Crimson Rain

by The God Slayer

Decades after the planet has finally known peace, through great sacrifice and struggle, something ancient and sinister stirs beneath the surface. A mad man rises with power the world thought was extinct and declares war on the planet, igniting a turn in history millenniums in the making.

21. This Is How A Heart Breaks

Author Commentary: Cambyses gets caught in his own game.

This Is How A Heart Breaks
(Story of a Girl)

Alexander had watched her sleep after they finished making love for the second time that morning, content just to see the peace on her expression. She was curled up against his side, blanket draped across her—she had gotten cold all of the sudden—with her normally tousled hair turned into complete bed hair from their escapades. He tittered and carefully removed his arm from under her head. She mumbled and rolled over, exposing her back to him.

He grimaced at the sight.

Her back was marred heavily with lash marks, tearing smooth skin into red scars that hadn't healed right. They went from the edges of her shoulders almost all the way down her back. He looked away for a moment, tears in his eyes. Not even when he heard from the tales from her did he believe someone could hurt another like that, let alone for someone to survive it.

The worst part about seeing them was that he couldn't take her pain away, not physically and not emotionally. He reached out to softly brush his fingers against the smoother part of her skin and then up one of the scars. She twitched to the touch but remained asleep. "I'm sorry," he whispered. He leaned down, kissed the bump of her shoulder and then crawled out of bed to start her a warm bath—hoping, for a moment, that maybe he could join her. What am I thinking...if I joined her, we wouldn't get out of the basin room. He chuckled at that and then finished the basin in time to walk in on Emma waking.

She was sitting up, rubbing at her eyes and yawning. He hurried to her side to nuzzle her neck with kisses. "Morning, sweet Emma." she giggled and shooed him away, failing when she dropped to her back and he continued on, wet kisses moving further and further down.

"Alex, Alex...stop, stop!" her giggles turned contagious and he laughed as he trailed his lips and tongue down to her chest. She gasped and tried to hold his head away. "Please Alex...someone could w-w-walk in."

"Let them," he growled, tenderly kissing the sides of her breasts. She held him away.

"Please?"

He looked up into her eyes with a grumble. "Alright...I will stop for now." he went for his clothes scattered across the floor. "In the mean time, I brought up a bath for you."

She smiled and tried to say something, but someone knocked on the door, just as Alex pulled his shirt on. He ruffled his hair around, to try and make it look neater, and then said, "Who is it?"

"Open the damn door," Cambyses growled.

"Don't let him in!" she gasped and wrapped herself thickly in the blankets. "Tell him to go away!"

"Let me in, I need to speak with my sister." Alex shrugged and opened the door, trying to behave as Emma wanted of him but instead earned her gasp. The king shoved the door open all the way and charged into the room. Emma brought up the sheets more, blushing fiercely, but her brother didn't seem to notice the clues at all. "Did Alexander tell you? We need to discuss some of the rules before you head off this week. They are important, so you need to listen to them carefully."

"I—"

"And you will need to learn, at some time, to control your transformations. I will consult with mother to set a date later."

"Camb—"

"Why are you still in bed?" he suddenly asked, brows furrowing in suspicion.

Alex growled. "Let your sister speak." the king looked at her expectingly.

"Um...c-c-can't this wait until I'm...until later?"

"Later? No, it can't." He revealed a piece of paper from his pocket. "This contains all of the..." he stopped, noticing how unnaturally still she was, how she was flushed, and what's more...the clothes beside the bed. "...are you naked?"

She stammered a reply. "I...I well I..."

His eyes widened and he turned to glare at Alexander. "You had sex with my sister?!"

Alexander shrugged. "I don't see how it is any of your business."

"You...you piece of—"

"Camb, please, just go. I need to get dressed and—"

He was still directing the young pilot though. "After everything she has been through, you coax her into something she doesn't want?"

"I didn't force her!"

"I—I wanted to," she told him, but they were too lost in their fight. As they usually were.

"Oh, so I'm to believe this was her idea? You are no better than her rapists. Just because you didn't force her with violence doesn't mean you didn't force her."

Emma shriveled up in her blankets, now too worried to even attempt to correct him or intervene. Purple eyes filled with malice. "You need to leave Camb...now. Before I do something I will regret."

Camb's hands tightened into fists. "You should regret what you've just done." he glanced over at his sister. "We shall discuss this later." and then he stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut. Emma started crying.

"I—I don't want him mad at me."

Alexander went over to swoop her up in his arms. "He isn't mad at you..." she laid her head against his chest and cried. "Now Emma, he is only angry with me. Nothing we did was wrong."

"What—what if he tells mother and father? And t-t-they say we can't wed?"

He hadn't told her! O how could he be so stupid?! He took her hands, gently. "Emma...there is something I need to tell you." and for the next few minutes, he explained the day he accidentally told Camb and then how the young king tried to get him back by telling her parents. When he got to their acceptance of the proposal, she was sobbing in relief.

"And—and they really approved?"

He smiled, kissing each palm before gripping them. "If they had told me no, I would have taken you away that night. In fact...I still might." he leaned in to take her lips but she held him back again.

"Alex!"

"Alright, alright..." he helped her up and said, "You get washed up and I'll talk to your idiot brother. I will be back shortly." he kissed her temple and then, after handing her the discarded clothes on the floor, he hurried out of the room. If he had stayed any longer, he thought they might have wanted another heated display of passions and nothing would get done. Emma had better control than he did, apparently.

[-]

Cambyses was so angry he had no idea what do with it. He wanted to tear every limb off of Alex's body for having sex with his sister when she was unstable, when she was just removed from the presence of her rapists, of those who tortured her. He knew the man was looking for one thing and one thing only, but he didn't think he was so pathetic that he would coax a traumatized girl into sleeping with him before she could even heal. It was beyond disgusting! It was criminal!

Cadence will have to talk to Emma, see if she is okay... he paused. Cadence! She had to have known about this! But why would she keep something like that from him? He thought she loved him, and what's more, he thought she loved Emma. No one around her knows what is best for her, he realized. They all think she is perfectly fine, able to rationalize and make decisions, but she can't...especially not when it comes to Alexander!

When he paused alongside the window overlooking the southern court yard that led toward the aerodome, a sudden idea struck him. If no one else was going to show worry for Emma, then he would! He called in some guards.

"Locate my sister and bring her, discretely, to the aerodome. Send in more men from the barracks...I need something done." and then, worrying, he added, "And please...be careful with her. She is still weak, and fearful of those around her. Treat her beyond kindness." The soldier in front looked confused, but bowed and hurried off with his men.

Cadence was wrong, and she would hate him (hopefully not for long) for doing this, but it needed to be done. After what he walked in on, he knew it. She will have to be allowed her anger...but she will understand soon enough.

[-]

Emma had finished her bath relatively quick compared to her usual time. There was something in the air that made her feel...apprehensive. As if something were about to happen. She hoped, as she brushed her hair, that it was just a sense of worry from her brother having figured out that she... she swallowed back the word, afraid that saying it or thinking it would somehow make her brother and Alex pop up out of thin air and engage in a bloody brawl.

Why is he so angry about it?

Because he doesn't think you are capable of thinking for yourself, that you are weak and pathetic, the voice whispered, not angry but annoyed. Perhaps even with her...herself.

He's worried, she tried to defend him.

He treats you worse than a child now, the voice replied.

But he...he means good, she thought, setting the brush aside and laying her head against the top of her dresser, exhausted. Why did everything have to be so difficult? Why couldn't she be given at least one moment of peace?

Maybe. The voice conceded, vanishing only minutes before someone banged on her door. She startled, nearly falling off of her stool, and then stood up, fearful. "Who...who is it?"

"Princess, we are here on order of the king. Please open the door." She panicked. Cambyses knew she didn't want people to see her! He knew she didn't want people to touch her. It was hard enough accepting those who did now. She looked around the room, for anything to help her. Perhaps something to scare the men off and back to her brother. There wasn't anything she could use. "Princess, please open the door for us."

"No! T-t-t-tell my brother he has to come to me!"

There was a long pause, and then, "Please don't make us force the door open. Your brother was very strict with us about being discrete, so if we have to break the door down he will be furious with us. Can't you do this, for us?"

"I don't want to," she cried, fidgeting. "...can't Alex take me to him? Please?"

"Alright princess...I tried to ask you kindly. Step away from the door." before she could react, the men kicked the door open. She yelped and stepped back as four men filed into the room. The man who had been talking looked at the smashed in door with a shake of his head and then turned to offer a smile. "You have nothing to fear from us, princess, we aren't going to hurt you. Or touch you, if it pleases you?"

"W-w-why does my brother want me? Why can't he come to me?"

"Because we aren't taking you to your brother, not to where he usually is. We're to head to the aerodome and will meet him there." he motioned for one of his men to come forward. "Pack one box for her to go. Alright, princess?" he looked to her, still trying to appear as friendly as he could. Emma stepped further away. He raised his hands. "None of us will touch you, dear girl, I swear it upon my life and honor. But we do need you to walk with us...is that okay?"

She glanced at the broken in door and then at him. Cambyses wouldn't send guards to get her that would hurt her, right? And what was so important she had to be hauled away without Alex, and to the aerdoome of all... her eyes widened. He was sending her off! But she thought it was a week from now? Did something happen? Was Derell back, was Figaro under attack? Did Barkov get out? She wanted to just die! She knew it was unsafe, knew it was better to forget hope and safety. Derell always made good on his word.

If she were to leave, or be caught either way, she wanted something precious with her. Leaving the kingdom or the world, she wouldn't go with out. She frowned at him. "..m-may I get s-s-something first?" in the background one of the guards was tearing through her chest and stuffing various clothes into a smaller box.

The man in charged nodded. "Sure, but make it quick. We need to go immediately."

Emma hurried over to the desk by her bed for her bracelet and then over to her shelf, for The Swan. When she turned, she saw one of the guards—the one packing for her—lift up one of Alexander's blouses and ran over to tear it from his hands. "Don't touch that," she snapped, holding it close to her chest. "And I c-c-can pack myself!"

He laughed and stepped out of the way for her. She angrily put the things she collected into the box and then retrieved what she wanted from the chest, putting items she didn't want back. The man laughed and laughed the more she put back. "You are such a strange girl," he said, when he noticed she took more practical clothes and left more girly ones behind.

The captain of the group was impatient. "Are you ready yet princess? I said a small box, not your entire collection of clothing."

She mumbled under her breath, very much annoyed, before struggling to stand with the box. He saw and motioned for one of the men to take it from her. She protested, saying she could do it, but he was firm on it. "No you can't. Now hand it over girl, go on. Don't test my patience. Good! Now, you can walk ahead of us, or inbetween us—your pick."

[-]

After he finished instructing his men to bring his parents, his brother, Cadence and Setzer (and his wife) to the aerodome, he went about waiting for Alexander to show up. He knew the fool enough to know right after their fight he would look for him. That would be when he sprung it all on him...watch his squirm for what he did to his sister.

The scum, he thought angrily. Being a womanizer is one thing...but this is beyond disgusting. There was a knock and then the door opened and a soldier walked in with Alexander beside him. He introduced the audience, bowed and then left them be. Camb faced him. "I wonder if you know how much of a disgrace you are."

Alexander was not in the mood. "I promised your sister I would try to behave around you and I intend to keep it. I'm here only on her behalf...we should try to get along Cambyses. It hurts her to see us fight so much. We need to put our differences aside."

"You know...I made a promise to my sister too. I promised that I would protect her, look after her, secure her a safe and happy future. But I have come to realize that someone is standing in the way of that future and I will not wait for it to remove itself."

"Look...I didn't force her into anything. It was your wife that talked to Emma about it and it was your wife that put the thoughts in her head well over a month ago. I didn't persuade Emma into doing anything she didn't want to do. I was respectful, kind...tender. I wouldn't hurt your sister, I love her."

"No! No you don't!" he shouted, eyes wild with rage, shining a distinct shade of green. "A man who loves a woman would never put her through something like that when all she faced was rape and torture! He would understand she is broken, unstable in the head, and wouldn't be able to tell what was right and wrong!"

"Your sister can think for herself. She isn't some—"

"She can think for herself, that's true, but her turmoils have made that thinking unhealthy. Until she recovers, she cannot be allowed to—"

"Think for herself, to decide what she wants or doesn't want?" Alex interrupted, furious. "You said I was like Derell but the truth is Cambyses, that you are acting just like him. Don't you think she had enough of that in Alúzar? She deserves to make her own decisions after Alúzar, she doesn't need her brother acting like she is still a slave!"

"That's not my intention!" he howled, defensive. "I'm trying to help her! She can't heal if someone is pestering her to do the things that have traumatized her!"

"For the last fucking time, I didn't force her into anything! Say it again and I will—"

"You will what Alex? Hmm?" Camb's hands tightened around the hilt of his sword. "You forget who it is you are talking to!"

Alexander's hands tightened into balls at his sides. "I didn't forget...you don't deserve the respect. Can't you be happy that your sister has found someone she loves? Someone she can trust, after everything? You are an annoying asshole Cambyses, but I never knew you to be cruel. What is wrong with you?"

