Hello all! This chapter is waaaaaay longer than the others as a huge thank you to everyone who has stuck with the story thus far! And thank you Sika'sheart for your review! (much bowing and praising) And to clear something up for everyone else, yes, I know Kratos owned Noishe originally, but I think Anna is more of a dog person than him.

(begs on hands and knees) Reveiw please!

Disclaimer: Still don't Own Tales of Symphonia

"Daddy, look!" Lloyd cried, pointing up at the stars. "It's a shooting star! Look mommy!"

Anna crossed the balcony, staring upward. They had moved back to Asilaj two months ago, a welcome relief to the Jalisa. It just didn't feel right for anyone but Anna to lead them. But the reports that were reaching her were distressing. Even more distressing was the squad missing agents, including Sei and Selena. There was something big going on behind the scenes in Cruxis, and both Kratos and Anna had a shrewd idea of what it was.

"Anna," Ahmond had told her just that week, "You know what's going on. This is all a ploy to lure you and Kratos out!"

"Are you suggesting I give myself up?" Anna snapped, shocked and hurt.

"Never," Ahmond said sincerely. "Just throw Kratos to them…that should do it."

"Let's throw you to them!" Anna replied, picking him up and throwing him out the door.

Needless to say, the Desians and Cruxis were waiting for some signal…and they swoop down upon the small family, tearing them to shreds.

"Make a wish mommy," Lloyd cried. Kratos smiled up at his son. At least Lloyd is happy…I just wish Anna was…

Anna sighed and gazed at Asilaj. "I wish I had never been born," she whispered so neither her husband nor Lloyd could hear.

"I like the stars," Lloyd announced. "Hikaru said that they are angels and that her mommy and Daddy are up there. Is that true?" Anna turned and exchanged a look with Kratos. They hadn't decided what to tell Lloyd in reference to the lies Cruxis spread. Kratos looked down, hiding his face with his hair, despite Lloyd's tugging on it. Anna could see the shadows in his eye-the reflection of his guilt and of his crimes.

"Yes it is, Lloyd," Anna said. "Your grandparents are up there as well. And your uncles. They watch over all of us, protecting us if anything bad should happen." She reached up and took Lloyd off of Kratos's shoulders. "They guard us, so you're never alone. If anything happens to us, Lloyd, Daddy and I will be up there protecting you too." Lloyd yawned as Anna carried him into their house.

"Daddy," Lloyd said as Kratos stood in the doorway, distress still evident in his eyes. "Tell me a story. Please." Kratos stood still for a moment, clearly battling his inner demons. He finally took Lloyd from Anna and carried him into their room, laying down with Lloyd resting on his chest, sucking his thumb.

"What shall our story be about?" Kratos asked.

"Angels!" Lloyd said eagerly. "And the Great Tree. Hikaru likes those ones." Kratos smiled, noticing his son really looked up to the four-year-old girl

"I've just the tale…but let's get mommy in here first," he turned to Anna, who hesitated in the door way, unsure of how Kratos would react to the sudden mentions of the lies he had believed he helped create. He reached out one hand for Anna's, who took it and lay down next to her husband and son. Lloyd was dropping off to sleep as Kratos spoke.

"Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree that was the source of mana. A war, however, caused this tree to wither away, and a hero's life was sacrificed in order to take its place. Grieving over the loss, the goddess disappeared unto the heavens. The goddess left the angels with this edict: 'You must wake me, for if I should sleep, the world shall be destroyed.' The angels bore the Chosen One, who headed towards the tower that reached up unto the heavens. And that marked the beginning of the regeneration of the world."

Lloyd was fast asleep and Noishe was curled up at Anna's feet. Anna curled up into Kratos's side, gripping his hand tightly in one of her own, her free hand tracing the locket resting in the hollow of her throat. For a long while they lay there together as a family, enjoying what would unknowingly be the last of their time of relative peace.

Anna felt Kratos carefully stand and place Lloyd on his pillow, tucking the blankets around his son. He walked over to where Anna lay and whispered in her ear, "Get up." She stiffened. His voice was low with fury and rage. He had never spoken to her that way. As she stood, he closed his hand around her wrist in a grip that made her wince. He pulled her, for she did not want to follow him, so great was her fear. But she was irresistibly drug down the stairs. Kratos grabbed her swords and cape and handed them to her. Ahmond, who was filing reports in the office area, peeked into the room.

