True Pain

Mr.Who2123: Welcome to my first ever fan fiction! I'm really kind of nervous. Anyway think this fan fiction will be kind of long, so expect more chapters! Please, no flames! Now the disclaimers….I know! COME KRATOS!

(Kratos poofs in)

Kratos: humph why me?

Mr.Who2123: c'mon! Everyone loves you!

(at that moment girls pop up and keep chanting 'we love you'. Then they disappear)

Mr.Who2123: PLEEEEEEAAAASE?

Kratos: …

Mr.Who2123: How about for an Anna plushie?

(waves Anna plushie)

Kratos: …fine. Mr.Who2123 does not own Tales of Symphonia or its characters, but if she did, I would be the…main character and wouldn't leave at the end of the game. Now, time for the doll…

(Kratos then grabs Anna plushie, and hugs it)

Mr.Who2123: Yup! Now let's start!

The leader of Cruxis, once a young and innocent hero not yet tainted with the evils of the world. Those times were missed the most, especially for the one who watched him transform abruptly from the death of his beloved sister. He became cruel with unjust reason and his mind was falling apart, and the spectator did nothing but watch...until now.

"…Mithos, this is not what Martel wanted," Kratos protested to Mithos, but the same stubborn reply was all he gained. "Nonsense, if everyone becomes lifeless beings, and then they won't discriminate each other. It's what Martel wanted!" Mithos replied as he returned to look at his sister's cruxis crystal which was held suspended in the air in front of the Great Seed. Together, the two shone with beautiful pale light, yet the light was what scared Kratos the most. the light shone over Mithos' face, darkening the shadows across it and multiplying the excitement he had.

Kratos was losing patience, though, and tried to persuade again. "They couldn't discriminate even if they wanted to. They wouldn't feel anything. That's not what Martel wanted! Can't you see your plan is a misinterpretation of what Martel really wanted?"

"No! This will take away discrimination. This is what Martel wants, and I will stop at nothing to get it!" Mithos yelled, his excitement ever growing. He curled his hand into a fist and lifted it slightly as if to attack, but his hand stopped in movement and didn't move until Kratos responded.

"Humph," was all Kratos said, and left the chamber. He continued to his own quarters, and opened the door to find his room perfectly clean like it was every day. He couldn't imagine lifeless beings, the same routine over and over until the end of all time.

Kratos slumped on his chair and sighed. He couldn't believe such a great hero and amazing scholar would want something so selfish that he would sacrifice the world for it, yet was it somehow his fault as well? Did he not support the boy, or did he change only by the death of Martel? Deciding to shove it out of his mind, Kratos picked up the book he had been reading before Mithos summoned him to show his "perfect" plan, which, in fact, was the last thing from perfect.

Below the comet of everlasting mana was the pale blue planet of Sylverant, along with Tethe'alla as the entwined shadow that stood parallel to it. Sylverant, in decline, had little water, crops, and desians ruled the land with tyranny. However, in the midst of all the chaos, a seed of change was strewn, and Sylverant would soon turn upside down.

"Come back host body!" yelled a desian, running quickly through the brush of tall grass despite his heavy armor which burdened him. He was followed by one more desian, with the same clothes, and each one wore a whip at their side. Far in front of the two pursuers, a young comely woman, dressed in a simple grey robe with cuts and tears all over, was running for her freedom from her enslavers, and with a much greater speed. She glanced back and stuck out her tongue to respond to the desians' call, and sped up her progress. The men gritted their teeth, and followed her into the thicket of trees that gradually would form a forest if one ran far enough. the desians knew they would never find their captive unless they found her now. The desians lost track of their captive after the entered the trees and stopped. Quickly, the began to look around briefly, while the young woman spotted a rock against the mountain close by. The boulder was fifteen feet tall and roughly shaped into a sphere, and she knew it was too round to have beenn shaped by nature.

She ran to it quickly, and noticed it was a cave behind the rock. The woman quickly placed her back against the wall and pushed with all her might. The rock grunted and groaned as it began to turn, though it moved so slowly that the captive feared it would be too late. Her worries only added when not far off, she heard her pursuers.

"We're going to find you, host body!" they called. The woman doubled her efforts, and moved the rock inch by inch until she could barely squeeze her body through. She had to duck her head to not hit the ceiling, and leaned against the side of the cave, breathing hard from her so far successful escape attempt. Suddenly she heard footsteps close by.

"Did you find her?" one asked. "No, she's too quick. Kavar wil have our heads if we don't bring her back. Hey, what's that rock?" the other replied as the footsteps got louder. There was a shadow now, and the woman crouched low. The footsteps stopped, and one of the desian's helmed head abruptly came in sight of the captive, who had lowered to her sore legs and stopped breathing. The head scanned the cave quickly, and then left, not finding her. She sighed in relief, as she heard the man say that she wasn't in there. Safe...for a little longer at least. She sighed deeply, forgetting the desians that still loomed close by.

