Me: Okay…I said I wouldn't have enough time to update this weekend…but here I am updating…(though it is really late on a Sunday night)
Feral: Well yes, it looks that way.
To Understand: Part Thirty-five
Awkward Situation
By Harmony283
Reviews:
Alaia Skyhawk: Eh-heh-heh, yup! You're right! The image Raine saw did have something to do with Feral. It was actually a scene in one of the flashback dreams Genis had back in Heimdall. But I'm glad someone noticed it! Anyways, here's the next chapter—Enjoy!
Takokinoko: Yes Mithos disappeared from the 'dream' but don't worry! It's not really supposed to be all that bad—he just wakes up. And yes Raine and April will get out of the trap early on in this chapter. And yeah Kratos is basically worrying about the usual stuff—mostly that weird pendant thing Zelos has and Mithos' well-being. And thanks for the good luck yet again! I'll actually try to get the project—which is basically me sewing a hat and sticking ten words on it for my English class—done early (I have 5 days to finish it so it shouldn't be that bad). And no this isn't going to be the chapter where they go to Exire. It'll actually probably be two chapters from now (maybe). But yeah, I'm never good at keeping up with what's supposed to be in each chapter—and the dream sequence with Genis and Mithos (as well as Raine and Aprils trap) is taking longer than I originally thought it would. And yes 300 pages –does happy dance- this is the most I've ever written! Now then, here's the next chapter so, yeah, enjoy!
DraNKa-Yes I'm very busy…at least now I'm busy, hopefully I won't be soon—I mean, Thanksgiving is coming up so yeah, I want to have at least somewhat of a break. And yes the lovely 300 pages. And to top it off I've got over 4194 hits now—I really need to draw something in thanks for all of the hits/reviews and stuff (either that or I may just use an old pic I have up on dA). And about the awkward scene—it's in this chapter! So yeah, you don't have to wait any longer:D (though it's only been two days here…) But yeah, here's the next chapter and enjoy!
Hiranieas-Yes the tension—it should build up until the first climax—which of course is when Pronyma goes bye-bye. And then there's the second climax (though it's no where near as stressful/angst filled) which has to do something with Mitosu and Feral. And as for what happened to Mithos, don't worry! Remember that he's still 'asleep' with Genis on the couch—he's just dreaming. So yeah, he's bound to wake up soon (but what'll happen if Raine walks in?). And yes, the others are bound to find April and Raine soon. But they'll meet after they get free from the trap and after Raine finds Genis and Mithos. But yeah, anywho, here's the next chapter so enjoy:D
Feral: Wow…so you actually decided to get a chapter out this weekend
Me: Eh, well, I got finished making/sewing the hat sooner than I thought...and all I had to do beside that was find 10 words that meant the same thing as 'Imaginative'
Feral: Hmm, well good for you.
Me: Yes, good for me. I'm done early.
Feral: I guess I'll do the disclaimer now: Harmony283 doesn't own ToS or any of its characters, Namco does. But she does, however, own me April any other OC's and the plot—so please don't take and use us without permission.
Me: Okay, that's good.
Feral: But I have to wonder…when am I going to show up? I mean, I haven't for the past seven/eight chapters—though I was mentioned…I still want to know.
Authors Note: Well, you might show up in this chapter, but I can't say exactly what chapter you'll 'reappear' in. Though it'll be after Genis, Mithos, Lloyd &Co. leave Venheim. And now, getting back to the chapter, in this chapter April, Raine, and Rachel break free from their trap and, shortly afterwards run into Lloyd and Co. Then Mithos gets trapped in a strange room and meets up with a certain someone who knows Genis very well. He then wakes up and contimplates on how to wake Genis up. But right when he's trying to be the 'handsom prince' who wakes 'sleeping beauty' from his deep slumber with a kiss, Raine walks in.
Feral: Hmm…a person who knows Genis really well? Who could that be...?
