Me: Heheheheh…I've got Twenty Chapters up now! And it's another Homework free weekend!
Feral: Yes…though I'm amazed you haven't run out of ideas yet…and this also means you'll be updating frequently…which you already have considering just yesterday you put up Chapter Nineteen…
Me: Oh hush up. It's not like that's a bad thing…- -;
To Understand: Part Twenty
The Missing Piece
By Harmony283
Good Reviews: 3 (wow! I'm at 60 reviews—and 1970 hits—now! )
Liu Barrowin-Well, no, this fic has at least 5--most likely more--chapters in it so don't worry! And good luck with your 'adventure over the Internet'…uh…-coughs-yeah, anyways, here's the next Chapter, I hope you like it!
DraNKa-Heh, I knew at least one person would realize the double meaning/naughtiness in the last chapter-giggle-and yes the April/Pronyma thing will be resolved in…either this Chapter or the next, (depending on the length), so yeah, it actually starts in this Chapter…and one vote for purple? Well okay then, it's purple! And…a review got cut? Uh, well, that's not good…but hey! At least this one didn't get cut! Well here's the next Chapter, I hope you like it!
Hiranieas-Ah yes, I remember that song…but did you know? It's possible for a guy to get pregnant! At least…that's what one girl in my English class said…it's kinda complicated and has a lot to deal with surgery and all that so…I won't really go into it…-shudders-but yeah. Thanks for the praise! I'm glad you think I'm a great writer! It makes me so happy! -brings out box of cookies- you get free cookies! Well here's the next chapter--I hope you like it!
Me: Well, I'm officially on Chapter/Part Twenty! And I still can't get over it…
Feral: yes, that and the fact that there are going to more chapters than you planned since you added that whole 'Aqua Ore' thing in during the last Chapter.
Me: Oh hush, besides, its way easier to find than ya think!
Feral: -shrugs- whatever you say…now I'll do the disclaimer: Harmony283 doesn't own ToS, she just owns me, April, and the plot…and maybe a copy of the ToS soundtrack…if she can ever get around to asking her dad about it…
Me: Hey!
Feral: Well you do have enough money for it…it's only $22 on E-bay
Authors Note: Well I'm saving up that money to buy a PS2 thank you very much! Now anyway…what exactly does the title for this chapter mean? Well, let's just say it's something that one character says. Basically all that happens in this Chapter is that Mithos regains some ability to feel and they do research an' stuff...oh yes, and April finally gets a POV in this Chapter...and Pronyma shows up. Oh yeah, and did I meantion that Feral looses control? No? Well...she does...I wonder what'll happen?
April: Oooh, I still wonder what would happen if Raine and the others came back when Mithos is still there, cuddling with Genis! ...Not that they'll do that in this Chapter but...-smiles-
Feral: …honestly, how do you get in here?
April: I will never tell!
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Mithos' POV
I watched the young mage in front of me. He seemed to be deep in thought about something.
But what?
What could be going on in that mind of his?
His expression seemed pained, and I didn't like it.
"Genis…"
he snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at me questioningly.
"Are you…what are you thinking of?"
He blinked and then shifted his gaze downwards, "I…was…well…the people who killed Martel…they…"
"They were avenged. Don't worry yourself over it…please."
He sighs, "I know…but…um…also…" He looks up at me and then over at a rather old looking bound book.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I read the stuff about the Mana Crest in…that book…so yeah…"
"I see. So do you think there was any possibility for your sister to leave some things behind when they went into Ymir forest?"
"Maybe, but I doubt it."
I nodded my head, "Well if they had left something here, and it just so happened to be the items that we needed to make this special Key Crest, then I would've taken them to Venheim"
"Are you still sure that I can just take your Cruxis Crystal…?"
He was still worrying about that?
"Of course you can! I already said you could so…nng…"
"Huh?"
"My foot's asleep."
"…Your…foot's asleep?" I heard humor in his voice and stared at him.
"Hey! It's not funny!"
"Heh…but it is…heh…funny…" then Genis burst out into a fit of giggles.
I felt my face heat up and knew that I was blushing…but wait…
I could feel it?
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Genis' POV
Why was this so funny? I mean, peoples' feet fall asleep all the time! So why…?
