Second Chances
By Chomper318

Author's Note: Tales of Symphonia belongs to Namco. I'll String Along With You belongs to Diana Krall. This ficcy belongs to me. I hope readers will like it, it's my first TOS fic.

I'll String Along With You

You may not be an angel
Cause angels are so few
But until the day that one comes along
I'll string along with you

I'm looking for an angel
To sing my love song to
And until the day that one comes along
I'll sing my song to you

For every little fault that you have
See I've got three or four
The human little faults you do have
Just make me love you more

You may not be an angel
But still I'm sure you'll do
So until the day that one comes along
I'll string along with you

--Diana Krall

Chapter Two

Kat stared in the mirror that was hanging on one side of the wall at Expedition HQ. HQ, as impressive as it was called, was a small house built on top of a short squat tree just left of the scratching tree. She adjusted the safari hat and turned in a circle, all the while making sure her vest was just right and that she looked like an experienced Katz expedition member. The reflection that greeted her was not the same one she saw almost a year ago. Her eyes were bright and dark in color. Her cheeks had a rosy tint to them and she was smiling. This was opposed to the pale and fearful complexion she had when she first arrived at Katz Village. Her hair, while still dark brown and long, was hidden beneath the Katz costume. Tried as she might, she couldn't get the few locks of hair in the front to stay underneath the hood. Kat thought about tucking and hiding them beneath her hat, but she thought better of it.

No use fighting a losing battle, thought Kat as she pushed the lock of hair out of her eyes. Might as well leave it be.

She had been a member of Katz for almost a year now, and she had grown to love the village and its members. Though she knew she was not a natural member of the Katz, she was treated as though she was one of their own—and not just someone with a very well made Katz costume. She was grateful to the village, particularly to Tabby, Stray, and Elder Katz. When Kat was unable to answer any of their questions concerning her identity and situation, they simply accepted the lack of response. It was Stray who named Kat Kat, and it was Tabby who advocated for her stay at Katz Village. Finally, it was Elder Katz who told the village to accept Kat unconditionally. Kat, though she had no memory of her own expect for the new ones she was making and the wisps of past dreams that could not be pinned down, knew friendship when she saw it. And Kat was friends with Tabby, Stray and Elder Katz.

"You'll make a fine expedition member Kat," said the pink Katz holding a backpack.

"Yes," agreed Kat, "Thanks to everybody who helped."

The pink Katz smiled as she handed Kat her backpack. "Inside, you'll find your Monster Book, Treasure Book, and the latest map of Sylvarant/Tethe'alla," the pink Katz frowned for just a second before continuing, "Well, I hope they name the new united world soon. I'm tired of saying Sylvarant/Tethe'alla each and every single time. Some short name would be nice...."

Kat smiled at the pink Katz who continued on about a new short name. She looked at the brown canvas bag. Finally, she thought. She truly was a Katz Expedition Member. She swung the backpack on and admired the reflection that greeted her. This was it, she thought, She was now officially a Katz.

The pink Katz interrupted Kat's thoughts with a pat her on the hand, "You must get going. I expect Elder to be waiting. "

Kat nodded. "I guess this is it then. I'm meeting Tabby and Stray in front of Elder's house." With a quick wave, she ran down the stairs and passed the scratched up tree to meet her friends. The tree houses and walkways connecting Katz Village passed by her in a stream of green and brown with a hint of gold as the sun continued its descent. When she reached the wooden stairs leading up to the Elder's house, she stopped.

Tabby and Stray were waiting outside on the steps. As soon as Kat was within earshot, she shouted, "Look! Look! I got my outfit, supplies, and equipment! I'm officially a Katz Expedition Member!"

Tabby ran down the stairs and flung her arms around Kat's neck. "ConKatzulation!" She then pulled back and stared at Kat critically before saying, "You look great! Like a very experienced and professional expedition member."

Stray, who followed Tabby down the stairs, nodded in agreement. "ConKatzulation Kat."

"Let's go in the Elder's house," said Kat, bobbing up and down on her feet, "I want to show off!" With a bright smile, she grabbed Tabby and Stray's arm and pulled them inside the Elder's house.

Later that night when Kat was in bed, she dreamed of times when she was happy and in love. When the world wasn't as bad as it was and when angels existed and miracles could happen.

