Another fluffy, plotty…I'm not sure what exactly you'd call it. There's lots of nothing and a little of everything. Father/Son fans will be pleased methinks. Some Lloyd angst (just a little bit) and general lying…again. Oh, and boobs. Yes, Big Boss, you finally get your serving of Sheena, hope you're happy.

So…I won't delay this with my ranting any longer…

…...

A cool wind swept across the desert and ruffled Lloyd's hair, he took a deep breath and felt his body revitalize with the fresh air. It was a cool night, but Lloyd wasn't complaining; after they'd gotten out of the Temple o f Fire, even the hot desert air was better than the oven below. Lloyd, in his bliss at the cool, had forgotten what was to come. When Colette collapsed and Genis, Raine, and Kratos raced forward to help her, he hurried behind them and swore at himself mentally: he couldn't let his mind wander!

Of course, that was easier said than done, and while Lloyd could kick himself all he wanted… There was a lot of guilt in what he was doing, every time he thought of how much pain he was causing Colette, he felt his heart jump and his stomach flip. But what was worse was that he had the feeling that Kratos, Raine, and Genis were all getting suspicious. He couldn't afford to screw this up!

He paled when he recalled what he'd heard earlier…

"…Kratos," Raine's words were a whisper as she crouched close to him. She had no fear of being overhead, despite the fact that she was. Lloyd could hear her words as perfectly as if she was speaking them to him. All the same, her words were soft, "I wonder…you have not known Lloyd long, but have you sensed that something strange is going on?"

Lloyd blanched; they were only at the first seal and Raine already suspected him! He'd hoped he'd make it to Tethe'alla before they would see that something was going on… But maybe Kratos would cover for him, or claim that he didn't know enough about Lloyd to give an opinion and Raine would think that it was nothing…

"…I…must agree." Lloyd's heart sunk, thanks Dad… he thought sarcastically. "He has shown amazing skills for a boy who is self-taught, even with an exsphere…"

Oh damn…

"He is performing attacks I did not think he was even aware of, he's stronger, faster…"

"Indeed…"

"What could be the cause…?"

"I can think of nothing…there is not a reasonable explanation…"

Thus the conversation had continued, Lloyd had forced himself to listen, to make sure that they didn't deduce anything he should be aware of, but he felt sick. "I am so screwed…" he muttered, running a hand through his hair and kicking a dusty red boot against the sandy ground.

"…are you now? And why would that be?"

Lloyd froze at the sound of Kratos' voice, he'd let his guard down again. Lloyd swore softly in Dwarfish and spun with an awkward, dorky smile plastered on his tanned features.

"Uh, nothing D-Kratos!"

"Lloyd…is there something that you would like to share?" He spoke in a tone that demanded he tell Kratos everything. Great, how was he supposed to deal with that?

"No, I think I'm good, why? Somethin' you want to talk about?" Lloyd's weak effort at turning the tables on the conversation fell flat and he worked to stop his shoulders from slumping as Kratos' dark eyes glared at him.

"Lloyd…why did you come on this Journey?"

"I don't know what you're—wait, what?" The last of Kratos' words had only just registered. "Why did I come!"

"That is what I asked, yes."

"I-…but isn't it obvious? I came to protect you guys!"

At Lloyd's words, something in Kratos' posture changed; it was as if the mercenary had flinched, his eyes widening ever so slightly, his hands clenching, one at his side and the other on the handle of his blade. "…you mean you came to protect your friends…" Ah, Lloyd had said "you guys" and that included Kratos.

"Well yeah," Lloyd played it up, distracting his father, "I came to protect you guys: my friends." Lloyd mentally smirked at the face his father was making as Lloyd included him in the friend count.

"…I suppose that is a good reason; however…is there nothing…else?" Kratos was not to be so easily distracted as Lloyd had hoped.

"…well, I-I want to see the World, I always have…" Lloyd looked away, staring off into the night sky, looking at the starts that glittered above—or rather the projection that the Tower of Salvation created…nothing was fun when you knew everything. Lloyd sighed a bit, caught himself, then realized how well that would fit into the image he was painting for his father, and turned the sigh of sadness into one of longing. "And…I'd like to see if my Dad is still out there, somewhere…"

Out of the corner of his eyes, Lloyd watched Kratos pale. "…" was the only reaction he received.

