Note: The characters of BK do not belong to me and are the property of Namco.

Chapter 1: A parting of the ways.

Darkness fell softly over the fresh and restored earth. A group of six sat on the beaches of Anuenue and watched the sunset in quiet companionship. The sounds of the music that had never seemed to end since the beginning of the festival of the celestial tree were all but drown from the dull roar of the newly returned ocean. "It really is beautiful, isn''t it?" said Xelha smiling serenely, her head resting softly on Kalas' chest.

"Yeah, it really is." said Kalas, "I didn't think that a sunset could be any more magnificent, but watching it's reflection on the water like this, it's almost magical."

"Indeed." said Lyude, his kind eyes gentle as he smiled sadly. "The mark of the end of an era, and with the rising of the coming day a new beginning for all peoples." Lyude sighed and bowed his head wearily.

"Hey, lighten up Lyude, I know that look by now." said Gibari elbowing the young man playfully and knocking the wind from his lungs. Lyude gasped and clutched his side. "Whoops, sorry, got a little too enthusiastic there. But honestly kid, you're always so serious." said Gibari, "There'll be plenty of time to worry about the future tomorrow." He said with a grin, "For now just enjoy the victory. You've earned it, Lyude."

"I suppose . . ."

"The Great Mizuti agrees with Gibari, it be a long time perhaps before we be together like this again. We all be setting out on brand new adventures but not this night."

"I know." said Lyude. "I'm sorry."

From their left they heard a low grumble and turned to see Savyna looking with distaste at a charred piece of chicken she had been trying to cook. "Ah, this isn't going to be an easy adjustment." she said when she saw them looking her way. A chorus of laughter followed and Savyna smiled slyly."I suppose all of you can do better? What about you, Lyude?"

Lyude grinned, "You picked the wrong soldier to pick on." He said rising to his feet and straightening his vest. "Step aside and allow a master to show you how to use a cooking fire." a short time later they were all enjoying some exceptional shish kebabs.

"Man, oh man, where did an Imperial soldier learn to cook like that?" asked Gibari rubbing his muscled stomach in delight. "I stick around you much longer with that kind of cookin'' this six pack's goin'' to turn into a keg."

Lyude laughed and the rest joined in. Lyude's smile was warm with mirth as he replied, "Almarde taught me, she's . . ." he stopped, his smile faded. There was an awkward silence. After a moment Lyude's smile returned, though it was sadder than before. "She was an excellent cook." He looked out over the sea "I wonder what our countries are like now. It would be fascinating to travel them again and see what changes returning to the earth has made." he said, a small spark returning to his eye as his innate interest in foreign lands began to rebuild inside him.

"Precisely what the great Mizuti says." said Mizuti, "And there will be other islands to explore too. You wish to be joining the Great Mizuti in her travels?"

Lyude smiled. "Someday perhaps. There are things that must be done in my country and I have been gone for far too long."

"Lyude will be suiting himself." said Mizuti.

"Well, I don't know about you guys but I''m ready for some shuteye." said Gibari. "All that good food's got me miserable as a stuck pow."

"If you didn't swallow your food like a fish, perhaps you could handle it better came a voice to their right."

"Reblys." said Gibari in surprise and rising to meet his friendly opponent, "What're you doin' here? Why aren't you in Diadem?" asked Gibari.

"I came to see if the man of the sky survived to become a man of the sea. You seem to be in one piece, I guess I'll have to but up with you a while longer yet." said Reblys.

"Give me a break you old Marlin." said Gibari.

"No, you give me a break." retorted Reblys. Both men began to laugh loudly. Lyude stood with a fixed grin on his face as the rest followed suit. "Just back away slowly," said Lyude through his teeth. "Perhaps it isn't contagious." the rest of the group smirked and they slowly walked away shaking their heads. Both men were hoarse from trying to outdo each other and Reblys was gasping for air. "Hey, where'd everybody go?" said Gibari when he noticed them gone a few minutes later. "They probably wanted to save you the humiliation of watching you lose to me." retorted Reblys.

"You old oyster, clam up will ya?" said Gibari grinning.

"No you clam up." said Reblys.

From the exit of Anuenue's port the group heard Gibari's roaring laugh explode into the night sky. "Those two be hopeless." said Mizuti.

"Yes, but at least they never truly tire of each other." said Lyude laughing.

"Speaking of tired, let's head up to the castle and get some sleep." said Kalas, "I'm bushed."

"There you guys are, I was wondering where you'd run off to." said Gibari panting as he caught up to them. "Let's get out of here."

When they arrived at the castle Lyude stopped in the main hall and turned to them.

"I wanted to ask you all something while we're still together." he said.

"Sure, Lyude. Let's go in here." said Xelha pointing to one of the guest rooms. They all nodded and stepped into the quiet of the guest chamber. "What is it?" she asked frowning slightly.
"Well, the question is really directed more toward Gibari and Savyna." said Lyude.

