Chapter Eight:

Time Tells the Truth

Lloyd kicked the ground angrily, frustration evident on his face. Why? Why? Why? Why on earth was there so much…earth!? Was it really so impossible to fly for the humans? Walking took too long. Flying was far more convenient. Well, except maybe during storms. Yet, no matter how he looked at it, he was grounded, quite literally, until the end of this journey.

"Lloyd? Is something wrong? You look angry."

Lloyd was startled out of his revere by the Chosen's voice. Glancing up at her he gave her a reassuring smile.

"Nope! I'm fine. Just a little frustrated by having to climb this mountain," he replied. It was true, too. He was mad about having to walk up a mountain. Or down, or across, or even walk in general. This was, unfortunately, what they had been doing since early dawn. Now they stood, after several hours of tiring footwork, at the base of a small mountain. Which they sadly still had to climb. So much for heading out early.

Overhearing the discussion, Raine decided it would be best to intervene before either got any…ideas. It was all the white-haired woman could do to suppress a shudder as she recalled the conversation of the previous night's conversation. They had chosen to stop at Triet for a day, to recover their strength, before departing for the next seal. It was during this time off that Genis began to obsess over Colette's wings again. This lead to a rather unique discussion that evening at the inn.

The sun was just beginning to spread its evening colours over the sands of Triet as the group of four made their way back to the inn. They had been to visit the town's fortuneteller to some rather different results.

Raine smiled at the three teens as they chatted excitedly about what the fortuneteller had predicted for them. After all, anything that excited Colette these days was worth the time.

Lloyd walked alongside Colette steadily, yet his mind was elsewhere. What had the silly fortuneteller meant? She had said that sadness awaited him in Palmacosta. How could sadness await him there? He was going to be reunited with his dad! How could anything make that sad? It just did not add up. Cleary, this fortuneteller lady was crazy; there simply was no other explanation.

From her position between Lloyd and Genis, Colette skipped happily along; eyes alight with excitement and curiosity about her fortune. Unlike Lloyd, the Blonde Chosen had complete faith in the fortuneteller's abilities and was simply excited to know when they would come true. The fortune teller had predicted that someday she would soar with the one she loves. How exciting! Sure, she really was not in love with anyone at the moment, yet time would tell.

Genis also felt a childish glee with his fortune that someday the wings of his best friend would save his best friend. Sure, maybe it was totally confusing, yet it was still fun to think about.

"What do you think Lloyd? Genis and I both got stuff about flying! Isn't that cool?" Colette chirped out excitedly. The two friends had finally given up on trying to get Lloyd's fortune out of him, realizing he was not going to tell them.

Smiling Lloyd shot the pretty Chosen a wink.

"I'd say that's pretty accurate. After all, Colette, you can fly now."

"Well, not really. I have wings, but I don't know how to use them…"

Smiling broadly, Genis stepped in. His brain was working in overtime, which was saying a lot, to come up with a way to get Colette flying.

"Well, maybe if you took out your wings and Lloyd threw you off of a high cliff with a bunch of villagers standing at the bottom holding a blanket. Or you could jump off of one and, if you can't catch yourself, I could catch you with a wind spell, or--"

"—Genis!" Raine cut in sharply, realizing that her brother was dead serious, "I don't think we want to kill her."

Lloyd laughed at this, his mind lightly touching on his own flying lessons. It had been scary, but at least his dad had not thrown him off of any cliffs. Nope, his father had had the whole Tower of Salvation.

"Oh, but I do want to learn how to fly!" Colette chimed in before Genis could make some remark or another that would prove dangerous for his health.

"It'll be fun Colette, we can all work at teaching you!—safely!" Genis supplied quickly at the end, once he noticed his sister's evil glare.

Raine simply sighed. It was going to be a long night.

"Well, not a lot we can do about that. All we can do is keep walking," Raine pointed out, finally yanking herself back into the present.

"You don't have to worry about that, because none of you will be going any further!"

The sudden outburst from near them, along with the emergence of a black-haired girl, caused the small group to stop dead in their tracks.

"Um…who're you?" Questioned the young Seraphim, raising a skeptical eyebrow as he did.

Crossing her arms the black-haired girl glowered at Lloyd.

"That's not important! What is important is that I'm going to kill the Chosen!"

"Not likely!" Interrupted Genis, moving over to stand in front of Colette.

"Let's be friends!"

Lloyd nearly fell over. Was she really that stupid? Honestly, it had to be a crime.

"Um, Colette? I don't think she's going to agree to that."

"Damn right! I'm gonna kill yo—" Began the would-be assassin. Unfortunately for her, just as she began her charge Colette saw fit to trip right on top of a switch to some sort of underground hole.

"Well, that was…convenient," Raine announced with a slight sigh as she listened to the would-be assassin's yelp of shock as she fell through the hole.

