This is at last another one of those chapters that I've been planning for a while now. Despite this, it had a billion times more substantial bulk than I first intended. However, to get from point A to point B…I had to get through a lot of plot. Still, I'm pretty pleased with the end results!
Enjoy this rather long chapter!
…
Lloyd paced around the dark basement of the Elemental Research Academy restlessly. Zelos was watching, his blue eyes dark and distracted, his lips drawn into a deep frown. Presea and Colette were simply standing again, staring into nothingness with wide, blank eyes. The half-elves that were supposed to be guarding them only stared as Lloyd spun on his heel and stormed back across the room.
"…you didn't know?" Zelos asked as Lloyd pivoted again, avoiding the wires that covered the stone floor. "They never told you either?"
"No! Not that It matters!" Lloyd tried not to explode. "They've been kidnapped! That's a little bit more freaking important!"
Zelos crossed his arms, "So you're seriously not mad that your best friend has been lying to you this whole time?" He sounded as though he was waiting for Lloyd to realize the obvious.
He sighed and stopped pacing, "…look, I'd guessed, but it never mattered! They're my friends! They're your friends! We have to get out of here and save them!"
"You're not leaving," Kate, though they hadn't been introduced yet, snapped. "We have enough trouble without letting you walk out on us as well!"
The Chosen of Tethe'alla glanced between Kate and Lloyd, who had resumed his pacing. There seemed to be a silent struggle going on behind his eyes and at last he sighed. "Look, you're a half-elf, right, cutie? Well, my Bud here has a couple of half-elf friends that are being taken to Meltokio to be executed. Don't you have any loyalty to your own race? If you do, I'd suggest you help us out of here. We'll owe you a favor or something."
Lloyd wondered just how much it pained Zelos to make the suggestion.
Kate eyed them, "…a human befriending half-elves…? That's utter nonsense. Now, shut up while we continue with our work!"
She turned away and Zelos shrugged at Lloyd, as if to say that he had tried.
"Actually…Kate…" One of the other half-elves intervened, "I did hear that the Papal Knights had apprehended two half-elves, and that would explain why they left these humans with us instead of taking them back to Meltokio as well…"
Kate glanced back at them, taking what was left of their group. "…still, a human befriending half-elves…that's ridiculous…"
"Hey, missy, just 'cause every human you've met so far is a piece of shit doesn't mean we all are! You've heard Bud here ranting about how he's got to save them. Why should you let your kin die?" Zelos snorted, "Wow, I guess living in the dark down here doesn't exactly do anything for your loyalty. All I know is that if I had the ability to save people, I'd help them!"
"Never thought I'd hear you talking about saving people…" Sheena said snidely from the corner and the entire room spun, shocked, to see her.
Lloyd had hoped that, when she returned to them, Mizuho might have been able to do something for her scarring, but it was now obvious that nothing could be done for her face. All the same, she held herself with as much dignity as she could muster, leaning against the back wall with a small smirk as she surveyed their shocked faces.
"Miss me? Looks like you're still getting yourselves into trouble…but where are Raine and Genis…?"
"…holy shit, Sheena?" Zelos gaped. "What in Goddess Martel's name happened to your face?"
Every ounce of confidence drained out of Sheena and her lower lip, or rather, the scar tissue that was now her lower lip, quivered slightly. Lloyd slapped his hand over Zelos' mouth. "I think the more important question is how'd you get down here, and can you take us back out with you! Raine and Genis were kidnapped by the Papal Knights; they're going to be executed if we don't hurry up!"
It visibly took Sheena a moment to pull herself back together before she shook her head. "I…I got down here with a technique from Mizuho, but it only works on one person at a time, so I could get me out of here, but you have to find another way out…"
"A ninja!" gasped Kate. "Humans who befriend half-elves, ninjas…what could possibly be next!"
