This is really a bit of an interval chapter…some plotline, and some humor. And it reflects what a special day today (29th September) is.
I wrote this (and the last few chapters) listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme music and some music from Ocarina of Time…I want Twilight Princess! Um, yes, anyway…
I don't own Tales of Symphonia.
I could see that this idea would end in mayhem. Symphonians in a modern school. Everyone, though, ignored my protests, so I gave in.
We had decided that Sheena, Raine, Kratos and Zelos would be temporary teachers. We just hoped that no one would ask for any proof…
Lloyd, Genis, Presea and Colette would go to the same lessons as Stephen and I. I'd take Genis and Presea, as all my lessons are in top set (the smartest class), and we both knew Lloyd wouldn't be able to cope, even if the lessons were from Symphonia!
Suddenly, I realized that the Symphonians would look 'slightly' suspicious in their normal clothes, I had to tear the sleeves off my morphanic top, and change them into school uniform and something appropriate for teachers to wear. Which is where I ran into another problem…
"But without my sword, I'm vulnerable." Kratos protested.
Weapons.
"You aren't telling me that's your only weapon. What if someone disarmed you?" I asked.
"Well, I have got the daggers strapped to my ankle and wrist…"
"Any other weapons you'd like to inform us about?"
This resulted in Kratos taking all the weapons he had off of him, and placed them in a pile. It was a big pile.
"Okay…Lloyd, you next." As I said it I noticed Kratos trying to sneak a dagger off the pile.
"Look, you can keep a dagger, okay? Just keep it hidden. Stephen and I have no desire to rescue you from the local authorities." I muttered.
Once Lloyd had lay down his twin swords, Kratos offered him a dagger, which he accepted.
"This may be an easier way of putting it, unless you're weapons are totally concealed, or don't look like weapons, put them on the pile."
Lloyd, Kratos, Presea and Zelos only had daggers under this rule. Raine was 'unarmed', to which Lloyd commented that she didn't need weapons, she could slap just fine, which inevitably resulted in Lloyd getting slapped upside his head. Since no one would suspect Genis' kendama and Sheena's cards, they kept those. Since Colette barley used her chakrams in battle, she cheerfully gave them up.
Then, we gathered the weapons together and put them in the wingpack.
"Okay, we're almost ready. A couple of things. First of all, there are people here who know about Symphonia. They'll probably guess who you are unless you change your names. Especially you." I pointed to Kratos.
"Why me in particular?"
"Just trust me, you are very popular over here. Most people know the name Aurion."
Everyone just looked at me, including Stephen. "You know it's true. Anyway, the rest of you guys just pick a name."
"It'd help if you kept the same initials…you know, it'd help us remember." Stephen suggested.
So now, I had to try and remember that Lloyd was Luke Inkerman; Colette, Clarissa Brooks; Genis, Graham Shima and Presea was Pearl Cooper. Not only that, but Raine was Miss Sanderson; Zelos was Mr. Williams; Sheena was Miss Fletcher and – despite my protests – Kratos was Mr. Angel.
(A/N If anyone's worrying that the names will be confusing, I promise, they won't be.)
"We'll never get away with this." I muttered to myself. "Anyway, Stephen, talk to the 'pupil' group, just tell them how this school works, where some of the classes are, that sort of thing."
I turned to the 'teacher' half of the group. "Okay, one really, really big rule. Do not touch the students in any way, shape or form. Raine, that means no hitting, kicking or slapping as a punishment."
Genis seemed to have heard this, as he looked over, eyes unbelieving. I carried on.
"This also means no hitting on anyone, Zelos."
This time, Sheena looked at Zelos.
"You're asking him not to be perverted for a whole day? Isn't that impossible?"
"If he does, Sheena, you can come up with a punishment. Just another small thing, you aren't known as 'professor'. It's Miss or Mister respectively.
"You're likely to be covering lessons, so when everyone's in the classroom, first of all check if any work's been left. If not, ask what they did last lesson, and expand on it. And just use common sense."
"Nia, what day is it?" Stephen asked.
"Beats me, check on the receptionist's calendar or something."
Stephen checked. "Friday, the 29th."
