"Regal."
"Yes? What is it?" Regal looked up from polishing his greaves. They were set to arrive at the Tower of Salvation in the next few hours, so he, along with everyone else, had used their final break to ensure all his things were in order. Their party was grim with the absence of some of its liveliest members, and Regal found it discomforting despite having spent much of his confinement in silence. He supposed their inexorable cheerfulness had grown on him.
Presea looked at her axe, sharpened to perfection, and decided to forego the niceties. It wasn't like they were strangers anymore. "I don't know what to do after all this."
He stayed quiet, sensing she had more to say. And she did. "Ozette's gone. Kratos said that Kate is going to rebuild it, and I want to help, but… I don't know if I can be there right now." She scuffed a boot along the dirt, a surprisingly emotional gesture from her. "Daddy wanted Alicia and me to take care of each other. But now she isn't here, so what am I supposed to do with myself?"
She exhaled and stared up at the rising sun. "Time has left me behind, and now I struggle to follow after. Where do I go from here? I told Lloyd that I understood, and I do. I like everyone; I am grateful for what everyone has given to me, not just for my key crest. But I do not know where my future lies. How do I make it? Who am I, and who do I want to be?"
She frowned. "I am not sure where these questions are coming from. I have not worried about this as much as I did before."
Regal chuckled, recalling his days as a pubescent trying to carve out his own identity. "You are technically twenty-eight, but a twelve-year-old in both mind and body. I'm not sure the normal advice will apply to you like a glove, but I will tell you nevertheless: those are all concerns every teenager has to ask themselves. It is part and parcel of maturing and becoming an adult. I would tell you not to fret, but no one has ever followed that. Yet perhaps it is a comfort I can offer you, albeit small."
"So it is natural?"
"Yes. This is the time for you to discover who you are and where you want to go." He smiled. "Though, I think Lloyd has figured it out already. Presea is Presea."
"Presea is Presea," she repeated to herself. "I… think I understand."
"Even if you don't," said Regal, pulling his greaves on again, "I am sure you will, so long as you are not afraid to depend on others."
He stopped for a moment, blinking in thought. "Although I am hardly one to rely on."
Presea's fingers tightened around her axe handle. "I disagree."
"Oh?" He hesitated, unconvinced of her sincerity. "I killed Alicia. My hands are covered with your sister's blood. Can you really say that I am reliable?"
She gave a small smile and he recoiled, saying, "How can you smile at that?"
"No," she replied, and looked down. "It's just… everyone here is bent on blaming themselves. Genis, for not saying anything about Mithos. Sheena, for not seeing through Zelos. Kratos, for not reaching Lloyd in time. Raine, for trusting people so easily when she is usually cynical about their objectives. And you, for what happened to Alicia."
Presea straightened. "But I refuse to place the blame where none is due. Regal, you did what you thought was best, and you did exactly as my sister begged you to, and I cannot honestly say that I would not act likewise had I been in your position. Even when he did not know who his father was and what he was like, Lloyd forgave his father… Kratos for what he was forced to do. It's the same. I would be unfair and a fool if I continued to denounce you. It was Vharley and Rodyle who are the ones at fault."
He opened his mouth, not knowing what he was going to say, but Presea changed the subject before he could. "What do you intend to do when this is over?"
Regal found his brow furrowing at both her sudden interest and at the way she had deflected his attempts to wallow in the depth of his sin. Still, he answered. "I wish to destroy the Toize mine so that no new exspheres will be excavated. After that, I'm going to devote the full resources of my company to revitalisation projects in order to build a new and better world."
No longer would he suffer victims succumbing to exspheres. No more would he accept people like Alicia and Presea from losing their very selves at the whims of the selfish.
Presea nodded. "I'll help, too."
She smiled at his stunned look and explained, "I'm sure Alicia and Daddy would have wanted me to."
He blinked a few times, then returned her expression. "I see. Then let's establish the dawn of the new world together."
"We're here."
They gazed up at the tower which had for millennia been the symbol of peace and prosperity.
