The group of YoRHas followed the stubby machines through the desert, wondering why machines would be interested in such a trial, or how they came to know about it.
Or how they survived, but they most likely were like Pascal's village, disconnected from the main network.
Also why they wore masks.
But machines were known for imitating humanity, so maybe that was why.
Robin would have liked to observe those relics up close if given the chance, she was still an archeologist after all.
The stubbies led them to a part of the desert with some broken structures between the sand, and in the middle of them there was an elevator heading down into an underground colosseum.
Had this always been here?
There were so many questions.
"Why did you lead us here?" Robin guessed it was about time to start asking.
"The guardians demanded we'd lead the chosen one here." so they talked?
Wait…
"There's more than one?"
All the other guardians they fought were single ones so far, but Robin assumed that each guardian was its own, with its own trial and its own purpose, much like that dangerous scorpion that had given her two spells instead of one.
For whatever reason.
But she hadn't noticed until things calmed down and Number 21 and Dahlia were safe and sound.
The dark hand had been useful to save 21O before too.
Something she noticed was how these guardians had the tendency to focus on the people around her rather than herself specifically, as if they were testing them too. Maybe they were testing the entire group to see if they were worthy companions to her, as she was supposed to be some kind of chosen.
Not a title she liked, but she was used to being the oddity in the room.
But Robin didn't think they needed some kind of test, or that they had to prove anything to anyone. She knew where their hearts lied.
Suddenly she recalled how that odd tree had spoken to her in the Tower, how it could read her heart, so maybe it read theirs too, so was that why they were being put through trials as well?
Either way, she trusted them.
Maybe years ago she wouldn't have, but A2 had changed her so much.
For the best.
But… did they trust each other?
Did they trust themselves?
Did they trust her?
Maybe that was what needed to be settled for good.
Maybe that was what the machines wanted, oddly enough, much like White did.
Though she doubted she had something to do with this too, she simply wanted them to get along so they could make a good team in the future, which was good in Robin's eyes.
In her own way, White showed that she cared about them.
She just struggled expressing it due to the hate she got, and that she was still being subjected to, that made her afraid to speak about her intentions out loud. Robin noticed she didn't talk much unless she was brought into the conversation, or if it was something truly important she couldn't back out from.
Maybe one day she'll get her confidence as Commander back.
Perhaps when she'll be away for a while from this planet and most of the people that still hated her, for a good reason, she'll get better.
Wasn't it why she decided to take along some specific people?
In the end her goal was just the same.
"Yes, two masters." the machine replied.
Well, she expected more, but two should be manageable.
"They spoke to us, they demand you challenge them according to our rules."
Rules…
This would be harder than the others, but they were also the last guardians standing.
"What do I need to do?" she asked, whatever it was, she'll do it, since she was so close to getting all the spells.
And completing the trials.
"They requested the chosen one to watch, this will be a test of trust and friendship."
The biggest one.
The stubby addressed the people with her. "The guardians wish to challenge you to a fair duel, two versus two, it doesn't matter which of you will participate."
As long as it wasn't her.
What were these days? All tests to see if their bonds were strong enough?
Of course they were.
And they will prove it. Over and over if necessary.
As expected, A2 was the first to step in and raise her hand, however when she opened her mouth to speak she was cut off…
From Number 4.
"I will participate." the Attacker declared, and the way she summoned Unwavering Faith and held the large sword against her shoulder left no way to argue.
"Number 4…"
But the albino ignored A2 for the moment, turning towards Robin. "I wish to prove that despite everything that has transpired between me and Number 2, I am willing to prove that I can be trusted with any task, and that there won't be any bad feelings between us."
"That is not necessary." she already trusted her, even with having A2 close to her.
Well, the rogue would hate her if she ever even dared to think about doing something like that, and to separate them.
Not that she wanted to.
"I appreciate the trust, but it is something I need to prove to you and to myself, for the sake of the entire group, so no one will ever have any doubts again."
Number 4 paused for a moment, giving a soft smile to Number 2, Number 16 and Number 21.
"When we found ourselves alone, the three of us, I swore I would have done anything to be at their side, and to help them. Now there's more people, the group has grown, but I want to show myself as the same reliable person I want to be."
Even despite her happy go lucky, and frivolous personality, she knew when she had to be serious.
"Would that be alright, Captain?"
At her determination, Robin could do nothing else but nod.
"Then I'll be counting on you."
And on the topic of being reliable, it hit someone else really hard.
