I actually have time to update sooner! My block is still about but I'm working through it; I know what I want to happen at any rate. Hope you enjoy.

Lloyd was walking down a secluded corridor; he was waiting for the reply from Zelos saying it was clear for him to appear. Zelos...so he was the one supplying information to Cruxis. He never believed that anyone in the group would betray them, even after Kratos. He felt angry, not just of his betrayal; Raine believed there was an informant, and that Sheena was it. If Zelos wasn't giving away information, then Raine would not have suspected her. Could he forgive him? He had forgiven Kratos after all, but then he was not directly involved. But was Zelos aware that the information he was giving would lead to Sheena's current position? As much as the two argued, they had known each other for years, and cared for each other in some respect. He remembered seeing Zelos alone with Colette as well. Surely if he was betraying them he should have taken advantage and capture her during these times. He did have perfect opportunities, but took none, in fact he seemed to relish these moments, and always seemed to be in much better moods afterwards. He doubted Zelos would directly try and harm anyone in the group.

"Lloyd." Came a voice behind him. He turned to see Yuan, waking towards him slowly, "I want a few words with you before your first assignment.

Lloyd was not in the mood for Yuan, "You knew that Yggdrasil would force me to join him didn't you." It wasn't a question.

"Yes," he answered simply, "I suspected he would do so." Lloyd growled in his throat.

"You could have told me." He accused.

"As I said before, you would let nothing stop you from rescuing your beloved, so it really does not matter what I did or didn't tell you about Yggdrasil's plans." Lloyd growled again. "However, I have things to tell you, with limited time." He looked around to ensure no-one was eavesdropping, "Firstly, your friend Zelos is also providing information to me."

"What!" Zelos was providing information to both of their enemies?

"However, his recent information has been less useful then they have been. He has only told us what you have been doing, not any of your future plans." Lloyd's eyes widened in realisation, "I believe he has started regretting his actions, and merely continuing communications for his own personal safety." This made Lloyd's thoughts run deeper; Zelos was not omitted when making plans, he even made valid suggestions, so why would he not pass these plans on if he was a traitor? "The other thing I need to tell you is a situation which is likely to occur." The seriousness in his tone made Lloyd pay close attention, "I doubt that I will be able to hide my true intentions from Yggdrasil for much longer. Once he discovers that I created the Renegades, I'm sure he'll want me dead. I believe he will send you to kill me."

"What?" he gasped.

"It'll be your final test of loyalty. When this time comes you must face me, you must bring proof of my defeat. Yggdrasil is no fool, you must fight me with all your might." Again, Lloyd gasped, but was unable to say anything, "I will fight at my best as well, we will both be aiming to kill, we must be. Yggdrasil will not be fooled by a fake fight; he has seen me fight for over four millennia, and will know what wounds I can inflict on my foe, and you have not trained enough to stop all my attacks. Gaining his belief in your loyalty is crucial for my plan to work." Before Lloyd could argue, he sensed a small surge of mana; Zelos was now able to talk. "Remember; fight me with your all. If you have a killing shot, don't hesitate...I won't."

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SMASH! Kratos used his shield to knock a knight into the wall. His mission was not going as smoothly as he had hoped. He was supposed to sneak in, get the Sacred Wood, and get back out. Unfortunately, a knight spotted him and sounded the alarm. In his rush to do this quickly, he became sloppy, and he cursed himself for it. His upcoming plans could hold no mistakes, and this simple plan had already failed. Admittedly, the knights were posing no threat at all; the Papal Knights had disappeared along with the Pope, and they were considerably stronger than the King's normal guard.

Nevertheless, he was supposed to keep enemy encounters to a minimum, and with all the knights heading to his location, he would have to move fast. He could not use his wings; although Yggdrassil does not worry about normal human affairs, an angelic appearance will surely catch his attention.

Another group of knights gathered in his path, he growled to himself. This was so tedious; he had the wood and just had to get out of the city, but with these knights in the way he couldn't.

"Lower your weapon, and surrender. You are trespassing his Royal Highness' castle and stealing his property." They readied their weapons, "You are outnumbered."

