What is war?

It's a simple matter, all things considered. A faction either doesn't agree with one another or won't supply resources to the other. As a result, conflict rises to a peak, and all morals and contrivances are thrown aside to give way to battle that neither side will ever fully benefit from. But the people that are in said war give way to many complications. A plentiful amount of times could a war end, stopping bloodshed on both sides if one was to simply resolve the issue, or show the true intents of the side that's in the wrong and turn its people against it.

War becomes complicated, however, when the many examples of Simpson's Paradox come into play; other variables that are often glossed over in the grand scheme of things. Families that are economically hampered, forcing their loved ones onto the battlefield. Those who have known nothing else but war, and live off of it both mentally and physically. Sometimes war is but a necessity, as greedy, self-imposed dictators and tyrants change their focus towards dominating, or worse destroying the planet. Sometimes violence doesn't have to take place for there to be a war, in which figures of authority silently violate their own rules in the shadows and continue to gluttonously further the suffering of the unheard, and the silenced. Regardless of how it is imposed or exposed, war is inevitable. Whether it be through words or violence, a clash will happen regardless of society's climate...

For the last few days, we spent our time quickly grinding our way to at least a level of 20. While I quickly out-leveled my companions due to my own swords nature, I had to spend the rest of my time imitating Naofumi's job to ensure that the enemies focused on me. Which, fortunately, thanks to an odd luck of finding a lot of rocks to throw at the heads of our enemies, which was very impressive considering how often that was my own downfall, I had effectively been the one party member that kept getting chased while the others took potshots. I mused on what Shaxx would say in this situation. Probably a pithy joke about playing in a Crucible arena which always has hail.

Voidwalkers beware: Hail also activates your Nova Bomb's explosion.

Needless to say, once we organized the army by having everyone in the encampment be linked to my party, we all sat there for the last 5 minutes of the countdown, waiting with bated breaths as all had our weapons readied.

"So why specifically 20?" Xena couldn't help but ask as the countdown kept ticking. "There a specific reason you pushed us so hard to reach 20? That's basically the captain's level."

"Master said that a very famous guardian was a rank of 20 when they destroyed something known as a "Black Heart". What it is, he hasn't told me yet."

Xena hummed in thought as she kept her focus on me. It was clear that she didn't know what to make of me.

Four minutes left.

"Y'know, I'd never thought I'd see the day where I'd be in combat again." The chief said as he did some stretching. "I used to be quite the martial arts fighter back in my day, y' know. Could've become a master if I decided to not prepare for you four."

Midna seemed to laugh a bit. "Whatever you say, old man."

"I still don't recall you having ever beaten me at arm wrestling."

"You and I both know why you keep winning... tushie-poking cheater."

"Young lady, not only have I made that butt, but-"

Midna turned to look at her dad with an offended glare. "Dad, you very well know what I meant by that!"

It was the old man's turn to laugh. "And as I was about to say, the correct term is tummy. You've been getting it wrong for several years now."

I couldn't help but crack a grin as I heard some stifled giggles in the crowd. Midna most likely being offended though silenced them with a glare. "Right in front of him too, dad!?"

How quaint. Three minutes left.

Say, master.

Hm?

What do you plan to do with the egg? ...Actually, where have you even put it?

In my flesh.

But-

As a guardian, nothing is impossible. I'll simply give my right cheek, which would normally house some fat, its fat back. Might do it soon anyhow, sleeping only on the left or on my face when I want to relax is starting to become very uncomfortable for both my jaw and my body.

...But master, it doesn't work like a Filo egg.

It doesn't work like birds? Well, why else would a dragon guard their eggs, if not to sit on them?

I think you're comparing your world with ours again Mokoto.

Hm. Perhaps I am.

Two minutes left, and a horrifying thought from my sub-conscious struck me. It was strong enough for Sparrow to notice.

Does something trouble you Mokoto?

What if it's the machines?

The machines?

I came from the same reality that they're currently attempting to dominate. It wouldn't stand without reason that they would know that I'm here, especially since I exited through one of their strongholds. Am I just the equivalent of a harpy unit for them right now?

Mokoto?

What if they are planning to anchor the Vault of Glass in this world? If they manage to tether the Vault in a place like this...

Master.

...No, it would also bring the Darkness forth as well, since it'd sense what they're doing due to its own divisions. But then that begs the question, what-

I felt a tug from Sparrow, snapping me back to reality. My eyes met her angry, yet worried gaze. And it was then, I realized my anxiety had momentarily overwhelmed me, as I was also aware of my out of control heart. Something that wouldn't do for the battle ahead.

