Disclaimer: Well, let's see. This happens to be on and also a story about Tales of the Abyss. Fan. Okay, point is, I don't own the game, the characters, anything—as much as I wish I did. So, if anyone honestly thinks I own the game, I give the rest of the world permission to throw large, blunt objects at said offender. Because that's seriously offensive to the REAL creators of the game—comparing them to me, that is ;) You get the point.
Thanks to all who gave me ideas for this fic. And, of course, to all who review. Much appreciated! I'll shut up now.
The walk to the Cheagle Woods was not long, but Luke was all ready past the point of exhaustion. He had insisted on doing most of the fighting to prove himself, ordering Guy and Tear to the back. Guy hadn't even bothered to protest, and Tear simply followed his example. Tear herself was a bit worried; Luke hadn't uttered a single complaint since they had left. That was certainly a bad sign. Still, she was grateful for the peace. With all the monsters they were fighting, it was starting to look more and more like Luke was picking so many battles on purpose. That's just the thing a rash, foolish boy would do.. He had no idea they could find themselves fighting for their lives any minute.
"Luke," Tear ventured cautiously. "Maybe we should rest for a bit. You look like you're about to pass out, and we're not exactly in top condition either."
"No." Luke moodily swatted at the dense vines dangling from the tree canopy. "We're almost there anyway."
"How do you know that?!" Guy couldn't stop himself from shouting.
Luke turned suddenly, facing Guy, his finger pressing the servant's chest none too gently. "These stupid cheagles can't have much more brain than any other monsters! We'll find a path sooner or--"
As if on cue, a pale orange creature darted from tree to tree, stopping occasionally at the roots of each one to munch on the small mushrooms that grew there.
"There's one now!"
Tear sighed, watching the boy run headlong in the opposite direction again. When would he learn you can't just do that in a forest full of monsters? And where did he get the energy for that charge in the first place? Guy mumbled something she couldn't make out before giving chase.
"Hey!" Luke skidded to a halt before a vast tower of blue and gold steel that sat majestically in a clearing. The cheagle gave a high-pitched squeal and disappeared into the foliage, but Luke had completely forgotten it in his awe. Guy and Tear caught up, they too stopping short.
The landship was familiar to them; they'd seen it coming to Engeve just after leaving the valley. Beams of gold-plated metal arched in dizzying patterns far above the cobalt hull. Pearly orbs decorated the rail and added to its beautiful structure.
"The Tartarus," Guy remembered the name of the ship. "What are they doing here?"
"And who might you be?" The silken voice came from behind the three, and they nearly fell over each other jumping at the sound. "You're trespassing, you know. Dreadful bad habit that is."
Tear regained her composure first. "W-we're just travelers. What are you doing here?"
"My dear," the man stepped from the undergrowth, the leaves and exotic grasses falling from his spotless uniform as gracefully as he spoke. "It's rude to demand a stranger's name without introducing yourself first."
"Who made him boss?" Luke spat from the corner of his mouth. Guy gave him a glare that was more like a physical slap. He could only hope this man hadn't heard the comment. Though Guy hardly understood anything of the military, he knew enough to conclude that this man was a high-ranking officer—possibly even the commander of the mission. What was he doing down here, then?...
Tear also made her best effort to ignore Luke. "My name is Tear Grants, First Platoon, Oracle Knights Intelligence Division."
"Ah," The man gave her the most bone-chilling smile she'd ever seen. "You're Van Grants' sister, aren't you?"
"What?! You're Master Van's sister?!" Luke blurted incredulously.
"My, my, it seems even your companions don't know you,"
"Sir--" Guy stepped forward, hoping to prevent the awkward silence that would have been sure to follow. "This is Luke, and my name is Guy Cecil. I'm a servant of his."
"Now, what's your name, sir?" Tear pressed him again.
"Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces." The man grinned even more broadly. "I'm here on behalf of His Majesty, Peony IX, Emperor of Malkuth, and I happen to be escorting Fon Master Ion at the present."
"What's a 'Fon Master Ion'?" Luke barged in ignorantly.
Jade coughed politely, but he couldn't hide his ever-growing smile.
