Again, I remained still as a scaly blue creature that responded to the name Regolas curled up next to me on my bed. After the dinner fiasco, I had retired for the night and was ready to nod off when the creature decided I was its personal heater.

Regolas breathed slowly and deeply, the only sound in the room, or rather the house for that matter. No creaking stairs. No talking. Just silence in the night. It would be nice, but it unnerved me for some reason. I had been surrounded by sound for as long as I had been awake, and to not hear anything but the dragon's breathing seemed…well, weird.

Taking a glance around my room, I could see that this was a makeshift infirmary. There was little light because of the lack of windows and thus no moonlight, but I could still see reasonably well. The bed I was on did not have blankets nor pillows (Meru's healing probably had been removing any neck pain I might have), and was rather a large table with one blanket of good size draped over it than a true bed. The room had a few bookcases in it, all filled with books although none seemed to have been touched in come time, and some tables with chairs along with them. The room did not have a normal bed, so I could suppose it was not a normal bedroom. What could it be? A study? Why have a study as well as a library in the same house? Questions to be answered, although they had little importance.

How had this…thing come to think of me as something it can snuggle with? I didn't kick it off my bed last time because I was scared as to how it would react. Did that make it think this was okay? I sighed as I thought about how it would react this time around, after I had already food poisoned it with Meru's cooking…

I had to admit, she was trying to be a good host. Seeing as how she healed me, offered me a place to sleep, and was cooking for me (albeit, badly), I could hardly complain. I wondered if she was going to expect me to pull my weight sometime in the near future…not that I would complain, for I owed her and the others already for this much.

Once I paid back everyone for my increasing debts, what was I to do? Accept Albert's offer and become his advisor, as I did before? That just seemed wrong after having betrayed him before. But at the same time it would give me a chance to live honestly and serve under a person who has forgiven me for many crimes.

But what of my memory? Could I seriously just go on with life as it currently is without practically half of my memories? Should I go try and recover them, or are they better left unknown? I let out another sigh. Just back from the dead and things are already complicated.

At least I had a short term goal, and that was to become stronger and faster. It would probably take me months to get back to my former level of fitness, but to simply be a weakling as I am now would be unacceptable. I once was able to go toe to toe with three Dragoons at the same time, and I plan on being able to again. Besides, if I get strong enough before this Hero Competition I might be able to actually fight Dart in our rematch…it would be embarrassing for him to crush me in a fight like I did to him previously.

That would be good. Although, the more I think about it, it wouldn't be the end of the world if I lost a fight to Dart. Dare I say I am beginning to grow fond of this group of people? They all had their own quirks that made them interesting and from what I've seen so far, it might actually be nice to have a group of people to call friends. Not that I considered any of them to be my friends…yet. They still after all were once enemies, and you never know when that might throw a wrench into things.

I let out a yawn and stretched my arms, causing Regolas to stir a little bit from his sleep. I looked down at him and saw that he was still wide asleep, so the chance of having him gnaw on me for waking him didn't seem likely.

It was hard to go to sleep now that my muscles were not on fire, especially since the large amount of things going through my head at the moment kept my mind awake even if my body was tired. Using a mantra (that I could not remember the origin of) of breathing in and breathing out, while thinking of nothing, I slowly found myself drifting off.

When I awoke the dragon was missing from my bed and I was grateful for it. Regolas was most likely looking for his owner (or even more likely, breakfast). Knowing that I needed to get my day started, I got up and looked around. I smelled something vile and looked to a table by my bed and saw a bowl and what was probably supposed to be my breakfast. Having already survived her cooking once, even if it was supposed to be dessert, I decided to humor my hostess and eat it.

As I picked up the bowl and the spoon next to it, I sighed. I really had to convince Meru to let me cook.

Frowning at the food, I talked to it, "Well, bottoms up."

It took every ounce of my being to get through the first scoop. The food was most likely meant to be some form of porridge, but it had a gelatin like substance. It wasn't solid, but wasn't liquid. But it was more solid than liquid for sure, as I had to carve it out with the spoon.

The following bites did not go down any easier, but my taste buds seemed to stop functioning after awhile and my mind numbed to the horrible signals being sent to it. Once I had finished the gruel I noticed a glass on the bed stand. Taking a glance inside of it I could see milk. Or rather, what was once known as milk. It was curdled. It was expected. I didn't even try to drink it, instead just putting my spoon in my bowl and picked the bowl and cup up, intent on bringing them to the kitchen.

When I reached the door I was thankful that it was already open, probably from Meru bringing in my food in the first place (or from her devil of a pet finding a way out), for I had no hand to open it if it had been closed. Once I had walked through the open doorway, I turned towards the kitchen and began to pace towards it. Soon enough I reached the kitchen, but the door happened to be closed. Disgruntled with this, I thought of how I could put the objects down before deciding to just put the cup of milk inside the bowl and using my now free hand to open the door.

