Crystal Feathers: A Fanfic by Gyppy

Timeline: Based 2 years after 'To Kill An Angel'

Summary: After Niflheim was sealed, Lloyd thought the evils of the world to be dead. The group split up, expecting peace and quiet to reign around the world.

However, they were all in for a big surprise. Two years after Niflheim was sealed, the rising shadow that once concealed the world began to rise again... and now, Lloyd and the others must go on a journey to uncover the cause of the Rising Shadow and seal it away forever.

Pairings: LloydxColette and ZelosxSheena primarily, with some MithosxOC, YggdrasillxPronyma and GenisxPresea. There will also be hints at SelesxOC, YuanxMartel and KratosxRaine.

Author's Note: For the sake of keeping true to the storyline of Rising Shadow, there will be (as probably expected) very few hints at KxR. This is primarily to avoid offending all those random purists out there. I know that most of the purists will end up hating this story because of a few other pairings, but KxR seems to be the most hated of them.

As you all probably know, I'm a big fan of KxR. It's an official pairing in this storyline, though it will be rather rare. This fanfic will mostly focus on the action, though there will be some fluff inserted here and there.

This fanfic is based two years after 'To Kill An Angel', four years after 'Rising Shadow'. Therefore, Lloyd is 21, Colette is 20, Zelos is 26, Sheena is 23, Genis is 16, Presea is 16, Raine is 27, Abyssion is 27, Leviathan is 20, Seles is 18, Allurya is 8, Mithos is 16 and Karina is 15.

I might introduce more Tales of Destiny 2 characters later on.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Destiny/Tales of Destiny 2, Namco, Final Fantasy or Squaresoft/Square-Enix.

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Chapter 13: Broken Mask: The Day Before

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"So you've really broken the mask," Lloyd said. "Quite an amazing task, if I do say so myself."

"I no longer need it," Judas stated. "All of my loved ones have returned... and there is no further need of a mask to conceal my identity."

"It's amazing, you know," Lloyd said. "It's amazing how, with just one simple mana infusion, you were able to essentially bring back the life of Marian."

"Marian's life was not an easy one," Judas said, closing his eyes. "She endured a life of hardships up until she met me... and her meeting me forced me to kill her. Quite an unfortunate turn of events..."

"Well, at least you got some before she died," Zelos remarked.

Judas glared at him. "I'd rather you not mention that."

"Why?" Zelos walked over to Judas, looking him in the eye. "I mean, you loved her, why not make that knowledge that you made love to her more... y'know, open?"

"Because it's not something you just tell anyone," Judas muttered. "You're almost as bad as Loni..."

"Hey, that's not fair!" Loni yelled. "I'm supposed to be the king of pervertedness!"

"You still are," Judas said. "But at least you don't make unnecessary comments about relatives. Except maybe Kyle... but he's an exception."

"Loni makes unnecessary comments about Kyle?" Zelos smirked. "That's some awful weird incest, there."

"Not in that way!" Loni seemed suddenly infuriated. "He meant, like, teaching him girl stuff and the like."

"Oh, that's okay," Zelos said. "But man, I was so worried you two were, like..."

"Alright, that's enough," Reala said. "I thought you all knew Kyle likes me."

"In a completely and totally non-perverted sense," Zelos said sarcastically. "Face it, we know you've slept with him."

"I have not!" Reala seemed shocked by this statement. "I'm... too young to do something like that!"

"That's what Sir Ex-Mask Boy said," Zelos said. "Before he took the virginity of a person eight years older than himself."

"We'd known each other for longer than that," Judas said. "And besides... I ended up killing her anyhow... so how does it matter?"

"I'm not dead yet," Marian said, stepping into the room. "I'm still alive and well... well, now I am."

"Yeah, we all know that," Zelos muttered. "I heard you two making love last night, y'know."

"Oh come on, I'm not that loud!" Judas seemed embarrassed and annoyed at the same time. "Surely the rest of you didn't hear me... did you?"

"I hate to admit it, but I did," Reala said, hanging her head in shame. "I'm... sorry."

"No, it's alright," Marian said. "Besides, Judas was the only one making noise... so technically it's his fault."

Judas growled. "You little..."

"Back off, Mask-boy," Loni said. "You do realize that's your lover you're insulting there, right?"

"No matter," Zelos said. "He probably doesn't care anyhow."

"Mind your manners," Reala scolded. "I don't want anybody to be angry."

"No, it's alright," Marian said. "He acts like this all the time. Don't worry about him." She walked over to Judas and embraced him. "No need to worry, alright?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry," Judas said, smiling. "It's just... it's kinda hard to avoid things like that, y'know?"

