Hello readers! I'm posting this chapter simply because I have the time to, not because I've finished the next one. So because of this I probably won't be updating this again in the next couple of weeks. I hope you understand. That being said - please enjoy this chapter!

Dist will be dealt with in accordance to the Dist Removal code under the supervision of the Committee of Dist Removal. The Committee is not, however, responsible for any harm that may come to other characters in the act of dealing with Dist.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss, I am just playing in the wonderful sandbox that Namco have created. I do however own Lythia and Arya, Caius belongs to Defiance-of-Fate, whom is also my Beta reader.


Aiming Low

~? before the Fall of Akzeriuth - Lythia~

Breeze rustled the leaves above Lythia's head. This alone caused the Major to sit bolt upright, eyes snapping open.

"Where the hell am I?" she demanded to the empty forest she was it. Or at least she thought it was empty, until obnoxious laughter filled the air, making Lythia spin on her heel. The man behind her was very different to the child she remembered from Keterburg. His white hair fell around his face almost perfectly, his glasses reflecting the glare of sunlight.

"Greetings Saphir, it's been a long time," Lythia sneered. She was surprised when she was met with a sneer that was just as frosted as her own. Saphir had obviously changed from the pitiful cry baby she remembered in her childhood.

"Twenty-four years it has been since Lythia Balfour died," the God-General snapped. "You are quite clearly a replica made by Jade. So I wonder where he hid the data."

Lythia stared at the man incredulously, wondering if he had hit his head and gained a permanent concussion.

"Where are we Saphir?" She asked, snappishly.

"I've taken you to some forest in the Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear," Saphir replied, a vicious grin stretching across his face. "Since you are nothing but an imitation of Lythia, I don't really care what happens to you, and once I find your replica data, I'll make you again and raise the new replica as an Oracle Knight."

Lythia sighed and started to walk in the direction opposite to the God-General. She hoped that it would lead to Belkend, for even though she wanted to avoid the city that had a replica laboratory, it was far better then going to Baticul while tensions between Malkuth and Kimlasca were high. Perhaps Saphir would eventually notice that she had gone after he finished his rant.

Of course getting towards civilization would have to made difficult by monsters appearing just minutes after Saphir's voice had faded away. With another sigh, Lythia summoned fonons.

"Frosted breath, I summon thee forth..." she chanted. "WINTER WIND!"

It was a long way to to the city, and with each battle that passed, the blonde Ward Princess of Malkuth wondered if she would be able to get to a city alive.


~5 weeks and 6 days before Fall of Akzeriuth - Jade~

"So in the end, everything we predicted could go wrong; did? And now Lady Arietta is after Dist the Reaper and Major Balfour is missing. Anything else?"

Jade looked at the ten year old child standing in front of him, not quite believing her age as Arya stared up at him with her hands resting on her hips. She was, without question, his sister's retainer. The girl had just recounted everything that he had just told her. While Jade thought it strange that Arietta had gone after Dist, he understood her reasoning. It was simply a matter of conflicting interests, but the Colonel felt that he could convince the young pink haired teen to come with him to Baticul… As long as Ion was still with the party at that point.

"Just one more thing Arya," Jade said, pushing the thoughts in his head away. "Along with your report to Emperor Peony, I need you to give him this. Tell him to safe guard it until Lythia returns for it."

He hands the girl Lythia's rapier, which had been wrapped in cloth since it was missing its scabbard. Arya carefully took the sword. She ran off to find Caius when Jade dismissed her. The man stared after the child as she ran, sighing at how the young girl gripped the weapon in her hands as if it were a lifeline. He sighed again and returned to the group that was waiting for him outside the Military Headquarters of St Binah.

"I do believe that it is time that we leave this city," he commented, ignoring the inquiring glances shot his way by Tear, Luke and the noble's servant Guy. "We should be moving towards Kaitzur."

They move to leave but Tear notices something, and calls out.

"Quick, hide!" she gasps. "It's the Oracle Knights!"

Jade tugs Luke and Ion into the shadows of a building near the gates of St Binah, clamping a hand over the red head's mouth as the boy made to protest. He frowned as he heard the voice of Legretta.

