CW- HAPPY NEW YEAR! It has been a most interesting year for me, and I hope it was for you to. So, did you all eat your 12 grapes and make 12 wishes?
Lloyd- I know what I wished for "evil grin"
Kratos- Lloyd! How could you?
Lloyd- what? He's a jerk
CW- that's ok Lloyd, I made a wish for your demise too
Sheena- CW!
CW- I'm just kidding, sheesh. Ok, time to answer reviews
Kratos Aurion fan- no, bad, the sun must not fall on you. When people say "ring in the new year with a bang" they don't mean like that. Thanks for the review
Kratos Wilder- calm down, I had to stop at that point. Creating suspense is part of being a writer. If I didn't set the mood for other events, then the whole story would fall apart. Thanks for the review
Alex the Summoner- thanks for the review. BTW, you're right, Lloyd couldn't write a fic as good as mine, not even if he was a famous author. Lol that makes me laugh.
Shadowofthewave- it's 2006 and still no word from you, is everything ok?
CW- ok, the reviews are done, now, let's kick this year off right, with a new chapter, enjoy.
Lloyd- what do you mean I can't write a fic as good as yours?
CW- it's true, what? Do you want me to lie to my fans?
Lloyd- why you little…
CW- aaaaaaaahhhhhhh not again "runs"
Lloyd- when I get my hands on you, I'll use you for stationary to write my fic on "chases"
Chapter 8
One Secret, Two Teammates
The team returned to the encampment, tired and out of breath. They had chased Sheena non stop from the battle field all the way back to Zelos' tent. They entered quietly to find Zelos and Sheena in a tight embrace. They immediately took a hint, and went outside to wait for them. When they had finished having their moment, Sheena and Zelos, emerged from the tent, and walked to the center of the camp, to make an announcement.
"Great people of Mizuho" began Sheena in a booming voice, "I am sorry to say, that we could not save the village or crops. However, it gives me great pleasure to announce, that the monster threat no longer exists. Thanks to the efforts of my friends, the great heroes of Symphonia, we can re-build the village, and live in peace once more".
There was a small silence before the village burst out in cheers and applause. They whistled and clapped and cheered the success of their saviors.
"This is most joyous news" said the vice chieftain, "this means that we can return to the village and begin its restoration".
"I've got plenty of money to buy whatever you need" said Zelos with a gracious look on his face.
"Thank you" said the chief, "we will need all the help we can get".
That night, everyone in the camp went to bed early, everyone, except the team of heroes. They wee sitting in their tent late that night, discussing the Angelos problem.
"Well" began Sheena as Lloyd finished his explanation about what had happened thus far, "now that we have the team back together, what's our next move going to be?" Everyone thought to themselves for a moment.
"Well" began Kratos, "I suggest we investigate these crystal shards, I have a funny feeling that their connected to Angelos in some way".
"I think so too" replied Lloyd, "but who would know anything about those stupid shards anyway?"
"Only one person on Symphonia is all knowing and all seeing" said Raine with a smile, "our old friend…".
"Martel!" shouted everyone at once.
"Quiet down" came a villagers voice, "we're trying to sleep". Everyone immediately quieted down.
"Then it's settled" said Kratos, "We'll go and see Martel in the morning".
"Agreed" said everyone at once.
"Shut up" came the villager's voice again. The team immediately took this hint, and went to bed.
Zelos and Sheena have officially joined the party.
Zelos obtained the title: Happy Helper.
Sheena obtained the title: Concerned Wife.
Everyone obtained the title: obnoxious loud mouth.
The next morning…….
The team awoke early, and prepared for their trip to see Martel. After saying goodbye to the villagers, and insuring some help in re-building the village, they set out towards their next destination, the sacred Symphonia tree "CW- that is what it's called now, right?".
On the road……..
"So" started Lloyd, "do you suppose Martel already knows about Angelos?"
"At this point" replied Kratos, "I just hope that she hasn't been kidnapped again".
"I'm sure she's fine" said Genis, "she can take care of herself".
"Need we remind you of last year?" asked Raine in an annoyed voice.
"That was a fluke" replied Genis, "she wasn't aware of Angelos back then".
"Which means she might not be aware of him now" replied Raine.
"Why do you always have to be so negative all the time?" asked Genis annoyed.
"I'm not negative" replied Raine, in an angry voice, "I'm just being realistic". The 2 siblings began arguing furiously. They even got physical and started pulling on each others faces to try and make one another look stupid.
