A/N: Hello all, it's me again! It has been a little bit, hasn't it? Unfortunately, I recently sprained my wrist and have been spending the past couple of weeks resting it in between shifts at my job. It's still in some pain but I've recovered at the point where I can type again without much significant pain. Hopefully I make a full recovery and it stops hurting this week. Would suck if it still was on Christmas day!

Which, speaking of, Merry early Christmas! Consider this a gift from me to you. Thanks for the continued reading patronage. As always, please continue to read and review!

"Really, truly?! You'll be Tora's friend?!"

"Yea! If Homura trusts you, then so do I.", Rex slipped on his jacket, coming back with Tora who waited for him just before the nearby lake. He kept shuffling his wet hair until it fit in with his usual spiky hair.

"Yay! Tora friends with Drivers and Blades!", he jumped up with joy. "Today is best day ever!"

"I like that optimism! I get a feeling you're just what we needed in our little group.", he held out his hand. "I'm Rex, but you already knew that."

Tora took his hand with both of his Noponic hand-ears. "I'm Tora, and this my greatest invention, the artificial Blade, Hana!"

Rex laughed, turning to watch Hana who was smiling at the sight. "Wow, that's impressive, man!", he remarked. "Glad you became a Driver."

Tora let go and stood proudly. "Muhuhu!"

Nia could only grin, but decided to refocus the group. "Alright, where we're going, Rex?"

"Where else but the World Tree?", he pulled out the same gadget he used to tell the time early. Tora's eyes sparkled at the new technology he's never seen before. Tora leaned in towards it.

"What is that?", his interest dripping off his tone.

"This is a Cloud Sea compass, a salvager's lifesaver!", he explained, holding it down for the tech geek Nopon to see. "It's like a sort of map of the Cloud Sea. Watch this."

He fiddled with the nobs, turning and twisting them at the same time until he stopped. "Uh...anyone got the date today?", he looked up from the device.

Homura eagerly raised her hand. "Um...Amathatober 5th, 4058."

"Thanks! Ok, put that in…", he began spinning the multiple rings of the device to fit the date. "Ok! There. Look!", he held it out for the group this time.

"This is very clever!", Tora bounced excitedly.

Taking a reading of the compass, he looked up to the group. "Lucky us. Gormott's the closest to the World Tree right now."

Azurda tapped Rex's neck, and he turned to him. "But we need a ship!", Azurda reminded them.

"And the army's got them all in its grasp.", Dromarch furthered.

Nia sighed. "Guess we're stuck for now."

"Seems so.", Homura kept her eyes on Rex.

Rex made a face at Gramps that could best express his disappointment that he wasn't going to be a giant Titan anytime soon. The Titan could only hide back in Rex's helmet. "Sorry I'm no use."

"I know.", Rex sighed. "I'm out of ideas."

"Oh, Tora have good idea!"

They all gave their undivided attention. "There's ship builder living at Gormott Titan's bum-bum! Old friend of Tora's Grampypon. He called Umon! Maybe he help!"

"That's great, Tora! Alright, let's go give it a shot!", Rex grinned.

Meleph sipped her tea as slowly as she could. She wanted to enjoy every last drop of this–no, she needed it. Of all the times her feelings had to be right, it was yesterday. Yet it seemed it didn't just stop yesterday. It extended through the night, and early morning of today!

Brighid joined her, taking light bites of the salad she had.

Honestly, amidst all the chaos today, there was one shining light. Past dealing with Gormotti citizens' unrest over the now utterly demolished water tower. The securing of Torigoth once more and ensuring its safety after the large upsets yesterday. One thing stuck out to her as the silver lining.

And that was getting to see Dughall's pathetic face as he realized: a) he no longer had a Blade, and b) he was going behind bars for a very long time. She felt so eviscerated when she read the charges aloud to him and watching as the accusations grew more and more severe while her more competent, personal troops took over the reins again.

She still had faith in them, though it did diminish a little when she realized one of the commanding officers on deck took a bribe from Dughall to replace everyone with him and Paxel's band of misfits. Of course, since it was just one bad apple, all she had to do was throw it out and keep the rest of the batch. She felt ecstatic that the young, up and coming soldier she was watching finally got his chance to prove himself as a commander. She felt under the new management, her special unit would flourish. Yet none made her happier than remembering all the charges brought up against Dughall.

The list was as following: tax evasion, failure to provide required taxes to the motherland, failure to comply under common law, unlawful use of force, use of excessive force, unlawful intrusion of fellow higher up Ardanian's duties, specifically interference of the Special Inquisitor's duties, conspiring against the Special Inquisitor, and most of all, high treason for selling national secrets and weaponry to an unknown third party.

Currently, her troops were turning his office inside out and upside down looking for evidence, and if she heard the report right, there was evidence for at least three quarters of the charges, which could account for 20 years in prison minimum.

Knowing this, she could rest easy. She kept her eyes on the blackened Core Crystal of Dolmes that sat on the table, unsure of how to handle it. Hell, she didn't even know he was a Driver. Yet apparently, he was registered. She might as well should've counted lying on identification forms as a charge, but she felt sufficient with the charges he racked up as a crooked politician.