"I've wondered for years if he's still alive, I mean…he's gotta be, right? No one found any more bodies after my mom's, and Dad…he was a really, really good swordsman, so…"

Kratos' head shot up, his eyes dark and suspicious once again, "…you claim your father was a swordsman…yet you claim to not remember him?"

Lloyd froze; his fingers gripped tightly the handle of his right sword, his neck muscles were suddenly tense and rigid, and his breath caught in his throat. Panic scrawled itself across his face and Lloyd was very glad he wasn't facing Kratos or his cover would have been blown instantly. He would have to pull this off perfectly if he wanted Kratos to believe him, but that was easier said than done. He shifted slightly so that he couldn't see his father—it was far easier to lie to someone when you weren't looking at them—and took a deep breath, thinking as quickly as possible to come up with a feasible lie. "…so maybe I remember a little more than I let on…" he tried; he could have done better at keeping the guilt out of his voice, but…

He suddenly realized how foolish it had been to turn away from Kratos—he couldn't see the elder man's face, and couldn't, therefore, see the affects his words were having, making his job even harder. "I do it for my…Dad-Dirk's sake," he improvised, "Dad…he never wanted me to dwell on my Dad, I think he wanted to help me move on, I was just a kid and I was staying up all night crying, so he thought that it'd be easier for me if I didn't think about him so much…" This lie was swiftly turning into a truth: Dirk didn't like it when Lloyd spoke of his biological father, and Lloyd had spent several of his first months with Dirk crying himself to sleep or sneaking out to curl up with Noishe when the dreams or the tears were too much. He knew that Dirk had only wanted the best for him, but dwarves were very down-to-earth creatures, for obvious reasons, and they didn't believe on dwelling on the past or future, but focusing on the present. And Dirk had been a very new father at the time; he wouldn't have understood what Lloyd was going through.

"…he…wanted you to forget?" Kratos' voice was soft and devoid of emotion. Had Lloyd not known better, he would have assumed that it was a casual or even disinterested question, but Lloyd knew his father well enough to hear the guilt and anger in his tone.

"He only wanted what was best…" Lloyd sighed closed his eyes, allowing the words to flow more freely now that he had the story. "I…remember looking up at the stars with my dad, and riding Noishe, and…well, random other stuff. I'm sure you don't really care…" He shifted again, this time to see Kratos' face: it was as blank as his voice had been, but his eyes glittered with guilt. Lloyd let out a breath that he hadn't realized that he had been holding as he confirmed that Kratos was successfully distracted from his suspicions.

The next words out of the mercenary's mouth surprised and pleased Lloyd. "…I do not suppose you would be interested in beginning your training now…"

"Sure!" Lloyd fully turned to face Kratos, a bright smile plastered on his face. The word was too enthusiastic, he should have taken a moment to answer or even said no had he wanted to keep the charade, but it was too late now. He studied Kratos' face carefully, but this time the elder male gave nothing away and Lloyd mentally cursed himself, but focus was needed now: it was time to fight.

Kratos said nothing, only took a moment to strap his shield to his arm, then, suddenly, he charged. Lloyd had only enough time to dodge out of the way, almost falling, to his left. A moment later, Kratos rounded on him, with a shout of "Super Lightning Blade" he thrust the electrically-charged blade toward Lloyd's stomach. With nimble hands, Lloyd pulled his own swords from sheath and crossed them, handles up, tips down, crossed. He felt the tingles of the electricity as they dispersed into the metal of Lloyd's swords and crawled up to his arms. He grunted and shoved away from Kratos, knowing that he didn't have the angle or the strength to shove the mercenary or even attempt to upset his balance. As soon as he was a few feet away, he readjusted his grip on his blades, and charged.

His blades met with Kratos' shield and Lloyd was forced to dodge out of the way again as Kratos stabbed at his stomach. Part of Lloyd's mind registered that Kratos was testing him, testing him to see if he was as good, strangely good, as he thought. He shouldn't be doing so well! But the rest of Lloyd reacted; skillfully dodging or deflecting each of Kratos' own practiced swings. Left block, right block, jab, swing, right block again; spin, thrust, on and on it went. Lloyd was doing better than he should have, but he purposely tripped or missed on his swings. From what he could tell, Kratos was appeased; he found nothing that should really be out of Lloyd's skill-level.

