Chapter 10: Old Friends and New Enemies

Tear slowly opened her eyes to find the sun's rays beating down on her face. The unexpected warmth was comfortable and left the melodist at ease until the situation she was embroiled in returned to mind. Sitting herself up, Tear stole a glance out the window. The sun had not only risen, but was well up above the horizon; it was even later than she thought. They had never slept this late before, in fact by now they usually had put some distance behind them. Across the room Tear noted Jade putting his glasses back on; apparently he found the need for some good rest outweighed any urgency to get back on the road. Tear wholeheartedly agreed. Despite their brief reprieve in Akzeriuth, the breakneck pace and lack of sleep over the past several days had been wearing on them all and it had become painfully obvious during their previous night's endeavours.

Shaking the last of sleep's grasp from her, Tear scanned the room, finding the redheads seated against the wall across from her. The pair had fallen asleep sitting up, each supported by the other as they leaned inwards. Strange... was that how they had fallen asleep? She couldn't remember; not that it really mattered. They seemed so peaceful like that, and almost kind of…cute. At the exact same moment, both of them cracked their eyes open and simultaneously blinked groggily. It was fascinating to watch; their actions were completely in sync and it made the resemblance between the two of them all the more astounding. Luke stretched and yawned, waking Mieu who had curled up in Luke's lap.

Once the twins had woken, it didn't take long before everyone else was up. Mieu landed on Anise's head when he jumped down out of Luke's lap, and her resulting shriek woke Guy with a start. So much for her peaceful morning... Tear couldn't help but fell sorry for the young cheagle, who now had Anise's contempt to deal with for the rest of the day. Well, Tear decided she wouldn't let Anise be too hard him. Luke and Asch were bad enough.

Tear wished the calm of the morning could have lasted a bit longer. All traces of the serenity she had come upon when she had first woken were all but gone. Mieu bounced around trying to apologize while fleeing from an angry Anise, Guy was still scolding Anise for scaring him like that while Asch was in the process of mocking Guy for being such a pansy. Luke fought to keep the peace between Asch and Guy, but was only succeeding in adding to the chaos and Jade… Jade was watching the whole thing nothing short of amused.

It lasted for no more than a second, then Jade's amusement faded before Tear's very eyes and his face grew deadly serious. "Silence! All of you!" His last words were barely a hiss but they almost echoed across the now frozen room. Everyone's attention turned to Jade. What was wrong?

"What's your status, Arietta?" The voice could be heard from the other room.

Jade immediately exited the room, chasing the voices that trailed in, followed closely by Guy, Anise and Mieu. Tear was impressed, she hadn't heard a thing, and she had been the one closest to the door. Even with his fon slots sealed, Jade proved he was still a force to be reckoned with.

Tear wasted no time joining her companions on the upper balcony. Looking down over the main entrance, she had to admit Jade had made the decision regarding their lodging quite well. From this vantage point they could observe the main entrance without being seen, and it was close enough to the door that they'd be able to track who came and went.

So the God-Generals were here after all. Jade watched the three distinct figures in the entryway. This could pose a problem. There was no way that they could take on three God-Generals in their current state. If they could corner just one of them…they might have a chance. This turn of events might actually end up being rather fortuitous. If Arietta was here, the likelihood of Ion also being somewhere in the vicinity was quite good indeed.

"Everything is on schedule. I'll head over to the next location with Ion once my friends are done resting," Arietta replied.

"Aren't you tired of relying on those stupid monsters of yours? I could construct you something far more eloquent and reliable to get you and Ion from place to place. It would be much more convenient than those stupid birds," Dist offered from where he was sitting comfortably in his floating chair. Yes, he was in a floating chair. Dist always was one for pointless oddities.

"Don't insult my friends!" Arietta immediately became defensive, her fury causing Dist to retreat a few meters.

"What's going on over here?" The two boys came to join the rest of them.

"Shht!" Anise hushed them both, not letting her eyes leave the squabbling God-Generals on the lower level. Luke and Asch quietly settled into a spot where they too could watch.