The young king suddenly called for his guards. They filed into the room and formed around Alex, who looked at them suspiciously. "If I am cruel...it is because of late it was been necessary. Men?" they closed in on Alex and took him by the arms. The young pilot struggled against their hold. Directing Alex again, he said, "I hope what you took of my sister was worth it Alexander."

His eyes widened. "You intend to kill me, then? At least do it with your own hands."

"I'm not going to kill you, you fool," he snapped. "Under the authority of the king and as her eldest brother, I am accepting the responsibility of my sister and with that power, forbidding you two to wed."

"You can't do this!" he shouted, yanking at the men who held him.

"I am also forbidding you two from ever seeing each other again. I realize with both of you in Figaro that order will be hard to keep, but for the moment I will deal with it by sending her ahead."

"You bastard! Think about what you are doing! This is going to only hurt her!"

"I am thinking about her. Perhaps, in the future, if you can show you have the worth to care for and love my sister—when you can prove your honesty in that supposed love—I will let you two be together. But for now, Alexander, you have done nothing to show your honesty. You are the reason she transformed in the first place, you are the reason she attacked civilians and was sentenced with death or banishment. When I believe you truly love her, I will rescind my orders and you two shall wed. Until then," he gestured to his men. "Take to the cells and hold him there until I am finished sending my sister off—and don't mention this to another soul."

"Yes, your majesty," the soldiers departed, dragging Alex with them, who was shouting and swearing that he would make Cambyses pay.

When Alexander was out of sight, Cambyses collected himself and left the foyer to meet up with his sister at the aerodome. When he arrived at the location, he found the soldiers he ordered earlier encircled around—though it was a wide circle—his sister, who was sitting alone on a seat, looking absolutely sad and vulnerable. He cleared his throat and issued the men to take look around while he talked to his sister. She looked at him with a disappointed expression.

"I know you must be angry with me for reaching out for you all of the sudden, but it was imperative I move you quickly."

"You...you know I don't want anyone to see me, to touch me...and you did this anyway," she cried. "How could you? I...I trusted you."

He adjusted his collar, suddenly feeling very choked and hot. "I know, and I regret having done it, but it was important that I get you here quietly and quickly."

"Why? Did something happen? Am I leaving?"

"Because there may be spies and quietly makes sure they don't hear. No, nothing happened and yes, you are leaving."

She looked around and that's when he noticed the tears. "Where is everyone? Where is Alex? I...I don't want to leave without saying goodbye, and not without Alexander."

"Mother and father will bring Ben, along with Cadence, and Setzer and Maria will be here shortly."

"Alexander?"

He hesitated. "I'm sure he will be here soon. For now, since I could not provide you with the necessary rules due to you and Alexander's...nefarious activities, I can share them with you." he hadn't meant to make her feel ashamed, but she looked away as if she had committed something absolutely disgusting. "However, I have placed a list you will read and read over and over again until it sticks, inside the ship near your bed. Do you understand?"

She nodded. "Yes Camb...I understand."

"Good. For now..." he knelt and took her hands. "I will do everything I can here to bring you home safely. Suon and Hals have been working hard on some plans to run against Alúzar. If they succeed, we won't be along apart. I promise."

She smiled at him very weakly, almost as if she didn't believe him. "Okay."

The doors opened behind him and he stood to greet his family as they rushed in, confused and worried. Terra knew though, he assumed, because she ran passed him—giving him a very disappointed stare first—and took Emma into her arms, as if the girl was still a toddler needing to be saved from nightmares and monsters.

"Oh Emma, sweety, are you crying? Don't my sweet girl, don't." she hugged her, smiling when her daughter returned the gesture.

"I don't want to leave," she cried to her mother. Cambyses shifted on his feet and looked at his father and Cadence; she wasn't aware of what happened so she was watching the two with sadness. Edgar was extremely awkward beside his second son, who looked like he had just been woken. His attire was messy and his hair uncombed. "Can't I stay here? Just for a few more days?"

Terra kissed Emma's face several times and then tightened her hug. "I wish you could. I wish I could decide it. Because you would stay with me, or I would go with you, because you mean everything to me Emma—everything and more."

"But you guys will leave me there and for-forget about me again." she sobbed.

Cadence walked over, quietly, and then knelt to take one of the girl's hands. "I will not forget you...no one here will. No one here did. Derell filled your head with lies."

"You're too annoying to forget," Benjamin teased, smiling just enough to let her know he was trying to make her laugh. It worked. She rubbed her tears away with a broken giggle. "I'll make sure we visit, too. Even if the kingdom is burning down around us, I will make sure of it. I promise Emma, I promise."

She sniffed. "Well...not when the kingdom is on fire," she said, accepting him into a hug when he came over.

Cambyses cleared his throat. "You should await on the ship while we finish up out here. It will be out of the range of potential nosy people, too."

Emma looked at him with horror. "But Alex isn't here—"

"You aren't leaving this very second Emma," he cut in quickly, with a 'calm down' tone. "I just want you out of sight of potential spies. Now, Ben, help her into the ship."

Safely and quietly aboard Boen, a small freighter class, Emma was helped into the back room. It had been secured rigorously to prevent easy damage should she transform, especially unprovoked. The walls were reinforced with elements harder to burn through and beneath the wooden floor, ash from the native volcanoes of Thamasa had been spread about in Relm and Gau's patterns to try and seal magic in the room.

Cambyses was sure to keep it all from his sister, sure that it would upset her, and asked if there was anything she needed. She looked around the room sadly, arms carrying the cloak her mother had given her moments prior before running off to look for Alex—as she had promised her daughter she would do. "No...not—not really."

He mumbled vague words of acknowledgement. "If that is all then, I will go about trying to locate your fiancé. Cadence, Ben and father will remain behind for you. I...I suggest you use the time wisely, little sister." he bowed his head to her and then quietly departed the room.

Outside the ship and protected from the princess' good hearing via the engines and hammering of the workers, Cambyses engaged his father in discussion. "Why now, all of the sudden?" his father had asked.

"Because it is safer," he replied. "Would you mind staying behind whilst I search for Alexander?"

Edgar made an odd expression, but nodded. "I would think you would let him be...considering you hate him."

Cambyses bit back a retort and shrugged. "I may hate him, but Emma doesn't."

"What would you like me to do, exactly?"

"Don't let her leave that ship...no matter what."

Edgar sighed. "If I must...please, be sure to find Alexander for your sister."

As Cambyses walked away, he frowned. I know exactly where he is.

Knowing his mother was not going to find Alexander, he safely walked himself down the halls to the cell cages just south of Barkov's block, where Alexander had been stored. Several guards were about, making sure no one other than the king happened upon the young pilot as instructed. He ushered them aside and entered the cell block. Alexander was pacing inside of cell, hands tightened into balls and the wooden chair he had been given smashed into bits by the attempts of an escape.

"There wasn't a need to damage things," Cambyses grumbled as he came to stand before the cell. "Not when you knew it was pointless."

The pilot turned to him. "You bastard! You better let me out of here! Now!"

"You are in no position to command me around, Alexander." he recovered a blank sheet of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. "I am going to give you a chance to make this easier on Emma. And only one chance. If you deny it, I will be forced to make up a story to tell her and I can promise you it will not be pretty." he carefully sat the paper on the stone before the cell, within reach and then sat down a quill and ink jar. "I want you to write a letter to Emma—and please don't attempt any codes of the sort—telling her that you have left her—"

"I will not!"

Cambyses continued on, "to try and better yourself. You will tell her that why you still love her, you do not feel you are capable of doing what a man should do for the one that he loves and that you will return soon for her. That is all you will say besides that of a 'I love you' or any other farewell sentiment you may wish to add. I will hand deliver it to her before I set her on her way."

Alexander had done something Cambyses never expected then; he dropped to his knees and bowed to him. "Please Cambyses...I love your sister so much that it hurts me. Please don't do this, please...I beg of you."

Furious, Camb said, "Is it love, Alex, to sleep with a girl who has been through mental and physical trauma? So sever that she still, to this godsdamn day, refers to the men that beat her and raped her as 'master'? Is it love to sleep with a girl you know has no mental capacity left to decide for herself and figure out right from wrong when it comes to her well being? How can you call any of that love?!"

"She's not broken," he growled, tears in his eyes. "She's hurt, she's scared, but she's not broken. I thought she was too...but she isn't Cambyses, she isn't. She struggles, she hurts, but she knows what she does, what she feels, is wrong or right. She knows they aren't her masters, not anymore, but it is habit, it is fear. It isn't that she can't tell, it is that she's been afraid for so long that it was her only way of defence, of safety. She's not some child...she's stronger than you think!"

"I know she was!" he snapped. "But she isn't strong again, not yet! She hasn't recovered and you took advantage of that!"

Alexander punched at the stone flooring, frustrated. "Damn it Cambyses! I didn't force your sister into anything! Ask your wife! Ask Emma!"

"Emma wouldn't admit to feeling pressure, and Cadence talking to her about sex doesn't mean it was pressured onto her. In fact...that is a form of pressure too!"

"So will you lock Cadence down here too, then?"

"No, because she isn't the one that actually took advantage of my sister, now is she? Look Alexander...I'm doing this because I believe right now isn't the right time for Emma to be in a relationship. She hasn't known one before...the only one she has had for the last two and half years is that of a slave. She doesn't know anyone else, only you. How do you know she even loves you? How do you know it isn't because you are the first person to see her? To call her pretty? To hold her and say pleasant things to? What makes you think she isn't settling, or isn't confused?"

Alexander was staring at him, anger in his eyes still but controlled by understanding. "Because I trust her..."

"I trust her too Alex...or I did, and I will again. But at the moment, her mind isn't what it should be. Haven't you noticed that? How off she is? It isn't just with dealing with what happened to her either, she seems...different, distracted, by something bigger than her fears of Derell and her nightmares." Cambyses gestured to the note. "It isn't a good bye...I won't separate you two forever, just long enough to give my sister some time to heal and to understand, even understand herself. Please...write it. I don't want to return completely empty handed."

Alexander was silent for a long moment, and then asked, "What will you say to her?"

Cambyses considered for a moment. "I will tell her you had the note delivered to me."

"She won't believe that," he whispered.

"Then I will tell her you handed it to me before leaving Figaro."

Alexander chuckled, defeated and then reached for the paper and pen. He wrote slowly, pausing here and there to regard something, until several moments later he finished and slid it back out to the king. "There...you know Cambyses? The worst part is I don't hate you for this, because I understand it...but I wish I could hate you, I wish I could kill you."

The young king frowned at him after he retrieved the letter. "But as you said...you understand. You know in your heart that I am right, in some degree. I know you have seen that difference in her, that alien emotion. I can tell by your lack of a reply if by nothing else."

"Regardless...you will come to regret this decision, one day, and you will weep for the cost."

Cambyses stuffed the letter into his pocket. "That's the thing Alexander...I already regret it." he bowed his head and then shuffled off quietly.

---

Emma sat by the window of the ship for nearly two hours waiting for Alexander to appear through the double doors of the aerodome, but the only people that came and went were workers. And her father. She guessed he didn't think she was looking, but she was. Every thirty minutes or so he would walking, stop, turn and then leave. Almost as if there were something he kept forgetting and then remembering only to forget it again.

She angrily looked away from the window to her door, where she heard footsteps stop just a second before. It was Cadence. "Emma? Can I come in? Benjamin is here, too."

She blinked. She hadn't heard another set of footsteps. "Come in."

Cadence was the first through the door, smiling as she wobbled in. Benjamin scooted around her and smiled at Emma. "I found mother in the northern halls...she's still looking."

That deflated the princess. Her mother was having difficulties she shouldn't have. Cadence noticed the sudden sadness. "It doesn't mean anything Emma. Alexander is probably off doing something he needs to. He will be back, I promise."

She smiled at them. "I'm sure."

Benjamin rubbed at his neck. "Actually, I needed to say something before you go and, well...I have to do it now before I lose the courage to." Cadence reached over to pat her brother-in-law on the shoulder, to encourage him. She knew about whatever it was. Emma was suddenly flustered and scared. What could be so important that it would scare her brother? "I...I said so many hurtful things to you Emma, and I did such horrible things to you after your rape. It was beyond wrong, and no amount of 'I'm sorry' is ever going to be enough to earn your forgiveness. I never said the things I should have, like I would be there for you, that you didn't deserve it, that it wasn't your fault, that everything was going to be okay...that I love you."

Emma wiped tears from her eyes. "I know Benjaz...Ben. I believe you, I do."

He laughed. "I know you do Emma..and that is sort of the problem. Why do you forgive so easily? Why do you love so easily? Any normal person would have turned away from me and never spoken to me again. But you didn't turn, you were nice to me even as I said those things to you. How can you be so forgiving?"

"I'm not normal," she mumbled, really an accusation against herself. "I forgive you Ben, I do."

He leaned over to hug her, tightly. "I love you, baby sister." Emma had never heard her brother say it before. Not once. The realization hurt, a lot, but hearing it took all that pain away. She knew it was probably difficult for him to express it, she understood, but she hoped that he wouldn't be afraid to say it again in the future. It was nice to hear something that made what you doubted untrue. "I'm sorry," he whispered before disengaging from the hug quickly, almost embarrassed.