I calmed myself after a moment, thirty seconds left on the clock. Thank you, my Speaker.

It is alright. But when we make it out of this, and I know we will, I want to know more about your world, and why is it on your mind so much.

And after that, we were warped away in a flash of light.

The sky turned red, covering everything in an all too familiar reddish hue, except this time it was not of the Gorgons. It was still enough to frighten me momentarily, however, the reminder of the Vault's machinations suddenly flashing before me. There was no sight of any gigantic enemy in front of me, only tears in reality that had opened up in the sky, no doubt releasing enemies onto the planet.

I didn't waste time looking around me, and sure enough, I saw the other heroes. They seemed surprised to see I had a small army with me. It took me a bit to find Naofumi, though.

"I figured that you would've gotten some bandits with you," Motoyasu said as he held his spear in a combat stance. "I didn't anticipate that you would go ahead and have joined the coup."

"He's more respectful than you, you piece of-" I held Xena back, who clearly was about to smack the idiot. I kept my focus on Motoyasu.

They live in the same world as us. The best thing you can give somebody is not only something to live for, but to rise by. "They live in the same world as us and were only trying to survive. The best thing you can give somebody is not only something to live for, but to rise by." Sparrow imitated my thoughts through her voice.

I could sense Raphtalia's smile, even though my sights weren't on her. I then looked at Naofumi expectantly, who was watching me as well. He quickly got the hint when he also realized my group's gaze was on him as well, and he realized what he had with him now. "Mokoto's group, go and defend Lute! He and I will-"

And that's when I heard an all too familiar sound of a ketch breaking through the atmosphere. I looked up to see the massive construct flying through the sky. I could barely see that, on the ship, there were in fact fallen fighting the wave's enemies.

It didn't need to be more apparent to me that no one besides me knew what the hell that was as it flew past the village.

It seems someone else has come here by sheer accident.

Mokoto?

It wasn't part of the plan, and truthfully, I should have no reason to go after it in normal circumstances. But these weren't normal circumstances.

And without a single thought, I sped off, moving as fast as I can after the ship, Sparrow following suit just a few seconds after.

"Where the hell are you going Mokoto!?" Itsuki shouted after Mokoto as he watched him run away from the action, his troop clearly just as confused as the rest of the heroes. I simply kept my eyes on the ship, wondering why he had to go after it. "The fight is over here!"

"...Forget him!" Motoyasu said, having enough of staring at the ship himself. "Everyone, rush the raid boss! The sooner we beat it, the sooner we'll be getting answers from those two!" And with that, both Itsuki's and Motoyasu's parties dashed into the fray.

I looked to see them go off after hearing that, before turning my gaze back at the ship, which was just becoming a speck in the distance. First the weird gun looking thing with the training, and then this... Mokoto, just what exactly are you?

I then quickly snapped my gaze back to his tribe of bandits. It was clear that, for the time being, I was the leader of this little operation he tried to pull.

"Everyone, focus on the Wave! I'm going after the village instead!"

And with that, everyone parted ways, with me and Raphtalia going off on our own to the village. At least, we thought we would be, until someone else joined us.

"Hmmm, let's see, a tank and a tanuki-sword girl going off to fight this MASSIVE horde attacking a nearby town!" I heard someone say sarcastically, as they ran up next to us. "Yes, this is not going to go to wrong AT ALL! Range and numbers aren't things after all!"

My eyes glanced at her as we ran. I could tell she was with Mokoto's group, as she was a demi-human with quills, which seemed to be part of the archer formation at the back of his group. "Didn't I say for you to go fight the wave?"

"Yeah, and I didn't listen!" The hedgehog said as she aptly dodged a branch. before I heard her quickly draw her bow, and shoot a branch right ahead of me. "Now are we going to save some townies, or are we going to bicker at each other until the wave is over?"

It was hard to argue the point.

"I'm Xena by the way, of the mute dude that messed you up!" She said as the village quickly came into view, with various monsters coming in range. I watched her run ahead and jump over a fence before shooting the head off a skeleton. "Let's mess up something that does need some now!"

...I didn't take him for someone to grab a thief and turn them into a warrior. Then again, maybe she's been training for this. I couldn't help but think in wonder as she fired at any monsters that Raphtalia was not able to attack in time, allowing me to run into the center of the village without much issue as we quickly came upon villagers.

As I drew closer, I saw that a man was about to be cut down by one of the wave's monsters, and quickly got between it and him with my shield, before it was cut down by Raphtalia. I looked for Xena as Raphtalia quickly checked up on the man. She had climbed up a building and was drawing aggro by sniping monsters that I couldn't see yet.

