Chapter One: The Unknown

So this is Baticul. Kyle thought to himself. Well, I'd better get moving before I lose this letter. But how the hell do I get up there? Kyle was an abnormally short boy with light brown shaggy hair, eyes that where the color of round blue marbles with light skin. He wore a large light blue vest, and a light blue messenger hat with the Makluth symbol embroidered in the front and an oversized white shirt underneath. His baggy brown pants dragged along the beige stone walkways as he wandered the bustling city. Weaving through the crowds of people he searched for a way up to Batcial's castle. He examined the old buildings that were neatly lined across the cliff with small chipped areas and cracks.

"Are you lost?" a female voice came from behind as she tapped his shoulder. She was a teenage girl with long grayish brown hair and wore a tight dark grey dress that showed off her curves. In one hand, she held a wooden long staff with a small pointed piece of metal at the end.

"Of course not!" Kyle exclaimed. "Only idiots get lost!" He crossed his arms and turned his head, hiding his embarrassment.

"Hrmmmm.?" She placed her hands on her hips and giggled. "If you're looking for the way to the castle, you have to go up in one of those." She pointed to the elevator to the left and smiled.

"I-I knew that!" Blushing, he briskly walked over to the elevator and entered.

"If you're going to the castle why don't you follow me? It doesn't seem like you're from here and fortunately, I'm headed there too." She walked inside and motioned the solider to start going up.

"How did you know that?" Kyle questioned. The girl simply pointed at his emblem that indicated he was an ambassador from Emperor Peony, the king of the Malkuth Empire. "Whatever." He quickly turned his head away in defeat.

"I'm Tear Grants, what's you're name?"

"I have none. Emperor Peony gave the me the name Kyle."

"Really now?" They transferred elevators and continued going up.

"No. I don't need one either." Kyle watched the city shrink more and more as they went further up. The buildings that had once seemed so large changed. They both stepped off the elevator and stood in front of the castle. A fountain spewed water from the sides and the middle with an enormous beige mansion behind, standing with elegance tall above the city. Tear walked over to a black iron gate on the side where two older boys.

"Welcome back, Tear." The red headed boy gently smiled. His white cape flowed down his back and was cut of revealing his abs and long baggy brown pants. Tear blushed and turned away, red.

"I-it's only been a week since I saw you!" Stuttering she crossed her arms and held her head high. Kyle stood on his tippy-toes to reach her ear and covered his mouth with his hand, "Hey, is the red head guy your boyfriend?" Her red face deepened and quickly turned to face Kyle.

"Of course not! Don't be ridiculous!" She scolded.

"Right." His mouth curved into a sly smirk and mockingly sighed.

"Hey! Tear, who is this midget anyway?" the blonde boy was wearing a light brown vest with a long white shirt ticked underneath. His dark tight grey pants were also neatly tucked under his knee length boots.

"HEY! I'm not a midget! "

"Then how about vertically challenged?" The blonde boy said, dripping with sarcasm.

"Watch it!" Kyle stuck out his tongue repulsively.

"Hey kid you better respect your elders!"

"Elders? What are you? My grandpa?"

"Guy! Stop provoking kids!" The red head uneasily looked back and forth at their faces.

"I'M NOT THAT YOUNG! I just turned 15 last week!" Kyle proudly pointed at himself.

"Well I'm 22 so there!"

"You may be 22 Guy, but you act like your ten." Tear strode past the gates and motioned Kyle to follow. Closing the door behind them, the red head and blonde followed.

"Alright. This guy," Tear pointed to the blond guy, "is Gailardia Gailan Gardios."

"Call me Guy for short!"

"And this is – "

"Your boy friend." Kyle scoffed.

"Oh? You guys met only last year when you were such a spoiled brat. When did this happen so suddenly?" Guy gently nudged Luke.

"What?" Luke's face turned bright red while Tear threatened to slap Kyle.

"I'm joking! I'm joking! Sheesh! So, what's your name?" Kyle questioned arrogantly.

"I'm Luke Fon Fabre. Just Luke is fine." Luke extended his hand towards Kyle, though he stared at the hand skeptically.

"Since you live here, take me to where King Ingobert is." Demanded Kyle haughtily.

"Uncle? Why?"

"Your not very observant, are you?" Tear pointed out the Malkuth Emblem once again.

"Oh! So you're the guy who's supposed to deliver the letter from Emperor Peony." Luke placed one fist on top of another indicating that he understood. "Alright then, shall we head over to the throne room?" Luke led them to where his uncle was talking to a man, a small girl, and another girl. The throne room was neatly decorated with large glass stained windows and many columns. A long red carpet stretched across the room to where the King, Queen and princess's chair were located. King Ingobert's red long red hair covered his shoulders and was dressed in a long deep red robe in the King's chair next to his daughter Princess Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. The princess was in a short turquoise dress embroidered with frills and with her short blonde hair hovering about her bare shoulders.

