A/N's: Sorry it's so late. Holidays and my computer had to be reformatted so... but here it is now! And I'll make sure to have the next one out before New years!! But oh well, here's a happy Christmas-y chapter that I didn't plan to be Christmas-y XD

Disclaimer: I don't own TOS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Cuz this time's the last time..."

-This Time by Celine Dion

Chapter 12: Childish Power

Of all her days living among the dead, she had never been so worried. The world of the living was still continuing, even though it was on borrowed time. Someone in that world, or those worlds, had broken a law. It was a terrible crime, even though it had been for the good of all life on those worlds, the law had been broken nonetheless. It needed to be corrected and currently, the way they were now was not going to last much longer.

But she could see now, that things were being set in motion. People who were being affected by this broken law were starting to come out and would would fully reveal themselves in the time to come. The boy, who had just turned twelve, her precious boy, was already on track... his time to choose was approaching faster with each passing day. The others... the two dwarves, each being in a different world had already been thrust into the flow. Two halflings, who were living settled lives, had already sealed their fates when they befriended the Chosen of Sylvarant. The young girl... that girl was close to being pushed into the flow as well. Two other males as well as one other female were already deep into the flow. Soon everything would come together. Then, the law would be fixed and all would be well and she would finally get the sleep that she deserves. Although, she probably wouldn't be able to sleep right away.

There was still one thing she'd worry about once all this was over. She wondered how the two boys would get along. The boy would definitely be angry after having not known for so long but surely he'd accept him. He had to... otherwise, what would he have to live for?

Anna shook her head. She had other things to watch out for, for now. Things that would need to be hinted to a few people through dreams. The Crystal sisters had been revived since the Angelus Crown had begun to grow it's gold. The youngest would reveal herself to the boy on her own when it was time. The eldest was already causing trouble, searching for the wearer of the Crown. All Anna could really do was warn people. She wished she could do more but... she wasn't with them anymore.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Kratos thanked the inn manager as he signed out of the inn in Flanoir. As he walked out the door, he noticed the small specks of snow falling slowly from the sky. He watched the grey skies. Today was Lloyd's twelfth birthday. He returned his focus to reaching a safe place out of town to warp back to Welgaia and continued down the street. He noticed some children making snow forts and getting their sleds out to go sledding. He couldn't help but wonder if Lloyd would want to go out and do something for his birthday this year. He really did need to get him something. He stopped just outside the city and looked towards the surrounding mountains. They were absolutely covered in snow... and most of them were great for sledding. But would Lloyd want to go? Would the boy even like sledding? Kratos touched his chin in thought. Now, he had a dilemma. To go... or not to go? That was the question. Lloyd was being tested by Yggdrasill but, a little fun afterwards couldn't hurt. He nodded, making up his mind.

He turned on his heels, walking quickly back into the city towards the shop. They had to have a couple of them there. Lloyd might also need new winter gear since he might've already outgrown the ones from last year. Kratos couldn't help but smile. Lloyd may have been in Yggdrasill's grip, but the boy was always closer to him and Yuan. That was comforting... it meant that Yggdrasill had less of an influence on the boy and that when times really came down hard, he'd depend more on him or Yuan instead of Yggdrasill, who'd probably let him die. The smile vanished from his face.

Yggdrasill didn't like Lloyd very much at all, even though the boy was hosting the power to his greatest weapon. He was merely using the boy to accomplish his goals and would merely toss him away once he was done. Kratos looked rather angry when he walked into the shop. The shop keeper had fearfully and quickly handed the sleds to Kratos, as he was paid twice as much as the sleds were worth. Kratos walked out, with sleds in hand, and decided to put them somewhere until he could get Lloyd out there.

Wandering towards a place that was far enough from the city, he wondered if Lloyd was done his test or not. If he was, he'd ask him if he wanted to go. If he wasn't, he'd at least watch to see how far the boy had got in his lessons with Yuan. He'd only had a few with Kratos, sadly. Yggdrasill did whatever he could to keep Lloyd away from him, in case Kratos got brave and told the boy everything. But by now, Kratos didn't think Yggdrasill had anything to worry about. He couldn't do it now... It'd been too long and the boy would only be angry at him if he told him anything. He'd resigned himself, long ago, to never hearing that single word he'd used to love so much... again.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Lloyd panted as he sat, proud that he'd passed his test. Angels lay unconscious around him as Yggdrasill approached him, looking impressed. He quickly pushed himself off from the floor, wiped the sweat off of his forehead and stood as straight as he could. Yuan had told him that respect was important if he wanted to please Yggdrasill. He really did want to please him...so that he could go off and find Kratos and Yuan to go do something for the day. He didn't want to spend another day locked up in the place. He was absolutely sick of it. It was just... boring! There was nothing for him to do but read books, sleep and drop down to Tethe'alla for all of three seconds to grab food then come back to eat it. He'd always wondered why the others never needed to eat.

"Excellent job, Lloyd. You are much more powerful than I had expected. How about you go see Kvar for a few moments, so that he can make some adjustments on the crystal. By the way, you pass." Yggdrasill turned from him as Lloyd's shoulders dropped in disappointment. He'd wanted to go find Yuan and Kratos... he wanted to get away from Welgaia for a bit but it seemed as though a trip to the devil himself was all he was going to get. He bowed before leaving the room feeling terribly tired and not wanting to go see Kvar. Just as he reached the warp pads, a familiar body appeared from one of the warps.

