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.

13. Entire Party - Hot Spring Shenanigans

Summary: Dunban, Reyn, and Shulk decide to relax in one of Valak Mountain's famous natural hot springs. For some reason, Alvis, Sharla, Melia, and Riki decide to opt out of this time of relaxation. Why would they miss such a great opportunity to unwind? (Takes during the events of Valak Mountain, before the Battle at the Great Glacier. The heart-to-heart event of A Snowy Hot Spring must not have taken place yet.)

Pairings: Shulk x Fiora (Minor), Shulk x Melia (Minor), Reyn x Sharla (Minor)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Valak Mountain has been the most treacherous location on the Bionis yet. Located on the right arm of the Bionis, it is the only snowy area of the giant Titan. The falling snow and blizzards are commonplace and year round. Alvis had told the party though that the mountain was actually at a time not a snowy place. It was only until after the battle between the Bionis and Mechonis when the ice and wind ether accumulated in such high densities that it formed the icy and snowy terrain (as evident of the ancient High Entia monuments and buildings.)

The brutal low temperatures took a toll on the party, especially Riki. As soon as Riki set foot at the area, he was feeling sick. Despite being covered in fur, he wasn't too warm. He was also tormented with a headache that never left him. Sharla theorized that since he was accustomed to Makna's hot and rainy climate, the snowy and windy climate of Valak Mountain upset his homeostasis. Melia offered to hold onto Riki throughout the trek, which Riki delightfully agreed to. From that, Riki's spirits were lifted, and even his headache faded away.

The rest of the party wasn't at all comfortable either. Despite wearing the insulated High Entia armor, the party was still freezing. Shulk, Dunban, and Reyn were covered up the most, but their heads were exposed, so the cold creeped in and shook their very core. Melia and Sharla had it worse though, as the armor did not cover them fully as it exposed parts of their chest and legs. Dunban noticed Alvis was completely fine though, even though his clothes are very casual. This raised his eyebrow in suspicion, but he dismissed it. Battles were dreadful as the climate sapped their strength, but the party was able to get by with Dunban's judgment, Shulk's visions, Melia's ether, and Sharla's ether bullets. The entire journey was filled with sniffles, runny noses, sneezing, shaking, and forceful exhalation to keep warm.

But there was one thing that lifted everyone's spirits: the presence of hot springs. Reyn begged the party to relax in one of the hot springs in Valak Mountain. Shulk asked Alvis if there were any springs as opposed to geysers, and Alvis lead them to one near Bagnar Snowfield. From there, Reyn proceeded to remove their somewhat insulated Mythril High Entia Armor and jump right into the spring with his swimsuit. After some peer pressure and temptations from the two, Dunban and Shulk reluctantly agreed to join them. Shulk asked for the ladies and Alvis to join as well, but they declined over and over, even at the request of Dunban and the others to get in. After some failed attempts of asking, they simply gave up, undressed themselves into their swimsuits, and just sat around in a circle in the spring. Alvis, Riki, Melia, and Sharla decided to split with the three and meet them later, as Alvis wanted to show the ladies and Riki Nofol Tower, a relic of the High Entia. (Shulk would join them later, as he was interested in this too.)

"Now THIS is the life! Goodness, I can sit here forever if it weren't for our darn journey to beat up Metal Face!" Reyn groaned, stretching out his arms as he lowered his body further into the warm hot spring to the point where the water reached his shoulders. He sighed long as the warmth of the water eased up all his dense muscles in his body.

"It truly is wonderful… This is more relaxing than the waters of Faras Cave." Dunban commented as he stared at the heavenward lights the large pillars of eyes reflected into the night sky. He lifted his left hand from the water and ran his hand down his hair to make it wet.

Shulk proceeded to move towards the center of the hot spring and laid on his back, floating at the center of the spring. He took a deep breath and allowed the steamy water to enter inside him. Truly relaxing and soothing was that scent of water. As he let out his breath, he watched it vaporize and blend into the steamy air that raised itself above. "I have to bring Fiora here sometime…" He muttered as he stared at the starry sky.

"I'll drag Sharla with me too… What you think? Us four in the springs! It'll be great!"

Dunban leered at Reyn at that suggestion, and Reyn flinched in response. "W-What?! What's wrong with that?"

"You can't take a hint, can you…?" Dunban groaned, shaking his head in disapproval. How clueless was this knucklehead? What the Hero of Sword Valley didn't notice was Shulk's face turning red at that suggestion… The Heir to the Monado kept his mouth shut as he continued to stare at the night sky, hopefully not to get Dunban's attention…

—

About half a mile away from the three young men in the springs, Alvis was leading Riki, Melia, and Sharla up a long path near the Agul Mountain Range. This brought great concern to Melia as they were getting too far from the three, who asks, "Um, Alvis? I thought the Nofol Tower was nearby?"