"Move aside please," Cadence said to the young prince so she could come over to sit beside Emma. "I wish there was something I could say that would help, but I know there is nothing. It is terrible you have to leave...I love you Emma, like my own flesh and blood, and I will miss you dearly. I will come and visit you though, and we will have plenty of time to figure out what to do with you and Alexander. Because it simply won't do if you two aren't honest with each other."

Emma smiled at her, patiently. "Cadence...we...we made love."

Benjamin blushed and stammered. "Emma! What did I tell you?!"

Cadence was beyond shocked! "You what?! Really?! I'm so happy for you Emma!" she took the girl into another hug, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to hear Emma's protests over how tight the hug was until Benjamin said he had to go. "Oh Benjamin, stop being a child. It is perfectly natural for your sister to—"

"Ah! Ah! Don't say it!" he snapped and then looked at his sister. "Goodbye for now, Emma. We will see each other soon." he bowed his head and left quietly. A moment after they heard the ship door close, Cadence went immediately back to chatting about the new topic. She wanted every detail but Emma did not feel comfortable with any of it, and tried her hardest to avoid most of the intrusive questioning.

Until her mother returned, empty handed and looking absolutely ashamed. As if she were at fault. She cried and cried and begged for forgiveness, and Emma felt like a monster. Her mother was beyond herself with disappointment, but worse than that...fear that her own daughter could hate her so easily and for something she had no control of.

Am I like that to everyone? She wondered as she fought back tears and tried to explain to her mother that she understood, that none of it was her fault. "I just don't—don't want you to be disappointed," she cried, rubbing at her eyes.

"I'm not," Emma muttered. Not with you. "Really...I'm—I'm not. He will be here, I know it."

The two women exchanged looks, but Cadence smiled. "That's right. Alexander will come back, I know it too."

Terra smiled tiredly. "I can keep looking if you would like me to, dear."

Emma hated the wave of guilt that washed over her then. She shook her head. "He will be here." the stern tone in her voice sounded fake even to her, but the two women did not comment on it—thankfully. She tried to tell her mother to forget it, but someone knocked on the door and interrupted her. It was a guard.

"His Majesty sent a note ahead to make sure you all have said your goodbyes."

Terra shushed the man and ushered him off before turning to her daughter. "I wish I could make the world safer...I wish I could make the world far more accepting—but all of that is beyond my power. But I will try my hardest in you absence to get them all to understand...so that you may come home."

Emma knew it was unlikely. Even if they could accept she didn't wish to do what she did, that she was controlled, they would never believe it couldn't happen again. Her mother was going to enter an unwinnable war that would only drain the life out of her, but what could she say to convince her mother otherwise that wouldn't be taken as some attempt to just...disappear? She hated knowing she couldn't return to Figaro, but she hated knowing her mother could worry for the rest of her life on impossible wishes.

So she found herself lying, "I would like that, thank you mother." and then the Queen Mother rushed her into a loving hug, nearly crushing the life out of her.

"My precious daughter, my sweet princess, my heart and soul," she cried, squeezing harder and harder with each word, unable to hear her daughter's gasping pleads to loosen her hold until Cadence giggled and helped disengaged the woman from the girl.

"Terra, do remember your daughter needs to breathe."

Terra blushed and drew back from her daughter with a soft, embarrassed laugh. "I'm sorry dear, sometimes I forget...but maybe the next time you come home, you and Cadence will have baby stories to share and I will be a grandmother of two wonderful souls. And then maybe Alexander and Cambyses will give me even more grandchildren by you two young ladies."

Emma blushed fiercely. She had thought of the same thing when she and Alex had... Cadence must have known what Emma was thinking, because she giggled. "Oh, you haven't told your mother yet?"

"I...I—"

"Told me what?" Terra's eyes sought out her daughter's. "Did something happen?"

"...A-Alex and I..I mean we had...we—" she took a deep breath, ignoring Cadence's bright grin. "—we made love."

Terra reacted calmly and then burst out in laughter. "Is that all? I thought something terrible had happened. Dear, I already know."

Cadence and Emma looked shocked. "How do you know Terra?

Emma couldn't believe it! How could her brother?! "Did—did Cambyses tell you?"

"Cambyses?" both women looked at Emma now, confused. "Why would he tell me?" Terra asked.

"He—he found out...or I mean he—he caught us."

Cadence's eyes widened for a moment but before she could ask what was on her mind, the doors opened and Cambyses walked in with a tired and disappointed expression. Emma jumped to her feet and gently shoved by her mother and sister-in-law to face her brother. "Did you find him? Did you find him?"

Cambyses offered her a sadden expression and then said, "I found him, but..." he uncovered the note and held it out to her. "...he gave me this before he left. I'm so sorry, Emma."

Emma looked at the note with such confusion that Cadence reached over to lay a hand on her shoulder, to encourage her, to awaken her back to reality. The princess slowly reached for the note and then looked at them fearfully. "I...I don't understand. Why—why isn't he here?"

"He said to tell you to read it," Camb said softly. "He said he hoped you would understand."

Cadence asked, "Would you like me to read it Emma?" the princess shook her head noiselessly and unfolded the letter, to read herself.

To the girl who stole my heart

Emma, when I first met you I thought 'She's such an odd looking girl!', but it wasn't that you were odd in a bad way, it was that you were odd in the best of ways. I had never seen someone with eyes like yours, like whirlpools of lavender and sapphires, and I had never seen a girl with such a remarkable smile. I didn't care that you looked like a 'fat goblin' to your cousins, or to any other person—to me you were and are the most precious gemstone in the world. I was determined; I need to see that smile again and again, until my heart bled over from it, until I could recall its details vividly in my mind's eye—for when I saw it first, I knew I absolutely loved it and thought 'this girl needs to smile more'. But the night soured, and it hurt you...even I saw it and I was a stranger to you. While you looked so sad, and lonely, I absolutely loved you and to this day, I am thankful for that sadness. I know that sounds wrong, and selfish, but it was the night of the Annual Dinner that we met and it was that night that led me to wanting to know you beyond what I wanted from you. I was a scoundrel, a hound dog, and it was only because of Cadence that I saw through my idiocy to realize that you had stolen my heart.

To this day I long for nothing more than to hold you. I would die happy if that was all I could do for the rest of my life, and I mean it Emma, I truly do. You complete a part of me I never even knew was empty, was lacking. But—

Emma felt sick.

—I know now that my ways, my words, haven't reached you yet. I know that you said you wanted to make love to me Emma, and I believed it...but I have been thinking on what you had to endure Emma, and it wasn't right of me to have sex with you—even if you said you wanted to. I should have known better. I should have controlled myself. But I didn't and I realized, after your stupid brother found out, that he was...right. I hate admitting it, but he was right—it wasn't right, even if you believed you wanted to. I have been thinking since on what to do, on how to proceed, but I don't see how I can do that with the way that I am. I am not leaving you—I will never do that!—but I am going away, for a short while. I need time to change, to correct my behavior, to figure out how to be the man that you want and deserve.

I still love you Emma, and I always will, and I will come back for you and our child...I swear it, so I will not say goodbye as this is not one. Until then, I want you to live happily. I want you to stop worrying, about everything, and I want you to let your family through your walls as you have for me, because if not for them, you deserve it.

P.S
If we have a son...I very much like 'Peter'.

I love you,

Alexander

Emma knew she was crying, she knew her mother and Cadence were asking her what it said, but she didn't care. In fact, she couldn't find a piece of her that cared for anything anymore. She had lost him. The one person she dreamed of for years consistently, the one person she would give her life for.

Did...did he even really love me?

Your brother was right, the voice growled. He used you!

No! He wouldn't! He wouldn't do that!

"Emma? What does it say?" Cadence took the letter from her and started reading. Emma was still, aware faintly that her mother had come to hold her and that her brother was staring at them quietly. Cadence gasped. "How could he do this?! That...that bastard!"

Cambyses cleared his throat. "I am aware this is a sensitive time for you Emma, but I cannot delay your sendoff any further. You read the letter...this isn't goodbye."

She lifted her eyes to him and they all froze at the malice in them. They weren't black or amber...they were still the eyes of princess in color. "this is your fault!"

"My fault?!" he growled. "How?!"

"You couldn't keep—keep your mouth shut! You couldn't st-st-stop meddling in other people's lives!"

"Don't blame me because your 'fiance' is a lying—"

"Cambyses!" Terra shouted, cutting him off sharply. "Don't say another word!"

"Wait a second," Cadence tried to soothe her with contact. "This isn't your brother's fault...you read what Alex said. This isn't goodbye. He is coming back for you."

Emma yanked herself free from the grasp. "Just leave me alone!"

Terra wasn't budging. "But—"

"I said leave!" she cried. For a second it was as if they wouldn't move, but then Cadence ushered them out quietly. When the door closed, Emma collapsed to her knees and sobbed into her hands. How could Alexander do this to her? How could someone fake to love someone just to sleep with them? Who could be so horrible to another person?

He's worse than Derell and Luke, her voice said. At least they knew how you truly felt, at least you did. They forced you but he tricked you...he deserves all the pain in the world.

What did I do wrong? she wondered.

You didn't do anything wrong! What is wrong with you?! the voice was furious. He did something. He hurt you. Him! Not you!

"I'm so tired," she wept aloud.

This time the voice was sympathetic. I am as well.

[-]

Edgar had arrived in time to see his wife, son and daughter-in-law exit the ship in clear disappointment and sadness. Well, all of them but Cambyses. Terra was crying, Cadence was trying to sooth her and Cambyses was stifling back a smile.

"What is going on here? Why is my wife upset?" he looked accusingly at his son, who passed it off with a shake of his head. "What happened?"

"Oh Edgar, our baby! She's—she's..."

Cadence patted her arm and answered the old king with, "Alexander left Emma a note...he left her."

"He what?!" now Edgar was furious! How could that wretched bastard... "That's...that's not right. He was determined to wed her."

"He says he will return, but Emma is—understandably—upset. She kicked us out of the room."

"She's hurt and alone," Terra sobbed. "Why can't things go right for once? Why?"

"Not that now is a good time to say it...but I told you all he wasn't good for her, that he would hurt her again."

"Oh by quiet Cambyses," Cadence snapped. "For all we know, you meddling, as Emma so elegantly put it, is the reason this happened." he scoffed.

"Someone needs to be up there with her," Edgar said. "We can't leave her alone, even if that's what she says she wants."

"At the moment, we should give her the space she wants. She just went through—"

"Damn it Cadence! Emma doesn't need anymore isolation with her feelings," Edgar growled, and then shoved by them. He ignored his son's demands to come back and apologize to his wife—he would later for the wretched tone he just displayed to a woman. Terra was the only one to encourage him with smiles and a 'thank you Edgar'.

He knew as he came to stand outside the ship door that she knew he was standing there. Her sense of smell and hearing has heightened Edgar...she probably knew before you even got into the ship. Surprisingly though, he could only hear her crying inside, no swearing or ordering him away. Of course she would be so distraught she wouldn't bother with me—she lost the person she loved. He took a deep breath and then knocked on the door faintly.

"...what do you want?" she asked, muffled and tiredly. As if she were truly broken now. Her tone indicated she knew who it was.

He frowned, feeling very flustered. "Princess...may I come in for a moment?" when he wasn't answered, he walked in anyway. She was sitting on the end of the small bed, arms wrapped tightly around a pillow and face stricken with tears. He tried to offer her a friendly smile, but she looked away, still angry with him. "For what it is worth I do not believe Alexander would leave you like this." she looked up at him then, startled. "I may not like the idea of my daughter growing up into a woman, who will start her own family, but I am not one against love...and I saw that clearly on both of your expressions. I think I knew he loved you even before you two knew it, back when he stood between us. Not many boys his age would come between a father and daughter, especially a king and princess, but he did so."

She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Why are you here?"

He flinched but tried to remember his daughter was just direct. She has and always will be, he told himself. "I am here to see my daughter off."

That shocked her visibly. "Even—even though I'm mad at you?" she asked with a frown.

He chuckled. "Even if...my love for you has no conditions, dear girl."

She was quiet for a moment, and then asked, "Then why did you write those things to me? And—and why d-d-did you trade me away? How...how can you call that love?"

Edgar was unsure of how to explain it to her. He tried, when he had to trade her, in the best way that he could. He tried to tell her that it was because he loved her so much that he had to do it, but she obviously couldn't understand that. Did she not see that if she had died, he would have too? He couldn't live with the thought of going on without his children—so was it so monstrous of him to want them to survive, no matter what?

What can I say to her? He thought, watching the expressive pools that were his daughter's eyes. How can I get her to understand? And then it hit him! He could get her to understand with a comparison...with Alexander! "Emma...tell me, honestly, how do you feel about Alex?"

Clearly confused at his direction, and still very angry (he could tell), she said, "I love him...but I hate him." she sounded confused with that, too.

