1Disclaimer: Tales of Symphonia and all of its themes and characters belong to Namco. Not me. I only own this plot. Which is good enough. For now...
A/N: Wow! It seems everyone is really loving my fanfiction! I've gotten an average of ten reviews every chapter. That's pretty good for my first fanfic, huh? Keep those reviews comin' folks. The more reviews I get, the happier I am. And I usually write fanfictions when I'm happy (wink, wink.)
I hope you all loved the action and romance in the last chapter, because we have a big surprise in this chapter- someone DIES! That's right, big surprise. And, of course, I have even more Sheena and Lloyd romance parts. That's what the story's about, right?
By the way, I have decided that I will have eleven chapters in the story, followed by an epilogue. That's twelve chapters overall. I will be updating more regularly because I'm going on a two week vacation in the end of June. I want to be able to at least finish chapter ten or eleven by then. Wish me luck! Read on and enjoy.
Chapter 6: Sacrifice
"Why, Botta? Why did you have to do it?" Yuan asked as he looked down at his former comrade. Botta's body had a huge hole in it from where Lloyd had stabbed him. And, of course, his head was missing. Lloyd had taken care of that, too.
'Why did he do it?' Yuan thought. 'He was my friend! How could Destron do this to him?'. He and Botta had always been together. They were the great leaders of the Renegades. And Botta had been his best friend. Yuan sighed. As Lloyd had said, it was in the past now.
He looked over to where Lloyd and Sheena were sleeping. The two were fast asleep in each other's arms. Their faces were merely centimeters apart. Yuan smiled. The two had finally admitted their love for each other last night. They would wake up happy, he was sure of that. He missed the time when he, too, was in love. But, that was over two decades ago. It was too painful.
He studied Sheena and Lloyd. He truly had never seen a more happy couple. And he knew Lloyd was perfect for his daughter. 'I might even get grandchildren!' he thought with a laugh. That was something he didn't think about often. He walked over and felt Sheena's hand. He sighed in relief. She was fine. She was recovering spectacularly. Probably the angel blood in her. He had been worried that she would not make it to morning. And he was right. It wasn't Lloyd's mana that had pulled her through. It had been his love.
It was about time they were together. He smiled again. He was starting to do that a lot now. He looked down at Sheena. She was smiling. She grabbed Lloyd's hand, which was resting on her hip, slowly, dreaming. Lloyd squeezed back affectionately. A beam of light broke through the forest canopy. It was morning.
Lloyd began to stir. He woke up and immediately smiled. His lover was mere inches away. It was a good sight to wake up to. He paused and kissed Sheena on the cheek. She smiled again and squeezed his hand. Lloyd looked up and saw Yuan watching them.
"Yuan! Is she going to be okay?" he asked with concern. Yuan smiled. Again.
"Yes, she will be fine. Thanks to you," Yuan answered. "It seems your love for her helped pull her through. My daughter really loves you, Lloyd."
Lloyd looked down at the beautiful summoner resting against him and smiled. "Yeah...I know." Soon, Sheena also began to wake up. Lloyd blushed as she rubbed her eyes awake.
"I'll leave you two alone," Yuan said as he headed towards the forest.
Sheena woke up just as he left. She looked up at the handsome knight smiling at her and blushed. Some things never changed.
"Did you sleep well?" Lloyd asked. He still couldn't come up with subject material. Sheena didn't seem to notice. She just smiled and moved closer to Lloyd. She rested her head against his chest and he wrapped his arm around her.
"Yes, I slept well. Thanks to you," she said as she moved up to kiss him. "It seems that I just can't sleep without you!" The two laughed and shared another kiss. They were always happy when they were together.
"Lloyd...did you really mean everything you said last night?" She asked cautiously. He just smiled.
"Of course I did. I wouldn't lie to you. I said I love you and...I meant it. I love you!"
"Thanks for telling me, Lloyd," she said as they both blushed.
"I'm just sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I didn't mean to make you worry," Lloyd said with concern. Sheena laughed. She bent up again to lay on top of Lloyd. They kissed again, this time for quite a while. When they finally stopped kissing, Sheena rested her head on his chest and just laid on top of him. He stroked her back as she began to hum a tune. The couple could have laid there forever if Yuan hadn't suddenly reappeared.
