Hello again. I don't own Tales of Symphonia, well I own a copy of the game, but not the rights. I was glad to see that Yuan's name was added to the list. Does anyone know how names are added? Because the choice of names seems kind of odd. Why did Forcystus make it to the list before Mithos, Martel, or even Anna. I mean, the guy only has one story…

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It had been two months. Two long months since Kratos had last seen or heard from his father. Two long months since Kratos and Yuan had let the half elf general escape. Kratos remembered the day afterwards clearly. He had awaken to the sounds of chaos in the hallway. People were running all over the school looking for some clue as to how the general had escaped.

Yuan and Kratos had remained mostly undisturbed in the safety of the first aid wing. Things had grown quiet after noon when students, teachers, and soldiers alike had gone to comb the countryside for the fugitive. Kratos remembered Yuan laughing about the havoc they had caused. However that was before they heard screaming from down the hall.

The boys had looked at one another before getting up and peeking out the door. Far down the hall Kratos had seen his father and the two guards. General Aurion was torturing them. He was slicing them with his sword, slamming them against the walls, and as the General dragged them closer Kratos could see they were covered in fresh burn marks. He recoiled as his father passed. He hadn't known just how terrifying his father could be. General Aurion stopped right past the door and Kratos looked up.

" I'm sorry you had to witness my failure," General Aurion had said without looking down at his son. And that was the last contact they had; the next morning General Aurion moved his men out. Kratos didn't know what had happened to the guards.

Now Kratos sat in math class staring out the window at the falling snow and wondering whether he'd done the right thing. He hadn't been too concerned until his mother had failed to write to him on Celsius day. He could only imagine why she hadn't written. Either something important had happened or his father had a pretty good idea of how the general had escaped.

Kratos was suddenly jerked from his thoughts by a knock on the classroom door. The teacher opened the door to reveal Yuan. Kratos stared; personally owned slaves were forbidden to interrupt class for almost any reason. Apparently past students had used them to skip.

" Uh…Kratos is, I mean, master Kratos is supposed to go to General Everard. Yeah, that and I have a letter for him." After delivering his choppy message Yuan handed a note to teacher and then went over to Kratos. The math teacher motioned towards the door and the two boys hurried out.

" Your not gonna believe what this thing says," Yuan said very seriously as he handed Kratos a letter. Yuan seemed to be in shock. Quickly Kratos read the letter. He was lost for words. The letter was from his father.

Dear son, the letter began. I'm writing to tell you of the good fortune that has befallen our family in light of a sad event. Commander Swift is dead. The brave man who lead our people to so many victories has left this world. I was with him when he received his fatal wounds, and it was I who carried him back to camp. Our army tried their best to save him, but alas they could not. On his death bed he told me that despite my recent failure, I had always been one of his best officers. The loyalty I had shown in taking him back despite his incurable wound was astounding. He has named me the next Commander. I am glad to be given a chance to lead my country to a final vistory. Your mother sends her apologies for forgetting to write you during the holidays. She had recently found out about my appointment. From, Commander Aurion. P.S. A monetary gist is enclosed.

" A rather formal letter wouldn't you say?" Yuan said breaking the silence.

" That's all you can say! I can't believe it! Commander! My father is Commander. He couldn't get any higher unless he were king! Think of the ranks he skipped," Kratos shouted hysterically.

" There was a letter for Everard too. We should go talk to him," Yuan said. Kratos and together they went of to Everard's office.

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" Ah you're hear. Come sit down," Everard beckoned when Kratos appeared in the door. Yuan went and stood in the corner as Kratos sat across from his training instructor. There was an uncomfortable silence as Everard tried to decide how to further address Kratos. After all the boy's father now out ranked him, technically Kratos was the more powerful between them.

" I assume you read the letter your father sent you?" Everard said, and Kratos nodded. " I'm about to make an announcement to the student body, but I thought I'd talk to you first. Your father hasn't been officially instated as the Commander yet. That will happen here in about another month, just as spring is arriving. The school will be holding a festival in his honor. The idea is to turn the place of his one failure into the place where he rises to the top. Well, that and the school is a good size and is full of his fans… You students will be preparing most of the events. I thought it might be awkward for you to be there when I made the announcement, so I decided to tell you separately. That and I'd like to give my congratulations."

" Thank you," Kratos replied.

" Your excused then. You can go back to your dorm if you wish. There's no need for you to go to the assembly." Kratos and Yuan hurried out of the office towards the dorms.

" Cool a festival!" Yuan said, " I hope they have good food…"

" Yeah this is pretty exciting," Kratos admitted as his initial amazement began to wear off. There was silence for a moment as the boys were lost in their own thoughts.

