On the way out of Mizuho the group began to wonder how to get to Meltokio from where they currently were.

"Where exactly are we going to get a ship?" Anya asked, annoyed that they hadn't thought about their dilemma earlier.

"Probably Altamira." Genis suggested.

"But it's a day or so off from where we are." Zelos complained.

"Why do you care?" Sheena asked the pouting red head.

"Because my precious feet need a rest in that period of time." Zelos moaned.

"Oh shut up you lazy dope!" Sheena responded with a yell of insults.

"If what you are worried about is being tired or wanting to rest, we are going to make camp before we get there to rest up." Anya responded.

"I want to sleep in an actual bed before we get there, not in a camp site." Zelos answered and whined.

"Anyway, I suggest we take this chance while we are traveling to discuss the situation at hand. For instance, we are going to go to the former capital of Tethe'alla to investigate who has done the kidnapping. So what I ask is who do you guys think the crook is?" Raine explained and asked.

"I personally have no idea." Barrivus stated.

"Me neither." Colette agreed.

"I think that maybe that Henry guy has something to do with it." Genis decided. "And if he has something to do with it, then so does Kratos, but that's only a theory."

"That can't be right, why would Kratos kidnap nobles?" Sheena asked.

"Who knows, Kratos has always been mysterious." Zelos pointed out.

"I don't know who he is, so I can't say." Barrivus stated.

"Neither do I." Anya added.

"But didn't Kratos go back to Derris Kharlan? How could he come back down here if the comet is so far away?" Marta asked after being silent for a while.

"Yeah, I'm curious to why he is here too." Emil decided as well since he had saw when Kratos had stated his communications with the planet were about to be cut to Yuan at the New World Tree and had told Emil not to tell anyone else in Lloyd's group.

"That I don't know, I can't think of a logical explanation for how Kratos managed to get to Altamira. Maybe he…no, that wouldn't work at all." Raine mumbled to herself.

"What is it Raine?" Genis asked.

"Oh nothing. Anyway, I think we have more important things to worry about." Raine responded.

"Um… excuse me but… over there…" Colette stammered as she pointed behind them. Everyone turned to see someone they hadn't ever expected to see again; Mithos. The young boy walked up next to Genis.

"Could I ask for your help?" The blonde boy asked.

"How dare you even step in front of us!" Sheena spat as Zelos nodded with a hand on his sword sheath.

Genis stood silently not saying a word as Barrivus asked, "Is this that angel guy you guys said had caused you trouble throughout your journey of world regeneration?"

"This is him." Raine stated; confused to how Mithos could be standing there.

"He doesn't seem like one who could cause eight skilled companions so much trouble." Anya decided.

"Don't underestimate him by his youthful appearance." Zelos urged, still glaring at Mithos.

"The little twerp lied to us and ended up trying to kill us!" Sheena continued.

"We ended up…defeating him…so why is he here in front of us?" Colette asked very confused.

"That I wonder too." Raine stated with excitement to find out how he was resurrected.

"I can tell you all of that; I just really need your help." Mithos said sadly.

Raine was about to say something in protest when Genis suddenly blurted, "We should help him out."

"But, Genis." Raine barely managed to say.

"If he is back to life, then do you think he is still as powerful and evil as before?" The silver haired boy asked.

Mithos nodded. "Yeah, when I came back I lost my powers, which is why I need your guys' help. I also can see how half elf conditions are beginning to change for the better, so I don't wish to cause harm, so could I please have your help?"

"I don't know…" Colette mumbled to herself.

"I don't see a problem with it. I don't know the details, but he does look sincere and doesn't look like he could cause too much trouble." Barrivus decided.

"I have to agree." Anya decided.

"He was just this sincere when we first met him, and you know how that turned out." Zelos reminded them.

"Zelos is right, we can't trust him." Sheena agreed.

"I guess you have a point." Barrivus stated reluctantly.

"Well…" Anya stated, doubting her earlier comment.

"Come on guys, people can change! Sheena, the first time we met you was when you were trying to kill Colette, and look how good of friends you two are. Same with you Anya, when they first met you, you were trying to kill Sheena, and look, now you're traveling with all of us to Meltokio." Genis pointed out.

"Hmmm…" Sheena said.

"I guess so…" Anya admitted.

"I don't agree with this at all, we shouldn't help him." Raine said coldly.

"I hate the little brat, so I don't want to even think about helping him." Zelos agreed.

Colette then looked up and stated, "I want to help him. If he has changed, then this can prove it. He looks sad and I really think we should help him. He is no longer an angel, so why should we be worried about him attacking us? And who are we to hold a grudge? I say again that we should help him."

"Colette…" Genis stated quietly.

"I agree." Sheena finally decided.

"I guess so, since I don't really mind either way." Barrivus said.

"If everyone feels so strongly about helping him…" Anya decided as well.

"You are all crazy if you want to help a murderous little brat like this after what he has done." Zelos insulted.

"Zelos, if everyone else agrees with helping the boy, then who are we to say anything." Raine pointed out.

"Thank you all." Mithos stated happily.

