Script of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Chapter 7

The seventh chapter of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, The Fear She Carries, moves to dispel the worry and self-loathing that more than one friend of Rex's is burdened with.

This page is divided into sections based on the Events Theater. Scenes not in the Events Theater (such as story quests or unvoiced dialogue) are shown as italic headers and given unofficial titles.

The Doll in Sight of the Throne

♫

With People and Darkness

Somewhere in a very dark place is a metallic object. Only one side is seen, which has three-fold rotational symmetry. On it are three designs the same shape as an Aegis's Core Crystal. A face in too much darkness to see any features looks at the object, then turns away as a door opens into brightness.

It is evening in Indol. Amalthus stares out of a balcony, thinking of the past. A flashback plays of the young Amalthus in his room, sitting on the floor against the desk. A dense cloud of darkness swirls in front of him, and when it fades, Malos is there, his Core Crystal visible and glowing. Presumably, this was his awakening. Amalthus is brought out of his thoughts by a voice.

Hector
(offscreen)

Praetor Amalthus.

Amalthus

What is it?

Hector

I have a report to make regarding the situation with the Aegis in Tantal...

Amalthus

Please, come inside.

Hector

Yes, Your Eminence.

Hector enters and gives his report.

Amalthus

So Jin finally has his hands on the Aegis.
It seems the boy wasn't good for much after all.
Unless...he can find what is lost...

Hector

Your Eminence?

Amalthus

Hector.

Hector

Yes?

Amalthus

Prepare the ceremony.

Hector

At once, Praetor.

Hector is seen in the main Audience Chamber talking to the monks. The crystal on the chest of Indol's Titan glows brightly.

Rex is in a bed, presumably in Tantal. He sits up and examines the bandages on his arm. He hears a bird, and sees a large raptor fly by in the sunset sky outside. He picks up the handle of Mythra's sword from next to him, thinks about what happened, and cries.
Most of the rest of the party is at Anastatia's. Gramps, Nia, Dromarch, Tora, Poppi, Mòrag, and Brighid sit at the tables. Zeke is sitting over to the side. Everyone is worried and/or bored.

Tora

Rex-Rex still sleeping? It two days now.

Dromarch

His injuries were quite severe.
The worst is over, but his body needs time to recover.

Nia

He'd better get well soon, or-

Rex walks into the room.

Nia

Rex?!

Rex just stands there not looking at anyone. He's got a bag slung over his shoulder, as if he's suddenly not a video game character and needs a logical place to carry things.

Nia
(accusatory)

What's that?

Rex

I'm leaving.

Nia

But...where will you go?

Rex
(completely dejected)

Good question.
Can't live on Gramps anymore.
Maybe I'll head for Argentum.

Gramps

Rex, you-

Nia closes the distance.

Nia

What the hell are you talking about, Argentum?
What about Pyra? Do you know how desperate the situation is?
Or have you finally lost it, you idiot?

Rex

I know, OK? It's just...

Nia

Just what?

Rex

I'm done.

Nia

Done?

Rex

When I became the Driver of the Aegis, her Driver...
I felt like I could do anything.
But I was just kidding myself.
All I've managed to do is hurt her, again and again.
So...I'm done.

Nia grabs his shoulder.

Nia

Oh for crying out loud, Rex! She got herself caught to save you!

Rex

I know!
So what?

Nia

SO WHAT?!

Rex

Those guys are way out of my league. I can't beat them. It's hopeless.

He pushes her off.

Rex

I understand that now.
She'll be safe with them. They're not going to hurt her like I do.
So I'm leaving.

Nia

Grr...

Rex

I've just been kidding myself all along. Me, a Driver?
In the end, salvaging is all-

Nia

You...bloody...
IDIOT!

She punches him in his stupid face. He gets knocked into a bunch of apparently-empty barrels.

♫

Loneliness

He holds his cheek as he stumbles up.

Nia

Hurts, yeah?
But that pain's nothing compared to what Pyra must be feeling right now!

She grabs him by the vest.

Nia

She went with those bastards knowing full well how much it would hurt.
For our sake, not hers!

Rex

I get it! I know!

He gets away.

Rex

But what do you want me to do?
I couldn't even slow him down!
Even the Artifice's attack couldn't touch him. What chance do I have against a guy like that?
The more I fight, the more Pyra gets hurt.

Brighid starts to approach.

Rex

She'll be...
better off without me by her side.

Brighid steps up and slaps him in the face. 10/10 sound effect

Brighid

Do you actually mean that?
Do you not have the slightest idea how it felt for her to leave you?

A flashback plays of the conversation that she overheard between Pyra and Corinne.

Pyra

With me here...he'll suffer even more, lose even more.
So maybe... Maybe Rex is better off without me. Rex...and the whole world. They don't need me.
That's just how it feels.

Brighid

Pyra thought you'd be better off if she was dead, did you know that?
She...
is planning to sacrifice herself to defeat them!

Rex makes a sound like he hadn't thought of that.

Brighid
(one step from burning the place down)

You drove her to this, but here you are, giving up.
You said you'd get Pyra to Elysium, didn't you? You'll eat your words, just like that?

Rex remembers how he'd brought Pyra to his parents' graves.

Rex

Hey, Mum... Dad... It's been a while.
A ton happened, you know - I became a Driver!
And this girl...is Pyra.
My new partner.
I know you'd love her.
We- we're going to Elysium. Pyra and me.
I don't know what's coming next, but...
You'll be watching over us, right guys?

Rex

...

Nia

Forget it.
We'll rescue her on our own.
This loser... ...he's not the Rex we joined up with.
Let him go wherever the hell he wants.

Dromarch gets up and starts to approach.

Dromarch

Come now, let's not start fighting amongst-

Mòrag holds out a hand in front of him.

Mòrag

Let's give them a chance to work this out...
shall we?

She looks over at Zeke. He responds with a "what're you looking at me for" look, followed by a "whatever you do you" one.

Rex

Y'know, I-

Poppi α

Nia quite right!

Poppi approaches like a threat.

Poppi α

Rex definitely not behave like himself!
Giving up after one loss? That not Rex I know at all!

Rex

But-

Poppi shushes him with a hand, which curls into a fist.

Poppi α

Now is not time for excuses!

She pulls all the way back.

Tora
(panic)

Poppi?!

Mòrag jolts up in startlement. She didn't expect to see a murder today. Rex cringes and awaits the pain. Instead, Poppi gently pokes him in the forehead with one finger.

Rex

P-Poppi?

Poppi α

Poppi is hurt to see Rex like this.
Poppi and Masterpon are not real Blade and Driver.
So Poppi and Masterpon looked up to Rex lots.
Rex worked very very hard to get this far.
When Rex tries hard, Poppi and Masterpon try hard.
Rex like bullseye we aim for.
Without Rex, we not know which way to go.
So please... Rex cannot give up and stop here.

Rex

Poppi...

Rex thinks for a moment before clenching his fist. Pandoria then runs in, unnoticed by anyone, and whispers to Zeke.

Pandoria

My Prince.

She tells him something. He then calls out to the room.

Zeke

Chum!

Rex

Huh?

Zeke

My old man wants to see you. Time to go.

The Third Aegis Sword

The party meets Eulogimenos in the throne room.

Eulogimenos

Are you all right to be up and about?

Rex

Yeah... I'm all healed up.

Eulogimenos

Sincere apologies.
If I hadn't attempted to destroy the Aegis, they would never have...

Rex

If you'd done nothing, they'd have come for her anyway.
You're not to blame, Your Majesty.
It's...my fault.

Eulogimenos

Five hundred years ago...
This kingdom was rent in twain.

♫

With People and Darkness

The background behind Eulogimenos becomes a backdrop of historical artwork, depicting the leaders of two forces disagreeing with each other.

Eulogimenos

Some followed Addam, who sought to live with Blades and Titans as equals.
Others opposed him, preferring to consider humans as the masters and Titans as our tools.
When Addam returned to the ether, his rivals seized power.

The artwork changes to a hooded figure looking over a group of Titan ships, no longer with Eulogimenos overlaid.

Eulogimenos

Leveraging the power of the Omega Fetter, they declared themselves...
the Tantalese royal dynasty.

The backdrop effect ends.

Rex

Claiming they were the hero Addam's descendants.

Eulogimenos

Precisely.
My ancestors merely used the name of the beloved Addam in order to win over the people.

Rex makes a noise halfway between "hm" and "oh". A new artwork shows the underside of Genbu in the Cloud Sea.

Eulogimenos

Before long, we resolved to protect ourselves from meddlesome foreigners,
by descending deep into the Cloud Sea.
Taking the dirty secret of our family's lineage with us.

Back to reality.

Eulogimenos

The Praetorium, for their part, did not protest.
Can you guess why?

Rex

No.

Eulogimenos

They offered to stay silent in exchange for a certain resource...
An annual tribute... comprising a fixed quantity of Core Chips.

Rex

!

Eulogimenos

I have something I wish to show you.

Rex

What is it?

