[What-if] What if Martel was Lloyd's mother? What if he was born a few years before the Kharlan War? What if Lloyd unintentionally became the next Chosen? Tales of Symphonia "what-if", partially follows the game/manga/OVA. [AU]

Now, here is chapter five, which is obviously going to be following the game, manga and bits of the OVA, because I love the OVA. I will make a story short of Lloyd's life in Iselia though, because I made another giant time skip to get the story going and all. I didn't want to bore you all to death with my long drawn out…words. This chapter might be a little shorter than the others so far. Sorry about that. Also, small note, Lloyd's going to be sixteen than seventeen, but he'll most likely age later in the story. Responses to reviews are at the bottom as before.

I don't own Tales of Symphonia. I almost typed "Tales of Sylvarant" again. –face palms– Enjoy.

-x-x-x-

The Goddess's Son of Mana

Chapter 5: The Oracle and the Mercenary

-x-x-x-

Carefully, he waited for this day to come. The day of prophecy, in which he would send an angel to convey the twisted message of Cruxis to the Chosen of Sylvarant. Yggdrasil grinned; it was merely twelve years ago that he discovered his long lost nephew's presence and unknowingly to the young angel boy, forced him to become the Chosen through his twisted means. When he ran the boy's mana through many of his sources, it had been a perfect match to his sister's signature. Of course it was; he was her son after all. He would use his nephew's body to revive his sister's life. It was cruel, despicable, and if Kratos found out, the seraph would most likely try to cast Judgment upon him and Cruxis. The tall blond kept to his self-promise; he had not revealed the identity of the new Chosen to either Kratos or Yuan over the course of the twelve years.

During that time, he personally went to check up on the brunet every year he turned a new age. It was spying of course, but he watched him befriend a young girl with blonde hair, who was going to be the Chosen, and a young half-elf boy with whitish-silver hair. The three was close as friends could get, but the blond and his nephew were even closer. That would factor in a problem when the brunet would eventually leave on his journey, but then again, it would most likely strengthen him to keep going. However, one thing was for certain. Kratos would nearly recognize Lloyd due to his already angelic given mana, and the fact the boy already had angel wings before the Cruxis Crystal. That was another problem; he would figure out that this Lloyd was his son and then come after him with demanding questions.

"I'll simply say the boy is a reincarnation of Lloyd… It may be hard to say, but I can't let Kratos get attached to him. He is necessary. He is a tool, and I will use him until I cannot anymore." Yggdrasil told himself, as he turned away from the Great Seed that harbored his sister's soul. He looked up at her sadly, the day she was stabbed replaying back in his mind like someone hit a rewind button. He kept his emotions hidden for now; his audience with Kratos was within the seconds.

"Kratos." The blond haired half-elf began as the dead-looking seraph looked at him in response. "As you know, sixteen years ago—" he lied, which in fact it was twelve years ago, "—I have made arrangements for a new Chosen on Sylvarant. The day in which the oracle will be received is today, and I want you to protect the Chosen."

"…Isn't it Yuan's turn to?"

"No. And I want you to do it. I find you'd be more qualified than Yuan. Besides, that man is busy with another task I gave him." Yggdrasil said.

"Very well then."

"Yes. The name of the new Chosen is…" The blond paused, "Lloyd Brunel."

The mentioning of the name snapped whatever death in Kratos alive. The name; it was so familiar and yet so foreign at the same time. As soon as he thought there was a chance his son was alive, it was instantly drowned out by factoring in how many centuries it had been since the child had been lost. There was absolutely no way he could be alive. Yggdrasil studied his master's expression when he gave the name of the new Chosen, having suspected this would happen. The auburn attempted to make a connection and comparison with his Lloyd, the young angel with this "new" one. After the light observation, Yggdrasil continued. "I understand…he shares the name of your son, my nephew, but I've found no sort of connection with him and our Lloyd." Kratos' expression fell deeper. "However, it appears he is a reincarnation of our Lloyd. He almost looks like an exact replica." Now, there was his lie again. "It's as if Martel is blessing us with another chance."

Like hell she is, Kratos wanted to say, but didn't.

"I don't want you getting attached to this boy, Kratos. He is not your son. He may be a reincarnation, but he isn't our same little Lloyd. Don't forget and don't allow your emotions to best you."

