A/N: It's been around three months since I've finished XC3 (pretty late, I know) and since then, not a week has gone by where I haven't thought back to this game and the stories that it chose to tell; the themes that it touched upon and the characterization of its main characters left that much of an impression on me. It would probably be no exaggeration to say that it had one of the most memorable storylines and cast for a video game that I've played in a long while - but that's probably because the melancholic and heavy tone that's present throughout many of its story beats really resonates with me as a writer, haha.
With that being said, I always knew that I would be writing something for XC3 after I completed the game – it was just a matter of what. I brainstormed many ideas (and might still write some of those as well down the line), but ultimately, I kept on going back to the idea of featuring Mio as the main protagonist. While Noah is in many ways a very good protagonist from which to tell the story from, I felt that Mio actually was the stronger driving force for the majority of the storyline, primarily due to her Homecoming always looming over her head. The thoughts she had while making that one last journey to Swordmarch, as well as the emotions that come with being in that unique position – exploring the story from that angle, in my opinion, made for the most compelling story that I wanted to tell.
So without further ado, please enjoy my reimagination of the story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
"Hey, c'mon, move it! We're gonna miss the ceremony!"
"Ah, hey wait, Sena! Slow down a little!"
Amidst the large crowd gathered in the middle of the town square, Mio jostled for some space, trying her best to wade through the sea of people that were headed towards the castle doors. Up ahead, she could just barely make out the unmistakable blue glow of her childhood friend's hair, who was also trying her best to squeeze through whatever space she could find.
Though Mio had lived in the Agnian capital for basically all of her life, she had never seen it this busy. In a way, she supposed it was understandable – Queen Nia rarely made any public appearances, after all, and rarer still was the castle ever open for anyone and everyone.
Despite knowing that fact, Mio still couldn't help but feel like Agnus Castle Town was way too congested for its own good; it felt like it was no exaggeration to say that all of Agnus was here. Was Queen Nia really that beloved?
'Hmph – only because they only ever see her public persona…' she thought to herself.
To be honest, Mio was sort of indifferent to the ceremony – and had she known there would be this many people, she probably would've skipped it altogether. But last week, upon the unveiling of the announcement, her best friend had excitedly asked her to accompany them to the event – and Mio, not really having an excuse to not go, agreed.
Now though, she was having second thoughts – and the worst part was, Sena had made it so far ahead of her in this crowd that Mio was having trouble just keeping her in her field of vision.
'The main intersection right in front of the castle is the busiest part', Mio thought absentmindedly, trying to maneuver around people going the opposite direction of her. 'If I can just get past it, I can catch up with Sena and -'
"Oof!"
Her thoughts were cut short, however, as she inadvertently bumped into another person from the side.
"Oh, sorry there, love, didn't see you there! Apologies, but I'm in a bit of a hurry!" A friendly woman said looking down at her, before quickly going on her way again.
Slightly dazed, Mio stood in place for a brief moment with her hand on her head as people rushed along around her. Blinking twice, she waited until her vision focused again – but when she looked back up, Sena was nowhere to be seen.
"Ah sparks…"
Apparently, that quick run-in was all it took to lose sight of her companion.
After a couple more minutes, Mio finally fought her way out to the other side of the intersection – but when she did, Sena was nowhere to be found.
"Haah, I knew this would happen…" she sighed lightly.
For someone who never really had strong opinions on anything, Sena was oddly enthusiastic about this ceremony, even going so far as to run off on her own without her. Briefly, Mio debated whether it was worth it to try to catch up with her – but after thinking about how crowded the inside of the castle might be as well, she ultimately decided against it.
"Eh, she'll be fine," Mio mumbled, rationalizing to herself. "Besides, I never really cared that much for the ceremony to begin with anyways..."
Figuring that it would be much easier to reunite with Sena after the ceremony was over and while she was walking out of the main gate, instead of trying to find her who-knows-where in the giant castle, Mio turned back to the city, seeing if there was anything for her to do to pass the time with. Her sweeping gaze eventually landed on the entrance of a small side street adjacent to the castle entrance, which moved away from the main intersection. Figuring it was better than trying to navigate in the crowd again, she decided to take a look.
