1Hi everyone, well I have to say that you all did a wonderful job of boosting my spirits and it makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I hope that last chapter helped everyone understand what Storm's relationship is like with everyone in Cruxis. Kratos Wilder, you are such an awesome buddy (I hope I can start a "Give Kratos A Hug" club soon.) Anyway, I've been having trouble deciding where I want to go with this next but I think I've finally figured it out, Also, thank to everyone who reviewed because your reviews make writing this story so much fun! I would also like to thank Campin' Carl for their review. I'm glad that you took the time to read my story and make it sound better, so I went back and changed it, I must have missed that boo-boo myself (whoops!). Thank you for giving me a productive criticism that doesn't insult my intelligence and make my self-esteem drop. Well, here goes chapter 13.

Chapter 13: Genis and Raine

The past couple of days had flown by and the group had grown larger as well. Zelos Wilder, the Chosen of Tethe' alla, had joined the group. The red haired man was constantly flirting with every female that moved. Lloyd and Genis on the other hand were treated as if they didn't even exist, and when Zelos did acknowledge them it was so they could do something for him.

What a dense and perverted Chosen! I had know I idea that what everyone said about was true. He really is as bizarre as everyone says he is, Storm thought.

The other addition to their group was a young girl named Presea Combatir. She was a young, rather emotionless girl with pink pigtails. When Storm met Presea the first thing she had noticed was her Cruxis Crystal.

Another victim of the Cruixs Crystal. I'm just glad that I didn't get one of those, then I really would be a lifeless being, void of any emotion, Storm thought sadly.

Once the group had reached the castle they were informed that the king was not well and that he could not be seen by anyone. At first it seemed that it would be impossible for them to get in, until they met Presea. With her help, the group managed to sneak into the castle where they managed to deliver their letter to the Pope. After being told to wait in a room Storm became very nervous and fidgety.

"What's the matter Storm? Why are you so anxious all of a sudden?" Lloyd asked, concerned about her strange behavior.

"It's nothing, I just don't like to be locked into small rooms. It brings back bad memories," Storm replied.

"Like what?" Lloyd asked, but Storm's answer was cut off by the entrance of Zelos along with a small group of Papal Knights.

It was soon discovered that the only way that the group would be able to take Collette to Sybak was to take Zelos along to keep an eye on them. Lloyd and the others reluctantly agreed and they were all soon on their way towards the Imperial Research Academy. Once they got to Sybak the entered the large building which was the Academy. After learning that Collette's angel transformation was caused by her Cruxis Crytal, an advanced form of the exsphere, they decided that the only way to bring her back was to create a Key Crest for her.

That was where they were now, they were waiting for Lloyd to finish Collette's Key Crest. Storm was waiting outside with the rest of the group.

It doesn't matter if he gets this Key Crest made, there's no way that it will be able to control Collette's Cruxis Crystal. It is much more powerful than an exsphere, Storm thought.

Storm looked next to her when she noticed someone sitting next to her. She looked over and saw Zelos.

Oh boy, I can already figure out where this conversation will go, she thought as she sighed.

"What is it Zelos?" Storm asked.

"Well...you see...I was just wondering...you and Lloyd...you're not...you know?" Zelos asked.

"No, Zelos we're just friends, that's it," Storm replied.

"YES! All right, that means that I can totally hit on you, even though I probably would have anyway," Zelos replied as he jumped and ran off.

Storm sat there with her jaw hanging at what she had just heard. She tried to get back to what she was thinking in order to ignore what had just happened.

It's going to be a long trip from here on out," Storm thought.

Soon, Lloyd came out with the finished Key Crest. He walked over to Collette.

"Well, I finally finished your birthday present. Of course this isn't how I planned to give it to you," Lloyd said as he placed the Key Crest, which was on a necklace, around Collette's neck. They all stood awaiting some sort of reaction from Collette. After a few moments they all realized that their plan had failed.

"Now what?" Lloyd asked apparently very disappointed at the outcome of the event.

"Well, I suggest that we go back to Sylverant and ask Dirk what to do. He may know more than we do about how to control her Cruxis Crystal," Raine suggested.

"No way! You guys are not allowed to leave Tethe 'alla. It's my job to make sure that you guys don't go back there," Zelos replied.

"Please Zelos. Won't you do it, for me?" Raine asked Zelos.

"Well, I suppose if we don't tell anyone they'll never even know we left," Zelos replied.

"Aha! Now you've all done it. Zelos, committing treason against Tethe 'alla by aiding the people from Sylverant. You're all coming back with us," yelled two Papal Knights as they came out from hiding.

"Aw, man. It's not what it looks like. I've got nothing to do with this. It was all Lloyd and Genis," yelled Zelos.

"Come on, you're all coming. First, though we need to test you all," The knoghts replied as they began to test all of them.

"What's going on," Lloyd asked.

"They always test all criminals to see whether they are elf, half-elf, or human," Zelos replied.