Even if he was not his son, he would never let the boy reincarnate be harmed. It would be too much a pain, to remind him of his failures. "Kratos, you will act as a mercenary and lead the Chosen to each seal to awaken the mana within them. Don't fail me."

The man simply nodded, "…As you wish." He left the room in a slow pace, never looking back at Yggdrasil. This was going to be a long day from here on out. If the boy, the new Chosen, was anything like his son, he would have a difficult time remaining emotionless and distant.

-x-x-x-

Twelve Years Ago

-x-x-x-

It was strange to the Brunels, whom had adopted the young boy, Lloyd into their home that night. It was even stranger to the villagers who knew of his existence. Three years had passed, but the child remained three foot tall, under thirty pounds of weight and appeared young. It was as if he was ageless; they had asked how old he was and he repeated many times he was four. The day he was brought into the village was the day they celebrated his birthday, but the boy continued to speak his age as being four. It was rather odd. During the three years of such oddity, Frank's wife had given birth to their daughter, Colette, and was raised alongside their adopted son, Lloyd. When the girl was three, her mother had been killed by a Desian, leaving her motherless; despite never knowing this, she was raised by her father and grandmother. At age three, she finally befriended her adopted brother, making him talk more often. Lloyd had been the silent one ever since that night.

Not only that, he had been escorted to the MartelTemple southeast of Iselia every day for five hours at the most. The priests were instructing the child to become Chosen-like in attitude; even giving him ten rules he must follow in order to become selfless and appreciative. It wasn't hard for the boy to accept them, but the lessons were boring and growing tedious. All the while, as he grew, he began experiencing strange pains and oddities. First, he felt nothing but noticed food became tasteless and bitter, no matter what flavor it was mixed in. Secondly, after a few days, he had a hard time sleeping and noticed he couldn't sleep any longer.

Regardless, the boy struggled to go to sleep every night. Thirdly, he noticed his sense of touch had faded off or something because he couldn't even feel how hot the hot chocolate cups were or how cold the winters of Iselia were when they came. Fourthly, his emotions seemed to have closed up. He could smile and laugh lightly, get upset at the base of anger, and get borderline sad when sympathizing with a tragedy, but other than that, he could not express his emotions any further. Internally, Lloyd was becoming scared though didn't bother telling anyone of these "symptoms", afraid they wouldn't be able to help him.

Lastly, out of all of them, he suddenly lost his voice and sharp pain surged through his body, mostly from his back. Something was trying to extend itself from his back. The pain subsided within a few minutes, now shifting into a pleasant, tickling sensation. Lloyd quizzically wondered what was going on, but believed he felt this tickling feeling before. Now, where in the world would he have known this? "Where…?" He wondered, closing his eyes, trying to think. His memory easily remembered the night he met Forcystus, known as the half-elf grand cardinal of the Iselia human ranch that the village had forged a treaty with to protect him from Desians. He remembered everything the past three years prior, how Frank Brunel took him in. However, before those memories, the one he was trying to reach, were clouded.

Darkness surrounded him, he could tell. He had been crying for someone—his mother, his father. He cried for someone to get him out of something that he was trapped in. He remembered laughter and a woman's voice, singing to him in a language he now recognized. It was the angelic language; he was being taught how to read and write it, and the boy learned exceptionally fast compared to previous Chosens. These voices, he couldn't put faces to them, and it left him at a cliffhanger or despair. Why was it so hard to remember anything before meeting the Iselians? "…Maybe…that woman's voice is my mommy." Lloyd deduced, having no other reason or idea who else it could be. The voice sounded motherly, so therefore it had to be. As soon as Lloyd returned to reality, he noticed the area he had been sitting in to suffer the symptoms alone had lit up in a bluish green hue of light. Perplexed, he looked around, only to notice that he was making that glow!

Behind him were two, dove like wings, diamond-patterned and longer than the length of his own arms. In fact, they looked like they doubled in length of his arms. They were downed in a gradient shade of blue to green, then white at the bottom of the transparent feathers. If it had been anyone else, they would have freaked out and caused a scene at noticing the wings behind them, but Lloyd, he didn't feel afraid. In fact, he had a feeling he knew these wings existed, but never knew why they did. As if memory lane decided to bring itself upon the boy, Lloyd suddenly remembered how to put them away. He closed his eyes and thought about putting them away, to make them hide. When they were withdrawn and faded off in a flash of bluish-white light, the boy frowned. "Something in my mind is trying to…come out. …Why did I know what to do? I'm so weird."