"A question for us?" said Gibari, "Sure Lyude, go ahead and shoot."

"I apologize for asking this, but I want to be sure that I'm not going mad." said Lyude frowning.

"Oooookkkkkaaaay" said Gibari looking at Lyude with a raised brow.
"Well, when we were saying our farewells to Kalas' guardian spirit, did any of you . . . hear a response from her?"

"You heard her?" said Kalas looking at Lyude in surprise.

"Yes. For the first time. She told me that she had always believed in me and that I must never sell myself short. Even though it was the first time I'd actually heard her voice I felt that she had spoken with me several times before, just not as she did with you, Xelha and Mizuti. I now realize it was she who helped the true Almarde reach me in the Phantom Goldoba. She gave me a precious gift in allowing me to truly say goodbye. She helped me remember what I was fighting for and those precious words of wisdom that helped me realize that I couldn't give up."

"I heard her too." said Gibari, "But I was afraid that I'd hit my head too hard or something. She told me she'd see me around sometime, and that if I caught Kalas getting into any more trouble to give him one of my trademark squeezes and talk some sense into him."

"That sounds like something she'd say, said Kalas smiling. "It seems that she talked to you all individually, something for each of you before she left."

"It seems so." said Savyna with a small smile. "She told me I was a brave soul to be considering taking up cooking. She mentioned something about browning hamburger being a real pain." they all laughed. "Well, at least now I know that I'm not just hearing things." said Lyude with a smile. They said good night then and the men went across to the second bedroom.

Kalas woke a few hours later and saw Lyude standing silhouetted in the pale moonlight of the window. His hands clasped behind his back.

"Can't sleep?" he said softly as he approached the window.

Lyude turned, slightly surprised he had been able to hear Kalas over Gibari's snoring. When Kalas looked to him expectantly he shook his head. "Those lost souls on the Phantom Goldoba . . . I know that most of them were probably shadows that creature created to draw forth my grief and regret, but I just wonder if . . ."

"What is it Lyude?" asked Kalas.

"Skeed and Vallye. I saw them there too, were they truly killed as well? Or was that some cruel trick? A play on my thoughts and doubts." said Lyude.

"I don't know." said Kalas, "I guess you'll find out when you return to Alfard. Lyude nodded and returned his gaze to the landscape. "I know that things will be different in Alfard now with the emperor gone. It almost seems that the entire city of Mintaka had been hypnotized just as I was before I was sent to Diadem. Come to think of it, after he was gone so many outlooks changed almost immediately. I wonder if my brother and sister's would have as well . . ."

"I think that they would be proud of you now, even if they were acting solely on their own. If anyone has something to be ashamed of, it's them."" said Kalas, "Come on, let's get some sleep."

"Yes, of course." said Lyude closing his eyes wearily. He removed his armored boots and slipped under the sheets. With a soft sigh he closed his eyes and weariness overtook his troubled thoughts, leaving them at rest until the morning. Kalas got a drink of water and then returned to his own bed.

Lyude opened his eyes slowly to the pale dawn. He felt absolutely exhausted, though he doubted that it was merely from lack of rest. He looked around and saw Kalas still fast asleep. No surprises there. He had no need to look over at Gibari, his snoring was evidence enough to him that he was the first to rise. Quietly he pulled on his boots and left them to sleep.

He walked out to the castle's great hall and watched the waterfalls within cascading down the green and heathy plants. Anuenue was still the flourishing and beautiful country it had always been, but it too would see hardship and change. He thought again of Alfard, the desolate and dry land that was Azha, and the shining city of Mintaka. For all their technological advantages, few afforded them any use now. The most useful things they still had at their disposal were their airships and they would have to be modified to adjust to the land's new gravitational pull. When those modifications were complete Alfard would be able to return its debt to the other countries that had so kindly aided them, despite their former crimes.

"Lyude. I'm glad your awake." came a voice behind him.

"Good morning, your highness." said Lyude turning toward the voice and inclining his head respectfully.

"And to you." said King Ladekahn. "I wonder if I might have a word with you."

"Of course sire." said Lyude.

"Good, come along then, there is much that we should
discuss." said Ladekahn leading the way toward an empty room.

Ladekahn seated himself and invited Lyude to do the same. He did so silently.

"I know that you are concerned about your country." said Ladekahn, "In the two years since you first arrived in Diadem I have never seen you without a care laden heart. I know you to be a fairminded, and sensible young man, aged well beyond your years.

That is why I have suggested that in the coming months it is you that should handle the dealings between Alfard and the rest of the nations."

""What!" said Lyude standing abruptly, "Me, sire?"

