Cao - ...

Alex - No excuse. So shut up and enjoy it.

Chapter One – Beginning Again

"So everyone left, huh?"

Alex, Tear, Luke, and Mieu (who was floating alongside the three humans) were walking through a cave. The damp, cool air around them kept them cooled off, but for some, the water submerging parts of the path wasn't quite as enjoyable. The two teens had just finished explaining why there was a sudden lack of bodies to their group.

oOo

"Woah!"

"M-Master, I can't swim!"

Alex was visibly shivering as he felt the chill air about him, golden eyes quickly scanning the area as his mind tried to contemplate just what had happened. It looked like Mieu and Luke were trying to do the exact same thing.

"It... it pushed us out into the water!"

"It's alright. You won't get wet," Tear, who had initiated their road of transportation, said. This had managed to calm down the two boys (three, if you counted Mieu). Alex knelt down and even looked at the water, whereas Luke was slowly realizing that the melodist's statement held true.

"You're right… why is that?" he asked, looking towards Tear.

"We don't really know how it works. Supposedly, the Sephiroth around here puts enough force and causes the water to spread out away from our exit. We just… use it, I suppose… "

oOo

"But you know," Alex started, closing his eyes and curling his hands into tight fists, "there's one thing that really gets to me."

"What's that?" Luke asked curiously. Even Tear was somewhat interested. But both backed up quite a bit once the air around them began to feel dangerous. The blue-haired child before them only remained silent for a while longer, eventually halting in his footsteps. The replica and melodist followed, with Mieu even retreating back to Luke's head.

Silence… and then…

"I can't believe that those geezers in Yulia City knew about what was going to happen! And they still didn't do anything!"

"M-Master, calm down! Calm down!" Mieu squeaked as he uselessly latched onto Alex's arm in an attempt to keep it back, as there was a glowing green crystal quickly managing to form in it. But before the twelve-year-old could do any damage in the cavern, Tear stepped forward and placed a hand on his head. The crystal vanished and he dropped his arms by his side, sighing faintly. Mieu released his pitiful grip on Alex and instead chose to hover there, ears drooped slightly. Luke simply avoided looking at either of the two.

They were all angry. Such an important detail had been kept secret. If it had been revealed, the tragedy of Akzeriuth would never have occurred…

oOo

"What do you mean, it was in the Score?!" Alex demanded, glaring daggers at Teodoro. The Mayor of Yulia City only looked calmly back at him, not at all intimidated by the fact that the air was becoming heavy with fonons.

"I mean exactly that," the man repeated. "Akzeriuth's destruction was foretold in the Score."

"That's—! Why didn't you say anything?!" Luke asked, advancing slightly towards the man. "If… if everyone knew—"

"If everyone had known, the world would have been in a panic. It is hard for one to deal with a Score foretelling of death."

"Then does that mean that Hod's destruction… !" All eyes turned on Tear now, who looked the most hurt out of all of them. "Hod's destruction… was that in the Score, too?"

"I'm sorry, Tear," Teodoro said, closing his eyes for a moment. "You were too young."

"So then Van knew?! No wonder he wants to destroy the Outer Lands!"

"Van no longer desires revenge. He has accepted fate long ago."

"St. Binah's going to fall! How can you just sit here and act like nothing's going to happen?!" Luke argued, wondering just why the man was being so stubborn about this.

"St. Binah will not fall," Teodoro replied, appearing quite sure of himself. "It is not written in the Score."

"Score be damned, it's gonna happen!" Alex growled. Surely Guy would have punished the kid for his language at such an age. Or at least, he would have, if he was there and there hadn't been that emerald and murderous tint to Alex's eyes. "All you guys do here is sit back and watch while the rest of the world above you blows up into pieces! What happens when it's all gone?!"

Teodoro only closed his eyes.

oOo

"About time you all showed up."

Everyone jumped at the new voice, getting into their battle positions. Or at least, that was the plan until they noticed the blonde man sitting on the rock. His sky-blue eyes were looking down at the threesome with delight, a warm smile on his face. He was wearing an unfamiliar outfit, however. It consisted of a long-sleeved, dark green t-shirt beneath a short-sleeved, brown jacket; black pants, which were not quite as tight as they normally would be, held up by a brown belt; and then his trademark brown gloves, brown boots, and cat-like collar.

"Guy!" Luke exclaimed, the first to make a move (and to lower his guard). The redhead walked towards his friend as the blonde jumped down from the rock. But then he stopped, earning a look temporary look of curiousity before that smile again.

"Hey. New clothes? And you cut your hair," remarked Guy as he his left hand loosely on the hilt of his sword. "Nice. Clean cut, too. Looks good." He didn't quite look at Alex or Tear yet, but the two could understand. He noticed the troubled look on his best friend's face, the smile getting replaced by a slight frown. "What's wrong, Luke?"

