Here is Chapter 1.

I don't own Tales of Symphonia. If I did, there would be a prequal with Kratos, Yuan, Martel, Mithos, and even possibly Anna.

Rated T for violence.

Side note: I am aware that in the game Mithos has blue eyes... but in the anime he has green eyes, which I like better because Martel has green eyes and it makes them seem more like siblings. Okay, enough. Now for the story.


Chapter 1: Alone in Ruin

Anna hated being alone.

And now she was more alone that she had ever been in her entire life.

Everything was in ruin. Anna whimpered as she stood alone amongst the smoldering buildings and crumbling walls. Wood and stone from the houses had been strewn about in the streets. In the distance she could still hear the cries of survivors, but one by one they were silenced. Anna had the brief thought that she should remain hidden, but the devastation of Luin was too much to tear her eyes away from. Anna glanced around, clutching her small doll tightly as she took in the abhorrent destruction of her former home; flames licked hungrily on the charring wood where her house had once been. Her parents had been inside; even though she was young, Anna knew enough to know that they would not be coming out of the dilapidated, burning building. Her eyes fell. There, in the shadows, occasionally lighted by flames, Anna could see the still warm corpses strewn about the debris cluttered streets. Pools of dark liquid caught the flame of the fires, glowing deep red and then returning to their darkened state. There were splatters of red everywhere, on the wreckage, the corpses, even Anna. In one of the sticky red pools of blood, a solitary white feather floated. It was matted and speckled with blood. Nearby, the owner of the feather lay, his wings crumpled and broken, sprayed with sticky crimson. Anna swallowed and closed her eyes.

Everything was warm. It seemed odd to Anna that it was warm, for she felt completely cold.

She opened her eyes again. They landed once again upon the matted, blood spattered wings of the angel. The body was oddly contorted, his wings looked limp and frayed.

Angels. Angels had attacked Luin.

Angels had destroyed Luin.

Anna closed her eyes again. This time, a small warm tears lid town her soft, puffy cheek. She made no sound, she did not sob, but she did allow the warm tears to slide down her face, washing away the dirt and blood that was smeared there.

She was all alone. All alone with no where to go.

Suddenly, Anna could hear the sound of footsteps behind her. Her heart began to pound madly inside her chest. She clutched at her doll. Holding it even tighter. The angels had left no survivors; she should run! But Anna found she couldn't. She was frozen in fear. Anna felt the hairs on her neck stand on edge, her body stiffened in anticipation as the footsteps approached her, slowing and then stopping right behind her. She closed her eyes tightly.

This was the end.

At least if she died she wouldn't be alone.

"Would you like to be saved?" the stranger behind her spoke. Anna's eyes snapped open. The voice was cool, and distant. It was both enchanting, and disturbing at the same time. It reminded Anna of a stream running over smooth rocks weathered by years of water. Or perhaps it was a stone turning in cool sand. Maybe it was ice melting. No matter what, she knew it was a voice she would never forget.

Anna turned, but she kept her eyes cast down. She could see two white legs below her.

"Look at me, child." The watery voice commanded. Anna glanced up. She was met with a pare of icy eyes, they seemed cold and distant, like the lonely stars on the edge of space. One of his eyes was partly covered by long blonde bangs that caught the glow of the devastating fire and glowed with glittering light. His hair was long, it was draped around him; he was clad in all white, and had a strange crystal protruding out of his chest. The crystal was lined with intricate gold. Anna stared at the strange gem for a moment before her eyes were distracted by a light shimmering behind the strange man. She looked up – they were wings. Two resplendent wings silently waved in the wind behind him.

Anna lifted her eyes, making eye contact with the man.

"Angel." She spoke softly.

The angel nodded, "Yes. I am Lord Yggdrasil, servant of Martel, and leader of Cruxis."

Anna looked around the town, her eyes watering.

"You destroyed… my home." She stated, her voice laced with tears.

The angels eyes darkened, reflecting something that was almost sympathy However, no real emotion reached the icy eyes. At least not as far as Anna could tell.

"It was a sinful town." The angel explained, "They needed to be punished."

Anna sniffed. Sinful? She tried to think; she couldn't recall Luin doing anything terribly wrong. They had a church, they followed the teachings of Martel… but maybe… if an angel was saying that the city was corrupt, well then, perhaps it was.

"This placed had to be destroyed." The angel continued, "But I spared you."

Anna looked up. The angel continued to gaze at her, a small smile spread across his lips, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

"I will ask you again: would you like to be saved?" the angel asked again. He extended his hand to Anna. Anna glanced at it a moment before turning her head to gaze at the rubble behind her.

The fires were dying, the wood and stone were smoldering. Thick black clouds of smoke began to curl in the night sky. Everyone was dead. If she stayed here, she would be alone.

Anna swallowed and lifted her own small hand and placed it in the yellow haired angels outstretched palm. His hand was icy to the touch.

"Anna," the angel whispered softly, Anna wondered how he knew her name, but it seemed trivial or pointless to ask. He was an angel, there were many ways he could have found out her name, "Anna, I saved you. Your life belongs to me now."

He tightened his grasp around her tiny, soft hand.

"Do you understand?" he asked.

Anna nodded.

The angel gave her another cold smile, but there was something else behind it, something like victory, or even maliciousness.

"Good." He stated slowly, "now come."

Anna gave one last look at the burning town as she felt herself being raised up into the sky. Luin was empty, alone. She looked back at her savior. His eyes were lifted towards the sky, they were distant and frosty. Anna looked down once again.

Maybe she made a mistake.

Anna shook her head. No, this wasn't a mistake. This way she wasn't alone.

Anna hated to be alone.