Chapter 9

This story will have everything in the main story that I think should be there. That's all I have to say...

"Juju, there is no way Colony 6 is safe!" she told him.

"But with these guys there could be a way to take down all of the Mechon!" he protested.

While they argued, Shulk, Reyn and I all exchanged looks. "Maybe we shouldn't stay," spoke Shulk.

Reyn scoffed. "Maybe? Sharla looks like she could get a lot angrier really quickly."

I sighed. Then I noticed Sharla looking at us. I raised a hand. "Hi?"

She sighed. "Hello," she spoke. "I am Sharla. Although we cannot offer very much, I thank you for helping my brother, so you can stay a bit if... you wish."

"Thank you," responded Shulk, and the three of us entered. "This cave is pretty lively," he noticed.

Sharla looked at him. "All of the Homs here had to evacuate from Colony 6. I suppose I'll tell you about that..." She sat down on a crate next to a fire. She gestured for the rest of us to sit. Juju had walked a little bit away.

"Perhaps you can tell me what you on doing on the knee of the Bionis?" she spoke.

"Well..." Shulk hesitated for a moment, but soon he and Reyn were both telling the tale.

I wasn't listening at all, instead I kept an eye on Juju. If I stop him from going off in the first place, maybe the plot of the game would change for the better. Or maybe for the worst, I thought afterwards. Man, I have been told too many times that I am pessimistic!

Soon, I noticed him leave. "Excuse me," I spoke before I walked off. He was in the entrance, inserting a new ether cylinder into his buggy.

"Cowards," he muttered. He shuffled around, revving up the engine. "I'm going, even if they won't..."

"That is a terrible idea," I spoke. He whirled around. "It's dangerous out there, with..." Do not give away spoilers... "All of the Mechon."

He growled. "What do you have to say? You're a stranger." He got on his buggy, and I sighed as I used Time Slower. I drew my sword and got in front of the buggy. I got in position of the Defensive Reversal Art, and waited. The Talent Art wore off and he shot off at me.

The Art activated and I swung, forcing him backwards, as well as myself. In fact, I was flung a bit away, landing heavily on my back. "Ow," I spoke out of instinct, and stood quickly as Juju sped off. I cursed. Well, time to do a bunch of stuff which results in more stuff all because that kid is an idiot! FANTASTIC!

Shulk groaned as he walked outside. "Andrew, what are you...?" He froze as he saw Juju speed off. "Reyn, looks like our visit is going to have to cut short."

Reyn exited, seeing and hearing Juju. "He must be going to Colony 6." He narrowed his eyes slightly.

Sharla emerged, sighing. "I've told him so many times over that Colony 6 is unsafe..." she muttered. Then she turned to us. "Juju has probably gone to make his way to Raguel Bridge, as it's the safest way to get to Colony 6. By buggy, anyway."

"Then we have to hurry," spoke Shulk. "There's no knowledge of what could happen, with the Colony infested with Mechon."

I blinked as we set off, Sharla following us. She's just going to follow us like that? I thought.

Shulk, Reyn and Sharla all ran quickly, and soon Sharla pointed to a distant bridge. "That's the Raguel Bridge!" she told us.

We all stopped. At the entrance, I could see Juju's buggy, steam rising slowly from it. Even worse was a bunch of Mechon.

Shulk drew the Monado, the light pulsing outwards. "There's so many," he breathed. "But we'll have to do this, right?"

Reyn grunted as he grabbed his Driver. "Come on, Shulk! You need to enhance our weapons before we charge!"

Sharma grabbed her rifle from her back. "Wait a second... what is that weapon?" she asked.

"The Monado," responded Reyn. "It's perfect for dicing up Mechon, like the ones over there."

The Monado's light turned purple. "Alright," spoke Shulk, swinging it around him. A purple glow came upon our weapons as he activated Monado Enchant. "Let's go!"

"Yeah!" shouted Reyn, charging first. He used War Swing, which dealt heavy amounts of damage, thanks to the fact that Shulk had enhanced his weapon. "Shulk!"

I drew my own blade as everyone else moved forward. Shulk ducked from a Mechon's beam. "Whoa!" he grunted, getting back up. "Ah..." Suddenly, I could see his eyes turn light blue for a moment. He turned. "Behind us...!"

"Look out!" shouted Sharla as a Mechon lunged for him. She used her rifle to shoot it away. "In battle is not the time to get distracted." She shot another rifle round.

"Sorry," he replied. "Andrew, watch our backs!" As he spoke the words a tremble came through the ground. "What...?"

I turned. "What is that?!" It was a massive Mechon. No face, but it had a body. It was about twice the size of Shulk. This was never in the game! I thought. Is it here because I am, to balance everything, so that no scales are tipped? "Crap."

"We'll have to split up!" cursed Shulk. "Sharla, Reyn! Handle all the small Mechon! Andrew and I will take this big one on!"

I grunted, running towards the Mechon. "Slide Edge!" Despite my enhanced blade, I could barely pierce the armour, and thus couldn't use my momentum to get on top of it. "UGH!" I gasped as it looked at me, raising its blade. "Defensive...!" I managed to rise, and my counter was unleashed, forcing me backwards. "That..."

Shulk grunted. "Slit Edge!" The attack was deflected. "Wait a second... maybe... if these Mechon are forced into water..."

"They'll rust or something?" I spoke, as Monado Enchant wore off. No... While I was distracted, the Mechon swung. It cut my chest, and I staggered. "Ugh..." I heard Reyn and Sharla shouting as Enchant wore off on their weapons too.

"Andrew!" shouted Shulk, behind the Mechon. "BACK SLASH!" However, his attack was deflected. "Ah..."

I tried to block as the Mechon swung, but the weapon was forced out of my hands as it happened. "No..."

"No... my vision...!" Shulk pounded, but it did nothing. "No... NO!" The Monado's light pulsed red, as the Smash Art symbol appeared. "RAH!" Shulk swung as a red aura surrounded him. "STREAM EDGE!"

Monado Smash?! But this is Xenoblade, not Smash Brothers! I thought. I quickly grabbed my claymore again, but it wasn't needed.

"HAH!" As Shulk's Art connected, there was a shockwave, which forced all the Mechon away, including the one Shulk and I had been clashing with. They went flying into the sky, disappearing like how Team Rocket always disappeared in the Pokemon anime.

Shulk panted. "There... I... changed the future..." He collapsed as the Monado's light failed.

So now Shulk's gonna have the Smash variants of his Monado Arts too or something? I thought as Reyn and Sharla rushed forward to their fallen comrade.

"That was a massive burst of Ether," mused Sharla. "If I can shoot some Ether around him, he should be back on his feet, though..."

Wait... so this was like Melia's situation too? I thought.

"Where are we going to find some Ether crystals, though?" asked Reyn.

"I don't know," admitted Sharla. "Guess we'll just have to drag Shulk along with us and hopefully we can find some." She stood. "So... who wants to carry him first?"

Thanks for reading!