The Crucible started out as a seemingly normal cave with one key difference. Every blade present could immediately feel the lack of either. No wonder Addam had stashed the sword away there, it provided a marvelous natural defense. All the same, everyone was determined to keep going, and Tora and Poppi took up the vanguard as they were unaffected by the strange environment.

After a brief walk, they finally saw signs of man-made construction, but that did not mean the path was suddenly safe. Everyone was forced to stay on their toes as they were in a considerably weaker state as a whole. Not that Mythra was paying much mind. She was busy thinking about how to deal with Pyra. A task she had so far been failing miserably at. Making others feel better was not her strong suit.

After journeying a good way through the cavern, they took a brief respite despite Mythra wanting to push on. She was overruled as Nia seemed particularly weary. Mythra knew why but let her have her privacy as she walked around their small camp.

Mythra was not as affected as most of the other blades. She actually felt fine for the most part. Sure, she could feel the drop in ether, and it would have impeded her ability to fight with Rex, but she was doing fairly well on her own. That left her with enough vigor to try to talk to Pyra again.

Closing her eyes, Mythra ventured deep into their head. Sharing the same body did mean that no matter how deep one of them fled, they could usually be reached if one of them tried hard enough. Though, Pyra had gone so deep it took considerable concentration at this point to reach her, but eventually Mythra did find herself in a mindscape of her sister's creation.

Mythra found herself on a small ledge in Fonsett Village. It took her a while, but she eventually recognized it as the ledge outside of Rex's hideout where he and Pyra had talked while they were there.

The blonde found Pyra sitting on the ledge staring out at the cloud sea. With little else to do, Mythra went and took a seat beside her. For a while, neither of them said a word, but, Mythra was not known for her patience, nor her tact for that matter.

"Are you ready to come back now?"

"No," Pyra said plainly.

"What do you want to hear? That you messed up? That it's your fault? Would that actually help anything?"

"Does it matter if it's the truth?"

"Ugh," Mythra groaned, "How long are you going to throw yourself a pity party?"

"You mean like you?" Pyra's voice had an unusually annoyed edge to it.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Like you're one to talk about pity parties!" Pyra flared looking at her sister with a ferocity that made Mythra recoil slightly, "You're the one who retreated into your shell for 500 years when you screwed up. You couldn't handle what you had done, so you made me to clean up your mess!"

"I-I…"

"I've always had to clean up your messes!" Pyra threw her hands up, "Like some sort of glorified maid." Her voice suddenly went softer again, "Do you have any idea what it's like to be born into self-doubt? From the moment I was created, people looked at me with fear and loathing in their eyes. Any wariness the people had of you for being an Aegis went doubly for me, but I never had that sort of confidence you did. I was born into a world with people that saw me as a terrible force not worth the risk of having around. I was a pariah.

"Even Addam would barely speak to me. My own driver. He was afraid. I could see it in his eyes. Afraid I would lose control. Afraid of what had happened in the fight with Malos. He even slipped up and called me Mythra a few times. I was…I was so confused. All I knew was sorrow and self-loathing. I never had the close bonds you had.

"What even am I? Who needs a discount Aegis? Could I really blame anyone for choosing you over me? After all, what am I but a shell?"

"Pyra…" Mythra placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, "You're not just a shell."

"Really?" Pyra scoffed refusing to look Mythra in the eyes, "Do you actually think of me as an equal?"

"I…no," Mythra admitted, "Not really." Pyra hummed and lowered her head further, "Hey, look at me," Pyra reluctantly complied, "I don't think of you as my equal…because I think you're better."

"'Better?' Me?"

"Yeah," Mythra shrugged, "Sure, I might be stronger, but take that away, and, well, you're kind, sweet, and caring. I think in a way, I made you to be what I wasn't. You asked when you were…not yourself if anyone would pick you over me, well, I've wondered myself: if they had to choose and whoever was left got my power, how many of them would pick me? I'm abrasive, kind of hard to get along with, and generally unpleasant at times."

"Mythra, you're not…so bad," Pyra said with a small smile.

"Thanks, but that's not all. I also don't think of you as an equal because, well, you're my little sister. I kinda thought we had a better relationship to be honest. I'm…not very good with this kind of thing, but starting today, I'll try to be the sister you deserve. In return, you can try to face your problems. I know it's not easy, but you aren't alone. Oddly enough, I believe Rex. There's hope for us yet, I just know it."

"T-thank you, Mythra. I-I am sorry about before too. I know it wasn't easy for you after Torna, and it cost more than my screw ups."

"Don't mention it. Besides, you love him, right?" Pyra blushed, "No wonder you'd be so upset, but don't worry. We'll get him back. It…might be a bit awkward as things are, but we might be able to work something out so you two can be a couple."

"Let's…just focus on rescuing him for now," Pyra blushed.

