Chapter 5: What We Must Do
Much to Asch's surprise, when they were finally released, it wasn't into one of the cells in the ship's brig. The room in which they were placed looked more like sleeping quarters than any type of containment area. There were four bunks nestled up against the gray walls. Uniforms and other clothes hanging on designated hooks showed that the room was actually in use.
The soldiers that dropped them off here hadn't even locked the door behind them. He had probably figured that with so many soldiers aboard the ship, that any attempt at escape was completely futile. Damn that stuck up, prissy Colonel. If Asch hated anything, it was being believed to be incompetent.
Luke shuffled through the stacks of clothing on one of the bunks before grabbing what he had been searching for: a towel. He tossed it to his older sibling, who gratefully accepted it and used it to dry out his hair as best he could. Luke wrung out his hair and then his coat leaving a nice puddle of water on the floor. He then appropriated a couple of the hooks on the wall where he hung his coat to dry.
"Careful, don't slip there." Luke casually offered as he passed Tear, indicating the water on the floor. He continued past her, hopping up and taking a seat on one of the top bunks, where he was quickly joined by Mieu. The young cheagle hadn't said a word since their capture; the reason why becoming obvious as he curled up on the pillow and promptly fell asleep, exhausted from the day's events.
Tear opened her mouth to say something, but the words wouldn't come. What would she say? What would she ask? She didn't know what she could possibly offer to either of the boys, one who seemed to distrust her so violently, and the other to whom she had been so inconsiderate. So she remained silent.
Asch finished drying his hair with the towel, tossing it back to Luke who made what use of it he could. Asch then proceeded to wring out his jacket as well, adding to the growing puddle of water on the wooden floor.
Luke hopped down from the bunk and caught Asch's coat as Asch tossed it to him, placing it on a hook beside his own.
"You-" Asch said loudly, breaking the tense and considerably awkward silence, his gaze fixed on his little brother, "Have a lot of explaining to do. But-" he said cutting off Luke's impending ramble. His gaze shifted to Tear and turned hard, "Not nearly as much as you do."
"Are we all settled in now?" The r creaked as it opened, allowing four figures to enter. First was the Colonel who had arrested them in the woods, followed by the Fon Master and his Guardian, and then by a regular soldier, presumably there for support in case they decided to make a break for it. Like he would make a difference.
Asch's biggest concern was undoubtedly the Colonel himself. He loathed being underestimated, and therefore assured that he did not make that mistake with his own opponents. There was an air to this man, a dangerous one, and Asch didn't like it. His flawless confidence spoke of the vast gap in their skills and even the confident redhead knew this wasn't an opponent he could overpower. Though Asch was hardly dissuaded; he may not be able to match the man in battle but Asch knew better than to think a sword was the only way to settle a conflict.
"What do you want with us?" Asch snarled.
"Now, now, settle down. You're hardly in a position to be making demands; especially when you're the ones in the wrong here."
"Excuse me?"
"The Seventh Fonon hyperresonance came from the direction of the capital of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear and converged inside Malkuth Territory. That would make these two," Jade stated pointing to Tear and then to Luke who was now standing behind his overprotective counterpart, "Guilty of illegally crossing the border." Jade finished with a grin. "And you," Jade returned his attention to Asch, "You are guilty of resisting arrest as well as aiding criminals sought after by the military."
"Hmph." Asch shrugged off the accusations as if they were completely meaningless to him.
"So what does that all mean exactly?" Luke hesitantly asked.
"Ah yes, we'll get to that in a moment," Jade replied. "First, perhaps you'll do us the honour of introducing yourselves? I'm sure that I'm not the only one wondering." The last statement seemed more like a jibe at the young Fon Master guardian than anything. Anise confirmed it by glaring at the Colonel, her cheeks flushed in anger at being picked on.
"If I recall correctly, it's rude to ask one's name before offering your own." Asch threw back at him.
"My apologies then, I am Colonel Jade Curtiss, 3rd Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces."
