Chapter 59: The Rules of War
The stairs up out of Daath's depths were unending. The older, underground levels of the great cathedral hadn't been equipped with the fonic glyphs that made moving about the upper levels easier. Just how deep did this building stretch below the surface anyways? The gloomy corridors, sparsely lit by the odd fonstone seemed to twist and turn, identical doors lining every hallway... it was wonder anyone knew where they were going. Guy stopped and almost grinned in spite of himself; if he keeps this up he'll start sounding like Luke pretty soon.
Not that he would ever really fault Luke for that; come to think of it, it had been a long time since he'd heard his best friend whine about anything. He made a mental note to talk to Luke about that later. Not that it was a really bad thing that Luke wasn't complaining about everything, but Guy knew his little quirks. Luke tended to complain out of boredom, when his mind had nothing else to do but find fault in the various things around him. The sudden lack was just a sign of how high strung he was.
Not that Guy himself was really in the position to help Luke feel better about everything. He was still in the midst of sorting through the mess of feelings his memories had invoked. Old memories begot old thoughts and with them old desires. Luke and Asch had nothing to do with any of it, that wasn't even a thought he would dwell on, but that small part of him that still desired revenge lay buried in the depths of his psyche. That scared little boy, all alone, crying out at the pain... at the memories of his sister's death. He'd watched her die; her and all the maids that had taken care of him. Guy was starting to understand why he'd subconsciously blocked out that moment of his life.
That was the past, and no matter how much resentment he may still harbour towards what had happened, Guy knew that he couldn't let that take away the future. That was what Van had- no, he supposed he'd have to scratch that now; it was what Van was trying to do. It was going to take a bit to fully process the fact that his former friend was still alive. Really now, that was quite the wild card those two had kept up their sleeves. It surprised him, not so much from Asch, but Luke had clammed up about it too. Even if he was keeping a secret, his best friend usually gave off little hints, signs that there was something to which he wasn't fessing up. Knowing how to pick up on those had become more than essential to surviving Luke's younger years. Then again, Guy really hadn't been there to pick up on those things this time around. Times changed, but the desire for the past always lingered to some extent.
How much did he really long for the old days? Given the choice, would he return to Hod? Return to the times he had spent with Van and Cantabile, to Mary scolding him for causing trouble, then making up for it later by reading him a bedtime story... Guy let out a sigh. Mary... he really didn't know what to make of the replicas that had confronted them. At least he'd had Jade over the past few days to help him keep things in perspective, if nothing else; not that it had spared him Jade's own thoughts on how everything had played out. Bitter didn't quite suit the Colonel's attitude, but since existing vocabulary lacked the words to describe any of Jade's mannerisms, it was as close as he was going to get. Guy could understand, and even relate to some extent. It had been foolish and idiotic of all of them, and it had been pure chance alone that had gotten them out of this alive. He knew he couldn't let events repeat themselves; they couldn't afford to lose next time. He couldn't hesitate. But could he really fight his sister, even if it was only her likeness?
Guy looked up to see Luke looking at him curiously; upon meeting his worried look, the redhead offered his friend a comforting smile. Guy returned the gesture, knowing that look in Luke's eyes; looks like they'd be chatting later after all. Apparently he wasn't the only one that had picked up on their best friend's little quirks.
For the time being everyone was walking in silence. No one knew quite what to say, especially with Arietta still escorting them out of Daath. She was one who'd really surprised Guy, and he couldn't quite figure out what she was after. Really, if she just wanted Ion, she could have just taken him and there wasn't a thing any of them could have done about it. Her bargain wasn't a solution she'd decided upon on a whim either. Everything had been too carefully planned, the way all the guards happened to be from her squad, that many of the other knights who might have impeded them were conveniently away for training... no she had planned this ahead of time, maybe even as soon as they'd arrived. But why? She'd even gone and returned Asch's sword to him... the same one that the God-Generals were supposedly after. What was she planning?
The main lobby of the cathedral was a more than welcome sight and Guy for one would be perfectly happy not to see another set of stairs for a very long time. An eerie feeling made the hairs on the back of the blond's neck stand up. The air was stagnant, silence reverberating from the walls only emphasizing the lack of life. What the hell... based on the timing of the meals that their captors had provided it should still be the middle of the afternoon, the time at which the cathedral was usually teeming with people.
"Where is everybody?" Anise asked. "It's busier in here when the cathedral is closed for the day!"
"I don't know," Arietta replied, also surprised by the acute lack of people.
"There were more people when we passed through here earlier," Luke provided. "I wonder where they all went."
"Is it just me, or does it seem a bit stuffy in here?" Natalia inquired.
"Yeah, now that you mention it, it is a bit stifling," Guy agreed, noting a bit of a haze that seemed to hang in the air. "Maybe that's why people left."
