Anna Chapter 4: Talking and Falling, a tales of symphonia fanfic

Anna

(A tale by Sealeena)

Chapter Four: Talking and Falling

Anna

One-hundred and twelve divided by three is 37.3 repeating. Of course, that's only the stupid zombies and they usually don't mean anything. The thing we have to worry about most is the mage and since Ace and I are not a high enough level, we're probably going to have to count on Kratos to help us fight him/her.

I don't know if that's going to be a good thing or not. I mean, I get to kill a hell of a lot of things, but then again I get to kill a hell of a lot of things. Either way, I feel pretty sure that I'm going to come out the on top, even if I don' survive. Either way, I'll be going out with a damn big bang.

That is what I like to know.

Fighting has always been my strongest point. Kvar and even Ace admits that it was as if I was born to fight, sword wielded and ready right out of the womb. Even when first coming to the ranch, I was ready to fight on the first day, fists raised, getting a black eye, and thrown into a small cell almost immediately; the fire hasn't died though. I love the adrenaline I get whenever there's the danger involved: we might die. We could very well die, but to go out into the open with one-hundred and twelve zombies, swords flashing through decayed flesh, blood flying through the air whether it is theirs or ours, that gives me a certain thrill that I don't think can ever be topped.

Ever.

"Be ready." It's the only warning from Kratos before we burst into the open and the hunched forms of the zombies loom before me. I am on the shorter side, after all, and my little frame compared to a creature standing at six feet or higher can be daunting, especially when there are a lot of them. "Anna, make sure to knock them down so they can't swipe you." It's a whisper in my ear before he rushes off and dives in, where almost immediately zombie parts fly up into the air.

Oh Martel, my blood is so warm and I think it's possible my ear could burst from what he did.

How is that possible?

He just whispered into my ear, just a short blast of hot, moist breath.

A pile of ten or twelve zombies is to my left. No more time to think. I rush in, my swords dragging slightly behind me, the wind in my face, stinging my eyes, tossing my hair wildly into the air. The first one lunges with a lazy punch, I dodge, I come up on the right side and elbow it hard, bone crunching against my skin as I smash its ribs in and the green blood that flows through its veins goes flying into the air, splaying in a wide arc.

Then I think, if I was born to fight, why did I allow Mommy to be killed by Kratos? Why did seeing the life fade from her eyes calm me so? It was as if I was fine with whatever fate was thrown out at me, as long as Kratos would be there with his big, brown eyes that seemed to hold the world itself. If he would just hold my hand like he did before so surprisingly gentle, the calluses, rough skin brushing up against mine and sending that strange fire through it; strange but beautiful indeed, and oh so wonderfully sweet. It is sweeter than I thought it possible, could have even imagined.

Goddess Martel. That was fucking--

Zombie!

My left is my slightly weak side and it's a strain on me as I flip up and smash my sword hilt into its forehead as hard as I can. I assume that's quite a bit. Well, it's more than a human's possibility and the result is green blood and bone again. The face is completely destroyed and I feel beyond accomplished. Ah Goddess, I feel all powerful, like I'm a completely different creature, as if I'm not meant to be in this world at all.

Exspheres are so cool...!

Kratos

Almost three quarters of the zombies are destroyed. Their ranks were completely obliterated. Of course they would be no matter how long it took, but it was so much faster than I had expected. It only felt as if mere minutes had passed by and that was very possible, strongly possible in fact. I knew I shouldn't have underestimated these twins, but damn it all I did. They probably didn't even realize it, but they are in incredibly powerful force to deal with. It doesn't matter that they are at a lower level than the mage (58, I think, but I didn't check and sometimes my guess work amounts to pure shit) because they way they work together is a miracle in itself.

They probably don't even realize it.

Fuck.

These two are so synchronized in their movements, so intertwined it's as if they're two bodies with one mind. This is a force to be reckoned with and I have a feeling that if Ace could convince Anna to turn against me, I could very well have my, oh, how would she put it? My ass kicked? I could have my ass kicked? Yes, I could have my ass kicked and that's all there would be to it. They could beat some of the most powerful creatures in all of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla and hardly break a sweat.