"Luke... now is not the time..." Guy nudged the boy.
"Fon Master Ion," Jade cleared his throat again. "Happens to be the leader of the Order of Lorelei and the highest ranking Oracle Knight. His predecessor, Evenos, created the peace that reigns today, and he is the symbol of that peace, along with Lorelei and their noble mascots, the cheagles."
Luke blinked, only absorbing about half of the information.
"Eh... don't worry about him." Guy blushed, pulling Luke back. "He's suffering from memory loss, you see..."
"Memory loss, is it?" Jade's face sparked with fascination. "What has caused said memory loss, if you don't mind?..."
"You Malkuthians kidnapped him seven years ago," Guy growled. "He was traumatized, you know."
"Hm... I don't recall anything of the sort. It must have happened during the previous emperor's reign."
"Anyway, you haven't told us why you're here." Tear returned to her original question. "You mentioned the Fon Master?..."
"Yes, I did," Jade said cheerily.
"Why is the Fon Master here?" Tear was growing impatient with this man.
"He heard of some fires in the northern forests and he wished to see if the cheagles made it through all right."
"Jade!" a child's voice called from the direction of the Tartarus. "Are we ready to move out?"
"Fon Master..." Jade turned to the green-haired boy running to him.
"Oh? Who are these people?"
"It seems they're travelers," Jade stated, amused to no end. "Guy, Tear, and... Luke, was it?"
Guy kicked Luke before he could even say anything, and instead of making a rude remark to the colonel, he aimed his complaint at Guy. "What was that for?!"
"Good afternoon, Fon Master," Guy greeted the child affably. "I'm sorry for the invasion. If we're in the way, we'll just get going."
"No, not at all. Why did you come to this forest?" Ion tilted his head expectantly. "Commoners don't exactly just wander into a forest for no reason."
"It's a long story, but we've been sent here by the people of Engeve to search for proof the cheagles have been stealing food. It seemed like they were pretty upset about it."
"Oh, oh no, the cheagles have been stealing food?" Ion looked around worriedly. "Jade, we have to go see about this!"
"I have no objections, Fon Master." Jade pushed his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose. "That is, if Mr. Luke finds it suitable for one of his status to mingle with us lowly peasants."
"What was that--?!"
"Hey, hey, wait a minute," Guy grabbed Luke's forearm as a precaution before questioning Jade. "How do you know who Luke is?"
"I didn't, I just took a lucky guess, judging by the color of his hair and eyes—he must be from the Kimlascan royal family. By your reaction, I assume he is of importance?..."
"Oh! I know!" Ion gently brushed Guy's hand from Luke's arm. "Luke--'the light of the sacred flame' in Ancient Ispanian. That's a nice name. Do you recognize that, Jade?"
"Interesting..." Jade pondered. Luke was foolish enough to take the bait.
"What is it?"
"I could have sworn it meant 'infinite whining'. I need to brush up on my Ancient Ispanian, it seems."
Guy predicted Luke's action again and immediately had both of his arms restraining Luke's shoulders as the redhead lunged at the colonel.
"Oh, please don't hurt Jade, Luke." Ion stepped between them, holding his arms out.
"Just let me at that stupid bastard, I'll tear his arms off and feed them to him!..."
"Luke!" Guy thumped Luke's head roughly. "Don't talk to him like that!"
"Um, um, Luke! How about we go find that cheagle now? I think I saw it head over to the stream over there." Ion pointed from the direction Luke and his party had just come in an effort to distract the Duke's son from the colonel.
"Near the stream?" Tear echoed. "You're a wonderful pathfinder, Luke. We only passed that stream four times this morning."
"Oh, shut up."
"Well, now that that's all settled..." Jade nodded to the Tartarus and then at Ion. "I think your nanny is calling you."
"Oh! Anise!" Ion acknowledged the black haired girl that had launched herself at him. "Where have you been?"
"Just tracking the cheagles, Ion!" she giggled cheerfully. "I've found the trail if you're ready to follow it!"
"Okay!"
"Lively little pair, aren't they?" Jade nodded to Tear and Guy as Anise dragged Ion back to the camp.
