Animegurl64: Hmmmm, four years since I've last posted something, longer since I've posted something in this fandom and now I'm writing something I'm fairly positive is going to make absolutely no sense to anyone but me and the lovely Mr. Ek, who upon sitting and listening to me spending 4 or so hours explaining and outlining the universe this takes place in has encouraged me to post this stating, "Danni, you've put way too much thought into this not to write it."

Warnings: So this is going to written in the vein and spirit of modernist experimentation, which means it's going to be fairly non-linear and jump perspectives a lot. You, the readers, are probably not going to immediately understand it. So my policy for reviews this time around is this: Writing to me that this is a difficult read and completely impenetrable is going to be ignored. Questions however are completely acceptable and very likely to be addressed in the next post.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia, Namco does. I don't own Harry Potter, which is property of JK Rowling and Warner Brothers Entertainment. I'm just playing in their sandboxes.

Disclaimer 2.0: This fic has been inspired by Kasan Soulblade's Shards' verse (which you should all read) and may contain several unconscious references to her material and one or two blatant ones, which I have permission for. As well as one reference from Wishweaver's Realizations, which was too spot on for me not to use.

Lloyden, you have to make a decision…

"Are you really leaving for Derris Kharlan?"

"Yes, if a half-elf of Cruxis remains here, the other half-elves will never be accepted."

"But Yuan-"

"Yuan will stay here on earth with the Renegades and take responsibility." Kratos turned to face Lloyd, "I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this until the very end."

Lloyden, your father will ask you to send him to Derris Kharlan using the Eternal Sword, but if you do this you cannot return to your mother's people. Or you can, but you can never return to this place using the Eternal Sword.

" Kratos, do you have to go?" pleaded Lloyd.

"Yes, Lloyden. I have too."

"But if I don't face him…"

You have to make a decision Lloyden, your father's wish or your mother's. Which is more important to you

"Lloyd?"

"Colette, I have a favour to ask you."

Lloyd surveyed the ruins of the Tower of Salvation in Tethe'alla, anything to not have to look at his father's face regarding a decision he'd made days ago. He'd known this was coming, foolish of him to try to stretch out their time together.

Kratos waited to hear his son's agreement.

Foolish to think his father might want a freak like him.

"I have to go back Colette, Origin said he could make sure I'd return at the exact point I left."

And then from there he was on his own. Which was nothing new.

"But you can't! If you do…"

"I'll be fine Colette. I'm not the same person I was when we met. You know that better than anyone."

"I do. And Lloyd I believe in you but don't you think you should be-"

"Honest about it? No, it's better they don't know."

"Not even Kratos? Lloyd he'd understand, better than anyone! Doesn't he deserve the truth?"

Silence reigned.

"…He wants me to send him to Derris-Kharlan."

"What?"

Lloyden Shasta Aurion gazed at his father, the man he'd been searching for, for years now, to keep a promise to his mother that he was about to break. A man, who he'd held out hope for, dreamed of, even when all else seemed hopeless. Even when they said he didn't exist. Like his stories and his stars that didn't match the sky and the language no one else knew. Now that man was trying to leave him forever.

"It does not do to dwell on dreams." A wise man had told him once.

But that was in another country, in another life.

What happens when the dream was all that gave you hope was one of the only things you'd fought for?

"He's got it in his head that he has to go away with Derris Kharlan to atone for his sins. Like he couldn't do that here! And he wants me to send him away! I can't do that Colette, I can't!"

"So you'll leave instead?"

"Yes, I'll go back. I'd be a hypocrite if I left things unfinished."

If I told all you guys to face the demons of your past while I ran from mine was left unsaid.

"Will you come back?"

"If I don't send Kratos away. Origin gave me those terms to use the Sword."

Origin was understandably a little paranoid after Mithos. I'd had to agree to a lot of things in order to gain the right to wield the Eternal Sword, more than anyone knew. I didn't really mind, better safe than sorry after all, but Origin informed me of Kratos' plans after I'd made my deal. That was probably intentional, come to think of it.

"So, what do you need from me then?"

"Your silence mostly. And if I don't come back-"

"Don't say that!"

"-Then I need you to tell my story. Fill everyone in on the details. Make them understand. Especially Dad."

"Alright, on one condition."

"Which is?"

"You swear an oath, that when you come back and you will Lloyden, you will come back! You'll get a message to me immediately, first thing. Kratos deserves to hear this from you."

"Maybe he does, maybe they all do. But I won't paint targets on their backs."

And where I'm going they cannot follow, I have promises to keep.

"Swear it!"

"Fine. I Lloyden Shasta Aurion do so swear to Colette Fandalia Brunel on my life and magic that I will send her a message once I return to this land, and keep her informed as opportunity dictates."

"That'll do I suppose. Oh be careful Lloyden."

"I will."

"I have to go now. Lloyd, use that sword to carry me to Derris Kharlan."

Lloyd flinched. This was it. It was time to go, to face what he'd been running from all these years ago. It may very well be the last time he saw Kratos.

Lloyd nodded, seeming to agree.

"Eternal Sword! Please…" His voice faltered here a moment, under the weight of what he was about to do. Colette had checked with Yuan, this was the only way to get Kratos to Derris Kharlan. He couldn't just disappear once Lloyd was gone.

Small favours, considering what an angry Kratos Aurion was capable of.

"…please…"

Kratos waited.

"Please… TAKE ME BACK! BACK TO HER HOMELAND!"

The utter shock on Kratos face as the spell latent in his Exsphere powered by Origin's mana and focused by the Eternal Sword was almost, almost worth it.

"I'm not saying goodbye, because you're coming back."

"Cheerio then luv."

Colette almost smiled.

"Lloyden wait!" Kratos yelled as Lloyd lifted off the ground by the power of a spell half the world had only felt once before all those years ago.

"See you later, Dad…" called Lloyd as a white pillar of light engulfed him, carrying him into the clouds and far away across the stars.

Colette watched the light from atop the Iselia cliffs, where they'd sat so long ago spinning a tale that could almost be the truth. "Bye Lloyd."

SSCCCCREEEEEEKKKKKK!

That was the noise Lloyden Aurion awakened to. "I'm sorry Hedwig." Lloyd looked around at the cookie cutter houses, straight hedges, the familiar street and cars to the FOR SALE sign on the front of the property.

"I'm back." He said to the empty house on Number 4, Privet Drive. And with that he picked up his luggage, released Hedwig and was off.

Destiny waited.

End

So, what do you think? I promise this is going somewhere ok?