Disclaimer: After FINALLY realizing “Mr.” Fujishima is a “Ms.” um…(anime sweat drop) well…I respect Fujishima-dono. There, now I don’t have to specify a gender :P HA! THE CREATOR OF TALES OF SYMPHONIA NO LONGER HAS A GENDER! (I still feel REALLY stupid though) Anyway…yada yada, blah blah blah, I don’t own Tales of Symphonia. What do you want from me?

The One Greatest Weakness

Chapter 7: The Final Battle

Dammit…Kratos…I’m so stupid! Why didn’t I ever try to understand him? Kratos may not have always been there, but when I needed him most, he was there, just watching over me—which I’m grateful for. I’m grateful he just let me live my life, mature on my own, and become a man without his help. But he was there, witnessing each event unfold.

But now…he’s gone. Right when I need him. Dad…I need your help.

Dying is runny away—that’s what I think. But you…that isn’t true in your case. You didn’t give up. Even at Death’s door you stood strong. You may have failed your mission, but—wait…did you really fail? You wanted to bring me back to the side of justice. Even if you’re dead now, I see why you did what you did. Thanks…

I will avenge you. Mithos tainted my ideals; he used my anger and frustration to get rid of you. He made me a puppet. But this puppet is cutting its own strings and taking the puppeteer with him.

---

All was quiet; all was dark. Life in Derris-Kharlan could frustrate some—Colette for one. She still stumbled occasionally and then would have to run to catch up with Mithos.

Once again, the blonde angel lost her footing on a step and fell, close to the edge of the walk. Her heartbeat quickened, and she heaved a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank Goddess Martel,” she murmured, looking at the bottomless pit to the side.

When she looked up ahead, she expected to see Mithos either glaring at her and waiting impatiently, or walking on ahead without her. However, he was nowhere to be seen.

“Oh no…now what?” she voiced aloud. “I can’t believe I lost Mithos…”

Suddenly, her perky, little ears seemed to catch a noise she recognized. There were sobs…and frustrated screams.

“MITHOS, YOU BASTARD! DAMMIT!”

Colette’s heart rate spiked up. She stood up and took a few steps closer. “Llo…Lloyd? Is that you?” she said quietly, slightly shocked.

“WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!”

She ran up a flight of stairs, getting closer and closer to the voice of the one she loved. “Lloyd! Lloyd!” she called.

Lloyd was deaf to her; he could only hear Mithos’ taunting voice inside his head, laughing at Lloyd’s ignorance. Lloyd screamed again, this time spewing a fluent string of inappropriate words, all cursing Mithos’ name.

Colette stood frozen there. She watched Lloyd repeatedly slam his fist into the ground. Even when his right fist became numb and his knuckles began to bleed, he continued to pummel the surface. Then enough was enough—Colette could not bear to watch this anymore. She grabbed the irate swordsman in a tight hug and squeezed him gently. Suddenly, Lloyd’s arm hung limp at his side and he calmed down. Colette noticed this, and so she relaxed her eyelids and the distance between the two decreased until Lloyd could feel the warmth of Colette’s breath and smell the sweet scent of her hair. They leaned closer and closer, and their lips met.

It was the tenderest kiss the either of them ever had.

Eventually, they both parted. Lloyd stared at Colette in awe, and Colette just smiled at him. Already, the cold spot Lloyd felt in his heart seemed to feel warmer.

“C…Colette?” he whispered.

“What you’re supposed to do is stop Mithos,” she said with a bright smile plastered upon her face.

“Colette, you…you don’t understand,” Lloyd said, turning away.

“Don’t understand what?” Colette asked.

“If you knew what happened…”

“Yeah?”

“You’d hate me.”

“Lloyd, I could never hate you,” she said, getting herself up and then extending a hand to Lloyd. He just stared at it, trying to figure out how Colette could be as strong as she was.

He took her hand and got to his feet. Colette was right. Mithos may have started all of this, and Lloyd may have continued it, but by Goddess Martel he was going to end it.

“Let’s go,” Lloyd said.

Colette nodded. “Okay.” As she walked by with Lloyd she saw a body on the ground. It was a man in dark armor, but covered in blood. Colette couldn’t believe it. Was it… Kratos? She quickly turned away after getting a glimpse of his pale, grimy face. Something isn’t good…Kratos—dead?

