Chapter 11: Hiding from Everyone

The sun was setting once again. Tear glanced briefly at the long shadow her body cast on the ground, then turned back to the entrance of Mushroom Road. Dark and ominous as always- even more so because of the coming darkness.

It was evening of the third day.

Tomorrow morning, Yulia City would be aware that Tear was not at Choral Castle as she should have been. And Jade, if he hadn't already, would inform the group that Tear was either on the run or hiding.

Both parties would begin searching for her.

The question was, did she want either of them to find her?

No time to think about that now. Taking a deep breath, Tear readied her staff and walked into the forest of mushrooms, without looking back.

A little later, she had found a mushroom of a suitable height. It was high enough to avoid any monsters on the ground, and low enough so the vapors and spores from the fungi would still cover her and block the signal from the tracking device on her fontop.

Hopefully, breathing this air for a prolonged period of time won't do any serious damage to me... Tear thought to herself as she prepared for bed. Who knows how long I'll be here, after all.

Taking a handkerchief from her bag, she folded it in half and tied it around her nose and mouth, thinking this would help prevent her from breathing in too much of the foul fumes. At least, she hoped it would work. Then Tear sighed, and lay down on the mushroom, pulling her blanket tightly around herself.

And with the disturbing sounds of the forest surrounding her, she tried her best to go to sleep.

Luke woke up the next morning to total pandemonium. Running feet and shouts could be heard all over the house, and he even thought he heard shouting from farther away in the city. Jumping out of bed, he got himself dressed as fast as he could.

"What could be happening?" he exclaimed as he grabbed a shirt and yanked it over his head. "Has that crazy resistance group finally gone too far? If so... what's gonna happen to me?"

Not stopping long enough to think about the answer to that question, Luke slid on the first pair of shoes he found and ran from the room. "Hey!" he yelled as he grabbed a guard that ran past, "what the hell is going on here?"

"I-I don't know for sure, Master Luke!" the guard apologized. "It sounds like a riot down in the city- we're going to check it out now. You should stay here with your parents, for your own safety."

Luke looked puzzled as he let the guard go to join the others, who were all rushing out of the house. A riot... that's the last thing we need...

Running to the drawing room, Luke found his parents there, also getting ready to leave the house. "Ah, Luke, there you are. We were just about to send someone to get you," his mother greeted him.

"What's going on? The guards are talking about a riot or something!" yelled as he ran up to them.

"We don't know any more than they do. But we're going to the castle right now- there are better defenses there," Duke Fabre replied gruffly. "You should come with us."

"Right, we'll probably learn what's going on faster that way." Stepping to one side of his mother as the Duke took his place on her other side, the three of them walked over to the palace, accompanied by two guards.

Upon entering the audience hall, the family found King Ingobert on his throne, and Natalia nervously pacing in front of him. When she looked up and saw Luke, she immediately ran over and hugged him.

"Luke! I was worried your house might have been attacked! Are you all right? And your parents?" she asked quickly, letting go of him to look at the Duke and his wife.

"We're ok, but what's this about our house being attacked? We only heard screaming," Luke looked around at everyone. "What do you guys know about this?"

Natalia took a deep breath. "There's a riot going on in the lowest level of the city. But this time, it's worse than what happened two days ago."

"Nearly all the citizens living there have closed off the main road to the city, in order to stop anyone from entering. Namely, the food shipments from Engave," the king spoke up, beckoning them all to come closer.

"The food? But isn't that the problem? Why would they want to stop the food from entering the city?" wondered Luke.

"Well..." Natalia hesitated. "We have an idea, but we won't know for sure until the soldiers we sent out return with their reports. Meanwhile, we must try to get word to as many caravans as we can, so they don't try to enter Baticul and cause fighting."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Suzanne asked.

"We have some of the noblemen of Baticul on the fonnet, sending messages to all the towns and cities. If any of them have travelers or caravans coming to Baticul in the next few days, they can hopefully try to recall them in time." King Ingobert replied.

"So we have to just wait here?" asked Luke.

"We have to, because we're safe here in case the riot gets out of control. We'll know what's going on soon enough," Natalia tried to reassure him.

Sure enough, three soldiers arrived ten minutes later, and after saluting the king, gave their report.

"It's just as you thought, Your Highness," started the lead soldier. "The citizens living on the lowest level of the city have blocked off the main road, refusing to let anyone enter or leave. They plan to capture any and all shipments of food that arrive, and keep it for themselves."

