Chapter 11

Shulk swung, but Xord casually moved back, and he staggered as he missed his target. "Ah..." Shulk let out a gasp as he was struck, forced backwards. "That..." He was gasping, and I couldn't hear him. He lost his footing as Xord struck him again.

I blinked, holding my sword in a reverse grip, which activated the Defensive Reversal Art. Xord looked at me, before striking. I countered, but the attack held so much power I just couldn't deflect it. "Ugh!" I grunted, hitting the ground.

Xord laughed. "Pip-squeaks! You're not worth my time!" Thrusters rushed from somewhere from his back, and he rushed off at Reyn, Sharla and Juju.

Shulk grunted, managing to get back up. "Oh, no!" He ran at Xord, who landed beside the Homs. "Don't you...!"

I stood, knowing what Xord would do. He's going to take Juju and then we'll have to head over to Colony 6, I thought, resting my claymore on the straps on my back before walking calmly forward.

Xord crackled, grabbing Juju in his hand. "Help!" shouted the younger Homs, struggling.

"Hey!" shouted Reyn, grabbing his Driver. He tried to use his Hammer Beat Art, but Xord casually stepped backwards. He is not feeling very rushed, is he, I thought. Not when he knows that we're nowhere strong enough to beat him now...

Reyn staggered from his own momentum. "Whoa!" He managed to stop himself, but was knocked aside by Xord. "Ah..."

"None of you are a match for me!" laughed Xord, holding Juju in his hand. "I'll be-" He stopped as an Ether round hit him in the face.

Sharma was panting, back on her feet. "You...!" She shot another rifle shot, but it was clear Xord was unaffected.

Xord laughed. "Ha!" He swung his hammer at Sharla, knocking her away. The red vein markings along his body started to slow, and he growled lowly. "You're lucky, maggots!" The thrusters from his back activated."If you want to save this boy, then come to Colony 6! But come quick, I'm hungry!" With that, he shot off, quickly vanishing from our vision.

"SHARLA!" yelled Juju, struggling to escape from Xord's grasp, however it was clearly no use.

"JUJU!" screamed Sharla, on the ground. She reached out, but she lost consciousness and it fell.

...

The four of us were in the refugee camp. "What do we do now?" I wondered, sitting against a cave wall.

Shulk, sitting on a crate, answered. "We go to Colony 6 and confront that... face Mechon, and get Juju back."

"Uh..." I raised a hand. "Xo- that faced Mechon was so fast and powerful that we couldn't even TOUCH it! How can we hope to fight it?" What, are we going to just do all the quests in this camp?

Shulk stood with a sigh. We had rested for two days now, but Sharla had yet to regain to regain consciousness. "Maybe it's in the way we use our Arts," he mused. He drew the Monado, the light pulsing from the sword. "In fact... I have an idea that could apply to all of our Arts... maybe improve them in a sense." He gestured outside, and the two of us walked outside in the warm sunshine.

Reyn was already there, doing a bunch of push-ups. "453... 454..." He didn't look the least bit strained, either.

"Andrew." Shulk's voice brought my attention back to him. "Use that Defensive Reversal Art."

I did so, sword ready in a reverse grip. "Okay. Now what?" I asked. Is this how we use AP? I thought.

"Ready? I'm going to attack you." Shulk swung, and the Art kicked in, deflecting Shulk's attack. The two of us slid backwards. "Hm..."

The wielder of the Monado looked thoughtful. "Well?!" I exclaimed after a good five minutes.

Shulk grunted. "Well... the way you use it... I've almost got it..." He focused for another minute, and snapped his fingers. "That's it!" he cried, placing the Monado on his back. He came closer. "If you turn around while using it, and spin so you're facing me when you swing, there's so much more power in it!"

I blinked, and turned so my back was to Shulk, holding the blade in a reverse grip again. I looked over my shoulder, to see Shulk use his Stream Edge Art. "Hey!" I spun to my left as he swung, swinging my own sword. I easily deflected his Art with ease, even forcing him away. Oops? I thought, watching him as he was flung through the air.

He hit a nearby tree, and fell. "Ugh!" He managed to get back to his feet. "Yes... that seems a lot better..."

"Huh." This is... interesting, to say the least... Reyn stopped doing push-ups, grabbing his Driver.

"We have to get stronger if we're gonna try and take back Juju," he spoke. "If we can improve our efficiently with our Arts, then the next time we fight, that faced Mechon won't beat us!"

Shulk nodded. "Right. So that's a more efficient way to use your Defensive Reversal Art," he told me. "I've been thinking of this ever since we got back to the refugee camp, and this is definitely a way to get stronger."

