A/N: This chapter's Symphonia Side is brought to you by the amazing Raven Tsurara! Her suggestions and insight into what Genis is going through was inspirational to me, but it would've doubled the work I had to do to implement those ideas. I asked her if she wouldn't mind taking Genis's side of the story, and she agreed. Thank you, Raven! :D If you'd like, please show her some love, so that she gets her well-deserved kudos, too!

Chapter 16

Aboard the Katsbert Ferry, everyone found their own place to settle. After claiming a bed, Guy looked out the porthole and watched the shore gradually disappear. A part of him couldn't wait to get home to Baticul. Another part of him was glad Raine had finally settled her own feelings towards him. Ever since she found out he had gynophobia, she was far less hostile and much more friendly.

Pleasant even. And last night, it was so hard to go to bed, he enjoyed sitting with her so much. His exhaustion and how late it was finally won out and they went to their separate rooms to sleep, but he definitely had a favorite moment with her.

Still bizarre as hell, though.

Between her behavior and what she said, nothing about her made any sense.

Several days had passed aboard the Katsbert Ferry, and Guy knew they had to be getting close to Chesedonia. He puzzled over the fondisc he played with in his hands. Flipping it over repeatedly didn't yield any further secrets, just like all the other times he got it out to ponder its contents, but he had a feeling there were a lot of answers on that little disc.

Was it possible this disc held the answer to Luke's kidnapping? Why did the God-Generals want him? There was definitely no coincidence that Luke was found at Choral Castle and there happens to be some weird machine in the basement. When they caught up to Luke, he had just woken up on it. Whatever technology that thing was, it was the machine that had degenerated him, Guy was sure of that much.

But whether the disc came from the machine itself? He wasn't sure. Sync dropped it when he ran, so it really could've had anything on it. Did it really have anything to do with that machine at Choral Castle? The disc could also be something minor, but what if…?

Luke….

When Guy first saw him, Luke was barely four years old and sitting in his room playing with toy soldiers, handsomely carved out of marble. As soon as the door had opened, Luke looked up to see Ramdas, the head servant, leading Guy in.

"Luke, you have been assigned a new personal servant. This is Guy Cecil. He will attend to you."

Luke had stared at Guy who stared right back. The Duke's son. Would Guy really have to guts to do what he came to do? Luke's curiosity was evident but didn't last. He returned to his toys, shoving one figure into another, knocking it over with a loud battle cry. Even as young and small as Luke was, Duke Fabre was already training a little soldier.

Guy frowned at the fallen soldiers. The one that just "died" could've been Guy's father, Count Gardios. Is that what he pretended? Killing people, just like his damned father did? The child did seem to think killing was easy enough.

Ramdas left.

It didn't take long before Luke came up to him, asking all kinds of questions. Where are you from? Why do they think I need you? What will you do? Do you want to play? Are you even allowed to?

"Allowed to?" It was that last question that confused Guy. Something about the Duke's cold and selfish act began to make sense. Guy was allowed to play with his servant Vandesdelca, who was also several years older than him. At least until Van disappeared with Hod.

"Well?" He saw the young boy's expectant face. Oh right. He had asked a question.

"Whether I'm allowed to or not," he had said, remembering how much he appreciated having Van around to play with. He thought Van had died with everyone else, so when Van showed up years later in Baticul, Guy was surprised to see him. Maybe through playing with him, he could even turn Luke's attitude around. Maybe Luke wouldn't turn out like his father. Maybe.

"Protect him and watch over him." Ramdas had said when Guy was hired.

Guy decided to.

For a while.

Luke's face broke out in a grin. "Let's play. I want to play. You can use a sword, right?" Then again, a soldier raised to be a soldier would be hard to reprogram.

Guy jerked his head up at a banging knock on the wooden door. Oh yeah, he was on the Katsbert Ferry. And through the porthole window, he saw a whisp of white hair. Broken from his thoughts, he hesitantly said, "Come in?"