Amazing.

Fucking amazing.

It's dancing, I think. It looks like they are dancing among a sea of rotted flesh and other manners of gore. It's beautiful and disgusting all at once and frankly, it's enthralling. Enchanting. I'm glad that I'm at the top of the hill, hidden, out of sight so I have the comfort and the safety to watch this. However, that's not why I'm up here. I'm up here to find that damn mage or Summoner or whatever this side of the universe he is. The glint of the staff had caught my eye down below in the valley. It was more likely that I could see the glint again, if not the bastard himself.

There it is.

The staff glints in the light of the sun, almost as if on cue and I can't help but smirk at how easy it is to find. It's as if he doesn't even care that he might have to engage in battle with us. That means he's cocky, very much so like Ace, and that will be his downfall in the end. It makes things all the easier for me, because I intend to not let Ace and Anna interfere. They've already done enough with all the zombies, it's only right that I fight against this mage by myself. After all, he's only at level 62.

I'm at level 71.

Perfect.

I rush along the line of trees and keep myself out of the line of sight of Ace and Anna. There's no need to have one twin try to "accidentally" hit me with magic or have the other drift off into a perpetual kind of la la land just because I whispered into their ear (I had indeed noticed her lack of concentration when I did that and I must admit that it was quite empowering). Yes, that's the last thing I need, two young miscreants not focusing on their objective and not getting any training or learning experience from any of it because they have the mentality of three-year-olds.

Closer.

Even closer and my foots don't even .

I see him, desperately trying to pull together the last of the zombies, numbering at 20 or less now, in order to have a decent escape. Too bad he won't even be able to pull those away with him. Ace unleashes Tidal Wave and wipes out all, except for maybe four, and Anna rushes right over him with quick flips, swords held ready and outstretched to wreck havoc on the few bits of flesh that were dumb enough to try and stay standing.

I'm within ten feet of him and he doesn't even realize it. Either he's so deep into his spell, or he's so incredibly cocky that he figures no one will find him. This might be easier than I thought, although I won't let my ego grow so big as to claim victory right away before the battle has even begun. However, I do allow myself the luxury of tapping into my Exsphere data briefly, verifying that out of my possible 1100 hit points I'm at 986, which means that I'm doing fantastic, thankfully.

"So will you tell me why you're doing this?" My voice startles him and the link is broken, not that there is much of link left anyways. "Why zombies? And so many at that..."

His eyes are quite large for his face, full of youth and pride, but also a wisdom that is beyond his years. He does not display a cocky attitude, merely pride, but not an arrogant pride that I have been previously thinking. Why, this might be more interesting than I thought. Who could have guessed this?

"I was supposed to create an army strong enough to destroy all the ranches on Sylvarant." He drops his staff and I see the glint of a dagger in his right hand. I ready my sword and shield, ready for any tricks or onslaughts he has. "Then, I am to move on from this world to the next, to Tethe'alla and destroy all the ranches there as well, Kratos Aurion."

What?

"I have to know of you." He reads my mind, although nothing in my expression has changed. I have spent years perfecting stoicism, hiding behind my hair. "I was told you might get in the way from my superiors." This new development puts me at unease and more than anything, I'm surprised that such a young mage knows my name. "I was told that if you get in my way, it's all over."

The dagger glints a little more than I want it to.

Just what is he going to do with it?

"Who are you?" I lower my guard for him and try to show that I'm not threatening. There's no need in spooking him. He has me curious and I would like to sate such things right here and now without any troubles or mess. "Why are you trying to destroy Desian ranches? How do you know about both worlds?"

"Kratos!" Anna's voice hits me, so beautifully, but with the worst possible timing.

"No!" I lunge for the mage but it's too late.

So quick, too quick for me to stop he takes the blade and slices deep across his jugular and blood spurts as he chokes and gargles out the last of his life. I crush a Lemon Gel to heal him, but I'm too slow. Death hit him as soon as that metal touched his skin and I should have know it would have happened, but I lied to myself and said that there was a possibility he wouldn't throw away his life like that.

