Me: And here's Chapter/Part Fourteen! And it's over 100 pages long as of last chapter! And of this Chapter 1297 hits!

Feral: Well yes 'yay' it is. You've never gotten this far on a fan-fic before.

Me: Well, yeah, that's true.

To Understand: Part Fourteen

The Beginning of a Mystery

By Harmony283

Good Reviews:

Nady-kun-Ah well, that's what happens when I have a 'homework free' weekend: I update two chapters! And yes, you'll eventually find out how Raine knows April, so yeah, don't worry about that. And you may, or may not, learn more about how Genis got hurt. The only way you will know is when Pronyma decides to show herself again (whenever that will be). And yeah, I was always partial to Genis staying behind while everyone went off to Torrent Forest to meet Kratos, and yes Raine is extremely worried right now. Mostly I was leaning towards this option cuz there'll be kawaii scene with Mithos…um, yeah, I don't wanna give away too much. Well, here's the next Chapter! I hope ya like it!

Liu Barrowin-Yeah, they're allowed in Heimdall, and they are in the game (though no one named April comes up and helps them). And flipping a coin would be a good idea –resists the urge to grab nearby quarter-Hmm, so you're going to post up a Mithos X Genis fic soon? Cool! I'll make sure to review! And extra support is always good! Here's the next Chapter, I hope you like it!

Hiranieas-You…were thinking about Martel the entire time you were reading about the dream? Yes, that is weird…but, eh, I can't really give much away but I can say that no, it wasn't Martel. But yes, it's a girl that Genis knows…or is that still giving away too much? Oh well, make of it what you will…now here's the next Chapter, I hope you like it!

Me: I feel all warm and fuzzy, I have such nice reviewers!

Feral: Yes, apparently you do.

Me: Yup! Well, um, yeah, can do what you do normally now, right?

Feral: One disclaimer coming up: Harmony283 does not, and will not, claim ownership of the Tales of Symphonia characters no matter how much she wants to. But she does claim me and the plot.

Authors Note: Thanks Feral. Anyway, in this Chapter Genis basically tries to explain what happened to him in the Tower of Salvation/Venheim (along with Ferals help). Oh yes, and he also has a conversation with Lloyd and Zelos…and Feral about that odd dream he had.

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Genis' POV

"I mean…how did you get hurt?"

How was I going to answer that?

'Well first off you can say that Pronyma hurt you…since that wouldn't be a lie.'

"Um, P-Pronyma…she…"

"She…?"

"Yeah…I don't…remember much."

"What?"

Raine moved a comforting hand to my shoulder, and glared at Lloyd, "How can you ask something like that." She then moved back to me and smiled, "But what do you remember?" her hand squeezes my shoulder and, despite my attempts to stop myself, I flinch away from her, touch, moving so that I was leaning back against the wall instead of right up next to her.

And of course, she, along with everyone else in the room, noticed.

"Genis…?"

"Um…"

Oh great, now they were going to ask me why I didn't want to be touched…and…even I didn't know why.

'Then just tell them you're tired or something. You don't want to get angry now do you? You do realize that's what makes you forget most times…don't you?'

"Genis? What's wrong…what…oh…" Raines eyes widened in realization of something, I didn't know what.

"Everyone…I would like to speak with Genis…alone…"

"Um, yeah, sure. Let's go guys." Lloyd said, oblivious to whatever my sister meant, and turned to walk out the door.

Zelos sighed, muttering something under his breath, but followed after him, along with everyone else.

"Sis…?"

"Genis, what did that woman do to you?"

I blinked, "What?"

"Did she…hurt you…?"

"Well yeah, she did. I mean, I…wait, you don't mean…like, she hit me or anything do you?" My voice just a small squeak now as I figured out what she meant.

But Pronyma…she couldn't have done that could she? The very thought just…eww…

'Oh don't worry she didn't do that to you, why would she when you're her enemy?'

I sighed in relief, "That's…um…" I realized Raine was staring at me.

"Well? Genis," She placed a hand over the hand that wasn't bandaged, "You know you can tell me anything. It will be completely confidential."

I flinched, shying away from her touch again, "I don't…she didn't do that to me…but the very fact that she, a woman hurt me…I don't think…"

"You don't think…oh…" she moved her hand off mine and backed up, "I see…that woman…"

She sighed and turned away, walking out of the room.

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Raines POV

I…couldn't believe it.

That Pronyma woman could have--

My poor, poor brother. He must be in denial.

But the fact that she…did--no, could have done--something like that to him.

He's still so young and innocent.

And to take that innocence away...that woman…she…she was going to pay for whatever she did to him!

I sighed and stopped when I saw Lloyd and Zelos waiting over by a nearby tree.

Lloyd noticed me and ran over, followed by a rather relunctant Zelos.

"Is he okay…?"

I sighed, what was I going to say?

