time stop

[normalization]

Mithos kept his eyes forward as the Rheaird sped over Gaoracchia Forest. He was situated behind Genis, who was piloting the single craft, and somewhere behind them...was Lloyd, who had trailed them on their entire trip to the Fooji Mountains. Naturally, Mithos had sensed him. He wasn't certain if Genis had figured it out, but he supposed it had worked out in a way—he hadn't needed to use any of his own powers to help them ascend the mountain, and so they had obtained the Fandalia flowers without arousing any suspicion.

And Genis had agreed to stand by him, anyway. It was only natural. Lloyd may have accepted him for now, but he was still only human. He was still different.

Well, once his Age of Lifeless Beings was realized, they would all be the same. But for now...Mithos was already the same as Genis, and half-elves could only exist amongst each other.

"There's the house," he piped up over Genis' shoulder, his gentle voice betraying none of his sinister thoughts. Sure enough, they were almost directly upon the rock face where Altessa lived, and Genis brought the Rheaird into a quick descent, so that they soon landed in front of the dwarf's home. Surprisingly, all but Lloyd's Rheaird were now there—meaning the others had returned earlier than he expected. Mithos' angelic senses easily picked up words from inside the house, but...they caused him to narrow his eyes.

"Lloyd was supposed to be-"

"I can't believe this..."

"What are we going to tell the kid?"

Mithos held tight to the flowers they had gathered as they hopped off of the craft, and he gave Genis an encouraging smile tinged with worry. "Let's hurry in. Even if they found a doctor, they should still be able to use these flowers..."

He said that, but he was beginning to suspect that the doctor plan hadn't worked out in the least. Most likely, any high-profile doctor that the group thought of wouldn't waste their time treating a half-elf.

Comments

[twohares]

He wondered what Mithos was going to do. This was scary... His mind ran through the possible scenarios that could play out, and he couldn't imagine his friends just giving them her Exsphere. There would probably be a fight, and they would all be hurt...and it would be his fault.

Genis didn't want to lose anyone else, and Mithos promised he wouldn't, but he knew that his friends didn't really mean much to him.

A small sigh escaped him as he tried to calm himself down. He had to believe in Mithos. "Right... Everyone might come back here soon, anyway. We'll find it," he added at least partially to reassure himself.

He turned another apologetic look to Altessa and Tabatha before he began walking towards the door again. He wasn't sure if he even wanted to find his friends, but it was too late to turn back now.

[normalization]

Mithos completely ignored Altessa and Tabatha once more as they left the house, and simply nodded in response to Genis. "Of course. I'm here with you, after all." And he would find it.

Once they were outside, he came to a stop and tilted his head for a moment as if listening, then chose a seemingly random direction to start tugging Genis again. "This way--we'll get some answers soon."

He gave no explanation, but if they continued to follow his directions, they would find Zelos in the forest idly kicking a few rocks--probably pretending to search but really just wasting time until someone else found Genis.

Mithos had no reason to continue his facade, least of all with Zelos, and skipped any greetings to simply demand, "Where is Raine's Exsphere now?"

Zelos looked over at Genis with mild surprise, a humorless smile creeping across his face as he deduced what was going on. "Another mad scientist experiment? Oh, scary..."

[twohares]

Genis understood the situation and Mithos's abilities well enough to know he was going to follow the sound of someone to track down the others and retrieve the Exsphere. He expected him to find someone who might actually have it, like Lloyd. Zelos seemed like a pretty random choice when he sounded so certain about getting answers.

He stuck close beside Mithos, and in the back of his mind, he was a little grateful Mithos chose someone he didn't like to interrogate.

That was where is gratitude ended, though, and a new sinking feeling set in.

"What are you talking about?" he asked uncertainly, looking up at Zelos and then to Mithos again. They knew something he didn't, but he was starting to guess. The fact Zelos was just standing around, the way Mithos knew Zelos would have answers. He felt his stomach twist. Zelos was betraying them this entire time! And after Lloyd put some much trust in him! It was just like with Kratos. Lloyd didn't deserve this...

But he couldn't say anything now. Lloyd was far away, and he...

No. He shook his head, hiis uncertainty turned to anger as he snapped, "Do you know where it is or not?!"

[normalization]

Mithos' gaze flickered briefly over to Genis; he would explain later, he promised silently, but now wasn't the time.

For his part, Zelos put his hands on his hips, his expression a mix of dark and smug--and the mirthless smirk on his face only deepened as Genis grew angry. "Sure, sure... Lloyd has it."