Kratos barely moved, his face not faltering in its calmness, "Outnumbered? Yes. Outclassed?" he held in his laughter, "Certainly not." Before any of the guards could react, he charged. He kicked the one in front, making him fall backwards, causing a domino effect on the remaining knights.

As the knights were untangling themselves from each other, they heard a loud crash. They looked up to see the red haired swordsman had leapt through the window. One of them was finally able to stand up and rushed to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of where he went. "Damn!" he shouted, "Where did he go?" the thief was nowhere in sight.

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"Lloyd, no!" cried Colette, as the blades of Yuan and Lloyd met.

"What are you doing, Lloyd?" shouted Genis, "Yuan's helping us!"

But these words seem to fall on deaf ears, as the two angels swung, slashed, and parried. Then a gash appeared across Lloyd's shoulder; he had barely escaped a strike to his chest, and it was then that everyone knew that this was no fake fight; both warriors were aiming to kill. Sheena could not bring herself to speak, had barely moved a muscle since the battle began. She just watched as Yuan brought out his own wings, and flew into the air. She didn't know what to do; she barely knew how she felt. Watching as Lloyd threw away his beliefs by trying to kill Yuan, just so she would be safe...it sickened her. She was happy that she meant that much to him, but the cost of it...surely doing this was tearing Lloyd apart; she didn't want him to throw away everything he worked so hard for. She wanted to run between the two and stop them, knock some sense into them. She felt the power she had from fighting Yggdrasil, and knew that she would be able to...but she couldn't. What if she got in the way? What if Lloyd got distracted? Yuan was aiming to kill after all; what if she got Lloyd killed? She became frightened; she wanted to do something but couldn't...just like she faced off against that limp manikin.

Lloyd grunted as Yuan's blade cut into his shoulder; even though Yuan had warned him that he would attack as if for real, he still held back. He didn't want to kill Yuan, but he had little choice in fighting him. If Yuan wasn't going to hold back, than he couldn't either; for Sheena's sake. He flexed his wings and slowly rose himself into the air, and watched as Yuan brought out his own wings and followed him. He had a look on his face as if he knew what Lloyd was know going to fight full-on. He lowered his arm, as lightning surged through it, and for a brief second, Lloyd was reminiscent of Kvar...his mother's killer. He roared and charged at him. Yuan launched his attack, but it was deflected easily by Lloyd's sword, and again their blades clashed.

Yuan smiled, Lloyd had only been an angel for a day, and already he was using his new abilities well. Although it was true that Yggdrasil wouldn't be fooled if Lloyd won easily, he had an alternate notion in fighting Lloyd as if to kill. Lloyd was the key in defeating Yggdrasil, and if he was to wield the Eternal Sword, he needed to prove he was strong enough to defeat Origin...and break his seal. If Lloyd was unable to beat him, he wouldn't stand a chance. He gasped as Lloyd managed to break through his guard and slash across his chest. Lloyd was strong, much stronger than he expected. He returned to the ground and used his blade to keep him up, did Yggdrasil realise how strong he made the person most likely to beat him? He raised his arm again, and launched blast after blast of lightning, in an attempt to keep Lloyd away. He wasn't sure how far Lloyd would go; he had told him to take a killing blow, and he did indeed attempt to make them. He had believed Lloyd's nature would prevent him if he was unable to defend himself, but Lloyd was fighting with a strange fit of rage. Was he really going that far to protect Sheena from Yggdrasil? He remembered how he felt with Martel and found his answer...he would. Nevertheless, he would keep fighting; insure that Lloyd could do what he had failed to do for so many years. The Renegades did not need him anymore; they were given orders of what to do in case he were gone. He watched as Lloyd slashed away each of his attacks as he charged downwards upon him. Lloyd landed in front of him, he tried to attack, but Lloyd parried his blade with his own and kicked him hard in return. He was on his back now; completely helpless as he watched Lloyd tower over him, a sword ready to plunge into him.

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Kratos was walking towards Origin's Seal. Only he was able to communicate with him in any way, though his first attempt after Yggdrasil's actions showed him it would undoubtedly be the last. However, he was intent on talking with him again, make him aware that someone else would soon come to make a pact, for his seal would not last much longer. What worried him was Origin's reaction to this. Unlike other spirits, Origin had a choice of whether to test a summoner's worth, he could choose not to form a pact even if he was overpowered, in order that no-one could use his power again.

