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.

35. I'm Alive

Chapter:
I'm Alive

Her eyes slowly drifted open during the light of dusk, and felt as heavy as stones. The first vestige of thought was about how hungry she was, and how painfully her head ached. There was a burning in her chest too, as if she had a cold and could not even cough away the dry, itchy burn that would, no doubt, slowly drive her crazy. Her tongue felt stiff and her finger tips burned at the touch of the fabric underneath her. It was the familiar feel of her bed that made her realize she was in her room.

The room itself was dark, entirely unlit, most likely to prolong her rest. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and when they did, she could not spot anyone else in the room with her. Nor could she actually see if her daughter laid in the crib near the window. She relaxed though, because something in her mind told her it was alright. As she declined into the pillows once more, meaning to close her eyes, the memories of what happened rushed back to.

She sprang forward, so quickly it stung her head, and tore herself free of her blankets. Once her feet touched the floor, she fell forward. The weight of her body was unimaginably heavy, and she knew she had expended far too much energy. She forced herself up though and went for the crib. When she saw that it was empty, her eyes misted over.

Did something happen to her baby? Was she left to defend for herself? Left outside? Did someone come and... no! She had to find her baby, she had to, but before she could attempt to get up again, the door opened slowly.

The light burned her eyes, but she covered them enough to block some light to try to see who it was. The shape stepped out of the light with a sigh and she knew just who it was. "What are you doing up, you foolish girl?" he sat something down and rushed over to lift her by the arms.

She managed to croak out, "Where is she? Is she—she okay?" even as she was forced back onto the bed.

He was silent for a moment. "Aye, she's safe and sound. She isn't what you need to be worrying about right now though, you are, so if you lie back down and rest I'll explain everything to you."

Emma did not care whatsoever about herself, she just wanted to see her daughter. To know she was alright. "Can't I just s-see her? Please?" her begging, she knew, would not work on him. It never really did when he thought she was in grave danger, or very ill. He shook his head. "But...but she's my baby..."

"I realize that, but I am here to keep you alive, remember?" he went back to the door to retrieve what he had sat down and went over to her. "If you eat and rest up some, I can bring her up to see you." He sat a tray on her lap. It was a bowl of stew and veggies, a glass of some weird red liquid and some honey in a small cup. She made no move to eat and he pushed her back into the bed. "Eat. Now. You won't get to see her until you do."

"I'm not hungry!"

"Bullshit," he growled, crossing his arms. "You are always hungry, but even if you weren't, it has been three days since you passed out. You need time to recover and—"

"Three days?!" she tried to get up again. "I have to see her! I have too—"

"You don't have to do a thing," he snapped, pushing her back into the pillows. This time her eyes widened at him. "She's been fed, cleaned, burped and all the rest of the shit you do for her already. So you just need to do what I tell you to do and do not think to annoy me by refusing to comply." he gestured to the food. "So, if you wish to see her, you will eat. Or do you wish not to?" he corked an eyebrow at her, and she hesitantly looked over at the unseemly soup before reaching for it. "Good."

She ate quietly, occasionally glancing up towards the door with a look of fear in them. He understood what the fear was for entirely, but he hoped she had the sense to trust him that her daughter was alright. When she finished everything but the honey, she looked at him pleadingly. "C-c-can I see her now?"

"You still need to rest and..." when he looked at her eyes, he shook his head. He hated how much they seemed to sway him from his better judgment. "Fine, but only for a minute or two. After that, you will lie down and rest. Do you understand?" she nodded hastily and accepted his hand to lift herself back out of the bed. He stood her in place for a moment to allow her to regain enough strength to stand and then held her against his weight to keep her from toppling over.

Their pace was slow and steady, and when they reached the stairs, he wrapped an arm around her to keep her balance. He was sure she'd scream and slap and shove, but she did not. It amazed him how motherly love and fear could drive away her own fears, insecurities and troubles.

A parent's love must be powerful, he thought, glancing down at her to watch her eyes furiously search what she could see if the main room for her daughter. When they stepped into the main room, she looked every which direction but could not spot her daughter. Tears filled her eyes when she looked at him again.

"Where is she?"

"I told you she's okay. She's being taken care of because I had to come and get you—" she tried to pull out of his safe grasp.

"You left her alone?!"

"I didn't leave her alone, you stubborn girl." he snapped back. "And for the love of gods...don't pull away from me like that again! You could have gotten hurt!" she ignored him, ripped her arm out of his and stumbled towards the kitchen. He reached out to grab her but she managed to get to the counter first and use it to support her weight, so he stopped himself.

The kitchen was empty, well, except for the crib that Emma now hurried over to. She lifted Alexandria with a bright smile before she kissed her daughter's cheeks and hugged her close to her. "I missed you," she whispered softly to her. The girl wobbled in her mother's arms, cried and cried, and then settled when she was brought into a gentle rock. "I'm so sorry," she told her through a small smile. "I won't ever leave you again."

Robert looked around, annoyed. Where were the others?! They were supposed to spring out and surprise the dumb girl, but they were nowhere in was when Emma turned her eyes on him, angry. "You did leave her alone! How...how could you?!"

"Now now," he said, lifting a hand to silence her. "I told you I didn't leave her alone and I meant it. The others were here, they just—"

"others?" she cut in, confused.

"There you are, at last," a soft voice called out from behind them. Emma looked behind her, startled by the strange new voice, and stared at the strange, beautiful woman standing in the doorway to the back yard.

"You left the babe alone and she nearly lost it on me," Robert said, annoyed.

"You are...you are..." she could barely speak, and Ultima giggled as she came over to hug the girl. "but—but how?" she croaked as the esper peeled away from her to brush a hand over the baby in the girl's arms.

"It is a very tiresome story," she said, looking at the girl's eyes. "I will tell you soon, I promise, but for now I need to know if you are feeling okay." she reached up to touch the girl's forehead, to feel for a fever. "You seem well enough."

Emma shooed her hand away. "I...I don't understand. How are you here? How...when..."

"Come, put the babe down and we will talk. Robert, would you mind fetching the others while I talk to Emma?"

"Others?" she mumbled, looking between them. "Who are the others?"

Ultima smiled. "You shall see. Thank you Robert." the guardian grumbled as he left. Ultima guided the princess to a chair and asked once again if she was okay before continuing on. "There is not much that I know, but what I do know is that someone managed to free us from Derell. They broke the connection between us, which has freed us from captivity in your minds. Since my shard, and the others', were actually in you, we were freed here. Others...others were not with us. They must have been released elsewhere, probably in Alúzar."

"How did they get freed though?"

"That is one of the things I do not know yet," she admitted softly. "However...you should know that this means Derell was defeated. He's gone Emma..."

Emma could hardly believe her ears. She could not imagine a world in which Derell did not exist. He was a powerful man, cunning and cruel. It seemed impossible and yet...no, she knew it was wrong. There was no way someone could even defeat Derell. And as if she understood, Ultima reached out to touch her shoulder.

"He is gone Emma. This much I know for a fact."

It took only a second of failed attempts at keeping her tears at bay before she was sobbing. She had no idea what to make of it, nor of the conflicting feelings burning in her chest. It was confusing, and frightening. She wasn't sure what kind of life she could live yet without him, without the fear of returning to him, but she wanted more than anything to be able to heal to give her daughter a life that she could be happy about.

And yet, as the realization of what it meant hit her, shame replaced the strange emotions from before. She was too late to offer any assistance to the espers. She had failed them. She had failed Ultima.

"Emma, dear...please, do not weep."

"I f-failed you," she whined, sniffling. "I failed all of you."

"What makes you say such a thing?

"I was supposed to help you and...and I couldn't. I failed."

Ultima chuckled. "You haven't failed anyone, dear, there is still much to do, after all." she said. "Now, the others should be back soon, but you really should get proper rest. Fenrir and Cyclops were very much worried for you, and I promised them you would be well. So we cannot make me a liar."

Emma sniffled and rubbed at her eyes before reaching out to hug the kind esper. Ultima responded by wrapping her arms around her. "Heavens girl...no more tears. This is something to celebrate, and tears are not celebratory."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she said, rubbing at her eyes to clear them. "I know I need rest but...but can you please tell me what happened? What—what you do know?"

