Chapter One

The Titans of Alrest had come together as the Architect's last wish, forming the new Elysium, brimming with life as the people of the Titans finally come to each other and shared their cultures.

That was over half a year ago.

Rex, along with the others, had gone their separate ways for the most part. Zeke went back to Tantal with Pandoria, Mòrag, along with Brighid, returned to her post as the Special Inquisitor of Mor Ardain, and Tora returned to Torigoth so that he could Poppi even stronger.

However, Rex, Pyra, and Mythra had gone back to Fonsett Village along with Nia and Dromarch and took up residence in Corrine's house. It was a little cramped at first, but with all the money Rex had earned by salvaging throughout his journey they were able to make the house bigger, accommodating to all their needs. But there's so much more that needs to happen…

"Ahhhhh…" Rex sighed as he rolled out of bed. Sitting on the edge of it, he swung his legs lightly, scraping the floor each time. It had already been a few months, but waking up back at Aunt Corrine's house was still an almost surreal feeling. He reached up to his chest, where Jin had stabbed him. It already seemed like so many years ago, and he couldn't help feeling a twang of pain when thinking of Jin's sacrifice.

Shaking himself out of his memories, he quickly brushed his teeth, slipped into his Salvager's Clothes, and stepped out of his room. The aroma of Pan-Fried Tartari filled his nose as he rushed down the stairs and stepped in to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Rex!" Pyra said sweetly, taking her eyes off of the stove for a few seconds.

"Mornin', Pyra!" He responded, seating himself at the table. Across from him, Nia was sitting, her face planted firmly on the hard wood. Her hair (Rex didn't know if it counted as hair or fur, honestly) was extremely messed up, sticking out at very weird angles. It took Rex a second to realize that the purring sound that he was hearing was really her snores. He leaned over the table and was about to poke her ears when someone spoke.

"I wouldn't do that to my lady, if I were you," Dromarch said. "She is used to getting up early, but the lax lifestyle these past few months have made my lady's sleep schedule a bit... lenient, to say the least. It's best to leave her be, for now." Rex turned and looked at Nia's Blade. A small smile stretched across his face. "You know what my lady is like when she is… cranky."

Rex's eyes widened as he carefully sat back down. "Y-yeah…" He remembered her tearing up her wanted poster in Torigoth and shuddered. "Anyway, what's up, Dromarch?" He asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Hardly anything, Master Rex." Dromarch sighed. "We don't do much, nowadays. Perhaps we should go somewhere? See people we know?"

"That's not a bad idea," Pyra piped in, setting plates around the table, very carefully putting Nia's a few feet away from her. "But we'd have to see what Mythra and Aunt Corrine would have to say about it."

"What would I have to say about what?" Mythra's voice echoed from the stairway.

"We want to go on vacation somewhere! Somewhere exciting, where we can maybe meet some of the others," Pyra said excitedly, leaning forward a little. However, she had leaned over Rex, whose face flushed a bright shade of red. Taking all his willpower not to look up, he looked over at Mythra, who was smirking at his predicament.

"Y-yeah," he said, now careful to avoid eye contact with the Light-Blade. "Dromarch thought that we were too relaxed now, and that we should go somewhere exciting."

"I'm sure you're very excited right now, though, Rex. Why would you wanna be anywhere else?" She said, leaning against the wall, her arms folded.

Rex stared daggers at Mythra as Pyra leaned closer to Rex, her eyes filled with confusion. "Rex?" She said, gazing into his eyes. "What did Mythra mean by that?"

Rex stood up quickly, his chair flying backwards as Nia fell out of hers muttering something about Paratha's. "I'll be right back, everyone!" He exclaimed quickly, turning around, scooping his plate of food, and walking out the front door.

"Argh!" He yelled after walking a little, munching on his Tartari. He eyed the scenery, its lush greens and blues, the children running around and playing in the village, but his mind was elsewhere.

A particular memory played through his mind. Back at the World Tree, as Pyra was drifting away from the group, Zeke had said something to him.

"Chum… How long are you planning to be a baby…? She's the girl you love. You gotta accept her decision. That's what being an adult means."

I… love her? He asked himself. I love everyone though!

