Fuck flutes.
We rockin'.
(Keves Castle)
(In front of the Xenoblade Lore mural)
Young Noah stood alone in front of the big mural in the Keves castle. It depicted a fight between two great titans. He never knew whether it was true or not, but he did like gazing at it since it stimulated his creativity. While he was in the mural, as usual, a blonde man approached him.
"You're Noah, right?"
Noah turned around. The man had a soft voice he never heard of, but he knew him. One of the lead off-seers in his colony, Crys.
Noah smiled at him and nodded.
"I see, I'm Crys, and I'll be your instructor in your off-seer training. And to start your training…You're gonna be needing an instrument."
Noah enthusiastically nodded.
"Follow me, and be ready to get surprised."
(Present)
(After the first Moebius battle and Vandham's death)
The party just stares in silence as Vandham's body turns into particles and vanishes to the sky. And as that happened, the two off-seers couldn't stand still.
"Noah, what are you…" Eunie said, as Noah pulls out his case. Noah just silently nods at her, and pulls out his instrument.
A black electric guitar.
Noah summons an amp, and connects the guitar to it.
And after that, the tune of the traditional off-seeing played on the vast plains. It was the tune he usually played when the fight for today was over. But today, he felt something empty in his tune. His tune felt rather…incomplete. But he continued to play on to fulfill his off-seeing duty. He had to let those poor souls rest.
Until a certain off-seer decided to help him.
It was Mio who started playing her instrument. A white bass guitar. As a veteran off-seer, she managed to complement Noah's tune perfectly. She added depth, and variety to Noah's solo, making it a beautiful unison. The rest of the party just stared at the particles fly away, listening to the collaboration between Keves and Agnus.
"Hackt…" Sena mumbled, hands folded together.
"Mwamba…dammit…he was so close to making it…" Lanz said, with his fists tightly closed.
Until the particles fully disappeared, the off-seers continued their unison. And after a minute or so, the souls fully left the world of the living.
And the off-seeing music stopped.
Mio and Noah now just held their instruments, vacantly staring at each other.
Mio first opened her mouth.
"Thank you, for doing this with me."
"Well, this is what we're meant to do. To send on the voices of the departed, is an off-seer's purpose…" Noah said.
'To send on the voices of the departed…?' A certain off-seer's words went through Mio's head. Why was he saying the same thing?
"Right." Mio nodded.
"And that's why we carry these stupidly massive instruments to the battlefield," Noah said, snorting.
"Haha, yeah." The off-seers exchanged some awkward looks with each other.
Until their party members suggested that they should go report. So, the off-seers pledged goodbye, and they soon departed.
And little did they know that they became Ouroboros, a team sharing a common destiny.
(That certain scene in chapter 4)
Mio and Noah stood still, watching the sunrise. They had a small fight last night, but as Noah apologized and Mio accepted that sincere apology, their relationship returned back to normal.
Silence flowed between the two off-seers.
Until Mio showed him her instrument.
"Mio?"
"This, uh…belonged to a friend."
"A friend?"
"Yes, we served in the same colony. She was my first off-seer partner."
"Partner?"
"Yes. In Agnus…off-seers usually work in partners. One plays the bass, and one plays the electric." Mio said, facing Noah.
"Ooh…never knew that before. I should've known that when I heard the tune was pretty different from ours… Wait, then if that instrument belonged to a partner…"
"Yeah, she's…gone now…"
"What happened? Or…is it something sensitive, you don't need to share the details."
"No, I…think I have to tell you this. There…once was an experiment in a colony where we were in. And it…failed. Miserably. The facility started to collapse, and we were about to all die. That time…I…couldn't move my legs."
"Your legs?"
"The experiment this something to my body, so it left me and Sena paralyzed from the waist down. It took some time to recover…" Mio sighed, looking at Sena, who was in a training session with Lanz.
"Sena too? It…must've been hard…"
"Yes…Anyway, since I was paralyzed back then…I couldn't move and escape…I just…waited for death to come and take me. At the verge of despair…she came and saved me."
Noah stayed silent.
"She carried me all the way to the pod…And she carried Sena, too… But when she tried to enter the pod with us…It was too late. So…she gave me her instrument…And…she let us go. Leaving herself behind."
Noah lost his words. As an off-seer, he always heard about stories of loss, but hearing the story face to face was always hard for him.
"And…she…was…a year…younger than me…But…the one who survived…was me…" Mio started to shed tears. Survivor's guilt. Noah wasn't a stranger in this domain. But he couldn't just say he knows how she feels. Everyone has different pains. All he could do was comfort her. He pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Mio.
"Thanks…where did you hide that thing…?" Mio said, between sobs.
"I'm just a well-prepared guy." Noah shrugged. Mio giggled. After wiping the small amount of tears she shed, she picked her instrument up.
"Say…wanna exchange instruments?" Mio said, lifting her white guitar to Noah.
"Huh?"
"I guess…it's too old to give it to someone…? I did bring this everywhere I go…" Mio sighed, her little ears going down.