"Ugh, that stupid Dist," the God-General grumbled. "Even when he isn't here, his labs are always making a mess! I bet they set something on fire again!"
"That looks like a running theme," Asch commented with a grin. He couldn't fault them entirely; their fires had helped him escape last time.
"Yeah, almost as running a theme as Gloomietta's pets running wild," Anise added with a sneer.
"Shut up Anise!" Arietta's voice echoed and everyone fell silent, unable to quite shake off the almost harrowing atmosphere. "What are you waiting for?" Arietta snapped. "Get out of here, before I throw you back in the dungeon!"
"What are you talking about? I'm not leaving Ion here with you. What do you think I am, stupid? Who knows what you'll do to him once we're gone!"
"Anise," Luke intervened. "Ion said he wanted to stay."
"I didn't say I was taking him anywhere," Anise argued. "But I'm not leaving Daath until he leaves with me."
"No way!" Arietta jumped in before anyone else had a chance to protest Anise's decision. "I'm not letting you anywhere near Ion. It's your fault he's like this to begin with! If you'd done your job right, he wouldn't be so weak and so sick!"
"Oh yeah? Just try and stop me!"
"You no longer have a position in the Order," Arietta pointed out. "I'm not giving you access to the upper levels, and I'll make sure no one else does either! Stay all you want, but you're not getting near Ion!"
"Anise," Natalia placed a hand on the fuming girl's shoulder. "Why don't you leave Ion here to get better, and come with us? I'm sure Arietta and everyone here in Daath will take good care of him. Once he's better you can come back and deal with him directly."
"Fine." Anise spat bitterly. She hated it! She should be the one there for Ion when he was sick! But Arietta was right and without any kind of position in the Order, there was no way she was going to get clearance to the Fon Master's chambers, especially with a God-General working against her. Besides... Ion would have wanted her to keep going and help everyone. "But I'll be back so don't you dare think of trying anything funny!"
"Unlike you, I'm actually going to take care of Ion! I'll protect him no matter what! So don't bother ever coming back!" Arietta shouted over her shoulder as she ran off towards the cathedral's inner, restricted areas.
"She's not too bad, for a God-General," Guy remarked.
"Yeah," Luke agreed. "But she's got a point; we'd better get going before someone who knows we shouldn't be here shows."
Arietta patiently watched from the shadows until she saw Luke opening the cathedral doors. Satisfied enough that they weren't going to return for Ion, she spun around and headed towards the kitchens. First she would have them prepare a good bowl of stew for him, and maybe by then the doctor would be by. She'd have Ion in tip top shape in no time! It was the least she could do after everything he'd always done for her.
Do you want to be my Fon Master Guardian?
Piercing green eyes stared at her, but their darkness only spurred the elation she felt at the sound of those words. Words she could understand now, she could use to express her feelings... maybe she wasn't very good at it yet, but it didn't matter! She would keep trying her hardest! They were the words he had given her...
"A Fon Master Guardian is someone who protects the Fon Master, even if it means losing their own life," Ion explained.
The pink haired girl simply smiled. "When Arietta was little, she was saved from being lonely. If Arietta cried, mommy was there and all my brothers and sisters were there. But they aren't there anymore. But... Arietta isn't lonely. Because Master Ion is here now! I want to protect Master Ion, just like my brothers and sisters protected me!"
"Fine then, from now on you will be a Fon Master Guardian," Ion said firmly. "If you become weak, you will be discarded immediately. Do you understand?"
"Yes Master Ion! Arietta understands."
From now on, Arietta will always be by Fon Master Ion's side.
Yes... things would be back to the way they were in no time...
"Hey there kiddo," a voice came from the hallway the God-General had just past.
"I am not a child, Cantabile!" Arietta snapped back. "What are you doing here?"
"What's with a reception like that?" Cantabile asked, pretending to look hurt. "Why don't you come join the rest of us rather than stay all by yourself in Daath?"
"I told you, I'm staying here with Ion!"
"Well whatever," the violet haired God-General shrugged. "It's your choice where you want to stay, but that doesn't get you out of your responsibilities."
"I know that," Arietta spat.
"Good," Cantabile grinned, a look of utter satisfaction sweeping across her face. "Cause I've got a job for you."
What… what was this? Luke arms trembled, frozen where they had extended to push open the massive doors that barred the cathedral. A cool breeze blew past him, tossing his red hair about as he remained frozen in shock at the sight he'd come upon. The young noble had been unsettled since Ion's unusual warning, but this was far worse than anything he could have ever imagined. The feeling of his heart stone cold in his stomach was becoming an all too familiar one.
