The following is a work of fan fiction by Joshua D. Tarwater and is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.

“The Machine Gods sleep.
To face the Dreaded One
swords were raised.
The oaths of the Machine Knights.”

···

♪ ~ [The Fourth Layer ~ Kevin Penkin ~ MADE IN ABYSS ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK 2]

Sand blowing with a howling wind
Trees growing through sand and ancient steel alike
Street signs long unused
Holograms born of tweaked electrical currents flickering
A city of towers, steam pipes, and powerlines
Faded shop signs and broken windows
Steam powered electric cars strewn about
A flood of colored lights from a cave
A single glowing blue eye in the darkness
A clockwork skeleton
A blue suit of armor like bubbles forged from steal
A comforting shape
A shield larger than the Machine Knight

         “And here we are my friends,” Shield the Blue chirped mirthfully as the swarm of fairies around her scattered and took to the ancient city of clockwork, steam, and primitive yet fantastical electricity.

         Taking a step from the desert cave, Shield held her towering namesake above her tiny round helm and turned her blue eye onto where Yoluku hung in the sky. The eclipse seemed to glare at her, but it lacked the ominous Red Gear Ring. It was a sight that satisfied the Machine Knight.

         “I suppose you would find it boring to play with our things while you slept if we weren’t here to make a fuss of it. A pity that you could not keep sleeping. How troublesome you are Benedict.

         “So be it, I Shield the Blue will simply have to fulfil my oath to assure you continue your slumber. However, to do that…”

         Striding through the ancient city, Shield’s medieval knight visage blended right in, revealing that even the steam works, clockwork, and antique electricity held a medieval fashioning. It made the metal construction of the city that much more curious, though as sand was swept aside by the wind, it became more and more obvious that there was once a great deal of brick and mortar that accompanied the ancient metal.

         “It’s rather pitted and worn out though,” Shield commented, pinching her chin as she leaned in close to get a good look at one tower wall that rose before her. “It likely won’t be possible to bring the city to working order on my own. The forges are more important though. The Ring Mage must be tested fully if I am to determine if it is safe or not to engage him and the Medium.

         “I wonder if anyone has found any of them yet…”

         Wandering through sand flooded sewer tunnels which were themselves giant pipes once fully lined with brick, the ivy that rather successfully won out against the sand caught the Machine Knight’s interest.

         “That the Children of Gaia are still fighting so hard against Benedict. It must be in your nature. However, you should have all long forgotten him, yet you likely grew to face him all the same. Even sleeping he is a troublesome boy.

         “Worry not though. You find yourselves in the company of Shield the Blue. I will join you in battle and tend to your needs by brewing you the finest fertilizers. Our battle against the Dreaded One shall never be in vain.

         “Mind, you’ll have to wait on the fertilizer until the knights and I restore the city. To that end I depart for the forges.”

         From giant pipes serving as sewer tunnels to the parapets of ancient walls and abandoned halls and stairwells of countless towers, Shield the Blue wandered the Resting City. She was far from alone however and was frequently joined by any number of the swarm of fairies that had joined her in the city.

         To Sonic and Rosy the fairies had no voices, but to each other and the Machine Knight, communication was more than possible. Exploring in response to the information she was provided and giving orders to detail the search of the Resting City, Shield steadily made a map in her mind. As an autogolem she need not rest, and as the sun moved not from behind where Yoluku hung in the sky, she had no need to delay for sunset. The fairies were less fortuitous however and were forced to take shifts in the Resting City’s exploration.

         A lone green fairy soon joined Shield at the parapets of one particular tower that made it easy to see how buried under the sand it was. But it was worse than Shield had imagined as the green fairy had quite the surprise for her. “Really!”

         Placing both of her gauntlet clad hands upon the parapets, Shield looked out at the city anew, her lone glowing blue eye seeming to shimmer.

