Authoress Notes ∙ I must be on a role, since I just updated another story a few days back and posted a one-shot. Well, I've finally updated this story! I planned to update The God-General Chronicles first, but I decided against it, since you guys have been waiting for this one longer. ;D I'm updating The God-General Chronicles after this though. I also need to fix many mistakes I noticed after re-reading my own story, but I'm not sure yet, since I don't really want to have to give those of you who story alerted this to have to see re-uploaded chapters.

Disclaimer ∙ I don't own.


An air of tension surfaced as the group prepared to face off against Luke. Despite their determined and strong willed faces, they felt remorse beneath their mask. It might have been Luke's fault the Akzeriuth fell, and those thousands of people died, but it was justified to say that Luke was obviously manipulated into doing it. Surely, he knew Van shrouded his life in lies. The question was… if Luke now, why did he comply with Van's wishes? Luke was obviously not the smartest crayon in the box, but he surely wasn't stupid enough to repeat the same mistake.

"Fon Master… What does he mean?" Tear asked slowly, turning her eyes to him. There was uneasiness coming from her question, as if doubting his answer before he said it.

"We don't have time for this. Anyway, if you want to get out of here unscathed, hand over the Fon Master and leave those swords here." Luke explained, pulling out a maestro blade.

"Tell us, Luke, why would you say that there is a replica of Ion?" Jade asked, with a boundless curiosity, but that was covered by his habit of saying everything with a cynical voice.

"Because it's the truth, even that Ion standing right there isn't the real one." The God-General replied, pointing a finger at the young, green-haired Fon Master.

"What!? Don't call Ion a fake!" Anise shouted, becoming defensive of the Order of Lorelei's leader. He was a very special addition to the group. Furthermore, he was kind, and gentle. His intelligence did not meet close with Jade's, but he was no where near stupid. In fact, he was quite smart. He may have lacked a backbone, but if he could lead the whole Order of Lorelei, there had to be something that kept him strong. Weak-bodied he may be, but other then that… Ion was an ideal boy for some ladies. Naïve, although adorable naïve, and smart, with charisma, polite, with an important position within society. There wasn't much more other then strength you could ask for.

"No… Anise, it's all right. He's correct. I'm not the real Fon Master." Ion replied, placing a hand on hers, whose palm resided on the head of her doll, Tokunaga.

"See, he even confirmed it himself." Luke replied, a smile aligning his face. It wasn't the gentle smile he had given Arietta though, nor was it his conceited smile which he held during his days as a nobleman. It was a smile that had no regret, nor any of sympathy, or compassion. It was as if he was enjoying the pain, like it was bringing him happiness. Jade grimaced, for within the former aristocrat, the Colonel saw an image of his childhood self, who would worthlessly kill monsters for his own self amusement.

"Wait… Ion, what are you talking about?" Anise asked, pausing. Her voice grew wary and uncertain. Usually, Anise would argue back, but given the current circumstances… what Ion was saying just might be the honest truth.

"Asch, is it true?" Natalia asked, turning to the former God-General, whose position was stolen by an "inferior replica" as he liked to word it.

"I have no idea… I feel like I knew it, but I can't recall ever hearing it." Asch responded, putting a hand to his head, while his right held his sword. He felt as though the information Luke just provided them with was something that was obvious, and Asch had grown naturally adjusted to, explaining his lack of a reaction. It was illogical though; the red-hair soldier couldn't remember having been told the current Ion was someone to replace its original. How would the once-noble know about such delicate and tactfully hidden knowledge if he couldn't even recollect the moment he heard it? Asch was more then sure he didn't just forget. God-Generals couldn't forget data like that.

"Of course you wouldn't remember, Asch." Luke taunted him, and the deep red-haired boy turned to throw a glare at Luke. They stared at each other for Yulia knows how long. Asch narrowed his eyes, while Luke wore a smirk that only irritated Asch even more.