"This is…" Natalia managed, their entire group slowly moving outside, all of them in disbelief at what had developed while they had been locked below ground. She looked about, but her visibility was poor at best given the dark purple haze that hung in the air, permeating the entire city. The only thing worse than the sight before them, was the knowledge that Daath wasn't the only place affected.
"No wonder it was so stuffy inside," Guy commented solemnly. "The miasma was slowly leaking in."
"How does something like this happen?" Asch demanded. "I thought you'd said we trapped the miasma below the dividing line, old man!" Jade remained silent. "Well, Jade?"
"Shut up, Asch," Luke snapped. "It's not Jade's fault."
"Oh yeah? Well then explain to me what the hell is going on here!"
"Stop it, both of you," Natalia intervened. "We knew that this was a possibility, assigning the blame isn't going to get us anywhere!"
"Spinoza had theories about the miasma returning, right?' Guy asked. "Did he have any ideas on how to get rid of it?"
"What are you guys talking about?" Asch demanded.
"Hey, if you're going to take off without us, don't expect to be in the loop," Luke shot.
"Go crawl under a rock and die," Asch shot back.
"No, unfortunately not," Jade answered, ignoring the twin's bickering that only picked up in intensity while the attention was drawn towards the Malkuth Colonel. "The miasma is likely spreading from the Radiation Gate as a result of the added stress the Planet Storm is putting on the dividing line, but there isn't any way of stopping it, especially at this point."
"There has to be something we can do…" Natalia mulled.
"What do you think we can do?" Asch asked bitterly, still shooting evil stares at his immature sibling. Still, it was easier than dwelling on the miasma that surrounded him, an eerie fog whose very touch unsettled him. Damn it all this was all his fault! If only he'd been able to free Lorelei, none of this would be happening! Lorelei had warned them that this would happen if he stayed in the core… now it was too late. "Even if we could stop it from escaping the core, we can't get rid of the miasma that's already here! There's nothing we can do, we can't even get away from it!"
"Asch!" The young princess snapped. "What has gotten into you? Weren't you the one who told me that just because we don't know of a way to get rid of the miasma, doesn't mean there isn't one? That as long as people are alive, they can still work towards a better tomorrow?"
Asch looked away, offering no response.
"Figures," Luke rolled his eyes, getting a more than dirty look from his sibling.
"Jade, what's the matter?" Guy noticed the look on Jade's face, and it only ever meant one thing.
"Things are moving much quicker than I had expected. Unfortunately Asch is right, at this rate, the miasma will soon infiltrate the buildings and there will be no escaping it. I don't, however, agree that there are no other options than accepting death. My concern is why things have suddenly accelerated… even based on Spinoza's model, this is too soon."
"Could something have happened to Lorelei?" Natalia inquired.
"Luke, Asch," Jade turned to the boys who looked like they were ready to pull their weapons on each other. "Have either of you ever tried to speak with Lorelei without having him initiate the contact?"
"No," both of them admitted simultaneously before glaring at each other.
"Well then, there's a project for you," the Colonel stated. "Make some good use of those fon slots of yours, since you're obviously not planning to talk to each other."
"What are you thinking, Colonel?" Tear inquired worriedly.
"You think Master Van may have already trapped or captured Lorelei?" Luke suggested.
"That is a very distinct possibility," Jade agreed. "But we've too little do go on at this point, so the two of you had best get to work," he added tauntingly. Luke scoffed and raised an eyebrow but the concentration hidden behind his green eyes betrayed that he was already giving it a shot.
"There is something I find odd," Natalia pondered.
"What's that?" Tear asked.
"Well, where is everyone? I would think that at a time like this, there would be more people than ever in Daath. Whether they be looking for guidance, or demanding the Score… there should be more people here."
"That's true," Tear agreed. "The miasma has only been around for a couple days at most, but at the very least the locals or people already visiting Daath should be around."
"Hey… guys?" Anise turned back to face her friends from where she was standing at the top of the long staircase that led down into the city. "I think I found everyone… and we might have a problem."
"Poison has seeped out from Gnome's domain, spread across the world and even now begins to challenge the lives of the ill and the elderly! Why is this happening, you ask? It is because the world has strayed from the Score! We have moved from a path of prosperity to one of destruction!"
"Damn it! Mohs!" Luke cursed. It looked like half of Daath had turned out to listen to him, the streets were packed with people all watching the snake before them with starry eyes. That bastard! After everything he'd done-
"Luke, stop." Jade grabbed the redhead's arm before he could get too far. "The last thing we need right now is a riot. If we attack Mohs, we'll be the ones who will be discredited and that crowd will likely turn on us."
