Me: Here's Chapter 58, only three more chapters until TU is officially over with.
Feral: Yes…only three more…and they still haven't saved me yet –glares-
Me: -gulp- err…d-don't worry you'll be saved soon!
To Understand: Part Fifty-eight
Releasing the Seal
By Harmony283
Reviews:
Alaia Skyhawk: -backs away slowly- whoa…someone wanted me to update fast. Well, I'm updating so ta-dah! You'll figure out what happens with Pronyma and you'll get to see what happens when they actually do get to where Feral is being kept. So yeah, enjoy!
LittleLinor: I hate the new log-in system too (it's annoying XP). I'm glad the last chapter made your day before the oh-so-horrible exam and –hugs- thanks for the good luck…I needed it for the middle part of this chapter.
Dawnstarshine: Well…you asked to update in a hurry, and this chapter's out earlier than the last one was, so, yeah, enjoy!
Lyurii: Well…I do update extremely fast over the summer/at the beginning of the school year (yes I updated this fast when I first started TU) so I'm kinda used to it. And it helps being kept busy during the day. I mean I'd get bored not having anything to do since I stay home most of the time during the summer. And thanks for the congrats. I never really thought I'd get past 500 pages with TU…not that I thought I'd be getting over chapter 60 with TU but I am. But the Easy Bake Oven thing…? That made me laugh so hard. And you're welcome for the clarifying (I thought you meant pots and pans and stuff like that).
Viaroura Fox: Yes Pronyma got hurt, you'll see how badly in this chapter. And you'll also figure out how/what he used to attack her (both from Feral's explanation in the beginning and near the end) so hopefully that'll clear up the 'how' for you. And of course enjoy the chapter!
Me: Yeah, and then they're going to go and get you.
Feral: Finally. Hmm, well, I really see no need to say this anymore but if Harmony283 really did own Tales of Symphonia…why would she be writing this?
Authors Note: Really, why would I be writing this if I owned it? And as Feral said this chapter focuses on wrapping up the fight with the Darkness Trio, and heading off to make the pact with the Summon Spirit of Death. How will everything turn out? And will they really be able to make the pact with Feral?
WARNING (For the next 3 chapters): Character Death, blood, and language
Feral: First time you're really putting a warning…isn't it?
Me: Yeah I suppose so.
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Genis' POV
"She doesn't want this!" I shouted, raising my hand. Suddenly…I don't…I don't know what happened but I felt myself slam into something, not in real life, but in my mind. It felt like I hit a brick wall.
Then I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. It was Feral. She looked worried, 'Genis, your power is getting out of control! You have to calm down and think.'
I blinked a few times and nodded my head, "O-Okay…"
'Because if you don't,' she continued on like she hadn't even heard me, 'you'll end up killing more people besides just Pronyma.'
That got my attention, my eyes widened and suddenly I felt myself being thrown back out…of my mind? I guess…that kinda makes sense. But…my eyes widened even more when I felt something…warm and wet, but a sick kind of wet, trickle down the side of my face. I felt the same kind of wet on my right arm. And…some of the wetness seemed to be in my hair and on my clothes as well. I blinked a few times, trying to actually see what it was…but my head refused to move. So I just looked in front of me.
There, up against two large wooden—or what looked like wooden—door's was Pronyma's body. There was a wound in her stomach, and her arms had gashes in them and were bleeding. The blood really contrasted with the purple tiles though…and it…just seemed to spread until it went into the cracks between the tiles. Now it looked like a kind of red river between each tile that was near Pronyma's body.
A river made of her blood. Who did this?
Finally I could move my hand, which for some reason was out in front of me. When I got a chance to look at it…it…had something red on it. It must be blood from Pronyma but…
Blood…from…Pronyma.
Wait…
'You're a bit slow aren't you? You're the one who killed Pronyma. Or rather, the other Feral lent her powers to you and you killed her. It seems you are capable of controlling the other me. Congratulations.'
But…
"I-I…didn't want her to die that way."
'Well there's not much you can do about it now, y'know.'
I grimaced at the sharp tone of her voice, and brought my hand up to my head. Of course this was the hand that had blood on it but that didn't really matter. What mattered was my head was hurting. Was this always a side effect for whenever Feral was involved?