"I… " The redhead closed is eyes for a moment, gritting his teeth together before he looked away from Guy. "I'm… not Luke."

"Jeez, I don't need you talking like Asch, too."

The response startled the troubled teen, his gaze snapping towards the blonde. "But… I'm a replica… "

"So what?" Guy asked, shrugging carelessly before he walked up to Luke and placed a hand on his shoulder. "That guy doesn't even like to be called Luke, anyway. I say take it."

""Take it"?" The redhead blinked. Then he chuckled lightly, finally smiling as well. "You haven't changed a bit."

"You have, though. Don't put yourself down so much!"

"I'm not!"

"Yeah, you are," Alex interjected, 'magically' appearing in between Guy and Luke. Both men jumped slightly at the sudden appearance. The blue-haired child only smiled pleasantly, though. He looked to Tear for a moment as the melodist approached and nodded, completing their circle. Even Mieu popped out of his hiding spot in the hood of his cloak. Then he continued. "It doesn't matter who or what you are at this point. At least show how happy you are that he came."

The replica blinked. Then he closed his eyes and sighed faintly, a small smile making its way evident on his face. "You're right," he said. "Thanks."

The calm reaction in itself was odd coming from Luke, as most of those here had been used to the loud-mouthed and rude young noble. And to hear that foreign word come from this very same noble was just—

"Luke said thanks?!" Guy exclaimed, taken aback.

"Master's master really is kind!" Mieu squeaked, ears flapping happily.

"I was surprised, too," Alex remarked, shrugging carelessly. "I thought he'd implode or something if he ever said it." That last statement earned him a sharp glare from Luke.

"He says he's going to change," Tear explained.

"R-Really? W-Well then… good for you, Luke!"

"Thanks, Guy."

"I bet you anything we could freak out Jade with this new Luke… "

"You—! Sh-Shut up!"

oOo

"Well, guys. It's been fun, but… I think this is where I get off."

It had shocked them all. Suddenly, out of the blue, he was saying this? Right after learning about Van's possible plans?

"Guy, you can't be serious!" Natalia exclaimed, pointing at Asch, who didn't seem all that interested at the moment.. "Luke – the real Luke – is right here!"

"He may be the real Luke," said the blonde swordsman, smiling almost apologetically, "but my best friend is that idiot we left behind."

"Are you kidding? Who cares about that stupid idiot!" Anise practically seethed, pure disgust on her face. But Guy only shook his head at her words, all-together avoiding looking at everyone now.

"I do! Because he's an idiot! You won't understand… "

"Aramis Spring," Asch said out of the blue. Everyone's puzzled gaze turned on the redhead, who simply 'hmphed' and closed his emerald green eyes. "If the replica's coming back to the Outer Lands, he'll come through there."

Guy grinned.

"Got it."

oOo

"So, Alex," Guy started, "you're feeling better?"

"Uh-huh! But the doctors told me I had to take this medicine thing and renew it whenever I run out, since there's too much miasma in me," Alex explained, almost seeming a bit depressed. But once the kid caught sight of the man's worried look, he perked up instantly and quickly laughed it off. "B-But it's not so bad! I mean, it tastes nasty, but it's better than having al of that pain! B-Besides, if I run out, I can always just save up and slip into the doctor's office when I'm doing all those errands!"

"You're not going to tell Father?" Luke asked, somewhat startled by that. "Or Mother?"

"The Duke has better things to worry about than the health of one servant out of many. And the Lady has her own sons to worry about… "

Sons, the replica noted, closing his eyes for a moment, Can I really still be considered a son… ?

"By the way, Guy?" Alex asked, looking over his guardian once.

"What is it?"

"What's with the look?"

"Oh, good. I was afraid I might have missed you."

The quartet halted in their tracks, taking into account that they'd exited the cavern. Eyes widened as none-other-than Colonel Jade Curtiss stood before them, his long, brunette-hair behind him and hands out of his pockets. But the man quickly regained his normally calm composure, hands slipping into pockets as he stepped forward.

"What're you doing here, Old Man?" Alex asked, pushing off the ground gently and using the air around him to float at the same level as the others.

"I was looking for you," Jade continued, stopping in front of them and pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "For you and Guy, actually."

"For us?" Guy asked. Alex had a curious and puzzled look, too. "Why?"

"We have a crisis. Natalia and Ion have been captured by Mohs."

"Captured?!" Luke exclaimed, unable to help himself. However, all sense of urgency vanished as Jade's crimson eyes fell on the replica, who stiffened slightly under the harsh gaze.

"Oh, Luke. You're here, too?"

