Chapter 1

(I'd like to dedicate this to all the Sheelos lovers out there, especially those talented few who write fics here on With this fanfic, I'm gonna try and join the 'talented few'. Whether I succeed or not... That's up to you readers. On to Retribution.)

"Hi-yah! Pyre Seal!" With a flash of light, the crimson drake hovering before her fell to the ground, it's screech of pain coming to a sudden and spine-chilling end. The raven-haired ninja surveyed her work with satisfaction. This was the first drake in months to be slain by the people of Mizuho, and her quarry would be welcomed with great enthusiasm. Dragon Mail was the strongest of armor known to Tethe'alla… And by killing this drake, Sheena assisted in it's creation. She smirked slightly, already imagining the look of shock on Kuchinawa's face as he watched her carry a drake into the village. But wait-… Kuchinawa was dead.

The death of her rival had come as no great shock to the violet-clad ninja; she knew the moment his secret got out that he would be killed by someone or another. It served him right, working with the Pope. Still though, it was hard for Sheena to remember that he was no longer there to ridicule her, to remind her each and every day that she shouldn't have been born. It was a relief, sure, but she often found herself thinking, 'Ha, I can't wait to see the look on Kuchiniwa's face when he hears about THIS!' or something of the likes. The irony of it is, Kuchiniwa was the only one who hated Sheena so; that's, in a sense, why he hated her. Because, despite her tragic failure to make a pact with Volt, the village of Mizuho had still adored her. Given a while to wallow in self-pity and resentment, mind you. Even after all that, Sheena was still the Chief's daughter, loved by all. Well, nearly all. Kuchiniwa, respected yet never truly liked, hated her with a vengeance. 'Good riddance,' she thought resolutely.

Heaving the drake up over her shoulder, the ninja staggered slightly at the added weight, but somehow managed to remain upright. A single drop of dragon blood touched down on her forearm, and she gazed at it a moment. A perfect shade of crimson. Just like the drake itself. Shaking her head to clear away her wandering thoughts, Sheena balanced herself and started for home.

Though the forest was an endless labyrinth of trees, Sheena could follow the path back to Mizuho with her hazel eyes closed. Which she decided to do. With a smile that expressed her gratitude to have a distraction from the monotonous trek back to the village, she slowly shut her eyes. Reorienting herself to this sudden darkness, the violet-clad ninja took a step forward, then another. Soon she was walking at normal pace once more. Not once did she stumble or fall, nor did she make a fool of herself by colliding with a tree. The steady in-out of her breathing was all Sheena could hear. The forest was silent. Too silent. Suddenly the smell of smoke assaulted her senses. Her eyes snapped open in alarm. A steady stream of smoke was billowing into the sky… And the source was Mizuho!

Throwing the drake from her shoulders with all thoughts of Dragon-Mail forgotten, the ninja raced through the trees toward her village. A blur of purple, she deftly weaved amongst the trees with almost uncanny speed. The only thought in her mind was to save her village, but that single thought was desperate enough to send her mind into turmoil. On winged feet, or so it seemed, the raven-haired Sheena closed the gap between her and Mizuho… But the scene that unfolded before her made her cry out in anguish. Mizuho, the mystical village of the ninjas, Sheena's beloved home was no more.

(I know this first chapter sucks, but bear with me. It gets better after this. This is my first serious fic in a loooong time, and my first Tales of Symphonia fic ever. The next chapter will be up before the day is over. Hehe.)