"Origin." He spoke to the shrine in which he was sealed.

"It has been long since you called upon me, fallen one." Came a voice, "Have you come again in hope that after four millennia I had come to see your reasoning?"

Kratos grunted, when he first contacted Origin, he was trying to convince him that Yggdrasil was doing what was right. "No." He answered simply, "I have come not to convert you, rather to inform you," he knelt down, "and also, to implore you for your assistance."

"Do not dare attempt to ask me for my help!" his voice boomed louder than before, "I entrusted my power to you fallen ones in a hope that you would better the world, not to forge it into a weapon, and rip the very world asunder. You all deserve damnation, not assistance. As for your informing me, there is little I want to know. The matters of mortals no longer entices me, you all crave power, and will do anything to obtain your own desires."

"There are many things which have happened within our world; Yggdrasil has his ultimate goal at hand. Soon the prolonged existence of this world shall cease."

"The existence of this world was decided upon, as soon as you betrayed us all!" snarled the voice, "The one person who was able to revive the tree, to continue the world's existence, was betrayed by you. He trusted you with the Great Seed and you abused it, just so you could revive your companion. You doomed the world."

Kratos paused, "We did not know he was able..."

"You knew!" he interrupted loudly, "He realised what you were planning and went to stop you! He told you that he could revive the tree, without destroying everything. But you did not listen, and you used my power to seal Martel's soul within the Seed, to rip apart the world, sealing both the one whom you betrayed and countless other lives within the limbo between the divided worlds, and sealed me away in order to prevent me from interfering with your actions. As if your treachery could know no bounds, you then vandalised his name, using it to create false saviours within your little game, forcing the citizens to worship your companion as a god, using the other spirits to help keep the pieces alive! In order to find the right innocent to which you can return Martel's soul. I may yearn to be free to punish you all for an eternity, but yet I would rather be imprisoned here then see the look upon her face when she realised what you have done. She would not want this."

Kratos did not speak. He remembered everything he had done those millennia ago, every agonising detail. "I...cannot atone, nor apologise enough for the sins I have brought upon the world, my companions...my friends. However, I can do what I can to put things right. Another shall be coming to challenge the right of the pact with you. I beg that you give them the chance of earning your power."

The voice began to laugh, "Surely you jest; do you really believe that after my faith in you mortals was destroyed in moments, that I would be so willing to grant my power again."

"These are not like most. They began their journey believing in Yggdrasil's world, that they would save the world by releasing the seals. However, by Yuan's willing action's, they encountered a traveller from the other world, whom themselves were trying to stop the group to save their own world. Once they discovered the existence of two worlds, and their rivalry over the mana, they all vowed to try and save both worlds without the need of sacrificing others. One of the members is a summoner, who has already formed pacts with all the elemental spirits."

"Judging by strength alone does not suggest worth in my eyes, nothing you have said has made me want to give them the chance."

"I have said that they intend to return the world to its former glory, and defeat Yggdrasil. They are doing so without sacrificing any innocent lives; they refuse to let people get hurt. Does that not remind you of someone?" there was no answer, "Surely at least, you remember the terms of you own seal?" Again, there was no answer, but he was sure that Origin knew indeed, "I intend for them to be able to see you, and ask for the right of the pact. I intend to help keep my son, and the one he loves safe." He bowed down low, "Please, I beg of you. Allow them to challenge Mithos' right of the pact."

There was a pause, "Very well, Kratos Aurion. I shall judge their worth myself before allowing them to challenge me. But heed me fallen one, if I sense any reason to distrust them, I shall do anything to ensure my powers are not misused again."

"Thank you." He stood up, and turned to leave, "I know that it's too late, but I truly am sorry for our actions, as is Yuan. We both intend to stop Mithos in whatever way we can."

"Leave."

"As you wish."

And done. Some parts at the end may be confusing, but it links to a story that I've been thinking about doing for a while. I won't say much in case I get round to writing it, but it links with the events that caused the world's to split. Also sorry for the lack of actual action in the Lloyd vs. Yuan scene, I just drew a blank when it came to writing that part and chose to just stick with the mid battle thoughts. Anyway, hope you enjoyed and please review.