I'm new here and this is my first time so please go easy on me, okay? Anyway, this is set after the events of the game so please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss
PS: If I did, I would have put more screen time for Arietta and Sync.
Second Chances
Prologue:
The dungeon was cold and musty. Not a single shred of sunlight could reach the place. The sound of something dripping echoed throughout the dark. In one of the many rusted cells a figure sat huddled in a corner. Her hands and feet were bound and tethered to the wall. But the figure was alert and ready for any signs of escape. It's been a long time since she was taken away from her family, and she wondered just how long they were planning to keep her there. Just the thought of it made her blood boil in anger.
Finally, what felt like ages, a door creaked open causing the girl to tense. Two sets of footsteps could be heard until torchlight could be seen approaching down the hall. The prisoner winced and looked away. It's been days since she was kept in the dark so even the dimmest of lights hurt her eyes. Two figures stopped in front of her cell, the smallest one spoke.
"Is this the child?" the woman asked.
"Yes." The other spoke, this time a man who looked older than the woman. His voice vaguely reminded the prisoner that she had met him before.
The two newcomers stepped closer and peered through the bars. But the moment the torch light hit her, the prisoner lunged forward with her hands raised, the tips of her nails hard and sharpened dangerously. But her chains went taut and she fell down with her arms held back. That still doesn't stop her from growling and trying to reach out and hurt them. The light had revealed the prisoner to be nothing more but just a little girl. Her hair unkempt and filthy, reaching down her waist while her face was covered in dirt and grime, but her eyes glittered in the dark.
"She's been like this every time we approach." The man said.
"How long has she been in here?"
"About 5 days."
"And you didn't do anything?" there was a hint of anger in the woman's voice.
"That's because Lord Ion commanded me not to." The man quickly explained.
The woman sighed and rubbed her face angrily, "Really, that boy…" the woman muttered under her breath. "Open the door." She commanded once she got her composure back.
"Are you sure?" the man said skeptically.
"Yes, I want to talk to her."
"She doesn't talk."
"That doesn't matter I still want to see her."
"Alright."
The man approached the cell and unlocked the door. With the door creaking open, the girl trashed all the more wildly. He stepped back and let the woman walk right inside. The girl stopped struggling and observed the woman warily as she stopped in front of her.
Her face was still scrunched up like a wild animal with her lips pulled back in a snarl. She was dressed in a ragged shirt, much too big for her and was probably forced to wear it and her crimson eyes shone in the dark. They were simmering with rage and something that looked like fear. Despite herself, the woman felt nothing but pity for the child.
"You poor child." She murmured and knelt down in front of her.
The girl took a step back, but never took her eyes off her. She was on all fours, and acted as if she was trapped by a predator. At this, the woman felt even more sorrow for her. "This child doesn't even know why she's here." The woman thought. Then without a thought, the woman suddenly reached out to her. The girl flinched, thinking it was an attack, her hair bristled and she lunged forward, sinking her teeth in the woman's arm. Blood seeped out.
"Ea-sama!" the man exclaimed, rushing forward.
"Stay back." The woman commanded, raising her free hand.
"But your arm-" he began.
"It's alright," the woman interrupted, "She's just frightened. It's only natural for her to act this way. Shh…little one, everything's alright, I'm not going hurt you." she said in a gentle voice and patted her on the head with her free hand.
With that sudden motherly gesture the girl did a double take. It didn't seem like the woman had come to cause her harm so maybe she was safe. The girl slowly let go and backed away a bit. Her eyes still glued on the woman before her and her mouth dripping with blood. The woman smiled warmly at her.
"Release her."
"She might try to escape." The man protested.
"Then it'll be my problem." The woman said nonchalantly. "Just do it."
The man hesitated for a moment, but then stepped inside. The girl tensed up a bit at his approach but the woman quickly calmed her. "Shh…it's alright, he's not going to hurt you." she said reassuringly. The girl looked at her for a moment, then darted her eyes back towards the man as he unfastened the chains on her hands and feet. "There, now you can move more freely." The woman said warmly.
But the girl looked confused. These were the very people who trapped her inside this horrible cage and yet they're setting her free. What was going on? She wondered. "Hey now, come here." The woman gently said as she held out her arms. But the girl shied away and retreated in the far corner, away from the light.
"I wonder what's wrong with her." the woman said sadly as she put her arms down again.
"That girl has been living in the wilderness for far too long that she doesn't even understand our language. Added to that she's been kept in the dark for who knows how long that she's even more bestial than ever. Nobody has ever come close to her before. All except you, that is. And of course, Ion as well." the man added. At the mention of the Fon master's name the woman's eyes narrowed. "Yes, where is that boy?" she asked.
"He's out reading the Score to the masses." The man answered. "He'll be with us shortly."
"I see." The woman murmured. She looked up and saw the girl cowering in the corner. Her knees were drawn up and her body tightly curled up into a ball. She was definitely lost and confused. The woman's eyes softened once more. "That boy is just doing whatever he wants, isn't he?" the woman said, "Just what is he thinking, keeping her locked up like this? Does he have any plans for her?"
