First off: I'm still thinking of different names for this story, so if you wanna help me out a little? I'll be making a poll for it sooner or later if anybody want to know.
Second: I forgot to mention in the last chapter that when the shadow said "Like moths to the flame" I did indeed steal that from Yuan-Tales of Symphonia.
I do not own either Tales games involved in this story!!!
For another time, and many more times to come:
Read on!!
It wasn't easy to travel three days back to Chesedonia. But they made it, Guy sending a carrier pigeon to Baticul, then renting a room.
Tear felt like she was in hyperressonance training with Luke again, the only difference: Luke was gone. Several nightmares haunted her dreams as they traveled. Each time, she awoke hoping that the events of this month had all been a big night mare. But Jade's blank face had wiped those hopes away. Every day, a monster or two would sneak up behind Jade, and when it did, he was amazed at the fact that he could pull a spear out from now where.
'Great...spear wielding amnesiac...' Guy thought. 'Fantastic...' Why was Guy in a strangely abnormal mood lately? It had been announced some time ago that he and Natalia would be married. Even with his lingering phobia, they'd insisted on it. Saying it would be the ultimate symbol of peace. Natalia had been dragging him everywhere in preparation. Of course, their marriage would be the last thing on her mind when she heard of this.
Another 'strange' thing other than Guy's mood of late, was the vile of revolting green slime that was found in Jade's pocket. He'd taken the cork off the top, then immediately shove it back in. Pinching his nose, Jade held the bottle at arms length. "I don't know what it is, but it smells horrible." he said in a high, congested sort of voice.
Tear didn't go anywhere near it, the mere sight of it made her hair stand up on end, even though she was trained for the unexpected. She didn't know the unexpected included the stench of this stuff.
A carrier pigeon was sent as soon as they arrived. And a room was rented for the night.
Guy had taken it upon himself to find Jade some clothes other then the ripped, stained colonel's uniform they found him in.
There wasn't much to do, Tear sat on her bed, worrying about Luke, and Jade wasn't much for conversation. The only thing to do was wait, and read one of the old, decrepit books in the small shelf next to a rather squishy arm chair. He also needed to figure out the difference between Jade's glasses, and normal glasses. Jade had said there was a specific difference when they were working to stop Van. What that could possibly be, he didn't know...
Peony wasn't sad, but he wasn't really happy either. Yes, his best friend was back, but what good is it when your best friend doesn't even remember you? Every time Peony had confronted Jade, trying to get him to 'cut the act', the necromancer turned amnesiac would stare at him blankly. Then Peony would huff in slight annoyance, and leave.
Anise had come to 'join the party' as she said, as soon as she heard. Not only did she come with worry for her favorite colonel, and the fact that something had kidnapped Luke, she came fully loaded with stories to tell, how the Order was still clinging to old memories, how Fon Master Florian had given her a new promotion, how there was a new boy in town, and on, and on, and on.
The marriage of Princess Natalia and the last member of House Gardios was also the last thing on their minds. Maids and citizens alike ran around crying "Master Luke! Master Luke is missing!" Search parties were set up immediately, to search. There was also an order to everybody from both Kings that no one was to go anywhere near the dark plants. Researchers were still trying to figure out what they were made of, and what was controlling them. The Shadow form was also on their hit list.
But Jade didn't really pay attention to all of this chaos. Exactly one week had passed. Peony would have been happy that Jade had dug up a piece of his memory, but it was this certain memory that kept him on the ground.
---
Anise, Guy, Tear, and Peony were standing around Jade's bed, in the middle of the night, trying to wake him as he tossed and turned. The blanket had been thrown away as a cold sweat ran down his body.
"What's going on?!" Anise cried.
"A night mare!" Guy said.
"He isn't waking up." Tear said.
Peony had a sudden realization. If this was what he thought it was... He brought his hand up.
"What are you doing?!" Anise asked.
"..." Peony brought his hand down across Jade's face. His eyes snapped open and he shot up straight, shaking.
"Jade? Jade what happened?" Guy asked, setting a hand on his shoulder.
He didn't respond right away. "..."
"Jade..." Peony sat on the edge of the bed. "Come on, tell us what happened."
It was strange really, seeing Jade in such a state. But Anise couldn't find any other reason for what she heard.
"I...I ki-I killed her...I tried to save her..."
