Chapter 16

Do not expect chapters as long as this one in the future...

Reyn scratched his head, walking up to the edge. He then turned to face us. "Where are they? I don't see anyone."

Sharla ignored his question, looking towards a lift. "We'll take that lift down," she spoke.

Reyn cracked his knuckles. "I'm ready to smash some Mechon!"

And ready to forget about your earlier question? I thought.

"Yeah! Juju, Otharon... we're coming! Let's go," spoke Shulk, and the four of us got on the lift.

The lift descended downwards quickly, and we came onto the first level of the Central Pit.

Mechon instantly noticed us, and rushed at the four of us.

Shulk drew the Monado, using Enchant. "Stream Edge!" he shouted, rushing to battle the metallic foes.

I grunted. "Hah!" With Whip Slash a Mechon fell, dead.

But they just seemed to keep coming.

I used Stab Strike to take down another Mechon, and Reyn yelled as he used Sword Drive to take down another.

"There's so many!" panted Shulk, using Enchant again. "Huff..." He slid back from an attack. "Ugh..."

"Shulk!" shouted Reyn, rushing towards him. At that moment, a Mechon struck him with a powerful boxing glove. "UGH!" He was thrown away, hitting me. We were forced over the edge we were battling on.

The ground... I thought. "Ah..." I used Time Slow, stabbing my claymore into the wall I was sliding off of. Shulk and Sharla were above, yelling as Reyn descended. "Crap...!" I managed to grab his Driver, slowing him as well.

"UGH!" We hit the bottom after what seemed like a literal five minutes. "Ow..." I groaned. "Shoot."

Xord laughed. "Well, well! Look at who comes tottering down!"

"This went so well..." I muttered. Reyn readied himself beside me, as Enchant wore off on our weapons.

"There's no way Shulk and Sharla are gonna be able to get down here," cursed Reyn.

"I only managed because my Talent Art let me slow down time. Still hurts, though," I winced. "So now we have to hold out..."

"Juju!" shouted Reyn, noticing the kid. "Damn it... he's in the air, with... something."

I sighed, dodging as a Mechon rushed at us. "Reyn! Change your Driver to defense mode! We'll just have to hold out without Shulk or the Monado for now!" I hid behind the Homs as he did so.

He grunted as all the Mechon barraged him with dozens of various blows. "My Driver... won't be able to take this much damage for the amount of time it'll take for Shulk and Sharla to get down here!"

I cursed. "I hate Mechon," I muttered. Xord laughed, swinging his hammer. "Reyn, DODGE!" I pulled him with me, and the two of us barely evaded the swing. "Crap..." I let out a roar, morphing into my Soul form. "RAAAAAAAAAAH!"

I swung with great force, destroying the nearest Mechon with ease. With Whip Slash I destroyed a dozen more, the explosions seeming to ride along my blade.

"Hm..." Xord swung his hammer down on me, and I somehow met his swing with equal force. "An Outsider..."

"An Outsider? Andrew, the heck does he mean?" asked Reyn, blocking from a few more Mechon.

I grunted, forcing the weight of the hammer away from me. "HAH!" I used Slide Edge, just slightly penetrating the Mechon's armour. I got on top of the faced Mechon and grunted as my Soul Trigger expired. No...

"Heh." Xord knocked me away, and I hit a wall, dazed. "That was an interesting form, Outsider! But now it's time to die!"

"Not for him." Someone with azure blue hair emerged. "Hi! My name's Storm!" She waved at the Mechon.

Wait... I wrote about her in a story! Though she wasn't the main character... I thought.

"Who are you?!" He swung his hammer towards her, though Storm met the swing by raising an arm and firing a shotgun shell.

"Someone who uses shotgun gauntlets, actually," she spoke, firing behind her to rush at Reyn, destroying the Mechon attacking him in a second. "Hello!"

A sigh came close to my ear. "Storm..." He sighed. "Andrew. Remember me?"

"Rain," I recalled, getting back to my feet. "Simon told me that others from my stories would be..."

