Dominus Princeps

Disclaimer: Tales of Symphonia is not mine.

Perfect Sacrifice

Prologue

"Kratos!" Lloyd cried, swinging his swords. "You traitor!"

"I was never on your side, Lloyd. And now your journey has come to an end. You have achieved what you wanted, have you not? The Chosen will regenerate the world..." Kratos held his Silver Sword at the ready.

"But...she's not supposed to die!" Lloyd shook his head.

"You cannot use your ignorance as an excuse. You will not get in the way," the rusty-haired man snorted. "Now stand down."

"Never! Let's go, guys!" the boy in red shouted, running at Kratos. Sheena dashed forward to compliment Lloyd's charge; Genis and Raine stood back, preparing spells.

"Out of the way! Thunder Blade!" Kratos called, mana echoing in his voice. Sheena nimbly twisted away from the giant sword-shaped lightning bolt, but Lloyd was not so quick. The spell hit him dead on, causing the boy to cry out in pain as electricity coursed through his body.

"Pretty good..." Lloyd grunted. Sheena assaulted Kratos with her spell cards, stunning him with a Power Seal card and knocking him back with a Pyre Seal card. Kratos recovered and, in an instant, Sheena was on the defensive with Kratos as the aggressor. His Silver Sword was everywhere, and it took all of Sheena's skill to send up Guardian Seal cards at the right moment in order to keep the sword from cutting her in two. A Demon Fang got past her defenses, stunning her and giving Kratos the perfect opening. Sheena saw the sword headed for her stomach.

"Pancake time! Stalagmite!" Genis cried. The spire of rock cut off Kratos's attack and sent him flying into the air.

"Tricky..." the rusty-haired warrior snarled. Lloyd pressed the attack, giving Sheena some time to catch her breath.

"Demon Fang! Super Sonic Thrust!" Lloyd called, attacking Kratos rapidly. Kratos was incredibly agile, however, dodging the Demon Fang shockwave and deflecting the Super Sonic Thrust off of his Red Shield. He slammed the shield into the side of Lloyd's face, sending the younger swordsman reeling.

"Are you alright? Nurse!" Raine cast the healing spell just in time. Lloyd staggered backward, blood streaming down his face from his broken nose. Nurse sealed the gash on his face and set his nose perfectly.

"Demon Fang! Light Spear!" Kratos roared, hitting Sheena both times. She crashed to the ground. When she rose, Kratos was there, stabbing her in the stomach with his sword.

"I messed up..." the girl choked, falling.

"Sheena!" Lloyd gasped.

"You're gonna pay!" Genis snapped. "Thunder Blade!"

"Here," Raine said softly, pouring a Life Bottle's contents into Sheena's mouth. The black-haired girl coughed and rose, dusting herself off.

"Thanks," she flashed Raine a quick thumbs-up.

"Are you okay? First Aid!" the elven woman healed most of Sheena's other wounds. In the meantime, Lloyd and Genis had double-teamed Kratos, using magic to stun him temporarily, giving Lloyd enough time to sprint in and deal heavy damage with his combat techniques. Kratos staggered backwards. Lloyd hit him with a powerful Fierce Demon Fang, knocking him to the ground. Kratos's Exsphere flashed, and suddenly the man was surrounded by a wavy aura.

"Want more?" Kratos roared. He pressed the attack, viciously swinging his sword at Lloyd. Lloyd managed a few well-timed counterattacks, but his sword seemed to be slowed by Kratos's aura.

"Is that all?" the purple-clad man said as Lloyd backpedaled away, panting.

"How much does it take?" Genis sputtered. "I don't think I can cast much more!"

"Now it ends. Rest in peace, sinners. Judgment!" Kratos roared. White light and feathers surrounded him.

"But only...angels..." Lloyd gasped. Beams of light blasted down from the sky, slamming into the four warriors opposing Kratos.

"I'm sorry...Dad..." Lloyd choked, falling.

"Sis..." Genis murmured.

"I wasn't strong enough..." Raine closed her eyes as she dropped.

"No..." Sheena breathed. Kratos sheathed his sword and turned away.

"You cannot oppose fate," he grunted. He walked over to where Colette stood motionless, her eyes a deep maroon.

"Good work, Kratos. Now she will be the perfect vessel for my sister," an angel with long blond hair smiled.

"Yes, Lord Yggdrasill," Kratos knelt.

"Col...Colette..." Lloyd reached out for her. Yggdrasill laughed.

"There is nothing you can do," he shook his head.

"Get the Chosen!" Botta shouted. Kratos sprinted forward and, before he could react, Kratos stabbed his sword through Botta's chest. Botta coughed.

"The Renegades will not stop us now!" Yggdrasill snarled, knocking the Renegade foot soldiers into the air with blasts of light.

"Get those four out of here," the blond angel pointed to Lloyd and his fallen comrades.

"As you wish," Kratos nodded. He summoned a small group of angels to take the four of them out of the Tower of Salvation.

"No..." Lloyd murmured, barely conscious.

"This is what you wanted," Kratos muttered. The angels were gone.

"Come, now, Kratos, it's time," Yggdrasill said impatiently.

"Of course," Kratos spread his wings and flew over to where Yggdrasill stood next to the lifeless but living Colette. Kratos turned to look where the angels had left with Lloyd and the others.

"My son..."