"The New Order of Lorelei is devoting itself to getting the world back on the path of prosperity that the Score has promised us!" Mohs continued. The crowd was muttering, nodding in agreement and slowly beginning to cheer the former Grand Maestro on. "Straying from the Score was a mistake and look where it has brought us! Yulia knew that the Score would lead to prosperity, but we were ignorant enough to think we knew better than she! Let the New Order of Lorelei lead the way to a future of prosperity!"
"Damn," Guy commented as the crowd cheered. "He's really got himself their support."
"Can you blame them?" Natalia asked. "Given everything that's happened, and just how little the people know about reasons behind the fall of the Outer Lands, it's no surprise they're so easily swayed by his logic. It's sound by their judgement."
"But the Score is wrong!" Anise protested.
"People believe things up until now were in the Closed Score," Tear pointed out. "After so long of leaning on the Score, it's difficult for people to stand on their own, especially when times become difficult and uncertain. That's what the Major said... I wonder, is it really possible for the world to escape the Score?"
"We won't be able to unless we believe that we can!"
"Luke..."
"We can't give up now just because things are a bad, it's in times like these that we have to try our hardest! We have to set an example for everyone else, us and all the nobility. As the ones people are going to look to; we have to able to properly handle these kinds of situations."
"You're right Luke," Natalia agreed. "This will be a test to see if the world can come together to overcome a common obstacle, and a test of how well we manage our people."
"Yes, we have to be willing to try." Tear smiled. "Luke, I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry," Luke countered. "What you said before was true, I didn't have the right to go behind your back like that, and I shouldn't have lied about Master Van."
"It's okay, I think I know why you did. But next time, I want you to trust me."
Luke smiled in defeat, "I will."
Asch let out a very audible scoff. Luke's expression changed in a heartbeat, sending the nastiest look any of them had ever seen on the normally temperate noble. "What do you want?" he demanded.
"Nothing," Asch dismissed the glare casually. "You change your tune pretty quick."
"At least I'm mature enough to admit I made a mistake," Luke said defensively.
"Don't you get me started on the subject of maturity."
"Yeah, you'll lose as soon as you go there," Guy muttered under his breath.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
"Will you guys all shut up?" Anise snapped. "We've got enough trouble coming without your squabbling," she hissed, nodding her head towards Mohs who was making his way up the stairs.
"Well, well, well," Mohs began, an evil smirk spreading across his face. The pompous man reached the top of the stairs and stood beside Anise sending her backwards several paces, never losing her defensive stance. "If it isn't the traitor."
"And proud of it!" She countered, sticking her tongue out.
"Yes, well, I'm sure your parents met an appropriate end in a ditch somewhere none-the-less," Mohs continued slyly.
"You bastard!"
"Anise, don't!" Luke snatched the former Fon Master Guardian's arm as she reached for Tokunaga. "There'll be a chance, but it isn't now."
"Who released you?" Mohs asked, still overflowing with arrogance and authority. "Was it Tritheim?"
"We were released on the Fon Master's orders," Tear declared.
"Tch," Mohs spat. "Ion has outlived his usefulness. A Fon Master that won't follow the Score is a disgrace. An Order without its foundations is nothing! It cannot serve the people, and it cannot find prosperity! You'd do well to stop following that idiot of a Fon Master before you regret it. The New Order of Lorelei will lead the way to the future."
"Say one more word about Ion and so help me Lorelei I'll-" Anise's small fists were clenched and trembling.
"You'll what? Powerless fool."
Anise bit her lip; her entire face was red around her flaming brown eyes. For Ion... she was doing this for Ion... He wasn't in the condition to deal with the consequences of her actions; he wouldn't be able to handle all the angry people if she did anything here and now. But she was going to have that man's intestines on a stick the next time he so much as thought of crossing their path. Just let anyone try and stop her!
"No matter," Mohs dismissed the entire group before him. "Everything is moving, there's nothing any of you can do to stop it now. Mark my words, I, the Fon Master of the New Order of Lorelei will be the one to save this world. Nothing you can do will change that."
"He's not so brave without his little army, is he?" Anise shot after him once he was out of an earshot. "Bastard, how dare he think he can say that stuff about Ion! I'm going to kill him!"
"This 'New Order of Lorelei' of his concerns me as well," Natalia confessed.
"Yeah," Asch agreed. "It's going to have more than a few political implications, especially if this is any example of the people's reception to it. Things are unstable enough as it is, the last thing we need is a power struggle between Ion and Mohs on this scale."
"Especially if Mohs' goal is truly to start a war as the Score foretells."
"So then, what are we going to do about it?" Luke asked.
"I think we ought to propose a summit between the world leaders," Natalia suggested. "There are more than a few world affairs that need to be discussed, not the least of which being how to deal with the miasma. If we can solidify the two country's relationship it'll make Mohs' task much more difficult."
