Shulk woke from his nightmare, and looked about. He was in a place he had never seen before. He was on a large strip of sand, with a metal structure to one side, and the Endless Ocean on another. He looked towards the ocean, and gasped.

"Purity!" he cried out. He ran over to the machine, and pulled the machine apart until he found Melia. Although some of the ropes had been frayed by the fall, she was still securely bound to Purity. Her gag remained fastened behind her teeth. Her eyes were shut, but she was still breathing. Shulk pulled at the gag, removing it from behind her teeth, and pulled out the Monado. It didn't activate.

"Something must've happened when Faced Deity disabled it…" Shulk remarked. Pushing lightly on the metal around the wreckage, Shulk was able to separate the cockpit seat from the machine, and from there, he could start cutting Melia's ropes.

"Got to be careful now… if the Monado reawakens, Melia could get seriously hurt. Really could go for a pocket knife or something…" Shulk commented, as he used the rather unwieldy blade to cut Melia from the wreckage. Luckily, the Monado didn't activate, allowing Melia to be cut free. Shulk turned her onto her back, and laid her down that way.

"Now to wake her up… but how?" Shulk asked himself. Melia stirred lightly.

"Water…" he said to himself. He looked to the structure, and saw a small spring. He scooped up some water, and hurried it back to Melia. He held a sample of it to her mouth. She didn't open.

"…I wonder… I think I remember Reyn doing something like this to Sharla…" Shulk muttered to himself. He poured the water into his mouth, but did not swallow. He pulled Melia's head up, and pushed his mouth into hers. He released the water, and allowed it to flow into Melia's system. Melia's eyes opened, and Shulk pulled back.

"It's nice to see you awake, Melia," Shulk said, and moved back. He started to inspect the rest of her body. Her wrists had red slits in them from the ropes, but there weren't any such wounds in the other parts of her body.

"I can't believe it… my first kiss…" Melia said to herself.

"Hm?" Shulk asked. Melia grabbed Shulk's collar, and pulled him up to her face. She let go, but quickly pulled him into a giant hug. After a small moment to gain his bearings, Shulk hugged back.

"I'm so sorry… for what happened on Valak Mountain. In Galahad Fortress…" Melia said.

"It was obvious it was not your fault. Valak Mountain, you were just trying to be nice to me and Dunban. Galahad Fortress… there are so many reasons that was not your fault, I can't even begin!" Shulk said. Melia smiled.

"Thank you, Shulk," Melia said. She tried to get up, before falling back onto the sands. Shulk pushed his arms under Melia, and scooped her up.

"Come on, Melia. We'll have to find someone. The other Homs, Riki, the people who built this place… we can't last out here forever," Shulk said.

"Good idea, Shulk," Melia said.

Though couldn't we stick around for a little longer?

Sharla woke up, and rolled over onto her back. Letting out a slight oof, she realised she had landed on Reyn. Odd place to land…

"Reyn. Get up," she said sternly. Reyn complied.

"What time is it?" he asked vaguely.

"The sun is out, but from this position, I can't say more. We'd better move and find some sort of supplies. Mine were running somewhat low…" Sharla said.

"I can't help but eat! Can I have some?" Reyn asked.

"No, Reyn. We need to ration our food," Sharla said. Reyn groaned.

"Oh… and thanks. For protecting me, for being there for me…" Sharla said.

"Us Homs have got to stick together, right?" Reyn asked. Sharla smiled.

"Though you're not just looking after me because I'm a Homs, right?" Sharla asked. Reyn cast his gaze around.

"It's not a reason, but it's part of one…" Reyn said. Sharla giggled lightly.

"Right, we really have to get a move on," Sharla said. She started, but Reyn hadn't. He was scratching his head.

"Reyn?" Sharla asked.

"…I'm useless, aren't I? I let Shulk go, even though I promised Fiora I'd keep an eye on him…" Reyn said.

"Surely I'm worth a little bit?" Sharla asked.

"Yeah, I can protect you, alright… but that's something I chose to do. I set my own wants over Fiora's… and now Shulk's gone, who knows where…" Reyn said. "He could've landed with Melia… and they could…"

"Reyn, I hope you're not implying what I think you are," Sharla said.

"No, Sharla… what did you think I was implying?" Reyn asked.

"That you'd think Shulk would leave us behind and begin a long life with Melia without you," Sharla said.