He asked, "Without Alexander, do you fear waking every day? Do you fear you don't even wish to live any longer?" Her eyes widened and she nodded. "That's how I felt when I was given the ultimatum; you or Cambyses, or both. I feared losing you two...worse, and perhaps it makes scum, but I feared losing you. I didn't want to wake each morning for the rest of my life knowing the daughter I loved so dearly could no longer smile at me or run around the house screaming at her brothers. I couldn't face it...I would have rather die than lose you."

"I would have rather die," she whispered. "Why couldn't...couldn't you think about me?"

Edgar fought back tears. "Because I'm a selfish old man."

"Why did you write those things to me? Why? Why?"

The letter! Oh, how he had forgotten yet again! "Emma, my sunshine...I did not write that letter. Suon was there with me, he had seen what I wrote and he can prove my word true. It was Derell...he...he had found the letter and sent his own instead, to further his plan."

"How can I believe you or Suon?"

"I suppose I can't offer you anything more than our word," he mumbled. "I don't wish to put you through anything more, especially at the moment, but I wanted to say goodbye. If you still hate me for what I did, I understand...just...I beg of you...let me say goodbye. Because for all the wrong I have done to you, I have never stopped loving you." He was surprised himself when he realized he was sobbing. He knew he never let his daughter see him like this before, so when she paled and got up nervously, he understood. She was scared. It wasn't every day you saw your parents cry, especially your father.

Now she was crying. "Don't c-c-cry, I for—forgive you, I do...please don't cry."

Was his daughter simply the sweetest person on the planet? He stubbornly squinted at her, in a pathetic attempt to stop his tears, and then hesitantly stepped toward her, to engulf her in his arms. He could tell she was still very confused, now just for her feelings, and wanted nothing more than to set her feelings straight. When he wrapped his arms around her, he realized just how thin she was and weak, so he pulled away quickly. "I'm sorry, I forgot...I am pushing." he got up to leave but was promptly stopped when he felt her rush him and hug him tightly.

"...don't leave me, not again."

He knelt and took her into a tender embrace. "Sweet princess...I will never hurt you again, I swear it."

Emma responded by sobbing into his chest, over everything. From her nightmares to Alexander and the baby, and even leaving. He listened, soothing her with pats and quiet words, knowing she needed to express what was on her mind but unable to give her what she needed. It was impossible. And when she started crying over him, over what he did, he listened still, patiently. His daughter's anger and sadness was beyond justifiable, and he would take all of what she had to say to him.

Was this his forgiveness or was this his daughter in so much pain she was willing to find comfort where ever she could, even if it was with the most important man in her life that betrayed her? He pressed her closer and wept silently, both incredibly happy to be able to have this moment but also incredibly sad to have created it in the first place.

Eventually she settled quietly and it wasn't until he asked if she were okay that he realized she had tired herself out completely. He chuckled and carefully lifted her to the bed. The memory of the last time he held her, that he touched her, came rushing back to him and he cringed. She's even lighter than she was then, he thought with fear. He would be sure to let Setzer and Maria know they were to stuff her until she weighed at least ten pounds more when they arrived, but for now he concentrated on covering her and sitting with her as the hour rolled on until the sun departed the sky. She slept noisily, mumbling something he thought was in another language, tossing and turning with shallow breathing. He wanted to wake her, to spare her from her nightmares, but he wasn't sure if she was ever going to not have them.

Sleep is sleep, and she needs it, he decided, standing quietly. He kissed her knuckles and then tucked her in. "Good night, and goodbye, my sweet daughter. We will see each other soon enough." and then he left her be, heart heavy with pain and regret already.

Outside the ship, he found his wife waiting for him. Though not conscious. She was sleeping in one of the seats in the lounging area, curled up under a small blanket and face tear stricken. Across from her, and raising from the chair to speak to him, was his son, his heir.

He frowned at him. "Did she yell at you?"

Edgar wanted her to yell at him, but she hadn't. His daughter really was a strange girl. He shook his head. "No, she...she forgave me."

"That's good, but you don't sound happy?"

"Because I don't like how it came to be and I don't like that I have to stand aside as she is sent away again. I don't believe this is for the best."

"You don't think it is for the best because you don't want your daughter to leave...you are blinded too thoroughly by emotion."

Edgar glared at his son, finding it very difficult to control his anger. He wanted to scream until his veins popped, but he knew it would get him nowhere. Instead, he shook his head with a sigh. "Sometimes, son, a man must be led by his emotions. Good night, dear boy...and for Emma's sake, I hope Alexander happens to reappear." the tone he gave his son was sure to hit the mark. When the young king stared at him like some child caught stealing cookies, Edgar knew. "So it is as I suspected...you had a hand in Alexander's sudden disappearance."

"I don't know what you are talking about," the king managed calmly. "It is true I caught them after they had sex—"

"Just know son that what you are doing cannot easily be atoned for." he patted his son's shoulder firmly and then left him to stew on his words. He heard Cambyses direct the enginemen to order Setzer to take off and resisted the urge to stop him and wake his wife to help him.

For now...she is safer away from her enemies.

[-]

When Emma woke, she startled up straight and called out, "Father?" before realizing she was alone. The early orange of the sun was pouring through the window, allowing her to see just how empty the room was. And then, suddenly, she gasped and hurried off the bed to the window. How could sunlight get through the aerodome walls and roof? But when she glanced out the window, she cried out in fear and tumbled back.

She was flying! They sent her away without giving her the chance to say goodbye? She started to cry. Did they purposely wait until she fell asleep to force her to go? Her mind suddenly returned to the most important detail—Alexander! She hurried to the door and pulled it open. The hall was lit gently, enough for her to see that the direction to her right was only the engine room, so she hurried down the left hall. It opened into the belly of the ship, where furniture was neatly organized into every possible position the ship could afford to spare. It was empty of life. There was a small staircase that twirled up to the deck, but she was afraid to see who was piloting the ship.

If it wasn't Alexander, she wouldn't be able to handle it. And worse, if she happened upon a stranger, she wouldn't know what to or say. She would rather throw herself from the ship than talk to a stranger. Please gods...let it be Alexander.

She pressed forward, slowly. Who she found piloting ship confused her greatly, and then filled her with anger and disappointment. Setzer Gabbiani and his wife! But why were they here and not their son? She was so furious! "Where is Alex?"

They both turned to look at her, startled by her sudden appearance. Maria smiled at her tenderly, unsure. "Please dear, let us talk about this in the other room. It isn't something—"

"Where is he?!"

Setzer glanced over his shoulder from the wheel towards them with a solemn expression. "Give a moment dear," he turned back to the wheel and pressed a few buttons. When he removed his hands from the wheel, the ship pressed onward by itself. He turned to her entirely with a tired expression and gestured back toward the other room. "Let us sit and we can discuss this—"

"Just tell me where he is," she begged, tears rushing down her cheeks. "Please."

Setzer rubbed his hands together, worried. "We...we don't know." her crying made Maria's expression soften with sympathy. "I do know that my son did not write that letter...not without persuasion, at the very least."

Emma looked at him with hope. "Really?"

"There is not much I know in this world," Maria answered. "But when it comes to my children...that is something I can be sure of. I don't know what happened and how that letter came to be, but I know my son—and he wouldn't do this, not to the girl that he loved."

Emma sniffled before she started to sob, either happily or in despair. Maria hurried over to guide her to the sofas—she found the girl completely compliant. "Why w-w-w-would he do this to me? Why?"

"Emma—"

"It isn't fair!" she cried out, shrugging out of the woman's hands. "It isn't fair!"

Setzer was worried by her tone. "We know but—"

"No! No you don't! It was your son that did this to me! He...He..." her eyes drifted to the back and she swerved to her side with a groan. She pressed a hand against her head and crumbled to her knees, understanding what was happening. If Setzer and Maria were around, she was sure she would kill them if she transformed. Especially given the situation. She looked at them, knowing why they were staring at her with wide eyes. "L-leave...I...I can't c-c-control it. Please...I...I don't want to hurt you."

"Then you won't hurt us," Setzer said firmly, the fear in his eyes vanishing. "Because you are Emma, a human-esper, a girl. A tender soul. You aren't a weapon, you aren't a monster. You just need to realize it."

"I'm not human and I'm not an esper," she said, crying out when another wave forced her to her hands. She shut her eyes tightly against the pain, back arching, readying to spring into its new body. "Go! Go!" one of her hands morphed and with a savage roar, she smashed her human hand through the floor—almost as if in protest. No, no...please, not here, not with his parents...please no. When she felt hands touch her shoulder, it was like a bucket of ice water had been splashed against her. It hurt, but it was relieving at the same time. The pain in her head subsided and the fever she felt flushed away with the water. When she looked up, feeling the weight of her exhaustion so suddenly she was about to pass, she saw Maria and Setzer's understanding and sympathetic expressions.

She closed her eyes and let her exhaustion sweep her away from her pain.

[-]

Maria had just finished tending to the girl's bloody hand when Setzer walked into the room with a silence of understanding what she wanted to say but felt she couldn't. She always knew he understood her, even when unspoken. She liked to believe it was why they fell in love with each other. After Kefka, it only took him a year to find her wandering the streets of Jidoor and convince her to attend an opera show with him...from there, they seemed to gravitate to each other. And when he showed an understanding of her character better than she did for herself, she knew she loved him. But at this second, she wished he couldn't, because she felt shame for what she was thinking.

"Maria," he said, softly, coming over to take her hands away from her task. "Don't put yourself through wondering if it is true or not...whether it is or not, we can't change it. If our son feels he isn't ready to take on marrying and loving a girl, then that is just how he feels."

"And if he didn't write that letter?" she asked, crying. "What could have happened?"

"You know what could have happened," Setzer answered patiently. "One day...should we figure out that our son was taken away against his will...I will personally confront the king on why he felt he could do something so horrible to his own sister. But for now," he released her hands. "we need to figure out what to do about our son's fiancee."

Maria sighed. "Cambyses ordered us back as soon as we drop her off."

"He said we could decide for ourselves what to do once we return," Setzer clarified.

"It isn't right leaving her here by herself even for a week. It isn't."

Setzer nodded, unable to disagree. He felt all sorts of shame and pity when he was told the plan; to show Emma where everything was and then leave her for the week. He wondered exactly what the king was planning having them return just a week later. If it wasn't so important they had to stay in Figaro for long, why did they have to return in the first place? It was clear Emma was going to need someone with her...so what was the king thinking?

"Maria...I have decided that I will return and stay with her."

She looked up at him, confused. "But what about our sons?"

"It won't be long, I hope, and I will see them again and will have my visits. But this girl needs someone...needs us. I know it isn't right to stay with her and leave our children in Figaro, but they will have you in my—"

"If you are going to stay with her, then I will too."

"Maria, that's—"

"If our son really left her, then I won't. Not until she can fend for herself...not until she has healed. I will ask Celes if she can take our boys in while we are gone...she has always loved them."

Setzer chuckled. "Except for their endless attempts at wooing her daughter?" his wife giggled. "Alright then...when we return to Figaro, we will let Cambyses know out decision. In the mean time, if you have finished here, please retire and get some rest. I will fly us to the location from here on by myself."

Maria allowed him to help her up and then kissed his cheek. "We will need to talk about this with her sooner or later too..."

He nodded. "I know...I know."

---

Cambyses wasn't sure how to approach Alexander now. He knew he had to let the man go, but he knew that he would go directly to his parents, to Cadence, and tell them what had happened. And then they would bring him to her—and that simply wouldn't do. But what to do? He took a breath and opened the door to the holding rooms.

He was slumped against the back wall of his cell, watching the roof with an expression of utter defeat. Cambyses figured he heard the engines of the ship fly over head and stopped himself before the cell bars, several feet out of reach. "I told you before this isn't permanent."

Alexander lowered his eyes to the king, eyes a furnace of rage. "You better not release me from this cell Cambyses, because if you do, I will find her."

"I was thinking about just that actually," he said, stepping back when the young pilot rushed to the bars to grab at him. "My guards will take you to Tzen and hold you there for a month or two...until I feel like the time was enough to repair my sister."

"You coward," he growled, hands tightening around the bars. "I know why you are really doing this."

"Oh?" Camb mumbled, amused. "Then enlighten me Alexander—why am I doing this?"

"You are afraid that she will come to love me over you," he answered, smiling proudly when Cambyses' smirk faded into a serious frown. "You are afraid that if she loves me, she may not wish to put up with your bullshit any further—to stop forgiving you for the horrible things you have done to her."

"I worry she will wake one more and hate me...that much is true," Cambyses muttered as his expression went back to a lively color. "But I don't worry she will love you more than me...I worry she won't love anyone as much as she loves her family."

That seemed to surprise the captive man. "Then why are you doing this? She said she loves me Cambyses..."

"Because I don't trust that she knows herself enough to realize how she feels," he explained. "She could be convincing herself to love you, or she could be telling herself that you are all she has and will ever be able to have...the thought of her settling with someone she doesn't truly love for whatever reason terrifies me, because I know it would slowly kill her. Why can't you understand my worry? Why can't you realize a month or two away is not going to kill either of you? I...I just want to be sure that you are good for her and that she truly loves you."

"You don't have to do this for your worry," Alex said. "You can achieve this without holding me away from her or her away from me."