"Yes..." Tear replied absently. Could he be?...
"Here it is!"
Guy, Tear, Luke, and Jade followed the others to a decidedly large tree with an opening big enough to admit all of them. Luke was positive that it had to be the tallest tree on the face of Auldrant, despite having seen so little of the world. He'd heard of another tree, the Soil Tree, in a town called St. Binah, but there was no way it could be any larger than the cheagles' dwelling.
"What brings you to our home?" a voice echoed from the rear of the chamber, and the smaller cheagles that had been playing ran to the confines of the hollowed roots.
"It talked?!"
"Yes, Luke," Ion explained patiently. "Long ago, Yulia Jue made a pact with the cheagles and offered a ring to them to symbolize that pact. It is called the Sorcerer's Ring, and it allows monsters to speak our language."
"Are you of relation to Yulia Jue?" The purple-furred cheagle advanced, holding the glimmering ring between its tiny paws.
"I'm Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei." Ion walked up to the cheagle and knelt so they were on eye level with each other. "Have you been raiding Engeve in search of food?"
"So you've come to exterminate us?"
"They don't deny it!" Luke accused. "We'll drag these guys back to Engeve and--"
"No!" the cheagle elder stopped him. "We don't have need of human food; we are herbivores. It is to appease the ligers that moved down here when one of our tribe burned their forest to the north. They will prey on us if we don't send them food occasionally."
"So, what if we kill the ligers?" Guy suggested. "Then you won't have any predators."
"No! That's barbaric!" Ion cried. "What if we negotiate with them—we can use the Sorcerer's Ring to communicate."
"If you wish to try, I will lend the ring to the one who burned the forest." the cheagle elder summoned one from a crevice near the entrance. This cheagle had brilliant blue fur, and he stumbled up to the elder hastily. He accepted the ring and held it around his waist daintily. Tear couldn't help blushing at this—the little thing was just too cute!
"My name's Mieu! Pleased to meet you!" it squeaked.
"Well, well," Jade smirked. "More dead weight."
"H-hey!" Luke folded his arms indignantly.
"Did I say anything to offend you, Luke?" Jade asked innocently. "I was talking about Ion—the doctors in Daath forbade him from using his power because he often gets tired enough to pass out after using it."
"D-don't worry about him, Luke," Guy tugged the seething Luke away from the colonel. "He's only kidding."
"Is the colonel ever NOT kidding?" Anise commented flatly.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Mieu squirmed uncomfortably.
"There's no way I'm gonna put up with THAT," Luke plucked the monster from the moss on the ground and stared eye to eye with it. "Shut up, you... thing! And don't ever open your mouth again!"
"Luke! You're despicable!" Tear scolded him.
"It's harmless..." Guy shrugged.
"Let's just get this over with!" Luke let the cheagle drop to the ground irately.
"Mieeeeeeuuuuu..."
"Come here, Mieu... I'll hold you for now." Tear lifted him onto her shoulder protectively.
"Now, let's go mess up some ligers!" Anise cheered.
"Indeed..." Jade agreed. There was something about how he spoke that made the others shiver slightly.
The trip to the ligers' den was tense. To the casual observer, the group was simply plodding its way through the forest, but it was actually perfectly choreographed to minimize conflict. Tear and Mieu had taken the lead, and Guy walked between her and Luke, who was also separated from Jade by Ion and Anise. For a long time, the only sound that could be heard was that of plush mosses being trampled underfoot and the occasional whispers of Tear and Mieu figuring out the best route to take. Luke's whining had ceased after a sound verbal punishment from Jade at his abusing Mieu's ability to use the Sorcerer's Ring to breathe little puffs of fire. Ever since then, no one tried to talk, as the event put Luke in a foul mood, and any hint of a conversation was quickly smothered by his familiar cry of "Shut up!".
"Why is everyone so quiet?" Anise chirped, breaking the silence abruptly.
"Because, dear Anise, the louder we are, the more monsters we'll attract," Jade answered.
"Stupid old man, talking like he knows everything," Luke mumbled under his breath. Jade chose to ignore the comment, much to Guy's relief. After all, as Jade well knew, insulting someone stupid was only fun if you had an audience, and this particular one was growing tired of the friction between them.
