Author's Note: Here is the next chapter! We get to find out what happens to Lloyd! What are you waiting for? Let's read!

Disclaimers: I do not own Tales of Symphonia

Enjoy!

Chapter One

Innocence Returned

Zelos was the first of the group to awaken. He felt that something was wrong and sat up in his bed, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He could make out the soft breathing of his companions around him, reassuring him slightly. However, his gut feeling told him something was wrong in this picture.

Once his eyes could make out the shapes around him, he quickly scanned each bed. However, once his attention landed on the last one next to him, he realized it was empty. The sheets were tossed aside and the person who had once occupied it was gone. Lloyd…, he thought, flinging his sheets aside and getting up. He quickly pulled on his boots and strapped on his belt and sword, making his way hastily towards the door.

Normally, he would not worry this much about anything. However, seeing on how they had lost Genis to Mithos a few days ago, he was now even more anxious about the safety of his other friends. Especially Lloyd. The younger swordsman had become like a little brother to him and it would pain Zelos too much to think about if Lloyd was taken away from his life as his parents were, as well as his sister who hated him.

As Zelos wandered around the area surrounding Altessa's house, he tried to listen to any sound of footsteps nearby, any sign that Lloyd was still there. Nothing. There was nothing. Zelos took a deep breath and headed further into the forest.

"Lloyd! Lloyd! Are you there Bud?" he called towards the maze of trees, entering it slowly.

He took a few more steps and looked around, worried. He called out a couple of more times before he heard footsteps. He pulled out his sword quickly and silently, whirling around to face the sound. He exhaled when he saw who it was: his friends.

"Zelos? Where is Lloyd?" asked Raine, stifling a yawn.

"That's what I would like to know," replied the swordsman, scanning the area again, sheathing his sword.

"What?" gasped Colette, now fully awake, as were the others.

"We have to go find him now!" ordered Sheena, making her way towards the forest.

The others followed closely, the summoner and Zelos in the lead. They were walking for a while when Colette's and Zelos' ears picked up some sounds. They motioned for the others to stop while they tried to figure out where the noise was coming from. A moment passed until a piercing yell cut through the night, disturbing everything around them.

Before anyone had time to react, Zelos was already bounding towards the sound. His heart had clenched and his mind had gone blank. All he could think about was running as fast as possible towards the yell. He knew deep down that it was Lloyd's, he had heard it before and each time, his stomach tied in a knot and his heart clenched. Please be alright, please be alright, thought Zelos as he ducked under branches and jumped over roots, heading towards his friend.

Zelos burst into a clearing, out of breath. Since it was still dark, he could not make out the details of the area. However, he did spot a small lump at the base of a tree and approached it. Kneeling next to it, he tried to figure out what it was exactly. Once the clouds moved away from the moon, its rays illuminated the clearing and what Zelos was looking at it.

"What…?" gasped the swordsman, losing balance and falling completely to his knees.

In front of him lay a small boy of about three years old. His short, spiky brown hair was falling over his small, innocent, round face. His red shirt and his black shorts were filthy. The boy's knees were scratched and so were his tiny hands. His face, however, was scrunched, as if he was in pain or scared.

"Lloyd?" whispered Zelos, reaching out and lightly pushing the hair out of the boy's face.

The small boy groaned and slowly opened his large chocolate eyes. He stared at the ground for a moment before looking around, slowly pushing himself up. Once he was sitting, he finally noticed Zelos kneeling in front of him. His mouth fell open as he stared at the man.

After a moment, the others burst into the clearing, all of them spotting Zelos. Before they could ask what was happening, they spotted Lloyd. However, the small boy also spotted them. His eyes filled with tears and, if possible, his mouth hung more open. Without warning, tears rolled down his face.

"Mommy! Daddy!" he cried, backing away awkwardly from the group.

"Lloyd? Is that you?" asked Sheena, approaching her friend.

"How do you know my name?" yelled the toddler, even more scared. "Mommy! Daddy!"

"Lloyd, please calm down," whispered Colette, kneeling next to him.

He yelled out, getting up quickly, his eyes closed. However, he tripped and fell. He slowly got back up on his knees, looking at his scratched hands. He stared at them, tears streaming down his face. He clenched his fists, holding them closely to his chest.

"Mommy… Daddy… I'm scared…," he whispered to himself.

Suddenly, there was rustling in the bushes nearby. Lloyd yelled out in surprise as a dark shape came out. However, it headed straight for the small boy. Once it crossed a strip of moonlight, the group recognized the creature that had been with Lloyd since the very beginning.

"Noishe…? Noishe!" cried Lloyd happily as the dog headed over to him.

Noishe buried his head in the boy's chest as Lloyd hugged him tightly. The tears slowly stopped as he buried his face in the animal's soft fur.