A stone panel in the wall descends, revealing the blue ether tubes that turned red when Genbu lost control.

Rex

What IS this?

Eulogimenos

This is Genbu's ether flow.
The Titan draws in the fabric of the Cloud Sea and uses it as a source of energy.
This energy flows throughout the Titan's body in the form of ether.
Refining and crystallizing this ether creates Core Chips.
This process is what you see before you.

Mòrag

So in other words, you're siphoning away a portion of the Titan's energy.

Eulogimenos

Our cold climate and poor harvests - they are the unfortunate side effects of this process.

Dromarch

I think I'm beginning to understand...

Eulogimenos

Core Chips are vital to every nation's military and energy policies.
The Praetorium desired this power.

Nia

How come?

Eulogimenos

Alrest at the time was in crisis.
But for the Praetorium, it was a precious chance to expand their sphere of influence.

Nia

So they...muscled in.

Eulogimenos

As a result, Tantal fell into a chronic energy shortage.
Then... Well, you saw for yourselves.

Artwork of a frozen land, with a few cloaked people around a fire.

♫

Elysium in the Dream

Eulogimenos

Near-frozen earth. Failing crops.
The Tantalese people are forced to live in abject poverty.

Artwork removed.

Nia

So why not just leave the Cloud Sea?
Genbu can move, right? Just go somewhere warmer.

Mòrag

They fear contact with other nations.
Too afraid it might expose the truth behind the legends they spun about Addam.

Dromarch

That would explain their isolationism.

Eulogimenos

Indeed. That was five centuries ago.
Now the Aegis has awakened, the Praetorium is demanding we hand over the Omega Fetter.
They are threatening to reveal our secret if we do not acquiesce.

Rex

Indol are threatening you?!

Zeke

I get it now. That's what was in that letter.

Eulogimenos

Enough was enough!
I couldn't stand by and let the Tantalese people suffer any longer.
Therefore, I made a decision.

Rex

And that's why you-

Eulogimenos

Yes.
I knew there was a chance that the Praetorium would use the Aegis against us.
But if I could neutralize her power, perhaps we would stand a chance of opposing them.
And perhaps by saving my people from poverty, I could absolve the sins of my forefathers.

Nia

You didn't think about using the Aegis's power yourself?

Eulogimenos

Wielding such power is beyond my means.
I am under no illusions.
However, does the same apply to you?
I felt something. When I looked in your eyes, I knew.
Perhaps you are the one to whom we can entrust the Aegis's power.

Zeke
(whoa)

Father...

Eulogimenos

In the end it seems I only managed to make things worse.
I can blame nothing but my own judgment.

He takes out a book from behind his back.

Eulogimenos

This tome records the deeds of the hero Addam.
According to this, he saved the world from destruction using a white sword.
And then disappeared, along with a red sword.

Rex

White and red...
It must mean Mythra and Pyra's swords.

Eulogimenos

Whoever wrote this must have had a personal connection to Addam.
And most curiously...
After Addam disappeared, the author of this book went looking for something.

Dromarch

Something?

Eulogimenos

The third Aegis sword.

Rex

There's a third?

♫

Past from Far Distance

Artwork of a sword glowing amongst clouds. Its shape is similar to Pyra's and Mythra's, and the cross-shaped crystal in the hilt is evident.

Eulogimenos

Apparently this sword was as transparent as diamond, and gave off a clear, brilliant light.
But Addam went his whole life without using the sword.

Artwork ends.

Eulogimenos

In fact, he could not use it.

Nia

What do you mean, 'couldn't'?

Artwork of Addam holding the sword. It glows brightly and he seems to be recoiling from it.

Eulogimenos

The sword was simply too powerful.
Even he, the legendary hero, could not contain the power it commanded.

Artwork changes to Addam and Pyra with the sword stuck point-down into a pedestal.

Eulogimenos

And thus, fearing its power, he sealed it away somewhere.
The author therefore surmised...

Artwork ends.

Eulogimenos

...that this sword alone was the one true sword of the Aegis.

Rex gasps.

Eulogimenos

Now, Rex. You were defeated by Jin. Doubtless that man is a powerful warrior...
But even so, can this be right?
Can the Aegis herself truly be outmatched by a single opposing Blade?
Would it not make more sense to presume...
...that you lost because you have yet to unlock the true power of the Aegis?

Rex

You mean...I'm the one who's been holding them back...?

Everyone looks at him for a moment while he looks down. He then turns determined.

Rex

Your Majesty! Where is that sword?
We have to...We have to find it somehow!
We have to find that sword, and rescue Pyra and Mythra!

♫

A Faint Hope

Eulogimenos

Regrettably, the book does not specify the sword's location.

Rex

But there must be...

Eulogimenos

However, reading between the lines, it seems the author suspected...
...that the sword lies somewhere in Leftheria.
It's not much, but that's where I would begin the search.

Rex

In Leftheria...

Gramps

Are you ready?

Rex

Huh?

Gramps hovers in front of Rex.

Gramps

Are you ready to do what it takes to be their true Driver?

Rex

Gramps?

Gramps

Well? Are you, Rex?

Rex

Yes! Of course!
I'm going to be the Driver that Pyra and Mythra deserve!
And then I'm going to take them to Elysium!

Gramps

Then come with me. I'll show you the way.

Gramps heads out of the throne room. The party follows, though Zeke and Pandoria hang back for a moment.

Eulogimenos

My son.

Zeke

Yeah?

Eulogimenos

I have a favor, to ask of you as your king.

Zeke

Well that's a first. Are you feeling okay, old man?
Maybe you're coming down with something.

Eulogimenos

The Aegis needs...
No, rather, the boy needs protection.

Zeke

You mean Rex?

Eulogimenos

Yes. I saw...something, in that boy's eyes.
A light that must...never go out.

Zeke

Heh. Steady on, old man. People will get the wrong idea.
...Fine. Leave it to me.

Eulogimenos

Thank you.

Zeke turns and waves while walking away.

Zeke

Meh, it's not like I wasn't gonna go with him anyway.

The scene shifts to the Torna base. Malos and Akhos have an unconscious Pyra held up by two Blade Bots in front of the frozen Lora.

Akhos

You really can't judge a book by its cover.
Who'd have thought that sweet-looking girl would threaten to destroy herself?
Didn't she realize taking her own life would mean the boy died, too?

Malos

Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing.

Akhos

The whole thing was a bluff, then?

♫

Tensed Mind

Malos

No, not at all. The reason she gave her Core Crystal to the boy...
...was to replace his heart after Jin put paid to it.
An Aegis core encodes the blueprints for all life.
She took advantage of that.

Akhos

Incredible. I had no idea such a thing was possible.
Aegises truly are a breed apart.

Malos

Cores are constantly accumulating data about the outside world.
The fact that their injuries are mirrored is a result of their twin cores exchanging information.
If you wanted to be poetic about it, you could say that their very lives are intertwined.
But there's nothing to stop her from severing that link.

Akhos

What do you mean?

Malos

Before issuing the kill order to the Artifice, she would've transferred the remainder of her core to the boy.
Letting him live on, heart complete.
An Aegis can survive for a short time without a Core Crystal.
Don't ask me why. It's just how we were made.

The scene glances back at the metal object with the three Aegis-shaped parts, wherever it is.

Akhos

Ah, so that's the reason Jin agreed to her terms.

Malos

He couldn't care less about the boy.
But he wasn't about to lose this one. Simple as that.

Guided by Gramps

The group is just outside the throne room.

Gramps

Come on, Rex. For the moment, let's return to Fonsett Village.

Rex

Back to the village?

Gramps

I'll explain everything in detail once we get there. Just head to Fonsett for now.

Rex

All right...

The Village of Hero's Rest

The party is near the entrance to Fonsett. How did they get here? That's not important.

Rex

What are we doing here?

Gramps

Did you know Fonsett has another name?

Rex

Huh?

Gramps

Hero's Rest.

Rex

Hero? As in...?

Gramps

Indeed.
Fonsett Village was founded by Addam himself at the end of his travels.

There's a short, static flashback to Addam conversing with the fully-grown Gramps.

Gramps

After the war, Addam charged me with protecting the village.

Rex

Was this village really that important?

Gramps

What do you think I was protecting?

Rex

You mean it's...

Gramps

Follow me.

He heads off in some direction.

The Village Guardian's Secret

The group has reached a stone statue. It's mostly just a rectangular hunk of stone, but it has some small protusions that result in it mimicking the shape of an Aegis crystal.

Rex

The Village Guardian?

Nia

Just looks like a stone pillar to me.

Rex

They say that the village's guardian spirit dwells within.
Gramps, what are we doing here?

Gramps

Rex, try turning the stone tablet clockwise.

Rex walks up to the small pedestal in front of the statue. There's a square slab in the middle of it.

Rex

This? Hn-ng!

He spins the slab around. It splits into vertical halves, revealing a glowing blue crest of Addam.

Rex

Huh? This crest, it's...

He remembers seeing it on the doors of the Ancient Ship.

