Disclaimer: I do not own this, sad as the fact may be for me. If I did I'd be rich, not wondering when I'll get my next allowance.
Review Response:
Juusangou – Thanks for the review. I admit, I love the really long ones. Anywho, you're theory is pretty much right on the mark. There is a little bit more to Yuan's reasoning, however. (Grins evilly) Then there's also my theory that Yuan used to be part of an aristocratic family and acted like Zelos when he was way, way younger. (It's the way he acts toward people. That and the outfit.) Thanks for the vote of confidence on my other fic; I hope you'll read that one, too.
Blade liger knight – Yay, two reviews. Thankies. I'm glad you enjoyed Seles, I've been enjoying figuring her out and have been tenuously been coming up with a plot with one of my friends for a Seles-centric story. If she and I ever do write it, it'll wind up under my name 'cause she doesn't have one. Though the only way it'll get written is if she can yank me away from my Zelos-centric plots… (No! My precious Zelos! Must… Write…About… Zelos…)
The Zelda Master – Yep, definitely getting closer to that Sheelos moment in the next chapter. The plot dachshunds (oddly enough, I don't have bunnies… I have psycho dogs that resemble Tootsie-Rolls with legs…) are demanding that I hurry up and start typing the chapters. I knew I shouldn't have let them start playing the game on their own.
Bballstar42 – (Blushes) Thanks so much for your review. Such praise is always loved. I admit, however, Regal might not be in this too much. One reason is that he really needs to run his company for a change and the other reason is that I have trouble writing his character. (Shrugs) If I could find a fanfic that really captures him, I'd probably get the gist of what makes Regal… well… Regal.
Chapter 7Lethian stared absently at the screen in his portable uplink to the Anubian Warrior's computer mainframe. Currently he was playing Tetris, though he really ought to have been reviewing reports for Set. He'd been doing that for over an hour already and felt he was entitled to the break.
The noise of the Inn's door opening, however, prompted him to pause his Tetris game and switch over to the reports as he tightened his metal shielding and, like always, pray that Ma'at couldn't read into his mind.
"Hello, precious," she purred, closing the door behind her.
"Hello, Ma'at. Did Set's idea work?"
"No. It was a failure. The toy broke its arm playing with the fire-child."
"Such a pity." Lethian smirked faintly, rather proud of the fact that Zelos had beaten Kuchinawa in a fight.
"What's this I sense?"
"What's what," Lethian mocked outwardly, inwardly retreating behind his shields. "Honestly, you need to be clear in what you say, Lady Ma'at."
"What I sense is that you still harbor loyalty to your school friend," she purred, coming to sit next to him. "He is a human. Had he realized that you're a half-elf, do you think he'd have stuck around you? The fire-child would've abandoned you in a moment, dropped you and left you to nurse the burns."
"Whatever. That was the past, Ma'at. Do you know what the past is?"
She slapped him and as the stars danced before Lethian's eyes, her voice hissed in his ear; "do not mock me, you pretentious ingrate. I am greater and far more powerful than you have been or ever will be. Do not fool yourself into thinking that anything other than your unique capability to home in on our fellow empaths has given your position at Set's side. One word from me will send you into the deepest pits of whatever you imagine hell to be."
Then she concentrated and within seconds she transformed the sting of her slap into a pain that left Lethian with red crescent moons on his palms. He didn't even remember clenching his hands into fists.
/o/
Lloyd and company, as Yuan was coming to think of Colette and Kratos, had already set up a small camp just around the corner from the Tower ruins. Yuan was determined not to join them. He was still an angel and didn't have to sleep if he didn't want to.
A little voice in the back of his mind was telling him that he was sulking again. Funny, Yuan thought, that voice sounds rather like Botta. He always was the one to tell me when I was acting like a brat. He wouldn't mince words either.
Sitting on a rock and staring out at the evening sky, Yuan began to mentally list the reason why he was entitled to a good sulk. 1.) Kratos has a family while the love of my life died before she and I could have kids. 2.) The love of my life has a carbon copy somewhere around here that is starting to freak me out again. 3.) That idiot redhead is probably going to get involved with this little quest to stop the Anubian Warriors when he'd be better off going back to Meltokio…
"Yuan, is something wrong?" Kratos asked from behind Yuan.
