The Aegis Awakens
/Chapter Eighteen: Heart to Heart/
Only a moment after falling unconscious so suddenly, Regan found herself in what looked to be a marsh. While she knew this place was a marsh, she had no idea what Titan it was on. Regan definitely found herself in awe at the sight of the trees. Beautiful glowing orbs of light that adorned the dead looking trees created a breathtaking scenery.
It was like no Titan she had ever seen before in her life. Every Titan had it's own gorgeous scenery; however, this marsh was unlike any known Titan. From what she could see, some of the wildlife looked similar to Gormott and Elvuen. The Igna looked strongly like the ones you would find in Mor Ardain, but they did not appear to notice her.
They got very close to her, yet they appeared to completely ignore her. She was grateful for that as she doubted she would stand a chance against any of the hostile wildlife on her own. At the same time, she knew this was most likely a dream. Regan could not be sure; however, she figured that Winter had probably brought her here.
As beautiful as the marsh was, Regan had a feeling that Winter did not just bring her here to admire the scenery. Whenever Winter wanted to talk, usually at night, the ice Aegis always brought her to the dream versions of either Elysium or Elvuen. The Blade had never brought her to another place; however, Winter had shown her glimpses of the Tornan Titan. Besides that, Winter never took her to another unfamiliar place.
"Satorl Marsh. Beautiful, isn't it?"
Regan turned her head in the direction in the direction of Winter's voice.
"Yeah... What Titan is this?" The Elf asked, wondering if it might be a Titan that had died long ago that she just had not heard of. The Aegis was silent for a moment, as she appeared to be contemplating how to respond to the question. Finally, Winter looked up from the ground and back at Regan.
"He said it's known as the Bionis. He's shown me other locations there too." Regan nodded at that before she took note of what Winter had said.
"Who are you talking about? It's just you and me here, Winter."
Winter stepped closer before she suddenly sat down on the ground and gestured for Regan to do the same. The Elf watched the Blade for a moment before she complied and sat cross-legged in front of Winter. Neither of them spoke for a couple minutes before the ice Aegis finally spoke again. "All I know is his name: Alvis."
The Elf raised an eyebrow, "Alvis, huh? Is he the reason you stopped responding to me all those times?" Winter nodded before she looked down at the ground. If Regan was honest, as upset as she still was about Winter's cruel words, she was very curious about Alvis. The Aegis was silent for a minute before she elaborated.
"Yeah. Like I said, he's shown me other places too, all from the same Titan. Other times, he just wants to talk. He tells me all about the Bionis along with another Titan." Winter explained as her eyes looked around at the scenery.
"Another Titan?"
The Aegis nodded, "Yeah, the Mechonis." Neither of the Titans were familiar to Regan by name alone. Satorl Marsh was beautiful, yet it was unknown to her. These Titans had to be somewhere really far away for them to not be known about. Unless the Titans were tiny, it was likely that they were somewhere that allowed them to be so well hidden.
"I see." Regan looked down at the ground, "Is that all you wanted to talk to me about? I mean, you did knock me out suddenly." The Blade looked a bit guilty at that, and she looked down at the ground as well.
"I just wanted to apologize..." Winter looked back up at Regan. "What I said to you, how harsh I was, and how cruel it was...it was wrong. As much as I hate to admit it, Ant went there willingly to save you. No one could have stopped her from breaking into that dungeon and saving you. She didn't care that it was a trap. All she cared about was saving you." The Aegis' eyes suddenly started to brim with tears.
Regan's eyes widened at that, "I know that's true... It just...doesn't change the fact that it was my fault. Drew's love for me was too good to be true, and I should've listened to you." She was trying to push down the urge to start crying about it. For a while, alcohol had helped to numb the sadness and guilt she felt. She drank far too much for it to be considered normal, and her family along with Ethan and Lucy had finally convinced her to get help.
Winter had simply bottled up all her emotions about Ant and had become bitter and spiteful over the years. Especially when it came to Ethan, Winter would lash out and would end up upsetting Regan. Their most recent argument had definitely been the worst of all. The Aegis had brought up Regan being partially to blame for her mother's death before but the Blade had never been that actively hateful and mean about it until then.
