Not going to be a longer wait this time, don't worry. Also, btw, the ending o this chapter is gonna be weird, so be warned.
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Morag was looking down at the caladar. Tuesday, it said. Not even a well-deserved rest and morning coffee were able to keep her mind off her new feelings regarding the recent events. Mythra and the other Bladies are doing Architect knows what wherever they are, Zeke with his blades and Tora with Poppi are at their respective homes, Nia's in Uraya at the Mercenary base with both her blades and the rest of...
Of...
Who's blades..? Hasn't there always been only 4 Drivers in their ragtag group..?
Morag smacked her forehead lightly repeatedly to force herself to remember. "Rex is not Blade, Rex is not a Blade..." She looked around to make sure no one heard her remind herself and thankfully no one did... except the one that was always there.
"Lady Morag," Brighid said, sending a shock of fright down Morag's back. "I take it that this is what was on your mind last night?" She took the empty coffee mug away to put it where the maids would see. "You are having the same issue as our people, I see..."
"You... are correct, Brighid..." She sighed and got up. "Just a small lapse of view. Treating him like I have done the others I awoken took my senses on a detour. I should be okay now."
Hiding a smile, Brighid put her hand on her Driver's shoulder. "I'll take your word on that. Don't worry, before you know it, we can stop this and get back to work. No more Rexos, back to Rex."
"Thank you, Brighid... Yes, before we know it." Morag relaxed for once this morning as her main Blade picked up a bit around her. "That being said..." Morag heard Brighid say as she was about to leave to her room, "If he was a Blade, he would probably surpass Floren and Corvin in boyish charm, but grow up to beat Godfrey in handsomeness. I know I wouldn't mind you keeping him for me from Nia and the Aegis until then, Lady Morag." She laughed as she closed the door, blocking a crumbled ball of paper her driver threw at her.
"Must she say stuff like that..?" Morag banged her head on the desk as her door's handle begun to turn, making her stand up straight.
"Okay, finished... Cover to cover, front to back..." Rex came in and handed the book back to Morag. "I read it twice just to make sure I won't have to be given this again..." His eyes were a bit red as he stayed up all night.
"Ah, thank you, Rex." Morag took the book back and set it with the rest. "Now as for today, I think we could just make this a simple tour around Mor Ardain. I arranged for it to not be just us, so if issues come up we will not be in trouble. I ask you leave for a minute so I may change. You may wait with Brighid in her room until I'm done."
Rex groaned at the idea of having to be out in public once again, but listened "Fine, but... please hurry?" He went into Brighid's room to wait, much to her suprise. "Oh, Rexos, good morning." Brighid said with a smile, her joy of playing with him obvious on her face. "Are you ready for what today may bring?"
"I guess... I still can't believe I have to do this. It feels almost insulting." Rex sat down on a well padded chair. "I get it's helping the people here... somehow... but isn't there another way to go about this?"
Brighid chuckled and went back to her vanity mirror, pulling out some Titan-Oil Hand Cream. "You're already too far in, I'm afraid. Just stick it out and I'm sure things will work out well." She hummed to herself as she took off her gloves applied the cream. "Before you know it, you'll have the best AUX Cords attached, the finest chip that works with your weapon and a full chart!"
Rex grabbed a pillow and threw it at her as she blocked it. "Can you can it with that?!" He was about to throw another at the giggling lady as a loud knock came from the door.
"Brighid, Rex, please come out so we can riscuss today's plan." Morag said though the door. "Ive asked Newt and one else to come along today to make sure things run smoothly. We can talk more when you come out." And with that, she left.
"Aye... here we go... But I swear one more joke out of you and I'll use your weapons to cut up Monkfish." Rex sneered at Brighid who kept a smile as they got up and out to wait with Morag. "So, Morag, who... exactly is coming with us?"
A much louder bang came from the door leading out as Rex could tell who one of the Blades were from that alone. Newt came through the door, squeezing her flying arms in as the other Blade behind her didn't as she kept her arms crossed.
