Laura: We'd like to thank Elonie Kyle, Vampwriter, Riku Uchiha, Twlight Angels, Shadow Zeranion, Silver and White Angels, WingedWithFiaryMana, Laur3 Sincl4ir, Rushingriver, and NightmareSyndrom for reviewing. We love reviews!
Lea: Ok, because I was extremely lucky, I was able to type this up last night on my parents computer. I said I was doing my 2 page report on Silent Spring–bleh!-
Lloyd: Yes. This is how much she loves her fans! Seriously!
Lea: Aww! Thank you Lloyd.
Zelos: Hello! The star of the show has arrived!
Kratos: Oh no. Please not him!
Zelos: Yes! It's me, handsome! Hello my New Hot Super Beauty! Need more training? I want more swimsuit magazines. –heart eyes-
Lea: Not at the moment. Anyway, tonight Kratos is giving me flying lessons. –pulls out rainbow wings-
Zelos: Where did you get those?
Lea: I made an exphere. Maybe you don't understand the fact that I'm the author and Laura. Laura is part of me cause I made her up. Anyway, can you do the disclaimer?
Zelos: Um... sure... Lea, the Hot Super Beauty dose not own Tales of Symphonia, but she dose own Laura! That or is Laura! Ack, I'm so confused now.
Lea: It's ok. That will do.
Laura had another weird dream that night. She was on a strange island at night with a strange smell that seemed almost tangible, but she did not recognize it. She felt so alone and empty, but she didn't know why. The room she was in had large open windows with a balcony, and the furniture was almost fluorescent. She would have been amazed and in wonder at the sight, but she felt so empty. Something was missing. She got up and looked out one of the wide open windows in the dream, and suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Surprised, she jolted and woke up.
She took a few deep breaths and found that she was surrounded by several guards and a large brown headed man with a mustache in fancy clothes was talking to them. He told them to tie her up and throw her in the basement. Disgusted, she jumped up and one of the guards grabbed her. She kicked him in the guts, slamming him into the nearby wall, but another grabbed her opposite shoulder. She instantly pulled out her wing, throwing him from the sudden jolt of power in her aura. The man with the mustache looked in shock. Laura quickly grabbed her things, flattened one hand like a blade and placed it at her shoulder. Then she flung it the other side like a blade, causing the still air to go wild, giving her an opportunity to make her escape.
She jumped out the window and landed on the roof of a nearby building. She double checked all of her things to make sure she had everything. She then flung her bags over her back and started searching for Lloyd.
Lloyd woke up early that morning. Something didn't feel right about the world. It felt so corrupt and cramped within the atmosphere of the large city. He muttered to himself, "Palmacosta wasn't nearly this bad. I don't think I like Tethe'alla as much." He sighed.
"What's wrong Lloyd?" Genis asked.
"Nothing. It's just a feeling." He muttered.
"Yeah. I feel it to. I think the mana here is starting to make me congested. It's so... so..." The boy stuttered, looking for a word.
"Thick?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah. I guess I'll have to get used to it for now. I really want to cast a large spell and just clear out all of the compacted mana here. It's getting on my nerves."
"Yeah. Me to... Is the Professor up?" Lloyd asked.
"No. Wanna stick her hands in ice water?" Genis asked.
"Nah. I'm not really feeling it today. I feel rather moody actually." Lloyd replied, standing up and grabbing Collette's hand. Lloyd was the only one that could touch Collette without her attacking. Lloyd then walked Collette out, saying "Get the Professor up. I'm going to take her outside for a bit. I need the fresh air." Genis woke up his sister and stared at the door. Genis felt bad about Lloyd loosing both Collette and Kratos. Laura didn't cross Genis's mind.
"Lloyd..." The boy muttered, "This really isn't like you. You seem so different and distant. Is it because you know more and understand this world better? Is it because your confused? Is it because Collette lost her soul and Kratos betrayed you? Or is it... is it them all? It seems like your so different, and I almost wish we never went on this journey!"
