Eternal Peace Revised Chapter 2: Leave Out All The Rest, a tales of symphonia fanfic

Leave Out All The Rest

The grey shadow that stretched over the land matched the silence of a lone house set on the outskirts of the Iselia Forest. The home had been abandoned only hours before and now rested on the dead and blood-stained ground that was graced by the sorrowful tears of one who was thought not to cry. The tears of a father who had the soul-crushing task of burying the only person he had ever cared for... his son...

I dreamed I was missing

You were so scared

But no one would listen

'Cuase no one else cared

After my dreaming

I woke with this fear

What am I leaving

When I'm done here

So if you're asking me I want you to know

Raine sighed as Genis tore away from her grasp; she had desperately needed the hug as she was on the edge of breaking down. She was fairing far better than her younger brother, of this she was certain. It was true that she didn't share as strong a relationship as the youngest members of the party. However, this didn't mean that she hated the boy. He had changed so much for her and for Genis as well. She was amazed at how much her brother had matured and how brave he had become after the journey. Lloyd had always been his hero. And Raine... She would never admit it, but she was so proud of her precious student. He had changed the world and allowed her to be accepted. Despite the fact that she had only received half of her elven blood, the Gentle Idealist had treated her as though she were one of his kind. Her heart broke as she recalled all the conversations with the boy, how he could always turn the darkest of situations to a brighter scenario. An optimist. That's what he had been. No, more than that. When she looked at him, she saw more than just another student in her class. He was just as much a brother to her as the wailing mage crying out for his lost friend. He deserved this rest. All heroes work towards completing a goal and once they have reached the end of that task, benefiting the world and all those within it... they were finally allowed the peace they had sought. Lloyd was never allowed peace, she realized. He had carried the burden of his sins and mistakes, as well as those of all he met. His dreams were haunted by the memories, but she had never dared to wake him. Kratos had always done so. She wasn't there for Lloyd then... and she hadn't been there for him during his last moments. "I'm sorry. I..." Her words choked and she turned away from it all, stepping towards the small wooden bridge without turning back. Her student had paid the price for her sins and mistakes. She couldn't stand on this blood-stained ground any longer. She had to leave, and somehow, she knew that she would never see the others again. Because there is no turning back on the path to regeneration of the soul. But hers was as broken as her heart.

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

The small half-elf bawled in disbelief and cried out for his friend whom he desperately wished would answer his calls in some way. His heart was shattered at the few words that Dirk had managed to force from his dry lips, his voice cracked and strained from an unknown sorrow that had suddenly morphed into reality. Breaking free from his sister's grasp, he bolted for the stone set between two graves of those the young swordsman beneath the surface loved. Falling to his knees, Genis beat desperately upon the ground. His frail body shook as he screamed out to the heavens... "Why!" Lloyd had been the first friend he ever had and despite the brotherly insults, was the best friend the boy could ever ask for. Now, instead of laughing at Lloyd's antics and casting spells to back him up in the battle-field, Genis was calling out to his deceased friend in futile attempts of bringing him back. Memories of everything he had ever said to the Eternal Swordsman soon began to flood his mind, and he distinctly recalled every remark he had thrown back. The most painful of memories was that of the time he had almost watched his best friend die at the Tower of Salvation. Misting over, his eyes turned to the second of the newly-added graves and he weakly smiled. Kratos had saved his son that day, refusing to deliver the final blow. This, Genis decided, was worth thanking him for despite his grief. He whispered a "thank you" between sobs as he was thankful for the time that Kratos' remorseful pause had allowed. However, his grief overpowered his positive thoughts and he burst into tears once more, defying the fact that Lloyd was gone. He had always been there for him. He was the brother that Genis never had. He wouldn't die so easily. Lloyd was stronger than that... wasn't he? This just couldn't be happening. This wasn't real. His denial didn't stop the agony of it all... nothing ever would...

Don't be afraid

I've taken my beating

I've shared what I made

I'm strong on the surface

Not all the way through

I've never been perfect

But neither have you

So if you're asking me I want you to know

She was a ninja. A ninja never shows her feelings. Death is a part of life which must be accepted and allowed to pass. There is no room for remorse, or at least, that's what Sheena was taught. No amount of teachings could prepare her for this. She could remember the words of the dwarf perfectly when they questioned about the graves. Somehow she had already known, but still felt her heart skid to a stop when Dirk replied, "He's gone..." That's all that was said, but no further words were needed. She understood. The one who had given her life meaning and convinced her that even the greatest mistakes can be corrected... was lying beneath the earth. She had joined the crying half-elf and managed to get close enough to present a gift to the fallen swordsman. A small bell. Corrine's bell. Lloyd had given her the courage to make sure that Corrine's sacrifice had not been in vain. Now, she grasped her racing heart in attempts to make sure that Lloyd's was not in vain either. In the silence, Origin's voice whispered his sorrow to his summoner. She saw every detail of the incident through Origin's eyes. She fell to her knees and pleaded to him, "Why didn't you do something!" A cold wind swept past and seemed to carry her words along with it. Her eyes fell upon the grave of his father and she could almost hear him chanting the incantations for many spells. "I see." Sheena's voice was a soft whisper. She no longer knew how to react. The shock of it all had devastated her to a degree she had not thought possible. She decided to give into her emotions and soon found that the ground beneath her was soaked with tears as they began pouring from her eyes. Lost in her memories of the fool she had fallen for, she shook her head in disbelief. "Why? First Zelos... and now..." Her heart was being split in two and crushed before her very eyes as she spoke. Reaching out to her friend, she tried to hide her sorrow. It was just as Origin said. "Lloyd would not want this." But Lloyd was not here anymore. That was the problem.

