The Meaning of Birth – 武田地夜


Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia or Tales of the Abyss or the characters and story lines pertaining to it. They belong to their respective owners and Namco Bandai.


Chapter 3: New Additions


Luke grunted in protest as a Malkuth soldier shoved him roughly before a white haired man. They were in Grand Chokmah now, the "Floating Capital of the Malkuth Empire", and at the moment they were nothing more than prisoners. The white haired man approached the group, nodding to the soldiers. They released Luke and his friends immediately.

One of the soldiers saluted to the new man. "General Frings! We found these intruders inside the Theor Forest."

"Good work, Geoffrey," praised the general. "I trust that leaving them with me won't be a problem?"

"Of course not, sir. My officers and I will take our leave now." Geoffrey saluted once more and walked off in the direction they had come from.

"Luke, is it?" asked the man. "Son of Duke…?"

"How do you know me?" growled Luke.

"Forgive me. I am General Aslan Frings." The general gave a small polite bow. "Colonel Curtiss asked me to greet you outside the Theor Forest, but it seems you entered and were captured before I could do so."

Tear blushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. Malkuth soldiers were being killed, so we thought there was danger and—"

General Frings shook his head. "No, I should be thanking you. But this just turned into a disturbance, so until you have your audience with His Imperial Majesty, we must treat you as our prisoners."

"That's fine and all, but Guy comes first!" Luke insisted, gesturing toward his friend's unconscious form and the man carrying him. "He…"

"He's afflicted with a Curse Slot," Ion explained. "He's resisting as much as possible. If you could please give us a place to rest, I will release him from it."

Colette glanced at the small boy. "You can do that?"

"More specifically, I'm the only one who can." Ion placed a hand on Guy's unconscious body which was still draped over the newcomer's shoulder. "Because this was originally a Daathic Fonic Arte."

Frings nodded. "Understood. I will leave you with a group of soldiers at the inn, then."

"I'll go, too! I'm Ion's guard," Anise announced as she began walking with Ion and the red haired man, still carrying Guy, toward the main city.

"Wait!" Luke called, moving to follow the three. "I'll come too!"

"…Luke." Luke slowed as Ion spoke. The Fon Master stopped and fell behind the others, keeping his back to Luke. "There is something you should know. A Curse Slot cannot just control a person, making them do anything the controller wants. It cannot force a person to do something they don't want to do."

"What do you mean?"

"The Curse Slot is a fonic arte that awakens a person's memories and numbs their inhibitions. In short…" Ion turned to face Luke, his green eyes filled with the promise of a terrible truth. "If Guy didn't already have a strong will to kill you, he never would have been able to attack you. That is what it means."

"No…" Luke couldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it. His best friend hated him so much he wanted him dead? It couldn't be…

"Until I release the Curse Slot, you need to stay away from Guy." Ion ran to catch up to his guardian.

There was a stunned silence. It was a shock to everyone. A few exchanged nervous glances with each other, expressions saying everything without needing to say a word. Frings coughed to get everyone's attention.

"If you'd like, how about looking around the city? You can't leave, but it would help you all to relax…" The general trailed off, not quite knowing how to better the situation.

Tear nodded, taking initiative. "Please, allow us."

Frings visibly relaxed. "Understood. Then we will arrange a meeting with His Imperial Majesty for you."

There was a long moment in which no one spoke. Colette apologized quietly, although even she knew not to whom she spoke. The travelers shifted uncomfortably. Luke hung his head, face contorted with a cross between anger and grief.

"Please leave me alone," he ground out, and then he took off at a near run into the city with no real destination in mind.

-(-)-

"…Don't follow me." Luke watched his tears mix with the water beneath him. He was leaning over the side of one of the many bridges in Grand Chokmah that created a path over the expanse of ocean under the city. His head was resting on his folded arms which lay on the bridge wall. He stared down at his reflection and saw Tear come up behind him, followed by a flying Mieu.

