As I searched for Lloyd, determined not to let Pronyma's ominous words get to me too much, I noticed the people of Mizuho hauling a few rheairds into their city. Very discreet.

I found them entering Ozette. I had carelessly neglected to note the new additions to their party. From listening to their conversations with each other I picked up some information about their new companions.

The first was a man they called "Regal." Years of experience and wisdom emanated from his calm composure. His defiantly long hair was very different from Zelos's shiny floral hair that shouted "I have too much time and money on my hands!" No, Regal's knotted and uneven locks showed the tell-tale signs of someone who had been convicted for a very long time.

It seemed clear that Lloyd and the rest trusted Regal, yet he still remained shackled with strong iron that I recognized as those worn by prison inmates. I was certain that Sheena if not Lloyd could have removed the shackles, so whatever reason he wore them must be by his decision and most likely personal. A very strange fellow indeed, but as he seemed sincere, I felt no need to be concerned with his presence.

The second was a girl whom I recognized immediately. Presea Combatir. The unfortunate recipient of what could be called the second angelus project.

For a moment I was stunned. Why was she being allowed to travel? In the past, Anna and I had been followed and attacked without relent, and yet this girl was being allowed to roam freely?

Something was definitely not right.

I watched the girl more carefully, noting the void around her that seemed to swallow all emotion. So this was the burden she bore. She appeared no more than twelve; however, if my memory suited me well at all, she must be in her late twenties by now. Another unfortunate side effect. The ease with which she lifted her heavy ax was clue enough that this girl was far from normal.

I felt guilty then. I had known for years that this research was continuing, and yet I had made no effort to stop it. I knew of the horrible torment Anna went through, yet after I lost her, I had turned a blind eye towards all the evil Cruxis continued to practice.

Mithos had become annoyed when I ran away with Anna, his precious Angelus project, and had immediately started researching the creation of cruxis crystals again, this time with the Combatir family.

I never saw the first girl, Presea's sister, who apparently had a negative reaction to the crystal's placement. Yuan had filled me in on the gory details after my return to Cruxis. The girl had suffered nearly the same fate as Anna, turning into a monster. Her love had also suffered my fate, being forced to slay the woman he loved. What was his name? Bryant… but his first….

Regal Bryant.

Suddenly, it all made sense. The reason their friend Regal wore his shackles, every so often gazing woefully at Presea. He truly was a nobleman. Far nobler than I.

Still, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was very wrong. Why was this girl being allowed to roam free? Shouldn't Rodyle, who had charge of the new project, be keeping a closer eye on her?

It was hardly a shock when Rodyle appeared, commanding Presea to bring Colette to him, which the girl willingly did. What was that idiot doing? Didn't he realize that Colette would be worthless to him, and to Cruxis in her state?

I was determined not to become too annoyed with the flunkies. Like Rodyle. And Pronyma.

After a few catty remarks, Rodyle flew off on his dragon steed with Colette, presumably to his base.

Lloyd was far from happy. He wore his despair on his shoulder, and despite his best efforts, it was clear that he was a bit cross with Presea. But despite these feelings, and with a little urging from Regal, he did what was right and helped Presea.

While I brooded over the stupidity of flunkies for a while, Lloyd finished a key crest for Presea and placed it on her, awakening her true self. The girl was now horrified at what she had done, and with the aid of Lloyd and co., she buried her father.

I could tell that Lloyd was despairing far too much to make any rational decisions. Without aid, he wouldn't know where to go. Knowing Rodyle, he would discard Colette as soon as he realized she was of no use to him. If Lloyd did not rescue her soon, the girl would suffer terribly and possibly even die from the toxicosis.

It was time to intervene. After they decided that Regal and Presea should permanently join their quest, I landed in the nearby woods and walked up to them. "…So you've lost the Chosen."

"You again! What have you done with Colette!" Lloyd turned to me, wrongly directing his anger towards me again.

"Rodyle is ignoring our orders and acting on his own. I know nothing of it." I stated truthfully. I would have to find out what that bothersome underling was up to after I gave Lloyd some guidance.

"Internal Strife? How pathetic." Raine stated, looking at me meaningfully. Apparently she still wanted a word with me.

