Disclaimer: Ancient Ispanian proverb: "If you recognize it, it does not belong to me." In otherwords, I don't own Tales of the Abyss.

ooo LL ooo

Anise trudged towards her bed and fell onto it face-first. After sitting through another long, boring meeting during which she was basically ignored and nothing was accomplished, all the fifteen-year-old Fon Master Guardian really wanted to do was sleep.

Times had changed in Daath. Two years earlier, thanks to Anise and her friends, the world of Auldrant had survived both the threat of the noxious miasma and the attack by the floating city of Eldrant. When that happened, the Score, the ancient prophecy of Yulia Jue which had dictated the world's destruction, had been overturned. Now that people were discovering that they could no longer depend upon the Score for their destinies, things were growing increasingly difficult for the church. The old sermons, fonstones and Score readings were no longer relevant in a world where people determined their own futures.

Some were whispering now that that was why Acting Fon Master Tritheim had died - because he'd been a Maestro, part of the conservative faction that would tolerate no deviation from the Score. His heart must have despaired over the loss of the church as he knew it, and feared the unwritten future. He'd only been an interim replacement, a stand-in; he'd been given the honorary title because both Fon Master Ion and Grand Maestro Mohs were dead, and because the Score could no longer be used to search out the church's new leader. Tritheim's two years as Fon Master had been uneventful, a time of quiet to absorb the shock of living in a world not predestined by Yulia Jue's prophecy. Now that he was gone, however, all hell was breaking loose.

The Order of Lorelei was deep in discussion about selecting a new Fon Master. Anise had been the first to put her name in for consideration. She knew that if the church refused to change now, one of two things would happen: either it would simply become obsolete and disappear, or worse, it would have to use its military might to maintain dominance over the people, surely leading to war. Anise knew that if she was made Fon Master, she would have the authority to pull the church out of its stagnant traditions and into the future - a future in which the church would help people instead of trying to control them. However, there was a big snag in her plan, one she hadn't counted on - Florian. It was because of him that her face was now buried into her pillow, stifling a groan.

Pushing herself upright, she reached under her mattress and withdrew her journal, unlocking it with a tiny key she kept on a chain around her neck.

Dear Diary, she began to write,

The Order is driving me crazy. I can't believe they're talking about making Florian the new Fon Master! Most of the Oracle Knights are all for it. They say he's as close as we can get to replacing Master Ion. I told them that just because he's his replica doesn't mean he can ever replace Ion, but the others don't see it that way. They didn't know Master Ion the way I did. Besides, even if Florian's fonons matched the original Ion's exactly, there's still a big problem - Ion was always sick, and except for Sync, his replicas were too, and they've all died. I'm afraid that if they did make Florian Fon Master, he wouldn't last long. I brought that up too, but of course no one ever listens to me… idiots. Florian is all I have left of Master Ion. Mama and Papa and I have taken him into our family, so I want to protect him just like I would them. I only hope I can.

Anise put down her pen and turned to see Florian standing in the doorway of her room. The last living replica of Fon Master Ion stared at her with a placid smile all too reminiscent of the original. She could almost forget sometimes, when she saw him in those pale green robes and that headband with its furry tufts hanging by his ears, that he wasn't the Master Ion she had cared so much for - almost. "Did I disturb you, Anise?"

She closed and locked her diary, tucking the key beneath her white Oracle Knight's vestment. "No, of course not."

The green-haired boy beamed. He held out a letter then, bearing the royal crest of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. "From Natalia," he explained, "I think you'll want to read this."

"Thanks." She took the letter and opened it, then let out a squeal. "It's a royal wedding invitation! Guy and Natalia are getting married! How romantic!" A puckish grin lit up her features. "I wonder if any single nobles will be there…"

"I thought you'd given up on marrying someone rich," Florian commented, frowning.

Anise made a face. Master Ion never would have broached that subject, let alone scold her for it as Florian was doing. Little things like that distinguished him from the Ion Anise and her friends had known. Replicas might have some common qualities, she knew, but they could end up entirely different from their originals - just look at Sync, or Luke for that matter. "That was when I thought I was going to be Fon Master," she shrugged now, feigning indifference. "But I'm pretty sure they'll never pick me as long as you're around, so what's the harm in keeping my other options open?"

