SheenaFujiFilm: So then, I recover from a sprained shoulder, only to have DeadlyFlower trip me up when I was going down some stairs!
DeadlyFlower: I already said I was sorry! Besides, you didn't hurt yourself!
Amy: Evil cousin...
Jen: Evil, evil cousin!
DF: Shut up and write!
SFF: Amy!
Amy: Chapter 21: Hang overs. Devastated city
Anna's POV
God, my head is KILLING me! That drinking contest was fun, but hang overs aren't! Sheena and Presea look pretty smashed too. Zelos isn't awake yet, and Jen looks tired. She didn't really seem drunk last night. I want to see teenage Kratos again...
"Hey, do any of you guys have aspirin?" Sheena and Presea have just wandered in.
"Believe me, if I did, I would have taken it all." Jen shook her head too. Geez...
"HEY! THE REST OF THESE BOTTLES ARE EMPTY!!!" ARGH!!! My ears! What the hell is Raine's problem?!
"SHUT UP!!!" Presea screaming didn't really help either...
"Jen, did you drink the remaining 12 bottles of wine?" She said she wanted to drink all 25 bottles, so it wouldn't surprise me if she did.
"Me and Shuya." Aww, maybe she likes him back after all.
"I told him not to drink..." Sheena mumbled. Well, it looks like Jen drank more wine then he did, since he doesn't look hung over.
"Hey guys! I bought you all some aspirin!" YESS!!!
"GIMME!!!" All 4 of us throttle him, and take the aspirin. Though I think it was mainly for Jen! Cute!
"What are we going to do now?" Lloyd has walked in while we swallow pills.
"Hey everyone, I want to go to Luin!" What? I do! I was born there.
"Really? How comes?"
"I was born there!" I wonder how things are going...
"Right then, let's do that!" Good! Seles is feeling better, so we can leave soon enough. Ah! Zelos is awake.
"Hey hunnies and guys."
"We're going to Luin soon"!" Though we might have to stop off at Hima first, since I know I want to go there too. I like sightseeing!
"Okay!"
"Hm?" Jen has a weird look in her eyes. She's looking in the direction we need to be going. What the-? She's running off!
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Hey! Now Sheena's gone to catch up to her! They're both fast!
"Shuya, you can catch up to them, right?" Lloyd's right, he probably could.
"I could, but there's really no point. If I go after them, you'll never know where they are. When they reach wherever Jen's going, then we'll go after them." Hm, good point.
"Shall we set off for Luin then?" Colette said she shouldn't be out of Iselia, but it looks to be okay for her right now.
"Yeah, let's go."
Kratos' POV
I should really be getting back to Tethe'alla now. But now Yggdrasil has called me to talk with him.
"So then, you went to meet with your wife, who your sister raised. Jen is a strange one." Hmph.
"So?"
"Do you really think it's okay for you to sneak behind Lloyd's back or mine?" Who the hell told him I went to see Anna anyway?
"And now I've heard Kvar has headed to Luin in order to punish them for hiding people who had escaped form his ranch." To Luin?
"And that your sister has sensed trouble there. She's on her way there now." She is? She'll get herself killed... What is she thinking?
"If you want to go to your sister now, then I'll make that exception. But that's the only exception I'll make. Anything else you do behind my back won't go unpunished." He has ways of punishing me. Even more so now that Jen, Lloyd and Anna have entered the picture. It doesn't matter. I'll do my best to keep things a secret. It's best if I go to Luin now to make sure Jen will be okay. Besides, I'm not sure I want Luin to be destroyed by Kvar. I think I know why Jen's going there.
Sheena's POV
Dammit this girl is fast! And I'm still hung over!
"Jen, wait! Where are you going?!" She hasn't stopped. She just keeps running and running. Though I think I see a large army heading for a small village. It's quite a distance away, so I could be wrong.
"AHHH!!" She stopped suddenly, so I smashed into her.
"What's wrong?"
"Desians." That army?! They're Desians?
"What are they doing?" She hasn't responded, but I think I know.
"They're going to destroy that village? That's why you came here? Are you trying to stop them?!" She's crazy! She can't take out an entire army! But it really does look like her plan. She's drawn her sword. I'll help her. I can't just let her go charging into those soldiers by herself. WOAH! There she goes!
