For the most part, New Tales from the Borderlands tells a story that is largely disconnected from the rest of the Borderlands universe. Though some familiar faces like Rhys have brief cameos, Sirens are referenced often, and Vaultlanders serve as nods to old Vault Hunters, the story focuses almost entirely on its new cast. This gives the new characters a chance to shine, and it also makes the very last scene of the game exciting, as it finally brings the popular character Fiona back into the fold.
Fiona was one of the two protagonists featured in the original Tales from the Borderlands, but ever since she stepped into the Vault of the Traveler with Rhys, she has been completely out of the picture. This has left fans scratching their heads, especially when Rhys returns unscathed in Borderlands 3. With an ECHO log suggesting that he has been looking for Fiona (or possibly her sister Sasha), Gearbox has turned her whereabouts into a mystery. Now, Fiona is back, but New Tales from the Borderlands players are still left wondering what happened to her.
Borderlands Fans Still Have No Clue What Happened to Fiona
Though Randy Pitchford confirmed that Fiona and Sasha would not appear in New Tales from the Borderlands' main plot, fans were pleasantly surprised to see the former once again once Marcus Kincaid’s storytelling reached its end. To the delight of longtime players, Laura Bailey reprises her role as Fiona, with her signature hat and con artist occupation maintained during the brief scene. However, the suddenness with which she shows up is a bit of a surprise.
With players waiting so long to see Fiona again, it is a bit odd that the elephant in the room was not addressed alongside her comeback. Though her interest in Anu and Octavio gets her talking about closeness between siblings, suggesting that she will be reconnecting with Sasha next time gamers see her, she simply appears alongside Marcus. While it is great to see her coming back into play, Gearbox is clearly letting the Vault of the Traveler mystery linger on a bit longer.
Much like Rhys Strongfork, Fiona seems unchanged after being teleported out of the Vault. Further, though some had theorized she was teleported far away, it seems like that was not the case. Why she would be hiding from Rhys - assuming he was looking for her and not Sasha - is anyone’s guess. Hopefully, when Fiona reappears, she will mention what the treasure within the Vault of the Traveler was, expanding on where she has been in the years since Tales from the Borderlands.
It is worth pointing out that Fiona has some interest in the green crystal that powered Anu’s Device later on in the story. Not only does she successfully track where the Anahatium is going, but its healing powers are remarkably similar to Felix’s time device, which was used to save Sasha in the first game. A proper connection between the two could explain the reference to the “Time Heals All Wounds” phrase that Felix was known for which also appears in this scene.
Clearly, Gearbox has plans for Fiona. Though New Tales from the Borderlands reviews from fans and critics alike have been mixed, and sales numbers are unlikely to be as impressive as Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, hopefully Gearbox does not abandon this style of game. With the studio learning how to craft these narrative-focused adventures, any growing pains present in this game would not be seen in the next Tales from the Borderlands, and a Fiona and Sasha focus could be a major selling point. Even if a follow-up does not happen, though, having the sisters take on a big role in Borderlands 4 is another option. Regardless of where she appears next, Fiona needs to finally give fans some answers about where the Vault took her and what she has been up to since then.
New Tales from the Borderlands is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