Though the question remained. "Lady Meleph...what are we to do about the governance here? I don't think anyone in Mor Ardain would be willing to station themselves in this place.", Brighid spoke.

She breathed through her nose. "Knowing my brother, he might just let them govern themselves.", she guessed. "Dughall is a remnant from the previous Emperor, his father. We know he stuck him here as nothing more than a sting operation."

"Yes, I do remember you mentioning it before I left.", she took a bite of the lettuce, chewing it and swallowing. "Do you think it's for the best?"

She smiled. "Yes. I have good faith that it is."

Brighid joined in the smiling. "I was going to say that myself."

They sat in silence some more as they enjoyed their breakfasts.

Brighid however had more pressing matters in her mind. "Lady Meleph…"

She hummed inquisitively as she sipped the tea.

"About that boy…"

"You're still thinking about Rex?"

She plopped her fork on the table, feeling finished with her food. She was always the slower eater of the two. "I mean...how could I not? I can't get that moment out of my mind."

She placed the tea cup gently back on the saucer. "It's completely understandable, Brighid."

She interlocked her fingers and rested her elbow on the table. "For him to react like that at the mere sight of me...there must be something between us. And I can't help but feel partly responsible for his probable demise at the hands of Indol. But even worse…"

"Yes?"

"...I don't see a "Rex" anywhere in my memory diary. Not even in passing."

"Hm.", she placed the cup and saucer on the table. "Don't worry about it too much. We'll meet again. And when we do…"

"I'll be sure to ask him."

The Special Inquisitor donned a small smile. "Definitely."

"Damn Tirkins!", Rex huffed, the group heading up to a weird, abandoned looking shack. Rex furrowed his brows at his right sleeve, the hole much bigger than before, now exposing his bandaged forearm through a zig-zagged slit. There was practically almost no more of the sleeve left.

Despite all that extra care he took of it and his right arm, one of those creatures grazed it, ripping the cloth further. Homura got in front of him to block his path and held out her hand. "Don't worry, I'll fix it on the boat trip."

Rex blinked. "You can sew?"

"A little.", she answered. "I've got great concentration, you know."

He slipped the coat off and handed it to her. "Alright. It's yours then."

Amazing...Pyra can really do anything, can't she?, he wondered just how much of an Ardanian army knife of a Blade she was. She couldn't help but smile, hearing those thoughts.

She took it and draped it over her forearm, rotating from the side to let everyone go first. With no one looking now, and a quick look around, she decided to try it on herself. It was obviously a little bigger on her given how she's much shorter than Rex, the bottom coming down to the middle of her thigh.

She could almost let out a giddy squeal. Ah, it's so nice...and warm…, she could even smell the slightest hint of his scent.

However reality barged in and she flushed, and took it off quickly but with care. She went back to draping it over her forearm like some kind of butler. Silently she prayed that no one saw her do that, or the look on her face when she did it. Lucky for her, this was the case. She jogged up and caught up with the rest of her unsuspecting group.

They entered the building and Tora started calling out. "Uncle! Uncle Umon! Where are you?"

A voice called out from around the nearby small Titan ship. "Who is it? Who making all that noise while I work?"

A green Nopon stepped out in a nice, working outfit, propping up his goggles with his hand-ear. "Ah, Tora! Is that you?", he waddled over to the group.

"It's been a while, Unclepon!"

"Ah, it has! About a year, yes?"

"Yes!", Tora nodded.

"You became very big in one year, Tora!"

Tora puffed out his chest in pride. "Yes, Tora not littlepon anymore!"

"And Tora have lots of sidekicks!"

"Guh!", Nia almost spat out in offense. "Sidekicks?!", she hoarsely whispered.

"Unclepon, Rex-Rex and friends are real friends, not sidekicks!", Tora rotated around to Rex. "Rex-Rex! Meet Unclepon Umon! He did great research with Grampypon! Great builder of ships!"

"Hello!", Rex waved.

"Hi!", Homura greeted.

"At your service.", Dromarch once again with his extreme politeness.

"I see! Tora's friends! Lots of friends is very good!", Umon scratched his head with his hand-ear. "Tora became fine biggipon."

"Hehehe!", if Nopons could blush, Tora would.

"Ah, but why did you come? Does Tora need something?"

"Yes! We wanted to borrow ship. From Unclepon Umon!"

"A ship? But there are lots of ships in Torigoth.", Umon rebuked. "Why hike all the way to bum-bum to see me? Did Tora run out of gold?"

It seems Tora didn't think far ahead enough. To Rex, it was a bit naive of him to think his Uncle would just willingly give it, especially after not seeing it for a year. Clearly this put the Noponic boy genius at edge, as he racked his brain to come up with some sort of excuse.

"Yes! Tora flat broke, like penniless pancake! Spend all of money on artificial Blade!", Tora explained rather hastily. "Wanted to go on boaty-jaunt somewhere. But no money to go on boat!"

