An.: So... The update is pretty late and, well, I am sure some people thought I had forgotten the story. No, sorry, it is almost over. No way I would give up so near the end. My vacation has recently ended and Megs had disappeared by the time I sent her this chapter. I guess she even forgot I existed, seriously. So, I tried betaing it myself and she is ( hopefully ) working in the next chapter. Sorry about the long time delay.
Disclaimer : I do not own any of the Tales of nor the characters and much less the music I use here.
Struggle to survive
by the emerald eyed one and the mute chosen
What... What just happened? We just got here and suddenly everything happens in a flash!
" Emil. " I turn to my brother and he seems worried about me.
" I am fine. " I smile at him and he narrow his eyes slightly and start analyzing me. W- Why is he analyzing me? " Aster... What are you doing? " I keep staring strangely at him as he rounds me. H- Huh... I didn't change that much physically, did I?
" Okay, what happened while I was away? Before you would stutter even with me, but now you don't stutter even with strangers! " He put his left hand in his chin and hold his left elbow with his right hand. " Perhaps it's because I was taken away? " He mumble to himself, seemingly forgetting I am even in the room, and I sweat drop. He is still the same.
He looks me over once again and widen his eyes and grab my pendant, making me release a surprised sound. " Aster, don't do those things so suddenly! " My brother stays some minutes in silence and I start fidgeting, usually when I scold him like that, he at least glance at me. He always stay silent like this when he is formulating a hypothesis.
" ... Are you partnered with Ratatosk? " He ask hesitantly and I flinch. H- He is as sharp as always too. He look at my eyes and I end up looking away, making him release my pendant and nod in understanding. " I see. " This tone of his means he is still thinking about something.
...
" Hey, Emil. " I turn to him hesitantly and, when I turn to him fully, he pinches my nose and pulls it. When he does that, I widen my eyes in pain and hastily raise my hands to my nose.
" Aaauch! Aster! " I am clutching my nose, feeling it pulsating. It hurts! " Why did you do this?! " I ask confused and he chuckles, making me look rather annoyed to him. He shouldn't laugh at other people when they are in pain.
" It's my vengeance. You worry more about your partner than about your brother! I am hurt. " He put on of his hands on his hip and smile at me. I blush a little and stop clutching my nose.
" It's not like I wasn't worried about you... " I am feeling guilty now...
" I know Emil, I am just kidding. " He laughs out and I smile at him. I really missed him.
We both turn to our right when we hear a chuckling sound and see Richter trying to contain his laugh, covering his mouth.
" Hey, Richter! Finally letted your hair grow? I said you would look hot like that. " I widen my eyes and gape at my brother. I forgot he is this blunt! He turn to me and raise a brow " What? Did I grow another head? Humm... If I did I would need to conduct a study as to why it would happen. " He once again put his hand on his chin and he get a pensive face on. " Maybe it has something to do with my genetics- "
" You are still the same. " Richter breathes out amused and I sigh in defeat.
" Yeah... " Aster look at the both of us and tilt his head in confusion.
" Huh? " I sigh again after he states his confusion and look to the ground. I blink, surprised and curious, when I see a small piece of paper folded on the ground and kneel near where Zelos was standing. I pick up a piece of paper and, frowning, open it. I blink in utter surprise when I see what was in it and get up. This look like a-
" Emil, what is it? " I turn to Lloyd and the others, Yuri is furious and Shinna is still incredulous.
" I don't know, but it look like a kind of map. " I hand it to him and Milla take a look over his shoulder while he twist his face in complete confusion, I guess he is trying to understand what the map is about. Milla widen her eyes and put on a pensive face.
" Aster, take a look at this. Isn't it... " She speak, pointing at the map after staying in silence for a while, and my brother go and take a look too. I smile at Lloyd's face when he notice there are two people invading his personal space to look over his shoulder. What a funny face.
" Yes. It is. " He answer with such certainty I blink at them as Lloyd gives them the map to gain back his space. They know what that map is about?
" Is what? " Yuri question trying to calm down but his fingers are still twitching. He seems better now, not so pale anymore. I wonder if he was just having the same thing I had yesterday.
" It's a map of the entire lab. " Aster look at me with a lot of confidence in his eyes and I can feel a small hope begin to appear in me. " I think that, with this, I can pin point where Ratatosk is. " Really?!
" I knew Zelos was trustful! " Lloyd say proudly out of nowhere and all of us look strangely at him. From where did that come from?
" Lloyd, he betrayed us! " Shinna tells him exasperated and Lloyd shake his head, making our teacher glare at him a little.
" No. He left this map for us! " It... makes sense. I did find it where he was standing...
But if he didn't plan on betraying us, why did he take Collet hostage? Why didn't he tell us before? He can have just dropped it and not noticed before heading to the door. He did talk to Lloyd with a cold demeanor too...