---

The two of them took it a step at a time. They weren’t sure where to go to find Mithos and they were both confused—about different things. Colette was wondering where the others were. All she knew was Kratos was dead. Though Lloyd seemed confused about himself. He didn’t know who or what he was anymore.

Why is Kratos dead? Where are the others? I hope they’re okay…

By getting revenge on Mithos…I’ll become a monster again. I will kill again. But…if that’s what it takes to avenge Dad, I’ll do it.

The two teens were silent as they continued on, looking around.

“So…where’s Mithos?” Lloyd asked, his teeth clenched. The mere thought of that manipulative boy was enough to make his blood boil.

“Well, I was walking with him for a bit,” Colette said, “but then I fell and when I looked up he wasn’t there anymore.”

“Why were you walking with him?” Lloyd asked.

“Well…he said he’d take me to you. I guess he did just in a strange way,” Colette replied.

“Do you know where he went afterwards?” Lloyd inquired.

Colette shook her head. “Sorry, Lloyd.”

“Nah, it’s all right.”

---

One boy stood there by himself, looking up above him. He was chuckling to himself, and the sniggers grew louder exponentially. One single, blue crystalline object lay inside his soft, small palm. He rotated it around, staring at the machine before him. Its flashing lights told him it was almost time.

His blonde hair rest at the sides of his cheeks, hiding the paleness of his face. His blue eyes stared into the depths of the machine as he inserted the blue exsphere of Lloyd’s mother into a crevice and tapped a few buttons. All he needed was one more thing—Colette Brunel.

His evil plan was working. Martel would be reborn.

Lloyd and Colette continued to walk up and down the endless steps together. Their footsteps echoed all over Derris Kharlan as the purple mist floated past them. Colette began to feel chilly, and Lloyd noticed so he wrapped an arm around her. She smiled at him. Words were not needed to express his gratitude; he knew.

“Lloyd?” Colette spoke, breaking the silence.

“Yeah? What is it?” he replied.

“You know I’ll always be here for you, right?” she asked.

Lloyd stared at her questioningly. “Yeah, of course.”

“Like how you were always there by my side before…when I lost my heart and my soul.”

Lloyd had nearly forgotten about those days. The days when Colette wouldn’t blink her blood red eyes, or speak to him, or acknowledge his existence, or do anything at all. The days where Lloyd always believed he would save Colette and bring her back to him. Because he could never live with himself if he ever left her behind. Colette was his beloved and always would be to him. Even if she turned into the devil—if that was even possible—he would always love her.

Always. Nothing would change his mind about her.

They continued walking, keeping up the silence until they saw some strange markings on the ground up ahead. It looked as if something had been carved into the ground. They had seen this type of thing before.

“It’s a warp,” Colette stated.

“Yeah,” Lloyd agreed.

“Do you think it will take us to Mithos?” the cheery, optimistic blonde angel asked.

“It better. And when I see that bastard’s face, the first thing I’m gonna do is kick his ass,” the idealistic, headstrong swordsman growled.

Colette just nodded and the two of them walked over to the glowing circle. It seemed to emanate a glow that on one hand, put a sense of inspiration that what they were about to do was the right thing, but on the other hand, looked as if it was foreshadowing the hard times that were about to come.

The two of them stood on top of the warp and began to disappear as they prepared themselves for the worst.

The first thing Colette saw was a bright light glowing from a machine and an evil, little, seemingly frail boy leaning up against it with a smirk forming at his lips.

“Oh, I’m so glad of you two to come,” he said, feeling pleased with himself.

“Mithos, you little bastard…you used me!” Lloyd screamed. “You made me kill my friends and even my own father!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Lloyd,” Mithos said, not hiding back any sarcasm or pity. “I thought you hated your friends; I thought you hated Kratos. I thought I was giving you what you wanted.”

Colette gasped and looked over at Lloyd. His face had been transformed by anger and he was clenching his fists so tight, that he punctured the skin on his palm. Little trickles of blood slid down his hand, then his wrist, and finally to his forearm where it rolled off the side onto the ground.

