OT: Martyr (Tales of Symphonia)

[Midnight]

So...I've been in a slump lately. For those of you who have read my other work, "Pursuit," I will be getting back to it in due time, when university and other factors permit. However, I decided to write up this little quickie, since it's been on my mind recently.

And now for the obligatory background information. As per my inspiration, I have decided to switch focus to Colette, a character who not very many people like (myself included, unforunately. I don't mind, it's just that the game makes it far too easy for her to be attached to you by the end). Anyway, as the Chosen of Regneration in Sylvarant, her quest is to release the seals and ultimately trade her life for the rejuvenation of her world. For the residents of Iselia, many knew of that title but not of the eventual martyrdom that Colette would have to face. This story outlines her development up to the beginning of the game, focusing on her internal struggle to cope with the fact that she must die to save the world.

This vignette is dedicated to Spork, just for being a dear friend of mine. Consider this an early birthday present. Enjoy.

Begin
...I don't know what to think.

It's been over a couple of years since they named me the Chosen of Regeneration, but I still can't figure out why I should be scared. I mean, wouldn't you be scared too if you were just playing around with your schoolmates and then suddenly told that you were the only person who could save your dying world?

It's a pretty big responsibility to shoulder. I remember that day pretty clearly...it was just before I turned 12. It was a pretty gloomy day. It had been raining all week, and Professor Sage had just let us out for lunch. I walked over to the corner of the dusty room and sat down to eat lunch, when I noticed that the opposite wall had inexplicably brightened. Several kids began to dart to the window, their index fingers outstretched. I glanced at where their fingers pointed to, and I saw a bright beam of light shine in the distance. The shaft of light reached clear into the clouds and crashed into the ground as if it were a post being sunk for the foundation of a house. The beam glowed a soft white, and it looked quite enchanting. Something about that light called out to me...somehow, some way. I still can't figure out why, but I felt drawn to that light when I first saw it.

After about half of a minute, the light died down, and groans could be heard among the schoolchildren. I returned to my seat to eat my lunch when I caught the sight of my dad and several men in robes. They stopped to speak with the Professor, and she called me over. It seemed that my dad wanted to tell me something...

Afterwards, I headed home, with Dad and the robed men. I wanted to ask them why they had pulled me out of class in the middle of the day, but Dad kneeled down to me and told me that everything would be okay and they would explain at home. I nodded and followed them without another sound.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What?" I gasped when I heard my father speak.

"Yes, Colette," Dad explained. "You're the next Chosen of Regeneration. That beam of light that you saw? It hit the Martel Temple--the old temple behind the town."

"Indeed," spoke Phaidra. Phaidra was my grandmother, and she stood at my dad's side. She leaned on her walking stick as she walked up to me, ready to explain what my dad just told me. "You are the next Chosen--picked by the Goddess Martel to regenerate this deteriorating land."

At first I didn't know what that meant. It sounded cool at first--why would the Goddess Martel pick me of all people to save the world? I mean, I'm not a very heroic person, and besides, I fall over...a lot...

"That sounds great!" I exclaimed. "Where--"

Grandma cut me off. "Colette, let me tell you this. You have no idea of the burden that has been placed on your shoulders. It's now our job to protect you from anyone who would want to kill you until we receive the Oracle. That will tell you that your journey will begin."

"What journey?" I asked.

"The Chosen's Journey of World Regeneration," began Grandma. "You will have to travel around the world to visit all of the seals. Once there, you will awaken the Summon Spirits that lie dormant within, and eventually head to the Tower of Salvation. Once there, you will do one final thing, and make this eroded land new once more."

It sounded exciting! I would be able to travel all over the world and eventually make it new! I would be just like the hero, Mithos!

"Great!" I said enthusiastically. "When do I leave?"

"When the Oracle says you do," began Father, "but there is still one thing we have to tell you, and you have to swear to me, Grandma, and all of the other priests in this room that you cannot tell ANYONE."

I nodded in agreement. What could possibly be so important that I can't tell anyone else?"

"Colette, we love you very much. However...we are not your parents. I am not your Father. You were left at my doorstep some twelve years ago, and the priests told me that I was to take care of you until the Oracle came along."

