Chapter One

Disclaimer: Namco owns Tales of Symphonia. Not me. In case you couldn't figure that out already.

This was a really weird idea that I got one day…and each chapter switches between the POVs of the characters. I think it's pretty obvious who it is in each chapter. And also, the italics are a flashback. So…remember to review when you're finished, and enjoy!

&&Raine&&

Well…here we are.

Just an average American family in an average American home.

Erm—not.

For one thing, "American…" now that's a strange word to us. We've only been "American" for a couple days now. Technically, we're not even official citizens.

And we probably won't ever be.

I can tell you're confused. Let's start with a bit of "family history."

First off: we're not even a family. Well, most of us, anyways. There's me, my brother Genis, Lloyd, Colette, Sheena, Zelos (who I'm pretty sure is an alien), Presea, and of course, Regal.

Oh yeah, and my husband.

Oh man, now you're all freaking out on me. Yes, I got married. Kratos and I have been a couple for about three months now. At first, everyone went crazy, but gradually, they've calmed down. Very gradually. Most especially Genis, which is understandable, since he's only twelve and his sister is already married. I try to imagine how weird that would be…it freaks me out.

Anyways…back to how we all ended up as Americans.

It's all Colette's fault. Or so I like to think.

&&&

"Would you like to choose a challenge from the magic bowl?"

The stereotype-looking mysterious figure draped in a black cloak extended his arm to the party. Clutched in his hand was an old, cracked clay bowl filled with little slips of paper.

"100 Gald a pick," he continued, "So…how about it?" Sheena rolled her eyes, muttering "As if! Stupid beggar, why I oughtta--"

"—Sure!" everyone's favorite 14-year-old flaxen-haired Chosen shoved her way to the front, dropping 100 Gald in the man's outstretched palm and reaching inside the bowl.

"Uh, Colette…I'm not sure that's such a good idea…"Raine cut in nervously. Colette settled on a piece of paper and drew it out, unfolding it in a frenzy.

"Its says," she cleared her throat, her eyes alight with excitement, "How about a taste of the…American life?" She stopped, confused, as the others crowded around her.

"Read on," the cloaked figure encouraged her.

"This challenge will send you and all your friends to another new, exciting world full of modern wonder."

"Magitechnology?" Raine asked eagerly.

"Experience the ways of American life, living as a normal family in a normal house for one year," Colette sounded uncertain, "Can you do it? Why not give it a try?" She finished reading and looked at the man expectantly.

"Well," she said, "What does that mean?"

"It means…you and your friends have the chance of a lifetime!" the old man flung his arms out, trying to excite Colette again, "So, who will you bring?"

"They're all my friends!" Colette copied the man's gesture, indicating everyone clustered around her, who immediately backed away.

"Colette…" Lloyd started doubtfully.

"All right! Everyone it is, then!" the figure pulled out a large staff, which began to glow with a blinding light.

"Colette!" Sheena screamed, "What the heck did you do this time?"

"What?" Colette was definently excited again, "We're going on an adventure!" Several of them groaned loudly.

"Have fun!" the figure started laughing like a maniac as the light exploded, followed immediately by darkness.

Groggily, Sheena forced her eyes open. She was lying on her stomach, with her face pressed against some sort of concrete.

What was that? She wondered to herself, Did I just like, black out? Now where are we? Oh boy, I am gonna kill Colette…we better still be in our own world or she's going down…she should know better than to talk to dangerous-looking people in black cloaks…

As she regained consciousness, she became aware of something heavy plopped on top of her. She squeezed her eyes shut and shifted ever so slightly, trying to move the weight. As she opened them again, a lock of fiery red hair dangled in front of her face.

Wait a minute…that better not be…

A quick glance over her shoulder proved her suspicions correct.

"ZELOS!" Sheena sprang up with amazing force, throwing the seemingly unconscious man onto the ground beside her, "YOU LITTLE PERVERT! JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?"

Slowly, laboriously, Zelos opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing his head.

"Huh?" he asked blearily, "Sorry hunny, didn't catch that."

"DON'T YOU 'SORRY HUNNY' ME!" Sheena bellowed, "I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE UP TO!"

"Okay then," Zelos seemed amused, "What was I up to?"

"You—you—"Sheena couldn't bring herself to finish her accusation.

"Um, I hate to interrupt," a couple feet from Zelos, Lloyd had just awoken, "But where are we?"

Zelos and Sheena took on blank looks, as though they had just realized that they were not in the cities of their own world anymore.

"That was helpful," Lloyd muttered to himself, turning to Genis next to him and banging on the head, "Genis! Wake up!"