"I would like to be the second candidate." 21O offered, much to the disbelief of many but not of her older sister.
After all she knew more than others did.
More than either of them were willing to tell.
"Speaking about being seen as reliable, I have to prove myself to be this kind of person to myself, so I can be sure to be able to protect you all." once again, she spared a look to the redhead.
"I need to test my combat abilities in a battle that will push me, for this reason, I will not be using the barrier." because a special ability could not make up for her lack of battle prowess if she had none.
Maybe it was a number 21 thing, with the Scanner being not a fighter.
She wanted, and needed to be strong.
For more than one reason.
"There's no point in me saying no, right?" even if she asked, Robin knew they had already decided.
She expected other candidates, but if Number 4 and 21O needed confirmation for something they felt was important, there was no reason to deny them anything.
Not that she would, their choice, their decision.
Even if she was supposed to be their Captain in the future.
"Be careful." 6O took 21O's hands. "If I get hurt you will heal me, right?" the Healer nodded to the Battler, even though neither wanted to see anyone hurt, or wanted to be hurt.
"Go kick their asses, Number 4." Number 16 raised a fist to the Attacker, which she bumped with a lot of enthusiasm, and a grin.
"We'll beat them up and get the last spell before they can touch us."
With that, the group split up, as the two women went into the arena to fight, and the others left to watch them.
"You don't have to prove anything." 21O spoke up once only she and the Attacker were in the tunnel leading to the arena.
The albino only gave a confused hum.
"Robin knows well how important you are for A2, that's why she would never separate you two, even if it means spending less time with the woman she loves."
"But does she trust me as much as to not attempt to make a move on her? I know we talked about leaving things the way they are for the sake of Number 2's happiness, but I can't help but wonder if it's okay for her to be in my company so much." since they no longer were a thing.
Number 2 didn't appear worried either.
"Robin doesn't trust people easily, if at all sometimes. It was part of her upbringing, you heard it. But she trusts A2, and if she is alright with you, then she is too."
Right, what Number 4 forgot was that out of everyone, except for Number 2, 21O knew the human best out of anyone.
She'd been at her side for all these years she'd been on this planet after all.
"Also don't you think that Robin spoke to A2 as well about this? They probably have an agreement of their own. I'm sure they both know how you may feel about this, which is why they do not wish to keep you far from them."
She really shouldn't worry so much.
"A2 spoke often about you and your two comrades, she always said you were kind and loyal, but about you there's always one thing she would say, and that is that you were the only one of them that never doubted of her decisions, nor anyone else, and now that you're back you shouldn't doubt either."
That meant, if Robin trusted her, then she wouldn't need to worry about anything else, but to be at Number 2's side like she's always done.
"Number 2 has always been affectionate after all…" it didn't surprise Number 4 that she said those words.
"You've got 3 years of being separated to make up for as well, don't you think?"
Years they had missed each other so much, and Robin knew this very well too.
"Right…" Number 4 sighed, yet she smiled. "Thank you."
She then gave a small laugh.
"Usually I'm the one that always knows how to cheer up people." then a grin. "You truly are a Number 21."
The Scanner probably would have done the same thing, had she known she was feeling under the weather, she knew she would have.
"Speaking of, I know she was very happy after she spoke with you, so I've got to thank you for that too." but the blonde shook her head. "No need, after all it was something I had to talk to her about that had been due for too long."
"Yes, but also, you don't need to prove anything either." given the fact that those with that personality always felt the need to show that they could be useful.
"No, I have to." Number 4 frowned at the Operator's words. "Number 21 and I spoke for a long time, and I have come to the conclusion that there are things I need to test about myself, and this is the perfect occasion to do so."
She paused for a moment.
"So I can help her too."
The Attacker frowned, but didn't question it. It must have been something between the two that they told each other.
As long as they were happy…
Without more words, they stepped into the arena, where the guardians were already waiting. They were two statues with rather monstrous faces, one with glowing red eyes, the other with blue ones, both sporting a long lance looking weapon and shields.
21O summoned her YoRHa blade, holding it in front of her, as she stared down at them, while Number 4 held tightly to her larger sword with both hands, ready to fight.
From the stands around the arena they could hear the voices of the others cheering for them, well it was mostly 6O and 9S, but still even just if they were two voices they were loud.
And Emil too, the little affectionate boy he was.
The two guardians pointed their lances at them as well.
"These are the candidates." one spoke, more of a male sounding voice.
