Author's Note: A bit of information about this fic.
Basically, it's something of a "rewrite" of the events in Tales of Symphonia, starting at the very beginning and with an extra character. Also, it's primarily dialogue-based, so if it reads a bit like a game script, that's why.
By the way, it's not a self-insert fic. Stop thinking that--I know some of you are. Anyway...please enjoy my fic. )
Disclaimer: Tales of Symphonia and all it's characters, places, plot etc. do not belong to me. I only own Tobias
Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree that was the source of mana. A war, however, caused this tree to wither away, and a hero's life was sacificed in order to take it's place. Grieving over the loss, the goddess disappeared unto the heavens. The goddess left the angels with this edict: "You must wake me, for if I should sleep, the world shall be destroyed." The angels bore the Chosen One, who headed towards the tower that reached up unto the heavens. And that marked the beginning of the regeneration of the world.
"Lloyd Irving, wake up! Lloyd!"
The white-haired woman stood at the front of the classroom, one hand on her hip and the other clutching a chalkboard eraser, which after a few seconds, she threw at a brown-haired boy in the back of the classroom. Amazingly, the boy in question had managed to fall asleep standing up, holding two buckets full of water even.
"Gahh!" Lloyd exclaimed, spitting out bits of chalk dust as the teacher approached him. He had caught the eraser full in the face.
"How do you manage to fall asleep standing?" she asked, shaking her head.
Lloyd blinked a few times, then turned to his teacher. "Oh. Professor Raine. Is class over?" he asked hopefully. Raine shook her head again and sighed.
"Never mind," She headed back towards the front of the room. "Let's have someone else answer the question. Genis, what about you?"
"Yes Raine," answered Genis, standing up.
Behind him and just to the left of Lloyd was another boy who had also managed to fall asleep, but had so far avoided getting in trouble. He was draped over his desk, resting facedown on his arms. All that could be seen was a mess of blue hair that periodically emitted soft breathy noises.
"Hold on, Genis," Raine said, before the boy even began to speak. She left her desk once again and made her way to the back of the room where the blue-haired boy was still snoozing, reached out, and slapped the back of his head as hard as she could. It had the intended effect; the boy yelped and jumped clear out of his seat.
"Professor Raine…? What was the question?" he asked, slightly dazed.
"Honestly, Tobias, you're just as bad as Lloyd is." She glanced at Lloyd, who was staring absentmindedly out one of the windows and placed one hand to her head. "Genis, you may continue."
"Mithos, the hero, brought about the end of the Ancient War in the Holy Ground of Kharlan," Genis answered, quickly suppressing a laugh at Tobias' expense. Tobias frowned and leaned on one hand in an attempt to stay awake
"Correct. Afterwards, Mithos, the hero, formed a pact with the Goddess Martel to seal away the Desians whom caused the war.
"But the Desians came back and are now causing everyone to suffer!" Lloyd blurted out, his attention drawn away from whatever he was staring at outside.
"We covered that in class last time, remember?" Raine reminded him, sounding slightly exasperated. "When the Seal weakens the Desians reappear. Just like they have now."
"I…I knew that. I…I just forgot…" Lloyd stammered and this time both Genis and Tobias had to laugh at him.
Raine ignored the boys' laughter. "Today is the Day of Prophecy. It is a very important day, which the Chosen of Mana will receive an oracle from the Goddess Martel. Now, Chosen One…Colette."
"Yes, ma'am." As if on cue, a blonde girl seated near the front stood up.
"Tell us about the journey of world regeneration," Raine prompted.
Colette nodded. "It is a journey to seal the Desians. Upon passing of the trials of the Goddess Martel, the Summon Spirits that protect the world awaken and mana is restored." She remained standing and Tobias began prodding Lloyd, who had fallen asleep again, with a pencil.
"That's correct. I should expect the Chosen herself to know the answer to that question." Raine paused before going on. "Mana depletion is the cause of the current food shortages and droughts. It is said that this occurs because the Desians consume vast amounts of mana in their human ranches."
Colette finally sat down, but not before glancing back at Lloyd, who had woken up again. Raine continued her explanation of the journey of regeneration.
"The Chosen's journey has two purposes—to revive mana as well as defeat the Desians. Now, for the next question—" She was abruptly cut off by a bright white light that briefly lit up the classroom before fading away.
"Wh-what was that?!" Lloyd exclaimed, dropping his buckets in surprise. Everybody else turned towards the windows, and a few students even stood up at their desks.
"That's…" Colette started to say.
"Settle down," Raine interrupted, moving to the classroom door. "It would seem that the time for the oracle has come. I will go and check on the chapel. Everyone, stay here and study on your own, understood?"
"Professor! I'll go with you!" Colette said, moving towards the door as well.
"No, Colette. If it is the oracle, the priests will come here for you. Wait here with everyone else."
"Yes, ma'am," Colette replied, sounding somewhat disappointed.
After Raine left, the students began either studying or talking amongst themselves about what was happening, with most of the activity being of the latter variety. Tobias was being teased by a younger classmate about falling asleep in class as well as being accused of snoring loudly, which Colette found very funny. Lloyd, meanwhile, was heading for the exit. Until Genis spotted him.
"Lloyd! Where are you going? Don't tell me you're sneaking out! Raine will get mad!"
"I'm really curious to find out what happens to Colette when she receives the oracle," Lloyd explained. "They always talk about the Chosen of Regeneration and the Day of Prophecy, but no one tells us what really happens."
"Maybe they don't want you to know what happens," Tobias suggested, leaning on Genis's shoulder. Even though he was four years older than Genis, he was still not that much taller. Lloyd frowned.
"I still want to find out."
"But my sister said to stay and study by ourselves," Genis protested.
"It's research then." Lloyd shrugged.
"That's just an excuse!" Genis said, at the same time Tobias said "You have an excuse for everything, don't you?"
"So?" Lloyd countered. "An excuse is an excuse, right? Don't be so stuffy. You guys are coming too, right? We're best friends, after all!" He looked around for Colette briefly and found her sitting at her desk. "Colette, want to come along, too?"
"Huh? Um, okay. Where to?"
"Where else?!" Lloyd exclaimed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That light! You're directly involved in all of this. Aren't you curious?"
Colette thought for a moment. "Hmm…. Are you curious about it?"
"Of course!"
Colette smiled. "Okay, then I'll be curious about it, too."
"See, Genis? Dwarven Vow #4: Don't depend on others. Walk on your own two legs." Lloyd recited, causing Genis to roll his eyes, an action completely unnoticed by the other three. "Okay then, let's go to the temple!"
"Not the Dwarven Vows again. You always use those when you need an excuse…" Genis muttered as he followed his friends outside.