Hey everyone,
Well, if you haven't already heard, I have a dying obsession for the GCN RPG, Tales of Symphonia. So far, it's the best game I've ever played, and I love it so much that I've put in over 1000 hours into it and beaten it over 12 times. So here's a novelization that I started for it, for those of you that either don't own the game, can't FIND the game, or just don't want to play it and would rather read it instead. I tried my best to make it sound good, but it's tricky when you're working right off an IGN game script (it's just hard to add so much depth to the story when you don't want to spoil anything and there's so much dialogue).
Also, I dedicate this novelization to Daulton Jenkins, who still hasn't gotten the chance to borrow my copy of ToS yet. Don't worry, bro, I'll find it soon, it's somewhere in the house! :3
- Uzuki Cheverie
"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 sacrificed in order to take its 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."
Tales of Symphonia
Chapter 1: Light of the Oracle
". . . Lloyd Irving, wake up!"
"Lloyd!"
A chalkboard brush came flying through the air, smacking Lloyd straight in the face. Lloyd came to his senses, and suddenly realized he had fallen asleep standing up, two buckets of water clasped tightly in both his hands.
"Gaah!" Link exclaimed, dropping the buckets to the floor so that he could wipe the chalk dust from his eyes. The buckets had thankfully landed right-side-up, so he didn't spill anything – however, the woman still seemed displease with him.
She approached him with a strict glare. ". . . How do you manage to sleep standing?"
Lloyd blinked a few times to wake himself up. ". . . Oh, Professor Raine." He looked around in the classroom, and noticed that all the students in the room were staring at him, some giggling, others shaking their heads in disapproval.
"Eh . . . is class over?"
Professor Raine began to walk back to her desk. "Never mind," she sighed. "Let's have someone else answer the question." She passed by a boy who looked similar to her – light skin, silver hair, and an elfish face.
"Genis, how about you?" she asked the boy.
Genis nodded and stood from his desk. "Yes, Raine."
Raine seated herself at her desk as Genis began to answer her question.
"Mithos, the hero, brought about the end of the Ancient War in the Holy Ground of Kharlan."
"Correct," Raine said with a smile. "Afterwards, Mithos, the hero, formed a pact with the Goddess Martel to seal away the Desians whom caused the war."
Lloyd spoke up. "But the Desians came back and are now causing everyone to suffer!"
Raine didn't give him a glance, but responded anyway, "We covered that in class last time, remember? When the Seal weakens, the Desians reappear. Just like they have now."
A sheepish grin grew on Lloyd's face, and he scratched his head in embarrassment. "I . . . I knew that. I . . . I just forgot . . ."
"Today is the Day of Prophecy," Raine continued to teach the class. "It is a very important day, which the Chosen of Mana will receive an oracle from the Goddess Martel." She turned her attention to the youthful girl with the long blond hair sitting in the front row. "Now Chosen One . . . Colette."
Colette stood up from her desk with an accomplished smile on her face. "Yes, Ma'am."
"Tell us about the journey of world regeneration."
"It is a journey to seal the Desians," she replied. "Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the Summon Spirits that protect the world awaken, and mana is restored."
"Correct," Raine said. She had a proud smile for Colette. "I suppose we should expect the Chosen herself to know the answer to that one. 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."
Lloyd was about to fall asleep again, but he snapped to his senses when he saw Colette looking back at him. She only glanced at him for a moment before turning her gaze back to Raine and sitting back down at her desk.
"The Chosen's journey has two purposes – to revive mana as well as defeat the Desians. Now, for the next question –"
Suddenly, a flash of light burst off in the distance, so bright that it even lit up the classroom for a split second before disappearing again.
Lloyd was shocked. "Wh . . . What was that?"
"That's . . ." Colette began, but stopped. The students in the classroom started to get very antsy and excited – it wasn't something they saw every day in their little village.
"Settle down," Raine hushed the students. "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." She cast a sharp glance in Lloyd's direction. "Understood?"
All the students nodded and sat back down in their desks. Raine proceeded to get up from her desk and leave the one-room classroom. Before she could make it out the door, however, Colette stood up.
"Professor! I'll go with you!" she exclaimed.
"No, Colette," Raine objected. "If it is the oracle, the priests will come here for you. Wait here with everyone else."
As Raine runs off…
"Yes, ma'am . . ." Colette sighed in disappointment. Raine smiled at her and then left the building.
