Response to Reviewers (yeah, that's right! I do this first!! WOO! XP)
silverwings3 – Heh thanks! I'm glad I managed to keep Zelos in character!
Kitten Kisses – ROFL! That skit rules!! Even if it did give me a headache! ::rubs his head where Raine bashed it:: Thanks for the notice of the spelling error. My computer blows and I have no mouse, so editings a pain! Help with it is awesome! Glad you liked the lines there XD.
Bloody-Valentine42 – Heh, Alright then will do! But you gotta keep reading!
Kiavie-chan – True. It depends on what ending you get. If you get the Kratos ending, poor Zelos croaks x.x
the-key-of-the-twilight – Thanks for review!!! You rule XD!
Sansouke.Cigara – Thanks for reviewing. Your questions should be answered in this chapter!Karana Belle – You reviewed. I love you XD.
potter29vo – Yes, I understand my spellings not the best. I think I'm going to start using the school computers for spell check (mine sucks!! XD) then perhaps my double-checking will be more precise x.x If that doesn't work, I'll get a beta reader as suggested! The chapters will get longer, sorry for the shortness of the first! ::smirks:: and the fluffiness will come my friend! It will! Perhaps some angst to...but I don't know how good I am at that XP
Kazaana – o.o Woot! I'm baaack! Fear the Kazi-chan!!!
Raine – The only thing I fear about you is your wandering hands...
Kazaana – Fear me?!?! You're the one that keeps trying to kill me!!!
Raine – For obvious reason! I swear, you stalk me!!!
Kazaana – I don't STALK! I follow without permission ;
Raine - ::twitches::
Kratos – Is he bothering you again?
Raine – When is he not bothering me?!
Sheena – When he's bothering me! That's when!!!
Kazaana – Now ladies...we can work this out...
Sheena and Raine - ::pummel him mercilessly::
Kazaana – PPAIN! Horrible PAIN!!! X.x
Colette – Poor Kazaana! Lloyd, do the Disclaimer for him.
Lloyd – Wwwhhhyyyy!!!
Colette – DO IT!!!!!!
Lloyd – O.O Kazaana does not own Tales of Symphonia or anything that is related...and stuff to it!
Colette – Good Lloyd ::gives him a fortune cookie::
Lloyd – YES!!! ::scarfs it, fortune and all::
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Chapter 1 – Reality-----
"Zelos, Wake up!"
The red haired chosen's eyelids shot open. Immediately his eyes burned and painfully bright colors swirled before his vision. He wondered briefly if he was drunk or perhaps hung over and the entire ordeal of dying had been some awkward dream. He found himself sorely disappointed when the sheering pain of healing wounds struck him with crippling force. A loud groan left his chapped lips and his eyes narrowed to slits as he attempted to focus his wavering, blurred sight.
Suddenly he felt soothing cold upon his temples as a wet cloth was placed haphazardously upon his forehead. The next groan he emitted was slightly less tortured for already the throbbing in his temples had begun to quell.
"Hmph. Good, you stopped tossing."
That voice. Why the hell did he recognize that voice? It haunted him as if some distant or unfamiliar memory. It was not threatening nor conniving however, Zelos was alerted none-the-less.
"Nnn...hmm...gah...W-where am I?"
"You're in the Renegade Base of Tethe'alla..." The voice replied in its impartial manner.
"Renegade base?" Zelos slurred confusedly. "Why the hell am I at the Renegade base?"
"There was no other place to send you at the time."
At the time? Zelos thought as he slowly brought a burning arm up so he could cradle his head in his hand. "Urgh. So what you're sayin' is I've been taken prisoner by that Bumpkin Yuan?"
"Not really."
Zelos found he almost wanted to cry when the cloth was lifted from his forehead. He was distracted for a moment, again by the familiar nature of the deep voice. The minor distraction was enough to kill the seconds between when the cloth was removed and reapplied. Also, it arose an extremely important question.
"Yeah, great, so who are you anyway?"
"un-"
"Wait. Don't tell me." The chosen said suddenly. "You're Yuan."
"No..."
"Hmm...Botta?"
"Botta is dead."
"Oh yeah right. Hmm...Oh I know! You're Yggdrasil come to seek revenge for me giving Lloyd the Cruxis Crystal to enter the Tower of Salvation!"
"...No."
"Damn, his sister was hot."
"Is that all you ever think about?" The voice sighed.