"Tear! Welcome back!" The princess gracefully glided across the red carper to Tear and held her hands.

Kneeling on one leg, Kyle bowed down Princess Natalia. "I have a letter from Emperor Peony." He gave the letter to Nataliia and stood. She tenderly opened the letter and skimmed though it.

"Father!" Natalia ran to the King's side and showed him the letter.

"This is!" King Ingobert's green eyes widened and re-read it over and over again. "How can this be? The fonnnons are disappearing?"

"Not necessarily." The man in green pushed his glasses back in place and began his explanation. His long light brownish blonde hair reached between his shoulder and his elbow. "Ever since we had destroyed the planet storm, the Fonnons are not recycling. Therefore, they are being dispersed around the world. With the excessive amounts of fonnons lingering in the air, they collide into each other taking each other out. If this keeps on going there really will no longer be any fonnons."

"That's terrible!" The girl in pink put her hands up to her face and shook her head with her brown pigtails consecutively moving forward and back.

"If the fonnons disappear, then battle ships and air crafts will be useless. Almost any form of machinery will be useless. Not only that, but we will no longer be able to drawn in fonnons and use of fonic artes."

"I'm sorry, Guy." Luke sighed and placed his hand on Guy's shoulder.

"What? Why me?" Guy looked at him puzzled.

"Come on Guy, we know how you love machinery. If machines aren't able to work anymore, what will become of your life?" The girl giggled and ran around him.

"Now, now, Anise, you shouldn't tease people like that." The man's smile crept its way up Kyle's spine.

"Speak for yourself Colonel Jade Curtis!" Anise joking scolded.

"Ha ha ha, of course. Are you the new messenger boy?"

"No. The original person that was going to be sent suddenly became ill. I was sent from Emperor Peony to deliver that letter in his place. I'm guessing you're one of King Peony's friends Colonel." Kyle bowed.

"Hrm? How did you know that?" Jade crossed his arms.

"One of Emperor Peony's rappigs is named 'Jade'. I used to help take care of them."

"Do I have one too?" Anise looked at him with hope.

"Well, actually 'Jade' turned out to be a girl and had two more rappigs. He named one 'Anise' and the other one Luke."

"WHAT?" Anise stepped backwards in shock ad slowly tilted her head towards Jade. "I can't be his daughter!"

"Anise, 'Jade' isn't even a boy…" Tear blurted out.

"THAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE!" She waved her arms up and down.

"That means I'm his son and Anise's brother…" Luke crossed his arms with his eyes closed and nodded.

"Wait a minute! Does that mean I have lots and lots of money?" Her eyes widened and she jumped.

"So sorry, but I have no real connections to royalty and neither would Luke in that case." He patted Anise on the head.

"Boo Colonel your no fun! Can't you at least pretend?" She puffed her cheeks with dissatisfaction.

"Kyle! I have written a letter to Peony. Send it back to him please." King Ingobert gave the letter to Natalia where she gave it to Kyle.

"Please do it quickly, we may not have enough time until the fonnons disappear compleately." Natalia gave a melancholy look and left the room.

"Everyone is dismissed!" The king followed Natalia while the rest stood in place.

"Kyle, what sort of transportation did you use to arrive here in Baticul?" Jade asked.

"I used an air ship. It's named after the Thrid Fonnon, Sylph." He responded.

"Since you're going back to Grand Chokmah, would you're pilot mind the extra luggage?"

"Of course not. After all, it's just me."

"You came here by yourself?" Luke asked in amazement.

"Sort of."

"Isn't that dangerous? A little guy like you driving around something that destructive as that?" Guy scuffled his light brown hair.

"Agh! I'm not a kid!" Kyle stepped away from Guy's grasp and puffed his cheeks.

"How old are you then?" Anise poked his cheek.

"15 and you better remember that!" He turned his head away from her gaze.

"Oh! You 15? I'm 14!" She clasped her hands together and sweetly smiled.

"Is that so? All right then! Who's coming with me besides the Colonel?" Kyle walked over to the doorway and placed his hands on his hips standing proudly.

"I'm coming!" Anise raised her hand in the air and walked over.

"I'd like to come as well if you don't mind." Tear followed Anise to the door.

"I'd like to ask Emperor Peony about this strange phenomenon. Guy, you coming?" Luke looked over to Guy.

"Why not? As your loyal servant, I shall follow you, master!" Guy teased.