This drove through my heart like a stake. I never knew. I never knew that for all of my life, the one who I called Father was actually an impostor. He wasn't my real dad...what was I supposed to believe?

"Then..." I began, "where's my real father?"

"Your real father..." began Father, "I really do not know. We think he is an angel, since you appeared at the Temple, and no one else can explain how you got there." Phaidra nodded at this statement as well. "I still consider you my daughter, and I love you very much, but the truth had to be known eventually."

I stood motionless, frozen at the revelation that just fell upon my ears. I probably would have been able to come to terms with it right then and there were it not for the fact that there was one other thing that they told me.

"At the end of your journey," began Phaidra, "at the Tower of Salvation, you will meet your true father. In heaven."

"What does that mean?" I barely squeaked out.

"It means that at the end of the journey, you will have to die. You will sacrifice yourself to save the world."

I couldn't handle it anymore. This now began to sound like a bad dream. "No..." I began. "No! I don't want to be the Chosen! Can't you give it to someone else?"

The priests looked with solemn grimaces, and Father and Phaidra followed suit. "The Oracle has spoken. The Goddess Martel has spoken. No matter who I talk to, no matter what I do, I cannot change their decision. I'm so sorry, Colette." He eked out those words, eyes watery.

"No!" I screamed, and ran to my room.

Meanwhile, while I sobbed in my bedroom and tried to collect my thoughts, Father and Phaidra were conversing with the priests downstairs. I crept up to the staircase and eavesdropped on them, hoping that somehow, someway, I wouldn't have to die.

"Are you sure that there is nothing to be done?" asked my father.

"Frank, I'm sorry, but that Oracle has chosen her. There's nothing I or the other pastors or priests can do."

"But it's not fair!" cried Frank. "It's not fair for a girl who is barely 12 years old to shoulder such a huge responsibility! Kids her age should be out in the sun, frolicking, having fun, jumping into puddles...you know what I mean! She should be having fun with her friends, not being forced into this secluded program where she will eventually die!"

The head priest calmly responded, "Frank, to tell you the truth, if I had the power to change it, I would. I agree with you--it's too much of a burden on her shoulders. A child should not be deigned the task of saving the world. Not at all. But we can't do anything about the Goddess Martel. She is all-knowing, and she must have a plan if she is sending Colette on such a dangerous journey."

Frank sighed. "I suppose you have a point."

That was it. I did not want to hear any more. I crept back into my room, flopped onto the bed, and cried myself to sleep. Why? Why? Why did the Goddess Martel choose me, of all people, to go and regenerate the world? What was so special about me? These questions burned in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That was the last I remember of those questions, for the next few months I spent in seclusion. Every day, Professor Sage would escort me out of the room during lunch so I could head over to the Martel Temple. Once there, it was as if I was thrown into another school--on top of learning everything that the Professor taught, I would have to learn how to pray; all of the mantras associated with the world regeneration; the path that Spiritua, one of my ancestors, took throughout Sylvarant on her journey; as well as a little combat training for the day when I would have to go myself. They told me that I would have priests and other people to guard me while I released the seals, but a little extra insurance couldn't hurt.

They told me that I would become a hero to this land. And in a way, I knew it was true, even if it meant me dying. As I went through more of the process, and the months wore by, I began to think less of my sacrifice. The priests told me that I was born to regenerate the world, and every other Chosen before me gave up their life for Sylvarant or died trying, so I figure that I shouldn't let it get to me. It would mean that I would be spreading my life throughout the land, and many people wouldn't have to suffer at the hands of famine, poverty, and the Desians. Eventually, it got to the point where I just though nothing of it. If I died saving the world, I would become an angel just like my real father, and all would be well. I thought regeneration would be that simple.

...that is, until I met him.

I still remember the day I met Lloyd. It was spring, about a year after I found out I was the Chosen. Professor Sage said that we had a new student that day, and I remember looking toward the back of the room. Unfortunately, I didn't see much of him except his frizzy brown hair, a red clothed arm dangling off the desk, and his deep snoring. I cringed while the Professor went to the back of the room and slapped him several times to wake him up. I thought nothing of the new kid until it was time for lunch.

