Yes yes I know I should be writing for something else…-_-' I need to get Xotocl and APT updated .' but yeah, while I procrastinate on that, please enjoy what I do actually update n.n'

Dislcaimer: I own nothing.

And dayumm, 50 reviews with only two chapters O.o' I haven't gotten reviews like that since I wrote 'Grandkid'- but dare I say it I think this time I actually wrote something that is worthy of a review -_-'

(Shudder) Ooooo I can't believe I used to write like that…

…(cough) Right, so thank you everyone! n.n Have more cookies! …I'm running out of these darn virtual cookies….

Note: My friend Symphoniafan just posted a fic she's been writing for a while now, Waiting by the Window. It'd mean a lot if you'd check it out, she worked really hard on it and I've read a lot of it so far. It's really good 8D, so if you can please check it out.

Lloyd did his best not to shout out his frustration, instead reduced to clamping his mouth shut to keep himself from blowing the place sky high. Okay, so there were big rock monsters that turned into neat, decorated blocks, conveniently on a floor that had holes that you could fit the block into, which conveniently made a path to- a ring that shot fire. Fire. Seriously, and they were going on about this 'Martel' and stuff….ugh, he had such a headache. How did they manage to even kill a monster made of rock with metal? Shouldn't their weapons have just…like…clanged off? This entire place was reminding him of a Tales game of all things- but then, it's not like that was likely-

"Ouch, that looks like a nasty bruise," Genis grimaced, looking at Lloyd's arm.

"Huh-? Oh…yeah…" he said, still distracted.

"Oh, here," Colette chirped, pulling something out of her pack, "Have an apple gel."

Lloyd's brain all but snapped, staring at the little jelly-blob in her hands that had a faint smell of an apple orchard.

"…Apple…gel…" he repeated slowly, staring at the red glob.

"Huh-? Oh, yes," she nodded, "you can eat them or rub them on your wound, they work either way- ..Lloyd?'

"Excuse me for just a minute," he said, stone-faced, holding up a single finger.

They blinked and stared after him as he turned on heel and walked away, turning a corner. A muffled screamed was heard and they jumped just a bit before he rounded the corner again, walking back toward them.

"Sorry about that, I'm fine," he sighed, rubbing his forehead.

He could get through this, right? As soon as they got out of this place he was going to get some answers, whether he had to pry it from his father or not, he was getting some damn answers. Besides, that fire-ring thing looked like it could be fun to use, how did it work? It just looked like a plain old ring, how was that going help them at all? It's not like that little flame would be able to help them out much in fights. Then again, Colette mentioned something about it being able to unseal some door that was further in, though he still didn't-

Woah.

…That wasn't a normal door.

"What the-?" he shook his head. "What is that? It's like a blue…lightning..force-field or something."

"Yeah it's kinda weird," Genis agreed, but didn't seem nearly as weirded out as the older boy.

"Oh! This is it," Colette nodded, "We can use the ring on this and we should be…able to get through."

Her face fell for just a second, her blue eyes misting with some hidden remorse. Lloyd stopped, staring at her a moment as her expression morphed into one of heart-break. It lasted just a second before she jerked her head up again, smiling softly at him.

"You have the ring, right?" she asked. "Could you please use it on the door?"

"Uh…yeah," He nodded.

What was wrong with her? She had seemed fine up until this point, was she getting sick or something? Maybe she was tired? No, no there was something more, something was really bothering her…

"Okay, so I should just shoot it?" he asked, turning to the seal with the ring held up.

"Uh-huh," she nodded.

"…I don't see shooting fire at a door will help anything, but okay- woah!"

He stumbled backwards as the fire made contact with the barrier, dispelling it and the stone door behind it sliding open of its own accord. How the hell was that even possible? Then again, how the hell was any of this really possible? Agh, if he freaked out every time something weird happened he was going to have a stroke in a matter of hours. He noticed Kratos eye him, the look clearly telling him to keep his mouth shut, reminding him to be quiet. The brunette grumbled and silenced himself, trying to look unfazed.

"There it is, up ahead," Colette pointed to the portal ahead of them.

"What? That glowing circle thi-?"

He gritted his teeth to stifle a yelp when Kratos casually stomped on his toes, obviously not pleased that Lloyd wasn't getting the message.

"Yes, let's go," Colette nodded, walking forward.

Genis eyed him warily before following after the girl, his suspicion having not waned at all since they had arrived. Lloyd, making sure to keep his mouth tightly closed at this point, followed after them with a quick glare at his father, stalking off toward the blue circle just when Colette disappeared suddenly. Lloyd nearly gasped again when he noticed Genis simply go in and do the same…

"What the hell! Did they just disappear!" Lloyd blurted now that they were alone.