Before he could contemplate what he meant, he nearly walked off a cliff. Startled, he dropped his plate clear of the edge of the Titan.

"Noooo!" He cried, falling on the ground. "T-that Tartari! It was innocent!" Tears filled his eyes as he gazed off the cliff, his precious food still in free-fall towards the water below.

The sound of wings in the air drew his attention as a familiar face drifter into view.

"Now, now, Rex," Azurda said calmly. "What have I said about getting to attached for your food?"

"Gramps!" Rex stood up, jumping onto the smaller Titan's back. "Thank the Architect that you're here. I need to talk to you about something."

Azurda craned his neck around to look at his surrogate grandson. "What is it you need, Rex? Is it about the girls?" He chuckled knowingly.

"H-how'd you know?"

"My boy… You have that love-struck look in your eyes." Rex's face turned red once again, as he turned away, sitting down on Azurda's back.

"What does everybody mean by that?" Rex replied a little annoyed. "I love everyone!"

"You use that term a little lightly, Rex," the old Titan responded. "I think the way that others are implying are a little more intimate."

"Whaddaya mean, old man?"

"Erm…" It was Azurda's turn to get flustered. "I can't really explain it, Rex. But think about it. I'm sure the answer will come to you eventually."

Rex turned and stared into Azurda's eyes. "That's really helpful, I'm sure, but I don't understand your cryptic message, Gramps."

Azurda's shook his head. "You're still young, Rex. Just give it some time." Then, the Titan did a 360 in midair, dropping the young Salvager onto Corrine's roof. Rex hadn't even realized that the two were moving. He slid down a little until his vest caught on to the edge of the roof, jerking him to a halt with his legs dangling below him. With a laugh, Azurda sped off just as Pyra and the others ran outside to see what had landed on the roof.

"H-hey everyone!" He yelled, waving awkwardly.

"Rex?" Corrine called. "What are you doing up there?"

Rex looked longingly at the ground. Shifting his gaze to the group, he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's a… umm… long story."

After telling everyone what happened, he wanted to return to the topic of traveling somewhere. However, most of the others couldn't stop laughing at his tale.

"Gramps just... dropped you on the roof?" Nia asked between bouts of laughter. "I just wish I could've seen you're face!"

"Don't say that, Nia." Pyra said, stifling another laugh. "We don't want to... Heh… Leave him hanging!" They erupted with laughter once more, as Corrine simply bandaged his arm.

"That doesn't even make any sense!" Rex complained. He was a little annoyed at being made fun of, but in actuality, he was happy that the others were all laughing together.

"Guys, stop!" Mythra said. "You're making me go weak!" She said between laughs.

Suddenly, though the midday sun was shining brightly, a lightning bolt struck as thunder boomed through the village. The house's door flew open as a cloaked figure stepped through, his silhouette standing tall in the doorway.

"Did someone say, ZEKE?" He yelled, pulling off his cloak in the most exaggerated of ways, as he outstretched his arms in grandiose. Behind him, a small tail flicked as a girl stepped out, her glasses glinting in the light of her hat before shifting a little, allowing her emerald eyes to show.

The room stayed silent as Zeke stood silently, waiting on a response. A giant grin stretched across his face as he stood almost completely still. Nia recovered from her surprise first.

"Hey, Shellhead!" She exclaimed, almost affectionately.

"Hey! He rushed over and shook her hand, and then moved over to Rex and scooped him up in a bear hug. "Oh, it's great to see you, chum! And all you guys, too!" He winked at Nia, whose eyes flashed with anger for a second as Zeke shuddered before letting go of Rex. "It's been too long, chum! I have been slaving away, keeping the royal Kingdom of Tantal under my Eye of Shining Justice! No crime goes unseen, from my eye that's just as keen!" Throughout this entire monologue, Zeke was adding his own motions that almost seemed… rehearsed.

Without missing a beat, Mythra spoke up. "Were you waiting outside the house all day just waiting for us to say something that rhymed with Zeke?"

Zeke froze in his tracks before regaining his composure, somewhat. "N-no! Of course not! My Eye can teleport me to whereve-"

"Yeah, that's basically it." Pandoria interrupted. "We got here last night, actually. He wanted a grand entrance. You know how my Prince is…" She smiled warmly as Zeke turned to stare at her.

