( A/N: So this is what I kinda figure was going through Richard's head when I think Lambda starts to reawaken from when he first went inside Richard, since I figured he was doing that sleeping shizz inside Richard until the whole Cedric fiasco.( Know wtf the whole thing with the cave in the childhood arc is to get what I mean) If you wanna argue on when Lambda is active with Richard, don't bother ain't hearing it. XD This is just for fun for me. Some of the dialog from the game is gonna be paraphrased for my convenience through this story, so you know. I'm lazy that way. Anyway, hope you enjoy Richard's descent into MADNESS—er, Lambdaness. )

Richard panted heavily as he lumbered through the dark tunnels of the catacombs. He held his side as he tried to keep going, his vision trying to adjust to the dimly lit caverns. He was tired and terrified after his uncle suddenly slaughtered his only real guards with the once loyal knights, and went after him.

He could barely remember what had happened, or how he survived. He just remembered his uncle coming into the room and charging at him while everyone was being slashed down around him. The next thing he knew, he was running down the stairs to the catacombs. He had to fend off a few knights on the way down—one of which caught his side.

He didn't feel nearly as injured as he thought he would be, but it was still exhausting and his body was beginning to shut down on him in a last effort to make him stop to rest. He gave into his body's demands and collapsed onto the cold, damp stone to recover some energy.

He had thought for a moment of fleeing to the knight academy to seek out Asbel. He knew he was there, but it would more than liely kill him if he went to the lion's den for his one and only ally in the whole city. Ironic he would be with traitors.

His head was still fuzzy, unsure of what he was really doing or what he has done. Richard figured he was in shock from his father dying and his uncle's hostile takeover happening all in the same week.

"What…am I going to do now…?" Richard muttered to himself before he suddenly realized there were footsteps approaching him. 'damn…not now…give me a few damn minutes…' He wasn't happy they knew of his escape route, since that means he'd have to fight. He took a breath to try to gather what little energy he had left before he heard a concerned voice call out his name and give him pause.

"Richard!"

Confused, Richard looked up, readying himself to lunge at whoever it was until he saw a taller version of an old friend of his.

"Richard, it's me," Asbel knelt down next to the tired prince and put a hand on his shoulder. "Asbel Lhant."

"Could it…?" Richard was surprised to see Asbel, barely changed after all these years. "Asbel…? Is that really you?" Richard's heart felt light suddenly seeing Asbel there. He was surely safe now. "Well…I must say…" Richard sighed. "I certainly didn't expect to find you here…" But he was glad he did.

Asbel looked at his prince in worry. "I don't understand," he started. "This is crazy! I heard you were supposed to be dead!" He regretted saying that when he saw the startled look on Richard's face from the news.

"You heard…" Richard looked down at the ground. "That…I was dead?" He had to give uncle Cedric credit; he didn't waste any time with making sure people knew he took over one way or another. But now he realized it may make things difficult for taking back his kingdom, if his kingdom believed him to be dead.

"I'm so glad you're safe," Asbel cut into Richard's thoughts. "Can you stand? Come on, let's go…"

Asbel was trying to carry Richard, but was being awkward about it. Richard thought he should just be slung like a bag to get it over with, but Asbel was trying to be as gentle as possible with the prince. He had one arm around the prince's waist and had Richard's arm around his shoulders. Richard didn't particularly like being treated like he was so …..Dainty, at the moment. Yes, he was in pain, but he just wanted to get the hell out. Even if Asbel dragged him by the cape he wouldn't give a damn so long as they got outside.

"So you still live….your highness."

Richard's dear uncle's men arrived. Asbel dispatched them quickly along with a girl that looked hauntingly familiar. As he looked at the way the girl moved and attacked, he felt confused. He heard Sophie was dead. But it had to be her, no one else moved and looked like her. That confusion suddenly turned into a feeling like being wary and defensive, though he didn't know why he suddenly felt that way when watching her.

The men were dealt with, much to Richard's relief.

"You saved me, Asbel…" Richard said softly to his friend. "If you hadn't arrived when you did, I wouldn't have survived." And that was how he truly felt. He knew he'd be a goner in his state. "Thank you." He smiled at his friend, who saluted him. Richard's smile faded seeing that rigid and formal motion come from Asbel.

"I'm glad to be of service, your Highness."

Richard really didn't like Asbel of all people doing that. "Please, don't speak like that," Richard pleaded while waving a hand dismissively. "We're old friends, you and I…" The prince did wonder how that little imp of a boy he used to know transformed into such a well-mannered young man. Too well mannered. It was downright disturbing, really.

"Yeah but, you're the crowned prince." Asbel stated while lowering his arm.

'And look where that got me right now,' Richard thought bitterly. However, since Asbel so dedicated to his status as prince, Richard can make him stop it by using it against him. "I could order it, you know."

"Ah…but….you're highness…" Asbel stuttered, making Richard give him a long hard look. Asbel rubbed the back of his head sheepishly from that and sighed. "…Fine. Richard. Does that work for you?" He was a bit annoyed, which Richard didn't mind in the least. In fact, it made him more like himself. The Asbel he knew.

"Perfect," Richard smiled again. "Formality just doesn't suit you, old friend." And it really didn't.

Richard met Sophie's curious gaze and tensed. He figured he was just in shock from seeing her still alive and tried to ignore his feelings for a moment. When Richard asked who she was, Asbel muttered how she was Sophie…but was probably not Sophie. He was confused about how she could have survived as much as Richard was if it was her, but it couldn't have been her. Maybe.

However, something inside Richard knew it was her. The same girl they knew back then. He didn't know how, but he would be able to recognize her no matter what happened.

"It's her," Richard cut Asbel off. As soon as he said that, he felt an odd tingle run down his spine. "I can sense it, and you probably could too since you call her by that name…" The tingle in his spine wrapped around his chest and suddenly he felt a strong heat pulse from the tingle. The heat started to suddenly become unbearable as he clutched his chest and fell to his knees. He gasped as Asbel rushed to his side.

"Richard! What happened?" Asbel asked while trying to keep Richard from collapsing on his side.

"M-my chest," Richard gasped. "It's on fire all of a sudden..!"

Richard suddenly felt the world freeze around him, as though time had stopped. He heard a booming voice inside his head that he somehow remembered from somewhere suddenly hiss in his mind: "Protos Heiss". And as fast as it came, it disappeared. He blinked, the pain subsiding and the world around him seemed to be moving in a normal speed.

'What was that…?' Richard thought as Asbel was still at his side.

"Hey! There he is!" A voice from down the corridor shouted. More of the knights. Asbel and Richard stood up, knowing they had to get moving soon. Richard told Asbel of another exit they could use. The young prince didn't think to use it at first due to his weakened condition earlier, but he felt…strangely better.

As they went down that winding path, Richard couldn't help but wonder what the voice he heard was. He knew he heard it before, but he couldn't figure out where or when. It didn't scare him for some reason, but it did make him curious.

Well, he would have to think about it later, since he needed to focus on escaping for now.