Welll, lookie here dear readers, I Laura have sucessfully...and diligently have posted A NEW CHAPTER! Yippee! Although you can't even see it when I load it up b/c fanfiction net is like whoa! Uber slow! Ahem, anyway, I hope you're all enjoying meh fic, you know this is actually the first tos fanfiction I wrote...the whale one was for fun...but uhm it seems people like it! 24 Reveiws that's like more then like I ever got in my entire life! I'm not kidding about that either! AHHH that's awsome...thankee Crimson for reviewing, and Fermaniarki I'm glad you think it's cool :D I'm debating on wheather to make it one of those pairings...I dunno yet, I shall see what my insane mind comes up with...hehehe. Anywho hope you all enjoy chapter 15 de Blue Skied Symphony...yay I got my report card today and didn't fail anything...go me:D :D
"With the remembrance of the past, a certain guilt fills one's heart, a guilt which no man human or half elf can bear. But what if we didn't cause this guilt? What if an outside force, a force from our hearts caused it? The past meets the present in an ugly and horrific way, a way in which bloodshed is unavoidable. When these two forces collide there is, and never will be anyway to change your fate, for the future is held within these two opposing forces of light and dark, for the future and for myself I will fight."
Kratos Aurion
"What is your name?" a blue haired half elf asked. The man with the long black hair, with two bangs hanging over his right eye, and a black purple striped cape, looked up expectantly at the half elf. They were in one of the many living chambers of Derris Kharlan. Although few half elves residing within the meteor's walls needed rest, the living accommodations served various purposes, such as private conversations and the occasional new enrollment of Cruxis Desian soldiers.
"My name…my lord?" the man responded looking about the room with uncertainty clearly written in his eyes. The blue half elf's eyes flashed, as he bent closer.
"Yes…your name, you do have one, don't you…human?" the man noticed the half elf's voice go cold at the end part of his question.
"I wish not to have my current name, it doesn't suit me…at all." The half elf raised his eyebrow skeptically. This guy isn't serious is he? Who wouldn't want to keep their name?
"Why is it that you hate your name?" the half elf asked, still looking at the human man before him. Yuan hadn't a problem with humans, since one of his best friends was one, he had learned to deal with the fact of mutual hatred humans and half elves shared for each other, that or, he had just blown it off, but this man, kneeling before him…was different, something about him, was off.
"My past life sir…it doesn't suit me, I rather just forget about it, and have a new name given out to me by my new allegiance." The man stated looking into the half elf's crystal blue eyes, almost the same color as his hair. Yuan slammed his hand on the adjacent desk, the man looked at him questioningly, he didn't even flinch, Yuan jumped out of his seat.
"Cruxis does not deal with your past personal problems! Tell me your name now, or I'll have the guards take you away!" Yuan said fuming, from the human's stubbornness. The man still kneeling sighed, and shrugged his shoulders.
"My name my lord…is Phanos, Phanos Krios Pallas." Yuan's eyes widened at the man's last name. Pallas…could it be…
"Your family fought in the just ended Great War, am I correct." Yuan asked, the man's eyes were down casted and he looked at the lavish white rug with its golden inlaid designs, which sparkled in the room's luminous lighting. The man nodded slowly. Yes.
"Indeed, they were. I have no respect for them though; I have no regrets that my parents died either. They didn't deserve to live, blaming everything on half elves, just an excuse…this whole war was just an excuse to kill people who are different." The man said through clenched teeth, Yuan and the man both twirled around as a bright light erupted in the room covering everything in white. Yuan was bent down on one knee his head lowered; the black haired man looked at the half elf, and then back at the new figure standing before them both. Another half elf, with long blonde hair covering the right side of his face, his one showing piercing blue cold calculating eye scanned the room and it's inhabitants, and a golden key crest with a green crystal within it, shown in the light of the room.
"Lord Yggdrasill, I-I didn't know you were coming." Yuan said stammering looking up and his companion. Yggdrasill looked at Yuan then back at the man, he raised a golden eyebrow.
"Who may I ask, Yuan is this?" Yggdrasill asked calmly his voice filling in the silence of the room.
"This is Phanos my lord, Phanos Krios Pallas." Yuan said standing up at one flick of Yggdrasill's wrist.
"I see, a human is he?" the blonde leader of Cruxis asked his eyes glowing with what seemed amusement.
"Indeed he is a human my Lord." Yuan responded, looking at his leader with questioning eyes. Why does he seem so…enthusiastic by this…human?
