Hello Ampersand(&) here with my first fanfic (Yeah!) I really cant vouch for how good it is but it takes place after the events of ToS and delves a little into the exsphere plot althought it does branch off early. Expect to see most of the original cast but focus is on Lloyd and Sheena. Anyway... DISCLAIMER: I dont own Tales of Symphonia or the characters and locations (sigh)
"LLOYD! I told you to wait for me", Sheena exclaimed with a slight hind of annoyance in her voice.
"I though it would be ok if I went on ahead to prepare the supplies but…" Lloyd sheepishly admitted, leaving out that he also wanted to visit Colette before they left town.
"No", cutting him off. "We are going together and that means you must WAIT FOR ME!" Lloyd could tell she was getting angry so he decided to stop where he was and let her catch up. As Sheena was moving towards him, she thought "Is this really the person I fell for?" They both were just about at their first stop on the start of their journey.
It was a beautiful day out and it only complimented the small charm of the growing town of Iselia. There were a few clouds out and the temperature was nice and cool, a rarity for a summer day. She looked over at the one she loved. He wore the usual things, a red leather jacket and black pants complete with brown suspenders, crafted with immaculate care by none other than Dirk. As she was staring, she also though "Doesn't he ever wear anything else?" Better than confronting she dropped it as they continued on towards the village.
Iselia, the village of oracles, a nickname given because the Journey of Regeneration often started at the Martel Temple, was starting to expand along the coastline. Lloyd loved the small town: he grew up there, participated in school, met Genis, Colette, and Raine there, and hell, he had even been exiled from the place. It had a place in his heart. Recently, the old mayor stepped down from his position, too, allowing a less stingy denizen rise to the challenge. "Too bad I wont get to meet him", thought Lloyd as he entered.
Noishe started towards the guard towers but Lloyd stopped him midway. "You're not supposed to get near the town, Noishe", Lloyd said with a gentle yet reprimanding tone. The large "dog" started to whine but listened to its master.
"Hello Lloyd and you too Sheena", called out a guard as they passed the checkpoint.
"Hello", replied Lloyd with a simple hand wave. Sheena stopped and gave a slight head bow customary in Mizuho. They both started walking towards the town square when Lloyd felt some pressure on his left shoulder. He turned to look at Sheena who was staring at him with a slight quizzical look on her face.
"Lloyd, what are you doing? You're about to pass Halo, the item shop. Remember? The whole reason we came."
"I know, I know. I just wanted to check in with Colette", he barely whispered, wincing at the sound of mentioning it. He neglected to inform Sheena that he was going to see her.
Colette… The name made Sheena's smile falter. Lloyd didn't seem to notice, however. It's not that she hated Colette, far from it actually. Sheena cared for and respected Colette. She was kind, beautiful, and more-than-meets-the-eye. Sheena thought that if they were to see each other, some kind of conflict would erupt and Sheena would end up hurt. Colette had been noticing how close Lloyd and her were getting the past few days and was almost constantly watching the two. She was openly hostile towards Sheena and Sheena couldn't do anything, especially since her and Lloyd were friends for such a long time. "No use crying over spilt milk", she bitterly thought.
"Ok, but you better get back quickly. We are leaving soon."
"Alright, alright. I swear you two seem to be drifting apart. You never want to even see her anymore."
Sheena just look towards the shop and flicked her wrist gently. Lloyd gave her a slightly puzzled look but shrugged it off and headed down the road towards Frank's house.
"What was that all about", Lloyd thought aloud as soon as he realized he was out of earshot. He rounded the corner and walked up to a small two-story house with a well and garden out front. Colette had lived in the place all her life along with her father, Frank, and grandmother, Phidira. It seemed cramped but Colette was always comfortable.
He knocked on the door and paused to listen for footsteps or any sound. After a few seconds, he let himself in. He walked into a dining room with a large table in the middle. There seemed to be a small layer of dust on a lot of the objects in the room, as if no one had been there in a little while. He checked up in Colette's room, but to no avail. Feeling unwelcome, he gave up and decided to head back to Sheena.
Sheena was about done shopping and was looking over their inventory. "20 Lemon gels, 20 Pineapple gels, 20 Life bottles, and few Magic Lens. Everything seems to be there." She thanked the clerk and left the store. She decided to wait around for Lloyd to get done with visiting Colette. She didn't notice Lloyd walking up right behind her and just as he reached out, she shrieked, pulling out a kunai, and flipped around to see her attacker. Lloyd, just as surprised, jumped back as a counter.
