12/31/05 There seems to be a fair bit of confusion regarding something in the end of the first scene of the last chapter. Regal did not actually slap, hit or strike Alicia in anyway. Alicia simply felt that he might as well have. I apologize if that wasn't immediately clear.

My, my little girl's growing. Less than a year ago, she was barely thirteen and didn't give a whit for romance. Ah, how things change. And considering how long this little baby's getting, I should've named him Midnight Nine-Course Meal. Okay, that's enough sentimentality from me.

Disclaimer: Rallalon does not own Tales of Symphonia. Nor does she own any of its characters, places or items.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"So what's the plan for today?"

Alicia shrugged, not thinking it mattered all that much. "Pass me the salt, would you?"

"Not until you tell me," Melissa insisted, crossing her arms over her chest.

Well, if she was going to be like that... "Roberto? Pass the salt? Thanks."

"Sure thing. Oh, and does the oven need to be hotter, or..." He trailed off, noticing Melissa glare at him.

"I wouldn't think so, no," Alicia replied after looking, ignoring her female friend.

"All right." Roberto gave one last glance at Melissa, then went back to work on the lasagna.

"Al-leeeee..." Melissa whined.

"Whaaaaat?" Alicia whined back.

"It's your birthday."

"So? It's been my birthday before."

Melissa rolled her eyes at the reply. "But you have to celebrate it like a normal person."

"I'm a normal person from Ozette."

"Alicia, when in Meltokio, do as the Meltokians do."

There was a great flaw in that logic. "We're not in Meltokio."

"That's not the point, Ali. The point is, it's your fifteenth birthday. You only get one of those."

"You only get one of any of them."

"That's the point."

"You've already said that. Taste this," she added, offering a spoon.

"Then I'll say that again—you're right, it does need more salt."

"Knew it."

Melissa looked calculating for a moment. "Oh, Roberto...?"

Despite having a year and half a head of height more than Melissa, he was still intimidated by her. "...Uh... Yes?"

"Shouldn't Ali do something for her birthday?" Melissa said, leaning towards him with a smile that could represent any number of intentions.

"Well, it's not my place to say... but, uh... sure. If she wants... I-I mean, yes, of course. Excuse me," the poor guy mumbled, suddenly finding something he needed to do at the far side of the kitchen.

Melissa turned back to Alicia to give her a look of victory.

"You're abusing your Roberto-scaring abilities," Alicia told her dryly.

Melissa shrugged with a grin. "Hey, if you've got it, use it."

"Meanie."

"Silly."

Both stuck out their tongues, making a noise best described as a "neyaaaa" noise.

There was a slight pause.

"...How did that running gag start?"

"Not a clue."

.-.-.-.-.-.

"Melissa, we always go to the beach," Alicia complained without any force. She didn't really mind, but Melissa had only half the day off. This could get her in trouble if she was late coming back. "What's so special about today? And don't tell me that it's my birthday party or something. Even I know there should be more than two people for that."

"Okay, I won't tell you."

"Meanie."

"Silly—Don't start that again," Melissa interrupted herself.

Alicia laughed and got off the railway at their stop. "So the normal way of it? Beach, lunch, Ferris wheel, spinning cups, beach?"

"Actually, I've got a surprise planned out."

"You realize that you're not supposed to say that."

"It doesn't matter: you'll never guess." Her friend gave a pleased laugh. "Hell, I can't believe how this worked out, and I planned it."

"You're going to drive me mad with guessing, is that it?"

"Just wait until I have to go back to work. Then you'll see."

"Fine..." Alicia replied, managing to sound put out for all of three seconds. She then spotted on the beach a pair of poles with two ropes stretched between them. "Oooh! Barrageball! Let's join in!"

"Attention span of a goldfish..."

"Yep!"

The pair was easily absorbed into the small yet growing teams. Hitting a head-sized ball back and forth between the two ropes, taking short breaks for swimming, the morning passed quickly. In an amazing display of Melissa being Melissa, they managed to get themselves treated to lunch by a young fellow who had yet to learn that Melissa was neither single nor a blue-blood.

