Hm hm hm hm…(hums smiling)

Colette: Well, you seem happy! n.n

Me: I love this song…n.n I'm still heeerreeeee! :D

Colette: Um…? O.o' Freakyanimegal owns nothing! n.n

They had been ushered out of the village with cheers and praise, Lloyd stiffly trying to do as Colette was: assure them, comfort them, invoke

hope in them…do what an angel was supposed to do. Speaking of angels…he glanced at Kratos, who wasn't looking at him, his brown

eyes narrowed dangerously on the mercenary. He kept seeing them…the wings. They were flickering, almost, appearing for a brief second and

then disappearing for a few minutes before flashing again. He saw them, he knew it! He wasn't imagining them! But how could he ask him? Would

he admit it? Why was he hiding it? Kratos glanced at him and Lloyd turned away, gritting his teeth as he ran through his thoughts. There had to

be a way…

"The Triet Ruins are in this direction," Raine stated after looking at the map, "it should take us a few hours…but we should make it; we have

enough water and provisions-"

"I don't need any," Lloyd stated, "so save it for yourself, Colette and Genis."

"I agree, let the children have most of it," Kratos nodded.

"Oh? Very well then…we'll split rations between us, then, until we can get more," Raine said with a nod.

"Indeed," Kratos nodded.

"Though I find it odd Lloyd didn't mention you…" she asked, eying the fledgling.

"I assumed he'd be able to go without for a while," Lloyd huffed, turning his head as he glared at them, "a mercenary should be used to traveling

around without provisions, correct?"

"Lloyd…" Colette bit her lip, fidgeting with her fingers.

"He's right" Kratos nodded, "I'll be fine for a while."

"Well I-"

There was a loud whining sound as they turned and Noishe came barreling for them. Lloyd's eyes lit up and he turned to face the 'dog' expecting

the creature's usual greeting of tackling and licking. However, his 'dog' bypassed him and instead went right at Kratos, the man swearing under

his breath.

"Noishe-!? What the-!?" Lloyd frowned, frustrated. "I can't believe you, you traitor!"

"This is good," Kratos stated as he calmed Noishe, "Genis and the Chosen can ride on him-"

"Stop making decisions like he's yours!" Lloyd snapped, beginning to get red in the face.

"Lloyd, calm down!" Raine scoffed. "Really! Kratos was just making a suggestion!"

Lloyd fell silent and settled for crossing his arms over his chest and turning to the side, scowling at them as he glared death at the spiky-haired

male that was currently loading supplies onto an eager Noishe. Why did Noishe-? …Wait. Noishe had been with him since he was a kid…and he

was a strange creature. Could it maybe be that Noishe had been from heaven too? That he had come with them? Then…if Noishe was from Derris-

Kharlan as well, then maybe he would recognize another angel…but why would he be so happy about it? He stewed in his thoughts for what felt

like hours as they trudged through the desert, finding themselves at the ruins while the sun was still high in the sky. Once there, Noishe looked

around and then whined loudly, running off. Lloyd sighed loudly and drew his swords, looking at the rest of them.

"There are monsters," he stated simply, "Noishe only runs from monsters."

Almost on cue, several monsters came from the ruins catacombs, the group springing into action and defeating the assorted beings with little

difficulty. Though apparently, something of their performance was not up to speed, seeing as Kratos became rather dissatisfied.

"This is going to be a nuisance…" he muttered.

"What is?" Lloyd asked, hearing him perfectly.

"Nothing," Kratos stated, "anyway, I think it would be best if everyone learned some self-defense techniques."

"You mean like martial arts?" Colette asked honestly, tilting her head to the side.

"No, not quite," he shook his head, "techniques to raise your defense during battles."

And thus Kratos instructed them in means of using various moves in order to block against physical and magical attacks. Lloyd took to the move

'guardian' quite easily, as did the rest of his friends to their assorted similar moves. Once done they moved forward toward the seal entrance,

Lloyd looking at it with interest.

"This is it?" he asked. "So the oracle stone-"

"MARVELOUS!"

Lloyd flinched and clutched his ears, turning to his teacher as her eyes lit up, an expression of dread overtaking Genis' face as he realized what

was happening.

"Look at this material-!!! Oh, it's so MARVELOUS! This- this slab- it's clearly of a different composition than the surrounding stone!"

She fretted over it a minute before getting on all fours to- stroke…it…

"It's just as I thought!" she laughed. "This is polycarbonate! Developed during the ancient war to defend against magic! Oh feel the smooth

surface, it's wondrous!"

"…Is she always like this?" Kratos asked slowly, still eying the possibly unstable woman.

There was a moment of pause when Lloyd turned to look at his friend as well.

"…Is she?"

Genis sighed.

