A/N: It's been just about forever! Life just likes getting in the way of things, doesn't it? I've gone through a lot in these last months... a relationship, doing stuff for my best friend's upcoming wedding, university (and way too many finals), depression... good times. I'm hoping this year will be more manageable and I'm shooting for monthly updates at worst (though with how things worked out this semester, I'm only taking fifteen credit hours, so I should have plenty of free time and not many homework assignments, so hopefully I can get chapters out sooner).

Ah, and for anyone not aware, the HD remaster of Tales of Symphonia is coming out February 25 in the States, so go out and pre-order a copy or buy it when it comes to market.

Anywho, thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter and to my faithful fans who continue to read this story even through all the trouble I put you guys through. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Till next time,

Orangepotato

Chapter Thirty Eight

Anger swarmed through Yggdrasill, though he clenched his fists to keep it from being exposed on his face.

It was frustrating that he'd transferred Origin's seal to Lloyd and now he was gone. It was more frustrating that it'd been Yuan, of all people, who'd come back from the dead to betray him.

Again.

His hand could still feel the pressure of the blade in his palm, the way it'd slid right across Yuan's throat. The blood that had split through the air still stained his eyes, him being taken away, so how…?

"How are you still alive?"

"What was that, my lord?" Pronyma questioned, her eyes regarding him curiously. She was speaking to him about her ranch. Hardly important information, especially with what had just happened, but she'd pressed him into a conference. Even now she seemed unaware of his inattentiveness.

He waved a hand, dismissing her comment, "It's nothing."

She almost seemed hesitant, but finally she continued, "As I was saying, my lord, production is at a low-" Her voice continued on, though it was simply noise inside his head.

Yggdrasill was more upset that the angels he'd sent out hadn't found a trace of anyone who'd escaped. They'd come back to report that everyone had disappeared. He'd been so infuriated that he'd killed a few of the angels right there, slicing their heads off with searing heat.

No one just disappears, he'd shouted. Then, he'd sent them out again.

And again.

And again.

They always came back with the same message.

Nothing new to report.

News from Sylvarant was less than stellar as well. Kvar reported that now the major towns were revolting against the Church of Martel, many people getting behind some mythical 'Chosen', though that specific person hadn't been seen in months.

It didn't matter to those people though. They believed they'd been lied to and they were more than willing to fight against the powers that they used to hold in high respect. Typical humans. They were always jumping from ship to ship. It was to be expected, though the timing was less than spectacular. It only complicated the matter…

It'd been a few days now, his mood dwindling as the hours continued to pass. If he heard one more time that they hadn't been found-

An angel appeared through the warp, his straight nose and blank eyes filling most of his face. He flapped towards him, stopping by Pronyma and giving a swift bow.

"Sir," the angel said, interrupting the woman, "I have news regarding your son."

Instantly, Yggdrasill was paying attention. He shifted in his seat, leaning towards the holy being with interest.

Pronyma seemed less than enthused at the interruption, "My lord, I still have many issues that I need to bring up with you. Couldn't this possibly wait-"

"Silence." The blonde leader's voice boomed through the throne room, "I did not give you permission to speak." After he gave a solid glare to the woman, who looked away as soon as their eyes met, he regarded the angel, "Continue."

He hoped it was good news, though he didn't hold his breath.

The angelic being responded, "There have been unconfirmed sightings of your son in Tethe'alla, in the Gaoracchia Forest. He was seen wandering through the trees. Without confirmation, I couldn't continue my investigation. What are your orders?"

Gaoracchia Forest? That was indeed an odd place for him to be. The cursed forest was dense and filled with terrifying creatures. He'd only seen a handful himself, but the myths surrounding the monsters of that particular forest weren't pretty.

"Why would he be there?"

Yuan, along with a band of misfits, had saved everyone and retreated. Yggdrasill supposed it wasn't impossible for the blue haired half elf to drag them all into an unexplored location. Their survival rate would depend on who they had on their side, but if Yuan had thought it was safe enough…

"Explore the area," the blonde concluded. He stood, glaring at the angel intensely, "Do not let him escape."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

The hum of the air was what woke Lloyd. He opened his eyes slowly, staring at the dull ceiling above him. He didn't recognize it, the smooth surface seemingly untouched by man before. Absently, he wanted to run his hands over it, to mar its surface with his own fingers.