Another half-elf, who had been silent for the past several minutes, said hesitantly, "Kate, you…you may want to take a look at this as well…" He nodded to Presea, who had, essentially, hidden herself at the back of the group. "It's Presea!"
Despite the shock on Kate's face, it was clear she was ready for any other surprise to come her way as well. "…so it is…" she sighed. "…I do believe this makes things easier…" As Kate took a step forward to get a better look at Presea, the child hid herself more fully behind Lloyd.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Zelos cut in, stepping between Presea and Kate. "How do you know our little rosebud? An Elemental Research Academy half-elf would never have the chance to meet a little girl, and you've obviously been here way longer than she's been alive. Care to explain?"
Kate's pale lips opened, then shut themselves again into a tight line as she surveyed her fellow half-elves. If she was hesitant to share this simple piece of information with the group, how was Lloyd going to convince her to let them go save Raine and Genis?
"…Presea was used in an experiment my lab was conducting several years ago. We were using a human host to try to manipulate an exsphere to become a Cruxis Crystal, like the Chosen's… The process has been long and slow…"
"And what'd you learn?" Zelos asked, "And what does it mean for our little cutie here?"
The green-haired half-elf pushed her glasses further up her nose and sighed softly, "…the process is not complete yet, but…" She tried to step forward and take a better look at Presea, crouching down in front of the child, only to have the girl shove away and stumble back several paces. For the first time, real emotion spawned in her eyes, hatred, fear, and anger blossomed across her face.
"No. Stay away from me." Her words were still emotionless, but her response was so violent that Kate fell backward.
"…" Kate was gasping softly, "…the exsphere has clearly taken its toll…mentally and physically… Theoretically," she continued, "after the process was complete…Presea would die."
"That's insane!" Sheena exploded from her corner. "You can't do that to an innocent child!"
Zelos was nodding, "Yeah, what the hell were you thinking?"
Lloyd's mind, however, was elsewhere. Or, rather, the amount of fake shock he could muster had run out completely by now. "How do we save her?" He crossed his arms, the red fabric of his coat tugging around his shoulders. "It's an exsphere, right? Does that mean I could just make a key crest for her?"
Kate's gray eyes swung from Presea to Lloyd, then around and Colette, Zelos, and Sheena, before returning to rest on Lloyd. He held her stare with what he knew was a determined near-glare. "…I'll give you a deal," she said slowly, "…I let you go and save your friends. You bring them back here and I'll tell you how to save Presea. Agreed?"
"Of course." Of course they had a deal. It was the perfect deal if they were telling the truth, and Lloyd could the seconds tick by as, in the same moments they stood calmly discussing Presea's imminent death, Genis and Raine moved further from his help and closer to their deaths. "Show us the way out."
He didn't wait for Sheena and Zelos to protest, or even to hear their concerns, he just followed Kate to the bookshelf where he helped her shove it aside and led the way down the narrow, low-ceilinged tunnel and up the rusted ladder to the empty alley above.
As soon as Lloyd's feet hit pavement, he was running. The footsteps and pants behind him told him that the others were following his example, and he spared one glance behind to make sure they were all there. All four—Colette, Presea, Zelos, and Sheena—jogged behind him. Lloyd increased his speed, his heart pounding, his breaths coming in short gasps. He didn't care that the world around had begun to spin, he had to get out of city and to the bridge.
What was normally a three-hour walk took Lloyd half the time, even when Zelos insisted they rest. Though this was, Lloyd silently blamed, only because the Chosen insisted on explaining to Sheena what was happening. Why was it that she needed to know more?
As the bridge loomed ahead, Lloyd's pace increased. He couldn't see his friends, he couldn't hear the Knights. His mind began to wander. What if they'd been taken to Ozette instead of Meltokio? What if they'd somehow passed the Knights? What if they'd dawdled too long with Kate and the bridge was already raised? Every worry, no matter how childish or unlikely, darted through Lloyd's head like a shining silver fish, only to be snapped up by his breathlessness and the next panicked thought.