"This is going to be interesting," I responded. "For Stab Strike, it's best if I can hit veins and arteries, right?" The head, too, if i can... but these creatures are so big that's almost impossible, I thought. If I used Slide Edge to get on higher ground... then...

Shulk nodded. "Usually, for using an Art that inflicts Bleed. But... it's a bit tricky to think of ways to improve out Arts that inflict Break, Topple and Daze... maybe the part of the body that you're striking with the Art...?" he mused.

"Keep thinking, Shulk," spoke Reyn, folding his arms. "While you do, Andrew and I ought to practice using our other Arts."

"Alright." I blocked Reyn's attack, but then felt an almost overwhelming instinct to attack him. However, I managed to resist. "Oh, that must be Hammer Beat," I grunted. "Then..." I used Time Slower, as he tried to use War Swing. I ducked, dodging all of the hits. "Hi." I waved at Reyn as he looked down at me. I got back to my feet. "Anything else?

"Ha!" Reyn used Sword Drive, but I used my Defensive Reversal, which forced both of us back. "Nice," spoke Reyn, as the both of us panted. "Alright, round two?"

"Wait." Shulk came to the side of Reyn. "Air Slash!" he shouted. Reyn grunted, moving away. However, Shulk barely nicked him.

"It's also depends on how deep the wound can go for the duration of Break, Topple and Daze," he realized. "Even better if you can do it while the enemy isn't on you when you do it..."

"Do you mind if I join you?" spoke Sharla, emerging from the cave.

"No, uh, we don't mind," spoke Reyn hastily. She walked forward. "Right now, we're working on improving our Arts so that we can get back at that faced Mechon."

She looked interested. "I see." She aimed at me, and I grunted as she shot me. However, energy surged through me as she did so.

"Thanks," I spoke. Sharla nodded curtly, shooting Shulk and Reyn as well. An Art that gives energy back... I don't think she has that in the game, I thought. I shrugged slightly. Eh. This world's messed up already with Shulk having Monado Smash, why not?

"I've got it," spoke Shulk. "Reyn, you and Andrew fight, and I'll watch to see what you guys could maybe improve, and Sharla will heal when you guys get hurt. If that's okay," he spoke to the healer, who nodded in return.

"Alright!" I grunted, ready. "Hah!" I used Stab Strike, aiming for Reyn's face, but he used his Driver, which blocked my attack. "Whoa!" I leapt away from Reyn's Hammer Beat Art, and held my sword at my waist. I had a good feeling about doing that.

"SWORD DRIVE!" shouted Reyn, and I slashed across in a horizontal line, looking exactly like Shulk's Stream Edge Art. Our attacks clashed, sliding us both back.

"Ooh, I've got that perfect name for that Art!" shouted Shulk from the sidelines. "Whip Slash!"

I grunted. "Because now is TOTALLY the time to think up new Art names!" I prepared the Defensive Reversal Art.

"Um, yes?" responded Shulk as Reyn came at me. I deflected his swing, and we clashed continuously.

"Come on!" smirked Reyn as we clashed, at a standstill for a moment before he overwhelmed me. I staggered, and he used his Hammer Beat Art. I used Cross Slash out of instinct, which deflected his Art. "Whoa... using an offensive Art for a defensive purpose?" He grunted as I slashed, blocking. Our weapons found against each other.

He's powerful! I thought, as Reyn forced me backwards. I hit a tree. "Ugh!" I recovered, as Reyn waited for me to get back in the action. "Wait... maybe we could try combination tactics," I spoke suddenly. "Yeah!"

"That's a good idea," mused Shulk. "Reyn... hold your Driver up." His friend did so. "Hup!" Shulk ran off, resting the Monado on his back. He leapt off Reyn's Driver, landing in a roll. "Sweet! Next time, we're not going to lose to that faced Mechon!"

Reyn grunted. ""Well, Shulk? What did you notice that Andrew and I could improve?"

"That Whip Slash..." He turned to me. "If you make it as fast as possible, you could deal more damage, maybe even get in a bonus effect..." He turned to Reyn. "The way you use Sword Drive..."

Maybe if I use Time Slower and Whip Slash... I could even slash someone in two. I shrugged away my wishful thinking. "So who's next?" I asked.

...

It was the next day. Every one of us had improved our Arts so much it was almost scary.

"Time to take on Colony 6," breathed Shulk. He looked at Sharla, Reyn and I. We had all also gotten new gear. I had new snazzy shoes, an awesome red parlour jacket and googles.

Reyn had a Skyrim helmet and rather heavy armour compared to the rest of us.

Sharla was wearing new boots and a new jacket over a shirt.

Shulk looked exactly like the image in his Smash Trailer when it said Shulk Foresees A Fight!

"Then let's go," spoke the wielder of the Monado, and we all raced off towards Colony 6.

Thanks for reading!