Alright, this is a random collection of little recollections of Kratos' life. This is by no means my best work, and neither did I put any effort into it. the italics is the lyrics to a song called Sound the Bugle from my favourite movie Spirit. I thought is just fit Kratos really well ^^ [link to the song if ya want]
Sound the Bugle now,
Play it just for me,
As the seasons change,
Remember how I used to be."Martel!" A small boy was kneeling down, beside a girl lying on the dirt road, clutching the wound across her chest that was dripping blood at an alarming rate. Two men stood nearby, both who were facing a human standing a few meters away, his bloody sword stuck in the ground out of his reach.
"Y-you'll pay for that!" The cerulean-haired male growled, his proud voice quivering for one of the first times in his life. He sounded quite uncertain. The disarmed man took a step back, away from the scene.
"You can't revive that seed. I won't let you!" He shot back, eying his sword carefully, as if calculating out how he can get it back. The small boy didn't seem to hear them, but seemed to be desperately trying to remember a spell, murmuring 'Healing wind, Healing wind!' but the girl on the ground pushed away his hand.
"Promise me Mithos...I wish for a world without discrimination...let me die knowing my ideas still live within you..." Her voice was barely a whisper. Her eyes closed and Mithos grabbed a fistful of her clothing.
"Martel!…How could you?!" He stammered, staring without seeing. She was still alive, but she won't make it. No doctor in their right mind would treat a half-elf, would let their filthy blood stain their workplace. Even if they are willing, they won't be able to get her to them in time, and Exire was floating off somewhere, they'll never be able to locate it.
"Human! Your kind must not be allowed to live!" Yuan yelled at the disarmed man, who had just made a move to grab his sword but thought better of it as blue sparks danced on the half-elf's hand.
"How far are you willing to go to take control of the mana?" The Auburn haired man asked, drawing his own sword, watching the helpless man. He kept his stoic demeanor, but if you watched closely enough, his left hand was balled in a shaking fist.
"I’ll never forgive you… You humans are all the same!" The small boy had now stood up and turned around, drawing his own sword. Trained by Kratos, he was more then capable of overpowering the man in a fight. Martel was dead, and the seeds of madness is planted...
Now I can't go on,
I can't even start.
I've got nothing left,
just an empty heart."NO!" Mithos stormed out of the seed room, accompanied by Kratos and Yuan.
"Calm down Mithos...she...just wasn't compatible, that's all. You'll find another Chosen that'll work, trust me." Yuan laid a comforting hand on Mithos's shoulder. the small boy, looking the same as he did a thousand years ago, turned around and tried hard to keep a straight face.
"I just want to see her again..." He whispered.
"I know...me too." Yuan replied softly, stroking Mithos's blond hair as Martel used to do. Kratos kept silent, and looked back at the capsule where the soulless chosen lay. Spiritua was the first Chosen to finish the regeneration journey. Even now, Sylvarant was starting to prosper again and the Desians are preparing to move over to Tethe'alla.
"The Chosen of Tethe'alla had long ago been ready for the journey. Shall we send Remiel with the Oracle again?" Yuan asked. Mithos nodded stiffly, his eyes watery. An Angel no longer has the ability to cry. Thinking that he could see Martel again...having that hope ripped from him...it had been too much...
I'm a soldier, wounded,
So I must give up the fight.
There's nothing more for me.
Lead me away...
Or leave me lying here...Another Chosen successful, another failed attempt at bring Martel back...
"Scientists have reported a mana shortage, though the cause is yet unknown. We advise everyone to stay away from magitechnology if it starts acting oddly..." Came from a TV, and the few people gathered in the living room were roaring with laughter.
"Mana shortage, stay away from magitechnology! Ha! What does he think the TV is?" After a few more chuckles, the group located the remote and shut off television which was now talking about droughts in the northern areas and some odd soldiers who claimed themselves to be called Desians. Things had been weird lately, but no one's paying it any mind. Sylvarant's never been better for hundreds of years, it'll take more then just a small mana shortage to dampen their spirits.