"W-wait!" Damn! I'll get Volt soon enough...
Presea's POV
It's been a while since Jen and Sheena ran off. Shuya's still trying to locate them. Colette and Anna think he has a crush on Jen, though if Jen knows, she doesn't look like she cares. And I was too smashed to notice what was going on last night. Apparently I said I was going to kill the President of Lezareno. I don't remember anything, so I can't confirm that.
"Hmm..." Shuya looks like he has something to say.
"They seem to have stopped in a village called Luin. That's where I've tracked them." Luin? Anna said she wanted to go somewhere called Luin.
"We'll have to be quick if we're going to catch up to them."
Luin
It's... horrible... This city has been devastated. It doesn't look like there is anyone left alive.
"Sheena... Jen!" Zelos has run off. He's gone to look for them. Shuya's followed him. Anna looks horrified. I'm sure I would be too if Ozette was destroyed.
"Woah! Are you both okay?" They've found Sheena and Jen.
They look... horrible. Sheena can't stand, and Jen can hardly lift her head. Shuya is already by Jen's side, and Zelos at Sheena's.
"What happened here? What happened to you 2?" Anna is probably the one who is the most worried.
"The Desians invaded this village. Jen knew they were Desians. She tried to kill Kvar, but..."
"That bastard got away!" Kvar... She seems to hate him for something. Has she ever been to Sylvarant? Or could be this Kvar went to Tethe'alla and did something to her then? Well, she has her reasons for hating him.
"K-Kvar you say?" Anna looks dazed.
"Mom, are you okay?" Lloyd said Desians killed his mother. It looks like it was Kvar.
"You're that desperate to kill him aren't you?" K-Kratos?! He dares to show his face around us? Though I suppose it's because he worries about his sister.
"Hmph." He's walked over to her. She looks really badly injured.
"I'm not the only one who wants to kill him!" She's staring right into Kratos' eyes. That statement was aimed at him. Kratos wants to kill Kvar too? I wonder why... Cruxis controls the Desians, so why would Kratos want to kill Kvar? I don't even know who Kvar is, but he seems to be important in the Desian world.
"You knew you couldn't kill him by charging into his army. Yet you still did it. Are you that reckless? And did you get Sheena involved?" Involved? In Jen's personal feelings perhaps?
"N-no, I followed her because I didn't know where she was going. Then she suddenly stopped, told me that Desians were headed here, and went charging into them. She killed at least half the army, until I summoned Volt. She was caught in the crossfire. It was my fau-"
"No it wasn't. It was mine. I should have been paying attention. Instead I once again let my anger control my actions." Sheena thinks it's her fault Jen got injured, but Jen doesn't blame her at all. Something must have happened. Jen must have a violent temper.
"I didn't see what happened to you. How did you get injured like that?"
"It's nothing! I was just a little clumsy!" A little clumsy? Very clumsy judging from those wounds. Jen looks like she's thinking the same.
"You've lost a lot of blood. Both of you." When I think about it, Kratos had healing arts, but only to a certain extent.
"Professor! Please help them!" Colette pleaded. Yes, it looks to be the best thing for them.
"Of course!" First Sheena.
"H-HELP MEEEE!!!" A- a man?! He's running from a monster! What the-?
"Jen, what are you doing?!"
"Stay back!" She hasn't got enough strength to fight it.
"Argh!" I'd better go and help her... There, all done.
"You shouldn't move." I'm telling her this because she might die.
"Thanks." Where is Raine?!
"I'm sorry!" Here she is. She's healing Jen.
"Hey Mom, what do you want to do?"
"Wh-what?"
"This WAS the city you were born in, and since none of us here have any business here, you should choose what we should do next." Yes, that's right...
"Regardless of what any of you choose to do, I'm going to the ranch." Jen still wants to kill Kvar?
"And you're not going alone." Kratos is following her?
"What did Kvar do to you to make you want to kill him?" It's something that has to be known. Kratos has looked up at the sky.
"He took someone important away from me. 2 people's lives would be so much easier now if Kvar hadn't interfered." He's deadly serious about that. Maybe he was in love? And the other person is his sister, so she wants to kill him? Well, they both have their reasons.
"So you do care about people!" Lloyd has hated him since the Tower of Salvation.
"Yes, strange isn't it?" He's gotten sarcastic.
