MSS: …

Lloyd: Hey, why aren't you saying anything?

MSS: Like what?

Lloyd: Like how this is a challenge story? Or how this chapter will be told in flashbacks mostly? Or that you don't own ToS? Or that you think everyone should start reading?

MSS: Thanks for saying all that for me!

Lloyd: I said what? (Reads what he just said) Oh.

MSS: Enjoy, it's my first non-humor fic so… good luck to me!

Ooooo

"Kratos? Please, promise me something." Kratos looked down with tenderness at his brunette wife.

"What is it Anna?" he whispered softly in her ear.

"Kratos… please, promise me, no matter what happens to me, protect Lloyd," Anna looked at the sleeping boy curled up under one tree. She gently spread their only blanket on him as Kratos came closer and drew her towards him.

"I promise. But, don't talk like that Anna. Soon, your Ruin Crest will be made," reassured Kratos.

Anna smiled. "You're right, I shouldn't worry."

"I heard there's a dwarf somewhere in the Iselia Forest. To marrow, we'll head there," promised Kratos. Kratos leaned against the tree next to Lloyd. Lloyd stirred slightly, mumbling in his sleep. The moonlight shone through the trees, pure and innocent as Ann settled down, leaning on Kratos…

Ooooo

Kratos looked with a mixture of horror and resoluteness at the advancing monster. It was too late to turn back now. The cry of a small boy watching from the sidelines caused him to turn instantly towards the boy to make sure he was okay.

Ooooo

"Daddy! You promised!" Lloyd jumped on top of Kratos, who almost jumped himself in shock as his son shock him out of his thoughts.

"Promised what Lloyd?" Kratos struggled to remember the forgotten promise.

"You said you would take me stargazing. AND tell me a story," Lloyd added, sensing an advantage.

"Very well." Kratos lifted Lloyd onto his shoulders and, with a nod at Anna, was off walking towards a clearing.

"What dat one?" demanded Lloyd, pointing a chubby finger at the sky.

"Which one?" queried Kratos, craning his neck at the sky.

"Dat one! Da big one!" Lloyd pointed.

Kratos gave a small laugh. "That's not a star. That's the moon."

Lloyd and Kratos settled under the lone tree in the clearing. The moonlight reflected off Lloyd's eyes as he looked up at Kratos and asked, "Why are we always in twees? We no see da stars!"

Kratos sighed. "Lloyd, first you need to understand there's a group of… bad guys… after us. By traveling through forests, we minimize the chance of them spotting us."

Lloyd cocked his head, not understanding, and said, "I no get it, bwut I got it."

Kratos smiled as he fought back laughter.

"Now tell me a story!" demanded Lloyd. He settled down patiently.

"I'm going to tell you the story of when Mithos made the pact with Maxwell," began Kratos…

Ooooo

The monster, hearing the cry, turned towards Lloyd and advanced. Its advance was halted by a green and white creature that jumped in front of Lloyd.

Ooooo

"Noishe, no matter what happens, protect Lloyd," Kratos requested. Noishe whined. "I'm not saying something will happen, just if something does… please protect him."

Noishe whined again then trotted off. He curled up protectively against Lloyd…

Ooooo

Kratos gritted his teeth. He had to do it, now, before it was too late. Anna would want that as well. He rushed forward, his sword drawn.

I'm sorry Anna…

Ooooo

Yggdrasill looked mockingly down at Anna's body. "Foolish human. Did you really think you could escape me?" Yggdrasill knelt down next to the body. Raising high his right hand, he gathered Mana to it to prepare to destroy the body. "I knew your every move, you worthless inferior be-"

A rock hit Yggdrasill in the arm. The ball of Mana reflexively disappeared as he turned in surprise. Standing before him was a young boy who couldn't be older than three. He was carrying a stick, and wore a fierce expression on his face as he shouted, "Stay away from Mommy!"

Yggdrasill smiled slightly. "You must be Lloyd."

"Gimme you name and I give you mine!" shouted Lloyd.

Yggdrasill was prepared to kill Lloyd when suddenly… the way he stood… the determination to protect his dead mother… it was like…

Ooooo

Mithos and Yuan were kneeling next to Martel. Yuan held her hand to his face. He was crying, and had been for awhile. Mithos was hugging her tightly, still in shock. Kratos walked up to them.

"Yuan. Mithos." Kratos placed a hand on each of his friend's shoulders. "We should be going. Remember, the Giant Kharlan Tree is dead. We need to-"

"You think I don't know that?" hissed Yuan. "Kratos, give us some time!"

"There will be plenty of time for mourning later. With each passing second the world slips further down the path of destruction. Martel would not have wished to die in vain. For her sake, we must continue," urged Kratos.

After another moment Yuan rose to his feet, gently laying Martel's hand in her lap.

"What about-" Kratos began, but Yuan cut him off.

"Give him another minute. Out of all of us, he was closest to Martel."

Kratos nodded in silent agreement. The two left the clearing to give Mithos some privacy.

"Why?... Martel…" A tear rolled down Mithos' cheek. A growl in front of him caused him to quickly look up. He saw a small pack of wolves. Fear briefly flashed through his eyes, but quickly turned to anger and defiance as he rose, drawing his sword.

"Stay away from my sister!" Mithos charged at the wolves…

Ooooo

The same look, mirrored on Lloyd's face, caused Yggdrasill to freeze. Lloyd reminded him… of… himself.

Yggdrasill abruptly reminded himself of why he had come. Retrieve the exspere. Glancing at the ground, he quickly spotted it. Before he could move, Lloyd, following his eyes, grabbed the exspere. Gazing at Lloyd in mild shock, Yggdrasill was struck with an idea. Kratos needed to be punished. What better way to punish him than turn his own son against him?

"Lloyd. Your mother is dead. You have nowhere to go. If you come with me, I will take care of you. As if…" Yggdrasill was uncertain of his next words, but continued anyway. "As if… you were my son."

Lloyd looked down at the glowing red stone in his hand. Yggdrasill extended his right hand down to Lloyd. Looking back up, Lloyd stared at it for a moment before grabbing it.

With a satisfied smile Yggdrasill said, "Let us leave then."

A bright light formed around the two. When it faded, both were gone, and no one was left to witness a green and white animal leading a short, bearded dwarf to where Anna lay.

Ooooo

MSS: So? How was it?

Lloyd: O.o That's a lot of flashbacks…

MSS: Please review!