The small backstreet was, unsurprisingly, devoid of anything of particular interest, as it just served as a small alleyway in between some of the bigger buildings on the main street. At the very least though, that also meant that there were much less people to maneuver around as well. The occasional person that she did encounter more often than not seemed a little lost, perhaps indicating that they had ended up on this backstreet by accident.
After navigating and walking past a couple dozen storage boxes haphazardly strewn about on the small street, she spotted an intersection up ahead that was letting in the afternoon light onto the alleyway, which was previously blocked by the tall buildings. Upon reaching this new intersection and looking to her right, she had to briefly hold up her hand to her head to block the blinding light. But when her pupils adjusted, and she was able to see the scenery that the new intersection took her to…
"Whoa…amazing…" she muttered, slightly speechless.
She found herself at a tucked away scenic point, one that had a clear view of the castle and the ocean waves beneath it.
Walking into the park-like area, the first thing that she noticed was the overgrown grass that reached all the way to her ankles, and the leaves that were strewn about on top of the small, lone bench barely big enough for two.
"Guess you don't see that many visitors, huh?" Mio smiled softly. "You must be a little lonely…kinda like me."
After brushing off the leaves from the bench, she took a seat, calmly watching the waves below crash into the land over and over again.
Slightly melancholic, yet at peace. Solitary, yet forever waiting. In some ways…this place reminded Mio of herself – and it was enough to give a voice to the feelings that she usually kept close to her heart.
She thought about that last word that she had just uttered for a little longer … 'lonely'. She tended not to think about it that much, but was she lonely?
Perhaps lonely was not the right word; after all she had Sena, and many other people who she could call her friends. But for the longest time now, she had felt like…
…Like what?
What was she feeling?
Mio couldn't describe it, but that feeling…it was just there.
"Ah jeez, what am I even thinking about?" Mio said out loud, shaking her head in slight frustration. After a brief moment, she took a deep breath and looked back up at the castle again. In the distance, she could hear the excited shouts and jubilant fanfares taking place in the main town square.
…It was a little odd, to be honest. In this hectic and absolutely elated atmosphere that the entire city found itself in, Mio had seemingly found herself in a small, isolated pocket of peace – unaffected by the outside world, impervious to the chaotic emotions surrounding it, and indifferent to the passing of time and occasional visitor that stumbles upon it by accident.
But for Mio though, she thought that this kind of place suited her a little better.
She wasn't exactly sure why, but this place resonated with her a little – like there was a little bit of her that lived in this space.
'Hah – what a silly notion,' Mio thought absentmindedly, before reaching into her back pocket and pulling out the item that she always carried with her.
'But…'
Almost as if on instinct, she delicately placed her fingers over the holes of her shinobue flute, brought the mouthpiece up to her face…and started playing the same melody that she had always played since she was little.
What had brought about this feeling that made her compelled to play? Why did she feel the need to play this rite of partings and reunions?
…Mio wasn't quite sure herself. But in this small space, which continued to exist outside of people's lives, despite being forgotten by everyone else and having time relentlessly march on – Mio had found it.
She was here.
In this moment of time, in this moment of existence – Mio was a part of this place's memory and history.
And so, perhaps…that was why she decided to play.
She continued to play that lonely melody, by herself in that forgotten park, until she embodied the feelings that that park held in and of itself.
Her melody continued to flutter in the air, until the world itself had forgotten about her.
Until the unrelenting end of time, until there was only darkness, and until the world ceased to be.
…
"AHH!"
With a sudden scream, Mio's eyes flew open and she bolted upright on her bed, temporarily unaware of her surroundings.
"Ohmigosh, what happened, Mimi? You okay? Bad dream?"
"Huh?"
Blinking twice to get the drowsiness out of her eyes, Mio looked to her right, only to be greeted by her long-time roommate looking back at her, a look of concern clearly present on her face.
"A…dream?" Mio murmured, slightly dazed.
"Yeah, must've been – one moment, you were sleeping as soundly as a baby bunnit, and the next second, 'WAAAH!'" Sena exaggerated cheekily, putting her hands up to her face, in a slightly over-dramatic reenactment of what was supposedly Mio's morning greeting to her.
"I do not sound like that…" Mio grumbled, objecting over her representation. "But yeah. Just a bad dream, I guess."
