Me: Here it is, Part/Chapter Thirty-two!

April: Yup!

To Understand: Part Thirty-two

Image of the Failed

By Harmony283

Reviews: (4)

Alaia Skyhawk-Yup, two more traps to go! Though I'm not really sure about what to do for the last trap…I'll think of something (hopefully). And that evil grin…has me worried…but, yeah, anyway, here's the next chapter—enjoy!

Hiranieas-Well no, I really don't like those two that much…but I don't hate them. They're just at the lower end of my list on fav characters - -; but now on my 4th playthrough of ToS I actually have where Presea's my highest relationship character. Now then, yeah, I just had to end the last chapter on a good note…and I'm glad you liked it! Here's the next chapter so enjoy!

Takokinoko-Ah the not-so-happy times of doing homework…that's the main reason why I update slow sometimes…but yeah, I'm glad that this was a nice read for you during your free time! And if Zelos and Lloyd were to get married…? Well I can see Zelos wearing the wedding dress (mostly cuz he looks more like a girl) but then again Zelos is more of the 'boyfriend' in their relationship so that means Lloyd would be wearing the wedding dress? That doesn't look right…so I guess they'll both just be in tuxedos and Zelos'll be white. And yes, Zelos definitely could make same sex marriage legal with the amount of money he has. And as for if anything's going to happen to Genis or Mithos…well, you'll just have to wait and see! And yes it has to do with Neo and it has to do with the fact that both Genis and Mithos are asleep. And yes, the trap scene. It may have been boring for me to write, but I still had to and it's not like I hate them as characters (if I really hated them then they wouldn't have any role whatsoever in the fanfic). But yeah, I'm glad you liked it! And here's the next chapter so…enjoy!

DraNKa-So you're ready to read more? Well here's an update so yeah you'll get to read more:D And yes Lloyd has many dilemmas in this, and I just had to add in the Mithos fluff at the end…I've already gone three chapters without any interaction between the two and I didn't want to do that again - -; but yeah, here's the updated chapter and enjoy!

Me: Well now, I've only got one more trap to do after this one and then I'm through with them.

April: Yes but…do you have any ideas on what the trap Raine and I are going to be trapped in looks like?

Me: …

April: …I take that as a no

Me: Eh-heh-heh…I've still got some time left…right?

April: -sigh- I guess you do. Now then, Harmony283 doesn't own ToS…Namco does. But she does own, Feral, the plot, me and any other OC's that show up here. Okay? Okay.

Me: That's…straight to the point and I didn't even have to ask you to do it!

April: well…we're past thirty chapters and I've been present since Part Thirteen so…yeah, I just kinda figured you don't have to ask me anymore.

Authors Note: That's sweet of you! And for this chapter--as you all probably know by now--it's gonna be Colette and Sheena's trap. And it's gonna be with the mirrors. Yet again, I have never gotten Sheena and Colette together for that particular trap but I have gotten Colette there so I know at least some of what happens with her. And yet again the scene's gonna be changed again—for the reasons stated in the last chapters Authors Note. Also Mithos drifts off into his dreams…and somehow ends up with Genis in his dream! What'll happen? Hmm…well, I guess you'll just have to read and find out (if it even happens in this chapter - -;)

April: It looks like Mithos and Genis are going to get into a sticky situation soon…I hope they'll be okay.

Me: Shouldn't you be worrying about yourself? I mean, Raine's hurt and you're stuck in a not so pleasant place…

April: So you've finally figured out an idea for the trap?

Me: Sort of…it's not all too clear but it has to do with you two being high up…

April: Oh…okay then…

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Zelos' POV

I groan for about the seventh time as I watched my companions--well, everyone except Kratos--look around the new room in a daze.

They certainly seemed to be taking their sweet time.

But then again, I guess last time we were here…they probably didn't get to look at all the 'shiny light's or the 'strange machines'. I mean, we were actually trying to escape so...

"Hey Zelos!" Lloyd called out, making me jump.