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

It still hadn't sunk in quite yet. She stood staring at the graves before her, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. It was simply illogical. This couldn't happen. Not to him. Not to Lloyd. Or to Kratos. Both were strong. The odds were against this occurring. It was just too soon. Percentage of these events taking place was... No. Odds were of no meaning here. It did happen. Both had fallen. And yet... Presea's numbness would not leave. There was simply no place for emotions. Looking over to the grieving half-elf, she had managed to push the idea further into understanding. She began to silently repeat Dirk's exact words, "He's gone..." She felt something that she hadn't known for almost twenty-eight years now. Tears. They lightly rolled from her eyes as she recalled all that the dual swordsman had done for her. If it weren't for Lloyd, she would have never understood what it meant to truly forgive. She would still be an emotionless puppet. That's all she was before Lloyd and his friends came to her rescue. Her eyes now rested on the second stone before them. Kratos had played a part in this as well. If not for him, the world could not have been regenerated. Both had helped. She owed them both a great debt that she could never repay. It was too late. Lloyd himself had granted her freedom. She hated that lab in Syback. She was their pet. Their experiment. If not for the boy who lay before her, she would still be there. That would have been... She didn't even want to think about it. Still, for Presea, accepting one's death was no easy task This would take some time. For now however, there was one thing she could do in respects for the eternal swordsman. She took a few silent steps towards the gray stone with her young friend's name engraved in it. Kneeling before it, she looked to both graves and whispered a solemn, "Thank you."

Forgetting... all the hurt inside you learned to hide so well

Pretending... someone else can come and save me from myself

I can't be who you are

He stood staring in utter shock at the sight before him. Nothing seemed to make sense. The boy who had laughed and spoken with such a light heart during the journey now lay motionless beneath the ground before him. But why? Lloyd was a grand swordsman and perfectly capable of taking care of himself. And his father was there as well. A sudden wave of guilt overcame him at the word "father." For some time, Regal had looked at the boy as though he were his own son. Pain increased as he dared a step forward, pushing against his body's defiance. Lloyd deserved his respect. He could at least offer him that. It was all he could do. He felt a warm smile suppressing itself as he recalled the conversations that he had with the younger gentleman. It still didn't make sense. Standing by the ninja from Mizuho, he stared blankly at the cold stone before him. It bore the name of the boy he had thought of as his own, and sent shivers down his spine. This boy was not his son, but rather a "brother" according to Lloyd. They weren't allowed much time to spend together, but he was sure that Lloyd had looked up to him and had appreciated that more than his companion could have ever understood. He wanted to say something on the young boy's behalf. However, he still felt the cold numb that held him silent that had taken its hold on him whenever they had first arrived. Regal stared at the dirt beneath his feet, knowing that somewhere below it all the red-clad swordsman was resting in eternal peace. Yuan's words still haunted his mind as he recalled the half-elf calling them all together at his base. He had warned them that there were strange surges of mana just outside of Iselia. Everyone had left for Dirk's house, they had expected to regroup and meet up with Lloyd who didn't show up at the renegade base. No one had expected this though... The man's eyes misted over as he was pulled out of his memories by the mumbling of the poor girl by his side.

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

"Lloyd..." The poor ex-chosen hadn't felt so empty since she sacrificed her heart and memory in order to "regenerate the world." She had done so for her idol. The one who had previously passed. With a heavy heart, she recalled all that they had gone through together and all the pain Lloyd went through to bring Colette back to this world. She had been willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of Sylverant. Her friend taught her that this wasn't the correct path however. Suddenly, she had a whole new view on the world. Her life had more meaning than just in death. He had taught her that, no life should be born for the sole purpose of dieing. "There is a significance in being born." Lloyd had said those exact words once, and now the young angel was quoting her friend in tribute to the memory he had allowed. They were always friends. They had met at a young age and Lloyd never treated Colette any different, despite her status as the "chosen of mana." That title had meant so much before. Now she knew that all those lives were being wasted for the twisted desires of Mithos Yggdrasill. She smiled ever so slightly at the thought that there would be no more lives used and ended at the hands of that blinded child. Lloyd had offered salvation to the worlds. He was the only angel among them. Now... he was gone. Her life seemed hollow after learning of the truth. Kratos had tried so hard. Of that she was certain. It pained her so. They had only started to truly bond and accept one another. There was nothing that she could do now. Nothing that she could have done. It just wasn't fair. She... simply didn't know what to do. Lloyd gave all life meaning. When he left... he had taken all of its significance with him. Existence lacked purpose. Life will never be the same. Her heart split into tiny pieces that she could never put back together as realization finally hit her. Lloyd... was not coming back...

Forgetting... all the hurt inside you learned to hide so well

Pretending... someone else can come and save me from myself

I can't be who you are