Chapter 1: Emotion of Gold

"I'll hold it off! Run!" The boy screamed. Nay, he wasn't a boy anymore. He had come a long ways. The once foolish and rash boy from a village was no-more. Standing before the twenty-eight foot tall flame breathing monster was a man; a hope; an idealist. He no longer acknowledged physical fear but instead tooled it against his own enemies. "What the hell are you doing?! I said-"

"We heard you. But we can't do this without you. We need the power of your Exsphere", the silver haired woman revolted. Professor, as everyone appropriately named her, had always known that her precious pupil is the key to the future. What she had not noticed was that the idealistic knight had put away his 'Exsphere' in a safe place. These spherical jewels were the ill omens of the young lads past. They are the key to unlocking the potential in a person. However, someone had taught Lloyd that these materialistic items were holding him back and that he only reeked of 'boding memories'. Only one person had realized what the swordsman had truly accomplished. Regal Bryant was his name, acting as a mentor to the swordsman. He realized this from the previous battle in the ancient forest. He then rested his shackled hands on the Professor's shoulder; she glanced back at the towering man.

"Okay, but promise me…. Don't leave us." With that ending line, she walked past the colossus iron-wrought doors. The others followed but one.

"You aren't going to arrive late?" The female ninja stood before the swordsman, waiting for an answer.

He replied, "I'll arrive when I need to. Please, don't worry Sheena." His eyes now shifted from concern to a sense of seriousness, "My swords will bleed with the hearts of their enemies." He assured the concerned woman with a smirk. Before she walked through the doors, the two locked eyes for a moment. She could never tell him; how she felt. She was always a coward but the swordsman gave her courage. For some inconspicuous reason, she felt this would be the last time she would see him. As she walked towards the starfire in the sky, a lone tear tumbled down her cheek. The Iron doors shut with a doom-felt sound. This was it, the final battle. And he's not going to be here…. Sheena thought to herself.

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The conflicting battle between the seven heroes had lasted for over an hour and still, the swordsman did not appear. They were weak, tired, injured, and bloody. They thought no more of home or their families. They strongly thought they were never to see the light again. Professor Raine, Regal, Presea, Genis, Collette, Zelos, and especially Sheena were heavily injured, their bodies almost paralyzed. The group could not hold ground any longer. If only he were here…we might have lasted a little longer, they thought. They also thought would it have mattered? He is too powerful. Any moment now, it will be the end. They all looked into the enemy's eyes as some of them stood, some kneeled. The ambitious one, Mithos, positioned a hand in mid-air. Then, Regal stood up and positioned himself in front the group. He was ready to accept a final blow.

"Humph. Fool. You were nothing more than a lowly prisoner, shackled to his foolish fates." Mithos looked upon Regal's red-painted face. "Although… it's a shame, I liked you the most, with your use of energy. You were quite powerful…or at least I thought you were." With his ending line, Mithos propelled a ball of magic at Regal. In a sudden defense, the ball reflected into nothingness and Regal left standing. Mithos looked up into the sky, as a sword fell stabbing into the tone ground. The swordsman had finally appeared, unwary from his previous battle. Everyone looked at him, standing there with no-weapon of choice. The swordsman had only one sword left and thought he would better off without it. His allies shocked, were confused at what next stunt their leader was trying to pull.

"What are you doing? You need your weapons?" Sheena stood up and was ready to pull the sword from the stone when the swordsman stopped her.

"Sheena, trust me. I know what I'm doing. And no, this is to be a solo battle. All of you are badly injured." He paused, "This is between me and him."

"But Ll-"Sheena was cut off by Lloyd.

"Listen, Sheena, everyone. You would only be in the way of this fight. Please do not involve yourselves."

"He is right." Regal started. "You might not realize it, but he is much more powerful than any of us. By how much? Tenfold, no….. more. He is the only one that can defeat Mithos. Listen Sheena, He must do this. He must. I know how he feels."

"O-Okay" Sheena stuttered. The swordsman glared into Mithos pitiful soul, rounded his avenging feelings and then charged. Mithos did as well, and charged. The swordsman blocked Mithos' first punch, then second, third, seventh. Mithos fell another punch when the swordsman grabbed it. He twisted Mithos' arm but Mithos flipped over his own body and vaulted his legs off of the swordsman's chest. They both fell from each other and down to the ground. Mithos landed but he caught no vision of the swordsman. He then felt a faint breath directly behind him, but before he could turn his eyes a striking chop made contact with Mithos' neck. Mithos stumbled forward but quickly held his footing. He turned and ensnared the swordsman's fists with his palms. Mithos then boldly kneed the hero upward the chest. He fell to the ground but only to his knees. He then jolted backwards away from his villain.

"NO!" Sheena yelled

"I told you to stay back Sheena." The swordsman replied.

"But…" Then she stopped speaking. She knew it was useless. She knew Regal was right and that He must do this. She felt this to be very unpleasant since she could not stand to see him being hurt. It was hard for her not to hold back. The swordsman could not understand this, and felt a little confusion. However, he too had strong feelings for the beautiful woman and that is why he must do this alone. He held his fighting stance and waited for Mithos' next attack. But he couldn't hold his patience so he charged once more, fist ready. Mithos blocked the attack with his crossed arms and pushed the swordsman backward.

"Hold! How long do you think you can keep this going? Hm?" Mithos asked

"Why?" The swordsman wondered.

"Because I want some good fun before I rid of you." Mithos laughed. The swordsman fixed the positioning of his feet, when Mithos leaped into the air holding his high scream "BLOCK THIS!!" And the swordsman did so. Mithos landed, both the fighter's backs facing each other.

"Impressive. Most impressive….. Master Lloyd."