He rushed over to me with something round and circular in his hands. He flushed lightly and his eyes widened when I smiled at him.

Man I'm good.

"Hmm? What is Lloyd?"

"Ah…um…this…I found this. I don't know what it is though."

I cocked my head to the side, some of my red hair falling over my shoulder, "Eh? Really now…let me see it." I held out a gloved hand and he placed the round object in it.

The immediate thing I noticed about this…pendant…was the fact that it was very cold.

And it was very dark.

But…wait…dark? Well yeah, it was a dark green--almost black in the current light we were in--but dark?

How odd.

"Doesn't it feel strange?"

"Yeah it does…I can't really explain it but it feels dark."

"But what is it?"

"It looks to me like a pendant. If we had Raine, Genis, or April here they'd probably be able to tell more about what it is since they can sense mana and stuff but…where did you find this anyway?" I looked down at the still blushing brunette with curious eyes.

He just flushed even more and pointed over towards the information center Raine had gotten the info about the Eternal Sword at.

"Why did you go all the way over there? And how did you notice it?"

"I saw something black and shiny and wanted to know what it was so I went over there and picked it up. But yeah, you're right about a half-elf--or an elf in Aprils case--knowing more about that pendant thing than we do."

"True."

I looked back down at the pendant. To me it looked like the shape of a shield and--wait--what's this?

I gently turned the pendant over and there, on the back were two bat-like wings folded neatly together.

Now that was odd.

What was something like this doing here? Or was it some type of weapon?

"I'll hold onto this. I'll show it to Raine when we get her back…she loves ruins and stuff like this."

"That's true."

"Lloyd! Zelos! I think…I may have found something!" Presea called out from the lower level in the room.

We--Lloyd, Regal, Kratos, and I--rushed over to the nearest platform and rode it downwards. Once we reached the lower level we rushed over to where Presea was standing.

"Where? Were are they, Presea?"

Presea pointed a finger at the mirror some ways off. At this angle you really couldn't tell but it did look like someones--or rather two peoples--reflections were there.

But how could that be when no one was standing in front of it?

Unless it was a mirror with two sides--then it'd make sense.

"Hey! It's Colette--and Sheena too!" Lloyd cried out, rushing forward.

What. An. Idiot.

Didn't he learn that he'd only get hurt if he ran into things like that?

And oh how I wished I hadn't been right.

But I was.

And Lloyd got sucked into the mirror.

Of course, both Colette and Sheena had seen him.

And they saw us as well.

"Ah! Everyone!" Colette cried out, smiling happily, though it looked like she had been crying…and Sheena looked worried as well.

"Was that just Lloyd…? I couldn't tell cuz he just…um…"

"Disappeared into the mirror?"

"Uh….yeah."

I smirked, "Of course he did dearie. Glad you noticed it was the real him and not some fake."

"Huh? Who would be dumb enough to think he was a fake?"

Oh…ouch. I just grinned as Presea blushed, Regal shifted around uncomfortably, and Kratos coughed lightly.

"Wait…you guys were stuck in a trap too? And Lloyd freed you?"

"But Zelos…you didn't get stuck in a trap did you?"

"Nope my sweet little angel, I didn't. I got stuck with Lloydie-poo and we had to find these three…well, we found Mister silent mercenary first and then we found these two," I pointed at Regal and Presea, "in the jail cell."

"Oh…well, is everyone okay?"

Ah that was just like Colette to care about other before herself.

"Mmm…well, yes, everyone's okay as you can see…but now we have to--"

And just like that their images disappeared.

That wasn't good.

"Wha--where did they…go?" Presea asked, slight worry showing through in her eyes.

"They probably went to where Lloyd was. If this is anything like the last two traps we'll just have to wait."

"Yes…though the fact that you say that worries me."

"Well I couldn't see Lloyd when he first saved you. You two just popped out of nowhere so yeah I think you can trust my judgment."

"Fine then." But he seemed curious about something…or was I hearing things?

