From Another World (Xenoblade Chronicles)

by RandomAdventures

I suddenly enter the game of Xenoblade Chronicles and have to beat it to get out.

44. Chapter 44

Chapter 44

(Sips non-existent coffee.)

(Notices and grabs can of Mountain Dew.)

One day I'll finish this fanfiction.

"So this... is Valek Mountain," breathed Shulk.

"It very pretty!" chirped a certain cute Nopon. "Grr... Riki hate cold, though!"

I looked around. The lights shining through the night seemed to glimmer and shine.

"It is really cold," mused Sharla.

"Is it?" I asked aloud. "It doesn't really feel like it."

She stared at me. "How are you saying that? You're wearing shorts!"

And you're wearing kinda revealing clothing, so I think we're in the same boat here, I thought.

"Well, it is quite chilly." Shulk looked at his feet. "And this snow will get everywhere."

Alvis moved forward. "It is to be expected," he spoke. "The climate is as different to your homes as it gets. It only snows this high up on the Bionis."

Let me tell you... where I'm from... if it's snowing, Canada's way colder then this, I thought. This is actually quite mild.

Shulk let out a soft grunt. "Alright... so... how do we get through?"

"There will be a solid wall of ice, roughly... 10 metres thick, I believe?"

I stared at Alvis. "How even...?" And a small rock is supposed to melt that?

"Oh... uh... wow." Shulk swallowed. "So... could I use the Monado?"

"It is also at absolute zero, so do not touch it."

THIS SOUNDS LIKE BULLSHI-

"So... fortunately, there is a certain, special rock within Valek Mountain that can melt this wall."

"Wait... Alvis. How do you know this?" spoke Dunban.

Because sure... we totally don't want the knowledge of how a small rock can melt a GODDAMN ICE WALL TEN METRES THICK! I thought. NO! IT'S FINE! FIRST WE SHOULD ASK HOW HE KNOWS! THAT'S WAY MORE IMPORTANT!

I let out a long sigh.

Alvis gave a wry smile.

"Well... the rock is quite a whiles into the snow, so I suggest we travel while we can."

He started doff, and Shulk followed him.

"Alvis..." mused Dunban, pausing.

"Is something wrong, Dunban?" spoke Sharla.

"Well... no. But I do want to keep a close eye on Alvis. Something about him seems off..."

...

Shulk took the wrapper off of a sandwich and took a bite, though where there should have been toothmarks was nothing at all.

"What kind of sandwich is that, Shulk?" I asked.

He turned and swallowed his mouthful. "Fiora made it." He closed his eyes for a brief moment. "I... dunno. It's just, uh... whenever I take a bite out of it, it looks like I never took that bite. But I do have a mouthful in my mouth, so..."

"Could it be due to Ether doing weird mutations or some crap?" I wondered.

"Eh. Whatever it is, it's convenient." Shulk wrapped the sandwich up again. "And Fiora's last meal to me."

For now, I thought. Though... hm... can she cook as a robot?

I might just find out...

...

"Hey... there's a cave there." Shulk started to walk inside. "Whoa... it's way warmer in here..."

Sharla entered behind him with a pause. "Hm... wait."

We all stopped. "What is it, Sharla?" spoke Dunban.

"This surge of heat..." She narrowed her eyes, for them to widen a moment later. "Oh no."

Alvis walked forward. "Here is the location of the Magma Rock."

Then there was an explosion of heat.

"UGH!" I gasped, being thrown into the snow. "Ow... huh?"

What could only be defined as a fiery phoenix was flying, screeching at me.

"That is really bad." I rose and dodged a blast of flame. "Hey... Shulk! Where..."

The cave entrance had collapsed, leaving rubble at the front.

"They're on the other side!" grunted Dunban, standing as he drew his sword.

"Riki ready to fight!" he declared.

I looked around. "Wait... I saw Shulk, Sharla and Alvis walked forward... so... where's Melia?" I let out a grunt as I dodged a tackle. "Geez..."

"I have her."

A deep voice came out through the snow.

I let out a sharp grunt, raising my palm to nullify a punch.

"RARGH!"

An explosion of our energy radiated from the hand I blocked.

"UGH!" I slammed against a rock, hidden in the snow. "Damn..."

"Andrew!" called Riki, looking at me.

"Riki, stay focused!" shouted Dunban, blocking as the phoenix tackled him. "GEH...!" He slid away.

The man dropped the princess and raised a foot to stomp on her unconscious form. "Now she's dead."

I rushed forward and slashed, making him stagger.

"Sorry... but that's not gonna fly by me," I spoke.

"Good. I love a fight." Greaves formed from somewhere, as did gauntlets. "My policy is to tell my name before a fight, so... I'm Tyler."