"Hey, don't think I want to help you personally." Raine reminded him coldly.

"I don't like this at all." Zelos said angrily.

The group sat down around where they were, and Mithos began to explain things.

"OK, first, the reason why I am back alive. That is because of the counsel of the five greats. The counsel of the five greats is a newly appointed group of the most powerful five angels around still. They resurrected me using all of their power and sent me back to earth as a fifteen year old half elf, with slight abilities to use week magic. I am no longer an angel, I can't change my form anymore and I have no angelic power." Mithos explained.

"That is quite a complex tale." Raine commented.

"I actually think it was quite interesting." Anya said.

"If not boring." Barrivus added.

"Anyway, so what do you need our help for?" Anya asked.

"I need your help because I lost a very important ring inside a nearby cave. That cave is full of powerful monsters, and possibly other things unpleasant. Since I no longer possess magical power of what I use to have, I can't go in there to get that ring on my own. So I need some skilled fighters to do so. Since you guys were around, I thought that maybe you guys would be willing to help me out." Mithos continued.

"I guess that is a good reason for needing our help." Sheena decided.

"So, what's so important about that ring?" Anya asked with slight curiosity.

"To give to someone important." Mithos said.

"Who? A sick family member or something?" Anya asked.

"Um…my new girlfriend actually." Mithos stated blushing slightly.

"Girlfriend?" Genis and Zelos yelled in unison in surprise.

"We are risking our lives to help you get something just for some girlfriend of yours?" Zelos yelled in annoyance.

"I never knew he could get a girlfriend…" Sheena stated.

"Wow…" Colette said quietly. "Maybe I should be more persistent…with Lloyd…"

"Oh, so you and that Lloyd Irving guy seem to have a thing going huh?" Anya teased.

"No, no, it's not like that! I swear it's not!" Colette protested.

"Oh really, well that's not what it sounds like. Come on, you can tell me about it, girl to girl." Anya persisted.

"There's nothing to talk about!" Colette pleaded.

"Stubborn, I guess that's how young love always starts out." Anya said, clearly trying to get to Colette.

"I'm being serious." Colette continued to protest.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." Anya responded. Colette looked down seeming to be annoyed. Anya smiled, knowing she was right.

Raine shook her head. "Anyway, where exactly is this cave?"

"To the west of here, about a mile away." Mithos stated.

"A mile off course? You've got to be kidding me, we're doing all of this just because this stupid baby lost a ring in a cave out of idiocy?" Zelos yelled.

"Wow, I'm surprised you even know what idiocy is." Genis commented.

"Hey, I heard that you twerp." Zelos responded irritably.

"Alright, let's just get going." Raine said annoyed at the two's bickering.

After walking for about a half an hour the group arrived at the dark cave that Mithos had dropped his ring in. The group stood in front of it and stared down into the forbidding darkness inside.

"Alright then, let's get going. Mithos, you should come with us, since we'll need you to spot the ring when we find it." Raine stated as she started down into the cave.

"Alright." Mithos said as he followed.

"Hey, wait for me!" Genis yelled as he ran into the dark.

"Come on Emil, let's get going too." Marta urged as she dragged Emil along with her as she ran down into the dark cave.

"Um…I'm going to sit this one out…I don't like…caves." Anya said quietly.

"Alright, no one will make you." Zelos stated as he too walked into the cave.

"Come on Colette, let's go." Sheena stated.

"Alright." Colette responded as the two walked down into the cave.

"Hey, Barrivus, could I talk with you about something?" Anya asked nervously.

"Of course, I don't care about finding a ring for someone I don't even know." Barrivus said as he sat next to his pink haired friend.

"I want to tell you why I don't like caves, or why I never sleep." Anya said slowly.

Barrivus looked surprised but nodded as Anya began to explain.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group began walking through the cave searching for the lost ring that Mithos had lost.

"How could you possibly lose a ring this far into the cave?" Zelos complained.

"It must have gotten carried off by something." Mithos guessed.

"Ugh, the smell is horrible." Marta gagged.

"I have to agree with you on that one Marta, I'm glad we're just searching for a ring, not going on a long expedition in the gross place." Sheena agreed, covering her nose with her arm and sleeve.

"Is that one of the monsters you were talking about?" Colette asked as she pointed at a large beast that was lurking nearby.

"Oh dear, that must be one, it's so big and evil looking." Emil stated.

"I must study that unique beast! I need to study its cell composition, the way it lives, the way it chooses its mate; I must study and know it all!" Raine yelled in her Ruin Mode. That seemed to startle the nearby monster, for it ran towards the group, roaring.

"Raine!" Genis yelled.

"It's alright Genis, aren't you guys going to be able to take on the monsters in this place anyway?" Mithos asked.

"Yeah, but I'd rather not fight anything at all really." Genis admitted.

"You got that right Genis." Sheena agreed. "But sometimes fighting to defend yourself is just too unavoidable."

"Sheena's right, let's give it our all Genis." Colette added as she threw a Chakram at the oncoming enemy of theirs. Sheena followed up the attack with an exploding move from one of her cards. Genis shot a fire spell at the beast as Emil and Zelos slashed at it with their swords. Soon the monster fell dead.

