Baten Kaitos: Illusory Wings and the Question for the Ocean
Summary: It has been almost twenty years since the return of the Ocean. Fee, the son of Kalas and Xelha, and his Guardian Spirit must save the world from a dark imbalance of Chronos. Features a whole new cast of characters and some old favorites, too.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Baten Kaitos, Namco, and anything else that belongs to someone else. I will not profit from this story in any way shape or form (other than enjoying a much-needed sequel).
Chapter 2
Xelha felt the Spirit enter the kitchen before he reached out to her. She couldn't sleep, not with Kalas tossing and turning like he had after Sarai had left him; the Guardian had been blocking most of his nightmares about his journey on the darker side, and Kalas had played catch-up for almost a month before a good night's sleep finally came around to him. Xelha sincerely hoped that he wasn't having those nightmares again.
"Is that you, S'rian?"
The Spirit chuckled. It is. Fee is sleeping soundly, but there is no rest for a Guardian Spirit. I was hoping you would be up, so we could talk.
Xelha twirled the glass of water on the table and asked, "Talk about what?"
About Fee. Both of them.
"All right, S'rian, go ahead. Why did Fee-- my son-- collapse today?"
That was a bit of an... oversight on my part, S'rian mumbled sheepishly. I took his energy to calm the young Fee.
"Didn't work too well, did it?"
Don't get snippy, Xelha.
Xelha sighed. "I'm sorry, S'rian, really I am. I've had a long day today, and tomorrow will be longer."
I'm sorry, too. I'm on the end of a long rope, and it's fraying in my hands. S'rian moved closer to Xelha. I've been here for a long time, and I'm starting to get memories. I don't know whose memories they are...
"What sort of memories?" Xelha was fascinated; Sarai had never spoken this much. In the short time she had been bonded to Sarai, the Spirit had been passive, tagging along for the ride. S'rian seemed to be driving it.
Memories from before you and Kalas were born.
"Have you been a Spirit for that long?"
Longer, I think... but it doesn't matter. S'rian gathered his thoughts, his aura shimmering, and asked, How much do you know about Guardian Spirits?
"I know that no two Spirits are from the same world, and that time runs faster in the Spirit's worlds than here."
Yes. But did you know that Spirits have a mission when they come into this world?
"What sort of mission?" Xelha took a sip of her water, and spun the glass again. The water sloshed up the sides, wetting her fingers.
A mission that deals with Chronos. Whenever the Chronos of an individual is affected, we bond. Or, whenever the Chronos of the world is affected, we have a mission to reverse whatever time-related problem there is. With you, and Kalas, Sarai had both types of interruption to fix. Kalas had some time-loop continuums in his life that they resolved together... and Sarai had to put Malpercio to sleep for good. The time of his reign is long past, and he should not return to this world.
"So what is your mission?"
I don't know. We Spirits never come to this world knowing our mission. Half the "fun" of it is figuring it out.
"You Spirits call this fun?"
S'rian sighed, and Xelha could hear a little bit of sardonic amusement in his voice.
Being here is not fun. There are times when being with Fee is enjoyable, or when conversing with people is amusing... But being unable to touch, to speak, to exist... That is the challenge. We cannot exist, in the living sense of the word. We are passive interference only, until our mission is accomplished.
"And then you die?"
What?
"When you leave here, do you die?"
There was a long pause, in which Xelha wished she hadn't asked the question.
I do not know.
"So you could die when you leave? We sent Sarai to her death, because we told her we didn't need her?"
I don't know. I have never met Sarai... I came to the Shrine after she had already left this world. We Spirits don't know if this is the last journey we take, so this could be the end.
"Is it worth it? Knowing you could die when you leave Fee?"
S'rian smiled, and Xelha felt a hint of warmth that reminded her of joining with Sarai, so many years ago. It will be worth it. Knowing you people will be worth it. Knowing Fee...
"You love him, don't you? I mean love in a brotherly way." She really didn't need to clarify to the Spirit, but the secrets he was revealing to her made him seem more human and more… fallible, as if he were prone to the same human misconceptions that Kalas or Xelha were.
Because of the situation between Spirit and human, the love has to be more than platonic. He is the reason I am here... The only person I would stay here for. He is my soul mate, until I leave here. S'rian gave another smile. If I didn't know that he hated Liane, I would be jealous of her, for how much time she spends with him.
"Do you care for me?"
Of course I do. If I were human, I would die for you. Your whole family has made this journey enjoyable.
Xelha smiled. "I'm glad. It's been nice knowing you, S'rian... In case no one else tells you that."