"That's what it was? …Then yes, that was what I was thinking," Reyn said.

"Reyn, Shulk would never do that. Melia might not be overly fond of us, but Shulk would never abandon you. Remember that," Sharla said. Reyn nodded. He finally started putting one foot in front of another, and followed Sharla.

"What's that sound?" Sharla asked.

"It's a scrap!" Reyn called out. "Hopefully, it means we've found somebody, and hopefully, we came in time for them to not die."

Reyn jumped down onto the same level as the fight, landing such that Sharla could land on him, and slide down. She pulled out her rifle, and he his driver. They looked ahead. Shulk was standing in front of two Mechon-like machines, one with a red circle of light, the other a blue. He held Melia in his arms, and Melia clung to his shirt. Shulk had a weak, right-handed grip on the Monado, and was swinging rather pointlessly at the Mechon.

"Put me down and fight!" Melia asked.

"I can't… I'm scared…" Shulk responded.

"Shulk! We've got 'em!" Reyn called out. He started his charge.

"Reyn!" Shulk cried out.

"Sharla!" Melia added. Sharla used a Thunder Bullet on the red-circled one, and Reyn used Sword Drive on the blue. The two fell, and Reyn turned to face Shulk. The Monado powered down, and fell to the ground. Sharla set it on Shulk's back.

"Thanks for the help, Reyn," Shulk said.

"Don't mention it, Shulk! I was just saying that I needed to help you more," Reyn replied.

"Sorry… I guess I have been paying a little too much attention to Melia. Speaking of which, do you think you can stand?" Shulk asked. Melia nodded. Shulk lowered her to the ground, and Melia took to her feet.

"Where are the others? Dunban, Riki?" Sharla and Melia asked at the same time.

"So you don't know either?" Shulk and Reyn said at once.

"So where do we find them?" they all asked at once.

Dunban and Riki awoke on a soft shore. Riki got up first, and took stock of his surroundings.

"Shiny!" he said. He rushed over to the golden, triangle shape in the sands. He scooped it up, and touched it. It glowed a brilliant red light, before falling from Riki's hands. It hovered above ground, before a young Homs girl appeared underneath it. The golden triangle settled as a necklace for her, and the girl sat bolt upright almost immediately.

"Where… where am I?" she asked. She looked over at Dunban.

"Dunban!" she cried out, and rushed over to him. Dunban jumped at the sound of his name, and looked over at the girl.

"F…Fiora?" he asked.

"Yes, it is me. Where are we? What happened to Shulk and Reyn? How long have I been out?" Fiora asked.

"I dunno, I dunno… and a week or two," Dunban answered in sequence. Fiora looked up, and around.

"And who is this little furball? He's so fluffy…" Fiora said, bending down to stroke Riki.

"No stroke until Hom Hom tell Riki what happened in Mechon!" Riki demanded, stepping away.

"Mechon?" Fiora asked, her eyes scrunching up in confusion.

"It's a long story, and one best explained once we've found the others. This is Riki: he's a Heropon. We've also met Sharla, a Colony 6 medic, and Melia, the princess of the mythical High Entia," Dunban said. "They should be nearby as well." Dunban waited a moment, before finally leaning in to give Fiora a one-armed hug.

"But it's good to see you again, Fiora."

"…So who is Fiora, hm?" Riki asked.

"This is my sisterpon. She was also supposed to be Shulk's wifeypon, but Shulk… the more I travel with him, the more I realise just how little about having a wifeypon Shulk knew," Dunban said.

"Riki know. But Riki know Shulk love Melly. Shulk tell Riki, way back when Melly killed the Dinobeast, that Shulk no like Fiora. Ah! Riki not supposed to tell Dundun!" Riki said.

"Is that so, Riki?" Fiora asked. Riki turned around, and started looking for the other members of the Homs. Fiora started to follow him. Dunban started to follow Fiora.

"A village in a place like this?" Dunban asked.

"Riki must make wrong turn! We must leave, and come back with branch of olives," Riki said.

"I am sure it is not that bad…" Fiora said.

"There they are!" a loud voice called out. With a massive crash, Dunban, Fiora and Riki found themselves knocked to the ground. Shulk nervously picked Dunban from the ground, Fiora glowed a shade of red and forced Reyn off her, and Riki laughed as Melia began to snuggle into him. Sharla simply walked up, laughing at the situation.

"Hello, boys!" Fiora said. Shulk's eyes widened.