Ultima sighed, but nodded. "I think there is no harm in explaining a little, I suppose. Tell me, what do you last remember?" when Emma answered, the esper ah'd. "That's actually good. You haven't forgotten much of anything. You did in fact hear Derell; it was not your imagination. That was when our link was being severed. When he was dying. I could feel it, and I tried to warn you but I was severed from you before I could explain. We will start from here in the explanation."

---

After being torn from the princess, he never thought he would be glad to see the shores of Figaro or to feel the burn of its heat on his skin, and yet here he was—gloriously excited. His family was here, but beyond that, this was where he had first met Emma and this was where he would be led back to her.

For once there was clarity to his life, no more ill-favored clouds to fog his future. He knew what he wanted, and he was happy. There was no doubt in his heart as to what he had started planing the moment his feet touched soil; he would march straight into the castle and find the royal family, or rather Cambyses, and demand they lend him a ship so he could fly directly to Emma. From there it would be smooth sailing—a life with the girl he has loved, raising a family of his own. He would lavish her with kisses and hugs, presents, poems, sons and daughters and all the loving she would accept.

Jacen informed him that they would take birds through the desert to ease their return home and was very grateful for it. As the young man estimated, it took only a day to cross the desert with their stops for noon rest and their night rest and supper. By dawn they could see the towers and turrets of the castle lit with torches and hear the sound of distant dogs barking. The giant southern gates stood high above them, casting a cooling shadow twenty feet tall across the golden sand.

As they approached the gates with their large company, they were forced to stop and explain away all the odd people, the Espers. They also had to tell the soldiers and scattered few who came from the city and villagers that they would need to seek an audience with the king or the chancellor to get detailed answers before they continued on.

They were stopped at the inner halls outside the throne room, with the hundreds of espers in tow, all nervous, hungry, and tired from their suffering and long journey. The soldiers that stopped them were very familiar to Alexander and after a moment, he realized who they were; Wren and Jakle. They did not seem to recognize him whatsoever though, and it both annoyed and amused him.

"General," Wren said, surprised. "We...we weren't expecting you back so soon and..." his eyes went nervously to the incredibly strange and fascinating group of beings behind her. "well..."

"Tell the king we must see him in the great hall and quickly."

"I'm sorry general, but the king is currently in a meeting with—"

Relm stepped forward to speak. "Tell Cambyses to get to the great hall now or so help me!"

"Commander," Jakle said, startled, because he hadn't noticed the woman at all. "We would like to do as you bid us, but we were given strict orders to delay any requests until the meeting was over. He's currently in delegations with the sea lords holding Brud." that stifled them into a quiet.

"What happened to his sue for peace, for negotiations?"

Wren looked at Celes. "One of Lord Eddard's naval officers caught sight of a strange ship sailing east, to the Veldt. They intercepted, thinking it was a pirate ship, when they found several armed men and Brud inside. They took him prisoner, sank the ship and sailed back to Sarton immediately to tell us."

"And who is in there with the king right now?" Relm asked.

"Lord Eddard's son, Brandon, and twenty naval officers under him. He has Brud imprisoned below right now, across from Barkov."

Alexander could hardly believe it. The timing was so...so strangely perfect. Barkov and Brud, in one place, and Cambyses? It was as if the gods wanted to personally show him that they were real, that they had justice in mind for those who wronged Emma.

"Inform him then that Celes Chere has returned and is seeking immediate attention with classified information." Celes told them. "Surely you are permitted to do that?"

Wren considered it for a moment before nodding. "I will see him now. Jakle, escort the general and commander to the great hall with their guests. I will bring your request to the king." he bowed his head to the ladies and scurried into the throne room. Jakle led them quickly through the castle corridors to the great hall and even helped move furniture to allow more space for the espers, before he went to find a chef to tend to the hungry and weak.

Alexander took the moment, while Celes, Relm and Sabin were distracted, to slip away. Or, he tried to. Just as he reached the double doors leading back into the halls, someone grabbed his arm and held him in place. He glanced back, catching the face of Jacen. "Let go Jacen, I have places to be."

"I realize, but I thought you'd want to know some of the espers said Emma's name."

That was something he wanted to know about. He faced the lad. "What did they say?"

"I have no idea, they were speaking another language," he said quietly, gesturing with his eyes towards a small group of espers lounging about at a corner to their left. "I heard one of them say her name twice."

"Do you recall any other word?"

Jacen thought and then said, "I heard something like 'akos'...I think." Alexander swore and told the lad to wait while he investigates. He quickly approached the small group, who were in the middle of a conversation.

One of them, squatting, looked like a feline and was talking rapidly. "Hass tavan vo dat gresha jahot͡s ella. Dat sallan dat isson."

Anther esper, tall and slim and adorned with pretty grey scales looked at the esper squatting with a deep frown. There were recovering scars over its body, though Alexander had no idea if it was caused during captivity or prior. "Pavtra leeta ellar ober ryut baat?" its voice was feminine sounding.

The esper that was squatting said, as it rose, "Ay zlani dat humosa tava 'Emma'." there was no doubt now. They were talking about Emma. As soon as he heard the exchange, he pressed toward them.

The last esper in the group, a short thing that resembled a ram of sorts, looked at its feline looking friend. "Ay batri ellas amari baat?"

"Dyet, dat humosa oyap kist ellar." the feline esper responded with a shake of its head.

The scaled one said, "Ay toova en daseka Hashmal kelda ulasi. Ay rii dase della mana."

Alexander was standing by them now, and they all stopped almost nervously. The feline esper kept a sure eye on him, annoyed more than nervous. Alexander glanced between them before asking, "Do any of you speak my tongue?"

The feline esper growled. "Vat asunlant hume, ula nosh ditaka."

Alexander tightened his hands into fists at his side and took a deep breath. He had to remember they had only just found freedom, after who knew how long being exposed to torture and experimentation. They would be easily angered, and very reluctant to trust. It was only natural and was expected. He had to remain calm. He had to remain understanding.

He offered the feline esper a soft look but said, "Ay chit aku it seeda it katra dava a tro katra nosh tavanka vo dat voring ponbas atina katra batari vo ellar."

The espers looked startled that he not only could speak their language, but by the realization he had heard everything they said and maybe even more. The feline esper bowed its head apologetically towards him. "Forgive us, hume. I am Khaj, and this is Sylph and Vurin. We did not know you knew our tongue."

That is clear, he thought bitterly. "It is forgiven, but please tell me how you know of the princess."

Khaj looked at his comrades quickly before saying, "We saw much while held captive. The girl was there, many times."

They must have seen some of the experimentation done on her, he thought, suddenly sadden. Not only did the espers have to be subjected to the torture themselves, but they had to watch their comrades and a girl suffer from it too.

"If you should remember anything you think we might need to know, please tell us."

Khaj's brows dipped. "Why would you or anyone other than the king need to know about the girl?"

"The girl is my sister," a voice said from behind them. They turned to see who it was, and Alexander rolled his eyes. Benjamin. He was dressed in lordly attire, though it was strangely lacking the typical Figaro pins that designated royalty. His eyes went over the espers quickly. "And if you know anything about her time under her captivity by Derell, it could potentially help us counter any future methods of mind control he was working on, or perhaps strengthen my sister's transformations."

"If we remember anything of use," the esper mumbled before slipping away with his friends. It took a moment before Benjamin faced him, and Alex knew just by the look in the young man's eyes that he was not recognized.

"Tell me stranger, who are you and why are you here?"

Alexander snorted. "This is perfect," the moment he spoke Ben's eyes widened. "You didn't recognize me. Am I truly one so easily forgotten?"

"Alexander," he whispered, blinking dumbly. "but...but how..."

"That doesn't matter right this second. Where is your foolish brother?"

"Benjamin! There you are!" Celes came charging through the crowd of espers to grab him tightly around the arm. "Where is your brother? Shouldn't you be on his council?"

"I was," he said, tugging his arm away. "Never mind that though! You should have stormed in to tell Cambyses Alexander is alive! This is incredible news!"

"There are more pressing matters than my life," he grumbled, but Celes disregarded him.

"I could not very well charge into the throne room with hundreds of espers in tow, while he was in a vital discussion." he quieted in agreement. "There is more that needs to be discussed and done so immediately. You must fetch your brother and bring him here immediately."

"I will go now." he turned to leave but stopped and said, "My mother and father will need to be informed of this. Hashmal too."

The name sounded familiar to Alex immediately. Was that the name the espers used earlier?

