Disclaimer: I don't own this. However, one day, if I should win that lucky poker game, it just might be.

A Fan of ToS- Hey, thankies for your review, my first for this fic. ) Seles is going to have a big part in my story cause I like her character a lot too. I'll try and update often, but even if I don't I hope the long chapters (long for me, anyway) make up for that.

Blade liger knight- Thanks for your review. I'd just come home from school when I read it, and you really made me smile. It was my first day back after winter break, so I really needed something to smile about. Though, you may regret telling me to take my time on updates… I'm not entirely reliable.

Mama L- I shall try my hardest not to disappoint. I'm glad you like the characters I'm centering this around. I hope you like this chapter, too. )

Mablung Elensar- Thanks for the review. I hope you enjoy this chappie, too.

AA- I wrote a lot over the winter break before posting the first chapter. I hope that will help keep me ahead on these updates until Spring Break.

Potter29Vo- /Blushes./ You're review was full of compliments, thanks. The reason I decided to put Mizuho near the Linkite tree was because it seemed like the only truly secluded place in Sylvarant. Was your reason the same? Oh, and I know Orochi is OOC, but he wasn't in the game very much so I couldn't get a feel for his character. His final appearance for a long time is in this chappie. Thanks for giving me the right ages as well. I was wondering how close my guesses were.

Trickssi- Sheelos is fun to write, isn't it? Hmm… Seles I would say is about 15 or 16, somewhere around there. She is a sweet girl underneath her toughness and she absolutely loves little kids. At least, this version of her does. But she, and Zelos, have very nasty tempers.

Revised ages for the characters are: Sheena is 19, Lloyd is 18, Colette is 17, Genis is 13, Zelos is 22, and Raine is 28.

A/N Zelos is going to act a lot more serious in my story than he did in the game, though he'll definitely retain his quirky personality. He's been having a rough time since the world has been reformed; some of which is revealed in this chapter.

Oh, and I have this theory. Mithos was once a normal kid, right? Before his sister died and he lost his sanity ('cause there were definitely a few screws loose there at the end) Mithos was probably a cheerful, optimistic person. So, wouldn't he have given his friends nicknames? Annoying, kid nicknames that are so much fun to hand out to people. I think so. Ergo, I have given Martel the nickname Grasshopper, Yuan the name Blue-Bird, Kratos the name Cardinal, and Mithos the name Sunrise. (Though I'm certain his nickname would have been given to him from his sister because he was hyper in the morning.)

Chapter 2

The Papal knights surrounded him and Sebastian, the other occupants of the room growing silent, fading into the shadows.

"Chosen," the one in golden armor hissed. "You have ruined enough lives with your heresy. Martel will guide us and, when we win, prove through our actions that the Church of Martel is not the sham you say it is."

Zelos bit his lip and drew his sword. Sebastian picked up a nearby sword as well. The redhead took a deep breath, a smile lighting up his face as usual. "I saw Martel myself, you know. What is left of her soul is part of the Yggdrasil tree. You should meet her, seriously. She is of Mana, not of god-hood."

The first two attacked Zelos at that moment, Sebastian taking the second two. Four Papal knights wouldn't have been a challenge if Lloyd, Sheena, and the others had been there. At least then it would have been a fair fight. However, it was only Zelos and Sebastian, an ex-swordsman who'd opted for a safer life as a butler/bodyguard for the Chosen.

Zelos had learned everything he knew from Sebastian and because of that he easily disposed of his two opponents. They were unconscious and somewhat injured in a matter of minutes. Sebastian, however, may have been one of the most brilliant swordsmen in his youth, but he was no longer young.

He took down one of the guards before falling to the ground himself.

Anger in his eyes and heart as e watched his mentor fall, Zelos felt helpless and alone for the first time in his life. In response he did the only thing he could think of. He pulled a slim dagger, a birthday present from Sheena and Colette, and threw it as best he could.

When the dagger whizzed past the Papal knight's head, the man started to laugh. The sound echoed eerily in the room due to its metallic sound. Then the dagger hit its mark. The knight couldn't laugh anymore after that. He and his unconscious buddies were trapped under a heavy wood and metal chandelier.

