Disclaimer: Not in the mood. Don't own it, never will.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, you guys rock! With this, I'll get 100 reviews easy! Woohoo! Also, sorry it took me so long to update, I've been busy writing my book. It takes a lot of time.

Now, just so you know: We find out who the Half-Elf Emperor is in this chapter, although I'm sure EVERYONE has already guessed. And a special note to all those that told me it was obvious: NO FREAKING DUH! Would I have put in the freakin' prologue if I didn't want you to know? I mean, really, give me SOME credit here! I even said who it was on my freakin' profile page!

And thanks to all of you who already guessed, but were kind enough to not blurt it out, or insult me in th process.

Another note: If you really like Kuchinawa, SKIP THIS CHAPTER! Also, if you have a weak heart, or cannot tolerate bloody scenes, SKIP THIS CHAPTER! Let's just say I'm making sure the story is rated Teen for a reason. . .

Read, enjoy, and review. In that order:

Chapter 5: The Half-Elf Emperor

"What truth? Who are you?" Lloyd asked.

"The answer to both questions, my dear friend," The Half-Elf Emperor exclaimed, "Is the same!"

Lloyd looked up from his spot on the cold purple floor of the Heimdall Castel. The castle that was an almost duplicate of the Derris-Kharlan Castle. Kuchinawa and Sheena were also tied up, and laying across from him, both unconscious. The Emperor stood merely steps away from him, staring down at the Governor-General.

"What. . . What do you mean?" Lloyd asked. He looked into the hood of the Emperor, but all he saw were those dark, purple eyes. Nothing else could be seen.

"I will show you exactly what it means," the Emperor said. "Look into my face. . . the face of your friend! The friend you betrayed!" Placing his hand on the top of his hood, the Emperor drew back his hood and revealed himself.

"No. . ." Lloyd whispered. "It can't be. . . Genis!"

It was indeed Genis, but the young boy Lloyd had known was gone. His face was hard and rough as a stone. He had a long scar trailing down his right left eye, which looked like it had always been there. His silver hair fell down to his shoulders. Two pointed ears grew out of his head. The left one had the tip of it missing, and a hole in its center.

"Yes, I am indeed your old friend Genis," the Emperor stated. "But you will not refer to me by that name any longer. I am the Emperor. I ceased to be Genis Sage quite some time ago."

"But, Genis. . ." Lloyd whispered.

"My name is Emperor!" Emperor Genis roared. "I told you, I refuse to be called by that weak name. I long deserved a name of power, a name that told of my greatness! And that name is Emperor!"

"But why?" Lloyd cried. "Why are you doing this? What are you planning!"

"It's really a very simple tale, Lloyd," Genis stated. "Well, for me at least." The Emperor grinned slightly, his eyes glowing. "I suppose it really started eleven years ago, with Mithos."

"What about Mithos?" Lloyd asked. He was answered by another swift kick in the face, this time by Genis.

"Do not interrupt, scum," he said. "Do you wish to know what happened or not?'

"Anyway. . ." he continued, "It started with Mithos. His ideals. . . intrigued me, I will admit. Creating a world of Lifeless beings, however, was going to far. Why not just wipe out everyone that wasn't a Half-Elf? Much easier."

"But how?" Lloyd interrupted again. "How are you going to wipe everyone out? It's impossible!"

"Improbable, Lloyd, improbable," Genis corrected him. "It's very possible, actually. I found the way many years ago, ten years to be precise. Remember your fight with Destron? Well, we weren't all completely sure you would win. Or, to be more precise, I wasn't sure you could win. So, I studied a secret weapon, just in case."

"Secret. . . weapon?" Lloyd asked. "What weapon could have possibly destroyed Destron?"

"One of his own invention," Genis explained. "The Mana Cannon. When you and your wife left to go take care of Destron, I went to the Mana Cannon to study it. I believed that if you lost, then I could always use the Cannon to try and stop him myself. However, you succeeded, much to my surprise. And I left the cannon. . . until four years ago. Do you remember what happened four years ago, Lloyd?"

"Four years ago. . ." Lloyd tried to remember what had happened. Suddenly, it struck him like a ton of bricks. "Raine. . ."

"That's right, my sister died," Emperor Genis explained. "My sister died, and it left me in turmoil. I had nowhere to go, nowhere to live. And you said you would help me. But you didn't did you!"

"Genis," Lloyd said. "I was always there for you! You disappeared, and none of us knew where you were!"

"Liar," Genis growled. He swung his hand and backhanded the Governor-General. "You promised me you would be there, but you never were! And I'll never forgive you for that! I was in so much despair, so you know where I fled to! I fled to the damn Human Ranch, Lloyd! I fled to the Desians old hide-out, and guess what I found? Deisans, of course. Deserters, remnants, ones that had survived the explosion. And I became their leader. I traveled to all four ranches, and gathered an army of Desians, recruiting as I went. I gathered an army. I now have approximately ten thousand Desians under my control. And I did it all right under your pathetic nose."