"Yuan…" Yuan shook out of his thinking and looked at Yggdrasill with perplexity.
"Huh? Oh, yes my lord?"
"Leave, I shall deal with this…human." Yggdrasill said in a hiss, Yuan looked at his leader with confusion.
"But…my lord what if…"
"Leave us! Now." Yuan bowed.
"As you wish." The blue haired half elf glared at the man, his blue eyes dancing with hatred and distrust. He turned on his heels his lavishly decorated cape swinging about his feet, and his blue pony tail swung with his momentum as well, Yuan pushed open the double wooden doors and stepped out into the purple lighted hallway of Derris Kharlan.
Most people never used the rooms on Kharlan, although those were the life less beings, this man however was far from lifeless he was if not, incapable of dying. Kratos Aurion sat bent over a piece of parchment he scribbled furiously as he wrote down the days records of Cruxis Crystals made. The once long list of human names had a green word next to them saying host. So many of them were older people, Jenna Fara seventy six, Douglas McDowel thirty five, so many more names all of them once had families, friends and even children and grand children. Now so many of them had the red bolded words of deceased next to them. No longer would the children of Douglas meet their father at the door for a greeting from a day's hard work, and no longer would Jenna be visited by her grandchildren for festivals, and such. Then there was the one name he dreaded to see, his hand scrunched up the parchment as he read over her name, it was boxed out from the rest, the words next to her name in blue. His teeth clenched…Anna… next to that name it read, Angelus Assigned. A brush of air and Kratos sighed, he turned the page over and looked up, a blue haired half elf stood before him a grim expression on his face Kratos smirked.
"Well, looks like you have pleasant news, Yuan." Kratos said turning away and continuing his monotonous scribbling, which filled the all too quiet room. He heard Yuan snort, and Kratos looked up clearly interested as his friend folded his arms over his chest, and began his usual pacing about the room. Kratos didn't remember if he had done this when Martel was alive, maybe it was her death that triggered his friends anxiety, but who knows what her death could of done to him, he hid his feelings all too well, for anyone to help him.
"Mithos seemingly has added a new…human, to Cruxis." Kratos noticed his friend's emphasis on the word "human".
"Who is this…human?" Kratos asked all but too unscathed. Yuan stopped his pacing and faced the auburn haired man.
"A man named Phanos…" Kratos' eyes widened. That name…
"Phanos Krios Pallas." Yuan repeated he noticed Kratos had went tense and his head jerked toward Yuan, his eyes had a certain flame inside them, a flame that Yuan hadn't seen in such a long time, since the War.
"What?" Yuan heard Kratos let out in a whisper. Yuan sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and began his pacing.
"You know of him?" the blue haired angel asked casually as he took one of the many books lining the room's vast shelves.
"Yes…the house of Pallas. They fought…against us; I mean my family in the war. They were on the side of Tethe'alla and we were…"
"Slyvarant I know, you told me about five times…I seriously think you're older than twenty eight sometimes, Kratos. Care for me to call you grandfather?" Yuan asked smiling at his friend who glared, and turned back to his work.
"You know Yuan your sarcasm is going to kill you one of these days…"
"And when it does dear friend I shall forever remember your warning…" Yuan began to say sarcastically but stopped as a small blonde haired boy, wearing simple elven attire and purple wristbands entered the room. Yuan knelt down and Kratos bowed from his sitting position.
"Lord Mithos, what brings here? I thought you were conferring with the human." Yuan asked rising from his position. Mithos' eyes shown in the lighted room they darted back and forth between the half elf and human.
"I wish you would of let me finish the questioning, my lord." Yuan said Mithos turned to him.
"And why is that? Yuan?" Mithos asked his voice coming out all too venomous.
"Because what if that human was a spy? He could have killed you at any moment!" Yuan said his voice rising to a dangerous level, Mithos shot the blue haired half elf an angry look, and Yuan snapped his mouth shut.
"Do you really think a human can kill me, Yuan? Let those wretches send spies! I have no fear of them; I am but a god in their eyes…" Kratos slammed his hands on his desk and pushed his chair out, he stood up glaring at his former pupil.
"Need I remind you, lord Mithos, that god aren't always immortal you best keep that in mind." Kratos stood looking at Mithos, a wave of tension filled the air, and Mithos laughed.
"Was that a threat? Lord Kratos betrayer of humans?" Mithos asked, and Kratos looked down at the various papers lying on his desk.
