Insaneiac: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the end of 19.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia.

Chapter 12:

No Sacrifice Too Great

Throughout the ages of twenty worlds, there has been strife, there has been courage, there has been betrayal and there has been love. Throughout the ages of twenty worlds, there have been beginnings, there have been middles, there have been climaxes, and there have been ends. Throughout the ages of twenty worlds, there have been successes, there have been failures, there have been victories and there have been defeats.

Throughout the ages of twenty worlds, there has been a limit. A line in the sand that no mortal or immortal were to dare cross over. A border where passage was forbidden in every sense of the word. And to go past this was to invoke the end of all things upon all living creatures, mortal or immortal.

Throughout the ages of nineteen worlds, there has never been a moment were this limitation was crossed. There has never been a need or a reason great enough to commit such an act.

In the twentieth, it became evident that this was now a necessary evil. That they had finally reached the point in time where there was no sacrifice that was too great. It was in this twentieth world where a realization came to pass. That this limitation, this point of no return, was capable of much more than causing the end of all things.

This was a gift and a curse. It would bring about either salvation or destruction. And it would be up to those chosen through this sacrifice to lead their world to end of either path. To either divine salvation, or eternal destruction.

- Origin's Grove -

"A question?" Lloyd asked, turning to look at Origin. He was dimly aware of the fact that both Sheena and Mithos were glaring at each other, and that the two of them were probably just waiting for the chance to maul each other. "Like what? I mean, haven't we answered most of them already?"

"This one you have not." Was the summon spirit's response.

"This question is one that will have great repercussions, Lloyd Irving." Mana spoke, taking a few steps forward and standing in front of Origin. With each step she took, Mithos took one back, before deciding it best to vanish for the time. "It is, in truth, a choice."

"That doesn't sound too good." Zelos chimed in, just before he decided to lean up against Lloyd and wrap an arm around his shoulders. "Considering the rest of this sit in, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the hard part. In fact, I'm expecting it, what about you, buddy?"

'If he doesn't remove himself from you Lloyd, I'll destroy him.' A voice chimed inside the twin swordsman's head, with a very sharp edge to it. However, the aforementioned swordsman was more than happy to disregard it this time. He was healthy enough that he could keep Mithos from taking control, and more importantly, he was not a dog. Mithos was not his master. He would not do as he was told.

"As crudely as he has put it," Kratos started, before looking around at the group of people and spirits, "he's right. There has been little, if anything, over the course of this meeting that has not been hard in one way or another. Were it a simple question or choice, I would have no doubt that you would have asked it already." And then he focused on Origin. "Instead, it seems to me as though you are trying to put it off for as long as you can." All attention was fixed onto Kratos as he finished his observation, and then one by one they turned to Origin for a response.

"No. I have been keeping it until the end, until all other matters were dealt with." Origin explained, holding his arms out to them. "As this will be a most difficult choice for you. Perhaps your most difficult one."

"I thought there was something wrong with this." Yuan began, crossing his arms and addressing Origin with an analytical gaze. "You wanted us to be clear of mind, and then you wanted us to be well learned. That means, quite simply…you're going to risk something. You're going to risk something big." And then he paused for a moment. "No. You're going to ask us to. We will all risk something massive to try and contend with this threat. This threat that you, until this point, have been a significant part of."

Raine took over from here, now matching the same brainwave as her husband. "Simple logic dictates that we can't split the worlds again. If they were stopped by that once, then they'll have some counter-measure in place to prevent it from happening again." She tapped the side of her arm and tried to think as to what else could be done. But she could not think of anything, and neither could Yuan. Or anyone of them, for that matter.

"There is a choice that we can present to you." Mana spoke, softly. Her eyes started on Lloyd and lingered for a moment, before sweeping to each of them. "It is as great a risk as can be taken. In any other situation, such a gamble would not even be a last resort. However, in this instance…it may be our one chance at success." She stopped there, folding her arms and, once again, glancing at Lloyd. This time, there was a sullen quality to her eyes that had not been there before.

"No pressure or anything." Zelos muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "But seriously, could you two cut it out with the dramatic build up and just spit it out already?"

