"Now how do we get to the Cliffs of Morytha?" Pyra asked as they exited the Crucible.
"The area around it is known to be treacherous," Morag explained, "We will need a skilled crew. I suggest returning to Mor Ardain. I'm sure his majesty will provide us with a ship and crew."
"I suggest caution," Fan interjected, "Indol is likely to be looking for you. We should be careful booking passage."
"So, you're taking our side, are you?" Nia swiped at her nose.
"I wish to help Rex. There is no time for delays."
"She's right," Pyra nodded, "The longer we wait, the greater risk Rex is in."
"Then let's get a move on!" Zeke clapped and they set out.
Malos walked over to Rex in the dark mindscape to see the young salvager simply sitting down.
"Heh, give up already?"
"No," Rex opened his eyes, "I don't suppose there is any talking you down from destroying the world?"
"So, he does have some brains in that skull. Sorry, but that is kinda the point here."
"I see," Truth be told, after seeing his friends murdered in front of him, Rex was considerably less charitable to Malos this time, "Alright then."
"So just sit tight and let's get this over with."
"Not so fast," Rex stood to his feet, "I won't let you win."
"What are you going to do? You're a kid."
"No, I'm more than that," Rex spoke firmly as Malos was forced to stop in his tracks, "I'm a master driver, and if you insist on being nothing more than a living weapon, then act like one and submit!"
"Heh," Malos grinned as he fought to move, "Not bad, but you can't keep this up for long."
"I don't have to. They're coming for me. I know it."
"Agh!" Pyra stumbled as they disembarked on Cliffs of Morytha.
"Is something wrong?" Dromarch gave the Aegis a concerned look.
"Rex," Pyra panted, "Something's…happening." Pulling herself up, she looked forward with determination, "Let's hurry."
"Give it up, kid, you can't contain an Aegis forever!" Malos taunted as Rex's nose bled. He was right. Master driver or no, forcibly subduing an Aegis was no small feat even if he was weakened.
"Fine," Rex dropped his hand and jumped back as Malos charged forward once freed from Rex's grasp.
"You gonna run now, kid?"
"No," Rex panted as Pyra's sword materialized in his hands, "I'm gonna fight!"
Malos grinned materializing his own weapon, "Alright, I got some time to kill."
"Pyra not looking so good," Poppi commented as they made their way through the rugged terrain. It was true, Pyra was breathing heavily and had even had a slight nosebleed, but she did not complain.
"I'll be fine," Pyra reassured with a weak smile.
"Must be that weird thing you got with Rex, eh?" Nia walked up on the other side of the Aegis.
"Yeah. I don't know what Malos is doing, but…it's not exactly pleasant. Rex is…Rex is fighting it though. That much I can tell." She held her head, "Though I'm not sure how well he's doing."
"Our good chum has been through a lot," Zeke reassured, "He won't let Malos beat him now."
"He's right," Azurda reassured, "He had faith that we'd come to save him. He'll try to hold out that long."
"I know," Pyra nodded, "I know. Just hold on a little longer, Rex."
"Just give up already!" Malos yelled as another blow left Rex reeling back as he slid along the floor of the void, "Can't you see that you're outmatched?"
"No," Rex pulled himself up, "They're coming…"
"Ugh, your little friends? Are they really worth all this pain?"
"Absolutely."
"Give me a break," Malos went in for another flurry of attacks that Rex narrowly parried, "Spare me your drabble about friendship, and just give up!" With one powerful blow, Malos knocked Rex through an invisible wall into a room of golden light.
"What is this…a memory?" Malos stepped through the broken barrier before turning to Rex, "Where did you see something like this?"
Rex, however, did not dwell on the sight and took advantage of the situation. The master driver charged at Malos wielding a strange, emerald sword before pushing him back through the hole. The sword disappeared once Rex left the room, but he quickly rearmed himself with a more familiar emerald weapon.
"Fine then," Malos wiped his chin, "Guess I'll have to do this the hard way!"
"Malos!" Pyra yelled as they finally arrived at where the dark Aegis had been preoccupied with the driver. Jin was also there standing guard, but he seemed more interested in watching than fighting. He did, however, take note that Haze was with them, "Stop this!"
"Hmm?" Malos turned around, and to their horror, bore a completed core crystal, "You like it? The kid certainly made me fight for it. Took longer than I expected, but I learned some interesting things about lover boy here in the process. Future, huh? Quite a handy trick, I must admit, but you're too late to stop me from regaining my full power."
Pyra eyed Rex's unconscious body behind Malos before glaring at her brother. Malos smirked in response, "Are you still using that thing, Mythra? Really, why keep it around?"
In a flash, Mythra took over and glared at the Aegis, "She's more of a person than you'll ever be!"
"Well now, I didn't know you were so defensive," He grinned, "Come on, let's fight again, like old times! That is, if you aren't afraid."
Mythra narrowed her eyes and walked forward undeterred, "I no longer live in fear."
"And I no longer live in doubt," Pyra added as her core crystal began to shine, "And together, we will defeat you."
"Hah! How cute. Did you rehearse that? Either way, do you really think that the 'two' of you stand any better of a chance?"
"Who said anything about two?"
"What are you talking about?" Malos raised his brow and looked behind him to see that the kid's core crystal was also glowing. Rex's eyes shot open as he reached out and grabbed the newly materializing weapon above him.
Quickly jumping to his feet, Rex pointed the glowing blade at Malos' back, "I told you they'd come."
"So, this is your true power," Malos chuckled looking back to the girls, "Great! Bring it on! Show me everything you got, partner!"
Malos started with a cyclone attack pushing everyone back, but Rex held his ground as power coursed through him thanks to his ether link. This was the power of the Aegis. The power to protect, and this time, he would protect them.
