Me: Whoo! Chapter/Part Fifteen is here! Yay!

Feral: …you're hyper today…

Me: And you're not.

To Understand: Part Fifteen

Ones Doubts

By Harmony283

Good Reviews: 4

Hiranieas-Hmm, maybe it's Feral, or maybe it isn't…hmm…-cough-you really want to kill Pronyma don't you? Don't worry she will die…but as for when, I can't tell! Well, here's the next chapter I hope you like it!

Viaroura Fox-Thanks for reviewing and yes, Genis is going to do some major research now…as for what he will find…I can't really say. Well, here's then next Chapter, I hope you like it!

Nady-Kun-Um, wow, I didn't think April'd be so popular…I just added her in at the last minute so Raine could have a bigger role in this but, yeah, they're like childhood friends, they could be more…but that just depends. And yes, I like learning about the past of my favorite characters too! I'm not sure if you noticed, but in one of the earlier chapters (I think it was chapter five) Kloitz, Genis and Raines father, was mentioned. That could give some clues to what happens later on…maybe…hmm. Well, here's the next Chapter! I hope you like it!

Mizuki hikari-well, here's the next Chapter, enjoy!

Me: I'm soooo happy! I'm finally on Part Fifteen!

Feral: You've been waiting for this haven't you?

Me: Well, yeah, I have. This is the chapter before the one where Mithos shows up again!

Feral: Ah, and to think way back in Chapter/Part 2 he was worried about never seeing Genis again before they fought.

Authors Note: Ah yeah, that's true isn't it? Well he definitely doesn't have to worry about that…but on the other hand now he has to worry about his little damsel—I'm mean Genis—getting 'kidnapped' again. –cough—anyway…yeah, in this Chapter Lloyd basically mulls over his thoughts of either to kill or not kill Kratos. Zelos shows up and tries to comfort him. Meanwhile Genis escapes from the inn, only to run into some trouble…Enjoy!

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Lloyds POV

I groaned softly, looking up at the clear sky. It was about mid-afternoon.

And already I was worrying.

I…didn't want to fight Kratos.

But I had to.

I didn't want him to die…

But…

No…

That can't be the only way to release Origin!

Because if Kratos dies…

My only blood relative left will be dead.

My…father…would be dead.

I would have killed my father.

I shuddered at the thought. So many choices have been made. So many people have died. And now, if just one more person died…then the world could be…restored.

I didn't like that idea.

Didn't I say that I didn't want to sacrifice anyone anymore?

Yeah, I did.

I also said I wasn't going to make anymore mistake and I know killing Kratos could very well be a mistake.

I mean, he…he…

"Oh Lloyd!"

I jumped and whirled around.

It was Zelos.

Wait…did he follow me all the way out…here?

I look around at my surroundings only to find that I didn't know where I was either.

"Oh…Zelos…it's you."

Zelos grinned, "Hey! Don't sound so down in the dumps! I'm sure everything'll be alright!"

"How can you keep up with that optimistic attitude…?"

I hadn't expected him to hear me, but he did, "Because, bud, sometimes things just don't work out the way you want them to. They even…turn out worse than you originally had thought. But if you let all the negatives get in the way then what can you do?"

"I…well, you're right. I can't do much of anything now besides think of the consequences of each action that I could take. I mean, I wanna save the world, but I also don't want to sacrifice more people."

Zelos nodded his head, his sudden cheerfulness gone, replaced with an aura of seriousness.

"And I…Kratos…is my father and…"

"Because of that you don't want to kill him. That's natural. I mean, Seles is my only immediate family member left so yeah, I'd be devastated if anything happened to her, despite the fact that she probably could care less about what happened to me."

I shook my head. I couldn't believe he still thought that.

"You know, she really doesn't hate you. She just doesn't want to admit that she worries about you."

Zelos laughed bitterly, "Yeah, right, whatever you say Lloyd."

"But…" I moved towards him, "She really does! She said so right after you left the room! Colette and Genis heard her too! She…she even called you her big brother! Doesn't that…can't you see that she doesn't…"

"Look, I appreciate the fact that you're trying to help an' all, Lloyd, but…this isn't about me now. It's about you and what you choose to do."

He smiled then, a soft and loving smile…like he had that night in Flanoir.

"Um…uh…hehe…you're…right…" I muttered, feeling my face heat up. I looked down at the ground, embarrassed. Now wasn't the time to be…talking.

"Aww, you're blushing!" Zelos said in a singsong voice, and I looked up at him. On pure instinct I shouted, "No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I—mfft!"

How many times was he going to do that?

Cut me off by kissing, I mean.

Dammit, he knew me too well.

And I hadn't even known he liked me like that until…recently.

Zelos pulled away, "Yes you are…now would you like me to keep you company? Raine is still off somewhere with that April chick, and Sheena and them won't talk to me for…obvious reasons."

