Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

Chapter 31

Sylphday, Gnome-Decan 49, ND2019 – 3:40pm local time (Mount Roneal)

My dear brother... I am glad to see you are well, said Undine, as Ifrit released her from his embrace. She floated in the air in front of the passage ring, with her blue-green fishtail wavering slightly and her blue hair swirling around her, as though she was underwater.

Dearest sister, Ifrit replied. Though we are connected through the core, I am glad to see you awake in the world above. But it pains me that you suffer, trapped here as you are.

Indeed, Undine agreed, glancing briefly at the passage ring before returning her gaze to Ifrit. But you have sent me a pure vessel, and for that, I thank you.

"A pure vessel?" Florian asked cautiously. "I guess that means... me?"

Yes, said Undine, turning to face Florian. You are well named, Innocent One. For despite the trials you have faced since the day of your creation, your heart is kind and compassionate. You have taken on a heavy burden for us, regardless of the risk to your own life.

"Then it's true that Florian could die if he keeps making pacts?" asked Anise, with tears in her eyes.

Yes, he could... but he might not, Sweet Flower, Undine replied. The Innocent One was created through use of the Mutant Fonon, and thus his body is bound together artificially by it. As with all humans, absorbing an excess of fonons is dangerous. But if he absorbs the power of all six elemental fonons and can bring them into balance within himself, his body will no longer need to rely on the Mutant Fonon to sustain his life. He will not be quite like anyone else, but he will have the stability of those you call "originals" and will not have such high risk of fonon separation, as those you call "replicas" do.

"How do you know so much about originals and replicas?" Jade inquired. His voice was perfectly calm, but Florian could tell somehow that Jade was tense and on edge.

We Six Great Sentiences have dominion over all the fonons in this world, said Undine, or so it was before the Planet Storm and the Mutant Fonon disrupted our powers. I have dominion over all water fonons, as my brother Ifrit has over all fire fonons. We may only manifest as physical entities in one place at a time, but we can feel every single fonon of our element, on the surface, in the fon belt, and in the core. Even with the Planet Storm dissolving us into individual fonons, we maintained our worldwide consciousness: silent and watchful, but powerless.

I have watched over your family since before you were born, Imperial Jewel, Undine continued. I saw you grow up, in the shadow of my mountain and in the city you call Grand Chokmah, where water flows throughout. It has been a privilege to know you, and a sorrow. You are powerful and clever, but you were also very foolish as a child. Do not blame yourself; it is human nature to be curious and inventive, and to make mistakes. I am glad the passing years have taught you some wisdom.

"Thank you for your kind words," Jade replied neutrally.

Now the Planet Storm is gone, and the Six of us are recovering our former abilities. And yet, I can only appear in physical form at my own Sephiroth, because of this accursed passage ring, said Undine, scowling. The water fonons rise from the core at this Sephiroth, but the passage ring blocks their dispersion throughout the land and the fon belt.

"Blocks their dispersion?" Guy echoed. "How does it do that?"

The passage rings were built to uphold the planet's crust, Undine replied, using the memory particles that also rise from the core at the Sephiroth. The memory particles were shaped into pillars of a specific height, and thus the land was raised. But the passage rings were also designed to constrain the flow of fonons, so as to keep as many fonons as possible circulating within the Planet Storm. Now, without the Planet Storm to expel fonons via the Radiation Gate, all fonons rising from the core do so at the Sephiroth again, just as they should. Thus, a subset of water fonons trickle out into the world from this Sephiroth, but most of them stay here, where we stand now. So many fonons built up that my power became too strong, and my twin sister Celsius awoke for the first time in two thousand years.

Hence why you called me to appear in this miserably cold mountain, Ifrit rumbled. How long must I remain where I do not belong, Innocent One?

"Um... long enough to keep Undine from turning back into Celsius?" Florian said uncertainly. It was beginning to dawn on him that summoning Ifrit might have been a bad idea. I didn't think it through, he realized. I hurt Celsius... maybe even killed her. Will she come back? Can she come back?

So be it, said Ifrit. Hurry up, then.

"Hmmm," said Jade. "If the passage rings are designed to block the dispersion of fonons... I wonder whether any modifications we might apply would be enough to counteract that effect."

"Are we going to have to take them apart after all?" Guy asked. "I don't like that idea, but if we don't have a choice..."

"Perhaps we can discuss that after we have more information from Teodoro," said Natalia.

"Yes," said Tear. "Grandfather might—Oh! I'm sorry!" She glanced fearfully at Ifrit.

Descendant of Yulia, murmured Undine. You need not carry any blame for your ancestor's actions. She gave Ifrit a reproachful look, before continuing to Tear, My brother's hot temper makes him harsh at times. You are not at fault for Yulia's sins against us, two thousand years ago.

Hmph, Ifrit snorted. Sister, you are too gentle and forgiving. This woman has the same power as Yulia. She is dangerous to us.

I think not, said Undine. She is not as arrogant as Yulia was. But perhaps it would be best to warn her, so that she may avoid accidentally harming us.

Tear nodded. "Please. I don't want to hurt any of you."

Very well, said Undine. Two thousand years ago, Yulia made a pact with the sentience of the Mutant Fonon, Lorelei. Unlike other pacts, Yulia's pact applies to her descendants as well. Any descendant of Yulia may summon Lorelei by using the Grand Fonic Hymn she composed and the Key of Lorelei she created. You, who learned the Grand Fonic Hymn as a child and recalled it at Eldrant, could summon Lorelei at any time – if you recover the Key from deep in the core. However, I strongly advise against doing so.

"Why?" Tear asked cautiously.