"Genis!" Raine shouted, then sighed, "Genis. I think Lloyd is starting to go through some difficult times. Like you and I, he's grown up under his difficult lifestyle and gotten used to it, but unlike us, he's lost all he's ever had. We have nothing to loose but each other because that's how we grew up. He had no parents, lost his home because he was banished from Isalia, lost one of his best friends, and lost someone he loved as a father. It's almost as if you lost me." Raine sighed. "Would you know what to do?"
"No. I really wouldn't." Genis sighed.
"Then we must stand by Lloyd and be there for him. Show him that he still has something to hold on to." Raine looked at her feet, then grabbed her things. Genis looked at his sister, grabbed the rest of their stuff in the room, and left. Lloyd was sitting on a bench next to Collette, rubbing her frozen hands. He suddenly saw the Sage siblings and smiled.
"We have to deliver the letter today! And who knows, they might be able to cure her!" Lloyd said with a big smile. "I can't wait to see her smile again. And then we can meet up with Sheena and see if we can come up with a plan to save the two worlds."
"That's the plan." Raine replied.
"You know, when the worlds get reunited, I want to ask Kratos to come back. Then I want to build a big house where we can all live together as one big family. Wouldn't that be great?"
"Yes, that would be." Raine smiled, "Is that your dream?" She asked.
"Yes. It's my new dream. That's what I'm looking forward to after everything gets straightened out. Where else would we go anyway? We can't go back to Aselia." Lloyd smiled. Raine and Genis looked at each other sadly. "What's wrong? Let's go to the king already!" He smiled, grabbing Collette's wrist and leading her up the steps. The Sages following. Genis whispered to his sister,
"Raine, I think he's getting delusional. It must hurt a lot. Do you think there's actually a cure?"
"Not likely, but our best bet is here. Besides, do you really want to tell him that?" She asked.
"No. Your right." Genis sighed. Suddenly, Collette started acting funny again, and kept walking even though Lloyd stopped.
"Collette?" Lloyd muttered. Suddenly Lloyd saw someone with long pink hair heading her way. "Collette! Stop!" Lloyd yelled, grabbing her wrist again, but it was too late. she walked into them, knocking him to the ground.
"Who are you?" One of the girls yelled. Lloyd helped Collette up and then the pink hair pink outfit person right beside her. When he got a good look at his face, he realized the pink haired person was a man.
"What the?" Lloyd muttered, a little taken back. "Sorry about that, sir. My friend here is…" He started but was cut off.
"You mean this rude girl? How dare she touch the Master Zelos."
"Look, she's in an angel costume and it's not even Holloween yet."
"Now, now, settle down my darling honeys." The man named Zelos said. Then he turned around and faced Collette. "Hay there my little cool beauty. Are you hurt?" He asked.
"She can't talk, and she's fine." Lloyd replied. "I wouldn't touch her either." He admitted. The Zelos looked at Lloyds sad expression confused. Then he turned to Collette and said,
"You know, I bet your as cute as a button when you smile." He said, smiling. Then he pinched her cheek, but she grabbed him and flung him into a nearby wall. "Whoa!" Zelos cried. Laura heard the noise and detected Collette and Lloyd's mana. She jumped from the roof top to roof top without her wings, spotted the group and jumped down.
"Lloyd! Collette! Raine! Genis!" She yelled, decending from the sky with great speed. She landed gracefully on the ground in front of Zelos. "Who is your new friend, Lloyd?" She asked.
"His name is Lloyd?" Zelos asked. He then gave Laura a weird expression. "That shirt is rather big for you. Do you need me to lend you some clothes?"
"Nah. I just had an early wake up call. That's all." Laura replied with a smile.
"Wake up call? You slut!" One girl snapped.
"No, actually, I didn't sleep with anyone. Never have. You, on the other hand, have had affairs with five nobles and cheated on your present boyfriend six times." Laura smiled sweetly. "And if my clothes bother you that much, then I'll change." Everyone looked at her with shock. She ignored them.
