A/N: So, this is the first little bit which is really altered from the main storyline...
Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia...despite my best efforts. :(
They bumped into several Desians, felling them easily, before coming to a dead end.
"Uhh...I think we should retrace our steps..." Lloyd said, backing away.
"You filthy inferior beings...You are sorely mistaken if you think I will let you leave."
The group turned, backing away slightly as Kvar strolled up, several Desians flanking and surrounding them. Kratos had already drawn his sword, fury and hatred shining in his eyes as he regarded the half-elf before him.
"I have recieved reports that one of you may possess my precious Angelus Project...Return it, and I may spare your lives."
Subconciously the group had split; Kratos, Lloyd and Sheena were at the front, weapons at the ready, while Colette, Raine and Clara stood at the back, only acting as defense. Genis stood in the middle, ready to send spells at the Desians if and when he needed to.
"How are we supposed to get out of this?" asked Lloyd quietly,.
"I have a way, but I need a couple of minutes...can you distract him?" asked Sheena.
Kratos was about to snap at her, but Lloyd intervened before he could. "Of course. Only a couple of minutes, right?"
Sheena nodded, and he drew his swords, ready to fight the Desians.
Kvar laughed. "You think you, a mere human, will be able to defeat me?"
Lloyd didn't reply, but Kratos saw the slight shiver that ran through him.
Kvar frowned at Lloyd, as if looking at him closely, then suddenly let out a laugh. It was dark, cold, and everyone flinched at the noise.
"I thought I recognised you, worm! You're the disgusting son of the escaped Angelus Project!"
Lloyd's eyes widened, and Kratos frowned.
"Yes...A012, human name Anna...She was one of the prime candidates. No other survived the Exsphere as long as she did, and when she was freed by that pathetic man, she managed to perfect it somehow. Of course, I chased her, draining her will and energy until she finally was taken over by the Exsphere and became a monster. Then she was disposed of."
Lloyd stared at him, fury growing in his eyes.
"You...killed my mum..?"
Kvar laughed. "Stupid boy...The Angelus Project was not killed by me."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop, though Kvar didn't notice.
"Your mother was killed by your father."
Everything froze. Lloyd's eyes widened, body beginning to shake.
"Liar..." he whispered, body swaying.
"Why would I lie to a pathetic human?" asked Kvar, giving a smug grin.
"Liar!" Lloyd snarled, leaping forward with swords flashing. Kvar calmly dodged the attack, and Lloyd lunged. He dodged it again, then suddenly retaliated, summoning a spear with a blade on one end and a large spiked circle on the other. Swinging it, he hit Lloyd with the side of the top, sending him flying back. He hit the wall, gasping in pain.
"I'm ready!" Sheena yelled, paper held tightly.
"Lloyd! Get over here!" Clara called, eyes flickering to Kvar who was stalking forward.
Lloyd struggled up, clutching his shoulder. Glancing at Kvar, he gritted his teeth then limped towards the others, dragging his last sword with him.
"You won't escape, vermin," Kvar growled, lifting a hand. Lightening crackled around it then shot out, flying towards Lloyd.
"Lloyd!" the others cried in panic. He looked up, staring at the lightening with wide eyes.
"Clara!" Raine snapped, leaping forward between him and the shot. A barrier went up around them, blocking the attack. Clara was there a moment later, gently grabbing Lloyd and leading him over to the others.
"Raine, hurry!" Clara called, looking back.
"Get her!" Kvar snapped, and the Desians rushed forward, surrounding her and cutting her off from the rest of the group.
"Sis!" cried Genis, trying to push through to her. Kratos grabbed him, holding him back. "Let me go! Let me go!" Genis shouted, struggling in the mercenary's grip.
"Sheena, get them out of here!" Raine ordered. Sheena hesitated, and Raine shouted, "Now!"
Sheena nodded, lifting the slip of paper. A creature briefly appeared, then a barrier shimmered around them. Smoke came out, and they vanished.
Kvar stared at the spot they had dissapeared from, lip curled in distaste.
"Sir! We captured the half-elf woman!" one of the Desians said, stepping aside as two others dragged the struggling Raine forward. Kvar smirked.