"Yay. Andrew." I paused. "Is there any way we could settle this without a fight?"

"Oh...? I was told you like a good fight as well." Tyler settled into a fighting stance.

"Unless you want me to kill them, you will have to fight me."

"Shit," I muttered, before I shook my head. "Worth a shot." I lunged with a stab.

The fighter got down into a slide, rising to deliver a punch to the gut. "Too easy..."

I let out a growl as I slid back, raising my left arm to catch the Nopon flying at me, lightly toasted.

"Hah-RAH!" Tyler came forward with a powerful side kick, and I raised my sword, staggering. "Slow!"

He's...! I threw Riki aside and rolled from his punch, before attacking with my blade. "Stab Strike!"

"Power Drill!" The enemy countered, and as we clashed a few times more, he swept my legs from under me before using a roundhouse kick.

"Gah!" I dropped my blade as I slid away. "Oh, great."

Tyler grabbed it in the air and stabbed it into the ground. "Alright... let's go."

I sighed, settling into my own fighting stance. "Man... been forever since I've had to use Taekwondo..."

As he punched I slipped by to his right and lightly grabbed his wrist with my left hand, placing both thumbs on his knuckles before forcing him to the ground with a quick and powerful jerk.

"Geh!" He rolled back to his feet. "Hm... so you are more than just a swordsman."

"I would hope so," I muttered. "Otherwise my parents wasted money for all those lessons over the last... oh, eight years or something?" I shrugged before settling into a ready stance, sensing my sword being hidden by the blizzard. "C'mon."

A smile came onto both our faces. He raced forward with a straight punch. I moved just enough so the cold wind rushed by, before I used a roundhouse kick to spin into a tornado kick.

"Geh!" Tyler groaned, sliding along the snow. He held a hand to his side, rising back to his feet. "Ugh..."

I grabbed my sword and grinned. "Man... that was great. But I'm gonna end this."

"RARGH!" My enemy howled, and I saw him change, his skin glowing as it blackened. "Try..."

His Soul form! I grunted, holding my blade in Defensive Reversal, gasping as a punch cracked some ribs. "Nuh!" I recovered and raised my sword, staggering from another punch. "Damn!"

It's the same as mine! I thought. It raises offensive power!

"I WILL SEND YOU TO YOUR GRAVE!"

How come that sounds like Street Fighter or some- JESUS! I gasped, using my Soul Trigger as another punch, radiant with energy, burst through my stomach.

I threw up blood on the white snow. "UGH..."

"HYAH!" Tyler threw me away. "IT'S OVER!"

I blocked the fist with my free left hand.

"STAB WAVE!" I let out a roar as I thrust my blade into his body, the shockwave burning his own stomach away.

"GWURGH!" Tyler staggered away and coughed up blood.

I growled. I have to kill him! "RARGH!" I slowed time and slashed, a clean slash across the throat.

Tyler slowed time as well and raised his left arm to nullify the slash. "Not... so fast..." He smiled. "Fun... ain't over yet."

Crap! I thought, as his right hand came forward and forced me away. "Gah!"

"Speed Drive!" He lunged and with blazing speed, delivered a solid blow to the leg, forcing it out of place.

"Geh!" I flew up, and with a quick jerk and some pain, forced my leg back into place. "Wait..." Behind me?!

I turned my head to see wings sprout from his back.

"I WILL KILL YOU!" he yelled, rushing forth. "RARGH! EXPLOSIVE ABYSS!"

I grunted, spinning around. "AURA SLASH!"

He overpowered me and I hit the ground, breaking the wings.

At the same time, time returned to normal.

"Shit!" I growled, starting to rise. "UGH...!" I fell to one knee as pain flared through me. "Dammit...!"

Tyler landed and panted. "So you're not done yet...?! Geh!" He flinched, and I sensed the pain from the earlier Stab Wave.

I also sensed the flow of Ether particles around his body return to a more neutral state.

"GWAH!" Dunban slammed into me. "Damn... Andrew, are you-"

"I'll be there in a little," I spoke. "I hope, anyway."

Tyler growled. "Full Destruction Mode, activate!"

I grunted, seeing the sudden concentration of power around him. "Dunban, go back! Is the phoenix..."

I sensed Riki atop of it, riding it.

"Actually... it would appear Riki has tamed it." Dunban grunted.

"Wow... wasn't expecting that," I muttered.

"Do you need help?"

"No. You guys get over there. I'll finish this." I nodded to the Homs, who nodded.

"Done talking?" Tyler cracked his knuckles as the gauntlets formed again. "THEN DIE!"