Jade Curtiss, huh? Asch knew that name well. Despite his modest rank, he was a force to be feared within the Malkuth Military. Rumours of his prowess, as well as some of his….quirks, were widespread.
Asch sighed, at least he felt a little better about being defeated and captured so easily. "I'm Asch Fon Fabre," Asch finally offered. "This is my twin brother Luke." He added indicating his younger sibling who was positively hovering behind him.
"The sons of Duke Fabre, who married into the Kimlascan royal family? That certainly is interesting… I didn't realize that Duke Fabre had two sons."
"Dukes? Wow…." Anise cooed in the corner. The Fabre boys? Ion sure had good taste in friends.
"These aren't the friendliest times," Jade noted, ignoring Anise's fawning in the corner. "What are you two doing in Malkuth?"
Asch passed off the question with a suspicious look at Tear. "Luke and I are only here because our Seventh Fonons caused a hyperresonance. It wasn't an act of aggression by Duke Fabre." Tear offered, seemingly satisfying Asch who ceased glaring for the time being.
"I'm here looking for him." Asch added nodding towards his sibling.
So he was Luke's brother, Tear realized. That explained a lot, especially why he seemed so hostile towards her. She had broken into their home, and dragged his brother halfway across the world. She was losing her touch. In retrospect, it should have been obvious the two were brothers, but everything had happened so fast, she just hadn't been thinking. But isn't that how it always was? Hindsight is 20/20.
"I believe them," Ion pitched in, breaking off Tear's train of thought. "I don't feel any hostility from them. Why don't we ask for their help?"
"Hmmm," Jade thought on it for a moment. It was a good idea, but there was no saying what was going through his mind at any given time. Jade finally sighed. "Recently several skirmishes have broken out along the border-"
"That may be true," Asch cut him off, "and while the intensity of those skirmishes may be increasing, they hardly warrant the presence of a landship such as this one."
"Ah, so you are aware of the situation." Jade realized.
"Of course," Asch replied, insulted. "Tensions between the two countries are almost as high as they were when the Hod War broke out."
"Yes, that's correct. You're quite knowledgeable." Asch scoffed at Jade's taunt. "We're currently headed to Kimlasca under orders from His Majesty, Peony the Ninth, Emperor of Malkuth."
"For what?" Asch demanded suspiciously.
"To declare war?" Tear inquired.
"Hold up! A war's going start?" Luke said panicked. He had remained silent for the entire conversation since, as usual, he hadn't a clue what they were talking about. He knew nothing of border skirmishes or such elevated tensions between the countries. No one ever told him anything anymore and the few things he was told were never explained, so it didn't matter. All the news always went straight to Asch, who seldom bothered to share. Then they chastised him for never knowing anything! It wasn't fair.
"No way! You've got it wrong! We're the ones trying to stop the war!" Anise butted in, indignant of what she saw as an accusation.
"Indeed," Jade continued into an explanation, it was pointless to turn back now, they already knew far too much, so divulging more information at this point really wouldn't matter. "Emperor Peony has proposed an official peace treaty. We bear a letter from him to His Majesty King Ingobert. I assure you, we are on a mission of peace."
"A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed," Asch rambled off.
"What?" Anise inquired confused.
"I see, you don't trust us." Jade replied tauntingly. "Alright then, I will give you access to all areas of the ship that don't contain military secrets. Feel free to wander and see for yourself our intentions. Then if you are willing, we would ask your assistance."
"No. If your intentions are honourable and true as you say, there isn't a decision to be made. We'll help you out. And if your intentions aren't honourable, I'll simply cut you down myself." Asch added.
Jade chuckled, "If that were to be the case, you would be most welcome to try."
"So Jade's delivering a letter from the king of Malkuth to Uncle, in order to try and stop the war right?" Luke inquired, doing his best to keep up.
"That's correct." Tear confirmed for him.
"So where do we come in?"
"Don't be stupid," Asch answered him, "They're soldiers from an enemy nation. Emissaries of peace or not, they aren't going to be able to waltz right in."
