Disclaimer: I don't own tales of symphonia, although, I lost interest in it a long time ago. But I hate half-assed authors who start to write a story then stop. When you start to write you're committed. Anyways... that's my rant for the day! I hope you enjoy this chapter! :)

Chapter 4

Cheresea and Sari stood at the edge of the water, waving good-bye to Willow, Sky, Ginny, and Tracy. Their boat shrank into the distance as Cheresea reflected on there embarrassing request for a ride to Izoold.

Upon realizing that the dynamic duo would have to cross seas in order to get to Izoold, they decided to call on one more favor from the four travelers. Hoping that they had not already set sail the girls ran for the port they had been before. As luck would have it the unique travelers had not yet left.

"Well hello again, friends!" said Willow to a breathless Brunette and redhead.

"Hi." Cheresea panted. "Could we have one more favor?"

"Of coarse." Sky replied.

"We need a ride to Izoold..." Sari trailed of biting her lip

"It's on the way to were we're headed. We'll gladly take you there." Tracy stated.

Cheresea, who is clumsy enough to classify as disabled, tripped while trying to get into the boat and fell in to the water. The girls burst in to laughter and Sari, trying to stifle giggles, helped Cheresea out of the water. After being dried and given dry clothes the youngest Aurion still had a faint blush. Cheresea walked on to the deck and spotted Sari. She was looking very green while she slumped against the railing.

"Are you alright?" Cheresea asked.

Sari gave her an exasperated look. "Do I look alright?"

"I'm sorry. That was a dumb question." Said Cheresea.

"I'll be fine once I get off the boat." Sari turned to Ginny who was looking out to the horizon. "How much longer until were there?"

Ginny gave her a sympathetic look and told her it would be two more hours until they were there. Sari groaned then turned and upchucked in to the sea. Needless it was a very long and embarrassing two hours.

"Cheresea!" Sari snapped her figures in front of Cheresea's face.

"What?"

"Were you listening to me at all?"

"Um," Cheresea hesitated "no..." Sari sighed.

"I was just saying what if we do find her and she doesn't want me?" Sari said in a small voice. Cheresea wrapped her arms around her best friend. She didn't know what to say to console and reassure her. It was possible that Olvia Charin didn't want her daughter, but turning away now from the journey was not an option. Cheresea grabbed Sari's hand and lead her toward the tiny village of Izoold.

Cheresea was always eager to see new places. Her eyes feasted on the sight which was Izoold. The tiny little town had a charm which fascinated her. Cheresea glanced at Sari who was shaking like a leaf.

"Deep breaths Sari. Everything will be fine. If nothing else you still have your dad and all your friends." Sari started to visibly relax.

"Your right." She stated. "I guess I just need closure."

The walked over to a man at a market.

"Excuse me." Said Sari timidly. "Can you tell us where we can find the Charins?"

The man glanced up at from the fish he was chopping at the mention of the word "Charin". He glanced from Cheresea to Sari then continued to chop the fish.

"Not many folks come around to visit Miss Charin. This is unexpected."

Sari's heart leapt at the conformation that her mother still lived here.

"Where does she live?"

The man gave directions to her house (which were very simple due to the size of the village) and the two girls were on there way. They walked up the steps to a wooden door. Sari took a deep breath again then knocked on the door. There was a minute of silence before the door opened and a woman with long brown hair and brown eyes looked at them. She seemed quite surprised to see them there.

"Can I help you?" She asked

"Are you Olvia Charin?" Sari asked nervously.

The woman looked at Sari cautiously then asked "What do you want with Olvia Charin?"

"She's my mother." Sari said bluntly.

A look of comprehension crossed the woman's face but was soon replaced with sorrow. She nervously twisted her hands together. "Come in dear."

Sari and Cheresea followed the woman in to a rather shabby looking house. She lead them in to the living room. The two friends seated themselves on the couch and the woman sat in a chair opposite of them.

"We have so much to discus dear. Oh, this is so unexpected." The woman said.

"Areyou my mother?" Sari asked.

"No. I'm your aunt. My name is Jade Charin. Olvia was my twin sister."