"I promised I'd watch you," Tear said quietly.

Mieu landed on the sergeant's shoulder. "I follow my master."

"Leave me alone!" Luke shouted, whipping around to face the two. They flinched at the sudden action. His throat constricted, the lump in it thickening. He felt like crying all over again, and he didn't know if he had the strength left to endure pity from the girl.

Tear steeled herself and straightened. She couldn't help feeling sorry for Luke, but at the same time, she had a job to do. "If I leave you alone, you'll just start thinking too hard about the situation."

"What about the situation?" Luke yelled.

"About how Guy hates you." Tear was blunt – painfully so.

"But he does hate me. That's why—"

"Are you stupid?"

Luke blinked at the girl. "What did you say?"

"Do you think you're someone who doesn't deserve a little ill will towards yourself?" she asked rhetorically. "Guy is human. I think that up until now you've always thought of him as a servant. But he waited for you at Aramis Springs."

"That may be so, but—"

"There was a time when he hated you enough to want to kill you," Tear said, effectively cutting off the teen. "But even so, he must have believed you would improve. He wouldn't have remained with you otherwise, right?"

Luke was silent for a moment, staring hard at the melodist.

"…You always speak in such an intense way."

"What?"

Luke shrugged. "I know you're trying to comfort me, but your words might be too harmful, don't you think?"

Tear cringed. "I'm sorry. I… hurt you…"

"But since I'm worthless," Luke continued, "even saying that much might be better."

Tear placed a hand on his shoulder, not knowing how to make up for the wound she had worsened. "Luke…"

"Thanks," he said with a small smile. "I know what you meant. He gave me a chance, so… I should trust him, too."

"That's the spirit, Master!" exclaimed Mieu as he flew up and landed in Luke's arms.

The redhead laughed and Tear soon joined him. He turned around and climbed onto the bridge wall and faced the open water.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you earlier," Luke began as he sat down on the wall.

Tear leaned over the edge, waiting for him to continue.

"Last night, I had this… weird dream. I didn't know where I was, but I was in a forest or something. I was running. Hard. I… I couldn't breathe. I just kept thinking, 'Please, don't let it be too late!' There was smoke a little bit ahead, and that was the direction I was running in." Luke looked up into the clear sky, his eyes growing distant as though he was trying to recall a forgotten memory. "It got hazy there. The next thing I know, I'm in the middle of this burning village. Smoke and fire was everywhere, there were people screaming all around me. I pushed my way into a house and ran to the man on the floor. He…" The redhead gave a visible shudder. "He looked just like Guy. A bit older, maybe ten or so years, but he looked a lot like him. I don't really remember much more, but I know that there was a little green haired girl right next to me holding onto a little blonde baby. I said something to the man, and he said something back, and then he died. Right there in my arms. I heard the girl start crying with me, and then I woke up."

Luke glanced nervously at Tear as she thought for a long moment.

"I don't know, Luke," she said finally. "It was probably just a dream. In any case, we should locate the others and see if Emperor Peony can see us yet." The soldier turned and began walking toward the city.

Mieu cuddled close to Luke's body, snuggling in the warmth. "Yeah… just a dream."

-(-)-

After gathering Natalia, Genis, and Colette, the group went to meet with General Frings in front of Grand Chokmah's palace, home of Emperor Peony the Ninth, ruler of Malkuth.

The palace was huge, not unlike Kimlasca's own castle in which King Ingobert VI resided. The entrance hall was enormous, but it was dwarfed by the throne room. It was there that they met the emperor of Kimlasca's enemy.

Luke fidgeted as Jade finished telling the story of all that had happened so far. Peony sat silently the whole time until the explanation ended. Luke concluded with an explanation of the group. Luke thought it was an odd way to end a story, but he really didn't care that much. Peony smiled when he heard the group members' names.

"So you're the ones who've been dragging my Jade all around without returning him, huh?" the blonde man asked.

Luke was taken aback. "What?"

