Awakening the First Artificial Blade, Poppi
Morag and Leina are walking together as they see Dugall with a few men standing straight as they salute the two Special Inquisitor.
"Special Inquisitor Morag, it is an honor to have you here though I was not expecting this until a later date I heard." Dugall greeted.
"I make it my business to get things done soon." Morag said firm.
"We're going to speak to the Torna member your men captured, there's something we want to ask her about the company she was with." Leina requested.
"Y-Yes, I take it Lady Claudette has already informed you." Dugall guessed, not liking this one bit.
"I have." Claudette said walking toward the group with Brighid by her side.
"I hope the trip wasn't too much trouble for you, Lady Morag." Brighid said.
"No trouble at all, now about that prisoner." Morag stared at Dugall with a scary glare.
"Right away, ma'am!" Dugall feared.
(Office)
Leina, Morag, along with their Blades are standing in the office with Nia and a couple of guards for a little extra protection, not that these ladies need any, as Nia just glares at the four not caring about what they might do to her.
"So, you are the Torna ruffian. I must say you look a little different from your poster." Morag looked at Nia's wanted poster.
"A LITTLE different?! Whoever drew that should be the one in jail!" Nia complained.
"Believe me, some have tried to get a really good look at you, but you were always on the move and your Blade was the first thing they can think of." Leina chuckled.
"Well, at least I know you're more friendly than miss stone eyes here." Nia mocked Morag.
"I get that a lot, now about the two young boys who were with you before your captured. Why were they with you?" Leina asked.
"Those two… sorry, but I barely know those two salvagers for a day." Nia said.
"Oh, so those boys are salvagers… how old did you say they were, Claudette?" Leina asked her Blade.
"One is 15 and the other is two years younger, they appeared to be raised together as brothers." Claudette answered.
"And they're both very unique, the older one is the Driver of the Blade with the emerald core crystal and the younger brother has awaken a Blade as a baby." Morag listed all what she had learn from the reports.
"It would seem you have gotten yourself inform with some interesting people." Morag commented.
"Maybe…" Nia looked away.
"Could you at least give us their names?" Leina asked nicely.
"Not a chance." Nia refused.
"Don't worry, I know their names: the older boy is Rex, the young one is Rana, and their Blades are Pyra and Cattleya." Claudette informed shocking Nia.
"Alright, thank you for that, Claudette." Morag thanked as she now thinks of a plan to lure them here.
(Tora and Ymir's Home)
"Oh, I am so happy to meet new friends for my Driver! It's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm Agata!" Agata introduced herself exciting.
"Your Blade seems elegant." Azurda commented.
"Just wait until you see her in action." Ymir smirked.
"Now, let's get info of Rex-Rex's friends!" Tora cheered.
"Oh, did something happened?" Agata asked.
"You could say their friends got caught by the Imperial guards and they want to rescue them." Ymir revealed shocking her Blade.
"What? But wouldn't that make them criminals?" Agata pointed out.
"I can promise you that Nia and Dromarch are not like that, they just ended up with the wrong group." Rex assured.
"And they helped us out too." Rana added.
"Hmm, alright, I guess I'll help out with this, but this better not get my Driver and her little brother arrested." Agata hoped.
"Okay, now with this disguise I have on, let's go ask around town." Pyra said wearing a cat-coat that covers her red hair and her core crystal as everyone got ready to leave.
(Later)
Everyone returned to hidden home sitting down around the table all sad and shock about the information they managed to gather about Nia and Dromarch, and it was not a happy news.
"Nia and Dromarch, executed… it doesn't bear thinking about!" Pyra worried.
"We can't let that happen, right big brother?" Rana asked.
"Of course, we won't!" Rex said.
"But getting aboard that warship will be no mean feat, we're going to need an ironclad plan." Azurda pointed out as they look at the blueprints of the warship Nia and Dromarch are being held in.
"Army port is under heavy guard…" Tora said.
"And don't even think about suggesting a full-on attack, we'd be outnumbered, and it could put everyone of the town in danger." Ymir said to Rex as he sighs that his idea won't work.
"Hmm, there must be a way inside without being detected." Cattleya said as she and Pyra look closely at the blueprint until Pyra believes she found an answer.
"There! This is one of the Grandarbor's roots, right?" Pyra pointed at the roots.
"I believe that is." Agata nodded.
"Then this goes all the way from the quay to the hull of the warship." Pyra said.
"Right, and from there we can sneak our way into the cargo entrance here." Ymir pointed at the spot where the cargo entrance is.
