I walked back to where Tear was turning over the boars. I sat down on a ground and stretched out while waiting, I winced at the thought, for the food to finish.
"Your companion speaks this language very well." Tear stated conversationally. I looked up at her and locked eyes. Hers were glazed slightly in disbelief. It hasn't sunk in yet, I thought, she will probably freak later.
I rounded on the panther with a glare. "So you talk to her but you don't even answer my questions!"
"Maybe I just don't find you as nice as I do you STUPID redhead." Slink said. He was resting beside the fire just close enough to not get licked by the flame.
Honestly I just wanted to crawl under the nearest rock rather then let the cat tell me that I wasn't nice. Then it seamed to be a running trait in the red heads of this world. It also made making a cover story for me all the harder to do… or did it?
"What are you going to Baticul for? Relations of any kind?" questioned Tear, just trying to make conversation to fill the awkward silence that filled the wood.
Now it was my turn to stiffen. Slink ever the talkative one stayed silent as I turned pleading eyes on him. "Well," I started, then flung my hopes to the wind and played the drama queen, "As I said before, we got kicked out of our village. It's just north of here. THAT was mostly his fault, partly mine. They thought that he was a demon-"If she only knew how right that statement was,"-because he wasn't in the score, and that anyone who associated with him had to be kicked out. Turns of that I was the only one who thought he deserved another chance. They kicked us out and I thought that going to see what Baticul offered was for the best."
Tear examined me. "Then what is the story about your hair?"
I looked blankly at her. My hair? What was wrong with my hair, beside you know, the fact that it was NOT my colour? "Well, what about my hair?"
If looks would kill. "Only royalty have that colour. The redder and greener the hair and eyes the closer to the throne one is.1"
I balked. That was something I didn't know. In the anime we either haven't gotten to that part or they just decided to skip it. Not that there was much I could do about it anyway! Hey maybe that's the reason why they figured out Natalia's parentage and wanted to marry her to what would technically be he cousin.
"Ummm… No freaken clue. Listen can you just help us till we get to Baticul, and stop the 20-question regime! Some people have a past that they don't feel like letting the world know!" I got the response I was looking for on that. She looked away from me, thinking. I pressed on, "but since you know my purpose, tell me yours. What business do YOU have in Baticul?"
Her eyes hardened again. "Civilians, don't need to know what my mission is. That is Top Secret."
Dam she's claming up, Oh well bluffing still works! "Does it have some thing to do with what the soldiers have been talking about?"
She paused. "And what have the soldiers spoken about?"
Here it was the moment of truth, if I could convince Tear that Van was not just her problem and that perhaps other people knew about his bastardness then maybe she would let me come to the castle. "Just some jazz about the commandant and how he might not be what everyone thinks he is."
Tear didn't even bat an eyelash. "And how would you know if that was the thing I was going to Baticul about? For all you know it's not even something due to military. You don't even know if I'm in the military, considering. "
I smirked and made a buzzer sound. "Wrong. You confirmed it yourself when you said 'Top Secret', only someone in military would use that term. And not many lower class people are involved in," here I chuckled at the absurdity of it all, "Battles with boars."
Tear's face flushed red with anger. "You take first watch." And with that she lay back and turned away from me.
I balked again, jumping to my feet. "What if something happens? I suck all at fighting I told this alread-"
She turned over and glared at me. "Unless you want to take the midnight shift, shut up and watch. I don't trust that you would stay awake with it anyway."
Wow lots of glaring goes on in this world. Either that or I was just way to stupid to realize half the things that happened. //Well at least I survived my first day in this world. //
//Yes, you did with little help from me as it seems. // I was way too jumpy in this world as well, but I shot up a good foot and a half from where I was sitting. Slink just looked at me comically.
