Long ago… the world was nothing more than an endless sea… cloaked in a boundless sky… reaching as far as could possibly be imagined…

Two great titans were all that existed. The Bionis. And the Mechonis. These titans were locked in a timeless battle. Until at last… only the empty shells of their once majestic bodies remained.

That was eons ago. Now… the vast land stretching across what remains of the Bionis is under attack by a relentless force known by one name:

Mechon.

It was a massive battle. The Homs of the Bionis and the Mechon of Mechonis were locked in a duel. Laser beams and powerful blades frequently clashed, their strikes ringing true. The battlefield of Sword Valley was awash with the bodies of Homs and the chasses of Mechon alike. Remaining Mechon began to consume the Homs, their energies seemingly multiplied. Armies of Mechon began surging forth, and similar amounts of Homs fled. Only one remained.

"Back, you lowly fiends! Back, you soulless machines!" Dunban roared. His weapon, a crimson sword with a glowing blade, flickered in and out of Mechon, destroying them more efficiently than the Homs could hope to achieve.

"They're advancing down our weak right flank. For soulless machines… they seem to know a thing or two about military tactics…" Dunban said, the wave of Mechon he had engaged being defeated. Dunban's two most trusted allies, Dickson and Mumkhar, ran up beside him.

"Dunban! We've been given the order to retreat. We're pulling back the line to Colony 6. That's our last line of defence," Dickson told him matter-of-factly.

"I 'gree with Dickson. Any more time spent around here and we're Mechon food," Mumkhar said.

"Or we can stay and fight!" Dunban said, slowing Mumkhar's further complaints.

"We may die if we stand here. But staying gives us the chance to change our destinies. We have the Monado. With this, the future is ours for the taking!" Dunban said heroically.

"Normally, I'd be covering your back, Dunban. But your body can't take much more Monado. Remember what happened to poor Azazel? Bionis needs you!" Dickson said.

"Age catching up to you, Dickson? I'm fine. I'm still in control," Dunban said.

"Why did I bother… Alright, I'll follow ya. But warning ya ahead of time: I'm not going to glamorise your efforts to Fiora when I drag your corpse home," Dickson said.

"Very brave of you, Dickson. If you think you can save me or stop Fiora, Shulk and Reyn from gutting you, you're in," Dunban told him.

"Aye… whether or not you guys are going to sit here being sentimental or going to fight more Mechon than I've ever thought existed, I'm outta here!" Mumkhar said.

"I say you're coming with us! We'd be lost without your claws, friend," Dunban said.

"It's now or never. Dunban, Dickson, and Mumkhar, the heroes who drove back the Mechon forever… I like the sound of that on my résumé," Dickson said.

"Agreed!" Dunban roared.

No convincing these two to grow a collective brain… I'll have to use them as a decoy to escape… Mumkhar thought. The three charged forward, and tossed aside Mechon like the scrap metal they were. Dunban and Dickson were grinning maniacally. Mumkhar, less so.

"They just keep on coming!" Mumkhar said.

"It's the main force. Looks like the Mechon really want us dead," Dickson said. Dunban enchanted the pair of his allies, and they surged forward. Dunban started to attack like made, laying waste to the Mechon… and himself. Dickson rushed to Dunban's side. Mumkhar rushed in decidedly the opposite direction.

"Mumkhar!" Dunban choked out.

"Sorry, fellas. The Mechon are after that Monado you've got there. I'm sick of laying my life down to a bunch of idiots. Keep 'em occupied for me!" Mumkhar roared.

"Mumkhar… you dirty…" Dickson said. Dunban was out of words.

"Don't worry, I'll organise your funerals. See ya, boys!" Mumkhar said. Dickson and Dunban couldn't do a thing about it, as more Mechon arrived.

"Well… Dunban, I think Mumkhar had the right idea, even if he was a dirty coward. At least our luck can't get any worse…" Dickson said. Dunban got to his feet, and pulled out the Monado.

"Dickson, take care of the survivors. Watch over Shulk, Reyn and Fiora," Dunban said. Dickson's eyes widened in terror.

Monado: Beginning of the World

One year later…

"A Mechon M71? Jackpot! I bet I can use this to realign the Anti-Air Batteries! Huh… no good…" a mechanically-minded young teen said, scrambling about in Mechon corpses that had dropped near his home of Colony 9.