Florian's shoulders sagged. "You know I can't be Fon Master. I'm weak, Anise. The few Daathic fonic artes I've tried all made me collapse, and I can't run or fight like you. I wish I could." He looked away wistfully.

"Don't be so gloomy!" Anise chided. "Master Ion couldn't run or fight either. Every little thing wore him out, but no one wanted him to stop being Fon Master because of that."

"You loved Master Ion," Florian murmured then, glancing back at her, "didn't you?"

The words stuck like pinpricks in her chest. Ion's last words echoed in her mind: You don't have to watch over me anymore, Anise… thank you for everything, my most cherished… "I was supposed to protect him, and I couldn't. That's all there is to it," she declared, averting her gaze. "Master Ion is gone forever. It doesn't matter now."

"If you say so." Florian's expression was dubious, but he said nothing more on the subject. "Have fun at the wedding, Anise. Who knows? Maybe you'll find a handsome prince to marry you," he added dully.

"Aren't you going?" she asked, so surprised that she ignored his gibe.

"No, I don't think I'll try. I just feel so tired. I…" The green-haired youth's knees suddenly gave way and he dropped to the floor like a limp doll.

"Florian!" Anise screamed. "Somebody help me!"

ooo LL ooo

Colonel Jade Curtiss pushed his glasses up with two fingers and stifled a yawn. He unlocked the door of his apartment in Grand Chokmah, already unlatching the hidden hooks that held together his stiff collar.

Since defeating the rogue God-Generals and parting from his motley band of young companions, there had been little excitement in Jade's life. His once-illustrious fame as the feared Necromancer had dulled into an everyday existence. Resuming his fomicry research had consumed a good deal of his time, and his military career took up the rest. Neither occupation displeased him necessarily, but not having to use his fonic artes and physical combat skills on a regular basis made him feel as though he were going soft.

Of course, that hadn't been the only change he'd noticed over the last year or so. Without his young friends around him to lighten his mood, the ever-present smile they had come to know him for had slowly shifted back into the expressionless mask of Dr. Jade Balfour. It wore away at him, this dreary sameness, with no new stimulation in his life. He was almost beginning to feel… dare he admit it to himself?… Old.

My, my. What a depressing thought. Still, he mused with some consolation, I'll be seeing my favorite youngsters soon. That should make me feel a little less like an antique.

Jade removed his gold-trimmed belt and gloves, folded them and put them on the shelf. He shrugged away the fitted blue coat of his uniform and hung it neatly in the closet, then stripped off the stiff-collared navy shirt beneath and did the same. It was a well-established routine, one he had down to an art after all these years. That had once been a comfort - something simple that never changed. Now, it was merely irritating. The Colonel sighed heavily and paused mid-uniform.

Honestly, why do I feel so sluggish and unfocused lately? It's unlike me. I know I haven't been sleeping well, but… He sank into the hall chair with his head in his hands, his fingers weaving into his long, sandy hair. Like the proverbial elephant in the room, the answer was right there at the edge of his mind, patiently waiting to be acknowledged - Jade, you're lonely - but he refused to see it. Perhaps I just need a good night's rest to put me back to rights, he convinced himself.

An insistent knock on the door, however, put a hitch in that plan.

"Coming," he called, reluctantly heading to the door.

It was a messenger boy, bowing his head respectfully. "Urgent message from Daath for you, Colonel."

"Thank you. You may go." He took the letter and opened it, recognizing the handwriting as Anise's large, looping script. Despite his lassitude, the sight of it made him smile.

Of all that had happened along the way to defeating Van Grants, befriending Anise Tatlin was the last thing Jade had expected. He still wasn't sure how the playful little Oracle Knight had managed to get under his skin. From the beginning, despite his distrust of people in general, he had liked her. As a military man, he'd felt a healthy respect for the child's sheer power and boldness - not just anyone could survive a free-fall from the Tartarus, or face a river valley full of monsters by themselves and get through without a scratch. As a traveling companion, her stubborn sweetness couldn't help but be charming. But in time, as he came to see the girl hiding behind the smile, his feelings had deepened into a warm, familial sort of affection. An awkward sort of bond, he'd once called it, refusing to use the term 'friendship.' He sometimes wondered if the peculiar sort of closeness they shared even had a name.