By now, all of them knew better.
Kratos turned, surveying the group. His face was always grave, but this time Regal noted that it held a particular weight—likely concern for Lloyd's safety and concern for the state they would find him in. "Is everyone prepared?"
"Oh, you bet," snarled Sheena. "I'm ready to kick a certain Chosen's butt."
"Be that as it may, we have two more important objectives," Raine reminded her. "Three, if you count the aionis."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Still, if he shows his face…!"
Genis nodded. "I'm with you. So, we going? Surely they're starting Martel's transfer by now?"
"Indeed. Time is of the essence. We must disrupt the ritual as soon as possible," replied Kratos in his usual no-nonsense manner. But Regal spotted the slight whiteness of knuckles wrapped around Flamberge's hilt and the minute frown as his eyes darted towards the entrance.
"One more thing before we go." Everyone turned to face him, their expressions set in determination. "I promised Lloyd something, and he wanted you all to do the same."
Sheena looked at him suspiciously. "What did you promise?"
"Not to hold back in our battle against him."
"But it's not his fault! We can't hurt him!"
Kratos' reply was monotone. "He would never forgive himself should any of you be harmed."
Regal nodded. "That's it exactly. Yggdrasill is a dangerous opponent by himself; we cannot hold back against either, let alone without resting between him and Lloyd."
"You're right," Raine conceded, though her voice was heavy. One by one, the others agreed with great reluctance.
"Then let's be on our way," Regal said. He climbed the steps just behind Kratos, and his companions followed behind. Out of the corner of his eye, he could spy Genis keeping a firm hold on his kendama and Presea beside him, her grip on her axe loose yet secure.
Kratos opened the door, and a crowd of angels swarmed them immediately.
"Dammit!" Sheena cursed, shoving a Pyre Seal on an unguarded angel's cheek and delivering a roundhouse kick to another. "There's not enough of a gap to summon!"
"Don't summon now," instructed Kratos, his flaming sword cutting swathes in the legion of enemies, though more took their place. He stood before Genis, allowing the boy to charge his spells. "Save your strength."
Sheena grumbled in response.
Someone laughed: a woman they all knew and dreaded. "Are you enjoying my welcoming gift? An entourage would suit you well—especially our most highly esteemed guest, Lord Kratos."
Kratos' face darkened.
Pronyma stood at the warp, smirking at them. "With you and Lord Yuan gone, it is I who is set to take my rightful place by Lord Yggdrasill's side!" She paused and laughed again. "Although, I should no longer give you traitors titles of deference."
"You delude yourself. Mithos will not allow you to be his equal." Kratos' tone was absolute even as he wreaked havoc among the lifeless angels with every swing.
Her face twisted in rage. Pronyma flung icicles at Kratos and rushed towards him as he batted the ice away. "You will pay for that!"
Kratos allowed the barest hint of a grin to cross his face. Then he shouted, "Go to the portal! I will handle this."
"What?" Genis gasped. "With all these—?"
"Please," he interrupted. "Save my son."
Genis closed his mouth, shocked into silence.
"Let's trust him. He is a formidable warrior," Regal stated.
"Oh, no you don't!" Pronyma made to follow but found her path blocked by the seraph. Her eyes widened. "You lured me away from the warp!"
"I did," he conceded. "You will not impede their progress."
Regal focused his energy, launched off an angel, and mana flowed along his legs in a Spin Kick. The angels surrounding him were knocked back, allowing Presea to rush past to pave the way forward. Between her and Regal, Genis had been given enough time to cast, and now with a shout of, "Aqua Laser!" a straight line was cleared to the glowing portal.
Sheena reached it first but waited for their half-elven friends to disappear in the light before crossing herself. "Presea, Regal, come on!"
"On our way," Presea reported.
Pronyma screamed in rage. "Lord Yggdrasill will annihilate you all! Glory to the Age of Lifeless Beings!"
"I tire of your drivel," said Kratos. "Accept your fate."
Fate.