Celes sighed. "I had forgotten about Hashmal..."

"Cambyses has named him our ambassador to the espers," Benjamin said. "You will be able to find him in the east wing, in the old study. It has been reworked for his office."

"I will handle that then," Relm said, casually walking up to them. "I need to have a word with him too, so it is perfect timing for me."

"Then I guess I'll go talk to my brother," Sabin said, who had been standing behind Relm. "Celes, would you join me?"

"I would say yes, but someone should remain with the espers and I suspect that Alexander here wishes to see his own family before anything." she looked at him, knowing she did not have to ask. He gave her a small appreciative smile. "Besides, if Cambyses arrives before we reunite together, he will need someone here to explain the situation."

"It is settled then," Relm said. "Benjamin, hurry along." within a moment the room was cleared by all but a few soldiers, Celes and Alexander. The general reached out to stop him from leaving.

"You need to hear me and hear me good," he paused, a little worried by the tone she was using. He knew Celes was not one to speak so emotionally. Not so easily, at least. "If something should happen, and someone tries to keep you here, promise me you will fight your way to her."

Alexander gently

removed her hand from his arm and said, "If someone is fool enough to stop me, they best be ready to kill me, because short of death nothing will keep me from her again. I have vowed it and so it shall be."

Celes nodded. "Good...now go. You have much to do before you leave Figaro." he left her then, quickly digging his way through the espers to the other door of the hall.

••••••••••••

Alexander knew by Cadence's absence that she was off tending to her baby, and most likely was not disturbed by soldiers to give her the news, so he made his way to her first. Something told him that if anyone was going to tell him what was going on, specially with Emma, it would be her. He also believed she would be able to help him talk to his parents and formulate a plan on going forward.

He did not find the queen of Figaro in her chambers, the library, great hall or even the royal quarters that Cambyses and Benjamin stayed in when they were babies. Instead he found her in the garden, quietly sitting beside the pond. Beside her, sleeping peacefully on a wool blanket beneath the shade of a tree, was the babe he was told about.

He took a breath first and approached softly, keeping in mind that his appearance would startle her if she didn't recognize him. Which apparently was very easy to do now. He cleared his throat to catch her attention. When she glanced over at him, her eyes widened and she hurried to her feet.

"Alexander?"

He smiled. She and Jacen were the only ones so far to see it was him even with the beard and complexion changes. "Cadence...it is good to see you. It has been a long time." she rushed toward him and took him into a tight hug. When he heard her sobs, he frowned and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry for disappearing, Cadence."

"How could you!" she demanded through a hoarse cry. "We thought you died! We...we were going to have a funeral!"

"I'm sorry, I was..." he hesitated. "I was not someplace where news could easily reach me. If I had known you all believed I was dead, I would have sent word to Figaro, or to Maranda."

She leaned away and slapped at him. He flinched. "How could you do it to Emma! Of all people!"

"I would not have been able to reach her without my father's airships, at least if I didn't intend to lead our enemies to her. Your husband knew this, that's why it worked." he all but snapped, causing her to look away. "I was under the impression she just believed I left her, as Cambyses forced me to write."

Cadence was quiet for a moment, and then said, "You need to see her Alexander. Now."

"I know," he said softly. "There are things I must do here first, extremely important things, but I will head out as soon as they are settled."

"What things?"

He wondered how she'd take the news of what he did, or rather, what nearly happened to her brother. Deciding to keep that bit of information away from her, to protect her and Jacen's pride, he said, "When your mother and Relm assaulted the Alúzari capitol, I bumped into them there. We shared the same purpose of defeating Derell, it seems."

"You bumped into my mother?"

"Well, not your mother, but your brother. He had found the laboratory that Derell was using to store the espers. While he was freeing them, distracted as he was, Derell had caught him." this caused her to catch her breath, terrified. "I stepped in just in time, do not worry."

"What happened with Derell?"

"He's gone," Alexander simply said. "I killed him."

The surprise that passed over her face was indescribable, but the relief that came after made tears burn in her eyes. He let her hold him, through her cries, knowing she needed the comfort. The man had been a great evil, one that had tortured her own husband and then her sister-in-law. A man who had caused so much turmoil across the globe.

"Things will change now," he told her through a whisper. "I promise it."

She leaned away to rub away her tears, suddenly annoyed with herself. "Well...tell me then. Who have you seen so far?"

"Just your mother, Jacen, Relm, Sabin and the espers—"

"Wait, the espers?" she cut in. "They are here?"

"Yes, all of them, and there are quite a few of them. Once we deal with Luke though, there could very well be even more with him and still in the castle. We didn't have the time to conduct a full rescue mission. The attack no doubt was alerted, somehow, to Luke."

She nodded. That was entirely likely. "Then you need to see Cambyses, the king needs to know of this, and then your parents of course."

"I should like to see them before your bastard of a husband, if you do not mind." he said, flinching again when she smacked him. This time the slap had less force, telling him she agreed with him in some way. "Would you mind taking me to them?"

"Of course I wouldn't mind," she said, turning to get her son. When she was near again, she gasped. "Oh! I forgot...this is Henry." she adjusted him so Alexander could see. He laughed and reached down to touch the baby's rather chubby cheeks.

"He's a little fat."

"He's just big," she snapped, holding him close. "That's all. He's gotten his grandfather's unnatural height."

Alexander let her have it. The kid was clearly fat. He chuckled. "As you say. Now, let us find my family. I need to be out of this damnable country as quickly as I can."

Cadence agreed and hurried him back into the castle. She led him through the halls, checking every which spot that the Gabbiani family might have been but their search kept coming up empty. Even their personal quarters was empty. It was unusual. Cadence explained that his brothers were usually in the aerodome, so they went there next.

They found the two fiddling with some strange skeleton of a new contraption, fighting over what they forgot to do before moving forward.

"I told you we needed to properly align the holes. Now look, it is all mismatched! How am I supposed to put bolts into this thing?"

"Any idiot could," Loreto snapped, ripping the tool out of Angelo's hands. "Maybe if you listened to me and did as I said earlier, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

Cadence adjusted little Henry and giggled just before they got into a physical fit over their problems. "When are you two going to admit that your creation just isn't possible?"

"The giro-copter is possible!" they shouted at once, turning to face her and pausing in surprise when they saw Alexander at her side. To Cadence's surprise, the two put aside their fight to tackle their brother in a tight hug, laughing. It was the first time she saw the younger Gabbiani boys do anything like it.

"You bastard!" Loreto laughed, pulling away to punch his arm. "You stupid, arrogant bastard!"

"I told mother and father you didn't go down with that shitty ship," Angelo said with a wide smile. "They are going to be so happy to see you!"

"They are next to be seen," he told them before looking about, especially at their design. "I see you two have been busy in my absence though. I'm sorry you had to take on my responsibilities here."

"That's okay," Loreto said. "We've been having fun designing new ways to help fight Alúzar. Not everything works out though." as he said it, a piece of their contraption fell off. Angelo ran back to it, lifting it up. Both of them were pink. "Well now that we know you aren't dead...can I ask where you were? We sent fliers to every major city and outlying village, nothing ever came up. Except a merchant saying he saw you, but that didn't pan out."

"Well, the merchant wasn't lying. I made one stop."

Cadence looked at him. "Where?"

"It can wait. I would rather not have to repeat the story, as I need every minute I can get. When Cambyses is free, you all will hear what it was I was doing, and where I was. I promise."

"If you say so," Loreto conceded and then he smirked. "I almost didn't recognize you with that beard."

Angelo said, "You kind of looked like grandfather with it." Alexander laughed. Their grandfather, on their mother's side, was a bitter old man that he was constantly told he looked almost exactly like. He didn't know how to take it, compliment or not, so he just passed it off.

"Do you two think Emma will like it?"

As Cadence laughed and said, "Maybe if you tame it some!" the two yelled, "She would be crazy not too!"

"Alright, alright," Cadence said, still smiling. Henry got fussy at the noise and was squirming about in her arms. "Alexander should go see your parents before he's drawn back to the king. Where are they?"

"Same place as usual when they aren't here as of late; the chapel." Loreto muttered, knowing it would upset Alexander to know the pain and worry he caused their parents. "Are you headed to the throne room after mother and father?"

"Yes. I should think everyone should be there for it."

"I should get Edgar and Terra then," Cadence said.