Kratos Aurion stared at his son Lloyd Irving. At precisely that moment, he was seriously contemplating tossing his son overboard. It was only his self-control and his promise to Anna that he would always protect Lloyd that he wouldn't do it.

Kratos was living in Derris-Kharlan for almost a year when Lloyd showed up. Kratos had been gathering cruxis crystals and helping the half-elves adjust to a life without Lord Yggdrasil. Things were settling down in Derris-Kharlan, and he was feeling restless when Lloyd used the Eternal Sword to come up to Derris-Kharlan.

Lloyd had been collecting exspheres and trying his best not to get mixed up in the political situation that was simmering at Meltokio. Meltokio was interested in becoming the ruling government for the new world—the whole new world, and though Zelos was at Meltokio trying to make peace, he wasn't having much luck. Having collected as many exspheres as people were willing to relinquish them, Lloyd decided that it was time to fulfill his own dream. Lloyd once told Kratos that he wanted to build a ship and sail the sea after the journey to regenerate the world. Lloyd was going to turn this dream into a reality. He started building the ship and was almost finished when he decided that it was time to get Kratos from Derris-Kharlan. Kratos might be a Cruxis Angel, but he was also his dad. Lloyd got the feeling that if his mom were there, she would've wanted Kratos to go on this trip with him. She wouldn't have wanted Kratos to stay on Derris-Kharlan alone. So Lloyd used the Eternal Sword to get his dad.

At first, Kratos wasn't sure if he should leave Derris-Kharlan, but Lloyd had asked and Kratos found himself unable to say no to his only son. So together they left Derris-Kharlan and together they finished building the boat. Dirk, the dwarf who raised Lloyd as his own, crafted a beautiful anchor. The three of them decided to name the simple but elegant ship Anna, after Lloyd's mother.

That was couple months ago.

Now, Kratos was with his son on a sail boat traveling around the world. They sailed from Dirk's to Izoold before setting off to the newly rebuilt Palmacosta. Unlike Luin, there was no statue of Lloyd. Palmacosta funded its own reconstruction with the help from other cities and its own citizens. They set off from Palmacosta to Thoda Geyser. Like Palmacosta, Thoda Geyser was rebuilt and the new hot spring was opened again. Lloyd wanted to try the new hot bath, and Kratos agreed. A nice relaxing soak in a hot bath would be great—especially with the hard work he and Lloyd had done lately. Of course, that was before Lloyd got caught peeping at the women side of the hot bath that resulted in their banishment from Thoda Geyser.

"I swear Dad, I wasn't peeping. It was Zelos, and I was trying to get him to stop!" cried Lloyd as they both stood on their boat that was floating a few yards from shore after their hasty retreat from the hot spring.

Kratos shook his head in exasperation. He believed his son. Lloyd would never do something as low as peeping at the women bathers. But it was Lloyd who got caught (Zelos hid behind a huge sign) and that was all that matters. So they took off from Thoda Geyser. But it wasn't long before they realized that in their haste to escape from Thoda Geyser, they had left their personal belongings at the hot spring. Their money was there along with their medicine kits and such—including the locket of Kratos, Lloyd, and Anna. Once they realized their mistake, they dropped anchor a few yards from the Geyser. What could they do? They were banned from the Geyser and if they were to just go back now so soon after the incident.... Kratos stared at the open sea and for the second time that day, he thought about tossing Lloyd into the sea. Kratos sighed and put his hand on his forehead, a gesture he and his son shared. It really wasn't his son's fault—he kept telling himself that. But what was done was done and now they needed some way to get their bag back. Maybe they should just head back and risk it. After all, the locket was there....

Tabby, Stray, and Kat dragged their Katz raft onto shores. It was a beautiful day and they made it to Thoda Geyser in record time. They had sent sail from Katz Island some weeks ago and were making their way to the new city of Palmacosta. Along the way, they decided to stop at the island of Thoda Geyser. Though the island was too small for an Official Katz Expedition Team to settle, it offered a nice reprieve from the constant sailing onboard the Katz raft. Also, as far as the three Katz were concerned, it was nice to take a break and get on dry land. Tabby and Stray did not want to visit the bath, but instead elected to stay on the beach and enjoy the hot sand and perhaps even a Katz nap. After all, someone had to stay close to the raft.

