Hey again, sorry for the late update. Just as a warning for anyone actually reads this part, I will be updating very randomly from now on. Anyway, enjoy. Oh, and I do not own Tales of Symphonia, Namco does blah, blah, blah, etc, etc.

Lloyd and Kratos wee staring at each other, neither seemed to hold the need to blink. "Is what Pronyma says is true?" asked Lloyd. Kratos did not answer, but merely continued to stare absent minded at him. "Answer me!" he yelled, "Are you really my fa…" he couldn't bring himself to say that word.

"Yes, I am." Kratos replied calmly. "And I'm sorry that you had to hear it from someone other than me."

"Oh, that's ALL you're sorry for!?" exclaimed Lloyd, "You're not sorry for never telling me? For betraying us even though you knew? For putting Sheena in danger?" he drew one of his swords and slashed at him.

Kratos raised his sword to meet Lloyd's, stopping it in its track, "I am sorry for many things that I have done and not done in my lifetime, Lloyd. And believe me, there are a lot of things that have haunted me in turn."

This had not affect at all in diminishing Lloyd's anger, however, as he swung his other sword at his father. "And the fact that you're sorry makes up for it?" Kratos merely dodged his second assault, and then kicked Lloyd right in the stomach, winding him badly.

"Listen to me, Lloyd. I'm sorry about what Yggdrasil did to Sheena, but believe me, I had no idea of his intentions. I would never want you to go through the pain that I did with Anna." He paused, but Lloyd did not say anything, "I never wanted you to join Cruxis like me, and I have a plan to stop Yggdrasil, but only if you decide to help me."

Lloyd stared into his eyes, and saw the sincerity within him, but he still could not help asking, "Why should I trust you?"

"Like Anna, you have the tendency to trust those who appear not to deserve it, like Sheena who attempted to kill your childhood friend. So I'm asking you to show that trust once more. I know you may never forgive me, but I need your help." And he sheathed his sword, waiting for Lloyd's reply.

0000000

Sheena remained curled up in a ball, her eyes closed, violent images kept flashing through her head. She saw Corrine, being struck by Volt, Volt, killing half of her village, her grandfather, falling into a coma, and Lloyd, being stabbed, slashed, crushed, tortured before her very eyes, being unable to do anything. She then saw Lloyd, talking with Yggdrasil, whispering in her ear, placing something in her hand…then she was in Mizuho. Was Lloyd alive? She saw him die so many times, but not the last time. She knew she was in Mizuho, was she about to re-live Volt's savage attack upon her village? She was so confused. She didn't even know if anything she had seen was real.

"Sheena?" said a voice. She knew that voice, that kind, considerate voice.

'Colette?' she thought. She had not been present at either of her attempts to form a pact with Volt.

"Sheena?" Asked the voice again, "Can you hear me?"

She opened her eyes, the bright sky shining into her eyes. She gasped, in the reflection of the window, she saw a blonde-haired figure, in white clothing. "No!" she gasped, closing her eyes again, 'Yggdrasil!' Surely that meant Lloyd was about to die once again.

"Sheena!" Colette said in surprise, "It's me, Sheena! It's Colette!"

She recognised the voice, but she was sure that she saw Yggdrasil. Was it a trick was she imagining it? She wished Lloyd was there. "Lloyd!"

'Lloyd?' she thought, "Sheena, Lloyd's safe. He's safe, Sheena!"

She did not know what to think. Was Lloyd alive? She saw him die many times…many times? She clenched her fists, and felt something in her right hand. She opened her eyes just enough to look. There she saw an exsphere, Lloyd's exsphere! And a note, with Lloyd's writing on! She remembered Lloyd, giving her these objects and whispering, 'Stay safe' in her ear. But then what? She opened her eyes and sat up fast. "Lloyd?"

0000000

Lloyd and Kratos were walking through the streets of Welgaia, which Kratos had walked for hours the last day.

"So Yggdrasil is really the ancient hero, Mithos?" asked Lloyd, looking highly surprised.

"Yes."

"And you and Yuan were the two who helped him?"

"Yes."