"If we're going to go that route, then we're going to have to start by proving Asch's innocence," Guy pointed out. "As far as Kimlasca is concerned, he's behind the attacks on Malkuth. King Ingobert and Emperor Peony may be prepared to talk, but the Malkuth court isn't going to have it until Asch is officially dealt with. Besides, going into this, there should be no doubts as to what Mohs' true intentions are."
"That's great and all, but how are we going to do that?" Anise asked. "I mean, we know it's Mohs, but how are we going to prove it?"
"We'll have to find where he's making the replicas," Luke stated. "If he was using the replicas to impersonate soldiers, then they probably have some old military equipment stored around the facility, right?"
"So we're back to combing the ocean, huh?" Guy sighed.
"Not quite," Luke said, the beginnings of a smirk curling at his lips. The redhead held up a white paper and envelope in his left hand. "This came for Ion from Teodoro while I was up there. He says that the location of the Seventh Fonon consumption actually seems to be circling Yulia City."
"Uh, no offense or anything," Anise began, "but you seem to missing a very important fact. I don't see Noelle or Ginji around anywhere. How do you plan on looking for this facility?"
"Really?" Jade asked with a grin. "I do."
"What?"
"Guy, Luke!" Noelle exclaimed in surprise, her older brother nearly crashing into her after her sudden stop.
"Asch, everyone!" Ginji stopped to catch his breath. "What happened? Are you all okay? How did you escape?"
"We thought we were going to have to rescue you," Noelle explained. "When you didn't-"
"Master!" A ball of blue fur leapt from Noelle's arms and crashed into Luke's chest. "I'm so sorry Master! I should have come with you to protect you!"
A smile spread across Luke's face and he pet the young cheagle on the head. "It's okay, Mieu. If you'd been here then Arietta might have fed you to one of her ligers. It's probably a good thing you stayed in the Albiore."
"I'm not staying behind anymore!" Mieu declared, perching himself proudly on Luke's shoulder.
"Alright," Luke conceded. "But what are the two of you doing here?" He asked the pilots.
"We should be the one's asking you that, we came to rescue you," Noelle said. "When you didn't come back I started searching for you guys."
"We ran into each other," Ginji confessed with a nervous chuckle. "When we realized both Asch and everyone else was missing we figured something was probably up, so we found the landship they were transporting you in and followed it here. We were going to come rescue you but..."
"Yeah, you guys took the wind out of our sails," Noelle giggled.
"Well, I'm glad you didn't have to put yourselves in danger for us," Guy said. "I didn't realize you two were so reckless. What did you plan to do if you ran into some of the guards?" Guy noticed the dagger that the blonde pilot was clutching in her hands, her grasp tightened at the question. It was the one he'd given her in Sheridan... Guy dropped the subject.
"Colonel, what's the matter?" Anise carefully approached Jade. It wasn't often he got lost in thought, something really must be up. She wasn't sure she even wanted to know, the miasma was bad enough, let alone anything that had the Colonel thinking so hard.
"Luke, Asch, have either of you heard anything from Lorelei since lowering the Outer Lands?" Jade inquired.
"No," Luke shook his head. Asch repeated the gesture.
"This is really bothering you, isn't it Jade?" Guy pointed out.
"The chances that something has occurred to Lorelei are high, especially given the Planet Storm has reached the point that the miasma has returned," he explained. "And in case you've forgotten, if the Planet Storm reaches a critical velocity, the Tartarus will no longer be able to neutralize the vibrations in the core and the lands will all sink into the mantle."
"All the more reason we need to free Lorelei," Asch pointed out.
"But can we?" Luke wondered. "I mean, if Master Van did something to him, are we still even able to free him?"
"Now who's being a pessimist, Mr. We-won't-know-until-we-try?"
"You just can't resist, can you?" Luke shot angrily.
"Well forgive me for telling the truth."
"It would be the first time..." the younger sibling muttered.
"Well if we're working on trying new things, why don't you try shutting up?"
"Oh so I've got the big mouth now?" Luke asked. "Because if I remember correctly in Tataroo Valley I wasn't the one being an ass to the people who were just worried about him!"
"Oh yeah, you were real worried. That's why you attacked me as soon as you saw me!"
"That's enough! Both of you!" Tear stepped between the flaming redheads before the shots started aiming for vital points. The looks on their faces told everyone that was what was coming next and as soon as it got personal things were bound to get ugly.
"I've had just about enough of you both," Jade stated sternly. "Guy, Luke, Tear and Anise, with Ginji if you will. Asch, Natalia, you will accompany me and we will depart with Noelle. It will be faster to find this mobile facility with two ships looking. I am not dealing with your bickering," he added, bringing a hand up to adjust his glasses ominously. "If you don't intend to reconcile then you will learn to be civil or I will see to it that educational gap is filled... personally."