Rex

I've seen it before!

Gramps

Place your hand on it.

Rex

Here goes.

He hovers his hand over the mark. A white glow rises from it. The entire statue descends into the ground, leaving a staircase leading underground.

Rex

Wh-what's this?

Gramps

This passage leads into the very center of the archipelago.
There lies the cavern known as Spirit Crucible Elpys.

Rex

That's quite a name...

Gramps

This entrance and the gate of the Spirit Crucible...
are sealed in such a way that only a Leftherian can open them.

Rex

Ahhh... So that's why Jin needed me back then!

Gramps

When Addam founded this village,
he hid something deep within the body of the Titan that forms the archipelago's center.

♫

The Past Revealed

Rex

You mean the missing sword?

Gramps

Mm... I don't know how word of it got out,
but many were led here by rumors of the legendary sword.
More than a few have entered the Spirit Crucible-
but none have ever returned.

Nia

Is it really that dangerous?

Gramps

Addam wanted to ensure that the sword was securely sealed away.
He put many measures in place to stop it falling into the wrong hands.
Only the hands of someone worthy.
Addam said that taking this sword would be the mark of the Aegis's true Driver.

Rex

Their...true Driver...

Gramps

What do you say, Rex?

Rex

I'll do it. No. I...HAVE to do it.
Every moment we waste, Pyra and Mythra could be...

Gramps

Then you're ready for what lies ahead?

Rex nods.

Somewhere else, there is a landmass sticking out into open air where the Cloud Sea cascades down. Malos has brought Pyra, still unconscious and held by the Blade Bots, to a stone structure here. Malos remembers being in a pit of wreckage and fire, part of his Core Crystal missing and significant chunks of his body absent like a glitched hologram.

Malos

If you hadn't interfered back then...
Neither of us would've had to go through all this.

He removes the plate covering his Core Crystal, still with the top half missing.

Malos

Now then...
Time to take back what I lost 500 years ago.

Akhos and Patroka are in another new location, a metallic room. They stand at consoles at opposite sides of the room. In the raised middle is a pair of orbs similar to those used to control the Judicium Titan weapon, so this could be a ship of some kind.

Patroka

How he's still alive with his Crystal in that state...
Seriously, it's not normal.

♫

Misgivings

Akhos

The Aegis is the Master Blade.
The first Blade the Architect forged.
Malos can do things we can only dream of.

Patroka

And? How's he going to restore his core exactly?

Akhos

He'll extract the data he's missing from the core of the other Aegis. Then all his power will be restored.

Patroka

Mhmm. OK. So what will that do to her?

Akhos

Heheh... Well, if she's lucky, she'll live. Heh. As an empty husk, that is.

Patroka

Rough deal. Malos doesn't hold back, huh?

The scene returns to the cliffside.

Malos

Don't blame me for this. It's our Father who made us this way.
But don't worry... Once I meet him, I'll get the answers we're after.
I need to know why we're like this...
In any case, this world only needs one Aegis. Don't you agree, Pyra?

He holds a hand up to her crystal and focuses his shadow power.

Pyra

Ugh...

Sapped Strength

The party has entered the Spirit Crucible, and is walking through a slightly wider part of a narrow tunnel when Dromarch completely blows a tire and eats dirt.

Dromarch

Urghh!

Nia
(you dunderhead)

Dromarch! What're you stumbling for?

Dromarch

Sorry, my lady. I've been feeling a little dizzy...

He gets up. His pride will not.

Brighid

You too?

Dromarch

You too, Lady Brighid?

Brighid

Yes, for a little while now. Though I'm still capable of standing.

Pandoria

Hey, same here!
What's up with this place? It's kinda creepy.

Mòrag

What is going on here?

Gramps

I feared as much...

Rex

Gramps...you knew this would happen?

Gramps

The tales say that Spirit Crucible Elpys saps the strength of Blades.
It's one of the reasons why none have ever returned from its depths.

Zeke

I say-

Poppi α

Ether flow scarce in this area. That may be cause of problems.

Nia

Like that time in the Tantalese palace?

Poppi α

That not only thing.
Glowing particles in air... They absorb ether. That is source of light.

Zeke

So not only do you have less power, the power you DO have is being absorbed?
Well that's jolly tragic.

Nia

You all right, Poppi?

Poppi α
(brightly)

Poppi just fine. Poppi never better.

Nia

Of course, you're an artificial Blade, ain'tcha?

Three Cheers for Nopon Know-How

The tunnel opens up into a Canyon of Husks. A bridge crosses the gap.

Rex

We have to cross that?

♫

The Past Revealed

Gramps

Yes. But we must proceed with caution.
Once we enter, the Blades will be sapped of most of their power.
If they run out of energy, they might be forced to return to their core state.
And there's a chance they could never be reawakened.

Zeke

Pandy, you'd better just stay here and guard the fort.

Pandoria

Why just me? Don't you want me?

Zeke

Don't ask dumb questions. You know very well why, don't you?

Pandoria

If I'm staying, you ought to stay-

Zeke

I'll be fine. When am I ever not?

Pandoria
(increasingly heated)

If you're going, I'm-

Zeke
(same)

I'm ordering you to stay here!

Mòrag

Is there something wrong?

Zeke

Pandoria was just agreeing to stay behind.

Pandoria

Nuh-uh. I'm going with you!
We made a promise, didn't we?! Don't you dare say you've forgotten!

Zeke makes an "ugh" sort of noise.

Pandoria
(very final)

I go where you go. End of story.

Zeke
(not gonna bother no more)

Fine.

Dromarch
(to Nia, almost expecting interruption)

My lady...

Nia

I'm fine. We can't give up now we've come this far.
Don't. I know what you're gonna say.

Dromarch
(a bit too easily)

I... Understood.

Mòrag

I don't know what's in there.
But apart from Tora and Poppi, we're all going to find our abilities severely weakened.
Be careful, Rex.

Zeke

Yes... Healing Arts are going to be less effective, too.
One nasty wound and that'll be the end of you.

Rex

Yeah, I get that. Tora, Poppi, we'll need you on the front line.

Tora

You got it, Rex-Rex!
Poppi is artificial Blade, so request is very extremely not a problem!

He starts to dance.

Tora

Technology save the day! Three cheers for Nopon know-how!

Poppi α

Where are Poppi's cheers?

Rex

*chuckle* Thanks, guys!

Zeke, You Don't Look So Good

The group travels down Bone Road. Pandoria stops to take an apparently much-needed breather. The others turn to her.

Brighid

Are you...all right?

Pandoria

Never...better! I'm...right as...rain!

Mòrag

The deeper we go, the thicker these particles get.
You can still turn back.

Pandoria

Thanks. Your concern is touching.

Zeke

Worry about yourself, yeah? I can look after her.

Rex

Zeke, you don't look so good yourself. Is something wrong?

Zeke

Huh? Oh, yeah... I didn't think it was worth mentioning, but...

He pulls aside the left side of his coat. Embedded in the middle of his left pec is what looks like a Core Crystal, shaped like a tall left-pointing triangle. It's surrounded by scar tissue that looks as if the crystal made an impact crater - it has been possible to see bits of the scar this whole time.

Rex

How did you get that?

Zeke

I told you about the time I almost bloody died, right?

♫

Contrition

A flashback begins. Zeke lays on the ground in the middle of an unknown forest. Pandoria worries over him.

Pandoria

My Prince! Zeke! Not like this! Not here!
Not far now. Just a little further! You can do it!

Pandoria's Core Crystal becomes visible - unlike in the present, it is a full rectangle.

Zeke

Just...leave me... Go on...without me...

There's no visible injury, but the Zekenator does not simply lie down and die if he has a choice in the matter.

Pandoria

No!
If you die I'll turn back into a Core Crystal!
I don't want to forget everything!

Zeke

Pandy...I'm sorry...
I hope...your next Driver...is better...than me...

Pandoria

I don't want another Driver! You're...you're good enough!

Zeke's hand flops onto the ground.

Pandoria

Prince! ZEKE!

Pandoria starts to carry Zeke on her back through the forest. It's clearly not easy. From this point forward, in both this flashback and the story as a whole, her glasses are no longer opaque.

Pandoria

I refuse to forget our 10 years together! It's not going to happen!
I'm not...letting you die...here...

She runs out of steam and falls to the ground. She then looks up to see people approaching.

Pandoria

Uh... Wha... Bandits?

One of them is Amalthus. Probably not a bandit. She's slipping out of consciousness though and presumably can't tell the difference (and why would the Praetor of all people be wandering in a forest anyway).

Pandoria

Sucks... I don't want to be a bandit's Blade...
But...I guess I won't remember anyway...
...Prince...

She suddenly wakes up elsewhere.

Pandoria

Prince?

She finds herself in a bed somewhere in Indol. Her Core Crystal is now the familiar shape of two triangles with a blank space in the middle - exactly the shape left over from the triangle in present-Zeke's chest. Zeke is in the next bed over. She gets up and stands beside him. Amalthus then appears on the other side of the room.