Wait, if it had fallen asleep…how could he tell? Or was his Cruxis Crystal--much like Colettes--working to keep him from feeling any pain?
I stopped laughing and looked up at him. He was blushing but looking confused/shocked at the same time.
It made him look cute.
Really cute.
I shook my head, trying to get rid of those types of thoughts, which drew his attention to me, "What?"
"Um…how can you tell your…foot's asleep? I mean your Cruxis Crystal…"
"Helped me not feel anything, yes, but…I haven't worn it practically all day and all of last night either…though the fact that it's wearing off surprises Me."
"So…wait…wearing off?"
Mithos nodded his head; "Yes…I'm beginning to feel again…"
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Aprils POV
I smiled as I watched the two boys talk. They…were closer than I had originally thought. Though…that only made it so much cuter!
But did Raine know about their relationship?
I doubted it.
But should I tell her?
No.
That was out of the question. Her brother was old enough now to tell her things like that.
I smiled and went back to soaking the clothes in the bucket full of stream water.
Honestly though, this blood…it was inhuman…
I had tried to wash it from the boys' clothes about three times now and still…
It hasn't come out.
"Urgh…this is…so frustrating."
"Oh really now?"
I blinked and looked up.
Where had that voice come from?
It…sounded so familiar.
Almost like the voices that…had plagued my dreams from when…mother and father…died.
"Who…?"
"You don't recognize my voice do you? How sad. I really thought we were close but…I guess not…if you can't even tell who's voice it is…"
I froze
No
It couldn't be
"You…it can't be…"
"And what if it is."
There was a flash of black light, which momentarily blinded me, and then, once my vision cleared...
Standing there was a woman who was all too familiar to me.
She had green hair put up in a ponytail.
And her eyes…her eyes were the deepest shade of Amethyst.
"Pronyma…"
"Yes. I see you do remember me." She then fell to her knees, "Ghh…dammit. That…that boy will pay…"
"What?"
"That boy--the one Mithos…"
"You mean Genis? Did he…?"
"Yes, he did this to me."
I stared at the wounded woman in front of me.
Her arm was bleeding profusely so was her left leg. There were multitudes of cuts on her face…and the strange outfit she was wearing…looked so…deshelved and part of it was non-existent.
"I…how…?"
"I don't know. But I do know that that boy has a tremendous power that…that…" she was cut off by a series of hacking coughs--which in turn actually made her cough up blood.
Blood…
No…she was going to die!
But she was evil! She was the one who did this to Genis!
But still…
"Here…I'll…I'll heal you."
She stared at me, "You'd--cough--really do that?"
I nodded my head, "Not all the way though…you need time to heal naturally like Genis does. But I can heal most of the wounds."
She nodded her head, "That would be appreciated."
Something…something in her voice unnerved me. I couldn't place what it was…maybe it was the hint of knowing-ness.
But what would she know?
"Fine then." I picked up my oak staff from its resting place next to a nearby tree and raised it above her, "I call upon thy divine powers, heal and restore thy wounded soul." I murmured, a light green glow surrounding the weakening Pronyma.
"There…"
"Thank you…" then she smirked,
And I wondered what in the name of Martel made me agree to heal her.
I knew that smirk anywhere.
It…
"I…you--"
"Tricked you? Hmm, I wonder." Then she smiled, and stood up, calling forth something into her hand.
When the object materialized I realized that it was that mirror piece I had seen when…
"Wait that's…"
"Genis brought this up from the bottom of the lake in Ymir forest didn't he?"
I nodded my head, "Yes…he did…but how did you know?"
"I was watching. But now I know…this is the missing piece…now all I have to do is activate it and see who the heir to the seal is."
"Heir to the s-seal…? What are you talking about?"
"You don't know a thing do you?"
"A thing about what?"
"Hmph, I don't see why I should tell you…but it seems that both Mithos--Lord Yggdrasill--and Raine have noticed."
"Notice…?"
"I'm wasting time." Pronyma growled before muttering, "Oh ancient Faor, Mage of Evils bane and loyal servant to Nifhliems King…grant me thy passage and release the mark of the Key!"
When she finished a black light emitted from the hand that held the shard of mirror. And, in turn the mirror piece was engulfed in horrible darkness, shining an eerie red color.
