Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Long ago, the world was nothing more than an endless sea, cloaked in a boundless sky, reaching as high as could possibly be imagined. Then two great titans came into existence. The Bionis and the Mechonis. The titans were locked in a timeless battle. Until at last, only their lifeless corpses remained.

Eons have passed.

Now, our world, this vast land stretching across the remains of the Bionis, is under attack from a relentless force known as the Mechon. An army of beings from the Bionis, known as the Homs, are taking a stand against a gruesome siege by a Mechon assault force. The defense force soldiers fight desperately to hold the line and keep their lives, yet both seem to be beyond saving from their point of view. The soldiers are being overtaken quickly, as any small victory they find is quickly snatched away with a plethora of defeats. This no man’s land they’ve pledged to hold is a valley in the grooves of the perished Mechonis’ Sword, of which the tactical vitality cannot be overstated. As should the Mechon take control and press past that line, they’d have an entrance to the Homs colonies via the Bionis Wrist. 

Amidst the chaos, there ring bittersweet words from the commanding officers of the front lines. 

“Retreat! Retreat!”

The soldiers began to pull back, as another wave of Mechon enveloped and consumed all those unfortunate enough to be left behind. Yet, as the soldiers all fall back, one in particular can be seen fighting against the tide of his comrades, against one’s basic survival instinct, as he charged through, a blade of blue light emanating from his gunlance in the place of the bayonet. As blue energy almost appears to be electrifying the whole of the weapon and its wielder, he uses the blade to slash and stab every enemy he passes, until he brings up the shield of the weapon and bashes a hoard of the machines onto the ground, deactivating them. He retracts the shield revealing the circular hilt with a symbol “ 機” in the middle as the weapon closes, causing the blade of light to dissipate. Notably winded, the wielder, a muscular red-headed boy, stabs his weapon into one of the machines in the pile to gain leverage as he overlooks the battle. 

“Damn, they’re putting all their firepower into our weak points.” said the young soldier. “Those scrap for brains’re smarter than they look, but I won’t let them get any further.” 

The soldier charges ahead and reactivates the light from his weapon in a flash of blinding light facing the next squadron of enemies and before he knows it, he is joined behind cover by two of his comrades, the blonde older soldier Dickson, as well as a black haired stubbled one with sunken eyes named Mumkhar. 

“Reyn!” Mumkhar yelled, as both him and Dickson took their places next to Reyn behind cover. “C’mon, let’s get the hell out of here. No point dying in some god forsaken field!” 

“Can’t say I know for sure how much longer we can last here, myself.” Reyn said, doing his best to catch his breath.

“Listen to him kid,” said Dickson “we’ve been given the order to retreat. We’re going to pull back the line to Colony 6. That’s where we’ll set up the last line of defense.” 

“No, I’m staying.”

“What!?” Mumkhar and Dickson exclaimed simultaneously.

“I might die if I make a stand here, but I gotta protect the future- all our futures. We’ve got the Monado. If anyone can make that future, it’s us!”

“Stupid brat!” yelled Mumkhar, pulling Reyn back into cover before he charged into the fray “You may have a thick skull, but even all those muscles reach their limit eventually. The Monado’s killing you!”

“Don’t exaggerate, beardy.” Reyn responds, feigning being coy “Don’t worry about it. I still got it under control.”

Mumkhar sighs, weary of discussion. “Shoulda known there was no point trying to crack that thick skull of yours. Fine, I’m going with ya. You’ll need someone to organize your funeral.” 

“Oi, you two!” Dickson interrupts, clearly losing his patience. “I said we’ve been ordered to retreat. Don’t expect my help.”

“Then it’d be on you, old man,” Reyn interrupts “cos we’re as good as dead without those ether rounds to patch us up.”

A soldier interrupts “The enemy’s second wave is approaching!”

“Nothing for it, kid.” said Mumkhar “Let’s go. We’re just gonna have the time of our lives here!” 

“Understood” Reyn says, as he and Mumkhar make their way towards the enemy onslaught. 

Dickson, holding his position, ponders briefly “That lot’s gonna get themselves killed. I ain’t gonna risk my life to stop them. This martyr stuff ain’t for me. I feel kinda bad deceiving these kids, but I’ll just bide my time, then make my way outta here.”

Dickson then quickly caught up to the pair and assisted taking on the leading squadron of the second wave. As the trio stands winded from the fight, they see the unmistakable glowing red glow of Mechon optics all scattered at ground level, dwarfing their number as it attempts to swarm.