As the world flickered into oblivion, Regal wondered: was it fate that brought them there?
Regal stood at the edge of the rapidly forming campsite, feeling somewhat helpless.
He was a stranger and a prisoner, and yet these people were willing for him to fight by their side? He had taken their Chosen hostage, attempting to exchange his safety for an innocent girl who only wanted to save her world. And yet they trusted him to watch their backs?
He had never encountered anyone of their ilk.
Now they shuffled back and forth. The girl from Mizuho was setting up the bedrolls here along with the Chosen of Tethe'alla; the half-elf siblings were unpacking cooking utensils there. The one called Colette—the Chosen of Sylvarant, as he had known her previously—had run off to the river with two large buckets, though how she planned to lug them back while full of water was anyone's guess. He had not seen her physical capabilities, as she had kept away from the front line and cast angelic spells during their battle; even so, he doubted such a petite girl could lift that amount. Yet no one reached out to dissuade her or to give her another task.
It was an unspoken exchange, born of trust and familiarity, and Regal had no part in it.
Presea stood beside him, her eyes as blank as ever. The red crystal at her sternum glittered with the reminder of yet another failure.
If he had known her fate, he would have made sure to rescue her before he turned himself in.
"Need a job?"
Regal turned, seeing the eager young boy. Lloyd? Outspoken, yet his enthusiasm seemed infectious.
Lloyd chuckled. "You kinda look like you don't know what to do with yourself. All right, know how to cook?"
He blinked. "I do."
"Then you can help Genis with dinner tonight. I'll distract the Professor so she doesn't insist on tampering with the food. We're all eating the same thing, so I trust you won't try to poison yourself. Any allergies?"
"No, but…" Regal tilted his head. "Tamper with the food?"
Lloyd shuddered, utter disgust crossing his face. "You don't want to know. She does all right when you force her to follow the recipe, but give her any leeway and suddenly it's inedible. If that."
"I have never met anyone whose cooking turned out so disastrously." A bemused smile formed on his lips. There were quite a few firsts today.
"Yeah, well, neither have I. I wouldn't call myself a good chef, but I can follow a recipe! As long as it doesn't have tomatoes! And I make a mean beef stew." Lloyd grinned. "Anyway, I think your fighting style is really cool! All those kicks and fancy-schmancy footwork; how do you keep your balance so well? It's completely different to—"
The teenager cut himself off, expression blackening. "To what I've been taught." He grinned again, the heavy cloud dissipating into nothingness. "So, as payment for saving you from the Professor's cooking, you can spar with me tomorrow morning! First light, 'kay?"
The boy ran off before he could object, having overtaken the conversation so effortlessly Regal could barely follow along.
A female laughed behind him and he twisted his torso to face her. The ninja. "That's Lloyd for you. Funny what kind of people fate puts in front of you. The people who you need most in life, just at the right time."
"Is the course of our lives determined so easily…?" Regal mused. But it seemed that, for once, fate had ruled in his favour.
Having visited Derris-Kharlan once before, Regal and his companions were speedy in making their way through the rooms.
There were few angels about, which they took care of easily. However, Regal was concerned. Where were the rest of them?
Perhaps they were busy with Colette. Or perhaps Yggdrasill had prepared another ambush, anticipating that Pronyma's would not be sufficient.
Neither route was ideal.
Zelos' whereabouts were another unknown. Regal sighed as they rushed across yet another empty corridor.
That man was an enigma. But now wasn't the time to ponder him.
"Over there!" yelled Genis, pointing at a dead end. "There's so much mana flowing there and behind!" Strangely, there was a sword embedded into the wall. And it was familiar, but Regal was still trying to wrap his head around how there could be a weapon stuck there without a visible crack in the wall to concern himself with that particular mystery.
As they approached, it was resolved—the wall faded away to reveal that the blade had been inserted into the double-doored entryway, preventing the exit from closing fully. Regal's exsphere flared with power and he forced the doors apart just enough to fit his shoulder between to find sufficient purchase. The sword clattered to the ground as he opened the entrance wider.
