I don't own any of the characters or locations in this story all Characters and original story are property of Namco.

That being said this is my first serious attempt at writing in a long, long while so bear with me if it gets a wee bit boring.

This story takes place after the end of the game and does have some spoilers so you've been warned, that being said enjoy.

Ok did some editing to Chapter 1 and did a lot of retooling to Chapter 2 hopefully it's better now Chapter 3 comming soon


Prelude

The last of the quakes subsided as the roots of the giant tree settled and mana began to flow again. To most of the people of the world the change was imperceptible, but the beings like dormant deep below the grounds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla, woke suddenly at the flow. Their leaders serpentine head craned upwards towards the great roots over head. "The time of sleep has ended my brothers", It rasped it's deep set eyes glowing a deep red, "soon we shall rise to the lands above and take back the great tree that the elves took from us eons ago!"

A great hissing cheer went up as the ancient ones began their revival. It would be a long process but they would have their revenge. The seal placed on the first tree finally broken and with new life they began their work of shaping their new home and plans were formed to find their way to the surface.

As the work began the leader of the ancients sat back into his throne of dirt. Soon he would have power again, soon the elves would pay and soon the meteor of life giving mana would be his to control. He let out a chuckle, which sounded more like rock grating on rock, when a few small gems fell from a crevice created by the roots. The gems had a small inner glow and glowed with the power of mana, as the great ancient drew near them, they flared with a faint pulse of resistance before quieting. He lifted on of them in he scaled palm, he could feel the life and the power held within, and grinned. Yes it would be soon indeed.

Chapter 1: Revelations

Lloyd sighed as he leaned up against a tree just outside of Isealia, it had been a long day of negotiations with the peoples of both Sylvarant and Tethe'alla and he was never good at handling things like that anyway. Sheena and Zelos had been dealing with the mayors of all the major cites and even Colette was helping with the arrangements. "She sure has grown up a lot since this whole mess began," he lamented to himself closing his eyes and just enjoying the breeze.

When he opened his eyes again he noticed wisps of blonde hair. "Uh oh," he muttered as he quickly sat up.

"Lloyd, what are you doing out here your supposed to be at the meetings," the young chosen exclaimed as he blushed deeply, "Zelos keeps whining that without you around Sheena's gonna get violent." She looked him over with her soft blue eyes and started to blush a bit when he met her eyes. "Uh besides you're the one who stopped Mithos, you should help everyone figure out what to do, and…"

She was cut short as a sudden yell went up from the village, Sheena's patience for the flirtatious Zelos had reached it's end and she was probably exacting revenge on him at the moment. Colette sighed, "Well it looks like the meetings done for now anyway, um…could I…uh join you then? If it's alright?" she stuttered nervously as her face turned beat red.

"Sure" was Lloyd's reply, as usual he was still completely oblivious to what was going on.

As she settled down next too him she started playing with a small twig on the ground next too Lloyd. "We've been together a long time right Lloyd?" she asked still burning with embarrassment.

"Of course, I've been your friend for years," he said casually looking back up at the leaves.

"I-I guess I just wanna thank you for always being there for me, you've been my friend so long I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here beside me. I-I…" she trailed of looking down at the ground.

"What are you talking about? You don't need to thank me for being your friend. Is something bothering you Colette?" he asked a concerned look in his brown eyes.

Colette glanced up and met his gaze blushing an even deeper shade of red. "No nothings bothering me it's just…it-it's just that…" she trailed of again tears welling up in her eyes as the events of the past few months caught up to her. "Oh Lloyd!" she cried as she buried herself into his chest crying hard for the first time in months.

"It's ok," he said comfortingly as he slowly stroked her hair. "It's all over now remember?" He lifted her face to look at him. "You dork I'll always be here to protect you anyway."

"Lloyd…I…I love you." She cried and she leaned forward quickly kissing him.

Of course just as Colette finally confessed herself to Lloyd, Zelos and Sheena ran up. Zelos stopped dead in his tracks his fear of Sheena outweighed by the shock of the scene before him. "ZELOS YOU PERVer-ted…" Sheena trailed of her line of curses as she saw Colette show of affections.

"Lloyd you traitor" Zelos mumbled slouching suddenly "how could you take my sweet angel from me? OW!" he dropped his head as Sheena smacked him a smirk settling on her face.

"It's about time!" the summoner exclaimed as Colette finally broke the kiss.

