Untold Stories, Unsung Words

Series Summary: (A series of one-shots, some of them being connected, based on headcanons.) The story of the Bionis and Mechonis, the Heir to the Monado, and the creation of the new world has been revealed. But among that story are smaller stories that haven't been shown. To have it accepted to be as truth is an option, but the existence of them being a possibility is undeniable. These are stories untold, words unsung.

4. Melia, Riki - Riki's Tenderness

Summary: There's more reason as to why Melia loves to cuddle Riki and vice versa. (Based on the Heart-to-Heart event in Frontier Village. Takes place after the events of Prison Island - First Visit)

Pairings: Riki x Melia (Friendship), Riki x Oka

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

It was 4:50 am by the sparkling pool at Makna Forest. Melia's eyes were closed the entire time, but she couldn't fall asleep, despite embracing her favorite Heropon. Riki was curled up in a ball-like shape with his ears tucked in, lightly snoring away. It was drowned out by Reyn's snoring, who, though was a few feet away from them, was alarming. Melia sat up to see everyone after gently letting go of Riki. Sharla's head was resting on Reyn's stomach and she layed in a perpendicular position to Reyn. She slept in a normal position, body forward and hands on stomach. Melia was baffled on how she was able to sleep with Reyn as a pillow, as his irregular breaths and very loud snoring could wake up an entire herd of monsters. She is additionally a light sleeper too, considering that as a medic and nurse, she has to easily wake for any reported injuries or illnesses. How she's able to sleep is forever a great mystery.

Nearby was Dunban, who was closest to the burned out campfire. Dunban was surprisingly asleep. He's the type to always keep watch and be on a lookout for monsters, but he must have dozed off along the way or is lightly sleeping. He slept like in Sharla's position, rather his left arm was away from him. His katana was on hand, as if ready to awaken and slash monsters at any moment. It is strange though that he might not look like the type, but he snores lightly.

Shulk was furthest away from the party as he was sleeping against the rock formation around the sparkling pond on the right side. The Monado was wrapped around his right arm, ready for activation for any monster, Telethia, or a god forbid Mechon attack. Like Dunban and Sharla, he is a light sleeper and will wake easily. He has a strange habit making a mumbling noise as if his mouth was taped up when he is not sleeping comfortably or his body is trying to get in a comfortable position. There are nights where he frequently moves around a lot as if in a nightmare. Dunban and Sharla often caught him sleeptalking, unfortunately due to haunting events back at Colony 9. Reyn made sure to sleep away from him, because he got hit accidentally as Shulk moved around.

Melia could feel her cheeks feel a little hot as she looked at Shulk's face. He's always seen with a tough and confident expression. But to see him look so innocent from sleeping was just… Melia shook her head, as her embarrassing thoughts were taking over.

She quietly stood up and tip toed away from the party and headed towards the sparkling pond. She walked at a steady pace, hoping her footsteps would not make so much noise. The grass was rustling her movement, but it wasn't as loud as she thought it would be. She looked back at the party. No change. They were still asleep.

Melia sighed and sat at the edge of the pool. She sat close but not enough for the water to reach her feet. She tucked her legs towards her and wrapped her arms around her legs.

"F-Father…" The hybrid Hom and High Entia whispered, now tears falling from her eyes.

It has been a few days since the events of Prison Island. That damn Metal Face pierced her father without any remorse, let alone enjoyed taking his life. Her life crumbled as she saw the life from Sorean's face faded because additionally her mother was already gone. She and Kallian were the only ones left in the family. It was even more awful that she learned that her father knew he would die. Losing her High Entia friends from the Telethia was unbearable enough, but insult to further injury, her father too in a span of a few days?

Hence it was Shulk's words that echoed true and right in her ears back in Prison Island.

"You'll have plenty of time to think about your empire and your people's hopes …You are Melia Antiqua. And you can't let them get away with this!"