Amalthus

Fear not. He is going to be fine.

Pandoria

You...you saved him?

Amalthus

The fact that you're alive is proof of that, is it not?

Pandoria gasps and grabs at her chest as she notices that half of her crystal is missing.

Amalthus

I had to transplant part of your Core Crystal into his heart.
His wounds were grave. It was the only way to save you both.

Pandoria seems conflicted about this.
The flashback skips ahead. Zeke and Pandoria are walking through Indol, presumably for the first time afterward. They stop.

Zeke

I'm sorry. It's all my fault.

♫

Friendship

Pandoria shakes her head.

Pandoria

Actually, I'm glad.

Zeke

What? Why?

Pandoria

Knowing that a part of me is keeping you alive... I dunno, it's just nice.

Zeke

Pandy...

Pandoria

What is it?

He tells her something that is left unheard. She breaks into a massive grin.

The flashback ends.

Rex

They do that in Indol?

Zeke

I guess you and I are more alike than you thought, chum.
Though mine was just a surgical procedure.

Mòrag

You make it sound so simple. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

Zeke

You know the people of Indol can trace their roots back to Judicium?

Nia

Judicium?
The creators of that Titan weapon thing from Temperantia?

Zeke

Yeah, them. They carried out experiments...
Fusing Blade and human cells. Creating Flesh Eaters.

Mòrag

So...those practices persist in Indol?

Zeke

Hey, so they took advantage of Blade regeneration...
and patched me up with Pandy's Core Crystal, right?
Since I have part of her core in me...
I'm a Flesh- no, a Blade Eater! Or something.

He chuckles.

Nia

A Blade Eater...

Pandoria

That's right. That's gotta be why this place is getting to you, too.

Zeke

It's all good. Let's just push on!

He leads them onward. Nia is the last to follow.

Nia Struggles, Rex Presses On

The party gets to a wall with a big hole in it. Nia seems exhausted.

Dromarch

My lady?

Nia

For the last time, I'm fine. Why don't you just worry about yourself?

Dromarch

But-

Nia

You gotta admire Shellhead over there. He just put it right out there.

Dromarch goes "Hmm?".

Nia

And here I am...
Dromarch.
I'm gonna put myself to the test. Right here. I've decided.

Dromarch

My lady-
Very well.

No one else is aware of this going on.

Gramps

This mist makes me feel like I'm swimming through the Cloud Sea.

Mòrag

This mist is produced when a fossilized Titan body reacts with the atmosphere.
It's why it's so hard to breathe down here.

Nia is still panting.

Rex

Nia?

Nia

What now?

Rex

Are you in pain?

Nia

I'm strugglin' to breathe like everyone else.
And I'm a little dizzy, that's all.

Rex

Oh right...
When that happens, it's best to just try and empty your head of all thoughts.

Nia

What?

Rex

It's an old salvager trick.
When you swim down deep, it feels like your head's gonna implode.
You just go with it, don't fight it. Then you stop noticing the pressure.
Why not give it a go?

Nia

Empty my head, eh?
You mean I have to start acting as daft as you?
Tall order.

Rex

Hey, that's not very nice!

Tora

Everyone! Over here!

Tora has noticed the big hole in the wall that leads onward. Given the cracks, it was probably blown up.

Tora

Tora think this way lead down.

Brighid

It certainly doesn't look like a natural formation.

Zeke

Maybe it was grave robbers?

Gramps

There's not too much worth stealing round here. Well, apart from...

Rex

Whatever it was that Addam hid down here.

Gramps

Just a guess.
It's possible that Jin and his accomplices have been here.

Rex

Then...they found out about the sunken ship, and went to Argentum.

Gramps

Still just a guess, but a pretty good one.

Nia

Then there won't be anything left to find, will there? Sheesh.

Gramps

Well, if that was the case then you'd expect them to already have the third sword.

Mòrag

But they clearly don't have it.

Gramps makes a big nod.

Gramps

No, I do not think Addam would let the sword be so easily found.

Rex

No point in worrying. Let's just press on!

They continue into the hole.

Emergency Air

The group approaches the Elpys Great Hall. Nia is having trouble keeping up with the others. Mòrag notices.

Mòrag

Rex.
We've come a long way. I think it's time for a break.

Rex
(clueless)

What? But-

Zeke

Hold your horses. There's a long way to go yet.

He sits down.

Zeke

Hey, you too, Nia. Come rest your head on my lap if you like.

Nia
(not awake enough for this)

Why don't you rest your head in your arse?

She sits down.

Rex

I'm sorry, everyone. I had no idea.

Mòrag

There is no need to apologize. I understand.

Tora

Poppi, now is good time to cool drive furnace!

Poppi α

Aye-aye Masterpon!

Poppi starts to rotate in place and emit a blast of steam. She does not step away from Tora before doing so.

Tora

Meeehmehmehmeh! Hothothothot! Meehmeh! Hot! Hot!

Poppi α

Masterpon! Poppi is sorry!

The whole team rests. Except Brighid, she seems to be allergic to sitting down or something. Rex goes up to Nia.

Nia

Huh?

Rex has a can of some sort in his hand. He offers it to her.

Rex

Emergency air. It might help.

Nia
(absently)

Oh, thanks.

She puts the nozzle up to her mouth.

Rex

Ah, not like that!
You have to hold your nose, and then inhale really deeply.
Now stretch out, and puff out your chest.

Nia

Is this... ...another of your salvager tricks?

Rex

Go on, just try it.

Nia does as he says and takes a breath from the cylinder. She perks up immediately.

Nia

Wow, that really did the trick.

Rex

Right?
When I was starting out, this was one of the first things the other salvagers taught me.
Even though they acted like my parents, they never really taught me anything worthwhile.
I did manage to pick up a couple of useful tricks, though.

Nia

Parents, bleh.
My da was real enough but I can't say he really taught me anything either.

♫

Contrition

Nia

He was a well-known lord in Gormott. A real big cheese.
He made me study hard, but it was all how to be a proper lady. Which fork to use.
Nothing that's doing me any good now. Just useless shite.

Rex

You were some kinda high society princess? I can't picture it.

Nia
(progressively more introspective)

Shut it, you.
I hated studying.
But, looking back... Those were the happiest times of my life.
There was my da... And...
My big sis. The three of us.

Rex

You had a sister?

Nia

Yeah. She was very frail. I spent a lot of time at her bedside.
My da brought doctors from all over to try and help her. He tried so hard.
It was all he thought about.
After that point...
...my memories aren't so happy.

Rex

Nia...

Nia

Da spent all his money on chasing a cure, and lost his position as a lord.
From then on, we became drifters.

Rex makes a "whew, that's tough" sort of sigh.

Nia

It was a tough life. It took its toll on my sister.
She died, not long after.
Anyway, I'm sorry for talking your ear off.

She takes another shot of air from the can.

Nia

Thanks for the salvager trick. It really worked.
Sneaky git. If you had this all along, why did you hold out on me?

She staggers to her feet and stretches out.

Nia

I feel much better. Shall we go, Rex?

She leads the group onward.

Incendiary Barrage!

At the bottom of the huge hall is Cenotaph Bridge. A series of aqua-colored crystals protrude from the walls and seal off the path forward.

Mòrag

Hmph. Looks like the only way through is by force.

Tora

Poppi, incendiary barrage!

Poppi α

Roger roger!

Zeke
(major panic)

Whoa stop stop stop!
You wanna bring the whole cave down on top of us?

Tora

It was joke.

Poppi α

Poppi has no such weaponry.

Zeke

That wasn't funny!

Rex turns back towards the obstacle. His half of Core Crystal starts to glow.

Rex

Whoa...

The crystal spikes all retract into the walls, opening the passage.

Mòrag

Does this also have something to do with your connection to the Aegis?

Rex

No idea.
But look! No footprints. We're the first people here.

Zeke

Then there could still be hope.

They proceed.

Her Life Is Tied To Yours

The party is crossing a bridge in the Chamber of Pillars. Nia is falling behind and feeling dizzy again. Then she hears a voice.

Man

Her life is tied to yours...

Is this a hallucination or a memory? A flashback plays, so probably this memory. A Gormotti man stands in a house. Some sort of large container sits below a window.

Man

You have...a life within you now...

The container is revealed to be a casket. A dead Gormotti woman lies inside.

Nia
(unseen)

A life...

Man

She lives on inside you...
Her life is tied to yours...

♫

Heart in the Fog

The flashback skips ahead. The casket is gone, and someone else stands at the window.

Man

Nia.

The window-gazer's very long ears perk up. The man is on the other side of the room.

Man

Say it for me now. Address me as...
"Father"!

She turns towards him.

Nia
(slowly)

Yes...Father...

There is just barely enough evidence visible in the dark to see that this is the same "Nia" seen bringing Niall back from the dead.
The memory skips forward again. The man is now dead. The Nia we know is sobbing in the corner.

Nia

Father... Father...

She looks up to spot a glowing Core Crystal under a table.

