Chapter nine: Memories and those who remember them Part one: Chapter Sixteen

Hima: When i first learned who he was

"He's so kind yet so quirky in his own little way"

A slightly tall women stood at the edge of a large counter in a bedroom. Hardwood floors,

wooden walls surrounded two windows, a fireplace, a small bed and a table with two chairs. On the bed was a man, unconscious but still mumbling out random words that no one could possibly understand. The women stared down at him and then looked back up at the other one who leaned along the edge of the bed.

The women wore a long skirt, typical of that of the Hima region, and a loose white blouse, her short brown hair ended at her shoulders while her soft brown eyes looked upon the man who was laying prostrate on the bed. "Sheena, you've done everything you could. I'll take it from here." she smiled weakly before checking the man's pulse.

The other women looked slightly offended, but offered no resistance, she looked around all different sorts of towns looking for a 'cure' for this man's sickness. She looked foreign to the surrounding people, wearing a white undershirt and a low cut kimono that showed more cleavage then most women dared. "I understand. I'll come check up on Pietro in a few weeks. But take care of the man." she smiled weakly as well. Her pink sash that held together her kimono held five seals that she used for different purposes, from there, the kimono ended and revealed her tight black pants which contoured to her body decently enough.

The women called Sheena walked outside, as she did, she un-did her hair and let it down. She leaned against the door remembering whatever happened in the last four weeks. Suddenly she stood up again. Looking down she noticed several familiar faced, she didn't want to get in a fight with them this time around, so she stayed hidden.

The first one she noticed was the one who showed her the most kindness, the one who identified himself as Lloyd. He wore his red shirt with blue denim overalls. His hair was somewhat long and a warm shade of brown, the same color as his eyes. "Hey, do you know the way to Izoold?" he asked, shaking his head at the man behind the desk.

The man laughed inwardly, "Sorry boy, but you're a long way from there! West, then south across the bridge. Even farther south east of the Ossa trail." he looked around, "ah, I'm sorry as well. All our rooms are booked."

The one behind Lloyd was the elf known as Genis, and his sister Raine, both of them had silver hair and light blue eyes, Sheena felt a strange tingling in her spine when she saw them, as if they shared something in common. "It's alright" spoke Raine, bowing her head. "We must be on our way." With that, they left in a hustle.

Sheena stood back up and walked slowly back to her room, "Damn, I thought they were following me." she commented to herself. She opened the door and tossed off her sandals, almost collapsing onto her bed. Her thoughts flooding back to her.

"Man, I really should be more careful." Her closed her eyes and laughed at herself. She pushed back her hair around her ears and began to focus on that person with kind eyes, that one who named himself Lloyd. "Who was that guy? I try to kill him and his companions, yet he still managed to show mercy to me." she closed her eyes and imagined him, "Damn, don't tell me I like that guy. Heh, he's so kind yet quirky in his own little way." before she knew it, she was asleep. Her next destination was to check Palmacosta for the Chosen of Regeneration.

Palmacosta: Where i first showed him my worth

"You don't have the right to judge one's worth!"

Sheena made her way to the port city of Palmacosta, it's large brick walls lined the streets, supported by deep supports that held the city up. Boats were the main transportation and from the trade that it formed, the city flourished and became the citadel of Sylvarant. The young geisha moved around town silently and quickly, she noticed large army movements before she arrived at this city. She managed to find her way to the city hall, where she heard recently the Chosen had been.

"All you pitiful humans move aside!" a loud deep voice, slightly cracking at times, rumbled through the streets, he was a large man with a giant axe hanging off his back, red hair braided into dread-locks and purple vest with black pants. Following was a large army that consisted of men who carried whips, spears and magic users. "I said move aside!" A lone man stood in front of the invader, trying to stop him. Only to me tossed aside into the water with no effort at all.

"Move out of Lord Maginus' way humans! We will not be afraid to burn your pathetic city to the ground." commented one of the magicians who followed Magnius. "We seek three humans." he continued as several men set up gallows behind him. "Humans AD-0114, known as Cocoa, AD-0215, known as Chocolat, who are to be executed for in-subornation. And human 0074, known as Lloyd Irving, wanted to charges of assault, harassment, murder and injuring Lord Forcystus, he is to be tortured followed by burning at a stake."

