A/N:
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tales of series, they belong to Namco.
Pairing: Main Asch x Luke, Flynn x Yuri, Richard x Asbel.
One-sided Yuri x Luke, Natalia x Asch, Tear x Luke, and Guy x Flynn.
Hints of possible Jade x Guy and Ion x Sync.
Warning: Contains Yaoi, language and blood, OC's included, Skits and diaries included (Mainly by Luke), Luke is the main here, and OCC characters possibly.
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Crossover- Titles
Crossover- Skits/Current Date/Setting/Location/Diary
Crossover- Thoughts/Flashback/Artes/Emphasis/Weapons Name
Crossover- Normal speaking/Present Time
Chapter 5: Cruising in the Tartarus
Luke Diary Entry 1-3: Reunion
I never expected to encounter Rakshasa from the Imperial Knights; through he went on the path of the assassin than a Knight. He really expected to beat me in a front instead of the back. Luckily, my taunt had provoked him to render him an easy target and knocked him out. I left him to one of the other Generals in Hypionia, so he might get on trail or be punished severely. I worried for a moment that he might've hurt Aaralyn since our argument earlier.
We headed to Egothor Forest after reaching the town, Aurnion. Upon there, we found a gate; it was called a "Torii" Aaralyn said. She did some sort of chant/prayer and the gate opened. After a few warnings, we went in and damn, the mist was thick inside.
I didn't know what I did the moment I recognize the forest we were in was the Cheagle Forest. I just ran there and took in every surrounding, I was excited about meeting the others again yet I was scared…that they might've not cared at all that I was gone. I wouldn't quite blame them after all I was cruel to them and acted like an arrogant asshole to them, and did something I couldn't ever be forgiven for…
A light flashed throughout the Cheagle Forest. I could recognize that it was Ion DaathicFonic Arte and it worried me that the kid might've collapse again. Heh, it was like déjà vu again.
Aaralyn and I went to the Ligers Den when she told me there was an evil presence here, heck I can even feel it too. It would be a lie if I said I was surprised, well, only mild shock to find Jade, Tear and Guy fighting against an Undead Liger Queen while Ion and Mieu were at the back unable to fight. Normal methods usually won't work, so we both had to intervene to assist them.
Guy was actually warmed enough to welcome me back and that made me feel at ease. Ion and Tear also welcomed me back along with Mieu. Jade seemed to be obnoxious as usual, but that enough to know that he was tolerant of my presence.
We defeated the Undead Liger Queen and headed back to Engeve to stay at an Inn for the night. I along with Aaralyn had to explain and answer some questions interrogated by Jade. It went smoothly, but I had to tell them what had happened five years ago when I disappeared.
They looked like they didn't believe me when I told them about my disappearance. Of course, I couldn't quite believe it either. I…don't think it was Natalia that wanted to kill me after all.
We also explained about Ephinea and Terca Lumireis and how they were real and different from Auldrant. Again, they weren't shock to my surprise.
What were they shock about is when Aaralyn told them I became a Captain in the Imperial Knights. I felt somewhat insulted by that.
Apparently Anise is coming to pick us up on the Tartarus, so we retired early to bed.
The next day, the redhead Captain yawned as he left the inn with Guy and headed outside the village. Jade, Tear, Ion, Mieu and Aaralyn were already there and waited for the two males to catch up.
"Had a good sleep, Luke?" Tear asked, smiling.
"Ugh…Five more minutes would've been nice…" Luke groaned, rubbing his eyes. "I haven't had a good sleep for a while…"
"It's understandable that you might still be tired, but wait a little longer Luke." Ion reassured the redhead Captain.
"I know…"
"The Tartarus is here." Jade informed them, all heads looked up.
The land dreadnought of the Malkuth Empire, a giant white boat with gold accents capable of traveling land and sea was just right in front of them. It seemed to have made it's stopped an hour ago.
"Woah…" Aaralyn whistled at the sight. "What a ship."
"It's a military ship to be exact, capable of traveling land and sea." Guy explained, watching the emergency hatch opened and stairs falling from the door to the ground.