Nia

This...this was Da's...

She picks it up and resonates with it. Dromarch appears.

Dromarch

My lady!
My lady!

Oops, that's Dromarch yelling at her in the present. Nia looks up in confusion.

Nia

Hmh?!

Dromarch

Are you all right?

Rex

Nia...
Hey... You don't look so steady. Careful! Fall down there, you'll never hit the bottom!

Nia sighs at having been caught so unawares.

Nia

You must be sick of saving me by now, eh?

Rex

Don't be silly.

Brighid

Don't push yourself. You can rest up a little longer.

Nia

It's even tougher for you though. I'm telling you, I'm fine.

They decide to accept this and move on. Rex and Nia end up at the back.

Nia

After my sister died, it wasn't long before my da died too.

♫

Elysium in the Dream

Rex

Huh?

Nia

I'm finishing my story.
Dromarch was all I had left to remember him. We started wandering together.
Or maybe I should say "running".

Rex

Running?
From who? People your dad owed money to?

Nia

No. From the Praetorium.

Rex

What? Why?

Nia

Well... It's a long story.

She remembers one time a bunch of Indol warriors were chasing her and Dromarch.

Pursuer 1

Get the cannibal!

Pursuer 2

Capture that flesh-eating Blade!

Then she remembers another time, or maybe just later that first time, of being captured in a ship. There's sounds of a fight outside, and the door opens to reveal Jin. He holds his hand out, and she reaches up to take it.
With the flashbacks over, Dromarch has appeared beside Rex.

Nia

I felt like...the whole world was against us.
There was nothing we could do but stay on the run.
Taking each day as it came.
Just...thankful for each sunrise, prayin' we'd see another.

Rex

Whew...

Nia

Then I met Jin.
He... He took me in.

Rex

So that's why you and Jin...

Nia

In Jin, I saw a way out, y'know?
I didn't see a future for myself on my own, so I threw my lot in with him.
But...

Rex

I can't see it.

Nia

What?

Rex

You're not the kind of person to worry about stuff like that.

♫

Friendship

Nia
(denial)

Well, I wasn't worried, as such.

Rex

So, anyway. Why the story?

Nia

I dunno, I was just rambling.

Rex

Look, I don't know what's burdening you, Nia, but...
You shouldn't be afraid.

Nia

Afraid?

Rex

Of whatever it is.
Stay true to your feelings, even if it means fighting tooth and claw.
That's who you are, right?

Nia
(offense received)

What the hell?
I'm not some violent goon-

Rex

I think you know what I mean.

Nia

What the-?!

Rex

Ha ha ha. There we go. That's the Nia I know.

Nia

The Nia...you know?

Rex

Not far now. Let's get going.

He heads off.

Nia

Rex...

A Familiar Seal

At the end of the path is the Vault of Heroes. A stone statue rests under a pillar of light at the back of a wide open room.

Tora

Rex-Rex, it's dead end!

The back wall has a very large construction of Addam's crest.

Rex

That seal... It's the same as the one on the ship.

Suddenly, the group is surrounded by clouds of dark fog that quickly resolve into a group of shadowy figures.

♫

Monster Surprised You

Brighid

Who? Or what?

Up close, each figure looks like Addam holding Mythra's weapon, with glowing red eyes. Rex arms himself with Roc's scythes.

Gramps

Hey! Watch out there, Rex!

Rex

Hngh!

Everyone gets ready for what's sure to be a nice fun boss fight.

Burdened No Longer

♫

Drifting Soul (Violin Version)

The fight with the phantasmic Addams is still ongoing. Nia gets knocked to the floor.

Rex

Nia!

Rex comes in to fight off the assailant. More appear and he starts to have a hard time with all of them. He gets beat down.

Nia

Rex!

She thinks of the people she's seen die. Her sister, her "father", Vandham, Fan la Norne, Niall...

Nia

No...
No more...
I won't hide any longer...
I won't hide who I am...

Nia

No more!

A blinding blue glow engulfs Nia. It dies down for a moment but then focuses on her chest, before expanding into a watery vortex. In a flash, she transforms into the alternate form seen earlier, a gold-trimmed white outfit with very long hair and ears. The massive release of water energy causes the phantasms to back off and attracts everyone's attention.

Mòrag

Nia-

Zeke

She's a Blade...

Tora

Bladiest Blade!

Mòrag

Not...merely a Blade. She's a...

While mostly hidden so far, the bright glow of Nia's Core Crystal has had red parts in its blue, so maybe Mòrag has noticed that she's a Flesh Eater. Rex is kinda-sorta trying to get up. He's dropped Roc's scythes. Where is Roc anyway? Nia calmly walks over to him and kneels down.

Rex

Nia!

Nia

I am burdened no longer.
Not by my past, not by Jin.
I am finally free!

Rex

A Blade?

A soft swirl of water envelops Rex.

Rex

What the-?

He holds up his hand in confusion. Nia takes it in hers.

Nia

I'm no longer afraid. This is who I am, Rex!
What's the point in living if I have to hide?
Thank you for helping me see.
I love you, Rex.

Rex
(vague confusion)

Wha-?!

A new squad of phantasms arrives. Nia jumps into action and summons her weapon, a sword covered in plantlife. She uses it to shoot a wave of water at the foes, clearing them out. The rest of the party resumes fighting their own enemies.

Zeke

Come on then, who wants a piece?

Several phantasms slip by the other party members to focus on Nia. She holds them off for a moment but then starts to falter and stagger.

Nia

Hnng, there really isn't much ether here...

She falls to her knees as another attack comes, but looks up to see that Rex has blocked it for her.

Nia

Rex...

Rex

Nia, I love you too!

Nia
(wait...)

Huh?

Rex
(:D)

I love you...and all you guys!
So let's do this, together!

Nia is just kinda stunned trying to process for a moment. Then she laughs.

Nia

Hmph... Bwahaha!
That's just like you! It's all I could ask for.

She gets up.

Nia

Let's give 'em hell!

She hands him her sword. Roc's scythes vanish, perhaps never to be seen again. sad bird hours

Rex

Ready?

Nia

Ready!

The Driver/Blade pair of Rex and Nia fights the onslaught of phantasms with the same synergy that the other pairs in the party already have, and said others help cover for them during the parts they just stand there to look cool. Eventually Rex gets in a clash with one of the phantasms, and he hears it speak.

Addam

You fight...

Rex

Who's that?

Addam

You fight on...relentlessly. But you do not fight for yourself.

Rex

I fight for...my friends!
Gyaah!

Addam

I have been waiting for so long.
For one such as you.

There's a sudden pulse of light that shakes the room. All the phantasms vanish. Everyone goes "woah!". Rex looks up into the light above.

Rex finds himself in the dreamworld of Elysium. Addam stands under the tree.

Addam

My name is Addam. I am long departed from this world.

Rex

That voice...before...

Addam

What is your name, boy?

Rex

Rex.
I've been here before. This is Elysium!
Pyra was standing under that tree, over there.
She looked...lonely.

♫

A Faint Hope

Addam

Is that so? I must offer my gratitude.

Rex

Eh?

Addam

You are the one who brought me here. I have never been to this place.
Once, I sought to come here, but I never did.

Rex

Oh, really?
Neither have I. Not... Not yet.

Addam

It is beautiful.

Rex

Yeah.

Addam

Rex, what is it that you seek?
Wealth? Power? Dominion?

Rex

Errr... None of those, really.
Though...power might be useful.

Addam

Power, then?

Rex

Power to protect...

Addam

Protect what?

Rex

That's a long list.
Gramps, Nia, Tora, everyone in Fonsett...
And Pyra and Mythra.

Addam

You are greedy, boy.

Rex

Everyone in Argentum used to tell me that.

Addam

It is not necessary to protect everything. There is a limit to what one man can do.

Rex

That's true...

Addam

But, there is something granted to you especially.

Rex

Please, tell me what it is.

Addam

The power to accept her.
She is afraid. Of her own power and her terrible destiny.
And I, too, was afraid. I feared the true power of the Aegis.
Heh.
Your will to fight comes from your will to protect.
Blades and mortals are linked.
When you take on the weight of all the fear she carries, then you will be her true Driver.

A green light engulfs the two of them.

Rex is back in the Crucible, just kinda staring at the ground.

Nia

Rex! Rex!

He looks up.

Nia

What happened? You haven't said anything since the ghosts disappeared.

Rex

Yeah, I'm fine. Never better!

He turns towards the stone statue at the back of the room. The inside glows as the whole thing opens up and retreats into the floor, revealing a silvery sword in the same style and Pyra's and Mythra's.

Zeke

That's...

Mòrag

The third sword.

Rex draws the sword from the pedestal. The crystal glows, and Rex sees something.
A trail of energy circles a planet, which glows white. The scene cuts to a distance as the light winks out. He then gets a short glimpse of the three-sided pedestal from the start of the chapter, and the face of the person who was watching it.
Back in reality, Rex watches calmly as the sword he's holding disintegrates. Everyone else is stunned.

