Once they were finally out of the laboratory Pascal stopped halfway across the bridge with a sigh. "I never knew that Fourier resented me so much…" She muttered aloud. "I've been making her so miserable and never even knew it." There was a long pause. "I have to go apologize to my sister!" She exclaimed suddenly as she turned to run back inside.

Hubert shook his head. "That won't help very much, I believe. Pascal, Fourier's problem has nothing to do with her… It's herself that she has the problem with." He seemed to be trying to comfort Pascal in his own way and it made Alice forget everything that happened before for a few moments. However the anticipation of him saying something insensitive again made her remember the event all over again. But what he said next surprised her; "Fourier's self-loathing has been crushing her for years along with her self-doubts. I fear your sympathy will only make matters worse."

She let out a long sigh before looking down at her feet. "It's just that…I really love my sister, you know? I just wish she would know that… Like how Richard can tell that Alice really loves him. Even though I only knew him for a short time I could still tell that he could see how much she cared about him and loved him." Alice said nothing but looked down at the ground as she could feel Hubert starring at her.

Asbel took a step forward as Cheria sighed deeply. "She'll understand someday, Pascal so don't worry." He consoled with a slight smile. "Right now you're the only one who has the knowledge to stop the experiments at the valkines; don't lose yourself now. And even if she'll never truly acknowledge it; you are the only one who can save Fendel. And I don't think you want Fourier's research to be responsible for the extermination of an entire country."

The blue-haired boy stepped closer to Pascal. "By helping us to save Fendel you could save your sister's reputation and maybe even her life." Hubert added as an afterthought to Asbel's small speech to the young Amarcian. "We can't do this alone. We need you, Pascal." He finished as he looked away. "So please pull yourself together and let's go."

Pascal wiped the light tears from her eyes with a big smile. "Little Bro… Thanks everyone, I'm okay now." She looked up at them. "You really are the best guys ever." She praised as she hopped between her feet as she usually did.

Asbel turned to his brother and they exchanged a few words as Sophie stepped forward to comfort Pascal while she wiped away the last of her tears. As the group began to move away Alice started walking with Pascal but turned to see Malik standing on the bridge?" Are you coming, Captain Malik?" She asked.

"You go ahead." Malik answered but then looked at Hubert. "Hey, Hubert!" He called as the blue-haired boy turned to look at the captain. "Mind if I have a word with you?" He asked as he crossed his arms.

The princess continued to follow the others and passed Hubert as he walked over towards Captain Malik. Once Malik made sure that Alice was out of earshot before he looked down at Hubert. "What did you do to her?" He asked sternly as he positioned himself so that he was blocking everyone's view of Hubert.

Hubert raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what you mean, Captain." He answered. "I did nothing to harm the princess." He met Malik's gaze with such determination that it struck a wrong chord with the older man.

"Don't lie to me, Hubert I know you did something to upset the princess." Malik growled. "She hasn't been herself since you spoke with her outside. Not once did she leave my side while we were in there and the only reason why she left just now was because you're here with me so tell me… What did you say to her?"

With a deep sigh Hubert crossed his arms. "I felt that the topic of her brother needed to be brought up with her so I told her the truth of what needed to be done…" Malik prompted for Hubert to continue and after a short pause Hubert spoke. "I told her that if Richard's behavior continued then I would end his life myself-"

"You did what?!" Malik shouted. "How could you say something like that to her? Do you have any idea how much Richard means to her?!" He seemed extremely angry with the young boy. "For what reason did you feel the need to tell her that? The fear of you killing her brother is probably terrifying her right now!"

Hubert searched desperately for words. "I didn't… I didn't mean to scare her…" He shook his head. "Dammit I keep hurting her…" He quickly looked up. "I'll apologize to her right away, Captain Malik."

The captain nodded. "Hubert I've made it my duty to protect her from people who may want to hurt her. That job of mine includes keeping people from getting so close to her and then just turning around to betray her. I won't let it happen ever again like it did with Cedric." Hubert looked up with a confused looked on his face before Malik turned away. "I'll go get the princess and this time, think about what you're going to say to her."

As Malik spoke with the blonde princess she began to rush over towards the bridge to confront Hubert. "Princess Alice…" He began as he noticed that the young girl was avoiding his gaze and she appeared as though she was longing to go back to the captain. "Look… I'm sorry for what I said to you; I was far out of line. I'm just afraid that you and Asbel lack the bravery to end King Richard's life as he is a close friend to Asbel and your older brother."

Alice was at first silent but soon looked up at Hubert into his eyes directly. "How did you feel when you were ripped away from Asbel? When your father gave you away to the Oswells?" She asked softly with no accusation in her tone. "You were lonely without your brother, weren't you? I remember Asbel always being so proud about having you as a brother; he loves you so much Hubert. And it was easy to tell that you loved Asbel as well."