"What's going on?" Ahmond said, taking in Kratos's furious glare and Anna's shaking as she strapped on her swords. "Anna is everything-"

"I'm not going to hurt you," Kratos said calmly. "Do not be afraid."

"What's going on, Kratos," Ahmond demanded. "Why are you angered and why is Anna looking afraid?"

Kratos sighed. "I assure you, I will tell you when we return, Ahmond. Please watch Lloyd. We'll be back before morning." He seized Anna's wrist and pulled her outside.

Finally, her temper overrode her fear. "Damnit Kratos. I swear if you don't tell me what's going on, I will stab you!"

"I will tell you as soon as we clear the gate," he replied. "If you stop, I will have no hesitations about dragging you." Anna was still frightened, but followed. As soon as the walls of Asilaj were gone from sight, Kratos stopped and turned to Anna. "I heard what you said on the balcony, Anna!" he hissed and Anna cursed herself for forgetting his angelic hearing. His wings exploded from his back and before Anna knew what was happening, he was pelting through the air, Anna dangling below him, trying hard not to scream. He rose so high that it became harder for Anna to breathe. She chocked, tugging on Kratos's hand, desperately afraid.

Kratos looked down at her. "Your wish is my command, my love." He released her wrist.

Ana screamed in horror as she dropped, turning and twisting as she fell back to earth. This wasn't happening. Kratos could not have possibly just let go of her. He couldn't, he wouldn't! Why?! Because I abandoned hope, even just for a moment. I forgot my son and my husband and wished I was dead. I left the Jalisa. How could I be so stupid?

"Anna," Kratos yelled. He was right next to her as she plummeted. "I know things look grim right now, but you can't give up on everything. You are not a quitter, and I'll be damned if I let you!" He put on a burst of speed and turned, catching her in his arms.

Anna stopped screaming and glared at Kratos. "WHAT THE HELL!" she roared, hurt. "You just tried to kill me!"

Kratos scoffed. "Would I ever let you fall? Have I ever?" Anna was silent. "Look…I had to illustrate my point. It really hurt me to hear you say that. You gave up on Lloyd. And Jalisa. And me." He sighed. "I'm sorry I dropped you…but I had to make sure you remember just what you are alive to do."

"I'm sorry Kratos…I just…am so tired of living like this!" she brushed away the single tear that fell. "I…I…" she broke off with a shuddering gasp, her face screwed up in pain.

"Anna-oh no!" Kratos dashed through the air for the ground as the first scream loosed from Anna's lips. She clutched her exsphere, panting heavily as she writhed and shrieked in Kratos's arms. Kratos landed and held onto her tight as pain shot through her. "Anna…hold on…it'll pass!" I hope. Kratos heard a whistling noise and ducked. A dagger he recognized as belonging to Yuan pelted through the air and embedded itself in a tree, but Kratos left it there, trying to console Anna's, whose agony was fading away.

"Who…who threw that…" she panted as the pain subsided. She motioned for Kratos to put her down. He did so and walked over to the dagger, noticing something was bound to it. He pulled it off and unfolded a piece of paper, revealing a note from Yuan. Not noticing the bracelet that fell to the ground. My sympathies. I grant you help for Anna. In return, you must release Origin's seal in the future, once she and Lloyd are dead. -Y

"Kratos?" Anna had crawled over to him, to weak to stand, and picked up the bracelet. Her eyes widened. "Kratos! It's a key crest!"

"What?" he knelt next to her and examined it. The bracelet was made from yellow inhibitor ore. Engraved around it were the mystical symbols of the key crest. Yuan…I knew you couldn't possibly have become so cold-hearted against the world…

At a nod, Anna slipped it over her wrist and smiled. "Kratos…does this mean…"

Kratos looked at Anna and ran a hand through her hair, hardly daring to believe it. "I hope so, Anna."