"The vote was unanimous among the leaders of our countries, I'm not sure if you realize this, Lyude, but you have a hero's welcome awaiting you in Alfard. Your steadfast stand for justice at all costs has not escaped notice of the people. You stood up to your own country knowing that you would be disgraced and hated, all for the sake of truth, and for the sake of your country. The decision to stand and fight was perhaps the hardest for you among your companions and took a great amount of courage. Each of them could support their country openly. In order for you to defend your country you were forced to turn from it. I could think of no act that would be more difficult.

What's more, you played a direct part in putting an end to the evil that besieged your land perhaps more strongly even than ours. For it was the very leader of your nation that poisoned your land and brought forth its downfall. All the while you defended a country that hated and despised you. If there is anyone that can unite Alfard and bring it to a golden age, it is you, Lyude. And I can think of no one who deserves it more."

"I'm truly honored by your words sire, but do you really think I could do it?" said Lyude his expression still stricken.

"I just told you as much. I have the utmost faith in you. And so do the rest of the lands' rulers. Xelha was very enthusiastic about the idea. I don't wish to pressure you on the matter, it is your decision whether you will be willing to accept the post. Be prepared however, because I am quite certain that once you reach Alfard you will be offered the position by your own people, it is their right far more than ours to suggest this."

"I don't know about a hero's welcome, your majesty, but I would be more than satisfies with just being able to return without challenge. I intend to return to Alfard and do whatever I can to aid in restoring my homeland. I would do whatever it takes . . ." said Lyude.

"I know that well." said Ladekahn. "Just as I am the white flame of Diadem, you are surely the red flame of Alfard. For you stand for all things a country should stand for, and in that you have never wavered. I wish you luck. Please, keep me informed of your progress, whatever you decide."

"I will, your Majesty." said Lyude, "And thank you."

"You are dismissed, go and be with your friends, many of them will be departing shortly, and I am sure you are anxious to return to Alfard." Lyude nodded and stepped quietly from the room. He couldn't imagine such a reception as Ladekahn had described. The ladies had risen by now and smiled when they saw him approach.

"We thought you boys were going to sleep the morning away, I should have known you'd have been up by now." said Xelha, "Even when we set camp after a long battle you were always one of the first awake."

"Mintaka military training requires one to rise at a certain hour, after so long it just becomes natural." said Savyna.

"Yes. My unit was held on a tight schedule and the repercussions for oversleeping were quite unpleasant." said Lyude. "Believe me, no one ever overslept more than once. I never did, perhaps because the morning I arrived I encountered someone who had." he shuddered at the memory and the girls laughed.

"So Xelha, what are you planning to do now that the ocean has been restored and you are no longer bound the responsibility of the Ice Queen?" asked Lyude.

"Just be a normal girl." said Xelha smiling. "Barnette will be overseeing Wazn for me. I'll still return of course, I cannot simply abandon my people but now I can be myself. Just Xelha."

Lyude smiled, "And of course Kalas will be accompanying you." he said.

Xelha blushed and said, "Well, yes, I suppose so."

"The Great Mizuti will be leaving shortly, not be returning to Duhr, going on next adventure." said Mizuti proudly.

"What about you, Savyna?"" asked Lyude. "Will you be returning to Alfard?"

"No, my home is here now." said Savyna. "I've made my peace with Alfard, but I don't belong there anymore."

"I understand." said Lyude, "It was an honor serving with you Savyna, I apologize for any discourtesy I may have shown you."

"You are the last one that needs to apologize to me." said Savyna. "You were right that I had been a member of Alfard's elite special forces. You had every reason not to trust me. Given the circumstances you would have been a fool to just accept me with open arms."
"That is no excuse. Before we met you here in Anuenue I handed an end Magnus to the enemy." said Lyude.

"You were under hypnosis." said Xelha. "That wasn't you, that was some program they stuck in your head."

"It makes sense now why the Emperor suddenly wanted an Ambassador to Diadem, and why my court-martial was cancelled." said Lyude. "Unwittingly, I was the best man for the job because the emperor knew that I opposed his views and was the most likely one to be able to hold a post in Diadem. He needed someone who could gain the trust of the people, and what better to deceive than an unwitting agent?

It was also the greatest insult he could give me. What little I did say was the most opposition he had ever heard from one of his own officers."" he closed his eyes bitterly, ""I remember what the emperor said when he told me he was sending me to Diadem. ''If you care so much for the riffraff of the nations then you shall join them. Your family has served the empire well for generations but smudges are inevitable even on the most flawless of documents. Instead of giving such a fine house the dishonor of a court-martial, you will be demoted instead and exiled as ambassador to Diadem. Perhaps there you will learn to have more respect for what you have lost.'"

"But he could have never expected you to become a weapon against him." said Xelha.