Lloyd looked at the rest of the students, all of them studying out of their books – except for Colette, who was sitting at her desk all alone – and began to feel extremely bored. He didn't want to sit around and wait for the Professor to return, so he started to head for the door.
"Lloyd!" Genis exclaimed, jumping out of his seat. "Where are you going? Don't tell me you're sneaking out! Raine will get mad!"
Lloyd shrugged his shoulders. "I'm really curious to find out what really happens to Colette when she receives the oracle. They always talk about the Chosen of Regeneration and the Day of Prophecy, but no one tells us what really happens." And he was intent on finding out himself.
But Genis was persistent. "But my sister said to stay and study by ourselves."
"It's research," Lloyd growled, starting to get impatient.
"That's just an excuse!" Genis fumed.
"So? An excuse is an excuse, right? Don't be so stuffy. You're coming too, right? We're best friends after all!"
A grim look crossed Genis' face – he didn't agree with Lloyd at all.
Lloyd ignored him and averted his attention to Colette instead. "Colette, want to come along, too?"
Colette seemed to be in a daze, and snapped to her senses when Lloyd began talking to her. ". . . Huh? Um, okay." She got up from her desk and went to join Lloyd and Genis.
"So, where to?"
Lloyd groaned. "Where else? That light! You're directly involved in all of this. Aren't you curious?"
"Hmm . . . Are you curious about it?"
"Of course!" Lloyd exclaimed.
"Okay, then I'll be curious about it, too."
Lloyd rolled his eyes, but took it as a "Yes" anyway. He turned to Genis a smirk. "See? Dwarven Vow #4: 'Don't depend on others. Walk on your own two legs.'
"Not the Dwarven Vows again," Genis sighed. "You always use those when you need an excuse . . ."
"Okay, okay, fine," Lloyd growled angrily, giving up. "Sheesh . . ."
"Honestly, Lloyd. It's not pretty when Raine gets mad."
"Man . . . I was really looking forward to seeing what happens with the oracle." He didn't like Genis for always taking all the fun out of everything.
As the students were heading back to their desks, a person suddenly came trudging into the room. It was a pastor.
"Chosen One!" he gasped. He tried to make it to Colette, but fell onto the floor before he could make it to her.
"Pastor?"
"Hey! Are you alright?"
The pastor coughed in pain, blood coming out from his throat. "The Desians attacked the temple . . ." he choked.
"Wait, Iselia has a non-aggression treaty with the Desians," Genis said, becoming a little confused.
"You mean that agreement where they don't attack the village as long as we leave the human ranch alone?" Lloyd asked.
"Yes . . ." Colette whispered sadly. "Grandmother said it was to protect me . . ."
"I don't . . . know why . . ." the pastor said weakly, "but they have broken the treaty . . . Chosen One . . . hurry . . ." He took her hand in his. "Receive the oracle . . ."
"I will," Colette said with a nod.
The pastor coughed again, blood spurting from his mouth. "Please . . . be careful . . . I regret that I was . . . unable to protect . . . the Cho . . ." The coughs became more violent, so much that he could barely speak.
"Pastor, hang on!" Colette begged him, squeezing his hand tightly.
Eventually, he stopped coughing, and went silent. His skin became cold.
"It's no good," Lloyd muttered. "He's gone . . ."
Genis and Colette both covered their faces in grief.
Colette stood up from her knees. ". . . I'm going."
Genis jumped to his feet in shock. "Colette, there are Desians outside!"
"Yes . . ." Colette whispered, a hint of fear in her frail voice. ". . . but I have to go. I am the Chosen. My job is to accept the oracle on the Day of Prophecy. Everyone, wait here, alright?"
Genis turned to Lloyd for more input. "Lloyd, are you going to let Colette go by herself?" he yelled.
Lloyd nodded. "I'm going, too. I can't let you go by yourself, Colette."
"Are you sure?" Colette asked worriedly, her frown getting bigger. "It's dangerous."
A wide grin grew on Lloyd's face. "Dwarven Vow #1: 'Let's all work together for a peaceful world.' Let's go."
"Wait, I'm going too!" Genis stopped them before they were able to leave the building. "I'm worried about Raine."
Colette smiled at her two friends. "Thanks , both of you."
The village was quiet, and completely deserted. It almost felt like a ghost town to Lloyd, Colette, and Genis.
