A/N: I'm continuing the story called Dearly Beloved by Cataclysmic Eclipse.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia.

Undine

They had come to Thoda's Geyser in search of the next seal for Colette to release. But it had also become quickly apparent that the summon spirit of water resided here as well, what with the water puzzles and the fact that it was behind Thoda's Geyser. They made quick work of the monster that was guarding the seal for Colette, and Remiel appeared with his angelic disguise. Which made Anna shudder, seeing that imposter yet again. How dare he trick the others like that?Soon after, Colette insisted she was fine and needed no rest so they immediately began the first part of the pact making process. At least, Sheena had. Despite her apprehension, she had a little determination glistening in her brown eyes. It must have been for Pietro. They needed Undine to move the unicorn at Lake Umacy so Raine could learn healing arts that could save him.

"You who possess the right of the pact. I am one who is bound to Mithos. What is your name?"

"I am Sheena! I seek a pact with Undine!" Sheena shouted boldly despite her fears. Sheena was a summoner. A real, live summoner. Sure, she had heard Sheena say so earlier but that was entirely different than watch her with her own eyes. Excitement formed inside of Anna and she felt giddy like a school girl. This all reminded Anna of all of the information that she read in Derris-Kharlan about summon spirits, about the things that she was never supposed to know about and how this could weaken Yggdrasill. She grinned.

"As things stand now...I cannot," said Undine, looking at Sheena through assessing eyes.

"Wh-why?!" Sheena asked, clearly confused.

"I am already bound by a pact. I cannot form two pacts at the same time."

"You mean your pact with that Mithos guy?"

Sheena turned around to face all of them. "What am I supposed to do now?! They never said anything about this at the research institute!"

"If a pact is made by one that has broken his vow, it's possible for a new one to be formed with another pact maker," Anna said. "I'd bet anything that this guy has already broken his pact."

"Hmm," Lloyd said as he was thinking. "Wait, can't you just get her to cancel the old pact? If what my mom said is right about a broken vow then that should be the next step."

"But we don't even have any idea where this Mithos person is!"

"A summon spirit pact requires a vow. As long as the pact-maker upholds that vow, the pact remains valid." Kratos said. And Anna turned to him in shock. Since when would he help during a time like this? If this pact was successful it could very well allow Yggdrasill's power to weaken. The shock was replaced in joy. Maybe he was becoming like his old self. He certainly was acting like it.

"That is correct." said Undine.

"I know about that. The Summon Spirit approves the pact-maker's vow and agrees to the pact," said Sheena.

"Exactly. Therefore, all you need to do is follow Lloyd's advice and request the annulment of the previous pact and form a new one. It's possible the previous pact-maker has broken his vow, just as my wife has said. Or he may have...already passed away." Kratos said. Anna's shock was quickly replaced by being impressed. She looked at Kratos and flashed him a big smile. He was actually helping which meant a lot to her. He smiled back at her. She made a mental note to talk to him about this alone, later.

"Is it really that simple?" Genis said.

"I suppose you could call it simple, but if the previous pact-maker is still alive and hasn't broken his vow, than there's nothing we can do about it." Kratos said.

"Okay I'll give it a shot." Sheena said, than turned towards Undine with more determination solidified in her brown eyes. "I am Sheena! I ask that thou annulst thy pact with Mithos, and establish a new pact with me."

"Before I can allow the formation of a new pact, I must test your worthiness as a pact-maker. Draw your weapons," Undine moved and steeled herself for the battle. "Let it begin!"

A fight was something that none of them were prepared for, and yet it is what they got. Anna unsheathed her sword and ran to the side-lines, and observed Undine's attacks before she would go anywhere near the Summon Spirit. Kratos' lessons of observing the enemy came to her mind as she ran about, slashing at water discs that got sent flying about the area.

"Spread!" cried Undine as she sent a jet of water that rose from the floor to the ceiling, which sent Genis and Lloyd falling backwards. She felt anger at that and ran towards her, and slashed her swords again and again.

"Aqua edge," Undine said, and Anna saw water discs jet forth towards her. Shock and unease and pain flashed through her mind as the discs cut deeply into her legs.

"Ugh," she said and fell to one knee. She moved from her human form to her angelic form consciously. This fight was going to be more difficult than she thought. Undine didn't look as tough as she truly was. Lloyd rwn right at Undine and attacked her with his self-taught moves but was able to hold his own against, and Sheena was right with her using her card attacks. Colette was taking a much more cautious approach and sent her chakrams flying from a fair distance from Undine.

Kratos was beside her quicker than she could register. "Are you alright?" Kratos said beside her and put one hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine," she said and tried to stand up which sent her crashing down. "Ugh."

"Hold still," he said and his lips firmed in concentration as he was casting his spell of first aid. White mana flashed from his hands to her wounded legs.