"It's a warp panel," Kratos explain with a slight sight, "if you stand on it it transports you."

"What kind of Banjo-Tooie bullshit is this?" Lloyd scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Next I suppose you're going to tell me that here eggs can be used as lethal weapons?"

Kratos sighed and shook his head, walking off toward the circle.

"You could at least answer me!" Lloyd scowled. "How does this thing even work? This place uses swords and medieval flails and you expect me to just believe that they have Star Trek technology? Come on!"

He was met with more silence and instead decided to pester his father further later, walking up to the circle hesitantly, looking down at the swirling, glowing blue surface. What was this stuff, even? He didn't really want to touch it, what if it was radioactive or something? Sure, he was getting a D in chemistry, but even he knew that if something is glowing a strange color it probably wasn't safe to touch. What else could he do, though? The two of them and his father had gone up already, he had to go…

"…" he swallowed nervously, "If I end up crossed with a fly I'm going to kill someone."

Gathering his courage he stepped onto the platform, standing still just a second before he felt himself stretch out, like he was some kind of slinky being pulled apart. It lasted just a second, at most, when it was like he compressed again, appearing in a new room with the others already waiting. He nearly staggered, feeling a bit dizzy and sick to his stomach, hurriedly getting off that platform. Well at least he seemed to still be in one piece…

Looking up and around he noticed they were in a circular room, a shrine of sorts in the center with a glowing red gem in the center. Wonderful, more glowing things, this was not a good sign.

"That's the Cruxis Crystal, right?" Genis asked Colette.

"Yes," she nodded, smiling a little bit, "they say that I was born with that in my hand."

"They do-?" Lloyd cut himself off, eying his father, who glared at him slightly.

"Well…I'm not really sure if it's true," Colette frowned a little, "but that's what they say."

Oh, all right so that was a normal question for him to ask, which explained why Kratos didn't hurt him again. That was good- what the heck was that light?

"Look at that light!" Genis exclaimed, staring.

All right so that one would've been okay for him to ask too right?

He looked up at the light, backing up slightly. What the heck was that? An indoor UFO or something? It gave off a flash and Lloyd felt his jaw drop, eyes widening. A person with wings- an angel? What? Seriously? He HAD to be hallucinating or something. He felt Kratos put a hand on his shoulder, not to comfort him, but to warn him. That was unnecessary however, seeing as he couldn't find any words to say anyway.

"I- Is that your real father, Colette?" Genis asked, looking at the girl, whose eyes were fixated on the angel, a flicker of apprehension on her face.

"I am Remiel, I am an angel of judgment," he began

Oh bullcrap. It was unlikely this guy was an angel, and if he was it was even MORE unlikely that this guy was Remiel. That was like..one of the seven angels…uhm…well he didn't remember it well, but they mentioned the name in revelations right? Ah, he didn't know, but this all screamed 'wrong' to him.

"I am here to guide Colette, daughter of the mana lineage, on her journey to heaven as the seventh Chosen."

.Okay he was lost. What the hell did they mean by mana? The only thing he'd ever heard of mana was in Final Fantasy games, and that was like…associated with magic or something.

"I humbly accept this task," Colette stated, closing her eyes and bowing her head.

The angel nodded and the glowing red gem in the altar gave off a flash, flying through the air to her neck. Lloyd gaped as, with another flash, the crystal attached to her neck, a gold ornamental design around it. Where the hell did that come from! How did it fly like that? God he was going to need therapy for this, assuming that he hadn't already snapped like a twig.

"Very good, we of Cruxis bless this event and, in the name of the Goddess Martel, bestow the Tower of Salvation upon Sylvarant."

….Okay. Okay that's it. He needed a break. He didn't know any of this stuff, he didn't have the slightest legitimate clue as to where or when he was and how all this magical crap was happening. What the heck was-?

"Wow! So that's the tower!" Genis exclaimed, looking out the window.

Looking after his gaze, Lloyd's eyes widened even more, noticing the big white column that had appeared on the horizon. That was a tower? It was huge! That thing- no way! How did that thing just appear like that? How was it even standing! Wouldn't something that tall fall over? Did he just end up in bullshit land or something? It was too normal to be Wonderland, at least…and he was pretty sure he hadn't eaten any mushrooms.

"We of Cruxis shall grant you the power of the angels with each seal you unlock," Remiel stated, "First head south, to the Seal of Fire, offer your prayers in that distant land."

"I humbly accept this task," Colette stated again, bowing her head.

Remiel nodded and began to fly up, causing Colette to jolt.

"W- wait! Please wait!" she said, hesitating when he stopped, looking at her. "Are you really my fa-?"

"First head to the Seal of Fire, understood, my beloved daughter Colette?"