Lloyd felt happiness bubble in the pit of his stomach; he adored sparring with his father, always had, even when he hadn't know that Kratos was his father, but after the angel had left with Derris-Kharlan, the sparring had…stopped. He had missed it greatly, and now…it was back.

Because if there was one thing he wanted to change—and was perhaps allowed to change—was his father leaving on the comet.

…

Despite Raine's misgivings and concerns, Colette woke the next day feeling and, quite honestly looking, as well as she had before she'd released the seal. The Professor still wanted to return to Triet, but Kratos had put his foot down, reminding her that the path to the Ossa Trail was more direct if they went straight east. The desert was crawling with bandits and monsters and the occasional Desian. With Lloyd's history of the area plagued by them, they would be much safer avoiding the city and getting out of the region. Besides, by this time, everyone would have seen the wanted posters of Lloyd and be on the lookout for them.

At least, these were the reasons Kratos gave for his want of a swift departure. Lloyd found he couldn't disagree with the reasoning, considering they had all the supplies they would need—as long as Raine didn't attempt any cooking disasters—and staying in Triet would delay the inevitable. And they hadn't stayed the extra night last time, there was always that too.

Kratos was right, of course; the trip across the desert from the Ruins where they had camped the night before to the Ossa Trail that would take them over the mountains that surrounded the desert and into the coast on the far side and the fishing town of Izoold where they would catch a boat to Palmacosta was much shorter when taken directly. They stood at the entrance of the trail as evening painted the sky with reds and purples and the sun set behind the cliffs rising in front of them. Lloyd raised his voice in wonder with Genis at the sight of the trail and was shushed by Kratos.

Lloyd, knowing what was to come, pricked his ears for any sound and strained his eyes to catch any odd movement or a twitching shadow. He looked to his left, at the cliffs that rose above them and spotted a flicker of purple amongst the shadows: Sheena.

The shadows cast by the cliffs fell over them as they approached the pass in the mountains. Sparse grass covered the path between boulders and the pathway twisted up through the rocks deeper into the chasm, reappearing high above them before disappearing around another peak. To one side, near Colette, Lloyd caught sight of the trap door that would be Sheena's end. If everything went how it was meant to, of course.

"It's really nice to be able to see green again; I was getting so sick of sand…" Genis knelt and ran his hand through a patch of grass.

"Mmhmm!" Colette said brightly, taking a deep breath of sweet-smelling air. "It kinda reminds me of Iselia forest…"

They chatted, the others—minus Kratos, of course—all feeling safer now surrounded by rock. Yet, even Kratos spoke up. "Perhaps we should keep moving, get farther along the path before we set up camp for the evening."

"I would have no problem with that, as long as Colette feel's she's up to it…" Raine's ice-blue eyes moved from her brother to the Chosen. "Do you think you can make it another few hours? Don't lie."

"Don't worry, Professor!" Colette chirped happily. They were all glad to leave the desert behind, yet for some reason Lloyd's sense of foreboding was growing. He tried to write it off as guilt; the guilt of making Colette go through this again, but something nagged in the back of his mind.

It's like I'm forgetting something…but am I? No unfinished business in Triet, nothing with the Renegades or the Triet Ruins, Sheena's here…and no sign of Desians that aren't where they're supposed to be… What could I be forgetting?

Nothing, that was the answer; there was nothing that he could be forgetting, so what was this nagging feeling? He sighed and rested a hand against his forehead, brushing the shaggier hair away from his face as he tried to think.

"Lloyd?" Raine's voice cut across Lloyd's half-formed thoughts and his eyes flashed open to find that she was standing right in front of him arms crossed and her blue eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Are you alright? You didn't get heatstroke, did you?"

"N-no Raine, I just…I'm not used to this much walking, getting tired fast, you know…I-I'll get used to it…" Lloyd cursed himself for the blush that was spreading over his cheeks, next she'd be asking about sunburn…

"Hmmm…" Raine pursed her lips angrily, as if didn't believe his story, which Lloyd couldn't exactly blame her for. "…if you say so…" She turned away, as if going to join Colette and Genis, when Sheena made her entrance.