I grunted. He's not any faster... I dodged, and my sword met a fist. "GAH?!"

His strength... so much more...! I let out a harsh grunt and slid away, using Jake's Soul Trigger, the Soul Demon.

"UGH!" I flinched at the sudden pain, though breathed out as it wore away. "Come at me."

"As you wish!" Tyler lunged. "POWER DRILL!"

It met the ghostly sword, and I strained against him. "RARGH!" I howled, managing to overpower and cut him.

"Guh!" He then took a few swift strikes and the large blade impaled a lung. "Damn...!"

"Hah!" I moved in and slashed him away with the sword I held in one hand.

"UGH!" He spat out blood. "Huh... not bad."

I stared at him. "How the... your breathing isn't... wait, you're not even breathing!"

"It's comes from the Soul Trigger." Tyler smirked.

And he's still talking... I stopped my breathing, and no pressing need for oxygen came to me. "Huh."

"Anyway... at this rate, you'll kill me, so... here I go." He let out a shout, punching the ground.

I sensed the phoenix vanishing, Riki's shocked gasp of pain coming afterwards as he fell.

The snow melted as the temperature rose drastically around my foe, and faint remnants of rising fire surrounded him.

"Fire Destruction Phoenix Mode!" grinned Tyler.

Gee, doesn't this remind me of a certain destructive fire mage a dragon raised, I thought. Nah. Didn't think that at all.

"Wait... the phoenix...?" I muttered. "Wha...?"

"I'm the phoenix," he spoke. "An... ahem... Outsider... with the power of a phoenix engraved within him."

No, this TOTALLY doesn't sound like Natsu, I thought. Or his Fire Dragon King Mode. That's crazy.

"FIRE DRILL!" he roared.

"WHOA!" I used Defensive Reversal, and the Soul Demon blocked.

I slid away with a grunt, sensing him behind me.

Why do people keep attacking me from behind?! I thought as I whirled around and used the Soul Demon to clash against the punch that came forward.

"Geh!" I staggered, and he rushed up close. "Oh, CRAP!" My voice rose higher as he punched me in the spot where my now destroyed stomach was.

"Eat this." He ground his fist in. "FIRE FIST!"

A sudden burst of intensive flame came out as he suddenly gave his punch a lot more force and energy.

I hit the ground, the Demon fading as my hand flickered from my Soul form, before I fully reverted.

"Ugh..." I groaned, the pain searing through me.

Tyler walked forward. "Yeah! New record!" he grinned. "84.56309 feet!" I saw him completely in his normal form.

I rolled over on my stomach, wanting to throw up from the pain. "Ugh..." I panted as I pulled my body off the ground and stood.

"You're not dead?!" Tyler stared. "Dude... I burned a part of your gut, and..."

I fell to a knee, feeling the world spin around. "Unh..."

"But it looks like you're done now." He swayed. "Ugh... damn, that's exhausting... but I'll kill you now."

"Why...?" I wheezed.

"Hm?"

"Why... do you want to kill me?" I rasped.

Tyler shrugged. "Huh... good question. See, there's... hm..." He paused. "I just have this overwhelming desire to at least see you unmoving in the snow..." A long pause. "Huh... maybe... Zulf would..." He gave another shrug.

"Eh. Doesn't matter. Doesn't change the fact you're dead, either by me or blood loss."

I winced at my pain, though couldn't feel any more sticky blood flow onto my clothes.

"Wait... that burn... damn, it kinda stopped the blood flow," he muttered. "Well, I'll end this, then. Full Destructive Mode!" he declared, and I sensed his aura of power return.

He started to punch me.

After several dozen blows he paused to unleash one last punch.

I fell on the snow.

"Is that it?" spoke Tyler. "Well... guess so. Now you get to die."

"Never..." I growled, heaving myself to my feet.

"Huh...?" He grinned. "Nice. Come at me!" He lunged with a punch.

I slid away from the impact, and I breathed out a long, painful grunt.

"COME ON!" Tyler moved forward. "Speed Lunge!"

I raised my sword, sliding away as my blade absorbed the impact.

"RRGH... DIE ALREADY!" Tyler rushed, using his Soul Trigger.

I closed my eyes, and let out a breath.

It was painless.

"Stab Strike."

He gasped as I pierced a vein and artery at the same time. "NNGH...!"

I tore out my sword as I twisted it, using the Soul Trigger. "Whip Slash."

Tyler raised both arms and blocked, sliding away. "Huh...! Power Drill!"

"Cross Slash!" I let out a breath and we met, before his fists met my blade a few times. "Hah...!" I kicked and we met, the soles of our feet clashing. "Tch!" I growled, as the energy rushing through the foot forced me away.