"Enlighten us, replica." Asch demanded an answer for what Luke meant by Asch not remembering. Asch certainly had a feeling he wasn't going to like whatever the answer was going to be.

"Sorry Asch, no can do. It's a secret until the Commandant says so." Luke answered, and Asch's eyebrow twitched. He definitely like some cryptic answer like that which made him want to run up and strangle something, preferably, the replica in front of him.

"As Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei, I order you to tell me what you mean by that, Luke." Ion commanded, like the other day, when he tried to get Van to tell what his plans were. That failed, of course, but it's worth a shot against Luke.

"I'm afraid you'll have to take back that order, Fon Master." Luke replied, losing his grin, and replacing his expression with a face which lacked emotion… like a replica. Ion looked dumbfounded, and Jade looked under them, his eyes widening. Before even saying anything, Tear caught on, and so did the rest. Jade jumped away, and the others did as well, Anise pulling Ion along with her. Below them had been an insignia which glowed of blue, and fell into a sword. There was a shock of lightning and small tremor.

"I missed." Luke stated to himself, scowling.

"Luke, why are you doing this?!" Natalia shouted, standing up, glaring, where shining green met pale, dead green.

"Are you under orders from Van?!" Tear asked, gripping her staff, ready to take on a battle with her former comrade, who could now utilize fonic artes, and was, therefore, a dangerous enemy and enemies had to be exterminated.

"It's on my own will. I had extra time, so I decided to check up again." Luke replied, and Reala, who'd been silent, mostly from the shock in the abrupt change of her friend, stood up.

"You've been coming here and watching, Luke?!" Reala asked, and Luke nodded, gripping his weapon.

"But… why didn't you saying anything?" She asked, her voice softening.

"I didn't have time for dramatic reunions. Furthermore, Van sent spies to watch me, to see if I was really resolved to help him." He explained, and Reala didn't reply afterwards.

"Anyway, I'd suggest that you guys withdraw." Luke pointed his sword at the group. Ion and Natalia recoiled a bit at the unfriendly gesture. It was unlike Luke to point his weapon at them. Natalia only wished she could unveil her identity against Luke, but she didn't have that luxury at the moment. She… wasn't the real princess, after all. Killing her wouldn't result in an act of aggression; it would only cause Kimlasca to praise Daath, actually.

"Ion, are you sure your ranking won't do anything…?" Anise asked, perched on top of Tokunaga, battle ready.

"Not at the moment. Luke doesn't seem to recoil at what I tell him to do, despite my ranking. He even attempted to kill me, but I'll try one more time… God-General, Luke the Sacred Flame, as Fon Master, I order you to cease hostilities, and return to Daath at once!" Ion tried one more time. He desperately wanted to avoid any conflict with Luke. He was sure Luke was simply misled, and came to believe following Van would free the world from the Score. Van must have convinced him when his mind was still in turmoil due to the shock of killing everyone in Akzeriuth. Ion prayed that was what had happened, because he and the others could convince Luke otherwise… he hoped.

"I can't follow those orders, Fon Master." Luke replied, and narrowed his eyes, causing the Fon Master to take a step back. Behind those lifeless eyes, Ion could see piercing green eyes, full of killing intent.

"Daath could easily accuse the murder to be the hand of Natalia. Mohs has more influence on the King then you guys do." Luke told them the plan, and Tear's eyebrow twitched, visibly.

"I never thought you would stoop so low, Luke… To have Mohs blame Natalia is fool's work! What gives you any idea Grand Maestro Mohs would do that anyway?!" Tear asked. The hand under her glove was turning white from gripping her staff so hard.

"Mohs knows the Score would not prevail if both Kimlasca and Malkuth turned on him for the murder of Ion, which is why he'll immediately use Natalia, branded a criminal, as a scapegoat." Luke replied, his murderous intentions not wavering a bit at Tear's words, as Ion focused on Luke's eyes, trying to discover any regret within them. They said eyes never lied.