"Cut that out! Your not my servant and don't EVER call me 'master' again!"

"So Mieu can call you 'master', but I can't?" Guy placed his hands on his hips and poked Luke's cheek jokingly.

"MASTER!" a small green- blue and white cheagle with a round supposedly golden hoo-la-hoop hopped over to Luke and tugged at his pants.

"What is it, Mieu?" Luke picked him up and held him face to face.

"Are you going on another journey? Mieu wants to come along too!"

"Alright. So that's makes six of us?" Luke placed Mieu on his shoulder and walked over to the door as everyone else did.

"I guess. Lets go." Kyle walked out and stood in front of the door looking left and right.

"Its this way." Tear pointed left

"I-I knew that!" Kyle's face flushed and walked that way.

"He has no sense of direction, does he?" Anise sighed hopelessly.

"I wonder if we'll be alright with this kid driving us all the way to Grand Chokmah." Guy scratched his head.

"Well if he got here, he can get back." Jade said. The party of seven walked through the city of Baticul and to the field with Kyle leading the way.

"Where'd you park anyway?" Tear questioned.

"A little further…wait stay still." Kyle extended his arm blocking Tear and the rest from advancing. Cracking noises appeared after a few seconds as Kyle cautiously inspected his surroundings. Behind the green and leafy trees and bushes ahead, the sounds grew louder with each passing second.

"I'll take care of this. Stand back everybody."

"But –" Tear started.

"Do as he says, Tear. I'd like to see what ability he has in combat. We're always here for back up anyway." Tear lowered her staff as instructed and gazed over at Kyle. He unslung his messenger bag and took out a large machine gun. Glistening in the small amount of sunlight that seeped in through the tall forest ceiling, the gun's sides were carefully decorated with precise patters that smoothly connected with one another along its short body. After taking off his hat and replacing the black snow goggles form under the hat over his eyes, he knelt to the ground and hid behind a nearby bush. A bird like figure emerged from the shadows and so did a wolf like monster. They viciously glared at the forest surroundings, looking for prey. Kyle tilted his gun slightly and slowly pulled the trigger, causing multiple shots to be fired as the bird immediately fell to the ground, dead. It's colorful feathers floated down over the corpse as deep red blood slowly seeped out. Alarmed, the gray wolf monster growled showing its teeth, and ran towards the bush where Kyle hid.

"Dammit!" Kyle rolled to his left, barely avoiding the monster's long sharp claws. He jumped over its furry coat and pointed the gun behind the monster's head. "Goodbye." A single shot was heard through out the forest as silence spread.

"Amazing!" Mieu glided over to Kyle and happily bounced around his feet.

"Who knew the munchkin was so skilled?" Guy slapped Kyle on the back playfully.

"Yes, indeed. Where did you find something like this?" Jade pushed his glasses back in place examining the gun in Kyle's hands.

"Secret!" The ends of Kyle's mouth curved mischievously and continued walking, carrying the gun over his shoulder.

"Damn that thing's scary!" Luke shivered.

"But he's no ordinary gun, that's for sure." Guy solemnly watched Kyle disappear behind the bushes.

"What you mean?" Luke turned his face towards Guy in curiosity.

"Now, now, boys, standing here will do us nothing. See? The girls were smart enough to go on ahead." Jade continued walking, following the rest of the group through the forest's obstacles. In a patch of grass, a large machine that what was called the Sylph laid in the center. It had a similar appearance to the Albiore, but had sky blue and royal purple triangular patterns decorating the wings and front.

" Alright, all aboard!" One by one, they boarded the aircraft and inspected the insides. There were 8 passenger chairs with light blue cushiony covers, a cabinet that was firmly attached to the wall, and a pilot's chair looking out to the window in front. Kyle swung his body over the small cliff separating the passengers and operators, and sat in the pilots seat. "Alright then! Lets get moving!" He pulled the lever and pushed another. The Sylph began to rise slowly, increasing in height until it hovered over the forest trees. Kyle pushed another lever forward, and the Sylph began advancing towards its destination, Grand Chokmah.

"Kyle?" Anise tilted her body to peek at Kyle.

"You need something?" He answered indifferently.

"If all the fonnons really do disappear, what do you think will happen?" Anise kneeled and placed her elbows on the side of Kyle chair. She rested her face on her hands and tilted her angled.

"Complete chaos and havoc. People like the Colonel would lose their weapons as well."

"Ah, so you know about his weapon too."

"Of course. Not many people who study the usage of fonnons don't know the Father of Fomicry. So, your name is Anise?" he turned his head to face her.

"Yup! Anise Tatlin at your service!" She smiled and made a peace sign with one of her hands. "So, how long will it take until we reach Grand Chokmah?"

