Me: And here's Chapter/Part Eighteen! Up only a day after Chapter/Part Seventeen was uploaded!

April: Yup! It's up now!

Me: Where's Feral?

April: You made her have a headache in the last Chapter/Part so she's taking a break for this chapter.

Me: Oh…okay

To Understand: Part Eighteen

In Ymirs Waters

By Harmony283

Good Reviews: 5

Liu Barrowin-Yes a cold, wet, bleeding Genis is bad...very bad. And quite honestly I don't know how I can do that to him (he's my all time fav. Character besides Mithos). And, as you can see, yes Genis has really bad luck in this...as for why--and yes there is a reason why--I can't say much, that'd spoil it. And...your head's going to explode? Ack! No! That's bad! Well, uh, here! This is the next Chapter! Does that make it better...?

Hiranieas-Eh...that's happened to me too, I wanted to be 'Marina' or some form of that name and...they were all taken by someone...meh. And yes Genis is getting hurt...and yes, Mithos will come to his rescue! He's going to be the 'Night in Shining Spandex' once again! And your mom can sew? Lucky...and why is next Saturday (or this coming Saturday) a happy day? I'll try and see if I can upload a 'happy' chapter that day...maybe...well, here's the next Chapter, I hope you like it!

Mizuki hikari-Yeah, Genis does trip a lot...well, here's the next Chapter I hope you like it!

Viaroura Fox-Yes there are fish in the water, but not where he fell (he's close to the entrance to Ymir Forest, where no fish are) so no, he won't get eaten. But yeah, Genis has an uncany ability to attract bad luck to him. And yes there's a reason for the bad luck. Now here's the next Chapter and, as always, I hope ya like it!

Nady-Kun-Wow...thirty seven? That actually wouldn't surprise me...though I guess it just depends on what you consider 'bad'. And yes, 'ill-fated boy' would be quite fitting for him at the moment (though--wow, I feel like I'm repeating myself--there is a reason for his bad luck) and it's okay that you didn't realize it was Kloitz...I had to go through I don't know how many sites just to find out what he looked like...I even had to resort to fanfiction (which isn't always good for trying to find facts). And yeah, I guess Mithos'd get kinda rusty on his attacks after a while...though there is a reason why his attack didn't work...ah well, you'll find out more in this new chapter so--I hope ya like it!

Me: …You probably hate me for leaving another cliff-hanger like that don't you?

April: Yes…well, it'll all be resolved in this chapter, right? Right! -smiles happily-

Me: …I feel like I'm talking to my clone…

April: Huh? Oh, really? That's good!

Me: No it's not…it's creepy.

April: Oh but that doesn't matter! I'll do the disclaimer now, right?

Me: Right…

April: Okay then! Harmony283 does not own Tales of Symphonia or any of their characters! She just owns the plot me, and Feral! -smiles-

Authors Note: Well, at least you're friendlier than Feral is…um…yeah, this chapter basically wraps up all of what happens with Genis and Mithos in the Ymir forest and then it switches over to the battle with Kratos. So yeah…that's basically it for this chapter (I don't wanna give away too much).

April: Well you did work really hard to get up to this point on the last chapter so…be proud!

Me: Yeah…I guess…-yawn- I'm sleepy…

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Mithos' POV

I had just sent Genis my message, thankfully he had already been tired enough as it was or else someone--preferably that April woman who's supposed to be taking care of him--would get suspicious.

And that wouldn't be good.

But for now I hoped that Genis would actually come. He said he would try to get past her, but…well, sometimes it doesn't work.

But all I could do now was wait.

And I really disliked waiting.

I've been doing it for four thousand years, you'd think I'd get over it by now but…I haven't.

And I don't plan on ever getting over it.

Besides, this was important!

Almost as if on cue, though, I heard Genis' voice.

I smiled, good he actually decided to show up.

But wait…he sounded urgent…was something wrong?

I got up from my position sitting at the base of the tree and hurried off to where his voice was.

And froze.

A Baby boar was charging at him, and he didn't seem to have any form of weaponry on him. And he also couldn't seem to move. Though who could on such a narrow walkway?

Wait, that was bad!

He was already hurt enough--and that's when I couldn't protect him--so there was no way in hell that I'd let him get hurt when I actually could protect him!

I raised my arm in the air, muttering a few ancient words under my breath before crying out:

"Judgement!"

Genis noticed me then, and smiled, relieved that I was there.

That smile was wiped from his face when my attack, despite how powerful and strong it was, missed.

Okay, that wasn't a normal boar.

It was practically leaking with evil energy now.

Almost if by a miracle though, Genis jumped to the side, the boar running past him. But then it stopped.

And I was sure, when I saw the color of it's eyes--a deep purple unlike the normal brown--that it wasn't a normal boar.

