1All right, everyone has been anxiously waiting for this chapter so I decided I had better start working on it ASAP! Well, it's time for the Origin seal, I know the question on everyone's mind is whether or not Kratos will die. Keep reading to find out! Response time!

luigidog: Yeah...I update as often as I can, I feel bad if I leave you guys on a cliffhanger for a long time. Thanks for reading this story and I really hope you keep doing so. Thanks for the review and I'm glad to see that you do keep reviewing!

inuyahsa fangirl: Once again, that was really funny! I can actually see Storm beating the snot out of Mithos so bad that he would get brain damage. Lol! I'm sorry that I keep getting up your hopes for the Origin seal part, but I promise that it's in this chapter so you don't have to wait anymore. Thanks for reviewing!

Judgement Flame: I'm glad that you liked the last chapter and I feel really special that you think that my story is that great! I'm also glad that you believe the real-ness of it because that is definitely what I'm going for. I wanted a believable character who could create a believable plot. I never really expected this story to be that popular. You know it was just some stupid story that I had in my head for a long time and it finally was written down. I never expected this many people to enjoy it! So thank you for your reviews, they make me really happy.

blackflame: Yeah, Kratos needs a very big hug. (kratos lover 1 gives Kratos a hug, and also sneaks in a kiss) Whoa! I don't really know where the kiss came from, I guess I just couldn't hold it in any longer. Sorry... Thanks for the review.

Ana Paula92: Yeah, the story is coming to a close but there are still quite a few chapters left. I will be really sad when it's over, but never fear there will be a sequel. Will Cruxis be revived, will Kratos die, will monkeys take over the world? I really don't know because I haven't really gotten a plot for it yet. Thank you for your review!

Mez10000: I'm glad that my stories had such a good impact on you and everyone else. But, I can't help wondering, why is everyone so sad for Kratos. I mean, I am too, but what about poor Storm. Nobody is sad for her. Thanks for your review, I'm glad that you thought that they were emotional. Were her emotions displayed good enough? I really want to know if I'm getting her feelings across good enough. Thanks!

jayseeen: Wow, now I'm worried about the underscore on my computer. For some reason it wouldn't put it in. Hopefully it will when it transfers over. If not, I'm sorry I really did try to put them in. Anyway, I'm glad that the emotion was powerful enough in this chapter and I'm glad to see a new reviewer. I love to hear from you guys.

PotatoPuff: Thanks for the review! I'm glad that you thought that the was good in the last chapter and I hope that you will enjoy what happens next. I also hope that you keep reviewing.

Kratos Wilder: I hope that you enjoy the next chapter and I'm really glad that you like this next chapter and I hope that you don't hate its ending. I got your message and you made me feel really special! I never really expected my story to get this big, but I guess even stupid dotries that come out of a teenager's head can be entertaining. I'm glad that so many people like it! It's such a great feeling. I never expected to get this far with it, so thanks for saying that! I think my writing style has also gotten a lot better since I started this. Thanks again for your review, your kind words, and best of all your friendship!

bluedranzer77: Wow, I never thought if that chapter as a reach out and grab you chapter but I'm glad that you decided to review because of it. I love hearing from my readers. If I don't I don't know whether or not anyone likes the story. Thanks for the review!

Chapter 31: A Sacrifice

She could see it, it was a fire. There was a fire in the forest, the forest that she knew her father was in. She ran towards the flames, hoping she could find him and help him escape from the danger. As she got closer, she noticed that the flames turned into two figures. One was her father and the other was Lloyd. They were fighting and when their swords clashed they erupted into flames. Storm tried to stop the two but neither one would listen. Finally, the two stopped and they both began to speak with each other, but for some reason, she couldn't hear what they were saying even though she was only a few feet away from them. Then, her father began to glow and then he collapsed. She rushed over to her fallen father and realized that he wasn't breathing. She then looked back at Lloyd who was creating a pact with Origin. She was tearing up, what would she do without her father in her life? Soon, everyone left and Storm was left alone in the dark forest. Then, a dark figure walked up to her and offered her his hand. She could barely make out his face, it was...Mithos!

Storm woke in a panic. She nervously tried to figure out where she was and frantically searched for her father. She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around only to find that the elf elder was the only person in the room.

"Where is my father?" Storm asked nervously, she knew the answer but part of her hoped she was wrong.

"He's in the forest, Lloyd's group just entered about ten minutes ago. Kratos brought you back here last night. He didn't want you to watch what will come today," the elder replied.

"No, I have to go! I have to find him! I don't want my dream to come true. I won't let that happen! I can't lose him! Excuse me, but I have to find my father," Storm said as she quickly headed for the door to try and reach her father before it was too late.

Author Note: From here on out if it doesn't say who's thinking in italics, it's Storm.

If he dies then I cannot go on living. I cannot stand to live alone and I won't go back...but why was Mithos in my dream? He should be dead. Why would that come to me? He should be out of my life. But, there's no time to worry about that, I have to find Dad, Storm thought as she ran through the maze of trees in the forest.

Deep in the forest, unknown to Storm, Lloyd and Kratos had already began to fight. They were both fighting solo, Lloyd wouldn't accept any help from his friends. They exchanged blows, and their skills seemed equal in strength. The battle seemed to be at a stand still for the time being...

