Chapter 55

"Whoa... is this a river of Ether?" breathed Shulk, staring at it as we all walked across a bridge over it.

"Something you wouldn't wanna fall into," I spoke, wincing slightly. Being this close to this excessive quantity of Ether... ugh, that doesn't at all feel good...

"Andrew, are you alright?" I glanced upward to see Melia looking at me, having moved to walk beside me.

"Oh... yeah, I am." I stretched, cracking my neck. "Just stiff now."

"Mm... well, ensure you take care of yourself, as well. None of us should be fighting alone," she spoke. "We are companions, yes?"

I smiled. "Yeah."

"Hey, everyone. We have Mechon up ahead," spoke Shulk. "A lot, in fact. Hm..." He paused, all of us hiding behind some kind of storage unit thing. "If we were to take them on, more would probably come out to fight us, too..."

"So we should be Phantom Thieves?" I spoke. "Dunno if we're so good at the stealth thing, though..."

"Maybe Riki and friends try sneak attack?" spoke the Heropon, arm thing at his side moving to his chin to make it seem he was deep in thought. "Then if no alarm go off, yay, bonus!"

Melia released a soft chuckle. "Well, what do you think, Shulk?" she spoke, moving a hand to her staff.

"Hm..." The blonde narrowed his eyes. "Hm... considering... we have the Monado... Sharla's gun isn't silenced, Melia and Riki's Ether abilities are flashy, and Andrew... has a tendency to shout," he spoke, looking sheepish.

I looked at him, face feeling sightly hot. "So do the rest of us, bruh. If anything, I'm the least flashy out of all of us."

"Mm... probably better if we sneak out," spoke Shulk. "Alright, follow me, and be careful."

He waited until all of the Mechon were looking in a different direction, then rushed by the whole squad in a single smooth maneuver. I grunted, following, with Melia, Sharla and Riki zooming by behind myself.

Shulk breathed out as we started to ascend some stairs. "Don't seem to be any more Mechon for now..." he mused, walking forward. "Good." He breathed out, opening a door at the top of the staircase.

"Huh?" I spoke. "These are... Faced Mechon...?"

"Yeah..." Shulk walked out of the entranceway, though as soon as he did, an alarm sounded. "Ugh?!" he gasped.

There was a loud shattering noise along with the alarm, and I looked behind us to see a Mechon charging forward. "Tch!" I grunted, willing my greaves to form, leaping forward to kick at the machine, forcing it back. "MOVE!" I shouted.

Everyone else was already running forward, towards what seemed to be akin to a golden wall. Though I could sense something whirling within it...

It opened and I realized it was a shutter, revealing Nemesis Face behind it.

"Fiora!" spoke Shulk, stopping in place for a moment before the Mechon activated, drawing her twin blades.

"Damn!" I growled, moving to stand beside my companions. "It's coming!"

Already from behind us we were getting swarmed with an excess of hostile machinery, with more Mechon dropping from the ceiling, too.

"Wait, guys, don't hurt her! Fiora's still in there!" spoke Shulk. "We need to take out all the other Mechon first, then if we can get Fiora lone, maybe we can talk to her and-" He grunted, raising the Monado to block a slash. "Gh!"

"Melia, can you freeze her Gundam in place?!" I asked.

The princess stared at me, twirling her staff as an ice elemental appeared. "Erm... excuse me?"

"Ah, right." I smacked myself. "Fiora's Mechon body! Can you freeze- IT?!" I gasped out the last part as a punch sent me flying. "UGH!" I groaned, rolling to my feet. "Damnit... there's too many!" I willed my gauntlets to form and punched a solid hole through one of the many Mechon surrounding us. One out of a few dozen.

"Riki no give up!" declared the Heropon, bouncing around, his Biter striking out. "Yargh! Bitey Bitey!"

Shulk grunted, eyes flashing for a moment. "Tch... Andrew, back up Melia!" he shouted, casting Speed on me. "And then - NNGH!" The blonde is cut off as he slashes to deflect another of Nemesis Face's cuts. "Fiora...!"

"Alright!" I spoke, sensing several moving for Melia. "Hah!" I surged forward, concentrating an aura around both gauntlets as I placed them together. "Quarter circle forward... HADOKEN!" I shouted, the projectile busting straight through the Mechon, causing it to fall, as the concentrated aura struck another, causing an angry mechanical buzzing as it focused on me. "Hey!" I smiled, evading a spear lunge with a grunt before grasping my sword and summoning the Soul Demon. Can it hurt them?! It lunged forward, impaling several of the Mechon surrounding the princess with one stroke of its blade. "Sweet!"

Sharla screamed as she slammed into me, resulting in both of us hitting the nearby wall. "UGH!" gasped the sniper, falling to the ground. "GAH...!" She threw up blood. "Unh..."

"Gh... Melia, g-" I watched as a sword ripped Melia apart, causing a scream to pierce my eardrums. "DAMNIT!" I used Time Slow with a growl, letting the Demon fade as I morphed with the Soul Trigger, catching Melia as she fell. Not good... what're Shulk and Riki doing?! I moved back to where Sharla was, with the sniper shooting healing Ether into the air. "Thanks," I spoke, feeling a twinge as the Ether affected me.

