Laura: We'd like to thank Elonie Kyle, Vampwriter, Riku Uchiha, Twlight Angels, Shadow Zeranion, Silver and White Angels, WingedWithFiaryMana, Laur3 Sincl4ir, and Rushingriver for reviewing. We love the reviews!
Yuan: Hay, where's Lea? We're about to start.
Mithos: She's still crying over her busted computer! HAHAHA!
Lea: Shut up brat! My brother-in-law is looking at it. He said he may not be able to fix it. I need a new computer!
Lloyd: It's ok, Lea. Hopefully you'll get a new one soon.
Lea: My birthday and Christmas have already passed, and there's no way I can afford a good one.
Lloyd: Ouch!
Lea: Yeah. It sucks!
Kratos: What's wrong with it?
Lea: The C-disk, Memory chip, and sound card are all fried.
Kratos: Man. That sucks…
Lea: Yeah… Yuan threw a shockwave at it, hoping to fix it.
Yuan: I said I'm sorry. I thought it would help!
Lea: … Ok, I had a few questions about the name change and a suggestion to make the chapters longer. So yeah. This took me a while cause I still don't have a computer. Normally this would only take a day. Anyway, spotlight to my buddy Kratos!
Kratos:… buddy?
Lea: Just do it.
Kratos: Lea dose not own Tales of Symphonia, but she dose own Laura.
Lea: Ok! Now on with the plot!
Lloyd and the group rushed into the sky on the Rheairds "Wahoo!" Lloyd yelled, rushing off. Lights flashed and they were suddenly over the skies of Tethe'alla. Lloyd had been stressed more then usual, but the ride made it seem to melt away. He was tired of being ignorant, he was tired of betrayal, and he was tired of not knowing what was going on. He hated Yuan for treating Raine, Sheena, Collette, and himself like dirt before they left. Raine was quiet and completely heartbroken. Suddenly the Rheairds smooth ride was staggering.
"What's going on?" Genis asked.
"The mana reversal has left us with no mana!" Sheena yelled.
"Meaning?" Lloyd said scared.
"Were going to fall!" Raine, Genis, and Sheena yelled. Luckily the group was able to maneuver the Rheairds over a large mountain. The group was upset about the damage, but luckily was able to navigate to the nearest 'city' thanks to Sheena. The sun was starting to set when they arrived at the gates. Upon entering, Sheena stopped.
"Hay guys, you'll have to go on without me." She stuttered.
"Really? Why?" Lloyd asked.
"Well, because I have to report to my leader. Anyway, this is the capital of Tethe'alla, Meltokio. Give this to the king, and you'll be good to go." She smiles, handing Lloyd a note. "I'll catch up with you later." She called, running off. The group stared and headed in. They were absolutely amazed by Tethe'alla. All of the sudden, Collette started acting weird.
"What's wrong with Collette?" Genis asked. A dog happened to walk by, and she quickly kicked it. and returned to her void state.
"You know, I keep forgetting she's like that." Lloyd sighed. "I guess it's because I'm used to her… Don't worry. I swear I'll find a cure." The group looked at the sky, and it was getting darker.
"Lloyd, we better turn in. Well visit the king tomorrow." Raine insisted. "We're all tired, and it's been a long day.
"Yeah." Lloyd sighed, dragging Collette behind him. After a few minutes of searching, they found an inn. They barely had enough Tethe'alla-en money from the monsters to buy a room, but they managed.
--------------------------------
Laura woke up in a room in the clouds. She was sprawled on a large white featherbed and covered in a beautifully decorated cotton blanket. She jumped up and saw that she had been washed and wearing a clean white robe. Her hair was still damp and draped over her shoulders, her legs shaved and soft, her fingertips were pruned, and she smelled like fresh roses. She blushed at the thought that someone gave her a bath. Then she flushed even more when she thought Kratos might have done it.
After snapping out of the thought, she looked around the room. On the wall hung a horribly done portrait of Kratos. It annoyed her. She got up and took a look around, but did not dare to look out of the window. She told herself that there was no point, because she already knew where she was. The room was huge. It had thousands of books piled on bookshelves, furniture fit for a wealthy king, silver and blue tapestries, ecstatic brilliantly colored rugs, and a large cherry wood desk with a matching hover-chair. Laura would have run over and jumped into the chair, but she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, realizing she was still in a plain white robe.
She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment, then felt unfit for the room dressed in that plain robe. She ran over to the dresser, where her clothes were neatly stacked. She picked them up, but shook her head no. She didn't want to wear them. She grabbed her underwear and searched through the doors, but found pocket watches and men's jewelry, but no cloths. She sighed and ran over to the closet. She opened it up and found Kratos's purple suit he wore most of the journey. She sighed and pushed it the side and examined his other clothes. She liked most of them, so out of humor, she started trying them on.