Sebastian was dead by the time Zelos got to the older man's side, but the red-haired man didn't notice. He couldn't believe it. The King himself arrived moments later to find Zelos, the great Chosen of Mana who had never so much as frowned in his presence, crying over the body of his fallen friend.

Zelos jerked awake, blinking dazedly to find himself sitting under a tree, Sheena crouched beside him with a worried expression. Seles was playing with several other children in Mizuho.

"You were mumbling in your sleep and kept tossing and turning. Are you ok?"

Zelos swallowed and stared ahead, refusing to meet her eyes. "I'm fine, Sheena. Really, I am." He paused and added softly, "nothing wrong at all."

"Who are you trying to convince, because I don't thinks its me," Sheena whispered harshly.

"I could help out with the final move today," Zelos said, blatantly changing the subject. "Do you think you and the others here will mind my aid?"

"Zelos…" Sheena sighed and shook her head. "We're already done. Everyone left is moving out on Rheairds the Chief borrowed from Yuan."

"All right, my Banshee." Zelos turned and smiled at her, but Sheena could see his eyes were haunted.

"I'm not a banshee."

"You sound like one sometimes."

Sheena glared at him for a moment and then stuck out her tongue.

"If you like," Zelos said with a smirk, "I can find some far more interesting things to do with that tongue of yours, your mouth as well."

Sheena slapped him, but not too hard. "Pervert. Now go back to sleep. Try not to have any more nightmares."

"Of course, my Violent-Yet-Gorgeous Hunny," Zelos smirked at her teasingly. "I'll simply dream of you instead."

"Zelos, you never cease to irk me, do you know that?"

"I try, honestly I do."

"Hey, Witch-lady," Seles called, "You're seducing my brother again, aren't you!"

Zelos laughed softly as Sheena turned about a dozen shades of red and turned to glare at Seles. "For your information, young lady," Sheena snapped, "I would never be caught dead seducing this oaf you call your brother."

"Ouch!" Zelos put a hand over his heart. "Hit me right there, she did. Such pain."

"You don't know pain, yet," Sheena muttered, giving the red-haired man a sharp look.

Seles raced over and flopped onto the ground next to Zelos. She was breathing heavily and had to catch her breath, around a few coughs, but she seemed fine. Zelos knew that she was fine, it was obvious that she was, but he couldn't help the slightly concerned look that flashed across his face.

"Don't even say it, Zelos." Seles gave him a cross look. "I am fine. Just need to catch my breath. Don't worry about me. If something goes wrong for me, I'll let you know."

Zelos held his hands up; "I wasn't going to say a word."

"Really?" Seles studied his face for a moment and then asked a question. "What were you dreaming about? You nearly fell off your balance against the tree earlier, I was afraid you'd hit your head and injure whatever is left of your brain in there."

Sheena chuckled. "He avoided a similar question from me a few moments ago, Seles. Stay on your toes around this one."

"Aye-aye."

"Uh-oh. Somebody help! They're teaming up against me already."

Orochi was passing by at that moment and turned towards Zelos. "Get used to it, Chosen. You're the one who wanted the two of them journeying with you."

"Well," Zelos laughed, "I have been known to stupid things in my life. I wonder whether this is one of those…" two glare zeroed in on Zelos and he rushed to amend the sentence, "non-stupid things I'll do. Yeah, non-stupid."

"Non-stupid?" Orochi shook his head. "That is an… interesting vocabulary you possess."

"Thanks, I think," Zelos shrugged and leaned back against the tree again.

"Not many people can pull off saying words like voluptuous one minute and non-stupid the next," Seles chirped brightly, "but my brother can."

Zelos rolled his eyes and groaned softly.

Sheena giggled and added, "of course, seeing as he can manage get himself nearly killed in battle one minute and start flirting again as soon as the action is over, the vocabulary thing isn't so surprising."

"I have many talents," Zelos said airily. "I don't see what you three find so amusing, though. I don't particularly want to know, either."

"Then we'll just leave him with the delusion that he has talent, right Sheena?" Seles asked innocently.

"Of course, Seles," the violet haired woman replied. The two girls stood.

"I'm not delusional," Zelos muttered and stood as well, a pout flashing across his face. "I'm a very talented person."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"Are too."