Dad, please hold on, I won't let you make the greatest mistake of your life, Storm thought as she continued through the forest.

Lloyd and Kratos' swords met and the impact sent the two flying back. Lloyd seemed to be suddenly gaining the upper hand in the battle, but Kratos wasn't giving in just yet and Lloyd wouldn't let him.

Please, don't leave me...

Kratos kept trying to blow Lloyd away with his magic attacks but Lloyd was too quick. Lloyd wouldn't let up and kept attacking at Kratos.

...alone...

Finally, Lloyd gave Kratos the final blow as Kratos collapsed to his knees, unable to recover any reserve of strength. Kratos stared up at Lloyd preparing for the fate that was awaiting him.

"No!" Storm cried as she flew out of the forest and stood herself between her brother and father with her arms stretched out, shielding Kratos. "Lloyd...don't do this...not to Dad," Storm pleaded.

Lloyd looked at her with an intense stare. Storm looked directly into his eyes in hoping to read what he was going to do. Suddenly, Lloyd's eyes grew soft as he put his sword away and nodded at Storm. A huge, relieved smile spread across Storm's face.

"You've...grown strong," Kratos said weakly.

"Thanks to you," Lloyd replied.

"Aren't you...going to finish me off?" Kratos asked his son.

Storm turned around to face her father looking at him in disbelief.

"I've defeated Kratos, the angel, the one who betrayed us. And I forgive Kratos, the hero of the Ancient War, who helped us. That's all," Lloyd replied.

Storm smiled happily to hear that her father would be spared and would once again return with her.

"And I thought I'd finally earned the right to die...but you're as soft-hearted as ever," Kratos replied as he got to his feet.

"Wait Dad! What are you..." Storm began, stumbling with her words.

"H...hold on! You can't be...are you going to break the seal?" Lloyd asked.

"...That is what you desire...is it not?" Kratos replied as he continued towards the seal.

"But then you'll..."Lloyd stammered.

"Dad, no!" Storm cried as she watched her father release his mana at the seal. It was just like in her dream and now he was going to die. She couldn't lose her father she wouldn't be able to live with her father gone.

"Kratos!" Lloyd cried as he watched him begin to fall to the ground.

Suddenly, Yuan appeared and caught him.

"...Don't worry, he's alive. I gave him some of my mana," Yuan said as he gently set Kratos on the ground.

"Da...Kratos are you really okay?" Lloyd asked as he walked to where Kratos was laying.

"Dad?" Storm knelt next to him and placed her hand on him to confirm that he was still alive.

"...Looks like I failed to die once more," Kratos weakly replied.

"You stupid jerk! You can die anytime! But when you die, that's the end," Lloyd yelled at him.

"Dad...why would you leave me?" Storm quietly asked.

"You want him to live in eternal damnation?" Yuan asked suddenly.

It was then that Kratos began to think. What kind of example was he setting for his daughter? She was cursed to live for an infinite number of years and he was practically telling her the only way to deal with it was to kill herself. Anna would have been ashamed.

"Who said anything like that? What will you accomplish by dying? Nothing! There is no meaning in dying!" Lloyd replied, still hurt by his father's actions.

Kratos looked over to his son and then to his daughter, he then smiled realizing that he had been proven wrong by his seventeen year old son. That seemed silly, especially since he was almost four thousand years old.

"You're...right. To think, I had to have my son teach me such an obvious lesson." Kratos replied as Storm reached and gave him a hug.

"Don't ever do that again," Storm said.

"Don't worry, I won't," Kratos replied.

"Make the pact with Origin," Yuan said and with that Sheena and Lloyd walked over to the Summon Spirit and a battle soon began.

"Storm, do you want to fight with us?" Lloyd asked.

"No, I don't really want to get involved in the whole Summon Spirits deal," Storm replied.

Once the battle was over and the pact was made, Storm sat back and recollected everything that had just happened. She had lost her father and he had been brought back to life, but she still couldn't understand why Mithos was in her dream.

"Hey Lloyd, that was so cool when you were battling Origin," Genis yelled from behind Storm as she whipped around to see her brother.

Suddenly, she noticed the small Cruxis Crystal around his neck. Could that be? Was it Mithos'?

"Genis get rid of that Cruxis Crystal, you're putting us all in dan..." Storm started but she was unable to finish before the Cruxis Crystal started to move away from his body as it rushed towards Storm. Unable to escape its path, the crystal attached itself to Storm who could feel a dark power trying to control her.

"Now, Storm, you'll be coming back to Derris Kharlan with me. With your body and your powers I will be unstoppable," Mithos' voice came from Storm as she tried her best to fight off his influence.

"N..no I won't," Storm struggled with her words before she was completely absorbed by his power. Her wings opened up and she flew up, towards the Tower of Salvation.

"Storm!" Kratos and Lloyd called at the same time.

"What did he mean that he'd be unstoppable?" Lloyd asked.

"Storm is even more powerful than Mithos and with his powers he will be stronger than ever," Yuan replied.

"I've failed her once again," Kratos fell to his knees.

"Don't worry Kratos, we'll get her back, there was nothing you could do, but you can help us," Lloyd said as he offered Kratos a hand.

"Yes, together we can bring her back and put an end to Mithos' reign," Kratos replied.

Well, how was this chapter, I didn't really know how to go about it so I hope that was alright. Please review!