"From where we are, it'll take another four hours to get to our destination. Cheese, why don't you come out and help me?" A small yellow and white cheagle appeared from a drawer from inside a dresser super glued along the wall of the Sylph.

"Awwww! Aren't you a cutie?" Anise picked up Cheese and held him above her head spinning in circles.

"Be careful! He – "

"Owie! He bit me!" Anise dropped the cheagle and scampered a safe distance away.

"I warned you!" Kyle snickered.

"Don't touch me, ugly." The cheagle hopped onto the table and watched the clouds fly by.

"IT TALKED!" Anise shouted, confused. "I thought cheagles could only talk if they're wearing the Sorcer's Ring!"

"Cheese is an exception. He can talk with out it. Makes things convenient for me though." He patted Cheese on the head lightly. "You bleeding, Anise?"

"Yea, a little." She sniffled, squeezing it.

"Hey! Old man! You know how to steer this thing, don't you?"

"WHAT? OLD MAN?" Guy whipped his head around and looked down at Kyle.

"Take over for a minute or two." Kyle stood up and climbed up the stairs towards one of the cabinets.

"Hey! Don't call me an old man and leave this thing unattended so suddenly!" Guy jumped over the ledge and sat in the pilots seat securing the controls in his hands. Kyle took out a first aid kit and removed a small band-aid.

"Alight, here's a band-aid. I presume you know how to put one of these on, don't you?" Kyle mocked.

"Of course!" She stuck her tongue out and placed the band-aid over the small bite marks.

"Alrightie scoot over." Kyle pushed Guy.

"I got it! I got it! No need to be pushy!" Guy rose to his feet and walked over to the seat next to Luke.

"Looks like we're stuck with this guy for the next six hours or so." Luke sighed scratching his head with his hand.

"Well, at least I won't get bored. Right?" After spending the next four hours in the Sylph talking, fighting, sighing and whatnot, they disembarked in a reserved area for the aircraft and entered Grand Chokmah. The city of Grand Chokmah was next to the sea where it glittered in the evening sunlight and where small boats were being brought in, ending the day. The cream buildings were newer than the ones in Baticul, but had equal beauty in architecture and were neatly aligned along the stone street.

"It's been a while since I've been here!" Luke raised his arms and stretched after hours in the compact airship.

"Yea, it really has." Guy skimmed the area taking in the city's change. They reached the fountain in front of the castle and turned inside to the hall.

"Kyle! Your back already! Good job on your first official mission!" Emperor Peony was standing by the long staircase and walked over to ruffle his hair.

"I've returned with a response, Emperor Peony." Kyle held out the letter gingerly in his hands. Peony tore open the envelope and absorbed every word written.

"I see… there's going to be a meeting with King Ingobert and Teodoro. Jade, Luke, Guy, Anise and Tear you guys will be able to join the meeting as well. It will take place here tomorrow."

"So soon?" Tear exclaimed. "Normally they're planned a few weeks beforehand!"

"This is an emergency. If we do not take care of this situation as soon as possible, we will lose what our lives depend on. I've arranged rooms for you guys to tonight. Anise, you'll be sharing a room with Tear, is that alright?"

"Of course! Tear." Anise shifted her eyes towards Tear's face. "Tonight will be lots of fun! Telling secrets and all!" She giggled.

"W-what!" Tear twitched and looked away, red.

"Have fun with your little interrogation." Kyle yawned and sleepily headed towards his room.

"Kyle! Do you stay here in the castle?" Anise called.

"Yea." He replied without turning around.

"Then we'll see you tomorrow! G'night!" He raised his hand in acknowledgement without turning around as Anise pulled Tear along with her following one of Peony's maids. Kyle walked into his room and rested his body on his closed door. Cheese flounced over to the small little bed Kyle built on the night table.

"Good night…" Cheese yawned and fell asleep.

"Night…" Kyle stayed in front of his door, thinking. After moments had passed, he walked over to his bookcase and grabbed his journal and a stack of books relating to fonnons. Returning to his desk, he took a pen and began his research. All night long, he worked on creating theories to prevent the disappearance of fonnons throughout the world. Time kept ticking by, yet he still couldn't figure out the way out of this almost impossible maze. Every turn he seemed to take, there was always a dead end. Every time he tried to climb up the wall, he kept falling. Dawn had soon arrived in time. The Red-orange light streamed though the window's curtains that shined on the pages of his paper. He sat there with his head resting on his hand for minutes. He knew from the beginning that it was not an easy task to complete, but he could have never fathomed how much of his energy it would consume. He turned back into his books and flipped though it once again. While he skimmed, something had caught his eye. There, he had found his solution.