"Here it is." Tear stopped short in front of the hole that had been burrowed into the ground. "Mieu says the liger queen is in there."
"Hmph. Let's get on with this!" Luke charged ahead of the group.
"Oh, my, it seems someone is a bit excited." Jade trotted in after him pleasantly.
"You ready, Ion? Come on. You too, Tear, Guy." Anise motioned for the rest to follow her.
The ligers' den was a large cavern. It was mostly empty, save for the heavy tree roots that protruded from the soil above. In the center of the room was an enormous nest, and in it sat the biggest monster Luke had ever seen. She was muscular and lean, obviously the leader of the pack. Her ears pricked at the sound of them entering. She stood over the nest, a low growl emanating from her throat.
"Ligers lay eggs?!" Even Luke had the sense to whisper in the face of such a dangerous beast.
"A lot of monsters are born from eggs," Mieu told him. "I was born from an egg, too!"
"Shut up, Thing!" Luke kicked at the cheagle, but Tear rescued him.
"Mieu, why don't you go talk to her? Just ask her to leave this land, please," Ion asked politely.
"Yes, sir!" The cheagle toddled up to the liger, the Sorcerer's Ring hindering his movement. He spoke in a string of "mieu"s, which could apparently be understood by all monsters, but the liger was decidedly not happy with the request. She roared, the cavern shook, and some of the dirt just barely clinging to the roots above dislodged. Guy whipped out his weapon, holding the dull edge up to shatter the rock without it affecting the blade.
"Thank you!" the cheagle squeaked helplessly.
"Watch out, here she comes!" Guy nudged Mieu away as the liger swiped at him with her broad paw.
"Be careful! She says she wants to feed us to her children!"
"Dammit!" Luke joined the battle, catching the liger's blind spot as she attacked Guy.
"Ion, you stay back here with me." Anise led him back a bit.
"Sure, Anise."
"Fang Blade!" Luke swept his sword vertically, and the liger queen howled in pain as the tip just nicked her cheek. She directed her attention to the redhead, and Guy was clear to execute his attacks.
"Crescent Strike!" Blood splashed from the coarse fur of the beast, and she reared back, instinctively firing Third Fonons toward the swordsmen. Guy and Luke were pushed away as the lightning exploded, and Tear soon had her support spell ready. She sang out the elegant lyrics of the fonic hymn, and the liger hesitated.
"Demon Fang!" Guy targeted the queen and let fly a blinding white shock wave across the ground from his blade. It was just enough to sting her, and she whirled again to face the servant.
"It's not dying!" Luke's sword pinged off claw again, deflecting the crushing force to the earth.
"Okay, okay, I've had my fun. If she kills you, then it won't be entertaining anymore, will it, now?" Jade stepped forward confidently.
"Bastard!"
Guy had to admit he agreed with Luke on that one.
"Jade! Why didn't you help us sooner!?"
"Oh, you know..."
The liger queen took them off guard, tackling Guy and pinning him beneath her broad chest.
"Guy! Get up, quick!"
"O darkened storm cloud, loose they blade and run mine enemies through! Thunder Blade!"
Luke yanked Guy from under the liger queen just as the hammer of sparks crashed into the liger queen's back, sending her into convulsions. Blue light thundered around them, and her body was completely destroyed from the inside out as the intense voltage shorted her organs instantly.
"Well, that was pitiful." Jade shrugged.
"Whoa... Did... did you see that?" Luke was still staring at the bulk of flesh left quivering from the fonic arte.
"He's definitely not an ordinary fonist," Tear commented.
"Wow! Colonel, you're so cool!" Anise threw herself at him energetically.
"Okay, okay, enough compliments, you," he spoke to all of them in general, but mainly to Anise as he detached her arms from his waist.
"Mieu! You saved me from being liger food!" Mieu bounded up to Guy, begging his attention.
"Huh? Oh, that," Guy knelt to the cheagle. "It's nothing, don't worry about it."
"Let's go tell the elder we got rid of the queen! I'm sure he's worried about us!"
