Eivexst: Okay people I finally thought of what to do for the next chapter although this time I won't be leaving much of a note at the top here.

I don't own any part of Final fantasy tactics advanced.

/

? POV: I opened my eyes and looked at the two in front of me, one was a young boy and the other a young girl, they had been here for a long time and have grown to know each other very well, I came over and with my arms which were draped in a pair of long green sleeves I put the boy into a loose hug and a soft glow came about.

"Dear boy, one day you shall know, but it is not yet time, just remember to defend them." With that I stood and went back out into the open space in front of the Ciril inn and let my long wings come out and flew away as the sun began to rise over the horizon.

[Yes….. One day soon, you will be mine again.]

Nelly's POV: I woke up to a warm feeling around me and tried to stretch, yet when I had I felt my arms were stuck near my sides and I opened my eyes to see Umbra fast asleep. [Why is Umbra in my room?] I flinched when I heard movement near me and looked up seeing the inn keeper walking around cleaning some of the tables.

"E-Excuse me?" He turned and I saw a small smile on his face. "H-How did I get here?"

He chuckled a little and pointed at Umbra then down to the floor and I looked down to see a mat was underneath me and him. "That young man wouldn't leave your side so to make sure you two didn't do anything I set a mat down for him to rest on as he waited for you to awaken but he fell asleep and I didn't want to disturb you two young ones."

His voice was a little on the lighter side yet it still held wisdom behind it, the way he was speaking made me think of the elder. "Thank you." He simply nodded and then went back to cleaning the tables.

I looked back up at Umbra and smiled as I patted his head and got up, but when I tried his grip tightened slightly as he murmured a little with a slightly saddened look. "It's okay Pent, just sleep easy, I'll be back when you wake up, I promise." When I grabbed his left hand which was holding me near him by the shoulder he slowly loosened his grip and I got up.

"Oh Nel you woke up!" I turned around to see Leona; she had an odd burn on her left hand and was cradling her head with her left hand which was holding an ice bag.

"Yes, I'm awake but where were you?" She sighed and made a motion for me to come over; when I did I got a closer look and realized she looked worn out.

"I was out on a recon mission for our clan; you see there was a rumor going around about a bunch of flan messing with Roda volcano so I went to check things out." She drank a tiny bit of water from a glass near her before setting it back onto the plate it was on. "Turns out it was because of a rogue beast tamer from clan blue geniuses. He was using the flan to try and get a red dragon to show up out of the lava but I managed to stop him though the heat there was exhausting."

I nodded my head and sighed in relief, this was the first time I was able to talk to Leona on our own in a very long time it always seems like someone is around the corner now a days, so I was able to welcome this moment with open arms. "Good morning guys!"

We both spun around in our seats to see Ritz had come down stairs with a smile on her face. "To you as well Ritz." I nodded my head in agreement with Leona as we waited a while for our breakfast, after a while the inn keeper came over and laid it down on the table when Ritz sat down. "Thank you sir." I was a little jealous that Leona was able to speak the human language so easily.

It was the basic eggs, bread, water and also some bacon, I didn't like bacon all to much though so mine had a orange instead after a while the others started to come down, Marsha came running down and sat down near Umbra who was still asleep and she gave him a look that made my blood boil. "Marsha come and eat with us please."

I turned my head to see a man with blond hair wearing a red fedora hat and a purple cloak over green clothes he had a soft smile on his face and gazed at marsha with a look I could only describe as kind. "But, what if Umbra needs help waking up Olint?" I looked back and forth between these two they seemed to know each other pretty well.

"Now, now, from what I've heard about him I'm sure he'll be awake as soon as he has enough space to get some movement in." With that he offered her a hand which she took a little slowly as he helped her up as if she were a queen gently helping her up with the palm of his hand holding the tip of her fingers.

"Thank you, now are you alirght Olint?" He nodded his head as he led her by the same hand gently to a seat which he had pulled out for her. "Yes I'm fine, not even a scratch on me even though Aksel was hurt a bit, as a matter of fact he looked pretty cool when he bit into the Malboro to get free during our mission."

When I heard that I had to put my hand over my mouth so I wouldn't laugh from the thought of a Banga actually having to act like a wild reptile. "Keep talking like that and I'll throw you out the window again!" I sighed at that and noticed something.

