Chapter 27

"So this is it," mused Shulk. "There's a massive trail of Ether crystals... leading up to that... and this big grey area..."

"Ooh, what is this?!" exclaimed the Heropon. "Riki never see before!

"This not Riki's Makna! Riki never see before!"

"To see that it has caused this much damage..." murmured Melia.

"What do you mean?" asked Sharla.

I moved forward, one hand on my sword. I felt a bit stronger all of a sudden compared to literally ten seconds ago.

"Are you telling me the Telethia did this?" added Dunban.

No, it's Melia, I thought. She was the culprit behind this, like the first one. What are you expecting, Dunban?

"Telethia drain and absorb the surrounding area of all its Ether," she stated.

I blinked. So I feel better because of the lack of Ether? I thought. "Huh..."

"That's it!" exclaimed Shulk. "The Telethia is absorbing the Ether, which is causing the natural environment to change."

Melia turned to Shulk. "Shulk, the Telethia can read your mind. Expect it to know what you will do before you do it."

"He already knows that!" I called. The half-High Entian (I think?) ignored me.

Shulk glanced at me for a moment. "I know," he spoke, turning back to Melia. "I'll target its antenna and stop its ability to read all of our minds. With the Monado on our side... it doesn't stand a chance."

"It's much more powerful than its offspring," she warned. "Do not expect it to fall so easily." With that she turned back to the grey area and began to move away.

"I won't," replied Shulk. "But he have to trust in the Monado," he muttered.

All seven of us walked to the middle of the grey area and there was a loud screech.

I drew my sword, alarm flaring through me. "Yay," I deadpanned. "A massive flying beast. Just what I always wanted to fight."

There were multiple gasps as the Telethia rushed by using an attack that could be Brave Bird.

"Stick together, everyone!" yelled Reyn.

"Dinobeast!" exclaimed Riki. "Big as Riki imagined!"

Everyone else drew their weapons, and the beam pulsed from the Monado.

"The Telethia!" spoke Melia. She moved forward, in front of Shulk.

"I take this chance to bring vengeance for my brethren, and fulfill my duty!" she declared.

"Shulk!" She looked at him for a moment. "I will trap it and cease its movement!"

She then ran forward, almost like an idiot. "Strike when the time is right!"

"Melia!" shouted the Monado's wielder, running forward after her.

She stopped running, covering her eyes as a golden light flares up from her staff. "Unh..." She looks at the beast as a golden light fills her eyes. "BE STILL!" The light rushes forward at the Telethia.

It howled, pausing in responce to Melia's Ether attack.

"Oh yeah!" smirked Reyn, as he and Dunban and Sharla all run forward. "She's nifty with that staff!"

I winced, and noticed the Heropon behind me. "Well?" I smirked. "Ready, Heropon Riki?"

He looked back at me. "Riki ready for Dinobeast!" He rushed forward to join the others.

"I knew it!" grunted Sharla. "She can control Ether energy without catalysts or rifle shells!"

Dunban breathed more heavily as he ran forward, his stub for a right arm bandaged a bit. "I've... heard that such people exist."

Everyone came into place before the Telethia. "But I never thought she would be one," admitted the Monado's former wielder.

"Hey, Andrew!" shouted Shulk. "Coming?!"

"Yeah." I moved forward, and stood just behind everyone else.

Melia rushed forward, and Dunban looked back at us. "Shulk, Reyn, Sharla, Andrew!" he grunted. "Protect Melia at all costs!"

"On it!" replied Reyn, moving forward after Shulk and Melia.

"Right!" As Sharla spoke she aimed with Gadolt's rifle.

Shulk began to yell as he ran forward. "YAH!"

The Telethia screamed a harsh cry, swinging its tail at us.

"Look out!" gasped Shulk, tackling Melia to take her to the ground. Reyn changed his Driver to its defensive mode to block the attack, and Riki simply used his arm things to fly over the tail.

"Lurgy!" yelled the Nopon, the Telethia evading the attack with ease. "Oh?!"

"Riki, don't bother!" grunted Shulk. "It can read your mind!"

Melia moved in, whacking at the beast with her staff. It didn't even react, and raised a claw to swipe at her.

"Hah!" I used Defensive Reversal and moved in front of her, though as I turned the Telethia hit me in my back instead of my front where I could defend with my blade. "UGH?!" I staggered back. "Derp."

