Me: It's not over yet! Here's chapter two!

Kratos: Must I do the disclaimer again?

Me: Nah, I got it. I don't any of the Tales of Symphonia characters or their adventures. Wish I did. Some characters more than others... *cough*

Kratos: ... I must go. *walks away*

Me: Review please!

Chapter 2

No one remembered how long they stood like that, the only sound the soft crying of Genis, Raine Sheena, and Colette.

"No. No no no NO!" Zelos shout shattered the silence. He slid down next to Colette. "He can't be! He's the one that was supposed to survive! Dammit Lloyd!" He glared at Lloyd's face, willing it to react.

Presea walked up and slid her hand into Genis's, and, for once, Genis only continued to stare straight ahead.

Regal made his way to above Lloyd's head. He knelt down and gently closed Lloyd's eyes. He would have said something to comfort the two next to him, but there was nothing to say.

Kratos sat still with his eyes closed. Colette clung to Lloyd's sleeve and cried into her own.

"What now? What are we supposed to do now?" Sheena asked, rubbing her eyes fiercely to try to stop the tears.

Zelos opened his mouth to answer, but stopped as Kratos broke out of his stillness. Everyone watched in silence as he gently laid his son on the ground. He stood up, his back to the party.

"We have to go." His voice was slightly hoarse, but firm. "The worlds are not yet safe. We must use the eternal sword and plant the Great Seed." He began to walk forward.

"How can you say that?" Zelos yelled. Kratos stopped. "You just lost your son and you're already thinking about the next step? What the hell kind of man are you?"

Kratos turned around and stared at Zelos. Zelos felt himself take an involuntary step backwards under the weight of that glare. Despite the tears that still threatened to fall, never had Zelos seen eyes so empty, not even when Colette had lost her soul. Kratos, he realized, was going through pain he couldn't even imagine.

"The last time I lost my son, Chosen, I lost all will to live, all will to fight. Every part of me wants give up here as well. But I promised Lloyd I would continue to fight. I will not allow him to die for nothing. We must continue to save the worlds for his sake. There will be time to mourn later."

Zelos scoffed and turned away.

Colette stood up slowly and walked over to Kratos. She was still crying, but her breathing was under control. "Here," she said, holding out her hand.

Kratos held out his palm and Colette dropped two small objects into it. One was the locket. The other was Lloyd's exsphere. "I took them off. You should have them."

Kratos nodded. "I will take the locket. But, Chosen One, you should keep his exsphere. You were important to him. He would have wanted you to keep something."

Colette clutched the small globe to her chest, her breath catching slightly. "Please. Let's end this," she whispered.

Kratos turned to the group. "Everyone?"

"I…I agree with Kratos." Everyone turned to look at Genis, his knuckles white around his kendama. "Lloyd just di…" He cleared his throat and started over. "We lost Lloyd because of that tree and the two worlds. I want to finish this. For him."

"Agreed." Presea gave Genis's hand a small squeeze.

Sheena's eyes glinted, already ready for action now that a plan was starting to form. "Let's do it. It isn't going to be easy without Lloyd here, but I think we should honor his goal."

"I, too, would like to continue fighting. First Alicia, now Lloyd… We need to end this chain of loss," Regal added.

Raine sniffed one more time before uncovering her face. "What a fool. He always did have a way of saving everyone else before saving himself. I'm ready to help in any way I can."

"I'll carry Lloyd," Zelos spoke up suddenly. "I still don't agree with your push-on-and-save-the-day act, but I sure as hell don't want Lloyd staying in a place like this."

Kratos nodded once more. "Thank you, Chosen."

With one last look at Lloyd's face, now on Zelos's arm, Kratos spun around and led the team outside.