Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

Chapter 11

Lunaday, Gnome-Decan 39, ND2019 – 10:45am local time (Sheridan)

Noelle's estimate had been right on the mark. Seven days after arriving in Sheridan, the Albiore was ready to fly again. Unfortunately, during those seven days, Florian had been unable to convince Anise to take him with her. By the third day, Tear had forbidden the two of them from arguing about it any further until the Albiore's maintenance was complete. This resulted in Anise and Florian glaring silently at each other for the next four days.

Tear had stayed out of the dispute, ignoring the imploring glances she received intermittently from both parties. Florian was frustrated by Tear's aloofness. Even if he couldn't convince Anise to let him stay by her side, he hoped that Tear would show him some mercy. As much as Tear tried to be a cold, emotionless soldier – even while out of uniform, in her beautiful white, red, and black civilian clothes – Florian knew that the melodist had a soft spot for him.

He wished he had the courage to tell Tear and Anise what he needed to tell Grand Maestro Tritheim: that the volcano's eruption was his fault, and that he was very sorry for all the trouble he had caused.

Now, standing outside the Albiore's hangar, it was time to for a final decision. Florian refused to give up.

"Anise, I mean it. I'm safer with you than I am in Yulia City. Please don't make me go back!"

"Florian..." Anise said warningly.

"I can help you. I know I can! Please, take me with you to Daath!"

"Florian...!"

"Please, Anise!"

"Florian! You'll get in the way! I don't want you to be in danger. Just let us take you back to Yulia City already!"

"Tear, make Anise take me along to Daath!"

Tear put her hand to her face and drew a deep, deep breath. Both Florian and Anise waited anxiously.

"Florian," Tear said, slowly and sternly, as she lowered her hand, "you are going back to Yulia City. We will take you there in the Albiore, and this time we will make sure you don't stow away again. That's my final word on the matter."

"No, Tear, please..." Florian whimpered.

"Let's go, Florian," said Tear.

"Yeah, hurry up," Anise scolded. "You're slowing us down already, just like I said you would."

"Anise, be quiet!" Tear snapped, finally losing her temper. "Both of you, stop it. I don't want to hear another word out of either of you until we get to Yulia City."

"Fine," Florian muttered, holding back a sob. I get it, he thought furiously. You hate me, Anise. I love you, but you hate me for not being Ion. You don't want me around anymore.

"Fine," Anise echoed.

Entering the hangar, they were greeted by Noelle. "So," the pilot asked cheerfully, as if nothing was wrong, "where are we going today?"

"Yulia City," Tear said firmly. "We'll drop Florian off there. Help us watch him to make sure he doesn't sneak back onto the Albiore."

"Right," said Noelle. "And then to Daath?"

Anise gave a sharp nod.

"Okay, then," Noelle acknowledged, beaming. "All aboard!"

Florian began to cry. He didn't want to be a crybaby, but he just couldn't help it. It hurt too much, to be rejected by Anise. It also hurt to find out that Tear didn't like him as much as he'd thought she did.

If only I was Ion. They would have taken Ion along with them. But I'm not Ion. I'm Florian. I've always wanted to be Florian... but I don't anymore. I just want Anise to love me. She loved Ion. Why not me?

Anise glared at him. Tear muttered a short word under her breath that Florian didn't quite catch. The next thing Florian knew, Tear had a strong grip on the back of his collar and the sleeve of Anise's now-tabardless pink dress. She marched the two of them up the Albiore's gangplank after Noelle.

The gangplank retracted, the hatch closed, and the Albiore's engines started to hum. Florian followed Anise up the stairs to the flight deck, with Tear just behind him. At least this time I can look out the window, Florian thought miserably, as he sat down in the padded red seat behind Noelle's. He pressed his face to the canopy on the left side of the cockpit and stared at the barren red-brown land to the north. The Albiore lifted off, and the ground seemed to fall away below them. He took a quick peek at Anise, seated across the aisle from him, who was looking south into town.

Suddenly, Anise pointed. "Tear! Isn't that the Colonel?!"

Tear shaded her eyes with one hand and followed Anise's gaze. "Isn't that Guy and Natalia with him?" she responded, squinting.

Hope flared in Florian's chest. My friends! Maybe there's still a chance...!