"No need for that. Someone is handling it. Just head there with Loreto and Angelo. I'll go get my parents." he hurried off before any of them could press him for more details. If he remembered right, the chapel was in the northern tower, just passed the tranquility stone garden.

When he arrived, he found the chapel empty save for his parents. They were sitting on a stone bench together, staring up at circular statue decorated with fresh flowers.

"Mother, father," he said, stopping a foot or so away. When they turned, he continued with, "It is good to see you." for the flattest second they did not move, but then his mother burst into tears and rushed toward him. Her hug was as bone-crushingly tight as it ever was, maybe even tighter. She sobbed and sobbed and refused to allow him to move anyway, or for her husband to get a chance. "I'm fine, really." he told her so that she would release him.

"How dare you do this to me!"

"I'm sorry," he offered, but it did not help.

His father shook his head. "It was irresponsible of you to even sail on that ship alone, let alone refuse to send word to us. Absolutely irresponsible."

"I didn't think anything of it," he said, forcing his mother away. "I really am sorry that I worried you all, but I was not in a place where I could easily reach you."

"Are you going to tell us where you were? What you were doing? At the very least?"

Alexander looked at his father and sighed. "I will, soon, just not now. If you head to the throne room and wait with everyone else, I will tell you all."

His father crossed his arms. "Oh no, that's not how this is going to go. You don't get to pull the shit that you have and just walk away again. You do not know the suffering you caused this family, particularly your mother, or that poor girl."

"Everything will be explained," Alexander said. "I can't apologize enough for what happened, but I'm not going to stand here figuring out how many times I have to say it. There are important things that need to be dealt with and the longer I am here in Figaro, the longer I am kept away from Emma."

Afore his father could burst out of anger, his mother stopped her husband and looked at him. "Alright Alexander. I'm just glad to have you back, safe and sound. If you need us at the throne room, we will go. Just please...promise me that you will not leave this castle before talking to us."

He hugged his mother. "I promise mother." and then he released her. "I just have one more place to visit and then I will go back to the throne room." once they said their good byes, with his mother hugging him and kissing him all over the face, his parents left.

With everyone sent ahead to wait for him and his parents made aware of his existence, he had one last place to go before he caught back up with everyone. He exited the chapel and pressed on back across the tranquility stone garden and into the halls once more. None of the soldiers that passed him recognized him, though he supposed not many would. He had very rarely gone to the northern reaches of the castle, especially since he did not particularly believe in the gods.

When he made it to her room, he stopped. The memory of the last time he had gone to her original room, before it was destroyed, rushed back to him and he felt sick. If he had fought harder against the council, if he had done so much more, Emma would have never been sent across the sea to a life of torture and degradation. If he had fought harder against Cambyses, she would not have had to disappear again without him, fearing the future, fearing he hated her.

He opened the door hesitantly. The scene was strange, like a scar that barely healed and remained half raw for eternity. The wall had been patched up quickly, bare of any structure. The room had been pretty much been cleared of debris and personal effects. He had thought as much. There was nothing left of her in this room. He turned away with a sigh and started down the hall to the room she had stayed in after her freedom from Derell.

This room was still packed, as if she was just a moment's away, lingering. The bed was made, the curtains thrown open and the chest at the end of the bed unlatched. The tall dresser to the right was still full when he opened the drawers and peaked inside. A few images remained on the shelves and tables, but most had been taken or removed after her leave.

He looked back into the drawers and picked up a silk blouse the color of a Figaro rose and rubbed his thumbs over the fabric, unaware he was crying until his tears stained the shirt. With a gentle sob, he lifted the blouse to his face and pressed it against his face, letting his tears fall.

He failed her so many times but no longer would he fail. He would see to it that she saw her future the way she wanted to. He pulled the blouse away and tucked it back into the drawer, determined to bring her back to this very room. He was close. Luke was all that remained now.

He closed the drawer and left the room.

He walked briskly back to the great hall, wanting to be done with his time in Figaro and off to Emma as quickly as he could. When he threw the doors open he caught sight of Cambyses directing the espers, and the rest of the Returners and their families gathered about.

"I promise you, we will not leave your friends and family behind," Cambyses was directing a small group who were talking all at once, and most not in their tongue. "This was just the beginning. Whoever remains in Alúzar we will free, you must be patient."

Terra was across the room, kneeling to talk with what appeared to be children among the espers. They were giggling and eating candies out of a basket at her feet. Alexander had never seen the expression the old queen wore on her before. It was some deep relief.

It must be good to know she is not the last of her kind, he thought, switching his eyes back to Cambyses as he approached the man. No one seemed to noticed him practically rush the king, not until it was too late. The young king lifted his eyes, caught sight of him, opened his mouth to say something and was thrown to the floor from a hard fist.

The room erupted quickly. Alexander felt fingers dig into his arm—it was Terra—and then when he turned, Cadence slapped him. His ears rang from the hit, but it didn't hurt much. When she went for another slap, he caught her wrist with a laugh. "Come now Cadence, you know he deserves it."

Cambyses was helped to his feet by his father. "He's right Cadence...I deserved that and more." he straightened, facing Alexander. "What I say here will never be enough to make up for all the suffering I have caused you and Emma, I know that, but you cannot tell me I cannot try and apologize and work to be better."

"You have been saying that bullshit for a while. You haven't changed."

"Change isn't as easy as you think it is," he said back, softly, whereas he would have normally shouted it. "I know the path before me is a long and treacherous path, but I am taking it. I will make great strides. I may never earn your forgiveness, but I hope that I can earn your trust when it comes to my sister. I have never meant her harm. I...I only ever acted for her. I know it isn't a justification, it...it is a reason."

Alexander shook his head with a laugh. "We can talk about your self serving, egotistical insanity later. There is far more important things to discuss here."

"And what is that?"

"I take it that you heard?" he asked, gesturing about. "Derell is dead."

"I have heard. It is tremendous news. You have done this world a favor it cannot repay Alexander, but on behave of the Crown, name your price—"

"I don't want your god damn rewards!" he cut in with a howl. "Just listen, you jackass." Cadence reached to slap him again, but he ducked out the way and continued on. "I do not know if Jacen told you, but Derell's powers were greater than anticipated. I'm sure we all thought he acquired the power in Emma through her blood, it made sense, but he was capable of using the espers to instill a great power in himself, despite being a human."

"It is fortunate he is gone," Khaj interrupted.

"The problem is that Derell is not the only one capable of this magic," he continued. "Luke has altered himself as well, using methods that even Derell was frightened or nervous to use."

"What are you saying?" Terra asked, frightfully.

Alexander looked at her. "That he could be tremendously more powerful than his father if his experimentation is successful. I'm talking better than what the Empire did with Kefka and Celes. It would make him a monster."

Sabin frowned. "Are you saying he could become a demi-god, like Kefka could, without merging with statues?"

"No," he said. "I am saying the strength he could tap into is beyond our capability to fight back though. Our magic has changed in unreal ways, hasn't it?" he looked at the Returners and they all agreed it had been changed. "If you all had decades to learn this new, more powerful magic, we might have a chance, but we do not have that time if he succeeds."

"Derell also made a strange comment about Luke," Jacen cut in. "And it has carried with me to this moment."

"He's right," Alexander did not like the sound of it either. "And I do not think we should take light of it."

"You said Luke could be more powerful than Derell, so powerful it could be more than we can handle," Celes said, crossing her arms, looking annoyed. "but how do you know that? And if it is true, what could we hope to do?"

"I know because I can touch the mana of people," he answered her, confusing them all. Except the espers who could understand their tongue, who looked astonished. "That and while I was training, my masters told me this is what would come to pass. And they have never been wrong."

"Touch people's mana?" Cambyses echoed, brows arched. "What the hell does that even mean? And what about these masters? Why should we take anything they say to heart?"

"Touching mana of a being can reveal a lot of things," he answered the king. "It can tell you much, most incomprehensible or impossible to describe on tongue. It is like delving into the minds of a being and know everything about them yet at the same time know the unreal and never ending pool of what is not. I felt Derell's mana and it was wicked, like a wild storm, but it weakened quickly as he waged his storm. It was unstable. It was untamed rage."

"How could you have felt Luke's mana, then?"

Alexander looked at Benjamin. "My masters grasped his mana and fed it to me..." he knew they would not believe what he had to say, but he had to say. "because I doubted them as you doubt me now. I told them they were crazy, that it could not be a man could become so powerful he rivaled a god, and I was wrong. They showed me a future that terrified me to my bones."

