All the Threads of Fate characters portrayed here are property of Squaresoft, Ltd. Except for those that I originally created. And the [relic]'s mine, ya hear? MINE! Mwahahahahahaha...er, let's get on with it.

CHAPTER III- A Path Not Chosen

“...I apologize deeply for the damage caused on your vehicle by my son.”

“Oh, it is negligible, Lord Sabaku. The gasoline storage was dissipating anyway-”

Mint glanced about the luxurious audience hall while her “royal adviser”, Keizl, dealt with the formalities and such with Esuo’s father. Behind her, Rue and Rod, both introduced as her “bodyguard” and “chauffeur”, planted themselves at her side.

                Lord Sabaku, a tall, heavily built, bearded man sat on a cushioned throne before them, flanked by eager servants and stoic soldiers. On his left side stood Esuo, looking rather bored yet politely doing so, and on the other, a serious young man introduced to them as the commander of the ship, Captain Rashtre.   

“Worry not. I shall have my men repair your transport and refill its gasoline tank. Perhaps Her Highness would wish to rest after that lengthy journey...?” Lord Sabaku turned to the young princess.

“Oh yes, please,” Mint replied dulcetly.

“My head steward, Degas, will direct you to your quarters,” Lord Sabaku informed them. “Afterwards, if you wish, he shall take you on a tour of my ship, Asphodel. Any inquiries or concerns that you may have, you may relay them to him.” A tall man of proper posture and demeanor materialized at the lord’s side.

“Thank you, Lord Sabaku.” Mint bowed down, then turned to follow Degas out of the hall.

“’Royal adviser’?” Keizl whispered to Mint. “I don’t think I applied for that job.”

“Hush!” Mint hissed. “Someone has to do the talking. And it’s not gonna be me. Usually, back home, it’s Maya’s job. But out here in the desert, it’s yours. Okay?”

“’Chauffeur’...” Rod grumbled. “Ha! That will be the day...”

Neither of them noticed that Rue had slipped away from the group... 

************************

“...broke into the dragon stables...stole Ginseihin...left the Asphodel without permission...rode a dragon without proper license...caused the Princess’ transport to crash...”

Esuo winced at every charge bellowed in the bedroom by his father. However, he said nothing, merely kneeling in front of Lord Sabaku and hanging his head down, as if in transgression and chagrin.

“...What am I going to do with you, boy? You have disgraced our family before the Princess. No, not just her. But before the entire crew of Asphodel, before the Desert Guild, and before the whole population of Western Desert. All because of your selfish, reckless acts. For the past fifteen years...you have given me nothing but dishonor. Do you think that makes me happy? Answer me, boy!”

“...No,” was the meek reply.

“Exactly! How do you expect me to let you take over my position, hm? If only your mother were here...at least you wouldn’t be my only son. There would be others far better than you!”

Esuo bit back a harsh reply, and instead, remained silent and glared at the carpet beneath him.

“From now on, you’re grounded! No, wait...you were still grounded before this. You’re an escaped convict. How does twenty-five lashes sound to you?”

No...Esuo pleaded in his mind.

“But not right now. We can’t have your screams reaching all the way to the Princess’ room...Now get up. Be gone, before I change my mind and have you dragged across the sand.”

Esuo hastily got to his feet, bowed down, and left the room, half-slamming the door behind him. He was about to storm towards his own quarters when he realized that someone else was in the hallway.

“Rue...? You were listening...?”

Rue glanced at the ground guiltily, then nodded his head. “I’m sorry. I was just passing by...and I couldn’t help.”

“Weren’t you supposed to be in your room?” Esuo asked, somewhat angry at the snooping boy. “And why are you exploring the ship on your own? Father specifically gave orders to have Degas tour you.”

“I prefer checking out the place myself,” Rue answered, still in a calm and leveled tone. As an afterthought, he added, “After all, I am the Princess’ bodyguard.” A moment of silence passed between them. “Esuo...why do you do this to your father? He’s the only family you have.”

Esuo’s gaze wavered for a moment as his expressive green eyes quivered with unshed tears. Turning away from Rue’s scrutiny, he said in a gentle tone, “I’m sorry if you had heard that. That was embarrassing and uncalled for...I suggest that y-you...” He stopped for a moment, fearful that he might break into sobs. Then his voice returned, this time, more firm and determined. “I suggest that you turn around and walk the other way. Walk, until you get to your rooms.” He whirled around, his countenance now streaked with fury. “Do you understand?! This is none of your business!”

Rue was silent. Then, deciding that retreat was the best option for now, he did as Esuo had suggested, and started to leave.

“Wait...” Esuo added, his voice taking on a more pleading tone. “You won’t tell the Princess, will you?”

