Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

Chapter 38

Undineday, Gnome-Decan 55, ND2019 – 10:15am local time (Zao Ruins)

It took Florian less than an hour to master using altered artes, with and without fields of fonons. Guy was impressed. He made a mental note to find a suitable capacity core for Florian as soon as possible. There was a collection of capacity cores stowed on the Albiore with the rest of the assorted items that either didn't fit in the item bag or weren't used often enough to be worth carrying around constantly.

Guy had been drawn into Florian's lessons, despite his argument with Jade earlier, after Florian had grown bored with altered fonic artes and asked Guy about the altered artes corresponding to Demon Fang, Crescent Strike, and Void Tempest. With Ifrit, Undine, and Sylph's powers at Florian's command, Florian could now use the altered artes Infernal Torrent, Frigid Moon, and Dragon Tempest without relying on fields of fonons, but turning Tiger Blade into Wyrm Wrath had taken a little more practice since, without Gnome's power, Florian always needed a field of Second Fonons from Jade to work with. The discussion of combining the sentiences' powers in altered fonic artes such as Spiral Flare and Champagne had led naturally to the topic of combination strike artes, so now Florian was practicing the various combinations of base artes that Guy had shown him, such as Moonlight Demon and Demonic Void.

Along with learning altered artes and combination strike artes, Florian had learned Turbulence, Flame Burst, and Splash. Guy wasn't sure whether Florian had picked up those fonic artes from Jade or from the sentiences, but he didn't want to ask. Jade's violence toward Natalia, when Guy had refused to obey his orders, was very worrisome. He never gets like that, Guy mused as he followed Florian and Jade deeper into the ruins with Tear, Anise, and Natalia. Does he really hate teaching so much? He wasn't doing too badly at it...

"Guy?" Natalia's voice, just to his right, broke through Guy's brooding. "Is something wrong?"

"Ah... it's nothing," Guy replied. He smiled at Natalia, trying to hide how nervous he felt at her too-close proximity. His progress in overcoming his phobia of women had been all but erased in that moment when Natalia had unexpectedly collared him.

"It's the Colonel, isn't it?" Natalia asked, lowering her voice and moved closer to Guy's side. "I'm worried about him, too."

Guy steeled himself to not flinch away from her. "Uh, yeah," he agreed. Embarrassingly, his voice came out an octave higher than usual.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Natalia apologized, backing off hastily. "I triggered your phobia earlier, didn't I? I'm so sorry. I should never have done that...ever."

"Heh," Guy huffed a brief laugh. "Don't be sorry. Jade and I were both being idiots."

Natalia shook her head. "I said, 'ever,' and I do mean ever. All those years that you were Luke's servant, I was so cruel to you. I never gave any thought to why you were afraid of women, or what might have happened in your past. I should have been so much more considerate. I'm truly sorry."

"It's okay. That was then, this is now." Guy paused in his tracks as he remembered the moments before the Albiore had landed so roughly in the desert. "Wait... was that why you said you were sorry, back on the Albiore?"

"Yes, but... it's not okay, Guy. It was never acceptable to treat you so badly," Natalia disagreed, also pausing.

"All right, how about this: I forgive you, Natalia." Guy took a deep breath and stepped closer to her. He set one hand on her slim shoulder. His arm shook with lingering panic, but he willed his hand to stay where it was. He needed to get his point across to her. "It was wrong of you, and I forgive you anyway."

"Guy," Natalia murmured. "You mustn't force yourself. Please, take as much time as you need to heal...if such a wound to the soul can be healed at all."

"Hey, just because you can't heal me with your artes doesn't mean you can't help," Guy replied, smiling as he removed his trembling hand from her shoulder. They started walking again, side-by-side; this time, Natalia carefully kept a comfortable distance between them.

"How did you know that was exactly what I was thinking?" Natalia asked, sounding astonished.

"Er... because I was thinking the same thing?" Guy suggested. "'Great minds think alike,' or something like that?"

Ahead of them, Anise paused, turned around to face them, and began walking backwards as they continued along the path through the ruins. "I think it's because you two are falling in love," she taunted. "Just kiss each other alre— whoa!" Anise stumbled as another small quake shifted the ground underfoot.

Tear reached out and grabbed Anise's arm to steady her. "Be careful, Anise," she admonished. "You always trip when you don't watch where you're going."

"Booooo. Fine," Anise pouted as she regained her balance. Putting her fists on her hips, she continued, "But I still think Guy and Natalia are a perfect match. She can help him get over his phobia, and he can help her get over—mmph!" Anise's sentence was cut off by Tear clamping her hand over Anise's mouth.

"Don't say it!" Tear snapped. "People don't 'get over' a loved one's death so easily. Do you think dating Guy would help you 'get over' losing Ion?"

Ahead of them, Florian halted abruptly and looked back at Anise, frowning. Jade also stopped walking.