Sheena looked from one bickering sibling to the other and then over at Orochi. "Weren't they doing this earlier?"

"I believe they were," the ninja man backed away. "It grates on my nerves. I shall depart now, Sheena. I shall see you once again in new Mizuho."

"I shall see you again, Orochi," Sheena said in reply.

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Children, shut-up. You two single-handedly chased Orochi away," Sheena chided.

"By Orochi," Seles yelled, waving as the man flew off on one of the villages borrowed Rheairds. Orochi waved back in return.

"Hey, Sheena," Zelos turned to her, "is Mizuho going to be placing new spies in Sylvarant?"

"Yep, though I've been out of touch with the village lately so I don't know how far into that venture they've gotten," Sheena frowned slightly. "In fact, the only news I've received lately from the spy network was something Orochi said about Meltokio."

"Meltokio, eh," Zelos seemed to freeze for a second. "What did he say?"

"Just something about the Papal Knights giving you a tough time. I figured he was referencing the incident you mentioned in your letter."

"Probably," Zelos said and relaxed slightly. He knew he shouldn't really be bottling the incident inside of himself, but there was a lot that he still needed to work out with himself before he felt he could tell anyone else. "It's getting late. Are we going to start off now or tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow," Sheena and Seles said as one. Sheena then added, "and you get to cook dinner."

"Oh, joy," he muttered sarcastically, but internally he was already planning what to make. If there was one thing Regal had definitely taught Zelos during their journey together, it was how to be a good cook. Raine had yet to learn that lesson, but that was typical of her. "Anyone up for pasta? I recently learned a new recipe and I figured you two would make good guinea pigs."

"All right," Sheena spoke at the same moment Seles said "Uh-oh."

"Don't worry," Sheena said to the younger girl. "Your brother is a good cook. It is his one redeeming quality."

"What do you mean 'one redeeming quality?'"

"You mean he actually has a redeeming quality?"

"Oi! Seles!" Zelos pouted again, "fine, I just won't make any food for you two."

"Yes you will," Sheena said with a smirk as she began to play with one of her charmed cards. "Trust me, Zelos, you will cook for everyone."

"Sir, yes sir," Zelos saluted and marched off to start a fire to cook over.

/o/

Kratos stared out one of the windows, looking down on the world of Symphonia. He thought he was seeing one of the continents of Sylvarant, though it could be Tethe'alla. It was hard to tell the difference from so high up.

All of the Cruxis Crystals were gone. Kratos had genuinely believed it would've taken far longer, but Lloyd and the others had done a pretty thorough job when they'd been there previously. Most of the angel army had been decimated and the ones left were already so mindless that they didn't notice their crystal's removal and subsequent destruction. Nearly every single Cruxis crystal had been destroyed in that manner.

The other crystals were easily located and destroyed; the shards from all the crystals being immediately jettisoned into space. Kratos was rather pleased that everything had proceeded so easily. He hoped that soon he'd be returning to Symphonia.

Derris-Kharlan was an empty, desolate place. It had never seemed that way before, but Kratos knew that essentially nothing had changed about the planet. It had always been empty, even when filled with angels. Nothing had really been alive, not the angels and not the machines. It was Kratos who had changed. He'd come to see how truly monotonous Mithos' world would be.

Kratos was actually looking forward to seeing everyone he'd once traveled with again. Especially Lloyd, Raine, Genis, and Colette. They had been there at the beginning of the quest and he felt he knew them the best.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Kratos jumped, his hand reflexively drawing his sword. A blue light flashed in time with the beeping noise, it was the communications post signaling that someone was attempting to contact Derris-Kharlan. Feeling a bit silly, Kratos put his sword away and sat down in front of the com-unit.

"This is Derris-Kharlan receiving message. Respond," Kratos spoke into the receiver after activating the unit.

"This is Blue-Bird calling Cardinal, is that you Kratos?" crackled out of the speakers.

Kratos grinned at the old nicknames. Mithos had once called them by those names, long ago before he'd decided to control the world. "It's me, Yuan. Who else would you expect to be alive up in this rickety old shack?"

"Old shack? I'll have you know I designed the architectural plans for that entire planet," Yuan growled over the static.