"Not a threat but merely a warning, my lord." Kratos stated, as he looked at Yuan who had an expression of terror in his eyes. One in which every time the former teacher of the ruler of Cruxis spoke out against his once young disciple the expression would always be the same, for fear of what these two could do to each other if one of them had finally snapped. Mithos' lip curled up into a malicious smile.
"Lest I remind you, you need not worry about me so much, Kratos. Yuan." Mithos turned to the half elf, which stared at his leader.
"It's best if you keep your mouth shut from now on, I'm very against prying eyes especially when it comes to this." Mithos said and Yuan nodded in agreement.
"Y-Yes, Lord Mithos, it won't happen again."
"Good. I'll leave you two to your work." The leader of Cruxis disappeared in a flash of sparkling light, a light that Kratos thought unsuitable for the demon that possessed it. He heard his blue haired companion let out a tired sigh, and he looked over to find him sitting down in an upholstered chair, legs stretched out before him. Yuan looked at his human companion.
"That was very close Kratos, mind telling me what the hell you were thinking? I really would like to know." Yuan asked, as he watched the auburn haired man step out from behind his desk.
"He has no right Yuan…"
"No right! No right for what?" Yuan asked anger tracing in his voice. Kratos looked at his friend.
"To keep things from us! We're just apart of Cruxis as much as he is!" Kratos stated, and Yuan just sighed and closed his eyes.
"Oh yes, and almost getting killed is really worth finding out what he wants to do with this human, am I correct, or is there some other method to your madness which I have yet to find out?" Kratos snorted in amusement.
"You know as well as I do, that Mithos hates humans, so why would he confer with one especially one who during the great war killed thousands of half elves, and elves?" Kratos asked and Yuan sighed.
"I really don't know anymore Kratos…I really don't, everything just changed you know? Especially after…" Yuan paused and the room grew silent.
"I do…I know Yuan, I know. But, I guess its fate." Kratos whispered as he took out a ring from his pocket, Yuan glanced at it from the corner of his eye. I wonder…a ring, but for who?
Hey! Wake Up! Come on, you can't be dead…wake…up! Yuan looked about the room confused, Kratos stared at him.
"What's wrong?" his friend asked concerned, Yuan sighed and closed his eyes.
I know you're alive…wake the hell up! Now!
"I-I think I'm going crazy, Kratos." Yuan opened his eyes but there was nothing but black around him now.
"What the…hell?" A sharp pain rain through his head, as he clutched it in pain, he groaned as loud thumping noises sent flares of white-hot pain shooting through his eyes.
Yuan's eyes flew open; he looked at the scene around him. A brawny tanned, brown haired man stood over him, and a child who resembled the man stood next to him, both were looking down at him. He groaned as more pain flooded through his body, as he try to sit up, but a pair of strong yet gentle hands pushed him back down into what seemed a soft downed bed. A dream…that was all a dream…but that man! It can't be…it might actually be…
"Where…where am I?" the half elf asked, his blue eyes scanning as much of the room, as his position would let me.
"Why you're in Flanoir my dear half elf!" the man replied happily as he got up and put another log in the furnace, it crackled and that was the only sound in the room for a while. Yuan sighed, his hand went instinctively to his blue bangs, which he ran a hand through but felt a soft white clothe around his head he put a hand defensively to his pointed ears, and looked cautiously at the man, who smiled back and laughed.
"Don't worry yourself, I'm not one of those people that hate half elfs, besides we've more pressing matter." Yuan sighed as his hand dropped to his side limply.
"What happened?"
"You were pretty injured when we found ya' Pretty bloodied up ye were, so we took you to this here hospital, it's a damn blessing this place wasn't destroyed. Every other room has someone injured in it." The man stated looking out the frost-covered window the scene was of mass destruction. Flanoir laid in ruins, or at least only one part of it, huge conflagrations burned down what little remaining houses were left standing from the summon spirit fight. A hard snow was falling. Yuan stared at the raging fire, his hands balled into fists. That man…bastard getting innocent people involved. A knock made both the man and Yuan look at the door, the boy got up and opened the door. The all too familiar doctor entered, his eyebrow rose and his face had a look of amusement.
"Back again I see, Yuan. Can't seem to keep yourself out of trouble can you?" the doctor asked placing his hand on the half elf's head, his brows knitted tighter. Yuan looked at him in puzzlement.
"What's wrong? And no, I seemingly can't keep out of trouble, what can I say, I'm impulsive, a bit too impulsive." Yuan said shrugging, the doctor laughed.