The ninja skirted the side of the cliff, gracefully leaping from ridge to ridge before landing in front of them, successfully blocking their path. Her brown eyes were cold as she examined their party and she stood, arms loose and ready to attack. "…is the Chosen of Mana among you?"

"Oh! That's me!" Without missing a beat, Colette smiled and turned to look at Sheena who, in turn, scowled back at the Chosen.

"Then prepare to die!" It happened so fast Lloyd, even with angelic sight, missed what happened, but he knew, from last time, what happened. All he managed to catch was the "ouch!" made by Colette as she fell back against the ground, the snap of the trap door opening and the gasp as Sheena plummeted down into the hole.

"Oh no!" cried Colette, rising to her feet to then bend precariously over the pit where Sheena had fallen. "Oh, this is all my fault! I hope she isn't hurt! Hello! Hello! Miss? Are you alright!" Colette's hands were clasped and her blue eyes were wide with panic as she waited in vain for an answer. None came, as Lloyd knew none would. The mine was very deep, and though the fall would not kill Sheena, she was winded and unable to talk at best and unconscious at worst. Lloyd suspected the latter, but he wasn't too worried about her state; Corrine would protect her.

"…I don't think she's dead, Colette…" Genis had joined Colette beside the trapdoor and Lloyd walked over to join them, as he had done last time. "Even assuming the hole to be about half a mile deep, and that girl to weigh one hundred and fifty pounds, and the gravity constant is nine point eight…she isn't dead, but she probably got hurt…"

"Oh, I hope she's okay…" Colette's innocent worry about her would-be assassin's state made Lloyd's lips split into a smile and he actually chuckled.

"Only you, Colette. Don't worry about her, Genis says she's not dead and you would be if she hadn't fallen down that mine shaft."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Raine stiffen, but he didn't understand why. He wrote it off as nothing, perhaps she simply didn't like the look Kratos was giving her, or a cool breeze had hit her back… Lloyd thought little of it.

Raine spoke, drawing his attention further from his thoughts, "Lloyd is right, had she not fallen, she might have killed you. We had best be careful, it is doubtful that she is working on her own. There are probably more people out to get you."

"And this is no place to discuss it." Kratos' voice cut across the beginnings of their discussion, "The footing here is poor, and it is almost dusk. We'd best move deeper into the pass, to a place where we can better guard ourselves, lest her companions, if she has any, choose to attack us now. Besides, we need to set up camp for the night anyway."

A look passed between Genis and Raine, both looked ready to protest, thinking it wiser to remain stationary and discuss their options, but Lloyd jumped in before they could say anything, pulling Colette right along with him, "You're right, Kratos. It's been a long day and it's too open here. And I'm sure Colette is tired, she was sick last night." He glanced at Colette, his eyes silently asking her to play along.

She took the hint, "Okay, let's go!" With Colette and Lloyd already following behind Kratos, the Sages had no choice but to go along as well. They had been outvoted.

…

It must have been midnight before Kratos allowed the group to stop; when he had claimed that they'd best find a "safe" spot to rest for the night, Lloyd hadn't realized this "safe" place would be at the very top of the mountain pass. It was safe, yes: no one would be jumping down on them while they slept, and the view was lovely, but Lloyd didn't particularly care for the sight, even with every star in the night sky blazing, he just wanted sleep. He collapsed, dropping himself down against the rock and dirt path, not even bothering to pull out his blankets or start a fire, and felt his eyelids droop with exhaustion. It didn't matter that he was an angel, every muscle in his body cried out for sleep and Lloyd was more than happy to comply.

"Lloyd, you're on first watch with Kratos." Raine's voice cut into Lloyd's half-conscious thoughts and his eyes flickered open.

"…huh…?" he mumbled stupidly, "Wha…?"

"You're on first watch."

"You've got to be kidding me…" Lloyd groaned and forced his eyes wider, "I'm tired, and I had first watch last night!"

"So did Kratos, and he isn't complaining…" Professor Sage glared back at Lloyd, her hands planted on her hips. "Lloyd Irving, do not argue with me!"