Alvis grinned, stopping his advance. He turned around and smiled, saying. "We won't be far, and Nofol Tower is actually further ways down... I received a request from your little friend here to do a little something to your other friends…"

"What-?" Sharla and Melia asked in unison, looking puzzled at Alvis. They then turned to Riki, who was jumping up and down in excitement.

The Heropon replies, "Riki ask Alvis to do favor! Melly and Sharla will like what Riki planned! Melly and Sharla will laugh! Alvis will laugh too!"

The two ladies' eyes were widened in even more confusion. Something that'll make even Alvis laugh? Now that's truly a first. Melia hasn't ever seen Alvis, the all powerful Seer of the High Entia, laugh lightheartedly before. What on earth could Riki be planning?

"I'm a little worried about this…" Sharla muttered, crossing her arms in disbelief on whatever Riki and Alvis are planning. "It was strange of you to tell me and Melia in advance to not join them in the spring..."

The seer places a hand on Sharla's shoulder in reassurance. "No need to worry. I and your friend will take full responsibility and blame if anything were to happen. Just enjoy. You can proceed to relax in the spring later after this is over." Alvis let go and proceeded to advance up hill near the cliffside of the glacier.

Responsibility? Sharla shrugged and Melia swallowed hard, as they followed the footsteps of the Seer and Heropon.

—

"Can you believe it? I literally lost to an eating contest with one of Riki's kids!" Reyn sighed, scratching his head in frustration with both of his hands.

"I'm… sort of surprised…" Dunban replied, raising his eyebrow on Reyn's silly story. Days ago before venturing to Valak Mountain, the party decided to stay in Frontier Village for a night before their journey to Sword Valley. What Reyn never told, however, was his little Schorl Mushroom eating contest with one of Riki's children. And he lost by a landslide of 31 mushrooms difference.

Shulk, still floating at the center of the spring, raised his head up a little to get a glimpse of Reyn, asks, "Wait… you actually challenged one of Riki's children to something like that? Where did you get all of those mushrooms?"

Reyn crossed his arms, with most of it being submerged in the spring water. "Hm… Me and Melia and some of his kids went gathering them for like an hour. We got like.. 120 of them. They're quite easy to find, actually."

Dunban sighed. "Well… first off: some abilities run in the family. If Riki eats a lot, good chances are his children does too. Second, why didn't you tell us this? You could have gotten his kids hurt if you ran into monsters…"

Reyn unfolded his arms and started waving his left hand back and forth. "No no! It was only right near the village entrance, don't worry about it!"

"Hmph…"

As soon as Reyn finished his explanation, Shulk felt something odd in his back. "W-What…?" As if something was pushing him upwards. It was very light at first, and then the force of whatever he felt on his back grew intense to the point where he nearly lopsided and would have flipped over. Shulk raised the upper part of his body upwards, now wading. "What's going on?"

"Huh? What's up Shulk?" Reyn asked, swimming towards his friend. Dunban was alerted by the two and he also swam towards the Heir to the Monado.

"Did you feel that? As if…"

"As if what?" Dunban asked, glancing around on to see their surroundings. Nothing changed.

It was then Shulk realized that something is very wrong…

"Reyn! Dunban! We need to get out of here! Now!"

"W-What-?" Reyn asked, flustered and now nervous at Shulk's demand. "What you mean we have to go-"

And the three of them realized it too late. As soon as it hit them, their bodies were now surrounded by numerous small bubble formations that surrounded them. The water beneath them was growing hot and moving around viciously. And the steam was growing more dense...

"NO W-!" Reyn was cut off by the roaring sound of water that ensnared the three young men, pushing them upward…

—

Alvis dug his hand into his pockets, awaiting the fruition of his plan. "And here we go… About any time now." He stood a few feet behind Melia, Sharla, and Riki to give them a scenic look

He, Sharla, Melia, and Riki were standing in front of another hot spring. This time, it was on the cliff that was towering above nearby where the boys' were relaxing. Melia was utterly confused as to why Alvis brought them to another spring. Sharla had a good hunch, and Riki was jumping in excitement. Melia asked, "Alvis, what is the meaning of-"

She was interrupted by the loud sound of water. Yards away was the cliffside, and beyond it was a large pillar of water being shot skywards. A geyser! That's what she was looking at. "But why would Alvis want us to see a geyser…?" Melia asked herself.