Melia faced to her right without moving her body. She gazed at Shulk again, still sleeping with the Monado on hand. Her eyes, still blurry with tears, were wiped as she tried to get a clearer image of the Heir to the Monado. She heard very little tidbits about how Shulk was on his journey simply for revenge. To have climbed up from the Bionis' shin all the way up to the head, simply to find a way to get revenge… Such dedication… such willpower… so admirable…

And that sentence he told her back in Prison Island was something so endearing to her that she couldn't stop thinking about it since that day:

"If you need me, I will be at your side."

"S-Shulk…"

She had that overpowering urge to gently wake him up and cry onto his arms. She wasn't with her only remaining family member, as he was all the way back in the capital taking charge of the High Entia. The only one she could get comfort from was…

"Why Melly awake now? Time too early to wake up."

That third person talk and the nickname could only mean her favorite Nopon. Melia faced away from Shulk and unfolded her hands to see the Heropon leaning towards her on her left. "Oh, Riki… it was hard to sleep with Reyn's loud snoring."

Riki nodded, his ears now flailing around. "Ah-! Reyn sounds like Orluga making noise with behind! Riki amazed Dundun, Sharla, and Shulk still sleep! Riki could not sleep either!"

"Ah…! Shh…" Melia was alarmed on how Riki spoke loudly as well. She turned around to see how everyone was faring. No change from Dunban, Reyn, and Sharla. Melia noticed Shulk somewhat moved a bit, facing away from them slightly. The Monado moved a little as well, but it didn't fall over.

Riki tucked his ears shyly. "Riki sorry… Riki does not whisper very well."

"It's okay. Just keep your voice down…"

The yellow-orange Nopon noticed Melia shake slightly. She was also rubbing her hands together and a bit of her forearm. She was shivering a little. Riki tapped on Melia's leg with his little hands. "Melly look cold. Melly should hold onto Riki."

Melia was surprised he noticed that she was somewhat cold. Makna Forest isn't cold at all, but considering on how sleep lowers body temperature, it seemed she didn't adjust yet. Also, Makna doesn't get hot and humid until around 7-8 am. "I will. Thank you."

Riki jumped onto Melia's lap. Melia wrapped her arms around the fuzzy Nopon. She couldn't help but grin. Every single time she embraced Riki, her habit of squeezing him gently takes over. Riki was so warm and soft, she loved to rub her fingers along the length of them. Riki groaned with relief, as Melia's rubbing and squeezing was like a massage to him. A win win situation for the both of them.

"Ah… Riki loves this feeling. Riki wish Melly can do this all the time…"

Melia's cheeks turned pink at Riki's comment. Every day, Melia allows Riki to sit on her lap when resting from traveling with the party. She always pets Riki at this time.

"Oh if only I had the upper body strength to hold you all the time, even when we walk around Bionis… I'd love to hold onto you all the time. Also if only monsters wouldn't ambush us." Riki's smile grew wider. "Yes yes. Monsters should go away to let Riki and Melly cuddle."

Melia began to rub Riki's stomach gently in a circular pattern clockwise. Riki's ears perked, as this was his favorite rubbing spot. "Oooohh… Melly is very good in rubbing Riki…"

"I'm so glad you like this…"

As Melia was rubbing Riki, her face started to soften and she suddenly had a look of disappointment. Riki noticed this change of mood, and had his ears stop Melia's rubbing. "What bothering Melly? Tell Riki."

Melia sighed, replying, "Oh… it's just… Hm…" She had a pensive look on her face, which made Riki shake a little in eagerness. "Tell Riki. Riki will listen."

She gave in. She closed her eyes and asked her Heropon, "Riki… you remember I told you why I love to hug you back at your village?"

"Yes yes. Riki remember. Riki like that talk with Melly. Riki was happy to hear that." Riki grinned, wiggling more in excitement. Forget paying debts to the village for a while, he wanted to become the Heropon to hug Melia! He was expecting more happy comments from her cuddles with him.