Then, the thought slid away, vanishing amongst a tide of pain. It rolled over him, covering every inch of his body until he wanted to scream. Even as he tried, however, he couldn't make his voice leave his throat. It was trapped, just like he was.

As the pain seared into his flesh, he felt something cool brush against his chest. As he hitched a breath, he felt the coolness again and curiosity formed in his mind.

Dreaded wave after wave assaulted him, yet the ache that they brought seemed to lessen. It was like cold water was washing against him, soothing his mind. He wanted to stay there, in that peace, but something solid, something hard, rocked him from it.

"Wake up."

Lloyd focused, his russet eyes snapping to the left. He caught sight of a man, someone he didn't recognize, trying to wake him. He wanted to say that he was awake, but his voice was still locked away, deep in his throat. Instead, he nodded.

That seemed to ease the man considerably, though concern still covered his features.

"We need to get going," he commented.

That didn't make sense, but Lloyd couldn't argue, especially when the man started to fervently tug on his arm.

The pain returned with a vengeance and the teen bit his lip to keep his silent whimper away. If the man noticed, he didn't stop. Instead, he shook harder, finally rousing the brunette.

Sitting up caused intense pain to swarm his mind, but Lloyd struggled through. In a matter of seconds, he'd swung his legs over the bunk and clacked his shoes on the solid ground. The noise, the only sound in the area beside its constant hum, seemed oddly loud to his ears. The other man didn't notice.

"We have to leave, while we can."

Lloyd absently nodded.

Something was tugging at the back of his mind, some sort of concern. It swirled at the base of his neck and teased at the edges of his consciousness. He wanted to say something, even though he couldn't manage words, but the man quickly snatched up his arm and started dragging him towards the door. He seemed anxious, his body tense.

Where are we going?

With a swoosh, the door opened, exposing a dense and noisy outside world. The world around them seemed to spark with energy, a darkened night sky resting high above, where the moon remained a gray hole in an otherwise black cover. Lloyd glanced around, not recognizing any of it.

Before he could attempt to say anything, however, he was yanked away by the man once more. In a hurry, the two entered into the forest, leaving only a whisper of their trail behind them.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

It came back in a nightmare.

The blade sliced across his throat as a demonic laugh echoed through his ears. All he could feel was pain and a twisting agony in his stomach... he was really going to die.

Hell, he was really dead.

"You look quite pale," someone said. The voice penetrated Yuan's thoughts, bringing his mind into focus. "I'm surprised that you actually survived. I'd say it was a miracle, but we both know that those don't exist."

Yuan opened his eyes, seeing a bright light above him. First, the figure talking to him appeared as a dark shadow. It hovered above him like a predator waiting to devour its prey. Then, as the light dimmed and he could make out the person's features, he realized who it was.

"Kvar," he whispered, voice hoarse. He was shocked he could even speak.

The older man smirked, eyes glaring down at him in a menacing way. He seemed content, almost gleeful, at the mouse he had trapped under his paw.

"Yes, Lord Yuan. I see that your sight is back."

"What the hell-"Yuan tried to sit up, but he wasn't able. Something kept him attached to the mechanism he was on. Desperation slid into his mind, but he fought it off. "How am I here?"

Kvar's smile only widened, "My lord, you were brought here. Lord Yggdrasill slit your throat as a show of force and I was given the task of disposing of you."

It made sense, Yuan supposed. Once Yggdrasill was done, he'd want to get rid of the evidence that anything had happened as quickly as possible. Like a child, he had to have the slate wiped clean.

Yuan puzzled it out in his mind, "He did it to control Lloyd."

"Why of course," Kvar seemed pleased he didn't have to explain, "If that boy thought he had power over his father than Lord Yggdrasill wouldn't be able to control him. It didn't take long for him to discover you'd been the one feeding the ideas in his head, though he desperately wished he could have gotten rid of you sooner."

Yuan didn't say anything, so the older man continued.

"It's surprising how much damage Lord Yggdrasill can do. You should be dead, but by sheer force of will, it seems, you managed to stay alive."

"What do you gain out of all of this?"

"Nothing that Lord Yggdrasill does not wish for."

That was the safest answer, though the half elf doubted it was the real one.

As Kvar moved away from Yuan, returning a moment later with a scalpel, panic filled Yuan's veins. His heart hammered deeply, almost painfully, into his chest.

