For the half dozen people who read my crappy "Journey of a Self Insert", that's being scrapped and this is taking it's place. I wrote that like five years ago and totally forgot where I was going with it. I'm hoping my writing skills have improved somewhat from then. If you haven't played Tales of Symphonia then turn back now lest you want to be barraged with spoilers. This story has an OC...kinda. Her name is Aurora Aurion and you can find concept art of her on my dA (AuroraAurion). I'll try to upload either every week or bi-weekly depending how many people actually get into this. Reviews are greatly appreciated along with any ideas or requests!
Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia. I do however own Aurora to a certain degree.
Prologue: Birth of an Android, Death of a Loved One
"At last… My creation is finished. Now awaken… Aurora Aurion!" Yggdrasill's voice cried out.
Just then, a pair of dull ruby red eyes opened and focused on the tall blonde haired man before her.
"Greetings Master." Aurora called out.
Her voice was that of a child. She had a short, slender frame, couldn't be more than five feet tall. Slowly the child was removed from all the tubes and wires she was hooked up to and was carried away by the Cruxis leader.
Several Years Later…
"Come." the man simply said, Aurora silently following behind.
The two walked into the angel's private quarters where he then proceeded to sit on his throne.
"There is something I need you to do for me." Yggdrasill spoke folding his hands across his face. "I need you capture and bring me the Angelus Project and her child…oh and kill the man who is traveling with her. His name is…Kratos Aurion."
Aurora looked to the floor, her eyes widened at the name. Why did this man have the same last name as her. It couldn't possibly be just a coincidence could it? She was silent for a moment before responding.
"Y-yes Master." Aurora answered.
Aurora descended onto the land of Sylvarant, a cloak in hand to hide her face. She had been given instructions to stay in the Iselian area and decided to stay in the forest next to the small village. A few days passed uneventfully when the girl spotted a couple setting up camp about a mile away as the sun began to set.
"That man…has my face. And she must be the Angelus Project." the child thought, then she spotted a little boy by their side. "A child…"
Aurora didn't want to admit it but she hated her master's ideas, she's hated them for a while now. But no matter how much she disagreed with him, she couldn't find the courage to turn against the man in fear that he would dismantle her. The next morning the auburn haired girl witnessed the small family heading into the village, most likely for supplies. Many hours passed and they had decided to set up camp in the forest where Aurora was hiding. They were quite a distance from the girl but it was still close enough to make her feel uncomfortable. Aurora guessed they forgot to grab something because she saw the woman run back to the village saying she'd be right back and that they should go ahead to the campsite. On the way back the woman, now holding a bag of food, heard a rustling of leaves.
"Who's there?" she demanded.
".…" Aurora said nothing and poked her cloaked head out.
The woman let her guard down breathing a sigh of relief. She finally was able to get a better look at her target. Her hair was a chestnut brown, long and flowy, reaching down to the middle of her back. Her eyes the same color brown. She wore a blue and white swallow-tailed tunic with white boots and gloves to match.
"My goodness. I thought you might have been a desian. You scared the daylights out of me sweetie." the lady said kneeling down to Aurora's level. "Aren't you a bit young to be by yourself? What's your name?" she asked.
"I'm ok. My name is Aurora." the girl answers. "What's yours?"
"I'm Anna. Why don't you come with me? My husband and I have a boy around your age. I think you two would get along." Anna says smiling happily.
"I'm sorry. I can't. I have to stay here for now." the girl lied.
Everything in Aurora was telling her to attack Anna now but something inside of her was telling her not to do it. The poor girl was so confused on what to do. Seeing that she was unlikely to budge on her answer, Anna let out a sigh pulling out a loaf of bread, handing it to Aurora.
"Alright. But if you change your mind we're camping not too far from here." Anna said putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. "May I see your face?" she asked out of the blue.
"Uhh…" Aurora wasn't expecting that but thought best to comply since it might raise suspicion. "Okay." she said pulling the hood of her cloak just enough to reveal her face.
"Thank you Aurora." Anna says moving to stand up. "I hope we see each other again one day."
"Me too. Bye-bye Anna." Aurora smiles waving to her as she walks away.
Neither of them knew they would see each other so soon… and under grim circumstances at that. Just a few days later on a cold stormy night at the Iselia Human Ranch, Aurora was witnessing a horrifying scene.
"How does it feel Kratos? How does it feel to have everything you love be ripped away from you in a matter of seconds?" Kvar laughed maniacally while watching as Anna went through a hideous transformation.
The Grand Cardinal had removed her exsphere and since it lacked a key crest, the mana in Anna's body went out of control causing her to turn into a monster. The half elf took his chance and escaped leaving Kratos and his baby to defend themselves. Aurora just looked on, unable to do anything. Sadness present in her eyes. It didn't have to come to this. Aurora could have went with her that day. She could have protected her. But instead she did nothing, and now looked what happened. The child was snapped out of her thought when a voice rang in her ears.
"Kratos…! Please..! Kill me! Kill me before I hurt you or Lloyd!" Anna begged, momentarily regaining control of herself before losing it again and going after Lloyd.
With regretful eyes, Kratos drew out his sword, plunging into Anna's chest sending her as well as Lloyd and Noishe over the edge of the cliff. Aurora jumped from her hiding place away from Kratos's view, taking out her wings and grabbing Lloyd before he could hit the ground. Her feet gently touched the ground and she placed the boy close to his dying mother.
"I'm sorry Anna…" Aurora whispered.
"Thank you…for saving…my baby…" Anna said as Aurora started walking away.
Later the next day Aurora forced herself to return to Cruxis and break the news to Yggdrasill.
"I'm sorry Master… The Angelus Project along with her son were killed. Kratos got away. I was unable to locate the exsphere." the small angel informed her leader, her face void of any emotion.
Most of what she said was a lie. She saw the exsphere and chose not to take it. She knew Lloyd was alive. The only thing that was truthful was that Anna had died and she did nothing to prevent it. Yggdrasill was less than pleased with her report, he was outraged.
"You miserable failure!" the angel roared, knocking Aurora back with a burst of light. "I give you a simple task and you can't even do that! Get out of my sight!"
Yggdrasill charged up another attack just as Aurora teleported out of her leader's chamber and off of Derris-Kharlan. She left for Sylvarant in hopes of living a somewhat peaceful life.