Once again it has been too long. I have finished my Bachelor of Animation, but now I'm about to begin a Master of Teaching. But I am better at time management now, and I swore to myself that I would finish this fanfic, that I would not abandon it and leave yet another unfinished fic on my profile. So here it it, chapter 15, we are now halfway to the end. It was a long time coming, but I've passed the halfway point, and I am about to finish with following the script. Please forgive how long this has taken.

I wonder if anyone is still waiting on this hahaha


Missing Childhood

Early morning on the Rugnica continent was very different than mornings in the snow fields of the northern Sylvana continent. Lythia surveyed the camp, counting the villagers of Engeve, reassuring herself that no one had been picked off by bandits or monsters. Tear, Luke and Jade were all still sleeping, letting Lythia keep watch over everyone. Spotting the red uniforms of the Kimlascan forces that she had been watching carefully since Tear had awoken her, Lythia decided that it was best to move now while the large group had the advantage of being unnoticed.

"Brother, awaken," Lythia murmured, as she shook Jade. "We must move before the Kimlascans do."

Arya appeared from the small platoon of Malkuth soldiers that was following behind the villagers of Engeve. Lythia noted that Caius was with the soldiers, also keeping his eye trained carefully on the Kimlascans. It was a harsh time to be moving a town, and for all her sway as Princess of Malkuth, even Lythia couldn't get the gates to the aqueduct capital to open.

It was a long way to Chesedonia.


Everything was quiet, nothing moved even though it was the middle of the day. This had the soldiers on edge, and as consequence, so were the villagers. The group was close to Chesedonia now, the plains of Rugnica having been long since left behind. No one had died thankfully, however, some of the soldiers were injured. Lythia was among them, keeping a bandage wrapped tightly around her right arm, refusing to let Tear heal her, instead telling her to tend to others first. However gels had run out and Tear had no energy left to summon fonons to heal, so the remaining injured soldiers were forced to bear with their wounds the rest of the way.

"You know, my dear sister," Jade stated eventually, once again catching Lythia's hand as she tried to pull threads on the bandage on her arm. "You really should have let Tear heal you."

Lythia snatched her hand away, ignoring her brother's words, instead choosing to keep her eyes forward. The snarl on her face was the only indication that she had heard, or perhaps it was pain. There was nothing Jade could do to make her listen, so he just shrugged and continued walking, catching his sister's hand everytime she tried to unravel the cloth of the bandage.

When they finally reached Chesedonia, Jade had taken to keeping Lythia's wrist caught tightly in his grip, which the blonde had protested to at first, trying to wrench her arm away, but finally conceded defeat. The villagers of Engeve thanked their protectors profusely as they entered Chesedonia. Caius and Arya decided to drag Lythia to the marketplace, where they proceeded to purchase more apple and orange gels, as well as a few pineapple and lemon gels as well.

The three were looking at life bottles and wondering if they needed some when they heard Natalia's angry voice from nearby. Running in that direction, the princess and her retainers discovered Natalia and Luke having a heated conversation with Grand Maestro Mohs, and Count Almandine, one of the more influential soldiers in Kimlasca's army. Deciding to interfere, Lythia stepped forward.

"Is there a problem here, ladies and gentlemen?" she asked lightly, drawing everyone's attention. After a few seconds of silence Ion walks to Mohs, passing a glance over to Lythia.

"There is no problem here, Princess Lythia," the Fon Master said. "It was resolved."

Turning back to Mohs, he spoke again.

"Let us go to Daath."

"Yes, Fon Master," the Grand Maestro replied. The two left, being followed by a small entourage of Oracle Knights, leaving behind a confused group. Lythia felt her sleeve being pulled and turned to Caius who quietly pointed out Anise, whom was still here, and not following Ion. With a hum of intrigue, Lythia walked up to her brother, who answered her unasked questions on what had happened.

"So," she said, almost casually. "To Baticul then?"

An agreement was reached to head onto the capital of Kimlasca and the group moved on. Or tried to, as they were stopped by the Dark Wings.

"Hello Dark Wings," Arya said cheerfully, jumping on Noir's shoulders. "Will you let us through?"

