A/N's: (is really happy) Thank you for those two reviews in one day D that helped me write this one faster. Hopefully I'll be finished the next chapter soon so... stay tuned! Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I don't own TOS.

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"If you want to, I can save you... I can take you away from here..."

-All you wanted by Michelle Branch

Chapter 10: Childish Minds

It was his tenth birthday. He had awoken that morning feeling excited. Yuan and Kratos normally took him out for a little while and each gave him a small present. He opened his closet and pulled out an average sized box that look as though it could fit a computer moniter inside of it. He went throught it, looking at all his gifts that were given to him by Yuan and Kratos. then, he pulled out a small, white box and opened it to reveal a bracelet. It had two swords crossing each other with an "L" on top of them . He had recieved it from Kratos three years ago and was unsure if the Seraph know how much it meant to him. He managed to lock it onto his wrist. He moved it from side to side, reflecting the light off of it. He could not express how much he loved it.

Lloyd walked over to his mirror and took the white ribbon that hung from the top of it. He tied it around his head before regarding himself in the mirror. He sighed as the jewel on his forehead reminded him that he did indeed have an appointment with Kvar.

He hated Kvar and knew for sure that Kvar hated him as well. Once a week, for the past 3 years, he saw him. He conducted research on the jewel and did tests. But the tests, Lloyd found, were quite painful and left him either on the floor or on his knees with tears flowing down his face because he was happy that it was over. The tests themselves were horrible as they were. One of them, he stood on a metallic platform, with his arms and legs chained to something so that he wouldn't fall over, and he was electrified but only so much that it was right before his body's limit, so that he wouldn't die or pass out. Although, that didn't the fact that it hurt. It was as though his energy was being forced out of him by someone burning up his entire body with sharp needles that went right though his body but did not leave a mark. That test itself brought him to his knees. Then there was the test where a strange machine would do something strange to the jewel and it would make Lloyd head feel as though it was being crushed, slowly and carefully. Then after a few more less painful tests, Kvar would check to see how far the jewel had progressed. Apparently, it was starting to progress faster.

Lloyd shivered. He hoped Yuan and Kratos would be able to get to him before he had to go. It was the one thing he looked forward to every year.

As soon as Lloyd left his room an angel soldier appaeared before him, letting him know that Yggdrasill had told him to go to see Kvar for his appointment. Lloyd told the angel soilder that he would go as he sighed with sadness. It was beginning to look like he wouldn't even see Yuan or Kratos for the entire day. He'd be too ill and tired to do anything by the time he got back.

Kratos sighed as Lloyd vanished from the warp pad. It seemed as though they wouldn't be able to spend time with each other after all. Yggdrasill had sent somewhere again. Yuan appeared behind him, a solemn expression showing through his features.

"I've discovered where Yggdrasill keeps sending Lloyd every week," he said in a monotone voice. Kratos figured it out before he said it. He clenched his hands into fists.

"I should've known. This has been continuing for three years, right under our noses..." Kratos growled.

"He doesn't deserve to have to deal with this today. I say we do something about it."

"Oh? And just what did you have in mind?" Yuan smirked.

"It's just a little bit pf payback and sabotage, all in one package."

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Power flowed through his body, tickling his skin as it painfully coursed through his body towards his head, where it gathered. The jewel on his forehead glittered brightly. then, the light spread out around the jewel, only reaching out about two centimeters around it. It shone until the light faded and took the solid form of gold. Lloyd collapsed onto the floor, unconscious, as the flowing power subsided, leaving his body limp and weak. Kvar smiled at the little bit of gold that had formed.

"Ah, just as I had expected. The golden ring of the crown now appears!" Kvar exclaimed. Three years... He had spent three years on this project and finally, the formation of the Angelus Crown was taking form! He excitedly began inputting the results into his computer for a report for Yggdrasill. Soon, the jewel would not need that inferior brat for it to grow. Although, he had to admit that he did enjoy seeing the boy, who was very close to mirror image of Kratos, suffer. It satisfied his sadistic urges to just torture something. Yes, if that Aurion brat wasn't the one to grow such a powerful weapon then he probably wouldn't be as entertained if it had been someone else. He had been exceptionally happy during the past few years as well. He had made the inferior beings work harder, given them less food and seperated the children from the adults. He figured that it was his gift to them to cut away all of their last strings of hope. They'd die much faster that way. He figured that would be a blessing in these times, would it not? Even though he didn't care if someone disagreed with him but who was alive who would?

He sent his report to Yggdrasill before turning around to see Lloyd trying to get himself to stand. Of course, he would. He would disagree with him, interfere with his projects, interfere with him on his road to greatness and power! Kratos... he loathed that name. He loathed the very essance of that name. And so, he swore on his life, that he would make that man suffer as much as possible. He smiled at Lloyd. He make Kratos suffer as much as possible... and do so, though his own son.