The guards tested everyone but when they got to Storm, they became very confused. They looked at their each other and couldn't figure out what was wrong. She was displaying readings to be all three qualities, but she was mainly showing to be human. They had no idea to respond to their results.

"She looks enough like a human, we'll just call her that," one of the knights said to the other as they continued their job.

Great, I don't even fit in around here. I'm not a human, a half-elf, or an elf. So what am I? Storm wondered.

"Aha, we've found two half-elves," yelled one of the guards as they tested Genis and Raine.

"What are you talking about? Genis and the Professor are elves," Lloyd replied.

Genis looked sadly at Raine who nodded at her younger brother. "It's true Lloyd, we are half-elves. We've lied to all of you all this time," Raine sadly replied.

"Okay, you two you're coming with us, the rest of you are going to get locked up for awhile, take them away," the knight replied as he started to take Genis and Raine out of the building.

"Wait! Where are you taking them?" Lloyd frantically yelled.

"All half-elves are executed for any crime," replied the knight as he took Genis and Raine away and out of sight.

"No! We have to save them," Lloyd yelled at the others.

"Sorry to tell you this Lloyd, but I think we're going to have a hard enough time saving ourselves," Storm responded.

Soon, the group was locked in a small room in what appeared to be a laboratory in the basement of another building. They looked around and noticed two half-elves standing in the room with them. Presea immediately noticed the half-elves and his herself from their sight. The young half-elf woman looked at Presea and seemed to immediately recognize her.

"Presea?" The woman asked. Presea moved closer to a corner of the room, as far away from the lady as she could.

"How do you know Presea, and who are you?" Lloyd asked.

"My name is Kate and I'm a researcher for the Church of Martel. We were ordered by the Pope to conduct research on growing a Cruxis Crystal inside of a human body. Our research subject was Presea. She probably hates us all for it," Kate replied.

"Why are you down here with us?" Storm asked.

" The Pope won't allow them to conduct research with anyone else," a familiar voice responded behind them.

The group looked over and was surprised to see Sheena standing behind them. She had managed to sneak by the guards and had enter the "prison."

"Sheena, what are you doing here?" Storm asked.

"I heard what had happened and I figured I should help you guys save Genis and Raine," Sheena replied. She glanced over to the slightly larger group. "Whoa, you brought that stupid Chosen along with you?" Sheena asked shocked.

"We didn't really have a choice, anyway Kate, continue your story," Storm replied.

"We're not allowed to conduct our research anywhere else. We're half-elves so we get locked up down here," Kate answered.

"That's horrible!" Lloyd replied.

"That's the way it is here. Half-elves are treated like dirt, like your friends back there. That's just the way it is," Zelos said.

"Genis and Raine! We've got to help them! We need to find a way out of here," Lloyd said as he began to frantically search for a way out.

"You seem to really care about your friends, even though they are half-elves," Kate said.

"I don't care who or what they are, they're my friends and that's all that matters," Lloyd responded.

Wow, I thought that most humans despised half-elves but for some reason Lloyd still cares about Genis and Raine. He just doesn't seem like the rest of them. Storm thought.

"I could help you," Kate offered, "you really seem to care a lot about your friends. Just promise me that you will come back and I'll try to help Presea with her Cruxis Crystal."

"Sure, I promise that we will come back. But, we really need to help save Genis and Raine," Lloyd replied enthusiastically.

Kate then opened a secret exit which she obviously had used many times before.

"We'll be back, I promise you," Lloyd said as he left the room with the others.

There was no time to slow down as the group began to sprint across the Tethe' alla Bridge. They began to see the Papal Knights in the distance with...Genis and Raine! They were closing in on them. Just when they thought that they would easily catch up, the bridge began to go up. The group looked at the huge chasm that lay before them.

"We're going to have to jump it," Lloyd said.

"Are you crazy we'll never make it," Zelos replied.

"Yes we will," Lloyd replied as he forced Zelos to jump. Collette easily flew across the gap while the others missed the other end of the bridge and began to fall. Suddenly, Sheena thought of a way to save them. She called upon Undine who saved the group with a large water spout that shout them back into the air.

Once they were safely on the ground, the group ran up to the Knights and prepared to fight.

"Let my friends go," Lloyd yelled as he drew his swords.

I can't believe that he still cares about those two even though the deceived him and made him believe they were elves. I guess not ALL humans hate half-elves. Was Lord Yggdrassil lying to me? Storm thought as she drew out her swords and prepared to fight.

Well, how was it? Sorry if it seemed like it was thrown together, but once again school and extra curricular activities have taken over my life. Sorry, but I will try to get up a new chapter sooner next time. Thank you all for waiting so patiently. Next chapter preview, Kratos if you don't mind:

Kratos: Discover what happens when Storm and the others fight the Papal Knights. Yuan, Pronyma, and even myself will make some appearances and discover a little more about Zelos and Storm. (Hint, there may be a funny scene) Also, what will happen to Collette. All these questions shall be answered and more in the next chapter! Until then.

Thanks Kratos, read and review.