Thanks Link Fangirl01, Infinatum, E, Eivexst, JRZTimeTravel and amaya no shiori for the reviews~! Please pardon me for the super late update. It always takes me a long time to update for some odd reason.
I'm never too sure if people like long chapters or short chapters, but from what I see, people like long chapters. I'll try to make them longer than what I'm posting but... yeah. I'll see how it goes. (I really doubt I could write 10k long chapters ahaha)
Oh, quick note - although I want to follow the storyline, things can't go linear because Lloyd can do things that changes the future (like not going to Martel Temple, etc.) - so be prepared for whatever I toss out since it'll be a bit different...
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Two: Dreams and Reality
Lloyd stared at the golden translucent text that floated in front of him.
New game?
He scowled. Not too sure what he was suppose to do with that, he tried to find other glimpses of text around the area. Maybe he needed to find the next hint to this 'game' so he could at least know where he is... Strolling around the vicinity, he inspected the area around the tree. Nothing. Shaking his head with disappointment, he jogs away towards another area...
The landscape had plants, plants and more plants! How far did it stretch? He had been roaming away from the tree for the last twenty minutes. Glancing back, he became quite baffled. It looked as if he only traveled a mere 10 meters! Weird. Getting back on task, he scrutinizes the branches of the bushes and parts of land that dip downward. Nothing at all. He growled. He had no clue what he was supposed to do! Briskly jogging back to the tree, he glares down on the floating text.
"New game." Nothing happens.
"Start game?" Nothing happens.
"Play!" Nothing happens.
"GRRRR!" Then it came to him. Face palming, he reaches out and touches the text, which then shimmers brighter. That made more sense. Falling to his knees as his consciousness slip away, he closes eyes...
...
So warm and soft. Waking up, the chestnut haired teen yawns. What a strange dream he had. Glancing around, he sees he's in his room. It had to be a dream, otherwise he wouldn't be back home but... if it wasn't...
Gasping, he remembers the faces of Genis and Colette. The desians at the temple. He had to make sure it was all a dream. Though he told himself that it had to be a dream (since he wouldn't be here at the moment if it wasn't), it felt too real. The pain. The shock. All of it. Leaping out of bed, he quickly packs his bag and fills it with his pencil and paper. As he prepares to rush to school, he sees the homework he copied from Genis laying on the floor. He shouldn't forget that now should he? Just in case... He goes downstairs, bag slung over his shoulder. Dirk wasn't in sight. He must be sleeping the teen told himself. Quickly jotting down a note telling his dad he's going to school early, Lloyd takes out a sandwich he made the previous night. He almost forgot he made that. With that, he goes outside and calls Noishe.
The dog came over and barked at him. Climbing up, he broods over his dream. It felt so real to him. What could it possibly have meant? There was something about that tree... It gave him this feeling of familiarity. Sighing, he pushes that thought to the side. He needed to see his two childhood friends to reassure him that it wasn't real. It was a bad dream. It had to be. He clenched his fists tighter around the dog's white fur. A dream... it had to be... it just... It had to be! He kept telling himself, but inside he knew he didn't really believe it. What if it was a sign? A prophecy? That would be impossible though... but it was too vivid to be pushed aside like some nightmare! He needed to talk to someone. Right now. It is only when he is told it was just a dream that he could push the feelings of guilt and regret of not being able to protect his friends... since dreams may make it impossible to do what one really wants to do. Feeling they were going too slow, Lloyd urged Noishe to go faster. The animal whines a bit before increasing its speed.
"I don't understand what it means..." The red clad swordsman whispered as Iselia came into view. Quickly dismounting the dog, he runs into the village and straight to the school. His heart was beating so loud. Everything is okay. Entering the classroom, his eyes dart around to see the small elf and his blond friend. They were nowhere to be seen. The other students simply stopped talking and stared at Lloyd a bit before continuing their conversations. He stood there, lost.
