Chapter Thirteen:

Mistakes

Lloyd was bored. He was sitting atop a wall, feet bouncing off the solid stone as he beat them lightly off of it. Staring down at the passersby, he sighed. It was so boring. His father had said that Meltokio would be interesting, yet it certainly was not so far. All he had done was sit here on this wall, watching people. His father had warned him about strangers too. Especially about one guy, supposedly a few years older than himself, with red hair. Zelos, his father had called the boy. Still, his father had only said not to speak to him…other than that the boy sounded more interesting than sitting on a wall.

His mind made up, the brunet boy hopped down from the wall and set out, intent on finding the redhead.

Wandering through the cluttered, Meltokio streets, the nine-year-old half-angel kept his eyes peeled for the teen. Not the most fun he had ever had, yet still more entertaining than watching people walk around.

The city was big though, the biggest he had ever been to. The biggest in both worlds, actually. It rivalled Welgaia in size.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lloyd caught a flash of red. Turning his head swiftly, he grinned at the well-dressed teen that his eyes fell upon. That could only be Zelos.

Changing his direction, Lloyd fell in behind the redhead, stalking him carefully, as he had been trained. This had to be more interesting than sitting on a wall, and it he was not exactly disobeying his father. He was not speaking to the boy.

The excursion actually proved to be quite interesting, in Lloyd's eyes, as he watched the redhead hit on everything with boobs; and some without, even if he did not quite understand it.

Zelos could tell he was being followed. Sure, the kid was decent at what he did, but he was still just a kid. Although he would be one to watch when he got older.

Angling his wanderings away from the crowd, the redhead kept a careful watch on his watcher, leading him off where he could get the boy out in the open. He was fairly certain he knew who the boy was, but he decided it would be best to check. All he had to do was lead the boy a bit further...

"So, you just like stalkin' people for a living, or do you have nothing better to do with your time?"

Lloyd froze mid-step at the comment, knowing it could not be addressed to anyone but him. Stepping out into Zelos' line of vision, Lloyd stared at him saying nothing.

"What? Can't talk?"

Lloyd just stared at him, refusing to talk. His father had told him not to.

"O...kay..." the redhead muttered, not sure what to do. "Is there any particular reason you're staring at me? I mean, I know I'm beautiful, but dude, it's creepy."

Lloyd just remained silent.

"Okay, look kid, you can stand there all day for all I care, just stop following me, okay?" That said, Zelos turned and began moving away, only to spin around at the sound of footsteps behind him.

Turning around, Zelos sighed.

"Look, kid, go away." At the shake of brunet's head, Zelos sighed again. "Why? Or can you at least tell me that?"

"I...don't know how to get back," Lloyd admitted, favouring not getting lost over obeying his father.

"Ah, so you can talk. Well then, let's go."

Falling into step beside Zelos, Lloyd held his silence as they walked, despite numerous prompts from the redhead to get him to talk.

"Okay, I know you can talk, so why are you ignoring me?" Zelos demanded, getting irate with the brunet's silence.

"I'm not."

"Yes you are! All I'm trying to do is make civil conversation! Might I add you were the one stalking me!"

"Dad told me not to talk to you."

Zelos sighed. So he had been right. This was definitely Kratos' kid.

"Lloyd, right? Now I can't imagine why Kratos would ever say such a thing about me, but I promise I don't bite," Zelos attempted to reassure the boy with a grin.

Lloyd sighed, "but I'm still not supposed to talk to you."

"Look, Lloyd, what Kratos doesn't know isn't going to hurt him—or you. So as long as we keep this between us it should all be well and good, right? Besides," he began again at the sceptical look on Lloyd's face, "you've already talked to me, now."

Lloyd blinked. Well, that was true.

"So, what do you wanna do?"

"Huh?"

"Well, we're hanging out now, right? So is there anything you wanna do?"

"Uh..." Lloyd stated in shock. When had this happened again?