"Enough you two!" Sync finally broke up the heated argument between Dist and Arietta. Pity. Jade had very much hoped for the opportunity to watch the young girl beat the living hell out of Dist. Oh well, some other time perhaps. "Dist, you know you have work to do." Sync ordered.

"Fine," Dist grumbled as he backed off and made his way out the door, "but don't think that this is over! I'm putting this in my revenge journal!" Arietta stuck her tongue out at Dist once his back was turned. Let him try it. Her friends always needed the extra exercise anyways.

"Arietta."

"What is it Sync?" Arietta shot back sourly, still angry and pouting over her encounter with Dist.

"I assume you've been enjoying your time with Ion?" All her anger faded and Arietta's face instantly lit up.

"Yes I have!"

"Good," Sync replied curtly. "Then I trust you will both be on your way shortly?" Arietta nodded. "I have to get going. Be careful, there are people in this area that are looking for Ion."

"No one is going to take Ion away from me!" Arietta suddenly regained her ferocity.

"Make sure they don't," Sync said, he too leaving out the front door. Arietta promptly turned around and made her way further into the mansion.

"So it seems Ion is here," Jade spoke up once he was sure they were gone. "This could be an excellent chance for us to rescue him, especially now that Dist and Sync are gone."

"Team up on Arietta, huh?" Guy contemplated for a moment. "That might work, assuming she doesn't have a hoard of monsters with her."

"A large number of monsters would draw too much attention." Jade provided, "I expect she's travelling with a minimal amount of protection."

"You're probably right," Tear agreed. "So where do we go from here?"

"Asch?" Jade turned his attention to the eldest sibling. "Where does that hallway lead?"

Asch thought about it for a moment, contemplating long enough that Jade was momentarily intrigued by the difficulty such a simple question seemed to have posed. "The roof," he finally answered.

"Is there any other way to get up there?"

"No, not that I know of."

"Alright then," Jade began to move towards the stairs. "I'd have preferred to cut her off, but if there's no other way, we'd best get this over with before Sync and Dist return."

"Good point." Guy said as the rest of them followed suit, down the stairs and into the entryway. "We wouldn't stand much of a chance against all three of them now would we?"

"I dunno," Anise replied. "From what I hear, Dist isn't much of a fighter and Gloomietta isn't good at much other than whining. It's too bad Sync makes up for the both of them, he's really good."

"Gloomietta?" Asch inquired.

"She must mean Arietta the Wild," Guy offered.

"They must have some fighting capacity; they wouldn't be God-Generals without some talent in battle. What do you think Luke?" Tear asked remembering Luke's complaints about always being left out the previous night.

Tear didn't get an answer. Luke had stopped and was staring at the main doors that were now on their right, completely oblivious to what the others were talking about. The rest of the party also stopped, wondering what he possibly found interesting about the large doors.

"Luke? What's the matter-"

The two doors flew open and before anyone had the chance to react, Sync and Dist both burst into the room. Without wasting a second, Sync shot through the group, landing a well placed blow to Asch's stomach, knocking him out cold. Luke instantaneously drew his sword, but before he had the chance to react, Sync had already take Asch beyond his reach.

"Fools," Sync taunted as Dist relieved him of his burden. "Did you think we hadn't noticed you spying on us? Lucky for you, we have all we need for now! You get to live few more hours. Be grateful."

"Get back here!" Luke cried, but Sync and Dist retreated as quickly as they had burst in. Dammit! How had they fallen for such an obvious trap?

"What the hell?" Guy exclaimed still in shock.

"This makes no sense at all," Anise interjected. "Why go after Asch and leave the rest of us? We're all just as able to rescue Ion, why didn't they try and stop us?"

"That's a very good question," Jade conceded. "Any ideas Asch?"

Asch didn't answer, and remained staring at the path to the basement, the sword in his hand trembling. The anger rolled off of in such a manner no one dared to think of crossing him in that moment.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You did it again?" Anise cried out.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Guy grabbed Asch by the collar of Luke's jacket that he was wearing. "You knew something was going to happen? How could you put Luke in danger like that?"

"I don't get it, why don't you trust Master Van?" Luke climbed the stairs on the way back up to the room where everyone crashed for the night. The moonlight now gently trickled into the mansion giving everything an eerie look.