Nia jabbed Rex in the side of his torso with her elbow. "Hey, are you cool with him lying to his Uncle like that?", she whispered. "Thought you were a paragon of virtue."

"We don't have a choice.", he replied, keeping his voice equally low. "Do you really think he'd help if we told him what happened in Torigoth?"

"I..guess you're right."

Thankfully the Nopon paid their conversation no mind.

"Artificial Blade? Isn't that what Tora's grampypon was working on?", he turned to Hana.

"My name is Hana. Pleased to meet Unclepon."

He let out an impressed call. "Yes! This it! This mighty impressive! Tora take after Grampypon indeed!"

Tora stroked his mohawked with his hand-ear. "Ah well, how can I refuse Tora now? Go ahead, ship is ready!"

Rex blinked. He wondered just how much he had left on his run of good luck to keep having lies being bought like that. Or at the very least, just how easy it was to convince Tora's family to do favors for him.

"Thank you Unclepon!"

"It fine! Have fun on boaty-daunt."

Nia just couldn't understand it. She silently observed Rex as he, with no coat on, piloted the ship, bearing the light rain, wind blowing his hair towards his left. She knew he clarified the reason for that Core Crystal on his chest pretty vividly on the way to Umon's shipyard shack, but she still had lots of reasonable doubt.

Sure, sharing life force created that Crystal X, but that didn't explain how that diamond in the middle appeared, and why it was ever so slightly tinted yellow despite the overpowering emerald green. He can say he's a Flesh Eater all he likes too, but it wouldn't turn yellow like that. Wouldn't his Core Crystal remain red? And as a matter of fact, who the hell was his Driver?!

Rex was willing to fulfill his promise until she got to that part. He literally choked on his own words, he was so damn quiet! She knew for a fact that she spotted Homura's uneasiness at his lack of description about that. For God's sake, she was practically broadcasting her fidgeting to the entire group, yet none except her (and possibly Dromarch) batted an eye about it.

And when he did speak up, she became all the more unconvinced. So on top of the fact that he apparently, as he puts it, didn't have a Driver (or so he felt), he was a bloody amnesiac too!

He says to trust him, and yet I get the strangest feeling he can't even trust himself!, she analyzed, peering deeper at him. I'll play along for now, but don't think I don't have my eye on you, or that I completely trust you yet.

She bore no mind to Dromarch's throat clearing. Nor to the look on his face that seemed to call out the hypocrisy in her gaze. Or the fact that she was staring quite long at Rex. Long enough to bring into question of whether she was infatuated with him or just blanking out into space.

Regardless, she was snapped out of it by the loud swinging out of the door to the right of her. "Finished~.", a cheerful Homura bursted out from the cabin, walking over to Rex with the jacket displayed proudly in her hands.

Rex kept one hand on the ship wheel to keep it steady as he moved around to take a look, with Homura showing off the area where the large split was. He whistled loudly with impression.

"Wow. That looks great! It's like you never even sewed it back together."

Homura was absolutely delighted. "Thanks! But, I did have help."

Hana sauntered in with pride, poorly hiding her beaming smile. "Hana helped out! Reinforced with super strong fabric out of loose threads from Hana's cape!"

"Yes. I even cleaned up her cape, look!", Homura continued with the showcase as she pulled up the bottom edges of the cape.

"That's amazing, Homura.", he admired the handiwork with his own grasp on it. "You look so cute, Hana!", he cooed to her as if she was his daughter while slipping on his jacket quickly.

Nia almost let out a scoff. There's no way that would work on this little robot!

Hana looked like she just won the prize turkey in a local festival.

Oh my God it worked., Nia didn't know what to be more amazed at, that Rex knew how to talk to kids, or that the combination of him and Homura with Hana made them look like parents.

She was clearly giddy. "Masterpon! Rex-Rex said I was cute in new cape! Does Masterpon agree?", she bolted back into the cabin to pester her Driver as Rex snapped his helmet with Azurda resting comfortably inside to the back of his coat collar.

The other two were clearly enjoying this, considering they were laughing. Oh man, Nia most certainly did not like this. She could see it now. Homura being the housewife, taking care of the kids, while Rex came back from work to the picket fence home they lived in. She immediately wiped any semblance of that troubling idea in her head, and instead decided to take a little cat nap.

Of course, the world had to screw with her just a bit longer.

"World Tree, ho!", Rex yelled out.

She rather unenthusiastically opened her eyes and let out a disappointed sigh, getting up and seeing exactly what he pointed out. Tora and a still sunny Hana came out in awe at the absolute size of the tree up close.

Nia had to admit this certainly brought her mood up. "This is the first time I've seen it this close…"

"Same here.", Rex gazed upward, marvelling at the sight. "It's just as amazing as I hoped."

The cat however was gulping at the sight in the opposite direction of the Tree's height. "That current's really strong...if we fall in that, we're done for."

"You're right.", Rex agreed as he spotted the quite massive drop in the Cloud Sea before the World Tree. It almost reminded him of home. "Alright, how do we get there, then? Homura?"