Sari sighed and looked down at her hands. "Not to be rude, but could you please tell me where Olvia is? My friend and I have been on a very long journey to find her and we're not leaving until we see her."

The woman's eyes misted slightly. "I'm so sorry dear. Olvia died twelve years ago."

A stunned and awkward silence filled the room. "Are you girl's hungry? I could get you some sandwiches." No response came. "I suppose I should tell you my story" Said Jade.

"Growing up Olvia and I were as different as night and day. I was the shy, brainy one while Olvia was the wild, popular one. I swear, even though we were identically, she was the prettier one too. Olvia was never single for long and also never had a boyfriend for any long length of time. The usual boys she brought home were total losers and she broke their hearts within a couple of weeks."

Jade looked up and saw Sari's face full of disappointment. "Don't get me wrong." She added hastily. "Olvia was a very sweet person with a hot temper. She just made the wrong choices when it came to boys." This seemed to cheer Sari up a bit.

"Anyways, one day Olvia came home all giddy and happy. All she could talk about was this traveler that she had hooked up with. 'Mithos is so handsome.', 'Mithos so smart', 'Mithos is so funny'." Jade mimicked in what must have been Olvia's voice.

"We thought it was just one of her usual boys that would be history at the end of next week. But weeks turned in to months and she was still with him. One day when we were 19, I woke up to find her missing. A note on the kitchen table told us that she had run away to elope with Mithos. My daddy was furious. He put up missing signs and got search parties together. No one ever found them. We never got a message from Olvia telling us she was alright. My parents worrying over their daughter drove them in to a early grave. My daddy died of a heart attack within 5 months of Olivia's absence. My mom followed shortly after from a stroke." Grief filled Jade's face as she told them this. Sari got up and gave her aunt a hug, even though she had only known her twenty minutes. Jade calmed down and continued her story.

"Olvia was gone for a year. When she returned home she wasn't the same person I remembered. She was so thin and had dark circles around her eyes. She became very shy even around me. Telling her of our parent's deaths only made this worse. She was depressed. I tried to ask her what had happened while she was away, but she only told me she did something unforgivable. I asked her about Mithos and she said she left him and gave no reasons why. I could tell that she still loved him and regretted doing whatever she did. She became very weak and died two months after her return. The doctors told me they didn't know what had killed her, but I know it was a broken heart."

Tears rolled down Jade's and Sari's cheeks. They held each other until they felt able to speak.

"My birth was such a horrible thing? Why did she regret having me so much it killed her? I don't understand!" Sari wailed.

"No honey, she didn't regret having you. She regretted passing on the Charin curse. She regretted making your life miserable right from the start. Olivia and I swore a long time ago that the Charin curse would die out with us. We were the last Charins in the family beside mom and daddy so we swore never to have kids."

Relief washed over Sari as they dried there tears. The rest of the visit Sari wanted to know more about her mothers past. They talked for many hours until Jade told them the time. Sari didn't want to leave but going home was inevitable. They bid farewell and Jade told Sari that just because Olvia was no longer alive was no reason that she shouldn't visit. Sari promised to visit her soon with her father. Jade seemed uncomfortable at the idea of Mithos coming but promised she would try to like him.

Cheresea and Sari had just gotten out of Izoold when two rheaird landed near by and Lloyd and Mithos came running at them. There voices tangled together in a blur of concern and anger

"Are you alright?"

"You're not hurt are you?"

"We were so worried!"

"Don't ever do that again!"

"You're grounded for the next month!"

"Just wait until we get home! You'll be sorry!"

"What were you thinking?"

"Dad hush!" Sari shouted to make herself herd. "You can punish us when we get home but right now let's just take a moment for ourselves."

Mithos calmed down and agreed. As they climbed on to their rheairds Mithos asked "how's your mother these days?" Sari held on to Mithos waist as they took off and responded "she's doing well". She knew she would have to tell him the truth, but right now she just wanted to enjoy this moment with her dad.

Alright! It's done! Finally!

Please read and review! Hope you enjoyed my story even if you consider it to be a little corny. :)

Peace out!