Authors note- first off, I must apologize for the huge delay, I did not forget or anything, I just have a lot of stuff going on in school. I have a huge research paper due sometime at the middle of March, so until then, my story will be slow in production. This is my only chance to write this month as it is a 3-day weekend, and what a better way to spend it writing about my favorite couple in the whole wide world! I feel like I apologize every time I write, what's up with that? I have to thank everyone for all their great comments, all you guys are wonderful and it makes me so happy that people like my story! Before I forget, I will be skipping the Asgard human ranch scene. Yeah… can't think of much to do there so please don't be mad at me if you were expecting a scene.

Chapter 5

Tower of Mana

It has been almost a week since the fight back at the Asgard human ranch, and the group was well on their way to world regeneration. Lloyd felt lighter than he had been his entire life; after avenging his mother, a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, one that had been on his back for most of his life. Although this feeling did bring some depressing moments; the group sympathized with Lloyd and let his off the hook from some of his chores, especially night watch. The ranch had been a growing experience for Lloyd, and the group's new companion Sheena. When the group decided that they had to split up, they chose Lloyd to pick the group to go after Kvar. Lloyd's first choice was Sheena; after all he did promise her that they would fight him together. Sheena's heart leapt at those words; will you fight by my side? She had never felt so wanted in all her life, even Corrine was starting to like Lloyd. Kratos seemed eager to fight Kvar as well, insisting that Lloyd needed him, which suited Lloyd just fine. During the fight, Lloyd and Sheena danced a deadly weave of swords and seals. Both of them predicted each other's moves, and complemented them with their own. When Kvar was the only enemy remaining, the three quickly broke Kvar's guard, and Lloyd and Sheena took his down with a new combo that they created. Sheena focused her power seal spell onto Lloyd's sword, and Lloyd followed up with a sonic thrust through the opponent. With Kvar defeated, the group also found out about a condition that Colette was suffering from- Angel Toxicosis- and decided to search for a cure later on.

At the moment, the group was camped outside of the tower of Mana, after just releasing the seal. After breaking the seal, Lord Remiel informed the group that they should head to the tower of Salvation to release the final seal. This meant the journey was coming to an end, but the group still had some things to take care of before they could move on. A promise made to save Pietro which required some lost healing arts. The group had already found the Boltzman book which had the arts in them, but it was useless unless they had a unicorn horn.

They were all sitting around a small campfire, quietly. Colette was suffering from another case of her toxicosis, only this time she lost her voice. Lloyd was sitting between Sheena and Colette, and Genis and Raine were sitting next to each other, which Kratos on his own next to Noishe. Sheena closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, then let it out. She stood up, causing everyone to look at her.

"Guys, I have something to say." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she continued "I think I should explain to you why I was trying to assassinate the chosen" she said.

"Yes, and tell us about your homeland, one that doesn't exist in our world" Raine stated. Sheena seemed very surprised at Raine figuring out who she was, and wore a shocked expression to match her thoughts. Raine read her face and continued "after all, you did say before 'your world will be saved' and that must mean you aren't from Sylvarant"

Understanding what Raine meant Sheena continued her confession. "It's a shame your intellect is being wasted here. Yes I am not from Sylvarant; I am from a land called Tethe'alla"

"Tethe'alla" said Genis questionably "you mean the moon?"

"Of course not" she said laughing. "my world isn't on the moon" Sheena then noticed Lloyd becoming very confused at all this. "Even I don't understand the specifics. But there's another world the lies entwined with Sylvarant, like shadow and light. That's Tethe'alla, my wo..world" she stuttered on the last words, and took a moment to understand why. Jeez, Sylvarant has been much more of a home to me in these last months than Tethe'alla has my whole life… I guess I can't help it. Everyone has been so kind to me, no one has looked at me like I was different. Raine was thinking hard to herself, then spoke up.

"Two entwined worlds?" she asked.

"The two worlds lie directly adjacent to each other. They just can't see one another" replied Sheena. "Our scholars say they exist on shifted dimensions. Anyway, the two worlds can't see or touch each other, but they do in fact exist next to and affect each other."

"What do you mean 'affect each other'" Lloyd asked.

"They vie for the supply of mana. When one world weakens, the mana from that world flows to the other." she answered. "As a result, one world is always flourishing, and the other waning. Sort of like an hourglass."

"Wait, so right now Sylvarant is..." Genis asked, leaving out the last part of his question.

"Yeah. Sylvarant's mana is flowing to Tethe'alla. Therefore Sylvarant is in decline." Sheena said.

"I understand now." Raine said. "The chosen's world regeneration is actually the process of reversing the mana flow, am I correct?"