"I heard he got caught in a fon slot seal," Peony continued, still grinning. "He must've quite a burden."

"N-no, Your Majesty…" Luke tried, stumbling over his words while trying to be polite. "That wasn't—"

"Colette? Genis?"

The call came from the door to the foyer. A young woman who looked no older than 20 with dark hair stood gaping in the doorway. As soon as Colette saw her, the blonde took off running. They met in an awkward hug in the middle of the throne room, both laughing uncontrollably. Genis ran up to them too, welcoming the new woman.

There was also a young man, maybe 22, that came in, slowly making his way to the three. "Damn, Sheena. You need to be so loud?" he complained.

Luke stared at them. Their clothes were so unlike Kimlascan or Malkuth garb, closer resembling Colette's and Genis'. The girl wore a light purple sleeveless tunic with a large pale pink ribbon around her waist that tied to a bow in the back. Her nearly black hair was held up by a smaller ribbon of the same shade, also done in a bow. Her eyes were rich chocolate brown. She wore black leggings, as well as elbow length fingerless gloves and boots that matched her tunic. She reminded Luke of some kind of dancer. Or assassin.

The man on the other hand resembled her dance partner. He had long red semi-curly hair that fell to the middle of his back and bright blue-green eyes. He wore loose white pants that tucked into white and yellow shoes, and a black tank top under a long vest that hung down to his knees. What threw Luke's head for a spin, however, were the colors of his vest. Pink! Pink and gold! The main part was a pale red/pink with gold trim. He had long gloves that extended from the middle of his biceps to the tips of his fingers. The main glove was black, including the fingers, but the top was covered in the same pink as his vest. He also had a white headband that held his hair back and a dagger at his side. There was a small round crystal embedded just below his collarbone. A Chosen.

Luke was shaken out of his musings by a loud, enthusiastic clap from the throne. Emperor Peony was standing and walking toward Luke and his friends.

"Ah! Sheena! Zelos, these are the friends you told me about, then?" he asked the dancing pair.

The red haired man – Zelos – grinned. "Yeah, I've been looking all over for you, my little Angel," he cooed to Colette. The girl shifted nervously away.

The woman gave him a hard slap upside his head. "Yes, Your Majesty. Two of them, anyway."

"Pardon me. I hate to interrupt your touching reunion, but there are more important matters to attend to," voiced Jade. He cast a pointed glance in the emperor's direction.

Peony chuckled. "Yes, yes. I've heard just about everything from Jade."

Luke spoke first. "Then you know that unless we do something, there's a risk that St. Binah will collapse into the Qliphoth."

"This may be so," Peony conceded. "But it seems you're too late. The St. Binah area has already begun to sink, it appears."

"Sink?" Genis asked quietly.

"Then you have to have the townspeople take shelter! You must evacuate them!" Natalia urged, ignoring the small boy.

The emperor shook his head. "I want very much to do just that, but there are a lot of reluctant voices in parliament."

"But, Your Majesty… Even though your country's people are in danger…"

Jade cut the princess off. "It's pressure from the Kimlascan Army."

A tall, older man standing to the right of the throne agreed with Jade. "There was a proclamation from the kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear," said Nordheim.

"Princess Natalia and Sir Luke, third in line to the throne, are both said to be dead," Sesseman, a small man on Peony's left, added. "They've expressed regret and strong objection against Malkuth for the destruction of Akzeriuth."

"We heard all about it from His Imperial Majesty," said Sheena. "This Daath place also sanctioned you, right?"

"In reality, it's a declaration of war…" Natalia realized. "My father must be misunderstanding the situation!"

"And he has acted upon this misunderstanding then, hasn't he, Princess Natalia?" Nordheim asked rhetorically. "We think Kimlasca is just using the destruction of Akzeriuth as an excuse for war."

"My country would never do such an underhanded thing," Natalia denied.

