Author note: I do not own the Last Story, nor do I own Count Arganan or any of the other characters...

What if Calista had been able to drag her uncle Count Arganan away from the Lazulis half of the Outsider before it could destroy his life and sanity? What happened after that? Could this give Calista and her uncle a chance to finally get on terms with each other? I found it incredibly heartbreaking that Count Arganan and Calista never got the chance to try to sit down and talk over things in the Last Story, so this is my take on what could have happened.

Warning: Post-game, spoilers, Zaelista, Count Arganan-centric, mentioned onesided Count ArgananxCalista's mother, other pairings, possible violence

Constructive Criticism would really be appreciated, and I hope that you read, review and enjoy! Thanks! XD

Restoration

1. Unexpected gain

He remembered being dragged away from the Outsider when he woke up.

"Uncle, please!"

His head immediately hurt after Calista's voice resounded in his head. He wanted to put a hand to his head, but found that he could barely move. He tried to shift about on whatever he was lying on (he was sure he was in a bed, in his own room), but he really couldn't move much, which was annoying-and painful.

He felt like he was nearly lifeless, his very form made up of nothing but skin and bones-

...wait...where was his metal arm? And leg? And his eyepatch was off, too, and the one white glove he wore on his right hand. The Count normally didn't sleep with the arm and leg unattached to his form (though of course he would take off the eyepatch and glove because it was uncomfortable with it otherwise-the metal limbs were something he had gotten used to over time, lots of time). He took a sideglance to his left and noticed the limbs propped up against the nightstand, the glove and eyepatch on top of the stand. At least he knew for sure that he was certainly in his room, which thankfully wasn't wrecked by the Gurak attacks.

How did he get here? Did he pass out? How long had he been unconscious and in bed? The questions just kept attacking his mind, which made his head hurt even more. He tried to bear with it, though, trying to ignore it the best he could.

He tried to move his arms and legs (technically arm and leg since the metal limbs weren't attached to him) again, only for pain to shoot through his entire body. He let out grunt, gritting his teeth as he decided to try not to move so much, opting to see if he could move smaller body parts like his ankle and wrist. He didn't want his body being completely useless-he had enough of feeling that his body was too useless for his use after losing his left eye, arm and leg.

Move...

He tried to force his right arm to move, and he found himself silently begging himself to move in some way. He didn't want to be completely disabled-he had already suffered his fill in a war several years back-that was what resulted in the loss of his left limbs and eye.

Please move...please...I cannot be paralyzed, I can't...

All of a suddenly, warmth seemed to radiate from his right hand, and he gasped in surprise at the feeling. It seemed to consume his hand entirely, gently trickling up his arm and pouring throughout his veins, as if telling him that he was still somewhat able. He hesitantly moved his hand from underneath the covers and found that he could move it. Slowly moving his arm upwards to test it, the covers fell away...

...and on the back of his right hand was the cross shaped mark of the Outsider, glowing not just its usual light blue colour, but shifting to red, then to green, and then blue again.

What?

The Outsider's Power? How could it be that he had this!? It nearly killed him, as far as he could remember now, and-

The door opened, and he looked up to see none other than Calista and Zael enter the room. Calista's eyes widened as she rushed over to him.

"Uncle!? You're awake and..." She stared at his glowing hand. "You...you have the Outsider's power!?"

Zael also rushed over to him, staring at Arganan's hand as well. "Count Arganan..." He seemed at a loss for words.

Arganan winced as he felt his head throb in pain, before trying to speak up.

"...What...happened...?" He managed weakly, hating how hoarse he sounded. "Did-did the Outsider-"

"Uncle, don't speak. Please." Calista tried to push his arm back down as she spoke. "You still need to rest. Your body...the Outsider nearly killed you, and could have if I hadn't pulled you away from it in time. You've been unconscious for a week."

He looked up from gazing at the no longer glowing mark on his hand to lock gazes with Calista, intending on speaking, but stayed silent as soon as he realized her expression was completely full of concern. If he spoke, she would just keep fussing over him as it was at the moment.

He stayed silent. Better to save the energy than to try to get into a hopeless argument with his niece.

Well then. Obtaining the Outsider's power was certainly an unexpected gain from his attempt to get the Outsider to attack the Gurak fortress.

But...how in the world did he even get it? He nearly slipped into complete unconsciousness with that question on his mind.