“Lloyd…you killed all of them?” she asked, not believing what she had just heard.

“Oh, you didn’t know?” Mithos cackled. “Your wonderful, little boyfriend killed all of them—one by one.”

“Leave Colette out of this!” Lloyd yelled, drawing his swords. “This is just between the two of us!”

“But don’t you think she has the right to know what’s going on?” Mithos said, his eyes staring straight into Lloyd. Lloyd knew those eyes. He recognized them; Kratos used to stare at him with those analytical eyes. Those omnipotent eyes saw everything, read his soul, examined his own thoughts.

Colette turned her head and forced herself to look at Lloyd. She did her best to hold back the tears. “No, Lloyd…please tell me he’s lying…please…”

Lloyd looked down at the ground. Maybe if he didn’t see her, she wouldn’t see his pathetic self. This was as good as he could get to running away. “Colette, I…Colette, I can explain.”

“Don’t forget to tell her how you mercilessly slayed Kratos as he said he loved you, his only son,” Mithos laughed, enjoying the spectacle between Lloyd and Colette.

“Lloyd, I…I d-don’t know what to say…I don’t know what t-to think,” Colette stuttered, trying to stop the tears slowly falling from her glowing blue eyes. “You killed them all? What about Zelos? You two joked around all the time! What about Regal? He looked after you! What about the Professor? She did her best to teach you about anything and everything! What about Sheena? The two of you worked so well together! What about Genis? He was…your best friend.”

Lloyd turned her back to her and clenched his teeth to will himself to shed no tears. He would not cry. He would not let himself drop a single tear. This is going all wrong…Mithos is turning Colette against me. No…I need Colette. Colette…Can’t you see what he’s doing to the two of us?

Colette shot her head up and looked at Lloyd. The look on her face was not a glare because she didn’t hate Lloyd. Instead, her eyes were full of determination to set things straight. “And what about me, Lloyd?” she asked. “I love you. I care so deeply for you. I would do anything to save you. And that’s why I’m doing this now. You have to take responsibility for what you’ve done! You killed our friends! Why don’t you just kill me, too?”

Lloyd spun around and screamed, “Colette, I don’t want to kill you! I LOVE YOU, DAMMIT!”

Mithos took a step forward. “Okay, I’m sorry to interrupt the sappy, little romance story we have going on here, but I have a sister who needs to be revived. Once I kill Lloyd, no one can stop me from bringing Martel back to me.”

Lloyd gripped his sword tight and pointed it at Mithos. “Fine, I’ll deal with you right now!”

Lloyd ran straight at Mithos, giving him little time to react. As Lloyd thrusted his sword at Mithos, Mithos ducked and being much smaller than Lloyd, easily rolled through his legs. Lloyd brought out his foot and swept it across the ground in an attempt to knock Mithos’ feet out from under him. Unfortunately, Mithos nimbly jumped over them and backed up a few steps in order to increase some distance between the two of them. Lloyd knew what Mithos was trying to do. Mithos used a form of twisted magic. He wasn’t a close-range type of fighter. If he could just get up in Mithos’ face and get that swift asshole to stand still, he could kill him.

He rushed in headfirst again, this time expertly swinging the swords both his fathers gave him. Mithos quickly dodged each slash and as the distance suddenly grew greater, he shot out a white light from his palm. It crushed into Lloyd’s abdomen and sent him flying backwards. He swore as he sailed through the air and then crashed onto the cold, hard ground.

Damn, that hurt, he thought, slowly getting to his feet.

But it didn’t stop there, Mithos kept the attacks coming and nearly all of them hit Lloyd. Lloyd was losing the will to defend himself as each burning light came into contact with his weakening body. Eventually, he just fell to his knees, clutching his two swords in an effort to will away the painful sensation throughout his body.

“Lloyd!” Colette shrieked, running in his direction.

In one motion, Mithos grabbed Colette by the wrist and pulled her closer to him, surprising her how actually strong he was for someone his stature. “And just where do you think you’re going?” Mithos whispered into her ear. He swiftly and effortlessly shoved her into the machine and closed the hatch.

As it sealed shut, she felt her consciousness leave her. Everything was swirling around her. The only thing she could make out were those blue eyes, staring at her. Mithos had won. He was going to get what he wanted. He was going to get Martel back at the sake of sacrificing Colette.