"When I was taken away…?" Hubert repeated as his eyes widened. I… I was crushed. I didn't know where to turn to or what to say… You're right, it was lonely and terrified." Suddenly he felt an impact that sent him staggering back a little. He looked down to see Alice with her arms wrapped around his waist. "P-Princess…?"

Both stood there for a few moments before Alice spoke up. "I'm so sorry, Hubert…" She muttered quietly. "I never meant to threaten you… I just got scared; scared of you following through with your own threats." Alice pulled away a little and looked up at Hubert. "I can't lose my brother, Hubert… You don't understand… I just can't lose Richard."

Hubert crouched down a little to stand face to face with Alice. "It was me in the wrong; I had no reason to bring up the topic with you let alone threaten to kill your brother." His usually hardened expression was soft. "Although I'd like to fully take back what I said I still… I still plan to use it as a last resort."

Alice nodded. "And I'll do my very best to make sure that you won't have to prove that statement true." She answered as Hubert straightened and cleared his throat. "I believe it's time we join the others…" Alice suggested as she turned around to look off towards the rest of the group who was waiting patiently for the other two.

Once they reached the rest of the group Asbel approached Alice and looked down at her. "Is everything okay now?" Asbel asked Alice out of his concern for more her mental state. When she nodded he looked over to Pascal. "I think we can head back to Zavhert now." He suggested. "We're all good now."

As they began walking back down the mountain towards Zavhert, Cheria noticed that Alice was much happier and seemed to be less conflicted. Cheria smiled lightly at the reanimated princess while Malik shouted at her to be careful for her now to slip or to be wary of any monsters around. However no matter how much he yelled commands at her she still continued to enjoy herself on the mountain.

"Will you quite down lest you cause some avalanche?" Hubert suggested nonchalantly. The princess turned to look at him before she sighed and stopped walking until the others caught up with her then she began to walk alongside Cheria.

Cheria seemed to be thinking deeply about something before she spoke up. "What would you like to have for dinner tonight?' She asked suddenly. "I was thinking of asking the captain but I have a feeling he'd request Sea Bream and if I had asked Asbel he would've asked for Mild Curry." She sighed. "Honestly it's almost as if they can't stand to eat something different for a change."

Alice thought for a moment before she gave out her answer. "How about… Steak?" She asked. "It's a little expensive but it's been awhile since we really ate an actual meal." The princess remember the dish she had on her way to Strahta quite some time ago. "Actually, can we have whatever I ate on the boat to Strahta?"

"Wait, do you mean the Chicken and Tofu ramen bowl I bought you?" Cheria asked. "You actually liked that? I thought it wouldn't meet your standards of a meal." She laughed a little before nodding. "I think I could make that the next time we secure a place with a decent kitchen that I can cook in."

The princess seemed perfectly happy with the idea as she joined Asbel and Sophie towards the front of the group. "Are you and Hubert still friends, Alice?" Sophie asked suddenly out of the blue. Both Hubert and Alice gave shocked looks at Sophie as they tried to assemble their thoughts together to give her an answer.

"Of course we are, Sophie!" Alice exclaimed. "Just because we had a little fight doesn't mean that we're not friends anymore. It's healthy for a relationship to go through rough patches sometimes because once you overcome those patches your bond is much stronger." She smiled as she thought about seeing her brother again once he was all alright again.

Sophie smiled. "Good." She replied shortly. "I don't want you and Hubert to not be friends." And as soon as the conversation started, it had ended. Soon enough though they had reached the very outskirts of Zavhert and Alice looked over at Malik but he didn't seem to be much focused. Then as Asbel looked at the captain he gave a stern look for Asbel to keep a close eye on the princess as he was distracted.

Asbel grabbed hold of Alice's hand when they finally entered the capital once again. "Fourier said that Kurt is the chief science officer for Fendel, right?" He asked. "So then where would we be able to find him?"

"North of the city is Fendel Tower that houses the government agencies…" Malik began. "I'm sure we'll be able to find him somewhere around there." He suggested but wasn't exactly too involved in the conversation. His mind was still wandering as it had been since Kurt's name was first brought up at Fourier's Laboratory.

At first Asbel seemed to feel right with the idea but then he stopped himself. "We should probably split up first and find out how to get in there. I doubt they'd let just anyone into the tower, right?" He wondered aloud. "Hubert and I will take Alice with us, Cheria can take Sophie, and then you and Pascal can go together, Captain."

"Watch out for her, Asbel." Malik warned before he turned around to walk off with Pascal at his side. The princess began walking between Hubert and Asbel as they took a different path down the streets of Zavhert.