Unfortunately… it wouldn't be that way. Melia's face softened, suddenly looking gloomy again. Her eyebrows lowered and her eyes narrowing.

"How should I say this…?"

Riki stopped wiggling, as he was beginning to feel saddened by Melia's shift of tone. He sat up and tucked his ears in on his waist. He held out his short hand onto Melia's arm. "Melly tell Riki. Riki notice Melly's eyes not happy and red."

The High Entia empress swallowed the lump on her throat and sighed. Her voice cracking, she tells to Riki, "I have this realization since father died in Prison Island… I…" She stopped short as she closed her eyes. A new tear formed from left eye, and she wiped it from the back of her left hand. Riki unfolded his ears and began to pat Melia's hand that was holding onto him gently.

"Riki listening… It okay for Melly to cry while explaining. But if Melly will not explain, Riki understands."

"No no…" Melia replied, taking a deep breath and letting it out to get her words in place.

"I… I never hugged my father for over 75 years… The last time I hugged him was… when I was eight years old… I can't believe… that the next time I would be able to hug him was… when he…" Melia stopped short as she began to sob again.

"Melly… Melly could not hug her dadapon…?" Riki's face suddenly dropped. His eyes growing large in concern and sadness. It was even more surprising that Riki's voice was getting inaudible too.

"No… It's… High Entia custom… it is improper for Royal Family Members of the High Entia… to show public and intimate affection… Even more improper for a half High Entia and Homs like me… I… I never hugged my father in 80 years… not even my brother either… since then…"

Riki's heart felt like it sunk to the bottom of Eryth Sea. He connected two and two together. She'd never be able to hug her father ever again... and it's not like she can hug her brother in mourning or simply to show family love, cause of the cursed High Entia custom. Or...

Riki held onto Melia's hand with his ears firmly this time as opposed to patting them. His full focus on Melia, he said quietly, "Maybe for one time, Melly can hug Melly's brotherpon. Forget custom for one time or maybe some other time! Excuse is hug brotherpon for dadapon's sake! Honor Melly's dadapon's memory and spend more time with brotherpon!"

"Wh-" Melia was stunned. Her tears stopped, and she rubbed them off again. She was amazed and surprised on Riki's bold excuse. And for some reason... it sounded and felt right... Forget the rules for once...? It really does sound the right thing to do.

Melia swallowed the lump on her throat and grinned. Making a fist with her left hand, she declared to Riki boldly, saying, "Yes... You're right. Forget customs for once. When we stop by the Alcamoth later, I will hug Kallian. I shall spend personal time with him. No excuses. I will drag him if necessary! We shall mourn for our father as well."

"Okay!" The Heropon let out a huff. Melia felt Riki's ears shake slightly.

"And... Riki must tell Melly something too."

"Oh...?" Melia raised an eyebrow.

Riki rubbed Melia's hand with his ear slowly and gently as he began his speech. "Riki has other reason why Riki likes Melly's cuddles. Remember Riki said Riki became Heropon to be cuddled by Melly?"

"Yes..." Melia replied, grinning.

"Riki has reason for Melly to cuddle Riki. Riki gives hugs and is hugged by Oka and littlepon everyday since Riki married to Oka and had litlepon. Why?"

Riki took let out a long sigh and continued, his voice softening. "Riki knows no Nopon, Hom-Hom, or bird people live forever... As Heropon, Riki might leave to join Bionis earlier because Riki risk life for village and wifeypon and littlepon. Or... Bionis do not allow wifeypon or littlepon to have something happen to them! That's why Riki must spend as much time with Oka and littlepon with cuddling! And because Riki on journey with Hom-Hom friends and Melly, Riki not able to see Oka and littlepon often. Melly's cuddles and rubs remind Riki of Oka and littlepon's cuddles and rubs... Melly funny because Melly cuddles like Oka... Melly's cuddles reminds Riki to come home safely. That way, Riki can get more hugs from Oka and littlepon!"