This caught Sheena's attention, Lloyd? Did he mean the one who she had to fight at Ossa? Can't be. Sheena continued to listen, hiding behind a building, keeping her presence to a minimum. Within a few minutes, two soldiers brought fourth an older women, about forty-five with brown hair and a blue dress.

"Lord Magnius. We have found AS-0114. She is to be hanged, correct?" asked one of the soldiers, looking over at Magnius.

He nodded, "Yes, it's been a while since I've spilled blood. It would be nice to see this." He motioned his hands towards the gallows with a sly and evil smile on his face. With that, the men brought the women to the gallows and started to tie the rope around her neck.

"Mom!" yelled a high pitched female voice in the distance. Sheena had seen her earlier, this was the one known as Chocolat. "What are you doing to her you monster?"

"Ah, so the daughter appears! Seize her!" yelled Magnius, pointing at Chocolat. Two soldiers with whips ran forwards, as soon as they prepared to hit her, a person dressed in red with blue overalls cut them down quickly with two blades.

"What the hell?" said an astounded Magnius at the boy's speed.

"Let her go!" It was Lloyd, he had come just at the right time, with anger set firmly in his mind.

Suddenly, the elf ran up behind Lloyd, the same one who she saw at Hima, "Lloyd! What are you doing? Do you want to get killed?" she scolded him.

He shook his head, "No! But I can't just stand around and watch these people die! This city isn't like Iselia, it doesn't even have a non-aggression pact!" he continued, but keeping close tabs to make sure no one attacked him.

"Your hopeless Lloyd." the elf sighed.

"Fireball!" Sheena quickly turned her head towards the magicians, they cast a spell when Lloyd wasn't paying attention, Sheena braced for the worse.

"Magic wall!" A green barrier appeared in front of Lloyd, with his friend standing next to him, he was the same one she saw at Hima, along with the rest of them. He walked back confidently and sorted, "Amateurs."

"Curse you! Who are you?" yelled Magnius, surprised at his tenacity.

A soldier ran up behind Magnius with a clipboard in hand, "Sir, that's wanted criminal number 0074. Lloyd Irving."

Magnius smiled, "hah! So you're the one who made our top list. It's not often that a mere human makes our list of most wanted! I guess we'll kill you here!" he looked over at the gallows, where Cocoa, "hang her!"

With that command, the bottom of the wooden platform opened out, causing Cocoa to slowly choke to death.

"No!" A lighthearted voice rang, and a ring cut the rope, causing Cocoa to fall, bruised but mostly unhurt. She coughed a few times from lack of air, but then looked up to see the Chosen, Colette.

"You worthless human! I'll kill you all like the worms you are!" He yelled, taking off the axe off his back, quickly, he charged forwards. This attack not even a magic barrier could stop. Lloyd braced for an impact that never arrived.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Magnius surrounded by fire and a large bird-like creature blocking his way. Sheena walked from the side, back erect with a strong stride in her walk, "You don't have the right to judge one's worth!" She yelled, readying her cards that she held in her hands. She also prepared two other cards, but these were different. Those were the guardian cards.

"You bitch!" he yelled, struggling to stand, "Let's move! I'll get you later." he commented and his magicians warped all the solders away, only leaving a bewildered crowd and an even more stunned Lloyd.

"Huh? Thanks! You saved me!" he smiled, walking closer to Sheena.

Sheena was in the middle of doing a chant in an ancient language, as she finished the guardian reverted back into a card and into Sheena's hand. "Huh? I didn't save you!" she lied to her teeth, "I did it so that these people don't suffer from other's mistakes!" She threw a small bottle on the ground and in a whiff of smoke, she was gone.

Luin: Where he saved my life and i saved his

"Because I care too much for these people who gave me another view."

Sheena flew backwards exhausted, her throat was killing her and her hands were severely burnt, blood trickled down her cheeks and mouth, and her breathing was highly labored, she could feel the poison seeping into her lungs, maybe she would die here. Her hearing was started to go as well as the poison worked it's way into her ears. Soon enough, her brain would malfunction from the poison and she would die.

She looked up, only to see those people again, the ones whom she swore to kill but could never bring herself to do it. "Huh? Lloyd?" she commented as she began to breath even harder.

