Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of the Abyss and her characters

I originally planned to make the chapter into just the Akzeriuth incident but I decided to expand it more! So I wrote more in this chapter than usual, damn my fingers hurt!

CHAPTER 10: Downfall

Right Outside Akzeriuth

"Stupid broken road, stupid trees coming to life, stupid Legretta calling me a reject!"

As per usual Luke had a tendency to complain about recent events that occurred. This time after going through the Deo Pass, they had to go through a mountain path instead of the main road due to some wreckage blocking it. Some of the trees were actually Trents when Luke decided a break would be sufficient under the sun, but that made her never rest at trees that would be standing on their own. Lastly after a triesome journey from going up a mountain path to going downward, they encountered another God General. Legretta the Quick. Luke hated the battle the woman was fast, even faster than Guy, and she was convinced the blonde woman wasn't even trying. Still they were lucky when Anise's Negative Gate was able to distract long enough for Myst to bring the final blow. Unfortunately Myst hesitated since it was his instructor years ago.

"At least we're finally reaching our destination." Natalia said with a smile. Once the city is right on their view, Natalia immediately frowned at the sight. "There has to something we can do to help out."

"Hope it's not bad as we would think." Guy prayed as he went on ahead.

"T-This bad?" Luke questioned herself as she could see the town herself. In a few words Akzeriuth could be put into this: it was a disaster. The town was covered in a purple fog, with some of the occupants coughing and wheezing. IT was terrible enough for the dangerous mining operation due to monsters but now even their own homes were no longer safe. "W-What's that purple stuff around?"

"Miasma." answered Jade the red head's question with a solemn look. "It's very contagious if exposed for to long and it usual comes from underground."

"Is there anyway to remove the gas, could we use some wind artes?" Luke asked with hope as she could feel the air becoming more and more nauseous.

"I'm afraid not, it seems Akzeriuth was built right underneath the source." Jade replied as he took note of the hurt civilians.

"Damn this bad." Myst cursed as he and everyone else headed to the mining town.

Akzeriuth

Once the group got into town they quickly took note of the sight. The stench of coal and corpses mixed with the sweat of the town's pain. Everyone knew how terrible living in the town seemed to be, most of them knew they had to do something. Myst quickly went to a few miners wheezing out.

"It's alright I'm here. I'm a healer." Myst reassured the miners as he used whatever healing arte he could use. "Recover!"

"Don't worry you'll feel better." Natalia smiled at child who hurt his knees. "Heal. See know you feel better."

"C'mon Tokunga let's help those folk out!" Anise ordered her doll as it became it's fighting size and started to help out the baffled miners who were carrying some heavy equipment.

"Guy please come with me, I will need you to assist me in a simple task." Jade asked with his usual smile towards Guy which creeped him out. "I'm not sure my old bones could handle such strength demanding tasks."

"Yeah yeah sure Jade." Guy answered lazily as took a quickly glance towards who's not doing anything. "Luke you watch over the Fon Master, Anise will have your head if you don't!"

"Wha-hey what's that suppose to mean?" Luke demanded quickly as she got out of a small trance. "There has to be something I could do without screwing up."

"Don't worry Luke, I'm sure you'll be a great help!" Ion cheered as he took both of Luke's hands. "I believe in you!"

"J-Jeez is this what it feels like to have a younger sibling?" Luke wondered to herself as her face started to heat up. She quickly smiled back towards the very young Fon Master. 'Thanks Ion, c'mon let's see if we can help some of the families around these houses.

A Few Hours Later

They all know that it would take forever for the town to recover, but at least they all feel glad that they could ease up the living condition a bit. Right now everyone is taking a break at the supposed inn.

"Jeez Luke I can't believe you made Ion do something!" Anise whined as she whacked her arm playfully.

"Ow that hurt." the noble complained as she rubbed her arm.

"Oh don't be such a kid!" Anise smiled as she took a quick glance at Myst's dazed expression.

"So cute when she helped out..." he muttered to himself as he smiled at the girl. "Luke I'm glad you're helping."