"Magnificent! With the beast dead I can study it and find out priceless information! Oh, where to start? I have never seen a monster like this before! This will give me so much information and knowledge I never even knew about!" Raine yelled.

"Sis, we have to get a move on, you can study it sometime later." Genis said.

"Alright, I'll wait." Raine reluctantly said as she stood up and continued walking.

"That never gets old." Marta said, still laughing.

"I know, it's quite fun to watch." Emil added as he and his girlfriend followed the rest of the group and Mithos further into the cave.

Meanwhile, Barrivus gasped at what he had just been explained about by Anya. She nodded solemnly.

"That is correct; I can never go back to before. That is exactly why I can't go into a cave like that." Anya stated sadly. "It would just not work out."

"I never would have guessed…" Barrivus stated in disbelief. "I never knew Anya."

"Please, do not tell anyone about what I just told you." Anya pleaded as tears slightly filled her eyes.

Barrivus nodded. "Don't worry, I will never utter a word."

"Thank you." Anya stated quietly.

"I can't believe you have to live like that." Barrivus continued in disbelief.

"I…know…" Anya stated as she began to cry slightly. "I just…feel sad when I talk about it." She continued. She laid her head on Barrivus's shoulder and cried. Barrivus placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's all right." Barrivus said quietly. Anya sat back up and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Alright, thank you again for staying behind." She said.

"Your welcome." Barrivus responded.

Back inside the cave the group cut down another monster that had tried to kill the group. The group was very far into the cave.

"I hope we're getting close." Emil said.

"Yeah, my poor aching feet." Zelos complained.

"I'm sorry about all of this, I didn't know that the ring would be so difficult to locate." Mithos apologized.

"You better be sorry." Zelos snarled in annoyance.

"Zelos, shut up!" Sheena yelled as she slapped him across the face. "Be nice!"

"I don't think you of all people should lecture me on being nice." Zelos moaned.

"I can't believe you!" Sheena yelled in response.

"The loving couple continues to bicker." Marta mused.

Sheena and Zelos turned away from each other as they walked. The rest of the group found the whole thing sort of comical.

"Let's just hurry up and keep moving." Genis said.

"Yeah, I can't wait to see how happy Mithos will be after we find his ring for him!" Colette said optimistically.

"Well, that might be sooner than you think." Raine pointed out as Mithos ran over to a rock nearby that had his ring on it. Suddenly, before Mithos could grab the ring, a massive hand crushed the rock the ring was laying on and the ring stumbled off in the other direction. The group gasped as everyone readied their weapons. Mithos ran behind everyone as Zelos and Emil went close up and started swinging at the lizard like beast. Sheena ran up to aid them as she started saying special card spells. Genis and Raine started chanting spells and hitting the monster with spells as Colette and Marta jumped into the fray every now and then. Emil swung the fatal blow which took the monster's life as Zelos ran behind it, got the ring, and handed it to the nearby Mithos.

"Thank you everyone." Mithos said graciously.

"We can talk when we get out of here." Raine stated as everyone followed her through and out the cave.

Anya and Barrivus saw them emerge from the chasm and walked over next to them. "Did you guys find what you were looking for in there?" Anya asked as Mithos showed her the ring. "I guess that answers my question."

"I feel good that we helped make Mithos happy." Colette said joyfully.

Sheena nodded and sighed. "Me too Colette, me too."

"Emil, you were so brave back there, you were like a hero." Marat said, leaning up against Emil's shoulder. "That is why I'm in love with you."

Emil blushed. "Oh…it was nothing…really."

"Oh so modest." Mithos teased the couple.

"Are you happy you found the ring Mithos?" Genis asked his newly befriended friend.

"Very happy." Mithos responded, looking down at the gold ring he held in his palm.

"You are happy too because you helped him, aren't you Genis?" Raine surmised. Genis nodded slightly and Raine placed a hand on his head and gently rustled his hair. "I'm glad that you are happy about doing this." She said calmly.

Barrivus sat on a hill nearby next to Anya. "Ah, young love, like between that Marta and Emil. Older people love is a lot more complicated."

"Hey, I'm not complicated…I mean…I'm not old…I mean…it's not like I'm in love with anyone…not at all…" Anya protested then blushed. Barrivus just cocked up an eyebrow and smiled slightly.

Genis walked next to Mithos and asked, "So, who's your girlfriend?"

"Oh…um…well…I met her after I got resurrected and we sort of hit it off…and…" Mithos began nervously.

Genis elbowed him in the shoulder and smiled. "Come on buddy, what's her name?"

Mithos gulped and said," It's…Seles Wilder." Zelos's jaw dropped when he heard the news about Mithos and Seles being together…

Since I did this in the Vesperia chapter, here's the origins of where I got the new characters in the story from:

Barrivus: A protagonist I created on the RPG Oblivion.

Anya: A companion I created on the RPG Baldur's Gate II.

Inalla: A companion I created on the RPG Baldur's Gate I and II.

Henry: A side character I created in the manga I'm creating The Heroes.