Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia.

Chapter Eleven: The Asgard Human Ranch

The next day, before they packed up the camp, Kratos told everyone else what Crystal had told him the night before. He made Crystal agree to tell parts of the story and he would tell the rest. By the time Kratos told them all of the repeated murder of each of her family members, Crystal turned her back to her companions. She didn't want to see any sadness or pity directed at her. When Kratos finished, Raine asked what Crystal intended to do.

''I have no home, no family, and nothing worthwhile waiting for me,'' Crystal answered turning back to face them. ''All I ask is that I may help restore this world, so that the suffering may end. I just want to do something good."

Kratos watched her. Based on what she had said last night he wondered how much Crystal knew about the world and the regeneration.

Raine looked to the blonde. ''What do you say, Colette?''

''Of course you can stay. Right Lloyd?''

Lloyd nodded. ''It's not like we're gonna turn you away now.''

''Thank you,'' Crystal bowed.

It was decided they would cut through a small forest and stop at Luin on their way to the Tower of Mana. The sunlight shone through the leaves, dancing around in little pretty spots of light.

''What's Luin like?'' Lloyd asked.

''It's a nice place,'' Said Kratos with a softened look in his eyes. ''The town is warm and inviting.''

''Have you been there before Kratos?'' Crystal asked.

Kratos' expression returned to boredom. ''I passed through it once before, that's all.''

Crystal could sense something odd, and hidden in his voice, but didn't pry. Eventually they saw the top of a house in the distance.

''Hey guys, I think I can see Luin!'' Lloyd said.

''Wait…Kratos; do you sense something…strange?'' Crystal asked, turning to the auburn-haired man.

''Be on guard,'' He whispered to her, so he wouldn't alarm the others.

They soon arrived at what used to be the entrance of the city.

''Wha…what's this?'' Lloyd gasped.

''It's…horrible,'' Colette said forlorn.

The once beautiful town was completely destroyed. The bridge was half gone, the houses burned down, blood and traces of a battle were everywhere. The group walked to the fountain, to find the assassin from the Ossa Trail, bloody and half dead.

''Oh…It's you guys,'' The assassin said weakly. ''If you want to finish me off now's your chance. I don't have the strength left to fight.''

Lloyd kneeled beside her. ''What happened? You're badly wounded.''

''Look around you. Everything in this town was reduced to ruins. The Desians…ugh…attacked. And the survivors were…taken to the ranch.''

The assassin closed her eyes in pain.

''Professor, can you heal her?'' Lloyd asked.

Raine stared at him as if he were crazy. ''Lloyd, are you serious?''

''Professor please!'' Colette pleaded.

''Fine,'' The healer said, shaking her head. ''But I swear, you're all way to softhearted for your own good.''

Raine bent down and held her staff over the purple-clad girl.

''Wh-Why did you save me?'' She asked.

''Because,'' Lloyd started. ''You obviously fought for this town, rather than yourself. If you tried to save Luin, then you can't be that bad.''

The girl looked embarrassed. ''But…I'm trying to kill you…''

''You don't seem like a Desian, so you must have reasons right?'' Crystal said.

''Th-Thanks,'' Said the assassin.

''What should we do about the Desians?'' Kratos asked.

''We have to save them,'' Colette said.

''So we'll raid the ranch,'' Crystal said simply.

''Lloyd? What do you say?'' Raine turned to look at the smaller swordsman.

Lloyd gripped the hilt of his Katana. ''I said it before didn't I? I'm going to destroy them all. The entire ranch!''

''So hotheaded…'' Raine sighed.

Colette turned to the assassin. ''What's your name?''

''It's Sheena. And I have a favor to ask. Please, take me with you. If you let me come with you I swear I will do whatever I can to aid you."

''Of course you can,'' Lloyd said.

"I agree," Colette nodded.

Raine, narrowed her eyes, but she didn't protest, nor did any of the others. The seven people made their way to the Desian human ranch, all the while formulating a plan. Once they got to the base they ambushed a couple of Female Desian soldiers and stole their clothes steal their clothes. They returned to Luin to regroup and change into the two uniforms they obtained.

Crystal pulled zipped up the tall leather boots and looked down at her clothing. The shorts were also leather and incredibly short. "What the hell is this? Shouldn't there be some sexual harassment clause that bans uniforms like this in any organization?"