"But why?" Lloyd asked yet again. "Why would you need an army? What are you doing?"

"I needed an army to take back what is mine," Genis replied. "Symphonia. This new world belongs to the half-elfs. For far too long have we been discriminated, prejudiced, and stepped on. We have been manipulated and used for an eternity. And now it is time to claim what is rightfully ours."

"And what about Presea?" Lloyd asked.

"My dear Presea was with me the entire time," Genis explained. "You fools actually thought she was working for Lazareno, but in reality she was my spy. I used her to gather information and steal secrets. I now know more about this world than either Raine or Regal combined!"

"But how can she use magic?"

"Blood transfusion," the Emperor replied. "I simply gave her some elf blood. It has allowed her to use magic. I have been teaching her in the art, and am proud to say she has improved greatly. Isn't that right, my dear?"

"Yes, Master," Presea answered. Her eyes remained emotionless and blank.

"And what about her soul?" Lloyd asked, growing angry. "What have you done to her?"

"I told you Lloyd," Genis responded. "I have done nothing but give her blood. She is doing everything on her own will and conscious. She is completely self-aware, but careful training has taught her to never show it. She is as alive as you or me."

"But what does any of this have to do with the Mana Cannon?" Lloyd asked.

"Simple, it. . . " Genis was cut of as he looked over to his other side. Sheena and Kuchinawa began to stir. Sheena woke up completely and looked over at Lloyd.

"Lloyd, not you too!" she exclaimed. "Lloyd, Genis is the–"

"We have already been over that, Sheena," Genis said, rolling his eyes. "Presea, release all three of them. I want them to be fully equipped when they try to fight me."

"But, Master," Presea hesitated.

"It is quite all right, my dear," he explained. The Emperor turned to the three of them. "If any of you three tries anything, remember this: Presea is fully equipped with over a dozen different weapons on her person, and she has been taught to kill. And if that isn't enough, please remember I am a master sorcerer. I can kill all three of you with a few simple words."

"Then why are you releasing us?" Sheena asked as she accepted her Asura cards from Presea.

"I want to show you three something," he responded simply. He motioned to them with his hand, and began to walk out of the chamber. The three followed him, wit Presea on their back.

Emperor Genis lead them down the grand staircase in the center of the castle to the front doors. Upon seeing their master, the Desians opened the gates. The group exited through them, leaving the Desians to goof off.

"What you are about to see is the result of four years of pain, torment, and a lifetime of discrimination," Genis explained. "See. . ."

As ordered, all three walked forwards. They found that the castle they were in was stationed on the ground, and the castle doors lead right to the outside of the castle. Into Old Heimdall. But it had changed a lot. Lloyd expected to see the run-down ruins of a city. Instead, he had to gasp in horror.

The city was no longer a city. It was a military base. All around were grand steel walls, guarding the city from attack. Giant towers rose up, Desians peking out of each one. Large un-manned tanks were hovering by. The tanks looked like giant silver disks, with an energy cannon on top of it. And there were hundreds of them. Thousands of Desians were patrolling the city, practicing drills and marching to count.

And surrounding the city was what looked a giant force-field. The sky was obscured by purple pixels of energy. The pixels blinked on and off, giving it an eery glow.

"What. . . is this?" Lloyd asked.

"The headquarters for the Desian Invasionary Force," Genis explained. "The energy shield protects us from view, as well as weapons. All the outside world sees is a ruined city, devoid of any life whatsoever. But within the walls, it is the most powerful base in all of Symphonia."

"In ten days time, we will invade the rest of your pathetic world, and capture any and all that are not half-elfs. And that is when we will claim the world as our own."

"I am sorry, but that will not be happening now or ever."

All five of the people standing before the castle turned to see where the voice had come from. Looking back to the castle doors, they spotted the figure who had spoke. He was dressed in purple clothes, with a creative cape. He had fiery red hair and a large sword in his hands.

"Kratos!" Genis cried. "How the hell did you get here!"

"Simple," the Seraphim replied. "I merely placed a tracking device on my son's person. Once I had learned Iselia had been attacked, I simply tracked Lloyd to this location. I warped myself in here. Your base may be safe from armies, but you can't stop a Seraphim that knows how to teleport."

"Dad!" Lloyd cried. "We have to stop Genis! He is the Half-Elf Emperor!"

"I know Lloyd. I heard the whole thing," Kratos explained. "And I have come to rescue you."

"Rescue them!" Genis roared with laughter. "Good try, but you are a fool, Kratos! Nothing can get past my invasionary force!" Suddenly, Genis' eyes glowed a bright crimson. His body rose into the air, red energy crackling around him. The Desians heard this and faced their master. "ATTACK THE INTRUDERS!" The Emperor roared. "I WANT THEM ALL DEAD!"

The Desians, without question, attacked at once. The red armored warriors sped forward as Lloyd faced the onslaught.