"What?" Genis sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Where are we?" Lloyd demanded impatiently, "Since Romeo and Juliet over here don't seem to have a clue." Sheena began to open her mouth, looking peeved, but seemed to think the better of it.

Genis, unlike the other three, had the intelligence to take a quick look around. Everyone else was sprawled over what seemed to be a very short road leading to one of the strangest looking houses he had ever seen.

"Uh…"

"Don't tell me you don't know either!" Lloyd jumped up and headed over to the house.

"I'm gonna see if anyone's in here!" he called, "Hopefully they know where they live!"

He banged on the door once…twice…three times.

"Come on!" Lloyd moaned, kicking the door.

He kicked it for several minutes.

"Um, Lloyd?" Genis interrupted, "I don't think there's anyone in there."

"You know, you're right," Lloyd turned and headed back down, "Let's wake up everyone else and see what they think."

Genis grinned evilly. Time to get revenge on his sister!

"Oh, Raine!" he called in a singsong voice, kicking her roughly in the head. She moaned and slowly sat up.

"Are you awake yet? I don't think so!" Genis started whacking her in the head (much like she always did to him).

"Genis!" his sister delivered him the usual sharp smack upside the head, "I am awake, thank you very much!"

"Just checking…" Genis grumbled, sitting down again, looking dejected. Presea popped up beside him, very much awake.

"Hello Genis," she stated simply as Genis flushed a deep red, "Where are we?"

"Good question," Raine spoke before Genis could open his mouth, "Why don't we ask her?"

Everyone conscious looked in the direction that Raine was pointing. A girl about Colette's age was ambling by on a bicycle, looking curiously at them.

"Well, we all know who the expert with girls is," Sheena remarked dryly as a grinning Zelos dusted himself off and strolled over to her. She slowly drew the bicycle to a halt.

"Say, you're looking quite pretty today," Zelos gave her his best grin as she giggled madly, "Would you mind telling me…where exactly we might be?"

She stopped suddenly, her hands still over her mouth, and stared at him with wide eyes.

"What?"

"Like, you mean, what state or what?" she asked slowly, seeming afraid.

"Like…just….where," Zelos was a bit confused.

"You're in America, silly!" the girl chided, "Maryland! So"…she looked over his shoulder, "Are they your family? Is that your new house?"

Zelos stared at her with wide eyes.

"…What?" the girl asked nervously, "What did I say?"

"What's…America?" Zelos turned to his friends behind him, who shrugged.

"Wait," Genis cut in, "That's what it said on that stupid card Colette picked out! Remember? 'A taste of the American life…'"

The girl, who was by now pretty freaked out, slowly pedaled away. Apparently all those strangely dressed people had a bad case of amnesia or something…they definently weren't right in the head.

"But what the heck is America?" Lloyd bellowed in frustration.

"It must be another world," Raine mused. She turned to Kratos beside her and shook him awake with surprising gentleness.

"Would someone like the honor of waking up Colette and Regal?" Sheena asked casually. Lloyd sucked in his breath and held up a finger, indicating to "wait a second."

"What is he doing?" Presea scoffed as he began to turn red.

"Oh no…" Genis looked a bit scared, "I remember when he used to do this when we were younger…he's gonna scream really—"

"WAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEE UUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPPP!" Regal and Colette immediately sat up, looking irritated, as everyone else sat, stunned.

"What was that for?" Regal barked as Colette gasped and gushed, "Wow, we're in some kind of other world, aren't we? This must be what that cool dude was talking about!

"Since when does Colette use the words 'cool dude?'" Kratos muttered in Raine's ear.

"Let's go see the people in that awesome house!" Colette rushed down the driveway towards the door.

"Uh, Colette? I already tried…" Lloyd began, but was cut off as Colette held up a bright red sheet of paper with the words "If you don't know where you are, read this" printed on it in bold letters.

"Look at this!" she called, "It was on the door!"

"Wow, Lloyd," Genis remarked, "You managed to miss the big red sign hanging right in front of your face!"

"Shut up, Genis," Lloyd snapped as they all traipsed up behind Colette. She took a deep breath and began to read out loud:

"If you are reading this, you have found your way to Earth. Right now, you are in the country of America. This behind you is your house. For your challenge, here are the rules you must follow:

You are a family. Stick to that alibi.

The kids are required to go to school. The ages and grades are as follows:

Ages 12/13- Seventh grade

Ages 14/15- Ninth grade

Ages 17/18- Twelfth grade

Adults should get a job.

You will remain in this household for exactly one (1) year until your challenge is completed.

Have fun!"

There was a stunned silence.

"Well," Raine sighed, "This is going to be interesting."

&&&

And how right I was…