On returning to the workshop, you find that you’ve arrived just in time for a hazardous event- Reyn has been waiting here for Shulk, and eventually succumbed to ‘Don’t Press This Button’- having picked up the Monado, he accidentally activates it and loses control, flailing about with it randomly. Fiona and Shulk are forced to duck and dodge a bit as the energy blade swings wildly- cleaving through one of Shulk’s machines and striking Fiona!
It is at this point that Reyn manages to drop the thing. Shulk appears totally unconcerned about Fiona, instead going to see if his machine is salvagable as he chides Reyn for picking up the dangerous weapon. Fortunately, Fiona turns out to be perfectly alright, though now she’s quite upset with Shulk, and keeps trying to chew him out for not being worried about her safety- the inventor just brushes her off repeatedly with a few comments about how the Monado doesn’t damage anything but machines.
Not one to be ignored, Fiona presses Shulk about it- causing him to back up and bump the hilt of the Monado on its pedestal. Immediately, the Monado unleashes a torrent of disjointed visions on Shulk, who staggers with the sword in his hand- and a different symbol from usual in the ring of the sword’s grip.
Fiona drops her anger as Shulk zones out, and she and Reyn question if he’s alright, concerned for their friend. Shulk brushes this off as well, instead asking Reyn if he saw any visions or flashbacks when the Monado was active in his grip. Reyn explains that he did not, and supposes aloud that this may be why only Dunban can wield the strange weapon. This sets Fiona off, though more mildly than before- she asserts that she won’t let her brother use the Monado again after what it did to him during the previous war. Reyn apologizes to her, causing her to calm down.
Shulk reassures his friends that he’s alright, but Fiona is still concerned, not easily deflected from her focus.
Apparently uncomfortable as such a focus, Shulk turns the topic of conversation to Reyn and his reason for being in the lab. The taller man admits to having ‘punishment duty’ from Colonel Vangarre- which apparently included getting punched a few times, performing 1000 squats and sit-ups (a pretty ridiculous amount of exercise for anyone, particularly in a row) and now tasked with taking a trip to the Mag Mell ruins and back in order to bring back some Ether cylinders for the Mobile Artillery- as it turns out, the refueling station in the Military District is empty, and so while the Mobile Artillery is repaired, it can’t go anywhere because there is no Ether cylinder to fuel it with at the moment.
Shulk agrees to come along, declaring that he’s familiar with the area and can help Reyn out with finding what he needs. Fiona expresses concern, though- and calls Shulk ‘delicate’ into the mix.
Naturally, the two young men both disagree. Fiona insists, prompting Reyn to promise Shulk will be kept completely safe- but Fiona rejects this as well. Reyn declares he’s hurt by Fiona’s lack of trust after she turns and heads out of the lab, but Shulk reassures him that that isn’t the issue.
On leaving the cutscene, your Arts and Skills submenus are enabled, so you can upgrade your Arts and select Skill Tree branches yourself. And then, once again, you’re set free upon Bionis..... sort of.