//So that was you! // I though to the big cat, //back there. You can talk with your mind! //
//I believe it has some thing to do with my fon slots shifting and changing to fit with the fon slots of others allowing them to sync with them and talk with them. //
//Well that is only slightly useful. // It must have been funny looking at me and not being privy to this conversation. My facial expressions changed rapidly through out the discussion. // Okay now that we have some time to our selves lets put aside insult and have a real talk. I'll summarize first. We are in Auldrant. You are a crossroads demon and can talk telepathically with anyone. My physically appearance changed drastically and no one from my world would ever recognize me. I still can't fight for beans, in a world where that is primarily matters the most, next to food and money. Tear is on her way to Baticul to try to kill Van her brother, and I failed at plan one to try and get her to let me come with her. //
//That you did royally. //
I SWEAR TO GOD! This cat couldn't be less annoying if it sat sipping tea and not talking at all! //Well I guess we'll just have to figure that out in the morning when we go to Baticul. I have to find out how to stop Azaurth from falling. If I could just do that then the rest of the Sephiroth won't fall and th- //
//Won't they?//
I looked at Slink, //What do you mean?//
//From what I have gathered from your memory of this place, the people believe that the planet's memory will still continue to carry out the proper order. How do you know that the planet's memory won't just kapu and wipe itself out? //
//Because of what Van says,// I projected an image of Van and Tear at the end of the game, *You were telling me all along what to do.* //That is what Tear said to Van. He knows that Yulia wanted the score to be over turned but his methods about going about overturning were wrong, but I think he also knew that that wouldn't work and he taught Tear the songs as a backup plan. But one of the worst parts was that even though Yulia's score was over turned from Luke's birth it still continued to tell a slightly correct future.// This time I projected the part of the score after Azureth, *The Light of the Sacred flame will parish in Azureth.* but it goes on to say, *He will lead them to victory*, those two readings themselves cancel each other out! As for planet memory I think once Lorilie is freed then it shouldn't be that much of a problem. Besides I thought he was the source of the planet memory, and the seventh fonons.//
The fire crackled between us and I was brought back to the present. I blinked my dry eyes rubbing them to get the liquid moving in them again. After staring at Slink for so long they reallllly hurt. I looked into the fire, then to Tear. Her side moved slow, deep and regular. She was deeply asleep.
//So new mission parameters.// Slink stated, //First we see how Van is acting.//
//That requires getting to Baticul before Tear and finding Van before she does.// I warned, //So that's probably a no. And I already know how he's acting! Like a goody two shoes brat, and a good little boy!//
//Next try to find a way around Azureth. A person or a plan would work fine.// I turned and looked back into the fire thinking hard. Who could help us. Who else could stop Azureth from happening.
"Asch!" I jumped to my feet in excitement. OMG ASCHHHHH!! Then clapped my hand over my mouth, Tear gave a soft snort in her sleep and shifted, causing me to freeze in my stroke of genius.
//Asch? The original. What can he do?//
I was barely keeping myself from pacing and screaming in excitement. //If Tear makes it to the castle before we can convince her that we can help her with the Van problem, then they will meet everyone else, namely Jade, Anise, Ion,// I shuddered,// Meiu and his high pitched squeaky voice, they will also learn more about the god generals. Though they won't learn about Asch quite yet. If I let them get all the way to Azureth and then make sure that Asch is their early then Azureth won't fall, but-//
//How do we contact Asch?// ,finished Slink.
I gave him a dur look. //YOU can contact Asch.//
//I think that this only works in close range.//
I thought again, //Well if I let things be then we will meet up with them again, Tear and Luke and everyone, when they come back to Baticul to return Luke. Or we can just tag along with Guy when he goes to look for his lover and talk to them then.//
//What?//
//Look we all know why Guy declares himself to be the greatest womanizer known to man, however, he can't stand boobs so there forth he is massive gay and Luke is like the only other guy who Guy talks to so he is his lover!… Not that I have a problem with that but I would probably die of happiness from the amount of Yaoi I would make them go though!// Wow insert evil fangirl cackle here!
//You know the real reason why Guy hate woman is because of that incident. He does get over it.//
I grumbled. //Ya, and then he starts pinning over angsty Natalia. I wonder what Asch would say to that! HA!//
//It wouldn't mater anyway, Asch is going to die remember.//
Now that struck me like a freight train. No I hadn't remembered I had forgotten. Asch was fated to die on the day Van was beat. My eyes teared I always hated that scene. Asch was one of my favorite characters it was stupid that he had to go the way he did, they could have both fought. He was going to die before everyone even got a chance to change the world. Not if I can help it! If I was going to change the plot then Damn straight I was changing EVERYTHING! Including who lives and dies.
//Last goals.// I heard Slink whisper in the back of my mind. //Free Lorelei and prevent and unnecessary deaths.//
//Here, here!// I said sadly. I looked up at the sky the stars here looked so different then from earth. I didn't recognize a single constellation, but it was beautiful. Just like being in the thick of Algonquin woods. No light pollution no gross clouds covering up it's pureness. The moon and the fire were the only points of light.
