*wearing the Engineer's hard hat* Presea regains herself…at the cost of Colette getting kidnapped (the first time). This will be interesting…
Disclaimer: If I owned both series, I could've made a lot of changes…such as Lloyd being a lot smarter than a lot of people think and stuff. But I don't; so there.
Lloyd should've known that things would go wrong once they returned to Ozette. He should've listened to the feeling in his gut that things were going to go bad. But he ignored it, thinking about saving Presea from her Exsphere.
But…as he watched the young pinkette crying in front of the bed with the corpse in it, with Regal trying to comfort her, the boy bit his lip, feeling so…useless right now. They managed to save Presea…at the cost of Colette getting kidnapped. He could still remember what had happened earlier…
Earlier…
"AUGH…!" Zelos let out as he stretched himself. "Damn! I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank whatever god out there that we're back."
"I can't believe I'm saying this as well," Genis let out, looking tired, "but I agree with you there." Lloyd could've sworn he heard Rita let out "I'm so sore…"
The red clad male looked around a bit and pulled out the Key Crest he made over a week ago in the mines. The revelation of Regal's crime buzzes in his head still, but to be honest, they're both not that different. He looked over the Key Crest to make sure it looks right, nodding a little before stuffing it back into his pocket. "C'mon, we better head over there and put this on Presea," he said.
None of them complained as they made their way to the village. However, when they're nearing the entrance, he had a strange feeling in his gut that something bad is going to happen. He had no idea what it is, but…he tried to ignore the feeling, shaking his head as they continued their way.
However, when they got near the plaza, that Repede suddenly started to growl.
"Hey, what's with the mutt?" Zelos asked, looking over the canine with a look.
"Wait…!" Colette suddenly let out, and he looked back at her, seeing her eyes had gone wide. After a moment, she said, "I hear a lot of people screaming…and other people letting out strange sounds and then…nothing."
Lloyd blinked and casted a glance over to Yuri, who looked a little…pale, and when his eyes looked over to the boy, he just nodded to confirm what Colette had said. The boy cringed and looked over at the plaza. "We better check it out!"
He didn't hear the others call out to him as he raced to the plaza; he had to find out what it was that Colette had heard-
The boy skidded to a stop, and gawked (feeling the blood draining from his face) at the sight before him. He heard the others running up to him, but he can't look away from this rather…grisly sight.
In the plaza, there are beheaded bodies of what seemed to be the Papal Knights, blood littering the floor from their headless bodies, and some of the others are…he quickly made himself look to the sole person still standing, trying to get the image of the knights' guts lying out from their bodies.
The sole person happens to be Presea, blood dripping from the blade of her axe and she looked relatively unharmed. Due to her Exsphere, she was unable to react to her killing these men.
"Presea…did," Lloyd looked over the knights again before looking back up at her, "did you do this to them?"
She merely looked up at him. "Yes," she answered, "They wanted to take me away from Daddy. I could not leave him alone any longer than I did last time. Now…" She lifted her axe and got into a stance. "I have to stop you from taking away my Exsphere. Mr. Rodyle said that you'll take it away from me, so that I can't help Daddy anymore."
"Wha-?" Lloyd was only able to let out – who the hell is Rodyle and why did he say that? – before they had to scatter, dodging the girl's axe. "What the hell are you talking about?! That's not true!"
"Your Exsphere is killing you!" Regal shouted at her, "We merely wanted to fix your Key Crest!"
Presea didn't answer, drawing her arm back before-
"SHIT!" Lloyd didn't mean to shout that out, but it slipped out; pulling up a Guardian to withstand Beast. The barrier cracked at the energy forced upon it but he heard something crack – momentarily thinking that it was his for a moment – and hearing a familiar scream. When the attack ended, he lowered the shield and looked to the source in horror. The blonde Chosen is lying on the ground, unconscious with some blood from the root that her head had impacted on. "COLETTE!" He shouted and was about to run over to her-
A swipe from Presea's axe stopped him, and he suddenly heard a chorus of shrieks and flapping wings. "What the hell, now its dragons this time?!" He heard Rita exclaimed.
"Huh-?" He let out and turned to the source-
"HOLY-!" He let out, literally seeing dragons flapping in the air, all of them heading towards where they are.
Then he heard a familiar cackle and they turned to the source, seeing the same purple haired man clapping as if he had seen a fantastic show. "Good work, Presea," he said, grinning sadistically. "You've done a marvelous job at keeping them away and knocking out the Sylvaranti Chosen!"
