Here comes more questions... and maybe an answer or two if you squint.

Quick note: I've gotten rid of the stuff with Mithos and Martel in it, because it was annoying and there was a timing problem. But I don't think anyone really cares.

Onwards, then.

Chapter II: The Journey

I charge you to venture far and wide,

To go to lands across the sea,

And over the far away mountains.

Go to those distant lands, my children,

To learn the ways of your neighbors,

And to cleans your souls of your sins.

-The Scriptures of Martel, 21:7

"Lloyd!"

Lloyd rolled over in bed, muttering something in sleep.

"Lloyd!"

The boy rolled around again, pulling the sheets over his head.

"I thought you said you needed to be at Colette's at six! It's almost quarter to the hour now!"

Lloyd went from horizontal to vertical in a second, but tripped on the blankets wrapped around his legs and fell to the floor. With a muffled angry curse, he untangled himself and stood upright. He only had fifteen minutes to pack for the journey and then get to the village! He had to hurry!

He quickly reached under his bed and pulled out a cloth pack that, judging from the many patches, was very old. Lloyd ran around his room, roughly shoving anything he thought he would need into his pack. Tools, paper, pencils, a small knife, matches... oh no! Lloyd stopped his search as he remembered something, he forgot to finish Colette's birthday present! He remembered stopping in the middle of the night, and he had decided that a quick nap was in order. He had never gotten around to finishing Colette's gift. With a curse, he swept up the tools and parts for the gift into his bag, along with everything else. He would try to finish it in secret during the journey.

There, that was almost everything he would need. Almost...

He paused for a moment, and then walked over to the nightstand by his bed. He opened a small drawer, and lifted a hidden flap on the bottom. He removed what had been hidden there, holding it in both hands, staring down at it unblinkingly. Then he felt his eyes start to water, an old pain coming back to ache in his chest. It was a folded piece of paper, worn around the edges and crumpled with age and use. Lloyd almost considered unfolding it again and reading the message inside, as if in some dim, vain hope that the words inside had changed since the last time he had seen it. He took a deep breath, and put the old paper in a pocket, taking care not to tear it.

There was one more thing he had to fetch before he would be finished packing. Lloyd knelt down by his bed, and reached under it, blindly searching for something. After a moment, he managed to drag out something from under his bed. It was a book. The book was thick and heavy. Lloyd didn't know what was called, and couldn't read the words inside. The book was written in a language he didn't know, the angular symbols meant nothing to him. He didn't know what it was, all he had been told was that it was important for some reason and that he needed to keep it safe. Lloyd wasn't even sure why.

Finished packing, Lloyd stood up, and with a heave lifted his pack off the floor and onto his back. It was much heavier than he had thought it would be, but there was nothing in it he thought he could discard. He would just have to live with it, he decided. He walked to the stairs, walking made a little difficult by his pack, and headed to the lower floor of the building.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs he called, "Uncle Dirk! I'm heading out!"

Dirk, who had been working at his forge, looked up. The aboveground house had been built since Dirk had found Lloyd, over the trap door that led to Dirk's underground home. Dirk's forge was in the lower part of the house, but he left his forge to come up to Lloyd, to see him off. "You'll be late if you don't run," Dirk said.

Lloyd walked up to his adoptive uncle, his pack on his back and his eyes alight with excitement. "I know, I know," Lloyd nodded, "I just wanted to say goodbye."

Dirk looked the boy up and down. Had it really been fourteen years since Dirk had found him? Lloyd was seventeen already, Dirk couldn't believe it. He had heard others say that children grew up fast, but he had not really believed it until now. Children really did grow up fast, faster than their parents thought, before they had to leave. Dirk wasn't Lloyd's father, not really, but he almost felt as if he were.

"I hope you, Colette, and the others have a safe journey," Dirk said, smiling under his beard.

"Thanks Uncle Dirk," said Lloyd, "I promise I'll come back."

"Good boy," Dirk said. Then he sighed, and added, still smiling up at the boy, "Your father would be proud, I'm sure."

