Chapter Eight: With Cursed Blood: Chapter Fifteen

Sheena

I looked around, they were all staring at me as if I was some kind of freak. My little new pet named Corrine standing next to me. They were all looking at me, Sheena of Mizuho. The human with cursed blood.

I slept as the carriage took us across the Great Meltokio Bridge, after leaving the great forest, we skipped Sybak and headed straight to Meltokio, but in order to do that, we had to cross the daunting Great Meltokio Bridge, on foot it would take us several hours as it spans over twenty miles. So we opted for a carriage to take us, which is much more relaxing. It was driven by magi-technology with a single driver to guide it's glide and make sure nothing goes on. Inside it was quite cozy, controlled air temperature made it so it was always a cool 70 degrees inside. It was large, enough to fit up to a max of twenty people. It was more then enough room to allow all of us to lay down and stretch after a long day of walking.

I sat up and take a look at how far across the bridge we were, not even one-third of the way there. Walking, it takes anywhere from five to seven hours. I laid back down as my thoughts drifted back away to the past in a land far away.

"And where do you think you're going?" I stood up from leaning against a tree in the middle of the waxing sun. I was morning, Lloyd and I talk in depth about our future last night, it must of left him anxious.

Lloyd frowned at me, "Sheena, I don't want anyone else to get involved. This very well could be a trap." he commented, as if I was going to follow his instructions.

I smiled deviously at him, "C'mon! After all we've been through? I don't think so! Let's go!" I grabbed him firmly by the arm, I tried to pull him, but he stood still.

"Sheena, I don't want you getting hurt." He commented, Lloyd was the first person to genuinely care for me, this was his way of showing he cared. Now I'll show him how Sheena of Mizuho cares for the one she loves.

I let go of his arm and bent over and put on hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry about me! I'm Sheena! You always said you'd be there to protect me. So if your not around me that means you can't be there to protect me! Is that what you want?"

Lloyd laughed, his laugh was always so precious and great to hear, "Okay, okay! I forgot! Let's go!" Lloyd and I ran into the forest, only us two versus Kratos. The traitor. The one who's friend has the same cursed blood as I do.

Lloyd promised always to protect me. Now it's my turn to return the favor.

"Hey! Are we there yet?" yelled Celsius, who was doing sit-ups on the floor of the carriage. She was breaking a hard sweat, one could almost make out a puddle on the ground from her perspiration.

The driver laughed, "Almost, young lady. Only an hour left to go!" He replied cheerfully, maybe his job is so boring that he has to try to have fun in order to pass the time.

Celsius sighed as she pulled her self up and fell back down, and started to count off silently, "One-fifty-three, one-fifty-four, one-fifty-" my thoughts drifted again as I laid back down.

I felt suddenly tired as I kneeled down, four burned and used seals surrounded me and a few others littered the ground. Some were red, some yellow, some grey and black. I looked upon Lloyd, the spear the punctured his arm disappeared, only to be healed in a glorious rainbow light. The one who owned the spears was a large man with six arms. The summon spirit of 'eternity' as I once referred to him. "Well then, Origin." I panted as light surrounded. It began to enclose all around me, coming ever so closer. Suddenly they all disappeared. My energy had been restored.

The large being stood above the large seal. I knew it's markings and what they meant, I knew almost every kind of seal, but it's impossible for me to break any without more intensive training. Origin looked upon Lloyd and Me, we left our friends back Heimdall and went on our own. There Lloyd fought his father, after winning and sparing him, he summoned Origin. Which whom we fought and barely won.

"Pact-maker Sheena, and Lloyd Irving. I believe in your cause. I shall believe in both of you and humanity once more." He disappeared suddenly a great joy filled me, like the last piece had been filled in. Then a jewel appeared in front of, the diamond. This was the last jewel we had to get.

The carriage suddenly came to a stop, I sat up again and looked out the window, well I guess our little joy ride has come to and end. I sighed and sat up, holding my arms out in front of me and groaning loudly. "Ah! Man, I really don't want to talk to Meltokio." I got up and touched my toes. Celsius had long since dried off and Colette and Chocolat came from the other room and smiled. Both of them were probably sleeping.

"Well, ready to go?" Smiled Colette, opening the door.

We all reluctantly exited the carriage and said our goodbyes to the man who drove us. Now it's just a short walk to Meltokio from here.

Lloyd

Damned soldiers, they come almost daily to try and arrest me for caste deception, "for the last time! I'm not a damned half-elf!" I yelled at them, Father always taught me of being tolerant of these people, but they get so annoying.

The apparent leader of the three soldiers stepped forwards, "Well then, how can you explain this? The test says that a good amount of your Blood is half-elven." he smirked. These three from the Church of Martel were always at odds with the ones who guarded us.

"Back down. Master Lloyd has told you to leave. So leave." John, the lead guard from the Meltokio guards came from behind.

"Fine, but remember. Anything stupid and we'll arrest you." the papal knight sneered and John and me. But we paid no attention. Now that the pope was gone for now, the corruption that plagued the papal knights still had to be uprooted. John looked at me, "I'm sorry Master Lloyd, he bowed respectfully.