Raine pushed open the door with a slight tinge of red in her cheeks. "I'm sorry. That was more aggressive than I intended."

Raine could already see his body tense and she hadn't approached him yet. He held the fondisc in his hands but quickly put it away. Inhaling a calming breath, she stayed by the door. "I apologize. I just—"

"You look angry. Except not at me this time," after another moment's hesitation, he added, "I hope?"

"Guy, can I ask you something?"

He thought it over before answering, "of course." She noticed.

"Don't worry, it's not about you. You have no doubt noticed I can't use fonons."

"Yeah, I saw that... back when Luke—" He shook his head. "Never mind. Anyway—"

She interrupted him. "Can you teach me?"

"Jade would be a better teacher for that, wouldn't he? Back at the Fubras—"

"Where do you think I've just been?" She snapped. Immediately, she closed her eyes. No, don't take it out on him. You've done enough. Raine took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "He wouldn't do it. Said that I just don't have the affinity for magic and it's a waste of time." Her nostrils flared and her hands formed fists from the memory of it. "And that where I'm traveling by ship now, it won't be necessary to teach me anyway. When I asked about going off on my own, he replied 'then don't.'" Her face soured. "Like that's an option for me."

"Whoa, it's okay, I believe you. Sounds like decent advice, though," he said. Her eyes began to narrow and her frown deepened. "Until you find Genis and Sheena," but the pace of his speech slowed as he realized this likely wasn't the right thing to say. "Don't leave the settlements." Don't tell me he believes the same thing! He noticed her balled-up fists, visibly gulped, and went silent. Well that made it easier to avoid smacking him across the face. It was bad enough he was afraid of women in general; she didn't want to give him a more direct reason to fear her.

With much restraint she continued, "Am I expected to just sit and wait for him to find me? Am I supposed to send a carrier pigeon to each city and hope at some point he stumbles upon one?" She paused. However, leaving a letter behind with whoever was in charge might not be a bad idea. All she had to do was to mention Sheena, right?

"Well, it is easier to find someone sitting in one place than—"

"Regardless, it's not a waste of time. I'm a healer, Guy, I know I can use magic . I've done it before."

He stood, holding up his hands like a man under arrest. "Okay, yeah, sure. I can teach. No problem at all. Just please, don't get mad again."

"Jade was infuriating."

"I can tell." He smiled and then laughed. "He drives Luke crazy, too. It's not just you."

Raine couldn't help but feel amused. Even so, she tried to hide it. "Everyone drives Luke crazy. Especially me."

"Nah, you're not the worst offender. Anyway, what did you want to know?" He approached her and stopped at his usual safe distance. Now that she knew the truth about him, she barely noticed.

"Maybe it would help to understand fonons a bit more." Such as, why fonons and not mana? Again, she brushed away that thought.

"Didn't anyone tell you about them?"

Annoyed, Raine slumped against the door jamb. "No, of course not. No one taught Luke either." She pointed her accusations at him. "You raised him, didn't you?"

"Ah... yeah..." Guy laughed nervously. "But you weren't..." He paused, regarding her with a new unvoiced consideration. Something seemed to occur to him. Then he shook his head and smiled. "You know what? Forget about that. Maybe I can help you troubleshoot. Can you feel the fonons around us? There should be plenty of fourth fonons from the ocean."

"I have more affinity with light than water."

"That should be just as easy. Sixth fonons surround us, too." Then his expression lit up with a new idea. "Hey, let's go outside so it'll be easier to use them."

"Okay."

He followed her to the door and hesitated when she held it open for him. She sighed and let the door gradually close. He caught it as she stepped away into the hall. "Me on the other hand… I know we made this pact but… I kinda want some answers."

"About?" She led him down the hallway where they headed towards the ship's bow and the stairs that would lead to the deck. He followed but it was obvious he didn't quite know what to say.