"Let's go!" That was Jen. She really wants to kill him.
"We're going too..." Anna's decision. Correct me if I'm wrong, but does Anna just want to follow Kratos? She looks like she really cares for him.
"Okay then!"
Kratos' POV
I can't interfere with Anna's choice to follow us, but I know it's a bad idea.
"How are we going to get into that ranch?!" Genis asked. It's true, these places are nearly impossible to get into. It's better to have a plan before coming. But I have one.
"The Desians are aware that people from Tethe'alla, including their Chosen, is in Sylvarant. That makes you all wanted criminals. I'll get you in there."
"Looks like you're good something after all!" Lloyd likes to taunt me.
"Thank you Lloyd." I didn't know I could still be sarcastic to people. Lloyd looks annoyed anyway.
"Don't you think we should have at least one Desian with us? It would look better." Presea's right. If I did it by myself, I'm not sure Kvar's men would buy it.
"A patrol should passing soon. We'll attack them and take their uniforms." Jen may have been here before. She wants to kill Kvar because he tried to kill her, though she managed to escape.
"Right! Then we'll ambush them." Anna looks terrified to be here again. I won't let anything happen to her.
"Here they come!"
"LIGHTNING!" That was that Genis kid, wasn't it? So he uses magic?
"Hey! Nice going Genis!"
"Hehe!" There was just one female, which is weird because usually there's more than one soldier in a patrol. Or maybe their short on soldiers because Jen and Sheena killed so many at Luin.
"I think Jen should put it on!" Colette said, giving the uniform to her.
"I'm too small. Give it to Raine." She hates Desians that much, she won't even dress up as one.
"Yes, fine." And Raine has gone off to get changed.
"Zelos!" Seles caught him attempting to spy on Raine. I guess he's still the same, hitting on females and annoying Sheena.
"Let's go." Raine is ready, and it looks like Regal likes the way she's dressed.
"We've captured the wanted criminals from Tethe'alla! Let me through!" Raine is getting into the part quite well.
"Excellent! Take them in!" That was too easy.
"Good to see you Lord Kratos!" Hmph. Well then, we're all going inside. Kvar has always wanted to become the leader of the Five Grand Cardinals instead of Pronyma. I honestly don't care.
"Right, I know where Kvar is!" She's going! But Kvar's coming here!
"Wait-!"
"Well, you managed to trick my guards into letting you in. I am impressed." Kvar...
"Who are you?!" Lloyd should really know...
"Who do you think he is?!" Jen shouted, which has made Lloyd realise who he is.
"Kvar..." Anna still remembers him.
"Anna! What disgusting sight!" I'll kill him!
"You know each other?!" Lloyd doesn't remember him. Kvar's just had his guards surround us. This could be bad...
"You don't know anything do you Lloyd? Anna was involved with my Angelus Project." He's... going to tell Lloyd?
"Angelus?!" Presea's sister was involved. Presea too.
"Ah, you're Rodyle's test sample. It's a shame that you had to live instead of becoming and Cruxis Crystal." Presea...
"Shut up and die!" Jen still wants to kill.
"Jen, the bitch who was my sample that escaped before I could plant the Exsphere on her. You should be the one to die for your disobedience." Jen... He involved her too?!
"What did you do to my mom?!" Lloyd's demand won't go unanswered.
"That filthy woman took that Exsphere and escaped. However, she paid for her crime with her life. Though Jen, being a bitch, brought her back."
"You killed-" I will kill Kvar for saying that about both of them!
"Now, now, don't blame me. I didn't kill Anna!" No way...
"Shut up! Don't tell him!" Anna...
"Your father did." That smile... the one that shows no remorse for what he's done.
"LIAR!!!" It's hurting Lloyd, from the bottom of his heart. If he knew it was me who killed Anna, would he forgive me?
"When Anna's Exsphere was removed, she turned into a mindless monster, and your father killed her. Pathetic! Don't you think?" Lloyd turned to Anna.
"Is that true?!" She doesn't know what to say. She doesn't know how to react. Though Regal looks very surprised. Jen is looking at me. She doesn't look like she's disappointed with me. She looks sorry.
"It is, isn't it?!" Anna's nodded. This hurts...
"But it wasn't on purpose Lloyd. You have to understand why he did it." I know why I did it, and I didn't want it to happen. I would have done anything to prevent it from happening.