"There. Better?" Kratos asked and she nodded. "Good. Remember our agreement," he said curtly, and she knew he was referring to their agreement to be in their angelic form in times of danger before moving back to the battle. His movements were quick as he left her to join the fray.

"Y-yeah, got it," Anna said and knew that his angelic hearing would pick it up. She hated her angelic form so much but she should have kept up the deal with what they had both agreed to. She would not underestimate Undine again.

She sighed and picked her sword up and ran towards the Summon Spirit and slashed her with her sword. This is the best way to handle her, Anna thought as she ran backwards, away from Undine. Engage, retreat, engage, retreat she thought as a kind of mantra as she continued ran again towards her, slashed, and ran backwards and kept moving from side to side to avoid those water discs that were sent flying about the arena.

She noticed the floor underneath her rise with water with her angelic senses. Her heart sped up and she ran. "Spread," Undine said and she ran right out of the way quickly and got close to Genis, who was in the midst of casting a spell deep in concentration, with his kendama bouncing up and down. "Watch out guys!" he said which he always said when he cast a spell near them, "Thunder blade. " His spell crashed towards at Undine with blue sparks careening down as well.

Anna ran towards Undine and slashed her with her sword. Those water discs were appearing in the middle of the air, and Anna ran as quickly as she could.

"Aqua edge," came Undine's voice, but Anna was already far enough away. Anna turned around and saw both Sheena and Lloyd attack Undine. Lloyd with his self-learned tactics and Sheena and her practised tactics, along with Colette attacking at a distance. Genis sent lightning towards her again as well. Kratos took her strategy of attacking, then running back. Anna took a deep breath before she began to run towards Undine again.

"I am...impressed," Undine's voice stopped Anna in her tracks. "Splendid. Now, swear your vow. Upon what vow do you form our pact?"

"Right now, at this very moment, there are people who are suffering. I vow to save those people."

"Understood. I pledge my power to you, Sheena," Undine said and disappeared into an array of glimmering specs of water and shards of mana.

Everyone gathered around Sheena and offered their praise and congratulations but Anna couldn't find her way in. She was excited but the wheels in her head began to turn. This was a way to decrease Yggdrasill's influence upon the world. And Sheena just did it. What if she could form a pact another one? Hell with all of them? The thoughts were spinning throughout her head and made her feel giddy. She finally walked up to Sheena.

"Congratulations, Sheena. You actually did it. You were fantastic."

"Oh I don't know if I was all that great but, uh, thanks Anna," Sheena said. That determination in spite of her fears earlier were gone and now she was being humble.

"You're quite welcome. Have you made any more pacts with other summon spirits in-"Anna almost tripped over her words and said Tethe'alla. "In Sylvarant."

"Nope, unfortunately not. The only pact I made before Undine was with Corrine."

"Have you thought about forming more pacts?"

"Uh, yeah, sure I have, but I haven't got much of a chance to do it yet."

"And wouldn't it be wonderful if you got more of a chance to do it. I really think you have a gift Sheena," Anna said and beamed at her.

"Th-thanks," Sheena said and looked uncomfortable by Anna's enthusiasm. Anna turned away from her and saw Kratos and Raine talking, on the white cobblestone walkways. She walked towards her.

"Oh hello, Anna, I was just telling your husband that you both have an impressive array of knowledge," Raine said.

"I had an acquaintance who knew a bit about Summon Spirits, that's all," Kratos said.

"It's something that I read in some books," Anna said honestly completely ignoring Kratos' lead until it was too late. She was never good at lying about such things.

"I see. I would like to read those books someday. Well, let us continue on," Raine said and they all took her lead to continue throughout the darkened caves with the cobblestone paths, and closer towards the entrance.


Colette collapsed. Anna's eyes widened at that and she rushed to her side.

"Colette are you alright? Colette?" Anna asked and she quickly she knelt down beside her. This was the second time that she witnessed Colette collapse and suffer after a seal was released, the first being near Triet and she was determined to be right there for her.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me," Colette said weakly.

"I don't believe you," said Lloyd. Anna shot him a look which told him in no uncertain terms to stop talking. "Look at you, you're hurt. Look how much you're bleeding."

"I can't help but worry about you, sweetie," Anna said softly, ignoring Lloyd's words. She knew full well what was going on and accusing her would not make Colette feel any better. She brought a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "You collapsed on the ground right now. I bet that you would worry about anyone else that would collapse on the ground just like you have."

"U-uh-huh, that's true," Colette tried to get up, and Anna sent an arm about her shoulders to keep her up right. "But I still don't want anyone to worry about me."

"But you can't help but worry, can you."

"That's true. If it was Lloyd that fell on the ground I'd be so worried," Colette said. Anna smiled softly. In their short time together it was enough for her to see what was happening between those two. It made this all that much harder on Anna.