The Telethia roared, slamming a claw down. A massive burst of Ether struck all of us at once, slamming us all backwards.

"UGH!" gasped Shulk, as the Monado fell out of his grip. "No...!"

I groaned. "It's... doing it again?!" There was no way this wouldn't be lethal to someone, either. All of us on the ground, claw in the air ready to unleash Ether? Doubtful.

"Ugh?!" I can't... slow down time! I realized. Because of the remnants of that last attack?!

"Ah...!" gasped Melia, as elementals floated in the air above her head. She fired all three above her head swiftly, and it staggered for a brief moment from the unexpected attack. Its claw fell and just missed.

"Shulk, get up, man!" yelled Reyn, getting his friend off the ground. "Uh-oh... Sharla! Shulk's badly hurt! Where's...?"

"My rifle... I dropped it during that attack!" gasped Sharla. "Oh, no!"

Blood pumped from the stomach area of Shulk. "UGH!" He coughed up blood. "Sorry... guys..."

"Riki help Shulk!" declared the Heropon, moving to Shulk. "YOU CAN DO IT!"

"Guys!" shouted Dunban, and I turned to see the Telethia claw for the swordsman, who just managed to deflect it from sheer luck. "Some help here!"

"Shulk, stay back!" I told him. "Let Sharla and Riki heal you! Reyn, cover them if the Telethia goes for you guys! Riki, grab the Monado! Sharla, try and get your rifle!

"Melia, you and I will have to join Dunban!" I ran forward, leaping over Dunban to block a slash with Cross Slash. "Ugh...!" I was flown back from the recoil, rising as quick as I could. "Crap...!"

"Summon Bolt!" declared the mage. "Summon Aqua! Summon Copy!" She breathed out. "HAH!" She shot them at the Telethia, and a aura surrounded her for a moment. "MIND BLAST!"

"What?!" exclaimed Dunban, as thee Telethia flinched from the attack.

"It shouldn't be able to read your mind for a little bit!" shouted Melia. "The time to attack is now!"

I smirked. "Yeah!" I moved closer, using Slide Edge to get on top of the beast. "Hi, everyone!" I roared, using Stab Strike to attack the beast.

"Serene Heart!" breathed out Dunban. "Okay...!"

"Dundun!" yelled Riki, moving forward. "Bitey Bitey!"

"Huff!" gasped Shulk, staggering. "Ugh...! I can't... move...!"

Sharla gasped, rifle back in her grasp. "Shulk, what happened to you?!" she exclaimed, firing a healing shot into him.

He groaned. "I..." He threw up blood. "UGH!"

"Shulk!" yelled Dunban and Reyn, both distracted for a moment.

And Melia's Mind Blast Art expired at the same moment. Great.

The Telethia used a claw and they sunk into me. "Oh no!" gasped Melia.

"I'm fine, don't worry!" I coughed, morphing. "RAH!" I used my free left hand to pull the claw out of me, and I cut the fingers off using Whip Slash. "Unh...?!" I reverted to normal and the Telethia shook me off. "Ugh!" I groaned, hitting the ground.

That Telethia... "When it's able to read our minds, it's emitting an aura of Ether!" I exclaimed. "Damn it! Must be one concentrated aura, too...!"

"F-F-Freezinate!" declared Riki, his Art lunging at the Telethia. It moved, but blinded in pain somewhat from me cutting off its claws, the Art glanced off it and Chill appeared.

The Telethia roared, slamming its claw down again. Ether burst all around us, forcing us all back. "Shoot!" cursed Dunban.

"This isn't good!" I panted. "I can't use my powers, Shulk's throwing up blood, and we can barely hit it even with Ether attacks!"

"Summon Flare!" gasped Melia, on his knees. "Huff... I must slay this beast!" She got to her feet again. "AH!"

Dunban deflected an attack aimed for her. "Stay focussed!" he grunted, as a tail whipped him away. "Ugh!"

"HAPPY HAPPY!" shouted Riki, dancing on the spot. Energy seemed to fill me. "Ooh! Riki and friends do Chain Attack!"

"A Chain Attack?!" I panted. "Riki, how are we going to hit this thing, even with a Chain Attack?!"

