Chapter 49

Ah... finally got it done.

A loud gasp rang out, clear against the clangs of metallic objects clashing and the overwhelming smell of both blood and... oil, I think, but tha-

"GAH?!" I staggered from a slash, a long, grey blade striking my flesh. My eyes darting up at the large faced Mechon in front of myself instead of staring at how Melia was-

I palmed my face with a groan, and used my gauntlets to block another slash.

"Back Slash!" wheezed Shulk, and the Mechon fell to the ground from the heavy slash. "Hah..." He wiped sweat from his forehead. "Andrew... this is never gonna end unless we take down their leader."

Gee, doesn't this sound familiar. "Then where's-" I froze up. "Uh-oh."

"What?" Shulk turned to be forced to the ground as Mumkhar sank his claws into him. "Ugh...!"

I grunted, and drew my sword to block Mumkhar leaping at me. "Geh!" I slid away, and leapt from another lunge, slashing at him.

I flinched as the sword struck, expecting a painful bounce back.

Which was exactly what occurred.

What also happened was a tiny cut in Mumkhar's side.

"What the...?" I looked at my sword with a frown. "It shouldn't... huh!" I whipped the sword behind myself and slashed out with Defensive Reversal, knocking the enemy away, the tip of my sword drawing blood.

"Huh... not bad, Red Coat!" smirked Mumkhar. "But don't focus too hard."

"What?" Too late, I felt a rush of wind behind me and raised my sword out of instinct to block a hammer crashing down on me. "UGH!" A gasp came out as I started to sink into the ground, which flaked and cracked open. "Gah..." I, for what felt like a long time, used both hands to strain against the hammer descending down on me.

"Eat this..." Mumkhar lunged at me, Ether covering his claws as he struck them through my eyes-

"Gale Slash!" shouted Dunban, deflecting the attack, a harsh wheeze escaping him as he did so.

"Mumkhar..." He pointed his blade toward his former comrade. "Today... you will perish."

"Heh... me, eh, Dunban?!" sneered the half-Homs. "We'll see about that, hm?"

"Rrgh!" I used my Soul Trigger form and pushed the hammer away, before a quick Stab Strike through the Homs pilot caused the whole Mechon to collapse. "Hah... hah..." I de-morphed and looked at Mumkhar. "No one's dying today." I paused. "Oops, uh... I mean... no one except you."

"Heh." Mumkhar leapt backwards, his Mechon body seeming to appear out of nowhere and take him back inside. It booted up again, red eyes glowing as the extended torso retracted back into the Mechon.

"Well, look who thinks are so mighty!" came Mumkhar's booming voice. "Well... LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN BACK IT UP!" He raised one claw and slammed it down on us.

Or what was likely what he wanted to have happen. Dunban and I dodged with ease.

"Sharla, cover me!" I yelled at her, dashing up the already retracting arm. "Dunban, let's-" A gasp came out as a small Mechon unit floated in front of me, the red shine of a-

I leapt sideways, away from the ensuing laser, and fell. "UGH!" I palmed my face as I used the Soul Trigger. "I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SO DAMN STUPID!" I concentrated a shockwave around my blade, and sent it flying through the air, and through the small Mechon . It sliced through the metal with ease, before striking against Metal Faces's... face.

He growled. "So... YOU WANT TO PLAY!" His thruster activated, and he took flight. "I'LL PLAY WITH YOU!"

"Hey...!" I also summoned the Soul Demon, flying up, the Demon's translucent sword clashing against the claws of the foe. "Ugh..." I winced as my heart gave a hard thump, and I sensed my breathing heavy, if I needed to breathe, anyway. "Hah..." Why's my heart...

Oh, crap. Is it my asthma?!

"GOTCHA!" Mumkhar howled, the loud cry snapping me back to attention. Ether covered his claws, and he slashed through the Demon with a single swipe.

That easy?! I thought. Is Ether lethal to the Soul De- "Guh..." I spat out blood as he pierced me. "Hah..." I reverted with a half gasp.

"Andrew!" Shulk moved through the air with large leaps. "Buster!" he shouted, the Monado's beam extending to ridiculous lengths. "HAH!" He slashed, with Mumkhar dropping me and avoiding the worse of the slash.

"UGH!" I hit the ground, hard, and groaned as I rolled to hands and knees. I managed a weak thumb's up as I felt a healing Ether wave wash over me. "Hah..." I staggered a little as I stood back up. "Ugh..."

"Hey, Andrew!" I heard Sharla say. "You alright?! Or do you need more healing?!" I heard empty shells eject from her rifle, a loud chatter as they hit the ground.