"That's great, no one will spot us if we sneak in from below." Rex smiled, liking this plan.
"Security light around this entrance. At night, not even workers here." Tora informed.
"Then it's a plan!" Cattleya smiled.
Then they notice Tora and Ymir smirking at each other almost in a sinister way as Agata just chuckles.
"Well then, it's time we reveal our secret project." Ymir said.
"Yes, let's show friends the project!" Tora cheered.
"Uh, what are you guys talking about?" Rana confused as well as the others.
"You'll see." Ymir winked and the adopted siblings brought them to their workshop center and Tora remove a curtain revealing a robot-girl.
"What's this then…?" Rex asked.
"Nobody ever sees this before, Secret of Tora and Big Sis Ymir's secret." Tora chuckled.
"What you're looking at here is the world's first artificial Blade!" Ymir announced, saying the name together with Tora and the group became shock.
"Whoa! You guys are making a Blade of your own!" Rana surprised.
"You could say they've been working on this a little before Ymir awakened me." Agata mentioned.
"Tora have always wanted to be Driver of Blade, but…" Tora paused thinking about that day.
"Unfortunately, Tora didn't have the potential to awaken a core crystal and ended up a major nosebleed for three days. Do you KNOW how hard it is to remove bloodstains and how much blood loss he went through; he could've been in a coma!" Ymir glared at Rex who back away a little.
"R-Right…"
"But we're relive that didn't happen." Agata said.
"Anyway, back to Tora's Blade. When complete, even no-potential Tora can be Driver!" Tora stated.
"Oh yeah, we're making history here!" Ymir bragged.
"This is simply incredible, you two built this Blade from scratch?" Azurda asked curious.
"Actually, the idea was started by dad and grandpa who wanted to become Drivers too but didn't have the potential." Ymir mentioned becoming sad as Tora is.
"But Grampypon die, and we still not know where Dadapon go to…" Tora said.
"They left this for us to finish what they have started and we're going to make that dream into a reality!" Ymir determined.
"That's an amazing dream, I know you can do it!" Rana believed.
"Thanks, kid, but we just need to get a few more parts for to be fully complete." Ymir said.
"Uh, so it's not finished?" Cattleya asked.
"Of course not, just because it looks finish on the outside doesn't mean the same on the inside." Ymir scolded.
"But Ymir, the parts we need is 60,000 gold and we're not even halfway there." Agata reminded of the money they have.
"60,000?!" Rex and Rana gasped.
"What did you expect? Some machine parts have big prices." Ymir shrugged.
"Sheesh, you guys want a kidney too?" Rex asked sarcastically.
"Calm down, Rex, I think we owe them our help." Pyra stated.
"She's right, I think I heard about some men needed some salvage help and the payment is very good." Cattleya recalled hearing about the job earlier.
"Well then, Rana, we're going salvaging." Rex said.
"Okay!" Rana nodded.
"Are you sure, my earnings are a natural crystal, so it should be enough for the money." Pyra offered.
"No, no, that wouldn't be right. We'll get the money ourselves." Rex refused to take Pyra's earning.
"That's very admirable." Azurda said proudly of his adopted grandson.
"Yay! Rex-Rex is too generous!" Tora cheered.
"This Blade of yours better be useful though, Tora." Rex said firm.
"Leave that to Tora!" Tora said.
"Well, I better get working too, I actually got other repair quest that needs fixing." Ymir said.
(Nighttime)
Night has fallen and a rainstorm with the sound of thunder meaning there could be lightning too, and it's the perfect time for Tora and Ymir as they put the final parts they managed to get along with their new friends.
"I still can't believe we got 60,000 in one day, it's a miracle!" Ymir said.
"Yes, yes, good thing we have new friends to help us!" Tora nodded.
"Okay, the parts are in and now all that is left is charge it up with some lightning." Ymir excited.
"Tora, Ymir, our friends' execution draws near. There's no time to lose." Azurda reminded them.
"Don't worry, old man, we still got plenty of time. This is a very big moment for us." Ymir stated before turning to Tora.
"Okay, little brother, it's time!" Ymir said.
"Right! Okay artificial Blade, it's wakey-wakey time!" Tora said as he's about to pull the switch.
"Don't do that, Tora." Pyra said stopping Tora from pulling the switch.
"Uh, what Tora do wrong?" Tora asked.
"You can't keep calling her "Artificial Blade"! As her creator, the least you can do is give her a proper name." Pyra lectured.
"That's right, it's always important to give one name whether it be a newborn baby or some new things we make. Grandpa told us that." Ymir remembered the words their grandpa told them before he died.