Me: I'm not telling. You'll just have to read and find out:D
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Raines' POV
I watched in deep interest as the seemingly invisible barrier dissipated at the touch of Rachels' fingers.
How fascinating!
But now wasn't the time to be fascinated by this! We needed to get out of here, and I needed to get to Genis! Goddess only knows what happened to him! And those images…weren't helping any.
They just added onto this guilt.
But what was I guilty of?
Maybe…maybe I feel guilty because of this…everything that happened to Genis could have been prevented.
Maybe if I had just paid more attention, if only I had listened.
Maybe then he…wouldn't…none of this would have happened.
The only good thing that came out of all of this would probably Mithos' change in views. At least now we didn't have to fight him.
That was one thing off our list, but…
Why couldn't I…I mean, everyone else seemed to trust him. And he even went so far as to go after Pronyma and save Genis.
So why did I keep on…having this odd feeling about him?
It was like I knew he was good but I didn't want to believe it.
Like I knew his intentions were good but…but all the same they didn't seem to change.
How odd.
How incredibly odd, and disturbing.
I shivered lightly, yet again wishing I had my old outfit on instead of…this.
I felt a hand on my shoulder then, and April gave me a concerned glance.
"are you okay?" she mouthed, trying not to draw Rachels attention away from the trap she was currently trying to get through.
I nodded my head and smiled, mouthing "I'm fine."
But April still seemed worried.
Then again, she's always been that type of person--worrying about others constantly.
Like Colette.
And yet, she was different than Colette all the same.
I shook my head and focused back on Rachel, who was now feeling around the glass, as if trying to find a weak spot.
Maybe if she did we could combine our powers to break through.
Even though I'm wounded, and was told not to fight, this wasn't really fighting was it?
No, it wasn't.
"Ah-ha! I think I found something!" Rachel backed up, smiling to herself in triumph.
"Really…? What is it."
"Right here," she pointed to a particular, almost uneven looking, area on the glass dome, "This is where we need to get out." She grinned at us and we smiled back.
"That's great, but…it's kinda small. Are we supposed to break the glass or something?"
Rachel blinked, thinking it over, "Ah…I think, yes, we are. I'm not exactly sure what the effects will be, but Pronyma said something about this when she was talking to me earlier."
"You mean besides the point that we'd be here?"
"Yes. She said something about the glass being weak in some places, from when she created this. Apparently this was the last trap she created, and she had drained most of her energy…or something like that." Rachel shrugged, shaking her head from side to side.
Well she certainly didn't seem like…a mother.
I don't know what made me think that, but she did. The way she talked, her posture, and, well, her attitude towards us made me see this.
Maybe it hadn't been such a bad idea that April had been left in the care of her aunt.
But that made me wonder, why did Rachel trust Pronyma so much as to take her away from her home when she was in such a critical condition?
No, that was a stupid question.
Why wouldn't she? Pronyma is her daughter as well.
Though why she had to have a daughter like that…
"So all we have to do is destroy this area right here? Chances are the dome will shatter, after a while, due to the impact, but we should be able to. If that really is the correct way to get away from this trap."
"Raine's right…so, um, it is the right way right? You didn't seem to sure…"
"Ah--yes, it is. I can't think of another way so yes…but unfortunately, I don't have a weapon. Raine, it looks like you have one, and April, you do as well."
"Okay then we're in charge--"
"No. You aren't fully healed yet! You can't fight!"
I sighed, "Yes I know that, April, but this isn't exactly 'fighting'. We're destroying something, but it won't hurt us."
April opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something more, but closed it just as quickly, looking sad.
Which made me feel bad.
I sighed again, walking closer to the glass, raising my staff, chanting some words under my breath.
"Photon!"
A mass of yellow light engulfed that particular area of the glass, causing it to crack, and, a few seconds later, shatter.
No, not shatter.
Disappear.
So, wait, this was an illusion?
