A/N Revision: So, the first posted version of The Late Chapter has been revised to include part of what should've been Chapter 25. But Anise and Natalia are too catty and I'm not... So instead of trying to improvise more cattiness, I bled 24 into 25! Thanks to that, the posted Chapter 25 is what should've been Chapter 26 and wasn't anywhere near ready for posting. Hence, the Even Later Chapter took longer than the "couple of weeks" that I promised! But you're getting used to that, right? ;) Chapter 26, however, won't take that long to post.

Chapter 24 - The Late Chapter

Raine ran, shoving her way past everyone and towards the front gates of Baticul. Please, please, please don't let her be too late! A guard stood at Baticul's front gate and she hurried towards him.

"Please, you have to tell me," Raine panted as she spoke. "Did the Duke's son leave here? With a Malkuth soldier?"

"A Malkuth soldier?" The guard shook his head. "No, I haven't seen anyone like that."

Crap! Where did they go? Or was this a bad thing? Did that mean they hadn't left yet? "Thank you." She turned back for the town center and spun around in her search. People walked everywhere but none of them were familiar to her. Maybe they stopped somewhere to stock up on supplies? She bolted back towards the elevator, scanning everyone as she ran. Please, someone look familiar!

Then she skidded to a halt.

A small group walked a path away from the city center and down some alley towards another aircar. She thought she saw a flash of Malkuth blue and a red head. Was that them?! She raced for them, hollering.

"Guy!" Raine waved her arms as she ran, hoping to catch their attention. "Guy!" They began boarding the aircar, one after another. Oh, please, hear me! She burst from the crowd, sprinting up the walk, for the first time in her life cursing the burden of carrying her bag with all of its treasures in it. The aircar started up.

"GUY!" A face appeared in the window and after one breathless moment, Guy stepped off the aircar. Thank goodness!

His face lit up at the sight of her. "Raine! What are you doing? You're going to miss the ship."

"Never mind that." Raine hurried to join him aboard, along with Jade, Tear, Luke, and—she was surprised to see—Anise. But no Ion?

"Never mind?" Jade asked as Guy started the aircar along its cable. "I thought that was the only way to find Genis."

She shook her head. "I just found out—" and a fresh wave of tears overtook her. He's not there…. "It doesn't matter. Thank you for waiting for me."

Guy frowned. "It's the Oracle Knights, isn't it? They aren't going to let you through?"

"I didn't try."

"What happened?" Luke asked.

"I ran into Van," she said. "He told me about your plan to send a dummy ship when I pressed him about where you went. I figured you'd go by land, but…."

"We almost did," Guy said. "But Anise said that Sync is out that way. We can't afford to let the God-Generals see us. Otherwise, the dummy ship is useless."

Well that made sense. Raine nodded. "I'm afraid—" She stopped. No, she couldn't say that. "Please take me with you."

"Really?" Guy couldn't hide his excitement. "Because of Mohs?"

"Regardless," Jade said, "we have no choice but take you now along now." He waved his hand at the aircar and sighed. "And here I hoped we could keep our group small."

"I'm a little afraid of what he's thinking."

"I wonder about that," Jade said. "But now is not the time to look into it."

"What do you mean?" Raine asked.

"Right now, our concern is getting out of Baticul." Your concern is, Raine thought. Mine is just to survive. She knew it already, she was in danger no matter where she was.

Anise continued for him, "We also have to find Ion." Ah, so he was missing.

"I'm already associated with all of you. I can't take the risk that the Oracle Knights will target me. I'd rather go with you all where I know I can be protected."

Jade frowned. "Indeed. In your position, I'd wish to have fortified protection as well."

Raine paled even after he turned and stepped off of the stopped aircar. That's right. Jade already knew she was foreign... With the rush of release over, she needed to figure out how to get to Tethe'alla. She doubted the flying machines in Sheridan could travel to any other worlds, so they'd have to help her rebuild the Rheaird. That Rheaird was the only way home. If they couldn't get it to work... well, she wouldn't even think about that.

Encounter in the Rain

Before we found the abandoned factory, Raine caught up to us. I thought she was taking a ship to Belkend? But she told us to never mind that. She wanted to come with us because she found out about the Oracle knights, too. What about her brother? She's so weird.

