A/N: I forgot to include this in the last chapter but Forcystus will NOT come back because after Colette got hit, Lloyd said "You *******" and ran the dude through with his sword. Then Forcystus disappeared so sorry I forgot to include that. Go on and read now:)

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Genis shivered in his bed while Raine ran her diagnosis. He could see Presea in the corner, hyperventilating. He hoped Raine would figure this out soon, because it was not pleasant. It felt like he was standing outside in the snows of Flanoir with nothing on. He was literally freezing.

"Genis...you should have been killed by now. Your body temperature has dropped to thirty-eight degrees; your insides should have frozen," Raine told him in shock. Genis couldn't talk clearly, he was too cold. So he tried to mutter what few words he could.

"F-f-fix....it-t-t? C-c-curs-s-se," he stammered, forcing his frozen jaw to move.

"I don't know...it probably is Forcystus' curse. What is the curse exactly, though? None of my healing magic will work, and we need to fix this fast. We already have Colette to take care of, and now this!" Raine exclaimed in exasperation.

"Raine...I am scared as well. However, please try and calm down. I'm sure there is a way to fix this, but we must figure out how this curse is working first. Perhaps...Dirk will know? We are going there anyways," Presea proposed. Raine sighed.

"You're right. Even so, we can't even travel with him like this. A way to cure this coldness...even temporarily would be useful," Raine told her, gripping her staff. Presea nodded.

"Raine, can you give me a minute with Genis?" the ax-girl asked politely. Again, the healer sighed.

"Alright," she replied before exiting. Presea came up beside the bed, kneeling so her face was level with his.

"Genis...I don't want you to die," she whispered, unable to utter that phrase any louder.

"I...w-w-won't," he promised, trying to force a smile past the shaking. Genis didn't want her to worry, he was sure there was going to be a way to get through this. Presea's eyes widened suddenly, and Genis believed she had an idea.

"What if....this is like your other problem? Genis...open your eyes further," she requested, and the half elf forced his eyes to fully open. Presea saw the same whitish-blue hue in the iris as she had last night.

"It's like I thought. It is the same thing. Perhaps...it can be cured the same way?" Presea suggested.

"M-m-mayb-be," he managed. The pink-haired girl closed her eyes and leaned towards him. Their lips brushed, and she could feel the coldness of them. It was like kissing an icicle, but she wanted to help him. Genis could feel his jaw gradually becoming looser, and the warmth started to return to his body. (A/N: I'm manning up and doing this makeout scene! Okay...breathe.) The need from last night came back, and he pulled her up on top of him. Presea neither struggled or pulled away; she kept her lips pressed against his. Presea opened her mouth and allowed his tongue to slip inside. His hands rested firmly on her hips while hers lay on his chest. Even though this wasn't completely Genis, he couldn't deny he enjoyed it a little. Finally, they broke away and Presea placed her head on his chest.

"Better?" she asked timidly.

"Yeah, much," he replied with a smile, stroking Presea's hair. Genis could feel it; his body temperature was back to normal, and he felt fine. What kind of curse was this, Forcystus? he asked the Desian leader silently.

"Genis, feel my heartbeat," Presea told him, taking his hand in her own and placing it over her heart. Genis could feel the erratic rhythm pulsing out. He smiled and grabbed her hand in his, placing it over his own racing heart.

"Our hearts are...the same," Presea stated with a smile.

"Yeah," Genis agreed, kissing his girlfriend's forehead. "I...should go tell Raine I'm okay." Presea reluctantly moved off of him and Genis entwined his hand with hers before exiting the room. The half elf could feel the coldness and lust beginning to creep its way back, but it was fine for now. He could hold on.

"Raine! I'm back to normal...more or less," he told his sister, watching the woman's expression go from glee to confusion.

"But...how? I tried all my healing arts," she probed, very curious. Presea blushed, and explained.

"Well...I kissed him," she replied sheepishly. Raine cocked an eyebrow, now feeling totally lost about what curse Genis had been taken over with. The healer shook her head, trying to clear it.

"Peculiar," she mumbled, walking away. You have no idea, the young mage thought. The group downed their breakfast and left for Dirks house immediately. Genis rode with Presea because Raine was worried about his condition, and Colette rode with Lloyd, should her strength give out again. Dirk looked them both over, and hung his head.