"Oh dear. I was certain we'd be great friends. Do you think she'll be okay Lloyd?"

"Ah, she'll be fine. It takes more than a little fall to kill someone."

"I somehow don't think I'd call that fall little."

Lloyd simply shrugged off Genis' words, what did the poor kid know about high falls anyway?

"Well, regardless, we really should be on our way. We've wasted enough time as it is."

Taking one last glance down the hole, Colette turned to Raine and nodded her consent.

"Okay! Maybe we can meet up with her again on the other side!"

Lloyd simply shook his head. It was going to be a long day.

Not to mention a long walk.

And that was how the four saw their day pass by. Walking along a mountainous path, fighting monsters and collecting treasures that had been lost by some poor, unfortunate travellers.

Genis breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the pathway down come into view.

"Finally! The way down. My feet are starting to hurt."

Lloyd simply rolled his eyes. This was why flying was so much better.

"Yeah, I hope we're almost at the bottom. I wouldn't mind a nice bath."

"Ladies first," Raine informed, smiling slightly at Colette as she did so.

Rolling his eyes yet again Lloyd shot Genis a devilish grin.

"Race ya down!"

Shaking his head fiercely, Genis refused, but found that his words fell upon deaf ears, for Lloyd had already taken off running.

"Oh well, guess he wins."

Colette chuckled merrily at this.

"I guess he does!"

As the final word slipped from Colette's mouth, the blonde Chosen found herself gazing upon a rather comical scene. Lloyd was on his butt glaring up at the assassin from earlier.

"Hello again!"

Lloyd scowled and sprang to his feet, angry with himself for having been caught unawares.

"Be careful, Colette! She wants to kill you you know!"

"Not 'wants,' more like is going to!" The assassin threatened angrily.

"Not if I can help it," Lloyd hissed out darkly, low enough for the girl's ears only.

"And just what are you going to do about it?" The assassin challenged as the other three joined them at the bottom.

"So…it was a mineshaft."

"Huh, you say something Sis?"

"Huh? Oh, no. I was just commenting on the hole."

Genis cringed slightly, guessing at the hidden meaning in the words. He was thankful the hole had not proven to be ruins. That might have been bad for Colette's—and everyone else's—health.

Especially with this assassin hanging around.

Having sprung back onto his feet while Raine and Genis were talking, Lloyd brandished his swords fiercely.

"How about I show you what I'll do about it?"

"Bring it on!"

"Please don't fight!" Begged Colette, balling her hands into fists as she spoke. "Friends shouldn't fight!"

"Sorry, but I'm not your friend," stated the black-haired assassin, readying her own weapon. "And you, you're going to die!"

"Not this time," Lloyd muttered, zipping forward as both Genis and Raine prepared themselves for battle.

"Tempest," Lloyd cried out, throwing himself into a whizzing, whirlwind of death.

Meanwhile Colette finally realized that they had no choice but to fight. Pulling out her chakram, she shot Genis a small smile as the half-elf concentrated on his stalagmite spell.

"I'll cover you, Genis."

Lloyd was forced to jump back when the assassin pulled out some sort of seal and summoned a large creature to her aid.

"What the he-?" He began, but was forced to jump back once again as the humanoid, floating monster attacked him.

"Pancake time! Stalagmite!"

Lloyd gave Genis a quick thumbs up from behind his back as the young half-elf distracted the 'Guardian' so that Lloyd was able to focus on the would-be-assassin.

Raine sighed lightly as she lowered her staff, realizing that the assassin did not stand a chance. She was correct, too. For mere moments later the young girl staggered forward before sprinting away, clutching her side.

She was not about to leave without a parting shot, however. "I'll get you next time!"

Ignoring the departing assassin-ninja, Raine poked her head inside the mineshaft. Maybe there was something inside…

"Let's go take a look!"

Raine soon found herself being dragged along inside the mineshaft by the three adolescents, all three of which were deeply curious as to what was inside the long cave. Not that she was complaining. They were old and dark. Fascinating.

"Hey! Check this out!"

Raine was snapped out of her reverie by Lloyd's voice. Glancing up the half-elf caught sight of the brunet teen waving her and Colette over to join him and Genis.

Smiling Colette cheerfully returned the wave before walking over to join them.

"What is it, Lloyd?"

Grinning at the Chosen, Lloyd motioned over his shoulder to where a gigantic, many-armed skeleton stood.

"He wants to fight. What do you guys say?"

Genis looked to his sister, nervousness clear in his eyes as he shook his head violently.

Sensing Genis' reaction Lloyd sighed. "Come on Genis! He said he wouldn't kill us!"

Seeing how much Lloyd wanted the fight, Colette smiled happily.

"I'll fight with you, Lloyd!"

"Thanks, Colette! Let's go!"