The looming threat silenced both boys and they wordlessly went their separate ways.
Natalia found herself standing outside the door to Asch's room. Things had been unusually quiet with only the four of them on the Albiore and silence had always done a fine job of entertaining her guilt. The princess' fiancé hadn't left his room since they'd begun their flight in search of some sort of mobile fomicry facility and his continued absence was beginning to concern her. They needed to talk; it was far beyond the point of pretending nothing was wrong for the sake of dealing with other issues. With Asch there was always something, someone else more important than his state of mind and he needed someone to look out for him. That was her job as his fiancée, was it not? Still, something within her stayed her hand inches away from knocking. Would he even want to see her?
Building up all the courage she could muster, Natalia gently knocked on the large door. The seconds she waited passed like hours, the whole while her heart was beating fiercely in her chest. Why was she so nervous? She was just speaking with Asch, she'd done so all her life... and yet over the course of the past couple weeks he had become a stranger. She wasn't going to let him push her away. Maybe he didn't see it himself, but he needed someone else now more than ever.
"It's open." Asch's voice came through the door and Natalia hesitantly opened it. "Natalia," Asch turned to see who had entered before returning his attention to the small window.
"What are you doing in here all by yourself?"
"Looking for that fomicry facility," Asch answered.
"Why don't you join Jade, Noelle and I? We're all keeping an eye out up front."
"It doesn't hurt to have a different perspective. I'll stay here."
"Asch... Asch please. This has to stop." The redhead turned to face Natalia, the desperation in her voice drawing his attention. She stood before him, a hand closed and resting on her chest, her olive eyes shining with uncertainty, darting away from his searching gaze. Why was she...
"Natalia... what's the matter?" Asch asked, worry settling in him amongst the waves of regret and guilt that had been drowning him. He took one of her hands in his, and he felt her fight against the instinct to jerk away. Had it gone that far?
"I just came here to apologize," Natalia said, her eyes unable to face his.
"What are you apologizing for? You haven't done anything wrong."
"All that time in Baticul, the God-Generals were after you and I never did a thing."
"Of course not, that was what I wanted. I didn't want you to get involved. How could you have done something you knew nothing about?"
"But I did," Natalia leaned forward, placing her arms gently around him. "I knew you weren't being yourself. We both did, Luke and I both noticed that you were weary and becoming more distant. I'm so sorry; I was so quick to assume it had to do with you being busy that I never bothered to ask you why! I should have noticed you were so troubled, I should have been there for you."
"Don't apologize," Asch said silently. "I was the one who chose not to tell you, I didn't expect you to- I didn't want you to know. So don't say sorry, given the choice, I would do everything the same again."
"But why? Why do you have to shoulder everything on your own? Why can't you let us be a part of this?"
"There isn't any point in attracting trouble for more people than we have to. Besides, it's not like anyone actually needs me here."
"That's ridiculous!" Natalia protested, detaching herself from Asch.
"Is it?" The redhead challenged. "You functioned just fine while I was gone."
"Well... yes we did fine, but-"
"You were perfectly happy."
"Asch... you don't truly believe that?" She asked in disbelief. "There's no one other than you that can fill your place."
"So the court is trying to disinherit me because no one else can possibly take the throne?"
"But..."
"We both know the only reason I was chosen was because the Score said that I would lead Kimlasca to prosperity," Asch pointed out.
"You will!" Natalia protested. "We will, together! It will be the greatest years Kimlasca's ever known. I believe in those words you said to me all those years ago."
"You don't know that."
"I do! I do because- because I know you, and I love you. You and only you!"
"But even that is because we were told that we would marry someday. It has nothing to do with me. Had the Score said someone else was to be king, someone else was your fiancé... could you still say that?"
"Asch, stop it!" Natalia demanded, her voice almost breaking. "You... you can't do that. What if the real Princess Natalia wasn't stillborn? Could you say the same? You'd have loved her instead. What if neither of us were royalty? What if the world had ended? The Score came true and you died in Akzeriuth? Luke wasn't born? Anything? You could go on forever but none of it matters! There's only one reality, there's only what is... and there's only one of you."
"You say that and yet-!" Asch cut himself off, but he could see the pained curiosity in Natalia's eyes. She wanted to know what he had been about to say. But he refused to voice such feelings, even to himself; feelings he had long since thought he'd left behind him. Who knew? Maybe that was the problem in and of itself. "I'm sorry," Asch finally said softly. "It wasn't fair of me to say those things."
"Asch, we all care about you. I need you here; no matter what anyone else thinks or says... I treasure your presence more than anything! I would be devastated if-" Natalia didn't even finish the thought. "I need you by my side..."
Asch smiled sadly. "I know," he whispered softly, kissing her on the forehead. "Thank you."