" -will go and rescue Rata! " I blink and start paying attention again. What did I lose? And what is this ' X ' in the map?
" No. I will go with you. " Milla opposes to something and Aster shakes his head. I think I am missing something important here…
" You can't. If you do, we will lose not only one of our tacticians but our commandant too. Who will help Richter protect us? " Milla look to the ground and sigh.
" Very well. " She gives in and I blink. Now I am truly lost. " You convinced me. "
" Alright. Everyone ready? " Lloyd ask us and everyone agrees, even I though I was hesitant. I still don't know what they are talking about. " Okay, let's g- "
" Ano ne, kimi ga moshimo kanashinde ita nara " I almost jump in surprise and start looking for my phone. I smile apologetically to everyone and they simply smile. " Issho ni naite ageru kara " I pick up the phone and don't even have the time to answer.
" Emil, is this really your number? " I see Lloyd, Yuri and Shinna already heading to the door and I almost stare at my phone dumbstruck.
" ... Mom? How did you get this phone? " I deadpan and she laughs.
" That friend of yours, Marta, told me. " Oh, now it makes sense.
-Boom- I jump startled and look at the door. D- Did they just explode it?!
" Emil! C'mon! Let's go! " Lloyd shout to me and I nod, still shocked they exploded the door. I look at my brother and he blinks in surprise when I throw my cellphone at him.
" Tell mom I will be alright. " I start running to the others and I laugh when my brother shouts at me.
" She said she want to meet your partner when you save him! " I turn to him before going after the others, beyond the door, nodding and smiling.
" Okay! "
~| Pov change |~
I fall on the floor and take a sharp intake of breath, feeling my shoulder almost being dislodged is not a good feeling. I wonder how Senel put up with the pain when his shoulder was dislodged when he came by the infirmary.
" Make sure he won't manage to escape. " I hear Alexei's voice and I look at the door, seeing him give the door key to Emilio.
" Yes sir. " He hesitates but takes the key. With a smug smile, Alexei leaves and I sit up, staring at Emilio. I will have to pass by him before going to save Ratatosk? I will most likely die before managing to do that. I hold back a sigh and start preparing myself mentally. I do have healing powers, it will be an even match.
He looks at me and cross his arms. " So Rutee did teach you how to steal. " I put my lips in a thin line and automatically put my hand on the pocket of my shorts, where I managed to hide the chokers after I pickpocket them from Alexei.. " I need to tell her to don't teach kids this kind of stuff. " He shakes his head, probably exasperated, and start coming towards me. I let my wings out and get ready to run, but he stop and raise a brow. " You don't want my help? " I blink in utter surprise and he get a red line above his nose bridge and look away. He mumble something about stupid hayseed and turn away, heading to the door.
I get up and start floating after him, smiling. After we get out, he closes the door and locks it. " Now you need to find Rata, right? " I blink again and nod, he look at me and smile a little. " Zelos forgot I was behind you, didn't he? " I sweat drop and sigh. I keep forgetting Emilio's hearing is as good as my angelic hearing.
' Most likely. ' I shake my head and he turn to the left.
" I scouted Rata's body to the place he is now. Come. " He start heading down a flight of stairs and I float after him.
This is being easier than I thought it would be.
~| Pov change |~
" No, it's this way! " I shake my head in defeat and start going to the way that the map is saying for us to go, after Yuri. Lloyd have been arguing about which direction we should be taking even though we have the map of the lab.
" Lloyd, the map says it is to this side. " Shinna points out and Lloyd look at her in surprise, as if he had forgotten the map.
" Really? " Shinna nods and they come after us. None of us saw long red hair appearing briefly at the turn Lloyd had just pointed.
I hope Rata isn't too far from us.
" Halt! " We turn to another group of guards. It's the third group already! And we did not even get that far from the headquarters!
" Let's get this over with! " Yuri say irritated. We all take our weapons out and prepare for the battle.
~| Pov change |~
" It's right there. Go, I will catch up with you later. " I hesitate but nod and start flying to the door where Ratatosk is, leaving Emilio to fight some guards for himself. He will be okay; I would only get in his way.
I get to the door and fail at opening it. It's an automatic door then. I wait some seconds and it opens, making me smile. Collet managed to take over the control room. Okay, then. One of us already have completed it's task, now only Zelos and I have to do the rest as she takes cares of aiding us from there.
I wonder how she got so good with using computers. I guess she just tripped and hit it, making the computer work on it's own. It wouldn't be the first time. I enter and the door closes behind me.
Looking around I only see computers and lots of wires, here is such a mess too. I start floating over the threads and, after passing a machine, I see Ratatosk lying on an iron table with his bonding accessory above one of the computers. He is with so many sensors and wires on him it's creepy.
