Tales of Symphonia Chronicles: Rising Moon

Intro: All right, here's the new revised version of the story. Everything's a bit different since I found I had to tweak the story quite a bit. This is more of a prelude then a chapter, but it will still be quite… amusing… I hope you like the new version!

I

The Flying City

Miles above the sea, a whirring sound churned the waves lightly in the light of the morning. Country folk looked up, shading their eyes as the huge monstrosity drifted overhead, finally above land. The monstrosity was a flying city, propelled by several large propellers through the sky, put in place by the great Summon Spirit, Maxwell. The city was properly named for its exile to the sky, Exire.

As Exire drifted lazily through the sky, cirrus clouds stirring around its mossy roads, a white haired woman tore through the tattered street.

"Zahara!"

A man of about thirty looked up from the ruined house he called home. Blue-black hair decked his head, flying in awkward positions as they moved, and brown eyes peered from underneath the mop of hair. "Virginia?"

The woman panted heavily as she approached, her white hair just gracing her shoulders. Gray eyes stared up into his as she regained her breath. She was at least a decade younger than Zahara, "A letter…!"

He stood, dusting himself off, "Yes? What news doesit bring?"

Virginia regained her poise, "It's not good news…"

"Just read it."

She opened the letter, preparing her eyes to remain dry as she read aloud:

Dear Virginia,

I regret to inform you that a few days ago, Zelda Mylene Deje, or Mylene Wilder as she was called of late, has passed away. Details of her murder have been withheld from the general public as her murderer and handmaid, Selene W. Yunar, has been put on trial and will be executed tomorrow by orders of the Pope.

When you get this letter, bring Zahara to one of the landing positions on Exire and prepare to leave. I will be there soon with two Rheairds. I will explain everything on the way.

Sincerely,

Yuan

"Yuan…" Zahara glanced around worriedly, "But he'san outsider… what will the villagers think?"

"We've been stuck here for at least five years Zahara," Virginia folded the letter and shoved it into her apron pocket. She pulled a few locks behind her pointy elf ears, watching her half elf friend; "They won't think anything, especially if one of the Seraphim show up. They'll just think something has gone awry down below that requires two half-elves… we aren't exactly normal half-elves anyway."

"True," Zahara rubbed his temples. "Still…"

"It'll be fine," Virginia said gently. She could feelthe heat burning in her cheeks, her eyes begging to allow her to cry. She turned to lookout at the lovely sunrise before them, "I wonder what happened…?"

"We're going to find out aren't we?" Zahara sighed and patted her shoulder, "Whether we like it or not."

Virginia wrung her hands, tears finallystreaming down her face, "It's not fair! I swear… I'll kill Wilder if it's the last thing I do!"

"Wilder? They mentioned nothing of him."

"I know he had something to do with it," Virginia hugged herself, "Sel wouldn't hurt a hair on Zelda's head… he must've done something…"

Zahara held her close, "Virginia… Wilder's dead, remember?"

That only made her sob harder into his chest. Zahara stroked her hair, a lone tear streaking down his cheek as well. He knew it was going to be a long night, and quite possibly, an even longer year. Tethe'alla was changing drastically, and the only consolation to its suffering people was the tall Tower of Salvation extending to the heavens... the symbol of a new era.