A/N: Well heres the next chapter you guys! It's actually later then I thought it would be because I kept writing the endings, erasing them, and adding more xD So yea I'll probably add a new chapter once each week because school kinda gets in the way and when I'm on the computer during the week it's usually to do stupid homework .

Anyways, remember when I said that the journey wouldn't start until about chapter 7 or 8? I lied xD

Jam-on-toast-is-good

Your story has made me create the mental picture of Dirk in a suit with a breifcase saying "I'll be back from the meeting in a couple of days, Lloyd. Don't forget to feed Noishe." ...Thank you for that...

This made me lol. Dirk is awesome, he would so work that suit xD

Disclaimer: I wished I owned Tales of Symphonia. I would so trade the rights of Ally for it.

Chapter Five: True Beginnings

Oh ya, fun night indeed. Lloyd, Genis and I sat around sulking in Genis' house, junk food piled around us completely untouched. So much for an awesome slumber party in Colette's honor. But I'm skipping ahead, let me backtrack and fill you all in.

Ok, so when we last left out heroes, we were all walking around town planning the most epically awesome slumber party in the honor of the Chosen of Regeneration. We bought lots of junk food, little party hats (Colette got a special pink hat with lots of confetti at the top) and random other things that we thought would amuse us (There was this little mana powered person that danced. Lloyd bought it for me when my constant giggling started creeping people out). So anyways, we started heading back to Lloyd house with all this stuff plus Genis' and Colette's backpacks with sleeping bags and pajamas and what not, when suddenly this guard guy from the village ran up to us. You know the one with the strainer on his head? Yeah, him.

Anyways, he was sent to fetch Colette for a meeting that she had to attend. Apparently the Desians came down to the village randomly and went to renew the peace treaty that they hold with the town. Talk about random. The Desians demanded that the meeting be hold with both the Chosen and the Mayor present. Then Raine appeared a couple minutes later, saying that she didn't want us to pass by the Human Ranch until after the renewal of the treaty. Something about when a new treaty is being discussed the old treaty is completely admonished until the new treaty is made. So in the time of the old treaty being broken and the new treaty being made, there is no treaty. Don't worry I didn't really get it either, but Raine looked like she was in a hurry so I didn't ask about it.

So now, here we all are, being lazy and sulking around Genis' house. All frinkin' tired but none of us wanting to sleep. Lloyd and Genis were both too worried about Colette and Raine (who's at the meeting as well for some reason) and didn't want to go to bed until they came back.

Seriously though, I was really fucking tired.

I didn't know Colette and Raine as much as they did and we really aren't that close either. Though I was hoping for some Chosen-Ally bonding time at that slumber party but that's not happening now, is it? Arghh… I'm so tempted to just yell 'FUCK THEM I'M TIRED' and then curl up in Raine's minty fresh bed. And why the hell is it minty? I need to ask her that later, but what the hell!

DAMMIT I'M TIRED AND ANGRY.

God damn the next person to talk to me is getting bitch slapped I swear to God.

'So Ally, 'sup?'

I actually groaned angrily but Lloyd and Genis just glanced at me before continuing in they're game of 'who can stay up the longest'.

'GOD. FUCKING. DAMMIT. PETER!'

'Whoa no mean to swear just doing meh job and making sure you aren't dead yet.'

'I swear Peter you talk to me at the WORST times.'

'Yeah, but it's what makes me lovable.'

"YOU BITCHFACE!"

I didn't noticed that I said that out loud until both Genis and Lloyd were looking at me like I just grew a little alien head out of my shoulder that spoke Spanish. Oh snap. I looked between the two of them, trying to think of a good excuse for my random outburst other then 'Oh sorry, just talking to the guy in my head HURR'.

"Um…"

Good start, good start.

"That…those…Desians are?" That could've gone without the questioning tone and stupid face but good enough.

"Yeah!" That's right, you tell them Genis! "Who do they think they are?! Bursting in here without a warning or anything!" Yeah! And they didn't even bring tea or cookies or anything to pardon for they're rude invasion!

Lloyd's fists clutched and he buried his face deeper into his folded arms. "These half elves are all the same."

Oh shit he didn't. I completely forgot that Lloyd at one point thought like that, even if it was just for a little while. For some reason this made me really angry. Maybe it was because of the look of pain on Genis' face, or maybe it was because I was just really sick of stupid unnecessary racism. But whatever it was, I snapped at Lloyd.