"Ah, I see. You've met with a great danger on our behalf and even kept your promise after two thousand years." The cheagle elder nodded to Jade, who seemed to be leading the group.
"Aiding the cheagles is part of Yulia's teachings." Ion smiled warmly at the small beast. "We're happy to be of assistance."
"We should be on our way..." Jade stated, urging them out in his subtle manner.
"Before you leave, we must repay another debt." the elder stopped him. "Mieu, come here."
"Yes, sir?"
The elder turned to Guy. "Mieu has caused our tribe far too many problems—I am forced to exile him now."
"That's too cruel." Guy frowned.
"I don't mean forever. He will serve you for one cycle of seasons in repayment for your saving his life."
"I—I didn't mean to..." Guy shrugged, seeing his endeavor hopeless. "Okay, then, Mieu. It looks like you're with us from now on. Welcome to the group."
"Glad to join you, Master!"
"My, my," Jade smiled nonchalantly. "Since when are we this 'group', as you speak of so casually? We are mere acquaintances who are soon to go our separate ways."
"Whatever, Colonel!" Anise beamed. "You know you're getting to like this lot!"
"But of course, dear Anise..." Jade smirked. No one there could decipher the true meaning of his facade—Jade was utterly unreadable.
"Great, now this thing is gonna follow us around?" Luke picked up his whining as they left the cheagle's abode, just out of earshot of the elder.
"Looks like it," Jade remarked. "Though, I wouldn't even think of hurting him with Tear around—she obviously won't allow the abuse of cheagles."
"W-what do you mean by that, Colonel?" Tear blushed, cursing herself for letting him, of all people, find out. Well, there wasn't much anyone could do to keep anything from Jade, anyway—he could probably see through walls for all they knew.
"Oh, nothing." He gave a light chuckle with his response.
"Okay, okay, are you two done yet?!" Luke fussed. "Let's get out of this stupid forest all ready!"
"Yes, we shall, Master Luke." Jade continued to grin like a twisted demon. "It's not far to the Tartarus. We should be able to make it within a couple of hours, so long as Luke doesn't lead. Anise, if you would?..."
"Yes, Colonel!" She took Ion's hand, leading the hapless boy in the direction of the landship. "You're staying with me, Ion. Make sure you don't get hurt, okay?"
"Right, Anise!" Ion agreed happily.
Luke watched them in sullen silence, jealous of their friendship. Well, it was no matter, he had Guy as his friend, if no one else. Tear was just as cold as Jade, when it came down to it, and Anise was probably set off by his moody behavior as well. Ion would befriend a rhinossus if he had the chance, so being Ion's friend wasn't saying much.
True to Jade's word, the Tartarus wasn't far, but something seemed amiss. The air seemed to have stilled completely, time itself froze as the sharp colonel halted his group suddenly. Luke started to say something, but Guy silenced him immediately. Jade summoned the fonons that comprised his weapon, holding the spear ready. The others took the hint and kept alert, swords slid against sheathes and staffs made themselves visible.
A blade of grass several yards away twitched, and Jade hurled his spear instantly. The metal head buried itself halfway into the moist ground, and further rustling could be heard. Jade scowled, and the spear snapped out of existence again and back to his hand for another throw.
Luke gazed around, eyes wide and not knowing what to expect. Guy touched his taut arm softly, telling him to stay back. Luke shifted his weight and adjusted his position so he wasn't as close to Guy. The servant nodded, his eyes still fixated on the landship.
Anise made an attempt to take Ion away, but Jade mouthed an opposition, and she stayed put. She slowly reached for Tokunaga, still not daring to draw attention to herself by using him just yet. Tear held her breath, waiting for a signal from Jade and grasping two small knives hard enough to deplete the flow of blood to her fingers. They grew impatient, but made no move until Jade knew exactly what was going on.
The stillness was broken, and all but Jade flinched when they heard the sickening sound of a soldier's body hitting the ground after being flung from a high window on the Tartarus. Luke thought he was about to be sick, and he turned away, but Guy pulled him back. All eyes were fixed on the body. What came next caught them off guard.
Please review!
Thanks to my beta, Lanane, for much valuable help with editing and making this fic a little easier on the eyes ;