"Don't do this," he said, hoping he didn't sound like he was begging.

Kvar laughed, his voice filling the empty room. His eyes lit up as he looked down on the blue haired man, something frightening just behind the crimson red, "You can't be scared of pain, Lord Yuan. After all, you've suffered through so much of it; this is all surely child's play to you."

The blade sliced deep into Yuan's arm, his muscle splitting as the elder dragged the scalpel from his shoulder to his elbow. A flair of agony shot through the half elf's system, but he suppressed it, biting his lip as the pain assaulted his brain.

Right as Kvar pulled the knife out, he smirked and said, "See. Child's play." Then, he stabbed it straight down, jabbing it through the crux of Yuan's elbow.

It ripped through the skin and muscle, slit the vein and wedged itself into the bone.

Yuan let out a raw scream.

"Ah, so you're not as accustom to pain as Lord Yggdrasill gave you credit for. He spoke so highly of you…" The man was obviously teasing, though there was a small amount of disappointment in his voice. He'd been hoping that Yggdrasill had been right.

"You shouldn't do this," the half elf managed, gritting his teeth together as the older man began dragging the scalpel through the bone. It snagged many times, the blade finally snapping off because of the pressure.

Only when Kvar was pulling the broken knife out did he seem to ponder what had been said.

"I shouldn't do this?"

"There is far more you could gain…" Yuan was grasping at straws, "Yggdrasill only has power because you and the other Grand Cardnials allow him to have it. If you took it from him, then he'd have no choice but to bow down to you."

The older man raised a thin graying eyebrow, "And what makes you think I'm not happy with my position? Lord Yggdrasill has been exceedingly lenient with my desires."

Yuan scoffed, "That's because you haven't been around long. He'll give you what you want until he thinks he has you in his web. After that, you're bowing down to him. He's greedy. He'll take all of the power for himself." He paused for a second, letting the information sink in. As if to add validity, he whispered just loud enough for Kvar to hear, "Just ask the other Grand Cardinals."

The blue haired man felt a wave of satisfaction go through him as he saw consideration across Kvar's face. The man surely knew as well as Yuan did. What he was saying was true. Yggdrasill had no allegiance he wasn't willing to sacrifice.

The half elf knew from personal experience, but it was evident enough with the other Grand Cardinals. There had been several of them who'd gotten everything they could have hoped for, only to abuse their power and but cut off by Yggdrasill. Those were usually the ones who came into the blonde leader's throne room on their hands and knees, begging for forgiveness.

Yuan relayed as much to Kvar, who soaked the information in carefully.

"What do you want?" The elder questioned, getting to the point.

The half elf took a deep breath and spoke, letting a calm demeanor hide his inner turmoil, "Yggdrasill can be taken down, especially by someone of your intelligence and skill. However, it'll take a plan."

A beat of silence passed, making Yuan's heart race. He desperately wanted the Grand Cardinal to listen to him. If he could gain some control over the man, then that was a step towards freedom.

Finally, the man spoke, "What is it you have planned?"

"It's simple," Yuan stated, feeling courage welling inside of him, "There's an easy way to handle this situation. You'll just need a few key people and I know a way that you can get them all."

"Really?" Kvar questioned. He didn't seem completely sold, but he was interested. It was like he was leaning over the fence, listening to the blue haired man's plan before he committed himself. However, it was obvious that he was leaning a little too far… not that Yuan would say anything. He needed Kvar on his side.

"Yes. Five simple people and everything will work in your favor."

The elder raised an eyebrow, "Five people?"

Even though it felt like he was signing a contract with the devil, he persisted, allowing the names to flow from his lips. As he spoke them, he didn't feel regret or sorrow. He was saving himself and stopping Yggdrasill. There really wasn't time for pity.

"Yes. Sheena, Zelos, Colette, Lloyd and Kratos."

With a jolt, Yuan woke. Sweat covered his forehead and his limbs were shaking.

He could still feel the pain radiating through his bones, the way the knife had cut across his flesh and the terror washed through his veins…

Night had fallen, the city of Palmacosta never truly silent. The nightlife hummed outside the Inn, slowly bringing him back to reality. It reminded him of where they were and what was going on. As the memory faded, the panic it held did as well.