"No, no, it's just….our instruments are different…and all…so…"
"I'm okay about using an electric! I used one before Miyabi died...so…"
"Oh, so her name is Miyabi?"
"Yes…so…I…wanted her memories…her life…to live longer… The life I and her made…I don't want it to vanish… Plus, when I die…I don't want to be alone… If your life is next to me when I meet my end…I'll die happily." Mio said, with a sad smile.
"Mio…you…you'll live…! I…won't let you die."
"Thanks…but that's gonna happen one day… So…would you?"
"…."
They stayed silent.
Until Noah broke it with his case.
"Right then! It's a deal!"
"Really? Thank you!"
"I…liked that idea of yours…Mio. The instrument itself can be a manifestation of our lives and memories… And it'll be an honor if my life would be the one to accompany you to death. Plus, mine has some histories, too." Noah said, holding his black guitar.
"Oh, really?"
"Uh huh, Oh, and Mio. One thing."
"Hmmm?"
"I…do know the basics to play a bass…but…I'm not a professional."
"Oh…."
"So…would you teach me?" As Noah said those words, Mio's ears perched up.
"Of…of…of course! Yes! I'll…gladly teach you! Always!" Mio nodded and nodded, as she held Noah's hands.
"You seem really enthusiastic."
"Ahaha…do I really look like that?"
"Yeah, you do." Noah nodded.
"Anyway, I'll teach you how to play it! How about…I give you a lesson every night?"
"Sounds good!"
Like that, the two off-seers traded guitars. Miyabi's white bass to Noah, and Crys' black electric to Mio's.
"Mio,"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks,"
"Me too."
(Eclipse Homecoming)
The day has come.
The day when Mio disappears from this world.
Surrounded by a full band of Agnus off-seers, and with the queen's blessings, she will die.
It was a rare sight, seeing a full band of off-seers, but unlike when he was young, Noah was in the range of despair. His fists were all bloody from the damage, and he was getting all skinny from malnourishment from the cells. Not only him, his friends, too. Lanz lost all of his energy, Eunie was biting her lips in anger and sadness, Sena looked like she would faint at any second, and Taion's face was full of despair and anger.
And in the atmosphere of hopelessness and glory, Mio appeared.
All hope,
Was lost.
Mio walked up the stairs, and she got kneeled by the soldiers. Her knees bled because of it. Seeing her knees bleed broke Noah's heart.
And the Moon,
Finally hid the sun.
Noah couldn't handle it. With the sun's light, he felt like his reason to live would disappear.
"Mio…Mio…MIO!" Noah shouted, as he tried to run towards her. But a man with golden armor stopped him.
N.
The golden Moebius slowly approached him, and summoned something.
Noah's guitar.
"Pick it up."
"…?"
"Aren't you an off-seer…? Send her off."
"What….?"
"Isn't her *your* Mio…? Send her off…!" N said, with a devilish grin on his face.
"You…you…monster….! You…." Noah said, touching his instrument.
"What's wrong? Isn't it yours?"
"You…you…AT LEAST GIVE ME AN AMP! YOU M…" Noah tried to shout in fury, but…
Mio,
Started to glow.
And she started to disappear.
"M…io…? Mio…! MIO…!"
"Noah…" Mio choked out, as she disappeared.
"M…io…."
"Our guitar lesson…"
"It's been fun…Noah…"
It was her last words.
Only her white clothes remained at the place she disappeared.
Noah couldn't believe his eyes.
"Mi…o…Mio…."
"It's the end…Noah…my long shadow…" N said, as he pulled out his sword.
Noah,
Gave up.
(Chapter 6)
N swung his sword down to Noah's neck.
Only to stop right before it hit him.
"What…?" N turned his head. And he saw M.
She slowly, but gracefully approached Mio's clothes. She closed her eyes and put the clothes to her chest, and stood up.
"M….?"
M didn't speak any words.
She just came down the stairs, one step by step.
And…
She stood in front of Noah, and she kneeled.
She opened her palms, and like a Moebius's teleportation…
Mio's bass appeared in front of him.
"Noah…"
"Huh…? M…Mio…?"
"Sorry for missing your night lessons for a month…"
"Mio…? It's…you…! It's really you..!" Noah started to shed tears.
"Yes…! Noah…a lot of things happened…but…."
"It's still yours…."
"Mio….!"
"Oh my god, what is happening?" Eunie said with tears in her eyes.
"I think I'm hallucinating…" Lanz said.
The party started to whisper about what was happening, but they didn't see something important.
N.
"Wha…wha…what….?"
"Im…possible…you're….!"
"Nope."
('N'TR happens)
(After all that BS)
(Chapter 6, where they visit Colony Omega)
"Ugh…what the spark is even happening?" Lanz groaned, as he engaged his ether shields.
"First an Agnian girl comes out, and an Agnian soldier. Now Mwamba and Cammuravi's here. And for spark's sake, why do they all have an instrument?" Eunie said, reloading her ether gun.