"It would seem that there are very few laws Desians adhere to…" Raine said looking at her own lack of coverage with an unhappy expression.

"Why do you guys get to be the Desians?" Lloyd asked.

"Because we only go these two uniforms and you'd look suspicious if you wore one," Crystal said.

"Why do you already have one?" Genis ask Sheena, who had pulled out her own uniform from her bag.

"I had planned to infiltrate the Desian base myself before you guys came along," she said.

They went back to the base with the three females guarding the other members of their group, who they had tied up for the sake of appearance. Raine played her part perfectly with the guards at the gate; they didn't hesitate to let her through. Everything had gone according to plan until they got inside the control room. Within seconds of their arrival, an alarm went off and they ended up cornered by a few Desian guards.

''Well, well, well,'' Came a sneering voice from behind one of the Desian lackeys. ''It seems a few rats have gotten into my ranch. I'm impressed you're still alive.''

The owner of the voice stepped out in front of the cornered group. He had short blond hair and narrow, squinty eyes. He was wearing a smirk that somehow matched his ridiculous blue suit.

''Who are you?'' Lloyd asked, with his cocky tone.

''He is Kvar. One of the five Desian Grand Cardinals,'' Kratos answered. Crystal thought it was strange that Kratos knew something like that, but brushed it aside.

''How amusing,'' Kvar laughed. ''The inferior being asked for my name, after invading my ranch. You're more reckless than I thought. It matters not. Finish them off!'' Kvar commanded the spell caster next to him, whom performed a fire spell aimed at Lloyd.

''Guardian!'' Lloyd shouted, bracing himself with his arms. The fire ball got nullified by the shield and Kvar's beady eyes caught on something. Lloyd's peculiar Exsphere.

''Ahh...I see. That Exsphere is without a doubt the product of my Angelus Project,'' Kvar said.

Lloyd looked confused. "What?"

"C'mon!" Kratos shouted and they ran out of the room.

The ranch was very much like a factory of some sort. Conveyer belts with cases of what appeared to be Exspheres were moving throughout the next room. Desians paced in front of control panels, pressing a button here and there, making the shipments go where they we supposed to.

The group dodged or fought soldiers as they made their way trough the vast room. Then they came to a small landing below a window showing another part of the Exsphere manufacturing plant.

"Wh-What is this?" Lloyd asked, against at what he saw.

Humans-many humans-were on the conveyor belt above them, all headed into a strange machine.

Crystal looked away. There was something very gruesome going on.

"This is where the Exspheres are removed form the host bodies."

Lloyd wheeled around, surprised that the owner of the sneering voice had caught up to them.

Raine took a small step forward. "Do you mean that Exspheres are made from...human bodies?"

"Not exactly. Exspheres are dormant until they extract nourishment from humans to grow and awaken. Human ranches are Exsphere manufacturing plants," Kvar sneered as he looked at them. "Why else would we waste our time caring for and raising these inferior beings?"

"That's terrible!" Genis said.

"What's terrible is what you've done. Stealing and using the Exspheres we've spent so much time creating. You deserve to be punished."

The soldiers advanced on the group, surrounding them.

"Lloyd, for the sake of my leader Yggdrasill and my own success, I need that Exsphere!" Kvar said.

"What's so special about my Exsphere?"

"That Exsphere is the product of years of research. Now I can finally attain what that filthy female host body stole from me all those years ago."

"What are you-" Lloyd's eyes widened. "You don't mean..."

"Oh, you don't know, do you? That Exsphere was cultured on host body A012. Human name Anna." Kvar smirked. "Your mother. She took it and escaped the facility but paid for that crime with her life."

Whatever tension the room held before, increased a hundred fold with that one sentence. Lloyd was stunned, Kratos went pale, and everyone else was confused. Crystal's mind went into overdrive. Then…Anna Irving? No it couldn't be…Irving is a usual name…isn't it?

Lloyd gripped the hilt of his sword. "You...you killed my-!"

"Now, now, I wasn't the one who killed her. Your father did."

"Liar!"

"After removing her key-crestless Exsphere she went out of control and she turned into a monster,'' A twisted grin appeared on Kvar's mouth. "And your father killed her. Pathetic, wouldn't you say?"

Kratos' fist clenched into a ball. "Do not speak ill of the dead!"