"I'm sorry to interrupt what must be a most...pleasant moment," he said. The two blushed and Sheena got off from on top of Lloyd. They still held hands. "But, I suggest you both take the chance to wash a bit. You are both quite dirty." He was right. Both Lloyd and Sheena were filthy from the previous day's battle. "There is a pond not too far from here in the forest. Go bathe there. Sheena take this," Yuan said as he handed her a special gel. "Apply this to your wound. It will help seal it. Return here when you two are done."
The couple looked at each other and nodded. The two headed into the forest. It wasn't long before they reached the pond that Yuan had mentioned.
"Uh...Lloyd could you turn around?" Sheena said as she took off her ribbon. And then, Lloyd said the most oblivious thing he had ever said.
"Why?" he asked. Sheena just stared at him until he got it. "OH! Uh...sure thing, sorry."
He turned around, blushing. He hit himself for being so oblivious. Still. The two began to undress. Sheena began to remove her kimono. Lloyd heard this and couldn't resist. He slowly turned his head juuuust so he could see Sheena. Suddenly, a hand slapped over his eyes. "Hey! What the..."
"And you called Zelos a peeping Tom!" Sheena said, laughing. She kept her hand pressed against his eyes, making sure he couldn't see her naked body. He only had his shirt off. "You're not sneaking up on me unsuspecting this time! You promised!" she said, smiling. Not as if he could see it though.
"Okay, Okay, I'm sorry. I couldn't resist," Lloyd said. He felt terrible. He was becoming more like Zelos everyday. That worried him. He felt bad. That is, he felt bad until Sheena kissed him. A naked ninja kissing a blinded swordsman. They definitely didn't want Yuan to see this.
"Okay, now can you bathe without looking at me?" she asked. He smiled.
"I dunno..." he said. Sheena kissed him again. "Okay!" The two laughed and turned away. They began to bathe. Lloyd suddenly got a strange feeling.
"Why does it feel like someone is watching me?" Lloyd said with a grin. He heard a giggle behind him as Sheena splashed him.
Half-an-Hour Later
The couple returned from the forest and began to walk towards the ruins of Heimdall. They were playfully pushing each other. Sheena had put on Yuan's special gel. It had almost completely sealed up the wound. The two walked up to where Yuan was waiting. Oddly enough, he was hunched over and...shaking.
"Lloyd, Sheena...help me..." he stuttered out.
"Yuan! What's wron-YUAN!" Lloyd shouted. Sheena screamed. The two looked at Yuan. He was completely pale and shaking uncontrollably. His skin was turning red and tight. And in his hands were the Roots of Evil.
"Father!" Sheena shouted as she approached him.
"I was...trying..to secure them..." Yuan stated weakly. "I can't...control...it!" And suddenly, Yuan attacked them. He turned and swung the Roots of Evil with tremendous force. Sheena dodged out of the way, but Lloyd took the attack. The blades struck his leg, right above his knee. He screamed out in pain. Yuan's voice suddenly changed. It became deep and raspy. It became cold, and dark. It became evil. It became Destron's.
"Finally! I have enough mana to escape this accursed dungeon," Yuan/Destron said. Lloyd and Sheena gasped as a dim, holographic figure began to overlap Yuan's body. It was the most frightening being they had ever seen. It stood seven feet tall and was a deep purple in skin color. Its skin was covered by glowing, red markings. It had two short goat horns growing out of his forehead, and four sharp claws for toes. Three on the front of each foot, one on the back. It had two muscular arms and two strong looking legs. It was Destron's ghostly image.
"This world is finally mine!" Destron said, his voice still shaking. "My weapons have been returned to me, and I now rule once agai–aaagh," his voice cracked as his image vanished. Yuan's figure returned. He was left with only one thing to say.
"Lloyd, Sheena...kill me..."
"What!" Lloyd said in surprise. "Yuan, why?"
"He is already taking over my body! You must kill me now, or Destron will return!" Yuan said, serious.
"No, Yuan! There has to be another way," Lloyd said, disbelievingly. He had been through so much with Yuan. He couldn't kill his friend!
"There is no time. Do it now!" Yuan shouted.
"No, Yuan...I won't kill you," Lloyd cried.
"You have to! If you don't, Destron will return and destroy all of Symphonia. Is that what you want? To have everything you worked so hard for be destroyed before your very eyes. And just because you were a coward! It's happened to me my entire life. I have watched my entire life's work crumble before my eyes! You have to do it!" Yuan screamed. He didn't have much time left.
"But...Yuan," Lloyd said, defeated. He didn't want to do it. But he knew what he had to do. He drew out his Material Blades. He prepared to strike.
