Chapter 52

"Hmph!" A swift Back Slash was enough for Shulk to finish up the fight. "Alright, that went pretty well," he commented, inspecting the slain Mechon's now heavily dented armour. "Ugh... no way I could salvage this..." he sighed, leaning in close for a moment. "Anyways, good job, everyone! We're were really feeling it that time!"

"Riki agree with Shulk!" spoke the Heropon. "And Melly do very well too!"

"Aw... thanks, Riki," chuckled the princess, picking up the Nopon for a tight hug. "That's sweet of you to say."

I cracked my neck. "Huh..." Their bond... no, their Affinity...

It's increased.

Maybe 'cause I wasn't around for a while and they got into some fights, their personal bonds with each other improved... though my own connections remain weak.

Man, the only way the consequences could be greater would be in Fire Emblem or something. Or Devil Survivor 2! I shook my head. Anyway... I should probably try and commune with one of them... Sharla perhaps?

I quicken my pace to walk side by side with the sniper. "Hey," I spoke.

"Hm...? Oh, Andrew." She readied her gun. "Did you sustain any heavy injuries?"

"Nah, I'm fine," I replied. "Just thinking... we haven't... really had a one on one talk," I spoke, eyes widening as I voiced the realization. Geez. I'm just the best.

"Hm... true, in hindsight," she mused. "Though...I know little about you, so... we could start there?"

Can't be too much harm if I leave it vague... "Well... I'm the youngest sibling of three," I spoke. "And... my favourite food's fish."

"Youngest of three, huh?" spoke Sharla. "Alright... it's always nice to learn something about your teammates, don't you think?"

I always enjoy learning more about my classmates and friends, so... "Yeah."

"Huh," I heard Shulk mutter from behind me.

"Hm...?" I muse aloud. What's he thinking about...?

"Something wrong?" spoke the sniper.

"Nah... nothing," I replied. "Just... thinking about stuff."

"Hey, Andrew... you mind if I talk to you for a little?" spoke Shulk, walking more quickly to catch up. "Oh, uh, is that alright, Sharla? Sorry if I'm interrupting..."

"No... we just finished," replied Sharla. "Maybe next time we talk, you could tell me some more about yourself, hm?"

"Yeah," I spoke. "Maybe I will..." My response seemed enough for the medic, who slowed to talk with Melia and Riki.

"So." I turned towards the blonde. "What do you wanna talk about?"

"Hm... I don't know yet," admitted Shulk. "But... you've been secretive about yourself before, and now you're starting to open up... it's quite nice to see, actually."

"Hm?" I looked towards him more closely. "Um... alright... I guess."

He laughed. "Sorry, uh, didn't mean it... like that, I suppose. Just... it's great that you feel you can finally trust us." Shulk looked towards the others in the back of the group before looking at me again. "You... only trusted us in fights. Otherwise, you barely even interacted with us."

"Well... thou art perceptive," I spoke. "If I'm really honest..." I sighed. "I'd probably leave one day, so... I didn't want to get too attached to you guys. But... well... you're all really... friendly and nice, I guess is what I'm trying to say." My face felt hot from reasons unrelated to the heat, though the sun was glaring down on us. "So... I... wanted to... really be a part of the group, I guess?"

"Well... if it helps any... to us, you've always been a part of the group," spoke Shulk, holding out a hand.

I breathed out, and shook it. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," spoke Shulk, looking forwards. "That large structure up ahead... mm, let's go!" He dashed toward it.

"Wha, hey, Shulk!" I ran after him. "Don't just take off like that, it's-"

He slowed, staring at the architecture surrounding the entrance, as well as what looked to be semi-curved rods that glowed green. Ether? I wondered for a second.

"There's no turning back after we enter here," mused Sharla, catching up with Shulk and I.

"Yeah... Galahad Fortress," spoke Shulk. "Anyway... we can't let them catch us. Let's move." Despite his words, we simply walked in, as if we had little care for the world.

Flawless, I thought.