"Yeah!" replied Storm, zipping back. "Man, those guys are like Go-"

Rain grunted. "Here." With his blade, he cut my cheek. "Some power. It'll come in handy later."

"Silence!" roared Xord, swinging his hammer again. Rain met the attack, morphing into his own Soul Trigger state.

"Rain, is that really needed?" asked Storm, using her Trigger to slow time, slamming punches on the foe.

They're... hurting it! I thought. Are they managing to do that because their weapons are from another universe?! Actually... where does that put my claymore?

"Andrew!" grunted Reyn. "There's still a few Mechon left! Any Arts that can inflict Break?!"

"No," I replied, cursing, dodging an attack. "Storm, Rain..." I looked over. The two fighters were nowhere to be seen, though Xord had taken considerable damage.

"Heh heh heh..." laughed Xord. "I... I've been getting hungry!" He raised his hammer to squish Reyn and I at the same time.

I grunted, swinging once at a Mechon. Though my blade was deflected, energy filled me, and I used Time Slow to get Reyn and I out of the way. "Whew... that was real close."

"And we're not done yet!" Reyn defended against a Mechon. "When are Shulk and Sharla gonna show up?!"

"When they can! Look!" Thanks to my glasses letting me see, I saw Shulk and Sharla take down some Mechon, and an arm opened to let them gain passage to get closer. "Just a bit longer, and Shulk will be here with his Break Arts and the Monado!"

"Damn...!" swore Reyn, pushing back a Mechon. "How the heck are we gonna last?! The faced guy is all ready to get us and more Mechon are getting out every moment!"

"JUMP!" roared Shulk, leaping down to join us. "UGH!" He landed, hard. "Light Heal!" He restored his health, using Stream Edge to clear the Mechon in the immediate vicinity. "Are you guys alright?"

"Where's Sharla?!" grunted Reyn, shifting the current mode of his Driver as Shulk used Enchant.

"On a lift. I hurt my legs bad," winced the wielder of the Monado. "Ready?! Let's do this!"

Sharla leapt from the lift, Enchant appearing on her rifle. "Shulk, Reyn, Andrew!" The four of us evaded separately as Xord attacked. "Ugh..." She shot a round at the weaker Mechons. "Topple that thing!"

"Something we can only do if we perform the Arts in a rapid succession... a Chain Attack!" declared Shulk.

"Heh... welcome to the bouquet hall!" declared Xord. "Tonight... the main course will be you!" he laughed. "And if I still have room afterwards, the brat will make a fine dessert!"

Shulk's face turned into one of anger, looking at all the blood stains around to clearly indicate the deaths of many Colony 6 residents.. "Murderer!" he spat.

"I am Xord, your host tonight," he declared.

"Xord?" gasped Shulk. "So... so you have a name?!"

Xord laughed. "That's what they all say... can't say I remember it myself."

"What's he talking about?" wondered Shulk, holding the Monado towards the Mechon as Sharla covered her face with a hand.

"Oh yes! It's good to see some fresh meat on the table!" Xord slammed his hammer on the ground, and a shockwave burst outwards, freezing all of us in place in a second. "These colony folk... just don't fill me up!"

Sharla bent over, pain flashing across her face. "Gadolt... the others..." She closed her eyes due to the agony.

Xord laughed. "Come on, boys! DINNER... IS READY!" At his word, all the Mechon rushed at us.

Sharla glared at the incoming army of Mechon. "I swear I will not stop..." She pointed Gadolt's Rifle at one. "...UNTIL I SCRAP EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!" she screamed, firing a round. She moved forward, each shot taking down a Mechon each.

Reyn and Shulk charged forward, taking out the Mechon that had been rushing for Sharla. "Get behind me!" warned Reyn.

I walked forward. "Xord..." I looked at him. "Reyn! Shield up!" I ran, and Reyn lifted his Driver as I stepped on it.

As I leapt off I let loose a howl, morphing again. But this time, wings sprouted from my back, and I glided over to the faced Mechon.

"Reyn! Sharla!" called Shulk. "We are Homs, and we will not stand here just waiting to be eaten!" he roared, moving forward.