"You, Caius and Princess Lythia may pass, however, your friends have to pay," the pink haired Dark Wing spoke. That set off the almost tamed argumentive streak of Luke fon Fabre, causing Lythia to rub a hand against her forehead in frustration.

"Noir," the Malkuth princess spoke over Luke, before his rant could continue, her hands scooping up the blue Cheagle, covering Mieu's mouth with a hand. "If you let them pass I will send extra supplies with the next messenger."

Everyone stopped. York and Urushi stepped back as Noir nodded. Lythia waved the group through, waiting with Jade as they continued on. When Guy had closed the door behind him Lythia turned back to the Dark Wings, tossing them a small bag which made a distinctly gald hitting gald sound when York caught it.

"Try to stay out of trouble for a little while, yeah?" Lythia said, walking away. Jade gave the trio a hard glare before following his sister.


Lythia had opted to gather information around the city while Luke, Jade and Natalia spoke to Astor. Guy, Anise and Tear chose to stay with the Malkuth Princess and help her. Lythia sent Caius and Guy towards the port to ask questions there, while Anise and Arya were instructed to act as siblings while they "used their cuteness against unsuspecting adults". Tear rolled her eyes as Lythia said that, but the pair of black haired girls, who could almost pass off as sisters, grinned at each other and ran off laughing.

"We will wait here, Tear," Lythia stated. "No point in all of us running about."

There was silence for a few moments, Lythia leaning against the wall that surrounded Astor's mansion, while Tear looked in the direction that Anise and Arya had run off in.

"That isn't really the reason you stopped me here is it?" the brunette teen asked. Lythia sent Tear a wry smile.

"Not really, no," the blonde replied. "There isn't much information to be gained here on the streets, but they will find something useful. No, I wanted to gain information of a different sort."

"My brother," guessed Tear, who didn't react when Lythia nodded.

"He is a major player in this game," commented the Malkuth Princess. "Whatever he's done before he will be willing to do again, so tell me Tear, what happened between you accidentally kidnapping Luke, to us meeting up again in Keterburg. I need to know."

Tear looked at the older woman, who was staring at her intensely. The brunette nodded and then started to speak, keeping to her own version of events. The three who had been speaking to Astor had come out while Tear was speaking, and they were waiting off to the side. When Tear finished her recount Lythia nodded and brought a hand to her chin thoughtfully.

Arya and Anise ran up.

"My Lady!" Arya called. "Chesedonia is_"

Lythia held up a hand to cut off her retainer.

"Not now, Arya, later, not here."

The black haired child nodded, causing her hair to bounce with the energy behind the action. Anise looked confused, but she didn't comment.

"Shall we head to the port and meet Caius and Guy?" Tear asked. Jade shrugged, while Natalia and Luke nodded.

"To Baticul," Lythia said. Her words were echoed by a few around her, but they moved to the port. To Baticul, and potentially, towards trouble.


Trouble, was an understatement. They were interupped by Asch, who told them to take a detour. While on their way to Zao Ruins, Arya told Lythia what she and Anise had discovered, which was backed up by Guy and Caius' findings as well, informing the Malkuth Princess that Chesedonia was falling. Jade, Luke and Natalia nodded as well, indicating that they had received the same information while talking to Astor.

"Strange…" Lythia murmured. "Why now?"

She didn't elaborate however, leaving everyone to give her strange looks. They continued onward.

At the passage ring, Lythia got to witness Luke's hyperresonance for the first time. It looked strange to her, but she didn't comment. She did glance at Jade with a curious expression before she turned to ask Arya a quiet question.


They had reached the consensus to meet Ion and were in Daath when the Fon Master read them the Score which was falling apart. Luke and Asch were a break in the Score's path. Lythia hummed in consideration, quietly she pulled Ion aside and made a quiet inquiry. From the shocked and almost fearful expression on the woman's face, it was easy to discern that she didn't like the answer she had been given. Nobody asked her about it though. They didn't have the time.

They were all captured by Oracle Knights, Mohs simply smiled when Lythia threatened war, and he stated that was his goal. On the boat to Batical, Lythia did not say a word, despite the conversation between her brother and his friends. Arya and Caius were talking in the corner.


