Summary:

As Filia attempts to raise Val to the best of her ability, he slowly starts to regain his memories of his past. As he grows, so does his animosity. Will Filia's atonement for her race and good intentions change Val for the better, or will history repeat itself.

Chapter 1

REBIRTH

Filia glanced over the glimmering aqua egg. Though, it was less of a glance and more like an intense stare; as if she looked away, even for a moment, it might just vanish into thin air.

"Boss, whatcha doing?' Jillas interrupted, nearly making Filia slam face first into the egg. Leaning up against the kitchen table, Filia turned to look at Jillas was an angry look. "Starring at it, won't make him hatch any faster, dontcha know," he remarked while taking a good look at the egg himself.

Filia let out a deep sigh. She knew Jillas was right, but it still unnerved her that the egg had not hatched after all these years. Sometimes she thought she must be doing something wrong, that it was all her fault that Val was not hatching. Jillas laid a furry hand on her shoulder in an attempt to reassure her.

"Don't you worry Boss, I'm sure he will come on out real soon." Jillas started in a reassuring manner, but Filia's mind wandered off as he continued to try to make her feel better.

Maybe I'm not fit to be taking care of the last of the ancient dragons, Filia thought to herself, Maybe I should have found someone else to take care of him. Filia's mind continued to race with negative and self-deprecating thoughts. He should have hatched by now; its been 10 years! Maybe..., maybe he would have been better off with...

She never did finish that thought, as a loud crashing sound could be heard from the front foyer, jolting her back to reality. Jillas was about to rush over when Filia stopped him.

"Watch over Val!" She yelled as she started towards the door, "I'll go see what's going on."

Before Jillas could say anything, she was gone. Filia managed to make it down to the foyer in about 10 seconds, her mace drawn as she leapt into the doorway, and into the foyer. But the instant she saw the situation, she just rubbed her temples in annoyance. Sitting in a mess of broken pottery and scattered maces, was a confused Gavros. She really should have known, even after ten years, he still was accidentally knocking things over and breaking her merchandise. Gavros, being quite a large beastman, had a tendency to bump into things quite a lot.

"Uh, sorry ... again." Gravos said as softly as he could. "I bent over to get something and my ass knocked into a cart of maces, which then knocked over a shelf, which then knocked..." Filla raised her hand to stop him from continuing.

"I get the idea, Gravos," she remarked, trying to not sound frustrated. "Just clean it up." Still rubbing her temples, "I'm just glad that no one else was here at the time, we don't need another one of those lawsuits." She remember back when they first introduced lawsuits in her town. She thought it was a good idea; finally, people could be compensated for people's ill deeds. That was until a certain incident where Gavros accidentally knocked over a whole rack of maces onto a little old lady, who just happened to have a very wealthy son.

Gavros looked up at her with a sorrowful expression. "Yes Miss. Filia. I'll get on it right away."

Filia nodded, and made her way back to the kitchen. Her initial frustration subsided. She knew she could not stay mad at Gavros; he was trying his best, and she really did appreciate that he stayed to help her after all these years. Jillas as well, though he showed his devotion in a more loud, and sometimes even obnoxious, way. She was thankful she had both of them, even if Gavros was a bit of klutz and Jillas could sometimes be annoying. They were there for her in their own ways, and she greatly appreciated that they stayed with her for these past ten years.

Filia made it into the kitchen to see Jillas terrified face looking up at her.

"Boss!" he shouted the moment he saw her, sweat dripping down his forehead. "I don't know what happened! I touched the egg for a second...and...and...it just started glowing!" Jilias stepped aside the counter to show that in fact, the egg was indeed glowing. A pulsating glow, that beat with the rhythm of Filia's heart. Filia slowly starting walking towards the egg - she knew it was time.

"Boss, I swear I didn't do nothin! Just one lil' hold." Jillas stammered on, worried. "I..." Jillas stopped when he noticed Filia's expression.

"It's time," she whispered, as she was nearing the glowing egg. Jillas moved aside, still a bit confused, as Filia edged right over-top the soft blue glow. She stared down at the egg, just as she did just a few moments earlier. Intense was her stare, and with what felt like the longest five minutes of her life, the egg cracked.

It cracked and cracked, until what remained was a shattered shell, and a baby ancient dragon that lay within it. Filia smiled, it almost reminded her of Gavros in his mess of broken pottery and maces.

Filia reached down and lifted little Val into her arms. His little dragon eyes were open and his golden gaze stared up a Filia curiously. She smiled and slowly petted his head, showing all the warmth she had in her heart at that moment. He felt right in her arms, and from that very moment, all her doubts disappeared.

I'll make this right. She whispered in her mind.