Halfheartedly, she fell back onto her pillow and lazily put her arm over her eyes.
"You okay? Wanna talk about it?" Sena asked sweetly, walking up to her cot and squatting next to her.
"Ah, it's okay, it was kinda nonsense, really."
"What happened in the dream?"
"Uhm…" Mio racked her brain a little as the events of the dream already started to fade. "You ditched me in a crowd to go see the Queen."
"WHAAT?! That's your nightmare?" Sena gasped, seemingly equal parts insulted that she would make her do that in her dream, and bewildered that that was what caused such a visceral reaction from her.
"Uhm, for the record Mimi, I would never leave you behind! You know that, right?" Sena followed up, seemingly trying to encourage her.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Mio responded lightheartedly, giving Sena a small smile to try to disperse the tension. "I'm fine now. Give me a couple of minutes, yeah? I'll be out in a sec."
"Hehe, you were never that much of a morning person, were you? Well alright, but it's almost 7AM, morning exercises will start soon. Don't take too long! I'll wait for you outside."
With a slight wave of her hand, she opened the flap of their tent, and walked out into the streak of light that filtered in, before quickly disappearing as the flap fell back down to its rightful place.
Taking a deep breath, she thought back to her dream momentarily, before quickly pushing it out of her mind in anticipation for the busy day ahead of her.
'…Lonely, huh?'
…
"Huff…huff…"
At the end of the designated hundred meter line, Mio gasped for breath, breathing quickly after completing her tenth consecutive sprint.
Looking at the stopwatch in her hand, her cat ears drooped slightly in dismay upon seeing her result.
"Ten rounds and I'm already close to my limit…and my best is only 7.8, huh?" Mio muttered in disappointment.
'I'm losing my edge – I have to be careful, or one of these days, that slowness is gonna mean -'
"Hey, Mimi!"
"!"
Her thoughts were swiftly interrupted however, as her ears perked back up upon hearing Sena approaching her. Taking deep breaths through her nose, she quickly tried to steady her breathing, and her right hand quickly hit the reset button on her stopwatch.
"Good work out there!" Sena complimented encouragingly, walking up to her with a carefree smile. Her face and arms were slightly glistened with sweat, an indication that she was following her same morning routine. "Still as fast as ever, huh?"
"Eh? Y-yeah," Mio let out, slightly taken aback at the unintentionally pointed response, before quickly regaining her composure. "What brings you to the track? Here to do some runs?"
"Ahh, nah, not right now – just wanted to ask if you wanted to get breakfast soon? I saw Taion and Hackt earlier; they said there was a new mission assigned to the colony, and Taion wanted to debrief us on it at the canteen. Oh, but no worries if you're not done with your exercises yet!"
"Gotcha, thanks for letting me know! Yeah, I'm pretty much d-..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Mio looked at Sena's smiling face, and abruptly stopped short.
"Hm? What was that?" Sena asked.
"I-I'm pretty much halfway done," Mio quickly corrected, putting on a smile amidst her breaths. "Ten more sprints to go!"
"Only halfway?!" Sena exclaimed. Her face was a little hard to read.
"Yep, I'm feeling good! Gotta get them all in, you know?"
"..."
A brief pause, but, before she knew it, Sena perked back up again and responded in her usual, happy-go-lucky attitude.
"Wow, look at you go!" she beamed, full of admiration. "Alright, I'll let Taion know, see you in a bit!"
With a quick wave, Sena ran off back towards the administrative tents, seemingly without a care in the world.
Mio held her own hand up cheerfully to see her off, but upon Sena turning around the corner, her smile slowly disappeared as she let out an unceremonious sigh.
What was even the point of lying to her, anyway?
To not admit to herself that she was slowing down? A sense of pride? To make it so that Sena doesn't worry?
'…All of the above, I suppose.'
But perhaps, most of all…
Her thoughts floated to a time long past – to a time when she was powerless to do anything, or protect anything…
Slapping her hands to her cheeks, she snapped herself out of her thoughts.
"Nothing for it then," she nodded, walking back to the start of the hundred meter line and psyching herself up for another ten rounds.
With a quick burst, her feet pushed off the ground, propelling herself forwards.