Startled, the half-elf leapt around. "Yes. I'm going to have a heart attack because you snuck up on me."
"I never sneak. I simply walk quietly…"
"Is there something you want?" Yuan asked sharply.
"No. I wanted to see if my friend was okay, but if nothings wrong, I'll just leave," Kratos snapped, turning around and beginning to march back towards the others.
"Wait... I'm sorry, all right?"
"For now, anyway," Kratos agreed, walking back over to his fellow Seraphim.
"Remember when we were their age," Yuan asked, idly gesturing to Lloyd and Colette, "and we terrorized Palmacosta?"
"If I remember correctly, you were to busy flirting with whoever your latest conquest was to terrorize the streets. I was the one forced to trick you into helping me prank the rest of the city."
"Then the Yggdrasill siblings showed up, the city burned down, and we began the journey to save the Kharlan tree."
"I've always found it rather funny that today's Palmacosta doesn't know that the city used to be located where Luin is now," Kratos added, gazing up at the sky. "Looks like the Sages have arrived."
Yuan glanced over his shoulder and nodded. "Looks like… but that's the wrong direction for Heimdall…"
Kratos stared at the Rheairds for a moment before adding, "there are three Rheairds… but it looks like there are four people."
"Is that Raine and Genis?" Colette asked as she and Lloyd bounded over.
"No, there's too many for those two," Yuan agreed, his eyes narrowing as he brought the full power of his angel senses to bear. "Oh great…" he muttered as he recognized one of the flyers. "The red-haired menace returns."
"Wilder, I assume," Kratos added, "seeing as I haven't been referred to as a 'menace' in several thousand years."
Lloyd shot his father an amused look that definitely said he wanted an explanation.
"You were never a menace compared to Wilder," Yuan muttered. "For one thing, parents weren't afraid to let their daughters go near you."
"You're right," Kratos agreed. "You had that dubious honor."
Two very surprised faces turned to look at Yuan.
"I grew out of that phase," he growled. "It is not to be resurrected in any way, shape, or form. Is… that… clear?"
"Crystal." Kratos then winced as Yuan hit his shoulder anyway.
That was when the Rheairds landed.
/o/
Lethian awoke to find himself still in his chair with a crick in his neck. Ma'at wasn't paying attention to him and he counted himself lucky. She was busy with her own computer uplink.
"We have new orders," she said after Lethian stretched for a few moments. "You're to report to Sybak. An old empath of high rating has resurfaced there. He was one of the surviving six of the project. Don't ask for his name; with your unusual talent it will be simple for you too pinpoint this person anyway."
"When do we leave?"
"You are to leave immediately. I have different orders. Now remember, Lethian," Ma'at paused for emphasis, "don't apprehend the man, but make it exceedingly clear to him that the Anubian Warriors want him in their ranks. Don't lie too him, either. He's stronger and better trained then you."
"Yes, Ma'at. I will remember that."
"Be sure you do, brat. Now go!" A slow smirk wound it's way onto her face as Lethian stood and picked up his computer uplink. "I have an old acquaintance to kill."
Checking to make certain his Tetris game was still paused, Lethian wasted no time getting away from his deranged superior. He couldn't wait until the whole quest for the mirror was over, whether his side won or not wasn't an issue for him.
Lethian was starting to doubt he'd survive either outcome.
/o/
Ra looked about Altamira in disgust. The city was one of the most fake places in the entire world. It made it's living by leeching off victims who didn't realize that there was more to life than make oneself sick on rides and booze while steadily loosing money from gambling and the illegal hookers of either sex and persuasion.
Ra also knew that he no other choice than to come here and personally alert his sister-in-law to the recent occurrences. Knowing Isis, she'd somehow manage to drag him on the dreaded roller coaster known as the Big Five. It had five corkscrews, five loops, five places where it randomly turned sideways, five spots where it when underground, and five different colors used for the track: red, white, blue, purple, and green. With this facing him, Ra found himself wishing he'd insisted that Luin would be a better place for Isis to recover from the near miss.