"I have my reasons, just…trust me, and be careful. We don't know who is behind all this or what they're planning. I have a feeling I might be their next target, so we all have to stay on our toes."

"Then let's switch places again."

"What?" The suggestion actually took Asch by surprise. "Why would you want to switch? I just finished telling you I'm the one they're after."

"Well it's important that you stay safe."

"You moron, it's more important that you stay safe."

"Come on Asch please? Let me do this. You've helped me out a lot. Besides…if I was captured, you're much better suited to rescue me, than I am to rescue you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, you're stronger than I am, and you're much better at coming up with ideas and stuff than I am. I'm really just a tag-a-long. They need your help to stop the war."

"No you're not. You're just as important as everyone else is. Besides, didn't you promise Ion? I'm not going to put you in danger."

"Asch…please. I don't like admitting it, but if they have Ion, we really can't afford to lose you, right? That's why you think you'll be the next target. Besides, it'll help me make up for being a jerk earlier."

"How can you put yourself in danger like that?"

"Because I know if something happens, you'll come save me."

"And if I don't?" Asch taunted playfully.

"You'd better!" An indignant Luke cried out.

"I still don't like it." Asch shook his head, serious again.

"I'll be fine… trust me."

Asch was silent for a long time.

"Fine."

Asch returned Guy's accusations with a glare and in a single swift movement, detached Guy's grip and threw him to the ground.

"Don't move yet Asch," Jade protested sternly before Asch could go anywhere. "Before anyone takes any action, I want some answers. You obviously knew that something was amiss."

"I don't have time for that old man," Asch shot darkly. He motioned after Luke but was met with a well-placed fonic arte that knocked him several paces backwards. "Damn you, Jade!"

"Like it or not, you will make time for this. If you know something about the enemy we don't I'll have it out of you one way or another," Jade replied coldly.

"I don't trust Van," Asch finally spat.

"I think Luke is the only one who does trust Commandant Grants. You'll need to do better than that." Jade returned.

Asch let out a frustrated sigh. "Van's obviously keeping something from us. First of all, he gave us all tickets to the ferry in Kaitzur."

"I don't get it," Anise interjected. "What's so suspicious about giving us ferry tickets?"

"Nothing's suspicious about giving us ferry tickets, but he gave us all tickets. How did he know how many of us there were?"

"He's right." Tear finally saw where Asch was heading with this. "As far as Van knew, there should only be me, Luke, Asch and Guy. He shouldn't have any way of knowing Jade and Anise were with us."

"Second of all," Asch continued, "in Akzerieuth, he said he had to leave right away to catch up with Arietta. Not one of us actually told him it was Arietta that had Ion. Whether all this is on his orders or not, I don't know, but he still has more information than he should. Someone is reporting to him."

"You raise valid points," Jade commented, impressed on how much Asch had picked up. He too had noticed the mentioning of Arietta, but even he hadn't thought of the ferry tickets. "What I still don't understand," he continued. "Is why were they after you? Why you and not Luke?"

To that question, Jade never got an answer.

"It's not working!" Dist whined as he tweaked the controls a little more, frustrated by the lack of progress. His voice echoed in the large basement room, reverberating off the fon machines. "Sync!"

"For the last time Dist, I did everything exactly like you told me to!" Sync eyed the boy from head to toe once more for good measure. They had discarded his jacket, tossing it off to the side and he was firmly attached to the fon machine, his limbs each carefully placed in accordance with the glyphs that were now glowing a soft green.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Sync inquired impatiently. They were quickly running out of time, the rest of the group would undoubtedly be here soon.

"Of course I know what I'm doing!" Dist shouted back. "It makes no sense! According to this data, everything should be working, but the data is incompatible with the process! Grrr It must have been that Jade! That duplicitous snake! I'll bet he did something to it!"

"Well hurry up! I think I hear them coming." Sync shouted down to Dist.

"I don't understand! Why won't it work? Everything else is right!" Dist cried in frustration as he realized he wouldn't be able to finish as he too heard the telltale sounds of the others getting closer.

"It's no use, we'll have to retreat for now, what we have should be good enough for the time being," Sync called to Dist. Dist gave the controls on last frustrated pound before removing the fon disk and tossing it to Sync.