"Hey, shield guy!" She called out as she continued to fire arrows. "I dunno where you are, but there's a bunch of baddies over here!"

"Raphtalia, focus on evacuating the villagers!" I said as I ran to Xena. "I'm going to lure the enemy!"

Raphtalia looked at me apprehensively as if she wasn't certain of my survival, but upon seeing Xena off in the distance firing at a giant hornet who she narrowly avoided the sting of, she quickly got to work knowing I was still being watched over even when I'm going to be attacked.

I ran throughout the village, first drawing the monster's off Xena, while Xena continued to pick off the horde from behind me. I could hear the sounds of both dying and angry skeletons and hell knights behind me as I continued to run about the village, slowly drawing the attention of many monsters within as I saved many other villagers from certain death, using both Air Strike Shield and Shield Prison to save others. I so badly wanted to try throwing my shield into the horde like Mokoto had taught me to, but with no certainty that they would get off me, I didn't feel safe attempting to stop for a second.

And on top of this, there was no feasible method in sight to keep all the damage to the village. Damnit!

"I get that I'm a random addition to your group, but you do know that I have the high ground, right Naofumi?" Xena shouted over the noise. "Maybe you should head to the town's bell tower on your right!"

I looked to my right. And quickly felt a bit stupid that I didn't make use of the addition to this little defense force that composed of Raphtalia, me, and the hedgehog of Mokoto's. No doubt this would be the part he'd call me an idiot for, or presume me as acting childish...

I bolted to the bell tower, casting an airstrike shield at an enemy in front of me as I jumped off it, landing on the ladder leading to the top of the bell tower and quickly climbing up it. I saw a small troop of guards desperately trying to fight off the horde of undead and bugs as I climbed, and spurred myself to climb faster as Xena continued to kill whatever hornets were trying to attack me.

I rang the bell, and instantly I found that all eyes were on me. Except for a few.

"Naofumi, catch!"

I quickly turned to Xena and found that she had shot an arrow that was on fire at me. Luckily, I manage to catch it in time, and I turned to see that she was quickly being overwhelmed.

"There's too many of the damn things!" She said as she was running away from hornets, nearly dodging their stingers as she desperately kept trying to potshot them. "You're gonna have to finish this on your own!"

I looked around the tower. Whoever was here before had fortunately left an oil lamp behind, thankfully unlit as all it contained within was oil.

I wasted little time pouring as much of it as I can all over the tower, before dumping the remainder onto some of the undead that were now attempting to climb the tower, shaking it with their sheer numbers as the tower buckled under their combined weight.

I lit the tower on fire. And leaped.

I landed gracefully onto the cliffs below, sheer adrenaline coursing through my veins as my relentless pursuit finally gave way. I saw that the ketch was parked in a clear, seemingly out of energy as I saw what seems to be almost a full house of fallen making their final stand inside of the ketch. Sparrow was not long to follow me as she flew down to where I landed, panting as she tried to make sense of me running off.

You stay behind and fire arrows if can. Stay hidden above all else.

Why are you risking your life for this force from another world?

Because they can be allies... or enemies.

I rushed into the fray without a second thought. I could see some vandals peering at me with their wire rifles, but otherwise kept their focus as what I would presume to be the Kell instead notices as the leader knocks over a whole bunch of undead with a sweep, before punching two hornets' skulls out.

"Din bo?! Ne ra din yun klen has, ha ge din?! Sha shas!" (Guardian?! I went in this machine-damned portal to escape you, guardians, only to discover you also bring and control your dead?! Cowardly humans!)

The kell roared in anger as he continued to focus on keeping his Eliksni alive. Knowing what he said, however, and his intentions, I made a point of protecting his house as well as I also focused on not only killing the undead but also occasionally saving whatever fallen warriors I could. Something that the kell no doubt noticed.

He hummed in thought as he was able to watch this while smashing the undead into re-dead. "Din han! Hus den!" (Guardian friend! Kill the enemy!)

With me no longer having to worry about the fallen attacking me with their bullets, I went all out on the back of the battle, cutting hornets in half as I jumped off of them, and moving like a whirlwind throughout the undead who's attention was split between me and the fallen's relentless assault. It took little effort to ensure that the enemy was destroyed as I hardly even got hit, earning some tears in my armor as well as cut marks from the various swords and the occasional friendly fire.

By the time the horde had been lessened, the kell was looking at me, interest in his eyes. He looked to the rest of the fallen. "Bring forth more of the enemies! The Hive-like creatures are bound to make their way here!" The fallen underlings let out a battle-cry, before rushing off to defend other parts of the ship, not willing to lose their only home so easily.