"And who are your masters?" it was Locke that spoke, but Alex could not locate him through the crowd.

"They are known to us by many names," he started. "Gods being one of them," that caused a stir. "but they are not gods, though they are exceptionally powerful, they are really the Aegyl. They are an ancient race of magical beings, just like the espers. They were created a long time ago alongside the espers by the real gods—gods that have abandoned us from our continued desertion, hatred, violence and selfishness."

"This is insanity," Benjamin roared. "You expect us to believe you met our gods and then expect us to believe you when you say they aren't real gods? That our 'real' gods fled from our horrors? A god would not fear his creations!"

"Our gods didn't fear us," he snapped. "They hated what we became! They made us, gave us free will to know right from wrong and decide on the correct path, but we have continuously failed them, but make no worry...it isn't just the humans that disappointed them. The Aegyl and espers also upset them, and the Occuria."

"The Occuria?"

"Another set of magical beings that have never stopped craving power and control," he explained. "They are ruthless creatures of hatred. They lust for one thing and one thing only, power, and they will stop at nothing until they have it. They are so powerful the gods could not keep them in check! They are so powerful those most powerful among the Aegyl and the espers feared them!"

The espers started whispering amongst themselves at the mention of the races, clearly terrified by something. "Our problem is Luke. I thought it was Derell, but the man's waning grasp on his limited power showed me I was wrong. Again. The Aegyl warned me that it would be Luke. They showed me, but I did not sense the power in him so I disbelief. I thought the future could be changed but it turned out that I could not feel it because he has been experimenting in a way that greatly perverts the mana in him and around him. I am not strong enough to mark him and watch him as the Aegyl are, but we know where he is and we know that sooner or later, he will come for us." he hesitated. "That he will come for Emma."

"This is all well and good to know," Cambyses managed to say after a moment. His face was pale. "but you tell us of these problems we can't overcome without any suggestions on what we can do."

"Because there isn't anything we can do," he said. "I may be able to fight him, hold him back, but if...when...he gets his power, he just has to wait me out in battle and kill me. My power is strong, strong enough to make a difference, but I am heavily limited to my stamina, which is nowhere near as good as the espers or the Aegyl or soon to be Luke."

"So you do not have any suggestions for us? Why tell us these horrors then?!" Sabin snarled.

"Because we have a hope to prepare with the espers around us," Alexander gestured to the espers. "They have elders among them, so powerful they once served the gods' as protectors. We must locate them and free them and pray they will help us prepare, or help end Luke for us."

There was no reason they had to know about Emma and the role they gods cruelly put on her shoulders, not when there were other ways to save them all. He had made a promise and he was not going to go back on it. He would rather die a thousand times over than ever let Emma be hurt again.

"How do we know where these elders are?"

"I think I can help with that," a voice cut through the crowd. Alexander turned around and saw a large, lion like esper heading towards him. At his side was Relm. He hadn't even noticed the quiet Thamasan wasn't here. "The Lords of which you speak...I once served them, long before the War of Magi. They are; Leviathan, Ultima, Alexander and Zodiark Ashlesha, who once trained the esper you may know as 'Odin'."

"You are Hasmal," Alexander said, not asking. He offered a small smile. "It is good to see a knight of the Lords here. If you know where we can find these espers, please, give us your aid."

"The the one I know walks free right now is Ultima. She has currently manifested physically once more with the princess of Figaro, alongside two other espers, though they are no Lords."

Alexander was not alarmed to hear that all. He swallowed back something he knew he would regret saying and asked, "Do you know where the others are?"

"No one knows what happened to Zodiark, the most powerful among the Lords, but I do feel the ebb of Leviathan and Alexander's mana on this planet. You will not like where they are."

"With Luke," Alexander said with a sigh. "Has he used them yet?"

"There is no way of knowing...he may not know of their existence or their importance, but if he does use them or does find out, we are doomed. We will have only one Lord on our side if it comes to that. Besides, we both know the espers aren't the large contributor to his soon to be growth in power."

"Now wait, back up," Edgar politely moved passed two espers to stand in front of them. "I thought the espers were granting him the power?"

"They are, but the Occuria are increasing the magicite and whispering in his ear on how to better implement the shards into his body without the esper's acceptance. He will overcome that barrier that once stood between all hosts of shards and potentially allow for unlimited magicite carrying capacities. Despite that, the espers themselves are not the root of his power. It is the Occuria. The enemy of life itself."

"That is right Alexander," Hashmal said. "It is the Occuria that grants this man his obscene power and it was Derell that was once their lapdog, but they must have seen something greater in this Luke and abandoned Derell for it. If we ever hope of defeating him and the Occuria, it lies in—"

"We know," Alexander cut in sharply, glaring at the esper. The giant esper seemed to instantly understand, for he quickly changed what he was going to say. "It lies in the Lords."

"Ah, yes...it lies in the Lords united over us. Banded together, they can forge the path through Luke and towards peace once more."

"Then how do we start?"

"I will go to Emma and fetch Ultima," Alexander said. "She will know why it is I will have arrived. I suspect she has been waiting for it, bothering Emma, so she will not argue."

"And then?" Cambyses dared to ask.

"We push full force into Alúzar again and see if we can find Alexander and Leviathan. If we can secure them, I think they can find a way to Zodiark."

"I think so too," Hasmal added. "but let's take this one step at a time. Ultima first, and then the others. However, we will need more than humans and those few with magic to take Alúzar to free the others. It will take a fellowship of humans and espers. I will talk to those here later, when they have rested, and gather as many to our side as possible while Alexander is gone."

"Then that leaves it," Alexander said. "I'm leaving today. I will return as soon as I can, when I know Emma is secured without the espers' aid."

Cambyses asked, "How will you do that?"

"I will handle it," he snapped. "You just do what you do best and leave her to me." he turned to his parents. "I know I only just came back to you but tomorrow I really must go..."

"We understand," he said softly.

Cambyses added, "In the mean time, I'm sure you are tired. The entire second floor is open and so is the third." he faced the espers. "You do not have to help us, but you can stay here for as long as you want. While you are in my kingdom, you will have the full protection of Figaro. I swear it."

Hashmal translated it to them and they murmured amongst themselves, though most of it sounded like worry. Most of them began to wander out of the room, escorted by Figaro soldiers, others stayed behind and talked to each other.

Before he left, Alexander looked at Cambyses and said, "Just so you know...I understand why you did what you did. I do not approve of it, and I hate it, but I do understand. Your intentions were honorable but your methods were not." Camb ducked his eyes, ashamed. "This is how you change and no one said it would be easy." he chuckled. "It certainly wasn't, but loving your sister made it more impossible to not change."

"I am sorry," he offered quietly. "I am, but I know that my words cannot help or change what I have done." he held out a hand, to shake his hand. Alexander hesitated, very much still beyond pissed off, but thought of Emma immediately. She would want him to try. She forgave him, always did, without hesitation. He had to try to. This man was family now. He took Camb's hand. "I won't get in the way again."

Alexander smirked. "You better not." and then he let go and hugged Cadence really quick. "I will see you tomorrow before I leave. And the babe, I promise."

Cadence smiled. "You better see me before you go." she tightened her hug. "Go, get your rest. You will need it for the flight tomorrow."

---

Emma listened carefully to Ultima's part of the story. She had holes in her explanation, parts she could not answer for not being there, but there was much she did know. She explained that if a host dies with magicite in them, the shard is simply pushed out of the body, but since their shards were manipulated into injecting into multiple hosts, the false shards in Derell simply 'shattered', allowing the esper to return to the original shard and manifest, if they could or wanted to.

It meant three shards had expelled from her body with espers strong enough or willing to manifest.

Emma hoped that Shiva was alright, somewhere with other espers, safe and sound, instead of still locked in her body and now mind once more. The thoughts were terrifying. There was a time when she hated the voices in her head, the distinct characters, but now she missed them.

What would she do now without them? The companions she craved her life and finally got, even though they infuriated her a lot of the time, were taken from her.

Ultima, even though she was no longer linked to Emma mentally, seemed to always know what she was thinking. She leaned forward to hug the girl. "We are never truly gone Emma. A bond of loved ones can never break." when Emma did not stop the tears, the esper laughed gently and held her away. "Dear girl...no more of that, now. You will see Shiva and the others soon, do not worry your little heart of it. For now you should concentrate on your darling girl." at the moment the babe had woken and began to sniffle, demanding to be fed.