Ok," Anna said to Lloyd and Hikaru, who each held wooden swords appropriate to their size, Lloyd had two, Hikaru had one. "Now show me a block." Kratos watched from the balcony of headquarters, smiling. It had been two weeks since Anna had received her Key Crest and there were no visible side effects from it. Kratos had tried to find Yuan to thank him, but to no avail. Anna had embraced life with new vigor, finally allowing Lloyd to begin weapons training after yesterday, his third birthday.

"She's not afraid anymore," Ahmond said, coming up behind Kratos. Denise was down training some of the older Jalisa children in staff work.

"Afraid?" Kratos asked.

"Afraid to risk things," Ahmond said. "Before she was afraid of failing her parents. The she was afraid of leaving you and Lloyd alone because of that blasted exsphere. She was afraid of raising Lloyd to fight because she knows how hard our lifestyle is." Ahmond refused to look Kratos in the eye, but Kratos felt the grudging trust. Ahmond simply feared Anna being let down again and that it had little to do with Kratos personally.

"Yes," Kratos replied. "But I think…she has at last regained her hope." Kratos paused, remembering the sad look she still wore at times, though most f the time she appeared happy. "I think it still plagues her, however…she is pulling through. She is strong."

"Indeed," Ahmond left him to go teach an archery lesson.

Later that night, Kratos was returning from unarmed combat practice with the would-be assassins that were scheduled for trials in the coming month. Since their return, Anna and Kratos had joined Ahmond and Denise in teaching the fighting arts. He was home early, practice having been cut short due to three broken arms, results of back flips gone wrong and a collision or two. He opened the front door and headed upstairs to Lloyd's room, where the boy sat playing with his swords.

"Daddy!" Lloyd cried, abandoning his swords and running to his father. Kratos scooped Lloyd up and spun him around twice before perching the boy on his shoulders.

"Hello, Lloyd," Kratos said. "How was sword practice? Did you do a good job?" Lloyd's face fell. "What's wrong?"

"I tripped mommy on accident," Lloyd said quietly. "She fell when I dropped my sword and she stepped on it."

"Well, it was just an accident," Kratos said. "I'm sure mommy's not mad at you."

"No," Lloyd said. "But she musta got hurt real bad because she was holding her arm really hard. And when Aunt Denise went to look, mommy screamed 'no' and ran home."

"What?!" Kratos exclaimed. "Did she come back?"

Lloyd shook his head. "Aunt Denise brought me home and went in mommy's room to talk to her. She left and told me to play in my room 'til you come home."

"Let's go see if mommy is ok," Kratos said, walking down the hall to his and Anna's bedroom. He pushed open the door and saw that Anna was curled up on her side, asleep. She looked fine to Kratos, but he could sense something was off. He put Lloyd down. "Lloyd, go back and play in your room. I'll be there in a minute."

"Is mommy ok?" Lloyd asked.

"Yes, Lloyd. Now go on." Lloyd hesitated, but left, calling for his uncle as he trotted down the stairs. Kratos walked over and sat next to where Anna lay. "Anna?" he said softly. He looked his wife over carefully, hesitant to move or wake her. He noticed she was wearing her full body, long sleeved armor, which she had been wearing constantly for two weeks straight. At first, Kratos had thought nothing of it, but now thought it was odd since it was a very hot day. She was laying on top of the hand that had the exsphere in it. Her cape was also on, the exsphere hand tangled in it. "Anna?" Anna's face twitched and she inhaled deeply, turning over, still fast asleep. As she moved, her exsphere arm was revealed, disentangling from the cape.

"Sweet Martel!" Kratos choked. "Anna Aurion, wake up now!" he bellowed.

Anna jerked up with a start, pulling a dagger from her sleeve as she did so. When she saw Kratos she relaxed. "Kratos?" she asked, rubbing her eyes groggily. "Why-" she saw his wild eyes and pale face and squinted at him. "What's wro-" She froze looking slowly down at her arm before crying out and jumping off the bad, trying to conceal it in her cape, but Kratos had already seen. Anna's arm had become a horrible, green crystallized…thing. He couldn't even say what it was, it was so outrageous.

"Don't look at me!" Anna screeched, fleeing onto the balcony. Kratos considered leaving her be. That thought lasted two seconds before he followed her.