"Have you found Fon Master Ion?"

There was a shuffle of boots as a soldier's voice made its way to Jade's ears.

"It doesn't appear he's entered St Binah."

"Those people with Ion are the ones who killed Mommy…" came Arietta's voice. It sounded hesitant. "My liger friends told me. But…"

Jade's frown deepened as he heard Arietta's doubt. He hoped that the doubt was her considering Lythia's reactions to everything. A new voice joined.

"What about that Fon Master Guardian they say was hanging around?"

Sync the Tempest had joined the group outside the gate it seemed. Jade released Luke's mouth since the red head had stopped struggling. The colonel brought his hand up to his chin in thought, continuing to listen to the conversation between the God-Generals.

"She appears to have made contact with the Malkuth military. But Malkuth is saying it's 'classified' and is refusing to provide any useful information."

"If I hadn't let that Necromancer get the better of me, Anise would've never gotten away," said the deep baritone voice of Largo, causing Jade's eyes to narrow in frustration, only to close when the frustratingly grating laugh of Dist entered the conversation.

"That's why I told you!" Dist exclaimed after he finished laughing mockingly. "The only one who can beat that beastly Jade is the elegant_"

"You aren't anything but Dist the Liar!" spat Arietta. "You said that Lythia wouldn't be on the Tartarus, but you lied. She was there; you just took her before my liger friends could get to the bridge. I'll tell Emperor Peony that you kidnapped_!"

"Arietta," Legretta said sharply, cutting off the young God-General. "While I agree that Dist is a liar, there is no point in dwelling in the past. What do we do now, Sync?"

Dist was ignored as the rest of the God-Generals, minus one, discussed their next course of action. When the God-Generals left, Dist spoke again, about Lythia, making Jade's eyes snap to the side, in the direction of the white haired annoyance's voice.

"Grr! You're all just jealous of my intelligence and beauty! Why does that brat of a child care so much about that imitation puppet of Lythia, it's not like she's the real Lythia. Too bad that puppet won't survive the walk to Baticul!"

Dist's laughter echoed as he left, letting the group walk out of their hiding spots. They met at the gates of St Binah.

"Damn," Jade growled. "Largo survived." And Lythia was left in Kimlascan territory by Dist. The word's left unsaid, were only able to be noted by the fist that Jade had clenched at his side.

"This is the first time I've seen the Six God-Generals," Guy commented, looking off into the distance, in the general direction that Dist had left in. When Luke inquired about the Six God-Generals Ion and Guy took it upon themselves to explain. Jade felt no need to input until Asch the Bloody was brought up and Luke made this next inquiry.

"That woman from the Tartarus, Lythia I believe she said her name was. She asked me if I knew someone named Asch. Why would she ask that?"

"Major Balfour spends a lot of time in the company of Arietta the Wild and Legretta the Quick," Jade answered. "She goes to Daath occasionally, so it is entirely possible she has met Asch and found something about you that reminded her of him."

"Dist mentioned Major Balfour before he left," Tear murmured thoughtfully before casting her gaze upon Jade. "What did he mean by 'imitation puppet'?"

"It seems that Dist believes something that is impossible," Jade replied darkly. "It is convenient for us that he believes that, I suppose, since he left Major Balfour in Kimlasca where she can get to Baticul before us."

"If she makes it there alive," Guy pointed out. The smile that Jade sent the blonde was false and only Jade knew that.

"She is Lythia Balfour," the Colonel said cheerfully. "Her skill in fonic artes will ensure her safety."

Silence filled the air, and Tear was glaring at Jade, while Guy was staring at the brunette man in shock.

"And what are you planning on doing with Arietta?" Ion asked, drawing attention to him for a second before all eyes were once again on Jade. The Malkuth Colonel tilted his head in a way that made the sun glare off his glasses, hiding his eyes.

"Dist betrayed her by the sounds of their conversation," Jade replied. "We know were Major Balfour is, and we know that Dist took the Major. It will be easy enough to get Arietta to turn against Dist."

And as if like a prophesy, the group found themselves at Fubras River the next day, facing Arietta, and Ion was looking at Jade. The Fon Master stepped forward to try and placate the pink haired teen.