Sparrow, venture forth.

Understood, master.

The kell slowly neared me, seemingly cautious of me as he looked at me critically, as if waiting to see if I make any strange moves. "You... are an odd one. Why did you come after us?"

I didn't speak, as I instead motioned to my throat. He looked on in confusion.

"You cannot speak? Shouldn't the little light with you fixed that by now?"

I shook my head as my wounds began to close. I pointed to Sparrow, who was making her way to us off in the distance. The kell took notice, before eventually getting the pieces together.

"Ahh... you're without a ghost, aren't you? And yet... you still have the mark of the Great Machine." The kell said as he watched Sparrow near. "Then I suppose something brought you here. Just like something made that hole for us to avoid orbital bombardment from your Warmind."

My clearly tired companion finally made her way to the bay of the ship. The kell helped her onto it.

"Come. I presume you two have much to inform us about the state of this world, considering that we were getting attacked by literal skeletons just now." The kell said as he began to go inside. "The damn Hive-things have done too much damage to the turbines to begin with, so I might as well check to see if you humans have somehow managed to manipulate the dead instead of resurrecting them. And then, we'll figure things out from there."

As we slowly moved inside of the ketch, Sparrow took the chance to regain her bearings and get to talking with me in my mind.

Who are these... demi-humans? Beastfolk? What are they?

They are Eliksni. And it sounds like they're in a similar predicament.

Going ahead and not following orders has usually ended well. After all, bad plans can be good plans, and I would like to think Mokoto would've thought the same in this situation.

However, right now this plan was anything but a good plan, as he's not here to say that, or cover my back. This leaves me cursing at myself as I ran for my life trying to not get impaled in whatever spot they wanted to put a hole in! And I'm not a fan of getting new holes!

So here I am, probably screwed regardless, because instead of my usual getting chased by some angry townsfolk, I am currently being chased down by a bunch of hornets ready to murder me for shooting them from the sidelines! And not the 'so small you can hardly keep track of them' kind either!

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuuuuuuuuuuck! I thought as I slid under a tower that was burning, hearing the sound of the bell tower Naofumi was on falling down, an explosion happening shortly after as I picked up a torch... I so badly wished I could get something else instead, but I never really did much in regards to one-handed weapons, so I probably am still screwed.

How wonderful!

Just as I thought there was no hope left for me, as I was beginning to tire, I felt myself bump into someone. I looked up to see an all too familiar looking man with some other townsfolk.

"Hey missy," The barkeeper said as he took a bite out of his sandwich, looking down on me as he held a hand out. "You in from stupid town, or do you just like getting chased so much that you had to settle for monsters?"

I stared at him with a blank look on my face for a moment, before taking the hand. "You knew who I was all the long?"

"You were a regular around here. Why wouldn't I?" The old coot said as he and the patrons of the pub got in the way of the horde. "Now if you're still not wanting, I'll consider clearing your tab if you get rid of these monsters trying to break my damn pub! Get shootin' hunter! And get the shield hero over here too!"

With a smile on my face, I climbed on top of the pub and lit the last of my arrows before firing it into the sky, before pulling out some quills as a backup. I then began firing at the monsters in front of the pub, making sure to avoid the patrons who charged in with whatever they got, pitchforks, axes, some daggers, and even swords.

Drinks on me tonight, Kane. I thought as Naofumi quickly came into view from off in the distance, having seen the flare as he came in with backup. I owe you and the bar it for all the trouble, and frankly, I need one as well.

What the hell is taking them so long!? I thought in irritation as I sprinted over to Xena's new location, the villagers that had come back to fight for their village having joined my side, Raphtalia once more with me as she too had returned to try and evacuate more. As I homed in on the source of the fighting, the villagers seemed to have realized something as I heard them talk behind me.

"Hey, it sounds like Kane's bar is in trouble!" An old man with a pitchfork shouted, as he continued to run with us.

"Kill the monsters!" Another one roared in anger. "I'll be damned if I can't pop some mead on my nights off!"

With a war cry, villagers tried to speed up their pace. But as soon as we heard the sound of arrows being shot, we all stopped to look at the sky.

And it was raining fire upon us.

Almost as if on instinct, I covered Raphtalia, using my shield to protect us from the rain of arrows as the villagers scattered. Some ended up getting hit, others had fortunately managed to break for cover as they hid from the storm. It only lasted for a brief period of time, but it felt like an eternity as I watched the crowd of monsters in front of us quickly turn into ash and dust. And as soon as it was over, I heard laughter coming in from one of the alleyways.

