Chapter 1: Enemy
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Tales of the Abyss in any way or form, i apologize deeply to ladynadiad for stealing the name and failed to ask for permission due to my failure to find out who had used it, so i changed the name, again i am truely sorry ladynadiad, i hope u can forgive me....
His friends, his precious friends, he would do anything to protect them, even if it meant betraying them. He didn't care if they hated him or thought of him as an enemy, he would protect them…from himself.
He joined up with the man they sworn to kill, fighting against them, he knows they are stronger, and he alone would not be able to kill them. That was good enough. He needed information about the demon inside him; he can't risk his friends being in danger just for being near him, at least if he gets out of control he might kill the enemy first.
So here he is, standing in front of his friends, as an opponent, he had orders to kill, but did Van really think that he could take them all out by himself? He probably could at this point. How long has it been since he last saw them? It seemed like forever. But he didn't have much time to think anymore as they got in battle formation and he readied himself as he had done many times before. He knew all their skills, their tactics and they knew his. Or so they thought, he had changed his way of battle last he was with them; he's smarter and stronger now, he's no longer that stupid brat that he was. He had powers he didn't have before, powers that weren't his, they were given to him. He'd learn to hone them and use them effectively in battle.
"Luke…Get ready now" Guy breathed, he was in frontline, leading. As they made their first move the battle started. He moved with incredible speed, more than he had when he was with them, it was that thing's, not his own.
"TIGER BLADE!" yelled Guy, swinging his sword.
"EXPLOSION!" commanded the colonel.
He dodged Guy's incoming attack and Jade's follow up, he heard gasps from them, but he had to keep moving, it was five against one, they had the advantage. The battle got serious as Jade started unleashing more powerful artes, Guy and the others got the message and went all out.
"METEOR STORM!!" cried Jade. That was a troublesome arte. Dodging the randomized meteors, most were fairly easy to avoid but the impact got to him.
"Wow colonel that was amazing!" he heard Anise praise him.
He had to restrain himself from using too much power against them; at this point he could lose control. Guy and Anise came at them from both sides while Natalia covered them, Luke blocked Guy's nibble sword and swept under Tokunaga to throw Anise off. Natalia took the lapsed time at shot for him while he was occupied with Guy. The arrow was aimed for his heart, it would have been a fatal wound, Luke held Guy off with his sword, took his other hand and caught the arrow in mid air. No one expected that. They all halted for a second to gasp. He took the advantage and pushed Guy off, going for the offense now. Slashing at each one of them, not really going for the kill, but still with the intent.
Jade must have really wanted him dead, "Arise in the name of the Necromancer, MYSTIC CAGE! Now feel what true power is!"
'I should stop here…'He decided, the hits that he purposely took hurt like hell, especially Jade's Mystic Arte, but he had to endure it. As the battle came to a halt, they stood there waiting to see if he was finished. The pain that spread through his body from Guy's sword and Jade's fonic artes hurt the most, bruises from Anise and the few cuts from Tear and Natalia were already healing. It was that power again, for once he was grateful, but it was only for that thing's sake. Even with this power his body still suffered damage. He managed to hit them a few times but the more fatal wounds were healed by Tear and Natalia, leaving them with minimum damage in the end. He didn't use much if any of his own artes; he relied on his speed the whole time.
Hunched over, panting, he looks up, his eyes looked dead, he's been dead since he betrayed them; without a word he retreats. Once he reports back to Van he can continue digging for information.
He was different, they all knew that, it bothered them to no end, especially Jade. How could Luke of all people get strong in that short amount of time? Some thing was different about him, like he's become a different person. It's only been a few months since he joined Van. As they headed to Malkuth, they decided to save the talk for when they get there.
A message slipped in for them, when they got to the inn they were staying at, the clerk said that a man asked him to give a letter to a girl, traveling with a group, with long sandy brown hair and blue eyes the right eye covered by her bangs. All eyes were on Tear; she took the letter and rented the rooms.
Once their things were settled down, they met in the lobby to discuss about Luke and the letter for Tear.
"…that was Luke…but…" Guy started; everyone knew what Guy was trying to say.
"He's technique has changed, he had more speed and control, he's no longer the Luke we know. He's become a dangerous opponent." Jade was right, but lingering feelings for him made the rest them hesitate. No one wanted to say anything else about Luke, no one knew what to say, but they all had the same thoughts, 'He's changed, we should cut all ties with him…view him as an enemy.'
"Uhhh…what did that letter say Tear?" Anise decided to break the ice.
"Oh…I haven't opened it yet." She took out the letter and pried the seal open.
"To Ms. Tear Grants and company,
I humbly invite you and your friends to a masquerade party tonight at His Majesty, Emperor Peony's castle. I will meet with you, Ms. Grants by the dance floor. Please meet me alone.
Kai, the information dealer"
It was suspicious, and they all know it. "Maybe we should ask the clerk if he can tell us who sent it." Natalia suggested.
"That man didn't give me his name, but he had long red hair tied up and his eyes were blue like this young lady's eyes" he pointed at Tear, "He was dress like a noble, looked like a wealthy man. All he asked as if I could deliver the letter, gave me a few gald for it."
Someone with long red hair, the only ones they can think of is Luke or Asch…but neither one of them have blue eyes.
"What do you think Jade?" Guy questioned, "Its tonight, should we go?"
"Why not? we could ask His Majesty to help us catch him if need be. This could be interesting…" Jade had a smile plastered on his face, Tear looked uneasy as she was the one that was called out to meet with this stranger.
A/N: yeah....I'm no good at beginnings nor writing at all, thats why I suck at english!! XD anywho, hope this was ok....any criticism is good but please! be gentle with them...i dont do well with harsh criticism. i need advise and encouragement....so if u want me to continue let me know...
sooo now the name is changed...but it seems like i just took something random....if i can find a better name ON MY OWN i'll probably change it again...but i really wanted a name that starts with a "K"....