"Oh, I see. By the way, what are you doing way out here Ion?"
"Ah, Emperor Peony requested my aid as a neutral ambassador," Ion provided.
"Master Van was under the impression that you were missing. He's gone looking for you!" Luke was confused; things were getting more and more complicated. He didn't like it at all.
"That's due to matters within the Order of Lorelei."
"If you could provide us with more information, it would be helpful. There's obviously a reason you snuck away, and I'd like to aware of whatever or whoever is planning to get in our way." Asch asked, his words much softer and kinder then when he spoke to Jade.
"A conflict is unfolding between the reformist Fon Master faction, centered around Ion, and the conservative Grand Maestro faction, centered around Grand Maestro Mohs," Jade cut in, only further annoying Asch.
"Yes…" Ion said apprehensively, "Mohs is looking for war. I escaped his custody with the help of the Malkuth military."
"Fon Master!" Tear stood up, surprising everyone by her outburst, "There must be some sort of mistake. Grand Maestro Mohs would never desire such a thing! He prays only for the fulfillment of the Score."
"You're with the Grand Maestro faction Tear?" Anise carefully asked after a moment of silence, "No way…."
"I'm neutral." Tear replied, subdued by the renewed suspicion that she had just earned herself from Asch, "The Score is important, but so are the Fon Master's wishes."
Now Luke was really confused; so many names, positions, and things he didn't understand. All he knew is that he didn't want a war, and neither did Asch. So he would just follow his older sibling's lead. They had to go back to Baticul to give the letter to Uncle, so either way they were getting home, and that's what mattered. Besides, this way would be much easier than walking the whole way back, and they could help Ion out a bit too. Things looked good to him.
"Regardless of the state of affairs within the Order, this letter must be delivered safely," Ion said once everyone had settled down a bit.
"It will," Asch assured him. "I'll see to that myself."
"For someone who doesn't trust us, you are awfully determined to see us succeed," Jade taunted.
"For someone you've never met before, you seem awfully willing to trust us." Asch threw back.
"Nothing I'm not able to handle, should it take a turn for the worse." Jade smiled creepily.
Suddenly, the entire ship lurched and an alarm blared, effectively putting an end to all discussions. Jade immediately excused himself and left the room, grabbing two soldiers as they ran by, and sending them into the room in his place.
"Master! Master I'm scared!" The young cheagle awoke startled at the sound of the alarm and dove into Luke's arms shaking from head to foot.
"First, shut up. Second, don't worry; it's just the alarm going off." Luke said as he untangled the little fur ball from his top and set it on his shoulder. "If you stay quiet, you can sit right there."
Luke noticed the look of utter confusion on Asch's face. "Long story. Don't ask."
"I wasn't going to." Asch replied, shaking his head.
"Ion, I'm going to go see what's up. You stay here with everyone else." Anise instructed the Fon Master.
"Okay," Ion conceded, "Be careful Anise."
"Of course I will! You don't have to worry about me," Anise said, talking to Luke and Asch rather than Ion, "I shall return safely to your side, so await my return." With that statement, Anise too left the room.
"Oh boy…." Luke sighed.
"Come on," Asch said. "We're going too."
"But wait! If we leave, who's here to protect Ion?" Luke whined.
"We're not leaving; we're just going to see what the fuss is about. We'll be back. Besides, there are other soldiers here to protect him."
"Well then why don't you go, and I'll wait here!"
"Not a chance. The last time I let you out of my sight, you ended up halfway across the world. You are coming with me." Asch stated as he grabbed their jackets from the hook on the wall. He handed over Luke's and then grabbed their swords that had been left for them against the opposite wall. Luke hesitantly stood in the middle of the room after putting on his jacket, that was still pretty wet, and re-equipping his sword. Asch let out an annoyed sigh, grabbed him by the wrist and began to forcefully haul him out of the room.
"Ouch! Okay! Okay! I'm coming! I'm coming!"
Asch let go and turned to face Tear, "You coming or not?"