Regal had said nothing regarding this, and instead paid attention to something beyond the words. Eyes. Or to be more specific, that the spirits were always glancing at Lloyd at intervals, and focusing on him especially whenever mention of this great risk came to mind. This lent itself to some varying interpretations. "Whose choice is this to make, Origin?" That earned him a bountiful amount of stares. Some queer, and some, specifically from the long lived pair, calculative. "Is it one that will be presented to all of us with the intention of all of us answering it…or does the actual choice belong to a single person among us?"

Presea turned her head to Lloyd. "With the information gathered, one would assume that, based on how many times their eyes rested upon him, this choice is either for or focal on Lloyd." She had emotion in her voice again, but her thinking was mechanical in nature. The brief period in berserker mode still lingered. "The possibility of the choice being both is also strong."

'Wow Lloyd. Looks like your friends aren't all complete idiots. Some are only mostly so. You should be so proud.' Mithos' voice rang inside Lloyd's head, louder than before. And before he realized it, Mithos had manifested himself and was standing on Lloyd's shoulders. "Better than mine. They're all good and together until something breaks, and suddenly they're useless. Pathetic fools." He spoke, once again only heard by Lloyd, the spirits and Sheena. The latter of which turned her glare onto him once more. Her eyes were met with a contemptuous glare that pushed her own anger into the mud. "Go on, Origin. Tell the Hero here what this big choice is. Or do you want me to do it for you?" The twisted smile fastened to the half-elf was all Origin needed to go ahead.

"Lloyd Irving-Aurion." The full title was enough to make Lloyd want to take a step back. Too bad Mithos was going to prevent that. He was going to force Lloyd to stand his ground in this, come hell or high water. "To contest against the Sovereign, to become a light against the Testaments, to defend this world once more, the Eternal Sword will be essential." And he paused. Origin paused, not out of any sort of dramatic device, but out of the delicate nature of this proposal. "However. One sword will not be enough."

Dumbfounded stares returned the statement. A few begin to turn into profoundly confused gazes, while others began to show the signs of a puzzle coming together. One, invisible to almost everyone, beamed with understanding and knowledge. Just as Origin spoke once more, Yuan's eyes reflected a sudden, poignant horror that came from cruel realization.

"Lloyd Irving-Aurion. For you and your own to stand a chance against the coming nothingness, you will need the aid of the person that lives within you. You will need Mithos Yggdrasill." The reaction is exactly as expected. Horrified eyes focused on Origin, silence overtaking the group and surrounding them like a thick fog, obscuring everything else that had happened since coming to this grove. The only ones that had reacted differently were Mithos and Lloyd. The former was smiling, as if everything just couldn't get any better at that point. He cheated death, and was about to be restored by the being that made his destruction entirely possible. It was the sweetest victory he could hope for. The latter, on the other hand, had remained frozen in spot, nothing widening or shifting, before his eyes shut tightly. And he would have very much liked it if the world had just gone away and left him alone.

Because he knew Origin was right.

Risk was an understatement.

"No." A voice spoke, breaking apart the murky silence. The voice belonged to Yuan, a certain grimness lacing his tone. The horror is gone from his eyes now, replaced by steadfast determination. "Even considering that course of action is pointless. He's doing enough damage to Lloyd as it is. What you should be doing is getting rid of him entirely." Deep down, however…deep down he knew he was arguing against fact. But he knew of other facts as well. Fact about Mithos. Facts about Mithos and trust. This was not someone they could bring back. "It'll undo ever-"

"We don't have a choice, Yuan." Lloyd responded, turning his eyes to the ground. "We have to give Mithos that chance…" Lloyd actually felt like laughing at that point. Here he was, the person that had stopped Mithos, that had reunited the worlds, that had changed everything that was. And now he was the advocate for Mithos' revival. He could feel the other smiling at him, almost feeling the other rubbing his back and complimenting him on being a good little dog. He expected to argue this point alone; believing no one else in his group would support his motion to revive Mithos.

He was wrong.

"My buddy here has a point, Yuan." Zelos replied, patting Lloyd on the back. "We're going to have to deal with the devil we know to tackle the one we don't. Both of them are a risk of destroying the world, that's great. We'll fight fire with fire." His words, light hearted and ultimately insightful, were like wings to Lloyd. Wings he desperately needed after everything that had happened. "The way I see it…either we go all in, or we ought to just fold and wait for everything to end."

