Finally, the plot twist (that I've been hinting strongly at for ages!) is here. And so is Kratos!
I don't own Tales of Symphonia.
Thanks so much reviewers! There aren't a lot of you, but you keep me going!
Upon arriving at the tree, Kratos started asking where Lloyd was.
"I'm really sorry, mister Kratos…but Lloyd's dead." Kara said regretfully. Tears were starting to well in her eyes.
I whipped my head round to stare at her. How did you know? I made sure not to mention it… But the pieces were already starting to fall in place…
"Lloyd was…" She started shakily. "my Dad."
Kratos, with one distraught look, strode away wordlessly.
"Wait!" Kara shouted, with no effect.
Kara, he'll be back. He just needs to be alone for a while. This'd be hard on anyone, but…this is the second time he's had to accept that Lloyd's dead. Give him time. I tried to focus on only comforting Kara, but failed. You're Lloyd's daughter…you kept it quiet all this time…
"I know. I'm sorry for not telling you for so long. It's just that at first, the half-elves were probably still looking for me, and after that there just didn't seem a point."
It's all right. I nosed the girl's hand to reassure her. Are you all right now? About your parents and…everything?
She nodded wordlessly.
If you don't mind, how did you and Kratos get into a fight? He's not the type to randomly cross swords with the first person he sees.
Kara blushed. "It's just, the way he said things, it sounded like he was hunting down my family…like those half-elves. And I panicked."
I understand.
Kara was crying quietly, trying to hide it from me.
Kara, what's wrong?
"What if…what if my granddad doesn't want me? What if he's run away? Maybe he'd be glad to be shot of me…"
Kara! He's not like that. He cares for his family more than you could imagine. He hates standing idly; watching people he loves die around him.
"All the more reason to abandon me. One less person to watch die," She muttered bitterly.
This isn't like you, Kara. You know he's a good person really.
Kara was attempting to wipe tears away from her face, when she gave a hollow laugh. "It's all right for you. You've always been 'the pet' to him. As soon as…"
Stop it. I practically growled, feeling my hackles rise against my will. He's always treated me reasonable, and with respect, even if he couldn't understand me. You're just in a bad mood.
I forced myself to calm down, knowing that Kara would've been scared.
"Sorry, Noishe," She mumbled, ashamed. "I was just…jealous, I guess. Back when Mom and Dad had been alive, I was the best child at sword skills in the village. Everyone expected me to be – being the daughter of the both the chief and of the hero…but I found it really hard. I practiced all the time, because I had to be good. And then, after all that…he would've beaten me so easily. He didn't even bother to attack me, just waited for me to tire myself out."
Kara, if it helps, that was more or less Lloyd's first reaction to Kratos.
"What? What exactly happened?"
Well, Lloyd and two of his friends had got themselves into a fight and they were coming off worse for it. Just when it seemed that they were as good as dead, in comes Kratos, who blocks the would-be fatal attack, and wins the fight, practically by himself and barely gets scratched.
Of course, Lloyd felt upset about this… Upset was possibly an understatement – Lloyd had been angry for about a week. Anyway, they worked things out…In fact, Lloyd's beaten Kratos in a proper fight before.
She smiled slightly. "Noishe, am I being silly?"
No, you're being a typical human, I reassured her.
From a short way off, I heard footsteps. He's coming back, I told Kara, stifling the urge to add 'told you so'.
Kratos stepped out of the trees.
"I apologise if I worried you. I needed time alone to think."
I noticed that Kara didn't meet his eyes when she answered, "Don't worry, I was fine by myself."
Kara, can you ask him how he got back from Derris-Kharlan?
Kara repeated my question.
"Symphonia came within range of the teleporters. I'd hoped to see Lloyd again…" Kratos evidently felt that no further explanations were required.
Kara started speaking slowly, as if she didn't want to, but knew that if she didn't, no one else would. "Um…Kratos, I'm sorry for bring this up so soon, but…what now?"
'What now'?
"As much as I'd like to, I can't live with the protozoa all my life. And you're the only family I have left…"
"I'll look after you, if you want – I'd be doing your parents a great disservice if I didn't."
I could tell that this next sentence was taking a lot of courage to say – Kratos can be quite intimidating unintentionally. "But…Noishe, Hiko and Aria. What about them? I don't want to leave them either…"
I gently licked Kara's hand. I'll come with you – I'm sure Kratos wouldn't mind; he never has before.
"I have no objection to Noishe, and as long as the other two behave, they can come," Kratos said.
Behave? That'll be a new word for Hiko.
"But he's more cheeky than…mischievous. And seeing as Kratos doesn't understand you word for word anyway, it doesn't really matter," Kara pointed out, much to the bemusement of Kratos, who could only guess what I'd said.
Kratos carried on as if nothing had happened. "I've also noticed; we aren't on the best speaking terms, are we?"
"Maybe not…" Kara said warily.
"How about a fresh start? We forget the swordfight, and start again?"
"Alright."
Kara smiled slightly, but it was a forced smile, attempting to be polite.
Why did I have the feeling that this was going to be difficult?
Why does Kara dislike Kratos so much? I didn't plan it (although it'll work really well with some ideas I have…)
I need some reader feedback: should I a) post the next chapter under a new fic, as it was originally intended, or b) post a chapter like normal, just putting a time-jump in? B is a lot less work for me, to be honest, I don't have to come up with a new summary (although I may do that anyway) and another title (this one gave me enough trouble!)
So please review with opinions!
