Welcome to the new story, and probably the most controversial of all I'll ever write. It's here that we'll see how much you guys actually like my writing. Anyway, before I end up giving something away I'd better start writing. This story takes place sometime not too long after "The Awakening." So enjoy "Lies."

Disclaimer: I really wish that I owned Tales of Symphonia, but sadly it belongs to Namco. I do own Storm and I wish that I could somehow get her into the game. Oh, and let's see. Kararu Rinamino owns Sutra while Raspedra Twilight owns the artwork of these two characters since she draws them both I guess.


Chapter 1: Strange

It had been almost a year since the group managed to defeat Spiritua and Anna was still no where to be found. Storm and the others had been desperately searching for her wherever they went.

They were still helping with some of the rebuilding processes around the world, but things were actually coming back together quite nicely. Many of the larger cities were already rebuilt including Palmacosta, Meltokio, Luin, and Sybak. Some of the other smaller cities were still working towards being rebuilt, but it wouldn't take as long to bring them back to how they were before the attacks. Storm and Zelos were moved back into Meltokio in their new house, but were rarely there as they either helped with the rebuilding or went to look for an very absent Anna.

Storm was feeling as if things were hopeless when it came to finding her daughter, but she kept looking for her nonetheless. She was so afraid that if she stopped looking for her she would miss a chance to finding her. She wouldn't give up until she found her and brought her back home.

It had been a long day and Storm was exhausted she just wanted to sit and relax after helping rebuild some houses and move in people into their new houses. It was hard work, but it was rewarding and she felt like she was making up for what she had done while Mithos had her.

Storm walked out onto the back porch of their house and breathed in the cool night air. She could hear the singing of the crickets as nature began to prepare for the long night. Suddenly, she saw someone near the grove of trees in their backyard that had been planted since the rebuilding. Storm squinted to try and make out the figure, but was unable to.

"Hey Storm come over here," said the figure as they took a few steps away from the trees. Storm was able to immediately tell that it was Zelos calling out to her. She wondered how he had managed to get past her, but she figured that he had just gotten in before her and had been waiting for her to come outside. She wondered what he wanted to talk to her about.

Storm walked into the grove of trees where Zelos was hiding as he stood facing her. She cocked her head at him, waiting for him to ask whatever he was going to say. After a few awkward moments of silence she finally decided to remind him that she was waiting for him to say something.

"Uh...Zelos, you wanted to ask me something, right?" she asked him, giggling a little at his forgetfulness.

"Oh yeah, sorry," he apologized before looking at her. "You know, I was thinking about Anna," he told her. Storm's eyes got wide at the name for a second before they eventually faced the ground in a sadly.

"Yeah, what about her?" she asked him quietly.

"I was wondering if we would ever find her. I don't think she wants to be found and I think she's been doing a pretty good job of hiding from us," Zelos told her as he placed a hand on his hip. Storm noticed this and couldn't help but hold back a giggle. It had been a long time since she saw that stance from him. After he quit acting like a playboy he had stopped doing that, and she thought it was funny. She figured that he was making himself nervous with this topic.

"I don't want to stop looking for her and you know it," Storm told him with a sense of finality in her voice, but it was apparent to her that Zelos was planning on pushing the subject anyways.

"I know, but think about it. She has a Cruxis Crystal and we know that she knows how to fight now. Do we really have to worry about her? I think that even if we found her now we would never be able to get her back," Zelos pointed out to her.

"I guess you're right...but I can't still help but worry about her. I mean what if stop looking and we lose our chance of finding her. I want to see her again Zelos," Storm told him.

"Where did Anna get the Cruxis Crystal?" Zelos suddenly asked. This question threw Storm a little off guard and she wondered why he suddenly asked.

"What?" she asked him as she stared at him questioningly.

"How was she able to find the Cruxis Crystal? Where did you and Kratos hide them?" he asked her this time with a little more authority in his voice.

"Well...I suppose since she is my child the angels would allow her to take one of them. They know where it is exactly. They will only take people who are related to me since I defeated Pronyma," Storm explained.

"I see...and who all would be able to get one?" he asked her. Storm was getting a little uncomfortable with his strange questions, but decided to answer them anyway.

"Well...me, Anna, Kratos, Lloyd, and I suppose you could now that they can tell that your blood is in Anna's," she explained to him.

"I understand," Zelos told her as he began to walk back towards the house. Storm turned around to watch him leave.

"Where are you going?" she asked him, wondering more why he had ended the conversation so suddenly rather than where he was actually going.

"I'm going back in, I'm tired. I suppose we can continue to look for Anna tomorrow if it's what you really want," he told her without turning to look at her before continuing back to the house.

Storm stood in the grove for a few minutes, trying to go over what had happened. She was a still confused by Zelos' questions and the sudden end of their conversation. She had to admit that it was all strange behavior. Of course, they had been working non stop since they began rebuilding. She had to admit that she was getting run down as well. She couldn't exactly blame him for his behavior, his exhaustion was probably beginning to catch up with him.

She headed back to the house and went to bed for the night. She would let him sleep in for a little longer than normal in the morning so she went to bed earlier so she could wake up earlier to get some of the chores done for him.


The next morning, Storm woke up to see that Zelos was already awake and out of bed. She wondered where he was and got up to go and check for herself. She went downstairs and saw a piece of paper sitting on an end table. She walked over to it and saw that it was a note from Zelos. She read it over carefully.

Dear Storm,

I went out to town to go shopping. I have something I wanted to give to you today, but I am not telling you what just yet. It's a surprise. Come outside of Meltokio at noon at your favorite spot and I will give you your surprise.

Until then,

Zelos

Storm placed the note in her pocket and thought over the place that he was talking about.

It was then that it hit her. There was a small grove of trees outside of Meltokio near a cliff that overlooked the ocean and the bridge. This place was below the cliff and she loved the view of the cliff overlooking all the scenes. This was her favorite place in all of the new world. She had to admit that she was excited about whatever he was planning to give her. She got herself ready quickly and got all of her morning chores down before heading to the place.


Well, that's the end of this chapter. I know, I said that I was going to finish Forbidden Love first but I really wanted to get this one started. I only have one chapter on the other one so before long this will be the only one. Anyway, hope you liked the intro. Thanks for reading and please remember to review.