Disclaimer: I (still) do not own the characters of Tales of Symphonia, however much I wish to do so.
Warning: Yes, this fic will contain some more questionable stuff. That's why it's rated 'R'. So if you don't like mentions of sex or slightly offensive language, you're not old enough, or your parents would get you in trouble and kick you off of fanfiction forever if they found this, DO NOT CONTINUE. Thanks... Heh... I'm such a hypocrite.
Pairings: Sheelos, Gesea, Colloyd; the regulars. Although in this chapter, there's a bit of Sheeloyd... Heh.
Yaaaay! More reviews! God, I hope this chapter keeps 'em coming.
Moon Peach: Ah, thank you! I'm trying as hard as I can to update within a few days... although the material seems to get exponentially worse, but that's not the point!
jellybeanz225: Heh, silly me... I didn't even remember Yuan being there. Unfortunately he's not going to show up in this chapter, but that doesn't mean I don't think he's hot! Maybe I'll get to him later, but he makes too many random appearances that I can hardly remember all of them...
Rin: I apologize for the length of my installments... Sometimes it's tough to think back even that far in the game after I've finished it. I know the main plot of my story, but it's just the details that take awhile...
Neko-chan: Heh, I got a little excited there... Brownie points for understanding in the beginning, though! And for playing the game 5 times already O.o If only I had the patience!
potter29vo: Thank you so much! Although I decided against direct dialogue so as not to be reprimanded by hard-core gamers, the Colette information is quite useful for my upcoming chapter. It's nice to meet a fellow Sheelos fan; I'm sure you're mature enough for it. I'm only a year older than you... Heh... I shall update as often as I possibly can!
M'kay, on with the show! Or... story. Whatever.
Trickssi
Chapter Three: "Fits of Light and Dark and Parasols"
The wind buffeted her face as Sheena sat straddled upon the Rheiard. She was headed for the Mana Cannon. The Tower of Mana? Well, that job was done, all right. But prior to its occurrence Kratos had appeared out of nowhere again and warned that the severed mana links would bring havoc instead of heaven. Great, Sheena thought; giving her another reason to feel guilty if the two worlds were to have been destroyed. Good thing Yuan showed up and stalled the haughty bastard.
Aska showed up, surprisingly, as promised; and Lloyd and Raine and Genis and the Summoner fought against the pair. Luna made the pact. An earthquake ensued, but this time its magnitude shook the very foundations of both Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. Without warning, the Great Seed sprung from the seal and grew out of proportion. Sheena had a fleeting thought that it could have been her last few moments when she had glanced at Zelos, to whom she hadn't yet apologized, and to Colette who had looked so frightened, and to Lloyd who was so brave and persistent... She now thanked Martel that they had survived past that point. And it was probably due to Martel they did; for inside the Great Seed-turned-Great Tree, a girl bearing striking resemblance to Tabatha was tangled.
Of course, Kratos knew what was going on. Of course, Cruxis seraphim of extreme arrogance and convenient timing. He always seemed to know what was up the sleeves of humanity. The worlds were separated; and the Seed was confused out of its mana, growing grotesquely from the lack of protection from the Summon Spirits of Tethe'alla. Or, at least that's what Sheena got out of it. All of the technicalities of the identification of who was good and who was evil and what in the hell was going on rather vexed her. It wasn't her fault that everything she had ever been taught had just been thrown out of the window. She wondered where Kratos grew up that he could ascertain those sorts of details at the drop of a pin.
What Sheena did know, though, was that she was being sent to the Mana Cannon. Because all of the Great Seed's power was in Sylvarant, summoning the spirits of Tethe'alla would balance whatever had just been tipped power-wise. Something like that. It was Lloyd's idea. True, the kid was a good thinker, but did he have to come up with such damn crazy theories? She wondered suddenly if Lloyd and Kratos were related, though it would have been impossible. Perhaps Kratos was his crazy uncle, and like uncle like nephew? Hm.
