Heart Like a Machine

Chapter 64

We all headed back to the base with a Burrower trophy. Beta was holding onto it, admiring as we were walking to the base entrance. When we entered, the others were there to see how she had done. When Beta walked in, she talked about the Burrowers and how she took them down. I looked over at Aloy to see how proud she was of Beta. 

"You think she's ready?" I asked.

"I don't know, but she has gotten better. It'll take her time to find her way, but I think she is ready to spread her wings and fly. I just want to give her one more test before I know for sure she's ready."

"What's that?"

"She's going to fight a Behemoth."

"A Behemoth?"

"Yes. I think a Thunderjaw is too big for her and a Clawstrider is too small. So I was thinking a Behemoth would be best."

"She's going to have to face those big machines eventually."

"She may have to, but if she ever needs help with it, we'll be there to help her."

I nodded my head, "Of course."

"I know she's ready," Aloy turned and looked back at her sister. "But am I ready to let her go?"

"You definitely are an important person in her life, Aloy. You taught her what you were taught. She has definitely proven her worth of being prepared."

"Yeah," she said. "I just worry about her. She wasn't much of a fighter and you saw it. She was shy and timid, afraid to open up to others."

"But look at far she has come. She came out of her shell, worked with Sylens, and started to open up around us. Sure it took her some time, but she still came around. She has shown you that she can be a fighter with the right practice and training. And she had a great teacher."

She smiled, "Are you trying to make me blush, Y/N?"

"Not really, but I am speaking the truth. You are a great teacher. You helped me learn more things than I could with the Focus. You've done so much for everyone, Aloy. It's time to let her spread her wings and fly like a Sunwing."

She nodded, "You're right. It is time. With that being said."

"What's up?"

"Once we finish the house and get everything settled in there, I think it's time we start our own family."

I smiled and pulled her into a tight hug, "I thought you would be against it."

"I didn't like the thought at first, but now that I had time to think about it, I think it's time that we teach our own."

I pulled away and smiled, placing a small kiss on her cheek, "I can't wait."

That night, Zo and I made some stew for the others since we were all here together since the battle against the Zeniths. After what happened with Nemesis, everyone here knows that I am a clone of the original. It didn't take them long to wrap their heads around since Aloy explained how she was a clone as well. Aloy and Beta were looking after Zo's son while we got things ready. Erend and Kotallo were talking to one another about family and possibly creating one. Kotallo wasn't fond of the idea, but Erend was. He wanted to have a little fighter around. 

"You know for the longest time I had the biggest crush on Aloy," Erend said.

"You did?" I asked.

"Yeah. I don't know how you didn't know?"

"I was too busy trying not to let my feelings get in between our friendship to see you had feelings as well," I chuckled. 

"Figures," Erend said.

"Hey," I said and threw a raw carrot at his head, striking him right in the forehead. "You can be dense sometimes. I don't think you would see your chance with a girl even if it hit you in the forehead."

"You mean like this carrot?" he asked and picked it up, throwing it back at me.

I caught it, laughing as he looked amazed that I caught it.

"You should work on your reflexes, Erend. And your courtsmanship."

The others started to chuckle as Erend looked around and grunted, "Alright I'll give you that one, Y/N. That was a pretty good one."

"Did you notice, Aloy?" Beta asked.

"I noticed, but I had my eyes on someone else."

"Oh did you know?" Erend asked. "Who was it?"

"Obviously me, Erend," I said.

"By the forge!" he said sarcastically. "Who knew?!"

We all laughed.

"Don't worry, Erend," Aloy said and patted his shoulder. "You'll find someone out there."

"I know. There's a lot of Oseram women, but none that have that captivating red hair of yours."

"Don't get any ideas," Beta said.

"W-Why would you think I had that idea?"

"I look exactly like Aloy. If you had a crush on her, who's to say you won't have one on her twin sister."

"She does have a point," Kotallo said.

"Ah, can it, Kotallo."

"Enough of the fun bickering," I said and brought over a couple bowls. "The stew is ready."

I handed one bowl to Erend and Kotallo before heading back over to Zo. I grabbed a couple more bowls and handed one each to Aloy and Beta. Zo came over with a smaller bowl and grabbed her son from inbetween Aloy and Beta. She sat down and started to feed him. 

"Do you want to get yours later, Zo?"

"Yeah, I'll be over there in a little bit."

I grabbed myself a bowl before sitting down next to Aloy. 

"What's on the agenda for everyone?" I asked.

"I'm going to return to the Memorial Grove and see if Chief Hekarro needs any assistance. There are still some straggling Regalla followers that need to be taken care of," Kotallo said.

"I'm heading back to Vegas to be with the delvers in Hidden Ember."

"Tell them I say hi," Aloy said.

"I will. Oh, Morlund wants you to stop by. He needs your help with something."

Aloy let out a small sigh, "Everytime I have helped him with something, it always ended in disaster. Except for retrieving POSIDEN. I actually gained something from that little adventure."

"What other adventure did you go on with him?" Erend asked.

"That flight contraption," Aloy said.

"Hot air balloon," Beta corrected her.

"Is that what it's called?" Aloy asked.

"Yes."

"When we were in that hot air balloon he made, we ran into a Stormbird. Or a Stormbird ran into us. Whichever way it was, we had to deal with a Stormbird. I hope that I don't have to deal with something like that again for one of his inventions. He's a great guy, but very ambitious."

"I can agree there."

"I will be heading back to Plainsong to raise my son in the ways of the Utaru. I will try my best to inform him of the Nora tribe and their traditions. It would what Varl would want," Zo said.

We nodded and continued to eat. Once we were finished, Aloy and I washed the bowls and the others got ready to turn in for the night. Aloy and I headed into our room together to head to bed.