"Well, if you're not going to decide, then I vote on babe watching!"

"No way!" Lloyd grumbled, folding his arms over his chest. "I wanna go to the coliseum! Dad said I wasn't allowed to go there by myself..."

"The coliseum, eh? Good choice, maybe they'll have some warrior babes!" he announced with a grin. "C'mon, Hun, let's go!"

Lloyd stopped in shock.

"Hun?" he shrilled.

"Sure, now let's go!" chirped the overly-zealous teen.

With no choice but to follow, Lloyd jogged after Zelos, still not sure he was up for the whole nickname thing.

"Hey, give those back!"

Raine sighed as she watched the two young men bicker playfully. Sometimes she could almost swear the two thought they were still children. There they were, Lloyd chasing Zelos around in his bare feet as Zelos danced around the camp, juggling the brunet's boots and socks skilfully.

"Seriously, Hun, is that the best you can do?" mocked the redhead in a playful tone. "I would've thought you could do better than this!"

With an offended growl, Lloyd tackled the redhead to the ground, boots going flying in different directions.

"Ow! Lloyd!"

"Sorry Genis! It was Zelos' fault!"

"Lloyd, Hun, are you going to blame this on me?"

"Lloyd! If you two aren't ready to leave in two minutes we're leaving you behind!"

"R-right, Professor. Sorry!"

Kraots watched the scenario without expression. Inside, however, he was more than a little annoyed. Was it on Zelos' agenda to make Lloyd look a fool? It had been several days since the small group of six had bid their farewells to Neil and Palmacosta, venturing instead toward the Thoda Geyser. Retrieving the statue was at the top of their priority list at the moment, even if both he and Lloyd knew the location of every seal. In both worlds.

"Zelos! Go get my boots!"

"Why should I dare soil my delicate hands with such a mundane task?"

"Cut the crap, Zelos, it's your fault!"

Kratos sighed inwardly. Yes, he could have done without Tethe'alla's Chosen on this journey.

"Boys, I swear, if you're not ready in thirty seconds...!"

"C-coming Professor!"

Well, at least he had Professor Sage on his side in this.

Finally—and Kratos was certain it was more than thirty seconds later—the whole group was ready to move out. Taking up his position as the rear guard, the mercenary walked just behind Lloyd, who was busy bickering with Zelos. As usual. If only that boy would get his head back on the mission. As much as the hardened mercenary enjoyed seeing his son enjoy life, now was not the time. They had far bigger fish to fry, even if Lloyd did not know it yet.

"Washtubs?" Raine Sage's voice echoed throughout the small group as she stood, staring down in horror at the wooden tubs bobbing impatiently on the waves. What on earth were these people thinking? It was utter madness!

"They cannot seriously be considering...considering making us ride in those...things!" she huffed out, appalled. "I for one will not be setting foot in it."

"Why, Professor Sage?" Lloyd asked from somewhere in behind. "I think it looks like fun! It'll definitely be more interesting than riding on a boat."

"Says the one who was unconscious."

"Shut it, Genis."

Listening to her brother snigger away, Raine turned to cast her eyes back over the small group. Why did it have to be that everyone but her looked either not to care about the washtubs, or, in the case of the younger ones, to be excited? She was down-right out voted, here.

Mustering all of her courage, Raine stepped gingerly toward the vile creature. Clenching one fist, she tentatively stepped one foot into the tub.

"Well, what are you all waiting for?"

At her sharp bark, the rest of the group—save Kratos—were sent into a mad scramble for the would-be boats. With a sigh, the mercenary glided for his own washtub regally, seeming not to care either way. Damnable man. While he was a hand to have around, his indifference to just about everything managed to wriggle its way beneath her skin. Did he care about anything other than the Chosen? Sure, Colette was important, but so were other things! He was too close to Lloyd, too. Or, rather, Lloyd was too close to him. If not goofing off with his closest friend, it seemed that the brunet teen was clinging to the mercenary, bugging him about who knew what. Swordplay, for one. Yet they spent more time together than even intense training could account for. Her suspicions were only set off more because she knew Lloyd was an incredible swordsman. Not to mention the fact that they were as often together without swords as with.