"It wasn't your fault." Winter finally said, her tone one of sincerity. She looked down at her lap as she finally allowed a tear to slip out of her eye. "You were supposed to marry Drew, and you were supposed to be able to trust him." Winter sighed softly, "I honestly had no idea he could ever be so cruel." The ice Aegis admitted.
Regan's eyes widened a bit, "You said that he just wanted me in his bed. Wouldn't that be considered cruel? The way he pretended to love me?" Shaking her head in response, Winter wiped at her eyes. The Elf observed Winter's expression, trying to figure out what the Aegis meant.
"I...I was jealous."
That was definitely unexpected.
"Jealous...? Of what, me and Drew?"
The other woman nodded, "Yes... I'll admit, I never really thought of such things during the Aegis War. Afterward though, when Maddie returned to Elvuen while Ant was pregnant with you, I started feeling things for her... I never got the chance to tell Maddie about it. After all, you were born a couple weeks later."
"That's when you saved me... So you were jealous of mine and Drew's relationship because you never got to tell Maddie about your feelings?" Regan seemed unsure, since this was the first time the ice Blade had ever mentioned having feelings for someone.
"Yeah... You and Drew just seemed so happy together, so I tried to break you up...but then the two of you got engaged. I was selfish for wanting to ruin the two of you's relationship just because I never got a chance to have one with Maddie." This confession had clearly been bottled up for a while, as Winter appeared to be relieved to be admitting it.
Regan nodded, "In the end, you were right... Drew never loved me. If he had, he wouldn't have kidnapped me and lured my mom there." The Elf started to tear up some more, "Riley and Rosalee were the only good things to come out of it. I just...wish that Mom didn't have to die for me to get away from him."
"I wish that too, believe me."
After a little while of the two women just sitting there and talking about various different things, Regan suddenly gripped her chest. The area her hand was gripping happened to be the exact location as Winter's Core Crystal. "Again? How bad is it?" Winter questioned as Regan's expression became one of discomfort and pain.
"It felt like...a bunch of needles being stabbed into my chest..." Regan explained after the pain started to subside. The Aegis appeared to be worried until Regan finally stopped gripping the Core Crystal. "It's...going away now. What's happening to me, Winter?" The Elvuenian suddenly asked but relieved no verbal response.
Winter sniffled as more tears fell.
•••••••
"Is she okay?" Rex asked Ethan and Nia, as the Elf and Gormotti walked out of the small inn.
Nodding his head at Lucy then back at the inn, he then looked towards Rex. "She's fine. It just might be while before she wakes up." The Elvuenian explained as Lucy walked towards the inn and entered it. Rex watched as the pink-haired Blade walked into the inn, and he gave Ethan a confused look.
"Don't worry about it. Lucy's just getting her armor off of her." Ethan as he turned towards a few tables with people sitting and eating at them. "You hungry?" Rex looked at the food and his mouth started to water a little bit as he spotted all the food.
"Yeah. It all looks great!" Ethan smiled at the fifteen-year-old's enthusiasm.
"It is good, as is the beer." He answered before he looked towards the Garfont Mercenary Leader, "You alright with that, Vandham?" The Elvuenian asked, and Vandham nodded.
"Of course. Once you eat, I have a proposition for you." The Leftherian's expression changed to one of both hesitance and curiosity. Noticing the change in expression, Vandham patted the fifteen-year-old's shoulder gently. "It's just a small job, so you've got nothing to worry about."
"Okay." Rex responded before they all got food and then sat down at the tables.
"It's pretty good! I have to say though, I think Malos' cooking is better." Malos smiled a little at that, yet he did not say anything in response. The fifteen-year-old grinned as soon as he noticed the man's softening expression. Vandham chuckled as he watched the interaction between the two.
Rex ate a piece of warm bread before he looked towards Ethan, "So, how long have you known Regan?"
The Elf paused in drinking his beer, "A little over twenty years now." Setting the beer down on the table, Ethan tapped his fingers of his left hand on the table for a couple of seconds. "We haven't seen each other in person for about five years." The Elvunian explained as he stilled the movement of his fingers against the table.