Sharla was a little surprised to see a geyser somewhat nearby the spring they found, let alone the loud and forceful sound the water made. Besides the water she heard something else… Listening carefully, she finally discerned what it was: screaming?

"…-AAAHHHHHHH—!"

"What on Bionis?!" Sharla yelled, utterly confused on hearing such familiar screams. Three distinct screams too. It was then it hit her. "Alvis, you-"

Riki was jumping in excitement. "HAHA! Reyn, Shulk, and Dundun fly!"

Melia was baffled by Riki's loud comment. "Fly?! You mean-" She looked up. She began to see droplets of water fall onto the pool of water before them. And looking up higher she sees three things out of place…

"W-What-?!"

It happened all too quickly as three giant splashes were made in the hot spring pool before the rest of the party. Sharla and Melia held their arms in front of them to shield themselves from the splashing water. Alvis was standing far enough to get splashed by the falling water, and grinned. He anticipated and planned this moment after all. Riki was hollering in laughter as he jumped in excitement and flailed his ears around. Sharla was even impressed, and she began to laugh as well, clutching her stomach from the growing pain from laughing too hard. Melia giggled. It all came together for her now. "How impressive for the Seer to plan such a thing..." She said to herself.

"AHHH-!" Reyn cried aloud as he broke the surface of the hot spring he landed on. It was much more shallow than the spring below them, as he could stand on it and the water would only reach at the top of his abdominal area. He was waving his hands back and forth, fanning his face. "IT'S HOT-! MY FACE IS MELTING!"

Dunban surfaced from the hot spring, gasping for air and groaned loudly. "How inconceivable! Why was I not fast enough to leave the spring?!"

And lastly the Heir to the Monado resurfaced from the hot water, gasping and panting loudly. He was too out of breath from yelling and holding his breath in as he landed right into the spring to even yell out anything.

"HAHA! Dundun and friends fell for trick! Alvis and Riki win!" Riki declared, jumping into Melia's arms. Melia caught the Heropon and rubbed his stomach. "You and Alvis planned this? How mischievous of you..." She complimented, laughing at Riki's clever antics.

Sharla approached the spring's edge to get a better look at the boys' condition. She knelt down by the waterside and moved around to get a better glimpse of them. "Are you three all right? Did you get burned?"

"What do you think?!" Reyn cried, trying to wipe out the excess water that was falling from his face by shaking his head. He didn't want to touch his own face as it felt like the skin was being ripped off.

Sharla narrowed her eyes to get a better view of them. It doesn't seem like it actually as their faces were only slightly red, and she didn't see any skin peel. She dipped her left hand into the spring water. It wasn't that hot at all. It was only slightly warm, but she'd had to guess that the water at the center of the spring must be somewhat hotter.

"I think you should all be fine after you absorb some earth and ice ether. Give it some time."

Alvis approached the spring and stood next to Sharla. He bowed to the three men and said, "I apologize for tricking you all. It was your little friend here who suggested this."

Reyn, who was standing at the center of the spring, marched towards the water's edge to the rest of the party and growled, "Why you little furball! You're going to pay for this!"

"Owoooh! Reyn is very angry! Should Riki be scared?!" Riki teased, shaking as Melia held onto him. Reyn proceeded to stomp his way towards Melia and lifted the Heropon from his hair. Riki was flailing around, yelling, "Ahh! Reyn is very angry!"

"I sure am, furball! You'll pay for this!" Reyn began to shake Riki side to side from his hair, making Riki cry in dizziness and motion sickness. "Waaaaah-!"

Melia tried to retrieve Riki, but Reyn lifted his left arm higher so Melia could not save the Heropon. She frowned, saying, "Reyn! Don't be so harsh on him!"

"No way, Melia! This furball's gotta pay!"

Sharla slapped her hand on her forehead and groaned, not even bothering to comment on Reyn's behavior.

Dunban shrugged at the weird sight, replying, "Well, who would have thought that I'd get pranked by Riki of all people... How clever."

Shulk scratched his head with his left hand and smiled, saying, "I can't believe I fell for it too. Should have known we were in a geyser all along..."

"Oh?" Alvis raised an eyebrow. Everyone else did too, to the point where Reyn stopped shaking Riki. All eyes were on the Heir to the Monado.

"W-What? You really don't believe me?"

"I-I'd thought you would actually have known that we were on geyser..." Melia replied.

"No..." The boy shook his head. "I really did fall for it. But... Riki, why prank us now?"