Over the last two years, they had corresponded often. He pretended to be annoyed if Peony was closeby when the notes were delivered, but Jade was always happy to receive them. Letters from Anise were, like the girl herself, full of spunk, and always made for interesting reading. This one, however, seemed to have taken a different tone.

Dearest Colonel Jade, he read,

I know you're busy with your fomicry research, and I hate to be a bother, but I really wish you could come to Daath. It's Florian. He's sick, and every day he's getting weaker. The healers don't know what else to try. I'm scared. I don't want to lose him the way I lost Master Ion. I know if anyone can help, it's you. Please, will you come?

Hopefully yours, Anise.

Pensively, Jade re-folded the letter. It looked like he wasn't going to be able to sleep just now after all. He only hoped Noelle wouldn't mind too much if he woke her for a late-night mission on the Albiore.

ooo LL ooo

They arrived at Daath just as dawn was spilling in rose-colored streams over the horizon. Eight shining arches loomed over the city streets, converging on a single point - the topmost spire of the cathedral. Jade might have considered the place beautiful, had he not been all too aware of the politics that lay just beneath the surface of the church.

"We're here," Noelle announced softly. She touched the Albiore down on the platform and shut off the engines. "Are you awake, Colonel?"

"Yes, thank you." Jade smiled at her consideration. He'd slept briefly during their flight from Grand Chokmah, and it had been thoughtful of Noelle not to disturb him.

The two descended from the airship and were met by a kindly-looking couple in dedicants' robes, as well as two armored Oracle Knight guards. Jade nodded in recognition. "Hello, Oliver, Pamela. Thank you for coming to meet us."

"We should be the ones thanking you for coming here," Anise's mother said sweetly. "You must have had a long journey, traveling all night. Let us show you both inside, so you can rest."

"Go ahead, Noelle," Jade nodded, "I slept sufficiently during the flight, and I'd like to look in on Florian now."

"I will take you to him. Follow me." Oliver gave Jade a welcoming smile and led him into the cathedral, while Pamela led the drowsy pilot behind them towards the guest quarters. "Anise will be so glad you've come, Colonel. She's taking this really hard. I think it must remind her of Master Ion, and it's bringing up those bad memories to see Florian suffer as he did."

Jade gave an understanding nod. "What exactly happened?"

"Florian was in Anise's room three days ago, just talking with her, when he suddenly collapsed. The Order is very worried. They were hoping he might become Fon Master."

"Fon Master?" Jade echoed. He knew how much Anise had wanted to be Fon Master herself, and why.

"Yes," Anise's father affirmed. "The Seventh Fonists are worried. Their healing artes have had no effect on him. The doctors have given him medicine, too, but nothing has worked."

"Hmm." Jade pensively stroked his chin. "That is upsetting. Still, I will do what I can."

"We're just grateful you've come, even to try." Oliver paused outside a door and pushed it open a crack. "He's in here, resting."

Jade left Anise's father to enter the sickroom. Behind the door, he found a somber scene. Florian was lying on a bed, sweaty and pale. Anise was slumped over in a chair beside him, having fallen asleep during the night. Her arms were wrapped around her stuffed puppet Tokunaga like a pillow. They had obviously been left alone. The healers must have given up hope for him, Jade realized. He moved towards them and laid a gloved hand on Anise's bare shoulder to wake her. "Anise?"

The girl's eyelids fluttered open and saw a familiar face with crimson eyes and glasses staring down at her. "Colonel? Oh, Colonel, you're here, you're really here!" Like a pink and black blur, she flew at him, clinging to his waist like a barnacle. "I was so afraid you wouldn't make it in time!"

Jade allowed the embrace to linger for a moment, finding it oddly comforting himself. "I came as soon as I could."

Anise let him go and motioned to Florian. The boy's body lay inert. His breathing was labored. "He's not looking good."

