Disclaimer: Don't own Tales of Symphonia, not at all.

Rating: M (won't appear until after a few chapters, so it's T otherwise)

A look at what might have happened after the ending of Dawn of the New World (spoilers for the True ending).


The next morning

Emil gasped, sitting upright, heart pounding a little - for some reason, he expected to see Alice standing over him, holding up Decus's giant sword to kill him.

Instead, he saw a modest-sized room, filled with every function you could need in a house. Breathing slowly, he slowly glanced around, his eyes falling upon Marta, who was laying asleep in bed on the other side of the room. He slowly calmed as he looked at her sleeping form, a tender smile coming to his face. She looked so peaceful, so... so pretty, when she was sleeping. He blinked as he realized what he was thinking, then blushed as he slowly got out of bed, trying to stretch away this lingering 'nightmare shock'. As he did so, he glanced at Marta again. Much like they had on their journey, they simply slept in their normal outfits, his in particular resistant to any effects that might ruin it or make things smell bad.

Just then it hit him again, that he was still here, with Marta... it almost didn't seem real, which he hoped would go away soon...

Then he glanced at the time, and found that they would need to get ready soon.

"Tenebrae?" he whispered to the air quietly.

The Centurion of Darkness puffed into existence in front of him. "You called, Lord Emil?" he said, also quietly, aware of the sleeping Marta.

"Wake her up for me, Tenebrae" he said, walking toward the bathroom. "I'm gonna shower before we go to the trial."

"Understood" Tenebrae said, slowly floating over toward Marta, while he went into the bathroom. Inside, he turned on the hot water, though he waited ten seconds before he stepped in, to make sure it was really hot - a mere thought made his clothes disappear into the darkness.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside, breathing out at the feel of hot water. "The trial's today" he thought slowly, closing his eyes, trying to let it wash over everything he felt. "What will happen? Brute may not have done those horrible things by his decision, but they won't just let him go with a warning... what if he's sentenced to... to death? And what about Marta?"

The thoughts saddened him. "She herself said she'll face her sentence... but what will happen if they're both put in jail? What will I do?"

He sighed slowly in the hot water, wondering about the trial. He'd do his best to speak in their defense, as everyone of their friends would, but what would the ultimate decision be?

That he worried about, a lot - he'd just gotten here, and wanted to be with Marta.

"Well- well we're just gonna have to do our best" he thought, aiming for a bit of confidence. "That's all we can hope to do."


Emil, Tenebrae, and everyone single one of their closest friends waited in front of the inn in Altamira. They were serious, even a bit grim, knowing today would decide Marta and her father's fate. At last, the doors opened, and Marta stepped forward, her father in tow. He was strong enough to walk, but he was still recovering from what Decus did to him, so she supported her father as they walked.

"We're ready" Marta said, her expression nervous and a little sad, but determined.

Emil nodded to her, walking up to her side, touching a hand to her shoulder. "Marta" he breathed, not sure what he wanted to say, but hoping it would help anyway-

-it appeared too, as she touched a hand to his. "Thank you, Emil" she breathed, still weighed down, but appreciative.

He nodded, relieved, before turning toward the others. "It's time" he breathed, all of them nodding- they didn't say anything, but their support was clear in their expressions.

Soon enough, all of them walked to where they had parked their Rheairds, including the spare ones they were borrowing from the Lezarano Company. They were slower, no one looking forward to the upcoming event, but they walked toward them all the same. Minutes later, they flew through the air, everyone in separate Rheairds except for Emil and Brute, the latter having requested this.

Up in the air, Emil glanced around the clouds (the Rheaird was flying itself, all it needed was a destination), and there was barely any sound of rushing wind- wait. There was the sound of laughter, and he looked to his side... it was Marta who was laughing, her hair whipping in the wind. She was enjoying the ride, which surprised him; the first time they had gotten Rheairds (shortly before going to see Verius), Marta had been disgruntled about them. Then it occurred to him that she hadn't been happy about the fact that he or Ratatosk might disappear, once they combined themselves... so she hadn't even noticed the flights before? Because of worry about his two sides disappearing, and later, the worry of facing Richter, Alice, Decus and Aqua in the Ginnunugagup?

