Me: Hi guys! I can check my traffic again. Yaysees! I gots another reviewer! Thanks ShadowVDP! Plus, blackroseofdeath49 and Springflowerangel have added this tory to thier fav list, and 'i will make you rise with me' added it to thier alert list. Cake time! :D All readers get a cookie regardless if you review or not! I think that day off I took helped. More ideas.

Genis: And they will run out just as quickly.

Me: :P shut up!

Genis: Make me.

Me: XD Okay!

Genis: WAIT NO!

Me: (Stops charging up laser gun) Will you do the disclaimer?

Genis: Yes! DragonLady24 doesn't own ToS or Grandia II! Don't kill me please!

Me: I'll spare you for today victim... On with the fic!

Chapter 10: So Many Questions Plus a Bit of Background Information

The sky was dark and no stars could be seen through the rain clouds or trees.

"You're not going anywhere." A man cackled as thunder ripped through the night air.

"Please! Let me go!" A woman shrieked as she tried to pull out of the man's firm grasp. He threw her onto the cold, muddy ground, and stepped on her hand, causing her to flinch.

He bent over and whispered in her ear. "You can't leave me doll. You make far too much money for me to let you go free now." The sobbing woman trembled on the ground, getting her brown hair and skimpy red suit caked with mud. She tried to get up, but the man kicked her back down. "I guess I'll have to teach you the hard way. You can't escape." Lightining flashed and you could see the malicious man's silhouette against the dark background. He smiled sadistically and proceeded to beat the defenseless woman's back without mercy.

You could hear her screams echo throught the forest.

Aurora jerked up into a sitting posistion with tears streaming down her pale face and panted heavily. A bead of cold sweat trailed down her brow as she curled up into a ball and wrapped the covers around her, chanting some kind of mantra in her thoughts along the lines of It's just a dream, that's over. It's just a dream, that's over. Slowly, her body uncurled itself and left the soft warm bed. Trying to calm herslef down, she felt her way down the stairs, her other senses failing her. When she recovered,

"'alla will be saved."

Wait, that voice.

"Sheena?" The girl asked. Sheena spun around and threw a razor sharp card. The woman held her hand up to deflect it, ending up with a gash on her appendage.

"Aurora? Are you okay?" The shinobi asked. The cripple chuckled. A bloody card floated down to the floor. She grabbed her hand and squeezed the cut shut so it couldn't bleed.

"Where'd you go? I thought you left me."

"Your group accused me of brutaly mauling you to death." Sheena replied nonchalantly. "Nothing too bad."

"Well, at least your safe."

...

The swordswoman frowned. "We're supposed to be enemies, but I don't feel any hostile thoughts radiating from you."

"I don't want to be your enemy. I wish we could be friends, but I have a duty to my people."

Aurora perked up. "You... want to be... my friend?"

Sheena cocked her head. "I would."

The other girl smiled. "You're the first mature person to treat me like a living, breathing, feeling thing."

"Why-oh... I don't really care if you're blind. You're still a person."

Aurora frowned. "I really wish we were on the same side here."

"Yeah." The ninja sighed. "Well, sure can't fight you here, gotta go." And she dissapeared in a puff of smoke. The woman galred at the floor. Why does fate have to treat me so cruelly? She thought.

"Good morning." Kratos walked down the stairs. Aurora nodded to him.

"... Is something bothering you?" He asked.

"No. And why would you ask in the first place?"

"You're a member on this journey." He stated.

"Never stopped you before."

"Hmph." He crossed his arms. "Would it have to do with that assassin?"

She gasped. "H-How did you-"

"I overheard."

The girl glared. "Is that how you were raised?"

"It is how I live. I'm a mercenary remember. It pays to be well rounded. That includes eavesdropping on converstions."

She crossed her arms. "Well please don't do it again."

"I can't promise that."

"Too bad. You're gonna."

"Hmph." He paused. "Is the arguing between you and Raine going to hinder this journey's progression?"

"I was planning on leaving, did you not hear me last night?"

The man glared. "If it was so hard to get into this group, why do you plan that?"

"I don't believe I can take much more."

"... That is weak."

"Don't be a hypocrite." She snapped. He glared.

"How is it that I am a hypocrite?"

"You were just about to make me leave yourself."

"How would you know?"

"'Is the fighting between you and Raine going to hinder this journey's progression?'" She quoted.

"I was merely asking."

"Right."

