Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia. It belongs to the fine folks at Namco.
A/N: AU fic. This came partially out of frustration because there are no Forcystus fanfics, partially because of a quote from ToS and because I love the "what if"'s. Be warned lots of spoilers. I mean it's about Cruxis and Desians afterall.
The Good Aurion
Chapter XII: Who Needs Wings
Lloyd smiled as he and the half elf sat on the mountain face. He was completely honest about taking him on that tour. After the Chosen's journey was over, he would be retired from the post of Desian Cardinal as the desians aren't in the flourishing world. Kvar will most likely find his way to Tethe'alla but as for Forcystus he had a date with Tethe'alla and hopefully a beautiful young half elf.
"Yeah, we're going as soon as the Chosen finishes her journey."
"So there is really a floating village of half elves?"
"Yup, Yggdrasil founded it. It's kept in the air by Maxwell. Weird huh? In a brilliant kind of way."
Forcystus seemed a little lost in thought at the concept. Lloyd knew what he was feeling. Both had grown up in a world where they were a minority. Lloyd was always "the human" of Welgaia and Forcystus was "the half elf" of Asgard. The idea of being just one of the crowd must be something of a wonderful dream to him. The half elf turned to Lloyd and smiled. "I'll look forward to that."
"It'll be great! I'll have to show you the hot springs to and maybe even Mizuho. If we can find, that is."
Forcystus stood up. "Well my mana is back. We better get going again."
Lloyd looked out over the expanse. The mountains stretched across the remnants of the continent. He supposed he would be riding the rest of the way until they reached around Hima.
"You're going to carry me again, aren't you?"
"Unless you can rock climb as fast as I can travel by wind, you will be."
Lloyd sighed. "You better not tell anyone about this. I'm trying to build a reputation, you know."
"Oh yes because I'm such a gossiper."
Lloyd sulked. You could tell Forcystus your favorite color and if you told him to he'd take it to his grave. Lloyd, however, was amazed he hadn't told everyone he'd met about his mission for Yggdrasil. "I know." Lloyd said and hopped onto Forcystus's back.
Forcystus wrapped his arms around Lloyd's legs to secure him. Forcystus was the type to be a little overly careful with his men and especially Lloyd. Lloyd could never understand why he was so protective. He wasn't child anymore and wasn't going to break either. But who knew what he was thinking half the time. "I'd hold on. This is probably going to be quite the ride."
Quite the ride, huh? He knew what that meant. Before Lloyd could reply though, Forcystus was off. Great gusts of wind whirled around them as he crossed the mountains. Lloyd was having a hard time keeping his eyes open but it was hard to miss a view like that. The mountains, trees and even a river that probably would never make it onto a map flashed by. The range was beautiful. "It's great up here!" Lloyd shouted over the sound of the wiping wind.
"Yeah! There's a lake over there too! It's in the crater of where an old volcano was! We can stop on our way back to see it if you want!"
"I didn't know volcanoes were this close to Iselia!"
"Yeah! They say that Efreet came to this world from it! I don't know if I believe it but there is one around here!"
It wasn't much longer before they reached the bridge between the continents. Nothing as grand as the bridge of Tethe'alla, this one was made of wood and not in the best of repair. Forcystus eyed it wearily. "Maybe we should have brought a boat."
Lloyd turned to him. "Are you scared, Forcystus?" Lloyd grinned mischievously. "To think a desian hero is afraid of a little old bridge."
"Yes, a little, OLD bridge. It's going to collapse."
"Stop worrying. This thing is probably sturdier than it looks." Lloyd stated.
Forcystus cocked his head and groaned in disapproval. "I'll go first. I don't want you going across if it can't handle the weight."
Lloyd groaned. "This'll take forever."
Forcystus ignored Lloyd as he started across the bridge. It creaked under the strain from his weight. He could tell that a number of the boards were on their last leg and the holes, that secured the nails, had grown and cracked from the changing seasons. However the bridge held firm and he crossed without incident. "Your turn, Lloyd."
