A/N:

Welcome one and all to the first "Lost Chapter" of A Scion's Tale!

Sorry this is so late, but it was a real challenge for me to write; keeping everyone in character took some extra time.

Not to mention I lost a bit of motivation seeing that I only got one review. T.T (Though to my one reviewer, I'm always so happy to read your reviews~! Thank you for always taking the time to write one~)

On that note, onto the reviewer response!

AnimeCrazy88: Glad to see your interest in Asch's motives; I promise they'll all be explained with time. In fact, this chapter may help explain that a bit too. (Also, how happy can Asch really get; he is Asch after all lol.) And Tenshi and Furbar were indeed lucky ducks to get away without more damage. Yep, now Jade knows that Castelle figured it out; but more importantly is what he may be figuring out about Castelle herself. And don't worry about Amelia, she'll turn up soon enough. (If there's ever a character you don't need to worry about, it's Amelia, trust me.) Jade Gang FTW! Love that title! And me and you share the same feelings about Anise and Natalia it seems~ Anyway, thank you again for always reviewing! I always look forward to hearing from you.

Phew, long response! Again, reviews help motivate chapters to come out faster; so please tak a moment to write a word or two if you see something you like/are curious about/mistake that needs correcting/etc!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss. I probably wouldn't have gotten lost so much on my first play-through if I owned it… probably…

Lost Chapter I: For Who You Are

The summer sun was shining in full force on the capital of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear that day, beating down onto the citizens below. No one knew this better than the White Knights scurrying around the outside of the castle. They moved in groups of two and three, feverously searching the entire grounds for their target while simultaneously trying not to pass out from the heat. Peering into every bush and circling every fountain, the soldiers carefully swept the area, unwilling to leave any stone unturned. The knights inside the castle worked in a similar fashion, checking every room and hallway thoroughly for the run away. After climbing to the top of a high bookshelf in the library and returning down, still empty-handed, one soldier finally sighed and leaned against a wall, feeling defeated.

"I don't understand why we keep doing this…" the man sighed aloud, annoyed at the latest of many full-scale castle search. "It's the same thing every time. She vanishes for hours, then shows up and acts like nothing happened. Then she does it all over again another day." The soldier groaned at the cycle. "And we never find her until she shows up on her own…" He shook his head at the thoughts and stood up from his leaning position. There was no use complaining either, and he supposed he should be moving on before he got in trouble for slacking off.

Little did he know, the runaway herself agreed with him completely. The seven-year-old pushed a few red locks of hair from her face and watched him from high above as he left the room, lamenting his current task. She was currently sitting in a small passageway located quite a few feet above the tallest bookshelf, sealed off by iron bars. From her position, she could easily lean to the side and see the entire room without being noticed herself. She had discovered these passages a few months ago and, considering most of the paths lead to openings outside that sat high above the ground, she mused that they were the original air vents built in to keep the castle from overheating inside.

After the soldier shut the door behind him she shifted so she could comfortably read the book in her lap. That was the main reason that she would venture into these shafts; she would take up a few books and make her way through the shafts until she found a comfortable, hidden spot to read in peace; she could lose herself in her reading for hours without anyone disturbing her, unlike in her own home. Only the occasional sounds of the White Knights running around would disrupt her. Sometimes she would take breaks from her reading to indifferently watch the men scurry around fruitlessly in search for her, but that would bore her quickly and she'd soon return to reading within her man-mad caverns. Today was no different, as the quick scene with the agitated guard had already drained her attention for the soldiers altogether. She had informed them and her parents she wasn't leaving the castle or doing anything dangerous, so she found their running around warrantless.

She flipped to the next page of her book, while she pushed her red bangs back once again, and tried to ignore the sound of the soldiers running in the background. Today's book, like all of the books lately, was about fonic artes and the science behind casting them. The young run-away read through the thick book amazing speed; her eyes darted across lines of text smoothly, absorbing the information with ease. This particular chapter was about controlling the fifth fonon and making sure the flames it created were kept under control and dissipated after the arte was finished. She continued reading through the book until a familiar sound rang through the vent.

"Castelle!" the voice called out from somewhere down below, instantly gaining the seven-year-old's attention. It wasn't as much her name that was so important, as the voice calling it. She once again peered from her spot above the library to confirm that the red-haired figure below was indeed the one calling out to her. She stayed still until he moved out of the library and onto the next room. She then moved to gather her books into a small bag before starting the long crawl down the passage.