The mercenary frowned. He noticed blood seeping out of Aurora's hand. Reaching forward, he grabbed it gently, getting her warm crimson blood on his gloves. The woman jerked it away.

"Don't touch me." She spat.

"Why? You are hurt and I can heal you."

"I don't trust people like you."

"Hm? People like me?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Why do you not answer my question. Then I wouldn't need to again."

"...I don't trust..."

"Yes?"

"Nevermind."

He sighed in frustration. "At least let me heal your hand."

"I can do it myself."

"Oh really?"

"Heaven's Tear" She murmered. The cut sealed up instantly. "Happy now?"

"What type of magic did you use? I've never seen it before."

"Again with the questioning."

"You never seem to mind when the children ask you questions."

"..."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Fine. I'll answer one. Ever since I escaped Ryudo, I've never trusted... men."

"Escaped?"

"I said one answer and that's all you'll get."

The man glared but continued no further. No use in having two fueds going on. Raine walked down the stairs next along with Genis. They were talking about magic and how to improve their skills. Both stopped and stared strangely at Kratos's bloody glove, the bloody card, and Aurora's cut hand.

"Anything interesting happen?" Genis asked.

"Nope. Nothing really." Aurora hid her hand behind her back and Kratos did the same. The teacher raised an eyebrow skeptically. Shaking her head, Aurora started for the door. "Well then, I guess this is it. Bye."

"No!" Genis yelled and ran over to her.

"What?" Both Kratos and Raine asked.

"I'm leaving. Are you deaf?" She ignored the boy tugging on her sleeve.

"No you're not." Kratos stated.

"What?" Raine asked disappointedly.

"How are you going to stop me?" The swordswoman asked. Kratos didn't really know why he made her stay. He drew his sword.

"If you win, you may leave. If you lose, you must stay."

"Aw... isn't that sweet. You care if I leave or not. And here I thought I was just some useless cripple whose only purpose in life was to 'hinder the journey'." She glared. "Whatever. Make it quick."

"I will."

Thw two went outside and faced each other. Swords drawn, all they did for the first two minutes was size each other up. Finally, Aurora lept forward and slashed horizontally with her blade. Kratos caught it with his own weapon and the swords were locked in a match of strength. A few sparks flew before the fighters pushed off each other. The mercenary came forward this time and quickly hacked, while his opponent deftly parried and dodged them. This went on for five minutes, niether one able to defeat the other.

"Woah!" Lloyd and Collette came outside. "What's up with those two?" The teen swordsman asked.

"They're fighting to dedcide if Aurora will stay or go." Genis replied, not taking his observant eyes off the action. Collette pouted.

"Why must they try to kick her out? What has she done wrong?" The Chosen whined.

"Actually, Kratos is winning so she will stay. Aurora's the one who wanted to leave." Raine said as a matter-of-factly.

"She wanted to leave?" Lloyd asked.

"Yeah, and its all Raine's fault- OW!" Genis rubbed the sore spot on his head.

"Why do you hate Aurora, Professor?" Collette asked.

"Well, you're to young to understand." She huffed.

"I think we understand hate well enough." Lloyd said. Raine sighed.

"Just like half-elves, cripples are looked down upon."

"But she can't help it!" Collette cried.

"So? Neither can half-elves." Genis reminded her.

"Oh. Right." The blonde looked down at her feet.

Kratos finally saw an opening in Aurora's defenses and lunged for it. Of course, she had to make a wrong move and the sword went right into her side. The woman dropped her weapon and held her wound. The mercenary flipped his blade around and hit Aurora's stomach with the end of the handle. She staggered backwards and fell onto her backside.

"Quick enough?" He asked. Ignoring the no touch rule, he pressed his hand against her side and cast first aid. She glared at him and threw the hand off.

"Have you forgetten what I said?" She asked.

"No, I chose to ignore it." He responded.

"WHOO! SHE STAYS!" Lloyd and Genis yelled at the same time.

"Jinx, you owe me a potion!" The teen laughed but stopped when everyone stared.

"Ah, no I don't according to the rest of the group." Genis smirked. "But, it would be enjoyable to see you drunk again."

"What did he do?" Raine asked, knowing she prabably shouldn't have. Genis grinned evily.

"Well,"

"No Genis!" The red clad teen grabbed his buddy by the head and held his jaw together.

"Mmph-nmph-hmph!" Genis resorted to licking his hand when Lloyd wouldn't let go.

"Gross!" He screamed.

"It worked didn't it?" Genis asked in a smart-alliec tone. The teen glared.

