Forever Strong

A single beam of light slinked into the cozy room tinted by a peaceful blue darkness. The warm golden glow of the first sun's light danced about the floor creating an earthy green radiance refracted throughout the cabin themed space. Zelos later awoke, the yellow sun rising just above their window sill. He rewrapped his arm around the drowsy ninja beside him. "Morning, babe. Where'd you run off to last night?"

Sheena intuitively snuggled deeper into his arms and groggily replied something along the lines of, "To the restroom, s'all."

He raised his eye brows squeezing her tighter, "You suure? You were gone longer than that, it seemed."

She made a grumpy noise, "You're too smart in the morning…" She whined as she pulled the covers over her head.

"As long as you weren't screwing around with other guys…"

"Oops."

Zelos bolted upright, his expression yielding rage, but his eyes harbored emotions far beyond crestfallen, "What!"

Sheena could be heard laughing like a drunk from underneath the sheets. "Oh wow, Zelos. You, of all people, to believe that?" she went through another laughing spasm, "That was funny."

"Yeah, real funny…" he rolled his eyes, smiling in spite of his overwhelming sarcasm.

Still chuckling slightly to herself, Sheena got up and headed towards the closet to fetch her day clothes, "If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to the temple."

He blinked, "Why?"

"A natural curiosity towards the unknown?" she tried experimentally, "You don't have to accompany me if you don't want." She added nonchalantly.

"I'll come, but you saying that means you're okay with the time I saw you in the shower, then."

"Saw! Last time you said you only attempted!"

"Erm, that's what I meant…"

"Yeah, for some reason I have a hard time believing that…"

Upon entering the Temple, Sheena unthinkingly ran further in, stopping in the center of the dome. "I'm sure about this! Corrine is here!" she whispered, however the noise bounced off the walls and could be heard easily by Zelos.

He trailed and came behind her. "Corrine? Here? What?"

She turned to him, half sheepish, half dead-serious. "Yeah, lately I've been hearing him, telling me to come to this temple, or something. Now I'm sure of it."

"Huh. But here wasn't a Summon Spirit here. At least, that what I heard." He shrugged.

"But I can feel him! I can feel Corrine! Let's go further in. Please, Zelos!"

"Okay, sure. Why not?"

Going with the area that seemed the most promising, they pressed on forward, not even stopping to admire the unique golden archway lining where there had used to be a door.

"Whoa! This old place has one of these! Maybe Sylvarant wasn't so outdated during the decline after all!" Zelos pointed out absently, but by that time only the hologram of Sheena remained, and only for a split second.

By the time Zelos had reappeared back in the room of the oracle, Sheena was already facing the pedestal. Her shoulders slumped. "Maybe… was it just my imagination? He doesn't seem to be here…"

"Sheena…" Before Zelos could say anything further, she gasped, "Wha? Corrine's bell! It's…!" The jingle of the small bell silenced any sounds in the room as it inexplicably floated to the altar. Then, with a blinding flash of light, stood a lean Summon Spirit resembling a fox with menacing red eyes and eight green and blue tails stemming from it's back.

"Corrine! …Corrine, is that you?" The Summoner hesitantly stepped forward, a hand outstretched to caress her deceased friend. However, the Summon Spirit pulled away.

'Sheena, descendant of those who control powers of Summoning… You who showed me the human heart…'

Taken aback, she stuttered, "You're… not Corrine?"

'Desire, generosity, laughter, sadness, anger, violence, concern, love, hate…'

"What the heck is it saying?" Zelos murmured, in awe of the creature.

'What will I ultimately gain from the human heart? I, Verius, pose this question upon you. Now, show me.'

Zelos prepared to withdraw his sword. "Here it comes!" Sheena meanwhile found no reason to draw her cards. Something told her a battle is not what he desired.

In an instant, they became blinded by another intense flash of light. 'I have felt your hearts.' The Summon spirit said. 'Anxiety, regret, impatience, loneliness…but even greater hope, courage, and love…'

"We're… not going to fight?" Zelos interjected.

'I exist to observe all beings that possess a heart. I form no pacts, I will be bound by no one.'

"You said your name was Verius… Who are you?…" Sheena said with fleeting apprehension.

'Sheena, I am the one who was once known as Corrine. The Summon Spirit that's had the longest contact with the human heart.'

"Contact with the human heart…" She repeated wistfully.

'When my strength was fading, human hearts held on to me. All human emotion, both negative and positive, changed me into the Summon Spirit of the heart, Verius.'

"Soo… you're Corrine! Uh, right?" Zelos questioned, clearly lost.

The Summon Spirit looked away, then back. 'Yes. Yes, you can say that, I am Corrine.'

Sheena's eyes lit up. "So, we can be together again… right? You'll come with me right? Corrine…"

'No, I shall become part of the world and watch over all those that posses heart.'

Sheena was visibly hurt in his response, but held any comment inside her. In an act of compassion for his former companion and best friend, the Summon Spirit nuzzled her briefly, then stepped back again, 'Sheena, descendant of summoners, I cannot go with you. However my heart will be with you. For my existence as the Summon Spirit of Heart was established by touching your hands.'

"Our hearts… will be together…"

'Yes, they will as long as you… as long as people have hearts, I shall be with all people… And I shall continue to walk with you, Sheena…'

"As long as we have hearts?"

'Never forget. Your promise with me is you heart…' his words melded with the ringing of the bell as the platform on which he stood glowed, and in an instant he was gone.

"…Our hearts, huh? …Wow, that was pretty cheesy." Zelos concluded.

Without tearing her eyes from the altar where Verius stood, she countered, "At least it's not as cheesy as some of the pickup lines you've used…"

He thought for a moment. "Alright, you win." He conceded stepping on the transporter. She then followed suit, but took one last look to the altar in hopes of seeing Verius one last time.

Even so, she knew he wouldn't be there. He would always remain with her in her heart, no matter how anti-realistic it sounded.

Basically, the whole Verius part was taken straight from the game. The only differences were what Lloyd said, became modified to fit and became what Zelos said, for the most part. I also chopped off the little ending part with Colette, Raine and Genis because, well, they weren't there! I took the scene from a file on which I had killed poor Zelos, however seeing as Kratos was no where to be seen during the scene, I doubt it would be any different on a file where Zelos was still alive and flirting… poor Zelos…