"We could never have done this without you. After all, we would have never gotten through the imperial fortress without your help. "

"Yes." said Savyna, "It is very important to know one's enemy, I was only taught to fight, you were an imperial officer with connections into things I didn't even know existed."

"Just how soon can someone raise to a high position in Mintaka?" asked Xelha, "You said that the Azha incident happened two years ago, but you're only eighteen, right? That would have made you sixteen when all of this happened, and you were already a high ranking officer."

"I was twelve when the emperor noticed great promise in my training. Few people can handle the weapon I use. It takes exceptional coordination and discipline. So I was placed in an elite unit and trained vigorously. I became a very high ranking officer by the time I was fifteen. Yet, due to my disposition and my belief that people of all nations are equal, there were many that felt my talents were wasted."

"I'd say they weren't wasted at all." said Xelha. "Will you be going directly back to Alfard, Lyude?"

"Yes, as soon as I can find transport." said Lyude. "I hope to leave no later than this afternoon. I owe all of you so many thanks. It's hard to believe that we'll all be going our separate ways again. I will sorely miss you all." he said sadly.

"Hey, it's not as if you've heard the last of us." said Gibari giving Lyude a light punch on the shoulder as he approached. "And don't go holing up in Alfard forever. You'll have to come back to Diadem someday soon. Little Andrea's still waiting for you to walk to the cloud passage with her."

"I'll see what I can do." said Lyude smiling. "It will be awhile before Alfard is a stable nation again. But you can tell Andrea that I haven't forgotten my promise. Scalla always wanted to see what Diadem is like, perhaps someday I can take her down to Diadem. I'm sure she and Andrea would be fast friends."
"Scalla? Isn't that the little girl that wrote about Azha in her diary?" asked Xelha.

"Yes. She's been my neighbor all of her life. She looks upon me as a big brother of sorts, her mother grew up with Almarde and we would often walk down to visit after my lessons were completed for the day. I would look after Scalla while Almarde and Scalla's mother, Brianne, talked."

"Wow, just your luck, get out of school just to walk over to a neighbor and babysit." said Kalas yawning as he emerged from the guest room, his blue hair sticking out at odd angles.

"Kalas, it isn''t noon yet, what are you doing out of bed without being kicked out?"asked Gibari.

"Very funny." said Kalas.

"He was joking?" asked Lyude with such an impressive look of innocent surprise everyone except Kalas couldn't help but laugh.

"Well guys, I hate to say it but it's time for me to hit the road." said Gibari, "Old Reblys and I have to get back to Diadem and scare up some fish to feed our people in our own recovery efforts. If we wait any longer we won't catch a thing."

There was an awkward silence as this announcement sank in. The first of them was leaving and it was hard telling when they would see him again. Lyude broke the silence with a smile. "It has been an honor serving with you Gibari, thank you for everything. And please send my regards with you to Diadem."

"Hey, no problem." said Gibari, "You guys all take care, stop by whenever you're in the mood for some good sea bream." He turned with a careless wave and met Reblys at the door.

"I'll be headed out too." said Savyna. "I have some things I should catch up on back in Opu."

"Well . . . Goodbye." said Xelha sadly. "I'll be sure to come see you soon."

"Good luck on learning to cook." said Kalas, "You'll need it."

"Kalas!" said Xelha looking annoyed. "I'll be seeing you." said Savyna with a small smile and stepped out of the palace.

"The great Mizuti promised Kee she would meet him at the dock. We is to be going on a great adventure together." said Mizuti.

Kalas laughed. "All right, great Mizuti, you go on ahead, we'll hunt you down sometime."

"You be good now Kalas." said Mizuti, "Xelha, you will be keeping him in line, yes?"

"Of course, haven't I always?" said Xelha."

"Farewell, Great Mizuti." said Lyude with a bow and a kind smile. "I wish you the best in your travels."

"Take care Lyude, you have much ahead of you yet, the Great Mizuti be quite sure." With a final nod, Mizuti too left their presence.

"Well, it's just the three of us now." said Xelha.
"I regret to say that I must also depart." said Lyude. "I still have to find transport back to Alfard and most of the ships will be gone before much longer."

"Lyude, Kalas and I could take you back to Alfard on the white dragon." said Xelha, "It would be a lot faster than a ship and I'm sure you're in a hurry to return."

"That would be great." said Lyude. "Thanks Xelha, but you're sure it's not too much trouble?"

"Of course not." said Xelha. "Everyone else is already gone, we can go anytime." Lyude nodded. "Then we should be off, I am anxious to see what progress has been made in the Imperial capital. Though the empire that despised other nations is now gone, I still worry that in its vulnerable position Alfard will fall prey to another unsuitable government."

"The rulers of the other nations will make certain that doesn't happen." said Xelha, placing a hand on Lyude's shoulder. "Come on, lets get you home."

Lyude nodded distractedly and they walked together to the port where the white dragon was roosting.