"Alright, the mushiness is just getting sickening now," Zelos muttered. "So, what's this about your mask?"

"I'm keeping it off," Judas replied. "I don't need the mask anymore. Now that Rutee and Marian are back... I guess it's kinda hard to keep something like that. But I really don't need it. I'm keeping my name, but... not the mask."

"Guess this means I can't call you Mask-boy anymore," Loni said, exaggerating sorrow.

Judas glared at Loni. "Oh would you just knock it off!"

"The mask is broken and Marian is back," Lloyd said. "You know we're going to have to fight Kaziro tomorrow... I want you all to be ready for it."

"We'll be ready," Judas said. "Trust me."

Marian finally backed off. "I'll help in any way I can..."

"You stay in your Cruxis Crystal." Judas' voice was stern. "I don't want anything happening to you."

"Technically, I can't die," Marian said. "I mean, my physical body is just concentrated mana now. It can be harmed, but it can't really be destroyed."

"Unless the crystal is broken," Loni said. "But we all know Ex-Mask-boy won't let that happen, will he?"

"Shut up, you." Judas glared at Loni again.

'I think now would be a good time to stop trying to convince everyone to be quiet,' Chaltier remarked.

"I know," Judas said. "But I can't exactly do anything about their..." he cleared his throat. "...unnecessary comments. If we're gonna be fighting Kaziro, we have to have a little seriousness left."

"Sor-ry," Zelos said, glaring at Judas. "It's not my fault you were so friggin' loud."

Judas blushed. "Would you stop bringing that up, please?"

"It really does pain him to hear that," Marian said. "Please don't, okay?"

Mithos stepped into the room. "Personally I'd like to say that you guys must have really sensitive hearing. I didn't hear him at all."

"Didn't hear him at all, huh," Zelos said, glancing at Mithos. "Seems rather odd for you, Angel-boy."

"I'm serious!" Mithos shook his head. "I'm sorry to say this, but... you guys are idiots. Leave poor Judas alone!"

"'Poor' Judas, huh," Zelos said. "How come he was the only one who could break Kaziro's will?"

"I have a feeling we're going to be seeing that Majin-Rengoku-Satsu again soon," Loni commented. "I mean, what with how he's been acting lately..."

"A good Majin-Senretsushou should set Kaziro in his place," Judas said, grinning. "Or maybe a Shouha-Retsukousen."

"I personally think a Shouhou Zetsurenshou should be able to finish him off," Kyle commented, entering the room. "Maybe a Retsushou Souhajin."

Loni smirked. "Or maybe a Shinten-Rekkuu-Zankou-Senpuu-Messai-"

"Alright, that's enough," Lloyd interrupted. "We get it already. You want to practice some of your ultra-cool techniques on this Kaziro guy."

"Only cause there's nothing else to do with him," Judas muttered. "And besides, I've been wanting to try out Majin-Senretsushou for a while."

"Enough blabbering about techniques," Zelos said. "This is getting boring. Really boring. Really, really boring. So please, knock it off, okay?"

"I don't know," Judas said. "I certainly prefer this conversation over how noisy I am in bed."

"You're not loud at all," Mithos said. "You don't need to worry about that."

'I wouldn't be so sure of that,' Igtenos commented, which earned it a glare from Mithos.

"I personally think we should be getting ready for tomorrow," Lloyd said. "Regardless of how much noise Judas made last night, there's no telling what'll happen tomorrow. We just have to be ready."

"That at least is true," Stahn said. "But I don't think we should worry. If Kaziro decides to so much as lay a finger on Judas, Dymlos will have something to say about him." He patted the hilt of his Swordian. "Right, Dymlos?"

'Sure as hell,' the Swordian replied, laughing a bit.

"We should be prepared for anything," Marian said, frowning. "And if you guys keep acting childish like this..."

"I understand," Judas said. "It's about time we got going, okay?"

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Author's Note: I'm trying to decide whether to M-ify this or not.

Yes, Loni gives Kyle girl help. Though through half the story, Kyle doesn't really need it, he has Reala.

And no, don't expect to see any more mask. He's broken it for good, hence the title of this chapter.

I wanted an excuse to blabber about Tales of Destiny 2 techs, so I picked a few hi-ougis. The full name of the tech Loni was mentioning is Shinten-Rekkuu-Zankou-Senpuu-Messai-Shinbatsu-Kassatsu-Geki. The failure version is Shinten-Rekkuu-Zankou-Senpuu-Messai-Shinbatsu-Kougeki. And yes, that is one of Loni's techs. His other hi-ougis are Final Prayer, Spiral Driver and Critical Blade.