"Neither are you," Jade pointed out, brushing her thick, wavy bangs away from her forehead. Her large brown eyes were filmed over and had dark circles beneath. "You haven't been taking care of yourself."

"I'm fine," she said dismissively, "it's Florian I'm worried about. Is there anything we can do?"

"I will confer with your healers and see what's been attempted, so I don't waste time duplicating their efforts," Jade replied, indicating that he was ready to get to work. "Go and get some rest. Don't worry. I'll wake you if there's any change."

"But how can I sleep, knowing that any minute he might…" Anise's eyes filled with tears.

"Do you trust me?" Jade asked austerely.

"Y-yes."

"Then do as I ask. Go." His harshness eased somewhat as he added, "I'll do everything I can, Anise. I promise."

The Fon Master Guardian nodded, her pigtails bouncing with renewed hope. "I know you will. Thank you." Without warning, she gave him a second squeeze about the middle, then looked up at him with shining eyes. "Colonel, I - I'm really glad you're here."

He offered her a reassuring smile and asked her to send for the Seventh Fonist healers while he took readings on Florian's vital signs and fonon levels. Anise agreed and closed the door behind her, sighing deeply.

This is all my fault, she thought dismally, if I hadn't been so mean to Florian - if I hadn't acted so bitter over them wanting him as Fon Master instead of me - he might not have collapsed. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Oh, Colonel, I hope you can make it right. I'm afraid of what will happen if you can't…

ooo LL ooo

Florian's eyes blinked open. Hearing movement in the room, the boy turned his head slowly and glanced to the right. Beside the window, through which he could see the sun setting, the Colonel was deactivating a blinking, pocket-sized fonic device. As the light blue glow around it diminished, he tucked it into the jacket of his uniform.

"Colonel?" Florian whispered.

"Ah, you're awake." Jade gave him the faintest trace of a smile. "I think I'm just about finished here. Sorry if I disturbed your sleep."

"I'm dying, aren't I?" Florian asked, effectively halting Jade's move to the door. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better. I already know." With visible effort, the boy pushed back his sheets to reveal that one of his hands was now fading and transparent, a dull yellow glow emanating around his fingers. Jade could see the sheet straight through them. "This isn't the first time it's happened."

"Florian -" Jade began, although he wasn't sure what he was going to say. The doctor in Belkend had told Luke the bad news; he had no experience delivering it himself. In this case, however, there was no original like Asch to bind with the replica to make one strong survivor. The real Master Ion had long since died, as had his other replicas. The bitter truth was, Florian probably wouldn't survive the night.

"It's okay," the boy told him. "I'm not afraid. Wherever Master Ion is, I'll be joining him, and all the others like me. Anise loved Master Ion, so I can't think of anything that would make me happier than to be part of him."

Something tugged hard inside Jade's chest at those words. He couldn't imagine what that might be, but it was painful. "Sleep now," he murmured, not knowing what other advice to give. "I'll go and find Anise. She'll want to come and see you, now that I've finished. Rest well, Florian."

"Thank you, Colonel," Florian replied, already closing his eyes.

Jade left Florian's room in dejection, closing the door softly behind him. The Colonel pushed his glasses back to the bridge of his nose and cursed.

It's just as I feared. The fonons in his cells are already beginning to dissipate. I suppose I knew this was a possibility. The original Master Ion was feeble-bodied and ill, so none of his replicas ever stood much of a chance. It seems that only Sync managed to escape the weakness that at some point claimed the other replicas' lives. If only I knew how they managed to stabilize Sync, and give him the strength and energy that none of the others possessed - but that information is no longer obtainable, so making suppositions based on it is pointless. Admit it, Jade. You're out of options.

It was a horrible blow to both his pride and his feelings to lose Florian as they had lost Ion, but there was nothing more he could do. More than he dreaded Florian's fate, however, he dreaded how Anise might take it.