I swung my sword as Xord swung his hammer, clashing in a shower of sparks. I shoved the hammer away, though it rushed back at me just as quickly. "RAH!" With Defensive Reversal I deflected the blow so strongly Xord slid away.

I landed on his shoulder, using all my offensive Arts. Xord shook me off as I was in the middle of Whip Slash, and I fell with a grunt, my very form flickering.

"Not bad, kid!" laughed Xord. "But do you still have enough to block... THIS?!" He swung his hammer upon me, and I blocked. The ground beneath me began to break apart. "No, you can't!" I was sweating heavily, reverting to normal.

"Reyn, Sharla! CHAIN ATTACK!" roared Shulk. "Air Slash!" His Art was deflected but the signs of Break appeared on the Mechon. "Reyn! You're up!" he grunted.

"Wild Down!" shouted Reyn. As Topple appeared on the Mechon, causing him to fall on his side, he shouted. "ANDREW!"

"Cross Slash!" I grunted, the Daze appearing on the Mechon. "Sharla!"

"Metal Bullet!" she grunted. "Guys, cover me! I have to cool down my rifle!"

"Shield Bash!" shouted Reyn. "Alright!" He moved over to cover Sharla, shoving a Mechon away.

"Andrew! Let's..." Shulk gave a gasp. "If I can knock him into that river of Ether somehow..."

"Think later, Shulk!" I grunted as the huge Mechon recovered. "UGH!" He knocked all four of us away in the same moment somehow.

Shulk panted. "NO!" he roared, raising the Monado again as Xord moved forward. "We'll... never get to... huff... Juju at... this rate!" he cursed. "I... have to think of something!"

We all turned our heads at a strange sound, and Otharon emerged, in a Mobile Artillery Unit, attacking Xord.

"Feeling hungry, eh?" grunted Otharon, slamming blows on Xord, knocking him ever so closer to the river of Ether.

"Chew on this, scrap-for-brains!" shouted the old Defense Force man. Xord fell, nearly falling into the river. Otharon continued to pound mighty blows on the Mechon.

"Boy!" he called back. "Go and save Juju, now!"

Shulk gasped, no longer frozen from the scene. "Otharon, no! Don't do it!" he yelled.

Reyn and Sharla moved to try and rescue Juju, while Shulk was left to consider Otharon's safety.

"At this rate, even if we save Juju..." he panted. "Otharon is going to...!"

He closed his eyes, and gasped, looking at Sharla and Reyn as they got to Juju.

"Change... the future..." he breathed, looking around.

His eyes settled on a piece of machinery I had no clue about. "Yes... that's it! Andrew!" he shouted. "Raise the back of your sword, I'm going to jump off it!"

There was no time to protest, he was already running at me. I raised my claymore, and Shulk leapt on it, the symbol for Jump flashing on the Monado.

"Hah!" He landed near the piece of machinery. "Huff... gotta...!"

"Old man... you think you can stop me?!" laughed Xord, pushing Otharon back and recovering.

"No... I don't. But! I can do this!" Otharon struck the base of the tower... thing (NAILED IT!) and Ether burst onwards.

An explosion burst on the bridge, causing Xord to begin to fall.

"Let's see if that Mechon body of yours can withstand a river of Ether!" declared Otharon.

"Juju, wake up!" called Sharla, desperate, looking at her younger brother.

"Sharla, leave the rest up to Shulk, Andrew and I!" spoke Reyn, before rushing to his childhood friend.

"Hang in there, ya old fool!" shouted Reyn, running.

As Xord slid downwards he grabbed onto the front of Otharon's unit, which tried to shove the Mechon into the river of Ether.

"Fall, you damn machine!" shouted the man, attempting to shove Xord into the river.

Finally, Xord did begin to fall. But the footing was so unstable Otharon began to fall as well.

"Otharon!" screamed Shulk, who had managed to get the machine working. "Hold on!" He zoomed forward, deploying the crane on the machine to stop Otharon from falling into the river of Ether.

Shulk, in the machine, was forced to move forward. Though he managed to stop Otharon from falling.