"Die you…evil thing! Ray!"

Now that definitely landed its mark, but it also ended up destroying some of the bridge.

Oh great.

When the smoke from the attack lifted, the boar was gone…

But so was Genis.

I looked around frantically, knowing that I couldn't have hit him with my attack, I had gotten so good at controlling my power that it wouldn't have hurt him even if it did.

Then I noticed the waters surface…there were waves.

Wait…did that mean he…fell in?

Oh great.

That wasn't good.

"GENIS!"

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Genis' POV

I could hear Mithos' voice, though it was muffled as water flooded into my ears. I could only continue falling.

I was like a dead weight.

But of course I would be. I'm too weak to swim.

'Genis! Get ahold of yourself!' Ferals voice echoed in my mind.

And I couldn't even hear her very well.

Must be the lack of oxygen.

I feel some sort of leafy plant rush by me and know that I'm close to the bottom. Maybe…just maybe I can push myself up off the bottom and swim towards the surface?

That is, if I turn around first.

I do so, though my movements are sluggish.

That's when I see it.

Something reflecting the little sunlight that seeped through the trees.

It was a…

Mirror?

Or at least a piece of a mirror.

'Wait a second…that's…oh…my head…' Feral sounded like she might cry.

Hey…in my dream…wasn't there a piece of mirror too?

And didn't that man…throw it into the water?

If that dream really did take place in Ymir forest Twelve years ago...then…that piece of glass could be…

Now I was right up close to it. Well, I was close enough to see that it was almost entirely buried in mud.

I grabbed onto the visible side and pulled, wincing in pain as the sharp edge cut into my skin, causing me to bleed.

But I didn't stop pulling.

If this was that mirror then…wouldn't Feral be inside of it?

Maybe this is the cause of her headache?

Finally, after a few more tugs, the shard of mirror had come loose from its rather muddy resting place.

And, even though it had been stuck in the mud for so long…it didn't show any signs of it. The Mirror piece was completely clean--it almost looked brand new.

Now that was just creepy.

I loosened my grip on the mirror so that I could push up off the ground and flinched.

I guess those cut wounds had gone farther than I thought.

And now my hand was practically gushing blood…though maybe it was just the water swirling it around that made it look so bad.

But still…it hurt.

And I was running out of air fast.

That's when I heard the faint 'sploosh' sound of something--or someone--diving into the water. I turned to look at where the noise came from, but my vision was blurred. I could hardly see a thing.

I felt something grip my wrist and tug me towards them. I ran up against something firm, but comforting at the same time.

Was it Mithos?

I couldn't tell. My brain wasn't working right.

I could feel the person swimming upwards, towards where--I assumed--the surface was.

A few seconds later I got my answer when we broke surface. The air…tasted so sweet in my deprived and burning lungs.

Why couldn't I stop coughing?

I soon found myself lying on my back on the wooden walkway, Mithos' face lingering over mine.

"H-Hey…Mithos…"

"Are you okay…?" he whispered, his voice filled with concern.

"I…" then I started coughing again. Mithos quickly aided me by helping me sit up. He then patted my back in an effort to help me get the water out of my lungs.

How it had gotten there I had no idea.

I couldn't remember if I had opened my mouth or not.

Then I remembered the mirror shard. Did I still have it?

"The…mirror…" I whispered, looking over at Mithos, who gazed back curiously.

"You mean this…?" He asked, picking up something out of my view.

It was the same mirror piece I had found at the bottom of the lake.

Good, I thought I had dropped it.

"But why do you…why did you bring this up?" Mithos asked gently, placing the mirror back down, though he seemed a little bitter.

"I…because…it's…"

"You scared me! You could've drowned if you hadn't…if you hadn't gotten this mirror you could've made your way back up so why…oh…"

I felt warm tears slid down my face, why was he yelling?

He seemed to realize this and he moved forward, pulling me into a warm, yet wet, embrace.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to make you cry…you just worried me…"

I nodded my head mutely, "Y-Yeah…I…I know…" was all I could force out. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and knew that sleep would soon follow. But Mithos had wanted to talk about something important, so I forced myself awake again.

"Wh-what…did you…want to t-talk…about?"

Mithos seemed surprised that I still wanted to know, "Oh, yes…that…are you…did you find anything about…"

"…Martel?" I finished for him, nuzzling my face into the saturated fabric on his chest.

"Yeah…though I don't think…I should be asking that of you in…your current condition."

I shook my head, "No. It's fine. I said I'd do it--that I'd find another way to revive Martel…and I think I have. Or…at least…p-partially."

A cold wind blew through the trees and I shivered, moving closer to Mithos, who complied by pulling me closer.

-----------------------

Mithos' POV

I stared at the shivering boy in my arms. He was doing so much for me even in his condition. I…he must really love me.

