Cruxis Crystal say's: Well another year is almost over and I thought I might try a sequel to Tales Of Symphonia. So here it is. Hope you like it.

The way I play the game Zelos is usually Lloyds best friend. And it's rather important to the story for him to have given Lloyd his Cruxis Crystal that night in Flanoir.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales Of Symphonia. Just a couple of the characters I'm going to introduce are mine.

Chapter 1

Frozen In Ice

The journey had taken a lot of time, both men were weary. It had been almost a year since they had taken to the road, one year since the worlds had been reunited and one year since salvation had finally been found. But their journey was reaching it's end. There was only one stop left in their search for exspheres.

"Zelos?" Lloyd Irving said attentively eyeing his friend with extreme concern. He hadn't said a word since arriving in Flanoir. His blue eyes were trailing the ground and his arms were wrapped around his body, "Are you sure you want to come with me?"

Zelos turned to him his eyes confused for a moment, then realisation seemed to set in and he laughed an obviously forced laugh, "Bud! You couldn't navigate yourself through that temple alone and you know it." He gave him a playful punch and turned his gaze ahead onto the temple entrance which was looming over them.

"Zelos, you could head back to Meltokio. I could meet you there." Lloyd said earnestly stepping in front of his friend his soft brown eyes boring into Zelos' bright blues.

"Listen Lloyd…I appreciate the sentiment but I don't need your pity. I'm fine." Zelos shoved him gently out of the way and pushed his way into the temple's mouth. Lloyd let out a groan of frustration and followed his friend.

"This place looks…" Lloyd frowned his eyes on the ceiling, "As though it's beginning to melt." Zelos also raised an eyebrow and pushed forwards his feet sinking into the slushy snow beneath him.

"It's still freezing." Zelos grumbled rubbing his hands together, "Been a while since we've been here though, brings back…memories."

Lloyd didn't bother speaking any longer, he really just wanted to get out as soon as possible. He hated the temple of Celsius, it was so cold and dreary, the only thing that had lit up that journey was seeing the faces of Colette and Genis as they played in the snow.

He could still see her face shining in the blue light caused by the icicles that hung from the ceiling. Her blue eyes looking deep into his as he helped her pummel Zelos with snowballs. He'd never understood why Zelos had refused to throw any back, or why that pained expression had flitted across his face for the briefest of moments before brushing it off with a joke.

He did now. And although he refused to tell Zelos he wished nothing more than to ease his pain. The pain he knew would be raging inside his friend, though Zelos would forever deny it.

"So why are we here exactly?" Zelos asked as he slipped into the snow his red hair clumping together in wet curls as he pushed himself up and tried to climb the hill without once again falling flat on his face, which was now stinging with cold and pink.

"Well, remember that old man in Sybak?" Lloyd asked offering his hand to his friend as he had already reached the top of the hill. Zelos looked at it with a wrinkled nose but accepted the help, "Well he told us…" He paused for a second to haul Zelos up the rest of the way, letting out a groan as he strained himself, "What the hell have you been eating?"

Zelos let go of Lloyds hand and folded his arms across his chest his pink jacket was substantially darker now thanks to his fall, "Excuse me Irving. This is the body of a god. You're just jealous because I have a manly physique and you don't."

"I do have manly physique!" Lloyd said indignantly peering round the corner to make sure no monsters were around. For some reason since the reuniting of the world the monsters were once again slowly returning. And it completely unnerved Lloyd. Zelos merely shrugged when he brought the subject up, "Just because I don't wear tight tank tops to show it doesn't mean I don't have it."

"Oh really?" Zelos said with a wicked smile and a suspicious glint in his eyes, "Then what are these?" He moved faster than a bullet and started to tickle Lloyds chest, "Lloyd has boobs!"

"Get off me you stupid Jackass!" Lloyd said pushing him away and brushing his jacket off, "We need to get this done…I've got a bad-"

"Don't you dare say you have a bad feeling about this." Zelos said suddenly serious, "Last time you said that I wound up tied up beside the ugliest man I have ever laid eyes on."

"I was tied up beside you!" Lloyd said his eyes narrowed and his face defiant. Zelos gave his head a ruffle and lead the way towards the chamber in which Sheena had summoned Celsius. They moved in silence, as with all these places they brought back memories. Memories that had different meanings to the two men. And it was better for them to remember in silence.

"Do you ever miss them?" Lloyd said as he slipped on the sheet of ice that led to the altar, "Like the others?"

Zelos leaned against the ice wall shuddering as the cold seeped through his jacket, "Of course." Zelos said with a playful glint in his eyes, "I miss my Darling Angel, My little Rosebud, My hot professor and my…voluptuous hunny."

Lloyd cast him a significant look, the hesitation before Sheena's nickname spoke volumes to Lloyd, "I miss them." Lloyd said pushing himself off of one of the ice pillars into the mouth of the altar. Zelos made to follow but Lloyd's hand stopped him. He pointed at the altar where a man stood, hooded and tall, rather ominous looking. Zelos raised an eyebrow but kept quiet.

