Author's Notes: Okay, so like, I woke up one day with this insane idea: "Hey. What if the Imperial Research Academy did catch Raine?" What would happen to Genis? What would happen to Virginia? What about poor super intelligent Raine?! I've got a lot of ideas in store for this fan fiction. Time to twist the original Tales of Symphonia plot! YAY for twisting fate! Read, rate, and tell me what you think. I promise, the story will start picking up if it seems slow at first. But that's why the beginning is called... well... the beginning.

Oh yes, of course. This story is spoilerific. If you have not gotten to the part where you learn the truth about Raine and Genis, I suggest you not read. If you haven't done Raine and Genis' mother's sidequest, you might not understand some parts of this story.

It's obvious, but I do not own Tales of Symphonia. If I did, the Eternal Sword would be the Eternal Cookie. And instead of lacking the right, everyone would lack the milk. And Kratos would have made the Ring of the Chocolate Chips instead of the Ring of the Pact. Or maybe Oatmeal Raisin. Yummy ♥

Yes I am weird. And you love it.

Chapter One:

A Prodigy Stolen

The Ymir Forrest was once a peaceful place where one could find repose along side nature. But for Kloitz and his family, it was an escape route. Tranquility was swallowed by the adrenaline rush pumping through his veins and the will to survive. Their footsteps sang a song of discord, fright, and hopelessness. It wasn't the first time he was forced to run for his life with his wive and children, but they never got used to it. Surely, they desired for their pursuit to cease permanently.

"Hurry, Virginia!" Kloitz called behind his wife who was lagging behind, carrying a child.

"I'm right behind you!" she lied. The distance between was increasing rapidly, and the distance between their predators decreasing. "I wouldn't let them get you!" Virginia hugged the moaning child in her embrace. She pressed the child's body close to hers in an effort to subdue the shock of running.

The pair ran rapidly through the forest, dodging trees and branches erecting from the ground. Daylight disappeared with every step they took. Animals scurried out of their path and cried into the growing night; giving away their position. The sound of clanging armor only grew louder behind them.

"Daddy!" a little girl yelled and attempted to tighten the grip on her father's hand. She could barely keep up with the speed of her father's steps and the perspiration made her small fingers slip away from his.

"We're almost there, Raine. Just a little while longer!" Kloitz said, finding time to turn to his daughter and flash a smile. "Will you be okay, Sweety?"

"I-I think." The smile gave the girl a sudden speed boost and determination. "I'm just a little tired." She pushed her silver hair away from her face with her free hand. Her eleven year old body was growing weak.

"In the name of the King of Tethe'alla, we demand that you stop this instant or face punishment!" The king's knights were closing in fast, showing no intentions of slowing down or giving up.

"Damn!" he exclaimed, angrily.

"Kloitz! They're going to catch us! We have to hide Raine!" Virginia whispered to her husband when he was in earshot.

Annoyed, the man sighed and agreed. He commanded them to hide behind a tree. Kloitz looked around desperately for a hiding place until he spotted an old tree which he hoped was reliable. One by one, his wife and children climbed the tree and were instructed to remain quiet.

"But Daddy! What are you going to do?" Raine's eyes filled with tears. She reached out desperately for her father's hand from her position in the tree, but was held back by her mother.

"I'll be fine, Raine. Take care of Genis and Mom for me, okay?" Kloitz replied, making his voice as calm as possible. "Virginia, I'll head in the opposite direction to draw the guards away. When they're gone, get out of here, okay?"

Virginia wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded thoughtlessly. "Okay. But meet us outside the forest."

"Don't worry about me." Kloitz blew an intangible kiss to his wife. Virginia caught it, holding it close to her heart. He ran away at full speed and disappeared into the growing darkness, without a single glance back.

Virginia balanced herself on the tree branch and secured her children. Her feet ached terribly; she could feel the pain running through her veins. A cool breeze kissed her face, brining a temporary state of relief from the fever. The escape dealt heavy damage to her unfit body; already weaken from giving birth to a beautiful baby boy just weeks before. With her back against the tree, she unwrapped her son from his cloth prison. His silver hair matched his sister's as did his blue-gray eyes. Their father's eyes.

Raine's body shook violently from fear. Her heart pounded; sounding as if it were actually in her head. She tightened her grip on the branch and faced her mother with watery, irritated eyes. She had been crying for hours. "Mommy," she whispered, "I'm sorry! It's me they want!"

"No, Raine. It's not your fault." Virginia gently rubbed her daughter's face, wiping away some of her tears. "We'll be out of this forest soon."

