(A/N): Alright, I just copy and pasted this chap. onto another page and edited it. Now, here's the fight that should have been in last chapter. Enjoy!

Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Symphonia are both copyright Namco Bandai.

Chapter 6: Battle for Martel Temple!

When we got to the top, we saw a tall man with dark brown, spiked hair, fat pointed ears, and some weird grey armor/robe thing with about four or five soldiers in black and red armor and metal helms covering their eyes and top head corner Phaidra next to the entrance.

"Where is the Chosen?" The leader asked in a commanding voice.

Phaidra then looked to the side to her and saw us at the stairway. "Luke! Get Colette away from here!"

The soldiers turned around, and one of them said: "Lord Botta, there she is!"

The 'Lord Botta' guy turned around and sneered at Colette. "Chosen One, your life is mine."

My blood was boiling, and without thinking, I shouted at the Desians: "Who the hell do you think you are!?" The Desians all turned their heads to me. I'm not sure if it was out of surprise, though. "What the hell makes you think that you'll get away with this?!"

Lloyd then walked up beside me, and unsheathed one of his wooden swords. "Yeah! I won't let you Desians get away with this!" He said bitterly.

"Desians? …Hahaha!" One of the soldiers laughed. I grabbed the Key of Lorelei's grip with both hands and bent down into an attack position, the tip of the blade between my eyes. "Well then, prepare to die at the hands of the Desians you hate so much! Let's get 'em!" Then all the soldiers charged at us.

Lloyd and I sprang forward, each of us taking a Desian with a whip. Colette attacked some other Desians at long range with her chakrams, while Genis backed us up with some water and fire magic. As I fought the Desians, I started to feel so… nostalgic. It's was like I was fighting some Oracle Knights back at Aulderant. I quickly cast aside this feeling and focused at the battle at hand.

I back stepped to avoid the Desian's whip, then counterattacked with a quick upwards slash to his torso. I then followed up with one of my favorite combos to use, Rending Thrust followed by Light Spear Cannon. While the Desian was stunned, I ran around him and smacked the base of his neck with the butt of The Key of Lorelei. He was knocked out instantly. I then surveyed the battlefield, and saw a Desian similar to the one I had just defeated trying to seek up on Genis!

"Demon Fist!" I shouted, launching a white shockwave towards him. The Desian was stunned for a second, enough time for me to run up to him and knock him out with Havoc Strike. I then got out of the way just in time for Genis to cast Fireball, sending it at a Desian that Colette was fighting. He was burned to a crisp. My eyes widened for a bit, but I shook off the shock and ran over to help Lloyd finish off the remaining soldier.

"Demon Fist!" The shockwave knocked back the Desian, then Lloyd quickly released his own shockwave to finish off the soldier.

"I lost to a bunch of KIDS?!" The Desian screamed his last words.

"You picked the wrong people to mess with." Lloyd taunted. But, I couldn't help but feel sorry for taking his life away. I stared at the corpses of the soldiers, and muttered to myself: "I'll do whatever it takes."

I didn't have time to feel sorry, as then a BIG Desian came forward. He held a spiked ball and chain in one hand, a big hammer in the other, and had a large sword on his back. "Do not get on our way!" He shouted.

We all then sprang into battle yet again. Lloyd and I kept our distance, using him using Demon Fang and me using Demon Fist and occasionally moving in to attack. The Big Desian's midriff was exposed, so we took advantage of it. Colette used her chakrams and Genis casted Fireball and Aqua Edge to keep the big Desian at bay. It was a decent strategy, until…

"Enough of this! Die!" The big Desian launched his spiked ball where Colette and Genis were. Genis pushed Colette away just time, and the spiked ball barely missed the two.

Lloyd then looked like he had an idea: "Hey, I just thought of something!" He then ran up to the big Desian and stabbed at his exposed midriff. "Sonic Thrust!" He shouted as he copied the arte I had used so many times. His attack seemed to work, as the big Desian started to bleed. "Damn, I must be a genius!" Lloyd said confidently as he turned around and ran back to me. But then, something happened.