Surprised she jerked upright and turned around her face reaching an all-new shade of red. Lloyd wore a half dazed look of shock and pleasure until he noticed Zelos and Sheena standing there watching. Pretty soon his face nearly matched Colette's in hue. Finally Colette managed to smile in her usual manner and looked back to Lloyd who had a similar content grin.

By this time Zelos had recovered enough to get back his cocky attitude. He reached up and wrapped his arm around Sheena's waist grinning "Now doesn't that display of romance just make you want to join in all the fun?" he leaned in to kiss Sheena and received a bright red hand print instead.

After a minute of tense silence they all started to laugh. When they calmed again Sheena looked over at Colette now cozy against Lloyd, "Always figured it'd turn out like this, I'm really happy for you Colette. And if this idiot here" she paused to raise a threatening fist to Zelos who was drawing near again, "ever bugs you guys I'll be sure to send him somewhere even Shadow won't be able to find him." A wolfish grin spread onto her face as she finished.


The negotiations finally finished three days later and ever since their encounter under the tree Lloyd and Colette had been even more inseparable then usual. Sheena and Zelos had left the other day and it was just about time for Lloyd and Colette to set out as well.Lloyd sat on the steps just out side Colette's house, waiting for her to get ready to set out, fingering a small ring he'd just finished making the other day. I know it's really soon but we have been together so long it's not like it'll be that big a shock he thought as he lifted the small diamond ring in the light. She's a part of me and I'm a part of her it just makes sense, and I really do want to make her happy. He put the ring back into a small box as he heard the door open behind him.

"Sorry I kept you waiting," Colette said as she stepped through the door. She wore here simple travelling clothes again. "I just needed to make sure we had enough food to get us to Triet." She smiled brightly as he took her hand.

"It's ok but first I wanna show you something." He grinned as he pulled her along to a small meadow just out of the village. "You remember this place?" he asked a mysterious glint in his eyes.

Colette stopped to think for a minute looking up at the sky. She brightened instantly "This is the field where we first met isn't it?" she did a little spin looking around. She turned back to Lloyd beaming, "so what did you want to show me Lloyd?"

He smiled pulling out the small box. Kneeling in front of her Lloyd took her hand, "Colette I know it's kinda soon to be doing something like this but with all we've been through it just feels right. I know you love me and I love you so I've been thinking for a while and I've decided, even though we're still young I…I want to ask…w-will you marry me?" He had turned beat red by the time he finished his proposal and he looked up at Colette. Her face was a jumble of emotions, joy, fear, happiness, love, all melded into one. Her eyes started to tear as she suddenly leaped into his arms.

"Yes" she whispered into his ear.

A few hours later they were on the road Colette singing away in shear happiness, dancing and playing as they walked. Lloyd followed just a bit behind smiling widely watching the girl he loved being happy with just being alive. He dosed into day dreaming as they walked imagining having a family with Colette.

"Lloyd?" Colette stopped just up ahead calling him, snapping him out of his daydream.

"What is it?" he asked coming up beside her.

"What's that?" she asked pointing to the specter of a large humanoid creature on the road ahead.

"I'm not sure," he replied pulling his swords loose from their sheaths, "but it doesn't look friendly." He stepped in front of Colette as she fumbled in her bag for her chakrams. The creature stood about twelve feet tall and was covered in scales its head was that of a snake only with strangely glowing eyes. Its strong upper body resembled a bear only covered partial in scales and it's legs blurred into a mist at its feet. It's gaze drifted down the road settling on the young couple.

"So," it's raspy voice sounded like hundreds of pebbles rolling down a slope, "you must be humans. Yes the master will have much interest in you when he reaches the surface."

"What are you?" Lloyd shouted at the specter.

"That matters not to you human," it laughed, "In just a few years our people will be free of the earth and then your time in the sun will come to an end."

It laughed again as it faded into mist and was gone. Colette grabbed onto Lloyd's arm, "What're we gonna do Lloyd?" she looked up to him worried.

"I don't know, but I think we've got more to worry about then just finding all the exspheres now."


Two weeks after the strange encounter with the specter Lloyd and Colette arrived in the rebuilt city of Luin, which was currently being used as the central hub for trade between the newly rejoined lands. The streets were filled with people like never before and the once decimated city now flourished with life. As they walked past the commemorative statue of Lloyd Colette giggled causing Lloyd to blush. Pietro greeted them warmly as they reached the town square. "Ah it's good to see you two again." He said bowing when they got closer, "oh and a friend of yours came in earlier this morning. He's negotiating a trade agreement on behalf of the Lazareno Company."