"Really Lloyd, what the hell?! This has nothing to do with half elves!"

Lloyd looked up at me slightly taken aback by my sudden change of mood. "But…the Desians…"

"What ABOUT the Desians!? Just because a lot of them are half elves doesn't mean that all half elves are as blood thirsty and evil as they are! What about the other half elves?! The ones who just try to live a normal life but have to be constantly put down by people like YOU!"

Oh god I was up and pacing. There was no stopping me now.

"What can they do about being born as half elves? What if people just starting hating you because you have…" -I looked at Lloyd- "BROWN HAIR or something! You can't help it that you have brown hair, hell you were fucking BORN WITH IT! DAMMIT half elves are living breathing people too you know! Just because they have pointed ears and can use magic doesn't mean they're all gonna kill your family and rape you're children! JEEZ comments like that just make me so…so…ARGH!" I picked up the closest thing to me, which happened to be a pillow, and chucked it as hard as I could at Lloyd. It didn't do much, but it did startle him enough to make him fall out of the chair that he was sitting on. This pleased me. "I'm going outside."

And that's just what I did. I grabbed my hammer and stormed outside in a ball of pissed off bitch fury and shoved someone out of my way as I went. I think it might have been Raine, but I really didn't care at this point. I stormed into the Iselia forest and just kept walking. And walking and walking. I was stomping around and mumbling things under my breath, making a lot of noise and probably attracting a lot of monsters. But I really didn't care. Let them come, me and my mighty hammer of justice welcome them.

I soon found myself outside of the Human Ranch. I stopped and looked at it. It was bigger then I thought it would be, but not by much. Two…three stories max, with probably a basement of some kind for torture. I shivered at the thought but continued looking at the building anyway. It was just like the game. There was the bush that Genis sneaks behind, the cliff that Lloyd and Genis climb on top of to see Marble get whipped, the other cliff that Lloyd will jump off of one da-

"Would you excuse us?"

I knocked myself out of my thoughts and turned to the owner of the voice. It was a Desian. Well three Desians really. I guess they were at Iselia for the meeting or whatever.

"Sorry." I said before stepping out of they're way. They started walking along the narrow path to the ranch when the one that spoken paused and turned back to me.

"You really shouldn't hang around the human ranches you know. A kid like you could get hurt. Unless…you want to join us?"

I shook my head and gave the Desian a small smile. You know, for a person that's part of a organization that's suppose to hate all humans and want to kill and or torture them and make exspheres, he's pretty nice. He nodded in understanding before he started to follow his coworkers that were already at the gates of the ranch. Though he seemed to rethink it and walk back over to me. Even though it was a nice Desian, it was still kinda scary to be approached by one. He just stood there staring down at me for a while (cursed height difference) before he said something that I was not expecting at all.

"You look sad, do you need a hug?"

Before I could even process what had happened, I practically threw my hammer to the side, tossed my arms around his middle, and buried my head in his chest. He smelt like pine and iron, and it was strangely comforting. I remember I had only had one other random stranger ask me if I wanted a hug, and that was at an anime convention. The guy looked like a rapist too. I loved conventions ever since that day.

I stepped away from the man and smiled. "Thanks, I really needed that." He nodded and gave a small smile in return. "No problem, but really go back to the village, don't hang around here, it's dangerous."

I nodded before picking up my hammer and darting past him and back towards to village. I throw a quick thanks over my shoulder before picking up speed. Or at least, as much as I could with good ole Hammy. Me thinks he should go on a diet or something.

Well, that nice Desian fellow made me feel a lot better. I don't even remember why I was so angry in the first place! Haha! I'm just gonna go back to Genis' house and continue to sulk with him and Lloyd while not sleeping and waiting for his lovely half elf sister to come-

I stopped in my tracks. Oh shit I just made a huge ass rant to Lloyd and Genis about half elves and stormed off.

…
…

…

…

SHIT.

What do I do now? I can't just come back to Genis' house and walk in like nothing happened! Or if I do walk in do I have to pretend to still be angry or something? I still have some time to ponder this before I get back to the Sages house, right?

I tuned myself back into reality for a second to see that I was in front of the Sages house, reaching for the doorknob. I really need to pay more attention to what I do from now on. I ripped my hand away from the door and turned away, taking a few steps from the house just in case I go in again without me knowing. That would suck.