Right through my stomach... again. I groaned. "Nah, I'm fine!"

Geez, now I'm reminded of a certain child tactician doing the thing with that Fire Emblem character in a fanfiction I did years ago-

I felt myself frown. Wait... years? When I was here... it was like, what... four or five months ago or something, I think?

"Hey, look out!" screamed Sharla. "Head Shot!"

I turned, the gauntlets forming just in time to block the worst of the claws coming at my face, instead glancing off my body. "Ugh!"

"EAGLE FLASH!" Mumkhar leapt out of the Mechon to knock me along the ground. "Heh... too easy." Without turning, he thrust one of his hands behind himself, piercing through Dunban and causing the Homs to lose his momentum. "And you're too predictable."

"Gah..." Dunban grimaced, and tore out the claws with one hand. "Serene Heart..." A faint orange aura surrounded him as he rushed Mumkhar.

"Andrew! Help Shulk!" he spoke out of gritted teeth. "Mumkhar's mine!"

I nodded, and saw Melia and Riki slam into Sharla, causing the sniper to go flying over the edge.

"Hey!" I used the Soul Trigger, though with little strength. I still managed to rush under Sharla and catch her, however.

"Th-thanks," gasped Sharla, and I sensed her fast heartbeat.

"Yeah..." I flew back up to solid ground, feeling my energy fade as I let her down. "Hah..." Gods, I'm so tired... the hell? I... shouldn't be... guess that Ether did a real number on me... "Hah..."

"YOU CAN DO IT!" chirped Riki, catching Melia, Sharla and I in the midst of the healing Ether. "There you go! Friends all healed up!"

"Thanks, Riki!" I grinned at the Nopon, and my greaves formed as I kicked a Mechon's sword. "Hah..."

A loud grunt came out of me as I punched through the mechanical foe, destroying it.

"Hey, Melia!" shouted Shulk, running after slaying another faced Mechon with a swipe from the Monado. "That flying Mechon! I can't-"

"Manifest..." Melia's voice was low, subdued, as a lightning bolt slammed through the Mechon in question, red lights for eyes dimming.

"Thanks," he nodded, casting Light Heal on himself. "Okay, guys! While there's not so many Mechon here right now, we should go help out Dunban!"

"Yeah..." I wiped my mouth and groaned. "Let's..." I looked forward. "Let's do this."

"Yeah... here, let me heal you guys before you really get in the thick of it," spoke Sharla, using Heal Bullet on Shulk and Heal Round to ensure as little injury as possible still remained. "Alright, guys..."

"Let's go!" Shulk rushed forward. "Mumkhar...!" He unleashed the Monado's beam again, and swiped. "You...!" His sword met the claws of the foe, and Shulk growled as he whipped the Monado back. "Air Slash Ascent-"

Mumkhar sidestepped, dodging the skywards slash with ease, leaving Shulk to start to fall. "Gotcha, Monado Boy!" He lunged, dragging his claws through Shulk, decimating his lungs.

A swift feeling of insane rage exploded inside of me. "MUMKHAR!" I heard myself howl, and I caught Shulk as the former Homs threw him at me. "I'm gonna get you!" I tossed Shulk aside, in Sharla's general direction as I use the gauntlets, clashing with his claws. "And this time... you're dead."

"Heh... I think the one to die today... WILL BE ALL OF YOU!" shouted Mumkhar, forcing me back with a powerful shove. "EAGLE FLASH!"

Sensing the weak point of the projectile, I drew my sword and cut the Ether in two. Not enough energy to use anything... and he drained my Talent Art with that Ether earlier! "Dunban, keep the worse of the damn Mechon off me! I don't think you can take down Mumkhar like this-" With a harsh grunt I leapt from another lunge, and raised my sword to block the claws that flashed by. "Ugh...!" I slid away with a groan. "Damn... damn it all!"

"So... tired yet?" smirked the Mechon. "I'd guess so, Red Coat." He leapt backwards and booted up his Mechon again. "So to save myself some trouble... YOU'RE FIRST TO GO, MONADO BOY!"

I sensed Melia's water elemental start to wear away both fatigue and light wounds, though Shulk still couldn't breathe. He was choking on his own blood, despite Sharla's best efforts.

"Andrew, watch out!" roared Dunban, moving up close, his sword deflecting the heavy claws that came at him. "Gh...!"

I grunted, dodging as Dunban was forced to stagger back from a forceful shove. "And you said you were going for Shulk first!"

