Welcome to the first chapter of my Tales of the Abyss AU. Please note that this is intended to be (mainly) a tragedy; some later chapters will contain character deaths; if you do not want to read such a thing, I suggest you avoid going any further.

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ATTENTION, READERS! This fic contains FULL GAME SPOILERS for Tales of the Abyss! If you have NOT COMPLETED the game, and do not want to be spoiled, PLEASE STOP READING NOW. Thank you.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Tales copyright or the characters; I am merely a fan who enjoys writing about them. All rights belong to Namco/Namco Bandai; character designs (c) Kosuke Fujishima.


.:S.C.O.R.E.:.O.F.:.F.I.N.A.L.:.J.U.D.G.M.E.N.T:.

.ND1994.


The air was cold and chill. The snow fell around them softly, as it always did; it would seem to the casual observer that nothing was amiss. The adults went about their business. Children played in the square. Night followed day, the world turned, life went on as usual.

But for four standing near the entrance to the town - three preteen boys and a seven-year-old girl - it had become much, much bleaker over the last three weeks.

- - - - - - - -

It began with the simple, insatiable curiosity of a twelve-year-old genius, combined with raw power, arrogance, and a thirst for knowledge, but lacking any comprehension of the vast differences between life and death.

Young Jade Balfour had always been exceptionally talented - academics were a breeze for him, and his skill with Artes was not something to be taken lightly, not at all. Six of seven Fonic elements were at his disposal, and he made good use of them; there were few - even among adults - who could match his prowess with Artes. Woe be to the monster that tousled with him, a simple chant was all it took to end it.

But his natural skills with the six elements only made his inability to use the Seventh that much more unacceptable. It was a glaring weakness, a hinderance, a flaw that could not be tolerated. There had to be a way that he could use it! All of the books and manuscripts said the same thing, however, and indeed, even his very own teacher, Professor Nebilim, had affirmed it as well - that the ability to use the Seventh Fonon was something one was born with; those who were not born with this ability had no hope of ever being able to control it.

But Jade would not be deterred so easily. If there was a way he would find it - and thus, this growing, glaring irksome flaw became a insatiable obsession. Then came a day when he had thought he found his answer - an older book loaned from his Professor, his own willful genius and all that he had learned of artes. Carefully, he had inscribed a glyph to gather the Seventh fonon; to harness it, control it.

And then...all hell broke loose.

Flashes. Nebilim. Screams. Fire. Fear. A surge of power bursting forth...a furious, terrible power of destruction. His teacher running toward him, calling out for him to stop before he killed himself. The cry that pierced the air. The burn, the hot, yellow-gold flames that had all but engulfed the house.

And fear. More than anything, fear.

It was a foreign emotion to him. But there was no other logical way to describe that terrible uneasiness that had nearly overcome him; the crushing anxiety and remorse that had made it so hard to breathe.

The flames grew quickly higher...

- - - - - - - -

It had been impossible to save her; though he and Saphir had managed to get her out of the house, it had been futile - for not twenty minutes later, on a lonely snowbank, she passed away.

They all missed her terribly, but there was no way to bring her back, of course. She was gone forever.

- - - - - - - -

It was but two weeks hence when another sullen change came.

"...Adopt me? Why should such a well-respected military family bother with a common orphan?" young Balfour asked. "And in Keterburg, of all places?"

"I have heard much about you," the tall, teal-clad man before him stated, "your teachers have spoken of your academic accomplishments; you're a very talented young man."

They were in the office of the headmistress at Keterburg Orphanage. The man was a General in the Malkuth armed forces, a well-known one at that - the Curtiss name, after all, was not one to be taken lightly. But Jade had been very much surprised to meet him; what would the head of such a prestigious family want with him? As it turned out, they were looking to adopt.

"Surely there are many other 'talented young men' in Grand Chokmah," the lad now stated, but General Curtiss shook his head.

"Ah, even now, I can see that what they say about you is true," he nodded. "You are very shrewd. I'm sure you have many questions.

"The truth of the matter is, boy...my wife...is barren; we are unable to have children. Every avenue we've tried has been exhausted, and with no results. Adoption is the only route left available to us...when we consulted the Score, it directed us here: "within winter's gales lies that which is precious; a waiting Celsius' Tear"."

"...I...see. But, I have a sister. Surely you-"

But General Curtiss held up his hand. "I...apologize. But the Score clearly states only one. Perhaps something can be arranged for her later on, but...at present, only one can come with us." Jade did not say anything. Cold and cruel, yes - he could be both of those...but where Nephry was concerned...

