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

Thank you for the favourites and the follow. It's much appreciated.

This story was named after the Bad Religion song Dearly Beloved.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia.

Dearly Beloved

"...and she showed me proof in her angel wings."

The group collectively gasped at that information.

"Wow, Anna has wings just like Colette?" asked Genis whose voice was full of amazement. "That's incredible."

"It's not incredible by what she told me. She said that she hates them. Regardless of the wings, I believe that is all that Anna told me and I believe her. She's proven through her wings that what she has said is no lie," Professor Sage said. Lloyd's mind was reeling by all of the information. And here he thought Sheena's confession was mom's confession, told through Professor Raine, blew it out of the water. This information also made him know that both his parents lied to him about why they were away from him and about everything. I don't know what to believe anymore.

"If they lied about this then what else did they lie about? What else is a lie from them?" Lloyd said and punched his open palm and felt it sting just like the sting of betrayal and lies from his parents.

Colette was right beside him and traced words into the palm that stung. "I...believe...that...they...have...good...reasons...for...what...they've...been...doing...just...like...your

...mom...has...a...good...reason...to...tell...the...truth...despite...everything...they...still...love...you...and...no...matter...who...your...parents...are...you're...still...you..."

"Yeah, you're right," Lloyd said and he instantly felt better about the whole situation. He gave Colette a smile before he turned to Professor Sage. "Say Professor, did mom say anything at all about why I was raised by Dirk and what really happened to them?"

Professor Sage shook her head. "I'd imagine that's something that you'll have to ask your parents about. Anna didn't go into that at all with me, she simply said that she was trapped on Derris-Kharlan."

"Right, I'll ask them once they get here," Lloyd said and made a mental note to himself to ask them. "Wait—trapped? As in stuck up there?"

"Yes, that is correct. By the way she was talking it sounded as if she was a prisoner rather than an active participant with Cruxis. And her angel transformation was forced on her as well."

"I can't believe that happened. Dad was there with her he would've stopped something like that."

"This is only conjecture but perhaps he was the instigator in this situation," said Professor Sage and Lloyd felt anger surge in him at her words.

"How can you sound so calm at a time like this?"Lloyd said. "Dad would never do something like that."

"It is precisely at times like this that a cool head is needed. Calm yourself, Lloyd."

"How can I be calm at a time like this?" Lloyd said.

"Wh-what are we supposed to do now?" Genis interrupted their conversation. "What happens if Kratos doesn't want to help the worlds and doesn't want to save Colette?"

"Then we fight," Sheena said and punched her fist into her other hand. "This is information that all the people of Mizuho—no all the people of Tethe'alla and Sylvarant deserve to know. We can't just stand by and do nothing."

"No way, dad's reasonable I'm sure if we talk to him about this he'll help us save Colette and the worlds."

"Wake up, Lloyd, he was more than fine letting us know nothing and leading Colette to her lifeless form for Martel," Genis said. "He may be your dad and all but that doesn't mean that he's going to help us."

Colette tugged at his sleeve and looked as if she wanted to say something. He brought his palm up so she could reach it to etch out letters to talk.

"I...want...to...save...the...worlds...too...but...I...have...a...duty...as...Chosen...to-" Lloyd said Colette's words but then interrupted her her off. "Hey, wait a second. You don't have to be a sacrifice for Martel you can live freely just like everyone else. If you're worried about the Journey of Regeneration relax. We can find a way to save both Sylvarant and Tethe'alla so that no one has to suffer. Don't go thinking you have to do anything like that."

Colette smiled at him.

"Of...course...not...I'm...sorry..." Lloyd said Colette's words again. "Okay good, you dork. You don't have to sacrifice yourself or anything anymore. Especially not to become some vessel of Martel. There's no point in that. We can find a way to save both worlds and you too."

"What was it that Anna said that we could do? It seems pretty hopeless to me," Genis said.

"She said that we could create new pacts with Summon Spirits to weaken Yggdrasill's power and to break links between the worlds," Raine said calmly. "She also said that we can find a way for a human to wield the Eternal Sword to reunite the two worlds. It can only be wielded by those with elven blood at this point in time."

"Did she give any details about how to do that?"

Raine shook her head. "She didn't but I believe we all know what it entails to create a pact with a Summon Spirit. Now we need to think about what we'll say to Kratos when he comes back."

