You all can thank Coren024 for reminding me that I desperately needed to update. Tea took a week longer than she should have to get 9-16 back to me, and then I spaced out for a week. Then school started. I am now a college student, and I'm driving a total of about forty minutes every day to and from my school... But none of you care about that.

So... I'm posting this now, since I don't have class for another hour, and I may or may not post another chapter or two of the ones I owe you guys. Heh, heh... I should've posted Part Twelve this last Wednesday... So I apologize again. I had a million other things on my mind... Sort of.

On a happier note, I have finally made the Part 40 benchmark. I have also finally gotten past the Akzeriuth arc. There are, like three and a half chapters in Akzeriuth/Fallen Akzeriuth. O.o Wasn't expecting it to take that long. And Reighn finally proved why Evenos made him Head of the Fon Master Guardians... Well, that's for December at the soonest, I think.

Enough of my rambling. Enjoy! (I will catch up on updates ASAP.)

*Remind me to buy something sweet for him later.* –Kairi

"That can be arranged too." –Flick

Chapter 1.9 – A (False) Peace
Part 9

"Small, localized conflicts have broken out recently. It's likely those will soon escalate into full-scale war," Jade said. I smirked.

"The truce for the Hod War is only 15 years old, after all," I added sarcastically. Jade smirked, while Ion sighed.

"Emperor Peony has written a letter proposing a formal peace treaty. They requested my aid as a neutral ambassador," he said. Luke frowned.

"If that's the case, then why do people think you've gone missing? Master Van said he had to go looking for you!" he threw in. Ion cringed ever so slightly, while Jade sighed.

"That, unfortunately, is due to the conflicts unfolding within the Order of Lorelei between the reformist Fon Master faction, centered around Ion, and the conservative Grand Maestro faction, centered around Grand Maestro Mohs," Jade said.

"Mohs is looking for a war. I managed to escape from his custody with the help of the Malkuth Military and one of the God-Generals," Ion continued. I frowned, tapping against Jade's mind. A mental image of Cantabile popped up.

"Why does that not surprise me?" Dark drawled from the corner. Tear looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"Fon Master Ion, there must be some mistake. Grand Maestro Mohs would never desire such a thing. Mohs prays only for the fulfillment of the Score," Van's sister stated.

"Tear, you're with the Grand Maestro faction? No way..." Anise said, sounding really upset. Tear shook her head.

"I'm neutral. Yulia's Score is important, but so are the Fon Master's wishes," she argued. Dark snorted, and Tear looked over her shoulder at him. "Do you have a problem?" she asked, carefully forcing the irritation out of her voice. Dark scowled.

"I'm not sure whether I should thank the Grand Maestro the next time I see him or murder the bastard, okay? We're not exactly friends," he hissed. Luke crossed his arms.

"Does it really matter what's going on inside the Order of Lorelei right now? You said earlier you're trying to prevent a war from breaking out, right?" he asked, successfully diverting the conversation away from Mohs. I smiled.

*Remind me to buy something sweet for him later,* I told Jade. My brother's expression softened a moment before he turned to Ion, who nodded gratefully toward the redhead.

"You're right, Luke. I must deliver this letter to Kimlasca," Ion said. I sighed.

"But, we're talking about a landship loaded with the soldiers of an enemy nation. Even as emissaries of peace, it won't be easy to get across the border," I threw in. Jade nodded.

"If we delay, the Grand Maestro faction will catch up to us and interfere. That is why we need your help... Well, really we just need your social status," Jade admitted. Luke huffed, and I bit my lip, really hoping Luke wouldn't pull the crap he did in the game.

"You just need me to talk to my uncle, right?" he asked. I turned to Dark and smiled.

*Remind me to buy something sweet for you too,* I said. He gave me an exasperated look before rolling his eyes.

"You have my deepest gratitude. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must attend to other matters," Jade said. I watched as Marco left after him.

"Hmm... I'm going to get some air," Ion decided. Dark glanced at Anise, who tilted her head toward the boy leaving.

Dark followed Ion out, the baby liger on his heels, and I narrowed my eyes before following him, Valkyria on mine. *Did I ever start telling you what the game events are?* I asked. Dark frowned.

*No. I take it you told Sync and Asch?* he asked. I nodded.

*We're about to be attacked. Let Ion go, they need him alive. Help me find Levi and Marco,* I said. Dark glanced at me.

*You're sure?*

I sighed. *I wish I wasn't. Everything so far... It's gone almost perfectly. I just hope it keeps going for a day or two, because if it doesn't, we'll all be dead,* I admitted. Dark watched Ion head up the stairs before nodding.

"Where to?"

