Shattered Mirror
Chapter 14. Asch's Pains III
Sorry this took so long time but now the chapter is pretty long! Even though it was pain to write it, I love this chapter! Dunno why.
Kairi162: You cosplay Luke!? Aww man, I always have wanted cosplay someone... And yes, looks like that Ion's slap wasn't enough. Maybe an extra slap would be good... -thinks-
Dreamstar13: -sends the witches away- Yeah, it would be awesome... Stupid Asch... And I had to put some angst because this isn't a humor fic. -gets weird glares- What, this isn't! And Emo-Luke is the best Emo!
Accident Prone: -eats shiny rainbow fish.Yeah torturing Asch is fun but Luke's torturing is even funnier! I don't know why, but when I see new pairing, I sometimes pick either one which I love to see in danger or something like that... The ukes are 'victims' almost every time. (Like in Kruan paring, I like torturing Yuan. You read 'Child's mind' where all 'bad' things happened to Yuan so you get the picture...) And because LukeAsch pairing gives me mental damages and a massive nosebleed, I torture Luke. Get it? I know that I should get help but, whatever.
CrystalizePen: Well, Asch didn't let Luke carry him because he has his pride. And try to imagine that. The great Asch the Bloody gets a piggyback from his replica who he hates (?). Plus Arietta was there and gods know what she would have told to Van. And of course Asch won't die! Well, maybe... Uhh... See ya! -runs away-
I do not own Tales of the Abyss
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"Let me do it."
Luke
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"Mommy, is something wrong?" Arietta asked worriedly. The Liger Queen was snarling, sounding angry and swinging its tail restlessly. Its gaze was at the bushes which covered the view.
"Huh? Seriously?" Arietta started to move the bushes, looking at the Liger Queen.
"What is it?" Asch asked, trying to hide how much he was in pains. Luke was walking behind of them and he hasn't said a word to the other redheaded teen which made Asch wonder was it something what he said. Arietta didn't answer to his question and kept moving the bushes in front of them until the view was clear.
"Wow!" Was all what Luke could say.
"Looks like we made it." Arietta whispered. In front of them was a huge glade and middle of it was a huge tree. A couple of child cheagles were playing in front of the tree but when they noticed the Liger Queen, they ran in the tree, screaming something in horror.
"It might be best that the beast won't come with us or those things won't let us even touch that ring..." Luke said, smirking.
"B-But mommy wouldn't hurt even a fly!" Arietta defensed the Liger Queen.
"Yeah, yeah, we know that but those don't." Luke rolled his eyes, pointing the tree.
"But if we let mommy come with us then they might not be afraid..."
"JUST LET THAT THING BE HERE!" Asch yelled top of his lungs, regretting it almost immediately. He started to cough furiously. But those two were always fighting and his body was like in flames. He almost regretted that other thing too... But only almost.
"B-But..." Arietta shuttered but one look in Asch's eyes was enough to her to shut her mouth.
"Okay... Mommy, you stay here, okay?" Arietta sighed with an apologizing tone. The Queen sat on the ground and swung still its huge tail.
"So... What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Luke said with a cheerful tone which Asch knew was a fake. But the pains were greater and he forgot that.
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"It's kinda humid here, isn't it?" Luke asked when they had gone to inside the tree.
"Shh... I hear something!" Arietta whispered quietly. They all listened closely and soon they noticed a croup of Cheagles on the ground, watching them.
"Who... is... the elder?" Asch asked. But the Cheagles didn't answer to him. They whispered each other with their own language.
"I am." A small voice said. A old Cheagle came closer and in his hands were the Sorcerer's Ring.
"Is that the..." Luke asked, pointing the Ring.
"So this is the reason why you humans came. And that Liger too." The elder laughed. But his laugh died soon as his grip
tightened around the Sorcerer's ring.
"Why do you want this ring? Because its ability to heal every illness?" The elder asked.
"Umm... Actually, we don't know." Arietta said. It was true after all. Van had just said that they must get the Ring and that's it.