Lloyd was having a bit of difficulty taking all of this in, let alone accepting and understanding it. It was a shock to find out that Kratos was his father, let alone he was 4000 years old, and was the one who fought alongside Mithos the Hero. "But why did he become evil, and get the whole lifeless beings thing stuck in his head?"

Kratos paused before answering, as if it was a very difficult thing to say. "As well as Yuan and myself, there was a third person who accompanied Mithos, his sister Martel."

"You mean, the Goddess?" asked Lloyd, shocked.

"She was never a goddess, but she was as kind and humble as priests dictates she was, and Mithos cherished her more than anything else in the world." He sighed, before continuing, "After Mithos had quelled the war between the two continents, we discovered a group that still wanted the war to continue. We believe that they were there ones who started it in the first place. They were angry with us of course, and wanted revenge. They captured Martel, and murdered her right in front of our eyes." He growled to himself. "We were all angry, and slaughtered all of the soldiers they sent at us, and then…and then the damage was done. The Giant Kharlan Tree had barely survived through the war, and our rage filled attack was what made it lose hope in humanity, and it too died in front of us. Using the power of the summon spirits whom Mithos made pacts with, and the Eternal Sword, he sealed what little mana was left from the tree, and split the two continents into two separate worlds." Ignoring Lloyd's gasp of even further surprise, he continued, "The idea of the two worlds was originally to preserve them long enough to revive the Giant Kharlan Tree…but Mithos never forgave those who murdered Martel, and wanted to punish all those who share the same blood as them. He used Martel's Cruxis Crystal to preserve her soul within the Great Seed, turned her into a god in the worlds, and merely preserved them in order to find an appropriate vessel for Martel."

"Man…" said Lloyd. "I never dreamed the reason why Yggdrasil hated mankind was because of that. How was it even possible for him to even split the two worlds?"

"There is a Summon Spirit known as Origin. He is Lord of all Summon Spirits, and has power over all things; time, space, everything. Mithos made a pact with him and requested a sword that shared his power. He used the sword to split the worlds, then sealed Origin away, so no other summoner could use his power."

"Is that why he kidnapped Sheena?"

"I believe that was partly his intent, to make sure the only remaining summoner could not even attempt to release Origin from his seal. But the main reason, was because she was the one thing you would do anything to save."

Lloyd blushed slightly, but shook it off. "So he took advantage of my feelings." He said angrily, "He's no better than that group who killed his sister. They used her like he used Sheena!"

"I would refrain from saying that in front of him, if and when you have any outbursts over your orders. Assuming you want to stay alive and help me in my plan." Came a voice.

Both turned suddenly to see Yuan, walking towards them. "Lord Yggdrasil wants to talk to you, Kratos."

Kratos sighed, "Very well." And started walking, "Be careful what you tell him." He whispered quietly to Lloyd, as he passed.

Yuan watched him go. Waiting to make sure he was definitely out of earshot. "I returned the summoner to her friends, like you asked."

"Thank you, Yuan."

"They seemed surprised at what happened to you two, well except for Raine and Regal."

"What?"

"They were under the delusion that Sheena had returned to Mizuho due to illness, and you were taking care of her."

A small twinge of hatred flared within him, as he thought of the Professor lieing to everyone so they wouldn't help him.

"Anyway, that's not what I'm here for." Said Yuan, "It is time to inform you on how I need your help to take out Yggdrasil. That is what you promised me for getting you in here."

"You knew that Yggdrasil would force me to join Cruxis?" Lloyd asked, anger starting to flow.

"I surmised as much, and now you're an angel, you will be able to help me much easier in my plan."

0000000

"Sheena!" cried Colette, and she flew her arms round her, hugging her. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"Where's Lloyd?" she asked, pulling Colette away from her. Colette did not answer, but her face became sad. "Where is he?"

"Sheena…I'm sorry. He's joined Cruxis. He saved you in return for his loyalty."

"What!" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"But don't worry, Sheena. Now you're better again, we can go save him, all of us, together." Colette seemed positive.

"N-No." she replied.

"Huh?"

"I…I c-can't."

There you go. Hope you enjoyed. Please review. Etc. etc.