"I have tried my lord…" The voice was oddly distant, beside him he felt Zelos stiffen immediately, "The day is close at hand, we shall have salvation." Lloyd gripped the wall tightly, something was definitely not right, "He will come here, I know it. He's travelling with a companion."

Zelos and Lloyd looked at each other, fear in both of their eyes. What the hell was going on? Lloyd instantly turned back.

"Glory to Lord Yggdrasil and the future of the world!" The man exclaimed bowing low, both Lloyd and Zelos let out a loud exclamation of astonishment, Lloyd's was a little more polite than Zelos'.

The man swung round his hood masking his face with shadow, sharp silver eyes were seen in the smallest of moments and in a flash they were gone and nothing could be seen of his features.

Zelos unsheathed his sword, Lloyd followed Suite. He had a feeling this might escalate into a fight…and he wasn't so sure they could win it. The man seemed to take a moment before he spoke in his low tones.

"I knew it was only a matter of time." He said dryly stepping forwards looking towards them, but neither Lloyd nor Zelos knew who he was talking too. He pulled out a sword also and although they couldn't see his face both men imagined a wicked smile and an evil gleam in his eyes.

"A matter of time till what?" Lloyd demanded his hands tightening around his weapons, as though he were bracing himself for impact.

"I knew you'd come. Lord Yggdrasil knows everything." His tone was soft and slightly husky as though he were speaking of a lover.

"Lord Yggdrasil is dead!" Zelos said with a small laugh, "I think somebody is living in denial-"

"SHUT UP BOY!" The man bellowed, "Do not talk of things you could never comprehend. Lord Yggdrasil is above and beyond death." He extended an arm and stepped back allowing Lloyd to peer into the alter made of ice.

Encased in ice was a small boy, his long blonde hair and physique were more than familiar to both Zelos and Lloyd. Zelos' eyes were ablaze and Lloyd swallowed. He'd got rid of the Cruxis Crystal…how could he still be alive?

"Chosen one." Lloyd's eyes turned back to the man who seemed to be squaring up to Zelos who looked surprised to be addressed. Lloyd started to grow suspicious, as did Zelos.

"Actually I think you'll find I'm not longer the chosen one."

"One world. One Chosen." The man said stiffly as he drew he pointed his sword at the both of them. With that the battle began, Lloyd ran at the man his blades trailing behind him, focusing all of his energy he jumped into the air his exsphere gleaming, "Rising Falcon!"

He was propelling forwards but the man easily evaded the attack and Lloyd landed onto the alter on top of Mithos. Within Lloyd's pocket he felt a sudden warmth, which then turned scolding hot. He thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out the source. It was small and red and it was glowing.

Zelos' Cruxis Crystal. Zelos was fighting the man, Lloyd turned to him and without thinking he wrapped the crystal up in a piece of tissue and placed it in his back pack.

He ran flat out towards the pair and once again jumped, "RISING FALCON!" Zelos jumped out of the way sweat pouring from his brow. This time the attack hit it's target, albeit on his arm where a deep gash appeared instantly.

At this the man spun on the spot and raised a hand and Lloyd was thrown backwards where he hit a particularly large icicle on the ceiling which feel with a crash. As did Lloyd.

"You're a weakling Wilder!" The man bellowed as he and Zelos were locked in battle their swords pushing each others back and forth.

"I…am…not weak!" He bellowed pushing the man away and spinning on the spot cutting the man's side. Lloyd had never seen the look of anger that was in Zelos' eyes.

"You'll never amount to anything…little dreamer." The man said with such venom that Zelos was taken aback his mouth open wide as though he were going to shout. His sword hand dropped and Lloyd pushed himself up. They needed to get out the Cruxis Crystal was vibrating fiercely in his bag.

Lloyd ran forwards flat out he grabbed Zelos' arm and spun him around and ran.

"AFTER THEM!" Came the voice of the man from behind them. Lloyd didn't wait to see what was after them, he kept running as did Zelos behind him. Slipping and sliding they made it out of the temple's mouth and were pushing through the snow towards the Reihards.

"What the hell?!" Came Zelos' voice from just behind him. They both were watching as angels flew from the entrance. Lloyd had one leg over his Reihard.

"Zelos COME ON!" He said fiercely, Zelos threw himself on top of his Reihard and with that they were flying through the sky at speeds they had never done before.

Once the angels couldn't be seen they slowed down. Lloyd leaned over the front of his and let out a sigh, "What the hell has happened?"

"I don't know bud." Zelos said in a voice of forced calm, "I really don't know."

"We need to hide somewhere." Lloyd said after a moment of silence, "And then we'll decide what to do."

"Where are we gonna go Lloyd? It's dicey, I mean they might not have been after us." Zelos said fairly his red hair flying behind him gracefully.

"Mizuho." Lloyd said after a moment, "It's in another hidden location, near the Linkette tree. Sheena will help us."

Zelos looked stricken, "I don't know if that's a good idea bumpkin…Sheena and I didn't end on very good terms."

"It's all we got Zelos. It's the best place to go." Lloyd said with a the look of someone who had been doing a lot of thinking, "Sheena won't hold a grudge."

With that Lloyd sped off, Zelos rolled his eyes, "Don't bet on it."