Despite Colette's happy reaction, Lloyd felt his frown deepen. He didn't buy this at all, especially just then. When he'd said that 'my beloved daughter' thing…it felt wrong. There wasn't a …there wasn't any sort of attachment in his voice. He hesitated, looking at him and then back at Colette, who was smiling softly, her eyes glinting. They were pretty when they did that…

"Lloyd, are you all right?"

He shook his head, just realizing that the angel had left, Colette and Genis eying him now in turn.

"Uh- y- yeah," he nodded, "Sorry about that, I guess I was kinda..shocked."

They seemed to buy that, but they didn't get much time to think things over seeing as Kratos turned again to the portal from which they had entered.

"Let's go, she's received the Oracle, there's no longer any point in lingering," he stated calmly.

Lloyd huffed slightly and glared after his father, already making a mental outline on how he was going to go about shouting at him later. Nonetheless, he followed after, with Colette and Genis with them. The group made their way back to the main floor (Lloyd doing his best not to double over with queasiness again) and it looked like they were almost done with this place. …That is until they found the silver-haired woman spazzing in the lobby. Lloyd blinked and raised an eyebrow, easily figuring she was related to Genis, but her behavior was…insane. That was it. The way she was flitting around and cooing over the architecture, she looked like a crack addict.

"Oh this is simply MARVELOUS!" she cried, jumping up and down on the balls of her feet.

"Sis?" Genis cried.

"Professor?" Colette frowned.

The woman jolted and whirled around, startled. She nearly went to stammer what was most likely a subject-changing distraction, but froze when she spotted the two men with them. Her eyes widened slightly and then narrowed dangerously, eying the two strangers.

"Genis? Colette? Who are they?"

"Huh? Oh, this is Mr. Kratos and his son, Lloyd," Colette explained, smiling anxiously, "They helped protect us from the Desians earlier…"

The woman eyed them dangerously, stalking forward toward her brother, eyes not leaving the men. Lloyd couldn't help but fidget under her gaze, feeling as if he was a roach and she was deciding on the best way to squash him. Kratos narrowed his eyes, meeting her gaze. Her suspicion was far more advanced than her brother's, that much was certain. She checked her brother over quickly before turning to him, Lloyd trying to inconspicuously hide behind his father.

"Kratos, is it?" she stated coldly, glaring at him. "Who exactly are you?"

"Rather rude to ask such a thing when you have yet to even introduce yourself," he retaliated smoothly, his voice barely breaking his monotone.

"…I'm Raine Sage," she stated, scanning him, noting the sword around his waist and Lloyd attempting to hide behind Kratos' taller form.

"I assume it's our appearance you're wary of, yes?" Kratos stated simply, his gaze unwavering.

"…Where are you from?" she asked, avoiding his question.

"As I told Phaidra, both my son and I are from a rather reclusive part of Sylvarant, as such we have blatantly different styles, as you can see," he recited, "we were passing by when your brother and the Chosen were attacked. We merely assisted."

"I see," she stated, frowning.

There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Uhm…could we maybe get out of here if we're going to talk?" Colette asked hesitantly. "This place isn't very safe."

"What-? Oh, yes. of course," Raine nodded, briefly glancing at Colette and then back at the Aurions, "All right, let's get going. We can talk at the village."

"Vil-?" Lloyd began, Kratos sending him a sharp glare.

Lloyd shut up.

"Certainly," Kratos said to Raine in turn, "Iselia's just down the coast after all."

"Oh? You know that how?" Raine tested.

"I told you we were traveling, obviously I would make a note of the closest towns," Kratos stated in rebuttal.

"If you're done flirting can we go now?" Lloyd sighed, exasperated.

Kratos cuffed him upside the head.

"Let's go," he turned, heading for the exit.

"Flirting?" Raine eyed Lloyd.

"…Well no I guess not, but that's the most I've ever seen Dad talk to a woman," he frowned, rubbing the back of his head.

Silence.

"Lloyd." Kratos called back sternly.

"C- Coming!" he jolted, dashing after his father, knowing he was pushing his luck.

"…."

"He fell out of the sky," Genis said once they were out of earshot.

"What?" Raine looked at him.

"…Lloyd did, he fell out of the sky," Genis said, "and I swear to Martel I'm not kidding."

"It was very strange," Colette said, looking a bit dazed.

"That's ridiculous," Raine scowled, "There's no way-"

She stopped when she noticed their expressions. She stared at them a moment more before looking after the two strangers, her eyes widening a bit and then narrowing dangerously. Travelers? She highly doubted that. She was going to get to the bottom of this, one way or another.

Sorry if that was a bit short. But it seemed like the right place to end it. Good way to pace it it seemed…anyway, I hope you enjoyed

Review if you would like