Raine walked up to him; her face was creased. "What was that doing there? Could it be a trap?"
Sheena had frozen just behind Raine, her gaze on the blade. "That's…"
"Who cares!" said Genis. "Lloyd and Colette are in trouble! Let's go!"
"Wait, Genis!" Presea called, but even she could not stay his hand, and she rushed after him in lieu of his rapidly dwindling judgement.
Raine looked back at Regal and they shared a nod. Together they walked into the newly discovered hallway, ready for a fight.
Unbeknownst to the party, Sheena remained, staring at the sword. She crouched before it; a hand reached out to touch the cold metal.
"What are you doing?" she whispered. "I want to trust you, Zelos. But can I really bare myself again?"
"I promise you will regret crossing Lord Yggdrasill." Pronyma's voice was scathing.
Kratos, meanwhile, remained entirely blasé. His sword flickered, casting his face in alternating shadow and flaming red. The angels stayed put, hovering above the ground but not closing in on him.
Her eyes narrowed, annoyed with the utter lack of response. "I always knew you weren't to be trusted. I told Lord Yggdrasill as much. I said he couldn't trust you or Yuan. Rodyle and Kvar were plotting to usurp him, and Magnius was an imbecile. I suppose Forcystus was quite zealous in carrying out his orders to the letter, but it's evident he was far too weak to serve Lord Yggdrasill as he deserves."
She smiled now, a delighted one full of teeth, and her eyes were fevered. "I am the only one who can fulfil his wishes!"
Tired of her tirade, Kratos rushed forward, flicking Flamberge up into her line of sight. Pronyma flinched away from the bright fire; dozens of miniature icicles sped from her palm in an attempt to keep him occupied while she recovered. He dodged what he could.
"Attack him, you empty-headed angels!" she screamed.
In response, the angels dove towards him; he deflected jagged ice into the crowd, catching several of them in the wings and arms. A few dropped to the ground and headed for him on foot, while others dropped their weapons.
When he cleared the hailstorm, an Aqua Laser was headed straight for him. Kratos twisted to the side, chanting under his breath as he did.
"Judgement!" he finished. Pillars of dazzling white light assaulted his enemies, taking most of them out and forcing Pronyma to shield herself with the golden blade-like plates which encircled her.
Kratos had to stop to regain his breath once it ceased. Pronyma unveiled herself, her features warped in fury.
"You may be a four-thousand-year-old seraph, but I am a half-elf! And no Cruxis Crystal will ever cleanse you of the tainted human blood you possess! Bloody Lance!"
He ducked under the darkness exploding around him. The remaining angels surrounded him in the chaos, but a quick cast of Air Thrust to disturb their airflow and a simple Light Spear followed up by a few slashes was enough to take them out.
Now only Pronyma was left.
"Do you not realise the hypocrisy you speak?" he asked. "This tainted blood in my veins runs through your very own."
"It is to be afforded no thanks whatever," Pronyma spat.
"Yggdrasill seeks to bring about the Age of Lifeless Beings for the erasure of the racial supremacy that individuals believe themselves to have," he countered. "Yet your words do not support the world he wishes for—in fact, they undermine it."
"I…" Her jaw clenched, left with nothing to retort. Instead, she cast about for something that would give her the upper hand. "I do believe I must have bought enough time for Lord Yggdrasill. You'll be too late, once again. By your hand, you have dealt the fatal blow to your equally defiled son." Her lip curled both in triumph and desperation.
"And you never got to say goodbye."
Kratos stood before her in a flash, his blazing blade raised. Blue wings flickered into being behind him and concentric circles with intricate symbols appeared beneath his feet.
Pronyma's eyes widened in horror; she unleashed a Leonazium in an attempt to interrupt him, but it was of no use. White crept from the borders towards Kratos.
"No! Lord Yggdrasill!"
"Shining Bind!"
Light devoured her.