"Let's see if your will is strong enough." the female voice concluded.
Before they both charged at the two androids head first without much of a warning, but again, there never was one.
"We will protect the last verse!" both of the monsters reached forward with their lances.
Number 4 used her strength and the long length of her sword to block the hit, pushing backwards and responding in kind with a hit of her own, that the guardian with blue eyes stopped with his shield.
21O instead decided to crouch under the lance, dodging the hit, using her smaller sword she tried to go straight for the machine's hand, but the one that was most likely a she blocked the hit with her own weapon, retracting her arm just enough before she could get cut.
The Operator resisted the urge to curse as she retreated, putting distance between her and the guardian, while she saw with the corner of her eyes Number 4 engaging in a heated battle with the other one.
At least she seemed to be able to hold her own.
Same couldn't be said for her, at least for now.
21O could feel herself tensing up, as she always did when a fight was involved.
She offered for this, so why couldn't she be as reliable?
Shaking her head she rushed towards the machine, no, she would defeat this, even if it may take a bit more time, she would.
She would.
"I can read into your heart, your weakness, your insecurities…"
"Shut up!" the blonde threw herself at the guardian, slashing at it multiple times with her YoRHa blade, but each of them was blocked from the shield over and over again.
"You don't know anything about me." 21O jumped backwards, avoiding another hit of the lance, and with her NFCS she threw her sword, aiming at the head, but again, the hit was deflected, and the weapon flew far away from her.
That caught her off guard, she glared down at the guardian, but instead of backing down she took a stance, clenching her fists.
She'll fight, with or without a weapon, she knew she should be able to.
Just like any other B type.
"Foolish woman…" the female guardian charged at her again, and this time, instead of moving away, and without her sword to block the hit, she resorted to using her own arms, crossing them in front of her face.
She felt her arms strain under the pressure of the lance, feeling the point of it dangerously close to the side of her face, the strength of the machine bringing her down on her knees.
Until that pressure was removed, but just for a moment, only to be replaced from something worse.
As 21O was thrown off balance from a shield bash in her face, her lips and nose bleeding. The lance pierced her right arm the second after, leaving a hole through her shoulder from which the guardian lifted her up from, and then threw her away like a doll.
She could only scream before she collided with the wall of the arena, collapsing on the floor of it.
"Are you truly sure you wish to go through with this?" Number 21 asked her that question the night before, when they spoke.
"Only if you also agree." it was her reply, because what she had offered involved both of them, actually, it involved her older sister more than her.
If she were to accept.
Number 21 put a hand on her chin, pensive.
It took a bit to answer, she pulled a screen before her, calculating.
"I won't lie, this would benefit the both of us but… it means you would need to face many more risks." blue eyes met green ones.
"I wouldn't be opposed to it, but I want to be certain you know what awaits you."
Knowing well how 21O felt about fighting.
"Our personality wasn't made for battle, I know." the blonde sighed, another way to say she wasn't cut for it, no matter how hard she tried.
Perhaps she shouldn't have let her instinct to protect 9S and see Robin again get the best of her, and go through with the change of body, but there was little she could do about it now.
It was what she had desired.
The fault was all her own.
"No, it wasn't. We lack the aggression the others have, or most of them, as far as I could analyze. Number 2 didn't have it before, she developed it as a response to the need to survive, and the trauma of losing us." Number 21 passed a hand through her hair, feeling the new stitches of new skin applied to her forehead. "But when it comes to protecting people we aren't afraid, are we?"
There was some kind of unspoken determination whenever they put their lives in danger for those they cared for, like 21O did with 9S, protecting him from Emil despite not knowing if she could even use the barrier correctly yet, and like she did just today too, to protect Dahlia.
Selfless and foolish.
"If only we could use that in some way…" like some kind of driving force or something…
"I will agree to your proposal, but only if you're completely sure to be able to fend off on your own, that's my only condition."
Even though 21O meant her to be safe too, she understood why she wouldn't accept otherwise. She'd do the same if she were in her position.
"I intend to use these guardians as a test."
And then decide.
And these two did give a perfect occasion, that she hadn't been able to use…
Might as well just give up…
But she still wanted to keep her word to her sister…
As her senses returned to her, she could hear sounds of fighting still, which meant Number 4 probably was fending off both guardians on her own, so they wouldn't hurt her as she recovered.
How she would love to be as strong…
She heard the voices of her friends calling her name…
Robin.
9S.
Number 21.
6O…
The others too… but they were the loudest.