"W-What a-are you t-talking about Myst, all I did was attempt to make nice dishes for the households." Luke stuttered as she blushed at Myst's gaze. She still realized the situation and muttered to herself. "No matter what we do this place ain't changing there has to be something I can do..."

"Still I actually tried it and I must say it's not that bad." Guy described Luke's improve cooking with a thumbs up. Luckily for her he didn't hear her piece of mind. "Still better than Natalia's but your almost as good as me."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Guy." Natalia muttered darkly as an imaginary rain cloud was right on top of her head. She quickly shook the cloud off. "Anyway's I've bee talking to a couple of miners and they said that the miasma is coming from one of the tunnels, they said they tried to seal it off but the monsters were too much."

"And I believe this is the part where Luke will want to go to the tunnels." Jade shrugged with his eyes close, he could already feel the so called ambassador's orders.

"Then what are we waiting for let's help those guys on sealing the gas!" Luke pumped her fist with total enthusiasm. Everyone looked at her with figurative glances. "W-What?"'

"Nothing Luke, I must say I think you getting teleported across the world made you a better person." Guy answered Luke's incoherent look. When she was still confined at the mansion, she was very demanding and obviously spoiled to know end, but one of her only good or worst traits at the time was her curiosity. She looked at everything like a child seeing a cool new toy but is very shy to spill it out. When she started reading books and such she became quiet and not her brash self, despite the fact she would demand new books.

"Are you Mystearico Grants?" an Oracle Knight opened the door in a rush as he questioned the long haired man. Myst nodded and quickly stood up. "We have discovered some sort of Fon Stone and we believ it is the seventh Fon Stone, and we need your approval to see if it is the actual stone."

"Understood please show me where you've found it." Myst ordered the knight. He quickly looked back at his friend especially towards Luke. "Don't worry this will be quick, I'll meet you guys at the tunnel once I'm done."

"Just be careful!" trusted Luke as she casually waved at him as he departed from everyone's view. "Well Naty looks like you have to work a little harder once we go into the mines!

"W-What?" baffled a day dreaming Natalia as she was shocked by an energetic Luke. "Of course, since now I'm the only healer and such."

Akzeriuth Mines

The path was littered with monsters. Bats, earth elements, and even some sort of decaying creatures gave Luke the time of her life. Not only she had to deal with these things but also the dangerous miasma that's getting into her system. She felt a little more tired than usual.

"Damn these things!" Luke cursed out of frustration as another horde of bats hover above them. "G-Guy!"

"Severing Wind!" screamed Guy as he spinned at an incredible height, thanks to how huge the tunnels seem to be, taking out all the bats in one swipe.

"Impressive Guy, man if you're only a noble." Anise complimented the servant as she surprise hugged him from behind. She quickly took note how his reaction wasn't as severe back at Choral Castle.

"A-Anise p-p-please l-l-l-let go!" Guy trembled as he felt the girl's arms around him. She complied as he sighed in relief.

As they got deeper into the mines they started to take note of the many unconscious or dead miners around them. Luke was shivering at the sight, dead or dying innocent lives sitting in front of her. She couldn't handle the sight, as she ran further ahead than everyone.

"Luke!" Jade shouted the noble's name as he took note of her vanishing figure. "Damn, I wonder where Van and his vanguard are."

"The locals have mentioned a small group of soldiers went in." Natalia remembered, since she has a tendency to learn some gossip.

"We gotta get these gut out of here!" Guy ordered the group suddenly as he brought a man over his shoulders. It seemed so well until he realized there were two people missing. "Wait where's Ion?"

Akzeriuth Unknown Depths

She ran as far as her legs can give, she didn't realize she took a hold of another person with her.

"L-Luke you can let go." told Ion as he breathed again. 'A-Are you a-alright?"

"I'm such a baby." Luke muttered to herself as she felt tears swelling up no thanks to the miasma around them. "I c-couldn't stand the sight of dead people, I feel sick nauseous everything!"