After his growing friendship with Colette, Lloyd's body mysteriously began growing like a normal child's. This baffled the Brunels, they didn't know why that was. They eventually concluded that because Lloyd was the Chosen, he would grow slower than most kids. As the Chosen aged to six and Colette turned five, a young elf woman who went by the name Raine Sage came, pleading for help with her infant brother and a place to live. The mayor willingly agreed to have the elf siblings in their village, welcoming them much differently than when they were pressured to take in Lloyd. Said brunet minded not the situation, but had a strange feeling about the elven Sages. Something he found kinship in, like when he met Forcystus years ago. Five years later, the younger brother of Raine, Genis Sage, became good, close friends with Colette and Lloyd.

The three children grew up together since then, always hanging out and away from the other kids in the village. Raine eventually replaced Colette's grandmother, Phaidra, as the teacher of the Iselian schoolhouse. On their spare time, if any, the children would use their toys to practice some form of weapon, or pretend using weapons. Genis, having bought a new kendama for his seventh birthday, Colette with some dog Frisbees and Lloyd picked up two sticks, smiling. He apparently thought having two sticks would make him twice as strong, applying this from what he learned in school. Of course, logic doesn't work that way, but the boy truly believed in that. When he grew older, he would have the nice dwarf outside the IseliaForest, Dirk, make him some.

Even though the people were being nice to him, Lloyd knew he had to hide his weird symptoms. He would have to pretend eating, sleeping, and expressing emotions whenever they came. Most importantly, he would have to hide those wings. They weren't normal, after all.

-x-x-x-

Today was the day of prophecy, also known as Lloyd's sixteenth birthday. His two best friends, Colette, now fifteen, and Genis, who was now eleven, were inside the schoolhouse, being instructed on the lesson of the Journey of Regeneration, the Great Kharlan War, and the Desians. Majority of the class groaned at Raine's lesson plan; it was always taught on Lloyd's birthdays, or at least a few days before his birthdays. However, today, an oracle of Cruxis, which the village had been patiently waiting for, would arrive sometime today. The brunet would become the Chosen of Regeneration, and begin his journey to restoring mana upon Sylvarant. As exciting as that sounded to many people, Lloyd wasn't as excited about it. On his eighth birthday, the priests of the Martel Temple revealed to him the truth about the journey and what would become of him.

He would have to travel Sylvarant and release the four seals that would guard the entrance of the Tower of Salvation.

Each seal would take away something of his abilities, so he could be purified of his earthly attachments and human qualities.

Then, at the final seal, he would sacrifice himself to die for the goddess Martel, be reborn as an angel and restore mana unto the world.

The child didn't mind everything that was told to him except the fact his body would be sacrificed to save the world from mana depletion. He would have to die for the goddess Martel. Not only that, but the name "Martel" made the boy shudder or he would ball into tears, regardless of what mood he would be in. The name struck him on a hard nerve. He soon figured out, connecting the dots, that the symptoms he experienced years ago—which somewhat died off as he could somewhat express emotion, he had his voice back obviously and could taste—were the cause of becoming an angel. Lloyd realized he became an angel before going on the trials! Adding to this cause of mood swings and realization, Lloyd would sometimes hear a strange woman's voice calling to him, either at night when he was sleeping or during random times of the day. He couldn't ever figure out who was talking to him, and most of the time, during class, it would heavily distract him.

Like it was today.

"Lloyd Brunel! Snap out of it!" shouted Raine from her desk. When they boy had made no move to acknowledge her, the silver-haired elf picked up the nearest eraser and chucked it at the day-dreaming teen. Instead of the board eraser smacking into his forehead like it normally would, the brunet raised his hand subconsciously and caught it. Everyone in the class, including the boy's friends watched in baffled amazement, staring as he closed his hand with the eraser and unintentionally crushed it. The class was stunned, more or less.

"Lloyd Brunel…!"

"…huh?" The teen answered finally, snapping to reality. When he saw the fuming rage of Raine's face, he realized what exactly was going on. Uh-oh.

"You were day-dreaming again when I asked you a question."

"…I'm sorry, Raine. It won't happen again." The young Chosen apologized, standing up from his seat and bowing politely. "I was distracted by—"

"Yes, I'm aware you're anxious for the oracle to come, but please, try and pay attention." The elf woman said. "Sit down, Lloyd."