"That's right!" Luke agreed. "And Akzeriuth was… my fault…"

Jade placed a hand on Luke's shoulder comfortingly. "Everyone is aware of the circumstances." And then, to Natalia, "Please calm down, Natalia." The colonel waited until she had. "It is not important right now whether or not Kimlasca destroyed Akzeriuth to start a war."

Peony nodded. "Yes. The problem is that parliament has gotten the idea that St. Binah's sinking is the work of Kimlasca. There is fear that if we were to send a rescue team to the city, Kimlasca will either sink it and kill our soldiers or attack while our attention is divided."

"If the Malkuth army can't help them," Luke began, an idea forming in his mind, "then please send me."

"I also request to go," offered Natalia.

"That's surprising. Why would a group from our rival country's royal family wish to go so badly?" the emperor asked.

"We are not your enemy, Your Majesty. At the very least, ordinary people come and go as usual," Natalia explained. "Besides, it is because of our birth that we are inclined to help these people. That is after all the duty of the royal family, is it not?"

Peony nodded. "I see… But what about you, Luke? Why are you so eager to help us?"

Luke struggled for the right words. "I… am a huge criminal in this country. Because of Akzeriuth… If there's something I can do to help these people, to make it right, then I have to do it. I want to save everyone."

"So you say…" Peony narrowed his eyes in thought, studying Luke. "What do you think, Sesseman? Your favorite student, Jade, had also said to trust these guys."

Sesseman coughed slightly at the comment. "Your Majesty, 'these guys' is a bit rude."

"I'd like to go as well, Your Highness," came the voice of the dark haired girl, Sheena. "It might help us find our friends. And we do owe you for helping us."

Peony smiled at the idea. "Then you'll be taking Zelos with you, also?

Sheena nodded, ignoring the aforementioned man's protests. "Yes, I'll have him accompany me. Are you and Genis coming, too?" she asked Colette.

The blonde smiled. "Yes! We'll help as much as we can!"

"I will rescue St. Binah with my unit, Luke, and the others," said Jade. Luke could almost hear the gears in the colonel's head turn as he tried to think of the most efficient plan. "I think it will be a good idea to have General Nordheim hold off the Kimlascan troops heading north."

"Always with such pertly speech," marveled Sesseman. "Very well. Let's try to move parliament in that direction."

Peony smiled. "I owe you one, old man." He walked up to the chestnut haired man. "I have to go and call a meeting of parliament. You can leave that to me, Jade."

Jade smiled, his eyes shining with mischief. "My, my. Such a big job. Even having just one town evacuate and take refuge. Are you sure you're up to it?"

The emperor laughed and hugged Jade tightly. "Of course I'm sure! I'm the emperor, after all!" The blonde man released the colonel and took a long look at him while keeping him at arm's length. "It's so good to have you back. I knew you couldn't be dead. You have the tenacity of a cockroach."

Luke chuckled under his breath. Isn't that how Jade described Dist?

"Anyway, you must be tired. Go and rest at the hotel; you'll need it before you leave," suggested Emperor Peony.

Everyone, including Colette, Genis, and the two new additions, thanked the emperor for his hospitality before leaving for the hotel. Luke was hoping with all his heart that the Curse Slot was removed and that, if it was, he'd have the courage to face his friend for whatever he had done.

-(-)-

Luke opened the door to the room that Guy and the others were in. He smiled when he saw that Guy was already awake and recovered, but his heart dropped immediately when he remembered the Curse Slot.

"Guy… I'm so sorry," he said, sinking to his knees beside his friend's bed.

Guy blinked in surprise. "Luke? What are you doing?"

"I… did something to make you hate me." Luke clenched his fists tightly, trying to hold back the urge to cry again. "That's why you—"

Luke's head shot up as he heard Guy laugh. "What are you going on about?" the blonde swordsman asked, still laughing. He sighed as his laughs died away and looked at his friend with sorrow filled eyes. "It isn't your fault, Luke."

Luke rose to stand before Guy. "What?"

"Me hating you so much? It's not your fault." Guy took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm… originally from Malkuth."