"All these parts are buckled… this Mechon's useless! Way to get my hopes up!" he said, tossing aside the parts of the Mechon. He lay back, and his thoughts drifted to his friends. Fiora would comfort him and give him some food. Reyn would find it amusing that Shulk, the finest engineer in the colony, couldn't find a useful part in a junk heap, but he would wind up being supportive. His eyes drifted about.

"An M69!" he said, noticing something he had previously overlooked. He ran to it, and examined it.

"This armour would be the perfect shield!" Shulk said. He pried away at it, trying to claim it. It stirred.

"Shulk!" two familiar voices cried out. Just as Shulk had thought of them, Reyn and Fiora came running to his side, Reyn's driver and Fiora's twin blades at the ready.

"It's just a Krabble…" Shulk said, as the Krabble emerged from its shell. Reyn slipped off the M69 armour, and Fiora allowed the Krabble to leave.

"Still… be more careful, you big headed lunk!" Reyn said, knuckling Shulk's head. Fiora sheathed her blades, and hugged Shulk.

"What were you doing all the way out here?" Fiora asked.

"Looking for scrap. You know I can't take my eyes off this stuff…" Shulk said, toeing the M69 armour he had spotted earlier. He hefted it, and tossed it to Reyn.

"Bad habit, great shields. I'll let it slide, but please be more careful," Reyn said.

"Yeah… Dickson made great weapons… I just hope mine can be as good," Shulk said.

"Are you kidding? These blades and Reyn's Scrap Driver are excellent! Still… I suppose the best weapon anywhere is Dunban's Monado…" Fiora said.

"Yeah… I wonder if I can ever unlock its power one day…" Shulk idly commented.

"I'm sure you will. Anyway, I've better go back to check on Dunban. Make sure you two boys aren't late for old Square-tache…" Fiora said. Shulk watched her go. He still wasn't quite sure what drove her, despite them being friends for longer than he could remember.

"Square-tache… oh, Vangarre. Yeah, Reyn… we'd better get you back," Shulk said. Reyn nodded.

Shulk and Reyn arrived in Colony 9. Reyn pressed on to avoid Vangarre's wrath, while Shulk wandered around town. He inspected the machines and parts he had collected, and wandered around town, selling the parts he couldn't use. He eventually set out back to his Weapon-Development Lab.

"You Idiots! What The Hell Are You Playing At?" a loud voice yelled. And this is why Shulk did a lot of salvage work in addition to development: only someone like Dickson could work with Vangarre's loud admonishments to his soldiers in the background. The introverted Shulk could not tolerate Vangarre much.

"Crashing The Mobile Artillery Into A House? How Long Have You Been In The Force? I Don't Want Any Of Your Miserable Excuses! Champions Don't Whine, They Win! You're A Disgrace To The Uniform! Stick Your Back Into It, Maggots! Move It!" Vangarre roared. Shulk sighed, and moved on. He knew the rest of this conversation would wind up lethal. He hoped there wouldn't actually be any casualties. He wanted there to be a Defence Force in case of an emergency.

Shulk entered the Weapon Development Lab, and tossed the Mechon scraps into a small pile. Truth be told, he was more focused on studying the Monado.

"How are you?" Dickson asked from a corner.

"Dickson! How long have you been here?" Shulk asked.

"Just now. I see you've been busy. Just what I've been expecting from my protégé. This research seems to be going well. I made the right choice leaving you in charge. You're the only one in this colony who gets stuff done," Dickson said.

"Dickson, that's way too much credit. Your notes really helped. It's a case of you had to be there…" Shulk said.

"You got any bounds in controlling it?" Dickson asked.

"No… but one day, we could surpass any military force on Bionis just by unlocking the secrets of this thing… but in the meantime…" Shulk said, trailing off. Both he and Dickson were thinking back to that day. Dunban came back to the colony on a stretcher, the Monado being carried in a secure box. Fiora was looking over Dunban with trepidation… his arm had borne many scars. To this day, it was as useless as if it were made of caramel.

"Well, I'll be going on. Like you said, the Defence Force is full of idiots and Reyn. You too. You're not seeing enough things that aren't machines. I'm worried you're becoming one of them. Go on, have the rest of the day off. I can think of one thing you probably should be doing…" Dickson said.

"What's that?" Shulk asked. Dickson opened his mouth, and closed it. He walked off. Shulk thought to himself.

What is it that I should be doing? Why didn't Dickson tell me? Shulk asked.

Dunban tried to clench his fist. It was rough, but his fingers moved.