The soft sound of the mana-portal magic wasn't something most people could here, but Ra's angel senses gave him enough of an alert for him to dart behind a nearby building. He peered uncertainly around the corner and saw, to his horror, a dark haired woman, not unlike Isis in appearance, appear as if from no where. Blood-red wings adorned her back while similar colored feathers encircled her wrists in homemade bracelets that almost glowed against the backdrop of her black cat suit.
Ma'at had arrived in Altamira during the same stretch of time that Isis intended to take a vacation. It didn't take a genius to figure out what Ma'at was there to do, but Ra decided that it was a good thing he was one anyway.
Somehow, he had to capture her before she captured Isis.
I know this is Isis' vacation, but when do I get mine?/o/
Zelos hopped fluidly off the Rheaird, oddly grateful that his arm had gone almost completely numb. He also knew that it probably wasn't a good sign, but was far too exhausted to care.
"Hey guys, here to welcome back Kratos?" Lloyd asked as he raced forward, Colette mere steps behind him.
"That was our original intent," Presea informed him.
Yawning, Seles covered her mouth sleepily and added, "but Zelos' arm is all messed up now, and it's my fault."
"It's not your fault…" Zelos began, but Seles cut in.
"So it's the vase's fault for being there?" Seles smiled at him and shrugged. "I love you, big brother, but, goddess above, you can be such an idiot."
"Gee, thanks, sis. I feel so complimented," the ex-chosen informed her sarcastically.
"Anyway," Sheena spoke quickly, so that the two siblings wouldn't interrupt her, "if one of our two resident Seraphim could patch up Zelos' arm before it falls off…"
"It isn't that bad, Sheena."
"Yes it is, and I can tell you how I know."
"Oh really?"
"Yep." The ninja smirked evilly. "One: you aren't complaining. Two: you've stopped referring to us ladies as 'hunnies.'"
"Darnit, I'm getting predictable."
"Healing Stream!" Yuan's commanding tone surprised everyone. Well, everyone except Zelos, but he wasn't about to admit that. As the blue energy coalesced around the redhead's injured arm, the blue-haired half-elf gave everyone a cold look and said, "the Sage siblings are here. I can hear their Rheairds landing by the Tower. A welcoming committee ought to go bring them to your little campsite."
"Genis is here?" Presea asked, perking up immeasurably.
"Yes, the short platinum haired upstart is indeed here," Yuan answered.
Presea ignored the Seraphim's words and grabbed Seles' hand, dragging her off towards the Sage's. Sharing a bemused look, Lloyd, Colette, and Sheena walked off after them. The five person welcoming committee didn't seem to notice which three had stayed behind.
"To think that I used to be the sarcastic one," Kratos muttered.
"I'm not sarcastic," Yuan protested. "I merely speak the truth."
"Right. I'll be glad when we meet up with Isis. Maybe then someone will get you to be yourself again." Kratos winced internally and his friend's sudden flinch.
"Isis? As in Isis of the Horus Guard?" Zelos spoke up and Yuan paled considerably at the redhead's words.
Curious as to what was going on in his companion's mind, Kratos nodded to Zelos. "The one and only. The apocalypse would occur in order to put the world out of its misery if there were two of her."
"Interesting… what Symphonia shattering event is going on now that involves one of the most powerful empaths on this planet?"
"Have you heard about the Firelight Mirror projects?" Kratos asked, noting that Yuan's features were growing even more ashen as the conversation continued.
"Firelight Mirror? Yeah, that's how Remiel became an angel. That's also how a lot of the more dangerous monsters that haven't crawled out of the underworld were made." Zelos gave Kratos a puzzled look. "Wasn't that destroyed?"
"No. It's hidden. That's what the Horus Guards are looking for. Isis want's to destroy it," Kratos trained his gaze on Yuan.
"You told me it was destroyed," Zelos hissed at the second Seraphim.
"I did no such thing."
"Fine. You implied it, which isn't the same thing only by technicality." Zelos rolled his eyes expressively and marched off after the others.
Kratos gazed at Yuan in a markedly amused manner. "Is there something you neglected to tell me, old friend?"
A panicked look fluttered across Yuan's face before his usual blank look took over. "I have no idea what you're referring to…"
Kratos scowled and pulled Yuan into the shadows of a particularly large piece of debris. "Why would you tell Zelos about the Horus Guards?"