Mithos sighed. Of course. Well, it still wouldn't be that hard to retrieve...

But then Zelos continued talking, and his smirk faded this time. "Or should I say he has the pieces?"

[twohares]

"Huh?"

Genis blinked. Once. Twice. Lloyd had it. Genis thought he would have it. Colette and Lloyd were the ones closest to Raine - other than himself.. Of course he would have her Exsphere of neither of them did. He would keep it safe.

That was all he wanted to think about what Zelos had said. His chest ached just thinking over that stupid, little quip. He stared at him tensely. Pieces. No. If that was true, then...

No, that couldn't be true. Zelos was a liar and a traitor and an idiot, and he was lying.

He stepped forward, free hand balling into a tight fist ready to strike.

"Stop joking around!" he shrieked. "That's not funny! She's my sister! That's bad even for you!"

[normalization]

Mithos' mind blanked almost as much.

Pieces.

Broken.

Useless.

Even as he remained silent, letting Genis speak for both of them, white-hot fury boiled in his chest. He gripped Genis' hand as tight as a vice and grit his teeth.

Either out of sympathy for Genis or for the sake of his own life in the face of Mithos' anger, Zelos remained serious for a change. "As you said...even I have standards. It's no joke."

"Who-" Mithos spat out then stopped short. No. If Lloyd had it, they had to see for themselves. "I'll hear your story later," he snapped instead, and then none-too-gently pulled Genis away. "We're going to look for Lloyd. And if it's true..." He would pay. He would pay dearly. He was sure Genis agreed--after all, that was their only chance to revive Raine.

[twohares]

The grip Mithos had on his hand, the pain of his bones being squeezed together, just about distracted Genis from his own panic. His breathing grew shallow as his heart pounded in his ears. He wasn't sure if he was even looking at Zelos as he stared up at him.

Her Exsphere was really gone? There was no way to put it back together? Raine was really...really gone. He left Raine without even saying goodbye to her. He'd never get to see her again.

He didn't have the tears left to cry. If Mithos didn't start pulling him along, he might have just crumbled right there. He stumbled along unsteadily, his hand barely holding Mithos's back. They were going to find Lloyd now, and...

...and it wouldn't mean anything.

He couldn't save Raine. He had no right to tell him about Zelos when he was turning his back on him, too. And even without any way to see Raine again, he made a promise to Mithos already. He wasn't going to turn his back on him, too. There was still a chance he could see his sister.

And then Colette would die, and he'd have lost two important people. But Lloyd didn't need to be one of them. Lloyd could keep living. After a while, Genis tugged Mithos's hand back to stop.

"Mithos, wait. I... I-it doesn't matter. Let's just...just forget about it."

[normalization]

Mithos stopped for Genis' sake, but looked back at him in disbelief. "What are you saying, Genis?" His voice was soft, sympathetic again. He understood Genis' pain...especially if they had lost Raine for good.

If.

At some point he had stopped squeezing Genis' hand so painfully. Now he gripped it gently in both of his hands. "Are you really okay with not checking for yourself? Do you really want to just give up on her?"

[twohares]

It hurt when he said it like that. It sounded like he was abandoning her, just like his friends had earlier. He wasn't doing everything he could to save her.

But it was too late. And chasing this dream around just to have it crushed hurt. Too much had happened, too much had changed. Even Mithos wasn't the same person. He wasn't the same person. It was too much.

Slowly, he nodded his head. "I'm tired. I just..." His voice broke, and his fingers tightened around Mithos's hand. "I just...really miss her. I don't want to lose anyone else."

[normalization]

"I know," he answered gently. "You just want to see her again, and talk to her again like you used to. You don't want to be alone."

He remained standing up straight, confident. This wouldn't stop them... One of his hands released Genis' hand and moved to take his shoulder instead. "You're not alone, Genis. I'm still here. And...it's not the end yet. We'll still find a way no matter what, right?" His voice was gentle but encouraging in a way that was still almost second-nature to him, even after so many centuries spent no longer caring about the rest of the world.

[twohares]

He was so tired, and so much hurt, but when Mithos was like this, he could almost forget who he really was and what they were going to do.

One thing that never changed, would never change, was that Mithos was his friend. His best friend, who would do anything for him just like Genis would in return. And he knew this pain too, more than anyone else. He had a reason to be confident. When he talked to him, his words weren't just empty platitudes.