"There's no one here . . ." Colette said, feeling a little bit afraid.
"They're scared," Genis replied. "They must be hiding from the Desians."
A voice called for Colette in the distance. A middle-aged man with blond hair and a hard face approached them.
"Father!" Colette exclaimed; she was so relieved to see that her father was safe.
"Frank! Is it true that the Desians attacked?" Genis asked him.
Frank frowned, and regretfully nodded. "Yes, it's true. Thankfully, no one was hurt. They passed through the village and headed for the temple."
"Father, where is Grandmother?" Colette asked, her voice raising in panic.
"Phaidra is in the temple preparing for the ritual."
"Phaidra's in the temple?" Lloyd asked. "But that's where the Desians . . ."
Frank patted Lloyd's shoulder in reassurance. "The priests are there with her. There's no need to worry." He turned to his daughter. "Now, Colette . . ."
"I know," Colette said for him. "I promise to fulfill my duty as the Chosen."
"Good luck, Colette," her father said with a smile. Then he turned to her classmates. "Lloyd, Genis, you two should go on home."
"I'm worried about letting Colette go by herself," Lloyd objected. "I'll go with her to the temple."
"Me, too," Genis agreed.
Frank looked a little disgusted with their answers. "But . . ." He sighed and shook his head. "Alright. Thank you. I'll wait at the house. Come back immediately if anything happens."
Lloyd gave Frank a smile and a thumbs-up, and then he led the group away towards the back exit of the village, towards the direction of the Temple.
They were about to pass through the gate when a monster suddenly appeared.
"Whoa, it's a monster!" Lloyd exclaimed; he wasn't used to dealing with monsters inside of the village, so it surprised him.
"I thought the northern region where the temple is located was a sanctuary!" Genis said, his expression just as shocked as Lloyd's. "Why are there . . ."
"It must be a part of the trial," Colette explained. "Martel's trial involves battling monsters."
"We don't have time to talk!" Lloyd yelled, drawing his two wooden swords. "Let's get this thing!"
"Roger!" Genis approved, grabbing his kendama – it was a strange weapon that looked like a hammer with a rubber ball attached to it. Being an elf, he knew magic; the weapon helped him channel it.
Colette pulled out two chakrams – metal rings that she carried in each hand.
Lloyd charged at the first monster he saw, a Zombie that was lumbering towards their group. He struck at it, his swords batting away at the creature's body. They weren't made of steel or metal, so the swords weren't as powerful as they could be, but they had been crafted by his dad, a dwarf who lived in the woods outside of Iselia – he had a lot to be proud of, especially his swords.
Genis bounced the rubber ball around on his kendama, summoning up his magic power through his body and focusing it into fire balls. He let the fire fly through the air, three fire balls smashing into the Zombie's body.
Trying not to get cut by its claw-like fingernails, Colette clumsily wacked her chakrams at the beast, swinging her arms in half-moon motions to bring the rings around to the monster's body – like the rest of her friend's weapons, her chakrams did little damage, but it was enough to do the finishing blow to the creature.
"That was easy!" Lloyd cheered after the Zombie had fallen.
"Lloyd, you're amazing!" Colette giggled, clapping her hands happily.
"Ah, well . . ." Lloyd's face turned red in embarrassment. He brought his hand up to show the jewel that was embedded on it, right through his red glove. "I owe it to this thing, though."
Genis stared at the jewel. "Ah, that's right, the Exsphere."
"Yeah. It's designed for combat and brings out my maximum strength. Without this thing, I'd be nothing . . ."
Colette shook her head. "But you're still strong, Lloyd!"
Genis shrugged his shoulders and smiled teasingly. "Yeah, at least his sword skills are good."
Lloyd gave an annoyed look to his elven friend. ". . . What do you mean, 'at least'?"
Before Genis could respond, two more monsters appeared. It was another Zombie, and a Ghost.
"There's another one! Let's go, you two!" Lloyd ordered.
Colette stopped him before he could get to the monsters. "Wait, Lloyd! The Professor said magic is more effective than physical attacks against non-physical and spiritual monsters."
Lloyd tilted his head in wonder at her words. "Really?"
Genis groaned. "Yes!"
Lloyd turned back to the monsters, sighing, "Okay, then, I'll leave the Ghost to Genis. I'll go for the Zombie! Okay, here we go!"
"Yeah!"
"Okay!"