Reyn dropped the Heropon to the ground, who in turn jumped onto Melia's arms and was caught. As she rubbed his head, Riki clears his throat. He answers, "After Shulk saw friend in silver armor, Shulk was always sad and angry. Shulk is also not well, always getting hurt in battle because Shulk is not concentrated in battle! Riki thinks that Shulk is too worried for friend in armor that Shulk forget Shulk's health! How can Shulk save friend if Shulk is not in best health? Riki learned from Nopon friends that harmless tricks make friends feel like better because of laughing! Riki plays joke on littlepon and other Nopon to make all feel better! Riki wanted to make Shulk better to play trick to make Shulk feel better! And Reyn too, because Riki wants to laugh at Reyn!"

"Oi!" Reyn called out on Riki, angrily. "What kind of a sick motive is that, furball?!"

"And that wasn't exactly ... "harmless..."" Dunban muttered under his breath. Sharla had to giggle at his comment.

Melia was speechless at Riki's explanation and observation. She hadn't herself noticed that Shulk was lagging in battle, and she never would have crossed her mind that it was all because of Fiora that he was acting reckless in battle. And he tried to make him feel better? The execution could have been better but...

"W-Wow..." Shulk was mesmerized by Riki's keen insight too. He never noticed it himself either on how rash he was in battle. Now he thought about it, no wonder he was always sore and tired, both physically and mentally, after battles since their encounter with Metal Face back in Prison Island.

"There could have been better ways to do this but..." He rubbed Riki's head. "Thank you, Riki. How thoughtful of you... And I kind of do feel better from relaxing in the spring."

"Yay! Riki happy!" Riki giggled.

And a gust of wind stopped all movements in the party, sending chills all throughout, especially on the three young men only wearing swimsuits.

"Brrr-! Great, now I'm freezing again!" Reyn complained, shivering as he wrapped his arms around his chest. He then ran towards the spring and sat down, sighing with relief as the warmth came back to him. "Ahhh-! There we go!"

Shulk proceeded to go back to the spring too, sitting at the center and sighing with relief as the water reached his neck. Dunban decided it was enough and he stood up from the spring and approached Sharla. "I think I'm done with relaxing after all that. I should get changed."

"O-Oh..." She pointed at the water's edge, there sitting a large bag. "Your armor is in there. You can change into it... err... somewhere else."

"Right. Thanks."

Melia shivered. She turned to Alvis, asking, "Can we be assured there is no geyser here?"

Alvis nodded. "Yes. You may all relax here without any worries. I shall stand out here as lookout. And no need to worry about me, I'm fine."

"Thank you, Seer."

After hearing Alvis' answer, an idea hit Reyn, and he had a cocky grin on his face. He turns around to face Sharla, asking, "Hey Sharla? Want to join me, Dunban, and Shulk in the spring too?"

Sharla narrowed her eyes at the boy and crossed her arms. Her excitement for the relaxing in the spring diminished immediately after she saw Reyn's smile. "...No. I'll just keep watch with Alvis."

"Um... me too..." Melia added, also noticing Reyn's cocky smile.

"Okay... A loss is a loss!" Reyn slumped down a little and sighed, feeling the soreness from falling from the sky fading away.

Melia, Riki, Sharla, Dunban, and Alvis proceeded to walk away from the hot spring. As they walked, Alvis chuckled lightly. Sharla immediately knew. She frowned asking, "Alvis... are you serious?"

"Well... I'm not a humorous type of person. But, after seeing your little friend's joke, I decided to try it once for myself. It'll be a while to meet up with them, so let's hasten ourselves."

Dunban sighed as Melia stared at Alvis with wide eyes in shock, Riki giggling, and Sharla shaking her head in disappointment.

"Looks like I dodged a bullet there..." He muttered. It was only a matter of time that the two boys would get shot in the air... again.

Headcanons:

1. Riki is actually a good prankster, as he successfully pranked the rest of the party at least once, even Dunban. He especially loves doing pranks on Reyn.

2. Riki does harmless pranks to his fellow Nopon, even his children. He did it to Oka once, and she got extremely angry, hence he never did a prank to Oka ever again.

A/N: Sorry for the drop of quality on this oneshot, as it was a result of the lack of creativity lately. I got extremely busy with exams thrown at me and New York Comic Con took place recently.

With more brutal schoolwork and my other fanfiction that is posted here being updated with its next chapter, I'm not sure when the next update will be, but hopefully by the end of the month. Additionally, the release of Tales of Zestiria will get me sidetracked on writing...

Until then for next update, I appreciate any reviews and criticism and ideas. Your ideas may be implemented in future one-shots and will be credited if used.