"Give you my exsphere? I don't think so."

"Please sir. Even after hearing how they're made, you still won't give it up?" Lloyd was getting frustrated with this man. Besides himself and his friends, this man held the last exsphere that Lloyd needed to collect. The professor had helped him with the computers in the ranch near Iselia. Lloyd had used the records there to track down all of the loose exspheres. It had taken him eight years, but now he had found the last one.

"What do I care about the people in the ranches? Why should I give mine up? You're still using yours." Lloyd shook his head in frustration. Now at the age of 25, Lloyd was strong and techniqued enough to defeat almost any opponent even without his exsphere. The man didn't even have a key crest; he was going to turn into a monster if the man didn't let Lloyd help him.

"At least let me give you a key…"

"No! Just leave me alone and go away." Lloyd was almost ready to take it by force when he got an idea.

"How about a duel for the exsphere? One-on-one. I won't use mine." To emphasize his point, Lloyd plucked his out and showed it to the man before pocketing it. "How's that?"

"Ha, you think you can beat me? All right. One-on-one for my exsphere. My prize will be the satisfaction of beating you. Let's go."

END FLASHBACK

(A/N: Whoa! Didn't know you were in a flashback, huh?)

Lloyd smiled grimly, holding the last exsphere. The man had only been a challenge because of the exsphere, and even then, his skills didn't even come close to those of his father, Kratos, and his friend Zelos.

He put the exsphere into his bag, alone with the other numerous others he had collected. His journey had taken too long. Sheena had started with him, but had been forced to return to Mizuho for training and preparation only a year into the journey. Lloyd had continued and was now finally able to return and see his friends once more.

He came into the clearing that had held his home for so many years. When he reached the door, he found a note tacked to it. It was short and looked like Presea's handwriting.

Lloyd-

Come to the Lezerano Company when you get home. We have much to talk about. Everyone will be there.

There was no signature, but Lloyd was confident that it came from the axe-wielding girl from Ozette. Wanting to see his friends soon, he immediately pulled the Rheaird out of the spot he had hidden it before leaving on his exsphere-hunting journey. He hopped on and flew off for Altamira with the exspheres going along as well.

Upon reaching the glamorous city, Lloyd instantly knew something was wrong. It was a special talent of his. He could always tell when something had happened, or something was about to happen. Altamira felt like that. People were still out having fun in the luxurious city, but there seemed to be a certain dread hanging over the city. He quickly hid his Rheaird in an alley and covered it, even though he doubted anyone would know how to operate it.

He strode back out, acting casual. In reality, his nerves were shot. The people knew something, but they didn't say anything. They just looked ahead, trying to enjoy themselves.

When Lloyd reached the Elemental Railroad, he found the car had been abandoned out in the water. He knew he could easily jump the distance, but he knew if he activated that train, it would take him to trouble. A vision flashed before his eyes, but Lloyd barely saw it. The image flashed again, and this time, Lloyd knew what it was. It was Sheena, tears streaming down her face, and she seemed to be in pain.

Reservations gone, Lloyd leapt into the car and started it up. A thick fog surrounded him suddenly, and Lloyd wished it would move faster.

The first thing Lloyd noticed through the thick fog was that the railway couldn't make it to the Lezerano Company's building. Sharp, jagged rocks jutted out of the water, almost as if they had been thrown there and then forgotten about. He could not see beyond the boulders, and the fog began to make him feel uneasy. Something sinister lay beyond that wall of white.

Ominously, the railway car slowed and stopped of its own accord. Doubt coming back into his mind once more, Lloyd hesitated at the rocky shore. In the distance, he could see several faint, blinking lights. They were those that belonged to the Lezerano building. The image of Sheena appeared again, and Lloyd shook off the feelings of doubt. This time, he swore he could hear her calling out for him, calling his name, and it gave him strength.

The young swordsman jumped out of the dead vehicle and began to pick his way through the sharp boulders. The winking lights got brighter and larger, and Lloyd knew he was getting close. Jumping from a high rock, Lloyd round himself standing on fine sand. Calm sand seemed too simple for the menace he could almost taste in the air.

Suddenly, Lloyd found himself flying through the air, sand and dust clouding his vision. He landed roughly, falling over as his swords were unsheathed. As he scrambled to his feet, he realized he could be in for a tough fight. Before him was a gigantic worm, similar to the one found in the Triet Desert. It had taken four of his team to defeat the creature, and all that had been found afterward had been a Devil's Arm.

Lloyd pulled himself into a fighting stance and charged the behemoth. The worm lowered its mouth, hoping Lloyd would simply rush straight into its gullet. Knowing the tactic from an earlier battle, Lloyd leapt up and landed behind where the worm's eyes should be. He went into a Sword Rain, punching holes in the worm's thick hide. The beast reared up, flinging Lloyd away from it. To counter the worm's movement, Lloyd easily landed and rebounded into the air for a Rising Falcon. The attack tore a great, big hole in the worm, making it bellow in pain.

Before Lloyd could pull off any more attacks, the worm quickly burrowed itself, used the very ground Lloyd stood on for cover. Lloyd just waited, he knew it would be back. It would try to come up directly beneath him, mouth open wide. He soon felt the vibrations sent out by the tunneling beast, and moved quickly into an Omega Tempest. The maneuver launched him into the air and back down in time to use a Demonic Circle on the segmented tail of the Desert Worm.

Brown blood poured from the multiple wounds it had, and Lloyd could see it visibly slow. Lloyd rushed in once more, swords misted with blood and dew, creating a strange gleam in the low light. He slashed at the creature, knowing its life was almost over. Lloyd wound up and delivered a powerful Beast attack to the monster, sending it back, dropping it to the ground. It didn't get up again.