I fly to the computer and take his necklace; I glance at the monitor and almost drop it. This is...! I start reversing the program and, luckily, I got here before it was beyond repair. I do not think Yuri and the others would like to have their friend back but with amnesia. When I see the program start doing the opposite it was programmed to do I breathe more easily and float to Ratatosk.
I put his necklace around his neck and float back at the computer. There has to be a way to wake him again. I start looking through programs to see if I find how to bring him back to life. After some minutes, I hear a sudden crash behind me. I tense up in slight fear and turn around, ready to try to protect Ratatosk, but I blink in surprise and confusion when I see him on the ground, trying to get up. All the wires and sensors have come out on the fall.
I float next to him and crouch near him. I wonder if he is hurt… He look up at me and I feel a shiver going down my spine. I don't remember his eyes being so... Lifeless. They are really empty and cold. Why?
" Who are you? " He ask almost robotically and I wince internally. I get up and he follows me. I float to the computer and start typing in it, answering his question.
" Flynn. Where am I? " He is still looking at me, with not a shine of life back to his eyes and his tone as cold as snow, and I frown. I type again the answer and he stay silent. Not a silence of ' I am thinking ' is a silence of nothingness. It is unnerving.
I start looking at the program that was taking away his memory and see it has completely restored it. Why doesn't he remember where he is then?
" Protos, did you find him? " I hear Emilio asking and I turn to where the door is. I take Ratatosk's hand and pick him up. He just look at me, making me hold back a shiver from the emptiness of his stare, and I fly to the door. When I pass the door and find Emilio, I let Ratatosk down and the older one nods. " Good. "
" Wait! " I see Emilio wincing and I don't even need to see why, the sound of heavy footsteps was a dead giveaway. More guards.
" Damn, I thought I had lost them. " He took out Chaltier and his dagger as he enter in front of me and Ratatosk. " Run. I will kill them this time. " He warn us and I see he is hurt, on his right upper arm. I hold back his arm and before he can protest, I heal it. " ... " I smile at him and turn to Ratatosk. He is still staring at me with his empty look. I take his hand and start running again.
Emilio, don't lose.
~| Some minutes later... Pov change |~
" We are near the place! " Shinna warn us and I can feel my pulse quickening. We are nearer Rata! I look at my necklace and see the wing floating to the way we are going. Why did it stop floating around restlessly? I can't stop the wide smile from forming on my face and I suddenly feel giddy. I wonder if I still am sick, it would be bad and Mithos and Genius would scold me later...
" Waaaggh! " We all see a raven man killing the last guard of one of the groups and many others bodies already on the ground. I wince at the sight of blood, but it's not like I never saw it before, but there is a lot. It's unnerving.
I take another glance at the guy and I frown. Isn't that guy the one who was helping that other guy who had Flynn hostage? I take a glance at the three that are besides me and I see Yuri charging at the guy. W- What?!
Yuri jump and dive with his sword aiming at the other's chest, but the other one blocks his attack and throw him away from him.
" What did you do to Flynn?! " Yuri almost growls and the other one narrow his eyes. I tremble in fear at his glare and hold my sword tightly. He is strong, I just know it.
" Nothing. " He answers and Lloyd and Shinna enter the battle too. I shake my head and go help them.
Why did they charge in before even talking to the guy?
~| Pov change |~
I put Ratatosk behind me and start backing away. Out of all the things that could have happened, it had to be this one.
" Did Lion betray me? " Alexei hisses and I look around to see another exit besides the hall we just came from. I spot it and scowl slightly. No use trying to escape by the other one, the other exit is the door after Alexei, the one he appeared from. " I know you took the chokers away. Return it. " I glare at him and back away more. Is he insane? Why would I do such a thing? " If you give them back, I will let you pass. " He step aside and open a path that fits me and Ratatosk through. I bit my lip and let go of Ratatosk's hand.
I start floating toward Alexei and he smirks and opens his hand to receive the chokers. I stop mere inches away from him and look to the ground. He lower his hand and is seemingly irritated by my delay of giving him what he wants. " So? "
I look at him with the most serious expression I could muster and he seem a little taken by surprise. ' I refuse! ' I let my feet touch the floor and a white circle, with me in the middle, appear and he is inside the range.
" What?! " He look at it confused and I pour my energy into it, making it glow white and some details inside it glow light blue. He starts screaming in pain and I release a sigh of relief. It feels as if it was recovering my strength. I came up with this use of our light after Zelos showed how we could use it. Now I can heal more people at the same time, using it wide range, and it seems I can hurt some of them too. Better be careful...
When he falls groaning on the floor, I fly back to Ratatosk and take his hand again, not even giving Alexei another glance. Ignoring Ratatosk's slightly confused look, I smile and turn back to the door we came from.
