small light caused golden wings like the ones on Brigitte's gem to appear on either side. The potion worked! He'll definitely wake up soon.
I looked at the remaining liquid inside the bottle, I had to drink it as well. Brigitte did say there was enough for two people to drink it. Taking a deep breath, I brought the bottle to my lips again, and drank the rest of the glowing liquid inside.
Putting the bottle away, I looked at Shulk with a soft smile. "Shulk, when you wake up, use this new power to your advantage. I believe in you, so please believe in yourself and the rest of us as well, OK? It's not too late to seize our destinies, we still can change the future."
I felt a lot better as I left Junks and went back to the building my friends were sleeping in. I went into a surprisingly easy sleep for the night. It'll take a little while for the potion to take full effect, but that's besides what will happen tomorrow.
We will beat Zanza and his disciples. I know we will!
Next time on the Disciple Arc...
Dickson is desperate to kill Sharla and her allies, so he leads Gonta and the rest to engage in a Telethia attack on Colony 6. The ensuing chaos of the battle will lead to huge casualties to happen and new powers to awaken on both sides, which will set the stage for how the remainder of the climax in the Killing Titan War will play out from here on out.