'You're a weirdo, can I talk to you now?'

'Not the time Peter, having a small mental breakdown here.'

'Lloydo's at your back.'

"Say wha-?" I spun around to find myself face to face with the brown haired duel swordsmen in all of his red clothed glory. And it more like nose to nose really. We were really close to each other; I could see all of Lloyd's intimate details. Huh, it that a mole I see? Or maybe its just dirt. Before I had a chance to examine it Lloyd stepped back putting a good three feet between us. Damn, I was kinda curious about that spot. Now I'll never know.

"Ally…"Lloyd looked down at the ground after I tried to lock eyes with him. "About what happened in there…"

"I'm sorry." I said a little too quickly. For some reason, having too many bonding moments with Lloyd in since a short time made me uncomfortable. Kinda felt like I stealing him from the others. I swear they're gonna catch on and gang beat me. And that sounds quite painful indeed. "I was just really tired and needed to vent and you were there…"

Lloyd finally looked up at me a somewhat angry look on his face. "No! You were right about half elves not being able to help being born as half elves."

"Lloyd…"

"The Desians are half elves, but that doesn't mean that all half elves are bad!"

"Lloyd."

"Everyone deserves to be treated equal! I can't-"

"LLOYD!"

Lloyd finally stopped his mini rant and finally recognized me again. I swear he forgot I was here or something.

"I would love to continue this conversation later, but right now I'm really fucking tired."

Lloyd just stood there for a second with his mouth open in mid sentence. If I wasn't so tired I would probably laugh at this, but now that I wasn't so pissed off I was pretty much dead. He then smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah, it is getting late."

I nodded. "A-yep, and some people like going into random rants of justice."

"Hey! I-I was just following your example!"

"But you need to learn that I'm awesome enough to do whatever I want!"

"You nerd!"

"Bah, I'm too lazy to argue right now."

And so we both stepped into the Sages household once more. Raine, Genis and Colette were all there, leaning or sitting around the small house. They looked up when we walked in and seemed to relax. Yep, don't worry; I didn't bite off Lloyd head as soon as I saw him. I also noticed that Colette and Raine were perfectly fine, no scratches or anything on them. Jeez, Lloyd and Genis are so silly, making me stay up all night so that I wouldn't look like a jackass for not caring about Colette and Raine as much as they do. Stupid want of being accepted.

"Oh Ally! I'm so glad you're ok!" Colette said happily, clapping her hands together. Too…tired…to make…witty comment. So I just nodded.

"Yes, I'm glad to see that you're both all right." Raine stood up and looked out the window. "But it's getting late; we should all go get some rest." I LOVE THIS WOMAN.

And, that's what we all did. Raine still didn't want us to walk past the human ranch (I didn't tell anyone about the nice Desian because I was kinda afraid they would stab me for letting my guard down around a frinkin' Desian) so Lloyd stayed over at the Sage's house and I went to sleep at Colette's house for the night. We had to sneak in because Frank and Phaidra were already sleeping. She let me borrow some of her pajamas for the night. They were pink, frilly and pretty tight. Colette's alot skinner then me I discovered. Which I guess would make sense I mean, the priests teach her self defense right? 'Cause that would really suck if the person who went to save the world died on everyone. That would be a bigger disappointment then learning that the cake is a lie. For some reason, the thoughts about cake and how tight these clothes were on me made me feel really self conscience about my own body. Oh just wait until we met Sheena.

Oh yeah, that's right, I'm not going on the journey.

This thought made me depressed. I know that I told myself that I wasn't going on the journey, but was it really worth missing out on the experience that most fans would kill themselves to have?

'Hey Peter…'

'Good to know I haven't been forgotten.'

I resisted the urge to call him mean names.

'Can I go home without going on the journey?'

Peter yawned. I guess he was tired too.

'Nope.'

I was afraid of that.

"Is something wrong?"

I was broken out of my thoughts from Colette's concerned voice. I once again tuned back into reality to find myself standing next to Colette's bed, clutching the blankets. I shook my head before climbing into the double bed with Colette, pulling the blankets on top of me. "Sorry about that just blanked for a second there."

Colette also shook for head, or as much as she could with her head against her pillow. "Oh no, it's ok. I do that sometimes too."

