10 years earlier.
Zareth awoke to some unpleasant news. His family was moving, again. He knew his father's job as an imperial officer kept him moving, but sometimes he wished he could just stay in one place long enough to make friends. He got dressed and went out into the town square, to tell the other children the news. Their reaction was less than he expected. One kid said take care. Another asked who he was. What did he expect? He had only been here for about three weeks. Feeling dejected, he walked back to the house.

Present.

Zareth looked around. His sword lay at his side, broken. He saw the darkness, starting to stir. He had to get out of here quick. There was no telling what that thing had in store for him. But he still couldn't shake those visions.

3 years ago.

Zareth stood in front of the co-commanders of the republican guard, Alen and Grenseal. They were analyzing his stance, his breathing patterns, everything he did. He dropped out of his stance and glared at the two. Idiots. They wouldn't know a true swordsman if one were to remove their heads.
Alen and Grenseal conferred with each other quickly and turned back toward Zareth. Alen spoke first.
"Well Zareth, you seem to have the mechanics down, but there is something missing. You seem to lack the emotional control to be an effective soldier."
Grenseal interuppted. "What Alen is trying to say, is that you seem to be a time bomb, waiting to explode. And considering your background, the Toran Republic simply can't risk giving you a position which could endanger our reputation."
Alen spoke up. "Now we want you to know, this decision has nothing to do with your father. We would not hold something like that against you."
Zareth growled. "What do you mean. My father was a great warrior for the Scarlet Moon Empire. You should respect the fact that I have come to you at all."
Grenseal scowled back. "Great warrior huh? This is what we were talking about! Just mentioning that coward"
The next moment passed like lightning. Zareth drew his sword and lashed out at Grenseal. Alen pushed Grenseal aside, allowing the sword to pierce his shoulder. Alen screamed out in pain, as Grenseal sweeped Zareth's legs out from under him. Greanseal quickly leapt on top of Zareth, pinning his shoulders to the ground.
"Do you see what I mean? You're a nutcase Zareth. Worse than your coward father." Grenseal spat in his face.
Zareth tossed Grenseal aside with little effort. As Grenseal tried to scamper back to his feet, Zareth gave him a kick to the jaw and sent him sliding to the corner. Zareth stood over top of him, the midday sun casting a shadow over him and unto Grenseal. "It's a fitting death for you." Zareth spat upon him. "Huddled in the corner like the weakling you are."
Grenseal stared at Zareth. "Just like your coward father." He smiled up at Zareth. "I've heard that his whiny little begging voice reached all the way to the Dragon Knights kingdom. Right before Lepant slew him."
Zareth raised his sword overhead. "LIES!!! ALL LIES I SAY!!!" But before he could drop his sword, several cadets tackled him down to the floor. His father's sword went sliding across the floor. He saw Alen rise up, aided by Liukan. Grenseal walked over to Zareth and gave him a quick kick. Zareth spat a curse. "Seems I'm not the only emotional wreck in Gregminster. Where's your control?"
"My control is the only thing letting you breathe right now." Grenseal looked at the cadets. "Take him back to town. If he ever sets one foot near the castle again, kill him on sight."
Zareth found him self unceremoniously dumped in the town square. He picked im self up and dusted himself off, and started to head for the restaurant. All he could see was red though. As he stepped into the restauraunt, he saw five cadets eating lunch, laughing and carrying on. One of the cadets pointed at Zareth and laughed. "There he is. The coward's son. The kidnapper's boy." Zareth casually walked up to the table.
"What did you say?"
The cadet rose from his seat and gave Zareth a shove. "I called your father a coward."
"Don't push me."
"And why not?" The cadet shoved him again.
Zareth quickly grabbed the cadet's sword and swung it at the cadet's neck. As he watched the boy's head fall to the floor, he felt the first peace he had felt since his father's death. "Because I push back."
The restaurant looked on in shock. Zareth turned and smiled at the rest of the cadets. Swinging his sword in a massive arc, he brought an end to their lives. He then left the restaurant and went back to his home. His mother watched him enter, covered in blood. Zareth simply dropped to his knees. "I've failed mom. I've failed the family."
"It's ok Zareth. It's ok."
Zareth fell to the floor, and passed into a world of unconsciousness.
He awoke in a prison cell, shackled and bound in chains. He looked up to see Alen looking at him. "What do you want?"
"Zareth, you really screwed up. Grenseal wants your head on a platter."
"Tell him to go to the restaurant. There should be plenty of extra heads there."
"This isnt a joke fool! Half of Gregminster wants to see you hang, and the other half want to help stone you!"
"Can't please all the people all the time huh."
Alen crossed his arms."The only thing keeping you alive is Lepant's orders. I'm the only one agreeing with his decision right now." Alen turned his head to see Grenseal walking down the steps toward the cell.
"Lepant has made his decision." Grenseal glared at Zareth. "Exile. Him and his mother."
Zareth leapt to his feet. "WHATTT???"
Grenseal wasn't even phased. "It was her choice. She's the only thing that kept you alive."
"You monsters. She'll never survive the trip across the Badlands."
Grenseal dropped his head. "I know. But she won't be convinced otherwise." Grenseal looked at the guards. "Take him away." He looked back at Zareth. "Varkas will escort you to the northern border. If he sees you again after that... You will die."
Zareth simply dropped his head in shame. "You've signed her death warrant."
Grenseal grabbed the bars of the cell. "No YOU signed her death warrant. What does that bring the count to?"
Alen grabbed Grenseal. "THAT"S ENOUGH!!" He looked at Zareth. "Do your best to convince her to stay. But remember you brought this on yourself."
The duo simply watched as Zareth was taken away.

The present.

Zareth clenched his teeth. The trip across the Badlands brought the expected results. He watched his mother die. He watched his world fall apart. And only one thing was to blame.
The Liberation Army.
They killed his mother. They killed his emperor. They destroyed his life every chance they had. And it all started when they killed his father. All he heard after the war was over was how much a coward his father had been. He had heard his father cursed more than anyone. Every one knew his name, but no one ever spoke it.
Zareth rose to his feet. He grabbed his father's sword and drove it into the puddle of darkness. It ran up his blade like water, making it feel complete. He looked at the newly formed blade and heard a voice whisper in his ear.
"You can avenge them you know. You can send them to the oblivion."
Zareth smiled as he walked down the hallway. Oblivion. He liked the sound of that. Reaching the end of the tunnel, he looked up into the sky. He had a long climb ahead of him. But he would make it. He would cleanse this world of the Liberators. He would bring honor back to his father's name. He would make sure it was never forgotten.
The name Kraze would get the respect it deserved.

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"Lorelai" and "Suikoden 2" are (C) Konami, 1999. This chapter was posted on December 24, 1999 This author no longer writes for Lorelai