She decided to start with the purple one. She slipped off the white robe, put on her underwear, and slipped into it. She remembered how perfect and tight in the chest it looked on him, but it made her look like she was wearing a purple jumpsuit three sizes too big. Then she tried on several Cruxis outfits made of the finest metals and threads, yet they were all so big on her. It made her laugh, until she tripped on one and nearly fell on her face. She then put it back and found a beautiful blue velvet shirt.
She pulled it out and slipped it on over her head, but it was still too big! Irritated, she took one of his belts and wrapped it around her waist to make it a tunic. Even so, the sleeves were too long and her shoulders could fit through his collar. She tried to make it sit strait, but the collar always slopped over and exposed one of her shoulders. Finally she gave up. She pulled out the matching pants, but they fit even worse even with a belt. She sighed and put them back in the closet. Then she remembered her black shorts with her other outfit. Excited, she ran over and put them on. It looked great! She looked in the mirror again, and nodded in satisfaction, even though the shirt was 5 sizes too big.
She rolled up the sleeves and walked over to the jewelry filled dresser. After looking through everything, she decided it would be in her best interest not to mess with anything else. She quickly cleaned up and put her robe under her jacket. Now with satisfaction, she ran and jumped on the hover-chair. She spun around in it then scooted up to the desk. She then took out a sheet of paper out of the desk and gold pen and started doodling. She started with flowers and feathers and other odd shapes. After 10 minutes, she pulled out another sheet of paper to draw a better portrait of Kratos.
Laura tried to draw Kratos for a half an hour, but every time, she would get frustrated that she made a mistake, balled it up, and threw it across the room. After her 20th attempt, she deeply sighed, put the gold pen down, and picked up all the balled up pieces of paper she threw. She experimented folding them for a little bit, and started turning them all into paper cranes. When she finished, she started drawing again, but stopped when she was done with the frame and a little shading. She put the halfway finished portrait on top of the stack of paper, and stuffed all the paper cranes on top. Then she looked around again.
"I'm so bored… What could anyone stuck in this place for over a thousand years possibly do? Stare at the wall?" Laura sighed. She stared at the ceiling for a little bit, then growled in frustration. "AGG! GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO!" She yelled, and then sighed. "I doubt anyone can hear me…" She got up and headed to the door. To her surprise, it wasn't locked. "Wow, there are three possibilities for doing that. Either they have a lot of guts, are thoughtless, or they're just plain stupid." I sighed, walking out. Across the hall on the floor and spotted her bag and diamond sword.
"Ok… they were stupid and had the guts to take my things. Then they were thoughtless and left it in the hall… Smart, morons, smart. I never thought it would be all three…" I sighed, and attached the sword to the belt. It was higher then I was used to, but the point that I was carrying it around was all that mattered. I opened my bag and sighed. "Those idiots went through my things!" She snapped and suddenly flushed red when she realized all of her underwear was missing. "What the hell!"
She threw the bag into the room, making it hit the far wall, and stomped off. "Someone has a death wish, and they caught me on the wrong day!" She growled. Suddenly, she heard laughing down the hall. She sneaked down the hall as quiet as she could, remembering their angel senses, and slowly opened the door.
"She's going to kill you for this, you know." Kratos sighed, sitting arms folded in a small leather chair. He was wearing a pair of blue pajamas, as were Mithos in green and Yuan in a light gray.
"Lighten up!" Yuan smiled, picking up a bra with sunflowers on it. "Wow! I wonder why girls always have decorated undergarments."
"You poor 4,000 year old virgin." Mithos laughed. Kratos turned red.
"Did Anna wear stuff like this?" Yuan asked.
"No… hers had teddy bears." He admitted, placing one hand over his forehead (like in the z-skits on the game), redder then a tomato. Mithos picked up a pair of panties with bunnies and nearly fell over laughing.
"Wait! I got a better idea, Mithos." Yuan said, grabbing it and sticking it on Kratos' head. "Lighten up! She's probably sleeping, so we can just get them washed before she wakes up! She'll never know!" Kratos pulled it off of his head, frustrated, and was about to throw it to the floor when he took another look at the bunny decorations and stuck it on the nearby table, covering his eyes.
"It's nothing you should be embarrassed about, Kratos. I mean seriously." Mithos said.
"Is that because you're bi?" Kratos snapped.
