A/N: Hehe... yet another skit fic from yours truly! If anyone's wondering why I'm doing so many skit fics, it's because a friend of mine is organizing a project in which the end result is that every Z-skit in the game has a fanfic/fanart to go with it. And since I can't draw worth noodles, I'm doing fanfics! Woo! Um... yeah.

Anyway, this is really short, 'cause the skit itself wasn't very long, and there's only so much you can do with those skits without making it seem awkward/dragged out. ::nods:: Yeah. There's very minor spoilers – it's set right when the group, er, lands in Tethe'alla for the first time. I'd assume most people are at least that far, though, unless you just got the game. This is also a Lloyd/Colette fic, though it's kind of one-sided because of Colette's... condition. Heh.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia or any related characters/places/whatever. I just have an overactive imagination. kthnxbye.

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So, this is Tethe'alla....

Lloyd Irving looked out from the mountain top that the Rheairds had just crash-landed on. While the Rheairds had been badly damaged and were now unusable until they could get them fixed, the small group of five had survived the crash and seemed pretty much intact – the worst that had been reported was a couple minor scratches. From what Lloyd could tell, though, everyone was fine for the most part.

Well, everyone except Colette.

"Colette," he said as he ran up to her, all the while hoping and praying that the blonde girl had returned to her former self. "We're in Tethe'alla now! Can you tell?"

Nothing. No response. Colette stared blankly ahead, purple eyes wide open. She didn't even acknowledge the fact that Lloyd was talking to her. He sighed, frustrated and upset, as Genis approached him. "It's no use," he told his best friend. "She just doesn't respond at all."

Genis grinned. "Maybe you should try telling her you love her," he suggested slyly.

The seventeen-year-old's eyes grew wide, and his face flushed as he looked around to make sure no one had heard. "What? Why?" he asked.

Genis rolled his eyes, giving Lloyd the patented "I can't believe you're really that dumb" look that the younger boy had perfected over the years. "Oh, you're so dense. Stop asking questions and just try it."

"Uh... um..." Lloyd stuttered, staring at his feet as a silent battle raged in his head – one he was not winning.

I can't do that! That's crazy!

But what if it works?

But what if it doesn't? Besides, there are people around!

Are you going to let the possibility that people might find out that you might like Colette as more than just a good friend – which is clear to anyone with eyes anyway – get in the way of potentially getting Colette back? What happened to protecting her no matter what?

Well....

Even you're not that dumb.

Lloyd sighed and ran a hand through his hair in annoyance. How come my inner voice is smarter than I am? That's not fair! Steeling himself, he took a deep breath and looked Colette straight in the face. "I love you!"

The two boys waited expectantly for a smile, a movement, a nod, something that would show them Colette was back, but there was nothing. Finally, Genis shrugged. "Oh well," he said, "I guess if that was all it took to bring her back to normal, we wouldn't be coming all the way out here to Tethe'alla."

Lloyd glared at the silver-haired kid. That little brat! Annoyed, he smacked his friend in the back of the head. "Genis!"

"Oww!" the boy cried, rubbing his head where Lloyd had just hit him. Lloyd just rolled his eyes and walked off. I swear to the Goddess Martel, that is the last time I listen to that kid....

FIN.