Disclaimer: I wish I owned Tales of Symphonia. Also, Ahmond's name was borrowed from Witch Hunter Robin.

Hi mom. Hi dad. How are you? Things are fine here… but the village needs you. I need you. It's so hard to be the village leader. What if I fail them all? What if I fail you?

Anna opened her eyes and stared down at her family's graves, thinking about how her life had turned upside down. Ever since her parents and almost all of the villagers were killed, including and all three of her brothers, she had been completely lost; always dwelling on the deaths she could have prevented.

"Talking to them again?" said a voice I her ear. Ahmond had come up behind her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I don't know what else to do…" she trailed off. "I need help. I can't run from the fact that I let them die…"

"You did not let them die!" Ahmond barked.

"I was on watch…"

"So was I!"

"But the Desians outnumbered me…"

"We were all outnumbered!"

"If only I had been stronger…"

"Anna, listen" Ahmond turned to face her. "It wasn't your fault. Your parents knew that the day would come when the Desians would find us. They knew the risks. We all did."

"But I can't lead Jalisa!" Anna shrieked. "No one believes in me! The villagers are all suffering from their losses, slowly piecing their lives back together and their leader is wandering around asking for help from her dead parents!"

"Not true!" Ahmond shot back. "We all believe in you. And if no one else, you know I do! We've been friends since we were babies. I've fought with you, I know you. You'll lead us out of this. I know it."

Anna turned back to her parents' graves. She longed to believe him… she really did… but the shadows pressing on her mind were too strong to resist. Her memory of that night was nothing but darkness and she knew she'd never be whole again until she found who killed her parents… and why they let her live.

"Thanks Ahmond…" she muttered. "You best get back to Jalisa…I'm coming."

She felt him hesitate on the point of arguing, but he thought better of it and walked away.

"Hey Ahmond!" Anna called, struck by a sudden thought. He turned to look back at her. She kept staring at her parent's graves as she asked, "That man in Iselia… have you found anything about him?"

"A mercenary," Ahmond replied. "A wandering mercenary. They talk about him in whispers. They say he knows no fear and stares death in the face, completely devoid of any emotion."

Except the sorrow in his eyes, Anna thought.

"Devoid of emotion… could he be…" she asked turning around. But Ahmond shook his head.

"No…or else why would he have cut down the Desians? They are one with Cruxis remember?"

"Oh right…"

"I'll see you back in the village, Anna."

"Thank you Ahmond."

He walked away leaving Anna lost in her shadows.

Yes thank you Ahmond, but the way ahead is just as dark as ever. If only I could remember that night. I see the flames, and I can smell the smoke. My heart was pounding as I slaughtered Desian after Desian. Then pain...pain so terrible that all was dark. But I still fought... until a heavy blow rendered me immobile. And the darkness became complete. Except for pain... I could sense sorrow... but it was beyond my own.

Suddenly, the sound of running footsteps and far off screams came to her ears and she pulled out her swords listening intently.

"ANNA!" Ahmond came running into view a bloody gash on his arm his eyes wild with fear.

"Ahmond wha-" Anna cried, but he cut her off.

"DESIANS!" He boomed. "They've returned! To Jalisa."

NO! Not again! They'll kill my people. I'll be powerless to stop them! I'll fail! Anna wrung her hands as she looked desperately around for anything that might help her summon up her courage. And then, the voice of that man in Iselia rand through her head.

"Or you'll fail just as your parents did."

Anna gasped. The mercenary... he knew it was coming. He was trying to warn her.

Anger flared up at once inside of her and it startled Ahmond to see the old Anna staring back at him.

HOW DARE HE CALL MY PARENTS FAILURES!

"Let's go!" Anna cried and Ahmond jumped up. They raced off toward Jalisa.