"Just..." His voice trailed off as he considered whatever was on his mind. They walked up the metal steps to the deck and Raine had pushed her way through the door to the outside deck before he finally had an answer for her. "Just you."

Raine laughed. "That feeling is mutual. I didn't understand you at all and thinking your prejudice is actually misogyny. That blindsided me."

Guy leaned against the railing. This time, Raine kept her distance from him. The more space between her and the ocean, the better. He scanned the water and something in his relaxed posture helped her loosen up, too. "So did your anger." But then he faced her and said in a business-like tone, "Everything has its own fonon signature and everyone's signature resonates with some type of fonons that's close to it. This is why people tend to have an affinity for an element."

Just like mana. "Am I doing this wrong somehow?"

"It's possible that your fon slots are closed."

"Fon slots? The things within Jade that are currently sealed."

He nodded, but otherwise didn't respond. Something distracted him. What was it? Even as he spoke, it was more automatic. "Fon slots are where fonons gather and they gather in everything, even us. Hence why we have fon slots, too."

"I've even tried using the unicorn horn and Boltzman's technique, but neither one seemed to help."

Guy snapped to attention. "Unicorn horn? You actually have one?"

She pulled it from her bag to show him.

"Huh." The expression on his face changed, as if he didn't see what he expected to. "Wow, that's really cool. Where did you find that?"

"From the unicorn," she said, as if it were obvious. Truth was, she didn't want to say Lake Umacy and let him know for sure that she's from Sylvarant. He gave her the look of disbelief.

"You know what I meant. It's not like unicorns run rampant like cheagles and this is exactly what I'm talking about. You just—"

"Sometimes you just come across one." She stuffed it into her bag. "Anyway, focus, please. What am I doing wrong?"

"Well, have you been able to feel fonons before?"

"Yes, every time everyone else used them, especially Jade."

"It can't be that, then. You wouldn't feel them at all." His lips puckered to one side as he thought about it. "How about this? To use fonons, you have to draw them in, sort of like air, and collide your fonon frequency with the sixth fonon. That's what generates the energy. Think of it as… recognizing the right signature that matches your own and drawing it in so you can harness it."

"Right…" It seriously was just like mana. What the hell was the difference?

Raine concentrated on the light and the fonons that gathered around her. A large amount of energy swirled beneath them. The ocean. The fourth fonon. She'd also felt those fonons before at the Fubras River and back at Choral Castle when Jade used it. Fonons were different from mana, but only slightly so, like a different frequency. Maybe she couldn't find it because she wasn't familiar with the frequency of the fonon equivalent of mana? With listening carefully, she felt fonons all around her, all of varying frequencies, just like the different frequencies of mana, each sorted into their own element, just like mana was. If she applied that difference in frequency from water to light, maybe she could find the sixth fonons.

"Does Jade use the sixth fonon?" She asked after several minutes of frustration.

"I don't know, but I've seen him use the second, third, fourth, and fifth, more than anyone else I've ever seen, really."

Except Genis, she thought. Genis and Jade were two people who had a strong enough affinity to use multiple elements. Still, no wonder she struggled with the energy. She didn't know what she was searching for. The spells Jade used were based in other types of fonons. But he didn't use the sixth fonon, yet. If he could at all.

"Who else uses the sixth fonon? Anyone?"

"Tear can."

She hadn't tried borrowing any fonons from Tear. That explained that. "What about you, Guy?"

"Me? I don't have much affinity. When there's a strong field of fonons, I can sometimes use the fourth fonon. But I have a harder time using elemental fonons like that."

But now that she thought about it, it should be easy to find. She knew the frequencies Jade used and could apply a specific element to the frequency. Out of the unfamiliar frequencies, there was one with massive amounts around her. That must be it!

Now that she found it, she concentrated on that frequency, drawing it towards herself, drawing this strange mana into her body as if she were breathing with every cell, not just her lungs. She felt the fonons gathering. Guy cheered.

