Chapter 4 ~~~Choosing the Right Path~~~

~~Lloyd~~

Lloyd had left Meltokio at sunrise and now found himself almost reaching Sybak. It was just past noon and he knew he should stop by and look for any clues or hints as to if Colette passed through here and where she might be going. Upon entering Sybak, Lloyd noticed that the city hadn't changed one bit since he had been there last.

"Lloyd," someone said as they approached the twin swordsman. "What are you doing here in Sybak?"

"Hey, Genis," Lloyd replied with a smile. "I could ask you the same thing. I though you were back in Iselia?"

"I was there for a while but I came to Sybak to study more about mana," Genis said. "You know it's composition on the microscopic level is actually very much like… Lloyd are you even listening?"

"Huh, yeah," Lloyd smiled. "Mana is like something else or something right? Anyways, have you seen Colette around here?"

"Wait what," Genis said. "You snuck away from Meltokio and YOUR WIFE, to come to Sybak with Colette? What is wrong with you!"

"No, it's not like that," Lloyd explained. "It seems that Colette has either been kidnapped or run away. They sent me to look for her. But there aren't any clues or anything to help me guess where she might be."

Genis looked at Lloyd with an expression of worry. Genis also realized that if the people were to find out that one whom they look upon for hope and strength was missing, it could cause a frenzy.

~~Colette~~

Colette began to wake just as the sun was setting. She then packed up the few sheets she bought at Triet and looked towards the direction she believed led to the Ossa Trails. It wasn't too far out of view and she could make out the out liked of the mountain it passed over. She didn't realize how fast she flew over the desert until she looked back and couldn't even make out Triet anymore. She realized that if she kept up the same momentum tonight she would probably reach the Ossa Trails before nightfall.

"Oh Goddess Martel, aid me in my flight and my travels," Colette prayed.

And with her prayers said and her campsite picked up, she took off.

~~Lloyd and Genis~~

"You think she would have gone back to Iselia," Lloyd asked. "Why there? If she wanted to get away, why go back to her home?"

"Because," Genis began, "her family is what she needs. And they aren't going to say 'We found the Chosen! She is here in Iselia, come look,' because they know that she needs privacy too."

"You don't have to come with me you know," Lloyd added. "You should stay and study. I mean that is why you left Iselia."

"Yeah, I know," Genis said. "But this is more important. And besides, I can come back and study anytime."

And with that the two headed off towards Iselia.

~~Colette~~

Just as she expected, Colette reached the Ossa Trails in almost no time at all. However, instead of waiting for morning to begin ascending the trail, she figured that she might as well start.

"If I remember correctly, the monsters here aren't very difficult and I could easily start now," Colette thought aloud. "The faster I get to Izoold the better."

She was about half way up the trail when she encountered her first enemy: a bear. It came at her with shockingly fast agility. However, she was off her feet, and the ground, fast enough to avoid it.

"Sorry down there," Colette said before her attack. "Hammer Rain!"

A bunch of cute, red hammers fell and hit the enemy. It was an instant victory.

"I'm really lucky that the monsters here are easy," Colette acknowledged, "or this could have been really tough."

After carefully checking the area for anymore monsters, she continued her ascent.

~~Raine and Kratos~~

"Lloyd has left Meltokio in search of Colette just as you predicted," Raine said. "But how will he know where she has gone?"

"Did you give her the pendant," Kratos asked as he looked at the elder Sage sibling as she nodded her head. "Then he will find her without a problem. He just needs to think of her enough and it will come to him."

Raine had no idea why Kratos was doing this but followed his orders anyway. If what he told her was correct, then she felt it was cause worth helping.

"We should be going now," Kratos said as he began walking.

Raine looked at him and followed him out of the walls of Meltokio and into the night.

A/N: So Kratos and Raine are obviously Team Colette. But what really matters is what Lloyd is. Who will he pick and why? And will he really find Colette. No Sheena in this chapter but she will be back in the next chapter with big news. :D