"Yes ma'am." The boy obeyed, sitting back in his chair. He noticed his classmates were staring at him as if he had grown three heads; he had been oblivious to when he crushed the eraser a few minutes ago, not realizing he performed something inhuman-like. Regardless, Raine snapped the class back to attention with the drop of her heavy books upon the front desk. The teacher began again, "Now then, let's continue. Genis, would you please answer the question?" The silver-haired boy nodded as he stood up from his seat, a book in his hands however he wasn't looking at it.

"Mithos, the hero, brought about the end of the Ancient War in the Holy Ground of Kharlan. Afterwards, Mithos formed a pact with the Goddess Martel to seal away the Desians whom caused the war."

"Correct." Raine said with a smile.

"But, they're coming back and making everybody to suffer…" A boy in the class said sadly.

"Yes, that's true, but we covered that in yesterday's class." Raine told the kid, who had reddish-orange hair. "Remember? When the Seal weakens, the Desians reappear, just like they have now."

"Y-yeah…" the boy mumbled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Today is the Day of Prophecy," Raine continued to instruct the class. "It is a very important day, which the Chosen of Mana will receive an oracle from the Goddess Martel." She turned her attention to Lloyd, who looked upon her expectantly. He had a feeling he was going to be picked to answer the next question. "Lloyd, would you like to answer this next question?"

"Ah, sure." The boy said with a nod.

"Tell us about the journey of world regeneration."

Lloyd paled but had hid it well; so well, his best friends couldn't tell he was hiding it. He stood up from his seat again. "It's a journey to seal the Desians," he began, almost angrily, not at himself but because it wasn't half of the truth. That he would have to die in order for the world to survive. The very thought continued to plague him, however, the teen kept it to himself as he talked on. "Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the Summon Spirits that protect the world will awaken, and then mana is restored."

"That is correct," Raine said as she smiled at Lloyd. Oh, if they all knew the true meaning behind this. "I suppose we should expect the Chosen himself to know the answer to that one." She nodded for the teen to sit back down, and he do so politely. "Mana depletion is the cause of the current food shortages and droughts. It is said that this occurs because the Desians consume vast amounts of mana in their human ranches. The journey has two purposes; one, is to revive mana to the world, and secondly, to defeat the Desians." Everyone was taking notes as she continued. "Now, onto the next question…"

As if a divine prank was pulled, a flash of light erupted from absolutely nowhere, blinding the people inside the building as well as outside.

"Th-that flash of light!" one woman outside started.

"It…It's the oracle!" another continued.

"Oh!" more villagers chanted, relief entering their hearts. Now their Chosen, whom they've raised, could finally begin his journey!

Inside the schoolhouse, when they light died down, but a large pillar of it could still be seen, the entire class left their chairs to look outside the nearby windows, ecstatic. They lived to see the oracle beaming down, and were amazed by its shine. Lloyd, however, didn't even budge at the sight of the light. Today was the day, now was the hour, and he felt his heart crunch up. This would be his last time to live as a person, as normal of a life he could possibly ever live. He would have to leave his friends here as he went on this journey to unlock seals and go under trials. His eyes looked over the forms of the excited Colette and Genis, who were chatting with the other students. Yes, he'd have to leave them behind. They could never know what would happen to him at the end of the journey. He couldn't allow them to get hurt. They would be safe staying here in Iselia where no harm can befall them.

However, outside the village, a group of men dressed in blue and armor were approaching. One in particular had a V-shaped mop of dark brown hair was in the lead, eyes narrowing. "It's time. Let's get this over with, men."

"Yes sir." The other saluted and hurried to the village, armed with blades. As they left, the man in charge rubbed his small goatee, sighing. This wasn't something he enjoyed but it had to be done. His boss ordered for this attack in order to protect the young life from doing something so foolish, even if it meant taking their life. It was the only way to prevent the vicious cycle from repeating itself.

"Forgive me, young one. But this has to stop."

-x-x-x-

"Now everyone, settle down." Raine tried to assure the class. "It would seem that the time for the oracle has come. I will go and check on the chapel." The students turned from the window, having a mixture of expressions. "Everyone, stay here and study on your own. Understood?" Some students groaned but decided to listen to their teacher anyway. They shuffled to their desks as Raine got up from her own, proceeding to leave the classroom. However, before she could fully exit, Lloyd stood up from his desk.