"Oww…"
"Genis!"
I shuddered as someone called my name, it sounded like Mithos. When I finally managed to look to my side I saw Mithos kneeling next to me. He looked worried. Of course why wouldn't he be worried? I just killed Pronyma…using the power of the person—or Summon Spirit—I had been trying to contain.
"Genis are you okay?" he asked, softly, "I mean, are you…you're shaking…what," he paused and looked at me hard, as if asking if he could talk about Feral in front of them. Not that it really mattered before. He obviously got that I didn't care and continued, "What did Feral say?"
I heard a few of the people in our group gasp at this, but I ignored it, "I…she…said that I could control the Other Feral's Powers. Congratulations."
Mithos flinched at my cold tone, I didn't mean to be so cold, but…I looked down at my feet, holding my head again, "I didn't want to use her powers that way…" I mumble, feeling like I was about to cry.
'But you did.'
I wanted to say shut-up but…I couldn't find my voice.
"Genis." April whispered from somewhere on the other side of me. I faintly felt her hand rest on my arm. She wrapped her hand around my wrist and pulled my hand away from my face. She then lifted my chin, "Look at me, Genis." I complied and looked up at her. She nodded her head, "It's okay."
I blinked, "What?"
"It's okay. It's okay that you can use her powers without them controlling you. It's okay that…that Pronyma died because of them. She needed to know that you can't control death by force. And you showed her that. It's…It's okay."
I choked back a sob and leaned into Mithos hold when I felt his arms wrap around me. I felt tears falling down my cheeks even though I wasn't necessarily sad. It was a good thing that Pronyma was dead, that her lifeless body was there and that we could all see it, but…I did feel bad. Even if April said it was okay it still didn't take away from the fact that I hadn't wanted to use Feral's powers that way.
Then I remembered…Feral…the Mirror shard.
I looked up and saw the Mirror piece hanging suspended in the air only about two inches above my head. I held my hand out and it floated towards me till it was floating in the palm of my hand. It still had a dark aura to it, which meant that Feral must still be in pain.
"Are you still hurt?" I asked her, and I felt more than heard her response. It made me flinch. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard.
"You're hurting still aren't you? But how do I make this go away?"
"How about you don't make it go away and we just take that with us?" the Feral look-alike asked in a huff, folding her arms over her chest. But she wasn't moving anywhere near me. She was actually eyeing Pronyma, or rather the black chain that was around her waist.
'She can try to take the Mirror away from you, but she'll regret it.' Feral informed me, and I smirked.
"If you wanna take it away from me, be my guest. But it'll hurt."
Seiji flinched, "I…Jiniasu?"
Jiniasu shook his head, "I wouldn't."
"I wouldn't either. You can take that mirror if you want and try to find the actual mirror it goes to." Mitosu said with a shrug, "We'll just…deal with Pronyma. We won't try to stop you."
Feral nodded her head, 'That's good. Now Genis, I want you to listen to me. Concentrate hard on this Mirror piece, draw the aura into you. Don't worry, it won't hurt. It might actually make you feel better.'
I nodded my head, and closed my eyes.
"Genis?" April asked from next to me, she sounded worried but I think Mithos shook his head or…or did something because she backed off.
As I continued to focus on the Mirror I…felt something really cold flow into me. It felt like those dark chains, except for it was much friendlier. I smiled to myself; 'This must be the aura.'
'It is.' Feral said, sounding relieved, 'It's flowing into you, like it should. Now…Maxwell, he read your Mana Signature didn't he?'
I nodded my head.
'Then he must have noticed it was incomplete. This is why. Until you come in contact with the Summon Spirit of Death your seal won't be complete. When you do come into contact with the Summon Spirit of Death--me--then your Mana Signature turns black. After you make the pact, it will be completed. Until you make the pact this will have to do.'
I faintly wondered what she meant by 'this' when suddenly the cold feeling stopped. I opened my eyes and looked around, everything seemed a bit clearer for some reason and, when I looked back at the Mirror piece, I saw that the aura was no longer there.
I smiled, "Are you okay now?"