Meanwhile, from where Zelos had stayed, his spotted a small, round, light blue gem where Lloyd used to lay. He slowly picked it up and studied it. It's Lloyd's exsphere…, he thought, looking back at the boy. Also, along with the exsphere, there were two swords laid out side by side. Lloyd's as well, thought the red head, watching his friend. The youngster had returned his attention towards the large group, watching them as he hid partially behind Noishe.

"Who are you?" he asked quietly.

"We're…," started Raine, looking at the group, "We're here to help you Lloyd."

"Help?" he repeated, staring at them.

"Yes, we'll help you find your father," explained Sheena, catching on.

"Really?"

"Yes, really," agreed Colette happily.

They watched as his eyes grew larger, his quivering mouth turning into a smile. His grip loosened around Noishe's neck and they both approached the group. However, a few feet away, Lloyd slowed down slightly, still a little scared. It was a small nudge from the animal which made him close the gap with the group, a foot away from the closest member.

"Let's go Lloyd," whispered Zelos, getting up from his kneeling position on the ground, holding out his hand.

Lloyd stared at the outstretched hand, still cautious. However, he held on to Noishe more tightly as the animal pushed the small boy onto its back. Noishe barked softly, motioning for the group to head back towards Altessa's house.



Once the group made it back to the house, Lloyd was slowly drifting off into sleep. Noishe stopped at the door, knowing all too well that it could not enter the house with the others. They looked at each other, trying to figure out who would bring the boy in since he did not seem to trust any of them.

After a moment, Zelos stepped forward and stroked Lloyd's hair lightly, making the boy stir. He blinked a few times, his large chocolate eyes full of sleep.

"Daddy…?" he whispered, looking around.

"No, but we will get you to him, I promise," replied Zelos softly, keeping his hand lightly on the boy's head.

Lloyd stared at the red head and, after a moment, nodded. The swordsman smiled warmly and gently picked the youngster up and made his way towards inside. The others followed though waited in the main area as Zelos brought Lloyd into the bedroom.

It felt a little awkward for the red head to, not only be carrying a small child like this, but to have it be his best friend as well. Also, the look in Lloyd's eyes while he was staring at them made Zelos' heart clench – there was so much fear and uncertainty in them, contrary to the boy's look the red head knew.

He placed the small child onto one of the beds and tucked him in. Zelos ruffled his hair slightly, smiling.

"Sleep well Lloyd," he whispered, walking away quietly.

"Daddy… Mommy..."

The sound was barely audible and if not for his enhanced hearing, Zelos was sure he would not have been able to hear it. He looked back at Lloyd as the child curled up, a small smile on his face. The faster we get him to his father, the better. He would know how to deal with the toddler, thought Zelos, leaving the room and joining the others.

They were all sitting at the table and, once the red head had entered, they became quiet. Zelos took a seat at the table, glancing one last time towards the room where he had left Lloyd.

"So, I think it's clear what we have to do," stated Raine, breaking the silence.

"Yes, but after we bring him to his father, what will happen afterwards?" asked Regal.

"How can we change him back?" asked Colette, worry sounding in her voice.

"That, we will have to figure out soon. He's vulnerable in this state and he has more chances of getting hurt or going missing," explained Raine, trying to figure something out.

"And I hope when he comes back to normal, he remembers us," whispered Sheena, recalling Lloyd's reaction when he saw them.

They sat in silence, all pondering on their own on what they could do. No one really knew how long they sat there, deep in contemplation and worry. The sun was slowly creeping up the horizon before any of them actually decided to move. Now that there was light, they all decided it was safer to fly towards their destination.

"Zelos, go wake Lloyd up. He seems to trust you more than us," explained Raine, packing their bags and heading outside.

Zelos nodded and headed towards the room. It was only half true what the Professor had stated. Lloyd's trust was at its minimal and it was just slightly higher for the red head since he was the one who tried to talk to the small child the most. It was not because Lloyd wanted to place more trust in the swordsman than the others. Please Lloyd, I hope you find your old self soon, thought Zelos, entering the room and heading towards the bed, still lost in thought.

He was about to pull the sheets back to wake the child when he gasped in surprise. The sheets were tossed aside and the bed was empty. Zelos looked around the room and spotted the curtains moving with the wind. He rushed to the window and pulled away the fabric, revealing the open window. He stared out of it, in shock. His foot then hit a small, wooden box, placed next to the window. He left! Oh thank the Goddess he was not kidnapped! He thought, running outside.

He burst through the door, surprising all his friends.

"Lloyd is gone!" he yelled. "He left!"


Author's Note: Well, what did you think? A Zelos plushie in exchange for your thoughts! Review Please!