After a few more minutes of finalizing and discussing things with Slink I decided that my shift was up and that it was time for Tear to lead the watch. I woke her and after making sure she wasn't going back the bed, lay down myself, shivering slightly. I felt something warm and furry settle near me and looked to see Slink, settling near my head. I smiled as I drifted off to sleep. I had one person who I could defiantly count on. And I planed to keep it that way. The last thing I heard was a soft humming sound.
----
BACK ON EARTH
"Did you hear? She just vanished. Right into thin air before her own mother. They can't find her anywhere."
Patrick Gibson listened to the group of girls as they passed by him in the hallway. I was the end of the school day and everyone was buzzing. Angela Medeiros had, as it seemed by her mom's insane screaming, vanished into the light. He snorted. Their was no way that had happened. Just vanished. No warning nothing. From what he had gleaned a yellow light had surrounded her and poof she was gone. Mrs. Medeiros had come screaming into the school looking for her youngest daughter, and now it was all over the school.
But he really didn't believe a word that was spoken. Patrick was sure he would see the face of that annoying brown haired girl in a few days when they met at work and had one of their manyyyyy epic battles on video games. He preferred the killem' all, with no plot or anyone telling him what to do. Angela on the other hand insisted that he try a few RPGs. That was all she played considering how hard she sucked at other games. HA! Thought Patrick, I STILL reign in the video game world!
Walking to his locker he pulled out his books for homework, suddenly something clacked to the ground. Frowning Patrick picked it up. It was clearly a video game but not his and no one had his locker combo. So it wasn't anyone else's. He flipped it over and scowled deeply. Tales of the Abyss. This was a game that she had been ranting about for months! Now how the hell did it make it's way into my locker?!?
After being stooped for a good five minutes and about to miss his bus, Patrick slammed the locker closed and shoved the game into his bag. Fine he though. I'll play your stupid game Angela!
The rest of the evening passed uneventfully. His sister Sam came back from school with her boyfriend only to leave for their work a few minutes. All the while the game lay on top of the counter where Patrick had placed it when he got home. He pick up the game and put it into the PS2. Waiting for it to load. The opening started, and as he grudgingly watched he admitted to himself that the game did look kind of cool.
"Patrick, I'm home." He turned around and saw his mom coming through the door.
"Hey mom!" he said grinning.
She sighed as she took in what he was doing. "Come one now Patrick on a school night? One day your just going to get whipped away into one of those games."
Thinking of Angela, "Pfft, like that would ever happen." His attention was caught, the opening screen finished and a new screen came up. : PLAY NORMAL MODE:…: PLAY EXPERIENCE MODE:
"Ooo. Play the Experience mode, Patrick come on!" She laughed.
"Fine maybe I will!" Patrick chose the experience mode option. Unlike Angela though he didn't know what was going to happen. He didn't have a clue about anything from Tales of the Abyss other then the opening and what Angela had ranted to him about. So what happened next felt like his mother words had cursed him. The Gold glow surrounded his body flushing it and making him shine.
"PATRICK!" His mom shrieked dropping her bags and grabbing onto his sholders as he doubled up in agony. It hurt so much. The moment that his mom tried to help though the gold light burned her. "PATRICK!" she shrieked into his ear, "Really I don't mean for you to disappear! Your not allowed! PATRICK!"
He could barely hear her as the roar of pain and rushing blood filled his ears. Blocking his senses and forbidding his movement. The glow increased and his mom was thrown backwards. The bright light finally engulfed him. Well, Patrick thought, I know why I hate RPGs so much now!
*******************
A/N: Okay so I'm still essentially screwed for this part of the story not being able to figure out how to convince tear and all but whatever, whatever. Now Patrick. He is not a made up character he is a guy from my work who started pissing me off so I told him he should actually find some hard proof that Rpgs are crap all and ya he couldn't but I guess it all depends on personality as well. But I told him he was going in here and now if I look back to what I was planing it works well…. Really well!
Okay I also have to thank you My two wonderful reviewers! YA! I ACTUALLY GOT SOME REVIEWS!!!! Seeeeeee reviews make the chapters come easier and break the writer block! So much more are appreciated !!
PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE R&R!!!!!!