Update!!! Yayz!! I'm sorry for the wait, everythingsbeen kinda crazy.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"flashback"

"Strike arte"

"Mystic Arte"

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of the Abyss

Chapter 10

Trace dropped down onto the cobblestone street. He was around the middle level of Baticul. The plan was for Lacey to get up to the top level and get the sword of Lorelei. He would create a distraction while she did that by causing mayhem downwards, towards the lower levels, then back up to the noble level where Lacey would be dealing with the few White Knights and Kimlasca Militia that remained up there, the Replica, and if it came down to it, Princess Natalia as well.

Trace raced through the crowds, pulling something out of his pouch. It was a small, red, ball that was glassy like a marble.

"What are these?"

"Fonon bombs. Just pour in a little bit of fifth fonons, toss, and boom! You have one hell of an explosion. They'll be perfect for you, since you don't know that many fonic artes. Use one at a time though, or you may be caught in the explosion."

"Whatever Runo."

"Let's see if you were right about these Runo," Trace smirked, and tossed it behind him into the crowd, pouring some fifth fonons into it. He turned around some fifty feet later, feet skidding on the ground, watching in malicious glee as it exploded, arousing the attention of the guards on this level. He grinned. It worked better than what he thought it would.

He would have no trouble letting the guards know who caused the explosion. He was the only one who was still calm after that blast.

"Hey!" One of the guards called. "Isn't that the-?!" He was dead before he could finish the comment, and Trace stood defiantly in front of the three remaining guards. He smirked tauntingly.

"Why don't we play tag?" He smirked, calling out, "Reapers Toll!" He turned and ran towards the lift, and jumped down it, not bothering to stop for it. The more chaos, the better.

Dropping down, he landed and darted in and out through the crowds, smirking at the panicked looks from the people who had heard the explosion.

"Let's try another one," Trace smirked, pulling another orb out, and focusing fifth fonons in it. He tossed it over his shoulder, speeding up and jumping onto a roof of a building. He watched once again in sick delight as the orb blew up, creating a crater in the ground.

He threw two more on this level, causing the guards to finally come.

"Reapers Toll!" He attacked again, then activating his Overlimit. Fonons swarmed about him as he jumped down, getting ready to attack. He darted into the middle of the guards, and attacked.

"Akashic Torment!" He activated the Daathic Arte, easily, and wasn't considerably weakened afterwards. With that done, he started another little game of 'tag' back up to the noble level, dropping a few more fonon bombs along the way.

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I walked cautiously up to the manor, my sword bumping along my hip with every step. I was a bit nervous about my part, even though I knew I shouldn't be. Taking a deep breath, I approached the White Knight stationed in front of the Fon Fabre manor.

"Who are you?" He demanded, and I made a coy smile, and perched my hand close to my mouth in a coy way. Best try and be a flirt now.

"Kusaragi," I replied. "Lady Kusaragi of Chesedonia. I request a meeting with young Lord Fabre. I apologize for it being on such short notice." The White Knight nodded.

"I shall announce your presence," He replied, leading me inside. I listened, bored, as he announced my arrival and my request for a meeting with the replica.

I was then led to the drawing room across the hall, and let in, where I was greeted by the replica and the princess. Great. Must be my lucky day.

"Lady Kusaragi, your highness and lordship," I curtsied to the two, mocking the pleasantries. "I'm happy that you're accepting my meeting on such short notice." The princess nodded, and the replica seemed to be studying me.

"You look familiar," He finally said. "Have we met before?" I nodded, and forced a small blush.

"I accidentally ran into your blonde friend a few days ago." I admitted. "It was an accident. I was without escort and about to miss my ship. It didn't help that my dog had disappeared." Natalia nodded, but she seemed a bit suspicious.

"Why were you without escort?" She inquired. I could've smacked myself as I tried to come up with a lie to cover it up.

"I, uh, accidentally got separated from him." I answered, trying my hardest not to be nervous. Luckily, she bought it.

"So, do you have an escort today?" She asked innocently, and I nodded. Might as well pretend my escort was Trace; it wouldn't hurt.

"Yes," I replied calmly. "He's out seeing the city. It's the first he's been back to Baticul in a while, and I'm letting him explore the city for awhile. Rest assured, her will be back by the time this meeting is over."

"So, what did you need to talk about?" Luke asked. I nodded, preparing the topics I had prepared.

"It's about the decreasing fonons in Chesedonia." I lied easily. "Since you shut down the Planet Storm, it's become increasingly harder and harder to perform fonic artes as you know." Natalia raised an eyebrow at this.

"But why would someone from Chesedonia like you worry about fonons for artes?" She inquired. Damn, I didn't expect this. Luckily for me, and explosion was heard in the distance. Fake panic time.

"What was that?" I inquired, slightly afraid.

"I don't know," Luke said, getting up. "Maybe I should go…" Natalia shook her head.

"The guards will take care of it," She insisted. Luke sat down, his eyes lingering on the door that I had come through. That's when I noticed his sword.

He had the Sword of Lorelei with him. Maybe I could get that from him somehow…

"What is that sword?" I inquired, looking at it curiously. It caught the replica and the princess off guard.

"It's the Sword of Lorelei," Luke replied. "Why?" I shrugged it off.

"It's just that," I said, "In all my days of working with swords, I've never seen one quite like it. May I see it?" Luke seemed hesitant.

"It wouldn't hurt to let her look at it," Natalia said. Luke sighed and caved in, and started pulling it from its sheathe.

The sword was absolutely gorgeous, I had to admit. Now, if I could only get my hands on-

"Sync the Tempest is back from the dead!" A guard called, throwing the drawing room door open.

"What?!" Luke exclaimed, drawing the sword away from me, just as another explosion was heard, followed by two more. The guard disappeared.

"Natalia, you and Lady Kusaragi stay here," Luke ordered. "I'll go take care of Sync." I gritted my teeth.

"Oh no you won't!" I said, drawing my sword. I leaped at Luke, and Natalia shrieked as my rapier caught onto the sword of Lorelei.

"Your fight is with me, replica," I hissed. My feet touched down and I raced towards the door.

"Catch me if you can, replica!" I jeered, darting out the door.

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So you know, I'm still going to call Sync Trace instead of Sync. That helps me alot better with writing because I don'tthink of one character then a different name. Don't worry, everything is going to be explained eventually!

I hope you liked the chapter

Read and Review!

-Scarpaw signing out-