Lloyd's smile wavered, and he looked at the floor to hide his face. Dirk patted Lloyd's elbow, "I know you miss him, and your mother. Who knows? Maybe you'll find out what happened to them on this journey. You might even find their families, find your aunts, uncles, grandparents or cousins. Maybe Colette will help. I'm sure she would, she's a sweet girl."

"Y-yeah..." Lloyd mumbled.

Dirk patted Lloyd's elbow again, "Well, off you go then," said Dirk with a grin, "Go and save the world!"

Lloyd seemed to cheer up immediately, "Okay!" he said, smiling, "Bye!"

Dirk watched Lloyd leave with a mix of emotions. He was worried for Lloyd's safety, but at the same time, he was proud that Lloyd was going off into the world, and doing something so important. If only the poor boy's parents were here...

After leaving the house, Lloyd ran right for the pen next to the house, where Noishe was curled up, taking a nap.

"C'mon Noishe! It's time to head out!"

The 'dog' lifted his head to stare lazily at Lloyd, who was nearly bouncing with excitement. Noishe yawned, exposing white teeth and a very red tongue, before standing up. He affectionately nuzzled Lloyd's hand before barking. Lloyd opened the door to Noishe's pen and called "Let's go!" before running off to the dirt path that led to Iselia. Noishe followed, easily catching up and keeping pace with Lloyd.

Lloyd's pace started to slow from a run, to a walk, and then he stopped, right in the middle of the path. He looked down at Noishe, who looked right back up at him with his big blue eyes.

"Hey, Noishe..." Lloyd started nervously. Sometimes when he was feeling upset, he would talk to Noishe. Lloyd was almost certain Noishe could understand him, why he wasn't sure, and sometimes when he wanted to talk without being judged, he found it was easiest to talk to Noishe.

"Do you really think... Mom and Dad would be proud of me, if they were here?"

Noishe barked, and smiled as best as a creature with a muzzle could. Just in case he didn't get the message across, he gave Lloyd's hand a reassuring lick.

"...Thanks," Lloyd said, giving Noishe a pat on the head, "Still... I wish..." He looked off down the path, temporarily lost in some little world of his own. Then he remembered that he needed to run, or he would be late!

"We've gotta get to the village, now!" Lloyd shouted, running off down the dirt path, Noishe easily keeping pace with him.

They bolted down the dirt path, through the forest, and barreled through the guards at the gate that led to the village of Iselia proper. After a short argument with the guards about whether or not Noishe could enter the village, Lloyd and his faithful pet made it to Colette's home. The others were gathered outside, apparently ready to leave. Lloyd breathed a sigh of relief, he wasn't too late.

"HEY!" he called, waving an arm, "I'm here!"

The others looked up when they heard him. Genis called excitedly back, happy that his best friend hasn't overslept too much. Colette, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic about Lloyd's appearance.

"L-Lloyd!" Colette said when she saw him, looking truly shocked at seeing him, "You're coming?"

"Of course I am!" Lloyd grinned, walking up to her, Noishe still by his side, "I said I was gonna help you save the world, and that's exactly what I'm going to do!"

"But it's going to be dangerous," Colette said nervously, "You might... you might... die..."

Lloyd was surprised to see Colette so upset. She had been so cheerful the day before, "C'mon, you know I can take anything!" Lloyd stated, with the confidence of youth, "I'll protect you from anything! I promise!"

Colette' anxiety seemed to evaporate. She smiled, "Thanks Lloyd!"

Yuan listened to this entire exchange, staying as impassive as he could. When they stopped, he smirked. Lloyd was coming. Things were already in motion. Everything would fall perfectly into place. He only had to wait just a little bit longer...

"It is time to leave, Chosen," Yuan said, walking past her.

"Okay!" Colette chirped with an almost genuine cheer, as she and the rest followed close behind.

A crowd that was composed of what was almost the entire population of Iselia hung around the gate as the group left. Lloyd, Genis, and Colette, were leaving the home where they had spent most of their lives, going into a great unknown. Excluding the forest and the temple, they had never been outside the village before. They were both excited, and frightened.

