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: This is it, guys. This is the end of Crystal Feathers. Maybe not the end of the great Rising Shadow series, but the end of Crystal Feathers.

I'd just like to thank all of you who made this possible, especially adri66215, currently my best friend online. I'd also like to thank Motoi Sakuraba, composer for Tales of Destiny 2 and Tales of Symphonia, for his excellent works, which inspired me to create this fanfic in the first place. And more than anyone else, I'd like to thank StrawberryEggs, for sticking with me till the very end (still my most faithful reviewer).

With all that said and done, let's get this over with.

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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Epilogue: Love Has No Boundaries

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Judas sighed, gazing out upon the ocean. "It's just so beautiful... like nothing I've ever seen before."

"Yes, it is," Marian said, walking up beside Judas. "The ocean at night is always beautiful."

"I love it," Judas whispered. "It's just... so beautiful..."

"Almost like me, right?" Marian smiled.

Judas turned to face Marian. "No, of course not... nothing's more beautiful than you. Not even the ocean is more beautiful than you..."

"Why, thank you," Marian said. "I could say the same of you."

"So you're saying I'm pretty," Judas said, smirking. "Well, I suppose it's better than some of the things I've been called in the past..."

Marian blushed. "I wasn't implying that, you know..."

"It's okay," Judas said, his smirk fading into a gentle smile. "We're together again, and that's all that matters."

Marian nodded, turning to face the ocean once more.

Judas turned to gaze upon the ocean, looking at the same distant spot Marian was. "The sky is beautiful tonight... Isn't it, Marian...?"

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"Hey, Kyle!" Reala waved to the young swordsman, who was eagerly running in the direction of the Kharlan Tree. "Wait up!"

Kyle glanced back at Reala. "What if I don't want to?"

"Listen to the girl," Loni said, grinning. "You're going way too fast!"

"I'll betcha I'll catch up with ya first!" Nanaly said, picking up speed.

"Settle down, everybody," Lloyd said. "It's not like we're in a hurry to get to the Tree or anything... we just have to visit it like we do every year."

Kyle slowed down. "You've done that since you first defeated Nebilim, right?"

"Yes," Lloyd said. "It has special significance to us. I hope you, being some of the saviors of Symphonia, get used to it fast."

Kyle came to a stop just a few feet before the tree, with Reala walking up beside him and Loni and Nanaly in the back. Lloyd and the others soon followed, looking up at the tree.

"This is the first time I've seen the Tree in person..." Kyle was awed. "To set eyes on the Giant Kharlan Tree leads to good luck, right?"

"That's what is believed," Reala said. "I sure hope it holds true."

Loni grinned. "It'll hold true, at least with us. Trust me."

"So long as you don't cut it down," Nanaly remarked dryly, her comment aimed at Loni.

"Awww, that's just cruel!" Loni exaggerated sorrow. "I don't want to cut down the big trees that save the world! I just wanna cut down the little trees!"

"Shut it, big guy," Sheena said. "You're not gonna get anywhere just by saying that."

"Yeah," Zelos said. "I mean, you cut down trees, and that's enough for us."

Loni frowned. "I'm sure as hell not gonna cut down this tree. I mean, I wouldn't even be able to wield a halberd if it weren't for this baby."

"I wouldn't doubt your statement," Nanaly muttered sarcastically.

Kyle, however, was too entranced by the tree to notice. "It's so beautiful..."

"Yes, it is..." Reala looked up at the tree, smiling. "It's almost as beautiful as Flanoir..."

"It's almost as beautiful as you, Reala..." Kyle whispered, glancing over at Reala. "But then again, nothing is more beautiful than you..."

Reala blushed. "You really think so?"

"Yeah..." Kyle gently reached out and placed an arm around Reala's neck, drawing her closer. "Being with the tree is... almost as perfect as being with you..."

"Why, thank you," Reala said, smiling.

Lloyd, who had been watching Kyle and Reala, suddenly turned to Colette. "You know, Colette, I've been wanting to ask you a question for a while, but I never got around to doing it..."

"Yes?" Colette smiled, anticipating Lloyd's next statement.

"I know you've known me for a long time, and I've never had time to ask you this..." Lloyd reached up his hand. "Colette... will you marry me?"

Colette's smile turned to a wide grin. "Of course!"

"Improper as ever," Kratos muttered, though a smile was on his own face. "Lloyd, that's not how you're supposed to propose to somebody..."

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Author's Note: Admit it, you saw that last part coming from a mile away. It wasn't that hard to see. ;)

Judas and Marian are supposed to be somewhere around Palmacosta. They're not near the tree because they wanted some alone time. Hmm... wonder what they could do in said alone time... ;)

Not as much interaction between Loni and Nanaly as I wanted, but heck, I tried. I don't feel like going back and rewriting the whole thing anyhow.

This concludes Crystal Feathers... but you never know, it may just be barely the beginning!