The metal door closed, leaving Natalia alone in the empty room, clouds flying by the window in which her gaze was lost. It seemed as if everything was fine... but she still couldn't shake the pit in the bottom of her stomach.
The ocean beneath the Albiore was choppy, tossed about by the winds and darkened by the clouds that Ginji was bordering trepidaciously. The headwinds weren't anything to laugh about, and after the incident in the Megiorra Highlands he was in no hurry to test them. At least it looked like they were working their way out of the impending storm, which was good in more ways than one; finding anything among stormy seas was going to be next to impossible.
"I hope the others are having better luck," Ginji commented.
"In weather and in finding this thing," Guy agreed. "Oh well, they have Asch and Jade with them. Between the two of them, they're obsessive enough that if this facility is anywhere west of Yulia City they'll find it." Luke chuckled from his seat on the other side of the Albiore.
"Can I ask you something?" Ginji inquired curiously. "Was Asch's group sent with Noelle because the two of us took off without you before?"
"I'm sure that fact was factored into Jade's decision," Guy replied.
"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you," Ginji said solemnly. "Especially you, Luke."
"Don't worry about it, Ginji," Luke said with a smile. "You were just helping out a friend."
"It's a pity though, Noelle was a bit disappointed about the flying arrangements."
"Really? Why's that?" Guy asked curiously.
"Oh no particular reason," the pilot replied with a mischievous chuckle.
"You know, I just thought of something," Luke spoke up from his seat. "If this facility is moving underwater... we are never going to find it."
"Yeah, that could be a problem," the Malkuth noble agreed. "Then again I guess Teodoro's search team looked underwater for the other location and didn't find it so maybe they have some equipment we could borrow."
"This officially makes the list as the most inefficient thing we've ever done," Luke grumbled.
"Yes, yes it is," Guy chuckled.
"Are you laughing at me?" Luke eyed his best friend suspiciously.
"Not really, I'm just glad to hear you whining about something. You've had me worried lately. It's not like you to be so stressed out."
"There's something I never thought I'd hear you say." Luke paused. "I was worried about you too. The way you were after we ran into those replicas... what happened?"
"Seeing them... seeing Mary's face, it made me remember. I remember the day that she died. We were hiding from the Kimlascan soldiers, and Mary put me in the fireplace. She told me not to move, that I had to live on to carry on our family's name. When the soldiers burst into the room, I was scared and tried to get to her. She shielded me with her body, and so did the other maids. I stayed buried under them until I fell unconscious and Pere found me. Now that I think about it, that's probably why I'm so afraid of woman..."
"Guy..." Luke opened his mouth but couldn't find the words to say. What could he say? He was... he was the son of the man who did that to him. The respect he had for his best friend and for the strength it must have taken him to chose the path that he did... there were no words for it. "I'm sorry," he finally managed.
"It's not your fault," Guy answered.
"But I still laughed at you, and made fun of your fear of women."
"Really, it's alright. It is pathetic. They all gave up their lives to save me, and not only did I forget them... I just find women scary. It's pitiful that I remember my sister that way. Now..." Guy sighed. "I know it's a replica, that she doesn't have my sister's memories or personality or anything. To her, I'm just a stranger... but the feelings are still there, you know?"
"Yeah. I hope if we meet them again we can find a way to talk things out. I don't want to have to kill them."
"I agree. But while we're on the topic of replicas, Luke, how long do you plan to keep this up with Asch?"
"What do you mean?" Luke asked, a nervous smile on his face.
"Luke stop that. No one is going to believe that you're fine with things as they are. I know Asch snuck off on his own and all that, but he did it to try and protect you. Don't you think it's time you cut him a break?"
Luke shook his head. "This has nothing to do with that. To be honest, when Asch first took off without us I was afraid; scared that Asch didn't want me around anymore, and that I meant nothing to him. Finding out he'd left to protect the Sword made me feel a lot better, even though I hated how he chose to do it, it still meant that he cared. If that was all it was, then it would be okay. I mean, in the end I did the exact same thing to Tear, right?"
"Then what's going on between you two?"
Luke pondered it a moment. "Guy... what are you most afraid of?"
"Well, if I had to pick, I'd say one of Anise's bear hugs."
The young noble attempted a smile, grateful for his best friend's attempt to lighten the mood. Guy frowned. All the expression did was contrast the dejection that had taken root. "You know what mine is?"
"Luke..."
"I'm terrified of people finding out that I'm a replica; I'm scared of how they'll treat me because I'm a replica. I don't want to be different than others; I don't want people to hate me because I'm different than them. I just want to be like anyone else... but people do, they would hate me if they knew and there isn't anything I can do about it. I can't change what I am! So to hear it... to hear it coming from him... Asch and I may have our ups and downs, but I respect him... I look up to him! How could he... how could he even think something like that?"