Still, there was little she could do. Stomping down and demanding to know what was up with them would not help. Certainly not. It would also be rude. They could well just be befriending one another, it was far from impossible, although it seemed far from likely. Not to that extent, anyway. Especially if the way Lloyd behaved around Genis and Zelos was any indication of how he acted around his friends.

Zelos. The redhead was causing Raine more than just a few headaches. It seemed that his favourite pastime was driving everyone else mad. Lloyd included. If it was not for the fact that he had proven himself handy with a sword, she would have sent him packing long before. Even if it had meant losing Lloyd.

As much as she hated to admit it, the brunet was turning out to be rather handy to have around. He was an excellent fighter, rivalling the best she had ever seen, Kratos included. When he was not goofing off, he also managed to serve as a good lookout, he had amazing ears and eyes. He seemed almost...inhuman.

"We're here!"

Colette's excited cry snapped Raine out of her thoughts in time to look up and see that they were, in fact, finally docking at the Thoda Geyser. Her shock at passing the whole trip wrapped obliviously in her thoughts was soon crushed, however, as a red-gloved hand was thrust toward her. Accepting the hand with a grateful nod, Raine allowed herself to be pulled from the wooden bowl.

"Thank you, Lloyd."

"Come on, Professor!"

Smiling after the teen, Raine followed at a more sedate pace as the teens raced up the stairs to stare into the steaming geyser.

Stopping by the fence, blocking them from the hot water, Lloyd wrinkled his nose at the overpowering stench contaminating the air.

"It smells like rotten eggs, gross!"

Genis laughed. "That's the smell of sulphur."

"Eggs are sulphur...?" he asked in confusion.

"No, sulphur just...never mind. It just smells bad."

Nodding, Lloyd instantly forgot the reek as his eyes roved over the steaming water. "Hey, there's the statue!" he called out eagerly, pointing to the small figurine.

Raine nodded in response to his statement. She had probably already seen it anyway. She was pretty sharp. "Yes, now someone just has to go retrieve it."

"I will!" Lloyd called eagerly. It was the moment he had been waiting for! Facing a geyser...it was going to be a real challenge! "Can you freeze the water, Genis?" he asked, not bothering to wait for anyone to reply to his offer.

Waiting until his sister nodded approval, Genis finally removed his kendama from his belt. The spell still took him quite awhile to cast, but Lloyd did not mind. It let him plan his route.

"Freeze! Ice Tornado!"

Instantly the steaming, hot surface of the geyser was covered in a thick sheet of ice that shone brilliantly in the bright sunlight.

Ignoring the cries from startled tourists, Lloyd wasted no time in rushing forward onto the ice.

"This is fun!" he called out, boots creating scratches in the smooth ice as he slid forward. Catching himself on a rock, he used it to change direction with a quick twist of the ankles.

Finally he stood triumphantly on the ledge where the statue had rested, holding it up victoriously.

"Got it! Hey, Genis, how about a refresher job before I come ba—ack!" Jumping into the rocks behind him, Lloyd's eyes grew wide with shock as a thick plume of steam burst forth, shattering the ice that had held it back only seconds before. Several sharp shards narrowly missed the teen.

"That is so not cool..." Lloyd muttered, not daring to move.

One quick glance over the area was enough to confirm Lloyd's fears. The rest of the place was not faring much better. That ice was ready to blow.

"Hey, kid, get out of there!"

"Are you stupid?! You're going to get killed!"

"Someone help him!"

Ignoring the tourists' cries, Lloyd shot a quick glance to his friend, Genis was casting, but it was not going to be in time, and neither his father nor Zelos knew any ice spells. Kratos could be colder than ice, so he always said he did not need them.