Tear felt a pang in her chest. Out of all the memories you ever had, the first one to remember was death.
So Peony did something Jade probably wouldn't have let him do under normal circumstances. He leaned over, wrapping his arms around the others shoulders. "But what's done is done. What's in the past stays, you don't have to worry about it now. Come on, stop shaking."
The shaking eventually did stop, Anise, Tear and Guy had gone back to their rooms, telling Jade to try to sleep again. Thought Peony doubted that he would be able to get a worthy nights sleep without being woken up by sudden memories of killing humans.
---
Jade sat on his bed, not really paying attention to anything. Trying to place memories was getting slightly easier. The majority of them were some he'd rather not think about, but some he liked to linger on. Like the time a new maid had arrived, and was to walk a rappig. She huffed, saying that only little rappig shouldn't be any sort of challenge, and ended up being dragged all over the city by the things.
Or the time Peony had started doing some sort of creepy dance because of his new rappig, and ended up in the ocean.
But he'd yet to discover who that silver haired boy was...Every time he thought about it, a pair of violet eyes would stare back from the memory.
Professor Nebilim. That name kept coming back. The memory of her death would follow soon after, and then he would sit there for the next five minutes, chanting "Happy thoughts, happy thoughts..."
(Some amount of days have passed)
(A/N:I know, time's passing quick, but that's me, I hate lingering on things like these.)
Peony had a mission for them. Not just Peony, but Ingobert had agreed to investigate Grand Chokmah. Something there was attraction the plants, and both rulers both seemed on edge. They knew something everybody else didn't, Anise thought, but no details were uttered. When Jade was ready, they would leave. Thankfully, a certain somebody had been called, just for the event. The Albiore II, and its pilot, Noelle. Asked by Peony, ordered by the king to escort them to the infested city.
"I have to say though, this is all so...strange." Noelle said as she was given a seat at the dining table. "These plants, and what happened to Luke."
"Huh? You already knew?" Anise asked.
"I was told in the letter." Noelle replied.
"Oh..."
Silence.
"So how's Ginji?" Guy asked, trying to break the silence.
"Oh he's good..." Everybody continued to pick their food.
"...What's Aston up to?" Guy tried again.
"Oh Aston? He's got a new project on the road now. Do you know Shiba?" Noelle said.
"Yeah, has he finally decided to stay in Sheridan for a while?"
"He's helping to. That dog of his is helpful too. He does what ever you tell him to." Noelle said happily. "He's so fluffy too..."
"What was that?"
"Uh...nothing!" Hm. Seems Noelle and Tear have the same weakness...
"What's he working on?" Guy leaned forward.
"I'm sorry. I swore I wouldn't tell. Aston says it's something that he started just for these types of...events." Noelle said.
"Really?!" Guy grinned. "Just for us? I wonder what it is..."
"Now now Guy, you wouldn't want to go snooping around would you? That would defeat the entire purpose of surprises!"
Everybody turned to the source of the teasing voice.
"Jade!!"
Peony forgot all manners, and ran to hug the man that had appeared in the door way. Who let him hug him for a moment, then held him away at arms length. "I have to say though, some memories are still a bit misty...or missing."
"Well who cares about that!" Anise slunk up behind him, and hugged him around the waist, grinning madly. Operation: Hug the Necromancer: Success! "What matters is that you're not just sitting around like a bum anymore!"
Jade tried to pry her hands away from his waist, but was unsuccessful as Guy put a hand on his shoulder. "I agree. Welcome back."
"Yes, it was rather...unnerving to have someone such as you in such a state." Natalia said, Tear nodded in agreement, neither woman being the type to run up and hug him like Anise.
"Yes, is excellent." The King nodded. "Now we can continue with our plans."
"And those would be?" Jade took as seat next to Peony. or rather, was forced to sit next to the overly happy Emperor.
"We're planning to go to Grand Chokmah." Guy answered.
"Yes." Peony said. "There's something there that I would like you to retrieve."
"Why couldn't you just bring it with you in the first place?" Anise asked.
"I'm sorry. I can't say anything until I have it. It's top secret to my family." Peony said.
"Well then, while we're on the matter of traveling, would someone like to tell me where my clothes are?" Jade was referring to the fact that he was wearing some off white pajamas, and a pair of slippers.
