Note: I do not own Tales of the Abyss and its characters
~~oo~~
"Luke! Why won't you accept me as your fiancee?" a tear-stained Princess Natalia said. Luke fon Fabre, the only son of Duke Fabre, looked at her coldly as they stood near the over looking cliffs, watching the sunset.
"I told you, I will only marry a woman that I've really fallen for. I do not agree to this one-sided agreement." he replied. Natalia slapped him on the cheek and left crying. Luke only sighed.
"This is why I don't like the life of a Royal..." he thought, as he went back to the palace.
~~oo~~
At the border of Malkuth and Kimlasca...
"Do not let her escape!" a general cried, ordering his soldiers to chase after a lady that's fleeing them. The lady, along with her retainers, fled to the forest where they had routed their pursuers. They didn't slow down until they came upon a small waterfall where they let their horses rest for a while.
"Lady Lynette," a knight said. "Where do you intend to go from here?"
The lady, whose light green hair and emerald green eyes, looked around her, as if thinking deeply.
"We should go to the nearest town in Kimlasca." she said finally after a minute silence.
"To Kimlasca, milady?" another said. "But it's---"
"I know it's a hostile country to us right now, but we have nowhere to go, Cain." Lynette said. "We just have to be careful of not revealing our identities until we reach the capital and ask for asylum from Duke Fabre."
"D-Duke Fabre?" stammered the knight.
"Is something wrong, Maxwell?" Lynette asked.
"Nothing milady...but, you see, Duke Fabre has a grudge towards the Malkuth Empire because of the rumor that we had abducted his son, Luke fon Fabre. I doubt we'll be accepted warmly when we reached the palace."
Lynette thought about it. "But we never did someth---"
"We found them!" a soldier shouted. Lynette and her retainers jumped from their seats and found themselves surrounded.
"This is bad.." Cain thought, taking his sword from its scabbard, with Maxwell following suit.
~~oo~~
Asch had been loafing about, as his business with his Master, Van, had been interrupted with the collapsing of the Sephiroth at Akzeriuth. He was surveying the border of Kimlasca, near the destroyed mining town, when he noticed a horse, galloping at speed. He stood still, looking at it at some distance, until he could see that the lone horse is being pursued by five or seven more. He could easily distinguish the coat of arms of the Malkuth empire on those soldiers pursuing the lone rider, which appeared to be a female. Feeling his chivalric side kicking into him, he went immediately to her aid, making it a quick disposal of the soldiers. He, then, turned to the lady who sat frozen and scared on her horse.
"Why are you being pursued by the soldiers in service for the Malkuth Empire?" he asked. The lady didn't reply, as she shakily got off her horse. She steadied herself and looked at him.
"I..." the lady started, but decided against it. Judging by his clothes, he's one of the Six God Generals, protecting Kimlasca. If she would ever reveal her identity, she'll be dead before she could seek out the help from Duke Fabre. There's no other choice but to lie, but if she would tell him the truth, would he spare her? Maxwell and Cain had both died protecting her, and their death would be in vain if she'll die here.
"I am Lynette Sophia." she said, her resolve clear. She will not lie to the person who had saved her. "Niece of King Peony of the Malkuth Empire."
Asch was taken aback by this. "If you're Peony's niece, why is it his soldiers are after you?"
"It's because that..." Lynette said weakly, feeling her consciousness fade. Asch noticed this and he caught her before she hit the ground.
"Just what on earth is happening...?" he thought as he carried her back to his turf.