Well, I guess the truth, or at least half of it, would be good for now.

"He…well, let's just say he was hurt very badly."

"But how?"

Zelos sighed, "Well the little brat—I mean Genis—probably doesn't want to talk about it either that or confidential. Right?"

I nodded my head, "Ah…yes…he said he couldn't remember everything so I…will wait."

Lloyd nodded his head in understanding, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't ask anything more—or that he'd get the alternative meaning to my words—any time soon.

But Zelos on the other hand, might just tell him.

He was a traitor…who knew if he was actually on our side or not?

…Well, Lloyd seemed to trust him, but that was because—

"Raine!"

I blinked, that was…Aprils voice.

"Hmm, yes?"

"You…your brother…why did you leave so suddenly? I was surprised. I thought for sure he'd…"

"Talk to me? Yes, I did too…but he didn't, well, I did most of the talking."

"I…see…he's turning out to be just like your father."

"Huh?" Lloyd and Zelos asked at the same time.

"That reminds me, how do you two know each other anyway? I mean, you," Zelos said, nodding his head towards April, "Helped two half-elves into this village, where only pureblooded elves are supposed to live, you must at least have a reason."

"Oh…I do. And yes, we do know each other."

I nodded my head, "Yes, but now…isn't the time to be talking about things like that. Lloyd, you should be getting some rest soon after all you're—"

"Yeah…I know. I have to go up against Kratos, don't I?"

Aprils eyes widened, "Oh! I see, so you're Lloyd!"

Lloyd nodded his head, "Yeah…"

"I…it's horrible that you have to, um, fight your…father…"

Lloyd flinched, obviously he still wasn't used to Kratos being referred to in that manner, but nodded his head none the less.

"Yeah, I…know…but I have to. I just wish there was another way."

"Well, we all wish for another way when things come down to this. But sometimes…you have to make painful decisions. I'm sure Kratos…had to make the hard decision of giving up his life, of knowing that that end was the only way for you to succeed. But parents will do anything and everything to assure the safety of their children."

Yes…yes they would.

Even if it meant abandoning them.

I'm sure my parents…abandoned us for a good reason.

I just wanted to know what that reason was.

I sighed to myself and turned to walk away, "Hey, Professor, where are you going?"

"For a walk…"

"I'll join you! Even if you were allowed in this village by the Elder, it's still not safe for a half-elf to walk around alone." April said, a soft, kind smile on her face…just like when we were younger.

I smiled, "Yes, you're right, okay then. I will see you two," I said, looking over at Lloyd and Zelos, "Later."

And I walked off, April following me like she had all those years ago.

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Genis' POV

For some reason I felt really horrible.

Maybe it was because of the way I treated Raine?

Yeah, that had to be it. I mean, she's my sister and yet I…couldn't tell her anything. I couldn't even tell her as much of when I was 'kidnapped' that I remembered.

'It's not like you can freely give away stuff like that, you know. Can you imagine just what would happen if you did tell her those certain things?'

I flinched, yeah, Feral was right.

What would happen?

Well, I know for one that Raine would freak out. She'd probably start accusing Mithos of stuff he didn't do…though it wasn't like she wasn't doing that to begin with…

'I have to agree with you on that. She's worried that he might have been the one that ordered Pronyma to kidnap you, and just pretended that he didn't, which we both know isn't true. He did care about what happened to you and he didn't order Pronyma to kidnap/hurt you.'

"Yeah…heh, she'd be so surprised if she found out that he was actually the one who saved me. Actually, I think everyone—minus Kratos since he apparently already knows—would be."

'Yes. And there are also things besides Mithos, that Raine doesn't know.'

"Yeah, she doesn't know about you…and I didn't tell her about that dream I had—not that it had any significant importance or anything…right?"

'Yes, that's right.'

Why did I have a sneaking suspicion Feral was hiding something from me?

"Feral…are you…hiding something from me?"

'Wh-what are you talking about?' she seemed slightly startled, but defensive at the same time.

"Well I mean, it seems like you know more about my dream than you're letting on."

'Hmm, in a way, yes I do. But why do you want to know?'

"Besides the fact I'm curious, why did it feel like I knew that man? Who was he?"

'Well you certainly want to know—"

"Feral, just get to the point. Do you know who he is or not?"

'I…well…hmm, I guess you could say I kind of do. Though I could be mistaken.'

"Could be mistaken--?"

I would have said more, and I'm sure Feral would have to.

But of course, right when she was going to say something important…

Lloyd and Zelos walked in.

And they both seemed somewhat worried.

"Oh…hey you guys, what's up?"

"We came by to see if you were okay." Lloyd said, smiling at me, though it was a sad smile, and sitting down on the nearby chair while Zelos stood up against the wall across the room.

"Well, I guess I am now. Though my back still hurts a lot."