No response. "Uh...Homura?", he turned around. What the group didn't know was that she had this scrutinizing face plastered on this whole time, her eyes looking nowhere else but forward.

Then she suddenly had this burning urge of panic. "We need to leave, Rex! Staying here is no good!"

He was confused. "What?! What do you mean?!", he turned around to just catch a large purple and yellow mechanical snake with horns surrounding all around near its head. Its giant glowing green eye glowed as it let out a whirling growl of wind.

Homura attained a fearful look Rex never could've imagined her having. "Serpent!"

"Serpen–gyaaaa!"

More images flashed in his head as the only thing his ears picked up was his hitched, hastened breathing. He saw the mechanical snake slowly morph into a dragon, a delusion only he was capable of seeing. His head was caught in a splintering whirlwind of pain, and this time Homura felt it too.

"Not...again…", her face contorted. "Nia! Turn us around!", she clamored as she powered through the pain, grabbing Rex and dragging him away from the wheel before he made the ship whirl around in many directions.

"Always gotta count on me, eh?!", with surprising strength, she shoved the two aside, taking hold of the wheel and spinning it around, making the Titan ship do a complete 180 and headed towards the opposite direction, away from the looming presence of Serpent.

The crew stumbled in the same direction of turn, Homura remaining firm as she watched the mechanical "creature", the headache calming for her. "Stop this, Serpent! Why...why can't you hear me?!"

Serpent's response? It raised its tail and smashed it down into the Cloud Sea, making the Titan fly before crashing back down in the Cloud Sea, now much further away. Nia turned back with hands still on the wheel to notice now they were far enough for Serpent to give up pursuit.

Just as Rex could finally gain control of himself…

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D̷̬̼̎͗ő̵̧̢̫̯͖̪̮̜̲ͅe̸͍̟͖̟̫͕͉̥͌͛̽̾͐͋͛͒͝ͅs̸̠̗̏̾̏̏͒ņ̵̡̲͖͍͕̭̜͈̟̥͔̬̖̓̒͛̋͒̓͛̓͋ͅ'̶̛̖̞̪̙͖̖̞̍̿̐͊̐́̎̓͂̎͝ṱ̸̞͖̦͖̳͌̋̈́͗̏͝͠͝ ̶̨̗͙̣͍̭͖̫̖̝͖̓͆i̸̧̧̛̲͚̼̪̞̜͓̻̘̻̼͒̀̍ͅt̶̰̜̾̑̈͛̀́͋͗̓̔́̇̒̚͠ ̸̭͈̤̗̭̲̼͇̯̺̫͎͖̦̓̔̃̎̐͠r̴̛͙͐̐̽̈́̅̋̇̑e̶͇͉̺͇̥̤̬͐̅̏̈̄͒̓̉̆͋̌͊̕̚m̷̢̨͓̰͎̥̲͓̬̬͎̤͍̈́̂͐̌̓͛̅͊̔̆̑͆̉͘̚ì̴̤̻͎͕̗͙͒n̸͔̟̭̻͙̺̻̣̱̯̭͔͑̈͜͜͠ͅd̴̜̳̪͚̝̮̜͔͕͔̟̪̬̀͌̌̀̽̏̄̅̄̐̊̈́͝͝ͅ ̸̛̟̹̖͕̙̼̣̠̝̉́̋̇̄͐̃̌̀͜͜ȳ̶̜̬̥̀̀̉͂͒̂̊͂͘̕͜͠͝͠o̵̼͍͇̤̪̳͉̝͓͕͕̎̇̎̾̀̆̌͐͛̅̀̎̚ų̵̳̘͈͓͙̟͎̯̺̙͊͛̍͌͜͝ ̷̨̧̰̬͎̼̠̯̜̰̦̬͇̆̌̍̑͛̏̇̍̈̓̾͘͝͝o̷̡̢͉̹͍̖̲̭͚̼̳͈͂͂͗͘͝f̴̰̠̠̣̟̮̦̝̞͈̓̈̔͑̂̑̀̽̓̕͝ ̶̡̛̹̱͉̆́̾̋́̓͋̅̏͘͘̕̕͝s̷͈̹̓̾̿̓͛̒̎̈̏͐̽͠͝o̴̢͍͕̤̻͉̣͓͌́̋̔̽̓̿̚̕ͅṃ̷̤͖̤͇̟̈͂̃̓͑̈̋̊̏̽͘͜͝ë̷̡̺̠̙͔̭͎̣̬̮̍̒̆̐̏͊́͂͑ţ̵̨̡͎̝̗͈͓͎̫̖͖̳͋ͅh̷̖͇̟̳̞̹̠͇͎̥͓̑i̶̛̦̮̘͎͋͌̃́̌̂̑̇̆̉̿̌n̷̢͕͎̟̓̇̄̓͛̏̒̒̔̚͝ġ̷̡̘̮̖̪̻̟̦̗̖̯̫͂̋̓͝?̴̡̼͉͎͉̝͙̫̹̪̖̽͑̅̃͒͆̿̑̈̈́