Shaking his head, he wondered why it'd come back as a nightmare. The same scene replayed over and over again in his head, yanking him from sleep and creeping into his thoughts when he thought he was safe.

He almost laughed at himself.

When was he ever truly safe?

Leaning back into the bed, he stared at the dull ceiling. Street lights from outside bathed it in a dull yellow, keeping the otherwise dark room washed in pale gold. It almost aged the room, making Yuan uncomfortable.

Turning over, he rested on his stomach, closing his good eye and forcing himself to relax. He needed to get some sleep. They were going to be encountering many people soon. Important people. And he needed to be mentally prepared. The next few days would decide many things in the upcoming months, and he didn't want to screw up because he hadn't gotten a good night's sleep.

Well. Screw up again.

Everything had been working out the way it should've. Lloyd had discovered that Kratos was his father, that had caused strife in the young boy and he had been questioning Yggdrasill on some key issues… yet just when the blue haired man had thought everything had been figured out, it shattered. The remnants fell to the floor like a broken mirror, and there Yggdrasill was, holding the hammer.

Sighing, he again tried to relax. He didn't need to get worked up… even if he was manipulating every single person's life now. Little did they know that he was their puppet master, constantly shifting their moves and gauging their actions so he could do with them as he pleased.

It wasn't a happy thought, but the truth was what it was.

Yuan supposed there was a small sick satisfaction that came from that realization.

Well, he figured darkly, at least for once, I'm the one in control.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Kratos, I need you to do something for me," Mithos stated, lazing in his throne. His green eyes stared into the auburn, who returned the incredulous look.

"What is it, my lord?" Kratos honestly had no desire to speak with Mithos, yet he had no choice. Ever since he'd promised to return to Derris Kharlan to protect his son, he'd made sure to come whenever the blonde leader had demanded it. If he wanted to meet with Kratos in the dead of night, the auburn showed up. If he wanted to meet at an inconvenient time, Kratos dropped everything and arrived, simply to protect his son.

The half elf sighed, "I need you to do some investigating for me. In Tethe'alla."

"Yuan usually deals with Tethe'alla's affairs," The auburn responded simply.

"I'm aware of that, but this is off the record." The blonde narrowed his eyes for a moment and then turned his head, staring off into the vast purple reaches of space. "This is information that Yuan doesn't need."

He inquired, "What is the information that you require?"

"I've heard some rumors… about the eternal sword."

"What rumors?"

He waved a hand dismissively, as if to show his disinterest. However, Kratos had been Mithos' mentor for far too long to ride off the man's nonverbal ques. He was obviously nervous about what human research was uncovering.

Finally, he responded, "Just that there might be a way to wield the 'mythical item'. Since the people of Tethe'alla don't know it actually exists or what it's used for, they're meddling in things that are none of their business. I was simply curious if there was any merit to their claims."

That made sense. Mithos was attempting to protect his investments… though it didn't explain why Yuan had been cut out of the picture. He supposed it had something to do with trust, since Mithos had never been extremely close to Yuan.

The two were friends, but that didn't necessarily require trust.

"I will do as you ask, my lord." Kratos bowed, mentally preparing how he was going to take care of Lloyd in the process. He couldn't leave his three year old son alone and he wasn't going to let Mithos take care of him. He was just starting to wonder if Yuan could do it when Mithos spoke up.

"Kratos, why don't you take your son with you?"

Suspicion immediately swarmed the auburn's mind. Why would the blonde leader allow that? Lloyd was the only thing tethering him to Derris Kharlan, to Mithos… so why was the half elf offering for Kratos and Lloyd to leave?

There was obviously a trick involved.

He was planning something.

It was also possibly a test. The leader could've been planning to test whether or not Kratos' loyalty was genuine. While it wasn't, the auburn would remain by the half elf's side as long as his son was safe, so why-?

"It'd be a fun outing for your son, given that he's been stuck up here for a couple of months now." Mithos seemed far too happy with the situation. Kratos wanted to decline, but there was a fervor in the blonde's eyes that told him not to.

Fighting back his suspicion, he bowed once more and said, "Of course."

He turned on his heel and walked to the warp, bringing himself to the inky castle and subsequently Welgaia. The entire time he'd been in the leader's presence, he'd remained composed, but now, he broke into a run.

Quickly, he turned down several roads, all the while wondering if his son was alright. He didn't put it above Mithos to do something horrible to the young child. The man would do anything if need be.