Tear broke out of the daze she had been in. "Yes. Yes of course! My apologies Fon Master," she said as she hurried after the boys.
"Don't worry about it," Ion replied. "I'll be fine." Tear smiled and left. "I'll wait for your return."
"Large swarm of monsters 20 kilometres ahead. All hands, battle stations! Repeat! All hands, battle stations!" A voice came through a strange pipe sticking out of the wall.
"What's going on here?" Asch demanded.
"A large swarm of griffins are attacking the ship!" Anise told them.
"It's just some monsters right?" Luke couldn't figure out why it was such a big deal. This was hardly a little ship, and not likely to fall victim to some random encounter to a few monsters.
"It's dangerous when monsters act unusually." Tear told him, "Griffins don't normally work in packs."
"Oh no!" Mieu piped up! "Griffins eat cheagles!" Luke cringed at Mieu's voice right in his ear, and was grateful that his eardrum made it through that statement more or less intact.
"Nothing is going to eat you you stupid thing, so stop yelling in my ear!" Luke snapped.
"I'm sorry…." Mieu said after jumping down off Luke's shoulder.
"Bridge! Respond! Bridge!" Luke heard Jade yelling into the same pipe from which the voice had come earlier.
"What? What's going on?"
"They released ligers onto the ship. Based on what we know, we can only assume they are causing trouble at the bridge." Asch responded. "Damn, and it's too dangerous to go outside."
"Some of you have some good sense." A deep voice came from the direction of the stairwell. The man to whom it belonged was easily almost seven feet tall and strongly built, made even larger by his stylized red and black armour. His beard was reminiscent of a lion's mane, befitting of the man known as 'Largo the Black Lion'.
"Well, well," Largo continued, "Jade Curtiss Commander of the Third Division of the Malkuth Imperial Forces...Or maybe I should just call you 'Jade the Necromancer'."
"Jade the Necromancer!" Tear exclaimed, "That's you?"
Jade simply shrugged, "It seems I'm famous." Famous indeed. Rumours of the Necromancer and the way he scavenged corpses after battle had made their way well into Kimlasca.
"I had been hoping for the opportunity to cross blades with you, but now is not the time. I'm here for the Fon Master."
"You aren't laying a hand on Ion!" An outraged Luke charged the man, but didn't even have his sword out before he found himself pinned to the wall, the air completely knocked out of him. Luke froze, the blade of Largo's scythe a scare few hairs away from his neck.
Asch tensed; managing to hold his ground for about three seconds before he couldn't simply stand there anymore. Asch was slightly more successful than Luke had been. Largo had to withdraw his scythe from Luke's throat to block Asch's oncoming strike, leaving Luke a half-collapsed nervous wreak on the floor.
Asch didn't last much longer, taking a sharp blow to the stomach, he too found himself defeated. Laying on the ground gasping for breath, he could see out of the corner of his eye that had at least succeeded. Luke was no longer in danger, and that was what mattered.
Jade, who was never one to miss an opportunity, took full advantage of the distraction the boys had created. "Anise!" He called, the young guardian came running. In passing, she grabbed from him the same pouch she had handed over in Cheagle woods. "I trust you know where to go."
"You got it." She replied, before doubling back towards the room where they had left Ion.
Jade immediately took used what time he had left, to begin casting.
"Fool!" Largo noticed the opening as Jade hadn't quite gathered the fonons he needed for the arte. Largo tossed a small box at Jade. Upon striking him, the box expanded, emitting a rainbow light and fonons that engulfed the fonist, bringing him to his knees.
"A fon slot seal?" Tear couldn't believe it. She had heard of such things, but had never seen any put into action. Their ability to lock a person's fon slots and eliminate their ability to cast fonic artes was to be feared.
"I had hoped to use that to seal the Fon Master's fonic artes; I didn't expect to use it like this." Largo stated.
In that moment when he had dropped his guard, Jade attacked, pulling a spear out of seemingly thin air. Largo reacted, their clash meeting in an explosion of light that left nothing but a large hole in the ship wall, and a rather tussled Necromancer behind.