The three teenagers ran into the next fight, Lloyd and Colette heading straight for the Zombie that was lumbering around with its oversized hands and gruesome skin. While they took down the Zombie, Genis paid attention to firing as many fire balls as he could at the Ghost – Colette was right, the magic worked a lot better on the Ghosts than Lloyd's swords or Colette's chakrams would have.
Genis checked himself over to make sure he wasn't hurt. No wounds, which he expected considering he wasn't a close-range fighter like Lloyd or Colette. The both of them seemed alright too – just a few cuts and bruises here and there. It was to be expected if Colette was going to take on the trial of Martel.
"We have to be careful," Genis muttered.
"Let's go to the temple," Lloyd told them, leading them through the gate towards the backfields of Iselia. The three friends walked through the green grass fields, towards the hill that nested the beautifully-built Temple. It wasn't a big temple at all – but it was the starting point for Colette's journey. The bright blue light was still radiating from the temple, straight into the sky and never-ending.
"Whoa, that light really is coming from the temple!" Lloyd exclaimed in surprise and wonder when they reached the main area of the temple – all that was separating them from it was a long flight of stairs that went up the hill.
"Then an oracle is going to be conveyed," Genis said as he stared up at the pillar of light. "Colette's going to be the Chosen of Regeneration."
Lloyd and Genis looked at Colette, the future Chosen, who was also staring up at the light.
". . . It's really, really bright!" she exclaimed happily.
Lloyd and Genis both groaned.
"Say, Colette . . . when the oracle is conveyed, you'll become the Chosen who will save the world, right?" Lloyd asked. "You're going to be like the hero, Mithos! So maybe you should act a little more . . . you know, Chosen-like . . . ?"
Colette beamed at him. "Yeah! No problem, no problem."
Something caught Genis' attention. He looked towards the top of the stairwell where the Temple sat.
"Hey, there's a lot of commotion at the temple."
Lloyd could hear it too. It sounded like swords clanging and magic being fired.
"You're right!" Lloyd agreed. He approached the stairs. "Let's go, you two!"
Colette and Genis both nodded in agreement. Lloyd led the way, Genis following and Colette taking the rear.
Just as they were nearing the stairs, Colette tripped.
"Ow . . ."
Lloyd rushed back to help her.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Colette giggled as she got up from the ground and brushed herself off. "Sorry about that."
Lloyd gave her an odd look, but then proceeded to lead the group up the stairwell that lead to the radiating temple.
The elderly woman backed away from the soldiers and their leader, a burly man with spiky black hair and a rough-and-tumble face.
"Where is the Chosen?" their leader asked.
The old woman backed away from them. Just in time, Lloyd, Colette, and Genis arrived at the top.
"Run, Colette!" the old woman exclaimed.
The soldiers turned to face the three teenagers.
"Lord Botta, there she is!" one of the leader's henchmen exclaimed, his sword clenched tightly in his hand.
The leader named Botta turned around as well to face them. He looked straight at Colette.
"Chosen One! Your life is mine!" he yelled.
Lloyd drew his sword at the man's threatening words.
"I won't let you Desians get away with anything!"
One of the soldiers laughed. "Desians? . . . Hahaha!"
"What's so funny?" Genis growled; he felt like they were being made fun of."
The second soldier stepped forward with his sword. "Well then, die at the hands of the Desians you so hate. Get them!"
The two soldiers charged at Lloyd's group with their swords, forcing Lloyd to draw both his swords to fight. Colette pulled out her chakrams, and Genis prepared his kendama. One of the soldiers approached Lloyd with his blade; he blocked his attack, and counterattacked with a blow to the man's chest.
The soldier left when he felt the wooden sword whack against his chest – it hurt, but it didn't hurt as much as a normal sword would have.
Lloyd felt angry at this humiliation – he knew that if he had real swords, he'd be able to finish the guy in no time, but instead he was stuck with these wooden toys. As he looked around, he realized that Colette was having the same kind of trouble. Genis was the only one that was doing a decent job, thanks to his magic; he had already charred one of the soldiers to death.
Eventually, Lloyd managed to decently knock out the last soldier, striking him down with a blow to the head. That was the problem with fighting humans – they didn't go down as easily as monsters.
Lloyd caught his breath, hoping that those soldiers were all he was supposed to fight. But he thought too soon, because before he could even pull himself back together, a gigantic man dressed in armour and carrying a spiked ball and chain stomped out from the temple. And he looked mad.
