1Okay, this part is probably going to make me tear up when I write it. I hope it's as emotional as I hope it will be. It's time to go to Heimdall.
PotatoPuff: I'm glad that you guys are enjoying the story and I hope that you will like the coming chapters, Storm's emotional problems are not over yet. I hope that it lives up to its expectations. Thanks for the review, I love to hear from you.
luigidog: I plan on getting this chapter done as soon as I am capable, but I hope that you are patient in the fact that I can occasionally be slow. I'm sorry it's not always updated right away. Thanks for your review.
Kratos Wilder: Come on, do you actually think that I would kill Kratos? Uh...NO! I probably would put him through a lot of rough times but I wouldn't kill him. That's probably why the Give Kratos a Hug Club was started. Thank you, thank you for your amazing and continual support. Sorry if I'm a thankaholic.
blackflame: Hannah, I'm glad that you love to give Kratos hugs, because no one in the game ever seems to want to give him one, it must be sad for him. But, that's why we have to give him lots of hugs. I'm glad that you guys liked the chapter and be prepared to give Kratos more hugs.
inuyahsa fangirl: Ha! I love it! Mithos, in a cage right where he belongs. If I was Storm I would just repetitively beat the snot out of him because he's a sissy baby who cries for his mommy. Love the skits and I hope that you continue to read and review this story, thank you!
muffineer: Yeah, I feel bad for Storm too. I don't really know how she would react if Kratos died. I guess you'll have to find out...
Judgement Flame: I'm glad that you like the story and that you find everything I write believable, that's what I was going for! Thank you for your review. I love new reviewers.
Well, let's get on with the story.
Chapter 30: A Father's Love
Storm flew as quickly as she could in the hopes of catching him before he managed to reach Heimdall. She had heard bad things about the village her whole life from Mithos. The villagers were said to hate anyone who wasn't an elf. If that was the case, there was no way that Storm would ever be able to get to her father if he got inside, and that may have been how he wanted it. But, she couldn't help but wonder why the elves would let him in since he was human.
Once Storm landed outside of Heimdall's gates she took a deep breath and tried to relax. The past few hours had taken a toll on her and she couldn't seem to recover from anything without having to face another problem in her life. She was really starting to grow tired of bearing what seemed like thousands of problems. She almost wished she could go back to the way things were before she met Lloyd, things were consistent and easy in her life. Now, she was flying all over the earth trying to protect everyone she had ever grown close to.
Storm walked up to the entrance, but her entrance was blocked by a pair of guards. "You, you're not an elf. You may not pass through here," one of the guards ordered.
"I have to get in, I need to see Kratos," Storm begged.
"What business do you have with Kratos? He wouldn't possibly associate with someone like you," the other guard replied as he looked over Storm.
"What? Why not? Let me pass! I must speak with him!" Storm demanded.
The guards grabbed her as she tried to shove her way through them, determined to get in any way possible.
"Let her go," a voice behind the guards ordered.
"Yes, sir," the guards replied as they dropped Storm.
"You may pass," the man said. Storm looked at him. From what she could tell he was the village's elder.
"Thanks, but why are you letting me in? Can't you tell that I'm different? Really different..." Storm asked as she walked away from the entrance with the elf elder.
"Yes, but I can tell that you are in urgent need to speak to Kratos and I believe that he needs someone to talk to right now," the elder replied.
"Thanks so much, you don't know how much this means to me," Storm replied happily.
"Oh, I think I do. He's in the forest right now you'd better go. You know you really do look a lot like him, your father," the elder replied.
"How do you know that he's my father?" Storm asked.
"I know more about you than you even know. Don't feel like you're strange, if you knew why you are the way you are you would feel privileged. Someday you'll find out why you don't seem to belong," the elder replied.
Storm who was beginning to walk away, turned abruptly at his last statement only to find that the elder was no where to be found. "Does he really know why I'm different?" Storm asked herself as she continued into the forest.
Storm wandered around the dark forest for what seemed like forever until she finally gave up and sat down on a stump. She began to wonder if her father really wanted her to find him. Maybe it would be better if she didn't find him. At that moment in time, Storm felt as if her life no longer held any worth and began to wonder what her purpose was anymore. Maybe everyone would be better off without her screwing everything up.