While there were many openings to the vents, most of them were high off the ground, and all of them were sealed by reinforced iron bars. The girl made her way through the narrow maze without pause or hesitation, lead by her memory formed by passing through so often. After a few moments she arrived at a vent near the floor. She peered out and listened for a moment, making sure the coast was clear before grabbing onto one of the bars. She shook it roughly and soon it loosened from its hole in the floor. She quickly pulled it up and tilted it before pulling it out. She repeated this with the bar next to it then slipped out of the vent with her bag. After quickly replacing the bars she stood and brushed herself off before making her way across the room.

She was now in an old guard tower turned storage shed that was hardly even used for the newer purpose. Though it was part of the castle's original design, newer and more tactfully placed watch posts had rendered this one useless, and as a result, it wasn't properly maintained. Castelle had originally found her way here for peace and quiet, but found the lose bars by mistake. Ever since, the vents had been her getaway.

She listened at the door for a moment before cracking it open and glancing outside. There was no one in the hall either; they were all probably called to look for her, since this hall didn't contain anything important either. She took this opportunity to sneak out and quickly make her way down the hall. As she got closer to the more populated areas of the castle, the girl took to diving behind plants and into unused rooms for cover. She took great care in not revealing the entrance to her hideout, so she was sure not to "disappear" or "reappear" too close to the storage room. Soon Castelle had made her way down to the library before another voice calling for her made itself known.

"Castelle! Where are you?" the young girl's voice called out, causing Castelle to cringe. She hid behind a bookshelf as the other girl entered the room. "Stop hiding this instant Castelle!" the blonde called out. Castelle peered through a hole in the line of books on the shelf to observe the young princess as she searched the room. Her eyes narrowed as the blonde came closer to the bookshelf. Luckily though, an attendant called out to the blonde, stopping her in her tracks. The older girl hesitated before leaving begrudgingly. "But nana, I'm helping look for Castelle!" the voice rang out one last time before disappearing down the hall. The seven-year-old stepped out from the room and glared in the blonde's direction.

"Don't talk as though I have to answer to you, princess…" Castelle muttered, spitting out the last word indignantly. She maneuvered her way further down the hall before climbing through a window, albeit not very gracefully, into the garden outside. There she made her way to her destination, a fountain in the center of the garden, where she knew he'd be waiting. She weaved her way around trees and shrubs as she ran as fast as her body would take her. She knew he'd be angry about her wandering off again, so she didn't want to keep him waiting longer than she had to. He, like most, had already lectured her about running off on her own, and all the reasons why she needed to stay with her guard; he was always fussing over her in some way or another, not that she completely disliked the attention.

It wasn't long before she could make out his figure sitting on the edge of the fountain. He turned his head when he saw her running towards him. He jumped off the fountain as she closed the gap between them. She stopped right beside him as she dropped her bag and, after a moment to catch her breath, she looked up to him. Her messy bangs fell into her eyes once again as she clutched the advanced book within her arms. She tilted her head slightly so her green eyes, slightly glimmering in the afternoon sun, showed through as she smiled at him.

"I'm here Luke." she announced to the boy, still smiling softly. The boy sighed at the sight of her. She knew he loved it when she smiled like that, and she knew all too well how to use it to soften him up when he was mad. He crossed his arms and looked down at her.

"You ran off again, Castelle" the boy commented dryly, letting her know her smile wouldn't get her out of this. The girl's smile instantly fell into a small pout as she clutched the book to herself defensively.

"What's your point?" came Castelle's curt reply as she moved to pick up her bag full of books and prepared to leave, pausing only to push up her bangs once again. Luke sighed at the response. He hadn't expected anything different from the girl, he knew her better than that, but hearing her say that aloud after all the lectures she had been given was...

"My point is," the boy continued on, "that it's wrong to keep this up when you know you're worrying everybody. I, mother, father, uncle, and Natalia are always looking for you lately." Castelle looked back up at him with a slightly annoyed expression.

"That's your own choice. I keep telling you I'm not anywhere dangerous big brother." The girl huffed slightly as she adjusted the bag in her grip. "Furthermore-" her sentences was broken by another voice calling out to them. Castelle cringed just as she had before; this was the second time today she was forced to hear from the other girl, and she wasn't happy.