"Arietta these aren't bad people," the green haired boy called.

"Yes," Arietta murmured. "Yes they are. They killed Mommy!"

"And what about Lythia?" Jade asked, causing the God-General to flinch. "She was on the Tartarus and yet you, who promised to not hurt her, attacked the ship she was on."

"Dist lied to me!" Arietta yelled. "He said that Lythia wasn't on the Tartarus! He said that she would still be in Malkuth!"

"And what if I said we knew where Dist took Lythia?" the red eyed man inquired. "Would you come with us? Or at least stop fighting us?"

Arietta fell silent seemingly considering his proposition. The pink haired teen bit her lip, staring between, Jade and Ion. After a tense minute most of the ligers that were surrounding the group withdrew and left, leaving Arietta and one liger behind.

"Where did Dist take Lythia?" she asked quietly, walking up to Jade. "I will follow you until our goals no longer match."

"Dist took Lythia to Kimlasca," Jade replied. "I would assume by his own complaining that he left her somewhere in the plains around Baticul, which is where we were heading anyway."

Arietta's eyes narrowed as anger flashed through her irises. The way her hands clenched around her monster doll promised pain for Dist whenever she saw him next. The group continued onward silently, Arietta walking near Ion, and her liger watching their backs.


"Why didn't you ask if I was a replica Jade?"

"Because, little sister, I already know that your replica data has never been recorded."

"Then why did you deny my claims vehemently?"

"…. I suppose it is because I didn't want to admit to my own failures."

"Failures?"

"I failed as your brother, Lythia. I caused you harm, I wished that I could have made your replica… even if that act would have been fruitless anyway."

"Why?"

"Forgive me Lythia… I can't tell you that anymore."

"….?"


~4 weeks before Fall of Akzeriuth - Lythia~

It had taken Lythia two days to stumble into Baticul, barely noticing the city she had entered, badly injured from the many battles with monsters. She knew as soon as she had entered the city that the Kimlascan Military would apprehend her, but she had just begged them to take her before King Ingobert, where she had managed to gasp out a short play on the truth, about being kidnapped by Dist while on a mission of peace, before she had passed out.

When she woke up again she was surprised to see that she was on a bed, in a well-furnished room instead of the dungeon. This was odd but she was hardly going to complain. Sitting up, she then noticed two things. First – She had no idea how long she had been unconscious. Second – There was a familiar, honey blonde, young woman in the room with her.

"Oh, your awake!" the young woman exclaimed, raising to her feet. "You've been unconscious for almost two weeks!"

Lythia blinked with shock, two weeks? Surely not. Her shock must have been written on her face because the woman continued speaking as if Lythia had asked aloud.

"Yes, I'm not surprised however," the woman stated. "My father was actually curious as to how you managed to make it up to the throne room without passing out before you did. Not to mention that you claim that you were traveling with peace emissaries and kidnapped by Dist the Reaper no less. You've certainly caused a stir in my father's court."

"So you are the Princess Natalia then?" Lythia asked looking the woman in front of her over. She held herself with the grace of a princess, and spoke with the same noble speech patterns that Lythia had used to hear from Peony's sister. It was strange to say the least, but comforting to the Malkuth Princess.

"I am the Princess Natalia, yes," the woman, now confirmed to be Natalia, affirmed. "Are you really Lythia? Father said you were."

"You remember me?" Lythia asked with shock. "It's been thirteen years since I was last here; you were five years when Emperor Karl last took me with him anywhere."

Another person entered the room then, stopping Natalia from replying, Lythia blinked in surprise at the person who entered.

"Brigadier General Cecille," she noted. "It's been a while."

"I never expected to see you again, Major Balfour, after our meeting in Daath," acquiesced the woman in red Kimlascan military uniform. Lythia shrugged almost carelessly.

"I didn't expect to meet you again either," the blonde ward princess replied, sly tone creeping into her voice. "Except, perhaps on the battlefield."

To her eternal credit, General Cecille ignored the disguised jab and moved on to the reason she had entered the room.

"Major Balfour, his majesty King Ingobert the Sixth requests that you appear before the council and explain why you are in Kimlascan territory."