"Pandy!" He exclaimed. "How could you give me away like that!" He turned to the group. "That's not what happened. Not at all. I was actually –"

"Calm down, Zeke." Pyra got up and rested a hand on his shoulder. "We've known you for a long time, now. It's alright." She smiled as she gave Pandoria a quick hug. "It's so great to see you all again. But what are you guys doing here?"

"Well, fair Aegis. Pandy and I have come," he paused, raising his hand to the skies. "To take you lovebirds to the new palace at Tantal!"

The group faltered at his statement. Nia and Pyra stepped back, both trying (and failing) to form a complete statement. Corrine giggled and mussed with Rex's hair, who remained mostly unaffected by Zeke. Mythra, whose face was now flushed as well held up a hand and stared at Zeke with malice in her eyes. "I'll burn you," she said, sending both Zeke and Pandoria into a defensive stance.

"There will be no burning of any sort," a familiar, heavily accented voice came from the doorway. "You will all remain calm. Zeke?"

"Y-yes?" He responded, the fear very clear in his eyes.

"Shut up." A slender form walked through the door, her arms folded behind her back. Her hat shaded her eyes, but their gaze could still be felt. Behind her, a shining blue and purple form followed, a thin smile on her face.

"Mòrag! Brighid!" Rex exclaimed, jumping up and rushing to give them a hug. The Ardainian Inquisitor held out her hands, slowing down the salvager, before embracing him quickly, and stepping back. She smiled lightly.

"Hello, Rex. Pyra, Mythra, Nia." She looked around. "Hello to you too, Corrine. And Dromarch."

"What're you doing 'ere, Mòrag?" Nia asked, standing up and shaking her hand. "I thought you'd be supervising the new problems that might've arisen in Mor Ardain."

"Well…" She looked away from the others and blushed a little. "Emperor Niall thought that I had been working extremely hard these past few months. Somehow, I think he got the idea that Brighid and I were an… item… and wanted to give us a special two-week vacation." She looked back at Brighid who smiled.

"It's not uncommon," she said. "Lady Mòrag and I are constantly in each other's presence. It's only natural for some oblivious people to believe that we are a couple." Quickly, her gaze (or whatever could be seen of it) flicked towards Rex before disappearing from view once more.

"Well, aren't you?" Rex asked, unaware of the implications he was instigating. "I mean, you are partners."

Mòrag blushed even more, a rare sight, as Brighid stepped forward. "No, Rex. I meant it in a more romantic sense of the word."

"Hold up…" Rex finally understood what Zeke had mentioned back at the World Tree. "Oh shoot." His eyes widened as he cringed internally at all the dumb things he had said in the past. "Oh, I'm such an idiot!" He said. "Sorry, Mòrag. I didn't mean to… ya know…"

She stood up straight, regaining her composure. "It's all right, Rex. Anyone could've made that mistake."

"Well, well, well!" Zeke said loudly, sauntering over to Mòrag. "You should try being more, as Tora once told Pyra, 'blushy-crushy!' It's really quite cute!" Pandoria's eyes widened as she realized what her Driver said and backed away quickly. The others did the same.

Many emotions flashed across the Inquisitor's face, as she pulled her Whipswords and nearly attacked Zeke before freezing. Her face turned beet red as she looked at Zeke. "Did you just call me… Cute?"

Chuckling nervously, Zeke stood up, his own hand resting on his sword, just in case. "I did. Sorry, Mòrag."

She put her Whipswords away before turning to the group, handing them all envelopes. "These are your tickets to Torigoth from the Indoline travel places. Meet me there tomorrow at 10:00, sharp!" She turned and was about to walk out before looking at Zeke intently, turning red once more, smiling slightly, and slapping him across the face, sending him into a wall on the far side of the room. Folding her arms behind her back, she walked out, Brighid in close pursuit bowing her head in apology as she left.

Zeke got up with Pandoria's help, the others turning to look at him. He smiled woozily. "That woman has one hell of a hand…" He said before collapsing again.

Rex laughed. It seemed almost as if nothing had changed.