"Oh, so that explains the loud creaking noises coming from the outer hull."

Spluttering. Lots and lots of spluttering.

"In a way," Kratos mused, "it is nice to know that you are still easily ticked off. In a way."

"You… you're worse than your son, do you know that?" Yuan paused for a moment and added, "you didn't even raise him, so it must be a genetic trait."

"Somehow I doubt that this has anything to do with what you called me up for."

"Do you remember project Morphia?" Yuan spoke hesitantly.

"Of course," Kratos closed his eyes and leaned back. "It was an offshoot of the Firelight Mirror project. Not very successful, if I remember correctly. Why do you ask?"

"I think that someone is trying to jump-start the project again."

"Which one?"

"The Mirror. We're going to need you're help, and probably your son and his friends help, in order to shut the organization responsible down."

"Who are these people, anyway?"

"I've managed to eavesdrop on a few of their important meetings. They call themselves Anubian Warriors, and they truly deserve that name. They are indeed warriors that seem to have crawled out of the underworld." Yuan's voice disappeared into static for a moment and then returned. "The leader is called Set and his right hand man is called Lethian, though he has a secret secondary man called Apophis."

"Those names sound familiar," Kratos opened his eyes and keyed in a few codes on a nearby computer terminal. "In fact, two of the people working for me at the time were a half-elf named Set and his younger brother Apophis."

"But that was three-thousand years ago, Kratos. I don't remember either of those two becoming angels at the time."

"Neither do I," Kratos bit his lip. "What I do remember is that they were executed because they attempted to usurp Mithos' position."

"Oh, I'd forgotten that."

"It could be a coincidence."

"I doubt it. I don't care if you aren't done looking for Cruxis Crystals up there, Kratos. You have to get back down here to Symphonia."

"I guess it is a good thing I've already finished here."

"You have? Must not have been many crystals left after Lloyd and the others blew through there."

"I'm returning to the site of the Tower of Salvation in a few days, Yuan. Be there, ok?"

"Aye aye, Cardinal. Will do."

"Idiot."

"It is about time you realized what you are. Over and out."

"I was referring to you, Yuan. Over and out."

Kratos turned off the com-unit and slumped back into his chair. The Firelight Mirror project. It had been a long time since he'd heard of that. "I wonder if any of my old associates from that time are still around. Hmm, perhaps I should contact Ra or Isis upon returning to Symphonia. They were far more involved in the project than I was."

Calling up old records, Kratos spent the rest of the day refreshing his memory on all the specifics of what had happened. Things were definitely not going smoothly down on the newly reformed Symphonia. He only hoped that the Firelight Mirror wouldn't end up wrecking everything his son had worked for.

/o/

Raine and Genis surveyed Heimdall. It was a truly beautiful town, though evidence of its previous destruction could still be seen. It was amazing, to them anyway, that they were allowed to enter. Until that year, no half-elves had ever been allowed into the village.

However, Lloyd had changed that once on his own, Genis and Raine had changed it a second time for themselves. They had pitched in during the reconstruction and had been greatly appreciated by all the elves. It felt, to Raine, as if she'd come home at first.

At first, everything had seemed fine. At first the elves had been grateful for their help. At first, it hadn't mattered what their blood was. Unfortunately, prejudice didn't die that easily.

Every elf in the village looked down at Raine because of her insatiable curiosity about anything from archeology to technology. They thought it was silly to want to go elsewhere when all they needed was easily found in the village. Raine thought they were idiots for being such recluses and hermits. She argued on countless occasions that one day the elves might need something important that Heimdall couldn't provide for them and they might not be able to receive it merely because no one knew or trusted them.

The Elf Elder called her an idiot and sent her away. But he did it in a nice way.

Genis was slightly more accepted, not that the slightly was worth anything in the long run. It was the children who liked him for the most part. They thought he was amazing because he was so smart. The adults he'd corrected during the architectural parts of reconstruction, when he'd calmly explain why a building would fall on a person's head if certain structural details were omitted, thought he was an annoying upstart who needed to be put in his place. Something they had yet to accomplish. It was becoming a game to Genis, outsmarting the elves.