Throwing caution to the wind, Lloyd began collecting mana for an ice spell. Keeping his voice low, the brunet muttered, "ice, rise! Freeze Lancer!"

The shock on the others' faces, as the lances of ice shot forth, solidifying the ice once more, was almost worth the risk. The rage in his father's eyes said it was not, yet there was relief there, too. Immense relief. Zelos just looked amused.

Not wasting any time, Lloyd leapt forward, sliding across the slick ice and back to the bank.

The shock had completely destroyed Genis' concentration, yet that did not stop him from being the first to Lloyd's side when the brunet touched down back on the ledge.

"Lloyd! What happened?!"

"I-I don't know. It just...froze again, so I hurried back. You're sure it wasn't you who did it?"

Genis shook his head hurriedly. "Not me, maybe one of them?" he muttered, waving a hand to indicate the other tourists.

Lloyd shrugged, the lies easy enough on his tongue. "Maybe. Seems to me they're the only ones who could have."

The young half elf just nodded, casting a sceptical eye over the crowd as he did so. "Maybe."

Raine could not stop a cryptic eye from scanning over Lloyd thoroughly, an eye that did not go unnoticed by Kratos. She suspected. He had suspected she thought something was up with at least one of them, yet now he was certain. She was going to have to be watched. It would not do to have her getting in his way. They could not afford to have that happen. Not yet at least. He was going to have to be sure to keep a closer eye on Lloyd, too. The boy could be too cocky for his own good. If that threatened the mission...no, he was going to have to keep close watch over his son.

Nothing could get in his way. Not now.

"Well then, let's go!"

Kratos could have kicked himself as Colette's voice snapped him back to reality. He was supposed to be guiding the Chosen. Pushing her to follow the path he wanted her to go down. Yet now they were ready to pack up and leave, without freeing the seal! Foolery.

"Wait! I wanna look around a bit more."

At least Lloyd was on top of things for once. The boy was proving to be a salvation at times.

"But weren't you just complaining about the stench?" sniggered the half-elf child.

"Genis! If Lloyd wants to expand his knowledge by examining this lovely, old geyser, then he should be allowed to."

Kratos breathed an inward sigh of relief. As long as Raine had those eyes for the geyser they would not be going anywhere. Well, more specifically the geyser's stone tablet.

"I agree. We should look around a bit while we are here," Kratos finally added.

"It's settled then," Lloyd grinned out, nodding.

As the others spread out to look around, Colette gravitated toward the stone tablet. It looked so familiar somehow...

Realization struck the blonde like a kick in the gut. The Seal of Fire, of course!

"Hey, guys, I think this is a seal!"

From somewhere out of the corner of her eye, Colette could swear she saw Lloyd and Kratos exchange a relieved look, yet the thought was immediately swept away as Raine crowded in next to her with demands to get a closer look.

"Hm...it seems you could be right," Raine muttered as she examined the tablet. "This does look very similar to the entrance to the Triet Ruins."

"I thought so! So then this must be the Seal of Water!"

"One way to find out," Lloyd stated with a smirk. "If you would, Chosen One?" the brunet sniggered with a small bow and flourish of his hand to indicate the stone seal.

Smiling at his antics, Colette laid her hand on the marker, only to jump back at a sudden rumble from above. Eyes shooting upward, the blonde was not quite sure whether she felt relief or fear at the clatter of falling rocks that signalled the seal's opening. She could only gawk in amazement, however, as a silvery road shot up to the opening. It was so pretty! The way it caught the bright sunlight like a prism, creating a myriad of colours sparkling off into the distance. It looked even better with the way the steam from the geyser floated around it too...

"—lette! Colette!"

The pretty Chosen was snapped back to reality by Lloyd's calls and hand waving before her face.

"Wha-? Huh?"

"Are you gonna stand there all day gawking, or are you ready to go?" he asked with a bright grin.

"S-sorry! But it's so pretty..." she muttered with a bright blush.