"You're actually using a gambling metaphor?" Raine responded, looking bewildered. "Zelos, you're aware that we're dealing with stakes that are well beyond our wildest expectation. We have to take into account that Mithos' own sister was absorbed into this world when Lloyd joined them together. What makes you think he'd bother to protect it? What makes you believe he wouldn't just run off to join the Testaments, to help end the world?"

"Raine's quite right." Kratos echoed. "There are measures to take, and measures to avoid. This is one we should avoid, at all costs." Kratos turns his head to Origin now, and then pauses. And before the summon spirit can say anything, he turns it back to Lloyd. "But it's not our choice." He could feel the sharpness of eyes upon the side of his head, and knew all too well that Yuan had some serious objections. "It's up to you, Lloyd."

"Kratos, you can't be serious." Yuan responded in a controlled tone. "This is Mithos we're talking about." When Kratos chose not to speak again, or even offered a sign that his words had been received, Yuan turned his attention to Lloyd, and turned his tone from controlled to reasonable. "Lloyd…this might be your decision because he's inside of you, but this is a world I am willing to give anything for to protect. And bringing Mithos back risks more harm than it offers good."

"Perhaps you should listen to them, Lloyd." Mithos spoke, choosing his words carefully. "You can do it all, can't you." And after a moment of silence. "Can't you?" When Lloyd provided no answer, he gave a brief, mocking laugh. And then he disappeared into Lloyd, to make sure that the next words where his and his alone. 'Face it, Hero. You need me. More than just to win. You need me to teach you, to train you, to protect you. You're in over your precious head, and now it's my job to make sure you don't run out of air and drown. Drown in a sea of madness, and get left empty and barren.' And Lloyd shuddered before bringing a hand up to his head.

"Shut up." 'No. Say it.' "I'm not going to say anything." 'The idiot makes a point, Lloyd. I'm the devil you know. Embrace me. Together, we'll stop this. You and I.' "I said-" His words stopped the moment he felt Sheena rest a hand on his shoulder, and looked at him soothingly. "…Sorry guys." He said cautiously, not even realizing what had happened.

"We should vote." Raine said, looking between Lloyd, her beloved student, and Yuan, her beloved. Then paused when she realized there were eight of them here. The chance for a tie was a distinctly real one.

"Raine, with all due respect…it's not a group decision." Sheena replied, soft tone despite the colder words. "Lloyd and I hold the pact with Origin. If anyone should decide, it should be us."

Presea and Regal had been silent up to this point, but now that Sheena had stated the existence of their right to make a decision, they opted to make their opinion known. "Alright then. However, before you two make that choice, we should be allowed to argue our own opinions." And he glanced at Lloyd. "We're a family. One person's choice will affect the rest. The bigger the choice, the more effect it will have." Nothing at first, but after a period of nothingness had passed, a murmur of agreements sounded from the other members of the grove, some more begrudging than others, sounded. "Since Yuan, Zelos and Kratos have already offered their opinions on the matter, it is only fair that we do the same."

Sheena said nothing for a moment, before nodding. "Okay, we'll do it that way."

"Then allow me." Regal said, before taking a step forward. "I argue for it, Lloyd. Zelos makes a point that shouldn't be ignored, despite its lack of a refined presentation. Between all of us, we know who Mithos is. We know his goals, we know his intentions, and we know his methods. We also know how strong an adversary he was and we know how strong his determination is. Compare that to these Testaments, who we know nothing of, save for some of their identities. And even then, our knowledge of what they are capable of is limited to what we've experienced in our brief battles with them. If it were my choice to make, I would choose to accept the additional power of Mithos. We will need all the power we can get." And with that, Regal stepped backwards, providing an opening for whoever next wanted to give their opinion.

Presea did not take a step forward, but instead turned her attention onto Origin. "There will be multiple failsafe measures implemented, correct?"

"Indeed."

"These measures should feasibly be enough to prevent Mithos from directly damaging the planet, correct? Or if not possible, to limit the amount of damage he is capable of?"

Origin paused and gave a moment to consider the potential results of what he was prepared to do. "It will be enough to ensure that Mithos can be stopped, should such a situation arise." Origin nodded and looked at Lloyd again, crossing both sets of arms. "Despite the great risk that accompanies this choice, I will not allow for such risk of this nature to run unchecked and unlimited."