Ion couldn't find a single big of remorse.

Was Luke really that fixed on killing them? Ion found it so difficult to believe. He was their friend only months ago… How could he change so much? Luke used to have eyes filled with ambition. He was like the blank state of a replica. He had no feelings, no memories, nothing to change his choices. It hurt, knowing Luke didn't even have any thoughts regarding killing them, not that Ion knew, anyway. Was it because of Akzeriuth? If it was, Ion felt he shared the blame, letting Luke go ahead and do that.

"Let's withdraw for now." Jade announced, and they all turned to look at him.

"Jade, what are you saying?!" Guy asked, but Jade shook his head.

"Look at Luke, look at his eyes. They have no guilt in regards to killing us. He's even ready to kill Ion." Jade explained, and the group turned to look at Luke's eyes. It really didn't have any remorse.


A black-clad figure stepped into the premises of the God-Generals lair.

"Luke, where were you?" Legretta asked, coming to his directions, alongside Sync. They looked stern, or Legretta did; Sync really hadn't an expression with most of his face covered by the bird-like mask.

"I wasn't anywhere particular." Luke replied, but Sync shook his head.

"Were you visiting Reala? Or Tabatha's grave?" Sync asked a smirk on his face. Luke turned to him, narrowing his eyes a little.

"You missed another meeting, Luke. I told you, you need to stop thinking about such trivial matters and get your priorities straight." Legretta scolded him, but Luke's green eyes flared with anger.

"Reala and Tabatha aren't trivial!" With those words, Luke walked around the pair and they turned to watch his disappearing figure. This happened a lot. As much as Luke was thankful to Legretta for apparently opening his eyes, they got into fights because Legretta often called his reasons for being away insignificant. Luke snapped at that, finding none of his acts small or unimportant. How was visiting your friends or mourning the dead a bad thing? Luke just couldn't understand Legretta sometimes.

"We made him angry." Sync muttered, smirking.

"I tipped off Asch and his friends about his memory, by the way." Luke called over as he trudged off.

"That's a bit of a problem." Legretta mumbled, and Sync shrugged.

"Who cares? He was going to find out anyway... that we erased some of his memories." Sync responded.

"Erase isn't really the word, Sync." Legretta replied, scolding him.

"Whatever, sealed away, same thing." Sync retorted with an attitude. Legretta sighed and walked down the hall, going in another direction of Luke. That left Sync, who shrugged, and walked as well, to his own quarters.


"Judas… Was that really… Luke? He was so kind… but now…" Reala's voice trailed off, as she wrapped the swords in a purple cape, and tucked them safely away in the crack within the cave walls.


"Luke, where are we going?" Judas asked, following Luke. Reala was feeling a bit down, so the young, red-haired replica blind folded her, and was leading them through a valley in the middle of the damn night. It was dangerous, and risky.

"We're almost there!" Luke said cheerfully, walking through the first as Judas held Reala's wrist, leading her through the way.

"Where are we…?" Reala asked, and Judas sighed, while Luke grinned.

"We're in the Tataroo Valley, although Yulia knows why we're here." Judas replied, and Reala considered any reasons why they'd come here. Luke grinned, leading them up a hill, into a patch of flowers.

"We're here." He said quietly, and Judas stared in awe, taking in the magnificent view before him. Reala moved her hands behind her head, untying the blindfold. She took it off and looked at the glowing flowers before her, also in shock. It was a beautiful sight, absolutely gorgeous. Reala took in every moment of enjoyment she had, looking at the flowers. Luke wore a small smile as he spoke. He was in front of the other two, so no one would see that pained face.

"Do you like it?" He asked them, and Judas allowed Reala to speak, rather then speaking his own opinion. Judas felt his reaction sufficed enough for an answer.

"It's… amazing. Luke, what are these?" She asked, bending down, running her porcelain finger over on of the white flowers.