But he could hope.

Hastily delivered excuses about previous social engagements got them away from his company in time for Melissa's surprise. Which it seemed they were actually early for. Maybe.

"Ali, what time is it?" the older teen asked as they stood in front of the hotel.

"I don't know."

"I know you don't know."

"Then why'd you ask?"

"...I'm bored."

After what felt like an hour of this, but was probably only ten minutes or so, the surprise appeared. However, it appeared in the form of an unexpected hug-from-behind, causing Alicia to react in a less-than-thrilled manner.

The offender brought his arms up to shield himself, laughing as he did so. Brown hair and a university uniform were apparent at a glance. "Hey! Hey, it's me! It's me!" He lowered his arms, a broad grin spreading across a once-familiar face. She paused for a moment, placing that recollection, then mentally aging the remembered seven or so years.

"Holy Martel, it is you!" Alicia cried out and hugged the boy enthusiastically.

Horace laughed, a sound that she had nearly forgotten. "Now in what way do I resemble a goddess?"

Even as she slapped him playfully on the shoulder, Alicia couldn't stop grinning. "What are you doing here, Horace? And -" her eyes landed once more on the uniform "- you've really gotten into the university? And- and how did Melissa even manage to find you?"

"He found me," Melissa corrected. "But for the sake of this conversation, I'll take the credit."

"I knew you were here, so I asked around," Horace explained easily. "Well, last I heard, you were still here. Looks like there's some information that can last six years without needing to be corrected. You wouldn't believe how my professor – Professor Adien – drives me absolutely mad about that. If we know it's wrong now, why do I have to know it was right then? Anyway, he brought me here as his assistant for his trip here for – Angel feathers, I'm rambling aren't I? Whew." He took a deep breath and gave a small laugh. "I haven't been this excited in ages."

Melissa laughed as well, already walking off. "I'll leave you two be. Mind you, I'm not so much respecting your privacy as respecting the rules about pay and the suspension of it, but I'll still be off now. Happy Birthday, Ali," she added with a small wave.

"Bye!" Alicia called back before turning to her former neighbor. "Well, what do you want to do first?"

"Anything. Everything." Horace gestured about, getting as wrapped up as he had when he'd been a little boy. "Show me the city. Tell me what your life has been."

After a quick decision, they roamed the beach, only walking through the shallows due to Horace's uniform. He wanted to talk as much as she did and Alicia was left wondering why they didn't mind it that they kept talking over each other. Shouldn't it have been awkward? After all, it had been eight-year-old Alicia and six-year-old Horace who were friends. Yet now that he was here, Alicia felt as close to him as she'd been have a lifetime ago.

"Remember when you used to say you'd marry Presea?" Alicia brought up jokingly. "And she always wondered why I would call you my little brother?"

Horace winced. "Every little boy dreams of marrying the babysitter, Alicat. As far as I know, my uncle's the only one who's actually managed it. But speaking of your sister, as we've already talked about mine way too much, do you know how she is? All that I've heard recently is that she's helping the university out with something for some extra gald, or something of the sort."

Alicia felt her eyebrows raise. "That's more than I've heard."

"Sieg hasn't written to you?" Horace asked, sounding equally surprised.

"You know how expensive it is, Ace. If Daddy had to send me out here to be sure that we wouldn't all go hungry..."

"I know, but still..."

Thankfully, the first depressing moment of their visit passed quickly. It was, of course, very difficult to be depressed on Spinny Cups followed by a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel ride. Alicia figured that a boy of thirteen wouldn't need to know some of the connotations that last ride had.

"My mouth hurts from all this smiling, but I can't stop it."

"I know, me too." Alicia stared at the window a little while longer, her gaze landing on a section of the bridge by the theater area that could easily make her smile fade. She looked back at Horace, realizing something "You know what's weird?"

"Many things. Which one do you mean?"

"I've been here since I was eight, and you're the first person close to my age I've really been friends with. And you're not even from here." With a best friend four years her senior and the majority of her collogues even older, had she started to act older as well? Could she have really passed for eighteen at thirteen?