"Lloyd, thank Martel, you scared me." She took a moment to catch her breath. "Where's Colette?"
"Hell if I know…I honestly thought she was going to be home but I guess no one has been there for a few days. I wonder where she is."
"Well, now is not the time to find out. We have to meet someone who is willing to sell us a few exspheres, remember? Also we don't have our Rheiards so it will take a bit longer than it usually does." She was hoping he would see the logic in her words.
"Yeah, you're right. I'll go call Noishe and we can set out for Triet then." They both headed towards the town entrance, with Lloyd calling out for Noishe and Sheena following close behind. Lloyd couldn't help but wonder where Colette was or was doing at the time.
It took a few hours to get into the desert oasis known as Triet. Noishe didn't feel like riding the entire way either. After a few miles through the desert, they honestly felt like they were going to pass out. They weren't too pleased with Noishe either.
"Finally, we're here", coughed an exasperated Sheena. She wasn't in the best of moods, but after the desert she started smiling again. She also realized Lloyd was almost oblivious about the feelings she had for him. She could probably shout them to the world and still he wouldn't have a clue. Sheena really wanted to shout too. "Oh well, I am going to be with him for a while so I might as well give it another shot later…"
As they roamed around the small bazaar and town center, Lloyd noticed a hooded figure wearing a rusted, old breastplate. They both approached him ready to see if he was the one they were looking for.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you the one that we-"
"Yes, and I would prefer if we made this short, understand", the hooded figure coughed with a raspy voice. He was incredibly rude and this unnerved Lloyd a bit. "I believe that you want these trinkets." He pulled out a small bag which appeared to be filled with exspheres.
"How mu-" Again Lloyd was cut off. He was beginning to lose his patience.
"Forty-Thousand gald, and not a cent less." He crossed his arms and cocked his head back.
"Like we have a choice", thought a flustered Lloyd as he rummaged through his pockets to find his gald. He pulled out a sack and managed to fetch 40k. He was going to question how he procured them but intelligently thought against it. He could spare them the gruesome details.
The hooded figure snatched the gald and tossed the bag to Sheena. She checked it and found that it was filled with a multitude of colors. The sight of them instantly soured her expression. She looked back up to thank the man but as she did he left the town and disappeared into the sand.
"Here Lloyd", she said with a somber tone as she tossed the bag over to him. When Lloyd looked inside, his mood also paled. "Oh god, so many people were killed just to make a few useless jems. What was wrong with people?" It seemed that they both shared the same thoughts about the, the things.
The sun was starting to set in the small town. It gave the effect that the desert was split into two different realms: one was light and filled with life, the other dark and lifeless. The shaded sand was also a brilliant, glossy onyx and perfectly opposed the golden-orange sand of the lit portion of the desert. The sky was also split between the enigmatic night and the welcoming day giving a black and white version of the aurora borealis.
"It's getting late", Lloyd managed to whisper taking his eyes away from the sky. Sheena was still distracted by the sight and ended up surprised by his voice.
"Y, yeah you're right." She grabbed her arms as the wind started to pick up around the small town. Lloyd turned to look at Sheena.
"She's beautiful", was all he could think as he stared into her brilliant, light colored eyes. He started to notice she was shivering. Lloyd walked up behind her and took off his red jacket, placing it around the shoulders of his close friend.
Sheena was completely surprised by this action, one totally unlike Lloyd. She looked into his complex, reddish colored eyes, staring at how deep they were, how they held so much compassion and kindness. She gave him a gentle smile.
"You looked a little cold", Lloyd tried to play off coolly but was blushing.
Giving a slight chuckle, she replied, "Yeah, I guess I was. Thanks." She could feel that their relationship was starting to grow. "I guess we should head into the inn, unless you also want to freeze."
They both headed towards the small inn where once there was a horribly drawn wanted poster of Lloyd. In the inn, Sheena couldn't help but notice all the foreign décor around the place. It was totally alien compared to Mizuho.
"Sheena", Lloyd softly called. "I've got the room."
"Ok, I'll be right there."
As they entered the room, they instantly fell asleep upon touching the bed. Later that night, someone slowly unlocked their door…
I got chapter one done. Also i added a little suspense and dont worry, althought this chapter was actionless, there will be battles in the next chapter. Also if sheena seemed a little out of it, dont worry. She was preoccupied with thoughts about Lloyd and will get back into her regular self next chapter too. Anyway please read and review. Thanks -AMPERSAND