I noticed some things wrong with this chapter, time line stuff and some wording in other places, so I am reposting again...
I also want to thank Contraltissimo again for all of your enthusiasim over this story, it's very encouraging.
And since this is an update, I can add stuff, like this.
Thank you Tobiasa for reviewing. Your enthusiasim is appreciated also. I even got five points... wonder what I should do with them...
"I do not own Tales of Symphonia" – I.K.A. Valian
The Tethe'allan lunar light illuminated the smoke that rose into Sylvarant's starlit sky. The lake's surface broke once in a while when a fish surfaced and shot back beneath the lakes calm exterior. Sound seemed to stand still, it was far too quiet. Nature seemed to stand in awe of the carnal destruction laid before it, not daring to move for fear of shredding the memory of what was. Bodies, some smoking, some not, dotted the surface of the lake, marring the pristine waters. A sudden puff of smoke rose from the ground in front of the hollowed out, charred husk of the Phoenix Inn, the form of a woman slowly took shape as the smoke blew away.
"What the!" The woman gasped sharply as she looked over the burnt remains of the village, smelled the acrid smoke of burning wood, and heard the unnatural silence. A beam that was now no more than a burning ember, broke off and fell from the roof of one of the house like skeletons to the right of the woman. The pink bow tied around the middle of her purple robe fluttered lightly in the wind. The woman's brown eyes scanned the village with expert precision as the small pink ribbon that held her wild black hair together strained under the pressure.
The woman walked through the burnt village and carefully made her way along the outermost path. The eerie silence was broken when part of a building started to collapse where the woman was standing. She quickly jumped away as the burned timbers came crashing down and fell into the lake. The woman shook her head and continued to make her way to the fountain area and looked out across the lake to the now inaccessible island where even more burned houses stood.
"Mmmnn…" The woman turned quickly and saw a man leaning against the destroyed fountain wall. He had blood all over his body and a wound on his leg larger than the woman's hand. The woman ran over to the man and helped him to sit down and lean against a part of the fountain wall that was still solid.
"What happened here," the woman asked as she brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face.
The man looked at her for a few seconds, dazed. Then he bolted up right, nearly knocking the woman over, and screamed. "Desians, Desians, they're everywhere, they're everywhere," the man frantically screamed.
"Hey, hey, calm down will ya, there are no Desians left." The panicked man tried to get up. "Hey you shouldn't try to move, your leg can't support your weight," the woman said as she pushed the man back down. "Tell me," she said as she ripped a piece of cloth she pulled from inside of her robe, "what the heck happened here. Last time I was here, the villagers were so nice, this place was so peaceful."
"I was on a pilgrimage," the man said while he looked around at the burnt village and calmed down. "This village was aiding people who escaped from the nearby ranch. The Desians found out and… well, this is what happens when you cross the Desians, they came in and destroyed everything, then took everybody left alive to the ranch." The traveler hung his head low. "I only got here after they had been sacking the village for a day already. Three of them attacked me but I faked death so they left without taking me."
"A-after seeing this," the woman stood up and looked around the smoking village, then said, "I… I don't know if I can really do it."
"Huh? Do what?" The man looked at the woman curiously.
"Uhm… nothing. I'm going to bury the remains of the villagers. You might not want to stay here, the Desians might come back." The woman started making her way toward the main part of the village.
"But what about you? What if they do come back?" The man picked up his fallen walking stick and heaved himself up, then looked back at the woman.
"Don't worry about it, I'm a big girl, I can take care of a few measly Desians." The woman waved nonchalantly as she continued on her way to the main part of the village, the big pink bow on her back waving lightly in the wind.
The sun had risen. The woman sat next to the lukewarm body of a Desian and wiped the blood off the sides of her mana infused cards on the Whip master's blue uniform. Once they were clean enough for her, she put them into her robe. Sighing, she stood up and rolled the Desian's body into the freshly dug pit.
"And you thought you could take me on, huh big boy," the woman said, patting the dead Desian on back, then she stood up and heaved dirt onto the body until there was a mound of dirt about a foot high. She glanced over to the twenty-two graves next to the burned up Phoenix Inn and sighed. The woman got up and walked back toward the fountain.
