Copy-and-Paste Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia. This disclaimer applies every chapter from here on. I do however own the concept of 'all matters of luck and fate'—more information on that can be found on my profile. The concept of 'brofriends'—which is also explained on my profile—belongs to TheRecorder but I have been granted the rights to use it as I will; also, unless otherwise stated or obvious, the relationship of Lloyd and Zelos should be viewed as that of brofriends. I'm pretty sure we both somehow made up apple bread, but I made up lemon cakes; err, you'll see.
Somewhat Important:
-Going over this and running it by TheRecorder has proved it to be one hellva challenge figuring out all the answers without the conclusion process contradicting itself at one point or another. Seriously, half this story is written to entertain and the other half is written to trip you up.
-No real pairings except for maybe one-sided MithosGenis, I'm serious about the pairings, because looking back there's potential/apparent evidence for some really weird ones especially in the second chapter.
-Please read all of it before you review as I split this not only because it's too long to be a one chapter fic but it also gives everyone a chance to inquiry on certain parts then a chance to guess since you aren't allowed more than one review per chapter.
- I'd like to know why you think that person is the answer and it's not someone else so I know I put in the right clues (and so I know you're not just guessing) tell me as clues that find as you can!
-The reader has no obligation to try to solve the mystery, but you do have to enjoy! ;)
-EDIT: Solution at the end
-Setting: Altessa's house, that revelation scene, right when Mithos took Yggdrasill/adult form and sic-ed the angel soldiers on the gang.
Apparently the shock was too much; Genis sharply turned his back to the scene, unable to face the truth. He hugged his arms, trembling slightly.
Yggdrasill tilted his head at him, causing his long hair to fall even more in front of his left eye.
"Genis, snap out of it!" Lloyd called out, shaking with the effort of holding back the sword of one of the angels sent to attack them, "Mithos was my friend too; but that doesn't mean you don't still have friends. You still have us!"
Genis started, pulled from his trance, "Y-You're right," he grinned, "You hold them off a little longer and I'll grab my ken-"
He was cut off when a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind, pinning his own arms to his sides, and was lifted into the air. He struggled, "S-Raine, help me!"
It may have been his instinct to cry out to his sister, the one who's been with him since the beginning, but he was smart enough to connect the dots and not call her 'Sis'.
Raine caught on when he hesitated, and her eyes widened. She knew why Genis had called her by name—anything to avoid reminding Mithos Yggdrasill of his elder sister and how very alike he and Genis were.
Genis also feared that Yggdrasill would try to make Genis 'understand how he feels' and kill Raine so they both 'would know the pain of such a loss'; Yggdrasill was quite off his rocker after all.
"Shh, calm down Genis," Yggdrasill said soothingly in his ear as he held Genis closer, his restraining hold became a gentle embrace once Genis realized struggling was useless.
Yggdrasill smiled and Genis felt the curl of the lips against the skin of his neck.
Yggdrasill's actions made the humans shudder and those with elven blood to pale.
With one last smirk, the Cruxis angels disappeared, leaving them to stare in shock at where Yggdrasill had just been.
Raine fell to her knees, sobbing into her hands.
"Professor!" Lloyd rushed over to her.
"Martel protect him." Colette whispered almost out of habit.
"Martel protect him." Zelos echoed faintly.
Regal looked sadly from Colette to Zelos to Lloyd and Raine and he mourned the fact that faith is the lone fallback granted to those who grew up as and around a Chosen.
Yuan closed his eyes and turned his head away from where Yggdrasill had disappeared as he stood as if to avert his gaze from a sight other than empty air.
"Martel protect him." He whispered almost too quietly to even hear himself.
The Chosen caught the odd tone in his voice but Colette passed it off.
Yuan pulled himself to his feet but stiffened halfway through straightening.
"Miss Sage."
She looked up at him, eyes hardening, "Yes?"
"You may despise me, but we currently have the same goals. I sense your brother has been separated from Yggdrasill."
She narrowed her eyes, "Why should we believe you on either account?"
"I am attuned to Yggdrasill's mana for it is similar to…someone past. I also know what fluctuations in his emotions affect his mana signature in what way; as long as he is in the same world as me, I can get a fair read on his emotions, though the strength of this ability varies with distance. He's not pleased—your brother must have escaped."