She pulled out her jacket, top, boots she got in Palmacosta with the money Yuan gave her (way back in chapter 2), clean underwear, a white tank top with a gold pentagram in the front and black celtic signs on the back, mana bracelets she took from Mithos (She made them for him when she was Mira), and the rainbow ribbon. The wind circled around her and she was instantly in them, with the rainbow ribbon acting as a sash for her diamond sword. She decided it was to hot for the jacket, and put it away with the other clothes she was wearing (except the shorts she was still wearing). Her exphere hung down covering the pentagram, and Zelos had a fixed eye on it.
"Wow, is that the outfit from Asgard?" Lloyd asked.
"For the most part. I made some modifications. I didn't like the blouse, and I was bare foot. That and I added the bracelets and have a new use for the ribbon." She smiled.
"That's great!" Lloyd smiled.
"Who is this?" Zelos asked.
"This is Mira, but we call her Lyn." Lloyd replied.
"Actually it's Laura. Long story and to many names. Just Laura." She replied.
"How can you get her name wrong?" Zelos asked Lloyd. "She's hot!" Laura flushed, feeling defiled. Lloyd scratched his head a little embarrassed for forgetting. "Awe, don't get like that, smile honey!" Zelos smiled.
"Honey?" Lloyd asked.
"Yes, that's your new nickname. Now putting aside Honey and the hot Miss Mira."
"It's Laura!" Laura said disgusted.
"This is Collette right? Don't worry, I'm not touching her again. So who is this mysterious white haired babe?" He asked.
"Give me your name and I shall give you mine." Raine sneered.
"You copied Lloyd." Genis muttered.
"You know, hearing it from someone else, it dose sound conceited." Lloyd admitted.
"The name is Zelos, beautiful.
"Zelos called them beautiful and hot? No way!" One girl shrieked.
"Now, now, settle down. I'm just making some new friends. I'll attend to your every whim in a moment." Zelos muttered.
"What an ass." Genis muttered.
"You know, your being an annoying brat, you know that?"
"The names Genis."
"Genis, right. I'll remember that. So it's Honey, Brat, Raine the untra cool beauty, Collette my little angel, and the hot Mistress Laura. That seems about right. Well anyway, I must be off." Zelos smiled.
"Really? That's to bad. I'm sure Lloyd is busy looking for a cure for Collette, but I've got nothing to do. Need me to tell your friends fortunes? I'm an excellent soothsayer." Laura said slyly.
"We're actually heading for the palace. The kings sick and won't accept any other visiter except me, so yeah. Actually, if you're a soothsayer, they may need you to search for a cure. I'll show you the way."
"Thanks." Laura smiled. Lloyd looked in horror, but Laura gave Lloyd a nod, showing she had something up her sleeve. Laura, Zelos, and the other angry women he had with him left. Raine, Genis, and Lloyd looked at each other.
"What now?" Genis asked.
"Oh no! I still have Sheena's letter." Lloyd gasped.
"Well, the king won't except visitors." Raine sighed.
"Lets go in anyway." Lloyd smiled, running up the steps with Collette. Raine and Genis didn't have enough time to protest. Suddenly Raine, who was falling behind, spotted Yuan walking into a coffee shop. In disbelief, she looked back towards Lloyd, but lost track of him. Then she looked at the shop again, found a small amount of Tethe'alla-en money in her pocket, and walked it. She looked at the menu and realized she had plenty of money for tea and a few crumpets. After paying and sitting at a table, she looked for Yuan and realized he was sitting on the table behind her, facing the opposite way.
Raine didn't know what to do. She wanted to talk to him, but she remembered the last time she saw him. The waitress gave Raine her tea and small plate of crumpets and she thought…
At the Renegade base, Yuan explained to her and her brother what was going on. Lloyd was still unconsous at the time. Yuan didn't want Collette anymore, even though he admitted it was his plan to kill her. He also told Raine he wasn't a Professor who loved ruins like she thought, but a noble in charge of the Renegades who made a bet that he could get a girlfriend. Raine was speechless then. She couldn't believe it. Raine's mind suddenly came to the present, and she stared into her cup. She took a sip of the tea and set it down on the plate. Suddenly she looked up and there he was, in front of her.