"Newt and Zenobia, reporting in! Good morning, Lady Morag. Good morning, Sir Rexos. A-Ah, sorry... Good morning, Sir Rex..." Newt blushed at her misspoke. "It took all that I could, but I managed to subdue Zenobia from the field. I had to promise a week's worth of half of rations and a spar whenever she feels..."
Zenobia pushed herself in, almost getting caught on the door frame. "Well well well... look who's here." She floated forward and wrapped her arm around Rex's shoulders as she pulled him close. "Ol Newt filled me in what's going on, bud. Rexos, cute name, now tell me," She chuckled as Rex tried to avert his gaze from her with a blush. "You really acting like a Blade on accident as they say, or you just trying to be around real power and can't get it from blondie? I won't lie, comparing me to her is like comparing cannons to guns." She chuckled as she held her chin.
Next to the likes of Boreas, Wulfric, Roc and Finch who dont wear anything, and Dahlia and Newt who already wear little to hide their assets, Zenobia is right there in having little care to hide anything. She could put on some more if she wanted to, but it gets in the way, according to her.
Newt smacked the back of the Moth Blade's head, making her let go. Morag coughed to speak up, "As you can see, Rex, I asked Zenobia to come with us along with Newt. They are going to serve as bodyguards of sort for our romp around the capital. I take it you will not mind?"
Rubbing his neck from Zenobia's grip, he looked up at Morag. "Yeah *cough* yeah... I don't mind... Damn Zenobia, almost choked me out then and there..."
Zenobia chuckled and flexed her arm. "What can I say? All muscle, dude. Stick with me and I can turn ya just like me. We can start with the morning work outs with 100 push ups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats and-" She was cut off by Newt's giant hand covering her face.
"You can tell them about your pre-breakfast routine later, come on. We'll be waiting outside for you two." Newt bowed and dragged Zenobia with her.
"What is with you all lately? Is this normal for your Blades, Morag." Rex fixed himself up as he begrudgingly got himself prepared. Shaking her head, Morag sighed, "No, this is rare for me to see as well. I take it that they're milking having a Driver being on their level in a way. Either way, best not to be kept waiting. Come along, Rexos." Morag fixed her hat as Rex followed her with a grumble.
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Morag lead the way around the Alva as Rex and the muscle blades followed suit. Playing the role as a sort of tour guide for 'Rexos' she purposefully dragged out each visit to make sure time was wasted. "And this is the refiners. If the situation is needed, they will be able to fit you with any fixed cords you may need. Here, allow me to show you how we prepare one." As Morag got to work showing Rexos what he already knew and him acting oblivious, a crowd around them began to form.
"That's him, that's the Blade with the swift cut! My da said he hasn't seen one like him, the metal cutting king!"
"They say he also fixed the machines in the factory! Smart as the dickens, he is."
"Mr. Blade! Mr. Blade! Can I see you use your weapon please?!"
"Excuse me, everyone, give Lady Morag and Rexos some space!" Newt held her arms out to make a wall and keep the crowd a distance away. "You know refining can be dangerous without proper focus. Let them be and move along." Zenobia made a breeze around herself to also keep them away. "If you want to get to them, you gotta go through me. Please do, I'm dying for a fight!"
Rexos just looked back at them uneasily and then back to Morag as she pulled out a finished AUX cord and put it in his pouch. "Thank you," Morag shot him a quick glance, "L-lady Morag. I'm already feeling stronger than before."
"Good. Now come along, I can show you to the shops. Brighid already showed you a few but you did not get a proper look, I assume. Come, Rexos." Grabbing his hand, she lead him similarly to how she led her cousin when they were younger.
"This feels humiliating..." Rex whispered as he was dragged along. "I know, but don't worry, stay close and we can drag this out to avoid anything after." Morag whispered back. Making their way through the shops, their little tour was cut short by the sounds of panicked guards running towards them.