"Why does everything hinge on dad, anyway?" Lloyd asked. "He's just one guy."

"Haven't you been listening at all?" Genis said. "He is an important and powerful member of Cruxis. We need to-"

Dad appeared beside Raine and mom followed soon after. A silence fell upon the group but Lloyd knew what to say. He could convince his dad to do the right thing.

"Dad, there's a way that we can save both worlds and Colette and make sure no Desians hurt anyone ever again," Lloyd said and took Professor's Sage's advice of having a calm mind. "So let's stop this Journey of Regeneration and go on a new one, one where no one has to sacrifice themselves needlessly. You don't have to go back to Cruxis you can join us as we start this new journey to save the world while we protect Colette and mom from them."

"Humph," Kratos said. "Those are naive notions, Lloyd, ones I've heard all too long from your mother."

"There's nothing naive about them. There's got to be a way to save the worlds and Colette and mom's been looking up ways for this to happen."

"Your mother is...misguided. There is nothing that can be done to save the worlds or to stop this Journey of Regeneration. The power of Cruxis is strong. Life is not as simple as you think it should be," dad's voice was sharp and to the point.

"It's not a simple thing that we're asking for," Sheena said. "In fact these are very complicated things and I don't know the best answer for now but there is another way than to continue the Journey of Regeneration. We can form more pacts with Summon Spirits with me as the Summoner."

"Yes, we can look for a way for a human to wield the Eternal Sword so we can reunite the worlds too," said Genis.

"Humph," Kratos said. "Do you intend to fight off the entire strength of Cruxis while you participate in these tasks?"

"Is their strength why you are a part of Cruxis?" Professor Sage said. "Because there was a time where you rebelled against them."

"And that almost led to my family's deaths," dad said with anger. "My wife truly did tell you everything. These are not things for you to know."

"What about me, dad?" Lloyd asked. "I have a right to know these things. And I need to know something. Why was it that you never came down to get me after the Desian attack happened when I was a little kid, if that attack even happened at all. I don't know what the truth is anymore."

"You know this story already. Has our time with Kvar taught you nothing? He is the man that turned your mother into the Angelus Project where he was trying to create a successful Cruxis Crystal that can evolve with the user. You've reaped the benefits of this project with your special exsphere. He was the man that caught up with us fourteen years ago and he is the reason that your mother and yourself almost died."

"Yeah I remember that bastard. Now I know why you were attacked it wasn't that you were just being chased for escaping the human ranch it was because you were rebelling against Cruxis but you aren't telling me what happened," Lloyd said in anger. "I want to know."

"Tell him," mom said curtly.

"Very well, Anna," dad said and looked at Lloyd. "Anna and I met in the human ranch and I soon rescued her from that existence. We ran from place to place and when you were born with you as well. It was never safe as we were constantly chased by the Desians and by Cruxis. I assure you the Desian attack that separated us happened. It was Kvar and his men who attacked us and turned your mother into a monster. You two were then thrown from the cliff, where I finally found your mother almost dead. You and the special exsphere had already gone with Dirk by the time I had dealt with Kvar and his men and descended upon the cliff."

"Tell him what happened next," Anna said.

"I don't think that-"

"If you don't tell him, I will," Anna said in anger. "Yggdrasill descended upon us then. I don't know what words were exchanged because I was unconscious but I remember waking up on Derris Kharlan. He made a deal with Yggdrasill to keep me safe, and to keep your father near Yggdrasill and Cruxis because he is the Origin Seal. We told them that you were dead so that they would leave you alone."

"You told them I was what?!" Lloyd said, enraged.

"It was the only way to keep you safe."

"You two must not love me at all," Lloyd said and his stomach dropped at that. He was so excited for his parents to come about only for them to stay away from him. "I thought things were different and that you couldn't come to get me."

"That's not true at all, we both love you very much. We could come to get you but..."mom trailed off and sadness tinged her voice. "But we both wanted you to be with us it's just that we couldn't. Derris Kharlan is no place for a little boy to grow up. I wanted you to stay far away from that place and I still do. If you were to come up there with us you'd have no friends, no school, no food or water, no sunshine. The only thing to do is to read at the library and the only people to talk to are lifeless angels," she shuddered at the memory of them. "I never wanted anything like that for you, sweetie," she said and looked at him with such sadness in her eyes mixed with her love for him. Was she always feeling this and just hiding it? Lloyd cursed himself. He had no idea. All he was thinking about was how great it was to have them back. "And you had a good childhood, I can just see that since you've grown into a fine young man. You've had good friends and a good adoptive father and a good teacher. And plenty of sunshine too."