Genis began to cry and fuss. "It's okay, Genis. I'll protect you!" Raine smiled. She held out her hand. Genis grabbed a finger and wrapped four of his around them. His cries settled.

Hours passed by, but it felt like days. The moon hovered high above the area and relieved the darkness with a minimal amount of light; but still, it was difficult to see obstacles more than a few inches away.

"Mom, can we get down now?" Raine asked. She felt just as fatigued as her mother and her eyes dropped periodically. The sense of fear was the only thing keeping her from dozing off.

"Yes, I think so." Virginia inspected her surroundings before handing her infant son to Raine. "I'll climb down first." She struggled to keep her footing and lost her grip several times as she traveled down the trunk of the tree. "Drop Genis; I'll check him. Then you can jump down." The elf stepped closer to where she estimated her son would drop. She had only one shot to catch him; no second chances.

"O-okay." Brother in hand, Raine scooted closer to the center of the tree. She swung her legs around and looked for her mother below, squinting her eyes to make use of any available light. The darkness hurt her eyes, but she did her best to ignore it.

"Honey, please be careful. I don't wan-" Her sentence was interrupted and replaced by an ear-piercing scream. She turned around to see small glimpses of armor illuminated by the soft, white moonlight: the Cardinal Knight's armor. He wrapped the woman's hands behind her back, shackled them, and covered her mouth with his hand to end the torment.

"Mommy!" Raine exclaimed from atop the tree, giving away her location. Suddenly, she lost her balance. She let go of Genis but soon regretted it as she screamed his name. The girl landed on her back; the air ripped from her lungs upon impact. With no time to cry, she sat up then struggled to her feet, only to be captured herself.

"Raine! LET HER GO!" Virginia scrambled to loosen the shackles with no luck.

"Shut up, woman!" the Cardinal Knight demanded and kicked the woman, causing her to fall to the cold ground. Virginia spat out a clump of dirt she accidentally ingested.

A man in a white laboratory coat stepped out from the darkness and approached Raine. "Finally! We've been after you for ages. Why not be a good little half elf and come with us?" he asked with a fake smile.

"No!" Raine replied and fought to run away. Hunger and fatigue subverted her.

The mysterious man sighed. "Take her to the Imperial Research Academy. Just tell them to lock her up good. Remember, she's a half elf. They use magic."

"Understood." The knight lifted the child and threw her on his back effortlessly. Raine kicked her legs and pounded his armor feverishly, turning her small hands red as they pulsated, swollen. Her futile efforts were ignored and he proceeded to leave the forest.

Virginia twisted and turned as Raine was taken away by the knight. She psychotically rolled around on the ground, attempting to rise to her feet. The shackles binding her wrist fooled her sense of balance, making it nearly impossible to catch her child. "Please, don't take my daughter!" She pleaded as tears streamed down her face. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

The sound of Raine's voice slowly faded until it no longer existed.

"What about this one?" the last remaining Cardinal Knight asked and pointed to Virginia.

"Do whatever you want with her." The man waved his hand as if the elf was barely a second thought. "I got what I wanted."

- - - - - -

Morning crept in and robbed the night. Sunlight poured into the area just as the moonlight did, only it was more peaceful. Serenity once again took over the forest. The sounds of nature filled the air and the animals called out to each other. No remnants of the night before remained.

A man walked along the path of the Ymir Forrest. His boots pounded against the dirt path and his black cape blew in the few gentle breezes.

"It can't be here," he mumbled to himself, walking with his arms folded. "So why am I looking?" Sighing, he shook his head and pulled back his cerulean blue hair.

Suddenly, his angelic ears perked up and he jerked his head to the right. "What is. . . .?" While his mouth asked the question, his feet sought after the answer. The search lead him to a tree, where he concluded the location of the sound to be. Something else was drawing him to the tree, though. "No way." Pink translucent wings appeared on his back before he flew to the branch producing the sound.

"WHAT?!" he exclaimed after seeing a baby, wrapped in a black cloth. Baby Genis rocked on the thin branch and cooed at the sight of the angel. Fearing for his safety, Yuan grabbed the boy and held him tightly. "You're a half elf, huh?" His face softened and, somehow, a smile broke through.

Genis stared at the angel and smiled back. Yuan laughed a bit. "I'd better get you out of here," he said while re-wrapping the infant in the cloth. "I guess I have no choice but to take you with me. The elves in Heimdall will just probably just let you rot here." Child in hand, Yuan flew away in the direction of his Tethe'alla Renegade base.

Author's Note: Omg! Yuan the Daddy! I'm sorry, but I just had to poke fun at Yuan. Dunno why xD More fun is in store once the Renegades meet the baby. Stay tuned! Read and rate; I return the favor when I have the time.