"Yep! It shows I am the king and I can do whatever I want. Girls tend to be to light and fluffy anyway. Men are harder." He smiled. Kratos gave a disgusted look, and Yuan just looked confused.
"What are you talking about? Kissing?" Yuan asked bluntly.
"No. I should show you some time!" Mithos smiled.
"But then we would loose our 4,000 year old virgin. And don't even think about demonstrating on me. I've only done it once with Anna." Kratos reasoned with a death glare on his face.
"True enough. Man Yuan, you really should get a girlfriend." Mithos laughed.
"Oh, didn't I tell you? Kratos hooked me up with a smart hot half-elf chick. Her name is Raine." Yuan said google eyed. Mithos gave Kratos a sharp glance.
"It was a joke. You two made a bet on weather I would fall in love with her or not, so I made a bet with Yuan. By the way, Yuan, you owe me 20,000 gald." He said still serious in the face.
"Damn. I thought you forgot." Yuan sighed, handing him a bag of 20,000 gald.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not as blunt as you." Kratos replied.
"I'm not blunt, I'm forgetful." He replied, sounding a little hurt.
"Kratos, your so cute when your angry!" Mithos smiled. By this point, Kratos just ignored him. Mithos was determined to get to him. He picked up star underwear and put them on Kratos's head saying, "So did you buy her these so you could still stare at the stars in the middle of the night?" Mithos jested. Kratos gave an angry glance, but didn't take them off his head, not wanting to get Mithos upset. Yuan laughed.
"By the way, Yuan, where did you hide her stuff?" Mithos asked.
"Hide? I just left it out the door." He laughed. Kratos and Mithos gave him a stare of horror. "Was that bad?" Yuan asked, and then they saw Laura staring at the door with shock. She didn't know weather she should burst out laughing, or get really mad and blow the whole room apart. She suddenly looked at Kratos expression of horror with the underwear on his head, and she burst out laughing. The three looked at each other confused and walked over to her.
"This was unexpected." Yuan said slightly shocked. The other two nodded in agreement. Laura grabbed Yuan's neck, gasped, and holding in her laughter said,
"Yuan, I'm going to kill you!"
"Mira, I mean Lyn, I mean Laura! Let me explain." Yuan said stuttering over his words, with his face as red as Kratos's hair with embarrassment and air loss. Laura took the star underwear off of Kratos's and replied with irritation and authority.
"Start explaining."
"Look." Mithos sighed. "After we came back, we had to make sure you weren't armed. I made Kratos strip you and give you a bath because you stank and were all sweaty. I offered to do it myself but he wouldn't have it. Then Yuan came in late when Kratos just finished, and we made him go through your things to, you know, examine any hidden information and take away all your weapons. Well, he didn't know what your underwear was. So we explained it to him. So, we told him to hide your sword and give your clothes to the angels to be washed. Well, he got in his PJs, but forgot to hide the sword and carried all of your underwear in here. We asked him what he was doing, and he said he wanted to take a better look at them before he got them washed."
"Uh huh…" She replied, pulling out her sword and putting it to the scared Yuan's thought.
"That's enough Lyn, I mean Laura!" Kratos said, grabbing her arm with the sword in it.
"Wait, isn't that the shirt I gave Kratos for Christmas a long time ago?" Mithos asked. Lyn suddenly dropped her sword and Yuan from shock. Kratos's jaw dropped. "It is!" Mithos yelled, bursting out laughing. Laura was red with embarrassment, then started chanting a spell.
"Stop that!" Kratos said, pulling her. She pulled the opposite direction and ended up flying strait at him. She fell into his arms, almost sending him flying backwards. He stared at her and asked.
"So… What's your explanation?" Kratos asked. Laura got out of his grasp and started rubbing her wrist. Then she sighed.
"I didn't want to wear my other clothes, so I went looking for something else to wear, and I found it. Then it was too big, so I took one of the half a million belts that happened to be there and stuck my shorts under it. Girls are picky with their clothing." She admitted, folding her arms and face starting to turn back to its normal pale hue.
"Did you try on anything else?" Yuan asked. Lyn didn't move but started to turn red again.
"I take that as a yes!" Mithos laughed.
"Shut up brat!" Laura yelled. Mithos shifted into his adult form.
"Kratos, Yuan, don't interfere." He replied coldly. Then he turned to Laura, grabbed her chest, and rammed her into the wall. The air was knocked out of her lungs, and she was struggling to breath. "I've gotten stronger, teacher, and I have long surpassed you. The only reason why you're not dead at the moment is because I want you to tell me how to bring my sister back." Mithos said, grabbing her wrist and pinning her to the wall, then stuck his other hand under her chin. "I'd be very careful if I were you, teacher." He smiled, kissing her neck. He then let her go and walked off in disgust, yelling, "Kratos, clean her up; otherwise I'll lock you up again and use you for target practice. Yuan, leave before I get bored and rape you."