"Just a few more to go and I should be done." When she got to the fountain she noticed that a traveler that stood next to the ruined fountain. He stared slack jawed at the burnt remains of the village, tried to form words, but nothing came out. The woman just walked past him and stopped at the edge of the island.
"Desians. Better leave before they come back again. Already fended off three scouting parties." The woman didn't turn around to face the traveler. Instead she kept her eyes on the lake as she scanned for bodies that she might have missed. After a few more minutes of staring, the traveler turned and quickly walked away with the urgency of a cat on fire.
A body floated into view from under the bridge which caused the woman to sigh. "Damn, I thought I got them all." She got down on her knees and reached for the body as it floated within range. Once she got a grip on the ripped sleeves of the white dress, she hauled the body up and onto the land with a splash.
"Sheena!" The name seemed to float out of thin air, but the woman looked up expectantly. A small, tan, fuzzy creature with a wide blue tail materialized in front of the woman. "Sheena, this boy isn't dead!"
"Well, gee Corrine, I needed you to tell me that." Sheena rolled her eyes and leaned down to listen for the boy's breath.
"Sheena, this boy has weird mana. It's as if he repels the mana in the water and the air." Corrine waved his tail up and down a few times before disappearing. "Look out Sheena, monsters are coming!"
Sheena sat up and stared at the empty space where Corrine was. "Corrine! What do you mean he repels mana?" A rather loud growl startled Sheena and made her jump. A gigantic Grasshopper came at her with a furious roar. Sheena pulled out her mana infused cards and attacked the monster. She slashed the oversized insect across the face, caused it to scream, and opened a wound that oozed green goo. Side stepping quickly to the right of the Grasshopper, she sliced off one of its mandibles and half of the front leg. The monster screamed in agony and fell to the ground, writhing in its last throes of death. Finally, it fell silent as died, green goo oozed from its wounds as the insect slowly disappeared. Another growl came from the village. Sheen a grunted and moved back over to the unconscious Gaar.
"Hey, come on kid wake up," she insistently said as soft as she could. Gaar slowly opened his eyes and looked at Sheena, who smiled back at him before she stood up and pulled Gaar with her. "Run!" she shouted while pointing toward the mainland. Gaar was about to argue when Sheena pushed him toward the bridge. Gaar looked back, but reluctantly kept going. He reached the other side, stepping onto the mainland and looked back at the destroyed village. Tears slid down his cheeks and his breathing became shorter.
"Damn it," he said. "I… I couldn't stop them… Damn it."
Back across the bridge, Gaar noticed Sheena fighting several Giant Beetles, Grasshoppers, and a spider. She whittled down the number of opponents until she was facing a lone Grasshopper. She was about to jump over the insect when she tripped and crashed to the ground right in front of it. Gaar heard her screams over the lake as she was cut up by the grasshopper. A small furry creature appeared out of no where and bashed the Grasshopper in the head before disappearing again. Sheena had in the mean time, gotten up, and while holding her side, she slashed the grasshopper in half.
Gaar moved to run back across the bridge when he heard something snort behind him. Gaar slowly turned around and came face to face with a very large fowl. Blue feathers went flying as it flapped its stunted wings. It stared at Gaar for a few minutes, Gaar stared back. Finally, the creature gave out a 'skreee' and started walking back into the forest. Then Gaar sneezed. The giant bird froze, then whipped around and started toward Gaar again, a frenzied look appeared in its avian eyes and its wings flapped harder. Gaar sneezed again and his now red eyes started watering. Gaar continued to sneeze and sniffed when he felt his nose start to run profusely. The bird got up to Gaar who had his eyes closed and pecked at his head, but missed because he had sneezed and his head was thrown back. The bird's beak made a loud thud when it hit the ground. Gaar looked down and realized that the giant bird was attacking him.
His red, puffy, wet eyes went wide. He turned and ran onto the bridge. The bird followed him but it couldn't fit onto the walkway because of the railing. Gaar turned when he realized the bird wasn't following him any more. He saw the bird was stuck between the two railings and was struggling to get free.