"How? By asking her? If she doesn't know how she feels, or is lying to herself, how can the answer be trustworthy? No...this is the only way." he called in his men. "Be sure to be discrete. My wife has a keen sense of suspicious activity, and if she finds this out, she will rack me over the coals. Be sure that he is not treated like a criminal at Tzen, either." the men started to fumble with the cell locks.

Alexander watched them dreadfully. "Cambyses?" the king looked back at him from the door. "Will you update me...on Emma, I mean?"

Cambyses nodded. "I will Alexander...I will."

---

Emma groaned and lifted a hand to her hand, flinching when her hand stung more than her head. She opened her eyes and saw an unfamiliar wooden roof with a spinning propeller like device slowly rotating at the center of the roof. She lifted herself up and was greeted by even more unfamiliar things; a large room that had been rounded off with a large window to the left (currently opened to the sun and weather, which was fair) and a large oak door to the right. There was one wall length dresser merged with a book shelf ahead of her until it broke off for a closet and then to the left of it, to another room. The bed itself was huge, large enough for three people at least, and covered in her Thamasan silks. At the foot of the bed, her chest.

She blinked, confused. It took her a moment to realize she might be in her "safe" location. She carefully lifted her hand to inspect it; it was wrapped perfectly but blotches of blood had oozed through it from hours of battle. Suddenly worried that the person who carefully wrapped her hands was no longer around, she looked up toward the door, tears in her eyes, and weakly called out, "Is...is anyone there?"

There was no answer.

She pushed her blankets off and laid her feet on the cold wooden floor. For half a moment she waited, trying to build up her courage, before she pushed herself up and quietly walked toward the unfamiliar. The door opened out to a long hall that closed off relatively close to the right by two more rooms and then to the left it met a flight of stairs. Although the hall was dark, she could see faint light come from the staircase and pressed onward to its source. She couldn't hear anyone speaking but she could hear the sound of something popping and smell something cooking. Someone had to be there, right?

At the end of the stairs she stepped into a large main room where two sets of sofas sat before a twenty foot wide fireplace of stone and a oak table. The cabin walls were covered almost entirely in decorations and books and paintings, until it stopped at the door to the left (where it led out toward an open field of green grass and forest) and then again to the right, but into the room where the sounds and smells were coming from. Beside the fireplace was another hallway, this one shorter and narrow and to the left yet another hallway with several doors.

She turned her attention to the room with the sounds and smells. "H-Hello?" just as she was about to enter the room, someone called her name from behind her. She startled so fast that she nearly fell backwards. The woman who called her giggled and helped to steady her.

"I'm sorry Emma, I didn't mean to scare you dear. And what in heavens are you doing out of bed so early?"

Emma blinked tears back at Maria. "You...you didn't leave me?"

Maria's expression softened. "Oh dear...please, come with me so we can talk. Setzer is preparing something for you to eat in the mean time. Come on now, come on." she carefully guided Emma away from the kitchen toward the sofas. Emma tiredly wiped at her tears, mostly irritated at them, as Maria fixed her a cup of warm tea from the kitchen. When she returned and forced the warm cup into the princess' hands, she started to explain.

"We are not going to leave you here alone, I promise dear girl. However, Setzer and I need to return to Figaro tomorrow for a week. And a week only, I promise. Then we can return and think on what to do after."

A week seemed too long! She didn't want to be here all alone. "J-Just a week?" Maria nodded. "And then when you come back...how long until I can r-r-return home?"

Maria frowned. "I'm not sure...it depends on if your brother can deal with Derell. I'm not going to lie to you...I don't think this is something your brother can handle in just a month or two. It may take him a year or two...maybe even more."

"A year?!" she cried out, dropping the cup and she stood, breathing shallow. "No! No!"

Maria stood to calm her down. "Listen to me Emma, your brother is doing everything that he can do—"

"I don't want to be here for a year! I don't want to be here for a day!"

"I know that dear, but you must—"

"I don't care what you have to say! Just tell my brother I want to go home! Tell him!"

Setzer came into the room to come between them (or rather just Emma) and to control the situation. He understood the girl's frustrations and pain, but he could not condone someone treating his wife like that. "Apologize to my wife for your tone and behavior this instant."

"Sezter, it is alright, she didn't mean anything by it."

"In this world such disrespect deserves an apology," he explained, turning his purple eyes to Emma again. "You were short with her and rude...you know it."

Emma looked at Maria, flabbergasted as to how her she was being rude but aware by the stare she was given by both that's how it was taken. She wrung her hands together, flustered. The voice in her head was getting annoyed.

They should apologize to you for their son, the voice growled.

"I'm...I'm sorry Maria." she offered the woman, angering the voice. Maria smiled and told her it was okay. When her stomach growled, Emma blushed. "Can...can I still eat?"

Maria giggled. "Of course."

Breakfast was served over the oak table before the fireplace. It consisted of sweet bread, eggs, bacon, apples and other fruits, as well as some vegetables. Setzer wasn't entirely sure what to cook for her, only aware that Edgar directed him to "stuff her as much as he could", but since he wasn't sure if fattening foods was acceptable he just rummage through the supplies for the healthiest but tastiest stuff. Emma didn't seem to mind it at all. She ate with much enthusiasm, stuffing bread slice after bread slice into her mother with abandon.

Maria asked her to eat the eggs and bacon first, but she continued on until the bread was gone before she went for the other food. To Setzer's astonishment, the girl had finished everything but the sliced eggplant. By the look of her, it was certainly welcomed, but to eat so much food...well, he never thought to see the day a girl her size could, or would he supposed.

"Now that you are awake, we can show you around the cabin."

Emma looked over at Maria. "Can't we do that later?"

"Delaying it won't change that we have to depart Emma," she answered softly. "Better you know the workings of the house from the start then to figure them out while we are gone when you are in need."

Setzer sat aside his cup. "Maria is right. You have to be prepared...we can start with the kitchen."

Emma didn't really like the kitchen much. It wasn't that it wasn't pretty or endearing, it was that she knew she wouldn't use it. She didn't know how to cook anything really, and couldn't recall a single time where she had to cook—not even in Alúzar. She voiced that to them, but they didn't seem to care much for it.

How do they expect me to eat?

The next room they showed her was the garden, which she found far more appealing than the kitchen. They currently had imported all of the vegetables she would need or wanted. At the moment, she saw pea stocks and bushes of various berries. She plucked at them when Maria and Setzer wasn't looking (they were explaining things she wasn't listening to) only to be caught when Maria suddenly turned and saw her stuffing a few of them into her mouth.

She laughed and laughed, and once he was filled in, Setzer laughed too. "You are still hungry?"

Emma blushed. "N-n-no, I just...wanted to taste them." she knew they could tell she still felt hungry, that her lie was half baked. And wanting to avoid further teasing, she asked if they were done here. Thankfully they weren't persistent on teasing her and guided her through the house to the next room.

It was a large room—a library of all things! The shelves ran straight up to the roof and each shelf was stuffed full of books, and was made accessible via a moveable ladder. The center of the room was filled with small tables and chairs, to sit and read, as well as some sofas by the windows and in front of the fireplace. Emma was so enchanted by the sheer volume of books that she missed the chalkboard hanging on the wall beside the door that had been scribbled on to showcase a large list. But when she turned to face Maria and Setzer to attempt to communicate her appreciation, she saw it and recognized the writing immediately.

Her eyes widened as she came closer to inspect it. It was a list of books, of recommendations, certainly in Alexander's writing. The end of the chalk board said, 'please don't skip—I will know'. She wasn't aware she was crying until Maria asked if she were okay. She couldn't answer—if she tried, she was sure she would answer in pure fury.

"He loves you," Maria said.

"He only left to learn how to love you properly," Setzer explained. "He will be back."

Her brows furrowed, angrily, and she turned away from the chalk board. "That's a lie. Master was right...no one could love a monster." she walked by them silently, ignoring them when they called her back to them.

Setzer sighed. "And here I was thinking how nice it would be to have a daughter..."

Maria laughed.

---

"We are making great strides to replicate their airships, your majesty, but it is difficult from sight alone. Setzer Gabbiani has kept his technology secret for a very long time."

Derell was standing before a table displaying various schematics his engineers and even brought in his best shipwrights, but none of them could figure out how to get the plans to work or how to properly implement Imperial drone and pilot seat technology into such large crafts. Derell knew that if they didn't start producing the airships, they would never win the war, not as quickly as he hoped at least. He also had one other reason for his interest in their production—recovering his lost slave.

"Go over it again and again, and do not stop until you create me an airship."

"Your majesty, it could help if we were allowed access to the under—"

"I already told you never to ask me again," he growled. "Get out of my sight and to work, before I remember the reasons I should kill you." the men scattered quickly out of the room with their blueprints. If he could not have his airships in time, he would find another way to capture the girl, even if it meant dropping all of his forces on Figaro at once in a suicide run. If he couldn't have her, he would be sure to kill her before her family.

"Carvos?" A young man stepped away from the back wall, where he had been standing vigilantly. "Has word returned from the spies in Figaro yet?"

The man was clearly unwilling to answer, but bowed his head in acknowledgement of the question, and out of fear. "It appears...your majesty...that they are out of reach."

"How so?"

"They...they haven't replied to any of our messages," Carvos said, flinching when his king howled in protest and kicked at the table, flipping it.

"They better hope they were captured because if I ever find them and figure out I was betrayed, they will suffer for it! Find someone who is left under my authority and have them report the situation in Figaro back to me immediately. I don't care what you have to promise them you will do it, do you understand me?" the man bowed several times before leaving the room.

For a long moment Derell glared at the tossed table, thinking on what he could do. If he wasn't careful, his son could very well siege Figaro and win the war, and the throne. My son thinks I am not aware of his conniving mind, he thought, turning to the wide window that displayed the courtyard of the inner castle. But he forgets who taught him to think like that...the fool will learn his place. He lifted a hand to inspect it in the sunlight. If my means of power is gone...then I will take power with my own hands.

"Guards!" men rushed into the room. "Bring me Alveri and be prompt about it."

It only took several minutes for the guards to rush back in, dragging Alveri with them. The man was tossed at the feet of the king, as if he wouldn't have done so at his own will, before he bowed his head. "Your majesty! What an honor to be called to your service...it has been a while."

"Enough of your chatter, old man," he snapped. "I had you for one purpose and where has that purpose gone to, Figaro? Where does that leave you?"

Alveri frowned at his king. "I am purposes beyond that of the girl, I assure you."

"Even then it was Johl who conducted most of the research, the experiments—"

"I assure you, your majesty, I was of equal importance to the research and experiments. It was my formula that prompted Johl to stabilize it enough to inject the girl with. I am the one who created your weapon."

Derell smirked. "Are you willing to create another weapon?"

Alveri's brows raised. "I am willing as long as there are test subjects, your majesty. Who have you managed to recover with Esperian ties?"

"No one," he said, turning from the window to face the man. "Your challenge is to make a weapon out of a man...out of me."

Alveri giggled madly, mostly out of shock. "Even if I could, it would be beyond dangerous. I have no guarantee that I can do it, let alone do it leaving you alive...or sane. You saw what it did to the girl the first few months...she had Esperian blood to hold her together, to endure. But you? It could very well kill you the first injection, as it did our other test subjects."

"You will work your formula until it no longer kills the test subjects," Derell commanded. "Once you achieve that, I will take the injections and should something happen to me...you shall not be punished or held responsible. But only have you have stabilized your injections for human consumption without prompt failure. Do I have your attention and devotion now, Alveri?"

The man's lips cracked into a huge smile. "You always had my devotion and attention, my king."

---

Emma returned to her room quickly after the library, afraid that if she stayed behind for any longer she would crack into unpleasant displays of sadness or anger, and stayed there for several quiet hours. She mostly feared the anger, because she knew any ounce of anger brought out her violent voice and she wanted to avoid hurting the few people in the world that did not look at her like a monster, like a thing incapable of human emotion.

But I am a monster... She told herself over and over again, lying on her bed, trying to forget the rest of her problems.

Rejoice it then, the voice told her. Why do you have to make it so hard to be you? Emma didn't know how to respond to that. You say you are a monster, but why does that name denote something wrong, something bad?

Because monsters hurt people, they aren't good.

Who says? The humans who can't be bothered to understand what is different? They would call you and the Espers—and have done so!—monsters as a reference to being the same as those mindless creatures that roam this planet killing and eating people and animals alike. Do you prowl about on your limbs and eat people?

N-no.

Did you bring havoc to people at your own whim?

No.

Then how are you a monster? If they mean to call you a monster like those that do those things, and you know you don't, then their term must mean something new that sprouted from their ignorance—something different. And you should embrace that. If you must be Emma the Monster, be it. Don't let them hurt you or get to you by giving that name power. Let them sling their rocks and build on their ammunition.

Emma squinted at the ceiling, as if she could see the face of her inner voice, a reflection of herself, a mirror of her morphed state. The words given were uncharacteristically profound, oddly wise, yet she could feel the hidden intention behind them. She just didn't know what that was. Still though, she found the words comforting, even if she knew it was unlikely for her to feel as she was suggested to. It wasn't like she could turn off her emotions.

Learn to accept it, to embrace it, the voice suggested again as it faded away.