Kratos and Yuan stared at each other. "I'll help you." Yuan sighed.
"Don't." Kratos replied, sweeping Laura up in his arms. Laura didn't even look at him. She just stared at his chest, breathing heavily
"You don't understand. I'll help you." Yuan said, sharpening his eyes. Kratos said nothing, but just nodded and walked to his room. Kratos set Laura on the bed and sighed.
"Kratos, I'm done with acting. You can't be on both sides anymore. It's too late for that. Think about it, is Mithos worth that much?"
"I still believe that he will set things strait after Martel comes back." Kratos replied.
"Bullshit! Kratos, I'm no idiot, no matter what the innocent acts I pull. Mithos took everything away from you. Your wife is dead, your son thinks you betrayed him, and Mira's hurt."
"It's Laura now."
"Whatever. She only used that as a distraction so she could get into a fight with Mithos and let the group escape with the chosen. That much was obvious.
"It's true," I replied, sitting up. "But I still want to be called Laura if you don't mind. It was the first name at the top of my head, but I think I'm starting to like it."
"It's not like letting them excape will matter that much anyway. There's nothing they can do to save the chosen." Kratos replied folding his arms. "In the end, we're still at Mithos's mercy."
"He can't kill you Kratos. You're his power. If you die, Origen's seal breaks and everything collapses. And besides, there's something else you should know. Lloyd and the group are in Tethe'alla." Yuan replied. "Think about it." Kratos sighed and walked over to his desk and sat down in his chair. Laura ended up falling asleep and Yuan started looking through Kratos's books.
"Are these all of Mira's books?" Yuan asked.
"Most of them, yes. I have her complete collection or copies of them. Well, all except one." Kratos sighed.
"The Book of Mana?" Yuan asked.
"Yes... Wait. Actually, it's in my bag. I took it so miss troublemaker wouldn't get her hands on it." Kratos replied.
"You mean she hasn't actually opened it?" Yuan said in shock.
"Yeah. She seemed to gain most of her memories at Balacruf Mausoleum. I assumed there was no point after that. I mean she went through the angelic processes and all of the exphere things."
"Um… Kratos, I taught her while you were gone with the group. Kratos, I think she only remembered memories of her childhood, not all of it. She did seemed pretty shocked at the Tower of Salvation, but it didn't seem to matter as much to her." Yuan replied.
"Then what of the bio-synthesis atom regeneration?" Kratos asked. "Knowing her, she probably said that so Mithos wouldn't kill her."
"Hm… Maybe. I don't know. But then again…" Yuan stopped.
"What?" Kratos asked. "Do you think that there really is another way to bring Martel back?"
"Yes… Though it's not possible for the mana to tell her with Mithos there. Kratos, do you think that it's possible that Mira didn't know about it?"
"What?" Kratos asked off guard.
"Kratos, you're the closest one to her. Do you think that maybe Lyn came up with the process, not Mira? Think about it. I don't think Mira would have come up with the idea besides already learned healing methods that she taught Mithos and Martel. She wouldn't have kept it a secrete from you either. My thought is that she researched magics, summonings, and things required for the upcoming war. Lyn, was different though. She wasn't as strong, and wanted to help you in some way, didn't she? She felt useless with a sword, though she had talent from Mira." Yuan said.
"The unicorn horn…" Kratos suddenly remembered.
"What?" Yuan asked.
"I remember now. She gave it to Raine. I asked Raine about it in the Tower of Mana. Lyn told her to study it. Perhaps she was trying to get Raine to discover the secrete." Kratos muttered.
"Hm… That means that all of those things she learned, not remembered for the most part. The only thing she should have remembered was about summon spirits. If all of that power and knowledge were still locked in that book, then what would happen if it were released? Lyn stood no chance for Mithos, and neither can Mira on her own, but what if those two finally combined into one?"
"And what gave you this idea?" Kratos asked flatly.
"Laura starts with 'L' from Lyn and ends with 'ra' from Mira." Yuan replied a little embarrised. Kratos remained silent and just gave him a glare. "What?" Yuan asked. "I still think it's true. You even mentioned the horn and everything!"
"Yuan… sometimes I worry about you." Kratos sighed.
"Ok, just because my thoughts are triggered from odd details doesn't mean their stupid ideas. Think about it Kratos." Yuan said irritated and left for his base. Kratos stared off into space for a moment. He finally sighed and pulled out the small red book. As he looked at it, he sighed.
