Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

Chapter 7

Gnomeday, Gnome-Decan 30, ND 2019 – 2:30pm local time (Grand Chokmah)

Guy sat on the edge of a raised flowerbed in the gardens of the Imperial Palace, surrounded by six rappigs. Absent-mindedly, he scratched one of them behind its long ears while petting another's back. His mind wasn't on the rappigs, however, and he was oblivious to the spring sunshine that bathed the gardens in warmth, fostering the growth of their beautiful flowers, trees, and shrubs. Instead, he was thinking about the letter he had received from Natalia that morning.

Earthquakes in the Zao Desert. What next? Guy wondered. I hope she stays safe. She really shouldn't be going there in person, but that's Natalia for you. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same...

At the sound of footsteps approaching, Guy looked up and saw Emperor Peony rounding a corner. Spotting the rappigs, the Emperor grinned. The rappigs, excited by the arrival of their master, snorted and squealed as they trotted toward Peony. Guy stood up and made a courtly bow.

"Aslan, Jade, Nephry!" Peony beckoned to his pets. "Saphir, Gelda, Luke! So good to see you all! Ah-ah-ah—down, cute little Jade," he scolded as the rappig named Jade tried to jump up on him.

Guy smiled, amused. The Emperor had named all his pets after people who were near and dear to him, which occasionally resulted in confusion as to whether the Emperor was talking about the person or the animal during a conversation.

"Thanks as always for taking such good care of them, Gailardia," Peony added aside to Guy. "Did anything happen while I was in that boring Council meeting?"

"No, Your Majesty. All is well, at least with your rappigs," Guy replied.

"Oh? You mean to say that something is wrong elsewhere?" asked Peony, instantly alert.

Guy sighed. "Just the usual, with the disasters everywhere." Glumly, he added, "It's hard to believe that Jade and Third Division were hit by a tornado. I thought those were just a legend."

The message from Saint Binah describing Jade's encounter had arrived by carrier pigeon the previous evening, throwing the Emperor and most of the military into a tizzy. Guy couldn't blame them for being shocked and upset. He was pretty worried, too.

The Emperor rolled his eyes as he sat down on the stone-paved walkway amid his rappigs. "Don't worry, this is Jade we're talking about. I'm sure he's fine. ...Probably fine, anyway," he amended.

"Huh?" said Guy in surprise. "You mean the letter didn't say whether he was okay?"

"He neglected to mention anything about himself. Typical Jade. All he sent was a standard incident report, with a full count of casualties and equipment losses. Not even a personal note to reassure me about anything. Reading between the lines, though, the numbers of dead and injured add up to the entire division, including its commander. Ah, my cute little Jade, why does the uncute Jade insist on worrying me like this?"

Guy bit his lip to keep from snickering. He refrained from saying Didn't you just tell me not to worry? After all, one did not argue with an Emperor.

"The incident report was in Jade's handwriting, so I know he's alive," Peony continued. "He'd better explain himself when he gets home."

"When he does, Your Majesty, I would appreciate being allowed to listen to that explanation," Guy said, in the formal tone of a noble making a request of his sovereign's time and attention.

Peony smiled. "Yeah, sure thing. You're Jade's friend too, after all."

This time Guy snickered out loud, and said, imitating Jade's voice, "I'm not sure about 'friend,' but I suppose we do have an awkward bond of sorts."

"Ha ha ha! Is that a quote, Gailardia?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Silence fell as both men contemplated Jade's cold, impersonal nature. It's a wonder the Emperor puts up with him, Guy pondered. Childhood friends are special, though. After all, I put up with Luke... He shied away from that line of thinking. Reminders of Luke were painful, even after nearly five months. It didn't help that Peony had named a rappig after Luke, either.

As if picking up on Guy's thoughts, Peony said casually, "I hear that you've been helping with the search for Luke. Any luck yet?"

Guy shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. But I still believe he'll come back. He made a promise, and I'm going to hold him to it."

Peony nodded wordlessly.

"I'm starting to think that the first thing I'll do when I see him again is punch him for taking so long about it," Guy added.

"'When,'" repeated Peony, smiling slightly. "Not 'if.' Interesting."

"I mean it!" Guy said defensively. "He will come back to us!"

"I'm sure you're right," Peony said hastily. "Any news from the rest of your friends? Tear, Anise, Natalia...?" he said invitingly.

Guy gave a covert sigh of relief at the change of subject. "I haven't heard much from Tear or Anise, but I know they're busy with the Order. I hope they succeed in reforming it. I got a letter from Natalia just this morning, though."

"Oooooh, a love letter from the Princess?" Peony caroled.

Guy blushed. "It's not like that, Your Majesty! We're just friends!"

"Yeah, yeah, so you say. There are rumors about the two of you, y'know."

"I know. Anyway," Guy continued, "she wrote that she would be traveling to Chesedonia soon and invited me to meet her there, if my duties permitted."

"Any reason why she's going to Chesedonia?"

"Apparently there have been earthquakes in the Zao Desert, and Natalia is investigating."

The Emperor's eyes widened. "Earthquakes? Oh great," he groaned. "As if Auldrant needed any more trouble. At least this time it isn't in Malkuth."

Guy nodded understanding. Tornadoes tearing up Rugnica, miserable cloudy weather in Saint Binah, and as for Keterburg–!

There had been a letter from Nephry a week ago, in her capacity as Governor of Keterburg, requesting Imperial aid for the stricken city. The Sylvanian continent had experienced its worst winter in recorded history, and instead of warming up from bone-chillingly cold to moderately cold with the arrival of spring, the temperature was continuing to slowly drop and snowstorms were occurring more and more frequently.

"This is insane," Peony complained. "It's always one thing after another! I swear–!" He was cut off from his rant by the arrival of General Nordheim.

Nordheim was usually calm and levelheaded, but today he looked harassed and anxious. "My apologies for the intrusion, Your Majesty." Without waiting for his Emperor's acknowledgement, he blurted out, "We've just learned from our Surveillance Division that Mount Zaleho has erupted!"

Peony sprang to his feet, dislodging two rappigs who had been napping on his lap. "When?" he asked sharply.

"Three days ago, Your Majesty."

Guy's eyes widened. That's the same day Jade and Third Division got hit by the tornado. Could there be a connection? He shook his head. ...No, that's impossible. It's just a coincidence... right?

"Damn!" snapped Peony. "That does it! Gailardia!"

Startled, Guy braced instinctively. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Pack your things. I'm sending you to Sheridan. Nordheim, when does the next ship leave for Chesedonia?"

"Tomorrow morning at oh-seven-hundred, Your Majesty," Nordheim replied instantly. "You propose to have Count Gardios travel to Chesedonia and board a ship to Sheridan from there?"

"Nailed it," said the Emperor, with a tilted smile. "Glad you catch on so fast."

Despite the peace between Kimlasca and Malkuth, very few ships sailed directly between the two countries. Almost all travelers going by ship crossed the border via the autonomous city-state of Chesedonia. This benefited Chesedonia immensely since travelers and traders were an integral part of the city's economy.

"Borrow the Albiore and search out the cause of all this chaos," Peony continued to Guy. "I'll order Jade to leave his troops in Saint Binah and meet up with you in Chesedonia. While you're there, talk to Astor, and Princess Natalia if you see her. Any information they can give you about these...unnatural disasters will be valuable to you and your mission."

"Erm... yes, Your Majesty," Guy replied, trying not to look as boggled as he felt.

Nordheim frowned thoughtfully. "Your Majesty, do you mean that you believe all the strange events this year are connected? How so?"

The Emperor smiled sunnily. "That's what I'm sending Gailardia to find out."