Chapter 3: Rescue

Author's Note: Well, well, chapter three of this arc is here! This is Moonshine's Guide, better known as Moony, and I'm honored that my chapter was chosen. V really got us going, as did Sage and Kat. Tee hee. Thanks for reading our story, and we really hope you enjoy the newest chapter of From Here to Eternity.

Zelos moved pretty fast. Lloyd almost lost him and his escort several times. The armor didn't help. It obscured his vision, and to Lloyd's ears, made clanks with every step. The twin swordsman promised himself that he would ditch the armor as soon as he didn't need it. The armor might be a good disguise, and fun at first, but it was undoubtedly becoming a hindrance now. There wasn't enough time to shed it however, and Lloyd was forced to stay within the steel prison until he caught up and helped Zelos.

Hefting the spear, Lloyd picked up his pace. If what he had overheard was true, Zelos was almost in the danger zone. Lloyd couldn't let him die. An anxious feeling rose in his stomach, a worry that he would be too late to save his friend. A worry that almost became a reality. As Lloyd, and thus Zelos, neared the coliseum and thus the prison, a yell was heard. Gripping the spear he had grabbed tighter, Lloyd burst into a full out sprint, hampered somewhat by his disguise. He wished he had his twin blades. The lack of experience he had with a spear would put him at a disadvantage. Whipping around a corner, Lloyd found himself met with an odd sight. The two guards had obviously tried to strike, only to be confounded by Zelos fleeing under a rack of spears. They were arguing about the best way to get at the 'little bastard' when Lloyd burst in on the scene.

"What are you doing?" were the first words out of the Eternal Swordsman's mouth as he stared at the scene. The two guards leapt into the air at hearing him, surprised to find another guardsman in the area.

"Um… er…" The first began sheepishly, looking at his companion for an idea. His friend looked just as lost as he did and thrice as nervous. Both had the same look that all children do when caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "We were… um… p-playing hide and go seek with Master Zelos! He's a great hider you know." The two laughed nervously, their eyes occasionally darting over to where Zelos hid. The second guard, the one who hadn't spoken, had an extraordinarily guilty expression plastered upon his face. Lloyd had to resist the urge to smack his face in disbelief at their excuse.

"Do you… Never mind," Walking over to rack, Lloyd knelt down. "You can come out Master Zelos," He stated in the most calming voice he could, reaching his hand out to the red head.

In the shadows of the rack, Zelos shook his head wildly, his hair whipping about in the confined space. "They tried to hurt me!" he exclaimed in an incredulous tone. Lloyd's proffered hand made the boy shove himself closer to the wall, further under the rack.

"We did not!" The formerly silent guard protested. "He just overacted!" His friend elbowed him in the stomach to silence him. Lloyd looked at them with a deadpan expression. The second guard began to quiver under Lloyd's look. After a few more seconds, he broke. "WE WERE ORDERED TO!" he sobbed, backing up a few steps.

"Rick, you idiot, shut up! Be a man! He doesn't know!" The first one berated, looking at Lloyd, then back at his friend, before finally addressing Lloyd. "He's had a stressful week… just ignore him. His wife…" The guard shrugged, as if to say something about the woman had done something to warrant such an abnormal reaction. "And it kind of made him a little cra…"

"I am not crazy! I'm not doing this! I refuse to kidnap a kid! This is not what I signed up for. I signed up to help protect the Royal Family, not do their dirty work!" The second guard gestured violently, almost losing his grip on his weapon.

"Shut up Rick!" The first guard was torn between glaring at his companion and glaring at Lloyd. "Now we'll have to…" He never finished. Lloyd had heard enough. Using the butt of his spear, he knocked the first guard out and turned to Rick. "Are you going to fight?" The brunette inquired, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

Rick meeped, and shook his head viciously, backing up a few feet. "I think I'll leave now…" he mumbled, running away. Lloyd held his spear at the ready until the guard was out of sight. Only then did he relax, lowering the spear and returning to talk to the hiding Zelos.

"Are you all right?" he inquired, solemnly staring at the young doppelganger of his friend. Moving to hold the spear with one hand, he carefully threaded his hand through the spears. "I'm here to… ow! What was that for?" Lloyd withdrew his hand, shaking it fervently, and looking at his fingers. Zelos had bitten right through the cloth, and his finger was now bleeding. "I'm trying to help you!"

"You're with them! You're trying to kill me!" A childish voice protested, cracking a little.

"I'm trying to help you!" Lloyd countered, trying to make himself look like a friend. He couldn't tell how well it was working. "I'm not going to kill you. I'm trying to keep you alive. But if we don't get out of here, there's a chance that next time, Hilda will send somebody else to take care of you. And I don't want that… your sis is in danger too. And the king…"

"Sis? Why would they go after Sis?" The Eternal Swordsman could hear the confusion in Zelos's voice. "The Princess wouldn't do that… she's always so nice. Always sticking up for me. She always listens…"

"Zelos, you have to believe me. Please come out from under there! If Hilda was so nice, why would she order the guards to kidnap you?" Taking a chance, Lloyd proffered his hand once more, praying that it didn't get bitten again.

There was silence for a moment. It seemed like forever to Lloyd, an everlasting abyss that he was caught in, waiting for this boy who looked so much like his friend to make his decision. A delicate, shaking hand grasped his. "Fine. But if you're lying, the Church and the Royal Family will arrest you." The words were mere bluster, a brave front put up by a boy who had just been assaulted by people he had once trusted with his life.

Lloyd grinned in relief. "Good. Let's go grab my stuff, and then we can go after your sister. We've got to make sure she's safe, right?"

Crawling out from beneath the rack, Zelos nodded, his gaze drifting to the ground. "Yes…" he mumbled unsurely, his hand still grasping Lloyd's as the two quickly departed.

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The Chosen of Tethe'alla stood at the edge of the Tethe'alla Bridge, gazing over the plain that lay before her. Sybak was a twinkle on the horizon's edge, and she wished that the city took less time to get to. No matter. The Princess had asked her to investigate some unusual reports of monster appearances near the university town, and she felt that it was her duty as the Chosen to help the people. And what sort of Chosen would turn down a plea of help?

Satisfied that she was headed in the right direction, Seles resumed her walking, moving along the road at a steady gate. It felt so nice to be traveling alone. A dangerous activity, but it was such a beautiful feeling to be traveling without guards to smother her fun. A weight was lifted off her shoulder, and she felt like she could soar, not worry about politics or Zelos or anything.

Zelos… A frown grew on her face as her sisterly instincts rose to the surface. Once again, she questioned the wisdom of leaving Zelos in the political hellhole that was Meltokio. Zelos was young and naive, and very, very capable of trusting the wrong people. One part of her mind scolded her for leaving him there with only Sebastian, while another said that the faster she finished this job, the sooner she could return to her younger brother.

As Seles's thoughts meandered, three figures approached her, using the high grass of the plain to hide. Hand signals were used to communicate as the three drew closer to their prey, cordoning off any escape route the Chosen might take. She didn't notice the three until it was too late to make a run. The first leapt at her with a deadly speed, launching herself at the Chosen from behind.