"R-Ri..."

Melia's voice cracked and she began to cry quietly again. Riki was full of surprises, and who knew such deep, thoughtful, and cute things can come from this Heropon? Goodness, if the rest of the party heard what Riki had said, Melia figured Riki would bring a tear to each of their eyes. It sounded like a good idea...

"Ohh... Melly cry again... It's okay to cry... But Riki sorry for that."

"No no...! I've never heard... such beautiful words before, Riki! Especially from you...!" Melia sobbed, abruptly hugging Riki now. She squeezed tightly on Riki, and Riki was caught off guard on how powerful Melia's embrace could be. It didn't matter though, as he knew the pain she was holding inside was nothing compared to being crushed by her.

"You're too cute... too sincere... ever so faithful... ever so strong... Riki... You... really are the Heropon..." Melia muttered, still tightly squeezing Riki.

"Riki happy to be Heropon for wifeypon, littlepon, and for Melly..."

—

"Uoooooowaaahhhh-!" Reyn loudly and irritably groaned as he stretched on the forest ground. He didn't feel a weight on his stomach, so that meant Sharla was already awake. He sat up, scratching his head with one hand and rubbing his eyes with another. The damn sunlight of Makna Forest was overpowering, even at 7AM in the morning.

"Goodness Reyn, you can wake up more peacefully…" Sharla muttered, who was busy reloading her rifle a few feet away from him.

"What? That was a good nap, you know." Reyn replied, standing up and approaching the appointed cook for the morning. Dunban, being the early riser he is, was already by the campfire tending to the cooking Quadwing eggs that he gathered last night.

"I'm surprised we rested well, despite your deafening snores as usual." Dunban muttered, seasoning the eggs with grounded pepper that Sharla brought from Colony 6.

"Oh, can it! A guy can't help but snore! You snore too, Dunban!"

"Not as atrociously as you…"

The bickering was interrupted by a pair of footsteps. "Mmm… good morning, and it's a bit early to be fighting, everyone…" Shulk yawned, covering his mouth and stretching his left arm up.

"And good morning to you too." Sharla replied, halting her rifle reloading. She reached across her left towards the stack of the party's thermoses. She offered Shulk his thermos, filled to the brim. "Here you go. This should fully wake you up. You too Reyn, come here and get yours."

"Thank you, Sharla." "Thanks a bunch, Sharla!" Shulk and Reyn replied happily, approaching the team medic. As they sat next to her, they noticed two of their party members missing. Reyn was the first to figure, as he didn't find his competition for Dunban's Quadwing Eggs drooling all over them. He scanned around the group circle for the crown princess of the High Entia and the fluffy Heropon.

"Hey… where'd Melia and the furball go? Did they go to get more eggs or something?"

"There." Sharla answered. She was faced away from the party, pointing to the tree that was surrounded by bushes. One corner wasn't covered, and lying against the tree was Melia, cuddling her favorite Heropon. Riki was sleeping with his ears holding onto to Melia's hands. What was endearing that brought a smile to Dunban, Sharla, Reyn, and Shulk's faces was that they were smiling as they slept. Shulk vaguely recalled that last night, Melia wasn't smiling as she was cuddling Riki. But now…

"Look at that furball, getting royal treatment from Melia!" Reyn grumbled, forming a fist with his right hand.

"Oh? Jealous?" Dunban asked in teasing matter, raising an eyebrow and smirking.

Sharla groaned, "Ugh, if you're expecting hugs from me or Melia, don't count on it. It'll happen when Mechonis or Bionis ever moves again."

"What?! That's like… never! Bionis and Mechonis are dead aren't they?!"

"Exactly. And quiet!" Dunban and Sharla sternly growled at Reyn simultaneously. "Let them sleep!"

Reyn flinched, slouching his shoulders and groaning. The power of Dunban and Sharla's voices in unison was very frightening... And no hugs ever from Melia or Sharla?