"Lloyd!" The said boy instantly whipped around, startling a certain blue clad elf. "W-wha-?" Relief flooded him. That's right. They wouldn't be here if they were dead! Right, right... The boy reprimanded himself for trusting his dream. Maybe all of the professor's lectures were causing brain damage. 'That would explain a lot!' the boy chuckled to himself, getting a confused gaze from Genis.
"What's so funny? Wait, never mind, don't answer that. I don't want to know." The boy says, slightly smiling. "Anyway, what are you doing here so early? I'm surprised that you even got here before me! That's definitely a first!"
"Ah, about that..." The humor on his face disappears as he recalls everything that had happened. Or rather, what he thought had happened. He had so much he wanted to say but the words simply wouldn't form. Seeing the evident distress on the dual swordsman's face, Genis frowns.
"What's wrong?"
"Well..." The boy starts but then reconsiders. He wouldn't want to get the attention of the others... he'll tell him later. "Can I tell you later? This isn't really a good place to say it."
"Oh. Okay." The elf replies, apprehension clearly seen on his face.
The two go to their seats. Looking at the clock, Lloyd muffled his shock. He actually came an HOUR early to class. He laughed nervously. Now the professor DEFINITELY wouldn't let him off for coming late to class... Finally noticing how tired he is, he yawns and rests his head on the desk. He worried too much about that dream. If Genis knew about it, he'd probably tease the brunette of overusing his brain or remark about the abuse to his 'rarely used' brain. Scoffing at the insults he just made at himself, he fiddles with his hair. It seems he forgot to push it up in its usually gravity defying fashion. Now it just drooped on his face, mid-length and spiky. That would explain why his classmates were staring at him when he arrived. And he forgot to wear his red jacket and gloves. And the overalls. Now he was only wearing a black tank top and blue jeans, held up by two belts. Wonderful. He remembers one thing to forget about another. At least he brought his swords. Sighing, he pushes himself off the desk and gaze over to Genis, who was mumbling to himself.
"... rble is doing... I hope she's okay..." With his curious perked, Lloyd walks over to Genis' desk, which is to the front right of his.
"What's up? You look a bit frustrated."
"Oh. I-it's nothing!"The boy stammers, and then refuses to make eye contact with the swordsman.
"Huh? Well, if you don't want to talk about it, then you don't have to." He smiles, before continuing, "Do you want to hang out later today at my place?"
"Sure!" The elf grins. Moments later, he has a pondering look. "Hey... did you finish making Colette's birthday present?"
One thought came to Lloyd's mind: Oh shit.
"U-uhhhhhh... I'm almost done!" Genis gave him deadpan stare, soon let out a jaded sigh.
"Riiiiiiight."
"I'll have it done after school! If I work on it from that time to late afternoon it should be fine!"
"If you say so... I'll give her my present when you're gone just so you don't embarrass yourself." Lloyd sheepishly grins.
"Good morning!" Colette happily chirps as she walks over to the two boys who wave at her.
"Morning Colette!" The blond girl has an expression Lloyd can't really categorize. Huh. Did she have a fever or something? With concern, he reaches out and presses his hand on her forehead, checking her temperature.
"W-Wha?" The girl stammers, turning a deeper red. Lloyd gives her a sheepish grin, it seems she doesn't have a fever! Somehow, the girl always managed to worry him. "What is it Lloyd?"
"Just worried that you were feeling sick, y' know? You're face was flushed so I thought you had a fever or something!" The dual swordsman smiles humorously.
"I'm fine! Thanks for your concern." The chosen smiled.
"Glad to know." Lloyd says.
"Ehem." Turning towards Genis, Lloyd gives him an inquisitive look. The boy chuckles as he says,"If you guys are going to flirt, can you do it somewhere else?" Lloyd stared blankly at the boy while a certain somebody flushes.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Genis face palms and Colette simply looks away. "Hey! Don't leave me out!"
"Sorry Lloyd, but you're gonna have to figure this one out on your own." The elf laughs.
"Aww, come on!"
"Ask Colette!"
"E-eh?"