The roar of the Albiore's engines drowned the silence that loomed in the cockpit.
"I guess, in the end, why we're fighting doesn't really matter anymore," Luke said quietly. "After all, I'm just his replica."
Guy watched his best friend walk away, heading down the stairs that lead to the cabins. The blond sighed, giving into the fond smile that spread across his face.
"Luke... you really are an idiot."
"This is perfect," Mohs declared, walking down the marble path. The road he walked was still dimly lit, an eerie, almost ghostly place. Still it would not remain as such for much longer, and that time would be when things would truly begin to move. The world would see the power that the New Order of Lorelei had to offer and they would flock to him. Events had to be put back on the path of the Score regardless of the cost. It was his duty as a watcher. "The people are more than willing to heed my words!"
"People are fickle, that's hardly something to brag about."
"What are you doing here, Sync?" Mohs demanded. "Don't you have work to do?"
"I don't need you worrying about my job, just make sure you do yours," Sync shot.
"There's no need for any concern. With the return of the miasma, the faith of the people waivers and they are all but ripe for the picking," the self proclaimed, new Fon Master stated. "All I need is the final fonstone and the people will undoubtedly flock to the New Order. Even if the rulers are still hesitant, they will have no choice but to follow in our stead once we have the faith of their people. The power of the masses is not to be underestimated."
"The only use for pawns," the God-General sneered.
"I see you've been making progress," a second, deeper voice came from the shadows. "How far along are we?"
"Commandant," Sync stood up straighter than the casual slump he had been in before, though he still leant against the marble column. "Things have been progressing as planned."
"Van," Mohs interrupted, full of all the authority he believed he had. "Where is the Seventh Fonstone? I've been searching around here, but I've yet to locate it."
"Surely you don't think I'm foolish enough to keep it here?" Van inquired.
"Why not? The entire purpose of the New Order of Lorelei is to return the world to the path the Score had set out from the beginning! It is our job to describe the promised prosperity to the people!"
"Of course," the Commandant replied.
"Do you truly have the real Seventh Fonstone?"
"Yes, but the time to reveal it is not now. For the time being it is hidden and well guarded, it wouldn't be wise to play all our cards at once."
"No, but it will be needed soon enough," Mohs declared. "I'm going to return to Daath for the time being, there will undoubtedly be more people than ever demanding answers only we can provide them. If we can promise them the Seventh Fonstone's prosperity, that fool Ion's Order will dissolve completely."
"What an arrogant, pompous idiot," Sync spat as soon as Mohs was out an earshot.
"Yes, but as presumptuous as he may be, he still serves a purpose for the time being," Van commented. "He'll keep the world's eyes averted from our efforts for now."
"As long as he wants that Seventh Fonstone, he'll do whatever we want him to." A malicious grin spread across Sync's face. "But are you sure it'll be safe with her guarding it? She's been with the Sacred Flame's group, I hear. Her loyalties are questionable. There's no saying what she might do, or who she may tell."
"It's irrelevant, either way could play right into our hands," Van stated simply. "There are people, such as Mohs, who will believe anything so long as it agrees with their faith; others refuse to believe the truth until they've touched it with their bare hands."
"Like your sister," Sync suggested.
"C-Commandant!" A surprised voice appeared from the same shadows into which Mohs had disappeared earlier. "You've returned! When did you arrive? How have you been feeling?"
"I arrived yesterday, though I'm still a bit unstable; it could not be delayed any longer. What is our current status, Legretta?"
"Unfortunately, it seems as if the Sword of Lorelei has come into play. Our most recent information still puts it in the hands of the Sacred Flame," the blonde God-General reported. "Cantabile and I have been working on securing it, but haven't been able to thus far."
"And the Jewel?"
"We've been unable to locate it, even through the unconventional routes. At the very least it does not appear to be in the Asch's possession. His actions suggest that he has been searching for it as well."
"Good, keep it that way. Continue your search for the Jewel as well as the efforts to secure the Sword. We can't risk the two coming together."
"Understood," Legretta nodded. "Everything else is proceeding as planned. However, not long ago some fonists from Yulia City were poking around. It seems they've detected the fonon consumption and are trying to pinpoint the source. It will only be a matter of time before they find us."
"That will be of little concern soon enough," Van declared. "Soon the promised lands will rise, and once they do, Yulia herself will protect them."
"Yulia's own creation shields the instrument of her undoing," Sync said with a smirk.
"I thought you might enjoy that," Van replied, his own grin no less malicious. "But before that, you both have jobs to do."
"Yes, sir," Legretta said, standing to attention.
"Understood, Commandant," Sync replied.
"It's time that we got everything underway."