Chapter 8: Satorl, The Shimmering Marsh
Satorl Marsh... How these places keep looking better and better the longer I travel with everybody. The marsh was unlike anything I've seen before. I lowered my hoodie and pushed the bangs out of my face to get a clear look at this place. The misty fog blocked the view in front of us, but I could see the treetops as light blue lights shone down. The glowing orbs went up towards the sky in a calming manner as all natural life was colored in different shades of white to fit the surroundings. My breath was taken away by this one simple view. If the Bionis had any other places like this, I knew that I wasn't going to feel so down around this place.
"I've never seen anywhere like this!" Shulk awed.
"Y'see? This is why I've been saying you need to get out of the lab every now and then," Dickson told Shulk before turning back to face the rest of us. "We're aiming to get inside the Bionis. We can get to the upper regions from there."
"Wow... I never thought about going inside the Bionis," Sharla commented.
"The closer we get to the top, the more monster trouble we're gonna run into. The only things that venture this far in are the Nopon Merchants...and curious types like me."
"You really know all the fun spot, eh, Dickson?" Dunban asked, smirking.
"Heh heh heh." Dickson chuckled. "You wanna get to the top? Then this...is the only way."
"We'll push on, no matter what," Shulk stated firmly with his back to us.
"That's the spirit, Shulk," Dickson smiled proudly.
With that in our minds, we headed deeper into the marsh.
After everybody in the party got a bit more fighting experience from killing Acid Upas, we continued our way and made it to Lacus Swamp, which Dickson named. Now with Juju and Dunban by my side, we were all talking about random things as Dickson and Shulk were leading the way. Just as we got closer to the lake, everybody stopped.
"Everyone, look!" Sharla pointed out. All of our attention was turned towards what looked to be tiny, adorable creatures with another four-legged one stopped in a clear. The tiny round ones were so cute, but I recalled, back in the Refugee Camp and Colony 9, the cute creatures were called Nopons. "It's a group of Nopon."
"Ahh... Some Nopon Merchants," Dickson folded his arms.
"What d'ya think they're up to?" Reyn asked.
"They must be here for a reason," Sharla assumed, placing her hands on her hips. "Let's go and ask them."
"Good idea," Shulk answered with a nod.
We all went over the bridge to the Nopon Merchants as Shulk, Reyn and Dunban went to complete those quests. During that time, Sharla and I sat with the Nopon after buying more equipments for the others. The Nopon were very friendly, and I couldn't be any happier with their speech pattern as it was so adorable. They were just some of the best things to come out from being stuck here, and I didn't mind that. As morning was coming, we all had a nice breakfast–or rather dinner for us–when the boys finally got back. Getting settled with the new equipments, we thanked the Nopon Merchants and continued our travel.
After what seemed to be about half an hour, we all saw a very strange lamp towering over us. It was glowing from a white ball of light, but I noticed how none of the light really blurred out the sphere. How odd...
"This lamp... It has a very strange glow," Shulk pointed out, looking up.
"It's called the Glowing Obelisk. It's a remnant of the High Entia," Dickson stated. "They've hidden themselves away in the upper reaches now, but at one time, they controlled this whole area."
"Good for them," Reyn said as Dickson turned to the group.
"It's the perfect place to get some shut eye. The lamp'll keep the monsters away. We'll be safe if we rest here."
"Finally!" I exclaimed after a let out a huge yawn. "Time for some sleep!"
Both Shulk and Reyn chuckled a bit, but before long I fell asleep around the lamp near Shulk.
I found myself back into the dream-state as I found a copy of me looking down at a strange Nopon.
"Locomoco...? What are you doing here?" I had asked the Nopon.
"Me wanna help Neetz!" he replied, smiling. "Me have lost memories, and you might be key. Me wanna join with Riki!"
"Um... Shulk, is it alright if Lokomoco joins us?" I asked, turning to Shulk, who had just popped into the dream just then.
The scene faded away as I heard a cry, almost like a roar.
"Lokomoco!"
I couldn't recall anything after that part of my dream, but it felt different. Somehow, all of us slept in for a whole day, but we were so refreshed and renewed in spirit that we didn't care. The only one not awake was Shulk, and as much as I wanted to, Dickson wouldn't allow me to wake him up. Pouting, I had to wait like the rest of us for Shulk. I simply looked around, trying to keep myself occupied before I do something stupid like scare Shulk awake. To my relief, Shulk woke up a few minutes later and walked over to us as he yawned.
"Finally decided to join us, Shulk?" Dickson turned to face Shulk.
"Sorry, guys. Didn't sleep a wink," Shulk confessed.
"Right then. Time to move on," Dunban stated, looking at Dickson. "How far now?"
"We'll be there soon enough," Dickson replied. "The High Entia ruins are just ahead."
We all looked to where Dickson was looking at. A path was leading up to where our destination would be.
We got to the outside of the ruins without any fog to cover the area; the ruins were still as beautiful and colored like Satorl Marsh. It was amazing to see it in person, and I believed some of us were in awe as well.
"The upper regions are through that entrance," Dickson stated, looking forward and up the ruins. "You gotta go through Makna Forest first. Prison Island is at the Bionis' head, just above Makna Forest."
"It pains me to say it, but this is the point where I turn back," Otharon confessed, looking at us. "I must see to the survivors and I'm also very concerned about Colony 9."
"I understand. Thank you for everything," Shulk replied as Otharon looked down; his face showed to be guilty.
"I might have said a few things I shouldn't have back at the mine. Forgive me."
"No, it's OK."
Otharon stared back at Shulk's face. "I owe you my life, young man. I'll never forget it, Heir to the Monado." Otharon looked at Sharla. "Medic, will you stay with them?"
"I... I want to help Shulk," Sharla answered back. "The Mechon must pay for what they did. And I'm sure Gadolt is still alive somewhere. If he is, I have to find him."
"Find him for me too. Good luck."
"Sharla...I want to go with Otharon," Juju talked to his sister.
"Are you sure?" Sharla asked a bit surprisingly.
"Yeah. I've never seen anything cooler than Shulk smashing Mechon with the Monado! But...I'm just slowing you down."
"Well, I clearly understand what you mean Juju," I smiled, looking at him. "If that's what you think is the best thing you can do right now, then do it."
"Thanks, Neetz."
"Shulk, Reyn, Neetz... Keep Sharla safe for me," Otharon told us.
"Don't worry, we will," I smiled happily.
Shulk then walked over to Dickson. "Dickson, are you leaving too?" Shulk asked.
"The Mechon may be gone from Colony 6 now, but that doesn't mean we've seen the last of 'em," Dickson responded. "When they launch another attack, and they will, Colony 9's gonna need my help."
"Yeah... I guess you're really needed at the colony."
"This ain't the last you'll see of me. You should be alright for now. Look after the Monado."
"You can bet on it! We won't let the colony down."
Dickson smiled. "You'll make us proud, Shulk." Dickson then walked towards where we came from, but then stopped to look at Reyn. "You, on the other hand, need to buck up your ideas! How else are you gonna protect Shulk?"
"Don't worry about that, Dickson," I chimed in. "That's why I'm with them to make sure they're not going to get each other killed."
"Says the one who left with Juju without telling us," Reyn mumbled.
"Well, excuse me, but I couldn't let him go off alone."
"Well then, good luck. See ya," Dickson bid his farewells.
After that, we watched as Dickson, Otharon and Juju left our group, heading back to the colonies. As for the rest of us, we had a long journey ahead of us.