"I was trying so hard to hide it too…"

They entered the seal with not much difficulty afterward, the group heading into the ruins that served as Efreet's altar. The air was stifling and

dry, heat pressing in on them on all sides, trying to smother them with the very oxygen needed to maintain life. Lloyd not the suffocating heat,

but it had no real effect on him. He felt it, he knew it was hot, but it felt like…it wasn't hot. Like how someone would enter a hotspring- it's hot,

but it doesn't feel it. Dimly he remembered the day he received his wings, how it felt as if a hot blanket was held up to his face, how he felt hot

and tired…

"Lloyd?"

He broke from his thoughts and looked at Colette, who was already sweating profusely.

"Are you all right?" she asked as she forced a smile.

"Yes, I'm fine," he nodded, "I was just remembering; nevermind that, are you all right?"

"Y- Yes, I'll be fine-"

"The sooner we release the seal the sooner we can leave," Kratos stated coolly as he walked

Forward, "we'd best hurry, not all of us are as immune to the heat as you are, Lloyd."

"…" Lloyd narrowed his eyes on him.

The seal went by relatively uneventful, nigh easily aside from going about to light the torches needed to enter into the inner chamber. Lloyd listened to the faint echo

as his foot stepped onto the ground, resounding around the large chamber briefly and echoing into nothing. Raine noted the room was made from magitechnology as

they approached the altar-

"Ugh-!" Lloyd flinched, clutching his head as the room began to shake.

"I- I feel mana!" Genis cried, his eyes wide as he backed up a step. "Mana's welling up from-!"

It halted as they found themselves looking upon the fire guardian, a large fiery cat-like creature that roared at such magnitude Lloyd almost had

to bring up his hands to clutch his ears- he could take pain, a lot of it, but he had extremely adept ears at any rate.

"Tch," Lloyd spat, drawing his swords and fanning out his wings, "fine then."

He ran forward toward his foe, zooming in at inhuman speeds to attacks the creature's back legs, attempting to avoid the spikes jutting out of its

body and its tail. The guardian fell in time, the angel and the strange person known as Kratos worked efficiently together; though Lloyd couldn't

help but note Kratos was just a little bit faster, a little more powerful, a little more- well, a lot more, skilled. He was incredible, which only served

to frustrate the young angel. If he was human, then he must be a sorry excuse for an angel- but if Kratos was an angel, what kind of impression

was he making? The guardian fell, dissipating into mana as Remiel descended at Colette's prayer. Lloyd paid little attention, his eyes and

attention on Kratos the entire time as the elder male simply looked ahead at the altar. Suddenly, he felt a burst of pain down his back- but just as

quickly as it had come it had left, leaving Lloyd to turn toward the altar when he sensed the mana fluctuation-

"…"

Colette had wings.

He didn't know what to think, what to say, staring at the appendages on her back that glowed like lover's sunset, the pink and violet hues

entrancing him. Slowly she descended as Remiel told them about the next seal across the sea, Lloyd still staring at her as she turned to look at

them, a faint blush on her face as if she was embarrassed by it.

"Colette…you have-" he started, a smile working its way into his features.

"I- I'm sorry," she blushed, looking away, "I- they're-"

"They're beautiful," he smiled, walking forward and smiling down at her, his own wings flapping a bit behind him as if to accent the words he

spoke, "I'm…glad it didn't hurt you."

"I- I don't know why," she flushed, "they just kinda- slid out, I-"

"The Chosen is a different sort of angel, I assume," Kratos said curtly as he crossed his arms, "I've heard that the defining mark of an angel is

their wings, they are all unique."

"Oh really?" Lloyd hissed, turning his gaze on the man once more.

"I like yours more, Lloyd," Colette smiled, regaining his attention, "they're more..angel-like."

"W-? No, no," Lloyd shook his head, "your wings are beautiful, Colette! And- and maybe-"

"Maybe you two can figure out how to fly together," Genis grinned.

"Sh-"

Lloyd's eyes widened suddenly before he hit the ground.

"Lloyd?!"

"Lloyd-!"

"Is he all right-?"

Kratos knelt by Lloyd's side as the boy convulsed, screaming at the top of his lungs as he thrashed, his wings jerking out in strange motions every

which way as he attempted to calm his own spasms. He let out a final loud, long shriek as his wings jerked stiffly and he passed out onto the

floor, breathing heavily.

"What just-!?" Genis cried.

"Look…" Kratos whispered, transfixed by Lloyd's wings.

"What-?"

They all fell silent as Lloyd's wings slowly turned red, each feather taking on the color slowly, as if it was being sucked up from his own body- it

was not a bloody red, but a beautiful, bold crimson. They stared in awe as the color bled into his wings and then the appendages themselves

began to slowly lengthen, growing about three- no, maybe four or five inches right before their eyes.

"Oh Martel…" Raine whispered, covering her mouth.