---

That’s all I’m good for, Colette thought to herself, as she saw things spinning. These would certainly be her final moments of living. I’m just a simple sacrifice. Lloyd, I’m sorry. I forgive you…but can you ever forgive me?

“LET COLETTE GO! NOW!” Lloyd roared at the half-elf. “IF YOU DON’T LET HER GO, I’LL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW! YOU’LL NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO SEE YOUR SISTER’S FACE!”

“Those are mighty fine threats coming from someone who can’t even protect the girl he loves,” Mithos mocked.

“Don’t even get me started,” he muttered, hoisting himself to his feet.

The voices whirled around the blonde angel. Images passed through her mind. The same three people kept fleeting before her. All three were male. One had long blue hair, tied back; Colette recognized him as Yuan. Another was a tall man with reddish-brown hair and cold eyes; that one was Kratos. The final was a young boy with blond hair resting at his shoulders. Was that…Mithos?

“It’s so sad, isn’t it?” a voice said.

“What?” she asked.

“My brother and your friend…what they’re going through because of us,” the voice said.

“Who are you?” Colette said. “Are you Mithos’ sister?”

“Yes, I am Martel.”

“Martel, we have to do something to stop this!”

“Colette…you are strong,” Martel said.

“Martel, please! Help me stop Lloyd and Mithos! Surely you don’t want Mithos to die! And I don’t want Lloyd to die! I don’t know what I would do if he ever died before me.”

Everything turned black, and then suddenly Colette could see what was happening outside of what seemed to be her coffin. The two boys were fighting it out and Mithos had the upper hand. Lloyd couldn’t get the chance to strike because Mithos kept hitting him from afar. Colette watched as another one of Mithos’ blasts rammed into Lloyd’s side and sent him crippled to the ground. He began to cough up blood and it flowed everywhere. Lloyd would die from internal bleeding if Mithos didn’t stop—but he didn’t. He kept the flashes coming, relentlessly and slowly killing Lloyd. In fact, he looked like he was enjoying it.

Then the darkness drained everything out again. In the distance, someone was walking towards her; someone with light green hair and gentle eyes.

“Child…I have no body anymore,” Martel said, walking closer to Colette. “Only you have the power to restore peace to these odious times.”

“But I need your help, Martel! Mithos has imprisoned me,” she explained. “He’s trying to drain my soul to replace it with yours.”

“I see…”

“And I can’t move! I can’t break free!”

“It’s all right, child. Stay still and relax all of the muscles in your body.”

Colette did as she was told.

“Now…focus on Lloyd, and only Lloyd. Imagine the bonds weighing your arms and legs down. Use the strength inside your heart and destroy the dark bonds that trap your soul.”

Colette pictured a dark force wrapping itself around her. It was trying to consume her, trying to eat her heart. As images of her smiling swordsman flashed by in her mind, a strong, bright power radiated from her delicate body. It slowly dissolved the dark power Mithos set in upon her to leave her numb and unfeeling. Unfortunately, that was no more as warmth filled her veins and left her rejuvenated.

“Colette…you are free,” Martel said, smiling down at her. “Now…do what you think is right.”

Colette’s eyes opened. With a newborn strength she pushed open the hatch and slowly sat up.

---

Lloyd and Mithos stood still for a moment, trying to catch their breath. Sweat trickled down Mithos’ spine and blood skimmed down the side of his mouth and down past his chin.

He’s got more stamina than I had predicted, Mithos thought.

Mithos has used most of his energy. He’s got to be toasted. Now is the time for me to strike. With this final blow, I’ll end all suffering, Lloyd told himself.

Mom…Dad…everyone…this one is for all of you.

Lloyd screamed and rushed forward, startling Mithos and catching him off-guard. Quickly, Lloyd slashed out at Mithos. Mithos quickly jumped backwards, evading the attack. Lloyd tried once more and failed again. However, Mithos lost his footing and stumbled onto his behind.

Lloyd stood over Mithos triumphantly. “I’ve got you now,” he said. “I can finally end all the pain you’ve caused everyone.”

