Another World

Summary : A man found himself in another world. Can he survive and go back to his world?

Rating : T

Genre: Adventure

Disclaimer: I don't have Ar Tonelico series, its characters, anything, duh.

Chapter 54 = Long Wait

"Talks"

'Thoughts'

*Sound Effects*


05:25 Sol Marta

Gilbert looks to the sky as it brightens up from sunrise. He looks it from the transparent wall at the edge of the core as Croix try to convince Infel again. She has quite a breakdown after her pink haired friend vanishes.

'Huff, I can't stop thinking that I could probably doom this world now that I've saved Ms. Reisha, now that the only thing to do is wait Luca and Lady Cloche sings Metafalica,' he turns to see the maiden whose wearing glasses. 'I don't want that madwoman claims anyone's soul. Making everyone happy, my ass. '

"Metafalica... you're gonna make it, right?" She glares. "Then hurry up and do it! I'll watch from up here and see what kind of land you're gonna create..."

"Just keep watching, after we create Metafalica, I'll come-"

"Go already!" She yells."

"Thank you," Croix nods, and starts to leave the room, but stops when he see Frelia and Shun is not moving.

"You're not coming with us?"

"This is place is hers. I can't help much more than this, you know it," Shun says.

"See you later, then," Croix heads off from the room.

"Wait, Gilbert," Shun calls him. "How about those rods?"

"Throw it out? It's really, really heavy though, you might need something big to carry it."

"Don't worry, I'll find a way."

Gilbert shrugs and walks out, following the party from behind.

00000000

"Now, how to open this thing, Jacqli?"

"Power down your suit. The shell will unlock and you can push open the front part of your suit."

*Wuuungg…*

"Thanks, I need some fresh air," he hops out from the suit, takes a deep breath and sit on the elevator's floor. "Why can't I detach the helmet from the rest of the suit though?"

"The shell practically the only thing that hold the broken parts of your suit together. I thought the design in rush, and my priority is to put your suit functional again so you can join back into combat after you're awake. You can't lift your weapons without your suit or your drug. I also made it so Elma could power your suit up in case if it doesn't work, and increase its power output if it works."

"'Elma?'"

"The robot that you see before. I'm not leaving my creation nameless."

"Oh, that's its name. Well, it works. I thought you could do more though."

"I'm not a wizard. Could you understand the design of my robot in under a day?"

"I get it…"

*Wuuzzz!*

The lift stops. He hops in back to the suit and start walking. The party can see a lot of wreckage of Divine Army around the place where Alfman hold the line.

"He's tough," Leglius comments. "I can't see him anywhere around here."

"We'll see Alfman again someday, I'm sure of it," Lady Cloche says, and the party continues walking out from the tower.

"Anyway Jacqli, another question," Gilbert continues his conversation. "You said you gave me suppressant earlier."

"Yes."

"What does it do?"

"It calms your mind, ensuring you won't struggle when we carried you back to the hot spot. Else, I have to shoot you with your own tranquilizer gun every five minutes or so."

"Ugh, that'll be unpleasant."

"Although you didn't seem calm enough when facing Infel earlier. Want another dose of it?"

"Ehm, no thanks. I don't want any other bitter medicine in my mouth?"

"Bitter?"

"Well, when I wake up, I feel a strong bitter taste in my mouth and throat…"

"That's not the suppressant, its excellion herb, we used it to wake you up. And it's a tea, not a medicine."

"Who makes a tea that bitter? No one could drink it unless they're unconscious-"

"Ahem."

Jacqli bobs her head a bit to Lady Cloche, telling him the creator of that tea.

"Oh. Uh… I mean-"

"Gilbert, be honest," Lady Cloche raises her eyebrows. "It's useful for waking people up, and the herb has a good aroma, so it's not that bad."

"I doubt anyone can smell the aroma when they unconscious…" Croix comments. "And the color…"

"Let's drop this topic, shall we?"

"At least it doesn't kill me," Gilbert sighs.

00000000

The party hears the crowd cheers when they walks out from the tower, even if it's early in the morning.

"What a welcome," Jacqli raises her eyebrows. Luca and Lady Cloche runs to Ms. Reisha, whose smiling when she sees them, and embraces them when they're in her reach.

"Mom!"

Gilbert sighs, and gets out from his suit, to find his lover-

"Gilbert!" Laura runs and hugs her. "Thank goddess, you're save…"

"Of course I'm okay, Laura. I told you we're always keeping each other's back-"

*Smoch!*

She kisses him, on the lips. He returns it for a moment, then let her go.

"Hey, we'll get scolded by Lady Cloche again if she spots us."-

"Uhm, you're right…"

"For this special occasion, I wouldn't mind," Lady Cloche approach them. "Congratulation for your pregnancy, by the way."

"Ah, uhm, thank you very much," she holds Gilbert's hand.

"You have to put a lot of effort to raises a child, but I'm sure you can do it!" Luca also approach the couple.

"Uh huh…"

"Anyway, Luca, we need to hold a speech to everyone as soon as possible, then visit all the people in Metafalss to hear their voices. We need to talk to those who's trusting us until now before we can sing Metafalica," Lady Cloche says.

"I'll tell Targana about it! Now where is he…"

Luca wanders to the crowd to find Croix's childhood friend.

"Gilbert, treat Laura well, okay? She's your responsibility now."

"You don't have to tell me that Lady Cloche, I know."

The maiden smiles, and goes away with her sister.

"Well, Croix," Gilbert walks to the party leader. "What we'll do now?"

"You can go home with Laura. We knights will escort both Luca and Lady Cloche around the land. I'll contact when we need you."

"Thanks."

"No, we are the one who should thank you, you've be a great help. Don't hesitate to call me when you need help."

"Uh, I don't know how to contact you…"

"Here, Cro's telecell number!" Cocona hands him a small paper. "You do know how to use one, don't you?"

"I'll ask Laura. I can't even understand the numbers on it…" Gilbert passes the paper to his girlfriend.

"Jeez, learn it! I know you'll be back to your home sometime later, but-"

"Okay, let's go Cocona, I'm going to Lady Cloche and Luca now," Croix walks away. "See you later."

Gilbert waves his hand as a farewell, then walks into his suit and closes it.

"What happened to your suit Gilbert? It looks different."

"Long story... I'll tell it you later, you'll like it," He hops into the suit and closes it. "Come here, let me put you on my shoulder."

He lower the suit's right arm so Laura can sit on it. She does, and he lifts her to the suit's shoulder.

"Hang tight, I'll bring you home."

"Our home, Gilbert. My home is your home too…"

"Yeah…" He looks down, to the land that they call Metafalss "I should enjoy this land while I'm still here."

He uses his eye to show the date of his world: He still have 25 days before whoever sent in the satellite to him re-opens the connection.

'This will be a long wait for me…'

END OF CHAPTER 54