AN: Hi again! This is going to be a big chapter. I hope you enjoy. But first, an important announcement.

This is going to be my last chapter for a bit of a while. I have school starting very soon and my cousin is getting married next weekend. My house is going to be packed with out of town relatives and I won't have much time for writing. I'll try to have the next chapter up by the 11th of September. My apologies to everyone, but you'll just have to be patient.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! I hope you send more. In the meantime, here it is. Read it, enjoy it, and if you want to be put on my list of potential lackeys for when I rule the universe, review it. Take note that by lackeys I mean cool people whom have earned my respect, and by rule the universe I mean getting a job that has very little work but ridiculously high pay.

Disclaimer: If I owned Tales of Symphonia, I would not be writing this. Since I am writing this I hope you understand that I don't own it.

Ch.8 The Kidnapping

It was nighttime. They had traveled a long way. They had gone through forests, crossed rivers, and had been pursued by the Desians the entire way, but they had made it. They had crossed the border and were now in Tethe'alla.

Lloyd was on night shift that night. He had been on shift before but this was his first time since they had met Altessa nearly a week ago. Since then, they had been moving fast trying to make up for lost time. They had seen only one enemy search group during the time and they hadn't been much problem, except for the one that Lloyd had fought. As his mind drifted back to that battle, sleep overtook him, and he remembered…

…Flashback two days ago…

They had snuck up on this group too. They always managed to ambush the enemy. They rushed the small search party from all sides. Even Lloyd, with his enemy's blades in hand was running headlong for some action.

He decided to start with a rather green looking soldier. The fool was obviously new to combat. His stance showed no balance and his eyes were filled with horror. Lloyd planned to cut him across the chest with Gale and if needed come around with a follow-up slash from Thunder. Gale seemed to shrink and didn't even touch the opponent, and Thunder became heavy and provided him ample time to block it.

Lloyd was then forced on the defensive. The Desian soldier hacked at him with an old rusty cutlass. Lloyd was barely managing to block the attacks. The cutlass came down one last time with enough power to shatter the old blade. The young fighter stared at his broken weapon and Lloyd used the opportunity to slash out again. This time however, both swords flew from his hands, landing a few meters away.

The Desian recovered from his shock and drew an equally ill maintained dagger. He charged at Lloyd but at the last second, he fell to the ground, a seal card buried deep into his back…

…End Flashback…

…Change View: Guy waiting in shadows…

It was time. The night watch was asleep, it was still late. It was time. He had waited for this moment since his humiliation. He had watched them kill his comrades, bury corpses, and even go as far as to take the weapons that were meant for his leader.

She had humiliated him. She had ruined his career. Now he would take his revenge.

Slowly, and silently, Jarg made his move…

…Three hours later…

…Change view: Lloyd…

Lloyd awoke with a start. He had closed his eyes for an instant and hours had flown by. He then noticed that something was wrong. Sheena was missing! Lloyd looked around for any sign of her, but found nothing. All he found was a strange set of footprints and drag marks. It then hit Lloyd like a brick. Sheena had been taken!

Lloyd checked the footprints for direction and followed them. He ran at breakneck speeds, making certain that he was on the right path.

"I will find her," he assured himself. "I will not allow anyone to harm the woman I love!"

Lloyd stopped a moment. Did he really love Sheena? He knew that he cared for her. He knew that he trusted her more than anyone else. But did he really love her? He thought hard for another moment. He made his decision and continued his pursuit.

"Yes I do love her," he confirmed to himself. "And when I've found her, I'll tell her."

…Change view: Sheena…

She was being dragged along the ground. Her head was aching. Another root bumped her head and she was fully aware of what had happened.

Jarg, the Desian tracker whom had followed her and the rescue team for some time, the same man who had divulged to her the location of The Human Ranch had taken her! He had come late in the night. She had heard his approach, but before she could do anything, he had clubbed her over the head with a tree limb.

She was now being dragged across a field. She tried to look around but all she could see was the open plains. What she couldn't see was that they were approaching a cave.