"They're selenias." He replied, crouching down and plucking one from the grass and standing again. He looked at the moon, holding up the flower with his hand, as if the flower was on the moon.

"How do you know such a place?" Judas asked, looking down at the flowers, before moving his gaze to the ocean, which reflected the silver moon. The view itself was… inhumane. It was just perfect and lovely. Judas stared at the moon's reflection, rippled by the breeze. It pushed his hair, covered by his mask, back. Reala's hair also waved, and Judas looked as Luke's long, flaring orange hair waved, and he saw a bit of an unhappy smile as Luke began to speak to the two of them.

"It was where my journey first began." Luke answered, and said no more.


"We're back, Mieu!" Anise said cheerfully, walking into the inn room that they shared. They were in the red, regarding money, so they all roomed in a single room.

"Welcome back!" Mieu cheered, jumping into Anise's arms. She hugged him, rubbing the cheagle's blue little head.

"Why did you go to Ortion Cave anyway?" Mieu asked as it sat itself on Anise's hands.

"We went to the Cave to check out that replication machine a second time. Someone is maintaining it. Apparently, we found out more about Van." Jade explained, and Mieu looked at him curiously.

"We didn't get much. All we know that Van has everyone's replication data." Asch explained, and Mieu nodded. Natalia elbowed Asch a little, and he grumbled a little and looked at Guy. The noble nervously scratched his head and turned his eyes to Jade. The colonel shrugged playfully and switched his attention to Tear, who looked down in guilt, letting a pair of cerulean eyes wander to Anise. The Fon Master Guardian shook her head. Soon, she turned her head to Guy, and eventually all eyes were on the blonde-malkuthian.

"Fine, I'll say it!" Guy gave in, and the rest sighed in relief, as they didn't want to break the news to Mieu.

"Mieu?" The cheagle looked at Guy with curious eyes, and watched him sit in a chair.

"Mieu… We have some other news. We've been hiding it, but I guess it's wrong to hide it." Guy explained, and Mieu hopped from Anise's arms to his laps.

"What kind of news? Is it good?" Mieu asked, and Guy shook his head.

"It's about Luke." Guy replied, and Mieu's eyes lightened, forgetting Guy just said that the news was bad.

"Luke… he… he's a God-General." Guy announced with a small voice. The little cheagle felt frozen in place, hearing the news so suddenly—Luke, a god-general; that wasn't possible to the cheagle. His master was kind, and great, and strong to Mieu. He wouldn't ever be a God-General…

"Now he's Luke, the Sacred Flame, one of the six God-Generals. He's become one of our enemies." Tear added, feeling pity on Guy, making him speak all the words. She knew it was painful, having to speak the words herself too. They had to fight an enemy, and it had to be Luke of all people. She was angry and upset at the same time. First off was the very notion that he'd help Van which mad her angry, and what made her upset was Tear positive Luke was deceived by Van, and that he's tricked into obeying him. Tear wished she hadn't left Luke in Yulia City that day.

"Enemies have to killed, whether we want or not." Jade added, pushing up his glasses.

"That's not possible! Master would never do something like that!" Mieu said, but Natalia shook her head.

"No… Mieu, we saw him the day we left you at the Inn… with Van. He confirmed it himself… and we watched it." Natalia explained and an air of depression fell upon them.

"But… but Van lied to Master! Master wouldn't work for him!" Mieu explained, but Anise sighed.

"Mieu, we saw him today… He almost killed us." Anise countered, and Mieu felt his ears lower as Guy stroked his head lightly.

"No… no, I don't believe it!" Mieu was entering a stage of slight denial.

"Luke pointed his sword at us today… He said he would kill us. His eyes… they didn't regret anything." Ion added, and nothing more was said. An air of tension rose, and no one spoke after that. There was nothing left to say. Mieu was left with shock beyond words, and the others were rendered guilty, having inflicted such pain on Mieu, who believed in his master so much. Asch, who said nothing, grumbled again and stormed out. Natalia, a little worried, followed out with him. Anise sat on the bed hugging Tokunaga while Tear turned away, afraid to look at the poor cheagle's eyes.

