The story continues!

I've decided to watch the Tales of the Abyss anime to get familiar with the story instead of a video game walkthrough. Not only is it more entertaining, but it's a quicker endeavor than sorting through a half-hour youtube video for one or two minutes of cutscene. Because of this, and thanks to advice from Link Fangirl01, I've decided to follow the anime's example when it comes to streamlining the story from here on out. I would also like to express my deepest thanks to Link for her loyal readership of my Tales stories.

Warnings are the same as usual. Please enjoy!


Be careful what you wish for, Loki thought grimly.

As much as Luke was interested in changing, the redhead was still too curious for his own good. Normally, Loki would encourage that curiosity in his student. However, when Luke's curiosity on the way to Theor Forest, and to Grand Chokmah, resulted in another encounter with the Sword Dancer, it caused trouble for them all.

Again, the Sword Dancer rose from the ground. Again, it proclaimed its hate for Loki and its desire for battle. That was how Loki found himself dodging giant swords and tossing knives at the armored skeleton. His companions were battling alongside him, but it was Loki that drew the monster's enmity.

After the fierce battle, the Sword Dancer knelt before them. "So, master of mischief, you persist in this charade," it grumbled. "I shall keep my word. Ask your questions."

Loki was at a loss. There was just so much that he wanted to know that a single question couldn't arrange itself on his lips. He knew he didn't have much time before the Sword Dancer faded away.

"Where's Loki from?" Luke blurted out. "You mentioned realms last time. What are those?"

"This world is but one of many that inhabit the nine realms," the Sword Dancer answered. "Of those, Asgard is the one that Loki hails from. This planet is close to Midgard."

None of those names meant anything to Loki, but as before, they felt of truth. He was Loki Odinson of the realm of Asgard. Just as he thought, he was not native to Auldrant.

"You will find me again once more before my imprisonment is lifted." The Sword Dancer snorted. "If I didn't know you better, I would believe that you truly did not know who I was. You are crueler than even I could have believed."

The Sword Dancer faded away. Loki sheathed his knives and turned to his companions. His heart was an uncomfortable weight in his chest, beating out a rhythm that originated from a far realm. He knew nothing of his homeland beyond its name.

"Loki of Asgard," he said softly before anyone else could speak. "How can I say that I am from a place that I never knew? I much prefer Loki of Auldrant. Even, perhaps," and he smiled at Luke, "Loki of Baticul."

Jade pushed his glasses up on his nose. "That was an unexpected revelation," he noted. "Yet you don't seem surprised. When did you figure out that you weren't from Auldrant?"

"From nearly the beginning," Loki admitted. "I attempted to have my Score read and was informed that I didn't have one. Because of that, and other differences between me and the rest of you, I came to the conclusion early on that I wasn't from Auldrant."

Luke blinked at him. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"And how would you or your father would have reacted?" Loki asked. He shrugged. "So now you know it. I am an alien to this world. Despite that, I would like to continue on as we have been."

As they resumed their journey to Grand Chokmah, it appeared that Luke forgot, for the moment, about his own problems.

"So do you think that the rest of the Asgardians are like you?" the redhead asked. "I mean, do they not sleep, and can they jump from the tops of trees like it was nothing?"

Loki shrugged. "It would be a fair assumption. However, I could be an aberration among Asgardians. Until we meet another, it would be best to assume nothing."

Luke nodded. "But even so, it's so cool! You're, like, my very own alien!"

Loki choked. "Pardon?" he asked, but Luke was already jogging ahead to talk animatedly to Guy. The amnesiac shook his head and let a wry smile settle on his face.

Whatever embarrassment he felt, it was worth it to see Luke happy. As they walked, he cast his thoughts back to Luke's reunion with Guy on their return to the surface. Something Guy said niggled at his brain.

"I don't need a past," he'd quoted. It was something Luke had said after his rescue from Choral Castle. The young replica, frustrated with the pressure of being asked to remember something they now knew was impossible, had blurted that out.