"I'm sorry, laddies. I don' know the firs' thing 'bout these gems. You be better off askin' that dwaft over in Tetha'alla," Dirk told them in his dwarven accent.

"That's alright, Dad. Thanks," Lloyd said gratefully. After waving goodbye, the group set off for Altessa's. Genis was beginning to feel the energy leave his body, but he tried to stay upright for the sake of everyone else.

"Are you alright Genis? We're almost there," Presea shouted to him over the loud wind. The half elf pressed his knees to the insides of hers and rested his head on her shoulder, tightening his grip around Presea's waist.

"I...think so," he told her, honestly unsure of it himself.

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"Colette's conditon is called Chronic Angel Crystallus Inofficium, it's a very rare disease in which the body is rejected by the Cruxis Crystal, however, unlike Presea, Colette's body will continue to slowly and painfully crystallize until she is completely gone. I believe someone in Mithos the Hero's party was affected by this disease, perhaps you should go look at some of the books about it. As for Genis, his situation is particularly strange. I've never seen anything like it. I've tried to figure it out to the best of my abilities, but it seems like some new form of mana is inhabiting itself in his body, creating an imbalance. I can try and withdraw it through his exsphere, but I can't guarantee minimum pain or success, but it's the best option we have at the moment," Altessa explained. Genis nodded, knowing he was right. This was their best option. Then, he saw Mithos exit from his room looking much better than last time.

"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" the half elf boy asked curiously.

"Well, Colette is...sick, and Genis has something wrong with him, so I guess we're just here to figure this out," Lloyd told him, and Mithos' dark blue eyes widened.

"Colette is....sick?" Mithos whispered, looking very scared.

"Yeah, something called Chronic Angels Crystalline whatever," Lloyd guessed, shrugging.

"Chronic Angel Crystallus Inofficium," Presea corrected. Mithos looked ready to fall over.

"I...I think I know where you can find something to help with that," the blonde half elf told them unsteadily.

"Great!" Lloyd exclaimed with a bright smile. Mithos looked really uncomfortable.

"Umm...yeah. What's wrong with Genis?" the boy asked, switching the subject.

"There's a mana imbalance in his body. Altessa is going to try and draw it out...but it's not certain to work," Raine explained.

"Gee, thanks for the reminder, Sis," Genis mumbled. He felt Presea's grip constrict around his hand, probably as a way for her to reassure herself he was going to be okay. With the strength she had it was amazing Presea didn't just crush his hand. Genis could feel the coldness creeping back into his body, threatening to take over.

"When...can you do this procedure, Altessa?" Genis asked, struggling to fight the ever growing sensations.

"Now, if you'd like," Altessa replied, hoping it would work.

"Alright then," he sighed. Presea released him and walked back over to Raine, who looked quite nervous. Genis followed the dwarf to the room where Presea had been taken earlier. Why is it just me and Presea being hurt so seriously? Is it lovers luck or something? Well, there's Colette...but it's not like Lloyd's getting hurt at the same time. This is so cliché, Genis said to himself.

"Please take a seat," Altessa instructed, and Genis, understanding what was meant, lied down on the wooden table.

"Alright, let me just see your exsphere for a moment," the dwarf told him as Genis raised his hand. On it sat a bright blue stone sitting peacefully in a key crest. Altessa tapped it, and Genis gasped. Coldness instantly filled his being, and he began to shake violently.

"Hold on! I'm going to try and extract the mana now," Altessa informed. Genis was shaking to badly to notice what was going on, but all of a sudden he felt a searing pain rip through his body. Genis cried out, for it was more painful than anything he had ever experienced. The sensation lasted a minute or two, and those few minutes were filled with yells of agony. After the procedure was done, the pain disappeared in a flash and Genis lost consciousness.

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Presea sat on the ground, deep in thought. Why is fate trying to take everyone I love away from me? It feels like they keep trying but the last ones were failed attempts. Is it that selfish to ask for just one person to love? she thought. Hearing his anguished cries through the door was enough to almost make her bust down the door with her axe, but she knew that that might diminish any chance they had at Genis surviving. All of a sudden, they cut off. Presea clenched her hands, the suspense of whether or not he was alive killing her. The door creaked open, and Altessa walked out looking solemn.

"How'd it go?" Raine probed, concerned. Altessa looked down, like he was guilty.