It took the little group approximately a week before they arrived at the edge of the Triet Desert. Thankfully most of the journey had been uneventful. It was only when they reached the desert that the generally contented mood of the group started to change.

"Man, I hate this desert," complained Lloyd, after several hours spent traversing the desert, "It's hot, my feet are tired, and I've got sand everywhere..."

"Stop moaning," Yuan snapped, "Or be sent home."

Lloyd scowled but said nothing. He trudged on, but his discomfort did not go away. He kept going for Colette's sake, he was going to be with her to protect her on this journey, no matter what! He wasn't going to be sent home when the journey had just begun! No way!

Yuan was pleased Lloyd had stopped complaining, but wondered exactly how much more of this he would have to endure.

"Hey, Colette?" Genis started, "I was wondering, if the journey of regeneration is about waking the Goddess Martel, does that mean you'll get to meet her after you become an angel?"

"I... don't know..." Colette considered this, "I never really thought about it before."

Lloyd's eyes widened, "Wow, that would be amazing! Imagine getting to meet the Goddess herself!"

Yuan snorted, and Lloyd turned to glare at him. "What?" he demanded.

"I think it is unlikely Colette will meet any goddess," Yuan said, in a tone of voice Lloyd couldn't quite place.

"Why not?" asked Genis, "If the journey is for Martel and saving the world, wouldn't it make sense?"

"Has the possibility ever occurred to you," Yuan started, "That there might not be a goddess, or did you just follow the teachings like good little sheep?"

Colette looked hurt, but said nothing.

"I believe in the Goddess," Lloyd stated, offering his opinion in Colette's defense, "I think that there has to be a Goddess, otherwise Colette wouldn't be on this journey."

Yuan shrugged, "Believe what you will."

"I don't get it," Genis started, "Why are you helping the Chosen if you don't believe in Martel?"

"I am not doing this because I believe in something like a goddess," Yuan said, "I've never believed in any goddess, I've seen too much of people." He shook his head, "This is just a job, nothing more."

"But you have to believe in Martel!" Colette said, looking a little sad.

"Why?" Yuan snapped, "Because you do?"

Colette seemed uncomfortable, "No, but..." She trailed off, unable to think of a way to respond of Yuan's disbelief.

"Martel has to be real!" interjected Lloyd, "Why would Colette be on this journey otherwise? It wouldn't make sense! And you saw the angel at the temple, right? That has to be proof that the Goddess is real!"

Yuan sighed, "I won't tell you what to believe. I expect the same." He quickened his pace, clearly ending this conversation.

"That guy is weird," Genis whispered to Lloyd, "Why would he go on the journey of regeneration, which is supposed to awaken to Goddess Martel, if he doesn't believe in her?"

"It seems to me that Yuan perceives this only as a job," Raine said, though she still suspected Yuan of having an ulterior motive, "Everyone has their own reasons, even if those reasons seem strange to others."

"But he saw Remiel!" Lloyd persisted, "Isn't that proof that the Goddess is real? Why would there be angels if Martel wasn't real?"

Raine sighed, "I don't know Lloyd," she said, sounding tired, "Faith is a complex thing. People believe in different things for different reasons. It would be best if we did not pester Yuan."

The children exchanged confused looks, but generally agreed with Raine. Even if they didn't understand Yuan's point of view, it was probably best if they did not continue to argue with him.

Several hours later, Yuan was the first to spot the oasis city, "Triet is just up ahead," he announced, speaking for the first time since their little discussion on faith, "It will not be long before we reach it."

"Finally..." moaned Lloyd. Then he shut up immediately, and tried to hide just how fatigued he was; Lloyd didn't want to be sent home.

After a long, sandy trek, in which the only excitement was an unexpected attack by one sidewinder, they finally arrived at Triet. The children looked around as they entered the city, wide-eyed. The buildings looked strange to them, and the stores were little more than boxes hidden under striped awnings. The people were all wearing strange clothes the Iselians had never seen before. They stared in awe.

"This is Triet, huh?" Lloyd looked around the small city, and at all the strange people.

"Wow! This is amazing!" chirped Colette, who had never been anywhere other than Iselia. "Look at all the people!"