"I don't think so!" Sync jump backed just in time to dodge the blond's swing. In his haste however, he dropped the fon disk, a prize that was quickly claimed by his attacker.

"What's this?" Guy held up the fon disk.

"You're not paying attention!" Sync attacked Guy's opening, but before he could get any closer, a fonic arte exploded in the air before him throwing him back. Sync quickly recovered mid-air and landed on the opposite edge.

"Who's not paying attention?" Jade taunted. "Oh my, look what we have here." Jade snatched the disc from Guy and held it up tauntingly.

"Curse you Jade! Return that at once!"

"My, my, you certainly haven't changed one bit, Dist the Runny."

"It's Dist the Rose!"

"You know each other, Colonel?"

"Yes," Dist replied. "Sadly I once counted that beastly Jade among my friends."

"You must have the wrong person then, I certainly don't know any Jades with such horrible taste in friends," Jade shot back.

"Forget it Dist," Sync cut in, even he could only take so much of this. "This wasn't an authorized mission, we'll retreat for now. I'm certain Arietta will be more than happy to care of them for us." Without another word, the two God-Generals were gone.

Everything was dark. His senses began to waken but his eyelids were heavy, they refused to open, shrouding him in darkness. When had he closed them? Everything was so foggy... he couldn't remember. It was like the last time... like last night. No, it wasn't like before. It wasn't warm and comforting... This time it was cold, echoing an ancient pain that made him want to scream. Where was he? Where was everyone?

Luke cracked open his eyes and saw a very worried Asch leaning over him. Luke groggily tried to move, but when he did the entire room started spinning and he almost fell over again. Asch slowly helped Luke to sit up, taking off Luke's coat and placing it carefully over its owner's shoulders. Luke looked confusedly up at Asch for a moment before resting his spinning head in his hand.

"Is he alright?" Jade inquired.

"Yeah, he's fine," Asch confirmed.

"He doesn't look fine to me." Guy protested.

"He'll be okay, he's just a bit out of it," Asch replied calmly, his attention never leaving Luke. How he knew exactly what was wrong, he wasn't sure, but he did. Asch could sense Luke's state of mind with a clarity he found startling. He'd always some vague idea how Luke seemed to be feeling, almost like he could read his sibling's aura, but this was different somehow. Every slither of worry that tried to consume him was snuffed out by this peculiar new feeling. He knew. Luke would be fine. "He just needs a bit to snap out of it," the older redhead finally provided.

"This may sound cruel, but we don't have that kind of time to waste," Jade informed him.

"I know," Asch answered, "You guys go ahead and rescue Ion, I'll stay here with Luke, and we'll catch up as soon as we can."

"Are you sure you'll be okay just the two of you?" Anise asked worriedly.

"We'll be fine," Asch answered as he gratefully accepted his own coat that Tear had retrieved from across the room and quickly threw it over his shoulders.

"No one is going to lay a finger on him." Asch stated venomously, and in that moment, not even Jade would have tried.

"I'm not really comfortable leaving the two of them alone like that," Guy protested as they followed the path to the rooftop. "What if Sync and Dist come back?"

"Guy, I highly doubt there is a soul in the world, including Van Grants himself, that would dare lay a finger on Luke right about now," Jade teased.

"Yeah, Asch looked pretty scary down there," Anise agreed.

"He's very protective of Luke," Tear commented.

"He is," Guy agreed. "He's always been like that, ever since they were kids. I don't know why though; I'd have thought if anything, it would be the opposite."

"Why's that?" Anise inquired.

"No reason really." Guy shrugged.

"Oh come on, why not?" Anise insisted. "I don't have any brothers or sisters, but I didn't think it was that weird for the older sibling to be the protective one."

"Really, it's nothing," Guy laughed nervously, trying to dismiss the issue. "Asch just never struck me as the protective type until I saw how he acted around Luke."

"You mean, you knew Asch before you knew Luke?" Anise asked incredulously. "Those two have been apart for more than a few days?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Guy interjected.

"Well what did you mean?" Anise asked her voice rising in frustration.

