A/N's: Wow. I'm sorry it took me two months... but Happy New Year to all. I hope ya'll had a good Christmas. Mine was... kind of messed but meh. Sorry it took so long but I couldn't update till my break cuz I had soo much work to do. Also my exams are in January so the moment I get back to school; don't expect an update till February. cuz I have 4 CPT's to do plus projects plus studying for exams. So I'll be working hard this break... or at least I'll try to.

Anyways, I've been going through a lot of drama lately and it may show through my work a little. For this story it works out a bit... but if it gets to be... maybe too much sorry I can't help it. I'll do my best! Ok READ ON! Let's see a short summary of this chapter... Lloyd learns a great secret and someone ...well you'll find out. :D ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I don't own TOS.

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'I was never good at good-bye...'

-Firewater by Yellowcard

Chapter 6: Childish Battles

It had only been two years. If he could remember who his mother was just by spending a little time with her, why couldn't he remember his father at the same time? Did he have to actually see him to remember him? The five year-old made a note to ask his mother when he made the Desians pay for what they did. That is... if he could make them pay.

Lloyd began to wonder if he had run into something he couldn't accomplish. He distracted a bunch of Desians, set some slaves free and fought one guard who just happened to be sleeping. He managed to strike one of the fatal points described in one of the books he'd read. He killed the guard instantly. After tossing his lunch and lying on the ground feeling sick for a long while, he began to notice how no guards were wandering. He'd heard messages being for the Desians over something they called... an intercom. But he didn't pay attention to the messages. The atmosphere around the place felt... empty. He wandered the ranch till he ended up outside.

He froze when he walked out of the ranch. Everywhere around the yard were bodies of Desians. A man in purple clad armor stood and Lloyd felt fear. Was this man going to kill him too? He dismissed the thought when the man sheathed his sword. When the man turned Lloyd remembered who he was.

"You're Kratos, right?" Lloyd asked in awe. Kratos sighed as he walked up to him and kneeled in front of him. He flicked him in forehead.

"Anna was worried about you. You shouldn't go invading a ranch at your age, especially with your skill." Lloyd rubbed his head and froze suddenly remembering something. He looked up at Kratos again. He knew Lord Yggdrasill had been hiding for some reason.

"Da...ddy?" Lloyd asked quietly. Kratos' eyes widened as Lloyd basically collapsed unto him and gave him a big hug. "How could I forget you...?" Kratos returned the hug.

"Don't worry about it. Come on, let's go find your mother."

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The wind swept through the trees. Anna could tell something wasn't right. As a mother, she began to ponder about all the things that could have possibly happened to Lloyd or Kratos. She knew Kratos could handle himself but she worried about him anyways. She mentally smacked herself countless times. She should've gone with Kratos, that way she would know if they were alright or not. She fell to her knees as she heard bushes rustling.

"Mommy!" she heard Lloyd call out as her five year old son ran towards her. In the wonder of it all she could find no words to say and dismissed the wrong feeling in her mind and heart. Something still felt...dangerous but she pushed it away. She hugged her son tightly as Kratos followed and sighed with relief.

For that short amount of time the three of them were together again but Kratos wondered... if they ran now would they be able to avoid Yggdrasill's wrath or would Kvar just catch up to them again. He turned away from Anna and Lloyd. Maybe it would be better for them if he wasn't around... just maybe.

"Kratos Aurion, don't even think about leaving now!" Anna shouted, surprising Kratos who turned around to see her standing. Lloyd looked back and forth between the both of them. Kratos smiled a little.

"You can still read my mind then." Anna smirked. Lloyd giggled a little. His mother looked down at him and smiled.

Lloyd noticed he'd been acting a little different. He always felt happy near his mother and now that he finally found what he was missing he couldn't be any happier. He felt as though he could laugh and just randomly run till he couldn't move anymore. It felt right for once. In Welgaia, such a thing never seemed appropriate.

"So you've found your roots, Lloyd?" A voice called out as Anna felt as if her heart was falling. She fell to her knees and pulled Lloyd close to her as Kratos unsheathed his sword. They both turned to face Yggdrasill. He smirked at the three of them before glaring at Anna.

"I'm surprised you're still living. But no matter, just as long as you don't interfere with my plans I don't care what you do. There isn't much you can do either way."

"Stay away from them Yggdrasill," Kratos growled.

"I dare you to try and stop me!" He cried out as he fired some mana at Kratos, hitting him in the stomach with amazing speed. Kratos flew back a few a meters.

"Kratos!" Anna shouted as Lloyd looked on. He could feel that it was already over but that didn't mean he couldn't try to use what he had learned so far. Lloyd gripped the hilts of his own two swords. They were made to better fit the child's small size so they didn't do much damage but through the training he'd done in the past two years. He moved away from his mother and ran to stand between Kratos and Yggdrasill. The Lord of Angels put his hand down and smiled.