"What?"

"I saw you speaking with Lloyd a few minutes ago. You…put something in your pocket…what is it?"

"Oh? Well aren't you observant. Well yes I did. It's something Lloyd found. I wanted to wait until we freed Raine an' April but…I guess since you're technically a half-elf--since you have elven blood in you--you might be able to guess at what it is."

Kratos looked at me, confusion clear in his red brown eyes…they looked a lot like Lloyds.

The only difference as that his eyes were filled with sadness whereas Lloyds' eyes were filled with, well, happiness, most of the time.

"Well then…why don't you--"

The ground started shaking and the sound of glass breaking could be heard.

We turned around to face the mirror.

But there wasn't a single crack on its surface.

So what was--?

"What…was that?"

"I…do not know. Hmm, maybe we're hearing something going on from another part of the…of--"

"No. I doubt it." Kratos sounded nervous.

The curious look in his eyes changed quickly to worry.

Wait…then did something happen to--

"Does that sound have to do with Venheim?"

"I'm afraid that it might. I do not know. We should concentrate on getting Sheena and Colette back first."

"And then we'll worry about it, right?"

"Yes. It's no use worrying over something when you don't have enough information about it."

I sighed, "Well then I guess we're gonna just have to wait."

"Yes. Now what is that object you said Lloyd found?"

I blinked, "Oh, yeah, that." I moved my hand into my pocket a pulled out the weird pendant.

Kratos gasped, "What is--"

"It looks like a pendant to me. But I really can't tell you anything more about it."

"Hmm…let me see it."

He sounded urgent.

"Fine--"

I was about to hand it to him when suddenly the mirror--the mirror Sheena and Colette--along with Lloyd--had appeared in--

shattered.

And they appeared, along with Lloyd.

"Everyone!" Colette cried out happily.

I quickly pocketed the pendant, not wanting anyone else to ask about it, and grinned back, "Hello there! Did you two miss me?"

"Hardly." Sheena huffed, crossing her arms over chest, "But I'm glad that's over."

"Yeah…and I'm glad the mayor was an illusion…"

"But it was still hard to tell. That man'll probably always act the same." Sheena sighed, walking forward, placing a comforting hand on a rather down looking Colette, who perked up immediately.

Then, as if from nowhere, a small broken mirror appeared--floating down from the air above.

Wow…what's with these traps? Do they always do this? Or is this a special occasion?

"Huh…? A broken mirror?" Colette asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion.

Sheena gulped, "Oh great, who broke it? Cuz a broken mirror means seven years of bad luck."

"I do not think it would affect you…because the mirror's already broken."

"Yeah but…"

"Presea's right, Sheena. Why don't you two keep it?"

"Why?"

"No way. I don't want it! Colette you can have it!"

"Um…okay…but why?"

"Cuz it shows that you got through that ordeal--that you aren't failures--even though some people may think you are." Lloyd grinned his trademark grin and then turned his attention to the rest of us.

"Now then…where do we go to look for Raine and April?"

"I don't know."

"But we have all the items needed to unlock the Derris Emblem."

"Huh…? Really?"

"Yes." Kratos nodded his head, "A broken spider, a chipped dagger, and finally a shattered mirror. These three items release the barrier to Venheim."

"So it's possible that Raine and April might be in Venheim?"

"Yes. There is no other place here that has a trigger to the trap."

"Hmm…well, I guess we go to Venheim then!" Lloyd said, grinning he walked through the crowd of people, then stopped.

"Wait…where is Venheim anyway?"

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Genis POV

She was staring at me…

I didn't know how she knew/saw me…I mean, I'm supposed to be invisible right?

Now I reaally wished Feral was here. She could tell me why this was happening.

But wait.

She said so herself that she couldn't bother me in dreams of the past so…

Ugh.

"And who might you be?" Neo asked, a horribly wicked smirk creeping its way across her lips.

"Wha--" How was I supposed to answer that? She could use it against me!

