I have the ultimate way of staying up all night without caffeine! Olbas oil (A mixture of mint oils) rubbed into the skin. I found that out on a sleepover! I've only done it once, before TWS gives me an earful!

I'm trying to get this up before I go to a little place called Nottingham. (Robin Hood country! Seriously, they have that written on their signs! Welcome to Nottinghamshire, Robin Hood Country!)

Me no own Tales of Symphonia or Miracle-Gro (don't ask).

Complete and utter darkness. Good thing I grew out of that fear of the dark, then.

More that anything, I wondered, 'How?'

This had happened before, and after the experience was over, Stephen and I had created barriers, protection against this spell.

I heard pitiful sobbing. Rough and heavy, yet delicate, small sobs. I knew who it was instantly, as if it was myself who'd cried.

'Cyclone? Can you hear me? What's wrong?'

'I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to let her in, I swear. I just…'

'What happened?' My voice was soft and sympathetic, but my mind was reeling.

'It's just that you've been speaking to me less and less lately. And then you spoke to the dragon and I got jealous. I'm sorry. I wish I could have changed the way I felt.'

'I forgive you. You can't change the way you feel. I'm sorry too. I should have realised. Sometimes…well, all the time, I forget that you were and still are the spirit of the wind, not just a dragon.'

'Thank you. At least you understand. Fate could have been so much crueller to me and given me a child that was stubborn or stupid…I'm trying to say I'm lucky to have you.'

The darkness around me suddenly felt less oppressive.

'No way! Naois is losing her touch. That was…easy. There's no other word for it.'

'What?'

'We've just broken Naois' spell in record time. We, – this is going to sound cheesy – through the power of forgiveness, have shattered the darkness that rendered us helpless.'

'Oh.' Cyclone sounded…disappointed?

'What's wrong?' I asked.

'You just said those things to get out of here, didn't you?'

'Cyclone, I had no idea what would break the spell. Did it sound like I was lying? Did it feel like I was deceiving you? I could no more lie to you than…dive into a swimming pool.'

The dragon stayed silent, thinking.

'Whatever happens, I'm facing it with you at my side. I'm not leaving here until we sort this out, Cyclone. If that means my motionless body is caught in the crossfire, and has Indignation Judgement, or Absolute cast on it, so be it.'

'No. Go. I need to think.'

'I'm not leaving.' I said firmly. 'I can't leave things between us like this.'

'You make it sound like we're a couple.' Cyclone laughed in the weary way that someone who has just been crying laughs.

'If we were, we'd top the charts on weirdness.' I pointed out.

There was a short silence before Cyclone said, 'Nia, let's go. We have butt to kick and names to take!'

I laughed, recognising the Reggie Fils-Aime quote that had to have come from my own memories.

(Reggie famously said at E3 2004 'My name's Reggie and I'm all about kicking ass and taking names.' He's the president of Nintendo of America. My source of info? ONM!)

Sometime I'd have to ask Cyclone how far he'd gone into my memories.

I banished the darkness from my senses, then screwed my eyes shut when everything was too bright.

I heard the sound of metal, swords being drawn. Through my barely used elven blood, I felt large amounts of mana flying everywhere around me.

I opened my eyes and entered the unfolding battle around me. Naois has mysteriously vanished, but I thought little off it. Why look a gift horse in the mouth?

I concentrated on a part of my mind that wasn't mine, but as much a part of me as anything else about me.

'Cyclone, we fight together.' I said simply.

He understood, as I knew he would, and appeared beside me. 'Let's go!'

I jumped as far as I could straight up. Cyclone took to the air and flew straight underneath me. I landed on Cyclone, so that I was standing.

At any other time, this would have felt wrong, like I was overstepping a line. But now, our minds were on the battle and how to win.

Cyclone and I flew above Mithos.

"I have an idea…no, sorry. It was stupid…you've never done a unison attack before…sorry." Cyclone didn't put his words into sentences, but just said them how they occurred in his mind.

"Now's as good a time as any to learn." I said, a smile automatically creeping on to my face.

"Okay, do what comes to mind and I'll help."