"Oh…I…feel…sick."
April and I turned to face Rachel, who had a hand covering her mouth, her gaze on her left arm. (1)
I gasped, even though it had seemed that there hadn't been any glass, there was a cut on her arm, about midway up her forearm.
"Mother! You're hurt! But how?"
"I-I don't know…but…the blood…"
"Hold on," April raised her staff, chanting a few elven words, before calling out;
"First Aid!"
A soft green glow emitted from the tip, cascading over Rachels wound.
But it didn't heal.
Or, at least some of it did.
But not all of it.
Just like Genis'…wound…
Suddenly the glass dome disappeared.
And we fell…
Landing on the stairs of a strange room.
"Oww…my back."
"My head…"
"My arm…"
I blinked and sat up, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
We were sitting/laying midway up a large flight of stairs. I got up and looked behind us, and gasped.
There was a huge black dragon.
But it was asleep.
I breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to face in front of me.
There, at the bottom of the stairs was--
"Look! A warp panel! We might be able to--"
Suddenly the said warp panel glowed, and the visage of people appeared.
Wait--it was Lloyd!
"Can you two stop fighting?" he seemed to be talking to someone behind him. He then turned around, facing us, and gasped.
"Professor! April! And--?"
"What--? Oh!" then Colette noticed us.
Sheena and Zelos teleported in right after them, giving the other a hateful glare.
Then it was Regal, Presea, and Kratos, all looking respectively annoyed.
"Who are they…?" Rachel asked, holding her arm and standing one step behind/above us as if she had never fallen in the first place.
"Oh don't worry, mom, they're our friends!" April said, standing up on shaky legs, helping me stand as well.
"Professor! April, you're okay! How did you get out of your trap?"
"Oh, Rachel helped us," I motioned to Rachel, who stepped forward, smiling hesitantly.
"Oh, thank you sooo much for helping our friends!" Colette bowed quickly before straightening up and smiling at the older elven woman.
She then paused and glanced between her and April, "Are you two related?"
"Yeah, you do look kinda alike." Sheena remarked offhandidly.
"Of course we would. I'm her mother." Rachel stated, her smile replaced with a defiant frown.
"Wait…"
"But I thought…"
"Aprils mother is…dead. How can you be…?"
"Because I never died in the first place."
"What?"
"It's complicated to explain, and, um, it'd take a while…besides, don't you have someone to be looking for…?"
"Ah--Genis! You're right!" I rushed down the stairs and towards the left doorway, "I'll search down this way…"
"Professor--!"
But I had already run through the door.
Heh, normally I would be the one telling them not to rush off on their own.
But now I was doing just that.
But I was worried about Genis.
"Please…please be okay!"
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Mithos' POV
I groaned and sat up.
And immediately I noticed that I wasn't in the same room with Genis and Neo.
Where was I?
It was dark like the room I had been in. the only difference was the lack of, well, that odd 'dark' feeling.
Instead this oddly calm, almost liquid, feel replaced it.
How strange.
I rubbed my forehead, standing up on shaky legs, trying to see if anything was visible in this pitch-black room.
But I still couldn't see anything.
I moved forward, though my movement was sluggish, as if I were walking along the bottom of a lake or ocean.
But I could breathe. So that meant I wasn't underwater.
But how could I be underwater?
I was still asleep, after all.
Which reminded me, I really should be waking up soon, right?
I mean, if Raine or someone else walked in and found us like…that…then who knows what might happen.
Genis had told me on numerous occasions that Raine got violent, or 'over protective', of him back before my secret had been revealed. So any cuddling I had wanted to do with the smaller half-elven boy had to wait until Raine was out of the room.
Now I sincerely hoped I hadn't moved in my sleep.
That would be very awkward…if I had…and if Raine had walked into the room.
Or Zelos.
Anyone else would probably not care.
But something told me that 'anyone else' wouldn't be the one who came and found us.