"Well, it looks like we'll be having a visit from our 'friends' again soon," he murmured, gazing at her with dark eyes. Raine shivered and looked away.
'Genis, please stay safe...' she thought to herself.
"We have to go back!"
"We can't," Kratos' cold voice replied.
"Why not!?"
"It's too dangerous, Genis," Clara said gently.
"My sister's trapped in there! We can't just leave her!" Genis cried, tears openly streaming down his face.
"We'll go back, Genis. We'll rescue Professor as soon as we can!" Colette said gently, smiling.
Genis rubbed at his eyes, trying to stop the tears, but they just kept coming. Clara moved towards him, hugging him gently, and he grabbed at her, sobbing into her shirt.
"Sis...Sis..!" he wailed over and over.
"Let's get back to camp. We'll plan our next move from there," Kratos murmured, glancing at Genis before moving off, the others and Sheena following.
As they sat round the fire, Genis now soundly asleep and cuddled against Noishe, they looked at each other.
"What do we do now?" asked Lloyd quietly, eyes flickering to Genis.
"We have to get Professor out," Colette said.
"Of course we do. But the question is 'how'," Clara replied.
The group was silent as they thought it over. Then Colette suddenly clapped her hands together.
"Maybe Pietro knows!" she suggested.
"But he can't move, let alone speak. How would we get any information out of him?" asked Sheena, irritation lacing her voice. Colette lowered her hands, expression falling, and Lloyd suddenly blinked.
"No, no, Colette has a point."
Everyone looked at him.
"How do you mean?" asked Kratos.
"Well, Pietro can't tell us, but I bet he told Sophia, right? Who knows, he may even have something that could help us get into the Ranch," he explained.
"You're saying we should go all the way back to Hima?" asked Sheena uncertainly. When Lloyd nodded, she scoffed. "We don't even know if he does have anything. We could just be wasting our time when we could be getting your friend out," she snapped.
Clara stood suddenly. "I think it would be better if you didn't keep being so rude. We could quite easily kick you out and kill you," she snarled.
Sheena drew back, looking a little worried.
"Aww, don't be silly Clara! Sheena's just worried," Colette said with a giggle.
No one else said anything, the tension thick. Sheena swallowed, eyes darting to the others before being drawn back to Clara.
Kratos coughed, drawing attention to himself. "We'll travel to Hima. If you do not wish to accompany us, you can leave at any time," he said.
Sheena felt the death glare slide off her and calm, and relaxed a little more.
"I suggest we get to sleep now. We want to have enough energy if we'll make good time to Hima," he continued. Everyone nodded, slipping under their covers and settling down.
He woke up when someone grabbed him, lifting him into their arms and running.
"Mmm...Daddy?"
He looked up into the eyes of his daddy, who tried to smile.
"It's okay Lloyd. Go back to sleep," he murmured.
"Have we got everything?" he heard his mummy ask.
"I think so. Everything we can take, at least. Noishe, come here!"
He turned his head, watching Noishe hurry over.
"Anna, get on. I'll give Lloyd to you and fly above."
"Are you sure?"
"Definately. I'll distract them, lead them away, then meet up with you again as soon as I can," he said.
He watched his mummy sit on Noishe and then he was handed over to her.
"Mummy? What's happenin'?" he asked, a little afraid now. Mummy and daddy were scared, and it was making him scared.
"It's okay sweetie," she replied, and then Noishe started running. Daddy brought out his pretty wings and flew into the air, giving a brief wave before flying off in a different direction. He watched his daddy fly away, and clutched his mummy tighter.
"Mummy, where are we goin'?" he asked again, his voice quiet.
"Not sure, honey. We've just got to move."
His three year old mind couldn't understand this. Move? Why would they move? They were happy living in the water place with loads of boats.
It was a little while before he understood what was happening. They were being chased - his mummy and daddy and he - because they wanted the pretty stone on mummy's neck. The Desians, who his daddy explained were naughty half-elf people, were chasing them. So they had to run.
He asked if it was like tag. That made his mummy smile, but it was her sad smile.
"Yeah sweetie. It is. But we have to win."
A/N: So, more Lloyd past. I thought this one was kinda cute in a weird foreshadowing way.
And Raine has been captured! What will happen to the group?!
Review?