I nodded my head. They still must be upset about...us…though the reasons why they turned on us so fast are beyond me.

I mean, yeah, Colette likes me/has a crush on me—or should I say has had a crush on me—but is she really taking this so hard that she needs the support of the only girls in our group?

That just…didn't seem like her.

"Y-yeah…I guess I could use the company. Everyone's been avoiding me, thinking that I needed time to myself. And of course, Colette, Sheena, and Presea aren't talking to me. The only person who's actually talked to me besides you and the Professor would be Genis, but he's resting because of his…wounds…"

Zelos nodded his head before pulling me into a tight embrace, "But hey, that's enough isn't it?"

And, at least for now, it was.

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Genis' POV

I sighed, looking up at the ceiling, thinking of what I had promised—well, not promised but it was close to it—to Mithos.

I promised that I'd find another way.

But what could I do when I was hurt this badly? Well, it didn't hurt so much anymore but…I'm sure if Raine spotted me, she'd go ballistic and force me back to bed.

Which would not only be embarrassing, it'd probably cause the Elves, whom I'm sure some aren't so happy we're here, to hate us more.

I sighed again, "What am I gonna do?"

'Well, why don't you try sneaking out? Who knows, Raine may be too preoccupied with things to notice you. I mean, you're small, you can hide if you think she's seen you.'

"Are you making fun of me?"

'Why no of course not.'

"Then stop sounding so sarcastic…and I'm not that short."

'Yes you are. Now come on, no one's at the front desk, they wouldn't notice if you snuck out.'

I groaned, "Yeah but the people outside'll see the door open. What if I run into Lloyd or…or Colette? Both of them could tell me to go back to bed too! Besides, they wouldn't understand the reason I'm up anyway."

'Which is why you're going to ignore them.'

"Jeez, I can't believe I'm agreeing to this…" I muttered, pushing myself up off the bed.

I winced in pain as the muscles in my back tightened. But it wasn't an unbearable pain.

Which was better than it had been.

"Wow, they must really be good healers…"

'Yes, they are full blooded elves you know.'

"Yeah, you're right. But I wonder, did that April lady heal me?"

'Apparently yes, since she's the only elf your sister seems to trust.'

"I…guess so…"

'Now then let's go before someone does come back.'

I nodded my head and made my way out of the room and into the lobby area. Feral was right, no one was at the receptionist desk.

So now all I had to do was get outside and go hide somewhere…but where?

And how would that help my research?

'Just worry about getting out first. Then we can worry about the research.'

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." I muttered, making my way towards the wooden door. I opened it a silently as I could, not wanting to draw attention from anyone who might be close by, and snuck out.

The first thing I noticed about the Elven town was…

It was small.

About the size of Iselia.

Or, at least, this side was.

But I could see the entrance/exit. That's probably where I should head first.

Or maybe I could look around town—wait, was that Raine?

'Yes it seems like that is Raine.'

So it was her. She was over near some benches talking with that April woman again.

"Well if she's over there then I guess I should head this way."

I walked down the wooden steps and headed over to the eastern side of the village.

That's when I heard someone, a young girl from the sound of it, screaming.

"Let me go! Let me go! No! Don't throw me in the—"

The sound of someone being thrown in the water could be heard.

I made my way around a rather large bush that blocked my path to find that two boys, one had green hair and one yellow, had just dumped a girl with pale yellow hair in the water.

That wasn't good.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing!"

I ran over to the side of the stream and murmured a few words before crying out, "SPREAD!"

A huge pillar of water shot out from underneath her, causing her to rise up out of the water.

Then she was falling

'You'd better catch her'

"I know, I know." I muttered under my breath and positioned myself underneath the falling girl.

And I caught her.

"Ggg…" I groaned, falling to the ground.

Great, I think the wound on my back just opened up again.

And I actually thought it was healed.

'Oh great. That's definitely not good. Oh, and did I mention your sister is coming?'

Not that that mattered.

The two boys were staring at me in shock, "Hey! Why'd you do that?"

They obviously couldn't tell I was hurt.

Not that they needed to know that.

"Why did you throw her in the river? The water isn't very deep, you could have seriously hurt her."

"So? Does it matter? She's a freak!"

'Well aren't they pleasant? How sad since that boy, the one with the blond hair, is this little girls older brother.'

I didn't want to know how Feral knew that, but I guess I could use against him.

"GENIS!"

Or maybe not.

At the sound of Raines voice many Elves turned to look our way.

"Robert Carle! What do you think you two are doing?"

"Mom!" The blond boy cried out, shocked.

"Miss Fay!" green haired boy said, his voice wavering in fear.

A an elven woman with beautiful blond hair and dark red, almost brown, eyes could be seen running towards us from a nearby house. She seemed extremely angry and worried.