̶̼̟̠̞̘̗̲̤̽͂̾̽

̶̢̬̩͚̪̫̟̜̪́̈̐Į̶̡̪̣̬̲̰͚̙̪͇̥̳̱̞́̔͊̓̏̀͑͊͊̒̆͌̀͗͝ṫ̵̬̲͙̞̲̮͇̬̫͇͉͌̃̀̍̓̈́̑͝͝ ̶̲͚̺̺̳͎̾͋̔͋̒͝d̸̢̨̛̦͚̟͍̝̦̦͖̹̈́̃̿̍̾͐͌͝͝o̵̻͉͕͎̠̊͑̓́̒e̵̱̻̠̋̈́͌͐̍͋͌̀s̶̩͇̮͉̩͚̪̦͈͔͉̀̚ ̵̹̝͈̯͕̞̟̬̌̏͆̔̅͜͝͠͠f̴͇̗̰̼̐̾̍̆̌͂̿͗͌͆̎͒͊̓͜͝ͅͅo̵̟̙͋̀̾̕͝͝ŕ̷̜̤̜̟͉̞̟͍́̏̿̌̔̾̑̈̓͒͝͠͝ ̸̨̝̤̼̠͚̊͆̍̇̽̒͒̎̓̕ỹ̶̢͚̗̪̳͈̘̬̻͓͙͎̀̂͗̐͝͠ơ̸̡̺̗͈̟̥̟̼̤̫͛̂̉́̑̍͜͝ủ̵̪̲̱̪̥̣̹͈̉̂̈́͐͛́͜͠͝ṟ̷̨̝͖̫̄͋̔̎̅ ̷̲͙̦̥̠̥͝g̷̛͎̋͒͒͊̔̀͒͗̉̓̈́̚o̶̧̢̰͇̟͖̥̦̹̪̬̊̐͜o̵̬̪̪̗̜̱̟͍̮̿̓̆̀͋̽d̸͖̬͕͎̫̦̜̣̼̼͉̉̾̆̑͐̿͠ ̶̬̼̂̈́p̷̨̛̛͉̩̜̪͉͔̼̼̈̆̕͠ä̶̤̟͈̼͒̈́̊̃̚ͅl̸̜̣̳͉̬͖̮̘̥̼̦̮̐̅͂̈́͐̓̓̎͌̆̆.̸͈̜̮̠̺̘͍͕̦̖͉̘͐̈́̿̌͜͠.̶̨̧̳͔̪̬͆.̵̛̺̱̞͖͙̭̠͔͈̩̦̊̐̉̏͛̓̃̾͌̕͝

̵̢̢̤̮͎̝̬̯̯̗͍̞̗͙́͒͛̅͆

̵͖̬͎̯̋̀͊̐́̓̔̐̅̅̒͘.̴͓͖͓̼̠̘̘̥͗̿̌̿̑̒̅̒́̓͜͝͠.̴̣̗̠̂̓̂͛̌̾͐̈́̓̈̓̑͛̚͜.̴̡̧͍͎̘̟̖̞̗̥̣̀̂́̊̓̇̀̈́̏̆͘͘͜͝M̶̳̭͖̯̥̱̀̈́͜E̸̛͙͐̈́̋̐̉̈́̌͑̌̋͊͝.̸̢̮̜̯̜̣̦̠̻͓͈̮̩͎̈́͒

.

Another cry howled from the man as now it felt as if his head was being split open by Jin's blade. Homura, for once, couldn't feel it, but certainly heard that voice loud and clear. She rushed over to Rex who was currently keeling over and foolishly bashing his head on the deck in a vain attempt to stop it.

"Rex! Listen to me, don't fight him!", Homura pulled him with all her might in order to stop his insane self-hurting spree. "You're making it worse! Like I did this morning!"

.

