Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss or it's characters

Chapter 2: Remembering The Past

"Darkness surrounded me not knowing where I am or what happened. As if my body is gone but my conscience remains. I can't remember how I got here or for that matter who am I. Am I even alive?"

It seemed that the Abyss had stripped Luke of what made him human, his body, and his memories. All that was left was his mind but he could not see past the infinite blackness. It was as if he was frozen in time. All he could do was question his being.

"What is this place? Have I been here forever? I don't even know what I am. Someone let me out!"

Suddenly out of nowhere he felt a sense of remembering, like a puzzle his mind began to piece back the last thing he experienced, his last memory.

The girl with long hair pleaded for him, Luke could see her pain. Every word she spoke made the image clearer. The memory played back over and over each time it affected him more and more. Luke could only remember her . . . nothing else. Those three words came back, haunting him to the point of insanity. If he had legs he would run away, if he had hands he would cover his ears so he wouldn't have to hear her say it over and over. Having to watch her walk away he tried to reach out to her but he could do nothing but see her disappear. He wished he could cry, to relieve the pain that kept growing.

"Crying . . ." that word stuck in his mind "eyes watering, the water that drips, a tear . . . wait . . . Tear, that's what her name is."

At last he could remember her name, but he also remembered that deep down he loved her as well. Luke could not understand what was happening. First he was floating in pure tranquility now he was being hit with this memory. It continued to play back in his mind driving him crazy. It wasn't annoying him, it was the fact that he lived that moment over and over again; no matter how hard he tried he couldn't say it back. He could not change the past. Would he be locked within this mental prison for the rest of eternity, forever tormented by the thought of losing the one he loved?

"Why . . . why is this memory the only thing I remember? I barely know who I am. All that's clear to me is Tear and her love. . . . For me. But why . . Why does she love me?" Luke screamed within his conscience wanting to break free from these shackles, this binding darkness.

Luke. A voice appeared its whereabouts unknown.

Who is that? Luke questioned, unable to see or tell where that voice came from. It sounded like it came from all around him.

Luke, listen to what I have to say. You sacrificed your life for me, for all of Auldrant, and yet in the Abyss you still remain. Your body has been consumed but you mind and your heart has not. The passion that dwells within you has kept you from being engulfed into the void, all because of the promise you made. I can make you alive once more but . . .

"But what?" Luke said very quickly, he did not know what this place was nor did he want to remain here.

Only with a body can you return to the land of the living, the body is still here.

"So what is the problem?" He knew somehow this wouldn't be easy, some kind of catch.

The other one . . . his soul too has not been consumed.

The other one, who could . . . his mind started to remember again. Luke could not think of the person Lorelei was talking about. He felt a sudden jolt go through his mind as he could finally recall the name.

"Asch."

Luke wondered how he was able to remember. Only when Lorelei mentioned someone was his mind able to faintly recall who he was talking about. Then what about Tear? Was this being trying to torment him until he gave up and finally accept his death?

Only one can claim the body as the vessel and breathe life once again.

"Wait cant you just fuse the two of us together?"

Sharing the body will only lead to madness, tearing apart your insanity for control and leading to your demise. The two of you long for different things, that is what will rip your conscience in half. Not only that but she will suffer as well.

"Tear?"

She loves only one, what will happen when the man she loves changes in an instant, then reappears? When the one she loves starts wanting another. As long as both of you exist as a whole you will not be happy with just her. She loves you and the princess loves him.

"The princess?" Luke was getting tired of this. He had to wait until this voice told him more just to remember people from his life. He wanted to know why it was like this.

"Why can't I remember anything?" Luke finally asked.

If you knew everything you would lose the ability to keep yourself in tact. Being able to recall your life and being subjected to this placid purgatory will cause you to lose your mind within your past and you will never escape.

Luke began to think of the princess, who was that? "If I love Tear then Asch loves . . . "

An image popped into Luke's mind, two figures standing as the sun rose. One of them had blonde hair and a quiver strapped to her back. The other had red hair and black armor. Luke concluded that one was Asch, but who was the other one. He could only think that was who Asch had fallen in love with.

"Her name is . . . "his mind was slowly coming up with a name. "Na . . tal . . .ia? Natalia?"

Keep in mind Luke I can only give you so many memories. Don't push yourself to know everything or you will remained trapped.

Luke thought about what Lorelei said. He, Luke loves Tear and Asch loves Natalia, if they became one, both would lose the one they desire.

"So what happens to the body, who gets it?" Luke said still waiting for the catch.

All of a sudden Luke felt like he was falling at an incredible speed. Fear took over him, since he couldn't see he didn't know how he was falling or what he was going to hit. He stopped and the feeling of floating reappeared as Luke wondered if there was a ground he was going to hit. A sensation filled him, for the first time he saw not darkness but color particles circle around him. They began to come together, forming different shapes and conjoining. The particles got bigger and bigger as they worked creating legs, torso, arms and finally the head. Luke gently floated to the ground, laying face down. He awoke with a shock, his body had been reformed.

"Does this mean I get to go back?" Luke asked examining his new body. He tried standing up but began to stagger. He would have to get used to physical movement again.

Finally able to stand, his legs shaking still getting used to the weight, Luke stared into the darkness not knowing what was going to happen next. He looked around, not that it did much help. Luke stood still, afraid he would fall or run into an unseen wall. A bright stream of light caught the corner of his eye as it came toward him. Like his body, the particles began to combine, coming together to create a sword. Once finished the sword remained in the air until Luke grabbed it, wondering how these particles could make a solid object.

It felt familiar as he swung it through the air, it too felt heavy but Luke could feel his strength coming back with each swing. Towards the handle in the middle of the blade held a red jewel and it began to glow as if it was reacting to Luke.

At that moment footsteps appeared, Luke looked around and around but the darkness hid whoever was making that sound. Like Lorelei's voice, it sounded like it was coming from all around him. As it came closer, the possibilities of the directions of which they were coming got lower and lower until Luke could make out where it was coming from. He stared at the origins of the footsteps, not knowing what would appear. Once the being got close enough the darkness was pushed away like a curtain revealing a figure carrying the same sword.