I focused on the air, making it whip Mithos all over the place, channelling all the anger I felt on behalf of Lloyd and Kratos and everyone into the movements. Mithos hardly moved, until Cyclone helped by flapping his wings harder. I understood how the wind rolled off flapping wings, seeing how often I was the one doing the flapping. I used that knowledge to help coax the air already set in motion to slam into Mithos.

He staggered, which gave everyone the opportunity to land a few hits before he recovered. Our actions had, unfortunately, alerted Mithos to us, so we now had to watch out for spells that could reach us in the air. The most common of these being Judgement.

We also had to watch out for the lances in Holy Lance, the rays in Ray, and the 'oh-my-god-what's-that?' in Indignation Judgement. Luckily, the latter didn't come along that often.

The only major problem we had as a group was Retribution…

"Disappear…Retribution!" Mithos shouted.

I felt a painful gnawing in my stomach, and felt I was going to be sick, but I knew I wouldn't heave.

"Cyclone? You 'k?" I managed to choke out.

"Dragons are impervious to a lot of magic. But you, you're poisoned. You need to do something."

I fumbled around for a Panacea Bottle, starting to worry with a sick dread that I didn't have any, or wouldn't be able to use it when I did find it. After all, weren't they liquid?

I felt warmth and the easing of pain. I looked to see Raine lowering her staff and knew she'd helped me.

I knew Mithos was weakening when he started talking. "My sister means everything to me. I won't let anyone get in my way. If I have to, I'll revert this entire world to nothingness."

Lloyd, dodging a spell, asked, "You're willing to trade the world just for your sister?"

"None of you understand how I feel." Mithos shouted, casting Judgement.

"You're the one who doesn't understand!" Lloyd said in-between sword swipes.

Some time later, Cyclone and I flew directly above Mithos. A few flames spat out of Cyclone's mouth and I knew – inexplicably – what to do.

His fire came down in a solid column of red. I put my hands as close to the flames as I could risk. Then, I added my own fire to the column, giving it spiralling white streaks. Cyclone's fire would burn mana, as mine would burn flesh. In time, I would look back on this attack and give it a name: Twin Inferno.

Deservingly, this hit ended the current fight.

"My dream of a world, just for my sister and me." Mithos whispered.

"This isn't over yet." Lloyd warned everyone.

Mithos turned into his second form, a combination of the Judged, the Neglected and the Fugitive. Only Mithos' face was visible, in the domelike 'head' of the creature.

He began by casting Flame Lance. We flew straight into it, and I absorbed the fire mana.

"It's a little different to proper fire, but it's alright. Doesn't hurt." I said to Cyclone.

"Nia, it's rude to steal someone else's spell." Cyclone said, amusement in his voice. "I suggest you give it back to him."

"I hear you loud and clear." I threw the full force of the Flame Lance, plus a little extra fire down towards Mithos.

Mithos cast Judgement. Cyclone was incredible, trying to weave through the beams of light, but eventually we were hit and brought down to land.

Cyclone tried to take off quickly, but was hit by Thunder Arrow.

"Cyclone! Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'll be fine. But my wing…" I looked at his right wing and noticed a tear in the skin, probably made from Judgement.

"You won't be able to fly. Not for a while, at least."

"I don't have to fly to fight." To prove his point, Cyclone walked up to Mithos' large form, and breathed fire on the top, leaving everyone attacking below unharmed.

I smiled and ran in, to attack. I gave Mithos a kick, and it felt weak. I made myself content to kick and punch away at Mithos, but my heart was in fire magic. In a couple of minutes, Lloyd used Rising Falcon, which struck the dome on top, ending the battle.

"Martel." Mithos gasped pitifully.

"Goodbye…Mithos." Lloyd said regretfully.

Even though Mithos was dead, a translucent Mithos stood in front of the throne.

"Mithos is…" Colette started, confused.

"It's just like Alicia! Mithos will continue to live as long as the Cruxis Crystal exists." Presea explained.

Mithos spoke. "And eventually, I will be taken over by the crystal."