While Lorelei was contained in the core, its hyperresonance could not disrupt the balance of fonons on the surface of Auldrant, Undine explained. Likewise, when Lorelei was imprisoned within the One Who Would Seize Glory, its power was subdued. Now, thanks to your friend the Light of the Sacred Flame, Lorelei has settled in the fon belt as its seventh layer. There, its power is stable and cannot wreak havoc upon us. Nevertheless, this is a delicate balance. If you were to summon Lorelei to appear on the surface, I do not know exactly what would happen, but it would be nothing good. I must ask you, on behalf of all my kind, never to use that power. Is that clear?

"Yes," Tear acknowledged. "Thank you for warning me."

Undine smiled. You are welcome. I was certain that you would understand.

Hmph. How much longer do you intend to stay here chattering? Ifrit growled.

"I'm sorry, Ifrit," said Florian. "Undine, will you make a pact with me?"

I am willing, said Undine. But I must alert you to this hazard: a pact with me will not apply to Celsius. When I leave this mountain, in the company of Ifrit and Sylph within you, then unless you make constant use of my power, the upwelling of water fonons here will allow Celsius to form again. She will be angry and unstable.

Florian winced. I screwed up, he thought. This is bad.

"Uh-oh," said Anise. "Then what will happen to Keterburg?"

Things will be much the same as before, Undine replied. Water fonons will accumulate, and eventually, the concentration of fonons will be too much for the mountain to hold. Every time there is an overload, fonons will break out in bursts just as they have at the other Sephiroth, producing elemental effects: here, colder and stormier weather. Celsius may even release bursts deliberately, to attack the town. As the mountain becomes colder, Celsius will grow stronger. Since she refused to make a pact with you, you will need to find another way to stabilize her power. Your idea of modifying or dismantling the passage rings may be the only way to save Keterburg.

"Maybe I should wait to make the pact with you, then," Florian said hesitantly.

Undine shook her head. No. Waiting would be worse. Without a pact, I will remain trapped here, unable to help you, until Celsius subsumes me again. Make your vow, Innocent One. We must hope for the best, even as we prepare for the worst. And you will need my fonons to balance Ifrit's, if you wish to survive.

"...All right," said Florian. "Undine, I..." he paused to take a deep breath for courage. "I promise to stabilize the power of all the sentiences, no matter what it takes!"

"Florian?" Anise gasped. "W-What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm going to keep making pacts, and help figure out what to do about the passage rings," Florian said determinedly. "I'm not afraid, Anise. I have you, and all of our friends. We can do this if we work together. I know we can!"

A bold promise, Innocent One, said Undine. Are you sure you can fulfill it?

"Yes," said Florian. "Please, Undine... lend me your power."

Accepted. Undine dissolved into a deep blue glow and poured into Florian. Florian tried to stand strong and avoid collapsing this time, but as Undine's power flooded his body, his legs wobbled as if they were turning to liquid, and he fell to his knees once again.

"Florian!" cried Anise. "Oh, Florian! Why?!"

"Because..." Florian panted, "it's the right thing to do. Anise... if I die before we can fix the passage rings, the sentiences will be trapped again. So I have to make pacts with all of them to balance my fonons, and survive. But even with that, I won't live forever, so we have to stop the passage rings' interference... and I never said I'd do that part alone. Everyone... will you please help me?"

"Like you really had to ask?" Guy chuckled. "Count me in. Let's do this!"

"Indeed," Natalia said firmly. "The well-being of Auldrant is at stake. We cannot stand by idly!"

Tear nodded. "I agree. Pacts are not a long-term solution. The passage rings will become a problem again unless we eliminate the interference."

"Ugh! Fine," said Anise. "I guess I can't stop you. You're so stubborn, Florian! But..." she sighed. "You're right. It's the right thing to do. And Ion once told me..." she paused to swallow hard, "when we have to choose between what's right and what's easy, we should choose what's right."

Florian smiled up at her. "Thank you, Anise. What about you, Colonel Jade?"

Jade threw up his hands in a dramatic shrug and gave an exaggerated sigh. "My, my, such recklessness. I suppose I should tag along and keep you youngsters out of trouble. Let's go to Keterburg. With Celsius subdued for now, the blizzard should have dissipated. We can re-supply and let Florian recover – and we must warn the governor about Celsius."

"Absolutely," said Guy. "Florian, can you stand? We need to get you back to the Albiore."

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Florian, rising to his feet.

"You're not fine, you're crazy," Anise accused him. "Don't you dare push yourself too hard, Florian. I'll never forgive you if you disappear like Ion!"

Florian felt very frustrated. When will she stop seeing me as another Ion? he thought. He wanted to argue with her, but he couldn't come up with a retort that would hurt enough.

"I hope the Albiore is still where we left it," Natalia said. "If Noelle had to retreat to the port..."

"...We'll be in for a long, cold walk," Guy agreed. "Let's hurry."

"Well, well, you two have become so close, finishing each other's sentences like that," Jade caroled.

Guy blushed. "Shut up, Jade."

Natalia was also blushing. "Yes, be quiet!" she snapped.

Ifrit shook his head as though in disbelief. Reckless youngsters, indeed, he sighed. May I be dismissed now, Innocent One?

"Yes," said Florian. "Thank you for your help, Ifrit."

The sentience of fire transformed into a flame of red fonons and rushed back into Florian. Ahhh, that's better, Ifrit's voice said in Florian's mind. And now I have more pleasant company than those airheaded Sylph.

We heard that! Sylph said indignantly.

Be polite, brother, Undine chided. If you can get along with Sylph in the core, you can get along with them inside the Innocent One's body.

Florian pressed his lips together to keep from grinning like a lunatic, as the group began to retrace their route through the mountain. He was tired, and he didn't feel like explaining the sentiences' bickering to his friends.