"That's it! I see the energy forming!"

Sure enough, she opened her eyes and saw the ball of energy converging dissipate. Raine smiled. All she needed now was to gather the fonons with intention. Easy enough for anyone versed in magic.

"Now I won't be quite so useless."

"Yeah, Luke was talking about that earlier."

"I suspected." Raine said. She actually had a feeling the entire group thought her a useless liar, but at least Guy was on her side. Whether he fully believed her or not, he at least humored her.

She spent some more time feeling for the light fonons and finally, she held up her staff and summoned a more powerful ball of light.

Photon was back.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," Guy said after a while of watching her practice. He seemed pretty happy, too, even as Luke walked up to them, eyed them for a moment, and carried on along the deck towards the bow. Guy watched him, but Raine ignored him completely. No sense in worrying about what he was up to.

"Why not? I'm one step closer to finding Genis and I have Jade to use as a ladder in case the ship sinks." Raine allowed the fonic photon to dissipate harmlessly. What else could she do with the sixth fonon? Now that she had a handle on it, fonons were actually a bit easier to use. Maybe because there was so much of it?

Guy laughed. "I don't mind saving lives, but Jade did say he was at your service." Raine offered him an indulgent and playful smile. "Where do you think he is?"

"They were supposed to be heading for—" The research academy? What had Elder McGovern called it? "—the research facility in Belkend."

"Why are they headed there?"

"We have questions about the exspheres is all." But she didn't feel like volunteering any more. Especially when he gave her a puzzled look.

"Exspheres?"

"Well, they would know more about them than anyone, don't you think?"

He nodded and turned away. That sinking feeling returned, like she was still missing something, but she couldn't tell what. She stopped playing with the fonons and watched him, her body tense. His reaction had been a little strange, just like all the other reactions the Tethe'allans gave her. She began to feel a little alien, which of course she actually was, having come from Sylvarant. It's nothing to worry about, she consoled herself. Sheena did say they're not common for people to have. Maybe they're not common knowledge either. She ignored the nagging thought to the contrary. After all, it seemed strange for a man who loved fontech not to know machines use them for energy, but maybe he knew a lot about machines and not necessarily how they're built or how they function? Unless he knew where they came from... but even Sheena didn't know that. Not until Kvar's human ranch when the rest of them learned the truth about them. What was it then?

Never mind that now, she had other things to think about. She shook her head and returned to watching the ocean.

"Yeah," Guy said finally. "I suppose Class I would have more information about them." The familiar look of confusion also returned in full force. After a pause, he continued. Raine noticed the speech pattern of someone choosing his words carefully, "so you mentioned before that… you could use fonons. Do you know what changed?"

She supposed this question she could safely answer, especially given how much he already knew about her. "I said that because thought I could," she admitted. "It seems I needed some guidance. Thank you for your help."

"Sure."

Raine didn't like how distracted he was. He did mention trying to make sense of her and apparently so much of her didn't make sense that his confusion mounted. At what point was he going to realize she was too confusing to be native to Tethe'alla? I can't let him think too hard about it. "I appreciate how many bunks are on this ship. We can travel together without being too crowded. I imagined you enjoy it as well. There's plenty of room to avoid women."

"Yeah, but it's not like there are many women aboard to begin with," Guy said. That did exactly what Raine wanted and he had re-engaged. "I noticed there are no female officers on this ship. I don't know if I should feel relieved or sad."

"Your saying that tells me loads about you."

Then she felt it. Fonons swirled past her. There was a collection of them nearby, gathering in massive quantities. The frequencies felt different, even from the sixth fonon and any others Jade used. But they were definitely fonons. Where were they going?

"That was quite a mass of them," Raine said. "Did you feel that?"

"Yeah." Guy stood up and walked the deck, but Raine stayed behind. She didn't want anything to do with whatever disturbed the fonons. On her way back to her room, she heard the telltale bass horn announcing their arrival. Finally, she could get off this damned ship.