And besides, he didn't feel like he had the strength to argue. He wanted to believe that maybe everything would be okay.

"Do you really think there's a way? Even if her Exsphere is gone?" he asked in a hopeful, strained voice.

[normalization]

"If we have to, we'll make a way," he stated with firm conviction. "Even if it is broken..." He turned somber a brief moment as he remembered Zelos' words, a dark look flashing across his face again before he perked back up. "Even if it is, that doesn't mean it's gone."

It would just be more difficult--tremendously difficult--to work with, but Mithos refused to let the word impossible enter his mind. It was impossible for Martel to be lost forever. It was impossible for Raine to be lost forever, too.

It was a little strange to strive so hard for someone else besides Martel. This had to be the first time in...ages. But he and Genis were the same; they understood each other's needs and pain like nobody else could.

"We'll bring her back no matter how long it takes, Genis." Mithos squeezed his shoulder lightly, full of uplifting hope that was completely at odds with his next statement. "And we'll punish the ones responsible for putting her in this state--we'll make them regret everything they've ever done."

[twohares]

Mithos had so much determination, so much hope. Bringing her back even if her Exsphere was broken seemed impossible, but Mithos wasn't giving up. He really would do anything to save her. He was...really, truly amazing. And thinking of that made him feel hopeful, too. It wasn't over. They'd bring her back.

Some of the pain left his eyes as he looked at Mithos. In the back of his mind, he thought Mithos was really like Lloyd. When he talked like this, it was like listening to Lloyd. He couldn't help but admire him more and more.

Until he squeezed his shoulder and reminded him that the two of them were also very different.

His eyes grew wide, but he quickly closed them as he shook his head. "No. No, we don't need to do that..." He trailed off, his eyes drifting down to Mithos's shoulder. "As long as Raine comes back, that's all that matters. I...don't think she'd want us to punish anyone..."

Least of all their friends.

[normalization]

He was glad to see Genis coming around. Right, it didn't have to be the end--they wouldn't ever give up on their sisters.

His approval was quickly replaced with perplexion at that last disagreement, though. "But Genis...don't you want to see them brought to justice? It's only right that they receive their due punishment...for everything they've done to you. And if you let humans get away with something," his voice began to take on a low hint of menace once again, "then their arrogance will only fester, and they will carry out the same crimes over and over again."

If was in their nature...their vile nature.

[twohares]

Genis hated humans. He was the first to admit that. And for the most part, he agreed that they were all the same.

But even after everything Mithos said, he still thought that his companions were different. They weren't bad people.

The little bit of hope Mithos had built up was fading again, but he at least looked Mithos in the eye once more. Mithos hated humans even more than he did. He experienced their hatred so much longer. He saw them murder his sister with their own hands. The time he spent with Lloyd and the others wasn't enough to change his mind like it had Genis's.

...it was really sad.

"But they've helped me a lot, too," he tried to reason. "Lloyd always protected anyone, no matter who they are, and he never hated us or thought we were below him. It's like that for all of them. They're not like other humans. I think...what's already happened is enough to make them see that they were wrong."

[normalization]

Mithos quietly contemplated the response. Certainly, some of them claimed to have no issue with half-elves and they did not display the level of hate and vitriol that most of Tethe'alla did.

But that, ultimately, changed nothing. They were still human, they were still arrogant and selfish and traitorous, and no pretending otherwise could alter their true nature.

In a low voice, he finally responded, "Even if the Exsphere is broken? They don't break on their own." A dark smirk tugged at his lips. "Who do you think is responsible?"

[twohares]

That wasn't something he wanted to think about. If he wanted to think about it - and he didn't want to - he'd know breaking the Exsphere was the right thing. He knew his friends would all tell him that Raine didn't want and didn't deserve to live trapped inside her Exsphere.

But they were wrong. Raine would be wrong. Things were different now. That didn't mean they broke her Exsphere out of malice, though. Even if it meant he would never be able to say goodbye to her.

"I..." He could imagine any of them being responsible. "Mithos... I don't want to fight them. Even if her Exsphere is broken, it doesn't mean she's gone. As long as she's still with us, that's what matters, right?"

[normalization]

After a brief moment, Mithos gave him a hopeful smile once again. "You're right. All that matters now is your sister."

He still thought it strange that Genis didn't want revenge, but...well, they had all the time in the world for him to realize the truth about Lloyd and to carry out the appropriate justice.

