Hello everyone and welcome to the second chapter! I'd first like to apologize for my inability to write the time. In the previous chapter I stated that the story took place 2008 years before Tales of Symphonia. That would be wrong. This would be 4008 years before Tales of Symphonia. Not only that but in my first story I wrote that it was 2020 years before Tales of Tales of Symphonia, that's two Tales ofs. And I meant to write the time when I made time pass in the last story and I forgot to. (Although it didn't make much difference). This time though I have a crappy excuse: I must really want to graduate High School, because I wrote down my class year. So two things: I don't own Tales of Symphonia (or Tales of Tales of Symphonia) and GO Class 2008. Whoot Whoot… oh never mind….

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Earlier That Same Day

"NOOO!" Martel turned around quickly to see that her little brother had woken up.

"Shhhh, Mithos it was just a nightmare," She said gently taking her small brother in her arms. He was shaking violently and there were tears on his face, but his eyes were on fire.

" It's not fair," Mithos said when at last he calmed down. Martel looked at her little brother sadly.

"What isn't fair?" She asked.

"Our parents, humans, elves. Everything," He told her. Martel held him closer and began to stroke his hair. She knew what he was referring to, he'd had that same dream before. Martel had never told him the details of their exile from Heimdall and he was too young to remember it. She had thought it would be to harsh on his young ears to here of their parents deaths. She thought he would be frightened to hear how the elves had chased their family from Heimdall and how they were met at the edge of the forest be angry humans, who killed their parents. Martel had thought it would protect him if he didn't know.

It hadn't. Mithos had imagined his own version of events and many times he saw the horrible story in his sleep. His version of events involved the whole world turning against them, even their own parents. They weren't half elves and to Mithos that meant they could never love their children.

"We don't need them, do we Martel? I wouldn't want to be with anyone but you!" Mithos looked up at his sister excitedly. Martel sighed softly. He looked so happy, but his words didn't sound right to her.

"I like being with you too Mithos, but you can't just shut out the world," She told him. Gently she placed him on the ground and stood up. "Now go get out of your pajamas. I'll make breakfast. I promise not to turn around."

Martel laughed to herself as she began to prepare breakfast. She knew that behind her, her little brother was staring at her as he changed. He had recently become embarrassed of having her help him take baths and change clothes. He wouldn't even let her turn around when he was changing. Apparently now that he was six he could do these things himself.

When Mithos was dressed and their food was ready the two siblings sat down to breakfast. They ate in silence for awhile. Mithos sat thinking gloomily about his dream, while Martel watched their beautiful surroundings. She smiled contently as she looked at the scenery. She loved the outdoors, the beautiful trees, the gentle wind, and the endless mountains. She was sad for a minute as she thought about how much had been destroyed by the war, how much was gone simply because two races couldn't get along. But her sadness passed as she assured herself that everyday she was searching for peace.

Mithos looked as his sister as he ate. He thought to himself how beautiful she looked with the wind blowing her hair. He had never known anyone but his sister; as far back as he could remember the two of them had been traveling. Mithos wanted nothing but to keep his sister happy and to remain by her side. He knew that she dreamt of peace between the races, and as long as that was what she desired he wanted it too. He put his little breakfast bowl down and looked up at her.

"Where are we going today?" He asked.

"I don't know exactly Mithos. But I'm sure we'll find someplace where I can preach my ideals. And remember what we're looking for Mithos." Martel said.

"You know this would be easier if humans had churches to preach in. Only the half-elves ever listen to you Martel. The humans are too stupid to pay any attention, I hope we find a half-elf village. But Martel I think what we're looking for is pretty impossible to find…"

"Nothing is impossible Mithos, not if you put your mind to it," Martel put a hand on her little brother's head and he raised and eyebrow at her. "It's true! I'm sure someday we'll find what we're looking for. And once we do we'll have the proof that our greater goal can be achieved. If we could find a half-elf and a human who got along then we'll have proof that getting the races at peace is not impossible."

"I thought you said nothing was impossible," Mithos replied. Martel smiled at her brother and mussed his hair. Laughing the little boy tried to escape from his sister but she pulled him closer and began to tickle him.

"Martel. Hee hee! Stop it! Martel. Ha Ha Ha hee hee hee!"