"Exactly" replied Sheena. "When the chosen breaks a seal, the mana flow reverses, and the summon spirit that governs the seal awakens. I was sent to prevent the world regeneration from happening. I broke through the supposedly impassable dimensional fissure for the sake of protecting Tethe'alla."

Lloyd stood up and looked Sheena directly in the eyes. He bore a look of frustration on his face, then said, "In other words, to assure the decline and destruction of Sylvarant?"

Sheena retaliated, while fighting Lloyd's gaze with her own. "You can say that" she snapped "but your world regeneration is also an attempt to destroy Tethe'alla. We're both doing the same thing."

Raine tried to break up the argument; she said, "It's hard for me to believe all of this"

"Well, if you want proof, I'm the proof." She turned her gaze to Raine, then tapped her chest, "remember, I possess summoning arts that have been lost to this world. That's our next stop anyway, I can make a pact with Undine to get to the unicorn under Lake Umacy." Colette tried to speak up, but nothing but air came out of her mouth. She looked at Sheena apologetically and plenty of sorrow. "Don't look at me like that Colette, I know that wasn't your intention. I don't know what I should do either. I came here to protect Tethe'alla, but this world is impoverished and everyone is suffering. But if I allow world regeneration to occur, then Tethe'alla with become just like this."

"But right now you're helping us right?" Genis asked.

"Yes but that doesn't mean I can just abandon Tethe'alla!" she replied. She then rubbed her forehead in frustration. "I… I don't know what to do. Isn't there any other way? A way for Sylvarant, Tethe'alla, and Colette to all be happy?" Lloyd's mood and facial expression changed after Sheena said this.

"I want to know too!" he agreed.

"Have you considered that perhaps nothing that convenient exists in the real world?" said Raine harshly.

Kratos had been awfully quiet during this whole conversation, but decided to add his input. "The best thing we can do right now is to save Sylvarant from its current crisis" he said

"What if we don't regenerate the world and just defeat the Desians?" asked Lloyd.

"Although we succeeded in destroying a ranch, we cannot possibly eliminate all the Desians." He replied. "The mana will eventually be exhausted"

"Is mana really that important?" Lloyd asked.

"I suppose only magic users and scholars worry about it." Genis replied. "but mana is even more important to life than water. Without it, the land will die. Crops won't grow and magic becomes unusable. Mana is the source material which composes everything. At least that's what I've been taught."

"Unfortunately, the giant tree of ever-flowing mana in fairy tales doesn't exist in the real world" Raine added. "We live by chipping away at the limited amount of available mana. Why do you think the ancient magitechnology was lost?"

"Because mana disappeared from the world" Sheena answered.

"Correct" Raine said. "Magitechnology consumes large amounts of mana. If things continues the way they are now, sylvarant will eventually lose its mana just as it lost its magitechnology, and be destroyed." Colette walked up next to Lloyd, then took his hand in both of hers. Sheena's insides began burning with jealousy, and her face blushed furiously. Fortunately, the darkness kept most of her embarrassment hidden. Colette began moving her fingers around in Lloyds hand, confusing Lloyd at first.

"Colette?" he asked, then noticed that she was writing letters in his hand. "R-E-M-I, ah! You're trying to spell something right? I'll…try…asking…Remiel…if…there's…a…way…to…save…the…two…worlds."

Sheena closed her eyes and spoke. "If it doesn't work out" she said slowly, "I may have to kill you after all"

"When…that…time…comes…I…may…fight…back…because…I…love…Sylvarant…too" read Lloyd.

"I understand, you intend to become an angel, no matter what, don't you?" Sheena asked. Colette let go of Lloyd's hand, then nodded at Sheena. A few moments past while everyone thought of something to say, though enough had been said about the matter.

"I think we've all heard enough." Said Raine, "let's all get some rest, we have to make it all the way to Thoda Glacier tomorrow" everyone seemed to be in agreement, then moved to their respective positions for the night.

"Lloyd" said Kratos, getting Lloyd's attention. "Why don't you take watch tonight?"

"Yeah, it's been awhile since I contributed hasn't it?"Lloyd said. Kratos nodded, and then got ready for the night. Lloyd moved himself over to where Noishe was lying down; he sat down, and leaned against Noishe's warm body. At the same time, Sheena put her head down and pulled her thin blanket over her to keep warm. She had a lot on her mind, she couldn't calm her mind very well, but she was trying.