"So you're only the errand boys. But that red headed boy needs it too? I assume that it was a purple witch? I haven't seen them since I was a child... It killed my friend..." The elder muttered sadly.
"But didn't it heal every illness? Even the purple witches poison?" Luke asked confusedly but the elder shook his head.
"Yes. It heals humans illnesses. It works differently with the Cheagles. Like now, I can speak human language, thanks the ring. But humans can't speak monsters language even if they have the ring." The elder explained.
"So... Can we have it?" Luke asked. Arietta and Asch gave him a warning glare. He shouldn't speak so straight.
"Yes and no." The elder answered. All three turned to look at the elder, a wondering look in their faces.
"You can have it but you must do something in return."
"Like what?" Arietta asked, wondering.
"There has been a monster who had stolen almost all the food from us. If it keeps on stealing, we must go to the nearest village and steal food from humans and we don't want to do it so the only thing is to get rid of that beast. But we Cheagles aren't powerful and we wouldn't have a chance to win the monster. So we need some powerful creature like a.... Human."
"So you want us to kill that monster?" Luke confirmed as the elder nodded. "Sounds good to me." He continued.
"But who will fight? Asch can't fight so it must be you or me." Arietta pointed out.
"Arietta... do it... Dreck is too weak..." Asch said with all power he had. Arietta sighed, nodding. Luke sighed too, little sadly because of Asch's words. But he wanted to go away from these things. Damn their voices were annoying! And he wanted to make sure that Asch will be cured.
...But why?
Asch had tried to kill him He had never called him as 'Luke'. Only an idiot, moron, stupid and Asch's own personal favorite, the dreck. He had always said to him that he's the most useless, miserable thing on earth. A failure.
But...
Asch had been worried about him. He had apologized him and had realized his mistakes.
But would that be enough?
Asch still didn't respect him. Even if he would do everything, Asch'd see him only as a weak, stupid dreck who can't do anything expect be on a way. Even if Luke would fight with the most powerful monster in the world, Asch would see him as a weak failure.
... The most powerful monster?
"Let me do it!" Luke said which made Asch, Arietta and the elder to look at him, doubtful look in their eyes.
"What? I can do it. And after all, I am an useless and miserable replica so it's better than a mighty girl who can speak with monsters!" Luke said with a sarcasm tone. And before Asch or Arietta could say anything, Luke turned around to leave the tree.
"...Wait!" The elder shouted. He said something with the Cheagles language and one of them came closer.
"This one's name is Mieu. He'll come with you too make sure that you'll fight fair and just in case that you all will die so he can tell it to us. He is still a child but if you'll win, he'll give the ring to you." The elder said, giving the Sorcerer's Ring to Mieu.
"My name is Mieu! Nice to meet you!" The kid Cheagle said immediately. Luke grabbed Mieu's ears and lifted it in the same level as Luke's face, to study it closer.
"This thing annoys me..." He said finally, dropping the Cheagle on the ground.
"No one cares what you think about it! Let's just go and kill that thing so we get that ring!" Asch snapped. "You!" He pointed at Mieu. "Show the way to that monster!" He ordered.
"Yes sir!" Mieu said and leaded the way out of the tree, leaving his family and friends behind.
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So, after an half hour of walking (Plus convince to Mieu that the Liger Queen won't eat him) they made it in the Monster's territory. The place was next to a long and deep gorge and the trees were all ripped. A small cave lied in front of them.
"It sleeps there." Mieu pointed the cave.
"So... We wait here until it wakes up or will we wake it up ourselves?" Luke asked.
"We should wait. Monsters are twice more aggressive when somebody wakes them up." Arietta said. "Well... Of course if you want to get killed then we can woke it up!" She added with an evil tone.
"No thank you. I care about my life." Luke answered. "Which you have stolen from Asch..." He added in his mind. Damn, since his conscience has started to mess his life?!
"So we wait, master?" Mieu asked.