"Mithos…" Lloyd started.

"I'm tired of playing your game of good-and-evil. Hurry up and destroy the crystal. If you don't, Derris-Kharlan will continue to drift away." Mithos sounded pathetic, but there was something…some emotion under the surface I couldn't grasp. Was it…eagerness?

"Mithos…"

"Do it now, before I, too am no longer myself." Mithos kept to this pitiful tone.

"Lloyd, please, help him! Let him die while he's still himself." Genis pleaded.

"All right." Lloyd said.

"Farewell my shadow, you who stand at the end of the path I chose not to follow. I wanted my own world, so I don't regret my choice. I would make the same choice all over again. I will continue to choose this path." Mithos said, head up proudly.

Lloyd brought his sword up and hesitated for just the slightest second. I could only imagine what was going through his head right then. Finally, he brought his sword down, shattering the crystal.

Something white and sparkling gathered around Lloyd, then entered his Exsphere.

Lloyd looked at his Exsphere and whispered to it, to Mithos, "You could have…you could have lived with us in our world."

Two glowing lights, one red and one blue, started at the hilt of Lloyd's two swords and rose into the air. I found myself mesmerised with them. They turned into Lloyd's Material Blades. The Material Blades merged together to form a purple broadsword, pulsing with energy. Everyone knew it was the Eternal Sword.

Origins voice came out of everywhere and nowhere. "The old master of the pact is no more. What does the new master of the pact ask of this sword?"

"Restore the true form of our two worlds." Lloyd said as he held his sword high above his head. The Eternal Sword glowed…

From our vantage point on Derris-Kharlan, we saw pinpricks of light directly below us, which spread out across the world. Then, the world grew cloudy orange, before becoming a lush green and blue planet, slightly obscured by wisps of cloud.

A white light blinded us momentarily, before we felt grass beneath our feet.

"Are we back?" Lloyd asked.

The ground started to shake.

"What's going on?" Lloyd asked.

All of the Summon Spirits appeared –Undine, Efreet, Sephie, Fairess, Yutis, Gnome, Celsius, Volt, Luna, Aska and Shadow.

"What are you all doing?" Sheena asked.

It struck me that a lot of people were asking unanswered questions.

Origin spoke to the eternal swordsman. "Your wish is granted. But there is no link. Without a link the land will die."

Kratos muttered to himself, "Just as I thought."

"The world was originally split into two in order to prevent it's destruction. If it returns to it's true form, the world lacks the mana to support itself. The land is dying."

Lloyd spoke with his usual determination. "I don't need to know why it's dying! What do we need to do to stop it?"

"Support the two worlds by linking them with the Giant Tree. That is the only way to stop the destruction of the land."

Kratos tried to explain it in simpler terms. "We need to restore the Giant Kharlan Tree."

It doesn't get much simpler than that!

"I get it."

"Lloyd, quickly, before Derris-Kharlan flies off into the distant reaches of space, use its mana to awaken the Great Seed. That's the only way to revive it." Kratos explained.

"All right, then. I'm counting on you, Eternal Sword."

"Derris-Kharlan is at the edge of the gravitational field. Not even Yggdrasil…Mithos could stop this from happening." Origin warned. "Do you still intend to try?"

"Yeah." Lloyd sighed.

"Even strengthened by your Exsphere, it is not likely that your body will withstand the forces. Are you certain of your decision?"

I was getting annoyed with Origin. Yes, he is still going to go and save the world. No, he's not going to back down. Yes, he is certain of his decision. No, he does not want to phone a friend, ask the audience or go 50/50!

"I said I'm doing it, so I'm doing it. It's not like we have a choice."

True, we could just let Derris-Kharlan drift off, but everyone would die a long, drawn out, painful death. That fate isn't just true fore the humans, elves and half-elves, though. That would be true for all the plants and animals, too.

"Very well."

The Eternal Sword disappeared, and it's mana swirled around the Great Seed. After circling a couple of times, it disperced into space.

"The mana's being deflected!" Lloyd said disbelievingly, as if, if he didn't believe it, then it wouldn't be true.

