Hi it's me SANGOCHAN! Just to let you all know, I made Hsuru up; otherwise, Magnius would have wound up dead before he was supposed to die, and the gorilla looked like a total newbie. Hsuru was also very weak, so two arrows did the job, future fights will have blow by blow detail. Anyway on with our story; Colette is about to receive her oracle.
Chapter Three: Trial of the Chosen
Lloyd, Genis and Colette arrived at the steps to Martel Temple. There was a pillar of bluish-white light emitting from it.
"Wow! Colette's gonna become the Chosen of Mana, just like Mithos the Hero." Genis said, shielding his eyes from the bright light.
"Yeah…" Lloyd agreed, nodding.
"Wow, that light really is coming from the temple." Colette squeaked.
Lloyd smacked himself on the forehead, Genis did the same groaning.
"Colette, could you act more 'chosen one like'?" Lloyd asked, nearly in tears.
"I'm sorry; I guess I'd better start now." Colette giggled feebly.
"What's going on up there?" Genis asked, "There's a lot of noise from the Temple…"
An old man appeared at the top of the steps, "Chosen One!" he cried out, and descended the stairs with difficulty, clutching at what must have been a wound at the side of his torso. When he reached the trio, he collapsed.
"Pastor!" Colette screamed.
"What happened up there?" Lloyd asked.
"The…Desians…attacked…they're after the…Cho…sen…of…Mana…" he gasped, he coughed and blood frothed at his mouth, "I'm…so…sorry…I can…no...longer…protect…the…Cho…sen…One……" The old man slumped back on the steps, not moving.
"Pastor no!" Colette squealed.
"He's-he's-he's gone…" Lloyd croaked.
Genis dissolved into tears. Colette also began to cry. Weather it was a minute or an hour, neither knew. Colette stood up and began to ascend the steps to Martel Temple.
"I'm going to revive my Oracle, stay here where it's safe." Colette said gravely.
"No way! We're going with you." Genis said.
"Dwarven vow # 3: Never leave anyone behind." Lloyd said.
"Thank you," Colette said, "I'm sorry…"
"For what?"
"For having to have you two go through all this…It's my entire fault…"
Meanwhile…Yoku is having difficulty
"LLOYD! DARNIT! WHERE IS HE!"
(Yoku really needs to work on controlling her temper huh?)
Back to Martel Temple…
"No it's not your fault," Lloyd said reassuringly, "We're gonna be right behind you the whole journey!"
The trio ran up the stairs, and met a grizzly sight.
"Where is the Chosen?" a man with slight Elvish features asked sternly.
An elderly lady backed away from the Half-Elf, who was flanked by several other Half-Elves, all donning red battle suits and armour.
Colette, Lloyd and Genis all reached the top of the stairs.
"Run Colette!" The old Lady squealed, most un-helpfully gesturing to Collette.
"Grandmother!" Colette cried out, fearful.
"Chosen One!" The Half-Elf shouted, "Your life is mine."
Lloyd drew one of his wooden blades shouting, "I won't let you Desians get away with anything!"
One of them chuckled darkly.
"What's so funny?" Genis demanded, brandishing his kendama threateningly.
"So you still think we're the Desians? Then die at the hands of the "Desians" you hate so much." One of them sneered, slightly amused. All four Desians raced towards the trio.
"FIREBALL!" Genis shouted, this resulted in several pants on fire.
"RAYTHRUST!" Colette shouted. Two Desians collapsed to the ground unconscious.
"DEMON FANG!" Lloyd shouted.
Several minutes later, the four Desians ran away, to reveal, an even bigger opponent! He was as big as a Troll! This was going to be difficult…and he was swinging a spiked morning star.
"I am Vidar, DIE!" With that, he threw his morning star. Lloyd, Genis, and Colette barley managed to dodge. The same thing kept happening, so as a result the trio was unable to go no more than twenty feet of Vidar. The only way to fight this opponent was with ranged attacks, but, it also sapped at their strength.
"Ugh…." Lloyd sank to his knees with exhaustion fifteen minutes later, "He's too tough…" He could hear Colette gasping for oxygen behind him and Genis coughing slightly.
Vidar raised his morning star, and was about to make the death blow. Lloyd braced himself, squeezing his eyes shut.
CLANG!
Lloyd blinked and looked up. In front of him was an auburn haired man garbed in a navy blue traveling garb, complete with a tailed cloak. Lloyd couldn't explain this, but, there was something strangely familiar about him.
"Who are you?" Lloyd asked.
"Get out of the way." He responded gruffly.
What the-? What does he think I am! A three year old?
"Ok!" Genis shouted, "Now we can take him on!"
It was a good thing this man showed up, he appeared to know healing magic. After Vidar was defeated, and ran off shouting curses into thin air, he introduced himself. First however:
"Curse you…" the Half-Elf man snarled.
"Lord Botta, we must retreat, he's too strong!" they all ran away down the steps.
