1Hi all! I hope this chapter will be better than the last! Hopefully I won't make as many typos. I was rushing last time to get it up quick. Well, here goes the chapter where Yggdrassil reenters. We'll see how well Storm, Kratos, and Yggdrassil relate with each other. I hope you enjoy! Thank you to everyone who reviewed and especially my buddy Kratos Wilder!

Chapter 8: A Chosen's Fate

Storm was laying on the bed at an inn at Hima thinking about the next day. They were on their way to the Tower of Salvation where the Chosen's fate would be sealed. She would become a traitor. Everyone she had come to care about would become her enemies once again. They had gained permission to ride a local man's dragons to the tower. She was having a lot of trouble sleeping and was tossing and turning when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Storm asked.

"It's Kratos, Lord Yggdrassil has summoned us to the outskirts of town. It's most likely about what to do with the Chosen tomorrow, you'd better hurry he's very impatient," Kratos replied through the door.

"I'm coming," Storm replied as she stumbled out of bed and quietly opened her window and came gently gilding to the ground with her wings out.

Once Kratos and Storm reached the outskirts of town they found Yggdrassil accompanied by two angels. Kratos and Storm immediately bowed to their leader.

"You may rise," he said as the two obeyed and waited attentively for their newest instructions. "Tomorrow, as you know you will deliver the Chosen to the Tower of Salvation to prepare to be Martel's vessel. Kratos will reveal himself as an angel and will defend her if need be. However Storm, you will not be joining us. Instead you will be playing along with your current act in case something goes wrong. We will still need a member of Cruxis in the group that those inferior beings can trust," Mithos ordered.

"What! I can't come along? But why do you need me to stay all of a sudden?" Storm replied shocked by Yggdrassil's newest plans.

"Well, this group seems much stronger and much more defiant than others in the past and I'm afraid if we let our guard down they may take advantage of us," Yggdrassil replied. "And Storm may I suggest that you not become too attached to anyone in that group. If they decide to attack us I cannot guarantee their safety. Do not do anything foolish for their sake's," Yggdrassil replied.

Please Lloyd don't do anything stupid. I could never forgive myself if anything bad happened to you. You have been like a brother to me on this trip, such a great friend, Storm thought as she showed concern in her eyes.

Yggdrassil immediately noticed the emotion behind Storm's eyes and he glared at her challengingly. "Storm, what have I taught you about those emotions? Do I need to remind you once again?" Yggdrassil asked threateningly.

"No, my lord I was just..." was all Storm could get out before she was slammed forcefully to the ground by Yggdrassil.

"Don't you dare tell me what you think. I tell you what to think," Yggdrassil snarled as he readied himself to attack her again.

Kratos, though, got in between Yggdrassil and Storm preventing him from injuring his daughter anymore. "I don't think that two beatings are necessary Mithos. She understands and I'm sure she won't do it again. We will obey your orders," Kratos gave in to save his daughter anymore unnecessary pain.

"Fine, but if she speaks out of line again she won't be able to stand," Yggdrassil snarled as he left with his angel bodyguards.

After Yggdrassil was gone Kratos helped an injured Storm get off of the ground and he healed her wounds.

"Sorry Dad I shouldn't have said anything," Storm apologized.

"You don't have to apologize, now let's get back and try to get some rest," Kratos replied.

"You know we can't sleep dad," Storm replied.

"Yeah, but we can at least relax a little bit right," Kratos said trying to cheer up Storm but was failing miserably.

The next day...at the entrance to the Tower of Salvation...

Well this is it. I can't ignore it any longer, Collette will die and dad will become a traitor. I wish there was something I could do but there's nothing I can do. Lloyd please don't hate me or Kratos for what is about to happen...

"Where's Kratos and Collette," asked Lloyd when he finally arrived on his dragon.

"They must be inside already," Raine replied.

"Way to wait up for us," Lloyd replied.

They party entered the tower and the first thing they noticed was the horrible feeling they got when they entered. As they began to climb the stairs they noticed many things in the bottomless floor below them. These things drifting below them looked like individual caskets. There were hundreds of them swirling below their feet.

"What are those," asked Genis.

"They look like...bodies," replied Sheena uneasily.

"You don't think that these are all the Chosen's who have failed on the past, do you?" Lloyd asked.

"I don't know," replied Raine.

Once they got to the top they saw Collette and Remiel and Collette was about to break the seal.

"Collette you don't have to do this, what about your humanity," Lloyd protested but Collette ignored as she continued to break the seal. She started to glow and her wings began to reveal themselves when she finally broke the final seal.

"Hah, it's too late now. The transformation will soon be complete," Remiel began laughing maniacally. "Yes, the world will be saved, but the Chosen will lose her soul as she becomes the vessel for Martel."

"Martel? Why would the goddess need a vessel?" Sheena began.

"Her soul? Collette no! You have to stop it! That'll mean you'll die! Collette!" Lloyd screamed in protest.

Lloyd, there is nothing you can do to stop it now. Her fate is sealed. She is the Chosen! Storm thought as she watched.

Lloyd, please don't worry. This is for the best. I can help save the world you have to let me do this, Collette thought.

"Collette, you don't have to do this! You shouldn't have to sacrifice yourself. Of course I'm going to worry," Lloyd said when he heard Collette's thoughts.

Lloyd? You can hear me! I'm so happy! Now I can tell you that I'm glad that I knew you for these past sixteen years, Collette thought.

"Collette, you knew about this didn't you?" Lloyd asked outraged.

"Yes she did Lloyd, as well as me," Raine replied.

"Professor, you knew and you didn't even try to stop her?" Lloyd screamed.

"Lloyd, she has to do this. It's either Collette or the whole world. You're not going to give up on the entire world are you?" Raine replied.

"Well..." Lloyd began.

"How can you do that to your own daughter?" Genis yelled.

"Hah, I'm not her father. You all just began to call me her father. You made that up," Remiel said as he began to finish Collette's transformation.

"No, I won't let Collette die," Lloyd said as he began to make his way for Collette when Genis held him back. "Let me go Genis!" Lloyd yelled with tears in his eyes.

"No Lloyd, we have to regenerate the world," he said.

Lloyd's only response was to push Genis away as he ran to Collette only to find that she had no emotion behind her eyes.

"Collette, no! Come back!" Lloyd yelled at an emotionless Collette. "You bastard why is her soul so important," snarled Lloyd at Remiel.

"It's not her soul we want it's her body," Remiel began.

"But why would the goddess need a body?" Sheena finally asked.

"There is no goddess Martel," Remiel said and with that Lloyd rushed at him. He and the party decided to do something to gain back Collette's lost soul. They were victims of deception and that was something Lloyd would not stand for. The fight was on...

Now what? Yggdrassil was right. I guess that means I have to fight against Cruxis. Well here goes... Storm thought.

That's it cliffhanger, sort of. You know what happens in the game but what will happen with Storm? I just wanted to point out to anyone who didn't notice that Storm has been calling Kratos something different all the time. She started with Lord Kratos, then Kratos, and now she calls him Dad. I put this in here on purpose to show her character is softening and regaining some of her soul and humanity back. Hope you guys noticed. Well, tell me what you think. Any ideas for where the story should go would be helpful. Thanks! Till next we meet!