"Let's just say that Asch when he's around Luke is a completely different person than when he's not around Luke, and leave it at that."

"Cop out," Anise hissed under her breath. He didn't mean a damn word of it. It bothered her now, she really wanted to know what he meant! The way Asch protected Luke like his life depended on it just seemed to fit. She couldn't even imagine him being any other way, so just why did Guy, someone who knew them best of all, think it weird that Asch was protective?

"That's enough chatter for now." Jade quieted them as the next door led to their destination. Jade gave them the sign, and all four of them burst out on to the roof.

The roof was in as much disrepair as the rest of the mansion, making it a very dangerous place to be. There were already several spots where the stone had given away, and others that looked like it wouldn't take much to cave them in. Their targets stood in the center of the open roof, where two large monstrous blue birds were patiently sitting.

"Careful Ion," Arietta said as she gently helped Ion up onto the back of one of the large birds.

"Stop right there Gloomietta! Let Ion go!" Anise yelled at the young God-General.

"Arietta," Ion pleaded from atop of the girl's monster friend. "Please let me go with them; you should know how important it is that we stop this war."

"Sorry Ion," Arietta replied returning her attention to the young Fon Master Guardian. "I'll never let you have him Anise! I'd never leave Ion with you and those murderers!"

"That's the second time you've called us that," Tear pointed out remembering their brief encounter on the Tartarus. "We aren't murderers."

"Yes you are! You killed mommy!"

"We've never hurt your mother," Tear said, trying to reason with the young girl who was growing more upset by the second. "I'm not sure what happened to her, but-"

"You did so! Mommy just wanted to hatch her eggs in peace, to raise my brothers and sisters after their home was burnt down by the cheagles. But you went into her home and you killed her!"

"She couldn't possible mean…the liger queen?"

"Yeah she does," Anise answered, "Gloomietta here was raised by monsters. The only reason she ever made it into the Oracle Knights was because she could talk with monsters."

"That's not true Anise! I was Ion's Fon Master Guardian before you were! He picked me himself before you were ever more than some worthless trainee!"

"Oh yeah? Well who's his guardian now?"

"I'm going to kill you all and avenge mommy! Then Ion and I-" Arietta stopped. "What is so funny Anise?" Anise couldn't help herself anymore; it had taken enough effort to keep it at a smirk for this long.

"Are you alright Ion?" The voice made Arietta spin around.

"I'm fine, thank you Luke. Its good to see you two are doing well." Ion responded with a smile as he was quickly escorted by the two redheads back over to the group. While Arietta had been distracted, the twins had decided to make use of the opportunity to help Ion down off the monster.

"Give Ion back to me!" Arietta shrieked in anger.

"Not a chance, Gloomietta." Anise taunted. "It looks like you don't make a very good Fon Master Guardian anymore."

"You will return Ion to me, or I'll raze Kaitzur to the ground!" Arietta demanded.

"You will do no such thing," the familiar deep voice commanded from behind them.

"Com-Commandant!" Arietta stepped back nervously.

"Arietta! Who gave you these orders? You're completely out of line!" Van scolded her.

"I-I'm sorry, it's just that-"

Arietta suddenly found herself pinned under Asch's blade. She had left her guard down a second too long, and Asch knew the opportunity likely wouldn't arise again. He raised his sword. Best end it now before someone ended up getting hurt. Or worse...

"Stop!" Luke and Ion's simultaneous cry echoed across the rooftop and Asch stayed his hand.

"Please don't hurt her!" Ion begged.

"Don't kill her!" Luke also yelled, still in pure shock at Asch's rash action.

Asch slowly let her up, but didn't sheathe his blade. Jade was impressed, had Asch not made a move, he might have done the same thing. Despite his brother's and the Fon Master's protests, it was a smart move on his part. Best eliminate the threat while they had the chance, cruel though it may be; saving lives and stopping the war came first. He hadn't lost all those men on the Tartarus for nothing.

"So what do you want to do with her then?" Asch inquired.

"We'll take her back to Daath, where she will face a court inquiry," Ion stated simply.

"If that is your decision Fon Master, then I will take her into my custody," Van offered.