"I won't lose... I have too many people hoping for my return!" he shouted.

"Me too," I spoke. "I have friends waiting for me, too.

"I apologize in advance for the fate I am going to have to give you."

"Yeah... me too." Fire flared up. "Because you're the one who's dying."

The Soul Demon materialized. "Yeah... no."

"Fire Drill!" Tyler came forward.

"Soul Stab Strike!" We crossed upon clashing, and spun around for another clash.

He rolled from the ghostly blade. "Geh...!"

I sensed him manipulating the Ether particles around him and slowed time myself as his fist met the Soul Demon's sword once more.

"That Demon...!" growled Tyler. "Damn me if it isn't annoying!"

"Soul Whip Slash!" I declared, and he blocked, though I sensed the light cut he suffered despite his gauntlets' defence. "Yeah?!"

"Flaming Phoenix!" he roared, fire engulfing him as he lunged forward.

"Hah!" I used Defensive Reversal, and the Demon forced him away with ease.

"Gah!" He threw up blood as he arose again. "Gotta... end this...!"

I spat out excessive blood. "Yeah." A shockwave concentrated around my sword, making an aura materialize around the Soul Demon's sword.

Energy and pure fire engulfed the fist of the Outsider standing in front of me. "Die."

"One day I will." I readied myself.

"But today it's you that will perish."

"PHOENIX ABYSS!" Tyler let out a scream as a silhouette of a fiery phoenix burst behind him. "RARGH!"

"SOUL STAB WAVE!" I howled, charging forward.

Tyler growled, as did I, as we strained against each other.

"UGH!" He let out a gasp as he staggered, taking a deep cut from the Soul Demon.

The Demon faded, time reverted and I returned to normal.

As he staggered I sensed his power fade, the fire vanishing as the Ether around him neutralized.

"AURA SLASH!" I roared, cutting him.

Tyler's body fell into the snow as he groaned.

I panted, sensing the lack of strength in his body.

He can't stand anymore, I thought, sensing all the bleeding, the broken bones, the lack of a stomach and the life leaving his body.

These senses... I placed my blade on my back.

They let me know so much more about the hell I do to survive.

I threw up blood on the ground.

I sensed the gauntlets and greaves become small metallic rings.

"Hey..." He detached them from his body, tossing them in the snow. "Those rings adjust to your size, so wear them."

I adjusted the rings to fit me, and I grunted. "So... what?"

"Those are yours." Tyler sighed. "Use them well. To get the... stuff... to form... use the will of your mind..."

I nodded, looking down at him. "Why'd you give them to me?"

"Well... those are more useful to someone alive... then a dead guy..." A cough. "They punch through a ton of stuff... including... Mechon armour..." Tyler winced. "Actually... made of... old Mechon armour..."

He let out a low groan, closing his eyes. "Dammit... I'm... so sorry... Lily..."

Then he stopped breathing.

I sighed, closing my eyes. He had someone waiting for him too.

How many families am I going to tear apart to go home myself?

"Hey, Andrew!"

I grunted. "Oh... Sharla..."

She shot a healing bullet into my body. "What the hell..." She saw the body. "Another fight?"

I nodded, dragging myself through the snow. "How... did you guys... escape...?"

"There was an exit, after Shulk, Alvis and I fought through a bunch of monsters."

I closed my eyes. "Oh... yeah... I got... my... stomach... punched in..."

"I see that," she muttered. "We need to pause for a while and heal up, but here isn't-"

She stopped.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nothing," she replied. "Just... thought I saw something in the air."

I sensed something high above us, something... mechanical, I think?

"Oh, yeah... did you guys find the Magma Rock?" I asked.

"We did," spoke Sharla. "Shulk has it."

I sighed, dragging my body through the snow.

...

"Hey! Andrew!"

"Hi, Shulk," I mumbled, as Sharla pumped me full of healing Ether. "Thanks," I told her.

"Don't mention it," she replied.

"We should relax for a while. All of us sustained some pretty bad injuries," spoke Dunban.

"Yeah." Shulk paused. "What happened to you, Andrew?"

"I got my stomach punched in," I replied.

"Huh... looks pretty bad," he mused. "Light Heal."

"Thanks," I replied.

Sharla used Heal Round, quiet.

"Hm... there is a tower nearby," spoke Alvis. "Ose Tower. It is sheltered and will protect from the wildlife."

"We'd better go there then," spoke Shulk. "You guys able to do that?"

"Yeah," I replied, grunting as I waded through the snow.

Dunban carried Melia over his shoulder, and I couldn't help but smile.

...

"And the Monado gave you and I the ability to see the future?" asked Shulk.

"Indeed," replied Alvis.