'That must be it,' Sheena thought as she approached what looked like a lighthouse. 'Some cannon. Might as well paint it pink if you're gonna design it to look like this.' "Mana Cannon," she said to herself as she dismounted the Rheiard and walked to the door. "Mana Cannon... Maaaaaana Caaaaannon. Hah." She laughed at the pronunciation. Really, did they mean to make their enemies shake with laughter rather than fear when they were confronted with it? "Behold, Mana Cannon!" she mocked, pretending to be Rodyle. She burst into laughter. Rhyming was definitely not intimidating.
Sheena opened the door with some effort, seeing it had been made heavy as security. There was a window which seemed perfect for spying the signal Lloyd and the others would give her; she sat upon some stones that overlooked it. Kratos had gone with her friends to the Iselia Human Ranch. Kratos...
She didn't know why. She just had a bad feeling about him from the get-go. He was shady, disobliging in most cases, and very indecisive. Was he working for Cruxis or against it? It seemed he was handing information steamed and on a platter to Lloyd and Colette. Perhaps Cruxis taught him those details she had been mulling over. They didn't get a very good deal if that was the case; his running off and telling her group was kind of considered betrayal. That's what bothered her about him. He always ran, whether from Cruxis or to it. Avoiding things was his only constant. What did he think he was doing? Not that she cared... Or damn it, did she? She did appreciate that he helped Lloyd. Not that most times he needed to be helped. He was strong on his own.
Lloyd: such a respectable boy. Well, he wasn't really a boy anymore, was he? 'Oh shit,' Sheena thought. 'Am I falling for this kid?!' It was probably the least of her worries. Not that it was a worry or anything; her revelation gave her a reason to ignore Zelos even more. Lloyd was admirable and brave and strong and kind. Zelos was... well... a consenting adult; and that's really the only reason she hadn't tried to kill him. The perverted rascal had tried to make a move without prelude on her on countless occasions. He considered her just another 'piece of ass', she assumed. Why shouldn't she treat him the same way? Although, her way was better because he wouldn't get the rapture of thinking she liked him for his body.
... Or would he? She hadn't yet explained that the sex wasn't for kicks; that Mizuho-related involvement was her only reason. Although, at the moment he would be busy trying to rescue Chocolat, or trying to slay Forcystus. She wasn't quite sure at the moment.
Oh, how long could it possibly take them to overthrow that metal-armed freak? Sheena was growing bored in the dark tower. Shouldn't they already have killed that guy? Come on. How long could it possibly take to go through a human ranch? She knew Lloyd was fast-paced in dungeons ever since she began pursuing the Chosen; seriously, it was time for them to signal her.
She suddenly missed Corrine. Had he been there to keep her company perhaps she wouldn't feel as... lonely. She hated being alone as much as she hated admitting it. She had been alone, virtually parentless for most if not all of her life. She was the only Summoner in Mizuho. And alone, she had to face the unknown of Sylvarant for her village, her continent, her entire world. Well, with Corrine, which hadn't been so terrible; but now that he was gone, and all of this new unknown flying into her face...
Sheena stood up and began pacing, a nervous habit of hers. It sure beat nail-biting, but it gave her no added solace. Such corrosive anticipation. She would even take Zelos to keep her company; even he has his good days, she thought. She reminded herself to apologize to him later.
And then, she saw it. A flash of light from the window snapped her to its attention.
"That must be the signal!" she shouted, planting herself in front of the Cannon. This was it, the moment for which she had been waiting. "All right... Disciple of Everlasting Ice! Hammer of Godly Thunder! Servant of Mother Earth! Envoy from the Dark Abyss! I call upon thee... Fire Mana Cannon!"
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Mmm, I feel like Nathaniel Hawthorne. Descriptions, descriptions; as you can see, I covered well enough for not having any remembrance of that part of the game! I have no problem with the game anymore: I found this great little site with all the synopses on it so I don't have to revert back to it and type and play at the same time (made possible by WaveBird. Whee!). Too bad this chapter was short and dull... but it's not my fault I had to reveal Sheena's thoughts at some point.
The next chapter has plenty of material, so it'll probably be done on Monday or Tuesday. Expect the true Sheelos to start then. Thanks to potter29vo for creating the summary for me! I shall be sure to include you somewhere. I'm sure it's gonna bring in more readers.
--Trickssi
PS—Please R&R! It's so easy. It takes three seconds to make this one happy!