"Wait, Professor Raine. I should go with you." The teen said, beginning to make his way over.

Raine shook her head, objecting. "No Lloyd, if it's really the oracle, the priests will come for you. Wait here with everyone else."

"…Yes ma'am…" Lloyd sighed in defeat, disappointed. He knew that was the oracle because the priests told him how it would appear. When she was gone, and left the schoolhouse—Lloyd noticed as his enhanced hearing capabilities allowed him to hear them—he headed for the exit of the class. However, his friend Genis walked up to him, frowning.

"Uh, Lloyd. My sister just said that we should wait here and study on our own."

"I know, but…it that's the oracle, then I have to go and receive it. I can't just stay here and wait for the priests to come for me."

"Yeah but… I rather you not get in trouble because of not listening to my sister."

"I understand your concern, Genis. But this is something I have to do…I am the Chosen…" His pale gold-brown eyes found themselves upon his adopted sister, smiling a little. "Colette, would you like to come with me?" Aforementioned girl blinked as she sat up from her desk, also smiling.

"Um, sure, Lloyd." She chirped.

"I…really think you shouldn't." Genis began protesting.

"I think it'll be fun to see Lloyd getting the oracle, wouldn't you, Genis?" The blonde asked, still smiling. "I know you're curious about it…I sure am!"

"Y-yeah I am, but what about my sister?"

"I'll take the blame for you two coming with me. How does that sound?" Lloyd said. "Come on…"

The trio left the classroom, down the hall and exited the schoolhouse. However, as soon as they did, the entire village seemed different. Everyone disappeared! Colette gasped, Genis stared and Lloyd paled; what had happened? Before the brunet could ask, Genis beat him to it. "W-where is everyone? Where'd they go?" Those were Lloyd's exact questions he was going to ask rhetorically. As if on cue, an injured man walked up slowly towards them, bleeding from head to toe. It was a priest, no doubt.

"Ch-Chosen One!" the man croaked loudly as he could, Lloyd took notice first, followed by Colette and Genis. It was the pastor! He couldn't make it towards Lloyd, falling down towards the ground.

"What happened?!" Lloyd questioned worriedly as he caught the wounded man in a hurry.

"Are you all right?!" Genis was next to ask. Obviously, from the wounds, this man would most likely die from them…

"De…Desians attacked the t-temple…" the pastor began, coughing blood up as he spoke.

"Wait, Iselia has a non-aggression treaty with the Desians…" the elven boy said, now confused.

"You mean that agreement the mayor made as long as we leave the human ranch alone?" Colette blinked, looking at the pastor, then to her friends, tilting her head.

Lloyd nodded. "Yeah. It was made to protect me…" He said sorrowfully. "Even your grandmother told me that, Colette."

"O-oh."

They stopped chatting when the priest began coughing up more blood, making the teens panic even more and worry further. "I…I don't… know why…" the pastor said weakly, "but they have broken the treaty… Chosen One…hurry…" He looked to Lloyd with his last, hopeful gaze. "Please…Receive the oracle…" Lloyd nodded, his eyes never leaving the dying man's own.

"I promise I will."

"Please…be careful…" He choked again, his eyes growing heavy. "I… I regret that I…could not protect…the Chosen…" He muttered out his last, his breath drawing out slower. The three watched painfully as the man lied there, still and silent as a rock, unmoving. He was dead. Colette began crying, Genis frowned and looked away and Lloyd put on a determined face. Already, people were dying because of him. He was going to be a burden more than a savior if he didn't receive the oracle and head out to his journey. He lied the dead man's body down upon the ground's surface, standing up, having said a small prayer to the dead man's body. There was work to be done.

"Already…" He mumbled to himself, clenching his fists. "I'm going…" Lloyd told them, heading towards the path that led to the temple.

"Colette, we can't let him go by himself. Desians are inside there!" Genis protested.

"I know." The girl began. "We have to go with him. Do you remember what Lloyd says about the Dwarven Vows Dirk taught to all of us?"

"Yeah. Dwarven Vow #1: 'Let's all work together for a peaceful world.'"

The two nod before rushing after Lloyd, catching up with him before he got too far. However, it wasn't long until a man with short, blond hair, now a middle-aged man, rushed towards them, panicking and tired. This was Frank, Colette's birth father and Lloyd's adopted one. The three teens stopped when he caught up to them, surprised. "F-father!" Colette called to him.