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Awhile later Martel and Mithos were walking along in search of a town. Martel walked briskly with Mithos plodding along behind her. He was tired from walking, his little legs just couldn't go as far as she could, but he was too big to carry. He was silent, however, he didn't want to complain and cause problems for his sister.

"You're tired aren't you Mithos?" Martel said turning around. Mithos shook his head.

"I'm fine!" He smiled at her trying his best to look wide awake.

"Come here, I can carry you for a little way at least." Martel smiled back at him bent down so he could climb on her back. Mithos sighed as he let his sister give him a piggy back ride; he felt as if he'd failed her.

"Someday Martel, you're going to be able to depend on me! I'll help you instead of the other way around!" He told her determinedly.

"You do help me Mithos. I'd never be able to do this without you by my side. I'd be so lonely." His sisters words calmed him and Mithos snuggled into her back. He lay still for awhile breathing in the smell of his sister. He felt a rare feeling of contentment.

"Martel look!" Mithos had glanced up from his happy stupor to see a little town over the horizon. Martel looked up and smiled.

"Can you walk the rest of the way?" Mithos nodded and she put him down. He could tell his sister was exhausted from carrying him so he offered to take the bags. Laughing she called him a little gentleman and let him carry their things.

It wasn't long before they had reached the town and Mithos was disappointed to see that it was full of humans. They wouldn't find any half-elves here at least not free ones. He sighed and he felt Martel glance down at him. He tried to look excited so she wouldn't see his disappointment, but they both knew the thing they most disagreed on was humans.

"Where are you gonna persuade people?" Mithos asked his sister.

"There has to be somewhere where people congregate? If they don't have a church what else would they gather around. There aren't any festivals…" Martel's voice trailed off as she thought. Mithos's stomach growled.

"Food!" Both siblings chorused.

"Where there is food there will be people," Martel said.

"Especially since it's lunch time," Mithos added. They smiled at one another and then hurried into town to find a restaurant. Mithos looked around nervously, he was convinced that someone was going to recognize them as half-elves before Martel could even speak. It was very important to Martel that she get to preach, although they would undoubtedly be chased from the town before day's end, she wanted to at least speak first. Mithos walked in silence as he followed his sister he did not want to lose her in the crowd. Eventually Martel found what she was looking for. A little restaurant that was enjoying the lunch rush. She looked down at her brother and nodded, he nodded back and together they entered the building.

Mithos couldn't stand the smells. He was hungry and it all smelled so good. He had never eaten anything so good as what was served here. Mithos glanced around the warm restaurant as he quickly ate a roll from his pack. The little boy stood there distracted with the roll hanging out of his mouth. He could sense it, there was another half-elf in the restaurant. But as he looked around Mithos didn't see anything.

There weren't any slaves in the room. Just a lot of middle class workers and a handful of lower class workers who had decided to splurge. That was when he caught sight of one of the workers who was staring at his sister. Mithos followed his sister closely, he didn't like this guy or the way he was looking at Martel. But the thing that got Mithos the most was that he had the feeling this worker was the other half elf.

And now he was staring at Mithos, but he didn't look as happy.

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Yuan watched the little boy incredulously. That little brat couldn't be with her it wasn't fair. The child had blond hair that hung just a little below his shoulders. He was dressed as simply as the woman he followed, and he was carrying to bags that were a too big for him. The boy took hold of the woman's skirt and glared back at Yuan possessively.

"What are you looking at!" Kratos asked loudly, and Yuan was snapped from his staring contest with the child.

"Uh… Half-elf… That… that woman is a half-elf. I didn't know what she was doing in here. She doesn't look very rich."

"You could say the same about yourself. If they want to eat let them"

"What if they get caught?"

"What if we get caught?"

"But…" Yuan was interrupted as the woman stood up on a table and cleared her throat. The two men stopped arguing and turned to look. The entire restaurant was staring at her but she didn't seem to care.

"I'd like to speak to all of you about something you've begun to take for granted. This war has been going on for hundreds of years, but that does not make it a natural state. How many of you know why this war began? You may know why we are fighting now, but do you know why it started? This was a war between the humans and elves, not between the humans and half-elves. But somewhere along the lines it switched, the elves left the battlefields and the half-elves picked it up. Yet no one stopped to wonder how an enemy could change. We came up with a new reason to fight and continued.