Feral nodded her head, 'Yes I'm fine now. Don't worry about me anymore. Just worry about making the Pact.'
I managed to stand up with help from Mithos and I turned to face everyone, "I think we can make the pact now." I smiled, "And I think I know where the actual mirror is that this piece goes to."
Sheena's eyes widened, "You do?"
I nodded my head, "Yeah, it's the room Pronyma took me to. The room Mithos saved me from the first time I was here."
"So he really did save you." Raine whispered and I looked over at her, she was standing right behind April.
"What?"
"Oh, ah, nothing. You're right, we should go…"
I turned my head to look once more at Pronyma's body. It still made me sick…but…
'She's dead, get over it.'
I sighed. Feral was right, but, 'You don't need to say it like that.'
Feral shrugged, 'Sorry. Now hurry up and set me free! Do you know how long I've been stuck in this thing?'
"Twelve years." I muttered, "I know…" I tried standing, with Mithos' help, and then I let out a sigh, "Okay…let's…go…"
"I'll lead the way." Mithos murmured, "Because I know this place better than any of you do."
Kratos and Yuan both glared at him, but Mithos just shrugged, "Well I do."
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Mithos' POV
We walked up four flights of stairs in utter silence, which honestly disturbed me. Was everyone that worried about the fight against Feral? I looked at Genis, who was walking along next to me, a pained look on his face. It looked like he and Feral were having an argument inside his head. That must not be fun.
I touched his shoulder lightly and he turned to face me. I smiled and he tried to smile back. He then turned his attention back to the mirror that was floating above the palm of his hand; his eyes…were dark and cold looking.
'What's going on in his head? He looks…' I stopped this train of thought when we reached the room that I had found Genis in when Pronyma had kidnapped him the first time. I walked in and the first thing I noticed was the bloodstain in the center of the room. Well…that was appealing.
"Oh." I heard Raine gasp; she seemed to have spotted the bloodstain as well.
But Genis…he ignored it. He walked right by the stain, his eyes flickering on it for a moment, before they rested on the lone mirror in the room, "Here it is." He murmured, holding up the mirror piece. I hurried over to stand next to him as the mirror piece floated into it's place--in the top right hand corner of the mirror. Now the strange pattern was complete.
We waited for a few minutes, but nothing happened.
"Now what are we supposed to do?" Sheena asked, sounding annoyed, "or did it work at all?"
"Oh it worked." Genis muttered, "it worked just fine. Feral said so. It just…" he paused and his eyes narrowed, "I have to," he reached his hand out, "it has something to do with me touching or breaking the mirror. But I don't want to break it. So…" he placed his right hand flat on the mirrors surface, and suddenly the engravings around the border began to glow.
"I think…I think it's working!" Genis sounded surprised as he said this, like he wasn't even sure it was supposed to work, and when I opened up my eyes--which I hadn't known I closed--I saw that the mirrors surface was…rippling? Like a rock being thrown into the center of a lake, ripples formed from the point where his hand rested and they moved outward.
Then Genis' hand sunk into the glass.
"Wha…? What's going on?!" Genis whimpered; flinching as his hand sunk further into the glass, "My head…my head hurts…"
I grabbed his shoulder, "Genis? Is this…" I tried tugging him back but he yelped in pain and I stopped, "What's going on?"
"I-I don't know! Feral…she…she's hurt! She said her other self is…somehow she woke up when the Mirror started glowing! She said that this wasn't supposed to--ahh!"
Before he could finish his sentence, and before I could even register what was going on, we were falling. We were falling through the mirror, and yet it didn't break. We were sucked into the mirror.
But how?
I shook my head, we falling too fast to be worrying about the 'how'. At this rate when we hit the ground--assuming there is a ground--we'd be as good as dead…or at least we would be hurt severely.
I closed my eyes, concentrating on making my wings come out, and sighed when I felt that they had. At times like this I was really glad I had my Cruxis Crystal. They made these wings possible.
'But where's Genis?'
I looked around frantically; he wasn't below me…so…I stopped my decent and looked up just in time to see him fall past me. He was falling much slower than I was. That was probably because he was lighter than me, but he was still falling. And he looked like he was about to be sick.
