Tales of Symphonia Story, Tethe'alla Chronicles (3)

QUIZ START: It was a little past noon when you finally arrived at Meltokio. However, the huge wooden doors in the front of the city are closed and two guards are stationed outside. *Why am I not surprised?* you think.
"Chosen One. I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you to pass." one apologized,
"While it pains me terribly to say this," said the other "You and your companions are currently wanted." Lloyd turned to Zelos,
"What now? You said 'leave it to you'." he asked,
"Now, now. Just hang on. I told you, leave it to me. For my cute hunnies, I'll show you a special entrance. Follow me." Lloyd got a squiggly ball.

Zelos led you to the right of the gate, to a water way, with bars over it to discourage intruders. But the bars on one side had been knocked down,
"Woah, what is this place?" asked Genis.
"The underground sewer." Zelos explained "Waste water from the city flows out of here."
"This is a pretty good way of sneaking in." Lloyd commented, *Of course...a sewer.* you think, a disgusting smell had been creeping into your nose *That explains the smell...*
"Well, Meltokios gate closes at night, so I used this a lot to get back home." Zelos told him. Colette looked at him, confused,
"Why don't you go home until night?" she asked. You got a sweat drop *You've gotta be kidding me...*
"...Hmm. If you'd like me to show you, I'll be happy to educate you tonight." Zelos grinned. Sheena blushed, then both you and her gave him annoyed looks,
"Zelos!" you two exclaim, he got a sweat drop and turned to both of you,
"It was just a joke! Don't get jealous now, you two. <3"
"...You've got to be kidding me!" Sheena exclaimed. Colette was now even more confused,
"Why are Sheena and Aura upset?"
"You'll understand when your older." Raine told her.
"Enemy presence detected. There is danger." Presea told you. You all look at the 'entrance' to the sewer.
"Yeah. Lets be careful as we go." Lloyd agreed. Then, in you go!

"Oh my g--!" you exclaim, covering your nose with both hands. A horrible, thick stench replaced the air as soon as you walked into the sewer. You were standing on a narrow walkway that was bordered on either side with a green liquid that came from... who knows where. Just in front of you there were a few square, bright blue pads. You couldn't go along the path without stepping on them. *Thats weird. Bright blue pads in a dark...disgusting sewer...?* you wonder,
"Blech!" Genis agreed, cringing as he pinched his nose.
"Yup, the wonderful sewer system!" Zelos sighed, "Now, lets go!"

After going through part of the sewer, you found a mechanism that was familiar. A Sorcerers Ring stand. After Lloyd touched it, the red flame engraving on your Sorcerers Ring, turned to a tan, sand like color, and it had a small human on it. You peered at the ring, confused. Normally the engraving said what the ring did. But why was it a tiny person?
"I wonder what it'll do this time. I can't wait to find out! Hi-yah!" Lloyd exclaimed, willing his ring to do... what ever it was supposed to do. Suddenly, everyone was tiny! You pursed your lips slightly as you thought; Colette looked around, confused.
"Hmm? It looks like the path got wider."
"No, we got smaller!" Genis told her.
"...I guess so." Presea agreed
"Really? ...You're right!" Colette said
"But we can't do anything like this!" Lloyd exclaimed,
"Oh, I see! Now I can do this without anyone finding out its me..." Zelos chuckled,
"Oh brother. How can you be thinking about something like that?!" Sheena demanded,
"But how do we get back to normal?" asked Genis.

You noticed another one of those blue pads near the Sorcerers Ring changer. You began to think again,
"What is it, Aura?" asked Lloyd,
"I think I know how to get bigger. Professor, would you step on that blue pad?"
"I see I'm not the only one who thought of this." she complimented, walking to the pad. After stepping on it, she returned to normal size. You all jumped,
"You were right Aura. It appears that stepping on these panels will restore us to our original size." Raine agreed. Then you continue moving through the sewer system. It was difficult, and a few times someone almost stumbled and fell into the disgusting water.

After walking for a while in this icky sewer and solving puzzles for a little over an hour, the waterfall led you behind a waterfall of some kind. You noticed a ladder leading up to a manhole cover; hopefully that was the way you. You follow the path to a flight of stairs which would then lead to the ladder,
"Are we there yet?" asked Genis,
"Can it twerp. We're almost out. I promise." Zelos sighed. You almost reach the flight of stairs, when three people with clubs, dressed in tattered clothing jump out of nowhere,
"!"
"...What's goin' on?" asked Zelos,
"I sense...danger." Presea commented,
"...We've been waiting for you, travelers from Sylvarant." said one,
"The Pope promised to lighten our sentences if we got rid of you." said another, "We've got nothing person against you, but we need you to die!"
"Their...Convicts..." you mumble. The convicts may have looked though, but they hardly knew how to fight properly. You won without much effort.

After an easy battle, all three Convicts were pretty worn out and also nervous. They apparently hadn't made a plan for loosing. Zelos whistled happily while walking up to them. Presea jerked her head up, and you hear footsteps, there was someone else!
"No, Zelos! Stop--!!" you start.
"Wha...?" he started to turn back, but it was too late.

Some one jumped down from the overhang, kicking Zelos to the ground,
"Ahh!!" the person kept a foot on Zelos' back so he couldn't get up. It was a man with long light blue hair which was tied at the very ends. He was really tall, wearing green pants, with spiked pieces of leather over his feet and lower legs, plus a white shirt that didn't quite reach his waist. But the strangest thing was his hands were shackled together,
"Don't move..." he ordered, glaring coldly at you all over his shoulder. "If you move, the Chosen dies. Understood?"
"Another Convict..." you say,
"...Observant." he responded.
"Woah, whoa, whoa! You think you can get away with doing something like this to the Chosen?" asked Zelos,
"...One who plots the destruction of the world...can no longer be deemed the Chosen." the Convict told him,
"...Oh...hey, Lloyd!" Zelos called, "If you abandon me here, I swear, I'll come back to haunt you!" the brunette got a sweat drop,
"...I just had a sudden, violent urge to abandon you." Lloyd told him.
"Aura!" Zelos asked hopefully "You won't let them abandon me, right?"
"Uh..." a sweat drop slunk down your head nervously, "I'd rather not get in the middle...sorry."
"..."

Presea charged forward, the Convict got gasped upon seeing her and jumped away as Presea swung her axe at him. Zelos jumped up, then ran over to Lloyd and hugged him,
"Phew!" he exclaimed,
"..." Lloyd pushed him off.
"Your!..." gasped the Convict, seeming to recognize Presea. Genis ran forward, and cast Fireball. Making the Convict jump back to join the other three. "...Ugh...retreat for now." he admitted.
"Damn, these guys are too strong..." grumbled one, then they ran up the stairs and disappeared.

"I think they're gone for now." Lloyd sighed,
"Thank goodness everyone is alright." Colette agreed you were silent for a moment, looking at where the Convicts had been standing *Did that guy recognize Presea...?* you think. However you all then leave, climbing up the stairs and heading for the ladder.

After climbing more ramps and stairs, you climb up a small tunnel, and come out on the streets of Meltokio. Luckily, you came up in a less crowded area, and no one was there to see you climb out of the manhole cover.