And then when we got to the abandoned factory, Natalia was waiting for us. She says that as a princess she can hardly overlook Akzeriuth's plight. But Akzeriuth is part of Malkuth! Why should she care? That sense of justice, that always wanting to help people-it's really annoying. But Natalia overheard me and Van talking, and she threatened to tell everybody about it, so I gave in and let her come. Then Tear and everybody gave me nasty looks... Hey, I'm the ambassador! They should just do what I say!

We headed deeper into the factory ruins. Since it used to be a factory, it ought to have facilities for disposing of waste water, which means we should be able to get out. We'd better get looking.

Apparently, Guy was the one to come up with this brilliant idea of wandering through darkness and oil for a backdoor out of Baticul. More suffocating than the industrial musk, the factory added a petroleum smell that sank through the fabrics on their clothes. Whatever they had processed here when the factory was open, what remained reeked, as Natalia was so quick to point out. Still, as unpleasant as this place was, the atmosphere fitted Raine's mood. The best part was, it was so dark, she easily hid how miserable she felt. Continuing to stay at the back seemed to keep everyone else blind, but for how long? How long could she hide that she didn't belong on this planet?

What hurt more... Genis wasn't here. She wiped her eyes several times, trying to hide her tears even in the darkened factory, mostly just so she could keep control of her emotions. What would she do about him? Was he still safe with Sheena and Lloyd? What's more, he must be so worried about her. She didn't make it to Tethe'alla and he was no doubt scouring that planet looking for her. No, don't think about that.

There were just too many things to worry about. Raine didn't care whether they brought Natalia along or not, even after their first encounter at Duke Fabre's manor. She would've even been curious about the secret Natalia used to blackmail Luke into bringing her, but protecting her own skin kept her mind busy. She bungled so many times already on so many details that no wonder everyone's reactions were so strange.

But it was Jade's confirmation of danger that unsettled her. She was in a world where they valued everyone following a prophecy laid out before them. The king expected people to do as they were told simply because the Score said so. How detailed was it? From what she heard Tear reading, the Score was simultaneously clear and vague. It indicated Luke would head somewhere but she couldn't remember the details of it. Would it extend to smaller details like how many people were members of the party? Did it detail day-to-day behavior? This would be something she needed to understand in order to pass as a native to this planet.

How would Raine get the information she needed to survive, though? Anything related to the world, she needed to stick with Luke to find out. The more he traveled, the more he would learn and the more she would benefit from it.

As to going to Tethe'alla, she needed to fix up the Rheaird. For that, she needed mechanics, and from the sounds of it, Guy would be a great person to ask about that. She nodded. She could safely ask Guy about Class I and Class M. He would be happy to help there, but all she'd get was information. He wouldn't be able to escort her there. Would that matter? Would that be enough? Her stomach clenched at the thought of going anywhere by herself, but if she could get enough information to pass as a native to this planet, she might be okay.

Except Jade already knew that she didn't belong there. Would he be safe to approach about stuff?

She really wasn't sure. He wouldn't hurt her before, but did that protection extend to things beyond the Score? He had his own mission, and it sounded like so long as she didn't interfere with his goals, he wouldn't do anything against her. Was that really true? Or was he just behaving himself for the sake of his mission? Luke had the most power in name, but Jade had the most power period. He hadn't seemed aggressive so far… was it too much to hope for that this truly was his personality? But she couldn't count on that benevolence. If angered, he could turn into someone ruthless.

Either way, the keys to her survival lay in the small group of people ahead of her. She'd better do her best to stay on their good sides. In the case of Luke and Natalia that might be difficult, but the key to keeping them both happy was the same: stay the hell away from Luke.

She could do that.

Mieu's fire lighting up the oil definitely improved the visibility within the factory, but it didn't improve the stench. Burning oil permeated the already acrid air, feeding directly into Raine's shortening fuse.

Between Natalia's ambivalence about acting like a princess and not being treated like one, the bickering among Luke's female suitors, and all of her feelings about being lost in a world in which she didn't even know its name, Raine was about to lose her mind.

"By the way," Guy slowed to her pace and she raised her chin. Great, now Guy was back to being his nosy self.

"Yes?"

"We're headed to Akzeriuth. Are you sure you want to go with us?"

Oh, good. It wasn't his usual prying. Raine nodded. "I'm sure Genis left me some clues on how to find him. But right now it's more important that I not get in trouble with the Oracle Knights."