"What a shot!" commented Reyn, rushing up to inspect the scene. I moved forward alongside him.

"Boy..." spoke Otharon, and the two looked at each other.

"We can change our destinies," declared Shulk. "Otharon... you won't die here. Not today."

Suddenly, the crane on the machine began to break down. It was apparent that the unit Otharon was in weighed too much, thanks to Xord hanging onto it, in the river of Ether.

"You cannot defeat me..." he spoke, red eyes flashing.

Otharon began to move out of the unit.

"Get out of there..." grunted Shulk, strain in his voice. "Quick...!"

Instead of taking Shulk's advice, Otharon armed himself with his rifle.

"It's... giving way...!" gasped Shulk, sweat very visible on his face.

Otharon aimed his rifle at Xord.

Reyn gasped as the older man did so. "He's gonna...!" He moved forward.

"It won't be long, my friends..." grunted Otharon. "But not before... Gadolt!" he shouted. "This one's for you! This... is for the people of Colony 6!" He fired the unit part Xord was hanging onto, and he completely submerged in the Ether, screaming.

At the same time, the crane broke, and Otharon fell towards the Ether.

Shulk gasped at the sight. "But I..." What seemed like millions of emotions flashed through his face in an instant.

"This... this wasn't supposed to happen!"

Shulk looked at the older man, screaming. "OTHARON!"

Otharon's face made it clear he was thinking of Gadolt.

Reyn let out a yell, throwing himself over the edge into the river of Ether.

"REYN!" screamed Shulk, getting out of the machine. "No...!" He threw his hands at the ground, an expression of being absolutely crushed coming over his face.

But then there was a sound. Shulk raised his head with another gasp. He looked over the edge.

Reyn had grabbed Otharon's rifle and another piece of the crane. "That was close..." he breathed.

Shulk gasped, throwing himself back into the machine to pull Reyn and Otharon back up.

"Ya... you wanna hurry up?" grunted Reyn to Shulk. "My arm's about ready to drop off."

"Thank you..." spoke Otharon, as Reyn helped him back up.

"Save your thanks for Shulk and his vision," responded the younger man. "As soon as I saw a river of Ether, I knew this was the place."

...

"Juju..." breathed out Sharla. "You're safe now."

"What did I tell you?" spoke Reyn, towards Shulk. "You and me, we can make anything happen!"

Improper grammar! I thought.

"Yeah," admitted Shulk, fully turning towards his friend. "You were right."

"A boy capable to change the future..." mused Otharon. He then turned to face Shulk. "I stand corrected, young man. You have done a great deed here today." He nodded towards the blonde.

"I really didn't do anything," replied Shulk, scratching the back of his head. "I... I couldn't have done it without you guys."

"Tell me," spoke Otharon. "Your vision saved me. What what of the others? What happened to Gadolt?"

Sharla still knelt, though she flinched slightly. Shulk looked over her. "Uh..." He turned back to Otharon and shook his head, a few traces of self-loathing in his eyes.

"I see..." responded Otharon, voice now very solemn as Sharla walked off. He gave a brief sigh. "Medic!"

"Yes?" she replied, turning back to the Defense Force man.

"That's Gadolt's Rifle," he breathed out. "I know he would want you to have it. Take good care of it."

Sharla looked at the gun she held. "I... will."

Shulk and Reyn shared a glance.

"Time to head back to the camp now, right?" yawned Reyn, rolling his arm a bit.

"We'll have to give Juju some medical attention," noted Shulk.

Reyn nodded towards if friend, and Sharla began to speak.

"There's a freight elevator on the next level," she announced. "From there, it's an easy route to get out of the mine." A bit of worry crossed her face and peered into her voice. "As long as it's working..."

"We'll know that when we get on it," declared Reyn.

"You make me laugh," smiled Sharla, though the smile on her face was obscured by the face palm she had.

"Well, I'm right, ain't I?" replied Reyn, a bit of defiance coming into his voice.

Sharla walked up to Reyn. "You're absolutely right," she spoke, happiness blooming upwards slightly in her voice. "We need to move on and stop worrying about every little thing." She turned. "Come on, guys."