"Ha ha," Gaar mocked then he laughed at the whole situation before he sneezed hard three times, then laughed again. The Cockatrice stopped struggling and glared at Gaar. The beast let loose a loud 'skreeeaaaaaaw' and snapped both railings, sending them flying. It hopped up onto the railing and ran at the surprised Gaar. Gaar barely had time to duck as the bird snapped at his head. 'Skreeeaaaaw' the bird squawked again. Gaar didn't wait for it to snap at his head again, he turned and ran as fast as he could toward the island. The bird watched Gaar run for about two seconds before it squawked again and followed. Gaar kept running into the railing as he rubbed his tortured eyes, trying to clear them. He made it to the end of the bridge and sneezed so hard that his feet left the ground and he flew into the person who stood in front of the fountain. Both Gaar and the person he ran into fell to the ground, the Cockatrice got to the end of the railing and hopped down. It again attempted to take off Gaar's head when it was sliced along the neck by a flying Chakram. The bird screamed as another Chakram sliced the same spot on the opposite side of the bird's neck, then another down its back, and then finally, one of its legs was cut off. Blood flowed freely out of the bird until it disappeared with a pitiful 'skree…'
Gaar stood up and kept wiping his eyes but stopped when a kind voice said, "Here, let me help you with that." Gaar waited a few seconds when the same voice said commandingly, "Recover!" Gaar's eyes immediately cleared up, his nose stopped draining its excess mucus, and he lost the urge to sneeze.
"Th-thank you, umm…" Gaar opened his clenched eyes and looked at a tall woman dressed in a brown coat. He stared at her silver hair before looking into her happy, but confused eyes.
"Raine, and don't mention it." The silver haired woman said. Gaar turned to the person he ran into and saw that he had already gotten up, his dark clothing and split end cape no worse for the wear. The tall man brushed himself off and shook the dirt out of his dark hair.
Gaar walked up to the man and said, "Sorry I ran into-"
"Don't worry about it. I am unhurt and the creature that was pursuing you has been defeated," the man said abruptly.
"Ahh…yeah, who defeated that thing anyway?" Gaar turned around and looked at the rest of the people standing around him. He looked at Sheena, and then at a short silver haired boy about his height, the boy's clothing caught his eye. Then person who stood next to him had two swords at his hips and red was what stuck out about him, his clothing was very red. Next to the swordsman Gaar saw a bright, blue-eyed, smiling blond girl.
The blond girl spoke up, "That's me, I got that one. I hope you're ok, I'm sorry that thing was chasing you. My name is Colette." Gaar looked at her funny. "Oh, what's the matter, I'm sorry did I say something wrong?"
Gaar shook his head. "I was going to say you remind me of the person who gave me these clothes. What was his name…Fron…Funk…Frank! His name was Frank." Now Colette looked at Gaar funny.
The boy with the two swords raised his right eyebrow in enlightenment. "You know, Colette's father is named Frank too."
Raine sighed and shook her head, the dark haired man groaned, Colette smiled, and the silver haired boy threw his hands over his head and yelled, "Lloyd, this guy istalking about Colette's father!"
"Shut up Genis," Lloyd shouted back to the silver haired boy.
"Nyaaa…" Genis stuck out his tongue and pulled out his bottom left eyelid.
Lloyd clenched his fist and through clenched teeth said, "Why I oughta..."
"Enough!" Raine's voice carried over the two boy's argument and lulled them into silence. "Honestly, you two act so immature." The two boys let out small 'eeps.'
"So you know my father?" Colette smiled and Gaar smiled back. "I thought that dress looked familiar. Hehe."
"If he lives in Iselia then yeah, but the Desians ripped it up…damn them…" The emotion in Gaar's voice caught the attention of the tall dark haired man, but he didn't say anything. "He also gave me my name, since I can't remember what it was."
Everyone stared at Gaar expectantly, even the dark haired man looked mildly curious. Gaar coughed then said, "He suggested Gaar, said it meant mystery." The dark haired man's eyes flashed before he looked disinterested again, and Colette's eyes lit up in recognition, as did Raine's.