Rue just imagined himself rattling on to Mint about how he discovered Esuo’s rebellious life [as if she would care], and he nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all. But instead, he gave Esuo a friendly smile, and said, “Of course not. You have my word on it.”

************************

“It’s strange...” Keizl remarked as he hovered near the window. “Everytime you look out, all you see is sand, instead of water. But the Asphodel moves like a ship, and oftentimes, one is apt to forget the harshness of the desert outside.”

“Mmm...” Mint murmured as she bit off a plump grape from the bunch she held above her head. She was currently sprawled among some downy satin cushions, and was polishing off the bowl of fruits beside her. “If this is what Maya gets on her state visits and international meetings, maybe I should try it out sometime too...”

“Oh my, she’s actually becoming a princess,” Keizl mocked.

“The keyword is ‘maybe’,” Mint replied. “And where the hell is Rue?!”

Earlier, just as they were shown their rooms, they finally had the awareness to realize that Rue had vanished without a trace. At first, they had lingered for a while in their individual rooms, to both rest for a while and wait for Rue. And then, Rod informed them that he was heading to the hangar, where they were making the repairs on the Pulsar. Couldn’t leave his baby in strangers’ hands, he said. And several minutes ago, Keizl had dropped by in the Princess’ room for companionship.

“I deem it unfair that you would have such a stately room when you didn’t come as a Princess,” Keizl commented as he regarded the luxurious interior. “And we had to get such ordinary rooms.”

“Hey, they gave it to me,” Mint responded. “No use complaining about it. ‘Pardon me, Lord Sabaku’,” she said in a mock Princess voice. “’The room you gave me was too extravagant for my taste. Perhaps you could give me something a bit...shabbier.’”

“For a second there, you actually sounded like a Princess,” Keizl chuckled.

“Hn, back home, Maya lectures me on how to speak and act in public,” Mint scoffed. “I’m starting to get the hang of it, but I do that only when needed. No stiff and formal Mint curtseying at visitors all the time.”

“I see...” Keizl said. “Only when needed...”

The double doors of the room flew open, and in stepped a wanted escapee.

“Rue!” Keizl and Mint exclaimed at the same time.

“...Where’s my room?” Rue inquired calmly.

“Second on the right,” Keizl answered. “And where have you been?”

Rue strode out of the room, with Keizl at his heels. “Exploring...” he answered.

“Exploring?! Couldn’t you have waited for the tour?” Keizl demanded as Rue arrived at the door of his room. “You’re supposed to be the Princess’ bodyguard, for heaven’s sake!” He followed the warrior into his quarters.

“I am?” Rue asked sarcastically [wow, he grew a personality], setting his Arc Edge against the wall. “Since when?”

“Guys...” Mint called their attention.

Both of them turned and saw a somewhat anxious Mint standing in the hallway.

“I hope you’re ready for the tour...” she said, looking uneasy. “Because this is our tour guide...”

A familiar figure with white pompadour hair and who was garbed in a spiffy butler suit, stepped into view.

“...Meet Karwyn,” Mint continued. “A.k.a. Psycho Master.” 

************************

“What are you doing here?” Rue asked the shut-eyed man.

They were now assembled at the Princess’ room, which was appropriate for such because there was a mini living room in the center.

“You see, after Ruecian’s death, all three of us have decided to start our lives anew. I have come here to work as Esuo’s butler, while Narcius joined the Dragon League, because of his adept skill in trapping. Kirielle traveled north, and last I heard, she was engaged to this nobleman. We have all discarded our powers, except for Narcius, who frequently uses them on the field of work. We no longer wish to oppose you.”

All was silent for a while as the trio absorbed this new information.

“That’s a good thing,” Mint remarked a few moments later. “Because if you came here to fight, you’d be knocked out on the floor in a minute, cos all I have to do is hit your back.” She grinned.

“We all had our regrets in the past,” Karwyn said ruefully. Then he brightened up and asked, “So, now that I’ve told you my story, tell me what your merry little party is doing here.”

“We’re here to search for a [relic],” Mint declared.

“Not again,” Karwyn sighed. “What more could you ask? Rue has already regained his lost love. Mint has been restored to the line of royalty. What more is there?”

“World domination!” Mint whooped, making the others groan.

“We are here for the pursuit of science,” Keizl stated.

“And adventure,” Mint put in enthusiastically.

“But we are unsure about what to do with the [relic],” the spectacled youth continued. “Perhaps we could use its power for the benefit of mankind. Maybe dispose of all the diseases, or end hunger, or something charitable.”

“Or rule the world!” Mint intercepted.

“Don’t worry about her,” Keizl told Karwyn. “As soon as we get the [relic], we’ll tie her up and throw her into a dungeon.”

