Chapter 3
Lloyd set of for Meltokio. He was enraged! He had worked so hard to bring peace to the world and the Pope had to go and ruin it! What's the deal! Not only that but the Pope had his friends! Lloyd wasn't sure of which friends the Pope had. He didn't care. Lloyd would stand up and fight for them! Lloyd was flying along on his rheaird toward Meltokio, when he saw something off in the distance. It was Exire. The city of the half-elves. Lloyd looked on in awe as he rode by. Something about the city struck him. It was so beautiful in the sky. You could sense the pain of the city just by looking at it. So lost, so sad. Genis and Raine were out trying to bring the races together. Lloyd kept going. No time to waste! Upon arriving in Meltokio, Lloyd noticed that there were guards waiting at the gates of the city.
"Lloyd Irving, the Pope has requested your presence. Come with us." Lloyd followed the guards through the great gates. He looked down the streets. To his left were some shops and houses. Then Lloyd looked to his right. There were the Meltokio slums, where the poor lived. There had been no improvements made. The roads were still dirt and the peasants who lived there wore rags. Lloyd continued on and climbed a magnificent staircase. Upon reaching the very top of the staircase, Lloyd looked to his right again. The houses were no longer shacks; they were now beautiful, radiant mansions. The people in the streets wore outfits fit for a king. The woman wore dresses of silk and lace. The men wore suits of the finest material. One of Lloyd's friends' lived there. Zelos. Zelos was Tethealla's Chosen. It automatically made him rich and famous. He was popular with the girls and could sweet-talk anyone. Zelos came off as a very shallow person, but Lloyd knew just how deep he could sometimes be.
"Move along!" a guard commanded Lloyd, shoving him in the back. Lloyd kept walking. He looked ahead and saw the palace. It had stonewalls and red carpets. Guards watched the front door. To Lloyd's left was Martel's Temple. Lloyd turned and entered the building. Inside was a door that led to the Pope's office. How had the Pope regained his position after trying to kill the King? The guards led him inside the Pope's office.
"You must be wondering why you are here," announced the Pope.
"That's one of the things I'm wondering. Along with how did you regain your position after trying to kill the King and kidnapping his daughter!"
The Pope chuckled, "Let's just say I have my ways. We need to discuss certain matters. I need you. I need you to fight for me."
"I would never fight for you!"
"What if your friends Genis and Raine's lives were on the line?"
Genis and Raine! Raine was Lloyd's teacher and Genis was his best friend! Genis was always loyal and Lloyd's best friend in the world! Raine had always watched out for him, almost like a mother. Lloyd wouldn't let them hurt.
"You hurt them and I swear it'll be the last thing you do!"
"They're in the Coliseum as we speak. They have no weapons among them and are completely defenseless. I give the signal and a dragon will be unleashed on them. They will die for the entertainment of the city!"
"Why do you need me to fight for you?"
"Take the job and it will all be made clear."
Lloyd wasn't sure what to do. Should he save his friends and take the job? But Lloyd didn't know why he would fight for the Pope. The Pope was a liar and had betrayed many. Lloyd knew he couldn't trust him. Lloyd made a plan. He would jump out the window and make a run for the Coliseum, where he would rescue his friends. Lloyd got ready to leap into action.
"Never! I would never work for you! You're a liar and betrayer! I could never trust you!"
"As you wish." Before Lloyd could do anything a light engulfed Lloyd. Lloyd was paralyzed and collapsed to the floor.
"Ahhh! Gauh! I…I can't move!"
"You should've fought for me! Now you will all die. Guards, put him in the special cell we made just for him. Send a messenger to the arena. Tell them to kill the two half-elves!"