Back on Derris Kharlan, Kratos had not read more than a page of his book when his mind turned to Mithos and his ideas. "I shouldn't have made a pact with Origin just to make Mithos happy. It's my fault the world is how it is," he muttered to himself, as he placed his book back on the shelf after he finally stood. "If only there was a way I could wield Origin's blade. Hm…" Kratos seated himself on a different chair which was not cushioned at all, but a wooden chair that was stationed next to the corresponding desk with similar design.

The growing sound of footsteps drew Kratos away from his thoughts as he lifted his head to find two big black marbles of eyes staring right back. White fur covered the canine body with clusters of green circles mixed as well. Ears twice the size of a normal dog, and shaped like wings, flapped ever so slightly every minute or so. Kratos softened his expression and placed a gloved hand atop the dog's head and rubbed it a little before retracting his hand once more.

"Noishe, what are you doing here?" Kratos asked, though not harshly. Noishe opened his mouth and grinned at the sound of his name and licked his partner across the whole right side of his face with one stroke of his pink tongue. Kratos sighled silently and wiped his face quickly with the sleeve of his shirt.

After Noishe left, knowing that he'd get no more rubs, Kratos was once again alone in silence to return to his thoughts. How can I stop Mithos? He has overpowered me now that he has the Eternal Sword...that's it. The Eternal Sword...I am the rightful owner, but Mithos is the only one who can wield it, so if I could wield it. The only problem is how... Kratos placed his elbow on the desk and rested his head on his hand, stressing over his questions that he tried to answer. Well, to wield the sword, you need to be a half elf...or...the Diamond Pact Ring! I have a pact, and all I need is the ring! Kratos lifted his head from hishand and straightened himself, wanting to get the ring now that he knew he can end the suffering of the people on Sylverant and Tethe'alla.

Noishe reentered his partner's room again and whined in haste. Noishe had sensed Kratos' uneasiness and wanted to help.

"When should we leave, though? and where is the ring?" Kratos voiced his thoughts. "I know the answer does not lie here. I've read most of them, and they don't have anything." Kratos turned in his seat to face a towering wall of his favorite books, volumes upon volumes about character and standards to help Kratos know if Mithos had really been doing right or wrong.

Mithos does much wrong, and I know it. He sacrifices people for his selfish thoughts, and more people die the more I linger. I should go right now and save as many people as I can, starting with individuals and gradually rising to be able to destroy Cruxis once and for all. Noishe whined again, this time in discomfort when he saw Kratos stand up abruptly and gather things into a small, plain, and brown pack. Kratos noticed Noishe by the second time he whined, and smiled briefly before packing again.

"Noishe, I want you to get my sword and shield, alright? Meet me by the warp pad. We're going to Sylverant for awhile," he said, not pausing his work. Noishe barked and paced out of the room.

Kratos made his way quickly down the spiral staircase, and to the main hall. Angels passed by without a word, their faces emotionless, and unchanging. that was something else Kratos hated. Nothing...absolutely nothing in them. Why does Mithos make them suffer so? Kratos reached the warp pad and Noishe came only seconds after with a bundle in his large jaws.

Kratos took the bundle and unwrapped them with practiced fingers, and the cloth opened to reveal a sword in a curved hilet and a black and red shield. Kratos took the hilt and unsheathed it to find his favorite weapon, a glowing sword, curved unevenly like a flame, and nearly as hot as one. The shield seemed dull compared to his beautifully crafted sword. The shield looked much like an upside down triangle, though small curves decorated the top and red designs contrasted to black surface.

Kratos slipped the shield on his left arm and buckled the sword onto his left side as well. After he was suited, he hurried towards the exit, hoping Mithos wouldn't cath him, but a screeching voice dispersed those hopes in an instance.

"Kratos! Where are you going?" Mithos fumed. The cruxis leader moved closer until their noses were only inches away from eachother and their eyes locked maliciously. Kratos found himself speak.

"Mithos, your ideas are unjust and only satisfy your desires, and I cannot forgive myself if I let you do that, so as your teacher and as your friend, I will stop you with all I have," Krato replied calmly, though his voice had such a menacing tone that Mithos backed away slightly. "I have tried to stop your errors, but you don't listen, and I have no choice but to stop you by force. I hope that I may see you as your old self one day. Farewell." Kratos stepped in the portal and left without one look back at his shocked companion.

"But he is my servant. He can't leave!" he whispered, yet it was so loud that it seemed impossible that it was a whisper. Yet, all things are possible, Kratos had proved that.

Mr.Who2123: Yay! My first chapter!

Kratos: Why am I still here?

MrWho2123: Because this fanfic is of you! It's about you and Anna!

Kratos: Well I was intrigued by the story slightly…

Mr.Who2123: in…trigued? (Lloyd moment)

Kratos: (sigh) please review and no flames please.

(NOTE 11/14/06 - I revised this chapter a lot, and hopefully its better. Anyways, I will do the other chapters as well if I have time today.)