Lloyd rolled his eyes. "You'd think we were going through a battlefield from the way you're acting." Lloyd began across the bridge. He really didn't see the concern he was much smaller than Forcystus and he had gotten across just fine. About halfway though, he began to have second thoughts. One of the planks gave out and Lloyd's foot fell through. He yelped and Forcystus seemed to jump a little. "I'm fine. I guess it isn't as stable as it looks."
Forcystus stepped back again. "Just go slow and try not to put as much weight on any one spot."
"Easier said than done." Lloyd said and looked back. He was halfway. It wasn't bright but Lloyd was rattled and ran the rest of the way. He looked back to see that the bridge was still standing. "See it's fine." He said with a grin.
Forcystus laughed. "All right which way..." Forcystus turned away from the bridge and looked around.
"You don't know?"
"Let me get my bearings. I haven't been all the way out here in a while."
"I thought half elves never forget."
The lank hair that concealed his eyes twitched. Lloyd smiled. Forcystus's ears would sometimes twitch if he was nervous or annoyed. Elves had more muscles in their ears than humans and she moving them slightly wasn't uncommon. It was one of the reasons they were pointed. "I heard that."
"I didn't say anything." Lloyd looked around at the area. The new continent was still rugged and mountainous. "So what are we close to?"
"Hima. It's beyond the peninsula. We'll have to pass Hima and... Luin."
"What's wrong with Luin?"
Forcystus smiled. "Nothing is wrong with Luin. It's a small human village on a lake in the central area of the continent." Forcystus said and took off down a worn trail.
Lloyd followed closely. "Forcystus, what aren't you telling me about Luin?"
Forcystus continued. "Fine. Fine. Your mother was from Luin."
"My mother? Why didn't you tell me!?"
Forcystus smiled. "Calm down, Lloyd. It never really came up. But yes, your mother and father met in her home in Luin."
"Do you know anything else about my mother?"
"I never got a chance to meet her. She died before I really knew your father. I only met him because..."
"He wanted you to babysit." Lloyd finished.
"Yes, you should ask your father about her."
"He killed her, Forcystus. I don't even know how I'm going to talk to him now."
Forcystus looked to Lloyd sympathetically. "It's more complicated than that Lloyd. Your father isn't a bad man." Forcystus paused and didn't say anything.
"You're not telling me everything. Why do you tell me something but leave the rest out? You always do that. I'm not a child anymore Forcystus, you can tell me what's going on."
Forcystus sighed. "Lloyd, some things are better left not knowing."
Lloyd snorted. That was that. There was no point pushing the topic. Once Forcystus decided something he stuck to it. It was a great quality in battle but when it came to more personal matters, it made him a pain to deal with. "Is anyone going to be there besides the Cardinals?"
Forcystus seemed to welcome the subject change. He furrowed his brow thinking about it. "I don't know. I assume not but someone else might be there since it's so unusual. Remiel perhaps."
Lloyd groaned.
"What is it?'
"I hate Remiel."
Forcystus's ears under his hair perked. "Why?"
"He's a jerk and he doesn't know when to shut up."
"He was assigned to watch the Chosen. He's supposed to play guardian angel."
Lloyd snorted. Remiel had never been known to keep any opinion to himself. Most of the angels of Cruxis had had little to do with Lloyd as a small child. They were willing to help with directions and answer questions he had about his studies but were not one's to initiate any real contact with him. Remiel hadn't been so gracious. He seemed to go a little out of his way to harass the boy. Lloyd had once gotten very upset by an incident with Remiel and Kratos actually chased the lower angel off. He told him that Remiel was jealous of his rank for his race. Lloyd had taken his father's advice as canon. But it didn't make him take a liking to him.