"Lloyd, look out!" I shouted, but it was too late, as the big Desian swung his hammer and smacked Lloyd in the back. Lloyd flew towards me, and landed right in front of my feet.

"Lloyd!" Colette and Genis shouted simultaneously, running over to us. The big Desian then began to walk over to us. I jumped out in front and held the Key of Lorelei in the same position I had before the Desian soldiers attacked.

"Alright buddy; it's just you and me now." I spat. The big Desian started to swing his ball and chain above his head. I was getting ready to dodge when I heard an unfamiliar voice: "Demon Fang!" It wasn't Lloyd's voice. Whoever used it, though, was pretty tough, considering my knocked the big Desian right of his feet.

I glanced to the stairway and saw a strange man with spiky auburn hair dressed in purple body armor and pants, light purple boots, light purple fingerless gloves, two light purple belts across his waist, and a purple cape. He also carried a sword with a yellow hilt and round wooden shield. The strange man just walked up to me, not saying a word. He then looked at me as the big Desian started to get up, and said to me: "You seen to be the best fighter here." He said nonchalantly, "If you're going to help, do it now. Otherwise, get out of the way."

"Who the hell are you?" I asked, looking at him.

"I'll answer that later. For now let's focus on this one." The strange man replied.

The big Desian began to get up, and was on his knees when the strange man suddenly stabbed at his midriff. "Sonic Thrust!" He shouted as the midriff of the big Desian was cut open, while the strange man appeared on the other side of the desian. I then ran at the big Desian, charged up some mana in the palm of my hand, and thrust it forward.

"Get out of here! Raging Blast!" I shouted, the impact of Raging Blast knocking the big Desian into a wall. "Hah! Get out my face!" I said. The big Desian groaned before his life left him. Suddenly I felt really guilty.

"Damn, I didn't expect you to show up!" Lord Botta said to no one in particular. Now that I think of it, I completely forgot about him. "Everyone! Retreat for now!" And with that, whatever Desians we didn't see or fight left with Botta.

"Amazing!" Colette said in awe.

"This guy's tough!" Genis said in agreement.

"…Y…yeah, I guess. Luke's tougher if you ask me." Lloyd muttered. I smiled at that. It was nice to know that someone actually looked up to me.

"Is everyone alright?" The strange man asked. When he said that, something on his hand blinked.

"I… is that an exsphere?" Lloyd stuttered.

"Exsphere?" I thought. I'll ask Lorelei about it later.

"Yes." Phaidra stepped forward, thankfully unhurt, "Thank you for helping us protect the Chosen One."

"Ah, so one of these children is the Chosen of Regeneration?" The strange man questioned.

"Yes, sir." Colette stepped forward and bowed, "I'm Colette Brunel, the Chosen of Regeneration." Colette then perked up, "Oh, that's right! I need to go and receive the Oracle!" She then looked at Phaidra, "Grandmother, I'm going to undergo the trial now."

"Trial?" Lloyd asked.

"Monsters, I assume. Cruxis and Martel are probably testing Colette to see if she's fit to save the world." The strange man answered.

"Yes, that is correct. The Chosen must receive judgment from heaven before accepting the Oracle." Phaidra said, "But the most of the priests that are to accompany her were slaughtered by the Desians, and all the ones that weren't killed are all badly wounded." Phaidra then looked at me, "So Luke, could you accompany Colette and make sure she receives the Oracle?"

"Yeah, sure, no problem." I replied, putting my hands behind my head.

"You're going to leave the fate of the Chosen in the hands of an eighteen year old boy?" The strange man replied in stoic confusion.

"I'm sorry, but…" Phaidra was about to answer, but I cut her off.

"Hey, if this Oracle event is that important, wouldn't extra protection help? Besides, I'm fine with it, but… are you fine with it, Colette?" I asked her.

"Sure, it's not a problem." replied Colette with a bit of… uneasiness, to say the least.

"Hey, Phaidra, can I come to? I'm feeling fine after that battle, so I won't slow you guys down." Lloyd asked with hope in his eyes.

