Lorelei's Fate

Chapter 2

Reunion

Author's Note: I probably should have put this chapter conjoining the last one, but I hope you aren't too mad at me. I tried to make this long-ish. It's also late, I'm sorry. I tried to write more on this, but then I decided to stop it there and move on. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Uaaghh!" he screamed, kneeling over in pain. A massive headache forced Luke to put his hand up to his head. Tear looked back down to him and quickly felt his head for any injuries.

Can you hear me, Luke? A female voice called out.

"Ivalee?" he questioned, not knowing who else could be a girl and be able to talk to him through his mind. Tear looked at Luke with a confused expression.

Yes, you guessed right. Ivalee replied.

I thought that Van—

I know, he did kill me. She cut in. But I have returned to gain your help in a task I was sent here to do.

Sure, what is it? Luke asked.

Meet me in Belkend in a few hours. I'll tell you there. And, bring everyone else too, they'll need to know. See you then!

Wait! Luke interjected. Meet us at the entrance to Yulia City as soon as you can, I know an even better place to discuss this.

Alright, I should be there in a few hours. The signal went dead. Luke rose from his knees and glanced at the confused Tear.

"What happened? Are you alright?" she questioned. Tear placed her hand on his forehead.

"I'm fine." he replied. He gently clutched her hand and pushed it away.

"I heard you say something about Ivalee." She notified him.

"Yea," Luke said, thinking over their conversation. "She said that she'll meet us at the entrance to Yulia City in a couple of hours."

Tear took a quick look at him with another confused expression. "Didn't Van--"

"Yes, he did," he cut in, just like Ivalee did to him. "But she told me that she needs our help with some task. I didn't get all of the details, though."

"Let's get going, we should tell the others." Tear grasped Luke's hand and led him towards the door.

--

"Hey, look! I think I see someone!" Guy pointed out. It was difficult to see with all of the fog crowding the premises.

Just like he said, a short figure became clearer in the distance. She wore a long, flowing purple dress and no shoes. Her hair was just as red as Luke and Asch's. A simple brown backpack rested on her back. She waved her hand to alert them.

"Hey! I'm here!" she greeted. Anise raced up to her and gave a big hug.

"You scared us! We thought you were dead!" the pink-clad girl exclaimed. She released Ivalee and examined her dress. "Wow! I never knew you would dress this fancy! Where'd you get it? When'd you change into it?" Anise bombarded Ivalee with questions, ranging from her dress to what it felt like to be bonded with Lorelei. (Ivalee didn't get even a word in, because every time she opened her mouth, Anise asked another question.)

"Anise, I think there's something a little more important that she needs to tell us." Jade interrupted Anise's train of questions. Both of the two girls looked up at him. Natalia stepped forward.

"You'll have to explain things to us later." She stated. Asch strode over to Natalia's side.

"So, you're Ivalee?" he looked at her. "Thanks for all that you did, I wouldn't be here if you hadn't sacrificed yourself for me." His outright comment sent Anise's jaw downwards.

"Wow," she breathed, "that was so straightforward, so unlike you." Asch glared back at her.

"Umm... Could we discuss this in a more suitable area?" Luke inquired. He motioned to the Albiore 2 sitting in the dock. They walked over to there to Noelle. Luke rushed over to her and whispered something in her ear. Noelle got a bright look in her eyes and jumped in the cockpit.

"Where are we going?" Ivalee asked.

"Oh, you'll see."

--

After hours of flying, a city was within sight. But not just any old city; Baticul.

"Oh, no!" Ivalee frantically backed up. "I'm not going in there."

"Aww... Come on! You'll have to do it sooner or later." Luke whined.

"I-I choose later!"

"No, now. Best to get it over with."

"But--"

"No buts."

"But--"

"Just do it." Asch said irritably. He had a scowl on his face, directed at Ivalee and Luke. Oh, boy. Having another replica is already annoying...