How disappointed they must be…
And yet…
"Don't give up, you still have a lot to fight for, remember?" it was Number 4 this time, her voice was strained under the hits of the two machines.
But try as they might, they had yet to lay a scratch on her.
"Get up, I know you're not done yet."
She wasn't, but…
Her arm hurt, since she was stabbed through she shouldn't have expected otherwise, probably it was unusable now. She lost her weapon too, she'd have to find it…
"You have a promise to keep!"
As Number 4 yelled 21O finally managed to open her eyes, using her left arm she pushed herself back up, cheered on by the others as they encouraged her.
The Attacker was right, she had a word to keep, to more than a single person.
It wasn't exactly a promise like the albino said, but to her it felt like one.
If she couldn't handle herself, then it meant her sister would not be able to either, since from her depended the safety of both.
She had combat abilities, so she could use them, while her sister couldn't.
This was an advantage she had to make use of, instead of slacking off and leaving the work to the stronger combat models, she was one too now, she turned herself into one, willingly.
It was not a decision she made to regret.
So she picked herself back up.
As she did, a YoRHa blade was thrown her way.
Her own one.
"I found it lying around, I thought you could use it." Number 4 took place back at her side grinning at her.
She looked dirty and disheveled, but fine. Even if she may have been thrown around more than a few times.
The blade of her longsword shone more brightly than ever.
Just like her.
"Show them how strong you are, kick their asses for making fun of you." as the Attacker said so, 21O picked her weapon back up.
The blonde was the first to rush back into battle, even with a dangling arm, even if she had to fight with her off hand, she'll prove that this would not be enough to stop her.
She observed the guardians, she saw that Number 4 had made numerous dents in their shields, and with enough pressure, they may break rather easily, which meant their bodies would be exposed afterwards.
Study and analyze.
That was what she should have been doing from the beginning.
Like she always did as Operator, like Number 21 did as a Scanner type.
Their strength was the brain.
She should have understood it sooner.
The solution was there all along, but she focused too much on being as strong as the others that she forgot to focus about what she was good at.
Dodging the guardian's lance on the side, she threw her sword up in the air, starting the machine with her move, enough so she could get rid of the shield with a well placed kick.
Using all her power and the fact she wore heavier boots, she hit in the middle of the cracks Number 4 made, and the thing shattered in a million pieces, throwing the red eyes guardian off balance.
Even without an arm she still had other three appendages to use.
As the YoRHa blade came back down 21O was quick to use her weight, and jump on the guardian's round lance to keep it from using it to defend herself.
The sword came back into her left hand, and using her position of advantage, she stabbed it directly in the eyes of the creature.
It crumbled under her.
Dead.
With the corner of her eye, she could spot the blue eyed guardian attempting to rush at her, it still had both his lance and shield, but as he did, Number 4 was quick to put herself in the middle of them.
"I'm your opponent." she said as she too threw her sword with a lot of force, in front of the machine as it attempted to charge at 21O, stopping him.
She used the handle as a stepping stone to lift herself high in the air, retrieving the weapon at distance with her NCFS, as it reappeared a second later back in her hands in sparkles of light.
With her aerial systems she maneuvered herself behind the machine with an elegant flip. Sword in hand, she struck his back, cutting him in half.
He fell to pieces, just like his companion.
Number 4 and 21O won the battle.
Their friends and companions jumped down in the arena, not even bothering to take the stairs, rushing over to them.
6O was the first to reach 21O, almost stumbling on her from how fast she was running, as she embraced her tightly, but still being careful over her arm.
"Are you okay?" the Healer asked, pressing a kiss to the Battler's swollen cheek.
"Better now." she smiled.
"You gave us quite the scare." 9S joined their side.
He was glad 21O was alright though.
Thankfully Number 4 was there, to help her.
"Let's get you both back to the camp though." Robin came over, after collecting the spell from the two guardians.
She had a couple of masks in her hands.
"Emil is going to tell us the story of this place, and it's king and queen as we return."
As they departed, Number 21 walked closer to her younger sister, gently laying a hand on her good arm.
"Let's see what Devola and Popola can do to help." the way she spoke was barely a whisper, meaning it was directed just to her.
It was a way to say that she accepted the proposal, and was willing to go through with it, now that 21O had proven herself capable, without the need of the aid of a machine power.
That now she understood it was okay to ask for help.
And that she understood finally where her strength lied.
But now…
Would Number 21 be able to ever find her own just like she did?