"Lloyd? I'm not sure. I'm still uneasy after seeing you take that hit. At the very least, talk to Raine inside before you fight anything." So Raine is safe. That's good to know.

The strange man stared at Lloyd before asking him: "Your name is Lloyd?"

Lloyd responded with: "Yeah, but who are you to ask my name?" Smooth, Lloyd. REAAAL smooth.

"…*sigh* I am Kratos, a mercenary. If it is fine with you, and if I get paid, I'll accept the task of guarding the Chosen with… Luke, was it?" I nodded.

"I guess Luke has a point about extra security. Please be of service. We'll discuss your payment after Colette receives the Oracle." Phaidra said in a beaten voice.

"It's a deal, then." Kratos said, nodding.

Lloyd then walked up to Kratos, "Wait, so am I going too?"

"No, Lloyd. You'll only get in the way. Get your back looked at and stay here." Kratos commanded.

"What did you say?"

"Did I not make myself clear?" Kratos said in a threatening voice, "You'll just be a burden. Go home."

Colette then walked up to Kratos and asked him: "…Um, Mr. Kratos? Could you please let Lloyd come with us?"

"But…" Kratos tries to convince her otherwise.

"Please, I'll feel more comfortable with him around. Please?"

"…Fine. Do as you wish. Luke, are you ready?"

"Yeah." I said.

"Then let's go." Kratos said as we (Me, Kratos, and Colette) started to walk into the temple.

"Alright! C'mon, Genis! Lloyd said enthusiastically.

"What?! I'm going to?!" Genis said in surprise.

"Of course!" Lloyd said.

"Remember, this isn't a field trip." Kratos called out to them as we entered the temple

(Kratos joined the party!)

0o0o0o0o0

As the five of us walked inside, we immediately saw a bunch of wounded priests sitting on the floor, with Raine tending to their wounds with healing magic. "Oh healing power, First Aid!" she chanted as she casted. I felt I hint of nostalgia when I heard this, remembering all the times I heard Tear cast that spell.

After attending to that last priest, Raine looked up and saw us. Upon seeing us, she immediately got up and walked over to us, a stern look on her face.

"Lloyd! Genis! What are you two doing out of class?"

I look of utter terror appeared on the aforementioned two's faces, and they immediately started to splutter excuses at her. I decided to step in.

"Sorry, Raine. Lloyd, Genis, and Colette were all trying to sneak out of class. Since you told me to never let Colette out of my sight, I had to go with them."

"Well, at least you made sure they were okay, Luke." Raine said with a look of relief on her face. Then she looked at Kratos, "…And you are?"

"Kratos, a mercenary. The Chosen's grandmother had hired me to help protect on her way to the Oracle, and later, The Journey of Regeneration." Kratos replied as stoic as ever.

"Well then, guess that's three of us protecting Colette. I'm going with Colette as a healer." Raine said, "Anyways, since Colette is going to receive the Oracle, would it be too much for me to join you?" Raine said this with an almost child-like smile on her face.

"A healer would be useful, so it wouldn't be a burden." Kratos replied.

"No problem." I said.

"Then let's go." Raine said, the child-like smile never leaving her face.

(Raine joined the party!)

Skit: Are you okay?

Genis (Worried): Hey Sis, you weren't hurt during the attack, were you?

Raine: Nothing life threatening, I assure you. I did help fight some of them off with some magic, and after they retreated, I help heal the wounded.

Genis (Relieved): Whew, that's good. I was worried you had been hurt.

Luke: Yeah, when we heard the Desians were heading towards the temple, we rushed there to see if you were okay.

Raine: Thank you for your concern. I will try not to make you worry in the Journey of Regeneration.

End Skit

(A/N): And that's Chapter 6! Next time, the Oracle! By the way, do you guys like it if I change up the events a LITTLE bit (Such the scene where Raine tends to the wounded?), or do you want me to stick to the main plot, but with Luke thrown in, obviously. Anyways, as always, feel free to review!

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