Mumkhar smirked. "Well, never let easy prey get away, I say!" He activated his thrusters, slamming into me. "LIKE YOU!"

Groaning, I strained to keep my ground with the gauntlets, the greaves helping with added friction. "Ugh!" I slammed along the ground, feeling my sleeve rip as I slid to a halt. "Dammit... Sharla!" I shouted, rolling back to my feet. "M-"

She gasped as the claws impaled her, tossing her limp body away. Though she was limp, her heartbeat was still fairly strong.

Shulk stared up at Mumkhar, whose claw was descending down at him.

I didn't realize I had stabbed myself until the pain and spike of energy exploded inside my body.

I slowed time and called the Soul Demon, reaching forward. Somehow the sword stopped the claws, though I felt something in the Demon's arm crack and start to shatter, sensing something starting to get forced out of place.

"WORLDLY SLASH!" howled Dunban, cutting the face of the foe, enough to cause the suit stagger and lose concentration.

"Riki!" I yelled. "Shulk! DO IT!" I forced whatever part of my arm back in place as I allowed the Demon and time to return to normal.

"Ah... yes! YOU CAN DO IT!" shouted the Nopon, and I sensed the lacerations in Shulk's lungs become slightly less severe as he coughed up blood.

"Geh!" Dunban slid away from the powerful claws of the foe, and a laser zapped him right in the back. "UGH!" He staggered. "Damn... more Mechon!"

I ran forward and deflected another laser using the greaves. "Phew... wait a second." I frowned. "Where's Melia?"

An icy lightning bolt rushed out, striking the face of the unit and pinning Mumkhar's Mobile Suit to the ground. "Hah... hah..." She smiled. "There."

Mumkhar leapt out with a grunt. "Damn you, princess!" he shouted. "I'm gonna get you for that!"

"As well... I have used ice to freeze all the nearby deposits shut," spoke Melia, wiping sweat off her face. "So now... no more reinforcements."

"That's a relief," spoke Sharla, an Ether-filled round decimating a flying unit, and I send the same remnants of Riki's healing Ether at her wounds. "At the pace we're going, we wouldn't last."

"Good move, Melia!" called Dunban, and she blushed.

"Yeah, that- HAH!" I punched, diverting Mumkhar's claws so he didn't pierce Dunban's throat. "Of course you wouldn't wait for us to talk!"

"Of course... you heroes spend too much time talking, after all!" Metal Face swung, and we slid apart. "Heh... ha ha ha..."

"Geez," I muttered. "You remind me of my Grade 10 Socials class, damn that was-" I frowned. Wait a... I was in Grade 8, right? How the hell do I have memories of a Grade 10 Social Studies class? "Hah..."

"Well... you heroes can talk as much as you want when you're dead," smirked Mumkhar. "RARGH!"

"Dunban, let's do this!" I shouted. The Homs nodded at me and we met Mumkhar's charge, sword and gauntlets grating against claws with harsh screeches to follow. He's still...! "Ugh!" I slid away as Dunban was forced to one side. "Hah..." If he's this strong... how am I ever gonna win against anyone else?

Can I?

"Heh... gotcha!" Mumkhar's claws lunged at me, and I let a loud grunt escape as my instincts came in, enough to deflect his stab.

"You don't have me yet!" I shouted, willing the greaves to form as I raised my leg to block a kick. "Gh..." I recovered with a grunt, concentrating a shockwave around the right greave. "Falcon... KICK!"

Mumkhar struck, causing me to stagger before a swift swipe of his claws sent me sliding along the ground. "Heh..." He dodged Dunban's sword and leapt back, moving back as a faint aura surrounded his claws. "Well, well..."

I grunted, and used Aura Wave, though the foe dodged and ground his claws against Dunban's claws.

"DUNBAN!" roared the Mechon. "DON'T YOU TIRE... OF BEING SO DAMN PITIABLE?!" He sank his claws into Dunban's leg, ripping them out, the thick rich blood spraying on the ground. He then shoulder rushed him into me, slamming both of us into a wall.

"Ugh!" I gasped. "Guh..."

Dunban rose with a grunt, lending me a hand. "Hah... Mumkhar..." He pointed his sword forward. "It is you who is pitiable."

"Only a hero could say something so cliche," sneered Mumkhar.

"You're kinda a cliche villain, then," I muttered.

Mumkhar growled, deflecting a fireball with a hand twitch. "Red Coat..."

"Melia, stay back," spoke Dunban. "This..." He used Serene Heart with a breath. "This is between Mumkhar and I. You too, Andrew."