"Dunban, are you awake yet?" a girl asked. Dunban looked up.

"Oh… hello, Fiora. I thought you'd be spending the day with Shulk," Dunban said.

"Nah. You've got to get some food in your stomach. It's not healthy, just lying around," Fiora said, carrying down a nice meal that could easily be eaten one handed.

"You didn't have to bring me food. I can do it. I'm not an invalid, you know," Dunban said.

"Um… Dunban, you kind of are. That arm of yours isn't what it once was, you know," Fiora said, setting down Dunban's tray.

"I know… but that's no excuse to throw away your life. Shulk's not getting any smarter, you know," Dunban pointed out. Fiora sighed.

"Yeah… you'd think living in a town where everyone knows about my feelings for him would probably clue him in. Even Dickson's getting in on the act…" Fiora said. She stood up, and wandered away.

"Thank you for your words…" Fiora said. Dunban got up, and started working with his tray.

Fiora walked outside, and found Dickson almost immediately. Dickson was still in shock from when he talked to Shulk.

"Dickson!" Fiora said, smiling at the elder figure in joy.

"You particularly busy?" Dickson asked.

"Well, I'm going to deliver some food for Shulk. You know… if it's all right with you…" Fiora said, shaking the bowl of curry she was holding on a tray.

"Good for you. I've just kicked Shulk out of the lab. He needs the fresh air. I also told him he should be spending time with you. He's still not getting it. Knowing him, he's probably at Outlook Park. You'd better get busy," Dickson said, nudging the bowl back into a level position.

"Thanks, Dickson," Fiora said. She moved on, trying to get the food to Shulk before it fell again.

"The Monado… it's the only sword that's effective against Mechon armour… they say that the Bionis once wielded it… but how does it work?" Shulk asked himself.

"Shulk!" Fiora said, holding up her tray. Shulk waved in gratitude, and Fiora passed the tray to him. Shulk took a bite or several.

"This is great!" he said. Fiora sighed.

"That's your answer to everything…" Fiora said wistfully. She put an arm around Shulk, and lay her head on his shoulder. Shulk looked at Fiora oddly.

"No, I mean it. Your food's always delicious, but today it's amazing. But what are you doing?" Shulk asked. Fiora pulled away sadly. One day, Shulk would hug her back. Today was not to be that day.

"I tried today… I almost caught you not having any taste buds," Fiora said, trying to deflect attention from her hug. She eventually just leaned back.

"The breeze feels so good…" she said. Shulk nodded in agreement.

"Yeah… I've forgotten what this park was like. It's so quiet…" Shulk said.

"That settles it. You really need to stop hanging around Reyn," Fiora told him. "This peace, this quiet… I really hope every day can be like this… you, me, nothing but the tranquillity of the park… preferably without all this falling debris…" Fiora continued, watching the Anti-Air Batteries shatter some falling debris. Shulk and Fiora stood up, and wandered over to the fence.

"Hey, Shulk... You remember that time we watched the sun rise, right here? It was when we were quite young," Fiora asked.

"Yeah, I remember. We came because you and Dunban... You had that fight and fell out with one another," Shulk replied.

"Yeah, it wasn't pretty. Really, it had nothing to do with you... but I still dragged you out and made you stay up all night," Fiora commented.

"I'm glad we did it, even though it was only that one time. We talked for hours and hours about all our hopes and dreams... And then you fell asleep on my arm as we looked up at the stars. And that was the start of… um…" Shulk said.

"...Oh no!" Fiora shouted.

"What? What is it?" Shulk asked, looking around for a problem.

Oh, Shulk… I have this terrible feeling I said something really embarrassing for a child… Like... I wanted to marry him… wait a sec… Fiora thought.

"Umm...Shulk? You don't... remember what I said back then?" Fiora asked, fishing for a reply.

"Hm? Oh, kind of. I can't quite put my finger on it…. Hold on, I know I'll get it..." Shulk said.

"Oh, err… … don't worry! No need to remember. Forget I even brought it up. Anyway, that's the end of that conversation!" Fiora said, somewhat worried.

"OK. Whatever you say, Fiora. We'd better get back to the colony. That falling debris might've been a warning drop," Shulk acknowledged.

Yes! I think I pulled it off. He doesn't see me as too weird! I hope he remembers one day, and reciprocates... But for now...it's just a bit too embarrassing, seeing a child me wanting to marry him!