I reached out. "Marco's on the bridge. They won't let you in still, but I'll go get him. You go get Levi. He's the guy with the orange hair that was in the mess hall with me and Jade last night. He's... in the mess hall, again. Cleaning up after breakfast," I said. Dark nodded, then growled something to the liger. "By the way, what's her name?"

Dark smiled. "Sorylle. See you later?"

I sighed. "When they attack, head for the bridge via the maintenance deck. I'll try to hold them off from the inside," I said. "Don't die!" I called before taking off at a run. I passed Jade as I went, but he was heading back toward the cabin. So, we really were running out of time.

Ion was up in the same place you find him after the first conversation in the cabin, but I ignored him, too, heading up the ladder and racing across the deck. The reason for my suddenly very hurried pace?

I glanced off to the side, spotting the mass of dark, fast-moving... well, I couldn't actually see them yet, but I was sure they were griffins carrying ligers and soldiers.

"Miss Balfour!"

"Excuse me, pardon me, looking for someone!" I called, dodging around the soldiers that had been standing outside. It didn't take me long to get to the bridge, where I heard the words I'd been hoping I'd arrive in time to hear just as the alarms went off.

"Bridge! What's going on?" Jade's voice echoed.

"A large flock of griffins 20 kilometers ahead! Total number unknown! Contact in approximately five minutes! Commander, requesting permission to open fire with all cannons," Marco replied. Huh, so that's who was on the other end.

"You're a captain. The ship is yours," Jade said.

"Understood, sir! Large swarm of monsters twenty kilometers ahead! All hands, battle stations! Repeat! All hands, battle stations!" Marco called. While this conversation was taking place, I pulled my sword, bow, and quiver out of my wing pack, tying the sword to my right hip automatically. "Miss Balfour! What are you doing here? Get back to the cabin!" Marco ordered. I scowled.

"Say that again in four minutes," I hissed, strapping my quiver on and stringing my bow. I hesitated for a moment before drawing it experimentally, smiling as it moved smoothly, fluidly.

Then the ship shook, and I ended up dry-firing, the string snapping against my arm uncomfortably. I scowled.

"What happened?" Jade's voice asked. Marco scowled, but I was the one to answer.

"Ligers are dropping from the griffins, clinging to the hull and attacking!" I said quickly, pulling out the arm guard I hadn't used in months.

"Engineering is—"

"Move!" I yelled, pushing Marco out of the way as Largo's scythe came down where he had been. The large God-General stared at me in shock.

"Kairi?! Bridge! Respond! Bridge!"

Largo's scythe took out the pipe, and I scowled, tossing the bow into my right hand so I could reach for my sword. Behind Largo, Legretta and Arietta stepped in with a familiar... mask.

Flick smirked. "Largo, find the ship's commander. Arietta, Ion," she ordered. Then she turned to look up at Legretta. "I'll deal with this."

Legretta nodded before turning and leaving, Largo and Arietta doing the same. I frowned, while Flick's smirk didn't budge an inch.

"This is amusing. For someone who doesn't ask a lot, you have a talent for making it go a long way," she stated. Then one foot slid back into a defensive stance I recognized all too well. "But I'm afraid I'll have to send you back to Danté."

My hand clenched around the hilt of my sword and I drew it in a smooth motion that I'd really started to miss. "I'd rather burn in hell," I stated. Flick laughed.

"That can be arranged too."

Then she charged at me, and I realized that her fighting style really was just like Sync's. I slashed at her, trying to force her away long enough for Marco and the others to finish off the rest of the small group of Oracle Knights that had followed her.

That was when I realized that she wasn't wearing the outfit she'd been in before. No, she was wearing a uniform that looked eerily like Sync's, except with a skirt and in purple. So, Flick would be taking Sync's place in the antagonist lineup. Great. Where did that put Cantabile?

"Miss Balfour!"

"Secure the bridge, don't let any more in!" I ordered, dancing around Flick. I was out of practice, that much was showing quite obviously in the way that she kept getting in too close for my sword.

"Yes, ma'am!" Marco saluted quickly, retreating from my fight with Flick and giving out more specific orders. It was becoming rather obvious that Flick was winning our little confrontation when Tear's voice echoed through the bridge.

"Toue Rei Zue Kuroa Ryou Toue Zue~"

Flick hit the ground a moment before I did... At least she didn't land in a puddle of blood. Aw, crap.

*Jade!* I cried out telepathically before I lost consciousness.

I was shaken awake by Levi, and I blinked a few times as I forced the effects of Tear's fonic hymn off. Tear looked a bit bashful.

"Sorry... We weren't sure how many of you were still alive," she said. I shrugged.