You don't say.

Silence then dawned upon us. I was really tired, but now that I'm actually in a bed I wasn't sleepy anymore. Figures.

"Hey, Colette?" I said while staring at her ceiling. There's a pink rose painted on there. I continued once I heard her shift on the bed. "What's its like being the Chosen?"

Her shoulders kind of stiffened at this and her face was emotionless. Though she quickly replaced it with a smile. "It's really great! One Day I'll become an angel and make everyone happy!"

I forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah. Everyone will once again live in peace." Colette's smile grew wider when she heard these words. "It's late, we should really get to bed. Good bye Ally."

"Good night Colette."

And with that said Colette blew out the lit candle and rolled over to her side. I did the same.

'Hey, Peter?'

I heard a rather large yawn in response.

'Are you sure I have to go on the journey to get back home?'

'Yep. There's no other way. Not one that I can think of.' His words were started to stir he was so tired. For once I actually felt bad for Peter, but just a little. He was still a stupid face.

'What time is it anyway?'

'5:30'

Ah, it's later then I thought it was.

'Just hurry up and sleep so I can go home.'

'Ok jeez keep you're pants on. Just one more question.'

Peter groaned.

'Why can't you just send me back?'

'I can't 'cau-'

Then there was dead silence. I lay there for a couple minutes waiting to see if he would come back on, but he never did. I surpassed a groan and went to sleep. Figures that he would shut off commutations with me at the worst possible time. The jerk.

Over the next four days nothing really happened. On Sunday I asked Lloyd to spar with me a couple of times so that I could get better at wielding Hammy. He beat me pretty hard every time but at least he and Colette gave me some basic tips and advice. Even though some of them didn't really work because I was using a completely different weapon then them, the fact that they were trying to help made me feel better. Genis just pretty much sat there and made fun of everything wrong that I did. He stopped when I started turned everything he said into sexual innuendos. Raine also insisted that I go to school so I did. I learned a bit about the chosen Joshua but most of the time I was just trying to learn how to use a quill without getting half the ink on my arm. I also started spending the nights at Colette's house, so I got closer to her and her family. And I learned that Frank is flippin' awesome. Really, the first time I met him he made me crepes. I don't know if I ever mentioned this before but crepes are the best food in the history of food ever. I asked him to marry me but he said no. I was sad but the crepes were really good. I also met Noishe. I think I scared him when I yelled 'PUPPY!' when I saw him and pretty much rushed him. It's gonna take a while to gain his trust.

So anyway, that pretty much sums up everything that happened. Now I'm sitting in Raine Sages classroom once again sitting next to this pretty cool guy named Thomas and half listening to Raines lecture. I'm not too sure why, but almost as soon as I entered the classroom this morning I had the strangest sense of Déjà Vu. But it was probably because Raine was teaching us about the about Mithos and how he brought about the end of the Ancient War. I already knew this. So I sat and I doodled, and I tried not to become bored listening.

"LLOYD!"

I peaked up when a chalkboard eraser whizzed past my ear. I turned to see Lloyd hit right in the middle of the face with the eraser. I had to surpass a giggle when I noticed that now some of his hair was white.

Raine stood in front of him, not looking as amused as I was.

"…How do you manage to sleep standing?"

"Oh Professor Raine! Eh… is class over?"

Raine just signed and shook her head. She turned away from the poor boy that was forced to stand and hold two fill buckets of water and walked back up to the front. Lloyd then shuffled over to me and rested the buckets on the back edge of my seat. A little trick I made up after Colette, Genis and I had to listen to him complain about how sore his arms were for almost an hour. Raine has yet to catch us, and Thomas is pretty cool about it too.

"Never mind. Let's have someone else answer the question. Genis, how about you?"

The small half elf sat up straighter when he heard his name. It was really cute actually. Then again I think everything he does is F-ing adorable.

"Yes, Raine."

And of course he answers it right. I didn't know what the question was nor did I really pay attention to what Genis said to answer it. But he was usually right so I'll just assume he's right again. Now why the hell was that stupid feeling of Déjà vu back? I feel like I should know something but it's totally slipped my mind. Argh! What the hell! I'm gonna feel like a jackass when I remember what it is, I know I will.

"Ally."

I looked up to see Raine standing over me, and the rest of the class looking at me as well. "…yeah?"