It has been nice knowing you, Xelha...and thank you.
"For what?"
For reminding me why I am here.
The Spirit drifted out, leaving Xelha smiling into her glass.
Morning, lazy, S'rian's chuckling voice roused Fee. He turned over and stuffed the pillow over his head, but the object did not keep S'rian's voice out. Come on, Fee, there's work to be done!
Fee grumbled something incomprehensible and swatted his hand out from under the blankets.
Don't make me get your brother.
"Go 'head 'n' try," Fee muttered sleepily. "'E c'n't 'ear you."
He could hear footsteps coming down the hall, although they were muffled somewhat by his door and the pillow.
The door opened, and someone grabbed the pillow and yanked it off his head. "Wake up, Fee," Xelha's bright voice called, and then the shades were opened. Bright morning sunlight flashed into the room, stabbing at his eyelids. Fee groaned and hid his face in his hands, and his mother thwacked him with the pillow.
"Get up. You've been asleep for sixteen hours. We need you to reassure the younger Fee that you are all right."
Fee shot up, the last clouds of sleep flying from his head at the reminder of what had happened yesterday. "What happened? Is that kid all right? Is Dad all right?"
"I'm not sure, young Fee is fine, and your father's taking it hard." Xelha tossed a pair of clean pants and a soft cotton shirt at him. "Get dressed, I know what you look like naked but no one else in this family wants to see." Xelha closed the door behind her and went back down the hall.
Fee looked down and saw that he was in his undergarments. He jumped out of bed and quickly dressed. "S'rian?" He called as he pulled the shirt over his head.
Yes?
"How are you doing?"
I had a chat with your mother last night and I'm doing fine now.
"Have you figured out those visions?"
They are part of something larger... It is difficult to understand them.
"Am I going to see them?" He glanced in the mirror and brushed his hair quickly, putting the headband in it again. His hair was behaving today, as if it knew he was going to get a trim today and was trying to convince him that it was fine the length it was.
Unfortunately, yes. We have such a good bond that if I see them, you will too. And they'll happen more frequently, since your uncle has shown up when he isn't supposed to be.
"My uncle? Oh, that kid. He is my uncle, I guess..." He grimaced into the mirror at that thought. "My uncle is younger than me."
Don't grimace like that, it looks like you're going to be sick.
Fee laughed and made his way to the kitchen. It was 10 o'clock in the morning, according to the clock beside the sink, and his brother and sister were seated at the table sorting Magnus cards. Xelha handed him a bowl of hot oatmeal, and his stomach gurgled a thank-you. Fee took an apple from the fruit bowl and began peeling and slicing it... and then he saw him.
The younger Fee was watching him with an odd look. "What did you do to your hair, Kalas?" He asked carefully, and took a bite from his apple.
"Um..." Fee looked at his mother, who shrugged. "I dyed it...? I was looking for a change."
"Oh. All right... but you look better with all blue hair."
"I'll keep that in mind. Fee."
It felt weird saying his own name to this kid... He had never encountered someone with the same name before, because his name was quite original.
"So who are these people that you live with, Kalas?"
"My family," he started to say, but S'rian "poked" him, and Fee finished, "My friend's family. This is Xelha, Rikki, and Graye." Rikki and Graye gave him amused looks, but apparently Xelha had briefed them before young Fee came to breakfast.
"Where's Da... um, Rikki's dad?" He asked Xelha awkwardly.
"He's talking with Melodia and her advisors... I want you to take Fee and head over to the palace when you're done eating." Xelha stopped Rikki from emptying one of his cards, and sent him and Graye into the living room. "I won't have you skewering our new guest with an ill-placed sword," she said mock-threateningly.
"Come on, Fee," Fee said when he finished breakfast. "It's time to go."
"Can I speak to you for a moment, Kalas?" Xelha put the right amount of inflection into her voice, or Fee wouldn't have responded to his father's name.
"Sure." He followed her into the hallway. "Mum, how the hell am I supposed to deal with this kid? He thinks I'm his brother! I can't respond to my father's name..."
"Just do it until you get to the meeting. They are discussing what we should do about him." Xelha looked back into the kitchen, where the blonde boy was swinging his legs and biting into a second apple. "If they have to, Melodia can perform a memory-erase spell on him--"
"Will that really be necessary?"
"--Or they can help him understand. It might be necessary, Fee," Xelha chided at the look of anger on her son's face, "Especially if he finds that you've been lying to him this entire time!"
"You're right," he sighed, and shrugged. "Fine, I'll do it. But I don't want him to hate me for this..."
