A/N: After about two years since the original "The Ill Monado Boy" fanfic I made started to be published I've decided I'd like to redo it as I said I would in the author's note posted at the beginning of chapter 3. I will be leaving the original up alongside this new version for those that may prefer it. As said in the old author's note I will be adding Alvis into the story, although his role isn't significant until later on. I also added better character interactions, and more in-depth storytelling to parts I felt needed it and tried to give the whole story a better overall flow. This new version, or redo will follow the original plot as best as it can so you may notice that some lines, or scenes are the exact same, or just slightly altered. Without further ado, let's move on to the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own the games, characters or locations, but I do own the story plot idea.

It was hot, too hot. But Shulk, Reyn, Sharla, Dunban, Melia, Riki and Alvis had to deal with it to get to Valak Mountain on the Bionis' back and then Sword Valley on the sword of the Mechnois just past that as that was the connecting point between the two massive, lifeless Titans.

They had managed to trek through most of Makna Forest without must injury or health concerns. It wasn't until they were about two or so days away from the connecting points of Makna Forest and Valak Mountain that cause for concern may have begun to rise. The sound of someone coughing could be heard. They were coming from Shulk. They weren't bad at first so no one paid any mind.

Those two or so days had passed and the group was at the entrance point for Valak Mountain, unfortunately Shulk's condition was worsening. He was getting tired causing his movements in battle to become sluggish and his coughs became far more frequent and produced a deep hacking sound. Shulk's friends could tell he was getting sick, whether he'd admit it or not.

"It's getting dark. We should set up camp here until tomorrow morning." Said Dunban as he was looking at the setting sun through the trees.

"I agree." Reyn added. "I'm gunna need my strength, not to mention, I'm hungry." Reyn's hands met with his stomach as he talked.

"I supposed we should have something to eat." Dunban turned to his right to face Sharla and Riki. "Let me see what I can make. Sharla, Ryen and Riki, can you please help me?"

"Riki help DunDun, Riki help DunDun!" The Nopon was bouncing up and down with joy.

"Absolutely Dunban."

"Great. Riki, could you take Sharla and Reyn to go find berries and fruits of some kind that are safe to eat."

"Riki find good berries to eat! Follow Riki!" Riki began to bounce away from their resting spot with Reyn and Sharla following close behind.

"I'll get a fire going while I wait for their return." Dunban began to make his way a few feet from the remaining party members to start a fire with some wood they left over from a previous stop.

"I'll keep watch of the area." Said Alvis as he walked some ways from everyone else.

"Thank you, Alvis."

"I'll start making an area for us to sleep in." Melia chimed in. She turned to Shulk, "Shulk, can you help me please?"

Shulk wasn't really paying attention to Melia's question, actually, he wasn't really paying attention to anything at all. He just stared at the ground lost in his thoughts.

Dunban stood up. "Shulk? Did you hear Melia's question?" Dunban walked towards Shulk and tapped him on the shoulder, eyeing the boy with concern.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't hear you." Shulk's voice was quiet and horse probably from all that coughing but, they could hear him anyway.

"I would like you to help me prepare our sleeping area."

"Yeah, I'll help you, Melia." Shulk slowly removed the Monado off his back and placed it with everyone's weapons. Shulk made his way to Melia, who had already found the perfect spot for them to set up everything they needed to sleep.

Shulk and Melia began to set up camp by gathering leaves and plies of grass from the nearby area. The first few minutes with complete silence between the two of them. All that could be heard was the coughing from Shulk and the voices of Reyn, Sharla and Riki, signaling their return.

"I should inquire on his wellbeing." Melia thought, her mind full of concern for Shulk grew as he continued to have bouts of coughing that should have been long gone by now, not getting worse each passing day.

"Shulk?" Melia pipped up as she looked in his direction. He was crouching over a pile of leaves and grass fixing them into position absent mindedly, lost in his thoughts once more. He didn't hear her.

Melia stepped closer in his direction and called his name once more, "Shulk?". This time he looked up at her in response.

Melia wasn't pleased with what she saw. Shulk looked pale, too pale for her liking. "Are you alright Shulk?"