The swordsmen kneeled down and examined her, she was bleeding. So he couldn't do much. Feeling the strength sap from her arms and legs, she fell down unconscious her breathing nearly stopped. Lloyd looked up at Raine with some despair, "Let's rest here for today until she can explain what happens."

Everyone nodded but Raine gave a reluctant 'whatever' look. Lloyd treated Sheena with several herbs and antidotes with some coaxing, Raine healed Sheena to the best of her ability. As she woke up, she looked around, it was night time, and she could hear the snoring of several people. She sat up and looked at the blazing fire, only to see the one who she noted with kind eyes looking right at her. "So your awake. Feeling better?" he smiled innocently.

Sheena nodded, "Yeah. Why did you save me? I'm your enemy who swore to kill you." she commented, crawling up next to Lloyd and sitting down in front of the warm fire. Luin was a wreak, buildings strewn across the rivers, bodies laying around decomposing, wooden frames just cooling down from burning.

Lloyd smiled and looked at the fire, "Your eyes are my first reason. They're so kind." he said, almost as if he was in a trance.

Sheena blushed, "My, My eyes? Are you trying to flirt with me?" she yelled at him silently, half-way joking around as if she knew Lloyd forever.

"Haha, no. I'm just saying that you don't look like a person who would kill for no reason. Even if it's to save someone." Lloyd looked around, Raine was asleep next to Genis. Colette and sleeping against a rock and so was Kratos. "I can tell, you're a kind person. Why else would you fight for this village?"

Sheena looked confused, she didn't want to get emotionally attached to people she had to kill, yet Lloyd had that aura that you couldn't help be talk. "How do you know that I wasn't the one who destroyed this place?" she said, trying to loose whatever trust Lloyd had. Which didn't work.

Lloyd shook his head, "Nah. From the way you were injured, it was impossible. Anyone who attacked a place like this would of disappeared by now." Lloyd looked over at Sheena and continued to grin.

Sheena averted her gaze into the fire, "I guess I helped fight because I care too much for people who gave me another view."

Lloyd looked puzzled as he thought about that comment. "Another view? What do you mean?"

"Nothing. By the way, why are you still awake?" she asked, Looking at Lloyd.

His smile turned into a frown, "So many people died here. Being able to sleep with so many unrealized dreams and hopes is like a sin."

Sheena smiled, almost as if she had the same thing in mind, "Yeah. I agree. I don't want to stop until I turn their dreams into hope and take revenge on those damn Desians."

Lloyd smiled once again, "We're a lot a like. I'm glad I met you."

Sheena blushed, and began to think about what she said, "H-hey! What are you trying to do! I'm your enemy!" She felt the need to hit Lloyd, but all she could do was smile. "Fine, I admit. I'm glad you saved me, thanks, I owe you."

He leaned backwards, "No. Now were even."

It never occurred to both of them that they would have a similar conversation the following day.

Meltokio: Where I promised i'll see him again

"Let's not say goodbye, cause I know I'll see you again Lloyd."

Sheena looked at everyone and then into the massive backdrop of the Meltokio skyline. Stone buildings that put Palmacosta to shame, smoke rising from buildings which created their everyday necessities, men and women walking around freely. Sheena gazed at Lloyd, "Well, this is where my journey ends with you guys." Sheena smiled while scanning over the faced who helped her travel this far. Lloyd, Colette, Genis, and Raine. All of them who she had somehow met and befriended. She looked at Colette, Sheena felt pitiful, this is what they've been doing for thousands of years.

Lloyd looked slightly sad at the proposition, and leaned on his swords and tilted his head, "Why? Aren't you going to stay with us?" he asked with a strong concern over his new, yet already close, friend.

Sheena shook her head 'no', "Well, as you know. I was sent to kill the Chosen. So my chief is going to be pretty pissed off at me. So I have to report my failure to him." Sheena seemed to be nervous about reporting this massive failure to her Chief, but the reassurance of Seeing them again as well as Lloyd was more then enough hope to pull her though whatever scolding she would get.

Lloyd thought ahead and hoped that he would be able to see her again which he knew he would, "Well, let's not say goodbye then. I'm sure we'll meet up in the future." he grinned as he looked at Sheena and made a mental note to find her if she doesn't find them.