She and he were all the other had left - and she was only seven years old; could he really just leave her?

"...You'd be able to visit her, of course," General Curtiss said now. "By no means would you be required to break ties. But you will be able to live a better life - attend prominent schools, a university - you'd be better able to cultivate your talents...And, even if you are apart, this could benefit your sister as well."

"And ultimately, boy...this is Lorelei's will. I am sure that everything will work itself out."

Ah, yes. The Score, the will of Lorelei.

Follow the Score, and prosperity would follow. It was the same creed he had been hearing since his birth. It was the same creed everyone had heard, all their lives, from the moment they entered the world. He wasn't entirely convinced, oh no. Scores besides those of Yulia were often vague and difficult to understand; left up to personal interpretation, could errors not be made?

Still, all Scores, he was told, were entwined with the Planet Score, Yulia's Score, the one which guided the life of the planet itself. For two-thousand years, it had led the world down this path and for two-thousand years it had never been wrong. Ultimately, each Score was one with that of the Planet.

And the Score must be upheld.

- - - - - - - -

That had been about a week ago. Jade had agreed to the adoption, on the promise that he would not be compelled to break ties with his only other living relative, and that she would be able to stay in contact as well. The General had agreed - stedfastly assuring him that this would never be an issue - and Jade saw little reason to doubt the man.

The General had written to his wife immediately afterward, telling her the good news. He would stay in Keterburg for a few more days, to take care of any paperwork, and give Jade time to gather his things and say goodbye (what the soon-to-be-Curtiss did not tell his new father was that there wasn't much to say goodbye to). Though he was no longer the so-called devil-child he'd once been - and hadn't been for the past few years - plenty of the adults in Keterburg still despised him and would be glad when he had left.

Now - five days after the initial meeting with the General, here they stood at the entrance to the Silver Snowland, waiting for the General to come pick up Jade and saying their final goodbyes.

Seven-year-old Nephry clung to her brother, crying and wondering why Lorelei was being so mean. She didn't fully understand all the details, but she did know that it was the Score that had made the decision, and she couldn't fathom that - why would Lorelei want to separate her from her brother? Jade had done his best to explain the advantages of the situation, but she still didn't really get why he had to go away.

Saphir was crying buckets, too, but Jade had threatened the silver-haired lad with unspeakable pain if he or his runny nose came anywhere near the brunet, so the former simply stood nearby and cried for the world to hear. Prince Peony - or "Franz", as he was known among the class - stood by as well, unusually silent. Normally, he would have something goofy to say or an oddball joke, but these past weeks had been just as hard on him as everyone else.

At last, General Curtiss was seen coming down the stairs toward the entrance, accompanied by two servants with luggage.

"Well," Jade began, "I suppose this is it, now. Saphir, do stop that crying; it's revolting. Nephry...be a good girl and go with Franz and Saphir. Things will be better in the long run. We shall write, and someday, perhaps, we shall be able to visit one another. Franz, I'll need you to watch out for Nephry in my place, understand?" His friends nodded their assent.

"Good," he responded, all business. "Now, I think it's best if you headed back...it will be easier that way. Goodbye, everyone." With a final hug, Nephry allowed Franz to escort her away, clinging to his arm as though it were a lifeline; and with a last sob, Saphir followed them, back toward the orphanage.

"Are you all ready?" the General asked as he approached. Jade nodded.

"I am."

"Then let us be off to Keterburg Bay. Our ship leaves at noon."

"Yes sir."

With this, the small party set out toward the Bay, on the road to a new life.

What lay in store for all of them, only Lorelei knew.


And thank you for reading! Those who have played the Nebilim Sidequest might have recognized certain scenes...and should also note what was omitted from them here. That ought to have given some clue as to what key component is missing from this AU (if it isn't obvious already XP). If it is not clear in this chapter, it should be by the time I post the next one.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

- A Celsius' Tear is a fictional gem from Tales of Symphonia; the definition from that game is, "A flower-shaped ice crystal that can freeze anything it touches". Seeing as Jade is a rather cold person, as well as "a gem", I thought it an appropriate fit.

- Franz (Peony) does not have a crush on Nephry at this point; that develops later. He's merely watching out for her as would a gentlemen, a friend, and a friend of a friend XP

- Yes, Nephry actually is five years younger than Jade; if you check here (take out the spaces): http / hidden-currents. org/abyss/rheoster .htm , you'll find her birth year is ND1987; Jade's is ND1982.