Chapter 33

"NO! NO! AAAH!"

I turned at the loudest scream yet. "Be a bit more quiet," I growled, as as the Monado's beam burst outwards.

But now it was a distinct white colour, with slight bits of red mixed in.

"AAAH!" Shulk stabbed Reyn's body with the Monado.

"Shulk!" gasped Sharla. "What are you doing?!"

"SHULK!" Dunban rushed forward and forced the Monado's wielder away. "Stop! That is not doing anything useful!"

There was a faint glow from Reyn's body, the same colour as the beam of the Monado.

"Wait... that Ether... it's...!" Sharla stared at Reyn. "Shulk..."

His eyes were without their pupils, like after Zanza left his body. "AAAAAAAAAAAH!" He overpowered Dunban and repeatedly stabbed his friend's body.

"Shulk..." I grabbed my sword. I had a feeling that something even crazier was about to happen. "Reyn is dea-"

"RAH!" screeched Shulk, and lunged at me with astonishing speed. I blocked his slash. "He... IS NOT DEAD!"

"The proof's on the ground," I responded. "Accept reality, Shulk. At any time, any of us could die, just like that."

His pupils came back, a bright blue colour. "Huff..." He staggered back, fell over. "Huff..." He glanced at Reyn's corpse, and cried. Finally, he fell on his back and was out like a light.

"Reyn..." Dunban sighed. He covered his face in one hand. "He..."

"Wait... I can..." Sharla moved forward, and put her head to his chest. "A... fleeting heartbeat...?!" She gasped.

He's alive?! I thought. "The hell?" I asked. "How?"

The sniper didn't answer, instead doing some CPR. I looked away.

Sharla gasped for oxygen. "He... he's... dead..." A miserable look came over her face. "I..." She trembled. "I couldn't save him..."

I grunted. "Huh."

The Nopon was still unconscious.

"Where are you going, Andrew?"

I stopped at Dunban's words. "I'm going to explore. I'll be back."

The swordsman sighed as I stepped through the teleporter.

"Hm...? Ah... one of the Homs that came with... that 'Lady' Melia."

I blinked. "High Entia...?" I murmured. "Never mind." I moved back to the teleporter. "Huh." I leapt as all five lunged.

"Andrew!" Dunban paused, hand on his sword. "Well... room service was delayed a bit, eh?"

"Stop with the stupid jokes!" I growled. Riki, Reyn and Shulk were still knocked out on the ground, and Sharla stood with a gasp.

"So, you think you can fight us, the First Consort of King Sorean and Prince Kallian?

"Does it sound like I care?" I muttered. "Time for some fun!" I glanced at the one-armed swordsman as he looked at me. "What?"

"Nothing. Let's begin!" He moved forward. "Sharla! Stay back and cover Andrew and I!"

I moved froward and shifted my form with a roar. A smile crept over my face as I utilized Whip Slash, Dunban using Tempest Kick.

Just like that, all of the foes were already dead.

"That was really easy," I mused, reverting to normal.

Dunban looked thoughtful. "Hm..."

"Ah." Alvis moved in, and knelt. "These... are Inquisitors?" There was disbelief in his voice.

"Unh...?" Shulk opened his eyes. "Wha...?" He sat up.

"Shulk," spoke Dunban. "Are you alright?"

"What is this?"

That guy, I thought. Melia's brother and that one guy who's going to get killed... and Lorithia is going to kiss him, dammit!

He stepped forward with his guards.

"This is His Highness, Kallian," spoke Alvis. "Brother to Her Highness, Melia."

Man, it sure is strange to be living in a country where everyone is essentially equals and come into a world with the old monarchy, I thought. It's like Louis XIV and Louis XVI... then BAM! Napoleon and all that stuff...

Shulk gasped, rising up quickly. "Whoa... uh... Melia's brother?" he repeated, disbelief in his face.

"Do not concern yourself, Your Highness," spoke Alvis, turning towards Kallian. "The matter seems to have been resolved."

"Seer Alvis," acknowledged Kallian.

"I foresaw the danger," he announced.

That we were going to reduce the population in Alcamoth by five? Very dangerous...