Just as the ground was about to disperse, each returning to their own houses, the front door burst open.
"Chosen! The-oracle-Come...now..." The priest gasped, as if he had run a very long distance. The whole room turned to look a a young girl was had been busy painting in a corner. She dropped the brush, plattering herself and the ground with paint, looking horror-struck.
"No! I- I can't...why? the world's not...I'll die! They all die! You can't make me do this!" One of the older boy broke away from the crowd and hugged the girl whom was now crying.
"It's all right Mariette. It's alright Mary. I'll come with you ok? The monsters won't get you, I won't let them." He whispered gently, but Mary didn't stop crying. She knew, as all the other chosens before her knew, that the journey will end in her death one way or another. But the ritual haven't been carried out for centuries.
"Please Chosen, hurry. We were lucky to hire a mercenary that was passing by. You'll be safe."
Kratos watched as Mary was lead out, trying to look confident but it was obvious that she was hiding the pain inside. Without saying anything, Kratos followed behind, ready to do the job Mithos had set him many times already. Everyone stopped to look at the hurried procession and the glowing light above the Palmacosta Church. They all knew what was happening.
Mary was killed two months into the journey, as they finally reached the seal of water. The test set out before her by the guardian of the seal was too much, as the girl had never learned any ways to defend herself.
Kratos had to watch another Chosen leave this world.
Sound the Bugle now,
Tell them I don't care,
There's not a road I know,
That leads to anywhere."You can't be serious!" Yuan shouted angrily to Yggdrasil. Mithos looked back calmly.
"And why not Yuan? It was Martel's last wish. Do you not care for her?" He replied calmly.
"Yuan has a point. Mithos, I have stuck with you for four thousand years out of friendship. That does not mean I do not miss the things I have lost...I cared about my mortality, even if you did not. I gave that up though, of my own choice. To force so many people to live this life we do, as nothing more then a shadow of life...and the exsphere needed will take many lives." Kratos spoke up, and Yuan nodded.
"Wait until Martel once again walks beside us. Then, you can hear what she wants to be done...please Mithos..."
The Seraph looked at Yuan, his eyes cold.
"I know that you don't approve of my actions, and you don't want Martel revived in order to save that blasted seed. My actions are of my concern right now, your duty is to uproot the rebellious group that had formed recently. What did they call themselves again? Ah yes. The renegades. Now begone."
Yuan stiffened.
"And when have I ever taken orders from you?" He asked quietly, his voice venomous. Mithos studied him for a moment then shrugged.
"Suit yourself." Summoning his multi-coloured wings, Mithos glided out of the room.
"well?" Yuan asked Kratos, who was sitting comfortably against the chair.
"I don't know. Mithos hasn't been himself for a while...I think I'll go down to Sylvarant for a while." Without another word, Kratos stood up, grabbed his faithful Flamberge and strode out of the room.
"Hey Noishe." He said absently-mindedly to the Protozoan as he changed out of his Judgment outfit and into his purple garment. He didn't know that very soon, he was about to meet a young girl that would change his life forever.
Without a Light,
I fear that I will stumble in the dark,
Lay right down,
Decide not to go onKratos stood their, rooted to the spot with paralysis as he watched the Exbelua in front of him crumple, a large sword wound through it's abdomen.
"MOMMY!" A small boy who had been hiding behind Kratos screamed, and he ran towards the monster.
"Lloyd, no!" Kratos suddenly sprung after his son, but the monster instincts of the creature swung out at the small child. The attack sent the Exbelua off balance and she stumbled over the edge of the cliff, and the small boy, his shirt caught on the monster's claw, was pulled down with it.