"Genis!" I swooped down and managed to grab him around his waist. The extra weight made me wince; I had to flap my wings much harder in order to stop him from continuing his fall, and in order for me to carry his extra weight.
"h-huh?" Genis looked back at me, a look of shock on his face, "Mithos! You're…you're okay!" He hugged me tightly, "I'm so glad."
I nodded my head, "I'm glad too. I'm glad you're okay but," I looked above me, and my eyes widened. Instead of seeing the tunnel--or whatever it was--that we had been falling through I saw a glass dome a few feet above us. It seemed to have cut us off from our way out. I flew up to it and, making sure I had Genis secured with one arm, I banged on it with my free hand. "Dammit! How do we get back out?"
I turned to face Genis, and he shook his head, "I think I know how. But we need to land. And, um, you don't really have to carry me."
I blinked, "What? But you'll fall!"
"I have wings too."
"But your--"
I was cut off when he kissed me lightly on the lips. He pulled away shortly afterwards and, wincing, he closed his eyes. A few seconds later and his wings appeared. They…they were…they were beautiful. Just like the feather on my charm. Then again, the feather that made my charm did come from his angel wings so I really should've been expecting it.
"See." Genis smiled, circling around me, "I can use my wings just fine."
I shook my head, "I can see that. Just…just if your back starts to hurt, I'll carry you."
He nodded his head and started flying downwards towards the ground. And, when I really did look below me, I did see the ground. It was one large mirror. Genis landed on it gracefully before waving at me.
I landed a few seconds later, and looked around, "Where are we?"
"Inside the mirror." Genis stated plainly, "and I'm assuming we'll see Feral soon. I just hope it's the Feral I want to see."
'Oh don't worry.'
I flinched
'I'm the Feral you want to see.'
Suddenly a girl around Genis' age, with silver hair--up in two pigtails--and silver eyes appeared right in front of us. She was wearing an egg-shell white dress with designs around the bottom and a single ribbon tied around her middle. She smiled, 'It's so nice to see you again Genis. And you,' she turned to me, 'You're Mithos? You really are much cuter in person.'
I blinked, "Err…thanks?"
"It's good to see you too, Feral. But…what…what happened? You look fine."
Feral shook her head, 'I wasn't until a few minutes ago. When you two started falling, the older me made her way up. I'm worried about your friends. You need to get out of here.'
Genis sighed, "Yeah we'd like to, but how?"
'The same way you always,' she looked up, 'Oh. A barrier? That's easy to get rid of. Um, if you don't mind, close your eyes, it may get a little bright in here.'
"But--"
Her eyes narrowed, 'Do you want to be blinded?'
Genis glared at her but shut up. He turned to me and nodded his head before shutting his eyes tightly. I did the same.
Not that it really did much good. I mean, she was right next to us. And…and whatever she did, it was much brighter than we had thought. I actually had to lift my hands and cover my eyes with them as well, that's how bright it was.
"Feral! That's…what did you…!"
'Don't open your eyes yet! Oh...no…you can now.'
Genis sighed and immediately looked up, "What could you ha--wow…you did get rid of the barrier. But it felt so strong. There was so much Mana that got put into making it…"
'I'm the Summon Spirit of Death,' Feral replied coyly, 'I kill things. I can kill Mana too.'
I flinched at this. What a disturbing thought.
She turned to me and grinned, 'Isn't it though?'
I flinched again, "You can read minds?
'Only in here, yes.' Then she sighed, 'But you have to promise me,' she turned to look at Genis, 'Promise me that you'll really set me free.'
Genis smiled, "Well then, why don't you come with us?"
'But I can't--'
"The other you got out didn't she? Well…what if I try and force her to go back. I suppressed her before. I think I can do it again. I mean, it might not have the same effects but if she submits then maybe you can come out as well!"
Feral blinked a few times, her eyes widening a bit, 'If you can do that…then…then yes that's possible. Then I can talk to her! That's a great idea!' she smiled up at Genis and hugged him, 'Thank you.'
"Y-you're…welcome?"
Feral then turned to me, 'And thank you.' She hugged me as well.
"Err…yeah."