"Is this why you've been wearing the armor?" Kratos demanded. "Is that why you haven't let me touch you at all for two weeks? Is that why-"

"Yes!" Anna shouted. "Yes that's why! It's why I let Lloyd train in weapons, so he won't be helpless when I'm gone! It's why I've been shunning you and Ahmond and Denise! It's why to everything!" She buried her face in her hands. "The Key Crest…caused this. I don't even know what it is."

"It's a fake," Kratos sighed. "It's faulty. Now your body is crystallizing…becoming the Cruxis Crystal they want so desperately from you." His voice had remained calm, but as he spoke his next words, his face had become furious. "I'll kill Yuan, the bastard!" He clenched his fist and then turned Anna to face him. "Why are you hiding this from me?"

"I didn't want to cause us any more pain," Anna shot back. "And you always get so distraught and freaked out that it drives me insane and makes me feel guilty because you're always having to protect me! Me! A warrior who can fight on her own-you shouldn't have to protect me! "

"It's not you fault!" Kratos replied. "I never would suggest that and whoever does is a fool." He gripped her by the arms and forced her to look at her. "And I know you are a warrior, but everyone needs protection sometimes! What do you think I'm supposed to do? I won't let Mithos have you! I will always protect you Anna, whether you ask it of me or not. Haven't you realized that yet? I will always protect you and Lloyd, I swear it! And I will destroy Cruxis if that's what it takes."

Anna turned from her irate husband and stared up at the starry sky. Dark storm clouds hung in the distance, rolling closer to the village. A star raced across the sky.

"Anna?" Kratos said softly. Anna said nothing, but pointed at the falling star. I wish this suffering was done. Kratos put his arms around Anna as they followed the star through the sky. Strangely, it seemed to grow in size and brightness as it fell. "Anna…" Kratos said staring at the sky. The star was still falling…but it looked all wrong. Kratos threw his angelic hearing out to the woods. At first he heard nothing but a harsh, sudden wind, racing through the trees…but there! He heard a crunch of metal on wood.

"Kratos!" Anna gripped the balcony rail and tensed. "That's not a star!" A roaring noise was now echoing across the sky. The villagers were coming out of houses to examine. Below, Ahmond, with Hikaru clinging to his back, and Denise exited headquarters, staring up in horror. Lloyd dashed out onto the balcony and flung himself at Anna and Kratos, his little eyes wide with fear. Anna picked him up, trying to figure out what it was.

"It's a mana blot!" Anna jumped up onto the railing. "Everyone inside! NOW!!" she roared. She dove off the balcony. "Lloyd, go with Uncle and Aunt and stay inside! She pushed the three into headquarters as a cold voice rand out across the village.

"WE FINISH THIS NOW ANNA AURION!" Felicity screeched, diving from atop the fortified walls. Anna stared in horror at her sister as the mana bolt crashed just outside the walls. The woods burst into flames. A shout from behind her revealed Kratos fighting off a stream of Desians that were spilling over the walls. So much for hiding inside.

"Defend the village!" Anna cried, dashing across the square toward her sister. She reached for her swords and cursed as she remembered she had left them inside. "Felicity, stop this madness! This isn't who you are! You don't have to do this." An arrow streaked through the air, grazing Anna's arm and ripping her sleeve more, revealing her crystallized arm.

Felicity laughed coldly. "Ah, dear sister. Tell me…how is that key crest working for you? I did feel so bad that I was late giving you your wedding present!" Anna's eyes widened. Felicity jumped down in front of her sister. "Surely you didn't think Yuan cared enough to help you. Oh true, he was planning on it, the traitor. But I reported him to Kvar…so he's a bit tied up with their overlord at the moment. In the meantime…" She swung her staff at Anna, who just managed to dodge.

"Mommy!" Lloyd shouted, running across the square, dodging Desians. Anna ran to him and scooped him up as Felicity went to aim an attack at the boy. She spun to face her sister, her eyes daring Felicity to harm her nephew.

Felicity looked down at Lloyd, who glared at the woman that was making his mother so angry. "Look at my little nephew! He acts so much like you, I've seen. But he looks like the angel."

"You've been spying and passing information to Kvar!" Anna said furiously. She had to keep Felicity talking. With Lloyd in her arms, she couldn't fight, and to put him down was too dangerous. She could here Kratos fighting behind her, and she prayed he'd hurry.