         “To think we’ve barely explored the highest towers, the Rings have surely had their way with our once glorious city. The others would surely be infuriated to hear the accursed things were causing so much trouble.

         “…

         “Or perhaps have you woken already as well Ring. We have a traitor in our midst if the Ring Mage is to be believed.”

         Pinching her chin in thought again, Shield surveyed the city once more. “Sand is a terrible preservative I must say though. But perhaps the lower levels of the city are in better shape.

         “Come now my friend, lead the way,” Shield instructed the green fairy that had brought the news of the city’s depths to her. But though it aimed to lead her into the depths of the Resting City, an explosion shook the air, and a tower of black smoke soon joined the towers of steal and lingering brickwork.

         “Would you look at that!” Shield exclaimed with delight and glee, clasping her hands together in a joyous swoon. “We have a forge my friend. The depths will have to wait for another time. First we arm all of you and prepare for Benedict and the Ring Mage.”

         The forge as it was needed repairs of serious degree, but Shield had little worry. More so, she was Shield the Blue, Alchemist of the Knights of the Sword.

         At her command yellow fairies gathered up the Rings and took up positions around the entirety of the forge. Not just the forge however, but an adjoining manufacturing plant and gear system that disappeared deep into the bowels of the city. Once all the fairies were in position it was Shield’s turn to act.

         “I may not be as battle worthy as Saber and Rapier, and surely not Claymore, but I dare say alchemy is under appreciated in all the world. But you my friends do not think so, no?”

         Eying the swarm of fairies as she slammed her shield into the ground, a mirthful chuckle escaped from the Machine Knight’s armor as the fairies shook their heads. “You are all far too kind.

         “Now then, witness alchemy!” Shield shouted, her shield suddenly glowing a powerful blue that washed over the whole of the city.

         Everywhere yellow fairies gathered and brought Rings they scattered as the Rings turned blue and ceased spinning on their axes. They did not stay blue for long however as Shield raised her shield high before again slamming it into the ground. As the blue light was blasted away the blue Rings were taken with it. In the wake of the light the manufacturing plant and forge were fully restored to their former glory. Soon great gears began to turn, and billows fed the flames of the stoves and ovens. Water rose on bucket carrying conveyers from depths unknown and the fairies worked tirelessly to keep the piling sands out. Soon enough fairies began to be armed in autogolems built around great helms and designed for any number of purposes. It would only be a matter of time before it was but a small number of machine knights that patrolled the Resting City to a great number that populated it.

         “Do you see Benedict,” Shield gloated from atop a tower from which she could see the entire city. But it was Yoluku she eyed and not the Resting city as she spoke her declaration. “I am but one of seven and already I have begun to turn the gears that will assure your defeat. And unlike the others who have woken, I will not fail to face the Ring Mage and bring an end to the threat posed by your Medium.

         “The poor girl though,” Shield commented as she walked away from the parapets and descended the tower stair. “She’s been threatened with imprisonment and death while she yet strives to face Benedict herself. Curious, curious. It should not even be possible unless it is one of Benedict’s games.

         “So be it. I will have to meet with the girl eventually. Perhaps I will be able to find a means to make her cookies long before then. But will the Ring Mage trust a Knight of the Sword and allow us to hold counsel? How is it even that he keeps at bay Benedict's powers. Even slumbering the Rings are his, it should not be possible.”

         Stopping to look out a slit window, it was possible the faceless Machine Knight would have smiled with anticipation. “It has been quite a time since last I was able to research. Leadership is hardly my way, no matter what the others say. I’m far happier with a book like Saber. Ah, what I would do to hold discourse of my alchemy and his magics yet again. It would be a delight.

         “For now though, I must ready for counsel with one of Benedict’s Mediums. Busy, busy I am.”

         With more of her mirthful laughter, Shield resumed her descent of the tower, her mind racing over countless details that needed her attention. Even with one forge and manufacturing plant restored, the Resting City was far from ready to be woken.