"Not as pretty as my lovely Hunnies!"

"Shut it, Zelos."

Colette could not hold back a giggle. Lloyd and Zelos were just so funny sometimes.

Ignoring the shocked cries from the tourists, who were now gathered around them, Colette hoisted her pack up onto her shoulder. "Well then, I guess we had better be off!" she cheered outwardly, marching toward the ramp with her usual, external, good cheer. Inside, however, she was really afraid.

Sheena's bright, red eyes flashed with irritation at the sight before her. They had already made it to yet another seal. She was going to have to move fast to catch up to the group and dispose of the Chosen One. That would be enough to protect Tethe'alla. At least for now. That fact alone was not enough to stop a faint inkling of guilt from gnawing at her conscious, however. The poor girl was so selfless and sweet...it truly was wrong to kill her. Yet at the same time who knew what would happen in Tethe'alla if she succeeded? Then again, Sylvarant was suffering so much...it just was not right! The whole thing was so twisted and wrong.

It was just her luck to be caught in the middle of it.

Regardless, it was the Tethe'allans who were her people. She needed to protect them, and if that meant killing an innocent, young girl...

Throwing her thoughts aside, Sheena sprinted for the entrance to the seal. It was high-time to finish this.

Entering the cool dampness, she stepped forward cautiously, all of her training as a ninja coming into play as she stalked her prey. It was easy enough, due to the trail of slain monsters they were leaving behind. Their lack of regard for silence helped too.

Down, down she descended, slipper-clad feet making scarce a sound on the damp rock, even the monsters took no notice as she wisped by, pink obi fluttering silently behind her.

Eventually she reached a large, open landing, from which she could hear voices drifting up.

"—oots water now!"

That sounded like the red-clad boy—Lloyd?—and he was certainly taking no pains to be silent.

"Great, now I have something to shoot away undesirable Hunnies!"

Wait...that was Zelos? Why was he here? It certainly did not make any sense. And with the Chosen's group? She knew he was friends with Lloyd, but still, this was Sylvarant! The more she thought about it, the more questions she came up with, and now was definitely not the time.

The questions she should be asking herself were: ambush or exposed confrontation? Honour would say the latter, yet she was outnumbered about six to one. Five if Zelos stayed back. Still, not very good odds for her.

Ambush it was to be then.

Slipping silently over the rocks, she was about to leap at the Chosen when her path was smoothly intercepted by not one, not two, not even three, but four swords, although, in all fairness, one was just duel-blades. Still, she could hardly fathom how they had heard her. Three of them! It was ridiculous, and downright unnatural.

She had little time for pondering, however, as she was forced to leap hastily out of the way of the four swords yet again. It seemed they were not up for talking this time. Except one of those four was Zelos. Why, why was he attacking her? He might be a player, but she would never hurt him, and he knew that!

Readying her cards, she balanced one daintily between two fingers, ready to retaliate should it be necessary.

"Get out of here before you get killed." That coming from Zelos! So that was it, he was playing them for fools, and knowing her would not help his image. Well then, she was going to have to play his game.

"No," she hissed, shaking her head with a vicious ferocity. "Not until she's dead!"

Rocking forward on the balls of her feet, the black-haired teen dashed in with more confidence than she felt. Sometimes it was best to act without thinking, too. The poor girl really did not deserve to die. Not like this.

"Pyre Seal," she yelled, snapping her card out so it slammed viciously into the chest of a tall, white-haired woman. Her victim fell back with a pained grunt, her spell completely destroyed.

A quick glance behind confirmed Sheena's fears: the three swordsmen had recovered quickly from her surprise assault and were already hot on her trail. She did have one advantage, however. None of these people could match her for speed or agility.

"Oh, please don't fight!"

Ignoring the Chosen's cries, Sheena turned swiftly to the next most imminent threat. Leaping high into the air, she bounded up the wall short way. Stopping hurriedly part way up, she flipped a different card into the air in front of her as she closed her eyes.

