Xenoblade Chronicles 2: The Fourth Driver

Book II: The Fourth Driver

Chapter XI

     "My name is Vashti," the citizen said. "I have been chosen to speak the voice of the people to you, Your Highness."

     "No need for formalities," Zeke replied. "Just give it to me straight.

     She nodded. "The people acknowledge the mistakes and trickery of the Von Genbu royal line and believe that these actions should not go unpunished."

     Zeke lowered his head, willing to accept whatever they threw at him.

     "However," she continued. "When this entire nation was threatened with Malos' apocalypse the King stood with the people. He put our safety over his. We believe that even though the royal line has made its mistakes, that stopping its reign may cause the rise of leaders that would not treat us as such."

     Zeke looked back up to meet Vashti's eyes.

     "We, as the people, also realize that you are not your father and we trust that you will honor your word in giving us a future to look forward to. So we embrace you, Zeke Von Genbu, with open arms as the Shining Eye of Justice, our King, and, since we know your love of nicknames, we gave you a knew one.  The King of Renewed Hope!"

     Zeke looked out among the crowd and soon the air was filled with roaring of excitement.

     Everything seemed so live! I looked at the people, and soon blinked. I then looked at Zeke, who seemed proud of what he had achieved, I blinked. I saw Mythra warning me of something, I blinked. And I was in the grassy fields outside of Tantal. Cereza was standing behind me.

     "Wow! You could've given me some sort of warning first!" I said, out of breath.

     "Yeah, but you're dumbass girlfriend saw me so I'll have to make this quick," she replied.

     "Wha—?" I started to ask before she drove her foot into my back. I let out a gasp of pain as I fell on my face.

     "Where the hell were you last night, huh?" Cereza asked.

     "Asleep, where were you?" I said, starting to get up.

     "Ardun-shit," she said, kicking me in the side.

     I let out a yelp. "Didn't... you stop people from... waking me up?"

     "I did, which doesn't explain why I couldn't reach you last night," she said. "I gave you one job, go to sleep or there will be punishments. I could kill you here."

     "Then do it."

     She gave me a cold stare. I felt a rush of wind and watched as Cereza cracked a grin and spun around at an insane speed. I stood up in time to have something land into me, knocking me back down. I realized that Mythra was the one who got knocked into me.

     "Mythra! What are you doing here?!" I asked in disbelief.

     She stood up, holding a second Aegis sword and got in between Cereza and me.

     "I'm saving your sorry ass. Now get out of here!" Mythra replied before rushing Cereza.

     I could barely see anything. They moved at speeds too fast for me to see before Mythra came to an abrupt stop.

     "Why are you still here?" she asked rhetorically. "Go!"

     I pulled the Aegis sword off my back, causing hers to disappear.

     "What are you doing?!"

     "I'm not letting you fight alone!" I argued. "If we're in this, we're in this together!"