AN: This is my first one, so don't flame it and all. r/r, the usuall stuff. And its mostly going to be fluff for the first few chapters, so don't come whining that it dousnt have enough action. Now sit back and enjoy! (i hope)

It's… Cold…

…h a…n.

That voice…

A… h… my vo…

I know that voice.

Awa…

Lorelei?

Asch, awaken.

Asch woke with a start, jumping up from the ground.

Asch… Lorelei's voice echoed in his head, pounding on his nerves.

What happened? I remember fighting... those replica knights and then… I died…

I brought you back to life.

How?

I made you a new body, and revived your spirit.

You didn't use mine!?

Your body and Luke's were combined after I was freed.

Now I'm the Replica!? His voice was a strike of lightning, blasting with anger and indignation.

No. Your body is real, not a replica. It is exactly as it was before you were replicated.

Asch looked down and, seeing a pool of water, looked at his reflection. He saw that it was indeed his face, but his hair was overgrown and wild. What year is it? It looks like at least a year has passed, with my hair as it is.

ND2020, it has been a year.

That means… I'm of age! Where am I, I have to hurry to Baticul!

Tataroo Valley, near the Sephiroth. Luke mentioned that he heard his friends were going to be meeting there near Eldrant, hoping he will show up. He plans to meet them there.

Thanks, I think I will too…

Luke!

Asch?!

Yeah, I'm back. I'm going to the valley to meet them too.

That's fine, as long as I'm back first. It would break Tear's heart if you showed up before I did.

Why?

Because you died. If you came back it wouldn't be very fair in their eyes. Though Natalia wouldn't mind much.

Fine, just stay away from her. I'm the one who proposed, not you.

That's fine, see you there.

The valley was just as he remembered, save that Eldrant's crumbling remains were sitting at the end. A sea of Selenias stretched from the hill to Eldrant, their glowing petals lighting up the valley. "So many memories..."

Luke started walking down to Eldrant, taking in the scenery as he went. He saw tall trees, full of leaves rustling in the slight wind. Monsters were hiding in the tall grass, hiding from him.

He was soon standing in front of Eldrant, and he looked back on his promise. They must think I'm dead now... He turned around and headed back towards the start of the valley. In the distance someone started to sing a hymn.

Luke knew it was Tear and, as he got closer, could recognize her voice. He saw them in the distance, near where he and Tear first started the adventure. He grew closer as the hymn grew to a close. They turned to leave as he came out of the shadows of the valley. Tear had just gotten up, and was the first to see him.

She looked at him cautiously, as she asked, "Why are you here?"

Tear… "There's a great view of Hod from here… And I made someone a promise." Luke said it with a little smile on his face, happy to see his friends again.

A tear ran down Tear's cheek, and she walked forward as if it was a dream. Guy, Natalia, and Anise walked up as well, while Jade just stood back and smiled.

Tear made it to him and fell into his arms. "You came back…" her voice was soft and trembled as she cried.

"I made you a promise Tear… I'm coming home."

The others stood in a semicircle around him, smiling. Jade's smile just grew. Luke could just barely see Asch on the path up the hill.

"hey guys..."

Guy walked up to Luke and slapped him on the back, "Good to see ya'"

"Its good to see all of you," Luke replied with a smile.

"Where were you? Its been a year..." Tear looked up at him, and he noticed she had stopped crying.

"Stuck in the Valley. Lorelei put a Daathic seal on a small part near the Sephiroth." Luke smiled down at her, "He taught me Daathic Artes, the contamination effect, and the basics of healing."

"Why didn't he let you train at home?" Tear pulled away from him a little, still in his arms, but so she could look at him more levelly.

"He told me he had something to do while he was training me. I just broke the seal last week."

"Why didn't you come back to Baticul then? My father and yours have been worried and your mother is as sick as ever." Natalia's arms were sticking strait down and she was yelling.

Luke backed up a little, "I barely made it to Chesedonia two days ago. I went to Astor and he told me that Anise had been by to visit." He turned and gave her a piercing look, "He told me you were going to drag everyone here to wait for me one last time."

"Perhaps we should leave the discussions for later. There are still monsters in the valley, you know." He pushed up his glasses just like he always did, as though he didn't have a care in the world.

Anise put her hands on her hips, saying "Jade, It's just like you to pick the worst times to say stuff."

"Well, he is right... Lets go guys." Luke and Tear started up the path together, the others not far behind them.

They were getting into the trees at the top of the hill, and Luke couldn't see Asch. I guess he's going for an entrance...They listened to the sounds of the night as they walked; the scurrying monsters, wind rustling the leaves, and the swishing of the grass as they walked. Luke heard a soft scream from Natalia, turning around to see her fall right into Asch's arms.

"Really Natalia, are you really this much of a klutz, or do you always fall so I catch you?"

Natalia looked up with disbelief at Asch's grin. "Asch?! but... you died..."

Asch's grin faded a little, "yea, I did..."

"Then... how?" Natalia had gotten up, but was still in his arms.

"Lorelei. He made me a new body and revived me somehow. He told me you were going here."

"That means... Luke, you must have known! Why didn't you tell me?" Natalia practically peeled herself off Asch to confront him.

"I told him not to. I wanted to surprise you Natalia." Asch looked over at Luke with one of those 'you owe me' faces as he said it.

"Lets hurry. I imagine that Noelle, Ginji, and Florian are all very bored sitting in the Albiore alone."

"Jade, why do you keep ruining the moments? I'm starting to get the feeling that you're doing it to make fun of them." Anise put her hands on her head and swung it around, "you know that you're supposed to share!"

"Well, if we're going lets go to Baticul. Luke's not the only one with a promise to keep." Nobody commented on Natalia's blush when he said it.

"Lets just go. It's been entirely too long since I've seen mother."

"Yes, lets go." Tear grabbed Luke's hand and said so that only he could hear, "together."

The group turned, walked down the path and out of the trees to see the Albiore sitting off in the distance. They all looked up at the sky at that moment, with the sky filled with a full moon and stars.

AN: now get moving with those reviews. Tell me everything i did wrong, minus plot details. keep it to grammer and organization. Ch2 should be up in a week or two, just have to get around to typing it up...