Zelos grinned weakly. "What else is there to think about?" Slowly he risked opening his eyes a bit more. It wasn't nearly so bright and he could even make out the outlines and such or objects close by. The most prominent one was a man covered by purple clothing with a mop of reddish brown hair. He assumed it was the one he'd been speaking to for the past few minutes. "Whoa...You look oddly familiar."
"I am Kratos." Came the formal reply. "We've crossed paths several times in our travels."
"Oh yeah. You're Lloyd's father...or something. Krotchos. Yeah, I remember."
The older man visibly glared at Zelos. "It's Kratos."
"Unn...yeah sure...whatever you say...So...why are you here?" The chosen asked while scratching the side of his head. A yelp escaped his lips as his nails scraped a partially healed slash wound.
Kratos smirked slightly, inwardly, at the yelp. "I have the unfortunate pleasure of looking after you as you recover."
Zelos seemed to pout. Instead of a beautiful nurse with a flirtatious nature he was stuck with a loyalty confused mercenary. Like you're one to talk Zelos...Hey, do mercenaries even have loyalty ties? I mean if they're hired for money and...okay, this is a bit off the point... "Can you send a beautiful hunny to love me back to health? I'm sure my little Angel and Rosebud would be glad to help the great Zelos." Yeah...If they hadn't been fried by Yggdrasil...Man, I should've made the ladies stay behind. At least my hunnies would've been saved.
"That cannot be arranged. They don't know you're here."
"They what?" Zelos didn't really believe that. For if 'they' didn't know he was there that meant 'they' were still alive. "Y-you mean they actually beat Yggdrasil?!"
Kratos nodded shortly. "Yes. They defeated Mithos, reunited both worlds and re-established the great Mana Tree."
This was all too much for Zelos. His vision began to swirl again and his headache flared up with violent passion. If Lloyd and the others rejoined the worlds that meant their goal had been completed. And, if they had beaten Mithos that meant he, Zelos Wilder, had joined the losing side. If he joined the losing side that meant his betrayal to the people who had been the closest thing to friends he'd ever had was not only foolish, but now, utterly insignificant.
He felt his ego crushing down to near the same level of his pride. "Oh." Was all he really managed to say.
Kratos said nothing in return, having noticed the distraught pinch of the former Chosen's face. After a moment of contemplative silence he handed offered Zelos a tray upon which was a light meal. "Here. You need to eat."
Zelos eyed him shortly before attempting to sit up. His muscles burned and ached mercilessly but in the end he succeeded with minor assistance from Kratos. Once up he looked at the tray now on his lap and without second thought began to eat.
They...they won. Lloyd, Sheena, everyone you...beat that damn feminine looking angel. You won what you were fighting for while I fought against it...Do I even deserve this second chance? Zelos ate slowly, finding his appetite a bit finicky. "Hey Krintos"
"Kratos..."
"Yeah...umm...how long have I been outta it."
After a short time of consideration, the mercenary replied. "A little over a week I suppose."
"That long hnn?"
"Yes. Your exsphere was damaged in your battle with Lloyd." Kratos explained. "It's hindered your recuperation however the Renegades managed to repair it which is probably why you're awake now."
Zelos nodded slightly as he took in the information. "Makes sense I guess. So...why the Renegade base?"
"I brought you here assuming this would be the least likely place for Lloyd and the others to find you. If you did not survive, I didn't wish to slash their hopes. But now that you're awake and physically healing, I suppose I will tell them."
"No!" Zelos said suddenly, nearly choking on his food. I can't face them!...Not now anyway... "I mean, uhh, I don't want them to see me like this! The great Zelos disheveled and bed-ridden! That's like introducing Prince charming with a deformity!"
"..." Kratos looked at him intensely. It was clear he thought of that as a bad idea.
Zelos smirked convincingly as he shoved the last of the food into his mouth. "Look. Gimme another week and you can tell them. Besides, I need to make an impressive entrance."
The mercenary sighed as he stood. "Very well. You have one week."
"Hey thanks krunchos!"
"Kratos!" The angel replied sharply. The snap in his voice and the hydraulic hiss of the door both caused Zelos to cringe and grab his head.
"Ahh!"
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Kazaana – ta da! I'm done!! Woot! Bit longer than the prologue too. That's good! I ran this one through the spell check and double read it more than double would imply. If they're still errors may Kratos smite me where I stand!
Kratos - ...Goddess Martel, please let there be errors!
Raine – Yes! Many many errors!
Everyone else – Errors! Woo!
Kazaana – I'm beginning to think they don't like me .
Kazaana – R&R!!!