…
As Mio wandered into the Colony Gamma canteen looking for any signs of Sena, Taion or Hackt, she caught a faint whiff of something delicious, instantly replacing her feelings of fatigue to ones of hunger. When she followed her nose to the source, she was pleasantly surprised to find a familiar looking nopon at the end of the road.
"Manana! Good morning!" Mio cheerfully greeted, giving a wave to the nopon behind the cooking pot. "Something smells good!"
"But of course!" Manana replied in her usual carefree manner, lifting up one of her wings in response. "Manana on cookypon duty today! Please to expect delicious eatings from Manana!"
"Hehe, I can always count on you to fill my stomach, Manana. Say, have you seen Sena, Taion, or Hackt anywhere?"
"Mehmeh? Manana have, they on far-side of canteen! Before you go, take dish too! Filled to bursting with lively!"
Manana swiftly handed Mio a plate of her freshly cooked meal, and pointed her in the direction of her other companions. As Mio looked down at her plate, she noticed that it was filled to the brim with ardun meat and ingot carrots, her favorite.
"...Thanks, Manana," Mio said genuinely.
"There always plenty more for seconds!" Manana replied happily, giving a celebratory clap over her head with her wings.
…
Walking over to the far side of the canteen that Manana had directed her towards, Mio took a sweeping gaze over the growing group of people trickling in for breakfast.
"Heey, Mio, over here!"
And evidently, Hackt had spotted her first – when Mio turned towards the voice, she saw Hackt sitting with Sena and Taion, waving his hand enthusiastically trying to get her attention.
"Hey guys," Mio greeted as she walked up to them, sitting down next to Sena. "Thanks for saving me a seat."
"Of course," Taion replied matter-of-factly. "We'll need to discuss the mission briefing handed to us, after all."
"Taion, that's not why we saved her a seat…" Sena groaned.
"I was just merely trying to bring up the topic – it's quite important, after all," Taion said, pushing up his glasses.
"It's okay, Sena," Mio interjected, before taking a bite of her breakfast. "What is this mission about, anyway? Sena told me you got something handed down to us from the commander, but I never heard about anything prior to this morning."
"That would probably be because it's an urgent mission that came straight from the consul," Hackt groaned, putting his head on his hand. "Logistics was panicking getting everything ready for tonight – I was called in to help too, even though I'm not even part of logistics."
"Tonight?" Mio followed up. "So soon?"
"Yes, well – this mission is on somewhat of a timer. Apparently, there's a large incoming vessel that will be passing Alfeto Valley at 0100 in the dead of night," Taion said matter of factly. "We're to investigate and destroy its transport if it is deemed necessary."
"An…incoming vessel?" Sena inquired. "That's kinda vague. Is it Kevesi?"
"Unknown at the moment. But intelligence suggests that Kevesi troops are also mobilizing at the same location."
"So worst case, we could be fighting Keves and a potential third party at the same time…" Mio surmised, her tone heavy. "What exactly is our role in this then?"
"Well, as special forces, we're to personally infiltrate the vessel once it has been grounded," Taion explained. "There's just one thing…Hackt unfortunately won't be joining us for that."
"What? Why not?" Mio asked, surprised. "He's part of us!"
"The commander was concerned about us getting wrapped upon and attacked from multiple angles since the valley length is so long," Hackt responded. "Unfortunately, since I'm out of the best scouts in the colony, they thought it fit to assign that responsibility to me."
"...I see," Mio responded, slightly dismayed. "And we really could've used your help too…well, stay safe out there, alright? Alert us on the iris if you need help or anything."
"Ahah, you don't have to worry about me, Mio!" Hackt laughed lightheartedly. "But I suppose you've always been like that, huh?"
Giving a gentle smile to her, he reached across the table and patted Mio on the head lightly.
"How many terms have we been on a team together now? You know I'm more than capable of handling myself. Besides, I would say you three have the more dangerous mission by far."
"He has a point," Taion agreed. "Going straight into the base of the valley will put us in a fairly dangerous position. Feeling up to it, Mio?"
"Mmm…"
Her head wandered to the results of her training this morning; a couple of months ago, she would've more or less been confident in her abilities. But lately, it seemed like her skills had been dulling. A mission which could involve getting fired upon on multiple sides seemed nothing short of foretelling a tragedy waiting to happen.