"Rex!" They were suddenly at his side in a flash, and he grinned at the familiar sight of their combined form. All of the power and then some, none of the crazy. Rex faced his opponent again even as his salvaging suit transformed. With the familiar armor once again adorning the master driver, they assumed their battle stances and settled in for a fight.
Meanwhile, Jin drew his sword and shifted states to join the fray when Fan called out to him.
"Wait!" Jin froze, "Is it true? Did we once have the same driver?"
"Once, long ago. Until that man made…caused me to…"
"Jin," Fan stood tall, "You don't have to help Malos. Do you think our driver would have wanted you to do this?"
"I've chosen my path, just as you were taken by that man."
"I am no one's slave," Haze scowled, "Amalthus may be my driver, but I am my own person. If I could turn my back on him, surely you could turn your back on this hate. Please? For me if no one else."
"You are not the Haze I knew. She is long gone," Jin, however, still reverted back and put his blade away, "But for her sake, I'll see which of them comes out on top."
"You saw some of my memories," Rex called as Aegis sword clashed with Aegis sword, "Do you really think you can win this fight?"
"I seem to remember it ending prematurely," Malos knocked Rex back, but he was caught by his blade as they were pressed against the wall, "Let's not repeat that mistake! Monado Eater!"
Thinking quickly, Rex dodged out of the way before the area where he had just been standing was reduced to a crater. In the chaos, they got a bit of a breather leaving Rex to think, "Is there any way to stop him without killing him?"
Despite the seemingly odd request, they thought it over for a bit, "Maybe. If we remove his core crystal before destroying the body. With the body gone, his consciousness should return to the crystal."
"Alright, let's do this. I got an idea."
"Malos!" Rex jumped out and delivered a flurry of blows to the Aegis. He threw all of his boosted strength at Malos in order to knock him off balance, and it worked. It gave the girls the opportunity they need to take advantage of their speed and rush up on him. With extreme force, they dug their fingers into Malos' chest armor and pulled out the core crystal along with some bits of armor.
Malos grimaced and went to pursue, but Rex was back in his way knocking him down in his haste. Engulfing the Aegis sword in flames, Rex jumped up, "Burning," And pointed toward the Aegis, "Arrow!" A fiery blast shot forth from the sword and was able to dispatch the weakened Aegis forcing him back into his crystal.
"Well?" Rex looked back breathing heavily.
"Got it," They held up the still dormant core crystal, "Though, I don't know if his memories will be intact."
"We tried at least."
"You didn't destroy his core crystal," Jin commented as he approached making the Aegis take a ready stance, "Why?"
"As much as I might have disliked him for what he did to my friends…I still felt bad for him I guess. Maybe this way, one day, he can truly be allowed to live."
"I don't understand you, boy," Jin shook his head, "How can you see the world as it is and still stay so optimistic?"
"Because I believe there can be a better tomorrow. Yeah, people do bad things, but I'll do everything I can to prevent another Torna."
"And once you're gone? What then?"
"Well, isn't that what you blades are here for? To carry on once we're gone? While we're alive, we touch others with our lives, and they pass down those memories. Isn't it the same for you? Your lives influence others who pass those feelings back down to the new you?"
"Pass down…just like you," Jin murmured. After a few moments, Jin turned away, "Maybe there is some merit to your words. I've got some time. Prove your point. Oh, and one more thing, you had better take care of Amalthus, or I will."
"Don't worry, he's next on our list."
"Good," Jin nodded and walked toward the ship, "Oh, and Haze."
"Yes?"
"Take care of yourself." With that, Jin left them to plan their next move. To take down the Praetor.
A/N: Have a bit of a sneak peak I guess. Part of a rough draft I've worked on. I have more done, but here's part:
Rex smiled and waved at his neighbors as he walked home. After things had settled down, Rex had moved the Garfront Mercenaries out of Uraya and set up New Gargront on Elysium. Though, these days they mostly served as surveyors of the new land, but Rex was fine with the change of pace.
It had now been four years since they came to Elysium, and his first anniversary was coming up. They had waited for a bit, but it was something of a foregone conclusion that he and Pyra were going to get married. He could hardly imagine a happier life.
"Hello, Pyra," Rex smiled to his lovely wife as he came home for the evening.
"Good afternoon, Re-achoo!" Pyra sneezed and let out a few flames as she did so.
"Whoa! I don't think I've ever heard you sneeze before. You feeling okay?"
"I…I'm not really sure," Pyra responded looking somewhat ill, "I haven't felt quite right all day."
"You eat some of Mythra's cooking?"
"I heard that!" The older Aegis came stomping into the room, "I'll have you know I've been improving!"
"Mythra! What brings you by?"
"I came to visit only to find out Pyra wasn't feeling well," Mythra got up in Rex's personal space, "You haven't been neglecting her, have you?"
"What? No! Of course not," Rex could not help but still be slightly intimidated by Mythra. Though, he should not be surprised. Ever since they had been split, Mythra seemed intent on smothering Pyra in all sorts of sisterly affection. Extra emphasis on smothering. She often came over during the day while Rex was out.
"Mythra, please don't-achoo!" Rex and Mythra backed up to avoid a fireball, "Fight. I'm fine, really."
"You clearly aren't fine," Mythra huffed, "Blades aren't supposed to get sick. Even when we were connected to Rex."
"Mythra's right. I think we should go get you checked out. Maybe Morag can help. Mor Ardain has come a long way in blade research lately."
"I don't want to be a bother," Pyra sniffled as she resisted the urge to clutch her nauseated stomach.
"It's no problem," Rex reassured, "We can head out first thing in the morning."
"Yeah, and I'll make supper!" Mythra smiled widely as she went back to the kitchen.