Chapter 5

Chapter 5... well, here it is!

"NO!" screamed Shulk, trying to get back to his feet. I flopped on my back, feeling completely drained. Shulk managed to struggle, and arose. The light pulsed from the Monado again. "I WILL KILL YOU!" he roared at Metal Face.

I felt the paralyzing properties of the attack fade away. "Ugh..." I slowly got back up. "Shulk, he's-"

"AAAHH!" Shulk ran towards the faced Mechon, and blade met claw for a moment before he was overwhelmed. "Ah!"

I growled. Before I could move, I saw Dunban flash by, his blade deflecting the deadly blow Metal Face almost unleashed. "Shulk...!"

"Ah, Dunban!" Shulk moved from behind him, and swung again, the Monado deflected. "WHY WON'T IT WORK?!" he screamed, tears starting to run down his eyes. The Monado's beam retracted. "WHY?!"

Reyn's Driver deflected another attack. "Eyes front, Shulk!" he grunted as he forced the claw away. "This Mechon..."

I got back up. "Those red markings..." The blood of a Homs... "I..." Should I tell them...? "I think I-" I barely blocked another claw attack. Metal Face was glaring at me. "Ah..."

"Maybe like earlier..." mused Shulk, wiping his eyes. "If we can Topple it, then maybe we can inflict real damage... STREAM EDGE!"

The Monado was deflected. "He's not showing signs of the Break!" exclaimed Reyn. "No way..."

"Try a Chain Attack," I spoke. "A rapid chain of Arts is probably able to do this." I managed to get away.

Light pulsed from the Monado again. "It's all we've got. HERE WE GO!" he shouted. "STREAM EDGE!"

"It's working...!" grunted Dunban. "Steel Strike!" He let out a yell as Metal Face toppled over. "REYN!"

Reyn nodded as he ran up to Metal Face from behind. "Wild Down!" he roared, and Metal Face glared at him. "ANDREW!"

I grunted. "Cross Slash." After, Shulk let out a scream as the beam of the Monado extended. "Shulk...?"

He raised the mystical blade with one hand. "BUSTER!" He swung, but somehow Metal Face's claw deflected the Talent Art. "Huh...?" Shulk staggered backwards. The beam returned to normal length. "How did it...?" He paused. "That red light..."

He noticed?! I thought, running up to the Mechon. I slid under its claw. "HAH!" I stabbed upwards as I slid by, and as the blade was deflected, I slid away safely. "That was a crazy idea," I muttered to myself.

Metal Face focused on Shulk again, but he somehow held the Mechon at a standstill with the Monado. "Everyone..." he managed to speak. "Go...!" I watched as their eyes met, before Shulk was forced away. "Ah..." He managed to get on the Mechon's arm.

Duncan, Reyn and I watched as Metal Face's arm raised, and Shulk managed to stay on it. "Whoa..." breathed Reyn.

"DIE!" he screamed, jumping at Metal Face's head. The beam segment impaled it slightly, but Shulk was thrown away. "Argh!" He looked up as Metal Face raised its claw again. However, it looked up at the sky instead. Mechon were flying away.

It looked at all of us separately, but glared at Dunban. Right... I suddenly remembered. It's Mumkhar...

It turned away and changed its form before it flew away. I withdrew my sword, and sighed. This day...

Shulk got to his feet, watching as Metal Face flew away. "NO!" he screamed, more tears running down his face.

Dunban looked away from the scene. "Fiora..." I heard him mumble. I blinked. His sister's Fiora...

Rain slowly began to fall, and other then the sound of falling rain, all that we could hear was Shulk's sobs.

Why does rain always seem to fall when important characters die? I thought. Even though it didn't in the game...

I suddenly realized Shulk had stopped crying. I turned, and he was looking at me. The beam flashed out and cut my cheek lightly.

Shulk growled, as the beam disappeared again. "Andrew... I think we have to talk."

...

We were at the park again. "Tell me," spoke Shulk. "The Monado can't hurt a Homs, but that cut on your cheek..."

I wasn't sure what to say. "I'm not a Homs," I finally spoke. "I may look like one, but I..."

"Earlier at the lab... Reyn cut you with the Monado," recalled Shulk. "I've gathered that. But... what are you?"

I sighed. "Human." He stared at me. "To be honest... how to phrase this..." I mused. "I'm not from this world."

Shulk blinked. "Then how are you here?!" he exclaimed, looking at me. He had a wary look in his eyes.

"I wish I knew," I grunted. I looked into his eyes. "If you want to try and cut me down, then do it."

"What?" Now surprise flashed in Shulk's eyes. "No way. I wouldn't cut you down. Even if you're something I don't know..."

I grunted. "You're soft," I spoke, unable to resist the words. "What if I'm a dangerous organism that's here to kill you?"

"What if you're not?!" Shulk flashed back. "No way..." He paused. "I... I thought I could trust you..." a hu-" He couldn't pronounce it.

Kind of like how you thought you should spare Mumkhar later? I thought. "Hmph." I turned away from the wielder of the Monado. "Besides, you have bigger problems then worrying about trusting me."

"I do?" His voice was full of puzzlement. "Explain! I don't get it!" He rushed forward. "ANDREW!"

I drew my sword and blocked his path. "Your Colony and your friends... and who you've lost."

I turned my head to see his shocked expression, mixed with anger. "You... YOU DIDN'T KNOW FIORA!" he roared.

I sighed. "You're right. I didn't." But I might know her in the future... I walked off. "Maybe I'll see you again one day."

Shulk simply stood there as I left the hill and Colony 9 to enter Tephra Cave.

Thanks for reading!