For thy Lady by Truro
Tales of Symphonia © Namco & Kosuke Fujishima
"Why the hell did we have to let him go, Colette!" Colette lowered her head at Lloyd's thundering demand. The boy's dark eyes where filled with a burning fury, that the poor girl was trying to avoid, "We should have pulverised that impostor!" came Lloyd's raised voice, "But thanks to you, he and his friends are still conning people out of their life savings!", Earlier, the group had caught up with a group of impostor's who where pretending to be the Chosen of Mana, and her party. They had cornered one member of this group, who had been pretending to be Genis. A short, fat, ape of a man, who was beside himself with terror, at the treat of Lloyd's wrath. But Colette insisted to allow the man another chance. Lloyd was reluctant, be upon Colette's wishes, allowed the ape to return to his family. Colette believed, that he would stop tricking people after that, but much to their surprise, he was still pretending to be a member of the chosen's group. Lloyd was furious, and blamed Colette for the ordeal. "What the hell where you thinking!" he shouted for the tenth time. Colette then raised her head, her blue eyes, filled with tears, and reflecting sorrow, and irritation, "You're so mean!" she cried, running out of the room, sobbing loudly, and tears falling from her face. "That was quite harsh, Lloyd." Came the deep, yet smooth, and soft spoken voice of Raine, "I know, Professor." Said Lloyd, "But she has to learn, that not everybody deserves to be trusted, "Can the same not be said of you?" said the teacher, "I mean, after all, one of the vows that you live by is that it's better to be deceived, than to deceive." You and Genis always use those drawven vows, when you want to make fun of me." Grumbled the young swordsman, "But I guess you're right." Said expression softened, "Good." She said, happy as once again, making Lloyd Irving see sense. "Dammit." Muttered the boy, "I'm such a hypocrite."
Colette meanwhile, had curled up against the wall of a hotel, to cry. As childish as it may seem, it's the only thing for a young girl to do, when she's sad, and her friends are all angry at her. As her sobbing filled the air, a group of figures where watching her, "Shall we take the wretch now?" inquired one, "Not yet." Said another, "We first need our captive audience."
"Colette!" called Lloyd, "Where are you?" he felt guilt, at bringing the poor child to tears, and had become concerned as to her whereabouts. Colette heard Lloyd's deep, soft, but young sounding voice call out to her. Lloyd's voice no longer had the raging fire of blind fury, as it had so earlier, but now had a softer tone. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Colette called out to the young man. Unfortunately, she never heard what he had to say. At that moment, a huge hand clamped over her mouth, as an incredibly well built arm wrapped tightly around her, pinning her arms to her side, "What are you doing?" Lloyd cried, "It shall soon become clear, Lloyd Irving." Said the man; a strapping six-footer, dressed entirely in a black ninja costume, with burning red eyes, the colour of blood. Then, to the astonishment of all, witnessing the abduction, something unbelievable occurred. The man in black sprouted a pair of wings. Lloyd's first instinct was that this man was a desian. However, these wings where not covered in bird-like feathers, that all angels possessed, but these where scalely, dark wings, much like those of a dragon. Seven other people similar to this devil emerged from the shadows "So," said one, a lighter built devil, with a soft, feminine voice, "Is this boy the one?" "He certainly is." said the one holding the struggling Colette, "This boy is the one, who wields the Angelus Exsphere." Lloyd was puzzled as to why these sinister men and women knew about his exsphere, but the only thing in his heart, was that Colette was in danger, and he had to do something about it, "Let her go, you bastards!" he roared, with the fury of a tiger, raging in his voice. This battle cry was heard all around, by a collection of interesting characters. A small boy, with silver hair, dressed in a blue shirt, and shorts, a handsome man, with scarlet hair, wearing a pink vest, and white trousers, a colossal man, with messy blue hair, wearing a white t-shirt, and a set of handcuffs, a beautiful girl, with violet hair, tied back, with a few bangs covering her face, and clad in the robe of a female ninja, a small girl, with pink hair, tied in pigtails, and wearing a black leather vest, and finally, Professor Raine joined Lloyd in his confrontation, "What's going on?" asked Genis, the youngest of the group, "I say," said the scarlet haired Zelos, "that we kick some ass first, and then ask questions later!" "Well, for once I agree with the pervert!" said the purple haired ninja, whose name was Sheena, "How amusing." Said the demon holding Colette, who was apparently, their ignoble leader, "How about a challenge, a set of four tag team battles?" "You can't be serious." Said Regal, the oldest, largest, and physically strongest of the band of heroes, "Can we not?" said the dark leader, "Come to the South Eastern Abby. If you win, Colette will be free to go." "And if we lose?" Lloyd snarled, not daring to think of what would become of the poor girl, whose squeals for help where reduced to a quiet muffle, "If you lose," spoke the demon, "We shall take your exsphere." Then they flew away, with Colette, their reluctant hostage.