Between walking, and traveling by EC, it took the team 2 days to reach the site of the great Symphonia tree. When they finally arrived, they found Martel sitting on one of the trees branches.
"I've been expecting you" said Martel as she leaped down off the tree.
"I told you so" said Genis in an annoying voice.
THWAP
"OW!"
"That's just what you deserve" said Raine testily. Martel giggled at the sight of the bickering siblings.
"Genis and Raine" she said happily, "you 2 haven't changed at all". Both of them looked at each other, then turned their backs to one another and scowled. Martel giggled again.
"So" she began, "what can I do for you today?"
"Well" said Kratos, "we have a question for you, if you don't mind".
"I don't mind at all" replied the goddess, "ask away".
"We were wondering"" started Kratos as he pulled out the crystal shards, "if you could tell us what these are, we found them after defeating some very strange monsters". Martel
took the crystals from Kratos, and examined them closely. When she realized what they were, she gasped, and fell to her knees with a sob.
"Martel!" called Kratos, as everyone rushed to her aid, "what's the matter?"
"These crystals" sobbed Martel, "these crystals are shards from….Mithos' cruxcious crystal". Everyone gasped with surprise and fear. "But that's impossible"" she continued, "I made sure that no one could use the power of the crystal again. I smashed the crystal into pieces, and buried them".
"Well" started Lloyd, "I'll give you 3 guesses as to who would have dug them up".
"Angelos" exclaimed everyone at once.
"Oh my dearest brother" Martel thought to herself, "When will you be able to rest in peace". Then, there came a soothing voice from a few feet away.
"Lady Martel" called the voice, "I'm back, and I found some fresh berries for us to eat". As the voice finished it's sentence, a girl came walking into view.
She was a teenaged girl, about Lloyd's age and height. She had extremely long, crimson red hair. The front of which hung over her right eye. The rest of her hair, was tied in a very thin pony tail that almost touched her feet. She wore a small, crimson red midriff shirt, and a short, crimson red, skirt, with short strands hanging from the back of the skirt. She wore elbow length gloves, which were a darker shade of crimson red, and she wore a thin, cloth-like face mask, that covered the rest of her face, except for her uncovered, crimson red, left eye. She also wore a pink scarf which swayed in the wind, and hanging from the thin belt on her skirt, was a strange weapon that had spikes with magical symbols engraved on them, attached to a crimson, circular disk. She was also holding a basket full of blueberries.
"Who's that?" asked Lloyd, intrigued, as Collette shot him a sour look.
"That" began Martel, as she regained her composure and stood up again, "a friend of mine that I met recently, I'll let her introduce herself". The girl seemed to walk slower and slower, as she came closer to the group.
"My apologies lady Martel" said the girl, "I didn't know you were expecting company today, if I had, I would have picked more berries". She then turned to the group and bowed. "Please forgive my manners" she said as she straightened up again, "let me introduce myself. My name is Nami Onini, I am a warrior from the village known as Suraze".
"It's nice to meet you" said the group at once. They all went about introducing themselves one by one. Then, they all sat under the tree, and started eating the berries that Nami had picked.
"So Nami" said Lloyd as he took a berry from the basket, "when did you and Martel first meet? We've never heard anything about you before".
"Well" said Nami bowing her head, "it's a rather touchy subject, but I'll tell you the story. It happened a few days ago. It was a peaceful night in my village, and everything was quiet. Then, while I was on my patrol, this strange golden light, appeared in the sky, and from within, there came a strange voice. It said "Ah, a defenseless village, the perfect place to stretch my legs, and get re-used to my powers again" the voice was very menacing".
"Angelos" muttered Kratos to himself.
"Then" continued Nami, "the light disappeared and a golden winged angel appeared. At first, I thought I was seeing things, but that though quickly left my head, when I saw him destroy the nearby doctors office. "The weak shall die first" he said as he watched it burn. I tried to stop him, but he was just to strong. The second I drew my weapon, he turned to me, and blasted me clear through 5 nearby houses. I fell unconscious after the 5tth."
"So then what happened" gasped Lloyd.
"I awoke 2 hours later" continued Nami, "I was here, under the great Symphonia tree. Lady Martel had found me, and brought me here to heal. And after a days rest, I felt well enough to walk back to my village. When I got there however, I didn't find anything. The village had been destroyed, burnt to the ground by the malicious jerk. So, without a home, lady Martel has offered to let me stay with her, and I've been here ever since".