"Say what you will. Either way, he will have no choice but to abandon the Chosen." I hoped that this would give Lloyd a bit of hope, and at the same time convey the urgency of the situation.

His mood shifted noticeably and immediately. "What do you mean?" Lloyd asked his classic question.

"The Chosen is useless as she is now. You can let her be." I said, dropping yet another hint to him that something was wrong with Colette.

Unfortunately, he didn't seem to pick up that one either. "You've got to be kidding me! We're going to rescue Colette no matter what! And if you get in our way…" As his threat trailed off, he ran towards me, holding his swords aloft again.

I was starting to think he fought me whenever he ran out of words to say. I easily blocked his attack, sheathed my weapon, and turned away from him. "…then, I suggest you seek the Rheairds and head for the eastern skies. I'm sure the people of Mizuho have located the Rheairds by now."

That should be enough direction for him. With that said, I walked away, listening to Lloyd's confusion about my motives and Zelos's encouragement to "use" me. I made a note to reprimand the idiot Chosen later.

Knowing that this may be one of the last chances I had to contact them without Pronyma on my tail, I followed them to Mizuho. Once they split apart to explore the town on their own, I cautiously ambushed Zelos from the forest, pulling him soundlessly back into the trees.

"Mmmph!" The idiot Chosen frowned at me crossly until I removed my hand from his mouth. In an outraged whisper he complained, "Kratos, if you ambush me one more time…"

Before he could finish his threat, I listed what needed to be said. "Look, I don't have much time. Mizuho is a village of ninjas, and I'm certain one of them will notice you aren't around soon."

"So spit it out, why don't you?" He flicked a few locks of his light crimson hair behind him, clearly still annoyed. "I haven't got all day either."

"Lord Yggdrasil is offering to give you reprieve from your duties as Chosen if you return the other Chosen, Colette, to him. Cured of her toxicosis of course." I explained, watching to make sure he was listening. "However, I encourage you not to do this."

"What is this? You offer me a sweet deal, and then tell me not to take it?" He whined, throwing his arms to the side and finally placing his hands on his hips. "Are you trying to say… you don't want me to follow Lord Yggdrasil's orders?"

"Yes." I took a deep breath. Disclosing my true intent to Zelos could prove to be a grave mistake, but it could be my only option. "Trust me, if there were any other way, I wouldn't ask you to do this. It is for the sake of the two worlds that I ask this of you."

"Woah woah woah… back up one sec…" He said, holding his hands out and making a stop motion. "Are you trying to make some kinda hero out of me? I don't want to be bothered with that."

"The two worlds can't stay as they are, this much I'm certain you already know…" I glanced to the side, hearing one of the ninja patrols nearing our position. "…I haven't any more time to discuss this with you, and as I am being closely watched, I cannot meet with you in person again."

"Well that's damned convenient."

Ignoring his meaningless words, I handed him a small device I had swiped from the Cruxis base. "This is a communication device. I will tell you more later, if you are willing to listen."

Zelos sighed, pocketing the device. "Fine fine. But don't expect me to be a hero!"

I stepped back from where we were, watching as Zelos walked back into the village, just in time to miss Mizuho's guard.

I went my own way as they headed for Volt's domain. It was unfortunate, but unless I could find another good way to be rid of Pronyma, I likely would not have a chance to speak with Raine.

It concerned me that Sheena would be breaking links between the two worlds if she continued to release the Summon Spirits, but right now that was not where my main concern lay.

My main concern was Pronyma, who had unfortunately found me again.

"What do you know? I look for Lloyd, and I find you!" She said bitterly. Apparently she was still upset from our last encounter.

"Tell Lord Yggdrasil that the Chosen of Tethe'alla has been informed." I commanded, choosing not to respond to her stab.

"…what?" Her fervor blanched.

"You heard me. This is important to Lord Yggdrasil, so inform him." I repeated.

"Inform him… that the Chosen of Tethe'alla has been informed?"

"Yes, I haven't the time to do it myself, but you do."

She looked upset again, but I wasn't about to lose sleep over that. What I would lose sleep over; however, was ensuring Colette's safety.

Once Pronyma had left me again, I flew around the eastern skies until I found her. I frowned, exceedingly unhappy when I realized where Rodyle had dumped her.

A dragon's nest.