The prison cell was dark. Lythia counted the footsteps of the guard as he walked away then she looked at her brother. He was considering the cell door with a thoughtful expression.

"Well brother?" she implored. "What have you?"

Jade just shrugged as he turned to face the group. "If we wait around long enough, someone will come let us out," he stated simply. "We'd be wasting energy trying to force ourselves out."

Lythia stared at her brother with a searching look, before she noticed the door to the stairs opening and a certain red head entering the room. The Malkuth woman scoffed lightly.

"I suppose you saw Asch following us then?" she asked, causing Tear and Guy to look quickly towards the red head who was unlocking the door to their cell as quietly as possible. Anise was already staring at Asch. Arya and Caius jumped at the sound of the lock clicking open.

"Hurry, the Council has decided to give Natalia and the i_Luke poison to kill themselves with," the red head snapped. "And stay out of sight of the guards."

The group wasted no time in traversing the castle as quickly as they could, hiding from the guards all the while. Asch disappeared to go somewhere. They find Luke and Natalia just in time. The two nobles wanted to confront King Ingobert however, a plan which Lythia quite readily agreed to, as she left the room with Natalia on her heels, Arya and Caius had their weapons drawn.

"INGOBERT!" Lythia called dangerously as she pushed the doors open hard enough that they flew open wide, but not enough to slam into the wall. Dist actually cowered slightly before he righted himself. Largo, next to him, glanced briefly at the white haired man. Mohs and the woman before the throne both spun around, while the King of Kimlasca looked up quickly.

"Father!" Natalia cried desperately. "Am I really not your daughter?"

The King hesitated and the Princess of Malkuth seemed to grow angrier. She jabbed a finger towards Ingobert with a snarl on her face.

"You stand there and claim you are a father," she sneered. "Yet when presented with something that removes the blood tie you suddenly doubt your own heir?"

"I… I don't want to believe it, but…" Ingobert stuttered. Lythia was having none of that.

"Who am I?" she snarled, her expression thunderous. "Answer me that."

"Princess Lythia Malkuth," Ingobert replied. "The youngest daughter of the late Emperor Karl."

Lythia hissed in anger. "No, I am Lythia Balfour," she spat. "Adopted daughter of Emperor Karl. And when you finally remember my proper title, then we will talk."

Asch ran into the room, and the two other God-Generals turned to look at him. The Malkuth Princess inclined her head to him before spinning on her heel.

"Come Natalia," she said as if King Ingobert was not there. "We're leaving."

No one in the party argued with the furious woman as she marched out of the palace.


Their escape was assisted. Asch had gotten the White Knights to assist. The people of Baticul helped to. Natalia had a lot of support.

"You see Natalia," Lythia murmured to the princess as they ran out of Baticul. "Your birth doesn't matter, just how you were raised and what you have done. The people support you."

The group stopped, just outside the gates at Lythia's request. The Malkuth woman beckoned her retainers forward. Arya and Caius dashed to her side. With a small nod, Lythia looked at her brother, then at Natalia.

"This is where we part I am afraid," she said softly. Everyone seemed shocked, except Jade who merely nodded as if he had been expecting it.

"Do give his Majesty my regards when you reach him then," he hummed. Lythia nodded, and the siblings' eyes met. Something passed between them before Lythia, Arya and Caius ran in one direction while Jade, Natalia, Luke, Tear, Guy and Anise ran in the other.


And there we have it! Thanks for reading!

I actually cut out the entire plan I had for Belkend and Sheridan, because I simply could not remember all the details. So the letter from Peony to Lythia, concerning Guy, will have to be put into the next chapter, which is fine, I only have the Summit planned for next chapter, so something extra will be good. It will be a somewhat big time skip next chapter too. Then we'll see Arietta again!

Until then!

~Icetail~

Unimportant Notes:

Lythia seems to know the Dark Wings, how odd.

She also didn't seem so surprised to hear that Chesedonia was falling. She didn't seem surprised at all actually.

What did Ion tell Lythia in Daath? Well this isn't really unimportant... but it has the potential to not be addressed for a while.

King Ingobert has managed to annoy Lythia, watch out! Mohs has to, though I think the Grand Maestro already did that ages ago.