"LADY MORAG! WE HAVE AN URGENT ISSUE..!" Panting and hurt, one soldier had to help up the one speaking. "Lexos... Several Lexos attacked the docks and not only damaged some of the weaponry, but it caused a rockslide! We fear several of our men are still under there!"
"Well WHY are you all standing here?! Come on now, men!" Her grip firmer on Rexos's wrist, she practically pulled the boy as they and the Blades followed suit.
Rexos broke free of her grip but still followed. "If we take the elevator, it would take too long to make i down there, Morag! You guys can take it, I'll meet you down there!" He ran to the edge of the area and peered down. Spotting the water basin at the bottom, he took a few steps back and ran, jumping off the railing and down straight into the open water. Although it hurt, the adrenaline was kicking in too much to make him turn away now as he got out of it and ran to the docks.
"Come on, come on..." Looking at the docks where a crowd was around, pulling away rocks and digging, Rexos spotted the landslide and rushed forward. "Stay back, I can help!" Using all his strength, Rex climbed and made his way to the top of the hill and grabbed rocks that a even several normal men would have trouble moving with ease, chucking them away. Boulders half as large as he was were sent flying through the air, causing the crowd to disperse to not be crushed.
Morag and the other two finally made it down, expecting the worst but came to see that Rex was already hard at work moving rocks. "Holy... W-Well?! Newt, Zenobia, assist Rexos!" She joined in as well as Zenobia carried Newt up to the top with Rexos as they all got to work, tossing and sending rocks off as if they were crumpled pieces of paper.
Lifting up a large boulder over her head, Zenobia saw the faint shine of a helmet and a groan of a soldier. "WE GOT ONE! Rexos, Newt, over here!"
"Got it!" "Roger!" Both of them jumped into the hole and pushes rocks away as the pulled out a soldier one by one. Luckily some managed to get caught between gaps and were only mindly injured, however...
"P-please..! I'm still down here, it's on my leg!" A soldier cried out as he tried to reach for the light.
Rexos saw the man just in time, and as if powered by the Architect himself dug his hands under the boulder and raised it, semi struggling. "Get... get... GET GOING, NOW, MAN!" He watched as the soldier used what strength he had left to crawl out as Rex shouted out, tossing the boulder clear over his head and into the world sea behind him. Climbing out of the rubble as the three of them cleared out every remaining rock, Rex, Newt were panting heavily as Zenobia tried to hide a worried breath.
Morag knelt by the hurt soldiers, checking their immediate wounds, she got up and pointed to a group of nearby workers and Nopon. "You lot! Take these men to the infirmary, stat!" Not wanting to suffer the wrath of an angry Inquisitor, the group did as they were told, leaving the crowd in awe of Morag and her Blades.
"They... cleared it all like nothing... That's... the power of a Blade..."
"Strongest Blades this side of the World Tree, I tell you..."
"Lady Morag, she and her band of Blades are stronger than an army!"
Rexos stood behind Newt and Zenobia, looking worried as the crowd once again formed around them as they guarded him. "Keep cool, Rexos, don't freak out..." Zenobia looked down towards him as she begun to make a small wind form to cause a dust diversion.
Morag got in front of her Blades to stop them. "People of Mor Ardain! Stand down and back up. My crew had just finished helping our soldiers, I ask you give them some space to breathe. What you have seen today is what few Blades possess. That is the skill known as Superstrength, raw power to do the impossible. This is the force my Blades have, the force to help lead us to a safer future for all. I ask you allow them to rest so that it may be used for when it is needed to protect our people once again." As Morag gave her speech to the people, a shadow begun to grow bigger and bigger as it loomed over them. Rexos looked up as he saw a massive piece of metal that was damaged in the attack become unlodged and begun to fall.
" Lady Morag, watch out!" Pushing out from between the two lady Blades, Rexos got beside Morag as she crouched down and braced for impact, as Rexos braced himself with his hands up and caught the metal before it could crush them and threw it off the dock. Breathing heavily, he looked down at the shocked woman as he was breathing heavily.