It was a pleasant day out. There was a light breeze, and not a cloud in the sky. I walked out of the schoolroom to have lunch outside. Our school was no more than several yards away from the northern gate of the town, and that was where I usually sat to have lunch, away from the other kids. The priests insisted that I keep to myself a lot, since they didn't want anyone to know that I would eventually die. I had just sat down and unwrapped my lunch when I smelled...something. The scent was putrid, and was something like dried fish being soaked in dirt. Soon after that scent hit my nose, I noticed a low moaning and something strange in the corner of my eye. I slowly turned towards the source, and what I saw shocked me.

It stood no more than ten feet away, with a twisted grin on its face. I immediately recognized it to be a zombie, since it had a very gray pallor and looked like it had been half chewed by a dog in some places. I stood agape, watching as the zombie shambled towards me. I knew that they existed, but why here? The priests assured me that the northern gate was completely safe, since the Temple was to be a sanctuary! How, of all places, did it get there, and why did it target me?

There was no time for me to ponder those questions, however, as the zombie continued its slow, inexorable shamble towards me. The priests taught me the basics on how to fight, but I thought I would never have to use it for myself! I willed myself into a fighting stance, but nothing happened. It seemed that I was paralyzed by my fear, and nothing I could do could stop it. I panicked and began to backpedal, but I lost my footing and remembered my head hitting the dirt.

The zombie still lurched closer, taking its time as though mocking me and my inability to defend myself. I quickly got to my feet and continued to retreat, only to feel the back of my head hit something again. This time, it was the wall of the schoolhouse, and I had run out of room to retreat. I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impending impact....

"Demon Fang!" a voice cried out of nowhere.

The next thing I knew, I heard the zombie groan in pain. I mustered the courage to take a look towards the source of the voice, and there was my savior--it was the new kid that was slapped silly in class today. He was nothing like the prone, sleeping kid who was in class earlier--he stood eye-to-eye with the zombie, leering at it, daring it to come closer. He held out his left hand and beckoned for the zombie to come, all the while readying the sword in his right hand.

Apparently, what they said about zombies having nothing in their heads didn't apply to this one, since it decide to lurch away from me, looking for another hapless victim that would be less painful to attack.

The boy ran over to my side and looked briefly. "Are you okay?" he inquired.

I nodded, and smiled. He ruffed his brown hair, and smiled as well. "It's a good thing I was here, I guess. What are you doing all the way out here all alone?"

"Well...this is where I usually eat lunch..." I trailed off.

"Why don't you eat it inside with everyone else?" he asked.

"Well...I can't. They already know who I am. And that makes them afraid of me."

"Huh?" the boy clad in red asked. "Who are you?"

"I'm Colette Brunel," I began slowly, "soon to be the seventh Chosen of Regeneration. I'm supposed to be the person that's going to save this world...so no one plays with me or sits near me. They're afraid that they'll hurt me and will doom the world because of it."

The boy chuckled. "What?" he said as he stifled a small laugh. "What kind of excuse is that? You're still a person, not an artifact. It doesn't matter if you're the Chosen or my next-door neighbor; you still a person and should be treated like one."

I froze. No one ever said that to me. All of the new kids that came into the schoolroom were told by their parents of who I was, and not to go near her because of it. Ever since I found out I was the Chosen, no one would talk to me or interact with me. They were all just afraid of making me sick or trip and hurt myself. This guy seemed...different...a lot more friendly. He wasn't like the others, that was for sure.

"Oh, and by the way, I'm Lloyd Irving," the boy said, extending out his right hand. I took hold and stood up. He smiled and began to walk. "Well, I'm about to eat lunch myself...want to come?" he inquired. I nodded and followed him. We went back into the dusty schoolroom and Lloyd sat down next to a short kid, wearing a paisley blue uniform and had messy silver-white hair. We sat down across from him, and the boy looked up at us.

"Hey," began Lloyd. "You seem to be the only one who keeps answering all the Professor's questions. You must be really smart, I'm sure. Are you an elf?" The child nodded in reply. "What's your name?" asked Lloyd.