Then, in the distance, he heard it: the sound of armor clanking against itself as the half-dozen men that had taken Genis and Raine made their way across the largest bridge in history.
"Bud, Lloyd, we gotta rest. You can't keep pushing us!" Zelos gasped, his chest heaving as he collapsed against the side of the bridge. "You're killing yourself!"
Lloyd 'rounded on his friends, "But they're just ahead! I can hear their armor! We have to keep going! It's a drawbridge, remember? What if they pull it up! We can't leave them to die!" He spun back around and began to run again. The sounds of Presea and Colette joining in behind him and then, eventually, Zelos and Sheena met his ears, lessening his panic the tiniest degree.
It could only have been another mile that they ran before the Knights, along with Raine and Genis shackled among their number, came into view. They were stopped, and for a moment, Lloyd's hopes rose, thinking that they had actually managed to reach them before the drawbridge was used, but those hopes plummeted as a loud screech echoed from a dozen speakers up and down the bridge, proclaiming that it was to be raised.
Zelos shouted something that Lloyd's couldn't hear, probably some caution or to stop, but Lloyd ignored him, only increasing his speed to the point of stupidity. Of course, with Lloyd doing it, the rest of the group did as well. By the time they reached the part of the bridge being lifted, Lloyd was scrambling for footholds and he flung his arms up to catch and crawl up to the edge. The others were doing the same and Lloyd, before thinking a thing through, shouted to jump.
He took his own advice and flung himself to the other side of the bridge. His red-gloved fingers scraped the flat underbelly of the bridge a moment before he began to plummet toward the ocean below. Lloyd hadn't noticed, until he was falling, just how far down the water was. Without his wings, and at the rate he was falling, he would probably break his neck.
Beside him, Zelos was swearing profusely and Presea was quietly falling. Above, Colette's wings held her aloft as she caught the breeze and looked down at them with empty blue eyes. Lloyd's heart and stomach were in his throat and he was sure he was shouting. Sheena was screaming something, but Lloyd couldn't hear it over the wind and his own shouts. A moment later, however, he felt it as the water below rushed up faster than they were falling and caught them. He splashed into the spout of water meant for him and felt his lungs burn for a moment as the water engulfed him and tried to find its way into every opening presented. The salt made him blink as he tried to get the uncomfortable feeling away, only to be thrust into the air.
It was as if he was falling again, but this time he had more than his legs propelling him forward and he landed with a loud, wet splat on the far side of the bridge. He was soaking, gasping for breath, and felt as though his bones had turned to jelly, but he was alive. And, as he looked around at his friends, they had all made it as well.
The Papal Knights had witnessed the whole thing, and their only response was to stand several feet away, gaping as Lloyd and the others tried to pull themselves together.
Lloyd coughed up what felt like several gallons of sea water, then rose to his feet and pointed a quivering sword at the Knights. "Let our friends go. Now." Seeing Lloyd suddenly attempting to be aggressive, Colette, who appeared to have suffered no ill-effects of the day's running and swimming, pulled out weapons as well, pointing them at the Knights. There was a scrape as Zelos tugged out his sword and Sheena forced herself to her feet beside him, saturated cards in each hand. Presea's axe was held aloft and glinted in the sunlight.
There was a small whimper from one of the Knights and they glanced at one another for a moment. For the first time, Lloyd realized how truly impressive their entrance must have been. Not only were they alive, but it seemed as though the ocean was aiding them. It didn't matter that they were half-drowned; they'd forced themselves up and were still ready to fight to the death for their friends.
The sight of them sent three of the men fleeing toward Meltokio, leaving Raine and Genis in the hands of the braver, if not more idiotic three. "Cowards…" the leader hissed and pulled out a lance. The others dragged out swords, but seemed completely uncomfortable with the idea of facing the group. However, when their leader charged, the soldiers were right behind.