"Are you seriously?" asked Anise.

Guy nodded. "I was born on Hod. And on my fifth birthday, my family and relatives had all gathered at my mansion. As the Scorer was about to recite the Score, war broke out."

"The Hod War," Tear realized.

Luke sat on the edge of a bed just opposite Guy as he listened carefully.

"Right," Guy confirmed. "My entire family… my servants, my relatives… they were all killed by the duke."

"Duke?" asked Genis. "What duke?"

"Duke Fabre," Guy answered, light hatred gleaming in his eyes. "He laughed as he trampled everything that was precious to me… I had planned to think of you the same as the duke."

"So you had entered the duke's household in order to get revenge?" Jade guessed. "Count Gailardia Galan of house Gardios."

Guy smiled a smile that reflected only irony. "Oh… so that means you knew?"

Jade shrugged. "I was a little curious, so I did some investigating. Your shieldless sword technique is unique to Hod's Albert style."

Luke heard a faint gasp behind him. He spun around to see who had made the sound. He was surprised to see the red haired man standing behind him, eyes widened with an untold realization.

"Duke… Fabre?" he repeated slowly. Luke watched his left hand fall to the sword that was sheathed at his side. The man's hand tightened around the handle as he said the name again. "Duke Fabre? You're sure of this name?"

Guy nodded, his gaze hardening as he watched the man. "Of course I'm sure. I wouldn't forget the name of the man that murdered my family."

The man's eyes flickered for a moment, but they never left Guy's face. "Then you're… Gailardia Galan."

Guy nodded again. "Yeah, Jade just said that."

Luke heard Sheena gasp also. "It's you!" she cried.

The red haired man glanced briefly at Sheena before muttering an apology and briskly walking out of the room without another word.

There was a short silence before someone spoke.

"What's that guy doing here?" asked Zelos. "I thought we left him back in Sylvarant."

"I was just thinking the same thing," said Sheena.

"You know him, then?" asked Tear. "We had just met him in the forest. He helped us and carried Guy here."

"Yeah, it was the weirdest thing," said Anise. "I mean, the guy just came out of nowhere with these weird blue floaty thingies and helped Luke."

"Blue… floaty thingies?" Sheena looked confused.

"I think she means his wings," offered Colette. "Although I still can't figure out why he helped us."

"Can you tell us who he is?" Natalia asked.

"He's a cold-hearted bastard," said Genis, venom lacing his tone. "A traitor."

Luke blinked. He couldn't believe a boy that young just said a word like that without a second thought. "Is he really that bad?" The teen found it hard to believe that the man who had helped him could also have betrayed these four people.

Colette bowed her head. "No, he's worse. He's part of Cruxis, but he was helping us at first, too."

"He told us that he was a mercenary. Colette's grandmother hired him to protect us while Colette went on the Journey of Regeneration," explained Genis. His face reflected the harsh anger in his voice. "But we didn't know that it meant Colette would die. He did; after all, that's what Cruxis wanted."

"They were trying to use Colette's body as a vessel for Martel," said Sheena.

"Martel… isn't that one of the people from the story you told us?" asked Guy. "The one about the heroes and the war?"

"Yep. It's the same one." Zelos leaned up against the wall next to Sheena. "Apparently, Martel was killed during the Kharlan War. Mithos went insane and has been trying to bring her back through one of the Chosen."

"And if Mithos and Yggdrasill are the same, then he would have the power to do so," assumed Ion. "Then this man was working for Cruxis?"

"Not for Cruxis. He's a part of it," said Colette. "He's actually an Angel. That's why he had those blue wings. His name is Kratos. Kratos Aurion.

"Interesting…" Jade muttered.

"What is?" asked Luke.

"His name," answered Jade. "You said you were from Sylvarant, right?"

Colette nodded.

"But his name has a meaning in Ancient Ispanian, an ancient dialect of our own language."