Even so young, practically a newborn, Luke was wise. It made Loki think on his own situation, different from his student's as it was. His… friends risked their lives to give him a glimmer of self. It was nice to have that sense, but was it worth it? He had no way to get back to Asgard, wherever it was. What was the point in continuing to endanger others?

And why did he falter when he thought of his companions as friends? The word, when applied to him, felt of denial. Why would he have friends?

But why wouldn't he have them? Loki resisted the urge to shake his head in frustration. Even if he had no conscious memory, his subconscious was dropping enough hints that he could piece together a probable history for himself.

Before Auldrant, he surmised that he had few to no close associations with others. Thinking of his father, Odin, brought forth feelings of shame, guilt, denial, anger, and so many other dark emotions that it was hard to think rationally. Therefore, it was likely that his relationship was his father was poor.

He knew nothing of his mother, not even her name. Even so, the concept felt of warmth and love. She was close to him, he thought. Next time, he decided, he would ask the Sword Dancer for her name.

Without further evidence, Loki summarized that his previous life had been a lonely and frustrating experience. Why did he want to remember that?

It was as Luke said – he didn't need a past. He was content with his present.


Having the benefit of hindsight didn't make matters any better.

Loki should have investigated the mysterious curse slot placed upon Guy way back when they first visited Chesedonia. At the time, Ion's assurances let him cast the curse out of his mind. So long as his fellow Luke minder was unaffected, it was easy to forget the curse slot even existed.

Now, as Loki was forced to turn his back on Largo the Black Lion, one of Van's God-Generals, and cross blades with Guy, he wished he hadn't let the matter slide so easily. Guy was a formidable opponent, his speed and skill more than a match for a Loki who was trying not to hurt him.

He had no thoughts to spare for Luke, who was the target of Guy's assault. His student circled around and attempted to attack from the rear. Guy, however, was quick to disengage from Loki. It seemed that the blonde's single-minded focus was on Luke.

Loki didn't miss the out-of-focus look on Guy's face. The blonde's eyes were glazed over and distant, as if the present was but a dream. It was surely the curse slot's doing, but without a counter to the hex, there was nothing to be done save for attempt to incapacitate Guy.

An earthquake rocked the area. Tear identified the puppet master sending Guy after Luke, and Natalia fired an arrow into a nearby tree. With Sync the Tempest thus distracted, Guy collapsed to the ground. Loki sheathed his dagger and lifted Guy onto his back – but not before relieving the blonde of his sword. Luke took the weapon while Loki carried Guy into Grand Chokmah.

Learning that Guy would only have attacked Luke because of deep-seated hatred for the redhead did nothing to alleviate Loki's concern. Thus, with Guy ensconced in a room in Emperor Peony's palace and Ion working to undo the curse slot, Loki wanted to talk to Luke. The redhead was still in a precarious place and he needed strong foundations if he was to continue to make strides towards healing.

Luke, however, wasn't interested in company. Loki watched from afar, this time not cloaked in illusion, as the redhead wandered aimlessly. His expression flickered between anger, hurt, and sadness, sometimes all three at once.

At least it gave Loki the opportunity to appreciate Grand Chokmah's beauty. The Malkuth capital was a city of water situated on the sea. Aqueducts ferried water from place to place on the surface, filling the air with the sound of running water. The reflective surface captured the blues and silvers that dominated the city's decorations. Being so close to the sea, birds of all sorts fluttered overhead. Their songs combined with the water's sounds to create a unique melody.

The running water reminded Loki of something, though he couldn't be sure of what. As he stared at the man-made waterfalls cascading into the glittering ocean, the sense of familiarity was overwhelming. He wondered if Asgard, his home, was surrounded by rushing water and crashing falls. It was a peaceful location and reminded him of Baticul's harbor.

The sensation didn't fill him with happiness, though he did feel a pang of longing. Instead he felt displaced and ill at ease. Perhaps it was because, as familiar as this place was, it wasn't the home he couldn't remember. Instead of dwelling on it, as he'd decided not to before, he chose to focus on Luke.