"I'm....Genis..." the young child squeaked out.

"Genis, huh?" said Lloyd with a hearty tone. "Nice to meet you. I'm Lloyd," he began, and I felt a nudge at my side. "Oh! I'm Colette," I said. "Nice to meet you."

Genis looked up at the two of us and smiled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The days seemed to go by a lot faster from that point. Lloyd was in every day. And he fell asleep, every day. Even standing in the back of the room forced to old buckets of chalk didn't keep him awake. Whenever we were not in class, Lloyd called over Genis and I and we just played around in the yard. It amazing, really....

Before I met him, I was completely ready to die for the world. They kept telling me that I was only born just to become and angel and regenerate the world, and I learned to accept that. Now that Lloyd and Genis were in the picture, it got fuzzy again...they made me feel alive. I loved spending time with them, and I felt that they really enjoyed spending time with me too. No matter what the situation, we always were together during recess, and even if there was nothing to do, we always looked out for each other. Lloyd made me feel whole again--he made me feel that maybe I was put into this world for something other than regenerating the world...

But now, what could I do? I have to die eventually. But now, I have friends, and they all care for me...they make me feel like I belong...

Oh why, Goddess Martel, do I have to trade my life so that my friends can live on? What kind of decision do you want me to make?

...I don't want to die.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Birthday, Spork. (Early, that is.)

Now I think I just showed up NJ, but I really hope I didn't.
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[tuxdev]

What happened to "you cannot tell ANYONE"? It really doesn't matter if everybody knows anyway, I guess.

The "It hit Martel Temple" phrase caused me to do a double-take there. I originally thought the "beam of light" was actually going through the window and hit Colette, and the beam was from Martel Temple. The problem might just be the cold I've got now, though.
_________________
All life begins with Nu and ends with Nu... This is the truth! This is my belief! ...At least for now.
The Mystery of Life; Vol. 841, Ch. 26
- Belthasar, Chrono Trigger

src2pkg, Slackware package creator
Sol Survivor, best Tower Defense game EVER

[Midnight]

Well...

I'm basing this mostly off circumstantial evidence given throughout the game. Since nothing was chronicled about the time from when Colette found out that she was the Chosen, I had to devise a few scenarios, and this was the most plausible one that came to mind.

As for the anonymity, I forgot to address that, but word would have come out EVENTUALLY. I just forgot to write it in.

That being said, I'm glad you liked it...I think....

And one other thing I should add to my notes at the beginning--as you can see, this is told through Colette's eyes. Never before have I written in this perspective, and I found that this was pretty much an experiment for me, and I think it came out successful, but I'll leave judgement for that.
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[tuxdev]

Oh, I definitely liked this work too. Sorry for being a bit terse.

I've noticed from this and "Pursuit" that you like to write the backstory that the canonical source left out. I'm not sure whether that generalization holds for all your stuff, I'd read it if I could find them in a not painful and time consuming way.

I think the first-person perspective worked quite well. I can't imagine how any other perspective could truly capture the mental conflict. "Colette probably would have been able to come to terms with it right then and there were it not for the fact that there was one other thing that they told her" is a lot less emotionally impactful compared to the original.
_________________
All life begins with Nu and ends with Nu... This is the truth! This is my belief! ...At least for now.
The Mystery of Life; Vol. 841, Ch. 26
- Belthasar, Chrono Trigger

src2pkg, Slackware package creator
Sol Survivor, best Tower Defense game EVER

[Midnight]

Well...I do like to write about backstories. In fact, I hope, eventually, to write nine vignettes, covering the backstories of all of the playable characters. That is, if I can get off my lazy ass and do it.

Why I choose to do this is that even though I stick to canon; i.e., what's in the game and suggested by it, I like having the freedom to expand--to create my own scenarios to make up for where the game fails.

Oh, and ToS unfortunately encompasses pretty much all of the fiction I have published...I have published non-fiction, but it is a lot drier and more academic. Every piece of fiction I ever wrote is actually archived here.
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[NotJim]