"Luke~" the blonde girl cooed happily as she ran to the pair, "you found her!" Castelle moved behind her brother, only revealing one eye from behind his arm, as her expression melted into an unreadable gaze. The older sibling sighed when he saw this; Castelle was always like this with others, no matter how much he tried to coax her to be more open.

"She showed up here at the fountain just like always, Natalia" the boy replied plainly as he patted his sister's head. Castelle didn't respond to the petting, but simply stared at Natalia, annoyed at her presence. Natalia took notice, and though this was how Castelle normally acted around the young princess, she still felt the need to comment on it.

"Castelle, what is that look for?" the blonde asked as she placed her hands on her hips. "Luke and I have been searching for you all this time, and this is how you greet us?" Castelle's expression didn't waver in the least.

"This is how I greet you, not big brother" the young red-head replied in a bored tone. "How many times must I to tell you not to be so egotistical as to believe I treat everyone the same way as you." Natalia's eyes narrowed as she stepped up to the girl.

"And how many times must I tell you that it isn't acceptable to talk to your older sister in such a way?" the blonde lectured as she leaned in close to the other girl. Castelle's expression hardened into a glare.

"And how many times must I tell you-" Castelle began, mocking her tone with venom, "-that you will never be as a sister to me?" Natalia pulled back with a small gasp. It always hit her hard to hear Castelle say that with such a harsh tone; Castelle's expressions and words could be harsher than any adult the princess had ever met, and the small red-head knew just how to use them to hit home.

"Why must you always be so horrible Castelle!" the princess shot back. "I'm trying my best to be friends with you! And yet-"

"I don't want to be bothered by someone who feels burdened to make a friendship with me solely to get closer to big brother." Castelle interrupted her tone low and dangerous in a way a girl so young shouldn't even know of. "I'd rather you just avoid me altogether princess. I'd rather be spared having to so much as be in the presence of someone like you." Natalia stood her ground and gave Castelle a hard look, though Castelle could instantly tell by the look in her eyes that the blonde was already close defeat; Castelle had always been good at finding a person's sore spots and picking at them until they broke, and Natalia was one of the easiest targets for her to practice on.

"Awful, just awful!" Natalia replied to the younger girl. "Why can't you just act like everyone else your age, instead of always being so cruel?" Castelle's eyes narrowed further, only to close as a small smile appeared on her face.

"I'm sorry that I can't act as idiotically gleeful as you, Natalia," Castelle began in a light-hearted, child-like tone, "but, you see, not all of us can be as blissfully ignorant as you are." Her eyes opened as she continued to smile smugly at the girl. Before Natalia had a chance to reply to the cutting remark, Luke moved so that Castelle was completely hidden behind his back. He turned his head to look at his sister.

"Castelle, that was too much. Apologize to Natalia." Luke demanded of the girl. She shook her head.

"No! I meant every word of it!" the younger sibling insisted before pointing in Natalia's direction. "I'm not about to lower myself to her level by saying false things just to get on someone's good side!"Castelle shifted her bag one last time before turning and beginning to walk towards the castle's entrance. Natalia took another step forward to respond, only stopping when the boy held out his hand in a motion for her to stop.

"Natalia, please don't push it any further" the boy asked calmly. "You know she'll only keep on like this. I'll take care of her." Natalia looked up to him, the hurt still showing in her eyes from Castelle's comments, before nodding.

"Alright, please do Luke" she replied, her tone clearly upset at their latest fight. Natalia glanced over to the younger girl's retreating figure. She truly did want to get along with the younger girl; she would often dream of days where the two could play together as sister ought to, even though she knew Castelle didn't approve of her in the least. Luke saw her saddened face and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You know how sister is. Those harsh words are simply a part of her speech" Luke reassured the young princess. Castelle turned on her heel upon hearing his words.

"Please at least wait until I'm out of ear shot to cheapen my words for the sake of her feelings, dear brother" Castelle shot at the boy, who gave her a disapproving glance in return. Natalia looked down before removing the red-head's hand from her shoulder.

"Thank you Luke. I think I'd best be going now" the princess insisted as she turned to leave. Luke reached his hand out to her again, but thought better of it and let the girl leave in piece; even if he was three years older than Castelle, he still didn't know how to remedy her silver tongue when her words became acidic towards others. Even still, he couldn't stand to see Natalia walk off in such a sullen way, so he decided to visit her again later to try and cheer her up. That way, the wounds of his sister's words would have had time to stop stinging. For now, he'd focus on calming down his sister.

