Mr.Who2123: Hello! I said it in my other fan fiction and I'll say it again. I'm really sorry for not updating for the last four days! I got totally addicted to the game Guild Wars…
Kratos: (sigh) I know you're obsessed, but you should do the Disclaimers…
Mr.Who2123: Oh, yeah! Let's do Eliwood from Fire Emblem 7!
Eliwood: Hello!
Mr.Who2123: Hey, Eliwood! Do the Disclaimers!
Eliwood: Mr.Who2123 does not own Tales of Symphonia, but she does own her O.C.s!
Kratos: Let's start
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Kratos woke up earlier than usual the morning after. He glanced at the sleeping form of Leon, wrapped in his sheets. He felt a sudden stab of guilt thinking of what happened to the young boy.
His life is going to be ruined because of me, he thought, buckling his sword to his belt. Kratos left the boy to leave on his own. I'm going to give him a better life by leaving him. He doesn't deserve to live like this.
Kratos made it outside of the inn. The sun was beginning to show over the eastern mountains and few people were walking around. Kratos turned south towards the forbidden forest. He knew Vernandi was there and he was going to stop him no matter what.
Leon opened his eyes slowly and looked around.
"Morning, Kra-," he stopped when he saw the empty bed and his items gone. "Kratos?" Leon asked, also grabbing his stuff. What is he thinking? His mind raced as he ran out of the door. Soon, Leon was out of the inn as well, but the morning had come and the town was becoming busy.
"Kratos?" Leon called, heading south.
Kratos was out of the gate now, and looked back at the city.
"I hope I can see you again some day," he whispered and then trudged to the forest. He wasn't far from the forest when he heard something behind him. Acting on instinct, Kratos drew his sword and faced the sound behind him. A creature that looked nothing like man or beast was standing in front of Kratos. It was completely black, except for the red eyes that glowed from its deformed head.
"What the heck?" Kratos muttered and then blocked an attack from the beast's claws. "What is it?" Kratos parried another attack, his focus blocked by the confusion of what the thing was. The beast lifted its hand and black mana charged. Instantly, Kratos knew it was a shadow. The beam blasted towards Kratos who rolled away just in time. Kratos then gripped his flamberge and thrust it at the monster. The sword sliced its stomach, and black blood poured out. Again, Kratos slashed at the monster, but it took the blows, not dying from the blade.
"What's going on?" he murmured as he stabbed the shadow in the face. A black puddle encircled the shadow, covering it in its own blood. Kratos backed away from the undead shadow and sheathed his blade.
"Shadow Blast!" he yelled and dark power focused into his hand and blasted the shadow into a rock. The shadow cringed and fell to the floor silently.
"So, that's how," he said and looked at his hand. "I guess only shadow can kill shadow." Kratos once again headed for the forest, a dim hope in his heart.
Leon was at the southern gate now. He had checked everywhere, but Kratos wasn't there. Tired and panting, Leon gazed at the path that leads south. He didn't know if Kratos headed that way or not.
"Kratos!" he yelled as loud as he could into the silence. However, his voice didn't reach to Kratos. Leon watched somberly at the path. Suddenly, Leon noticed something in the distance. Inside the forest was a fortress, completely black.
"Never seen that before," Leon muttered. Then, Leon smiled, knowing it was Vernandi's castle. "I'm coming whether you like it or not," Leon muttered under his breath and dashed through the gate.
Kratos silently made his way through the ever growing trees. The path had long since disappeared and now he was on his own. The silence drove Kratos insane; it seemed even the noise of his boots made no noise.
Kratos stopped to take a rest from the long walk and sat down. He leaned back against a tree and closed his eyes.
"What will happen when I beat Vernandi?" Kratos moaned, opening his eyes again. He looked at his hand and gritted his teeth.
"Why me?" he yelled, banging his fist against a tree.
It is fate, a voice said behind Kratos. He instantly stood up and saw the light blue druid, floating in front of Kratos.
"Why are you here?" Kratos asked, taking a timid step towards the half shadow. The druid came closer to Kratos until he was an inch away.
I've come to see the world rid of monsters, it said, and the pain came to Kratos again. He clutched his stomach, breathing a little harder. He forgot to focus on his dark mana, making him weak to the druid's actions. Kratos closed his eyes and felt himself be taken over by the shadow part of him.
"Will you help me?" Kratos asked, feeling no more pain. The druid stared at him with its cold black eyes. Kratos stared at the druid and saw a glint of sadness…or guilt?
No…, it said, and lifted his hand. Kratos widened his eyes and saw dark mana welling up.
"What are you…," Kratos began, staring at the powerful mana.
This world will be rid of monsters like you, and with that, the druid released his man, barely missing Kratos who rolled out of the way.
"Why are you doing this?" Kratos yelled at the druid. It stared at Kratos for a minute, locking their gazes onto another.
Betrayal, it finally said through Kratos' mind. The druid suddenly disappeared, leaving Kratos alone…for a minute.
"Where'd he go?" Kratos muttered angrily. He trusted that druid to help him, but it just lured him for a reason…but what?
Behind, the druid appeared right behind Kratos and released a beam of mana. It hit Kratos directly, knocking him over and filling him with immense pain. The druid disappeared and reappeared again right in front of Kratos. Kratos stretched his head to see the druid floating over him.
"No, don't do this!" Kratos begged, but it was too late. The druid held its arm above Kratos' head.
This will end it, it said, and mana welled up again. This world will belong to Vernandi. The druid released the mana and hit Kratos in the back of the head, causing a tremendous torture until he fell unconscious.
Leon raced through the forest, heading towards the tall fortress.
"Wait just a little longer," Leon muttered, keeping his gaze on his destination. "We need to kill Vernandi together."
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Mr.Who2123: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! CLIFFHANGER! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (yawn) MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (cough) Okay, I'm done
Kratos: (sweat drop)
Eliwood: Look, I have a rapier, just like Leon!
Kratos: (another sweat drop) I'm surrounded by idiots…
Mr.Who2123: Anyways, Review! Oh, and the next chapters will be REALLY suspenseful. This is the showdown! Mwahaha!