"You seem to still have a fever, but that's normal…the snow around these parts gets anyone injured more sick. I think you should rest for a while longer." The doctor got up, and began to walk out of the room, but he paused and turned around.
"Your friends made it out safely, or at least for the most part, I don't know what happened after they got out of Flanoir, but we are truly in debt to you and Lloyd." The doctor said existing the room, Yuan sighed and the man and the boy got up.
"We'll just leave you to your rest." The man said showing a toothy smile, Yuan smiled back and waved. The wooden door closed with a click. Yuan observed the room it was quite spacious. A large rug in the center, two windows one at the far end to the right, where a table was positioned, and another to the far left where his bed was positioned it was coated in the sun's warm sunlight. He let out a sigh, and closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.
"This is lovely…how the hell am I supposed to get to them, I don't even know where they are. Damn it." Yuan said rising from the bed, he gripped his shoulder and hissed in pain, the bandage over it was a deep red. His pink wings flared out from his back, and he sighed. He stretched them for a few minutes getting used to the feeling again. He turned his head and looked at them.
"It's been a long time since I used these…a little bit too long." He sighed again as he made them flap noiselessly, sending a cool rush of air over the blazing fire.
"Thanks for the help doc, but I have to go find Kratos, I have to tell him…about my dream." The boy was returning to the blue haired half elf's room, the sound of glass shattering sent him running and breaking through the door. The left window laid in shattered pieces strewn about the floor and bed. The boy turned to run and get his father, but he felt his father rest on his hand.
"Heh, I knew he couldn't control himself." The man stated walking into the room and picking up the bloodied bandages of the half elf that had currently occupied the room, he sighed and looked up at his son.
"Father look! A feather." His brown-eyed brown haired son held up to the suns light a light pink feather; it sparkled and glowed in the sun's light. The mans eyes widened in amazement as they scanned over the feather.
"That means…" the man began holding the shining light pink feather. His son looked at him with a questioning look.
"What does it mean…father?"
"That half elf was one of the high Seraphim of Cruxis." The man stated and he heard his son gasp. The man stared at the angel feather he was now twirling in his hand, his brows knitted together.
"There was once a saying, that when an angel losses his feathers, his death has already been determined." The man stated, his son looked out into the clear blue sky, a cold wind blew into the room, making the fire in the furnace flare up and crackle more.
"That's not true is it…father?" the boy asked, his father shrugged as he looked out into the bright blue sky.
A woman with long flowing brown hair, and equally brown eyes, walked through the crowded streets of Luin. In her arms she cradled her newborn son his name was Lloyd. She had gone out for food, she told Kratos that she'd be back in a few minutes. She sighed, the city had changed a lot since it was rebuilt, the rebuilding in which when it was destroyed by desians she was captured and taken to the horrid human ranches. Now it was back into it's former glory, Luin, her home. She decied that the summer son was too much for her, and her son, so she turned down an alleyway, resting in the cool shade. She sighed as a brisk wind blew her brown hair over her eyes; she pushed it back, and gasped at the figure before her.
"You…!" she whispered, the man before stared at her his black cape covering his entire body it was trailing on the cobbled street, two strands of his long black hair hung over his right eye, and he looked at the women before him, his eyes flashed red. He smiled and his teeth flashed in the sun's light.
"Hello dear Anna, it has been quite awhile hasn't it? Still as energetic as ever…amusing, you have a child. Who might I ask is the father." The man said stepping closer, Anna pulled out a dagger, which was neatly tucked away, in the back of her tan tunic, the man smiled.
"Heh, plan on fighting me, do you?" the man said as he moved behind her with lighting speed. He grabbed her arm, she was sure not to cry out, for she hated showing her enemies her pain, her dagger fell out of her twisted wrist, the man caught is and slashed at her cheek as she spun and kicked him, sending him reeling backwards. He laughed.
"My, my you are a feisty one aren't you?" the man said whipping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Why do you care, who the other parent is of this boy?" Anna said her voice filled with seething anger. She wished Kratos were here now.
"Oh I was just curious, maybe it's the traitorous bastard, Kratos?" Anna's eyes widened then she glared at him. He laughed.
"I am right, aren't I? This will be interesting." He moved closer Anna braced herself.
"Stop it, what'll this get you? Why are you so…against humans?" she whispered holding Lloyd close to her. The man stopped, his eyes filled with an expression she had never seen on this man before, that expression was pain. He immediately snapped back at her, his eyes showing anger.
