I can't believe it! This fanfic it almost finished! -le gasp!- See? I told you guys this chapter would be up soon! Yay!!

We all love reviews!
Blackdemondragon: Poor Raine is right! Thanks for reviewing!
Sliver of Time: I actually haven't read that many evil fanfics. It's interesting to see Lloyd like this.
killerbunbun: Wow, cookie addicted? XD here you go!
Sage of Spirits: Cruxis Lloyd senses? I've never heard of those before! XD
Scattle: You got me, I admit Raine isn't usually like that. And your first review on this story! Glad I FINALLY got you to read it. XD
Arisu Tsuranu: What can I say? Writing about Evil Lloyd just brings out the evil in me. XD
Angel With Clipped Wings: Uh oh, Kratos looks pretty mad at you! You better run!!
Ruby Tyra: I've updated soon this time! XD Hope you like it.
Usagi-no-Kasai: I like surprising people. I'm glad you support my darker writing. I find that I can go a little darker with Raine because of her maturity level.
Li-Chan: Aww, it's okay! You can gripe. I don't mind.
SilverMoon: Shadow seems like a popular cookie choice. Interesting... -eats a shadow cookie-
Elenturi: I aim to frighten! XD Spelling mistakes, huh? Damn word! I'll have to go looking for those. Thanks for pointing it out!

Disclaimer Zelos: Scaff doesn't own Tales of Symphonia. If she did, there would be more Zelos backstory.

"I dare you to kiss him."

"What? You've got to be kidding me!"

"What ever happened to 'Zelos, the man who never backs down from a dare'?"

"Well, I didn't mean one like that. Come on, Sheena!"

"Hey, I think he's waking up!"

"Mm?" Lloyd's eyelids fluttered open. Around him was the entire group, all leaning towards him. His brown eyes scanned his surroundings. He was in a forest and it was mid-day. Why was he asleep? Lloyd gasped as he suddenly remembered what had happened for the last 3 days. He looked over to Raine. She lowered her eyes and looked away. Genis' voice snapped him out of his melancholy thoughts.

"So, do you feel better?"

"Actually, yeah. I do! I feel 110 percent!" Lloyd announced happily. He sat up and grinned at his friends. Colette cheered.

"Thank Martel you're feeling better! But don't push yourself, okay? I don't want you to suddenly feel sick again."

"Stop worrying about it, Colette. If I say I'm better, than I'm good to go, okay?"

"Yeah! I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize," Lloyd groaned. The rest of the group laughed. Sheena offered him a hand to help him stand up. Lloyd happily took it and got up to his feet. "Yup, I'm all good. All though, I do feel a little sore."

"Mm, it's probably from fainting," Regal stated.

"Fainting?"

"Yes, Raine said that when the medicine finally took affect, your exsphere increased the speed of recovery and out your body into shock. As a result of that, you fainted," Regal explained. Lloyd nodded. He half understood the explanation, but he was pretty sure Raine hadn't said anything about their… conversation. The teen sighed in relief.

"All right everyone, give Lloyd some room. I'll heal his soreness and any other aliments he may have. I think it would be in our best interest to enter the Temple of Earth early tomorrow morning. Seeing as it will be dark soon, I suggest that Presea starts preparing dinner now and everyone else can have some down time, away from Lloyd. Understand?" Raine commanded. She looked straight in the eye with hard eyes.

"Y-yes Raine!" The group split off leaving Raine alone with Lloyd. The half elf turned her attention to Lloyd.

"Do you mind being healed by an inferior being?" Lloyd winced at the last part of her question. His fingers fidgeted uncomfortably.

"I, I don't see you that way. Really! I didn't mean anything I said before." Silence echoed in the forest.

"I, I don't know were those words came from. I swear I'm not like that. I can't stand myself for saying it. I respect you, professor!" Raine's sad expression stayed static. Lloyd took a step closer to her.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'd never use you! You aren't a parasite! You're my teacher! You're my companion, my friend, you're like a mother to me. When I said those things, I didn't mean them. I didn't want to say it, but I couldn't help it, no matter how hard I tried. It wasn't me talking. It was me," Lloyd threw himself to the healer. The boy started shaking and tears fell on Raine's back. He clenched Raine's jacket tightly and buried his face into her shoulder. The silver haired maiden patted his back affectionately.

"You understand the consequences for your words?"

"Yes! Yes!! I didn't want to say it, but I did. I'm so weak!" cried Lloyd.

"On the contrary Lloyd; you are strong. To be able to admit your mistakes and accept the consequences for what an illness did to you, it requires a great amount of courage."

"Do you forgive me?" the boy squeaked through tears. The half elf took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yes, I do."

-- -- --

Presea prepared risotto for the party that evening. The group talked animatedly around the fire. Lloyd was having a conversation with Colette and Zelos about what vegetable everyone would be.

"I think Genis would be a really smart vegetable," Colette said.

"I don't think vegetables can be smart," sighed Lloyd.

"Not true!! I've heard that a tomato has an IQ of 25!"

"…you aren't serious, are you?"

"The brat would be a brussel sprout. It's short, annoying and they look like alien brains," Zelos said triumphantly.

"What about Sheena?"

"It has to be something sexy, hot and possibly deadly," Zelos muttered.

"An eggplant!" Colette said happily.

"What? Why an eggplant?" Lloyd asked.

"No, I see it too. If you turn it upside down it can have a heavy chest!"

"And it's purple! Sheena always wears purple!" Colette explained. Lloyd shook his head, grinning. He gazed at everyone around the fire. Across from him was Regal. He always seemed to have such a serious face. However, the story he told Lloyd was so carefree. Lloyd was glad that he had seen his soft heart. To Regal's left was Genis. He was a brilliant kid and a great friend. Lloyd was proud to be able to call him his friend. Beside Genis was Presea. Usually she kept to herself at meals, but tonight she was softly smiling at Genis. It seemed that she was slowly regaining her humanity. Sheena was sitting next to the small girl. Her raven hair was let down this evening. Lloyd wondered about her relationship with Zelos. Speaking of Zelos… Lloyd blushed suddenly as he looked at Zelos. He quickly pushed away his memory his hallucination and looked to his left. Colette was smiling at something Raine had said. She really was an angel. At the thought of angels, Lloyd looked up at the sky. Even though the sun hadn't completely set yet he could still see some stars. Kratos… I don't think you can really be our enemy. I can just feel it…

"So we're going to totally dominate the Temple of Earth, right Lloyd?" Sheena asked.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah! There's no stopping us! Temple of Earth, here we come!" Lloyd cried, punching the sky.

"Yeah!!"

I can't believe this is over!! I loved writing this fanfic so much. It was a great way to pass time and I found it a great way to practice my writing. I got to experiment with many different characters, settings and scenarios.

A BIG thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited this story and/or put it on their story alert list. It means a lot to me that you enjoyed it! All reviews from now on will be answered via messages.

This was a great experience. Thank you, everyone!

Scaff