I had zoned out, feeling Sharla shoot another Ether round into my body.

She had healed my stomach.

"How did you do that?" I asked.

"Ether can do some pretty amazing things," she spoke.

"Yeah, guess so." I sat upright and sighed.

"Now... we should be leaving soon," mused the Seer. "There is still quite a bit of distance to cover, while it is light outside."

"Right." Shulk stood from where he had sat, looking at the Monado. "And everyone's healed up, right?"

"You Can Do It!" chirped the Nopon, removing any remaining injury. "There!"

"Alright. Let's go, then."

He stopped as we all started to exit, and a slight gasp escaped as he flinched.

"Shulk...?" I grunted.

"Oh no," he murmured. "Wow..."

I shook my head. A vision, I guess... eh.

I sighed as I exited, leaving him alone.

...

"So... this is it, huh?" Shulk held the Magma Rock in one hand. "I just... hold it to the wall?"

"Yes," spoke Alvis.

"Alright... here goes." The blonde pressed the rock against the wall of pure ice, and within seconds the wall sizzled, melting into water that slid down the slope of the mountain. "It worked!"

"I wasn't expecting it to," admitted Sharla.

"OK, guys! Let's go! We're almost at the end of Valek Mountain!" declared Shulk, walking forward.

Face Nemesis dropped from the sky, forcing Shulk to stop.

The Faced Mechon folded out to reveal the robotic Fiora inside.

"Heir to the Monado..." Her eyes held a slight red glow to them.

"Fiora!" shouted Shulk, rushing forward. "It's you...!"

"Fiora..." Dunban stared. "It's..."

"You, heir to the Monado... I wish to speak with you," spoke the god within the Homs turned...

Would it be kinda Machina or something? I suddenly wondered.

"'Heir to the Monado...?' Fiora, don't you remember me?" Shulk stared at her. "Don't you remember...? It's me, Shulk!"

Fiora/Meyneth stared at him from within the Mechon. "Fiora... is that... my name?" Her eyes flickered. "Then you... know this body?"

Oh yeah, smart things for a goddess to say.

"So it's true." Shulk looked at the ground. "You really don't remember us at all..." He grit his teeth, swallowing.

"OK, fine. Fiora, if nothing else... remember your family!" Shulk stared at her. You should at least remember Dunban!" Shulk pointed to the older Homs behind him. "He's-"

"Family...? So there is family," mused Meyneth, before she looked at Shulk again.

"Wielder of the Monado... I have quite a pressing matter I wish to speak with you about."

The entire silver-coloured Mechon recoiled before being flung backwards.

"What?!" shouted Dunban. "What is..."

"FIORA!" screamed Shulk.

Another Faced Mechon descended to the ground, with quiet cackling. It landed near Fiora's Mechon.

"Metal Face!" spat Shulk, starting to move forward, a hand settling on the Monado.

I heard a quiet, small gasp from Melia behind me. "You... killed my father."

"Stay alert, everyone!" grunted Dunban.

"Hehehe..." Mumkhar's Mechon grinned, before pressing the claws of his totally not Mobile Suit against the throat of the now limp Fiora/Meyneth. "Don't move. Or she's dead."

Shulk growled, stopping.

"Now then... if you don't want your precious Fiora torn to shreds... give up that dangerous little toy you have there, pipsqueak!" declared Metal Face.

An almost condescending look settled onto his Mechon face. "I could take it after smashing you all to a pulp... heh!" he laughed. "But we all wouldn't want that, now would we...?"

"What...?" Shulk closed his eyes. "Give up... the Monado... huh?"

"Do it!" Metal Face's claws pushed against the very organic throat of the female pilot, and I sensed a few drops of blood run from the slight injury. "Or she's dead."

"Shulk! Do not give the Monado to... to this... this...!" Melia struggled for the words she needed.

"Melia..." He sighed. "What can I do? If I don't give it to him... Fiora's dead. I... I'm sorry, guys, but I can't do that!" he cried out, eyes still closed.

He stabbed the sword in the ground and walked backwards.

"Damn... who the hell are you anyway?!" shouted Dunban.

"Well... I suppose I could at least show you that much." The chest of the Mechon opened, and Mumkhar leapt out.

Dunban took a step back as his eyes widened. "Mumkhar...?"

"Surprised, friend?" Mumkhar spat out the word. "Surprised... that this is me?" He grabbed the Monado, holding it over his shoulder.

Dunban stared. "You..."

"I can't tell you how badly I've wanted this sword!" groaned out Mumkhar. "Man... does this puny boy even know how to use it yet?" He came in for a close look at the blonde, who leaned away.

"What would you even do?" he wondered, picking Shulk up from off the ground. "Would you be willing to kill a Homs to beat us...?"