''Well ether way,'' Kvar said. ''That Exsphere was part of my angelus project! It belongs to me.''

The Desians moved forward on the group, cornering them even more.

''Let me handle this,'' Sheena said lightly stepping forward. She held up a piece of paper and a large spirit appeared and transported them out of the ranch. They fled to Luin.

That night, the group stood around in shock at what they had learned. Those who used an Exsphere-Lloyd, Genis, Raine, Sheena, and Kratos-stared at their Exspheres. Lloyd looked pained.

"I'm sorry, "he said. "Right now…I need to think by myself for a while."

Lloyd walked away and the others stayed where they were.

Crystal walked a little ways away as well, hoping to be able to think for a while too. There was something bothering her and she wasn't sure she could even think about it. It was just too twisted of an idea.

"What would you want, if it was your life taken by an Exsphere?"

The deep voice made her jump, but the distance of it told her that the words weren't directed at her. Crystal looked behind where she was sitting to see Kratos and Lloyd a few yards away. Lloyd was staring at the Exsphere on his hand.

"If it were me, "Kratos continued. "I'd want to be useful to someone who could break this tragic cycle. Then…perhaps I could atone for some of my sins.

Lloyd looked at him. "Your sins? Like what? "

"That's not important. What is important is your decision about the Exspheres."

Lloyd nodded and walked, back in the direction of the campsite.

Kratos sat on the ground and stared ahead of him. His expression looked tired and angry at the same time.

The next morning Lloyd spoke to all of them. He apologized for his wavering.

"I'm going to fight, and break this cycle."

"Well said," Crystal agreed.

"Well then, how are we going to infiltrate the ranch this time? " Raine asked. "We can't use the same trick twice now that they've tightened security."

"I know have a friend in Hima who escaped the ranch. He may know of a way in," Sheena said.

"Alright let's go," Lloyd said, and they set off.

Raine examined the stones behind the ranch until she found one that didn't feel quite like stone. It turned out to be the hidden entrance, and the group was able to once again infiltrate the ranch. Once they entered, the Chosen's group fell into what seemed to be becoming a routine for when they entered a ranch. Thy created a plan to free the prisoners and take out Kvar and split into two teams. Crystal, Kratos, Lloyd, and Genis went after Kvar. Raine, Sheena, and Colette went to free the prisoners.

The infiltration team found Kvar. He was strong, but overconfident, which gave his opponents many opportunities for decisive blows. What Crystal couldn't help but notice was, in addition to Lloyd's normal passion for defeating a Desian, Kratos seemed extremely angry. She couldn't begin to understand why.

As Kvar fell for what looked like the final time, the rest of the group had entered the room to rejoin them. Lloyd turned to Colette. At that moment Kvar stood up and held up his staff chanting a spell aims right at Lloyd.

"No!" Colette yelled and she threw herself in front of Lloyd. A thunder blade slashed her across the shoulder.

"Inferior beings!" Kvar exclaimed.

Kratos ran forward and slashed Kvar across the chest. "Feel the pain-" he struck again. "-Of those inferior beings-" he thrust his sword into Kvar's abdomen. "-as you burn in hell!"

Kvar fell, and this time was defiantly the last time.

Raine punched in a code to the ranch's main computer and they escaped before it blew up. When they left the ranch and returned to Asguard to rest, Lloyd told the others the reason why Colette wasn't in pain despite the huge gash on her body. He revealed that with each seal that was released Colette was slowly losing her humanity. She had already lost her ability to eat, sleep, or feel. Sheena protested against continuing to release the seals for Colette's sake alone, but the blonde angel shook her head saying this was why she was born. Lloyd's fist trembled.

"Isn't there another way…?" He said barely loud for anyone to hear.

Everyone retired to their rooms and Raine began making her rounds. She employed Crystal's help by shoving a bunch of bandages and medicine and told the brunette to give them to Kratos. Crystal opened the door to Kratos' room.

''Krat-oh! Excuse me!'' She squeaked, and slammed the door shut. She hadn't realized she didn't knock before coming in, and caught a glimpse of Kratos wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Unluckily for her, he noticed and opened the door again.

''What do you want?'' he asked.

She turned bright red. ''R-Raine asked m-me to see if you needed help with your wounds. The forest we went though on the way b-back here was poisonous, so magic healing doesn't work on w-wounds.''