“Not funny,” Mint pouted.

Karwyn laughed in amusement. “Well it seems to me that you’re pursuing the [relic] simply for the fun of it,” he said. Then his face grew serious. “But a word of caution: some things are better left undiscovered. Who knows what evil you might unleash?”

The room was silent at this foreboding declaration.

“And oh yes, let us tour the ship,” Karwyn stood up and made his way to the door. “Shall we?” 

************************

That night, Rue lay in bed, brooding about the events of the day and the possible occasions of tomorrow. He was also thinking about Claire back home, and how she would fare with the new housemate, Ruenis. But most of all, he was pondering on the mystery of Esuo. To the former doll of Valen, rebellion was an enigmatic thing indeed, just one of the many that compose human behavior. The only time he had rebelled was against his own master, but only because he believed that it was right. But Esuo...the boy was the criminal here, and his father only wanted the best for him. So why was he doing this? Why was he intent on laying more suffering upon himself?

Rue sighed and shifted on his bed. How discombobulating humans are...They would always be an endless puzzle for the doll who was trying to be like them. When will he ever understand?

Footsteps outside the door alerted Rue out of his thoughts. A quick glance at the bedside clock told him it was one in the morning. He smiled as he recalled the day Elena had taught him how to tell the time.

Out of curiosity, boredom and apparent insomnia, Rue stood up, retrieved his Arc Edge, and silently exited the room. He crept down the hallway, in the direction of the footsteps, and soon arrived at the end of the corridor, where a door labeled “Deck” stood.

Rue silently pushed the door open, and found himself at the mercy of the mildly fierce breeze that swept through the desert at night. After checking to make sure his hat was secure on his head, he stepped forward and closed the door, then scanned the area, the moonlight illuminating his vision. A desolate figure leaned against the railing at the bow of the ship, and Rue started walking in that direction.

As he approached the person, he realized that it was none other than Esuo himself.

“Do you find it strange watching the waves of sand rolling around just as the waters do in the ocean of your land?” Esuo spoke up without even turning around.

“It takes a little getting used to,” Rue replied, leaning on the railing beside the other youth.

“I’ve spent all of my life here. For me, the sand is the water.”

They stood there in silence for a while, until Esuo said in a soft voice, “I would know what to do with the [relic]...”

Rue drew back in surprise. “You...you were listening?”

Esuo smirked at him. “I do a better job of stealth, thank you.” Then he turned back to the scene before him. “I...I was thinking about it for a while...and...I think I’d want to make rivers of water flow into the Western Desert, and have lush plants growing everywhere.”

“You mean...”

“Yes, I mean that here in the Western Desert, there’s barely enough water to sate us. Most of the plants here are cacti, and though, there may be a few oases here and there, only a few people discover them, and they cannot share their discovery to others. What you see on this ship is mostly imported from other lands. My father is a merchant; he can get whatever he wants. As the head of the Desert Guild, he has the supreme authority of the desert. But he also has the responsibility of caring for the people...which is a duty he has neglected ever since Mother died...”

“I see...” Rue remarked.

Esuo turned to the youth beside him. “Most of the people of the desert reside in Ephresia City, because an underground spring is located under it, and it has the most abundant source of water so far. But time is running short. The spring is slowly drying up. Where would the people go now? There’d be no other place to turn to...”

“Don’t they want to move to other lands?” Rue asked.

“They have no choice. The desert is their home. Leaving would be only the last resort. Even though most of them have enough wealth to evacuate, they choose not to. They pray that they would find another underground body of water.” Then he turned to Rue and shrugged. “I can’t quite explain it. It’s just in the desert blood. If you were born here, you’d understand.”

Esuo stretched his arms over his head and yawned. “I’m getting sleepy now. See you in the morning, Rue.” He smiled, then turned to leave.

“Wait,” Rue started to say. “I have one last question...Why do you yearn to disappoint your father? Why do you insist on going against his wishes?”

Esuo stopped in his tracks, and a ghost of a smile lingered on his lips. “Rue...what if someone laid down your path in life and forced you to walk it, would you? Even if your destiny was something you wouldn’t want?”

Rue contemplated for a while. “I know the feeling,” he told Esuo, recalling his supposed fate as Valen’s doll and resurrector. “...You don’t want to take his place, do you?”

AUTHOR'S NOTES: "Sabaku" is Japanese for "desert". Asphodel, the name of the ship [aka desert cruiser like the Yggdrasil of Xenogears] comes from a Mediterranean flower. And the name will have some sort of significance later on in the story. I know this chapter is boring, and is focused on the development of everyone's characters [except for Rod, I guess]. But the search for the relic [and the action] starts in the next chapter. So just hang on. ^^

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