"I rushed here but seemed to have missed the fun."

Ha! You think the way I do! I thought.

"They do not look like mere thieves," mused Kallian. "But..."

"Personally... I am assuming they are Inquisitors of the Bionite Order," responded Alvis.

"A group of assassins devoted to the royal family."

Yes, yes, plot, blah blah blah, we go into the tomb and save Melia, I thought. Why do I sit through cutscenes every time?

"Ridiculous," spat Kallian. "The Bionite Order is a mere-"

"Myth," finished Alvis. "The order has existed long before records began. And I, like many others, had assumed they had died out.

"Yet here they are before us."

"Is Father aware of this?!" demanded the prince.

"I suspect he knows very little," answered Alvis. "He may not even be aware of their existence. They live amongst the shadows."

I rolled my eyes as Alvis and Kallian continued to talk to each other.

"NO!" Kallian gave a loud sudden gasp. "There is no way!"

"Kallian!" interrupted Shulk. "Melia... she is in grave danger! She'll be killed at an altar if we find her soon!"

"Killed?!" repeated Kallian. "How can you be so sure?!"

"Shulk and I share the same gift," spoke Alvis.

"Another seer?! Which means that... you can see the future?"

"Only when it's in front of his face, though," I spoke.

Kallian looked at me. "What...?"

"Never mind that!" spoke Shulk. "We have to find her! Now!"

...

"Unacceptable."

I blinked, as the prince spoke once again.

"Those who enter the Tomb must do so alone," he continued.

Kallian turned away from us. "Her life... or death... are in the hands of fate."

Screw that, because Shulk's the main protagonist!

"Those who are not worthy of the throne are exactly that!"

Dunban gave a very quiet sigh. "This ritual holds a special significance," he spoke aloud. "It would be wrong of us to interfere."

Shulk gasped. "Dunban!"

"But am I right in saying that the rules of this ritual affect only the High Entia?

"And if some... strange Homs get involved, that wouldn't cause a problem?" He paused. "Or is there some rule prohibiting Homs from entering the Tomb?"

Kallian sighed. "No... I suppose not," he admitted.

"Then look at it this way," continued Dunban. "I don't need to know how big of a deal this ritual is to your people.

"What I do know is that your sister's life is at stake. Cut us a break, and we'll save her."

Kallian moved closer to inspect the Homs. "Who are you?"

"My name is Dunban," he replied. "I'm... sort of the protector of this Mechon-bashing band of Homs. Although there are those here who are a bit more special then I am," he spoke.

"Dunban... I know you," spoke Kallian. "At the Battle of Sword Valley, you held back an entire wave of Mechon with the Monado."

I groaned. "Can I leave now?" I asked.

"And who might you be?" asked Kallian.

"Andrew," I replied. "A little bit different from the rest of these guys."

"You... hm..." Kallian looked thoughtful.

"Then it is decided, hm?"

We all turned to look at Alvis. "You can reach the Tomb by transporter at the Centre Gate."

He turned to Shulk. "Her Highness has already entered the Tomb. Shulk, you should hurry."

"Wait. Before that... I have to do something." Shulk turned to the body of his dead friend. "I have to bury Reyn."

Surprise crashed through Alvis' calm face for a second, before it was calm like it had always been. "Ah."

Kallian wordlessly left the room.

"But time is of the essence," spoke Alvis. "If you wish to save Melia, there is no time."

"Ah..." Emotions passed through Shulk's face. "I..."

"If I shoot enough Ether into his body..." Sharla sighed. "I'm capable of changing his body into Ether that will flow through the air."

"Can you do that, then, Sharla? Please. Thank you," spoke Shulk.

She aimed her rifle. "It'll take quite a while," she spoke. "So you guys go. I'll stay here with Riki, too."

"Alright. Sounds like a plan," declared Dunban. "Come on, you two. We must save Melia."

"I will also accompany you," spoke Alvis.

Shulk gave a deep sigh, as he tore his gaze from Reyn. "Yeah." He ran off, into the transporter, and Alvis followed him.

I followed Dunban into the teleporter and we were gone.

Thanks for reading.