Ỹ̴̡̰̦͇̖̗͇̭̳̤̯̲̎͑͒́̀̿̈́͐̈ȇ̶̡͉̥̞̭̪̩̮͇͖̗̪́́̿̾̌͆͌̌͝s̷̡̗̞͎̹̳̘͈̫̞̜̙̩͋̍̉́̆̾̑̋ͅ,̴̡̥͐̏̋͊̾̽͌̈́́̄̈́̆͋͝ ̷͍̣̇́̈́̆̏͛́̈̽͝ļ̷̛͔͈͇̗̤̭̪͔̮̟͉̇͆̐̀͗̃̂̓̂̾͂͘͘͝ĭ̶̬͌͛̑̃͐͆͠ṡ̸̨̹̱͈͈̲̍̍́͊̏t̶̡͙̥̲̞̮̦͇́̌́͂̓͘ȩ̸̢̛̹̞͉̤͐͂̇̄́͆͑̊ṇ̵͎͈͔͖̣̼̱͉̮̫̠͑̍̊̔͊̐̀̂́͐́͜ ̴̨̩͐͝͠t̴̠̱̹̝̲̓̏́̏̇̍̕͝͝o̸̩̗̯̱͍̰̞̰̼̝̩̣̔̾̔̓́̒͠ͅ ̷̪͕͎͈̣͎͔̳̺̖͗͒̈́̿̒̾͒͘͝y̸̡͕̹̞̦͖͚̹͋̃͒̀͛͋̇͜ǫ̵̩͉̘̳̜̮͑̽̈̔͐̍͌̃̏̓̕͝u̵̢̳̞̹̳͑̂̓̃̌̂̓́̆̕͝ͅṛ̸̡͙̱̪̥͚͓̰͇͇̦͓͈͐̊́̈́̋͋̌̓́͘͘ͅ ̸̨̞̤͇͈̘̗̹͉̱̔͊̑͗͗̽̏͜͝͝͝n̴̛͓̳̬͔̺͉͕̮̪̼͕̋͒̐̏͛̋͗͊͋̉͝ë̷̠̲̝͔̝̥̼͉͙̜̄͛̐̽̋͜͠w̷̛͓̭̜̅̂̆̓̍͗͋̃̈͂̓̕͝͝ͅ ̷̣͇̩̹̦̤͉͈̥̗̠̈́̅ͅͅB̷̧̨̨̯̯̭͖̮̫͈͕̙̪̾̅̊͊͂͘͜͝ͅl̷̨̬͖͉̩̹͓̟̲̲͖͌́̂͐̈́̐̈́̏̃̀͜͝͝a̷̩͚̟͈̰̪̳̝͎̠̜͛d̴̛̛͎̦̺̺̜͇̱̈́̊̋̈́̏̍̚e̶̠̣̯̲̓́.̶̨͍̙̥̖͚̝͖́̊̋̅̍̆̀̎̒̓̇̃

̴̧̤̰̫͕̞͚̠͐̾̍̊͆̽͘

̷̟̥̬̗̤͙͇̠͇͖͊Š̷̨̧̢̳͙͚̫͊̽̐͑͆̎̓̊͆͊͂̅͠h̷̩̺̙̆̐͗̉̊̾̌̔͌̑͊͝e̶̡̧̨̥̦̝͈͓̲̠͙̹̩̐́̓͂͋̃̂̍̇͋͒͑̔͜͜ ̶͓͐̄̒̽̿̋̓͐̑͆͆͑̓̄͐s̵̲̯̏e̸̞̹̣̥̺̊͊̾ͅe̵̙̰̓͊́̔̀̓̌̚̚̕͘͝m̵̨̯̬̫̝͚̞̩͚̼̹̰̐̒̎̔̀̅͠s̶͔̝͖͓̭͚͔̿̎̌͐͐̓̿͝ ̵̻̦̼̣̻͔̭̲̥͕̰͓̋̂͛̌͒̃̐̅͂͋̓̉͜t̵̛̜͚̯̟̤̝̠͔̝̉̄͆̏̎̑͋͑̾̑́̈́͐ǫ̶̛̪̈́͑͑͛̾ ̸̢͉̝̜̞͚̘͕̟̺̪͇̠́̈́̎ḩ̴̰̼͕̠̲̟̳͖̥̝̰̱͖̘̑̾̚ȃ̴̡̢̨͙͖̩͍͇͉̇͌̊͒̏̑͊͐͂͗́͗̅v̷̛͔̠̾ẻ̸̞̯͉̪̥͍̺̪͇̹͎̓̎̏̅̋͂͗̌́̊̂͐̋̀͜ ̷̛̤̣̮̣͈̯̻͈̭̪̖̯̋̏͋̊͒̏́̾͆͑̈́̇̕͜͝ͅḿ̸̧̡̫͈̫̦̖͈̤̤́́͐̑͆͋̊͆͌͗͘͘͠͠o̵̧̱̻̭͔̝̩͑̄̿̃̍́̊̊͑̕͜ȑ̶̞͍̫̭̩̬̭̺̱̖̦̝̾̽̃̔͐͝ͅͅe̸̡͕̗͍̋ ̷̞͎̬̱̳̭͕͔͈̥̺̞̰̏̊̾̔͂́̈̅̚̚ͅB̴̨̙̪̫̙̘̯̝̮̠͂̓̉͊R̷̢̨̡̜̱̘̤̙̩̓̓̈͜A̵̳̫̣͓̣̾I̷̛̝͎̦̗̫̝̣̯̞͌̆͗̂̓̔͜ͅN̷̡̺̠̖͈̯̗̣̫̙͇͍̤̦͐̉̐͆̂̃̒͐͘Ş̶̼̺̝͓͉̭̎ͅ ̴͇̯̅͑̇̀̋̇̌̓͂́̈́t̴̛͙̫̣͙̹̝̯̪̦̣̤̟̞̾̈́̐͛̎̀̾̑͌̈́́̆̅͘h̶̛͕̪͖͔̯̙͉̙̺̘̬̍̍̐̀͊̋͂͒͜ͅa̴̧̨̘̰̺̎̄̒̑̈̚͜͠ń̷̛̟͇̞̣̰̞͙͍̥̒̅͛͒̀͊͂̏͌̌͌͂ͅ ̷͇̟͔̞̭͔̞̠͛̐́̆̆̉͊̋̓̅̃̂̒͠Y̷̛̲̤͂Ò̶͚̰̗̖͎͒̾̅̊̉͌̌͊̅̑͘U̵͉̯͗̂̋͗̌͛̄͗̓̾̽̈́͂ ̵̩͉̪͎̥̼̺̻̬̹̇̉̋͊̓̍̄̌̌͗̀̈́̚͜d̷̨̨̙̳͎̱͉̠̝̻͉̉o̴͇̱̜̯͔͈͉͕͂̄̈́̌͐͗̀̈́͌̔̂̇̿̆͜.̸̳̦͔̲͉͙̟͕̜̼͑͊̈̐̋̀̽͌̂͜͝͝ͅ

.