Taion, after observing Mio's reaction for a couple of moments, brought up another question, seemingly out of the blue.
"Mio – it's most likely too late for this particular mission, but after…would you potentially consider a transfer to the backlines?"
"!"
Instantly, Mio's eyes widened.
"Wha-! Taion!" Sena exclaimed in protest, getting up from her seat.
"N-no! Don't misunderstand me! It's not like I'm asking her to leave!" he quickly added. "That's not it at all, I promise. What I'm trying to say is…well, Mio's only a couple of months off her Homecoming. It's impossible to have a contingency for everything out on the field. …I just want to make sure she's able to make it to the end."
"..."
Reluctantly, Sena sat back down, but didn't say anything or object further. Hackt, too, who was normally pretty jovial, had his usual smile replaced by a concerned look.
Mio didn't instantly respond, instead taking the time to take a deep breath and lean back in her seat, her head in contemplation. Unconsciously, she put her right hand on her neck, rubbing her mark.
As much as Mio didn't want to admit it, Taion did kind of have a point; after all this time – after all of the training, the killing, the surviving…she had made it to this point, where she could count the number of months left until her Homecoming on one hand. To all of her fallen comrades, who weren't able to do the same – and to Miyabi, who sacrificed her life just so she could have the privilege of being in this spot…she felt a small sense of duty to make it to the end, almost as if she was helping a small part of them reach their Homecoming as well.
And despite the fact that Taion had not meant it the way that Sena had interpreted it, whether he knew it or not, his words did inadvertently hit the nail on the head. The reality was, she was slowing down, but the fight with Keves did not. If this kept up, who knew if she would be able to survive the next three months to make it back to the Queen?
Not that she particularly cared about making it to the Homecoming itself; unlike many others in the colony, she herself held no illusioned notions or feelings of grandeur when it came to that point of discussion. Though many saw it as their life's end goal – as an accomplishment to be celebrated should you reach that point – to Mio, she felt relatively indifferent about it.
No – it was the implication upon reaching that point which she cared about. The implication that…she was going to die.
For her, her Homecoming was just an indicator that she was coming to her life's end. And whether she returned to the Queen on the Homecoming stage, or got cut down on the field slightly before then…all roads, at the end of the day, led down to the same, inevitable conclusion, in her eyes.
That thought in and of itself…scared her.
Still though…
She took a brief look at her companions next to her. Sena's face housed a worried, yet encouraging expression, almost as if she was saying, 'I'm here for you, now and always – but I will respect any decision you make.' And though Taion kept his firm look that he always had, when Mio briefly made eye contact with him, he looked away, fidgeting with his glasses. Outwardly, he usually always appeared so stoic; however, the reality was that it was easy to read his feelings once you recognized his habits, and it was clear that he was actually a big softie on the inside. Hackt, too – he was normally the carefree guy who usually only outwardly cared about his next big meal – but even he grew silent and showed a rare grimace, showing that he was truly torn over it.
After taking a look at the friends that she had made over these past couple of terms…she realized that there really only was one answer, after all. And when she thought about the time when she was separated from Miyabi, all of those terms ago, that choice was only reinforced. Realistically, her mind was made up a long time ago.
"...Thanks, Taion," Mio finally spoke up, after a brief moment of silence. "I appreciate your concern. Really. But I think I'll stay in this unit until they decide to move me back to the castle."
"!"
As soon as she uttered those words, she could practically see the relief wash over Sena. Taion, however, posed another question.
"I see. If that is your decision, then I have no objections – but may I ask why?"
"Hmm…why, huh? Well – if I had to give an answer…it's so I can continue carrying out the duty of my life," Mio responded.
"The…duty of your life?" Hackt asked, slightly confused.
"Yep. To send on the voices of the departed – that is an off-seer's purpose. I can't give up on that duty now. But besides that…I want to fight. Not necessarily as a soldier of Agnus, but as Mio – I need to fight, so that I can protect the things that I hold dear. …So that I can protect you all."
"Aw, Mimi…" Upon hearing those words, Sena reached out and grabbed Mio's hand tenderly.
"Heh…well, that's good enough for me," Hackt smirked, his usual demeanor returning to his face.