Now walking into the kitchen, I was quickly surprised as my vision disappeared and I felt someone's hands covering my face, their arms reaching over my shoulders.

"Who do you think it is?" came a familiar feminine voice. Given the softness of the hands, how slender the arms were around my neck, and the voice, I knew it was Meru.

What was the point in covering my eyes if I could automatically know? Confused, I decided to end whatever game she was playing, "I know it's you Meru."

In an instant my eyesight came back and I felt a fist connect with the right side of my head, right on my ear, causing me some real pain and almost making me drop my breakfast bowl. I turned to face Meru who had her arms crossed indignantly and was scowling with her head turned away, eyes closed in anger like last night, "Ow, what was that for?"

She harrumphed and continued to look away, "You're no fun! Even Dart goes with it, but you just had to spoil it!"

I rubbed my ear and frowned, "Wait, what did I spoil? It was obvious it was you."

Meru opened an eye and looked at me with it, "Really? How did you know?"

I nodded, intent on ending her little tantrum, "There is no way I would mistake your voice. And your hands are small and delicate."

Meru turned to face me now and looked up at me with a grin, "Aww, thank you."

Thank you for what? Did she think I was complimenting her? By merely expressing some details about how I knew it was her? Well, I guess she could interpret it that way, so I'm not going to dissuade her from that conclusion.

"You're welcome. May I put my bowl in the sink now?"

Meru looked at my hand and saw the empty bowl, making her smile grow, "I see you liked your breakfast. I'll take that," grabbing the bowl from my hand, she marched over to the sink, smile still beaming as she disposed of the bowl, "It's hard to find someone who likes my cooking."

Like it took every ounce of my being to eat the gruel, it took all of me to not make a snide or snarky reply. Instead, I let her continue.

She placed her hands behind her head and turned back to me, "I hear that you're planning on training to beat Dart in the Hero Competition. Do you think you're going to be able to get back in shape in time for it?"

I scowled, meeting her gaze, "Not likely, but I plan on putting up a good fight. There is no way I am going to just let him walk over me like I did to him."

She nodded and walked over to me, jabbing a finger into my chest, "Well then, we should go get started. You don't have forever. Ready for another beating?"

I let a smirk come upon on my face as I looked down at her, "Whenever you are."

After another royal ass kicking by my dear hostess, I decided it would be nice to take a nap in the plains nearby the Wingly refuge. Meru had some sort of business to take care of, so I was left by myself to lick my wounds.

Spread-eagled on the grass, I looked up at the clouds. Nowhere in sight was the Moon that Never Sets. Another memory I couldn't exactly recall was what that was supposed to mean. Or actually what the Moon that Never Sets does in fact. What was it? A moon that never sets…shouldn't that effect the tide? And the moon being destroyed should have another effect on it too…interesting. Weird. I'll ask Dart or someone about what it is if I remember.

So, on to a more important subject (one that would be a continuation of last night's thoughts)…who was I now? My name was Lloyd. I am a Wingly. I was a manipulative jerk who tried to recreate the world. I was a murderer who did not feel any remorse for killing others. But what am I now? I had little of my previous memories, I now felt sorry for those I killed and I was under the care of my former enemies. And I had a job offering as advisor to the throne. So who was I now? My goal of changing the world cannot be accomplished now because of that selfish bastard Frahma, so what does that leave me with as far as goals go? Getting stronger to fight someone in a petty competition? Were there any people who would wish to see me now that I lived again? No names rang a bell, no faces popped up in my mind.

Did I truly have so little in my life before I died? Did I dedicate everything I had for that one goal of a perfect world? The goal is definitely an alluring objective and a admirable one as well, but the means I went about it…

Maybe Dart was right to pity me. I had nothing left of my former life, not even my memories for the most part. And I was pitiful, as much as I hate to admit it. But that doesn't mean that I have to remain so. I can move on. I'm strong, both in body (or rather I will be) and soul. I can find something else that I can work towards. I can rebuild my life. I have this second chance to do things right, and I intend fully to do so.

A perky voice came out and roused me from my thoughts, "Hey Lloyd, I'm back!"

And this time, I wouldn't have to do it all alone.

And so ends the prologue to the series I have upcoming, in which Lloyd tries to find his place in the world with the help of the Dragoons. The series will pick up at the Hero Competition, and I hope to see you all then. I don't have a definite date, but it should be out by September 6th. I hope you enjoyed the story half as much as I did writing it.

For those wondering, I left certain characters out for reasons. Guaraha will appear soon enough, as will some other familiar faces. Also, if you're not a Dart/Shana fan, I apologize, but it is the main pairing of the series and as such it would be kind of weird if I didn't include it.