Lloyd was not stupid enough to hope that he could use brute force to block every swing the Knight made with his lance, but he was just quick enough to weave around every attempt made on his life by the Knight. It took seconds for Lloyd and Zelos to send the man crashing to the ground. Colette single-handedly took down the second guard and the third was at the mercy of Presea and Sheena. Even weakened as they were, taking down the three knights was painfully easy.
Somehow, facing a bedraggled Raine and Genis was far more difficult. Lloyd fiddled with the locks on the chains that encircled their wrists while Zelos unceremoniously dumped the bodies of the soldiers into the ocean below.
"The armor'll keep them from floating, so hopefully we won't be charged with murder and attempting to endanger Tethe'alla all in one day." Zelos looked at Lloyd, who was crouched in front of Raine, picking away at the lock with a lock pick he kept on his person—normal tools for the son of a dwarf. "Well, Lloyd, what the hell do we do now? Can't exactly run back to Sybak, and we're banned from Meltokio…"
Lloyd bit his tongue as he wriggled the pick around in the cuff surrounding Raine's hand. "Um…I don't know, sleep in the wilderness for a few weeks? Or until the bridge goes back down? Got it!" Lloyd cried the last triumphantly as the shackle clicked open and Raine pulled her hands free. Her wrists were bloody and layers of skin were rolled off and clung in the blood, like clots of dried red paint.
With only a nod of thanks, Raine grabbed Lloyd's bag and fished out gels to press onto her wrists. She visibly sighed with relief as the cooling ointment touched her skin. Lloyd set to work freeing Genis.
"Bud, that's nuts. We're not staying in the wilderness until they lower the bridge. The second they find out we're on this continent, they'll order the bridge to stay up until they can track us down and get rid of the little angel at least. Our best bet is to get our asses back to Meltokio and spend a few days lying low at my place."
"As ideal as that would be," Sheena snapped, "Meltokio's doors are gonna be closed, and they're guarded when they're open! Getting inside the city'll be impossible for a big group like this! And we're just a bit obvious."
They all turned to face Raine when she sighed softly, her eyes still trained on her wrist as she precariously spread ointment over her destroyed skin. "…I think you are skipping a rather important step in deciding our next movements…" she said softly. Her voice was barely a whisper. "…you must decide if Genis and I will still be permitted to travel with you…" Finally she looked up and her crystal eyes bored into Lloyd's, both begging him to let them stay, and daring him to make the choice for Zelos and Sheena.
"You've got to be frigging kidding me!" Zelos outright laughed, "Did you miss the part where we broke out of Sybak, sprinted across the countryside to get to this damn bridge, practically drowned ourselves and still took out those guards for you? Quite frankly, beautiful, you owe us, and the best way to pay off that debt is to hang out with us and save our lives a few times. Then we'll see what's up."
Raine hesitated, "But…we lied to you…" Again, her words were more directed at Lloyd. She didn't seem ashamed of her actions, but she also wanted Lloyd—and the others—to understand the gravity of the situation.
"Raine…" Lloyd said letting Genis' shackles clatter to the ground as he stood. "A) not a single one of us here hasn't told some sort of lie, B) like Zelos said, we practically killed ourselves trying to save you, and C) you're our friend. Half-elf or elf or dwarf or, well, angel, we're not just about to let you walk off."
"Of course you've gotta come back! I owe you my life, and we're all wanted criminals now!" Sheena smiled grotesquely. Even Presea was nodding, though Colette stared off into nothingness.
The Professor opened her mouth again, clearly meaning to protest, but Genis cut her off. "Raine, give it up! They…they really want us back!" Genis' eyes were wide and filled with excitement.
And, as if to close the deal, Zelos rounded on Lloyd, "Okay, I know what secrets I'm keeping, but what the hell aren't you telling us, Bud?"
Somehow, "Badgering Lloyd" was the game that laughed them off of the Great Tethe'alla Bridge.