The Albiore 2 pulled into the dock. Luke had to pick up Ivalee and sling her over his shoulder to get her off the Albiore 2. He carried her all the way onto the city.

Anise giggled at the sight. Jade had an amused smirk plastered all over his face. Guy was just smiling and walking, not showing too much emotion. Tear kept glancing at Luke, only to evade his occasional gaze by turning her head. Asch and Natalia shared the same smile, one that seemed childish, yet pleased.

"Put me down!" Ivalee pounded her fists on his back, only to be answered with a simple 'no.' "I don't want to be here!"

"It's better to get this over with rather than handling it later." Luke explained to her. Ivalee crossed her arms in a childish manner. They climbed the steps and rid the elevators until they reached the top. Knight's saluted them as they passed. Though, if the knights didn't have their helmets on, Luke and the others would see their confused faces when they looked at Ivalee.

"I seriously don't want to be here!" Ivalee pushed on Luke, trying to pry away from his grip. Unluckily for her, Luke's grip was tight.

"You don't have to worry. Mother will accept you as her child." He tried to comfort her, however, it didn't work. Luke stepped up to the door of Duke Fabre's manor.

"Dammit! Why won't you let go?!" Ivalee asked angrily. Her fists once more pounded on Luke's back.

"Because we need to do this." He replied. Luke opened the door to reveal Ramdas.

"Hello, Master Luke." He greeted. His eyes glanced at Ivalee. "Who might this be?"

"This is Ivalee." Luke put her down. Ivalee looked nervously at Ramdas.

"H-Hi." She said. Ramdas stepped aside and let everyone come through.

"Madam Fabre should be in the courtyard if you need her." He stated.

--

Everyone entered the courtyard. Ivalee and Luke walked over to Susanne. The elderly woman looked up at then from the bench.

"Luke! You're back!" she exclaimed, "I thought you were going to be gone for the rest of the week." Susanne stood up and hugged her son. Then she glanced at Ivalee.

"Who's this?" she asked, her sweet smile not retreating.

"Her name is Ivalee." He told her. "Van had created another replica a long time ago, probably when I was fourteen. And then two years ago, Van killed her. Then she brought back Asch. Now she came back to tell us something." Ivalee stared at her feet. Susanne walked over to Ivalee and gave her a hug.

"Welcome to the family." She said. "Now, you must be going to discuss whatever you need to now." Susanne ushered them out the door.

"Feel better?" Luke questioned Ivalee.

"Yea, I guess." She replied, rubbing the back of her head.

"Now that that's over, we should be discussing the issue at hand." Jade stated. He pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.

"Right." Everyone, save Jade, said it unison.

--

Everyone was seated in the drawing room, waiting for Ivalee to begin.

"When I was bonded with Lorelei, he told me something..."

FLASHBACK

Ivalee... Lorelei spoke to her. I need you to do something for me.

"What do you need?" she asked worriedly. All she could see was a white blur in front of her. Everything else around her was black.

I have been degenerating ever since the Planet Storm was stopped. I need you to go to Auldrant, and find a cure. Your friends can help.

"But wait, how will you be able to live if I leave?" Ivalee questioned.

I will give you enough fonons to be able to go to Auldrant, but it will only last a little while. After that, you will disappear and reconnect with me.

"Alright, I'll do it." she stated. Ivalee could feel the fonons start to gather. Her vision began to blur.

Thank you, Ivalee. Her eyes shut as the blinding white light slowly diminished. When she opened her eyes, she was in Tataroo Valley.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Just to be clear, what you're saying is, we have to find out how to save Lorelei or he dies?" Tear asked.

"Not just him," Ivalee replied, "but all of the seventh fonists and the seventh fonon."

"Well, the first place I would check is the Radiation and Absorption Gates." Jade suggested.

"We should spend the night so everyone can get some sleep." Natalia said. The party headed for their rooms to get some sleep. Yet, what they didn't know was that a figure was hiding in the drawing room. No one knew that they were there, or that they had heard everything.