Alright, here we go with Part VI! I've already announced that this is going Dirk's thoughts, so there's no surprise this time. Have fun, and enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia, or else I'd be a millionaire.

Part VI: Dirk

Now, see here, some things about humans are just plain detestable. I just can't stand the fact that some of 'em hafta always be on the top all the time, 'specially those fellers that're used to doin' so. They've all got it in their heads that since THEY'VE been on top since eternity, then it should stay that way. Hate to break reality to ya, fellers, but most people won't stand for that sort of thing. Me, I can't take it either. So I tried raisin' Lloyd, my adopted son, 'zactly the opposite of those high an' mighty idiots. He's turned out pretty well, but I'm a little worried that when he finds out 'bout the truth behind his mom's death, the kid'll go over the hill.

I mean, you can't really ignore the fact.

I found his mom pretty much dead in the forest just off of my house. The animals and the like were getting' pretty riled up, with them flyin' off all the time an' everything like that. Figured something was wrong, so I grabbed that big hammer that I use for all my blacksmith work sittin' by the door and ran out. Well, I didn't see anything amiss in the forest until I got to that huge clearing, right off of the outskirts of Iselia.

The first thing I noticed that was definitely NOT supposed to be there was all the blood stains. Place looked like some sorta massacre came through an' forgot to clean up. Yup, blood everywhere. On the trees, on the ground, thrown onto the cliff face, and straight smack in the center, would you believe this, a funny lookin' creature fighting off some sort of creature. Looked like an over-sized dog with funny lookin' floppy green ears. It was whinin' and pawin' straight to give itself a fit. And the more I stood there, the more I realized that that funny lookin' creature was protectin' somethin'. Well, the dog, or whatever it was, was definitely not winning its fight against the native monsters of the forest, so I decided to help the poor thing out. Smashed that gel blob to bits with a nice stroke of me hammer and that was all. Scared the rest off and went straight for that creature. Well, he thought I was goin' for whatever it was that he was protectin', because he put up one heck of a fight. Wouldn't let me near until I pulled out that extra piece of biscuit that I had in my pocket. Even then, he was sorta hesitant. Well, I managed to convince him to let me see whatever it was that he was guarding after a few quiet words and a nice pat on the nose. What I saw next is probably goin' to stay in my head for all time.

It was this woman that creature was guardin'. And she was pretty beat up. And I mean pretty. Got this big slash right across her chest, with blood leakin' out like a leaky pump. She was sorta just lyin' there, gaspin'. Didn't see me 'till I knelt down right next to her. She was clutchin' this bundle to her, pretty tightly too

Flashback

"Who…are…you…? Please…don't…Desians…help…Kratos…"

"Whoa, there missy. Save your breath. Name's Dirk. I'm a dwarf that lives right about yonder." Dirk waved his hand in the direction of his house.

The woman painfully smiled. "Nice…to…meet you…Dirk…thought…you…were…Desian…"

"Eh…nice to meet you too, I guess. So Desians did this, huh?"

There was a sound of boots crunching through the foliage. The woman turned her head slightly.

"Oh…no…not them…Desians…" Dirk noticed that a look of fear was now showing plainly on her face. She turned her head back to Dirk.

"Dirk…would…you…do me…a favor…?

"Well, I guess. What is it?"

"Please…take care…of…my son…" Dirk didn't have time to protest before she pushed the bundle towards him. He picked it up and looked under the blanket. Underneath was a baby boy, peacefully sleeping and completely unaware of the danger he was in.

The woman smiled. "His…father…will…probably be…around…to…pick him…up…soon …take…care…of…him…until then…please…? Tell…him…Anna…said…goodbye…"

"Sure will."

"Thank…you…bye…Lloyd…Daddy will…take…care…of…you…and…Noishe…good….b-" Anna's head lolled back limply as her eyes fluttered closed. Dirk looked down at the boy, who was now stirring.

"Well, kid, let's get you and your mommy back to my place." He turned to pick up Anna's body only to find that the strange dog (or Noishe or whatever it was) had done the deed for him. Nodding, the dwarf began walking back to his house, leaving behind a pool of blood.

End Flashback

Yup, pretty sad. And pretty easy to see why I can't tell Lloyd a word about the REAL deal behind his mom's death. What I've done about the situation is just tell him all the facts except for the one that Desians were the ones that killed his mom. Especially since there's those Desians right near us. And if he gets himself killed, then I'm breakin' my promise to Anna, which I can't do, seein' as his daddy hasn't shown up yet. Wonder if his daddy's ever going to show up…Ah, well, it doesn't matter. Lloyd is family, and family he'll stay, even if his father does come for him. Don't worry, Lloyd. I'll always be there for you. After all, with a trouble-maker like you for a son, I think you're going to need all the help you can get.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Incredibly short, I know, but dwarves aren't exactly the most loquacious of beings, so yeah. Also, Dirk didn't really know much about Kratos and Anna other than the fact that Kratos was supposed to come and get Lloyd, and the fact that Anna was killed by Desians. Hope you enjoyed! REVIEW! Oh, and one more thing- I know there is some atrocious spelling and grammar stuff in this one, but it's to make Dirk sound less like a wordy freak of nature (aka the authoress). Needless to say, I sort of overdid it.