It was a rather small cave, barely large enough to be the den of a bear. There were many stalagmites hanging from the ceiling, and the walls were fairly smooth. In the center there was a small fire going.

When he finally stopped dragging her, Jarg turned around and noticed that she had awakened.

"Ah, the inferior being has awoken," he declared to no one in particular. "Well that saves me the trouble. Now I can take my revenge on you. I suppose I'll kill you eventually but first I think I'll make you suffer. Where to begin though? I know!"

He then proceeded to tie her up against a pillar. He then pulled out some cheese. "I'll start by starving you for a few days," he informed her. He then took a bite out of the cheese. "It probably won't matter to you at first but in a day or so you'll start to feel the pain."

"Damn I'm in trouble!" she thought to herself. "I hope I can get through this. I've got to get back. I f only to see Lloyd again, I must survive. Hold on! Why am I thinking about Lloyd at a time like this?"

The answer came to her like seagulls to a free meal. She loved Lloyd! She loved him and wanted to be with him. And somehow she knew that he would come to find her.

…Twenty minutes later…

…Change view: Lloyd…

He had arrived at the cave. He knew he was close. He drew the swords, and stepped inside. Not far in, he saw the light of a campfire. As he approached he began to make-out the two figures in the area.

One was a Desian. He looked ragged and almost crazed for some odd reason. Just outside of the fires glow was Sheena, tied to a large pillar. When she noticed him her expression went from patient and hopeful, to absolute joy.

As Lloyd stepped forward, the Desian looked up and noticed him. "What do you want?" he asked.

"I want you to let her go," Lloyd stated calmly.

"Sorry pal, but this bitch has to suffer for what she's done to me," he replied, standing up. "I suppose I'll kill you too. I hope she cares for you, 'cause I'm going to gut you right in front of her."

He stood up and drew a short sword. They faced off and circled around the fire. Then Lloyd jumped over the fire and attacked. He brought down both swords in a vertical slash. He missed terribly and landed in the fire, scattering the flames across the cave.

His opponent charged him, his blade poised to stab him in the lung. Lloyd quickly sidestepped and tried to slash at him again. This time the blades connected, but only with the short sword. He continued to attack trying to allow every move to follow into the next, not giving any time for a counter attack. But for all his efforts something went wrong. When he adjusted to the weight of the blades they would suddenly change. He could never properly compensate for the lack of balance.

His opponent then stepped back, causing Lloyd to stumble forward. He then charged forward, his sword held high for a vertical slash.

Then, it happened. Brought on by Lloyd's need to save Sheena, the Storm Swords at last, for a brief moment came into balance. They felt right. Lloyd didn't waste time. He blocked the attack with Thunder. Lloyd followed trough by jumping around him, spinning in mid-air to gain momentum and slashing him in two from behind with Gale.

Once the battle was ended the swords returned to the feeling of ever-changing discomfort. Lloyd went over to Sheena and cut her loose. He then dropped the swords, wrapped her in a fierce hug, and started crying on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed. "I was supposed to be awake, protecting you, and instead I fell asleep. And because of me you were kidnapped."

"It's alright Lloyd," Sheena replied, returning his hug. "I knew you'd come for me."

"I won't let you go like that again Sheena," he continued, the words just flowing from him. "I love you. I love you and I'll never let anyone hurt you."

"I love you too Lloyd," she said, now also crying.

Lloyd looked at her now. He studied her eyes carefully. Had she really just said that? All he saw was joy and love within those beautiful orbs. He then bent his head forward and kissed her and she kissed back.

They fell to the ground, and just continued to kiss each other. They continued for what could have been an eternity, or just a few minutes. All that mattered was their love, and the passion they held for the other.

…Sometime later…

They were asleep now. They were holding each other, and they were happy. They would have been smiling but, even asleep they were still locked in a light kiss.

AN: Okay! That is another chapter done. Sorry if it seemed a little short. I hope this'll be enough to tie you over until the next chapter.

Now go and review. Tell me what you think. Tell me what you liked, or didn't like. I just want to know how I'm doing. See you next time at Ch.9: The Memory. Laters!