Castelle hadn't bothered to wait for him however, since she knew he'd take his time to try and soothe Natalia. Castelle cringed as the image of her brother consoling the young princess entered her mind. It always ended up this way; even though Natalia was the older of the two, Castelle was always made to look like the villain in their arguments, and her brother always took extra time to care for the princess after her feelings got hurt.

'It's not fair!' Castelle reaffirmed in her mind as she made her way back to her manor, accompanied by several of the White Knights. 'Just because Natalia can't handle my feelings, big brother scolds me and reassures her! Why am I bad simply for stating my feelings? Why is she the victim because she cries over them?' Though her mind screamed the questions, her face had reverted back to an unreadable expression. Castelle was so upset however, that she didn't even turn to look at her brother when he ran up to her side.

"I guess it won't do me any good to remind you to mind your manners with Natalia, will it?" he asked the girl after a moment of silence had passed.

"No it won't." Castelle affirmed as they reached the entrance of the manor. She had heard the lecture many times over, and she didn't particularly feel like having again.

"I guess I can also rule out having Mother lecture you about Orion coming down with his white flame to punish bad children?" Luke further pushed, knowing Castelle hated hearing childish stories like that as much as he did. The glare she gave him reaffirmed that fact. Once inside the manor, she headed straight for the garden outside. Luke sighed, having already expected that answer.

"Why do you have to be so harsh with everyone, sister?" he asked as he followed her through the hallways. "It'd be much easier for you and everyone if you'd make more of an effort to get along." She paused at the doorway leading to the back and looked down.

"You're just like everyone else" she muttered, nearly inaudible. Luke looked to her confused, but she simply shook her head and pushed her way through the doors to the back. Luke looked on as she made her way towards the forest in the back, clenching her book and the bag tightly as she walked. His sister had a way of acting enigmatic to everyone else around them, unless she disapproved of something. But the display he say just now, the anger with Natalia as well as her sad words by the door, left him worried. She was clearly upset about something to be letting herself show this much raw emotion.

After watching her disappear into the forest, he waited a few moments before following, knowing she'd need a minute to calm herself down. Most didn't realize it, but Castelle actually had quite a short temper once her emotions were already riled up. Luke couldn't hold it against anyone not to notice this fact however, since Castelle only showed these kinds of traits to him. Even his mother once told him that Castelle seemed closer to him than anyone else. He told her though, despite that fact, even he couldn't read his sister all the time.

He made his way through the garden, knowing exactly the path his sister had taken, heading towards its center. It wasn't long before he saw his sister's figure in the distance, sitting on her knees with the oversized book in her lap. As he made his way closer, he saw that she was staring intently at the base of a tree. He walked up beside her and saw what had caught her focus so intently: a large spider's web with a small butterfly recently caught in it.

The small yellow butterfly flapped its wings feverishly as it tried to escape the trap, but despite its best efforts the flapping only further entrapped it in the sticky silk of the spiders trap. It was only a few seconds more before a large spider made its presence known on the edge of the web, attracted by all the movement from the butterfly. The pair watched as the predator took a few careful steps towards its prey on the other end of the trap. Luke, feeling pity for the poor yellow insect, stepped up and reached his hand towards the butterfly, intending to free it, only to be halted by Castelle's had tugging at his arm.

"Don't" was all she said, her gaze not shifting from the now still spider; the creature had probably sensed the boy's presence and had frozen in place. He looked at her curiously, and though he didn't want to abandon the butterfly, he obliged the girl and pulled backwards. Her gaze stayed on the spider as it began its cautious approach towards the prey once again. He watched it dreadfully, but glanced back at his sister when he heard her muttering something.

Not even a second later, the spider burst into an array of dancing yellow and red flames, making a strange squeaking noise as the air within its body heated up and escaped.

Luke jumped backwards in shock before turning to Castelle, whose intense expression was now completely calm as she glanced over the sight. She examined the flames as they spread to the web and the spider as the body fell to the ground in a crumpled mess of dark ashes. She made note that the flames that had consumed the spider did not spread to the grass before looking back up at the butterfly, now flapping its wings to avoid the new danger, but still as hopeless trapped as before. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she mentally lead the fonons that comprised the flames around the butterfly, cutting it from the webs, and allowing it to drop safely to the soft grass bellow. Luke stared at the entire sight with astonishment.