Nia was temporarily distracted by the theatrics. "Dammit! We should've left you to get captured by Meleph!", Nia spat angrily in a combination fit of rage, stress, and panic. "Maybe the nuthouse would've done some good!"

"My lady!"

Homura was very much outraged. "Nia! You…", any responding vitriol was silenced, her eyes enlarging. "Uh...Nia…", she shakily held up a pointed finger.

"Nia!", Tora and Hana hastily yelled at once.

"What?!", she whipped around.

There it was, an absolutely massive Titan. With jaws opened, ready to devour them as its next snack. Azurda decided to rather dizzily look up after being jostled around again, shaking his head to undo his vertigo. Once his eyes focused, he immediately called out, "Uraya's Titan!"

Unfortunately for the group, any hopes of being able to get out of its way were too late when a force of air was sucking them in due to the Titan inhaling. Well, there was only one thing left to do.

"Lord, forgive meeeeee!"

Nia cried before it was enveloped by the screams and other sounds of the Titan ship crashing.

A tiny village was bustling with the activity of its inhabitants, each one doing various activities. The adults were plowing the fields, and painting the homes. The children were out playing and diving down into the Cloud Sea from atop a high cliff.

And among it all, a single man rested lazily underneath a tree. His breathing was slow and calm, and he had a smile on his face even while resting. The cool spring breeze was gentle, blowing speckles from flowers and pollen in the air.

His nose twitched before he let out a loud sneeze, being groggily awakened by the involuntary motion and groaning.

He was once more interrupted by what felt like a body snuggling up next to him, and the smell of the sweetest honey. He groaned, eyes opening as he felt soft fingers poking his cheek. "Sara...please…", his eyes opened to slits, looking at her.

"Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead~.", she cooed, nuzzling under his neck.

"Mmm.", was all he said back.

"Oh come on, don't you want to pick out something nice for our wedding next week? Me and the girls already finished the dress, you know.", she pointed out.

He opened his eyes and routed his fingers through her golden locks, poking her fair-skinned cheek. "I thought I said nothin' fancy."

She pouted. "You promised, jerk!", she smacked her hand on his chest.

He was now fully awakened, and turned to see her upset, but still adorable face. "You know I can't take you seriously when you do that."

She closed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. He could only laugh in response. "Alright, I'm just joking."

She playfully hit his chest again. "Yea, well it wasn't funny!"

Why does this all seem...familiar?

Time seemed to slow, until it froze. He once saw through the man's eyes, yet here he now stood as a ghastly bystander, watching the two. The woman was the only one who had form. She had long, dark blue hair, almost nearly black, and blue eyes to match with fair, white skin. She wore a simple dress of brown with a white blouse.

The man, however, wasn't. He was covered in a deep, dark, black, balmy fog paired with a surrounding of mist. He looked down and saw his hands, transparent and ethereal in nature. It seems he was in his regular clothes. Odd.

Rex reached out towards them, before being suddenly sucked up into the sky against his own will. He called out, yelling, but no sounds came out, instead transmitted through his mind.

No! I must know, please!

~Don't you mean…"we"?~

A voice so crystal clear appeared. Lower, more throaty and accented, but still within the midrange like his own. Crisper, more textured, and yet, not entirely smooth like velvet. It was an odd voice that felt simultaneously soothing and unnerving. His ascent slowed to just a bird eye's view of the island.

He knew that voice from the moment he said "we". It was no longer hidden under demonic distortion.

We?! No, it's just me!

~Oh, can it. You know we're the exact same person. We share the same tendencies.~

I'm nothing like you.

~That is only right in one part.~

What?!

~The difference is...I know what this is. You? Not even a clue. You made your first mistake when you forced me away.~

I did that for a reason! You were...wild! Uncontrollable!

~You still think I am. Does it ever cross your mind that in the depths of nothing I can change?~

Bullshit. You haunt my dreams and give me those headaches! And that voice! Your anger!

~That's your conscious distorting me. And of course I'm angry! How would you feel if you were forcibly locked up with no way out and no chance of forgiveness?!~

You brought that on yourself.

Now the voice left any semblance of calm, replaced by irritation and a budding anger.

~If you had listened to your new little girlfriend, you would've realized the one giving yourself those headaches was you, moron. I was feeling talkative, but I guess you don't wanna know since you won't listen. Get the hell out of here.~

He suddenly began lurching again, going further and further, the island getting smaller and smaller. His pupils grew tiny as regret sank in. Wait! Don't do this to me! Please! I beg you!