"What the-?! Who the hell are you?!" Lloyd demanded, glaring at the man.
The man tilted his head at the boy, a smug look on his face. "I do not dinge myself on introducing myself to Inferior Beings," he said.
"Inferior…" The boy heard the Professor mutter to herself as he stared in horror at the man before him, as if he and the Professor came to the same conclusion. "Then, you're-!"
The others had to scatter as the dragons swooped down at them, some of them grabbing the corpses of the Papal Knights, one of them grabbing the limp Colette. The boy could only look up at the half-elven man as he rode on one of the winged beasts.
It was then the guy had the nerve to cackle. "Yes, that's right! I am Rodyle, the most cunning of the Desian Grand Cardinals!"
"Yeah, we've established that already!" Yuri shouted at the Desian from somewhere.
The Desian actually glared down at where Yuri is. "You be quiet, quarter-ling!" He shouted, "Creatures like you don't deserve to exist among others, especially kinsmen."
Lloyd looked over at Yuri (seeing the man having Presea over his shoulder and giving the half-elven man a confused look) and looked back at Rodyle to do the same. "What…?" What does the Desian mean?
The man then laughed, seemingly to brush off what he had said. "But enough about that! I hope you don't mind me taking the Sylvaranti Chosen!" He let out a cackle once more before the dragon he was on (along with the others) flying off to the sky.
"WAIT!" The boy cried out, trying to run out to them, "COLETTE!" He stopped when the dragons are no longer in sight. The male brunette could only look up at the sky his eyes wide before he fell to his knees, staring up blankly. "…Colette…" He let out.
No…No, no, no, no, NO! He- He couldn't believe he lost her, after swearing to protect her! But-!
He clenched his hands, and let out a roar of frustration as he pounded them onto the tree under him. The boy panted after screaming his lungs out, trying to calm himself. Dammit! Dammitdammitdammit!
As he tried to calm himself, he began to blame himself. If only he had listened to his gut feeling- if only he had half the sense to stay put when Colette reported what she heard-! If only…if only…
The boy buried his face in his hands, fighting back the tears. No. He can't cry here. Crying won't get him anywhere. He realized that long ago.
Lloyd let out a sigh, running his hand over his face. He will find her. He will find her and save her. That, he will do – he promised himself.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked over the source. It was Yuri, who gave him a sympathetic look (did the same thing happen to him?). "I'm sorry…" The man muttered softly.
The boy blinked. What-?
Oh. Right, Yuri would've saved her when she was kidnapped…but if the others saw his wings, they'll believe he's a member of Cruxis – which, he obviously isn't, but they can't take any chances.
Lloyd sighed, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it," he said, standing up. "We'll find a way to save Colette somehow."
The dark haired man gave him a smirk with a grunt. "Yeah."
"Lloyd," the boy turned to the convict, standing next to Presea as she looked at them blankly. "Will you help Presea?"
The boy looked over at the girl for a moment, and nodded. "…Yeah. It's not her fault that she did this – she was being used and manipulated by that bastard."
He heard Rita growl. "I swear, if I ever see that guy again, I'll go Violent Pain on his ass!" …Lloyd isn't sure what Violent Pain is, but he tried to shrug off the chill that went up his spine as he went over to the young pinkette.
The red clad male pulled out the Key Crest and kneeled to her level. "This should do the trick; she'll be able to return to her real self soon." He had to pause to stare down at the makeshift Key Crest he made. What if it'll be the same as Colette? Would Presea not respond after this? What if-?
No. He had to do this. He nodded, reaching out and pressing the new Key Crest over the old one, locking in place. He stood up and backed away, and the others came in for a closer look.
For the first few seconds, nothing happened.
After what felt like an eternity, Presea seemed to flinch, then again before closing her eyes and bringing her hands up to bury her face into them with a sigh. Then she jerked her head up, and- was that confusion in her eyes? "What…?" She looked around, completely confused.
"U-Um…" Genis slowly went over to her, his face a little red. "P-Presea, are you okay…?"
She blinked and looked over at the boy. "What? Oh, um, yes…" She looked back at the others, asking, "Where am I? What am I doing…?"
"Presea-" Lloyd began before she did a sharp gasp, looking around again.