But it wasn't like I'd ever meet her in real life…

Still, that didn't make it 'okay' to do something…now did it?

At least it never did from what I learned.

From what Raine taught me.

Now I had to wonder where she was. I really hope she's okay…but I can't expect that anything's gonna be easy anymore. I mean, Pronyma's weaker than most people in Lloyds group and she's definitely weaker than Mithos.

So why isn't she dead yet?

Yeah, I know Lloyd and the others aren't here yet…but Mithos didn't kill her.

Or maybe he did…

But I doubt it.

For some reason I knew he was close by.

He couldn't be in this dream…so maybe he found me in that…room?

Yeah that had to be it.

Just as that thought left my mind, Neo gave an exasperated sigh.

"Please tell me your name, boy. Or do you think you're not fit enough to tell a woman your name?"

Huh?

Oh…that must have something to do with racism against what gender you are…so women were at the bottom of the social ladder.

"Why would I not want to give you my name? You seem to be…higher class than I am…?"

Neo seemed surprised at this, "Oh really now? I see…where are you from? You're definitely not from Faesara continent…or even Lyselda isle…" (1)

"Huh?"

Her eyes widened, "Are you even from…Reti'thera?" (2)

"Reti'thera?"

"That's the name of…our land." She smiled, though this time it seemed kinder. But it still…seemed evil.

And it was…well…how can someone go from being evil to being nice in a split second? Even Mithos couldn't/didn't do that!

"Really? I've…never heard of it."

"Then you are from…Sylvarant? Or perhaps Tethe'alla?"

"And how do you know that either one of those two places are where I'm from?"

"Because…that's where the Other Worldly Gate—Lake Purity—leads to…one of those two worlds. You must be from there…though as to how you got in here—"

She whipped around, as if startled by a sudden sound that I couldn't hear.

She looked around the dark room, as if searching for a sign of someone else hiding in the depths of the room.

She slowly maneuvered herself around and walked steadily closer to me, the distance between us growing tense with each click of her shoes against the black tile flooring.

She then picked up her sword, I was surprised that it hadn't been consumed by the darkness here…

I mean, this place could just swallow someone up and then you'd never see them again!

But darkness couldn't do that!

But…maybe this darkness could? I mean, the lady said I wasn't in Sylvarant/Tethe'alla anymore…so maybe…it could? But since I'm asleep…does that mean I'll actually feel psychical pain?

Well, unless someone tries to hurt me in the real world I don't think that'll happen.

The glint of green light off of Neos' silver and ruby blade brought my consciousness back into reality.

Someone was in here with us.

I watched in horrid awe at Neos' skill of the blade…it looked like only a blur of silver and red

I heard a familiar voice cry out for her to stop.

And then I saw him.

The boy with blond hair and turquoise eyes.

"Mithos!"

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(1)--Faesara/Lyselda Continents. Don't worry about if you don't get what these two continents are. You won't really need to know them until the sequel but yeah…they're two of the four continents in the place Genis and Mithos are going to travel to in the sequel.

(2)--Reti'thera is the alternate world to the worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. I got the idea for this cuz the Other Worldly Gate has to go somewhere when the two worlds are combined…right? Right. Basically Reti'thera has four continents--two of which are more islands than anything else. And they are--in order from where Genis and Mithos travel--Uselda, Yeselda, Faesara, and Lyselda. Both Uselda and Lyselda are so small that they can be considered islands. And…well…yeah, yet again you don't have to worry about this much until the sequel--this is just for those who want to know.

Me: And there it is! Part/Chapter Thirty-two!

April: …I know Feral usually says/tells you this but…um…you…

Me: I…?

April: Added on another chapter.

Me: Well I just suddenly got a cool idea about the whole dream sequence that Genis had…and yeah…

April: It's hard to believe that in Chapter/Part Thirty-four you used to have where Pronyma died…

Me: Well that's changed now…and, well, yeah it has. Now anyways, R&R please! I love reviews and they make me want to update faster!