"That's terrible" said Collette with a sob.
"Yes it is" said Nami, "but one cannot turn back the hands of time. I can't change the past, but I can work towards a better future, and one day, I'll find that angel, and I'll get revenge, for all of the villagers who's lives were lost in battle".
"Well" said Martel, "you may not be able to, but I can".
"What do you mean?" asked Kratos quizzically.
"I'm going with you" replied Martel, "I'm going to help stop this mad man once and for all, so that my brother can finally rest in peace".
"But lady Martel" whined Nami, "Why can't I go?"
"Because" replied Martel, "You're not skilled enough for a task like this. I will not have the blood of an innocent bystander on my hands".
"I am skilled enough" protested Nami, "challenge me, and you'll see my true power".
"Why not give her a test?" suggested Kratos, "she can fight our strongest member, if she can hold her own, then we let her come along". Martel thought about this for a moment.
"Very well" said Martel, "you will fight Lloyd for your chance to travel with us".
"Lloyd?" gasped Zelos, "Why not Kratos? He's stronger".
"Don't you remember Zelos" said Kratos, "Lloyd and I have already fought one on one a few times, and he's proven to be much stronger then me. Perhaps, even with my angelic powers, I may be getting to old to fight".
"Aw, come on dad" said Lloyd, "you're still young, you can still kick butt with the best of them. But anyway, shall we get started?"
"Yes" replied Nami, excitedly, "let's".
In a field, away from the Symphonia tree……….
Lloyd and Nami stood across from each other, both were determined to give it their all in this fight.
"Ready" said Martel, as both fighters took their stances, "FIGHT!"
"CW- for this fight, you may want to listen to "what I'm made of" from sonic heroes that song really fits the fight".
Lloyd and Nami charged straight at one another. Lloyd drew his swords, and Nami drew her mystery weapon.
"What kind of weapon is that?" asked Lloyd, as he jumped back in surprise.
"It's called a raikobu" replied Nami, stopping her charge, "each of it's needles, are infused with the power of a different element".
"Oh" said Lloyd, "ok, Demon Fang". A shockwave shot from Lloyd blade, and went straight for Nami.
"Wind Shield" called Nami, as she spun her raikobu with one hand. It was spinning so fast, while generating its wind, that it created a sort of maelstrom, which blocked Lloyd's Demon Fang attack with ease. "Top that" boasted Nami, and she gave a slight chuckle.
"Ok" replied Lloyd, "if you say so". Both fighters charged for each other again. Lloyd's blades clashed with Nami's raikobu. Sparks flew as the metal clashed. They stood locked together for a moment, then Lloyd broke away and shouted, "Hunting Beast". A lion spirit, combined with Lloyd's sword, and smacked Nami back. She almost fell to the ground, but managed to pull a back flip and landed on her feet again.
"Not bad" said Lloyd, "I'm impressed".
"Thanks" replied Nami as she readied herself again, "same to you".
They clashed again, but this time it was Nami that broke away.
"Thunder Spike" shouted Nami as she pointed one of the raikobu's spikes at Lloyd. The spike shone with a bright yellow light, then, a spike of thunder and lightening energy shot forward, and knocked Lloyd to the ground. Before he could get up, Nami put one of her spikes up to his neck and said, "so, do I pass?"
"You pass" replied Lloyd, "with flying colors I might add". She helped Lloyd to his feet, and the two shared a laugh.
"Well" said Martel, "I guess that settles that. Nami, you're coming with us".
"Thank you all so much" said Nami happily, "you wont be disappointed, I promise".
End chapter 8
CW, still running- so, did you like the chapter "pant pant"
Lloyd- come back here you little…
CW- hey, calm down, remember this is a rated T fic
Lloyd- grrrrrrrrrr I'll get you for that insult if it's the last thing I do
CW- whatever "drops banana peal"
Lloyd trips and slides, crashing into wall.
CW- hahahaha I laugh at you
Kratos- I hate to say it but it serves him right
CW- thank you, someone agrees with me. Anyways, until next chapter
Kratos- please review, and welcome to 2006
Lloyd- please, call an ambulance, I think I broke my leg
CW- if we call the ambulance then you wont learn anything
Lloyd- owwwwwwwwwww
CW- and just in case Kratos Aurion fan tries anything, "throws Lloyd in a no magic zone, cage thing" there, now she cant heal you, Kratos, please guard the cage
Kratos- right