Kat, who was eager to try out the hot spring, decided to go on her own while her companions took their naps. Kat was near the entrance of the hot springs when she heard the commotion. Two men, one older and the other younger, came rushing out. They were followed by a furious group of women. Kat watched the two until they reached what seemed to be their own boat. Just as quickly as the scene she witnessed, the boat pulled up anchor and sailed off. Kat looked at the beautiful boat and wished the Katz' own raft was as nice. When the group subsided, she continued her way to the hot spring.

She walked in awe. She was still relatively new to the world outside Katz. Here, in front of her were the hot baths. There was a small house to the right. A place where bathers could change Kat assumed. There was an archway that proudly stated Thoda Geyser. It led to the baths. Next to the archway was a big sign listing the fees and instructions of using the hot baths. Kat walked up to it.

"Hello there beautiful," said the sign.

Kat looked around and wondered if signs outside Katz Island normally talked when a young man with a gorgeous red mane stepped out from behind and introduced himself.

The man was quite tall and beautiful looking, a bit too pretty for Kat's taste. He reached out and held her hand and kissed it. When he rose up, Kat could see clearly into his eyes, which was startling violet.

Kat was quite shock by the man's behavior. Was this how people outside Katz greeted each other? Even complete strangers?

"Ummm...," Kat was trying to figure out what she should do or say when another outburst occurred. The young man dropped her hand quickly and looked to see what the commotion was about. A group of women, the same group of women Kat saw earlier, was outside the entrance to the wooden house. This time, they seemed to be arguing over something someone was holding. Kat squinted and could make out a bag in one of the woman's hand. The man with red hair seemed troubled by the sight and as quickly as he had showed up before, he quickly disappeared. But before he ran off passed the archways and in the opposite direction of the crowd of women, he blew Kat a kiss and said, "Until next time, my pretty!"

Kat shook her head and watched him disappeared past the rocks and trees. She then walked towards the wooden house. There, she could hear clearly what the women were arguing about.

"We should just throw it into the sea. That'll show them!" cried a woman wearing a pink towel. The rest of the group seemed to agree with her idea and was nodding.

Curious, Kat asked, "Um, throw what in the sea?"

The woman standing next to the lady in a pink towel held up the bag in one hand, while clutching her blue towel with the other. "This!" she jangled it. "This bag belongs to them. They don't deserve it back!"

Another rumble of agreement swept through the group.

Kat thought back to the two men who ran from the hot spring. Looking at the group of women surrounding her, she could sense why. They were all fuming with anger. Kat was about to ask what happened when another woman, this time garbed in a yellow towel said, "They were spying at us!"

Kat put the two and two together and nodded. So that's what happened, she thought. But in her mind, she remembered the two men who ran out. One in red, the other in a deep royal purple. Neither of them struck her as peeping toms. Looking at the angry mob in front of her, even if they were innocent, the group was not going to believe them. Kat looked at the bag. Whatever happened, she couldn't allow the women to just throw the bag into the sea. After all, one of the Katz saying was, "Two wrong doesn't make a right—it just make more wrongs." Taking a deep breathe, she interrupted the group, which was planning on burning the bag instead now.

"Listen, why don't you give me the bag. Meow. I'll get rid of it for you."

The group really looked at Kat for the first time. Kat swallowed hard but continued, "You should all go back to the bath and enjoy! You shouldn't let those two ruin whatever is left of your trip." The group looked at one another with uncertainty. Kat wasn't having any of this and plunged along, "After all, that's probably what those two...," Kat searched around before finding the right word, "fiends want."

The lady in pink nodded. "So right. You're absolutely right." She reached for the bag and snatched it out of the woman in blue's hand. "Here, get rid of this for us." The lady eyed Kat up and down, "You're a Katz, you'll know a good place to get rid of it."

Kat took the bag and nodded, "Oh yeah. Don't worry. Just go back to your bath. I'll take care of it."

The group murmured and headed away and back towards the baths. Kat let out a huge sigh of relief. With the bag in her hand, she set off to where she saw the two men ran to and where they had kept the boat. Surely they'll be heading back, Kat surmised; Kat took a quick look inside the bag and noted the galds and other knickknacks. Yes,Kat thought, They'll come back for this. And with that last thought, she walked towards the beach.