“If this is a joke, it ain’t funny.” Dickson groaned

“That’s gotta be their main force.” said Mumkhar “Looks like they ain’t gonna stop until we’re nothing but marks on the floor.” 

“They’ll have to want it that bad'' said Reyn “if they plan on taking us down. Let’s make this more of a fair fight.”

Reyn readied the Monado in front of him, the symbol and blade’s glow both turning a distinct purple. As he swung the blade in the air, an aura the same color as the glow, spread from Reyn and as the wave hit his comrades were emanating that purple energy. Their efficiency from there increased exponentially as the glow allowed Dickson with his Sabre, a gun-blade of his own design, and Mumkhar with his Claws to dispatch Mechon with the same ease as Reyn with the Monado. Amidst the chaos, however, Mumkhar hears a groan. Looking to the top of a pile of scrapped Mechon lead him to the source, it was Reyn. The blue, electric-like energy from the Monado finally started to show its wear in him as he was on his knees in pain. Just then, a Mechon approaches him, readying its mechanical claw to take advantage of his momentary weakness.

“Reyn!” Mumkhar yells, as he leaps into the fray, pouncing on the Mechon before it can strike Reyn, the two tumbling to the bottom of the pile opposite where Mumkhar jumped. “Weak. Weak and pathetic!” he continued to yell, though clearly a bluff as he exerted near all his energy at this point. “Reyn! You all right?!” he yelled.

“I’m good.” Reyn said, standing back up gripping his arm in pain “Just remembering those breathing exercises Dunban taught me. They’re coming in real handy!” 

“Would you look at that,” says Dickson “they’re still alive! Though not for much longer it seems. No point sticking around here any longer.” 

As Mumkhar is assisting the injured Reyn to safety, they see Dickson running in the distance.

“Oi! Old Man!?” says Reyn “What’re you playing at?!” 

“Sorry, kids!” Dickson taunts “I just wanted the power of that sword, none of this hero business. Do your best to hold the line in my place!”

Mumkhar snarls “Dickson, you-”

“Don’t worry.” interrupts Dickson “I’ll be sure to drag your corpses home!” he runs off, not to be seen again. And while currently unknown, Dickson was presumed to be consumed and lost to enemy units lurking past the line the defense force set up.

“Get back here you-!” Reyn yells but is interrupted by enemy artillery knocking him and Mumkhar flat left to face another dangerous group of Mechon along with a large, spider-like model that was likely the source of the ether blast. 

“Aw, you gotta be kidding!” Mumkhar whines as he takes in the most unfortunate sight “Looks like this is it. At least we know our luck can’t get any worse from here.”

Reyn, however, stands with a determined look in his eye.

“Beardy, take care of anyone still alive.” he says

And with a moment's hesitation he activates the Monado and charges head first into the Mechon army, with a battle cry that echoed throughout the whole of Sword Valley. 

Chapter Text

One year after the Battle of Sword Valley, peace seemingly returned to Bionis. It is at the Bionis calf that we see the home of many of the remaining Homs, Colony 9, is enjoying the prosperity that comes with victory. That is not to say that there were no remnants of war, for there is even a site for destroyed Mechon parts that seem to have landed. It is at the Mechon Wreckage Site that we see Fiora rummaging around.

“These herbs look excellent!” she says to herself “I knew this was a good idea. Nobody ever goes out this far for ingredients. So I get to have the first pick!”

Fiora stands upright, satisfied with the herbs she was able to collect, when her gaze shifts to the center of the field to see some distinct black petals.
“A Strong Dandelion!” Fiora exclaims descending to appreciate the flower “I thought they only grew on Tephra Hill. Oh, it’s so lovely. I ought to take it with me. I hear the roots make for good medici-”

Suddenly, as Fiora began to burrow with her knives into the dirt, the earth beneath her rumbled causing her to lose her balance in her squatting position. She stumbled back, barely keeping the grip on her weapons, as a large Caterpile burrowed out from where she was once admiring the dandelion.

Her cry in surprise was answered by a stern, heroic voice “Fiora!” Dunban cried running towards his sister, dawned in his defense force armor, both hands on his unsheathed blade.

In a flash, Dunban was between his flabbergasted sister and the monster that startled her, and before it could even react, his Homs Sabre had already made a sizable gash in its face. In a second swift motion he pierced the Caterpile’s side as it flinched from the original initial strike.

“Fiora, are you alright?” worried Dunban, turning around expecting her to still be shocked on the ground, when in reality she was standing.

“I’m fine, but…” Fiora is meek for a moment, but then bursts in frustration “How long were you watching! I told you that I could search for ingredients on my own. I’m not a child anymore!”