''Just a minute,'' He said before shutting the door again. Crystal heard footsteps move around the room and less than a minute later he opened the door again and let her in.

She sat down on the bed and started unpacking the bag, but Kratos stopped her.

''There's no need, I'll do it myself.'' He said coldly.

''Are you sure? It's better if someone else dresses your wounds for you.''

''Yes, its fine. Now please, leave me alone.''

Crystal felt a little hurt by his tone with her but ignored it.

''Okay then. Good night,'' She stood up and left.

The next day they got to the Tower of Mana, and made their way though the temple. The guardian of this seal was the strongest the group had encountered. The teamwork Crystal had with Kratos the last few fights dispersed by this time. He was distracted and angry. He made plenty more mistakes then he ever had before and he even missed with his magic attack.

''Kratos, Calm down!'' Crystal shouted while guarding against a barrage of razor spikes.

He didn't seem to hear her. She ran forward to try and get through to him, but she ran at the wrong moment. He brought his blade backwards at the very moment Crystal was behind him. She felt the sharp steel go through her gut, and gasped in surprise. Kratos turned around and saw the brunette start to fall backwards.

''That's…it…'' She muttered and caught herself. Her white wings sprouted from out of her back and she rose into the air, her sword held high. The blood dripped out of her wound like red rose petals. A few drops landed on Kratos' forehead as he watched her rise into the dark sky. Crystal began to focus her Mana and chanted.

''O Angels of judgment, fill my blade with your purifying light. Rain upon my enemies!''

She flew forward with her sword aimed for the beast's forehead.

''Heaven's Blade!''

She plunged the blade into the beast and released her Mana. Her opponent gave a loud cry, fell to the ground and disappeared. At the same time Crystal sheathed her sword, and her wings disappeared, while she was still high in the sky. She fell, limply to the ground, her consciousness slipping away. Kratos walked forward a few steps and caught her easily. Raine ran forward.

''Crystal, are you okay?'' Raine asked.

The brunette angel opened her eyes slightly. ''Yes…I'm just…a little tired…''

''I will take care of her,'' Kratos said to Raine, who looked at him and nodded. She walked to Lloyd and the others. Colette offered her prayers at the alter.

As they walked out of the temple Kratos carried Crystal, who was unconscious; in his arms, holding her close, and tightly. His face looked made of stone.

"Professor Sage!" Lloyd called out. He was standing over Colette, who apparently collapsed. "It's Colette's Angel Toxicosis..."

"I see...let's set up the camp here for today," Raine said, walking over to the blonde.

Colette opened her mouth to speak but then stopped. She looked puzzled about something and tried to speak again. But no sound came out.

"What's wrong Colette?" Lloyd asked.

"I would assume she lost her voice."

Genis looked at Kratos. "What?"

Colette tried once more to speak but the only sound that could be heard was air escaping her mouth in a silent gasp.

They set up a campfire and Genis cooked. Lloyd sat down with Colette, who was leaning against a tree. He wrapped one arm around her in a comforting gesture. Kratos carried Crystal over to a tree and laid her down, with her head resting on his lap. He tended her wounds and wrapped his cape around her body to protect her against the cold.

All was silent at the little camp when Sheena stood up.

"Everyone, I have something to say. I want to explain why I was trying to assonate the Chosen."

Raine nodded. "All right we're listening. Tell us about your homeland. A land that doesn't exist in this world."

Sheena was taken aback. "You knew?"

"No. But you said yourself that Sylverant will be saved. That must mean you aren't from Sylverant."

"Yeah...you know, it's really a shame that your intellect is being wasted here," Sheena said. "You're right. My homeland isn't Sylverant. My world is called Tethe'alla."

"Tethe'alla?" Genis repeated "You mean the moon?"

Sheena laughed. "Of course not. My world isn't on the moon." She saw Lloyd's confused expression. "Even I don't really understand the specifics, but there's another world that lies entwined with Sylverant. As shadow is to light. That's Tethe'alla."

"Two entwined worlds?" Raine asked.

"They are right next to each other, but they can't one another. Our scholars say they exist on shifted dimensions. The two worlds can't touch each other, but they do exist next to and affect each other."

"What do you mean by that?" Lloyd asked.

"They vie for the supply of Mana. When one world weakens, the mana from that world flows to the other. As a result, one world is always flourishing and the other is waning. Sort of like an hourglass."