"Is everyone all right? Seems no one is hurt. My name is Kratos Aurion. I am a mercenary. For the right price I can protect the Chosen of Mana." Kratos said, sheathing his long-sword. A blue glint appeared on his right hand. An Exsphere.
"Well…looks like I have no other choice." Colette's grandma said leaning on her staff, "I would be most uncomfortable with just Lloyd."
"You," Kratos said turning to face Lloyd, "Your name is Lloyd?"Lloyd turned things over in his head. Why did this Kratos guy want to know his name? Why was 'Lloyd' his best guess?
"There's a lot of 'Lloyd's in the world, which one?" Lloyd said jovially.
"Anyway, you should stay put." Kratos said, ignoring Lloyd's answer.
"Gothcha," Lloyd said casually, "I'll make sure I don't get lost in the temple while tagging along with you and Colette."
"It'll be useless to try to change his mind." Genis said to Kratos.
"Very well then…"
"Looks like all of us will be going." Genis chirped.
Colette, Lloyd, Genis, and Kratos entered the temple. It was rather poorly lit inside.
"It's kind of dark in here…I guess not much sunlight gets inside." Lloyd said, his feet crunching some loose stone.
"That's what I heard," Colette said, "This is my first time in here anyway…"
"What's that door over there?"
"I think it leads deeper in the temple." Colette said.
The party approached the door; it was locked tight. Even when Lloyd tried pushing very hard, it refused to budge.
"Is…there…any…way…to…open…this…door...?" Lloyd grunted, this time throwing himself against the wall, which only led to a bruised shoulder.
"Well…" Colette said, thinking hard, "There's a Sorcerer's Ring in the basement that can open the door…"
"I thought I saw some stairs over there." Genis said, pointing down a dimly lit hallway, a few bats sleeping from the torch brackets.
"Well, that Sorcerer's Ring isn't going to pick itself up and come dashing to us. Let's go." Lloyd said, leading the way.
The basement comprised of a pool of water at the bottom, a platform above it, some stairs leading to chests, and more torches.
"How big is this place?" Genis asked his grey eyes widening with amazement.
"Hey look at this rock over here!" Colette said.
"Collette! Get away from that!" Lloyd and Genis shouted in unison.
"That's a Golem!" Kratos shouted drawing his long-sword.
The Golem wasn't that difficult to defeat. In a manner of seconds, it turned into a block.
"Wow, the Golem turned into a rock." Colette said.
Kratos had to hide a fit of feigned coughing. Genis, ditto.
"Um…actually…" Lloyd started sheepishly, "It was kind of a rock to begin with…"
"Hey, look at that!" Genis said pointing ahead of them. On a shrine was, the Sorcerer's Ring, "I think we have to defeat more Golems to make a pathway to get over there."
Thus, the Golem fights began. Eventually, all the holes were filled and the party gained access to the Sorcerer's Ring. Lloyd took it off the pedestal and examined it.
"So…we need this to open that door?" he asked Colette.
"Yes," Collette said.
"We shouldn't dawdle too long here." Kratos grunted.
All four left and returned to the sealed door. Lloyd used the ring's fire power to open it. A warp panel was revealed. They entered it and re-appeared at the top chamber. On a shrine, a scarlet gem rested.
"That's my Cruxis Crystal. Father told me I was born holding it and...I was recognized as the Chosen of Mana." Colette said randomly.
A bright light filled the ceiling, an Angle clad in green robes descended towards the shrine.
"Chosen One, are thou ready to accept the Journey of Regeneration?" He asked.
"Yes." Colette said breathlessly.
"I am Remial of Cruxis, and as thou art the seventh Chosen of Mana I grant thee thy Cruxis Crystal and Oracle. Sylverant shalst be blessed with The Tower of Salvation." Remial said impressively.
Through the window, a giant tower could be seen materializing in the distance. When Colette released the seal there, Mana would be restored to the world. The Cruxis Crystal floated up in to the air, drifted dreamily to Collette, and a necklace appeared on her throat complete with the Cruxis Crystal.
"Collette, Chosen of Mana, thy Journey of Regeneration has begun," Remial then began to drift up-wards.
"Wait!" Colette cried, "Are you…my real father?"
"Yes, Collette, my dear daughter, we shalst meet again. Go to the south, where the Fire Seal lies," Remial said smiling warmly, with that, he vanished.
"Wow…" Lloyd gasped, "That was AMAZING! Colette's really gonna be the Chosen of Mana!"
"Yeah!" Genis cheered, "Good luck Colette."
"Thanks, I really should be going now." Collette giggled. She entered the warp panel, followed by Kratos.
"We should head back too." Lloyd said to Genis.
"Yeah."
Lloyd and Genis exited the Chosen's Chamber and began to leave. Raine was there, muttering to herself. A sudden sneeze from Lloyd startled her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked menacingly.
"We were…uh…just leaving…" Lloyd stammered, awkwardly.