Suddenly a red light could be seen some ways off.
Was that the exit?
I moved forward again, finding the underwater-like movement highly annoying.
But none the less I had to get to, well, whatever that red light was.
It seemed like almost forever before I reached it.
And what I found--the very cause of the light--was a small, circular stone, red in color.
'Oh good, I was hoping one of you would find it.' A voice--a young girls voice--stated from right behind me.
I gasped and whirled around.
But no one was there.
"Who…?"
'Oh don't worry, I won't hurt you.'
Yet again, the voice was behind me.
"How can you say that when I can't even see you?"
'You want to see me? Well I wish you could, but unfortunately you can't right now.'
"And why not?"
'The other boy, Genis, he's the reason. If you really want to see me, to know who I am, then you have to wake him up.'
"But to wake him up I have to be awake myself."
'Yes, you do. Hmm, well then I guess you won't be able to see me.'
Okay…she was really starting to annoy me now…
"Can't you at least tell me your name?"
'My name? Hmm, well, I guess I could…it's not like he won't get mad at me for it anyway. Besides, you really are cute. Fine then, my name is Feral.'
"Feral…?"
'Yup! It's nice to finally meet ya. I mean, I haven't gotten to talk with you cuz I'm currently stuck right now. But Genis has told me about you.'
"And how do you know Genis?"
'My, my, aren't you the suspicious one? I've been stuck inside his head ever since he set foot in Tethe'alla.'
Wait….what?
"So you're the person that--?"
'That took over him, in Heimdall? Yes and no. That woman is a part of me, but she isn't the whole me. And yes I'm the reason why it seems Genis talks to himself. He's really talking to me.'
Now hold on a second. If this girl's the one who took over Genis' body in Heimdall--even though she says that that's not the real her--then that means she's the reason Pronyma was after Genis in the first place.
'Oh dear, you're angry aren't you? Well I'm sorry but I can't really change what's going on with Genis right now.'
"Yes you can! You're inside of him aren't you? Then you can get out!"
'That's the problem. I was inside Genis when the other me took over, but now I'm not. I'm stuck in that mirror piece Pronyma has. And besides, I can't exactly 'get out' of Genis anyway.'
"But why not?"
The girl laughed, a sweet, charming laugh, 'You really do ask a lot of questions. And I'm afraid you'll have to leave soon.'
Suddenly the darkness surrounding me got lighter.
And it didn't have that liquid feeling it had before.
"Wait a second! You never answered my question!"
'Of course I didn't. how can I? All I can say is that you'll find out in due time.'
"Wha--?"
'And that's not really an answer now is it?'
Again the room was filled with her child-like laughter.
And then I felt myself fading out.
My eyes cracked open, shutting immediately as the lights from the ceiling burned in my vision.
"Ghh…" I shook my head, trying to readjust my eyes to this sudden brightness. Ironic how it wasn't normally this bright in this room.
Or maybe it felt that way because of the darkness I had been in only moments ago.
But that was just a dream…so it didn't count, right?
I groaned lightly, my whole body felt numb.
Then I remembered, Genis was on my lap.
I glanced down at him, he was still in a seemingly peaceful slumber.
Or at least, that's what I hoped.
I mean, Neo couldn't hurt Genis in his sleep…could she? That wasn't possible, right?
I sighed softly to myself, running my fingers through Genis' silverish white strands of hair.
They were still the same--soft and smooth.
I smiled, moving Genis so that now he was in a sitting position in my lap, head against my chest.
Then an idea struck me; why can't I just wake him up myself? I mean, I already knew he wasn't unconscious…so that meant he could wake up at any time.
I gently tapped his forehead, but got no response.
I sighed again, then another idea popped into my mind.
Though this one…if someone did walk in I'd have a hell of a time explaining myself…
I looked over at the doorway, focusing my mind on any noises that my angelic hearing might pick up.
I heard nothing.