"Assembly!" I realised.
"Teacher group: once people start leaving the hall, go to the staff room. It's just off the main staircase, down a small, carpeted corridor. There's a sign on the door, you should find it. And look professional!" I told them.
"People coming with us: follow us, try to blend in and avoid drawing attention to yourself."
We hurried to the hall, where we were met by a crush of motionless people in the corridors.
"Stephen, they're still under the influence of Stopga!"
"Oh. Hastega!"
This led me to briefly wonder whether there really was a 'Hastega' in Final Fantasy, but it seemed to work. The crowd, plus us, trickled into the hall.
On entering, I heard a noise that sounded like music turned up too loud that was reverberating off the walls.
…And through it all,She offers me protection,
A lot of love and affection,
Whether I'm right or wrong…
Oh god, that wasn't…
"Hello, Year Nine. Everyone's here?" My Head of Year, Mrs. Jones asked.
She received a nod from the various form teachers and continued.
"Now, I would be very surprised if most of you hadn't heard this song before. It is, of course, 'Angels', by Robbie Williams, the song that saved his solo career in 1997."
Maybe the song could've done us a favor and not saved his career? In case you're left with any doubt here, I'm not a fan!
"It was voted the best song of the past twenty-five years at the Brit Awards last year. It was also – surprisingly – the song that most Britons wanted played at their funeral.
"Has anyone here been to a funeral recently?"
Several hands went up, including Stephen's and mine.
"As some of you know, funerals are sometimes incredibly sad occasions, where people are very emotional and weep for the loss of a loved one."
I glanced over at the Symphonians while Mrs. Jones talked about the Christian belief of life after death.
Genis…wait, Gerald was thoughtful, listening intently. Ll-…Luke was confused, as per usual, but seemed to be listening and not falling asleep, so I felt I should be thankful. Presea and Colette – I mean, Pearl and Clarissa were staring at the floor, also thinking.
Suddenly, a question shook us all out of our trains of thought.
"Do you believe in the existence of angels? You don't have to raise your hand, but I want you to think about it."
I almost sniggered. If only she knew that there were two 'angels' in this very room! They seemed to be thinking along the same lines.
"If I were to ask if any of you had seen an angel, I'm sure that most of you would say 'yes'."
It took a lot of resolve, but I managed not to burst out in fits of giggles.
"So, do angels really exist? The Bible tells us pretty firmly that they do. In the Old Testament, Jacob wrestles with an angel and Abraham is visited by three angels who tell him he is to be a father.
"We all know the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, and the 'choirs' of angels we sing about at Christmas, who told the shepherds about the nativity.
"But why am I talking about this now, in September? After all, the angels that I just mentioned are known for their parts in the nativity. Today, the 29th of September, is Michaelmas, of the feast of St Michael and All Angels, as it's sometimes known."
Mrs. Jones went on to give some information about St. Michael.
"St. Michael is said to be the Prince of All Angels and is portrayed in the Bible as a dragon-slaying archangel."
Dragon-slaying! I ground my teeth.
"He led the army of God during the Lucifer uprising, casting Satan out of Paradise."
"Satan was originally God's brightest angel. His pride caused this war and resulted in his being thrown out of heaven. Because of his history of fighting evil, St. Michael is the patron saint of soldiers and police officers."
Mrs. Jones took a deep breath, which alerted her audience that she was coming to an end.
"Whether you believe angels exist or not, you could do worse than take up St. Michael's example: challenging evil, protecting the weak and above all, acting as a soldier for the lord."
"I'll let you go in just a minute, I have a quote here from Luciano de Crescenzo: We are each of us only angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another. Now stay still until I dismiss you row by row…"
The hall erupted with talk, so I leaned over.
"So, what did you think of assembly?" I said, smiling.
This was a real assembly, which I trimmed down a bit. Sorry if I inadvertently offended Christians, I really am sorry.
One of the parts I took out: 'During the Middle Ages, philosophers used to argue about how many angels could dance on the head of a pin.' Put it in a ToS perspective. Personally, I think Mithos, Kratos and Yuan dancing on the head of a pin is absolutely hilarious!
Review guys and gals!