And Taion, for his part, gave a wordless nod with a small smile on his face, seemingly satisfied with that answer.
There was a lot of uncertainty and anxiety, to be sure; Mio didn't think she would ever get over that. There was no escaping the fact that she was scared to die and disappear from the world. But sitting around and waiting to die wouldn't do anything either. For the sake of honoring her past friend's actions, and for the sake of protecting her current friends' future…she would do as much as she could with what limited time she had left for those tangible things.
"...Well, I'd best be off then," Taion said curtly after that exchange, standing up from his seat.
"What? Where're you going? We still have a lot of time until morning assembly!" Mio asked.
"Well, there's no such thing as being too prepared, is there? After seeing how motivated you are, I have to do my part as well. Don't worry, I won't be late to the assembly; I'm just going to study the map again and draw up some extra plans."
With a quick adjustment of his glasses, he gave them a brief wave, and started to walk back towards the tents.
"Oh – hey, no fair!" Sena objected, quickly bouncing up from her seat as well. "I'm pulling my weight too! Don't worry, Mimi! I'm gonna work extra hard so that no-one can lay a finger on you!"
Giving Mio a quick wave as well, Sena flashed her usual, carefree smile, before running after Taion, presumably to the training area.
After watching them leave for a few seconds, Hackt spoke up, an uncharacteristic sort of sentimental tone in his voice.
"...They're good friends, huh? Sena and Taion both, I mean."
"...Yeah," Mio smiled bittersweetly following his gaze. "They really are. But hey, why're you talking like you're not a good friend as well?"
"Oh, no, I'm not excluding myself," Hackt laughed, turning back to face Mio. "It's just you guys are all closer in age, and you've all known each other for longer than I have, right? I mean, I've only known you guys for two terms – you guys must've known each other for double that. Well, I'm only on my sixth term myself, so that's kinda besides the point, but still, you know what I mean."
"Pfft – just you wait – you'll become a tenth termer just like me before you know it."
"Oh god, you're so old," Hackt teased back. "Just thinking about all the battles I would have to go through before I reach that point makes me wanna puke."
He paused for a moment, seemingly reflecting upon what he had just said, before turning unusually serious again.
"...Hey, Mio? Promise me that you'll make it to your Homecoming, yeah?"
"What's this, not you too, Hackt?" Mio joked lightheartedly. "Did you get bitten by an arachno?"
"Ah, snuff off it – you know I'm not good with this sort of mushy stuff," Hackt protested. "...Just promise me."
"Hehe – alright, alright, no need to be so serious," Mio said, trying to lighten the mood. "I promise – but only if you promise to make it to your own Homecoming as well."
"Psh, my Homecoming?" Hackt scoffed. "That's way off! Like four terms too early off!"
"It's only fair if you make the same promise as I do, right?"
"Considering how much stuff I'd have to survive by myself once you lot are gone, I don't know if I would really say fair…"
He looked away melancholically, pausing for just the briefest of moments before finishing his sentence.
"...But yeah. Yeah, you're right. I promise."
"Mm. …Thanks, Hackt."
They sat in silence and contemplation for a while after that – but after that momentary respite, Hackt abruptly stood up, his usual smile ever present.
"Alright, well that's enough of that!" Hackt declared triumphantly. "I'm off too! Gotta follow Sena and Taion's example, you know? I may not be on the same team as you for this mission, but I got a lot of influence, believe it or not – I'm sure I could convince the Commander to provide you with an extra support squad or two! See you around, Mio!"
Without even giving Mio a chance to say anything back, Hackt quickly dashed off with a wink, a carefree wave from him the only indicator that they were together just a few seconds prior.
And just like that…all of her friends had ran off.
But even with Mio being left in the dust, she could do nothing but smile.
Surely, she had made the right decision after all, choosing to stay.
'Heh – but in the end, who's protecting who, I wonder?'
That's all for chapter 1 – It's a little bit on the shorter side for my chapters, but I hope I was able to capture the tone of the story and the characterization of Mio well, as that'll be something that I build upon in future chapters as Mio reacts to and grows from the story beats ahead.
Chapter 2 was originally written in tandem with this chapter, so it should be fairly out soon – please look forward to that!
As always, comments are always appreciated.