Xelha smiled. "From what little Kalas would tell me about his brother, he was very level-headed."
"I hope so." Fee went and collected his uncle, and they were soon on the path to Balancoire.
Little Fee scampered ahead, giving Fee time to speak with S'rian, who had been curiously silent for most of breakfast.
"Is something wrong?"
Didn't your father say that Fee didn't have wings?
"None of us have wings now-- oh, but he had wings in the tunnel!"
He did.
"But why does he have them now if he didn't before?" Fee shook his head and looked up the path. The blonde child had his head up to the sun, arms spread, turning slowly in the sunlight. It looked like he was trying to collect it, to spin it around himself like armor.
"Kalas?" The boy called, and smiled, still peering up through the foliage at the pale blue sky.
"Yes, Fee?" Fee went to stand near the child, looking up with him. Large, wispy clouds breezed across the blue abyss, punctuated by the brilliant colors of the leaves dancing below the sky. At times like this, with the sky so close, Fee felt like he really could spread wings and fly.
"Do you remember the promise?"
Fee's heart caught in his throat. What promise?
May I speak through you, Fee? S'rian asked, moving close enough to stir the hairs on his neck. Fee backed up into him, giving him permission, and S'rian responded, "The promise about the ocean?"
The young Fee looked back at him, pale lashes surrounding pale eyes. He smiled, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. "That's the one. Have you found it yet?"
"Not yet, Fee. Hopefully soon."
"I'm glad you found me, Kalas." He skipped on ahead, and S'rian glided up, out of Fee's body.
Interesting.
"What?"
That I knew what he was talking about. Could this promise be why he is still here?
"This is a giant puzzle to you, isn't it?" Fee came up to the gates, where the young blonde was waiting.
S'rian chuckled. It certainly is.
Fee's uncle had a curious expression as he looked at the gates. "These weren't here before..."
"They're very recent, er, additions," Fee said, mentally berating himself for not realizing that things would look very different to the young Fee, who was used to how Mira had appeared almost 20 years ago.
Young Fee leaned into the doors, and called "Kalas" over to help him open them. He seemed to take the "recent additions" comment fairly well, but he stopped in his tracks once he caught sight of the Magnus shop that had replaced the burnt remnants of their home. "Friends really came and fixed it, didn't they?" He asked, looking up at Fee, and Fee remembered that he had told the child that to try and comfort him.
"Yeah, but I moved in with Xelha and Rikki after the fire."
Tiny Fee was silent for a long while, as they made their way to the palace. At the front door of the palace, the child looked up and said, "Time has passed since you left me, hasn't it?"
Fee was amazed that this boy could grasp such an advanced concept, but just nodded solemnly, not trusting himself to speak.
"How much time?" The young Fee looked up at him, and he put his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I'll let Rikki's father explain that one, Fee."
"I'm scared, Kalas," little Fee said, and grabbed his hand.
"It'll be fine," Fee soothed, but he wasn't at all sure of that. He led the trembling youth toward the new conference room, which had been added beyond the entrance hall where everyone had gathered yesterday. The instrumental section was still roped off, and there was some confetti on the floor, but other than that he couldn't tell that major festivities had occurred here.
He could hear his father's voice, words indistinct, tone harsh. He didn't need to hear the words to understand that his father was upset with something. Fee knew that Kalas didn't intentionally whine, but the timbre of his voice leaned toward that extreme. Xelha had informed Fee that Kalas had been insufferably whiney for the first six months after they met, and that he had been able to tone it down. She had smiled knowingly when Fee said that he still sounded whiney.
Despite his complaint-filled earlier years, Kalas was now a duty-conscious citizen. For the past five years, he had worked as an advisor to Duke Calbren and now Duchess Melodia, because he had a lot of information about happenings in the other four "islands," now called "states" because they were rooted in the earth. Xelha tended to stay out of politics, although all of the "state" rulers treated her with great respect.
Fee was halfway across the hall, his uncle trailing close behind, when S'rian warned, Incoming! Fee looked to his right and was nearly bowled over by Liane. He caught himself by putting a foot back and grabbing Liane's shoulders, and then she curled against his shoulder and started talking, nearly in hysterics.
"Are you all right, Fee? I was so worried about you, I told you not to move! Why did you go and get hurt? To think, some flea-bitten scoundrel attacking my dear Fee! Did you hit him back? When I become Duchess, I will close off that path down there, and make sure that no children run amok in those dirty, disgusting sewers! And those rats are so--" She cut herself off, startled, because young Fee was tugging on her sleeve. "What?" Liane demanded impatiently.