Now that he thought about it, Remiel was almost the polar opposite of Forcystus in his relation with him. Forcystus seemed to go out of his way to be kind to Lloyd just like Remiel did to harass him. However, Forcystus wasn't as easy to explain away. A Desian Grand Cardinal was really the last person you'd think when it came to nurturing a human child. Yet Forcystus had warmed up to him in less than half a day of meeting him way back when he was no older than four. The cardinal was almost a second father to him and never once refused a chance to see him. Lloyd opened his mouth for a moment but closed it again. Asking 'why do you like me' was more than idiotic at this point. He wouldn't understand the question for one thing and it was a rather personal thing to ask.
"Lloyd."
Lloyd snapped out of his musings and turned to Forcystus. "Is that the Temple of Light?" A tall tower lay straight ahead amongst the mountains.
Forcystus nodded and smirked at Lloyd. "How about a foot race?"
"Are you kidding? You'll cheat!"
Forcystus crossed his arm indignantly. "Me! Cheat!? The very idea!" He smiled. "Besides, I don't need to cheat to beat you."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is."
"You better get started then."
Forcystus turned quickly. Lloyd had taken off well he was still gloating. Forcystus grinned and charged forward with a gust of wind. He jumped up and pushed a jolt of air through the ground. The gust came up below Lloyd sending him flying only to land close by on his runt. Lloyd growled. "Cheat!"
"Takes one!" Forcystus said as he raced past him.
Lloyd pouted and got back onto his feet. There was more than one way to skin a cat after all. Lloyd looked down at his side. He was glad he had brought the swords that Yuan had made for him. He drew on and swiped it as he ran. "Air burst!" A gust of air shot out from behind him and jettisoned his forward. Before Forcystus knew what had happened, Lloyd jumped off the top of his head and ahead of him. "Practical magic!" Lloyd gloated as he taunted the half elf.
"We'll see!" Forcystus charged forward and sent another surge of wind through the ground. As it just so happened, Lloyd had just headed over a hill and just out of sight was Kvar. The gust of air reemerged hitting its mark but also sent the other Cardinal flying backwards. The Cardinal landed flat on his back with a seventeen year old human on top of him. It was all but too late before Forcystus revealed what had happened.
"WHAT WAS THAT!? GET OFF OF ME!"
Forcystus cringed at the sound of Kvar's distress. "Kvar... It was my fault."
Kvar turned toward Forcystus who was working his way down the hill toward Lloyd and Kvar. He shoved Lloyd off of him violently and snatched up his staff. He hurried to his feet flustered and angry, brushing himself off. Lloyd snorted. He assumed that he wanted to look his best to yell at them. "For-cystus... what do you think you were doing exactly?"
"I'm so sorry, Kvar. It was an accident. Lloyd and I were playing and it got... out... of hand."
"Playing?"
"Yeah, we were having a footrace and... it was an accident. You aren't hurt, are you?"
"Yes, check for physical injuries. How droll. You really are a master of this job that you so... humbly accepted. I'm sure you're brilliance will solve this as always."
That was more sarcasm than Lloyd could handle for one day. "He said was sorry. It was an accident."
Kvar turned quickly. "Oh yes and who might this lovely... thing that fell on me might be?"
Lloyd snarled but Forcystus piped in first. "That thing is Lloyd Aurion and I suggest you treat him with the respect he deserves."
"Oh... so this is Master Aurion. I didn't recognize you and you... didn't take after your father as much as I thought you might." Kvar smiled. "An honest misunderstanding."
Lloyd recoiled a little. The man was as tall as his father which was taller than Forcystus and Lord Yuan. He had a presence. It was uncomfortable and very dark eyes.
"We're going to be late, Kvar." Forcystus snarled walking between the other Cardinal and Lloyd.
"Will young Aurion be joining us?" He said peering around Forcystus's shoulder.
"Yes, Pronyma invited him especially."
"Oh... well, welcome to the rat race, Master Aurion."