"Fiora… you're back…" Shulk said. He pulled up Fiora's shirt. Not a single puncture wound or scar.

"We've got a lot of stories to tell…" Shulk said. Fiora nodded.

"But first, some more introductions. This is the home of the Machina people: the people of Mechonis," Shulk said. As he waved, some such Machina appeared behind him, walking up to see the party. A female one checked Melia's wrists: the rope burns she collected while in Face Purity were whitened, but still there. Shulk checked his own arm: two scars, the one from failing to slash at Face Malice, and one while opening Face Purity.

A few hours later, and Shulk concluded his story. He had just finished recounting the story of the events that had transpired since the Mechon attack on Colony 9 over a nice tea break. His audience was the entire party, a newly-revived Fiora, and Linada, doctor of the Machina and the very Machina that had checked Melia's wrists eariler. Although Shulk had brief periods of respite when others chipped in to explain parts of the story Shulk either didn't understand or wasn't present for, he had spent all that time speaking about his story. Linada and Fiora nodded. After all, the story was mostly for their benefit.

*Ah, I see,* Linada said. Fiora was simply left to process the story. She had no story to tell back, however. She had no story, period, for the time period between Face Malice killing her and Riki waking her up with the golden trinket.

*Well… as Shulk mentioned, we are the Machina, people born from the Mechonis. We are not the same as Mechon… the weapons you call Mechon were created by our civilisation. However, we were born from the Mechonis, like how you were born from the Bionis,* Linada said, beginning her explanation.

"So far I follow… but what of the Mechon attack on Bionis? What do you know of that?" Dunban asked.

*I understand your feelings… but there is much to tell yet. If you travel a short distance in that direction, you will see our chief. He will discuss further. He knows more than I. Melia, you are in satisfactory condition. Fiora… I would like to analyse you. I do not understand how you came to be,* Linada said.

"That sounds reasonable. Shulk, everyone… you must talk to the chief," Fiora said. Shulk nodded, and stood up.

"Um, Shulk… I'll do the talking. You say another word, and you'll be the next one getting a check-up!" Melia said. Shulk nodded again.

"He's massive!" Reyn cried out. The chief sat in his chair. Or rather, he was his chair: a massive chair with a large body contained in it. That was Miqol, chief of the Machina.

"Reyn, don't be rude!" Sharla said.

*Don't worry, Homs woman… I get a kick out seeing people's faces every time,* Miqol said, chuckling.

"So, Chief Miqol of the Machina… I am Melia. I am the Princess of the High Entia race of Bionis. I would like to forge an alliance between the peoples of Bionis- the Homs of the lower regions, the Nopon of the middle, and the High Entia of the upper regions- and the people of Mechonis- the Machina of the Arm, and whatever other races there might be," Melia said, getting on one knee.

*No need to be so formal with me, Melia. I accept your request, though that is not particularly important. Oh… and it's just us Machina,* Miqol said. *What I called you here for is a request of my own. First… that is the Monado, correct?*

"Correct," Melia said.

*And the destruction of the fortress built on the Mechonis' blade. Was that your doing?* Miqol asked.

"Yes. Do not mention Galahad again in my presence," Melia said.

*Apologies. In that attack… you must have met Egil, did you not?* Miqol asked.

"No… I don't think so…" Dunban said. Shulk turned to him, stern.

"Yes… it is he that caused my distress…" Melia said, pulling down her gloves and exposing her wrists. Miqol peered at them as best he could.

*I apologise again. This Egil that you fought… he is one of our people. He is my son,* Miqol said. Melia sniffed, and Shulk stepped forward. Melia started to sob a little on his shoulder.

*Do not weep, my… wait, that sounded better in my head. Never mind. My request to you is rather simple. Listen well… because I only desire to say this once,* Miqol said. *I want you to kill Egil.*

The room went silent. You could hear Melia's tears fall to the floor of Junks.

"You want us to kill your son?" Dunban asked.

"I'd be horrified if I had to kill mine. What sparked it?" Melia added.

*Well, let's see here… back when the Bionis and the Mechonis fought, the Bionis almost completely wiped us out. That's why us Machina are so few, and why there are no other races of Mechonis. I guess the Bionis just… didn't like us much. Lady Meyneth fought the Bionis in our stead… in the end, the two titans wounded each other and entered a deep slumber, in which they remain today,* Miqol started.

"Meyneth?" Melia asked.