The silence of the holy city did little to calm his nerves. It was almost like everyone was watching the spectacle in muted anticipation. What was Kratos going to discover? Everyone wanted a front row seat.

After what felt like hours, but really was only a few minutes, Kratos made it to his room. Panic searing into his mind, the door swished open. Kratos didn't know what to expect.

Lloyd, dead on the floor?

Lloyd, kidnapped?

Lloyd, brutally tortured and killed?

Lloyd, brutally tortured and hanging on to dear life only to die in Kratos' arms?

What he saw, however, wasn't what he'd been expecting. At Mithos' claim, the auburn had believed something horrible had happened to his son, but he could only stare at the truth.

Lloyd sat on Kratos' bed, the blankets all pulled off and surrounding him. One of his father's pillows, which would be huge to the tiny boy, sat on top of the circled blankets. It created a mock fort which the child hid behind.

As soon as he heard the door open, his russet eyes glanced over the pile and a grin broke out over his face.

"Daddy!" He almost seemed ready to abandon his fort, but then he squatted further behind the mass of blankets, just so his eyes and spiky brown hair could be seen. "Are you the real daddy, or are you a fake daddy, sent by the evil…" he paused to think of a name, "Blahbo?

It took the auburn a second to collect his thoughts. His son was alive and well, having fun. He wasn't dead or tortured by Mithos.

Finally, he spoke, "Blahbo?"

"Daddy! He's the evil bad guy! How could you not know?" The child seemed exasperated, shaking his head disbelievingly. "Daddy, what have you been living under, a rock?"

Kratos couldn't help but smile, just a little, "Now I remember who he is." Walking into the room, he sat down on his bed, watching his son scurry into his fort, the giant pillow protecting him from his father's wine colored eyes.

"Are you the real daddy?"

"Yes, of course I am, would I let Blahbo control me?"

The young boy seemed to contemplate that. He fell silent, rustling around in his fort as he tried to get comfortable, the auburn presumed.

Finally, the child spoke up, "Prove it, daddy!"

Kratos smiled, "How can I prove it?"

The boy emerged from the fort, shoving the pillow off the top with what looked like a lot of effort, "Do you like tomatoes?" He seemed very serious for his silly question, eyes set in a determined stare at his father.

"No, they're gross. I don't like tomatoes and neither do you." He poked a finger to his son's forehead, which caused the boy to explode into a fit of giggles. "So am I the real daddy now? Or do I have to tickle you?"

The auburn reached over and started tickling his son, making the child laugh harder. He tried to wiggle away but Kratos scooped Lloyd up and held him close. It felt good, for that moment, to pretend that they were safe. That Lloyd was going to grow up in a normal environment and that the child would know nothing of the horrible world Kratos did.

However, that was foolish.

His son would see the disgusting world soon enough. He'd be exposed to the terrifying truth and he'd always be in danger. As soon as his safe reality was shattered, there'd be no turning back…

As the thought ran through his head, the auburn hugged his son tighter.

"Lloyd," he questioned, stroking his son's hair as the boy slung his arms around his father's neck in a hug.

"Yeah, daddy?"

"Do you want to go on a trip?"

The boy seemed confused, "A trip? To where?"

"I have something I need to do. Would you like to come with me?"

The boy shifted some in the auburn's arms so he could look at his father's face. Very seriously, he asked, "Can I get a toy while we're there?"

Smirking, Kratos responded, "We can stop by a toy store, yes."

Once again very seriously, Lloyd inquired, "Can I also have ice cream?"

"If you see a flavor you want."

"No bed time?"

"Don't push your luck."

Lloyd snapped his fingers dramatically and sighed, "Daddy, you drive a hard bargain… but I'll come with you."

Kratos pulled his son in for another hug, feeling the tiny arms hug him back. "We'll leave tomorrow." He felt the brunette child nod, thinking only that they were going on a fun trip, not an assignment.

Yes.

Lloyd was still unaware of the cruel world he was slowly becoming a part of. He didn't know all the bad things that could happen or all of the atrocities that could be necessary.

He was innocent.

Kratos felt a twinge of guilt wash through him. He wanted nothing more than for his son to maintain that innocence. For him to continue being naïve and to be awed by the beauty the world had. He didn't want reality to mar his son's perception…

He didn't want son to grow up to be like him.