Raine exchanged a skeptical look with her brother before the two of them joined the fight. Some Protector of the Chosen he was turning out to be.

Feeling the epinephrine pounding through his veins Lloyd threw himself into the battle with relish.

"Tempest!"

Moving once again into the dizzying whirlwind the half-angel managed to cut into the ribcage of the large monster. As his feet touched the ground once again Lloyd scowled. His intent had been to get on top of the monster's head, yet even his Tempest had proven to be unable to get him that high.

"Genis! Help me out here!"

The young half-elf was momentarily unsure of what Lloyd wanted until the brunet boy nodded to the Sword Dancer's head.

"Got it, Lloyd!" He hollered, immediately switching to a wind-based spell. "Take this! Wind Blade!"

Leaping as high into the air as he could, as Genis began reciting the spell, Lloyd once again moved in for his own attack.

"Omega Tempest!" Using the second-level version of Tempest, Lloyd leaped into the air and, using Genis' wind spell, managed to gain the necessary altitude. Changing directions at the last second the brunet landed precariously on top of the monster's head.

"Made it!" Kneeling down for better balance Lloyd waited until Colette managed to distract the beast from below.

Once the Sword Dancer's attention was diverted to the Chosen, Lloyd once again leaped into the air. Twisting sharply in the air he positioned himself so that his twin-blades were pointed downwards, then he allowed himself to fall slightly. Once he judged the distance to be correct Lloyd unleashed yet another of his attacks.

"Sonic Sword Rain!"

Genis winced as he heard Lloyd's cry and the rapid screeching slashes that were the attack. Undead or not, that had to hurt.

And hurt it did, for the Sword Dancer staggered forward and lost its balance. As it stumbled to its knees Lloyd, too, was thrown off balance. Instead of landing safely once again on the creature's head, Lloyd missed his footing and went plummeting towards the ground.

Seeing this both Colette and Genis turned their fearful eyes to Raine, who was already readying a First Aid spell for the moment the boy made impact with the ground.

Unfortunately for Lloyd the Sword Dancer noticed the frantic glances behind him and to the obvious healer of the four. That, coupled with the absence of weight on his head, told the Sword Dancer what had happened. Flailing wildly with its four blades the gigantic skeleton was able to do two things. Distract Raine from her casting and hit Lloyd who was still in mid-air. The young brunet felt the blow sorely as it struck him and sent him smashing into the side of the mine. After hitting the wall the young boy slid limply to the ground and lay still, his blood pooling about him.

Raine, after running back several feet, immediately returned to her casting. Colette and Genis, however, went on the all out offensive.

Exchanging a glance the two immediately threw their very beings into their attacks.

"Pow Hammer!" Began Colette, using the spell she knew she could perform the fastest.

As Colette completed her attack Genis' eyes narrowed in fury. "Take this!" He hollered as he used the spell. "Lightning!"

Meeting Colette's eyes Genis nodded. "Let's do this!"

The two friends immediately combined their powers in a frantic effort to crush their opponent.

"Come, thunder's fury!" Began Genis before Colette joined him in crying out, "Mjollnir!" As the huge bolt of electricity moved forward and crushed the monster into the ground. Finishing the battle in their favour.

Ignoring the monster's words of praise and thanks the three companions rushed to Lloyd.

Kneeling down, Raine inspected the boy before shaking her head gravely.

"This is beyond my power to heal. We need to get him to a doctor," she stated grimly, scooping the bloody boy up into her arms.

Not daring to stop Genis scooped up the treasures as he ran, while the three made a mad dash for the town.

So here's chapter eight. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it! It really was fun to write. As far as Mjollnir is concerned, I'm not really sure if that's what Genis says. It's what it sounded like on youtube, yet I've never used the attack myself. I used gamefaqs to find its existence and youtube to see it. If anyone knows for certain what he says then please, feel free to correct me on it.

I'm sorry that there were no cute father/son flashbacks this time around. Yet with this current situation I'm pretty sure you can expect at least two in the next chapter. Heck, it's likely they will make up most of the chapter.

This brings me to my next point. My IB Exams are starting up May Third. This means that I will be spending a lot of time studying for the next month or so. So, while it is regretful for me to have to say it, this will likely be the last update until June. My exams don't finish until late May, after which I have Animé North to go to. By the time that's over we're pretty much into June anyway. So sorry about the long wait guys, but school rules here…

I'd once again like to thank Baby Kat Snophlake for her awesome betaing skills! I really think my writing is getting better thanks to her. On a side note to her I realize I forgot to mention this in my e-mail so I'll say it now. I don't use Colette either, the only time she gets in my party is when the game goes "please rearrange your party so that it includes Colette." That's why I, too, had no clue as to what Genis said in Mjollnir.

So anyway, sorry for the lengthy wait guys, see you in chapter nine!