All Morag can do was gaze shockingly at Rexos as she nodded and got up. "As... As I said... My Blades are... the strongest as they come..." I think it's time we call this day done. Newt, Zenobia... Rexos... come along." Walking ahead as she regained her composure, Newt and Zenobia followed her as Rexos had to snap out of it as he ran after her.
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Morag sat at her desk as she had her hat in one hand and her head in the other. "I... I almost was crushed back there... how..?"
Rex looked down at his hands as even he didn't know for certain. "I... I don't know... I just... I saw something come and my body moved on its own..."
"Fogive me for this, but I think Morag means it more as HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO DO THAT SHIT OUT THERE?!" Newt grabbed Rex with her actual hands. "You're a human, how exactly could you do that out there?! Zenobia and I it was easily nothing to us but even you were showing barely any issues!"
Zenobia was thinking as her eyes shot open. "Think about it. I think... he either got a power boost from his new title as Master Driver, or... he gained this strength. I remember when we were fighting Sauros to get some more levels in, Rex didn't use a weapon to Topple them like the rest of the drivers. He used nothing more than his simple anchor shot and his arm to trip them over..."
Brighid put her hands on Morag to ease her. "So he might have this strength normally... Rexos, you're more like us than I think... You're really like a Blade..."
Rex was too in shock and thought to hear her as he just agreed to her unknowingly. "Yeah, uh... whatever you say..." He looked up to check on Morag as he hugged her. "You okay, Morag?"
Morag sighed and hugged him back. "I'll be just... fine... Thank you, Rex... You can go off to eat if you all wish."
Rex let go as he shook his head straight. "It's not Rex, it's Rexos, Morag! I mean- gah! It's Rex! Stop calling me that name in private!" He stormed out angrily as he couldn't believe he said that as he went off to the Blade dining hall, with Zenobia and Newt going after him worried.
Morag sighed as she grabbed a cup of and reached for a bottle of her personal wine reserve and poured a glass. "I... I'm worried, Brighid... I can't... I can't look at him the same anymore! Its getting harder and harder!" She shot back the cup in one continuous gulp as she slammed it down.
"Lady Morag, easy!" Brighid took the wine before she could pour another. "You need to calm down, I don't know what's gotten into you. Look, I do enjoy toying with the boy but even I know he's not a human. I mean... he's not a Blade... Heavens, it's happening to me too..."
Morag sighed and got up. "It would be best if I head to bed... Goodnight, Brighid. This time I'll be fine in the morning..." She started to undress an change to her sleepwear as Bridgid made her way to her room to give her some decency. "Goodnight, my lady..."
As she layed down to rest, Morag drifted off to the lands of the mind, as she let the Architect make her dreams...
Morag stood tall as she had one foot on the chest of Malos, her weapon drawn as she pointed the tip at the evil bring's head. "You have caused far too much harm and damage to the world! Here, you will meet justice once and for all!" Slicing the body of Malos as if it was air, his body let out a shout of pain as he returned to his core crystalas the world around her began to crumble away. Looking around, she saw she was on stage in front of all of not just Mor Ardain, but Gormotti and Tantalese and Nopon aplenty. By her sides were her allies.
Nia, the trusty healer with a heart of gold as big as her tiger.
Zeke, an attacking demon and the Eye of Shining Justice itself.
Finally, Tora, the smartest and bravest Nopon she has ever met.
Her crew, her family. She walked to a microphone as an speech left her mouth that even she did not hear, but each sentence caused a roar of cheers and applause. Ends of wars, camaraderie echoed though the crowds as mingled in the joy of the great evil being taken down. Morag raised her weapon to the sky as she let out a victory cry but looking up she saw her weapon did not look like Brighid's... Or Theory's... Not any she was common with before, it looked... like somethinh she couldn't describe. She looked around in a panic as the deafening cheers drowned out her own thoughts as her breathing got heavy. She looked around as if she was trying to find someone as her crew crowded around her, towering over her as she sat down and held her hands to her head, forcing her eyes closed as her team called to her to ask what's wrong.