But what was I doing to help him?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

But what could I do?

"Genis…"

"I…what I found out I-is…"

"Is…?"

"M-Mana…Cr-Crest…we need a Mana Crest…"

"Mana Crest…?" The name sounded familiar, but where had I heard it from?

"Y-Yeah…we need it…it'll help…bring Martel b-back…"

"But how?"

"…if…when…we place it on her…her original b-body…then…then put the Cruxis Crystal I-in it…it should…make her better…"

"Her original body? How do we…get back her original body?"

"I…d-don't know…that's a-all I f-found out…I'm…I'm sorry…"

This struck me as odd. He was sorry for doing all that research when I…when I hadn't done a thing? It was almost funny, but now wasn't the time to be laughing.

"You're sorry? You shouldn't be sorry!"

Genis looked up at me, his eyes still slightly unfocused, but managed to whisper, "What…?"

I smiled, "You've done so much…and I've done nothing…"

He seemed shocked at this.

"N-Nothing? Y…yes you have! You…you've saved me so many times now--you just saved me a few minutes ago too! How can…you say…you've done…nothing?"

Now it was my turn to be shocked. Well, yes, it was true that I had saved him all those times but…that was because he was in danger. You…protect the ones you love, right?

"I…see…you think that…yes, I have saved you many times…but you're still hurt."

"S-so? You said yourself that change comes with sacrifices right? W-well…I…I think that if…if we want to revive Martel…th-then…it's kinda the same thing, it doesn't…come without sacrifices…"

"But you're sacrificing your health and your time to rest!"

"Genis…? Genis where are you…?" I blinked and looked up.

There, not too far off was a woman with green hair and blue eyes.

Wait…why did I suddenly think of Pronyma? Pronyma doesn't…she couldn't be here…could she?

"Oh!" the woman gasped when she saw us and ran forward.

That's when I noticed that she was an elf--oh wait, why wouldn't she be? There wouldn't just be any old human/half-elf wandering around in these woods and Heimdall is, like, right there so yeah, she'd be an elf.

"Are you okay? You're both soaking wet…what happened?" She asked gently, bending down to us.

"I…" I began, not really sure what to say.

"April…um…we…fell in…" Genis said, trying hard to keep his hands, which had many cuts on them due to that mirror piece he had tried so hard to keep ahold of, hidden.

"Fell in! That's…not good…here, why don't you come back to the village to get dried off?" she asked, directing the question at both Genis and me.

Wait a second, was she actually offering me an invitation to go into the village of the elves…my hometown that I was banned from centuries ago?

"Uh…" And yet again, I had no idea what to say.

"Y-yeah, that'd be…yeah…" Genis answered for me, smiling weakly.

"Here then…" she reached out a hand to help Genis and I up, when she noticed it.

His hands.

"Y-your hands! You're bleeding…how…?"

"Ah--" Genis moved his hands away from hers immediately, looking extremely apologetic. He had obviously told her that he would be fine.

And he obviously wasn't fine.

But the woman, Genis had called her April, just sighed and held out her palm again, "Place your hands in my palm, I can heal small wounds like that in no time."

So she was a healer?

"Y-you…won't tell R-Raine?"

"No, not unless these cuts are deeper than they look." She gave him another reassuring smile, which sent another wave of confusion through me. Why did this woman remind me of Pronyma? For one she wasn't even a half elf, and two…her presence was just too good to be…anywhere near Pronymas.

But I still couldn't shake the feeling.

Genis reluctantly held out his hands and placed them gently in her palms. In return April murmured a few elven words, causing a pale yellow light to appear, which engulfed Genis hands. In a matter of seconds the light disappeared and Genis removed his hands, looking at them in awe.

No wounds could be seen.

This really didn't surprise me, but it did tell me that this April woman was kind to Half-elves, or at least it made that point blatantly more obvious than it already was.

"Now then, let's get you two back to the inn. But first I have to ask, what's your name?"

I blinked, "Oh, uh, I-it's…Mithos…"

"Mithos? Ah…I s-see…you might want to refrain from telling anyone else that." She whispered before turning away and leading the way back to the village.

I bowed my head and muttered; "Yeah, I know."

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Lloyds' POV

"Hiya!" I cried out, slashing my blades across the thick metal like hide on my opponent: A Gold Dragon.

…Only to get immediately thrown back by a powerful blast coming from the monsters mouth, which sent me flying.

"Healing Stream!" I heard Zelos cry out, and suddenly I felt a calming breeze sweep around me. I got up slowly, savoring the feeling for a few seconds before glancing back at Zelos, smiling and nodding my head in thanks, before running forward again.

Sheena kept hitting it with her cards, which did little good until she used Pyre Seal, which gave us some much needed time for healing, which Zelos took care of.