"Where are we heading next?" Tear asked Jade, as the pair stepped out of the tense room.

"Earlier, Ion told us of the Tataroo Valley Sephiroth. We'll go to Sheridan and get the Counter, and go to Tataroo Valley. If we're lucky, we'll reach Tataroo Valley in the afternoon, while it's still light out." Jade replied, and Tear nodded, following him outside the Inn, where they walked over to Asch and Natalia, across the horizon.

"I'm pretty curious about what Luke said as well." Jade told Tear as they walked.

"Concerning the Fon Master and Asch?" Tear asked, and Jade simply nodded.


Green hair was spilled on the ground mixed with the color of crimson. Luke stood there, staring at the collapsed body, terrified. Black was stained into off-black from the red which would not appear on the clearly darker color fabric. The hair which was usually braided with a black ribbon was scattered onto the spreading blood. Luke fell to his knees, choking back his tears as he reached a hand. He touched her warm skin, as she weakly looked at him, her green eyes barely living.

"Luke… Do us replicas… truly… have our own lives…?" She asked. Luke felt the sobs run down his face.

"Yes… Yes… we do." He told her, unable to hold the overflowing tears.

"Don't cry Luke… I'm happy… I finally found… my own… life… and I'm with you…" She said slowly, and before Luke could say anything, her eyes closed, and her body fell limp. Luke could feel the warmth of her body leave, and slowly, her body grew cold as ice.

"Stupid fool; she thought she could escape the Score." A man appeared from behind the Oracle Knights before them, who sheathed their bloody swords.

"I bet she never told you; this girl's death was foretold by the Score." He told her, and Luke felt his face go white. Is that why she was killed? Just for the Score, they killed her? An innocent life, who committed no crimes; she didn't deserve to die. She was so kind, and gentle, so down to earth… someone like her deserved to live… and she was killed because the Score said so!? Was that the only reason she brutally murdered!? Just to fulfill the damn Score?! Damn it to hell then!


"Sync, are you going to Tataroo Valley now?" Luke asked, passing by the smaller God-General.

"Not now, but I'm going tomorrow at noon. The Commandant wants me to get a long good night's rest before I go." Sync replied, standing near the replica. They weren't facing each other. Their backs were to one another.

"Because it's tedious work, right…? Opening a Daathic seal, that is." Luke stated, and Sync sighed, nodding, even though Luke couldn't see him nodding. Luke knew it would be hard on Sync.

"Yeah, since I don't have the abilities that were closest to the original Fon Master. No matter, I can still do it." Sync responded, clicking his tongue.

"How long will it take?" Luke asked. The God-Generals… They were running out of time. Time was not infinite, and it was short now, due to Asch leaving, and Luke's abrupt rising in the Order of Lorelei, eventually becoming a God-General. Certainly, plans were changed. Despite being short on time, Van actually preferred what happened as opposed to what should've. The replica of Asch was far more obedient then it's original.

"A few hours, max. I'll probably finish near sunset or nightfall. Daathic Seals are like puzzles, except unimaginably harder." Sync explained, pushing up his mask.

"You've tried opening one?" Luke inquired, not a bit of shock aligning his stable voice.

"Once, when they were trying to see whose abilities were the best when they were deciding the replicas of the Fon Master." Sync countered, and Luke felt a little bit of grief asking that question. He already knew the subject of Ion and replicas weren't Sync's ideal topics.

"What if the others come to the Tataroo Sephiroth?" Luke asked again, putting a hand on his sword, gripping it a little, as if he we planning to spontaneously take out his sword and slash the air, as if it were his former comrades. Sync took a sigh, knowing that Luke didn't like his former companions too much at the moment. Sync wasn't sure if it was that they were so naïve to think that they could save the world from the Score without Van's method, or that they left him to rot in Yulia City.