"Why you ask? Why! Humans are nothing but selfish cowards, only wanting one thing and one thing only, power, and fame. The people of Meltokio are a prime example of humans." The man spat out his arms shaking with anger.
"Not all humans are like that though!" Anna cried out she stopped as the man now pressed the daggers cold tip against her cheek.
"All the humans I've seen…that's what their like, my parents, that's what they were like as well, and when I told them the truth about the war they disowned me thinking that my optimistic ways would turn our soldiers against them." The man stated running the dagger down the women's cheek a thin line of blood formed on the surface, he stepped backwards, and dropped the dagger, it clanged against the stone floor, filling the empty void, with it's echoing.
"Anna!" Anna spun around to the comforting, familiar voice of her husband.
"Kratos…" she whispered as the auburn angel, ran up to her and put his arms around her protectively. He glared at the man smiling evilly before him.
"Phanos…you bastard, what do you want…or should I say, what does Yggdrasill want?" Kratos asked with vehemence in his voice. The man laughed.
"You truly are a traitor aren't you! Falling for this…wench, this experimen…" the man was cut off as Kratos drew his sword, dashing forward and put it up to the man's exposed neck. The man's eyes glittered with amusement.
"Tell your master…I no longer want any part of his…plans for his perfect world." Kratos growled his eyes ignited with anger, he stepped backwards and the man before him disappeared as orbs of white engulfed him. Kratos turned back to Anna, but no one stood there.
"Anna? What the hell?" the angel looked around everything was black…and then, nothingness.
Kratos' eyes cracked open, he was in a wooden room, and everything was wooden including his bed.
"A dream…it was all a dream, that man…Phanos." He groaned as a pain in the back of his head, made his surroundings spin around. Sunlight filtered through the rooms one and only window. It had to be at least noon. His eyes darted about the room, he then noticed his son, sleeping his head resting against his chest, in a chair. Kratos smirked as he pulled the covers off him. Lloyd's head shot up as he then sat staring at his father, who stopped. Lloyd's eyebrows knitted together.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lloyd said almost reprimanding the man, Kratos snorted.
"I fall unconscious and this is what happens, where's Raine and Genis?" Kratos asked his son.
"They're in the next room over." Lloyd said getting up.
"You should rest, I'll get you something to um never mind." Lloyd stated remembering his father really didn't need to eat. Kratos sighed, and looked at the wooden floor contemplatively.
"Raine hurry! Come on!" the tall silver haired half elf said, pulling a smaller child behind her. The lady before the child was her mother, she was also holding a bundle, within it a baby lay also with sliver hair, it was wrapped tightly so as to keep out the piercing cold.
"But…mother, we've been running…" the little girl stammered panting for breath.
"Only a little further till we reach the Otherworldly Gate…hold on." The girl's mother stated, as they ran over a hill exposing on the cliff side bellow a circle of stones. The girl heard the waves of the Ocean crashing into the jagged cliff face it sent sprays of water into the huge massive circle of rocks. They ran up to the massive circle, an evil laugh sent both the women and child spinning around their backs now facing the rocky slabs. The older half elf gave the bundle to her daughter, and pushed her behind her, the figure stepped out from the shadows, revealing himself as a man wearing a long black cape, he smiled, as he drew out a long silver sword from its sheath on his belt.
"Hello Virginia…it seems you have nowhere else to run, give the children to me." The man stated as he moved ever closer, his eyes, and sword flashing dangerously in the moon's glow. The half-elven woman pushed her frighten daughter behind her even more, Raine clutched to her mother's skirt. The man laughed seeing the frighten look in child's eyes. He moved ever closer, and Virginia stood before him her eyes defiant.
"I will not let you turn my child into your masters lifeless beings." She whispered as she clutched Raine's trembling hand. The man gave a short laugh.
"You have no choice in the matter, Virginia. You will give your children to me to be used as experimentation in the Angelus Project. Why both of your children have exspehere's as it is, so hand them over…now." The man stated looking at the silver haired women before him. She had piercing blue eyes and a well-built figure. The man smirked.
"Never." The women hissed back she looked up at the moon. Now's the time…I must do it now…I'm sorry Raine for leaving you. The women spun around and pushed her child back into the center of the circle; the moon's light had centered itself within the circle of stones perfectly. The man's eyebrows rose, and his eyes widened, as he finally knew the structure before him.