"This…This is Ozette," she said, "Then…" Her face turned into the emotion of panic, looking over at Lloyd. "Where's my daddy?!"
She suddenly broke free of them, knocking over Zelos (the red haired male letting out a yelp), running in the direction of her home. "Wait, Presea-!" The girl was out of sight. Lloyd looked back at the others. "C'mon, we better go after her!"
He soon hurried after the girl, with the others following.
Now…
They soon found the girl looking over the person in the bed, her face completely pale, taking a few steps back. She muttered something to herself before she held her head, and let out a scream before she cried, right there.
Lloyd palmed his face, rubbing his temples. A part of him felt awful bringing her consciousness back, making her see her father like this; but they didn't want Presea to suffer anymore because of her Exsphere. It's right, but not right at the same time.
He just…he has no idea what to do…
~o~
Blank.
That was all she could feel, sitting there at the steps of her house, watching the others digging a grave for her father. She was barely aware of everything around her, her mind unable to get over the fact that her father is…dead.
He is dead…and, for what felt like a long time, she felt…ashamed for not noticing. All she could feel are negative emotions…some of which that she could identify, and others, she still couldn't.
Sorrow. Rage. Hatred. Shame.
Sorrow for being unable to save or notice her father, even when he was dead.
Rage to the people that had made her become the emotionless state she spent sixteen years in.
Hatred for the person who gave her this blasted stone, and brought her to those people.
…And shame for what she had done earlier.
Yes, she could remember her time in some parts, along with being with Lloyd's – the boy in red – group. …Some of the things, however.
She pulled her knees closer to her, fighting back the tears. She realized that, no matter what she does, she'll never get her father back. She will never regain the time she had lost while in that state.
Presea heard a whine and turned to the source, seeing the one eyed dog – Repede – looking up at her. She looked over the dog for a moment before she hesitantly put her hand on top of his head. After a moment of not doing anything, she began to rub his head. Repede let out a content grunt, and she was soon scratching the back of his ear.
She let out a small laugh, then blinked. She…laughed? She then registered herself…smiling. Why is…Why is she…?
"You gonna be okay Presea?" She looked over to the source, seeing the long dark haired male – she faintly recalled that his name is Yuri – looking over at her, in worry.
…Oh. She nodded mutely. "Yes…I think so…"
The man let out a sigh, looking over to the others, and she did as well, seeing Zelos and Regal placing the body of her father into the hole that had been dug up by the others. "…Sorry you had to see that," he said, and she looked over at him in surprise(?). "We didn't intend to wake you up to that."
She looked over the man for a moment and shook her head. "No…But, why are you apologizing? I should be the one to say I am-" She stopped herself. She could feel emotions again…but it's hard to not speak like a computer again. She corrected herself, "I'm the one who should say 'I'm sorry'. I've…been a great burden on you all." She looked away in shame, remembering what they had gone through and the things they did on her behalf.
"There's nothing you need to apologize for," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "So…you remember everything?"
She nodded. "Yes…mostly."
She heard footsteps and looked up, seeing the silver haired woman – Professor Raine, a nicer half-elf than the one who committed those…horrid experiments on her – approaching them. "We're done burying your father, Presea," she said softly. "Would you like to say anything on his behalf?"
The pinkette looked down at her lap, contemplating. Should she? She hadn't paid attention to her father at all during that time. But…she could say her good-byes to him.
An idea came to her mind. She stood up and turned to her house (feeling…hesitant) and looked back at the two…young adults. "I'll…be right back," she told them, "I…have to get something."
It took monumental effort to walk back into the house, and towards the closet in her father's bedroom. Leaning against the corner, collecting dust – she felt another pang of guilt – is her father's old woodcutter axe. She slowly reached out for the hilt, hesitated for a moment and gripped the handle.
She lifted it up without effort and walked out of the building.
Presea is grateful for the others giving her room as she made her way over to the grave, two poles shaped like a cross over a dirt mound. Taking a string from her pocket, she pierced the bottom of the axe into the dirt, and made it lean against the 'cross', using the string to tie the axe in place. Once she was done with her work, she stepped back.
She felt a pang of sorrow in her chest, looking over the makeshift marker. "…Daddy," she began softly. "I…will see you again in the afterlife…someday." She bowed to the grave. "…Good-bye…"
A moment of silence went by. She is…grateful for it.
Straightening up, the female lumberjack turned to the others. "Thank you…for burying my daddy."