"Do not get in our way!" he roared as he swung his spiked iron ball in the air as if it were as light as a feather.
Lloyd was tired, but he couldn't give up yet. The three of them charged at him, trying their best to dodge his iron ball. Lloyd's attacks barely did anything against the man's armour – no thanks to his meagre attacks and weak weapons.
Suddenly, the iron ball came around and knocked Lloyd back, nearly knocking him out cold. When he came to, his vision was blurry and he felt weak. Genis and Colette were just barely hanging on; it seemed that Genis' fire magic or Colette's chakrams didn't have much of an effect on the man's armour either.
Genis slumped to his knees. "This guy's strong!"
Lloyd nodded in agreement, wiping the sweat from his brow.
The large man brought up his ball and chain, ready to strike them. Lloyd closed his eyes tight, waiting for the blow . . .
He heard the sound of a metal sword being drawn and weapons clashing. Standing in front of him, defending him with a shield and sword, was a tall red-brown haired man dressed in purple robes.
"Who are you?" Lloyd asked.
He didn't respond to his question. Instead, he growled, "Get out of the way."
They were suddenly thrust into battle again, this time with the help of the mysterious person who had protected them from this monster of a man. The stranger's attacks were strong and quick, and every time he struck the enemy it looked like it did major damage. Lloyd did his best to help, but there was only so much he could do when his attacks were so weak compared to the stranger's.
And of course, it was the man who gave the finishing blow.
The leader of the soldiers – Botta – suddenly looked afraid. "I never thought you'd show up," he said. "Damn . . . retreat for now!"
The soldiers and their terrified leader ran off down the stairwell, away from the temple, leaving Lloyd and his companions to treat to their wounds.
Colette stared in awe at the mysterious stranger. "Amazing!" she gasped.
"This guy's incredibly strong!" Genis exclaimed
Lloyd was not impressed. "Y-Yeah. I . . . I suppose so . . ."
The man turned to face the three teenagers from Iselia.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked them. "Hmm . . . no one seems to be hurt."
Lloyd caught a glimpse of the shimmer on the man's left hand.
"Is that an Exsphere?"
The man ignored him.
The old woman, who was Colette's grandmother, Phaidra, approached the group.
"How can I ever thank you for saving the Chosen?" she asked the mysterious man.
The man eyed Colette. " . . . I see. So this girl is the next Chosen."
"That's right!" Colette said. "I have to go accept the oracle!" She turned to her grandmother. "Grandmother, I'm going to undergo the trial now."
"What trial?" Lloyd asked.
"The monsters, I assume," the stranger replied in his cool-and-collected voice. "An evil presence radiates from inside this chapel."
"Yes, that is correct," Phaidra said with a warm, elderly smile. "The Chosen is to receive judgement from heaven. But the priests that were to accompany her fell at the hands of the Desians."
Lloyd stepped forward. "Then I'll take on the job of protecting Colette."
"Lloyd? . . . I would be uneasy with just you," Phaidra pondered.
The man gave Lloyd an odd look. "Your name is Lloyd?"
"Yeah," Lloyd grumbled. "But who are you to ask for my name?"
The man smirked. "I am Kratos, a mercenary. As long as you can pay me, I'll accept the job of guarding the Chosen."
Phaidra nodded at his offer. "Under the circumstances, I have little choice. Please be of service."
"It's a deal, then."
"W-Wait, I'm going too!" Lloyd shouted.
Kratos gave him a dirty look. "Lloyd, you'll only get in the way. Be a good boy and wait here."
"What did you say?" Lloyd asked, starting to feel a little bit betrayed and pissed off.
"Did I not make myself clear? You're a burden. Go home."
Colette stepped forward shyly. "Um . . . Mr. Kratos, would it be okay to take Lloyd along, too?"
Kratos scowled with displeasure and slight worriedness. "But . . ."
"Please. I get nervous when Lloyd's not around."
Kratos sighed in defeat. ". . . Do as you wish."
Colette and Kratos walked ahead towards the Temple.
"Let's go, Genis!" Lloyd said, turning around to face his friend.
"What?" Genis exclaimed. "I'm going to?"
"Of course!"
"This isn't a field trip, you know," Kratos growled under his breath.
Lloyd caught up with Colette.
"Thanks, Colette . . ."
"It's the truth!"