He finally released Genis' shoulder. "Come on. Let's go get your sister back from them." Together, they'd make it happen.

[twohares]

And Genis finally relaxed a little, returning the smile just barely. Yeah. All that mattered was Raine. That was what they were doing all this for. That was what he was abandoning Lloyd and Colette for. It was all for her. His hand tightened around Mithos's.

"Yeah. Thanks."

He was glad Mithos wasn't set on revenge, or this would be so much harder.

"Do you think I should call out to him?"

[normalization]

"Don't worry." Mithos held Genis' hand in a firm, close grip. They both knew what the most important things were, and they wouldn't let anything else distract them from their goals.

They would get their sisters back.

Nobody else deserved or needed their attention.

"I'll leave that up to you," he conceded, closing his eyes a moment before nodding to Genis. "He's not that far... He should be able to hear you from here."

[twohares]

And at the moment, Genis agreed. He had to. If he started doubting himself, he would b even more lost than he already was. Besides, Mithos was the only one he really felt close to anymore. Everyone else felt insignificant in comparison. And he felt like Mithos needed him, too. They needed each other. And he would stay beside him, always.

Genis took a step closer to his side as he looked around them, wondering if Lloyd was close enough to see, but there was nothing. Not a single hint of red between the trees.

...he wondered if he would even be able to get the Exsphere back without confronting Lloyd on why he needed it. What would he even say to him? He was still angry that Zelos had been betraying Lloyd this entire time, but he was doing the same thing now. And the two of them were always best friends. He was worse than Zelos.

His heart hurt thinking about it. Would Raine be proud of him for this? Betraying their friends so she could come back?

After a few moments of silence, Genis turned to Mithos again.

"Say...do you think maybe...Lloyd would help us if we asked him?"

[normalization]

So much had happened in a short period of time--Raine growing sick, finding the cure, but arriving after she'd already died... Mithos understood that Genis has a lot to process, so he felt he was sympathetic to his struggles. That was why they would just focus on Raine and Martel. Anything else could come in time.

Even so...a dark look crossed his face at Genis' question, and he very nearly gave a scathing reply. How Genis could still have hope for that failure, Mithos couldn't even fathom.

Instead of rebuking him, though, Mithos muttered, "If you really want to know, then ask him. See for yourself just how deep your so-called friendship runs with humans."

[twohares]

Genis blinked, eyes flickering away from Mithos for a moment. That really would be the test wouldn't it? When Mithos seemed so cynical, it was hard to believe that Lloyd would agree to help him - to give up on everything he had been working towards. Most likely, he wouldn't...

But if Lloyd said yes, if he agreed, then maybe that would show Mithos that humans weren't all bad and that Lloyd really did love Raine. A new determination came to him. Yes, asking was the best thing he could do. He had to know Lloyd's feelings, too.

Maybe he could keep both of his best friends, and they could all work together.

Genis nodded. "I will. Then we'll know."

He took a few steps back from Mithos to try to be at least a little mindful of his hearing before he called out.

"Lloyd! Lloyd, where are you?!"

[normalization]

He remained silent, leaving it up to Genis for now. It would be a tough lesson for him, Mithos thought, but better to learn it sooner rather than later. Better for the humans to stop poisoning his mind now so he could focus on what was truly important to him.

"Genis?!"

And there was Lloyd's voice almost immediately, loudly answering in worry. He wasn't that far--a couple minutes' walk at best.

But they knew Lloyd wouldn't just walk.

"I'm there! Just a sec!"

Mithos would just wait for the inevitable.

A few moments went by before they heard the sound of Lloyd crashing through the brush and a red blur exploded from some bushes nearby. "Genis!" Seeing that his friend was at least there, Lloyd stopped short. "I..." Sadness and guilt clouded his expression; he wasn't as ignorant of the situation as before. "About the professor... I'm sorry, Genis..."

[twohares]

Lloyd...

Genis looked up at him. When he was so quick to rush to his side, when he looked so hurt and guilty, he couldn't believe that Lloyd wasn't his best friend. Mithos was wrong about him. Lloyd was different. He'd always been different.

But mentioning Raine... He hung his head, gently shaking it. His hand never left Mithos's, though he wanted to reach out to Lloyd. Lloyd had been with him through everything, and he made a promise to be there for Lloyd, too. They would never need to say goodbye.

"It's okay, Lloyd," he started softly, fingers curling tightly around Mithos's hand. "I don't blame you for what happened." At least, not anymore. "She's your friend too, right?"