And we are back! I'm so sorry for not updating this story for quite some time. It seemed like life had other things for me to do. Anyway, to make up for it, you get 3 whole chapters in one update! I hope this is alright and I'm surprised that you all want me to continue this.
Because of you all, I'll try updating this whenever I can, which may end being a week per chapter or something like that. Anyways, enjoy the chapters!
Chapter 11: The Mysterious Duo
Ok... I think I official hate this forest and its heat. We've been walking through the forest for some time, and even though we finished some quests and found an awesome view of the waterfalls, I hated this heat and Reyn's stench. After confessing to Dunban about being "The Outsider," he took it pretty well, and we got to talk about Earth and little things about the boys. It was very fun when we watched as the boys went to grab items from the thin branches. We were getting along better since I could talk about whatever we liked without worrying much. The only times we couldn't was when the others were around. From falling asleep from enemies and then attacking us, I was getting annoyed at this place.
"Shulk, can we take a break soon?" I looked up to see the sky was already turning dark. "It's getting dark..."
"Why? You weren't bothered by this before," Shulk chucked before I jabbed him with my elbow. "Hey!"
"Excuse me, but unlike you two boys, I'm more concerned on the monsters coming out from the darkness and killing than getting to our destination!"
"Neetz' right," Sharla spoke up. "It's not safe going deeper into the forest during the night hours. We don't have any ideas as to what creatures will come out during the night."
"So, how about we find a place to camp for the night?" Dunban suggested. "Then we'll have dinner and rest till tomorrow."
"Yeah, that sounds good," Reyn nodded.
We began discussing on where to stop for camp, but the heat was really getting to me now. Everybody else had alternate change of clothes or had something to keep them cool, but as for me, I wasn't so lucky. If only I had bought something from the Nopon! Thankfully, I had a flask from Sharla, and the water inside of it was really refreshing. Wiping off some sweat from my head, I looked ahead as Dunban and Shulk were discussing something. My headache was starting to get to me again, so I took another sip of the water and as I swallowed, my eyes gazed towards the road ahead, but the grey among the greenery wasn't normal. The plants still stood, but from the blades of grass to the rocky wall were all grey and had the colors and life drained from the area. Whatever had happened over there had contaminated the area, but what were those two lumps?!
"Hey, is it just me, or are there two things lying in the weird grey area?" I pointed out towards the two. "Wait a second... Are those Homs?!"
It didn't take us any longer to run over to the two on the ground. I followed after Reyn, Shulk and Dunban with Sharla by my side. The two Homs wearing some clothing which I assumed wasn't from Makna Forest. There was a sliver-haired girl wearing more elegant clothing as the young teenage boy by me had teal blue hair with an elegant suit like the girl. His shield rested beside him like his crystal sword. Looking at the girl, I noticed her staff was by her side and how the two weren't going to get up anytime soon. Sharla knelt down to the female and lifted her shoulders, revealing the face. Reyn had lifted the other boy's shoulders, and my vision suddenly saw light brown hair instead of his teal blue hair, but blinking made it vanish. I think I was getting either too tired or something was wrong with my vision.
"These two... What could they be doing out here?" I mumbled to myself, trying to make sense as to why they would be here.
My hands were shaking seeing the two, but a gut feeling made me feel...happy? What the hell? Why am I happy for this?! Mentally slapping myself, I thought I heard Shulk grunt. Glancing his way, I noticed that a faint blue in his eyes faded as he stood up, looking towards the ground. I really was concerned for Shulk, so of course I looked at Shulk and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Are you all right, Shulk?" I asked him.
"Yeah, it's just another vision... I'm not sure though," Shulk responded as his gazed at the two unconscious Homs. "But first, they need help."
"You're right," Reyn agreed as he picked up the male. "Let's look for someplace safe."
Dunban turned his sights to the area around us as I walked over and grabbed their weapons. If everybody was going to help, I'd at least keep their weapons, and if they were hostile, we wouldn't get into an unnecessary fight. "There," Dunban pointed out after taking a few paces away from us. "I see a clearly under a giant tree. We can easily watch for anything approaching."
"All right, so we'll make camp there!" I chirped happily.
"Okay. I'll carry her," Shulk nodded, now holding the unconscious girl securely in his arms...bridle style.
Aw, how cute! He looks like Prince Charming-! NO! Bad Neetz! Bad! I mentally slapped myself as we went underneath the giant tree. As much as I would find that charming and all, I cannot think about those things. If that happens, things won't go well, but then again, I have to tell the others about this soon. Just my fricking luck with these two probably joining our group.