"Every one, w.. where a-re Marche and Shara?" I was hearing the birds chirp so Shara should have been up by now and as for Marche I didn't know but if every one else is awake then he should be... Right?

"Nel, don't worry i'm sure they'll be down soon." I turned my head as well as did every one else to see umbra had his full out fit on as he now sat next to the inn keeper playing cards with him. "Damn, I still can't beat you in 5 card draw Fulgar." The inn keeper (which i now know is named Fulgar) simply chuckled at this.

"Ah but you are getting better Umbra, just keep practicing boy and one day you'll manage to beat me." Umbra sighed as he looked at his next hand and continued by placing down two cards as he picked up two more and they placed down the cards they had and Umbra smirked.

"I win, royal flush with spades to your royal flush with diamonds." Fulgar looked down at the cards before he started to laugh in a good nature. "Well done Umbra, well done!"

I finished eating after a while and that's when we all saw something a little questioning, Marche and Shara came down both smiling as their finger tips brashed each others slightly, at the other and I saw in the corner of my vision that Umbra, Fulgar and Olint all smirked at this while Ritz seemed to fume slightly.

Shara's POV: I woke up to the sound of some birds chirping and got up stretching slightly noting that Ritz wasn't in the room any more and the conversation from yesterday flowed into my mind making me frown slightly as I looked down at the sheets I was holding. "Oh well, might as well get out of bed now."

I got up out of bed and came out of the room and noticed that there was still a light amount of movement comming from Marche and Montblanc's room so I went over and knocked, no answer. So I knocked again, there was still no answer so against my own thoughts I opened the door and saw something that made me smile, Marche was fast asleep with a content smile on his face. [Amazing, when awake he looks like he's trying to find something yet here, he is at peace.]

I walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed moving some of the hair that had been covering his eyes slightly. "Marche, the birds are singing, I'm sure they don't want you missing out on their song." I chuckled a little as I saw him start to shift before his eye lids twitched once, twice then opened slightly to reveal those saphire blue eyes I was starting to grow to enjoy seeing.

"Man, what a dream." He got up a little and stretched making his hand place onto my leg when he relaxed and he froze, before slowly turning his head to see me and then looked down and pulled his hand away quickly with a frantic look in his eyes. "I-I'm sorry Shara I didn't mean to, I-I just woke up and-" Before he finished I placed a finger on his lip making him stop.

"Marche, it's okay, you didn't mean to I understand and it's alright that you did that I'll just consider it pay back for blind siding you with that kiss." He seemed confused before a look of realization came to him and he smiled. "So shall we go down stairs and eat breakfast, I am sure the others are wating for us."

He nodded and got up that's when I noticed that he was wearing a white shirt that lacked sleeves and his usual baggy pants with the belts on them crossing that he usually wore with his armor were replaced with a pair of black shorts with a white line on the left and right sides. "Okay, just give me a minute I've got to go change, you should probably do the same."

I looked down and blushed a little at the realization that my robe was open a bit and I tightened it so it would close as I left to go change. "That was embarrassing." After a while I had put on my usual clothes and stepped out to see he had done the same thing, he was in his soldier uniform. "So shall we head down stairs now my little knight?"

He had a sheepish smile as he nodded and we proceeded towards the stairs with small chit chat along with the way, some about how well we slept and also of how our room mates both snored a little one with odd sqeeking the other with a low rumbling.

When we finally made it down the steps I was glad to see his smile was now a confident one and not the sheepish smile from earlier as I looked over to see the others eating already yet Ritz was giving me a semi mean look. "Good morning every one!" They all smiled and said good morning back to Marche as I went over to the table where the other members of clan Ritz were and smiled seeing Leona was here.

When we finished eating we all went about to our own dealings with a few members of Clan nutsy and Clan Ritz looking at the mission lists while some of us went to the shops that left me, Marche, Ritz, Umbra, Nel and Olint to our own findings. "So why are we all at this river again?"

We stood near a river that was in front of a large open plain where Umbra was currently doing his morning excercises, Olint was carving out something from a branch he found, Ritz and Nel were dipping their feet in the river and me and Marche were just standing here under a tree near by. "I don't know Shara, Olint wanted to carve something Umbra is working out with a odd movement pattern and Ritz and Nelly are just sort of talking."