"Looks like they couldn't even take it. Good shooting boys." I saw a captain come out of the alleyway with a troop behind him, clearly pleased with his work and not even minding the dead bodies in front of him. His shit-eating grin only wore off when he came before us, seemingly surprised. "The shield hero? You're tougher than you look."

Tch... didn't even care if anyone was here.

That is what I must've said out loud, as Raphtalia left my protection almost like a speeding bullet as she lunged at the captain. The captain blocked her strike. She jumped back after hitting him as the rest of his men drew their swords, whilst the villagers that lived got out of cover.

"Oh, well what do you know... it's captain righteous." One of the villagers snidely remarks as the rest begin glaring at him. "Couldn't bother to evacuate everyone, huh? Just wanted to leave this as another casualty of war?"

"I'm not surprised a bunch of cretins like you aren't grateful. Or have evacuated." The captain shoots back lazily, before looking at Raphtalia. "And you... you dare raise your sword, you damned demi-human?"

Raphtalia maintains her composure as she hardens her grip. "I am Naofumi's sword. None may disrespect him in my presence. Not even a so-called 'knight'."

"Raphtalia..." I said, getting her attention, to which she began to start to object. "Drop it."

"That's right." The captain said, as the sky finally cleared up, the wave finally receding as the boss dies. "So long as you don't do anything drastic, we won't be forced to make any 'accidents' as it may be."

"I guess." I said with a shrug of my shoulders, my smile slowly rising as I watched a rather large monster sneak up behind the captain. "Or I could watch as you all become monster- OW!"

I turned around as I pulled out the arrow that hit my back. It turned out to be a quill from Xena.

"Sorry!" Xena called out from her position on top of the pub, having ducked inside it earlier for cover. "I meant to aim a little higher!"

The captain laughs as he remains completely unaware of the giant creature easily twice his size raising its weapon behind him. The other soldiers try to deduce where she was really aiming, and quickly realize that there are monsters behind them. "I don't know why I'm so surprised that a demi-human sucks at-"

The captain became red paste as the soldiers were backing up, not defending their captain at all while he was viciously pummeled by the creature. The vice-captain, now captain of the troop looked where the previous captain was from a distance in what seems to almost be amusement, before quickly gathering himself. "Everyone! Phalanx formation!" The soldiers quickly followed suit as the captain looks to Naofumi. "Shield hero! Care to lend us a hand?"

I nodded as Raphtalia and I got ready. Before we rushed in though, I looked back to look at Xena.

She was too busy dancing in joy with the town, who had already cleared out their monsters.

As Sparrow finished relaying our whole story, why I was mute, and where did those creatures come from, the kell scratched his chin in thought as he sat on his throne with the kell guard by his side. "So, you mean to tell me, that we just entered a world in which is still inhabited by humans... with variations on them... and enemies raining from the sky is almost a seasonal thing?"

I nodded.

The kell sat back in his chair. "Well, at least we're not living on Uranus. Enemies raining down on our ship will probably end up as the least of our problems." The kell hummed in thought. "Still, I'm impressed that humanity could still be as dumb as to create such a divide, twice now."

I cross my arms as I raised a brow. "He wonders why you're not asking him about it."

"I'm presuming you're doing the best you can." The kell says with a shrug. "Your kind are a bunch of dead creatures, both robot, blue, brown, and white. If you haven't already decided to kill them all, then it must mean they're worth co-existing with, when they realize how stupid they are that is."

"So that is it?"

The kell waves us off. "Yes, you can go." When I continued to stare at him suspiciously, he growled. "We've honestly just been trying to live our lives in peace. We don't want part of this war anymore. So honestly? This works for us. You can come in and trade if you want, but we'll just stay hidden until otherwise."

Sparrow looked him dead in the eyes. "And would you prefer to stay hidden, Karrhis?"

"Until your little 'problem' has resided." The kell clarified. "So don't bring any of your human or demi-human friends here. At least without bringing them here blindfolded, or having a good reason to bring them here. Not that I think they'll deal with the smell of ether well."

Touche eliksni. Touche. I thought as I began to walk away, Sparrow following suit. I gave him a friendly wave as I left silently.

"Do let us know if you find anything that could help us." The kell called after us. "We might have some armor to sell, especially if you have a supply line to lend to us."

Surprise Radiance!

...And uh, sorry for the wait. School happened, and I've really gotten into some DnD recently. Also distracted with some other ideas that have been popping up that are in the field of episodic writing. I'd show the scripts to get feedback on them, except y' know, this is not AO3, and sharing unsold scripts isn't really the best thing to do. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things, especially since I can write more often as I got a laptop.

But who reads all this crap above this, let's get onto the reviews!