"Luke..." Ion muttered with a sad smile as he took a hold of the trembling girl's hands. "It's okay to be scared, we're human afterall, even I can't handle the sight but I had to stay strong for everyone including you and Myst!"

"I-Ion..." sniffed Luke as she started to rub the tears out of her eyes. "Y-You're right I need to be strong for everyone's sake. I-I'll do my best!"

"That's the spirit!" Ion cheered as he took note of a familiar man standing in front of a seal on a wall. "Van what are you doing here."

"Master Van!" Luke greeted her teacher with a grin as she waved at him and his group of soldiers. "Master I'm trying to find a way to save this tow, but what me and my friends did wasn't enough!"

"Well Luke I believe I found a way to liberate this town of it's dreadful miasma." Van explained the situation as he gestured to his soldiers. "Her companions have arrived to assist the unconscious help them in any way you can!"

The soldiers all saluted to their superior as they ran the into direction where Luke and Ion came from. Van quickly explained the situation towards the two. They have discovered a seal at the end of a tunnel and with a Fon Master's power, Ion, could unlock it and use Luke's potential prowess of her Seventh Fonons.

"So Luke with your hyperresonance you'll be able to wipe out the miasma here!" Van grinned at his student at the same time patted his head. "Maybe Myst will notice you as more than a simple noble girl now right?"

"Y-Yeah!" Luke smiled as she dashed ahead of the group. While the two were talking Ion took a note of van's eyes, they were laughing and mocking them, but Luke trusted Van so he'll trust him as well afterall he was technically his superior. "C'mon guys let's go save this town!"

Outside Akzeriuth

"This way Grants!"

Myst was fast walking with the escort. He took note an on Oracle Knight camp right in front of her, he was shocked on how many soldiers there were. Then with a glance she took note of a familiar hot blooded general conversing with some of his men. He even realized that the Tartarus is here filled with many Oracle soldiers bring in and out supplies.

"Where's the fonstone?" he ordered with his soldier tone towards the escort. The knight was getting nervous for getting some harsh glares from the long haired man right behind him.

"T-This i-is it sir!" he showed Myst a huge stone that was glowing. There were scriptures on it saying some sort of prediction or such.

He examined the stone with a keen eye. Myst started to remember on how somehow could differentiate the Seventh Fonstone from the rest. It was difficult to tell the difference since these stones were very similar. After observing the rock for a good few minutes, he told his answer. "Sorry but this is not a Seventh Fonstone. it's just regular one.

He started to back until a sword was directed at him!

"I'm sorry Mystearico but your brother's orders are to keep you confined hear until Akzeriuth is gone." said one of the knights as he and his companions drew out their swords as well.

"Damn I knew his plan was gonna be this bad!' Asch screamed out. "You fools don't you realize the hyperresonance will be big enough to take everything around out. It's radius is large enough to reach here!"

"C-Commander Asch!' one of the knight stuttered at the glaring God General. "We can't ignore the commandant's orders!"

"Screw Van's orders if you want to live come with me!" Asch ordered as he took note of a ruckus occuring. "And let Myst go!"

"S-Sorry bu-" the knight was unfortunately interrupted as Myst's fist met with his unarmored stomach. The long haired man made a quick dash for an escape.

"Those who are loyal to me hold them off!" Asch ordered his division as a small civil war started to happen. "Myst I'm coming with you I have to stop that stupid dreck from destroying this place."

"W-What do you mean by destroy?"

Back with Luke

"Woah this place looks so pretty." Luke wondered to herself in amazement. Streams of beautiful colors ran along the supposed walls, at the same time particles that look like snowflake were levitating up. "So Master Van how far are we from this Sephruse thing?"

"Sephiroth Tress" Van corrected as he smirked at the bumbling red head who's being distracted by simple colors. "Come along Luke we're almost there."

The three of them were walking the long corridors until they got a fascinating view. Luke's jaw dropped, the beautiful snowflakes were coming out of some sort of hole at the bottom. She realized a pedestal was right in front of her.