"Well. I'm sorry to say," Peony said. "But your uniform has been, to say, totaled."
Jade lifted an eyebrow at Peony's grin. "But don't worry! I got a whole new one made up!"
"Oh no..." Jade sighed.
"Hey! It isn't that bad! Besides! It looks a lot better that other one you had!"
"You designed that." Jade reminded him.
"Oh well, what's done is done! I put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that!" Peony laughed. Then muttered "Literally..."
Jade shivered.
Anise, Guy, Tear and Natalia stayed silent. Listening to this conversation.
"The Emperor designed his uniform himself?" Anise wondered.
"Well, I guess that explained that pak-man belt..." Guy said.
"Yes." Tear said.
"Quite." Natalia agreed.
'This is an...interesting...reunion...' Noelle thought.
The king said nothing.
"Seriously though, you got to admit. It's pretty good." Peony and Jade stood in the bathroom, looking in the full body mirror at Peony's 'masterpiece'.
The boots and gloves were much the same, except the dark blue they once were was now a considerably lighter shade, with a yellow line running down the side of the gloves. The tips of his boots were now white. The jacket had 'suffered' a dramatic change as well. It was all white, the tails were lined with three yellow lines instead of white, and the whole jacket was lined by a gold streak as well. The buttons were in more of a diamond shape, instead of a square, and the collar from the shirt underneath was a shade of blue slightly darker than his gloves, matching his pants, and lined with belt was also the same blue, and the pac-man on it was gold colored, with little white dots in front of it. Jade can't ever seem to escape the pac-man curse...
"See?" Peony held up the old uniform. Jade had to agree, it did look quite depressing next to the one he currently wore. "New, old and dirty. New, old and dirty."
"Now that you're done comparing the uniforms that you designed. I have to say...It's rather...white."
"Oh come now, there's gotta be something you like about it!" Peony exclaimed.
"Oh but that would ruin the suspense now, wouldn't it?" Jade said, grinning.
"...You can't give anybody a break can you?"
"Oh, I'm afraid that's not a part of my nature."
"I thought being good and honest was."
"Yes, but so is how you say it 'being a jerk'."
"...Touche."
"Hey are you guys done in-hey! You look good in that Colonel!" Anise stuck her head in the door.
"Heh heh. See?" Peony smiled in victory.
"Why thank you Anise. If I look so good, maybe it would look even better on you! All you have to do is ask my VERY generous friend here."
"Hey!"
"Oh! Really?" Anise giggled. "Well, while you do that, we're going to leave soon, I just came to say."
"Thanks Jade. Now I'll have to get pricked again or else she'll maul me..."
"Oh you're welcome, Your Majesty!"
"Hey, are you done-whoa." Guy looked Jade from head to toe, "Wow. Emperor Peony did that?"
"Yes, he did." Jade said, boarding the Albiore.
"Wow. I have to say, he did a good job." Natalia said.
"Yes, I never thought Emperor peony to be the type to sew." Tear agreed.
"Oh I'm sure he has lots of free time for it, but enough about my new wardrobe, let's say we get on our way?" Jade said.
"Yeah!" Anise jumped into a seat. "This is my seat!"
"Hey come on, you two got to sit there last time." Guy said, referring to Jade and Anise. "I always had to stand."
"Well, it looks like you'll have to keep on standing them." Jade said from his seat. "Unless you want to take their seat. Guy! That's not very nice!"
"Yeah! Where's your manners Guy?!" Anise said.
"H-hey! Why don't you stand then?!" Guy pointed at Jade.
"Oh, I'm afraid not. You know, at this age, my bones hurt, you see." Jade smiled. "Besides, my memory seems to be failing me. I remember no such event where I sat in this seat."
"You jerk..."
"Oh boy..." Noelle laughed and sighed at the same time.
Mwahaha. Well, I was in school, listening to music, when I started organizing the main events in this story, and ended up with about 45 chapters(with more on the way). But to see that, you guy are gonna have to be really nice, and not only read this story, but review! You know I can't go on without them!!
Remember when I said I wouldn't be updating this too often? Well, I finally figured out my own writing patterns, and when the urge to write this story dies down, updates will be slow, and I will gradually start updating any stories I've neglected until then. So be patient, and maybe in the next little while, a story you've been waiting for a long to time update, will be sitting with another chapter on the list!!