They reached an older fellow who Hubert and Alice stopped to chat with while Asbel walked a little further up to speak with another citizen. "Excuse me, could you please help us?" Alice began. "I was wondering about Fendel Tower; how would one find a way inside to meet with a worker in the building?" She asked.

The man thought for a moment. "I believe you'd need a security pass to get inside or else they'll shut you down right then and there; although I can't imagine how difficult it must be to get your hands on one… Hope you have good luck with getting inside." Hubert thanked him before they began walking off towards Asbel.

"Is something wrong?" Alice asked as she noticed Asbel was spacing out as he gazed over the railing towards Port Zavhert. He seemed to be deep in thought which wasn't like Asbel. "You look a little troubled." She added afterwards.

Asbel shook his head. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about some things…" He muttered as he turned to look at his brother and Alice." Hubert then asked if Asbel was thinking about his good friend; the King. "How'd you know?" Asbel laughed a little as the two came up to him. "Alice, do you remember when Hubert and I first met you and Richard?"

She nodded her head. "Yep! How could I forget? It was my first time out of Barona so I was excited." Alice seemed to be getting lost in the warm memories. "You and the others broke into our room and showed us around Lhant." She laughed lightly.

"I'm surprised you and Richard enjoyed being dragged around so much…" Hubert added. "And that you never called in security on Asbel." He muttered in a lighthearted tone. "You even forced him to wear that ridiculous disguise in Barona… Honestly, Asbel, always such a child; even now." He shook his head slowly.

Asbel smiled as they began walking again to find the others to see if they had found out anything. "Those were some good times…" He began. "When we were all together with no separation; even Richard." Asbel sighed. "But now he's alone… And no one's there by his side." He looked back at Hubert and Alice. "Maybe that loneliness is what drove him to the state he's in right now." Then Asbel stopped to look back at Alice. "I'm sorry… Maybe if I had stopped to pay you and Richard a visit every once in a while then maybe he wouldn't be like this… I can't help but think this could've all been prevented if I had been able to notice the trouble you and Richard were going through."

The princess suddenly jumped up to wrap her arms around Asbel's neck and he hugged her to keep her from dragging him down. "Don't you dare beat yourself up, Asbel Lhant!" She ordered stiffly. "None of this is your fault ad if for one second you begin to think that I swear I'll beat that idea straight out of you!"

"You know, it's not too late…" Hubert began but Asbel only looked down and shook his head. "You always were so stubborn." His brother growled with a slight tone of humor. "I guess it always was one of your strongest traits, Asbel." He sighed. "No matter how annoying you get you'll still pursue and issue. Why don't you listen to the princess; you believe that you can still save Richard so why don't you prove yourself correct? You persisted with me to mend our ties so use the same strategy with King Richard."

Asbel smiled. "Thanks, Hubert…" He muttered. "You're so great at putting things into perspective; I'm glad you're around." He continued to struggle with holding up the smothering princess as she hugged him tightly.

With a sigh Hubert turned away. "Please, Asbel." He began. "As your little brother it's my job to protect you and always look out for you. I mean, what would you do without me keeping you out of trouble?" Then Hubert looked to Asbel and Alice. "If Richard doesn't have anyone at his side; at least he still has you two who will always give him a place to come back to. After all, you promised to always believe in him; that's an obligation you have to the King."

"Like I said; if you even think about blaming yourself or resenting not coming to see us…" Alice began. "I swear I will beat you into a pulp, Asbel." She laughed a little at her near-empty threats. "Richard stills needs the two of us and if you lose hope then then so does Richard!" Asbel suddenly tightened his grip on the young princess and held her tight while Alice kept her cheek up against Asbel's affectionately.

Just then Captain Malik began walking down the stairs with Pascal right behind him. "Stand down, princess; you'll hurt the poor man's back." He approached them to grab Alice and pulled her off of Asbel. "Come on, now; Asbel shouldn't have to put up with you climbing all over him and giving him a hard time."

Then Cheria ad Sophie came down the stairs towards the others. "Hey, we found out something about an Amarcian who seems to have some relation with the Fendel Tower. She has a pass to get in, I hear." Cheria began. "Maybe she'll let us borrow it?" She suggested.

Oh my aren't we close to one of my favorite parts? Quite exciting; nearly 40 Chapters and I still have so much more of the main storyline to go nevermind the Lineage and Legacies storyline. But there ya go; a little Hubert and Alice interactions then Asbel and Alice interactions (for you AsbelxAlice shippers out there). Also, after wathing the scene about Asbel's doubts towards the end of this chapter... I began to ship HubertxAsbel. Does this make me a bad person?