Dunban is surprised, but regains his composure quick enough as he’s used to his sister’s temper and stubborn independence “Yes, you’re right. However, I do recall you also saying you wouldn’t go anywhere dangerous, but this far away from the Colony—well… even Defense Force soldiers know not to come all this way alone.”

Fiora pouts, mostly due to knowing that her brother is right “I’m used to doing it since you spent most of last year fighting. And even when you got back, your right arm was nearly cut off, you’re lucky to still have it at all! Not to mention the spices I needed for today’s lunch were all here.”

Dunban sighs in resignation “I suppose I can’t blame you for wanting to make it special. He has been studying that sword extra hard just to sate that curiosity of yours.”

“The Monado. I wonder what it is that made that sword so important?”

“In any case, I know I can’t stop you from going out this far, but next time let me know I’ll join you. Not as a bodyguard, mind you, but as a teacher. Get good enough, and I may start expecting you to protect me.”

The siblings laugh at the prospect of the renowned hero of Colony 9 being protected by his little sister.

“It’ll have to wait though.” continued Dunban, checking the time “if we don’t get back to the Colony now, it may be a late lunch for Shulk.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that..” Fiora says dismissively as they begin making their way back “He’ll work too late to eat it while it’s warm anyway, if I even decide to cook it at all.”

Dunban looks puzzled until Fiora continues “Shulk has no sense of taste. He’ll say it’s delicious even if it’s stone cold.”

“Well, then this time, he’ll mean it.” he says assuringly

The pair stroll across the bridge back into their home of Colony 9, greeted by the Defense Force soldier posted there, Dorothy, as Dunban heads to the Defense Force HQ and Fiora begins preparing her special lunch for Shulk with the ingredients she got. Both unaware of what the day will bring.

Chapter Text

As Fiora enters the Defense Force Headquarters, she passes by an absolutely livid defense force Colonel Vangarre giving two soldiers the talking to of a lifetime (to put it mildly). Her curiosity was piqued when she heard that a mobile artillery unit had crashed into a house, but was relieved to not hear of any casualties outside of the damage to the vehicle. 

Glad to see this as the biggest casualty of the crash. Fiora thought to herself  But with the damage these soldiers could have caused, the Colony will be rubble before we even see another attack.

Fiora enters the Weapons Development Lab, Shulk nowhere in sight. Before she even questions it, she is greeted by the sight of the Monado on its pedestal. She looks at it in contemplation only to be pulled out of it by a familiar voice in the corner of the room.

“Fiora! Look how big you’ve grown.” the voice says sarcastically.

Fiora turns around and sees her brother’s closest war buddy Mumkhar, leaning in the research chair, presumably waiting for Shulk to stop by.

“Mumkhar! When did-Y’know, it’s not nice to tease a lady!” Fiora said in a huff, registering the comment

“Heheheh! I’m just kidding.” Mumkhar cackled “I only just got back, and I was curious about how Dunban’s little sister was doing, but also how goes the research of that sword. I figured why not kill two birds with one stone?”

“Honestly,” Fiora said, “I think you’d have better luck asking Shulk. You were the one who had him head the research in the first place.” Fiora looked back at the Monado as she replied, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

Mumkhar made a dismissive noise, one could almost call a sneer, in response “I only did that because I knew you wanted to be the first to know about it, but didn’t have the tech know-how. But, if I give it to a childhood friend and he tells you--well that ain’t my business.” Mumkhar getting up next to Fiora to observe the Monado with her continues “So, pop-quiz! How do you activate the thing?”

“Anyone can activate it.” Fiora answers “That was never a problem. The real problem is that nobody can activate it normally except for my brother.” 

“As well as that muscle-head when he’s wedged the thing to the end of his driver.” Mumkhar adds

“Yes. If anyone other than them were able to control the Monado, we’d be more capable of protecting people than anyone else in the world.”

“Oh? And what makes ya so sure of that?”

“I haven’t gotten the most recent batch of notes, but Shulk says that the Monado may be more than a weapon for destroying Mechon. He says it has something to do with the symbol in the center when it activates. I can’t say I understand it all, but there may be more symbols that do different things.”

“Revealing more power. Am I right?”

“If we could just… unlock the Monado’s power…” Fiora says reaching as if the pull the power of the sword out by hand.

As she does she thinks back to a year prior as she and Shulk were with the soldiers returning from the Battle of Sword Valley accompanying Reyn as he is carried on a stretcher, the two far too shocked by the sight of their injured friend to say anything but his name. 