Lloyd rubbed the back of his head – why does he look so apologetic? "Sure…it's the least we could do…"
Presea looked down at the ground for a moment. Do they all…pity her?
"U-Um," she looked over to the silver haired boy – Genis, another nice half-elf – as he stuttered a little. "Presea, if…if you don't mind me asking, why did you have an Exsphere like that on you?"
She felt a pang of rage, but she repressed it. "I received it from a person named Vharley," she explained, remembering what his body looked and of his…attitude.
Presea clenched her hands a little…and she could've heard she heard Regal – the blue haired convict – mutter to himself, "Vharley…I knew it!" She would've given the man a confused look but she had to continue her story.
"My daddy is a famous woodcutter in Ozette," she said, "It was how he earned his living, and he also delivered sacred wood to the king; and I helped daddy as much as I could. But…one day, my daddy fell ill. I wanted to help him, but…we barely have enough money for medicine or food. I tried to take over Daddy's job…but I was too weak." Her mind went back to the days that she had tried to lift her father's spare axe, tried to cut the wood to no avail.
"It was then that Vharley told me about Exspheres, and then introduced me to Rodyle," she continued to tell her story, "and I was taken to the Research Academy in Sybak." She remembered telling the others, when they first arrived in that town, how much she hated the place. How is that…when she had felt nothing, when her soul is numb?
"So then the experiments they did on you were carried out by the order of the Pope, right?" The red haired man – the Chosen of Tethe'alla, Zelos – asked.
"Which means that bastard is in league with the Pope!" Lloyd growled out, clenching his fists in anger.
"But why do that?" Raine asked, rubbing her chin. "What sort of purpose does the Pope has for teaming up with Rodyle and Vharley…assuming that the man is in league with the Exsphere broker."
Presea also noticed Yuri rubbing his chin a little, before looking over at Zelos. "Out of curiosity…does the Pope has any motivation to kill the king?"
All eyes turned to him in confusion. "What makes you say that?" The other female – Sheena – asked.
Yuri just shrugged. "It's…just a hunch."
After staring at him for a few moments, Zelos slowly replied, "Well…there's a rumor going around that the Pope is the king's half-brother. But no one is able to prove it."
"Damn," the dark haired male muttered, looking frustrated.
"Well, who cares about that?" The girl in red – Rita – said, "What the hell are we going to do? Cruxis now has their slimy hands on her!"
Presea joined Regal in looking at the mage girl in confusion. "What do you mean?" Regal asked, "Isn't Cruxis a holy syndicate?"
She nearly nodded until she remembered. Cruxis is…the enemy. What? But that doesn't make sense.
"It's…hard to explain," Lloyd said.
Regal gave the boy a look before he looked down at the ground in thought before looking over to Presea. "Do you…have an elder sister, Presea?" He asked.
She blinked, before shaking her head. "No." She answered.
"Then…do you have any other members of your family?" Raine asked.
"I have a younger sister," she answered, "She left to go into service for a noble…that was the last I saw of her. And my mommy died when I was a child."
She noticed in her peripheral vision that Regal's eyes had gone wide when she mentioned her young sister, Alicia, but didn't get the chance to question him when Zelos spoke up:
"'When you were a child'? You're still a child now."
She blinked. Yes, that's right…they don't know her true age. She slowly nodded. "Yes…of course. That's right."
They didn't notice her hesitating on her answer…but she could've sworn she heard a confused grunt coming from Yuri. The man seems to be quite…perspective.
"Well, at any rate," Sheena spoke up, "we can't just leave you here in this village by yourself…if you have no one else to turn to."
Raine nodded solemnly. "Yes…the people of this village seem to avoid her."
Presea looked over at the female half-elf in surprise; people…had avoided her? She could understand the reason – she hadn't aged at all ever since she had her Exsphere equipped. She hadn't aged at all for sixteen years…
…There is one thing she could do. She looked over at Lloyd. "Lloyd…" The boy in red, looked over to her when she said his name. "If…" She hesitated for a moment before she continued, "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to go with you."
"What? Why?" He asked, confused.
"It's my fault that Colette was taken away," she said, lowering her gaze. "So…I want to help in her rescue."
"Please, allow me to come along as well," all eyes turned to Regal, the man's face looking serious, "If what you said is true, Raine, then it seems my fate is linked to your enemy."