~Now you know how it feels to be denied the one thing you want. So why don't you just give it to me already?!~

No! I'm not letting you out! I'm not convinced!

~Fine! Then suffer for all I care!~

A faint voice called out to him.

Rex...…

His eyes slowly closed as he began to leave the atmosphere of the world and into space, accepting the consequence of ignorance to keep him at bay. He focused on floating towards that voice he knew so well.

Rex...Rex...Rex...

"Rex! Rex! Rex!", Homura repeated with a bit of panic, laying just over him with her knees just outside his resting legs, somewhat straddling, and now shaking him with a bit more force than before. "Please, wake up!"

"Homura, please, settle down! You might give the boy brain damage if you keep this up.", Azurda squawked at her, his tiny golden eyes nearly popping out of his head at the rate she was about to intensify to. She slowed to halt and sighed, letting him back down gently

"You think he's dead?", Nia flanked the Blade, craning her neck while in a squat and staring down at him. Hana and Tora were doing the same, all of them encircling the man. Hana in the meantime was acting as the flashlight with her glowing eyes beaming out light.

Homura jolted towards Nia's direction and bore "fangs" of her own. "Don't even joke about this!"

"There, there, now.", Azurda who was floating directly above Rex, smack dab in the middle of the circle, gently fettered the argument. "If he really was dead, Homura here wouldn't be alive and well, yes? Now how about we give him some space?"

"Yea, Homura. Hop off him before you do something you'll really regret.", Nia jabbed, unable to control her mouth anymore.

She jammed off him and towered above the squatting Nia, fire lit in her eyes. "Ugh! You just don't know when to quit, do you?!"

All were in shock at the ugly side of her she would not display under normal circumstances. Of course, her being so obviously stressed out is not what one would call "normal circumstances". Nia scowled at her response. Clearly, she was ready to fire back.

Tora backed off with Hana, pulling her over and whispering in her auditory processors which stuck out the sides of her head like horns. "This good data, watch closely! This is what Dadapon referred to as "cat fight"! May prepare you for own cat fight!"

Hana nodded intently, completely innocent of the negative context at hand. "Got it, Masterpon.", taking note as the argument between the two girls slowly began to build up and escalate.

"Sorry that I don't think that the mentally insane should lead us, let alone pilot a ship."

"You have no idea what he is going through! Do you understand how much his soul suffers in silence?!"

"Like I haven't been through things of my own?! Get real, this little manbaby needs to grow up!"

Dromarch gaped, unsure of what to do with himself. "Urk...my lady.. please! This is unbecoming of you!"

"How dare you! Do you even know how to put yourself in someone else's shoes?!"

"How can I when I don't even know if Rex is his real name? That man hides so many secrets but you're too blind to see the skeletons bulging out of his closet!"

"You...you…"

"What's wrong? You gonna cry like Rex does at night?!"

She clenched her fist. The Blade was about ready to throw a punch right at the Gormotti's nose.

Azurda meanwhile was grumbling and gritting, clenching his fists harder and harder throughout it all closing his eyes angrily before erupting. "Shaddup!"

They all flinched and became dead silent, amazed at the sheer vocal power the tiny Titan had. Homura was stunned by the mere fact that he could even outburst like that to begin with. Nia felt any anger replaced with the sudden fear a child feels when they know their parent is going to spank them.

"This fighting is getting us nowhere! Do you think Rex would be happy if he was awake to see you all tear yourselves apart?! Enough with this meaningless riff-raff! Of all times to bicker about little things, this is not the time!", he boomed, his voice reverberating off the jaws of the Urayan Titan.

They all donned sad faces while Azurda continued on his lecture. "Rex cares deeply about all of you, even if he only just met you! It would break his heart to see this now, and it would only hurt him more if he knew all of this was over him."

Homura sniffled as she felt the onset of tears coming. Nia only loudly exhaled and looked away. Meanwhile, Tora and Hana blinked twice. "Apologize. Now.", Azurda commanded.

"I'm...I'm sorry I was being an asshole.", Nia muttered out. "An ungrateful asshole. I'm just...stressed. I need to have more faith in Rex, and I guess...my lack of it made me lash out and take it out on you. I didn't mean everything I said...I'm worried about him too. I'm very sorry."

"Yes. My lady has trouble expressing herself. Please forgive her.", Dromarch stepped in front of her once more and bowed his head.

Homura shakily inhaled as she regained her composure, repressing her tears. "And I'm sorry I lashed out at you. I...I was a little overprotective of Rex, and I didn't need to be. He's his own man."

Azurda let out some "Hmphs" and nodded multiple times.

"Are we...okay?"

Nia nodded. "Yea. We are.", she smiled. The two then pulled into a "friendship apology" hug with Dromarch somehow sandwiched comfortably in the middle.

"Ngh...Nia...Homura...why are you two hugging Dromarch?"

Their eyes shot open. "Rex!"