"Kratos!" Lloyd smiled. It was just who he wanted to see. Maybe he'd be able to get him out of going to Kvar. "Kratos, I passed my test!" he exclaimed happily as Kratos nodded to the boy.

"That's good. Were you... heading somewhere?" Lloyd turned away wearily.

"Lord Yggdrasill is sending me to see Kvar again... I don't want to go though," he whispered. Kratos thought for a moment, and Lloyd was hoping that he was planning a way for them to avoid going to Kvar's and going somewhere else instead.

"How about... I escort you there and as soon as you're done, we can go do something for your birthday," Kratos suggested, utterly disgusted that he was going to take his own son to Kvar's ranch himself but this way he'd be able to hear what would be happening...and if Lloyd as so much groaned he'd be in and out of there as fast as lightning. Lloyd, slightly disappointed that he still had to go see Kvar, nodded to this compromise.

--------------------------------------------------------

He had to admit that the day had been short but good. The trip to Kvar's was short and sweet. Even though it took every ounce of discipline that Kratos had to not tear apart the ranch. The only thing that allowed him to even bring Lloyd close to such a place was the fact that he really wanted to take him sledding. He was sure now that the boy would love to go.

Apparently, the Angelus Crown was dormant and could not be tested on or used. He remembered hearing Kvar in a rage after dismissing Lloyd. He was satisfied that all Kvar had done was check the status of the jewel.

"Lord Yggdrasill, the toxicosis process refuses to start! The jewel is already dormant!" Kvar had shouted as they were leaving. Kratos was merely satisfied that Lloyd wouldn't be near the place for a long time.

Lloyd excitedly walked alongside Kratos as they warped to Welgaia and took the warp pad to Tethe'alla. It was still snowing lightly just as it had when Kratos had been there earlier. Lloyd smiled brightly and shivered a little. Kratos walked over to a small lump in the snow, touched it with his finger and Lloyd watched in awe as a barrier-like magic shattered, revealing a bundle of winter clothing and a giant sled. Lloyd couldn't contain his excitement anymore. He jumped up and shouted into the air as he rushed into his winter clothing and Kratos took the sled and the two of them made their way up the mountain.

At first, Kratos just pushed Lloyd down the hill, and he'd watch as the boy went speeding down the hill, twisting as the sled went over some ice. Then he'd wipe out and come running back up the hill for more. This continued for an hour or so until Lloyd came up the hill, put the sled down on the snow and pointed at it.

"Come down the hill with me," he stated, his voice strangely firm. Kratos shook his head.

"No, Lloyd, I am not getting on that thing."

"Aw, why not?"

"It is not something people my age do." Lloyd put on his best puppy dog face, even getting in a single tear because the wind was blowing in his face and making his eyes water.

"...Please?" Kratos knew it was an act. It was all an act just to get him to go down a hill. He considered it. Once wouldn't hurt. The hill was large, yes, but it couldn't be that bad.

"...Alright," Kratos sighed as he resigned himself and Lloyd smiled and pull him onto the sled.

"Here we go!" Lloyd exclaimed as he pushed them off the top of the hill and they went flying downwards. What happened after that... Kratos decided to turn his thoughts away from it.

He now sat in his office in Welgaia, sorting out a few papers for Yggdrasill, that had been due about a little over a month ago. He didn't really care that he was late, and Yggdrasill hadn't bothered him about it. It seemed as though that it was just something to keep him in his room when he wasn't out on a mission. He'd have preferred to take Lloyd on a short day mission but he couldn't get everything he wanted now, could he? Yuan suddenly entered his room and closed the door behind him.

"What is it?" Kratos asked as Yuan leaned against the wall.

"I received some news about the Chosen of Sylvarant. Her 11th birthday is coming up..." The mercenary knew what was coming. "Kratos... the next regeneration journey will begin in about 5 years." Kratos sighed. 5 years... was that all the time left until another had to be sacrificed?

"... I see. Has Yggdrasill chosen which of us will go on the journey?" Yuan shook his head.

"No, but I do believe that Yggdrasill is making us train Lloyd so that he can go but he'd have to go with one of us. I think he's trying to get me to go but I'll do what I can to make sure that he goes with you. I have a feeling that things would work out better that way." Kratos nodded, obviously grateful.

"Thank you, Yuan." Yuan nodded and turned to leave but stopped.

"Kratos, one day everything will work out," he said as he left and closed the door again, leaving Kratos to wonder if life really worked that way.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Me: Wow, that was how short I figured that chapter 11 would be... I guess I was off by a chapter.

Anna: You are so mean! What happened after Kratos went down the hill with Lloyd?!

Me: Muhahahahaa. That'll be in a oneshot that I'll write soon. That's going to be my Christmas/ New Years one shot for this year. ahaha I'd better get started on it...

Anna: Review and she'll update before New Years!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Preview: Chapter 13: Childish Wanting

"I saved you, Lloyd. I saved you from the terrible fate that had befallen them."

"...I see. So, your parents are dead then?"