Brighid

What?!

Dromarch

The Aegis sword!

Tora

Why? Why did sword break?

Mòrag

Perhaps it was just down here too long.

Zeke

You're bloody kidding me, right? After we trudged all the way down here?

Rex

It's OK.

Nia

How can it be OK? Pyra's one true sword just broke!

Rex

This was never about the sword. We have everything we need.

Nia

Huh?

Rex

I know now. What I have to do.
Let's go! We've got rescuing to do!

Nia

Rex, look-

Rex

Nia, do you trust me?

Nia

Yeah, but-

Mòrag

You've realized something, haven't you, Rex?
Something important, that the rest of us can't see.

Rex nods.

Mòrag

I'm with you. I've seen that look in your eyes before.

Let's Get Out of Here

Nia has flipped back to Driver mode, and will continue to take whatever form she feels like for the rest of the game.

Nia

What are we going to do from here on out?

Rex

There's no point hanging around here... it's only going to make us feel worse.
Let's head back to Fonsett and talk there.

Mòrag

Agreed.

Zeke

Let's get going, then. We'll get somewhere comfortable and then think about the hard stuff.

A Rotting Titan... Pyra's There

♫

A Place in the Sun

The group has returned to the Fonsett Residential Area.

Zeke

Who'd've thought that Nia was a Blade too?

Rex
(kind of angry actually)

Why didn't you tell us, Nia?

Nia

I just didn't, OK?

Rex

No, it's not OK!

Mòrag

*sigh* You lot really are just children, aren't you?

Rex

Huh? What d'you mean?

Mòrag

You'll understand one day.

Zeke

Hey, y'know, me, Rex, Nia...
We've all got some kind of...deep Blade connection going on with us, haven't we?

Mòrag

To tell the truth...I am a little envious.

Brighid

Lady Mòrag...

Zeke

You know, I'm sure it could be arranged.

Zeke shows off his half of Pandoria's core for a moment.

Mòrag
(not not thinking about it)

Would it...leave a scar?

Zeke

That's kinda part of the bargain.

Mòrag

In that case, maybe not.

Brighid puts on her "offended" face. It takes a moment for Mòrag to notice.

Mòrag

N-no, that's not what I meant! It's just...*sigh*

The "offended" face vanishes. It was a ruse.

Brighid

Hehe, relax.
Much as I appreciate the sentiment, I wouldn't want you to harm yourself.

Mòrag

I-I'm sorry.

Nia

Anyway, what do we do now?
It's all well and good that we escaped, but we've got nothing to show for it.

Rex

Don't worry. I know where we have to go.

Gramps

Are you sure, Rex? You know Pyra's location?

Rex

I think so.

♫

Tensed Mind

Rex closes his eyes and visualizes the Great Void around the World Tree.

Rex

Near the World Tree.

He sees the landmass that Malos was previously seen at.

Rex

I see a rotting Titan...

The vision is over.

Rex

She's there...

Mòrag

A rotting Titan?
Could it be?

Tora

What is it? Mòrag knows such a place?

Mòrag

Close by the World Tree...
...against the side of the Great Void...
I've heard there's a Titan known as the Cliffs of Morytha.

Dromarch

Morytha... That name sounds familiar...
Lady Mòrag, there are tales... tales of a "land of the dead".
And the cliffs that lead into its depths...

Mòrag

Yes. Indeed.
The Land of Morytha...a place no living soul has ever witnessed. Well then...

The scene moves to the Torna base. Mikhail is in the room with Lora and all the Core Crystals, poking at a screen in the wall. Patroka approaches him.

Patroka

Mik, you here again?
Is it passion, or idiocy?

Mikhail

Patroka. Just ask me out already.

Patroka

Piss off and die, Mik.

Mikhail

Oh, I'm sure I'll get round to it one of these days.

Patroka

So...what are you doing, anyway?

Mikhail

You know, the Marsanes is the last Tornan warship.
I'm readying it for battle with non-mortal opponents.

The way he looks around implies that the base itself is the Marsanes.

Patroka

What are you talking about, "non-mortal"?

Mikhail

Haha. Surely you don't need me to tell you?

Patroka

You don't mean...?

Mikhail

Heh. Something wrong?

Patroka

Umm...

Mikhail

Did you want something?

Patroka
(distracted)

Oh, er, food's ready. Get it while it's hot.

Mikhail

You came all the way here to tell me that? You've got quite the crush.

Patroka

Mikhail, I'm going to crush your...

Mikhail

OK, got it. Well. I'd better go and eat this delicious spread.

He leaves. Patroka looks out across the Core Crystals.

Patroka

Mik...

Next Port of Passage

The party hasn't moved from where they last were.

Nia

Now the question is, how are we getting to the Cliffs of Morytha?

Gramps

I doubt just any sailor would be willing to give us a ride there.

Zeke

Yeah, they're not gonna be keen on going that close to the World Tree.

Mòrag

In that case, I will charter a military vessel.
It may not be the most efficient route, but it will be reliable, I can assure you that much.

Tora

That our Special Inquisithingy!

Poppi α

Special Inquisitor.

Mòrag

Haha... Some might consider this an abuse of my privileges, you know.

Rex

So are we headed to the port at Hardhaigh Palace in Mor Ardain?

Mòrag

Yes.
Brighid, would you send word ahead that we are coming?

Brighid

Of course, Lady Mòrag. Leave it to me.

Nia

Right, then let's get moving!

Charter to the Void

It's up to the player to imagine how the party got to Hardhaigh Palace. They talk to Soghra at the docks.

Soghra

Lady Mòrag! We have been expecting you.

Mòrag

You have heard my business here, I presume? We require passage to the Cliffs of Morytha.

Soghra

Yes, ma'am! The preparations are all complete.

Mòrag

I doubt this will be an easy voyage... Are you sure you're up to it?

Soghra

Absolutely, ma'am!
By order of His Majesty the Emperor, only the finest of sailors have been gathered for this assignment!

Mòrag

I'll have to thank him for that later...
Well then, shall we depart?

Soghra

As you wish!

The Titan ship departs.

Cliffs of Morytha, Where Titans Rot

The party has arrived at the Cliffs of Morytha. They look at the path ahead of them.

Rex

So these are the Cliffs of Morytha.

Mòrag

A rotting Titan, drifting aimlessly until death takes it.

Nia

I just remembered - Malos mentioned this place once.
It's a shortcut to the World Tree.

Gramps

Makes sense.

Rex

Let's push on. Pyra is definitely somewhere ahead!

♫

Loneliness

The scene shifts to Malos. Pyra is apparently awake now, because she's screaming.

Pyra

Aaah!!

A shadowy energy is flowing from her Core Crystal into Malos's hand, while bright magenta lines flow across her body.

Pyra

Ahh! Aggh! Aaaahhh! Aaaahhhh!

She has rapid-fire flashbacks to meeting Rex, waking up in Gormott with Rex, sitting by the fire with Rex, investigating the forehead injury Mythra inflicted on Rex, visiting the graveyard with Rex...

Malos

Pathetic.
Look at all this trash! Huh?

He pulls harder. Pyra whimpers.
Rex feels a pain in his chest. He crunches up and grunts a little.

Gramps

Rex, are you OK?

Rex takes some uncomfortable breaths.

Gramps

Rex?

Rex

I...I'm...fine...

Gramps

Could it be...Pyra is in trouble?

Rex

I don't know.
But we have to hurry. I have a bad feeling about this.

Pyra is running from a cloud of smoke as a filmreel of memories with Rex scrolls across the ground. She turns back to see Malos chasing her, keeping pace despite his leisurely walk.

Malos

Why are you running? Why are you protecting this garbage?
We Aegises don't need these things!
You want to be free of them as I do!

Pyra
(panicked)

Stop it! I'm not like you at all!
I am-

The smoke billows past her for a moment, and suddenly Malos is standing right in front of her. He holds his hand out, locking her in place and resuming the transfer of energy.

Pyra

Stop! Stop stealing my memories!
Noooooo!

She vanishes from the mindscape. Something else fades into view through the fog - it can't itself be seen, but it has a thick-set Core Crystal the same color and general shape as Pyra's, while its left side is covered with same-colored lines, and its right side has the same lines but in Malos's color. A yellow halo much like Siren's floats above.

Malos

Well damn, Father... Look what you've been hiding away.

Some patchier parts of the fog can be seen through, revealing the metallic body of an Artifice.

Malos

All right, then. If that's what you want, I'll do it for you!

Malos Restored, Rampaging Ophion

Jin, in his super form, is staring off into space. He remembers being in an old, run-down building. He seems to be reading a book, but he quickly closes it and hides it behind his back as Lora walks in. She looks around and then sees he's a bit jumpy.

Lora

What is it? Did you remember something?

He's interrupted by Malos walking up beside him.

Malos

It is done.
Once we establish a link with what Mikhail is preparing aboard the Marsanes,
everything will be complete.

Jin

And the Aegis?

