AN: Hello peoples. I am back, and before I start up I just want to make a few quick acknowledgements to the people who reviewed.

Lloyd Irving Aurion- I agree! The first chapter was a bit too short. I'll try to make the others longer.

TrueGamer- Thanks for the approval.

Draco Blade- I hope you're right. I'll do what I can for it.

Ghost tiger- Yeah, I did kinda barrow from that story though I will make it different enough to at least avoid being sued. Also in my defense there are only five original stories in existence and this aint one of them.

Luigi III- Thanks for enjoying.

Okay I think that is everyone. Thanks again to all of you. In this next chapter we will meet up with Sheena and those other people whom I am only giving half-rate roles in the story because they are slightly necessary. Oh well, on with the show!

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia or any of its characters. That would however make for a nice X-mas gift. I should look into that.

Ch. 2: The Travelers

Far away from The Human Ranch, far away from pretty much anywhere really the five travelers marched along silently. Not a word was spoken between them. It was as though even their footsteps had gone quiet.

"Jeez, I'm bored," said one of them to no one in particular. "Why do we have to be the ones to save this guy? Why would the king even care about him? What makes this Duke Bryant guy so important that I, the great and beautiful Zelos Wilder, must go along on this silly rescue mission?

"For the third time today," said another, "we have to do this because no one else can. Colette and you are the Chosens of Mana, and the only angels in all of Symphonia. I'm the greatest mage in who knows how many years. Raines a master at healing arts. And to top it off Sheena's the first summoner since the end of the last war, which was 2,000 years ago at least.

"Alright alright," said Zelos extremely annoyed at the 12 year-old boy. "You've made your point, Genis. Jeez, talk about being annoyed by simple questions. But still, you haven't explained why we should do this, or even why the king ordered us to!"

"We should do it because it's the right thing to do," said the one called Colette. "As the Chosens of Mana it is our sworn duty to help others who are suffering at the hands of the Desians."

"Anyone ever tell you that you are way too self righteous?" replied Zelos, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh just shut up you idiot," yelled Sheena. "I'll explain why the king ordered us to perform this rescue mission. But first… STOP STARING AT MY CHEST!" she screamed this last part in his ear following up with a very loud slap to the head.

"Owwweeeeee!" Zelos whined, holding the back of his head. "You realize of course that you are a very violent woman."

"Yeah and you're a pervert, so I guess that evens it out," she retorted. "Anyway, according to Mizuho's intelligence on him, Duke Regal Bryant is the owner of the Lezereno Company, the largest business in the world. And it's said that he is so wise and politically influential, despite his age, that he has even on occasion advised the king in high-priority matters. I've also heard they are on a first name basis.

"Okay, that is reason enough for me," Zelos said finally satisfied by the answers he had been given. "Rich, powerful, this Duke Bryant is definitely a good person to know. I bet he and I could even get along pretty well."

"That'll be the day!" Sheena laughed. "The duke is a very wise man." She then added a bit more quietly, "He's not some lecherous fool, who doesn't even know when he's being tailed."

Zelos's face instantly turned from stupid-happy, to almost serious. "Actually, I noticed him three days ago. He's been quite sloppy about it all."

"How could an idiot like you, notice someone who was tracking us before I could?" asked Sheena, her face the very picture of surprise.

"You forget, my violent, voluptuous hunny, that I am an angel," Zelos explained lightly, pointing to the cruxis crystal on his hand. "This crystal not only increases my strength, but also heightens my senses."

"So why didn't you inform us?" asked Sheena, now so angry she could have hit him much harder than she had before.

"Because I didn't see why we should inform him that we knew he was there," replied Zelos, in a matter of fact sort of way. "Had we told you, you would have doubted our senses and then would have probably tried to flush him out. He seems to be fairly professional and I doubt he would have fallen for any simple trap."

"Hold on," Sheena said trying to process what he was saying. "What's with the whole we thing? Did you tell someone else and just keep me out of the loop?"

"No, Colette is an angel also. She noticed it shortly after me. I managed to signal her to act normal."

"The question is not about knowing right now anyways," Raine added. "The question is what do we do now that we all know?"

"Very true, my brilliant beauty," agreed Zelos. "Don't worry I have a plan…"

So for another hour they walked along the path, knowing that with every step they took, they were being watched. They eventually came across a small clearing. "This should do," Zelos thought. "Alright, LUNCH TIME!" he screamed. "I'll go find some firewood." And so he went…

…Change view: The guy watching them…

It seemed like a good idea to him too. He sat down behind some bushes and pulled out his rations. As he munched away at some bread he saw nothing to worry about. The women were either cooking, or in the case of the silver hair one, reading. The young boy was standing off to the side playing with a kendama.

Then just as he finished his bread, all went black…

…Some time later…

He awoke, tied to a tree, the back of his head throbbing in pain. As his vision focused he realized what had happened. He had been captured! That red haired fool had not gone to get firewood. He had circled around and knocked him out.

"He seems to be coming around," said one. She had silver hair and wore an orange cloak. He could instantly tell she was a half-elf. He could sense her mana swirling around her, like a peaceful breeze.

"It's about time," said the young boy next to her. The two were probably related because they shared the same silver hair. The boy however was clearly much younger. He was probably still just a kid. He wore a blue shirt and matching shorts. He was also a half-elf, but his mana flowed differently. It was like watching a violent storm.

"I think you hit him a bit too hard, Zelos," said another not too far away. This one was human, or at least she seemed that way. She had blonde hair, and wore a white cloak. She seemed normal for all but her eyes. They almost seemed dead. Like her soul had been ripped from her body but had then been stuffed back into place.

"I'd doubt it, I should have hit him harder," said the red haired fool. He wore a pink vest over a black shirt, white pants and a headband, and also a set of gloves that matched his shirt and vest. His eyes were the same as the girl he was talking to. "So, you got a name buddy?"

He stayed silent. He knew what would happen if he talked. He would be hunted down, by his superiors the moment they found out. And then he would die.

"Don't feel like talking, do you?" asked the fifth member of the group. She had black hair and wore a purple robe with a pink sash. "Well perhaps this will change your mind," she said dubiously. She then walked over to a tree and placed a slip of paper on it. Once it was in place she yelled out, "PYRE SEAL!" The tree shattered into splinters.

Satisfied with the demonstration she walked over to him and placed another card directly on his forehead. "If you think I won't, you're wrong!" she threatened him coldly. "Now what is your name? And try not to lie."

He could tell she was serious. He knew his life depended on it. In that split instant he knew that he would prefer to die later. "Jarg," he said. "My name is Jarg."

"So then, Jarg," she said with that same cold voice. "Why were you following us?"

"That's a dumb question," he laughed. "Because you are in Desian territory, and you're not Desians."

"Where do all newly captured humans go?" she questioned further.

"Straight to The Human Ranch," he said hastily. "It's five days north of here.

"Thanks," she said. "You've told us everything we needed to know Jarg. Don't worry, we won't kill you. But if we ever see you again, you won't walk away from the encounter."

She then ripped the card off of his head, and undid the rope. And Jarg ran. He ran and ran and ran. He didn't stop for what seemed like hours. As he ran a plan began to form in his mind. He had suffered terrible indignities today. And to add insult to injury it was at the hands of an inferior being. He knew he needed revenge. And he would claim it…

AN: Okay! And that is that. Thanks for reading. Now then please review. I like reviews. They are fun and possibly useful. And one more thing. I would like you to read and think about this quote: A cookie's a cookie, but a fig newton is fruit and cake. Alright! Until Ch. 3 The Rescue. Laters!