"No, it's no problem. I guess one might say I've grown used to this." I sighed, I really need to go on a vacation.

Sheena

We finally arrived at Meltokio, the walk here generally took about two hours, not that long but boring. Nothing had changed about the city. Giant brick and steel walls surrounded the city which was made of the same material. People walked around in mostly formal clothing, and some in worker's outfits. But I guess my journey to Meltokio ended at the gates. Be damned if a horse nearly ran me over. Which one did.

I barely dodged the horse, I felt anger well up and I released it in one solid yell, "Dammit! Watch where your going!" the man wore a long black cloak, his head covered to apparently conceal his identity. But it didn't work that well, it fell off his head right after I yelled at him. It was him, Lloyd. Dammit. I have to do a ton of yelling.

"Colette, go find an inn or something. I have someone to catch." I glanced over at Celsius, "make an excuse for what I'm about to do." she looked around and knew what I had in mind. She shook her head yes as I stole a horse that was tied just outside the gates.

I heard someone yelling at me "Get back here thief!"

But instead of hearing soldiers chasing after me, I only heard Celsius' voice, "C'mon! Just try and get past me!" I heard as the horse I mounted trailed off in pursuit of my prey. Just great, the time I get to actually talk to Lloyd, he goes off by himself. This feels familiar.

I chased him for a good distance southeast, along the edge of the cliff which beyond that was the ocean. He was probably heading to the house of guidance. I had to catch up with him. I chanted something slightly into the horse's ear as it began to run faster. "Get back here!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

Lloyd looked back at me, but this lapse in attention caused him to mis-guide the horse into nearly slipping off the edge. Luckily for the horse, it managed to recover, but it's a different story for Lloyd. In a reflex I jumped off the horse and onto the edge of the cliff. I stared down the drop, Lloyd was barely hanging on to a rock with one hand. There was no way he could get back up here. Unless… I jumped off the cliff and imagined what I need to be done, I quickly summoned Undine who read my thoughts as I fell. I grabbed Lloyd's foot and pulled him off the cliff, only to be caught by a large gush of water and transported safely onto the beach below.

"Lloyd? You okay?" dammit, guess not. He's unconscious.

Lloyd

I could feel strange warmth, yet sudden coolness flowing throughout my body, a soft sea breeze caressed my nose and tingled my senses. As I came to, I began to focus on the world around me. That women had chased me again, all I remember is falling off a cliff. But I'm not dead?

I sat up, the cave was damp and dreary, outside almost directly was the ocean meeting the entrance of the cave, between which there was a small beach. I could smell suddenly a fire burning, I could hear it's crackles from embers that rose and fell from it. Sitting beside it was that women again, Sheena.

She turned around and smiled at me, "It seems that we're always in a cave, huh?" She looked around and made sure there wasn't anything else there. "But we won't be staying long this time." an odd silence grew over the cave, the air heavy in anticipation.

Suddenly, I spoke what I knew was on my mind, "Do you know me or something?"

She nodded, "In another life you did." she looked around, "Tell me, are you happy with your life now? All those painful memories from the past dead?" she asked, as if I knew the answer

Which I did, while my life was fun and privileged, it was hell because I didn't remember any of my memories "I can't say that I do or don't. There seem to be memories I don't want to remember, so maybe I don't want to go back to my old life."

The young Mizuho women began to look downcast, as if something I said hurt her, "Oh, okay. I'll let you recover for today, we'll make our way out tomorrow." she sounded much more colder then when I first saw her.

"Tell me, who was I in my past life?" I asked, for the first time in my short life wanting to know something that I didn't.

Swinging her head, she most likely knew she wouldn't be able to escape the question because it would probably rise up again. "You want to know who you were?" She laughed, as if remembering something from her past, "You were the personification of hope. Your eyes can give her hope, can cause her to shudder every time you said a few simple words. Your honesty could of shattered any of her barriers, your truth and idealism led her and many others to follow your cause."

Her? Who was that? Father often spoke of a hero just like this. A hero to all peoples in Meltokio, Mizuho, Flanoir and even in Sylvarant yet he wasn't a chosen of regeneration. "Did you know this person personally?" I asked, my mind trailing off from her main idea.

She shook her head, "I knew him. Maybe too well."

Sheena

I guess he didn't want to remember. I don't blame him, he's able to escape all the publicity from being the hero of both worlds, he doesn't have to feel the pain of all the repercussions of all that he did. But he's still my Lloyd that I knew. "Mind if I tell you a story?" I asked. If Lloyd still had some trace of his old self, I know how he would answer.

"Heh, do I have a choice?" I couldn't help but close my eyes and smile, maybe there was some hope in brining him back. I'll do it because he's still my Lloyd.

"Nope. Anyways." I sighed as I leaned back against the cave wall and remembered my story.

A/N-the upcoming chapter is pretty much a summery of the Tales story, but bent slightly different to make it seem more Sheena x Lloyd-ish.