Rex wakes up in a bed in an area he isn't aware of at first. It takes him a few moments to deduce that he is in Theosoir. Rex racks his head trying to remember what happened last. The last thing he remembers is getting his core crystal ripped out of his chest. Suddenly in a panic he checks his chest to find the core crystal gone.
'But how am I still alive? I should've died when he ripped it out.'
Suddenly he realizes that Pyra was kidnapped by them and a sudden dread washes over him.
'I need to save Pyra but, I'm completely outclassed by Jin. There's no way I can stand up to such power.'
Rex starts to have thoughts of just packing up and leaving, but what about his friends? What would they think? They'd probably think he's a coward. Not bearing to think such a thing Rex decides to form a plan to escape, not bearing to show this weakness to his friends. Rex assesses the room and the outside and concludes that he can escape through the window.
'Am I really gonna do this? Am I that much of a coward?'
Rex breathes in, leaves a note for them, then leaves out the window.
A few hours later Nia goes to check up on Rex to see if he'd awoken yet since he had been asleep for three days. When she opens the door she makes the discovery that Rex is no longer there. In a panic Nia searches the room for any clues Rex might've left behind. She stumbles across the note Rex had left and begins to read it.
'Hey guys it's me Rex. If your reading this then chances are that I left. I decided to go back home and live my days in peace. I have decided that the enemy we face is to powerful, I fear that we may all lose our lives trying to fight him. It leaves me with a heavy heart that I couldn't even save the ones close to me and that I don't even have the gall to show my cowardice to the people that I have grown to love. I am sorry I got you all involved in this, I hope that you all will be able to continue your lives after all of this has happened. I thank whoever healed me, I don't know how I'm even still alive but someone saved me so I thank you. I hope you all have a prosperous future and I wish the very best for you.'
Nia is shocked at reading the note. She never would've thought that Rex of all people would lose hope. Her shock turns to anger to frustration to sadness.
"Why Rex? Why would you leave us when we need you the most?"
Nia then walks out of the room letter in hand back to the lobby where everyone notices the teary eyes that Nia has.
"Hey furry ears is something wrong? Did something happen to Rex?" Zeke says with concern in his voice.
"Is he ok?"
"Oh he's fine bu-"
"Can we see him?"
Everyone gets antsy at hearing that there friend is awake.
"Well no. No you can't."
"Why can't Tora see Rex-Rex?"
"Because... he left."
"WHAT?!" Everyone shouts in unison.
"What do you mean he left?!"
"When I went to check on him, he wasn't there anymore. All I found was this letter that he had left. I'm gonna read it out to you all so you know what he said."
Nia then reads the letter and notices the sadness of everyone as she continues to read the letter. By the end of it, it sounded like someone read a eulogy at a funeral.
"What do now that Rex-Rex gone?"
There is a long silence in the room then Nia speaks up.
"I think... we should go after Rex."
"Why?"
"Because Rex has always been there for us when we were most down and he always tried his hardest to cheer us up. To me it sounds like we need to do the same for him."
"But we don't even know where he's going."
"I think I might know where he went."
"Where did he go Azurda?"
"In the letter Rex said he was going home right? So he must be going back to Fonsett Village."
"Your right Azurda we must go to Fonsett Village to rescue our chum."
Rex finally reaches Fonsett Village after about a dozen hours and is immediately greeted by the villagers who live there. Rex goes to Corrines house to see his aunt.
"Hey Aunt Corrine."
"Why hello there Rex. How has your journey been?"
Rex didn't know how to answer this question. He felt pain but he didn't want his aunt to know that.
"It's been pretty rough but I think I'm gonna take a little break, do you mind if I stay with you for a little while?"
"Oh I don't mind at all sweety. Stay as long as you like."
Rex makes himself at home and Corrine immediately starts asking questions about his journey.
"Where's your blade Rex?"
"My blade? She thought I wasn't worthy enough so she left."
Rex hated lying especially about the ones he cared for but what was he supposed to say?
"Oh well that's unfortunate. What about your friends? Where are they?"
"Oh my friends? When I told them I was going to take a break they decided to go back to there homes as well."
"I guess that makes sense. What about that one gormotti girl? I think her name was Nia?"
"Why Nia specifically?" A slight tint of pink appears on Rex's cheeks.
"Well you two always seemed close. Did you ever take her on a date?"
"Uuuuhhh... I-I mean I did treat her out to dinner once or twice." Rex gets flustered at the question.
"What do you think of her Rex?" Corrine was already aware of how Nia felt for Rex but wanted to hear what Rex thought of Nia.
"Well I think she's the first friend I've had in a long time. She was so much like me, yet different at the same time. She always had a quick wit and a short temper to her. For all the negativity she spoke I countered with positivity. She always looked the cutest when she was mad." Rex looks embarrassed that he said that last part out loud.
"I guess that means you do feel some attraction for her. You should ask her out, she seems like she'd be willing to."
