Title: Stars and Wishes
Day/Theme: July 27 - when a star fell down a soul went up
Series: Tales of Symphonia
Character/Pairing: Zelos, Seles
Rating: PG
Note: Set during their childhoods. And, ah, sibling fluff. Wish I could write it. /hit


"Look, brother, it's a shooting star!"

Zelos looked up from his hands, looking towards the bit of sky that Seles was eagerly pointing at. He smiled, noticing the streak of light. "You're right. You'd better make a wish before it disappears!" he said, teasing her.

His little sister pouted, her childish face puffing up. "I already did! And I won't tell you it either!"

Zelos laughed, focusing back on his hands. "Good, you're not supposed to."

Seles kept her pout, obviously wishing that he had pressed her for it. Still, she looked back at the sky with eyes fully of wonder, as if looking for another cosmic phenomenon to fall her way.

Which she'll need to get out of this place, Zelos mused to himself, looking at the same sky with a different look. She was going to be stuck in this abbey they were in, and he knew it. They just had them here to see how Seles liked it before locking her up for Martel knew how long.

He had heard all the rumors flying amidst the priests. They wanted Seles and her mother far away, locked up in an abbey like this under guise for "their protection." Zelos was still young - hardly at his seventh year - but he knew what this meant, and he did not like it. They were playing him for a fool, or someone they could control, and he was disgruntled to find that he couldn't even put his foot down to stop it. If it was for his "happiness and protection" then why didn't they care about his sister? It made no sense to him.

Seles snapped him out of his thoughts though, curious about what was making her brother make such a face. "Big brother? Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes betraying how worried she was.

Zelos pulled up the best smile he could for her, hoping that she wouldn't see the unease in his face. "I'm fine. I'm just tired from the long trip."

The answer seemed to satisfy her, and she crawled back over to the window. The room they were in was above the main abbey, meant for the nuns to live in. It was set up as a small bedroom at the moment, obviously to woo Seles and her mother. They were letting them stay in it for the night, to see how they handled it. It was completely devious and it annoyed Zelos to no end. It did comfort him to know that Seles seemed to like the room though, and had fluttered around it happily before staring at the stars out the window with wide eyes. Seles' mother was downstairs, allowing some time for the siblings for once.

"Big brother?" Seles said, snapping him out of his thoughts once again.

Zelos smiled nervously. "What is it?"

"When do you think they'll let us live together, like brothers and sisters should?" she asked, swinging her feet under her chair excitedly. "You promised, after all!"

Zelos had to try his best to not let his smile falter. "Hmmm," he said, stalling. What could he tell her? That she probably would never get to live with him? That them being normal siblings seemed out of the question at this point? He just wanted to protect her, like a big brother should. Why did he have to deal with things like this...

He smiled wide though, shrugging. "Soon, I hope! I'll keep praying to Martel to let it happen soon."

Seles smiled wide, almost breaking his heart. "Wow! I hope the Goddess hears you! I'll pray real hard, too!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands in prayer. "Maybe she'll hear me, too! You're the Chosen, after all! Maybe she'll hear us better."

Zelos kept that smile on as much as he could. "Yeah. Maybe she will."

At least, he hoped Martel could hear him. Oh, how he hoped she could. He was going to keep that promise, he swore. Even if he had to fight for it the rest of his life, he would keep it. Even if the Goddess herself couldn't make it happen, he would.

As Seles smiled and pointed at another falling star, Zelos also sent out a wish. In some way or another, Seles would be free of this. And they would get to be siblings once more.