Presea and I then rushed forward, her swinging her ax and I swinging my swords. Sheena soon ran up to help us, until, of course, the mighty dragons tail hit her, sending her flying backwards much like what happened to me.

The only difference is she landed, and attempted to call up a Summon Spirit.

And the Summon Spirit was Volt, who appeared just overhead, and sent raining thunderbolts down around the Dragon, which caused it to cry out in agony--thus disappearing.

We all gathered around Sheena and congratulated her.

"Aww, it was nothing but still…Lloyd you really shouldn't be fighting. I mean, you want to save all your strength for Kratos, right?"

I nodded my head, "Yeah, I guess I do…"

"So we will take over the fighting." Presea said, to which everyone agreed.

"Yes, I will take your place and fight." Regal announced. And of course, I had to agree. He was a good fighter, he wouldn't let our group die.

"Yeah. Okay then. So it's just Colette, Raine and I watching the battles." I turned my gaze over to Raine, who constantly looked behind her, as if looking for something; a worry expression plastered her face.

"Professor?" Colette asked, walking over to her with a worried expression on her face.

"Hmm, yes?" Raine said, snapping her attention away from her thoughts and to us.

"You're really worried about Genis aren't you?"

Raine sighed, "Well hiding that fact wouldn't do me any good, but yes, I am…very worried about him. I'm afraid he won't do as I asked and we'll come back to find him in worse condition than we left him in."

"But you said that April chick was watchin' him, and you seemed to trust her…" Zelos said, curiosity in his voice.

Raine smiled, she even chuckled a bit, "Oh it's not that I don't trust her it's just…she caves in so easily sometimes. And I'm sure Genis would convince her into letting him go outside."

"You two really do know eachother well?" Presea commented, though it sounded more like a question.

"Ah yes, we do. We…were friends when I was younger. I'm surprised she actually stayed in the village this long…but that's not important, what's important is that we find out where Kratos is and quickly."

I nodded my head, "yeah…now that furry creature thing went…"

"I see it. It's over there." Presea pointed with the head of her ax, over to a nearby path.

And sure enough there it was, over by some nearby flowers.

Like it had been waiting for us.

What a weird animal.

"Ah, well, since we found it, let's go!" I said, punching my fists into the air before heading off down the path, everyone following behind me.

We passed through the next area of the forest without much harm, and Sheena cooked us a heavy meal of curry, just like she had back at the Earth Temple place.

When then headed into the next area.

"Well the trees seem to be…getting closer together…" Colette murmured as we watched one battle. I nodded my head, "Yeah, we must be getting closer, right Professor?" I turned face Raine, who was, yet again, looking behind her.

It made me wonder why she didn't just stay behind in Heimdall. It would've eased her consciousness a lot.

"Ah…yes…I believe we…are." She answered, her voice faint.

"Haha! We won!" Sheena cried out, smiling happily.

"Okay then, let's get going, shall we?" Raine was the first one up and the first to walk down the path.

"Yeah…okay…" now I was worried. The Professor never acted like that before. What was bugging her?

"Hmm it seems like something up…"

So Zelos had noticed too?

"Yes but…she told us not to worry so, let's just, um, go?" Colette said before hurrying off after the Professor--almost tripping over a rock, but stopping herself.

I sighed and nodded my head, "Yeah! Let's go!" and followed them.

When we reached the next area…the air was thick with tension.

Kratos had to be here.

And sure enough, he was, leaning on a nearby tree trunk, looking at us with those normally cold reddish brown eyes.

I also noticed that a lone slab stood in the center of the small clearing, sunbeams from the pre-sunset sky dancing along the ground around it.

That must be Origins seal.

"So you came." Kratos said, his voice emotionless.

"Yeah, we have." I said, staring at him in the eyes. I hoped against hoped that this time he wouldn't go easy on me.

All those other times…he had and it just…ugh, I hated him for it. But this time he wasn't going to do that.

But first…

"So there really isn't another way is there?"

"No, there isn't."

"Fine then." I turned to face everyone, "Okay you guys, I…want to fight this one alone."

They looked shocked, and even Kratos did.

"You're…fighting alone?"

I nodded my head, "Yeah, that way you can't go easy on me!" I drew my swords out, "Now, are you ready?"

He nodded his head, drawing his sword, "Yes, I am."

With that said, we ran forward.

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Me: And that's Part Eighteen. Yeesh…that part with Mithos and Genis took longer than I thought…and for some reason Mithos sounds really OOC…

April: Hmm, well, at least Genis is okay now! -smiles-

Me: Yeah…you honestly didn't think I'd make him die, did you?

April: Well, you are the authoress, as Feral keeps saying so…I don't know what you're going to do next!

Me: Eh, and I'll just keep saying that's true. Okay then, R&R please! I love hearing from people!