"You got a problem with that?"

"… Not particularly. But if we don't rescue them, there's going to be trouble. Since there's no sign of Malkuth forces nearby, I thought I'd ask for the help of our agile duo."

"What do you mean by "trouble"?" Alex asked, hovering a little closer to Jade now. The Colonel didn't seem to react much, though his hands conveniently went behind his back now.

"Since the people of the Outer Lands don't know why Akzeriuth disappeared, Kimlasca would begin to prepare for war," Tear started, realization slowly dawning on her. "They're probably going to use Natalia's death as justification."

"Correct. Ion was worried about this and returned to the Order to issue a decree. Upon arriving, he was captured."

"Luke, we're going to help out, right?" Alex asked, turning back on the replica, who seemed to snap out of some odd thoughts. "There's no way we can let a war happen!"

"Right," Luke agreed, determination in his eyes. Then he quickly became questioning, brows knitting together slightly. "Should we head to Daath?"

"That's the idea… it's southwest of here," Jade said, turning on the group and beginning to walk away. However, his next statement… they all knew exactly who it was directed at. "Try not to get lost or slow us down too much."

As the Malkuthian Colonel walked away, Guy had to hold a seething Alex back. Luke looked ready to cry, though his fists were curled and he was biting his lower lip to hold it all back. Tear, sensing this, walked up to the replica, mentally sighing before looking him straight in the eye.

"Luke, it's not easy to regain trust once you've lost it. It takes time."

"I know… "

oOo

Asch let a low growl loose, careful not to attract that attention of the guards currently patrolling the hall. He was pressed up against a wall around the corner into another hall, two more Oracle Knights lying on the ground about twenty feet from him.

Dammit, he thought bitterly, biting on his lower lip and gripping his sword tighter in his hand, where are they?

If only he'd realized it sooner. It was a good thing he'd remembered to buy supplies from Daath, or else he might have missed that capture. But… damn… if only he'd been able to act…

oOo

"Don't move!"

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"Do you realize who you're pointing your swords at?!" Anise screeched, her grip on Tokunaga almost lethal. "This is the Fon Master!"

"Forgive us, but under the orders of Grand Maestro Mohs, we are to take the Fon Master and Her Highness Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Landvaldear into our care," explained the Oracle Knight currently holding Natalia with his sword at her neck.

"Why, you—!"

"Anise, let's go!" Jade ordered, crimson eyes narrowed at her for a mere moment before he eyed the Oracle Knights surrounding the two of them.

"But—!"

"We can't fight them here!"

oOo

"Hey!"

The Oracle Knights turned just in time to see Asch dashing up to them at full speed. The first didn't even have time to draw his weapon before the God General snuck behind him and bashed the blunt side of his Maestro sword into the back of his neck.

One down.

The other Oracle Knight came up behind Asch, but the redhead wasn't a God General for nothing. With swift ease, he ducked under the Knight's guard and shoved the hilt of his sword into his abdomen. He watched the second body drop, sliding his sword back into its scabbard.

Che. Amateurs…

"Hey, you!"

Asch's senses acted quickly, his sword out in a flash and slashing at the strange new voices. Yet his weapon was blocked by something. Fists?!

There stood a woman, easily blocking her attack with her hands – no. Her hands were wearing a pair of spiked gloves surrounded with flames. Emerald eyes narrowed as he surveyed the mysterious, white-haired woman.

"It's not polite to point your sword at a lady, Asch the Bloody," came a second voice. This time, the God General identified it as another male, a priest it seemed. But… he really didn't look like he belonged in that outfit.

"Jaren, shut up," the woman said, shooting a glare back at him.

"Who are you?" Asch growled, scowling at the pair. He would not risk his cover for some petty argument. If these two turned up dead, it wouldn't matter: he could blame it on the knights.

But the man only smiled, grabbing the front of his own garb and ripping it off. It revealed the outfit beneath: baggy brown jeans; an earthy-green, long-sleeved t-shirt beneath a brown vest; and black boots that the pants were tucked into. He seemed to smirk, tossing aside the garb. In the same instant, a scythe appeared in his hands. Jaren easily managed to maneuver it until it was strapped to his back and hung there.

"Well… call us your help."

Cao - My reason behind disappearing? Eh... a bunch of crap, really. Stuff piled up and all. And now, with my step-dad getting cancer in his throat, I'm sort of hitting my wits end. Hell, you should've seen me on Friday. Kept crying and all. But... eh... yeah. I'm considering in investing in a journal. Somewhere to rant, you know? That way I don't self-destruct.

Alex - On a more cheerful note... check out Cao's profile. There's a ton of information on Isofons and stuff. You might like it. There's also a lot of foreshadowing, too... I guess...