"Anise will take care of Ion, we should head for the bridge." Jade said, his nerves not the least bit shaken by how close he had just come to finding out how sharp Largo's scythe really was.
"But your artes are sealed," Tear stated concernedly.
"Yes, but this seal will probably take months to undo. Right now, we need to take back the Tartarus. With your hymns and their swords, it should still be possible." Jade said indicating the two boys who were still recovering.
"He-he stabbed him." Luke muttered, unable to get over the events that just occurred before him.
Asch pulled himself to his feet, still somewhat out of breath. "Better him than you," Asch said offering Luke a hand. Luke reached out and took his sibling's hand, but he couldn't stop shaking.
There were far more monsters aboard the Tartarus than any of them had originally expected. Luke had finally managed to regain some of his composure after a few rounds, but the hesitation he was starting to show when delivering a fatal blow was beginning to worry Asch. Hesitating like that would get him killed.
Jade still proved to be somewhat useful, being apt at handling the spear he was able to manifest at will. At best he was on par with the rest of them, a fact that Asch missed no chance to remind him of. Served the stuck up bastard right.
Admittedly, the fon slot seal also put a lot of Asch's nerves at ease. He didn't like having someone like Jade around who was so completely beyond him. He still didn't trust the man any further than he could have thrown him, and knowing he could match blows in the worst case scenario, made Asch feel a lot better.
Getting to the rear entrance of the bridge involved taking a rather tedious route and climbing several ladders that, to be generous, could have used some maintenance. They almost lost Mieu to the wind three times before a rather disgruntled Luke conceded to letting him nestle into his jacket.
When they finally made it to the door, they found it guarded by an Oracle Knight. Tear easily dispatched him using one of her Hymns.
"Wow Tear!" Mieu bounced over to where the soldier was sound asleep. "You're amazing!"
"Alright, we need to take back the bridge." Jade drew their attention to the task at hand, "But it would be wise to have a lookout in case any reinforcements show up."
"I'll stay," Luke offered.
"I will too," Asch added.
"No," Luke argued, "You go with them. They'll need your sword anyways."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm just the lookout, all I have to do is yell if anything shows up right? I mean this thing can hit undiscovered octaves, we'll be fine." Luke said with a grin as he pointed towards Mieu.
"Okay, we'll be right back, yell if there's trouble."
Luke stood alone on the deck, watching for signs of movement but nothing caught his attention. The thick doors to the bridge blocked any sounds from within, leaving Luke with no idea how the others were making out, or how much longer they would be in there.
"So why do you think he's out like that?" Luke asked out of curiosity, kneeling down beside the unconscious soldier as boredom got the better of him.
"It's because Tear's fonic hymns use the Seventh Fonon!" Mieu replied. Luke fought back the urge to injure the young cheagle; he was only answering his question after all. But that voice was so damn annoying!
"The Seventh Fonon huh? That's been mentioned a few times now…is that the fonon of sound?"
"That's right! It was just discovered! The Seventh Fonon is really special! See...it can even do this!" Mieu began bouncing up and down on the fallen soldier's chest showing that he was out cold.
"Okay okay enough!" Luke reprimanded the creature, "I really don't think you should be doing that..."
The soldier roused, causing Luke to jump back in shock. Luke drew his sword, barely blocking as the soldier wasted no time attacking the intruder. Luke parried the attack and swung, staying his hand at the last second. This was a person! He couldn't do this!
Seeing him hesitate, the Oracle Knight took the chance and threw him to the ground. Luke could only watch as the sword came down on his head.
Was this how it was going to end? Would this be how he would die? He couldn't. He didn't want to die. He didn't want to be alone! He didn't have anyone else. He needed to stay! But where did these feelings come from? One can't be lonely when dead. No. None of that mattered. He couldn't leave, he'd never be forgiven.
He didn't want to be alone again.