Reyn looks up at his friends “Hey, it’s… fine. I’ve… come back from worse” he says trying to bluff to cheer up his surrogate siblings, calling Fiora closer he whispers “The Monado, it was… moving me. But, thanks to it… the Colony didn’t even get a scratch. We all gotta do our part, yeah?” Fiora, upon hearing those words, looked towards the Monado still in the Aerial Transporter still emanating particles of energy, practicality seeping with power.

Fiora is brought back to the present by Mumkhar’s announcement.

“Well, I still haven’t reported to HQ proper, and that annoying Square-tache is sure to give me hell if he finds me before I report.”

“Okay,” replied Fiora, notably distracted “good luck.”

Mumkhar sighs before saying “Fiora. All you're doing is cooking and clinging to that boy’s arm. At least when you’re not out trying to get ingredients. Keep that up and the colony will start to talk. Get some fresh air, I’ll point Shulk in the right direction.”

Fiora is left bewildered by his brazen comments until she realizes that Mumkhar is right and she ought to take some time to herself. She makes the decision to go to her favorite spot in the entire Colony area.

Chapter Text

   Reyn lays in his bed in his small home in the Commercial District, awake but still lying down. He struggles, as he does each day, to get out of his position laying on the bed without further aggravating his injury. He attempts to lift his arm and make a fist as he stares at it, with some subconscious hope that his will alone can overcome his physical weakness. Just then, he receives a knock, knowing it could only be one person, he calls: “It’s open!”

   Shulk then enters, back first, struggling somewhat carrying a Defense Force Driver into Reyn’s one-room residence.
   

   “Shulk!” Reyn says getting up, helping Shulk lift the Driver with his good arm “What are you doing, man?!”

   “I thought-” Shulk and Reyn both set it down, leaning it safely on the wall “I thought you’d still be resting, so I brought it here.”

   “Even if I was, you’d do better to make me get up anyways. I’d gladly take any excuse to get some fresh air. Besides, if you hurt yourself carrying that, I’d never hear the end of it from Fiora.”

   “I bet if she knew what I was doing, she’d give me an earful too.” Shulk and Reyn both laugh at the idea of being scolded like children at their age “Speaking of… I made a few more tweaks, and I think I have a solid prototype.”

   Reyn’s face lights up “Excellent! That way I’ll be able to use the Monado again soon!”

   Shulk’s face turns grim as he turns to calibrate the custom driver he made for Reyn. The Driver was designed for left-handed use specifically in order to act as a weapon for Reyn to use after being rendered effectively monoplegic by overuse of the Monado.

   “No you won’t.” Shulk responds sharply

   Reyn’s smile fades and he’s left with a look of bewilderment at his friend’s tone.

   Shulk continues, notably less strict “I made this for you because I know trying to get you to sit still is a losing battle, but I didn’t make it just so you could use the Monado again. Dunban can wield it himself, and without a filter. Even then, without any Mechon around, there’s no need to use it in the first place.”

   Reyn can feel the quiet frustration in his best friend and knows that he does not reach this point without being staunch.

   “Sorry, man.” Reyn finally said, as if yielding “I just meant I’d be ready if the worst happened, ya know? I’m sorry.”

   “Oh, yeah.” Shulk says, trying to alleviate the tension “Guess I’ve been so focused and worried Fiora’d find this, I skipped breakfast. I gotta go pick up my lunch, wanna join.”

   “Nah, I ate an Armu’s share of food and have been laying in bed ever since. Plus, I gotta get a feel for this thing.” Reyn says gesturing to Shulk’s custom Driver job. “Don’t let me stop you though, whole reason for fighting like I did was so the people of the Colony could live easy. So get a move on before she makes you come up with an excuse for bein’ late.”

   Shulk smiles for a beat, relieved to see his friend take his advice to heart. He heads out, about to go to the lab to meet Fiora when he bumps into Mumkhar.

   “Shulk!” he says “Knew if you weren’t in the lab, you’d be here.”

   “Mumkhar!” Shulk replied “I was actually just headed to the lab. I was hoping to meet up with Fiora there.”

   “Well then I’m glad I caught you! I just sent her off to get some fresh air. Trust I don’t have to tell you where.”

   “Outlook Park.”

   “That’s the one. Have a nice hike!”

   “Thanks Mumkhar.” Shulk replied a bit dejected. No matter the mood he was in, Mumkhar had a special talent for adding a bit of salt to it. He did have a bit of a trek but it was worth it to see Fiora and for the best view in the Colony. Shulk headed off to Outlook Park.