"Colette, Lloyd, Genis!" The man breathed out, panting. "You're all okay, I'm glad."

"Mr. Frank, what happened? Why's the village so deserted? Was it the Desians? Is it true they attacked the temple?"

"Yes." Frank replied, catching his breath. "Thankfully, no one was hurt here in the village. They also had passed through here and everyone got scared and went into their houses. They headed towards the temple." The three friends exchanged worried glances, finally knowing the pastor was right. The Desians had broken the treaty after all! What were they up to, anyway? "I… I fear for the worst now…"

"Father, where is grandmother?"

"Mother is at the temple, and that's why I fear for the worst. She went earlier to prepare the ritual."

Genis turned to his friends, angered. "We have to go there! They could be attacking the temple as we speak!"

"But, she is with the other priests." Colette said, still frowning but still hopeful. "They…They'll protect her. She's not alone."

"Still…" Genis mumbled.

Frank turned to Lloyd, who had been quiet most of the time, observing the conversation that had passed. "Lloyd…"

"I know. I have to receive the oracle, but…" The boy paused, nodding his head behind him. "The…pastor… He came here to warn us of the Desians. He died…"

"I…see. I'm so sorry, Lloyd. The priests had been a family to you as we were…"

"That's why I have to go and start this journey so the Desians can be sealed and I can save everyone." He looked down. "People are sacrificing themselves for me already. I can't let them die because of me. If I can do something, I'll do it, and by receiving the oracle and going on the journey, I'd be doing just that."

"And we'll be there to help him." Genis added bravely, something he thought he'd never do personally. Where had this bravery come from? Oh well; he liked sounding that way. He would prove that he would be the one keep Lloyd protected. They were best friends after all. "Colette, you'll come too, right?" The elf boy asked.

"Yes. I want to see what will happen to Lloyd when he gets the oracle. I want to be there with him."

"But…" Frank started to object but saw the determination from all three. He sighed in defeat. "All right then. You three be careful and stay together, you hear?"

"We will, Father. Thank-you."

"Okay. Good luck to you all."

The man watched as the teens rushed past him, leaving for the temple's direction. He sighed; not only was his only daughter going but his adopted son, as well as Raine's little brother. In any way one would look at it, they were all they had left. Colette was the remainder of his late wife, Genis was the only family Raine had, and Lloyd; he was the Chosen. If he were to perish now, then all hope would be lost. Frank shook his head, heading over towards the schoolhouse where Lloyd mentioned the priest. As he was halfway there, a person was kneeling by him. He was tall, if he stood up, wearing a rather odd, purple outfit. His auburn hair was shoulder length, and his long bangs covered over his left eye, almost the entire left side of his face. His eyes were closed as if he was meditating, but that wasn't it. Was he…praying?

"…Sir?" Frank called over, wondering and curious. Curiosity seemingly ran in the family as Colette was no different.

The stranger stood up to his full height, exposing a sheathed sword at his left. He turned to face Frank with matching auburn eyes. "…" He dotted silently, but didn't seem like a threat. The father approached the dead man's body, sighing. The kids were right, however, but his gaze turned to the strange traveler. "Sir, are you—?"

"Where is the MartelTemple?" He asked.

That was a strange request, but nonetheless. "I-It's that way." Frank pointed out. "But you'll want to be careful. Desians are attacking the temple right now. The Chosen—Lloyd went to receive the oracle. Please, if you know anything of swordsmanship, please protect him and his friends…" The auburn stole a glance at Frank momentarily when he spoke Lloyd's name, almost as if it was poison. They remained that way for only a while until it was broken off by the swordsman. Also, as if taking this as a "yes I'll do it" answer, the stranger left in the direction given, leaving quietly as he came, oddly enough. Frank blinked curiously, watching him go. Who was that guy? His eyes looked so dead when their gazes locked for only a few seconds.

"…I wonder who that guy was… He looked…strange. Like…" He stopped himself, glancing up to the sky. "…Like…Lloyd. Only older…"

-x-x-x-

"Where is the Chosen?!" A Desian in blue shouted as he pushed an elderly woman, Phaidra, down. The old lady groaned in pain, but managed to get up and back away into the temple, frowning. As soon as she was about to recoil, the teenagers of Iselia appeared, gasping.

"Grandmother!" Colette shouted.

