Chapter 20

"RAH!" he roared, rushing at Reyn, who blocked the slash. Dunban struck in a high-speed string of fierce slashes and strikes, all of which Reyn's new Driver blocked with ease.

"Is all you're going to do is block, Reyn?!" shouted the older man, and Reyn shoved back at him in that moment, causing Dunban to stagger. "Hmph!" He leapt to dodge Reyn's Sword Drive Art, and their weapons met again.

"Huff..." breathed Reyn, as Dunban leapt away again. "Huff..." He wiped sweat from his forehead.

Dunban sheathed his blade. "Take a break, Reyn. Don't overexert yourself."

"Al... alright..." he panted, placing his Driver on his back and sitting.

"Huh..." I looked outwards. "When are we going to set off again?"

"Two days," yawned Shulk. "Dickson told me we're gonna have to go to Satorl Marsh."

Sharla cleaned Gadolt's Rifle. She was silent, looking up at Reyn.

I don't really know these people, I thought. They're video game characters. But... who am I, then? What am I? I've been called an Outsider... but what is that?

Am I human anymore?

"Andrew," called Shulk. "You look like you've got a bunch on your mind."

I sighed. "One could say that."

Dunban looked over. "Would you feel better if you talked it out with us?"

In the two days since... disturbing events had occurred, Dunban had treated me almost like Shulk and Reyn.

But I wasn't like them. I didn't belong here.

"No." I shook my head. "This is something that only I can go through." I stood. "I'll be back in a sec."

"Andrew..." Shulk seemed to have to stop himself as I walked away.

...

I gave a long sigh, alone. On a cliff.

I want to see them again, I thought. All my friends... maybe my family... that kind of sounds like something an abridged series would sound like, I suddenly thought. I miss them...

As I thought that thought everything came at once. All the thoughts... dark and easily as strong as Mumkhar.

I closed my eyes. Painful memories surged over me, threatening to spilt me in half.

"Looks like you've got a lot on your mind."

I flinched, turning around. "Dickson..." I growled, hand on my sword's hilt.

"Relax," he breathed, smoking. "What you did just then, walking away from Shulk... that's sealed everyone's fates.

"Everyone will die, and Lord Zanza will come back."

"Shut up!" I hissed in a real deep voice, sword drawn. I used Aura Wave to send a shockwave at him, but he dodged it with ease.

"You're rattled," he smirked. "Unsure. All because with that outside help from your story buds are way more enemies.

"You'll never get to see any of your friends again. You're a fool."

"No duh," I replied. "I always knew I was dense and an idiot. I tell myself that every single day."

"Yeah? Well, one of us could hurt your friends from wherever you came from. He could hurt them good." He paused, probably for dramatic effect. "He could hurt them real good."

"Stop..." I growled, left hand in a clenched fist. "Stop it..."

"Alvis is the Monado, you know. He can change the fate of any living thing."

"SHUT IT!" I yelled, morphing as I lunged for him, my sword meeting his gun barrel as he fired. "RAH!" I took to the air, launching shockwaves in rapid succession. He evaded each one, and our weapons met in a shower of sparks.

"You're weak!" spat Dickson, our faces close to each other. "To just keep up even now, you need to wield that form, Outsider!"

"Ugh!" I slid back as he overwhelmed me. "Huh..." I lunged, using Stab Strike, with Dickson blocking. "RAWR!" I forced him back.

"Don't forget... if you survive to fight me, it's at the end of your journey," he sneered. "No way are you strong enough now to beat me. See?"

The next thing I knew was that blood was exploding from my body as I reverted to my normal form.

"What...?" I gasped, collapsing. "Crap doodles..." I coughed up blood.

"So pitiful," laughed Dickson. "But if I let you live now, you'll become a threat to Lord Zanza... assuming you survive that long." He aimed the barrel of his gun at me.

"Game over."

"GUH!" I gasped with agony as bullets penetrated me, until past a dozen were in my body. Consciousness was fading, so slow...

"Ha ha ha ha!" laughed Dickson, out loud. "No one's here to save ya now, Outsider!

"You're going to die, right here and now!

"You'll be the reason why Shulk and all of them die, fool! Because you came into their world!"

I groaned. "Are... are you saying... you're not apart of their world?" I managed.

"Hell no," he smirked. "Of course not. My world... well, is whatever Lord Zanza says it is."

I panted. "Damn you..."

"So since you're unable to even lift a sword anymore, all you've got left is to curse me?" Dickson chuckled. "Funny, Outsider." He fired another bullet into me, and I felt it rip through me.

"Huff..." I coughed again. I can't...

I guess... I really won't be able to see them again... all because this douche is going to kill me right here... I gasped for oxygen.

I'm sorry, Julia... Joel... I'm about to die right here.

Dickson laughed his evil laugh, walking up to me. The barrel of his gun was up to my head. No chance he would miss.

"You know... you did really good," he spoke. "Managing to dodge my bullet back when Metal Face turned up again. But you don't even have enough energy to use your time slowing ability."

He was right. I didn't have close to enough energy.

Dickson threw his cigar away, as it was spent. "Not too bad, kid.

"But now it's good-bye."

I've made a poll. (Which I will probably never do again...)

Title: Should Andrew die in Chapter 21 of the XenoBlade Chronicles fanfiction, From Another World?

1. Andrew is saved somehow.

2. Andrew dies, AND CHAPTER 21 IS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE FANFICTION

(The poll is on this site, by the way...)

Also, I will be taking some time off this fanfic! That's it. Nothing more.

Thanks for reading!