"...I don't wish to," she said aloud.

"Emma?" a voice asked, muffled, through the door. She sat up quickly, earning a wince of pain, and then watched the doors as if they could part ways and bring her into a hell unimaginable. "Are you awake?"

She sucked in a sharp breath and said, "I am awake."

A second later the door opened and Maria came in with a tray of food, neatly organized and decorated as if to please a child. It stung her a bit to realize the intent of it, but it stung more to realize it helped her ease down from her seat of anger and grief. It was comforting. "I think everyone was feeling a bit...how do I say it...pressed? Yes, I think everyone was a bit pressed back there and provided to the fire equally." Maria showed the tray, as a peace offering. "I was wondering if you could come down stairs, so that we could discuss something important?"

"Why? You two will just leave me here alone anyway, so just go."

"Emma, please—"

"It doesn't matter and it never will, so just go already." she plopped back down into the mattress with hot tears in her eyes. She didn't know them anyway, so why should she be sad or angry over their departure? In fact, she couldn't figure out why she cared so much when their son lied to her just so they could have sex. Frustrated, Emma clamped her teeth together in an attempt to hold back a growl. It was worse than what Derell or Luke did to her because with Alexander, she had offered herself willingly and had been betrayed.

"I promise you Emma...we aren't going to leave you here alone. We just need to return to Figaro shortly, but we will return." Emma rolled her head to the other side, not really believing. "I promise."

"That's what my father said...that...that he would come for me."

Maria's eyes widened in recognition. "Well...this is different. You are not in the territory of enemy forces. We can come and go as please. Now, would you please get up and come downstairs?"

Emma gave a sigh of defeat before following the woman back downstairs, where Setzer was waiting. He smiled and said his comments about 'being glad she's no longer upset' (as if she were being unreasonable) and asked her if she read the papers by her bed in the ship. She had completely forgotten! Hopefully Cambyses would never have to find out. She shook her head but promised she would read it over.

"Good. The information on the list," he handed it over. "is vital to your survival Emma. Do not, for one second, think you can break any of the rules present. If you do, we will not be able to get to you in time of time. Breaking just one of them could lead Alúzar straight to you."

She gasped. "You can't leave me here then!"

"It will be fine as long as you pay attention and be patient. Follow the rules and you will make it through until we come back. Understand?" she nodded. "Alright, now follow me and I'll show you some basics to keep yourself fed."

She swallowed back a retort. He had her stand by the counter and then brought out several different dishes she could easily prepare. Or, was supposed to at least. The first was oatmeal (of course it had to be that) and the second and third was soup and eggs. The last few were several different dinners of slowly cooked meat in pots. It was fairly easy to reproduce and by the third hour, Emma was grinning from ear to ear. She had never cooked anything before! But when she bit into it, she made such a disgusted expression that both Maria and Setzer started laughing.

"It is disgusting," she cried, spitting out the remnants of the nasty meat soup. "I'm not eating this!"

Setzer took the ladle away from her with a smile. "When you think about it, the taste won't deter you much when you are so hungry you could eat an uncooked chocobo."

I would never, she thought begrudgingly. "Why can't one of you just stay with me?"

"We were both ordered back," Setzer explained. "Now I don't wish to discuss our departure for the eighth time today, as it is folly, so please pay attention to what I am saying."

Emma angrily stood aside and watched him cook the last of the meals on the list before taking her to the garden with Maria. "There is an instructional board in the back, telling you how to prepare and raise each food in the garden. It is imperative you harvest and regroup as soon as capable."

"I...I don't know anything about gardening or harvesting," she mumbled. "No in—in—instructional board is going to teach me."

"If you persist, it will," he said, gesturing to the back where the board was. "It is simple Emma. The garden is small, so it should only take a day's labor total when replanting. The seeds have already been prepared for you as well."

Maria tried to smile, to encourage her. "We went through your collection of botany books dear, and applied the rather difficult directions you seem to take to like a sponge."

"I never read those!" she cried out. They had been next on her list in the Academy, for her incredible advancement through the classes, she had been told. But that month she had been asked by Luke... "What if I don't understand them?"

"You are a smart girl," Setzer said. "You will understand them. For now, let us continue. There is much to explain and very little time to do so in. Now, if you would follow me to the water room I can—"

"explain the valve system," she finished angrily, earning a bright laugh from him as he said, 'that's right!' and walked off, expecting her to follow.

After the grueling hours of explanations and exemplary of how things were to be done and never differently, Maria stayed behind while her husband went back to the airship to prepare it for launch. Emma was nervously sitting on the sofa, praying quietly that something would happen to the airship and force them to stay, even if for another day or so. Maria was sitting beside her, humming a song under her breath, as she knitted something red.

The song reminded her so much of some hums and songs her mother had sung to her back in Thamasa and made her recall her pregnancy. She lowered her hand to her stomach and stared through the glass of the main room to watch Setzer hurry about the exterior of his ship doing this and that. A baby...I am having a baby. Derell said I was pregnant at the battle, so that must mean I am further than the two months that have passed. She removed her eyes from the windows to the fireplace, as if it could fuel her thoughts. How far am I? She looked down at her lower belly and saw no swell. She would have thought something would be showing by now if she were beyond two months. She had read the books Cadence had given her, not thoroughly of course due to her lack of time, but she had read some pages on such details.

If only I knew when I last had my monthly gift, she thought, unable to recall it at all. Johl had told her that her monthly flow may not come if she were under mental and physical stress, and that had been months prior to what had happened to him. I could have gotten pregnant any of those times, but it can't be too far back, or why aren't I showing? Her head was starting to hurt from wondering, so she slumped back into the sofa with an agitated sigh.

Maria stopped her knitting. "I may never have had a daughter, but I know that sound." she sat aside her work. "Something else beyond our departure and Alexander is bothering you, isn't that true?"Emma nodded. "And what might that be?"

"I...I'm scared," she admitted, lifting a hand to wipe tears away.

Maria took her hand. "You won't be alone."

"It isn't just—just that...I...I'm afraid of being a mother," Emma tugged her hand away and wrapped her arms around her stomach. "I don't know anything. What—what if the baby gets sick? What if I get sick? What if something happens and I can't do anything? I—I can't even t-t-take care of myself...how am I supposed to take care of a baby?"

"Millions of women have done just this before you Emma. Believe it or not, long ago men would leave the women alone to birth their children—due to strange superstitions and the like. It is in our genes to birth children. When the time comes, your body will respond and you will know what to do, even after you give birth your instincts will lead you to your choices. As they have led millions of others."

"Maria?"

"Hmm?"

"How...I mean how many months do you think I am?"

The woman glanced over and laughed. "Well, you certainly aren't showing yet, so not far at all. If you are looking for a definite estimation, I cannot give you one...but I suspect no more than three or four months. Some women, by the way, do not show until late in their pregnancy. When was the last time you had your period?"

Emma blushed. What did she even mean by that? Before or after she and Alexander made love? Because she had started her monthly gift the day after they had made love. But if she wanted to know when before that, it was harder to determine. She had so many months where she went without that she stopped tracking, until Figaro. She guessed the woman wanted to know before her time with Alex, so deciding the truth was needed, she explained that to Maria.

"Well," the woman said. "It is normal for stress to make periods inconsistent. You don't need to worry about it much."

"Oh," she simply mumbled, sitting up straight. "Maria?" the woman laughed and asked what it was she wanted. "If...if he returns, will you—"

"I will drag him here to see you," she whispered, patting the girl's frail fingers. "Or I'll beat him until he visits of his own will."

Emma smiled at her. "Thank you."

When Setzer finished preparing the ship for launch, Maria said her goodbyes almost as shyly as Emma did. They didn't know each other, at all, but each felt a need to know each other beyond acquaintance. If only for their mutual love of Alexander, of the connection their shared with him in their different ways. Emma had a million questions to ask of her about Alexander, but she couldn't find the courage to voice a single one of them.

And saying goodbye to Setzer was even more embarrassing. He didn't hug her or anything, like his wife so freely offered, but he took her hand and shook it—like she was some respectable nobleman or partner in a business. A man. It embarrassed Emma and she sputtered her replies through a veil of blush. "Now...I know my son has acted, apparently, like a bloody fool but I hope that once his senses return to him and he returns to bow at your every whim—as he should after this—that you will still consider giving Maria and myself plenty of grandchildren as well as being our daughter?"

Emma didn't think her blush could get any darker, but it did. She didn't know what to be more shy about—the idea of making children Alexander, over and over again (and forgiving the idiot) or that Setzer himself condoned it, wished it and wanted her as a daughter. So she just kept her mouth shut on that subject and asked Maria what to do if she got scared right after Setzer left.

"There is a room below the stair case that was designed to keep you safe. It has enough dry supplies to last you months if you need to be locked in, which is of course not going to happen in the span of our absence. We will be back before anything can even be logically possible." and then she dug through a small bag she had brought off the ship earlier and held out a smaller bag. "Terra and I prepared this for you before we knew a week wasn't going to happen. It contains potions to help you sleep if you need it, or dry pills for health benefits. Your mother also included some potions for the Sand Fever, in case you have an episode while we are gone. Unlikely, of course, but still...we can never be too safe."

Emma accepted the bag with a frown. "It sounds like you won't be back for weeks..."

"Worse case scenario," she explained again. "Within the week, I promise. Keep the doors locked and if anyone appears, retreat to the room beneath the stairs." she leaned over to peck the girl's cheek with a tender kiss. "Be safe dear." and then she turned and went through the doors. Setzer opened the ship door for his wife just as Emma arrived at the windows to watch. He gave her a weak smile before heading into the ship and closing the door behind him.

She clutched the bag closer as the ship's engines revved up and the propellers danced against grass and tree alike with hurricane like ferocity. She took a deep breath. One week...that's all.

The voice said, expect the good, get the bad.

---

When news of Setzer and Maria's return reached him, Cambyses prepared himself to fight back his mother and father—mostly his mother, as she seemed to be everywhere he turned. Her continuous requests to bring her daughter back was getting harder and harder to say no too, because it seemed like it wasn't reaching her at all, so he went to telling her 'Not now mother' instead. His father was easier to deal with, because the old scratch was already avoiding him for what he suspected his son had done.

But when he stepped into the aerodome and saw his parents with the Gabbiani couple, he sighed and built up his shield again. Terra turned to him, as if she could feel his presence, and gave him the saddest expression she could muster. "You expect my daughter to stay there for a week alone?!"

"I thought you said someone would be with her," Edgar said firmly, trying to hold back his anger. "Why can't your mother and I move there with her?"

"Because I need mother to continue to instruct us in magics and I need you, father, because you are still a brilliant strategist and my senior adviser. You two are still too vital to leave for months on end, or possibly years." he cleared his throat. "Besides, I have come up with a solution in the aftermath of Alexander's unsurprising disappearing act."

"That is my son you are talking about," Setzer warned, hands tightening around his wife's, in hopes the contact would give him control.

"I apologize for my unfiltered words, Setzer," Camb offered him. "But as I was saying, I believe I have come up with a solution. We need someone with Emma not only to help her with house activities and the like, but someone to protect her as well, correct?" they nodded. "There are only a handful of people outside of close friends and family that we can trust with this task, and all of them are required by my hands. My initial thought was Jacen, but the lad as proven invaluable to my operations, and your sons," he was directing Setzer, "will soon be leading my Airship navy that we are preparing. That leaves Locke, Celes and my cousins, but they, too, are accounted for."

"Wren or Suon, perhaps?"

"Wren has a family, asking him to abandon them in the middle of a war is wrong and Suon is two of our best generals. No, not them."

"Then who?"

"That is why I am here; to ask you all. Who do we know that we can undoubtedly trust?"

"Well, we could stay with her," Maria suggested shyly. "I mean...we wouldn't mind it."

"What about your children?" Terra asked, though there was a glint of hope and gratitude in her eyes.

Maria sighed. "We have thought about it, and we were going to ask Celes and Locke to watch over them since they are needed in Figaro."

Cambyses was quiet for a moment. Maria certainly was trustworthy, and would be a great addition to those around Emma, but she was forgetting one thing... "...Maria, your husband is very much needed in Figaro. He is the senior engineer to our airship fleet, as well as our navy fleet. He runs to and fro supply runs as well."

"Then I will go," she said.

"By yourself? Emma needs more than comfort, she needs someone to protect her as well."

The room was quiet, thinking, feeling hopeless in the idea of finding someone fit for the job. It is a shame we can't risk bringing her across waters to Relm and Gau, but I suppose that wouldn't be wise given the fact that Alúzar pretty much controls the ocean around them. Maybe we could just ditch the idea of the house altogether and ask Qudin to protect her. Their country is vast and their numbers vaster, with loyalty hard to find in others. If he would but say yes...

When he voiced his suggestion, his parents objected immediately. "You would honestly put her in a situation like that? To be protected by the man she has clearly stated she doesn't love?"

"This isn't about love!" he snapped. "Right now this is about protecting her! It doesn't matter if she doesn't love him, or if he wishes for her hand in marriage."

