Sorry about the short chapter, I actually rewrote it like, 8 times but this version was the only one I kinda liked so…yeah.

Next chapter is the fire temple! (yaay) And it's gonna be HAWT! –isshot-

Enjoy and review!

Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm still wishing but I'm still not owning anything.

True to his word Frank played me a couple songs on his saxophone when I got back from my second meeting with the nice Renegade. He was really good, good enough to go professional. Wrote his own songs too. He wrote one for Colette too. It sounded just like Colette's theme but on the saxophone. I lol'd.

But that was last night. I looked at Iselia and signed before jogging back to the rest of the group. Staying true to the plan we left at exactly 8 in the morning. By now Genis was probably running over to Lloyd's house to tell him how much of an idiot he is. I was only in like, the first 30 minutes of the game. Woo me. So far I'm still alive.

"It will take 2 days to reach Triet." Kratos explained. "We'll stay at the house of salvation tonight then continue on tomorrow. Ally, don't fall behind."

I wanted to tell him that my hammer was freakin' heavy and it was still too early. But ever since he told Lloyd I was only going on the journey until Asgard I've tried to stay on Kratos' good side. If he had one. I jogged up beside Colette and sighed.

"Are the bags too heavy Ally?"

Before we left Kratos had inspected my weapon. And though he didn't say anything I could tell that even he found it heavy. Whatever Crystal did to it to make it seem heavier to everyone else but me, it was working. …working a bit too well. Raine caught sight of it and was absolutely fascinated. I was afraid that I would have to look for another weapon after she was done with it. Though lucky for me Colette managed to sweet talk it out of her grasp and get it back for me.

Though since she's felt how heavy it is she's been trying to carry my bags for me. If she had her super strength then I would have probably said yes. But she doesn't. At least I thinkshe doesn't. Crap what does she lose at the first seal? Ah Dammit I really can remember. Argh, I had to get stuck in the one game I hadn't played in a year.

"I'm fine" I told her for the third time. "I'm really stronger then I look."

That was a lie. But Colette seemed satisfied.

"Well…ok." She flashed a small forced smile before focusing back on the path.

'That's not true Kitten.'

I rolled my eyes when I heard Peter.

'You really are stronger then you look. Mentally at least. Took the whole floor four hours to get my commutation link back up. Apparently you really didn't want to talk to me.' He made a fake weeping sound. 'That really hurts.'

'So that was what the weird buzzing was. Kept me up you jerk.'

'Love you too.'

I then tried to tone him out and instead focus on the landscape in front of me. There are some trees on my left, some water on my right. Oh, a purple butterfly. Never seen that before. I hope it doesn't try to eat us.

'…so soon you- each-…vation…All-? ALLY! –it! –ink!'

Then the link was cut once more. I could feel it close in the back of my head. I really didn't know if it was me who caused it or if they're communications expect was really just stupid. But whenever the reason I was glad to not have to hear voices in my head for at least a little while. I might actually be able to pretend I'm sane for once. Other then the fact that I'm an alien or whatever. A-Yep, completely normal.

---

Even though the temple was underground, it was really hot. Just like the desert outside it, and the town in the middle of the hot desert and the water what was how hot thanks to the hotness of everything else. Freakin' weather, stupid lava.

"I hate heat." I stated bluntly to whoever would listen. Argh…I wish I had something to pull my hair back, it's getting all frizzy and in the way.

Lloyd sighed beside me, looking a little out of it. It may be due to heat stroke or something cause, like his father, he hasn't removed any layers of clothing. Guess they both want to be pimps together or something. Colette looked over at him worried. "Are you ok, Lloyd?"

I thought back to the snake bite that Lloydo suffered from and shivered. I always thought that snakes were cool but now that their trying to poison and kill us? Not so cool. But Raine snapped a First Aid at him and we continued on our merry way.

Lloyd turned to Colette and gave her a small smile. Actually… Lloyd looks kinda pale. "Don't worry about me… Colette. We…have…to…" Lloyd suddenly slumped forward. Colette tried to grab on to him, but just as she reached out his knees gave out and he headed for the brick wall. Just before the collision my sight failed me, and everything went black. Though the sickening crack of his forehead connecting with the brick was still heard and echoed though the long hallway.

"LLOYD!"

"Lloyd, no…"

"RAINE!"

What happened to Lloyd?! Shit, what the frig happened to me!? I felt everyone rushing around hectically around me. Though I couldn't see, my body moved itself beside Lloyd and hold him upright. Even without seeing him I knew he was-

My eyes opened to a mixture of soft oranges and browns and panicked, wondering why I wasn't at the Ruins. It took a moment of looking around to realize I was at the hotel back in Triet and Lloyd was probably wondering around the desert about now. I relaxed back into bed, raising my arm to my eyes to try and block the blazing sunlight that was pouring though the small window. How that didn't wake me up before I have no idea.

