All right, I know I left a lot of people with questions after the last chapter so I hope I am able to bring some well deserved relief. Well, I won't make you wait any longer, on with the next chappie!

Chapter 9: The Family Curse

Kratos wasn't sure if he was going to make it time. He kept moving as fast as he could as he saw the Iselia ranch appear in the distance. He couldn't live with himself if he let the same thing that happened to Anna happen to his daughter as well. He ran straight through the guards at the entrance to the ranch. A small group of soldiers attempted to block his way but he pulled out his sword and cast his Gravity Well attack, taking out a few, before beginning to fight with the others.

Storm walked past the last of the guards before entering Forcystus' chamber. She hoped he wouldn't be too disappointed that she had only managed to obtain one of the crystals. Her wounds from the battles were still causing her a good amount of pain as she walked on, holding her side. She entered Forcystus' chamber where he was waiting for her.

"Ah, Storm you've returned. Have you brought the crystals?" he asked her.

"I'm sorry, but I only managed to get one of the crystals," Storm apologized as she offered him Presea's Cruxis Crystal.

Forcystus looked a tad disappointed at first but quickly got over it, realizing that he could still destroy Storm. He grabbed the crystal and stared at it.

"Storm, I want you to wear this crystal," he finally told her.

"Me?" she questioned.

"Yes, if you equip this you will become even more powerful. You could become powerful enough to defeat Yuan, powerful enough to heal your wounds," he said as he ran his hand over her wound making her pull back in pain. She stared hard at him.

"Join me Storm and I will help you uncover your past," he offered her.

Storm looked into his eyes then looked back at the crystal. She wanted nothing more than to discover who she was. So far, the only person who had offered any information on her past was Forcystus and she felt that he knew even more about her. She grabbed the crystal and brought it close to her chest. She could feel the energy flowing the crystal and was hesitant to attach it to her skin.

Suddenly, Kratos burst through the door, sword in hand, and saw what was about to take place.

"Storm, put that crystal down!" he yelled out to her.

Storm stared at the man who had just broken down the door, not knowing what to do. All of a sudden, Forcystus pulled his arm around her neck and brought her close to his chest, her back facing him. Forcystus yanked the crystal out of Storm's hand and brought it up to her neck. The crystal glowed fiercely, displaying its enormous amount of power. Storm's supply of oxygen was immediately cut off and adding that to her weakened condition she was unable to pull away from him. Forycytus smirked at Kratos.

Kratos stared at Forcystus as he made his way slowly to him, inching towards the madman holding his daughter.

"How does it feel Kratos?" Forcystus asked. "How does it feel to watch her end the same way as Anna? You know that her mana will go out of control and she'll turn into a monster just like Anna was. It's kind of pathetic that everyone you care about ends with the same fate, isn't it?"

Kratos glared at Forcystus as he pulled his sword in front of him. "It was you, wasn't it? You're the one who attacked her," he accused Forcystus.

"Did you just figure that out now? You really are pathetic," Forcystus replied. "Now, say goodbye." Forcystus took the crystal and attached it to Storm's neck as Kratos rushed up to him, stabbing him in the chest. Forcystus crashed on the ground as blood poured from his wound. He struggled to laugh as blood trickled out of his mouth. He looked up at Kratos who stared back at him.

"You're the one who lost Kratos," he struggled. "Storm will be killed by you and I...I will have my revenge and finally rest with Pronyma."

"No," Kratos began as he pulled Forcytus' face up to his own. "My daughter will die after I do and she will join Anna. You will burn in hell and I will see you there someday soon," he finished as he stabbed him in the chest, killing him instantly.

Kratos dropped Forcystus' corpse to the ground as he rushed to his daughter's side. She was struggling to breathe as the crystal began to overpower her body. She held her hands to her head which felt as if it was going to burst at any second. Kratos ran over to her and pulled her into an embrace.

Storm could see it all. A grotesque monster walked over to where Storm was hiding. She went to attack her, Storm held up her arms to prepare for the assault. Before she was struck though, Noishe jumped in front and began to defend her, driving the monster back. At first, Storm felt safe and expected that the monster was finished off. Storm soon realized that she was in trouble when Noishe was knocked to the side, wounded from the attack.

The monster walked closer to Storm. Storm felt helpless and was unable to defend herself as she saw the monster raise its arm, preparing to strike. But, before the monster could strike her, it was stopped as a man stabbed it in the side. Storm looked at the man, the same man who had tried to save her from Forcystus. Was he someone that she could trust? He had saved her before...

"Storm...please. You have to fight this off," Kratos pleaded as he pulled her closer as she began to tremble.

Storm didn't know where she was now. She looked all around her, but could see nothing. She felt very warm and very comforted. It was as if someone or something was protecting and soothing her. She couldn't see anyone or feel any sort of physical touch.

Suddenly, a young woman walked up to her. She was a very beautiful woman. She had long brown hair and beautiful hazel eyes. She smiled at Storm and pulled her into an embrace. Storm wasn't afraid of this woman at all, in fact she was very comforted by her presence.

"Storm, I will protect you from harm," the woman told her before she turned into a white aura and flew into Storm, intensifying the comforted feeling that she already felt.

Storm stopped trembling and finally went limp in Kratos' arms. He was afraid that she had left him, but when he checked he realized that she was still breathing. She soon opened her eyes and looked up at Kratos.

"Who are you?" Storm finally asked, trying to figure out who this mysterious man was.

Kratos felt that it was best not to shock her too much at once and wanted her to discover who he truly was on her own. After being deceived by Forcystus, Storm was probably not going to believe anyone very easily. She hadn't believed Raine or the others so he figured that she would definitely not believe that he was her father, especially since he looked young enough to be her husband.

"My name is Kratos Aurion," Kratos told her.

"Why did you save me?" she questioned him as she sat up.

"I care about you," he answered.

"Why?" she inquired.

"You've been a student of mine since you were a young child. I've grown attached to you as if you were my own child," he replied as he offered her her sword.

Storm looked at the sword, memories flooding back to her.

Storm was at her sword lessons but her teacher was hiding something behind his back. I think that you've been working really hard with that sword, and I believe that it's time you use a real sword. You must take great care of this sword and use it wisely," he told her as he pulled a beautiful sword from behind his back. It was too large for her to carry with her, but she would grow into it in no time. The handle of the sword was made out of gold and had one ruby in the middle of the handle with two smaller emeralds on either side. Storm stared at the sword in wonder and she hugged her teacher tightly, thanking him over and over for the beautiful gift.

Storm truly remembered this man and knew that he was the one who had saved her in her dream just as he had now. She flew into his arms and began to sob into his chest. She was so overjoyed to find someone that she could actually remember. Kratos returned the embrace and was glad that she was able to trust him. Maybe soon she would remember even more about him.

Later, Storm and Kratos were decided where they would go to next.

"I want to go somewhere where I can discover more about my past," Storm declared as she stroked Noishe.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that you'll remember a lot in Derris Kharlan," Kratos replied.

"Really? Well, let's go there then," Storm answered as they began to make their way to what used to be the Tower of Salvation.

Well that's it there. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone with that chapter. I really liked that one. The other groups will hopefully be making more appearances soon. I think that the little groups may start to reform the large group again. I don't know. Anyway, tell me what you thought.