"He was my student for a short time, remember?" Yuan snapped harshly.
"I have an impeccable memory, Yuan. I want to know why you chose to divulge information to Tethe'alla's Chosen that has nothing to do with him."
"It do… never mind," Yuan clamed up quickly.
"He's an empath?"
"Yes."
"Since you didn't inform Isis about him, he must not be that powerful…" there was a stretch of silence. "Yuan, he isn't a powerful empath, is he?"
"I don't know exactly… I didn't tell him, but there's reason to believe he has telepathic abilities as well."
"Telepathic!"
"Kratos! Hush!" Yuan began to fidget nervously with his hands, clasping and unclasping them behind his back.
"He's the one they've been searching for… Yuan, if Zelos were trained properly he could easily locate and destroy the Firelight Mirror."
"I know that. Look at him, though. He's finally making peace with his sister… he's finally getting to be a normal person." Yuan's tone was strange. "That's all he's ever wanted, to be normal that is."
"Being normal is highly over-rated. We used to be normal, after all."
"We were never normal, Kratos. We were the Pranksters of Palmacosta and loved every minute of it."
"Fine. I won't tell Isis. But if Zelos gets mad at you for what you've hidden from him…"
"He can't get any more angry at me than I am at him."
"Yuan, neither one of us could've killed Mithos. If Zelos hadn't helped Lloyd, Yggdrasill would've won for good," Kratos gave Yuan a pointed look. "He was my student and once like a son to me and, to you, he was almost a brother-in-law." Yuan had the looked away. "You have no reason to be angry at Zelos."
"Perhaps."
"Hey, Kratos, Yuan," Lloyd yelled, "what's the hold-up?"
"Coming!" Kratos spared Yuan another annoyed look and then walked over to join the others.
Standing alone, Yuan punched the debris. It used to be a wall.
/o/
Ra walked noiselessly towards his target. Ma'at, the so-called purveyor of justice, had no idea that the well-shielded man approached her.
Before she could react, Ra pinched the nerve cluster in her neck and pushed out with his power, dampening her ability to respond. Ma'at dropped, unconscious, into her captor's arms.
A dark haired woman with luminous cerulean eyes stepped out of the shadows. Her raven colored hair reached her waist and was plaited in a French braid. She was only about five feet, three inches tall, but the way she carried herself made her seem taller… much taller. Dressed in an ocean blue dress and matching half boots, she was a striking individual.
"Ra, I could've taken care of her myself, you know."
"Yes, sister. I know." Ra turned to face the woman and gestured to Ma'at, still unconscious in his arms. "I simply didn't want to waste the opportunity."
"You didn't think I'd sense her… you thought I'd be too busy having fun," laughter colored her tone, canceling out any rebuke that may have been there. "You were partially right, though. I was on the roller coaster… the new one that goes half-a-mile high. It's better than flying with my wings, but you wouldn't enjoy it. You don't like fun."
"I like knowing that I've never let my guard down, Isis."
"If you don't let your guard down once in a while, you aren't living. You're simply existing and, for an immortal angel, that's quite a waste. For anyone else, it would simply be a shame."
"I know who the empath we need is," Ra said, blatantly changing the subject.
"You do? Who is it?"
"I'll tell you as soon as you help me portal Ma'at to headquarters," Ra shifted his grip on the woman as he spoke. "We ought to interrogate her when she wakes up."
Isis walked over to her brother-in-law and slid and arm under Ma'at's shoulders. Silver wings appeared on Isis' back while navy ones appeared on Ra's. Light and feathers swirled around the trio and they disappeared from sight.
A/N Does anyone watch the show Stargate? The new episodes on Sci-Fi are awesome… the show feeds my obsession for Egyptian Mythology. Hehehehehe…
Anywho… Yuan's in trouble with Kratos, 'cause the burgundy haired Seraphim is not pleased with what his friend's hiding. Isis has basically learned that Zelos is the person they've been waiting for and she's had her debut. She's going to be a lot of fun… and, if anyone remembers the "El Pollo" remark, she will end up helping Kratos tell that story, but not for several chapters.
The next chapter is going to be long and a lot is going to happen in it.
By the way, does anyone like Lethian? I'm still debating his fate and, if he's liked, I won't kill him off.