With that we went off towards the elevator, Otharon following while Sharla carried Juju.

"This..." Shulk pressed a button, summoning a lift. "It works."

"That's a relief," breathed Sharla, all of us getting on the lift to speed upwards. "Now, we have to move around to get to that elevator I was talking about."

"Then let's go!" declared Reyn, following Sharla as she carried Juju.

...

"There," grunted Shulk, boarding the elevator. He pressed a button as all of us boarded. "Good. Works perfectly." He turned to face Sharla and Reyn as he spoke.

Otharon was supporting Juju, to one side of the elevator.

"See? What'd I say?" Reyn turned to Sharla, smugness oozing in his voice.

"We're all impressed," she responded, her voice suggesting that her mind was focussed on different things.

The elevator sped upwards, and with a jolt, it suddenly stopped.

"Hey!" exclaimed Reyn. "Why have we stopped?!"

"I don't know..." A flash of blue flickered in his eyes, very faintly. "But... I think we're about to find out..."

I grunted. Xord leapt onto the elevator. "You..." I drew my claymore.

Shulk gasped at the sight, green Ether floating around the massive Mechon.

"Not him again!" complained Reyn.

"This one doesn't give up!" commented Sharla, a touch of disgust in her voice.

"This is our chance, guys!" declared Shulk. "I think the Ether river burned off most of his armour. So the Monado..." He unleashed the beam, moving forward. "Hah!" He dodged the hammer swing and managed to pierce the armour. "Yes!"

Xord let out a roar, throwing Shulk away.

"Ugh!" He recovered. "Yeah. The Monado can hurt him now. So..." He used Enchant, the purple aura surrounding our weapons. "Let's do this!"

Reyn and Shulk ran forward, while Sharla moved back to cover them. I walked forward, using Defensive Reversal to counter a hammer swing.

Shulk let out a yell, his Back Slash Art causing him to grab Xord's attention. "Ugh...! Shadow Eye...!" He gasped, thrown back from a fierce swing of the hammer. Thankfully, Xord then turned to Reyn, letting Shulk recover with Light Heal.

"SWORD DRIVE!" shouted Reyn, sliding back from the force of his own attack. "Dang... still not enough...!"

"Heal Bullet!" declared Sharla, healing Shulk fully. "There you go!"

"Thanks, Sharla!" The Monado's wielder moved forward. "Air Slash!" he shouted, though Break was not inflicted.

I used Time Slow as the massive Mechon swung at me, leaping atop of the arm. With a roar I used Whip Slash, causing a solid wound across the arm. "Hah!" He used Stab Strike, before Xord used his other hand to palm me away. "UGH!" Can't move... did he Topple me?! I thought. "Shoot...!"

"Andrew!" With Reyn's help I got back up. "You okay?"

In truth, I felt like throwing up my gut. But I nodded. "Reyn, dodge!" I dove, shoving him at the same time. The hammer swing rushed by, so close.

"Thanks." He got back up, the purple aura fading on our weapons. "No... Shulk!"

"I know!" He used Enchant again, sweat becoming quickly visible on his forehead. "Huff..." He dodged a hammer strike, tripping. "Ah...!"

"Darn! MAD TAUNT!" shouted Reyn, forcing Xord to focus on him. "Ugh!" He changed his Driver to its defensive mode, blocking the hammer swing. "Sharla!"

"I know!" She moved over to Shulk, and it looked like they had a swift pep talk, with Shulk nodding at the end.

I swung a few times, letting power build up within me. "Shulk!" I called. "Let's end this now! All our most powerful Arts, in a single Chain Attack!"

"Alright!" He got behind the Mechon. "Everyone, use anything you've got to increase the power of your Arts! Shadow Eye!" he panted, struggling to regain his breath.

"MAGNUM CHARGE!" shouted Reyn, veins beginning to pop in his face. "I'M READY!"

I smirked, concentrating for a moment. "RAH!" I morphed into my Soul form.

"HERE I GO!" shouted Shulk. "BACK SLASH!" Xord screamed from the impact of the attack.