Malos

Oh, that? It's not an Aegis any more. Just a lump of meat.

Pyra is unconscious again. The Blade Bots are still holding her.

Jin

I see.

Malos walks up to the edge of the stone structure, facing the World Tree.

Malos

Yah! Come forth, Ophion!

He holds up the Omega Fetter.

♫

The Impending Crisis

Ophion flies up out of the Great Void and looks at the two of them standing on the ruins. What resembles the upper body of a humanoid Artifice unfolds from its head.

Malos
(quietly confused)

W-what's that?

Ophion fires a pair of laser blasts from its "shoulder" canons. Malos succeeds in blocking the attack with his shadowy power.

Malos

Clever girl.
It has its own attack instinct. Capable of autonomous action.
Hah! She knew that. That's why she came quietly.
No matter. All it needs is a little reprogramming!

Malos leaps into the air and lands a flying punch on Ophion's...nose? snout? That part of its big snake face.
The party sees the flash of light and sound that the punch caused. They produce startled nosies.

Zeke

An earthquake?

Pandoria

In a place like this?

Mòrag

It's close!

Rex

Let's go!

Malos's Black Sword

♫

The Beginning of Darkness

The group has reached the Balquors Ruins. Malos is waiting for them with a sword in hand. The purple crystal in his chest is whole, and the sword has one that matches it.

Malos

You're finally here. I've been expecting you.

Nia

Malos.

Malos

Your Core Crystal...
So you finally gave up your little human act.
Are you looking for a place to belong, or are you just a fickle child who doesn't know what she wants?

Nia

Pf...

Rex

Where's Pyra?

Malos

Hell if I know. She's probably dead by now.

Rex

I'm alive, she's alive!

Malos

Think whatever you like.
But don't be mad at me.
All I'm doing is reclaiming what was stolen from me.

Rex makes a small growl.

Malos

You're never going to see her again.
Heh. You make me laugh, you know that?
Look at you.
That salvager brat I picked up in Argentum.
Standing here with the gall to challenge me?

Rex

Someone's gotta! We're not gonna lose to the likes of you!

Malos's weapon unfolds. It's hard to see exactly how since most of it is currently offscreen, but enough parts are out of the way that the 喰 glowing in the hole in the middle is clearly visible.

Malos

You did well to make it this far.
But...
You end here...
boy!

He points the glowing weapon towards the party. A large shadowy mass covers the ground in a circle underneath them. Everyone jumps out of the way as a sphere of darkness erupts, erasing all the ground within it. Tora ends up right on the edge, which crumbles under him.

Tora

Mehmeh!

Rex

Tora!

Poppi α

Masterpon!

Poppi flies down and catches Tora before he hits the ground below, which is honestly close enough that it'd be no big deal.

Zeke

Agh! What the hell is this?

Zeke dashes in and swings down his sword. It hits the shield of darkness that Malos raises around himself. After a few seconds, the top half of the sword vanishes.

Zeke

Ack!

He pulls back, now only holding half a sword. The damage is not a clean cut, but a mottled purple almost disease-like pattern.

Nia

Watch it, Shellhead!
Malos's power will destroy anything it touches!
It'll take your arm or your head right off!

Zeke

What?!

Rex

What are we gonna do?!

Malos chuckles menacingly as his Core Crystal glows.

Malos

Poor, helpless, little maggots!

He expands the darkness shell as an attack. As it hits Zeke, there's a flash of light. Zeke looks up with a "woah" to find that he's been protected by a shell of water, which is repairing his sword to its original form.

Malos

Nia! You-!

She's holding both hands up in focus.

Rex

Nia!

Nia

I should have used this power earlier.
But I was afraid.
Afraid to go back to those days...
Lives have been lost...because I was afraid...

Rex

Nia-

Nia

But someone taught me that I don't have to be afraid.
Now I get it! My life has a purpose!

The aqua shell bursts, canceling out itself and Malos's.

Nia

Your power might destroy, Malos, but my power restores.
As long as my friends have the will to live, that's all I need.
There is no wound you can inflict that I cannot heal!
Blade weapons too!
They were born from us and can be healed just the same.
Rex! Everyone!
It's time to end this!

♫

Incoming!

She holds her sword out to Rex, who takes it.

Rex

Yeah!

The Place Where I Belong Is Here

Malos runs at the good guys.

Malos
(mockingly)

I'm gonna kill you!

♫

The Impending Crisis

Nia runs right back at him.

Nia

Don't you know when to give up, Malos?

They clash. The positive and negative energies oppose each other to no effect.

Malos

Gah, that's an annoying power!

Nia

So sorry!
You've gotta be stopped. You're a menace to the entire world!

Malos

Is that so? Oh you sweet-talker, Nia.

He pushes her away.

Malos

Don't you see how weak you are?
Heal all you want, but you can't even scratch me.
Where are your claws, kitty?

Nia

Hmph! Very well. Then I'll show you!
You asked for it!
Rex! Help me out!

Rex

You got it!

Nia

Follow my lead!

Rex

OK!

They both take hold of her sword.

Nia

Here goes!

They both hold up the sword, chaneling a vortex of water to surround them. Rex then takes it and runs at Malos.

Malos

Grah!

He strikes the ground to cover it in darkness. Rex jumps over it and gets Space Jam levels of airtime. Both him and Nia cry out as they make the same motion, followed by Rex swinging a watery projectile at Malos. He swats it out of the air, but this just makes it break up into a bunch of floating balls.

Malos

!
What? Is that it?

He ignores the balls entering his body.

Malos

I hardly even felt it.

Malos then starts glowing. He doesn't seem to like it.

Malos

Gurgh...Gahh!

His arms and legs suddenly bulge out like someone moved the muscle slider all the way to the right.

♫

Loneliness

Malos

Gaaahhhh!
Nia... Wh-what have you done to me?

Nia

I altered the replication rate of your body's cells.
Even an immortal Blade is made from the same stuff as any other being.
I used that to my advantage.

Malos

Gah... This is why... Jin recruited you...
He saw that power...

Nia

Who knows? Why don't you ask him yourself?

Malos

Graaaaahhhhgh!

He staggers backwards as shadowy bursts cover his enlarged limbs.

Nia

I've got just one thing to say to you.
The place where I belong...

She looks back at the rest of the party, who have very generously been standing back not helping at all this whole time.

Nia

is right here.

Malos

Niaaaaaaa!

He staggers back right off the edge and falls headfirst.

Nia

See ya.

She looks down to see how he's landed on a small little ledge not far below, covered in dark fog. The bulges seem to be gone. His hand twitches.

Stand With Me One More Time!

The party arrives at the Gotrock Oracle Ruins. They run in to see Jin and Pyra, with her being held up by the Blade Bots.

Rex

Pyra!

♫

Walking With You

Jin steps out of the way so they get a good look at her being unresponsive.

Rex

P-Pyra?!

Jin

Ah, you missed the highlight. We already have everything we need from her.

Rex

Jin! What did you do to her?

Malos

I already told you.

Malos walks up behind the group like there was no whupping, like he was never given super-cancer.

Malos

I'm just trying to get back what was stolen from me five centuries ago.

Nia

Malos! You're alive!

Malos

Hah! You didn't think you could put me down that easily, did you?
I am an Aegis!
Don't underestimate me.
I can't believe you fell for it.

He circles around them to Pyra's side as he talks. Nia hisses and growls.

Rex

You did this to her?

Malos

She betrayed herself as an Aegis, forming a bond with a piece of human trash.
She tried so pathetically hard to hold on to her memories of you.
But in the end, I got them all.

Rex

Grr...

Malos

She put up a brave little fight.
"Please don't steal my memories!" Cute stuff like that.
Sorry, boy. You came to this desolate place for nothing.
Do you really want this useless husk?
Go ahead and take it.

He takes Pyra out of the Blade Bots' grip and yeets her across the way. Rex interrupts her skidding across the floor.

Rex

Pyra! Pyra!

He cradles her head.

Rex

I'm so sorry...Pyra...Mythra...
We made it this far, but...

Nia

Rex...

Tora

Rex-Rex...

Rex carefully puts her down and gets back up to face Malos and Jin. He changes from sadness to hardness. The Blade Bots are gone.

Rex

Nia...

Nia

Got it.

Rex

Dromarch, take care of Pyra.

Dromarch

Understood.

Rex advances extremely slowly.

Malos
(amused)

What's this? I thought you'd start bawling and charge at me.
What a big boy.

Rex
(to himself)

Stupid...

Malos

Eh?

Rex
(still mostly to himself)

I was stupid.
I didn't understand Pyra and Mythra's feelings.
Though we were destined to follow different paths, I tried to walk together.
I walked in the shadow of the Aegis's light.
Blindly walking my own path.
While she walked alone.

Malos

What are you blathering about?

Rex

So, I might be stupid...but I've made a decision.

Malos

Oho! What have you decided?
You've come all this way, I'll hear you out.

Rex

It's obvious.
I'll crush you into oblivion, and take Pyra and Mythra to Elysium!