Kratos watched, detached as she collapsed to the ground, her energy spent. Her hair had fallen out of its impeccable style; her lipstick had smeared and sweat poured down her face. She breathed heavily, shocked and infuriated at her loss. A puppet to the last.
"Goodbye, Pronyma."
The first thing Regal noticed was the blue light. It was warm, and his exsphere burned in response. The light was iridescent against the dark violet and black clouds swirling around the dais they were on. And within that light, there lay a beautiful young woman, untouched by time; her green hair was splayed about her, and her eyes were closed in eternal sleep.
"That must be Martel," Raine breathed. "Incredible."
Regal suppressed a wry smile. Now was not the time to indulge her thirst for knowledge.
Indeed, Yggdrasill was glaring at the party. "The lock to this room can only be opened by a member of the Cruxis high order!" he was saying.
Genis glared right back. "Who cares! Just give us back Lloyd and Colette!"
Yggdrasill sneered. "I suppose there is no doubt now. You really do value them more highly than you do me."
Genis looked stricken.
"Since you're threatening me about their safety and such," he went on. "Well, they're right here, as you can see. But you'll find that they're not exactly willing."
"Mithos, how could you say that? You said we were friends!"
Yggdrasill's face closed off. "Yes… I thought we were, too. But then I saw that you chose them over me."
Genis shook his head, fingers white around his kendama. "Friendship isn't about choosing your friends over other people! Lloyd taught me that." He sighed, shoulders dropping, and met Yggdrasill's eyes. "For the longest time, I was so jealous about everyone whom Lloyd would befriend. I was angry that Kratos could so easily earn his respect. I was mad that that shady Zelos could just tag along just because he had the king eating out of his hand, and Lloyd thought nothing of it!"
His voice climbed in fervour and instability—and cracked.
He coloured in embarrassment but pushed on. His voice, back to its usual boyish pitch, was careful and soft.
"Maybe I was disgusted with myself that I couldn't trust people like he does."
Regal stared at the boy who had been a constant companion for the last few months. He had little idea that Genis had been so reflective. Yes, when they had journeyed together—he, Colette, and Genis—he had garnered some measure of insightfulness, but none of their conversations had touched upon trust, save those which criticised Kratos.
He was not yet thirteen and yet was on the cusp of manhood.
"It's a mistake to do so." Yggdrasill's expression was stony. "Did I not trust you with my friendship? With the panpipes that once belonged to my sister? And what have you done with both?"
Genis was lost for words.
"Genis gave you what he had," said Regal. "He opened his heart to you. You failed to do likewise."
"What do you mean, I failed?" he yelled. "I told him of my sister. I told you all. We said we were friends because I've never had one before!"
"And we decided to do what we could to eradicate the barrier between elves, half-elves, and humans. Our motives were never kept secret from you. It was you who did not disclose to us your true plans."
Yggdrasill went silent.
It was now that Genis chose to speak again. "Mithos, please. Friendship is about choosing what's best for my friends; it isn't about choosing friends over other people. I know that now! If that's what friendship is, then I want no part in it. That's why I've admired Lloyd all this time. Because he knows that friendship isn't something to be hoarded but to be shared and treasured."
His eyes shone with unshed tears.
"It's not too late to try again. So, please. Let's try."
"No."
Yggdrasill looked Genis dead in the eye and said again, "No. I've made up my mind. I'm bringing my sister back. And though I was fond of you, Genis, my love for my sister and her love for me trumps everything I have ever received from you."
He turned away to face the unconscious Colette, her features smooth and unconcerned about the predicament she was in. Martel glowed brightly, catching most of the room off guard and forcing Regal to shade his eyes.
"Stop!" cried Presea, shooting across the room towards Yggdrasill.
He did not raise a mana shield, nor did he toss her away with magic. For red descended.
Presea sputtered to a halt, heaving her axe up to block the dual swords from above.
Martel faded into orbs of light; these drifted into the purple tubes connecting the Great Seed to the machine Colette was confined in.
"Lloyd!"
And Martel opened her eyes.
A/N: Feedback sandwich please!