"Yeah, only if you want to die," I grunted. "Nah... that ain't happening."

Melia, despite the lack in her body, nodded. "Yes! Dunban, as my companion and ally, I-"

"Alright..." Dunban stared, long and hard, at the enemy in front of us all. "Sharla! Heal us, then-"

Mumkhar lunged, and I whipped out my sword as my instincts kicked in once again, an aura surrounding it. We clashed, pushing against each other.

"Heh... be that way, then!" Mumkhar leapt away, dodging the headshot Sharla had sent flying for his head. "It'll be so much more rewarding when I kill you."

"Heh... hah... right back at ya!" I managed, smiling. "C'mon..." I wiped sweat away from my forehead with a groan. "Let's do this!"

"Yes!" Dunban lunged beside me, and we lunged at Mumkhar, who just leapt out of the way.

"RARGH!" I used the Soul Trigger and slid forward with my momentum, slashing the foe with a swift swing.

"Hmph!" Mumkhar blocked, and our weapons met several times. "So, Red Coat, you-"

"RAGH!" Dunban slashed, with Mumkhar dodging the attack with a grunt. "SOARING TEMPEST!"

"Gah!" The Mechon staggered from the rapid stream of attacks. "Damn you, Dunban! You-"

"Stab Wave!" I shouted, taking a chunk of metal along my blade, which swiftly faded due to the shockwave's intensity. "Gh...!"

"RARGH!" With a yell, Mumkhar sent me back with a wide sweep of his claws. "DAMN YOU ALL!"

He lunged at Dunban, claws flashing by me, the Ether on them causing me to fall and revert. "I'M BETTER THEN YOU!" he roared. "YOU... WILL DIE!"

Dunban grunted, clashing several more times with his enemy. "DIE!" he shouted. "GALE SLASH!"

Mumkhar screamed as the slash rushed past his defences.

"WORLDLY SLASH!" The Homs kicked away Mumkhar afterwards, before dashing after him. "RAH!"

"Stop!" yelled out Shulk, and the Monado's beam enlarged, blocking the slash Dunban was about to use. "Hah... hah... ugh...!" He spat out blood, groaning as he stood up.

"Shulk..." Dunban looked back. "Stand back. I will finish this."

"No!" panted the blonde, straining to keep back the blade of the other Homs. "It's... it's Mumkhar, not a Mechon!" he spoke, moving forward, using the Monado's added length to get closer while keeping Dunban at bay.

"Have you already forgotten everything he's done?!" exclaimed Dunban, glaring at Shulk, still straining against him. "Where is your killer instinct...?! Now is the time!"

I dunno, probably in a Devastation Beam, I thought, staggering forward.

"I hate him too," answered Shulk. "For what he did to Fiora, what he did to the Emperor, and... OF COURSE I WANT MY REVENGE!" he howled. "But..."

He sighed, quiet. "Face Mechon aren't like the others."

"Yeah, like that stopped us from killing Xord," I grunted. "You forget that too, Shulk?"

"No, of course I haven't!" he replied. "But... gh... they're... they're people!" he shouted. "Like us!" He stared deep into Dunban's eyes. "Are you really willing to kill another Homs?!"

"Yes... I am," replied Dunban. "Sometimes... needs must!"

"Wait if... it's Fior-" Shulk stopped as Mumkhar's claws stabbed through his stomach. "Ugh..."

"I've had enough of your whining, Monado Boy." Mumkhar threw Shulk aside, and the Monado spun up into the air as a result. "The Monado is mine now, though!"

"No it's not!" shouted Dunban, his slash forcing Mumkhar to guard against him instead of catching the blade, which I leapt for and caught. "For you, Mumkhar... I promise you the embrace of death!"

Shulk gasped. "No... no!" He coughed up blood, and tried to speak as Sharla tended to him. "DON'T DO IT, DUNBAN!"

"RARGH!" With one last slash, Dunban's blade impaled the foe's heart.

If he had one, anyway.

"RAGH!" howled Mumkhar's, claws flashing with energy as he stabbed them through Dunban's own stomach.

The energy formed a ball which flew away, into a distant wall. I gasped, though the last Ether dosage was stronger then all the rest.

I can't move?! I realized, falling with a grunt, only able to watch as the unstable pillar fell. "No..."

Both Dunban and Mumkhar screamed as the pillar slammed into both of them, and the platform they were on collapsed due to the sudden increase in weight.

"NO!" screamed Shulk, and in my hands the Monado flashed that white colour again, though too late.

I sensed Dunban and Mumkhar falling, falling... then they were gone.