"…Ms. Sage, I can handle the first watch myself," Kratos cut into the argument, "Let the boy get some rest and I'll wake him for the second." Lloyd's eyes flickered to his father, Kratos' features betrayed none of his thoughts and Lloyd gave up trying to translate what his father was thinking.

Raine huffed and rounded on Kratos, looking murderous, "Lloyd needs to earn his keep!" she snapped severely. "He needs to learn what it means to be on this Journey!"

"So, too, does your brother, the Chosen, and yourself, Ms. Sage. I would not suggest that you make Lloyd take on these responsibilities without first doing so yourself." Kratos' words were sharp, but emotionless. As insulting and bluntly cold as they were…Raine couldn't disagree. If she did, she could be called a hypocrite, yet she couldn't win the argument without a counterattack. Which she didn't have.

"…" Lloyd sighed; he'd have to give up his own nap time to keep the group together. Why was life so difficult? "…fine, I'll take the shift, the Professor's right, I'll have to learn to deal with this stuff eventually…" Lloyd shoved his packs off to the side and walked over to Kratos, pointedly ignoring the shocked look Genis was giving him and Colette's beam—he wasn't in the mood for dealing with this, he was too tired. He snuck a glance at Raine's face and saw that, while she had technically won the argument, she was still livid. Of course.

She stomped away, over to her things and began pulling out bedrolls. Lloyd watched her for a long moment, knowing that he'd ended the conversation in the most painless way possible. For them, not for him, but Raine, still angry from the events at the Triet Ruins and the later near-argument at the base of the pass, and all of that coupled with the exhaustion of being pushed on far past her normal limits had probably pushed Raine near the edge. Lloyd sighed mentally and looked over at Kratos; the man's emotions were better masked than the Professor's were, but Lloyd could see the distaste written in his actions: he didn't approve of how much sway the teacher had over his son.

He moved closer to Kratos, not wanting to begin the next of three hours with the man angry and knelt down beside him as Kratos began to attempt a fire, "Hey, thanks for back there." He kept his voice light and genuine. "Do you want me to go get some more firewood?"

Kratos' red eyes flashed up to meet Lloyd's and for a moment there was almost affection in them, but it was gone moments later and the man only nodded and murmured softly, "Yes." It was enough for Lloyd, now easily able to read the elder man's hidden emotions, he could see that, while still annoyed, the anger was at least not at him.

Lloyd separated himself from the rest of the group, slipping off to the side and away from the growing firelight. He yawned, running over things to say to Kratos later, but his mind was numbing with exhaustion and he repeatedly lost track of what direction his thoughts were supposed to be taking. Suddenly, something wet touched his elbow and Lloyd leapt a food in the air, dropping the wood and pulling out a sword, only to find that he was pointing said sword at the snout of his dog. Noishe whined in annoyance and Lloyd began to blush sheepishly, the blood rushing to his cheeks. "S-sorry Noshy, you scared me…" He bent down to pick up the dropped wood and, in retaliation to the drawn blade, Noishe bumped his snout against Lloyd's backside, causing Lloyd to topple over and drop the wood.

"Noshy!" he growled threateningly, "Tired and high-strung and attacked by dog at midnight is not a good combination." It was supposed to be teasing, but the statement came out a little sharper than Lloyd had intended and he sighed. "Sorry Noshy, I'm under a lot of stress… Going back in time to save the world sounded like a good idea at the time, but it's harder in practice…"

Noishe whined as Lloyd rose to his feet and patted the Protozoan on the head, "Come on Noshy, let's go get more wood or Raine'll flip…"

…

The sun was bright the next day, but not nearly as hot as it had been in the desert. Lloyd found that he was tired, not physically, but mentally. It had only been a week and already the stress of time-traveling was fraying his nerves. Everything, every move that he made, he had to think about, he couldn't just act. He had to think while he talked to his friends so that he wouldn't say something foolish…or more likely too intelligent. What was perhaps worse was that he had to be careful what moves he used in battle, as he'd learned from the battle at the Seal of Fire.

Even now, Colette and Genis walked with him, quietly joking and teasing and just talking, as friends should, but Lloyd's mind was far from the conversation and he had the feeling they were both aware of how distant he was.