I nodded seeing as how what all he said is the case for what is going on right now. "So would you like to practice something Marche?" He tilted his head when he looked at me. "Well I was thinking, I've noticed that you haven't been all that acurate recently so I thought maybe if you learned how to use a bow it would help." I smiled when he seemed to agree nodding slightly.

"Okay but, I don't have one with me right now." I took my long bow off of my back and handed it to him when Olint came over and stabbed the branch into the goround. "I thought you might try practicing Shara, so I took the liberty of making that branch into 5 wooden stakes that are the same size and length as arrows, although I didn't think marche would be using them."

I smiled in thanks as he nudged marche's shoulder and seemed to wink slightly before he walked away. "Okay, so what should I aim at?" He asked as he grabbed the bow and walked with the arrows a little ways past the tree as I followed. "I want you to aim at that hole in the tree, the stakes are long enough to retrieve from it." He nodded and stood facing the tree before reaching the bow up and pulling one of the stakes along with the bow string.

"No Marche not like that." I walked over and pointed, the stake had slacked so it was no longer as alinged with the bow. "Try holding that in a way so it's horizontal." He nodded and did so with the bow, the back of his hand now pointed up. "Okay now see the small nook here place the arrow in it." He nodded and did that as well but his grip started to shake as he pulled back on the string and let it go.

The arrow went to far to the left and stuck in the ground near the tree making him look a little sad. "It's okay Marche, I had trouble with shooting too when I was first trying too, here let me help."

Umbra's POV: I moved gently as if I was trying to push the air like it was a curtain and slowly moved in circular motions till I was near my rapier that I stuck in the ground and let my magic flow through my hand creating magic cloth as I made it float while I moved with focus and grabbed my weapon with my left hand slowly moving back repeating the motions in reverse as I moved towards the outer edge of the cloth before letting the blue glow stop as the clothes slowly desolved from the poison claw magic I had flowing through my hands and rapier.

"Okay that was good practice." I said to no one in particular as I sheethed my weapon and looked over hearing Nel playing her harp in one of the most soothing songs I've heard her play and looked to see that Olint had started playing a silver flute perfectly with the tempo from the harp. (Eivexst: Just to let you all know the only song I can think of with the harp and flute at this scene is from The legend of Zelda sky ward sword, it's the song called "Ballad of the goddess".)

I looked over and smiled my nearly invisble one, Shara was teachign Marche to use the bow and didn't even notice how the boy was blushing do to the way she was helping him learn by holding the bow along with him, [I hope you are enjoying the contact Marche, I know my father did when my mother helped him like that when it came to making my gloves.] I also noted that Ritz looked over and had a slightly jelous look on her face from what was going on.

"Ritz, come here." She looked over at me puzzled as she did so. "What is the matter, do you perhaps, don't tell me, you harbor feelings towards-" She clamped a hand over my mouth before i could finish with a blush slowly spreading over her face as she looked left and right.

"W-what the hell are you talking about?" I put on a emotionless face as I took her hand off of my mouth. "You know very well, although do not worry, I will not concern my self with it, how ever... If you should try to bring harm to Shara know that you will have lost my trust in you." She looked at me in a way as if asking me if i was serious about this, the fact I kept my eyes locked on hers told her I wasn't lying, with that I went over to Nelly and sat down smiling as I heard her play the songs second part as I began to sing along in sylvan.

We continued on with this till we reached the part near the end where I changed it to the humen language. "Before you a path shall open, and a heavenly song you shall hear."

When I finihsed singing I opened my eyes and was a little shocked by the fact that Salus had been sitting in front of us with his head held high as if howling along. "Hey Salus, how have you been boy?" He jumped at the fact I spoke normally and purred as he wrapped around my neck and I stroked his fur as I would for his mother while I heard Nelly try not to giggle.

Olint came over and looked at it with a gaze of interest. "I didn't know that Spirits could be domesticated." We both glared at him for saying that. "Olint, I'll have you know that Salus, is not our pet, he is a free spirit who sees us as family!" He held up his hands in defense from my shouting at him.

"Okay, no need to be so upset Umbra, I was just shocked by the little tyke showing up is all." I nodded my head as he held up another carving he made which was comming out into the shape of a diamond.

"Any way's, I do believe those two are enjoying them selves." I nudged my head in the direction over to the left where Marche had a nervous grin as Shara helped him with holding the bow and arrow properly, I was shocked she was that oblivious to how she was messing with the poor boy, even I would be that nervous if a certain some one helped me like that.