Although, his own reasearch on the Angelus Crown was coming to an end. He had spent an entire month thinking of an excuse to make sure Lloyd continued to come and see him. That way, when the Angelus Crown was complete, he'd take the Crown to Yggdrasill himself and become the greatest of all the Desian Cardinals! But unfortunetly, as his research was showing, the Angelus Crown would stop it's growth in a year's time, and only begin to grow again, once the boy reached a turning point in his life that would awaken his greatest emotions, his greatest thoughts, and his greatest actions. Sadly, the boy would not come to see him at all once the jewel stopped growing and he could not possibly think of any kind of excuse to keep Lloyd with him.

Lloyd finally managed to stand up, even though he was breathing heavily and sweat beaded his forehead. Kvar had to admit that every year, the boy grew stronger. It wasn't just a little stronger... he was quite strong and if his strength could be measured in gald, it would seem that every year his strength would double. He wondered if it was the effect of the Crown. The Crown itself, once it was completed, would be able to destroy an entire world on it's own. The alarm suddenly went off.

"What in the name-! Renegades!?" Kvar shouted as suddenly the wall behind Lloyd exploded, filling the room with dust, making it difficult to see. Kvar managed to catch a glimpse of a sillouhette of a mercenary, who picked up someone and ran back the way he came. Kvar sooned realized that whoever it was had taken Lloyd.

The alarm turned off as things began to calm down. The dust cleared as Kvar stared at the gaping hole in his wall. He was sure it was Kratos who had saved the boy. He knew that outfit... that shadow anywhere. 'Twas the shadow that he would despise for the rest of his life. He smirked. Oh well, once he reported it to Yggdrasill, Kratos would be in some major trouble.

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They were in a forest somewhere in Sylvarant. It was peaceful and quiet except for the relaxing sounds that the animals that inhabited it made. It was something Lloyd barely ever had time to experience. He lay in some kind of bed with a blanket over him. He didn't open his eyes but simply relaxed for once, happy that his torture for the day was over. His head still hurt a bit, but he ignored it, for it was the best feeling he'd felt in a long while. He finally had a few moments to think, something else he rarely ever had time to do and the greatest part was that he could think about anything he wanted to think about!

Once he got over the excitement, the first thing that came to his mind was when the project for the thing on his head be finished. For the past year, he had been either ill, too tired or just too weak to do much of anything, even though his training had intensified and he would be tested by Yggdrasill sometime. He couldn't remember when. He wanted to live free... normal... if his life wasn't normal. Although, he doubted that living with angels was normal. He truly wished he could live normally, with two parents and a famly...

A strange pain tore at his heart. A family.. that was his next thought. He had no clue what had happened to his mother or father. All he remembered was meeting Yggdrasill, Yuan and Kratos and none of them seemed to know who his parents were or at least...

They never said anything about them.

He opened his eyes slowly to see a smooth brown ceiling. He sat up slowly, his headache increasing a bit and noticed Kratos sitting in a chair next to his bed. He was reading a book with...glasses on? That was something Lloyd had never seen him wear before and he had to admit that Kratos looked kinda funny with glasses on. He stifled a giggle as Kratos looked towards him. He took his glasses off.

"So, you're finally awake," he said as Lloyd nodded and yawned. Kratos didn't say much of anything after that. He merely stared angrily at the door of the room for awhile. Lloyd laid back down as Yuan walked in. He Kratos began talking about something that he couldn't really hear anymore because he was falling back asleep.

Kratos waited until the boy was asleep before he sighed.

"Have you figured out what that jewel is yet?" Kratos asked as Yuan nodded slowly.

"Yes... it isn't good news either. That is the Angelus Crystal... it seems as though Kvar is trying to create the Angelus Crown, a legendary crown that was made for a prince who was to defeat the dictator of his homeland in order to save it from his cruelty and anger. In the end, the prince defeated the dictator and once he was crowned king, he destroyed the Angelus Crown because he thought it was too powerful. In reality, the Crown shouldn't even exist. It's too powerful for this universe to handle and only a select few can actually help create it. On it's own, the Crown can destroy an entire world. But the main issue is that once it's completed and Yggdrasill takes it from Lloyd... Lloyd'll die." Kratos inhaled sharply. He looked towards Lloyd who was now peacefully sleeping. He clenched his hands. He would not allow such a fate to befall him. He would most definitely do something about it... what? he was still unsure but he knew he'd figure it out once the time came. "There's more... and this is more on the good news side than the bad. The jewel will stop growing sometimes this year, which means he won't be near Kvar at all and he'll be with us a lot of the time for his training, seeing as Yggdrasill refuses to even look at him for an hour, farless teach him much of anything. It'll only start growing again when he reaches a turning point in his life... and those are tricky to figure out. Although, I do believe that it will be a long time... a couple of years at least." Kratos nodded. That would be good at least. Lloyd would be free of Kvar's torture for awhile and if Kratos had his choice, which he was going to get anyways, Lloyd would never have to step foot in that god damned ranch ever again. Suddenly, a thought occured to him and he stared at Lloyd's sleeping form.