Kratos was walking in the back of the group, lost in thought.

She's still warm. When have I ever been able to feel a difference in temperature? Hm... well, when spells are cast to me, but, its not that much of a difference. And the thought that I know her from somewhere doesn't stop nagging at me. Who is Aurora really?

"Does your head hurt from all that thinking?" Lloyd asked the man. He looked to his son. "What'cha thinking about?" He asked.

"Nothing."

"Well, it has to be something. Thinking about nothing is impossible." Lloyd rolled his eyes. Genis, overhearing the converstion, decided to comment.

"I'm sure if it is, you'd be the first to achieve it Lloyd."

"Shut it Genis. I wasn't talking to you." He snapped. The mage shrugged and left the swordsmen. "So tell me. What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing you need to be concerned about."

"Psh! You're no fun. I have a better chance of getting Aurora to talk when she's pissed off than to start up a conversation with you."

Kratos flinched, but no one noticed. "Then why don't you go talk to her?" He asked.

"I think I will." He strode off to the better conversationist. For a split second, Kratos thought about letting Lloyd's training fall into her her hands, but quickly chased the thought away. Hm. The children seem to confide in her more than Raine and I. What is it about scarred people that seem to attract kids like that? Pity? Maybe. Low standards? That's also a possibility. Either way, her bond with Lloyd, Collette, and Genis might prove useful one day.

Aurora was walking in the middle of the group when Lloyd came up beside her.

"Hi Aurora!" He beamed. She smiled.

"Can I do anything for you Lloyd?"

"Sure! Talk more than Kratos does in a week and we'll be in business."

She chuckled. "Alright, that doesn't sound too hard. Hm... Where do you live?"

"Iselia."

"That's a pretty name. What's it like?"

"Well, its kinda small. All of the houses are made of wood, and there's a lot of flowers. It hardly rains. The sky's pretty clear most of the time, but at night, you can see, like, a million stars from my balcony!"

"It's sounds like a nice place to live."

"Yeah, we even have a peace treaty with the Desians so they don't bother us."

"Genis said you didn't know your parents. Are you... an orphan?"

"Yes. I have an adoptive father though. His name's Dirk. He's a dwarf."

"Dwarf?"

"Yeah, a dwarf. Y'know, people that lived underground, are really short."

"Oh." To be honest, Aurora had been lost throughout this conversation. Stars, clouds, wood?

"What was your home like?" Lloyd asked.

"Well, it was in a cave."

Everyone had tuned in and all went silent. Aurora frowned. "What?" She asked.

"A... cave?" Genis asked.

"Well, more like a cavern."

"Wow!" Collette exclaimed.

"Keep going." Kratos demanded. This comment seemed to spark his memory. She frowned at him.

"How could you see? It must've been dark." Genis inquired.

"Oh no. We could see just fine. All the light came from the crystals embedded in the roof of the cavern. It bathed the city in a blue aura."

"What did it look like? What did you build houses with?" Lloyd pushed.

"The cavern was dome-shaped and had our homes carved into its sides. A perfectly round lake was placed in the middle and was about two miles in diameter. A large temple was intricately carved at the crest of one side. It was like a cave in itself and held an altar portaying a beautiful woman who was said to be made up entirely of water mana. That's the building I was dropped off at supposedly. Maria, my 'mother', found me on one of the benches meant for praying on and called me a blessing for some odd reason."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Two-miles... That's incredible!" Genis shouted. The kids were in hysterics.

"You carved all your houses?" Lloyd asked.

"You've never seen the sky?" Collette questioned.

"Where is it?"

"Can we go?"

"Can you breathe there?"

"How did you eat?"

"What happened to it?"

"What was the lady's name?"

"QUIET!" Raine stopped the constant flow of questions. Aurora was silently thanking her. The swordswoman cleared her throat.

"Yes, it was two miles wide, yes, we carved all of our houses, no I've never seen the sky, I don't know where my home is located, so, no you can't go, yes, you can breathe, we ate fish, it was destroyed by a group of invaders, we never knew the lady's name, all we found were old scriptures that said something about a woman being transformed into the spirit of water and pictures of her." She drew a long breath. "Any more questions?"

"Uh, yeah. How do you not know where it is?" Genis asked.

"No one ever left the city, because there was no exit."

"No exit?" Lloyd raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, no exit. When the city was razed, I was knocked unconcious by one of the leaders and woke up on the outskirts of Hima I think."

