"In days past it was necessary for us to harden our hearts to the atrocities of war; for death is a necessary end to life. However, to ensure that we could have the time to end the war, we transformed ourselves into angels. What consequences this has had on our own dispositions I dare not attempt to fathom..."
"Needless to say, that time of grief and horror is long past; though for some of us it has been a daily memory to carry them to lengths before unheard of. Now it is we who do what is unthinkable to thinking beings."
"I have left them now. There is nothing more to be gained by following this path of madness. "
---
"I sit now in a lonely cell, shunned by my former friends. My days of freely traveling the world are over. Not that I will ever care again. They are gone. Torn from me by death, death from my failures. I watched her face as she lay dieing. I cannot speak any longer of this."
"It hurts too much."
"I am afraid that I will never be free of this pain. Again, I am afraid that someday it will leave me. Shall I ever be lighthearted again?"
"I deserve this - and so much more."
Excerpts from a Journal
---
It was a long journey home for the solitary summoner. A road that she feared to tread and yet, she feared not to tread it. She had failed in her mission to assassinate the Chosen of Sylverant, a choice that might cost her village dear. Her only consolation as she made her way steadily northward was the fact that she had stopped the ceremony from being completed.
Sheena shook her head to erase such thoughts from memory. Thinking along those lines brought back the pain of the recent betrayal by a man that she had begun to admire. He'd turned out to be an angel of Cruxis, an enemy in their camp.
Despite that fact, she found herself unable to hate him.
"Sheena."
Her feet slowed, finally coming to a stop. 'Damn him! Why did he have to go and make me like him!'
"Sheena!"
The young woman blinked and looked up, her name having finally registered. "Orochi."
The ninja shook his head and merely gestured to the pathway. "The vice-chief is waiting for you."
Sheena sighed. 'This is it then.'
"Thank you Orochi. I will see him directly."
She missed the glance that he sent her way as she straightened her back and walked quickly towards the central hut.
---
The casual gaze would have missed him. The angel stood there as if he had been created along with the trees and the rocks. Marking the place in his mind, he determined to visit it when he had time. Now however, he had other things that required his attention.
Stepping back into the cover of the forest, he raised his wings and soared off towards a hidden Elven Village. The Elder might know what he would need.
---
Sheena remained kneeling on the floor after she finished giving her report. Whether it was acceptable or not, she would bear her punishment quietly. After all, she probably deserved it for failing in her duty. The vice-chief took a breath and spoke.
"Acceptable."
Sheena's eyes went wide. "What?"
Vice-chief Tiga raised an eyebrow. "I said it was acceptable. You completed your mission to the best of your ability, even if it did not accomplish the main objective in the way that the king primarily desired. Sylverant's Chosen cannot complete the ceremony. What more can they ask of you?"
"B-but...!"
"Besides, I think you explained it very well yourself." Tiga ignored the spluttering girl in front of him. "Now, for your next assignment; I want you to return to the group from Sylverant. You are to be our liaison with them. Just keep an eye on them and make sure that they don't get into trouble. Do you understand?"
Sheena blinked and opened her mouth to reply, but couldn't. The vice-chief waited patiently while she sorted through his instructions. He grinned when she finally looked up at him. "Do you really mean it?"
"Of course! We need more information, and you are best one to get it for us. They know you already, and more importantly, they trust you." He nodded his head wisely. "That says much of your character."
"So, you will do this for us. Be a good observer."
Sheena almost went back to sputtering, but thought better of it and merely nodded. Rising, she disappeared out the door. Vice-chief Tiga knelt there for a while longer, considering. 'She will do well.'
---
When she finally caught up with them again, things had gone from slightly chaotic to a freaking mess. Lloyd and Collette were locked up inside of the university's basement, along with a local girl AND Tethe'alla's Chosen. Raine and Genis were nowhere to be found.
Sheena appeared in cloud of smoke, startling the arguing crowd. "Yes, they are telling you the truth. They are friends with pretty much everyone." She looked pointedly at Kate. "Including two half-elves."
The researcher sighed and walked over to the wall. "Alright. Go ahead and go, I won't stop you. All I ask is that you come back when you save your friends to prove that you are telling the truth." When Kate stepped back, a section of the wall moved into the room, revealing a secret passageway. Lloyd nodded vigorously and hurried out of the room, followed by the remaining members of his party.
Sheena hesitated at the secret door. "Thanks Kate." The researcher turned away. "Just go do what you have to do." Sheena nodded and disappeared.
The chase to the bridge was harrowing, the party delayed only by the Chosen's complaints. Luck was with them as they vaulted across the retracting sides of the bridge - Undine was there to give them the extra boost necessary to complete the maneuver. As they tumbled to a halt on the other side, Sheena sighed with relief. 'Thanks Undine.' A warm feeling spread inside her, the summon spirit had been glad to help.
Zelos was already on his feet and rushing forward to assault the group of Papal Knights that surrounded Raine and Genis. Lloyd followed him, his twin swords waving wildly. Between the two of them, with Collette and Presea 'helping' they freed their friends with very little delay. Raine rubbed her wrists after Lloyd untied her.
"Well, it looks like we're all back together again." Her eyes sought out Sheena, and the ninja nodded. "We'd better get out of sight and figure out how we are going to work this before any more soldiers get dispatched."
"Whatever you say, my lovely hunny!" Zelos pranced up to the Professor, grinning like a mad man. Raine ignored him, and Genis glared. Sensing perhaps that now was not the time for stupidity, Zelos moved away.
Sheena stepped forward. "We'll have to find some way to get across the water without using the bridge. It's not likely to be open until we are caught." She paused, looking thoughtful. "Maybe my friends in the Elemental Research Center will have some ideas."
Zelos popped up beside her. "Great idea, my luscious... OW!!!" Sheena glared at him as she lowered her hand. "I am not one of your hunnies." Raine shook her head and stepped in between the two. "Let's just head for Meltokio, please." They nodded.
As they came in sight of the city, Zelos stopped them. "Let me go check things out before you all go running in there half-cocked." He rushed off and they followed slowly. When they caught sight of the city gates, they noticed Zelos speaking with the guards posted there. Tethe'alla's Chosen shook his head and clapped one guard on the shoulder before turning away. He jogged back to the group, his vest blowing in the wind. "They closed the gates and won't open them. You all are in luck though; I know a way inside."
"How did you find it?" Lloyd was curious. Zelos just laughed. "Well, sometimes I use it to sneak out of the city after dark so I can visit one of my hunnies."
Genis and Lloyd looked lost, while Raine and Sheena blushed. Lloyd opened his mouth to ask what Zelos meant, but the Professor cut him off. "You'll understand when you're older." Turning to Zelos, Raine crossed her arms. "Alright Zelos, show us the way."
---
AN: Sorry for the long wait. Hidden Hearts hit a snag, AKA - writer's block. I've sat and stared at one third of a chapter and wondered what in the world I was supposed to write. Finally, I just bulled through and wrote something. It'll probably have to be rewritten in time, but I wanted to keep going for all you faithful reviewers out there.