" You are gonna be so freakin' rich when your parents cork off," Yuan mumbled.

" Don't say stuff like that," Kratos told his friend giving him a slight glare.

" Well it's true…"

" Speaking of which, where's the money I was supposed to get in the letter," Kratos looked at Yuan who grinned and avoided his eyes. " You didn't…"

" Heh heh…' Yuan took off down the hallway that ran by the empty dorms. He was laughing hysterically. Kratos went after him finally feeling light hearted again.

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The next month passed in a blur. It was all preparations for the festival and congratulations for something he didn't do. Finally the first day of the festival arrived along with his father. Kratos stood outside with the rest of the students and saluted when his father road up. For the last time General Aurion was followed by his men. After he was instated as Commander the entire army would be his men. After that the students were set free to enjoy the games, food, and shows they had been preparing. Before he followed them Kratos went up to his father.

General Aurion was speaking to some other officers, the same ones the frequented the Celsius Day parties. They stepped back as Kratos approached and left General Aurion with his son.

" Hello father," Kratos said politely. He wasn't quite sure what to say.

" Hello," There was an awkward silence as the two looked at one another.

" I'm glad your going to be Commander. I think you really deserve it," Kratos told his father. He was immediately quite.

" General Everard told me that your doing very well in most of your classes. Your mother will be glad. Why don't your run along and play now?"

" Um, okay…" Kratos replied and he turned away. He had never had such a good conversation with his father.

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Yuan was waiting for Kratos farther out in the fields. The students had arranged for many rides to be brought to the fair and Yuan had never seen such amazing things. He decided at that moment that rich people definitely had all the fun. Finally he saw Kratos plodding across the field to him.

" There you are. I've been waiting. I can't get on the rides without you, you know," Yuan said to his friend.

" Yeah, I know. So Yuan, do we have our lie straight?"

" I'm going on the rides with you because you don't like going yourself. I'm eating junk food because you dropped it."

" I think that covers all the excuses we'll need. Let's go have fun."

Yuan and Kratos looked at all the rides not knowing which one to go to first. Yuan caught sight of a ride that spun around quickly as the people in the seats were lifted into the air. He pulled Kratos in the direction. As they approached the line cleared for them. Kratos looked embarrassed, but Yuan was enjoying his friend's fame. Soon they were buckled into the ride.

" Alright we get to fly in a bird!" Yuan whispered excitedly to Kratos.

" What if we actually do go flying…" Kratos whispered back.

" Oh calm down that won't happen," Yuan told him. But personally he felt a little glad that Kratos was scared. He felt kind of useless when Kratos was brave. As the ride began to go Yuan felt his feet lift up. He had never felt such a feeling as flying. He would do anything to feel that again. The rush of the wind against his face gave him a thrill.

" I wish I could fly anytime I wanted to!" Yuan shouted into the wind. Glad to know no one but his friend could hear him against the whir of the machine.

" I wish we could stop. I'm going to hurl…" Kratos replied. Finally the machine stopped and the two staggered off to find some other ride to experience. Kratos didn't throw up, but immediately wanted to go on another spinny ride.

" Who the hell wants to sit in teacups," Yuan complained, but Kratos dragged him any way. This ride had the opposite affect on the two boys. Kratos loved the feeling of turning and he kept spinning the cup faster and faster. It was Yuan's turn to go pale. The two of them were having the time of their lives. They spent all day outside going on each ride again and again, and playing all the games. At last night fell and the students headed up to the school. It was a little while before Kratos realized he was the only person outside who wasn't a slave.

" Oh, crap, Yuan! I have to get inside! Their going to make my father Commander I can't miss this." Yuan let himself be pulled from the line for the flying ride and all the way across the grounds. The school was empty all except for the cafeteria. Kratos let out a little sigh of relief when he realized people were still going in. The two boys walked into the cafeteria and surveyed their surroundings. Kratos noticed that everyone was quiet in reverence of the moment. Yuan didn't; Yuan only noticed the sign that hung above the door. It read: The Students of Swift Military Academy Welcome Commander Aurion To They're School. He laughed.

" Hey, Kratos. They used the wrong "their"!" Yuan boisterously told his friend. He turned to look at Kratos and he felt his stomach sink. The entire assembly was looking at them. Even Commander Aurion and all his fellow officers were looking at them. Yuan looked down at Kratos who looked back with terror in his eyes. Kratos was breathing heavily.

" Yuan, RUN!"

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We are very close to the end now people. Well sort of the end. Their will be only one or two more chapters before we shut the doors on " The Best of Friends" and look forward to what would become known as the adventures of Mithos the hero. I really need to find game scripts…