…
"Listen and be amazed, Bumpkins!" Zelos declared, looking around at the group. "Here in Meltokio, the gates are closed at night to keep out all the creepy-crawly nasties that might want to eat us up for a midnight snack!" Zelos wiggled his fingers in Genis and Presea's direction, but they both only looked skeptically back. The Chosen chuckled, "Well, the point is, the gates are sealed, but not to worry, I've gotten locked out a fair few times, but I have my secret entrance that'll get us back to my place in no time flat! Follow the Great Zelos and be amazed."
Of course, by "be amazed," Lloyd mused, Zelos must have meant "be disgusted," as that was Lloyd's reaction to the reek that was blow from between the bars of the underground sewer that was the only hole Meltokio's wall had to offer.
"That is completely gross. How can you stand it, Zelos?" Sheena plugged her nose as she squinted into the dark confines of the Meltokio sewers. "And at night, too? Eww…"
Zelos waved her protests aside, "Oh, you get used to the smell after awhile, and we don't spend long inside, the door's not far. Come on, pansy, do you want to sleep outside or inside tonight?" Zelos grabbed Sheena's shoulders and steered her inside. Though Lloyd's couldn't see into the darkness, he heard Sheena shriek as she was, presumably, almost pushed into the greenish sewer waters below.
Lloyd and the others followed more slowly, wrinkling their noses against the offensive scent. They were all clearly tired, and the idea of collapsing into warm beds was the most appealing thing in the world at that moment. Never, though, could Lloyd's mind be so easily occupied. Not only did the group have to send at least the next several hours wandering aimlessly in the dark, smelly sewers, but Colette was still wandering mindlessly behind them.
Part of him couldn't believe he had let things get so out of hand—of course, to the others, these were just more steps forward, but to Lloyd… The guilt that he had let Colette sacrifice her soul again was worse than ever now that he was failing to save her too. He wished that he could talk to Yuan, express his pain to someone who might understand.
The leader of the Renegades was too busy to take calls at the moment, Lloyd was sure. He was trying to assist in a war-resistance. But perhaps, if he got the chance, he would call the Renegades and check up on how the war was going. He didn't know exactly what to do now, continue to try to help Colette? How? And how, if they had the rheiards, was he going to convince the group that they had to make pacts!
"Hurry up, slow-pokes," Zelos called from ahead, "you wanna stay down here with the stench or what?"
When they reached the door, Lloyd fully expected it not to swing open…but it did. The hinges creaked painfully, but the heavy door swung open and the group made their way inside. Lloyd remained standing, staring at the open door. It was supposed to be locked! It was locked last time, what changed? Had the other Papal Knights not made it back to the city? Was there a trap besides Regal and several other convicts waiting on the other side of the door?
This thought process, of course, brought on further panic. There was an ambush waiting just a little further on! In all of his guilt and worry, Lloyd had forgotten about what could be imminent death waiting for them ahead! That was, if Kvar hadn't already gotten to Regal and the Duke wasn't dead! Worries kept Lloyd's feet glued to the wet, almost sticky floor of the sewers. He was too anxious to stay there, but terrified of what he may find if he moved forward.
"Bud?" Zelos called through the darkness. "Yo, dude, what are you doing back there…?" His footsteps echoed through the gloom and someone ahead called back to him. "No, no," Zelos answered, "I got him. You guys go ahead. Bud? Lloyd? You back here?"
"Y-yeah…" Lloyd choked, "It's just…the smell. It's giving me this killer headache…" It had been awhile since he'd had to construct a lie, but the skill came to him easily.
Zelos was standing in front of him now; Lloyd could hear his clothes rustling and see his outline in the darkness. "Maybe this is what I need. I've got a few questions for you… Okay, Bud," he said coolly and he leaned back against the slimy wall of the sewers, somehow managing to find a dry spot to keep his immaculate clothes clean, "time to explain what the hell happened to Sheena. She looked fine the last time I saw her. Either something really f'ed up happened, or Sylvarant's worse than I thought."
