((A/N: Six reviews! Yay! I would've updated yesterday, but the site wouldn't let me upload documents. Wah...))
Chapter thirty-six, Kratos' P.O.V.
The Slumbering Goddess.
Mithos… Where did I go wrong in teaching you? Maybe all this was my fault. Maybe I should've been stricter than I was back then. If I'd stopped you then perhaps none of this madness would have happened.
I'm sorry for failing you, my student.
"Mithos, I've let you do what you wanted to long enough. It's time to put a stop to this." I unsheathed my sword, glaring at him.
"Ah, but you're too late." Yggdrasill smiled slyly. "The download finished just now."
"W-what?" I heard Yuan stutter.
"No! Colette!" Lloyd called desperately.
Yggdrasill simply started to laugh. Laughing like a complete madman. The cocoon started to hiss, its lid opening. And already, the Great Seed was slowly flickering in and out of existence.
"Dammit!" I shouted, feeling completely helpless.
The blonde girl sat up, her expression blank. She gazed around the room before getting to her feet, stepping forward. Yggdrasill grinned broadly at her.
"My dearest sister. You've finally come back to me." He murmured.
"Mithos… What have you done?" the girl asked in a distant voice. Martel's voice.
I noticed Yuan flinched by my side, turning rather pale.
"Hm? You mean my body? I hastened my growth to have an appearance befitting the leader of Cruxis. If you want, I can change back." Yggdrasill offered.
"No, not that. I've been watching all this time. Unable to move, unable to do anything, I watched all those foolish things you've done." Martel shook her head. "Have you forgotten everything?"
"Forgotten? No, I remembered. Unlike Kratos and Yuan, I remembered. You wanted to see a world free of discrimination." Yggdrasill smiled at her.
"No, Mithos. We dreamt of a world where humans, elves, and those in between could live in harmony. Not a world where everyone is the same being." Martel paused for a moment. "I never asked you to preserve my soul either."
"What are you saying?" Yggdrasill demanded. "This after all the trouble I went through to get you a new body! But perhaps you don't like that one…"
"Mithos, listen to me. What you have done is wrong." Martel spoke, more loudly this time.
"Wrong?" Yggdrasill repeated blankly. "You're… rejecting me?"
"No. I want you to remember. Please, stop this and become your old self again."
"Martel… Even you reject me? No… Martel would never do something like that." Yggdrasill turned back to our group, his eyes narrowing. "You! What did you do to her?"
"We didn't do anything. Martel's words are true." I gave the girl a small smile, grateful that she too didn't agree with Mithos' ideals.
"You're lying! You did something to her! You traitors!" Yggdrasill's wings seemed to spark with anger. "Give my sister back, now!"
Without another second thought, the seraph rushed forward, trying to strike me down. I managed to dodge him just in time but I knew that behind my back he was already whirling around to try again. There was a metallic sound and the next second both Yuan and Sheena had jumped forward to guard me.
It was time to battle.
It didn't take long for our comrades to take out their weapons and join us in the fight. Already, Raine was chanting a spell, while Zelos and Lloyd rushed towards Cruxis' leader, swords drawn. Genis seemed to be hesitating for a moment, before quickly blinking and preparing a spell of his own.
"Raining Tiger Blade!" Lloyd's swords narrowly missed their target, as Yggdrasill dodged the attack with ease.
"Photon!" Raine called, raising her staff to the sky.
Yggdrasill staggered for a moment, before disappearing from the spot. Raine managed to whip around just in time to hold up her staff and summon a Force Field, as Yggdrasill used his famed Death Eater technique.
Both Yuan and I took this chance to attack head-on. We managed to land a few slashes with our blades before Yggdrasill swirled in mid-air, forcing us to back off again. Then he vanished from the spot and re-appeared behind Lloyd.
"Spark Web!"
Yggdrasill suddenly found himself captured by Genis' spell, which took effect almost immediately. The man screamed in pain, wrapping his arms around himself and doubling over. I noticed that Genis was looking away with an expression to match Yggdrasill's agony. Maybe it was a mistake to let the boy fight with us.
Quickly making up my mind, I tried to catch Yuan's eye and sent him a signal to charge forward and keep Yggdrasill busy. He nodded, raising his blade with a determined look and running forward.
Dodging a few stray attacks, I darted towards the half-elf boy, who was just about to prepare another spell.
"Stop." I spoke shortly.
"What?" he looked up me, obviously confused.
"This enemy is too much for you. Go guard the chosen instead." I turned to indicate Martel, who was still standing near the cocoon, watching the battle intently.
"But… I have to help you guys. Mithos has to be stopped." Genis stuttered, his voice shaking.
"If she dies, there's no point in stopping Mithos. Now go."
The boy lowered his head, giving a barely visible nod. Then he ran off to meet up with Martel. To fight a dear friend… is like a knife to the heart.
((Genis/Mithos? Yeah. A bit. I'm evil like that, I guess.))