Lloyd rubbed his chin, thinking of what to do with the two of them. Presea had hoped that he will allow her to come with them. After a few moments, he nodded, smiling. "You've been with us up until now, haven't you? As far as I'm concerned, you're both already a part of the group."
"You sure Lloyd?" Yuri asked the boy.
He nodded without hesitation. "Yeah." He looked back at the two. "Help us save Colette!"
Presea felt relieved, then nodded, determined. "I will!"
"Thank you," Regal said. "I shall not betray your trust."
"Well, you haven't betrayed us so far," Yuri said, "So we'll take your word for it."
Regal let out a chuckle.
"In that case, we should hurry and find Colette," Raine spoke up.
"All right," Lloyd nodded, "they headed east, I think."
"You think?" Rita repeated, looking over at the boy with a bored look.
"Hey-!"
"So you've lost the Chosen," a new voice cut off Lloyd and they all froze. She recognized that voice…
They all turned to the source to see the auburn haired man in white standing a few from them. Even Repede sounded out a whine of surprise as they all looked at the man – where did he come from, and how did he came up to them without them noticing?
"You again!" Lloyd spat out, stepping forward. "What have you done with Colette?!"
The auburn man's expression didn't change. "Rodyle is ignoring our orders and acting on his own. I know nothing of it."
"Internal strife? How pathetic," Raine remarked, disgusted.
"Not a very organized organization," Yuri spoke up (ten points for those who can guess where that quote came from).
"Say what you will," the man said, "In the end, he will have no choice but to abandon the Chosen."
"What the hell does that mean?" Rita questioned.
"She's useless as she is now," the man answered. "You can let her be."
"'Useless'?" Sheena repeated, her eyes narrowed, "What do you mean 'useless'?"
"You…" Lloyd growled out but Yuri grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Calm down, Lloyd," the man said to him. "He's not worth it."
Lloyd looked over at the dark clad man for a moment, looked over to the man in white then seemed to calm down a little, staring at the ground. Once Yuri removed his hand, the boy looked back up at the man in white. "…I won't let you get in our way," he said, shaking with an emotion she couldn't identify. "We're going to rescue Colette no matter what, and I won't let you get in our way! You got that?"
The ma didn't speak…then closed his eyes with a grunt. "Do what you will," he said, "It makes no difference to me."
He turned around but didn't move. "…If you are that determined, I suggest you head for the eastern skies," he said. "Surely the people of Mizuho have located the Rheairds by now."
"Wha-?"
"You won't be able to find the dragons on the ground," the man continued, cutting off Lloyd again. "So head east once you've gotten the Rheairds." With that, the man walked away. No one attempt to stop him; they could tell that the man isn't human.
Once he was gone, Lloyd spoke up. "…What the hell's that guy trying to do?"
"Good question," Zelos shrugged, "but, if he's useful, make use of him, right?"
"You think it could be a trap?" Sheena asked with a troubled frown.
"I can't see what they could gain from it," Raine remarked, shaking her head. "They already have Colette. Perhaps Kratos was telling the truth…"
"Or he might not," Yuri said, putting a hand on his hip. "But, either way, it's the only clue we've got in regards to Colette's whereabouts."
"True…" Sheena said, nodding. "We better head on back to Mizuho and see if there's any news on the Rheairds."
Presea looked up at the sky. "…We should be able to get to the village through a faster route through Ozette," she reported, "We'll still have day light once we get there. I…rather not be seen by the villagers…" …Especially since she slaughtered the Papal Knights on the plaza earlier.
Lloyd looked over at her and nodded. "Okay," he said, "You know the village better than we do, so lead the way Presea."
She nodded. "Yes." She soon led the group through the pathways that only people of Ozette would know about.
…It's time for her to regain herself. And bring retribution to the two men that had done this to her.
Or die trying.
I decided to end it right there. It's short, but I figured I kept you guys waiting long enough. And twenty-two days from now would it become the first anniversary of Angels of Stars! Sklee!
Karol and Lloyd: "Sklee!"
…That word doesn't belong to me, I heard that word from freakyanimegal; so credit goes to her. 119 reviews! THANK YOU ALL! ! *falls over from spazzing out too much*
Zelos: "She needs to chill…"
Raven: "Yup." *looks over at the reader* "Leave a review everyone! …And when will the Great Raven get to do his own screen time?!" *cries toon tears*
Yuri: *shrugs* "I dunno. Probably a while."
Raven: "Aww…" *slumps over a bit*