Knowing that the place was certainly trapped, I flew close to the nest, deciding to test the unique ability she had shown earlier to communicate without words.

Concentrating on the distant girl, I thought, "Colette."

She seemed unaffected.

Once again, I focused on her, hoping that I wasn't just making a mockery out of myself, and tried to communicate through thoughts. "Colette."

This time, she looked around, speaking quietly. "Kratos? Is… is that you?"

"Yes. Colette can you hear me clearly" I sounded ridiculous, like a cell-phone salesman.

"Oh Kratos! I'm so happy that it's you!" She had switched to wordlessly communicating again, something I still did not completely understand. "But please, don't come any closer! They've booby-trapped this place with dragons!"

"I know. Don't worry, Lloyd and the others will be coming for you shortly, but… they may take a little while. Until they arrive, be strong." I thought, knowing in my soul that she was a tough girl. Perhaps a little too tough. "Also… your key crest is poisoning you. I'm certain you have noticed this by now. I understand that you don't want to remove Lloyd's gift, but if you value your life at all then you must remove it…"

"I can't do that! It was Lloyd's present to me! He'd be sad, and…"

"…you didn't let me finish. You must remove it and replace it with a proper key crest." I finished, watching the dismayed expression that grew slowly in her tiny hurt face. "Lloyd has found someone who can make you a proper key crest, but you must let him know that you need one. You have to show him…"

"I could never show him this!" For perhaps the first time, she truly seemed stricken with panic. Slowly, she touched a hand to her shoulder. "Kratos, I… I'm becoming some sort of monster. I'm hideous. I can't show Lloyd…"

"Colette, believe me when I say that Lloyd would much rather know his key crest did not work than for you to die." I paused for a little bit, letting her think a bit about the words and debating whether or not to tell her a story of my own. After a mild deliberation, I decided that one story couldn't hurt. "One of my best friends was once afflicted with the very same toxicosis you have now. I despise seeing you suffer as much as I did her. If you need direction, and with Lloyd as your leader you may, I will guide you."

The small girl looked as if she wanted to cry. I didn't blame her; she was in a terrible position right now. No matter what she did, the dragons would endanger the lives of her friends, and ultimately, she would send Lloyd on perhaps the biggest guilt-trip of his life.

"Kratos..."

She didn't 'say' any more, and she didn't have to. "Farewell."

I looked around and decided it was time to do something monumental and drastic. Something that would change the course of history and time itself.

It was time to gather materials.

My first stop was Sybak. I knew that a certain person in the Imperial Research Academy could tell me a thing or two about the materials I would need to craft the ring of the pact.

Don't ask me how I knew. It's better that way.

As I entered the town, a girl in blue and her friends pointed at me, tittering and daring the others underneath their breaths to go say 'hello sexy' to me.

Before they could, I ran quickly away.

I found my way to the lowest dungeon of the academy, in the farthest nether regions of the dreary old place: home to many unfortunate imprisoned half-elves.

The half-elf was sitting at her desk, inspecting something in a peculiar box when I entered. Immediately, she spun around in the chair, gasping with surprise and shock, and touching a hand to chest. When she saw that it was me she exhaled, sweeping aside a few strands of hair and readjusting her glasses. "Kratos, it's just you. You startled me."

Kate. Ah Kate. We went a long way back.

"I need adamantite. Is there any left here at the academy?"

As soon as she heard the question, she broke into a small fit of laughter. "Adamantite? You must be joking. There isn't any here, that's for certain."

This was going to be harder than I thought. "Are you certain? There isn't even a machine that could…"

"Ah, you mean that rusty old thing." She removed her glasses, wiping them with the edge of her white labcoat. It seemed everyone wanted to waste my time these days. Finally, after she had placed them neatly back on the bridge of her nose and adjusted them yet again, she spoke. "The machine that refined adamantite is on the upper floor in the back corner, but it hasn't worked for a very long time."

"I see." As I turned to leave, she said something. Perhaps it was out of loneliness, perhaps out of a mere lack of something to say. Either way, it touched a part of my soul that I would rather have left buried.

"Where is that girl that you used to bring with you? You know, that nice brunette."