"Sister, did you just cast a Fonic Arte?" the boy asked, still amazed. The idea of his seven-year-old sister successfully performing such a task without any sort of guidance was amazing. Castelle glanced to him, her calm expression unwavering.

"No, not a complete one anyway" Castelle responded with a tone that matched her expression. She turned back to the web and watched as the flames dispersed into the air. "That was the makings of the arte known as 'Flame Burst.' I wanted to test it out on a small scale to be sure I could control it." Luke just blinked at his sister; to his knowledge, this was the first Fonic Arte that she had ever cast, and here she was talking about it in such a matter of fact tone. He turned back to the butterfly that was still on the ground, trying to shake off the last remainders of the web. He bend down and scooped it up, gently removing what was left of the trap from the insect before allowing it to fly off freely. He then turned his attention to what was left of the spider's corpse that lay on the ground.

"But you didn't have to kill it Castelle…" he stated aloud, not looking at her.

"No, but I did." the girl stated, still in a bored tone. "The butterfly is safe, just like you wanted right?" He turned to her with a serious expression.

"They could have both been spared, little sister" the boy insisted, getting a bit upset. "Neither of them needed to die." Castelle glanced up at him, her eyes narrowing a bit.

"That's childish" came her curt reply, causing him to step back a bit surprised. She was never this blunt with him; something was defiantly wrong. She continued before he formed a reply. "Do you honestly think it's kinder to starve the spider rather than simply kill it?" her tone was still just as matter of fact as it had been before as she posed the question to him, shocking him more than the question itself.

"I-I wasn't saying starve it…" Luke defended. Castelle closed her book after placing in a book marker.

"You might as well have, brother." Castelle reaffirmed as she stood. "If you try to be a hero and save every butterfly, then the spider will starve before long." She glanced up at him once again. "Or are you only bothered by the butterflies you see getting eaten, and are fine leaving the rest to the spider?" Her question still seemed calm but Luke could still hear the tiny edge of annoyance hiding in it. He shook his head.

"No, I'm not okay with the butterflies getting eaten when I can't see it either, but…" the boy's sentence trailed off as he tried to find the right words to use. Castelle shook her head.

"But at the same time, sacrifices must be made for the sake of the spider." Castelle finished for him. "That's no different than what I did; you are choosing who lives and who dies because you have the power to do so. My way simply ended the spider sooner rather than later. In a sense, it was kinder than your way of slowly letting it starve." Luke shook his head and took a step towards her.

"How can you speak about killing it like that sister?" Luke asked, his voice raising a bit. Seeing his sister speak so calmly about death, when any other girl her age would have cried over the death of most anything, was beginning to upset him. "Don't you feel anything at all about killing it so brutally?" Castelle shook her head.

"Why should I?" she stated rather than asked. "In the end, it died because it was weak. It's simply the food chain big brother." She stomped her foot on the ground. "Where's all this heroic concern when dinner is served with meat on the table?" Luke shook his head.

"That's different sister! Those animals are killed for a purpose! To just-"

"So was the spider!" Castelle nearly shouted. "It was killed for the sake of the butterflies as well as my learning! I didn't just do it for fun! Why are you making this such a big deal?" Luke stepped up to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"It's a big deal because my little sister is talking like some crazy person instead of sounding like other girls her age." Luke practically shouted at the girl; but as soon as he saw Castelle's hurt expression, he instantly regretted his words. She instantly slapped his arms away before shoving him hard on the chest, causing him to stumble back a bit.

"You're just like everybody else!" Castelle accused angrily, her voice raised but not quiet at a shout. "Just because I don't sound like other girls my age, you think there's something wrong with me!" Luke was taken aback at her words, but she pressed on before he could respond. "Well I'm not like other kids! I'll never be like other kids! So why don't you just run back to your precious Natalia! Run to her and leave me alone just like everyone else wants to!" She began to cough lightly, her less than optimal health showing through. Luke watched as she placed a hand over her mouth trying to calm her coughs. He took a step towards her, wanting to help calm her, only to have her swat a hand towards him. "J-Just leave me alone" she stammered out before turning her back on him, still coughing. After a long moment of silence, the boy stepped up to his sister and placed his hands on his shoulders.