Anise's shoulders slumped. As Tear removed her hand from Anise's mouth, Anise shook her head and said, "No. You're right, Tear. I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you should apologize to," Tear pointed out.

"Sorry, Natalia," Anise muttered, looking down and not making eye contact.

"I..." Natalia said hesitantly. "I do need to...move on. From Asch's death, and from the rest of last year's traumas. Even though it's difficult."

"We all have things we need to move on from – and not just last year's events," Guy told her. "You're not alone, Natalia."

"Speaking of moving on," Jade said, "we seem to have all stopped walking. Are we going to continue on our way to the passage ring, or shall we set up camp right here?"

"Is it already night?" Florian asked in surprise. "I didn't think it was even lunchtime yet."

Guy pulled his pocket watch out of the inner pocket of his vest and glanced at it. "It's almost ten-thirty," he reported. "So I guess it's too early for lunch. If anyone wants a snack, though, I could fix some rice balls."

"A snack might be a good idea," said Tear. "It would be a nice break from all these battles."

"Yeah, we've been fighting more monsters than ever down here," Anise agreed.

And fighting each other, Guy added silently as he recalled Anise's words following his earlier disagreement with Jade. Some food and a little rest would be good for all of us. People are more irritable when they're hungry or tired.

"I could certainly do with a rice ball or two," Natalia admitted.

"Okay, sure," said Florian.

Guy set down the item bag and began rummaging in it. "All right, then, I'll start cooking."

"Guy," said Tear, in a tone of gentle reminder.

"Huh?" Guy asked. "Am I forgetting something?"

"'Old habits die hard,'" Tear replied. After a moment, Guy realized that she was quoting what he had said to her in Yulia City.

"Oh," said Guy. "Right."

"What?" Florian, Anise, and Natalia chorused.

"I'm not a servant. Any one of us can cook. It doesn't have to be me." Guy looked around at the group. "So, who wants to cook?"

"I will," Natalia volunteered.

"No way!" exclaimed Anise. "You'll screw it up. I'll cook."

"How can anyone screw up rice balls?" Florian asked in disbelief. "Even I can make those! Can I cook this time?"

"No, you always put weird stuff like strawberries and bananas in them," Anise replied immediately.

"What's wrong with strawberry-banana rice balls?" demanded Florian.

"You aren't supposed to put fruit in rice balls!" Anise said indignantly. "Meat, fish, or vegetables, yes; fruit, no."

"Fruit in rice balls... I never thought of that," Natalia mused. "Not as a main dish, but perhaps as a dessert it would be quite good."

"Oh, jeez," Anise moaned. "Now you've done it, Florian!"

"Heh heh heh," Guy chuckled, recalling Natalia's various attempts at cooking, which had included many failed experiments. "I can see it now...fruit rice balls at the next Kimlascan state dinner."

"What a fascinating idea," Jade said with a sly smile. "It would be so interesting to see the look on all those noble guests' faces. Perhaps I'll suggest such a recipe to Emperor Peony's chef."

"Do we have any strawberries?" Tear asked. "I'm curious now. I'd like to try making fruit rice balls."

Anise looked horrified. "Tear! You can't be serious!"

"Actually, some people might like a little bit of lemon juice in seafood rice balls," Guy speculated. "Lemon is supposed to work with all kinds of fish. I don't really like lemons, but I wonder..."

Florian's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds yummy! I want to try that!"

"Argh!" Anise growled in frustration, covering her face with her hands.

"'To each his own,'" Jade said austerely.

"What does that mean?" Florian asked. "Does it mean we should each make our own rice balls?"

"No, it means that different people like different things," said Guy. "Making our own rice balls sounds like a great idea, though. How about this: Anise, you make the rice, and then everyone can put whatever they want into their rice balls."

Tear nodded. "That would work."

"I like that notion," Natalia said with a smile.

"Yeah!" Florian agreed eagerly.

"Hmmm...I suppose I can go along with that plan," Jade assented.

"Yeah...I guess it'll be okay," Anise acquiesced, somewhat reluctantly.

Guy was relieved to see the group come to a consensus. "All right, then we'll each make our own rice balls," he concluded. "Hey Florian, if you make strawberry-banana ones, can I have a small sample?"

"Sure, if I can sample your seafood rice balls with lemon," Florian replied.

"I'd like a sample of strawberry-banana rice balls, too," Tear requested.

"What do I get in trade?" Florian asked.

"Oh, of course," said Tear. "But I always make plain rice balls..."

"Could you help me make chicken rice balls with a little lemon juice, Tear?" Natalia asked. "Guy's idea might work with chicken, but I'm afraid I'd create a disaster."

"That does sound like something worth trying," Tear replied. "We can work together, then."

"Well, if we all intend to try new variations, perhaps I can make curry rice balls," said Jade. "Although I cannot guarantee edible results."

Anise rolled her eyes. "Don't blame me if you all get food poisoning..."