"Now it makes sense" he thought, looking at her with a small smile - maybe it was strange she could be able to laugh right now, but it was probably for the best, to help let out those feelings she's bottling up.

Emil blinked when he heard a sigh behind him, and he glanced at Brute.

The former commander was looking out at his daughter, a smile coming to his face. "That's the first time in a long while that I've seen her so happy..." he said, almost to himself - then he noticed Emil watching him, and he looked back. "Take good care of her, Emil" he said, soft but serious at the same time.

He blushed faintly for a sec, but he nodded. "I will, sir" he said softly.

After that, Brute continued tenderly looking at his daughter, almost like it might be the last time.


The door's opened, and they all started walking inside, floating in Tenebrae's case. The room was large, filled on both sides with nobles, who would mostly watch the trial, but had the right to speak during certain parts, along with some knights just in case anything broke out. Along the end of the room, sat the judge on his seat, a row of seats for the jury, and His Majesty himself sitting on the other side (who was personally visiting, not officially.

Emil and everyone but Marta, Tenebrae and Brute took their seats in the front. Tenebrae was content to sit by Brute's side, not that anyone opposed this - though they were some confused murmuring, for those who had no idea what he was. With Marta's help, Brute slowly sat down on his place, Marta holding his hand for moments longer, before she slowly pulled away, to take her own place.

And with that, the court hearing began.

Brute went first.

"I am guilty" he said, standing up, letting out a sigh. "For everything I have done; there is no denying that. I may have been under the influence of Solum's core, and thus my mind was not sane, but the fact remains."

"Solum's core was dormant when he possessed it" Tenebrae added, ears flicking. "Dormant Centurion's cores are known to cause insanity to unprotected humans. Brute would not have come to his sanity if not for the actions of Emil, and his daughter, Marta. In addition, Marta's initial actions of leaving the Vanguard with Ratatosk's core prevented him from doing even worse things, such as firing off a mana cannon, which could have destroyed Meltokio.

This had caused a level of discussion among people, though of course it had to be toned down- in the front row, Sheena's expression flickered, for she had firsthand knowledge of that weapon.

Marta was next.

"I'm guilty too" she breathed, voice flickering- Tenebrae floated closer to her. "If I had just confronted my father sooner, I might have stopped more of the Vanguard's actions. But despite my having been a part of the Vanguard, I don't regret running with Ratatosk's core - it's what started my journey, and what allowed us to help the world's imbalance in the first place."

Everyone of her friends stepped in on her behalf, speaking of all the good deeds she and Emil had done across the reunited worlds. Everyone stood up for her, with even Seles putting a few words on her behalf, saying she risked a lot to save her from Decus, who had been posing as Lloyd at the time. Despite this, there was an underlying trend in the majority of the watchers, for they were born Tethe'alla's- despite the group's actions of saving the world the first time, they looked at the Sylvarant ones with some skepticism. However, the weight of Zelos' endorsing both their worlds, being completely serious, soon drove them to reconsider the views, albeit reluctantly.

The jury discussed this at length, then one of them asked Marta directly: "While we are aware of your and Brute's actions, what are the fates of Alice, Decus, Richter, Magnar, and Hawk? They, besides you two, were the most prominent members of the Vanguard"

Marta looked up, her eyes determined to face whatever they threw at her. "Magnar is still out there somewhere, but we're looking" she said, voice stronger as she went on. "Hawk is dead, struck down by accident by my father, while he was influenced by Solum's core... Alice and Decus are also dead, struck down by me and Emil, in necessary self-defense, though we regret having to do so... Richter will not be coming back to this world for the next 1,000 years."

His Majesty spoke up, to many's surprise. "Why?" he asked. "From all that we've heard, Richter is the one ultimately responsible for everything that has happened to the world lately, including the militant turn of the Vanguard. Why will he not face his crimes?"