Shulk led Fiora to the Weapon Development Lab, much to her chagrin. It took Dickson and Fiora's combined efforts to get Shulk away from the lab… for all of five minutes. It was beneficial, though, since Shulk saw Reyn eyeing the Monado.

"Reyn! Get away from there!" Shulk called out. Reyn looked back, holding the Monado. If the sword could be said to have a cheeky grin on its face, it would. It snapped open, and began slashing about the lab, smashing things. Reyn drove the blade into Fiora's side before dropping it.

"Reyn!" Shulk said, scooping up the Monado, careful not to touch the hilt.

"Fiora? Are you OK?" Reyn asked. Fiora nodded.

"The Monado can't cut Homs or Nopon, luckily… but Reyn, do you have any idea how much damage you've caused? How many times have we told you: DO NOT TOUCH THE DANGEROUS SWORD!" Shulk said. He cleaved at Reyn's head with the Monado. The sword hadn't activated, so it couldn't deal any permanent damage to a Bunniv. But it was still rather heavy, and it gave Reyn something to think about. Shulk set the sword back on its stand, and inspected the equipment. Thankfully, nothing critical had been damaged. At least, nothing that couldn't be fixed with the Mechon materials Shulk had salvaged. It would take all of them, though.

"Um, Shulk…" Fiora asked. "Aren't you the least bit worried about us?" Fiora asked.

"The Monado can't cut people. It can cripple their right arms, though, Reyn. I'll ask this again: WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Shulk roared.

"Still… why are you more worried about the machines?" Fiora asked. Shulk rolled his eyes.

"I did just explain that," Shulk said, gripping the Monado again. Something about it had caught his eye. His eyes turned blue, and he felt something flow through him. A rapid flurry of images, containing people he had never met, things he couldn't even identify… they all passed through his eyes.

"Shulk?" Reyn asked.

"Did you see anything? When you held the Monado?" Shulk asked Reyn. Reyn shook his head dumbly.

"Anyway, Shulk… do you want to come with to the Mag Mell Ruins with me? Square-tache put me on punishment duty, getting those ether cylinders…" Reyn asked.

"Mag Mell Ruins? Are you sure you should be letting Shulk near that place? It's dangerous, and Shulk is delicate!" Fiora rebutted.

"Fiora, I promise. Shulk won't even get a scratch," Reyn said proudly. Fiora shook her head.

"Nope. I'm coming with you. There is no way I'm trusting Shulk with you," Fiora said.

What is this situation I'm in, and how did I get here? Shulk thought, looking between Reyn and Fiora steaming at each other.

"Fiora, Reyn, make your preparations. We leave five minutes before Vangarre notices Reyn's cutting corners on his punishment. So, five minutes ago, probably," Shulk said finally. Both Reyn and Fiora snapped to obeying Shulk's orders, and left the room. Shulk eyed the Monado thoughtfully, before leaving.

Shulk, Reyn and Fiora wasted no time in arriving in Tephra Cave, and Mag Mell Ruins within. Stopping only for Fiora to marvel at the technology lying about, they arrived within the Ether Cylinder deposit in Tephra. Reyn scooped up several cylinders, while Shulk and Fiora spent their time marvelling at the preservation technology around. After Reyn grabbed his last cylinder, two machines appeared in front of the group.

"Yah!" Fiora cried out. She sliced both Ancient Machines in one slice.

"Hm. What on Bionis are they?" Shulk asked. He inspected them thoroughly, looking for a reason as to why they suddenly attacked. All of a sudden…

*WHIRR*

"Shulk! What is that sound?" Fiora asked. Shulk and Reyn left the cave, and looked up into the night-lit sky.

"WHAT?" Reyn asked. Shulk was speechless. Mechon after Mechon after Mechon flew into the colony, led by a very large, very unique-looking machine.

"MECHON!" the trio cried out.

"How?" Fiora asked. "Dunban destroyed them all, didn't he?"

"He mustn't have destroyed the person or persons who built them. We have to get to the colony!" Shulk said. He leaped from Tephra Cave, and landed in the water below. Reyn and Fiora followed in no small hurry.

Explosions had begun to occur. The Battle for Colony 9 was beginning. Shulk, Reyn and Fiora emerged from the water, and pulled out their weapons. They charged in, seeing Mechon start to eat the Homs. Shulk recoiled, and Fiora ran off to see Dunban. Shulk and Reyn slashed away at incoming Mechon… until Fiora returned.