Malos

Hah! Crush us? Me and Jin? You couldn't take Jin on your own!
And on top of that, I've regained control of all my Aegis powers!
Not to mention the Artifices!
You're doomed, boy.

Rex

I'm not.

Malos

That thing is just a used-up shell. You can't rely on it to save you, boy.

Rex

I now understand.
What Pyra and Mythra wanted.
And I understand what I have to do to make it happen!
What it means to be Driver and Blade!

Jin is surprised at this declaration.

Rex

Everyone, stand with me one more time!

♫

The Power of Jin

Everyone else steps up.

Rex

Let's get Pyra back, and go to Elysium!

Rex, Pyra, Mythra and...

There's been fighting. Malos smacks Rex around a bit, only for him to immediately get healed by Nia. Other people are just chillin' in the background doing nothing.

Malos
(irritated)

Have I mentioned how irritating that ability is?

Nia
(disinterested)

You did mention that.

A light fog gathers. Nia is sufficiently distracted to fall down.

Nia

Wh-what?!
This... It's ice?
Jin...you?

♫

The Tomorrow With You

Malos

But of course. This is Jin's true power.
You may have awesome regenerative powers...
But everything becomes futile once you get down to absolute zero.

Mòrag

Brrrr... A-absolute z-zero?

Malos

While they're vulnerable!
Let's do it, Jin!

Jin goes to fight Rex while Malos runs at the party. He fights Nia first.

Nia

Rex! Ah!

He knocks her down.

Mòrag

Nia!

Malos

I'm not done with you yet!

She gets in between Malos and Nia.

Zeke

Mòrag!
This is getting us nowhere!

Zeke leaps in but gets repelled by a shadow ball. Malos pushes Mòrag off.

Malos

Aw, too bad.

Zeke

Tch!

Tora

Poppi!

Poppi α

Take this!

She shoots at Jin. He blocks the projectile.

Jin

Trash!

He sends them both flying.

Tora

Guagh!

Rex

Poppi! Tora!

He keeps dueling Jin and gets pushed back close to Pyra.

Rex

It can't end like this!

Rex starts to hear voices.

Pyra

Enough! Give up, Rex!
Forget about us!

Mythra

Rex, please listen to what we have to say.
Our power has done nothing but bring you pain.

Rex sees both Pyra and Mythra standing in front of Pyra's body. He's not looking back there, but he can see them.

Mythra

It would be better if such a power didn't exist!

Pyra

We told you we wanted to go to Elysium...
But, the reason why we wanted to go there...
...was to beg our Father to let us die.

Mythra

So forget us, Rex! For the sake of the world, abandon us.

Rex

Abandon you?
When you are injured,
I feel your pain.
When you feel pain,
I feel the sorrow in your heart!

No one else can see the two.

Malos
(what a loon)

What the hell? Has he finally cracked?

Rex

You really think I can just stand by like this?
And watch someone I love suffer?

Pyra

You can make it to Elysium! You can make it...with or without us.
So, please...

Rex

What would be the point of that?
Listen, I swore to you.
We're going to Elysium together!
That's a promise.

Pyra

Rex...

Rex

I'm going to Elysium for you.
I'm doing all of this for you.

He finally gets a moment of respite in his duel with Jin to just stand up and yell into the sky.

Rex

We'll do it together!
We'll find out together!
We'll find your place in this world!
Find out where we're headed... And see what our future holds.
So believe me!
I won't let the world burn a second time!

Jin is readying a power strike.

Rex

So Pyra, Mythra...
Join me!

Rex just kinda stands there as Jin comes in for the kill. The screen goes white before he gets there.
Rex finds himself elsewhere. In front of him are not just Pyra and Mythra, but the giant two-sided Artifice that Malos saw in her mind.

Pyra

This is our whole being.
This is the power we were granted at birth.

Mythra

So, Rex... Are you still sure you want this?

Rex

Tell me, do you love this world?

Pyra

...Yes.
Nia, Azurda...and you, Rex...
I love this world because you're in it!

Rex

Well then!

He holds out both hands. Pyra and Mythra look at each other, nod, and step forward to each take one.
Rex is back in reality. The green Aegis Core Crystal floats in front of him, making Jin pull back.

Jin

Wh-what? How?

♫

Counterattack

Rex

Hyaaaah!

Rex grabs below the crystal, creating the outline of a sword around it. Jin is pushed back by the bright light.

Jin

Ugh!

The third Aegis sword reforms in Rex's hand. He has no problem holding it.

Malos

A new sword?

Pyra floats in the air behind Rex. With a flash she takes on a new appearance - long green hair in a ponytail with a white and black bodysuit covered in green crystals, flanked by floating mechanical wings. "Πνευμα" is written across the top of her chest. Some of the audience will be able to read this as "Pneuma", and that's how the script will refer to her because it's easier to type. But Rex can't read Greek, so he just calls her by how he knows her.

Rex

Pyra! Mythra!

Pneuma

Apologies, Rex.
Worry not. All is well. I am lost...no longer.

She waves her hand. Rex's salvaging suit is suddenly replaced with one in the same style as her bodysuit - white and black with blue details, green crystals, and a helmet with astronaut-like gold glass.

Rex

What's this?!

Pneuma

Ah, that's better, don't you think?

Rex

I could get used to this!

He turns to the others.

Rex

Everyone! Attack!

Zeke

Yeah!

Nia

Payback time!

They ready to keep fighting. The music takes a long time to conclude.

Siren Vs. Ophion

Jin is being knocked back.

♫

Crossing Swords

Jin

Ugh!

The new Rex runs and jumps at him.

Rex

Hyaah!

He hits the ground with Pneuma's sword, causing a flash of energy that doesn't appear to do anything.

Jin

How?!

Jin uses his super-speed to go in a direction. Rex apparently has super-speed himself now and uses it to follow. The two clash around the ruins a few times.

Jin

How are you matching my speed?

Rex appears in front of him and just kinda hangs there.

Jin

Impossible!

The two now start moving around in the air and clanking against each other, because they can just fly now, for reasons.

Jin

You...
...can't have such power!

Jin hits the side of the landscape. Rex keeps chasing.

Rex

I don't get it, but I'm not complaining!
This is what I've been searching for.

They both collide with the cliffside above.

Nia

Whoa...So this is Pyra and Mythra's true power.

Pneuma is just suddenly by Rex's side in the air now. They impact Jin, who gets meteored into the floor. He pants heavily as the two land.

Jin
(frustrated)

Gah!

Rex

You want some more?

♫

With People and Darkness

Rex looks at Jin as he gets up.

Rex
(sudden change of heart)

He...looks so sad...

Pneuma
(agreeing)

Rex!

She makes a "let's stop" motion.

Jin
(threatening)

Weak.
End me now or you'll live to regret it.

Rex

I don't want to fight you.
I just want to get to Elysium.
That's all. I won't let you stop me.

Malos

That's not going to happen.
We have goals of our own.
You and anything that stands in the way will be wiped out.

Rex

What goals?

Jin

Our only purpose.
Destroy humanity. Destroy the world. Then...

Malos

...destroy the Architect!

Rex goes "huh?". Pneuma seems distant.

Malos

I am an Aegis.
Created by the Architect to erase existence...
The ultimate weapon. The Endbringer!

Rex

Endbringer?

Malos

Yes. My only purpose is to destroy. I am the Endbringer.
That is why I must go to Elysium...
And awaken the ultimate Artifice, Aion!

Rex

You can't be serious.

Malos

I'm nothing but serious, boy.
This is the sacred duty entrusted to the Aegises by the Architect!

Pneuma

You're wrong. Father doesn't want that!

Something begins to shake the area.

Pneuma

You're deeply mistaken.

Malos

Enough!
I know I'm right!

♫

Ophion

Ophion appears, to all in the party's surprise. Malos grins extra evilly.

Pneuma
(confused)

Ophion!

Malos
(indeed)

Indeed!
It ends here!

Ophion charges its mouth cannon, but is interrupted by a Siren blast from above.

Malos

Another guest at the party?

He looks up to see that Siren is actually present, rather than way too far up to see.

Rex

That's...Siren!

Malos
(hyped with bloodlust)

Bring it on!

Ophion fires its charged shot at Siren, which is blocked. The two Artifices start to have a melee scuffle. They end up pushing against each other's shields. Siren is forced back into the cliffside. The energy buffets the party.

Pneuma

Guagh!

Rex

Pyra!

Pneuma

I'm fine!

Malos
(having too much fun yelling)

I've had it with you. Pyra! Mythra!

Ophion "steps" back and fires its cannon at Siren. It blocks it, but the energy still has to go somewhere.

Rex

No!

The energy from the blocked laser beam washes across the ruins and cliffside.

Zeke

Ah! The cliff!

The whole section of ruins sticking out breaks up.

Tora

Meeeeh!

Nia

Aaaah!

Rex

Waaah!

Rex and Pneuma fall down into the Great Void.

Chapter Seven:
The Fear She Carries