Well, it's another chapter…

I don't mind, it's fun writing this…

Didn't you want to tell them something?

Oh, yeah, I completely forgot! I don't want to mix up the characters in this story so the main characters (Mithos, Kratos, and the Salesman) will be in normal font while the characters of their future will be in italics. Here's an example:

"Blah, blah, blah," said Mithos. (Main character)

"Blah, blah, blah," said Mithos. (Future character)

I hope that doesn't confuse people

That was a flawless explanation so do the disclaimer

He doesn't own anything except the concept of the story…

CHAPTER THREE: PAST

After visiting the Wizard of Alternate Dimensions, Mithos, Kratos and the Happy Mask Salesman had appeared within a field. When they heard swords clashing, out of instinct, Mithos reached for his sword but noticed it wasn't there. Then he realized he was wearing a dress; something like a Mary Bo Peep attire. Kratos didn't fair any different for he was wearing something like a maid's outfit.

"What am I wearing?" exclaimed Mithos, in his girly voice. "And…and what happened to my voice!"

"It looks like a dress," replied Kratos, with an equally girly voice, while examining his clothing.

"This can't be real! This can't be happening!"

"But it is," replied the Salesman. "The Wizard of Alternate Dimensions said that you could only interact with yourself if you are another person: Male or female."

"I can't be a girl! Look, at these fake breasts!" He started to push up on them only to realize that they were real. "Ack!"

"They look real to me," replied Kratos. "And what do you suppose I'm wearing?"

"Looks like a maid's costume."

"Like I said before, in order to interact with yourself, you must be a different person," said the Salesman. "In order to do that, you must, how could I put this, possess people of that time.Mithos, you're Elizabeth Farnsworth, a wealthy seventeen year old girl from a village not to far from here. Kratos, you're his or her…maid."

"And how did you know that?"

"The mask allows me to see the memories of the people you are using."

"Well, we have to find out where those sword clashes came from. Come on, they came from that road!"

Mithos, despite wearing a dress, moved rather quickly while Kratos and the Salesman lagged behind. Finally reaching the road, Mithos couldn't believe what he saw. He saw himself, holding Martel's lifeless body. He also saw Yuan and Kratos on both sides of him preparing to attack someone.

"…Martel…!" screamed Mithos. "How could you!"

"…Human! Your kind must not be allowed to live!" said Yuan.

"…How far are you willing to go to take control of the mana?" asked Kratos.

"I'll never forgive you… You humans are all the same!" yelled Mithos.

The other Kratos and Yuan attacked and killed the person standing in front of them. Mithos still couldn't believe it. Martel was…dead? Kratos and the Salesman looked in awe. After putting away his sword, they were approached by Yuan while Kratos approached Mithos who still held Martel.

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

"I am sure you had a reason why you did it," said the Salesman, "Seems that he killed someone very important to you."

"……… still…what are you doing here?"

"I am accompanying my mistress. It seems that she wanted to pick some daisies for her living room. Isn't that right, mistress?"

Mithos couldn't believe it. Martel was dead. It took a gentle nudge from Kratos to snap him out of it.

"Ye…yes," stuttered Mithos. "I'm here to pick daisies." He starred at his future self, still holding Martel while being confronted by Kratos. "Uh…is he going to be alright?"

"…not for a long time, I'm afraid," said Yuan. "He and his sister were very close."

"…I can only imagine."

While they were talking, Mithos could overhear the other Kratos who was comforting his future self. Martel's body had been already absorbed into the Cruxis Crystal. Mithos was left holding it.

"Kratos…she's gone…" Mithos said teary-eyed.

"She will never be gone," said Kratos, "She will always exist in our memories…"

"But that's what she'll always exist as! A memory! Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"No, Kratos. It's nothing."

There was another gentle nudging from Kratos. Mithos snapped out of it. It had seemed that Elizabeth Farnsworth had a driver to take them to the estate and Kratos had promptly invited their other selves to come with them. After getting into the horse-drawn carriage (I don't know if horses existed in Symphonia. If they don't, consider them existing in this story), they were driven to a really big house outside the village. While the characters of their future rested in the nearby room, the Salesman pulled aside Mithos and Kratos to a nearby balcony.

"We are fortunate that Elizabeth's parents are away on business," said the Salesman. "A couple of ground rules before you can talk to yourselves. Firstly, you cannot tell them who you really are. If you do, we will automatically be transported to the Wizard of Alternate Dimensions and he will make sure that you will forget everything. Second, you cannot try to change what is going to happen. If you do, the same consequence will arise. Are there any questions?"

"Is this really…what is to be?" asked Mithos.

"You wanted to see your future, correct? I am giving you what you want. I didn't say it would be easy to see."

"You mean there is more?" asked Kratos.

"Oh, yes. A lot more. Mithos said that he wanted to see his future. That means from now until his death."

"…when does he…you know…"

"Die? A lot sooner than you think."

Kratos decided that, in his present predicament (dressed as a maid and all) not to talk to himself. He wouldn't know what to say. As for Mithos, well…he found himself starring out to the night sky, clutching Martel's crystal. He approached himself with extreme cautiousness.

"You're Mithos, right?" asked Mithos, as Elizabeth.

He gave no reply. Big surprise. He saw his sister die right in front of him. Of course he wouldn't be in the mood to talk to a complete stranger. Just when he thought it was useless to talk to himself…

"Just hold on a minute," Mithos said. "I feel like I can talk to you."

"Then start talking."

"First of all…do you know who I am?"

Stupid question. Of course he knows who he is. It's him after all. Yet still, the only answer Mithos could give himself was a simple, "No."

"I saved this world from the war. Do you want to know how I did it?"

Mithos gave a slow nod.

"By convincing kings to end the war. Peace…funny…I thought it would never come to this world. And yet…in the midst of all this peace…my sister…she…"

"…it's just like he said," Mithos said. "She will exist in your memories."

"…no…she will not exist only in my memory…but she will live yet again…"

But how? Not even the Eternal Sword could bring back the dead…could it? Mithos couldn't stop himself. He asked, "And how are you going to bring her back?"

"……sorry…I can't tell you…but rest assured…she'll be back."

There was a knock on the balcony window. It was the Salesman with Kratos. Mithos excused himself and approached him.

"Sorry to disturb you, but we're going now."

"What did you say?" asked Mithos.

Another portal opened. Kratos and Mithos were sucked inside. The Salesman jumped in. Immediately, the portal disappeared. The Mithos on the balcony hardly noticed a thing. He was too busy plotting his plan to bring his sister back to life.

Alright, so how does he do it?

Won't be fun if I told you, would it?

I don't need this…I got to know now!
Just hold up for the next chapter. Please R&R and no flames.