"If there was no exit, how did the invaders get in?" Collette asked.

"No one knew. It was at night and I woke up to the sounds of screaming people and the smell of smoke."

"How does anything burn? It was a cavern right." Genis asked.

"There were plants. Large palm fronds that grew in a dark purple color were abundant. And, there was a rare species of flower that grew in the depths of the lake refered to simply as a 'Sapphire Lily'."

"How did they survive without sunlight?" Raine asked skeptically.

"They drew their power from the crystals was all I was told."

"... Wow. I bet that was an amazing city. I wish I could've gone." Lloyd pouted.

"I hope that one day, I'll find it again." Aurora frowned.

That's who she was! Mithos wanted us to destroy all of the people. If he found out we failed, this could end badly for both myself and Yuan. Kratos thought. But I'm not sure if I could kill her.

After three hours of walking, they finally made it to Haknoesia Peak.

"Great goddess, that mountian is high!" Lloyd gasped at the sight of the stone formation jutting out of the ground.

"I guess you've never seen a mountain either?" Genis turned to the swordswoman. She shook her head. They all headed up the mountain path until they reached a small house. Inside was an old man surrounded by artifacts. Raine practically drooled over the house's adornments. Kratos approached the man.

"Were you sold a book earlier by a man, a boy, a woman, and a large lion humanoid?"

"Why yes. Yes I was sold a book by people with that same description."

"May we please have it."

"Of course not! Why would I let you people have it! It cost me a lot of gald!"

"We are the Chosen's group! I suggest you let us have it. Now." Raine entered the conversation. The man stroked his chin.

"Tell you what. If you let me have this young lady as payment, I'll let you see it. Surely you don't need this cripple." He grabbed Aurora's arm. She could see the man from her nightmare earlier behind her bandana.

"NO!" She shrieked. "Not again!" She dashed out the door. Everyone stared at the girl as she slammed the entrance behind her. They all flinched at the sound.

"Hehe, she's playing hard to get." The old man smirked. Even Raine couldn't take it. Her hand connected with the man's face so hard, she was sure she fractured some bones. Perverts were one of the things she hated the most. He rubbed his cheek and continued speaking. "Fine. If I can't have her, you can go retrieve the Spiritua Statue from the House of Salvation and bring it to me in exchange for taking a LOOK at the book." Kratos glared, but accepted his deal. They all left to retrieve Aurora who was sitting at the entrance to the trail.

"Are... you okay Aurora?" Lloyd put a hand on her shoulder. She shook her head faintly.

"Yeah. Let's go." She got up and led the group off.

They had to set up camp that night, since the HoS was too far a walk. Aurora once again, refused dinner. She took her spot as far away from the campfire as possible and sat up in fetal posistion. Not again. Not again. Not again. Not again. Was all she could think as she rocked back and forth unnoticeably.

"Is she going to be alright?" Lloyd asked quietly so she couldn't hear.

"I dunno." Genis whispered back.

"I've never seen her act like this." Collette looked worried.

Raine was even talking with the children. "Whatever it is, just let her be. It'll probably pass. Just go to bed."

"Aw." Lloyd sighed. "I wanted to ask you something."

"What?" Raine asked.

"What did that man want to do with Aurora?"

Raine paled. "Goodnight Lloyd." She scrambled over to her spot and fell asleep. Lloyd frowned but laid down too.

Goodnights chorused around the campfire.

Finally, Kratos and Aurora were the only one's left up. The man glanced sideways at her.

"Get some sleep. You've been doing that for an hour now."

She didn't respond. Instead, the rocking motion of her body continued.

"Aurora?"

"..."

He walked over to the woman and glared down at her. "Get some sleep." He ordered. She jerked back to reality and looked up to the man. Fear was marked in every corner of her expression. She nodded weakly and fell asleep, still in fetal posistion, just on her side now. He rubbed his temples and went back to his post. Something wasn't right. He knew it. And, for some reason, he felt guilty for it.

Me: Finally, a long-ish chapter.

Genis: 'Bout time. The last two were under 3,000 words.

Me: Sorry guys -.-' Review please. You'll get a cake... And I'll hurt Zelos...

Zelos: Meep! Why me. Why my beautiful face?

Me: You say beautiful, I say queer.

Zelos: That's so mean!

Genis: No it's not. That's hilarious.

Zelos: C'mere you little brat. (Mauls Genis)

Me: Looks like I didn't need that laser gun after all. (Chucks laser gun out the window.) Review please!