"Yu… Yuan?" She stuttered.
"I hope this seat's not taken." he smiled. Raine shook her head no, and looked at him again.
"So where's the group?" Yuan asked.
"I lost track of them again." Raine admitted.
"That's all right." Yuan replied. "I'll help you find them."
"Yuan!... Tell me the truth. Please." Raine sighed. Yuan looked up at her a little shocked, sighed, and started explaining.
"Ok, but this is just between us. I was once a half-elf, just like you. 4,000 years ago, at the Ancient war, we were ostracized and I had no choice but to become a thief. Things were horrible. Sylverant and Tethe'alla became the two major countries and took down any other kingdoms. That's when I met them… Kratos was the prince of the Silver Plains, here known as Flanoir. Yggdrasil was also there, but he was younger then. He went through worse then I. Then we met Mira. She was really something. Kratos knew her from a long time ago, and apparently she was the Wind Princess."
"Then what happened." Raine asked.
"She taught us all she knew, then she died. Someone else dear to Yggdrasil died as well, and he went on a rampage. He used the pact Kratos had with Origin to gain power. You see, Mira had created Origin for Kratos, and wouldn't let Mith... I mean Yggdrasil have him. She somehow knew this would happen and made Origin as hope, but it turned out quite the opposite.
"I… see." Raine stuttered.
"Most of the ruins and whatnot were like my homes and my era, if you know what I mean. My only friend during that time was Kratos. He was broken up pretty bad, and it was to the point where we couldn't take it. Kratos ran away and I started the Renegades. After Kratos was retrieved, he was severely punished but not killed. If Kratos dies, the pact with Origin breaks and everything will fall apart. Then again, releasing Origin's seal would also cost his life. I've been looking for another way around it."
"So what of Laura. Is she really…"
"Mira? Yes. I'm glad I stumbled across her." Yuan replied.
"Why's that?" She asked.
"Because she created the summon spirits. She is above the pact. Some of the pacts aren't quite broken yet, but she can nullify them and establish the pact with someone else."
"Sheena!" Raine suddenly remembered.
"What?" Yuan asked confused.
"Sheena can summon. She nullified the pact with for Undine so she could get out of the water seal."
"I see. That's good... Laura can also do other important things. Raine, were you given a unicorn horn?" Yuan asked.
"Yes. Kratos gave me a healing book to learn from. It's old text from an ancient healer." She explained, pulling out the book. Yuan flipped through the pages, but couldn't find anything about bio-synthesis atom regeneration. He sighed and handed back to her.
"Hm... you seem to have talent as a healer. You should practice, and who knows, you may find a new healing technique." he smiled. Raine smiled back.
"I best be going though. I don't want them to wonder off to long." Raine sighed.
"Then I shall take you back" Yuan offered. Yuan led her out of the shop, and headed toward the castle.
"Lloyd! Wait up!" Genis cried. "I think we lost Raine." He sighed.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I'm sure she'll find us eventually. The castle's not that hard to miss." Lloyd replied.
"Yeah. I guess so." Genis sighed. The three walked up to the door, but the guards wouldn't let them pass. They said they were waiting for the sacrificial wood, and that's the only thing aloud to pass. Irritated, they headed for the church next door. Genis suddenly stopped, looking at a small, pink pigtail haired little girl his age. Behind her, she was dragging a large piece of wood.
"That's the sacrificial wood?" Lloyd asked confused. "Um... what is your name?" Lloyd asked. The girl replied monotonously
"Presea."
"Ok, Presea, could we help you carry the wood?" Lloyd asked. Presea just gave him a blank expression. She turned around and started dragging the wood again. Lloyd started begging the axe-woman, and she finally stopped, took a step and said,
"Please carry that." She did not move an inch. Lloyd walked over and tried to pick up the wood, but it was too heavy.