"Ah, so the Oracle Knights are interfering with your plans that much."

She sniffled, unable to hide it. He tilted is head, a mild expression of curiosity, but it was enough to send Raine's anxiety back into hyper-drive. Now was not the time to ask. Please don't ask. She gripped her staff tighter as she walked. He was going to ask, wasn't he?

"Hey, are you all right? You haven't been well since our meeting with the king."

Oh, no, she wasn't going to even talk about that. "You are your own enigma."

"What?" Genuinely confused, Guy asked, "Why do you say that?"

"A servant named Guy Cecil," she said, "avoiding giving his last name to a woman from the Cecille family." Guy startled and immediately turned away from her.

"Ah, you caught that, huh?"

"She's a Brigadier General and you are a Duke's servant..."

"I appreciate your not asking."

"I have a conjecture."

He sighed. "We promised we wouldn't ask."

"Then don't ask." He didn't press the issue. There had to be some way to explain this obvious anguish. What excuse could she give? Her realization came at a bad time, too soon for knowledge of the Oracle Knights, too late for knowledge of anything else.

"Either way," Guy said, "I'm glad you get to travel with us a little longer."

"Then why don't you go back home?" Luke barked at Natalia.

Immediately, Natalia inflated with anger. "Absolutely not! Are you trying to get rid of me again?"

"Thank you for letting me come along," Raine said in a low voice. Guy nodded.

But then Anise interjected Luke and Natalia's argument. "If you know you're not wanted, why don't you just leave?"

"Of course," Guy told Raine, "I would've been wondering about you."

"What did you just say?" Natalia hissed back to Anise.

"Is that so?" Raine asked Guy as they walked step for step. Yes, there was definitely something safe about walking with this man. If he cared enough to worry about her, he would care enough to protect her, just like he did back at Choral Castle when the ocean nearly killed her. "In that case, I'm glad I can spare you the worry." Not to mention, they did have their pact about not asking. He seemed to abide by it quite well, which helped a lot.

Anise stuck her tongue out at Natalia, the latter of whom unfortunately noticed.

"Do you have something else you want to say?"

"Nope!" Anise cried with a big grin. She grabbed on to Luke's arm.

"H-hey! Let go!"

Raine inhaled a deep breath. Traveling with her kids was a lot easier. Anytime they started up with the fighting, she could smack them around a little and they'd stop. Not being able to slap these guys into behaving left her feeling even more frustrated.

Natalia wasn't finished. "You do realize that Luke is set to marry me, right?"

"What, you?" Anise retaliated. "Luke prefers younger, cuter girls like me."

"How rude!" Natalia nearly leapt at Anise who let go of Luke to hide behind Guy, setting off another round of panic and hollering. Raine felt a flare of anger as Guy scrambled away for safety. So much for that reprieve.

Giving up on Guy, Anise jumped back behind Luke again. "Luke! Natalia's being mean to me!"

"So what?" He snapped back, to which Anise huffed in anger.

"Aren't we getting along splendidly?" Jade asked with a smile.

Seriously?! Was he seriously happy? Sure enough, even with everyone's bickering, Raine caught up to him to see genuine delight written all over his face.

"You're in a good mood," she commented in a low voice.

"Of course! With such pleasant company, what is there to gripe about?"

"Natalia, just leave her alone so she'll get off of me." Luke struggled with tearing Anise from his arm.

Then Raine realized it. "You're happy because of how miserable they are."

"I cannot believe you're taking that child's side!" Natalia hollered at Luke.

Jade shrugged. "No, it simply makes my heart ache to see them so unhappy." He didn't bother to hide his smile, the one on his face nor the one in his voice.

"Child?!" Anise hissed from her safe haven, though Luke kept moving to push her away.

"Child!" Natalia snapped back to her.

"I'll bet it does," Raine replied to Jade with the same sarcasm.

Not that she was any more sympathetic to them than Jade was. They brought their own misery upon themselves. She didn't have to take part in it. Thank goodness, because she already had so much of her own concerns.

"What would Luke need you for? You're already an old maid," Anise continued. "Will you be able to handle your duties as a wife?"

So much simpler. Raine shook her head. Could she return to the group that had a traitorous mercenary and a deadly assassin please?

"How dare you! You are not that much younger than me."

But Tear had had it. "That's enough. Could you all please be quiet?"

