Note from Author: As always, these characters do not belong to me, they belong to Namco Bandai. Of course as always if Namco Bandai is willing to give Asch to me, I would be happy to take him. But until then, all I can do is play around with them in my writings. This is a creation of my own overactive imagination and serious boredom, nothing more and nothing less.
Now this finally meets up with the start of the game. Of course, there are some changes, since Guy is not on Luke's side, and Duke Fabre is dead, but that is part of the fun of an AU story. For now, the plot is mostly similar with minor changes, but it will start showing more differences as things get further along and it definitely isn't going to be easy for Luke, even as the original with much stronger powers than the replica Luke had in game.
Baticul - Remday, Rem-Decan 23, ND2018
He woke up early that morning, as was his habit, despite the fact that there was little enough to do other than to check on his mother this day. He looked over and saw his wife was still asleep, so he took care to be quiet as he got out of bed and got dressed, as she needed the sleep. He then dressed as quietly as he could.
A week had passed since his father's murder. It had been a very hard and tiring week between making arrangements for his father's funeral and his worries about his mother and Natalia.
His mother was improving daily, however. Other than the fact that she mourned the loss of her husband, she was nearly recovered from the experience. Only time could heal the pain of loss.
Unfortunately, in a week's time, the criminal was no closer to being found than he was the night the murder had happened. The prime suspect, Guy Cecil, was indeed wanted for murder in all of Kimlasca now, with quite the reward for even information leading to his capture. However, other than his appearance the night of the murder, he seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
He finished dressing for the day. He looked over at his wife, who, to his relief, was still sleeping soundly. He gave her a light kiss on the forehead and then quietly left the room.
He walked down the hallway toward the stairs to reach the main hall of the castle when he heard someone behind him call out to him. "Master Luke!" the person said. It was a familiar voice, and Luke turned around to see the commander of the castle guard himself.
"Good morning Commander, I trust things have been quiet?" he inquired.
"Nothing has been amiss. I trust you and your wife are well?" the commander asked of him.
"As well as we can be, considering everything. But we do find it a great relief to have you keeping us safe," Luke answered. Then suddenly her was overcome with a sharp pain to his head, so painful that his knees buckled, causing him to fall to his knees.
"Luke...fragment...of my soul...heed...voice," a voice in his head tried to say.
"Master Luke! Are you okay?" the guard's commander asked with concern for the young man.
As suddenly as the pain arrived, it left again. "I am fine," He answered and stood back up. "I woke up with a headache, but didn't want to let it stop me from visiting Mother, that's all," he lied to the guard.
"Are you sure? Maybe you should go back to bed, or even see the doctor."
"I thank you for your concern, but truly, I am fine," He answered. "I must be going now, thanks again for your diligence in seeing to my wife's safety," Luke then walked away before the guard's commander could answer.
Truthfully, Luke was quite concerned. He had been having those headaches for years now, but usually they were infrequent. In the past week, however, they have been coming more frequently. Both his parents and his wife were quite concerned, but the doctors had no idea what the problem was. None knew about the voice though, not even Natalia. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to find out about that voice and doubt his sanity.
He tried to forget about the headache for now, as there was nothing he could do about it. As always, it was something about heeding a voice and a fragment of a soul, and he could make no sense of any of it. The important thing now was to go see that his mother was doing well still. He walked down the stairs and to the manor. When he reached the gate, the White Knight at the gate stopped him.
"Master Luke, Dorian General Grants is here. He wished to speak with you." the White Knight told him.
"Master Van? That is a surprise, today wasn't a training day, so I wasn't expecting him," Luke said. "How long has he been here?"
"He arrived only a few minutes ago. He said he was going to pay his respects to the Lady and give his condolences since he heard the bad news as he arrived in the city."
That got Luke's attention right away, as he wondered if Van knew anything about the murder. The last time the Commandant of the Oracle Knights came for Luke's training, he mentioned that if Luke did not pledge his aid to them soon, his family might find themselves threatened and there was little he could do about it. Was Guy a part of the Oracle Knights then? And if so, was he acting under orders or on his own?
"Thank you. I will go see Mother and Master Van now," Luke said and walked past the guard into the gate.
He walked into the entryway and then into the courtyard. Ever since his father's murder, the manor had a strange feel to it. He couldn't figure out what it was, but it likely was due to the bad memories associated with it now. He hoped that soon his mother would be recovered enough to join him at the castle as both he and his Uncle urged her too. She was still using his old room, as not only did she have the injury, but she was also ill again, that was why she could not be moved at this time.