"No," they said, but Terra added, "Besides our objection, she would object as well. You know she didn't even wish to be seen by strangers here. How do you think she will feel being forced into a country full of them? The idea was to keep her isolated from threats and in within the Gazabi castles, there would be many threats. You know there are fractions there that hate Figaro and believe women are nothing more than reproduction tools. Any one of them could spot her and create a problem...or alert Derell."

His mother had a point and he felt stupid for suggesting it now. "Then who else? We are running out of time."

Edgar suddenly gasped. "What about Alexander's friend, Robert? I remember the fellow a bit, and he and Alexander have been close for years and years."

Terra said, "Cadence and Cambyses knows him too. What do you think, Camb?"

Cambyses rubbed at his neck thoughtfully. I don't really know the man...but Cadence and Alexander have been friends with him for years...for as long as I can remember, at least. Can we trust him though? He's made it clear various times he would take any job given the price tag was enough. "I don't know...I mean...can we really trust him with a job like this?"

"I think we should consult Cadence, first, but yes...I think we can trust him, son." Edgar smiled. "And maybe when we contact the young man, he will have some ideas on where Alexander hurried off to."

Cambyses blushed fiercely. His father wasn't truly hoping Robert would know...his father was telling him, yet again, that he suspected something. He cleared his throat though. "Right...I will have word sent out to retrieve Robert before I see Cadence. Mother, father...I trust you can continue the welcome to Setzer and Maria? Good. I shall see you all later." he bowed his head and left promptly.

As he suspected, Cadence thought highly of the idea. She didn't know Robert as well as she did Alexander, but she knew the man to be one of his word even if forgetful of his manners. She even helped find where he had gone, and wrote the letter to ask him to come visit the castle. It took, unfortunately, a week for the later to get to him and another for him to arrive, which meant Setzer and Maria were completely overdue for their return to Emma.

The time grew worry in his parents, but in him as well. He was anxious every day until Robert appeared in the throne room, face covered in a untamed beard and dressed in old, dented armor. He bowed to Terra and Cadence, kissed their hands softly and pleasantly (much to Camb and Edgar's chagrin) before asking what it was he was summoned for.

Cadence started the discussion, to ease the man into agreeing. By the time that she got to the letter Alex had left, Robert was staring calmly at her. "So...you see...we are in a predicament. Until Alexander returns, we have no one we trust to spare to protect and watch over Emma."

"Even if I am to believe Alexander would just leave the girl he loves behind, I say bring the girl back here where you can watch her," he suggested, a bit angrily.

"She is not safe here. There are spies among us, and Derell can easily attempt communication with her in order to trigger a transformation," Cambyses explained.

"Then what do you want me here for? I gave you my suggestion."

Cadence looked at Camb for a moment, and then said, "I would like to ask you...would you be willing to watch over her? It would set my heart, and that of Alexander's I'm sure, at ease."

Robert laughed. "You can't be serious." when their expressions remain quite serious, his laughter stopped. "Me? You want me to watch a spoiled princess? And for how long, exactly?"

"Until he returns, or until it is safe for her to return here. Which means until I have successfully dealt with Alúzar."

"That could be years," he protested.

"But Alexander could come back within the year," Cadence added. "Please Robert...there is no one else we can turn to that I and Alexander trust. We will pay you all that you need."

Robert shook his head and changed his focus to the pillars at his left, as if to distract him from the tiniest fragment of agreeing. He really didn't want to be involved in this, to face a girl he knew would be constantly questioning him about Alexander and his recent departure. He wouldn't have the answers to her questions, to why his friend displayed something so uncharacteristic and vile, especially since he didn't believe his friend would do any of it. Still, as his friend he felt obligation, a need, to protect the girl he loved—which he just found out was also pregnant. And he didn't have to ask if it was Alexander's by the tone they used when they told him. It was a bastard.

The poor girl, he thought, trying to find a way to say no but knowing he couldn't. The guilt would eat him up alive. He took a deep breath. "Fine...until it is safe or until Alexander returns. I will not, though, go beyond two years. Is that clear?"

"Clear," Cadence said with a smile, before descending the stairs to hug him. "Thank you Robert...thank you."

"When do I have to leave?"

Cambyses answered with, "A week ago."

---

Emma spent the night they left her alone in her room. She had gathered what she could eat without cooking and fearfully retreated to her room. She locked the doors and shut the windows and curtains, and then hid away in her blankets. For hours she watched the door and windows, expecting someone to burst in, until her eyes grew heavy and she was asleep.

In the morning she spent most of her time in the room, reluctant to leave, hearing laughter in creaks and yelling in the wind. It wasn't until her stash of food ran out that she forced herself out of her room. The hallway seemed even darker, without end, and the corners looked ready to reach out for her. She sucked in a breath, hoping it would fuel whatever courage she had, and then slipped out. She used the wall to guide her down the length of the hall to the stairs and took each step as if it was her last.

The main room glowed only gently from the morning sun, leaving the half toward the kitchen embraced in complete darkness. It...it just a little dark...no need to be afraid of it. She reached for the tables beside the kitchen entrance for any candles and when she found nothing, she felt her way to the windows and fearfully pulled the curtains all the way back.

The front yard, illuminated by the golden sun arriving over the horizon of forestry, glowed orange and yellow, its leaves brushed across the morning sky with early fall's touch, mingled prettily with the fog that crept out from the forest. Despite its beauty, it reminded her of Alúzar and she drew back from the window, watching the fog as if to see something come out of its mass. She shook her head. No one is here...no one but me.

She went for the kitchen, focused on trying to unfocus her fear, and dug around the lower cabinets for something she could eat without cooking. She found bread and dried meats and different kinds of cheese. She cut a thick slice of cheese and laid it on a piece of bread, covered it in a few slices of dried meat and then ate. It was dry—tasty, certainly—and drier still when she made another. By the end, when she was full, she drank cup fulls of water until her throat wasn't so crisp. When she was sure her hunger was satisfied, she took to exploring the house a bit more.

The room beneath the stairs was locked and unwilling to mess around with the odd looking mechanism beside the door (for now!) she went to the next room. It was a decent sized room, filled completely with boxes of various supplies like farm tools to house tools. She slammed the door angrily and then went to the next room. It too was another small room, though this one was full of boxes of seed and other planting materials. Next she went upstairs and found the two last rooms to be just as boring; one was an extra bedroom and the other undefinable. There was a platform raising out of the floor to the back and before the platform, a row of seats.

She inspected the room closer and found that stepping on the platform, it gave a clear sound, distinctive to that of the ground around it. She smacked her hand against the hardwood, oak she assumed, and smiled at the resonant sounds that vibrated from the contact. She glanced under the platform and saw the beams and springs. It was a dance floor! But why include such a room? She didn't dance, nor did she know how. She stood and scrambled to the surface of the platform and shyly tapped her foot against the wood. With bare feet, she was unanswered. She frowned and moved on from the room to the library downstairs at the back of the cabin.

She ignored the chalk board and went about searching through the lower ends of the shelves for anything interesting. She found so many that by the time she finished collecting a bundle of what to read, the table was stacked cleanly with twenty or so books, all separated into different genres or branches of science, history etc. She read through several chapters of a novel on a Doman man seeking knighthood and several chapters into a history textbook before she pushed the books away in boredom. Now what? She ate, explored her new home and read and read until she became bored with the thing she never thought she would be bored of.

It was going to be a long week, apparently.

And as she thought, the days went on to be more and more boring. It wasn't until the fifth day that she felt oddly well enough to do something that required more energy from her. She raced through the first floor of the house (as fast as she could at least), imagining she was atop a chocobo the color of snow, racing after a dragon over head to his mountainous home stacked high with gold and other precious valuables. In her hand she had a wooden ladle, her sword, and hanging from the roof's propelling fans, was a string carrying a long pillow she stole from her bedroom. It was circling around the room with the aid of the rotor.

She yelled as she struck the pillow with her ladle-sword and turned to continue her assault as the pillow-dragon made around round. It wasn't until she struck it hard enough to tear it free from its string that she stopped with shallow breath and tired laughter, realizing as the fun died away that she was acting like an idiot—like a child.

She exhaled angrily and then threw her ladle at the floor before collapsing into the sofa. If her brothers caught her goofing around like that, she was sure they would never let her live it down. She could hear their teasing now, 'You are sixteen years old but you play around like you are still four? How cute!'. But she was sure that they would have done something like that too if they were in her shoes.

No matter. At least Setzer and Maria would return in a few days and she would have company. Maybe they could tell her stories about Alexander when he was younger, or perhaps even the true events of the Returners and their war on the Empire. It was already so exciting that she started envisioning the things they would say, particularly about her mother.

The final days carried on with laziness. She ate and then stretched out on the sofa or floor under the sunlight of the day and slept away, or read. Most of the books of that time were baby related, or those on geography. She was very interested in the subject, so much so that by the end of the seventh day she had created her own little map of a fictional world following parameters similar to Gaia. Realizing she didn't know what to do beyond that, her interest dwindled back to learning about geographic events and the like.

The next morning she waited for the sound of the airship patiently on her sofa. As the sun started to descend behind the trees and the darkness crept upon her, she thought maybe they were delayed. Until the next few days gave the same results. She was so frantic that during the middle of the night she dug through the drawers for a calendar to mark off the days she had endured, to be sure she hadn't miscounted or misheard. But when she checked off 'Arut 1st', she paled. Two weeks definitely had gone by, without so much of a whoosh in the air.

She threw the ink pen at the floor and then started to rip up the calendar, fury driving her until it was left in shreds at her feet and her breathing shallow. Fine! If Setzer and Maria wanted to lie to her, if her family wished to leave her, if Alexander wished to use her, then so be it! She...she didn't care! Not one bit! She turned on her heels and retreated with hot tears in her eyes all the way back to the main room, imagining all the ways she could make Alex and the others hurt like she was hurting. She was so angry, so hurt, that she didn't even care that she was thinking so much like the voice she normally hated.

Now will you listen to me? You should have killed them all when you were in Figaro; your parents, your brothers, your 'friends'...Alex. All of them.

I don't want to kill anyone, she told the voice, though she still felt the need to make them hurt somehow.

Then make them hurt, she answered, annoyed. Break an arm...or a leg.

Why can't you be useful for once? Emma asked the voice angrily. That seemed to scare the voice away and now she was utterly alone, standing in the vastness of her library. The dim light from outside was streaming across the wooden floor, lowering with each second into night, and with it the cold. She shivered and stepped back, away from the light as if it would burn her, and then sadly hurried to her room. Her only safety in her empty house.

The night was slow and tiresome, and despite being bone tired, she couldn't get a wink of sleep. Not, at least, until the sun started to come out. The gentle orange of the light soothed her fears away. It wasn't until much later in the day that she woke, and not because she wasn't still tired, but because she was hungry. She hated being hungry lately, because she couldn't really cook anything but tasteless garbage. But when trying to force herself to go back to sleep ended terribly, she made her way to the kitchen and shuffled through the cabinets for something she could eat.

She knew what to do. Excited, she dug through the cabinets for bread, sugar and cinnamon. Next she went to locate the milk and turned to sit it on the counter with the rest of the ingredients when she froze. She dropped the glass jar of milk in a gasp.

Standing at the back of the kitchen, near the door heading into the backyard, was a tall stranger. He had dark brown eyes—which at the moment were watching her carefully—and a head of maintained brown hair. He wore unimpressive attire, and a single sword at his waist. His face was square and defined in angles she knew very well; Alúzari definitions.

But how could this be? How could an Alúzari find her so far out? How could the gods have timed it so perfectly for Alúzar? Oh why did she have to be left behind? If she were going to be left behind and found again by Derell, she would have preferred to not have been 'rescued' at all. The wraith she would face...tears started to build.

The man frowned at her. "We have been looking for you—" he never got to finish because she turned and ran out of the kitchen, ignoring the horrible pain in her legs and back at the struggle, until she collided right into another person. She fell backwards, unable to balance herself out, but was quickly caught by the same person. When Emma looked up, expecting to see another stranger, she saw the familiar and kind face of Maria.

Gratitude and happiness flooded through her and she took the woman in a tight, fearful hug and sobbed away. "Maria, Maria, there is—is someone in the kitchen," Emma cried.

"We know," Setzer said, walking out of the kitchen with the stranger behind him. Emma's eyes widened and she trembled to her knees before the man. Maria was so shocked she just stared dumbly for a moment before kneeling to lift the girl up. Setzer looked just as surprised, but the stranger looked annoyed.

"Emma, dear, get up...what in heavens are you doing? Get up."

"Master sent him," she cried as she was finally lifted off the floor.

That seemed to spark something, for Setzer turned to pat the stranger's shoulder. "You misunderstand Emma; he isn't with Alúzar, or Derell."

Emma still trembled in the woman's arms, but said, "I c-can smell it on him!"

"You smell Alúzar on me?" the stranger asked, revealing a deep voice, an enriched range. His mouth pulled into an interested smirk. "That makes sense, given I have been there recently. Trying to rescue you, in fact." She blinked at him, confused. "Oh...right...perhaps he didn't tell you about me." the stranger bowed only a bit. "My name is Robert Volkovska...a friend of Alexander."