"Huff...!" Shulk arose to his feet. "I'll... use the Monado..." He had it in his grasp again. "I'll... get it to stop reading our minds for a moment... then we have to use all our Arts we can... and Daze it!

"That... should stop it... from reading our minds for a while!"

"Good idea!" declared Reyn. "Alright!"

"Everyone... ready?!" he panted. "HAH!" The Monado's beam turned green and a green aerial slash rushed through the air and hit the Telethia. It screamed and Shulk collapsed.

"HAH!" shouted Melia. "MANIFEST YOURSELF!" A massive fireball moved forward and struck the Telethia.

"RAH!" I roared, using Stab Strike. Beside me, Sharla used Metal Blast while Reyn used Wild Down.

"ROLY POLY KEEP ON ROLIIIIIIIIIIING!" shouted Riki, attacking.

"RAH!" yelled Dunban, leaping on top of the Telethia as it collapsed. "HAH!" he yelled, stabbing it.

At the same time, Sharla and Melia were attacking with their Ether attacks for as much damage as possible.

It screamed in pain, and returned to normal, shaking off the Topple and Break quickly.

"What?" gasped Shulk. "No...!"

It flew up, and Dunban roared as he cut off the wing, leaping off.

As the Herohom landed on the ground, the Heropon cheered.

The Telethia hissed as it grew back its wing, and the fingers I cut off earlier.

"What the?!" exclaimed Dunban.

"Dinobeast grown back thing!" gasped Riki.

"You... got... to be kidding me!" panted Dunban.

The Telethia roared at us.

"It's no good!" panted Sharla. "My Ether shots are having no effect!"

"Ugh... it..." Shulk managed to rise again. "Its... regenerative power... is too much...!"

Melia moved forward, in front of Shulk. "It... is all right, Shulk."

He looked at her. "Huh?"

"Destroying the Telethia is beyond us!"

All six of us stared at her.

"We should cut our losses and mourn those who perished."

"NO!" I roared. "Never!" I coughed. "Ugh... if... if we don't beat this thing... WHO WILL?!"

"Andrew's... right..." coughed Shulk, using the Monado to support himself. "N... never, Melia...!

"The men you lost... I know they were dear to you...

She looked at him with a melancholy expression in her eyes as he continued.

"I know... only too well... the desire for revenge," he spoke. "And..." His hands trembled as the Monado's beam pulsed forward, and he lifted it in one hand. "And the crushing pain of losing those... who are close to you.

"I... can't stand by... and let another person experience what I have. Not... IF I CAN HELP IT!" he roared, the Monado's light turning green again. The symbol for 'Destroy' flashed on it.

"This monster... IS GOING DOWN!" he shouted, sending a massive green slash through the air. The Telethia screamed as it touched it.

"Now, I've trapped him with the Monado!" he declared. "Everyone else... HIT THE TELETHIA WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!" he screamed, as a purple aura surrounded the blade itself, not affecting the light. "Compressed... BUSTER!"

"MAGNUM CHARGE!" shouted Reyn, an aura surrounding him. "This is it! When the going get going, the tough get tough!"

"Ha!" laughed Riki. "Even Riki know that not right!"

Melia looked at all of us. "Thank you..."

"Ready?!" he asked her, and she nodded. "LET'S GO!"

All os us charged forward. "BURST END!" shouted Melia, lowering the beast's defensive abilities.

I couldn't help but smile. "Dunban! Together, let's cut off those wings!" I told him.

He nodded. "Alright! Everyone, try and Daze it!" he yelled, leaping for the Telethia. "ANDREW!"

"YEAH!" I managed to slow time, though not for long. I got on top of the Telethia and time returned to normal. "RAH!" Dunban and I cut off the wings at the same time, making the Telethia howl in pain. "Awesome!"

Both of us leapt off and Reyn used Sword Drive, forcing the Telethia backwards a little bit. "Yeah!"

"Sneaky!" declared Riki, bashing at the Dinobeast with his Biter.

The Telethia shrieked, growing back the wings. "Well, that was quick," noted Dunban.

"Sorry," I panted. "Shouldn't have gone with that plan after all, huh?"

"If... if its regenerative power is tiring it out, then we should be getting closer to defeating this Telethia," spoke Shulk. "We just have to keep at it, guys! Let's go!"