"The Great Seed is already dead?" Colette sounded heartbroken.

"Wait, don't go! Please, wake up!" Lloyd implored.

Lloyd's Exsphere glowed. Two enormous wings appeared on Lloyd's back.

Lloyd flew up into the air, leaving ten bewildered people behind him. Colette followed soon after.

I was one of the first to recover, saying, "Anyone else confused?"

"The Angelus Project was to be an upgrade of Mithos' Cruxis Crystal. It makes sense that it should have superior powers, including wings, to his." Kratos attempted to explain.

Keeping our eyes to the sky, our first sign that Lloyd was successful was the Seed plummeting down to Symphonia.

I had an idea and started running to where the Seed had landed. I clambered over the debris of the Tower, some of which were half as tall as me. I heard Stephen panting behind me.

We found the clearing where the Seed was now a seedling and disappointingly, Tabatha was now Martel. That would have been cool to see.

Lloyd and Colette landed, their wings disappearing behind them.

"I am Martel, and also the incarnation of the Great Seed itself." Martel said, as way of introduction. "Lloyd, your hope, as well as those hope of many others resurrected me."

"So, you're Mithos' sister?"

"No, Mithos' sister Martel is just one of many souls within me. I am Mana and I am the Giant Tree. I am a symbol of the many lives sacrificed to the Great Tree. I am a new spirit born to accompany the Giant Tree. And now the Seed has awaken anew with me…"

Behind Martel, the Great Seed appeared to grow very fast.

'Who overdosed on the Miracle-Gro?' Stephen asked.

"This is the Giant Kharlan Tree?" Lloyd asked incredulously.

"It's so beautiful, and so grand." Colette said.

Looking through my own eyes, I had to agree. I roughly calculated that the circumference of the trunk was about 720cm. Then divide that by pi…

I didn't have a calculator on me. When I got back to reality, however, I found that the diameter was roughly 229.18cm making the area of a cross-section of the trunk roughly 165011.85cm squared (correct to two decimal places), which simplified is 16.5 metres squared. (Phew…if you want to argue about that, you are more than welcome; I've had to triple check that!)

Yes, I'm blathering on about trees…you have permission to be afraid for my mental health.

Once we've established that the tree is big…

"This is the future form of the Giant Tree. But right now it is only a small seedling. In it's current state, it will wither and die."

"Well then, how do we protect it?" Lloyd asked.

"You must provide the tree with love and adoration. As long as those conditions are met, I shall always protect this seedling."

"I promise, if the tree ever starts to wither, I'll make sure, we won't let it die!" Lloyd clenched his fist half way through the promise.

"Then Lloyd, on behalf of all living things, I want you to give this tree a new name, as a proof of the pact."

"What?"

"The Giant Kharlan Tree was planted here by the elves when they came, as a guardian to watch over and protect them. This newly reborn tree protect elves, humans and the lives of all those who are caught in between. Therefore, this tree requires a new name."

"Lloyd, pick a name for us. A name for everyone's tree." Colette said perkily.

"I see. So this tree is the link that connects the world…Okay, I got it. This tree's name is…"

Ha! Cliff-hanger! But, unlike the game, I will tell you the name. (That rhymed!) Some (smart) people already know the name, either from their own intellect or other people's. OMG This chapter was massive! Nine pages!

Big, big big big big thank you to Katana of the Jade Wings and Starlight Demon Firesong for constantly reviewing. And thanks to 'you don't need to know' for reviewing (and reading all the way through 130 pages! I've put all of my chapters into one word document, without the disclaimer and the random rubbish I spurt at the beginning and end of each chapter.)

Someone may have guessed that I'm a bit of a detail nut by the end of this chapter…

(I guessed from the size of Lloyd and Colette against the tree. Therefore, these are nowhere near accurate. And I wasted a heck of a lot of time doing this. The pointlessness is killing me.)

Estimated circumference of the Giant Kharlan Tree 7.2m

Estimated diameter of the Giant Kharlan Tree 2.29m

Estimated area of the Giant Kharlan Tree's trunk cross-section 855.42m squared