The Elf Elder would get ticked at Genis easily and send him into the Torrent Forest to do random assignments, which Genis would accomplish on his own.

"Madam Raine? Huff…huff…." A messenger came running up to stop in front of Raine, pausing to catch his breath. "I have a letter to you from a person called Lord Yuan. He said I was to deliver this letter to you or your brother personally."

"Thank you," Raine said, taking the proffered letter. "Did he say anything else?"

"Just that there it was very important and I should waste no time in delivering it."

"Very well," Raine nodded, glancing curiously at the letter.

"I have to head back to the renegade Base now, Madam." The messenger paused for a moment and then added. "Oh, I almost forgot. Yuan said that you could give him your reply in person, with your brother, at the Yggdrasil tree in three days."

Raine nodded. "I'll be there. Good day, sir."

"Good day, Madam," the messenger replied and then left the village, though not running as he had been to reach her.

Raine walked into the Inn and up the stairs into her room. Curious as to what Yuan would have to say to her, Raine tore open the envelope and began to read.

Professor Sage,

I am sure you are curious as to why I have sent you this letter. However, we parted as allies and I would appreciate meeting again as such.

As I am certain you are aware, Kratos is returning from Derris-Kharlan in three days, which is why I am heading to the Yggdrasil tree at that time. I have recently uncovered information regarding a threat to the world of Symphonia; a threat that Kratos agrees could cause great disaster.

I cannot divulge any more information currently, should this letter fall into the wrong hands, but I request that you and your brother join me at the Yggdrasil Tree at the time of Kratos' return. There are many important matters to be discussed and you and your friends that journeyed with you to regenerate the can provide help that would be greatly valued in this matter.

Yuan

PS If that red-haired fellow, Zelos Wilder, were left behind, it wouldn't be too much of a shame.

Raine chuckled at the end of the letter. Zelos was most definitely not on Yuan's popular list. "Too bad, Yuan," she muttered, "Zelos will end up traveling with us again, I'm certain."

Genis came bounding in. "The Elder sent me into the Torrent Forest again. I think he's starting to realize that I simply won't die out there," he laughed brightly and hopped onto Raine's bed in order to peer over her shoulder. "Hey, sis, who sent you a letter? Woah, it's from Yuan."

"Yeah, he said something about a threat to the world of Symphonia. He wants us to meet him at the Yggdrasil Tree when Kratos returns. Since the tree is only a short distance from the Tower of Salvation's ruins, Kratos, and probably Lloyd and Colette, will be joining us with him. If we go."

"Sure, why not?" Genis grinned brightly. "Truthfully, it's getting rather boring around here. While we're out and about, do you think I'll be able to see Presea?"

"Maybe," Raine reached over and ruffled her little brother's hair. "I'm sure you will."

"I hope so, I really miss her."

"Write her a letter. Tell her about everything that has been happening to you," Raine suggested.

"Good idea, Raine. I will do that right away," he leapt of the bed, landing on his feet gracefully and the rushed out of her room and across the hall to his room.

Smiling to herself, Raine found herself wishing that time would hurry up so that she could see some familiar faces. It'll definitely be nice to see a certain burgundy haired angel again, part of her mind teased her and, blushing madly, Raine shut the door to her room.

/o/

Set started as the secret entrance to his private chambers creaked open.

"Brother," Apophis, presumably somewhere in the room though Set couldn't see him, spoke. "I have returned withinformation aboutsomeone who might be of use in repairing the Firelight Mirror."

"Really," Set turned to stare at his younger brother, discovering that he was on the other side of the almost pitch-black room. "How would this person be helpful?"

"He possesses a rare type of empathy, though he is unaware of it presently," Apophis began to walk towards his brother. "I believe it is the same sort of empathy that the failed test subject, Morphia, once possessed. It is, however, far stronger. I believe he will survive, unlike Morphia and the… The Tenant."

Set nodded slowly, his black wings beating in a slow, unseen rhythm. "What is his name?" Apophis replied and a slow smile made its way onto Set's face. "I believe he will do just fine, Apophis. Just fine indeed."

A/N Chapter 2, done. Check. ) Now, if you've noticed, I've used Egyptian names for the OC's. I did that because I love the Ancient Egyptian culture.