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Lloyd Irving, a young boy of 20, was well known throughout Symphonia. He was generally good natured and traveled from town to town, helping out a few people here and there.

Oh, and he saved two worlds by re-uniting them after 4000 years of being toern apart.

He was on a journey, a journey that he turned down help from, because of the dangers he knew he would endure. Plus, the only person he wanted to come with him... she had much more important matters to do. He knew she might resent him, considering she asked him, and although he had promised her, he had to talk her out of it. She was in a position of power now, and with an outsider. He'd just be a hinderence. Sitting in a hotel room in Asgard, the red-clad boy reched into his pack, pulling out a large box. Opening them, he reached in and made a small noise within. he pulled out a long, smooth needle. He sighed. he put it in his mouth and swallowed it. "Nine-hundred and thirty seven. I'm so sorry Sheena."

((Props to anyone who knows what they hell I just did.))

((Yeah, Lloyd told her she couldn't go with him, and he had promised her he would do the Mizuho thing where the liar had to swallow 1000 needles. He didn't let her know he has been punishing himself the last 937 days sence thier adventure. Almost Three years. Lloyd's birthday would be coming up.))

((Oh, and of course you can be Sheena.))

((You control her, You can put her where you want. Doing a good-will mission to villages outside Mizuho, doing Chief-like duties in Mizuho, or just left Tiga in charge to search for Lloyd. The last suggestion seems a bit out there, but I wouldn't put it beyond her to do so. Her attitude when talking to Lloyd at the end was far from 'If you push me away, I'll stay away.'))

That morning, Lloyd got up and packed all his things. He kept a small roll of paper out, and had breakfast. As he took a bite out of his toast, he laid the paper out on the table. It was a map, with large X's over different areas. He rubbed his hand, where his Mother's life had once warmed him with the feeling of her precence, trapped in a parsitic globe. He had broken the day of starting his adventure. He argued with Sheena that way. He couldn't let her go, not without an exsphere, which he had made sure to destroy his entire parties the night before. He couldn't risk her life. He looked at the table again, the map laid out, showing the places he cleared of all exspheres. He brought out a quill and dipped it in red ink. He scribbled it out and he stared at his last destinations. "Luin." He said, breathing. "Tower of Mana." He looked out thw window towards some mountians. Three years ago, you could have seen an impressive man-made tower looking across the lan, but ever sence the giant knarled tree incident, It had fallen a ways into the ground. Getting to it would have been tough, but unfourtunatly for him, Collete, Kratos and Zelos, they were stuck with wings.

Zelos.

He wondered how the red head was faring. He had betrayed them, giving Colette to Mithos. They had to fight him, him and his demonic angel powers. Lloyd chuckled at the oxymoron. Then he laughed on how well his vocabulary had increased sence he started out on his own. He had to make his own negotiations, and therefore; he became a better speaker. But he was nothing like the red-head. After thier battle, Lloyd destroyed Zelos' cruxis crystal and they left, thinking him dead. But Mizuhoen Ninja's found his prone formed and took him somewhere safe, even though he had betrayed the party. When they told Lloyd of this, he went straight ahead to see his friend.

--

"...Zelos?" a lone voice called out. A boy of 17 entered a room. He was wearing peculier clothing and carried two swords, and had an innocent face. Lloyd asked again. "That you?"

A broken figure on a bed coughed. "The hell you here? Stab at me some more?" He laughed, then groaned in pain. "Don't worry... do it, I deserve it." He sighed, a long, labored breath. Lloyd looked on in hollow disbelief. Had he really hurt him so much. Walking over, the young boy looked over his old friend. "What is it?" Shot the red head.

Lloyd shook his head. "I'm... sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry I didn't trust you Zelos." Lloyd breathed. The red head looked shocked. "I should have, but you were right. I didn't. I'm so sorry."

"Shut up right there, you big lug." Zelos cut him off. "Now, I'm the one who stabbed you in the freaking arm after letting Colette go with mental head." He looked stiff for a moment, a lost look in his eyes. "Now don't apolgize... I'm at fault. I deserve no forgiveness."

Lloyd shook his head. "Zelos." He sighed. turning away. walking over, his eye cought a shine in the corner. Walking over to it, he heard Zelos cry out for himt o stop, but Lloyd went anyway. Picking it up, he eyed it. "Aionis..." He said. "Zelos..." He turned to the member of royalty, who looked pieved. "You tried to get me the Aionis..." The red head looked away. "Why'd you try and make us believe otherwise?"