"If there are appropriate counter measures in place in the event that Mithos may become an obstacle, then the risk is at a manageable level." And she turns her head to stare at Lloyd, giving him a calculating look. "It is worth the risk. That is my opinion." It was short and to the point, but it did present new information that was not present before hand. And with her words spoken, Presea returned to silence, leaving the floor open to the last opinion.

Raine had the benefit of hearing all the other arguments, as well as a wider scope of knowledge than that of any before her. She didn't bother to look at either of them, Lloyd or Yuan, and instead chose to focus her level gaze on Sheena. And after providing a moments silence, she took a breath. "It seems as though the most obvious choice would be to refuse, and leave us to deal with the coming storm. Logic would dictate that we can't trust Mithos in the slightest." And then she closed her eyes. "But we need all the help we can get. We need to do everything we can to save the world. If that means bringing back Mithos, then bring him back."

The hand on her shoulder as she finished talking, gripping it warmly, was a good sign and easy to lean into just slightly. But neither party was changing their arguments over the matter. The other knew that fully. And having said her piece, she stepped back to Yuan's side and watched Lloyd and Sheena. After a long and shaky pause, the looming threat of a screaming silence clawed at the edges of the group, deterred only by shuffling and heavy breaths, Lloyd turned his head to Sheena and nodded once.

"Alright then." She muttered a response, making eye contact with Lloyd. Then she turned her eyes to Origin. "Origin. By the pact you and I share…I request that you revive Mithos Yggdrasill…and bestow upon him the power of the Eternal Sword." The words felt heavy, but having said them seemed to be a greater weight. It made her feel cold.

"So be it, Summoner. Let this be my final act." Origin replied. And suddenly, the air was frozen, save for the mana building up in and around the governing summon spirit in the room. When a tongue was found within the Yuan's mouth, it was couple with hesitant words and crippled understanding.

"Final? You can't mean that, can you?" It was foreign to him to feel so unsure. And to be so unsure over words that seemed so precise was like insult to injury.

"I will be reviving a life already extinguished, and creating a second Eternal Sword. To do that will cost me my existence." His eyes turned to everyone, one after the other, regarding them coolly and with a lingering sense of respect. "This is a great sacrifice. Should you fail, there will be no more. Yet…I have…" He paused, only to select the proper word. Even the great spirits themselves can be hard pressed when it comes to the right words. "I have faith in you all." They stood silent, some looking away, some fixed on the Spirit. And shortly after, those that had turned found their eyes back to Origin.

"You are the wings of this world. And I will do what I can to ensure that these wings remain strong." And that was when strands of white light began to coil around the spirit's body, reaching out to his hands and to his feet, ensnaring him in ribbons of brilliant light. "Be reborn, Mithos Yggdrasill. Be reclaimed, Eternal Sword. By the power of Creation, I give you life once more!" His eyes changed in color, matching his new bonds. With one cry, he threw out his arms, turning his chest to the sky and staring up into the fake blue expanse above them. "This is good. This is a good thing." And as the last word slipped past his lips, his chest exploded into a pillar of brilliant white light, smashing through the sky and sending cracks ripping around the fake atmosphere.

And a moment later, the rest of him exploded into light. It lingered for but a moment before shooting into Lloyd from all directions, engulfing him whole. At first, before the first ball of light crashed into him, his eyes gave hints to the cautious horror he tried to keep hidden. As soon as it entered him, however, all doubts slid away. Everyone stepped back, save for Sheena, and watched as Lloyd's now luminescent body was lifted slowly into the air. Excess light began to swirl around in at different angles, creating rings of glowing white.

"This is my trust in the world. My trust in you." Last words echoed throughout the grove, the final statement from a since departed presence. When all of a sudden, and much to the dismay of everyone watching, Lloyd let out a long cry of agony, prompting everyone to take a step towards him. The cry was two fold, one voice laced with another. A mere moment later, all of the light within and around the hero erupted outwards like an explosion, throwing everyone backwards and to the ground.

Mana was the first to Lloyd's side, although she had not rushed nor shown concern. She knelt down slowly, gracefully, beside Lloyd, running a hand along his cheek before pressing it to his chest and transferring some mana into him. To her rear was another body, lying prone on the ground but fully stable. It was the body of Mithos, now tangible and real. In his hand was the Eternal Sword. He was truly back. As the rest began to pick themselves up, the spared only a glance at the scene before rushing towards the three, the most of them gathering around Lloyd.