"I...don't know. I was able to extract that mana imbalance, but after I was done he lost consciousness. Genis' heartbeats are irregular and slow...and I don't know if he is alive or dying or in a coma. You can come see him if you'd like," the dwarf told them, anxiety clear in his tone. Presea needed no further encouragement. She rushed towards the doorway and was instantly chilled by what she saw. Genis, not moving, not seeming to be alive in any way. It frightened her to see the light gone from his eyes, the determination gone from his movements. In fact, he didn't even move. An erratic beeping pierced the silent air, and Presea swooned slightly. All is not lost, she reminded herself and regained balance. Raine moved forward to examine him.

"Will he be alright?" she fretted. Altessa looked very depressed.

"I...don't know," he admitted. Mithos came bursting into the room at that moment, sorrow overwhelming his features as he took in what had happened.

"No...this can't be happening! Not my only friend!" he cried, not wanting to accept what his eyes showed. Genis...you can't give up. Not after everything we've been through, Presea told him telepathically. The boy ran out of the room, tears beginning to streak down his face.

"May I...have a moment with him?" Presea asked quietly, knowing her voice wasn't very steady. Everyone politely complied, and Raine was nice enough to leave her brother so Presea could have some time alone with him. Once everyone was gone and the door was shut, Presea walked over to him and began to let a few tears slip out.

"Genis...you can't die here. I need you. I need you to grow up into a handsome man, surrounded by your own little children. I need you to live to see the day of the joined worlds. I need you to live to be next to me each day. I need you," Presea whimpered to him. "And I love you." Leaning forward, she kissed him gently, shaken by how motionless he was as she did so. Presea brushed his silver hair away from his eyes, and caressed his pointed ears. She traced his lips with her finger and touched the back of her hand to his cheek. Presea held up his hand that had the exsphere on it and a few of her tears dripped onto it.

"Please...come back to me," she pleaded. Upon seeing no change, Presea left the room with a broken spirit, worry and disappointment crushing her. When she came out of the room looking so depressed, Colette ran up and gave her a hug.

"I'm sorry Presea, but I'm sure he'll be okay! Genis is really tough, I'm certain he will get through this!" the blonde chimed, ever optimistic.

"Thank you."

Presea decided to seek out Mithos, and she found the boy crying in a corner.

"Mithos..."

"Presea! Why are you here?" the half elf asked, wiping away his tears.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay. I know this is hard...its really hurts me to see him like that, and I can tell it hurts you too. However, all we can do is trust in Genis that he will pull through," Presea told him. Mithos smiled a little.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. It's just...he was my only friend. He understood discrimination and hatred like I did. I can't handle his death," Mithos said.

"He won't die," Presea stated firmly, her gaze hardening with defiance.

"Yeah, we'll have to make sure of that," Mithos agreed like he could control it. After leaving the half elf, Presea went to check on Genis. Already, her heart was beginning to ache. She remembered all the times those very lips were pressed against hers, creating some of the happiest moments of her life. Presea could remember them vividly; Genis would often kiss her passionately, while she would just return contently. She sorely missed the childlike smile that would always play across his mouth, the shining light in his bright blue eyes. Without any doubt, Presea was scared. He had to live, he had to. This wasn't how fairytales are supposed to end. Then again, in a fairytale the princess doesn't get experimented on and her family isn't all dead and she doesn't appear to be way younger than she is and she doesn't fight. However, that was Presea. Maybe life wasn't a fairytale, but it's a treasure, and she wanted to spend it with Genis.

"I love you," she whispered, those words feeling empty. There was no ear to receive them, no person to kiss her in ecstasy at hearing those words leave her mouth. No person for her to admit it to, no response of agreement. It was beyond frightening or chilling, it was straight down terrifying. Come back, she thought before opening the door to leave. The faint beeping of his irregular heartbeats still rang in her ears. All of a sudden, that inconsistent pattern turned into one endless ring. Presea's blood went cold and her heart stopped.

"NO!"

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Muhahaha, not the ending you were expecting, eh? So you all know what one long beep means...is he dead? Well well, looks like you have to read chappy 21!;) Sorry about the no itailcs or bold, it's one of those chapters. Anyways, thank you so much for reading, and please don't hesitate to comment, vote, or fan! Love and darkness,

BE