"Hehe…" Shulk chuckled, the cup from his thermos still at the edge of his mouth. Whatever happened last night between the two, it went well. And he was glad that Melia was back to smiling as she embraced the Heropon.

"Thank you Riki... for bringing a smile back to Melia's face..."

Headcanons:

1. Melia loves to hug Riki because she never had such affectionate touch with anyone, not even with her own father and brother. Considering her position in royalty and in customs with the High Entia, it is inappropriate, let alone improper, to show intimate and public affection between the royal family. It was far worse for Melia, as she is a hybrid Hom and High Entia. Melia was at most able to affectionately hug or kiss her father and brother when she was very young, and was unable to do so any longer at the age of 8. Her brother and father was always all too busy in charge with their people, foreign affairs, etc, and was never able to spend quality personal time with Melia.

2. Riki has a habit of hugging his wife and children every single day. Him being apart from Oka and his children made him feel homesick. Hence, Melia is a proxy cuddling buddy for him. It is also a reminder of the hugs and kisses that Oka and his children will give him once the journey with the party is over.

A/N: I managed to squeeze this oneshot in, as my grades are actually better than I thought they'd be. I've always like this idea of a headcanon. Too cute… but unfortunately, as pressed with time, it's not as detailed as the first two either. But at least I'm a little more confident on how this one turned out. There are some other minor headcanons embedded in here, but eh… You like that hint of irony at the end of the story? Ehehehe.

I have begun sketches for the oneshot Necklaces. A title image has been sketched, with details being added. One page in shape of a manga format has been made. I will upload them and place them in my profile as soon as possible, so be sure to check frequently.

The following oneshot is halfway done, but in writer's block:

-Entire Party - Dress Up / Summary: After the events of Prison Island, the party is invited by Melia and Kallian to have the late feast for Melia's succession to the throne. Thing is, they have to dress up in High Entia attire. That won't sit well with some party members...

The following oneshots have begun in early development:

-Entire Party - Picky Eater / Summary: It was time that the whole party banded together for a second great cause: to have Shulk eat his vegetables. It was for his own good after all, in more ways than one...

-Dunban, Reyn, Shulk - Language Barrier / Summary: Reyn is going take revenge on Shulk by having him "learn" how to speak Japanese to practice on Dunban...

-Melia, Sharla, Reyn - Babysitting / Summary: Sharla proposed that Riki should spend time with his wife Oka through a date, and this meant babysitting their kids. Of course, it won't be easy with 8 littlepon running around...

Additionally, there is one new fanfiction that is in preliminary concepts. I am unsure if this will occur, due to the genre, which is mystery. I am TERRIBLE in writing mysteries… but the idea is wonderful. I would gladly do a joint-operation fanfiction with someone if they will be able to provide cases. (Crime, cause, evidence, motive, events of unravelling the mystery, etc) This is the following fanfiction idea summary:

-Unravelling / Summary: AU. The Xenoblade Investigative Unit/XIU was a three man unit headed by Dunban, Mumkhar, and Dickson. Crimes were kept low with the power of the Monado, which is a blade that allowed the user to get a glimpse of the past before a crime is committed without much detail. The user is able to get clearer visions as the investigation goes on. From those visions, the three man team was able to solve crimes. However, the blade rejected Dunban after some time, crippling Dunban's right arm and taking the unit out of operations. The unit is revived a year later when Monado falls onto the hands of an 18 year old detective prodigy named Shulk, who becomes the lead detective after the death of his love interest Fiora. Dunban is back in action as the unit leader with additional team members: Reyn, an 18 year old stoic police officer, Melia, an 88 year old High Entia secretary and hacker, Sharla, a 21 year old nurse and sniper, and Riki, a 40 year old Nopon that is the team mascot. Criminals have to watch out, as the XIU is back in action.

As you can see, I have been doing insane marathoning of Criminal Minds to the point where it rubbed off on me. Heheheh.

I appreciate the reviews so far. Will be taking into account any feedback.