Genis turned a delicate shade of green.
"You're ditching class, and I don't tolerate that." She said, cracking her knuckles. Instantly she grabbed Genis around the middle and began spanking him repeatedly. Genis fell to the floor with a thud and cries of exasperation. Lloyd, however, received a kick in the face for his punishment.
"There will be no need to return to the school, classes are over for that day." She said, as if she had done nothing more than yell at them-which they probably would have preferred.
Lloyd and Genis stayed there for at least ten minutes before getting up and leaving for the village.
Meanwhile…
"Guess I'll hang around here, in front of this cliff. Mr. Frank did say Lloyd goes through this area every day." Yoku grunted stretching out in a tree.
Back to Iselia…
"It's done!" The mayor said, thunking his fist on the table, "The protection of the Chosen One will be the duty of Raine and Kratos."
Lloyd and Genis entered the house.
"We're coming too, Colette's our friend." Lloyd blurted out.
"No." Kratos said standing up, "It'll be far too dangerous, I can't protect three people at the same time, even with Raine. You should stay here where it's safe. I once failed to protect someone close to me once."
What the heck is he talking about? I can fight! Or am I some defenseless little three year-old? Lloyd thought, angrily.
"Aw man…and I was really looking forward to seeing Colette become an Angel…" Genis groaned, disappointed.
"Anyway, Lloyd," Frank said, "shouldn't you be heading home now?"
"Oh, yeah, I will soon." Lloyd said quickly. He turned on his heel and he and Genis left. As soon as they were outside Colette followed, tripping over air again.
"I'm sorry…" she chuckled sheepishly.
"Um…you don't need to apologize for being a klutz." Lloyd said scratching the back of his head.
"Oh, ok. I'm sorry."
"Never mind…"
"Oh, yeah, Colette I made you some cookies for your birthday." Genis said holding out a brightly wrapped box with a frilly red bow on top.
"Thank you, I love your cookies." Colette said taking it.
"Lloyd, what about your present? You said you'd make her a necklace."
"Ah…it's…it's almost done…" Lloyd stammered; he had forgotten completely.
"That's ok." Colette said, "I'll wait." She turned around and closed the door.
"Liar." Genis said glaring at Lloyd.
"Hey, if I start when I get home, it'll be done by tomorrow." Lloyd said, slightly stung.
"Anyway, I need to make a stop at the school." Genis said.
Minutes later they arrived at the schoolhouse.
"Oh, Genis, Lloyd, class is over." Raine said fastening her bag.
"Well…I wanted to say good-bye and good-luck. Are you really, going to go with Colette?" Genis asked.
"Yes, Phaedra and Frank will look after you while I'm gone." Raine said.
"Be careful sis, don't go near any ruins."
"I'll be fine." Raine said patting Genis on the shoulder, she left, "Don't worry about Colette, Kratos and I will be protecting her." She left the school-house.
The door slammed shut.
"Man that Kratos pisses me off! He thinks I'm a little kid…" Lloyd whined very peeved.
"Lloyd…first impressions aren't always right." Genis said leading the way outside.
"Yeah…but still there's something familiar about him…like I've seen him somewhere before…just can't put my finger on it…" Lloyd said, racking his brains.
"Can I go with you to your dad's, just halfway?" Genis asked suddenly.
"Um…sure." Lloyd said.
"I just need to get some sandwiches from my place. Apple gels are getting expensive."
"Yeah…" Lloyd said.
After loading up on sandwiches-Genis made a fuss over turkey sandwiches, putting the cranberry sauce and romaine on sourdough rolls with the turkey-they set off for Iselia Forest. At the south exit, there was a large dog waiting for Lloyd.
"W-what is that…beast?" a guard asked shaking in his boots.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Lloyd asked thoroughly exasperated, "Noishe is a dog!"
"B-but Noishe doesn't look like one."
"He's a rare breed…one you don't see that much. Sheesh…"
"He was looking for you." Genis said.
"Yeah, got worried probably…anyway, we'd better get going." Lloyd said leading Genis and Noishe into the forest, and unknown to them, the beginning of a dark journey….
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Wahoo! That's chapter three done! You may have noticed Remial's fancy talking; I did that to add some spice to it.
Chapter Four: Meeting of Fate may take awhile, so please be patient.
Keep checking for the anticipated meeting of….Yoku Jade and Lloyd Irving! Until next time! SANGOCHAN!
In the mean time…I found this parody…
Scene: Golem
Colette: Wow look at this!
Lloyd and Genis: GET AWAY FROM THAT!
Kratos: That's a-(falls into pit) AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!THUD Oww…
Lloyd: Is he going to be ok?
Genis: sweat-drops
Colette: This rock still looks weird.
Golem: Heh heh…the old: "Dump-the-mercenary-down-into-the-soup" Works EVERY time…
O0o0o0o0o0o00o
SANGOCHAN: What'll I do if Kratos finds out I showed that to you readers?
Noishe: whine