In the corner of his eye, he saw something glint from a stray light in the fog. The bag holding the exspheres had fallen open. Why did I even bring that with me? Guess I'll have to take it. I can't let someone get these. He picked up the bag and walked back into the ever-thickening fog.

Lloyd marched on, wary of any other opponents that might pop up. There was nothing. He seemed to be all alone in the gloom, but he felt like he was being watched. The unseen eyes continued to watch as Lloyd got closer to the flashing lights, bulging bag swinging lightly over his shoulder.

The fog suddenly lifted, letting Lloyd see what lay before him. The Lezerano building looked deformed and hideous. Strange protrusions shot out at odd angles, resembling the Giant Kharlan tree when it had gone out of control. A large stone wall surrounded the tall structure, but it wasn't anything Lloyd couldn't get past. Quietly he crept to the wall, and upon reaching it, he found there were several hand holds. The climb would be easy for him.

He tied his bag of exspheres onto one shoulder and climbed up the barrier. In almost no time, he was crouching atop the wall, looking down into the courtyard below. Boulders and rocks lay strewn about, intermixed with what seemed to be complex machinery. There were also…bodies down there. Lloyd gasped as he realized what he was looking at.

Lloyd leaped down and the sick feeling was replaced almost immediately by a fouler smell, one of rotting flesh. He wrinkled his nose and tried to ignore it.

Lloyd slowly walked through the debris, looking for any living creature. Even a monster would be acceptable, because then he would know if it was possible to survive in the stinking courtyard. He paused and looked around. He had seen the bodies from the wall. Where were they? Walking among the boulders was a more difficult challenge than it had seemed from atop the wall.

A low grunting sound came from behind Lloyd. His swords were halfway out of their scabbards before he realized that the sound was human. Keeping his swords at the ready, Lloyd dashed around several boulders. At the end of the corridor of rocks lay a large block of concrete. On it lay the body of Regal.

Only, Regal wasn't completely Regal. He was missing his arms and legs. His eyes were closed, rimmed with dried tears. His once youthful blue hair now had long streaks of white-gray. Mouth turned down in pain, Lloyd knew this was Regal's greatest fear. Without limbs, he was useless. That would eat Regal from the inside out.

"Regal…" The name came out in a whisper. Lloyd slowly approached the figure, not wanting to believe it. At Lloyd's voice, Regal's eyes opened, slowly focusing on Lloyd. A small smile broke out on the warrior's face, but it disappeared during coughing fits as he spoke.

"Lloyd…I'm glad you…came."

"Regal, what happened?"

"I need to tell…to tell you…something."

"What is it?"

"You once said that I was like a…a father to you. Lloyd, you have taught me much and I am able to say that you…are like a son to me."

"Regal…" For the first time, Lloyd could see that the block of concrete upon which Regal lay was covered in blood. But Regal still looked happy.

"Lloyd, I can see it in your eyes. I'm dying and there's nothing you can do." Lloyd tried to say something, but Regal interrupted.

"It's OK, Lloyd. I already knew. I was holding on so…that I…could tell you…" His coughing became extremely intense, making his body shake.

"What is it, Regal?" Regal's eyes shut as he spoke.

"Presea…Presea has…" His coughs became quiet, rasping. Lloyd stood over his friend, wishing he could do something. In a few short moments, Regal Bryant was gone.

"Good bye, Regal. I promise to return and give you a proper burial." With that, Lloyd slowly walked back into the gloom searching for others. He wiped the tears that formed, thinking to himself, There will be time to mourn later. Find who did this and make them pay. I have to stay strong for the others.

Lloyd walked slowly through the boulder field, fearing what he would find in the mist. A small groan drifted through the fog, closely followed by a smaller, quieter one. Lloyd found his Kusanagi blades in his hands, instantly at the ready. He decided not to put them away this time, they would just find their way back again.

He moved cautiously toward the groans, and came across another torture device, but this one was not as simple as the one Regal had been in. This device was to cause physical pain, not emotional pain like Regal's. There was someone…no! two someones inside of it. Sparks of electricity shot off the outside of the container, clearly signaling what it did. Lloyd quickly smashed it open, and out tumbled two men, both of whom Lloyd knew.

Genis Sage, now 20, had slightly longer hair, though still silver. He wasn't wearing the old blue uniform he had. Now, though most of it was torn off, Lloyd could see red fabric. Now, why was he wearing red? The other man, Zelos Wilder, seemed to be showing his age finally, even though he was fairly young. A rough red beard poked out of his face and his red hair had a few lines of gray starting to show. Of course, even Lloyd had to admit that Zelos had somehow managed to make himself look good, even in his battered state. Both of them were unconscious and had burns all over their bodies. Nothing Raine couldn't fix, if Lloyd could find her. He approached the torture device, focused on destroying it once and for all. When he got close to it, a strong heat radiated from it. Lloyd realized that is had both shocked and burned his friends. Choosing one of his most powerful moves, Lloyd unleashed a Beast Sword Rain. The device fell apart into several pieces as the electricity shorted out, leaving dark metal to litter the ground.

Lloyd checked his unconscious friends to make sure they would be OK, even though they wouldn't be coming with him. He pulled a small stiletto out of his pack that Kratos had given him and put it in Zelos's hand. It wasn't much, but Zelos could protect them if anything showed up.

He rose, sighing. He didn't want to leave his friends, but he had to find the others, even if they were…No! I won't accept that! They are alive and I will find them!