"Fair enough."

Further down, they finally reached the deepest part of the crucible, and there Mythra realized why Pyra had the reaction she did to hearing about this place. So this was where Addam had stashed it away.

"Is this what Rex wanted us to find?" Mythra approached the pedestal only for it to lower into the ground, taking the sword with it. Behind where it had been, a phantom image appeared. One Mythra recognized immediately.

"Oh, it's you. Guess that's what he wanted."

"Aegis," The familiar voice called, "I had not expected you to come here without a driver."

"Yeah, well, we ran into some issues. We want to save him, but we're having some problems."

"I see, though, I sense a greater confidence from you now. You, you have come to terms with your power. You have accepted yourself as part of this world. However, you also bear a bit of humility with you now. It's a nice change to see. You are not the one I need to speak with."

"Huh?"

In a flash of light, they found themselves at the ledge once more, however, this time, Mythra was observing from a distance.

"Pyra," Addam's shadow spoke, "I must admit, I had hoped to be able to speak with you when I set this up."

"Me? Why?"

"To apologize. I realized far too late that I treated you too harshly. I was afraid. I conflated you with Mythra, and I placed the same fears I had about her on your shoulders. It must have been terribly troubling for such a new creation. I did not know what you were, but you ring out distinctly from her now. You carry your own doubts and fears, do you not?"

"I…for so long I wondered what I was. If I was even really me."

"But you don't any longer?"

Pyra thought for a moment, "No. I am me. I'm Pyra, and I have my own identity separate from my sister's."

"I see. Then what still bothers you. What is holding you back?"

"Holding me back?"

"You seek the full power of the Aegis, do you not? Why else would you come here?"

"But why would Mythra need me for that? She already tapped into that power once."

"Yes, but she was the only part of the Aegis then. You may be separate, but you are both the Aegis. You must work in tandem if you are to achieve your full power. That, is my belief. You are just as necessary to making it work as Mythra."

"I…see. Last time, it did not end well."

"Ah, so you fear losing yourself. Fear not. I believe you have come a long way to finding yourself. Cast aside your doubts, and you can save your driver. You have my every confidence. If Mythra can learn a little humility, surely you can learn some confidence."

"Hey!" Mythra shouted from her observation point causing Pyra to giggle.

"Alright. I'll try it, for Rex. Thank you."

"And thank you, Pyra," Addam nodded, "For forgiving this old man of his errors."

"Hey, before you go," Mythra walked over, "How do you know all of this?"

"Hmm? Intuition plays a part, but I am not really Addam. I can…sense things. Things that perhaps you yourselves could not."

"Huh, well, even if you aren't really him…it's good to see you again."

Addam's phantom smiled, "It is good to see you too, Mythra."

"Ugh," Mythra groaned as she came to.

"You alright?" Nia panted, still worn out from the effects of the Crucible.

"Yeah." 'You?'

Pyra took over at the question, "I think I'll be okay." She then looked around at the others as she rose to her feat, "I'm sorry, everyone. I know I've caused us problems, but I promise to make up for it. I can't afford to doubt myself now. Rex needs me, and I hope I can count on all of you to help us on our mission."

"That sounds more like it!" Zeke smirked.

"We're with you all the way," Pandoria agreed with her driver followed by a chorus of agreements.

"It will not be easy," Morag noted, "But if you are truly ready to put your doubts behind you, then we may yet prevail."

"Question is," Brighid spoke up, "Where to next?"

"The Cliffs of Morytha," Azurda replied, "It's apparently where they took Pyra and Mythra last time. It stands to reason its where they're taking Rex."

"Yes," Pyra nodded, "I believe you're right. I can feel it."

"Well, that works in our favor," Morag thought aloud, "The cloud sea should have delayed them leaving from Tantal. We may be able to make up some time."

"Well, then what are we waiting for?" Nia asked eager to get a move on out of the cave.

As they left to leave, Tora called out, "Pyra not going to take sword?"

Pyra looked back for a moment before smiling, "No, we don't need that relic."

A/N: So, there's the big dive into Pyra's state of mind. Really, she may be the sadder of the Aegis girls if you think about it and whether or not the devs even realized it. Thoughts on this chapter?

Also seems that modding of them in Smash has gone in both directions. There's a mod covering Pyra up even more and swimsuit and classic look mods for them as well (swimsuit one even applied to Rex too). I wonder if Smash's influence will make those the outfits they use for any appearances they may make going forward?

Though, the Smash experience in general is kind of soured by how they did Rex. I doubt if he has the popularity to pull a Chrom. Seems decently likely that he's not getting in next time, and I doubt they'd rework them with stronger hardware to add him. As someone who actually kinda likes Rex, it's...less than ideal.

Oh well, should I keep writing for this game, I do have at least part of an idea for a post game story to maybe do after this.