I let out a roar, flying to the head of the Mechon and using Stab Strike to force my blade to penetrate the face of the large foe. I leapt away as Reyn used Sword Drive to force the Mechon away.

Xord was bent over, the Ether dripping from its body.

He let out pained yells and groans, struggling to move towards Shulk. Slowly, step by step, he was close to the blonde.

He straightened and raised his hammer at Shulk. "Still... HUNGRY!" he screamed, throwing it upon Shulk.

Sharla fired a single round, blasting the arm off. As if in a chain reaction, other parts of Xord's body also began to explode and fall off.

Xord fell on his back with another groan of agony and pain.

"D... did we get him?!" panted Reyn, looking exhausted by the usage of his Magnum Charge Art.

Shulk, Sharla, Reyn and I moved forward.

Xord was groaning with suffering, eyes flickering, nearly falling off the elevator. "Got... to hand it to you...

"You... beat me without... even releasing... the true power... of the Monado..."

"The... true power of the Monado?" echoed Shulk. He pointed the blade's beam at Xord. "What do you know about the Monado?!" he shouted.

"Sorry, boy... can't tell you that. You'll have to find the truth on your own..." His whole body shook as he spoke.

"The truth?"

"When I became... what you see now... my eyes were opened..." If Mechon were capable of breathing, Xord's breathing was slowing rapidly. "Was... a good ride... while it lasted..."

"When you became like this?!" Shulk glared at Xord, eyes flaring with anger and frustration. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!"

Shulk moved away as a thruster on Xord's body began to kick in.

"Time's up... pipsqueak... I'M GONE!" He fell and toppled over the edge of the elevator.

"Xord!" shouted Shulk as the Mechon fell. As the body fell, there was a great explosion at the bottom.

Shulk came to the elevator's edge, and Reyn grabbed him. "Get back!" He pulled Shulk back as the explosion raced upwards, nearly burning Shulk.

The elevator was at the top of the mine now, and we raced out from the explosions, panting.

Shulk gave a gasp as he was thrown forward by an explosion in the mine.

All of us fell, gasping the fresh air that covered our lungs now.

Reyn turned, carrying Juju, towards the mine. I also turned, and a bunch of smoke came from the exit we had just come from.

"We smashed that bronze idiot," grunted Reyn, setting Juju down by some rubble, Sharla beside him. "Now... the people of Colony 6 can rest in peace."

"Yeah..." responded Sharla. She looked at Juju as he groaned. "Are you alright?"

"S... Sharla?" mumbled Juju, turning towards his sister.

She breathed out. "Thank the stars you're alright."

"Where are we?"

"Just outside of Colony 6," she told her younger brother. "Thanks to Shulk and Reyn we destroyed that thing."

I feel forgotten... again... I thought, standing.

She paused for a brief moment. "But not everyone made it."

"Oh..." Juju stood. "I'm so sorry." He turned towards me. "You tried to stop me, and I..."

"Did not run me over," I replied. "It's fine. Thank the real heroes."

"What?" Shulk turned towards me. "Andrew... 'thank the real heroes'? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Forget about it," I growled, as rain fell.

Shulk sighed briefly. "There's still no sign of that Mechon with that metal face," he grunted.

"He's the one we're really after."

"Yeah," replied Reyn, looking at the ground for a moment.

"Hope I'm not interrupting!" laughed a malicious voice. Behind Shulk and Reyn was Metal Face.

"It's him!" exclaimed Shulk. "Metal Face!"

Mumkhar sneered at us. He flew around (kind of like honey bee, actually...) as a bunch more Mechon popped out.

"Not just him!" cursed Reyn as we all drew our weapons. "A bunch of Mechon that look like Xord!"

Mumkhar landed on the ground. "Pathetic!" he spat. "After all that talk, Xord was defeated by worthless maggots like you."

Reyn groaned. "Aw, this one can talk 'n' all!" he grunted.

"I can talk all right..." smirked Metal Face. "And I've got a good memory." He tried to mimic Shulk and failed. 0/10. "'Fiora! Get outta there! Get out!'" He stamped his feet around, before glaring at Shulk again.