Colette was back. She really was. Genis couldn't believe it but didn't have time to bounce with joy. They were still caged by Yuan's trap. Then, a yelp. Colette's clumsiness kicked in, breaking Yuan's trap when she fell. Genis followed Lloyd, and the two ran towards Colette, stepping between her and the familiar woman. Pronyma's eyes held such venom —Genis swore she reminded him of a snake— as she watched the whole circus going on, probably not pleased at the turn of events. Genis didn't care. Cruxis was not taking Colette away from them.

The battle was over quickly, leaving the woman incapacitated. With no other advantage over them, Lloyd lunged at Yuan. Out of thin air, Kratos's sword deflected Lloyd's. That's when Genis saw the wings come out of Yuan's back, the same as Kratos's that fateful day in the Tower of Salvation. Genis knew then they were no match against these two.

Fear struck him. If Yuan was with Cruxis, what would stop him from turning over Raine to Yggdrasill if he really had her captive? It would be too easy to use her as bait to trap Colette because she would never abandon anyone, human or half-elf, much less someone she cared about. But Yuan was the leader of the Renegades too, and they were against Cruxis. What was going on here? What would he do?

Busy with his thoughts, Genis didn't speak fast enough when Yuan retreated. Kratos didn't help either. He just argued with Lloyd. Before he left with the injured Pronyma, though, Genis swore Kratos glanced around in mild confusion. Maybe he didn't know about Raine going missing, and if he didn't, that gave Genis a sliver of hope.

Cruxis didn't have his sister captive.

It also sank him in further despair. Genis tightened his fist as he frowned. He was running out of options of where Raine could be and really hoped everyone was right that she was with the Renegades. Guess next time Yuan appeared, he would make sure to hit him with a spell. His eyes stung with tears.

"Are you okay, Genis?" Colette asked. "You look upset."

Seeing Colette's worried face after weeks of just looking at a blank expression did something to Genis. To him, it felt like years since he had really seen her as the girl he grew up with. The tears falling for a different reason, he hugged her.

"Colette!"

Lloyd joined the hug, lightly tackling both him and Colette who started to laugh so giddily while returning the hug.

"Welcome back, Colette." Lloyd said.

"Hehe, I'm glad to be back."

The three stayed like that for some time before they separated. Genis noticed both Colette's and Lloyd's eyes were slightly red from crying. He smiled, happy to be with his two best friends. But the warmth didn't last.

As the party descended Fooji Mountain for the second time, the thought of Raine not being there with them to welcome back Colette upset Genis.

"They didn't say anything about Raine."

The mood dampened.

"Yeah, Yuan didn't say anything about finding her," Lloyd said.

"Neither did Kratos or Pronyma."

"Look on the bright side!" Zelos chirped as he draped his arms over both Lloyd and Genis's shoulders. "At least he's not using her as a lure to trap us."

Genis snapped. "Zelos!" He shoved him off and grabbed the kendama from his pocket.

"Actually," Sheena interfered, "Zelos has a point."

"What?!"

"I'm sure they would've wanted to use her to get to us. If they don't have her," Sheena said, "then it means she didn't fall into the void, right?"

"Or that they didn't find her!" Genis argued back.

"But don't they have a way to detect the Rheairds?" Lloyd said. "That's how they found us in the first place, right?"

"Right," Sheena replied, though her voice was doubtful. "Which means she's in Sylvarant after all." The party except for Genis nodded at her conclusion. "For now, we should focus on going to Meltokio and getting Presea back home."

"Cheer up, Genis," Colette beamed. "We'll find the professor!"

"Yeah... I hope so," but the swing of doubt returned. They still needed time to search for her. Genis hung back and looked up to the sky. Please be okay, Raine. Please.

The Power of Hyperresonance

I've never been on the sea before, but this isn't bad. Well, aside from the headaches, but I'm used to those by now.