The door opened to reveal a short girl wearing a pink outfit with the symbol of the Order of Lorelei on her tabard and a stitched up doll latched to her shoulders. Her black twin pigtails flutter a bit as she turned her head back and forth till her chestnut eyes caught sight of the group on the ground. She then smiled and ran down the stairs; she stopped in front of Ion.
"Ion!" The pig-tailed exclaimed, exasperated yet relieved. "Do you know how worried I was when you suddenly disappeared like that without me?!"
"I'm sorry, Anise." The Fon Master gave a meek apology, smiling at the girl name Anise.
"Ugh…Please inform me next time before you go off somewhere like that again, Ion." Anise rubbed her temples before taking note of other people presence.
The pig-tailed girl gave a flirty and cute smile at both Guy and Jade. The Gardios noble had paled while the Colonel was neutral as ever.
"Hello, Colonel and Guy~" Anise ran up to Guy, who backed away a bit much to the pig-tailed girl annoyance and walked up to the Colonel. "Colonel~ so how are you?"
"I'm quite fine, thank you." Jade answered with a smile. "What's the status on the Tartarus?"
"It's up and ready to go, Colonel!~" Anise answered with enthusiasm.
The pig-tailed girl turned to Tear and greeted her, "Hey there, Tear. How are things in Yulia City?"
"It's fine, Anise." The Melodist answered politely. "I'm worried about my brother intentions here at the moment."
"I can't blame you…Commandant and the God-Generals went AWOL again…" There was a sigh from Anise before she smiled again. "Well, let the six of us get going!"
"Eight to be exact, Anise." The Colonel corrected the pig-tailed girl.
"Wait…What?" Anise blinked in confusion, scanning around till her eyes landed on the two in the back.
The blond woman gave a quizzical stare at the pig-tailed girl, noticing that Anise eyes were landed on Luke, who smiled nervously.
"…..WHAT?!" Anise screeched, pointing an accusing finger at the redhead. "WHY IS THAT BASTARD HERE?!"
Luke flinched at the accusing for two different reasons, his face showing the slight hurt from the words Anise used.
"I'll explain everything later, Anise." Jade said a bit too quickly when he saw almost everyone eyes narrowed at Anise outburst. "Luke has chosen to join us for a while; he'll be a great assist."
"Eh? That is your assist?" The pigtailed girl said doubtfully, frowning more.
"Ouch…" The blond Guide thought, noticing another flinch from the redhead Captain.
"We'll explain everything on the Tartarus, Anise." Ion soothing voice broke the tense air.
Skit 11: Unbelievable
Anise: Um…I don't think I gave a proper introduction yet, have we?
Aaralyn: No, we haven't yet.
Anise: Ah! I don't wanna be rude then! I'm Anise Taitlin, Fon Master Guardian in the Order of Lorelei!(And soon to be Duchess when I marry a filthy rich man!)
A sneak grin appears on Anise smiling face that shortly turned back to her cute smiling one.
Aaralyn: I'm Aaralyn, a Guide for Captain Luke between the borders of Auldrant and Terca Lumireis.
Anise: Eh? Terca Lumireis?
Anise blinks in confusion and Tear along with Ion appears.
Tear: Colonel explained earlier, remember?
Anise: Hm…But it's still hard to believe all of this. It's like a totally different world without even using Fonons!
Ion: From what Luke told us, it wasn't really that different other than uncomfortable feeling of his physical state and had to wear an item called a "Blastia" or such. I wouldn't blame him since he is composed of mostly Seventh Fonons and it might be difficult for me to adapt too if I went there.
Anise appears doubtful at the mention of "Luke"
Anise: I would never trust anything that bastard has to say!
Tear: Now, Anise…That isn't being very mature…Luke had helped us out many times before and is our comrade.
Anise: Yeah? Why did he try to kill Natalia then?!
Both Ion and Tear look down while Anise fumes
Ion: There's probably a misunderstanding, Luke story and Natalia story are similar but differ from each other for some reason.
Tear: Fon Master has a point there.
Anise: Still unbelievable to me!
Skit Ends
The Land Dreadnought, Tartarus
The group had spread out throughout the military ship; Jade at the bridge with Guy while Ion and the girls were occupied in the cabins which left Luke and Mieu by themselves in another cabin.
