Title: Ominous Fragment
Author: [Bad username or unknown identity: ]
Fandom: Xenoblade Chronicles
Characters: Main 6, Seven, OC.
Rating: All audiences.
Length: 352 words.
Summary: A scene from a larger post-game fic. I think it stands well enough alone. Contains major game spoilers, mentioned in passing but not in detail.
On their way, our heroes find evidence of past trouble, and maybe future trouble.


A black metal fragment sat half-buried in tall golden grass.

Shulk hmmed at it, turned it over with his boot. The heavy shape did not tumble easily, and a spider scurried out from beneath. Reyn cursed under his breath and stepped back.

"Just a little one," Shulk said.

"It's still a spider." Reyn would not be mollified and kept looking at the knee-high grass as if it would manifest more arachnids at any moment.

"Not the spider, the Mechon." Shulk booted the fragment again. He stepped back as it rolled, exposing the webbed-over mouth of an ether cannon. Ignoring Reyn's wordless, disgusted comment, he picked it up to examine it.

Rustling in the grass announced Riki's presence. The little Nopon bumped affectionately against his Homs companions. "Melly and Tikky, just behind," he informed them. Sure enough, they came rustling through the grass, the graceful High Entia and the broad-shouldered Tirkin walking together. Sharla, well behind them, raised an arm in greeting, then pointed at the hill's crest - she, Fiora, and Dunban had a perimeter.

"It's a good thing we're still keeping watch." Shulk stood, brushing the dirt from his knees. "This hasn't been here more than a week. There are Mechon patrolling these valleys."

Tika gave a low, aggravated whistle. Melia nodded, wings rustling. "I don't doubt that, even after the Fall, but don't they need a controller? If they're in disarray, we shall have no problem dealing with them."

"Look at the squad marking." Shulk used a grass stem to clear away the cobwebs. A bar of azure blue was vivid against the oil-black surface.

"I've never seen that one before." Reyn rolled his shoulders, as if to prepare for imminent combat. "But we took down the others. We can take this one, too."

"I'm sure you're right," Shulk said absently, but his tone said, I hope you're right. Careful fingers worked at the fragment, and he popped a loose gear into his pocket.

Melia, unimpressed with either Reyn's bravado or Shulk's pessimism, started off again down the valley. "We'll make no progress worrying about it. Let's keep going for now."