"Maybe I should take him and run from here... forever," Kratos muttered as Yuan shook his head.

"As much as I want to agree with you, you can't do that. Lloyd would basically be on the run for his life forever then. Are sure he'd be happy about that? Is that anyway for a child to live?" Kratos closed his eyes. He knew Yuan was right but...

"I would protect him."

"Kratos, you can hide him away from the world behind a single door... but what happens when the world comes banging on that door? What then?" Kratos nodded, showing that he understood. Yuan was indeed right. he couldn't take Lloyd from Yggdrasill... at least, not now.

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Lloyd barely remembered the event the next day but he awoke that day, overcome by a strange feeling to avoid someone, although he wasn't sure who. He was wandering Welgaia, when he saw Yuan. He was about to run over to him but hid behind a pole instead when he saw Yggdrasill approaching Yuan. Something in his chest dropped as he shook with fear. For some reason, he didn't want Yggdrasill to find him and he had no clue why. He soon found out.

"Yuan, where is Lloyd?" Yggdrasill asked menacingly as Yuan looked towards, slightly surprised at his tone.

"I haven't seen him. Why?"

"That boy is in a little bit of trouble..." he replied before turning and floating off somewhere in search of Lloyd. Lloyd couldn't help but feel quite frieghtened. If Yggdrasill was that angry at him then he might as well be dead. Lloyd shook his head. But that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted to keep living... even though he wasn't sure why. He ran, in fear, towards the warp panels when he was sure Yuan and Yggdrasill had gone elsewhere. He stopped suddenly as he saw Kratos use one of the warp pads. He followed him, unsure of which one it was but he didn't care. All he wanted to do was get as far as possible from Yggdrasill and if Kratos could help him, then obviously his best bet would be to follow him to where ever he was going and stick with him. He did hope he could save him from Yggdrasill's wrath. He stepped onto the warp pad.

Light flooded his vision and quickly faded to reveal a white place. Lloyd wasn't sure of where he was at all what was falling from the sky or what he was standing in. It was white and fluffy and cold. It seemed to be something like... shredded ice? He shrugged. He didn't care as long as it didn't hurt him and it looked pretty anyways. He began to walk forward.

He walked for what seemed like hours and he was freezing! His clothes were almost frozen to his body and he felt like all his energy was coming from the jewel on his forhead. He was glad that the ribbon was covering it, incase someone saw him. His ribbon had already froze. He suddenly tripped over something. He looked at his feet and around the ground but couldn't find anything and decided that he had tripped over his own foot. He decided against that as soon as he heard shouting and saw armoured men with swords and bows and arrows. Now he was truly frieghtened but he was too scared to scream. He couldn't move for his feet and arms had finally frozen and he could do nothing but watch as the armoured men came closer and readied their weapons. he had tripped over their alarm... he was an enemy. Suddenly, a man with a sword came out of nowhere and instantly took the three bowmen out. The final two remaining swordsmen looked around in defence position until the man took another one of them down. The last one decided to make a bolt for it by attempting to finish the job he had come to do. He ran towards Lloyd, shouting and with his sword raised high. But Lloyd saw him before the armoured man did. The man, who Lloyd now saw was wearing a dark purple outfit, slashed him and he fell to the ground. Lloyd merely stared at the man approached him and suddenly he could see who it was perfectly. Lloyd broke into a wide smile.

"Kratos!" he exclaimed. He was cold and his body seemed to be frozen but he had never been happier to see anyone before.

"...Lloyd, what are you doing here? You were almost killed," he said as he picked Lloyd and began carrying him. Lloyd coughed.

"I'm sorry but Lord Yggdrasill is gunna kill me if I go back right now..." the boy said quietly as Kratos thought for a moment.

"Then, how about you stay here with me and help me finish this mission? I'll be here for about a week." Lloyd couldn't have refused such an offer. He was as far from Yggdrasill as he could get.

"Yes, please!"

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Me: aww that was a nice little ending...

Anna: they are sooo doomed when they get back.

Me: Ahahahaha yeah, I'm evil.

Anna: Review please! It encourages her to write more :)

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Preview: Chapter 11: Childish Punishment

"I am loyal to you, Lord Yggdrasill and no one else."

"...I don't know, Lloyd. Maybe he is alive... and maybe he isn't... that's all I can really tell you. I didn't really know him then."