"Master! What are you doing?" The Cheagle asked as he floated around Luke.
The redhead Captain for once having time alone chose to rest on the bunk beds. His apple green eyes stared at Mieu and only smiled.
"Just thinking about things, Mieu." Luke answered, sitting up now and getting out of the bunks.
"Mieu?" Mieu watched his master grabbed his white coat and put it on, heading to the door.
"I'm gonna walk around the Tartarus." Luke informed the Cheagle, turning the knob and opening the door.
"Ah! Mieu wants to join!" The Cheagle flew quickly through the gap of the door before it completely closed.
The redhead Captain had headed up to the deck to the center between the bridge and lower compartments were. The proud emblem of the Malkuth Empire etched on the floor of the round shape deck. Luke stood near the fence and put a hand on the top of it, watching the scenery. The roar of the winds on top of this deck echoes loudly against his eardrums. Mieu floated around a bit before landing on Luke, sitting on his shoulder and glanced up to him.
"Master! The Tartarus is incredible!" The Cheagle exclaimed.
"Yeah, that right." Luke agreed, smiling softly as hid mind wandered. "I think…this is the first time when I first met the God-Generals…and him, but I didn't know that time."
"Mieu…Master…" Mieu listened quietly.
There was a quiet, audible hollow laughter from Luke lips before stopping.
"…I'm really an idiot."
"Master isn't an idiot!" Mieu exclaimed, appearing serious through failing due to his cute appearance. "Master is always amazing!"
"Mieu…" The redhead Captain stared at the Cheagle a moment before petting Mieu head. "Thank you."
"Mieu!" The Cheagle purred in content at the petting.
"Luke…" A familiar female voice called out, the loud clanks of boots echo against the floor, approaching closer.
When Luke turned around, it was Tear who gave a nervous smile and walked up next to Luke. The Melodist faced the redhead Captain directly in the eye, both staring from blue to apple green.
"Tear…What is it?" Luke asked, breaking the staring contest by turning his head away.
"I thought we should catch up since we haven't had a chance to talk like this." Tear answered softly. "What was life in Terca Lumireis like, Luke?"
The redhead Captain sighed, expecting this question sooner or later. It was a harmless question, so it meant that he didn't need to tell everything.
"…Terca Lumireis wasn't really that different from Auldrant, but only the history and use of technology and energy were different." Luke began to tell, trying to remember vivid details about the place he lived for five years. "It's…really beautiful there despite the scenery similar to home here."
"I heard you joined the military, Luke. How was it?"
"Haha…Expected, it was harsh, but comparing to actual experience it wasn't that difficult." The redhead Captain laughed softly. "Competition for higher ranks was tough, but that didn't matter to me. I worked how I would work around and got promoted to Captain after some time around. But enough about that…How were things in Auldrant after I disappeared, Tear?"
Luke didn't miss how Tear tense at the question.
"…Everyone was shocked from Natalia story, but we…Felt that something was missing when you weren't around." The Melodist looked down a moment before looking up again. "We were able to convince my brother to stop his plans and Eldrant fell into pieces near the Tartaroo valley. The God-Generals were still alive miraculously and after that…we chose to reform everything back to the way it was before. Asch could've taken his title as a Fabre, but…he stayed as Asch the Bloody."
"Wait...What about him and Natalia? I heard they were the ones that are actually engaged." Luke blinked in confusion, he was shocked to hear that his former Master was alive, but Asch was more surprising.
"That's one thing that confused me; I thought Natalia and Asch feelings were mutual." Tear said solemnly, feeling the Princess sorrow that time. "Asch broke up their engagement."
The redhead Captain was silent for a long while, his mouth gaping and shocked.
He didn't want to believe it…
His original, Asch broke up the engagement with Natalia whom he promised to marry when they were kids?
"Other than that, Jade decided to stay as Colonel while Guy had been working hard to revive the Gardios family. Anise had chosen a goal to become the first female Fon Master and Ion supports her for that. I have been in Yulia City more often and going back and forth cities in Malkuth and Kimlasca." Tear continued, smiling softly at the redhead replica.
"Well, sounds interesting…More tranquil than my life that had been hectic so far…" Luke mumbles, turning head back to the land that now changed into sea.