"Please do," Ion replied gratefully before anyone could get out a single word of protest.

"I have a coach waiting nearby to return us to Kaitzur Port; would you like to return with me Fon Master?"

"No thank you Van, I think I'll travel with Luke and his friends. I do believe we have some catching up to do."

"As you wish Fon Master, we shall await your arrival then," Van said with a small bow. Picking Arietta up and restraining her, he led her from the roof, her two monsters taking off into the sky.

"That turned out for the best," Guy commented once the two had disappeared back into the manor.

"Indeed," Tear agreed. "Thanks to Luke and Asch we were able to rescue Ion, but how did the two of you get behind her like that?"

"There are two ways up to the roof," Asch answered, a smug grin still adorning his face in light of their recent victory. "Luke didn't know about it since he hasn't been here in a long time."

"Oh that's right," Tear mumbled. She'd already forgotten they had switched places earlier.

"We should be on our way if we wish to arrive before sunset," Jade interrupted, noting the sun that was already high in the sky.

"You're right," Asch agreed, sheathing his sword. "Let's get going. You coming, Luke?"

"Huh?" Luke shook his head, snapping him out of whatever daydream he was lost in. "Yeah! I 'm coming!"

"Did they scramble your brains with that thing or what?" Asch teased.

"Not really," Luke answered still lost in thought. Asch was set back by his lack of reaction.

"Still feel kinda out of it?"

"A little? I don't know." Luke shrugged.

"Give it a bit," Asch suggested, "They probably gave you something to keep you from waking up sooner. It should wear off after awhile."

No, that wasn't it. Well, it might have been the case. It would certainly explain why his head still danced in circles here and there, but that wasn't why he was lost in thought. He just couldn't get that image out of his mind. Of Asch attacking Arietta like that. Luke had never seen Asch be that ruthless. The Asch Luke knew was a warm and kind older brother; sure he picked on Luke and liked to make things needlessly difficult but... he was still someone who was always protecting him, who always looked out for him. This cold, heartless Asch that had pinned down a defenceless girl no older than himself... who was ready to kill her without a moment's thought... it was someone completely foreign to Luke... and Luke didn't like it.

"Okay?" Asch inquired, poking him in attempt to get a response. Luke put on a smile.

"Okay."

"I'm sorry," Ion broke the silence as the setting sun outlined the Kaitzur naval port that sat on horizon. He turned to the blond who was keeping pace next to him. "I don't believe we've been introduced.

"Oh that's right!" Amidst the chaos Luke had completely forgotten that Guy had arrived after Ion's untimely kidnapping. "I'm sorry!"

"The name's Guy," the blond answered with a laugh. "I work for Duke Fabre, I'm Luke's attendant."

"Oh really?" Ion inquired.

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Forgive my rudeness," Ion said quickly. "Given your lack of formality, I presumed you stood on more equal footing."

"Guy's been my friend for ages," Luke provided with a grin. It was obvious, if only by the young noble's expression that Guy wasn't simply another servant in the household.

"Much to Father's dismay," Asch tossed in.

"That makes sense," Ion said with a smile.

"Say Ion?" Luke casually placed his arms behind his head as they walked.

"What is it Luke?"

"I was just kinda wondering... what did they do with you that whole time?"

"I'm sorry Luke, but that's something that's confidential to the Order. I can't tell you that."

"It's a secret huh? I guess that's okay." Luke sighed, a bit disappointed that he didn't get an answer.

"Giving up so easily?" Guy laughed "That's not like you; you usually like to prod for hours until someone eventually tells you." Asch couldn't resist a small snicker. Too many memories of his childhood concurred with that statement.

Luke simply shrugged and continued to walk alongside his friends. He wasn't going to prod. Part of him wanted to, and another part of him was disappointed that Ion wouldn't confide in him, but Luke had been reminded all too recently how precious some secrets could be. Everybody has their own secrets, things they held onto that they just couldn't share. Maybe Asch was no different... he had his secrets too. Looking over at Asch, every bit of the dark stranger he'd witnessed earlier had vanished and noticing Luke's gaze, Asch offered him a warm smile. That's right, everyone had their own secrets, their own connections.

Things they could never tell a soul.