This is a discontinued story I wrote in middle school. I'm currently re-writing it under the name Reformed. I promise that this fic is terrible. If you're interested, please read my new story.

(I'm cleaning up the author's notes because they make me angry every time I come back here for a reference. None of the story has changed.)

Chapter 1: The End

"We did it. We saved the world," Lloyd Irving panted. Lloyd and his party of eight had just defeated the corrupt leader of Cruxis, Yggdrasill, and joined the two worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla with the help of the Eternal Sword. It was exhausting.

Kratos descended from the sky as Lloyd was trying to figure out how to put his newly acquired wings away, which he gained when Yggrdasill's soul was pulled into his Exshpere. Kratos was a member of Cruxis, and an angel, and Lloyd's father. He had been helping Lloyd's party without Mithos Yggdrasill's knowing.

Lloyd surveyed the group. Raine was using her healing arts to revive Presea and Regal, both of whom were completely knocked out by the power of Yggdrasill. Genis and Colette, were examining the bumps and bruises they acquired. Zelos, being his natural perverted self, was healed already and chasing Sheena around. No one seemed too badly hurt… or at least they weren't dead.

Kratos walked over to where Lloyd stood.

"Are you really going back to Derris-Kharlan?" Lloyd asked the angel.

"If a half-elf of Cruxis remains here, the other half-elves will no place to live. As a surviving member of Cruxis, I must bear the responsibility of what has happened."

"I'm going to collect all the Exspheres remaining in this land," Lloyd said.

"…And I will discard all of Cruxis' Exspheres into space. I've dragged you into this until the very end."

"It's okay…"

"…It's time for me to go. Please use that sword to send us to Derris-Kharlan."

"…Goodbye… Dad! …" Kratos gave a little smile as he heard this coming out of his son's mouth. He had finally earned Lloyd's forgiveness for leaving him fourteen years ago.

Suddenly, the ground began to rumble.

"Hey, Sheena! Are you calling Gnome again?" Lloyd yelled.

"No! What is all this shaking?" the summoner responded.

"Aaahhh!" Zelos screamed.

"Shut up, Zelos!" Sheena yelled as Raine said, "Honestly, Zelos, you're a grown man."

"Well, sooorry! I almost fell and got dirt on my beautiful face!" Zelos said. Both women shook their heads.

Presea, finally healed, got up onto her feet and dusted herself off. "There is a large earthquake in this area. But what is the cause?"

"That is a good question, Presea. I don't think any of us know the answer, though," Regal said calmly, also having been healed.

The rumbling continued. Not even the members of the group with wings could escape the endless shaking.

Presea was the first to black out. It seemed the shaking grew harder around her, and then Presea fell, almost landing on her axe. Genis ran over to her now unconscious body.

"Presea! Presea, can you hear me?!" There was no answer. Once again, the earthquake shattered the group, and Regal fell. Raine rushed over.

"Bring back this soul from purgatory. Resurrection! … No use. He's out, too." Raine said sadly, her specialty failing her again.

"What the hell is happening?!" Lloyd shouted. As he said that, Sheena succumbed to whatever was it was that was happening. "Sheena!" Lloyd yelled.

"Man, you sure do yell a lot, Lloyd," Zelos said.

"This is not the time to be making stupid comments, Zelos," Genis said impatiently. He was still seated beside Presea. A few moments later, Genis dropped to the ground.

"Genis!" Raine and Lloyd shouted together and ran over to him. He was still breathing, like the others. Raine slumped, defeated. Soon, she, too, passed out.

"What is going on, Dad?" Lloyd asked Kratos.

"It would seem that we have been trapped. I do not know what will happen, so let me tell you something. I–" Kratos fell to the ground.

"Dad! Colette, are you all right? Zelos? Good," he said as they nodded in turn.

"Lloyd, what's happening? I'm scared." Colette ran over and hugged him.

"What about me? You can hold me any time you want, Colette." Zelos said.

"This is NOT the time, you stupid Chosen!" Lloyd screamed. Zelos looked a little scared, then dropped to the ground.

"Lloyd, we'll be okay, right? Everything will be all right… right?" Colette hugged him tighter. "Oh, no. It's happening to me!" and with that, Colette slumped against Lloyd's chest and then to the ground, leaving him the only one standing in the rumbling field. Everyone began to fade, and then disappeared. Soon, Lloyd was the only one in the clearing.

"Is this someone's idea of a joke?!" Lloyd called to nothing. He felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. He fought it, but it was too strong. He slipped into the void…