"Calm down Castelle" he whispered as her coughing continued. He moved so he was standing in front of her and hugged her close; soon enough, her coughing slowly died out as the embrace calmed her. After her coughs gave way to steady breathing, Luke pulled back and brushed her bangs from her eyes. "Now what's all this about everyone wanting to leave you?" Castelle looked down, trying desperately to regain her unreadable expression, but settling with letting her sadness slip through.

"I overheard mother and father talking about what a bother I am again…" Castelle muttered, face still low to the ground. "Father said he couldn't understand 'why I've turned out such an undesirable way…'" Luke sighed once again.

"Sis, I'm sure he doesn't mean it like that" the boy tried to reason to the girl. "Father's words can just sound-" Luke was cut off by Castelle yanking herself out of his grasp and looking up at him, once again angry.

"Don't patronize me big brother" the girl warned, trying to control herself, "I can tell when he's being harsh or simply speaking his feelings." She looked down once again, still clutching to the book from earlier. "Besides, I already know everyone feels the same way." Her brother looked at her surprise.

"Castelle, you know that's not true" he insisted, walking back up to her and gently placing a hand on her head. The younger red-head looked up at him sadly.

"You just admitted you did big brother…" she replied sadly. He gave her a confused look, prompting her to explain more. "You just said I act and think like a crazy person, and not like others my age…" He looked at her surprised and went to reply, but paused with his mouth wide open- she was right after all. Castelle sighed and pulled away so she could sit on the ground. "In the end, none of you really want me here. I'm smart enough to understand that." Luke sat beside her on the grass beneath the trees.

"Don't say that sister. You know we'd all be upset if you weren't here" the older red-head assured, leaning over so he was in his sister's line of sight. She simply shook her head.

"No, you'd be sad that your sister was gone, and mother and father might be sad that their daughter is gone, but none of you would miss me" the younger red-head insisted, looking down to her lap to avoid eye contact with him. He raised an eyebrow at the comment, not understanding what the difference was.

"Castelle, what do you mean? Those things are one in the same." Castelle shook her head at the boy's comment.

"No, they aren't brother" the girl stated with a sigh. "What I'm saying is that you'd miss me solely because of our relation as blood; it's the same reason I keep telling you that Natalia doesn't want to become closer to me, but rather, she wants to be close to her fiancé's younger sister." She looked up at her brother sadly. "Not one of you would miss the enigmatic, curt, genius Castelle." She looked down again, trying hard not to tear up. "No one would miss me…" Luke, unable to hear her sister talk like this anymore, quickly moved and wrapped her in a tight hug, surprising the younger sibling.

"Stop it Castelle; just stop it" he demanded softly, squeezing her close. "That's just not true Castelle." He could feel his shirt become wet as his sister cried softly.

"It is too big brother. You hear him too; the way father goes on about me, and never kindly. All he wants is a daughter who can fulfill her duty to marry Richter quietly…" Castelle nuzzled to her brother sadly, the thought of being forced to marry the boy a few years older than herself only upsetting her more. "But I'll never be that daughter…" Luke stroked her hair softly, trying to calm her.

"Sister, I know father can be harsh at times, but I know he's only doing it to help us improve our selves. I know that he must… love us both very much…" he reasoned with the girl, though it was obvious that he himself doubted his words.. Castelle shook her head vigorously.

"No he doesn't. We're both just pieces of the political game to him. We were born with our uses big brother, that's all there is to it." Castelle replied cynically, her tone mater-of-fact. It was Luke's turn to shake his head.

"That's not true Castelle; he just… doesn't show it the same as others…" Castelle looked up to him, tears still gracing the corner of her eyes.

"Even if he does love us, so what?" Castelle stated more than inquired. "Love and caring that aren't acted upon or shown in the slightest… isn't that the exact same as not caring all?" Luke went quiet at the question, not knowing how to respond. Castelle gave a long sigh before curling up to him once again. "I've spent most of my seven years watching them… In the end, they only need someone who can fill our roles. They don't need me and you; they only need someone who can fill the role of 'Future King' and 'Future Duchess,' that's all…" Luke gently placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her upright so he could look her in the eye.