Shulk straightened himself so that his whole body was facing Melia and he could be at eye level. He looked her straight in the eyes, "I'm fine Melia, just tired."

"You don't look 'just tired' to me Shulk." Melia stepped closer to the blonde to get a closer look. Shulk quickly stepped back.

"I'm fine, honest." Shulk's hands were out stretched a bit in case she decided to come closer again.

Melia still didn't believe him but decided not to pursue the matter any further.

With the bedding done Dunban had just finished making dinner, Melia and Shulk made their way to the fire.

They all sat around the fire having a good time talking about various things, everyone was except Shulk. He was just as quiet as he had been all day and he hardly touched his food.

For what felt like the one millionth time that day Sharla asked, "Are you sure, you're ok Shulk?" You've hardly touched your dinner."

"I'm fine, really." Shulk didn't hesitate to respond this time with a hint of irritation in his voice. The next time he spoke his voice was calmer, "I think I'm going to go to off to sleep. Night." Shulk rose from where he was sitting and placed the bowl of hardly eaten food on the ground where he sat. Shulk walked away from where the fire was and walked to the sleeping area.

Shulk chose the spot furthest from the group. It didn't take him long to fall into a restless sleep.

The rest of the group sat in silence for a few moments after Shulk's departure. Reyn was the first one to speak up.

"Something's up with Shulk. He's my best friend. I know when he's hiding something." Reyn said with a hushed tone in fear of Shulk hearing him.

"You might be right Reyn. I think he's gotten himself sick. I know he wouldn't slack off when it comes to the Monado." Dunban was thinking about the past couple of days and how Shulk was acting.

"He looked rather ill to me when we were setting up our resting area." Said Melia.

"What could he be sick with?" Asked Dunban.

"I am not certain, but I think for the time being we should let him rest. He really needs it."

"We'll try again tomorrow." Said Dunban. "I think it's time we get some rest as well. Good night." The fire was put out leaving them to walk by the light of the moon high above the trees.

The following morning everyone but Shulk was up with the rise of the sun. It didn't take everyone long to get ready to move onto Valak Mountain, except one problem, Shulk was still asleep.

"Should we allow him to rest a little longer?" Melia asked looking at Dunban and Sharla, her blue eyes gleaming in the shine of the morning sun.

"I think that would be best." Sharla replied. "We should let him wake up on his own." They did just that and had to wait about an hour before Shulk had woken.

"Morning Shulk." Called Alvis as Shulk walked towards his friends that were sitting around the old campfire.

"Morning everyone. Sorry I slept in guys, you should have woken me up."

"It's cool Shulk, we all need a little extra sleep sometimes." Reyn said as he walked over to Shulk and patted him on the back rather hard, almost knocking him over and causing a coughing fit. One thing Reyn noticed was the amount of heat radiating off of Shulk's body. He didn't like that. To Reyn it seemed like Shulk might have a fever because yes, the Makna Forest was hot, but this heat coming from Shulk wasn't normal.

Shulk could tell Reyn was on to him so he had to change the moment quickly before Reyn coulld say anything. "I should pack up my belongings so we can get going." Shulk made his way over to where he rested the Monado the previous night.

He didn't have much to pack up so it didn't take him too long, but he was tired, even after all of that sleep. The constant coughing didn't help either as he said to stop and catch his breath after each coughing fit.

With his equipment ready to go and the Monado now resting on his back again Shulk was ready to go, or at least as ready as he could be. "Is everyone ready to go?" Shulk rejoined the others.

"Shulk, you should eat something before we get going." Suggested Sharla. "It might be a good idea as you'll need your strength."

"No, I'm fine. I'm not hungry." This time Shulk was telling the truth. He hadn't been hungry for quite some time.

"We won't be stopping again, for a while. Are you sure?"

Yes, I'm sure. Now let's get going." Shulk started walking on ahead. More concerned looks crossed the faces of Shulk's friends.

A/N: Well I hope you liked the first chapter of my redo attempt at this story. Please feel free to leave a review on what you think I could improve or what you thought of the story.