"I see." The fifteen-year-old said, yet he looked as though he wanted to ask something else. Ethan watched the teenager for a moment before he motioned for Rex to go on. "Are the two of you the same age?" The Leftherian finally asked, and Ethan laughed a little at that.
"She told you her actual age then?" At Rex's nod Ethan shook his head. "She's got close to year on me, but it's really not that noticeable."
"She told me she was 32 when we first met and 34 on her birthday a couple months ago."
"It's understandable. Despite the fact that Elves can live much longer than people from other races, most people find it hard to believe that the both of us are pretty close to 500."
Rex raised an eyebrow, "So, you're 493?"
The Elvuenian nodded, "Yeah, my birthday was in the month before Regan's." He explained before he spotted Lucy leaving the inn. The pink-haired Blade approached Ethan, and she looked like she had just seen something worrying. After the Elf noticed her expression, his shoulders tensed.
"What's wrong, Lucy?" She walked up until she was right next to Ethan before she whispered something into his ear. "You're sure she's fine now?" Lucy nodded, yet she still looked worried. "Alright. We can check on her later." She nodded her head before she sat down at the table with him. The Blade offered Rex a reassuring smile as he looked at them worriedly.
"Vandham?" Rex asked after he was quiet for a couple of minutes.
"What is it?" The mercenary leader questioned.
"What role do you play in the war?"
After Vandham took a couple of seconds to analyze the fifteen-year-old's expression before answering, "You got a problem with mercenaries, kid?" The use of the word kid seemed to get Rex's attention.
"I just don't like the constant fighting between countries. I don't understand why people can't just get along..."
The Urayan nodded, "I can understand that. When I was around your age, I thought the same way. The truth is, you're a part of the war whether you realize it or not."
"What if I don't want to be a part of it?"
Vandham shook his head, "You don't have a choice. No matter what, you'll always be involved in one way or another. What you can choose is what role you play." The man paused for a moment before he motioned a hand towards the bread he had yet to finish. "This comes from Mor Ardain."
"Really? Aren't Uraya and Mor Ardain on the verge of being at war?"
"Garfont Mercenaries does work on or in most Titans, and that includes Mor Ardain." Rex seemed to be intrigued by this information, yet Malos asked something before the teenager could voice any more questions.
"What about Elvuen?"
Vandham looked towards the dark Aegis, "Elvuen regularly exports Dawngrove Strawberries to both Garfont Village and Fonsa Myma."
"I see." Malos looked to want to ask something else but before he was able to, Vandham got up.
"Meet me when you're ready, kid. I'll tell you about that job I mentioned earlier." The mercenary leader said before he along with Ethan and Lucy walked away from them and went out of Rex's line of sight.
"Are you all good with that?" The Leftherian asked the rest of the group.
"Yep." Nia stated.
"Of course, Rex-Rex!" Tora said enthusiastically. Poppi seemed just as excited as her Driver while Dromarch was a little more calm about the whole thing. The Aegis simply nodded at Rex, yet it did not stop the feeling of slight apprehension at whatever job Vandham had for them.
"Let's look around the village a little first." Rex stated, and everyone nodded in agreement.
•••••••
Bonus Scene One*
Driver and Blade stood side by side, both of them quiet as they stared at the the pod and the pedestal that would hold Malos' Monado. Malos finally broke his gaze away from the pod and looked towards Addam. His Driver was wearing a dark brown cloak, yet the hood was down which allowed Malos to still see Addam's face.
"Addam...?"
The man looked towards him, his emotions clear as day. Addam looked sad, yet he managed to look determined at the same time. For once, Malos found himself hesitating on what he wanted to say next. He knew this was the right choice, and yet he did not want to leave Addam's side. "Yes?"
Malos looked down towards the amethyst jewel he had placed in the armor that covered his right knee. It was barely noticeable; however, it was still a reminder of what Addam had asked him to do. He let out a sigh before looking back at his Driver, "I'm sorry...for everything."
The apology appeared to catch Addam off guard, "You don't owe me an apology for any of it...if anything, it's my fault."
The Aegis's eyes widened, so Addam elaborated. "You see, I may have awakened you...but I was afraid." The man admitted as he met Malos' eyes with his own. "I was afraid that you'd turn out to be the same as Mythra. So, I'm afraid I may have imprinted that fear on you."