"Good. He's gone. I have to make a decision. Here and now. Should I follow Lloyd and Yuan by giving her the book, or should I follow Mithos's orders and keep it safe?" Suddenly he remembered her words when she saw them in the forest right outside Luin. (In chapter 14 if you still don't know what I'm talking about). Her voice ran through his ears, "Why won't you let me help you? Mithos can't touch me."
"I believed you. But now I know he can, and I can't protect you." he sighed taking a second look at the book. "but I would be a fool to be the one that holds you back. If I give you the book, you will be strong enough. Mira… please don't leave me again…" He set the book on the table and reached into his desk to pull out a sheet of paper to write a note. There he saw the picture Laura drew. He set it on his desk, took out another sheet, and wrote a note. As he predicted, an angel came and summoned him. He set the note on top of the Book of Mana, and left.
Not to long after he left, a sharp pain ran through Laura's head. She could feel the vibrations from mana along the walls, and knew Mithos was 'punishing' Kratos for something. It made her quiver. She wanted to go search for him, but suddenly she stopped. It was almost as if instinct took control. She instantly saw the note and book. She was drawn by it, with her eyes wide open. She walk over and picked up the note. It read… (you might want to read chapter 1 and 15 if you don't know what I'm talking about)
My dear Laura,
I'm sorry I could not introduce you to the Saraphim you fell in love with. I managed to take the book from him, and I'm going to pay for it dearly. Even so, I love you so dearly now, more then the black heart of that man you loved. I only wish that I could see you as you open it. I will leave the front gate open with a rheaird. Lloyd and the group are in the capital of Tethe'alla. I will catch up to you when I can. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you, but now I have made my choice, and I choose you. Please don't scold me for being sacrificial, I deserve it. You and Lloyd are my hope and strength. I won't fall so easily. Until then, Goodbye…
Kratos Aurion
"You… idiot. I love you too! Heh, the temptation will be hard, but I'll wait until your there to see me open it." Laura sighed with tears rolling down her cheeks. She whipped them away, and realized her bags were missing. She didn't care though. She ran out and headed for the entrance (by luck).When she saw the rheaird, she also found her sword, bags filled with her clean clothes, the rest of her junk, a map, a bag of Tethe'alla-en money (approximately 1,000,000) and her exsphere pendent. She didn't even realize it was missing. She put it on, and slid her sword in her belt. Then she double checked the bags in the back compartment of the rheaird and took off.
Laura didn't know how to fly a rheaird, but she learned quickly. She thanked the heavens that it was fuel efficient and only absorbed a little of her access mana that she was giving off. She stopped occasionally to look at the map, and made it to Meltokio. Not knowing what to do with the Rheaird, she stumbled across an EC pack (elemental cargo pack). On it was a note left by Kratos saying, 'push the button and the Rheaird goes in this. Push it again, and it comes out.' Curious, she pushed the button and the Rheard shrunk and disappeared into the pack. She took the Rheaird back out, took out her bags, put the Rheaird back in the pack, and headed into the city.
It was about 11:30 at night when she walked in, so she wasn't about to get a hotel room. Upset, she pulled out her wings and flew to the castle. She snuck into an open window and walked around. No one was awake in the dark palace. She, again by luck, ended up in the crimson room. She folded her wings into her back, and fell asleep on the couch, exhausted.
Lea: I was soooo tempted to end this with a cliffhanger, but I was nice and added on. Don't you love me?
Mithos: No. –Mithos get's hit by indignation judgement-
Lea: Ha! In your face!
Mithos: HOW DID YOU!
Lea: I got the Tales Characters to give me private lessons. You'll be amazed. I give Genis and Raine books, Regal gets to use the kitchen, Lloyd and Collette get candy, Sheena gets to play with my ninja weapons and I make her cake too, and I give Zelos my sisters old swimsuit magazines.
Mithos: Wow… that sounds almost too easy. But you'd never get Kratos or Yuan to give…
Lea: Actually, I tell them the time they spend with me is time away from you, and I usually take them out for dinner afterwards. Yuan likes tacos but Kratos tends to like more expensive things like Italian restaurants and Steak places.
Mithos: How do you pay for it?
Lea: I got a job at a flouriest shop.
Mithos: And you can't buy a computer?
Lea: Nope! I get minimum wage and I just started last month.
Mithos: Ouch… Working sucks.
Lea: You can say that again. Anyway, thank you for reading! Please review! We get lonely! And yes I do take suggestions!
Mithos: Yeah… she dose…