"but—"

"None of that, now. We will talk more later, when both you and your daughter have truly and fully rested. I have business to attend to anyway. Fenrir and Cyclops have returned and I must speak with them." when Emma perked, Ultima laughed. "Once I am done with them I will send them to see you, don't you worry." Ultima stood and swept the babe into her arms. "Now tend to your daughter and don't worry. The future got brighter Emma and it will not stop with Derell's demise. You must hang on, for a little longer." she deposited the girl in Emma's arms, kissed her cheek and quickly vanished.

Emma didn't know what to do about Derell's death. It released so much fear from her heart and yet at the same time tripled a different kind of fear. Her thoughts stopped suddenly. Was Luke next? What would she do if...or when...he died? Would that be freedom?

In her heart, she wasn't so sure it would be.

She glanced down at her daughter's face, trying to make sense of her whirling emotions. The babe was fussing about, hungry. Looking at the little life she created, she wasn't sure of anything, except for the fact that she would do anything for her. Anything and everything. She brushed her hand over the girl's soft head, touching the golden tuft of hair, and then smiled. With her daughter, she was sure she could find a way to live in the aftermath of the horrors of her life.

••••••••••••

Robert wandered into the kitchen at the worst possible time, he came to realize, for when he was within sight, Ultima appeared in front of him. Her face, as beautiful as the legends all said, was relaxed into a gentle knowing. A tease of a tease. As if she knew something, something dreadfully and wickedly private, and found it amusing. The glint in her eyes was a shine of warning-steer clear and remain away. He tried to turn on his heels and flee, but her hand wrapped around his forearm, stalling him.

"It is quite rude to turn so suddenly away from a woman, dear Robert. Is it that you spent so long here and still haven't learnt proper manners?"

He scoffed and yanked his arm away. "I dabble where I need to. What are you bothering me for? And why the bloody hell aren't you with Emma?"

The smile on her exceptional face grew just slightly. It irritated him. "Why, I just deposited the babe in her arms and bid her to rest after. She has been properly and truly pampered for, if that is your worry."

"Then perhaps you should find the rest of your ilk and gaggle about the woods," he snapped.

"Then it is true," she simply said, following him out of the kitchen. "Aegyl are still very resentful towards espers. We are not the Oc—"

"Quiet, you daft woman!" he spun around and clamped a hand over mouth. "Are you stupid? She can hear you!"

Ultima peeled his hand away. "I should think not. I left her room well enchanted with several layers of protect. It should be enough to dull even her senses."

"It should, but most likely won't."

"Well," she said, crossing her arms, brows raising in the tease that lingered in her voice. "If she could hear us...Emma, dear girl, Robert here isn't human." she even said it quite loudly. He sprang forward, to cover her mouth again. He listened for a long moment, but nothing stirred above them. He released the esper with a swear. "See, it is as I said. The girl cannot hear us, though I daresay she would be too tired to listen in even if the spells were not worked."

"What is wrong with you? You know the danger she could be in if she knew about...about the Aegyl."

"Oh, yes, it seems in our absence your people have found the chair of a god more fitting than the cuffs of servant to a god," she said it with clear distaste in her voice.

"I never pretend to be a god," he answered her hotly.

"Your father and the rest of the Aegyl Wise seem to find it agreeable," she added. "It matters naught if you grew displeased with your self-proclaimed apotheosis."

"I never wanted it," he told her. "but in the end I don't give a shit what you think. You will keep this all to yourself, do you understand me? Whether or not you find it amusing, my father doesn't approve of Emma's existence in the first place. If you threw sensitive information about my people about, he would be furious...likely even to end it before it spread."

"Do not threaten me, boy," her voice had darkened and he saw the anger in her eyes.

"I'm not threatening you, foolish woman," he snapped. "I am warning you! My father does not tolerant the girl's existence. If he finds out she's given information about them—information that could get to the Occuria—he will kill her before the information can get out."

Relaxing, she asked, "And would you simply let him do as he pleases?" he quieted. "Would you?"

"Of course not," he answered her quietly. "I would sooner die than let her suffer."

"Then why should I worry about her concerning your father? Besides, I would say we have enough power here right now to protect her from him. I did not sit on the Elder Seat for no reason. If someone should think to come here for her, they will find the battle a fierce one."

He laughed. "I suppose that's true..." he paused. "I should go, find the others, or join them."

Ultima nodded. "You should. If I am to find the time, I will have something cooked up for her, so keep that out of your worry. Oh, and here. Take this to Cy. The poor lad is dreadfully hungry." she took a basket off the counter and practically shoved it into his hands. If Robert didn't know any better, the woman was desperately trying to get rid of him.

No...just my nerves, he thought, slowly walking away.

Outside, it was relatively easy to track down the two espers. The cyclops left heavy impressions in the ground, and clear signs in the bramble and branches. Snapped twigged, tufts of hair and strangely damaged trees. As hard as he tried though, Robert could not find an impression of the wolfish esper. It was as if he simply floated when he walked.

When he found them, they were paused at a large creak, taking a small break. Cy was splashing rather childishly in the water, grinning wide. His one eye sped about the creak for the tiny fish that hurried away at his disturbance. Fenrir was knelt, in humanoid form, dipping his hands into the water to splash onto his face.

Robert knew it was hopeless to try and approach quietly. The wolf would hear. And he heard.

"I was wondering when you would appear." he straightened to face Robert, revealing beautiful blue eyes and his completely naked body. "Ultima finally kicked you out of the house, hm?"

So...Robert hadn't imagined it. The woman was trying to get rid of him. Suspicion drilled deep into his bones. "If she's up to something, you better tell me here and now."

"She is," he said softly, shrugging. "but something unrelated to the doubt in your gut, so pay it none of your concern. The cabin's borders should worry you."

"There hasn't been an intruder for some time, and they happened upon us by chance. Why are you and Ultima so worried?"

"She has not told you yet?" Fenrir's eyes widened. "Hm. That is strange. I thought she...well, regardless, you need to know. Damn what she thinks." he paused to glare at Cy. "Would you stop that foolishness already? I'm trying to speak here." the young esper paused mid-step, pink. "Now...where was I. Ah, yes. Upon our connection being severed, we glimpsed into the where of our release."

"I don't understand."

"We could see where we were being 'held' for a moment," Cy explained, finding the wolf's explanation unnecessarily complicated. "We saw Derell."

"And what does this have to do with securing the forest?"

Fenrir snorted. "Do you think we were honestly the only ones that could glimpse to the 'where' of the other part of the magicite host? Derell, or Luke, may just be able to do the same thing. Since we cannot be sure what he can do, we must be careful."

"Hopefully it won't come to that," Robert said, realizing the danger they were in now. "Why the hell wouldn't Ultima tell me this?"

"It must have slipped her mind. She's still recovering from our imprisonment."

"Nothing just 'slips' Ultima's mind," Fenrir corrected the lad. "She must have her reasons, reasons I'm sure she will never tell us, but reasons nonetheless."

Robert would have a word with her whenever he could, but at the moment, Fenrir was right. There were more pressing matters at hand. "How far have you two walked today?"

"To the mountains that look like a fist," Fenrir said. "I have been considering splitting from Cyclops, but he's but a lad, and I could not abandon him out here all alone."

"Then my arrival is well timed," Robert said, pushing the sleeves of his shirt up. "I will take a different path from you two. It will allow us to at least cover some more ground before the day is retired. I will go beyond the mountains to the north and east. You two will keep to the west and south. Fair?"

Fenrir gave a pert nod. "It is. Cyclops, if you are through playing like some babe, we must hurry before the light leaves. Come now, out of the water." As the young esper trampled out of the creak, he groaned, disappointed. Robert could understand. The poor kid was probably trapped for hundreds of years in his shard. A moment or two of freedom, to act his age, was certainly expected. "Do not pout. We have a duty to perform. For Emma." that perked the lad up, for he grinned again.

It was then, as they were passing him, that he remembered the basket in his hands. "Cyclops, wait...take this. Ultima told me to deliver it to you."

He peaked inside and smacked his lips happily. "Hmm, honey cakes! Oh, and meat and fish!" Fenrir even perked at the smell but quickly shook his head and tugged the basket out of the lad's hands. "Hey!"