"So..." Genis said, standing up. "Right now Sylverant is..."

"That's right. Sylverant's mana is flowing to Tethe'alla therefore, it's in decline. Without mana crops won't grow and magic won't work. The summon spirits that protect Martel can't survive in Sylverant either. So this world slips even further down the path of destruction."

"Then the Chosen's world regeneration is actually the process of reversing the mana flow?" Raine asked.

"Exactly," Sheena said. "When the chosen breaks a seal the mana flow reverses and the Summon Spirit that governs the seal awakens. I was sent to prevent the world regeneration from happening."

Lloyd stood up. "In other words, to ensure Sylverant's destruction?"

"You can say that, but your world regeneration is also an attempt to destroy Tethe'alla. We're both doing the same thing."

"It's hard for me to believe all this," Raine said.

"I'm the proof," Sheena said, pointing to herself. "I posses summoning arts that have been lost from this world."

Colette stood as well and stared at Sheena.

"Please don't look at me like that, Colette," Sheena said. "I know that wasn't your intention. And I don't know what to do. I have to protect Tethe'alla but people in this world are suffering. And if I don't stop you, Tethe'alla will suffer. I can't just abandon Tethe'alla. Isn't there a way both worlds can be saved?"

"I want to know too," Lloyd said.

Raine shook her head. "Don't you think it's possible there is no other way?"

"The best thing we can do now is to save Sylverant from its current crisis," Kratos said monotonously.

"But what if we don't regenerate the world and just defeat the Desians?" Lloyd asked.

"Although we succeeded in destroying a ranch defeating the Desians won't help. The Mana will be exhausted."

"Is it really that important?"

Genis nodded. "Not everyone worries about it that much. But Mana is more important to life than water. Without it, lands will die. It's the source material for everything."

"The mana supply is very limited. We live by chipping away at the amount we currently have. If things continue as they are now, Sylverant will eventually lose its mana and be destroyed."

Colette walked next to Lloyd and took his hand. She began tracing patterns on his palm.

"Colette? Oh, you're trying to spell right?" He read out what she traced. "I'll try asking Remiel if there's a way to save the two worlds."

"If it doesn't work out..." Sheena began, a grave look on her face. "I may have to kill you after all..."

"When that time comes I may fight back. Because I love Sylverant too."

"I understand. You intend to become an angel no matter what, don't you?"

Colette nodded solemnly.

"Alright."

A little while later, while the others were eating; Crystal opened her eyes slightly. She could feel something warm under her, and the pain was subsiding. There was a bush of auburn above her.

''Ugh…what happened?'' She asked, disoriented.

The voice of Kratos answered. ''After you killed the guardian of the seal, you fainted from loss of blood.''

She realized that he was bandaging her wounds. His expression was flat, and he looked intently at what he was doing.

''You look so serious,'' She said softly. He didn't say anything. ''Fine, don't talk.''

Crystal slowly sat up, flinching at the pain on her stomach. He held out his arms in a protective gesture as if ready to catch her. "Careful," he said.

She looked at him and noticed her was avoiding her eye. There was something like shame in his face.

''Why so gloomy?'' She asked.

Kratos twitched at the question.

''You can't hide it. Tell me,'' The brunette insisted.

''I…forgive me,'' He said quickly.

''Forgive you?''

''For the…'' He looked pained at his next words. ''For inflicting such a serious wound. I almost…hit your vitals.''

Crystal was shocked at the mercenary's discomfort. He was being so…thoughtful.

''I-it's okay, I'm fine aren't I?'' She said, suddenly very self aware.

''Yes, you're right.''

He looked up and gave her a small smile. She turned a delicate shade of pink.

''I'm going to go see Genis,'' Crystal said, but she stood up too quickly. She felt slightly lightheaded and lost her balance, falling right on top of Kratos.She ended up straddling him and her face was an inch away from his.

''Maybe I should help you stand next time,'' Kratos said, ignoring the blush that covered his face.

Crystal slowly got up and he walked her over to the others. Genis made soup again and had a bowl ready for her and Kratos.

''Why are you two flushed?'' Genis asked, handing a bowl to Kratos.

''Shut up Genis.''

The two didn't mean to, but they said it at the same time. They looked at each other quickly, and then looked away, both the shade of a cherry.