Sheena smiled, "Yeah. Let's not say goodbye, cause I know I'll see you again Lloyd." Sheena dug into her pocket, "Oh yeah. Could you give this to the king of Meltokio for me? It's a letter." She gave it to Lloyd. But in doing so, she brought him closer and gave him a tight hug. For the first time in forever, she actually felt safe, as if nothing could harm her. As if this was right.

"Yeah, I'll defiantly see you later, Sheena." Lloyd whispered in her ear, reassuring her and giving Sheena even more hope as well as a bright red tint to her skin.

Sheena closed her eyes and she let go the letter, "Yeah. Thanks Lloyd. How about me and you…" Sheena opened her eyes, Genis was sighing while Raine was shaking her head. And Colette just stood there, emotionless. She quickly let go, "Oh. Sorry. I'll see all of you later." With that, Sheena quickly walked off into the distance, dreading the prospect of having to walk across the bridge again.

Her thoughts drifted to Lloyd again, he saved her once, she saved him once. But for some reason, it felt as if she owed him something. It was a thought that scared her yet made her happy at the same time. No one in the past could ever make her feel as safe and strong as Lloyd did. "Do I really like him? Heh, I won't say that I don't at least." She mused to herself as she walked across the fields to the bridge north of Meltokio. "Man, I'm going to hate reporting this."

Mizuho: Where he gave me hope for my sins

"Your not like the past, your different now."

The sun was starting to set slightly over the hidden village of the Iguguri clan. Long faces and foreigners from different lands all scattered around the entire town. The brown-haired would-be hero walked up to the silent rose who summons spirits, "Hey…What's up?" he asked as he approached Sheena while she was overlooking a graveyard. She had a long look on her face, as if remembering a painful past, a past she didn't want to remember, a past that gave her the same outlook as Lloyd.

Sheena scanned the graves, as if looking for a long lost friend, her eyes landed on those of her friend's parents, then they moved again slowly inching their way to Lloyd, "You see all these graves Lloyd? They're all my fault. My inability to capture Volt let to their deaths. I don't want to hurt anyone else." she explained to him with the upmost remorse. This hurt her, this was something she didn't want to go through again.

Lloyd shook his head and stood next to Sheena, "Who said we'll die?" his smile of confidence broke through her barrier that she set up to prevent anyone she loved and knew from getting hurt. Slowly, a second barrier would fall, the one preventing anyone from knowing her. And in time, another one would fall.

She looked at Lloyd sternly, he could see the sadness so prevalent in her eyes, the same sadness he felt when he made a similar mistake. "Because I'm here Lloyd. My inability to do something led to people's death. It's my fault they're dead Lloyd." Sheena held her head closer to her knees, keeping her eyes barely opened. She talked to her pet Corrine, he was always so full of energy, but he couldn't protect her. Not in the same way Lloyd could.

"It'll be different this time Sheena. Your not like the past, your different now." Lloyd sat down and smiled, as if he felt her pain and knew how she felt.

Sheena looked at Lloyd in the eyes, "What if Volt goes berserk again?" She looked at Lloyd tearfully, this is a side she didn't want anyone to know. Deep inside, she knew she could depend on Lloyd for anything, but she didn't want to risk losing him.

"Then I'll cut him down myself!" Lloyd unsheathed one of his swords and held it before Sheena. "I'll protect you, just like you want to protect the people of Mizuho." his eyes personified calmness and the truthfulness of this statement. Neither of them knew it at the time, but they were falling for each other.

"…Lloyd." Sheena began to feel more tears well up in her eyes, she smiled as she cried. She would trust her friends and family once again. Only because they trust in her.

Lloyd put his arm around Sheena and gave her more confidence, she put hers around him and they held each other in a calm friendly matter. It was as if they turned all the destroyed hopes, dreams and futures into a calm, deep, hope for the present.

Flanoir: Where he first told me his dreams and thoughts

"I believe in what you believe Lloyd. More so then anyone else. I'll follow you to hell and back if I have to."

Sheena walked to the foot of the door that the bedroom Lloyd was in. At first she hesitated but then pressed against it softly, a quiet banging noise emanating from it and into the area around her. From inside, she could hear his voice, instructing her. "Come in, door's open" it was Lloyd's voice.

As Sheena opened the door, she saw Lloyd leaning on a window, watching each particle of snow touch the ground and form piles of snow on the stone streets below. The room itself was mostly wood, a small room but large enough for two people. "Hey, you about to sleep?" Sheena asked, walking into the room while Lloyd turned around.