Crimson runs down my hands and they are once again stained, entirely my fault. I'll scrub at them in the stream for hours after the others have fallen asleep, but I know it will never truly go away, the sickly sweet copper aroma that has always seemed to follow me wherever I go. It is a permanent part of my scent, lingering.

So many around me die, whether I want them to or not.

It's as if I'm cursed.

I most likely am.

Ace

The mage kills himself with one, swift movement and I have to admit, I'm not that surprised. I mean, the situation was quite strange to being with. I'm not surprised that he'd do this to botch the investigation and just give us headaches, but what happens, happens.

My adrenaline high starts to sink and I can feel the post-battle fatigue setting in. I tap into my Exsphere status and see that I am now at level 60 thanks to all those zombie kills. I also have a few spell upgrades on previous versions. My health, stamina, speed, strength, and various other components have increased, so overall, it's been a very productive afternoon.

Kratos sighs in frustration and I remember that only part of the day has been productive.

Part of it.

I want to be selfish and immature and run up to that bastard now and cut him down. Cutting him down would be everything. It would be my revenge, stop the anger that's welled inside me for Goddess Martel knows how long. It would be so easy, with my mana ready to hit him, and him so...distracted by the death of the mage, it would be like flicking a mental finger and send him flying away. Only, it would be for forever and I feel a tingle down my spine at such a thought.

So easy.

"I'm sorry," Anna murmurs. "I- I didn't...know."

Kratos gently sets down the deceased mage, taking time to slide his fingers across the mage's eyelids so that they close and now the young man looks more peaceful in death, like everything in the world is okay, even when it's not. That slight, kind act sets me back.

He's a cold-blooded killer.

Right?

"Heh. Do not worry, Anna." He gets up, brushing dirt off of his pants. His face is hidden behind that mess of hair. I can't see his eyes, even try to read him. "You had no idea what was going on. You did not know he would throw away his own life," Kratos looks down with either obvious frustration, pity, or both, "so quickly."

The wind picks up and leaves that were previously resting on the ground suddenly break into a frenzy across the scope of my vision. I squint my eyes as particles of dirt sweep up, tears springing forth. However, maybe the tears are my premonition, because I have this sinking feeling in my gut.

And there it is.

The bad feeling hits me full on and it comes with a crash of a glittering brown hair that flows like an intricate, large ribbon of silk. Annie, her beautiful green eyes so bright and full of an emotion I can't recognize, runs to Kratos and throws her arm around his neck, nearly tackling him in the process. His hair blows back from the sheer force of her rush and I see the surprise in mine.

He probably sees it in my eyes too.

My heart beats fast. Annie's heart beats just as fast, too.

Our hearts are beating fast.

They're just going fast for different purposes.

Goddess Martel, please help me. My blood is boiling and it's taking everything in my power to not do anything to that man that involves mana or blades, maybe even a combination of both.

I want to kill him.

I want to slaughter him!

"Please don't look so sad," she whispers.

He whispers something in reply but I can't hear.

Her heart stops. My heart stops.

Our hearts stop.

Kill me instead. I can't stand to see her being embraced by another man, other than me.

It's not fair.

It's just not fair.

End Chapter

Author's Notes: So I probably deserve to be mauled by fans, I do. I'll admit that, quite openly too. It's been a very long absence from updating or publishing anything. So it's been what? About a year or two? I know it's been a year at least...but there are reasons. Among them are a computer dying and losing all hope of regaining any lost chapters, depression, and a creepy stalker person. However, I got the inspiration again and was able to pop this one out, though it is quite a bit shorter. Sorry (and if there are any errors, double sorry)! I've been out of the loop but hopefully you'll be able to forgive me and drop me some very important C&C so I have even more inspiration for the next chapter, which I promise will come out in a shorter time. To all my fans, I love you guys. Thanks to those who didn't forget me! Until the next chapter... Ciao.