Disclaimer: I do not own The Last Remnant, nor have I completed it yet. But I am enjoying it muchly. Good times!

Author's Note: Wow. This is my first story in a very long time! But for some reason this game has inspired me to write and mostly due to its somewhat gaping plotholes. This is an idea that got into my head and won't leave so is more a storage function for my creative process. It will attempt to piece together what happened between Disc 1 and Disc 2. I have absolutely no idea how it will turn out, but rest assured there will be a little bit of RushXDavid because no TLR story should be without it :P

WARNING: Contains end of Disc 1 (360 owners) spoilers. Rated for language and various scenes of male "bonding".

THESE SIX MONTHS

-Aftermath-

"This…is the power of Marion's Blessing?"

His eyes were hurting, yet he stared, unblinking at the fallen city. He felt it was his duty to honour the memory of its existence before the piercing smog finally cleared to reveal nothing but ash, dust and flame.

Nagapur...its beautiful remnant, Gwayn...it wasn't possible...

Gently, David Nassau felt a hand on his shoulder. His unbroken stare was halted as he looked to inspect who could have interrupted his thoughts.

Torgal, as always, towered above him - his stern, yet kind face loyally instructing him in the ways of ruling a country for as long as David could remember. Today, however, his face looked tired, his eyes were glazed and he spoke with a seriousness that chilled David to the bone.

"We must seek out survivors," the Sovani told him solidly, but gently. David forced himself to blink with sheer muscular effort before taking a deep breath, calling upon his lessons in authority to fight against any emotion that was rigorously cascading through his frame.

"Of course," he said, before giving the order. "Emmy, take your team and search the west side. If anything looks dangerous retreat immediately. Take Vivication Herbs. Blocter, you take the east. Watch out for falling debris. Pagus, go with Blocter – he will need your healing skills. Torgal, you take the north. I'll take my team south. We'll rendezvous here in about..."

"What about Irina?"

The youthful voice managed to rise above David's commanding tones with difficulty, but it always penetrated even the loudest of conversations. David looked across at Rush, who was still cradling his exhausted sister, traces of Marion's Blessing still apparent on her skin. Rush's eyes were pleading with him – an expression uncommon on his handsome features.

They regarded each other a moment longer before David sighed, nodding to Torgal, who understood immediately.

"The Marquis' Division! You have your orders! The rest of you, collect up some healing herbs and move out!"

Several shouts of "Yes sir!" were heard before a scurry of movement scattered the ground beneath the soldiers, creating yet more debris. David forced a small smile and briefly acknowledged his generals before moving across to his most recent commander, who looked unusually frail.

"She'll be all right, Rush," he said, kneeling down beside him. "She's just fatigued."

Rush nodded uncertainly.

"I...I had no idea she could..."

"I know," David nodded, placing a hand on Rush's shoulder. "But then we had no idea of what lay within you either." He laughed a little, trying to force this boy's natural enthusiasm back into him. "You know, you almost gave me a heart attack when you threw yourself at The Conqueror..."

"How can you just...act like nothing's happened?" Rush interrupted, a little harshly. "Why aren't we doing anything?!" Making sure Irina was comfortable he stood up, shaking David's hand off his shoulder. "It's The Conqueror that led to all this, not Irina! He could still be alive! We have to go after him before something like this happens again!" And he threw an arm in the direction of the massacre that had just taken place.

"Rush, I'm perfectly aware of what happened," David assured him, mentally kicking himself for not predicting this sort of behaviour and raising himself so he was looking directly at him. "But we have no idea what is going on here and most of all we are in the middle of an active battlefield. We can't just run headfirst into a fight we can't win..."

Even as he spoke the words they sounded too official, too resolute. He was trying desperately hard to stop his voice from shaking. There was something about Rush's volatile nature that made something inside him want to join him on his illogical path.

Rush looked as if he was going to say something, but looked torn between running off on his own once again and leaving the side of Irina. He sighed, ran a hand through his hair and breathed a little.

"Sorry..." he said, "I just...this is just unreal..."

"Try to focus, Rush," David instructed, tentatively placing two hands on his shoulders. "Irina is safe and I will make sure that she receives the greatest of care once we return to Athlum, however..."

He paused a moment. Rush had looked up at him. He was staring into those dark brown eyes slightly shadowed by that mysterious jet-black hair that shaped his features. Not for the first time, David was made fully aware of how close together they were.

"However," he swallowed. "There could be people in a far worse situation than your sister. They need our help, Rush. We need you. I...need you."

David watched the boy study his expression, which he made sure was completely neutral. Rush glanced down at Irina for a moment.

"Someone needs to stay with her..."

"I'll call back some members of my squad. Can you spare any of yours?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good." David smiled at Rush and took his hands away, wondering if the heat in his face was showing at all. He could always blame the battle. "We'll join unions and head south." He was perfectly aware he was trying to rebuild the centre of authority that always broke down whenever he and Rush were together, and he was certain Rush was too, but he had to be a voice of power or else who else would? He turned sharply, his mind firmly back on the task at hand.

"Dave?"

David stopped and turned back around.

"Yes Rush?"

"I think I'm going to stay with her...until your group arrives..."

David smiled inwardly. Who was he to try and give Rush an order?

"That's fine," he said. "I'll send them as quickly as I can."

And with that, he collected his sword and began heading south. He turned back only once to see the boy sit quietly by Irina and hold his head in his hands.