He nodded, "Nah, I'm just thinking. What's up?" he asked, walking towards her and stopping only a few feet from here.

She gestured to Lloyd's coat, she already had her parka on. "It's a beautiful night outside, wanna take a walk with me?" she asked innocently enough.

Lloyd grinned, "Sure thing Sheena. I was getting bored all cooped up inside here." Lloyd walked over and grabbed his coat on a nearby hanger. It was a thick red coat with a wool interior; the same as Sheena's. After he put on his coat, they both walked out into Flanoir, gazing at the dark sky lit up by street lamps.

Sheena gazed up at the sky, then lowered her head and watched where they were going. "Don't you ever wonder?" She started.

Lloyd looked over at her, the white snow falling and mixing with her black hair and melting into water, "about what Sheena?" he asked, his mind filled with wonder.

"About Cruxis. Why they exist." She turned a corner around a building, to her left was a covered frozen meats stand, to her right was a large stone house with the windows covered. "The reason they exist as well."

"I don't wonder anymore, I know." he started as he followed Sheena around the building. "They were created by hatred and discrimination. The fear of people who didn't like what is different." following Sheena, they began to walk up a flight of stairs, heading towards the Church of Martel.

"Yeah, it's hard to believe that Cruxis is so hell-bent on destroying people who are trying just as hard to live!" She sounded in disbelief, as if she couldn't understand why they wanted to kill everything that wasn't like them.

"Sheena, I'm afraid we go through the same feelings as they do." He began to think about his past, about her past and her cursed blood.

They stooped at the terrace that overlooked Flanoir and gazed out into the open, overlooking the sleeping city where it always snows. Sheena leaned on the railing, "Yeah, your right. I have to agree with you again. But your ideals are different Lloyd."

He raised an eyebrow to her, "How so? I'm no different then Mithos or anyone else."

She swung her head in disagreement, "No Lloyd. You realize your mistakes and you have the power to correct them. Everyone, they look up to you. We are following your lead, we trust you Lloyd."

Lloyd nervously smiled, "Well, now that you put it that way, I feel sort of embarrassed."

"Hehe, seriously Lloyd. I believe in what you believe Lloyd. More so then anyone else. I'll follow you to hell and back if I have to." She began to speak as if she was in a trance, as if she was talking from her heart.

"Really? Thanks Sheena." He looked at her straight in the eyes and nodded.

"As for me, I've always been alone. But I know how the half-elves feel. When I first summoned Corrine, people in Mizuho looked down at me. Like I was an outsider, because I was adopted."

"I know how you feel, in Iselia, I was looked at as different, because I was not from there. But because of my cursed Blood." he looked down at his hands and thought about the blood that coursed through him.

"I know. My blood as well, I'm a half-elf. It takes elven blood to use magic. And I'm afraid I am a half-elf." She looked downcast, as if she didn't want her elven blood.

"Then I must be too. My true father is a half-elf, Kratos, he has to have some elven blood in him. But I also believe that we were given this cursed blood for a reason." He explained.

"I have to agree with you once again. My summoning powers, your blood and determination. It's like we were meant to be born in a way."

"Sheena, we agree on a lot of stuff don't we."

Sheena grinned widely, "Yea, Lloyd. I think..."

"Sheena, we could be best friend."

"...idiot."

Sheena

I began to feel very tired, the day had taken it's toll on me. Between the stories, memories, and so fourth. But I really hope I could get back my Lloyd. I looked at him, he was listening intently before I said 'I'll finish later'. Somehow, I know this is also a part of Lloyd, I knew he was smart, but something blocked him from trying. Even when I first met Lloyd, I felt this sensation like he was the one, that he could make everything right again.

"Lloyd?" I asked him, while laying down on the hard and cold stone floor, while staring up at the dark and dreary ceiling.

"What is it?" He asked, still sitting up, as if trying in vain to remember something that he didn't know existed. One day, one day I will help him.

"You'll always be my Lloyd." because no matter how he looks, how old he is, what race he is. He'll always be m Lloyd.

A/N theres gonna be a part two to this chapter, talking about Heimdall, Derris-Kharlan and more. So don't worry. it's all part of my master plan!