All my life I have been doing what other people tell me to do and I still always manage to mess things up. I've betrayed Mithos, Lloyd, Colette and the others, and even Dad. How am I supposed to make up for everything I've ever done. I never wanted to disappoint anyone and in the end I disappointed everyone. There is no way that Dad would ever want me to come back with all the trouble I've caused. I'm sorry Dad, I'm sure Mom is disappointed in me too. I more trouble than I'm worth. I wish I had never been born...
Suddenly, Storm heard a rustling noise in the nearby brush. She cautiously walked over towards the noise, drawing her sword just in case. She poked her head around a tree and saw none other than her father settling in for the long night. Storm was so happy to finally have found him and didn't quite know what to do with all the feelings swelling inside her. She decided to bury the majority of them out of mind like she was always taught to do.
"Storm?" Kratos asked the figure behind the tree.
"Dad! I'm so happy that I found you," Storm laughed happily as she ran over to her father.
"Why?" Kratos asked.
"What do you mean, why? Do you think I want you to face Lloyd? I'm here to talk some sense into you," Storm explained.
"Storm, I know it's hard to understand but this is something I must do. This is for you and Lloyd," Kratos started.
"What? Killing yourself is supposed to be a good thing for me? Explain to me how you leaving me is a good thing," Storm demanded.
"Storm, I have so many sins I need to atone for. You out of anyone should understand that. It's because of me that your life has turned out so terrible," Kratos said.
"No, it's because of Mithos and Pronyma that my whole life has been the way it has," Storm said.
"Storm, it's my fault that you became involved in Cruxis. I thought that I was helping you but I was only hurting you and causing you pain, so I'm going to make up for everything I've done," Kratos replied.
"Dad, if it wasn't for you, I'd be dead by now. You're the only person in the world who truly cared about me. Don't you understand? Don't make me hate you for what you're about to do," Storm replied, trying her best to hold in the emotions that were threatening to tear her up inside.
"Storm..." Kratos was speechless and didn't know quite how to respond.
"Fine, go ahead and do whatever you want but just remember what you're doing to me," Storm said as she turned her back and started to walk back towards the village.
"Storm...I...love you," Kratos quietly choked out. It was something he had always wanted to tell her but was denied the right once Mithos took her under his wings.
Storm stopped at his last statement. She kept trying to keep in what she was feeling, not wanting to upset him with a display of emotions. She couldn't take it much longer and she stuck her sword into the ground and fell to the ground, holding onto the handle in order to hold herself up.
Kratos walked up next to Storm and knelt down, embracing her in a hug and sitting her on his lap. Storm felt like a weak child but she felt happy and warm in her father's arms, the warmth that she had been missing out on for so many years. Storm eventually broke down and began to cry. All the years of sadness, loneliness, and pain all flowed out in the form of tears as the two cried in each other's arms for hours. Storm had actually been unable to physically cry for years and Kratos was surprised at her recovered human attribute.
After a while, Kratos heard a silence, he looked down at his daughter and saw that she had cried herself to sleep. She was so peaceful and innocent looking and he decided to take her back to Heimdall. As he carried her through the forest Kratos began to think about her sudden transformation.
It's strange. She hasn't been able to sleep or cry for years and she has just managed to accomplish both. Her displays of emotion has allowed her to gain back her human qualities. I'm just sad that I won't be able to see her become truly happy, Kratos thought as he finally arrived in Heimdall.
Kratos knocked on the elder's house and when he opened the elder was surprised to see Kratos carrying Storm.
"What happened to her?" the elder asked.
"She's asleep. Is it all right if she sleeps here? I really don't want her to wake up before the battle tomorrow. She doesn't need to see it," Kratos asked.
"That's fine. Kratos? Are you really going to go through with it? What about her and Lloyd?" the elder asked.
"Yes, I must do this if they are to be truly happy. If I don't release the seal..." Kratos began.
"I know, the worlds can never be reunited. But, even if the worlds are reunited, will they really be happy knowing you were sacrificed?" the elder asked.
"It doesn't matter what happens to me, I must do what must be done," Kratos said. "Take good care of her." With that Kratos disappeared into the forest to rest before the battle the next day.
"Storm, Lloyd, you two must save your father," the elder said before he closed the door.
Well, how was it. I hope it was as emotional as I hoped. Well, do your thing and review okay?