His thoughts were proved when Genis tentatively caught his attention, "…Lloyd?" Lloyd, whose attention had been on the rocks that had fallen down the side of the cliff above them and was searching for the culprit, flicked his eyes to his friend. There must have been some dark emotion in his eyes, because Genis paled. "…are you okay? You've been…kinda funny lately. Ever since the Temple, actually, before that…that morning; you've been acting like a totally different person…"

Lloyd grimaced, "It's nothing, Genis, I'm just…stressed… It's…personal stuff…" He invented, knowing the half-elf wouldn't believe him no matter what he said.

"Lloyd…" Colette sounded sad, as if she had always thought better of Lloyd and he was letting down her high expectations. Lloyd was vividly aware that both Kratos and Raine were also listening to the conversation. "Something's wrong…what is it?"

"…please talk to us, Lloyd!" Genis' face was red as he grew agitated, "We're your friends, we're worried about you!"

Lloyd took a deep breath and let the words flow, "…what isn't wrong?" Suddenly, his voice was loud, echoing off the walls of the mountain around them, "In one day I help break into a Ranch, find out my mother was murdered by Desians, and see an angel. The next day I'm kicked out of the village I grew up in for trying to help someone, oh, did I mention I killed the person I was trying to save? Oh, and Kvar is in Iselia, the very bastard that killed my mother! Then we're banished and wander around the desert for ages, then I'm given some cryptic shit from a bat who thinks she knows the future, then I'm kidnapped by Desians! Now someone else is out to kill us! Dammit, that's a lot of stress!" Lloyd blinked, realizing that much of that…rant was true.

"…Lloyd…" Colette was sad now, as if she thought that everything that Lloyd had ranted about had been her fault. "I'm so, so sorry…"

"S'not your fault, Colette…" It was his.

"Please! Don't feel like all of that was your fault, you were just trying to save that woman! It wasn't your fault that the Desians attacked the village, but I'm sure after we regenerate the world, everything will work out in the end, I swear…"

"Cute, but unfortunately, you won't be regenerating anything, Chosen!" The group rounded to see Sheena standing to the side, a guardian card clasped between her fingers, Corrine standing by her side. "Prepare to die!"

Lloyd was almost shocked to find that they'd already made it down and out of the pass, that through his rant, they'd continued moving. He didn't have time to dwell, however, as Sheena had summoned her guardian and charged. Lloyd moved, following his fist instinct to shove Colette out of the way and move into defensive position in front of her. Genis and Raine automatically fell back to cast and Kratos charged at the assassin as well, but Corrine followed the half-elves and Kratos was met by the guardian, leaving Lloyd to face off against Sheena himself.

The ninja raced up, slamming a card against Lloyd's blades and it exploded, sending Lloyd flying away; he spun in midair and landed on his feet. Repositioning his grip on his swords, he charged at Sheena even as she raced after Colette.

"You won't be so lucky this time, Chosen One!"

"She doesn't need luck!" Not wanting to hurt Sheena too badly, he slammed his boot into her side. It was her turn to go flying and she hit the far cliff with a grunt and dropped to the ground. Lloyd saw a flash of light and Sheena landed on her feet, charging back at him. He dodged her first card and ducked under the knife that she attempted to bury in his forehead.

Lloyd used the butt of his sword and slammed it into her gut. Sheena grunted and seemed close to collapsing, but she lashed out at him all the same. Lloyd slipped around the next card that came at him and slipped around behind her and thumped the hilt of his sword against her head. Sheena's eyes glazed and she dropped like a stone. Lloyd dropped down by her side, grabbing her wrist and locating a pulse. Once he was sure she was alive, he turned to see what had happened to his friends.

The guardian that Kratos had been battling had vanished when Sheena had collapsed, her spell broken, and Corrine was backing away, toward Sheena, growling—mostly at Lloyd. Lloyd dropped the would-be assassin's hand and stood, stepping back, away from Sheena. Corrine bolted forward to her and, in a small puff of smoke and light, they vanished.

….

Huh…that was longer than I meant it to be. Well, whatever. That's Sheena in a nutshell…next chapter will probably be the duration of Izoold, then onto Palmacosta where we may just find the plot…maybe.

R&R

~Yoshi