Shulk struggled against him.

"How DARE you ask that to us!" growled Dunban. "How could you betray us to Mechonis?!"

Mumkhar threw Shulk to the ground, who let out a grunt of discomfort.

"Why did you kill OUR friends at the colony?!" demanded the Homs. "WHY?!" He was just short of roaring.

"You really wanna know?" grinned Mumkhar. "Because it was your home."

"It "was"?" I grunted.

"Yes... now, no doubt, there are countless Mechon there, and without you there, the colony is toast," smirked Mumkhar.

"YOU PIECE OF...!" Dunban lunged, with a wide slash.

Mumkhar's Mechon smashed Fiora's against the rock wall.

"All of you, stay where you are," spoke Mumkhar. "That thing works by remote... so unless you'd like a nice, big, gaping hole in her neck..."

Dunban growled.

"So what's it to be, weak fools...? Grovel at my feet and beg?" He laughed. "Ah... but before you do that, I must say...

"Watching the sheer fear in the face of that Fiora and that... Emperor... let's just say I sleep better those two nights."

Melia screamed, and a wave of Ether rushed out at him. "WE WILL NOT BOW TO YOU!"

"Tch!" Mumkhar slid away through the snow, arms up in a defensive pose.

The Ether sent his Mechon slumping in the snow.

Shulk reached out for the Monado, and the beam came out.

"I have heard enough from you." Melia looked at the half-human, half-metal-things-that-could-make-him-half-robot-or-something.

"If it is the last thing I accomplish... it will be you gone from this world."

"Heh... hey, girl... just come out and say you want to see me dead at your feet!" grinned Metal Face, as shining claws rushed outwards.

"And Monado Boy... you want me dead for Fiora, when I killed her, eh?

"Well, come at me. I always do enjoy a good slaughter. It's been much too long since I let myself rampage." His claws flashed out.

Wait... he's covered in metal... and he did that with his claws... I narrowed my eyes. He was Wolverine the whole time!

"Sharla, Melia! Stay back and cover us!" yelled Shulk as he swung. "Guys, let's do this!"

"Hah!" Dunban struck, his sword rebounding. "Geh!"

I leapt over him and slashed, though the claws sank into my left arm. "Geh!" Through the pain I slashed at him, my blade bouncing off as I was forced back. "Ugh!"

"Enchant!" shouted Shulk, before evading a claw swipe. "Whoa...!"

"How'd I forget...?" I mumbled. "I can't hurt him without..." I looked at the weightless rings I now had on my person. "Ah..."

I dodged Dunban being thrown at me. I sensed Riki tending to him.

Then the claws were upon me.

I let out a grunt as I met the claws, feeling my blocks coming later each time due to the presence of two claws versus one sword.

"Hah!" Mumkhar smiled as we clashed a few times, his claws grazing my left forearm. "Too slow, Red Coat!"

I sensed the claws moving at my left arm again, and the ring shifted into a gauntlet to block the attack.

"Hm...?" He grunted, moving back, though the Whip Slash I used still managed a slight cut. "Something else, huh...? Use that left arm for something now, hm...?"

I willed the gauntlet away. "Shulk! We'll never get anywhere if we don't get serious."

"Yeah." Shulk wiped his mouth. "Speed!"

I sensed Dunban at my shoulder, sensing a wide gash almost separating his left arm from his body. "Hey... Andrew..."

"You good?" I asked, watching the opponent. "It's pretty bad if you lose that arm, by the way."

"I know." Dunban grimaced. " But I should... ugh... be fine. But it's you and Shulk for this one." He sighed. "Make sure to give Mumkhar a good beating for me, alright?"

I sensed the quiet anger inside of him, and I nodded.

"Got it." I used the Soul Demon and moved forward, slashing downwards. "Rah!"

Mumkhar negated the slash and rushed at me, forcing me to block with the sword in my grip. "RARGH!"

"Guh!" I felt his claws strike through my healed stomach, before forcing his sharp claws out the sides of my body to stab me again and toss me into the ground, causing me to bounce.

"RRGH...!" I willed the Demon to fade and the gauntlets formed as I sensed my blade, which I had dropped when I had been thrown, near the blonde Monado wielder.

I blocked his stab and rolled away as the greaves formed, rising to my feet.

Mumkhar lunged and we clashed a few times. "Heh... not too bad!" His eyes widened, as he moved just enough to avoid the magical lightning bolt that came at him. "Heh... well, excuse me, princess, but that's not enough!" A slight grunt came out him.

He then rolled away, though I sensed a light cut from Shulk's Stream Edge.

"Damnit," I muttered, as Shulk handed me my sword. "This isn't..."

