A/N: Apologies for not uploading last Friday! I don't know what happened, for some reason it just slipped my mind...I think I confused myself and updated a lot of stories on the wrong days, but to make up for it, you get two chapters this week!

It hurt. It hurt a lot. He just wanted to scream, but he had no energy left. He felt so, so cold, and tired. He wanted to sleep for eternity, but somehow that felt wrong.

'What is your wish?'

He didn't know. He just wanted to float for the rest of his life, in this odd empty space.

But that still felt wrong. What was he forgetting?

'Your heart is clouded, pure one. Open it.'

Open it? Open what? His heart? How did he do that?

He heard a crash, and turned towards it. What was that? Why did it keep disturbing him?

'If you wish to help them, you must awaken.'

Help? Help who?

Special people. They were special, he knew that. He just didn't know why.

'Awaken, pure one! It is not your time.'

Awaken...Awaken? Was he asleep already? But he felt awake...

Pain suddenly flared through him, and he gasped, arching. It began to wash over him, and he twisted, clawing at his body, desperately trying to rid himself of it.

'Embrace it! Embrace it and awaken!'

He opened his mouth, screaming, though no sound came out. It was overwhelming, crushing him, so that he couldn't even breath or think.

Suddenly it faded. He floated there, confused. Why didn't it hurt anymore? And he wasn't cold or tired, either.

'Open your eyes, pure one.'

He forced his eyes open, gazing at the thing infront of him. It looked like a pure white horse, except that it was under the water.

"...What's going on?" he asked, still trying to figure it out.

'Though you may not have been thinking it, your deepest desire was to protect those you care for. To attain that goal, I healed the darkness that wormed within you, eating away at your life.'

He blinked then glanced down, realising his scales were back to their normal colour. There was also another fin further down, and he gazed at it for a moment before looking up.

"Thank you, but...why would you do that for me?" he asked.

'This world has become divided when it should not have been. Each race stands apart from the others, when originally they would have stood together. You shall unite them.'

"Huh?"

'That was what she promised me. You have a soul much like hers; bright and pure. Not as powerful, maybe, but power is an illusion created by the mind.'

He blinked, then slowly nodded. "I...think I understand."

'Good. Now, go. You must rejoin your friends.'

"But how will I fight? I don't have any weapons."

'Then use what is your natural element. Bend it to your will. Even your own body can be controlled by your mind.'

He frowned. "...You're not going to tell me what you mean, are you."

'It is for you to discover, though I feel that you will learn quite soon.'

He hesitated before nodding. "Alright. Thank you. I'm in your debt."

'Repay it by uniting us, pure one.'

Colette stumbled back, falling. Her body was sore from the various injuries she had, and she was tiring quickly now. Kratos was still fighting, but even he was a little overwhelmed by the larger number of them.

She heard a yell and looked up, eyes widening in fear as one of them lunged at her. She gave a scream, covering her head as she briefly met their gaze.

Suddenly someone was between them, holding the person back easily. They blinked before gasping, then they were thrown back into several of the others. Colette looked up in confusion, then gasped.

Lloyd stood infront of her, looking perfectly healthy again. His arm was also covered in scales, though they faded as he lowered it again. Without looking away, he lifted a hand, and Colette looked back as the water from the lake suddenly rose.

"If you don't want to die, you will leave. Now," he growled out at the group.

They quickly scrambled away, crying out in fear. Lloyd watched them go in satisfaction, lowering the water again before sitting down and giving a groan.

"Aw man, you don't know how good it feels to not hurt," he sighed.

Colette gazed at him a moment, then threw herself at him. "Lloyd! You're alright!" she cried happily, hugging him tightly.

"Not if you keep strangling me.." Lloyd grunted, and Colette blinked before loosening her grip. Lloyd glanced at her and grinned. "But yeah, I'm completely better now, if not a little stronger than before."

"It's good to see you are better again," Kratos said, joining them.

"But what happened? Did the Unicorn heal you or something?" asked Colette, curious.

"Is that what it was? There was a white horse that asked me what my wish was...and then it said it got rid of the 'darkness that wormed away within me', or something."

Colette looked confused, but Kratos merely closed his eyes. "We can ponder it when we're with the others. Come, we should go now, least they start to think the worst," he said. Colette nodded, padding over to the horse. Lloyd helped her up before leaping up behind her, and they started back towards their camp.

Genis was pacing as the others gazed dully at the flames. Finally Zelos gave an annoyed sigh.

"Look, pipsqueak, you're not helping anybody by going back and forth like that. Just sit down already," he said.

"Shut up. You may not be worried, but Lloyd's my best friend!"

"You think I'm not worried?" Zelos growled.

"Calm down, both of you. This isn't helping anybody," Sheena sighed, quickly intervening. The two of them glared at each other, but Genis sat himself next to Raine anyway.

Time wore on, everyone silent. There was nothing they could say to break the awkward silence, and they were all lost in their own thoughts.

Suddenly they heard the sound of hooves and looked up, watching as Kratos walked into camp with Colette on the horse. They didn't see any sign of Lloyd and quickly thought the worst.

"No..." murmured Genis, hugging himself.

Then there was a thud as someone leapt off the horse behind Colette, reaching up and helping her down before walking over to them. They stared at him a minute, and he gave a grin.

"Hey guys. Sorry about all that," Lloyd said, giving a slight wave.

"Lloyd! You're alright!" Genis cried, leaping at him and hugging him. The others stood up and joined him, gathering around Lloyd happily. Colette stepped out of the group with a giggle, smiling at Lloyd's slightly overwhelmed expression.

Finally Kratos decided to step in. "It would be best if we got some rest now. We'll need to start back tomorrow," he said. The others hesitated then nodded, slowly drawing apart and going to their separate tents. Lloyd watched them go with a smile, then glanced at Kratos.

"Thanks," he said quietly. Kratos looked at him inquisitively, and Lloyd shrugged. "For everything, I mean. Like, helping me, and telling the others, and all that stuff."

Kratos nodded slowly, closing his eyes briefly. "I merely did what I felt was the right thing to do," he said, before looking at him. "You should rest. This sort of ordeal isn't one most people survive, and I imagine it was tiring. You'll want all your strength for our upcoming fight."

Lloyd smiled. "Right. Night, Kratos."

"Good night, Lloyd."

A/N: Yay! Lloyd's finally better! (But this fic isn't quite finished yet, even if they are going back to Mithos :3)

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