"Yeah yeah." Luke rolled his eyes. They sat on the ground, not noticing Asch's condition. Asch was still standing, looking extremely pale.
"What do you say Asch?" Arietta asked, turning around.
"W-Whatever..." Asch said, before fainting and hitting the ground.
"Asch!" Arietta and Luke shouted in unison and rushed to him. Asch was breathing aloud, sounding painful. Arietta put her hand on Asch's forehead and gasped.
"He has fever! All that walking wasn't good... He doesn't have much time left..." She muttered.
"B-But you said something about three day!"
"He has only one day left..." Arietta muttered. "So you must win that monster quickly or you're responsible of his death!" She continued.
"Hey, it's not my fault that some stupid spider bit him!" Luke snapped, ready to start a battle.
"But you're so weak that you die or the battle continues, gods know how long and then Asch is dead!"
"Umm... M-Master..." Suddenly, Mieu tried to get attention.
"Shut up! You haven't seen me in a battle so you don't know!" Luke continued fighting with Arietta.
"Well, you lost to mommy so you are weak!"
"Your 'mommy' is a-"
"Master watch out!"
"Huh?"
A huge tail came from nowhere and almost hit Luke and Arietta but they dodged it just in time. Luke went back to get Asch from the danger and gave him to Arietta.
"Here. You guys go somewhere shelter. I take care of it." Luke ordered, taking his sword which Asch had lend to him before the mission. Luke turned around to face the monster.
"It's a... Liger?" Luke said confusedly. But it wasn't an ordinary liger. The liger in front of Luke was twice huger than the Liger Queen! And its tail was three times longer than the Liger Queen's!
"What the hell is that!" Luke yelled, avoiding the liger's attack.
"It's a liger who has expelled from its pack! Though I haven't seen so huge liger since now!" Arietta shouted from the shelter.
"Gee, thank you!" Luke shouted ironically, avoiding the liger's moves.
"Fang Blade!" Luke shouted, swinging his sword to hit the liger. But the liger just kept attacking and then finally, its tail hitted Luke's stomach.
"Gah!" All air escaped from Luke's lungs as he fell on the ground.
"Master!" Mieu shouted from the shelter.
Soon, Luke stood up, starting to charge to the liger. He jumped next to the liger and raised his sword to slice but the liger rammed Luke with its head away which caused Luke to lose his balance and losing his sword. The sword flied behind the liger who jumped on its hind legs, using is front legs to slice Luke into a two piece. Luke avoided it little too late and the liger's nails hitted in his shoulder. Not caring the pain, he tried to rush to his sword but the liger was in way. The liger used its head to ram and sending Luke into air. Luke hitted on the wall of the cave which made him gasp in pain.
"Don't lose your consciousness!" Arietta warned. She, the Liger Queen and Mieu were watching the battle behind the bushes, hoping that the liger wouldn't smell them.
"What the hell are those voices...? Are you and the dreck fighting again...?" A weak and annoyed voice came behind Arietta.
"Asch?" Arietta asked, turning around. Asch was still pale and his breathing sounded painful but he tried to stood up, using all his power.
"How many times I must say this to you, don't move." Arietta snarled annoyingly, preventing Asch to move.
"Yeah, yeah whatever.... Wait a sec, where's the dreck?" Asch asked, his eyes widening as big as they can when Arietta pointed the liger and Luke.
"He's fighting and losing." She said. Not caring the warnings which Arietta gave, Asch stood up and shouted top of his lungs, sounding really angry.
"YOU STUPID DRECK! You're the most weak and miserable creature in the world! If you lose and to something like that, I'll follow you to the hell and kick your stupid ass! Did you hear that!? If I am going to die because of you and you'll survive, I'll haunt you to rest of your life, making your life so miserable so you'll regret it the rest of your life!!" Asch yelled but ended coughing blood. It looked like the dreck was in shock.
"Asch don't! Or the liger will-" Arietta started but it was already too late. The liger was walking to them slowly.