Sharla coughed, shaking as she braced an arm against the ground. I set Melia down and gave Sharla a hand, helping her up.

"DAMNIT, FIORA!" I heard Shulk yell, and I let time revert as I saw Riki and Shulk grinding their weapons against Nemesis Face's. "YOU DON'T..." Shulk's voice cracked as he and the Heropon were shoved back. "You don't... recognize me...?!" He extended the beam with Buster, unleashing a wide swing to force Nemesis Face back. "Rrgh... everybody, retreat!" he shouted, as yet more Mechon dropped from the ceiling, pods, from hidden corners I couldn't sense. "RARGH!" Shulk swung again. "Battle Soul... STREAM EDGE!" With the Art, he kept the Monado's beam extended with Buster, slicing through a great quantity of the Mechon. "Hah... hah...!" He fell to one knee, coughing. "Geh...!"

I snapped out of my amazed stupor at the sight, rushing forward and nullifying an Ether blast from Nemesis Face with a slash of my blade. "Get back! I'll over!" I shouted, crunching beneath me as I stepped on broken Mechon remains. And still more were coming out.

Then I sensed an explosion of energy well up inside of Nemesis Face, and I stared forward as she launched the energy to the ground, decimating the floor we were standing on.

"SHIT!" I cursed, flying, rushing downwards to catch Melia and Sharla, placing the two safely on the ground before I reverted. "Hah... hah..." I swallowed, wiping some of my sweat away. There was a green glow around Shulk's shoes as he jumped again in the air, landing with a grunt, and Riki floated downwards with his wing arms. "Geez... that escalated quickly," I spoke. And we're in trouble if more Mechon show up... which is bound to happen. So we're boned. I groaned, cracking my neck. Yay.

"Hah..." Shulk grunted, Jump deactivating. "Fiora!" he shouted. "Please remember! It's me, and-"

"Pitiful." Egil's voice cracked to life, over some kind of announcement speaker, I guess. "If not for the power of that sword, it's unlikely you would ever have made it this far." There was a brief pause. "Activate... Apocrypha."

Suddenly there was a golden glow, with a purple aura surrounding it, and I saw that the golden glow was a Faced Mechon.

Shulk gasped. "What is...?!"

With a mighty yell the pruple aura exploded outwards, swarming around the Monado, causing the beam to forcibly retract into the blade.

"Wha... what is happening?" spoke Shulk, staring at the Monado. "The Moando is..."

"Kh!" I looked up as more whirling sounded, signalling the arrival of more Mechon, including several Faced ones now. And oh boy, if the situation was bad, it was god awful now. I could sense several hundred surrounding us now, a number so large it was overwhelming to my senses. I closed my eyes with a wince, looking at Nemesis Face, who landed, pointing one of her blades at us.

"Fiora..." There was a slight sob to Shulk's voice. "Please..."

"Rrgh... run..."

I frowned. Is it Fiora? Or Meyneth?

"YOU MUST RUN!" I heard... whoever it was scream, the cockpit opening to reveal Fiora's body, tear streaks running down her face. "PLEASE!"

"FIORA!" wailed Shulk, staring up at her.

"I can't..." A groan slipped past... Fiora's lips, the cockpit starting to close again, though slowly, as though she were-

"Fascinating... I have never seen such resistance to becoming a Face before," mused Egil, his Mechon landing on the ground. At the same time, the cockpit to Nemesis Face shut completely.

I felt a surge of anger surge up inside of me, at that damn condescending tone in his voice. "Son of a..."

"Egil..." came out Fiora's voice, weak.

"Is it you?! Have you done something to her?!" shouted Shulk.

By now, all the Mechon had us surrounded, forcing us into a tight circle. Melia and Sharla were looking alright now, with Riki's eyes narrowed at Egil.

"From the moment they are created... all Mechon are mine to control," spoke Egil. "If one were to defy me... I force it to obey."

"So they're all slaves to you?!" I shouted, clenching a fist, shaking as I tightened my grip on my sword. "That's some BS!"

"Why turn Homs into Mechon?!" yelled Shulk, breathing heavy. "Why... why make them attack the Bionis?!"

I could almost hear Egil smirk in his answer. "If you desire such knowledge... you have only to submit yourself to me."

"Never!" spat Shulk before I could reply. "Who would ever submit themselves to you?!"

"Choose!" roared Egil. "You cannot win here. I have sealed the Monado's power, any chance of ivcotry you have is zero. And with this many Mechon, you have no chance of escape either."

"Damnit!" cursed Sharla. "He's..."

"So you did that to the Monado..." breathed Shulk, gazing at his weapon. "Ngh...!"

"The Monado is a tool that regulates the very waves of Ether that make up the world," spoke Egil. "Heh... therefore... a simple counter is to utilize opposing waves against it."

"But-" Whatever Melia might have said is cut off by Egil.

"ENOUGH! Hand over the Monado. It is, after all, now useless to you," he spoke.

"Never!" growled Shulk, standing up slightly straighter now. "If the Monado really is powerless... why do you want it?! I REFUSE TO HAND IT OVER!" he shouted.