Raine stood and brushed herself off, becoming as dignified and unfazed as if this were just like every other stressful situation that set off nearly everyone else's impulsive side, "And of your claim to share our goals?"
Yuan did not answer for a moment before stating carefully, "Think of it as obligation to assist in repentance for my sins."
"Past, present, future?" Raine commented but let the matter drop, "Where is he?"
"Yggdrasill's signature disappeared from this world shortly after his mana spiked; however, your brother cannot be too far away and has probably taken refuge in one of the small cities leading up to the Tower of Salvation from here." He hesitated for the slightest, imperceptible second, "Yggdrasill did not leave immediately," this time his hesitation was noticeable, "he…your brother is likely injured."
Raine's eyes steeled and she said briskly, taking command, "Very well, Regal, Presea, could you travel to Flanoir and retrieve the doctor there? Take the communicator; I have to stay and help Altessa the best I can, but I'll have the other one."
They nodded and Regal went inside briefly and returned carrying the Rheiard wingpack and a communicator.
Yuan identified the communicator as one of his own; presumably they swiped them off a pair of his Renegades, but he recognized the color as being that that of faded and slightly chipping red paint applied over the standard black exterior.
That pair of communicators belonged to the two Renegades Yuan had never known to stop smirking, not even in their own sleep, not even facing their own death as they stood at Botta's side.
That reminded him; he turned to Raine, "Miss Sage, I'm afraid I cannot stay, I must evacuate the bases lest I risk suffering…a greater loss in my numbers."
Lloyd gave him a scowl that accused Yuan of being a heartless bastard all over again.
"Do as you will."
"Thank you, Miss Sage." He said with a small bow that was surprisingly sincere before warping away.
Raine turned to the others, "I'm going to need help getting Altessa inside."
"I'll help, Professor." Colette offered, moving to lift the dwarf up and take him inside.
"Are you sure you're fine staying here?" Sheena asked.
"Yes, Genis is a strong boy, there's a very good likelihood he could find his way back on his own."
"If you're sure…"
"I am."
Colette exited the house, "Anything else?"
"Or can me and my hunnies get the Operation Save Brat From the Wrath of an All-Powerful Angel Lord with a Sister Complex show on the road?" Zelos added.
Okay, maybe he shouldn't have tagged on the 'sister complex' thing, but hopefully it didn't seem too much of a stretch as to not be a valid conclusion. He was screwed if they suspected him now.
But, hey, anything to avoid going to Flanoir and its ridiculously freakin' freezing temperatures.
And its snow, but Zelos refused to think about that.
Sheena slapped him upside the head, "Don't be rude!"
"If you're all ready and prepared; let's try meet back by tomorrow night." Raine said.
"Just let me get my cards, we'll be set!"
— — — — — — —
Genis curled himself inward, wrapping his arms around himself.
He wanted to die.
Yggdrasill had sent countless Desians at him and none of them wore helmets so he would have to see their faces as he had no choice but to kill them. Some were no older or even younger than Genis himself, oblivious to what they had gotten themselves into.
He managed to drag himself away from the battleground and was now collapsed on his knees in some random inner city alley in wherever he was.
Genis had elbowed him mid-warp, surprising him enough for Genis to break free.
Yggdrasill had been less than pleased.
"You betrayed your own kind! You side with Lloyd, with that traitor spawned from a traitor! Very well, fight and live, and in the process, see what you have truly become." The glare softened into a gentle smile, "And once you do, you can come back to me and I'll forgive you. Then we can be together forever, Genis, just like we promised."
Genis was covered in minor injuries and blood that most of which did not belong to him—without his kendama he had no means to control the strength of his magic for he had never learned how to cast magic without some sort of medium. It used not to be a problem, but through his journey he had gained a great deal of magical power, power he had no means to control.
The Desians began to appear as Yggdrasill summoned them. Many looked confused, probably having been teleported here without warning. None of them had helmets. Some of them were so young. "I can properly introduce you to my sister soon. Martel may even want to meet your sister, then we bring Raine and everyone will be happy."
He thought he heard footsteps.
It must be Yggdrasill or someone equally unpleasant come back to finish him off. He couldn't deal with this right now.