Lloyd nodded his head, seeming to be thinking about something.

"I'm surprised you were able to walk at all from the way you looked when you showed up in the Great Seed Chamber." Zelos said, curious suspicion noticeable in his voice.

"Huh? Oh, yeah…I actually have no clue how I managed that."

"Yeah and, um, well, Pronyma said she was taking you to Venheim when she first showed up and captured you so…"

"So?"

"How did you get back into the Tower of Salvation?"

I gulped, "Uh…I-I don't know…"

"Is there like a portal or a…doorway or something?"

Zelos rolled his eyes, "No, no, Lloydie my bud, there's a great mystical dragon that flies down from the sky and brings you up to Derris Kharlan."

I blinked, there was no way in the two worlds Lloyd could believe that.

"Woah! Really? That's so cool! What does it look like?"

And yet, being the…somewhat dense and gullible person he was…

He fell for it.

"You actually believed that?" both me and Zelos said at the same time before bursting out into short giggles while Lloyds face turned a bright shade of red.

"Wha—hey! That's not funny…tricking me like that…"

"Aww, but it's just so fun!" Zelos whined, walking over to stand behind Lloyd before giving him well deserved bonk on the head.

"Yeesh, I'm surprised your head's not hallow!" He said, a now extremely playful—not to mention suggestive—smirk on his face.

Oh yeah, that's right, they were 'together' now.

I can't believe I forgot that.

'Well that is the kind of thing that's hard to forget. But you know, they don't know that you know that yet.'

Well, that was true.

Zelos wrapped his arms around Lloyds neck, nuzzling his face into his hair, to which Lloyd grinned.

"Heh…you guys…"

Zelos immediately backed away, an almost apparent blush tinging at his cheeks. Lloyd blushed twice as red as usual and gulped noisily, "Uh…"

"Is there…something going on that I don't know about?"

Oh gods, I never knew anyones face could get as red as Zelos' hair but…

"Uh…w-well…gods, Raine's gonna kill us if we tell you…"

"Is Raine here?"

"N-no…"

"Then what is it?"

Zelos shook his head, "Well if you really want to know—"

"Hey! We heard you were up, Genis!"

It was Sheena, followed by Colette and Presea.

They stopped in the doorway and stared at us.

Lloyd and Zelos' once red faces paled and they backed even further away from each other.

"Oh…are we interrupting something?" Sheena asked, her tone icy.

"Yes, are we? If we are then we shall leave and come back again…later."

"Um…well…uh…" Lloyd stuttered, also noticing the fact that Colette was about to burst into tears again…

"It's okay, you weren't." I said, smiling at them, "Zelos and Lloyd were just saying that they were going to leave so yeah, come on in."

"Yeah the brat's—I'm mean Genis's—right! See ya later." Zelos hurried out of the room, followed by Lloyd.

"You…did that on purpose didn't you?" Sheena asked, though in a more laid back tone than she had a few seconds ago.

"Hmm, maybe. But then again, I don't know what's going on so, yeah."

The three girls stared at me, then looked at each other, surprised.

"So they didn't, um, tell you…?"

"Nope! I'm just as clueless as ever!" I said, a grin forming on my lips despite my attempts to keep my face straight.

"Ah…I see…well…we just came by to see how you were doing…and since it seems you're doing okay we'll just…uh…"

"Go and find the professor!" Colette piped up, her voice ten times higher than it normally was.

I a pang of guilt for her. She loved Lloyd. But he didn't love her.

'That's the way love goes sometimes. Don't worry too much about it…after all, you have too much to worry about in regards to Mithos and your promise of 'finding another way' to worry about much else.'

"I—uh, yeah, okay. See you guys later then."

The three girls nodded their heads and hurried out the door, murmuring between themselves about something or other.

"Now…I have to find out how I'm going to 'find another way'." I muttered, leaning back against the wall, flinching ever so lightly as my wounded back made contact with the hard cold wood.

'Well this is an elven village is it not? I'm sure you'll find some old records of things that normally wouldn't be found in the normal world.'

"Well yeah, that's true…but first…" I yawned, feeling my eyes droop.

I didn't realize I was this tired.

'First off, you need to get some sleep.'

I nodded my head, "Yeah…you're…right…"

'Of course I am, now sweet dreams.'

"You know, I still want to know who that man and girl were from my dreams…"

'…'

That was all Feral said before I found myself closing my eyes and dropping my head back onto the provided pillow on the bed.

It still disturbed me that Feral knew something I didn't.

But I guess I'd just have to ask after I got some sleep.

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Me: And Part Fourteen is done!

Feral: Yes it is…but you seem tired…

Me: A stomach ace and a headache can and will do that to a person—sighs—anyway, R&R please! I love hearing from people! And the next Chapter should be the one where Genis either stays or goes with Lloyd and Co. (currently he's staying behind).