First Fic! I absolutely welcome any constructive criticism, typo/grammar-mistakes, suggestions, ideas, anything...but please no flames.
I'm still haven't entirely figured out how or where this fic will go yet, so I'm still feeling my way around.
I don't own Tales of Symphonia, if I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction on it.
The Origin of Hope
Chapter 1: Hope
Two Days To Hima.
"Kratos..." Anna said quietly, her hand on her stomach. She and Kratos were walking in a forest, under the light of the moon, making their way to Hima. Noishe walked beside her, giving her a whine once in a while.
The journey from Luin had been long and tiring. After Kratos rescued her from the Asgard ranch five months ago, they hid in various towns and forests, always in fear of any agents of Cruxis that might finally hunt them down.
Anna's ex-sphere was near completion, and she needed a key-crest immediately before it started draining her of her life energy instead of just her mana. He estimated another year at most before then, and went from town to town inquiring where he could find a dwarf above surface (and not involved with Cruxis). Kratos finally got the answer he needed. and while the information on where the dwarf was may still be sketchy, it was the best bet he could hope for. Their goal was Iselia, where there was purported to be a dwarf that resided near there.
"Yes?" Kratos said, a worried look on his face. "Are you having stomach pains? You've been holding on to your stomach quite often lately."
"No, I think..." Anna trailed off again.
Kratos looked at her, worried at how uncomfortable she looked.
"I think I may be pregnant..." Anna looked away, dreading his response. She had been quiet these past few weeks, ever since she realized her monthly cycle had past...twice now. Since she missed the first cycle, she would increasingly alternate between excitement and joy, and absolute terror and sadness.
They were on the run, and it was hard enough for Kratos to protect Anna and himself, without a baby to worry about as well.
Kratos felt like he'd been punched in the stomach. He immediately stopped walking while the information was sinking in. He should have known this was going to be a possibility... what was he thinking before...or not? Actually he was amazed at himself... who knew that 4000 years later, he was still capable! He was had been so sure that becoming an angel would stop the process. In a way, he was actually happy, happy that a lifeless angel could still give life. He smirked.
Anna had been standing next to him, looking at the ground, waiting for a response for about 5 minutes. Every minute, she got more agitated, knowing whatever was going through Kratos' head was probably getting worse. She finally looked up ready to say something but saw the smirk on his face, which took her completely by surprise.
"How long have you known this?" He finally asked.
"I think two months have past now..." She replied, barely above a whisper.
Kratos lifted his eyes to the stars. "Anna, this just means that must get to Iselia even more urgently than before."
Anna stared at him. That's it? He took it amazingly well!
"But this... this will complicate an already complicated situation... I'm so sorry, I'm sorry..." She rung her hands.
"I'm as much to blame as you, Anna. Let us hurry." Kratos took her and placed her on Noishe. "Now, no more walking for you anymore."
Anna smiled, her eyes moist. She couldn't ask for a better half. Not only was her man more than a man, he was an angel, her protector, handsome, and seemed to give the right response most of the time. Kratos was an extremely reticent, quiet man and almost always seemed depressed. Anna took it upon herself to make him smile at least five times a day. She felt so fortunate that she had the power to make him happier.
"Would you want it to be a girl or a boy?" Anna asked suddenly.
Kratos gave her a strange look that clearly implied that it was not the next question he was expecting. "I would be happy for either possibility. Of course a boy would be stronger, but I could train a girl just as well, when the time comes..."
Anna stayed silent. Training wouldn't begin for a few years... would she even be alive after a few years? How much longer could she live? She closed her eyes and sighed.
"Everything will work out... don't worry..." Kratos said, looking at her strangely.
"Would... would I even live to see him grow...?" Anna blurted out.
"Yes you will! Don't for a minute think that you'll die!"
"If... if I don't survive... Kratos, promise me that you'll... you'll take care of him..."
"What are you rambling about? Do you think I'll just leave our son... or daughter somewhere and just leave? Anna, get ahold of yourself, you're not going to die, I won't let you..."
On they went in silence, leaving Kratos to ponder again, the shaky future he brought upon both of them. Things were definitely more complicated now. Would they ever be free of Cruxis if he keeps running? It would only be a matter of time before they were caught, it cannot be a permanent situation... especially with a child. What kind of life will the child have? No friends? Always hiding? Always in fear?
Kratos looked up at the stars that he always looked to to give him comfort, and sighed. He knew the only way to stop the madness was to find a way to end Cruxis once and for all. He already chose the path against them by freeing Anna. Now he needed to make it permanent. How was he going to do that? First, Mithos had incredible power through all the pacts he made with all the summon spirits... and then Origin created the Eternal Sword for him... Kratos may be the seal for Origin, but he had no right to the sword which Origin bestowed upon Mithos. In fact Mithos made sure no human had the right.
Kratos...
Kratos snapped his head up, who was that? Origin? But he didn't have a pact with Origin, how could he hear him?
Kratos, it is I, Origin... Yes, you are my seal, not my pact-maker, however, in these trying circumstances, I greatly want to aid you in correcting the folly that I now regret concerning Mithos... There is a way for humans to wield the Eternal Sword, I formed this loophole just in case... Forge the Ring of the Pact, call upon me, and the bearer will have the right. It requires three items however... listen carefully...
Anna looked back at Kratos, who had suddenly stopped and had a look of intense concentration and shock. "Kratos? Are you okay...?" She received no reply. So she stopped Noishe and waited.
...First, Aionis... to melt Aionis, you must gather the Sacred Wood... then you must find Adamantite to polish it... If you succeed, I see no need for you give up your life to release the seal. Go forth Kratos, you will find support in a friend and hope in your blood... do not fail...
Kratos stood still, committing the needed items to memory. Then he looked up.
"Anna, the lord of all Summon Spirits just spoke to me... there is a way! There is a way to end this madness! Origin is on our side, we have hope!"
"How...?"
"I am the seal for Origin, the lord of all Summon Spirits, I am truly amazed... and honored, that he would speak to me, who is not his pact-maker. The situation must be grave indeed, if he would even do this..."
Anna didn't quite understand, since he kept answering in half-answers, but whatever she heard, the sudden brightness in Kratos' eyes were no lie to the hope and excitement he suddenly had. She smiled, her spirits rising as well.
"What did he say? How will we do this?"
"First, still more importantly, we must get to Iselia and find the dwarf to make you a key crest. I heard that the town of Iselia has some damn treaty with the Desians to not attack them if they leave their ranch alone. I am hoping it may prove to be the safest place for you... I know it must seem an obvious place for them to check... but perhaps..."
"Perhaps?"
"Perhaps, if I don't stay with you..."
"No, it won't make a difference, they will find a way to find both of us, even if we are apart! I think... the only way to end this is for me to die... or you to go back to Cruxis." Anna couldn't believe their roles have reversed so sharply. Usually she was the hopeful one, but now it was Kratos' turn. Ever since she realized she was pregnant, her hopes had fallen sharply.
"Anna..." Kratos looked at her sadly, then he looked at the stars talking audibly to himself, "no, I will find a way. Something will happen. I have hope, Origin is on our side.
"He told me I will find help in a friend... and strength in my blood. Friends... how many friends do I have left that are still alive? I refuse to count Mithos as a friend anymore. Yuan? Yuan has been unhappy with Mithos' ideals as well, but I don't know how he stands right now... it's too dangerous. I'm not sure I really have any other friends. Now, hope in my blood? What does that mean? "
"A friend will help you? Hope in your blood? It would help if he would just be a bit clearer!"
"Most important are the items we need to find to forge the Ring of the Pact. What he said after that, I can only understand as possibilities to give us hope."