"Because he's doing something far more important" Emil spoke, all eyes turning to him as he stood up. "Richter is in the Ginnungagap" he continued, his voice unafraid, if with little flickers. "He is guarding the door to the demonic realm, burning his own mana and body to keep the demons at bay, aiding Ratatosk in this endeavor. He is facing unimaginable pain to atone for his crimes, and to protect our world. He will be doing so for 1,000 years, as Marta said, or as long as his body can last."

"Indeed" Tenebrae added. "Without Richter's assistance, this realm might just fall to the demonic realm, and I doubt anyone wants that."

As surprising as the statements had been, they had been considered by the jury, though some confusion remained... Minutes later, the jury's judgement was ready to be delivered.

Marta, Brute, and their friends all stood still, waiting.

"Marta Lualdi" one of the the jury said, making Marta look up. Despite her determination to remain still, she shuddered, and a few tears brimmed in her eyes.

"We of the jury find you... not guilty" he announced, looking at her. "Due in part to your efforts, you are cleared of all charges."

Marta just stood there shocked, and that was about it, while her friends visibly and audibly relaxed- Tenebrae was silent, but his eyes did close in the latter. The reaction of the crowd nobles was mixed, considering she had been part of the Vanguard, but that didn't matter much to anyone important.

Marta meanwhile, felt a touch on her arm; her father's - she staggered over toward him, hugging him hard, even as tears fell slowly.

"Brute Lualdi" the jury said again, and this time the entire room become still. Marta slowly looked up, eyes still teary but trying to be strong as she slowly pulled away from her father. Brute himself was determined, standing up, looking up at the jury himself.

"We of the jury find you... guilty" he said, glancing down at them.

The nobles in general reacted with favoritism to this, wanting someone to pay for the Vanguard's actions. Emil, Tenebrae, Lloyd, Sheena, Zelos, Regal, Presea, Raine, Genis, Colette, and Seles were not among those cheering.

The judge then spoke, once order had been called: "Brute Lualdi, you have been found guilty of the crimes you're accused of" he said sternly, as was his job. "However, you have admitted guilty, and because of certain circumstances regarding Solum's core... I rule that your sentence be five years in Meltokio's prison."

While the nobles were again mixed about the sentence, the others were just relieved at the 'little' sentence.


The court was settled, and business was concluded, and Brute was taken away after one last hug with his daughter.

Marta stood outside, seeming completely dazed, and she hadn't reacted to anyone's attempts to talk/cheer her up - they all looked between each other.

Emil slowly approached her, lightly touching her shoulder. "Marta... are you okay?" he asked hesitantly.

"No" she said with a small rasp, as if she had been crying, without looking. "But I guess... I will be" she said, slowly turning around. Her eyes were still teary as he'd thought, which made him a little sad.

She continued: "I'm relieved that I got off clean... and I'm sad to see my father put in jail, even though I knew it was gonna happen, but... I'm also happy, that his sentence is so short, that I can see him again... not just during visitor's hours, but truly after five years" Marta whispered, tears falling. She looked down, voice uncertain. "I'm just... not sure what to do."

"Then..." Emil breathed, figuring out what to say, then his tone become gentle. "Then how about we just take this one day at a time... starting with tomorrow, when we go visit your father. You can even cook for him, if you want to. You've gotten a lot better, you know."

She looked up at him, eyes even more teary... then she rushed at him and clung to him, he instinctively holding her close, while surprised.

"That sounds... lovely, Emil" she rasped, then she started to shake, sobbing in his arms.

Emil stood there, gently comforting her as the cried. Their friends stood just apart, silent but sympathetic, giving her this moment.


Poor girl, but we all knew this was coming.

Still, Brute will not be completely forgotten. Next chapter, they'll visit him in prison, along with Marta's cooking just for him. Will also include an after-work scene with Emil and Marta ('work' being their years-long tasks across the reunited worlds).