Raine signed yet again and crossed her arms. "What is the propose of the Chosen's journey of Regeneration?"

Oh snap I know this one!

"Oh! Um… to release the seals to revive mana and…um…" I paused. Dammit what was the other thing? Raine was about to answer it for me. I quickly held up one hand to stop her. "Hold on hold on I know this I do! Just hold on a second I need to think…"

I heard Genis sign in the back round and a couple of the kids around me giggle. But screw them; this was on the tip of my tongue. I could taste it.

I snapped my fingers when it finally came back to me. "To seal the Desians!" I exclaimed. A small smile formed on Raines face. "Correct. Good to see that you pay attention in class." I quickly covered up the doodle of Raine in a bikini playing with a hula hoop when she glanced over at my drawings. Raine turned once again and walked to the front of the class.

"Now, for the nest question-"

You know when I said that I had a weird feeling of Déjà vu and didn't know why? Well, as soon as a saw the large pillar of light that exploded from the temple in the distance I realized.

This was the beginning of the game.

As expected the class erupted with noise. Some people screamed while most of the students rushed over to the window to try and get a better look.

"Settle down." Surprisingly Raine's strain voice was louder then the noise in the small classroom. "It would seem that the time for the oracle has come. I will go and check on the chapel. Everyone, stay here and study on your own. Understood?"

Colette stood from her seat. "Professor! I'll go with you!"

Raine turned to Colette. "No, Colette. If it is the oracle, the priests will come here for you. Wait here with everyone else."

With that said Raine ran out the door. Colette looked at the door for a moment before she sat back down. "Yes ma'am."

I heard a small thump from behind me. I turned to see Lloyd stretching his arms above his head, the two buckets of water lying on the floor behind me. He turned to the door and frowned slightly. "No fair. I wanna see what happens to Colette when she receives the oracle."

Don't say Judgment day. Don't say Judgment day.

"Ayep, it's her judgment day."

…stupid movie references that no one will understand.

Lloyd didn't seem to hear me so he continued on. "They always talk about the Day of prophecy but they never actually say what happens."

You know, I always kinda wondered about that too. Did the Priests really know what was going on? Or were they just blinded by the Chosen's awesomeness? I shrugged. "Maybe they don't know any more about it then we do."

Lloyd seemed to think about it for a second before he went to leave classroom. And cue best friend concern.

"Where are you going? Don't tell me you're sneaking out! Raine will get mad!"

Huh, I could get used to knowing what's about to happen.

"I'm really curious to find out what really happens to Colette when she receives the oracle. They always talk about the Chosen of Regeneration and the Day of Prophecy, but no one tells us what really happens!"

"But my sister said to stay and study by ourselves."

"It's research."

Oh yay, Lloyd was going for Genis as his best friend! In your face Colette!

"That's just an excuse!"

"So? An excuse is an excuse, right? Don't be so stuffy. You're coming too, right? We're best friends, after all!"

Dah'Aww. They're so gay together.

Lloyd then turned to Colette who was pretty much the only one in the class actually doing what Raine told us to do. What a good girl.

"Colette, Ally! You two want to come along, too?"

I almost had a heart attack when he looked directly at me and called me out. For a second there I completely forgot that I was actually in the game. Colette was the first to respond. "…Huh? Um, okay."

"Why not? Sounds like good fun to be had!" I said before getting up when my chair and going to join them along with Colette. "So where to?"

Lloyd chuckled slightly at Colette's question. "Where else?! That light! You're directly involved in all of this. Aren't you curious?"

Oh boy I love this part.

"Hmm…Are you curious about it?"

"Of course!"

"Okay, then I'll be curious about it, too."

Lloyd turned to Genis with a goofy smile on his face. "See? Dwarven Vow #4: Don't depend on others. Walk on your own two legs. Okay then! Let's go to the temple!"

Oh Lloyd, if only you know about how much you contradict yourself. Genis signed and rubbed his head.

"Not the Dwarven Vows again. You always use those when you need an excuse…"

And so we're off. The other kids all said they're 'good byes' and 'be carefull's before we left the classroom. I picked up good ole Hammy (Raine wouldn't let me bring it in the classroom) and followed the others outside. It seemed that it was too late to back out now; the gears were finally in motion. The game as began. And I'm struck right in the middle of it.