This will likely turn into a series of oneshots. This was inspired by the thought of the fonon sentiences. I mean, is it implausible that the title could be passed on? Any sane mind would snap under the pressure of existing for too long. I'm treating the names of the sentiences as a title rather than the actual names. And who said elements had specified genders anyway?

This idea was eating away at me. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please give me feedback. I'd like to know if chasing this idea has any merits.

Beginnings
By Neko-chan the Mewse
4/20/09

Luke stared at the full moon with a calm and serene expression. Auldrant had gone through so much change, yet Tataroo Valley remained the same. He loved it and hated it all at once. To him, it was the place of endings and beginnings. He had begun and ended once before. Perhaps, he thought wryly, it was time to begin again. "The selenias look beautiful tonight," he said softly to his unseen companion.

He wasn't surprised at all when Tear sighed and moved out of the shadows to sit beside him. He smiled at her disgruntled look; she didn't like it when he pointed her out so easily. "They do look beautiful," Tear agreed after a moment. "But you and I know that's not why you're here."

Luke looked away from her quickly; he hadn't thought any of them had noticed.

As if she could read his thoughts, Tear whacked him in the head. "Of course we noticed you were missing, you idiot!" she scolded as he rubbed his head. "We aren't so busy that we wouldn't check on you. Guy was frantic after the first day you went missing. He almost caused five different earthquakes while looking for you."

"Guy worries too much," Luke grumbled. "All of you worry too much. I just wanted to be alone for a bit."

"It's been a week, Luke," Tear said disbelievingly. "I think you've been alone long enough. We both know that you have things you need to take care of. So, why are you really here?"

Luke remained silent. He couldn't really tell her that he was here because the large concentration of seventh fonons was comforting him. She'd then ask what was wrong and he couldn't answer that. She'd go on a killing spree if she found out.

Tear sighed when it became apparent Luke wasn't going to tell her anything. She'd be patient and hope he told her eventually. "...how's Asch doing?"

Luke was relieved at the change in subject. "Asch? He's fine; more than fine, actually. He spends a lot of his time with Natalia," Luke and Tear shared an eye roll. "He acts all gruff but he's really nothing more than a lovesick puppy. The sad thing is that Natalia is the same way."

"You'd think that with all the time that's past, they'd have gotten it over with, but—"

"—they continue to dance around each other, exactly like you two." Both Tear and Luke flinched at the sudden appearance of Jade. Luke tried to breathe calmly as his heart pounded fiercely. He really wished Jade wouldn't do that. "Now, Luke, I'm going to be very direct with you. And don't lie," Jade smiled that chilling smile that promised pain and Luke shuddered. "Why are you here?"

Oh great, now what was he supposed to do? He didn't want them to worry about him. He was fine, he really was (except for that minor detail) but he didn't know how to convince him he was fine. So he settled for trying to muddle the truth. "It was too noisy. I came here for the quiet."

Jade's stare was piercing and Tear's gaze wasn't much better. "I see." Tear said blankly. "I'll head back now. I'll see you later, Luke." Luke could tell she knew he didn't want her to know and he could also tell that he had hurt her feelings. He stared at her apologetically and she smiled back at him weakly. "I'll see you later as well, Colonel."

"You know very well I'm no longer a colonel, Tear." Jade replied, his own twisted version of a goodbye and a clear dismissal. Tear tilted her head at him slightly before turning and disappearing into the nearby shadows. Once she was gone, Jade pinned Luke with a passive stare that was somehow worse than being glared at. "So, Luke, tell me what chaos you've been up to."

Luke knew very well Jade wasn't asking about what he'd been doing recently. "I can hear them even from here. The seventh fonons around here mute it a bit but I can still hear them trying to call me out. Luckily the Key is still hidden, but who knows how much longer that will last." Jade's eyes iced over.

"I hadn't even noticed. They're being subtle. I'll take care of it." The singing abruptly stopped and Luke couldn't help a sigh of relief. "You won't be having anymore trouble from that group," Jade mused to himself.

Luke glared. "Don't tell me you killed them."

"I didn't kill them," Jade shrugged.

"That's not funny Jade," Luke growled.

"I never said it was."

"You didn't have to kill them," Luke said fiercely.

Jade gently pushed his glasses up, light reflecting off his lenses and making it difficult to see his eyes. "On the contrary, if I hadn't killed them they simply would have tried again. Binding you binds all of us. You have a direct influence on us. It is in my best interest to…dissuade…people from trying to form a pact with you, Lorelei."

"Don't call me that, Sylph," Luke hissed. He hated that title as much as everyone else hated theirs. Even Jade made it clear he disliked being called by his title.

"Touché," Jade smiled, infuriatingly calm, "But after four centuries, you'd think you would know how I'd react to a threat to us."

"That is exactly why I didn't want to tell you," Luke said wryly. "Anyway, I think I'm gonna relax here for a while. It really was loud before."

Jade gave him a searching look before shrugging nonchalantly. "If you insist," he sighed. "Just don't stay out too long or Mama Guy will come after you." He didn't wait for a reply, simply fading out in a large gust of wind.

Luke stared blankly at the spot where Jade had been standing before turning to where Hod had been. "Four centuries," he said softly to himself, "Four centuries and they still desire a Score. Was what we did the right thing?"

He stood, brushing imaginary dirt of his clothes before turning to leave. He gave the ruins of Hod one last wistful looking before bursting into a mass of seventh fonons that quickly disappeared.

Their last journey had come full circle. Perhaps it was time to start a new one.

This was only the beginning.