"Woah. How do you carry this?" He asked. Presea just turned around, grabbed the wood, and proceeded to the castle slowly. Raine suddenly spotted Lloyd and muttered to Yuan, "There he is. It would be best if he didn't see you, though. Yuan nodded and said, "I realized that your group is short on this world's money. Here." He said, handing her a bag of money.
"You don't have to do this Yuan." Raine replied.
"I know." Yuan said, slightly blushing. "But I am anyway." Raine leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, saying
"Thank you." He turned red like a cherry, and Raine ran up the steps, waving. Yuan tuched his cheek, still in shock, and waved back. Raine giggled a little, and caught up with Lloyd without him noticing.
Thanks to Presea, they were able to get into the castle. They searched the castle a little while, and finally found the kings room. They knocked out the guards outside and walked it. Zelos, Laura, and a few other people were surrounding a man lying on a bed in pain.
"It's definite." Laura said, "it's poison."
"What? This is absurd!" a bearded, brown haired man to the bed's left yelled.
"It's poison. Do you see how his blood veins rise here, and his lymph nodes are also swollen. It's a slow worker but it's curable." Laura explained.
"She's lying. Who would poison the king?" The bearded man snapped.
"I don't know. Why are you getting so worked up about it?" Laura asked, shooting a glance that showing that she caught on. Zelos hugged her from behind and smiled,
"Hay, give the Pope a break." Then he whispered into her ear, "It's ok, I know he did it. It's just no one will believe you."
"Ok." Laura sighed. Lloyd walked in with Collette and the Sages following.
"Who are they?" The pope asked. "Well, Miss fortune teller?"
"They are the chosen group of Sylverant, along with a small woodcutter named Presea. They mean no harm but wish for your help."
"Liar!" The pope cried. "How would you know?"
"It's actually true. This is Collette, the chosen, and we picked up Presea to get in." Lloyd explained. "Sorry about knocking out your guards, but we had to deliver a letter from Sheena."
"From Sheena?" asked the king, "Let me see!" He said, snatching the letter and reading it. Zelos whispered into Laura's ear, "Ok, I know you know the chosen group, but how did you know about the kid?"
"What, you didn't believe me when I said I was a soothsayer?" Laura asked, folding her arms.
"Wait, I know you! You were that girl who snuck into the castle last night and fell asleep in the Crimson room!" The Pope yelled.
"Look, I didn't exactly have anywhere else to go, and you weren't using it. I was just going to leave that morning, but you and your soldiers woke me up." Laura sighed.
"Wait. That's what you meant by an early wake up call?" Zelos asked.
"Silence!" Yelled the king. "Sheena explained that you wish to use the ex-sphere research to turn the Chosen back to normal. All of you, please wait in the Crimson room while we decide what to do." The king sighed. "Things have already started to get complicated enough." At once, the guards escorted all of the Sylverant group, including Laura, into the Crimson room. The king sighed.
"Well, you could have at least let Mira stay." Zelos sighed.
"Mira?" They all asked looking at each other with shock and confusion.
"I mean Laura. She didn't like it when I called her Mira for some reason, even though Lloyd said that was her name."
"Do you think it's possible?" The princess asked. "The Wind Princess Mira?"
"That Mira?!" Zelos said taken back. "Woah! Woah! Time out!"
"She seemed like that sort of person, but..." The princess stopped.
"Simple, we should send her to Sybac, lock her with the half elves, and force her to do research. We would grow unstoppable with her mind." The Pope suggested.
"Yeah, that's true, but I don't think she's one that could be easily trapped. Especially one who was calculated to have an IQ at least 10x the normal human IQ.
"Yes. Let's leave her alone. What of the chosen group?" The king asked. "Maybe it would be best to allow them to go to Sybac. They mean no harm."
"I concur." The princess smiled.
"As you wish." Zelos smiled, and everyone dispersed. The pope and his guard went to the Crimson room with Zelos following behind him. The chosen group stood up, except Laura who sat on the bed silently.