"Fine. Make your choice," spat the Machina within the suit. "Be crushed by myself... or be slain your old friend." At his voice, Nemesis Face circled around behind us, slowly approaching.

"Egil...!" Fiora's voice is heavy with strain, though she rushed forward regardless.

Shulk grunted, slashing to barely deflect the strike. "Ugh..."! he gasped. "Damnit... I can't access the Monado's powers!"

"Gh... Shulk, keep Fiora at bay!" I shouted. "Sharla, Melia, Riki, keep everyone in good condition and take care of the Mechon that come!" I breathed out, activating the chainsaw mode on my sword as I surged forward. "Egil...!"

"Hm... so the Outsider comes at me alone, then?" Egil's Gundam shifted, a blast of lightning flooding the area I was already moving into. "Perish, then."

I breathed out, slowing time. Can't do it for too long now, though... "RARGH!" I used my Soul Trigger, evading the arcing lightning and striking at Gold Face, forcing the chainsaws to grind into the armour. "RAWR!" I howled, forcing an aura around the Omega Yato, causing the chainsaws to whirl furiously, multiplying in intensity. It's... penetrating his armour...! I felt a smile on my face, forcing my blade deeper. I can do this!

"RRGH!" roared Egil, a blast of Ether forcing me to the ground. "YOU... DARE TO STRIKE ME SO?!"

I rushed to the sky, evading a fist he crashed into the ground, and I sensed him concentrating blast of Ether at me. "RRGH...!" Time slipped, reverting, and I gasped as he struck me, forcing me to the ground as I reverted from my Soul Trigger, dropping my sword. "GH!" I groaned, slowly getting back up, when Egil stepped on me, shattering all my ribs and spine in one fell swoop. "ARGH!" I screamed. blood seeming to explode from my body.

"ANDREW!" shouted Melia; her voice seemed to be coming from far away now.

I... can... I grunted as Egil lifted his foot, moving towards Shulk, who was still barely managing to clash with Nemesis Face. Just... if I can move... I can force my sword to chainsaw into him and win. I was sahking. "Damnit...!" I gotta...! "Need to move...!"

"Huh?" Shulk gasped, rolling from an Ether blast, for Nemesis Face's swords to cutinto him, forcing him along the ground. "UGH!"

"Hah..." All I need's one second... please. I strained, barely shaking, and coughed, pain racking my body. I breathed out, and focused, opening my eyes.

I breathed, feeling no pain. My head cleared, and now there was no agony in my body. I looked at my hand, and saw that it was white.

I rose, sword in my grasp, sensing my wounds seeming to fade. Like a... band-aid... I stared at Egil.

He was frozen.

Not just him. Everyone else was frozen, and the mechanical muttering that had been overwhelming me was gone.

Time had stopped.

The Soul Trigger of optimism. I leapt through the air, lunging at Egil, activating my blade's chainsaw mode again. "RARGH-"

Time returned to normal as I moved forward, with Egil turning to swat me to the ground. "Hm...? A white form..." he spoke.

I panted, reverting with a gasp. "Unh!" I slouched, feeling my energy leave my body, my sword reverting. "Hah... hah..."

"STOP!" shouted... it was Meyneth now, I was sure of it, before Nemesis Face emitted a red glow, which covered the Mobile Suit itself, as well as a little drifting over to us. The glow seemed to keep the Mechon at bay, as they all moved back, a safe distance from us now.

"I will not permit you to have your way!" declared Meyneth, lunging forward.

Shulk gasped, the Monado glowing as it surrounded him, and his eyes flashed blue. "No..." Realization struck his features. "Stop! FIORA!"

"What...?" spoke Egil, as Meyneth charged at him. "You will die for them?!" He seemed stunned by her actions, merely raising his Gundam's arms to block the oncoming attack.

At the clash there were several explosions racing along the entire area.

"Gotta... move...!" I managed, when a larger explosion rocked the floor, starting to turn it sideways, causing us all to start to fall. "Damn...!"

"Wait... where's Shulk?!" exclaimed Melia, and gasped, causing me to look where she was staring. "There!"

Shulk groaned, satggering towards the now fallen Nemesis Face. "Ngh..." From his movements it was obvious he was injured, though he kept moving forward, despite the explosions sounding around him.

"Shulk, must get back!" gasped Riki.

"Gh..." I coughed, wiping my mouth. "Stay here, guys, I'll-" There was another massive explosion, and the ledge Meyneth/Fiora was on fell away, leaving Shulk at the edge. "Tch!" I withdrew my sword and forced myself to dash forward. "SHULK-"

"FIORA!" screamed the blonde, jumping after her as she fell down still.

"SHULK!" shouted Sharla, the ground tipping, forcing all of us to slip downwards. "Oh no...!" One last explosion and the whole place tipped completely sideways, making all of us fall after Shulk.

"Melia!" I grunted, as she slammed into the ground, hitting her head. "Shoot!" Reaching out, I managed to catch her hand as we fell, and brought her close to myself as we fell. You're not going to die. Not today, and not any other day, if I can help it.

Then I slammed into the ocean, the impact and icy cold more than enough to force consciousness away from me.