And now she was fifteen. Dear Goddess, had it only been two years since it had all begun? And, since it had ended, almost a full year?

Horace looked like he was seriously debating whether to risk breaking the rule of standing and moving in the Ferris wheel car and causing, as far as he knew, a horrible death for the both of them. Her smile must have really faded and then some.

"Alicat... I... Well, you know that I never have the right words or anything. But... I mean, there are other student around my age and everything, but..." Horace trailed off and switched topics. "That girl, Melissa, right? She's your friend. And you've got other people. You've always been more mature, so it just makes sense that you'd go with an older crowd. And knowing you, you've probably got lots of other people besides. I mean, the odds of you not having a boyfriend are—oh." He considered her small shake of the head for a moment. "Well, the point is..." He trailed off once more, pausing. "I'm here for you, just like how you always were for me when we were little. I'll always be here for you. Even if I'm not here-here for you," he said, pointing out the window, "I'll be here-here." He tapped the general area of his heart with his fist. Continuing on but winding down, he mumbled, "Except, well, in your there-there, because I'm always in my here-here..."

At this, Alicia had to laugh. Trying so hard it was adorable, that was Horace. He'd always been such a sweet kid. It was good to know that sometimes never changed, even if things like height did. "Thanks."

He gave her a tentative smile, looking unsure of what exactly he had just said. "Anytime."

.-.-.-.-.-.

Many things in this world were widely accepted as terrifying. Falling through the Otherworldly Gate into the hell of Sylvarant, for example. Walking through the Gaoracchia Forest alone; that was another one.

Among those examples also rested this:

Being summoned to the office of El Presidente Senior.

"Combatir, what in the world did you do?" Cook asked her in complete bewilderment, having pulled her aside moments before. "Oh never mind," he continued, waving her off. "Just get up there. Quickly, girl."

True to those instructions, Alicia paused only long enough to remove her apron and mouth the ominous news across the kitchen to Melissa. Her friend's eyes widened and a look of greatest support was given in reply. As far as communication went, that was it.

When El Presidente called, the workers listened, and listened quickly.

That was why they had the staff use the elevator, Alicia supposed as the small lift brought her up the few levels. Besides just being faster, it gave people time to catch their breath. Whew... Alicia leaned against the wall and tried futily to calm herself down. There wasn't a long list of reasons why she'd be called up to this office, or any for that matter. However, for this one, there was a reason that no other had.

Don't be there... Please. Stay away from me.

No matter what other conditions her heart might be in, it was sure beating fast.

Ding!

She could hear people talking in there. It was too muffled to make out the words, but... someone sounded angry, or defensive.

The doors opened, and Alicia stepped out nigh automatically, dropping into a curtsy with the unnerving ease which came to her when she was highly stressed. "I'm telling you, these results are the current ones. If your Grace insists on seeing the subject in question --" She stared at the carpet and planned to continue until told to do otherwise.

"Ah. Miss Combatir, is it?" a gentle voice asked her a short moment later, the tense mood in the room relaxing slightly. Alicia stood normally and bobbed her head politely, her eyes going to and remaining on a gentlemen entering his later years. Finely dressed and sitting at the most prominent chair in the center of the office, Duke Bryant considered her, left hand half cupping his chin and his thumb resting on the end of a mustache that didn't look so ridiculous in person. "Come here, girl. Take a seat." The hand moved and waved at one of the small couches surrounding a finely carved table. At least, Alicia assumed it was finely carved. Under all the papers stacked on it, all she could make out for sure were the legs.

Something about his manner and the creases of his face reminded Alicia that this man hadn't always been a duke. For the first time, it wasn't anything to ridicule El Presidente for. Not at all.

If anything, it was a reason for respect. "Yes, your Grace." Somewhat stiffly, Alicia walked over and sat down next to the other occupant of the couch just as stiffly. The leather couch made the sound that only a leather couch being sat on could make. Knees together, skirt smooth, she clasped her hands together on her lap, sitting as straight as she knew how.