"Dunban's gone!" Fiora said. Shulk looked about.

"The Monado, Shulk!" Reyn cried out. Shulk nodded, and the three started to run to the lab.

"You Blasted Mechon! You Think You Can Do What You Want In Our Colony?" Vangarre cried out. The party looked on in horror, as a Mechon with a face stepped in front of the Defence Force. He looked at the group, saying nothing. Shulk put his arms in front of Reyn and Fiora, hoping to evade the faced Mechon's notice. Luckily… it did flee. At one cost.

"The lab…" Shulk said. It had been utterly destroyed.

"The force…" Reyn added. All slaughtered.

"Annihilated by that Mechon. We've got to do something about him!" Fiora added, raising one knife. Shulk and Reyn raised their weapons in agreement. A wave of Mechon approached their position.

"Fiora… the mobile artillery we were getting the cylinders to recharge. Go to it… recharge it… we're going to need it. Reyn, help me open a path for her," Shulk said, analysing the situation. Reyn and Fiora nodded, and put Shulk's plan into action. The Mechon overlooked Fiora, and focused on the two swordsmen. Shulk and Reyn battled several Mechon after Mechon until…

*SLASH*

The Mechon exploded in a fanciful display of blue swordsmanship. Dunban turned from the wreckage he invented, and hefted the Monado onto his shoulder.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said. "Where's Fiora?"

"We sent her to get the mobile artillery," Reyn said. Dunban nodded.

"Then we must go. Now," Dunban said. They ran through part of Colony 9, before Dunban collapsed.

"…Dunban!" Reyn said. He put a comforting arm around the hero. His body was rejecting the Monado… badly. Shulk ran to pick up the Monado… activating it.

"Shulk! Not you too!" Reyn cried out. Shulk cried out… as the Monado began to obey his movements. His eyes glowed a shade of blue, and he dodged a surprise attack from his left.

"Shulk?" Dunban asked. Shulk sliced apart the Mechon twice as efficiently as Dunban's earlier wild left-handed charge. Dunban and Shulk were set on theorising what had just happened, but Reyn set them straight. They ran forward… until they met another foe. The Mechon from before.

"What is that?" Dunban asked. The Mechon tilted its head, wearing an expression akin to taking offence.

"Whatever it is, we will take it on!" Shulk said. He leaped atop it, and began slashing away. Red lines on the unit glowed, and the Monado plinked off the machine.

"Or not…" Reyn said with concern. The Mechon made a laughing expression. He leaned forward, and began to cut Shulk, Reyn and Dunban.

*KA-BOOM!*

The mobile artillery. Fiora charged around the corner, and began an attack. Gunfire began to spray around the Mechon, to no effect. Shulk's eyes glowed blue.

The Face Malice will use Killing Claw on Fiora. This attack will kill her in one blow. You have about eighty-six seconds.

Shulk's vision returned to him. Eighty-six seconds. Shulk got to his feet unsteadily, and watched as Fiora charged at the enemy called Face Malice.

"Fiora, stop! You're in mortal peril!" Shulk cried out.

"Same for you, in case you haven't noticed!" Fiora replied. She continued her assault. Face Malice disabled the artillery unit easily with his attacks. Face Malice stepped towards the machine carefully, glaring at it. He peered inside, and leered at the feminine shape within. He stepped forward slowly, deliberately. He raised his claws, and caused them to gleam in the night sky. He cleaved them down.

"NO!" Shulk cried out. Eighty-six seconds was not enough. Face Malice pulled its claws out from the vehicle, along with a small figure. Shulk shook off his paralysis, and watched in absolute horror as Face Malice threw the figure in his direction. Shulk stared at Fiora's lifeless corpse. Her permanently terrified expression, the four stab wounds perfectly punched through her breasts, heart and stomach, the several litres of blood that had spilled… Shulk knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what the Face Malice did.

"NO!" Reyn cried out.

"FIORA!" Dunban shouted. Face Malice looked in his direction, and sneered.

"I. Will. Murder. You… Now," Shulk said, his voice cracking with anger. He jumped at Face Malice, only to bounce off the armour and fall into the waters beneath the colony.

"Shulk!" Reyn called out, jumping after him. Face Malice looked up, and retreated from his attack. Dunban placed one hand on Fiora, and furiously, uselessly, started putting bandages around Fiora's wounds. Shulk peeked up from the water.

"NO!" he cried at Face Malice's retreating back.