Author's note: Heya, here's the next chapter, thanks for all of the reviews and for being supportive. =] I realise a part of this seems a little rushed, but I didn't want it to go on and on and on…

Chapter 17

Comatose

Cliff, Maria and Fayt entered Albel's room. Albel was lying under the sheets, looking the most serene he has ever been. He was not rolling around with nightmares, or moaning. Maria did a number of tests, like sensitivity tests and sound tests. But they got nothing.

"According to the scanner, he's comatose. It looks like all that strain took its toll," Maria said. Everyone stayed silent, unable to grasp what was going on. But Fayt shook himself out of it and stepped forward.

"Are you kidding? Why? Why has this happened? We've got to do something!" Fayt said. Maria shook her head.

"I have no idea as to how or why this has happened. And I certainly don't know how to help him. The only thing we can do now is wait," Maria said. Fayt still did not look happy.

"But-! We can't just stand here and do nothing! We have to help him!" Fayt shouted. Maria stared at him sternly and crossed her arms.

"Oh? And how do you suppose we do that?" Maria asked. Fayt went to protest, thought about it and sighed, shaking his head. Maria nodded and carried on examining Albel.

"Wow, kid. I didn't think you'd care so much about him. Has he really changed that much?" Cliff asked.

"Of course I care about him! He's my best friend. Yeah, he was a little bad back then, but he has truly changed. He cares about people, and he takes care of others before himself," Fayt replied.

"Yeah, yeah. Man, his time on Earth has both healed and hurt him, eh?" Cliff sighed. Fayt nodded, staring down at his sleeping friend. He lifted his head in sudden thought, and ran out of the room. He came back in with Rena and Claude in tow. Rena had woken up the day before, much to Claude's great pleasure.

"Miss. Rena, could you please try healing our friend. He's in a coma," Fayt asked. Rena looked a bit nervous, not sure what she could do. She sighed and held her hands above his torso.

"FAIRY LIGHT!" Rena shouted. A white and gold light came down and engulfed Albel. When it subsided, he looked no different. Maria did some more tests and shook her head, saying that nothing had changed. Fayt sighed and Rena apologised, to which Fayt told her not to worry herself and that it wasn't her fault. Rena bowed and walked out, wanting to get some rest. Claude walked out after her, looking flustered. Rena had had a check up done by Maria, to see if their child was going to be fine and, luckily, it had turned out well.

Cliff and Fayt, along with various others sat down in the main room and stayed silent.

"Hey, Maria, put the radio on. Maybe radio Earth. It is the only one which actually plays anything good," Cliff requested. Maria nodded and put the radio on. A song started to play and the strumming of guitars and the light melody kicked up straight away.

Heart to heart

Kokoro no Switch on ni shite, namida o furi kirou Claude looked up; like he was thinking about something.

Fuki nukeru kaze, karadajuu kanjiteru

Love to Thank you o ashita e tsurete yukou Claude stood up in surprise.

Kimi ni deaeta KISEKI, nani ni kansha sureba ii no?

"That's Ariette! She got a record deal not long before we froze up!" Claude said. Everyone just looked at him.

Taisetsuna hito ni, hokoreru jibun sagashitai

"Oh, my! Really? I love this song!" Sophia exclaimed.

"Yeah, these days the music has stopped coming. Actually, I think it was after Ariette disappeared that people lost interest in getting into the music business. As you can see, we have to repeat the age old favourites to keep people happy," Cliff sighed. Claude nodded and sat back down, as the rest of the song played…

Hmm? Where am I? What is all this…this darkness? Why do I feel so…light? Heh, is this what is left for me? Death? Well, they can't take me, not until I fulfil my promise. But…what am I doing? What is my purpose? And who is beckoning me…All well…

Maria typed in a few things in the computer system. She frowned.

"It looks like there are some major disturbances around. We can't go any further, we'll have to keep circling around," she informed everyone, who just nodded. Maria and Mirage carried on typing and frowning at the screen. Claude looked out of it, while Rena took worried glances at him every so often. She slipped her fingers in his hands and he looked at her, but didn't smile. He buried his head in her shoulder and sighed.

"Ariette should have awoken by now," Claude said. Rena stroked his back, trying to comfort him.

Urgh…I feel so…heavy. Where am I? Darkness…surrounding me. Maybe I am destined to stay here. But someone is calling me…reaching out to me. But how do I get there? Should I follow the voice? Ahhh…

"Ha! Beat you again," Bowman said. Noel bowed his head in a depressed way.

"It's not fair, how is it that you always win?" Noel asked. "Never mind. I'm fed up, I can't play cards anymore." He left the room, leaving Bowman confused. He had an idea and went out into the main room. He suggested a big game of strip poker, which was answered when he got hit by numerous attacks, spells and was, inevitably, knocked out. Peppita and Roger were drawing pictures, singing quietly to themselves in Roger's room.

"Hey, so what's so good about being in a circus group?" Roger asked.

"Hmmm. Weeeell, we get to travel. We have lots of fun, performing and being with each together, y'know?" Peppita replied. Roger thought for a moment and suggested they go talk to Leon, who was sat in a room reading some science books.

"Hey there. How are you getting on?" Peppita asked. Leon shook his head.

"I'm fine, naturally. I'm more worried about big sister Ari. She's still frozen. But…I don't like seeing her in that state…so I stay in here," Leon said, looking ashamed of himself. Peppita put an arm around him.

"Hey, you don't need to worry. She'll be fine. Everyone else is here, right? You just calm down and relax. Enjoy yourself," Peppita said. Leon nodded and Peppita smiled. Peppita and Roger left the room.

"Hey, let's join the others in the main room. Hey, Leon, ya comin'?" Roger shouted. Leon exited the room and walked with them to the main room.

Meanwhile, Maria had gone into Albel's room once again and was doing some more observations. She frowned and looked confused at numerous times, testing again and again, thinking something was going wrong. Finally, she sighed and returned to the main room, sitting down with Cliff and Fayt, who were sat in the lounging area as usual.

"I did some more tests and it seems like Albel is taking something in from his surroundings. In fact, he could possibly be the source of the trouble around the Sol system. But as to why this is happening, I don't know. We'll have to find out when he wakes up…if he does, that is," Maria said. Cliff and Fayt looked surprised. Celine sighed.

"Maybe that's why I feel so tired, darlings. But who is this Albel?" Celine asked.

"Wait, you feel tired? That means he's taking in magical power too. Maybe this is all part of some unknown neurosis he has. I mean, he did sense Claude and his friends. Maybe there is some sort of link," Maria said, scribbling down some notes in her notebook. "Albel is a friend of ours, who has gone into a coma." Celine nodded.

"Wow, I wonder what could be wrong? To be taking in something from the surroundings. I hope he doesn't take in anything vital, like life power and kill people. We might have to take action otherwise," Cliff said.

"I'm just as puzzled as you are. Maybe he's trying to gain strength to re-awaken," Fayt said. They all sat there deep in thought, while Maria got up and returned to her observations.