"Do you really believe that, Castelle?" he asked her sadly. She nodded and moved to wipe a few tears from her eyes. His sister had always been cynical, but to hear that this was what she had come to believe- that his seven year old sister thought this low of herself and had so little trust in those around them- was nothing short of heart breaking for the boy. He moved a hand and helped her wipe away the tear stains from her cheek. He had always known what his place was here in the castle, and despite his sister's cynical words, he was sure he knew that he was the one needed to govern Kimlasca; he had been raised his whole life for that purpose, and he knew it was his place. So for now, he felt the best thing he could do was reassure Castelle that she had a place of her own as well. He placed his hand back on her shoulder to regain her attention

"If that's how you really feel little sister, then let me tell you right here and now that I need you, for you." Luke stated, his tone strong. Castelle looked at him surprised, but doubtful; a response the boy expected. "I mean it Castelle. I want you to help me when I take the throne. I want your intelligence as a part of my council when making decisions for the sake of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. The intelligence that belongs to you and you alone." Castelle stared at him, still doubtful.

"Brother… that's kind of you o say," the girl began sadly, "but you know I will be moved to Chesedonia as soon as I marry Richter…" Luke shook his head.

"Then we'll arrange living quarters here as well." Luke pressed further. "I want you by my side Castelle." She looked at him, her doubt relenting, if only a bit. Luke smiled at her softly. "After all, you're my dear sister." Castelle looked down, wanting to believe in his words, but still doubtful that this was more than kind words presented because she was upset. Were these words really for her, or were they for 'his dear sister?'

"Brother…" she muttered aloud, still mulling the words along with her doubts in her head. Luke could see her hesitation and resolved himself to make her believe in his words. He pulled his hands from her shoulders and placed one to his chest.

"Castelle," he paused until he glanced up at him once again, "let's make a promise to each other." She tilted her head at the suggestion.

"A promise…?" she asked, clearly confused as to where the idea had come from. Luke nodded and looked her directly in the eye.

"Yes; let's make a promise to each other. Let's promise that no matter what, we'll always see the other as who they are, and not just what we are as defined by our titles. Let's promise that no matter what, we'll always be there for the each other, as Castelle and Luke."

Castelle looked to him surprised. The very idea of such a promise filled her with happiness; the chance to be seen as herself by the person she treasured most was terrific. And with a promise like that, it wouldn't matter if they had to live far apart, because they could still be there for each other when it was important. But she still couldn't just abandon her cynical instinct, and had to make sure that he truly meant what he had just said. She raised her hand up to him and stuck out her pinky for him to take, causing him to frown slightly.

"Castelle… you know how I feel about that kind of thing…" he muttered. Castelle frowned at the comment.

"I should have known, it's just the same as with Natalia…" the girl conceded with a sigh as she began to pull her hand back. "I guess I really am the same to you as she-"

Castelle's mouth froze in place as she felt her brother gently wrap his pinky around hers. She looked up at him, genuinely surprised. His begrudging expression told her he wasn't enthused at the way she got him to do it, but she still couldn't help but smile. For her older brother, who was working so hard to be seen as mature, to offer her this childish token for a promise meant he really must mean the words he had said. He tightened his finger a bit more.

"A special promise, just for you sis" he relented, shaking their hand by their pinkies. "A promise to always be there for you; to be there for who you are." Castelle smiled brightly, a childish blush finding its way to her face.

"A promise to always be there for you big brother; to be there for who you are" Castelle reiterated to him, marking her end of the vow. Luke couldn't help but smile at the sight of his sister so happy. He sighed lightly, mentally admitting that the pinky swear was worth it to see her smile that way. After a moment he pulled his hand back.

"Hey sis…" he spoke up in a soft tone. She looked to him curiously. "Promise me you won't tell Natalia about… you know… she'll be mad." Castelle giggled a bit; and as much as she wanted to flaunt the pinky swear to the princess, she nodded to her brother.

"It's a promise big brother!"

AN:

Aren't they just the cutest little siblings?

And promises! Promises everywhere~!

But seriously, I'm just so happy to have this chapter done; it turned out to be much harder to write than I originally thought it would be. I had a lot of trouble trying to keep young Asch/Luke and Natalia sounding like well educated royal-children without making them sound too old. Castelle at least is a genius, so she's supposed to sound strange for her age. Though she was hard to write as because she's a logical girl who is still a child with childish outbursts….

Speaking of which, killing animals without second thought is often the early signs of a sociopath, so Asch/Luke had a right to be worried. *coughJadeWasLikeThisToocough *

Also, young big brother Asch/Luke is hard to write as for me….

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the very first Lost Chapter! There will be plenty more of these glimpses into the past throughout the story; I hope you all look forward to them~

And I hope to see you all at the next chapter!.

But while you're waiting for that… review pretty please..? *u*