"You bitch! You knew all along! The otherworldly Gate!" Raine's eyes widened as she watched her mother be hit aside by the black covered man's he ran forward trying to take at least one of them hostage.
"M-Mother! No don't leave me!" she stretched her hand out but a bright light erupted around her and her brother, and then nothingness.
Raine sat up in bed. What was that…that night, I remember it so clearly…Mother. Raine's eyes scanned her surroundings, all wood. She tried to remember who from their past adventure had a house all of wood Altessa's. Past events from the previous night before flashed through her mind. Genis! She looked to her left, and spotted another bed, made of oak just like hers, a figure lay sleeping within its covers. She let out a sigh of relief, as she noticed a head filled with spiky silver hair. She took his hand with his exsphere in it; into hers she noticed bandages on all of his cuts and bruises she smiled. Lloyd… She flipped the covers off her, and placed her bare feet on the wooden floor, the cold from the night still hung in the room sending a shiver down her spin. She opened the door quietly so as if not to wake her sleeping brother. The door clicked shut with a soft click. She turned around and almost fell backwards at the smiling blond haired girl staring up at her.
"C-Colette..." Raine said with letting out a laugh. She looked down in surprise as the girl before her wrapped her hands around her.
"Oh professor I'm so glad you're okay!" Colette said looking up at her teacher with eyes filled with relief, Raine sighed and looked at her.
"Yes, I'm fine…where's Lloyd?" Raine asked as Colette let go and stepped away.
"He's in the other room with Mr.Kratos." Colette said beaming, she walked away but tripped on the nearby table, Raine sighed and shook her head, as the girl's apologies filled the house. The door down the hallway swung open and Lloyd along with Kratos stepped out they looked at Raine.
"Professor…you're alright, good." Lloyd said, and Kratos looked at Raine, as they both walked to greet the half elf.
"Lloyd I want to…thank you."
"For what?" Lloyd asked looking questioningly at his teacher.
"For taking care of Genis." Raine, Lloyd, and Kratos spun around now facing the front door, where a loud thump and a cry of pain echoed through the windows of the house. Lloyd looked at his father, whose eyebrows knitted tighter in concern.
"Yuan…" Kratos said as he bolted to the door and opened it letting the sunlight bathe the kitchen. There lying in the front courtyard was the blue haired half elf, his wings flopped over his back, as he laid in the dirt, and dust.
"Ugh…K-Kratos." Yuan said as he got up shakily, Kratos ran over to his friend and gave him a helping hand. Kratos noticed that Yuan's angel feathers where lying on the floor.
"Yuan…what happened to you, your wings…" Yuan waved a hand dismissively,
"It's nothing, I have something important to tell you… he said as he walked toward the door he grasped his shoulder as pain shot through his arm. Lloyd and Raine stood in the doorway looking at him he managed a small smile. Kratos sighed at his friend's stubbornness, and followed him inside.
A cry of pain echoed through the empty meteor's dark vastness of space. The purple rocks moved in their continuous cycle of up and down. The Great Seed chamber, that's where the cry originated from, the chamber where the once infamous Mithos Yggdrasill kept the seed of the Great Tree, also where the his last stand was.
"Argh…god…damn…It!" The man said with a cry of rage as he slammed his good hand on the throne's arm rest, he winced as the horn thrummed, glowed a whitish hue and embedded itself deeper into his hand, he heard it's tip click against the golden thrones arm rest, it had finally made it all the way through. He bit down on his lip, drawing blood as he felt the powerful white mana surging from it. The gaseous snake writhed around in pain as well. Its movements were erratic, and it's eyes flashed as the horn glowed. The man sighed, as he placed his good hand over the now impaled one.
"I guess, I'll have to rip it out…isn't that right Obsidian?" the snake hissed loudly as it swirled around the throne leaving a black mist hanging about it.
Damn that half- elven wench, she will…pay, dearly." The man stated his voice labored as he gripped the horn, and began to pull it out.
"Erg…stupid…" he tugged on it and the snake hissed in an annoyed and pained tone. The man gasped his eyes wide sweat on his brow.
"Damn it…alright…Zelos, pull it out." The chosen looked at his master with emotionless eyes as he walked over, and with one swift tug ripped out the horn a huge pool of blood now lay on the floor around the throne. A cry of pain erupted from the man, as he clutched his bleeding hand to his chest. He laughed, as the pain quickly subsided, the snake engulfed him, and the once gaping hole disappeared completely. The man stood up, his eyes darting back and forth he began to pace.