*The creator of Mechonis. You could say that she is Mechonis,* Miqol said. *Our benevolent leader… she was high and mighty, but she never missed the chance to have a laugh with us Machina.*

"Wait, what? You talk like you were there!" Reyn said.

*I'm pretty old there, sonny. I saw the whole thing with my own two eyes,* Miqol said.

"That lifespan… you Machina must live longer than us High Entia. And we High Entia already give Homs a run for their life," Melia said.

"I can believe that… but he can't have lived that long!" Reyn said.

"Back on topic… why kill your son? Why not want us to destroy the Bionis?" Shulk asked. Melia looked at him, shocked.

*Egil… he was a brilliant young man. Clever, strong, and kind to the less able. But he never forgave the Bionis for what it did. He swore revenge,* Miqol said.

"An eye for an eye? He wants to do to us what the Bionis did to the Machina?" Reyn asked.

*Correct. Egil seeks the destruction of all innocent life found on Bionis. He has to be stopped,* Miqol said.

"Did you ever try to stop him?" Dunban asked.

*We tried, once. A lot of people died. Blind with vengeance… even Lady Meyneth herself couldn't stop him. And believe us… she tried,* Miqol said.

"Where is Egil now?" Melia asked.

*Most likely our old capital, Agniratha. He's trying to restore the Mechonis all by himself…* Miqol said.

"I feel sorry for him…" Shulk started. He looked to Melia. "But I can not let his actions be forgiven. Mumkhar, the Galahad incident… he has crimes that he must answer for."

"Better man than me, Shulk. I feel no sympathy for him," Reyn said.

"But why us, Miqol?" Dunban asked. "Do not forget: that Monado can destroy Mechonis weaponry. It is said that that sword once belonged to the Bionis: if that's true, that could be the sword that killed your brethren, all those years ago. Doesn't the sight of it set your teeth on edge?"

*Zanza…* Miqol muttered. He shook himself from his reverie, and looked up.

*If you want to kill Egil, you'll need all the power of the Monado you can get,* Miqol said. *But we have talked long enough. You must be tired. Take your time, talk amongst yourselves, think my request over. While we care for the girl, feel free to spend time in our village.*

Sharla went into a small room, shaking off Reyn by saying she needed to do something as a girl. She needed some time to herself.

*Knock*

And there goes that chance. Sharla opened the door, to see Melia standing there apprehensively.

"Come in," Sharla said, inviting Melia in. She nervously entered the room, rubbing her wrists unconsciously.

"Don't do that, it'll make it worse," Sharla said. Melia nodded, and desisted.

"Um, Sharla… thanks," Melia said.

"For what?" Sharla asked, reflecting on what she had done with Melia prior.

"For saving my life… back there…" Melia said nervously.

"I'm pretty sure Shulk's the one you want to credit for that. He's the one who stood against Face Purity…" Sharla said.

"No… back in Makna Forest… when you first met me…" Melia said.

"That? You're seriously thanking me for that now?" Sharla asked. Melia cringed.

"I'm sorry for not thanking you sooner…" Melia said. "And for ignoring you in the first place."

"Don't worry about it. Just don't let it happen again," Sharla said distantly. Melia nodded, and looked away. Sharla watched her, before deciding.

"Melia!" Sharla said. Melia turned back to see her.

"Sharla?" she asked.

"I've got an idea for you…" Sharla told her. "Just close the door, and I'll tell you."

Shulk sat beside one of the ponds in the Hidden Machina Village. He was sitting to ponder. About Egil. A lot about Egil. But there was also the matter of Melia, and Fiora. There was so much stuff people talked about around him and those two girls, and not a single one explained any of it. At this rate, Shulk felt himself more likely to explode from the confusion than get to Egil and die by his hand. Not that he thought Homs could explode.

"Evening, Shulk," Melia said.

"Oh… hi, Melia. I was just thinking about you," Shulk said. Melia smiled slightly.

"What, exactly, were you thinking about?" Melia asked.

"Mostly just what you guys mean when you talk about me and you. Or me and Fiora, sometimes," Shulk said. Melia looked downcast at the news, before her expression lit up. She turned to Shulk.

"I know you're an engineer… but what do you know about Homs, High Entia, and the like? About how their minds work?" she asked.

"Never studied that field. You'd be better asking Sharla, or maybe Fiora, once she wakes up," Shulk said. Melia smiled. Time to put Sharla's idea into effect.