"Noah, any ideas?" Taion turned to Noah.
Who was pulling his instrument out.
"Mio…?"
She was doing that, too.
"Mio, let's do this."
"Right!" Mio said, as she held the black guitar.
Noah put his Lucky Seven to the ground.
"This sword will act as an amp!"
"Hey, Noah, aren't you skipping some shits?" Eunie said.
"The writer wants to end writing this quickly." Moebius Y said.
"What?"
"Let's….go!"
So it started.
The greatest music battle of Aionios.
Mwamba had the keyboard.
Hackt had the drums.
Miyabi had the guitar.
Cammuravi had the bass.
Holy shit.
"Guess…we're gonna watch this thing happen?" Eunie said, as she backed off.
"Hey, look! Hackt's killing it!" Sena said, as she pointed Hackt.
"No, I think the Keves soldier named Mwamba would be the MVP in this."
"Heh, that's Mwamba for you." Lanz shrugged.
"I can't expect who would win in this shit… Oh my god…why are we doing this…" Eunie sighed.
"Mio!" Noah signaled.
"Got it!" Mio said, as she started to kill her guitar solo.
But Miyabi didn't lose.
"Yes…this is what I wanted! The flame of life…burning in a form of music!" Y laughed.
"I think I'm going crazy. Lanz, slap me."
"You slap me."
"Sparks sake…."
"HAHH!" Mio screamed as she started to reach her climax.
"MIYABI! WAKE UP!"
"Okay, the guitar is talking," Lanz said.
"Lanz, I'm gonna faint now. Hold me." Eunie said.
"Do it later…."
"Hah…hah…" Mio panted as she stopped her solo. The Omega band also stopped.
"Ah…." Miyabi put her head over her eyes.
"Miyabi! Please! It's Mio! Your partner!"
"Lanz, is this the timing we shout their names?"
"Looks like it's…yeah, it's time…hah…!" Lanz inhaled.
"You will know our names! Mwamba! Hackt! Cammuravi! Miyabi!" Lanz shouted.
"Whoa, Lanz memorized their names!" Sena said.
"I'm not an idiot! Sena, lend me a hand!"
"Got it!"
And with the power of shouting, friendship…and….
A killing guitar solo…
Problem got solved.
(Some minutes later)
"Miyabi…it's me…do you remember….?" Mio said, walking towards her.
"Yes…Mio…that…was the best solo I've ever heard…" Miyabi said, tears in her eyes.
"And this is?" Miyabi turned to Noah.
"I…I'm…Noah…Uh…I'm currently using your bass…uh…Yeah! I can return it to you!"
"No, you can have it."
"If you're worried about the strings…I could…"
"She's not talking about that, dummy," Mio said, as she smashed Noah with her guitar.
"Oh, mistake….Noah!" Mio shouted.
"Ah…gah…uagh…."
"Noah!"
"Sena, I'm gonna puke at the sight of this idiocrasy. Pat my back when I do that." Eunie said.
"Do that later…."
(Omake)
(City dorm)
"So, what happened after that?" Eunie asked Miyabi, sitting on the dorm bed.
"Oh, yeah, she was…."
Yes, Miyabi was being used as a story vending machine after she entered the party. Eunie and Lanz never stopped talking to her until she got tired.
"Guys…let's…take a break. Miyabi's exhausted now." Sena interrupted.
"Awww! But it was getting fun!" Eunie whined.
"Anyway, where's Noah and Mio? Where did they go?" Taion asked.
"Oh, them? They…sorta left."
"On their own? Just…them?" Eunie said.
"Uh…yeah, that's what I saw." Lanz shrugged.
"Maybe…they went off to test what the city doctor told us? You know…they've been really…yeah, got it?" Eunie said, as she gestured a finger going inside a ring.
"Eunie, what's wrong with you?" Taion sighed.
"Why? Can't a girl have her assumptions?"
"Hey! Little Ourokids, what's up?" Monica said, as she entered the room.
"Monica! Great to see you! Straight to the point, do you know where Mio and Noah are?" Eunie asked.
"They actually visited me."
"What?"
"To find them a room that's private enough with soundproof walls. Why?"
"See, Taion? I'm right!"
"For spark's sake…"
So…
Was Eunie right…?
Let's head straight to the scene.
"Mio…"
"Noah…."
"Please…some more…! Mio….! It's…coming…!"
"I'm…getting close…!"
"Let's go at once…! At the rhythm!"
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One!"
(Loud guitar sounds)
"Yes! That was awesome!" Noah cheered.
"You really learn fast, Noah! Now you play the bass better than me!" Mio smiled.
"And your guitar solo? That was the best sparking thing I've ever seen."
"Hah…thank you…Ugh…so…tired…." Mio yawned.
"Yeah, I'm drenched in sweat…."
"Shall we go back?"
"Yeah, let's hit the showers when we head back."
"Sweet!"
But little did they know…That…
Alright, I'm ending today's BS here.
Why did this thing become so long