Once the wings had ceased lengthening, the color faded from his wings in the reverse way it had come, leaving the appendages once more a

startlingly pure silvery white.

"W- What just happened?!" Genis gaped.

"Lloyd must have been affected by the seal being released as well," Raine frowned, "he is an angel, after all, though I wonder why; after all,

Colette was supposed to be the only one-"

Kratos picked Lloyd up off the ground, his wine eyes misted and far-off looking as he looked down at the young angel and attempted to carry him

without crunching his wings.

"We need to hurry out of here, with one of our members down it is not safe here," he stated, "that and I expect the Chosen may be experiencing

some pain soon as well, if this is any evidence."

"A very good point," Raine bit her lip, "Colette, are you all right?"

"I'm fine for now," she said, still looking at Lloyd in concern, "let's just get out of here."

They all agreed and made their way out of the chamber, the leader's face obscured from view as he glanced down at the unconscious by with

deep concern evident in his expression.


His eyes slowly opened, finding the side of his face pressed against the fabric of a pillow and his body against a blanket. The firelight flickered in

the darkness before him, the still sleeping forms of his companions sprawled out about the campsite. With a light groan he pushed himself off of

the ground, sitting down and looking around. Where-? They must've left the Fire Seal after he had passed out- Wait. He passed out… Wait! What

happened?! Okay, okay calm down…he saw Colette get her wings and then suddenly his wings started to hurt-

His wings.

He looked over his shoulder at his appendages, noting immediately what would have taken most a moment to realize, had they need seen it

happen themselves like his friends had. His wings were bigger…yeah, they were definitely bigger.

"How did…?" he narrowed his eyes, frowning as he gently stroked the ends of his feathers.

"I see you're awake."

He almost jumped as he jerked his head up to look at Kratos, who looked down at him in silence. Lloyd locked eyes with the man and swiftly

looked away, finding that something in him had- twinged, something in him had been shocked at Kratos' eyes…though of what he wasn't sure.

The boy averted his gaze and looked out at his friends, noticing Colette sleeping on her side- …and the shadowy figure of her wings behind her.

"…"

They weren't out, he could see that her back was bare, yet it was like a hazy shadow of her butterfly-like appendages hovering where they once

were, every curve and detail the exact image of her true wings. Wait…then… He looked up at Kratos, his attention on his back-

Wings.

They weren't flickering this time, he could see them, he could see the elegant, sharp curves and the sleek shape that almost resembled a

predator, like a large cat; beautiful, graceful, keen, sleek…and yet obviously deadly. He saw them, the shadow of them clear as day, yet he could

also see that beyond the shadow nothing was there. He closed his eyes and shook his head before looking again.

They didn't go away.

"Lloyd-"

"You're an angel," Lloyd whispered simply, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape.

Kratos narrowed his eyes, his face furrowed as he spoke clearly in protest:

"What are you t-?"

"I can see it!" Lloyd shouted, jumping to his feet. "I- I can see your wings!"

"You're tired, lay down, you're not thinking clearly-"

"No! I see your wings, Kratos!" Lloyd snapped, balling his fists as he shouted at the man and his wings flared behind him. "I've seen them ever

since Iselia! I can see them!"

"Lloyd-"

"They're right there!" Lloyd pointed at Kratos side. "They're shaped like- like scythes, almost!"

"…"

It was true, his upper wings did somewhat resemble a scythe-like shape…or more like a sickle. Still…Lloyd couldn't really see them, could he? But

then, he had said since Iselia-

"Kratos!" Lloyd cried, frantic at this point. "Please- please! Tell me the truth! You're an angel! I know you are! I can see your wings just like I can

see Colette's! Please-!"

"Ll-"

"I want to know if you know my father!!"

"…What?" Kratos asked simply, his face blank.

"Y…You…" Lloyd glanced away, "if- if you're an angel- grr! You are! I know you are! Tell me-!"

Kratos covered Lloyd's mouth with one hand, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"We can talk over here," he stated simply.

He turned on heel and walked away from the campsite, Lloyd hesitating for a split second before running after him. They went a ways away- but

not far enough where Lloyd couldn't hear everyone's breathing at the camp behind them. Lloyd immediately began to shout-

And then he choked on his next words.

"There was no point in hiding it any further," Kratos said simply, closing his eyes in resignation.

The sapphire wings shone brightly in the darkness.

Blue.

"…" Lloyd's eyes widened dangerously, no words escaping him.

Kratos sighed as his crossed his arms and opened his eyes, looking at him.

"I had hoped to keep this a secret, however I did not expect you could see them," he muttered.

Blue.

"…Lloyd?"