He hated this for her. To be barely fifteen, she'd already had more than her share of sadness in life. Anise hadn't been allowed the privilege of a normal childhood. She'd been practically a slave to Grand Maestro Mohs, a servant to pay off her family's debt in whatever devious ways his imagination could devise - and he had certainly devised something vile. He had placed Anise under orders to spy on their companions so that the God-Generals would know where and when to attack. The time in in her life that could potentially have been the happiest - the time she hadn't had to chase her parents wearily around the streets of Daath and defend them from angry lenders they couldn't repay, the time when she'd had real friends who genuinely learned to care for her - Mohs had turned that into a lie by having her report every detail to him. Even worse, he had compelled her to betray the very Fon Master she'd sworn to protect - gentle, selfless Master Ion - by holding her parents hostage. Mohs had made Ion read the Seventh Fonstone, knowing full well that the young Fon Master was already weak and that the strain would kill him. Anise had to watch as Ion's body disintegrated, knowing she was to blame, even as he spoke his last words - words of gratitude and affection for her. Then, not even given time to grieve over her friend's death, Arietta the Wild had challenged her to a duel in which Anise was forced to kill her, increasing her guilt and shame. Losing Florian now would be like losing Master Ion again in a way, and he wasn't sure she could bear it.

He knocked on her door, but there was no answer. "Anise?" He peered inside, but the girl wasn't there. Fortunately, her mother happened to be passing. "Pamela, I need to talk to Anise. Do you know where she might have gone?"

"Probably where she always goes when she's upset," her mother suggested, "the Order of Lorelei's library."

"Library?" Jade arched his eyebrows. He'd never known of Anise to be much of a reader. She didn't seem like the type who could sit still long enough. "Are you sure? I didn't know Anise was fond of books."

"Before she went off to protect Master Ion with you and your friends, she wasn't," Pamela revealed. "I'd never really paid much mind to it before now. But anytime she gets quiet and goes missing lately, that's where we find her."

"Thank you." The Colonel set off down the hall. Anise is suddenly interested in books, and only since our journey? Odd… I'm sure there must be something she's looking for, otherwise… wait. All the journals and research of the former Fon Masters are there. Anise could be looking for… damn! Why didn't I realize it sooner? He increased his pace to a run, hoping he could get there before she did something foolish.

When he arrived at the vast chamber full of tomes, he called her name, overflowing with relief when she answered him. The relief was short-lived, however, when he remembered what he must say.

The pigtailed Oracle Knight was sitting at a carol with books strewn all over, her little legs crossed lotus-style in the chair as she read from one. Jade narrowed his red eyes to get a better focus at what was written on the front. Stories and Legends of Old Auldrant. Hmm. Innocuous enough, he judged quickly, just a book of fairytales and fantasies. Maybe escapism was her only goal in frequenting the library. Maybe his fears hadn't been justified after all. He relaxed and let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Anise peered up at him, brown eyes wide with expectation. "You said you'd tell me when there was news. I waited and waited."

Jade nodded, closing his eyes and hanging his head as if that would protect him from the anger of her stare when he told her the truth. "Anise… I think you should go and see Florian. The sooner, the better." It was the gentlest way he knew to say it.

"Oh," she breathed, "then, you mean… I understand." When a long moment of silence followed instead of the crying he'd anticipated, Jade dared to open his eyes. Anise was silent, but visibly shaken.

"I'm sorry," he felt compelled to add, knowing it was no comfort.

"I know you did all you could, Colonel. Thank you." She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face behind them. "Could… could I just be alone for a little while?"

"Of course." The Colonel sympathetically turned and walked away. I suppose there's nothing left to do but rest, and wait for the inevitable, he thought sadly, heading for the guest chambers to get some long-overdue sleep.

Anise waited until his footsteps had faded, then raised her head and looked around. She stood and pulled out the green-bound journal that she'd been hiding behind her back under the puppet Tokunaga. "Forgive me, Colonel," she whispered, clutching the book to her chest and running in the opposite direction.

ooo LL ooo

A/N: Marbles-chan, my fabulous beta, has pointed out that Jade's age during the series is 35, so two years later he would be 37. I had given him the wrong age in this chapter, so to correct the mistake, I've taken out the age out altogether. I also found a couple of other minor errors, which are now corrected. Thanks Marbles!