"It's Angelic," Colette said.
Raine piped up, "It more accurately means 'he who has no recollection'."
"Hey, I want to ask favor of you guys." Everyone turned to Sheena. "I know it's selfish, unreasonable thing to say at this point, but um…I owe the people of this city for food and lodging. Please. Help me save these people. If you agree, I'll declare a truce with you and help in anyway I can."
After a moment's hesitation, Lloyd said, "All right."
"Lloyd, are you serious?" If Raine's tone of voice wasn't enough, her face showed just how incredulous she thought this situation was. She turned and looked at Lloyd's face only to find his face set, his decision made.
Colette smiled and said cheerfully, "I agree with Lloyd."
Raine turned to Colette and said mournfully, "Colette, not you too!"
"Kratos," Lloyd said as he turned to the darkly dressed man, "What about you?"
"I see no problem with it," the man responded.
Then Genis turned to Raine and said apologetically, "Ah…um…I'm sorry, Raine." Raine threw her hands up into the air, defeated.
"Fine! Do as you wish. I suppose if we look at it another way, it does mean we can keep a close eye on her." Raine turned to face Gaar and said, "But, what are we to do with Gaar. We can't just leave him alone in this forsaken place."
"Hey, I can take care of myself." Gaar stood defiantly, hands on his hips, and eyes blazing.
Kratos snorted, "Right, and I suppose that Cockatrice was just asking you for directions." Gaar glared at Kratos and was about to say something when Lloyd cut him off.
"Don't let him get to you, he does that to everyone." Lloyd then joined Gaar and glared at Kratos.
Kratos just huffed and disinterestedly said, "Right."
"We could take him to Asgard," Genis offered, "I'm sure Linar and Aisha would take care of him."
"Yes, that does sound like the best plan," Raine added.
"What," Lloyd shouted. "We can't give up on the ranch now, all the people of Luin are counting on us."
"Lloyd's right, how can we abandon them now," cried Colette.
"Ugh, Kratos, what do you think we should do with him?" Raine pointed at Gaar. Kratos shrugged and walked over to lean against the broken fountain wall. "Ugh… Fine, we can take Gaar to the road that leads to the House of Salvation, and then we head for the ranch while Gaar heads toward Asgard. Got it, good, now let's go." Not giving anyone a chance to argue with her, Raine turned and quickly made her way toward burnt remains of Luin. Gaar shrugged and ran after her followed closely by Genis and Colette, leaving Lloyd and Kratos.
"Finally …" Lloyd looked down at the back of his right hand, a red jewel sat there. "I will avenge you mom," he said to the jewel, before he turned and ran after the others. Kratos watched this impassively before turning and following at his own slow pace.
The group of six left Luin and walked in silence for thirty minutes. Lloyd brooded to himself silently, Colette hummed while skipping, Genis walked with his hands supporting the back of head, Sheena talked with her furry friend, Gaar walked while staring about him in awe at the countryside, and Kratos walked in stiff silence. Suddenly Raine stopped in the middle of the road and pointed toward the forest off to their left.
"That is the way to the Ranch, and that," she said, pointing down the road, "is the way to Asgard. Gaar, we bid you Adieu." Raine started off toward the forest, Kratos walked quickly behind her. Genis, Lloyd, and Colette turned to Gaar.
"Hey, we'll see you around some time," Lloyd said before he turned and started walking toward the forest.
"Yeah, I hope we meet up again," Genis added and followed after Lloyd.
"Please be careful, and I'm sorry we couldn't take you to Asgard ourselves, it's just…"
"It's ok," Gaar cut in, "I understand. You go save those villagers." Colette smiled at him and ran to catch up with Genis and Lloyd. Gaar watched them disappear into the tree line before he turned and looked down the pathway. Birds chirped and flew overhead as a breeze blew across the flat plain. Gaar looked back at the forest, then back down the road, then back at the forest. Gaar lowered his head and said in a low and angry voice, "Damn Desian!" Gaar's head shot up and he ran toward the tree line, disappearing into the mess of shrubbery and other plant growth.