10th Annual Reunion

--Slight spoilers in description--

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It wasn't as though they never saw each other during the year, but the annual reunion served as the one time they were guaranteed to be able to gather and reminisce about the journey where they had all first met. They had changed in the decade since then; no one could deny it was for the better, but still, when standing in this meadow the differences seemed more pronounced.

Anise had changed the most of all of them, of course. She had grown into a beautiful and stately young woman. Her position as the first female Fon Master had elevated her into a higher social circle, and she was well-known as being a heartbreaker among the young noblemen of both Malkuth and Kimlasca. She was a shrewd and intelligent leader for the Reformed Order of Lorelei, but she had still kept her mischievous side which tended to show itself at odd times. Tokunaga went with her everywhere, and she refused the assistance of any Fon Master Guardians.

Luke, or Duke Fabre, as he was now known after his father had turned over the position two years ago, had become a respected reformist and champion of replica rights. Along with Natalia, he worked to improve the lives of Kimlasca's citizens, helping to set up education centers for the remaining replicas and to promote awareness among the rest of the people. Tear continued to watch him, while effortlessly balancing her roles of duchess, leader of the Oracle Knights, and mother. The couple were expecting their second child in a few months. Their first child was turning five; fortunately, little Asch took more after his mother than his father.

Natalia was still the princess, though there was talk of her father abdicating soon. She spent her time helping to create social programs for the people of Kimlasca and working to maintain peaceful relations with the rest of the world. She maintained close ties with Guy, who now divided his time between Baticul and Grand Chokmah. Somehow, he still ended up having to walk the Emperor's rappigs. Guy and Luke had both grown beards in the intermittent years; they claimed they made them look more distinguished, though Anise maintained they were compensating for something and Natalia secretly wondered if they were attempting to gain power like Van's.

As for the rest of the group, Mieu had officially returned to live in Cheagle Woods, though he was often seen around the Fabre Manor and had been adopted as little Asch's personal kickball. In fact, the only person who hadn't seemed to change at all was Jade, who showed up to the reunion in what was probably the exact same uniform he had worn throughout their journey to save the world. He didn't talk much about what he'd been up to-and really, the others didn't particularly want to know-but his presence was enough.

The reunion was always a bittersweet occasion. Just being able to gather in this place, without the threat of war or complete annihilation of the world, had a powerful effect on them all. This was the beginning, the ending, and the continuation of their story. Here, they could see just how far they'd come, and how far they still had left to go to maintain the peace they'd fought for. However, they took comfort in the most important thing they'd learned a decade ago-that as long as they had each other, they could accomplish anything. No matter how many years passed, or however much they changed, their friendship would see them through.
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Of course, this is only one of many possible futures. :)

D: This was supposed to just be an experiment in drawing a grown-up Anise... and then it exploded into this... thing.


Tales of the Abyss (c) Namco