"Um Master Van how do I activate my hypressonance?" Luke wondered excitedly as she took a hold of Ion's hand. "C'mon Ion aren't you excited we're gonna save this town and all the people!"

"Y-Yes of course Luke!" Ion responded being broke of his train of thought.

The commandant observed the two youngster in front of him. With a look of disgust he grinned menacingly returning back to his 'beloved teacher' facade. "Now listen to me, my ill-fated replica!"

"R-Replica?" Luke asked with a raised eyebrow. She grinned at her master for some reason. "What's that suppose...to...mean..."

Luke's vibrant green eyes suddenly became dark as the night. With a blank glance at Ion and Van she obeyed obediently.

"Van what's the meaning of this?" Ion demanded as he suddenly felt a strong jab on his stomach. He took note of the only red head. "Luke..."

Van started to laugh uncontrollably he couldn't help it. His plan to cleanse the world of the so called Score can finally begin, starting with the girl's sacrifice. "Excellent work Luke! Now use your hyperresonance to obliterate this town!"

Luke started to glow gold as her raised hand seemed to started gathering the fonons all around. She felt power swelling as she suddenly felt the foundation around her starting to fall.

"Van if you're destroying this place, then I'm coming with it!" mocked a man's voice as he and all of Luke's friends came into the view. He took note of the girl's glow. "Damn it's too late!"

"Ion!" Anise screamed in terror as she saw the unconscious Fon Master.

"Sorry Asch but I need you alive, this expendable pawn could die in your place." Van calmly explained.

"Luke is not a pawn, she's her own person!" Myst raged as he and Asch started to charge at his brother.

"Mystearico, I didn't want you to perish in such a place." Van sighed in disappointment. He quickly whistled as two bird creatures that only Arrietta could call came down to swipe him and Asch off. "The Score sickens me. With Asch living instead of that thing, I could prove to the world that the Score can be possibly wrong, I will change this world so no more people would depend on such hideous things. Myst it saddens me you won't be able to see this day."

"The whole place is tumbling down!' Jade shouted to his companions at the shaking rooms. "Quick someone grab Ion and Luke and Myst prepare to make that force field!"

"Understood!" Myst agreed as he started to chant the sacred words of only he and his brother could sing. At the same time Guy and Natalia were able to get Luke and Ion into the force field's radius. "Everyone hold on!"

Everything was falling apart...

Unknown

"...ke...et up...Luke!"

Luke stirred from a voice calling her name, she had a strong headache for some reason. Last thing she remembered was being with Ion and Master Van at the Sephiroth trees just before he was going to tell her how to use her hyperresonance. She took note of a terrible sight.

"What h-happened?" she asked in shock.

Rubble of recognizable building from Akzeriuth were all around her and the ground seemed to make a small island around her. The sea was purple for some reason.

"H-Help us!" said a young man and his child crying out. "P-Please!"

"Okay!" Luke said as she started to look around her. "Arghh where's the rope?"

"Luke don't.' Myst warned Luke with dark eyes.

"Are you crazy Myst?" Luke was shocked at her crush right now. "They need our help. if there's no rope then I'll just swim-"

"No!" Myst screamed as he held Luke back. She started to struggle demanding him to let her go. "I'm sorry Luke but there's nothing we can do for them."

"But there has to be something-"

"Energy Blast!" Jade shouted suddenly as a blast of pure fonon suddenly hit the man and his son! "I'm sorry..."

Luke's face trembled as she fell down, her body started to shake. "Jade what the hell!"

"They were suffering already, traumatized by what just happened to their home, I simple ended their pain." Jade explained with a cold look as he took note of the Tartarus. "Luckily for us the Tartarus is still functional. There has to be civilization here..."

Tartarus Observation Deck

The eight were very solemn at the situation, lost in the middle of nowhere at an unknown area. Jade quietly looked above the horizon, if there was one. Guy and Natalia's crestfallen looks were not helping as well. Anise was very close to Ion as she glared at Luke. Myst just had a quiet look on his face. The last person though wasn't so quiet.