"Shulk… I have a mental condition called infatuation. It's rather common amongst most races, especially at a young age," Melia said.

"Melia, I told you, Sharla's a better person for this," Shulk said.

"She can't help me with it. You see… when a girl catches infatuation, it has to be a boy who helps her through it," Melia explained. Shulk nodded.

"But why not Dunban?" Shulk asked.

"I… I trust you more than him, still. And as for Riki, he's a bit too naïve and childlike. And Reyn? Forget him," Melia said. Shulk nodded.

"So what do I have to do to help you?" Shulk asked.

"Oh, not a lot… it's mostly keeping me company, holding my hand, giving me a hug here and there… that sort of thing," Melia said. Shulk nodded again, and took note.

"I'm starting to understand it now… so that's what Fiora had, as well? I don't know why she didn't go to Dunban, either… and Sharla? She's got it as well?" Shulk asked.

"Fiora… I'm pretty sure she had it. It seems counterintuitive, but it is not recommended that someone with infatuation seek aid from a sibling. And Sharla? I'm pretty sure she has it, and Reyn's helping her… dunno why she went for him, though," Melia explained.

"It was probably Gadolt, first. Sharla seems to suggest Reyn and Gadolt are similar… Oh, and that reminds me… so all those words you threw around? Husband, consort, lover… they all relate to infatuation?" Shulk asked.

"You're a quick learner, Shulk," Melia said, as Shulk put an arm around Melia.

But how long are you going to believe my story?

"Morning, Miqol," Shulk said. He brought Melia and Dunban with him.

*How are you? Sleep well?* Miqol shouted in response.

"I'm fine… but I think you just woke up the rest of the village!" Shulk said.

*My bad!*

"I wanted to talk to you… about your son," Shulk said.

*Made a decision?* Miqol asked.

"We agree with you. Egil must be stopped," Shulk said. Melia beamed, and grabbed Shulk's hand. Shulk shivered, feeling her scars under her glove.

*Sounds good,* Miqol said.

"But before we arrived on the Fallen Arm, we heard of plans to form an allied force on the Bionis. Any day, they're going to launch an attack on Mechonis. But it's too dangerous!" Shulk said. "Egil has made a weapon that could kill us all!"

"You mean Mumkhar's fluid? The green stuff that disintegrates the life of Bionis?" Dunban asked.

"That. We have to warn the allied force of Bionis!" Shulk said.

"Well… you could ask me to do it," Dickson said. Shulk considered this idea, before turning around, and realising that Dickson had just kind of shown up out of absolutely nowhere.

"Dickson! What are you doing here?" Shulk asked.

"Hello to you too. Went looking for you after the incident at Galahad, and this is the hello I get?" Dickson asked.

"Oh… hi, Dickson," Shulk said sheepishly.

"The Fallen Arm of Mechonis rests directly underneath Galahad. If you fell from Galahad, you must have eventually wound up here!" Dickson said.

*You're looking well, Dickson,* Miqol said.

"You're looking normal, Miqol," Dickson said.

"You're acquainted?" Dunban asked.

*Sort of. I scratch his back, he scratches mine. He tells us about what's going on up top, and we tell him information and give him some advanced technology,* Miqol said.

"And you told no one?" Dunban asked.

"Not all Homs are like Shulk there. What'd happen if someone who really didn't like Mechonis found this place?" Dickson asked. "The Machina live isolated to avoid pointless conflict."

"Makes sense. We tried that one…" Melia said.

"So this is how you got all of your hi-tech gear…" Dunban said.

"I considered it fine as long as Shulk got helped. And that reminds me… did you ever solve that other problem?" Dickson asked.

"If you're talking about me, we've finally discussed it with Shulk. He should be fine enough for now," Melia said. Shulk looked between Dickson and Melia, before giving up.

"So, on a scale of one to ten, how would you rate our pain were we to get him by Egil's weapon?" Dickson asked.

"Thirteen. It disintegrates the life of Bionis," Shulk said.

"…I'd swear, but there are kids and mostly-kids present. Though… it'd probably come in handy…" Dickson said.

"Dickson!" Dunban said.

"Only jokin'! For now, don't let it touch you. Leave it to me to find a counter, and I'll keep ya posted," Dickson said. "You focus your efforts of Eagle or whatever his name was. If you can fight fast enough, the allied force might not even be needed…"