Lloyd and Colette exchanged an excited glance. "Regal's here?" They gasped in unison. Colette beamed as Pietro led them to the inn, taking in all the sights of the bustling trade hub.

"I'll have two rooms prepared for you guys in just a few minutes you must be tired." Pietro said as they walked in to the inn.

"Um…actually we just need…one room Pietro," Colette stammered as Lloyd held back a chuckle. "Me and Lloyd are um…we're getting married in a few months." She turned beat red as she finished and Pietro rocked back onto his heels at the sudden news.

"Well then let me be the first to congratulate you two." Came a deep voice from the corner of the room.

Colette looked up suddenly blushing even harder and Lloyd turned a deep red as well as Regal walked out of the small room at the back of the inn still wearing a chef hat. It was odd for them seeing him again after the defeat of Mithos, he had a clearer look in his eyes and his once grim face showed traces of a smile now. The only other thing that had changed about their old companion is that he'd finally removed the shackles on his arms.

"Wow so you finally took those things off?" Lloyd said trying to break the awkward silence. Colette kinda hid behind him idly playing with one of his collar strips.

"Yes, since the fight is finally over I can honor Alicia's last wish and keep my vow." Regal said with a smile, "But, actually I'm here on more official business, setting up official trade between Tethe'alla and Sylvarant. You just happened to catch me doing a little work in the kitchen, teaching the chefs here a new recipe or two."

Lloyd let out a laugh, "So you're actually taking what that wonder chef guy said seriously?" Colette peeked out behind Lloyd her embarrassment passing.

"Well Regal is a really good cook Lloyd." She said still holding on to the collar strip.

"Yes but personal matter aside you two are probably tired from the walk here so I should let you rest I've got meetings still anyway." Regal said politely as he walked out of the inn. By this time Pietro seemed to have recovered his composure.

"Ahem, anyway I guess I'll show you two to your room then."He said quickly leading them upstairs.


The next day Lloyd and Colette met with Regal downstairs quickly explaining the specter they had seen on the road two weeks ago. "This is indeed disturbing news," Regal said grimly, mulling over the information. "We'll have to send word to all the others since we're the only people we know who still have our exspheres. I believe Persea is helping with the rebuilding of Ozette so I shall contact her when I return to Altamira. As for the others I don't know where they've gotten too, but I believe the professor and Genis were seen near Sybak not long ago." He stopped and sighed, "I'll send out messengers once I get back and make sure everyone gets the news, in the mean time I think you and Colette should spend some well earned time together." He smiled leaning back.

"No it's ok really." Colette put on her fake smile, "It's ok Regal we can't leave all the work too you."

"I insist," replied the older man, "Besides you two still need to recover the most from our last battle. I'll take care of telling everyone besides, by your own words we have a year or two before we have to worry about those things."

Lloyd looked deeply at Colette. "Regal's right Colette besides we are getting married, and I don't want to spend all my time trying to save the world." He smiled as he pulled her closer.

"Oh Lloyd," she said, tears of joy forming in her eyes, "I'm just glad I'm with you still."

"You dork I'll always be with you." Lloyd looked at her with love in his eyes, "Besides after saving the world I think it'll be ok without our help for a few months."

Regal leaned back in his chair recalling many times when he'd sit with his Alicia like this. A wistful smile spread across his face, Ah to be young and in love again he thought too himself. Such notions crossed his mind occasionally but passed just as quickly as they came. Alicia's memory still sharp in his mind he had vowed never to betray her memory. As he looked at the young lovers across from him he realized just how glad he was to have met her in the first place, even though she was gone now he'd rejoin her someday when he too passed beyond the veil.

Later that day Lloyd and Colette parted ways with Regal, the couple heading out by boat to the Tethe'alla hot springs, and Regal heading back to Altamira to get the news about the new threat out. It would be a long few years of preparation before the time to fight came again but they all needed to be ready.


Ok I'm picking up this project again after a longer break then hoped break. Did some minor editing in this chapter fixing the mistake I made earlier about Lloyd and Colette's ages. (Thanks to Suzu Fujibayashi for pointing it out) Still need work but I wanna get the story told before I decide if I wanna rewrite the whole thing so please bear with me, fixing up Chapter 2 next then finishing up Chapter three so it's ready to upload. Reviews are much appreciated thanks.