We start running back when I heard Alexei start to get up again along with an angry shout coming from him. I start running as fast as I could and tug Ratatosk with me. I am glad he can run as much as me since he is managing to stay by my side while I run, or should I say fly, with my full speed now.
" Is he okay? " Ratatosk asks me and I know he is looking at Alexei and I shake my head, trying to pay attention only in the running away part now.
' I, sadly, hope not. ' I know it is against the principles of medics to not tend a patient, but... I cannot heal Alexei. It would mean our defeat now and, maybe, our deaths.
" You will not escape! " I hear the Commandant screaming to us and I pull Rata more firmly and start trying to fly faster.
~| Pov change |~
" What a waste of time. " The raven one says after he defeated us. He is really strong...
" Damn... " I hear Lloyd muttering and Shinna nods in agreement. I would too if I wasn't this tired.
" Now, the final blow. " The guy start heading in our way and Yuri try to stand up again, but he fail and stab his sword on the floor to don't fall again on the ground. The other guy raises his sword at him and I widen my eyes. Oh no! We have to do something! I take a glance at Lloyd and Shinna and see they had the same thought I just had.
Wincing from the pain, I do my best to get up and to keep my gaze on the strange guy. I freeze when I see him bringing his sword down on Yuri. No-!
" Stop, Lion! " A voice say a little desperate and the other guy, Lion, stops his sword just some inches away from Yuri's head, look at who said it and put his sword back on it's sheath.
... Huh?
" What do you need, Niren? " Lion inquires and Yuri widens his eyes, seemingly incredulous.
" ... Niren? " Yuri ask aloud, slowly as if trying to make sure he heard right, and turn around. We all do what he did son after and see a middle-aged man there. H- He is tall!
" Lowell? Yuri Lowell? " Niren ask in utter surprise and let out a... joyous laugh? " I didn't thought we would meet again like this! " He spoke as if they were old friends and I see Lloyd groaning in relief as he relaxes his body again and I see Shinna relaxing slightly as well. Good to know they also don't feel this guy is a treat.
" Me neither... " Yuri mumbles. I wonder if they are old friends after all.
" What do you need? " Lion almost hisses and Niren blink, making his happy expression disappear and be replaced by one that clearly said something was wrong. Really wrong.
" We need to go after Protos II. He met up with Alexei. " Niren says dead serious and I hear Lion mumbling a ' Shit! '. Niren turn to us and question in all his seriousness. " You wouldn't mind accompanying us, would you? " He ask us but his tone shows that he won't take a no for an answer.
" Sure. " Shinna answer, hesitantly, for us and he smile at us. I do my best to get up and then remember Yuan's gift. I reach into my pocket and take it out. He did give it for us to use it when needed, right? When I open it, I smile at the amount of gels there was. Thanking him silently, I grab one and eat it hastily, what made my wounds heal easily. I know the best way to treat injuries is passing the gel on them, but eating them works faster.
I get up and see the others imitating me and, after all of us get up; we go running with Niren and Lion to where this Protos II and the guy who took the chosens are.
~| Pov change |~
I turn around and pass through a door we passed when trying to go back to the resistance headquarters. I look around and see some boxes against a wall. I push Ratatosk there and make him sit between them, hiding him, and fly back just when Alexei burst the door open. I see Ratatosk trying to come to me but I shake my head and point for him to sit again, and I am relieved when he does sit and look at me intrigued.
I turn to Alexei when he enters and he points his sword at me. " Where is Ratatosk? " He is really angry. Still easier to beat than Emilio though, I know that from experience.
' I made him escape. I can hold you back for enough time for him to find the others. ' I mouth with my eyes narrowed and he snorts.
" Do you really believe you can hold me back? " I remain unflinching even from his irate tone. I will stand my ground here. I will not allow him to hurt Ratatosk any further! " Very well. " When he is going to start charging at me, I hear a shout behind us, making both of us halt.
" Flynn! " I do not even need to turn around to know who called me. But there are... Six people, counting him, coming here. ... No, it's seven. I take advantage of Alexei's distraction and start channeling more energy to attack him.
" Don't run! " I widen my eyes when I hear this phrase being said with a warning tone in it and a blast of light hits my left shoulder from the direction Alexei is. I almost fall to the floor but I manage to recover my balance just before hitting it and hastily start floating again. That was...
" Zelos! " Oh, so one of the others that are with Yuri is that brunet. I clutch my wound and wince slightly while I see Zelos appear besides the Commandant, he is with that same smug smirk, but it is smugger. So, this is it.
" I will go look for Ratatosk. Take care of the enemies. " Alexei orders him and his eyes narrow slightly. I am getting anxious... If this doesn't work...
" Take care how? " Zelos ask with such an interest that it almost send a shiver down my spine.
" Kill them. "