'Now you'd better leave. I don't think your friends stand much of a chance against her.'
Genis nodded his head, "Okay." He was about to lift into the air, but Feral placed her hand over his exsphere, "Huh?"
'I wouldn't use your wings to get back up. You said your friends don't know about your wings right?'
"Right."
'Then let Mithos carry you up.' She grinned again, 'Besides, wouldn't you like that better? Wouldn't you rather be in your boyfriends arms?'
Genis blushed and looked over at me, I shrugged, "I don't mind. It's not like it hurts to carry you or anything."
"W-well…if you say so…okay."
'Admit it…you'd rather have your boyfriend hold you than--'
"Shut up Feral!"
'Sorry.'
But…she didn't sound sorry.
I sighed and pulled Genis towards me, "Okay then, we're leaving."
'Good luck. And I hope you succeed.'
"Uh, thanks." He turned to me and nodded his head, "Okay let's get out of here now."
"Yeah…I know." And then I spread my wings and lifted us into the air, speeding off towards the way we had come.
To say I wasn't expecting anything unusual to happen when we reached the mirror that led out to where everyone else was would be a lie. In fact I half expected there to be another barrier that we had to break through. But there wasn't any.
Instead we were staring through the mirror, at everyone as they prepared to attack what looked to be like an older version of Feral.
"That's the older Feral?" I asked, "she looks…different."
"Yeah…"
And really once you looked at her long enough she did look completely different. Her hair color was the same, but her eyes…they were a much deeper shade of blue. And they were much colder looking. She also wasn't wearing the same, simple dress that Feral had been wearing. Instead she wore a tight fitting pale blue dress that fanned out on one side, kind of like what April's dress did. She also had a long staff with a sharp curved blade on the end that looked to be made out of some type of crystal. It had blood on it too, which made me feel a bit queasy.
Whoever she had attacked must be really hurt right now. I turned my attention back to Genis when he tugged at my arm. He placed his right hand once more on the glass, but this time we went right through without there being any ripples or…or anything like that. We tumbled out of the mirror, drawing everyone's attention to us.
The Older Feral looked angry.
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Genis' POV
I couldn't believe it when I saw the older Feral standing there, glaring at us. It…I…I felt so cold. She looked angry; no I'm sure she was angry. And there was blood on that…that blade. Who did she hurt?
"How did you escape?"
I shivered as she spoke, thankfully though, Mithos spoke for me. He stepped in front of me, glaring at her, "Why do you want to know?"
"Because Feral promised she wouldn't let you escape."
"And why would you believe her? You hurt her, you probable even made her say that."
The Older Feral didn't even flinch. Instead she raised her staff and, in one grand sweeping motion, she brought it down. When the blade hit the ground everyone moved. But…it was too fast. Mithos barely dodged it…but I couldn't…
It hit me and I felt myself falling backwards. But instead of falling through the mirror, I crashed into it. I heard the sound of the glass cracking, but ignored it. I…I felt too cold to feel the pain anyway.
'Genis!"
I gasped when I heard Ferals voice, 'F-Feral?'
'I can see what she's doing to you! You have…you have to force her to stop! Yell at her if you have to! Or…or else she might just kill you!'
I flinched at the urgency in her voice, 'How can she kill me when I'm her seal?'
I felt Feral shake her head, 'Because she doesn't know you are her seal. She should be able to listen to you if you talk to her. Then maybe…if you immobilize her for just a few seconds I…I might be able to get out. I'm already heading your way so please hurry!'
I nodded my head and staggered to my feet, ignoring the fact that my legs were refusing—or trying to refuse—the movement….ignoring…ignoring the fact that I felt way too cold. I met Feral's eyes with my own, and I saw her raise her staff again. She was going to attack but I had to stop her.
"Feral, listen to me."
She smirked, "Why on this earth or planet, or whatever you call this twisted split world, would I listen to a young boy like you? You aren't even…no…you aren't even a teenager yet. What right do you have to ask me to listen to you?"
I shook my head, ignoring the fact that it really hurt to do that, "Because I have the right to make you listen to me." My voice was getting louder, "I have that right and you will listen to me."