The General left before Lythia could reply and the Malkuth woman was almost disappointed. Turning her attention back to Princess Natalia, Lythia smiled.

"I suppose that it is only logical that your father remember me," she said softly. "The council would always stare at us as Emperor Karl and King Ingobert sent us out pf whatever room they were in. Such an odd pair we were."

"I remember you picking me up and following a maid to my room," Natalia replied. "Then you'd brush my hair and braid it."

"Your hair is shorter now," Lythia commented, pulling herself off the bed she had been on, and walking closer to Natalia to stroke her hair. In the back of her mind, Lythia noticed that she was no longer wearing her uniform but a nightgown that fell to her knees. This note wasn't important in that moment however. Lythia smiled as Natalia leaned into her hand, and the Malkuth woman decided to ask something.

"Would you allow me to brush your hair? For old times' sake?"

With Natalia's nod the two women moved around the Kimlascan Princess' room.

It was about an hour later when the two women appeared before the Kimlascan court. Natalia took her place beside her father, leaving Lythia to stand before the throne, in a dress that Natalia had given her since her uniform was in tatters. One of Emperor Karl's many lessons drifted into her mind

"When in your enemy's country, always let them speak first, but never bow your head. Show any other sign of respect you desire, but always keep your head up."

It was one thing that Lythia took to heart, amongst other things that Peony's father had said, and now she stood by those words as King Ingobert greeted her.

"It's been a long time Princess Lythia," the red haired man greeted. "Thirteen years have passed since your father last brought you to these halls, and how much you've changed since then is clear."

Lythia allowed herself to fall into a short, almost mocking, curtsy, keeping her head raised to the King in front of her.

"Thirteen years is a long time," she replied curtly, "yet our countries are still on the verge of war, and whatever attempts to make peace keep getting foiled."

There were many looks shot towards Grand Maestro Mohs who was standing next to the King's advisor, Alpine. The Order man looked uncomfortable, but remained silent as King Ingobert spoke up again.

"Before you fainted you had mentioned a peace mission," the man stated carefully. Lythia then launched into a heavily edited tale, leaving out the fact that the councilmen of Malkuth hadn't actually agreed to a peace treaty, or that they had the Fon Master with them, and the fact that it was Jade who was commander of the mission. She did however mention the letter that had been collected in Engeve and she spoke of how Dist had taken her from the Tartarus.

"How do we know you are telling the truth?" came the demanding voice of Alpine. Lythia sent a cold glance.

"Yes, all I have are my words and my wounds," Lythia said. "But my commander will come, and he will bring the letter from Emperor Peony. This I swear on my honour as both soldier and princess of Malkuth. Should my words not be true then I declare my life forfeit."

Because if Jade doesn't come then he is dead and I am then trapped in enemy territory. The thought wasn't a pleasant one, but very true. Not that she planned to die in Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, though the court she stood before didn't need to know that. Her statement birthed muttered conversation all around, drawing a faint smile to her lips. Eventually this discussion led to the King allowing her to wander around the castle with an escort for a month at which time, should no one have come with the letter from Peony, she would be thrown into the dungeon and held for ransom. Lythia accepted this with a smile, but behind her mask her heart shuddered in fear. One month wasn't very long.

Unbeknownst to her, Jade Curtiss was already in Kaitzur with Luke and Arietta.


~4 weeks before Fall of Akzeriuth – Jade – Zaitzur Navel Port~

Jade glanced to the side at the two young Oracle Knights who were in the middle of a hissed argument as the group surveyed the damage that has been sustained to the Kaitzur navel port. Anise and Arietta looked up at Ion's call when he asked them to be silent, and they looked at each other with a grudging agreement. The black haired child walked over to Tear, and her pink haired counterpart moved over to Jade. The colonel looked down at Arietta surprised.

"Dist did this," the pinkette stated. "It was meant to be my job to do this, and to kidnap the chief engineer and bring him to Choral Castle where I was meant to lure Luke and Ion to Asch."

Jade turned his attention to Arietta.

"And why does Asch want Luke and Ion at Choral Castle?" he asked, causing Arietta to flinch slightly.

