A/n: Today is update day, so you will probably see a few more of my stories being updated. Anyway, on with the story we go! I hope you like this chapter. :)

Chapter 9

Destroying Exspheres and Apologies

As Lloyd, Colette and Kratos along with Emily and Edmund entered Palmacosta, they noticed a young girl sitting on the steps leading into the governmental building and crying. They got closer and noticed that it was Marta, the girl who had been in love with Emil.

Lloyd sighed and said, "...Hello, Marta. I'm sorry about Emil."

Marta looked at Lloyd and said, "Oh...hi. Don't apologize, Lloyd. It's not your fault. Emil made a choice."

Colette asked, "How are you doing these days? I know that...Emil's death was really hard on you."

Marta told her, "I'm doing better. Richter's helping me deal with it, and he's taking full responsibility for his actions. He tried to claim responsibility for me, but I wouldn't let him."

Lloyd said, "That's good. I'm glad Richter's helping you and that you reconciled your differences with him."

Marta blushed and looked at the floor, "That's...not all we did."

Kratos said, "We don't need details. Anyway, we should get going, Lloyd and Colette. We have some Exspheres to deal with, remember?"

Marta told them, "Oh, by the way, you should probably look through the ruins of the ranch for those. I know that the Desians were there, and they supposedly used them. You might want to look thoroughly though. From what I understand, they wouldn't have made them easy to find." She then heard footsteps and turned around to see Richter coming. She gave him a small smile.

Richter managed to smile back slightly as well and told Lloyd, "Hello, Lloyd. I hope you didn't come here to cause trouble again."

Lloyd rolled his eyes, "Very funny, Richter. No, we just came to reserve a room in the inn and then go to the ruins of the Desian Ranch. We're looking for Exspheres to destroy."

Richter told him, "Well, be careful. I don't know this for sure, but I've heard from some of my former friends in the Vanguard that the ones who followed Alice and Decus might be in that area. If I were you, I'd leave Colette and your children behind and just have Kratos accompany you. It would be safer for them."

Colette sighed, "...Yeah, Richter's probably right, Lloyd. As much as I hate not helping you in fighting, I would be of more use tending to Emily and Edmund. They can't be alone for very long at their age."

Kratos nodded and added, "I would be neglectful in my duties as your father if I let you go by yourself, Lloyd. I don't mind going with you to the former ranch."

Lloyd asked him, "Are you sure about that, Dad? I mean, Mom was there and I don't want you to have any painful flashbacks..."

Kratos answered his son honestly, "I'm certain, Lloyd. Don't worry about that. I rarely ever have flashbacks now. Ever since Kvar was defeated, they've pretty much stopped."

Richter told them, "Marta and I have our own things to take care of, so we'd better get going. See you two around, I hope." He took Marta by the hand and the two of them walked away, softly chattering to each other.

Colette told Lloyd and Kratos, "I'll go to the inn and get us some rooms. Why don't the two of you go on to the ranch? I'm gonna put Emily and Edmund down for a nap."

Kratos nodded, "Very good, Colette. We will see you later." He and Lloyd left to go to the former Desian Ranch. Hopefully, they wouldn't run into too much trouble there, if any. There were probably monsters around the ranch, but hopefully apart from those, the two swordsmen would avoid any confrontation.

A/N: I know, this chapter was really short, but I have a lot of stories to update, so please bare with me! I will add a longer and better chapter next time, I hope! We will start off with Kratos and Lloyd at the ranch.