The Blade shook his head, "What does that have to do with what I did? I may not remember what happened exactly, but what I do know for sure is that you tried to stop me...and I refused to listen." Malos was quiet for moment before he started to speak again, "All those deaths are on my hands, Addam. It's my fault that Hugo and Milton-"
Addam cut him off gently, "Stop it, Malos. Even if you never realized it, my fear did imprint on you. Why else would you have agreed to this?"
The Aegis went to object, but Addam shook his head. "Mythra was the one at fault. You may have dealt the final blow; however, she was the one who started it." Despite this reassurance, Malos still looked unsure as he looked down at the floor of the ship. Addam suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder, "Humans are not worthy of your power. I was not strong enough and until someone is...it is better that humans should not have access to your power."
"What about Snow?"
Addam smiled sadly at that, "The same applies to her...yet she chose not to be sealed away with you."
"She's not the one who killed Torna." The Blade shook his head in response.
"Yes...but that is not the reason she refused, Malos."
"What do you mean?" Addam smiled a little.
"One day you'll understand." After that last statements, no more words were spoken between them. Malos then summoned his Monado and handed it to his Driver. The Aegis then turned to the pod he was going to be in until the time was right for him to be reawakened.
Then, just about as he was about to enter the pod, he suddenly turned towards Addam. The Driver could do nothing but hug the Blade back as Malos wrapped his arms around him.
•••••••
Bonus Scene Two*
After almost a week of Regan missing, Queen Antea had finally found the most likely location of her daughter. Ant then headed out on her own without giving any warning to Welsh, Maddie, or Addy. Despite her near constant coughs and wheezing from the walking and running it took to get to the underground bunker, she refused to stop for anything.
The queen knew it was suspicious when she managed to enter the bunker with practically no guards around to stop her. Even so, she had to get to Regan, no matter the cost. The few guards she did run into were dispatched way too easily, especially considering the way Antea's muscles were aching. At some point, she managed to locate a room that appeared to be the most guarded out of anything.
Opening the door, Ant felt relief yet also horror at the sight she witnessed. Regan was in nothing but her underwear, which allowed her mother to see all the bruises as well as all the cuts and scratches that were left over most of her body. Despite all the wounds, there was severe lack of wet or even dry blood anywhere on her. Her skin was pale, and her cheeks were flushed with heat.
"Regan, baby, oh thank the Architect!" Ant rushed to her daughter's side, ignoring her protesting muscles. The woman did not respond, and Ant hurriedly put her ear to Regan's heart. To her relief, she heard the thumps of the younger woman's heart. The beats were not as fast as they should have been, and the same applied to the rising of her chest.
Placing her hands on Regan's face, Ant felt herself tearing up. As happy as she was to find her daughter alive, the state that Regan was currently in broke her heart. "Baby, I'm so sorry I didn't get here sooner...!" The queen barely managed to resist the urge to start sobbing as she realized that it was not the time for that. "Regan, c'mon, please wake up!" Ant begged, knowing that it would be nearly impossible to carry her out. She knew they wouldn't make it very far.
Finally, after a minute of Antea's pleas, Regan's eyes opened. "M-Mom...?" Her voice cracked as she spoke but before she realized what was happening, Ant's arms were wrapping around her. Instinctively, Regan attempted to hug her mother back but was stopped by her currently bound hands. Noticing this, Ant quickly pulled out a knife a cut the ropes that kept Regan tightly bound to the chair.
The queen put away her knife before she swiftly once again took Regan into her arms. Regan snuggled into the warmth, and Ant continued the hug for a moment before she pulled the light grey cloak over her head. She put the cloak onto Regan, giving her daughter back some dignity as the princess smiled in response.
"C'mon, we need to get you out of here." Ant stated before she started to help Regan stand. Since she had been forced to walk between this room and the bathe room, Regan was able to stand. As she stepped foward, she stumbled a little bit. Ant helped stabilize her before the two of them got to the door.
The queen looked out at the hallway quickly, and she nodded to Regan to follow after she knew there was no one to spot them. "M-Mom..."Regan mumbled quietly, her eyes glistening with tears. "This was a t-trap..." She wasn't sure if her mother heard her.