"Perhaps…Luke…" Tear began slowly, earning the replica attention.
The Melodist stared at Luke a long while, the redhead Captain had pulled his hair tie letting his wild red, golden tipped hair became loosed. Playfully, the winds picked up and tousled his hair in a tangled mess. Luke didn't have a choice but to pull his hair away from his face to see properly, an apple green eye staring back at Tear.
"Yes Tear?"
"No…Never mind, it's nothing important." Tear shook her head and smiled.
Maybe, right now it wasn't the best time to ask such idle questions of feelings, even if she knew the answer herself. The Melodist chuckled seeing the confused expression on the replica face and them both continued their conversation.
"Hey!" Guy voice shouted at both Tear and Luke, breaking their conversation.
"Mieu?" The Cheagle turned his tiny head to see the blond hair. "It's Guy!"
The Gardios noble stopped in front of them both and grinned at them.
"So, you both had a lovely conversation I presumed?" Guy asked in a teasing manner shortly disappointed at Luke tilting his head and a faint blush from Tear. "I guess decent then."
"What do you mean, Guy?" The redhead Captain tilted his head more in confusion and glanced at Tear who only looked away.
"Ah, nothing, Luke." Guy quickly added to end the subject.
"What's wrong, Guy?" Mieu asked, landing on Guy blond head and tilted it's tiny head down.
"Oh, nothing wrong, Mieu. I was just looking all over the ship for you guys." The Gardios noble waved the Cheagle.
"What happened?" Tear asked, turning around this time with her face kept straight.
"Jade asking where you were since we're almost at Grand Chokmah. Ion and the others are already at the bridge waiting for you three now." Guy informed them.
"All right, we'll be there shortly." Luke nodded and followed behind Guy shortly with Tear to the bridge.
Skit 12: Default Weapons
Luke expression was curious as he talked to Guy
Luke: Hey Guy, I noticed you don't have a blade with you instead you have that complicated looking design sword.
Guy: Ah…this?
Luke: Yeah, if I remember…that sword was hung at the manor.
Guy face became grim.
Guy:…This sword belong to House Gardios before the Hod War. Duke Fabre took this sword as a trophy.
Luke: Oh…I'm sorry…
Luke tone and features were apologetic and Guy then smiles reassuringly.
Guy: Hey, don't apologize. You didn't have anything to do with it.
Luke: But…I was still raised as a Fabre…even though I now no longer held that title, doesn't change the fact that was once my home.
Guy: Now you are just being silly, you didn't take part in the murder and besides, you are a different person than I know of. So don't worry about it, my revenge against Duke Fabre is already gone.
Luke: I see…If that had happened, how did you get your family heirloom back?
Guy: Well…Duke Fabre gave it back to me after discovering that I was the last of the Gardios.
Luke becomes shocked at the fact.
Luke: Seriously?!
Guy: Yeah. Speaking of swords, you're carrying Ultimatus around you. How did you get that?
Luke: Haha, it wasn't easy, when my favorite weapon, Cutlass had broke while fighting…Apparently, one of the Elders of the Mist Village told me I can get a powerful sword since Cutlass will be no use, even if it's fixed.
Guy: Did you have to fight that ghost?
Tear comes in, slightly fearful and shocked, and then her yelps had surprised both Guy and Luke.
Tear: G-G-G-G-Ghost?!
Luke: Whoa, Tear?!
Guy: Ah, I forgot…Tear scared of ghost.
Tear: W-Who's scared of something silly as that?!
Tear blushes in embarrassment and glares, walking closer to Guy, who seemed uncomfortable.
Guy: N-No one…Calm down, Tear…
Tear: I am calm.
Luke: …To answer your question, Guy, I did have to fight that ghost.
Guy: With no weapon?
Luke: I had that wooden sword to use since I wasn't supposed to kill that ghost (Through how can you kill a ghost?).
Guy: Reminds me of that practice sword you always use when you were still Van apprentice. Good times they were too.
Tear: It would be like Luke very first weapon then.
Mieu: Mieu~ Default!
Guy laughs while Tear and Mieu smiled to Luke, who only gave a sigh of content.
Luke: I guess you all could say that…
Skit Ends