Lloyd thrusted his sword at Mithos. However, unbeknownst to him, Colette was running in his direction and what Lloyd’s blade met was not Mithos…but Colette. Blood poured out from her stomach, splashing onto Lloyd’s hand and face. Her body became rigid for a moment as it felt extreme pain, and then lessened and she relaxed.

“C…Co…Colette?” Lloyd said, barely registering his voice to be audible. “Colette…no…”

He slowly took his blade out from her and dropped it onto the ground. She fell into his arms. The warm glow on her face was already fading and her eyes were turning to cold, dark pools of blue instead of bright, shimmering ones.

“Lloyd…I had to do it,” she said, her breathing becoming heavy as her final moments drew nearer. “I don’t want anymore killing. I did it…for Martel…and you…”

Lloyd stared into her eyes. “No, Colette, no…oh goddess, don’t leave me here alone…”

“Lloyd…stay strong…”

Lloyd knew she was gone. Covered in her crimson blood, he held her tighter. Maybe if he tried hard enough, he could bring her back. If he willed hard enough, she would come back to him.

“Dammit!” Mithos muttered. “She wasn’t supposed to die for me…she was supposed to lose her soul so Martel could take it! Martel can’t enter that body!”

Lloyd set her delicate frame down. Fiery angel wings sprouted out from his backside and his eyes blazed red. “All you ever think about is Martel…Mithos, you don’t deserve to be lumped in with the living. You should be the one losing your own soul…Colette…she…SHE SAVED YOUR LIFE AND THAT’S ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT!”

Lloyd picked up the sword he dropped and without saying anything more, slit Mithos’ throat. Mithos felt life slipping away from him and his eyes glazed over.

“Mar…tel…here I…co…me…”

His carcass hit the ground with a thud that echoed all across Derris Kharlan. Lloyd turned away and kneeled down next to the dainty, dead Colette lying on the stone tile. She looked so calm and peaceful. He brushed a hand across her cheek and moved her bangs out of her eyes.

“Colette…I’m sorry.”

He held a sword up to his chest and paused, the cold metal raising goosebumps on his skin.

I will never forget this day…the life I’ve led to this day; the life I poisoned with my own undeniable lust for power. My name is Lloyd Irving…I’ve done unspeakable acts as of recently.

And I feel no guilt leaving this world like this.

---

Well…I’m speechless. I typed six pages of this in one night. And I must say…I WAS POSSESSED AGAIN! WHAT IS WITH ME AND BEING POSSESSED AND WRITING THESE DARK STORIES WHERE EVERYONE DIES! (deep breath) But…still…wow. When I wrote the first chapter, I had no idea how I was going to end this. When I was writing the beginning of this chapter in school I didn’t even know how I was going to lead it to the ending.

I hope some parts weren’t too corny. I still kept plenty of action in it. And I bet you had no idea that it would end like this—because I didn’t even think I was gonna have everyone die!

I give a big thank you to all of my good friends for helping me through this. Most of you don’t even read my fics so you won’t even know I’m giving you credit (mumble, mumble) but I’ll let it pass since none of you guys have even played Tales of Symphonia so you’d all be lost in what was happening…BUT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE READ IT ANYWAY!

I give another HUGE thank you to my fans and reviewers! Without you guys keeping me going I might have finished working on this at one point. Thanks for dealing with the long lapses of time between each chapter—I’ve never been known for updating quickly (anime sweat drop)

One final thanks to everyone. You all know who you are, but others might not, so here you all are. You guys rock my socks and kick ass! I love you all and thanks so much! -

I GIVE THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE A SUPER, DUPER, ULTRA, BIG THANK YOU!

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My special thanks to:

Roi-Tan-For being my bodyguard to guard me in case I was attacked by rabid Kratos fangirls.

UberSpoonz-Providing me with lots of humor in every review and declaring him/herself a “loyal fan of kuramagirl44” even if he/she threatened to kill me IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS when I joked at discontinuation

One Final Note: Oh and don’t even THINK about me writing a sequel because I’m not a big fan of writing sequels. Ha ha ha ha! (sticks tongue out) I wouldn’t even know where to begin…EVERYONE FREAKING DIED! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO! WRITE A STORY ABOUT THE AFTERLIFE!