Once again, the swordsman had an inquisitive look as he gazed at his blond friend, who was now retreating to her desk. He groaned. Why didn't anyone want to tell him what Genis meant? Well... he DID know what flirting was, but what did it have to do with him? Eh, whatever. Checking the time again, he noticed they still had a long time more until class began. He might as well practice his sword techniques. Never know when those desian bastards would come and attack them. Heading away from his friend, who was toppled over and shaking from laughter, he leaves the classroom.
Outside, he had to do everything to keep himself on commenting how beautiful the sky looked. And how it eerily looked like yester- errr, the dream. Weird. Well... EVERYTHING about today was weird to him. Like him actually waking up in the morning to forgetting to wear his red clothing! He even brought the homework he copied this time! Shaking the thoughts away, he goes to find a spot near the school to practice. Swinging his swords around in a fluid motion, he fights against the image of that desian from him dream.
Dodge to the left. Watch out for his kicks and slash diagonally. Concentrate on your enemy...
"LLOYD! WATCH OUT!"
Whipping around, he sees an all too familiar scene - monsters entering the village. That was just great. After his short warm up, he rushes at the pack, quickly sending two wolves skidding on the dirt with a diagonal spin. With a demon fang, he impeded the entrance of a third monster. Taking advantage of the enemies stagger, he darts towards the wolves, thrusting his wooden blade into one's head, promptly killing it. With his other blade, he smashes the other wolf's head to the ground, a slight crack audible under its short yip of pain. Once it went motionless, Lloyd turns to the last monster, which is charging straight for him. Taking it out with a few demon fangs, he growls. Through the window, he sees the worried faces of his friends, as well as the anxious ones of his classmates.
Breathing out with released tension, he sheaths his swords and turns to go to class, but stops. He gaged on the air he breathed. Across the village near the exit by Iselia Forest, he sees a brigade of people, each clad in a burgundy suit with metal guards on them. Their familiar helms brought a twisting feel to his gut.
"D-DESIANS!" He hears a scream as the people outside the shops and homes scatter, entering vacant houses and going into a total lockdown.
Lloyd freezes as he sees who is leading the group.
A man with spiky brown hair and a white robe-like armor. The same man from his dream. Every event from his dream at Martel Temple flashed before his eyes. With burning ire, he subconsciously approaches the group, barely hearing his friends cry out with alarm. Drawing both swords, he stood in the way of the group, glaring the bunch down. The leader gave the boy a surprised expression, almost as if it was from recognition, but it quickly faded away to an expression Lloyd couldn't read.
"What do you desians want?" The boy hisses, continuing his glare on the leader.
"It is none of your concern human!" One of the troops said, scoffing at Lloyd's question. Another quickly adds, "We have no reason to tell you. Now tell us where the chosen is if you wish to keep that head of yours!"
"Over my dead body!" Taking the first strike with a demon fang, the black-topped boy rushes the brigade, narrowly dodging a few arrows aimed at his vitals. Twisting away from another desian, he slashes another down to the ground. He grunts with mild irritation as his left arm, which had a pretty deep gash on it, throbbed. Gasping as the air in his lungs is painfully forced out from a heavy kick, he crashes against a nearby tree. Ouch. It definitely didn't help that he didn't have the cushion of his red jacket, not that it would've made a huge difference. Staggering to his feet, the brunette flings himself forward into another clash with the desian group.
Dodge under and sweep to the right...
Slash out with both blades - avoid that falling body!
Spin... jump... dodge...
The adrenaline pumped in Lloyd's blood as he made his way for a certain brown haired desian. Now face-to-face, he glares, growling with frustration. He felt himself being pushed back. Not wanting to give in, he leaps back and -
WHAM!
"Argh!" Whatever he hit, it was forced back a bit but then stopped moving. Coming out of his short disorientation, his auburn eyes flick to meet another set of eyes of the same shade.
"Get out of the way."
"W-wha-" The teen is pushed behind the man as he steps forward to confront the desian. Staring at that back, Lloyd couldn't help but feel slight nostalgia... but quickly shook away the feeling because it was impossible to feel that way with a stranger... right? Yup. Had to be. He could think of it later. Right now... he had some desian ass to kick!
