Frozen Smile

Beginning Author Notes: Reading through this, I kinda went "OMG, this character is a such a freakin' Mary-Sue." I wrote this, what? A year ago? I was fifteen, and a good writer (so I'm told), so why is she such a freakin Mary-Sue? Are all self-inserts Mary-Sues? I'll try and make it so she's not, like, she knows what's going on, but she's too terrified to speak up. And so I decided, well, since I'm revamping it, might as well kill it all off and change it almost completely. I've been watching the anime, and I like a lot of parts in there better than how it happened in the game, so it'll be a mix of the game and anime...in theory.

Wish me luck.

"W-What's going on?" I gasped, eyes widening as I took in the destruction of the village.

Rain was pounding on the dirt, and my hair stuck to my skin. I lifted my right hand to brush it out of my face, moving my hair, and let my hand drop down to my chest. There was something there. It felt constricting, almost painful.

There was a cold stone centered on the bone, and the skin around it felt jagged, veins bulging.

I looked down quickly, eyes widening even more, and I felt fear course through my body.

I knew what the blood red crystal was...I knew what was happening around me, but it hadn't clicked until I saw that stone.

I was in Tales of Symphonia...but what was this, the anime or the game...?

"Oh my god..." The words left my lips before I could stop them. I shivered from both the emotions running through me and the cold; the rain had soaked my clothes. A tank-top and sweatpants. I hugged myself, backing away from the destruction.

The scene had always made me sad in both the anime and game, but to actually see the smoke rising, and the fire destroy everything...

It was terrifying.

I don't know why I didn't just turn and run.

I knew Forcystus and the Desians were there.

I knew that Lloyd and Genis would show up, only to be banished after Lloyd's Exshpere, Anna, unleashed her power upon Forcystus for hurting her son.

I knew what would happen.

So why wasn't I running?

Why the hell was I unconsciously walking towards the Village of Oracles?

Why was I walking towards the Desians?

Wait...everything's dizzy now...it's blurry...it hurts...I don't want to be here anymore...I just want to go...home...

My body was on autopilot...but I knew when I awoke, I wouldn't be in the arms of the Chosen's group, but the Desians. Call it a feeling...

It was raining heavily, yet the flames still ate at the wood of the buildings.

This entire village was on fire. But what could I do? I was being held back by Desians...there was nothing I could do except watch with horror as everything collapsed around me. Eventually, I let my eyes flicker to the ground, unable to watch any longer, only listen.

I didn't want to see it anymore.

My body shook with sobs, but the Desians that flanked me only tightened their grip, one pulling my head up with my hair, and my eyes, filled with tears, were forced to watch.

Why was I even here...?

"Hey you." Forcystus drawled to the Mayor of Iselia

"Y-yes?" The man was struck with fear.

"Where's the kid with the Exsphere in his left hand?" The Grand Cardinal demanded.

"Ex...sphere?" The mayor narrowed his eyes in confusion.

The Desians surrounding Forcystus looked around a bit, but Forcystus held his arm out to stop them.

"It's fine...let's test out the progress of the Angelus Project" He aimed his cannon arm at the group of villagers, a smirk on his face.

The crowd gasped in fear, cowering.

"No..." I murmured weakly, closing my eyes.

"Auqa Edge!" A boy shouted.

The sound of rushing water.

Pained grunts.

Panting.

Swords clashing.

"Don't even think about using the gem's power!" More demanding.

"Is this really the time...to be saying things like that?" Incredulous.

"It's a blacksmith's intuition...That gem's power will turn bad!"

I didn't want to open my eyes again. I won't be saved. Let's face it.

I let my cold body go limp in the arms of the Desians, and the hand in my hair let go, and my head dropped, my chin hitting the crystal painfully.

Then...darkness once more.

I like that a little better...please don't let her become a Mary-Sue...AGAIN.

I do like some parts of the old story, so I'll try and keep those, but for the most part, she's getting redone.

Wish me luck~!