After a while, Loki deemed that Luke had wallowed long enough. Before he could interrupt, however, Tear got there first, along with Mieu. Loki hung back and let Tear talk some sense into him.

As they made their way to the palace, the amnesiac walked next to his student. "You know," he said conversationally, "in all the time I've spent with Guy, I've never once heard him speak of hating you."

Luke looked up at him in disbelief. "Really?" he asked.

Loki shook his head. "He's been frustrated with you, certainly. More than once he's wished he could knock some sense into you – a sentiment I must confess to sharing sometimes. However, he has never spoken of the hate that would drive him to kill you."

"Then why would he attack me?" Luke asked, some of his depressed mood returning.

Loki took a measured breath. "It is as Ion said. Perhaps, in the past, Guy hated you fiercely. That has no bearing on how he feels towards you now. In all I've heard from him, he only ever had your best interests at heart."

Luke suddenly looked thoughtful. "Maybe it's actually Asch he hates," he guessed. "Something Asch did before I was born made Guy hate him, but all this time Guy thought it was me."

That observation impressed Loki. It showed him that Luke was dedicated to thinking for himself. "That is also a viable possibility," he allowed. "Guy has served your family since before your birth, has he not?"

Luke nodded. "He helped me a lot when I was learning." The redhead cast his eyes downwards. "But there was so much he didn't teach me. Mother was always worried about pushing me too hard and setting me back." He started then. "Mother doesn't know!" she blurted. "She doesn't know that I'm a replica and Asch is really her son!"

"Would you tell her in a letter, then?" Loki asked. "Or will you wait until she can hear it from you?"

That made Luke pause. While the redhead thought it over, they reached the castle. There, a Malkuth soldier directed them to the room they would be sharing for the night. Loki asked to be shown to the library and spent the time until sundown there. Hopefully, the solitude he was granting Luke would give the younger man a chance to sort his own thoughts.

He returned to the room to find Luke was already asleep. He settled into a chair between the beds and cracked open the book. After many false starts, Loki was determined to learn what he could of fonic artes. It would increase his efficiency in battle and give them that much more of a chance to succeed.

In the middle of practicing opening his fon slots, the channels in the body's energy that regulated the flow of fonons, a whimper from Luke's bed caught his attention. Loki glanced away from the book just as the redhead shot upright. His forehead was beaded in sweat and he was breathing heavily.

"Are you all right?" Loki asked. He tried to keep his voice suitably concerned but neutral at the same time. If Luke didn't want to talk about the nightmare, he wouldn't force the issue.

It took a second for Luke's eyes to clear. "I'm fine," he rasped before he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "It was just a bad dream."

Pretending not to notice the tears Luke wiped from his eyes, Loki marked his place and closed his book. "I can't admit to having them," he admitted. "The one time I slept, all I dreamt about was a field of alien stars."

Luke's eyes went distant. "I dreamt that Mother and Father threw me out," he said softly. "I'm not their real son, so when they learned I was a fake, they tossed me aside. Asch smirked while I was cast out of the gates."

Loki sighed. "All this talk of you not being real is becoming tiresome," he scolded Luke.

The redhead started, his face twisting in anger and his mouth opening to protest.

The amnesiac raised a hand to stop him. "You were born with a body of a child," Loki said simply. "Yes, you resemble Asch. That doesn't negate that you are a living human who was raised by a duke and a duchess." A flash of inspiration struck, and he stood. "Come with me."

Luke let himself be led to the window, where the moon was reaching its peak in the sky. Silver reflected from the glistening water, casting Grand Chokmah in an ethereal glow. It was beautiful.

"In ancient times, before Yulia's Score, humans once believed that the Sun and the Moon were the same," Loki recalled. "They thought that the Moon was the Sun while it rested, the same as they rested at night. When they observed both in the sky at the same time, they realized they were two different heavenly bodies."