But wait, didn't Yggdrasill fly everywhere?
The footsteps passed by and Genis felt like a fool, of course there would still be people about, it wasn't a deserted ghost town in the middle of nowhere.
A pair of hands emerged from behind him, the left one wrapping around to cover his eyes and the right to cover his mouth.
After a moment of doing absolutely nothing to show that no harm was meant, the owner of the hands hesitantly shifted the hand covering Genis's mouth to press the forefinger against Genis's lips to indicate the need for silence before slowly removing his or her hand.
The person then shifted his or her left hand slightly so that the fingers lightly rested on Genis's eyelids in a way that implied to keep them closed.
"Why should I?" Genis whispered, speaking for the first time during the encounter.
The person hesitated before tracing letters on Genis's back, slowly at first, one letter at a time before increasing speed to the quickness of normal writing and used whole words.
'J-U-S-T-T-R-UST-me'
"Why should I?" he repeated.
'Who-else-?'
There was no reply and after a moment the person very carefully removed his or her hand from Genis's face, still keeping the right hand in contact with his back.
Genis did not open his eyes.
The person seemed to relax and settle into a more comfortable position.
He started slightly when he felt what he identified as being a damp piece of cloth on his skin.
Whoever this person was, they were helping him. Genis was in no state to clean the blood off him and tend to any wounds.
"Who are you?"
'Who-ever-you-wish-me-to-be'
Well, that didn't help.
Genis thought for a moment on the identity of this person.
The hands were too small to belong to a man like Regal and too large to belong to someone near Genis's age.
The touch was delicate, like one belonging to someone who is experienced in gentle touches, like a person who frequently soothes or comforts others or like a caretaker of children.
The skin was soft too, not calloused by heavy labor or continued use of a tool like a sickle or sword.
Perhaps this was a nurse or a similar well-meaning stranger.
'Ge-nis-I-need-you-to-turn-aro-und-so I-can-get to-your-arms'
Or maybe not a stranger.
But as he shifted to extend his arm out to—from what he's gathered—her, he ran through a list of those who could know his name and were able to do this without freaking out or making his or, likely in this case, her identity known.
The list was very short.
He was snapped from his musings by the feeling and scent of apple gel being applied to the scratches and slashes inflicted upon him.
Well, that pretty much eliminated his travel companions, in addition to her evidently possessing no healing powers, he and his friends always carry lemon gels now and any apple gels they may acquire if a girl gives some to Zelos is instantly snatched up to by Lloyd and Genis to be synthesized into apple bread.
When the person finished, she wrote her message on his chest.
'Be-care-ful-he is-still-out-the-re-hur-ry-and-find-some-whe-re-safe-with-peo-ple-you-trust'
She paused before placing a soft kiss on his forehead then stood and swiftly left.
Genis opened his eyes just in time to see the end of something that looked pink disappear around the corner at the end of the alleyway.
— — — — — — —
The person had traveled a short distance down the streets before being suddenly pulled into an alley and shoved up against a brick wall, arm twisted behind the back.
"What were you doing with Genis?" the voice of Mithos, not Yggdrasill, demanded.
When struggles were the only the response, Mithos harshly flipped the person around and roughly back up against the wall.
"Answer me."
His words were returned with a scowl.
He drew his blade and pressed its edge against his captive's temple, just breaking the skin, "What have you done to him?"
Protective, much? Though he had seemed rather fond of Genis; even if Mithos was probably a psychopath.
That might explain him attacking Genis despite his current actions.
Before a reply could be given, Lloyd's voice pierced the air, "Genis! Genis! Where are you?"
Mithos cursed, giving one last glare before retreating.
By the way, I'm really super sorry everyone, but the flash-drive that has my whole life on it—school work, music, writing, everything—broke and I don't know when the data can be retrieved as I so stupidly didn't back any of it up on my laptop, the main computer, or another flash-drive. However, I do have a few things since I sent some of my more recent stuff to TheRecorder over email. Unfortunately, they are kinda beta-ish as I have a habit of changing stuff constantly on my word files (which is a headache to update on my posted stuff) as well as some of those stories being, err, not eligible for consideration for posting at the current point in time (read: M-rated). Hopefully I can get my stuff back soon.