"You leave my brother alone!" He said quietly, and a dark fury shone in his pale eyes, clouding them.
"How dare you speak to me that way?!" Liane hissed, and pulled back from Fee. Her face went from white to pink in angry splotches on her upper cheeks. "You should address me as 'Lady' or 'Miss', at the very least! And you're lying, Fee doesn't have a brother as small as you-- you must be that scoundrel that attacked Fee!"
"You don't deserve to be called 'Lady'!" the child snapped back, glaring calmly at her. His eyes were the only part of him that looked mad.
Liane gave a loud huff of indignation and slapped him.
The young blonde uncrossed his arms and moved a step back, shocked for a moment.
Fee stepped between them as Liane pulled her hand back for another slap. "Stop it, Liane." He caught her wrist so she wouldn't turn her hand against him.
"You're protecting him?"
Look at Fee, S'rian prompted quickly. Fee turned, expecting tears or maybe a counter-slap.
Little Fee was floating four feet off the ground, arms crossed. There was a shining vague blur behind him, and Fee realized that the blur was actually wings, opaque and white. He was hovering, wings moving like a hummingbird's, making a faint whirr as they moved. Fee's eyes glinted with light reflected from his wings.
"How is he doing that?" Liane asked, and clutched Fee's arm.
"Wings of the heart," he responded softly, and called, "Come down now, she won't hurt you."
"Can you be sure, Kalas?... But you're not really Kalas, are you?" The young Fee looked hurt. "She called you my name."
"You're right...I'm Kalas's son. I was named after you." Liane watched this exchange mutely, for once, and Fee released her arm. "I'm sorry we had to deceive you, Fee. Please come down."
"Then who is my brother?"
"I am," Fee's father called from the doorway of the throne room. "Come over here, Fee, and I'll prove that I am Kalas."
The blonde fluttered over to hover in front of Kalas, who pulled him close and whispered something in the child's ear. The young Fee looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. He came down to the ground and stopped his wings. They hung down awkwardly for a moment, the glow gone. Most of the feathers were bent or broken; some of them were snapped at the shaft, the upper part of the feather gone completely. There was no way those wings could hold Fee up without the magic that made them Wings of the Heart. Uncle Fee pulled the wings back into himself with a weak glow, then looked at Fee with dark eyes.
Fee felt the sting of rejection, and even though the deception wasn't his fault, he felt guilty. You did what you had to, Fee. There's nothing wrong with that. S'rian touched his face, gently. Look on the bright side; Liane hasn't spoken for nearly three minutes!
Fee had to fight not to laugh; there was nothing funny about the situation except S'rian's comments, and Liane couldn't hear the Spirit.
"Come here, Fee," Kalas said, and when Fee looked over, his father was beckoning for him to come along. Liane followed him mutely, but gave young Fee a wide berth; Fee knew her better than to think that she was ashamed of her actions. She was worried about self-image.
They returned to the conference room. There was a large square table in the center of the room, Lady Melodia and the chief Guardsman already seated at the table, side by side. Guardsman Tever was Melodia's husband and Liane's father, completely devoted to his wife and her safety. His dark green hair was tucked up under the tan cap of the Guard uniform.
Kalas took the seat beside Tever, and Melodia smiled as young Fee took the seat beside his brother. Liane tried to pull Fee along with her, to sit on the other side of Melodia, but young Fee reached out as they passed. His hand was warm and soft as it caught at Fee.
"Sit next to me," young Fee suggested, giving Liane a glare of contempt, and Fee gladly sat beside him.
I sense that he's jealous. S'rian sighed against Fee, and continued, Maybe he can make Liane back off. If she thinks your uncle is going to attack her whenever she tries to spend time with you, it might change her mind.
Thankfully the younger Fee was watching Kalas so he didn't see the inappropriately timed smile.
"Fee," Kalas said, and young Fee looked up.
"Yes?"
"It has been almost twenty years since you left me."
The boy looked down at the table. "You left me for that long?"
"Actually, you left me for that long. Sarai-- my Guardian Spirit-- told me that you gave your energy to me in the Shrine, when you died."
"I don't remember that."
"I don't either, but my Guardian Spirit wouldn't have lied about that." Kalas took a deep breath, and continued, "I don't know why you're here, but I'm glad you are."
Young Fee looked up suddenly. "I want to know where those twenty years went! Why don't I remember them?"
Kalas shook his head and caught one of young Fee's hands. "You might have temporary amnesia. I wish Sarai were here... She always seemed to know more than she said, and maybe she could have given us some answers."