"But why? They know the whole city needs that food!" outbursted Luke.

The soldier looked a little uneasy as he answered. "They're saying that there will be more food for the entire city if they don't let the replicas get any of it."

There was silence in the room for a moment. Then, quietly, Luke said, "So... they also wish to kill off the replicas."

"Wait just a minute!" Natalia jumped up. "Did you hear any of these people mention the Replica Resistance Force?"

The soldiers looked at each other and nodded. "We did hear several of them mention that name."

"So... so it's very possible that those people are in the force itself..." whispered Suzanne, and lowered her head to hide her face as her husband turned to support her.

King Ingobert looked very grave. "The situation has just become much more serious. If these citizens of ours are indeed in the Replica Resistance Force, it's also possible that there are people in every town and city who could be a part of it as well. Anyone who ever opposed the replicas could be suspect to being a member of this group. Which we can conclude to mean that there could be far more supporters for the force than we thought."

Everyone was silent as this sunk in. Then Luke spoke up. "I think... I have to get out of the city."

"Luke! But... why?" Natalia looked horrified. "You should stay here! That entire force would need to attack the city before you'd be endangered at all! Besides, I thought you'd help me solve the crisis."

Luke shook his head. "It's dangerous for all of us if I stay here. I'm almost positive that once that group is strong enough, they'll come for me. Then you'll be in danger, too. The sooner I get out of Baticul, the better."

"Now Luke, don't upset your mother," Duke Fabre scolded him. "There's time enough to think about such drastic measures, but we don't have to carry them out yet. Right now, the most important thing to do is to get rid of that group of demonstraters blocking the road. Can the forces here in Baticul take care of it?" he directed this last part to the king.

"More than likely. You three," the king addressed the soldiers, "go back to the others and tell them all to organize themselves to break up that riot. Have the captain report here when the men are ready to move out."

"Yes sir!" they replied, saluted him again, and ran out.

"Natalia, I would like you to go to the nobles and have them add this order to their messages. All town and city leaders should redirect any caravans and travelers they can contact to Chesedonia. Have the shipments come by sea- the force doesn't have the equipment to block the seaport."

"Of course, Father," Natalia bowed respectfully to everyone, and left the room. Luke prepared to exit after her.

"Luke, where are you going?" asked his mother.

Without turning around, he answered, "I'm going to contact Jade and see if he can put me in touch with Emperor Peony. Grand Chokmah seems to be the safest place for me if this gets out of hand." He left without another word, and his parents, knowing they could not convince him otherwise, let him go.

Deep in thought, Luke returned to his house, and after grabbing something to eat, went to his room. He started up his fontop and munched absently on his sandwich as he waited impatiently for the messaging program to load.

As he returned to his office after attending Peony's daily council meeting, Jade felt uneasy. There had been another riot in St. Binah yesterday, having something to do with the replicas again. At the rate things were going, he fully expected a nationwide wave of attacks anytime now.

There would be a lot of problems all over the world then, not to mention a lot of paperwork.

Sighing a little, he entered his office, surprised to hear his fontop beeping- he had a message. Jade sat down at his desk and opened it, seeing that it was from Luke.

" 'There's a huge riot going on in Baticul right now. The people closed off the main road to stop the food shipments from getting in, and they're claiming to be a part of the RRF. If things get any worse here, I need to get myself out of Baticul so my family won't be in danger. Do you think Peony could help? Grand Chokmah is practically a fortress, so I'd probably be safer there if I can't stay here.' "

Jade tried to suppress a groan. This was exactly what he'd been worrying about. "Poor boy, he has no idea how much worse the situation is and can still get. He apparently doesn't know anything about Tear at the moment, but then again, with all that's been going on, he probably wasn't online much these last few days. However, I did make a promise. Three days have passed, and I heard nothing from Tear. I'll have to tell everyone tonight." He leaned back in his chair and smiled to himself a bit. "Although I have every confidence that she's perfectly fine."

He quickly composed a message and sent it to Luke, saying that he was sure the Emperor would only be too willing to assist him in escaping to Grand Chokmah, should the need arise. Getting this done, he turned to his first stack of paperwork, but upon opening the folder on top, his fontop beeped again.

Jade silently cursed technology. "What now?" he muttered as he clicked the invite for a private message, then groaned again as he read the name. Unfortunately, it was from Dist.

RosenotReaper: Jade? Don't you dare close this message!

EvilFonist: Why not? You've already annoyed me by sending it.