"Sheena!" he cried. "Do you remember the plan I made up if we were ever in any enemy base?"

"Of course!" Sheena grinned. "You want me to do it?"

"I want you to do it," Lloyd grinned back. "We'll buy you time, do it now!"

"Right!" Sheena cried. Immediately, the summoner began to chant. Kratos and Kuchinawa caught on and ran at the Desians to help Lloyd. As Lloyd ran at them, his swords glowed bright. Slashing once, he set ten Desians on fire simultaneously. Slashing again, he froze the group on his other side. He began to chop them down right and left, but he was greatly outnumbered.

He saw that the same was happening with Kuchinawa. Try as he might, the ninja was quickly over run and pinned tot he ground. Kratos had retreated into the air, where he was shooting balls of energy at the Desian archers below him.

Just as Lloyd was over run with Desians soldiers, he heard Sheena finish her spell. Or, to be more specific, her summoning.

"I summon thee! EFREET!"

Silence. All nine thousand of the Desians froze as the giant red spirit rose into the air. Efreet stared down at them with fire in his eyes. His curved horns seem to grow as he opened his raging mouth. His muscular arms danced with flame, and his tail swung back and forth threateningly.

As the Emperor stared up as the Fire Spirit, his eyes grew wide. He became speechless. Finally, he mustered up enough to speak one single word.

"Shit."

"ERUPTION!" cried Efreet. Immediately, great flames burst out of the ground, lave spewing everywhere. The volcano that had just opened up right beneath them burst into life.

"No, no, NO!" Genis cried as hie base was destroyed. He watched in horror as his castle fell aprat in one great explosion of lava. His towers and walls all burst into flames, as well as his soldiers.

"No. . . Presea!" he cried. The pink- haired girl turned to him. "Presea, take the rest of the soldiers to the Ranch! Initiate Phase Four, now! I will join you shortly!"

"Yes, Master!" she cried. She cast a spell, and suddenly the three thousand Desians that weren't on fire were teleported away. Finally, Genis turned to the four heroes.

"YOU!" he cried, running at them. "Sheena Fujibayashi! You shall pay for your insolence! WITH YOUR LIFE!"

As he sped towards them, his hand burst into red flame. Evil energy danced along his arm, and his eyes glowed with madness. Red energy crackled around him like lightning as he thrust his hand forward.

WARNING: THERE IS UNEEDED VIOLENCE AND BLOOD IN THIS PART! SKIP IF YOU MUST!

"SHEENA!" Lloyd cried as the Emperor thrust his hand forward. Sheena closed her eyes as the hand reached for her chest. She turned away as she waited for death to come. It didn't.

Looking back, Sheena saw the most frightening scene she had ever witnessed. Kuchinawa had jumped in front of her. The red ninja was protecting her with his body. And his life.

Suddenly, Sheena screamed as she saw what happened. Genis' arm was thrust forward, still glowing with crimson energy. But his hand. . . was inside Kuchinawa's chest. The ninja's chest was bleeding as the hand moved inside him.

Dying, Kuchinawa said his final words. "Tell Orochi. . . I'm sorry. . ." and with that, Genis finished the job. He yanked his arm back, holding something in his hand. Lloyd gasped as he saw that gEnis was holding Kuchinawa's heart in his hand. The red ninja fell to the ground, already dead.

"Kuchinawa!" Sheena cried, looking at her deceased friend. "No, you. . . you monster!" Drawing her cards, Sheena cried "Cyclone Seal!"

Genis looked up from the heart to see himself flung across the field into the tree. As he struck the tree, he actually grinned. "Pathetic," he said, still grinning, squeezing the heart in his hand. "So, this is what a weak heart looks like. Kuchinawa was weak, and his heart is just as weak." Squeezing the heart, it finally burst, blood spurting all over his clothes. But he didn't mind. He was far too mad.

"We will meet again, friends," Genis commented. "But, I will be even stronger than ever, as powerful as a god. I can lick my wounds, and move on. The question is," he said, pointing to Kuchinawa's body, "Can you?"

With that, Genis disappeared, the tree finally catching fire and falling. All around the base, lava was rising up, overcoming the base. As Lloyd leaned in to comfort his crying wife, Kratos readied his teleportation. As the two lovers embraced, they were swept away. And Old Heimdall fell upon the land, bursting into flame, until it was completely gone.

A/N: Told you it would get bloody. Sorry to the three of you that actually gave a damn about Kuchinawa. Like I said in chapter one, if it was up to me, this isn't what would happen. If it were up to me, they all would've lived happily ever after after the end of "Together Forever". However, the story must be told!

Just so you know, this isn't the end. I still have three chapters left, so get comfy. I hope everyone like this chapter, and I hope everyone reviews it as well. Remember, if I don't update for a while. It is probably because I'm busy with my novel.

Next time: Chapter Six: A Spiritual Journey. Until then, review.

PEACE OUT!