Chapter Six! WOOT! WOOT! WOOT WOOT WOOT WOOT WOOT!

I may be a beginner writer still, but it's so much fun to write!

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia or any of the characters or plots. It's really depressing, you know?

Chapter Six: The Journey Begins...

"So, what are we doing on this journey exactly?" Otto asked, tigging on his older sister's sleeve. He knew that they were going to save the world. He knew that they were going to face "trials" of some sort. He knew that they were going to travel alot... but that was it. He didn't know how they were going to save the world. He didn't know what sort of trials they were going to face. He didn't know where they were going to travel.

"We're regenerating the world, duh!" Maggy groaned.

"Um, Chosen... I believe that the question was directed at me. As for what we are doing on this journey... I suppose we should find the second Chosen first. If the first Chosen was in former Iselia... then the second Chosen will probably be in former Meltokio... at least that's what Lloyd said. Collette said that they know who the Chosen is... but that they travel a lot. They think that the Chosen is from former Meltokio though. So, we should head there." Tor sighed.

"Um, where is Meltokio?" Krate asked.

"Well, Meltokio no longer exists. A new city was built over it. I believe that Meltokio eventually became Tokyo. The book I was reading had maps of the world before and after it was put back together. Meltokio ended up in what is presently Japan... probably Tokyo... if my 'calculations' are correct." Tor explained.

"Calculations? What did you calculate?" Kanny asked.

"Nothing really. I just compared it to a current map." Tor laughed.

"So it's agreed? We get to Derris-Kharlan first to ask some questions? Everyone is in agreement?" Tor asked.

"Yup!" "Yeah!" "Sure!" "Totally!" It was unanimous... they had to find some way to get up to Derris-Kharlan. More specifically... Tor had to find some way to carry all of them up there...

"Fine," Tor sighed, "I guess I'll have to take you up there somehow... The only problem is HOW." Tor groaned.

"Any ideas?" Maggy asked.

"Well," Otto started. "Maybe we could tie a rope to her! We could have a plank at the other end to sit on! It would be like a swing at the park!" he cried happily.

"First off, THAT'S THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD!!! Second, I'M NOT LETTING YOU TURN ME INTO A HUMAN PLAYGROUND!!!!!!!!!!!" Tor shouted.

"Well, what if we tie a basket to her? You know, like a hot air balloon?" Krate tried.

"That's perfect!" Otto shouted. "She's already an air head!" he giggled.

"Okay, no more Derris-Kharlan for you. We are not going." Tor said crossing her arms.

"Come on, Tor! I kind of like the idea!" Maggy said grinning.

"Come on, Kanny. Let's get out of here." Tor said, storming off. She was outraged that they would mock her so harshly. She was the leader on this journey, it was declared by the angels... but she was getting no respect. People only ever seemed to even pretend to respect her... if they feared her. If she wanted to be treated well, she'd have to go back to her old ways. The ways she had followed so closely after she saw how they worked on that bully. She had to be cruel and mean to get what she wanted. She had tried being nice, she'd tried so hard, but it didn't work. People just stopped responding to kindness. They stopped long ago. Kindness was thought of as weird, or as a weakness. Acts of kindness are reacted to with astonishment nowadays.

"Alright!" Kanny replied happily, still glad that she was allowed (by Tor, atleast) to go on the journey. The two began to walk off, ignoring the pleas of the two boys they were leaving behind.

"PLEASE DON'T GO!!! DON'T LEAVE US WITH MAGGY!!!!" Tor's brothers cried. "ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!!!!!"

Feeling left out, and a bit hurt, Maggy came up with a retaliation. "You can't expect me to stay here with these NEANDERTHALS!!!! That's a travesty of justice! It's cruel and unusual punishment!!!!!"

After some more snappy come backs, followed by some witty banter, the group resumed their journey.

After about a day and a half of walking, they had made it from northeastern Illinois to the middle of Indiana. For some "city folk" it was an okay distance. They wanted to do things on the journey as they were originally intended to be done, but after a day of walking and getting no where fast... they were fed up with the world. They had to continue with this everyday for who knows how long... and then, find some way to get across the sea... possibly to Africa. Then, they'd have to go across Africa and find some way to Japan.

As Tor surveyede the already worn group, she knew that the journey would not be possible, not as it was going now. Her angel abilities gave her much moe stamina and energy than the rest of her group... but it did nothing to aid her patience... She would have to find another way to go about this.

Her companions soon fell asleep, leaving Tor to sit awake and ponder their next course of action. It didn't bother her to stay up late, truth be told... she was an insomniac. She always had trouble getting to sleep. She never felt as if she should be sleeping when it was dark. It was always the best time to think, so she actually enjoyed her constant sleepless nights.

Tor thought and thought and thought and thought, many ideas coming to mind. None were given much more thought after the original conception, however. She had to find some way to get an angel and four easily worn children around the world. She had to find a way to get an angel and four easily worn children to win countless battles against monsters and beasts. She had to find a way to get an angel and four easily worn children to Japan... to pick up another, probably just as easily worn, child... From there, it would be an angel and five children that she had to watch over. It was going from a heroic quest to save the world... to a terrible crash course in parenting. As she began to realize this, she began to question herself. Was she capable of doing this? Could she save the world? Could she keep these kids going? Could she take care of her loved ones? Could she maintain her sanity!?! These thoughts were pressing themselves deeper and deeper into her skull. They were all that she could manage to think. Would she be able to protect these children, her brothers and her friends? Would she be able to protect her family back home, from being destroyed by the coming monsters or the depleting mana? Would she end up disappointing the world? Would she be blamed for it all when the world undoubtedly came to an end in these next few years? Would she even be able to look at herself... in those last few moments of life... after she had failed and let everyone down?

Tor had always been one of those people that was skeptical about everything, someone that picked out everything that could go wrong. It had always suited her fine in the past... when judging others. Now that it came time to mull over herself and her goals, her plans... "I guess it's true what everyone says, about being your own worst critic." Tor muumbled to herself, shuddering. She felt for certain that she would be the cause of many deaths, ones that she would regret. She knew that something terrible was going to happen. She knew that she'd never be able to forgive herself for what was going to happen. She didn't know exactly what was going to happen... but she knew that there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Only did she finally realize that she was crying, when the droplets fell from her chin and onto the last ember of the camp fire. It went out so quickly... as quickly as Tor's hope escaped her. She gave one shallow breath, wiped at her tears, and crawled into a sleeping bag.