"Shulk's right!" shouted Sharla, firing a massive load of Ether into the air. It drifted down to heal all of us. "Just... cover me for a moment, I have to cool my rifle!"

"Gotcha!" grunted Reyn, moving back to defend the shooter, just blocking a tail whip. "Whoa!"

"Gale Slash!" shouted Dunban, though the Telethia moved, most likely out of reflex, to make it a glancing blow. "I still inflicted Bleed...!"

"Hah!" I shouted, using Aura Wave to launch shockwaves the Telethia flew up to dodge. "Darn," I cursed.

"Summon Bolt!" declared Melia. "I... am in your debt, everyone. Thank you for helping me defeat this beast." As she spoke a golden aura surrounded her. "But the time for this to end is now!" she declared.

"Yeah!" declared Reyn with a smirk, his Driver switching modes to its offensive mode again.

"Alright... I can use Monado Purge one more time," panted Shulk, as the compressed Buster Art wore off. "In that moment, everyone, we all strike at once! Just use the most powerful Art you have!"

"How about a Chain Attack?" spoke Reyn, panting. "Should be able to beat this thing down in one!"

"Good idea," replied Shulk, as the Monado's light turned green again. "Altogether for a Chain Attack!"

All six of us readied ourselves as Shulk struck with an aerial green slash. The Telethia hissed at it.

"Reyn, you're up!" yelled Shulk, staggering backwards as his best friend moved forward.

"SWORD DRIVE!" he roared, his own attack throwing him backwards from the best. "Dunban!"

"Worldly Slash!" declared the swordsman, and he moved back as Sharla readied her rifle.

"Head Shot," mused the sharpshooter, before her rifle round pierced an eye of the Telethia.

"Yeah, Riki go!" chirped the Heropon, bouncing forward. "YOINK!"

I stifled laughter. "Melia, end it," I spoke, looking at her.

She nodded. "MANIFEST YOURSELF!" A massive bolt of lightning struck from above and impaled through the beast.

In that bolt of magic was a golden glow, which made the bolt look like something else.

It stirred, feeble, before it faltered and exploded. Or imploded. Or something. SCIENCE!

I breathed out, placing my sword on my back again.

Everyone cheered, among themselves, moving away from the battlefield.

"Brilliant thinking," Sharla told Shulk. "Even though the Telethia can absorb large amounts of Ether and regenerate at an incredible rate...

"Absorbing so much energy caused it to implode."

"Who would have thought?" mused Dunban. "Brute force wins again. Nothing like an old-fashioned scrap."

Shulk turned as Dunban continued. "Dickson would've been proud."

Hell no he wouldn't! I thought. He shoots Shulk in the back and bad stuff happens! HE IS NOT PROUD!

"It was the only way I could think of," admitted Shulk. "If there had been another way..." Then what?

"Don't listen to Dunban," interrupted Reyn. "Soon you and that Monado will be unstoppable."

Not that Monado... but he will be unstoppable with a Monado, I thought. "Huh..."

"It was like at Tephra Cave," he stated. "It was almost... natural, instinctive. The Monado responded to me, and I harnessed a new power."

"You'll get your chance, Shulk," his friend told him. "We'll turn that faced Mechon into scrap."

"I know. That's what keeps me going," he mused. Then his expression changed to a happier one.

"Let's go back to Frontier Village," spoke Shulk, starting to move away. "Huh...? Melia...?" He looked back at her as she stayed in the grey area. "What are you...?"

She looked at the ground, then looked at the sky. "Howard, Garan, Damil, Ariel..." She murmured. "Are you there?"

Ooh... she can talk to ghosts...! I thought, imagining my thoughts in a weird cliche ghost voice.

Melia closed her eyes. "I did it... it's dead, did you see?"

Shulk and us waited, and she turned to face us.

"I thank you again for your aid," she spoke. "Justice... has been served."

"You're welcome," spoke Shulk. "Besides... it was mostly you."

"Dinobeast!" spoke the Nopon, who had been bouncing all over the place. "Heropon Riki ready for round two!"

"Too bad that the fight's all over," spoke Dunban.

"Riki know," he replied. "But Riki still ready!" He did a little dance as he spoke.

"Let's go back," spoke Shulk, looking like e might laugh. "Back to Frontier Village."

Thanks for reading!