"The king has decided. You are all to be executed here and now. First starting with the chosen of Sylverant!" The Pope declared. The chosen instantly flung the guards into the walls. Laura laughed at the Pope's shocked face. Raine sighed.
"Listen," Raine started, "If we use your ex-sphere research to save Collette, then the Chosen Regeneration cannot take place. Is that what you want?" Raine asked. The Pope nodded. Raine continued, "Then by helping us, both sides win. Simple as that." The pope agreed and told Zelos to keep tabs on them.
"Sheesh." Zelos sighed, "Ok, since I'm going to have to keep tabs on my new honeys, I have to get ready to go. Meet me at the church. Oh yeah, Mira darling, could you give me a had?"
"Sure, but don't call me Mira. Please!" Laura said annoyed.
"Why my little Wind Princess?" Zelos asked.
"Oh damn. He knows. Well there's no avoiding it now. But still, I would prefer Laura." She sighed.
"Ok, my Laura my sweet." Zelos smiled. Laura sighed irritated.
"Well, Lloyd, see you then." She said, following him out the door. A few moments later, the group met at the church and set off for Sybac. They crossed the looooong Tethe'alla-en bridge and Zelos bragged how it was made completely out of exspheres. Lloyd explained to him how they were made out of human souls, but Zelos didn't care. Then Lloyd got bored and asked Laura.
"Hay, what did you do when you left with Zelos?"
"Which time? When we first met him or when we were going to meet you at the church?"
"Both." Lloyd replied.
"The first time I told all of Zelos's 'honeys' fortunes until they went home scared and crying. The princess came in looking for Zelos in the middle of it, and she was fascinated and demanded I helped her father. I told them it was done by a curable poison, but they didn't believe me. That's when you came it." She sighed.
"And after?" Lloyd inquired.
"He wanted me to give the Princess my autograph because she's a big fan of my stories. Apparently Zelos leaked my real name and now everyone knows."
"Not everyone. Just a few high-up aristocrats. Trust me, I doubt that there going to let anyone else know she's back. People do crazy things. It may just end up as a rumor for a while." Zelos smiled. "Mira is actually pretty famous, especially in Flanoir. So can you remember anything from you past?" Zelos asked.
"I know some, but not most of it. It's annoying." She sighed. "Apparently I was in love with someone, but I can't remember who. I also know someone who knows and they won't tell me!" Laura burst out irritated.
"Kratos?" Lloyd asked.
"Yes. He's one of them." Laura sighed.
"Well, of what I know, she was betrothed to an ancient prince of what is now Flanoir, which is why she's so famous." Zelos smiled. Raine covered her mouth from shock, thinking about what Yuan said of Kratos. Yuan never told her they were engaged.
"Professor? Is something wrong?" Lloyd asked.
"No... it's nothing." She sighed and kept walking.
"I'm sure you can find out more about yourself in the library. We'll take care of Collette, and I don't think I have to keep tabs on you." Zelos smiled. Everyone else agreed. Finally they arrived at the Research City of Sybac. Laura headed for the library to look up records of herself, while everyone else headed for the Research institution. Upon entering, the building, the group stumbled across Kratos!
Lea: Wow, it started getting rather ironic with Mithos and all when Genis and Raine were talking.
Presea: Yes.
Lea: Are you ok Zombie chick?
Presea
Lea-rolls eyes-
Kratos: Lea, it's time for your lesson.
Lea: Ok, since when were you so... into... giving me lessons?
Kratos: Since Mithos started chasing me every time he sees me begging me to give him lessons or be his sex doll. Ug, so disgusting. At least he hasn't successfully done anything yet, except with Ramiel and Pronyma.
Lea-beah!- Anyway, where do you want to eat tonight?
Kratos: Someplace new. Yuan's been begging me to try tocos.
Lea: Ok. Well, thanks for reading folks! Please review! We love to hear from you. Yes, I do take suggestions. And I know there are a lot wanting Laura to open the stupid book already. She will next Chapter! So please review!
Presea:Yes. Please do.