"Why are you yelling at me?" Luke asked, upstarting. "What the hell did I do wrong?"

"I said quiet! NOW!" The entire party went quiet, stopping to stare wide-eyed at Tear. Raine hadn't expected that loud of a voice any more than anyone else had. Except Raine noticed a gleeful smile at Jade's lips. Figures. Tear raised her staff. "I think I hear something."

Something crawled along above them. Raine heard it, too. She'd had plenty of experience using photon on powerful enemies, and this one would be sorry to show up now that she could use fonons of light and she had enough physical strength in her to take on the thing by herself. Between finding out she wasn't in Tethe'alla and all of the bickering with Anise, Luke, and Natalia, she needed to let out some pressure.

Especially because it wasn't like she could smack them like she did her students.

"Look out!" Tear bulldozed Natalia out of the way. The thing came down from the ceiling, a giant mass of goo with bent knees sticking out the top of whatever it was, and landed right where Natalia had been. While the sword fighters lunged to the front, Raine stayed at the back gathering fonons.

Now her companions would see how powerful she really was.

Emboldened and infuriated by the injustice of ending up another world instead of Tethe'alla, Raine gathered enough photons to turn midnight into midday and she released it, right on the dead center of the pile of goo.

Hearing the thing scream was satisfying.

She wanted to do that, too. Out of sheer energy, she ran up to it and, using her staff, wailed on the black spindly legs dripping goo. It wasn't long before the team could tell it was a giant spider, but Raine didn't notice. The spider turned to her, opened its mouth to take a bite, and got a mouthful of Raine's staff instead. An arrow pierced the face out of nowhere, and Raine moved to the back of the monster where she could easily beat a leg into crippling submission, only pausing to alternate between physical attacks and photon.

By the time they were done, and the spider lay flat and dead on the factory floor, its legs sprawled and broken while Raine panted, her spent energy winding down. She glanced up to see the others staring at her.

"Whoa, what got into her?" Anise asked. "I didn't know she could use powerful fonic artes like that!" Natalia could only nod in agreement, her mouth hanging open in an unladylike grace of horror.

"Indeed," Jade said behind a smile. "Finally decided to come out and prove yourself?"

This time, Raine could laugh genuinely, if not a bit maniacally. "Did I not tell you I could hold my own?"

"Yes, but..." Tear didn't finish. Guy stepped back and Raine faintly heard him mutter beneath his breath, "women are terrifying."

"What was that thing anyway?" Luke asked.

But Natalia had something else on her mind. She approached Tear and said, "Thank you, Tear, for saving me." Raine calmed and smiled a little. Perhaps there was hope for the princess after all.

We made our way through the factory, defeated a weird monster, and finally found a way out of Baticul. It's pretty high up, so we'll have to take a ladder down. Man, what a pain... And now we'll have to cross the desert.

*Sigh*

I can't believe what I saw...

It was raining when we got out of the abandoned factory. There was a landship I didn't recognize off in the distance, and Sync was taking Ion off somewhere... I ran up to try and save Ion, and then one of the enemies turned to face me.

That was the first time I saw Asch's face.

I felt like puking. I actually did puke later. Asch had the same face as me. It felt like I was looking at myself in a mirror. I still can't believe it... Even for twins we look too alike... What is he, anyway...?

Everyone else was surprised too, but we've got bigger problems. Now the Six God-Generals know that we're traveling over land, and they got away with Ion. I thought about going back to Baticul and taking a ship, but Natalia said the port's closed off and we wouldn't be able to use it. We have to save Ion anyway, so we ended up continuing our overland trek. For the moment, we'll head for the oasis while we keep watch for any sign of that landship. But man... just who is that Asch guy?

A/N: See... this is why I hate making promises. I usually break them. I am SOOO sorry about the delay! But apparently, bacteria saw fit to bring me to my knees and the hospital, so I was unable to post when I planned. Now that things are all better, I'm back! :D By the way, for those who guessed, were you right about who approached Raine? I'm super curious.

The next update, I thought was pretty close to done, but then I changed things, so that one will be a couple of weeks. Be assured that I am absolutly still moving forward on this story. I got a few ideas that I thought would be perfect to insert here. So, anyway. Thank you, as always, for reading! You are such amazing peeps, and I hope your weekend is as amazing as you are!

~~Kat =^-^=