"..."
"...ag..."
"Lady M..."
"LADY MORAG!"
Morag's eyes shot open as she wasn't at the stage anymore, she was... home. She was at home in the army's dining hall. She looked down the table as one side sat some of her blades and on the other Blades she never seen before... has she seen them before? They looked so familiar, but she never recalled resonating with them, but they all looked at her worried.
Brighid held Morag's hand as her eyes opened up. "Is the food not to your liking, my lady..?"
Morag shook her head. "No, it's delicious... Just the heat caught me off guard."
Brighid smiled as she clasped her hands together. "Wonderful. The chef really outdid herself for this special meal, I see!" Morag looked up to see a lady with short red hair push a cart of food away as Morag looked at her with a small feeling of disgust... and remorse, as if she took something that was hers, but felt like it rightfully belonged to Morag. When she was out of sight, Morag went back to eating, but something caught her eye. One side of her, her left side, sat Brighid, her trusty Blade and the Jewel of Mor Ardain itself. On the other was a much younger looking Blade...
His armor was odd, but it worked so well for him. Short brown hair that exploded out from the front as ether lines climbed out from an X shaped core on his chest, down to his hands and even one up to his eye as he happily ate his food messily, causing Morag to reach for a napkin to clean him with as he let out a laugh, causing her to laugh as well. "Please mind your manners, okay?"
"Haha, sorry, my lady." He raised his head as his golden eyes met her normal ones. "I mean, thanks, but its not an issue. Hah, sometimes you treat me more like your son than you do a Blade, Lady Morag."
"I know, Rexos, but still. We slayed Malos, but please don't let it get to your head that you can be sloppy. My Blades need to always be on their top behavior." Morag smiled as she said that. "My Blades..."
"My blades..."
Morag tossed and turned in her sleep as a smile crept over her face. "My... Blades..." as Morag was snoring gently, across the room, Brighid watched with a smile as she was unaware of what played in her Driver's mind.
"Good night, my lady." Brighid closed the door to go to bed too, off to dream something that she did not plan. She dreamed of an odd future...
Brighid just got to a massive party, a celebration that she felt like she should've been part of those that were being celebrated... and she was. Along on a hill top, far enough where it was safe, stood 4 chairs. She walked up and sat down on one as next to her were her friends... a blonde, a redhead and a girl with natural silver hair... each of them were carrying something in their arms, and she felt something in hers too. Hearing the call to look forward for a picture, if her eyes were open at the moment, she would've seen the flash, but she sensed it. However the sound and the bright light caused some cries to come from each of the bundles in their arms... Moving the blankets, a little blonde boy cried, a silver haired kitten girl cried, a redheaded baby cried and hers... she looked down, her eyes opening as she saw a little girl with small bits of fire leaving her head, a bit toasted as her bundle got abit burned from the inside out,but she didnt mind. Her little thing wasn't crying like the rest, but... laughing. A small little laugh that turned to a sneeze, causing her mother to laugh softly. "Oh, my little Sena..." She turned around and tried to look up at a muscular man who had his arm on the first and last chair.
"She has your eyes abit, dear... sorry mine dulled your golden ones..." Brighid smiled as she let her baby hold her finger as she went back to sleep.
"Aye, it doesn't matter. Hers are just as beautiful as her ma's..." The man could barely be seen, but Brighid could sense that he was proud... "You picked a good name for her, love."
Brighid hugged her bundle close, pleased with thr world as that familiar voice put her at ease... as her real world self held a pillow close by in her arms.
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Again, sorry for the ending. My girlfriend and I had a running joke when we played the DLC that Rex more or less "Helped" Brighid have Sena as no person in 2 has anything that's similar to Sena that would be close to her. We like to think that how Glimmer acts like Mythra and Mio acts like Pyra, Mythras kid would act like Nia, meaning there should be another kid that acts like their papa, and well... Sena's right there. XD