Not much to say for this chapter; I've had this written for a while but was just being lazy typing it up. Also- this chapter is short. I wrote this before I really started playing ToS.

Disclaimer: If I haven't owned Tales of Symphonia for the past few chapters, what makes you think I own it now?

Ramen

Now, how the I-ToS first came into my possession is a pretty weird thing. It had started out when I saw a picture of a Tales of Symphonia Game Cube. There was an online contest going on and the winner won the Game Cube.

I don't know what imposed me to enter- I never enter online contests like that. I'm usually not one to give out my address out online. But this one time I gave into temptation and entered my name into the contest.

Long story short: I didn't win the Game Cube. But I did win second prize.

*~*~*

Lloyd? Noishe? What the hell is going on?! I thought, staring at the surroundings. Is this really Symphonia? Impossible! That was a game!

But it all looks so real… I looked around, taking in the view.

"Noishe!" called out Stripes suddenly. My eyes darted to the direction she was darting to. In the clearing rolling around in the grass, a large dog-like looking creature was playing in the grass. I hadn't played ToS much, but I knew that had to be Noishe.

Ok, this is really weird… That was the understatement of the century. Stripes ran over to Noishe and threw her arms around him.

Stripes, didn't your parents ever teach you not to run up to strange animals?

"Noishe!" she cooed to the slightly startled animal. I stumbled after her, trying to catch up.

"Who are you?" asked the boy clad in red. I jumped a bit hearing the voice. Lloyds' voice always confused me when I heard it.

Gah, stupid voice actors. I thought. Always doubling up on rolls… Making me think I hear Robin when it's really Lloyd.

"Lloyd!" smiled Stripes at him. Her arms where still wrapped around Noishe who didn't seem to mind to protest at the attention. Lloyd seemed startled that she knew his name.

Gee… I wonder why. I thought to myself sarcastically.

"Who are you?" he asked again, more suspicious this time. Stripes merely smirked.

"Who are you to ask for my name?" she asked back. She looked so proud of herself for thinking up such an original response to the question.

"H-hey! That's my line!" stuttered a now flustered Lloyd. I let out a small laugh- whether this was real or not, it was definitely amusing,

My laugh seemed to draw his attention to me. "You guys better tell me who you are." He said resting his hand on one of his swords. He didn't sound like he was really threatening us, he sounded more annoyed than anything but I didn't want to take any chances. Those swords of his may be wooden but if they could kill a monster, I didn't even wanna think about what they could do to me or Stripes.

Stripes laughed a bit. "Heh heh, don't worry we're not here to cause trouble." She explained. "I'm Stripes, and this is my friend Ramen." She pointed at me. Poor Lloyd looked even more confused than ever.

"Stripes? Ramen? What kind of names are those?" he asked Stripes.

"Well, they're not out real names, technically…" she started. I took this as my turn to speak up.

"But we can't tell you our real names." I started in my most official voice. "We're from a foreign country on a mission." I was lying through my teeth, but there was no way we could explain that we where from an alternate universe, and Stripes was being suspicious enough for the two of us. "We would tell you our name, but then we might get in trouble with headquarters."

Stripes glared at me, probably mad that I had confused the boy so much. But something told me that it would be safer to lie.

And I have to admit…. It was damn fun making all that up.

"Um… can you at least tell me where you're from?" Lloyd asked still confused as hell. Stripes cut in before I could make up some story about an uncharted island just south of the equator.

"We can't tell you that right now." She said. "But maybe one day we'll be able to tell you."

Lloyd nodded. "Ok… but why are you here?"

"I told you, we're on a mission." I said again, adjusting my glasses. "But before headquarters will really give it to us, we need to learn how to fight." I pulled out my slingshot holding it carefully. I had made it myself, and it was threatening to break already. "I'm a sniper in training, and Stripes here is a mid to long range fighter."

"we're traveling from village to village looking for people to train us." Piped up Stripes, finally playing along.

"Well," said Lloyd. "I know everything about swords! I'll be happy to train you!"

Lloyd, your ego shall be your down fall. I thought. Let's try this…

"Wow! You must be an amazing fighter!" I said to him in my best kiss-up voice. I could feel Stripes giving me a 'Where-are-you-going-with-this?' look. Lloyd just seemed happy.

"Not to brag or anything but I'm the best swordsman in the village!" Lloyd, you're the only swordsman in the village! "Hey, where are you guys staying?" he asked, a bit excitedly.

"We just arrived here, so no where at the moment." Replied Stripes.

"Don't worry, I'm sure that we'll be able to find a place for you guys. Follow me!"

"Ramen," whispered Stripes. "How did you do that?"

I smiled a bit. "You're not the only one who can suck up."

To explain a bit- Stripes and I started writing this story before I had gotten my own copy of Tales of Symphonia so I hadn't played much when I wrote this- hence the short crappy chapter. I am happy to say that I now have the game for myself and am at the Temple of Darkness in Tethe'alla.