"I don't know." The man said truthfully. The woman sighed and stood up, her face suddenly darkening. The man flinched away, suddenly feeling a murderous aura surrounding the woman. "E-ea-sama…" the man said nervously.
"Bring that boy here right this instant!" she snapped.
"I-I'm afraid that's not possible."
"Why not!"
"He's busy-"
"I don't care if he's busy!" the woman shouted, "That boy needs to be taught some manners so bring him to me right now even if you have to drag him away from the prayer hall!"
"But that's-"
"Ah! Ea, I didn't expect to see you here." Both the man and the woman turned to see who the newcomer was and instantly all traces of warmth left the woman's eyes. "Ion." the woman said coldly as she watched him enter.
"I see you've met our latest addition." The boy said kneeling down towards the girl's height and taking her into his arms. "You may leave us now Van." The man called Van bowed and left, leaving all three of them alone. "Addition?" the woman said raising an eyebrow, "Do you mean to say that you're going to turn her into a soldier here?"
"Why, yes." the boy said cheerfully, "You didn't actually believe I was going to keep her locked up here forever, did you?" The boy wasn't paying any attention to the woman now and was instead focused on playing with a strand of the girl's hair. The woman was getting tired of the boy's insolence.
"Ion." The woman said more forcefully catching the boy's attention, "Just what are you planning to do and why did call me all the way out here for?"
"What? You don't know?" the boy looked genuinely surprised at that, "I thought that after seeing this girl you'd immediately understand."
"Understand what exactly?" the woman asked impatiently.
"I need someone to train her of course." the boy said simply. "At the moment I'm still too busy to work on her yet but I don't want to keep her here any longer than necessary, which is why I sent for you. You have a talent for understanding people so I thought you'd have better luck teaching her than Van did."
"I see," the woman said understanding, "That's generous of you, although I find it hard to believe. But still, what made you interested in this child in the first place?"
The boy suddenly laughed. When he looked at her again a chill ran down her spine. There was darkness in his eyes, a type of a madness which should never be present in a child's eyes. And yet, there they were, all the pain and contempt that he kept hidden was finally unleashed on that single moment. "Because dear sister," the boy said sinisterly. "This girl is special. I mean look at her, she doesn't know anything about this world, not the Score, not the wars, not anything. Her mind is empty. That is why I think she's perfect. What do you think?" Before the woman could reply the boy cut her off. "In second thought, I don't really care what you think I'm still keeping her."
"What?" the woman said surprised.
"You heard me, I'm going to keep her as my pet from now on." The boy said and suddenly he was back to normal. "But in the mean time, could you teach her how to behave like a normal human being while I handle the unnecessary papers to get her to work here." The boy reverted back his attention to the girl. "Hey, hey, why don't you tell her what you told me?" He gently coaxed. "Tell her your name."
The woman noted that the girl looked uncomfortable but not scared anymore, it seemed that she grew attached to him. And as she tried to get the words out of her mouth the woman stepped closer. "M-my name is…" she said in a very soft voice, "Arietta."
7 years later…
Emerald green eyes opened up with a start to see the world rushing by. The jolt of the train had awakened her as it passed through a lumpy part of the country side. "A dream?" She thought as rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She raised her arms up and stretched her sore limbs and yawned. She was all alone in the compartment she rented giving her complete privacy as she scratched her head and wiped the drool off her face. It's been exactly three days since she started travelling by train and another on foot and already she was halfway across the world. In just one hour she'll reach her final stop, but even then she still had a long way to go.
She leaned her head against the window and sighed. The effects of her earlier travels were finally catching up to her. But even with her bedraggled looks she was still beautiful. Her long green hair cascaded behind her back and her White Mage uniform was still in good condition although there were some worn spots here and there. Her corona and staff lay beside her on the plush seats.
"7 years, huh?" she muttered as she started to see the familiar sights of Daath.
Never in her long years did she ever imagine that she would come back to this place. It filled her with dread at what she would find there but there was no turning back now. She needed to find out the truth. News travels fast, but not fast enough to where she was staying. It was only last week that she heard that two of her most important people were reported dead. She was devastated of course, but as much as it pains her there was nothing she could do for her brother.
It was only a matter of time since the Score predicted it. But there was hope, a tiny spark that is, that the other was still alive. Her body was never found, but it was stated in a report that a man called Largo the Black Lion confirmed her death. Nobody questioned him and everything was left like that. But Ea wasn't one to believe in the words of just one person. So she was going to hunt this man down and get the answers herself even if it's the last thing she'll do.
"Where are you Arietta?" she wondered, "I hope you're alright because I'm coming to get you just as I promised. So please wait for me."
Okay that's the first chapter I hope you find it interesting. Also, the character Ea, she's not part of the game or the anime I just made her up. It's also gonna take awhile before any romance between Arietta and Sync to start so please bear with me on this.