Mizuti might know, S'rian suggested quickly, and Kalas jumped a little.
"How do you know Mizuti?" Kalas asked confusedly. "S'rian, as far as I know, you've never met her."
I've heard of her. Fee's friend, the one from Duhr, knows of Mizuti. And you've said a few times that Mizuti wanted to go visit Sarai in her world.
"That's true," Kalas said, and rested his hand on his chin. "We need more information, S'rian. If you think of any, will you let us know?"
Certainly.
Young Fee, Liane, and Tever were watching Kalas, confusedly.
My son's Spirit had a suggestion," Kalas explained, and Liane gave Fee a dirty look.
"You never said you had a Guardian Spirit!" She exclaimed and stood angrily. Her mother took Liane's hand, but the girl pulled it out of her mother's grip.
"What other lies are you telling, Fee? Is your name not actually Fee? Do you lie about liking me, too?" She dashed out of the room in tears, and none too soon, because Fee was fighting so hard not to smirk.
Melodia shook her head. "Shall we proceed?" She was smiling knowingly at Fee, which made him feel a little better about nearly laughing at Liane. In the back of Fee's mind, he could hear S'rian laughing, but he had distanced his presence from Fee enough that no one else heard him.
"We need to figure out why my brother is here and now, twenty years later. Is there anyone other than Mizuti, in case we can't find her, who might be able to help us?" Kalas looked over at Melodia, his blue eyes hopeful.
"We could go to each state, to see if any other Chronos displacements have happened," Fee suggested.
"That's a good idea," Kalas agreed, and added, "Lyude told me that Azha has been seeing strange phantoms, maybe ghosts. They are completely insubstantial, and can't affect anything in this world, but they may have something to do with this."
Melodia steepled her fingers against her lips and said, "I believe that Anuenue said they were having trouble with strange creatures in Holoholo Jungle. There haven't been any such things in the Shrine, have there Tever?"
Tever straightened in his seat. "No unusual activity; I'll have the Guards check it each shift, if you want."
"That would be helpful." The Duchess ran a hand through her hair thoughtfully. "Where would Time be disturbed in Mira?"
"Have any of the people of Reverence spoken to you lately?" Kalas asked.
Melodia bit her bottom lip for a moment. "They bring seemingly unimportant things to my attention every week. I will look into their complaints further."
This meeting was going too slowly for Fee. They needed to do something about the misplaced younger Fee, and to find out if there was any way to fix it.
As the adults talked further about cautionary steps they could take, S'rian spoke quietly to Fee. This isn't their problem to solve, Fee. If it could be solved by them, I wouldn't be here. We should ask for permission to go investigate the other states, to see if there's some way to unravel it ourselves. They've given us several hints: we need to go to Anuenue, and Alfard... I think Sadal Suud is also on our hit list, since that was where Melodia and your father distorted Sarai's memories. There's plenty for us to do.
"I'm included in this?" He whispered.
S'rian smiled, a warm curl in Fee's chest. You said you wanted to help... we can figure this out together. I need your help.
So Fee cut into the next silence, "Dad? Can S'rian and I go to the other states, to see if anything's amiss?"
Kalas looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, then said, "I don't see why not. As long as your mother agrees, and you bring someone else with you."
Fee instantly thought of Dariye and Gimmel. He grinned. "I've got two people who would love to come with me. I'll just go ask Mom."
"See me before you leave, Fee. I've got something to give you."
"Thanks, Dad." Fee stood up and nodded his head toward Lady Melodia, then turned and went out the door.
He stopped when he heard his name called. Young Fee was running toward him, his eyes bright as he nearly flew across the floor. "Thank you, Fee," he said softly, and handed him something. "I'm glad you're going to help me."
The young blonde turned and dashed back to his brother in the conference room. Fee opened his hand and saw a headband with two feathers tied to one side. The smaller feather was an opalescent one, delicate and curvy, while the larger one was gray with darker markings on the outside edge. The smaller one was curled against the larger, as if it was looking to the larger feather for protection.
These are wing-feathers... the small one is Fee's, but whose is the larger?
"No clue." Fee ran his fingers along the smaller one, then the larger. The opalescent one felt wet, like it had been dunked in water, and the larger felt fuzzy and airy, as if it was just a bit of cloud. "Who else has Wings of the Heart, these days?"
When people had them, it was a sign of friendship. You give someone a piece of your heart-wings if you care about them.
Fee turned and watched the small body close the door behind him. "I hope I deserve it."
You know you're a heartless bastard, Fee. Let's go.
Fee laughed. "Okay."