"Alright!" said Lloyd reaching into his pocket, to retrieve the small wing pack, a tiny box, which used amazing technology to store powerful flying machines, called Reiards, "Wait Lloyd." Said Presea, the small pink-haired girl, with cold eyes, and a concerned look on her fresh young face, "There are eight of them, but only seven of us." "Well duh!" yelled Lloyd, "I don't care if I'd have to face two of them at once! I'll fight all eight on my own if I have to!" Lloyd was not the sort of man to lash out at his companions, but he had quite a short temper, and at this moment in time, he was royally aggravated at himself, for allowing Colette, his most trusted friend and companion to be taken, "You'll never defeat them." came a deep, gruff voice from behind the group. Recognising the voice, the snarling Lloyd turned towards the man. He was noticeably taller than Lloyd with fiery brown hair, and his eyes had the same reddish hue. His choice of clothes was a white leather battle suit, "I should have known you'd have something to do with this, Kratos!" said Lloyd drawing his swords, which hissed violently, as they emerged from their respective scabbards, "You misunderstand, Lloyd." Said Kratos, "Those eight, are the enemy of Cruxis, as well as you." "So who are they!" Lloyd demanded, thrusting his sword towards the man who had once betrayed his trust, and reviled to be working for Cruxis. Kratos drew his own sword, defending himself from the attacker, "You that Angels, are half who have evolved using cruxis crystals, do you not?" "Of course we do." Said Regal, "And," continued Kratos, "The Angelus project, Lloyds mother was involved in?" "What does that have to do with this?" asked Lloyd, regaining his calm, "I shall explain." Said Kratos, returning his mighty blade, to its scabbard, "The Grand Cardinal Rodyle, attempted to recreate the Angelus project, and created eight, experimental exspheres." "So what was wrong with them?" asked Raine, "That, I'm not sure." said Kratos, "All I know is that the exspheres became corrupted, and those monsters who took Colette, are planning to rebel against Cruxis. We call them, 'The Rising Devils'." "So what you're saying," said Presea, "is that those creatures are half-elves who evolved using different exspheres, than the usual one's that evolve into cruxis crystals?" "Correct." said their former team-mate, "I didn't think you wanted it to be put that simply." "Alright." Said Lloyd, "We've wasted enough time talking. Let's go and rescue Colette." "And I will fight by your side." Said Kratos, "Rectifying this problem, caused by Rodyle, is in the interest of Lord Yggdrasill's plan." "If you even think of double crossing us again," said Sheena, "I'll break every bone in your body!" Kratos just smirked, at such an amusing threat, "As you wish, little girl." He said. She blushed, at Kratos' stab at her pride. "Just remember Lloyd." Said Kratos, "After we defeat those Devils, our alliance is terminated." "That's fine with me." Said Lloyd, the fires of justice, and valour, blazing in his eyes. "South East Abby." Muttered Zelos, "I hope she won't be in any danger." "Are you alright, Zelos?" asked Genis, "You look troubled about something." "N...no! Of course not!" said Zelos, with his usual cheerful smile, putting his arm around the young half-elf, "C'mon little buddy!" lets go rescue the damsel!"
And thus, begins a new battle.
To be continued