The Betrayal: Before and After

AN: Alright, so we are on to chapter two already! I am cooking now! lol:is proud of self: anywho, this is the same thing as chapter one, cept from Mithos standpoint. Don't worry it's not a word for word thing. The only thing that's the same is the dialogue from the characters. The conversation HAS to be the same, otherwise I would suspect that we are living in different parallel universe or something.

I would like to dedicate this chapter, (well really, this whole fic but i forgot to put it in the first chapter), to my dear friend Ussi! u rock Ussi! Thanx for reviewing and commentating on all of my writing.And thanx for help on choosing the title for this fic too lol.

Disclaimer: Don't own it. U know the drill. Moving right along.

Thoughts are in italics

:Same Difference:

Chapter Two – Mithos

The stars were shining so brightly tonight. It was a beautiful night, even to Mithos' eyes. He sat outside of the dwarf Altessa's house, watching the night sky with his fellow half-elf Genis. Mithos couldn't help but notice how happy Genis was, and he was having a hard time trying not to be content himself.

He glanced up at the sky once more. He shook his head, berating himself. He knew that such beauty was as false as the Chosen's journey of regeneration and the church of Martel. The sparkling diamonds in the sky were merely amplified by the large amount of energy given off by the huge rock of mana that was Derris-Kharlan. The mana affected everything: the grass, the flowers, the oceans, the sea…even the heavens.

And yet…there was this small, nagging feeling inside that made him want to relax his defenses, to simply enjoy the beauty that was Tethe'alla this night.

Mithos stole another quick glance at his 'friend' Genis. He seemed completely absorbed in the night. Perfectly happy with the way things were turning out. Mithos sighed inwardly. How quickly he had taken a liking to him.

Mithos didn't know whether to take this attachment as a blessing or a curse. True, it had been his plan to join up with this group, the group that planned to destroy him. But he hadn't counted on becoming so closely drawn to the two half-elves in the little party, Genis and Raine.

Even now, it puzzled him. However hard he might try, Mithos just couldn't grasp the possibility of half-elves and humans not only getting along, but traveling together. Genis seemed to have a close relationship with the group leader, Lloyd. Normally, such things were unthinkable.

At first, Mithos had thought that the two half-elves were simply trying to be human, submitting to their laws and their ways. That was before he had gotten to know Genis. Upon talking to him, Mithos had found that this Genis shared much of the same pain that he himself had experienced. Rejection, failure, defeat, exile.

So similar. Yet different in so many was as well.

Mithos pondered this for a few minutes. Genis was so…so trusting. Despite all the hurt that he had been through – even through hiding his own race from others – he still maintained an optimistic outlook on things.

Mithos himself, wanted only one thing. Well, two things, but they could both be achieved one way. He wanted his sister Martel returned to her former self, and he wanted a place where half-elves could be happy. And dominant, so they could never be looked down upon again. But mostly happy.

He was so close to achieving his goal. His very own utopia, where everyone was the same. No more wars could be ignited that way, no more races sent into exile or cultures suppressed. His plan was brilliant.

What he couldn't understand, was that Genis and Raine (and the others, but Mithos tried not to think about them) desired exactly the same thing he did. Why then did they fight against 'Yggdrasil'? Nothing was making sense right now. Especially the part about the humans wanting the same thing that he did at this point.

"Mithos?" A voice asked tentatively.

"Mmm," Mithos responded, automatically, his thoughts still elsewhere.

"Umm…what are you thinking about?"

"Oh, not much. Just about half-elves, and humans. How different they are," he replied, musing over the idea of humans and half-elves actually agreeing on something for once.

"Yeah, I guess they are different," there was a slight pause. Then, "but…everyone is different in one way or another. It's not a bad thing. It's just how we're made. People will always be different from one another."

"Maybe not always," Mithos murmured softly. Of course, not always. Once he created his utopia, everyone would be the same.

"Huh? What does that mean?" said Genis, puzzled.

"What?" Mithos snapped back to his senses. He turned to find Genis staring at him with a clearly confused expression. Cursing inwardly for his lack of discretion, he tried to smooth the situation over.

"I was just wondering what you meant when you said 'Maybe not always'. You don't have to get so defensive about it," Genis consoled.

Always so trusting, to the very last.

"Oh, um, it was nothing. I was merely thinking about the future." Mithos said, figuring that this statement was true, and not incriminating in any way.

"The future?"

"Yeah. What I meant was that maybe in the future, maybe there will be a way for all the races to get along." Mithos replied. Everyone was going to get along. He would make sure of that.

"Hmm, that could happen, I guess," Genis frowned, "but I don't think that it will happen overnight. Truthfully, I don't think all the races will ever completely see eye to eye. They are too different. But maybe they will come to an understanding one day."

"Understanding? The races don't want to 'understand'" Mithos scoffed. All the races were constantly at each others throat. Did he honestly believe that people would just change automatically and play nice with one another?

"There are some that do. Like Lloyd and the others. We all get along great. Maybe one day, the rest of the world will be like that!" Genis said, trying to be optimistic.

Lloyd and the others. A constant source of pain and annoyance for Mithos. Try as he may, he still couldn't figure out Lloyd's true objective. Or why everyone seemed to follow him for that matter. It still seemed like Lloyd and he were still working for the same goal.

"Hmm…" Mithos said again, lapsing into thought for a few more minutes. "One day, we shall see what the world holds in store for us," he said solemnly, gazing intently at Genis.

"Yeah, I guess we will one day," Genis replied. The comment was lost on Mithos, however, as he had slipped back into his reverie. He didn't know what to make of this whole mess. He liked Genis. He would admit that much to himself. But could he bring himself to hurt Genis, if he proved to be his enemy? That was the real question.

Martel. I must remember Martel. He thought silently. Do not worry, dear sister. I shall bring you back to this world you once loved, and make it ours! No one will stand in my way.

Mithos looked once more to Genis. His friend, and his enemy. So naïve he was. So trusting. And Mithos would break that trust very soon. Shatter whatever bond it was they had formed. Would he truly side with the humans, instead of him? Mithos could not say. He could only hope that the side Genis and Raine chose would be his side.

Each half-elf remained in silence a few minutes more, each absorbed in his own thoughts. Finally, when the silence became overbearing, and the beauty of the night dimmed somewhat by the previous conversation, they both headed inside the house.

Mithos bade his friend goodnight and climbed into his bed. He lay in bed for what seemed like eternity, but sleep refused to come to him. Thoughts of different races, war, and his dear sister, Martel ran fleetingly through his mind.

Genis. Mithos thought wearily, sleep finally coming to take him away. I hope you come to your senses soon. I'd rather not kill you. And with that, sleep overtook him and he drifted into oblivion.

Fin

AN: sooo this was chapter two! Was it boring? Was it gude! Tell me! Reviews are gude! I thrive off of them!

So this was the 'before' part of all this, a story in itself.

Chapters 3 and 4 will be a different story entitled "Clear Confusion" which will deal with each characters views 'after' the betrayal thingie.

Once more, REVIEW PLZ!