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

QUIZ START: QUIZ START: After walking for a while, you all make it to the bridge entrance. The section of the bridge from before was still raised, preventing someone from passing
"Kuchinawa should be waiting for us at the bottom of the right staircase." Sheena explained,
"Okay. Then, let's go." Lloyd agreed. After going to the right you the staircase she mentioned, but it's behind a gate. The door was shut with a big lock on it,
"It is locked." Presea announced,
"Hmm, you're right." Lloyd agreed, "I'll take care of it." he jogged to the door, and started fiddling with the lock. Soon the lock opens with a loud 'ca-chink' and fell to the ground, with a large clang. The door easily swung open with a soft 'creak'. "There we go." he nodded,
"Wow! Lloyd, you're amazing!" Colette commented,
"At least he's useful for certain things." Genis agreed as Raine walked out of the door, standing on the platform behind it.
"His face loses out to mine, though." Zelos commented. Lloyd grumbled angrily, and demanded,
"What has my face got to do with anything?!" he demanded. You, Sheena, Genis, and Colette giggle softly,
"You can see the bridge." Raine commented,

After looking out, you see many hexagonal shaped containers stuck to the side of the bridge. From where you stood, you could faintly see the outlines of separate Exspheres within them,
"..." you stare at the containers, your blood running cold,
"...Oh. You're right." Colette said "Are those decoration-looking things Exspheres?"
"They aren't the Exspheres." you respond, "They hold the Exspheres."
"That's right, both Colette and Aura. That bridge is...operated by Exspheres." Zelos explained,
"...It's a bit gross looking." she said,
"It certainly is grotesque. Although, knowing where Exspheres come from, I'm not sure it's appropriate to describe them that way." Zelos agreed,
"...You're right." Colette mumbled,
"..." you decide to keep your mouth shut,

After going down the stairs, you see an artificial dock jutting into the water. Kuchinawa was waiting there. A bright orange cruiser-looking boat was sitting in the water beside the dock.
"It took you long enough." Kuchinawa told you, "This is the EC."
"Okay, Lloyd. Try using that pack you just got." Zelos instructed. Lloyd ran to the edge of the dock, and held the pack in the air while pushing a small button on it's side,
"Lets see...like this?" a small blue light inside the EC flashed. And it suddenly shrunk in size while going directly into the Wing Pack. You, Lloyd, Genis and Colette jump, "Woah?!" Lloyd exclaimed,
"...Hm..." you murmur,
"Wow! That's incredible!" Colette said. Raine was silent and Genis jumped for joy once, then asked,
"Wow! How does it work?!"
"...Why do I...feel like I've seen this before?" murmured Raine, even though you were standing next to Sheena you hear it clear as day.
"...Professor?" asked Presea,
"Ah...nothing." Raine told her.
"See, it fits inside." Zelos told Lloyd
"It disappeared! It's amazing! This is so cool! Let's try bringing it back out." Lloyd held out the pack, and pressed the button again. A blue light glowed from inside the pack, then the EC sprang out, returning to normal size, while landing silently in the water.
"Wow!" Genis and Colette exclaimed at once,
"Wow! It came back out!" Lloyd said. Kuchinawa just looked at all of you, confused by your amazement,
"...That's enough goofing around. How about getting on your way?" he said.
"Yeah." Lloyd agreed, "All right. I can't wait to make use of this EC! This is great!"
"You know you'll just get bored with it in no time..." Genis muttered,
"Yay, we get to go out to sea!" Colette said happily. Raine groaned,
"We're going to sea, aren't we..." Presea was silent for a moment, then announced,
"...We're going to sea."
"Lets get going, then." Sheena turned seaward, and pointed out at the ocean, while exclaiming, "Off to Sybak!!"
"Good." you agree.
"Sheena. Take this with you." Kuchinawa asked, he handed Sheena a pendant,
"A protective charm?" she asked,
"Yes. Be careful! And Aura, here."
"Hm?" he handed you something as well.

A charm. It was 3 symbols carved out of a beautiful white stone, the symbols were spread horizontally across a blue, circular rim. There was a silver colored butterfly on the bottom rim, the top line of both wings melded perfectly to the Blue Rim. A long, single string was threaded through a small loop at the top, and both ends of the string were tied in a knot, so the string formed one large loop. It's a necklace.

"Th-thank you," you thank, "But what is this?"
"Sheena told me about how you were trying to get your memories back. I made that charm for you from her request." Kuchinawa explained
"Thanks Kuchinawa." you thank, smiling. He shuffled the ground a little with his feet, while looking to the side,
"Heh. Don't worry about it."
"What does it say?"
"The symbols mean 'Omoide'. In Mizuho, 'Omoide' means 'Memory'." Sheena explained,
"Thanks." after thanking him you all climb into the small boat.

After boarding the EC, Sheena called,
"Undine!" the water Summon Spirit appeared, and gave some of her Water Mana to the EC. With a small jolt the boat began to move,
"Mmm..." you put a hand on your head,

"Y...Yuan?" your voice questioned,
"What...?" he groaned back,
"What's wrong...? You look sick--are you alright?"
"I'm just...ugh...seasick..." he responded weakly, "I hate boats...ugh..."
"...We should let him rest." Kratos' voice suggested gently,
"Right...If you need anything just come and get me, okay?" you ask,
"Got it..."
"Come on, let's go back on deck." Kratos' voice instructed, "They're still waiting there with Noishe."
"Oh yes--right; let's go."

"Hey, Aura, look!" Colette's voice called, "You can see the bridge go by!"
"Huh...?" you ask,
"Come look at the bridge! It's amazing!" she said again,
"O-oh, yeah...right..." as you looked at the bridge, your head ached again.

"What're they building here?" a young boy's voice questioned,
"A bridge." Kratos' voice responded, "His Majesty in Meltokio has commissioned a bridge be built connecting the Fooji and Altamira continents."
"This bridge is huge! Look at it all!" he exclaimed,
"It's going to span all the distance over the sea...?" you question,
"It will." he confirmed, "But it will take some time. They're making the bridge very large...so platoons of soldiers can move along it as well as citizens. They're also using the strongest materials available so that it will stand the test of time."
"It'll take years, at least, right?" the boy asked,
"Many years." Kratos' voice confirmed.

"Zelos?" you question,
"Hm?" he looked towards you, "What is it, my beautiful Silver Maiden?"
"This bridge...who wanted this bridge built?"
"One of the Kings of Meltokio, I'd imagine." Zelos responded, "Dunno which one. It's pretty old."
"Old...?" you whisper under your breath. How old could it be...? You'd... You'd seen its construction.

You reach the Altamira continent in no time; it was much quicker going by EC than it was by walking across the bridge. After Lloyd put the EC back in the wing pack, you all head straight for Sybak where Kate was waiting for you. It wasn't a long walk, for the dock wasn't too far beyond the landing of the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge. While walking, you slip the necklace Kuchinawa gave you over your head, and tuck the charm under your shirt with your locket.
"I hope that charm brings you good luck." Sheena said with a small smile,
"Me to." you agree.