"You're...you're not—not from Alúzar?" she asked tearfully. "You're not...not here because of...?" such relief came to her that she laughed, though her crying still continued on. She must look so ridiculous! But oh she was so grateful.

"I am not," he replied, almost coldly.

The hand the girl was holding tightened and Maria said, "Well, you are taking this a lot better than we suspected."

Now she was confused. She looked at Maria. "This what?"

The three exchanged looks, ignoring her presence until Setzer cleared his throat. "There is no easy way to say this..."

"Your brother has decided you need more fitting defense details than established." Robert answered. "And he decided I am the security you need."

For a long moment Emma just stared at him, eyes round with unvoiced objections. Her disagreement was only evident to the fact that she had turned so pale that she looked ready to collapse. "Wh...what?" she looked at Maria. "This...this is a joke?"

Maria hesitated, but shook her head. "I'm sorry dear, but it isn't. Your brother truly feels you aren't safe here alone."

"But I'm not alone! I mean...uh...I'm not—not going to be alone. You...you and Setzer were going to stay."

"That's just it," Setzer mumbled after asking Robert to give them a moment of privacy. The man left through the kitchen. "Your brother needs us at Figaro, or we would stay in a heart beat. We would probably even bring our sons...if they weren't needed either. But this is reality and we can't change it."

"Setzer dear, be nice," Maria chided.

"I am just trying to be direct with her. She deserves it."

"So you guys never meant to stay?" she asked. "Why—why lie to me?" now her face contorted angrily. "I waited for you for two weeks!"

"It wasn't that we lied," Maria said softly. "It was just...changed to unfortunate results."

They could both see the fury building in her. Emma could feel it herself, but she wanted it to grow. Just when she thought the people around her changed, stopped treating her like she was absolutely a hindrance, they turned around and spat back in her face. Her eyes darkened. "Get out!" she shouted, startling the two. "Get out now and take him with you!" she turned and fled for her room, trembling violently from the seething rage burning within.

[-]

"What do we do now?" Maria asked, staring at the stairs, hoping the princess would rush back down and voice her complaints instead of stewing on them. Setzer sighed and paced a short line.

"I'm not sure. We all knew she would take it like this. We knew the possibility of any other reaction was slim if nonexistent. I suppose we could let her anger simmer down, but I would hate treating her like how the others have. It was letting her sit on her emotions that..."

"That what?" Maria prompted.

He paused, frowning. "I think letting her sit on her emotions led her to be so emotionally unstable, so prone to transform."

"But she transformed when she was a small child, didn't she? And had when she was born?"

"Yes, true, but how do we know if that wasn't just because she was a baby? What if she never had Sand Fever and was able to properly exercise her emotions with her family, with her parents? What if she was able to experience the things other girls her age had? I don't think she would be so bad."

"Well, it isn't Terra and Edgar's fault," she replied hotly. "The couldn't cure Sand Fever even when they tried their hardest too. And what were they supposed to do about the children treating her the way she was treated? Imprison them?"

"Heavens woman," Setzer laughed, lifting his hands. "I am not blaming them. I just don't think it is wise to let it continue, is all." he looked toward the stairs with a sigh. "How are we going to handle this?"

Maria tossed her hands up, defeated. "I don't think there is anything we can do about her feelings towards...towards the situation. Terra said she was not going to react calmly and that she may not ever accept this, or rather support it. I think...I think the best thing we can do is help her understand it."

"Alright then," he agreed with a nod. "Who talks to her?"

"Not me," Setzer said a second before she could. She laughed and then sighed. "I'll find Robert...give you some extra privacy. I know she won't speak if she thinks he is still around." he walked over to kiss his wife's cheek. "Good luck, dear." and then he vanished the way Robert had.

Okay...it is just a sixteen year old girl. What could go wrong?

She marched up the stairs and found herself outside the door without any plan. I suppose anything is better than nothing, she thought, knocking. There was silence for a long moment, and then the princess' voice ordered her away. Tearfully. "...please, let me in so we can talk."

"I don't w-w-want to talk to you," she cried.

"I know I hurt you," Maria whispered. "I know I betrayed your trust. But I promise you this Emma and it will never break: I only have your best interests at heart. We all do."

"Go away," she yelled back stubbornly. Maria opened the door regardless and was promptly greeted with tiny hands pushing at her to get her back through the door. "I said g-g-go away!"

"Oh, would you stop that?" Maria grabbed her arms and held her back. "There! Calm down some and behave yourself." her eyes darkened but she otherwise complied, though her tiny hands curled into angered fists at her sides. "Good. Now come sit so we can talk."

"What is there to talk about? I don't want him here, and I don't want you here!"

"I know you don't mean that," Maria said, guiding her back to the bed. "Do you think this was easy for your family to decide, knowing how you feel? It hurt Terra greatly knowing she had to put you in emotional discomfort. And your father? He absolutely refused any other person but family, but your brother told him all of your family, all of our friends, were needed at Figaro. And that is the truth." she paused for a moment and then said, "Do you know my sons were made into Dukes Emma? Alexander had been made into a knight, but Loreto and Angelo were given Dukeships."

Her pales eyes definitely displayed shock.

"Now they are running to and fro Figaro to their castles, helping your brother and building up new points of defense across the country. If they can rebuild or get men situated into even their castles, it would mean strongholds against potential insurgents or attacks from Derell. And Jacen? He is practically your brother's Right Hand, and a Duke himself. Benjamin is helping train soldiers in the Veldtic methods as well as Figaro methods, and that takes time. Setzer and I work our days off building, arranging, and fixing the airships and submarines. As well as gathering supplies. And our sons stretch themselves thin to help with that, too."

"I...I didn't know," she mumbled, hurt.

"This decision was made with great caution," she went on. "With great concern for how you felt...but reality puts our backs to the wall. I know you are uncomfortable with the idea Emma, that it scares you to even be around us, but this...this is necessary. I hope, at the very least, you will give this a chance." Emma looked away, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. "Would you please give him a chance Emma?"

"You don't understand..." she whispered, looking up at her. "I can't. You...you don't think I want to not be afraid?"

"Emma—"

"I try every day but it comes back to me. I can't help it. I can't change it. You all say that you are doing this for me, that you have no choice, but who really doesn't have a choice? You...or me?"

Maria was so shocked she just sat there. She hadn't thought about that at all. It didn't change that they had no other other choice, but to hear her say something like that threw her completely. The poor girl...afraid and unable to feel safe, to act on her emotions. To accept everything she wishes to avoid. She knew she had to appeal to the girl, somehow, even if it hurt her for the moment. "You need to think beyond how you feel Emma; think about what would happen if someone wasn't here to protect you?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if Derell found you? I'm sorry and I hope you won't take this wrong, but...you are a weapon to him Emma. If you were to fall into his hands again, there isn't any guarantee or likelihood the world would be safe, or that freeing you would even be possible a second time. You need to also consider the safety of your child. If Derell used you for your genetics, he would do the same to your child." The horrified expression the princess took made Maria regret her wording instantly. But she knew it was necessary for her to understand the importance of her safety, not just for her own sake. "I'm sorry I worded it so strongly Emma, but it is something you need to understand."

"I can't say no, can I?"

"It isn't up to me," Maria said. "But you know your brother. He won't let you."

Tearfully Emma nodded. Deciding she needed a moment to come to terms with it, Maria stayed quiet, listening to the shallow breathing of the girl beside her patiently. "What if he hurts me?" she asked after several moments, and sounded ready to fall apart.

"He won't," Maria assured, taking the girl into a gentle, half hug. "I promise you he won't hurt you. And on the extremely off chance that he does...we will come and get him away from you."

Emma reached to rub tears away from her eyes. "Can—can we send him away if...if...if he's—"

"Yes Emma...I'm sure your brother will send him away if he misbehaves."

She wiped more tears away and then mumbled, "...Maria?"

"Hmm?"

"Can...can you stay with me for a few days?"

Maria didn't feel right making promises or deals she wasn't sure she could keep, not anymore, so she said, "I can try."

[-]

Setzer found Robert on standing quietly on the back porch, watching the horizon as if he expected something to suddenly appear. He had his arms crossed and a stern expression, but otherwise acknowledged the pilot's arrival with a sigh.

"This is going to be hard enough for her," Setzer said, standing beside him now. "So you must tread carefully from here on. Do not crowd her."

Robert shook his head. "I have already been informed. If you expect her to recovery, treating her like this will not help."

"You will do as we have told you." They turned to see Maria heading in through the kitchen, a tired expression written across her face. Her eyes locked onto his, angrily. "She is very afraid and you must be mindful of that."

"Her fear is irrational. I am not going to hurt her."

"You will not say that around her either!" she hissed, eyes darkening.

He lifted his hands in defense, an amused smile crossing his face. "I will behave Maria." he glanced beyond her, curiously. "Where is she?"

"She will be down when she is ready to—" she stopped when they heard movement behind them and turned to see Emma shyly standing at the opening of the kitchen, just several feet away from them. "Emma, dear." she hurried over to greet the girl, to make the situation as comfortable as possible.

Her eyes went to Robert indirectly a moment later, ridden in fear, as Maria whispered something. And then the woman started to lead the girl over until they stood a foot or so away. "Let's do this again; this is Robert Volkovska."

She started twisting her fingers through each other, eyes downcast. Robert took the initiative and bowed his head. "Princess...Alexander told me much about you." he reached for her hand, slowly, and she jerked away to seek shelter behind Maria. He frowned. "It is rude not look a person in the eyes when they are speaking to you, your highness."

Maria and Setzer gasped. "Robert!"

"I was given the position of protecting you," he said, directly her now and ignoring the married couple. "Your brother made it clear I am to do it in the best methods I see fit. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

"I just have a few rules, which are easy to follow. First; when we speak, you will look me in the eyes. I understand it will take you some time, but I want you to try. Second; you will listen to me and not question my orders whatsoever. Third; you are not to step outside of this house without my sayso and presence. The rest of the rules will come later...did you catch all of what I said, girl?"

She nodded.

"Another rule; speak when spoken to."

"That's it Robert, enough!" Setzer dragged him away. "I don't care what Cambyses said; you will treat her with respect and compassion! Or I will make you know the taste of my boot!"

Robert's expressive brown eyes trailed by him to the girl fidgeting beside the pilot's wife. "I am being respectful and compassionate, to the extent in which is required. I am the authority here now, and my decisions shall not be questioned. I do not wish to harm the girl in any way, but this situation requires brute honesty and clarity."

"You can stand to be a bit more compassionate," he growled. "Alexander would not approve of this." At the mention of his name, Emma lifted her head slightly to look at them. "Try to remember what she has been through Robert. This isn't getting over a simple fear...she is trying to move pass years of abuse, of rational fear, of torture."

His eyes found the girl as he said, "I know, and I don't aim to treat her like a glass doll. Now if we are done here, I think it is best we get her something to eat."

Robert ended up leaving the house to give Emma some time to adjust after he was sure Setzer and Maria prepared something entirely healthy (another rule he mentioned before leaving). For a long while she just stared down at her plate of vegetables and fruits, lost in thought. Setzer skidded his chair back to stand and the noise caused her to startle almost completely off her chair. If it wasn't for Maria, she would have fallen straight to the floor.

"Heavens girl, you startle so easily I'm afraid to even let you eat alone."

"I'm—I'm sorry, I'm just..." she hesitated. "I'm really tired."

Frowning, Maria helped her out of the chair. "Would you like me to accompany you to your room, dear?" she nodded, sniffling just gently enough for them to realize she wasn't as okay as she appeared to be earlier. "Alright sweety, let's go."

---

Cambyses had just finished reading a report on the progress of Veldtic training his men were undergoing when the doors burst open to his study and the Chancellor rushed in, struggling to reclaim lost breath. "Your...your majesty! Your majesty!"

"Chancellor, what in heavens are you—"

"It is about Alexander! He's escaped his cell in Nikeah! He took one of the fleet's transport ships headed for South Figaro."

Cambyses swore and tossed aside the report to pace the room, nervously. It was far earlier than he anticipated. Than what he needed. He suspected the sod would break free sooner or later, but he had hoped it would be two or three months after Emma's departure. But on the verge of three weeks? It was far too early. He would find Cadence and tell her everything, and Cambyses knew that once his wife knew, he wouldn't stand a chance of keeping his mouth shut on his sister's location.

"Your majesty, what do I do?"

"Get my wife...I have a secret I must confess to, it seems."

"Are...are you sure?"

He sighed. "As sure as I ever will be, Chancellor. Now hurry please." About half an hour later, when the doors opened and Cadence wobbled in tiredly, he turned to her with a frown. "Cadence...there is something I have to tell you."

---

I hope you enjoyed this remake. It is finally catching up to the latest chapters...yay!

You say Robert's surname as 'Vohl-cove-ska'.

Bad news though: Fanfiction deleted a large portion of my chapters I was writing! Some of which were well over 90,000 words each! I'm guessing that was the problem, because last night I saved it and it had 90 days of life before auto deletion. This is really disheartening, because as You can imagine, 90,000 words is a lot of damn time wasted. It was the newest chapter, not a remake, but a new chapter! :( I'm starting on it anew again...but man am I sad.