"We will eat soon, I promise, but for now you must focus." and then he started off, slowly morphing back into his favored esper form. The whole way until they vanished out of sight the lad complained.

Robert chuckled, suddenly reminded of Emma. He glanced up at the sky, thoughts drifting from the patrol to the girl and the danger Ultima might put on her by exposing her to the truth about the Aegyl. And the Occuria.

Do not let Ultima be so stupid...

••••••••••••

Emma watched Alexandria drift peacefully into slumber, utterly enchanted by her gentle breathing and the soft smell. She could not properly describe the love in her heart for her newborn. It was impossible. Beyond any words she knew, at least. Was this how her parents felt with her brothers? With her? Was it the same for Relm and Gau, or Sherra? Or her brother and Cadence?

A gentle knock on the door drew her from her daughter. She lifted her gaze just as Ultima entered the room. The woman moved so quietly Emma was constantly surprised. She was not used to not being able to hear someone before they arrived. Was it because Ultima was an esper or was she just distracted?

"I see you ignored my request to rest."

Emma pinked just a little. "I..." she looked back down at her daughter. "I c-c-couldn't so..."

"Understandable," Ultima said, approaching. "but you truly need your rest. You cannot properly mother your daughter if you're needing mothering yourself."

"I'm fine," she told the woman as quietly as she could. "I'm really not tired." that's when she noticed the pitcher and mugs in her hands. "What are you holding?"

Ultima smiled beautifully and showed the bottle to her. "Why I should think you recognize alcohol." Emma's brows furrowed. "Oh, what is it?"

"I know...I know what it is...I meant..."

"I found it hidden in Robert's room," Ultima said, ignoring the unsaid question. She sat the items on the dresser. "He has quite the library of alcohol, you know. It is actually very strange. Who would even need to be drunk so thoroughly so much?" Emma giggled. "Ah! That is the spirit. The mead shall loosen your nerves even more."

Emma paled. "Mead? No, no...I can't."

"And why is that?"

"I...I don't want to drink, that's...that's all."

Ultima reached for one of the mugs and poured some of the mead from the flagon into her mug. "There is a reason to that, isn't there? Tell me."

"I don't like it," she whispered. "Getting drunk. It...it feels weird and it hurts."

Ultima laughed, pausing when Emma hushed her and the babe squirmed for a second. "No one likes the after effects of drinking Emma. People drink for the taste and what comes before the headaches and vomiting, though I daresay if it gets to that point, you simply drank too much." she reached for the other mug and poured a little into it and then held it out to Emma. "Here. Take a few sips. You will find it pleasant enough without the distasteful aftereffects."

"No, thank you, but I'm fine."

Ultima sat the mugs down and stood. "Well...let me just see if that's the truth of it then." she swooped the babe out of Emma's hands masterfully, without waking her. Emma paled. "I will put little Alex here to her crib and you will partake in a few drinks with me." she did as she said she would, carefully setting the babe into her crib and then turned, took up a mug and forced it into Emma's hands. "Go then. Take a sip."

Emma tried to push it back into the woman's hands but she wasn't having it. "Please, I don't want to drink."

"If you drink what I poured, I shan't ever bother you about it again. Tonight and tonight only, I swear."

Emma looked down at the foamy liquid in the mug. The scent of it was strong. She could make out the hops and cloves very easily, and honey. It certainly smelled strange. It wasn't wine, or at least what she drank, and she had smelled beer on Robert enough to know this was not the same thing. It was different.

Why does she want me to drink? She glanced up at the esper's face, trying to discern her meaning, but couldn't. She won't stop pestering me to drink until I do but... she looked down at the brown foam with a sigh. She didn't want to disappoint her father again most of all.

"Well?" Ultima asked, taking a generous gulp of her own drink.

"Just this mug? And you won't ask me a-again?"

"Correct."

She took a deep breath, to harden her nerves, and then she brought the mug to her mouth and took a decent sized gulp. The taste was certainly different than the wine she had drunk so long ago. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly good either. It stung her tongue most of all, and left a similar trail of fire down her throat to rest in her stomach. She sputtered, squeezing her eyes tight, and made a face.

Ultima started to laugh. "That's it. Get used to the taste." she took another drink of hers. "This is actually very good mead. I'm surprised Robert hasn't finished it all off yet."

Emma was confused. How could she think this tasted good? She shivered and tried to sit her mug down on the dresser, but Ultima stopped her with a corked brow. Having enough of it, and just wanting to know what the woman was up to, Emma shook her head and forced her mug down on the dresser. "Why do you want me to drink so much? What do you want?"

Ultima giggled a little nervously. "Heavens...you are a paranoid one, aren't you?" Emma's response was a glare. "Oh...alright, fine." she took a moment to drink more of hers and then said, "I know you won't speak to me truthfully unless you are...well...quite hammered. I figured drinking you into a stupor would make you a little bit more forthright with me."

"You...you wanted me to talk?"

"Of course," she said, finishing off her mead only to reach for the flagon to refill it. "I understand why you are so withdrawn, I truly do, but I also know that you are a person worth knowing. And to know you better, I must tear down the walls you have built around yourself. It is quite hard though, and so I thought loosening your lips with mead would make the job a lot easier."

For a long time the princess didn't say anything. She only stared, with that look that said more than words ever could. She felt betrayed, and that was clear. Finally, she looked away. "You know everything about me from being in my head...so why would you even need to trick me like this?"

"We espers only saw what we could see, and beyond that, I was not like Titan or some of the others. I did not traverse your memories, not on purpose, unless it was necessary to help you. I didn't want to know you that way. I wanted you to speak with me, but I also know and understand why you are so...so withdrawn. I hadn't meant to trick you, it is just a bit frustrating, though I realize that is not a justification but a reason."

Emma sighed. "I don't want to talk..."

And there were the walls. Reinforced yet again by Ultima's failures to get her to talk. "Emma, please, just give me a moment to—"

"I'm not mad I'm just...I'm just tired."

Without much to say or protest with, Ultima gave a pert nod and began to leave the room. She stopped at the door. "Emma, I am sorry, I just wanted to speak with you. As a woman does with another woman. It was stupid, I know, but..."

Emma looked at her and the expression on her face was impossible to decipher. "I'm not mad." she said again, a bit louder. "I'm not." Ultima looked into her eyes for another moment before she nodded again and closed the door behind her.

Well, that went spectacularly bad, she thought as she quietly made her way downstairs. Was it so obvious that Ultima was trying to get her drunk? No, she didn't think so. She gave a small chuckle. That girl...too damn smart for her own good. Downstairs she found the place empty. The others were still on patrol and would be for another hour or two. Without the girl to keep her from her thoughts, Ultima knew the remainder of her day was going to be boring and quiet.

How did Robert manage so many days with such isolation? She giggled. It is Robert, I suppose. If anyone could do it...

••••••••••••

At sundown, they regrouped at a small clearing due west of the cabin. Robert was the first to appear, and chewed them out on their lateness, for it had been exceptionally cold when the sun dropped.

"We aren't late." Fenrir said, morphing into a semi-humanoid form that allowed him to remain hairy to combat the cold. Cy was shivering. "I picked up a strange scent and decided to track it. It fortunately led to a curious target, but nothing dangerous."

"Well, while you are off chasing rabbits," he snapped, causing the wolfish esper to glare. "I was freezing my ass off. Let's get back to the cabin."

"Finally!" Cy gasped with a shudder. "It is freezing!"

"Quit your complaining," Fenrir ordered. "It won't change anything." the young esper ducked his head in acknowledgement and waited until the wolfish esper vanished into the dark of the woods before he lifted his eye to Robert.

"Do you know why he's so angry?"

Robert shook his head and gestured for the lad to follow. "I have no idea, though I'm sure it is over something stupid." it usually is with espers, he thought bitterly.

When they arrived back at the cabin, they arrived just in the ending stages of a thorough clean. Ultima had made the place shine. At the moment she was rearranging the furniture to their original spots.

Robert sniffed the air. Is that smoke?

"There you three are," she said, setting the table before the fire place. "You are late. And for the love of...Fenrir, could you please dress? If Emma sees you like that, you will know how she will react." the esper simply grumbled. "Oh, fine! If you so much as upset her walking about like some drunken fool, naked for all the world to see, I will be crossed. Now, Robert, would you please start the supper as soon as you can? I tried to cook the pastries and suffice to say it did not go well."