Getting my mind out of the gutter, the sky was now dark, and seeing how dark in the forest, it was no surprise that I had to help start the fire. Placing the weapons by our other supplies, I got the fire started with Shulk's help after he had laid the girl down. Sharla was doing her job as medic to figure out their condition while the rest of us did our best with other tasks. There are many things that make me think of back home, but lately, I've started to feel and act like I've been here for a long time. Heck, I can even say I did come from Colony 6! Though that was a lie, it still felt that way. My headaches came and went whenever it pleased, which came to be annoying during monster battles for quests and whatnot. For some reason, hearing Shulk and the others call out my name did clear it up. I guess maybe I'll figure that out later.
After some time, I found myself staring into the fire after having a quick dinner waiting for Sharla to call us. I delivered dinner to her, but when I asked when she'd be done, she said she'll call us when she figured it out. I sat not too close to the fire, but close enough to where my hands were warmer than the rest of my body. The fire crackled and lit up the dark forest, making quite a contrast. Pushing out my palms, the lighting make the outline of my bracelet glisten with the yellow hue in its coloring.
It was weird to think that this bracelet is now mine, but it felt so natural for it to be mine. Pulling my hands closer, I wrapped my hand around it and tested to see if I could take it off. Seeing as how I haven't played with it yet, I wasn't sure if it would let me do so. It came off with ease and I held it in my hands, trying to examine it closer. The dark blue was still there as with the golden and white cravings. Whatever this was, somehow it transformed Shulk's Junk Sword into the strange blade that allowed me to Time Wrap and fight. Did this thing have a mind of its own or something? Was it like...a tiny Mechon or something of that nature-?
"Hey, hope I'm not bothering you or anything-!" someone spoke up, tapping my shoulder.
"Eeek!" I screeched.
By instinct, I flinched and the next thing I did was grab the Junk Sword lying beside me and whacking whoever just tapped my shoulder. Hey, if you were deep into thought and that happened, I think you'd understand why I did that.
"Ow! Neetz!" Shulk groaned, holding his head lying in the grass behind me.
"Sh-Shulk?! Oh, I'm so sorry!" I apologized, dropping the sword and getting up to help him as my face heated up in embarrassment. Extending my hand out, he grabbed it and I helped him up to a sitting position as I retook my seat, blushing as I still gripped my bracelet. "I-I... I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" My face was now towards the ground, hiding my blush and embarrassment from him.
"No, it's not your fault. Honestly, I should have approached a bit better," Shulk reassured, still holding where the Junk Sword slammed into his head. "Maybe next time, don't grab something and whack somebody with it unless it's not going to harm the person."
"Hold on, Shulk."
Shulk's confused face was at mine as I got up to go over to Sharla's supplies. As Reyn and Dunban were on watch, I made my way and borrowed some bandages. Returning back to Shulk sat, I placed my finger on his lips before he could protest. Holding the bandages and with the bracelet resting in my lap, I began to at least tie it around his head, seeing a small trickle of blood trailing out. Finishing tying the bandage around his head, I rested back into my sitting position with my hands resting in my lap, holding my bracelet while smiling at Shulk.
"Really now, you didn't need to do-" Shulk spoke.
"Shulk, be grateful I did this for you. If Reyn or Sharla found out that you got hurt by freaking me out, it wouldn't look good for both of us," I calmly clarified for him.
"I guess you do have a point about that."
"So, what did you want to ask me?"
"Oh, it was about your bracelet. Could I see it? We really haven't got the time to get a good look at it."
"T-the bracelet?" My grips onto it tighten as I was starting to get a bit nervous of a reason I couldn't explain, "Sure... Here, take a look."
I held it out to him, releasing all the tension on the bracelet and forcing myself not to break my composure. Shulk took no note of it as he smiled, taking it from my hands and holding it out towards the fire–getting a better lighting of it. I moved to Shulk's side and scooted a little bit closer, trying to see what exactly he was looking at.
"So... Do you get to see these things often?" I chimed in, maybe interrupting his train of thought without looking at hsd face, but rather my bracelet, "Or is this the first time you've seen this?"
"It's... the first thing I've seen this bracelet," Shulk confessed. "But in terms of the design, it looks like something from a Mechon."
"A-A Mechon? The very things trying to kill us?!"
"Yeah, but it's too small to be from any Mechon we've encountered before," The bracelet was now closer, for both of us to see. "But if I could just look inside of this, I think I'll figure out just how it transformed the Junk Sword into the other sword you use."
"Oh right... The thing I seem to not have control of. You know... I really do wonder why I can't just get the sword out whenever I'd like. Sure I did it when I needed it, but other times...it's just a plain accessory; nothing more, nothing less."
"Well then," he chuckled, handing it back to me, "Looks like we'll have to discover its secrets, just like the Monado."
"Heh, I guess you could say that…" I smiled back.
"Hey lovebirds! Are you two just going to sit there or are you coming?" Reyn's voice called out to us, causing both of to blush.
"Reyn!" Both of us yelled in unison as Dunban laughed.
"Not funny, Dunban!" I asserted, grabbing the Junk sword. "Maybe I'll clear you head with a good whack!"