I saw that the sun reached the top of the sky and gave out a whistle and every looked at me. "It's time to head back every one, Montblanc said to head back to the pub once the sun reached the top of the sky." They all nodded as Marche gave Shara back the bow a light shade of pink came to Shara's cheeks at something Marche had said that had gone missed by the others including Marche.

When we finally reached the pub I noticed a odd shine come out of the bag on Marche's waist. "Marche, could you hand me your bag please?" He tilted his head but handed me it regardless and I took the objects I saw shine and gasped, it was two rings and emerald and a ruby ring. "Marche... Where did you get these?" I felt my hand start to tremble as I struggled with keeping my breath even.

"I found it after killing this giant green Malboro in the mission me and the others went to why?" He and some of the others looked at me with concern as I looked at the two rings and saw the two letters on both rings that made my heart freeze.

"T... These rings belong to... they belong to-" I couldn't finish as the world around me seemed to become a blur and, as I fell down loosing conciouness my hand still held the rings I thought I would never see again.

Leona's POV: I cursed as I saw Umbra started to fall and ran over catching him his back pressed onto my arm as the other supported his waist. "Damn, why the hell did he need to go and faint again?" I looked up at Nelly who looked worried beyond all reason as that girl Marsha ran over with a similar look as Shara, Rits, Marche, and Olint stared in shock.

"Umbra-kun! Leona-san is he okay?" I looked up at marsha as Nelly gave the same question thtough her stare and I lifted him up having a little to no trouble since I was used to this from when he would black out do to over exerting him self when he was younger.

"He'll be fine, we just need to let him rest for a little, any way the mission starts tomorrow at noon, and Marche... I think this might be the thing you were looking for." He stared at me with a look full of hope as he ran over to the mission list and started to read the one his group signed up for.

"Leona." I looked up at Shara who had her serious expression on. "Get Umbra up stairs, I'll take Ritz and Nelly up when you call." I nodded my head as Ritz and Nelly looked between the two of us in confusion and Marsha continued to hover about trying to look at Umbra a bit more close then he'd be comfortable with, I started heading over to the stairs and carried him up into the small infirmary in the pubs second floor it was only big enough to keep 4 people with four seperate walls to keep people from seeing in and I placed him down on the bed closest to the window the moon would appear at.

"Umbra... Wake up soon." I kissed his for head before heading down most of the way and called for the others who followed and closed the door and locked it knowing Marsha would try to get in other wise.

"Now then, why are we all here?" Nelly got right to the point of things as I looked over at Umbra moving a towel onto his head that I dipped into a pale of cold water.

"I second that, why are you two being so critical, it doesn't take Umbra THAT long to wake up does it?" I glared at them both making them close their mouthes quickly with fear in their eyes as Shara sighed and leaned back against the wall.

"You remember how Shara and I told you both aobut how Umbra had come to our little village in the wood right?" They nodded as a sign to go on. "There is actually a bit more to the story that I had held from all of you." At this even Shara stared at me in shock.

They each seemed to think differently about it and I could almost predict the exact question in each of their minds. "You're about to ask, "what are you keeping from us" so I might as well tell you all, Umbra might not agree with me but... you all need to know this."

They each looked at me as I turned back around so they couldn't see the sorrow that filled my gaze at the memory of what I had discovered that day so many years ago. "Perhaps it would be wiser if I explain." We all turn to see Fulgar the inn keep siting next to the window, he removes his hood to reveal a face that resembled Umbra's but he had yellow eyes with slits and a single scar line going over the left and had green hair that curled behind his ears instead of stayed down in a pony tail, also he no longer had the voice of an old man, but rather one of a young adult.

"You see, I am actually this boys uncle, and I feel I should explain what happened all those years ago, when you all had first taken him under your wing, it all started on this exact same day 6 years ago."

Flash back: 6 years ago.

/

Eivexst: And cue cliff hanger for dramatic effect.

Marche: Oh come on that's no fun!

Eivexst: I don't care Marche, I am to tired to keep going with this chatper right now.

Shara: Well you should get some rest then.

Eivexst: I will, please leave a review people and have a nice day.

Thanks for reviewing: OpenOtaku.

Thanks for adding to Alerts: (recently added list) BalancedHex1232