Feral shook her head, her smirk widening, "Fine then, I suppose if you believe that then I should just make you die." Her eyes half lidded and they focused on me, "You should know I don't listen to others very well."
then she raised her staff again and…and…I felt the power surge through the staff to the blade and then I saw the attack, the attack which I thought before was invisible. The attack was a single blade of black energy, almost like the attack I had used to kill Pronyma.
'That's because that is the attack you used to kill Pronyma.' Feral stated, sounding much closer to me than she ever had before.
'Feral?'
She nodded her head, 'Yes I'm here…I'm coming through now. You gave me just enough time. Though I would've liked maybe a few seconds more, but beggars can't be choosers now can they? Just…just hold on. That attack may hurt you even more than you can feel.' She paused and, I don't know what she did since I couldn't see her, but then she continued, 'I want you to bring out your wings. That's the only way you can really…not be hurt as severely by that attack.'
I nodded my head and, despite everyone shouting at me to move, I closed my eyes and called out my wings. They probably would be surprised at this, even Mithos would be surprised, but I really didn't want to be hurt even more than I already was. I mean I could feel the blood from my wound trickling down my back. And it made me feel disgusted. Not to mention I still had dried blood on my hand from when Pronyma died.
Not that I had time to think about that because, in a split second I found myself hitting the glass once again, though this time my wings acted as a cushion and it didn't hurt as bad. But now the glass was, well, pretty much shattered. But it still kept it's form.
"Hmm?" The Older Feral looked amused, "You have Angel Wings?"
"You…you have Angel Wings?" Lloyd, or someone, asked from somewhere over on the other side of the room. I was breathing to hard to answer, so they continued, "But you can't have Angel wings unless you have Cruxis Crystal on you…"
'That's true.'
I flinched and gasped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked at it and then I looked up at who it belonged to. It was…it was…
Feral.
It worked!
'Yes it worked.' She attempted to smile at me, but it came out a bit crooked. She turned to face her Older self, 'Do you know why I'm here?'
The Older Feral shook her head, "No I can't fathom why. I locked you in that mirror. Did you lie when you said you would keep those two in there? Why did you lie to me?"
Feral smirked, 'Why did I lie? I lied because you are only my other self. You are not my Master. I listen to my Master—our Seal—over anyone and everyone else. You should know that.'
The Older Feral flinched, "Yes but…this boy…"
Feral bent down to me, grabbing my right hand and holding it up, 'See this. Does this look familiar?'
I felt the Older Feral stare at me for a while before moving her gaze to my hand. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on my Exsphere. Then she spoke, "It's an Exsphere. But…it's an unusual one." I saw her eyes widen and she turned her gaze to Feral, "Where did he get it?"
Feral shook her head, 'I don't know where he got the original Exsphere but—"
"Where is your Cruxis Crystal?" the Older Feral suddenly asked, "Where did you put it? I don't see it on you."
Feral then smirked, 'I don't have it on me. I gave it to this boy. It's mixed with his Exsphere.'
Well she really could've just said that from the beginning. It would've saved a lot of unnecessary talking.
"Y-You gave it to him…?" the Older Feral looked back at me. Her eyes were now wide, much like a deer's eyes when they were afraid, "But…why?"
'Look at him closely. Or rather, look at his eyes. Who do they remind you of?'
It felt odd to have the Older Feral stare at my eyes like that. But her gaze didn't seem as cold as it had before. I even felt warmer than I had a few minutes ago.
"I…they remind me of..." she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, after what seemed like an eternity in silence, she continued. Her voice was much gentler, but it was still as cold as it had been. Her statement was simple, but it was also like a question.
She said:
"So you are Kloitz's son."
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Me: Well…there ya go…Chapter 58.
Feral: Yes and I'm finally free. Though I must admit you ended the chapter on a dramatic note, didn't you?
Me: Yeah, but I'm still not happy with it…or at least the middle part.
Feral: Well at least the beginning and end are good. So don't worry so much about it.
Me: And you're actually being really nice for once.
Feral: -scowl-
Me: Err…well…anyway R&R! I already have the next chapter typed up (and I stayed up late yesterday to type it) so yeah, review and I'll upload it after it's beta-ed.