"Is he alright?" Yuan asked, walking around Lloyd and, instead, staring down at Mithos. "Lloyd, I mean."

"He is fine. He is only drained. Origin had used his own energy to revive Mithos, but needed to use Lloyd's own mana for Mithos. It was very taxing."

"Wait." Raine suddenly piped up, having heard that. "When you say that, are you insinuating that both Mithos and Lloyd now share the same mana? How is that even possible?"

"Much of Mithos is based from Lloyd. As it is, they are two people living one life."

"I see." Yuan said, before looking up at the sky and suddenly realizing it was the real sky now. "With Origin gone, so to is his sheltered grove. That's a shame. We could have used the time to plan." Yuan observed, crossing his arms and tapping his finger against his arm. "We've got no idea where to go next."

"That's not true." Kratos stated, standing up and looking at Yuan. "He talked about the pieces of the Sovereign. We need to find the three parts of the Sovereign. Or the other two, as it were. Once we do that..."

"We what? Wait to get crushed like ants?" Zelos replied, lighting slapping Lloyd on the face a few times to try and bring him to consciousness, and groaning in pain as Sheena smacked a fist against his head. "Sheena, my voluptuous hunny, what are we going to do with you and that temper of yours?"

"Is now really the time to be making those jokes, idiot?" She spat, before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. "Origin…" With Origin now gone, she knew that it was more than just his presence that had left her. A quick moment of concentration was all that was needed to deduce that she was robbed of her pacts.

"He did us a great favor." Regal added. "We may not have a direction or a plan, but we have a chance now." And he was right, and everyone knew it. "He called us the wings of this world. That is quite a burden to bear."

"We'll bear it." The voice, not so much the words, brought everyone's attention to Lloyd, as the swordsman started pushing up off the ground. A pair of hands helped him up, belonging to Kratos. "We're strong enough to." Lloyd, despite sounding as if he had just woken up from a long sleep, still spoke with conviction. And for a moment, when he turned to look at Mithos, he couldn't believe his eyes. Not because it was Mithos in the flesh, but because for a moment he could have sworn he had been staring at himself. But that had passed quickly and swiftly.

Then everything became silent. Far too silent. It chilled the air and made it sharp.

"The coming is a silent one. Like a cold winter's night." A voice, distorted heavily came from behind everyone, even those looking in the direction of the actual speaker. Everyone turned to look to their rear, before suddenly realizing that there was another in the area. One in heavy, purely demonic looking armor. "Hooves upon snow harkens in the chaotic, before the world around them is engulfed in the cold fires of war." The figure marched towards them, his presence suffocating and utterly imposing. Everyone took a step back unconsciously, before changing up and stepping in front of Mana, blocking her off from the newcomer's path. As Lloyd moved, he felt something grab him, before the sensation vanished.

'I like it in here. I'll explain later.' It was Mithos alright. And while Lloyd wanted to ask questions, he only nodded before going to the defensive line, falling in beside Zelos.

"It burns the world asunder, freezing the souls of all who gaze upon the madness. And in the end, it leaves the land barren and dead." The figure stopped roughly ten feet from the center of the line, Yuan. Without hesitation, his hands moved to the exceptionally demonic helmet. With a tug, it came free, revealing black hair of medium length that lay slack, a great change from the elaborate spikes that once belonged atop that head. Sharp eyebrows lingered over eyes of burning white, and a black goatee that looked sharp enough to cleave stone adorned the man's chin. When he spoke again, his voice was his own, not the distorted one he had originally spoken with.

"I am the Testament of War. And I have come for Mana."

However, there was a different name for this person, and while everyone else looked on, shocked in their own way at who had come against them, at who had come for Mana, it was Yuan that seemed to change the most. He had slipped into a state of near emotionlessness the moment the helmet had been removed. While it hurt, and hurt deeply, he was not about to let himself come undone now. He did, however, let one word, one name, slip. A subtle agony laced within the words that hid itself from all but those that knew him well.

"Botta."

A/N: And there we go. That takes care of chapter 13, and brings an end to the 19 saga.