When she reached us she grabbed ahold of the blond boy—Carle's arm—and tugged him away, "I'm so sorry—Aura!" she gasped when she saw the girl in my arms.

"What did you do to my daughter?"

"I…didn't do anything."

"Oh yes you did! Mom he threw her in the river cuz she got in his way!"

"I did not!" Now, despite the fact that I felt sick, I was angry.

"Why do you think I'd believe you? A half elf?"

"Because I'm telling the truth."

"Genis! Please, let's not start something here." Raine said softly from behind me. I don't think I have ever heard her sound so…

Afraid.

'Well she has ever reason to be. You do realize that she grew up in this village. She knows the cruelty of the Elves, whereas you were only born here.'

Wait…how did she know I was born here?

Even I didn't know that.

"No. Why should I? I know you mean well, sis, but I'm sick and tired of people looking down on us just cuz we're different." I growled, feeling the anger boil up inside of me once more.

"But Genis--!"

"Give me my daughter back you…you…" the woman said, her voice at a near whisper but her eyes showed deep hate.

Then I realized it.

She must have been hurt by my kind before.

"Yeah, sure you can have her back."

She seemed shocked at my sudden willingness.

"But you're going to have to come over here and pick her up."

"And why can't you?" Carle shouted, balling his small hands into fists.

"Gee I'd love to but right now I don't think it'd be best for me to move."

"And why is that?" the woman asked bitterly.

"Well, in case you haven't noticed, I'm hurt. That's the reason we were let into this town to begin with."

The woman seemed surprised, but walked forward almost hesitantly. I moved so that she could take her daughter, who seemed to be waking up, away from me.

"Huh…? Momma? Is big brother gone?" the girls voice sounded so pure and innocent, it made me wonder how her brother could throw her into the river.

"Why no honey, he's right here."

The girls eyes widened, "Wha--? No! Get him away from me!"

"Ah! Honey! What's wrong?" The woman seemed highly alarmed.

The girl had somehow managed to get out of her grip and was now, ironically enough, standing by me.

Not that I could do much of anything in terms of protection.

Who knew that one medium level attack spell could drain so much of my energy?

"He threw me in the river." Aura whimpered, grabbing onto my shirt sleeve with one of her hands.

"What…? Carle…?"

"I—I didn't do anything to her mom!"

"But it's true…that's why I came over here…because I heard her scream." I said, disregarding the fact that my voice was now cracking.

'Yes…poor girl…she's soaking wet.'

"Is this true, Carle, Robert?"

Everyone gasped and turned.

It was the village elder.

"Oh! Elder, I'm…sorry for disturbing you!" Fay said, bowing her head immediately in the presence of the older elf.

He just merely shook his head, "I heard the conversation, and I also know for a fact that this boy here is indeed wounded. He actually shouldn't even be out of bed."

I blinked, surprised.

So they had actually gotten the elders permission to bring me here?

'Yes they did. Zelos carried you here and most elves were against it. But thankfully the Elder was here and allowed you, as well as Raine, entrance with the help of April.'

"I…see…"

"Now I will ask again, is what this boy—Genis, I believe—said true?"

"Y-Yes…sir…"

Apparently no one went against the elder.

"Oh really now? Then don't you think you should, say apologize?"

"But elder!" The two boys, along with Fay and most of the other villagers surrounding us, seemed shocked.

"But what?"

"He's a half-elf!"

Elder nodded his head, "Yes, I know that. But for now he is a visitor. And you have blamed him for something he did not do. That, as you know, is not tolerated."

"But…you expect us to put aside our differences?" Fay seemed horrified at this.

"Even if just for this short while, yes, I wish that you put aside whatever ill memories you have. Besides, this boy did not cause those ill memories, and it is injust that you treat him as if he were the cause."

"But he's of the same race…" I sighed, "Look, I don't care that much if you disapprove of me being here. You're just going to have to deal with it until we leave. Besides I'm not entirely disagreeing with you on the fact that Half-elves are bad. I…know of some who…are. The one who…caused me this wound…was a half-elf."

The woman blinked, like a stunned deer, but didn't say a word.

"So Pronyma really did hurt you…" Raine whispered from behind me, fear and worry apparent in her voice.

I nodded my head, suddenly feeling very faint, "Y-yeah she…did…"

'Genis! Oh dear, you've lost too much blood!'

"I…think I'm…getting dizzy…"

then the world around me went pitch black, as I fell into a dead faint.

The ground beneath me felt so hard and cold.

I wish Mithos was here to catch me.

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Me: …well that didn't go as planned.

Feral: No it didn't. Oh well, you have a tendency of adding on Chapters so it shouldn't be too big of a deal.

Me: No it shouldn't, but meh, R&R I love reviews—no matter how short or how long they are!

Feral: Well, yes, that's true.