"Even though he killed you, you still love him?!" Lloyd looks outraged.
"DIE! JUST DIE!" She'll be killed!
"Jen stop! You'll be killed if you do anything!"
"Now then, what to do about the Exsphere?" What the-? He plans on killing us! I don't know what to do. I might get someone killed!
"Sheena! These were from Tiga!" Shuya? He's handed Sheena some cards.
"NOW you give these to me?! Geez... Guys, I'll get us out of here!" She's summoned a monster of some sort. No, it's a guardian. The ones people of Mizuho use.
We're back outside. Sheena got us out.
"Thank you Sheena!" Colette is probably the only one who can bring words to her mouth. I'll have to talk with Jen about what Kvar did to her.
"Let's go back to Luin. There, we can think about everything." I didn't want Lloyd to find out like this...
Luin
Jen is exhausted. Anna and Lloyd are silent, Presea looks angry and Regal looks troubled.
"I can't believe Dad killed you!" Lloyd...
"Be quiet! I told you, he had a reason to do it!"
"Well I hope he's died a horrible death!" Sorry to disappoint you Lloyd.
"Alicia may have been killed the same way in the same situation." Presea has every reason to be upset.
"Kratos, is he the man who created this project?"
"No, Rodyle is the one behind it." Presea's anger could kill Kvar. She looks like she wants to kill everyone involved with the Angelus Project.
"Why were you involved?" Jen hasn't responded. Maybe she was kidnapped because she was my sister. Kvar did it to spite me perhaps?
"It doesn't matter why I was involved. I'll kill him!"
"You must be so proud!" Now what's Lloyd talking about?
"You and your organisation created the Desians! Desians are causing people to suffer! Desians made my dad kill my mom! Desians made me hate my dad! I don't want to hate him! They even tried to get your sister involved!" Lloyd...
"Lloyd, just calm down..." Anna is the only one who can console him right now.
"Believe me, if I could change it, I would." This has shocked him.
"What are you talking about?"
"I tried to find a way to change things for both worlds. But in the end, I lost the ones I loved, so I gave up. I'm sure there's still a way to save both worlds, but I won't chase after it." In due time, I will find it, but Lloyd can't know.
"You mean... you don't like what Cruxis does?! Then why are you with them?! Don't just give up! Come back with us- uh! Oops..." What did he just say?!
"HA! I knew it! You still care about him!" Jen's grinning. She can see that?
"I do not!"
"Yes you do! It's why you were so hurt when he betrayed us! And it's why you never seem to mind him being around because somewhere in that heart of yours, you want him back with us!" She can... really see that? Anna looks surprised too. She's serious.
"That's NOT true!" That anger... I was the same when I was his age.
"If you say so..." That was her sarcasm there. She's still grinning.
"Hey! Why do you like Kratos so much? He's done horrible things to you! His organisation created horrible things! You looked so happy with him in that photo! Your brother too!" He HAD to bring that up, didn't he?...
"D-does that matter?" I want to know why she likes me.
"No, tell him." She looks annoyed.
"No!!!"
"C'mon! There has to be a reason!"
"There can't be one."
"FINE! It's because I never had a dad! I want a dad! He may be my brother, but he's the only person I have to see as a father! Happy now?!" What?!?!
"HEY!!" She still doesn't like being hugged. Lloyd looks really shocked.
"Me as your father? Don't be stupid!" She smiled, but she was serious. Our dad wanted nothing to do with her, so she chose me as his replacement. That's why she clings to me?
"Oh... Good for you..." That's all Lloyd can think of to say?
"We'd better get some rest if we're going back to the ranch tomorrow." Raine's right. This day has been... eventful. And that's putting it lightly.
SFF: Hooray! I'm finally done!
Amy: Aww, this was a family chapter!
SFF: You think so?
Jen: You're still making me out to be an emo!
DF: That's because you are, bunny stabber!
Jen: Shut up!
SFF: NEXT POLL: Do you want to see Alicia live? If you do, then Regal can have her. Which also means you'll have to give Raine someone. VOTE NOW! And say who Raine should get! Voting ends at the end of Chapter 25. Oh yes, and if I do raise Alicia, she won't be travelling the party since there are too many people for me to keep up with.
Amy: See you all very soon!