1Hey everyone! I'm sorry if I left everyone with questions but I can't guarantee that they will all be answered here. I want to make sure we see Storm develop since she is, after all, the character we're focusing on. Don't worry Kratos won't be gone anytime soon. I love him too much to just throw him out of the story. Yuan's not too important to me though, but I'll make sure he gets into the story where he should. Also, there may be a little romance in upcoming chapters. (Storm x ?) . I'm very excited to see where I can lead this story. I know where I want to go but I don't quite know how to get there. Suggestions, what do you guys want to see? Kratos Wilder, thanks again for your constant support. I saw you're working on a new story on your profile so good luck with that can't wait to see it. Anyway on to chapter 11!

Chapter 11: Stuck in Between

"Storm, what's your situation? Do you have the Chosen?" Yggdrassil asked Storm through her hologram projector. She was hidden in the brush at night while everyone else was sleeping. They had just recently crashed their Rheihards in Tethe 'alla due to a lack of mana. The mana supply in Thethe 'alla was short since the group had released seals in Sylverant causing the parallel world's spirits to go back into slumber. They were currently heading towards the Imperial City of Meltokio to meet with the king. They had spent the entire day traveling down the Fooji Mountains and the group was exhausted, except for Storm who couldn't sleep anyway.

"Yes my lord, she is currently in her defensive system and is showing no conscious control over her thoughts or actions. We're currently heading towards Meltokio. They will soon realize that there is nothing they can do to save her and she will soon belong to us. There's no real rush, she'll come quietly," Storm replied.

"Good, I knew I could count on you. Did you ever discover anything about your rescuers, the Renegades?" He asked.

"No, sir. They must have realized who I was working for and they made sure I didn't wake up inside their base," Storm lied respecting Yuan's deal. She was very good at lying so Yggdrassil didn't even notice.

"Well, we can't expect them to reveal their identity so easily. Well done Storm, if you keep up the excellent work there may be a reward for you when you come back home. Remember everything you were ever taught about those humans on those planets," Mithos warned.

"Yes, my lord," Storm replied before turning off the projector. She began to head back to camp to resume her night watch duty. Once she returned she looked over at all of her companions. They didn't look as evil and violent as Yggdrassil had always taught her.

"Never trust those humans down there. They're aggressive and violent and will attack anyone without warning. They killed Martel, she was a saint and never deserved to be killed. Her last wish was to stop discrimination, Storm, the only way to do that is by turning everyone else into lifeless beings, like us," Mithos had said. Storm had always believed that. She was taught it since she was old enough to understand things like that.

She stared around the camp and wondered why she was becoming attached to them. They didn't seem as unpredictable as Yggdrassil made them out to be, in fact, they seemed friendly. What was it that Lloyd had said? He wanted a world without discrimination where there would be no sacrifices like Collette. Yggdrassil and Lloyd wanted the same things but they were so different in how to obtain their ideal worlds. Then there was Storm who was caught in the middle, biologically both an angel and a human. She had no Cruxis crystal so she was different from the others in Cruxis, but she was an angel so she was different from everyone else on these planets. She didn't fit in anywhere. Where was she in terms of discrimination? She would discriminated and condemned by everyone should they find out. Lloyd would never except her. But why did she care if he did or not?

"You seem kinda lost in thought," a voice called behind her. She turned around only to find Lloyd looking at her.

"Yeah, I think a lot when I sit here at night," she replied.

"What's on your mind?" Lloyd asked as he sat down next to her.

"I was just thinking about sacrafices and discrimination," she replied. She got a strange look in return from Lloyd.

Did I say too much? Was that a wrong thing to mention?

"Actually, that's why I can't sleep," he replied as he looked up at the stars. "I wish there was away we could save the worlds without any sacrifices like Collette and all the people in the human ranches. I also wish there was a way we could end discrimination between elves, humans, and half-elves," Lloyd explained.

"You mean between the humans and the Desians?" Storm replied.

"Well, yeah, but Sheena said that half-elves are treated pretty rough here in Tethe 'alla. I wish we could stop the hatred," Lloyd said.

"I never really fit in much when I was younger and a lot of the time I still don't so I can understand what they all go through. It can be pretty rough," Storm admitted.

"Really, why wouldn't you fit in? I think you're a great person. You're so much fun and you're great to talk with," Lloyd replied astonished.

"Oh, it's nothing much. I'm just being silly. It must be the lack of sleep talking," Storm lied.

"I know how that feels too," Lloyd laughed. Storm laughed along with him. They sat together and talked for the rest of the night. Storm really enjoyed Lloyd's company and began to wonder even more why she was supposed to hate him.

The next morning, the group made their way to Meltokio. By that afternoon, the group finally reached the entrance to Meltokio. They were about to go inside the city when Sheena stopped them. She handed Lloyd a note.

"What's this for? Aren't you coming in with us?" Lloyd asked.

"No, this is where I leave you, for now. I have to go back to my city of Mizuho, I need to go back and give them an update on my mission. You have to remember they all still think I'm trying to kill you guys. Give this letter to the king and he should give you entrance to the Imperial Research Academy in Sybak. The note explains everything and they should be able to find a cure for Collette there," Sheena explained.

"We're gonna miss you Sheena," Storm replied sadly.

"Sorry, but hey maybe we'll run into each other soon," Sheena replied happily as she turned and left the group to fend for themselves.

"Okay, let's go to the castle," Raine suggested as the group started to make their way into the foreign city.

Kratos had had enough of Mithos and his stupid ideas and he was about to take matters into his hands...again. He could only pray that this time his actions wouldn't cause harm to his loved ones like the last time. He made his way towards Tethe 'alla where he would find everything he needed to help Lloyd. He hoped that by helping Lloyd he could eventually help Storm. Yggdrassil had actually allowed Kratos to go down to Tethe 'alla to keep an eye on Storm. He would help his children and gather everything he needed to pull his plan together.

"Kratos, I'm very impressed with your daughter and I have decided to give her a special "promotion" when she comes back," Mithos said to the seraphim.

"What kind of promotion," Kratos asked hesitantly.

"With time you will find out, but we'll all be much closer as a result of it. That I can guarantee," he replied.

Mithos' words worried Kratos and he feared that his daughter didn't have much time left. He had to save her...and Lloyd. He had to hurry. He just hoped that Lloyd would trust him enough to let him help. He had to if they even wanted a chance to save the two worlds.

Well did everyone like this chapter? I hope so because I kind of ran out of ideas so I decided to focus on Storm's past and how it affects her now and I wanted to let everyone know about how Kratos was doing. Tell me if there's something you think the story's missing. I feel as if I'm falling into a deep writer's block. Help! Please read and review!