Robert knew he smelled the faintest remnants of smoke. "So she's gone hungry? You said I didn't have to worry about this."

"And you don't," she said, walking into the kitchen. "She's resting at the moment, and before that she wasn't in any mood to leave her daughter. If I had something made for her, it would have gone to waste. She should be more willing to eat now, especially now that the others are here."

"It can wait then," Robert said, stopping her. "For now, why don't you tell me why you kept the possibility of others like Luke being able to 'glimpse' our location?"

"Because we have no idea if it is possible and would worry Emma over something that we cannot control."

"If it is possible, do you understand the dangers you put us in by not telling me? I could have moved her."

"Impossible. Until a ship arrives, we are stranded here. Unless you grew a pair of a wings we don't know about," Fenrir snapped.

"Alright guys, let's calm down," Cy stood between them. "Please. This won't solve anything."

"Cy is right," Ultima gave both of them a quick glance, to settle it. "Robert, I apologize for not telling you. I honestly figured that it was better to just keep it to the espers, as it wasn't a sure thing. And Fenrir..." she gave him the darkest glare. "Get dressed!" this time the wolfish esper grumbled and disappeared, presumably to find a pair of trousers.

Robert waited until Cy rummaged through the food containers and vanished before he stopped Ultima from leaving. "I need to know...is there any chance someone could see where we are through the other espers?"

"I thought I already..."

"Just tell me how possible it is," he said. "Please. No lies. I need to know."

Ultima was quiet for a moment, considering, and then she sighed. "Honestly...it is very much possible, I believe. It would explain how Emma was able to hear Luke and his father. As for those who attacked before...they just had the luck of checking this island, I believe, and stumbling upon the cabin."

Robert looked away. He knew it, but now the problem laid in what to do. Without an airship, there was no way of leaving the island. The tunnels he built were a good option, but he didn't have time to stock them or line out the escape routes. There was still so much to do, and very little time.

It would beat sitting here, he thought. "Alright. Let us assume that when you were freed, Luke caught sight of her. Let's just assume that's when it happened and that it'll take at least a week to reach us by ship. That means we have a few more days to prepare."

"Prepare?" she repeated. "For what?"

"Do not tell Emma," he said. "I will stock the tunnels with food today, and mark exit routes. When I have finished, we move her there."

"Well," she said, crossing her arms. "It seems safer now than waiting here. Are you sure you don't wish to tell Emma?"

Robert knew that if they told Emma, the reaction would be intense. And there would be reason for it to be, too. No, the best course would be to handle what they needed to without her panicking. "Aye," he glanced over his shoulders, as if he expected the girl to be standing there. "We don't tell her. Not yet."

---

Despite being exhausted, Alexander could not sleep. He spent the remainder of the day walking around the castle. His goal was not to sight see, but to find all the places that Emma used to visit frequently, hoping to come across something that she would love to have again that she had to leave behind. Beyond that, he was hoping it would give him some ideas on how to proceed with her and the plans to fight Luke and the Occuria. It did not go well. When he gazed upon the places he used to see her or the places she talked of, his heart stung.

It was worse when he stumbled upon the oasis. It was just as he remembered, from when he accidentally happened upon her. She was sitting on a little stump, feeding the desert foxes with the sweetest expression on her face. The echo of her laughter, so sweet and delicate, so full of love, tore through his memory. Even the sharp slap she had given him seared through his recall.

O' how he missed her.

The oasis felt empty now that he knew she would not be here possibly ever again. He made his heart sink. If he failed to protect her again then she would have to stay hidden for the rest of her life, locked away someplace far from her family and friends.

I can't let it happened. Not to her. She's had enough bad dealt to her.

He sighed and turned away, to head back to the castle.

Once he was back he went straight to his room to attempt to sleep away the worry and sadness. His dreams were occupied by images of Emma lying dead amongst a horde of Alúzari men, with Luke standing above her with a terrible grin and blood on his hands.

No...no...please, not her...not Emma...

He woke in a start, his face and back drenched in sweat. Someone was pounding on his door, yelling for him to wake up. It was his brother, Loreto. "Alex! It is getting late!"

Alex pushed himself off his bed, holding a hand against his forehead. The dreams... He shook his head and got to his feet. He had to ignore them. Nothing would stop him. "Give me just a moment, please, I need to freshen up and—" as he spoke, his brother pushed the door open to peer in on him. "Damn it Loreto..."

His brother's eyes widened. "Are you alright, Alexander? You...you look so..." he clearly wasn't sure if he should say what he wanted to, but he did anyway. "you look horrible."

Alexander gave his brother a gentle laugh and stood to clap his shoulder. "I'm fine, little brother, I just had a rough night. I'll be at the aerodome soon. Would you mind keeping our parents company while they wait?"

Loreto shrugged out of his hand. "If you aren't alright Alexander...that would be okay. You can talk to me, to Angelo or...or to mother and father."

"Really, Loreto, I'm fine. I had a nightmare, that's all, and I haven't had much sleep since I landed in Alúzar in the first place. I just need some time to get my energy back." his brother was quiet for a moment, considering to test the words, but nodded.

"Alright, if you say so. I'll see you soon then."

When his brother was gone, Alexander hoisted himself up and went into the next room to wash his face with icy water. It helped to clear his head and wake him, but did little to stave the sadness in his heart or the lingering doubt that things would work out and he'd be able to freely and easily visit Emma. Cambyses was still a threat to that and although he wanted give the man another chance, mostly for Emma's sake, he knew change was hard—often times impossible—for someone to experience.

He looked into the mirror hanging above the basin and stared at the reflection of his face. I changed for her, he thought, leaning away from the water. If I had never met her...where would I be today? He was sure he would have been chasing the skirt of some woman, or in a brawl at a pub, with or without Robert at his side. His life would have been wrecked, or missing something that drove him beyond selfish, harmful needs.

She made me who I was supposed to be.

He looked at his reflection one last time, smiled for the man that he had become, and then left the room.

The aerodome was fairly empty. Those who stood about, whispering amongst themselves, were his family and Emma's. He fully expected both parties to be there. He approached slowly, thinking on what to say if they made him promise on something he might not be able to do. When he was near, his mother paused and went to take him into a hug. She squeezed pretty hard.

He laughed. "Mother, if you keep squeezing me like that, you'll kill me." she let go, pink.

"Be easy on your mother, boy," his father warned. "You earn whatever she has to give, with the horror you put us through."

"I said I'm sorry," he offered them with a nervous laugh.

His mother pulled him into a hug again. "I am just happy you are safe, my dear boy..." she pulled away, kissed his cheek and said, "Go to her."

Setzer laughed. "Aye, and tell her we will see her soon," he added to his wife's words and then patted his son on the arm.

Alexander smiled. "I will." he turned, nearly bumping into Terra. She looked him in the eyes for a second before she hugged him as well. Alexander wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, but he awkwardly returned the gesture. "Terra..."

"She's just glad you are safe too," Edgar said, a small smile gracing his face. "As am I. Please, when you see our daughter, tell her we love her."

"I will," if only for her sake. And then Alexander peeled the old queen off his body with a smile. "Don't cry Terra...we will end this. She will come home." as she turned away to seek comfort in her husbands arms, Cadence appeared at his side.

"I know there is more to what you told us," he froze. "but if you feel like we should not know, I understand. I trust you. We all do, even Cambyses, if you believe it. Just promise me you won't do any more reckless things. If not for me, for Emma."

"I can't promise that," he said with a chuckle, hoping it sounded a joke to the woman rather than an honest statement. "I will see you all soon, with Emma."

"You mean..."

"Sssh," he said, lifting a finger to his lips. "She's not safe there, despite what you guys believe. She is safer with us, especially now with all the espers here." a grin cracked his face. "I'm bringing her home."

---

Well, that's it for this chapter! Yes, it is very short compared to most remakes, but I might adjust a few things as the days go by because it can clear my head by rereading and seeing what I might have missed.

Oh, and yes, the chapter title is Disturbed's I'm Alive and the chapter largely deals with Alexander's perspective, just like the last version of the chapter. And yes, the conlang/language of the espers is very basic. I do not have the advanced knowledge, or time, to craft a large language. lol maybe in the future I'll do it and just edit it in later but for now, nope. haha

Thanks once again for reading and sticking through my story! :D