"Lloyd, wait!" Sheena shouted. She stepped in front of him. "Lloyd...let me do it. He's my father."
"Sheena..." Lloyd said with concern. "No, I won't make you do it!"
"You don't have to," Sheena said, her mind set. "Please, let me do this."
Lloyd sighed and dropped his blades. "Okay, Sheena..." he said as he turned. He couldn't watch.
"Thank you, Lloyd."
"Sheena...my daughter," Yuan said as she approached. "I have one last request for you."
"Anything," Sheena said. "Please, tell me Yu-Father."
"Don't name your children after me," Yuan responded. "Yuan is a cursed name. It has been since I was born. It is a name of a betrayer and traitor. A name of a person with broken dreams. No one else should have to go through that."
"As you wish, Father..." Sheena said as she began to cry. Suddenly, she sprouted Cruxis wings. She gasped as the two great, purple wings appeared behind her. They gave her hope. Lloyd also sprouted his red wings. This gave her even more hope. She summoned Luna and Aska.
"Summon Spirits of Light! I command thee to purify the evil presence here!" Sheena commanded. "As you wish." The Spirits fired. A great blast of pure light engulfed Yuan.
"Good-bye, my friends. Take good care of each other..." Yuan said as his body was vaporized. In a few seconds, his entire body was gone.
"I'm sorry, father..." Sheena said, crying.
And then it was done. Yuan's body was completely gone. The Roots of Evil fell to the ground.. Sheena burst into tears and Lloyd ran over to support her. She fell into his arms. She leaned against his shoulder and sobbed. Lloyd comforted her. Sheena felt terrible. She just killed her own father. Whether she had to or not, it just felt wrong. She couldn't live with it. She had only learned she even had a father a few days ago, and now he was already gone. Neither of them could believe it. They just couldn't imagine Yuan being...gone.
"Lloyd..." Sheena said, sobbing, "I'm so sorry..." She kept repeating her apology. Lloyd just held her close to him. He rocked her slightly.
"It's okay, Sheena. You had to do it. It was what Yuan wanted." Sheena just kept crying. Lloyd looked at her with concern. "Here, why don't we go somewhere that you can rest, like Mizuho, or-aaagh!" Lloyd stopped as he cried out in pain. He fell to his knees.
"LLOYD!" Sheena yelled. "Your leg!" she shouted as she saw the wound that Destron had caused.
"It's okay, I'm fi-aaah," Lloyd said as he fell back down. He couldn't use his leg.
"It's alright, Lloyd. I'll take you somewhere, like you said! I won't lose you too!" Sheena said. She got out Yuan's special gel. She applied it to Lloyd's wound. She then wrapped his leg in her sleep robe as a makeshift bandage. She lifted Lloyd onto her Rheaird, while pocketing her own. She gave him one last kiss. "Sheena...thanks," Lloyd said.
Sheena smiled and headed back towards Heimdall. She looked down at the Roots of Evil, lying on the ground. They looked so harmless, but Sheena knew better. She knew of their power. And their evil. She summoned Shadow.
"Shadow! I command thee to place a seal around these weapons. Make sure they are kept safe and only release it if I ask of thee!" Shadow obeyed without speaking. A glowing seal was placed around the cursed weapons. She grabbed the weapons without any trouble and locked them in her backpack. She headed back to where Lloyd was waiting. He was lying on the Rheaird and was just drifting off.
Sheena got onto the Rheaird and grabbed the handle with one hand. She held Lloyd with the other.
"Now, if only I knew where to go..." she said, trailing off. Then, Lloyd spoke up.
"Luin..." he whispered weakly.
"You want to go to Luin?" Sheena asked him. He nodded his head. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"Alright then, we're off to Luin!"
A/N: I think I'm getting good at this. We are now officially half-way through my story. That's right, six chapters to go. I hope all of you are enjoying this. In just two weeks I already have six chapters, and over 45 reviews! I'm even on nine peoples favorite lists! Thanks to all of you! I couldn't ask for better readers. Next chapter is entirely romantic. It's a big Sheloyd chapter, so stay tuned. It's probably the most important romantic scene between Sheena and Lloyd.
DO NOT MISS THE NEXT CHAPTER!
By the way, I'm thinking about writing another fanfiction based on the Fake Chosen's group. I probably won't start it until after "Together Forever" is finished, but I want to see if everyone likes this idea. I can't believe no one has thought of this before...
So, please review on my stories. You guys really rock. And, please tell me what you think of my Fake Chosen story. Peace Out until Chapter 7: The City of Love!