"DAD!" He cried as his feet finally slipped past the edge of the cliff, the last thing those who were still standing could see was the small blue gem clutched in Lloyd's hands. Kvar, who was kneeling down wounded was smirking, ignoring the cut on his thigh. He watched with obvious satisfaction as Kratos tried desperately to reach both Anna and Lloyd, his light in these dark times.
Several of the Desians grabbed Kratos before he could fly down to save his wife and son, and Kratos was forced to fight with the blade he had killed Anna with. His eyes were filled with hatred as he tried to get at Kvar, but by the time he fought his way free of the crowd, the Grand cardinal had gone.
Feeling weak, Kratos summoned his wings and jumped off the cliff, steeling himself for what he might see, Anna and Lloyd laying there, broken and lifeless. As he touched the ground, his wings dissipated and he looked around desperately, only to see a few partly-eaten corpses of armoured Desians. Lloyd and Anna were no where in sight.
Neither was Noishe. Brave Noishe had tried to protect Lloyd, and had been thrown down this very cliff. The monsters must have finished them all off.
Suddenly, he swayed and fell against the cliff-face, a bloody Flamberge dropping out of his hand. He slumped to the ground, staring blankly as a few Desians cautiously approached him. Lloyd. Noishe. Anna. Probably the only three living things that had cared about him were now gone. Gone, never to return. He felt himself shaking, and Kratos, for the first time in four thousand years, didn't know what to do.
One of the Desians grabbed his sword and backed off as if he were some poisonous snake yet he paid them no attention. Even as they carried him back to Derris-Kharlan, he offered no resistance.
How hard can it be to mend a heart? If only a simple healing spell could do it. How can you heal the heart of one who's soul was twisted by the Cruxis crystal, no longer human?
Then from on high,
Somewhere in the Distance.
There's a voice that calls,
Remember who you are."Lloyd? I would be uneasy with just you." Phaidra said, studying the teen who looked quite confident with himself. Kratos suddenly looked at the boy.
"Your name is...Lloyd?" He asked, startled. It can't be! Is it? Is it truly him? Lloyd was a common name, but this was near the area where he and Anna had fallen. Was fate merely tormenting him?
"Yeah, and who are you to ask for my name?" Lloyd asked. Kratos turned away to face Phaidra.
"I am Kratos, a mercenary. As long as you can pay me, I shall accept the task of protecting the chosen." Kratos looked back at Lloyd, memories flowing through him. Those brown eyes that used to look at him pleadingly at night when he wanted his dad to teach him more about the stars, the hair that Anna usually ran her hand through as the small boy slept. He remembered, he would never forget. It was Lloyd. It really was him.
---
As the Chosen lead Lloyd up to his balcony for a talk, Kratos stayed knelt down by the gravestone. Genis and Raine looked at him curiously, but decided not to interrupt.
Kratos read the rough letters engraved on the tombstone.
"Anna Irving.
May all those who knew her remember her last words.
Protect those Dearest to you."
Kratos closed his eyes, fighting to control his emotions. Lloyd was still alive, and so was Noishe. Kratos finally stood and turned around, to see the dog-like creature looked up at him expectantly.
"It's been a while old friend." Kratos whispered to the Protozoan, scratching him behind the ears. Noishe gave out a content howl.
If you lose yourself,
Your courage soon will follow,
So be strong tonight,
Remember who you are."You've...grown strong." Kratos told Lloyd, Origin's seal behind him. He was down on one knee, several small cuts where Lloyd had passed his defenses.
"Thanks to you." Lloyd replied. Kratos looked up at Lloyd, who had succeed in disarming him and forcing him into a helpless position. Few can match Kratos with the sword as Lloyd did, Kratos felt fiercely proud of his son.
"Aren't you going to finish me?" He asked, his voice was weak but didn't waver. Lloyd hesitated for a moment before replying.
"I defeated Kratos, the angel, the one who betrayed us. And I forgive Kratos, the hero of the Ancient War, who helped us. That’s all." Lloyd replied. Kratos shook his head, Lloyd was making this hard...