"Not my fault. Not my fault." Luke trembled as she said the same words over and over again.

"Luke what's wrong?" Guy asked with total worry as he patted the girl's head.

"Van he..." Ion started as he went closer to Luke but Anise only got in the way. "Anise!"

"Sorry Ion but that girl can't even protect you!" Anise explained with hostile eyes towards the girl.

"It was Van she was going against-"

"No what I saw, all I saw was her and that man stadning while Ion is knocked out!" Anise interrupted Guy as she angrily pointed her finger towards Luke.

"Anise listen to me." ion ordered his guardian with a demanding tone. "Van he somehow controlled Luke, her eyes weren't her usual self."

"Can't you see Ion, Luke failed protecting you, I'm not trusting her with you ever again!" Anise stood firm as she walked away with Ion on her hand.

"Not my fault. Not my fault..." Luke repeated the words as tears start to fall down.

"If Ion is correct Van must have controlled Luke into destroying Akzeriuth." Jade concluded as he couldn't take the girl's antics right now. "If I stay here, I'll be irritated by more pointless ranting."

"Luke you must accept some responsibility." Natalia explained to her sister figure. Unfortunately for her, she can only hear Luke's repeated words. "Argghhh would you grow up already Luke, there's no such thing as bring a 'good guy', you thought you only helped people no you destroyed an entire town with your own greedy hands. I heard back at Baticul you wanted to be acknowledged to be seen as a hero, looked what happened look what you did!"

Four of them left leaving only half of them at the deck. Myst eyes were conflicted at the all the accusations towards her. It was just like before at Cheagle Woods, she wanted to help anyway she can but his harsh speech on reality fazed her a lot. Her inferiority complexity must have risen when she realized she wasn't the one healing or doing magical artes at the back. A complexity that was hidden by her cheerful smiles and childish antics. A complexity that no one realized until it was too late.

"Luke please don't make me think less of you." Guy shook his head in disappointment as he walked away.

"Myst don't leave me." Luke begged as her eyes swelled up. She had a strong grip on his arm as she brought herself into Myst's chest. "P-Please!"

He couldn't say anything, he knew it was technically's Luke's faulty but it was his brother that made her do it. He held her in his arms, refusing to let her go.

"Asch, I don't care if she's a replica." He told himself with a stern look. "Clone or not she's real to me, and I care for her, like how you care about Natalia..."

"Myst is Mistress going to alright?" Meiu wondered as he was quiet throughout the ordeal. He was afraid of everyone, to see their harsher sides, to see hem blaming it all on his Mistress, to see her broken.

"She will be Meiu, if everyone leaves her then I'll stay by her, will you to Meiu?" Myst offered his hand with a sincere smile towards the young cheagle.

"Of course I want Mistress to be happy again!" Meiu proclaimed cheerfully as he hopped into Myst's head.

The ride was quiet, but Myst was able to explain to everyone else where they were. The Qliphoth was a world under their's. Sephiroth Trees were placed right underneath their world to keep it fromm falling into the Qliphoth, which was filled with an ocean of miasma. Since Van used Luke to take out of the the Sephiroth Trees down, then the areas around it, including Akzeiruth started to fall down into the dangerous ocean beneath the. Luckily for them thought, there was a civilization, Yulia City. This city was specifically designed to prevent the miasma from entering and they weren't very far from the city as well...

Yulia City Entrance

"My grandfather is probably at the meeting hall, just go straight and you'll see a sign." directed Myst as he and the rest of the party started to proceed except for one person. Sadly everyone else but two of them ignored the girl, she was walking in some sort of trance. "Luke let's go, I'll show you my place once we're done meeting my grandfather!"

"Myst..." Luke said tiredly as she dragged her body towards him. "I-it's my f-fault."

"Luke..." Myst muttered as he realized the girl's trembling form.

"I-I don't deserve to live!" she announced tears coming down. "I killed people and never enjoyed it. Now I killed an entire city with my own two hands and...and..."