"It would be better to show you," she murmured. "Lythia would want me to; she's been meaning to tell you for weeks since Asch told her."

At this Jade raised his eyebrow. Lythia knew there was something in Choral Castle that she felt he needed to see. Jade looked to see Van, Ion and Luke talking, Luke arguing with something that Van was saying. Van walked off after what seemed to be sharp words at his student.

"Luke!" Jade called, beckoning him over when the red head looked his way. "Where is Dorian General Grants going?"

Through the boy's moaning and whining, Jade managed to hear that the man in question was apparently going to rescue the chief engineer and that they had been told to continue on to Baticul on the training ship that returned soon. Not the desirable outcome, thankfully Ion was approached by two of the dock workers begging the Fon Master to save the chief. And, ignoring Luke's mild protests, the group was finding itself heading towards Choral Castle.


~4 weeks before Fall of Akzeriuth – Arietta – Choral Castle~

Arietta stared at Jade with conflicted emotions. He had killed her mommy…. But he was Lythia's older brother, and she had promised years ago to not hurt Lythia. In that moment Arietta decided that the object of her anger would be Dist and his lies, but first she had to show the red eyed brother of Lythia the machine in Choral Castle.

The man was staring around the room with the light-locked door, which Arietta proceeded to ask her liger friend to break down.

"This way!" she called, running through the rubble of the door. Behind her, the footsteps of the party followed her, as she led them to the huge fon-machine. Jade's reaction was instantaneous and almost non-existent, but Arietta had been watching Lythia and Jade interact long enough to recognise the way that the Colonel's eyes widened slightly with horror and disgust.

"Is this…?" the man's question trailed off as he continued to stare up at the machine. Arietta walked up beside him and murmured in a voice that only he could hear.

"This is what Lythia has wanted to show you."

The pink haired girl looked at the man as he avoided the questions thrown at him by the rest of the party. Arietta could tell that he was trying to deny the proof, but she knew that Lythia would tell him the truth when she could. Right now however, Arietta followed the group to try and stop Dist and Sync from synchronising Luke and Asch's fon slots, but she failed to do so.

As Jade and his entourage ran after Luke and Dist, Arietta remained on the roof to free the chief engineer. However, Dist seemed to like knots so by the time she had finished freeing the man, Jade was back telling her that Dist and Sync ran off.

"Sorry Jade," Arietta murmured. "I'm going after Dist."

With that Arietta ran off, jumping on her liger and running from the castle. It would take her less than a week to find the white haired man. It would take two weeks for Jade, Luke, Guy, Anise and Tear to successfully escort Fon Master Ion to Baticul and find Lythia. In those two weeks, Lythia would become reacquainted with Princess Natalia, and in those two weeks, Jade would be pondering why Lythia would want to show him the fomicry machine in Choral Castle.


Yep, I put it into Arietta's point of view. I wasn't expecting to do so so soon, but it happened because I felt it fit better than having Jade's point of view. But, no! Arietta left the party, darn, she won't be in Baticul next chapter. Not that Baticul will remain for long. Countdown chapter is next. My countdown to Akzeriuth. Expect a lot of time jumping and jumping between point of views. Why? Well that will come up in the next chapter.

And WHAT?! There is a reason WHY Jade didn't ask if Lythia if she was a replica? That the act of doing so wouldn't work anyway? What is this? And why can't Jade share those reasons anymore? Could it have something to do with *spoilers*?

Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll see you all in the next chapter! Please drop a review, I really want to hear your feedback!

~Icetail of WindClan - Meta-If~

UNIMPORTANT NOTES:

Yeah... I'm still totally not building up to save Arietta. Nope! Not at all! (And I'm absolutely not planning on killing Dist to make up for it.) But yeah, Arietta will be around the party every now and then, though that will usually be when she is with Lythia and Lythia is with the group.

HAHA! Arietta is now after Dist! Sorry, but I won't elaborate on that confrontation. Nor will any Chesedonia events be written.

Most important of these unimportant notes - Lythia has been following the development of fomicry, and trying to close all experiments around Aldurant, because she feels responsible for her brother's actions. This is why she is suspicious of Van.