RosenotReaper: Listen, there's a problem here! I can't get through to Peony, so I HAD to contact you.

EvilFonist: What for? Did you want Peony to fund one of your experiments?

RosenotReaper: Stop joking around! We can't waste any time!

EvilFonist: Fine, fine. It would help if I knew where you were, for starters.

RosenotReaper: Keterburg, you stupid jerk! There's been an attack from that Replica Resistance Force here!

Jade froze. If that Saphir was lying to him for any reason, he'd fix it so his nose never stopped running.

EvilFonist: This had better not be a joke.

RosenotReaper: Would I lie to you, Jade?

EvilFonist: Maybe, considering how many times I've lied to you.

RosenotReaper: I'm not lying! Keterburg was attacked!

EvilFonist: Then why hasn't Nephry contacted me? I ought to hear this from my own sister.

RosenotReaper: She's probably too busy taking charge and organizing things. She's all right, if that's what you're wondering.

EvilFonist: So, if I contact her and find out that you're telling the truth, what do you want?

RosenotReaper: Doesn't Peony need to know about this? It's not like I can round up the other God-Generals and give these people what's coming to them!

EvilFonist: Then we'll have to continue investigating. Peony will be alerted as soon as I can get to him.

RosenotReaper: I'll be available if you need me for anything.

EvilFonist: Saphir, I don't need you for anything. Never have, never will.

RosenotReaper: You really need to think about getting an attitude adjustment, Jade.

EvilFonist: So should you. One that causes you to be less annoying so your nose won't run.

RosenotReaper: I ought to put that one in my revenge journal!

EvilFonist: Is it running now, then?

RosenotReaper: Jade, I swear! One of these days...

EvilFonist: Oh, calm down. I actually know something you might like to know as well.

RosenotReaper: It better not be any more ingratitude for informing you about Keterburg.

EvilFonist: No, it concerns Tear.

RosenotReaper: ...she told you about that message, didn't she?

EvilFonist: ...

RosenotReaper: Oh... you don't know about that?

EvilFonist: No, but maybe now I should ask one of you what it is.

RosenotReaper: I'm certainly not telling you!

EvilFonist: In that case, I'd ask Tear. Unfortunately, she's missing at the moment.

RosenotReaper: What!? Is this another one of your tricks?

EvilFonist: Why, Saphir, I'm hurt. I never play tricks.

RosenotReaper: Yes you do! How do you explain what happened on the ice that day when we were kids?

EvilFonist: An accident?

RosenotReaper: Fine, have it your way. Now what's this about Tear missing?

EvilFonist: I saw her here three days ago, and she informed me she was being sent to Choral Castle and would be out of contact for three days at the most. She instructed me to let everyone know after the third day, because something might be amiss.

RosenotReaper: Tear doesn't get endangered easily. I don't like this.

EvilFonist: I highly doubt she got caught up in anything on the way there. But something must have happened since she left Grand Chokmah.

RosenotReaper: Did you ask Luke? He might know.

EvilFonist: She hasn't been on the fonnet at all since she left. I doubt Luke knows anything. Indeed, he doesn't even know she's missing yet. There's a riot in Baticul at the moment, so I imagine he's thinking of other things.

RosenotReaper: I'm starting to think the world is against us ever since Lorelei was freed.

EvilFonist: Us? Are you insinuating that we're on the same side, Saphir?

RosenotReaper: Jade! You know very well I have no reason to persecute the replicas! I have no part with this force at all!

EvilFonist: For your sake, you'd better be telling the truth.

RosenotReaper: I have no reason to lie anymore, Jade.

EvilFonist: Well then, if you really are on our side, help out.

RosenotReaper: That's exactly what I'm trying to do!

EvilFonist: Let me rephrase that. You can help by following Peony's orders if he gives you any, while at the same time staying as far away from me as you possibly can.

RosenotReaper: Very funny, Jade. Fine, I'll await orders from Peony.

EvilFonist: And I'll be doing my job here.

RosenotReaper: What about Tear?

EvilFonist: There isn't much I can do about her right now. I think it's best to wait until tonight, when I can let everyone else know what's happened. Maybe they'll organize a search for her.

RosenotReaper: So no one else knows besides us?

EvilFonist: Yes, unless Yulia City has a hand in this.

RosenotReaper: What might they have to do with her disappearing?

EvilFonist: I don't know. I'm just saying it's a possibility.

RosenotReaper: Whatever. I'm going to check on the situation with the resistance force. Hopefully it's been broken up by now.