"I guess that doesn't go for Blades since we always remember our names." Agata said.
"But it's still feels right
"Aw, I understand. Tora actually did think of name for her, very good name." Tora smiled.
"Well, if that's settle then introduces us to her." Rana said.
"Yes, right away!" Tora nodded putting his ear-arm on the switch, ready to pull it for real this time.
"Just in time, the lightning storm is about to kick in." Ymir alerted.
"Now… wakey-wakey! Tora's very own Blade, Poppi!" Tora pulled the switch and the lightning strikes down charging the artificial Blade now named Poppi.
They see Poppi starting to stand up on her own as Ymir and Tora are excited to hear her first words.
"How may I be of service, Master?" Poppi talked in a cute manner and almost like a maid would say while doing a cute pose.
Everyone's reaction was quite shock and unexpected to see the new Blade to act like that upon first awaken, Rana even thought Poppi would sound a little more robotic.
"TORA?! I thought we agreed NOT to make the settings like that!" Ymir yelled.
"Sorry, sorry, Tora must've forgot. Hold on." Tora shut off Poppi for a moment as he makes some adjustments.
"Seriously, grandpa…" Ymir muttered.
"Okay, all good now. Second time go best! Powerrr… on!" Tora pulled the switch again powering up Poppi again.
This time, Poppi opens her eyes and spoke her first words in a normal manner.
"Greetings, Masterpon."
"Awesome! We did it, Tora! You're a Driver now!" Ymir cheered as she and Tora hop together.
"I'm so happy for you, Tora!" Agata smiled.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Tora repeated and they stop jumping of joy and turn to his friends.
"Tora and Ymir's masterpiece! World's first artificial Blade… Poppi!" Tora announced as everyone is impress of this feat.
"Pretty good, huh? Tora and Ymir succeed amazingly, yes?" Tora asked.
"Yeah, amazing! Though I was pretty surprised before when she was all… you… know…" Rex paused though everyone knew what he was talking about when Poppi was acting like a maid.
"You can blame our grandpa for that, he was always a fan of maids like the ones you would see at a café and he wanted one of his own. He even had me wear maid outfits sometime, it was so embarrassing!" Ymir explained angry.
Pyra notices some clothes fell off the closet near Poppi, some look like maid outfits that must've been from either their grandpa or Tora, but she didn't to not think about that.
"Well, let's not dwell on that. Rex, let's go rescue Nia and Dromarch!" Pyra said.
"No time to lose!" Rex determined.
"We'll show those soldiers what happens when you mess with our friends!" Rana smirked.
"You boys will do whatever it takes to rescue a friend then I'll support you with everything I got!" Cattleya declared as she holds up her Giant Slayer sword.
Ymir and Tora look at each other with proud smiles on their faces, knowing that their grandpa would be proud of them and that their dad would be thrilled to see their artificial Blade, if they can find him that is.
As for Poppi, she looks over the readers as she suddenly breaks the fourth wall.
"Anyway, my name is Poppi. Poppi try hard to make Masterpon proud." Poppi said as she bows.
Wait, how did she do that?
(With Risty)
"Hmm…" Risty smiled while holding a large cup of beer.
"Something got you exciting, miss?" The bartender asked.
"You could say I'm about to get my big payday soon, and getting it is going to be fun." Risty said before drinking the whole cup, slamming it on the counter, and putting some gold coins too.
"Thanks for drink." Risty thanked before she walks out of the bar.
She looks up at the night sky despite the rain and lightning strikes, it didn't bother her at all as the only thing she can think about is how exciting it is to bag the emerald core crystal Blade.
"I take it you're ready to go for the job?" A woman wearing cloak covering her whole body walked up to Risty.
"Yep, we ready ourselves at the root that goes to the bottom of the warship." Risty said.
"Do you really think the Driver of the Aegis will really go there?" The woman asked curious.
"Call it a gut feeling, Swan. Let see just how special the Aegis really is in action." Risty smirked.
"Let's not forget about Dugall, I'm sure the man wouldn't that we help ourselves for a few gold coins." Swan giggled.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Rex and friends have gained a new alley to help them to rescue Nia and Dromarch from being executed, but it looks like Risty and her friend Swan will be ready for them to bag the big payment they were promise though it looks like those two have already other plans in mind. And hope you like Agata being Ymir's Blade, a spiked-hammer and an axe together like make a cool combination.
Also, you'll be surprise of what Swan's appearance is too. Hehe.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!