"What does that have to do with me?" Luke asked.

"After that, they believed the Moon to be a copy of the Sun," Loki replied. "However, they held both bodies in high regard. It didn't matter to them that the Moon was a paler version of the brilliant Sun. The Moon, in some regards, was even better than its original."

"You can't grow crops with moonlight," Luke protested. "All the moon does is glow."

"The moon's glow comes from the sun, reflected around the curve of the world." Loki nodded at the pale circle above them. "So, in a sense, your ancient kin were right. However, while the sun blinds even as it provides life, the moon can be gazed upon and appreciated. To travelers, the moon provides enough light to make it safer on the road."

Luke scowled. "Give it a few days. The moon will fade and leave only darkness."

"And that, my student, provides another way the moon overshadows the sun," Loki answered. "Without the phases of the moon, it would have taken much longer for humans to develop a calendar. Many methods of timekeeping reference the moon." He squeezed Luke's shoulder reassuringly. "And, when the moon returns after nights of darkness, people rejoice even now."

"I don't understand," Luke whispered. "How could they be happy if they thought the moon was just a copy of the sun?"

Loki urged his charge to look at him. "Because they appreciate the moon for what it is, not what it could be," he said when those green orbs met his. "Your parents won't care that you are a copy of Asch," he continued with surety. "You are the one they raised for the last seven years. While you were intended to replace Asch, that doesn't make you only his shadow." He looked up to the moon, not caring if Luke mirrored him. "After all, the shadows are as strong as the lights that cast them."

Luke's mouth worked but no sound came out.

"Ever since you accepted the truth, you've felt inferior because you feel like a copy. You've felt like you're not really wanted, that you were brought to life to serve as a replacement. You have yet to realize your own true worth."

Tears filled Luke's eyes and he nodded.

Loki sighed. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "Even knowing the truth, knowing that you are mentally only seven years old, I still treated you as if you were truly seventeen. No child should ever endure what you've been forced to. By all rights, were your body seven as well, you would be at home under your mother's wing, so your mind would have time to heal."

Luke's tears fell and he sniffled. "I don't know what to do," he said miserably. "Everyone still treats me like I'm older, but I've always felt like I lagged behind."

"You are stronger than anyone I've met." Loki looked at Luke with admiration, then patted the teen's back consolingly. "Any normal seven-year-old would have cried for hours by now."

Luke looked at Loki questioningly. "I was told that boys aren't supposed to cry."

Loki shook his head. "That's rubbish. Crying is a form of healing as well."

Given permission, Luke's face scrunched up as the tears fell. He pressed his face into Loki's shoulder. Sobs wracked his body and his breaths came out as choked gasps.

Loki led him to the bed and held him. He imagined Luke's mother would do the same if she was there. He let himself be used as a snot rag as long as Luke needed. By the end of it, Luke settled into a fitful sleep with his head resting in Loki's lap.

Despite Luke's physical age, he was just a child taking comfort from a trusted person after a traumatic event. Loki ran a few fingers through tear-soaked strands, his own emotions twisted in his throat. He wondered if anyone ever did this for him as a child.

For this night, Luke had permission to be the child he truly was. In the morning, the shadows would recede and the redhead would again be forced to act as if he were the teenager he appeared to be.

Loki could only hope that this one night was enough for Luke to begin healing.


This final scene came about as I was thinking about this story while getting ready to sleep. I realized, just as Loki did, that despite everyone knowing that Luke is only seven, they didn't do anything to accommodate him in that respect. Luke, in short, wasn't given the opportunity to react like the child he truly was. Part of that, I think, contributed to Luke's behavior at the end of the game.

Also, Luke and Loki are developing the brotherly bond that Loki and Thor never shared. That made me happy when I realized it. The story Loki tells Luke was inspired by that same late-night plotting session - how could Loki assure Luke of his value as an individual and not as a replica? Hopefully, as the story goes on, Luke will stop thinking of himself only as a copy.

Thank you for reading. Please leave a review!