"Because I still betrayed you..." he came clean. Lloyd smiled. "Zelos... I'm sorry." He turned to leave. something hit his head. Turning he saw Zelos with a forced frown.

"I told you..." He couldn't finish the sentance. For some reason, he burst out laughing. Lloyd couldn't elieve his eyes, but couldn't help but to laugh as well. He staed there for five more days, talking to Zelos about everything that happened when they went to Derris-Kharlan. The subject of Sheena rose up, and Zelos got a really funny look on his face. It began to bug Lloyd. "What?"

"You like her."

"What?! I do not."

"Yes you do!"

"I'm not having this conversation with you, of all people, Zelos." Lloyd snapped. Zelos just looked at him with a completly bemused facial expression. "I don't love her." He said.

"Who said anything about love?" Zelos smiled. Lloyd cursed.

--

Lloyd went to the next destination on the map. "Hima. Then Nova. and finally..." He coughed and stared at the last destination. "The Grand Tethe'alla Bridge." He didn't know how he would pull that off. He packed the map. "No use worrying about it now. Off to Luin." He walked out the door into the morning dew, off to Luin.

--

Lloyd walked into town the back way, evading crowds of people and generally trying to make it to the Mayor's house, where Raine's statue stood. Lloyd smiled to himself. He was just passing the statue of his own likeness. Trying not to draw attention to himself, he flew up a hood he asked Dirk to add to his outfit, so as to hide his face from the crowd.

Lloyd froze for a moment. Sheena...? He thought. when he snapped back to reality, they were just turning to leave. "N-No problem at all." He said, masking his voice. Stupid stupid stupid! His mind yelled. Why are you hiding from her? He didn't know. This internal dilemma took more time then what was needed for most people, as he saw Sheena retreating into the mayor's house. Lloyd internally cursed. "Not only do I run into her and some child, she takes my spot at the mayor's house..." He didn't even notice himself staring at her.

Lloyd stood near the door tenetivly, he had his back to the house, leaning up against it. He kept the hood up, so when Sheena came through, she would probably brush right by him without anoher thought. So he waited his turn to meet with the mayor. His mind wieghed the details of everything. His eyes leaped in surprise. "I really havent returned here after last time when Pietro left." He mumbled quietly to himself. While Sheena was busy, he might as well check the Martel Temple - or rather, what used to be it. As far as he had heard, the grapevine told him of what had happened with Colette over a period of time. She started adventuring too, to restless for the at home life, especially after thier adventure. So she went around, spreading the word of thier adventure. She became a minstrel. No one knew what a magical voice Colette had when she sang, because no one ever asked her. She sang like the wings she had, angellic.

Heading to the church, or what used to be it, he headed in for a peak. Heading in, he looked around the small chapel. "Hello.. Pastor?" he asked a man in robes.

A small man with a large girth turned around and smiled. "Ah! Young man, what brings you to the church of New Martel." He said joviently. Lloyd was slightly taken aback by his booming voice.

"An, nothing. It's been two years sence I visited Luin, almost three now. It's just... I wanted to know what happened to this place sence the original Church of Martel Fell." Lloyd admitted.

The man smiled. "Well, we've added a new adition to the small chapel, a real sanctuary for services. Now that there is solid evidence of the tree and the woman who protects it, we had a huge burst of followers. I must thank those nine brave souls."

Nine... Lloyd thought. Thanks Colette. Thank you for remembering Zelos. He smiled. "We all thank them. Thank you pastor."

"Good buy my son." The Pastor said, leaving him.

Lloyd turned and left. "That probably bought me some time..."

Lloyd whipped around when he heard his name instinctivly, but the pack he was carrying did not stop. As he turned he noticed Sheena. then he noticed a large haversack in his field his vision. Then he felt pain.

Falling over, Lloyd went backwards into a small pool of water used as a small spring. Sometimes it's used as a baptismal pool for the church. Looking up, the kid in red looked up. His hood had fallen off and he stared at Sheena. He coughed up a little water that landed in his mouth when he fell in. "Hey..." He called.

"You were busy and late." Lloyd said, acting like they were still adventuring with the rest of the group. He gave up the charade as soon as he got himself out of the water. Sighing, he just let hs arms hang. "I'm sorry Sheena..." HE said, it was clear he was disgusted with himself. "So... who's the kid?"