The doorway seemed to shrink away from me, suddenly becoming very far away and tough to reach. As I turned to face Kate, she too had grown distant. "They really don't let you out of here, do they?"

She sat silent, a small veil of confusion clouding her thoughts. "Anna died fifteen years ago. I killed her."

I closed my eyes, letting my feet carry me to where I knew the adamantite machine would be. Away from Kate. Away from those memories of the past.

When I reached the room a half-elf came up to me in protest. I wasn't thinking as I carelessly shoved one of them aside. "Stay out of my way."

I sighed, standing in front of the dilapidated machine. This was going to take a while.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

"That's cruelty! Cruelty to half-elf-beings! They are people too, you know! They can't just keep them locked away in there!" She cried, still reaching out towards the academy as I pulled her away.

"Anna, there is nothing we can do. Even if I could change this entire place…"

She turned to me, giving me a look that made me immediately wonder what I had done to piss off whatever god existed.

"You can change it…and I can help! We can change it."

"Anna you're not thinking, if we…"

"You're an angel of Cruxis! You damned well know you can do something!" She shook her head, pointing frantically at the academy again, already on the verge of tears. "We can't just let them live like that!"

"Anna…" She had never pulled this before. Anna had known for quite some time who I was, yet never before had she demanded anything of Kratos, the angel of Cruxis. In the past, I had wondered if she ever would, and if she did, what it would feel like.

As I took her hands in my own again, pulling her close enough that I could gently embrace her, I knew that she expected much more of me than I could ever give to her. As an angel of cruxis, I knew that all I was capable of… was destruction. I couldn't give the half-elves a new life, only take it away.

She pulled away, looking at me accusingly. "Well, aren't you going to say anything? Or have you actually agreed to used that power of yours for something good?"

"If I do anything, I will only end up killing them all." I said quietly.

"You can't be serious…" She shook her head, looking at me closer, not wanting to believe that her husband could cause so much pain and death. "You… are serious. No, no I won't accept that… there has to be a way to save them."

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

As I came out of the memory, I was greatly surprised to find that I had fixed the machine. Way to go Kratos.

The half-elves behind me stopped their astonished murmuring after a quick and unamused glance from me. Cautiously, I placed a few diamond fragments I had collected a while back into the machine and flipped the machine on.

Nothing happened.

I peered at it closer. The machine should be in working order, or so it seemed. What it lacked was energy. Mana.

This is the part when I normally would have called Yuan for help. He was the mana expert, not me. I knew how to beat the living crap out of something with weapons, angelic spells, and quite a lot of other random junk. Mana manipulation was an entirely different world.

Unfortunately, Yuan was nowhere to be found, and I didn't want him to know what I was up to anyway. Hesitantly, I placed my hand atop the machine again. Pressing my hand firmly on the cool metal, I willed what I hoped was a decent amount of mana into the machine.

Screeches and yelps of pain echoed through the corridors as bits of mana radiated from my hand in every direction. I didn't need to look behind me to know the half-elves would leave me alone now. Finally.

The machine whirred and buzzed, moving in odd ways that I was certain a machine shouldn't move. After a couple minutes of this interesting dance, it gave off a great puff of smoke, sputtered, and died.

Maybe that was a little too much mana.

I reached into the machine, searching for the diamonds to start anew, when my hands found a solid lump of adamantite. Score.

The machine was broken again, but after they had seen me fix it once, I was certain the half-elves at the academy could repair it again. I said nothing to them as I left the place, adamantite in hand.

As I walked through the doors, stowing it away in my bag of holding, something that really shouldn't have surprised me happened.

"Hey there sexy, what's your name?"

I didn't have to turn around to know it would be that girl in blue with her giggling friends, staring perhaps at the white spandex outfit that I had swore long ago to finally be rid of.

"Kratos." There was nothing more I wanted to say to a group of tittering girls, and I had many places to be before the day's end.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Marika's Notepad

You'll notice that I didn't say anything about Kratos's other kid in this chapter, and that's because… dun dah duuuun! It's poll time!

All right, you all remember what happened last time when nobody voted for Kraine or Kranna: we ended up with a tie.

So! Please vote this time! Should Kratos have another child besides Lloyd, or is Lloyd already more than he can handle?

Let me know! I'll post results on the next chapter and start writing from there.