"Humph...and I thought I’d finally earned the right to die. But you’re as softhearted as ever." Kratos replied. He stood up, and in one fluid motion picked up his sword and sheathed it. Turning around, eh faced the seal and took a step towards it before Lloyd's voice stopped him.
"H...hold on! You can’t be...are you going to break the seal?" Lloyd sounded hesitant, unsure. Kratos turned to look at him.
"That is what you desire is it not?'
"But then, you'll..." Lloyd's voice trailed off, knowing that Kratos wouldn't be dissuaded.
Kratos summoned his wings, pausing for a few moments to think about what he was doing. But there was no turning back now.
"Thy power floweth purely, ever unwavering. Accept my soul into thine embrace. Sacrifice!" Kratos dove deep into the reserve of mana that kept him alive, that support his very being. He took that mana and released it, forcing it to flow out and leave his body, to release the seal of origin that had been locked for so long.
Kratos collapsed, but strong armed caught him.
"Kratos!" Lloyd called out, not sure of what he was to do. Yuan had arrived here somehow, and was now supporting Kratos. Both of them glowed for a moment.
"Don't worry, he's still alive. I've lent him some of my mana." And it seemed obvious, as Yuan had suddenly looked weaker, more tired. If you listened closely enough, you could hear Yuan muttering 'If you do that ever again, I swear I'll kill you you stubborn fool.'
"Da-Kratos. Are you really okay?" Lloyd asked softly. Kratos winced at Lloyd's reluctance to call him dad.
"Looks like I've failed to die once more." He whispered quietly.
"You stupid jerk! You can die any time! But when you die, that’s the end." Lloyd now shouted angrily.
"You want him to live in Eternal Damnation?." Yuan shot back angrily. Lloyd had no idea what they've been through, the two seraphs. How much they've sacrificed, the humanity that had left them. They could no longer enjoy the sweet oblivion of sleep, enjoy the foods that used to sustain them. Though they no longer tire, they can feel pain. Lloyd doesn't understand what it was like for a human to live so long, for even a half-elf to live longer then their allowed time.
"Who said anything like that?! What will you accomplish by dying? Nothing! There is no meaning in dying!" Lloyd seemed intent on getting his own point through. Yuan was just about to say something back before Kratos answered weakly,
"You’re...right. To think, I had to have my son teach me such an obvious lesson." His voice was strained and he looked up at Lloyd for another moment before suddenly going limp in yuan's arms.
"Kratos!" Shouted an alarmed Lloyd.
"He'll be fine. Now form that pact with origin!"
You're a Soldier now,
Fighting in a battle.
To be free once more,
Yeah that's worth fighting for.Father and Son stood at the base of the Tower of salvation.
"Dad...what are you going to do now?" Lloyd asked, hoping that Kratos would stay with him. The seraph looked at his son, remembering Anna who had said a very similar thing after he had explained to her about Cruxis. It was she who convinced him to research about the ring of the pact, an item that allows the pactmaker to use things created by past pactmakers without being affected by any barriers set up.
"I shall leave with Derris-Kharlan. Yuan shall too."
Lloyd was taken aback by the answer, but didn't argue. Kratos noted this.
"You have grown Lloyd." He told the teen, his voice soft. Lloyd murmured a thanks and then stared up at the heavens.
"I'm going on a journey to collect all of the exspheres left, so that they won't be used again." Lloyd told his father.
"Then I shall discard Cruxis's into space." The two stared at each other for a while.
"Anna would have been proud of you." Kratos knew that every moment, Derris-Kharlan was drifting farther away, but it was hard to say the words he must.
"It's time for me to go." He whispered.
"Goodbye...dad." Lloyd said reluctantly, watching Kratos intently.
Strengthened by the eternal sword, Kratos was sent to the desolate planet of Derris-Kharalan, where Yuan was already waiting for him.
"Don't die before I do Lloyd...My son..."
