Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

Chapter 12

Lunaday, Gnome-Decan 39, ND2019 – 11:10am local time (Sheridan)

Guy was the first to spot the Albiore rising into the air as he, Jade, and Natalia entered the southern edge of Sheridan. "Look at that!" he yelled, pointing.

Behind him, he heard Jade swear under his breath. "Damn!"

Natalia gasped in panic. "What should we do?!"

"I'll try to flag them down!" Guy shouted, as he tossed his satchel at Jade and began to run.

Knowing that he looked like an utter madman, Guy sprinted through the streets of Sheridan, waving his arms wildly back and forth above his head. If all else fails, he thought, someone at the hangar might be able to communicate with the pilot.

"Heyyyyy!" he called anyway, knowing it was probably useless. "Wait for us!"

Perhaps the pilot of the Albiore saw him after all, because the aircraft stopped rising at only half its usual altitude and turned south. As it passed overhead, Guy spun on his heel and reversed course — and immediately collided with Jade.

Jade smirked and handed Guy his satchel back, remarking, "My, my. I can't say that I approve of making an old man carry your luggage, Guy."

"Oh, shut up," Guy replied, chuckling. "You're a soldier, you're more physically fit than any of us. You're not even breathing hard!"

"No, no, I'm terribly feeble, I assure you."

"Riiiight. Come on, let's go!"

"Indeed...let us...hurry," Natalia agreed. She had caught up with them just as Jade was proclaiming his supposed weakness. She was somewhat out of breath.

Just outside the outskirts of town, the Albiore was landing. By some unspoken agreement, Guy, Jade, and Natalia walked quickly rather than running.

"Here, Natalia, let me carry your suitcase," Guy offered.

"Thank you. I...appreciate it...Guy," Natalia replied, gratefully handing it to him.

"Well, well, you're such a gentleman, Guy," Jade caroled. "Perhaps you could take pity on the elderly and carry my duffel?"

Guy laughed. "Ha ha ha! Not a chance, Jade!"

"Oh dear, how regrettable," Jade said mournfully.

"Colonel...stop...fooling around," Natalia huffed.

"My apologies," Jade replied, not sounding the least bit sorry.

They arrived at the Albiore just as the lower hatch opened and the gangplank extended. To no one's surprise, Anise burst out of the aircraft and dashed toward them. For some reason, she was missing her usual white and purple tabard, but she still had Tokunaga on her shoulders.

"Colonel!" Anise exclaimed, bounding up to Jade and stopping just short of hugging him. Her face was radiant with joy.

"Greetings, Anise," Jade said formally.

Tear emerged from the Albiore, smiling. She was wearing the elegant clothes Emperor Peony had given her, the outfit that made her look like a "cool chick," as Luke had once put it. Whoa! Guy thought. Did Tear quit the Oracle Knights – and did Anise quit, too? No way! What the hell...?

A green-haired boy in familiar green robes ran down the gangplank after Tear. Guy's eyes widened. Florian?! Why is he with them?

"Everyone! You're here!" Florian cheered.

"What are you all doing in Sheridan?" Tear asked.

"We came to borrow the Albiore," Guy and Natalia answered simultaneously.

"Oh," said Tear. "Of course. We were just about to leave for Yulia City. Where were you planning to go?"

"Well..." Guy drawled, "we haven't actually decided yet. But I'm here on His Imperial Majesty's direct orders, and so is Jade. Natalia joined us in Chesedonia."

Tear blinked in surprise. "Chesedonia? Why?"

"We're investigating the cause of the natural disasters occurring all over Auldrant," Natalia announced. "Would you like to join us?"

Before Tear could reply, Florian butted in. "Yes, please! I don't want to go back to Yulia City. If Anise goes with you, I want to go too!"

"Florian!" Anise's voice was laced with frustration. "How many times do I have to tell you, you can't come with me! It's not safe!"

"I don't care!" Florian yelled, startling everyone. The whites of Florian's eyes were pink, as though he had been crying. "I don't care if it's dangerous! I don't care if you don't want me to come! Anise, I want to help you!"

"You can't," Anise pleaded, her voice breaking. "Florian, please understand. I don't want you to get hurt."

"If we're going to travel all over the world, we'll be fighting monsters wherever we go," Tear added in support of Anise.

Guy grinned at the implications of that sentence. Whether consciously or not, Tear had agreed on both her behalf and Anise's to join the investigation. We're going on a new adventure, Guy thought excitedly, and the gang's all here!

...Except for Luke, he corrected himself. And Florian isn't Ion. His grin faded.

"Florian, you don't know how to fight," Tear continued. "I'm sorry to say this, but you'll only be a burden."

"Then teach me how to fight, too!" Florian demanded, clenching his fists.

Yeah, he's definitely not Ion, Guy thought. Ion had been passive, preferring to be a peacemaker, and frail enough that using fonic artes had been a tremendous strain on him. Florian was just as frail, as far as Guy knew...

Realization hit Guy like a charging Uniceros. He's just like Luke, Guy thought in amazement. He's exactly like Luke, who was naïve as hell and obsessed with Van. Florian is obsessed with Anise, and that's the source of his resolve. He smiled slowly. Let's see where this goes...

"Florian, that is not a request to be made lightly," Jade warned. "If you wish to fight alongside us, then as long as you are capable, I won't stop you. However, you must understand what it means to kill living things, even if they are monsters that attack us. And while I hope we will not have to fight any humans, we must be prepared for that possibility. Can you face the prospect of killing another person, without hesitation?"

Since when does Jade understand the meaning of killing anything or anyone? Guy wondered. Has he changed, without any of us noticing? If so, when? Was it because of Luke?

Florian looked stricken. "I... I... um..."

"Florian, no," Anise said in a choked whisper. "You're so innocent. Please, no..."

At the word innocent, Florian flinched. Then he straightened up and said in a tone of finality, "I'll do whatever it takes. I'm tired of other people protecting me. I'm going to learn to protect myself and Anise!"

I'll do whatever it takes. How many times did Luke say those exact same words...?

Anise shook her head. "Florian, I don't need anyone to—"

"Hey," Guy interrupted. "Let's take him with us. He can stay aboard the Albiore while we investigate the dangerous places, at least until he can fight. And there's no harm in bringing him along into the towns we visit." At Anise's sharp look, he added, "It'll be good for him to get out and see the world."

Jade gave Guy a curious glance. "Are you thinking of Luke?"

"...Yeah," Guy admitted.

Tear and Natalia looked at each other uncertainly. "Do you think Guy is right?" Natalia asked. About Florian and Luke? hung in the air, clear to everyone but Florian.

Tear hesitated, then nodded.

Anise took a deep breath. "Okay, Florian," she said sternly. "You can come with us. But don't do anything dangerous until you're able to protect yourself, understand?"

Florian's face lit up like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. "Thank you, Anise! And Guy, and everyone!"

Guy smiled at Florian. In the back of his mind, however, a shadow of doubt remained. I hope I haven't made a major mistake. Is this really the right thing to do?