"So, I see that you want to protect him. Well then, come!" Yggdrasill began preparing a spell as Lloyd did the only thing that he could think of from his little amount of training. Wait there. A white magic square appeared beneath him and he knew it was Holy Lance. He ran forward dodging the deadly heavenly swords and unsheathed his swords. With his small form he looked like he was jogging but what else was he going to go, walk? He swung at the holy being but was merely knocked away. Lloyd stood up and charged again. Kratos finally noticed the battle going on and his eyes widened when he realized what Yggdrasill was going to do next.

"Lloyd, don't charge him!!" he shouted but to no avail. Lloyd charged head on as Yggdrasill put his hand on the ground.

"Outburst!" An explosion occurred where Yggdrasill's hand and the ground met sending Lloyd flying and blinding Kratos and Anna for a short amount of time. When all the dust had cleared Lloyd was in Yggdrasill's hands completely unconscious. Anna felt a wrenching pain in her gut and held it tightly, squeezing her eyes shut. Kratos could only stare as Yggdrasill slowly rose in the air holding his son. He feared that if he moved he'd kill him.

"Kratos, if you want to see your son alive, return to Cruxis. In case there's anything holding you back, here's a little present just to show you what could happen to little Lloyd here." With his free hand Yggdrasill tossed another ball of mana at Kratos. He stopped rising just to watch what would happen. Anna opened her eyes a little to see the oncoming attack and stood up quickly and ran. Despite the pain she was feeling now she at least understand what being hit by this attack in her current condition could mean for her...but she accepted it anyways. She stood in front of Kratos her arms wide open. Kratos looked up and reached to push Anna away but...

It hit her in the chest. She fell backwards into Kratos' arms. Yggdrasill warped away smirking.

"Anna, are you alright?" Kratos whispered, knowing full well she wasn't. Anna opened her eyes but they weren't very sharp. They were becoming quite glassy and that could only mean one thing. Anna felt her heart beating irregularly and she knew there was nothing she could do about it. Raine was nowhere near by and Kratos had no idea who she was...besides she'd only be a bother to him at this point.

"Kratos... save Lloyd for me. Protect him for me, please. Don't let that maniac hurt our son. I don't care if the only thing you can do is watch him for the next couple of years but just make he doesn't get hurt."

"But Anna, why did you...?"

"Why did I what, save you? Why not? You're my angel. Besides, I was dying anyway. Because of the influence of the Cruxis crystal my body was too weak to fend it self against the natural illnesses in this world. Don't worry. This way I no longer have to suffer the pains of it anymore." Anna coughed up blood. She was too weak now. "Kratos, remember, I love...you..." Her voice trailed as her eyes slowly closed. Her body went limp in his arms. He held her close, knowing that he couldn't cry. Instead, he roared at the heavens, blaming them for the loved one he had lost.

After awhile he carried her and placed her within sight of the Village of Iselia. He didn't want to be seen. But he could hear voices coming. He vanished as quickly as possible, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling in his heart. He felt that he should be the one to bury her not someone else but he had no other choice. He needed to get to Lloyd soon. He watched for a few minutes as a half-elf and a dwarf emerged from the bushes.

"Anna! Oh dear, Anna, are you alright?!" The half-elf cried. Kratos lowered his head in defeat. She'd had friends... that was good. He turned and walked away from the scene. He'd had enough of that sorrow. He looked up towards the sky.

"Anna... I'll watch Lloyd and I promise that one day, I'll rescue him from Yggdrasill's grasp. But... I need to do it slowly. At the time, I am no match for Yggdrasill and I'll just get us both killed."

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Yggdrasill handed Lloyd to Yuan.

"Erase his memories. I don't want him to remember a single thing about Kratos." Yuan nodded wordlessly and walked away. The moment he was out of sight, Kratos walked up to Yggdrasill.

"So, Kratos, you've returned."

"..." Kratos said nothing.

"You know I should kill the boy for even coming in contact with you." Kratos clenched his fists. "But, instead I'll merely erase his memories and his training will recommence. I will also allow him to go on missions with you and Yuan." Kratos looked up thinking that he may actually be able to save Lloyd earlier than expected... "But if you tell him anything about his relationship with you, I'll make sure to kill him with my own power. And I'll know if you tell him anything." Kratos lowered his head. Well, there went that plan.

"Yes, Yggdrasill." Yggdrasill frowned as Kratos walked away but ignored it and returned to the tasks at hand.

Kratos wandered the halls of Welgaia for a while before finally whispering, "Grow strong, Lloyd."

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Me: That was... a bit difficult to write but finally! lol the next chapter is going to be my favorite. I have like... two or three parts of it written out already. AAH! I CAN'T WAIT!

Anna: ... oh so now you kill me... meanie.

Me: It had to be done. but now you can actually be of service!

Anna: Really?!?!

Me: Yup just wait and see. Anyways... sorry for the long wait... Review!

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Preview: Chapter 7: Childish selfishness

"This initiation is too difficult for you to endure."

"This is the day when you can finally gain true power, Lloyd."