Luke started to cry her feelings out. She feel onto her knees as she bawled up, letting all of her pain go.

"Hmph such a baby!" Asch said as his narrowed eyes glared at the crying Luke. "Look at you! You're a pathetic sight! Not your fault? It definitely is!"

"Then kill me." Luke said simply eyes filled with apathy. "Before you kill me, tell me why do we have very similar faces?"

"You really are an idiot!" Asch growled at his supposed clone. "It's simple: you're my replica. Van he wanted a perfect replica to take my place, but they all went insane but then you arrived a simple mistake, a defect since you came out as a girl. It was interesting to see myself if I was a girl but Van realized you weren't as insane as the others and used you, manipulated you into thinking he is your beloved teacher."

"I see..." Luke concluded as she sighed. "I'm tired of everything Asch please kill me."

"Dreck!" Asch screamed in rage as he drew his sword.

"Asch stop now!" Myst glared at the God General approaching him. He spread his arms right in front of Luke his back facing her. "I won't let you hurt her!"

"Then you're going her as well." Asch said as he was about to strike Myst.

Suddenly another sword clashed with his. Right in front of Asch was Luke glaring right at him.

"I don't care what you do to me, but hurt Myst and any of my friends then you'll be sorry!" Luke screamed as he uppercut Asch into the air. "Rending Thrust!"

"Oh crap!" Asch cursed as he realized Van taught his clone probably all of his moves, he can already predict the next thing that would happened.

Luke twirled gracefully as her blade suddenly glowed with light.

"Light Blast!"

The hit Asch head on, as he fell a couple of feet on front of her. 'Damn I thought it's gonna be Light Spear Cannon."

"I'm not your clone, I'm Luke!" the girl cried out as she charged again.

"Can't you see everyone is abandoning you! How could you still call them your friends?" Asch wondered as he dodged a Havoc Strike from her. He gritted in anger. "I was a noble of Baticul but seven years ago, a villain named Van kidnapped me! Sound familiar?"

"Then you..." Luke realized as she solved a puzzle, it wasn't' a coincidence her 'amnesia' after 'his' kidnapping. She remembered his question though. "I d-don't' care if they hate me forever, the memories I had with them will remind me on how we all had fun back then. If they're happy I'm not with them then I'm happy too!"

"Argghh can't you see what you're saying to yourself?" Asch screamed outraged on what he is hearing. "Despite Van kidnapping me, he did helped me become stronger to protect the ones I care about, I'll assist him in whatever he wants but this is not what I wanted!"

"Then why are you helping him?" Luke demanded in confusion. "Why help the one that ruined your life and be replaced by someone like me? Why?"

"Explosion!" Asch announced as a blast of fire hit Luke square on. "Like Van said pay attention to battle more!"

As Luke got blasted back she quickly took a scared glance towards Myst and Meiu. Her head hit the ground as she looked up the beautiful ceiling with tired eyes. She could feel her eyes closing, everything shutting down. Tears continue to fall down her eyes as she wept herself to unconsciousness.

"Myst I'm sorry, I don't deserve you..."

To some people 5k is nothing, but to me it meant something. This was the longest chapter I've ever typed and know I guess you're wondering some stuff. Yes Luke will now have her change the next chapter and instead of Asch being able to have a link with Luke, it's Van's commanding voice that would control Luke's mind. In my head the incident at Choral Castle just amped up at mind link. Well I did realize I din't really make Luke as a jerk, but instead made her your typical sense of justice kid hero who think she could save everyone plus she's hyperactive and all that, but she didn't and know she had her BSOD moment. Her inferiority complex is much bigger since she's a girl, (no sexcial!) being more emotional and such. I'm not gonna lie I teared up a bit when I started to write "Not my fault". H-Hey real men show heir tears!

splitheart: I'm sorry I can't keep it from collapsing, To me Akzeriuth had to fall, because it's the beginning of something bigger than the typical Kingdom vs. Kingdom. It's how the game really started off as well, and how the party started the change. I-I don't know how to explain but it's like it had to happen no matter what!