Lloyd squinted as the bright sunshine bore into his eyes. The cold breeze at the top of the large hill stung him, causing him to wrap the black cloak he was wearing around his front, clutching at it tightly with his chilled hands. Shaking some stray hair out of his eyes, Lloyd lowered his head against the wind and strode faster foward in an attempt to catch up with his friends.
Not looking where he was going, Lloyd didn't notice the large solid object that blocked his path and he released his cloak as he collided with it, breath leaving him in shock as he landed on the floor.
'Lloyd?'
The teenager looked up and saw the dark eyes of his father from where he had landed. A small look of concern played across the older man's face as he silently held out a hand for his son.
'Everything alright?'
'Yeah...' Lloyd took his hand and allowed himself to be pulled up, brushing his black trousers down with his hands and wrapping his cloak back around himself, 'I was just trying to catch up with the rest of the group and-'
'Good,' Kratos replied, smiling almost sadly. He turned and continued to trudge up the hill towards the ominous looking white tower that dominated the skyline, disappearing into the purple mist of Derris-Kharlan at the edge of the horizon.
Lloyd breathed a large sigh and followed.
'The Tower of Salvation...' Raine whispered as the party congregated at the entrance to the white building. Lloyd looked up so his neck was straining at the building; the final destination of their journey. Today in Tethe'alla it would end; Lloyd was going to re-unite the worlds.
The party strode silently towards the shining purple sword in the middle of the hall. They had allowed Lloyd to go first, following him without a word, although the looks they shot between themselves expressed a concern for the dual swordsman. Colette bit her lip as she ended up at the back of the group, taking an absent-minded glance back towards where they landed their Rhieards, half expecting to see a small white-haired half elf run up the hill to catch them up. Colette sighed sadly; Genis had stayed in Iselia.
Lloyd heard his footsteps echo steadily around the hall as he stepped up onto the marble platform. He scanned the white floor, only too aware of the black burns and scratches that blemished the marble. Blemishes caused by him and Yggdrasill. The day he died.
The teenager closed his eyes tightly, trying to stiffle the memories. He could still remember the looks in the eyes of the group, his father, the realisation of what he needed to do, the conversation with his mother, the mana build up, the unbearable pain as it was released and then...nothing.
He jumped as a cold hand released him from his thoughts. Kratos took his hand off Lloyd's neck and took some paces towards the sword along with the rest of the group. Kratos's face was emotionless and almost cold.
'Come on, Lloyd. Let's get this over with,' he mumbled.
Lloyd fiddled with the exquisitely carved ring on his right hand as he nodded silently, confused at Kratos's mood. He stood a few feet from the sword and looked back at the group who had encircled him.
Raine was stood with Colette, both smiling kindly. Lloyd was shocked at how swiftly Colette had forgiven him, they hadn't spoken since the incident yet the ex-Chosen was pretending like it never happened. Lloyd, feeling a surge of guilt, looked away quickly. His gaze span across the group, seeing identical smiles etched on their faces, designed to give him strength.
All except one.
Kratos wasn't looking at Lloyd, but he was staring intently at the sword, gaze switching periodically towards the sky and Derris-Kharlan. His eyes were vacant, and Lloyd knew he was up to something.
Shaking his head he shot a confident, but fake, grin towards the group and held out his hands for the sword...
Lloyd gasped as he made contact with the cool metal. A surge of power flowed through him and he momentarily lost awareness of his surroundings. He felt a presence in the back of his mind, a power and a confidence he had never felt before.
'What wishes the Eternal Swordsman?'
'Origin?' Lloyd thought to himself, declining to speak outloud.
'Lloyd Aurion, master of the Eternal Sword, I grant my power to you. What is it you require?'
Lloyd smiled to himself and took a deep breath. This was it.
'I want to re-unite the worlds of Tethe'alla and Sylverant with the Great Seed at its centre.'
'As you wish. I will transport yourself and your companions to the seed.'
Lloyd opened his mouth to reply but was startled as he felt his body being lurched upwards. A blinding white light encompassed him as his stomach lurched and he took a second to regain his balance as he landed, standing, on the dusty Sylverant dirt near the Triet desert.