"What to do now…it seems I underestimated their power, Obsidian. They're far too strong together" The man stopped, his eyes flashed dangerously.
"But…what if…" he began to laugh, and Zelos stood there looking at him with those dulled blue eyes.
"Yes…it's perfect…divided they shall all fall…everyone of them." The man said pulling out his dagger from his belt. He swiftly moved his hand in a half circle motion. And there out of the darkness eight identical persona of him appeared they all had expressionless eyes. The man clapped his hands together.
"Ah…it has been a long time since I used you all hasn't it?" the man asked, to the non-responsive images of himself. He placed the steel tip of the dagger to his index finger, he pressed down drawing blood. He smiled evilly.
"With this…I shall gain all the power I need, with the past, I shall…pry open the deepest darkest part of their hearts…I will…win." The man whispered as a drop of blood hit the floor, it turned into a black blob.
"One shall become the tragic love which only one man had to face, Anna Aurion." The blob engulfed the first figure, changing its appearance into a splitting image of Anna, the cut resealed itself and the man reopened it yet again with another sweep of his dagger's point.
"Another will be the sacrificial lamb, who in stopping the War left tragedy in her wake, Martel." Another drop, another blob, and the next figure changed into Martel, her long flowing green hair, and robes illuminating the dark seed chamber, in her right hand was her staff.
"The next…shall be supposed hero of the war…Forcystus" another figure changed into the half elf with turquoise hair, and a large metallic arm.
"The one who began the Angelus Project the one who destroyed the meaning of happiness, Kvar." The fallen half elf commander appeared his staff with its red circle in it in his hand.
"The one whose hatred for humans ran deep, thus giving him anger, Magnius." The half-elven commander formed his red spiked hair standing out in the purple chamber.
"The one whose experiments ruined lives, Rodyle." The image of Rodyle appeared next, his cape and glasses gleaming in the dimmed light.
"The witch whose dark mana will never be forgotten, Pronyma." Pronyma stood next to Rodyle her wand in hand, and the circular metallic skirt that surrounded her floated in mid air.
"And last…the leader of one of the renegade parties, who so nobly fought against the leader of Cruxis…Botta." The man whispered, his eyes flashed with pure amusement at the figures before him, they all resembled the Grand Cardinals and the other people identically.
"Go you who are my shadows…and with your powers destroy the precious bonds of love, that my enemies have." The man said whispering, his red eyes piercing through the dark void that was once Kharlan.
"So you're saying…that he's connected to all our pasts some way or another?" Raine asked taking a bite out of a well-needed meal. Genis was still sleeping, so Colette had cooked a brunch, since it was the afternoon. Yuan nodded his arm was fully healed from Raine's first aid spell.
"It doesn't make any sense…how could he be alive all that time, without a Crystal?" Lloyd asked, looking at his father for an answer, which Kratos himself didn't know. Yuan sighed.
"All except Regal, and Presea have connections to this man, we don't know if he's connected to their pasts. By the way where are…" A loud explosion and everyone turned toward the front door, jumping out of their seats. Sheena ran out of her room, cards in her hand. The front door flew off as both Regal and Presea came crashing through hitting the hard ground.
"Never mind." Yuan stated as he looked at them, he unsheathed his double bladed sword. Raine glared at the half elf, and ran over to her friends, lending Presea a helping hand.
"Are you two alright?" she asked.
"Yes." Presea stated.
"What happened?" Lloyd asked, a laugh made them all glare, Lloyd ran out into the bright afternoon sun.
"Lloyd!" Kratos cried, as he turned back to Raine.
"Get Altessa out of here, and Genis. Yuan…find Colette." Colette came out at that very moment. Yuan pointed to her.
"Found her." He said sheepishly, and Kratos sighed at his friend's careless attitude.
"Let's go! Time to finish this bastard." Kratos ran outside, only to collide with a flying figure of his son.
"Ugh! L-Lloyd…are you alright?" Kratos asked as everyone came out of the house, except Raine, who was now leading Altessa to the room with Genis, their stances and weapons drawn. Standing before them was the man in the black purple striped cape, he laughed, his long silver sword was drawn and swirling around him was his snake, it let out a mocking hiss.
"Phanos…" Yuan growled under his breath, the man's eyes widened.
"What's this? Finally remembered me, Kratos…Yuan." The man asked smiling, his shoulders shook with laughter as he held up his right hand. Everyone put their weapons up in defensive positions.
"FOOLS! You think that'll stop me!" an orb of black matter appeared in his outstretched hand, his eyes glowed, as he smiled wickedly.