Lloyd sighed and dropped his voice, hoping Sheena was far enough away and absorbed in talking to Genis and Raine enough not to hear their conversation. If there was anyone that could distract from a panic, it was Zelos. "…in Sylvarant, there was this village called Luin, and a few miles north of Luin was a Desian Ranch. Even if you're from Tethe'alla, You know who they are, right? Yeah, well Kvar, the leader of the Ranch, attacked Luin while Sheena was staying there. This was before she joined with us, and Kvar wanted to lure me in…and the Chosen…and he used Sheena as bait. We're pretty sure he tortured her, but one way or another, she was way worse off before Raine healed her. Now…well, it's the scarring."
"…son of a bitch…" Zelos whispered. "…that's one helluva way to end up looking…" He crossed his arms and looked down at the saturated stones below their feet. "Damn…"
"So don't freaking bring it up!" Lloyd snapped, "How'd you like it if that was your face? It's not exactly easy to come to terms with!"
The Chosen of Tethe'alla tilted his head to the side and watched Lloyd curiously for a moment, "…you're right of course, Lloydie-boy, it's just…a wee bit shocking, if you know what I mean."
"You should apologize for freaking out at her."
Zelos' laughter echoed around the high-ceilinged room, "You're kidding, right? At the moment, the last thing our little ninja wants is an apology. It'd kill her dignity to think that not only am I going out of my way to be nice to her, I'm pitying her. It'd drive her insane, make everything worse. You seem like you've known her long enough to notice that. She's too proud to admit that I hurt her feelings. My best bet is to just never-ever bring it up again."
"…I disagree…" Lloyd said hesitantly, "but it's up to you… Just…yeah, don't bring it up… You know what your biggest problem is, Zelos?"
"I have no empathy, I'm a tool, I'm conceited, or I'm a bit of a bastard, pick your favorite." He ticked each sin off on a black-gloved finger.
Lloyd shook his head. "You hang out with too many bastards. Not everyone's as heartless as you think they are, Zelos."
Someone's scream echoed through the rooms and back to them. Without communication, both men turned and sprinted back through the door and to the source. Six men, dressed in disgusting clothes, their giant faces illuminated by flickering lantern light, had the rest of the group pushed back against a wall. Most were holding knives or clubs, though at the same time they all had rather long handcuffs. Among them, the tallest of the group, was the bizarrely clean blue head of Regal Bryant. Lloyd could breathe again.
Again, Lloyd was hesitating, watching the world happen around him. Zelos charged ahead, his sword flashing in the dim light as he swiftly cut down the convict trying to crush Genis' windpipe. The young half-elf dropped to the ground, one hand to his injured throat and the other already working up the mana to blast Sheena's guard. Lloyd pushed himself forward, his swords finding angry hold in the back of another convict. The man hissed and spun 'round, in the soft light, Lloyd saw something clear drip from the blade of the man's knife: poison.
He dodged the man's wild swing and blocked the next, expertly twisting his sword so that the convict's knife was sent splashing into the murky sewer water below. Now without a weapon, the man tried to flee, but Lloyd tripped him, sending him skittering across the rough stone floor and Lloyd moved to slam the hilt of his sword into the bastard's skull.
He fell forward, not sure what had hit him for a moment, then dull pain blossomed in his back and air didn't want to return. He fell forward onto his unconscious victim. Lloyd caught himself and half-pushed, half-rolled to look up at his assailant. The man who looked down at him was a solemn-faced Regal.
"I cannot allow you to kill him," Regal nodded once at the convict next to Lloyd. "Death is too kind for him. However, I do not wish to see you all dead either. If you would simply give me the girl, Colette, no more of this has to happen."
Lloyd laughed, "Fat chance of that, though it's refreshing to have someone actually ask instead of straight-up killing us. Still, no. Sorry." He jumped to his feet, his swords expertly positioned to guard against whatever Regal next attempted. Despite the grubbiness of Regal's greaves, Lloyd knew that the man could still do a substantial amount of damage.
