"is it bad?" Pyra asked in dread as Rex toyed with his food, "I knew I added too much salt."

"The food's fine, Pyra," Rex reassured her.

"Then what is it? Do you need something? I can see about picking it up."

"You mean steal?"

"It's not ideal, but I'm willing to do it for your sake."

"But I don't want you to do it!" Rex pleaded, "Please, Pyra listen to me."

Pyra seemed hardly fazed as she smiled, "That's sweet of you, Rex, but you can be a little too reckless for your own good. Not to worry though, I'll look out for you. Allow me to keep you safe and sound. Just forget about the others."

"Pyra…"

"Rex–" Pyra suddenly froze before rigidly standing up, "Stay here. There's something to take care of."

"Huh? Pyra?" Rex got up to follow her but found the large door to the room closed and locked behind Pyra.

"Sorry about this. I promise to make it up to you later!"

"Pyra? Open the door! What are you about to do? Pyra!" Rex slammed his fists on the door before looking around for a way out. The ship was not brand new by any means. Eventually, he came to notice a somewhat rickety ceiling panel. Raising his anchor up, he murmured, "That'll do."

"That went better than I had expected," Nia was not exactly thrilled about their camouflage, but apparently painting a small ship white with fog machines attached did wonders for making it blend into the cloud sea. They had not received a single Siren blast on their approach. Unfortunately, their cover would be gone once they set foot on the ship itself.

Sure enough, climbing the ladder up to the top deck had Pyra waiting on them. Her weapon was drawn, but not active yet. That at least was reassuring.

"Leave, now."

"Pyra," Azurda floated forward, "Please stop this. Do you really think we're enemies?"

"How can I be sure?" Pyra edged away, her voice betraying her paranoia, "Even you, Azurda. You knew Mythra, but so did Jin. How do I know you haven't changed, or that you're not more loyal to her?"

"Pyra, listen to yourself? Is even Mythra not beyond suspicion?"

"Tell me you wouldn't pick her over me? Any of you? If you had to pick, tell me you wouldn't pick her! She was the stronger one. The 'true Aegis.' Why would you possibly pick me?" Pyra stopped to breath as some of the others looked down knowing there was some truth to her words. Technically speaking, Mythra would have made more sense from a logical standpoint, "I won't let anyone take him. Not you. Not Mythra. No one." Pyra then activated her sword causing it to light up with a deep red glow, "Now leave, before this gets messy."

Despite the sting of her words, the others did not back down and prepared to fight. She was clearly unstable, and they did not need an unstable Aegis.

"So be it," Pyra narrowed her eyes and charged forward, but she was met by someone she did not recognize at first. As the mechanical woman clashed swords with her using rocket boosters to give her more force, Pyra put it together, "Poppi?"

Pyra pushed her opponent off to the side with relative ease, but her speed was impressive enough that Poppi was back on Pyra in a matter of moments, "Poppi stronger now. Poppi not want to fight Pyra, but if I must, then I will!"

"So, you want me to trust you and yet you build this?" Pyra's voice bubbled with a concoction of emotions so volatile that it sent chills down the spines of those that heard it. Pyra then proceeded to ramp up her attacks with blow after blow building in intensity.

The others did not remain idle though, and they tried to add in support when they could, but the two female blades were generally too fast for them. The best they could really do was a few projectiles or a reaching lash of Morag's whip swords. Still, Poppi was holding her own for the time being, but she was clearly on the defensive.

During the fighting, Azurda had went below deck to look for Rex. Fortunately, he did not have to go far before meeting the salvager who was already rushing toward the top deck.

"Gramps!" Rex smiled, "You're here!"

"Rex, my boy, it's good to see you, but we should hurry. You have to talk Pyra down."

"I've been trying, Gramps, but she just won't listen."

"You're our only hope right now."

"Alright, alright, I'll…see what I can do."

The two arrived up on deck just in time to see Pyra finally stop toying with Poppi. In one swift movement, Pyra slipped through her defenses and with one upward slice, severed Poppi's sword arm.

"Pathetic. Is this the best that your 'Aegis' can do?" Pyra raised her sword, "I've had about enough of this."

"Pyra, stop!" The Aegis stopped before she lowered her sword as Rex ran up to her, "Pyra! This is out of hand! You have to stop! If you really care about me, please, stop this and come back!"

"I do care about you, Rex, but I won't stand by and let them hurt you!" Pyra eyed the party with malice, "You're too important to me, Rex."

Pyra moved back toward Poppi, but Rex got in front of her and stretched out his arms, "I won't let you hurt them!"

"Rex…" Pyra paused for a moment before her face went hard again, "Even if you don't want it, I won't let them hurt you." Pyra then grabbed Rex by the shoulder and pushed him aside. However, she had not counted on how hot her touch was and they both cried out as Rex's flesh burned from her touch.

"Rex!" Pyra called out quickly ignoring her own pain. She reached out to him but pulled back remembering what had just happened. What she had just done. She stared at her hands, and then back to the severe burn on her driver's shoulder, "No…"

Pyra staggered backwards as the air around her visibly heated, "No, no, no, no! I…I hurt him. What have I…Ah!" Flames erupted around her as she struggled to control her powers anymore. The floor started to glow as the metal of the hull began to melt. Clutching her head, she screamed. Looking out at the others, before locking eyes with Rex, she spoke weakly, "Go! I…I don't know what to do!"

"I'm not going anywhere," Rex told her as he walked closer despite the heat. He had to shield his eyes as the fires burned brighter, but he refused to leave her.

"Rex, please!" Pyra pleaded desperately as she struggled to make sense of anything, "I don't think I can control it."

"Yes, you can, Pyra!" Rex called out over the roar of the flame, "You're stronger than you know. I believe in you!"

"I-I…please," Pyra's voice dripped with desperation, "Go. I'm sorry. After everything I did…."

"Don't talk like that, Pyra," Rex took a step forward even as sweat poured down his face, "I won't leave you, Pyra. I…I love you, Pyra!"

"W-what?"

"So I'm not going anywhere. If you want to protect me, then you have to control this, got it?"

"R-Rex…I…I…" The flames died down as Pyra reverted back to her normal appearance and collapsed. Rex was quick to catch her though despite the pain in his shoulder. Cradling her in his arms, he suddenly realized that he was spent too, and he quickly passed out as well though he still did not let her go.

A/N: Next chapter should finally shed some light on this. Though, before that, anyone wanna take a whack at it?