He opened the door to his old room and saw his mother awake and lying on his old bed, she did appear to be in better condition this day than she had for the past week. Commandant Grants was standing next to the bed.
"Luke!" Madam Fabre exclaimed when she saw her son. "Dorian General Grants was wanting to see you. I knew you would be here soon though."
"Mother, how are you doing today?" he asked.
"I am feeling much better, thank you," She answered.
"Luke, I will await you in the courtyard, as I know you are concerned for your mother. Come speak with me when you are ready," Van said as he left the room, leaving Luke alone with his mother.
"Mother, are you feeling well enough to come to the castle? Uncle is concerned for your safety, also. Both he and I would feel better if you were there and his guards could keep an eye on all of us. Natalia also would like to have you on hand for when the child is born," Luke asked her.
"Luke, I know you are concerned. I promise, when the doctor says I am well enough, I will join you. You need not be so worried though, my brother has sent some men over to keep watch here at night along with the guards here," She assured him.
"I know, but I still worry for you," Luke told her.
"I should be better soon. Now, go find Dorian General Grants. He is a busy man and can't wait all day for you," She gently admonished.
"I will go. Get some rest and I will return when the doctor comes by to check on you," he told her and left her to go speak with his sword master in the courtyard.
"Luke, I am glad to see you are well. My condolences on your father's death. Has the criminal been found?" he inquired.
"No, Master. As far as I know, Uncle still has not found the criminal responsible," he told Van, avoiding saying anything about a suspect.
"I am sure the King will capture him soon. Have you thought more about our last discussion? About aiding me?" he asked.
"As I told you the last time, I cannot leave Baticul at this time. My wife is expecting our first child, and now with my mother being ill, I especially cannot leave. I will consider it after mother has fully recovered and my child is born."
"There would be no need for you to leave at this time. I would even be able to provide some men to aid the King in making sure your wife and mother are safe. Once they are well and your child born, if you have to leave, I will make sure they are safe for you. For now all I need from you is your promise to assist when I ask it of you," He told Luke.
Put like that, it was tempting, except for the fact that he was not sure if his Master had nothing to do with his father's murder, or even knowledge of it. With even the remote possibility that he could have had any involvement, the last thing he wanted was any men loyal to Van to be guarding his loved ones. They were safe for now with the guards in the castle along with the White Knights of the manor.
"I cannot make any promises until after the child is born. Once Natalia has recovered from the birth, I will give you an answer. Until then, I will keep it in mind," he answered, hoping that would satisfy the man for now until he knew more.
"I understand. There is something else I need to tell you. I came to let you know that I will be away for a time, as I have to return to Daath," Van told him.
"Why would that be?" Luke asked.
"I have been ordered to return to organize a search for Fon Master Ion," The Oracle Knight commander answered.
"Fon Master Ion is missing? That is grave news indeed. I will tell Uncle about it, if you would like, and he can aid you in your search," Luke told him.
"Daath would indeed be grateful for the aid of Kimlasca. For now I do now know anything, but I will send word to His Majesty if I know anything. But any additional eyes out for Fon Master Ion would be appreciated."
Then suddenly Luke and Van heard a voice singing from a distance away, but within the manor. The Oracle Knight commander fell to his knees, Luke was fine, but felt a bit lethargic.
"That…voice! It can't be!" Van exclaimed as best as he could in his tired condition.
A woman then appeared in the courtyard. She was wearing a brown uniform and had long brown hair, much like Van's, but longer and not pulled back. She was holding a staff in one hand and had a small knife in her other hand.
"Vandesdelca! I finally found you! Prepare to die, traitor!" The mysterious woman yelled and then came running towards Van.
"Tear! I knew it!" Van said, as he tried to stop the woman.
"Who the hell is that, and how did she get past the guards?" Luke yelled, and then again another headache came to him. "Not again!"
"Resound...! The will of Lorelei shall reach you... and open the way!" the voice he heard earlier said to him. He was oddly glowing, his power seemed to be out of control for some reason, as he usually was able to keep it in check.
"Not that weird voice again…" he grumbled. But this time it was indeed worse,
as it was causing his powers to go out of control.
At that moment, Van had deflected the woman's attack, but her momentum
carried her towards Luke. She couldn't stop herself from running into him.
"The Seventh Fonon?" the woman asked, astonished at what she saw before she was stopped by running into the redheaded young man. The moment they touched, a pillar of light appeared.
And when the pillar of light disappeared, both were gone.
And as always, reviews are greatly appreciated!