Master Van sent for me, so I headed for the deck.

On the way to see him, I met Tear. It seems like she's finally figured out that I'm not a Seventh Fonist.

But...I still don't really know what a Seventh Fonist is. I mean, they came up in my studies, but back then I had so much else to learn-my parents' faces, the language... I'd even forgotten how to walk. I guess I just didn't have time to think about the rest of the world...

When I said that to Tear, she suddenly started acting nicer to me and explained all about Seventh Fonists.

Turns out Seventh Fonists are fonists who can use the Seventh Fonon- mostly healers and Scorers. The Seventh Fonon is this new fonon that was discovered after the basic six elemental fonons, and it can only be used by those born with the ability.

Apparently, I'm able to use the Seventh Fonon, and that's why Tear mistook me for a Seventh Fonist.

Out on the deck, I got another one of those headaches, and then something strange happened. I suddenly lost control of my body, and started hearing things. Then I started moving like somebody was controlling me, and I made part of the ship disappear. Just when I thought the whole ship would be destroyed, Master Van appeared and stopped whatever it was that was happening.

Master Van said that the thing I did that made part of the ship disappear is called hyperresonance, and it's the same thing that happened to me and Tear when we were thrown out into that valley.

Hyperresonance is an interference phenomenon that can destroy all matter. It happens when two Seventh Fonists use the Seventh Fonon at exactly the same time under certain conditions. But...apparently I can cause hyperresonance all by myself. Master Van said Malkuth kidnapped me for that power, and Kimlasca kept me confined so they could use me in war. Does that mean I was going to be trapped in the manor until a war started?!

Master Van didn't deny that. He did tell me how I could get around it, though.

His solution was for me to become a hero. See, if I can personally stop the war, I'll become a hero, and then they won't be able to keep me confined any longer!

Anyway, Master Van said he wanted to talk with Tear. I wanted to go back to my cabin anyway, so I followed him. Van asked Tear if she was looking for the Seventh Fonstone, or something, and she didn't really tell us anything. What a loser. She'd be really pretty if she didn't open her mouth so much.

That was when the ship reached Chesedonia, which put an end to our conversation. We'll have to change ships in Chesedonia to get to Baticul. I decided to take a look around the town.

The Center of Trade, Chesedonia

As soon as we reached Chesedonia, Master Van separated from us. He said he had to turn Arietta over to an Order of Lorelei inspector, and that he'd be coming to Baticul later. Unfortunately, we have to leave before that.

Damn, and just when I could've heard more about how to become a hero...

Oh well. I guess I'll head down to the Kimlasca consulate to see if the ship's ready yet.

We made it to the consulate, but the ship wasn't ready yet.

We had some time to kill, so we decided to go find this wealthy guy named Astor to get the fon disc analyzed. Personally I couldn't care less about the fon disc, but I do want to see Chesedonia, so I decided to go along.

The Dark Wings

While I was wandering around Chesedonia, some weird chick came up all of a sudden and started touching me. I wondered what was up with her, but it turns out she was a pickpocket! She stole my wallet and tried to run away with these other guys. What the hell! And they said they were the Dark Wings! The bastards! Getting in my way again!

Tear got my wallet back, but the Dark Wings got away. If I ever see them again, I'll rip them apart!

A/N: Ack! Better one day late than never, right? I really should stop making day-specific promises! I'm so sorry, peeps! Next time I make a promise like that, feel free to roll your eyes and go "yeah, right, Kat. Whatever you say." and shake your fist at me. I won't be offended, but I'll definitely curl up in my basket in shame.

I am soooo excited, though! This story is moving right along and the next few chapter updates won't take months to post. =^-^= I can promise you that for sure.

Also, I'm not sorry at all, but I had to use one of my favorite lines from Guy. I'm so happy they voiced that line in the game that I just talk to him over and over just to hear him say it. * purrs *