"Wh-What are you doing?"
"Hmph, you'll see…now I shall leave. It's not safe to watch from here, lest they see me."
And, just like that, she was gone.
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Genis' POV
I groaned and leaned back against the head board, suddenly feeling very, very tired.
But why?
All I had been doing for the past few minutes was trying to read something.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Genis?" Mithos asked, from his position leaning up against the side of the bed.
"I…don't know…I'm just sleepy."
"Well that's to be expected. You've had a rough day." He murmured, shifting once more. His foot had gained the ability to feel again…
But it was extremely sensitive.
"I…yeah…I have haven't I? Heh…I'm sorry…you came all the way here to see me and yet Im' falling asleep."
He shook his head, "No it's fine. Besides I…I think I've found something valuable."
"Valuable…?" I sat up, wondering what he had found in what he had read.
"It's about this 'Aqua Ore'. Ironically enough it's…it's made by melting the inhibitor ore with the Sacred Wood, as well as adding some type of…special metal to it."
"Really? That seems…really simple. I mean, I'm sure there's some Sacred Wood somewhere." I said, remembering that that was what Presea had done--bring Sacred Wood to the Tethe'alla Castle--before we had met up with her.
"I'm pretty sure Kratos was searching for some. It's used in the making of a certain type of ring that, well, let's a human wield the Eternal Blade."
"Ah--so he has some?"
"Yes. But we also have some in Derris Kharlan. Don't ask why…Pronyma confiscated it when Rodyles Ranch was destroyed."
"Ah…really?" So he had actually had some?
But then again he had been the one who told Presea to gather it for him.
"Yes. Now why it's called Aqua Ore…it seems the type of metal we need is actually made of minerals found only in the purest waters outside of Altimira. I can easily get someone to go there and find some of this said metal."
Altimira…wait…didn't we buy something there…?
"Wait! I think I might actually have something from there anyway!"
Mithos looked at me confused, "What?"
"I remember going there with Lloyd an' everyone as a kind of break from our journeying and buying something made out of some type of special metal…that's what the guy who sold it to me said."
"And where in Altimira did you buy this?"
"Oh…it was a night near the theater place."
"So you have it with you…?"
I nodded my head, "Yeah it should be in my bag unless—"
'Genis!' Ferals voice screamed out inside my head, cutting me off.
"Wha…?"
"Genis what's wrong?"
Oh great…my head…
"My head hurts…"
"Your head? Maybe you should lie down." He moves to get up but, if this is like it was last time…then…I could hurt him!
"No…! It's fine! Really! You don't have to get up!"
Now my vision was out of focus…
What was going on?
"Genis…?"
My head wouldn't stop pounding…
'Genis! Please try to calm down it-it's the other me!' Ferals voice was getting farther and father away…
I felt something, almost like a hand, clawing at my brain.
"Oww…it hurts…" I murmur, clutching my forehead, my free hand wringing the bedsheets.
"Genis! Hey! You really should lay down!"
When had I stood up?
And why was I even moving?
"I…It…"
"Genis!"
His voice was getting farther away.
-----------------------
Mithos' POV
What was going on? First Genis said he was sleepy, which was understandable, then he said his head hurt.
And now, despite the fact I'm telling him to sit down he's not…
And he told me to stay away from him…
"Genis…"
I could tell he wasn't listening.
I really didn't want to but if he didn't listen then…
"Genis! Hey!" I reached out and grabbed his shoulder.
Big mistake.
I felt myself being flung back across the room.
And I would have hit the far side wall if it hadn't been for the bed.
"Ghh…hey! Genis!"
I froze.
Yes it was Genis' body.
But the person…the person wasn't Genis.
Who…
Who was it?
"Genis…what did you do to him!"
"Do to him? Nothing."
I blinked.
Was that…a females voice?
"Who are you?"
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Me: And that's Chapter/Part Twenty!
Feral: Who knew you could actually muster up enough dialogue for something that really shouldn't be this long?
Me: Oh hush. Besides, it's not like it's a bad thing (like I said in the beginning)! This is actually kinda sorta like a turning point in the story!
Feral: Sure it is.
April: Well…I kinda agree with her. I'll get a bigger part now! –smiles-
Me: Yes you will. Now then, R&R please! I love hearing from people!