Hello, once again.
Not so long ago, a great idea struck me. I was reading over this story, and I went "Hm. This is so full of errors and junk…I should really revise this." So, over the course of a week or so, I did just that. I'll be reposting one chapter the new, edited T.W.O.S. every Monday and Thursday until I've got the great, new version in your hands again. (So to speak) Much of the story will remain as it was; the majority of changes are either grammatical in nature or small things that help the flow of the story overall.
New readers, I hope you enjoy my story for the first time. Please, show your appreciation (or lack thereof, I love constructive criticism) with a review. To those who have experienced T.W.O.S. before, I encourage you to review all over again; things might be a bit different this time around.
Also to old readers of my stories, I will cover my progress on Darkness and Light in the ending Author's Notes.
Well, I do hope you enjoy the revised edition of Two Worlds, One Soul.
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Two Worlds, One Soul
(Version 2.0)
Chapter I - Beginnings
Symphonia, near Iselia
Lloyd was bored. It was an average day at his house, meaning there was absolutely nothing to do but get his butt kicked by Kratos in sword practice, something he had no intention of doing.
He finished sharpening his already razor-edged blades and began to apply a polishing cloth to the already gleaming steel. He looked across the yard for something, anything to take his mind off the monotony.
Colette was throwing a dull chakram for Noishe, and Genis was absorbed in a new spellbook, muttering the ancient words under his breath as Raine looked on. Zelos had gone into town, undoubtedly in search of new 'hunnies'.
Sheena, disgusted with the behavior of the ex-Chosen, had gone deep into the woods to meditate. Regal was inside the house somewhere, doing god knows what. Dirk was hammering away at something or other in his forge, and Kratos was nowhere to be seen.
That was never a good sign.
A small breeze rippled across Lloyd's face. He knew where Kratos was.
Immediately throwing the cloth aside, he grasped the hilts of his swords and leapt up.
"Rising Falcon!" he cried, leaping into the air. He spun around rapidly in midair before rushing toward the angel lunging through the air toward the spot he had just vacated. He struck his father with the flats of his blades, finally taking the elder (ancient, as some might say) swordsman off guard.
"Good work, Lloyd." said Kratos.
"You gave yourself away, Dad. The 'wind under your wings', I think the saying goes."
Kratos barely hid his reaction to being called 'Dad'. Normally, that was reserved for Dirk. "I was testing you."
"Yeah, sure. All that matters was that I got you." Lloyd grinned broadly at his father as he sheathed his blades.
Kratos' small smile disappeared instantly. "No it is not all that matters. I could have counterattacked, and you lowered your guard as soon as you hit the ground. You still have a ways to go. Why don't you practice some more?"
Lloyd sighed. It seemed that every time he made any progress, Kratos only had reprimands for him.
"I'll work on it, Kratos. I promise." Lloyd's eyes were downcast, though, and Kratos felt a small stab of guilt.
"Good. I'm going out for a walk." With that, he opened his wings and flew off.
Lloyd harrumphed. "Huh. Some walk." He went back to his polishing.
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Kratos flew high above Iselia, letting the cool breeze wash over his body as he thought.
I probably shouldn't be so harsh on him… he mused. I only want to help him…I don't know what else to do. He masters the techniques easily, but he's so reckless sometimes. It drives me insane. Doesn't he realize that that carelessness could get him killed? I couldn't take it if I lost him too. I'm such a hopeless father…
He stared down beneath him and saw a speck of red sitting by the stream next to Dirk's house.
Lloyd…
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Lloyd stared moodily into the stream from his precarious perch on a mossy rock. He cocked his arm back, and flung a stone into the burbling waters
Kratos…Dad. Why are you never satisfied? What am I doing wrong? I just want to become a better swordsman. I suppose I'm just so much your inferior, having lived four thousand years less than you…(sigh) I…I'm sorry, Kratos…I know I don't always listen, I know you're just trying to help me to stay safe, to stay alive… Oh Martel, I'm such a hopeless son…
Looking skyward, he spotted a glint of sapphire and violet against the wispy clouds.
Dad…
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Later that evening, Lloyd was sitting on some rocks in his backyard with Kratos, Raine and Genis, waiting for dinner. Colette had volunteered to help Regal make it, and the smell wafting out of the house was making their mouths water. Raine had offered to help, but Genis wouldn't let her, older sister or not. Wisely done, his companions agreed.
Lloyd reached a hand out and grasped apparently at thin air, and made a motion like drawing a sword. Like the magic it was, the Eternal Sword appeared in his grasp. Raine nearly fell over in shock. Genis actually did.
"What th-" Genis stuttered, "where did that come from?"
"Indeed. One would think that you would refrain from calling upon that unless the situation was quite dire," said Kratos, his raised eyebrows the only thing giving away his surprise at the sudden reappearance of the worlds-saving artifact.
Raine was ecstatic. "Amazing! Now I can actually get a chance to study that, it's the most wondrous artifact I've ever seen, it holds so much power…" The Professor's eyes began to attain a slightly manic glow as her curiosity took hold.
Lloyd and Genis automatically tuned her out as she began to ramble on about the legends and powers of the Eternal Sword. Lloyd sighed. She had gone into Archeological Mania Mode; there was no stopping her now.
"To tell the truth, Kratos, I don't really know. I was just thinking about it, and all of a sudden, it just appeared!" Lloyd offered a sheepish grin, and Kratos' eyebrow traveled further up his forehead.
"Maybe it's responding to your will! You are the Master of the Pact, after all." suggested Genis, as Raine finally began to finish up her rant.
"That's cool. Maybe it can liven things up around here. It's so boring now that we don't have to go out and save a world or two!" he closed his eyes and assumed a look of concentration.
"Hey Lloyd, don't think too hard, you'll hurt yourself!" Said Genis, cracking up as he said it.
"Why you little-" shouted Lloyd, "I'm gonna kill you for that!" he raised the sword in mock fury and brought it down in a wickedly fast overhead slash that stopped a foot from the young half-elf's head. Genis fell off the log again.
"Lloyd, I would be very careful with that," said Kratos warningly, "We don't know the extent of its powers, or how to control them. You never know-"
There was a great flash of light, a loud crack, reality seemed to warp around them, and Symphonia faded away. It was replaced by something very different.
"-When something might happen…" he said, just before unconsciousness claimed them all.
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Earth, The USA, New York
Aaron was sitting in his living room, having just defeated Mithos for the umpteenth time, when he heard a loud crack outside his house accompanied by a bright flash of white light.
"—When something might happen…" a voice that sounded oddly familiar said from his backyard.
Aaron rushed to his window…and ran back to his TV. Several times. There was no question.
Either these people were the greatest look-alikes in the history of mankind, or four of the characters from the greatest RPG ever made were lying facedown on his deck.
He whipped out his cell phone. There was a very important phone call he needed to make.
Author's notes
Well, I hope my edits were appreciated. I, personally, think the opening flows a bit better now. Hopefully, you will to. I encourage all readers, old and new, to leave even a small review: because reviews are like drugs, once you've had some, you can't get enough.
On the matter of my lack of anything for D&L, I'm trying. I really am. But alas, I've been crushed under the terrible burden of WB on that story and my spring of inspiration now resembles the Sahara. I'm reluctant to force myself to write, because it turns out an inferior product which I refuse to provide you with. So, as of now, the fourth re-write of Ch. I – Second Genesis, has the potential to be long in coming. But seeing as it's been nearly a year already, I would assume you already knew.