Both Raine and Colette were gone, meaning that the time Kratos set up for all of us to meet was past. I quickly changed into my traveling gear and grabbed my canteen and small bag of necessaries (Kratos went though my traveling bag the night before to separate what stays at the hotel and what went to the Tibet Ruins. He gave me the weirdest look when he found my little manna powered person. I told him I had no idea how that got in there). Stopping in front to the small mirror I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and tried not to groan at my reflection.

My hair was so fuzzy it was basically an afro, my face was shiny with sweat, and there was a random cut under my eye I don't remember receiving. I looked though my stuff to try and find something to pull my damned thick black hair back but came up with nothing. I released my repressed groan as I grabbed hammy and stepped outside the door, skipping down the steps two at a time. Screw appearances, everyone probably looks like crap anyways.

I looked around the lobby of the hotel but didn't see any of the other members of our small group. Jeez I hope the others didn't leave without me, cause I'm not walking though the desert by myself to fin-

"Do I really look that ugly?"

"Really if we get caught because of that."

…Those voices sounded a little too familiar… no…it couldn't be. I pushed open the small wooden door and peered out into the busy streets. My chest sunk as I recognized the blinding red sweater and light blue hair talking with the Chosen and the rest of the team. I pushed myself against the brick wall behind me hoping the group didn't see me. We shouldn't be meeting with Lloyd and Genis, Lloyd hasn't been kidnapped and hit on by Yuan yet!

'Morning sunshine! Miss me?'

'Peter!'

For once I was actually glad to hear his voice.

'What's going on? Lloyd and Genis shouldn't be here! We don't meet them 'til…until later!'

'Think about it Kitten'

Nickname anger.

'This is real life, real time. If you had woken up an hour earlier, Lloyd would have been kidnapped; you would have fought Botta and explored your first Renegade base. If you had woken an hour earlier you would have missed meeting with those two until the time was right. But it's too late now. You just gonna go with what you got Kitten!'

I let the words sink in as I reached for my canteen. But just as I was unscrewing the top of it Colette turned and noticed my existence. Sometimes I curse the fact that I'm a solid.

"Ah! Ally!" The others turned at her sudden exclamation. "You're awake!"

I paused before re-screwing my canteen and climbing up the small set of stairs. "Hello everyone." I replied before turning to Lloyd and Genis and nodding. "Hellooo Lloyd and…Genis."

Raine signed and shook her head a small smirk on her face. "You miss quite a bit when you refuse to wake up."

Genis smirked as well and shrugged his shoulders. "But if you weren't so lazy we probably would not have caught up with you guys." I'm sad that Raine didn't hit him when he said that.

"Good to know my laziness has its advantages." I glanced up at Kratos and saw that he didn't quite agree. "So what's happening now? You guys joining our little team here?"

Lloyd and Genis faces fell and turned they're gazes downward. Huh, guess they haven't told everyone about what happened in Iselia. Raine tensed at the movement. "What happened?" She asked a small quiver in her voice.

I didn't really pay much attention to the story as it was being told but instead I was watching everyone's reactions. Raine and Colette's faces changed from mild surprise to horror, Lloyd and Genis couldn't even look at them half way though the story. Kratos… if he was feeling anything it was very well hidden.

"It was all my fault!" Genis exclaimed after they finished the beginnings of frustrated tears in his eyes. "If I didn't go to the ranch, Lloyd wouldn't have had to save Marble!"

"No it was my fault!" Lloyd insisted stepping in front the half- elf. "I shouldn't have let him go. I should've been more careful!"

"Is…is it really gone?"

Lloyd turned to Colette but couldn't look her in the eye when he answered. "…yeah."

There was silence where everyone reflected on the news. I shifted awkwardly on my feet. Though I was also sad that Iselia was ruined it certainly didn't affect me as much as everyone else. Probably because I knew it was coming or whatnot, I dunno. Though one thing was for sure, the air here was rather depressing and when it came to depressing situations I was terrible. Usually when faced with one I would either leave or make a stupid joke to try and lighten to mood. But something told me it wasn't the time for either or those things. Finally Kratos decided to break the silence. He crossed his armed and looked at the two males.

"Lloyd, Genis." –they looked up at their names- "What is your plan now?"

"Well…" Genis started, unsure of how to voice his intent.

"I want to atone for what I've done by protecting Colette on her journey." Lloyd answered with determination in his eyes.

Kratos studied the two for a moment before nodding his head. "Do you truly acknowledge your actions as your own and accept full responsibly for your mistakes?"

Lloyd and Genis exchanged confused sideways glances at each other before nodding slowly.

"Then you can come with us." Colette stated, her usual cheeriness dulled. Then to more herself then the others, "It's what grandmother and father want…"

So. Much. Sadness.

Neediness to say, after hearing the news of Iselia going down no one was in the mood to go and unlock the first seal. So it was decided that we would wait until the following day to go to the Tibet ruins. Giving everyone a full day to mope. A full day of hoping I don't get burned to death at the fire temple. Oh joy.