He was about to join in the fight with this purple clad swordsman but realized that his friends were rushing towards him. Not good! He quickly put himself between them and the desian, whose attention was suddenly on Colette.
Think Lloyd! Think! AGH. WHY WASN'T HIS BRAIN WORKING RIGHT NOW?
He wanted to get back at the desian, even though he was just a resemblance of his dream enemy... or... uhh... Lloyd started to confuse himself. Never mind that, he sheathed both of his swords and grabbed each of his friends by the wrist. It was now or never - he didn't like the foul taste in his mouth. He just knew that if he didn't take them to another place, the same thing that happened in his dream might occur and become reality!
"L-Lloyd?" His friends shout as he drags them away out of Iselia in the direction of Martel Temple. With a glance back as they escape, he sees the desians the mysterious man couldn't block chase them. Damn it!
"You guys - go ahead and hide in the temple! I gotta slow these guys down, otherwise none of us with make it out alive!"
"Wha? No! We can't leave you behind!" The blond girl gasped, ceasing her run along with the short elf.
"Yeah Lloyd! Besides, you're outnumbered, 15 to 1 if you try it!"
"You guys-!" Lloyd groans.
To stay or not to stay.
He decided not to stay.
The temple was their best bet. They could do something there! He just felt it! He'd have to ask the other two if they can make up a plan to beat these guys there 'cuz he had no clue whatsoever.
"Agh - never mind! Let's get out of here! OH! I GOT AN IDEA!" Lloyd shouts as they set off in another sprint.
"WHAT IS IT LLOYD?" Genis huffs, stumbling occassionally.
"HOW ABOUT I CARRY YOU WHILE YOU CASTS MAGIC?"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WITH THE WAY YOUR RUNNING, IT'LL JUST BREAK MY CONCENTRATION!"
"LET'S TRY ANYWAY!"
"W-WAIT LLO- HEY! PUT ME DOWN!"
"HAHA - I GOT A MAGIC WEAPON NOW!"
"LLOYD! THIS ISN'T FUNNY! WE'RE GONNA DIEEEEEEE!"
"THEN START CASTING! IF YOU SET EVERYTHING ON FIRE-"
"-WE'LL GET BURNED TO A CRISP TOO! THIS SIDE OF THE FOREST IS SUPER DRY! SIS IS GOING TO KILL ME IF SHE FINDS OUT I STARTED A FOREST FIRE!"
"I DON'T THINK THAT MATTERS AT THIS POINT GE- AHHHHHHHHH!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHH! LLOYD! DODGE DODGE DODGE! WE'RE ALL GONNA TO DIEEEEE!"
"J-JUST START CASTING!"
"F-FIREBALL!"
None of them could believe it. What would've been Genis' normal sized fireball turned out to be one huge ball of hell going straight for a dry patch of grass (I'm sorry grass! Lloyd calls).
"W-what the h- AGHH!" The screams of many desians could be heard through the vicious flicks of the fires, which were quickly spreading. Lloyd picks Colette up and runs faster than he thought he could. The flames quickly chase after the teens, eating the dried and withering brambles and plants. Lloyd thought the priests said they kept this area moist to prevent massive fires!
By the time the three arrived at Martel Temple, Lloyd was sweating waterfalls, being the one who did all the running (it was a far distance). He collapses to the ground to take a break, his friends also sitting down, quite baffled at what just happened.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Raine's gonna kill us all."
The two boys groan while Colette just laughs nervously. They could all see the smoke billowing towards the sky. A lot of it in fact. It didn't help that they could see the fire they (rather Genis) made.
"I hope it doesn't reach Iselia..." Colette murmurs.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"We're dead aren't we?"
"...yeah."
"Eh... there's nothing we can do. Let's go to the temple. The oracle came didn't it?"
"... what are you talking about Lloyd?" The silver hair mage questions, scrunching his brows in confusion. "It didn't..."
"Whaaa? Oh-" The oracle came in his dream. Right... right... he seriously needed to forget about that dream. It was totally messing him up big time. Well -
A bright light shines and floats down towards the temple.