Half an hour later, after making rice balls and trading samples all around, everyone agreed that Guy's seafood rice balls benefited from a little lemon juice but adding lemon juice to chicken rice balls was questionable at best. Anise received some teasing for making plain rice balls, in protest of all the experiments, instead of her usual beef ones. There was a bit of debate over how to improve Jade's curry rice balls, mostly revolving around what to put in them. Florian's strawberry-banana rice balls, however, were the most controversial: Guy, Tear, Natalia, and of course Florian thought they were delicious, Anise thought they were an abomination, and Jade declined to give an opinion.

"Fruit rice balls actually could be dessert for a state dinner," Guy remarked as they packed up, "if the chef made them into fancy shapes and included some really exotic fruit."

"I think I really will recommend them to Father, when I get home," Natalia agreed.

"This is insane," Anise grumbled.

Jade smirked at Anise. "Perhaps Queen Natalia's most famous achievement will be making fruit rice balls fashionable with the Kimlascan nobility."

"Or possibly across all of Auldrant," Tear expanded on this theme.

"Wow, really?" Florian asked. "Then, will I be famous for inventing them?"

"Infamous, maybe," muttered Anise.

"I think I would prefer to be remembered for something more than fruit rice balls," Natalia said, sounding wistful.

"Like opening hospitals and helping people find jobs?" Florian asked.

Natalia smiled at Florian. "Why, yes... How did you know that?"

"It was in Luke's diary," Florian replied. "Did all the citizens of Baticul really try to protect you, when you had to run away?"

Natalia, blushing, stammered, "N-Not all of them, surely."

Guy smiled, remembering how the people of Baticul had rushed to the aid of their beloved princess. Or rather...his own words from Inista Marsh came back to him. The people of Baticul don't love the princess. They love Natalia.

Was Anise right that he and Natalia were falling in love? Guy's smile faded as he pondered what Emperor Peony had told him in Grand Chokmah: There are rumors about the two of you. What sort of rumors were circulating?

Damn it, we've only been exchanging letters! We're just friends! Guy thought angrily. She's still hurting from losing Asch, she's still technically engaged to Luke, and meanwhile I have a phobia that I still haven't conquered! How the hell can people think we're—?!

"Guy?" Natalia's voice brought him out of his ruminations. "Are you listening?"

"What?" Guy asked, startled. "Sorry, what did I miss?"

"We were discussing who should carry the item bag," Natalia replied. "Tear suggested that we should take turns, instead of treating you like a servant."

"Yes, and I volunteered to take my turn," said Tear. "It was the logical thing to do, after bringing up that topic."

"Oh," said Guy. "Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks, Tear." He held out the knapsack to her, smiling to hide his uneasiness at letting anyone else carry it. As much as he was grateful to Tear for her efforts to break his servile patterns, he was just so damn accustomed to looking after everyone, and that included giving gels and bottles to people who needed them. He hoped that whenever someone else carried the item bag, that person would pay attention to the group's needs in battle. Luke had been surprisingly good at taking care of everyone when using items, even before Akzeriuth. Luke has always been kind, Ion had once said. He just hasn't known how to express it. Guy sighed. Luke, he thought, what the hell is taking you so long?! Come back already!

Tear took the knapsack, and the group started walking again. It felt oddly, unexpectedly uncomfortable for Guy, not having the weight of the item bag on his back. He felt exposed, like a turtle without its shell, and walking along the narrow bridge that curved around the structure through which the group had entered the ruins added to the feeling of vulnerability. He kept his thoughts to himself. At least he was at the front of the formation with Florian again. The presence of his friends, behind him, was reassuring to Guy...but it wasn't quite enough to quell the feeling of being unprotected.

At the end of the long, curving bridge, as the group began to climb a short slope, Florian asked, "How much further is it to the passage ring?"

"We're almost halfway there," Guy replied. "That doorway up ahead is... What the hell?!" he swore as he stopped short, staring at the appalling scene in front of him. He had just enough presence of mind to grab the sleeve of Florian's cloak to prevent the young Summoner from going any further.

In the wide, flat, sandy area in front of the door to the Sephiroth, more than a hundred human shapes made of gray stone stood in rows of ten. At the front of the array was a slender female figure with braids encircling her head like a halo. She held a stone saber in her left hand, poised to strike at an unseen enemy. The rest of the figures were shaped like Kimlascan soldiers, all in attack positions, standing perfectly still as though frozen in time.

"Huh?" said Anise, stopping next to Florian. "Why are there all these statues here?"

"They aren't statues," Natalia said in a choked voice, as she walked past Guy. Her eyes were wide with horror. "How could this happen?!" she exclaimed.

"I would assume they encountered a powerful monster," said Jade. "Or perhaps..."

"You mean those are people?!" Florian gasped. "Who are they?"

"General Cecille and her troops," Guy replied grimly. "And every single one of them has been petrified."