Ion smiled. "Oh, I see. You're right, Jade. That is strange."

"What is?" Luke asked again.

"In Ancient Ispanian, the word 'kratos' denotes strength or power," explained Ion. "His last name, Aurion, means 'Sacred Light that Touches the Earth.' So he's called 'The Strength of the Sacred Light that Touches the Earth.' Kratos Aurion."

"But he has the same name as the man from the story, too!" exclaimed Anise. "Kratos… are they the same?"

Sheena shrugged. "We think so. So far, it looks like the hero Mithos is the leader of Cruxis, Yggdrasill; his sister, Martel, is the goddess we worship; and Kratos is 'one of the Seraphim that guides our world.' Or so he says."

Luke gasped. "But that war was over 4,000 years ago in your world! How could he still look so young?"

"It's because of the Cruxis Crystal," said Zelos. He tapped the red gem on his neck. "When it's at its fullest power, it can turn you into an Angel and completely stop your internal clock. That's what happened with those guys."

Guy let out a low whistle. "You world is really crazy. Cruxis… Seraphim… I'm sorry you have to go through all that."

"I am too," said Luke. "I'd like to help if I could, but…"

"Don't worry about it," Sheena insisted, smiling at the redhead. "You've got your own things to worry about."

Luke sighed. "Yeah… But still. I mean, you're helping us and all."

"No, we're looking for our friends. There's a difference. Right, Jubblies?" Zelos peered over at Sheena with a big grin on his face.

There was a loud smack as Sheena hit him. "I'll smack you!" she threatened.

"Ow!" Zelos grimaced as he rubbed the newly sore spot. "You always warn me after you do it!"

Luke laughed along with the others. He realized with joy that Guy was laughing as well. Ordinarily, that would be a good thing, but…

"Guy?"

Guy stopped laughing, turning to Luke. "Yeah?"

Luke fidgeted, suddenly finding the carpet very interesting. "You… hate me, right? Since I am the son of Duke Fabre."

"Hate you?" Guy marveled. "No. I don't hate you. But I understand if you don't want me around anymore. I wouldn't… But if it's all right, I'd like to keep traveling with you. There's something I want to confirm."

"If it's all right? Of course it's all right," Luke said smiling. "I don't want you to leave yet, Guy. Malkuth citizen or not, you're still my friend, right?"

Guy grinned. "Right." He leaned back, collapsing on the soft bed. "But for now, friend, let's get some sleep. I'll bet we're going to have a long day tomorrow."

"Yes, we will. Genis can stay in this room with you and Guy," Jade said to Luke, turning to leave. "Natalia, Tear, and Anise will stay in another, then Sheena and Colette. I'll go find Kratos and he'll sleep with Zelos and me. Is that all right with everyone?"

Zelos paled. "Wait… You're saying I have to share a room with Kratos? And Jade? Nope! No way! Not gonna happen! You can't make me!"

Jade grinned, although to the rest of the group the smile had a rather malicious gleam to it. "Oh, I'm sure something can be arranged to suit your tastes, Chosen. But like it or not, you'll be rooming with me tonight. And if you try to argue, you're sure to pay for it. Now move." He gestured toward the door.

Zelos shuddered under the cold gaze. "All right, all right! I'm going!" He scrambled quickly out the door.

Jade then followed with a strangely sweet "Goodnight, everyone."

Sheena and Colette also left the room, wishing a goodnight to the others, followed by Tear, Anise, and Natalia. Luke, Guy and Genis wished them all a goodnight in turn and suddenly, the room was empty.

Luke breathed out a sigh of relief. "Wow. I thought for sure Jade was about to kill Zelos."

Guy chuckled. "Yeah, me too."

"Is he always like that?" asked Genis as he climbed into the last available bed beside Guy.

"No," said Luke. "He's worse."

The three laughed heartily, relaxing in the easy air between them. It was some time before they finally settled down for the night, easing into the gentle embrace of sleep. Although for Luke, sleep was anything but gentle.