"I can't deny the truth of what you're saying but I still wish that there could've been some way for you to have gotten me. But you're saying there really was no way," Lloyd said and his anger towards his mother subsided. It was just then that he realized how lucky he was to be raised with Dirk and not on Derris-Kharlan. "But it would have been better with you."

Anna smiled. "I wish I could've watched you grow up."

"Yeah, same here mom," Lloyd said. "But there's something else I want to know. Why was it that you never came back to get me like you did recently? Couldn't you have come down and visited me, or something?"

"No that couldn't have happened. We were trapped up there."

"If we are telling the truth perhaps it would be beneficial to tell the truth about this, Anna," dad looked at Anna before he turned to Lloyd. "Your mother was trapped in Derris Kharlan and holds no power in Cruxis. She is merely a pawn in making me loyal to Cruxis yet again after a time where I rebelled against it. There is something else you must know," dad said and took a deep breath. "After a time trust was reestablished between me and Yggdrasill as I proved my loyalty to him and we could have descended upon Sylvarant to meet you. I could have left your mother with you for years now but I chose not to. I wanted her to be with me."

"You what?" Lloyd said and anger rose in him. "Mom couldn't do anything but stay on Derris Kharlan? So Professor Sage was right she really has been a prisoner. You kept mom away from me? To be with you!?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Mom, is that true?" Lloyd asked and looked at mom who looked away from him.

"I...well I..." she trailed off. "I didn't find out about that until very recently. If I had the choice I would have wanted to stay with you, sweetie."

"Where do you get off?! How could you do something like that to her and to me?!"

"Very easily," dad said and Lloyd couldn't stand to see that impassive look on his face.

"I can't relate to you, Kratos, not anymore," Anna murmured, almost to herself. She then looked at him and repeated. "I can't relate to you."

"I can't stand what you are anymore. I can't stand what you did to mom and I can't stand that stupid organization. Who do you think you are doing all of this?!" Colette was at his side and took his palm in hers as she began tracing words onto it.

"Calm...down...everyone...We...are...going...to...begin...a...new...journey...to...regenerate...both...worlds...you...are...more... than...welcome...to...join... us...Kratos...and...Anna..."

"Yes of course I'll join you," mom said with emotion running through her voice and brought out her hand to dad. "Please, Kratos, join us too in saving the worlds and Colette. It's been far too long since we've done anything to rebel against Cruxis and their evil."

"I thought that you've changed on this journey but you truly haven't. What have you done? You've infected them with your nonsense," dad said and Lloyd felt anger run through him at that.

"It's not nonsense!" Lloyd exclaimed.

"You've even allowed our son to be taken away with this foolishness. I don't know why you've done such a thing."

"Because it's the right thing to do!" mom cried out. "Things can be different and we can work together to save the worlds and reunite them and make it so girl like Colette don't have to sacrifice themselves. Doesn't that mean anything to you at all?"

"It does mean something. If things could be different it would be better but what you speak of is an impossibility," dad said. "It's-"

"It's not impossible!" Lloyd shouted. "You're just saying that because you haven't tried."

"I have tried," Kratos said with anger of his own. "And all it did was almost lead you and your mother to your deaths. There is no point in struggling against that which is so powerful to end that which cannot be stopped."

"By the sounds of it," Sheena said as she stood up. "You're not going to be helping us. I'm ready to fight."

"It seems one of you understands the gravity of this situation," Kratos said. "However we do not have to fight. Surrender the Chosen and I will leave you all alone."

"Yeah, that's not going to happen," Lloyd said in anger. "I'm not abandoning Colette to be some kind of sacrifice so she could be a vessel for Martel!"

The group voiced their agreement.

"Humph, so be it. It is my mission from Cruxis to accompany the Chosen on the Journey of Regeneration. I have every intention to complete my mission whether the Chosen wills it or not. If you insist on your naive notions of saving both worlds and a world where the Chosen is able to live freely then I have no other option," Kratos said and drew his sword from his sheath and unfurled his blue wings behind him. "Prepare yourself."