"Triet isn't that much larger than Iselia," pointed out Raine, whose horizons were considerably broader than Colette's.

"At least here there is an inn..." Yuan sighed.

"Are those people wearing cat suits?" asked Genis, pointing.

"It's rude to point," said Raine, "And no, those are Katz. Though to be honest, I'm not sure who or what they are exactly..."

"Katz... big world, huh?" Lloyd said.

"Lloyd, let's go and explore the city!" Colette took Lloyd's hand and started to drag him off.

"Wait for me!" said Genis, running off after his friends.

Yuan and Raine exchanged a weary look, before following the children. Lloyd, Colette, and Genis took in the sights of the small city with great excitement, marveling at everything from the clothes the citizens wore, to the items in the shops. Nothing terrible happened, until...

"Oops!"

Colette tripped and fell right through the wall of an innocent house, landing flat on her stomach on the other side, covered in splinters and dust.

"Colette!" Lloyd shouted, running over to kneel by her side, "Are you okay?"

Colette shakily got up onto her hands and knees, still smiling, "I'm fine, I'm sorry for worrying you!"

Lloyd sighed, "You dork..."

"W-what have you done to my house?!"

Lloyd and Colette looked over at a man who was staring at the building and the hole in it with wide eyes.

Colette looked around and saw the hole she had made in the wall. "Oh no!" she jumped to her feet and ran to the unfortunate owner of the house, who was still staring at the hole, his eyes wide, "I'm so sorry sir!" Colette said, blushing furiously, "I didn't mean to ruin your poor house!"

"You stupid girl!" spluttered the angry homeowner, "Look what you've done!"

"I-I'm sorry!" squeaked Colette, "I didn't mean – "

"That is no way to speak to the Chosen One," said Yuan darkly to the homeowner, interrupting Colette's awkward apology, "I hardly think that she deserves such disrespect."

The homeowner's eyes widened, and he looked back at Colette with a mixture of awe and horror, "I humbly apologize, Chosen One!" he said, "If I had known – I shall make this hole the next greatest tourist attraction of Triet! A hole in the shape of the Chosen of Regeneration!"

"Okay..." Lloyd said slowly.

"I think it is time we left," said Raine quietly to the children.

They walked away, Colette looking slightly dazed. Yuan sighed, and said, "You need to learn to be more assertive, Chosen, otherwise it is unlikely anyone will take you seriously." When Colette opened her mouth, he added, "And don't apologize all the time either. It makes you sound weak and it gets on my nerves."

"Oh... I'm sorry Yuan."

"...Hopeless..." Yuan murmured to himself.

They reserved three rooms in the inn that night: one for Colette, one for Raine and Genis to share, and one for Lloyd and Yuan to share. Lloyd wasn't exactly overjoyed at being stuck in a room with Yuan for the entire night. Yuan didn't seem pleased with this either, he didn't talk to Lloyd at all, avoiding all but the most necessary interaction.

Lloyd didn't really notice, he had other things to worry about. Namely Colette. He kept thinking about her false cheer when they had left Iselia, and he had not had a good time to ask her about it since the journey began. He really wanted to talk to her.

Lloyd stood up.

"I'm going to go and check on Colette," Lloyd announced.

Yuan did not look up, "Do as you please," he said, without interest.

Lloyd did so. He ignored Yuan as he left the room, walked upstairs and went to the door that led to the room he knew Colette was staying in. Lloyd raised his arm to knock on the door, and hesitated. Then knocked on Colette's door.

"Who is it?" called Colette's voice, slightly muffled.

"It's Lloyd," he replied, "Can I come in?"

"Sure!"

Lloyd slowly opened the door, the hinges creaking a little. Colette was sitting on her bed, apparently getting ready to sleep. She was smiling cheerfully at him.

"Hey... Colette..." Lloyd fidgeted, "Can I sit down?"

"Oh sure!" Colette moved over on her bed so Lloyd could sit down next to her. The bed was soft down, and he sank into it, but he did not notice. He was trying to think of what to say to Colette.