"Her screams were music to my ears," he sneered. "...as my claws slide right through her soft flesh. Like a hot knife through butter!"

"I've never tried that," I spoke. "Does that hot knife cut through that butter easily?"

Every single object stared at me for a moment, as if checking if I were making a joke or not. I was not, I was genuinely curious about the answer.

Mumkhar burst out laughing. "Ha ha ha! Monado boy, you've got some stupid companions!"

Shulk's face contorted, the length pulsing from the Monado. His hands shook.

"Talk all you want." He began to run. "Because... THOSE WORDS WILL BE YOUR LAST!" he screamed.

The Monado met a claw, and Shulk slid back from the attack.

"The Monado?" sneered Mumkhar. "Heh, it's been a while!

"But you should know by now. THE MONADO CAN'T STOP ME!"

He swung his claws at Shulk, but I blocked the attack, thanks to my Time Slow Talent Art and Defensive Reversal. The both of us were forced back from the impact.

He's so much stronger than Xord! I winced, my arms shaking from the impact. My Defensive Reversal Art and Time Slow just barely managed to block that! How is there such a difference between them?!

"Shulk!" grunted Reyn, as he and Sharla rushed up to the wielder of the Monado.

"I'm gonna..." Shulk's voice was full of hate and anger. It was clearly visible in his eyes.

"Any way you slice it... the Monado isn't gonna work, boy!" roared Metal Face.

"Boo! Worst pun ever! 0/10!" I called, smirking as Mumkhar growled.

"The Monado didn't work then, and it won't work now!" He sneered. "So, Red Coat, your sword won't hurt me either."

I grunted as he lunged with his claws. "Well... I've got something..." I morphed again, flying off to block the attack. "RAH!" I stabbed with Stab Strike, but my sword bounced off. "UGH?!" No way...!

"Ha ha ha!" Metal Face pierced me with his claws, before throwing me into Reyn, who caught me. I reverted to normal.

"Time to cut you all down to size!"

"Andrew, are you alright?!" grunted Shulk, the Monado's light pulsing outwards strongly.

I groaned. "That hurt." I collapsed as Reyn set me down, and he helped me up as Sharla healed Shulk and I with her Heal Round Art. "Thanks..."

She nodded. "Here he comes!" she spoke, as Mumkhar's claws began to rush at us, screaming through the air.

Suddenly, there was a burst of what seemed like a laser, and Metal Face flinched. "WHAT?!"

From up the cliff a bit, there was Dickson. He smirked, a moustache not as fancy from Drayden's from Pokemon glistening in the rain.

Otharon gave a gasp, realizing who it was. "That's..."

"Now! Let 'im have it, beast!" shouted Dickson.

Dunban ran out from behind Dickson and down the cliff, shouting the whole way. With a single strike a Mechon fell, and he used his momentum to slash down another, before rising to face Shulk, Sharla, Reyn and I.

"Dunban!" exclaimed Shulk, looking at his former mentor.

Reyn was in amazement. "How did you...?"

He held his katana over his shoulder. "Sorry to have kept you." He glanced over Sharla and I. "Companions of Shulk and Reyn?" The two of us nodded, and so did he. "Alright.

"Looks like we were just in time," he mused.

Metal Face moved back as a bunch of Mechon began to storm us. Dickson rushed down and was beside us.

"Alright! I'm ready to take down some Mechon!" declared Reyn, Driver ready.

The next few minutes were intensive and impossible to remember. Shulk used Enchant before rushing off, and Reyn and Sharla and Dunban rushed forward to meet the onslaught of Mechon.

As for me, I swung and stabbed and rolled and destroyed a ton of stuff. I was feeling good for a while, using Slide Edge to take down a Mechon.

"Yeah!" I leapt off the Mechon, crouching for a moment.

In that moment, I felt a gun barrel to the back of my head.

"Now, don't move," grunted Dickson. "If you stay alive... Lord Zanza may not be able to come back.

"Sorry... it's time to die."

Thanks for reading!