I then turned my attention back to the sleeping half-elf, smiling at my idea.
After all, what sleeping beauty wouldn't wake up to a knight/princes' kiss?
I tilted the boys' face up towards mine, and then leaned down.
My lips were a bare centimeter away when I heard something.
Footsteps.
Crap! And didn't have enough time to--
"Genis--oh…"
It was Raine.
I pulled away quickly, swallowing uneasily as her eyes narrowed into slits.
Great.
I was in big trouble now.
"What are you doing? Or rather, what were you trying to do to my brother?" her voice caused unwanted chills of fear to run down my spine. I knew I was stronger than she was and that I shouldn't be afraid of her.
But I was.
Not so much if she hit me or yelled at me.
But more so if she…if she took Genis away…and didn't let me see him anymore.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
She opened her mouth, and then closed it. She looked so confused for a moment. But her anger was definitely there.
"You…were…about to--"
"Ah, there you are."
"Ack--?!"
"Kratos!"
I never thought I'd be so happy to see that man in my life. I breathed a sigh of relief as he walked into the room, passing Raine and giving her a confused, but knowing glance.
He then turned to me, his eyes showed warning, and curiosity as well.
"So you found him…he doesn't look…well."
"Of course he doesn't." I spat, "Practically all his Mana has been drained from his body!"
"I can see that, Mithos. But keeping him here is not going to make him any better."
"I know that too! It's just…well, the wound on his back opened up again…and he was unconscious when I got here."
"So you've been waiting…how long again?"
I gulped, "Uh…I don't know…"
Kratos raised an eyebrow, "You don't know?"
I shook my head, looking back down at the sleeping boy in my arms, "I fell asleep…and I just now woke up. But…but Genis is sleeping now, so it's okay to move him."
"Hmm…"
A moment of awkward silence passed between us, the only sound was Genis' calm and leveled breathing.
Suddenly pairs of footsteps could be heard racing up the nearby stairs.
"Raine, Kratos, where are you--AAH!" Lloyds voice could be heard, followed by a multitude of loud crashes and shouting.
"Oww!"
"Gah! Lloyd!"
"My head."
"My arm still hurts."
"Um…is everyone okay?"
"Please get off me…you are squishing me."
"This is…strange."
"Eww, Zelos get offa me!"
proceeded by a loud slap.
Raines face paled and Kratos' eyes widened slightly.
Raine then turned and looked out the doorway, "Is everyone okay?"
"Professor Raine!"
"No we aren't!"
"Did you find Genis?"
"Is he okay?"
I just continued to sit there as Raine and Kratos left the room to go and heal everyone.
I blinked a few times, trying to process what happened.
Once I did, I realized that this was, in a weird kind of way, incredibly funny.
Soon after that realization I burst out laughing. (2)
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(1)--Well, I put this part in about Rachel hurting her arm because it actually happened in real life. But instead of glass, it was caused by a knife and my sisters' really bad grip (she was trying to cut some carrots and then…she dropped the knife…- -;).
(2)--This is, yet again, based off of one of DraNKa's fanart…it's of Mithos laughing. I wanted something to happen where Mithos laughed (since he never really laughed during the game unless it was that creepy laugh) and, well I thought of that particular piece of fan-art and that's what gave me the idea for the whole ending scene. I can't remember the name to it, unfortunately - -; but yeah, I give credit to DraNKa for making the fanart and for making me get that little idea for the end:D
Feral: …Wow, I actually did show up in this chapter…I'm stunned.
Me: Well you should be proud! I wasn't going to put that part in originally, but then I just decided to cuz originally Mithos doesn't meet you until the very end. And that, to me, was way too long of a wait.
Feral: I see…I'm so happy though! I'm still loved!
Me: Yes, yes you are. Now then, as always R&R--I love reviews! They make me want to update faster. So if you do review, then you get to see the next chapter soon (that is, depending on if I'm busy or not) :D