"Wooooow..." Genis mutters as he follows after his best friend, who darts up the stairs behind Colette.
"Colette!" An old woman says, approaching the teens.
"Grandmother! Are you alright?" Colette said quite worried. "Did the desians come here?"
"No...?" Phaedra gave Colette an inquisitive look before turning to the two boys.
"The desians were looking for Colette! They could be here soon... so I think we should go in the temple and lock the door. At least this will stall them." Lloyd says, rubbing his temple. The others silently agreed, entering the structure.
As they entered, the teens glance around wary about the atmosphere. It had a sense of danger and bloodlust. The priests that were Colette's bodyguards kept a protective circle around the girl, staves in hand and eyes glancing at the distance.
They continued towards the alter, but saw that it was blocked by a barrier.
"Huh. What're we going to do about this?"
"Oh! I think we need the sorcerer's ring to get rid of it!"
"I see... so where do we get it?"
"I believe it was further in the temple..."
"O-oh. Okay... so which way...?"
"Ummm... I think it was that way?"
"..."
"..."
"Heh heh... sorry..."
Their footsteps were the only thing breaking the silence. No one felt compelled to talk, but the tension in the air was suffocating. There were monsters crawling all over the temple. After many battles, they were met with... a dead end.
Sighing, they had to retrace where they came from earlier. This time around though, they did find a staircase. With much needed caution, they began to proceed but jumped when they heard an extremely loud crash...
"T-that was from the front of the temple, right?" Genis exclaims, slightly going pale.
"I- I think so?" Lloyd replies, brows furrowing.
"Do you think it's the desians? We'll be trapped if they follow us this way!"
"We need to pick up the pace and look for an escape route just incase."
They entered a room, standing on translucent tiles that kept them above the dark pit bellow. There were spaces at various locations, gaining the interest of the different group members. As they continued to inspect the area, they noticed a sparkle at an alter.
"Ah! That's the sorcerer's ring!" Colette chirped. The others nodded towards each other.
"So... how are we suppose to get it? There's no pathway to get there..." Lloyd mumbles, rubbing his neck.
"There's probably some sort of mechanism that will open up a path for us." Genis says, glancing around.
"Well... say we don't find this 'mechanism'... I could always throw you to the alter!" Lloyd says, eyes brightening with his idea. He's a genius!
"Umm... Lloyd? THAT'S JUST STUPID! Are you an idiot? Wait, do I even need to ask?" Genis sighs, Lloyd giving him an irked expression, challenging him to explain himself. Genis deadpans, "Even if I got there, how the heck am I suppose to get back?"
"... Oh."
"'Oh' indeed Lloyd..." Genis face palms.
"Well... I guess we can only look for some sort of puzzle?" Lloyd asks, turning to Colette and quickly pales.
"Watch out!" Quickly gaining the attention of the others, they too begin to panic seeing the girl curiously look at a huge golem.
The fight itself wasn't extremely difficult since there were 10 of them and only one of it. Genis' water magic did a great deal of damage, quickening the golem's defeat. As soon as the monster died, it turned into a stone cube, as big as Lloyd.
As the group gathered around, they looked at it. Colette, being the klutz she is, tripped, shoving the block towards the unfortunate Lloyd, who was unfortunately standing in front of the huge hole on the ground... Things weren't really looking so good now.
With a startled yelp, he falls through the hole and lands painfully on the stone pavement.
"Oww... eh...?" The poor boy looks up as a shadow blocks out the light. He could hear the horrified screams of his friends and the priests as the cube came down upon him.
'Everything was over...' was what Lloyd thought as he squeezed his eyes shut...
...
...
"AAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Lloyd felt his voice rip out from his throat. He rolled around, the pain of being crushed still imprinted in his mind... wait...
He stopped rolling around.
What the hell?
Now on his stomach, he opens his closed eyes, light blinding him. Why the heck did that feel like deja vu? As the world became more vivid, replacing the dancing blobs of color, he felt his jaw drop with dismay and horror.
In front of him was that same tree...
and those same damn translucent golden words:
New Game.
- Chapter Two END -
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