"Arietta and Legretta are coming to protect me while I'm undoing the seal; we planned to kidnap Ion, but with the time left, Commandant decided to have me open them instead." Sync answered, giving a piece of his information as well.

"Is that so…" Luke's voice trailed off, as his hand left the hilt of his sword.

"Don't you have your own plans, Luke?" Sync asked, and Luke shrugged his shoulders carelessly.

"You're right. I already have my own mission; I'm afraid I can't accompany you, Sync." Luke replied, as if Sync had encountered Luke instead, asking the fellow replica to follow him to Tataroo Valley. Sync scoffed in return.

"You have to get to Sheridan and kill the researchers and engineers there before they can cause more trouble, right?" Sync asked, and Luke, aware that Sync wouldn't see, nodded.

"That's not for a while though. With all the busy chaos that's happening, Van hasn't managed the time to rally up the soldiers who would come with me to Sheridan." Luke answered, and Sync turned his head of his shoulder a bit, to see a small view of the back Luke's head the corner of his mask.

"You sure you won't fail? Since you did know them on personal terms…" This time Sync's voice trailed off. He watched Luke's head move, identifying it as him just shaking his head.

"No… I'll complete my mission. The reason Van even gave me this mission was to test my resolve… My resolve to help him, no matter what live must be sacrificed." Luke replied, and Sync gave a small smirk.

"The Commandant sure seems to give you a lot of those tests." Sync added, and Luke shrugged his shoulders again.

"I understand why; I'm the newest God-General. He has to test my readiness in battle, and my decision to kill for our dream." Luke told the green haired General, and Sync nodded, remembering his own tests. Van always gave the newest God-Generals several tests involving murder, most preferably someone they knew, in order to test whether they are really ready to serve Van, or if they're not strong enough to kill their loved ones for the dream of a Score-free world.

"Heh; so, when's the invasion?" Sync asked, and Luke turned his head a bit too, smirking a little.

"It's in a few days… probably after you open the Yulian Seals." Luke replied, and Sync arched an eyebrow under his mask.

"Why after?" He asked, and Luke made a thinking face, but shrugged.

"I'm not sure. I think he just doesn't want too many God-Generals away from Daath at once." Luke replied, and Sync shrugged as well, understanding the logic. After all, if the group suddenly came, and Ion ordered Van to stop all operations or caused any trouble… It'd be a pain if they were God-General-less in Daath at the time.

"You sure have a hell of a lot of time to kill." Sync stated, and Luke's face, which had fell into its normal, emotionless self just a minute ago, gave another grin.

"If I'm not busy, I'll visit you." Luke responded, as if it were an honor. With that, Luke turned his head away, as did Sync. They both realized doing that meant ending their conversation. It was ending anyway, about time one of them ended their little chit-chat. Plus, Sync couldn't stand around all day talking. He had to go sleep, and they both knew he did. Opening Daathic Seals were no walk in the park, definitely not.

"I'm looking forward to it." Sync retorted with a smirk, concluding their conversation.


Authoress Notes ∙ Oh god, my hands hurt. I've written most of this chapter today. 5 pages written today… yeah, I'm such a weakling. (: Anyway… I hope you enjoyed this chapter. You can probably guess what's going to happen next! Oh, and also, I actually thought up this whole rivalry between bands fanfiction, and I plan to write it soon. It's a crossover fiction, so I was wondering where to put it… Should I put it in the Tales of Symphonia section, since that one is the most popular? There's no biased number of characters from a Tales game, by the way, so it's not paritcuraly leaning to any of them. I'm going by random, but if I feel there are too little or too many characters from a game, I will try and balance it. Please tell me your thoughts!

This chapter doesn't feel epic at all... More just talk. Damn it. I need to make my chapters more epic.

Arietta and Legretta ∙ Please review.