'I grant you my power to rekindle the Great Seed. Upon doing so, the world will be re-united.'
Lloyd grinned. Something in side him knew what to do. Focusing for a moment, Lloyd released his violet wings behind him and kicked off the ground, soaring into the air. He held the surprisingly light sword in his two hands before him.
'Lloyd!'
The Eternal Swordsman turned his head quickly to see the shimmering white form of Colette drifting up to join him above the ground. A shining smile was emblazoned on her face as she hovered effortlessly on his left hand side, shoulders brushing against each other.
'Colette...'
'Let's do this together!'
The near 17 year old grabbed the handle of the sword with Lloyd, smiling a contagious smile that reflected on the boy's face.
'Right,' Lloyd replied as they both lifted the sword above their heads.
'WAIT!'
Lloyd and Colette hesitated, lowering the sword slowly as a small blue-clad figure bolted out behind a cliff-face. Genis sped towards his sister, shouting at her to stop. Raine turned to her brother and allowed him to mumble something in her ear, thrusting a small blue package into her hand. Raine nodded and smiled, turning to Yuan who was stood next to her and handing him the package, motioning up towards Lloyd and Colette.
Yuan nodded as he released his shimmering wings and began to ascend towards the two teens. Kratos followed, blue wings flowing magnificently behind him, murmuring something at his friend of 4000 years. Lloyd and Colette watched silently as the two Seraphs flew slowly towards them.
'Oh....COME OOOOOOOON!'
Both Seraphs turned, confused towards the floor, the confusion disappearing off Kratos's face immediately. Yuan was startled as a pink, red and orange blur collided forcefully with him, taking the blue package from his grasp.
'Too slow, old man!'
'Zelos?'
Lloyd raised an eyebrow as the Tethe'allan rose to be parralell to the two teenagers. He had a smirk on his face, unaware of the looks of confusion on the faces of the rest of the group.
'You did not tell them, Chosen?' Kratos mused, taking a quick glance back down at a disgruntled looking Yuan below.
'Tell them wha-.....oh,' Zelos's eyes widened in realisation as he placed the package-holding hand behind his head, 'Guess I didn't.'
Lloyd looked astonished as a smile emerged on Colette's face. She released the sword and hovered round behind Zelos, admiring his wings.
'Wow, they're beautiful!' She clasped her hands together and returned to Lloyd's side.
'Wait... since when, Zelos, have you been an angel?' Lloyd asked, exasperated.
'He was given a Cruxis Crystal,' Kratos answered as Yuan rose, disgruntled, to his side, 'Given the failure for Colette to complete the Journey of Regeneration, Yggdrasill felt the need to activate Zelos's Crystal. He was in regular contact with Cruxis, myself especially. Yggdrasill wanted to keep him close, although it would seem that Zelos's loyalties lay with you.'
Lloyd scrunched up his face in confusion, only jolted back to reality by the blue package that was thrust into his hands by the red-head Chosen.
'Here y'are, bud!'
Lloyd turned the package over in his hands before tearing away the cover. A familiar oak-carved pipe fell into his cold hands. Lloyd ran his fingers over the sharp edge and glanced down at Genis. The half elf had stuffed his hands in his pockets and was staring intently at his feet.
'He said he wanted it to be placed by the tree,' Yuan responded to the frown on Lloyd's face, causing the frown to disappear and the teenager to respond with a nod. Lloyd feld Colette grab the sword once more and motion for it to be lifted over their heads. Kratos, Yuan and Zelos gave the pair some space as Lloyd closed his eyes and tried to feel Origin's power flow through him once more.
'I'm doing this for everyone, Genis,' he thought to himself, 'not just for me.'
Lloyd bit his lip and opened his eyes as every ounce of energy he still contained was focused into the blade in his hands. He and Colette swung the sword downwards in the direction of the Great Seed and Lloyd cried out as the blinding white light encircled them, the form of a tree beginning to force itself from beneath the sandy dirt.
The Giant Kharlan Tree was finally growing once more.
A/N Sorry for the little wait! Please review! Ooooh and I passed my driving test today, yay!