"So maybe it's better not to tell us not to worry. We can't help it," Anna said and rose with Colette who was determined to stand. "Now we should camp here tonight. What do you think Colette?"

She nodded. "Y-yeah, I think that would be nice," Anna squeezed her shoulders, and stroked her hair in what she hoped was comfort.


Anna sat by the fire and stared into it. Everyone else was about their business, around their makeshift camp that they had to make in order for Colette to have a place to rest. Lloyd and Colette had wandered off on their own. She smiled faintly at that. Young love with her son and a fine young woman like Colette should make her feel happier and yet...she couldn't feel happy. Not at what Colette was going through. Not at what would happen to her. And yet that is yet another reason that she couldn't rest properly.

She knew that she should sleep soon but she couldn't bring herself to sleep later and it wasn't because of her stupid angelic form. It never got easier. Another seal was released, and with that Colette was suffering. Despite this being the second seal she witnessed being released, it was never easier for her to watch that little girl get hurt. All she could think of was what that girl had in store for her later on which paled in comparison to the suffering that she's experiencing now. The flames in front of danced and she stared at them blankly.

"Do you mind if I join you?" came Kratos' deep, baritone voice. Anna looked up to see him staring down at her with his brown eyes. His auburn hair glistened from the light of the dancing flames.

"No, not at all," she said and returned her eyes to the fire in front of her. Poor Colette...she must be hurting so much right now. That fire was getting a bit low. She grabbed a piece of firewood and sent it into the flames. The flames crackled at the new wood and sent sparks flying up towards the night sky.

"Are you alright?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes," she said automatically, than thought better of it. "No. It's just—it's Colette. She puts on a brave face but I know that she must be in a lot of pain. I'm worried about her."

"Yes I know but it's because of the Journey of Regeneration that she suffers so. It will pass in time, just like those other times that she has released a seal."

"Journey of Regeneration?" she repeated, confused. Just what was he talking about? He knew that would not comfort her, right? He gestured with his hand to Raine who was absorbed in a book and Genis who was busy studying with his brow furrowed in concentration, that were behind him. She swung her head to the other side and saw Sheena and Corrine speak in hushed tones. Instantly, she understood. They couldn't exactly speak freely while their companions were awake. "R-right, the Journey of Regeneration. That. I know that but it's just so hard to watch. She's such a sweet young girl."

"Yes I know, but her suffering will pass in time. It always does. And right now she is with Lloyd so she is as well as she can be considering the circumstances," He said, but looked at her in eyes of concern. "Perhaps you should do something that would send your mind at ease, instead of worrying about Colette. You could read a book."

"A book," she stifled a laugh. "No, no. I mean, not that I don't appreciate the idea but I don't think that a book is going to help me."

"I see," Kratos said while bringing an arm about her and pulled her to be by his side. She felt the warmth of his body against hers. "It was merely a suggestion."

"Yeah, I know that it is and I appreciate it but at times like this I don't think there's anything that'll make me feel better. I'm worried about her. And I-"

Lloyd appeared beside them and flashed them a smile.

"What are you doing here, Lloyd? I thought you were spending time with Colette."

"I am but I decided to make us both some hot chocolate. It shouldn't take too long," he said as he stirred the pot full of water, that she assumed was already hot. He dipped his finger in to check and immediately brought it out, than he brought out two mugs and filled them with the hot chocolate mix. "It won't take too long."

"Is Colette doing any better?" Anna asked him, and Kratos tightened his hold on her. Worried about me. Always worried about me, She thought to herself. I wish he would show his worry over others for once.

"Uh, yeah," Lloyd said in a way that she wasn't okay but wouldn't say anything to the contrary, as he poured the mugs with hot chocolate. Anna frowned at that. "She's doing better, a lot better than she was earlier."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that," Anna said as Lloyd was finished making his hot chocolate and began walking away. "See you, Lloyd."

"Bye mom and dad," he said and his loud and clumsy footsteps disappeared behind them.

"I'm proud of you," Anna whispered into his ear with his hair that tickled her chin and she leaned against him. "For what happened earlier while we helped Sheena form a pact with Undine. You helped out a lot and that really means something to me. Means that you're doing something and I...that makes me happy."

He didn't voice a response but pressed his lips against her temple. Before she blamed him for what was happening to Colette but she later knew that was wrong. It wasn't his fault. Her arm was against his shoulder, and he leaned down to press his lips against her hair. What was happening was a part of the world that she hated and she wished that she could change and she wished that he would change. But she couldn't bear herself to blame him now. Not when he helped Sheena form the pact. He did something incredible—something amazing. He made that clear in their time alone together. Not when he was going to be leaving soon. His hand was against her cheek and drew her face towards his. He captured her lips in a kiss. She moved her lips against his slowly and softly and his matched hers in tone.