Authors Notes: This story was inspired by Theora's artwork "GoodBye" posted at deviantart

Warning: story contains major spoilers

Chapter 1

The group had just returned to Altessa's house after their escape from Welgaia with the materials necessary to cure Collette's condition. Genis remained hopeful that Altessa using his skills and knowledge would be able to find the cure. Collette had been a very close friend of Genis' for many years now, and seeing her suffer was hard for him as it likewise was for Lloyd.

Genis sat on a rock outside of the house gazing up at the sky. Troubling thoughts crept into his head as he pondered the recent events. He tried to remove these thoughts from his mind and return to being concerned with Collette condition, as all of the others were, yet his mind was still trying to process the things that had happened in the Tower of Salvation.

The pan pipe, Yggdrasil taking the brunt of Proynma's spell, and even the stories told by the elven storyteller all lead Genis to one conclusion. The exact conclusion that he didn't want to make.

It just didn't make sense. How could their friend be their enemy? Genis didn't want to believe it could be possible. He was kind, gentle, and friendly. The exact opposite of Cruxis, yet Kratos had been seemingly friendly toward the group right before he had betrayed them. Genis clutched his head trying to shake these notions from his head.

"Genis are you alright?" asked Mithos as he stepped out of the house approaching the small half-elf.

"Huh?" said Genis stirring from his thoughts.

He glanced at Mithos who was giving him a very inquisitive look.

" Yeah, I'm fine," sighed Genis turning away from Mithos'.

"Genis, I know something's troubling you. Even if Lloyd can't see it."

This comment struck Genis like a blunt object. He had to admit that Lloyd often did miss the obvious. Yet Lloyd was his best friend. Genis knew that Lloyd cared for him as a friend, even if he was a bit dense.

"Hey Genis, let's go for a walk. It'll help clear your head."

Genis turned back to Mithos slightly startled by this comment.
"But what about the others?"

"Don't worry it will just be a short walk. You know some time together between friends."

Genis knew it might be a mistake to go with Mithos, yet he had to know. He had to hear it from Mithos himself.

"Alright," replied Genis slightly hesitant.

As they got up to begin down the trail Genis peeked back into the house wanting to see if there was anything going on with Collette. Not seeing any commotion in the house he turned back to the trail and began down it. Mithos was already a short distance ahead on the path. Genis dashed ahead to catch up with the young half-elf.

"I was beginning to think you were having second thoughts."

"No I was just checking in on Collette."

"I see," Mithos replied.

"I'm glad to hear that Altessa will be able to help her."

"Yeah, I just wonder what might happen to her."

"Oh, I'm sure that she'll be fine. After all Altessa is very knowledgeable in this sort of thing."

"I guess you're right."

"Say Genis, I've noticed that you have been keeping your eye on Presea. You like her don't you?"

"Well…"

"Ha, you're blushing." Mithos chortled.

"I am not," Genis snapped back.

"I'm sorry Genis I didn't mean to make you angry."

Genis quickly tried to compose himself.

"I wasn't angry I was just…"

"That's alright. Now Genis is something troubling you? You just seem so distanced ever since you got back. I was wondering if it might be something with Presea?"

"No, no, I'm alright," Genis tried to reply calmly.

He was beginning to have doubts about his theory. Perhaps he had misread the evidence. Perhaps it was just all coincidence. There was no way that this Mithos could be the one from the tales. The one who had betrayed the elves, and thus been ostracized along with the whole of the half-elven race.

"Are you sure Genis? You can tell me anything."

"Well let's just say I'm having some problems with a friend."

"Is it Lloyd?"
"Uh… I can't say who."

"Oh…I understand."

An odd silence remained between the two friends for a few seconds before Mithos cut in "If you don't mind me asking, what sorts of problems are you having with this friend?"

"Let's just say that this person isn't who I thought he was."

Genis realized too late that he had let vital information slip. He had identified the gender of this friend, and thus given an important clue to whom he was talking about.

"Well, maybe you should try to get to know this friend better. Sometimes people have sides that they don't show. They may fear that their friends will no longer like them if they share their dark secrets. Maybe if you spend a little time with this friend you can find out why he acts the way he does."

Mithos' advice sounded reasonable, yet Genis could not tell whether Mithos had deduced who it was that Genis was having this problem with. Genis knew that he would have to tread carefully with his statements due to Mithos' perceptiveness.

"You know Genis, I was just thinking back to when we first met. Do you remember that?"

"Yes, we found you in Ozette after it had been destroyed by Cruxis."

"Yeah, that's right."

"Say Genis, I was wondering, do you remember when I asked you if you would follow me?"

"Uh yeah, I do recall you asking something like that."

"Well I was just thinking what if you and I were to create a paradise?"

"A paradise?"

"Yes, a utopian world where everyone could live in peace. There would be no hatred, no wars, no murder."

"You know Lloyd often talks about that kind of world too. I bet if all of us worked together it might come true. It's like Lloyd says, if we can change the attitudes of the people than we could live together peacefully."

"But the problem with that is that people are flawed. They find things to hate and make scapegoats of whomever they can. That is why there must be some power that guides the people. Making them to overcome their flaws."

"And you've found this power?"

"Yes. Come with me Genis, and I will show you what paradise is like. Just give me your hand."

Genis felt a bit nervous about this. Something didn't feel right. Yet so much of what Mithos was saying made sense. Genis had seen the hatred that had always been shown towards his kind. Lloyd's ideals also seemed to hold some truth, yet they seemed so impractical.

Genis slowly extended his hand forward, Mithos' hand closing around it. Everything grew bright as the landscape began to fade away. Genis could swear that he saw a set of translucent wings beginning to sprout from Mithos' back; very much like the ones that Collette had.

Lloyd dashed into the main room of Altessa's house.

"Hey Genis it looks like Collette's going to be… Genis?"

Lloyd looked around the room, but saw no sign of his half-elven friend.

"Genis, are you in here?"

He went into some of the other rooms in the house calling out for Genis. Finding no signs of Genis he returned to the room where the others were.

"Hey, have any of you seen Genis lately? I can't find him anywhere."

"I think he went outside for a bit," Sheena replied.

"Oh," Lloyd stated abruptly as he turned and ran for the front door.

He stepped outside scanning the area for any signs of the small boy. He walked a short way from the house looking down the trails that lead away from the house toward the forest.

"He wouldn't go into the Gaoracchia forest by himself. Especially at a time like this," Lloyd reasoned with himself and turned back to toward the house. As he approached the house he saw Tabatha stepping outside.

"Hey Tabatha, what are you doing out here?"

"Master Altessa told me to come find you," stated Tabatha in her monotone voice.

The sound of her voice was still a little unnerving for Lloyd. She just sounded so unnatural.

"Is it Collette? Is she…?"

"Do not worry, she is alright."

"Well that's good to hear. You wouldn't have happened to see Genis lately have you?"

"No, I have not."

"Well, maybe he went somewhere with Mithos. Do you know where Mithos is?"

"Master Mithos said he was going for a short walk."

"Did Genis go with him?"

"I do not know."
"Ok, well thanks Tabatha," said Lloyd as he turned ran back down the trail.

"But Lloyd I did not give you the message from master Altessa,"