Unwilling to attack Regal, Lloyd carefully dodged the duke's first attempts to kick him, but on the third, he found himself backed up against the wall of the sewers. He took the next hit and he felt his breath again slam out of his lungs. His guard dropped and Lloyd braced himself for the next hit. Instead of pain, however, Lloyd heard a grunt and the sound of a heavy object hitting the group.
"Stay away from Lloyd." Presea said emotionlessly, her axe behind her, but ready to swing and, if need be, to kill. Regal was clearly not about to hurt her. His eyes were wide and his mouth practically gaping. He choked for a moment and muttered something incoherent before Raine was upon him.
"Stay," she whacked him with her staff, "away" a second hit, "from," a third, "him!"
Regal was forced to back away and the rest of the convicts, obviously taking orders from the tallest, most commanding of their number, slowly began to follow suit. There were insulting howls thrown at them and Zelos actually shouted angrily back at him, to which Genis called the Chosen a child and the latter's insults were turned on the child.
"You're bleeding," Raine said softly and rested her hand against Lloyd's side. "I think you may have broken a rib… If I heal it tonight and we actually get to Zelos', you should be fine in the morning…" Healing mana gathered at her fingertips and Lloyd felt the soft rush of cool healing mana against the hot burn of his side.
"Guys," Sheena called, "we're almost to the city. We'd better go before those bastards regroup and try to attack again."
They made it up into the cool Meltokio air. The back alley that they crawled into was far from the soft echoes of music from Meltokio's nightlife. No one saw them as they slipped out into the street. This was probably for the better, as the group smelled of sweat and sewers—a rancid combination at best. They quietly moved through empty streets up toward the plaza.
"LLOYDIE!" The scream was loud enough to be heard across Meltokio's plaza and Lloyd spun around, hand already on the hilt of his sword, looking for the unfamiliar voice, worrying that perhaps it was a convict again. The owner was running across the plaza toward them. Green hair, huge, expressive eyes, pale—almost silver—skin defined him as someone Lloyd had never seen before. The man didn't slow down, but almost increased his speed the closer he got to them. Lloyd's friends, instead of moving to protect him, openly stared as well.
The oddity of the situation was what made it difficult for Lloyd to react in time to defend himself and the man collided with him, tacking him to the pavestones in a crushing hold.
"I missed you! Where have you been! Oh you're just so damn cute!" The man's arms tightened in what Lloyd realized was a hug.
"Get off him, you stupid mutt," came the snide remark from above and as Lloyd looked over his assailant's shoulder, he noticed a young boy for the first time. A painfully familiar young boy.
"Mithos!"
…
Kratos Aurion's dark eyes widened in surprise as Kvar shoved him backward. He was forced to abandon his steel blade as it was now crackling with Kvar's lightning attacks. This human—this foolish, foolish human—had thought he had bested Kvar once, but no more would Kratos Aurion believe that he was the better of the two. No power in the universe could save him now.
Kvar's smile stretched too-tight skin over ancient yellowing teeth as he strolled forward, his rod crackling with the lightning that would destroy Aurion. As if only just then realizing that he was going to die, the Seraph's eyes widened. Laughter broke through Kvar's smile and he raised his staff—
There was a piercing pain in the back of his skull, the feeling of flesh being eaten away, and Kvar rounded furiously to see the wrath of Mithos Yggdrasill. The petulant child had somehow managed to take the world, but that was thousands of years ago. Now he was simply one more obstacle in Kvar's way.
"That is quite enough!" Yggdrasill hissed, looking down at the man who had once been his subordinate.
"Oh, I think not…" Kvar grinned and his lightning lashed out at Kratos.
…
That's right…TWO cliffhangers! And you thought I was out of practice…
R&R
~Yoshi