"Maybe someday."
For the next couple of hours Rex walks around the village, visits his parents, speaks to the locals, and even helps a few of them out. As the sun sets in the distance Rex thinks of only one thing.
'This is peace. This is what I've wanted all along. Just some peace and quiet.'
The next day Rex is thrilled to see another day come by. Excited he gets out of bed and heads for the dining area to see how his aunt is doing.
"Good morning Aunt Corrine. How's your morning going?"
"Oh good morning Rex I'm doing fine, how about yourself?"
"I feel amazing! Like I could lift a titan."
"That's great to hear sweety. Earlier this morning your group of friends came into town to look for you. I told them that you were asleep and they left. I think they're still in the village right now actually."
Rex's expression changes to one that looks like he had just seen a ghost. He breaks out into a cold sweat and fear strikes him immediately.
'WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?! THEY SHOULD'VE JUST GONE BACK TO THEIR HOMES, WHY DID THEY COME LOOKING FOR ME?!'
"That's great to hear! I'll make sure to go say hi!"
"Alright Rex, have fun."
Rex feels dread at hearing that his friends actually tracked him down. He doesn't know how he should approach them so instead he decides to go on a walk and hopefully avoid them entirely. It was quiet difficult but Rex makes his way out of the village without being spotted. Unfortunately for him he forgot that Poppi was with them.
"Heat detected, Masterpon Rex over there!"
Everyone looks over to see Rex right at the entrance of the village looking like he's ready to run. Out of pure terror of being discovered Rex sprints at full force towards the edge of the titan to escape into the cloud sea below to swim somewhere safer. Right as Rex is falling into the cloud sea he hears Tora command Poppi.
"Poppi go get Rex-Rex! Bring Rex-Rex up to us!"
"Roger Roger!"
Rex then sees Poppi flying towards him faster than he is falling and Rex curls up into fetal position to make himself fall faster but to no avail. Right as Rex is about to fall into the cloud sea Poppi grabs him and pulls him right back on top of the titan.
"What Rex-Rex doing?! It look like you trying to run away from us."
"Because he was Masterpon."
"Do you know how much we've been worried about you, you stupid idiot!"
"Guys why did you come here? Didn't you read my note? It's pointless, we cannot win this fight."
"Yes we can Rex!"
"How?! HOW CAN WE WIN THIS FIGHT?! WE ARE FIGHTING AN OPPONENT WHO DEFEATED THE AEGIS WITH HER OWN POWER, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO HIM?! EXPLAIN THAT TO ME NIA!!!"
Rex is breathing heavy and his face is red with frustration. Everyone is shocked by his outburst especially Nia who is dumbfounded by that response. Nia quickly regains her composure and slaps Rex hard across the face which surpirses everyone.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Who... am I?"
"Who are you? I can tell your not my Rex. The Rex I know is a kind and positive person who would never let an obstacle get in the way of his goal. The Rex I know trys his hardest to make the people around him feel the same joy that he feels. The Rex I know would never abandon a friend in need and would do anything in his power to save those dear to him. The Rex I know would not run away like a coward from his own friends. The Rex I know is the bravest, most courageous, most loyal friend I could ever WISH for. You are not him."
Everyone is moved by Nia's speech and as Nia spoke each line of that speech Rex felt more and more pricks at his heart. Rex feels a warmth in his chest that grows larger and larger as Nia delivered that speech. By the end of it Rex becomes teary eyed as he realizes the state that he has put himself in. Without even thinking Rex pulls Nia into a hug and cries softly into her shoulder as everyone else watches on. Nia is shocked by this at first but eventually hugs back and gently rubs his back. After a few minutes Rex pulls back and gives his response.
"Th-thank you. I needed that. You're right. I can't let this slow me down. We need to find a new way to beat Jin and save Pyra."
"That's the Rex that I know."
"Ok first things first we have to figure out a way to beat Jin. But how do we defeat an opponent that moves at the speed of light?"
"Rex my boy I actually know a way we can beat Jin."
"How Gramps?"
"Long ago, Addam discovered a third Aegis sword that was too powerful even for him. So he locked it away and I've been guarding it since he died 500 years ago."
"Where can we find this third Aegis sword gramps?"
"Actually it's right here in the Leftharian Archipelago my boy."
"Really?!"
"Yes really. I can show you the entrance although I must warn you, the ether is very thin where the blade is being kept, so it will be quite a challenge."
"I currently don't have a weapon either which might be a problem."
"Actually Tora have solution to both of those problems."
"Really?!"
"Before Tora and friends go to secret blade location can we stop by Gormott for a little bit?"
"If it has to do with securing the third Aegis then I suppose so."
"But Tora what do you have in mind?"
"For Rex-Rex's weapon Tora make temporary weapon for Rex-Rex to use. As for ether problem let just say Poppi evolve to next stage of life very very soon..."
to be continued...