A couple hours later, Sheena finally had enough and lifted herself up from her lying position. She couldn't sleep, not tonight. She can't choose between Sylvarant and Tethe'alla, and on top of all that, she has to make a pact tomorrow, not something she is looking forward too. Sheena looked around; she saw Genis and Raine lying next to each other deep in sleep. Then she saw Kratos all by himself, sleeping as well. Sheena also saw Colette on the other side of the fire, lying down and her eyes closed, even though she couldn't sleep, she could still try to rest her mind. Finally, Sheena looked to her right, and saw a large "dog" with a young man leaning up against it. Noishe was definitely asleep, but as for its master, he had his eyes buried in his hands. Sheena looked closer, and saw he was gently stroking his Exsphere, and it was giving off a very dim glow, enough for Sheena to see Lloyd's gentle face. It was easy to tell that he was deep in thought, but Sheena decided that he could use someone to talk to. Sheena slowly stood up, trying to be as quiet as possible, and then walked over to Lloyd. Still standing, she asked in a hushed voice, "Want some company?" Lloyd looked up and saw Sheena standing over him.

"Sheena? You're still awake?" he asked in a hushed tone she nodded. He moved himself to give Sheena some room to sit next to Noishe. Sheena sat down next to Lloyd and let her eyes wander into the ground.

"I couldn't really get to sleep" replied, still speaking in a soft voice.

"Listen Sheena, I'm really sorry about yelling at you earlier, I didn't mean for it to sound like I was blaming you" said Lloyd. His voice was very apologetic, enough for Sheena to know that he was sincere in his apology. Sheena didn't think he had anything to apologize for; anyone would have acted that way after hearing what she told them. She lifted her head and met Lloyd's comforting gaze.

"Lloyd, don't worry about that" she replied, "besides, I shouldn't have snapped at you like I did, and I'm really sorry about that."

"So we're still friends?" he asked.

"Of course" she smiled at his innocence. "Friends forgive each other right?" Lloyd smiled back and nodded.

"Are you all right Sheena?"Lloyd said changing the subject.

"umm, well, I guess I'm a bit nervous about making the pact." She replied, turning her gaze back to the ground.

"What? Why?"Lloyd asked, seeming surprised by this change in character from Sheena.

"well, how did you feel when we faced Kvar?" she asked

"I was…"he looked away before continuing, "terrified. I needed to beat him; I couldn't mess up again. "

"I sort of feel the same way" Sheena said, trying to stop Lloyd before he made himself more upset.

"Sheena I don't understand, why would you of all people be terrified?" Lloyd said,

"I just don't want…" she said before tears started rolling down her eyes, she tried to wipe them away before continuing, "I just don't want you…anyone to get hurt…again" after finishing, her eyes were completely cascading, and she was letting off a few muffled sobs. Lloyd took his arm and wrapped it around Sheena, then brought her closer to him. Sheena hugged Lloyd back without really thinking. Thinking that this was making Lloyd uncomfortable she decided to pull away to not make things weird, though before she could pull away, Lloyd wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her deeper into the hug. Sheena melted into Lloyd's chest and continued to cry, letting her all bad feelings out through her body. Lloyd remained quiet during this, he didn't want to upset her by asking why she felt this way, and Sheena was grateful for that. She couldn't drop all her problems on Lloyd so early in their relationship. After a couple of minutes, which could have easily been hours, Lloyd spoke up.

"I don't really know how pact making works" he started, "but I promise, nothing bad will happen Sheena. I'll be right by your side, just like you were when we fought Kvar. You'll be great, I know it." Sheena then looked up into Lloyd's gentle face. Her eyes were red and her face was wet from tears, it didn't bother Lloyd one bit. He just wanted to be there for his new friend.

"Thank you" she said, her crying was starting to diminish. "Thank you so much Lloyd" she hugged him one last time, then pulled herself up from his hold. Lloyd let go of her and brought his arms back down to his lap. "Umm heh, its sorta cold out tonight, could I stay by you for the night?" she asked, quite embarrassed. Her faced was really flushed at this question, and cursed herself for being so forward.

"Sure Sheena "replied Lloyd, equally embarrassed. Sheena then gently laid her head in the crook of Lloyd's neck, then nuzzled a bit to find a comfortable position. Sheena closed her eyes and drifted slowly off into sleep, leaving all worry behind her. Lloyd remained awake, so he did not disappoint Kratos and protect the chosen. Lloyd smiled at his new growing friendship with Sheena, finding that they had more in common than he had originally thought, giving him the feeling that he wasn't alone in the world. He didn't know what to think of these new feelings he had, all he knew is that it made him feel good inside, and a little fuzzy at times. Sheena was in deep sleep in no time; with her mind at ease, and a warm pillow, she was in heaven. She had never slept so well in her life.

A/N- hey another chapter done, yay! Hope you guys enjoyed it, I sure did. If you guys are thinking that the relationship is moving too fast, don't worry, the story will address that. So I'm sorry again for the super long delay, after march 5th my paper should be done and I can focus more on the story! So please be patient. Oh yeah, I started to play TOS again, I can't seem to get enough of that game. So maybe new inspirations? I don't know, its pretty late right now and stuff, off to bed with me! Good night everyone.