"Time for you all to die…" the orb got larger as he turned his body and threw the orb at the surprised group. It collided with Yuan's sword engulfing it in pure darkness.
"What the hell!" Yuan cried various other cries of surprise were heard, from Lloyd, Colette and Sheena, as the orb got larger until everything was engulfed in black, Lloyd couldn't see anything or hear anything for that matter. Everything was black, and then.
Lloyd opened his eyes; he was looking up, since his was lying on his back, he groaned, as he sat up. His eyes widened, he looked around his surroundings which was no longer outside Altessa's house, but purple, purple rocks, and black vast space surrounding him instead of lush green of grass, and blue skies. He noticed Sheena lying on the floor, he got up and ran to her, Regal, Colette and Presea where nearby as well.
"What the hell just happened?" Lloyd whispered spinning around as a breeze as if something running by had just passed him. His eyes narrowed. Sheena groaned as she woozily got to her feet, Lloyd helped her, Colette too got up.
"Wh-What happened Lloyd? Where are we?" Colette asked confusion in her voice.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Sheena whispered the shadows seemed to move as if alive.
"Danger is near." Presea stated in her normal dry emotionless voice. Regals' eyebrows knitted together.
"Something isn't right, the air…it doesn't seem right." Regal said seriously, Lloyd and the others nodded, as the scanned the black shadows of Derris Kharlan.
Uh…my head…damn it what happened? Yuan's blue eyes popped open, he scanned his surroundings, and he noticed a lake behind him also by the crashing of the tiny waves the wind created.
"A…lake?"
"Yuan…we aren't in Tethe'alla anymore…that lake, it's." Yuan heard his auburn haired companion say as he walked over to him.
"Lake Umacy." Yuan and Kratos both spun around swords drawn, their eyes darting through the thick under brush of the forest.
"Kratos…are you really going to kill me again?" Yuan saw Kratos' eyes widened and Kratos' breath came out in short gasps. That voice…no it can't be… A laugh erupted from the dark underbrush of the forest; Yuan gripped his sword his eyes trying to find some clue to who had said that.
"Show yourself, you bastard!" he cried out.
"Oh no I'm not a bastard Mr. Yuan." a beautiful human women appeared out of the underbrush, Yuan heard the soft thud of his friends sword, Yuan turned around and gasped at the person before a just as stunned Kratos.
"An…Anna…" Yuan managed to whisper, but he turned around as soft gentle hands wrapped themselves around his arm, he spun around, and looked at the women before him. No! It…it can't be…M-Martel… Then a white light filled Yuan's vision.
"Mar…Martel…what're you…doing." The blue haired half elf whispered as a deep drowsiness washed over him, making his limbs go limp.
Raine stared at the empty doorway that was once filled with her companions.
"What happened? Where did everyone go." She asked herself out loud, examining the black spot, which was the only thing, left from where her friends were standing. She sighed as she scratched her head in confusion.
"R-Raine…what happened?" Raine spun around to a half awake Genis, who rubbed his eyes from his sleep.
"I think…Lloyd and the others are in trouble Genis." Raine whispered, Genis's eyes widened.
"What happened! Raine? Where are they?" Genis cried looking around frantically, Raine rested her arms on her brother's shoulders.
"I think I know…but we'll leave right after you're ready, okay?" she said comfortingly. Genis nodded, and ran back into his room, Altessa existed and looked at the lone pondering silver haired half elf, which had one hand under her chin.
"So where do ye think they went?" Raine turned in surprise at the sudden voice, which broke the comforting silence. She sighed.
"Derris Kharlan, I'm afraid." Raine stated, and Altessa nodded.
"So is this the final fight, I presume?" Raine looked at the dwarf in chock and confusion.
"F-Final fight? Whatever do you mean?" Raine asked perplexed at the dwarfs sudden statement.
"What I be meanin' lassy is that…you fought Mithos there am I right? So now you'll be fightin' him there too." Altessa stated, Raine pondered that statement somethign about it seemed to click in her mind...something important, Genis came running out of his room, kendama in his hand, she looked at him with her soft blue eyes, she was glad that he was alright, if he had turned into that...No...I mustn't think like that...
"Let's go…to the home of the elves." Genis said a fire burning in his eyes as he followed his sister to the Rehairds, and the grassy expanse got smaller as they both flew toward the tower of salvation, where there they would join up with their companions, in the home of the elves, Derris Kharlan.