"Is something wrong Lloyd?" Colette asked, concerned, "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm feeling fine," said Lloyd, "I just wanted to ask," he took a deep breath, and looking hurt, he asked, "Why did you lie to me about when you guys were leaving?"

Colette looked away, and down at her clasped hands. "I'm sorry Lloyd," she said so quietly, it was almost a whisper, "I was afraid that if you came... this is going to be a very dangerous journey. The Desians will always be after us. We'll be fighting a lot, and there's a chance... that I might fail..."

"Don't talk like that!" Lloyd said, alarmed at her despair, "You won't fail! I know you won't!"

Colette smiled, but the smile was too short to reach her eyes, "Thanks Lloyd."

"I said I was going to protect you, and that's what I'm gonna do," Lloyd said, eyes filled with determination, "We're going to regenerate the world, together! I promise."

Colette's eyes started to water, and she tried to wipe her eyes of tears before she started to cry, "Th-thanks Lloyd."

Lloyd wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and waited patiently until she had regained her composure.

Colette took a deep, calming breath, and then smiled at her friend, "I'm sorry for worrying you."

Lloyd playfully punched her shoulder, "Stop apologizing you dork!"

Colette yawned, "I'm getting sleepy... Goodnight Lloyd."

Lloyd stood up, "Goodnight, Colette."

They smiled at each other, and then Lloyd left, closing the door to Colette's room behind him. He stood there a moment, by her door, wondering if everything would turn out okay. A terrible nagging doubt nibbled at his self-confidence, what if Colette did fail? Then he brushed the doubt away, Colette wouldn't fail. Lloyd and the others would help and protect her. She would regenerate the world!

Lloyd heard a door open downstairs. When he walked over to the railing and looked down at the lower floor, he watched Yuan leave the inn, apparently unaware that his exit had not gone unnoticed.

"What's Yuan doing?" Lloyd asked himself. Clearly ignoring the common saying about curiosity and cats, Lloyd decided to follow the mercenary outside. He found Yuan standing by Noishe's pen, giving the 'dog' a scratch behind the ears. Noishe seemed to be enjoying the attention. Lloyd quietly opened the door to the inn, stepped out, and tried to approach Yuan as silently as possible.

"Lloyd, what are you doing outside at this hour?"

Yuan turned and glared at Lloyd, who had been caught off-guard. "Uh... I was... just about to ask you that."

"Hm..." Yuan crossed his arms, "I suppose you think wandering out at night is a good idea?"

"Huh?" Lloyd blinked.

"Just be careful, unless you want to end up bleeding to death in an alley," Yuan said, humorlessly.

"Uh... okay."

Yuan returned his attention to Noishe, whose tail was wagging with great enthusiasm.

"Noishe seems to like you," Lloyd said, "He usually doesn't like strangers."

Yuan said nothing.

"You're weird," Lloyd concluded when Yuan didn't add to the conversation.

"Perhaps I am," Yuan said cryptically.

"...You make no sense sometimes." Lloyd said, exasperated.

"I imagine."

"Did you ever have a pet, Yuan?"

Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Why the sudden interest?"

Lloyd shrugged, "I dunno. I guess it's because I've known Professor Sage, Genis, and Colette all my life, and I've just met you."

Yuan said nothing. Lloyd shrugged again, labeling Yuan as a lost cause. When he turned to leave, Yuan spoke up, "I never had a pet myself. I had a friend who had a dog once, though."

"Really?" said Lloyd, with genuine interest.

"The dog died a few years ago," Yuan continued.

"Oh..." Lloyd paused, "Did your friend get a new one?"

Yuan shook his head, "He got into some very serious trouble."

"Your friend?"

"No, the dog," Yuan rolled his eyes, "Yes, it was my friend."

"Oh..." Lloyd thought about this for a moment, "What kind of trouble?"

"We should return to the inn," Yuan said, ignoring Lloyd's question, "And remember to actually practice using your swords sometime. If you become a burden I'll have no second thoughts about leaving you here." Yuan left without another word.

Lloyd was fuming. "Just because he's a little better than me..." he started, "Okay... a lot better than me..." he conceded, "...Dammit!"

A/N: ...And I'll leave it there.

Please review.