Shulk sighed. "We have to finish this quick."

"Yeah..." I already heard my heavy breathing. "Let's go.

"Thanks, Melia!" I called, feeling the slight healing of one of her Elementals.

I didn't get her answer as I morphed into the Soul Trigger form, moving forth.

"Speed 2!" Shulk rushed forth. "Hah!" He leapt through the air.

I lunged, and slowed time. "Stab Strike!"

"CROSS FANG!" Mumkhar rushed at us, and blood exploded from both our bodies as he crossed with his claws seeming to carry blood. "Heh..."

"Ugh...! Light Heal!" Shulk healed himself as he moved forward. "Air Slash!"

I growled. "I WILL KILL YOU!"

"THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!" roared Mumkhar. "COME ON!" His claws pierced Shulk's lung and intestine before tossing him aside. "LET'S SEE YOU DIE!"

Melia cried out as Sharla shifted her attention to the blonde.

We clashed, and our faces almost touched, though did not due to the sharp objects we held.

"Oh, I won't." I glared at him. "And when I'm done with you, you'll never threaten my friends again."

"What, mad?" he sneered.

"AURA SLASH!" I roared, the sword grinding against his claws, before cutting him.

"Geh!" He slid away. "Eagle Flash!"

I cut through the burst of energy that came at me.

"Cross Slash!" I shouted, lunging.

"Heh...! You're too obvious!" Mumkhar nullified the slash before stabbing my face.

"ANDREW!" yelled Shulk, as a green glow surrounded his shoes.

I didn't feel the six metallic sharpness in my face. Couldn't feel it, even if I wanted to.

"STAB WAVE!" I howled, straight through the stomach and gut.

If he were human, anyway. I got a smirk from the enemy before me before ripping his claws out, covering my eyes in my own blood as my form reverted to become human.

"Weakening?!" he spat, kicking me away. "Too easy!"

I wiped the blood away with the surrounding snow, panting as Sharla shot me with a round of healing Ether.

Those claws... right, they have a poisonous Ether on them, I recalled. "Hah..."

"This is the Monado's power!" declared Shulk. "BUSTER!" He slashed down with the enlarged blade beam, as he took a high jump.

Mumkhar blocked with both claws. "Heh... NOT ENOUGH, MONADO BOY!"

"Mumkhar...!" I rose, and moved at him, the remnants of the Soul Demon starting to return. "SOUL AURA SLASH!"

"Hmph...!" Mumkhar rolled away from Shulk and the beam clashed with the Soul Demon's sword.

"OW!" I winced at the recoil, before being struck by a fast stream of claw strikes, dragging me through the snow by the intensity of the attacks.

"Hey...!" Shulk's shoes' glow turned blue. "Slit Edge!"

Mumkhar whipped around and forced Shulk away.

The Demon faded as I used Defensive Reversal to force Mumkhar away as he tried to attack again. "Hah... hah..."

"Aw, is the little kid exhausted already?" he grinned, the slight light present shining off his claws. "Well... Red Coat?"

I groaned, holding my free hand to the wounds, feeling them hurt with more intensity, which wore away as my hand came away stained with blood.

Without looking behind him, Mumkhar raised his claws to block the slash coming at him, and Shulk growled in frustration.

"Damn," I muttered, as Shulk struggled against the foe. "Hey... switch!"

"Wha... OK!" Shulk leapt away as I moved in, with Mumkhar's claws' barely able to block my punch in time.

If I can use a shockwave with these, then... I breathed out, ducking under a wide swipe. "Phew..."

"Geh...! RARGH!" He lunged, the claws flashing at my eye.

"Hah...!" I punched him back, bringing my arm back as the red outline of a destructive shockwave surrounded the right gauntlet. "Aura Strike!" I roared.

"GEH!" hissed Metal Face, staggering from the blow. "Hm...?!"

"BACK SLASH!" roared Shulk, leaping forward, leaving a massive wound on Mumkhar's back as he was forced away. "Phew... he's tough...!" The Monado's user wiped some sweat from under his chin. "Wait... wha-"

I gasped, as Dunban leapt in, arm healed back to normal. "MUMKHAR!"

The Mechon turned, and Shulk focused Enchant on Dunban as the Homs clashed with his old former friend, sword against claws.

A loud, harsh growl rang out of Dunban's mouth as he slashed. "You fought beside me at Sword Valley!" he spat.

I willed the gauntlets away, and withdrew my sword.

Dunban hissed as the claws rushed through his usable arm, before raising his blade to block the other hand worth of claw. "Why did you change sides?!"

Mumkhar kept advancing backwards from Dunban's attacks, and for the first time, I could see sweat down the half-Homs' face.