Blue. His wings were blue. Just like- just like his father's, just like in the memory where his father's blue feathers tickled against his legs as he

rode on his shoulders and flew through the night sky. His vision seemed entrapped on the color, but even more so on the fact he was indeed an

angel. An angel…another angel! An angel, like him! From the heavens! An angel that would be traveling with them the whole time! An

angel..that…

"I…I'm sorry," Lloyd choked, turning away as he wiped his eyes, "I- I never thought- I always dreamed about meeting another- I mean- that is-"

"You've been very lonely, haven't you?" Kratos whispered softly, his eyes gleaming with remorse, though he managed to hide that along with the

rest of his cold expression.

Lloyd ran up to him and hugged him tightly.

"…" Kratos went wide-eyed, having been unprepared for such an occurrence.

"Another angel…" he whispered, his face in Kratos' shoulder, "I'm- I'm not alone…I'm…I'm not…me and Colette aren't the only- I mean, I know we

weren't, but-"

Kratos gently pushed Lloyd away, holding the fledgling at arm's length.

"Lloyd, please, listen to me-"

"I- I have so many questions; please, I-"

"Lloyd," Kratos said sternly, cutting the boy off, "…look, this must remain a secret. I am not supposed to reveal my identity at this point…I can't

explain why, but-"

"Are you a guardian angel too?" Lloyd asked, unable to hide his eagerness to learn of the first of his kind he had encountered with a chance to

speak to.

"…Something of that nature, but Lloyd, you must keep this a secret."

Lloyd stared at him a minute, slowly backing away from him, confusion and hurt in his face.

"A secret…? But…but why? Why can't you- why can't you-?"

"They already have you," Kratos stated, "I am not supposed to draw attention, thus it will be easier to handle in the event- I am here.. I am here

to support you."

He didn't know why he said that, why that lie came out, but Lloyd's expression lit up.

"To…to support-?"

"You are a young one," Kratos stated, glancing aside as he felt the lie fabricate- well, it wasn't a complete lie, "thus it is still possible you may not

be able to handle this…so I am here."

"So…I'm…I'm not good enough?" Lloyd whispered, his expression falling with his wings.

"No," he said a little too quickly, "it is merely that you are inexperienced. You did nothing wrong."

Lloyd stared at him a little more, turning away and flushing somewhat.

"I- I apologize," he stated softly, "I- I guess I'm just trying to convince myself this is real…"

Kratos said nothing, gazing at the boy sadly as he watched his silvery wings twitch, as if he was anxious- incredibly anxious to ask something, but

couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Lloyd…I understand this is hard-"

"No!" Lloyd said immediately, looking up at him. "No-! I'm happy! I'm really-! I…"

The teen glanced at Kratos' blue wings one more time, attempting to push back the thoughts in his head that told him that he had seen them…

but Kratos couldn't be- right? He was too young…right? But how old did angels get? He didn't know, and he was one... Still. It couldn't be- he- he

would say something if he was, right? And what if he was wrong-? No. If he was, he'd tell him. For now, though…

"Teach me," Lloyd said simply.

"Pardon-?"

"Teach me- teach me how to fight," Lloyd said, desperation in his eyes, "teach me how to do everything I'm supposed to do. I- I don't know

anything about what I'm supposed to be…I don't know how a real angel is supposed to act! Please, tell me everything I need to know!"

"…"

There was a deep-set determination in his eyes, but even moreso was that of admiration- Lloyd admired him, Lloyd looked up to him, Lloyd

idolized him simply because he was an elder angel.

"Please, teach me everything I need to know!" he asked desperately. "I- I don't want to be a disgrace!"

"You've disgraced nothing," Kratos stated coolly, irritated at the very thought.

"But I can't…I can't even fly…" he trailed, his face falling.

The teen jolted with a sudden realization, looking up at the man again.

"Can you…teach me that? Can you teach me how to fly?"

A long silence fell over them, Kratos hesitating a bit as Lloyd continued to look up at him with admiration in his eyes that the Seraph had not seen

from Lloyd since he was a child, a three-year-old gazing up at him telling him how much he wanted to be like 'Daddy'.

"…I see no reason why not."

He was still expecting the questions, expecting Lloyd to ask why Colette could retract her wings, how he could retract his and Lloyd couldn't, how

he could see them, everything about all the questions he had to have been wanting to ask. Though unbeknownst to the Seraph the only question

Lloyd wanted to ask right at the moment, he was suppressing: Are you my father?

n.n Sklee. I wrote the last part while listening to 'Strangers like me' from Tarzan. XD

Colette: Huh? Why? O.o

Me: Because that line 'Tell me more, can you show me, I want to know about these strangers like me' is the line in the song that made me

write this story to begin with. XD And the line 'whatever you do, I'll do it too' is the cause that made Lloyd's (to be increased) admiration of

Kratos…eheheheh…

Colette: From a Disney song?

Me: Yep! n.n Now if you'll excuse me, I promised I'd watch a Disney movie with my baby sister…bye! n.n Hope you liked it!