A/N: This starts during the finale of Act 3 in Rinascita. Thus, this story contain light spoilers for the Rinascita Acts 1-3.

I tried to keep to only using "their" and "them" for Rover so that you can insert either male or female Rover into it. Pretend Abby is too sleepy to play a part in this story.

Rated M just to be safe.

Enjoy.

Chapter 1: Floating in the Air

…

"I love you!"

And it was as though the Carnevale went silent.

Ba-dump.

Phrolova turned to face Rover. The earnest, determined expression on their face drove the nail even deeper.

The – the Arbiter just confessed to me!

Daylight fireworks rocketed towards the sky, exploding in their messy brilliance behind Phrolova. The speech she had prepared fell from her agape lips.

Rover continued, "I want to spend all my days with you! Please say 'I love you' back!"

Despite the circumstances, Phrolova maintained her signature, even tone of voice. "This… What story line is this? You know who I am, correct?"

"A month ago, I saw you in the distance in Huanglong with Scar. I have loved you since that day."

This… They know who I am, and they really…

Phrolova had gotten much more than they bargained for luring Rover up here. Her heart thumped. Phrolova covered her gauze-wrapped eye with her hand and pressed on it; it slowly drained the electricity from her chest, and her thoughts coalesced again.

Think clearly. Across their centuries of existence, this person has fought against all you stood for. This is clearly a trap.

And yet within the eyes of the tyrannical immortal, there were quivering pupils: the Arbiter was sincere. Against all reason, Rover meant what they said.

Considering that, the next question was obvious. Phrolova asked, "Will you join the Fractsidus?"

Rover said, "I felt Scar wasn't telling me what the Fractsidus really was. I want you to tell me everything. Only then will I make a decision."

It wasn't a yes. Even if Rover believed every word Phrolova said about the Fractsidus, they could still in the end oppose their mission. If Phrolova lied about it, then once Rover participated in Fractsidus activities they would discover the truth.

But this was an unprecedented opportunity. If Phrolova converted the Arbiter, the war was won. It would only be a matter of time before the Threnodians were awakened and the next stage of evolution for humans achieved. She would be foolish to pass by this opportunity.

"I have one condition," Rover said, breaking Phrolova's train of thought. "I want no harm to come to my friends, so you must abandon your plot against Rinascita."

It smarted for all of Phrolova's preparations to go to waste, but this was acceptable. "It is done. However… we must not be followed. Give me your terminal. I will store it in a pocket dimension, so nobody can find you. I will handle our transportation and navigation, so you will not be needing it."

With no hesitation, Rover plopped the terminal they've been using for who knows how many centuries into the hands of the enemy. Rover had woken up with that terminal; who knows what secrets it contained.

Phrolova couldn't help but imagine the Arbiter of the past tearing their hair out looking at their future self.

It was tempting to have Cetus the Tidebreaker appear despite Phrolova having given her word to Rover. Once they were both gone, Ragunna would fall to chaos, and the plot to awaken the Threnodian would progress with the cooperation of the Order.

However, something drove Phrolova to keep her word. There was something about the earnestness by which Rover completely surrendered to Phrolova… and the uncharted waters Rover created for Phrolova with just a few words.

"You love me…" Phrolova muttered under her breath. We'll see.

Phrolova spawned a Lycoris from her hand. Raising her opposite hand, she listened to the symphony of waves inaudible to everybody else, then directed the waves with her Lycoris to tear open the space in front of her. Phrolova directed Rover to step into the portal, and she followed them.

With that, Rover disappeared from the face of Solaris-3. Carlotta, waiting for her performance partner, felt betrayed. Without his Fractsidus collaborator, Fenrico lost his advantage. Ragunna fell into a frustrating stalemate between the Montellis on one side and the Order backed by the Fisalias on the other. Nevertheless, the conflict in Ragunna was rid of foreign influence. The dice were now allowed to fall where they may.

For some time, the Black Shores and Carlotta searched for Rover, but they gave up, putting their hopes in the idea that Rover knew what they were doing. Surely they wouldn't have let themselves fall into enemy hands so easily… surely.