"War is not a natural state and yet that is how we treat it. Do we like war? No, it further oppresses the oppressed and makes us live in fear. Half-elves, humans, even the elves hiding in their city, no one likes this war! But we keep dragging it out. We keep changing our reasons for fighting so that we can fight longer. We are going to be our own downfall. Already it has begun to happen! We have been killing one another for near a thousand years, but now we are beginning to go even farther. The weapons being developed to fight this war will be the down fall of every one of us. I fear for the Great tree. If we lose it, we lose everything.

"Now you may not want to listen to me. These things may be frightening and new. Or perhaps you cannot bring yourselves to trust a half-elf. But listen and…"

"You're a half-elf?" Everyone had been sitting in stunned silence as she spoke, no one had moved. They had all been shocked. But when the woman spoke of her race, the group had been brought into action. One man stood up and shouted and the rest of the restaurant followed suit.

Kratos and Yuan looked at one another. They nodded in silent agreement and then sprang into action. Yuan ran to the front of the restaurant and grabbed the woman by the wrist. Kratos took the little boy.

"Come on!" Yuan shouted and the four of them ran from the restaurant. The woman and Yuan were running very quickly, but the little boy could not keep up. Kratos picked him from the ground and sped up. Ahead of him Yuan dodged into the hotel and Kratos followed his lead. Outside the mob ran by.

"What was that?" The man at the desk asked looking out the window at the running mob.

"Some half-elves were spotted outside of town. They got riled up, we got caught in the crowd," Kratos told him. The man shook his head. Together the four walked up the stairs and entered into Kratos and Yuan's hotel room where Noishe looked up in surprise. They were all quiet as they caught their breaths.

"Who are you people!" The little boy finally shouted, panting as he looked up at the two friends angrily. Kratos opened his mouth ready to answer with some safe lie, but Yuan spoke first.

"I'm Yuan. This is Kratos. We're traveling around together looking for work. I wouldn't want to see a fellow half-elf hurt so I helped you. Kratos here is human, but he's a pretty decent guy. You've heard of his father, he's…"

"YUAN!" Kratos said. Yuan looked at his friend in surprise.

"What?"

Kratos just looked at him. Yuan stared back and averted his eyes.

"Sorry…"

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Martel stared. She watched the two men in amazement. They were looking at one another very expressively. As if they were having a conversation without speaking. As if they knew one another so well that no words were needed to get the point across. But that wasn't exactly why she was staring. She had found exactly what she had been looking for.

"I'm sorry we've caused you so much trouble. I was simply trying to spread my message of peace, but apparently I've caused even more trouble. I'd like to thank you. My name is Martel and this is my little brother Mithos. I…"

" Brother!" Yuan said excitedly. Martel looked up in surprise.

" Er, yes, brother…" The man's eyes shone as he laughed and repeated the word.

"Can you believe that Kratos. He's her brother. Her little brother," He turned to his friend , but the human only looked back in confusion.

"Yes, that's what she said…"

"What about it?" Mithos said moving toward the older half-elf. Sensing that Mithos wanted to fight, Martel took the back of his shirt and pulled him closer.

"Well, you were both very hopeful and I was wondering...if it's not to much trouble… Well you saw today that what we're doing can get dangerous, so… Will you travel with us for protection?" She asked.

Three of the males in the room stared at her in shock, the fourth barked happily.

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That chapter was longer than I expected. Don't get used to it! So anyway they've met now and everything is in place for them to carry out their life changing fates. Characterizing Martel and Mithos is more nerve wracking than characterizing Kratos and Yuan. Yuan was easiest, he's not too different from the game, just goofier and more relaxed. You know, at home Yuan instead of business Yuan, although he will get a little more serious. Kratos was only hard because I made him a little coward as a kid and I didn't want to offend any fellow Kratos fans. But Mithos, I have to make him a cute and somewhat likable little kid, but also a future evil. Sort of like Anakin Skywalker only I hope this is better than episode one. (I shudder at the thought of Jar-jar). Martel's hard too because, dammit she's a future goddess (sort of) and I have nothing but myth to base her on. That and Mithos's obsession. Hoped You liked it anyway.