EvilFonist: While you're doing that, remember to stay away from my sister.

RosenotReaper: Excuse me? What if she needs me for something?

EvilFonist: Then do what she says while staying as far away from her as possible.

RosenotReaper: You need to shut up, Jade!

EvilFonist: And you need to calm down. Is your nose running yet?

RosenotReaper: That does it! That one's going in my revenge journal!

Dist signed off then, and Jade quietly chuckled to himself. Even with all the trouble going on, he still got amusement out of annoying Dist. Casting a glance at the paperwork, Jade shrugged, and got up to leave. Peony had to be informed of these new developments right away- there was no time for paperwork.

Come to think of it, that was a way Dist could have actually been useful, Jade thought as he crossed the courtyard to the palace. He could have sent Reiner to do my paperwork for me.

Of course, that was only Jade's sarcasm talking.

In the meantime, Tear was having a miserable time of it.

Ever since she had woken up to eat her meager breakfast, she was continually being attacked by groups of monsters. She would beat a few, walk maybe ten feet, and be attacked again. It was only the middle of the afternoon, and she was already getting worn out.

If this keeps up, I won't last a week in here, she thought grimly. Long before lunchtime she had learned not to speak aloud to herself, it only drew more monsters.

Hoping to find a place to rest without being threatened by the hungry beasts, Tear painstakingly climbed another mushroom, feeling every muscle throb on the way. Thank Lorelei, no monsters in sight up here! But it was a tall mushroom, rising above the mists, and she couldn't risk her fontop being tracked if the signal got through. So she climbed back down, but as she did, a nearby sound caused her to loosen her hold enough to slide off. The handkerchief she'd tied around her face fell off, and when she landed with a thud on the ground, Tear involuntarily gasped, breathing in the vapors.

She started coughing right away, as she got to her knees and grabbed the cloth. Tying it around her mouth and nose again, she looked up just in time to see two ghouls coming toward her.

Great, my coughing attracted them! Taking deep breaths through the handkerchief, she snatched up her staff and sent a Nocturnal Light attack at the slow-moving creatures. They wavered, and that bought her enough time to use the First Fonon to put them to sleep.

With the danger gone, Tear slumped against the mushroom stalk and slid to the ground. Just that one moment of breathing in the fumes had made her lightheaded. She lay there for a few minutes, trying to get her breathing back to normal and the dizzy feeling to go away. Having accomplished this, she decided to climb the mushroom anyway.

I'll just have to take a risk and leave my fontop on the ground, so it won't be detected. Taking the fontop in its case out of her bag, she placed it on the ground near the base of the mushroom and covered it with some leaves. Then she shouldered the bag again, stuck her staff through the straps, and proceeded to climb slowly up the mushroom again.

Once there, she stretched out on the top and removed the handkerchief, taking big gulps of the fresher air. If any monsters came up there, she'd be more prepared to fend them off. It was a lot easier to fight with a clear head than with one dizzy from breathing mushroom spores. Then Tear sighed. She remembered, again, what she had told Jade before she'd left Grand Chokmah.

"If you hear nothing from me in 3 days, you'll know something is wrong."

Something was wrong, all right. But now there was no way for the others to find out what had happened. They wouldn't even know where to look for her.

This one day in Mushroom Road was enough for Tear to realize that she couldn't stay here forever. She'd die first. But if Yulia City was looking for her now, there was no way for her to get to safety.

Where was safety, anyway, with all she'd been hearing before she left?

Tear knew the irrational answer to that question. Safety was in Luke's arms if she looked at it that way. However, with the possibility that Luke was in danger too, his arms wouldn't be entirely safe for long. So there had to be a rational solution as well.

As various (ridiculous and/or impossible) ideas drifted through her mind, Tear ended up falling into an uneasy sleep, as much as she knew this was no time for a nap.

We'll find some way out of this mess, Luke. Some way... so we really can feel safe in each other's arms once again...

Ah, drama. I love it sometimes. But only sometimes.

In case anyone was wondering: for once, the chat featured in this week's chapter did not actually happen. I wrote that one up myself, and while it was hard since I believe I'm horrible at impersonating both Jade and Dist, it was fun too. The actual roleplay did not cover the three days between Tear's leaving Grand Chokmah and arriving in Mushroom Road, so I'm creating most of the material in those chapters. I should do more of that, actually...

Anyway, thanks as always for the reviews! Please don't flame without a good reason, or you'll go down in my revenge journal!

...ok, I'm sorry, that was bad, I know. ;