Moving in, we moved quickly. Coming to a door, Shulk reached out whilst walking more slowly forwards. It seemed to react to his presence in relation to his distance to the door, opening up. As soon as all of us entered, it shut behind us.

Not like any of us really noticed. The sight before us all was... beautiful, despite the excess bleak colour of green and countless Mechon, both faced and not.

"Phew... Fiora is in here somewhere," spoke Shulk aloud, leaning over the railing for a look at the general area.

"Alright, everyone... let's get going." He looked to us, and it wasn't until he inspected the wall behind us that I realized he wasn't staring at Sharla's...

I face-palmed.

"Hm... this lift... it needs some kind of key," spoke Shulk aloud. "Maybe... one of the Mechon will have that key."

"So the plan is to destroy every Mechon we find until we might find a key?" I asked.

"Such a plan would quickly becoming exhausting," noted Melia.

"Well... I don't have any better ideas. Do any of you guys?" asked Shulk.

The rest of us shook our heads.

"Huh...?" I looked down the ramp we are at the top of. "Geez..." I drew my sword as a few Mechon started to rush at us. "Must've been too loud."

"Heropon is ready for battle!" declared Riki, backflipping and grasping his Biter. "Yah! Bitey Bitey!'

"Alright, guys, let's do this!" shouted Shulk, raising his sword arm in triumph as he unleashed the Monado's beam component.

I breathed out. "Wait..." Right... my sword alone can't cut them...

A frown developed on my face. But against Mumkhar... I blocked his attack and it cut him a little. Faced Mechon are tougher then normal Mechon, the Monado proves that.

So...

"Have I gotten stronger? Like... stronger then I should be capable of?"

"What you daydream about, Andrew?" asked Riki, using his weapon to flatten a Mechon to a cartoonish contortion.

I shook my head. "Nah, it's nothing." I paused. "Though... maybe I'll tell you a little about it later, Riki."

"Ooh!" Riki hopped into the air. "OK! That promise?!"

Geez, he's hyper. "Yeah, if you want."

"Wow! Riki talk with Melly like that before, and Sharla! Now he get to do it with Andrew!" he cheered, dancing. "Nyanakapow!"

I sighed, shaking my head, smiling. "Alright... huh?" I grunted as a Mechon lunged forward, to be pinned down as a magical glacier erupted from the ground upwards. "Whoa."

"Take more caution!" I heard Melia call to me, before turning away.

I breathed out. "Thanks!" With a grunt, I willed the gauntlets to form before using a punch to meet up with a Mechon lunging at me.

The faint buzz in my ears was accentuated with the rush of energy and adrenaline flooding my limbs.

A smile grew on my face as I punched right through a Mechon, a quick sidestep afterwards for a side kick that destroyed another.

This rush... this feeling of landing a solid, powerful blow...

"It's the best feeling in the world," I spoke.

Shulk breathed out, reaching into the Mechon he had just cut down via a Slit Edge Art. "Ah... here we go," he mused aloud, pulling his hand out with a shiny object within his grasp. "The key... I hope."

"It would be too convenient for it to be labelled, wouldn't it," I spoke, glancing towards it.

"Well..." The blonde looked to the nearby lift. "Let's see if it works." Walking over to the entrance, he does something likely not involving magic before a door opens in front of him.

"Hm... why is there a lift regardless?" spoke Melia. "Most Mechon are incapable of fitting inside..."

"Plot convenience," I grunted under my breath.

"Well... huh, I dunno," mused Shulk. "A mystery... anyways, c'mon everyone, we don't have time to waste." He walked inside.

"OK, let's go!" declared Riki, before bouncing inside the lift's confines.

"Huh." I tilted my head, before looking to the two women beside me. "Ladies first. ...Wait a second..."

Melia breathed out with a smile before she too entered.

"Well... maybe next time," spoke Sharla, before following.

I sighed, entering afterwards. Shulk pressed some obscene button on the wall and we descended.

A slight frown developed on my face as we kept falling. Something... above us...?

Despite the five of us inside the fairly small lift, it was still a rather comfortable ride.

Until the massive, metallic tentacles penetrated the ceiling, of course.