"Don't even think about it!" Luke shouted behind the liger. He rushed to his sword quickly and soon he was standing between the liger and the others. When the liger understood that its old toy was still alive, it tried to push Luke away but this time, it didn't work.
Luke dodged it, slicing liger's rib. The liger screamed furiously, starting to chase Luke. Luke ran away from Asch and Arietta, luring the liger coming farther from them. When the liger was closer, he raised his sword to hit the liger. But the liger in a rage isn't easy opponent and it went to its hinder legs and used front legs to lean the sword with all of its weight. Luke started to panic, noticing that the sword was starting to crack into pieces.
He was going to die.
Luke wondered what would happen to Asch and Arietta. The Liger Queen'd probably fight but this beast was bigger than it. And if Arietta'd die then Asch wouldn't stood a chance.
Asch...
Luke didn't wanted Asch to die! Asch... He was a great person! Not to Luke but... Luke knew that deep inside, he was kind. It wasn't Asch's fault that Luke had stolen his life! This all was Luke's fault and he knew it. And Luke didn't want to be responsibly of Asch death after all what Luke had done to him! It wasn't Asch's fault that he yelled to Luke everyday. Asch must suffer to see him every time. Luke reminds him of Asch's family, friends and his home. He had lost everything to a failure. That's why Luke was so weak and miserable creation.
This all was his fault.
So that's why... He must protect Asch. Even if it cost Luke's own life. After all it even wasn't his. Asch can't die because...
Because Luke loves him so much.
A lights where gathering around Luke and the liger. The liger noticed the danger but it was too late. A couple of light hitted its stomach and the liger tried to escape.
But again, it was too late.
"You're finished!" Luke shouted in the middle of the lights. He raised his sword and continued speaking.
"Arise, resound and become the blade of destruction!" He shouted, swinging his sword quickly as the lights kept rising in the sky.
"Lost Fon Drive!" The lights hitted the liger as it screamed painfully. And then finally, the liger fell on the ground.
"...Wow." Arietta stood behind the bushes, speechless. Asch otherwise, started to walk to Luke, trying not to lose his balance.
"So you're happy now? After risking our lives you finally won that thing! Seriously dreck! If I would have battle with that thing, I'd have killed it with a one hit!" He said quietly.
"But I won it!" Luke said happily, blushing greatly after looking at Asch. Which made Asch wonder why.
"Quickly! Give that Ring to Asch!" Luke said suddenly. Mieu took the ring around his stomach and walked to Asch, raising his hands where the Ring was.
"Here you go sir!" The young Cheagle said as Asch fell on his knees and reached the Ring.
Finally...
"Asch watch out!" Suddenly Arietta shouted. Both Luke and Asch turned around, looking confused. But all what they saw was a huge liger next the gorge. It growled in rage and charged toward Luke. Luke stood there in shock, glancing his sword which was lying on the ground couple meters away.
"Idiot, move!" Asch shouted pushing Luke away just before the liger strike Luke. But instead, its head struck Asch. which send them both flying over the gorge.
"ASCH!" Was all what Asch heard before fainting and falling into nothingness.
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Finally some romance! When I started to write this chapter, I didn't even think to write that Luke's confession bu it kinda came... And when I wrote that thing where Luke counted the nice things what Asch had done to him, I had to read the whole 'Shattered Mirror' to find some nice things! And then I realized that Asch had done only two or three nice things to Luke... Which makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with Luke, loving Asch even if he's a bastard to him. It feels like I'm not writing this anymore! It write itself!
So, will Asch die when he hit the bottom? Or will the purple witches poison kill him? OR will the liger eat him if they both survives from the fall? And before someone asks, Arietta didn't help Luke to beat the liger because Luke refused getting any help. And the reason why I used 'Lost Fon Drive' was because its incantation is waaayyy much better than 'Radiant howl's'. And I know that the battle scene sucks but this was like, my second time when I write something like that.
Hmm... What's that other thing what Asch regret almost... Find out in the next chapter!
R&R OR YOU MAKE JADE CRY!