The quickest of glances showed her that there was only one man with blue hair in the room. A relief or a disappointment, it took a fair amount of stress out of her.

The man next to her was obviously even older then El Presidente. His clothing reminded her of Horace's uniform. Was this his professor? Across from them sat a large man who looked as if he had wanted to have a mohawk and a topknot at the same time, thus explaining the tuft of brown hair sticking up from the top of his head.

"Miss Combatir, this is Professor Adien and Peter Vharley, our Exsphere broker."

"Good day, professor, sir," Alicia heard herself say quietly.

"Professor, continue."

Professor Adien cleared his throat and picked up a few of the papers on the table, speaking as he went through them. "Miss Combatir, for the past few years – How many years has it been, Vharley?"

"Over six," he replied, leaning back and completely at ease. He took up so much of that couch that it was no wonder why Alicia had been told to sit with the other man.

"Yes, yes, six. Your sister has been aiding us with Exsphere research. I can't give you the exact details, but rest assured, what she's doing is important. Now..." The professor trailed off, looking through a folder, pulling out several pictures. He shuffled through them quickly and the only detail that stuck in Alicia's mind was that all were of women and girls. "Ah, here we are. This is a picture of your sister, yes?" He handed it to her.

The girl in the picture was a young one, twelve or so. Her expression was blank, but she was, as always to Alicia's eyes, beautiful. "An old one, yes." They must have realized that Alicia might not recognize an up-to-date picture.

The professor turned slightly to look at El Presidente. Due to Alicia's position on the other side of him, she wasn't able to see what his expression was. El Presidente, however, looked a bit surprised. There wasn't much of a way to tell, but the slight widening of the eyes, how he leaned forward like that, the stiffness of the shoulders...

No. No thinking about him. So what if they were similar?

Whatever moment the pair had been sharing, it ended soon enough, Professor Adien continuing to speak. "Thank you for that. We had to be sure that you were the right Combatir; we've found several. So yes, your younger sister has--"

"Excuse me, professor?"

He stopped neatly, almost as if expecting another interupption. The poor man must have been horrible at giving lectures.

"Presea is my older sister. By two years, give or take a month or so."

Again, the professor turned to the duke. The surprise had turned to slight confusion or speculation, if Alicia was reading him right.

"Of course, my apologies." Professor Adien pushed his glasses further up his nose using his middle finger, squinting at his papers. "To get to the point, Presea is doing so well aiding our research that there are those of us at the academy hoping that you could be presuaded to help us as well." He pulled out a folder, checked the heading on it and handed it to her. "It's nothing like taking an additional job, though of course you will be paid a reasonable amount, depending on the degree of your success. Any questions?"

That was fairly obvious. It was the main detail he was leaving out. "What would I have to do? And what exactly would I be helping you research?"

"Oh, yes, yes, of course. You see, we're trying to make better Exspheres. Stronger, more powerful, you get the drift. There are certain people who, when equiped with an Exsphere – no not like how you equip a carriage with one, there's a difference here – cause the Expshere to develop." He took out the picture of Presea once more and pointed to the strange necklace she was wearing. "Your sister has been giving us the best results so far. You can see the path our thought took in requesting your cooperation."

Well, it didn't sound so bad so far... "Are there any side effects?"

The professor cleared his throat once more. "There are a few people who reject the Exsphere after a time, but what with your sister carrying one for half a dozen years, you needn't worry about that. As for the other side effects... Irritability or apathy, depending on the individual. Some have had... growth spurts and a strange rash, nothing to be that worried about. Most notice an increase in their physical and mental abilities; nothing bad there. A few have had minor insomnia problems, but that's assumed to be unrelated. Let's see, what else... Ah yes, yes--"

Ding!

Oh Martel no. Even while keeping her gaze glued to the green folder in her hands, Alicia couldn't block out those footsteps.

Couldn't block out their sudden stop.

"You're late again, Regal."

There was the slightest of pauses and Alicia felt her face grow hot.

"My apologies, Father."