The next thing Luke knew, his sword was through the soldier, the blood running down the blade dripping at his feet. He dropped his sword, his hands shaking uncontrolably. Luke fell to his knees.
"What going on?" Asch came running out the door followed by Jade and Tear.
"I-I killed him…" Luke stuttered, oblivious to his surroundings, or to his brother's hand that was now resting on his shoulder.
"Luke!" Asch shook him, "Snap out of it! This isn't the time!"
"I-I….I killed him" Luke stuttered.
"Luke!" Tear called.
"Watch it!" Asch managed to haul Luke out of the way as a huge liger pounced. Tear jumped in, trying to lure the liger away but the liger was not deterred by any of their schemes. It took one more lunge at Asch and look before getting around behind them, blocking their escape.
"You won't escape!"
The young girl dropped down from a griffin, standing in such a way as to block the door to the bridge. Her soft pink hair and the doll that she clutched offset the anger in her matching pink eyes.
"You!" She yelled, the unknown levels of fury buried in her voice. "I finally found you! You killed mommy!"
"What are you talking about?" Tear demanded, confused at the young girl's statement.
"You broke into mommy's home, and then you killed her! Now I'll make you pay! I'll kill you all for what you did to mommy!"
"Easy there, little one." A second voice came from the side lines.
"I'm not a child!" The girl yelled back, pouting and stomping her foot on the ground.
"Child or not, Arietta, aren't we forgetting orders? We have custody of Ion now, they are not to be killed."
"It's not fair! They should die for what they did!"
"Well," the second God-general said as she brushed some of her violet hair out of her face, "no orders were given on their condition, so by all means have all the fun you want. Just don't kill them."
Arietta didn't take her comrade up on her suggestion however, instead opting to storm off into the bridge, taking out her frustrations on the few unfortunate soldiers within that were still breathing.
A squad of Oracle knights took the place vacated by Arietta's liger.
"Lock them up!" A third voice arose, this time coming from a blonde also bearing the uniform of a God-General. Though she was shorter than her remaining companion, she clearly had more authority and immediately took command of the confused Oracle knights.
Asch let go of Luke, who was completely useless for the time being, his attention on the oncoming Oracle Knights. Two of them had fallen to his blade when he heard the voice come from behind him.
"Stop!" Asch turned to see the violet-haired God-General with her long blade drawn, inches away from Luke's throat. He froze. "Now," she continued with a maleficent grin. "No more resisting."
Asch dropped his blade, and was immediately restrained. His heart stopped as, despite her implicit promise, she raised her blade on over Luke. Asch cringed and looked away, his heart still not beating.
Rather than bring her blade down on the young noble, she turned her blade, using the hilt to knock him out. She handed him over to a couple nearby knights, who took him and his relieved brother away; followed closely by Tear and Jade, who had also been restrained.
"So the second-in-command herself is overseeing this mission?" She said as she sheathed her blade.
"Back to your station." The blonde ordered.
"Hey, my wing is already cleared, Legretta."
"Then make yourself useful on the bridge. And do something about Arietta. We can't have her destroying the controls."
"Yes ma'am," she conceded, not bothering to question why Legretta herself didn't undertake the task. She also didn't point out that one of them ought to be watching the prisoners. If she knew anything, it was they weren't going to stay captive for long.
As she headed towards the bridge, she stopped and was staring out into the distance.
"What's the matter Cantabile?"
"Nothing…" Cantabile responded still distracted, her gazed fixed on that single space. She thought….no. It couldn't be. It was nothing. Nothing at all.
Hey everyone! I don't leave author notes often, but I just wanted to thank you all for leaving such nice reviews. They make my day and are what make me want to keep writing. Thank you so much.
I also wanted to leave a note for those who may not know who Cantabile is. She was the seventh God-General who never made an appearance in the original game. She was mentioned in the book in Daath as well as she is due to appear in Tales of Fandom 2.
Disclaimer: All the locations and characters that appear belong to Namco Bandai. Though I will gladly accept them all should they choose to release their hold on them.