"Naturally," Felicity said. "I also am the one who followed you throughout all you're moving. How else did he always find you?"

"You!" Ahmond roared, from behind Anna. "You witch!" He broke away from the Desians and charged Felicity. Anna foolishly turned, intending to stop Ahmond. A sharp blow to her head sent her to the ground. Lloyd screamed as he was pinned under his mother. Two Desians rushed over and lifted the unconscious Anna. A third took charge of the shrieking Lloyd and four rushed Ahmond, who swore and bellowed Anna's name.

Kratos turned in time to see Anna fall. His eyes widened in horror and he took off, speeding through the air at Felicity who dashed toward Anna and withdrew a dagger, holding it to Anna's throat.. Kratos stopped dead and dropped to his feet in front of Felicity. "Come another inch…we will kill her!" Felicity snarled.

"I'm no fool!" he replied. "You need her alive for the exsphere!"

"Oh right," Felicity said and in a spurt of speed equal to that of her sister, the knife was against Lloyd throat. "We don't need him though!"

"Daddy!" Lloyd screamed. Kratos's face remained impassive as ever, but his mind was racing in terror. If he blasted Felicity, Anna and Lloyd would die too. Lloyd!

Felicity retreated slowly backward, her knife still against the three-year-old's throat. "Daddy, I'm sorry! Mommy told me to stay inside, but I didn't listen!"

"It's ok, Lloyd," Kratos said calmly. "It's not your fault." I seem to be saying that a lot lately. He stared at Felicity, feeling his blood starting to boil, even worse than when the Desians had almost raped Anna. "Let. Them. Go."

"Nice try, but if you try your famous Judgment attack, you'll kill your family. Go ahead and try it on the lackey's once we're gone though." She laughed. "The mighty Kratos Aurion can't even protect his family from his own foolish past."

Kratos kept a hold on his indifferent mask just barely. Felicity had attacked from an unexpected angel, striking his only weaknesses: his family and his guilt. It was enough to immobilize him with guilt as he stared at his struggling son and his unconscious wife. "Don't follow," Felicity said, retreating to the gate. "Or we'll kill the boy." The gate swung closed, obscuring his wife and son. Kratos heard Lloyd shriek, "Daddy!" and silence fell but for the clash of weapons in the village behind him.

Anna…Lloyd…Anna…Lloyd… The names branded themselves in his brain, a mantra flashing across every part of his consciousness. He drew his sword, which quivered in his hand as power streamed from Kratos. "People of Jalisa…if you value your lives, retreat. NOW! Or you will surely die!" He could hear protests among the clash of weapons, but he heard Ahmond roar the same order over the din. I will not use Judgment. I will not call upon the cursed powers that have robbed my Anna of hope and my Lloyd of his mother. I will not call upon that which has forsaken us all. I will fight you as a man Kvar. I will strike you down as human, Mithos. I will save my wife and son. Anna…Lloyd…I will atone for the sins of my past with Cruxis and ensure that you two have a future. I will always protect you.

Kratos felt two people come up to his side, shaking him out of his pensiveness. Ahmond had his bow drawn, aiming for the nearest Desian. Denise had her sword out, ready to fight. The Desians had formed a circle around the three of them, fifty total.

"This looks familiar," Denise remarked. "I think we've done this before."

"Which makes the second time even easier!" Ahmond said. The Desians slowly approached the three, feinting every now and then, taunting their prey.

"I told you to get out of here," Kratos said, in no mood to deal with foolishness. "You've got Hikaru to think of, do not forget."

Denise glared. "Of course we know that. But we've got Anna to think of too. And your one of us. As much as Ahmond hates to admit us."

"We swear loyalty unto each other, so I'm bound by a technicality." Ahmond loosed an arrow and it shot through a sorcerers eye. "Plus…she'll never forgive me for abandoning you."

Kratos raised and eyebrow, "Anna or your wife?"

"Both," Ahmond replied and with that he darted forward with a cry, "Senshi!"

"Let's get them then Kratos! Robins!" Denise was off with a shout of her family name.

Well... Anna would want me to…"Jamison and Aurion!" Lloyd…Anna…hold on just a little longer. I'm coming.