"Why have... why did you choose the Mechon?!" roared the swordsman. "GALE SLASH!"

Mumkhar leapt away, the tip of the stab just grazing his shoulder.

"Hah!" Dunban rushed in. "Worldly...!"

"You're as blind as back then!" spat back Metal Face, pushing Dunban back as the Homs tried to use the Art. "Heh... I've wanted you dead for years!"

The continuous sound of metal clashing stopped with one massive clash by both combatants.

There was a loud rumbling.

"What the...? Is... the Bionis moving?" breathed Shulk.

"I wanted the Monado so I could be the hero!" screamed Mumkhar, as the two fought.

"IS THAT IT?!" howled Dunban. "You... join the Mechon... attack our Colony... kill Fiora...and countless more people... ALL SO YOU COULD TAKE THE MONADO?!" He managed to slash the face of his foe. "YOU... BASTARD!"

"I love this new body of mine, " grinned Mumkhar. "The... POWER!"

Dunban gasped as the claws sunk into both lungs at the same time.

Shulk gasped, though fell as he tried to move forward. "Ugh... hah...!"

His breathing is...! I realized in an instant, and rushed forward with the gauntlets and greaves forming.

"Ugh...!" The Homs coughed up blood. "Damn...!" He started to fall to his knees, dragging the claws further into his lungs.

Mumkhar saw me and moved away from his former friend to use his claws, grating against my gauntlets, producing a horrible sound.

Metal Face gasped as Dunban, now from behind him, slashed him. The half-Homs fell to one knee, before rising as electricity crackled around his arm.

"DUNBAN... YOU WILL NEVER WIN!" growled Mumkhar, holding his arm as he staggered back. "Just... GET ON YOUR KNEES AND WORSHIP ME ALREADY!"

Dunban swallowed, taking in a loud gasp of air as Sharla emptied her Ether ammo into him. "Hah... hah..." He spat out blood, a sharp contrast of red against the white snow.

He rose from his knees, glaring. "Never." His voice was quiet now. "I WILL strike you down and all you have now become, you sad, wretched fool."

"Sad...? Sad? Me?" Mumkhar laughed. "Oh...? The sad one here... IS YOU, DUNBAN!"

"RARGH!" roared Dunban, starting to rush forward, though stopping as snow drifted by, obscuring vision.

Pods of metal looking like poorly disguised Transformers fell from the sky.

"That light...!" breathed Shulk. "It's...!"

From above landed a golden Mechon, and the debris of snow forced Dunban and I backwards.

"A golden... Mechon...?!" spoke Melia.

The pods activated, and faced Mechon started to wander.

"It's not like the other Mechon," spoke Shulk.

"Yeah..." I grunted. "i can feel it."

So that douche Egil is this strong...?

"You are correct, Heir to the Monado," declared the voice from the Mechon. "This... is the strongest Mechon ever built. It is controlled by myself... Egil."

"Egil...!" grunted Shulk.

"The leader of Mechonis and agent of Meyneth."

His words echoed out in the cold air.

"Leader of Mechonis!" Shulk had a sharp intake of breath. "So you... YOU control all of the Mechon."

"I am he," responded Egil. "We fight to free the world from the tyranny of the Bionis."

That word really sounds like Bionicle, but whatever.

"Why?!" shouted Shulk. "Why... do you trap Homs in machines?!" He swallowed, the beam emerging from the Monado again.

"What do you want from us?! Why do you make us fight for you?!"

"Your questions are of little importance." Egil's Mechon adjusted to look down at the blonde. "I must return with this one..."

He raised his hand and there was light, surrounding Silver Face.

"Fiora...!" gasped Dunban.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!" screamed Shulk.

Egil floated with Silver Face, and spoke as they ascended.

"If you want her... come and get her.

"You are more then welcome on Mechonis."

Then they were flying away.

The Mechon around started to follow.

"Come and visit anytime you want, Dunban!" laughed Mumkhar. "Until you do... it could be just Fiora and me alone in a room, you know... HA HA HA!"

"You...!" Though there was venom in Dunban's eyes, it was clear that he held no more strength in his body.

"We are coming," growled Shulk. "And we will NOT give up... no matter what happens."

We started to run, as Shulk broke off in a sprint.

"Shulk, don't be so hasty!" shouted Sharla. "We...!"

Her words fell on deaf ears as Shulk kept running.

"Find us... Monado. Sword of the Bionis," spoke Egil. "We will meet on the battlefield."

All the Mechon were going, almost out of sight now.

"Fiora... we will find you." Shulk came to a stop, gasping for oxygen, before taking in one big gulp of air.

"FIORA!"