"I summon thee. Let's go Corrine!"

As her ever-faithful companion leaped into the middle of the fray, raining down on the head of a young boy, destroying his concentration, she pulled out one of her guardian seals. Releasing it as she ran, she barely dodged a lightning bolt from the tall, purple-clothed man.

"I'll never let you hurt Colette!"

With a sharp gasp, Sheena ducked hurriedly underneath an angry thrust by the brunet teen. She was not in time to stop it grazing her shoulder. Gritting her teeth, the young kunouichi1 forced herself to ignore the pain as she dashed onward. The numbers were just too much.

At least Zelos seemed content to more or less leave her alone.

"Holy wings, I beg of thee to reveal thy glory! Angel Feathers!"

With a pained yelp, Sheena learned a harsh lesson on ignoring her intended victim as the sparkling feathers ripped through her clothing, some drawing small trails of blood.

"Dammit!" Jumping back, she allowed her eyes to wander for a moment. At least her Guardian was doing its job by distracting some of them. It was doing better than that, in fact.

The Chosen One was wide open.

Throwing caution to the winds, Sheena seized her chance. Slipping her cards behind her obi, she gripped a small belt-knife she always carried, just in case. Spinning gracefully on one foot, she leapt forward, running straight for Colette.

With a startled yell, the blonde girl tried to step back, only to stumble in a rut and fall over backwards. Since the girl was the only ranged fighter, and spells took time, it looked like she was in the clear.

"Demon Fang!" came the cry from two throats as twin sets of mana rippled toward her.

"Not gonna work!" she yelled back, leaping high into the air as the ripples criss-crossed directly below her, destroying each other.

Performing an elegant flip in midair, Sheena landed gracefully right next to her target, pink obi fluttering behind her. Not wasting a second, one gloved hand lashed out, grabbing Colette's golden locks and used them to rip her head back as Sheena's other hand pressed the knife to her exposed throat.

"Nobody move!"

That did it. The whole fight froze, even her Guardian.

"One move and she dies!" Sheena threatened as she hauled Colette to her feet.

"Let her go!" demanded Lloyd, red-brown eyes gleaming.

"Not a chance."

As the silver-haired woman stepped forward, Sheena could tell she wanted to try to reason for Colette's freedom, or at least distract Sheena long enough so Colette could be freed. Well, it was not going to happen.

"Look, I'm sure we can talk this out. Why do you want to kill the Chosen so badly anyway?"

"None of your business." Using her knife to press Colette's back into herself, Sheena freed her left hand from the girl's hair as her enemies talked; among themselves and to her. Grasping the Guardian's seal, she held it up. "Guardian return!" She smirked at the shocked looks on her enemies' faces. Oh, they had no idea...

As they recovered from their shock, she tucked the Guardian away.

"So, you can be reasonable after all." Sometimes Sheena wanted to shove manure in that woman's face. "So are you going to kill Colette? You know that once you do you're going to die, do you not?"

Ignoring her completely, Sheena slipped another seal from her sleeve. "Guardian Seal's Release!"

She could tell by their faces that they had most certainly not been expecting that! Even as the smoke was clearing, she hefted the blonde girl up and took off. There was one other way to make the girl harmless, short of killing her.

Colette could do no harm in Tethe'alla.

1- Female ninja

Well now, look at me live! I am seriously so, so sorry for taking so long to update. I feel terrible! Really! (I seem to say that a lot…DX) BUT, I do have chapter fourteen over half finished already, most of fifteen planned, and I've thought a good ways down the line! So I'm hoping to get on this story again really soon!

As far as the plot...are you guys liking where it's going? I hope so, I really do. I put a lot of thought into it, came up with nothing, and then this idea hit me while I was writing. I hope you guys are going to like it.

Regardless, whatever you though drop me a review and let me know! Pretty please? Remember, hearing from you guys motivates me, it always has. –heart-