"Lady Phaidra!" Lloyd called out next. The old woman noticed them first, terrified.

"Colette! Genis! Chosen! Hurry! Get away!" She exclaimed worriedly.

The Desians turned around when they heard the teens' voices, scowling. One noticed the brunet standing in between the other two, pointing accusingly with his sword. "Lord Botta! There he is!" the henchman shouted. The man with the V-shaped brown hair turned, looking at Genis at first. No, that couldn't be him; he was much too young and according to his boss's light description of their target, he had brown hair. Then, he directed his eyes at Lloyd, narrowing them. This boy had brown hair and seemingly matched. Yes, this was the Chosen they were looking for. "Chosen One, your life is mine!" Botta shouted.

Genis took out his kendama as Colette with her chakrams. Lloyd glared the man as he addressed him like an object. He hated that. "I won't let you Desians get away with this!" Genis yelled. This caused the Desians in blue to laugh mockingly.

"Desians? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" One laughed.

Genis blinked, anger rising but confused. "Wh-what's so funny!?" He growled.

"Well then…" Another Desian stepped forward, sword in hand. "Die at the Desians you so hate!" He jabbed his blade forward like a finger. "Get them!" The half-elves charged at the teens, rushing at them with their weapons clung tightly. Lloyd grimaced; he didn't have any weapons on him, and there was no way he'd get two swords, either. The wooden ones in Iselia broke each time he had practiced with them. He figured his inner strength, being an angel—in secret—was too much for the wooden blades. So, all he could do was use magic; he had been taught by Raine privately and personally.

"Ray Thrust!" Colette shouted as she threw a chakram discs at one the Desians, knocking him back slightly.

"Fire Ball!" Genis yelled in chant, finishing off the Desian Colette attacked. There were two more left.

One Desian attempted to charge Lloyd, but was dodged by the brunet who drop kicked the grunt upon his back. The boy quickly channeled a little mana in his body, pushing down on the Desian's back, shouting, "Lightning!" The electric shock of magic power surged through Lloyd, connecting with the Desian's body, electrocuting the half-elf. Genis and Colette looked in Lloyd's direction, stunned. Did their friend use magic? When did he learn this? As soon as that happened, the last Desian charged them wildly, only to be defeated by the children using magic and chakrams in retaliation. Lloyd noticed the dead Desian's swords and pieced together his only option of self defense other than magic. He quickly rushed to grab two of them by their hilts. The defeat of his henchmen angered Botta; this Chosen and his friends were quite strong for kids, but he wouldn't allow them to go too soon.

"This is getting frustrating. Vidarr!" Botta yelled.

Soon, a much taller, muscular Desian emerged, startling all three of the teens. How could they defeat this guy? They had a little advantage, being smaller than him. Vidarr growled, spinning his spiked ball-in-chain weapon and slamming it to the ground. The impact knocked the three children down, making them tumble a distance. They groaned, but stood up; they couldn't fail! However, as Lloyd was preparing to stand, Vidarr towered him, his spiked ball railing towards him! The brunet's eyes widened, his heart cringed. No…he was going to die before getting the oracle! Then, the Desians could run rampant once more and hurt people! No!

"Lloyd!" Colette screamed in fear.

"Look out!" Genis panicked. The brunet, shaken in fear, closed his eyes, doomed for the worst.

The spiked ball got within a few inches of Lloyd's face, only to be reflected off with clang of steel. It recoiled off and Vidarr growled, stumbling back. Colette and Genis stared, wide-eyed as they saw a man in purple, with auburn hair, having appeared from nowhere. Lloyd opened his eyes, noticing the sounds echoed in his ears, but instead of seeing death, he saw this stranger. Where did he come from? How did he deflect that attack so swiftly? Apparently, his friends were wondering the same way, bewildered.

The man noticed the brunet's gaze, looking back at him with a ninety-degree gaze. "Get out of the way…" He told the Chosen.

Just who exactly WAS this guy?

Galdr: And, that's the end of this! XD Haha-yes…Kratos. It's sadly time for me to go to work!

Quick responses to reviews:

SailorMint (Guest): Your heart? D: I'm sorry, if Chapter four was sad.

Marina Ka-Fai (Guest): Hey, you're not signed into your account? XD Well, I'm glad you like! Yes, Lloyd's back!

Thanks for the reviews, faves and all! Review if you like!