"I'm alive. Flick's a bitch, but I'm alive," I told her, looking around. Then my eyes widened. "Where's Luke?"

"We left him outside to guard the door," Tear said. I reached out with my mind, and took off running before anyone could say any more. Jade left Levi and Marco in charge while he raced after me, Dark and Tear on his heels and the two startled felines behind them.

"Luke!"

"Oomph!" the redhead grunted as I crashed into him, pushing him out of the way. Then my mind touched that of another redhead, and it was snagged.

*Kairi?!*

The hope, desperation, and horror that all flew along that connection would have knocked me off my feet if I hadn't already been on the ground.

"You are turning into a pain in the neck," Legretta announced, jumping down from where she'd been trying to snipe Luke and cutting the others off from the bridge. I scowled, feeling rage boiling through my veins when I saw the boy still sitting up top.

"Good," I hissed. "Because I've finally hit the last straw."

*Kairi...?*

*Give me a minute... Sheesh...*

I heard Asch chuckling on the other end, a sound of relief that I cherished.

Legretta scowled, drawing her guns and racing past Tear and Dark, the latter of whom tried to shoot her. I ducked and swerved, evading the blonde woman who was probably trying to seriously kill me.

Flick showed up then, distracting everyone except Dark as they tried to keep her from joining the assault against me.

So none of us realized that Legretta had gotten me right under where Zion was sitting, except for Asch, who was watching through my head.

*Behind you!*

I jumped to the side, rolling right to the edge and only barely avoiding Zion.

"Kairi!"

I scowled, noticing that I'd been separated from everyone else. "I'm thinking now would be a wonderful time for a strategic retreat..." I muttered.

*Just don't die...*

I chuckled, earning a couple of worried looks from the people behind Legretta, Zion, and Flick. "See ya!"

I jumped, making use of a concept I've referred to as 'game logic' so that I could perform my little back-flip perfectly. Thankfully, the hull of the Tartarus was curved enough that I was able to slide along down it for a bit before jumping and rolling to soften the damage of the fall.

The landship sped on past me, and I raced into the nearby forest before Legretta or one of the others could order soldiers after me. Once hidden in the woods, I stripped my bow and quiver off and sat my sword against the trunk of a tree. Legretta would be sending soldiers after a girl wearing a black outfit. So I was going to head for St. Binah in blue.

The woman who walked out of the forest a few kilometers north of where I'd entered could have easily fooled any civilian into thinking she was exactly as she appeared—a major in the Malkuth military.

Of course, I knew my disguise wouldn't work on many people who were actually in the military, but so long as it would get me to St. Binah safely, I didn't care.

As it turned out, once I found the road, I was only a few hours away. The Tartarus had actually made it south of St. Binah, which meant the Oracle Knights had to turn it around to go back to Shurrey Hill. I noted the soldiers standing outside the gates and cringed.

"Need help?"

I turned and smirked. "Hey, Selenia. Running around outside again?" I asked. She nodded, then tilted her head to the side.

"Where'd you get the uniform?"

I laughed. "Emperor Peony. It's a long story," I said. Selenia smiled.

"Alright, then, Major! Let's go!"

The thirteen-year-old skipped on ahead, and I followed, my expression becoming one of a woman exasperated with being stuck babysitting. It was rather obvious what Selenia's plan was, after all. And when the Oracle Knights made her stop and explain, she did her part as the girl who had gotten lost, claiming that her father had sent me to retrieve her.

One of the men turned to look at me. "Name, ma'am?"

Remembering what Sync and Asch had taught me of identifying Oracle Knights by uniform, I frowned.

"Major Alice Kytes, Sergeant," I announced. The soldier immediately straightened and saluted quickly. Even if we weren't in the same military, I was a higher rank.

"My apologies, Major. You and your charge may pass."

I nodded once, gently guiding Selenia past them and marching straight toward Military Headquarters. "Now you get to help me avoid getting too much grief from your father," I warned her. She frowned, adjusting our course slightly.

"I'll try, but what are you going to do?" she asked. I sighed.

"You're about to find out," I said, stepping into the room she had led me to.

"I understand," Glenn was saying. Then he noticed me and Selenia. "Selenia? Major, what is the meaning of this?"

I spotted Anise about the same time she saw me, and her eyes widened. "Kairi?"

Glenn scowled, also recognizing me for who I was now. "Do I need to repeat myself?" he asked. I sighed.

"Did Anise already tell you the Tartarus was attacked?" I asked. He nodded, and I crossed my arms, noting the letter Anise had just given him. "Do you have another piece of paper? I'd like to write a letter for Jade while I explain."

Glenn just nodded.

Fun Fact: This is the first chapter where I remembered to replace the telepathy holders before sending it off to Tea.