Xenoblade Chronicles 2: The Fourth Driver

Book I: Change

Chapter II

     As I looked around, I realized I was moving fast. Faster than any mortal man should be able to move, I took a look at my body and I realized I was not myself, but a woman. As I ran on top of the could sea, the reflection in the clouds revealed what I looked like. I had long, black, wavy hair and black eyes that seemed to be devoid of any life or love. My skin was fair and my clothing consisted of a short skirt and simple top, all soulless black. The black seemed to absorb the light around me. I then realized this wasn't me. Because on her chest was the black teardrop-shaped core crystal I resonated with. She ran through Uraya, Tantal, and Indol. Something was wrong. She moved quicker than I could ever remember Jin moving... maybe it's because I was experiencing it for the first time, but I was convinced. Her weapon consisted of a black katana and a black whip. With them she slaughtered everyone in her path. I watched children cry as their mothers were slaughtered. Entire towns ripped asunder. She then approached the collapsing World Tree and jumped to the top in a single leap. Before her was a giant Aegis-shaped core crystal....

     "The Conduit," I heard Klaus say. What was she doing there? Before I could see, I woke up.

     "Ah my aching head!" I grumbled as I got up. My face felt warm and tingly, I had been crying.... It wasn't a dream. I had just witnessed the death of at least fifteen people in what felt like only an hour. If blades are supposed to forget everything when they resonate, why did she seem to have a clear purpose? I immediately realized why I had seen the Conduit.

     I took a look around. This was a place I hadn't seen before.... Not even in the game. Just then I noticed a large Titan flying its way down and realized exactly where I was. I was in Elysium. I didn't know what was supposed to happen, but I knew I'd need the Aegis' help.

     "Pass me another crab claw Nia!" Rex demanded cheerfully.

     "Maybe if you tried asking nicely I might consider, you pompous arse!" Nia retorted.

     Rex corrected himself, "My apologies! I should know better! Will you please hand me another one?"

     "That's better!" Nia said, passing him a crab leg. "Sheesh Pyra, you'd better train him better than that or else he'll never grow up!"

     "Oh don't worry, he'll come around," Pyra giggled a bit.

     "Hey! What's so funny?" Rex asked.

     "Jeez chum! Just eat your food. I swear you couldn't catch a hint if it hit you in the face!" laughed Zeke.

     "Oh like you're one to talk!" Pandoria shouted.

     "Pandy what is that supposed to mean?" questioned Zeke.

     Pandoria rolled her eyes. "Nothing my prince, you just eat your food too."

     "I'm sorry to be a mood killer," Morag interrupted. "But we have a large number of titans and some on-edge nations plowed into a landmass no one has ever seen before. With the Aegis' power gone, and all blades for that matter, there's no telling what's about to happen. We'll need to find a way to peacefully negotiate the land among our nations and hurry before something else pops up."

     Mythra looked uneasy at the mention of her powers disappearing.

     "She's right," Azurda chimed in. "a lot of land in the face of many large, powerful nations that were just underhanded by a highly-esteemed individual may not be a good idea to leave unintended, I suppose it'd be best if we—"

     "That's not the best course of action," a voice unfamiliar to all of them startled them.

     "Who are you?" Mythra immediately stared at the stranger. "If you're here to cause trouble you'd better know who you're dealing with!"

     "I know who you are," I responded. "Pyra and Mythra, nice to see you split up. Rex, Nia, Dromarch, Azurda, Morag, Brighid, Zeke, Pandoria, Tora, and Poppi. Have I grabbed your attention?"

     "How in the bloody hell do you know our names? Just who the hell are you anyway?!" Nia retorted.

     "My name is Waylon. I'm... not from this world, but you're fooling yourself if you think the Aegis doesn't have any power."

     Mythra glared at me. "The Conduit was destroyed. I no longer have my power."

     "You lie. It survived because I made a terrible mistake. I'm here to fix it," I continued.

     "How dare you accuse me of—" Mythra started, but Rex cut her off.

     "Mythra, do you still have control of your powers?" Rex asked.

     She nodded. "I wanted to try to live a normal life anyway, so I used the permissions Father gave me to turn off the power to all blades."

     "You can do that?" Rex asked, taken aback.

     Mythra nodded and turned back to Waylon. "My question is how you know this."

     "Because it looks like you missed a blade."

     After explaining what had happened to me to all of them, they seemed to be hesitant to believe me, but I knew one thing could change their minds.

     "Mythra, you current contain the data of all life, is that correct?" I asked.

     "Yes, that is the power of the True Aegis," she retorted in her high-and-mighty voice.

     "So you'd know what race I'd be, right? Leftherian, Nopon, Ardanian?" I continued.

     "That's correct."

     "So what am I?" I asked, I needed to know my role.

     Mythra went silent, the tension in the room built heavily for a bit, but then responded. "I don't have any information on you." Everyone was in shock.

     "You've got nothing?!" Rex exclaimed.

     "Shut it, it still doesn't validate his story," Mythra said, defensively.

     "Well then let's validate it!" I said.

      Mythra seemed to know where this was going. "You want to do what?!"

     "Let me touch your core crystal! My data should be immediately transferred to you and then you can finally tell me what I am! I have to know!" I pleaded.

     Mythra started to object before Pyra cut in, "If he's telling the truth, then this may be the least we could do. Don't you remember all the time we spent not knowing what we were here for? I wouldn't want anyone to suffer because of ignorance...."

     Mythra wrestled with herself before finally deciding. "Fine, a quick tap and that's it!"

     "Thank you Mythra!" I was relieved. She was about as tall as I was, about three inches shorter. She had always looked amazing in the game, but in person I finally understood why so many people would comment on her beauty. She looked irritated so I quickly tapped the center of her core crystal before she could change her mind. I had to know who I was.

     Mythra's expression turned to rage. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

     I didn't understand what just happened. "What do you mean? I just transferred my data to you! What did I do wrong?!"

     She immediately shoved me on the ground and ran back to Rex, everyone looked at me bewildered. I was about to question what the surprise was when I looked into my hand and saw the Aegis Sword.

     I had just resonated with Mythra.

Readability Level: 11-12th Grade
Time Taken: 2.5 Hours

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